Legendry-Dungeon Crawler

Non Nobis Productions
2017

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is the home base of operations for epic traditional/power metal band Legendry. Formed in 2015 and currently comprised of vocalist/guitarist Vidarr (Defeat, ex-Bare-Sark), bassist Evil St. Clair, and drummer Kicker, Legendry has two full-length albums and one demo to it's name. The eight song "Dungeon Crawler" is the latest recording from this (classic metal loving) trio and it arrives one year after the group's well-received debut album, "Mists of Time". The epic 10-minute title track opens up Legendry's newest release in grand fashion. It name checks not only the title of the band's 2016 (Mists of Time), but one of the group's inspirations (Pagan Altar). Other influences include Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, Brocas Helm, Omen, Wishbone Ash, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Yes, and Lords of the Crimson Alliance (whose "Swords of Zeus" they cover!). Along with compelling lyrics and the album's vintage vibe (especially in regards to the album's production), "Dungeon Crawler" features some truly fantastic music! On a few of the tracks the band is joined by guest keyboardist Drea, but overall it's Vidarr, Evil St. Clair, and Kicker that are responsible for all of the great metal on display here. With it's splendid mixture of epic metal, American power metal, classic metal, and seventies-infused prog(!), "Dungeon Crawler" is a smashing success and one album that I am glad to have stumbled upon. With bands like Legendry alive and well the true heavy metal scene is in good hands!

Verscythe-A Time Will Come

Self-Released/Independent Recording
2013

Active since January of 2011, the 5-piece collective known as Verscythe offer up their debut and (so-far) sole release, "A Time Will Come", for the enjoyment of not only power metal purists worldwide, but also for those who love kick-ass, traditional heavy metal with all the fixings! That's correct folks, right-up front let's just roll the dice and call it like we see it! This 2-year old plus band mentions how they like Iron Maiden and Pink Floyd on their Facebook page, but all that anyone really needs to know about this New Bedford-based band is that, besides benefiting  from having a hell of a cool lead singer in Justin St. Pierre, Verscythe are 100% about all things metal and 100% about being a professional band. Hailing from New Bedford, Massachusetts, and formed out of the ashes of fellow New Bedford act Kreagen (which released one, 3-track demo titled "Unspoken History" as well as one full-length album, "Evolution of Sorrow", in their short career),  this group was brought to my attention  by my friend Glenn who, besides also being a rather cool individual himself, is the U.S. rep for Minotauro Records (home of the Mox Nox re-issue among other things). But, while Glenn may have pointed the way for me it was actually lead singer Justin St. Pierre himself who sent me this 10-track album along with a nice note. Both items were appreciated, but that doesn't mean I'm easy by any stretch of the imagination. There are a couple of "bumps" along the way with this album, but we'll dissect that later on. Alongside bass player/former Kreagen Jack St. Pierre (who I would assume is Justin's brother), we find the twin guitars of Jeff Rull and Chris Reed (who, besides also being in Kreagen, was also briefly in the cult heavy metal act Briar Rose) and drums which are handled by Kevin Camille (Kreagen/Beyond the Embrace). For those keeping score at home, that all adds up to a ton of experience crammed tight into one young act. But, that does bring up one point that I promised to address. While they have (and still do) accomplish a hell of a lot for such a young band, at least as far as the overall age of Verscythe as a band, there was moments when I wasn't impressed. Granted it was only a few items, but I do feel it's worth mentioning for clarity sake. My apologies of course if the song holds special meaning, but "Wednesday's Rain" is just a tiring number. More Extreme then the band's usual Iron Maiden vibe, it seemed to be a real weak spot on an album that otherwise rocked hard. It's not just Iron Maiden love here, but bands like Judas Priest, (early) Queensrÿche and even more traditional heavy metal like W.A.S.P all fit into the sound of Verscythe. So, while that is plain killer, and really makes for the stuff that heavy metal wet dreams are made of, the deviation from that plane in the shape of a number like "Wednesday's Rain" brings the whole thing to a screeching halt! But, that's just one song out of an album jam packed with heavy metal gold. All it does is show that while a band like Verscythe is made for heavy metal fanatics, they are still only human like the rest of us. Of course there is always the chance that others might like such variety and I for one, with my often times odd musical tastes, would not fault anyone for that. I'm just presenting the whole picture so that I don't over-hype this album as being perfect (although it damn near is at other times!). In the end though I was highly impressed with this band's skill-level and their ability to craft metal tunes that remain in your head even after the album is all done. That is not an easy task. As this is the group's sole release so far there is little doubt that with each new album they will grow and only get better. With time comes experience and in the end I really do suspect that this band will prove capable of creating more killer metal. This is a good start and an album that easily proved itself worthy of recommendation!

Xcel-Deliver This Dream

Arkeyn Steel Records
2013

Xcel are the latest cult 80's act to get the royal treatment from the fine folks over at Arkeyn Steel Records. Sometimes it seems as if the label are making it their mission to release every cult heavy metal record out there. If so I have a few suggestions for them, but that's neither here nor there. For now we have this this excellent Texas band who, in addition to self-releasing the "Deliver This Dream" LP in 1986, released the "Last Ride of Ichabod Crane" 7" single on Accent  in 1987. Now, while a bootleg CD by Hot Metal Records is floating around the scene don't be fooled by it as this re-release is the real deal!  In other words this is how "Deliver This Dream" should be re-released! This re-release features both the album and single and, in addition to a new booklet with lyrics, pics and bio, the re-issue has been re-mastered. That makes sense since the album's original production never sat well with the band anyway as it was recorded at Triplex Studios in Port Arthur, Texas who, while technically quite able, were more known for their work with country and western artists instead of rock and heavy metal ones. The new re-mastered version gives the album much more punch although, as this came out in 1986, it still sounds like an eighties production job. Granted that gives it all the more charm I suppose. Vocalist Kevin Luke lead this American power metal act that drew inspiration from Iron Maiden and Queensrÿche. In fact, the band looked at Queensrÿche as more then just an influence, but also an inspiration. Just as Queensrÿche had released their first self-titled album by themselves so did Xcel. They had the right idea and certainly the talent to back it up. While the album's original production was only so-so the single featured better production and should have done the trick as far as getting these guys the nod. It didn't happen though and, just like other cult eighties acts I've recently covered like Nitro and Salem, they didn't get the proper recognition then so, hopefully, this time around will be different. Since the re-release is a limited edition (1,000 hand-numbered copies) I suspect that it will be another hot ticket item for the label. "Deliver This Dream" features catchy metal numbers with really good lead solos. Fans of the aforementioned two bands would do well to check out this re-issue as well as those who love good eighties power metal/heavy metal bands like Heathen's Rage, Mainiax and Metalwolf. Along with Alloy Czar (review latest this week hopefully) Arkeyn Steel Records is giving older metal fans like myself something to cheer about!

A Sound of Thunder-Queen of Hell EP

Self-Release
2013


My first exposure to U.S. metal act A Sound Of Thunder came courtesy of  "Out Of The Darkness", the band's second full-length album. Since "Out Of The Darkness" made my best-off list for 2012 it's safe to say the album had an impact on me. The truth is it inspired me enough to want to help out the band with their Kickstarter campaign to fund 2013's forthcoming "Time's Arrow" release. This four-track EP serves as a preview of things to come from A Sound Of Thunder. It's also a sign that the band is getting better with each new release. Up front I'm just going to say it: this EP is an instant classic. If  "Time's Arrow" carries the same high-level of energy (and since tracking for both albums took place at the same time there's no reason to think otherwise) it's going to be one hell of a year to be a heavy metal fan! As far as heavy metal releases is concerned this EP alone is golden. "Time's Arrow" is one of 2013's album I'm stoked to hear! That said let's get back to the forceful impact this EP should have on the heavy metal community right now. If you could give only one selling point for the "Queen of Hell" EP it would have to be the vocals of Nina Osegueda. Nina's been described as "the love child of Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson...", but even that description fails to fully describe just how good she is. The opening title cut might show of her power, but it's "Hello Nurse" that really shows the full range of Nina Osegueda. This oddly fascinating (and yet extremely cool) number has a charm all it's own as it casually strolls about in the garden of Alice Cooper's mind. As the song opens with American-style power metal  you can't help but get a strong sense of fellow U.S. metal act Lizzy Borden's potential influence. That's of course before "Hello Nurse" turns into a classic rock number accented with a Billy Joel-like piano solo! It's a startling twist that shows how A Sound Of Thunder are not afraid to take risks with their music. Here the risk pays off in a big way as "Hello Nurse" is a fun and memorable number that will stick around in your heard long after the song's over. Now, as the band wanted the same producer and studio that they used for "Out of the Darkness",  Kevin '131' Gutierrez (Shinedown, While Heaven Wept, Raven) was once again enlisted and production took place again at Assembly Line Studios in Vienna, Virginia. In regards to that, guitarist Josh SchwartzI said that part of the reason they wanted the same producer and studio was so that they could think of the last album and the new material as their own version of "Blizzard of Ozz" and "Diary of a Madman" (as the guitarist rightly points out about the two albums "...they go hand in hand,"-not only chronologically, but vibe-wise). Speaking of all things Ozzy, while guitarist Schwartz was working with Kevin Gutierrez again the pair bounded over their shared appreciation for the Black Sabbath album "Born Again". That would lead to the EP's one cover track. While A Sound Of Thunder usually shy away from covers (as they would prefer to let their own music doing the talking) "Queen of Hell" features a choice cover of  Black Sabbath's "Born Again" number, "Trashed". With "Trashed" guitarist Josh Schwartz gets a chance to fully showcase his skills. His lead work is insane on "Trashed" just as it is on the EP as a whole. You can't just forget about the rhythm section of Jesse Keen and Chris Haren (bass and drums respectively) though. Not only does this pair offer the perfect background for Nina and Josh to feed off of, but when given the chance to shine both musicians are at the top of their game. All four members of A Sound of Thunder manage to work together in perfect form on "Queen of Hell". As if the title cut (which is a nice slab of American heavy metal), "Trashed" and "Hello Nurse" were not enough reason to love this EP you also get a duet version of "Queen of Hell" that features guest vocals by Benedictum's Veronica Freeman. And hell yeah!, it's every bit as good as you'd expect giving that level of talent. It's cool hearing two of metal's unheralded female vocalists tearing it up together and it's hard to pick one version of the song over the other as both versions are killer. Both vocalists are unjustly left out in the dark when talks turn to the best lead singers in metal (female or not!) which is messed up if you really think about it. Anyway, A Sound of Thunder will be touring behind this EP here in the US in early 2013. That will be followed later on in 2013 by a more extensive tour to promote "Time's Arrow". Among the dates currently scheduled is one with Doro and Sister Sin. Now that is a show I'd love to see! Hopefully their tour includes stops in my part of Ohio (or Ohio in general) . If they play nearby then by all means be sure to catch A Sound of Thunder live. Also, if you love good traditional heavy metal/American power metal then be sure to pick up the "Queen of Hell" EP. Speaking of which, rather then re-type everything I'll just give you the scoop straight from the band as far as what's available.Some items are insanely limited in quantity and sure to be future collector's items so get them while you can!

"Queen of Hell" is available in 3 physical formats as well as digital download:

LIMITED VINYL:
-250 Copies
- 12" Blood Red Vinyl
- Includes Free Digital Copy
- Includes 4" Emroidered "Queen's Guard" Patch
- Exclusive Inner Sleeve Artwork

STANDARD CD:
- Cardboard Sleeve Edition

LIMITED NUMBERED CD:
-25 Hand-Numbered Copies
- Signed by entire band and Veronica Freeman
- Includes 4" Embroidered "Queen's Guard" Patch
- Includes Certificate of Authenticity

CD & Vinyl editions can be ordered via the band's official store:
http://asoundofthunder.bigcartel.com


Digital copies can be ordered at: http://asot.bandcamp.com