Callenish Circle CD Reviews

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CALLENISH CIRCLE

"Flesh_Power_Dominion" (Metal Blade)
"My Passion / Your Pain" (Metal Blade)

"My Passion / Your Pain" (Metal Blade Records; 2003)

Dutch metallers Callenish Circle have stayed true to the Swedish melodic death metal sound more than their Swedish brethren. On "My Passion / Your Pain" Callenish Circle have expanded on the sound heard on their previous effort "Flesh_Power_Dominion" while not straying too far from it.

Callenish Circle power their songs with an energetic delivery rarely matched by other bands. The band does not meander away from each track's main theme as not to lose the power each song has. Direct and to the point – that is Callenish Circle’s strength and they stick to it.

As you might guess from the last paragraph, Callenish Circle employ a conservative approach to their material. However, in the case of "My Passion / Your Pain" this conservative approach is not detrimental. For instance, "Forsaken" is a killer track even if it is derivative of the melodic death metal genre. The rest of the album is solid with the band taking pains to let each track 'breathe' a bit more than on prior efforts.

A rousing cover of fellow Dutch metallers Pestilence’s classic track "Out Of The Body" is included. A CD-ROM track of a live version of "Obey Me" is also included.

For those of you tired of the classic Swedish melodic death metal sound "My Passion / Your Pain" won't do anything for you. However, if you can't get enough of the genre then "My Passion / Your Pain" will be a solid addition to your collection.

"My Passion/ You Pain" was produced by Andy Classen and Callenish Circle.

Callenish Circle is Patrick Savelkoul on vocals, Ronny Tyssen and Remy Dieteren on guitars, Rene Rokx on bass, and Gavin Harte on drums.

For more information visit http://www.callenish-circle.com.

"Flesh_Power_Dominion" (Metal Blade Records)

Reviewed by Christopher J. Kelter

The Swedish melodic death metal sound has now infiltrated the hearts and minds of young men in the Netherlands. And, from what I can tell, Callenish Circle are poised to make their mark on the melodic death metal scene.

The eight original tracks (the other two are a noisescape and a cover) are hard-hitting (as Snidermann would say), razor sharp, and tightly wound. Musically "Flesh_Power_Dominion" reminds me a lot of Gardenian's "Soulburner" without sounding like that disc at all. Callenish Circle employ a variety of true metal styled riffs amidst the band's own aggressive approach that will allow them to appeal to a greater number of fans of metal. Although the songs are a little bit longer in length than I care for in the melodic death metal genre, Callenish Circle do a decent job arranging things to keep the standard sounding metal riffing interspersed with some surprising new twists. The vocals are most reminiscent of Tomas Lindberg circa At The Gates with a very aggressive style that is as brutal as it is relentless.

"Witness Your Own Oblivion" and "Bleeding" are two stellar tracks worth mentioning. "Witness Your Own Oblivion" carries a number of crushing riffs and vocal approaches into one seamless whole. "Bleeding" has a ballad-like feel even though it is likely the heaviest ballad-styled song you'll ever hear. The depth of emotion in "Bleeding" is enough to make a weary heart hopelessly give up from beating life ever again. "Your Final Swansong" also gets props for its killer outro while "Suffer My Disbelief" gets a few nods for its inventive use of arrangements.

A cover of Death's "Pull The Plug" is included.

Kudos to Metal Blade for finding new talent in the melodic death metal genre.

"Flesh_Power_Dominion" was produced by Andy Classen and Georg Classen.

Callenish Circle is Patrick Savelkoul on vocals, Ronny Tyssen and Remy Dieteren on guitars, Roland Schuschke on bass, and Gavin Harte on drums.

For more information visit http://www.callenish-circle.com.

Rating Guide:

A classic. This record will kick your ass.

Killer. Not a classic but it will rock your world.

So-so. You've heard better.

Pretty bad. Might make a nice coaster.

Self explanatory. Just the sight of the cover makes you wanna hurl.

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