Reviews Included :

Within Temptation - The Unforgiving [Roadrunner Records]
Lord of the Lost - Antagony [Out of Line]
Cold in May - Gone Away with the Memories [Shadowplay Records]
The Mission Veo - Strangers [Spiralchords Records]
Lady Gaga - Born this Way [Streamline Records]

One of the problems I've often had over the years is that I buy or receive albums at a faster rate than I can realistically review them all.  So for the first time I'm going to rattle through some of the recent releases I've heard and what I thought of them.

Maybe I will do this at the end of each month for notable releases I didn't get around to reviewing properly, we shall see.

First under the knife is Within Temptation - 'The Unforgiving' - after the atrocity that was 'The Heart of Everything' I was concerned that they'd continue to produce mass-market dross. However, 'The Unforgiving' makes me take back some of the negative things I may have said about them then. This album is not only their best to date, but also one of the best albums I've probably heard in years, (I most certainly rank it above everything in my top 20 for last year) which from a band who brought us tracks like 'Mother Earth', 'Ice Queen' and 'Jillian' is no mean feat.

There's something of a majestic grandeur about the whole thing, the sound is huge.  Faster, harder and intertwined complex layers come together to help fire Within Temptation to their full potential.  Packed with galloping bass-lines, stunning vocals, keyboards generating extra atmosphere and some damn-fine guitar shredding - this album remains consistently strong throughout and with no filler tracks.  They probably had to draw straws when picking singles.

Interestingly, the next single is the more Celtic influenced 'Sinead', of which the B-sides will include remixes by VNV Nation and, err, Scooter.  Probably down to the more dance-y tempo of the track. This is a true masterpiece of an album, completely burying bands, like Evanescene, that they were previously compared to. [9.5]

Speaking of bands that have changed a bit, Lord of the Lost - 'Antagony' is a lot heavier than their debut album 'Fears'.

This may put off some listeners.  For example, 'We Are the Lost' is relatively down tempo, grinding, growling and sluggish in places.  Although, 'Sex on Legs' is a real win point for the album. It's a song mocking (being a) sex icon,   "Give me what I want, between your legs forever" with an accompanying "You're not the only one". It has an addictively catchy hook, with a stomping beat. If HIM were a rock band, they'd have wished they'd wrote this song. Lord of the Lost's debut single was 'Sex on Legs', with a video to go with it and they're also working on a video for 'Prison', which is one of the many anti-religious songs on the album, "What is heaven for? Is it a prison that you can't break free?"  It almost sounds like it was recorded in a church with the booming production and plinking keys.

There does seem to be a pattern of alternating tracks here, in a weak-track/strong-track sandwich which does mean while there are plenty of great tracks, from those mentioned above to the powerful doom-laden 'Love is Not Enough' through to the soaring 'Son of Dawn'. A lot of tracks in between don't maintain the consistency.  Still a nice album, but a step back from Fears. [7]

http://www.myspace.com/lordofthelost

Heading over to Belarus we've got a promising debut here : Cold in May - 'Gone Away with the Memories'. They're a Gothic Rock band with a strong hint of electronic influence and are already making waves in the East, Russian Gothic Portal voted them in the top 10 for breakthrough acts.

Tracks like 'Kill Yourself with Pain' have a haunting intro, before the chilling voice of Ars Darkminder sets the hairs standing up on the back of your neck, he has one of those distinctive Goth voices, melancholic and cold.   They're almost like a doom-metal band at times except without the metal and with extra melody.

The whole album is bleak, sad and beautiful. Unique in sound, but very distinctively Eastern European.   Got to be worth a look, the buzz about them does come with justification. [7.5]

http://www.myspace.com/coldinmay

Getting a bit more life into us, The Mission Veo - 'Strangers' is like a cross between The Killers and Gang of Four.  The Florida 5-piece have a disco-punk thing going on, which you can't help groove along to.  Songs are short, punchy and energetic.  Tracks like 'New York Scum' and 'Silhouettes' give you an uplifting kicking, while tracks like 'Ordinary Life' work best playing on the melodies.

It is a little bit too Killers in places, but enjoyable nevertheless.  They're playing M'era Luna this August and if the reception The Editors got last year is anything to go by, then they should easily win over some new fans there. [6.5]

http://www.myspace.com/themissionveo

And last, but by no means least - the round up is completed with Lady Gaga - 'Born this Way'. Perhaps less standout hits than the debut, 'Fame Monster', 'Born this Way' is at least more consistent.  After all the industrial remixes and mash-ups of tracks from the debut album, Ms Gaga has produced an album that's open mouthed and down-on-its-knees begging to be remixed.  'Government Hooker' would be worth being remixed by Combichrist, while a VNV Nation remix of 'Judas' would be right down the street.  Aesthetic Perfection could do a good number on 'Sheisse' and it would be quite apt for Faderhead to remix 'Heavy Metal Lover'.

There we go... get mixing... [7]

Phew, that's it for now...

Kevin Morris