SHORT REVIEWS

Spring 2009:

*ALKONOST – The Path We’ve Never Made (Vic/Rough Trade)
Russian pagan metal band that re released their 2006 album “The Path We’ve Never Made” Alena Pelevina is the female soprano here, which gives the CD a gothic feel sometimes. [7 points]

*AMESOEURS – Amesoeurs (Avant Garde/Bertus)
Debut album of this French dark metal band. Audrey Sylvain is the female voice of AMESOEURS, who also plays the piano. It seems that AMESOEURS has disbanded almost right after the release of this album. [7 points]

*ANGELI DI PIETRA – Storm Over Scaldis (CPP/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Gothic metal band with female soprano vocals of Sjoera, combined with brutal male grunts of Guy and some heavy riffs. [6 points]

*ARKONA – Live…For The Glory Of (DVD) (Vic/Rough Trade)
Already in 2006, ARKONA released this live DVD. So this is the re-release by this pagan metal band. ARKONA is fronted by Masha. Apparently, the music seems to be released on a live CD as well. [8 points]

*AVA INFERNI – Blood Of Bacchus (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
Gothic doom metal of Carmen Simões and Rune Eriksen (also known as Blasphemer of MAYHEM). Although the sound has got nothing at all to do with MAYHEM, we can still hear the great experience of the talented musicians in this band. [7 points]

*CANTATA SANGUI – On Rituals And Correspondence In Constructed Realities (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
Finnish guitarless doom metal band. Anna Pienimäki is the frontlady with the bronze voice. It won’t hurt ya to have a listen to this mysterious sounding album. [7 points]

*CHAOSWAVE – Dead Eye Dreaming (Silverwolf/SPV/CNR)
Italian brothers and sister of LACUNA COIL. Fabio Carta and Giorgia Fadda are the male and female singers of this band, who hired in guest musician Steve Smyth (TESTAMENT) for some heavy guitarwork. Andy La Rocque is the producer of this album. [7 points]

*DARK MOOR – Autumnal (Scarlet Records/Bertus)
Itea Benedicto is the female soprano vocalist, who is a welcome guest on the seventh album of this Spanish NIGHTWISH alike band. [7 points]

*DARK THE SUNS – All Ends In Silence (Firebox/Displeased)
The female vocals within this Finnish dark death metal band are only to be heard in the background. So this is strictly for die-hards. [7 points]

*DEATHLIKE SILENCE – Saturday Night Evil (Spinefarm/Bertus)
Dark, doomy horror metal from Finland. Frontlady Maya has got a classic trained voice, that matches very well with the mysterious songs on this release. The band covers “Moonlight Shadow” by MIKE OLDFIELD and MAGGY O’ REILY. [7 points]

*ELI – Darkness Will Fall (Lion Music/Bertus)
ELI is the short version of Eliza Pezzuto, the Italian frontlady of this symphonic, gothic metalband. LARS ERIC MATTSSON wrote all the music on this album, which resulted in a very catchy CD with influences of NIGHTWISH, WITHIN TEMPTATION and EVANESCENCE. [7 points]

*ELLE BANDITA – Queen Of Fools (PIAS)
Ryanne van Dorst started her career in BAD CANDY. From there on, she went to THE RIPLETS. Now she has released her solo album under the monnicker of ELLE BANDITA. Together with bandmembers of ZZZ, VOICST and DE STAAT, she compiled her album with exciting, sexy electro pop‘n’roll songs. [7 points]

*ELUVEITIE – Evocation, The Arcane Dominion (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
Acoustic album with Anna Murphy on vocals. She sings in the Gaelic language, which really adds a special dimension to the music, that already shows a lot of variation despite the missing of electric guitars. [7 points]

*ENSOPH – Rex Mundi X-ile (Cruz del Sur/Sonic Rendezvous)
There’s a lot of space for gothic sounds on this album, which contains female voices here and there. ENSOPH hails from Italy and on “Rex Mundi X-ile” we can also enjoy a cover version of “Would”, originally recorded by ALICE IN CHAINS. [6 points]

*EXILIA – My Own Way (AFM/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Italian nu-metal band that has grown a lot since their latest release “Unleashed”. Masha Mismane is the female singer, who sounds much more angry than ever before. [7 points]

*FARTHER PAINT – Lose Control (Lion Music/Bertus)
Monia Rossie is the frontlady of this Italian band, that has still a long road to. However, “Lose Control” sounds like a good step forward. [6 points]

*FEJD – Storm (Napalm Records/Bertus)
This album is especially for the folk metal fans among us, who are more interested in the folk part rather than the metal part in this description. In “Alvorna Dansar”, we hear Elina as guest vocalist. Only for die-hards! [6 points]

*LACRIMOSA – Sehnsucht (Hall Of Sermon/Suburban)
This is the tenth album by a goth metal band, that is still exploring their borders. This time with accordions and a childrens choir. LACRIMOSA still wears the crown in the dark goth scene. [8 points]

*LAST WARNING – Throughout Time (My Kongdom/Sonic Rendezvous)
This is the third album by this QUEENSRYCHE like band from Italy. During “In The Flood” we can hear a duet between Fabio del Sal and female guest vocalist Laura Ivan, that makes it all worth mentioning here. [7 points]

*LEGENDA AURORA – Elipsis (Twilight Zone/Bertus)
Another band in the female-fronted world, that presents their album. Vocalist Simone is the metal maiden in this powerful, bombastic metal outing. [7 points]

*MADDER MORTEM – Eight Ways (Peaceville/Suburban)
MADDER MORTEM always added something special to their music, which made them outstanding from many other bands. Same happened on this fifth album, which is again very special. They simply refuse to walk the already paved paths and I think that we must give them credit for that. [8 points]

*MANIC MOVEMENT – Dark Glitter (Shiver/Suburban)
The Belgian MANIC MOVEMENT underwent a drastic change of style. From powerful prog metal to bombastic goth rock. In Virginia Fantoni, they’ve also found a suitable female vocalist. Point of recognition is the STING cover “Russians”. [7 points]

*MASTERCASTLE – The Phoenix (Lion Music/Bertus)
Italian neo classical rock band with former LABYRINTH guitarplayer Pier Gonella. Maybe the sweet vocals of Giorgia Gueglio could do with a little more pepper on the next album, so she matches better with the powerful music. [7 points] *MENA BRINNO – Wicked Polly (DarkBalance/Displeased]
All styles are represented on this album. I hear speed metal parts, folky tunes and the classical female voice of Katy Decker. The band will have to grow to become really interesting, but the first steps have been taken with “Wicked Polly”, the follow up album to “Icy Muse”. [6 points]

*MIDNIGHT MENACE – Fences (independent)
Melodic punkrock band from our own country. In Heleen, they have found a frontlady who knows to stand tall against all her male collegues. Hail to Heleen! [8 points] *MY DYING BRIDE – For Lies I Sire (Peaceville/Suburban]
Tenth album of these British legends. Lena Abe plays bass guitar and Katie Stone replaced the pregnant Sarah Stanton on keyboards, while she also re-introduced the violin in the dark doomy sound of MY DYING BRIDE. [7 points]

*NOVA ART – Follow Yourself (My Kingdom/Sonic Rendezvous)
Two female guest vocalists are on this second album of this Russian artist. Devon Graves (DEAD SOUL TRIBE / PSYCHOTIK WALTZ) produced the album and he also sings on “Follow Yourself”. [7 points]

*PATHOSRAY – Sunless Skies (Frontiers/Rough Trade]
Italian power progrock band PATHOSRAY surprised us with guest performances by female vocalistst Silvia Marchesan in “Poltergeist”, and Klaaire in “The Coldest Lullaby” [7 points]

*QUEENSRYCHE – American Soldier (Rhino/Warner Music)
The female vocals on this new QUEENSRYCHE album are not from Pamela Moore this time. In “Home Again”, we hear father Geoff Tate sing a duet with daughter Emily Tate instead. Softer but classier album than I’d expected. [8 points]

*REGARDLESS OF ME – The World Within (Locomotiv/ Rock Inc./Bertus)
REGARDLESS OF ME is an Italian goth metal band with an heavy underground. Pamela Manzo is the female vocalist and because the band comes from Italy, a comparison with LACUNA COIL is drawn very fast. They can see this as a compliment though.[7 points]

*RESURRECTURIS – Non Voglio Morire (Casket/Bertus)
This is brutal, powerful, energetic and bone heavy and I also hear female voices in the exxxtreme sound of these Italian true survivors. [7 points]

*RTX – JJ Got Live RaTX (Drag City/Munich)
RTX, formerly known as ROYAL TRUX, presents their third album here. Frontlady Jennifer Herrera is the biggest eye-catcher in the band. The band covers “Are You A Boy Or Are YouA Girl”, originally written by THE BARBARIANS. Great new album! [7 points]

*SILENTIUM – Amortean (Dynamic Arts/Sonic Rendezvous)
SILENTIUM is another Finnish band, that knows how to create a good catchy and bombastic album. The female vocalist of the band is called Riina Rinkinen. [7 points]

*SILVERLANE – My Inner Demon (Drakkar/Suburban)
German melodic power metal band. Dodo is the female keyboardplayer in the band. SILVERLANE will please many power metal fans with this one, I think. [7 points]

*69 CHAMBERS – War On The Inside (Silverwolf/SPV/CNR)
Poppy on one side, heavy on the other side. 69 CHAMBERS from Switzerland is a band with two different faces and they also have two female members in their line up. On this album we hear Nina Treml on guitar and on vocals. Maddy Madarase plays bass guitar. You’d better check this out. [7 points]

*AMANDA SOMERVILLE – Windows (Hya!/SAOL/Bertus)
The lady, who replaced Simone Simons for a while in EPICA, and the female voice of AVANTASIA, presents her first solo album here. It’s more pop and rock oriented than metal in a way, but it’s all done with a good feel for class and style. For the broadminded fans among us. [7 points]

*SONS OF SEASONS – Gods Of Vermin (Napalm Records/Rough Trade)
SONS OF SEASONS is the cooperation between keyboard player Oliver Palotai (KAMELOT / DORO) and vocalist Henning Basse (METALLIUM). On this exciting debut album, Simone Simons of EPICA sings some guest vocals on one of the songs. [7 points]

*SPOONFUL OF VICODIN – Bursts Of Hate At The Speed Of Hate (Bones Brigade/ Displeased)
Short speedy gore grindpunk songs fill this compilation album by SPOONFUL OF VICODIN from New York. As producer we find back the name of Danny Lilker of NUCLEAR ASSAULT. A real neighbour teaser to play extremely loud! [7 points]

*STINKING LIZAVETA – Sacrifice And Bliss (Monotreme/De Konkurrent)
Heroic instrumental songs form the ingredients of this new album of this American threesome. Cheshire Augusta proves to be a great drummer and definately metal maiden worthy. [8 points]

*SUBWAY TO SALLY – Kreuzfeuer (Nuclear Blast)
SUBWAY TO SALLY present their albums on a regular base. Their sound may not be very surprising, but their songs always have a high quality level. In “Komm In Meinem Schlaf”, we hear some female vocals. [7 points]

*TIMO TOLKKI – Saana, Warrior Of Light Part One, Journey To The Crystal Island (Scarlet Records/Bertus)
Rock opera with a low rock or metal level with female parts by Jennifer Sonle and Aino Laos. This album might be even suitable for average music fans. [6 points]

*TONER LOW – II (Freebird)
Dutch doom metal band, that released their second album. Miranda plays bass guitar in this slow, doomy outfit, that has to refil their toner kit. [8 points]

*VELVET SEAL – Lend Me Your Wings (Dark Balance/Suburban)
This band from Hungary wants to create the sound of succesful Dutch bands like WITHIN TEMPTATION, AFTER FOREVER and EPICA. If they succeed in this, is up to the listener. Gabriella is the female vocalist of the band. [7 points]

*VISION DIVINE – 9 Degrees West Of The Moon (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Female vocals are added to this CD to complete the sound of this Italian, melodic metal band. The band covers “Touch Of Evil” of JUDAS PRIEST on this one. [7 points]

Winter 2009:

*ALPHA GALATES – A Stimilus For Reason (EMI)
Canadian progmetal fivesome, that has two female members in their line up. It’s difficult to describe their music, but if you think about a mix between KING’S X, GALACTIC COWBOYS and A PERFECT CIRCLE, then you’ll come close to what ALPHA GALATES is all about. [8 points]

*AMASEFFER – Slaves For Life (Inside Out/CNR)
Israelian band, who join forces with Angela Gossow (ARCH ENEMY) in “Midian”. The band plays progrock that sounds like a soundtrack. This CD is part one of three parts. [7 points]

*ANDROID SOUL – Disappointing Paradise (PMM)
Dutch symphonic metal band, that presents their debut album. Linda Aarts is the frontlady of these well talented Dutch newcomers. [7 points]

*DIE APOKALYPTISCHEN REITER – Licht (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
Lady Catman is the new female guitarplayer of this German outfit, that presents us an album full of exciting folkmetal. [7 points]

*ARKAN – Hilal (Seasons Of Mist/Bertus)
Brutal death metal band with melodic vocal chords. The band uses mandole, bendir and has a traditional sound. Female voices were added as well. [7 points]

*BENEA REACH – Alleviat (Tabu/Bertus)
Norwegian metalcore band, that uses female vocals here and there. A killer album in its genre. [7 points]

*BIONIC ANGEL – Digital Violence (Schwarzdorn)
German gothic rock band with sidesteps to electro. The band is well-known for their extravagant, exxxtreme live shows. [7 points]

*BLASPHEMIC CRUELTY – Devil’s Mayhem (Osmose/Rough Trade)
The raw thrash metal band of ANGELCORPSE guitarplayer Gene Palubicki has an important female input. Drummer Gina Ambrosia beats the shit out of her kit, and that exactly why we like this shit. [8 points]

*BLOOD CEREMONY – Blood Ceremony (Rise Above/Suburban)
Great psychedelic rockband from Canada. With the use of flute and keyboards, which are played by frontlady Alia O’Brien, they come close to the good old proggresive sound of JETHRO TULL and our very own FOCUS and GOLDEN EARRING. [8 points]

*CAAMORA – Journey’s End ….An Acoustic Anthology (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Clive Nolan (PENDRAGON / ARENA) and Agnieszka Swita teamed up together for this two hour double CD. Most of the songs are recoreded live on the world tour of this band. Christina Booth adds her female voice as a guest singer in “The Bonding”. The CD is compiled with demo tracks and a radio interview. [7 points]

*CLITEATER – Scream Bloody Clit (War Anthem/Displeased)
In need of some brutal grindcore? CLITEATER put fifteen grinding grenades in thirty-five minutes. Susan Geri is the guitarist of these Dutch flesheaters. [7 points]

*CORONATUS – Porta Obscura (Massacre/Suburban)
This German gothic metal band has two female singers in their line up. The soprano vocals (NIGHTWISH influenced) come from Carmen R Schäfer and the rock vocals are by Ada Fletcher. An interesting release in its style. [8 points]

*THE CREEPSHOW – Run For Your Life (People Like You/Suburban)
Horror shockabilly from America in the best horrorpops tradition. Fans will know exactly know enough now. [7 points]

*DAWN OF DESTINY – Rebellion In Heaven (Shark/Bertus)
German power metal band, that already gained experience by touring with AXXIS and HOUSE OF LORDS. Tanja Maul is the frontlady of this promising band. [7 points]

*DEADLOCK – Manifesto (Lifeforce/Suburban)
Sabine Weniger plays keyboards and takes care of the female vocal parts of this German based band. The mix of brutal screams and beautiful female voices is done before already of course, but DEADLOCK still makes it sound fresh and enjoyable. [7 points]

*DEADLY SINS – Selling Our Weakness (People Like You/Suburban)
Raw hardcore punk from the well-known Boston hardcore scene. The female frontlady Stephanie Dougherty has a loud, rasping voice which really does the job here. [8 points]

*DEVIL’S GIFT – Devil’s Gift (Tiefdruck / Rock Inc./Bertus)
Lennon Murphy has found herself a suitable band. And with DEVIL’S GIFT she plays an exciting mix of GUANO APES and EVANESCENCE sounding music. A great CD shows her harder, more brutal side. [8 points]

*DICTATED – Suppressing All Who Refuse (independent)
Brutal death metal demo from our own country. The line up of DICTATED contains two female members, who are more than welcome in the mainly male dominated death metal scene. [7 points]

*DRIVE BY WIRE – Between Oceans (My First Sonny Weissmuller/Konkurrent)
Simone Holsbeek is the vocalist of this band, that revives the most successful days of THE GATHERING on their album. [7 points]

*ECLIPTICA – Impetus (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Eighties rock band from Austria. After a show on the well-known Wacken Open Air Festival the band presents us their debut album. Metal Maiden in the band is female vocalist Elisabeth Fangmeyer. [7 points]

*EDEN’S CURSE – The Second Coming (AFM/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Pamela Moore (Sister Mary in QUEENSRYCHE’s “Operation Mindcrime”) sings a duet in “Angels & Demons” on this melodic rock album. [7 points]

*EPHRAT – No One’s Word (Inside Out/CNR)
Debut album of this Israëlian progrock band. Besides Petronella Nettermalm (PAATOS), we can also hear Daniël Gildenlöw (PAIN OF SALVATION) on vocals, next to the bands original vocalist Lior Seker. Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE, BLACKFIELD) mixed the album. [7 points]

*REINO ERMITAÑO – Rituals Intersiores (I Hate/Displeased)
Read this review real slow, so it matches with the so called ‘witch doom’ of this Peruvian band. Tania Duarte is the dooming witchvoice of this surprising band. [8 points]

*FACTORY OF DREAMS – Poles (Progrock/Rough Trade)
Internet cooperation between the Portuguese guitarist Hugo Flores and Swedish soprano nightingale Jessica Letho lead to this album. An album with fantasy, gothic metal. A surprisingly good result by a surprising cooperation. [7 points]

*FALCONER – Among Beggars And Thieves (Metal Blade/Rough Trade)
On the sixth album of this Swedish melodic power metal band is also some space for female vocals. Although not upfront maybe, it’s still worth mentioning here. [7 points]

*GONIN – ISH – Naishikyo Sekai (Seasons Of Mist/Bertus)
This Japanese band started their career as an ANEKDOTEN tribute band. Anoji is the frontlady of this progressive rock band that uses quite a lot of keyboards. Some songs are too far distanced from the rock and metal scene, to make the whole world enjoyable for diehard metalheads, I’m afraid. [6 points]

*GRAVE DIGGER – Ballads Of A Hangman (Napalm/Rough Trade)
Veronica Freeman of BENEDICTUM is a guest singer on the thirteenth studio album of these German power metallers. Just listen to the outstanding “Lonely The Innocence Dies”. [7 points]

*HAND – Deadroom Journal (Casket Music/Bertus)
Old school gothic rock is the basic sound of this English threesome. Kat is the singer, bassplayer, pianoplayer of this band, that will sometimes surprise you with long, exciting instrumental pieces. [7 points]

*INCASSUM – In Vain (Casket Music/Bertus)
Six track mini CD of this English thrash metal company. Frontlady Sharleen Kennedy uses her wild grunt voice, but also her normal singing voice on this MCD. [7 points]

*JARBOE – Mahakali (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
JARBOE’s roots lay in a band called SWANS. The msuic on this album ranges from folk to black metal. SWANS fans may dig this, cause it comes close to the sound of SWANS but it’s heaviër in general. People who like this experimental mix of styles can enjoy over seventy minutes of JARBOE metal on “Mahakali”. [8 points]

*KERION – Holy Creatures Quest (Thundering/Bertus)
French power metal band that didn’t impress me too much, because of the bad English lyrics. Musically, the band sounds quite OK. Flora Spinelli is the frontlady of the band. [6 points]

*KIVIMETSÄN DRUIDI – Shadowheart (Century Media/EMI)
Take BATTLELORE, give them an opera singer called Leeni – Maria Hovila, and you’ve just created a band with an unique sound. Metal for the old druids that life down in the forrests of Finland. [7 points]

*LITES OVER FENIX – From Dust EP (independent)
Roel van Helden and Aniek Janssen (both ex DELPHIAN), have joined forces on this EP. Together with members of SUN CAGED we can enjoy three sphereful rock songs on this EP. [7 points]

*MADE OUT OF BABIES – The Ruiner (The End/Suburban)
Strong third stoner rock album of this female fronted band. Julie Christmas shows what she can do with her marvellous voice here. [7 points]

*MALNÀTT – La Voice Dei Morti (CCP/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Black metal is mixed with gothic and folky passages, and female voices here and there. The band hails from Italy. [7 points]

*MARTONE – Clean (Magna Carta/PIAS)
JENNIFER BATTEN is a guest on this great guitar CD of Canadian mastermind David Martone. Next to her, we can also enjoy the skills of BILLY SHEEHAN, JOE SATRIANI and STEVE HOWE on this album. [8 points]

*MATTSSON – Dream Child (Lion Music/Bertus)
Swedish guitarhero Lars Eric Mattsson presents his new female recruit Adrienn Antall here. Symphonic metal on a very high level, like we are used to hear from him. Released of course on his own label. [8 points]

*OCEANS OF SADNESS – The Arrogance Of Ignorance (Scarlet/Bertus)
There are guest vocals of Ann Louice Loeglund and John Liiva (ex ARCH ENEMY, now HERSE) on this fifth album of this Belgian band. OPETH fans may want to add this CD to their collection. [7 points]

*PAIN – Cynic Paradise (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
Anette Olzon of NIGHTWISH sings on two songs of the new of Peter Tägtgren’s band PAIN. [7 points]

*ALBERTO RIGGONI – Something Different (Lion Music/Bertus)
There are two vocal tracks on the instrumental debut album of bass player Alberto Riggoni. On “Bassex” and “Rollercoaster” we hear the vocal input of Irene Ermoli and Danielle Conte. [7 points]

*SIEBENBÜRGEN – Revelation VI (Massacre/Suburban)
The ressurrection of SIEBENBÜRGEN is a fact, and Lisa Bohwalli is the new female vocalistin the band. Andy Larocque (KING DIAMOND) plays guitar on two songs on “Revelation VI”. [8 points]

*SIN 7 SINS – Promo 2008 (independent - demo)
Gothic nu-metal band from our own country. Frontlady of this remarkable band is called Lotus. [7 points]

*SIRENIA – The 13th Floor (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
SIRENIA lives on the edge between what’s good and what’s bad. Monika Pedersen has left the band after “Nine Destinies And A Downfall”. She’s been replaced by Ailyn, who comes from Spain. It makes the album sound even more poppy than they did before already. Nice frontcover though. [6 points]

*STUCK MOJO – The Great Revival (Napalm/Rough Trade)
There are some screaming female vocal parts on the new album of this crossover band. The abnd has introduced a more retro sound on this new album. [7 points]

*JENNIE TEBLER’S OUT OF OBLIVION – Till Death Tear Us Part (Black Mark/Bertus)
Jennie rocks outloud. This Swedish rockgirl already released a tribute single to Thomas Quorthon (BATHORY). This CD shows us, that the lady has many different faces. [7 points]

*TODESBONDEN – Sleep Now Quiet Forrest (Prophecy/Suburban)
Laurie Ann Haus is the frontlady of TODESBONDEN, an American band that mixes metal with folky parts, and folk music with metal parts. A name to remember, because of the high quality music they play. [8 points]

*VAN CANTO – Hero (Gun/Bertus)
A capella metal. No, this is nothing for me. I’d rather go for loud and screaming guitars. MANOWAR and IRON MAIDEN songs without instrumentation can be found on this second album of VAN CANTO. Vocalally, very well done maybe, but I’m missing some essential elements, which make this album to an uninterresting release for me. [5 points]

*VARIOUS ARTISTS – Ferocity And Fenimity (Anthem Records)
Compilation album of the home of female fronted bands, the Anthem label. Enjoy various styles of female fronted bands like ASASTREIA, HANGING DOLLS, SUBMERGED, ARAPACIS, MAIDA VALE, DREMORA, DENDURA, AFTERDAWN, TEMUJIN, CELTICA, LIQUID SKY, DYONISIS and ANCESTRAL LEGACY. With the release of this album, money will be raised for the MacMillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK. A good way to support this good cause. [8 points]

*XYSTUS AND US CONCERT – Equilibrio: A Rock Opera (Phoenix Productions)
Dutch Rock opera with Simone Simons (EPICA) and Michelle Splietecke (musical CATS) on female vocals. A remarkable enjoying project with a high orchestral and classical level. Musical fans might like to hear this as well as open minded metalheads. [7 points]

Spring-Summer 2008:

*ALURA– Alura (independent)
Five track EP, that reminded me of SKUNK ANANSIE. Vocalist Laura Schoegje sure can make some noise, but she’s also a very strong frontlady in the less heavy tracks on this EP. There are some new Dutch talents on the horzion here, that’s for sure. [8 points]

*ASVA– What You Don’t Know Is Frontier (Southern/De Konkurent)
This band sounds bad to the bone! Female vocalist Holly Johnson matches very well with the imposing, alternative sound of this doom band. [7 points]

*BROTHER FIRETRIBE– Heart Full Of Fire (Spinefarm/Bertus)
Annette Olzon of NIGHTWISH sings guest vocals on the new CD by NIGHTWISH guitar player Emppu Vuorinen and LEVERAGE singer Pekka Ansin Heino. The band also covers “Chasing The Angels” of Mike Reno (LOVERBOY), which was origianlly recorded for the soundtrack of Iron eagle II. [7 points]

*CARDAMON– The Primrose Path (independent)
Debut rock album by this Dutch band, that has a good frontlady in Floortje Donia. A well-produced CD that walks on the thin line between rock and metal. [7 points]

*CHTONIC– Pandemonium (Deathlight/CNR)
Black metal band from Taiwan, of all places. Exotic, exciting metal fills your room. Female bassplayer Doris is the metal maiden in the band. She is also responsible for some female vocals here and there. [8 points]

*CREMATORY– Pray (Massacre/Suburban)
CREMATORY brings you gothic metal to the max. This album sounds a bit more heavy than the band's previous release “Klagenbilder”. [7 points]

*DELIGHT– Breaking Ground (Metal Mind/Bertus)
This Polish gothic metal band slowly differs their sound from gothic metal to a more poppy sound. Fans of EVANESCENCE may like this album. Paulina ‘Paula’ Maslanka is the frontlady on this well-produced album. Fans will be, without any doubt, very delighted with “Breaking Ground”. [7 points]

*EBONY ARK– When The City Is Quiet (Ascendance/Bertus)
Debut album from this Spanish prog metal band. This CD was going to be released on Transmission records, but the label went bankrupt. We’re glad, it is released by Ascendance now. Beatriz Albert is the frontlady of this powerful band. [8 points]

*ELUVEITIE– Slania (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
Pagan black metal with some female voice here and there. [7 points]

*EQUILIBRIUM– Sagas (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
German band that brings a fabulous mix of extreme metal and folky stuff. Sandra Volkel is the female bassplayer in the band [7 points]

*ETERNAL DEFORMITY– Frozen Circus (Code 666/Displeased)
This band from Poland mixes all imaginable styles, trying to create a style of its own. Together with some female vocalists, “Frozen Circus” has become an experimental yet very nice album. [8 points]

*EVERON- North (Mascot/PIAS)
German prog rock band that presents their seventh album. On “Islanders”, we hear a duet with female vocalist Judith Stüber. [7 points]

*EXPEDITION DELTA– Expedition Delta (Progrock/Bertus)
Melodic progmetal band from Serbia, that presents us their new album. Frontlady Alexandra Jankovic gets help from interesting guest musicians like Gary Wehrkamp (SHADOW GALLERY), Erik Norlander (ROCKET SCIENTISTS/LANA LANE), Joost van den Broek (AFTER FOREVER), Santiago Dobles (AGHORA), Torsten Roehre (SILENT FORCE) and Sabine Edelsbacher (EDENBRIDGE). No wonder, that “Expedition Delta” sounds so well. [8 points]

*FOREVER SLAVE– Tales For Bad Girls (Wacken/SPV/CNR)
The sound of FOREVER SLAVE is comparable to WITHIN TEMPTATION. Lady Angelyca is the bad girl, who tells you all the tales on this CD. [7 points]

*HEIDEVOLK– Walhalla Wacht (Napalm/Rough Trade)
Dutch best folk metal band, that surprises us with their second album. You can see this band as a sort of Dutch equivalent to SKYCLAD and CRUACHAN. Stefanie Speervrouw is the female violin player of the band. Raise your beer jug and sing along! [7 points]

*JUCIFER– L’Autrichienne (Relapse/Rough Trade)
A lot of different styles are captured on this double CD of Edgar Livengood and Amber Valentine. Ranging from raw, raunchy rock to melancholic ballads, JUCIFER plays it all. The variation in different songs makes the album sound utterly fresh. [7 points]

*KIUAS– The New Dark Age (Spinefarm/Bertus)
You can hear a female guest singer on the acoustic ballad “After The Storm” on the third album by this Finnsih metal band. [7 points]

*ELVIRA MADIGAN– Regent Sie (Black Lodg /Suburban)
Average gothic black metal album of Elvira Madigan. Only the future will tell, if she is capable of competing with the murdering competetition in this scene. I’m afraid, that she will drown into the full sea of releases with this album. [6 points]

*MAGENTA– Metamorphosis (Tigermoth/Bertus)
Symphonic prog rock band releasing their fourth album. Christina Booth is the female member of this British band, who convinced me most with their long epic songs here. [7 points]

*MINDLESS SELF INDULGENCE– If (The End/Suburban)
Hear the groovy sound by this New York based band. Fans of MARILYN MANSON might dig this. [7 points]

*MOONSPELL– Night Eternal (Steamhammer/CNR)
On this new MOONSPELL album, vocalist Fernando Ribeiro sings a duet with Anneke van Giersbergen in “Scorpion Flower”. The band from Portugal slowly moves their sound from black metal to gothic metal on this one. “First Light” closes the CD with the help of a ladies choir. [7 points]

*NEVERLAND– Reversing Time (AFM/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Put the band DREAMTONE and female vocalist Iris Mavraki togeter, and you have the band NEVERLAND. On “Reversing Time” we also hear guest appearances by Mike Barker (SHADOW GALLERY), Gary Wehrkamp (SHADOW GALLERY), Hansi Küsch (BLIND GUARDIAN) and Tom Englund (EVERGREY). Interesting concept album! [8 points]

*NUCLEUS TORN– Knell (Prophecy/Suburban)
Melodic prog rock band from Switzerland with male and female vocals. Flute, cello, acoustic guitars and piano add something special to the melodic side of this band. [7 points]

*REMEMBRANCE– Silencing The Moments... (Firedoom/Displeased)
Not for depressed people! Beware this is slow, dark funeral doom metal with a dark black edge around it. Carline van Roos is the female singer in this French threesome. [7 points]

*ROYAL HUNT– Collission Course…Paradox II (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Follow up to the “Paradox” album of 1997. Mark Boals has replaced John West on vocals. The female input on this neo classical, progressive work of art comes from Maria McTurk (background vocals) and Soma Alpass (background vocals, cello). Guest vocals are done by Dougie White, Henrik Brockmann and Ian Parry. [8 points]

*SABATON– The Art Of War (Black Lodge/Suburban)
The female narrator of the story is the only link to Metal Maidens. The idea of this album is almost the same as the latest SARACEN album "Vox In Excelsis", only the topic is different. [7 points]

*SCHANDMAUL– Anderswelt (Fame/Rock Inc./Bertus)
This folk album can hardly be called rock or metal. Fans know that it exists now though. [5 points]

*THANATOSCHIZO– Zoom Code (My Kingdom/Sonic Rendezvous)
Doomy gothic metal band from Portugal, which mixes a lot of styles together, and adds some strange ideas in their music, like accordion parts in “Hereafter Path”. Patricia is the frontlady and singer of the band. [6 points]

*THEATRES DES VAMPIRES– Anima Noir (Aural/Bertus)
One of the leading gothic metal bands from italy presents their new album. Scarlet is the frontlady of this band, that is most well-known for their great live shows. [7 points]

*THEE MERRY WIDOWS– The Devils Outlaws (People Like You/Suburban)
Juicy punkrock, horrorpunk songs fill the new album of this all-female, American punk band. Think about a mix between THE CRAMPS and THE MISFITS and you’ll come close to what THEE MERRY WIDOWS sound like. [8 points]

*THROUGH YOUR SILENCE– Whispers To The Void (My Kingdom Music/Sonic Rendezvous)
Italian death metal band, that uses female vocals every now and then. And Dalai Orsi (SUMMONER) adds just that little something that lifts this band up to something special in the mass of other death metal bands. [7 points]

*TRINACRIA– Travel Now Journey Infinitely (Indie Recordings/Bertus)
Debut album from a band, that consists of former members of EMMERKORF, ENSLAVED and FE-MAIL. Noise is mixed with black metal blasts and also dreamy parts. Interesting stuff for the adventurous listener. [7 points]

*WOLFMARE– Whitemare Rhymes (CCP/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Folk metal band, CRUACHAN style, from Sint Petersburg in Russia. Even Keith Fay and Karen Gilligan (both CRUACHAN) are guesting on this nice album, that mixes folk metal with touches of black and doom metal. [7 points]

Winter 2007-2008:

*AFTER DEATH– Retronomicon (Iron Pegasus/Displeased)
Project of former MORBID ANGEL, NOCTURNUS member Mike Browning. He added female vocals to create the ultimate sound for his occult stories in music. [7 points]

*AGHORA– Form Less (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
Diana Serra replaced Danishta Rivero, which is not an easy job, because AGHORA plays a complex mix of different music styles. Sometimes experimental and brutal, and at other times progresive and leaning towards fusion. This is a great new album with a lot of variation and with a convincing, great new singer [8 points]

*ALL FOR NOTHING – Can’t Kill What’s Inside (Swell Creek/Sonic Rendezvous)
Female-fronted old school hardcore band from The Netherlands. The album shows that women are not afraid to sound brutal as well in the male dominated hardcore scene. [7 points]

*AMATRIS– Imprisoned (Twilight/Displeased)
German gothic doom band with female vocals (Jannet Baade) and male grutns. Nothing new, but still enjoyable. [6 points]

*APOCALYPTICA– Worlds Collide (20-20/Sony/BMG)
The cello trip from the stretched country of Finland release their sixth album. Guests on this disc are Corey Taylor (STONE SOUR / SLIPKNOT), Till Lindeman (RAMSTEIN), Adam Gontier (THREE DAYS GONE) and Dave Lombardo (SLAYER). The female input comes from Christina Scabbia (LACUNA COIL), who sings in the song “S.O.S. (Anything But Love)” [6 points]

*ATARGATIS– Nova (Massacre/Suburban)
Austrian goth metal band, who release their second album. Vocalist Stephanie Luzie also sings in DARKWELL, and she is helped out here by Matthias Hechler (CREMATORY) and Thomas Helm (EMPYRIUM). [7 points]

*AVA INFERNI– The Silhouette (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
Portuguese gothic metal band, that perfectly blends the opera-like vocals of Carmen Simoẽs with the slow riffs of Rune Eriksen (a.k.a. Blasphemer of MAYHEM). [7 points]

*AVANTASIA– The Scarecrow (Nuclear Blast/Pias)
Amanda Sommerville is the female voice on the third album of this project of EDGUY’s Tobias Sammett. [7 points]

*AXXIS – Doom Of Destiny (AFM/Rock Inc/Bertus)
The female voice of Lakonia has moved from the background to the front row, which is a good thing. She’s a very positive addition to the melodic rock sound of this German rock sensation. The band recently toured with GAMMA RAY and HELLOWEEN, but then Lakonia’s parts were performed by Ana Mladinovici (MAGICA) [8 points]

*BEFORE THE DAWN– Deadlight (Cyclone Empire)
Dark metal band from Finland with Katja Vaukkonen as guest vocalist. [6 points]

*THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE– Waking With Strangers (Repo/Sonic Rendezvous)
This band from Canada presents us their third album. Vocalist Chibi is the biggest eye-catcher of this threesome, that provides us very catchy, melodic songs. [7 points] XXX1/2

*BLINDED BY TRUST– Justice Will Prevail (Lucifer’s Legion)
Femke (SIREN) sings the title track on this old school hardcore CD. BLINDED BY TRUST consists of three ex members of BETTER OFF [6 points]

*CONSORTIUM PROJECT– Children Of Tomorrow (Metal Heaven/Rough Trade)
Again we can enjoy some female (choir) vocals on Ian Parry’s CONSORTIUM PROJECT’s new CD, which contains some great, bombastic, melodic rock songs. Henk van der Laars (ELEGY) plays some guest guitar parts with his former bandmate. [8 points]

*CORONATUS– Lux Noctis (Massacre/Suburban)
This is some kind of super gothic metal band. While other bands have one frontlady, CORONATUS has two frontladies. Carmen R. Schäfer and Ada Fletching provide the TRISTANIA-like sound with normal vocals and opera vocals. Try to top that!! [8 points]

*MICHELLE DARKNESS– Brand New Drug (A.F.M./Rock Inc/Bertus)
Solo album of the frontman of END OF GREEN. Hanna Pakarinen, who won the Idols contest in Finland, is the female guest vocalist, which you can hear on the JOY DIVISION cover “Love Will Tear Us Apart”. Besides this, it is just an average gothic metal album. [6 points]

*DEPRESSED MODE– Ghosts Of Devotion (Firebox/Dis)
Finnish doom metalband with a great name. Natalie Koskinen is the frontlady of this excentric band, that covers BURZUM’s “Dunkelheit” on this album. [7 points]

*DIABLO SWING ORCHESTRA– The Butcher’s Ballroom (Candlelight/Bertus)
The name of the band gives away the biggest secret. This band walks the thin line between metal and rock or even pop. They mix different styles and use various, uncommon instruments like cello, piano, didgeridoo and horns. Annlouice Loeglund adds her best opera voice to this odd mix of styles and instruments. Check it out, if you don’t like rock in its traditional way anymore. [6 points]

*EILERA– Fusion (Spinefarm/Bertus)
French singer, who presents us her solo album, including the sound of violins and heavy guitars. It’s recorded in Finland with a totally Finnish line up of the band. [7 points]

*ETHS– Tératologie (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
Hard to describe, nu-metal like band from France. Frontlady Candice Clot is the absolute ear catcher, who will surprise you with a wide range of different voices that she provides. [7 points]

*SEBNEM FERA– 10 Mart 2007, Istanbul Konserti (Pasaj Müzik)
This Turkish singer can be heard on several APOCALYPTICA CDs. But now she’s the biggest eye-catcher on her double live CD, recorded in her home country Turkey. Rock and metal with a solid Turkish base. [8 points]

*FLOWING TEARS– Invanity (Ascendance/Bertus)
Live album, recorded in Berlin. The listener gets a best of set, including covers like “Dead Skin Mask” (SLAYER) and “The Weeping Song” (NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS). [8 points]

*FOR SELENA AND SIN– Overdosed On you (Mascot/PIAS)
Finnish rock band, that surprised us with their debut album. Annika Jalkanen is the frontlady of the band, that provides us a lot of catchy rock songs on “Overdosed On You” [7 points] XXX1/2

*GUTTURAL– Anal Violation (demo)
Wow, a grindcore band with a female bass player! Femke is one of the very few women who discover the guttural sound of the grindcore scene. Sick, sicker, GUTTURAL. Check it out, if you dare! [7 points]

*HARDINEROCK– Grimen (Candlelight/Bertus)
New, non-metal project of Ihsahn (EMPEROR / PECCATUM) and his wife Ihriel (PECCATUM). The music is a sort of mix between Norwegian folk music and black metal. High quality music with a low metal level. [7 points]

*I HATE SALLY– Don’t Worry Lady (Vagrant/PIAS)
Dee Prescott is the very convincing frontlady on this powerful rock album. [7 points]

*INDIGO DYING– Indigo Dying (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Gisa Vatchky does it all on her own this time, instead of working together with big names like ANDREA BOCELLI, MELISSA ETHERIDGE and MEAT LOAF. She does a great job on this “Indigo Dying” album, on which she sings duets with Michael Kiske and Mark Boals. A must for fans of melodic rock. [8 points]

*IVORY MOON– Human Nature (Ulterium/Bertus)
EPICA-like band with a bit more symphonic input. Cecilia Serra is the female vocalist of this band, that still has got a long way to go. [6 points]

*KAIPA– Angling Feelings (Inside Out/CNR)
Aleena Gibson is one of the singers in this progressive rock band. Roine Stolt (THE FLOWER KINGS) has left the band and was replaced by Per Nilsson (SCAR SYMETRY). The music remained the same and captures a lot of variation in styles. [8 points]

*KINETIC– Corrosion (Burning Star/LSP Distribution)
Greek death metal band with a female frontlady, that have some good, innovative musical ideas. A possible promise for the future. [7 points]

*LACRIMOSA– Lichtjahre (Hall Of Sermon/Suburban)
The godfather and mother of gothic metal present their double live CD here, recorded on their most recent tour. Tilo Wolff and Anne Nurmi at their very best. This concert is also available on DVD. [9 points]

*MACBETH– Superangelic Hate Bringers (Dragonheart/Bertus)
LACUNA COIL-like gothic metal band from Italy. Fans of this band will definitely enjoy this stuff a lot [6 points]

MALSAIN– The Disease (Dark Essence/Bertus)
Dark, doomy, black metal band from Norway. Sturmring is one of the very few ladies who knows how to survive in the brutal world of extreme underground black metal. [8 points]

*MENA BRINNO– Icy Muse (Dark Balance/Displeased)
New gothic metal band, that releases their debut album. Katy Decker is the frontlady in this EVANESCENCE-like outfit. [7 points]

*SANDRA NASIC– The Signal (GUN/Sony BMG)
The German version of ANOUK, could be the right description of this solo album by GUANO APES singer Sandra Nasic. Solid rock with some poppy sidesteps. Fans of GUANO APES should also check out this solo release. [7 points]

*NATION BEYOND– The Aftermath Odyssey (Burning Star/LSP Distribution)
Concept album of this Swedish sextet, that provides us with some melodic, epic song material here. Sara is the female singer on this release. [7 points]

*NUCLEAR BLAST ALLSTARS– Into The Light (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
Each of the ten songs on this album is recorded with another singer. Tarja Turunen (ex-NIGHTWISH, now solo) takes care of the female input here. Later this year, they will release a more brutal set of songs, which will be called “Out Of The Dark” [7 points]

*PRIMAL FEAR– New Religion (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
This is not a mistake, because on “Everytime It Rains”, Ralf Scheepers is doing a duet with EPICA’s Simone Simons. The switch from Nuclear Blast to Frontiers has turned this previous ‘JUDAS PRIEST clone’ into a more melodic metal outfit. [7 points]

*PROJECT CREATION– Dawn On Pyther (Progrock/Bertus)
If you like wild, busy songs with a very few points of rest, than this “Dawn On Pyther” is something for you. There are different female vocalists on this seventy-five minutes prog rock CD. [7 points]

*SHADE– One Way Line (Rockcliffe)
Emma Shade gathered two ex-DARE members, Simon Gardner and Andrew Moore, around her to record this A.O.R., pop rock album. Catchy pop, ballsy rock and sensitive ballads are the main ingredients on this album [7 points]

*SOUL TAKERS– Flies In A Jar (Dragonheart/Bertus)
Italian progmetal band with two female members in their line up. The Badalini sisters play piano and guitar on this new CD. [7 points]

*SPIDER ROCKETS– Ever After Locomotive/Rock Inc/Bertus)
Very average rock album of this American band. Helena is their singer. [6 points]

*STINKING LIZAVETA– Scream Of The Iron Iconoclast (Monotreme/De Konkurent)
STINKING LIZAVETA from Philadelphia play an exciting mix of very different styles on their fourth album. The band has a female drummer in their ranks, that goes by the name of Cheshire Agusta [7 points]

*SUBWAY TO SALLY– Bastard (Nuclear Blast/PIAS)
This septet have picked up their guitars again to provide us some raw folk metal, comparable to HAGGARD, SCHANDMAUL and IN EXTREMO. [7 points] XXX1/2

*TERKEN– Eyes Unfolded (Firebox/Displeased)
Death doom band from Finland. TERKEN is an old Finnish word for ‘mist’, which fits well to the dark sound from the land of the thousand lakes, where the mist is tightly connected to the beautiful stretching landscape. Elisa is the female singer, and Yuri is the brutal male grunter in the band. [7 points]

*TOXOCARA– The Great Rebellious (Twilight/Bertus)
Death metal band from Holland with a female bassplayer (Anne van Doorn), who present us their second album. [7 points]

*TRAGØDIA– The Promthean Legacy (Dark Balance/Displeased)
Gothic metal band with male and female vocals. Not only the fact that they come from Italy, made me think of LACUNA COIL here and there. [7 points]

*TULUS– Biography Obscene (independent/Bertus)
Black metal with pianos, string arrangements and female vocals, from a band that surprised everybody by releasing this new album. After all, singer Sverre and drummer Bergli play in a band called KHOLD, after they put TULUS on hold. [7 points]

*ULVER– Shadows Of The Sun (Jester/Bertus)
Dark metal album with influences of new wave, jazz, gothic rock and symphonic laden music. Pamela Kurstin is the female member of this excentric, experimental dark sounding band. [6 points]

*VLAD IN TEARS– Seed Of Ancient Pain (Dreamcell)
Another so-called gothic metal talent is developing itself in the crowded gothic metal tree. VLAD IN TEARS hails from Italy, and Kris is their female singer. “Seed Of Ancient Pain” is the bands debut album. [6 points]

*VOYAGER– Univers (Dockyard/Rock Inc/Bertus)
Australian metal band with a female guitarplayer in their ranks. “Univers” is the bands second album. [7 points]

*WINDS– Prominence And Demise (The End/LSP Distribution/Bertus)
Agnete Kirkevaag (MADDER MORTEM) lends her voice to some songs on this bombastic black metal album from Norway. [7 points]

*WITNESS THE FALL- Take A Closer Look Inside (demo)
There are some female guest vocalists on this demo by WITNESS THE FALL from The Netherlands. [6 points]

*WOLVES IN THE RUNE ROOM– Two Hunters (Southern Lord/De Konkurent)
American pagan metal band, that have a great singer in their band. Jessica Kenney (ASVA). The band shows their musical ideas in exciting, long, epic tracks. [7 points]

Spring/Summer 2007:

*ANNIHILATOR– Metal (Steamhammer/CNR)
Metal to the max, as you may expect from Jeff Waters and ANNIHILATOR. Angela Gossow and Danko Jones sing a duet in “Couple Suicide”. On every other song, the band is helped out by another guest. This is what ‘metal’ is all about. [9 points]

*CASURE SILENCE- Lost In A Life (Rock Inc/Bertus)
Sandra Peeters (V-MALE) is the female guest vocalist on the title track of this new album. The Dutch prog rockers have also asked in the help of Damian Wilson (AYREON, THRESHOLD), to do a guest performance on this good album. [7 points]

*CHTONIC– Seediq Bale (Down Port/Bertus)
Black metal without borders lands in Taiwan this time. The lyrics of the songs are based upon myths and legends from their home country. Even their corpse paint is based upon the heritage of their forefathers. [7 points]

*DARK MOOR– Tarot (Scarlet/Bertus)
This album grabs back to the early days of the band (first two albums). Manda Ophuis (NEMESEA) is their female guest singer on this album this time, that is filled with melodic power metal. The cards predict good sales for DARK MOOR with this new release. [8 points]

*DEADLOCK– Wolves (Lifeforce/Suburban)
German metal band with a male and a female singer (Sabine Weniger), who slowly develops from a brutal black metal band to a more LACUNA COIL-like sound. The input of Sabine is more prominent each album. [7 points]

*THE DOGMA– A Good Day To Die (Drakkar/Suburban)
Lisa Middelhauve of XANDRIA is guest vocalist on the new album by this power metal band. [7 points]

*FAREWELL TO WORDS– Tear Down This Wall (Sonic Rendezvous)
Band from Berlin, who presents us their new five track mini CD. The sound of this band is a mix of metal and hardcore. Vocals are done by Mo and Jessi. [7 points]

*GENIUS– Episode Three: The Final Surprise (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Third and final chapter of the rock opera of Daniele Liverani. The female parts on this disc come from Andrea Dätwyler of LUNATICA. [7 points]

*KORN– Unplugged (EMI)
Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE plays a guest role during “Freak On A Leash” on this acoustic album. I still have difficulties listening to metal without the amps. [7 points]

*MALNÀTT– Happy Days (CCP/Displeased)
Italian pagan black metal band with a female singer. [6 points]

*MOTHERNIGHT– Mothernight (Locomotive/Rock Inc/Bertus)
Powerful female vocals are the main attraction on the album of this Polish band, that makes a remarkable mix of nu-metal and gothic rock. [7 points]

*PRIDE OF LIONS– The Roaring Of Dreams (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Tori Hitchcock is the sister of Toby Hitchcock, who is the singer of PRIDE OF LIONS. She is the female voice in the mini opera “Turnaround”. She proves to be as talented as her brother. A.O.R. at its very best. [9 points]

*ROTTING CHRIST– Theogonia (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
This Greek metal band likes to play with strange instruments, songs with an Eastern sounding input and female vocals. The first buyers of this album will get a bonus DVD for free. [7 points]

*SEVENTH SIN– Darkest Of All Dreams (independent)
Another star in the Dutch goth rock scene. SEVENTH SIN shows us, that they can easily compete with other Dutch bands in the international scene. Monique Op Hey is the female frontlady of this band. Website: http://www.seventhsin.nl. [7 points]

*SUNNO))) + BORIS– Altar (Southern Lord/De Konkurrent)
Jesse Sykes is the guest vocalist for this extreme, strange combination of musicians. With the piano ballad “The Sinking Belle”, they’ve recorded a song that you really won’t expect from these dark slow doomsters. [7 points]

*THEE MERRY WIDOWS– Revenge Served Cold (People Like You/Suburban)
Rockabilly punk from an all-female band, that really knows to rock until you drop. They’re served cold, but they’re hot to be rocked!! [8 points]

*THERION– Gothic Kabbalah (Nuclear Blast/Rough Trade)
The female vocals on this new THERION album were done by Katrina Lilja and Hannah Holgersson. All the different voices add a progressive touch to the already existing gothic metal sound of the band. Long term fans might need another turn to dig their new sound. [7 points]

*TRAIL OF TEARS– Existentia (Napalm/Rough Trade)
Emmanuele Zoldan is the female guest singer on this new TRAIL OF TEARS album. Although this new album sounds very solid and good, the future doesn’t really look too bright for bandleader Ronny Thorsen. After a tour in Mexico, the whole band left, and Ronny is the only remaining member of TRAIL OF TEARS. He is destined to go on with his band though. [8 points]

*THE WHITE BARONS– Up All Night With The Barons (Gearhead/Sonic Rendezvous)
THE WHITE BARONS mix punk with rockabilly and create a rather unique style. Frontlady of this talented band is Eva von Slut. She will make you stay up all night and play this new CD of THE WHITE BARONS. [7 points]

Winter 2006:

*BEGGARS BRIDE– Boulevard Of Broken Dreams (MTM/Suburban)
Rock album including several different vocalists. Aino Laos is one of the female singers on this rather average rock album. (6 points)

*BITE THE BULLET– The Return Of The Unrich & Ugly (TKO/Sonic Rendezvous)
German punkrock band with female drummer Marina Maniac, who keeps the beat together tightly. She is also the drummer of SUBKULTUR. Here, she is the metal maiden in this very powerful, kick ass punkrock outfit. (7 points)

*BLOODLINED CALLIGRAPHY– Ypsilanti (Facedown/GSR/Suburban)
Brutal American hardcore outfit fronted by female mosh queen Ally French. After the release of this album, Ally has been replaced by Ellen Hoffman. (6 points)

*CARDAMON– Cardamon (NL promoCD; independent)
Floortje is the name of the frontlady in this Dutch rock band, who released their four track promo CD in 2006. The female vocalist is by far the best component in this promising band. Website: http://www.cardamon.nl. (7 points)

*CLAYBORN– Every Dog Has Its Day (Down/Suburban)
Crazy Jane, the frontlady in this Dutch metalband, certainly knows to lift the band to a higher level. Her dogs (read: bandmembers) put a lot of variation in the powerful songs. A name to remember! (7 points)

*CRUACHAN– The Morrigan’s Call (AFM/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Irish folk metal band, that will make you happy, sad, bang your head or think about Ireland as a nice holiday destination at the same time. A safe buy for people, who already liked the band's previous albums. (7 points)

*DACIA & THE WMD– Dacia & The WMD (MTM/Suburban)
Catchy punkrock music, ready for radio airplay. Dacia Bridges might become the new chartbuster after AVRIL LAVIGNE, SKIN and GWEN STEFANI. Lemmy (MOTORHEAD) is even doing a duet with the lady in “Losing You”. A great way to start a successful career! (8 points)

*DEADLINE– Take A Good Look (People Like You/Suburban)
Melodic punkrock coming right from the streets of London! Take a good look and above all a good listen, because this is a first class band. Liz Rose is the female member in this phenomenal band. (7 points)

*DRAGONLAND– Astronomy (Century Media/EMI)
Power metal band from Sweden, that presents us their fourth album already. In their song “Cassiopea”, they called in the help of Elise Ryd on vocals. (7 points)

*FAIRYLAND– The Fall Of An Empire (Napalm/Rough Trade)
French epic, symphonic metal band, that uses female vocals here and there. The bombastic music sounds like an instrumental soundtrack to the fictive movie about "The Fall Of An Empire".(7 points)

*KOTTAK– Therapy (Escapi/Bertus)
Drummer James Kottak (SCORPIONS/KINGDOM COME) is now singer, guitar player in his solo band. On the drums we'll find back Athena Lee, sister of MÖTLEY CRÜE’s drummer Tommy Lee. “Holiday” is a cover of the SCORPIONS classic, from the “Lovedrive” album. These punk rockers started their career as KRUNK, by the way. (7 points)

*LIGHT THIS CITY– Facing The Thousand (Prosthetic/Bertus)
Laura Nichol is the female frontlady in this Bay Area thrash band, that could have put a little more power into their music. A bit more innovation and power would have made this release a lot more interesting than it is now. (6 points)

*LUDICRA– Fex Orbis, Lex Orbis (Alternative Tentacles/Sonic Rendezvous)
Doomy, black metal band from the State of California. Laurie is the singer, who proves that she can put on a normal voice, but she can scream as well.(7 points)

*MADE OUT OF BABIES– Coward (Neurot/Southern/De Konkurent)
Ultrabrutal band from America with the sick female vocal parts of Julie Christmas in front of the mix. Man, what a power!! Only cowards wouldn't dare to listen to this new power explosion. (8 points)

*MEAT LOAF– The Monster Is Loose, Bat Out Of Hell Part III (Universal)
Marion Raven, Patti Russo and Jennifer Hudson are the female singers on this third “Bat Out Of Hell” chapter. It will possibly never get even near the success of the first bat-release, but I’m sure it will please all the MEAT LOAF fans out there. (8 points)

*MEMORIES OF A LOST SOUL– Seven Steps To Nothingness (Deasun/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Melodic death metal band from Italy, that uses female vocals here and there. The keyboards in their sound take care of the melodic touch. (6 points)

*MORTAL LOVE– Forever Will Be Gone (Massacre/Suburban)
Gothic metal band from Norway, that presents us their great, second album. For fans of melodic goth stuff with female vocals. (7 points)

*MY DYING BRIDE– A Line Of Deathless Kings (Peaceville/Suburban)
The sun disappears, the moon shines bright tonight, leaves starts to fall, and the long dark nights are getting colder and colder. A perfect situation to release the new album of dark doomsters MY DYING BRIDE. (7 points)

*THE NAME– Recognition (NL DemoCD; independent)
Hadassa is the name of the new frontlady in this Dutch powerful metal band. With a bit more experience, they can easily grow out to become a successful new band in the Dutch metal scene. http://www.thename.merrick.nl. (6 points)

*NAPALM DEATH– Smear Campaign (Century Media/EMI)
Competition: Which Dutch singer sings on two songs of these British grind metal monsters?? Answer: Anneke van Giersbergen of THE GATHERING. What a surprisingly combination!! (7 points)

*THE PROVENANCE– Red Flags (Peaceville/Suburban)
Swedish progressive metal band, that shows us that they have a good talent for writing exciting songs. Vocalist Emma Hellström is a great singer, who easily lifts this band to a higher level. (7 points)

*PRYMARY– The Tragedy Of Innocence (Prog Rock/Bertus)
Very emotional concept album by this American prog rock outfit. Valerie Quirarte tells us her story, which is not really easy to accompany by suitable music. What type of music can be used best, when telling the story of a father who abuses his child sexually?? PRYMARY did a great job here though, and they dealt very well with this difficult task. (8 points)

*RED SPAROWES– Every Red Heart Shines Towards The Red Sun (Neurot)
Dark instrumental album of Josh Graham and Julie Christmas (MADE OUT OF BABIES/BATTLE OF MICE), that tells the story of the bloody revolution in China under Mao Zedong. (7 points)

*SHIVA– The Curse Of The Gift (Shiva/Bertus)
This is not the NWOBHM band, dear friends, but a Swedish band, that has slowly developped into a real band instead of just a project. After two albums, Aneste Johansson remained the singer of this melodic rock outfit from Scandinavia. (7 points)

*THE SPOOKSHOW– Psychosexual Chapter I (Crypt Of Blood/Sonic Rendezvous)
Swedish horror punkrock band, that definately knows to surprise us with their new album. Miss Behave is the frontlady of this colourful spooky outfit. (7 points)

*SYLVER MYST– Emotions Revealed (Sirenette Music Industries)
This is indeed the new Dutch prog rock sensation. Marjolein Hüsken is the frontlady of this promising band, that has captured their diverse soundscapes on this debut album. (7 points)

*TO/DIE/FOR– Wounds Wide Open (Spinefarm/Bertus)
Again, you will find back female vocals on the fourth album by this Finnish gothic metal band (F.e. in “Liquid Lies”). The band also performs their version of OZZY OSBOURNE’S “I Just Want You”, on this brand new album. (7 points)

*TWISTED SISTER– A Twisted Christmas (Demolition/Bertus)
Have a rocking Christmas with TWISTED SISTER, performing Christmas carrols in the best TWISTED SISTER tradition possible. “White Christmas” is guested by DORO, and in “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” we can hear some guest vocals of LITA FORD. A perfect CD for under the Christmas tree. (10 points)

*WETTON/DOWNES– Rubicon, Icon II (Frontiers Records/Rough Trade)
Anneke van Giersbergen (THE GATHERING, yes again!!) is guest vocalist on the new album of these sympho heroes. She can be heard in “To Catch A Thief” and “Tears Of Joy”. (7 points)

*WHY SHE KILLS– Of Hope And Suffocation (NL demo CD; independent)
Death metal band with two lady singers in their ranks. Imke and Janneke are the Metal Maidens in this new band, that was formerly known as GENETIC WISDOM. They put the melody in the death metal like sound of this Dutch band. http://www.whyshekills.com. (7 points)

Summer 2006:

*AMETHISTA– Realitate (Chaos Path/Master Piece/CM Distro)
Aeritica is the frontlady of this gothic black metal band, who decided to go into the studio to record their debut album much too early, in my opinion. Better luck next time, I hope. (5 points)

*ANCIENT RITES– Rubicon (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
Rute Fevereiro from BLACK WIDOWS (Portugal) performs the female vocals on this new album by the Belgian black metal band ANCIENT RITES. They sound heavier and more structured than on their previous album. (7 points)

*THE BELLRAYS– Have A Little Faith (Cheap Lullaby/Bertus)
This garage rock band has a very talented frontlady, called Lisa Kekaula. She puts some soul in the music of THE BELLRAYS with her marvelous voice, which lifts them up far above the average limit. (8 points)

*B-IMPATIENT– Intensity (Locomotive/Rock Inc./Bertus)
German rock band, that has the strength of writing good rock songs with a lot of variation. They may even be capable of writing a hit single in the near future. Vocalist Brigitte Berg is the key figure, who puts the variation in the songs. With the right promotion, this might lead to a commercial and successful career. Fans of rock bands like GUANO APES, EVANESCENCE etcetera, might like to check this out. (7 points)

*BLOODFLOWERZ– Dark Love Poems (Silverdust/Rough Trade)
Gothic pop rock band, who are too far away from the metal sound that our readers might expect from us. Kirsten Zahn is the female singer of the band. The flute playing on the album is done by SCHANDMAUL members Birgit Muggenthaler and Anna Kranzlein. This release gets the benefit of the doubt this time. (6 points)

*CREMATORY– Klagenbilder (Massacre/Suburban)
CREMATORY still sound like they’ve never been away. They score with a new CD, that is completely recorded in the German language. That’s also where they have the most success so far. (7 points)

*DISTORTED– Memorial (Bad Reputuation/Suburban)
LACUNA COIL-like metal band from Israël. Their influences are obvious, but the much louder sound of this band makes them a little bit more refreshing to me. (7 points)

*DUITSE HERDER– Blitzkrieg Bark (Den Canteeen Kweeker/Evil Bitch)
Dirty rockband with two female singers Hester Childmolester and Romylar Dee. Comparing to their previous release, this one sounds like a giant step forward for these Dutch rockers. I hope, that their political ideas are correct as well. (7 points)

*FIREWIND– Allegiance (Century Media/EMI)
On this fourth CD, we hear a nice duet between new singer Apollo Papathanasio and female vocalist Tara in “Breaking The Silence”. Good album with a short but very sweet female touch. (8 points)

*FLEE THE SEEN– Death Becomes The New Addicition (Facedown/GSR/Bertus)
Screamo band from Kansas City with Kim Anderson as the wild screaming vocalist. This lady is wild and energetic, and she shouts all her anger on this powerful album. (7 points)

*PAUL GILBERT– Get Out Of My Yard (Mascot/PIAS)
Paul’s wife Emi plays organ and piano on two of the songs on this new instrumental album of the RACER X / MR BIG guitar player. (8 points)

*HAUTEVILLE– Relief Data Incomplete (Lion Music/Bertus)
Lydie Gosselin is the frontlady in this prog pop rock band from France. Her beautiful voice adds the poppy touch in the melodic songs of this talented band. “Immaculate Eyes” is a cover of the progressive pop rock queen DALBELLO. (7 points)

*HYUBRIS– Hyubris (Recital/Bertus)
Portuguese metal band with Filipa Morta as the female singer of the band. I’m afraid though that the singer is the weakest link here. Another band, that went into the studio much too early! (5 points)

*IXION– Talisman (independent)
Esther Ladiges (UNICORN) and Maaike Bergman are the female voices in this symphonic rock opera. In Linde Faber, the band also added a female cello player to the line up. This is the second release of this solo project of SANGAMO bass player Jankees Braam. Website: http://www.ixion-music.com. (7 points)

*KAMIKATZE– Knit And Trash (Dirty Faces/Sonic Rendezvous)
Aggressive all-female hardcore threesome, that plays much more brutal than you would expect from these lovely ladies. (8 points)

*MAD– The Sentence Remains....1119 (Recital/Bertus)
MAD stands for Mutualy Assured Destruction and it’s the name of this Portuguese band, that still have a very long way to go. But the first steps of this band around Gabriela Pina are there and we have to wait and see where this leads. (6 points)

*MAKHEENA– Martyr (demoCD - independent)
Belgian rock band with a female background singer, called Melissa. Their music sound really groovy. Check their website at: http://www.makheena.be for more information. (7 points)

*MÅNEGRAM– Urminnes Hand ~ The Forrest Sessions (Displeased)
Acoustic folk metal CD by this Swedish band. It never gets really heavy, but it never gets dull either. On this MCD, the band collaborates with the Swedish folk metal band TVÅ FISK OCH EN FLÄSK. Just in case, you wondered... (6 points)

*ROYAL ANGUISH– A Journey Through The Shadow Of Time (Fear Dark/Displeased)
Death metal band from Florida, fronted by a female gothic metal vocalist. A strange combination, which works remarkably well. Bass player Sean Tibbets used to play in KAMELOT. (7 points)

*SARACEN– Vox In Excelso (Escape Music/Bertus)
The NWOBHM icons have used a female storyteller Meg Fairly Maunder on their new album. This might be a good reason for the readers of Metal Maidens to check this one out. The music on this album is superb, and a worthy buy for everyone, who already liked their previous releases. (9 points)

*SARA LEE– Darkness Between (Firebox/Bertus)
Gothic rock band, that barely lifts itself up above the level of average. Maybe it’s because the music of the band is more soft rock, instead of anything that comes close to metal. (6 points)

*SARCOPHAGIA CARNARIA/MORTUARY HACKING SESSION– So Tasty..../Painfully Yours (Last House On The Left)
Split CD with four songs by the female MORTUARY HACKING SESSION, playing very gore, sick and extreme metal. But they also prove, that women won’t hesitate to make history in the gore section as well. Better warn your neighbours, before you play this one! (7 points)

*7 DAYS– The Weight Of The World (Rivel/Bertus)
Caroline Fridsen is the female exponent on this melodic metal album. She sings her part during the song “Fall Again”.(7 points)

*DAIZE SHAYNE– Live Your Dreams (Mascot/PIAS)
Have you ever thought about how SHANIA TWAIN would sound, when playing guitar? Or how JOAN JETT would sound, when she would play surf music? Listen to this CD of blonde guitar nymph Daize Shayne, and you may find your answer here. She even covers GOLDEN EARRING’s biggest hit single “Radar Love” on this new release. Check it out! (7 points)

*SILENTIUM– Seducia (Dynamic Arts/Sonic Rendezvous)
This Finnish band has changed record labels. And also their drummer, male vocalist and female vocalist left the band, since they released their previous album “Sufferion – Hamertia Of Prudence”, three years ago. Riina Rinkinen is the new frontlady of the band now, and she proves that she is just what this band needed to make a fine album like “Seducia”. (8 points)

*SPITTING OF TALL BUILDINGS- Spitting Of Tall Buildings (AGR/Sanctuary/Suburban)
Punk rock band from Germany with a rather uncommon name. They mix their sometimes aggressive sound with influences that seem to come from noise and hardcore music. Jana is the loud screaming lady of this promising band. (7 points)

*STRAPPING YOUNG LAD– The New Black (Century Media/EMI)
On this new album of rock professor Devin Townsend we hear a guest role of BIF NAKED in “Fucker”. All the more reason for the fans of this lady to check it out. (7 points)

*TYSTNADEN– Sham Of Perfection (Limb Music/SPV)
This progressive rock band with some influences of gothic rock, hails from Italy. And they show us, that they’re capable of writing some exciting songs. Laura is the well-talented frontlady of the band. (7 points)

*UREAS– The Naked Truth (Locomotive/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Heidi and Per Johansson are from Denmark, and they give a positive twist on this album to all the negative things, that happened in life. And the final result is something they can be very proud of. (7 points)

*WASTEFALL– Self Exile (Sensory/Bertus)
These Greek musicians used female vocals on their third album. An exciting album full of innovative ideas. Well worth checking out maybe, although the female input is not that big. (7 points)

*WELTENBRAND– The End Of The Wizard (Napalm records/Rough Trade)
CD for the lovers of romantic, melodramatic, gothic metal. Dina Zambelli is the female vocalist with a voice as sweet as candy. Maybe a bit too soft and sweet for the average metal head out there. But overall, this album sounds pretty good. (7 points)

January-March 2006:

*ATARGATIS– Wasteland (Massacre/Suburban)
Gothic metal band from Austria, where Stephanie Luzie is the frontlady. She is well- known for her contribution with DARKWELL, and now presents us this average metal album called “Wasteland” with her new outfit ATARGATIS. (6 points)

*BELIEVE– Hope To See Another Day (Galileo/Bertus)
The female input on the new CD of this Polish melodic rock band comes from a Japanese violin player, called Satomi. She adds just that little bit more to the songs this average CD needs very badly. (6 points)

*BEYON-D-LUSION– Intuispection (Adipocere/Displeased)
French band, that sounds very much like our Dutch pride THE GATHERING. Alexandra Bernard is the frontlady, who also sounds very much like Dutch dream metal diva Anneke van Giersbergen. Good music, but not very original. (7 points)

*THE BLOODLINE– Where Lost Souls Dwell (Rebel Monster/Mascot/PIAS)
Kemi Vita is the female vocalist for this Dutch gothic doom metal band. She definitely lifts the sound of this band up to a higher volume. (6 points)

*THE BONES– Partners In Crime Volume I (People Like You/Suburban)
This is a single, on which some guest vocalists are singing cover songs. Mia Colden of CRUCIFIED BARBARA performs her version of “It’s My Life”, originally recorded by WENDY O WILLIAMS. (7 points)

*BUCKETHEAD AND FRIENDS– Enter The Chicken (Serjical Strike)
Buckethead uses many different vocalists on his new solo album. Several of them are females. All the more reason to mention this new solo CD of former GUNS ‘N’ROSES guitar player here. (8 points)

*CHARLEY HORSE– Charley Horse (People Like You/Suburban)
It was a great shock for us, when Corey Parks left NASHVILLE PUSSY. Her return with DIE HUNNS, together with her husband Duane Peters was already most promising. With CHARLEY HORSE, the fire spitting, new becoming mother, returns to her rock and roll roots with a sound, that will remind you of THE CRAMPS. Check it out! (8 points)

*THE DOGMA– Black Roses (Drakkar/Suburban)
Melodic power metal band from Italy, with a female background vocals. Only interesting for those, who want to buy everything with female members. (7 points)

*DOMINA NOCTIS– Nocturnalight (Officina Rock/Masterpiece)
Italian gothic fivesome with female vocalist, who present us their average debut album. Nothing special going on here though. (6 points)

*DRIVE BY WIRE– Drive By Wire (My First Sonny Weismuller/De Konkurent)
Simone Holsbeek (ex-TELEFUNK, ex-CHORDS) is the frontlady of this grungy stoner rock band. Hans Rutten of THE GATHERING is her partner in crime on this album. (7 points)

*GODSMACK– IV (Universal)
You don’t really need to buy this CD for the female vocals in the ballad “Hollow”. Therefore, it all sounds just a little bit too average. (6 points)

*HER ENCHANTMENT– Darkness (Burning Star)
Lucy Straates is the new female frontlady of this Dutch doom, death metal band. If you liked their previous album, you can’t go wrong on this one either. (7 points)

*KADENZA– The Second Renaissance (Holy/Displeased)
Horror black metal from Japan. The band likes to switch styles constantly on their sometimes bizar sounding album. Not bad though. (7 points)

*LACUNA COIL– Karmacode (Century Media/Suburban)
The songs on this new LACUNA COIL CD aren’t as catchy as the songs on “Comalies”. But for the fans of this Italian metal band, “Karmacode” will be a safe buy and it will definitely become a big hit again. (7 points)

*LEMMY– Damage Case (Sanctuary/Suburban)
Finally, LEMMY made it to the ranks of our magazine as well. Congatulations on that! “Damage Case” is some kind of ultimate compilation album of the work of this God of heavy metal. The female input on these two silver discs comes from WENDY O. WILLIAMS and GIRLSCHOOL. Easily full scores here, of course! (10 points)

*LORD VAMPYR’S SHADOWREIGN– Bloodcity (Gothic Slam/CM Distro)
Horror metal from Italy with gothic background singers. A band with an average sound, in which the singing of the English language is far below the acceptable level. (6 points)

*MADDER MORTEM– Disiderata (Peaceville/Suburban)
A new record label, a new bass player, a new guitarist, a new album. MADDER MORTEM is back, including good old Agnete on vocals, thank God! She sings better than ever on this new CD. Great stuff! (8 points)

*MARSHALL– Pages From The Past (PMP/Rough Trade)
Progressive metal band from Italy. This album contains two female vocalists on two different songs. Only interesting for the die hards. (6 points)

*IAN PARRY– Visions (Escape Music/Bertus)
Many female singers have guested on the new album by this great, sympathic rock singer, who presents us his fourth solo album here. (8 points)

*PENETRATION– Moving Targets (Captain Oi Records)
Re-release by this female fronted punk rock band. The CD contains five bonus tracks. (7 points)

*JIM PETERIK– Above The Storm (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Lisa McClowry is guest vocalist on the new album of this A.O.R. god. (8 points)

*PYRAMAZE– Legend Of The Bone Carver (Massacre/Suburban)
There are also female guest vocals on the new CD of this well-talented band. (8 points)

*RED CARPET– Treatment (E-Sound/Big Gain)
Dutch band, that presents us their new album, capturing a lot of different styles. Desiree Wouters is the female frontlady of this interesting new band. (7 points)

*SACRIFICIUM– Escaping The Stupor (Black Lotus /Rock Inc./Bertus) Good album of this German death metal band, which has a slight Christian input. Brutal at times and also melodic, where needed. It’s all in a very good balance. (7 points)

*SATYRIAN– Eternitas (Lion Music/Bertus)
Kemi Vita and Roman Schoensee teamed up again, like they did in THE BLOODLINE, and formed SATYRIAN (formerly known as DANCE MACABRE). Judith Stüber is the other female voice, that we can hear on this album mixing gothic rock with new wave and industrial sounds. There is something for everyone here. (7 points)

*ST. VALENTINES DAY MASSACRE– A Rock ‘N’ Roll Tribute To MOTÖRHEAD (Bad Reputation/Suburban)
Hear SKEW SISKIN and CRUCIFIED BARBARA crank out their favorite MOTÖRHEAD song on this good compilation. In “B4” we hear maestro Lemmy himself in a guest role with SKEW SISKIN. Kick ass rock and roll to the max and a good tribute to the loudest band of this galaxy. (8 points)

*VENTURIA– The New Knigdom (Lion Music/Bertus)
Progressive rockband from France. With Lydie Robin performing the female part of the double lead vocals section, the band proves that there is still room for good progressive rock in this country, next to HEADLINE. (7 points)

*WOLVES IN THE THRONE ROOM– Diadern Of 12 Stars (Vendlus)
Doomy, black metal band from the States, presenting us an album, which contains four songs, and about a full hour of music. (6 points)

Nov./December 2005:

*ALUGHANA – Yabal (demo)
Band from Belgium, who mix a lot of different styles to create a style of their own, completed with their own made language. Male and female vocals switch constantly and they also use not too common instruments on this demo like violins, accordion and didgeridoo. For more info about this excentric band you should check out their website at: http://www.alughana.be. (7 points)

*ANUBIZ – Siebzehn (Nicrothal/Rock Inc./Bertus)
German Gothic metal band, that will colour your winter days even darker than they already were. (6 points)

*APOSTASY – Devilution (Black Mark/Bertus)
Average DIMMU BOGIR, CRADLE OF FILTH-like black metal band from Sweden, with female vocals here and there. (6 points)

*ARCTURUS – Sideshow Symphonies (Seasons Of Mist/Bertus)
There are some female (background) vocals on this good, sphereful (black) metal album of this excentric band from the dark fjords of Norway. (7 points)

*AURACLE – Crystal Lies (demo)
On this demo, we can still enjoy the female vocals of Elizabeth Cordia. However, she has now been replaced by Amelie Mangelschots. The Gothic, WITHIN TEMPTATION-like style remains the same though. This demo contains of two new songs. Check the bands website at: http://www.auracle.nl. (7 points)

*AVA INFERNI – Burdens (Seasons Of Mist/Bertus)
Portugues band, that loves to experiment with not too common soundparts. Add to this the beautiful voice of Carmen Simoes (AENIMA/POETRY OF SHADOWS) and you'll get a surprisingly nice album. (7 points)

*AXXIS – Paradise In Flame (AFM Records/Rock Inc./Bertus)
The female vocal parts of Lakonia are getting bigger and bigger each album. On “Paradise In Flame”, she can even be heard in front instead of doing background vocals. (7 points)

*BLEEDING THROUGH – The Truth (Trustkill/Roadrunner)
Marta is the keyboardplayer of this sextet, that play an exciting mix of thrash, hardcore, black and death metal, on this third album. (7 points)

*DAVOLINAS – Edge Of A New Day (Nasoni/Clear Spot)
DAVOLINAS from Denmark is like a steamtrain, that can not find its second gear. Stoner, jamrock, the ultimate return to the sound of the seventies, with Lene as female vocalist. An interesting release. (7 points)

*THE DIFFS – The Diffs (SOS/Bertus)
THE DIFFS return to the times, when the punk rock ruled the scene. Seventies punk pur sang, so to speak. (7 points)

*DIVINE FIRE – Hero (Metal Heaven/Bertus)
Second solo album of NARNIA vocalist Christian Rivel. The neo-classical music on this album sounds great again, and in Maria Rådsten he has found a very good female vocalist. The cover, we hear on this album is QUEEN’s “The Show Must Go On”. (8 points)

*DORO – We’re Like Thunder (AFM Records/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Four different versions of this song, which is recorded together with female boxer Regina Halmich, are on this new single of rock diva DORO. (8 points)

*DREAMLAND – Future’s Calling (Dockyard/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Swedish melodic metal band, that uses female vocals here and there. Especially their ballad “Fade Away” is quite impressive. (7 points)

*DUITSE HERDER – Bark At The Poon (independent)
Great title of the second EP of this Dutch punkrockband. Well, their music is maybe even better. Two female singers are in front to shout out their statements in the microphone. Check out their website at: http://www.duitse-herder.com. (7 points)

*FILLI NIGRANTIUM INFERNALIUM – Fellatrix Discordia Prantokrator (Procon Media)
Portuguese black metal band, that is only interesting for people, who want to buy everything with female vocals on it. And with a name like that, they will probably never get big anywhere in the whole wide world. (6 points)

*FREAK NEIL INC. – Characters (Lion Music/Bertus)
Very experimental CD with lots of very different styles on it. Great musicianship is the keyword here and Irene Jansen (ex-KARMA) is the female voice on this varied piece of art. Not interesting for people who are only interested in straight forward, adventureless rock and roll! (8 points)

*GO BETTY GO – Nothing Is More (Side One Dummy/Bertus)
American all-female punk rock band that will make the sweat and power drip out of your speakers. My advise is to get punked by these ladies. (8 points)

*HIRETSUKAN – End States (G7 Welcoming Committee/Sonic Rendezvous)
Brutal hardcore band with the screaming voice of Michelle Profitt upfront. Don’t say, we didn’t warn you! (7 points)

*IN DUKTI – S.U.S.A.R. (Laser’s Edge/Bertus)
Progressive rock band from Poland, with a remarkable sound and some female (guest) musicians (Anna Faber on harp for example). Interesting enough to check it out, in my opinion. (7 points)

*IN FLAMES – Come Clarity (Nuclear Blast/Suburban)
The Swedish band has also used a female vocalist on their latest album. Her name is Lisa Miskovsky and she sings on "Dead End". IN FLAMES enlarge their musical views with every release. (7 points)

*JANEZ DETD – Killing Me (PIAS)
CENERIX singer Ivy Smits sings a duet on the album of these Belgian punkrockers. (6 points)

*LACRIMOSA – Lichtgestalten (Hall Of Sermon)
Six tracker of this ultimate Gothic metal band LACRIMOSA. In general, you can enjoy some of their heavier tracks here. All the more reason to check out this fine new release. (8 points)

*LEGENDS OF MOTORSPORT – Dual Fuel (Undertow/Munich)
Compilation of two previous released MCDs. On “RX7” we can hear guest vocalist Linda J. (6 points)

*MÅNEGRAM – Vredens Tid (Displeased)
Fourth album of this Viking folk metal band from Sweden, who’ve just added a female singer to their line-up. (6 points)

*NAIO SSAION – Out Loud (Napalm/Rough Trade)
Gothic metal with male and female vocals. Barbara is the frontlady in gothic metal band number so much. They score a little above average with their sound though. (7 points)

*NIGHTMARE – The Dominion Gate (Regain/Suburban)
Sander Gommans and Floor Jansen (both AFTER FOREVER) have a guest role on this magnificent new album of this French power metal band, with whom they toured in Holland at the end of 2005. (8 points)

*THE PROJECT HATE MCMXCIX – Armageddon March Eternal (Threeman/Bertus)
Jo Enckell replaced Mia Ståhl on this new black/thrash album of the ex-bass player of ENTOMBED Jörgen Sandström. (7 points)

*SILVER – Gold (MTM Music/Suburban)
Michaela Sober does some lead vocals and background vocals on the fifth album of this band of Michael Voss (DEMON DRIVE/CASANOVA/MAD MAX/BONFIRE) and Gary Barden (MSG). (7 points)

*SKYLARK – Fairytales (Scarlet/Bertus)
Italian neo-classical power metal band with Kiara as female vocalist. On this album they cover MIKE OLDFIELD’s “Moonlight Shadow”. A very surprising choice!(7 points)

*SLECHTVALK – Thunder Of War (Fear Dark/Displeased)
Single release of this Dutch folk, black metal band. On the single we hear the title track in the single version and the album version. The band also added two, yet unreleased tracks to this silver disc for the die-hard fans. (7 points)

*SOLEFALD – Red For Fire – An Icelandic Odyssey Part I (Seasons Of Mist/Bertus)
Black metal band from Sweden, with interesting female guest appearances on vocals, violin and cello. (7 points)

*SONIC SYNDICATE – Eden Fire (Pivotal)
Swedish black, death metal band that sometimes uses female vocals. (7 points)

*TAINT – The Ruin Of Nová Roma (Rise Above/Suburban)
There is a female guest vocalist in the song “Amaranthine” on this interesting release of these three Welshmen. (7 points)

*THE VEROS – Just Do It With Style (Guilty/Rebellion)
Oi! – punk band from France, which consists of two members (one male, one female) and a handful of guest musicians. Raw power punk to the max here, with covers of MENACE and THE JAM. (7 points)

*WARMEN – Accept The Fact (Spinefarm/Bertus)
Third solo CD of CHILDREN OF BODOM keyboard player Janne Warman. Jonna Kossonen is responsible for the female vocals on this good progressive metal CD. (7 points)

*WIDOW – On Fire (Cruz Del Sur Music/Sonic Rendezvous)
Lili is the new singer of WIDOW, that was founded in 2000. The roots of the band however, can be found in the early eighties. This is their second release and the first on a real label. (8 points)

Sept./October 2005:

*ACID KING-III (Small Stone/Bertus)
Ultraslow doom metal with female vocals. A nice combination indeed. (7 points)

*ANTIMATTER-Planetary Confinement (Prophecy/Suburban)
Amelie Festas is the female voice on this new album. She's also to be heard on one of the highlights of the album, namely the TROUBLE cover “Mr White”. (7 points)

*ASCENSION THEORY-Regeneration (Nightmare)
Progressive project of some former AZTEC JADE members. Jodie St. John is guest singer on the ballad “Lovers”. (6 points)

*ASVA-Futurists Against The Ocean (Mimicry/Konkurrent)
Another slow, doomy, psychedelic trip with the great vocals of Jessica Kenney. (8 points)

*AYREON-Come Back Home (Inside Out/Suburban)
The single, the video clip, the making of the video clip, a HEART like bonus track with Heather Findlay (MOSTLY AUTUMN) on vocals and a BEATLES cover called “When I’m Sixty-four” make this single to a worthy addition to your record collection. (8 points)

*BATTLELORE-Third Age Of The Sun (Napalm/Rough Trade)
Fantasy metal with lyrics based on the work of Tolkien. (6 points)

*BLACK MAJESTY-Silent Company (LMP/Suburban)
Australian true metal band that uses female vocals here and there. Interesting for old QUEENSRYCHE and IRON MAIDEN fans out there. (8 points)

*DEADLOCK-Earth.Revolt (Lifeforce/Suburban)
CRADLE OF FILTH like music with female background singers. In “Awakened By Sirens”, we hear Sabine in a leading role. (7 points)

*ELVARON-The Buried Crow (Thundering/Bertus)
French thrashy progressive rock band that is completed with an orchestra on their third concept album. (6 points)

*FOO FIGHTERS-In Your Honor (Sony/BMG)
We only want to mention that Dave Grohl does a duet with jazz legend NORA JONES on this new double album. (6 points)

*FURIA-Re-birth (Adipocere/Displeased)
All the well-known aspects are used again on this French gothic metal release number so much. (6 points)

*GITO GITO HUSTLER-Gito Gito Galore (Gearhead/Sonic Rendezvous)
Six track mini CD by this Japanese, all-female screamo punk rock band.(7 points)

*KAIPA-Mindrevolutions (Inside Out/Suburban)
Another album from this fantastic prog rock formation that features FLOWER KINGS frontman Roine Stolt and female vocalist Aleena. (8 points)

*KAPEL MAISTER-Into Salvation (Icarus Music)
STRATOVARIUS like band from Argentina with two female soprano vocalists, so we can also make a comparision to NIGHTWISH here.(7 points)

*KEKAL-Acidity (Fear Dark/Displeased)
Progressive metal with influences of death and black metal. Female vocals by Newin Atmarumenska. (7 points)

*KYLESIA-To Walk A Middle Course (Prosthetic/Bertus)
American band that plays an energetic mix of metal and hardcore. Laura sings and plays guitar in this band. (7 points)

*LIGHT THIS CITY-Remains Of The Gods (Prosthetic/Bertus)
San Francisco based band that sounds like a mix between HOLY MOSES and ARCH ENEMY. Laura Nichol is the grunting frontlady of these talented newcomers in the scene. (8 points)

*LORD VAMPYR-De Vampyrica Philosophia (Officiano Rock)
Black metal like solo album of former THEATRES DES VAMPIRES vocalist. René, Venus and Terry are in his backing band. (6 points)

*LUMSK-Troll (Tabu Rock/Bertus)
Second album of this Norwegian folk metal band, who called in the help of female choir called EMBLA, for the sphereful female vocals on this album. (7 points)

*THE LUST-My Dear Emptiness (Sleazy Rider)
Gothic metal band from Russia that sounds like THEATRE OF TRAGEDY. Vocalist Mirla is only sixteen years old! (6 points)

*MALNÀTT-Carmina Pagana (CCP/Rough Trade)
Black, gothic metal band from Italy that presents us an average debut album, with some female vocals.(6 points)

*MALSAIN-They Never Die (Dark Essence/Twilight)
Norwegian atmospheric black metal band with great female vocalist, who listens to the name of Skumring. (7 points)

*MATTSON-War! (Lion Music/Bertus)
Swedish guitar wizard strikes again with vocal renditions of Ella Grussner, Cocki Sarling and Floor Janssen (AFTER FOREVER). (8 points)

*THE MESSENGERS-The Messengers (Punkcore/Sonic Rendezvous)
Punkrock band from Cincinatti with female vocalist. For everyone who's into THE DISTILLERS and THE AVENGERS. Very raw, rough and uncompromising. (8 points)

*THE MIST AND THE MORNINGDEW-The Mist And The Morningdew (Vendlus)
Folky doom metal from Finland with female vocals of Veera Muhli (ex-UNHOLY). (7 points)

*NO COMPLY-With Windmills Turning Wrong Direction (Deck Cheese/Suburban)
Skapunk band with horns, and the good voice of Kelly Kemp. Although the name of the CD will make you think of Holland, NO COMPLY hails from England. XXX (6 points)

*ORPHEO-Echoes (independent)
Wendelin Visser is the female vocalist of this Dutch prog rock band from the Northern part of our country. Check out http://www.orpheo.nl. for more news about these upcoming talents. (7 points)

*PISSED ON ARRIVAL-Here We Go Again… (Brutus/Sonic Rendezvous)
Punkrock with female vocals. On this album we also hear some covers of THE ADDICTS, BLITZ and THE SEX PISTOLS. (7 points)

*PREY-Heartfelt (independent)
Dutch dark metal band. This album contains good musical ideas but has a rather poor production. Website: http://www.prey-band.com. (6 points)

*RAM ZET-Intra (Tabu/Bertus)
Weird sounding, Norwegian metal band, whose music is not always easy to comprehend. (6 points)

*RANDY’S RIPCORD-Love (Go-Kart/Bertus)
This band consists of two ladies and one male member from Hamburg. They sound like THE DONNAS. (7 points)

*SECRET SPHERE-Heart And Anger (Nuclear Blast/Suburban)
Italian symphonic power metal band with female vocals here and there.(7 points)

*SHAM RAIN-Someplace Else (Firebox)
Dark gothic rock band with some female vocals here and there. Nothing special though. (6 points)

*SLECHTVALK-At Down Of War (Fear Dark/Displeased)
Dutch viking metal band with a positive message in their lyrics. White metal from a black metal (like) band. (7 points)

*STINKING LIZAVETA-Caught Betweeen Worlds (Monotreme)
Greek, American threesome with a female drummer, who play instrumental, psychedelic stoner rock in the seventies style. (7 points)

*SUNTERRA-Graceful Tunes (CCP/Displeased)
Austrian gothic metal band with angel like female vocals. (6 points)

*TEAM SLEEP-Team Sleep (Maverick/Warner Music)
Pop album of former DEFTONES member Chino Moreno with female vocals of Mary Timoni (HELIUM). This will be too soft for the average reader of our on-line zine. (6 points)

*JENNIE TEBLER-Silverwing (Black Mark/Rock Inc/Bertus)
This EP contains the last notes played by Quorthon ever, when he cooperated on this project by Norwegian nymph Jennie Tebler, who sounds like a cross between Candice Night (BLACKMORE’S NIGHT) and Maggie Reilly (MIKE OLDFIELD). They both covered BATHORY’s “Song To Hall Up High” too here. (7 points)

*UNCHAIN-Unchain (Metal Heaven/Bertus)
Debut album from this Swiss hard rock band, who have a female bass player in their ranks. (6 points)

*VELCREA-Between Force And Fate (Drakkar/Suburban)
RAMMSTEIN like industrial techno metal with the mysterious voice of Jessi Frey upfront. Interesting for dance freaks and rockerz. (6 points)

*THE VISION BLEAK-Carpathia (Prophecy/Suburban)
Exciting, creepy horror metal with a black metal foundation. The female vocals add a special dimension to this fantastic album. (8 points)

*VMW-VMW (Coalition/Sonic Rendezvous)
Punk, the way HUGGY BEAR would play it. Only for die-hards, and not always heavy, sometimes even dancable or with disco like beats. (6 points)

*WETTON/DOWNES-Icon (Frontiers/Rough Trade)
Annie Haslan (RENAISSANCE) is the female guest vocalist in “In The End” on this prog rock album of Geoffrey Downes and John Wetton (ASIA). (6 points)

MM#40/Summer 2005:

*ANTESTOR- The Forsaken (Fear Dark/Displeased)
Norwegian black metal band in the best CRADLE OF FILTH style. On this CD, we hear Ann-Mari Edvardsen (THE 3RD AND THE MORTAL) as guest vocalist. (7 points)

*BETOKEN- The Gate Of Nothing (Steelheart Records)
Italian melodic power metal band with Eva Rondinelli (DAKRUA) on female vocals. At the end of this CD, they cover MEGADETH’s “In My Darkest Hour”. If you like bands such as RHAPSODY and LABYRINTH, you’ll dig BETOKEN as well. (7 points)

*BLODARV- Soulcollector….The Thousand Years Tale (Northern Silence Productions)
Danish black metal band, that simply can’t impress me with their bad sound. Their female singer can’t change this feeling. (5 points)

*BLOODLINED CALLIGRAPHY- They Want You Silent (Facedown)
American thrash metal outfit, that has a great frontlady in Ally French. This album is very powerful but much too short . (7 points)

*THE CREST- Vain City Chronicles (Seasons Of Mist/Bertus)
Nel is the singer of THE CREST – a melodic gothic metal band, that sounds a bit like LEAVES EYES. She also sang on an album of THEATRE OF TRAGEDY and together with guitarplayer Kristian she also sings in an electro-rock project called RUSTFLOWER INCORPORATED. A busy woman, who is blessed with a good voice, this Nel from Norway! (7 points)

*DEADLINE- Getting Serious (I Used To Fuck People Like You In Prison/Suburban)
Liz Rose is the frontlady of this brutal English punk band. Great, energetic album. (7 points)

*DRACONIAN- Arcane Rain Fell (Napalm Records/Rough Trade)
Swedish doom metal band, that has a great female singer in Lisa Johansson, next to the dark voice of Anders Jacobssen. The fifteen minute remake of “Death Come Near Me” is one of the highlights of the album. (7 points)

*DREAMAKER- Enclosed (Arise/Bertus)
Second album of this Spanish power metal outfit. Elisa C. Martin is the perfect forntlady, which she proved already on the debut CD and in her previous band DARK MOOR. (7 points)

*EVERGREY- A Night To Remember (Inside Out/Suburban)
Double live CD of this Swedish progressive rock band. The female vocals come from the background choir. Still, it’s interesting enough to check out for all the fans of this music style. (7 points)

*EXILIA- Unleashed (Gun/Suburban)
Italian band that sounds very much like GUANO APES. Maybe they are not very original, but they do it with style. They even supported RAMMSTEIN on some dates. (7 points)

*FALCONER- Crime vs. Grandeur (Metal Blade/Rough Trade)
The input of female vocals limits itself to opener “Emotional Skies”. (7 points)

*FRUIT TREE- Sun Set (Casket Music/Bertus)
Atmospheric black metal band, that didn’t really impress me at all, despite the input of the female vocals. (5 points)

*KAMELOT- The Black Halo (Steamhammer/Rough Trade)
Simone Simons of EPICA, coincidentally also the title of the previous album of KAMELOT, is one of the guest vocalists on this new album. You can hear her in the song “The Haunting (Somewhere In Time)”. (8 points)

*LACRIMOSA- Lichtgestalt (Hall Of Sermon/Suburban)
Again a great CD of this gothic metal outfit, but the vocal input of Anne Nurmi is shrinking on each and every album. The German lyrics give their music a special dramatic touch. (7 points)

*LORDI- The Monster Show (Mayan/Suburban)
‘Best of..” CD from their previous two albums. Released much too early in my opinion. (7 points)

*THE MESSENGERS- The Messengers (PunkCore/Sonic Rendezvous)
It’s punk rock around the clock with loud guitars and female vocals. Fans of THE DISTILLERS will definitely dig this one! (7 points)

*MORRIGU- Blood Shall Be Spilled (Nepherex)
Belgian black metal band with a female vocalist, called Argwaen (excellent name, by the way!). And watch out, because this is not atmospheric dark metal, but it’s fast, angry, powerful black metal. (7 points)

*MORS PRINCIPIUM EST-The Unborn (Listenable/Suburban)
The female input on this second album of this Finnish melodic death metal band is limited to some background vocals. Yet, it’s there, so this release needs to be mentioned here. (7 points)

*NEVEA TEARS- Do I Have To Tell You Why I Love You (Alveran/Suburban)
South Californian hardcore like band with a female drummer. Average and not very impressive!. (6 points)

*NOVAK- Forever Endeavour (MTM/Suburban)
On “Another Woman”, we hear Andreas Novak in a duet with the Swedish singer Martina Edoff. The rest of the album contains good melodic rock music, but this is the only song that has female vocals. (7 points)

*THE PROVENANCE- How Would You Like To Be Spat At (Scarlet/Bertus)
Dark doom metal band from Sweden. Sounds a bit like THE GATHERING mixed with MY DYING BRIDE. Emma Hellstrom is the metal maiden in this band, that sounds as dark as the long winter nights in their homecountry. (7 points)

*RUNEMAGICK- Envenom (Aftermath/Displeased)
Dark doom metal by this trio, who regularly switch band members. Their music however, is always full of variation, power and dark doomy metal riffs. Great stuff!! (8 points)

*TOXOCARA- Visceral Larval Migrans - demo (independent)
Dutch death metal band with a female bass player called Anne van Doorn (SANGUINARY). They show us how good death metal should be played. A name to remember for the future. http://www.toxocara.com. (7 points)

*UNCHAIN- Unchain (MetalHeaven/Bertus)
Hard rock band from Switzerland with a female bass player, that present us their debut album here. (6 points)

*WHITE COWBELL OKLAHOMA- Cencerro Blanco (Slick Monkey/Bertus)
Very colourful outfit with four guitar players, playing some good ol’ Southern Rock, the way we want to hear it! Bunny is the female vocalist of this well-talented band. (8 points)

MM#39/April 2005:

*TAMRAH AERYN- Typical Gurl (Massacre/Suburban)
Twenty-three year old girl, backed up by BALANCE OF POWER members, who plays music that we would describe as a mix between TORI AMOS and FIONA APPLE. Tamrah also plays piano on the title track. (6 points)

*ALIX- Ground (Go Down/Sonic Rendezvous)
Dusty stoner rock from Italy….with a female vocalist. Alice Abertazzi knows how to bring this band to a higher level on their fourth album already. (7 points)

*ANGRA- Temple Of Shadows (Steamhammer/Rough Trade)
Sabine Edelsbacher of EDENBRIDGE is the guest vocalist in “Spread Your Fire”. The material on this album sounds like a mix of STRATOVARIUS, GAMMA RAY, HELLOWEEN and DREAM THEATER. (7 points)

*ARWEN- Illusions (Arise/Bertus)
Who has two guitarists, two singers (one male, one female) and two keyboard players and hails from Spain? It’s ARWEN and on “Illusions”, they surprise us again with their symphonic power metal sound. (7 points)

*AUGURY- Concealed (Galy/Displeased)
Canadian band that mixes death metal with technical breaks and intermezzos. Easily switching from atmospheric parts to ultra brutal blasting beats. Lots of variation, and very well performed. Check it out. (7 points)

*BOOBIE TRAP- Hidden Agenda (Bad Dog/Sonic Rendezvous)
Great punk album by this female-fronted band from Orange County, USA. (7 points)

*DARKWELL- Metatron (Napalm Records/Rough Trade)
Stephanie Luzie is the new singer of this average gothic metal band. With her, they recorded this new alnum “Metatron”. (6 points)

*DEPRESSIVE REALITY- Growling Death (Nice To Eat You)
Death metal band from Czechia. Jana is the female grunter of this outfit, that never really gets exciting. Website: http://www.ntey.wz.cz. (6 points)

*DESENSITISED- Bought Beauty/PEACH-HER-Gastrophobia (Grodhaisn Productions) – split CD
DESENSITISED hails from Holland and has a female guitarist called Susan in their line up, who growls and grunts like a madman. This is only for death grind fans, who think that CARCASS are sissies. Very evil, meatgrinding stuff. Website: http://www.desensitised.nl. (6 points)

*DYING PASSION- Sweet Disillusions (Metal Breath)
Relaxed, (THE) GATHERING like album from this band from Czechia. Their third album with female vocalist Zuzana in the frontline. (6 points)

*FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES- The Fiction We Live (Vagrant/Suburban)
Emocore is the only description that you can give to the music of FROM AUTUMN TO ASHES. Melanie Wills is the female guest vocalist on “Autumns Monologue” here. (6 points)

*GÅTE- Iselilja (Warner)
Scandanavian folk music mixed with loud guitars. Gunnhild is the female vocalist of this young but very talented band from Norway. (7 points)

*GORILLA- Gimme Some….Gorilla (Beard Of Stars/Clearspot)
Stoner rock band, that sounds a bit like FU MANCHU. Many instrumental parts are mixed with seventies styled songs structures. Call it stoner, call it psychedelic, I call it surprising. (7 points)

*GRAVEWORM- (N)utopia (Nuclear Blast/Suburban)
This is the fifth album by GRAVEWORM. It contains a mix of atmospheric soundscapes and very brutal blasting riffs. Lots of variation again on this new album, that is far too short. (7 points)

*GUANO APES- Planet Of The Apes (G.U.N./BMG)
“Planet Of The Apes”, not the TV series but the album, is a ‘best of’CD of GUANO APES. It’s available as a single album, and the double CD contains a lot of extras. A must for the fans of this band, that has planned a sabbatical year after their last tour. (8 points)

*HARPIES- Bleed, Believe (Fortune & Glory/Sonic Rendezvous)
Very interesting second album by this British band, that has two female singers in their line up. Laura and Nicola’s voices range from whispering to normal singing and brutal screaming. (7 points)

*HYPNOSIS- Cyberdeath (Crash/Bertus)
Cyber death metal band from France with female voices. A weird but surprising combination. (6 points)

*INACTIVE MESSIAH- Inactive Messiah (Black Lotus Records)
Death metal band with innovative ideas. Nice fact is that the band has a female drummer in their ranks. (6 points)

*INFINITE DAWN- The Enigma Of Reign (independent)
WITHIN TEMPTATION, EPICA and AFTER FOREVER have a new sister. Fronted by Lotus van den Wijngaard, this band provides us five good songs that shows us Holland has a new well-talented band knocking at the backdoor of the generals again. (7 points)

*JEWEL IN THE MIRE- Getting Away With Murder (Music Avenue/Suburban)
You can hear some additional vocals of Marynka Nicolai on the song “Same Colour Blue, and “All That Special”. JEWEL IN THE MIRE is a very promising Dutch sleazy rock band, of which we will hear more in the (near) future, that’s for sure. www.jewelinthemire.com. (7 points)

*MARK LANEGAN BAND- Bubblegum (Beggars Banquet/V2)
PJ HARVEY sings two duets with the former frontman of THE SCREAMING TREES, Mark Lanegan. (6 points)

*LILITU- The Delores Lesion (The End)
Gothic rock mixed with thrashy riffs. The band hails from Georgia, USA. There are some female vocals here and there. (6 points)

*LUDICRA- Another Great Love Song (Alternative Tentacles/Sonic Rendezvous)
Excentric black metal CD with many weird, experimental sidesteps to noise and psychic screams and female vocals. (7 points)

*MANTAS- Zero Tolerance (Demolition/Suburban)
Mantas was the stage name of Jeff Dunn, former guitar hero of NWOBHM black metal outfit VENOM This is his second solo album with Cherisse bashing out the loud drum parts. After the release of the album, Cherisse left the band unfortunately. (8 points)

*MOONLIGHT AGONY- Echoes Of A Nightmare (Massacre/Suburban)
Chitral Somapala (formerly AVALON) is the new singer in this Swedish power metal outfit. During “Icy Plains”, we also hear the vocals of the female guest vocalist of EVERGREY. (7 points)

*NO COMPLY- With Windmills Turning Wrong Direction (Deckcheese)
Punkband from England with a female frontlady called Kelly Kemp. Their music is catchy, but the horns simply don’t match with the rest of the sound. (6 points)

*PLATENS- Between Two Horizons (Frontiers/Bertus)
Italian progressive metal band which uses choirs and the female background vocals of Allesandra Amata. This is a real interesting release with lots of variation and exciting instrumental parts. A must for every music fan! (8 points)

*RAIN FOR A DAY- Elemental (Point Music/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Dream away on the poppy sounds of this German band. Miriam Schnell’s voice sounds a bit dull. Here and there the atmospheric music tends to sound all the same. (6 points)

*RORSCHACH- Stalker (Rorschach)
Casandra is the frontlady of this new promising band from Holland. They already have the skills, now it’s only a matter of time before they can prove to be successful as well. (7 points)

*SHAPE OF DESPAIR- Illusion’s Play (Spikefarm/Bertus)
Brother and sister, Pasi and Natalie Koskinen are the two pilars on which this Finnish doom metal band rest. This is a really interesting release of a band, that shows a lot of variation in their slow, yet doomy soundscapes. (7 points)

*SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM- ….Of Natural History (Mimicry/Konkurrent)
Carla Kihlstedt is one of the two singers on this progressive rock album. The album is a mix of emotional and brutal music. (7 points)

*SPAWN- Human Toxin (Morbid/Displeased)
There are a lot of speed and mood changes on this death metal album. It even gets a little bit over the top. (6 points)

*SUPERFLOOR- Hold Me (Red Bullet)
Floor Kraaijvanger and her band did it again on this new Ep. This rocks like hell, a must for fans of THE BLACK CROWES, JANIS JOPLIN and CRY OF LOVE. (8 points)

*VREID- Kraft (Tabu/Bertus)
There are some female vocals on this black metal album. This is only interesting for die-hard fans though…. (6 points)

*WALLS OF JERICHO- All Hail The Dead (Trustkill/Roadrunner)
Great combination of thrash metal and hardcore. Candace is the frontlady in this brutal band, that makes a great comeback with this wonderful album. (8 points)

*WHERE ANGELS FALL- Dies Area (Edge Runner)
Atmospheric gothic metal band from Norway. With “Dies Area”, they present us an EP that sounds quite average. The die-hards know that it is there now. (6 points)

*THE WICKED- Sonic Scriptures Of The End Times; Songs To Have Your Nightmares With (Spikefarm/Bertus)
Kimberly Goss (SINERGY) is the guest vocalist on the album of the Finnish symphonic death metal band. (6 points)

*WILLOW- Hear Me Out (independent)
Dutch band that slowly moved their sound from pop music to punk rock. Marlein Heskes is the Dutch version of Skin of SKUNK ANANSIE! http://www.willow.nu. (7 points)

MM#38/December 2004:

*AD VITAM AETERNAM- Abstract Senses (Karmageddon Media/Bertus)
Fans of TRISTANIA or AFTER FOREVER may want to check out this French gothic rock band. Their singer Celine de Kerliviou really knows to impress me here. (7 points)

*BEHOLDER- Lethal Injection (Dragonheart)
Third album by this Italian power metal band. The input of LABYRINTH frontman Roverto Tiranti just isn’t enough to lift this album up to the above average score. (7 points)

*BEYOND. D. LUSION- First Step To The Source (Adipocere/Displeased)
This French band shows a lot of resemblance with THE GATHERING. Alexandra Bernard is the frontlady of this promising though not very original gothic rock band. (7 points)

*CALLISTO- True Nature Unfolds (Fuusteam/Displeased)
The female vocals are not upfront, and there are also no female members in the line up of this Finnish band. Not really interesting, only for those who want to listen to everything with female vocals. (6 points)

*CIRCLE TAKES THE SQUARE- As The Roots Undo (Robotic Empire)
Weird album, which is full of speed and mood changes. It’s hard to describe a sound that is never heard anywhere else before. The female input on this album is not big, so better judge for yourself if this is something for you. It sounded quite unique in my humble opinion, anyway…… (7 points)

*CRADLE OF FILTH- Nymphetamine (Roadrunner)
Liv Kristine Espenaes (THEATRE OF TRAGEDY/LEAVES EYES) can be heard on “ Nymphetamine Overdose” by this great English black metal band, who delivered one of the finest albums in their successful career so far. (8 points)

*DARKSUN- El Legado (Goi Music/Rock Inc./Bertus)
The main vocals on this Spanish power metal album were done by a male singer, but there are also some female vocals on the album. It will remind you a bit of DARK MOOR, because of the Spanish lyrics. (7 points)

*DESDEMONA- Version 3.0 (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Agata Pawlowicz is the singer of this band, that slowly takes a distance from its gothic image. If you like their sound heavier, extremer, more electronic and industrial than on their previous album, then I’d suggest to check out this “Version 3.0”. (6 points)

*ETHERNAL MOURNING- The Resident Sadness (Goi Music/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Gothic metal band from Portugal, which seems to impress me more this time than with their previous album. There are however no big surprises, whatsoever. (7 points)

*EVISCUM- Underneath The Burried (Still Dead/Displeased)
Death metal band from the USA, featuring Sharon Bascovsky of DERKETA on bass guitar. The three songs of their “2000 Demo” are compiled with three newer songs, worthy of half an hour of brutal, dark, death metal music. (7 points)

*FRONTSIDE- Forgive Us Our Sins (Regain/Suburban)
Polish band, that mixes brutal thrash with old school hardcore, and added some female backing vocals to their sound. In their own country they are famous already, and who knows this album might bring them some fame and fortune over here as well? (7 points)

*HYDROPHOBIA- The Other Side (indie)
Sascha Maas is the female singer of this Dutch progrock band, that exists for over twenty years already. For more info, I’d like to direct you to the bands website at: http://www.hydrophobia.nl. (7 points)

*JOHN 5- Vertigo (Shrapnel/Mascot/Pias)
Guitar album by this MARILYN MANSON guitar hero. Very well done and surprisingly fresh sounding! (7 points)

*LORD BELIAL- The Seal Of Belial (Regain/Suburban)
There are some female vocals on this fifth album of this Swedish black metal outfit. Only for die hards! (7 points)

*MERCURY RAIN- St. Matthieu (Shadow Flame)
Symphonic rock band from the UK, that presents their second album. Sonia Porzier is the female frontlady. They’ve added a bonus DVD to the CD, on which you can enjoy some live footage of the band. They will support THERION on their upcoming tour. Not bad for an independent band! Website: http://www.mercuryrain.com. (7 points)

*MIASTHENIA- Batalha Ritual (Somber Music/Displeased)
Melodic black metal band from Brazil. Female keyboardplayer Hecate is the vocalist on this second album, which mixes heavy riffs with some nice melody parts. Not bad! (7 points)

*NOCTA- Familiar Noise & Ancient Tunes (demo) (indie)
Continuation of NOCTAMBULANT GRIMNESS. They play a good mix of black metal and thrashy riffs. There are two ladies in the line up of this promising band from Gouda, Holland. You can order their demo by sending 6 Euros to: Martijn Roseboom, Speldenmakerssteeg 7, 2801 XM Gouda, The Netherlands. Website: http://www.nocta.nl. (7 points)

*ERIK NORLANDER- Stars Rain Down (Think Tank Media/Bertus)
Live album with some vocals of prog princess LANA LANE and the Dutch Michael Schenker, Peer Verschuren, on lead guitar. Impressive album and not to be missed!! (9 points)

*RTX- Transmaniacon (Drag City)
ROYAL TRUX is dead, long live RTX!! Jennifer Herrema is the leading lady of this weird Southern rock like band. (7 points)

*SYLVER MYST- Strains Of Souls (demo) (indie)
Gothic metal band from Holland. Marjolein Hüsken is the female frontlady of this promising band, that recently played at the well-known Summer Darkness Festival. Website: http://www.sylvermyst.nl. (8 points)

*THE TANGENT- The World That We Drive Through (Inside Out/Suburban)
Progressive rock band consisting of FLOWER KINGS members. Lengthy songs with long instrumental improvisations. Sam Baine (Po90) plays the keyboards on this spectacular new progrock album. (8 points)

*TSUNAMI BOMB- The Definitive Act (Kung Fu/Suburban)
Punk rock at its very best. Great stuff for all the VICE SQUAD fans out there!! (8 points)

*VIA MISTICA- Fallen Angels (Metal Mind/Pitchfork/Bertus)
I think, this is the only band that has a female vocalist, who also plays the cello and Kasia is very capable of handling both!! She lifts the album up in every possible way. And did you have a look at the beautiful CD cover?(8 points)

MM#37/October 2004:

*AETERNITAS- La Dance Macabre (Serpina/Armageddon)
Gothic metal band with two female vocalists in their ranks. If you like gothic metal with sidesteps to electro, pop and classical music, hen this is something to check out.(7 points)

*AGATHADAIMON- Serpent’s Embrace (Nuclear Blast/Suburban)
Another new release of this band with some female vocals on it. If you like their old stuff, you will like this as well! (7 points)

*THE A.K.A.’S (ARE EVERYWHERE)- White Doves & Smoking Guns (Sorepoint/Suburban)
Rock album from a band from New York, that has Nina Aron on organ. (7 points)

*ALYSON AVENUE- Omega (A.O.R. Heaven/Bertus)
Swedish A.O.R. band which presents us their second album in their fifteen year of excistense. Their experience shows on the ten good melodic A.O.R. songs on this album. Annette Bleyckert is the female singer of this well talented band. (8 points)

*AVOID ONE THING- Chopstick Brige (Side One Dummy/Bertus)
Pop rock band led by former GANG GREEN and MIGHTY MIGHTY BOSSTONES bass player Joe Gittleman. Ex RAGING TEENS guitar player Amy Griffin is his partner in crime, and the metal maiden on this rock album. (6 points)

*BLINDSIDE- About A Burning Fire (Elektra/Warner)
BLINDSIDE hails from Sweden and started their career under the name of UNDERFREE. Emma Härderlin is the female guest vocalist in the song “Shenika”, which is one of the highlights on this average album. (6 points)

*BUTCHIES- Make Y’r Life (Yep Roc/Sonic Rendezvous)
All female threesome that presents us their new album that is full of nice melodic punk rock songs. Fans of BEKI BONDAGE might want to check this out. (8 points)

*CETI- Living Angel (Oskar Productions)
Great double live album of this Polish melodic metal band. All their hits are played in a stunning live version here. This is a must have for every fan of this great band. (9 points)

*CETI- Rasizm (Oskar Productions)
This is a re-release from the album “Rasizm”, that was originally released in 1994. The band added a concert from 1994 to this CD, so now you can enjoy eighty minutes of fantastic melodic rock on one CD. Great stuff!! (9 points)

*CETI- Czarna Roza (Oskar Productions)
This is CETI’s debut album, compiled with a promo EP from 1994 and some live recordings. Again another mighty release of Polish finest melodic metal band. (9 points)

*CHAOSTAR- The Scarlet Queen (Holy/Displeased)
Freaky gothic metal with weird sound scapes. The band is led by Chris Antoniou (ex SEPTIC FLESH), who is accompanied by a female soprano vocalist on this album, that is full with very experimental music. (6 points)

*CREMATORY- Revolution (Nuclear Blast/Suburban)
CREMATORY mix their gothic metal with industrial beats and dance rhythms. And so they’re slowly creating an ever bigger gap with the metal sound that they had, before they disbanded two years ago. Reunions are not always a jump forward in the career of a band. (6 points)

*DRIVE LIKE YOU STOLE IT- Frequency (Undergroove/PHD/Bertus)
Mel Young sings and plays the guitars on this album, that sounds a bit like the British (read: London) version of HOLE or P.J. HARVEY. (7 points)

*ELVENKING- Wyrd (AFM/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Folkmetal from Italy with here and there some female vocals. Nothing really special, but nice to give it some spins. (6 points)

*EN GARDE- Forgotten Memories (Sleazy Rider Records)
Gothic doom metal band from Greece, with female vocals. Fans of AFTER FOREVER and EPICA might want to check this out. (7 points)

*ETERNAL GRIEVE- Mourning (independent)
Dark metal band with a female singer. Nothing special, only meant for the real diehards out there. (6 points)

*FINAL CHAPTER- The Wizard Queen (Underground Symphony/Bertus)
We hear some female vocals in a few songs. They’re not upfront, but still sound like a good addition to the music of this progressive power metal band. (7 points)

*GALADRIEL- World Under World (Metal Age Productions)
Slovakian doomy black metal band that presents us their fifth album. Lydia Lacova is a guest vocalist on this album, that surprised me in a very positive way. (7 points)

*GENIUS- Episode 2: In Search Of The Little Prince (Frontiers/Bertus)
Second part of the rock opera by Daniele Liverani. This time he chose the voice of Liv Kristine (LEAVES’ EYES) for the female parts. Interesting! (8 points)

*IMBOLC- Beserker Furies (independent)
Good Cdemo from this Dutch black death metal band. Digna van der Put plays the bass guitar on this project. You can order it by writing to: IMBOLC, Agnes van Leeuwenberchstraat 22 bis, 3515 AZ Utrecht, The Netherlands. Don’t forget to enclose US$5.00 or 4 Euro. Website: http://www.imbolc.nl. (7 points)

*INNER SHRINE- Samaya (Dragonheart)
Italian gothic metal band. Cecilia is their guest singer, cause the band originally exists of only two members. (6 points)

*IN-TENSION- Fragments (independent)
Dutch prog rock band with a rather high DREAM THEATER level. Noortje van der Voort is the female singer between all the high quality instrumental explosions. Very promising CD indeed. (8 points)

*THE (INTERNATIONAL) NOISE CONSPIRACY- Armed Love (Burning Heart/PIAS)
Inge Johansson, who played bass guitar for THE FEMALE ANCHOR OF SADE, plays in this Swedish rock band. Their sound is catchy and it has a great groove! Sara of THE DOUGHNUTS (Sweden), was once a member of this band as well. (7 points)

*KERIX- New Land (independent)
Another female fronted gothic metal band, in the style of NIGHTWISH. Priscilia Silver is the vocalist of this promising band, who present us their two song demo here. Check out their website at http://www.kerixband.hpgvip.ig.com.br (7 points)

*KEY OF MYTHRAS- Demonspeed Metalstorm (Pulsar Light)
Julia Wernig (DARKFALL) is the female keyboardist of this Austrian black metal band, but she can only be heard upfront in the mix during the intro. Only for die hards!(6 points)

*LEIDEN- Empty (Adipocere/Displeased)
Gothic, death metal band, that presents us their second album. Berangère is the female singer of this very average band. (6 points)

*LOWEMOTOR CORPORATION- Saturnalia (Spinefarm/Bertus)
Claudia Carnal is the engine of this Finnish gothic industrial metal band. In Finland, they even reached the charts with their MARILYN MANSON-like sound. (6 points)

*MEMORIZED DREAMS- Theater Of Life (Sound Riot/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Power metal band with female vocals here and there. Although they succeed very well, they still have a very long way to go! (6 points)

*MOONLIGHT- Audio 136 (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Polish, dark sounding metal band with a rather unique sound. Maja is a great vocalist and on this album she sounds stronger than ever. Better go for the limited edition of this CD if you’re intending to buy it, cause that contains an interesting bonus CD with lots of goodies on it. (8 points)

*MOONLYGHT- Progressive Darkness (Escapi/Rock Inc./Bertus)
MOONLYGHT is a Canadian black metal band with gothic influences as well. They already recorded this album in 2000, on which they called in the help of female guest singer Jessica Bell. Interesting release! (7 points)

*MORTUARY HACKING SESSION- Delightful Carvings (Last House On The Right/Vomit Noise)
Four girls from Nevada going ultrabrutal, ultraloud, ultragore, ultraviolent, ultra-experimental. Their music is weird and not of this world. A full album is in the making. And people who dare to order this single, must send an email to: mortuaryHS@yahoo.com. Your life will never be the same, after you’ve experienced these extreme sound scapes!(7 points)

*NAAMAH- Resensement (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Another Polish band with an alternative sound that shows some resemblance with THE GATHERING. Anna Panasz sings in English on this album, which is a giant step forward compared to their previous album.(7 points)

*NAKED BEGGARS- Naked Beggars (SMA Records)
There are eleven rock songs on this CD. The female vocals come from Inga Brittingham, who sounds like a mix between ANOUK and PAT BENATAR. More information can be obtained from their website at: http://www.nakedbeggars.net. (7 points)

*NEBELHEXE- Laguz – Within The Lake (Karmageddon/PHD/Bertus)
We all know Andrea Haugen under her stagename HAGALAZ RUNEDANCE. Now we find Andrea back in her new band NEBELHEXE, bringing her back to her gothic roots. She also plays a cover of the LENA LOVICH song “Birdsong” on this new album, that will certainly please all the fans of her HR albums. (7 points)

*PANOPTICUM- Reflection (independent)
Progressive metal band from Belgium, with a sound that comes very much near the sound of DREAM THEATER, because of the keyboard sound they have. Sharri Platteeuw is the female vocalist in the band. The CD can be ordered from their website at http://www.panopticum.org. for only ten Euros. (7 points)

*SENSER- Schematic (Labelman/Zomba)
SENSER is from London, and on “Schematic” they present us a great variety of styles and sounds. Kerstin Haigh is the female voice of this experimental sounding band. (6 points)

*SILVER MYST- The Bleeding Snowlands (independent)
Dutch gothic metal band, that is not really convincing on this two song Cdemo. Anieke Viveen is the frontwoman of this band from the Southern part of Holland. (6 points)

*SISTER SIN- Dance Of The Wicked (Sleazy Rider Records)
Female fronted metal band from Greece that plays their metal in the well known eighties L.A. style. Liv Jagrell is the female part of this band, that sounds very promising indeed. They also cover “Paint It Black”, originally recorded by THE ROLLING STONES, on this CD. (7 points)

*SKYLARK- Wings (Scarlet/Bertus)
Kiara is the new female member in this Italian melodioc power metal band. You can hear her on the DEF LEPPARD ocver “When Love And Hate Collide’ here. (7 points)

*STARS AND STRIPES- One Man Army (I Scream/Suburban)
Linda Bean (bass) is the female member of this old school hardcore band, that astonished me with their great comeback album full of songs about football and hooligans. Jack ‘Choke’ Kelly (SLAPSHOT fame) is the frontman of the band. (8 points)

*SYMMETRY- A Soul’s Roadmap (independent)
Dutch progressive metal band with a brandnew album. Sofie Letitre sings a duet with male vocalist Erik Masselink in “Turn Away”, which is only a small part of this good concept CD. For more info, write to: Symmetry@xs4all.nl. (7 points)

*THEATRE DES VAMPIRES- Nightbreed Of Macabria (Blackened/PHD/Bertus)
Gothic rock band, in which the balance tends to move towards the gothic side, which makes this band very much on the edge of being interesting enough or not. Decide for yourself…. (6 points)

*TURISAS- Battle Metal (Century Media/Suburban)
Bombastic jazzy folk metal band with some female vocals here and there. Only interesting for those who want to have everything with female voices on it. (7 points)

*VICE DOLLS- Die Trying (Crosscheck/Sonic Rendezvous)
Great hardcore band with female vocalist Carrie Nance, who proves that women can play good hardcore as well. Raw, unpolished and bold as brass!! http://www.thevicedolls.com. (7 points)

*WIZ- Shattered-Mind-Therapy (Arise/Bertus)
Debut album of this Swedish band, that uses some female vocals. Two members of the band are also in NOSTRADAMEUS, and the music of WIZ can be described as melodic heavy metal. (7 points)

*WASTELANDS- Dark Ages (independent)
CARTHAGO vocalist Margreet van Duijvenbode is the female guest vocalist on the MCD of this Dutch melodic rock band. All other information can be obtained from the band’s website at: http://www.wastelands.nl. (7 points)

*XANDRIA- Ravenheart (Drakkar/Suburban)
German gothic metal band that presents us their second album. Lisa is the female vocalist of this band, that plays a good mix of all the bands that are successful in this scene. (7 points)

MM#36/June 2004:

*CLOSTERKELLER- Nero (MetalMind/Pitchfork/Bertus)
New album of this Polish gothic metal heroes, who are still searching for recognition outside their own country.(7 points)

*COASTLINE- Coastline (Vinny)
Swedish AOR band, that presents their twelve song debut album here. Helena Rosendahl is the talented frontlady in this band, that is already working on a follow up to “Coastline”. Check out the latest news at: http://www.coast-line.nu.(7 points)

*DARGAARD- Rise And Fall (Napalm/Zomba)
If you already liked DARGAARD’s previous releases, then I can definitely recommend their new album “Rise And Fall” to you. Maybe we cannot categorise their music as ultra heavy, but it’s very beautiful and of a very high quality. Check it out. (8 points)

*ENTER CHAOS- Aura Sense (MetalMind/Pitchfork/Bertus)
Marta is the grunting frontlady of ENTER CHAOS, that could well be compared to IMMEMORIAL, the band in which Marta Meger sang before she joined this Polish death/thrash combo.(7 points)

*FACE THE FACT- Romeo And Juliet Are Not Dead (Beniihana/Sonic Rendezvous)
FACE THE FACT is an Italian metalcore band with a female bassplayer and a bad male singer. Need I say more? Only for die hard fans…. (6 points)

*FLOWING TEARS- Razorbliss (Century Media/Suburban)
Helen Vogt became the new singer of FLOWING TEARS after Stefanie Duchêne left the band. Their sound remained the same and on “Razorbliss” , we can hear that Helen’s voice sounds almost exactly the same as Stefanie’s. (7 points)

*FIGURE FOUR- Suffering The Loss (Solid State/Sonic Rendezvous)
Third album by this hardcore band. Metalmel is the female guitarist on this album, that is full with loud, brutal NY HC. (7 points)

*GLASSHAMMER- Shadowlands (Arion/Bertus)
Progressive rock music with long complex songs, that will remind you of early YES or KANSAS albums. The band used four different female singers to sing on this eight album of this great American prog rock band. (9 points)

*GRACE FALLEN- Lord Of Gale (independent)
GRACE FALLEN was formed three years ago in Belgium and consists of two ex-AXAMENTA members, guitarplayer Domingo and female vocalist Caroline. You can order this avarage gothic metal demo by sending an email to: gracefallen@skynet.be. (6 points)

*HORRORPOPS- Hell Yeah! (Hellcat/PIAS)
Patricia is the female vocalist of this band that sounds like a cross between BLONDIE and THE CRAMPS. (7 points)

*I.D. TEST- Considering The Human Ignorance (independent)
Five songs are on this third demo of I.D. TEST, a Dutch band, that mixes metal with brutal hardcore. Annemarie Visser is the female guest vocalist on a thrashy song, called “Defying The Gods”. Check out the bands website at: http://www.idtest.com. (7 points)

*KARELIA- Usual Tragedy (Drakkar/Suburban)
If progressive gothic metal would exist, then we could put KARELIA from France under this banner. Their sound isn’t too easy to describe. Fact is however, that they use some female vocals in their varied soundscapes. (7 points)

*MAGIC KINGDOM- Metallic Tragedy (LMP/Suburban)
Second album of this band, that used female vocals here and there. A very strong release, but the female vocals are not constantly upfront in the mix. Please see them as guest vocals, when you enjoy the great music of this band of course. (8 points)

*MAJESTIC PARADIGMA- Alone (independent)
This band hails from the Nothern part of our country (Groningen) and surprised me in a very positive way with this three song demo, worthy of twenty minutes of good, gothic metal in the style of WITHIN TEMPTATION and AFTER FOREVER. Marianne is their vocalist. You can order their demo for 7.50 Euro, by sending an email to: a.helmus@12move.nl. (7 points)

*NEUROSIS/JARBOE- Neurosis/Jarboe (Neurot)
Jarboe, a screaming lady, who put her mark on the industrial noise metal of a band like THE SWANS, teams up with NEUROSIS. If you like the sound of THE SWANS, then this release may be interesting for you, too. (6 points)

*NOX- Zazaz (independent)
Helena Iren Michaelsen (IMPERIA) is the guest vocalist on this release during the song “Signed In Blood”. (7 points)

*ORANGE GOBLIN- Thieving From The House Of God (Rise Above/Bertus)
There are some female vocals on the new album of this stoner rock band, but they’re not really upfront in the mix. Nonetheless, I want to mention this album here, if it’s only just for the record. (7 points)

*ORPHANED LAND- Mabool, The Story Of The Three Songs Of Seven (Century Media/Suburban)
We hear a lot of different styles, exotic instruments, different cultures and languages on this album by ORPHANED LAND from Israel. You can also hear some femme vocals here and there in the choir parts. An album, that is very much worth checking out! (7 points)

*7TH CIRCLE- Unsummon (independent)
Three song demo from this Belgian band, that makes a good mix of gothic metal and prog rock. Winnie Versmissen is the great singer and frontlady of this very talented band. Do yourself a favour, check out their website and order their CD. http://www.7thcircle.be. (8 points)

*SIRENIA- An Elixir For Existence (Napalm/Zomba)
Morten Veland did it again! He made a great follow up album to “At Sixes And Sevens”, on which we enjoy the heavenly voice of Henriette Bordvik. Gothic metal at its very best. (8 points)

*SOULFLY- Prophecy (Roadrunner/CNR)
Asha Rabouin sings on the ballad “Wings” on this new album of former SEPULTURA frontman Max Cavalera.(7 points)

*SUMMONER- Winter Solstice (B.T.O.D./Masterpiece)
Female vocalist Nadia sings on three songs on this debut album of this melodic metal band from Italy. The songs, on which we hear her voice, are by far the best on this varied, melodic metal album. (7 points)

*SUSPERIA- Unlimited (Tabu/Bertus)
This band of former DIMMU BORGIR drummer Tjodalv takes us back to the well-known Bay Area thrash sound of the mid-eighties. On some of the songs, we hear female guest vocals, but in general these songs are a bit more modest than the others. (7 points)

*THE VISION BLEAK- The Deathship Has A New Captain (Prophecy/Displeased)
Dame Pandora, the female singer of the French band DARK SANCTUARY, handles the vocals on this dark, gothic horror rock album of these German gentlemen. Interesting! (7 points)

*THRILLS- Original Boston Punk 1977-1981 (Bacchus Archives/Sonic Rendezvous)
Compilation CD from this Boston punk band. Great stuff!! (8 points)

*VARIOUS- In Goth We Trust (Metalmind/Pitchfork/Bertus)
DVD, which contains about twenty video clips of bands like MOONLIGHT, DELIGHT, ARTROSIS and CLOSTERKELLER. In the same package is also a CD with fifteen songs. (7 points)

*ZERO GRAVITY- Synchronity (independent)
Great progressive rock band from Belgium. They play some exciting, long songs on this demo and during “The Old Forrest”, we can hear female guest vocalist Dorien Heyligen, who gives this beauty an extra dimension. I think they’re ready for the next big step. Their website can be found at: http://www.zerogravityband.be. (8 points)

MM#35/March 2004:

*WANDA CHROME & THE LEATHER PHARAOHS- More (Disturbed/Suburban)
Rock with a capital R, made by a threesome of Millwaukee, Texas. This sounded good in the sixties, and it still sounds fine today! Honest to the bone!!! (7 points)

*THE GITS- Enter: The Conquering Chicken (Broken Rekids/Sonic Rendez-vous)
Once we had a female fronted punkband called THE GITS. Once we had frontlady Mia Zapata, who died a gruelsome death years ago. Now we have a strong remembrance of Mia and her GITS. Now we also have a compilation album of THE GITS, containing fifteen good punkrock songs and eight live tracks. Fans of THE DISTILLERS might wanna check this out to know where Brosy got her influences from. (8 points)

*HAMMERS OF MISFORTUNE- S/T (Cruz del Sur/Bertus)
Great American metal band, that really knows how to write some interesting songs. To some of us this will sound like an ordinary cross between old school NWOBHM and US Metal. I know that this is great stuff on a small independent label. Sigrid (piano) and Jamie (bass/vocals) take care of the female input in this band. (8 points)

*LIVA- Requiem (independent)
Mix metal with classical music, add lyrics to it that are written in Latin, and you’re ready for this band called LIVA. Catherine Elvira Chartier takes care of the female vocals, which are the most interesting part on this CD. (7 points)

*MANDRAKE- Calm The Seas (Greyfall)
Birgit Lau is the female vocalist in this German band, that plays a mix of death, black and gothic metal. However, I must confess, the music of the band is much more innovating and interesting than the vocal parts of Birgit on this debut CD. (6 points)

*ORPHEO- Songs Of The Past Days To Come (independent)
ORPHEO hails from Groningen, The Netherlands. They play melodic metal with a symphonic touch. Wendelien Visser is the female vocalist on this interesting demo. (7 points)

*RANDOM EYES- Eyes Ablaze (independent)
Melodic rock band with a gothic touch hailing from Finland. Warning, this is not the usual grunt, angel like vocals structure we have here. This band goes beyond the paved paths. That’s why they score above average. Katja Rimpeläinen is the female member of this band. (7 points)

*SHADOWS DANCE- A Quatrain For The Damned (Ebony Tears/Suburban)
Atmospheric black metal with a bombastic side and an extreme brutal side. Members of ASTARTE and SEPTIC FLESH sing on this good release. (7 points)

*SYSTEM BREAKDOWN- S/T (Rivel/Bertus)
BLACK SABBATH (late 80’s era)-like band with female vocals here and there. Quite impressive.(8 points)

*VERONA BEACH- S/T (independent)
Thrash band from Roermond in The Netherlands. They have a female drummer in their ranks. Better keep them in mind, ‘cause they definitely play the music of today. Check them out at: http://www.veronabeach.com. (7 points)

MM#34/Dec. 2003:

*ANATHEMA- A Natural Disaster (Music For Nations/Zomba)
ANATHEMA uses quite some female (background) vocals on their new album “A Natural Disaster”. This seventh album of this Liverpool based band sounds very well indeed, which makes it extra interesting to check it out. Just listen to the title track to know what I mean here!! (7 points)

*ANTIMATTER- Lights Out (ProphecyDispleased/)
The voices of Hayley Windsor and Michelle Richfeld are the biggest eye-catchers on this second album of ANTIMATTER. The music on this dark piece of work will make the sun disappear forever, what remains are depressing, ANATHEMA like soundscapes. (7 points)

*CASUAL SILENCE- Once In A Blue Moon (Red Sea/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Dutch prog rock band CASUAL SILENCE recorded a ballad, called “Dreamweaver” on this new album. We will hear their singer Rob Laarhoven in a duet with V-MALE vocalist Sandra Peeters. (7 points)

*CIRCE- Aeaian Echoes…… (Hardebaran)
Some albums better stay unmentioned, despite the female voice of Malou. (4 points)

*COAL CHAMBER- Giving The Devil His Due (Roadrunner)
This is a compilation CD, that is full of rarities, B-sides, demos, remixes, live songs and one new song. A nice addition to your COAL CHAMBER collection, while the band does not exist anymore. (6 points)

*DARK AT DAWN- Of Decay And Desire (AFM/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Just want to mention, that I heard some female guest vocals during “Solitude”. (6 points)

*DRACONIAN- Where Lovers Mourn (Napalm/Zomba)
Good gothic metal album from this band from Sweden. Especially the great, angel like voice of Lisa Johansson adds a special touch to the music of this band. (7 points)

*KAIPA- Keyholder (Inside Out/Suburban)
Leena is the female singer on this album of the side project of THE FLOWER KINGS frontman Roine Stolt. If you like the long, complex songs of TFK, then I suggest to have a listen to this album as well. (8 points)

*MYSTIC CIRCLE- Open The Gates Of Hell (Massacre/Suburban)
Female vocals on the new MYSTIC CIRCLE album? Yes, just listen to the song “Wings Of Death” of this great German black metal band.(7 points)

*MYTHOLOGIC- Standing In Stillness (Progressive Music Management)
Melissa Rodler is the female singer of this prog rock band, that sounds like a mix between RUSH and FATES WARNING… with Amy Lee of EVANESCENCE on vocals. Check it out at: http://www.pmm-music.net (8 points)

*NOCODE- demo (independent)
Dutch band, that explores several music styles on their demo. Johanneke Kranendonk is the female singer in the band, a band that shows a lot of variation and certainly has the potential to become big. You can contact NOCODE and order their demo by sending an e-mail to: ekranendonk@zeelandnet.nl (7 points)

*NORDHEIM- River Of Death (Mausoleum/Suburban)
Great power metal album from Brazil. On some tracks you may hear some female vocals, although they’re not upfront in the mix. The first demo of NORDHEIM is added to this CD as a bonus. Full score! (10 points)

*PATHOS- Perdition Splits The Skies (Intolerant Messiah)
Very brutal death metal band coming from America, that uses the help of a female violin player in the opening track “Towards The Precipice” of their debut album “Perdition Splits The Skies”. In “Eroding The Spires”, we also hear the female vocals of Jessica Kenney. Only interesting for people, who like to drink blood from skulls!! Website: http://www.pathoskills.com. (6 points)

*PENUMBRA- Seclusion (Season Of Mist/Bertus)
French gothic metal band that presents their second album. Again, they called in the help of Anita Covelli, as their female ‘guest vocalist’. She fits in very well with the great gothic sound of this band. (7 points)

*SACRIVERSUM- Mozartin (Metal Mind/Pitchfork/Bertus)
Gothic metal band from Poland. The female vocals aren’t that strong maybe, the music makes up for that however. The title of the album already tells us that the band pays tribute to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. (7 points)

*SACROSANCTUM- Fragments (Metal Age)
The doomy music of SACROSANCTUM sounds very well, but I must be honest about the bad vocals of female singer Zuzana. She will have to practice a lot to convince me. Still interested? Better think twice, believe me! (4 points)

*SEVENTH SEAL- The Black Dragon’s Eyes (Steelheart/Bertus)
Power metal band from Italy. Chiara Luci is the powerful frontlady, who knows how to rock real hard. On this album they also crank out two metal covers, namely “Thundersteel” (RIOT) and “I’m Alive “(HELLOWEEN). Great stuff!!! (9 points)

*64 CHEVY- Horse Power Multiplied (independent)
Dutch stoner rock band with ex-FOREVER TIMES forntwoman Laura van Driel on vocals. Their demo sounds powerful and the female vocals make it sound pretty surprising. You can order their demo, by writing to Laura van Driel, St. Jacobstraat 9, 5014 SE Tilburg, The Netherlands, or check their website at: www.64chevy.nl. (7 points)

*SONATA NOCTURNA- The Darkest Winter (Rage of Achilles/Suburban)
Very promising MCD by this Spanish gothic metal band. Amparo Garcia is the female vocalist of this band, that has a very bright future if their upcoming album sounds as promising as these three tracks.(8 points)

*THE TANGENT- The Music That Died Alone (Inside Out/Suburban)
Great symphonic rock album of a new super group that consists of members of THE FLOWER KINGS, VANDERGRAAF GENERATOR and PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES. On keyboards, we hear Sam Baine (PARALLEL OR 90 DEGREES), who adds a special dimension to the four songs that are a mix between CARAVAN and YES. Complex, long sympho songs with a touch of jazz. Great! (8 points)

*TVANGESTE- Firestorm (World Chaos/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Russian black metal band that mixes their brutal side (vocals) with their more modest side (classical orchestral parts). There are female vocals on this album as well. THERION fans might like their approach. (7 points)

*VAMPIRIA- Wicked Charm (GOI/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Another band with good muscians but poor female vocals. This time they hail from Argentina. The band plays a mix of gothic and black metal. Only for purists. (6 points)

*VARIOUS- A Return To Fantasy: A Tribute To URIAH HEEP (Century Media/Suburban)
LANA LANE is the female person, who pays tribute to one of the best heavy rock bands of the seventies, URIAH HEEP. She sings her version of “Weep In Silence”. On this tribute, we also hear contributions of bands like SACRED STEEL, NARNIA and JACK FROST. (8 points)

*VIA MYSTICA- Testamentum (In Hora Mortis Nostre) (Metal Mind/Pitchfork/Bertus)
Gothic doom metal band that presents us their debut album. Kaska is the female vocalist of this band, that sounds just above average to me.(6 points)

MM#33/Oct. 2003:

*AMAZOMBIES- Bitches & Stitches (Go Kart/Sonic Rendezvous)
Female punkrock band with a good sound. Might be promising for the future. (7 points)

*ANTIPRODUCT- Made In USA (Cargo/Suburban)
This English band played already at the Ozzfest, over here in Holland. Now they present us their second album. The ladies in this band handle the backing vocals, but they can’t really convince me. The strong riffs of the guitarist however, make up for that. (8 points)

*ASMEGIN- Hin Vordende Sod & Sö (Napalm/Zomba Distribution)
Black metal band from Norway with influences from folk metal in their sound. Sareeta provides the female vocals on this surprisingly good new album. (7 points)

*CALLENISH CIRCLE- My Passion / Your Pain (Metal Blade/Zomba)
Kaleen, the female bassplayer of GAIL OF GOD, takes care of the few female vocal parts, that you can hear on this new CD of CALLENISH CIRCLE. (6 points)

*DARKFLIGHT- Under The Shadow Of Fear (Rage Of Achilles/Suburban)
Even in Bulgaria they’ve discovered the well-known gothic metal sound. Tatyana Teneva provides the female vocals, while Ivo Lliev plays all the instruments on this rather average debut.(6 points)

*DEADLINE- Back For More….. (Captain Oi!/Suburban)
This punkrock band from America surprised me in a very positive way with their second album. Liz has become a great front woman and an excellent singer, who proves to be capable enough to handle the twelve solid punk songs on this new CD.(8 points)

*ETHEREAL- The Dreams Of Yearning (Recital/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Progressive metal band from Portugal with male and female vocals. The music on this concept album sounds above average to me.(7 points)

*FURIA- Un Lac De Larmes Et De Sang (Adipocere/Displeased)
French bombastic black metal band, that uses some female vocals here and there. Die hards with knowledge of the French language might want to check this one out.(6 points)

*HAUS ARAFNA- Butterfly (Galakthorrö)
Twosome that brings us a weird mix of industrial noise and black metal. This is the third album of Mr. And Mrs. Arafna from Germany. Go to: http://www.galakthorroe.de for more information.(6 points)

*IPSUM- Mystic Evilution (independent)
Melodic black metal with female vocalist Michelle in the front line. The band hails from Switzerland and you can obtain more information from their website at: http://www.ipsum.ch.(7 points)

*LUJURIA- El Poder Del Deseo (Locomotive Music)
Elisa of DARK MOOR does some guest vocals on the fifth album of this Spanish heavy metal band. Lilith is their female keyboard player. Great stuff!! (8 points)

*MEATLOAF- Couldn’t Have Said It Better (Polydor)
We hear Patti Russo on the title track of this new album, that sounds a bit modern. The other female backing vocalists are Maxi Anderson, Rose Stone, Alexandra Bronne, Lynn Davis and Tanya Reicuert. On the double CD version, you’ll get three bonus videos and an extra track. MEATLOAF is preparing the possible release of “Bat Out Of Hell Part III” at the moment. I am already looking forward to that very much!!!(8 points)

*ORDER OF THE TYRANTS- Tribute To CELTIC FROST (Black Lotus/Rock Inc./Bertus)
The new line up of ASTARTE contributes their version of the CELTIC FROST song “Sorrows Of The Moon” to this album. It’s definitely one of the highlights here!!!(7 points)

*MICHAEL SEMBELLO- The Lost Years (Frontiers/Bertus)
JENNIFER BATTEN plays lead guitar on “Tear Down The Walls” and “Love Doesn’t Live Here Anymore”. But also the rest of this AOR CD sounds not bad at all! (7 points)

*SILENTIUM- Sufferion – Hamartia Of Prudence (Spikefarm/Bertus)
Dark gothic doom metal band from Finland. Produced by NIGHTWISH member Tuomas Holopainen. The female vocals on this album are done by former LULLACRY vocalist Tanya, while their original singer Tina Lehvonen has a sabbatical year. Surprisingly good release!(8 points)

*SLECHTVALK- The War That Plagues The Land (Fear Dark/ Displeased)
Dutch dark metal band that puts some nice effort into their compositions. Fionnghuala is resposible for the female soprano vocals to the songs, that are a good mix of powerful metal and black/dark metal with some epic, atmospheric elements. (8 points)

*SPEKTRUM- Spektrum (Progress/MNW/Bertus)
Symphonic rock band with a female singer. Check them out on: http:// www.progressrec.com, where you can hear some MP3 files of this promising band that has some GENESIS and YES influences in their music. (7 points)

*SUBWAY TO SALLY- Engelskrieger (Motor/Universal)
It looks like SUBWAY TO SALLY has metamorphosed in a RAMMSTEIN-like band. They put the fold aside and play their riffs ultra loud now. I better check them out at Wacken this year.(7 points)

*V/A- A Tribute To The Beast - Vol.2 (Nuclear Blast)
GRAVEWORM’s “Fear Of The Dark” can be heard on this second IRON MAIDEN tribute CD. The first copies of this album contain a bonus CD. (8 points)

*V/A- Once And Future King Part I (Frontiers)
Rock opera based upon the myth of King Arthur. Songwriter and producer is Gary Hughes of the melodic rock band TEN. The female input on this first release comes from Sabine Edelsbacher (EDENBRIDGE) and LANA LANE. Part II will be out in October of this year.(8 points)

MM#32/June 2003:

*AREA 54- Beckoning Of The End (Casket)
English metal band that mixes old school heavy metal (IRON MAIDEN) with more recent styles (IN FLAMES). Laura Salmon is the female bass player of the band. (8 points)

*DANCE ON GLASS-Daydreaming (Metal Mind)
This is a gothic band from Poland, formed around Dave Blomberg (NEW MODEL ARMY) and Anna Blomberg (BATTALION D’AMOUR). Their music is not that heavy, but fans of SISTERS OF MERCY and THE MISSION might find this interesting. (6 points)

*DIMENSION F3H-Reaping The World Within (Hammerheart/Zomba)
This is the new band of LIMBONIC ART guitar player Morpheus. I’d like to call their sound electronic black metal. The female input comes from Anette Gulbrandsen (MANDYLION) and Linde Odgard. A surprisingly good debut album indeed. (7 points)

*DIMENSION SEVEN-Infinite Madness (Bukakke/Suburban)
Band from Holland with a female bass player. Their sound is experimental and ultra brutal. Great album to listen to, while tearing down a wall. It will definitely give you enough energy to clear the job! (6 points)

*EVERGREY-Recreation Day (Inside Out/Suburban)
There is a guest role for a female singer in “Darkest Hour”. A short female input on a great progressive rock album. (8 points)

*FUNERAL-In Field Of Pestilent Grief (Nocturnal)
The band name and the name of the record label already suggest, that we’re dealing with a doom metal band here. But the female vocals don’t really seem to match with this style. The music is very good, however. (6 points)

*GROPE-If You Were My Dog… (Grope/MNW/Suburban)
We can hear Sigrid Larssen sing on this fourth album of this stoner rock like band from Denmark. (7 points)

*KAMELOT-Epica (Noise/Suburban)
Thomas Youngblood’s wife sings on the new album of KAMELOT, on which we can hear female vocals in different songs and they also use some Gregorian choir vocals, which gives an absolute mindblowing atmosphere to the whole. (8 points)

*KAYAK-Merlin, Bard Of The Unseen (Kayak/Bertus)
Cindy Oudshoorn is the female guest vocalist on the rock opera on CD of this Dutch symphonic rock band. The CD tells the story of King Arthur, Merlin and The Knights Of The Round Table, and can be seen as one of the best concept albums in the whole impressive career of this legendary band. (9 points)

*KILLER BARBIES-Sin Is In (Drakkar/Suburban)
Chartspunk from Spain. Catchy and with a high sing along level. Silvia Superstar is the supersexy frontlady of these talented punkers. She’s definitely the eyecatcher of the band, if you catch my drift! (7 points)

*THE KOVENANT-Seti (Nuclear Blast/Suburban)
Eileen, from Germany, sings a few lines on the new album of this Norwegian band that mixes extreme metal with elements of gothic and wave music. (6 points)

*NAAMAH-Ultima (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Anna Panasz is the frontlady of this Polish gothic metal band, formerly known as MELANKOLICA. Fans of THE GATHERING (old-style) might want to check this one out. (7 points)

*RUNEMAGICK-Darkness Death Doom (Aftermath/Displeased)
The title of this new CD tells you what kind of music you can expect of RUNEMAGICK. Emma Karlsson plays the bass guitar with these dark doomy Swedes. (8 points)

*SATIRNINE-Void Of Value (White Jazz/Suburban)
Mix THE RIPLETS with THE DONNAS, and you’ll get the melodic punk rock sound of this Swedish all-female band. Very interesting indeed! (8 points)

*SINPHONIA-The Divine Disharmony (Lucretia/Bertus)
Another good band from Denmark is SINPHONIA. Progressive rock fans may like the FATES WARNING like approach of this band. Monika Pedersen is the frontlady of this talented outfit. (7 points)

*SUI GENERIS UMBRA-Coma (Metal Mind)
Second album of a band that was formerly known as UMBRA. They have a female vocalist, and their music style is a bit complex. Ambient black metal would probably be a good description. (6 points)

*SUPERFLOOR-Check (Jacobiberg)
EP from a very good blues rock band from Holland. The band is named after frontlady (super)Floor Kraaijvanger, who is the perfect singer for a blues rock band. Floor sang in a band called BITTERMOON, that used to be the backing band on Rob Lamothe’s (RIVERDOGS) club shows. This mini CD can be ordered on the bands website at: www.superfloor.net. (8 points)

*THANATOSCHITZO-Insomnious Night Lift (Rage Of Achilles)
Is it a black metal band with doom influences? Or is it a doom metal band with black metal influences? Fact is that Patricia Rodrigues is the singer of this Portuguese metal band that presents us their second, average album. (6 points)

*THOU ART LORD-DV8 (Black Lotus/Rock Inc/Bertus)
There are some female background vocals on this Greek black metal album. Only for the die-hards among us. (6 points)

*VARIOUS-Dark Stars (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Good compilation of Polish gothic metal bands like ARTROSIS, DELIGHT, MOONLIGHT, CLOSTERKELLER, NAAMAH, DANCE ON GLASS, DESDEMONA and SUI GENERIS UMBRA. A nice compilation for everybody who wants to taste a little bit of everything from the Polish gothic metal scene. (8 points)

*YWOLF-Trilogy Of The Night (Adipocere/Displeased)
Gothic metal band from Hungary. Too much on the edge to become real interesting for the average readers of Metal Maidens. (6 points)

MM#31/March 2003:

*ASHES YOU LEAVE- Fire (Morbid/Displeased)
Gothic metal band with a female vocalist. Good, but nothing special. (6 points)

*DANCE ON GLASS- Daydreaming (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Ania Blomberg (ex-BATTALION/D’AMOUR) sings and plays the keyboards on this dull electronic, gothic album. They even dare to cover DEPECHE MODE. I think you don’t really need this. (4 points)

*DEATH DIES- The Sound Of Demons (Black Tears Of Death)
DEATH DIES hails from Italy and plays black metal. Some band members played in EVOL before. Female vocalist Banshee screams her lungs out on this debut album. (6 points)

*EXCELSIS- Tales Of Tell (Dragonslayer)
Folk mixed with metal, completed by female vocals. This band from Switzerland does it all, but they have to gain some more experience to convince me from their strength. (6 points)

*IMMEMORIAL- Monologue (Conquer/Sonic Rendezvous)
Polish death metal band that has a great female grunter called Marta. Eight extreme death metal songs are compiled with one videoclip on this CD. (7 points)

*LOVER OF SIN- Lover Of Sin (Candlelight/Bertus)
Solo project of Maitri, the female singer of CHRISTIAN DEATH. She screams like a wild woman on this black metal CD. Most of the band members play in CHRISTIAN DEATH too, by the way! (7 points)

*MOON OF STEEL- Insignificant Details (Steelheart/Bertus)
Italian heavy metal band that sounds like QUEENSRYCHE (in their good old days!) or SAVATAGE. The great female vocals are the cream on top of this great product.(8 points)

*SUNTERRA- Lost Time (WAB/Napalm/Zomba)
Heavy gothic metal band from Austria. The heavy grunt is mixed with some female angel like singing. They also play a cover of "Out Of The Dark”, which was originally done by FALCO. (7 points)

*TZEFA- Feed Me (independent)
No hopers from the USA, that try to play gothic metal. If you dare to buy this EP, you may be able to hear a female opera singer. (4 points)

*VARIOUS-Better Undead Than Alive (Code 666/SPV)
Twenty-four tracks are on this soundtrack, that becomes interesting through the renditions of ATROX (2 tracks, of which 1 previously unreleased) and AGHORA (1 track). The rest of the bands don’t have a female member in their line up. (6 points)

*VARIOUS- The Best Of Gothic Rock 2 (Zomba)
Compilation CD with the best songs of bands like WITHIN TEMPTATION, AFTER FOREVER, NIGHTWISH, TRAIL OF TEARS, LACUNA COIL, TRISTANIA, FLOWING TEARS and MYRIADS. The perfect CD for people, who can’t afford to buy everything! (7 points)

*WILLOW- Second After (independent)
Alternative pop rock band from The Hague in the Netherlands. They sound very promising indeed. Marlein is the female member in the band, who plays bass and sings. For more info, you can go to the band’s website at: www.willow-music.com or send an email to: info@willow-music.com. (7 points)

*ZWAN-Mary Star Of The Sea (Reprise)
New band of SMASHING PUMPKINS frontman Billy Corgan. Alternative rocklovers may like the sound on their debut album, which is a bit too commercial and alternative for the average old school metal lovers in my opinion. Paz Lenchantin (ex-A PERFECT CIRCLE) plays the bass guitar here. (6 points)

MM#30/Dec. 2002:

*AENIMA- Never Fragile (Equilibrium)
Dutch gothic rock band with a female frontlady called Carmen. This is a promising six track MCD, but I hope they show a little bit more power on their new full length album. (7 points)

*ALL SYSTEMS GO- Monichini (Bad Taste/Suburban)
This release is for our magazine only important because Melissa auf der Maur (HOLE, SMASHING PUMPKINS) plays a guest role on a song called “Meagan’s Law” (6 points)

*BLACK COFFEE BLUES BAND- S/T (Dixiefrog/Bertus)
Poppa Chubby and his wife Galea form the centre of this great blues band. On their debut album, they play some great blues covers. Galea plays the bass, and she did a damn fine job here. (9 points)

*BLACK HORIZON- Infinity Of Chaos (Transmission Records)
Helena Michaelsen (TRAIL OF TEARS) does some guest vocals on this industrial noise album. She tries to become the master of the musical ‘chaos’ on this debut album. (7 points)

*CEMETARY OF SCREAM- Prelude To A Sentimental Journey (Hammer Muzik/Pink)
Polish doom/death metal band that mixes their dark music with some female vocals. Only interesting for the die-hards! (7 points)

*CHARON- Downhearted (Spinefarm/Universal)
Gothic metal band from Finland. They supported NIGHTWISH on their latest tour through Europe. On this third album, we hear female vocals on almost every song. Interesting stuff for gothic freaks! (6 points)

*CRACKTORCH- …Is Not The Problem (Lunasound Recording/Bertus)
Staci is the bassplayer of this garage rock and roll band from Boston. They kick ass and that’s what counts! (7 points)

*CROWN OF THORNS- Karma (Point Music/Rock Inc./Bertus)
Doro Pesch sings on “Shed No Tears”!! Reason enough to mention this great AOR album here. (8 points)

*ENTER CHAOS- Dreamworker (Metal Mind/Bertus)
Wow, what a great sound! Lady Martex is the female singer of this Polish thrash band. If you like the latest ARCH ENEMY CD with Angela Gossow on vocals, then this one is definitely a must!!! (8 points)

*ETERNAL MOURNING- Delusion & Dementia (Goi Music)
ETERNAL MOURNING follows the well-known concept of angel like female vocals and a brutal male grunter singing on a gothic metal background. The website of this Portugese band can be found at: http://eternalmourning. tripod.com. (6 points)

*EVERON- Flesh (Mascot/Pias)
Judith Strüber sings guest vocals on “ The River” and “Already Dead” and that’s reason enough to mention this release here. (6 points)

*FORDIRELIFESAKE- Breathing In Is Only Half The Function (Skipworth/Sonic Rendezvous)
There’s much variation in the music of FORDIRELIFESAKE. It even includes some female vocals here and there. Only for die-hards. (6 points)

*FURIA- A La Quête Du Passé (Adipocere/Displeased)
French black death metal band that sings in their native tongue. The female vocals give this band a slightly gothic tone. (6 points)

*GENIUS- A Human Into DreamsWorld (Frontiers/Bertus)
LANA LANE plays a role in the rock opera of Italian musician Danielle Liverani. A perfect example of another great rock opera in three parts. (8 points)

*JAY HOOKS- Red Line (Provogue/Bertus)
Maria del Prete plays the bass, next to Jay Hooks (guitar) and Jerry Gaskill (KINGS X) on drums. They play raw blues rock like it used to be played. Warn your neighbours, when you play this one real loud!!! (8 points)

*LAKE OF TEARS- The Neonai (Black Mark/Zomba)
Rock band that uses female vocals on their song “Sorcerers”. (7 points)

*LUDICRA- Ludicra’s Hollow Psalms (Life Is Abuse/Sonic Rendezvous)
Dark, black, death, thrash band with two female members. The CD is very powerful and that’s not strange if you know that it consists of ex-members of THE LORD WEIRD SLOUGH FEG. Very interesting release! (8 points)

*MADDER MORTEM- Deadlands (Century Media/Suburban)
Agnete M. Kirkevaag shows her talent again on the new CD of this Norwegian gothic metal band. It is very much worth checking out, because they’ve come up with some very original and surprisingly compositions again. (8 points)

*MANTICORA- Hyperion (Scarlet/Bertus) *MARBLE ARCH- Another Sunday Bright (Century Media/Suburban)
Tanja, the new singer of LULLACRY, does the background vocals on the gothic metal album of this Swedish new band. But be warned that they sound more gothic than metal! (6 points)

*MONUMENTUM- Ad Nauseam (Tatra)
Dark metal band from Norway. During “I Stand Nowhere”, they use female vocals, which becomes one of the highlights here. (6 points)

*MYSTIC FORREST- Welcome Back In The Forrest(Adipocere/Displeased)
Dark, atmospheric black metal band with female vocals. Not very interesting, unless you’re a real die-hard collector. (5 points)

*OLEMÖS- Eg Od (CCP/Displeased)
Another average gothic rock band with female vocal parts. (6 points) >p> *ORIGINAL SINNERS- Original Sinners (Nitro/Suburban)
Exene Cervenka (X) teams up with ex-members of THE DISTILLERS. You can imagine that they create a nice punky sound on this nice album. (7 points)

*ORKRIST- Reginae Mysterium (KRV)
Czechian gothic metal band that presents us the usual angel like vocals, grunts, pianos, violins, etc. Not too heavy maybe, but still very sphereful indeed. (7 points)

*RAGING SLAB- Pronounced East Shit (Tee Pee/Suburban)
Hard rock with a great southern feel, from a band that plays this style for about fifteen years already. Together with NASHVILLE PUSSY, they brought this style into the new millennium in its most authentic form. Yeeeehaaww! (8 points)

*SECOND LASS- Try To Paint A Fitful Love… (Watch Me Fall)
Italian gothic rock band which is only interesting for the die-hard people, who want to have everything with female vocals on it. (6 points)

*SOULGRIND- Into The Dark Vales Of Death (Holy/Displeased)
Gothic metal band that mixes brutal grunts with angel like female vocals. No genius, but not bad either. Average and we’ve heard it many times before. (6 points)

*STILL BREATHING- September (Solid State/Sonic Rendezvous)
Great nu-metal band that sounds a lot like OTEP. This means brutal, aggressive nu-metal with the female vocals of Dacey. Not bad at all! (7 points)

*TENK- E-Ruption demo (independent)
Alternative metal band with female vocals of Yvette Roovers. If you’re open- minded, you might like the new fashioned songs structures of this Dutch band. Contact address: TENK, Dunandstraat 31, 4701 GZ Roosendaal or have a look at: www.tenkweb.com. (7 points)

MM#29/Sept. 2002:

*ASGAARD- Ex Oriente Lux (Metal Mind/Bertus)
A melodic, doomy sound is created by this gothic band from Poland. They use the female vocals in the background, but they still form an essential part of the total sound of this band. (7 points)

*CHE:CHAPTER 127- Profit Prophet (G-7 Welcoming Committee/Sonic Rendezvous)
Femimistic punk band led by Meegan Maultsaid from Vancouver. The band started out as PUNCTURE and now they play some loud punk music. Meegan is also one the the organisors of the Grrrlapaloooza festival. If you’re into loud, brutal feministic punk music with a political touch, then CHE:CHAPTER 127 is something for you! On http://www.g7welcomingcommittee.com, you can have a pretaste of one of their songs already. (8 points)

*DARKWELL- Conflict Of Interest (Napalm/Zomba)
Gothic metal with the female vocals of Alexandra Pittracher. This seven track mini CD contains one cover song (“Twist In My Sobriety”) and two video clips. (7 points)

*DYING PASSION- Voyage (Metal Breath)
Melodic doom metal from Czechia. The band has a female vocalist called Zuzanna and a female flute player (!). The CD also contains a video clip of their song “Nightfall”, which was on their debut album “Secretly”. If you can’t find this CD, you can contact the band by sending an email to: dyingpassion@email.cz. (7 points)

*EVEN VAST- Dawning Gloom (Painkiller)
Italian doom metal band, that releases their new single here. Two songs will show you that Antonietta can sing really well. Very promising! (7 points)

*FANGORN- Fangorn (G.U.C.)
German black, doom metal band, that sings in their native tongue. Nothing special, but not bad either. The female member is a vocalist with a high screaming voice.(6 points)

*THE FLIPSIDES- Clever One (Pink & Black/Sonic Rendezvous)
This band must have heard about THE RUNAWAYS and JOAN JETT. No wonder, they ended up with the label of Fat Mike, who only signs female (fronted) bands on his Pink & Black label (like FABULOUS DISASTER). A real must for every female (fronted) punk rock fan out there!!! (8 points)

*HIRETSUKAN- Invasive/Exotic (G-7 Welcomming Committee/Sonic Rendezvous)
HIRETSUKAN hails from new York, and is fronted by Michelle. Their punkrock is furious, yet melodic, catchy and full of interesting political statements. At the end of this EP, the band plays a nice version of METALLICA’s “Creeping Death”. A nice surprise! For more infor you can go to www.g7welcomingcommittee.com, you can also download one of their songs from that site. (7 points)

*MOSTRO- S/T (independent)
Power metal band from Belgium, that present their most recent demo. Jacula is the female frontlady of this band. The band can be reached by writing an email to: kris.dm@caractere.be. You can also write these people a letter by sending it to: Kris de Man, Borsbekestraat 156, 9551 Herzele, Belgium. (7 points)

*THE NY REL-X- She’s Gotta Gun/Paranoia (TKO/Sonic Rendezvous)
Eleven songs are on this CD, which is a compilation of the bands two mini albums. Very interesting for people who like VICE SQUAD. (8 points)

*ORIGINAL SINNERS-Original Sinners (Nitro/Suburban)
Did you ever wonder what happened to Exene Cervenka, the frontlady of X? She is the singer of this punk rock band, but the songs on this album are definitily not as good as the songs she created with X. In fact, she even disappointed me a bit with this release. Only for the diehard fans of Exene! (6 points)

*PAIN CONTROL- Subvert (Demolition)
English thrash band that gets some help from Madeleine Pehm, an Hungarian female vocalist, who added some vocals to this album. (7 points)

*SERENADE OF DARKNESS- In Solitude Engraved (independent)
Although the band doesn’t exist anymore, we still think that this Dutch band needs to be mentioned here. Wendy van der Hek is the frontwoman of this gothic metal band, that really had the potential to become huge in this scene. (7 points)

*SWANS- Feel Good Now (Atavistic)
Live CD recorded in 1987. Jarboe, the female singer of the band, sounds uninspired. A useless release, that I won’t really recommend to you. Again only interesting for the diehard fans of THE SWANS. (4 points)

*TIRANILOR- Morion’s Destiny (independent)
Melodic black metal band from Holland with a female bassplayer. Check out; www.geocities.com/tiranilor for more information about this band. (7 points)

*TYRANT- Legend (Displeased)
The metal maiden in this Japanese black metal band plays the keyboards. You must definitely check this band out, if you’re into melodic black metal. Also pay some special attention to the great artwork on the CD cover! (8 points)

MM#28/June 2002:

*ANCIENT CEREMONY- The Third Testament (Trisol Music Group)
Great black metal CD with touches of power metal waved in its sound. The concept is easy: speedful power metal with icy black metal screams, keyboard layers and heavenly female vocals. Great release! (8 points)

*BATTLELORE- Where The Shadows Lie (Napalm/Zomba)
Bombastic black metal band. Their female vocalist is called Kaisa Jouhki The old sound of THE GATHERING meets TRISTANIA here. Can we possibly go wrong then?? (7 points)

*THE BLUE SEASON- Secede (Grey Fall/SPV)
Spherefull piece of gothic rock from Holland. Go to www.theblueseason.com for all the information about this band. (7 points)

*DEATH BEFORE DISCO/SEVERANCE- Split CD (Eyespy)
SEVERANCE is a punk band that doesn’t have any female members in their line up. DEATH BEFORE DISCO has got some female vocals in their music. They play melodic hardcore. Both bands hail from Belgium, but couldn’t really convince me too much. (6 points)

*THE DISTILLERS- Sing Sing Death House (Hellcat/Epitaph/PIAS)
Great punk band with female vocals and a brutal sound. (7 points)

*DYING TEARS- Amnesia (Thundering)
This is a French gothic metal band with the usual concept. Brutal male grunter, female angel like vocals, pianos, violins and powerful riffs. Sometimes the music is better than the vocals. The band will tour with PENUMBRA through Europe. Look at www.dyingtears.fr.st for more information. (6 points)

*HUMAN ALERT- Dirty Dancing (Dialektik/Suburban)
Happy punk rock from Amsterdam. High quality meets fun and happiness in the music of HUMAN ALERT. (7 points)

*THE KINGPINS-Plan Of Action (Stomp/Mad Butcher)
Ska rock from a band from Canada. Lorraine Muller is the front woman of this band. But this stuff is not really interesting for the average readers of Metal Maidens. Think about it, ska rock! How far can you go? (5 points)

*OTEP-Jihad (EMI)
Nu metal band from America, which has Otep Shamaya as their charming front woman. Sometimes she screams like she’s absolute insane, while on the other hand she seems to be very desperate and emotional. The music of the band is quite heavy and catchy. Check them out! (7 points)

*RAM-ZET-Escape (Century Media/Suburban)
This band mixes a thousand styles to make it a style of their own. Complex music with extreme, brutal explosions. Their female lead vocalist sounds really talented. (7 points)

*SIGNS OF DARKNESS-Beyond The Autumn Leaves (The LSP Company)
This is a black metal band. Their female singer is called Sarah. And its just another fine band from the metal ranks of Belgium. (7 points)

*VANITAS-Der Schatten Einer Existenz (CCP/Zomba)
Gotchic metal band from Germany. They mix their music with some black and death metal here and there. Sometimes we can enjoy some female vocals next to the male grunter. (7 points)

*VARIOUS-A Tribute To The Beast (Nuclear Blast)
IRON MAIDEN tribute CD which contains sixteen IRON MAIDEN covers. There’s only one song here, that should be interesting to the die-hard Metal Maidens readers and that’s “The Number Of The Beast”, done by SINERGY. It’s definately one of the highlights on this great tribute CD. (8 points)

MM#27/March 2002:

*AESMA DAEVA-Here Lies One Whose Name Was Written In Water (Root Of All Evil)
Dark metal Band with Rebecca Cords as their female singer. Rebecca lifts this band to a higher level, with her outstanding vocal qualities. Essential buy for all the gothic/dar metal fans out there. (8 points)

*ANOREXIA NERVOSA-New Obscurantis Order (Osmose/Zomba)
There are no female members in this black metal band from France. But in “Stabat Matter Dolorosa” we can hear two female opera singers. It’s also nice to hear the band play the CANDLEMASS cover “Solitude”, although there are no female vocals on this song. (7 points)

*CASSIOPEIA-Duality Demo
This is the second demo from this band from Goes in The Netherlands. Five gothic doom metal songs in thirty minutes is value for money. We still hear Maaike Rijk on vocals, while she’s now being replaced by Irene Visser. The band also has a new drummer and bass player now. Your copy of this good demo can be obtained from CASSIOPEIA, Monnetstede 4532, 4463 GX Goes, The Netherlands. Their website is at www.cassiopeia.nl, and you can email them at info@cassiopeia.nl. The demo costs 9 Euro or 10 US$ (incl p&p.) (7 points)

*DAYLIGHT THORN-New Skin (CCP/SPV/Zomba)
Gothic metal band with a female singer. But Mea is different than all the other gothic frontladies. She’s a brutal screamer in this good gothic metal band. It really sounds different. Try it out! (7 points)

*DEADLINE-More To It...Than Meets The Eye (New Blood)
English oi! band with male and female vocals. A band like VICE SQUAD comes in mind when hearing the sound of this band. (7 points)

*DEMIMONDE-Mutant Star (Epidemie)
Black, death metal band from Czechoslovakia. The female vocals lift this band to a higher platform. This band performs just below the average level. Leave it for what it is, unless you need to have everything with female vocals on it. (4 points)

*DIVILIUM-Aurora (CCP/SPV/Zomba)
Gothic rock band with a female singer. Okay, we’ve heard it all before, but we know that there are a lot of fans that love this music. That’s why we want to introduce you to this average band. (6 points)

*FLOWING TEARS-Serpentine (SPV/NSM/Phonag)
Stephanie Duchêne proves us again that she’s one of the better female singers in the gothic rock scene. With her warm voice she adds an extra dimension to the music of FLOWING TEARS. (7 points)

*FOUR PROMILE-Und Ab... (Knock Out/Sonic Rendezvous)
Another punk/oi! band with a male and a female singer. Melanie is the female part of this German band that convinced me with this strong album. (7 points)

*KELTGAR-Wintermist (Uxicon)
Death doom band number so much. This time they hail from Belgium. They also put female, angel like vocals next to a brutal male grunter. Nothing new here. (6 points)

*MAZINGA PHASER-Dissatisfied Customers Of Hallucintations (MM Idol)
Psychedelic rock fivesome from America, with a female singer in their ranks. Jessica Nelson is the metal maiden in the middle of all these fuzzy guitars with tonz of effects. Nice release! (7 points)

*PALE FORREST-Exit Mould (Listenable/Zomba)
PALE FORREST hails from Norway and with Kristin Fjellseth, they have a great singer in their band. Their music is a bit soft maybe, but fans of THE GATHERING may like the poprock that is on the third album of this band. (7 points)

*THE SCREWS-Shake Your Monkey(In The Red)
Musical cooperation between Mick Collins and Terri Wahl (RED AUNTS). Their raw, unpolished rock sound must appeal to some of our readers I guess. (7 points)

*7TH MOON-Alter Alma (Trisol Music Group/Sonic Rendezvous)
Gothic rock band with a female singer, next to a male grunter. Old GATHERING fans might like this album...a lot. (6 points)

*SEX MUSEUM-Speedkings (Locomotive/Rock Inc/Bertus)
Second album from this Spanish stoner rock band. Only for the diehards who need every CD with a female input. (6 points)

*SHAPE OF DESPAIR-Angels Of Distress (Spikefarm/Bertus)
Slow doom band with female vocals here and there. Are these winters always that dark? Will it never stop raining? Can’t we play any slower than this? Won’t the reviewer get depressed after hearing this?........No, I kinda liked it! (7 points)

*SOUTHERN ISOLATION-Southern Isolation (Relapse/Suburban)
Dark doom project from Stephanie Opal, a female singer songwriter who made this album all by herself. Well with a little help from PANTERA frontman Phil Anselmo then. See for yourself if you’re interested in this experimental project. (7 points)

*TILT-Been Where? Did What? (Fat Wreck/Sonic Rendezvous)
Compilation CD with old demo material and other rare recordings. Very interesting for TILT and hardcore fans.(7 points)

*TIMO TOLKKI-Hymn To Life (Nuclear Blast)
Second solo album of the STRATOVARIUS guitarplayer. The album is full of nice poprock songs and some heavier stuff here and there. On two songs we hear guest vocals of Sharon Den Adel of WITHIN TEMPTATION. Maybe therefor it might be interesting for our readers. (7 points)

*WARMEN-Beyond Abilities (SPV/NSM/Phonag)
Kimberly Goss of SINERGY makes a guest appearance on this solo project of keyboard player Janne Warmen. She sings the HEART cover “Alone”, like it must be sung. Hard and heavy!! A good bombastic power metal album from this Finnish project. (8 points)

*WILLOW-Octobergrey Demo
Cdemo from this band from The Hague. Madelein Heske sings and plays the bass guitar on this three track demo, which is full of catchy, alternative rock music. For more information about this promising band you can surf to their website at www.listen.to/willow-music, or send an email to: theband_willow@hotmail.com. (7 points)

*WOLVERINE-The Window Purpose (DVS/Rck Inc/Bertus)
Progressive rockband from Sweden. During “Leaving Yesterday”, they present us the beautiful voice of Jamina Jansson in a great duet. A very surprising appearance on this nice progressive rock CD. (8 points)

MM#26/December 2001:

*CHAOSTAR- Threnody (Holy Records)
Movie music would be the best description of the sounds of this band. It’s bombastic, it’s dark, it contains classical music and it has the vocals of female singer Natalie. Beautiful, but not too heavy! (7 points)

*THE BURNOUTS- Close To Breakevil (Bad Afro/Suburban)
Helle Hellcat is the lady singer of this Danish punk rock band, that presents us twelve catchy songs here.(7 points)

*DEAD BLUE SKY- Symptoms Of An Unwanted Emotion (Good Life)
Black metal mixed with heavy metal. The band hails from Florida. They combine heavy blast parts with acoustic passages. Variation all over, so to speak. They also have a female singer in their ranks. (7 points)

*DRAGONLAND- The Battle Of The Ivory Plains (Black Lotus)
DRAGONLAND hails from Sweden. They play some HAMMERFALL like power metal, but when guest singer Ingmarie Juliusson sings “A Last Farewell”, you can better compare them to NIGHTWISH. Interesting release!! (7 points)

*THE DREAMSIDE- Mirror Moon (Serenades)
Kemi Vita is the driving force behind this gothic metal band from Holland. Their music may not be that heavy, but it sure sounds intense and very well done. “Mirror Man” is the bands third CD already, since they were formed in 1994. (6 points)

*ENSOPH- Bleeding Womb Of Ananke (Beyond Productions)
CRADLE OF FILTH like black metal band, that didn’t really convince me. Patricia is the female vocalist here. (5 points)

*FALLEN- Warcry (independent)
Seven track Demo CD with the angel-like voice of Eefje Beschman. Think about WITHIN TEMPTATION and you’ll come close to their sound. The demo costs Hfl. 15,-- or US$8.00. You can send this money to: FALLEN, Vick Gosen, Peperstraat 88, 5554 EL Valkenswaard, The Netherlands. (7 points)

*GORILLA- Gorilla (Lunasound/Bertus)
Threesome from England that plays some real slow doomy metal and stoner rock. They have a female bassplayer. (7 points)

*MORGENSTERN- Heute Ist Die Rache Mein (Napalm/Bertus)
Medieval German metal with female vocals and instruments like bagpipes and flutes. Their concept is OK, but the performance of it all still lacks of convincement. (5 points)

*NOVEMBRE- Novembrine Waltz (Century Media/Suburban)
Ann-Marie Edvardsen (ex-3RD AND THE MORTAL) makes a guest appearance on the new CD of this Italian threesome. Together with NOVEMBRE she sings the KATE BUSH cover “Cloud Busting”. (6 points)

*ORDO DRACONIS- The Wing & The Burden (Skaldic Art)
Black metal band from Holland that already surprised us with their debut album “In Speculis Noctis”. Maaike Arkesteijn and Annabel van Baren take care of the female vocals on this fabulous CD. Very much worth checking out!!(8 points)

*PLANE- Found And Lost (Solardisk/Bertus)
Metal band from Finland, who are totally out of direction. Leave it for what it is. It’s worthless! (4 points)

*THE PROJECT HATE- When We Are Done….Your Flesh Will Be Ours (Massacre/Suburban)
Metal band that plays a mix of heavy, powerful metal with electronic rhythms and industrial metal. Mia Stahl is the female member in this band. (6 points)

*THE PROVENANCE- 25th Hour Bleeding (Scarlet/Bertus)
Gothic metal band from Sweden, who make some sidesteps to folk, doom and black metal here and there. Emma Hellstrom plays flute, keyboards and sings in the band and lift them to a much higher level. A name to remember. (8 points)

*SILENTIUM- Altum (Spinefarm/XIII Bis)
Doom gothic metal band from Finland with the usual references like violins, pianos and female, angelesque vocals. It’s done before, nonetheless it’s very well done. (7 points)

*SIX FEET UNDER- True Cranage (Metal Blade/Zomba)
Karyn Crisis provides some guest vocals on the new CD of this brutal death metal band. So check out the song “Sick And Twisted” to hear the brutal and aggressive grunt of this metal lady. (6 points)

*SUPERCHUNK- Here’s To Shutting Up (Matador/De Konkurrent)
Guitar rock with influences of grunge and alternative rock. Nothing special though. (6 points)

*TADPOLE- On All Fours (independent)
Interesting rock CD from this Dutch band. Their female singer Martine Thijssen is a real talent. Check them out by writing to: Phil Dekker, Kerkstraat 31, 7671 HE Vriezenveen, The Netherlands. (7 points)

*THERION- Secrets Of The Runes (Nuclear Blast)
The female vocals in the choir that THERION uses are very essential for the bombastic opera like sound of this new album “Secrets of The Runes”. Reason enough to mention it in our short review section. (8 points)

*TWIN OBCENITY- Bloodstone (Century Media/Suburban)
Viking metal from Norway with the female vocals of Tonje Ettesvold. Unfortunatley, this lady isn’t the most talented singer around, while the music is quite impressive. Only for the die-hards. (5 points)

*UPPERCUT- Shroud Shifter (G.U.C.)
German death metal band with a female vocalist. Dani’s voice is very brutal, which suits their music very well. Getting interested already? You can order this album at their website. Go to: www.uppercut-online.de (7 points)

*VERONICA- Hope For A Brighter Future (The Militia Group/Sonic Rendezvous)
Lois Volta of MELODRAMATIC makes a guest appearance on this pop rock album. It’s one of the best songs on this soft CD. Only interesting for the die-hards. (6 points)

*VICE SQUAD- Lavender Hill Mob (Combat Rock./Sonic Rendezvous)
This is a new four track mini CD from the most fabulous frontladies of the punk scene, Beki Bondage. And this really sounds amazing! Beki is still an amazing singer. Hail to this real punk vamp!! (8 points)

*WHITE STRIPES- White Blood Cells (XL/V2)
Great rock band from Detroit (Rock City). Brother and sister White know how to make a good rock song. Their whole new album is full of them!! Check it out! (7 points)

*WINDFALL- Loud With The Windows Open (Smorgasbord)
Rock band from New York with Jennifer as their singer. Their music may not be too special, but Jennifer is a great singer. (6 points)