Free Metal Monday: Nevesis-Nevesis

Horror Terror Records
2012

Based in Paide, Estonian, Nevesis is a hard & heavy power trio that was formed back in 2008 and is said to be influenced by everyone from Led Zeppelin to the Foo Fighters. Currently comprised of Erki Reim (guitars, vocals), Bert Järvet (bass) and Ken Koemets (drums), Nevesis is self-describe as "psychedelic heavy speed rock", but I'm guessing that might be the group's newer style as their 2012 self-titled album (which you can download for free by clicking on this link) is more classic hard rock than heavy speed rock. It's also a stone cold groove that is way too good to be giving away for free! With nine rich songs and some fantastic performances from the three members of this largely unheard of  ROCK band, "Nevesis" is a terrific debut album that I wish I would have heard back in 2012! Reportedly the group has a new album in the works and you can hear one of the numbers ("Rock 53") by heading here. Incidentally it is also free for the taking...
 

Devil's Dare-Demonstration 2016

Self-Release/Independent 
2016

"Demonstration 2016" is the first studio recording from Boston hard rock/heavy metal band Devil's Dare. It was released on March 29th and this instant-classic EP features four vintage-sounding songs with the best of the bunch being the last cut, "Into the Sky". Even though the notes say "Demonstration 2016" was laid to tape sometime between 2015 and 2016 the actual music on Devil's Dare's debut comes across as if it could have been recorded at the start of the eighties! As far as influences go you're looking at everything from the (early) N.W.O.B.H.M. scene to eighties underground metal as well as classic seventies hard rock bands like Rainbow and Deep Purple. Whether this is a full-tile band or a one and done project is anyone's guess, but simply going by the fact that this EP comes from Chris Corry (Magic Circle, Mentally Challenged, Mind Eraser, No Tolerance, Prisoner Abuse, Put to Death, Soul Swallower, Stoner Dagger, World War 4, ex-Death Evocation) I'd sadly have to lean towards the latter. Ultimately only time will tell, but if Chris Corry just so happens to read this review then I'd like to say "PLEASE make Devil's Dare the real deal!". This four-track EP is so good, but at the end of the day it leaves you wanting more! Simply put, "Demonstration 2016" is one of the BEST examples of vintage-inspired hard rock/heavy metal out there and I know I'm not the only one that would like to see a full range of products from multi-colored Devil's Dare LPs to tee-shirts! Devil's Dare is that good and so is this demo....

The Jokers-Hurricane

SPV/Steamhammer
2015

Rocking and rolling it's way into stores later on in September, "Hurricane" is the latest & greatest release from classic rock/hard rock band The Jokers. This UK band's third full-length album, "Hurricane" serves as the naturally follow-up to the 2013's critically acclaimed "Rock & Roll Is Alive" and this highly-anticipated release finds vocalist Wane Parry and guitarist Paul Hurst welcoming in new members Phil Hartley (bass) and Dan Evans (drums). Formed in 2006 (and veterans of the time honored game, "Good Bands with Bad Names!") The Jokers hail from the North West of England and have made a name for themselves thanks to not only top-notch recordings, but rambunctious live shows! Even still this four-piece band has come a long way since issuing their first album, "The Big Rock 'n' Roll Show" back in 2009. Musically-speaking The Jokers have evolved quite a bit if even between their last release and this forthcoming one. While I can still hear the likes of AC/DC, Status Quo, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, The Who, Bad Company, Free, Mott The Hoople, and The Faces* here on their new album (and thank the gods of rock and roll for that!) we're also talking about a smooth yet swaggerlicious sound that has been highly enhanced  by way of bands like The Beatles and The Rolling Stones! So it's seventies hard rock riffs and sixties rock and roll vocal harmonizing to the rescue then? Why yes it is and I'm glad you asked! Well, I mean (obviously) there is a lot more to it when it comes to The Jokers. Don't (for a second) let me mislead you into thinking it's all as easy as that. There's classic rock, boogie rock and the blues. And you'll also find garage rock and even a bit of progressive rock on this LP. But for here and now and with time always being an issue, "Hurricane" really is the best parts of classic rock rock from the seventies and (amazing) vocal harmonizing as popularized by The Beatles! With that said, "Hurricane" never sounds stale or as if it is dated. If anything this new album finds these UK rockers all but taking over the whole modern day retro rock scene. The production helps push this fresh product right up to the front where it belongs and this band's successful ability as songwriters should keep them there. And since this record is every bit a "record" (as in it's a throwback to the days when LPs actually featured great material from start to finish and were not just a few key singles and filler junk!) fans and newcomers alike will have a whole album's worth of cool rock and roll to enjoy and share with others! With albums like this keeping real rock and roll radio alive the scene looks to be in good hands for the foreseeable future!   


 

*Read my review of "Rock & Roll Is Alive" (linked above) for more on this.

Broken Rain-Here Comes The Pain

Self-Release/Independent
2015
 

Listen up everyone as introductions are in order. Broken Rain is a hard rock/heavy metal band Banská Bystrica, Slovakia that is comprised of Martin Rybár (lead vocals), Filip Prašovský (guitars, backing vocals), Imrich Šimig (keyboards, guitars), Vladislav Gális (bass, backing vocals), and Branislav Končír (drums). The 12-track "Here Comes The Pain", which was produced by Ľubomír Lichý (Hematit, Liquid Boogie Roll, Metalinda, Clear, JB...) and is proceeded by a 2009 demo, is Broken Rain's debut full-length album. Formed in 2006, Broken Rain initially started out as a cover band before making the gradual move over to original material. As their early set-lists featured material from the likes of Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest it is not exactly difficult to pinpoint Broken Rain's influences. At the very least these four bands make for a good starting point of reference even if Broken Rain's sound is quite a bit more in tune with 2000-era rock radio than their cover band roots suggest. Available on CD or as a digital download, "Here Comes The Pain" is a great first step for Broken Rain. It's uplifting and catchy and it is a release that gets better with each new spin! At the end of the day "Here Comes The Pain" works as well as it does because this band's fusion of heavy guitar rock, classic hard rock and straight-ahead heavy metal is both steeped in traditional and modern and relevant. For more information on Broken Rain and their full-length album "Here Comes The Rain" be sure to check out the group's online site right here.