Brutiful_ViXn
Reign In Metal
Zodiac :  Metal Reputation : 88
Join date : 2012-01-05
Location : Vacationing in Hell
 | |  Stone Magnum - From Time...To Eternity (2013) Album Review | |
Stone Magnum - From Time...To Eternity (2013)
Rest In Peace Records -- Running Time 47:20
Doom merchants Stone Magnum, from Michigan City, Indiana, have returned with their second album 'From Time...To Eternity'. This was released earlier in the year but a European two Disc Edition (which includes the debut album) has recently come out on 'Witches Brew Records' as well!
I have to be perfectly honest with you, I'm really struggling with this one and I do seem to be at odds with some other reviews of the album that I've seen. I really dig my Doom Metal, especially if it's in the Candlemass and Trouble vein and this CD sees those influences come to the fore as well as Black Sabbath (of course). It also has a distinct traditional and NWOBHM feel in places and when the riff to the opening title track started I was suitably intrigued. In fact much of this album sounds very like early Candlemass and that would normally have me jumping for joy, more so considering that Candlemass themselves look like they will continue just as a gigging band from now on, but there is one major problem and that is with the vocals of 'Nick Hernandez'.
This is the first album with Hernandez on vocals replacing 'Dean Tavernier' who wanted to concentrate solely on his guitar work. Now far be it from me to put down a singer but I'm afraid I really must be listening to a different album from some people. Researching this I've seen Hernandez compared to Messiah Marcolin and Johan Längquist. Worse still, one reviewer says he even sounds like Ronnie James Dio in places. I'm sorry but this guy couldn't hold a candle to any of the above named singers, even if they farted out the lyrics. He's adequate, but nine times out of ten completely fails to hold a long note in the correct key and it is wince inducing thoroughly spoiling what are, in actual fact, a fairly decent seven songs! If he really does sound absolutely anything like the great Ronnie James then I will hang my reviewing hat up now and skewer my ears with a screwdriver.
As I said, musically it's pretty good, although far from original, but what could have been an above average album has been all but ruined for me. I've listened to this four times now but I'm afraid it was three times too many. 'From Time...To Eternity will be not be getting a fifth spin!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stone-Magnum/182549458436679
http://www.stonemagnum.com
www.reverbnation.com/stonemagnum
http://stonemagnum.bandcamp.com/
www.twitter.com/stonemagnum
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Rest-In-Peace-Records/125528004280363
http://www.restinpeacerecords.us
Review written exclusively for Brutiful Entertainment by Rick Tilley
www.facebook.com/richard.tilley.351
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