Free Metal Monday: Priest Cop-Crucify This

Self-Release/Independent
2015

The interestingly-named Priest Cop released "Crucify This" back in March of 2015. It's a free EP from a Derby-based heavy rock/garage metal band that combined elements of classic 80's metal and N.W.O.B.H.M. into their crash and bang sound. It doesn't look as if this group is still together, but for a fee EP this isn't all that bad.

My Silent Wake-There Was Death

Minotauro Records
2018

Formed in 2005 from the remains of Ashen Mortality, My Silent Wake is one of the UK's best death/doom bands. Since the very beginning the group has been lead by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Ian Arkley (Seventh Angel, Century Sleeper). Although the background members have come and gone, Ian's vision has kept My Silent Wake not only alive, but consistently evolving and thus improving. Now in it's thirteenth year of existence, My Silent Wake Over has a huge back catalog to it's name. Not only are there multiple full-length recordings, but there are numerous EPs and singles, several compilations, a promo DVD, and two splits! Recorded, produced, mixed, and mastered by Greg Chandler (Esoteric) at Priory studios, "There Was Death" is the tenth full-length album by My Silent Wake. It is the follow-up to 2017's "Invitation to Imperfection". While I choose not to cover that particular album for a variety of reasons (one of which was because it is largely a instrumental release) I did review 2015's "Damnatio Memoriae". At the time I called it "My Silent Wake's strongest release to date".With a release date of February 16th, 2018, "There Was Death" is every bit as good as "Damnatio Memoriae" was. What's more, "There Was Death" is packed with some of My Silent Wake's heaviest material to date! At this point in the game My Silent Wake has developed a unmistakable sound. Anyone that has been following this incredible band for awhile has no doubt picked up on that fact. With "There Was Death" that distinct, somewhat (slowed down) doom rock meets (sorrowful) goth rock sound is still present. As cool as it is that side of the band serves as the album's foundation. With producer Greg Chandler providing keys and some extreme vocals (well, it's more like he is growling into the mic and/or screaming, but it is still epic!) and Ian (vocals/guitars) looking to push the boundaries as far as they will go(!), the one hour long "There Was Death" finds My Silent Wake armed to the teeth for what will be very primitive, hand to hand, combat. The conflict isn't physical though. Like numerous other albums, "There Was Death" deals with spiritual issues (lyrically) while the actually music smothers you under it's mighty weight. At their heaviest/most savage and with some of the best material to date at their disposal, the members of My Silent Wake have gifted the metal community some impeccable music. Longtime fans of My Silent Wake should love this well-crafted disc of  formidable death/doom. For anyone new to the group, My Silent Wake is simply doing what they do best: improving upon perfection. As always this is stellar death/doom from a musical mastermind that is known as Ian Arkley. It's a complex and sometimes challenging band that has taken England by storm along with much of the U.S. With albums like "There Was Death" the world should be won over, but only time will time as far as that wish of mine goes.

Orca-"Amber" Single

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Formed in 2014, Orca is a five piece alternative metal/progressive rock band that is based around the South East of England and was originally started as an instrumental outfit. The band is comprised of members Matthew McGuinness, David Vezzoli, Christian Edwards, Nadav Brand, and Ben Murray-Smith and is influenced by the likes of Deftones, A Perfect Circle, Jeff Buckley, Biffy Clyro, Karnivool, Tool, Muse, and the Smashing Pumpkins. "Amber" is this UK band's forthcoming single and (lyrically) it is inspired by the "vast unknown nature of space, a voyage into the unknown, and the feelings of mystery, yearning, love, life & death." Despite all of that introspective "thoughtfulness", "Amber" is a harsh and heavy (and oft-times lovingly distorted in a kind of post-N.I.N. way!) metallic number that shifts back and forth between explosive content and hazy numbness! With a due date of September 28th, "Amber" offers a unique twist on progressive rock and it certainly makes one curious as to what a full-length release would sound like for Orca. As one is supposedly in the works it doesn't sound as if we will have to wait too long for an answer to that particular question!
 

Links:

http://www.orcaband.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfc2c5RQ1oHYu8EmZ-TNSsQ/videos

https://twitter.com/orcabanduk

https://www.facebook.com/orcaband

https://soundcloud.com/orcaband

https://orcaband.bandcamp.com/

Penthos-Lifeless Haze

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Self-recorded and self-released, the four-track EP "Lifeless Haze" is the second overall demo from North Somerset-based Penthos. At just a hair over nineteen minutes (and most likely the very definition of a home recording project from a D.I.Y.-styled band* given A) it's authentic/earthy vibe and B) it's (highly beneficial come the end of the day) stripped to the bare necessities approach as far the production is concerned!) "Lifeless Haze" quickly and effective announces it's presence with opener "Black Death" while saving the strong title cut for last. Said opener comes across as a terrifying Mexican standoff between Slayer, Deicide and Morbid Angel and for Penthos, a UK-based heavy/death/black/doom outfit which was formed in the summer of 2010 by vocalist/bassist/guitarist Rich Alden (ex-My Silent Wake) and drummer Ross Thompson, that's just the beginning as far as what's in store on this underground/eighties-infused demo! With guitarist/bassist Ivan Sikic rounding things out rather nicely (line-up wise on this demo), Penthos, a band which wisely takes it's cue from (more then anything) both the late eighties/early nineties UK and American death metal scene, wages all out war on the bloody "Bodily Shut Down" before ripping off limbs with the semi-technical "From The Womb"! Even when Penthos attempts to "slow" things down on the title cut (a seven minute plus slab of gripping death metal doom!) it's still a frightening sight to behold making the raw "Lifeless Haze" a furious beast of a demo! For fans of primitive death metal one simply could not ask for a tastier little treat then this EP. And for those who are old enough to remember the good old days when tape-trading was a way of life a release like "Lifeless Haze", which admittedly does have a rougher outer edge then most self-releases of the death/doom variety, passes the taste and smell taste. This one has all the feel of a recently (re) discovered cassette demo from death metal's long-lost underground past! Since it doesn't pretend to be anything more then what it is and because "Lifeless Haze" is the true face of death metal I can't help but recommend this EP and thus Penthos to Heavy Metal Time Machine's more extreme readers!


* Co- founder/drummer Ross Thompson created the cover artwork for "Lifeless Haze" and the band logo while Ivan Sikic (rhythm and lead guitar/bass on this 4-song EP) is credited as far as the demo's actual recording is concerned.


https://www.facebook.com/pages/Penthos/192106544137256

Seven Sisters-The Warden

Self-Release/Independent
2014

The answer is obvious enough, but when the magic and the mystery of N.W.O.B.H.M. movement still swirls around your hometown then is it any wonder that (time and time again) we (the heavy metal community at large serving as both critics and fans) are treated to new favorite bands like Seven Sisters? Maybe I am getting ahead of myself here, but for the members of Seven Sisters it's almost as if time stopped around 1983 or 1984. How else are we to explain the marvelous, near golden-oldie kids, vibe that lies at the heart of this four-track demo? Yes, state of the scene being what it is and all has produced handful upon handful of traditional heavy metal/N.W.O.B.H.M. inspired & infused bands in the UK and here in the states. Few feel as authentic as this 4-track demo though. Just released this month, with band co-founder/guitarist (and for this recording at least) bassist Kyle McNeill actively involved with the demo's recording and mixing, "The Warden" sparkles with such heat and passion that one could easily pull a bait and switch and pass these songs off as rare singles from a bygone age. This release might have well been a dusted over gem  from the heydays of the scene (or specifically heavy metal coming from everyone from Satan and Witchfinder General to Tokyo Blade, Jaguar, Savage and Blitzkrieg) as it is (nostalgically-speaking) that thick in texture and rich in flavor! Of course one big thing that helps this lot out is the presence of Josh Winnard  (Dark Forest, ex-Wytch Hazel) on lead vocals. Having long-loved his work in both of those bands one could argue that it was a predetermined idea that I was going to love this project. Fair enough, but the thing is Seven Sisters originally started out as a writing project between Kyle McNeill and Graeme Farmer (guitar) with Josh simply providing the necessary 'touch-ups" if you will. With "The Warden" it's the two string-men that really make this short EP COOK especially as they went and presented a fantastic background upon which Josh Winnard could come in and lay down his cool voice. Opening strong with the title cut, which is one fave number where bands such as Witchfinder General, Angel Witch and Jaguar come out to play(!), "The Warden" strongly recalls the classic British metal scene as a whole, but this demo does take time out from the party to rock another familiar beat. As hinted at above this one might come from a "modern" metal act, but it is an eighties metal release which means that in addition to all the previously-mentioned acts the listener is served up fistfuls of 80's metal! Take a listen to "Onwards They Ride" for example. Here Seven Sisters draws upon the U.S. metal scene (think early speed metal bands who were simply not quite at the point of playing full-fledged thrash) along with bands like Ravage and the result is nothing short of phenomenon! So, while it's N.W.O.B.H.M. or bust for this bunch there are other influences carving out a niche in this London band's sound! In the end this demo smashes and bashes it's way through four "Ready or not here I come!" cuts of pure metal fury and it does so at it's own tried and true pace never once taking it's foot off of the peddle! With all of these various eighties influences making their way into "The Warden" the band, who interestingly enough list their extracurricular-activities as Excessive drinking, satanic rituals, beauty pageants, makes heavy metal for lovers of true heavy metal. The three members of Seven Sisters know what they are doing and given time this can evolve into something absolutely essential! As only a limited number of cassette tapes were issued for "The Warden" the band did the next best thing and put this demo on Youtube and then offered it as a digital download on Bandcamp. And speaking of the digital download, "The Warden" is available for a mere dollar and some change (U.S. conversion rates being what they are) making it a MUST OWN for those who still worship the N.W.O.B.H.M. movement and/or love classic heavy metal! You simply cannot go wrong with this one friends!You can listen to and download the demo here:http://sevensistersuk.bandcamp.com/album/the-warden-demo and follow the group here: https://www.facebook.com/sevensistersuk. Also, Seven Sisters are in search of a bass player and drummer so all interested parties would do well to contact the band and get on-board while the opportunity presents itself!

Tor Marrock-Destroy The Soul

Black Vulture Records
2013

Cellar Metal? That's a new one. But, that is exactly how West Wales' one and only Tor Marrock refers to their sound and on "Destroy The Soul" (their second full-length LP since first forming in 2005) it's sort of hard to argue against such an apt description! By combining modern metal with eighties rock and a fist-full of heavy metal's greatest hits (Doom, Black Metal, Thrash, Death Metal, Gothic Metal, Dark Metal and even Traditional Metal) this UK-based power trio gives off a ghoulish, almost otherworldly vibe and then seals the deal with strong songwriting and (even better) a devilish vocal delivery! Said deadly vocals come courtesy of Tor Marrock himself and with the front-man also handling guitars (with bass and drum duties falling on Tarran and Forseen respectively) "Destroy The Soul" is arguably one of the better UK underground gems to emerge from the darkness in some while! Tor Marrock captures the essence of utter despair while drawing the listener ever closer with it's respective spin! "Destroy The Soul" is at times a bit of an oddity while still remaining fairly consistent and (strangely) familiar. How any band can simultaneously bring to mind Samhain, Pentagram, Christian Death, Paradise Lost, Slayer, The Cure and Depeche Mode in one song is beyond me. What's even more of a mystery is how they managed to do all of that and make it sound so fucking fantastic! Tor (the man and myth!) and his cohorts pull it all off like a beast! "Destroy The Soul' was one of the best albums of 2013 and let it seems as if it passed just about everyone by like a thief in the night! If you can track this sleeper down then by all means necessary do it!


https://www.facebook.com/pages/TOR-MARROCK/161843921361