Free Metal Monday: Hells Headbash Part 2

Hells Headbangers has this awesome 30+ track compilation available for free and you can you can find it here. Along with music from some of my key faves like Acid Witch, October 31 and High Spirits this utterly wicked comp. includes unreleased upcoming tracks from Satanic Warmaster, Profanatica, Abysmal Lord, Archgoat, Nyogthaeblisz, Bonehunter, Demonic Christ, Embalmer and Evil Army! All of which just makes me say "Wow!" as this is one rage-worthy download if ever there was one!! And yes, I do love that cover artwork!!!! Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!

Free Metal Monday: Hells Headbangers-Compilation vol. 7

Home to such acts as High Spirits, Witch Cross, Tiger Junkies and Midnight (all of which, besides being  fave moments of mine/bands we've covered here at HMTM, are included on this wicked awesome digital compilation!) Hells Headbangers is a label that covers a lot of ground (genre-wise) not only with it's roster of artists, but on track-wise on "Compilation vol. 7". This freebie is simply the latest cool compilation from this very cool label and besides the already mentioned four acts this 21-track release features the likes of October 31, Children Of Technology, Nunslaughter, Cemetery Lust, Evilnight, Nocturnal Graves and Zemial! You can find it here: http://hellsheadbangers.bandcamp.com/album/free-compilation-vol-7  and, if that's not enough excitement for you, you can preview/download the previously released compilations here: http://shop-hellsheadbangers.com/freeoffers.asp

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

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