Bloody Hammers-Under Satan's Sun

Napalm Records
2014

Released back in late May of this year, "Under Satan's Sun" is the third album from Charlotte, North Carolina band Bloody Hammers. Having simply loved the band's self-titled debut album (a release which was as hit or miss with fans as it was critics) I must admit that I was slightly disappointed by it's 2013 follow-up, "Spiritual Relics", as it just felt....uninspired. So much so in fact that I couldn't bring myself to cover it. Now we have "Under Satan's Sun" and while I am in no way saying that I'm ready to write this band off completely I do have to wonder out loud how it is possible for a band with so much promise and potential to go from one great album to one (at best) decent album and then (some two years or so after first forming mind you!) follow things up with a release that I can't help but feel indifferent about? Psychedelic doom opener "The Town That Dreaded Sundown" (previously released as 7" single with "Glimpse") is alright and (fuzzed-out) heavy doom rocker "Spearfinger" offers tiny glimpses of hope that Bloody Hammers will right the ship and return to harbor, but then things start to unravel on "Death Does Us". As others have pointed out before me, "Death Does Us" is Bloody Hammers trying to be Type O Negative and while that is a crime in and of itself it gets worse. "Death Does Us" also sounds remarkably similar to "Load"/"ReLoad"-era Metallica and that is a unforgivable offense! For a band that had it all down pat on "Bloody Hammers" (a fun album that brought to mind not only classic Black Sabbath, but everyone from Alice Cooper to The Sword!) cuing up images of late-nineties Metallica simply does not cut it! Sure, "The Moon-Eyed People" is (hand's down!) an improvement when it kicks in and there is really nothing offensive about "Second Coming" (a Alice Cooper cover). Even "Dead Man's Shadow on the Wall" and "The Necromancer" are solid. So why does the group feel the need to infuse some Soundgarden into the title track? Or for that matter put to tape a number like "The Last Alarm"? At best "The Last Alarm" is more grunge for a generation which missed out on it the first time around. At it's worst though "The Last Alarm" is more grunge for those of us who lived through the scene already and heard it done a thousands times better. Once band leader/vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Anders Manga abandons everything that works in Bloody Hammer's favor (doom metal, psychedelic rook, occult rock of old, seventies rock/hard rock influences, inspiration from seventies horror movies and even stoner rock) things go down hill quickly! While I'm all for a band's right to grow and further experiment with their sound there are cases where this backfires. "Under Satan's Sun" is a case study on how to over-think matters when less would have been more. Maybe album number four will be the ticket for Bloody Hammers, but for now I think I'll go back to "Bloody Hammers" when I'm in the mood for something really cool and inspirational.
 
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Sign Of The Jackal- Mark of the Beast

High Roller Records
2013

When I first laid witness to Italy's Sign Of The Jackal back in 2011 (when they made my best of 2011 list!) I was blown away by the killer "The Beyond"! That 5-track EP (which included a choice cover of "Head Over Heals" by Meghan) was my personal introduction to this female-fronted, horror movie influenced, heavy metal act and that introduction lead to repeated listens of anything Sign Of The Jackal related. Now the group, who were originally formed in 2007, are finally releasing their long-awaited full-length debut album and to say that I walked into this one high on life is a huge understatement! The line-up for "Mark of the Beast" is Laura Coller (vocals), Roberto "Bob" Condini (guitars, vocals), Max (guitars, vocals, keyboards), Röby "Knife" (bass, vocals) and Heavy Mate (drums, vocals) and, from top (Laurie) to bottom (Heavy Mate) everyone sounds as if they came locked and loaded for this release! It's more of the same for this Italian act as they pull in their musical influences (everyone from Exciter to Black Lace) and stuff the sound with horror movie magic. Before we go any further though let's save some of you out there a bit of time. If you liked "The Beyond" or "Haunted House Tapes" then read no further. Just stop what you're doing and go out and pick this one up. If it's not out yet when you read this then pre-order it if you can. The foundation of killer traditional heavy metal that those two earlier recordings established is built on over the course of this new album. Brick by brick, track by track you find Sign Of The Jackal ripping through 80's-inspired heavy metal while they lovingly showcase their affection for classic horror flicks. I've said it before and I'll say it again folks. When you combine female-fronted metal, 80's influences and horror movies you get what I consider a winner! OK, that said there is a few things worth mentioning. Truthfully there are only four new tracks on the 12-song promo I listened to* so that might be a downer to some folks. That said all of the songs that were previously released on other recordings are different here. The re-recorded tracks are different versions and they sound much better on "Mark of the Beast". Side by side I prefer these new versions over the demo versions. What helps with that is the production which has improved since they signed on with High Roller Records. "Mark of the Beast" has a near perfect sound for heavy metal like this. The overall vibe is still eighties in nature, but this 12-track release never falls into the trap of sounding retro thankfully. Sigh Of The Jackal acknowledges their roots (Judas Priest, Taist of Iron, Iron Maiden, Malteze, etc), but they never look back for too long. Instead Laura Coller, who sounds as sinister as she does sensual, leads her band-mates into battle and, as they fight tooth and nail until the bitter end, they give it all for the glory of heavy metal and they succeed!

* As on "The Beyond" both the CD and vinyl version of "Mark of the Beast" will feature a unique cover song!
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=sign+of+the+jackal

Chains-Dancing With My Demons 7"

Svart Records
2013


Chains was formed in 2010 by Etienne "Hellscream" Chelleri (Bleeding Fist, Naberius ). With Chains he is known as E. Chains and, prior to the recording of this limited 7", he handled all of the instruments and vocals. joined by Hour of 13's Lord Samhain. On "Dancing With My Demons" Lord Samhain, who actually joined up with E. Chains after the release of Chains' sole full-length recording, "Of Death", plays drums and end the result is rather chilling and eerie.  Reportedly earlier recordings (which also included the 9+ minute demo/single "All the Colors of the Dark") where similar in nature to Sunn O))), Moss and Urfaust, only with the added elements of 70's horror movies. Those 2 releases certainly sound like they would be worthwhile tracking down as the earlier recording were also said to be influenced by bands like Death SS and Paul Chain! Here though the music, which has this musty vibe to it, come creeping out slowing like a ghoulish skeleton from an old 70's Euro-thriller! On this 2-track release Chains experiments with not only drone and doom elements, but vintage death rock and horror rock. Toss in some dark metal and give the whole thing a ghoulish vibe and you've got "Dancing With My Demons".  With another full-length album due out in either 2013 or 2014 this 2-track 7" only serves as an appetizer for all the ghouls and boys out there!



https://www.facebook.com/ChainsOfficial?fref=ts