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Aghora /Amorphis show review

http://www.treehouseofdeath.com/?p=43

Aghora Debut 2000

Satan Stole My Teddybear - October 00

Aghora - Aghora (Dobles Productions, 2000) - 8/10

I have been trying to pigeonhole this CD into some category or another, but it seems to defy quantifying. Musically, the play is loose but technical with a middle-eastern timbre lacing into the songs. Some of that timbre is carried by the lyrics and vocal track. The lyrics are very introspective and have overtones of spiritual searching in them. The guitar tracks are heavy, thrashy and intricate though not in the "I am a guitar hero" vein. When you combine the unusual play with exceptional quality vocals, the result is almost always interesting. -= Matthew Braymiller =-

Eclectic Earwig - August 00

Aghora - Aghora (Independent, 2000)

Aghora is a jazz-influenced metal band led by guitarist Santiago Dobles, featuring the rhythm section of jazz/metal pioneers Cynic and Dobles' sister Danishta Rivero on vocals.The music will undoubtedly be compared to Cynic because of the common band members and the obvious jazz metal influence. However, Dobles, credited with writing all 9 songs on the CD, has created a different beast in a metaphysical, spiritual sounding jazz/metal hybrid that shows a Cynic influence but also an expansion of the melodic elements that Cynic touched on but did not fully explore. Dobles also captures a spiritual, improvisational feel reminiscent of Mahavishnu Orchestra, an influence he cites in the liner notes. -= Scott Andrews =-

Rockreunion - July 00

Aghora - Aghora - Rated 9.5 / 10

Imagine Psychotic Waltz jamming with Loreena McKennitt, or Watchtower playing with Tori Amos, or Dream Theater recording with Anneke Van Giersbergen (The Gathering). This album cannot be compared with anything you have heard before. Pure originality. It's metal, jazz, fusion, folk, ambient and much more. Of course all compositions are very complex and on a high technical level, but they do not only show off! Many songs can be compared to Dream Theater instrumentals with added vocals. Some of them are very more atmospheric, like the relaxed Frames, sometimes also containing very heavy breaks, like on Existence. The track Jivatma is dedicated to The Mahavishnu Orchestra of John McLaughlin and provides an 11 minute freestyle improvisation that has more effect on your brain than any drug could have. -= RAGE =-

Progressia - July 00

Finally! We had to wait two years after the first demo for the project of a young guitarist, Santiago Dobles (23 years), to come to completion. Aghora again takes the intelligent Metal from where Cynic had left it, but goes further innovatively. The great innovation lies in the vocals by the young mezzo-soprano Danishta Rivero (22 years) who transcends a more brutal style musically, with the riffs and rhythms of Death...

Sebastien D

I-Mockery - July 00

Aghora's self-titled debut album is nothing less than amazing. Featuring ex-members of Cynic, this cd won't let down fans. But don't expect it to be "another Cynic", because Aghora is NOT. The music is quite different and unlike anything else you've ever heard.

-RoG-

OBLIVION Magazine - July 00 (Issue 9 - not released until September)

'Aghora - SAME (55:33 min) DOBLES / US-IMPORT'

One can compare the sound of Aghora with Cynic's music, although the metallic proportion is substantially smaller with Aghora and the overall sound is considerably less 'spacey'. The Vocals of Danishta reminds me sometimes of Anneke of The Gathering and again lends to the interesting material a further facet. An all around very recommendable album!

Christoph Lcker

Guitarist Magazine - June 00

'Aghora - Aghora'

Some terrific guitar, drum and bass playing throughout. A Berklee graduate, Santiago's playing is spectacular and inventive.

Ben Bartlett

Aardschock Magazine (Netherlands) - June 00

'Aghora - Aghora' - Rated - 9.5/10

For its very short existence and completely unique music style, shortly after they split up Cynic became a cult band. The mix of fusion and metal by the Floridan musicians was immitated only sporadic but it was never being equalled. The rhythms are wonderful complex, the quitarplay is extremely inventive and the 9 tracks take unexpected turns constantly. And for now let's all hope there will be a European label that will have the guts to release this bands music.

Robbie Woning - special thanks to Yvonne from the Death/Control Denied site for the translation!

Flash Magazine (Italy) - June 00

'Aghora - Aghora' - Rated - 100/100 - DISC OF THE MONTH

The debut of the Aghora - a band already applauded in all atmospheres of ultratechnical metal thanks to a three track demo, finally reaches fulfillment and an exceptional, extremely complex product is revealed that gives a jolt of energy to the entire current metal scene...

Whiplash - June 00

'Aghora - Aghora' - Rate - 10/10 - perfect. Really amazing

Melodic Metal - June 00

Aghora 'Aghora' reviewed by Michael Lu - Rating 8.5 / 10

Aghora is lead by Santiago Dobles, who is the main songwriter and a new arrival to the technical metal genre. Aghora plays technical metal that is very similar to bands such as Cynic, Watchtower, etc. The heavy guitar parts are dispersed among some very interesting clean bass and drum work. Each song contains a good dose of heaviness and clean fusion jazz noodling. Danishta Rivero fronts this band and does a good job adding atmospheric female vocals to the music. Danishta reminds me a lot of Annekes work with The Gathering. Instrumentally, any fan of precision based technical metal will have a field day. Although the music is very technical in nature, it is contained within structure and is not chaotic in any sense.

Aghora is a must for fans of technical metal. If you ever wished that Cynic would release another album, I think instrumentally, Aghora will be more than satisfactory to you.

Rock Hard Magazine - June 00

Aghora achieves an "8 out of 10" from German magazine "Rock Hard" - visit them online at www.rockhard.de and tell us what they're saying!!

Metalmania - June 00

Aghora - Selftitled (CD-2000-United States)

Here is finally something out-of-the-ordinary, spawned directly from the catacombs of the underground! Geared towards a very critique and mature public, looking here and there for albums with unique styles, it's on this kind of music they can fall upon. Bringing the listener beyond the usual paths and established conventions by conventional metal, Aghora pushes the limits by exploring sounds never used before until now. Featuring two ex-members of Cynic, merged with a melodic female vocal la Hindu flavour, the band distinguishes itself by it's originality, it's technique and it's unique personality. With a slow rythmic and a style that 'grooves', Aghora's music as a light dose of aggression, not enough some will say. It's an album that many will not appreciate, especially the young public, but those who will appreciate will be the connoisseurs (the know-it-alls, the specialists, the elite...).

94 pts - Freeson Rock

Guitar Nine Records - The Undiscovered - June 00

"Take a Berklee-trained guitarist, add an experienced, killer rhythm section, a classically trained mezzo-soprano who has also studied jazz vocals and a local death metal rhythm guitar player and you begin to understand the combination of forces behind Aghora.... which features a unique combination of ultra-heavy rhythms, gorgeous, ethereal female vocals, challenging song structures and, the icing on the cake, wickedly fast, impressively fluid guitar solos and riffage (powered by Dobles).The CD is loaded with high quality material...."

Aversion Online - May 00

"Sean Malones playing is the best it has ever been, executing beautifully complex and technical runs with complete precision...Aghora reaches their peak on this CD midway through "Frames", exhibiting pure emotional power with their music and writing, and showing that there is surely a level of epic proportions to be achieved. This is definitely high level progressive metal, with writing and playing that is among the best out there. It is also worth mentioning that if you listen closely, there is a whole lot of detail going on in these tracks that might go unnoticed (I recommend listening through headphones)... With the level of musicianship and ability present here, this could be the perfect band with time." 8/10

Edgar Franco, Krepusculum Underzine - 05/00 - Brazil

"Imagine the lyrical and pretty vocals of an astral mermaid, adds them to an creative instrumental with influences of progressive metal (Dream Theater, Stratovarious), jazz and Hindu music, everything done with perfection and with a super sound production ...we are speaking about AGHORA a true surprise in its debut album!...The individual prominences are bassist Sean Malone, a true magician of the four strings, and vocalist Danishta Rivero, one of the sweeter and deep feminine voices of the new metal. MARVELOUSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!"

Adrian Bromley - Unrestrained! Issue 12 - 05/00 (Canada)

"The debut disc is a rock solid affair of metal mastery, not afraid to venture forth with diverse offerings to slow and/or quicken the pace at a second's notice. Singer Danishta Rivero's vocals work wonders over the rhythmic groove (thanks to Cynic alumni Sean Reinert and Sean Malone), and the hypnotizing guitar work of Santiago Dobles and Charlie Ekendahl. A must for any prog/technical metal junkie."

Fulvio Araya - Silent Scream 05/00 (Italy)

"One of the greatest needs of man is undoubtedly the one to dream; dreams help us when we need support, in our dreams we succeed to find that serenity that in the everyday life is denied. Great importance have then those albums that thanks to the magic of the music they contain, can excite in our mind a sort of dreamy Catherine wheel of sounds and colors, of emotions and feelings...Know that the homonymous debut album of the US AGHORA has really this capacity...And it's really the cohesion of voice and instruments where one needs to find the reading key of this work, a work characterized by a remarkable progressiveness for its ability to open new horizons but without recurring to those excessive instrumental experimentations that, in most albums defined as "progressive", suffocate the emotions music should communicate....Were we talking about dreams? Well, with AGHORA you'll discover how one can dream with the eyes wide open."

Nathan Robinson - www.metal-rules.com May 00

"Aghora combines soft and soothing jazz rhythms with heavy guitar chugging and emotional, spiritual female vocals effectively throughout the album, making every listening experience a rewarding one, that is if you’re in the mood for the lighter side of metal! You should know that Sean Reinert is one of the most amazing drummers out there, and he does well in Aghora....Sean Malone can be heard very clearly on this album too, and his playing is as great as ever!...Santiago has written almost all of the music for the album. Of course everyone has had his/her fair share of input, but do not expect the album to be Cynic Part II. Last and definitely not least, is vocalist Danishta Rivero. Without her, Aghora would not be nearly as spellbinding. Her range and melodies are very catchy and emotional. Put this album on, turn off the lights, and dream of far away places…"

Daniel Vilar - Renegade2K - Brazil 04/00

"When we see the Aghoras line up, that is Santiago Dobles, Sean Reinert and Sean Malone, we can be right that without doubts we will listen to a great work...Dobles is an exceptional guitarist and do amazing solos, sometimes lunatic and insane solos that have an uncontrollable aggression and impulsive precision, and in another moments, more calm and atmospheric, like in the song Jivatma, that remembers a lot the Gordian Knot. To write about the musical quality of Sean Reinert and Sean Malone is unnecessary. These guys do incredible things like in all the other works that they are involved. The vocalist is Danishta (Dobles sister). This girl has a beautiful voice and do different and varied vocal lines. In this debut, Aghora joins technique and heavy elements in 9 songs of high quality to prove that is possible to do heavy metal with high technique with feeling and do not sound self-indulgent."

Mickael Cochet Metropolis fanzine issue 4 France 04/00

"AGHORA first album is for sure a timeless masterpiece of progressive music History...The music, both powerful and melodic, carry us to a new musical dimension where only CYNIC, Allan Holdsworth, John McLaughlin and KING CRIMSON dare. Sean Reinerts drumming is powerful, groovy and totaly insane while Sean Malones bass lines come from another world. Santiago solos -somewhere between Steve Vais genius and John Petruccis virtuosity- are extremely fast and beautiful, supported by the heavy guitar riffing of Charlie Eckendal and transcended by the mezzo-soprano voice of Danishta Riveiro...Forget all youve heard before and enter AGHORAs world ! ! !"

John Sakamoto - The Ottawa Sun - 04/13/00 (Canada)

Great Eight...Immortal Bliss -- Aghora"

John Sakamoto - The Toronto Sun 04/12/00 (Canada)

"The week's 10 coolest tunes:

4. AGHORA Immortal Bliss
Here's one you don't come across every day: A progressive metal band fronted by a classically trained mezzo-soprano. Alternately ethereal and bludgeoning. (Kudos to metal-head Adrian Bromley, who got there first.) (From Aghora, Dobles Production)"

Giedrius Slivinskas - Edge of Time 04/00 Denmark

"Technical metal starts well in the new milennium, Aghora is yet another example. Featuring ex-Cynic Sean Reinert (drums) and Sean Malone (bass), the creation of Berklee School of Music's graduate> Santiago Dobles (guitar) is ready to move a few hearts or more...Personally I am not keen on 11 minute instrumentals at all, but Aghora's "Jivatma" is one hell of an instrumental feast, starting in dark ambient style and developing into a groovy, jazzy, well-though out improvization. Life is good!..."

Consternation Zine - Vydunas Stripinas Lithuania 04/00

"Aghora plays technical progressive avangarde metal with female vocals - something I've never heard before. There are 9 tracks on this CD and in all of them you can feel relaxation, lightness. Vocals of Danishta brings to Aghora's music something unearthly what raises music to higher dimension....I recommend this CD to all prog-metal fans and to those who are tired of brutality and want some fresh dwell of air to their brains."

Andres Padilla, Grinder Magazine - Chile 04/00

"Increble! Si alguno de ustedes se fascin con la desaparecida banda Cynic, sobre todo escuchando sus alucinantes demos, que mezclaban la ultra tcnica con la brutal precisin de sus instrumentos, entonces podr sentirse aliviado cuando tenga en sus manos a esta nueva banda llamada Aghora....Dobles, acompaado de una suave y meldica voz de Danishta Rivero, y la contundente guitarra de Charlie Ekendahl, recrea un interesante sonido lleno de matices elctricos. A momentos suenan muy pesados en una onda progresiva metalera de excelente nivel, pero cuando escuchamos cambios drsticos, nos damos cuenta que no existen lmites en Aghora..... Por otro lado, es imposible sentir el placer de la tcnica que aplica el talentoso Reinert con su batera. Quiebres, golpes, y ritmos, todos con una precisin asombrosa y ya caracterstica en l. Para que hablar de Mr. Malone, todo un maestro con el bajo. Pero, con esas palabras no quiero quitarle el verdadero mrito y espritu a la banda, que es simplemente Santiago Dobles, quien ha producido el disco (en conjunto con Dan Escauriza) y creado la mayora de las canciones. Estn atentos con ellos!"

code666 webzine - Italy 04/00

"Amazing! I love this band! I'm surely not a prog-fan, but Aghora are able to put a lot of feelings in their technical songs... a fantastic female vocalist, a rithmic-session with Sean Malone & Sean Reinert (!!!!) and two great guitarist for the more modern , original and interesting prog-metal-avantgarde band of the planet!" 8 out 10

http://lachrymosa.homepage.com - 02/00

"Aghora has changed my approach and the way I think about music in so many ways. They are incredibly diverse with great grooves that come from countries all over the world, instrumental mastery characteristic of gods, and socially relevant phrases such as "The God is in the man, the man is in the God". Buy this CD for a refreshing change."

quote from listener to "The Metal Revolution" radio show in Miami 02/16/00

AGHORA is mentioned on the cover of the magazine "Metropolis" from France in their February 2000 edition. There is also a two page review of Sean Reinert. "Santiago premiered a song on a radio station in miami.. I got to record a little of it.. its fucking great. Reinerts style has morphed once again. amazing.. im telling you.. Aghora is all fucking Santiago and Reinert.. HOLY FUCK HE BURNS UP THE SET ON THIS ALBUM..."

Ron Thal - Feb 00

"Here's something special. Never heard a blend like this before. Metal with way-over-the-top technique across the board, and vocals I just can't describe. It's from another place. Ya gotta hear it."

Matt Johnsen, Perpetual Motion messageboard - Feb 00

"The playing is excellent across the board, and I really like Santiago's lead style. He puts the whammy bar to great use...The drumming, as expected, is awesome. Very heavy, but finessed...This is an awesome disc, and technical metal fans should consider it an essential purchase..."

Metal Maniacs Magazine, April 2000 edition

Number 1 on Ula Gehret's playlist

http://www.mindcage.com/edge/current/r14demo.htm#Aghora

"...The pourling instrumentation is very soul uplifting, and the eerie vocals of Santiago's sister Danishta Rivero only help to dive into an extraterrestrial mind search. Very good, and also a bit different with its deep cosmic brigthness from usually minor-tone dominated metal. Look out for their debut full-length album.(GS)"

Ula Gehret, Metal Maniacs Magazine

"What seperates Aghora from the pack of prog bands are the vocals of Dobles' sister, Danishta Rivero, a classically-trained mezzo soprano. The end result, to oversimplify, lies somewhere in the rift between King Crimson, The Gathering and Dream Theater.."

Bjornar Bevolden, Through Different Eyes

"The music is filled with variation, switching between beautiful acoustic parts and more bombastic heavy parts, with technique that's just amazing and seemingly effortless..."

Stephen Ross

"The challenge in writing aggressive heavy music is to keep it colorful, yet aggressive and I felt Santiago is facing this challenge head on..."

Sergio Bastos, Odiosiuos Larv AE, Portugal

"I could describe this Aghora demo-CD with only one expression: far beyond excellent!..."

Thiago Sarkis, www.whiplash.net, Brazil

"Singer Danishta Rivero is superb, Sean Reinert once more proves to be one of the best drummers ever...They blend jazz influences with other styles, making a very unique sound that might once more make a revolution on the way of playing and writing Rock and Metal..."