Free Metal Monday: Cellar Door-Pictures Of Home

Self-Release/Independent
2013

In late March of 2013 Swedish punk/hardcore band Cellar Door put out this free EP. It could very well be the only recording that lyrically-deep outfit put out. As there is very little information about the group or "Pictures Of Home" it is hard to see where this four-track fits into the grand theme of things. I say all of this with a bit of sadness in my heart because I would love to learn more about this particular Cellar Door. Seeing as there are so many different groups that have laid claim to this moniker it's a real mess. Proper credit should be given to this Swedish act when it comes to this gem. For metal fans this one carries itself along nicely with hard-tinged guitars. Thing is it is the lyrics that other the real punch! They are largely poetic and they make "Pictures Of Home" all the more poignant. If anyone has any more information on this hardcore group please get in touch with me. .

Tiger Junkies-Green Tea Or Die (7" EP)

Hells Headbangers
2017

Tiger Junkies' "Green Tea Or Die" EP was originally released on picture disk in 2013. It was the follow-up to the group's 2008 debut album, "D-Beat Street Rock 'n' Rollers", and come March 31st it will be re-issued on "tea green" vinyl and made available for digital download. In addition to the wicked fun title track, "Green Tea Or Die" includes "Raw Sex Till Sperm," "Satanik Metal Punks," and "Sex Sex Sex Pt2". As per usually,  Joel Grind and Yasuyuki Suzuki are the men responsible for this noisy racket, Motörhead, Discharge, Warfare, Exodus, D.R.I., Agnostic Front, C.O.C, English Dogs, Possessed, Cro-Mags, Slayer, Venom ("Welcome To Hell" era), Tank, Vio-lence, Cryptic Slaughter, The Exploited, and Broken Bones all serving as their inspiration. Filthy, greasy, raw, and blood-soaked through and through, "Green Tea Or Die" is (obviously) a must-have for fans (up to and incl. Toxic Holocaust ones) and anyone that loves their punk metal and/or metal punk fast, frenzied, and (drunkenly) f**ked-up! 

Free Metal Monday: Hazarder-"Against His-Story, Against Leviathan!"

Active since 2011, Hazarder is a doom/sludge metal trio from Croatia that more than lives up to the implication of it's name. This (HARSH & HARDCORE) 7-track recording from early December of 2013 is Hazarder's only full-length release and it can should be downloaded for free by clicking on this link. With a run-time that is just over the forty minute mark, "Against His-Story, Against Leviathan!" is all kinds of brutal and maybe even a little dangerous with it's no-holds-barred delivery! For that very reason you are going to want to play this one LOUD and PROUD friends!!  

Free Metal Monday: Headbangers Latinoamerica: Crash Of Two Worlds-Part 1: Europe Bands

Released way back on December 26th of 2013, "Crash Of  Two Worlds-Part 1: Europe Bands" is a free metal compilation that features 130 tracks! Yes, that's one hundred and thirty songs from one hundred and thirty DIFFERENT bands!! These bands range from established acts to underground/unknown groups and while I have obviously not had the time to listen to each and every number on this HUGE compilation I can say that there seems to be something for everyone's tastes. To that end, every track comes with a brief description of the band's style of metal (e.g., heavy metal, progressive metal, melodic death metal, symphonic metal...) as well as a link to their Facebook page. All of which makes this free compilation a real tweet. For more information on this digital release be sure to head here.  

Free Metal Monday: Mist-Demo 2013

Self-Release/Independent
2013


Here's another Free Metal Monday feature that I'm hoping everyone will enjoy. This time around we have the young Slovenian occult doom metal band Mist with their 2-song debut, "Demo 2013". This very cool band was formed in July of 2012 and they take their cues from the likes Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Candlemass, Coven, and Saint Vitus. The band is lead by the remarkable Nina Spruk and so far in their brief time together they have played with band's such as Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats, Saint Vitus, Mount Salem, Avatarium, Manilla Road, Forsaken, Kadavar, Helstar, Officium Triste, Ophis and Cauchemar. Mist has also toured all over Austria, Italy, Malta, Germany Belgium and the Netherlands and their overlooked gem here has apparently been re-issued on CD three times(!) due to great interest! Thankfully you can download a copy of  it for free by clicking on the link above.

Ignitor-Mix Tape '85

Independent/Self-Release
2013

This short piece is a holdover from yesterday's Free Metal Monday feature as well as a brief news piece about the band's upcoming schedule and their forthcoming album. For those who do not know the name, Ignitor is heavy/power metal band from Texas that is fronted by Jason McMaster (Dangerous Toys and Watchtower). This 2013 release finds the band covering songs from the likes of Anthrax, Venom, Judas Priest and Exciter and it can downloaded fro free by clicking on the link at the bottom of this article. It fit's in nicely with the group's last studio album, 2012's "Year Of The Metal Tiger", and features the following track listing:

1.	Deathrider (Anthrax cover)
2.	Fast as a Shark (Accept cover)
3.	Violence and Force (Exciter cover)
4.	Into the Coven (Mercyful Fate cover)
5.	Witching Hour (Venom cover)
6.	Hell Bent for Leather (Judas Priest cover)
7.	A Lesson in Violence (Exodus cover)
8.	Highway Star (Deep Purple cover)

As far as the new album is concerned it is tentatively scheduled for spring 2016. Even though the band is currently hard at work at Emphatic Audio Recording Studio in Austin, Texas putting everything to tape (ya!) they have managed to secure a spot on the main stage at next year's Ragnarökkr Metal Apocalypse festival in Chicago, Illinois! The event will be held at Reggie's Rock Club on May 6th & 7th so be sure to mark your calendars and get yourself prepared for what will surely be two days of metal madness! For more information on this Texas heavy/power metal band be sure to head here and as promised here is the link for Ignitor's all covers album,"Mix Tape '85"

Death Magic-Too Hot to Roll

Shadow Kingdom Records
2015

"Too Hot to Roll" is the debut EP from Italian heavy/speed metal band Death Magic. It was originally released back in September of 2013 as a independent recording and preceded in life by the single "Street Killer". Earlier this year Shadow Kingdom Records re-issued "Too Hot to Roll" on cassette tape and made this 30 minute EP available as a digital download . What's more, Shadow Kingdom Records has this official Death Magic t-shirt in their store and if you ask me it is every-bit as wicked as this EP is!

Practically-speaking , "Too Hot to Roll" is one part eighties metal to one part N.W.O.B.H.M. That's the formula in a nutshell. With the exception of guitarist/vocalist Mattia Scifo's Italian accent the band Death Magic sounds more British than their native country would lead you to believe. None of which is a bad thing although it will be interesting to hear new Death Magic material now that Mattia Scifo has been replaced by  Beppe Brugnano (ex-Veil, ex-Walpurgis Night). Otherwise I like what this band has to offer. If you are a fan of classic/eighties metal (Accept, Black Death, Cutty Sark, Exciter, King Diamond, Judas Priest, Liege Lord, Savage Grace, etc.) and/or the more "traditional" sounds of the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene (stuff like Iron Maiden, Jaguar and even Raven) then chances are you'll like it to! In addition to the aforementioned "Street Killer", the EP's title track and a brief instrumental opener called "Rod to Neverland", "Too Hot to Roll" features the epic "Neverland" with a run-time of nine minutes and twenty three seconds and the very cool "Thunder and Fire". When you combine all of these slick cuts you end up with a grand example of the way heavy metal used to be. With it's fast guitars and thunder-struck rhythm section the short and sweet "Too Hot to Roll" is ever bit as good as those classic recordings of yesteryear. I hear what you're saying though. "What makes this Italian band stand out from all of the countless other retro-loving bands?" you're asking. The major difference between Death Magic and other similarly-themed heavy metal bands of this day and age is authenticity. While other bands sound as if they are going through the motions Death Magic sounds as if they have been plucked right out of the eighties and then deposited right into your lap! "Too Hot to roll" not only sounds like 1980 something all over again, but it passes the taste test to boot! You can just about reach out and touch those high-flying days of old and relive a time when heavy metal was making the jump from underground clubs and basement gigs to huge arenas vie the mainstream! It's like the tape-trading days all over again and all I can say to those in charge of releasing albums like this is "Please sir, may I have another HUGE slice of Metal F**Kin' fury!!!!!". Yeah....

For more information on this up-and-coming heavy/speed metal band be sure to check out their Facebook page here

Free Metal Monday: CrashDollz-CrashDollz

Self-Release/Independent
2013

They hail from the same bad streets that brought us MC5, Iggy and the Stooges, and the punk band Death. They've played with everyone from Jello Biafra to Great White. They have song titles like "Dumpster Punk", "Bad Taste Barbie", "Female Anarchy", "Sugar Rocket", and "U.S. Punk Bombs". And their lead singer's name is Nikki Darling. Yep, I'm talking about the legends in the making, CrashDollz! Let's all give them a hardy welcome and then be sure to thank the band for this special treat that they have brought for us today. It's called "CrashDollz" and boy is this self-titled affair ever fun! Well, maybe "fun" isn't the right word choice to describe this full-length party in the making. How about "wild"? No? Maybe "crazy"? No? OK, maybe "mischievous"? That's still not enough? Well, I'm stumped for a description then as the truth of the matter is "CrashDollz" is all of that (fun, wild, crazy and most definitely mischievous!) and then so much more my friends! "CrashDollz" serves as my first introduction to this four-piece band and as far as first impressions goes this was truly one of my better first dates! At it's core it's definitely rock (as is R-O-C-K!), but not in the way you might think. It's more rock and roll in the fine traditional of Detroit's previously mentioned greats (MC5, Iggy & Stooges, Death, etc...) or even a band like the Ramones. It's rock and roll the way Motörhead would do it or rock and roll by way of The Runaways if the Sex Pistols had been their greatest source of inspiration! Yes, it's that kind of rock and roll and it is absolutely glorious! But then again, "CrashDollz" is as much about fierily punk rock as it is rock and then it's also about honest to goodness heavy metal! So, you've got rock, punk and heavy metal in an album like "CrashDollz". What more could you possibly ask for? Oh, did I mention how it's available for free on the group's bandcamp page? That's right kids. "CrashDollz" is free for the taking and with a new album planned for sometime later this summer now is as good a time as any to join the party! Recorded at Union City Studios in Flint, MI, "CrashDollz" was made possible thanks to the joint efforts of Nikki Darling and her equally awesome bandmates (guitarist Rachel Rekkits, bassist Kevin "Krank" Kekes and drummer Mikk Mannikk) and with nowhere to go but up it's easy enough to see this band going from being one of Detroit's premier punk bands to world-wide favorites in no time flat! Especially seeing as their live show is reportedly ever bit as righteous as this self-tiled album is! I want to thank the band for contacting Heavy Metal Time Machine about their free album and encourage all of our readers to check out CrashDollz's online site for more information about this very cool band!

Free Metal Monday: False Prophet-Murder or Mercy Live 1990

Heaven and Hell Records
2013

Formed in 1988 during the height of  the thrash metal explosion, False Prophet is a Greensboro, North Carolina band whose 1991 album, "The Second Death", won me over a long time ago thanks to it's wickedly raw take on death-laden thrash! Bootlegs of said album seem to pop up every now and then, but this digital-only(?) release is officially sanctioned by the band. "Murder Or Mercy" is a live EP from a band that should have been at least somewhat bigger than they were and it is available as a name-your-own-price download here. It includes four tracks of heavy thrash/death and with a run time that is over the twenty minute mark it is the perfect thing to get you up and going on this Monday morning!

With it's memorable artwork and heavy thrash/death metal sound "The Second Death" is a hidden gem!

Free Metal Monday: Inculter - Stygian Deluge 7"EP

Edged Circle Productions
2015

Active since 2012, Inculter are a blackened thrash/death metal trio from Norway whose members range in age from 16-19. This Free Metal Monday offering was originally released back in 2013 and it served as Inculter's first studio piece. Now re-released with the bonus track "Demonic Might", "Stygian Deluge" is a brutal example of raw death thrash done right from musicians who were (and still are!) in their teens! And  seeing as I'm planning to cover Inculter's upcoming debut-album, "Persisting Devolution" either later today or early tomorrow I thought what better way is there to share all this fun than to share with all of you this raging 4-track EP? And yes, you are quite welcome for this metallic Monday pick me up! You can download this one for free right here!

Elegantly Wasted-The Dog Years

Flaco Music
2013


"Keep it loud and stay true". That's the motto of  Los Angeles-based hard rock and roller's Elegantly Wasted and let me just say that wiser words have never been spoken! On "The Dog Years" (the group's 3rd album) singer/guitarists Lenny J and Queen D (founders/top tier musicians) continue their campaign to conquer the world with not just the same kind of killer music that was found on their debut album, 2003's "Greetings from a Strange Place", and its 2007 follow-up, "Desolation Row", but even better material that is rock radio-friendly and (if they still played music videos mind you) custom built for MTV and VH1! And by the gods of rock and roll they might just pull it off! Conquering the world that is or at least all of rock radio! When you're talking about radio-ready rock and roll that is equal parts of old-school hard rock/hair metal (Aerosmith, Guns and Roses, AC/DC, Shotgun Messiah, Hanoi Rocks, D'Molls, Enuff Z'Nuff and Shotgun Messiah), classic rock (Alice Cooper, Slade, New York Dolls, The Cult, Sweet and Kiss) and "modern" rock (Foo fighters, Stone Temple Pilots, Velvet Underground, etc.) it's damn hard not to get excited about the possibilities that could lie ahead for the band if only the mainstream press and the corporate suits that run radio stations these days would just catch up to the band and really LISTEN! There's a damn good reason why Elegantly Wasted still plays all the best clubs in L.A. and has toured toured Europe 5 times and the US twice. Both on and off the stage this band simply ROCKS and on "The Dog Years" Elegantly Wasted has found it's footing thanks to sweet hooks, catchy rhythms, gripping lyrics and highly-addictive song structures! It's track after track of hit singles in the waiting on album number three with not one bad cut to be found among the lot! Released late last year, "The Dog Years" is only now making the rounds online. Had I covered it last year I would have marked it down as one of the best hard rock albums of 2013, but (seeing as it came out in December and all of 2013) I might still cheat a little and add it to this year's Top-Ten as it is just too good to be kept under wraps! Elegantly Wasted might not save traditional rock/hard rock all by itself, but  with an album like this one they are not about to give in and give up! "The Dog Years" is proof-positive that these L.A. hard rock warriors are in it to win it! All that's left now is for the fans and newcomers alike to step up and show Elegantly Wasted that their efforts are not in vain.... 


 https://www.facebook.com/elegantlywastedband

Gautama-All Is Silence

Bigsound-NC
2014

Independently released at the tale end of October of last year (which sure makes it look as if the band has since been picked up by Bigsound-NC), "All Is Silence" is the full-length debut album from New Caledonia-based Gautama. Influenced by the likes of Sepultura, Lamb Of God and Pantera (and, thank the devil down below himself(!), really sounding for all the world like a rage-filled, underground/garage metal version of those three previously-mentioned influences mashed together into a gooey paste!) this female-fronted heavy thrash/death metal act was formed in 2008 with this (cool as shit) Christophe Planche-produced LP serving as their proper introduction to the ever-expanding metal universe. With a grand total of 7 tracks (of which we're talking about raw primal metal of the headbanging to hell variety!!) this is as good a first recording as they come and it definitely leaves you with an overall favorable impression of this young act. Besides playing guitar alongside equally capable bandmate Alexandre Verdier, with Bruno Fontebasso (bass) and Colin Soriano (drums) rounding out the lethal rhythm section quite nicely, Cloé Soriano takes care of the vocal duties in Gautama and she does it in a very unapologetic, in-your-face with my spike-laden fists of fury, no-holds barred kind of way! This fierce front-woman/warrior also leaves a favorable impression when it's all said and done and for Gautama it's a good selling point. From the way in which these four death thrashers come together here on "All Is Silence" there is little doubt as to what this young band is all about! "All Is Silence" was an important first-step out into the world of metal and, being that it is the band's first piece of recorded history and what not, it's a real nice "How do you do? Would you care to bang your head like a fucking madman?" kind of platter. The downside of all of this? It's only 7-tracks of  worthwhile chaos and by the time this band starts to fall into a dirty groove it's all done. More would have been nice. That should come though sooner or later as this lot offers so much promise that their take on heavy thrash/death metal just screams out to be expanded and further explored! It would be hard NOT to cheer the fuck out for a group like this and recommended them to fellow lovers of all things extreme! Gautama is worth taking a chance on if early Sepultura is your thing or if you get giddy over the though of a deadlier Lamb Of God! Digitally at least, "All Is Silence" can be found on both iTunes and Amazon and for more information on these four metal maniacs be sure to head on over to their Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/GAUTAMA.NC

Tor Marrock-Destroy The Soul

Black Vulture Records
2013

Cellar Metal? That's a new one. But, that is exactly how West Wales' one and only Tor Marrock refers to their sound and on "Destroy The Soul" (their second full-length LP since first forming in 2005) it's sort of hard to argue against such an apt description! By combining modern metal with eighties rock and a fist-full of heavy metal's greatest hits (Doom, Black Metal, Thrash, Death Metal, Gothic Metal, Dark Metal and even Traditional Metal) this UK-based power trio gives off a ghoulish, almost otherworldly vibe and then seals the deal with strong songwriting and (even better) a devilish vocal delivery! Said deadly vocals come courtesy of Tor Marrock himself and with the front-man also handling guitars (with bass and drum duties falling on Tarran and Forseen respectively) "Destroy The Soul" is arguably one of the better UK underground gems to emerge from the darkness in some while! Tor Marrock captures the essence of utter despair while drawing the listener ever closer with it's respective spin! "Destroy The Soul" is at times a bit of an oddity while still remaining fairly consistent and (strangely) familiar. How any band can simultaneously bring to mind Samhain, Pentagram, Christian Death, Paradise Lost, Slayer, The Cure and Depeche Mode in one song is beyond me. What's even more of a mystery is how they managed to do all of that and make it sound so fucking fantastic! Tor (the man and myth!) and his cohorts pull it all off like a beast! "Destroy The Soul' was one of the best albums of 2013 and let it seems as if it passed just about everyone by like a thief in the night! If you can track this sleeper down then by all means necessary do it!


https://www.facebook.com/pages/TOR-MARROCK/161843921361

Speed the Plough-The Plough & The Stars

Bar None Records
2013

Last year in celebration of New Jersey band Speed the Plough's 30th anniversary Bar None Records released this charming career retrospective. For those who may not be all that familiar with the name (outside of secondary, unrelated projects) the band, which is a multi-generational act featuring both male and female members, falls under the category of chamber pop* even if a better description might be comfort pop! Taking their name from an old Scottish folk song, which oddly enough fits an outfit like this(!), Speed the Plough (or STP for short) has been performing (on and off) since 1984. Founded by John and Toni Baumgartner (Keyboards/vocals/song writer and Woodwinds/vocals respectively) and Marc Francia (Guitar) the band has seem many members come and go and yet this wonderfully assembled collection** proved to be a thoroughly consistent overview of this entertaining act! Because of their colorful take on classical pop (one which employees 60's folk and psychedelic rock) STP ended up being a hit within my own multi-generational homestead. This New Jersey-based band has the same kind of universal appeal as The Beatles and it stands to reason that any act that can invoke such comparisons is well worth investing in! Pleasantly enough "The Plough & The Stars" had me daydreaming about the adventures of childhood*** and if  I had any regrets as far as this collection goes it would simply be that my personal promo copy is not as expansive as the real offering which can be found at any of these links below:

www.bar-none.com. 

http://www.amazon.com/

musicdirect.com

http://www.insound.com/

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baroque_pop

** Pulled directly from the band's own website (http://speedtheplough.com/) here is what you are looking at when you buy this beautiful retrospective for your own personal music collection! And yes friends, you should do just that if the idea of shiny pop (that's clever and performed by seasoned musicians!) with classical music elements appeals to you even a little bit!

• A 17-song “Best Of” CD culled from our first four long out-of-print albums on Coyote and East Side Digital (the eponymous first, Wonder Wheel, Mason’s Box, and Marina). 

• A split 12" album with six brand new songs grouped together under the title Tag Sale, a return to the lush, pastoral sound of our earlier albums. And on the flip side five live songs from our 1993 appearance on WFMU’s Live Music Faucet. 

• A 16-page booklet featuring photos of all the band’s lineups, along with reminiscences by Speed the Plough members past and present. 

• A download card entitling you to digital versions of all of the above, along with 10 additional live tracks from Mountain Stage, WFMU, and Maxwell’s, and an interactive version of the booklet with links to more songs and videos. 

*** Speed the Plough's strength lies in their ability to offer near perfect, blissful pop/indie rock with classical musical elements. I would purposely use the words playful, colorful, comforting, dream-like and endearing to describe the music of STP. In what proved to a unexpected side-effect to this remarkable collection I was whisked away to my carefree childhood. Just as certain smells can trigger flashbacks, STP brought about visions from long ago. I'm dating myself here, but as a child I was comforted by not just The Beatles and The Beach Boys (two bands whose lush pop arrangements play a part in the music of this Jersey outfit). I remember the sense of wonderment that was to be found in The Mamas and the Papas, Peter, Paul & Mary, Crosby, Steels & Nash, The Byrds, Simon & Garfunkel, Jim Croce, John Denver, Cat Stevens, James Taylor and Arlo Guthrie. Life was so much more simpler back then and everything felt free and open to endless possibilities. And that was without all the endless electronic devices we now find ourselves slaves to! It's the age old adage that less is more and here on "The Plough & The Stars" that saying rings absolutely true! STP offer complex arrangements no doubt, but here it's presented as rather quaint pop with more of familiar, home-town acoustic/electronic rock band vibe to it. That takes nothing away from the the band's crafty/orchestrated sound (especially as this band's work takes a cue or two from highly inventive outfits such as Traffic and The Velvet Underground!) or the fact that STP channel the spirits of many a great 60's rock/psychedelic rock band (Jefferson Airplane). It's simply that STP offers comforting pop that can be enjoyed as much by pre-teens as those in their golden years! And it's all easily accessible and digestible! Prior to receiving this retrospective CD I can honestly say that I had never heard of Speed the Plough and now I find myself wondering exactly why that is? Maybe it's because STP are not trendy enough for today's kids or the fact that this wouldn't be considered Top 40 Pop? Who knows? What's important though is sharing music like this with our diverse readers. I know I'm not alone in having a wide ranging taste in music. That's why Heavy Metal Time Machine has, under my watch of course, taken more of an approach of anything and everything can and will be reviewed here these days.


 Need more info on this shinning chamber pop band? Why not head over to their Facebook page then?

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Speed-the-Plough/292471066217

Death of Samantha-"If Memory Serves Us Well"

St. Valentine Records
2013

Twenty four years after the release of  the acclaimed "Come All Ye Faithless", Death of Samantha's then perceived swan-song, Cleveland's long-loved underground rockers came back together for a reunion concert. In anticipation of the show Death of Samantha ended up recording "If Memory Serves Us Well" live in the studio. Spanning the length of their career, which would initially run from the summer of 1983 (when singer/guitarist John Petkovic first formed the band, which was named after a song from the highly overrated Plastic Ono Band, as "almost a joke") to 1990 (included here are the cuts "Now Its Your Turn (To Be A Martyr)" and "Rosenberg Summer" off of 1989's "Come All Ye Faithless") and with a remarkable 18 tracks in total (opener "Coca Cola & Licorice" having first served as my personal introduction to this post-punk/garage rock collective) this is one CD/double-LP that would be perfect for long-time fans and newcomers alike! Inside the CD copy that I received from the cool folks at Howlin' Wuelf Media (http://howlinwuelf.com/index.html) there is a nice collage of Death of Samantha (or DOS for short!) pics as well as liner notes by Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Mark Lanegan (Screaming Trees) and Robert Pollard (Guided by Voices) as well as a brief bio by Byron Coley. Meanwhile the double-LP version reportedly comes with insert poster. Either way you can't go wrong seeing as "If Memory Serves Us Well" is a good overview of these Cleveland rockers! As someone who spent a great deal of his formative years Ohio, inside and around both the metal and punk scene of Cleveland and beyond (lots of stories kids believe you me!) a retrospective look at an old favorite like this is always welcome! It's a bit of a toss up as to which of these two observations is more impressive, the fact that original four-piece lineup of DOS (vocalist/guitarist/clarinetist John Petkovic, lead guitarist Doug Gillard, bassist David James and drummer Steven "Steve-O" Eierdam) still sounds young and vibrant or the fact that early tracks such as "Conviction", "Couldn't Forget 'Bout That (One Item)" and "Amphetamine" are still fresh and relevant? I'd suggest that both items show why DOS was so important to our scene then and now! In their own way, playing by their own set of rules and refusing to be categorized as anything but simple Death of  Samantha, John Petkovic took a band that might have just started off a mere "joke" and created a timeless example of why, despite all the shortcomings of our Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland really does rock! For DOS it was in their blood. From real rock to punk Cleveland and it's surrounding area had it all and DOS soaked it up and in their own fashion they channeled that heritage and wove it into the likes of "Coca Cola & Licorice", "Amphetamine", "Bed of Fire", "Conviction" and "Turquoise Hand". Few post-punk/underground rock bands wrote such memorable songs as DOS did. Their music, even at it's most chaotic moments, was filled with wit and it carried along enough street cred to win over the punks, the hipsters and all the rock and rollers. "If Memory Serves Us Well" gathers all that brilliance, the songs which show us why we need the likes of DOS now more then every,  into one neat package. Needless to say this one has already been embraced by me and it will be well-loved from here o out until that great rock and roller up above calls me home!

http://www.deathofsamantha.com/

Otoño-Something Metal This Way Comes

Human Cyborg Productions
2013

The month of May might seem like an odd time to cover a Halloween-themed album, but if we can keep the spirit of Christmas alive in all of us year long then why not a whimsical night when all the little ghouls and goblins come out to play? For sure it isn't always about Halloween for Hollister, California's Otoño (Spanish for "autumn"), even if this trio (first formed in 2003 as Human Cyborg Relations before the name change in 2009) seems to be generally inspired by horror, but here on their latest/second overall full-length release the band does it right by covering tracks like "This is Halloween", "Phantom of the Opera" and "Ghostbusters" and including samples from movies such as "Evil Dead",  "Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth", "A Nightmare on Elm Street", "The Shining", "The Exorcist" and The Omen"! Oh, and did I mention the fact that Otoño also pays tribute to Peter Steele with a sweet little cover of  Type O Negative's "Black No.1"? I didn't? Well, I am now and I'll tell you what else my friends, there is a lot going on for this group (even if they are off of most peoples radars). For a group whose roots run deep down into the depths of high school (talk about a real hell on Earth for many of us!), when founding members/guitarists/vocalists Eldridge and Bangulo covered their fave groups (Metallica, Slayer and Diamond Head) while looking for that one magical line-up to take them to the top (enter bassist/vocalist Angel in 2008), and one which started off as more of a straight-forward (if slightly enhanced by black metal and thrash elements) melodic death band, "Something Metal This Way Comes" is a real charm, a progressively-enhanced ambient charm! Said to be inspired by "different genres of music ranging from metal to classical… and snippets of everything in between" or, better yet folks, "a fusion of various musical influences" (Opeth, Gwar, Persefone, Metallica, Sepultura, Agalloch, Edge of Sanity, Liquid Tension Experiment, Torchbearer, Machine Head, Buckethead, Katatonia ) Otoño tires on a sore's worth of different hats on "Something Metal This Way Comes". And it's that exact reason why Otoño should be setting off alarms on people's (metal) radar! To be sure a band like Otoño is probably best described as (melodic) death metal first and foremost (so as to offer fair warning to anyone who might be scared off by such an "extreme" format), but this trio doesn't exactly follow any standard set of rules other then say, paying homage to many a great film, book (or, in the case of a number like "Room 237"*, both film and books!) and band. And why not? It's these different forms of media that helped groom the band for what would come about, later on, and it's all done in a manor so that everything just meshes together! Available for free right here: http://otono.bandcamp.com/ this is one of those release which is clever and, yes, plain fun! Sure, Xentrix first did it back in the early nineties, but doing a headbanging version of the theme from "Ghostbusters" is just awesome! As is the band's instrumental take on "Phantom of the Opera". Featuring some killer solo work**, which shows up on just about EVERY track here(!), "Phantom of the Opera" is covered in metallic fashion and while it might not be my fave moment here (I love "The Book of the Dead" which also features stunning lead work!) it's still a nice addition to "Something Metal This Way Comes". Most assuredly this album is worth downloading and for Otoño it's a great addition to an every growing catalog***. Moving forward Otoño could/should deliver on the promise of an album like this one and REALLY make a hell of dent on the melodic death metal scene, but who can say for sure? Today's scene is so fickle and for every worthy (and original/interesting!) band that pops up doesn't it just seem like labels bypass them in order to scoop up and sign a dozen bands who all look and sound alike? Yeah, it sucks. So, like I always say support band's like this! Get up and go! See them live, buy their merch and show them real love! And with that you can follow these guys via these links:
www.otonometal.com 

www.facebook.com/otonometal 

 https://twitter.com/OtonoMetal



*Audio sample on "Room 237" were taken from 1980's "The Shining" and the track also features excerpts taken from the novel. "The red death held sway over all" (originally in Edgar Allan Poe "The Masque of the Red Death") was used by Stephen King in the novel. 

** Solo on "Phantom of the Opera" by virtuoso guitarist Allen "Robot" Van Wert.

***The band also appears on Sinister Path Promotion's "Unsigned Metal Band Compilation Volume 1" https://sinisterpathpromotions.bandcamp.com/album/sinister-path-promotions-unsigned-metal-band-compilation-volume-1

The Cheek of Her-"Write me a Letter"

Self-Released/Independent
2013

Today we look in on the quirky and fun, London-based pop rock intuitive The Cheek of Her (aka: Helen Dooley) and her single, "Write me a Letter". With a new EP due to be released on May 30th entitled "Adult Angst Anonymous" (upon which you will be able to find said single) and one acoustic solo performance for the (other) new single "Guitar Muse" having recently shown up on Youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lW05cCQSDIw list=PLUMPTUd56RnFGmdBcO1Ig0kjG4wC3DFSf), The Cheek of Her (TCOH) is everything there is to love about avant-garde dressed up in the form of delightful, keyboard-driven pop! A world-traveled woman of many hats, what with several degrees under her belt only complimenting her wonderful skills as a keyboardist and vocalist, this delightful singer-songwriter easily wins you over with her cheeky lyrics and (in a world of overly-digitized, Top 40 garbage) freshly-baked/sugary-sweet (and thus down-right addicting!)  take on pop-rock! Music-News.com (http://www.music-news.com ) pretty much nailed it when they said that The Check of Her sounds like a "fuller and heartier version of Lilly Allen but with the added edge familiar with Marina & The Diamonds and the quirkiness of Paloma Faith" although to be fair to Helen and her natural talent as a singer-songwriter I'd suggest one picture a place where pop-punk meets pop-rock under a rainbow of never ending (pop) possibilities! Besides, I'd add in an alphabet worth of other ingredients. From a dash or two of the B-52s to a spoon full of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs and some helpful points of reference along the lines of both Adele and Zolof the Rock and Roll Destroyer, The Cheek of Her carefully picks the finest in comfort foods so that those listening in on her delightful pop end up filling nothing if not full and content! You can read about all Helen and her work right here: http://www.thecheekofher.com/ while you can check out the goodness of "Write me a Letter" over here: http://thecheekofher.bandcamp.com/

Pantaleimon-The Butterfly Ate The Pearl

Grass Girl Music
2013

"The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" makes album number five for England's Pantaleimon. And Pantaleimon is really "just" Andria Degens. Or for the most part. There are some guest musicians, but really this is the living and breathing art work of Andria Degens. This singer/songwriter is also a multi-instrumentalist and a talented/inspiring one at that! And Pantaleimon is her vision. Now, describing Pantaleimon is both simple and complicated. Simply stated this release, which was co-produced with Hugo Race, is psychedelic rock. Well, slowed down, progressive (or downright experimental if you want to be technical about "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl") and slightly dark and melancholy psychedelic rock, but still, it is what it is. When you slice into an album like "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" though you get the sensation that there is so much more to the music of Pantaleimon. If only you could put your finger on exactly what that extra something is. It's there and it's not as if it is hidden, but putting into words seems like a rather fruitless endeavor. So the best hope that can be offered is that for Pantaleimon, who are rumored to have evolved into a different entity with "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl", psychedelic rock is a means to an end. Perhaps Andria Degens has taken Pantaleimon and helped it to emerge from it's own cocoon into a beautiful butterfly? That very well could be the case. I can't say for sure where Pantaleimon was prior to a release such as "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl", but where Andria has landed with album number five should be duly noted and yes, praised. Even-keeled and easy on the senses, "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" (as both an album and a title track) had all the hallmarks of a lazy Sunday afternoon, mid-summer, where dreams and reality collide and you take in the beauty of nature while wishing that moments like that could go on forever. That isn't to say that "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" is all "sunshine and lollipops". It should be stressed that Pantaleimon's latest work, while on the lighter side of psychedelic rock, is darkly romantic. It moves about at it's own pace and it does so without the need to add fake layers of glittery kitsch pop. And for that, a fresh approach at honest reflection, "The Butterfly Ate The Pearl" is all the more pleasing and warrants repeated listens!

Eternal Silence - Raw Poetry

Underground Symphony
2013

Are you a stickler for new releases and nothing else? Looking at the release date and wondering how fresh this LP really is? No worries. Don't let the date persuade you from checking out this female-fronted act from Varese, Lombardy. That's all part of the game when it comes to discovering new gems. Or in the case having them thrust upon you out of the blue and (oddly enough) with no hope of an English translation! So digging I went (and knee-deep in the hoop-la to boot) looking to see what was what with this remarkable symphonic metal collective and you know what? Soon enough I received another e-mail with some English text. And here's the deal friends. This one actually dropped at the tail end of 2013 it seems (meaning it's no more then six months old really and well within it's "Best By" date!) and it is the follow-up to the 2012, (self-released) 5-track EP, "Darkness and Regret". Oh, and it's pretty snazzy too! Amazingly enough vocalist Ophelia (Marika Vanni) is much more then mere beauty to the eyes (not that such a thing is all that growdbreaking0 as she can really sing and with some male band-mates that more then hold their own this thing really shines! Fairly creative, sparkling metal with a classy symphonic edge "Raw Poetry" proved to be such a care-free, easy going listen that I found myself drifting away into something fairly unknown to me these days-a state of restful, relaxation! How nice is that? So, to reiterate we're looking at classy, symphonic heavy metal with really nice female vocals and a sound that is soothing in a heavenly way. Works for me!

My Silent Wake-Silver Under Midnight

Bombworks Records
2013

Released on Bombworks Records (a subsidiarity of Retroactive Records, both of which specialize in Christian metal) last summer, "Silver Under Midnight", which was produced by Greg Chandler of Esoteric fame over the course of (only) four days(!), was the fifth full-length from the UK's My Silent Wake. Having just recently reviewed their sixth full-length release (the independently-released acoustic album, "Preservation Restoration Reconstruction" which you can read about here:http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2014/05/my-silent-wake-preservation-restoration.html) my curiosity was peaked for an electrified interpretation of this doom/death outfit with goth-rock overtones. Of course the electrified version of My Silent Wake is the day to day version/key operations of this band which resides on the South West side of England. And with June's "Silver Under Midnight" it's quite obvious that this doom/death has their "normal" sound down pat and man alive if it isn't on the lethal side of the spectrum! Opening with the brief instrumental number "Midnight", "Silver Under Midnight" finds My Silent Wake working with guests like the above mentioned Greg Chandler (also with Lychgate and formerly of ex-Pantheist (live) the album's producer does WONDERS here given the fact that he only had four days to record everything!) and Martin Bowes (Attrition) with their fifth full-length album running the gamut from a track like (album single) "The Last Man" (80's goth rock as interpreted by a nineties (heavy rock) doom band!) to doom thrasher "Wars" with numbers such as "Destroyer", "Oblivion" and "My Killer" showing off the ease in which band-founder Ian Arkley (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards and percussion) and companions Kate Hamilton (bass, dulcimer) and drummer Mark Henry are able to lay down FANTASTIC doom/death! After closing with the EPIC 14-minute plus "Third Season" My Silent Wake's "Silver Under Midnight" leaves you more then just satisfied. Rather this full-length studio album leaves you breathless! How an album like this one, which was recorded in only four, turned out this spectacular is mysterious. We're talking mere days here when album's which have taken years  to record pale in comparison, doom/death or not! How it is that My Silent Wake isn't more well-known is also a question, make that even larger mystery, in need of explanation. Especially as there is little here to suggest that My Silent Wake couldn't easily overtake the more talked about/marketed names in the doom/death scene! The natural ability of bandleader Ian Markey (as both a musician and a songwriter!) is evident as this album unfolds and if these seven tracks alone don't speak volumes as to unmistakeably strength that is at the core of this English band the clearly people need to check their hearing (and credentials!) at the door as this trio SLAYED with "Silver Under Midnight"! This my friends is everything I love about doom metal and death metal as performed by a highly creative and constructive metal act and had I covered this last year it would have been hard not to justify it making my top-ten list of album's of the year! Sure as it always rains in Ohio no matter the month or time of year I WILL be revisiting this album again and again in the weeks to come!