• Uncured - Medusa (2017)

    Uncured is a contemporary progressive metal quartet from New York City and Medusa is its first full length effort. The young band convinced me with an energizing concert that made me buy this output. However, Medusa is quite a mixed bag and shows as much promise as downsides.

    On the positive side, the four young musicians play their instruments skillfully. The drums are certainly more adventurous than your average groove metal band. The guitar play is also solid and even takes inspiration from jazz chord progressions and lounge atmosphere. The track's calmer passages are particularly inspired. This works very well in the diversified ''Enucleate'' and the complex album closer ''Spontaneous Regeneration'' that is easily the best track on the album.

    On the other side, the chugging groove metal riffs with minor djent influences end up sounding tiresome and don't blend in with the musicians' capabilities. The husky lead vocals are also banal and never vary to grab the listener's attention. The second vocalist isn't outstanding either but his slightly more distinctive style is less obnoxious.

    If I were to give the band two pieces of advice, I would suggest to hire a proper singer with a wider vocal range and to focus on the band's eclectic progressive soundscapes instead of bringing back exchangeable chugging groove metal riffs.

    In the end, Uncured's Medusa is a mixed bag but promising enough to keep the band on the radar and give it another shot in the future. The four musicians are obviously talented, perform very well on stage and are quite young which means that they can still progress. If you like modern metal with a progressive twist, you should give this record a few spins.

    Final rating: 60%

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  • Swallow the Sun - When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light (2019)

    Heartfelt loss can provoke great inspiration. This is certainly the case for Swallow the Sun founder and guitarist Juha Raivo who lost the love of his life under tragic circumstances and went on to release astonishing records with atmospheric doom metal band Trees of Eternity and funeral doom group Hallatar. Swallow the Sun's last single Lumina Aurea was one of the bleakest songs I have ever heard in my life but there was a natural beauty hidden in this drowning darkness. The band's new record When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light might be a first step back towards a more positive mindset. It might be the last step towards partial recovery of the soul.

    I'm not as pretentious to compare myself to the ordeal Juha Raivo had to go through. But I deeply empathize with him. A long time ago, a person I loved from the bottom of my heart unexpectedly left from one day to the other. It came as a complete shock and took me several weeks and even months to be in a positive mindset again thanks to the support of my family members and friends. This loss came at the worst possible moment during my most challenging year at the university, with my most important training just ahead and with two jobs I had to do simultaneously. Many people wouldn't have been able to face these challenges but I somehow managed to excel in my classes, passed the most challenging training I have ever had and performed very well in my two jobs. I even managed to write some of the most inspired texts back then. The terrible event had sparked my creativity and this inspiration helped me to rise from the ashes and become stronger than ever before. It also changed my view of the world as I became more relaxed, pragmatic and careful. Even though I could have all the reasons in the world to despise what that person did to me and especially how she did that, I decided to move on and forgave her.

    I can sense all these elements on this record as well. When a Shadow Is Forced into the Light still has a gloomy undertone but it sounds much more airy, melodic and relaxed than anything else released by Juha Raivo over the past three years. The opening title track amazes with enchanting clean vocals and uplifting melodies that make this track unexpectedly catchy. ''Firelights'' might be the softest song ever by the band but isn't shallow by any means as it was even supported with a music video and convinces with a dreamy neofolk atmosphere that helps the creator and listener to dream themselves far away. ''Clouds on Your Side'' includes songwriting ideas from the person Juha Raivo has lost and impresses with wonderful mellow symphonic elements and the recitation of French poetry that make this song particularly surprising.

    Swallow the Sun's When a Shadow is Forced into the Light still has some of the band's traditional death and doom metal soundscapes but is much more an ambient and neofolk record with airy melodies, dreamy symphonic elements and inspiring poem recitation. Even though it barely classifies as metal record, it's certainly Swallow the Sun's most personal record and probably also its best. This is the kind of album to listen to on your own in an empty room in order to unfold its profound magic as the listener can discover new fascinating elements with each spin. Don't be afraid and drown into the darkness to find your way into the light. As we all know, light can't exist without darkness and that's why one has to embrace both.

     Final rating: 85%

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  • Saw V (2008)

    Saw V focuses less on deadly traps but rather intensifies the duel between a desperate, lonesome and sinister Agent Peter Strahm who tries to find evidence to frame brutal, cool and pitiless Detective Mark Hoffman for inheriting Jigsaw's legacy and keeping the deadly games going. As nobody believes the agent who is even put on medical leave, he steals files from past cases to research them in order to put pressure on the detective. He discovers the case of a convicted murderer who died in a pendulum trap he didn't have the chance to escape which breaks with Jigsaw's code of honour. When Agent Peter Strahm discovers that the convicted murderer had killed Detective Mark Hoffman's sister, he holds the evidence to arrest his opponent. However, the motivated agent seems to underestimate the fact that his opponent is already aware that he has lost his cover and has been preparing a trap for the one who is chasing him.

    While the main plot is tense, sinister and gripping, this movie uses less deadly traps than its immediate predecessor but the ones that are shown in the movie are actually among the most creative ones in the franchise. Five people with a sinister connection face a series of deadly traps that bring out the worst in each of them. As usual, there are meanings behind the different traps that the five adults must understand in order to guarantee their survival.

    Even though the fifth entry in the franchise convinces with a solid main plot with two intriguing characters portrayed by two excellent actors and a side story involving a series of clever traps, this movie is a little bit less convincing than the four predecessors. This is mainly due to a lack of unexpected surprises towards the end of the film despite a tagline that claims otherwise. The middle section is also somewhat plodding and especially the scenes with Jigsaw's ex-wife Jill Tuck could at least have been shortened or even cut altogether.

    Still, fans of the franchise will certainly appreciate this film that includes once again many flashbacks that explain and revisit events from the past four entries in an intriguing way. It only makes sense to watch these movies in chronological order as it's impossible to understand the characters' motivations and intertwined story lines if you have skipped one or several of this film's outstanding predecessors. Despite being an overall great film, Saw V is the first sign of a slow decline of the franchise that would have two more sequels before going on hiatus for about seven years. While the first four entries in the franchise are essential for anyone who likes horror movies and psychological thrillers, Saw V is highly recommendable for fans of the franchise but not as extraordinary as it could have been with some more time to develop an even tighter script.

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  • Saw IV (2007)

    What could be the point of continuing the series after Jigsaw's spectacular death at the end of the third installment? Many people were skeptical but Saw IV turned out being an unexpected success underlining the franchise's longevity.

    This movie convinces with the development of characters formerly perceived as side characters that now become lead charcaters that would not only turn out being important in this particular film but in the entire franchise in general. The two most fascinating characters in this particular film are Officer Daniel Rigg who has become obsessed with stopping Jigsaw's deadly games and Detective Mark Hoffman who is quite the opposite with his rational, factual and cold approach. These two characters complement each other perfectly but also clash quite intriguingly. John Kramer's ex-wife Jill Tuck also has an increasingly important role in this film as she portrays a mysterious woman whose intentions aren't always clear.

    The viewers are offered a surprisingly creative plot that cleverly connects with elements from previous installments. This film offers so many clues, details and flashbacks that you have to watch it very carefully and patiently to understand all of its diversified aspects. The movie's conclusion manages once more to come as a complete surprise. The screenwriting of this particular installment might even be the best of the entire franchise.

    The film also surprises with an excellent soundtrack that only intensifies its grisly, mysterious and sinister atmosphere. In combination with the precise camera work, the soundtrack accentuates this installment's underlying film noir elements as the viewers follow a gloomy police investigation. The emotional title track was performed by Japanese visual kei veterans X Japan that released their first new single in ten years for this occasion.

    Saw IV isn't the greatest film of an excellent franchise but most certainly the most astonishing surprise. All questions seemed to be answered at the end of the intense predecessor but this movie takes the viewers by surprise and can basically be seen as the start of the second season of the franchise that focuses on the events after the serial killer's demise. This movie convinces with an unexpectedly clever plot, profound characters and a strong soundtrack. If you had thought the franchise was finished, better think again and give this outstanding film a chance to blow your mind.

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  • Northern Haze (2018)

    Northern Haze - Siqinnaarut (2018)

    More than thirty-two years after its historical genre-breaking debut record, Northern Haze finally managed to record an unexpected sophomore output. Many things have changed in between these two releases. Original bassist Elijah Kunnuk died of cancer, former singer and guitarist Kolitalik Inukshuk was murdered, the band split up for about ten years, reunited and became a quintet with the addition of not only a new bassist but also a keyboarder, guitarist James Ungalaq took over lead vocals and the quintet recorded ten songs in the dead of winter in Nunavut's capital Iqaluit. One should think that changes and time had a significant impact on the band sound but it turns out they hadn't.

    Northern Haze's timeless mixture of blues rock, country rock, hard rock and heavy metal still sounds as warm, motivated and eclectic as it did more than three decades ago. The musicianship has improved slightly and the production sounds clear yet organic this time around but all other trademarks have remained the same as in the group's early years. The guitar riffs are still simple yet efficient. The guitar solos sound emotional rather than skilled. The steady rhythm section forms the solid backbone of the record without being particularly outstanding. The new lead vocalist sounds quite similar to the original singer and convinces with an energetic and melodic approach that blends in perfectly with the multitude of genres covered on this record. The songwriting is fluid, inspired and tight and can generally be described as the band's greatest strength.

    The record includes numerous highlights. ''Inuk'' starts the record with a raw opening scream and then flirts with punk rock riffs to evolve into a rhythmic tune that invites to dance and jump around. The track somehow reminds me of energetic Japanese trio Ningen Isu. 

    ''Angajusakuluk'' shows a completely different side and is deeply rooted in indigenous folk music with appeasing vocals, melodic guitar play and a festive atmosphere that should guarantee this song makes the playlist for any party in the Arctic Circle. This uplifting song could also be a Dropkick Murphys ballad. 

    ''Tukisi'' starts as melancholic country ballad with expressive vocals that evolves into a dynamic traditional heavy metal tune. It showcases just two of the band's numerous soundscapes in a smooth transition which makes this song the greatest one on this output in my opinion. The transitional song writing makes me think of Blue Öyster Cult.

    ''Inuusivut II'' goes even further back to the band's own roots as it is the sequel to a song from the band's first album which combines melancholic vocal melodies with energetic hard rock riffs that end the record on a high note. The guitar solo is particularly noteworthy but the drums sound also more adventurous than usual.

    It's stunning how Northern Maze managed to keep all the trademarks that made it so unique more than three decades ago and transported them into a completely different era without ever sounding old-fashioned. The Inuit quintet offers timeless rock music that borrows as much from country music as it does from punk rock and heavy blues rock. While metal purists might have trouble appreciating the record's stunning diversity, it's a particularly rewarding release for rock fans around the world since the ten tracks included here have a lot of replay value because they are filled with much creativity without ever missing the point. Northern Haze isn't just a great band because of its historical status but truly an outstanding rock band that is very enjoyable to listen to.

    Final rating: 90%

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