Meine Damen und Herren,

Hier ist eine kleine Auswahl an Fotos von meinen verschiedensten Aktivitaten mit meinen Freunden in Koln. Viel Spass mit diesen wertvollen Erinnerungsstucken! 

Beim Eisstockschiessen gewannen Kilian und ich sehr knapp.

Nebenan gab es auch eine Eislaufbahn.

Das Eis musste naturlich auch erneuert werden. Interessant ist, dass der Mann dort eine Mutze der New Jersey Devils tragt.

Auf der Suche nach neuen Ausgaben von Anno Domini stiessen wir auf diese ubergrosse Legofigur im Kaufhof.

Das China Light Festival fand im Kolner Zoo statt.

Die Figuren sind den tatsachlichen Bewohnern des Zoos nachempfunden.

Hier sieht man beispielsweise Reptilien verschiedenster Arten.

Besonders popular waren im Kolner Zoo schon immer die Pinguine. Die echten Pinguine waren ubrigens ganz in der Nahe, wahrend die meisten anderen Tiere abends in ruhigen Hausern und Kafigen untergebracht worden waren.

Hier sieht man eine beachtliche Auswahl an Insekten.

Ebenfalls uberaus popular sind naturlich die lieben Elefanten.

Zwischen den verschiedenen Tierfiguren fand man auch andere Kunstwerke wie diese hell erleuchtete Passage.

Hier sieht man Affenfiguren die sich an einer Gebaudewand entlang hangeln.

Selbst auf dem Wasser fand man prachtige Figuren wie diese Schwane.

Naturlich gab es auch ein paar Fabelwesen zu bestaunen wie diesen gigantischen Drachen, der gut zehn Meter hoch war.

Hier sieht man einige Kamele.

Hier gab es noch einmal kleinere Drachen.

Es gab im Zoo auch einige Auffuhrung wie hier mit diesem Jongleur.

Diese Dame ubte sich in klassischem chinesischen Ballett.

Hier ist ein weiterer Jongleur, der mit schweren Tonkrugen arbeitete.

Diese beiden Damen hatten ebenfalls prazises Fingerspitzengefuhl.

Am Ende der halbstundigen Vorfuhrung gab es reichlich Applaus.

Hier ist noch ein Bild vom Eingang des Kolner Zoos.

Selbst ausserhalb des Zoos konnte man noch erleuchtete Figuren finden.

Kamlath call their style Siberian metal. Sorry guys, first of all this isn't even a genre. Secondly, this record's atmosphere might be gloomy but not cold enough to recall Siberia's majestic northern nature. Thirdly, there are no Russian folk elements or even Russian lyrics throughout the record. Let's just call Stronger than Frost what it is: a very good gothic doom metal record.

Among the positives, the release is carried by Marco Benevento's charismatic baritone vocals. They are as atmospheric, enchanting and hypnotizing as in his main band The Foreshadowing. A few short guttural spoken word passages add some diversity to longer tunes such as "Thy Revelation". The guitar play is also quite potent with quite mysterious melodic solos, colder and more simplistic riffs and occasional down-stripped moments in overtures, transitions and codas as in the dynamic opener "Isgher". The bass guitar is audible and dominant enough to add to the record's gloomy atmosphere. The different songs have different intriguing ideas despite their similar stylistic approaches. The production fits the record's gloomy atmosphere and lyrical concept. The sinister cover artwork underlines the lyrical and musical concept as well.

On the negative side, the album's few up-beat parts as in "Seven Thousand Winters" sound poorly interwoven with the numerous mid-paced and slow structures as they often interrupt the record's gloomy atmosphere. The drum play is at times a little bit too dominant, varied and vivid for this genre. The band loses it when it occasionally enters extreme metal territories and convinces most in its lush gothic metal soundscapes. Despite each song being different and diversified in its gothic metal boundaries, the album might be lacking a truly memorable and outstanding song that makes it stand out if compared to the main bands of the involved musicians.

To keep short, intellectual gothic metal fans will love this atmospheric, conceptual and efficient release with its seven fleshed-out compositions. The concept and lyrics are quite intriguing and request serious attention and multiple spins to open up. This release is the opposite of background music or easily accessible material but the gloomy atmosphere and detailed songwriting are rewarding for the patient target audience. Stronger than Frost exponentially grows on you as you listen to it. The project is though lacking its very own unique sound to really stand out. It also misses a particularly outstanding track. Still, Kamlath's first and so far last full length record is an atmospheric grower on a very strong level and leaves me wanting more. I certainly hope to hear from this international quintet in the near future.

Final Rating: 80%

Ensiferum's The Live Path is a respectable supplement to German metal magazine Legacy that supports Ensiferum's new record Two Paths as well as its tour. This exclusive release comes around with one new studio track as well as four live cuts from two different locations representing three different studio albums.

 The new track "Way of the Warrior" is a typical Ensiferum track. It's energizing, fast and joyous, finding the right balance between raw vocal efforts in the verses and melodic vocal lines in the chorus. The song isn't original by any means and could also come from the band's first album but it's the kind of party tune that still sounds appropriate in your local rock or metal pub. Faithful fans will appreciate the song while new or occasional fans get a perfect example of what Ensiferum is all about.

 The live tracks also underline the fact that Ensiferum is a band that enjoys itself on stage and that transmits this vivid party vibe to the crowd. I have seen this band live a few years ago and it has been a blast. The band's only live record was released more than a decade ago and a new live release is long overdue. None of the four live songs was included on the previous release and the four tracks sound great. They might not impressive with the most balanced sound and technical skills but make you think of a ferocious Viking tribe ready to conquer the crowd without taking any prisoners. The band's authenticity and energy are highly addicting.

 The are only three minor downsides to this release. First of all, the crowd isn't too audible, especially in the odd introduction to "Ahti". Another issue is that the live songs are taken from two different locations which leads to the confusing fact that one song is introduced in English and the other three in Finnish. A continuity error is the fact that the band announces its song "Two of Spades" at the end of "Heathen Horde" before the sound fades out and the band starts to play "In My Sword I Trust" instead. Those who put this EP together should have paid more attention on such little details. Obviously, one might discuss the choice of the four tracks as there are better live tracks than those but the fact that none of those four songs was included on the last live record is enough for me to make this release relevant.

 If you like Ensiferum or folk and pagan metal in general, you should get your hands on The Live Path. The solid new studio track is in the key of classic Ensiferum material and the four exclusive live tracks are very enjoyable. In addition, you get a copy of Germany's best metal magazine and another extreme metal compilation with this release which is a very good deal. This EP offers twenty-three minutes of pure fun, so go ahead and enjoy yourselves!

Final rating: 75%

Adagio is a French-American progressive metal sextet that released its first record in more than eight years and its fifth studio album in total. The band makes me think of a slightly more symphonic version of Symphony X, especially due to new singer Kelly Sundown Carpenter's husky but melodic vocals recalling Russell Allen.

 Like many other contemporary progressive metal bands, Adagio has managed to modernize its sound if compared to its previous outputs. First of all, the record has an overall slightly dark and oppressive tone giving it a cinematic and tense atmosphere recalling Ayreron's more dramatic moments. Secondly, several songs include minor folk influences, especially related to Indian culture and mythology like Kartikeya for instance. Thirdly, several tracks have strong djent influences with a technical side recalling Tesseract. This combination works best in the quite technical single " Subrahmanya" that even includes a few decently employed harsh vocals. The epic "The Grand Spirit Voyage" also unfolds its cinematic atmosphere elegantly but steadily with these multiple influences.

 Despite this revamp, especially the djent sounds and husky vocals can get somewhat repetitive and tiring. The band actually sounds best when its opts for a calmer and smoother direction in the second half of the release. The mysterious "I'll Possess You" with its enchanting piano tones giving Kelly Sundown Carpenter the backdrop to fully unfold his vocal skills is a nicely done example for this organic and stripped-down approach. The relaxed ballad "Trippin' Away" could even come from a seventies' progressive rock record and impresses in its smart simplicity with piano melodies, simple riffs and powerful vocals.

 In the end, Adagio might not be able to compete with its obvious influences' best hours but Life surely is a coherent contemporary progressive metal release with a slightly dark and oppressive tone, technically skilled djent soundscapes and smartly employed Indian folkore elements. If the djent influences were a little less dominant and the vocals less a poor man's Russell Allen imitation, Life would sound even more unique. A honorable mention goes out to the flawless cover artwork that would make for a beautiful poster. Contemporary progressive metal aficionados should give this release a few spins while occasional genre fans should try out Symphony X's discography first.

Final rating: 77%