Music reviews

City of vultures
Rise to Remain
EMI, Rs 395

Mixed metal

London-based metalcore five-piece Rise to Remain has attracted attention
because frontman Austin Dickinson is the son of Iron Maiden singer Bruce Dickinson. But with their maiden album, City of Vultures, they are impressive with their music too.

The album begins with a minute-long Intro track followed by The Serpent  with heavy riffs and grunting vocals, but less of melody. This Day Is Mine has good riffs and melodic choruses offset by barked vocals and shred guitar.  City Of Vultures is intense and catchy, while Talking In Whispers is hardcore metal. God Can Bleed is both harsh and melodic in turns, while Power Through Fear is stimulating with its heaviness and beautiful with its refrains. Nothing Left demonstrates the bands’ songwriting prowess. Roads is a restrained track in an otherwise boisterous album. Bridges Will Burn’s heavy shredding and a grand solo in the middle makes for a fine album ending.

Various metal styles characterise this album. The many influences show and it is refreshing and comfortably familiar. Rise to Remain is a promising metal band to look out for in the future.

Michael Patrao

Soulicious
Cliff Richard
EMI, Rs 395

Classic touch

This one is for those who’ve grown up on classics like Constantly, A Voice in the Wilderness, Congratulations, Theme for a Dream, all by Sir Cliff Richard. If the memory of watching Wimbledon in 1996, and watching Cliff Richard sing Summer Holiday on Centre Court during a rain delay has stayed with you just as it has with me, you would pick this album simply on the strength of that beautiful memory. This new album called Soulicious features Cliff Richard with other legends such as Freda Payne, Dennis Edwards, Roberta Flack, Valerie Simpson, Candi Staton, et al.

Soul music is a genre that includes elements of gospel music alongside rhythm and blues. Freda Payne, whose music belongs to that genre, accompanies Cliff Richard in the first number, Saving a Life. A slow, soothing number, much like all the other numbers in this album. Teardrops is a nice, rhythmic number that will have you humming it all over again. The huge plus of this album is Cliff Richard’s voice, with its heavenly, pure touch. Though it doesn’t quite match up to the magic of a We Don’t Talk Anymore or any of his older numbers, pick this up for old times’ sake.

Savitha Karthik