WARKRIME
Get Loose
(No Way)

AMORPHIS
Silent Waters
(Nuclear Blast)

GODHEADSCOPE
A City Out of Sight
(God is Myth)

TUSK
The Resisting Dreamer
(Tortuga)

HYPNOS 69/MONKEY 3
Split
(Rock n Roll Radio)

GENOCIDE
Apocalyptic Visions 

(Van)

HAVOC UNIT
h.IV+

(Vendlus)

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This record is free. Yes, you heard that right, it is indeed F.R.E.E.  You may be kind enough to donate some money to the band, after all the Post Office isn’t about to forgive the postage charges just because these guys are cool enough to give their music away.  Now, from what I hear The Pax Cecilia used to have this emo shade to their music. Gladly, I haven’t heard their older stuff. I am bit allergic to the stuff even though from what I hear it wasn’t bad at all. I am not sure if this is an ever evolving band, but Blessed Are the Bonds is one of those ambitious records that travels through foreign and uncharted territories, conquering all and in the end coming home triumphant, right on time to please the ladies. The beginning (“The Tragedy”) is like the whole ‘bid adieu’ scene, there are a few tears being shed, and some separated piano notes being played. There is also the necessary violin, for emphatic dramatization, and the deeper sound of a cello, which along with terse vocals construct a mounting scene. Things do pick up a bit, as the band is with firmed step well on its way to conquer Neverland. Drums break in, the pace is faster, energy has been stored, the violins become more prominent and the vocals get a bit rough as rousing piano playing fills the room of an absent guitar. Excellent, very good. Very good indeed.

By second track “The Tomb Song” is all calm and fury, and I am starting to think that the guitarist has lost his guitar. Like before, violins, vocals and cellos provide the bulk of the sound. I have the feeling things are about to get heavy though. And they do, “The Progress” opens aggressive; finally the sounds of battle come down, and led by commanding escalating riffs we are welcomed to the screams of a man been impaled, he isn’t so much screaming in pain as much as demanding to be taken down or put to death without so much ceremony. By the time things get established, we are treated to orchestrated metal and then a circular turnaround to more mayhem. Was the whole album this intense, The Pax Cecilia would be one of my favorite bands. But the fact that they opt for histrionics and multiple variations gives them merit too. “The Progress” is not the only heavy moment in this record, but heaviness shall not be the only reason you like and buy records. Quality should be, and Blessed Are the Bonds has plenty.

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