Significant Point-Attacker 7" EP

Infernö Records
2018

Formed in early 2011 by guitarists Kazuki Kuwagaki and Gou Takeuchi (ex-Chainsoul Blood), Japanese heavy metal/speed metal band Significant Point will release it's first 7" EP, "Attacker", on March 15th. It is a two-track recording ("Attacker" and "Danger Zone") that effectively combines elements of traditional heavy metal, shred guitar, N.W.O.B.H.M. (Judas Priest and Iron Maiden influences), and 80's speed metal into a style that is highly-contagious! Preceded in life by a 2014 demo ("Attacker!") and last year's "Live In Tokyo" album, "Attacker" features the services of drummer Itormentor (Evil, Lurking Fear) while lead vocals come courtesy of Fumiya Abe. With truly sick twin guitar solos, smashing drumming, and some awesome (if also semi-aggressive!) lead vocals, Significant Point has all of the tools necessary to be the next big thing in N.W.O.T.H.M. Let's just hope that this slick single leads to a full-length album.

Solitude-Reach For The Sky

Test Your Metal Records
2016

Solitude is a twenty year old heavy metal band that is lead by Sacrifice's Akira Sugiuchi. Not to be confused with the half dozen or so other band's with the exact same moniker, this version of Solitude could easily be seen as Japan's answer to Motörhead....if not for the slight N.W.O.B.H.M influences! Originally released in the summer of 2015 by Spiritual Beast (lead singer Akira Sugiuchi's Japanese label!), "Reach for the Sky" is Solitude's second full-length album and the group's third overall recording since first forming in 1996. This heavy-rockin' album serves as the seven year follow-up "Brave the Storm" and it features a great production job courtesy of Akira Sugiuchi and Fuyuhiko Inui.  The eight-song album was mixed by Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg (Bullet and Crucified Barbara) and it is now seeing a proper release here in the states thanks to good folks over at Test Your Metal Records. Guitarist Shingo Ida, bassist Tohru Nishida (Sacrifice), and drummer Takamasa "Mad" Ohuch (5X, D.T.F.M., Superblood, ex-Anthem, ex-Black Hole) round things out on "Reach for the Sky" and there are some mammoth moments on this disc where bands like Raven, Tank, and even Venom come to mind! Toss in some obvious love for Saxon and a touch or two of Judas Priest and you have a surefire winner on your hands! "Reach for the Sky" is due out on November 25th so be sure to mark your calendar.

Breeze Least-Breeze Least

Shadow Kingdom Records
2016

Blood-red rare(!) eighties/neoclassical heavy metal from Japan. That's about all there is to this recently-released (digital-download only) re-issue from the wonderful folks over at Shadow king Records. Where it is exactly that they dug this mysterious gem up from I'll never know, but here's the scoop all the same. Preceded by a 1985 three-track demo, "Breeze Least" was the atmospheric debut from this obscure Japanese metal band that has (appropriately-enough) been described as a cross between Merciful Fate's "Melissa" and Yngwie Malmsteen's "Rise Force". With a run-time that clocks in at over 48 minutes in length(!) the 7-track "Breeze Least" was originally put out on 12" vinyl in 1986 (and as an independent release to boot!), but somewhere along the way this cult band lost the master tapes. That's a real shame, but at least we can all enjoy the band's self-titled release in digital format. For those of you who might be interested in the track listing (because you know why not?) I've posted it below. To that end I've also put in a one time grading system. It's easy enough to understand. One * symbol is decent, two * symbols means good, three *'s means it's great and then four * symbols translates to "Hot damn! That's some smoking awesome shit there!".  
 

1. Breeze Least ***
2. Must be Crush **
3. Dolphin Tradition *
4. Damnation ****
5. Gate Tower ***
6. Caprice No. 9 - Dread to Death ***
7. Not the Hold**



As a side note, "Breeze Least" also contains elements of epic and speed metal as well as slight
nods of appreciate towards the likes of (early) Van Halen and mid-late seventies Kiss.

Blaze-The Rock Dinosaur

High Roller Records
2014

Having enjoyed the heck out of Blaze's 2007 self-titled debut album, which was reissued in 2012 by High Roller Records with an additional bonus track in the form of "Night Walker" (see link below for my coverage of said album), I had high expectations for this 6-track EP. Thankfully I was not let down! Japan's Blaze, who should not be confused with the other Blaze who also hail from Japan (confusing I realize), are a Osaka-based hard rock/heavy metal band who have been going at it since 1998. Other then the 2007 full-length album and a 2001 single called "See the Light" (from which the above mentioned track "Night Wolf" was taken) this is as far as this four-piece act has gotten. Speaking of which, the band is lead by Wataru Shiota and, other then drummer Takashi "Bikky" Funabiki, the same line-up has been in place since the band's formation. Besides lead singer Wataru Shiota, whose vocals really suite the band's fun take on all things eighties* (even if they can be a bit uneven at times), you've also got original members Hisashi "Q" Suzuki** (guitars) and Kenichi Kuwahara. (bass). Together with the band's (third overall) drummer Takashi "Bikky" Funabiki these three musicians take a stab at relighting a (much-needed) fire under the butt of today's stale hard rock/heavy metal scene. So what if it takes a band like Blaze looking backwards (as far as their influences) to forge forward? The second opener "One Way Flight" kicks in you're likely to find yourself fondly remembering why eighties hard and heavy metal kicked so much ass in the first place while also realizing that Blaze has all the right tools as their disposal to easily blend right in with today's scene. The band's sound is tight while retaining enough of a carefree attitude to make tracks like "Shed Light on Dark", "Right In White Light", "Underground Heroes" and "The Going Gets Rough" really rock! This one should feel right at home in the collections of those who like honest-to-goodness, no-frills, hard rock/heavy metal with a homegrown vibe. Then again, I would especially recommend this 6-track EP to those people who, like me, still reminisce about the days of old when most good hard rock and heavy releases were still found on LP and cassette!

*The first name that comes to mind when listening to Blaze is the Scorpions. The band almost comes across as a Japanese version of the the Scorpions as (perhaps) envisioned by a younger version of Loudness.

**When talking about the band's first (and so far only) full-length release guitarist Hisashi Suzuki had this to say (as far as the band's influences and what drives Blaze): "I do love the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal, that sound is in my blood. Bands like Urchin, High Treason, J.J.'s Powerhouse, Marquis De Sade. Besides, I like almost all British rock of the 1960's and 1970's, also some beat and traditional folk. And I like many early 1980's European bands. Of course, I like the Scorpions. My favorite guitarist is Michael Schenker. I like all UFO albums with Michael and the first two albums from M.S.G. I also like Brian Robertson, Andy Powell, Rory Gallagher and more. Though I respect Uli Roth, I can not play like him. As for the Scorpions, my favorite albums are "In Trance" and "Virgin Killer"."

http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=blaze

Church of Misery-Thy Kingdom Scum

Metal Blade Records / Rise Above Records
2013

What better day is there then Sunday to go to church? No, we're not taking about God's holy place here and you won't be hearing any glory-bound choirs with this Japanese act. Rather thee church...the Church Of Misery is a religion in and off itself! For those that don't know the name then perhaps a bit of explanation would be in order. Don't even consider the darkness that is, style-wise, at the heart of this doom-ridden metal act. That, in and of itself, isn't mainstream metal, but it's not that unexpected either. What sets this band apart from other Sabbath fanatics is their lyrical obsession with serial killers and mass murders! While even that might not be all that unusual, given how heavy metal has long had a reputation of obsessing over serial killers and murders in general, with Church Of Misery it's taken to a much higher plain. Before we delve into the darkness that is "Thy Kingdom Scum" though I did promise a bit of back-story. The band was founded back in 1995 by former Salem member/bass guitarist Tatsu Mikami. While Salem played thrash (and reportedly good thrash at that!) Tatsu wanted more creative freedom to explore other genres of his liking including doom metal and doom rock.With Church Of Misery in place Tasu Mikami could look towards bands like Black Sabbath and Saint Vitus for inspiration. Growing up Tatsu Mikami had embraced heavy metal and thrash, but he was also into the likes of Blue Öyster Cult and underground 60's/early 70's heavy rock like May Blitz, High Tide, Gun, November and Leaf Hound. If you're scratching your head over those last few acts you're not alone as they were new to me as well. All that matters though is that Tasu wanted his new project to reflect his personal musical interests so in 1995, with the help of  Tomohiro Nishimura (guitar), Hideki Shimizu (drums) and Kazuhiro Asaeda (vocals), Church Of Misery started looking to make a name for themselves. In 1996 the band would release their first demo, "ADV.1996", and from there this Japanise act would continue to build up their reputation as being one of the finest post-Sabbath doom-lovin' bands out there. Sure, I'm skipping over a lot of history (and quite a few line-up changes!) with this band by going straight from their demo to this new release, but what's really important here is these 7-tracks that stand before us. With "Thy Kingdom Scum" the familiar sound of Church Of Misery is intact although, in a splendid way of course, the band sounds even more so free of restrictions and just let things unfold in a natural fashion. It's still heavy and that doom metal backside isn't going anywhere, but with this new album it seems as if the band approached things in a very laid back kind of fashion. Of course that's as laid back as you can be when your subject matter covers the likes of Dennis Rader aka the B.T.K. killer! All always these guys pull no punches and are not very shy about their chosen subject matter! Overall this new slab of chilling doom metal is solid and a sign that there is much more for this band to tap into. "Thy Kingdom Scum" should please fans of the group as well as anyone who happens to stumble upon Tatsu Mikami's labor of love!