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Intelligent rock to make your emotions soar!, 21 Feb 2008
Although I may not be the best music reviewer around, at least I'm going to be one of the first for this album! Here is my personal review of 'Sibuna' by Anubis.
The album opens with 'Little Picture'. Sarah's Co'Burn's voice echoes and wafts over a backdrop of heavy bass and drums, accompanied by energetic power chords and guitar riffs. The disquieting lyrics set the scene perfectly. Anubis have arrived to rock your soul!
Pete Williamson's bass fades to end the track, bringing us to the opening synth chords of 'The Pharaoh'. This instrumental track features as good guitar playing as you'll hear anywhere. Simon Lees squeezes every manner of sound from his guitar in this song.
Again, the track features great pounding bass lines from Pete and if you don't find yourself playing air guitar to this one, it's probably because you're already playing air bass! The track storms along, assisted in no small part by some strong drumming, before ending as it began with a synthesiser chord that segues us into 'Your World'.
Another strong track, 'Your World' is a mysterious, magical song, an ode to a vampire. The mix of energetic playing with Sarah's ethereal, seemingly effortless vocals, again works well. They have managed to produce a style that is their own and undeniably 'Anubis'. Refreshing in an age where many bands doggedly follow an accepted 'format'.
Simon Lees takes the lead vocal on the next song, 'Stalked By Sadness'. This is Anubis slowing things down a little, only a little mind you. Another great showcase for Simon's remarkable guitar playing, accompanied by Pete on acoustic. Playing the album for about the tenth time for this review, I realised one of the things that draws me to the music of Anubis is their ability to provide light and shade. No relentless churning out of the same musical style on every track for this band!
Another track with vocals by Lees follows, 'Magic Carpet'. A very Egyptian feel to this song and another fine and powerful piece of music. I enjoy it more and more on repeated listens. A real 'grower'.
'Us' follows with Sarah on vocals. One of the album's quieter moments, with Sarah's marvellous voice accompanied by acoustic guitar and some quite lovely flamenco style flourishes.
Heavier in style but again at a slower pace, the next track, 'Masquerade', features Sarah's voice and once again, a dark and fascinating song that plays on your emotions.
The guys get another turn on vocals for the very catchy 'No One Is Immortal'. A real rhythmic anthem, this one and I can already visualise the crowd head-banging to it at some future Anubis gig. It reminded me of early Black Sabbath but again, it's pure Anubis with a few twists and turns that I'll leave you to discover for yourselves!
'Dual On The Nile' follows. At first I wondered whether it should have been "duel" instead but then I got it. The twin guitars of Simon Lees and Andy Hart on this instrumental say it all. We're in the territory of some of my favourite music here, Thin Lizzy, Allman Brothers and Wishbone Ash. Do Anubis manage to pull it off? Oh yeah! Superb musicianship .
There's probably a back story to the title of the next track too but I'm not aware of it. 'Angry Dolphins' allows Simon Lees' guitar to soar. Wah wah that'd make Satriani sit up and take notice, accompanied by a stomping rhythm from Pete's bass. Quality.
A real treat follows, in my opinion. 'Your World Vampire Mix' is Anubian music to waltz to. Well, maybe not quite but it's a delightful version of 'Your World'. Sarah's voice sounds brilliant, supported by Spanish guitar. Think Anubis unplugged.
The album ends with two bonus tracks. First there is the instrumental version of 'Stalked By Sadness'. Excellent and I never tire of it.
Finally, there is 'Anubian Dream'. Spanish guitar plays over swirling synthesiser and a phased, modern dance-like drum beat. Just when you thought you'd got a handle on Anubis' music, something different again.
So, there you have it, my early impressions of 'SIBUNA', an album I shall be playing many more times in the future. Thoroughly recommended for its quality of vocals, musicianship, variety and production. A number of the band's members have quite a musical pedigree.
Nevertheless...
that this is their debut album together is nothing short of amazing.
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 Sibuna B00139S5WW
Anubis
Flying V Records
Sibuna
Welcome
Intelligent rock to make your emotions soar!
Although I may not be the best music reviewer around, at least I'm going to be one of the first for this album! Here is my personal review of 'Sibuna' by Anubis.
The album opens with 'Little Picture'. Sarah's Co'Burn's voice echoes and wafts over a backdrop of heavy bass and drums, accompanied by energetic power chords and guitar riffs. The disquieting lyrics set the scene perfectly. Anubis have arrived to rock your soul!
Pete Williamson's bass fades to end the track, bringing us to the opening synth chords of 'The Pharaoh'. This instrumental track features as good guitar playing as you'll hear anywhere. Simon Lees squeezes every manner of sound from his guitar in this song.
Again, the track features great pounding bass lines from Pete and if you don't find yourself playing air guitar to this one, it's probably because you're already playing air bass! The track storms along, assisted in no small part by some strong drumming, before ending as it began with a synthesiser chord that segues us into 'Your World'.
Another strong track, 'Your World' is a mysterious, magical song, an ode to a vampire. The mix of energetic playing with Sarah's ethereal, seemingly effortless vocals, again works well. They have managed to produce a style that is their own and undeniably 'Anubis'. Refreshing in an age where many bands doggedly follow an accepted 'format'.
Simon Lees takes the lead vocal on the next song, 'Stalked By Sadness'. This is Anubis slowing things down a little, only a little mind you. Another great showcase for Simon's remarkable guitar playing, accompanied by Pete on acoustic. Playing the album for about the tenth time for this review, I realised one of the things that draws me to the music of Anubis is their ability to provide light and shade. No relentless churning out of the same musical style on every track for this band!
Another track with vocals by Lees follows, 'Magic Carpet'. A very Egyptian feel to this song and another fine and powerful piece of music. I enjoy it more and more on repeated listens. A real 'grower'.
'Us' follows with Sarah on vocals. One of the album's quieter moments, with Sarah's marvellous voice accompanied by acoustic guitar and some quite lovely flamenco style flourishes.
Heavier in style but again at a slower pace, the next track, 'Masquerade', features Sarah's voice and once again, a dark and fascinating song that plays on your emotions.
The guys get another turn on vocals for the very catchy 'No One Is Immortal'. A real rhythmic anthem, this one and I can already visualise the crowd head-banging to it at some future Anubis gig. It reminded me of early Black Sabbath but again, it's pure Anubis with a few twists and turns that I'll leave you to discover for yourselves!
'Dual On The Nile' follows. At first I wondered whether it should have been "duel" instead but then I got it. The twin guitars of Simon Lees and Andy Hart on this instrumental say it all. We're in the territory of some of my favourite music here, Thin Lizzy, Allman Brothers and Wishbone Ash. Do Anubis manage to pull it off? Oh yeah! Superb musicianship .
There's probably a back story to the title of the next track too but I'm not aware of it. 'Angry Dolphins' allows Simon Lees' guitar to soar. Wah wah that'd make Satriani sit up and take notice, accompanied by a stomping rhythm from Pete's bass. Quality.
A real treat follows, in my opinion. 'Your World Vampire Mix' is Anubian music to waltz to. Well, maybe not quite but it's a delightful version of 'Your World'. Sarah's voice sounds brilliant, supported by Spanish guitar. Think Anubis unplugged.
The album ends with two bonus tracks. First there is the instrumental version of 'Stalked By Sadness'. Excellent and I never tire of it.
Finally, there is 'Anubian Dream'. Spanish guitar plays over swirling synthesiser and a phased, modern dance-like drum beat. Just when you thought you'd got a handle on Anubis' music, something different again.
So, there you have it, my early impressions of 'SIBUNA', an album I shall be playing many more times in the future. Thoroughly recommended for its quality of vocals, musicianship, variety and production. A number of the band's members have quite a musical pedigree.
Nevertheless...
that this is their debut album together is nothing short of amazing.
Alan Jones
21 Feb 2008
- Overall: 5
- Overall: 5
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Location: Wirral, UK
Reviewer Rank: 116,238
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(2 customer reviews)
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