RGG March 2015 - p.14
EP:
Ignition
Buy@:
iTunes & Google Play
Web:
facebook com/mallenuk
Verdict:
Another gem produced by Birmingham legend Alex
Cooper; 'Ignition' is the debut EP from Walsall
female-fronted heavy rock band MALLEN. Four quality songs plus a slick intro;
altogether professional and hot. I really was quite impressed with this; it's a strong offering
and to-the-point, tracks like 'Legacy' prove that this is more than just your average band;
yes, this is yet another rock band I know but this one sounds together unlike some of the re-
cycled shit I have to put up with on the old SCUZZ and Kerrang! TV - the songwriting dynamics
are just perfect. 'Rise to Fly' takes a deeper dramatic rock approach with happening riffs, a
very confident front woman in charge with mature lyrics, an epic hard rock catchy chorus an-
them and the word "hit" stamped all over it. There's nothing out of place here and this
is more then suited for the dudes at Kerrang!, Metal Hammer and RockSound to
squabble over. In fact if any of those magazines dismiss this band then boycott those
publications immediately. (A bit harsh? Ed.)
MALLEN
of
the
album month
NICK
J TOWNSEND
EP:
Manmade Heaven & Hell
Buy@:
soundcloud com/gaax music
Web:
facebook com/Gaaxmusic
Verdict:
Absolutely brilliant work. When asked "can you
review our instrumental CD?" I became immediately critical be-
cause there's no song words to keep me awake but I have to shout to you all about this wonderful
progressive rock collaboration and pairing of two guitarists; GABRIEL SUCEA from Romania and
Birmingham based AXEL GRASSI-HAVNEN who have come together to craft and release this amazing
EP which just works so well. It's modern technical guitar playing that won't bore the nuts off you, yes there's
shades of VAI and SATRIANI in the guitar playing but this is something radically more current, relevant
to our music scene and this could be very big if it grows. I really hope that we see these two guitarists
continue this work and I'd like to add that you can play the 1977 animated post-apocalyptic science-fan-
tasy film "Wizards" whilst listening to the third song on the "Manmade Heaven & Hell" EP by these two
and it will synchronise many times. Try it, the track of theirs to try it with is called "Watching The End Of The
Infinite Whilst Dancing Around The Multicoloured Pattern". Phenomenal!
GA & AX
