Roadrash-Thunder In Paradise

Independent/Self-Release
2017

Roadrash is a speed metal band from Vancouver, British Columbia that is lead by seasoned musician David Power (bass/vocals). Preceded in life by a cassette demo and a digital cover of  Tank's "The Snake", "Thunder In Paradise" is the first full-length album from this four-piece group that has been active since 2014. It features nine-tracks in all and has a run-time of just over 34 minutes. Inspired by old-school speed metal and every-bit as quirky as the above album artwork would suggest, "Thunder In Paradise" is the sound of a laid back (if not capable) band that realizes that there is much more to life that being uptight and serious all the time. With a bit of a punk rock feel, a tongue in cheek approach to car-themed dynamics, and an obvious love of the aforementioned Tank (which no one can blame them for!), Roadrash isn't breaking new ground in the speed metal movement, but they sure as hell are having a whole lot of fun! With some road warriors like this thrashing up the scene why not call shotgun and join in the good times?  

Stallion's Mane-Stallion's Mane

Independent/Self-Release
2017

Released on January 19th, "Stallion's Mane" is the debut EP from the Canadian heavy metal band of the same name. It is available on cassette tape and as a digital download. The cassette version is limited to a mere 50 copies(!) and the two songs on this EP are "Antimatter Siege" and "Wasteland Rebels". Based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Stallion's Mane is a bit of a mystery as there are no members listed on the group's bandcamp page and there doesn't appear to any sort of website associated with the name! That being said, "Stallion's Mane" is the sound of 100% pure heavy metal done right. It has style and it has class.  There is obviously some serious talent going on behind the scene. At only two dollars to download (and $5.00 plus shipping for the cassette) this nine minute plus EP is far too good to not share!! Hopefully this is just the starting point for this mysterious outfit...

Scissortooth-Novagomorrah

Galy Records
2015

Scissortooth is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based metal outfit that was formed in 2003 by two former members of the band Mantra, Derek Lundblad (vocals/guitar) and Shawn Hoskins (drums). Bass guitarist Ken Firomski (Cradle to Grave, ex-Iron Gypsy, ex-Empyria) fills out the current line-up of Scissortooth with the self-produced "Novagomorrah" serving as the group's full-length debut. The CD, which has 11 tracks and clocks in at close to sixty minutes(!), was sent my way by Carly Ashbey of Asher Media Relations and I feel as if I owe her a huge debt of gratitude! With Scissortooth it's as if someone raided my (often times odd) personal music collection and (after pulling out a handful of some of my favorites albums*) pounded everything together with a HUGE hammer that was forged from the fiery remains of Type O Negative, Black Sabbath, Pantera, Disturbed, and Lamb of God! After you have a moment to check out those far-ranging  albums that I posted below you'll (hopefully) understand what all this band is packing when it comes to this dope CD! Yes, I actually just used the word dope to describe a promo that I got in the mail, but this really is one of those rare occasions where all of the stars outside align and the metal gods above and below us let out a huge scream that says "Let there be METAL!"  My only question as far as this groove-heavy & thrashomatic CD trio goes (what with it's hooks that kill and too wild to tame tempos!)  is "Where have you fine gentlemen been hiding all this time?". I really could have used your album here to vanquish the souls of my enemy you know! Because this album is MIGHTY and worth it's wait in riff-laden gold I'll let it slide this time! You've done me (and in general the scene at large) a solid by rocking it all out and then some so I've just got one more thing to add to this piece. For all of our readers you're going to want to run (That's right ladies and gents. Don't walk but RUN! And RUN as fast as you possibly can RUN!) out and grab this disc! Well, that is if you're a fan of innovative hard & heavy thrash metal that's genuine and as free of pretentious "Look at me I'm in a metal band so worship me as your new god!" nonsense as they come!  Need more info? You can find this band online here and then you can order the CD by going here.



*Among many others these albums would be "Kill 'Em All" (Metallica), "South of Heaven" (Slayer), "Music For Insect Minds" (Halo of Flies), "Damaged" (Black Flag), "Fistful of Metal" (Anthrax), "Louder Than Love" (Soundgarden), "Facelift" (Alice In Chains), "The Land of Rape and Honey" (Ministry), "Animosity" (C.O.C.), "The Best of Motörhead"** (Motörhead), "Spirit of Suicide" (God Is LSD), "Houdini" (Melvins), "Blood Farmers" (Blood Farmers), and "Slaughter in the Vatican" (Exhorder).

**I know I'm cheating by simply listing this 2CD set, but it is what it is folks.

The Golers-South Mountain Style

Self-Release/Independent
2015

I know what you're all thinking, but don't let their name or this re-release's cover art fool you. The Vancouver, British Columbia band known as The Golers are anything but a bunch of slack-jawed yokels! Named after the infamous Nova Scotian Goler clan, Canada's own The Golers are a crossover/thrash metal band whose latest full-length release, "In 'n' Outlaws", earned high praise from fans and critics alike. Now (thanks in no small part to the continuing high demand that is placed on this band's debut album here) these punk/hardcore thrashers are all set to unleash a digital re-issue of this album which was originally released way back in 1999! What's more the band (guitarist/lead vocalist Charlie, guitarist/vocalist Henry, bassist/vocalist Jonny and drummer Cranswick) will be bringing their punk thrash/crossover sound out on the road when they take part in a cross-country Canadian tour this summer. One would have to think that this kind of crossover simply kills it on the live stage seeing as everything about this band is extreme! For The Golers (who incidentally were formed out of the ashes of a band called Subversion in 1998) "South Mountain Style" was a great start and since then the band has only grown stronger. If you are a fan of bands like D.R.I., C.O.C., M.O.D., S.O.D., Suicidal Tendencies and even Slayer you will find that there is much to enjoy about The Golers and their take on crossover metal/thrash. You can pre-order "South Mountain Style" by heading here and be sure to head over to the group's Facebook page so that you can be kept up to date on this band's comings and goings.

Explain-Just The Tip

Self-Release
2014

Here's a new one for ya-crossover thrash and jazzy/tech metal....combined. Oh, and there is also some punk rock and melodic death metal going on with this Vancouver, British Columbia-based outfit. Yep. That's Explain. Often-time humorous, sometimes just flat out weird. But, and this is a big old but friends, Explain are always spot-on (technically-speaking) and "Just The Tip" (their full-length debut which is now remaking the rounds thanks to Asher Media Relations) actually kicks! It empties you out with some menacing death growls, slick headbanging and sick (crossover) riffs before it fills you back up with some of the best jazz-inspired thrash this side of Atheist! And man, but does an album like "Just The Tip" ever stick to your ribs! Yummy! You can find them here:  https://www.facebook.com/Expainmetal and for further fun you won't want to miss you can listen as this lot tackles John Lennon's "Imagine" here: https://expainband.bandcamp.com/

Tyrants Blood-Coven

Tridroid Records
2014

Back in September of 2013 I covered Tyrant Blood's excellent "Into the Kingdom of Graves", an album that, besides (eventually) being released on LP (a very cool looking piece of vinyl at that!), was also issued under Tridroid Records. "Coven", while it will unfortunately not see a physical release (this one is digital only boys and girls), is nonetheless as impressive of a release if only because it collects previously released material by Vancouver-based extreme metal act (or at least material that has seen physical release before, but never digital release!) and crafts a sort-of, kind-of, "Best Of" scenario! For the uninitiated amongst you Tyrants Blood play a fairly BRUTAL form of extreme metal that highlights all the good pieces/parts of said genre (death metal, thrash and black metal) and, after compressing them under a pile of hellfire and damnation, spits it all back out at the listener with enough piss and vinegar to make one smile all day long! Not much more needs to be said as this act needs to be experienced to be appreciated so stop whatever it is you're doing (besides reading this wonderful review!) and head to the link below to download this beauty of a beast!

http://tyrantsbloodtridoid.bandcamp.com/


Review of previously released "Into the Kingdom of Graves" album:
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Tyrants+Blood-Into+the+Kingdom+of+Graves+

Anciients-Heart Of Oak

Season of Mist/War on Music
2013

As usual I'm the last to know. This time it's in regards to Vancouver, B.C.-based Anciients. Released back in April of this year, "Heart Of Oak", this young act's fine full-length debut album, is the stuff dreams are made of. Or at least if your dreams turn to all prog in nature. Of course there is a serious level of epic heaviness going on here so, while this group does list ELO as a particular point of interest, there's more then enough "Dear God in Heaven that is some serious bone crunching metal going on there" moments to appease all of those who bow down and worship at the alters of both High On Fire and Opeth! Catching up on this act, well after the fact that this LP came by recommendation. found me lost in wondering about the last time I caught sight of a band influenced by Celtic Frost? Right there is bonus points for this group with two co-vocalists and nowhere to go but up and up towards the top rungs of extreme progressive metal. As chilling and breathtaking as this bunch are you'd do well to pug in and listen to their music at the link below. Never fear that you, like I was before, are late to the party when it comes to Anciients as there is plenty of thick metal goodness to go around!
http://anciientriffs.bandcamp.com/

ABRIOSIS-VESSEL

Torn Flesh Records

2012

 

This EP is the 3rd release from Vancouver's Abrisis. It's also the first to feature new vocalist Alxs Ness (ex-Without Mercy). Here's another case where anything a man can do a woman can also do. In this case it's extreme death metal vocals. This band, who were formed in 2007, could be called death metal for the thinking man. What does thinking man's death metal entail? Well, this is progressive death metal meeting up with technical death (most likely after school as part of some club) to figure out how  to make the most out of a 20 minutes or so recording. It's filled to overflowing with all kinds of interesting arrangements as well as some great gut-busting, neck-snapping, traditionally death metal. While it's not the first band to come hang out and have a few beers at the progressive/technical death metal party this EP is still fun and inventive in it's own way. It's also over with before you ever really know what happened. That means it offers a lot and keeps things interesting while also packing into the one-two punch of regular, old-fashioned (but still loved!) death metal. It looks like this is being offered as a free download at the link below while physical copies will be limited.

 

http://www.abriosis.com/p/abriosis-vessel.html