Pale Horseman-The Fourth Seal

Black Bow Records
2017

Falling somewhere between aggressive doom metal with a death metal kick(!) and extreme (riff-heavy and twisted!) sludge, Pale Horseman is a four-piece band from Chicago, Illinois that has been tearing up the scene since 2012. As of this writing the group is comprised of Eric Ondo (guitars & vocals), Andre Almaraz (guitars & vocals), Rich Cygan (bass), and Jason Schryver (drums). Recorded, mixed, and mastered at Comatose Studio by Dennis Pleckham (Bongripper), "The Fourth Seal" serves as the latest must-have release from this band that takes it's name (and a lot of it's lyrical content) from the Book of Revelation. All told that means Pale Horseman has four full-length albums to it's name as well as a 2016 split with The Mound Builders. For some strange reason Pale Horseman had been unsigned up until the official release of this monstrous album, but once "The Fourth Seal" drops on December 8th we should be looking at one of the next big names in all of metal! In addition to the dual guitar attack of co-vocalists Eric Ondo and Andre Almaraz, Jason Schryver's drumming sticks out as he mercilessly pounds away on his kit! A little more emphasis on Rich Cygan's bass playing would have been appreciated, but it does nothing to kill the buzz that one ends up getting from this ruthless recording. This album was my first taste of Pale Horseman and now I can't wait to see what else this Chicago outfit is capable of. You can pre-order "The Fourth Seal" by clicking here.

Professor Emeritus-Take Me To The Gallows

No Remorse Records
2017

Professor Emeritus is a relatively new metal band that hails from Chicago, Illinois and is fronted by MP Papai (Moros Nyx). The well-crafted "Take Me To The Gallows" is the group's debut album and it is due to drop of November 13th, 2017. In addition to lead vocalist MP Papai (a talented if high-pitched singer that equally reminds me of Ronnie James Dio and Metal Church's David Wayne!), "Take Me To The Gallows" features the skilled performances of Lee Smith (guitars, bass), Tyler Herring (guitar), and Rüsty Glöckle (drums). These three musicians have played with the likes of Satan's Host, Tiger Fight, and Moros Nyx. Given the wide array of influences on this seven-track album it sure as hell seems as if the group is being haunted by the ghosts of some of these past bands. Naturally I mean that in a good way. Opening up strong with the epic and gritty doom metal that is "Burning Grave", "Take Me To The Gallows" (which was actually laid to tape between September 2014 and December 2016, but for whatever reason it is only now being released) finds Professor Emeritus experimenting with all of these different genres of metal. Not only do we have traditional heavy metal, doom metal, and epic metal on this band's debut, but shades of dark metal, classic heavy metal, cult metal, and N.W.O.B.H.M.! For the most part this is a fairly successful formula. The only real downside comes from the fact that there seems to be a lot of recycled riffs going on. You could chalk that up to the disc's doom metal elements (especially seeing as doom metal can be occasionally monotonous if not done correctly) or maybe it is just the curse of debut albums. Whatever the case might be with this Chicago metal outfit, "Take Me To The Grave" has a few flaws when it comes to the structure of some of the songs. Does that make this album a dub? As I already hinted at this is a great sound and style for Professor Emeritus so the answer to that question is a clear "No". The recycled riffs might knock this recording down a notch, but it is still a damn slick debut and one that I would certainly recommend. Anyone that loves heavy metal /doom metal albums should give this one a spin. The same goes for fans of hard & heavy epic metal. With one good album down and a waiting and willing scene that will more than likely embrace this lot, "Take Me To The Gallows" makes me want to keep an eye out for this Chicago band in order to see just how far they will go.

Free Metal Monday: Cemetery-Demo

Self-Release/Independent*
2011

Chicago death rock band Cemetery (who are all kinds of gloomy goodness!) released this demo
back in August of 2011.  It has three tracks ("Reptile Walk", "Voices in the walls", and "Cask") and it is free for the taking. For comparison's sake this is kind of like a punk rock take on Christian Death, but way more darker than that might imply. While it's not technically "metal", "Demo" here should appeal to some doom and goth metal fans.



 * In February of 2014  Mass Media Records released a (re-mastered) collection of all of Cemetery's material. The digital version costs eight dollars and the LP is fifteen dollars. You can find out more about the collection by heading here.  

Satan's Hallow-Satan's Hallow

Underground Power Records
2017

It goes without saying that Chicago has a treasured history of heavy metal. You can start with the bands Trouble, Zoetrope, and Thrust. These three groups (which I personally love) were all different from one another and yet they started a longstanding scene that is still pumping out cool bands. Two of the more current ones that I dig are Hëssler and Shokker . While these two groups offer different takes on heavy metal they are both enjoyable in their own way. The same thing can be said about Satan's Hallow. Formed in 2013 and featuring the exceptional voice of Mandy Martillo, Satan's Hallow is a traditional heavy metal band that draws it's influences from N.W.O.B.H.M. and the 80's metal scene. This full-length album, which serves as the long-anticipated follow-up to 2015's "The Horror b​/​w Satan's Hallow" and will also be released on vinyl and CD, is the self-titled debut from Satan's Hallow. It is also an instant classic. When I first introduced Satan's Hallow to our readers back in mid-March of  2015 I predicted big things would happen for this band. Mind you it wasn't as if I was psychic. The band's first single was just too good to suggest anything but future success. Those two songs ("The Horror" & "Satan's Hallow") not only show up on the band's new album, but they are surrounded by even better material! Frankly I have no idea how that is even possible!! Starting off with the killer number "Reaching For The Night", "Satan's Hallow" will be will one of 2017's "Top 10 Debut Albums"!! First off there are no duds on this album. Each song has been worked over in order that they are at the peak of perfection. Credit goes to not only Mandy Martillo*, but the album's line-up of:  Von Jugel (lead and rhythm guitar), Steve "Lethal" Beaudette (lead and rhythm guitar), Jose Salazar (bass), and Patrick "Rüsty" Glöckle (drums). You would be hard-pressed to find a unit this precise. Collectively-speaking, Satan's Hallow crafted a heavy metal album that is one for the ages! The shear talent of these five musicians is nothing short of amazing and it results in a near-perfect debut!! The album's new tracks are "Reaching For The Night", "Choir Of The Cursed", "Hot Passion", "Black Angle", "Moving On", "Still Alive", and  "Beyond The Bells". When you combine them with the two tracks from aforementioned single ("Satan's Hallow" and "The Horror") you get this wicked journey that you must hear from being to end. With nods of appreciation and/or sincere love also shown for Mercyful Fate, Acid, and Warlock, Satan's Hollow has magically transformed it's core influences (N.W.O.B.H.M. and 80's metal) into something distinctly original on their first album. If you call yourself any kind of heavy metal fan, "Satan's Hallow" is an obligatory pick-up. Welcome back you Chicago metalheads. Next time let's try not to be gone for so long!   



*Mandy has been dubbed "An American version of Doro" by others before me and I won't argue that point. It's more of a compliment than anything else. Especially seeing as she excels as the lead singer of this buzz-worthy band!  

Forgotten Gems: Shokker-Shokker

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Out in 2015 but just now finding it's way to my ears, today's offering is technically a tad bit young to gain admittance into the halls of Forgotten Gems. Be that as it may, Chicago's Shokker* seems poised to break out in a BIG WAY! Or at least they will after their full-length debut drops!! It's due sometime later on in 2017 and if it is anything near the excitement of this self-titled EP....well, fans of true heavy metal are going to be insanely stoked! As for the who, what, and where of this four-piece band? It is Illinois to be precise.   Active in one form or another since 2011, powerhouse vocalist Rachl "Raxx" Quinn now leads the charge and she is f**king fantastic in that role! Casey Tremont (guitar, vocals), Jorey Guillermo (bass), and drummer Dan Dash perfectly back her up on this 3-track EP (the band's first "official" release. The three track are "Adrenaline", "Midnight Sun", and "Turn Around And Run". That middle one is my favorite. As strange as this no doubt reads, "Midnight Sun" reminds me of M.C.'s "Looks That Kill" under the following set of circumstances: (with Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Accept, UFO, and Dio all serving as the influences) Nikki Sixx realizes from the start that Mick Mars isn't going to take them anywhere. In his place comes this blazing hot young guitarist with MAD skills. After re-working the song into a eighties metal masterpiece, Vince Neil is cut and in comes one of the all-time best lead singers. Having blown apart the studio with her sensational voice, Rachl "Raxx" Quinn and that amazing guitarist (Casey Tremont) leaves Nikki and, song in hand, time-travels to the present. In need of a killer lead singer and a guitarist that can melt speakers with his blazing hot licks, Shokker's rhythm section welcomes the pair into it's inner circle. They re-work the song in question to show off their own sinsational style and out comes "Midnight Sun"!  In my imagination that is how Shokker came up with the song. The key word there being "song". That is only one of the three jams on this EP. For the four members of Shokker influences range from Van Halen, Kix, Thin Lizzy, and Ratt all the way up to the N.W.O.B.H.M scene of old (Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon, Diamond Head, Tokyo Blade, Jaguar, White Spirit, etc.). The better parts of eighties metal seems to glue it all together, but in no way, shape, or form is Shokker living in the past! This Chicago metal band most definitely has a modern edge about it. We're not talking about modern metal. We are talking about lively music here. It's as fresh as if it was just plucked from the garden this morning! One can only imagine how good this lot is up front and personal. This EP is the next best thing. Finger's crossed here obviously, but good god above(!) I hope the band's new album is the heavy metal debut album of the year! Only time will tell....      



*Be mindful of the spelling there folks because you are going to want to follow up on this posting.

Satan's Hallow-"The Horror b​/​w Satan's Hallow" Single

Self-Release/Independent
2015

My dear friends and loved ones I would like to take the opportunity to present to you Illinois' one and only Satan's Hallow. Comprised of lead singer Mandy Martillo, guitarists Mendoza & Von Jugel, bassist Poncho and drummer Rüsty (and with this {Why in the name of everything both holy and unholy haven't you already downloaded it already?} name-your-own-price single soon to be released on cassette* and 7" vinyl**) this Chicago-based N.W.O.B.H.M./traditional heavy metal-inspired band is absolutely wicked! Sinfully wicked in fact!! And I'm already head over heels for them! Of course any band that is seemly as obsessed with older horror films as I am is going to win me over. But when you have a band that also takes it's cue from the likes of Acid, Mercyful Fate, Judas Priest, Warlock and (old) Running Wild (all of which I have in my personal collection and rock out to!) then we are also talking about the whole love at first sight/is it alright if I just go ahead and start stalking you already? kind of relationship!While both tracks here are righteous in there own way it's actually the (not-quite-three-minutes, but it will haunt you eternally!) "The Horror" that left me completely speechless! That's not to take anything away from "Satan's Hallow" as this four minute tribute to eighties metal is a real "horns high in the air!" banger that leaves you longing to hear so much more from this retro-infused five-piece! Just-released this past Tuesday (March 10th to be exact) "The Horror b​/​w Satan's Hallow" could have easily been passed off as a recently-unearned single from heavy metal's glory days and no one would be the wiser! And that includes yours truly! It's simply that classic sounding and for the members of Satan's Hallow this golden ticket of a digital download has the feeling of something epic and even groundbreaking! I get the feeling that we're looking at just the start of something that will ultimately prove to be magical .....

https://www.facebook.com/satanshallow 

*Swords and Chains (release date 5/1/15) 

**No official label or release date listed yet, but mark my words it's going to happen as this N.W.O.B.H.M./traditional heavy metal single is far too good for labels to pass it up! Frankly I'm surprised that someone hasn't already signed this band to a multi-album deal! I know I would if I had my own label. Especially as this has low-risk/high-potential written all over it!!!!

Hay Perro-Desert Of Nowhere

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Formed back in 2006, Chicago, Illinois's own Hay Perro first appeared on our site back in March of 2011 thanks to their bad ass debut album, "Eastern Ideas of Death"*, before taking part in an excellent interview with site founder Metal Mark the following month (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2011/04/interview-with-brian-and-chris-of-hay.html). It was that very interview which peaked my interest in this Chicago "crossover" band and now (after three long years of waiting) we finally get to hear the band's sophomore output "Desert Of Nowhere". Released earlier this month, and unfortunately only available as a digital download at the moment, "Desert Of Nowhere" is (sadly) Hay Perro's swansong. That unfortunate announcement (and indeed it is one once you've had a chance to let this punk/hardcore/heavy metal band rampage you're body like some crazed, meth-fueled grizzly bear freaking the freak out!) was included with the e-mail inquiring as to whether or not we would be interested in covering this release (the obvious answer was HELL FUCKING YES). Still, if this 10-track fist punch to the face album (one which sets the pace early on thanks to the two minute plus opener "Upheaval Dome" before running you over with the kick in the head cut "Arm The Children") is to be the last we hear from Hay Perro then by all that is Hell Fucking Bent For Heavy Metal it's a good way to call it quits! On their second (and now last) release, which again one perfect cocktail featuring all of this band's numerous influences (Black Flag, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Metallica, Voivod, Minutemen, Husker Du, Thin Lizzy, Minor Threat and Black Sabbath) and more (Ramones, Discharge, Jesus Lizard and The Misfits) we have a line-up of Chris Grubbs (guitar, bass, vocals), Brian Gonas (guitar) and Emily Agosto (drums). With Nate Perry providing additional vocals on "Arm The Children" and "Spirals Of Wire" (two cut throat numbers!) and the members of Hay Perro (https://www.facebook.com/HayPerro) doing their utmost best to redefine the term "crossover" (as a point of reference check out "Aflame In The Sun" which combines old school punk rock, metallic hardcore and some smashing garage rock and roll of yesteryear into one killer closing track!) things have never looked so promising fro this Chicago act. All of which makes their announcement to split up that much more puzzling, but sometimes bad things happen to good bands and there's nothing that can be done about it. Available for a measly $5, "Desert Of Nowhere" comes with my stamp of approval and it will be "topping the charts" when it gets to be that time of the year when "Best Off" lists start rolling out!


http://hayperro.bandcamp.com/album/desert-of-nowhere



Metal Mark's spot-on review of  "Eastern Ideas of Death"
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2011/03/hay-perro-eastern-ideas-of-death.html

Jar'd Loose-Turns 13

Threshold of Pain Records/The Path Less Traveled Records
2014

Buy it. That's all there is to it. Just buy "Turns 13". This Chicago-based band has just dropped their sophomore disc,"Turns 13" and it is fantastic! It's so good in fact that I immediately stopped what I was doing and picked up their first album (2012's equally raved over "Goes to Purgatory") and a t-shirt from this four-piece noise-rock band featuring members Eddie Gobbo (vox), Eva Bialecki (bass, vox), Nate Madden (guitar) and Phil Hardman (drums). And I did it just so that I could further bask in their kick-ass noise-rock glory! When it comes to Jar'd Loose it's almost like the lead singer (or original) of The Accused (good old Blaine Cook!) were to front this wild and crazy  noise rock n roll outfit whose sound is drew as much from the Jesus Lizard as Entombed (their own words)....only it's like 1,000 times better on tape! Whether it's the way in which Eddie Gobbo goes about hitting the mic with some unreal, wicked and absolutely gnarly, "swallowing razor blades here boss!" vocals or the band's (complex and colorful!) take on garage-like (noisy, punkified and down-right dirty!) rock n' roll it's all equally sick and it made me appreciate the music of Chicago all over again! And it's not just the music of Jar'd Loose that makes me go back to this lot over and over again! I'm loving everything about this band-their cool female bass player (always a plus for me-there is just something awesome about killer female bassists!), their apparent obsession with pro wrestling (just check out this quartet's Facebook page here:https://www.facebook.com/jardloose) and their well-organized, A-Z list of influences (check 'em out below). It's like Chicago's Jar'd Loose's are the whole package! And their second full-length, "Turns 13," is just adding to what will be their legacy! Available on both CD and (starting June 26th) LP, "Turns 13" is a must for noise rock fanatics and another release that will be featured in my year end best of list! You can find it (along with a whole slew of other cool items!) at the band's store here:http://www.shopbenchmark.com/jardloose/new-products.html



The list of influences:

Alice Cooper, Alice In Chains, Apocalypse Hoboken, Black Sabbath, Buzzcocks, Buzzoven, Coalesce, Coliseum, Corrosion Of Conformity, Converge, Crowbar, Dead Kennedys, Death, Deftones, Devin Townsend, Dwarves, Emperor, Entombed, Eyehategod, Faith No More, Frank Zappa, Godflesh, Gojira, Goreguts, Helmet, The Jesus Lizard, L7, Lair of the Minotaur, Mastodon, Melvins, Morbid Angel, Motorhead, Prong, Screaming Trees, Sepultura, Soundgarden, Swans, Thin Lizzy, Vision of Disorder, White Zombie, Zeke.

High Sprits-You Are Here

Hells Headbangers
2014

Chicago's High Spirits were a recent discovery of mine having just reviewed their self-titled 7" single last month. It's worth noting that immediately after hearing that single I went out and bought the band's back catalog! While the single (linked below you'll find said review) will be released later this month you'll have to wait a little while for "You Are Here" as it will come out in the middle of next month. Not to worry though as it will be well worth the wait! With "You Are Here" the same kind of high-energy heavy rock/heavy metal that I came to love thanks to the self-titled single (and the rest of the group's HIGHLY recommend back catalog!) is pushed straight up front and into the limelight with group founder/leader Chris Black (Aktor, Dawnbringer, Pharaoh, Superchrist, ex-Nachtmystium) further proving just how freakin' talented he is! Now, despite being active since 2009 this is only the group's second full-length release, but that can be forgiven given Chris's busy schedule. Of course there has been plenty of recorded material to pop up in the inbetween years besides just the two full-lengths and the previously mentioned single. With numerous demos, a compilation, another single and one EP it's been a crazy journey for this Chicago-based band, but "You Are Here" shows that it's all been worth it! A more melodic outfit then one might expect given Chris Black's day jobs, High Spirits is nonetheless never short of crazy addictive hooks when it comes right down to it and on "You Are Here" Chris time warps back to another time and place when real, (heavy rockin') rock-flavored metal could still be found on the FM radio and band's like High Spirits would play the local club every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night! Opener "When the Lights Go Down" and it's follow-up "I Need Your Love" are (early) catchy favorites, but this album never lets up giving the listener plenty to love thanks to hook-heavy numbers like the awesome "One Thousand Nights", "The Last Night", "Can You Hear Me" and "I Will End". Things wrap up nicely with the band's own "High Spirits" serving as last call. Recalling the music of my youth, "High Spirits" features fuzzed out guitars and lovingly-appropriate and truly appreciated nods towards eighties heavy rock/heavy metal all while reminiscing about many a club band that never quite made it from the garage to the stage and then to the big times. Awash with elements of not only seventies and eighties rock and metal, but also moments of N.W.O.B.H.M. worship album number two for High Spirits comforts you like a childhood friend while rewarding you with guitar-driven music for the night ahead! An album like this one is meant for those long summer nights when you have your friends over, you have your favorite gal in your arms (and your favorite cold one in your hands!) and you just want to live in the moment and never let go. God bless High Spirits for that as this is the real soundtrack for those of us old enough to remember when heavy rock and classic metal was made by fans for fans!!!

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2014/03/high-spirits-high-spirits-7.html

Mount Salem-Endless

Metal Blade Records
2014

Hailing from Chicago, Illinois, which is also the hometown of Trouble (just one of this band's better influences), and playing a subtle blend of psychedelic rock and doom metal, with the tilt leaning more towards the former than the latter, we have Mount Salem and their debut-recording "Endless". Initially a (well-received) 2013 self-released EP (with a different track-listing than the one that appears here) it has been expanded into more of a full-length recording thanks to the inclusion of "The Tower" (one of the album's better numbers) and "Mescaline II". Fronted by organist Emily Kopplin (a high-pitched lead singer who is surrounded by three gruff, stoner rock-looking individuals!) and with classic influences from the likes of Trouble, Pentagram and Black Sabbath sharing a bottle of wine while sitting around the same warm and toasty bonfire as bands like Blood Ceremony, Witch Mountain and Death Rides A Horse are(!), Mount Salem look to crack into a scene that is already full to capacity! And that's the thing. It's true that more and more we're seeing these sort of bands emerging from the darkness (ones that rely as much on  psychedelic rock and/or stoner rock as they do doom rock/doom metal) and even here, with Mount Salem being nothing more then just a few years old now, there might technically be little to no new ground broken. Still, there are a few moments ( "The Tower", "Mescaline", "Mescaline II" and the fittingly-titled closing number, "The End"!) when Mount Salem puts all the puzzle pieces in their proper spot and things just click. Credit that to the backing band of guitarist Kyle Morrison, bass guitarist Mark Hewett and drummer Cody Davidson as these three musicians (or bearded warriors of old if you will!) play-up to Emily's strengths while also helping to cover up some of her shortcomings (let's just say that her high-pitched voice doesn't always go off with a bang and leave it at that). On their own these gentlemen make for a decent enough three-piece (with drummer Cody Davidson arguably the most skilled one of the lot) although even they have plenty of room to grow (to put it another way, both elements, the guys and then Emily, work better when paired up together as a full-fledged band as opposed to striking out as individual entities). Of the eight tracks presented here on this 2014, expanded-edition of "Endless" it works out to be something like four good moments and four so-so moments. While I had honestly hoped for a little more evenness (seeing as I had read plenty of glowing reviews for this album before taking the plunge myself and splurging for the Digipak MCD on Amazon) this is at least a good start from this female-fronted Chicago act. So, even if Mount Salem has a ways to go before they can (reasonably) expect to compete with the front runners of psychedelic doom (whether female-fronted or not) at least they already have a solid foundation in place with "Endless" upon which they can and hopefully will expand! 

High Spirits-High Spirits 7"

Hells Headbangers
2014

Active since 2009, with Chris Black (Aktor, Dawnbringer, Pharaoh, Superchrist, ex-Nachtmystium) sitting in the drivers seat from day one, Chicago's High Spirits are another another band whose sound is derived from the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement AND heavy metal's heyday. With two demos, two singles ("High Spirits" being the second one), one EP, a compilation album and one full-length album already in their back-catalog (and a new full-length album due to drop towards the end of April!) this rock/hard rock/heavy metal act doesn't show any signs of slowing down anytime soon! For that we should all be thankful! Or at least if you find yourself neck deep in love with old-fashioned heavy metal that just keeps on keeping on and rocking the very foundations of all things "loud & proud"! With this new 7" you get a different version of the title track then the one that appeared on the band's 2009 "Demo # 2" (said demo along with their first demo can be found on the group's 2009 compilation release) with the B-side track being a "newly-recorded song from the band's formative nights". First things first let's take a look at the band's namesake song. "High Spirits", which will also appear on the band's upcoming new album, "You Are Here", is a more along the lines of a heavy rocker, almost seventies-like in it's approach and, as weird and messed up as this sounds, it almost sounds to me like Chris Black is channeling (early, new wave/punk rock days) Sting while the backing-band tears through a monster of a garage number! Meanwhile we have the B-side "Night After Night" which could be a long-lost N.W.O.B.H.M. cut. Again, here the band's heavy metal-leanings take a back-seat to heavy rock although there's no way to disguise what this Chicago-based collective is all about. Even if these two numbers are more or less "high-energy rockers" Chris Black and company proudly wave their alligience to classic hard rock and heavy metal making High Spirits the perfect company for those of us old enough to remember the glory days or even the younger kids out there longing for something real with integrity! Hopeing "You Are Here" will come packed with this much passion, energy and enthusiasm! You can find out more about this 7" inch and the band's previous releases right here:

http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/high-spirits-high-spirits-vinyl.asp

Scythe-Subterranean Steel (North American version)

R.I.P. Records
2013

Chicago, Illinois' act Scythe (who are, yet again, another band which shares a similar name with crap-loads of other acts) was formed in 2009. Featuring former Usurper front-man Rick Scythe (Nightshade, ex-The Dead Youth) on lead vocals and guitars, Scythe, in a way I suppose, could just be seen as the next step for Scythe's former band. But, while Usurper ended up being viewed as one of  Chicago's most legendary bands (and justly so!) when it comes to Scythe we're talking about a band that is fighting for name recognition. Or is it their just fighting to become known as THE ONE and ONLY Scythe? Who bloody knows? Another album or two like this one though and it won't matter if there were hundreds (if not thousands) of other Scythes as these guys will be standing on-top victorious! They'll most likely get there soon enough as "Subterranean Steel" shows. In much the same way Usurper forged their own nasty sound out of the better parts of black metal and thrash (somewhere around here I have a copy of their cool as fuck debut-album, "Diabolosis") the three members of Scythe tear the lid off of blackened thrash and bath in it's bloody after-birth! The only real bit of difference between the two acts is that while Usurper stuck rather close to that sinister combination (black metal + thrash) the guys in Scythe tap into some old-school speed metal as well as straight-up, kick you in the teeth, traditionally heavy metal! Joined by bassist/vocalist Dan Geist and drummer Joey Contreras (who both do much more then just provide the other two pieces of  Scythe) our former Usurper front-man is free to take things in whatever direction he wants with his new band. On his second album that means that even if Rick Scythe and his band-mates have a release on their hands that is 100% fueled by full-out rage (it's every bit an ugly, hate-infested album kiddies) somehow, and yeah it does sound odd I realize, the group is able to do an experiment or two and stretch their sound out to include some rock and roll! True, black n' roll isn't some new, just discovered, creature of the night. It's been around in various shapes and forms for some time so "Subterranean Steel" is not some kind of groundbreaking album. What it is though is one bad-ass album that initially offered up the appealing combination of raw thrash and primitive black metal, but ended up delivering so much more then it promised! When was the last time that happened? As it is coming at you with ugly thrash and demonic black metal, which is made all the better thanks to the album's unassuming production job, this Chicago group's sophomore release is not meant for the casual metal fan. "Subterranean Steel" will be more appealing to the metal fans out there who always wished that Slayer was more like Venom and that Venom was more like Deströyer 666. If you're the kind of person that laid awake at night pondering those kinds of extreme musical car-wrecks then this might just be the kind of band to answer your prayers. Look for "Subterranean Steel" to drop in mid-September.

Hëssler – Comes With The Territory

Self-Release/Independent
2012

It was a year or so again when Chicago's Hëssler dropped their "Bad Blood" EP. What a difference a year made! Is this really the same band? For the most part yes. Unless I'm mistaken only Frankie Snakes Stripada (lead/rhythm guitar and vocals) and Eric Michaels (bass and vocals) are new to Hëssler. They join returning member's Lariyah Daniels (lead vocals), Igz Kincaid (lead/rhythm guitar and vocals) and Marcus Cox (drums and vocals). Last time around I almost had the impression that "Bad Blood" was the sound of a patchwork band. With these new players added on there is more of a sense of stability and continuity for these Windy City rockers. Does that mean the band has changed direction musically? In a way you could say so. The band's sound is still out of place in the modern world of metal. It's dated. There's still a lot of eighties metal influences swirling around in the mix. I still get the Lita Ford, Lee Aaron, Doro and Bitch vibes. You can't help but think that Lariyah Daniels and company keep a huge stack of eighties metal LPs lying around as inspiration. It's not just those female oriented bands that spring to mind though. Motörhead, Accept, W.A.S.P. Scorpions, AC/DC and other seventies/eighties acts creep in here and there into the sound. So yeah, it's still a style of metal that's a bit "outdated". But the good news is that pop/punk feeling I got with "Bad Blood" is almost gone. The only reminder of it is the constant use of gang vocals. That does get a little tiring after awhile. Maybe by the next album they will have figured out that a little goes a long way with that sort of thing. Let's hope so. Meanwhile the band has added in new little touches that really threw me the first time around. Instead of moving forward with their sound on the new album the band choose to look backwards for inspiration. In no way would I ever imply that these Chicago rockers strike the same cords as these greats, but it's fairly obvious from the first spin that Hëssler drew upon bands like Judas Priest and Iron Maiden for inspiration. Especially when it comes to the twin guitar attacks of Igz and Frankie! Those are straight out of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden albums! "Comes With The Territory" draws from eighties metal and the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene. I know that sounds crazy, but it's true. The more times I spin this disk the more I pick up on everyone from Raven to the Tygers Of Pan Tang! It's subtle of course, but it's there nonetheless. "Comes With The Territory" is the sound of a young band emulating their heroes. The band might still have a long way to go as far as creating their own sound, but when you hear the leap from "Bad Blood" to this (and in only a year!) you can't help but envision their next album being a stone cold killer! "Comes With The Territory" is a really good album from a completely unknown band. Truthfully, if I hadn't read a review of this album at Sleaze Roxx first I wouldn't have even known it came out. It just about slipped through the cracks. One brief listen to it's samples though was all it took for me to go out and buy the album last week. Since it's been in my possession I've probably listened to it 3-4 times so it is a good heavy metal release and one that I'm glad to recommend!


http://www.hesslerchicago.com/


http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=H%C3%ABssler-Bad+Blood