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Sick Sounds 6 takes on Michael Amott and a brace of quirky reviews

By on May 16, 2011

Music is the soundtrack to life, and is therefore equally dependent on change to maintain interest and create a memorable movement through time. Composers were thinking about musical contrast as far back as 1723, like in Vivaldi’s Baroque masterpiece ‘The Four Seasons’ where each movement mirrors the characteristics of the respective season.

Bands that focus entirely on dissonance can often begin to sound less brutal, as there are no contrasting sections to make the heavy riffs sound heavier. Vice versa, bands that focus entirely on consonance can often begin to sound less beautiful, as there are no contrasting sections to make the melodic parts sound more melodic. Just like the seasons gradually morph into each other and provide the flux every year needs, so too should music, which brings me on to this issue’s featured artist, Arch Enemy’s Michael Amott.

Michael is a master of contrast, often working his way through all four musical seasons in under five minutes. Look no further than the song ‘Bloodstained Cross’ from their new album ‘Khoas Legions’ for proof of this – beautiful dynamic leads inject the optimism of flowers blooming in Spring, atmospheric clean parts celebrate the splendour of deep blue Summer skies, emotional Autumnal chord progressions bid farewell to the good times and prepare for the difficult period ahead, and relentlessly brutal riffing battles the long and cold Winter nights. Vivaldi would be proud!

Musica longa, vita brevis!
Ray Holroyd, Editor

Get Terrorizer #210 with Sick Sounds #6 now! £4.25 plus P&P.

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About Miranda Yardley

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