Free Metal Monday: Over the Top (Various Recordings)

Self-Release/Independent
2015

 
I've got Paul Rote to thank for this band. He aptly described this San Antonio, Texas band as The Godz meet Black Sabbath and as I type this up small piece up I've got "Trailer Park Queen" playing in the background and man alive(!)  I just can't get enough of these stone cold rockers! Why am I only now hearing about this band? And what's more why isn't this band a big hit? This is retro-hard rock/stoner doom rock at it's absolute best! A four-piece band lead by bassist/vocalist Jason Chapman and featuring the mad skills of guitarists Jeff Nettles & Matt Brown and drummer Ryan Gonzales, Over the Top not only offers cool original material for free over at their Bandcamp page, but the group also does a bang-up job covering "Strange Ways" by KISS! Originally appearing on KISS's 1974 album, "Hotter than Hell", "Strange Ways". was written by Ace Frehley and it sounds groovy as F**K in Over the Top's hands! As with Over the Top's original compositions it's free to download and it makes for a nice listen on this Monday morning. Enjoy!

Ascalon- Ascalon

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Differing sources have this three-track either coming out in 2013 or 2015. Either way Paul Rote (who I enthusiastically follow on bandcamp) had it right when he wrote of this Manchester, UK band's self-titled demo:"...I had every record that sounded like this. Metal Church , Savatage ,Omen , Axewitch , Oz , Killer and on and on and on". This is traditional/power metal four-piece is yet again another up and coming band looking at the past for inspiration. What sets them apart from the rest of the pact though would be their thrash leanings and the fact that they already have a bit of credibility to their name thanks to a 2012 split that they did with Asomvel, Eliminator and Wytch Hazel. As the demo is less than a cup of crappy coffee at Starbucks this three-track EP seems like a real no-brainer for fans of N.W.O.T.H.M. and the like...