Music Releases for January 29th, 2013

So what an assortment of albums we have this week.  A few of these I have been listening to over the past few weeks (Cult of Luna, Hatebreed) so as for the heavy side of things, the fans won't be disappointed.  Another guilty pleasure is the amazing operatic vocal range of Mr. Andrea Bocelli.  With his new album he is sticking to what his voice does best and compiles "a collection of Mediterranean love songs featuring duets with Jennifer Lopez, Nelly Furtado and a virtual duet with Edith Piaf".  Other albums such as Mike Patton's Tomahawk and Basshunter will be equally enjoyable to listen to over the next few days.

So as always, I encourage you folks to head down to your local record shop or visit your online retailer to pick up some of these albums.  Either way, as long as you're paying into the music industry then you're keeping these acts alive.  Cheers!

Tomahawk fans should find Oddfellows appealing and certainly worthy of following up Tomahawk and Mit Gas. However, aside from initial single “Stone Letter” and its vitriolic chorus, most won’t come away humming many of the hooks or melodies, the way one might after listening to a Faith No More album. But then again, Tomahawk was never that kind of band to begin with, instead preferring to reward the patient listener over time. -Consequence of Sound

Recorded at his home in Tuscany, Bocelli serenades us in six languages, his relaxed manner belying an innate artistry as he moves from the classical style into a popular vein with consummate ease. His delivery is such that we hear his core feeling for each language, which colours his special timbre. -BBC

In the end, this is a set for loyal fans since the albums barely even go together stylistically, and while you can't say this early techno fluff is uninspired or flat, Basshunter didn't find his true voice until he allowed much more pop into his life. Still, these two albums are hard to acquire on their own, meaning The Early Bedroom Sessions serves a practical purpose for the Basshunter faithful. -Star Pulse

Their latest record Vertikal takes it to the next level of darkness with a story thread loosely based on Fritz Lang's monumental silent classic Metropolis, which as you probably know is set in a dystopian future society where subterranean workers slave to support a privileged, technologically advanced elite. The futuristic component of the story is supplied by a wide range of electronic instruments and industrial sound design; while the band had dabbled in these elements on their previous albums (including 2008's much heavier Eternal Kingdom), they go all-in this time around, with amazing results. Old-school metal purists won't find a lot of familiar landmarks in Vertikal, but fans of more experimental rock styles (vocalist Klas Rydberg cites Radiohead as one influence) should feel right at home. -Fearnet

The bonus material is strong — especially the songs left off the original album. Of the alternate versions of album tracks, the picks are an early incarnation of Dreams and a new version of I Don’t Want To Know. Less impressive are the jam sessions on the deluxe edition, while the live songs from 1977 don’t add anything.

But the real joys are to be found by listening again to the original, 39-minute album. It’s no wonder Fleetwood Mac were so keen to overcome the tribulations and finish a record with some of the catchiest, most intriguing songs of the Seventies. -Daily Mail

It is true CIRCLE II CIRLCE are back and in their best outfit. The new lineup seems to work perfectly in the studio, so it remains to see how it can do onstage. Hopefully there will an extensive tour because it’s been more than two years since I had seen Zak & Co. live. Jon Oliva is also working on new music so can we hope CIRCLE II CIRLCE on tour with JOP on the US? Just saying... -Metal Kaoz

AFGM: Hatebreed - The Divinity of Purpose

At a lean 38 minutes, Divinity of Purpose's value is largely a result of its compact, no frills lack of pointless interludes and general effluvia. There's nothing here that couldn't conceivably find its way into one of the band's pit-heavy concerts. The Biohazard-friendly gang shout chorus of "Before the Fight Ends You" was custom designed to get the crowds pumped, and if the band have any built in limitations that would be the only chink in their armor: with each Hatebreed album seemingly written with the self conscious purpose of maintaining a tightly flowing concert experience, this stuff by intent isn't exactly multifaceted.

But it serves exactly the function it was intended for, which is to keep the fists pumping and the spirits high. A ballad would almost seem like a betrayal at this point. At the same time, there's a uniformity of both quality and sound in the band's catalog that thwarts preference, although such uniformity should never be mistaken for coasting. Hatebreed are back, and they're as good – if not perceptibly better – as they've ever been. -Metal Injection