RockCircus (www.rockcircus.net)
Ñako Martinez (KERRANG)
Lluis (Paranoia Metal Show)
Josep María Fitter (VOLIAC)
Reviews of other groups::
IS PAIN
Nocturnal Rites
Sonata Arctica
Rhapsody
Ayreon
| REVIEWS |
We have created an area to make reviews of albums and demos, at a national and international scale. If you would like to make a review, feel free to send your comments here . The reviews published in this part of the Web are not intended to humiliate, to destroy or to annihilate any group. Never mind how bad it sounds to you, try to be as objective and intelligent as you can. Anyway Saqqara doesn't become responsible for any of the published opinions. To send your reviews, send the name from the group to the one that you face (Saqqara if you want), the name of the LP, your name, and e - mail, the valuation written and the mark (out of 10) regarding Music and Production here. |
Reviews to Saqqara:
RockCircus (www.rockcircus.net)
Ñako Martinez (KERRANG)
Lluis (Paranoia Metal Show)
Josep María Fitter (VOLIAC)
Reviews of other groups::
IS PAIN
Nocturnal Rites
Sonata Arctica
Rhapsody
Ayreon
REVIEWS MADE TO SAQQARA |
| Group: SAQQARA Commented disk: Tristeza Commented by: Review KERRANG (Enero 2001). Ñako Martinez Valencia begins to give good groups, mainly of Heavy metal, as in the case of these Saqqara. So that you make yourself an idea, they remind me the day the demo of Ankhara arrived. High-powered heavy metal, mainly in the guitar solos, with plenty of power in the riffs, double bass-drum, with a high-pitched voice (that, not being bad, lacks still a little of mastery: sometimes forcing the voice to reach a high-pitched tone is worse than singing in a different registre). Regarding the lyrics, they do not deal neither with dragons nor with swords, but with real life. "There is not tomorrow" tells us aboutthe problem of pollution. The group was formed at the end of the '98 and in brief we will have its new album (their second one) inspired in "The new world." |
| Group: SAQQARA Commented disk: Tristeza Commented by: Josep Maria Fitter Hello Jorge!!! I'm Josep Mª, of Barcelona. I have been listening thoroughly your cd AND I have also played it in my radio programme. You wanted a comment on your CD and I am very bad at making them, since when I listen a group and I like it, I don't think about the reason why I like it, or if they are good or bad musicians. But I'll do my best. To begin with, I liked it, 'cos being a heavysound in the wave of contemporary metal, you sound very well and with a recognizable touch ofhe 80's, something to be thankful about, instead of the saturated pomposity of some Italian groups. The melodies are catching and with a couple of listenings they stick to one's mind, something very important when trying to sell a product. Regarding the vocals, I think they sound pretty clear, and they match the type of music you play, although sometimes he seems to force too much his high-pitches. I really love the guitar-work in the solos, really well-connected and wonderfully performed. The only thing I would dare to recommend you would be that you tried to create a personal sound, in the same wave as AVALANCH, SACRED EARTH, etc... |
| Group: SAQQARA Commented disk: Tristeza Commented by: Paranoia Team (Paranoia Metal Show) First cd of this band from Valencia (OK, so the typical thing would have been to place the expression "ché", but in the North of Europe they drink black wine when they party and no one has complained yet), with a style between classic Melodic Metal and a more contemporary Power Metal . Their music is based on a good rhythmic base and very good guitars. But we all know how the genre is doing lately, so saturated that it is difficult to find new and /or original ideas, and of course, they do not surprise you, which isn't strange, considering that those bands in the theoretical front line haven't achieved this themselves in their latest recordings (in the event they have recorded something). So, how does one expect a bunch of kids making their first CD with very little resources to do it? The vocals need some more work, due to the fact that they do not reach some higher notes, there is no progress between the lower and higher tones, and by changing abruptly and not modulating those high notes, they sound in an overall linear tone. Nevertheless, the fifth to the last song are much more classic, slower and do not force the voice that much, which, with the help of the choruses, makes it a lot easier to listen to. A somewhat homemade recording, which does not allow the overall sound to be the best we have heard, although you shouldn't think it sounds like a can of sardines in a bathtub full of beer, mind you... And one song that can be clearly differentiated from the rest ; "Te Buscaré" (I'll find you), that sounds lock an eighties type of rock with scarce technical quality. The record is pretty pleasant to listen to, despite the fact that they have gathered the fastest songs at the beginning and haven't left any for the rest of the cd, which we can be grateful for due to what we said before about the voice, but isn't that good if you want to listen to the CD from beginning to end. There are a lot of improvements to be made, but for now they do promise a lot. |
| Group: SAQQARA Commented disk: Tristeza Commented by: RockCircus Sensational the impression that Saqqara has left me. Beginning with the great sound of this I dial, denominated " Sadness ", and continuing for the quality of the band, so much to execution level like of composition they have clotted an exceptional album. Their music is pure Heavy Metal that reminds me in many moments to Saratoga and it seems incredible to me that, having achieved this level, they have not been taken by any record label and they have been had to self-finance their work. Nevertheless I hope in short they will get it because they have demonstrated their quality. Let's see if the companies prick up their ears a little and pay attention to hundreds of good bands that are still without contract . Saqqara, no doubt, is one of them and if you don't believe it, just listen to"There is not Tomorrow" or "I will Look for You. They will convince you, no doubt. |
REVIEWS TO OTHER GROUPS |
Group: IS PAIN |
| Group: Nocturnal
Rites Commented disk: AfterLife Production:9 Music:8 Overall:8.5 Commented by: Jorge
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| Group: Sonata Arctica Commented Disk: Successor Production:9'5 Music:8'5 Overall:9 Commented by: Jorge The Finnish Sonata, offer us this candy while we wait for their new LP (summer of 200)1. If you liked Ecliptica, you will love this one, since 3 out of the 7 songs are live versions of the first album. There are a couple of covers of Helloween and Scorpions, and two new tracks. The covers are not bad, and the choirs really kick ass. Of the two new tracks, I keep "San Sebastian", 100% Sonata metal, deadly song as you cannot imagine, with great melodies; the other new one is Mary Lou's "refried" ballad , but it is not that bad. I understand the CD is pretty good, musically speaking, but after a masterpiece like " Ecliptica", we have frowned for so little freshness. Alright, we'll have to wait, anyway, these guys are stage-beasts. |
| Group: Rhapsody Commented disk: Dawn of Victory Production:-- Music:-- Overall:-- Commentes by: Chuso (Saqqara) Good........ I must say that, as I am doing this review, I'm listening for the 69th time this masterpiece. I know that "Dawn of Victory" looks like most of the songs in "Symphony of Enchanted Lands" (maybe too much) but so what? Isn't it this their own style? Well, once we have cleared this idea, let us verify, although it is not a surprise that the production is almost unbeatable and the certainly prominent musical content. To tell the truth, this new delivery on the hero Algalord is more direct and more overwhelming in its execution than in previous releases, enjoying the good of Turilli of more compasses to demonstrate their knowledge on the mast. The opening is masterful, the same as the refrain of the one first track and of the second (this last more glorious even, if it's possible). Their single "Holy Thunderforce" deserves a special mention, because it's overwhelming, catching, direct and it is probably a reflection of what their recent, and I believe, only one tour, has improved the violence of their sound, as much as the production when composing and structuring their topics (we will hardly find orchestrated long passages). Obviously, when speaking about Rhapsody we cannot forget FABIO, the last piece of this enormous engine (one of my weaknesses), although he doesn't reach the orgasmic limits he did in the first work (Flames of revenge, land of inmortals etc...). To finish with, they are even greater, and this work just confirms that. The worst thing, I think, are the pictures and the repetitive scent of some tracks, although I forgive them, because being able to hear this every day is one of the things I enjoy most (even my mother loves it!). |
| Group: Ayreon Commented Disk: Fly of migrator (part II) Production:-- Music:-- Overall:-- Commented by: Chuso (Saqqara) It's a blow of fresh air, no doubt, the one that offers the brother's superb work Lucassen and it transports us to a highly gotten stellar trip. The collaborations are, at least, exciting, appearing " excesses " like Dickinson, Lione, Scheppers, Parry, Kotipelto, or Deris (although this one lowers the level considerably, don't you think?). The truth is that the musical composition is original, modern, novel, alternating licks with melodies of keyboards and a high variety of effects they achieve, and that way, to give him the necessary environmental touch. Special mention in this aspect is deserved by "into the blackhole", interpreted masterfully by Bruce Dickinson and where, dammit!, it seems that you really enter in the fucking black hole......... Colossal. In general, the style walks toward that progressive heavy that turns me crazy, but where we will also find undeniable influences of Malmsteen and of the most classic metal. Another very prominent point that enhances the whole work, is the great amount of instrumentations preceding each song, a mixture of exquisite melodies and sounds really catchy. Because of that, we are talking about almost a masterpiece, now then, way-breaker, avant-garde, incipient. If some day in the future there is a heavy metal subject, believe me: this CD will be part of the themes and it will be an exam question. "Why fly of the migrator broke up with the metal of the 90?" "Why fly of migrator broke up with the tendencies of the metal in the 90?" |
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