Hibria-Hibria

Test Your Metal Records
2015

Formed in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul in 1996, Hibria is a heavy/speed/power metal band that is fronted by Iuri Sanson and influenced by groups as diverse as Metallica, Iron Maiden, Pantera and even Deep Purple! In 1997 Hibria released it's first demo entitled "Metal Heart" and since then the group's ever-expanding catalog has grown to include one other demo, a single, a split release, a live album, a video, and a handful of full-length studio albums!! The self-titled "Hibria" is actually album number five for this Brazilian band that also features guitarists Abel Camargo & Renato Osorio, bassist Benhur Lima, and drummer Eduardo Baldo. It follows 2013's "Silent Revenge" and with 11-tracks in all it offers more than enough metallic thrills to keep your blood pumping and your heart racing! Custom-crafted and geared towards fans of (uptempo) heavy/power metal and (aggressive) technical speed metal, "Hibria" is a nice way to get your rage on without having to even step foot outside! This one is nice and heavy and it's got wicked leads, catchy choruses and everything else that you love about tried & true classic heavy metal. "Hibria" is well-worth tracking down and in case it isn't obvious enough this CD comes with my highest recommendation! 

Hibria-Silent Revenge

AFM Records
2013

Looking for modern power metal? If so Brazilian Metal band Hibria should suite your tastes. Founded in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul / Brazil back in 1996, with their 2004 debut album, "Defying The Rules", receiving (well-deserved) high-praise from both the public and the press (including here at Heavy Metal Time Machine),  Hibria's latest release is the very definition of modern power metal. Lead by a talented front-man in Iuri Sanson (no complaints when it comes to his set of lungs) the band has become well-loved in their native country as well as in Japan where they take their dedication to bands seriously. It's easy enough to understand why this sort of band would inspire that kind of blind allegiance as power metal like this remains highly respected outside of the states. You'd think that a band like this would also be embraced by Europe, but maybe it's simply a case of there being way too many good native bands there that a band from Brazil just can't break on through. Either way this band who, in addition to their lead vocalist, is down to just one other original member in guitarist Abel Camargo offer up technically sound modern power metal that is just fine and dandy. Why then does it strike me as being somewhat blah? There is the truth of the matter (that I'm not a big fan of European-style power metal), but this band, while you'd think they would be making waves in Europe, are more traditional power metal then the usual likes you'd expect to see signed up to AFM Records. But, the band has what I'd describe as more skill then style. Or at least on this album. While I did not review their debut album personally (that was all Metal Mark) I've heard it and it sure seems as if something happened to the band between album number one and this release, album number four. It's like the independent spirit is gone for these guys and it's been replaced with a modern sound and a modern production that on one hand is improved, but on the other hand it's all flash and no substance.  Fans of modern power metal could do much worse then this release, but if you're looking for more of an urgent and hungry sound then I'd hunt down their debut.

The seven best hard rock/metal bands of the last seven years

Okay, to celebrate the seventh blogiversary I commited to coming up with a list of what I think are the seven best bands of the last seven years. So that allows us back to mid 2005. My task is selecting what seven hard rock metal bands have produced the best music since then. There were some bands who started that time period well, but have since broken up and that ended their chances (Ogre and Byzantine fall in this cateogry). There were the bands that did something great in the early part of the seven year time period, but  have not followed it up (Acid King, Celtic Frost). So here are my final choices in no real order.

 Ufomammut-This Italian outfit plays a combination of experimental/doom/stoner/noise and they have just gotten better and better with each album. They released my favorite album of 2010 and their current album is my favorite of 2012 so far.

Sigh-I have trouble thinking of Sigh as being a veteran outfit, but with more than 20 years in the business they are. Their sound hasn't as much changed over the years as it has evolved. I enjoy their earlier material, but I am mesmerized by their more recent efforts.

Between the buried and me-A prog band? What was I thinking? Sure, these guys have the technical skills, but the important thing is they put the rock into progressive rock and they are heavy to boot. It's also possible that they have not yet reached their peak.

Admiral Browning-Yes, I know you've probably never heard of them. They are a Maryland trio who play doom/stoner/progressive instrumentals. They are amazing and really mix up the tones and sounds.

Iron Maiden-What? This isn't the 80's, what kind of suck-up fanboy are you, Metal Mark? Stick with me here. Now granted Maiden's output isn't as frequent as they once were. This seven year period has seen them release A matter of life and death (great, one of their best and best album of 2006), The Final Frontier was a top five in it's year plus add in Flight 666 and En Vivo! and you see and hear a band that's still one of the best going.

Hibria-Come on, Metal Mark the list is almost over and not one younger retro-thrash or retro-classic metal or retro-something. Okay, how about Hibria. Unfortunately their "Defying the rules" album falls about eight months before the cutoff, but their other albums are just as good. I could pick someone like Municipal Waste or Enforcer who have done a good job of channeling the vibe of old school metal. However Hibria do that plus they combine classic metal and power metal plus they manage to develop some of their own identity as well.

Gypsy Pistoleros/Gypsy Pistolero-What no glam bands on this list? Easily the best glam band in recent years. Creative, energetic and catchy. The only downside is they have really suffered from being unable to keep a stable line-up.


There you go. Love it, hate it, add own list.

Forgotten Gems-Hibria-The skull collectors

I remember around 2005 or 2006 a friend passed on an extra copy of a disc called "Defying the rules" by some band called Birbria. Eventually I gave it a listen and was shocked. It was a mix of Helloween, Gamma Ray, Iron Maiden, Dio and others. It was also pretty spectacular and they showed some real poise for it being a debut LP. Most people think it's their best album to date. So why then did pick their follow-up to highlight? Hey, good question and here are two answers-A) This album doesn't get as much recognition as "Defying the rules" and B)I prefer the "The skull collectors". That last answer surprises me because I didn't think they could that they could surpass "Rules" but they did. This album is everything that the previous album was-heavy, slick, sometimes fast. However this time around there are no gaps, every ounce of the music is tight. The pace changes are automatic, there is no hesitation because everything is right on. They take the power of classicmetal and merge it with European style power metal. It's is definitely album that gets even better with each play. It's only a shame that the cover doesn't live up to the level of the music. They did another album last year, but I have yet to hear it.