Review: Coburg – 'The Enchantress'

COBURG
'The Enchantress'
EVOLVE OR DIE RECORDS

Symphonic rock/metal is a tag that fills me with dread usually, but Coburg's debut offering 'The Enchantress' is a pleasant surprise. Owing more to Lacuna Coil than the pseudo-operatic styles that unfortunately accompany the symphonic tag these days, Coburg sees soaring melodic feminine vocals underpinned by powerful rock full of classical flirtations.

Featuring members of Naked Lunch and Jet Noir, the band already has a solid pedigree but with the overt classical meets gothic influences injected with the occasional nasty industrial synth the band shatters any pre-conceived notions and quickly establishes itself as a new force.

Songs such as 'A Cold Day In Hell', 'The Hall Of Ghosts', 'Thy Dagger', 'Till The Bitter End' and 'Rise' take the classical elements and run with them blending great gothic rock and emotive vocals for a commercially viable but still high-brow core. Whereas tracks such as 'Echoes In The Night', 'Into The Darkness', and 'The Enchantress' give the album a harder more energetic slant with the guitars on overdrive and the electronics getting a little more industrial. It might sound like there's two styles vying for supremacy, but they compliment each other rather nicely and create a nice sense of variety on the album.

In terms of production the album is as strong as any big label rock release. The vocals are nice and high to drive the songs forward, the electronics are balanced with the guitars throughout and the classical sounds don't sound cheap or dated. Instead it's powerful, bombastic and modern.

This is a very strong first album from a band that has an awful lot going for it. It's heavy, melodic, delicate, hard and always interesting. The band have a good grasp on their sound which remains unique in what has become a somewhat derivative genre in recent years. It will be interesting to see how they progress their sound on future releases. 

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Review: Naked Lunch – 'Evolve' EP

NAKED LUNCH
'Evolve'
SUB CULTURE RECORDS 

Before this old school electronic act went off to tour with the mighty Covenant across the UK, they released this little slice of what they do best. Evolve is a 4 track EP of re-versions of some of their classic works. since starting in 1979 the group have been more concerned about the music and the ride than getting signed and releasing a back catalogue, and it's because to this that they have formed a quiet cult following. "We used to hate record companies" states lead singer Tony, "Back then it was hard to record and release your own work. Besides, songs will evolve as they get played frequently and we didn't want to get stuck with a sound once it was recorded".

Now with technology creating a more ambient and atmospheric sound, it seems that Naked Lunch are right were they need to be, while also enlisting the help of the smoking gun that is Jet Noir on synth and back vocals. "I've known Tony since I was a teenager; mused Noir "and when I heard his band needed a keyboard player I offered my services."

By the time Jet joined the group she was already doing quite well with her own solo project, and promises that she can easily flit between the two.

Beginning with 'Alone' the EP has a sombre yet effective start. Tony's vocals are deep and formidable, and Jet's backing is a mist upon the tracks landscape. It's follow up 'Glow' has vicious undertones in a light and spacious track and 'Slipping Again Again' sounds like an upbeat ballad for a paranoid man. Ending the release is the bands' live opener 'We Are'. With it's long set up and guitar-in-space sound, it is by far the greatest track.

In all this release is a great starter for new fans, showcasing a great new mix of their older songs (brilliantly produced by Yello's Carlos Peron). This band pre-date the majority of electronic and Industrial bands out there, and this EP throws down the gauntlet to any still alive. With a new album of material on the way this year along with a developed sound including more dance, bass and orchestral tones it is clear that the age of Naked Lunch has only just begun. "we're not part of this revivalist trend of 80's band" said Tony, we are constantly evolving and moving forward."

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Review: Naked Lunch – 'Alone' (Single)

NAKED LUNCH 

'Alone' 

SELF-RELEASED 

Naked Lunch may be an unfamiliar name to most, and with good reason, it's been thirty years since they were last active. But in that brief time they built up an impressive live resumé playing alongside the likes of DAF, Cabaret Voltaire, Fad Gadget, B Movie, and Clock DVA. As well as having an infamously banned single in the form of 'Rabies' to their name. However, now with a new line-up completed by multi-instrumentalist Jet Noir and new single 'Alone' in tow, the band is reinvigorated and ready to cement their legacy.

As a single, 'Alone' is a very good starting point. Ambient and orchestral, with hanging synths, semi-whispered vocals and a steady, but danceable beat it has a definite club appeal whilst retaining the old school punky charm of the bands batcave origins. The fact that the band have been haunting the live circuit again for a couple of years prior to this single has really given them a chance to immerse themselves in what is going on today in order to naturally evolve their sound. The end result of which is very promising.

In terms or production the single may have a decidedly old-school vibe to it. However it is nicely mixed and doesn't fall into the trap of trying to sound like their early recordings. Instead it sounds bang up-to-date.

'Alone' is a good first step for Naked Lunch. It has a lot of different things going on, but it remains balanced and expertly executed. Hopefully a full-length album will display the same kind of variety and attention to detail... and arrive a little sooner this time around.

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