Year : 2017
Style : Heavy Metal , Power Metal
Country : Sweden
Audio : 320 kbps + all scans + Video
Size : 136 mb
Bio:
Astral Doors is a Swedish heavy metal band formed in 2002. They have released five studio albums and an EP. Their latest work is Jerusalem, released in January 2012. Their vocalist has been the subject of critical acclaim, and is often compared to Ronnie James Dio.Nils Patrik Johansson, Joachim Nordlund and Martin Haglund all inhabited the Swedish town of Borlänge, where they all practiced with their respective bands at a club called the Rock House. Nordlund and Johansson barely knew each other, and neither were aware of Martin Haglund. Johansson's melodic metal band, Staircase, lost its drummer in 1991, and their search for a replacement led them to Johan Lindstedt, who was a drummer for a techno thrash metal band. Lindsedt played briefly for Staircase before moving on to a rap metal group, Buckshot OD.In 1998, Johansson and Lindsedt were in another band together: Barfly. Influenced by Black Sabbath and Deep Purple, the band went on until 2002, when it broke up following a musical decline during their fourth demo recording. The engineer for the demo recording was another Rock House[disambiguation needed] regular, Nordlund, frontman for the band Erina. A lot of Johansson's trademark Dio-esque sound was developed during this time.Soon after, Nordlund and Lindstedt began writing together, and they contacted Johansson. The songs that came out of their collaboration dealt with "dark, cosmic" material, the best example of this was "Far Beyond the Astral Doors". They named themselves "Astral Doors" shortly after writing the song. They hired Joakim Roberg, whom they had collaborated with on some of the songs, and Martin Haglund of the band earflog, as members, and began the project.The band reached a temporary climax when they were a support act on Blind Guardian's 2006 tour for the album A Twist in the Myth.
Album:
Astral Doors is back - stronger than ever! For two years the guys have been working on their 8th album. "Black Eyed Children" (street date is April 28) will prove once and for all that they are the kings of classic heavy rock. The music is heavier, the lyrics are darker and most important: the songs are stronger than ever. The album title is based on a modern day ghost story. Or is it just a story? You better beware! With their 8th full-length studio album, “Black Eyed Children” (via Metalville), set to drop April 28th, ASTRAL DOORS is proof that even the most gifted, talent-rich musicians continue to get better with time, and after 15 years together, there are no signs of decline in the quality of music they create. Upon the release of “Notes From The Shadows” back in 2014, I was convinced that the band may have reached the pinnacle of their comprehensive catalog, as there would be no way that they could top that record. I was wrong… This new material, as a whole, is as good as I’ve heard from this extremely gifted band and only raises the bar even higher.Hailing from Borlänge, Dalarna in southeast Sweden, ASTRAL DOORS is comprised of Nils Patrik Johansson on vocals, Joachim Nordlund on guitar, Mats Gesar on guitar, Ulf Lagerstroem on bass, Johan Lindstedt on drums, and Jocke Roberg on keyboards, and plays what once was considered traditional Heavy Metal, back when Heavy Metal was the “cash cow” of the music industry. Being an elite-talent driven, “thinking man’s” style and because it’s becoming increasingly different than most contemporary formats of Metal, most would likely label their music a bit more on the Power Metal side. Whatever you want to label it, this is the sound that Heavy Metal was born of.The cornerstone of a band is most often a charismatic lead singer, and Nils Patrik Johansson is extraordinary. Carrying the torch for ASTRAL DOORS, as well as LION’S SHARE, WUTHERING HEIGHTS (2003 - 2011), and, up until a few month ago, CIVIL WAR, Johansson is everything needed in a front man; powerful DIO-esque vocals, the stage presence of a legend, and a mastermind of a songwriter. The twin guitars of Joachim Nordlund and Mats Gesar are heavy, thick, and masterful, resurrecting old school power chords and guitar interludes with precision.With all of that being said, talent will only get you so far in any form of rock n’ roll, so writing great songs is the only way to be elevated to “the cream of the crop” status and ASTRAL DOORS’s songwriting prowess is where this band truly shines. “Black Eyed Children” is some seriously profound arena-ready rock from, what I believe to be, one of the most talented, underrated bands currently playing Heavy Metal. There is no question that these guys possess a wealth of essential elements that the forefathers of traditional Heavy Metal built into the foundation of this genre and they display this authenticity with masterful ease. Soaring vocals, guitars that ebb and flow between a wall of power chords and lower tones of the blues, and a thunderous bottom end, are what drives each and every track on this must-have masterpiece. Although there are no weak tracks found anywhere here, “We Cry Out”, “Good vs Bad”, “God Is The Devil”, and “Lost Boy” are standouts that really touched me, with my two favorite tracks being the atmospheric and magical, “Walls”, and the edgy, classic 80’s guitar-filled killer, “Die On Stage”.In a time when most new bands are straying into the saturated and trendy sub-genres that highlight the many different styles of screams and growls, ASTRAL DOORS continue to stay true to their classic Heavy Metal roots and by doing so, honor the Metal Gods that so deeply influenced their souls. With the many different ranges of Metal being released these days, “Black Eyed Children” is such a breath of fresh air that will have you raising your horns high in honor of all that is Heavy. This is easily one of my favorite releases of 2017.
Line-Up:
Nils Patrik Johansson - Vocals (2002-present) - See also: Lion's Share, Wuthering Heights, ex-Civil War, ex-Richard Andersson's Space Odyssey
Mats Gesar - Guitars
Joachim Nordlund - Guitars (2002-present) - See also: Sky of Rage
Jocke Roberg - Keyboards (2002-present)
Ulf Lagerström - Bass (2009-present)
Johan Lindstedt - Drums (2002-present)
Tracklist:
01. We Cry Out
02. Walls
03. God Is The Devil
04. Die On Stage
05. Tomorrow’s Dead
06. Good Vs Bad
07. Suburban Song
08. Lost Boy
09. Slaves To Ourselves
10. Black Eyed Children
11. Jesus Christ Movie Star (Bonus Track)
+ Video "We Cry Out" (Official Video)
Download links for all albums only on our blog here: http://goodmetalandhar.do.am/
