Eron-Never Enough

Self-Released
2012

Don't be fooled by either the band's name or their newest album's title. For that matter don't be lead astray by the almost misleading album art. Olso's Eron, whose four members look as if they just might be young enough to be my children (!), are a legit source of heavier then hell metal. Scratch that. Eron, and this 8-track release (which came out on 12/12/12!), are heavier then hell thrash metal! "Come and get your groove on ladies and gentlemen!!" thrash metal to be exact. With vocalist/bassist Benjamin Danielsen leading the charge this five (give or take) year old band take their inspiration from not only more modern sources (Lamb Of God, Mastodon), but also the good old days (ie: the eighties!). While the groove might have come from the likes of Pantera, Exhorder and Suicidal Tendencies there also seems to be elements of group's like Anthrax, Slayer, Intruder, Metallica, Excel, Sacred Reich, Overkill, Exodus and Lääz Rockit. That said, you really should not go looking to pick up a copy of "Never Enough" if it's just another throwback, Bay Are-infused, retro act that you're longing for! Eron are more a combination of all of the above while they are also like none of the above! Wait, what? Well, here's how it all plays out. The band, which also features guitarists Edi Hasic & Jan Nielsen and drummer Fredrik Westby, rock out to their own beat and have been around long enough to tear things up on their own terms. As I delightfully partook in this 8-track collection of groove heavy thrash a few things came to mind that set this Norwegian act apart. First off we have the lead vocals of Benjamin Danielson. Sure he does front a thrash band, but his vocals are somewhat tuned differently then most bands playing this extreme form of metal. For whatever reason he had me thinking about bands like Discharge and Nuclear Assault. I'd hesitate to say his vocals are hardcore as they really aren't. Can I say his voice is "alternative" in nature without getting burned alive at the stake? I mean call it what you will but he comes off as different in a cool way. So, that kind of makes Eron stand out as a band. Also, "Never Enough" finds a band that isn't afraid is lay down heavy riffs that could have simultaneous come from punk and hardcore's heyday as well as the N.W.O.B.H.M.scene! There is also a keen sense that these four like to rock out. Straight, no chaser, rock and roll, rock out. I can't vouch for the group's earlier material*, but on these 8-tracks the gentlemen in Eron give their groovy thrash a shot of rock and roll adrenalin that is contagious!  And yet Eron are very much a crunching entity who are more then mosh worthy. It goes without saying then that "Never Enough" is a no-brainer as far as getting my highest recommendation! We're talking about a group that has all the aggressiveness of a crazed pit bull while still finding time to shake their groove thing! It's like getting hit over the head with a pitcher of beer while dancing your way through the pit! You can find out more about this group and how to snag a copy of "Never Enough" here:
 https://www.facebook.com/eron.band

*In addition to this stone cold kickin' release the group also have a 2007 EP to their name called "Poor Norwegian Metal". Although it must be noted that the EP features other musicians then the one's involved with "Never Enough" so chances are it's not likely going to rock the fuck out like this sweet ass album!

Truth Corroded-The Saviours Slain

AFM Records
2013

Tracing their roots back to 1997, before self-releasing their debut EP, "Fuel The Chain", in 1999, Adelaide, South Australia-based Truth Corroded are a heavy thrash/death metal band inspired by the likes of Sepultura, Vio-lence, Dark Angel, Testament, Forbidden (whose Craig Locicero guests on lead guitar on the track "They Are Horror")Slayer, Exodus, Death Angel and Kreator. On their latest LP, "The Saviours Slain" (their third full-length release since 2005) lead vocalist Jason North and company (which includes the group's only other original member, bassist Greg Shaw) release a (consistently) intense album that lyrically (and apparently theme-wise), is overflowing with strong political, religious and social messages. As most readers are probably more concerned though with how it's all packaged and delivered then here's what matters most. Between the near death-like vocals of Jason North and the insane audio assault that you get from the misc. musicians that feature on this album (including newcomer Wayne Batters on rhythm guitar) you've got more then enough extreme elements to satisfy your hunger for death thrash. Especially if  death thrash is (as the kids say these days) your "jam"! Sandwiched between demonized lead vocals and old-school leads that are meant to shatter glass you'll find yourself confronted/comforted (depending on well you find yourself suited to a life where pulverizing metal is the norm) by an underlying sense of crunchiness. And God bless the crunchiness of bands like this to. Anyway, besides the above-mentioned "inspirations", which would also seem to include everyone from Destruction to Possessed, Truth Corroded have a sound that brings to mind a couple of more "modern" bands like Lamb of God (who Truth Corroded has supported in the past), Devildriver and The Black Dahlia Murder. Also, in addition to guitarist Craig Locicero, the album features guests such as Malevolent Creation's Bret Hoffman (who provides guest vocals on the cool track "Last Of My Flesh") and seasoned drummer Kevin Talley (Battlecross, Daath, Misery Index, Chimaira). All told "The Saviours Slain", the fifth overall full-length release from Truth Corroded, gives fans of death thrash everything they desire. From gruff  "I just gargled with a bunch of thumbtacks and allowed the demons from The Exorcist to check in as guests in this hotel of mine that I call my soul" vocals to razor wire-like lead guitar solos that slice and dice like an escaped metal hospital psycho (one with a "To Do" list where the only thing written down is "Kill! Kill! Kill!") this is one album that has all the perfect hallmarks of a winner. This one should make death thrashers the world over smile. No matter whether you find yourself moved by their (deeper-then-most) social justice lyrics or you just like the fact that the band's extreme music is likely to scare the bloody crap out of your next door neighbors this release should put Truth Corroded in a bigger light!

Weekly Round-Up

Greetings! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you were able to spend it surrounded by the love of family and friends. Yesterday it was just my children and my parents and it was more then enough love-wise and enjoyment-wise. There was turkey with all of the fixings and plenty of Strongbow and white wine to go around. Add in afternoon coffee and pumpkin pie as well as football and falling asleep by the second game and it was a very productive day I'd say! I do hope that all of you had as good a time as I did. As for this upcoming week? Well, I can't make any promises, but I do hope to finish up some drafts I have started on albums by the likes of Iron Mask, Truth Corroded and Dirty Shirt. Also, besides the Wargasm demo collection pictured above, I may try to cover some re-releases from October 31. And I still need to try to get around to the new releases from Satan's Host and Borrowed Time! Wow, as I type all of that I suddenly realize that my post-Thanksgiving plate is overflowing! I better get started asap if I hope to squeeze it all in!

Cockneys Vs. Zombies ,

Scream Factory
2013

This review is long-overdue. I realize that. No excuses though. Still, up front I'll just say that while it's no "Shaun of the Dead" it's about as close as you can get while still keeping things a bit more "original". It's also a much watch for fans of zombie comedy. Filled with plenty of laughs and a surprising heavy amount of gore, as well as a different take on the how and why the living dead come to attack our unlikely hero's hometown, "Cockneys Vs. Zombies" impressed me more then "Warm Bodies" (which in my rankings was WAY better then the cluster**k "World War Z"!). From the moment I saw the trailer for the British horror flick I knew i had to find a way to get my grubby, zombie lovin' hands on it! Originally this film came out in 20012, but it took until 2013 for those of us in America to get a chance to get it on DVD. Speaking of which, my copy does not come from Scream Factory, but instead Shout! Factory. The cover looks different and it does not have the bonus material that the Scream Factory one has. The one pictured above is what I would look to acquire if I was to buy it again. Anyway, the film was directed by Matthias Hoene and written by James Moran and Lucas Roche. For those who wonder exactly what a "cockney" is then click on this link (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockney) otherwise here's the story. Without any major spoilers, brothers Terry and Andy MacGuire plan to rob a bank in order to gather together enough funds in order to save their grandfather Ray's retirement home from being demolished by property developers. You see Ray, who incidentally is an ex-gangster, means the world to Terry and Andy. With help from their (much-wiser) cousin Katy and their friend/world's biggest moron Davey Tuppence they hope to do the old in and out and save gramps from (presumably) a life on the streets. Troubles first arise when the group enlists the help of former soldier "Mental" Mickey. If his nickname isn't clue enough then let's just say the this guy is just about as crazy as they come. Armed to the teeth the group's attempt at bank robbery goes terrible wrong. Hostages are taken and suddenly a "simple" robbery turns into a fight for survival as the group literally walks smack dab into a full-blown zombie apocalypse!  Knowing that their grandfather and his retirement home friends are not safe the group eventually makes their way to Ray. Do they get there in time? Who survives and who doesn't? No spoilers as this one has to be seen to be appreciated! And if you're a fan of the living dead then there is plenty to appreciate here! As someone who has been watching zombie flicks (as well as horror films in general!) for well over 26 years now I was more then satisfied with the amount of carnage present on "Cockney's vs. Zombies" and I walked away with a favorable impression of the films F/X. It's not as perfect as I would have hoped for though as some of the comedy does occasionally fall-flat and there are a few moments where I was left shaking my head at the inability of  a few of the characters to use even an ounce of common sense. Still, given the declining quality of zombie films these days (instead of hundreds of new zombie flicks popping up from everywhere I would be more then willing to settle for just a handful of new projects if they were actually watchable!) a movie like this one goes a long way in my book. It gives me hope that maybe just maybe their might be hope for fans of the classic Romero "ghoul" variety. Once it picks up it flows at a wonderful pace and director Matthias Hoene keeps the cameras focused on the action. As far as it's content it's not suitable for the younger crowd as there is plenty of violence and swearing going on. It has been awhile since I saw it, but I don't recall there being any nudity or what not present in it. But then again this isn't a film where that sort extra "padding" is needed! This is very much a horror comedy where the writers keep their eyes on the prize and don't get bogged down with unnecessary filler. It's all about the living vs. the living dead and trying to get to your loved ones before time runs out!! With Christmas right around the corner "Cockney vs. Zombies" would make a great stocking stuffer for the zombie fanatic in your life and it's a film that I plan to revisit again really soon!




http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockney

Lucid Dreams-Lucid Dreams

Rockworks Records
2013

Lucid Dreams, who hail from Oslo, Norway, just recently released this, their self-titled debut CD. Formed in 2007 by Silvester Pozarnik, Rune Hagen and Rune Gutuen (the album's engineer and producer), this 12-track album showcases a band that has managed to fuse AOR, hard rock, heavy metal and progressive metal together into something special all while basking in the glory of pure rock and roll! Sounds weird right? Almost like there is no way in the world it would work or that this six-piece band would be capable of pulling it off. And yet here I am playing witness to a band that echos everyone from Whitesnake (thanks to the sometimes quite slick lead vocals ex-Trendkiller/ex-Mudslide member Freddy Vain-try on "Daisy Dukes" and you'll hear it for yourself!) and Bon Jovi to Dio, Queensrÿche, Dream Theatre, (early) Steeler and even Saxon! In a way Lucid Dreams reminds me of a more flushed-out, progressive metal-minded version of Italy's Dangerzone. And that's a very good thing indeed. While Freddy Vain can pull off a number like "Daisy Dukes" he also can pull off a number like "Stormy" which requires him to channel the spirit of the late great Ronnie James Dio! Such range allows Lucid Dreams to move in and out of different with ease and make "Lucid Dreams" a fantastic listen! Of course helping that cause out is a backing band that, to put it bluntly, fucking slays! Guitarists Rune Gutuen and Ådne Olastuen simply excel while the rest of the band (bassist Jan-Erik Lysø, keyboardist Thorleif Østmoe (who contacted Metal Mark about reviewing this album and thus turned me onto a cool, as in the Fonz cool folks, 12 track release with such smashing good songs as "Daisy Dukes", "Stormy", "Take Me Away" and "Paranoia") and drummer Rune Hagen) makes it all sound so easy! Of curse when you consider the fact that Lucid Dreams is made up of a group of musicians who have more them paid their dues (read: there is a lot of experience packed within the pages of Lucid Dreams) it makes sense that a group like Lucid Dreams sounds so fluid. Albums like this one are the reason I love writing for this blog. Chances are that without Heavy Metal Time Machine I wouldn't have had the pleasure of hearing this release. I mean it's not as if Oslo, Norway is right next door to Ohio, U.S.A. or anything! But thanks to this blog (and well, Al Gore's Internet!) I get to hear a cool album like this and then share it with all of you! Lucid Dreams are very much a band that embraces the theory that you can cook up really heavy tracks like "Paranoia", which really borders on power metal,  and yet still rock out like crazy! And it's all good. It's like there is plenty of love to go around and it's alright if you're (musically) into bands as diverse as Whitesnake and Iron Maiden (another band that, along with everyone from the Scorpions to Yngwie J. Malmsteen to 80's era Judas Priest!, figures into the sound of Lucid Dreams). Hopefully it doesn't  sound as if I'm over-hyping this 12 track album, but the diversity present on "Lucid Dreams" and the overflowing energy that this band exhibits is just fantastic and really has to be heard to be truly appreciated!

Want more info? Of course you do! So, either head here: www.luciddreamsband.com
or head here: www.facebook.com/LucidDreamsRocks

Hell-Curse & Chapter

Nuclear Blast Records
2013

Having grown up in a Christian household rock music was considered dangerous. As I listen to Hell's
second full-length album, "Curse And Chapter" for the second time now (and that's after UPS dropped it off sometime last night after 7pm!) I'm drawn back to my youth when the devil wasn't so much in the details, but rather taking center stage for all to see through the likes of Black Sabbath, AC/DC, Iron Maiden and hundreds (thousands?) more! I spent grades 4-8 in a private Christian school where we had anti-rock crusaders* come in to preach to us ("The Devil inside" by INXS was about demonic possession? Really?) and I had the misfortune of being forced to sit and watch anti-rock preachers on VHS tapes (for those youngsters out there a VHS tape was what we used to watch movies on back in the days of cavemen and dinosaurs!) tell me how everyone from Cyndi Lauper to Queen was helping to usher in a new hell on earth! I always kid that at least being forced to watch the video tape turned me onto some great acts like The Lords of the New Church! But, now that I hear this new Hell about I must admit that maybe the devil, who is said to have all of the best bands anyway, is pulling the strings of this British occult metal act? No, not really. The real evil in is this world isn't found on an album like "Curse & Chapter". If you won't to see real evil then find yourself a map and look for Washington D.C. What we have with this traditional heavy metal five-piece is a band that is effectively lead by the theatrical David Bower who, in addition to be a splendid lead vocalist (think Rob Halford with a bit of King Diamond mixed in for good measure!) is also a part-time actor! In addition to David Bower the band features David's brother Kev (guitar and keys), Tony Speakman (bass), Tim Bowler (drums) and, last but not least, the exceptionally talented Andy Sneap (guitar). Musically Hell really doesn't sound like anyone other then Hell. Sure, you could draw parallels between Hell and the likes of Judas Priest, Merciful Fate/King Diamond, Satan and even Iron Maiden. But that would be selling both Hell and their sophomore recording short. "Deathsquad" for one features great keys that come across as partly Uriah Heap and partly potential soundtrack mater for Dr.Who! And really the opening of "Something Wicked This Way Comes" rivals anything Lars Ulrich and his bandmates released on Metallica's first three LPs! For a band like Hell, which arose from the ashes of Paralex and Race Against Time back in 1982, "Curse & Chapter" is a remarkably fresh revelation that traditional heavy metal still has plenty of lifeblood left in it! Speaking of Race Against Time, that group's cool track "Harbinger of Death" is covered here and it's a real keeper! And thanks to tracks like "The Age Of Nefarious", "Darkhangel" (possibly the best cut on "Curse & Chapter"), "Deathsquad", "Something Wicked This Way Comes" and "Land Of the Living Dead" this is one release that is sure to make the "Best Of" lists of many a fan and critic alike! Now for the million dollar question. Is it better then it's predecessor, "Human Remains"? In some ways yes, I'd say that it is. With more original compositions it feels more complete (if that makes sense) and relevant. It's hard to find a fault with "Curse & Chapter" other then it's (overly) critical and cynical viewpoint of Christianity. Considering that Christians are the last group left that you can still hurl vile insults at without any public outrage (no to mention the fact that you can disparage Christians and discriminate against them without fear of legal repercussions) it's just far too easy a target. Some of the lyrics, try "Deliver Us From Evil" for example,  are so cheesy and anti-religious that I felt like I was listening to a recording by Cronos! I normally try to refrain from mixing music discussions with religion discussions, but if a band like Hell really believes that Jesus Christ is the biggest threat our world is facing then they haven't been living on the same planet as I have for the last 40 years! The band is better suited (and much more original and interesting in my opinion) when they cover historical events or go after the greed of men (and yes, quite a bit of organized religion!) then when the go after a man who said to "love your neighbor as yourself". Just my two cents though and it's not a topic that will keep me from recommending this release and/or adding it to my "Best of 2013" list!

* No names please, but we were subjected to a set of (twin) gentlemen who, on more then one occasion, told us that everything we liked back then (in my case it was everyone/everything from AC/DC, Ratt and Heart to INXS, U2 and the Beach Boys) was just flat-out WRONG! Then, as a twenty something year old, I remember having one of them ring the doorbell of a party I was at of my then girlfriend/now ex-wife's Uncle's house. It was strange seeing this individual who had once condemned my choice of music now serving as a real estate agent!  Even more so I think I showed up at the front door with a beer in my hand! I'm not sure I ever got the full "benefit" of private school now that I think about it!

Adore-Infamy of the Black Legions

Self-Release/Independent
2013

Just released earlier this month, "Infamy of the Black Legions" is the hour + long debut from New Orleans-based Adore. I stumbled across this (digital-only) album, which is cold and unsettling, by random accident and found it quite peculiar. This 8-track collection finds Adore, which is one-woman project from the hands of Shantell Daggs, casually strolling about, hand in hand with some one's personal demons mind you, in the nightmarish realm of depressing black metal! This underground, "demo quality" self-release seems to come from a hellish place where demons delight themselves with the screaming of those unlucky, damned souls who were foolish enough to fall right into their ghoulish clutches. Adore's "Infamy of the Black Legions" is the soundtrack of  millions dying in pain and is for those metal fans who find group's like Bathory just way too normal and "commercial"! For whatever reason this (somewhat) crust-flavored recording had me envisioning Louisiana voodoo while it also left me scrambling to find just the right passage to express it's full impact on me. With that I remembered this one verse from Revelations: "I looked, and there before me was a pale horse! Its rider was named Death, and Hades was following close behind him"! Adore's "Infamy of the Black Legions" is raw and not for the lightweights out there!  


http://1adoremusic.bandcamp.com/

October 31-Gone to the Devil (7" EP)

Hells Headbangers Records
2013

With a new full-length album in the works for Virginia's October 31 (yes!) this 2-track, 7" EP, which features a pretty sweet cover version of Uriah Heep's "Too Scared to Run"!, should have fans worked up in anticipation for the group's long-awaited return! As this is the first new recordings from King Fowley and his cohorts in eight long years, it's comforting to know that this heavy metal collective stills sounds hungry. Formed in 1995, and still featuring the distinct lead guitar playing of "Brian "Hellstorm" Williams,  October 31 looks as if they have found a wonderful new home with Hells Headbanger Records. Judging by the picture below this 7" EP, which features a "Throw your horns in the air like you just don't care!" title cut that is pure heavy metal gold!, is a must for fans and collectors alike! I mean that thing looks awesome right? And the band's first new material for their new label really is as cool as the artwork for this 7" EP. It's a win-win situation for October 31 fans! And speaking of their new label, Hells Headbangers Records is also re-releasing the group's first two albums with a shit-load on bonus cuts on both of them! Sweet right? Hopefully within the next week or so I'll review both of those, but in the meantime I simply cannot recommend "Gone to the Devil" enough! Anyone who likes their heavy metal a little crazy, but with a totally kick ass, fist bangin' delivery should dig these two tracks and everything that October 31 stands for! You can pick up "Gone to the Devil" at the link below.

http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/october-31-gone-to-the-devil.asp

Zombie Lake-Plague of the Undead

Iron Shield Records
2013

With "The Walking Dead" counting down it's episodes until it's winter-time slumber why not take the time to check out this zombie-themed act with me? The humble beginnings of Zombie Lake, which likely takes it's moniker from the 1981 horror film of the same name, can be traced back in 2003 when guitarist/bassist Derek Schilling (Neglect/Pyschomanthium/Arkham 13) struck up a friendship with original Protector vocalist Martin Missy. The story goes that Derek, after sending a e-mail off a to a tribute site for the German thrash metal act, actually got a response back from Martin himself and the two discovered that they had very similar tastes as far as music goes. After swapping e-mails back and forth for awhile and further cementing their friendship, the pair decided to form an international, no-frills (but plenty of kills!), raw thrash metal band. To that end drummer Anthony Dalessio (Arkham 13) was recruited and together the three musicians ended up recording the 3-track "Metal for the Masses" demo in 2005. While the actual music on "Metal for the Masses" was apparently recorded back in 1999 (with the Protector front-man just adding his vocals to the mix) it was still more then enough to make an impact on the underground metal circuit as this new album can attest to.  As we turn our attentions now to modern day and Zombie Lake's "Plague of the Undead" we find that this U.S./Sweden connection, which now features the insane lead guitar skills of Ryan Lipinsky (Serpentine Path/Unearthly Trance/The Howling Wind), has a deal with Iron Shield Records and this aggressive debut-album that is (lyrically) all about the living dead while musically it's "stab you in the eye with a splinter of wood''* old-school thrash! Unlike the Nazi zombie cheesefest film that this bunch took their name from ( a "horror movie" that has tons more nudity in then actual gore) this Zombie Lake is plenty mean and vicious! Unless you knew ahead of time it's not likely that you would be able to catch on to the fact that the music of "Plague of the undead" was recorded in New York while the vocals were recorded in Sweden. This very much sounds like a "everybody was in the same place at the same time" kind of album from a band that should be, if justice was a real thing in this rotting world we live in,  more then just another another metal "project"! When you have Martin Missy of Protector fame (who sounds freakin' fantastic here!) cutting loose with a group of maniacal metalheads on what amounts to underground thrash how can you go wrong? Call me crazy, but I actually prefer this release to Protector's latest as Zombie Lake has more of a 1990 something, tape trading with fellow thrash fanatics from way across the pound, vibe to it. Its a album where you could just picture a bunch of friends jamming together in a small studio while everything is captured to tape for posterity. Due to released at the beginning of December on both CD and LP, with the LP version coming packaged with a poster from the sounds of it, "Plague of the Undead"  is for lovers of old-school thrash metal and those of us who just can't seem to ever get enough of the raw appeal of metal's underground scene!

*Scene from the movie Zombie!

Deliverance-Hear What I Say!

Roxx Records/3 Frogz Records

2013

A lot of ink has been spilled over the Christian metal band Deliverance since they first came into existence back in 1985. Founded by vocalist/guitarist, and sole original member (!), Jimmy P. Brown (whose vocals,incidentally, are still as powerful as always even after all these years!), Deliverance's first two albums, which can be found as a two on one CD these days if memory serves me correct, are nothing short of classics. Those two albums, "Deliverance" and "Weapons of Our Warfare" (released in 1989 and 1990 respectively) are everything that speed metal/thrash should be. If you've never heard either then I would strongly urge you to check them out as album number one should easily appeal to fans of Death Angel and Hirax while the group's sophomore release showed an appreciation for groups like Metallica, Megadeth and even Slayer!  I was actually my teenage daughters age when I first discovered the group's "Weapons of Our Warfare" on cassette tape and subsequently saw them play live with Sacrament at the Aurora Library. Back then I was a lost teenager looking for the light, any light really, at the (supposed) end of a very dark tunnel. Thankfully that's not entirely who am now and as far as my own 15 year old? Well, I see her and I see a girl with more conviction and passion then I ever had at that age. But, that's another story for another time as we're hear to talk about this group's latest release right? With this serving as their (reported) final album what exactly can fans expect when "Hear What I Say!" drops on December 10th? Well, while the album's unnecessary intro, "Liber 111", isn't something I'd go rushing to stop the presses over (in other words it doesn't really build any sense of climax) that all changes once "The Annals of Subterfuge" kicks in. Having previously heard the demo version of this song on the "Thrashmageddon" compilation I was anxious to hear how it sounded in full, all guns blazing, living color. Needless to say it did not disappoint! Michael Phillips (also of The Sacrificed, Join The Dead) plays lead guitars on "Hear What I Say!" just as he did on the group's last studio-release, 2007's "As Above - So Below" and man if he doesn't make the album version of "The Annals of Subterfuge" sound killer then I just don't know what qualifies as "killer" anymore!  At about 2:45 or so into "Angst" (the third track on this release after the intro and "The Annals of Subterfuge") things gets epic thanks to his lead skills and from that point on, except for one misstep (which I'll soon enough address), there seems to be no stopping this bunch as they keep the positive energy flowing this ten track release! Manny Morales, who seems as if he has played with Deliverance on and off since 1993's "Learn", joins in on the fun of "Hear What I Say!" as does veteran drummer Jayson Sherlock (Mortification, Horde, Revulsed). If this truly is set to be Deliverance's last studio-album then at least they gave it their all and are going out of top! Heavier cuts like "Detox", which is like a N.W.O.B.H.M.-embracing Pantera trying to corner the market on all things Megaedth, "Nude" and the speed metal-tinged "Passing"' all showcase a band that seems strong and confident. Interestingly enough then some of "Hear What I Say!" sounds as if it is written from a very personal place. "Hope Lies Beyond" comes off as quite reflective as does "Nude" and "A Perfect Sky".  It must be said though that when it comes to "A Perfect Sky", while it's a fine song in it's own right and all, it really sticks out like a sore thumb on this release as it's most straight=ahead rock and roll then anything else. I'm not sure what was going on there. At least Jimmy Brown and company chose to follow it up with a solid cover of Iron Maiden's "Where Eagles Dare". The album ends on a good note with a German version of the track "Detox" called "Entgiftung". So, album number ten features ten tracks in all (well, nine I guess as the intro isn't much to write home about) and other then maybe "A Perfect Sky" it's most certainly a nice goodbye letter to fans. For a group that has had a few hiccups along the way (I'm looking at you "What A Joke"!) and had been criticized  for being a Metallica clone ("Weapons of Our Warfare") this release should silence some of the critics and doubters. Diehard fans will likely come away happy although I do wish there was a bit more to this release as far as the actual material goes. I would have loved to had more tracks like "Detox, "Angst" and "Passing" from Jimmy Brown and Deliverance as that might have really cemented this one as a thrash metal classic. But, it is what it is and at the end of the day "Hear What I Say!" is a fine collection of metal tracks with quite a bit of variety (style-wise) and more then enough emotional depth to make you really think about what you're digesting. Iff this is the last dance for Deliverance then let me be the first to thank them for all they did for the Christian metal community and wish them nothing but the best as they move on. 

So pick up a copy of "Hear What I Say!" from either:
www.3frogzstudio.com or www.roxxproductions.com

Revolution Road-Revolution Road

Avenue Of Allies
2013

Revolution Road, which was a dream project conceived of by producer Alessandro Del Vecchio (Edge Of Forever, Hardline, Lionville, Fergie Frederiksen) and Avenue Of Allies label owner Gregor Klee, is not so much a full-fledged band as it is a vehicle to showcase the talents of Snakes In Paradise/Company Of Snakes vocalist Stefan Berggren. That much should be made clear up front. This ten track, self-titled release was apparently first worked on during the fall and winter of 2011/2012 with (I assume) principle recording taking place this year. Besides lead vocalist Stefan Berggren and Alessandro Del Vecchio (who handles keyboards on the album as well as contributing some fantastic Hammond B3 parts!) the project was helped along by guitarists Carmine Martone & Francesco Marras, bassist Paul Logue (Eden's Curse) and drummer Francesco Jovine (U.D.O., Sapphire Eyes, Hardline, Skill In Veins). Additional personal includes former Snakes In Paradise members/guitarists Stefan Jonsson & Thomas Jaakobsson, guitarist Marcus Jidell (Royal Hunt, Dougie White, Alfonzetti) and Voodoo Circle's Alex Beyrodt (Sinner, Primal Fear) who guests on one of the album's better moments, "Ain't Gonna Give My Heart Away". If my notes are all in order that's the "who" of this album so what is the "what" then? Well, the "band" is self-described as "Classic Hard Rock with a touch of Melodic Rock and AOR". But, as I see it Revolution Road comes across as Journey meets Whitesnake with a Swedish vocalist at the helm! While I'd wager that the band's name, the album's artwork and the label that "Revolution Road" is being released on probably doesn't install a whole lot of confidence in most of our readers there is a few moments when this debut album really takes off. For example, "Losing You" sounds a little like an AOR version of Ratt while "Hold On" is simply smokin' classic rock at it's finest! It would be so easy to be cynical about a album like this (especially as far too many group's these days in the melodic rock/AOR field are as fluffy and fake as Cuddles the fabric softener bear!) there are some good ideas on "Revolution Road" such as the title, the (somewhat) gritty "Take Your Love To Town" and the album's closing number, "Balloon". Of course you will need to be able to appreciate the sounds of AOR, melodic rock, "hair-teased" hard rock and yes, this group's modern take on classic rock (which seems a bit like an oxymoron I'll admit). Also, for every good cut there are some real clunkers on "Revolution Road" like the album's first two tracks, "Wings Of Love" and "Shooting Star," respectively and the obligatory semi-ballad,  "Pretending Hearts". If you can ignore those few misfires then "Revolution Road" is actually an alright album..

Epysode-Fantasmagoria

AFM Records
2013

Don't you just love surprises? I know I do. Unexpectedly this CD showed up in my mailbox packaged together (all nice, snug and tight thank you very much!) with Iron Mask's "Son Of Winterdoom". Now, I didn't ask for either one (or at least I don't remember asking for them) but I'm glad I got both. I really do adore surprises, especially musical surprises! As I've thus far only managed to digest "Fantasmagoria", the sophomore release from this Belgian act, I can't vouch for the Iron Mask CD (although I was at least somewhat familiar with that bunch as I've covered them in the past) and I'm not going to even try to guess as to how it will stack up side by side with this. If you are asking who or what exactly Epysode is then you're not alone. Prior to popping this CD into my stereo I had no clue either as to who Epysode was. Just going by the album art I was expecting some sort of female-fronted power metal act. But, while there are female vocals to be found here (an example is the brilliant and beautiful title cut which is a duet that features Ida Haukland of Triosphere), this is an entirely different beast all together. The band is the brainchild of guitarist Samuel Arkan who once again enlisted numerous guest vocalists and musicians for a "Super Natural thriller Metal Concept". What exactly does that mean or (better yet) even entail? Serving as the follow-up to 2011's "Obsessions", Epysode's latest release is progressive power metal. Or at least on the surface. Dig a little deeper down and dark metal starts to emerge along with brief flashes of symphonic metal, goth metal and, don't run away screaming or anything with this next bit, even a little nod or two towards neoclassical metal! Amazing all of it blends together rather well. Guitarist Samuel Arkan manged to gather up a fine collection of guests including Tom S. Englund (Evergrey), Henning Basse (ex-Metalium, ex-Sons Of Seasons, Mayan), Ida Haukland (Triosphere), Matt Marinelli (Borealis), Tezzi Persson (Between The Silence), Mike LePond (Symphony X) Léo Margarit (Pain Of Salvation), Julien Spreutels (Ethernity) and Simone Mularoni (DGM). While the final package was mixed and mastered by Jacob Hansen at Hansen studio in Denmark (Volbeat, Pretty Maids, Amaranthe a.m.m.) the rest of the recording actually took place at Noise Factory Studio (Belgium). What's more, all of the various guests actually managed to make it to Noise Factory Studio to record their parts. I'd imagine that would have been quiet the challenge so kudos to Epysode! So, what worked on "Fantasmagoria" and what didn't? Well, for the most part the music here is rather top-notch. Especially the lead guitar solos from DGM's Simone Mularoni. Just now, as I'm listening to the album play in the background (I like to listen to an album once for review purposes and, if time allows, have it playing once more while I type up the actual article), the track "Now And Forever" is impressing me with it's killer, (heavy) power metal solo! Simone works well within the confines of Epysode and his playing is a real treat! And speaking of treats, we are also treated to the fabulous skills of both keyboardist Julien Spreutels (Ethernity) and bassist Mike LePond (Symphony X). Wait, rewind a second. Did I just say that this album featured fabulous keyboard playing? Indeed I did! Usually I steer clear of such things, but the keyboard and piano playing on "Fantasmagoria" gives this release a leg up on the competition. Unlike your typical progressive power metal groups, which includes projects like this with numerous guest vocalists, the vibe here is more along the lines of a sci-fi/fantasy soundtrack then anything else. So it's just not merely some "supergroup" power/prog project. No, this one is different and that is why it stands out. It might not be a masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but it's a cool listen and a release that sounds clean, crisp and clear thanks to the always reliable Jacob Hansen. Fans of the progressive power metal scene should enjoy this one of course while even your regular, 9-5, heavy metal types might just find enough here to satisfy their tastes!

Forgotten Gems: Hardware-Heavy Nights

In 1988 the Dutch band Hardware released their lone-album, "Heavy Nights". Issued on Polypoeka, which was a Spanish label, it featured only six tracks but given that it runs 30:35 ("Foreign Skies", for example of a track on this beauty, is seven minutes long!)  it leaves nothing to be desired! Track after track of gem-worthy heavy metal with a gent named Wim Landers acting as the lead vocalist. Leave it to the a place like the Netherlands to give us such a simple and yet brilliant affair and then make it a one and done release! What gives? Here we have a Dutch band that had to sign with a Spanish label? Why? Seems odd right? I mean considering that Holland (supposedly) had more then it's fair share of in-country labels at the time why was a a cool band like this left to fend for themselves? Whatever the case the effect this album has had on collectors and fans alike speaks volumes as to it's lasting impact. The guitarists  for Hardware were Rob Van Lierop and Hans Heeregrave and what's (also) odd in regards to "Heavy Nights" is the fact that it looks as if none of the guys involved with this release did anything else. Metal wise and all. If someone has information about what happened next for any of the five members of this band I would love to hear from you. And speaking of the members, the other two gentlemen present on this release are Erwin Van Turnhout and Rob Hendriks (bass and drums respectively). Otherwise the only another thing I could dig up was this album was recorded at Chateau Studio's Tilburg. That's it. Seeing as I have yet to see a vinyl copy of "Heavy Nights" I can only go by the brief bits of information that I stumbled upon online. You can get a digital copy of this traditional heavy metal gem from Vibrations Of Doom while my personal copy (acquired in a trade) is a bootleg on Hot Metal Records and is packaged with the 1986 self-titled LP from Belgium's Breathless. the downside of my copy is that it's a less-then-desirable rip and yes, it's a bootleg. I'd much rather have a legit release so the band members could get their proper-due.
Get a digital copy here:
http://vibrationsofdoom.com/test/test2/Hardware2.html

You can listen to the album here:
http://www.metal-samples.com/2012/01/hardware-nld-heavy-nights-1988.html

Weekly Round-Up

Wow, I don't know about you kids, but this past week has flew by! While I was able to get quite a bit done here I still owe reviews of Revolution Road's self-titled album as well as the cool "Cockney's Vs. Zombies". With my main computer having a psychotic breakdown I have been forced to move on to our household laptop. It's all good though and now that I've gotten to the point where I feel pretty comfortable writing on it I do hope to get done not only those two previously mentioned items, but also do reviews of Epysode's "Fantasmagoria", Iron Mask's "Fifth Son Of Winterdoom" as well as new releases from Satan's Host, Deliverance, October 31st and Borrowed Time. Also, I still want to try to get to a Forgotten Gem or two with the likely recipients being Hardware and Mordred. Until we see each other again next Friday be sure to keep it "Loud and Proud" my friends!

Firelord-Among The Snakes

Self-Release/Independent
2013

With "Among The Snakes" (a remarkably accessible collection of Black Sabbath-inspired heavy "Doom 'n' roll" metal!) Italy's Firelord wins the contest for the coolest album cover of the week, hands down! Tracing their roots back to the doom metal band Saint Judas, which had previously been formed by Firelord guitarist/vocalist Mario E. Bussini, this three piece act was formed in 2007 with "Among The Snakes" being their first full-length debut. Prior to this one, which was just released a little over a week ago!, the group released "The Burning EP". Well, there is that EP hanging around in their past as well as the none-too-shocking admission that here we have another cool band that ended up with all kinds of unfortunate line-up changes. All that shuffling that was going on did pay off as thankfully we are looking at a really respectable trio of musicians here on this freshly-baked batch of stoner rock/doom metal goodness! Filling out the rank and file of Firelord is bass player Mario Pappano and drummer Giulio Buscaglione. For those keeping track at home that makes two different Marios in this Turin-based outfit! Both Mario's are equally talented as far as I am concerned with the meaty riffs on this release sounding as if they have been infused with fire and brimstone! Meanwhile our "odd man out" Giulio might not be a Mario, but he beats his drum set like a crazed tribal warrior and does a kick-ass job of keeping his fellow bandmates in check! Together these three stone cold rockers are as delightfully damning as their cover artwork suggests! With influences also including the likes of like Orange Goblin, Count Raven. Monster Magnet, Candlemass, Karma to Burn  and all things Wino (From his days fronting Saint Vitus to Wino's other adventures in stoner rock it's no secret that this Italian act is as much fans of Scott Weinrich as the rest of us are!) this is one act that can reach out to both sides of the aisle. Whether you choose to light it up or go at it clear-headed this is a splendid release and a must-buy for doom metal and stoner rock fans alike. You can check out Firelord's "Among The Snakes" right below and trust me you'll want to! In addition to their own, very cool material (which rages like King Kong on a coke binge!) these guys do serious justice to Black Sabbath's "Children Of the Grave". I'm almost tempted to say that I prefer Firelord's version to the original, but the last thing I need is a anger mob of crazed Ozzy supporters coming at me with torches and pitchforks! So, I'll just leave it to your imagination folks as to which version is better...

http://firelordoom.bandcamp.com/album/among-the-snakes

Nocturnal Graves "...From the Bloodline of Cain"

Hells Headbangers Records
2013

Australia's Nocturnal Graves features two guys with ties to Deströyer 666, vocalist/bassist Jarro Raphael (aka. Nuclear Exterminator) and lead guitarist Ian Gray ( aka. Shrapnel), as well as two guys with ties to Denouncement Pyre in guitarist Decaylust (?) and drummer L. Wilson. The group, which is all about blackened thrash,  was first formed back in 2004 before breaking up in 2010. In 2012 the group got back together with both Shrapnel and Wilson joining up at that point. This release is already out on CD (link below) with a vinyl version due out sometime in December. The group's last recording was released back in 2010 and that was a split. With regards to "...From the Bloodline of Cain" there was actually a six year gap between this and the group's last full-length album, "Satan's Cross". Surely I do not need to spell out the lyrical direction of this album right? The music though is raw, a bit cheesy and (can you use this as a description for blood-covered thrash like this?) even groovy! Well, groovy in a way where gruesome death metal, underground thrash and bleak black metal all get in a head on collision with blood, guts and mangled bones flying everywhere!  It's all played pretty dang fast and the group does cut things a little close for comfort as far as (near) self-parody is concerned, but at the end of the day metal like this is simply made in order for metal maniacs to thrash out to! And in that regard it does it job and it does it well! Nothing brilliant but fun nonetheless..

http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/nocturnal-graves-from-the-bloodline-of-cain.asp

Motörhead-Aftershock

UDR GmbH
2013

Regular visitors to our site should already be aware that I am a huge Motörhead fan. I first heard them some 25 years or so ago after picking up a cassette copy of "Ace Of Spades". Since them I've seen them play live more times then I can remember as both a opening act and as as support act. I've bought the shirts countless times over, have more of their music then I could realistically ever get around to listening to (split between CDs, cassettes, LPs and mp3s) and view Lemmy as the real "God of thunder and rock and roll"! Even better, my first ever review for this site was a write-up on Motörhead's "The Wörld Is Yours"! So yes, I'm a real fanboy when it comes to Lemmy and his band. Given all of that I do find myself in a weird place here. I admit that "Aftershock" shocked me alright, but sadly it was for all the wrong reasons. Well, maybe shocking is too strong of a word as more then anything it just felt sort of ho-hum. A few good tracks are sprinkled throughout 'Aftershock" and there is some really innovative playing from guitarist Phil "Wizzö" Campbell. However, on their 21st studio Lemmy, Phil and drummer Mikkey Dee also sound as if they didn't give a lot of thought towards the concept of diversity. It's not a secret or anything when I say that we all know that Lemmy's vocals and bass playing have always given Motörhead a one-of-a-kind sound and helped them stick out (and that, plainly-speaking here, a lot of Motörhead's material sounds remarkably similar). But even here it just seems as if the material falls into two categories. It sounded to me like the material here on album number 21 was either really good and heavy rocking or just...well, average. No real in-between numbers. I won't give a track by track rundown of everything seeing as "Aftershock" has already been covered a thousand times over online. I'm late the party with mine, but I wanted to give it a few spins to see if I changed my mind. Also, I had been waiting as I ordered a "Fan Pack" edition of this album from Classic Rock Magazine and was hoping it would get to me in a reasonable amount of time. But, the magazine's staff assured me that it was shipped out on October 16th and here it is November 21st and still no sign of it! Even for something that is coming my way from across the pound that's a L-O-N-G amount of time and I'm starting to think that it is as good as lost. I ended up buying just the plain old regular CD then as I grew tired of waiting for something that I now think will never show! Should the fancy package actually arrive though sometime in the next year or so I will be giving either it away or my other "new" copy. Anyway, as you know this is just my opinion of "Aftershock" and these days, thanks in no small part to the rise of technology and all that jazz, you can (probably) hear all of Motörhead's latest release online and then decide for yourself whether it's good, bad, ugly or (like my feeling of it) just ho-hum.

Asomvel-Knuckle Duster

Bad Omen Records
2013

Twenty years have passed since vocalist/bassist Jay-Jay Winter (RIP 2010) and guitarist Lenny Robinson first started Asomvel. Back then the group, which also featured ex-Cathedral/Acid Reign drummer Mark Wharton, could not have possibly guessed all that would happen to their band in the coming years. Before they could even get around to releasing their first demo, "The Blood Eye", which featured a "fitting" cover of a great white shark on the move, they reportedly went through ten or so different drummers in a way that would make even Spinal Tap chuckle! Not so funny though was the tragic passing of Jay-Jay Winter. Killed in a road accident in 2010, Jay-Jay's death would nearly crippled the band. While ex-Deathwing bassist Conan, who also plays/or did play bass in deathcore act Tangaroa (not quite sure if he still plays with them or not as there are conflicting reports online), would step in to handle vocals and bass even he knew that he could never really replace Jay-Jay and to this day both the band members themselves and fans still consider Jay-Jay to be a member of the band. Now, I freely admit that this release was a spur of the moment/impulse buy and prior to receiving it in the mail I had never heard of this British three-peace (which is rounded out now by drummer Jason hope) so I do not know how this one could or would compare to their older material. As I simply did not wish to be bias one way or the other I purposely choose not to listen to any of their previous recordings. That means "Knuckle Duster" is it for me as heck, I didn't even listen to samples of this one before I ordered it off of Amazon! I simply went by a review that I read in some metal mag (or was it online?) and now you will have the same option if you want. Here's the nitty-gritty details of this English heavy metal act. And actually gritty is as good a place to start as any. These English rockers play real, working man blues, drink hard and play even harder rock/metal that sounds as if it was honed by playing in every dive bar, biker hangout and empty parking lot between in Europe and the U.S.! That's a compliment of course as these fine gentlemen play working-clash rock and roll with lyrics that reflect a life that's seen it's fair share of blood, sweat and cold beer. These guys sound as if it's been a hell of journey, leaving behind them a trail of cheap liqueur and "Bad Mojo Rising" women, but we all know that "it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll"! That said, in Conan we find a better then advertised bassist whose gruff, whisky-soaked vocals fall somewhere between Zodiac Mindwarp (the man and not the band) and a certain Lemmy Kilmister (the main man period!). He's able to convey real emotion with his delivery while the rest of the group as a whole, which at times (admittedly) did have me thinking about Lemmy's band, rock the part the freak out with a wonderful blend of sleazy hard rock, raw blues-rock, drunk punk rock and of course heavy metal! On one hand these guys (deservedly so) fit into perfectly into my ideal collection of all things "loud and proud". On the other hand though these English musicians do a good job of playing "cut  the crap all you crazy cats and get down with your bad selves!" rock and roll that wouldn't be too far out of place if served up hot and spicy alongside the likes of Neil Young, Aerosmith, Kiss, AC/DC or Ted Nugent! So yes, even though I "took a big chance at the high school dance" when I bought this one blind it paid off big time! This is one of those "9 points out of 10 points" or "three and a half stars out of four" albums that's a leap and a (HUGE) bounce better then (and yes, it does make me choke up to say this as I'm a total fanboy for the band!) "Aftershock" (I'll cover Lemmy's latest release tomorrow if I can) from a band that is "shut your mouth I'm just talking about Shaft" epic in magnitude and ready for the big time/primetime baby!

Shores of Elysium-Entity In The Void

Self-Release/Independent Release
2013

Another new day is upon us and with that comes the fresh discovery of another new Ohio heavy metal act. Let me clarify that. By new I actually mean new to me. As it turns out Shores of Elysium, who hail from Columbus, Ohio (hometown of my Buckeyes!), have actually been around since the early part of 2011 with the upcoming "Entity In The Void" serving as their second full-length release. I play the part of the fool once again when I try to act as if I'm finely honed in to everything that my home-state has to offer as far as the heavy metal scene in concerned. Despite that admission, or (if you prefer) in spite of that admission, my appreciation of Ohio's metal scene is further cemented thanks to Shores of Elysium. Serving as the follow-up to 2012's "The Arbiter's Clockwork", which I just might try to back-track my way to after this review is wrapped up in hopes that I might just be able to acquire it, "Entity In The Void" is not an album to be trifled with! When confronted face to face with Shores of Elysium you find yourself staring into the cold, seemingly damned, eyes of a being that looks as if it has been cursed to walk the face of this planet for all of eternity. Or at least that's the vibe that "Entity" gives off as everything on album number two for these Ohio natives sounds as if it is full of agony and despair. Even the intense vocal delivery of lead singer Dylan Glendening cuts to the very heart of misery. As a group it's plain to see that Shores of Elysium is made up of a talented lot of musicians. At the end of the day I walked away never once questioning the skills of all involved with "Entity In The Void". But be warned it's not a release for looking for warm and fuzzy metal. And thank God for that my friends and fellow metal enthusiasts! This lot is cold-hearted, but isn't that what we all look for out of extreme metal bands these days? No, I am not letting that cat out of the bag quite yet when it comes to the brutal style of Shores of Elysium. This isn't really "extreme metal" it's much more a case of this being one EXTREME release! To get a better idea of what these Ohio metal maniacs are like then picture the following. Imagine (high-class) technical death metal getting kidnapped at gunpoint by underground (raw) deathcore as part of some kind of strange "rite of passage from this world to another" ritual. After the pair are purposely tangled up together in bard wire (the flesh-ripping variety and not that train wreck of a film staring Pamela Anderson!) by the unhinged deathcore things take on an even crazier turn into madness when the two entities are dipped in the blood of a thousand dead warriors of old, dossed with gasoline and then slowly burned to a crisp. After all of that the two forces combine into this one unholy and sorrowful ghost of a creature and, with the help of producer Mark Lewis, go about putting their misery to tape at Audio Hammer Studios (The Black Dahlia Murders, Whitechapel, DevilDriver)! Is that crazy? Yes, it probably is. But, if I took anything away at all from listening to this release at it was that Shores of Elysium, while embracing technical death metal and brutal deathcore with equal fervor, offer the listening public a menacing collection of tracks that is far from run of the mill. Even if this group had not yet appeared on my "home-state metal scene", which has more to do with my shortcomings then the group's overall appeal, I'm a firm believer now and I will be looking for the first chance I can get to catch this group in a live setting!

Forever In Terror-Forever In Terror

In-Demand Records
2013

The story behind Streetsboro, Ohio's Forever In Terror seems to start back in 2003 when drummer Nick Borukhovsky first went about the task of putting a group together. After the band tired out a couple of different names and went about the all to common line-up changes that seem to haunt just about every band out there these days they were finally settled on their current moniker. The rest is as they say history. Well, there is actually more to the story of this five-piece band, but for the sake of time (and seeing as I might try to swing an interview sometime in the coming week or so with these guys who were formed just one town over!), we will just skip a bit of  the who, what, where and why and instead concentrate our efforts on this self-titled release. Besides drummer Nick Borukhovsky, whose skill on drums is never in question, the current lineup features lead vocalist Chris Bianchi, guitarist/vocalist Johnny Burke (who seems to have been the only member besides Nick to have been around back in the very beginning of this group's formation), guitarist Glenn "Glizzy" Moore and bassist Chad Lundgren.  Now, despite this group (in one form or another) being so close to me geography-wise I do have to say that this album is my first chance to check this Ohio act in all their glory! Sure, I've caught glimpses of the band here and there and I've heard sample clips of this group in action, but this is the first full-length album that I've heard by them. As the follow-up to 2009's "The End" (also released on In-Demand Records) this album certainly comes across as a "long-time in the making" release, especially for fans one would think! Of course I can't compare this album to "The End" as I've never heard it, but my first impression of "Forever In Terror" went something like this-"Hell yeah!" which was followed up shortly by "Wow, now here is band that knows how to merge melodic death metal and metalcore just the right kind of way!". Well, alright I do realize that those two (brief) statements might not exactly blow away anyone in the description department, but (more or less) that is what we're talking about with this Ohio heavy metal collective. After opener "We All Die Young" dropped the bomb on my speakers (blowing my stereo into a million pieces thanks to some near-thrash like riffage) the band worked their way through an album that, influence-wise, recalled everything from American acts like The Black Dahilia Murder, Trivium, Lamb of God and As I Lay Dying to some Swedish bands like At The Gates, The Haunted and In Flames. Now, clear your preconceptions of what all that might sound like morphed together as your journey through this self-titled album finds you coming face to face with a band whose technical proficiency is off the charts while, thankfully, never failing to realize that at the end of the day they just want to thrash out! Calling this band a melodic death metal/metalcore then might not be eternity fair as these Ohio natives seem to have gorged themselves on so much more that heavy metal has to offer! And besides that let's face a fact or two. Other then maybe Killswitch Engage (another influence on this group) traditional metalcore is going the way of the dinosaurs and needs a face-lift. Forever In Terror seems as poised as anyone else then to take this scene to bigger and better things! As it stands now this Ohio act might still be flying under the radar somewhat, but with an album like this on their resume now it doesn't have to stay like that for long. Forever In Terror, a band that I like equally from the mellow and harsh vocals all the way down to the mellow and harsh music!, is most definitely recommended and I for one will be keeping an eye out for more good things to come from this band from right down the street!

Tribune-Tales

Corpse Corrosion Music
2013

Since 2004 Vancouver, British Columbia's Tribune, whose sound is a combination of all things heavy (melodic metal, progressive thrash metal, stoner rock, death metal, modern metal, etc.) have been going at it cranking out their own music that, while it might employee many different styles and sounds, still comes off as fairly original. When I last checked in with the band (2012's "Elder Lore / The Dark Arts") I made the comment that the band seemed as if it had gone through my personal CD and vinyl collection picking out bits of this and pieces of that to custom-assemble (either like a mad scientist or a really bored teenage boy!) their own take on heavy metal. I found the album to be quite effective and powerful so when this latest one dropped in my box I expected either more of the same or, justifiably so, a step up. Before we address that issue it should be noted that the 9-track "Tales" is a concept album "based on the writings of renowned authors, like Lovecraft and Wells". Concept albums to me are neither a good thing or a bad thing as I'm all about the music and how it moves you. Seems legit right? After a year or so of waiting to see what this 5-piece act would pull off with "Tales" it has taken me more then a few spins t get my head around this albums. Having enjoyed Tribune's last full-length album this one didn't really do much for me at first. Sure, it is still heavy and features explosive metal as this band rolls out a concept album with music that recalls everyone from Mastodon to Death. Meanwhile lead vocalist Bryan Baker conveys a lot of emotions and is able to pull off both clean and harsh vocals and, on first listen, this album came of as a really metal beast! But the downside of "Tales" falls within the territory of "too much experimentation and not enough consistency". In an attempt to make "Tales" as varied as possible while still cranking everything all the way up to 11 (oh Spinal Tap how I do love you so much!) the album nearly flies off the tracks! At the rate these Canadian metalheads are throwing everything at you it's like you're stuck on some hastily-assembled carnival ride going nowhere but up in flames. While the ride might start off exciting, even thrilling you and your lovely carnival date, the danger becomes all too real as it strikes you that not as much care was put into this as should be!    
Canada's Tribune sound insane on "Tales" for the first listen. After repeated listens though it was as smooth as previously thought. With that I have to admit that I didn't enjoy "Tales" as much as their previous album. Maybe hardcore fans will be more forgiving, but as for me I think I'll just stick with my copy of 2012's "Elder Lore / The Dark Arts".

Armory-Empyrean Realms

Metavania Music
2013


Towsend, Massachusetts-based Armory, who should not be confused with either the speed metal band Armory from Sweden or the thrash metal band Armory from Whittier, California,  are a power metal outfit that was formed back in 2001 by guitarist Chad Fisher (Soul Remnants) and guitarist/ (studio) drummer Joe Kurland. Joining the pair of Chad and Joe (who, collectively, deliver epic guitar solos that are as finely-crafted as they come!)  are vocalist Adam Kurland, bassist Tom Preziosi (Forced Asphyxiation, Soul Remnants, ex-The Year Of Our Lord) and keyboardist Peter Rutcho (Who, according the the Metal Archives, was both the engineer and the session keyboardist for the group's 2007 debut-album, "The Dawn of Enlightenment.", before joining the band as a full-time member. He is also involved with Vomitron who also make their home at Metavania Music!). Meanwhile live drums as handled by Tom Vieira (ex-Frozen and ex-Soul Remnants) who is listed as a full-time member as well. Now, other then a 2004 demo version of "The Dawn of Enlightenment" (with, reportedly, programmed keys!) this is it as far as releases go for this 12 year old band. Of course that's not to say that the nine-track "Empyrean Realms", which clocks in at over fifty minutes in length!, isn't enough for this (nearly-teenage) U.S. metal act. With it's mixture of (melodic) power metal (which is both American and European in style!) and 80's U.S. traditional metal "Empyrean Realms" is everything that a sophomore release should be while simultaneously helping this Armory out by making a claim that they deserve to be noticed and noticed now! There are many key points that should end up helping that argument out. Among them is the pleasant discovery that this album, which again is over fifty minutes of premium power metal!, is filled with epic arrangements which have been carefully & lovingly constructed in order to give fans the best possible product that Armory can deliver! According to the promo material that accompanied the fine CD that I have in my hands, which comes with a professional booklet with pictures and song lyrics, the material on "Empyrean Realms" was worked on for several years and, having listened to this one now two times through, it's easy to see that these guys put a lot of time and thought into these nine-tracks! Here we find melodic power metal that is performed with near surgical precision by a convoy of musicians who have become artfully-skilled in the delivery of  (nearly-flawless) power metal. Self-produced by the band members themselves and issued on Joe Kurland's new created label, "Empyrean Realms" is a release that sounds clean, focused and as if it's ready to leap right out at you! While the fear may linger for some that this is nothing but performance-art that has sacrificed passion at the expense of playing technically-sound (but  god-awful boring!!!) Euro-style metal that simply isn't the case here. And believe you me no one is more thankful for that then I am! I love power metal, but the European variety can be a bit, eh, "fluffy"! For this act though there's just more to the picture. Melody is a keen ingredient here and there's simply no way of overlooking the technical achievements of a band like this. But, the sense of comforting melody present on the group's new album is simply another side of the coin for Armory. This is also an album that seems as if it's been super-charged by the Energy Bunny or something as the metallic-edge that this band has infused their material with is more then worthy of the title "power metal"! These guys are metal in heart and spirit even if it's sometimes hidden underneath some flashy keyboard arrangements! Something tells me that if this band keeps putting out material like this then people will have to stop what their doing and acknowledge just what Armory can and does bring to the scene.

Lumbar-The First and Last Days of Unwelcome

Southern Lord Recordings
2013

Is it just me or does it not seem as Southern Lord Recordings always seems to gets their hands on the latest and greatest doom and sludge releases? And sure enough Southern Lord has done it once again! Case in point here we have "The First and Last Days of Unwelcome", the full-length debut album Portland, Oregon's Lumbar. This project features three longtime friends, Aaron Edge (Himsa, Iamthethorn, Roareth, Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth), Mike Scheidt (YOB) and Tad Doyle (Tad, Brothers Of The Sonic Cloth), who ended up coming together/bonding together after Aaron Edges was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. All of which gives this debut LP from Lumbar a sincerely urgent and emotional vibe. The thing is while this release might just be the brainchild of Aaron Edge, and Lumbar might just be more about his journey then anything else, this trio works together quite well with "The First and Last Days of Unwelcome". While all three members of Lumbar share vocal duties, which gives these seven tracks (titled "Day One", "Day Two" and so on all the way up to "Day Seven"!) even more of a crushing edge while simultaneously offering up a nice slab of doom metal variety, all of the instruments (guitars, bass and drums) fall on Aaron Edges himself. Collectively this trio is nothing short of magical (is that the right word for HEAVY doom metal?) with the music that is found within this seven-track album falling into the category of "epic"!  Well, that is if slowly creeping HEAVY (yes, I know, again with the "HEAVY", but in this case it truly is warranted folks!) doom metal, which is entirely justified in being as bleak, dark, dismal and depressing as it is here, can be considered "epic"?  
And yes, when it comes to this release (and the story behind it) it's certainly understandable why there is so much pain and heartache present within this music. When you sit and consider Aaron's (extremely) painful journey (post-diagnosis and all) and what he would have to endure it's no wonder that this debut-album ends up draining you emotionally the way it does. As someone who has suffered from chronic pain in the past (from my early twenties until I was about thirty five or so I suffered from horrific pain in my joints and in my feet) and still deals with constant pain to this very day I can see why this release was....well, a release for Aaron! For anyone to be (suddenly) diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, which is something I have unfortunately seen first hand, that would end up being a crushing blow. But for a musician? What could you possibly do or say to help someone like that face the reality that their world was about to change? When your livelihood revolves around using your hands to create art what options could you hope to have? With friends like Tad and Mike in his corner he was given the chance to express the suffering (inside) that he was experiencing and the result, Lumbar and the creative energy-infused "The First and Last Days of Unwelcome", is a must-possess for doom fanatics. And better yet all of the band's proceeds will end up benefiting Aaron Edge (they will go towards helping Aaron pay his hospital bills and the treatment he will require) which means you can buy "The First and Last Days of Unwelcome" AND help out a musician who has given his all for his fans! This is is a release that will see a wide-range of formats from digital to LP (and even cassette!) so I can't recommend this one enough folks! You can hear the whole thing for yourself at their bandcamp page below....

http://lumbarsl.bandcamp.com/album/the-first-and-last-days-of-unwelcome

Running Death-The Call of Extinction

Self-Release
2012

Active since 2004, Running Death are a four-piece German thrash act (imagine that!) whose latest release, the five-track EP, "The Call of Extinction", has made an undeniable impression and hasn't left my playlist since I first clicked on the opening cut "Unleashed"! This EP, which is the follow-up to the group's 2010 EP, "Raging Nightmare" (Running Death also have a 2007, four-track demo on their resume), was actually issued at the very start of 2012 (the end of February to be exact). Of course (usually) I try to stir clear of "older" releases like this, but seeing as this one struck all the right cords (and given the fact that it is delivered with the kind of real technical procession that you usually only find in the likes of Testament, Sadus and Megadeth) it would have been criminal to keep this EP all to myself! Simon, who handles lead vocals and guitars, is probably the only hint that this is Teutonic thrash metal as the band's expertly crafted material is delivered in such a manor that one can't help but have visions of cult U.S. bands like Intruder and I.N.C. (Indestructible Noise Command)! Joining Simon on "The Call of Extinction" (which, incidentally, is one killer title track!) we find Julian (guitar and "shouts") Vigi (bass) and Jakob (drums) and, collectively, the four musicians do seem as if their chosen style of thrash draws more from the American metal scene (Megadeth, Testament, Metallica, Sacred Reich, Vio-lence, Exodus and the aforementioned Intruder and I.N.C.) then it does the German! Not that that is a bad thing or anything. Far from it if you ask me! Running Death, whose moniker does make me think of Running Wild honestly, may only sound a bit like a "normal" German thrash band (in this case it's mostly Kreator if you were to go out looking for similar sounding bands, but even that would be a bit of a stretch), but who cares! They pull of a great thrash metal sound that is sorely missing in today's scene and they do it without sounding like they are all about rocking out "retro" style! This world of ours has puked up more then enough "retro-thrash worship" for my tastes and I know I'm not alone in that feeling. For bands like this particular four-piece it's all about understanding your roots and then applying then in a fashion where you're not looking back but rather looking at the present and where you can (naturally) evolve your music. Hopefully we'll see more from this band in 2014 and get more kick ass thrash along the lines of  "The Call of Extinction"!


http://runningdeath.bandcamp.com/album/the-call-of-extinction-ep

Weekly Round-Up

Welcome to the first ever "Weekly Round-Up". Formerly this would have been called/known as "Current Playlist', but I decided to try something fresh and see where it goes. Man, the past couple of months have been nothing short of crazy and it proved hard to keep at a more consistent pace then I would have preferred to. I was dealing with house-sitting for my parents (and taking care of their "girls"-fourteen egg laying and quite docile hens!) while also contending with the craziness that comes from having two teenagers. Among other things my daughter started high school this year and took up drama. For a few weeks there it was an "every night after school" event and, as I'm flying solo as a single/full-custodial parent here, I was doing a ton of running around! Now though there is a break in the action and my back-up plan for the kids (my wonderful parents) are finally home after two separate/long trips! I'm now able to get more done and I have a ton of material that I want to cover and review! Lately I'm been listening to Mordred's awesome "Fool's Game" (which really needs to be re-released folks!), Terrorvision's "How To Make Friends", Mudhoney's "Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge", Anthrax's "Fistful of Metal" and misc. music from Jimi Hendrix, Fleetwood Mac and The Rolling Stones. As far as what I've been watching it's mostly horror flicks ranging from Halloween & Halloween II (the original ones of course!) to Slumber Party Massacre. And finally here's what I hope to cover in the next week or so: Asomvel "Knuckle Duster", Motörhead "Aftershock", Running Death "The Call of Extinction", "Cockneys Vs. Zombies", Tribune "Tales", Revolution Road "Revolution Road" and Nocturnal Graves "...From the Bloodline of Cain". I may even try to do a Forgotten Gem or two (incl. that Mordred release above!). Until this time next week take care and always remember to live life loud and proud!

-Andy

Benedictum-Obey

Frontiers Records
2013

Due for release at the tail end of November, and once again produced by multi-instrumentalist Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Dio and surprisingly even Foreigner!), "Obey" is the forth studio-album from Veronica Freeman and Benedictum. It's also another prime example of why this San Diego, California-based traditional heavy metal act deserves their fine standing in the rank and file of U.S. metal acts and why, despite the mixed reactions to the group's last studio-album, 2011's "Dominion" (which I liked and gave a positive review to as can be seen at the link below), you just can't count out a group like this! With "Obey" it's easy enough to look past Benedictum's last album as, simply put, this group, which was formed back in 2005, is solid gold when it comes to true heavy metal. When you're talking about a band that blends the likes of Judas Priest, Warrior, Dio, Warlock (Veronica Freeman occasional even sounds like Doro which is a really good thing folks!), Rainbow and Savatage into one great package and also features a stunning lead vocalist with a powerful set of lungs in Veronica Freeman, Benedictum proves to be far too good to be ignored! On "Obey" Veronica 'The V' Freeman and superb guitarist Pete Wells are now joined by bass player Aric Avina (formerly of Tynator) and well-traveled/seasoned veteran (and all around cool drummer!) Rikard Stjernquist (Body of Scars, Ballistic, ex-Jag Panzer, ex-Karen Kenedy and ex-Sargon). Additionally you have keyboardist Tony Diaz and "Obey" features guest appearances by Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath/Cage) and A Sound Of Thunder's lead vocalist vocalist Nina Osegueda. That cut, "Thornz", finds the two equally gorgeous vocalists converging on one sweet cut and, along with the opening number, "Dream Of The Banshee", the title cut "Obey", "Scream" and many others, shows off a band that knows what works best and how to go for broke when the time calls for it! Both "Crossing Over" and the cut which features guest musician Tony Martin, "Cry", show Veronica's range and prove that she is so much more then just a metal goddess!  While those cuts show the softer side of Veronica the tracks "Dream Of The Banshee", "Scream" and "Fractured" deliver powerhouse vocals with Benedictum's stunning lead singer coming across as a little Leather Leone in nature as well as someone who could still be could be Udo Dirkschneider's long lost sister (see my review of "Dominion" for that reference point!). At just about 50 minutes in length, and covering a carp-load of ground from the 80's metal-inspired opener "Dream Of The Banshee" to the Mötley Crüe-like "Apex Nation",  "Obey" is a fun album that is easy to enjoy and never feels as if it's over staying it's welcome. While many question whether the move to Frontier Records would be wise for Benedictum when it comes to "Obey" all signs point toward a band that knows what it's doing and where it wants to go. In the end "Obey" is simple metal in the sense that it's more classic sounding then modern and it's fashioned in such a way that it plays to the strengths of real heavy metal (from glass-shattering lead vocals to shred the dead lead guitar solos) without seeming overly cheesy or as if the band is trying too hard. This is a good album from a good band and one release that I'll be looking to add to my personal CD collection! 

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Benedictum-Dominion+