STAGMA – Stagma (2018)
International heavy rock band STAGMA is releasing today its self-titled album, “Stagma“. Stagma is the brainchild of Portuguese Alex Santos, guitarist, producer and composer with hard rockers Scar For Life, who joined forces with Joe Petro (Heaven & Earth), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath / Dio), Neil Fraser (TEN, Rage Of Angels) with the intention of forming a new heavy rock group more groovy, classic oriented.
Stagma born out of this collaboration, which was completed with the addition of German vocalist Rob Mancini (Scar For Life, Boneyard Dog) and drummer Patrick Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen, W.A.S.P.). Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio) also contribute drums on one track.
From January to November 2016, Alex composed eleven new songs from his studios in Lisbon, and in the summer of 2016 Vinny laid the foundations for the album by recording seven tracks at his studio in Los Angeles.
In the fall of 2016, Joe Petro and Neil Fraser joined Alex to record lead, bass and rhythm guitar, and Patrick laid down his drum tracks at his studio in Florida. In March 2017, Alex Santos composed a new song for the album featuring drummer Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio, Queensrÿche) and in August 2017, Rob Mancini was reunited with Alex Santos as the vocalist and lead singer for Stagma, also contributing with lyrics.
It has been said million times: a star line-up / supergroup doesn’t guarantee success. “Stagma” is the sum of its parts, and delivers some interesting music at places.
Musically, it goes from classic hard rock with modern touches, to a more groovy, dark heavy sound. I think the latter is which more fit the vocals and the overall feeling.
Renowned for his vintage computer C64 SID soundtracks, Stagma includes as well Jeroen Tel joining the band to record two tracks; ‘Genesis’ is a fitting introduction with synths and electronics creating a sci-fi atmosphere, and the concluding track, ‘To Be Continued…’ is a promise of things to come.
As said, “Stagma” works better when it goes for darker, classic metal arrangements. On the other hand, when they try to modernize the sound with vocal effects, it fails. The drum work, as you might suspect is very good, as well as the guitar solos.
Overall this is an interesting project, which needs a more focused musical style to round-up a homogeneous product, and an experinced producer / mixer as some parts here resulted slightly flat.
Check ’em out.
01 – Genesis
02 – Pokerface
03 – Rocket Machine
04 – Faces in the Mirror
05 – Promise Me
06 – Gates of Valhalla
07 – Castaway
08 – Bounty Hunter
09 – Sister Sister
10 – Viking Nation
11 – Written in Stone
12 – To Be Continued
Rob Mancini (Scar For Life, Boneyard Dog) – Vocals
Alexandre Santos (Scar For Life) – Rhythm Guitars
Neil Fraser (TEN) – Lead Guitars
Joe Petro – Bass
Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio) – Drums 01-08
Simon Wright (AC/DC, Dio) – Drums 09
Patrick Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen) – Drums 10-11
Jeroen Tel – Synths, Keyboards on 01, 03 and 07
Neili Bjerring – Vocals on 10
BUY IT !
www.headshellrecords.com/stagma-stagma-2018/
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