The Kut-Valley Of Thorns

Criminal Records/Cargo Records
2018

The brainchild of vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Princess Maha, The Kut is a female alternative rock/grunge band that will release it's full-length debut on May 4th, 2018. With ten tracks in all, "Valley of Thorns" is a strong release that finds Princess Maha handling all of vocals and instruments. In a live setting (which more than likely offers a sweet sonic assault to the eardrums!) it is Princess Maha and a few of her female friends. With that piece of information out of the way, "Valley Of Thorns" deserves it's time in the spotlight. Let's take a look at the tracks one at a time. Starting things off we have the single "Mind Games" (see official video below). Falling somewhere between Melissa Auf der Maur's first solo album and a poor man's Hole, this three minute plus number wouldn't be my first choice to open an album, but it is decent enough to get the job done. From there we jump straight into the punk rock and roll track, "Hollywood Rock n Roll". Now this is more like it! Clocking in at just shy of three minutes, "Hollywood Rock n Roll" is a damn fun number that I could easily see G N' R covering! It's short and it's sweet. Slightly more punk than dirty rock and roll, this wicked little jam would have been my first choice to open the album. Next up we have "No Trace"". No doubt inspired by the band Hole, this one runs close to four minutes in length. It's a so-so number that is followed by "I Want Your Maniac". This one has L7 written all over it. From there we move on to "Rush Hour". Weirdly enough this rock song reminded me of Chrissie Hyde. As someone who likes her solo work and the cool stuff that she did with  The Pretenders, "Rush Hour" offered a nice change of pace. "I am Vain" is next and we are treated to L7-styled grunge rock that almost crosses over into heavy metal territory. The Hole meets The Murderdolls/Marilyn Manson track, "Alekhine's Gun" comes next. Personally I've got mixed feelings about this one, but I honestly see a lot of people liking this twisted track. Moving forward we have "X-Ray Eyes". Here we have classic Hole merging together with Soul Asylum and (early) Goo Goo Dolls! That might sound bad on paper, but in real life it is a vintage-sounding rocker that most certainly would have charted back in the day! "Bad Man" comes on next and it is a blast!! Take Motörhead and cross it with The Runaways. Next up you'll want to give it a bit of a modern vibe. Finnish it off with some harsh vocals that take a step or two the punk/hardcore scene and you get a number like "Bad Man". Towards the end this heavy rocker cranks up the urgency and the anger! All in all this one slays!! The last track is called "Mario". This one starts off with some love for Lemmy and the boys before it turns into a grunge-light rocker with a rather boring chorus. Ultimately it never really goes anywhere. While that is a shame, "Valley Of Thorns" has more going for it than against it. There are some fantastic riffs on this album and Princess Maha is a killer lead vocalist. As someone that just loves powerful women who know how to rock the living daylights out the stage and studio, Princess Maha's alter-ego gets major props for their first full-length album. This one gets a 7 out of 10 with the added bit about how I simply cannot wait to hear more!!

Steel Machine-Purifying Fire

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Lead by vocalist/guitarist Timo Takala (Septure), Finland's Steel Machine previously appeared on this site back in mid-March of 2017 (link). Here it is nearly one year later and this (Motörhead, Tank, and Carnivore influenced!) hard rock/heavy metal/speed metal band is back on the attack and meaner than ever before! Having just loved their 2016 debut EP, "Burning Valves", I jumped at the chance to download this 5-track release. Within the first few moments of opener "Spearhead" I knew that this EP was going to be something really special. By the time the riff-rocking title track closed things out, "Purifying Fire" not only proved my earlier suspicions, but completely blew the hell out of my heavy metal-loving heart!! Whether it is "To the Top" (live Motörhead meets early Tank?) or the almost-Metallica like "Beggars and Liars"*, Steel Machine's second EP is just too damn good to pass up! Released on March 2nd (making it blazing hot to the touch!), "Purifying Fire" is a must have for anyone that loves (raw & real) heavy metal/speed metal, Motörhead, and/or the Belgium band Killer!! With bassist Sebastian Bergman (Chevalier, Decaying, Sodotory) and drummer Juha Forsström (Brainspoon) rounding out the line-up, 2018 should be the year in which some record label realizes just how fucking epic this metal trio is. Until that inevitable moment happens, keep on rocking and rolling Steel Machine.


*As in pre-Black album Metallica.

Free Metal Monday: Braindëth-Cock Rock & Roll

Independent/Self-Release
2018

Heavy metal/rock and roll band Braindëth hails from Massachusetts and is fronted by a guy name Count Ingteeth. The aptly-titled "Cock Rock & Roll" is the first EP from Count Ingeeth and crew. What it lacks in production quality* it more than makes up from thanks to it's love of both Motörhead** and old-school funk rock/metal! Released back on February 18th and available for free at the above link, Braindëth's four-track EP is wild & crazy like the band members themselves!! Hopefully this is just the first of many great recordings to come from this hard & heavy rock/metal band.


*"Cock Rock & Roll" sounds as if it was recorded live in in a local dive bar!

**The title cut alone is straight-up Motörhead worship!

Piss River-Piss River

The Sign Records
2018

Let's face the facts: Piss River is quite a moniker for a band. It is definitely one of those names that will make people stand up and take notice. It's not a question of will they look your way (and subsequently tune in to what you have to offer), but rather it is a question of what will you do now that you have their undivided attention? For this (N.W.O.B.H.M.-influenced & punk rock-infused) Swedish hard & heavy/heavy rock quartet the answer seems obvious enough. Ladies and gents, boys and ghouls, the 12-track "Piss River" is here to rock your head off and steal your heart! Lead by an intoxicating front-woman named Sofia Nilsson and comprised of members Auktion, Skitkids and Warchild, the four members of Piss River toss out all the rules of rock and roll with their (damn fantastic!) self-titled debut. Influenced as much by bands like Girlschool & Motörhead as they are L7 and The Gits, Piss River plays up to their (some-what provocative) name while simultaneously making sure that the music is incredibly-addictive and highly-memorable! To go along with the smashing riffs and cool as can be choruses, "Piss River" is chock full of attitude and grit. Thanks to the effort of singer Sofia Nisson, "Piss River" is also punchy and downright fun! In fact there isn't a dull moment to be found on "Piss River". In addition to their own original material (all of which I thoroughly enjoyed!), Piss River (vocalist Sofia Nisson, guitarist Björn Bergström, bassist Viktor Boström, and drummer Albin Bilar) perform a cover "Police Car" by Larry Wallis (ex-Motörhead). Originally released in the seventies, "Police Car" is given a great makeover by Piss River. The track feels right at home on this lyrically-charged release. Now, as far as the band's original compositions are concerned? Like I said earlier, "Piss River" is devoid of filler material. Starting off with the punk rock meets Girlschool foot stomper "Desolation", "Piss River" is one cool cut after another. If you add lots of beer and some tasty snack food, "Piss River" is like the best party you have ever been to! This is a rock and roll album for punks and metalheads, party animals and all-out maniacs!! By the time you get to album's closer ("Bad Reputation") you are left with nothing but a smile and the overwhelming desire to do it all again. Sure, "Piss River" isn't due out until the end of April, but it is never too early to start hyping the next great thing in all of rock!

Kings Will Fall-Thrash Force.One

Independent/Self-Release
2018

Kings Will Fall is a up-and-coming thrash n' death metal band from Italy that is fronted by Fabian Jung. Formed in 2013 by drummer Lukas Gross and bassist Daniel Vanzo, Kings Will Fall made it's debut in 2015 with the extended-EP, "Death Comes Easy". With eight original compositions plus a choice cover of Motörhead's "We Are Motörhead", the aptly-titled "Thrash Force. One" is the full-length debut for this uncompromising metal group that hails from Sarntal in South Tyrol. Guitarist Rene Thaler rounds things out for this (old school thrash metal-worshiping) four-piece band. In addition to eighties and (early) nineties thrash metal (see list below), "Thrash Force. One" showcases a gritty, street metal-legit, band that isn't afraid to lean on Motörhead & Tank for support. Toss in some punk-inspired vocals from Kings Will Fall's great lead singer (you are the man Fabian Jung!) and you have a sweet as hell album that knows how to rock out hard in the middle of one righteous pit! I just know that this (kicking!) thrash n' death album will be getting plenty of spins from me in the future!!




Kings Will Fall's influences:
Sodom, Slayer, Kreator, Testament, Overkill, Exodus, Destruction, Anthrax, Megadeth, Metallica(in the 80's), Insanity Alert, Pantera, Flotsam & Jetsam, Nuclear Assault, Toxic Holocaust, and Sepultura (in the 80's and early 90's)

Tricounty Terror-Revenge

Emp Label Group
2017


Tricounty Terror (vocalist Tessa, lead guitarist Kelsey, rhythm guitarist Erica, bassist Cera, and drummer Andi) is a Texas-based group that just dropped "Revenge" last month. By the looks of it this eight-track album serves as the band's studio debut. If that is indeed the case, "Revenge" is a hell of an introduction for these hard & heavy rockin' ladies! On "Revenge" the listener is treated to a (whiskey-soaked) mixture of punk metal and Southern rock/metal. Toss in a nod or two of appreciation to Lemmy and Angus Young and you have one album that is a total blast from start to finish! For the five fierce ladies in Tricounty Terror it's all about being as loud and rowdy as humanly possible. Fast, furious, and real as fuck, "Revenge" also showcases a well-tuned band that isn't afraid to cut through all the bullshit and just ROCK IT! There's nothing phony about these five musicians or the ass kicking sound that they produce. Much like Motörhead before them, Tricounty Terror is the right kind of band to unite the punks and the metalheads.  Available wherever righteous punk rocking metal like this can be found, "Revenge" is a album that you are going to want to play Loud & Proud!!

Warcall-Invaders

Plan B Music
2017

Warcall is a Canadian thrash metal band that is comprised of Gord (vox, bass), Mat (guitar, backing vox), and Phil (drums). Initially formed way back in 1997 and originally going by the name Plan B, Warcall opted for the moniker change in 2007 and never looked back. As of 2017 the group has four full-length albums to it's name with their latest, "Invaders", serving as my first introduction to these hard thrashin' metal maniacs. Up front I should probably say that promo material sold Warcall as a mix of Motörhead and Dissection. That was soon followed by the claim that Warcall's new disc was also inspired by the likes of Iron Maiden, Metallica, and Slayer. As a longtime fan of all things Lemmy, Iron Maiden, Slayer, and (pre-Black era) Metallica all of this chatter certainly caught my attention. Having now listened to this album I am happy to report that all of points are valid. From Motörhead to Dissection, "Invaders" is a tale of many different influences merging together to make 10 tracks of blistering thrash rock. Not only do those influences include all of the acts listed above, but I can pick up on bands like Exodus, Prong, C.O.C. ("Animosity" and forward), Sepultura, Anthrax, Cro-Mags, and (the three-piece years of) Sodom. All of these cool influences fit nicely together and help to make "Invaders" a disc that should appeal to fans of heavy-rocking thrash. Ultimately lead vocalist Gord and company transformed me into an instant fan thanks to their new disc. Ah, scratch that noise. With it's thick bass lines, riff-happy guitars, and rock-steady drums, "Invaders" has turned me into a Warcall fanatic overnight! Maybe it will do the same thing to some of you.....

Knifer-Knifer

Rogues Realm Records
2017

Formed sometime back in 2016 and self-described as "Medium voltage rock'n'roll",  Brisbane, Australia's Knifer is lead by a front-man known only as FC and comprised of musicians that have ties to the doom metal band Zodiac. The four song demo "Knifer" is this band's studio debut and at the end of the working day it gets my ultimate stamp of approval!  Recorded, mixed and mastered by Christopher Brownbill at Underground Audio, "Knifer" is the righteous and reckless sound of a (Motörhead-infused) down & dirty speed metal/rock band that likes to drink, party and rock the F**K out! Naturally that is right up my alley! Chances are pretty good that others will feel the same way (especially if loud & proud heavy metal and/or heavy rock is your preferred drug of choice!). Song titles include "The Bottle", "Conspiracy of Silence", "The Snake", and "Satisfaction". To purchase a digital download of this demo simply click on this link. If you would like buy a cassette copy of "Knifer" be sure to head over here. At only $6 a tape, "Knifer" is a real  steal of a deal! If you ask me it also makes for the perfect graduation gift for any high school kid that sees Lemmy as their god! Off hand I know of at least three kids that fit that definition. While there you might as well order a cassette copy of "Source". Of course that is just a suggestion from one heavy metal fan to another....

Sheer Mag-Compilation (I, II, & III)

Wilsuns RC/Static Shock Records
2017

Sheer Mag is a (legit) rock and roll band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania that is lead by Christina Halladay. Active since at least 2014, "Compilation (I, II, & III)" combines the group's first three 7"s onto one full-length recording. It's available on LP (here) and in digital format (here). As can be witnessed in the video below for the righteous "Nobody's Baby", Sheer Mag is primarily a vehicle for the remarkable Christina Halladay. She is a punk rock warrior that delivers some much needed social justice in what is a very unjust world! With the background music splinting the difference between old school punk rock and late 70's classic rock (there's a lot of love shown for bands like Thin Lizzy and AC/DC!), Sheer Mag is a guitar-heavy unit that is unlike anything else out there. My only complaint is that I am late to this rock and roll party...

  

Böneyard-Below Mediocrity

Witches Brew
2017

Formed back on October 31st of 2015 and featuring two musicians that have ties to the Greek death metal outfit Foul Entry (vocalist Teethsmasher and bassist Defouler), Böneyard is a blackened street metal/punk speed metal band that seems to share my deep affection  for "Welcome To Hell"-era Venom, Israel's Promiscuity and all things Motörhead! What happens when you throw in some mad love for Sweden's Bathory and Gehennah? Obviously enough you end up with "Below Mediocrity". With four original compositions and a cover of  Gehennah's "Decibel Rebel", Böneyard's debut EP can be played several times over before the cops show up to investigate your next-door neighbors noise complaint!! That's right folks. Thanks to the guys in Böneyard (who are not to be confused with the Spanish act that gave us "Fear of a Zombie Planet") you could be kicking out the jams in style while the cops are in the process of kicking down your front door!! Nice. Available as a digital download and on CD, "Below Mediocrity"* is meant to be played as loud as humanly possible! It's a wildly reckless release from a raw and crazy band that also includes guitarist The Witcher and guitarist The Chatterer. And to answer your next question, yes, I do want this CD for my personal collection! I also want to see what else these guys have up their sleeves!!  





*Drums are courtesy of Giorgos Melios (Rapture, ex-Acid Fury)

Alleyway-Let's Get Destroyed

Self-Release/Independent
2016

Based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and inspired by the likes of Motörhead, Venom, and (the) Misfits,  Alleyway is a three-piece band that would be absolutely perfect for your last hooray before heading off to rehab! For band members Andy, Nick, and Dave the perfect party would include (piss-warm) 40 ounces, cold pizza, and lots of smokes. Once you hear "Let's Get Destroyed" you are going to want to book these guys so make sure you have all of that on hand (as well as hard liquor and hard living women!) before reaching for the phone!! With this stumble-drunk release serving as the long-awaited follow-up 2013's "No Last Call", Alleyway is well on their way towards becoming every one's favorite trash metal band.  Be sure to flag down the bandwagon now kids. This party is going to be one for the ages!

PS-Along with "No Last Call", "Let's Get Destroyed" was released on LP. Digital download kids might not care about that, but for us older rock n rollers that is a glorious thing! By mixing vintage punk rock, street metal, raw thrash, and garage rock and roll(!) these three guys have a hell of a good thing going. While I have to wait until I'm paid again (which sucks!), "Let's Get Destroyed" and "No Last Call" will make for good additions to vinyl collection. Sure, I did have to scale it down after the ex-wife ran off and left me with two kids and no health insurance (post-kidney transplant and what not), but it's slowly coming around again. And we all know how much better things sound on vinyl. Right? Right! 

Death of Kings-Hell Comes to Life

Boris Records
2017

Based in Atalanta, Georgia and active since 2009, Death of Kings is a (vintage thrash-infused) traditional heavy metal band that seems to love Motörhead as much as I do! The obvious question now is where have they been all my life? Eh, scratch that. After taking a look at the group's Facebook page it sure looks as if Death of Kings has been tearing up the scene for some time now. Apparently they have also shared the stage with the likes of Morbid Angel, D.R.I, Mastodon, Skeletonwitch, and 3 Inches of Blood. I guess the better question would be "Why am I always the last to know about groups like this?". Having made their studio debut in 2010,  Death of Kings now has two demos, two EPs, a split, and one single to it's name. For some dumb reason this 7" vinyl serves as my first introduction to these thrash-loving merchants of true heavy metal. That is an epic fail on my part so how about if I reach across the aisle and make things right? Due out on March 31st, "Hell Comes to Life" is the latest recording for this (loud & proud) band that is lead by Matt Matson (vocals/guitar). With bassist Scott Price and drummer Amos Rifkin (Spewtilator) anchoring this mean S.O.B with brute force, Death of Kings also features guitarist Matt Kilpatrick from the death metal band Cemetery Filth. This forthcoming release includes the title track and "Hell Patrol". As previously mentioned, Motörhead is a key source of inspiration, but then again so are the bands Exodus, Testament, Slayer, (early) Tank, Kreator, Destruction, (and to a lesser extent) Venom. On the second spin, "Hell Comes to Life" reaffirmed my suspicion that there was some love shown for Seattle's The Accüsed vibes, but I don't think it is intentional. It might just be something as simple as Matt Matson's vocal delivery, but I felt it all the same. Speaking of Death of Kings kick ass front-man, Matt does a stand-up job of getting right after the mic on these two tracks. His vocal style makes "Hell Comes to Life" all the more unrelenting (and dare I even say sinister?) Backed up by his (unholy) heavy metal brothers in arms, Matt Matson grabs hold of the listener and delivers a fierce & fiery sermon on hell's power to rock you from the grave! With a full-length album due out later in the year, I simply cannot wait until Matt delivers a follow-up lesson with the full blessing and support of this (heavy metal worshiping!) thrash-attack band!!

Steel Machine-Burning Valves

Self-Release/Independent
2016

Formed in 2006 and currently lurking about in the Jyväskylä/Helsinki area, Steel Machine is a f**king sweet ass name for this heavy/speed metal band. The three-piece group, which is lead by guitarist/vocalist Timo Takala (Septure) and sports influences like Motörhead, Tank, and Carnivore, has seven releases to it's name. Six of them are demos and "Burning Valves" is the band's first EP. Available to download by heading here, Steel Machine's latest studio output reminds me of the Belgium band Killer. In no way, shape, of form is that a bad thing, "Burning Valves" is also the product of the three listed bands from above (Motörhead, Tank, and Carnivore) and the eighties metal scene & sound. If anything, Timo Takala and his cohorts in crime (bassist Sebastian Bergman and drummer Juha Forsström ) cram all of those sources of inspiration into one hell of a speed metal band that is as hard as it is heavy! With this release serving as my first introduction to Steel Machine, Finland has yet again won me over with it's epic metal scene!! 

Möwer-Möwer

Self-Released/Independent
2017

It's been three years since I last talked about them, but Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's Möwer provide the missing link between Motörhead and noisy punk rock. This two-track recording is the group's latest release and it is meant to kill a bit of time before a full-length album drops. Once that happens (a full-length banger!) then all bets are off as far as I am concerned! In the meantime this band should only be approached with extreme caution. Built by beer drinking speed freaks as a tribute to Lemmy and all things LOUD, "Möwer" is the same way. Approach it with caution because it is a mandatory download! 

Free Metal Monday: White Boy Wasted-Rough Takes

Self-Release/Independent
2017

The Netherlands' White Boy Wasted play a hard & heavy version of speedrock. Members include Sid van Kastel (bass & vocals), Alex Kooy (guitar & vocals), and Ian van Kastel (drums). Released on the 17th of this month, "Rough Takes" is a two-track EP that might just be the first attempt at working in the studio for the trio. Songs include "Caught Up In Scraps" and "Wet Beard Boogie". Primary influences include Motörhead (1st and foremost) and Rose Tattoo (on the down and dirty rock and roll end). Secondary sounds actually coming from two bands that the group has already shared the stage with, Nashville Pussy and Raven. Meanwhile, Zeke and the like fill out the speedrock requirements. From what has been written, White Boy Wasted is the "future of Rock 'N' Roll music". I think I can wrap my head around that idea, but I need a little bit more than just these two choice cuts. With that all said, "Rough Takes" is more than worth the amount of time that it takes to click on the page and name your (own) price.
 

Saturday Singles: The Aftershow-"Kilmister"

Afterlife Music Publishing
2016

The Aftershow is a (killer) new heavy rock/hard rock project from Roxy & Maxine Petrucci. Their debut single, "Kilmister", just came out on December 28th and it finds Roxy (drums) and Maxine (guitar) joined by vocalist Mark Slaughter (Slaughter) and bassist Michael Pisculli. This highly-recommend track (which is available for download on iTunes and Amazon) pays tribute to Motörhead's Lemmy and it is everything that one could hope for given the key players! Hopefully this is more than a one and done deal. 

Free Metal Monday: The Lost Skulls-"Dirty Nasty R'N'R"

Self-Release/Independent
2012

Recorded and mixed in the summer of 2012 by Carl Bouchard (A Perfect Murder), "Dirty Nasty R'N'R" is a free EP from Quebec heavy rock/metal band The Lost Skulls. Along with noted influences like Motörhead, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Queens of the Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Fu Manchu, Doomriders, Death From Above 1979, and post-"Load" Metallica* (to name just a few), The Lost Skulls has (or is it had?) a cool vibe that isn't that far removed from White Zombie/solo Rob Zombie. With this dive-bar worthy band likely inactive now, "Dirty Nasty R'N'R" (which is available for download at this link ) might just be a one and done release, but all the same it really lives up to it's name.....


*The band simply lists Metallica as a influence, but I took it one step further and narrowed it down.

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.

Seax-Speed Metal Mania

Self-Release/Independent
2016

Formed in 2009 by Brazilian guitarist Hel (Aeshma, Helgrid, ex-Infernal Devotion, ex-Fires of Old, ex-Zircon), Seax is a buzz-worthy speed metal band that hails from Worcester, Massachusetts and is currently fronted by vocalist Carmine DeCicco (Black Sabre, ex-Raging Fire). Recorded and mixed by the band's second guitarist, Eli Firicano (Ravage), "Speed Metal Mania" is Seax's third full-length album since 2012 and yes, it is every-bit as wicked cool as the above artwork suggests! In addition to such instant classics as "Leather and Spikes", "Fall to the Hammer", "Nuclear Overdose", and "Possessed by the Axe", Seax's latest (and quite possible greatest?) full-length album has two numbers with the word SPEED in it!! Those two gems would be title track and "Speed Forever" and they actually open and close this (highly-recommended!) 10-track album. They also make "Speed Metal Mania" all that much more fun, but then again so does the self-explanatory (and frankly downright awesome!) "Forged by Metal"! With a run-time of close to 41 minutes(!) and some simply-killer influences that range from Exciter's first two albums to "Kill 'Em All"-era Metallica(!), the recently-released "Speed Metal Mania" is just too good to not pass on to all of our readers. It's packed with all kinds of raw energy and it sports a finger-blistering take on vintage speed metal that is sure to stick to your ribs for weeks on end! All of the performances are all spot on and that goes for Seax's other two members, bassist Mike Bones (Ancient Power) and drummer Derek Jay (ex-Hell Within, ex-Trauma Concert). In the end I cannot think of one good reason to not rave on and on about this fucking awesome album!! I mean sure, one should probably point out the fact that this recording is most definately haunted by the late ghost of Motörhead. But otherwise?