Viewed from the side, however, you can see a few more differences that the leaker had already indicated months ago. Not only the position and size of the buttons have changed (a bit wider and further down), the metal frame as a whole looks a bit thicker and also has a slightly different curvature, which also has an impact on the rounding of the AMOLED display. In addition, the side view also shows that the size and thickness of the three cameras on the left side have increased, but the two cameras on the right are said to have shrunk a little in height.
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review
(c) Wang Wen
It should be well known by now that the last few years have been anything but great. That’s exactly what we’re currently doing Wang Wen on the subject. They observe an endless loop in world history that offers a ghastly stage for dictators, violence and social unrest. „Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger“ refers to the traditional Chinese calendar and takes this naming approach further in a pointed way.
Wang Wen take their post-rock approach further, say goodbye to the purely instrumental approach and occasionally devote themselves to new sound worlds. Such is found in the concluding “Wild Fire”, which adds Prog and Jazz, among other things. Brass and Chinese, slightly sluggish vocals give the track additional melancholy, coupled with a bit of resignation, and seem to recognize a kind of finiteness in this calculation of time. A catastrophe is imminent and is accordingly underlined, even driven, by a felt resignation.
That doesn’t mean, however, that the sextet has completely moved away from its familiar sound. In the epic “Black Pill & White Pill” they even soar to new heights. A good nine minutes take a good amount of space for classic structures – once once more underlined by brass almost soundtrack-like – and a huge crescendo, which should not be missing in this genre. This is contrasted by the depressing “Ninja Tiger”; a crushing lump of sadness whose melancholy robs all senses. On the other hand, “Painful Clown” begins quite casually and almost bouncy, before the finale, which is broken up by rough distortion, torpedoes this concept with growing enthusiasm.
It feels like Wang Wen are breaking new ground with this record without tearing everything down. While the vocals like to act as an additional instrument, jazz, horns and melancholy provide a fresh and unnerving coat of paint that torpedoes the loveliness of the Chinese, which is often hinted at. Accordingly, “Painful Clown & Ninja Tiger” seems earthier and more direct, audibly anchored in the here and now. The result may not be an album that you expected, but one that fits the zeitgeist perfectly.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: 09.12.2022
Available through: Pelagic Records
Facebook: www.facebook.com/wangwencn
Tags: painful clown & ninja tiger, post rock, progressive rock, review, wang wen
Category: Magazin, Reviews
(c) Gomorrah
Quite familiar names – including Destruction guitarist Damir Eskic – try as Gomorrah a thrash approach that is generally more anchored in classic metal realms. The inclusion of Heavy, Power and Speed Metal works wonderfully, as the debut “Divine Judgment” already showed. They are now building on that and with VO Pulver they brought an expert for oppressive metal productions into the studio. „Dealer Of Souls“ goes full steam ahead with growing enthusiasm.
When “War Of Control” sprints off following a brief intro, scorched earth is left behind. The sheer force with which Gomorrah set off knows how to entertain. Jonas Ambühl’s voice is more in the more traditional metal realms and likes to switch to higher ranges, but that works great. This gives the track – as well as large parts of the album – a slight Priest touch. In addition, this five-minute muscle pack sheds its skin several times, even sprinting furiously in between and letting go of wonderfully crisp guitars at the climax. That may not come as a great surprise in this compilation, but it entertains from the first to the last second.
The rest of the album is also one oversized triumphal procession. “All Is Lost”, the second mini-epic, shines with leaden heaviness that collides with hymn-like undertones and undeniable gloom. Thrash and speed poison drool, the melodic middle part surprises with clear guitars. In “Stand United” Laura Guldemond from Burning Witches gets involved and delivers courageously. The terribly angry, rough marching track remains mostly leisurely, but contains some of the hardest moments of this record. Also “Isolation” with its thick NWOBHM leads, the mighty shouts and surprising machine head guitars is great.
You now know what to expect from Gomorra, even if “Dealer Of Souls” is only their second album. Classic metal concepts, biting thrash and subtle modern elements come together perfectly here. Muscle-packed anthems, official neck breakers and gloomy cement mixers come and go. Instead of being forced to reinvent the proverbial wheel, the quintet writes really good songs, accompanied by an extremely powerful and differentiated production. That’s how metal has to be.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: 09.12.2022
Available from: Noble Demon (Soulfood Music)
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Gomorraband
Tags: dealer of souls, gomorra, heavy metal, power metal, review, speed metal, thrash metal
Category: Magazin, Reviews
(c) E. School
Melody without melodrama, a difficult tightrope walk in the atmospheric doom sector. Arche from Finland face these challenges more than successfully. The duo around drummer V. Raittila and multi-instrumentalist E. Kuismin (formerly Profetus) understands the clumsy, ethereal and melancholic side of the genre, which is characterized by almost unbelievable heaviness, funeral leisureliness and bitter sweetness. „Transitions“ turns out to be a small miracle.
There are only three songs in those 36 minutes, of which the title track, placed in the middle, takes up a sixth – actually acting as a link between the two epics. The first is “Reverential Silence”, which carves its way into madness via thundering drums and a bone-chilling, yet sizzling atmosphere. Felt very little happens, at least until infernal growls torpedo the supposed idyll and lead darkly melodic approaches ad absurdum. Arche always find their way back to that slow-moving fury, hoarsely slicing through anything in their way – a lumbering, comforting funeral doom masterpiece of the slowest kind.
“In A Solace Light” chooses a slightly different approach, which doesn’t seem to come out of the quark at first, only to suddenly take off as well. Slobbering anger and deep pain score points with an astonishingly high entertainment value, which – at least in theory – shouldn’t work. However, what really makes this second epic take off is the second half, which features shadowy clear vocals that bob along in the background and hint at ethereal chanting qualities. This second voice makes the growls a bit more destructive, coarser … until long instrumental magic lets a spark of hope germinate.
A quirky, haunting fascination accompanies this atmospheric Doom masterpiece. The extremely long, very carefully constructed arrangements erupt in skillful, targeted composure and drive through marrow and bone. In the leaden and at the same time melodically tinged Funeral sector, Arche present a wondrous work that unfolds its beauty only slowly, sometimes colliding with Death Doom intensity and locating its complete power in the epic. “Transitions” has – without question – become a treat, one of the best genre records of 2022 and one of those rough diamonds that suggest great things for the future.
Rating: 8/10
Available from: 16.12.2022
Available through: Transcending Obscurity Records
Facebook: www.facebook.com/archedoom
Tags: arche, doom metal, funeral doom, melodic doom, review, transitions
Category: Magazin, Reviews