Pulsar-Alien Crusader

Rush of Power Records
2017

Pulsar is a N.W.O.B.H.M.-inspired traditional heavy metal band from Oslo, Norway that "May contain traces of (the bands) Purple Hill Witch and/or Condor vibes". The three-track "Alien Crusader" is the group's first studio recording and while we might not exactly know who plays what, Pulsar's (vintage metal-soaked!) debut is just too golden to pass up! Available as a digital download and as a limited-edition cassette*, "Alien Crusader" recalls the early days of the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement as much as it does mid-seventies proto-metal. Hopefully this band is more than a one and done deal.....  


*Supposedly there are only fifty copies available. Well, lets' make that 49 as I ordered a copy for my own collection yesterday....

Fear Theories-The Predator

Crime Records
2016

Fear Theories is a traditional/power metal quartet that hails from Karmøy/Haugesund (Norway) and has been active since 2010. The band is comprised of rhythm guitarist/vocalist Andreas Tjøsvoll, lead guitarist Ole Sønstabø (Einherjer, ex-Hillbilly Blitzkrieg), bassist Joakim Antonsen and drummer Brage Nygaard and sound-wise this recently-released full-length album picks up where their 2013 debut EP, "So It Begins", left off. Musically-speaking this Norwegian band is all but a reflection of their various influences which include not only bands like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest, but anyone & everyone from Halloween to (mid-period) Metallica! Speaking of the "Kill Em' All" ladies, rhythm guitarist/vocalist Andreas Tjøsvoll sometimes sounds like a beefier (and WAY tougher!) James Hetfield while other times he just sounds a bit too rough & raw.  Then again so does the overall mix on Fear Theories' first album so maybe it's not just the vocals that this Norwegian band has in common with the turds in Metallica! Just like on "...and Justice For All" you can play the game "where's the bass?" with Fear Theories' "The Predator" and for a band that lists Motörhead as one of their primary influences that just isn't good! Despite the fact that this album is being put out on Crime Records the band Fear Theories is still unsigned so poorly mixed recordings like this one are not going to help out that cause. Even so, Fear Theories is a band that I can't help but get behind. With a proper budget and the right kind of producer (ie: one that pushes this band while also playing to their strengths) this four-piece could really put out one hell of a heavy metal release. While they are not quite their in no way would I throw in the towel! All these guys need is few touch ups here and there and we could be looking at another solid Norwegian metal band! 

Lucid Dreams-Build And Destroy

Red Ball Productions
2015

What's this we have here? A new album from Oslo metal band Lucid Dreams? Well thank you God above for this metallic blessing! With Thanksgiving only a few days away it looks as if I will have plenty to be thankful for this year! Oops, wait just a minute. Does anyone out there besides me remember this classy (and yet criminally underrated) Norwegian band? Yes? No? I'm hoping it's the former, but just in case let's set the stage for "Build And Destroy". It was back in late November of 2013 that I reviewed the self-titled debut album from this fucking skilled hard & heavy/melodic metal group. As you can see here I flat out loved that album! I still do!! That release, which eventually made it's way onto my 55 best albums of 2013 list (and for good reason as it took it's cue from everyone from Bon Jovi and Whitesnake to Dio & Iron Maiden!), made me a instant fan of Lucid Dreams and it eventually lead me to interviewing the group. That memorable album also made me appreciate melodic metal all the more and over the past two or so years I've honestly been wondering when we would hear from this lot again again. A few weeks back I got my answer. First it was in the form of some cool mp3s and then one day out of the blue a signed CD showed up. I'd feel like a creep if I didn't thank the band for both versions of their sophomore album, but rest assured as neither one had any bearing whatsoever as to how I feel about "Build And Destroy". As to why it's taken me so long to get this review? The short answer is life. My life has become far too complicated and busy and it's become more of a challenge to carve out time for this blog. With that said, "Build And Destroy" is too good to to be kept all to myself so I all but have to share the news of this album with all of you. Especially as it is so well-written and every bit as damn good as "Lucid Dreams" is! If only all sophomore albums were this great! I mean how many times have you found yourself loving a group's debut album only for their second release to be pure garbage? Black Tide anyone? How about Stranger? Perhaps even Praying Mantis? All three of the bands issued follow-up albums that were nothing compared to their debuts. Talk about sad second albums! But I digress. Let's talk about the album's technical aspects and then we can get on to the overall sound of "Build And Destroy". This eight song release (which was actually unveiled at the beginning of last October) was produced by one of the band's two guitarists, Rune Gutuen (with Henrik Antonsson serving as the group's other guitarist), and mixed and mastered by Fredrik Nordström at Studio Fredman in Sweden. Compared to the band's self-titled debut this release is about 10 minutes shorter, but at around 37 minutes in length it's still a solid enough amount of material to digest. From a production standpoint Lucid Dream's second album sounds impressively smooth even as it retains a familiar & well loved metal edge. Of the eight numbers on "Build And Destroy" (of which there are no duds!) the shortest one would be "Fear No Evil" (a memorable cut that forges 80's melodic metal with catchy hard rock!) at 3:43 while the longest song is the Queensrÿche-infused "Absence Of Innocence" with it's run-time of 6:36. Incidentally these two numbers are tracks 3 and 4 respectively with the melodic metal masterpiece "Wings Of the Night" serving as the disc's opener and "Eye Of The Storm" (a melodic metal take on Iron Maiden!) closing things out. With a two year gap in-between albums it's of little wonder how tight each of the individual tracks are. From both a performance stand-point and actual song construction that is. Just like on their 2013 debut the musicianship and the songwriting on Lucid Dreams' latest release is second to none. The same goes for the vocal work of Fredrik Sindsen (aka Freddy Vain). Once again Fredrik Sindsen (formerly of heavy metal/hard rock band Trendkiller) moves effortlessly between killer hard rock cuts ("Hellbound" anyone?) and the heavier stuff ("High Heeled Devil" and "Shanghai Cyanide") and he helps add a grandiose vibe to what is already a fantastic metal release! "Build And Destroy" is not only a memorable and downright catchy album, but it's energetic and driven by the same kind of sensational solos that used to be so prevalent back in the heyday of hard rock and melodic metal. Keyboard arrangements come courtesy of  Thorleif Østmoe and he is spot on yet again. For once we find a band that is capable of enhancing the music with such things without ruining the overall metal aspect that really helps drives albums like this. And here's the thing. Lucid Dreams new album "Build And Destroy" is as metal as it gets! In fact Lucid Dreams second album might even be heavier than their first one! Sure enough these Norwegian hard & heavy rockers still pull a part of their sound and style from lighter acts such as Whitesnake and there is the same kind of (early) Queensrÿche/Dream Theatre progressive metal here that I enjoyed on their first disc. But here's the real kicker folks. In addition to the hard rock, melodic metal and progressive metal there is some riff-dropping heavy metal goodness to be found on "Build And Destroy"! Usually it takes the form of Iron Maiden-like metal and I still hear some Dio and 80's-era Judas Priest sneaking in. Thankfully though Lucid Dreams part 2 (aka this eight-track must own CD!) works in homages to early Def Leppard, Dokken, and even Europe's undervalued self-titled album! Lucid Dreams are still kings at taking hard rock, melodic metal and the like and jamming in sharp guitar solos and sweeping arrangements! In other words "Build And Destroy" is just like it's predecessor in that it's all things hard rock. melodic metal, progressive metal, and heavy metal as envisioned by a exceptionally talented band! One has to think that sooner or later the world is going to catch on to just how good this band is. With albums like this how could they not?   

Inculter-Persisting Devolution

Edged Circle Productions
2015

Having just covered this Norwegian band yesterday, as promised we now return to the scene of the crime with "Persisting Devolution", Inculter's highly-anticipated debut album. For those of you who were absent on Monday here are three keen observations about this trio that are worth jotting down. Number 1) The three key players that are in charge of this recording are all in their teens. Number 2) This is nut-cracking death thrash of the blackened variety. And finally Number 3)  Inculter are bad ass! OK, number two and number three are really cut from the same clothe, but this power trio is damn good as delivering Brutal music for Brutal people! To be more precious the music of Inculter looks a little like this. Take early Sodom and Destruction and thrash it about with the likes of At War, Venom, (early) Death, Autopsy, Possessed and Morbid Angel. Now finish it off with a double shot of black metal and a line or two of underground thrash and there you have it! Music for madmen and maniacs alike! And here's the real kicker kids! Not only is this destructive slab of brutal death thrash going to see a CD release, but it will see a vinyl one as well! Sadly it does look as if the LP will not be released until sometime in May, but the CD is due to drop on March 27th so there is always that option to tide everyone over! As a fan of all things power trios this young act is on to something promising with their debut album and seeing as these musicians are all still teenagers the growth potential is insane! This is a great first offering from a nice up-and-coming death metal/blackened thrash band and one that I will be hyping for all fans of said genres!

Free Metal Monday: Inculter - Stygian Deluge 7"EP

Edged Circle Productions
2015

Active since 2012, Inculter are a blackened thrash/death metal trio from Norway whose members range in age from 16-19. This Free Metal Monday offering was originally released back in 2013 and it served as Inculter's first studio piece. Now re-released with the bonus track "Demonic Might", "Stygian Deluge" is a brutal example of raw death thrash done right from musicians who were (and still are!) in their teens! And  seeing as I'm planning to cover Inculter's upcoming debut-album, "Persisting Devolution" either later today or early tomorrow I thought what better way is there to share all this fun than to share with all of you this raging 4-track EP? And yes, you are quite welcome for this metallic Monday pick me up! You can download this one for free right here!

Lonely Kamel-Shit City

Napalm Records
2014

Not to be confused with "Sin City", "Shit City" is the new album and destination for Norway's Lonely Kamel. Unlike the album title though "Shit City" is anything but shitty! On album number four Lonely Kamel (sporting one of the coolest monikers out there!) take out rolling paper and have one hell of a "smoke em' if you got 'em lads!" jam feast where "traditional" (as if there is such a thing!) stoner rock get's buried up to it's head before being saturated with the sounds of the seventies. That could mean seventies hard rock as much as it could mean psychedelic rock, doom metal or even raw punk as opener/title cut "Shit City" dictates. Seeing as it's all done in good taste(!) it's all the same in the end right? Yeah, why not. As for the band goes? Let's see you've got Thomas Brenna on vocals & guitar, Lukas Paulsen on guitar & backing vocals, Stian Helle on bass and Espen Nesset drums. And speaking of the band (or at least their lead singer/guitarist), in regards to their fourth effort (jokingly) front-man/ringleader Thomas Brenna say's of "We wanted this record as simple and cheap as possible record". If that's the case then I'd wrangle up these Norwegian desert warriors and find out how they did so much with so little as "Shit City" makes for one bad ass listen! These Norwegians rockers have a rough overcoat that hides some legit talent and as one wonders along the dirty and dusty trails of "Sin City" there is plenty of breathtaking sights to take in! Between the nine tracks offered here you'll partake of not only stoner rock and seventies-infused hard rock (as well as the other tempting treats mentioned previously!), but how about some blues to serve as the night's last round? It's all there and it's been wrapped up nice and neat so that anyone and everyone can partake of the festivities! Thankfully for those folks who are living in the U.S. and/or Canada won't have to wait too long to enjoy all the frills and thrills associated with this new friendship as "Shit City" is due to arrive here around the ninth of September.  As someone who is new to the party that is Lonely Kamel I can honestly say that this upcoming release is a stoner rock smorgasbord and one that I plan to lean-on the next time a "chill out" moment is called for!

https://www.facebook.com/lonelykamel

Bones To Bury-Arising Voice

Duality Records2014

Bones To Bury are a young melodic metalcore band. Not just in the sense that they're relatively new to the scene (early in August of 2013 per the all-too brief bio), but also age-wise. Just look at the picture of these young metalheads who range in age from 18- 20!

 

Of course age isn't always the greatest indication of talent right? I mean we've all seen/heard both old and young bands that flat-out ROCK as well as flat-out SUCK. Thankfully these youngsters (who for some reason make me want to "sing" Skid Row's anthem "Youth Gone Wild"!) fall into that first category more so then the second one! In their brief existence they have already played with the likes of Bleed From Within, Polar, Palm Reader, Stig Vanj Eijk, Infinity, Oslo Faenskap and Blood Red Throne and have issued this, their 4 song debut EP. With a home base listed as being somewhere in the "south of Norway" (Arenda maybe? That's what their Facebook page states here: https://www.facebook.com/BonesToBury) and with influences listed as such (Bring Me The Horizon, Asking Alexandria, Suicide Silence, Periphery, Meshuggah, Whitechapel and Five Finger Death Punch) the band Bones To Bury did worry me with their genre- description. I like to be honest of course and I'll honestly say that this kind of heavy metal just doesn't move me as much as it is did in my younger years. It's not that I have anything against metalcore (or melodic metalcore as is the case here) it's just that there have seemingly been thousands of similar sounding bands to have come and gone over the years and (along with black metal) it gets hard to tell them apart or pick up on anything substantial. So, that was my fear. I was worried I'd have nothing good to share about Bones To Bury and that there brief EP would be a chore to endure. As it stands though Bones To Bury hit upon some sick notes here on "Arising Voice" and while the screaming vocals were a tad hit or miss musically this one (wisely) leans HEAVY of the METAL side of things and forgoes the usual breakdowns associated with the movement in favor of actual guitar riffing! Ruben Pettersen fronts this band and these days the co-founder is joined by guitarists Jay Caprial (who also handles backing vocals) and Håkon Stensvand, bassist/vocalist Jonas Tellefsen and drummer Kevin Kile. Having hit the studio early this year with Simen Sandnes and Mathias to record "Arising Voice" the guys in Bones To Bury have manged to make their debut EP one which shows promise while pointing towards better things yet to come. For their age (again, not just personally but also as a band) this five-piece might just make people stand up and notice them before too long. Available pretty much wherever digital music is sold (Spotify, Amazon, iTunes, X-Box music, etc.) it's very likely that the four-song "Arising Voice" already has a waiting audience in place (this stuff is still all the rage for a lot of younger males is I'm just going to go by the postings/rants of friends/musicians on Facebook) and as it stands now Bones To Bury has my admiration and support and I'll be rooting for the band from here on out! 

Ravage Rose-"Cool Is Everything" Single

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Actually released on the band's own label back in mid-April, the single "Cool Is Everything" is the debut release from Norway's Ravage Rose. With a cool moniker you obviously need to have a cool sound and Ravage Rose (fronted by Miriam Labreche) seems to have that down pat! With influences that touch upon pop rock, classic rock and heavy metal, resulting in the band's blissful hard pop sound on "Cool Is Everything", the five-piece Ravage Rose (a melodic gem of a heavy rock outfit if there ever was one!) has a real infectious vibe going for it and I for one am not ashamed to admit that this track had me grinning from ear to ear! Available on iTunes, "Cool Is Everything" is the sound of a modern day heavy rock/pop metal with talent and charisma to spare!

http://www.ravagerose.com/

Lucid Dreams-Lucid Dreams

Rockworks Records
2013

Lucid Dreams, who hail from Oslo, Norway, just recently released this, their self-titled debut CD. Formed in 2007 by Silvester Pozarnik, Rune Hagen and Rune Gutuen (the album's engineer and producer), this 12-track album showcases a band that has managed to fuse AOR, hard rock, heavy metal and progressive metal together into something special all while basking in the glory of pure rock and roll! Sounds weird right? Almost like there is no way in the world it would work or that this six-piece band would be capable of pulling it off. And yet here I am playing witness to a band that echos everyone from Whitesnake (thanks to the sometimes quite slick lead vocals ex-Trendkiller/ex-Mudslide member Freddy Vain-try on "Daisy Dukes" and you'll hear it for yourself!) and Bon Jovi to Dio, Queensrÿche, Dream Theatre, (early) Steeler and even Saxon! In a way Lucid Dreams reminds me of a more flushed-out, progressive metal-minded version of Italy's Dangerzone. And that's a very good thing indeed. While Freddy Vain can pull off a number like "Daisy Dukes" he also can pull off a number like "Stormy" which requires him to channel the spirit of the late great Ronnie James Dio! Such range allows Lucid Dreams to move in and out of different with ease and make "Lucid Dreams" a fantastic listen! Of course helping that cause out is a backing band that, to put it bluntly, fucking slays! Guitarists Rune Gutuen and Ådne Olastuen simply excel while the rest of the band (bassist Jan-Erik Lysø, keyboardist Thorleif Østmoe (who contacted Metal Mark about reviewing this album and thus turned me onto a cool, as in the Fonz cool folks, 12 track release with such smashing good songs as "Daisy Dukes", "Stormy", "Take Me Away" and "Paranoia") and drummer Rune Hagen) makes it all sound so easy! Of curse when you consider the fact that Lucid Dreams is made up of a group of musicians who have more them paid their dues (read: there is a lot of experience packed within the pages of Lucid Dreams) it makes sense that a group like Lucid Dreams sounds so fluid. Albums like this one are the reason I love writing for this blog. Chances are that without Heavy Metal Time Machine I wouldn't have had the pleasure of hearing this release. I mean it's not as if Oslo, Norway is right next door to Ohio, U.S.A. or anything! But thanks to this blog (and well, Al Gore's Internet!) I get to hear a cool album like this and then share it with all of you! Lucid Dreams are very much a band that embraces the theory that you can cook up really heavy tracks like "Paranoia", which really borders on power metal,  and yet still rock out like crazy! And it's all good. It's like there is plenty of love to go around and it's alright if you're (musically) into bands as diverse as Whitesnake and Iron Maiden (another band that, along with everyone from the Scorpions to Yngwie J. Malmsteen to 80's era Judas Priest!, figures into the sound of Lucid Dreams). Hopefully it doesn't  sound as if I'm over-hyping this 12 track album, but the diversity present on "Lucid Dreams" and the overflowing energy that this band exhibits is just fantastic and really has to be heard to be truly appreciated!

Want more info? Of course you do! So, either head here: www.luciddreamsband.com
or head here: www.facebook.com/LucidDreamsRocks

Sarke-Aruagint

 

Indie Recordings
2013

Never mind the dull album art on this one my friends as this Oslo-based act is anything but dull! Formed in 2008, at which point it sounds as if  the group was intended to be a mere one-man project and not necessarily a full-time band, Sarke is now on album number three with "Aruagint". It might be their third album but it's my first go-round with this Norwegian band so I wasn't sure what exactly to expect. I initially went into this 9-track album blind-folded so as to have no preconceived notions. It was only after the fact that I went back and pulled down the curtains so I could get a quick peak at the actual wizard who was pulling, or rather viciously attacking, all the strings. As it turned out the "wizard" was backed up by some serious metallic veterans as we'll soon enough see. First things first though. At the heart of this intense band is founding member/bassist Thomas Bergli (aka "Sarke"). When he first formed the band back in 2008, with the first album, "Vorunah", appearing the next year, it appears as if  Thomas Bergli (Khold, Tulus, ex-Old Man’s Child) initially went out looking for a band that would combine the delightful sounds of  bands like Mayhem, Slayer, Darkthrone, Celtic Frost, Black Sabbath, Candlemass, Death, Motorhead and Kreator into one compelling act. From doing a little bit of research it sure does sounds as if that mission was quite successful. But, that was then and this is now. When it came time to record "Aruagint", which was yet again laid to tape at H-10 productions studios in Oslo with producer Lars ErikWestby sitting at the helm,  Sarke himself approached the new album with this in mind- "Our music is inspired by the great 70`s rock bands, 80`s speed metal bands and 90`s black metal bands. Put this together with the creative mind of the band and your get pure dark rock music sounding is clear, raw and honest". So, with that in mind, we come to a band that, in addition to all the various thrash, doom and heavy metal influences listed above, also features quite a bit of straight-up rock influences as well as (not mentioned, but definitely there all the same) a keen desire to showcase their love for old-school punk! As for the veteran musicians who help out on album number three? You've got vocalist Nocturno Culto (Darkthrone), guitarist Steinar Gundersen (Satyricon, Spiral Architect), keyboardist Anders Hunstad (El Caco, Autopulver) and drummer Asgeir Mickelson (Spiral Architect, ex-Borknagar). Combined these musicians, along with Bergli, set out to make a record that would follow the original game plan of this band, which was to make it always make their music "dark, epic and groovy", while also stepping out of their own comfort zone a little more with each new recording. What has it all meant then? When it comes to this 9-track album I'd say you're looking at a cool and talented group that plays 70's rock-inspired death n' roll that has been thrashed and trashed thanks to the scorched and blackened remains that result form this band having with their fazers set to kill! Sure, that's a mouth full but after-all we are talking about a band that isn't afraid to rock on down the yellow brick road while proudly dressed entirely in black except for some tattered and well-loved punk rock shirts. So yes, sometimes you do need to string together a long, but essential title when you're talking about bands like this and their must-own albums.

Oceans Of Time-"Show Me The Way" Single

Melodic Revolution Records
2013

Here's another example of why it's so important to take a quick glance at your junk mail before deleting everything. Chances are I'd have missed out on this Norwegian act if I hadn't decided to take a second look at everything that had piled up. That would have been a shame as the melodic Oceans of Time, which I would assume choose their moniker from Axel Rudi Pell's album of the same name, are quite good at what they do. And what is it they do exactly? Besides offering up melodic material that is. Well, even if symphonic progressive metal isn't exactly my poison of choice, these gentlemen have a (admittedly) catchy single on their hands with "Show Me The Way" and man, if I didn't go back and play this one a couple more times I'd be lying! Formed in 2005 by guitarist Lazz Jensen, whose playing tempts the listener to move in closer, the band is fronted quite effectively by the equally-talented Ken Lyngfoss. Other then this newish single the group also have the full-length album "Faces" to their name. Having shared the stage with the likes of Glenn Hughes, Masterplan and Satyricon (to name just a few) this is one act that could make a nice splash on the scene with a little bit of luck and more hard work. Considering how Oceans Of Time spent 2005 to 2008 just playing out and honing their craft I'd argue that they have the hard work part locked down pat. So, it's more a matter of luck and the continual word-of-mouth for this bunch although you'd think that their musical talent and obvious ability to write compelling material alone would open more doors. Time will tell I guess. Thing thing is Oceans Of Time, which is rounded out by bassist Geir Nilsen, keyboardist Daniel Myhr (Civil War, ex-Sabaton) and drummer Nicolay Ryen Christiansen, sure does sound as if they have the drive and determination to easily go the long haul. No doubt this isn't the last we've heard from this Norwegian act as I'm sure they have a lot more to offer for fans of symphonic and progressive metal. You can find out more about this band at the link below as well as hear the single for yourself.

http://melodicrevolutionrecords.com/track/show-me-the-way

Ghost Avenue-Ghost Avenue

Pitch Black Records
2013

Ghost Avenue, who were formerly known as simply Ghost, were formed in 2002. I'll take a wild stab in the dark here and guess that the name change had something to do with the fact that they were being overshadowed by the Swedish band Ghost (who have now changed names to Ghost B.C.). It's more perception then reality though (the one Ghost overshadowing the other Ghost) as Ghost Avenue, especially when it comes to this self-titled release, offers up a fresh take on melodic heavy metal as we'll soon see. This self-titled, 11-track LP, is the follow-up to Ghost Avenue's 2010 debut-album, "The Engraving". While that album was self-produced and self-released, which didn't stop it at all from receiving good reviews, this new disc was mixed and mastered by Vagelis Maranis at Maranis Studios in Germany. Getting extra help in the studio has only helped this group from the looks of it as this 11-track recording features one catchy track after another. Up front you've got lead vocalist Kim Sandvik who, just like many other hard rock and heavy metal singers who have come before him, has a voice that is forceful enough for guys to get into (this is heavy metal after all) and yet his voice is also smooth enough that one could easily see girls swooning over him. If that doesn't make you think of 80's hard rock and heavy metal bands then I'm not sure would! He has that same kind of raw sexuality/animal magnetism that made bands like Van Halen, Skid Row, Mötley Crüe and Guns N' Roses all too popular with the ladies of the day!  Music-wise there is some of those same influences to Ghost Avenue's sound ( or more specifically Van Halen, Skid Row and Guns N' Roses), but then again there's a fair bit of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Saxon going on here to. Especially when it comes to guitarists Øystein Wiik & André Berger. Here's one of those albums where the music might be contemporary, but the lead solos seem as if they have been ripped right out of the playbooks of some real classic acts.  The guitars on "Ghost Avenue" bring to mind (all at once) both G N' R and Judas Priest, but the band is neither sleazy or sinister. Reference points would be more then appropriate when talking about this Norwegian act I suppose. While it's a sound that is every bit as contemporary as they come there is still a lot of riffs that seem like they have fallen out of time and onto this album. But that just comes easy when we're talking about a talented band like this whose game-play come from such a wide range of classic acts. In a way Ghost Avenue, which also features bass guitarist Magnus Liseter and drummer Petter Lein within it's ranks, reminds me of band's like Leatherwolf, early Sinner (especially Sinner's "Danger Zone" album), Mainiax, Cities, Lions Breed, Salem UK, California's Blitzkrieg and Lion (both of which were 80's metal bands), Canada's Fist, Lady Killer and Leather Nunn. There's quite a few other reference points I'd like to add to that list, but only album art flashes through my mind and not actual  band names. That's not really all that important though as Ghost Avenue, while indeed a combination of 80's heavy metal, classic hard rock, melodic metal and what not, are more about being true to themselves. That and they're more about being original than being just another mere carbon-copy of so and so's band or another retched, retro-loving act. That does bring up another point about this band as, unlike a lot of other bands these days playing a hybrid of hard rock and heavy metal (whether retro or not), the individuals in Ghost Avenue strive to be original at any and all cost! To that end they employ a lot of classic rock and roll hallmarks to their hard and heavy metal. So these guys might be flirting with eighties metal and eighties hard rock while they also flirt with the sounds of modern rock and roll. The leads might be metallic, but they are complex and catchy and man, they flat out rock! And what's metal without a little bit of melody? Ghost Avenue know how to write songs that have heavy metal's energy and attitude while also having enough melodic moments to keep this self-titled album from being too one-dimensional. It's a thing of beauty. If melody is a bad word word to you though then try not to worry so much. Norway’s Ghost Avenue can be every bit as melodic as the next melodic rock act and their music can be every bit as catchy as they want it to be (and hell if it isn't just about some of the catchiest rock-based material I've heard in awhile!). But when it comes right down to it the band end's up having more then enough balls to court the headbanging crowd! Pitch Black Records has scored big with this band and seeing as they are still somewhat young in their career, while they've also been around the block a few times, the future should point to even bigger and better things from this group. For the meantime though I'm not sure how I'm going to squeeze another killer album into my list of "The Best of 2013". It might just be that some band/album will need to be knocked aside as this 11-track album is way too fucking wild to be ignored! 

Pitch Black Mentality-The Pitch Black Reality

Casket Records
2013


Norway's Pitch Black Mentality, which was formed in 2008, started off a Metallica-tribute band. The group was a collaboration between Alejandro Silva Power Cuarteto guitarist/solo artist Jarle H Olsen and guitarist Frank Natås. The pair, having presumably meet while they were both members of one-time black metal outfit Lidskjalv, decided to piece together a new outfit that would combine the heaviness of thrash metal with some of the subtle-nuances of melodic metal. Eventually they would add seasoned musician Tore Christer Storlid (Brutallica, Artificial Comfort, Mahirim and Audrey Horne) as their bassist/vocalists and would enlist the services of drummer Bjarte K. Helland (Brutallica, Mahirim, Artificial Comfort) as well. Interesting enough Bjarte K Helland had also contributed to Jarle H Olsen's solo career so there was an addition connection there. Now, while these four seem to be the final line-up for Pitch Black Memtality, things are a little vague (promo-wise) when it comes down to actually handled bass and drum duties on this recording. Two studio-musicians, Rodrigues Garcia and Cristian Carrsco Lara, are said to have "helped form the quartet as studio/session musicians on bass and drums". So, while it's clear that Jarle and Frank handle guitars and Tore Christer Storlid is the lead vocalist, who helped with the bass and drum duties on "The Pitch Black Reality" is a question I'd love to know the answer to. I mean shouldn't we give the proper credit to those involved in making this 9-track album the rage-fest that it is? At least we know who we have to thank for the fantastic solos on "The Pitch Black Reality" (Jarle H Olsen) and the sweet, Scott Ian/James Hetfield-like rhythm guitar (Frank Natås). Take away the melodic metal part for a second and we're talking about thrash that is straight out of the same handbooks of groups like Slayer, Anthrax, Megadeth, Heathen and Metallica. Speaking of Metallica, Tore Christer Storlid has a bit of James Hetfield going for him while Frank's clean/backing vocals are much more smooth. Again, I'm guessing on this part as it's not exactly spelled out. So, if Frank provides the smooth/clean vocals (which have a melodic, metal-core quality about them) then kudos to him. But, if it's all Storlid then we are talking about one hell of a lead vocalist with some kick-ass range! Either way the vocals work great on an album like this. Here we're talking about a thrash band that is aware of it's own influences (Metallica cover band all), but refuses to sound like either a copy-cat act or like they are on some retro-thrash kick! To that end the production works side by side with the music on "The Pitch Black Reality" in order to give everything a modern feeling while also understanding that thrash metal (or at least real thrash metal) needs to maintain it's rough appearance if it's going to work. As it was original a self-released affair, with Casket Records seemingly snagging these guys up in a moment of brilliant thinking, that is even more impressive. Although I see it more and more these days it still strikes me as a cool thing when bands, lacking the proper budget that a record label you would hope would provide, goes it alone and records a studio-album that sounds just as good as anything from a signed act! Anytime that happens I'm going to give proper credit to a band as it's not as easy as it sounds folks (even in this day and age of home studios). Anyway, this album, which was mixed by Tommy Hansen at Jailohuse Studios (Helloween, TNT, JORN, D.A.D) in Denmark, was seemingly constructed with thrash metal fanatics in mind as it's like a step-by-step instructional manual on the subject. Great lead solos? Check. A lead vocalist who is intimidating and yet comes across as a every-man? Check. Killer rhythm guitar? Check. And finally does it have a deadly serious rhythm section? Check. It's all there on this 9-track album that has me excited to hear real thrash metal. Now that is nice! If that sounds like something you could get into as well then keep an eye out for this record. You won't be sorry!