Hellbound’s Progressive Nation at Sea Awards 2014
In February 2014, Adam Wills and Laura Wiebe flew to Miami, embarked on a cruise ship, and indulged in four days’ worth of live progressive rock…
The Gathering
Katatonia – Dead End Kings
The melancholic musings of Renkse and Co aren’t as convincing as on the three previous albums I’m afraid. Dead End Kings certainly has its moments of greatness, but for some reason I expected a stronger and more consistent album.
Novembers Doom – Aphotic
The word “aphotic” means lacking light, specifically outside of the range of sunlight, like the abyssal depths of the ocean floor. But there is light here, a strange, phosphorescent light — this album shines.
Todtgelichter – Angst
Longtime fans of Todtgelichter’s more frostbitten back catalogue may not altogether be pleased by such an auspicious turn from a band formerly known for grimmer output (although allegedly there were hints of a more avant-garde direction on 2007’s Schemen). But for those who can embrace a hearty dose of melody, progression, and evolution alongside their black metal – how can a change like this be a bad thing? Highly recommended.
Postcards From Natalie Zed, Part 3
Hellbound readers, we’re sure that by now you are all familiar with our Natalie Zed, right? Natalie was our big grand prize winner back in January, taking home more than 50 CDs + and shortly after she received her huge box ‘o CDs, Ms. Zed asked us over at Hellbound HQ if we’d be interested in running reviews of her winnings if she did postcard sized reviews of the albums. How could we say no?
So, without further adieu, here is Natalie’s third installment (reviews #21 – 30 for those keeping stats at home) in what Hellbound likes to refer to as “Postcards From Natalie Zed”…
The Gathering: The Next Chapter
When Anneke van Giersbergen announced her departure from The Gathering it was a shock – for many fans but for her bandmates as well. But shock doesn’t have to lead to death or paralysis, and in a sense The Gathering had been down this road before. Reinvention is a familiar enterprise for the Dutch alt rockers, who started out as a doomy metal band with male vocals in the early nineties. Van Giersbergen’s entry on lead vocals was merely one shift, the eventual transition from aggression to shoegazing another. Though Anneke was the voice and forward face of The Gathering for well over a decade, her decision to leave meant another change, not the end.