Snakewine-Serpent Kings

Phonector
2015

Formed in January of 2014, Snakewine is a underground German four-piece whose dirty & sweaty sound combines elements of heavy rock, hard rock, blues rock, and heavy metal. "Serpent Kings" is the full-length debut album from this rock-infused band and it features the line-up of Ronny Konietzko (vox), Frank Vogel (lead guitar), Sebastian Welsch (bass), and Buddha (drum). The album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Niklas Wenzel and it features eight hard living cuts that would have made Lemmy proud! Speaking of which, Motörhead is at one end of the spectrum (as far as influences go!) with the likes of Guns N' Roses, Dangerous Toys, Skid Row, Danko Jones, and even Danzig* sitting comfortably on the other end. Sure, you could argue that there is a lot more to this bands sound**, but either way it all adds up to one hell of a rock n' roll ride  that probably slays the beast live! With summer fast approaching you couldn't ask for a better soundtrack to the good times than  "Serpent Kings".



*The albums last cut, "Shipwrecked", sounds like a cool mash-up of early Danzig (as in his first solo record!), Guns N' Roses, and Motörhead.

**Listen in closely and you'll likely pick up on everyone from AC/DC and "Trash"-era Alice Cooper to Poison (if and only if Poison had been more influenced by Lemmy and company and they rocked a much heavier beat!!).

Witchingseason-"The Healer" Single

Hey! Hey! Listen up!!! All you hard and heavy alt-rockers look this way. You're going to want to place a huge X on April 27th. Why? Because that is when Witchingseason will release their brand new single, "The Healer"! With a full-length album due for release later in 2015 this single is a nice treat for hardcore fans of this UK act as well as those who just love to watch rock and roll get consumed by the fires of the night! Now, I first heard this band back in August of 2014 when I covered their single "Spiders" and later on in October of that same year I had the extreme pleasure of reviewing their self-titled EP. Given the band's oddly cool and collected (dark arts of rock) approach to what was then some of the tastiest post-grunge/heavy garage rock even I couldn't help but feel a little tinge of happiness in this black heart of mine! With "The Healer" my heart has grown too big to describe as this band's songwriting and overall performance seems to get better the deeper Witchingseason goes underground! Featuring vocals from Leogun's Tommy Smith, "The Healer" is jingle jangle trash rock for a naive generation that likes to think that they've heard it all when it comes to post-grunge, hard rawk and stripped to it's core garage metal. If this trio's new album is anywhere as good as this is then we are all going to be dancing in the darkness together and having a wonderful time!

 www.facebook.com/witchingseason

Dead Lucky-Sons Of Lazarus

Dr. Music Records | Membran
2015


Fittingly enough just released today (after all in my part of the word it's Friday the 13th boys and ghouls!) and with the skull-cracking /widow-shattering lead single, "Live Fast, Die Last" (see video below), serving as much as a warning shot across the bow as it does a wake-up call for all the lazy & crazy (!), "Sons Of Lazarus" is the full-length release from dirty (lean, mean, cruel and obscene) riff-rockers Dead Lucky. This hard & heavy/loud & proud South African mosh-effect metal band was founded in 2011 and when it comes to the current line-up of Kyle Lucky (vocals), Alex Krause (guitars), Chris Bornman (guitars), Chris Thunderbolt (bass) and Jean Labuschagne (drums) all things point toward world-wide destruction! Or at very least this is the band that you should be looking out for/looking forward to gutting rock and roll and restoring it's long-gone honor and glory! On this Theo Crous (Prime Circle, Parlotones, Karen Zoid, …) and Brendyn Rossouw-produced album we're treated to the sounds of one band that isn't afraid to mix their Motörhead- love with bands as diverse as White Zombie is to Deep Purple and once the title track rushes in and kicks the door wide open it's game on baby! For anyone that just loved Samhain and the first Danzig LP this is going to be your midnight salvation and I can't help but imagine that this 12-pack would also answer the age old question of what you might get if you crossed Iggy and the Stooges with "Club Daze" Twisted Sister! Whether you're talking about wine, women and song or sex, drugs and rock and roll it's all good my friends as these 12 (hit it and quit it!) songs have got you covered! There's not much more to it then that so what exactly are you waiting for?

Gun Barrel-Damage Dancer

Massacre Records
2014

2012's "Brace for Impact" was my first introduction to Germany's Gun Barrel, but quite honestly it was only after looking over my notes on this band that I remembered who they were. Granted that was awhile back when I last heard them (May of 2012 and all), but it it still doesn't say a lot about their staying power if I forgot about them entirely in that time-frame. So a refresher course might be in order. Piece together heavy metal and dirty rock and roll and there you've got it. Since 1998 this band has been cranking it out and with "Damage Dancer" we're talking album six. I can't say I don't like the band's take on rock/metal as it's fine. And yes, I enjoyed their last album quite a bit even if I never went back to it a sometime after said review of it. Maybe it's just that now (roughly two year's having past) this sort of thing (rocking metal) is more prevalent and there's so many bands doing it better? Is that fair then to compare Gun Barrel to other (newer) acts? Probably not, but no one every said that life was fair right? Yeah. So, Gun Barrel does what it does and whether it's going to move you or not just depends on how you feel about this kind of groove. For me it moved me, just not very far!

Gunpowder Grey-Gunpowder Grey

Boris Records
2014

You've heard it all before and so have I. After all it's the same song and dance. Members from this band and then that band come together and, unlike their day jobs, make music that's more rock n' roll then anything you would expect to hear from said people in their normal bands. In this case you're looking at a (self-dubbed) "Rock n' Roll sleaze"* act from Atlanta, Ga. (we'll get to that part in a second!) that is made up of two Disfigurement members in vocalist Nate Godbee and guitarist Adam Besserer (ex-Morionor, ex-Hellgoat, ex-Jenovah, ex-Malefic) and "three local punk veterans" in Chris Heffernan (guitar and vocals), Sam Vaughan (bass) and Joey O'Brien (drummer who also performs with Biters). And true to form the various members come together to try their hand at something different. Or at least on the Disfigurement end as A) This is anything but death metal! and B) I really have no idea who these other three gentlemen are! 

Looking the part....

When you think about it though the days jobs of these gents don't add up to a stack of beans (or is it hill of beans?). Right? Even if these sort of side-projects are quickly becoming the norm Gunpowder Grey should be judged on their own merits. So, I'll park my cynicism at the door as we check out "Gunpowder Grey" together. I mean hey, I'm just as new to these Atlanta act as you are! Or I was. Having listened to this one through I know feel as if I have a pretty fair idea of what these guys are on about and, truth be told, it ain't all that bad kids! Starting up front you've got lead singer Nate Godbee and, while this guy might normally be doing the whole death metal thing, here he comes across as a more rough and ready (and not to mention lean and mean fighting machine) Axl Rose! And he works well in this capacity. As a front-man he excels on the mic and even if there are moments when his vocals make the whole affair sound like blues-punk version of Guns N' Roses the album still passes the smell test. And his band-mates? Well, there might not be a Slash anchoring this outfit, but these guys do more then a fine job of keeping up with lead singer Nate Godbee and giving his voice a nice sound to fall back on. And that sound is fairly cool in it's own right! While the group might be wearing their best "easy & sleazy" outfits they also take a stab at a more "mean" metal sound here and there. Now, the promo says that they draw their sound from Black Sabbath and Pentagram as well as the New Wave of British Heavy Metal movement. I've just got to say that maybe you could stake a claim at the latter, but the former? Truthfully Pentagram might work (as they were not strictly doom), but I scratch my head at the idea that a band like this draws their sound from Black Sabbath. And that is exactly why you can't always trust everything you read in promos boys and girls. Sill, the other part of the equation is fine as, at the heart of this group mind you, one could likely find some N.W.O.B.H.M. influences. They would be the more hard rock side of the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene, but it would be there and reasonable enough to see that as being the case. As a compromise though let's call this act a bluesy & sleazy hard rock act with some metal hooks at their disposal. Sound fair? Don't take my word for it though. You can hear a couple of tracks that made it onto the seven-song album (albeit it slightly different forms) like "Cummin' My Way" (ha ha!) and the title cut right here:  http://gunpowdergray.bandcamp.com/. After that you can even download the album track "Cut Me Out" right here: http://puregrainaudio.com/audio/gunpowder-gray-cut-me-out-free-song-download-exclusive-world-premiere. Then you could judge for yourself what this band brings to the table. Now, as I wrap this one up it should be pointed out that on Record State Day (April 19th) Boris Records will release the group's self-titled EP on 12" purple translucent vinyl format! And yes Virgina, it looks mighty wicked if the pick below is to be believed!

One could argue that albums like this one would sound better on vinyl (being that it's eighties-tinged hard rock and all!), but we'll leave that discussion for another day! When it comes right down to it these guys do what they do and they do it right so I'm not going to lie and say that I didn't like this EP. Maybe it's not brilliant (none of the tracks really screamed out to be unfortunately), but there really isn't a clunker to be found out of the seven tracks. Instead "Gunpowder Grey" is a rock-steady release from musicians who likely have much more to offer down the road! Let's just hope they get that chance...

www.facebook.com/GunpowderGray
gunpowdergray.bandcamp.com
 borisrecords.bandcamp.com
 www.boris-records.com
www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Boris-Records/186507934792104

*Or so says their bandcamp page! In reality though Gunpowder Grey takes a more blues-based approach to their sleazy rock and roll along with the already mentioned N.W.O.B.H.M. additions.

Chapel-Satan's Rock N Roll LP

Invictus Productions
2014

Originally released in August of 2012, with a Japanese CD re-release by Spiritual Beast appearing on February 13th, 2013  (expanding this 10-track release to a 12-track release thanks to the inclusion of  2 bonus tracks in "Gates of Hell" and a cover of Inepsy's "See You in Hell"), Chapel's full-length debut album has just recently been  re-released on vinyl by Invictus Productions. It is the vinyl version of "Satan's Rock N Roll" that I'm covering (or rather the album's MP3s) and, since it's hump day and I'd just like to cut to the chase and try to get more then a few reviews done today, we'll keep things brief. This Canadian act is not treading any new water with this 10-track album of blackened speed/thrash. As long as you realize that and/or expecting that then there's no reason one can't enjoy this album for what it is. Imagine Motörhead as a black metal-inspired outfit and that is more or less what you get with Canada's Chapel. With a few flashes of group's like Tank, Sodom and (of course) Venom sprinkled through-out these 10-tracks this one is what it is-songs about beer drinking, Satan, raising hell and rocking out play out over-top of biker metal and, if one doesn't get all tripped over the fact that it isn't groundbreaking, then an album like this one is at least easy to lift a tall cold one to! If you can look past this one's "influences" then "Satan's Rock N Roll" is a pretty wicked little way to kill a half an hour or so!

https://www.facebook.com/chapelofsatan 

Mantar-Death By Burning

Svart Records
2014

Don't let that cover art, which is beautiful and mysterious all at once, fool you my friends or even lull you into a false sense of security. This upcoming (self-produced mind you) release (February 7th, 2014 to be exact) from the half German/half Turkish two piece known as Mantar is anything but lovely and divine. Even here at Heavy Metal Time Machine (or in my own words if you want to be technical about it) words like raw and ugly (or even beastly for that matter) are thrown around far too haphazardly. And yet here it is. Raw, ugly and beastly metal which, despite lacking a bass player (as that would just muddle up the process anyway for this drums, guitars and punk/hardcore vocals designed two-piece), out does even Motörhead in the HEAVY rock and roll department! Alongside The Melvins and Darkthron you have your three humble influences for this blackened rock n' metal band and this release, which you'll be able to pick up in just about any format of your choosing (CD, LP, Tape and Digital), adds it all up and (collectively) drops it face down at your feet so that it can stand as a lasting tribute to the enduring power of D.I.Y. projects! All told there's ten tracks atomic-fueled mayhem from two men who sound as if they are on a mission from the dark lord of rock and roll himself! Hail hail rock and roll (especially when it's all twisted up and slapped down in all of it's thick and gooey goodness!) and any band like Mantar who provide proof that (sometimes) all you need is a guitar, one drum set, devilish lead vocals and heavy metal that melt your face off with it's foul breath!

Stone Cold Kill-Out For Blood

Self-Release
2013

Self-dubbed "Dirty, Rotten, Heavy Metal Sons Of Dogs", the appropriately-named Stone Cold Kill is one band that doesn't need to wear it's influences on it's sleeves. Instead it's encoded in their DNA! For you see the band's front-man, vocalist/bassist Ralph Robinson (who incidentally was only 16 when this 5-track EP was recorded!), is the son of Asomvel' guitarist  Lenny Robinson while both he and guitarist T-Bone are also the nephews of the late (and much more then simply great friends) Jay-Jay Winter! In fact this EP, which is dripping with the blood and sweat of old-school heavy metal, is dedicated to Asomvel's fallen comrade/front-man and the memory of  Jay-Jay Winter is keep alive and well thanks to gut-punching rock and roll cuts like opener "Cheap Faker" and the gripping "Out For Blood"! Even with only these five cuts it's fairly easy to pick up on the talent-level of this young band and it's not that much of a bold prediction to suggest that better things lie ahead for them. The band, which also includes one true maniac on the drum-stool by the name of Kyle "Goose" Corriganhas, simply thrashes it's way through "Out For Blood" and if Asomvel is the band's (rightfully so) main influence then let me tell you what friends, Motörhead is most-assuredly a close second! On numbers like the dirty rock and roller "Cheap Faker" and the album's real, red-hot smoker "Incineration" (which should come with it's own warning label!) these three English "lads" tear the roof off of the house of rock and roll and then proceed to burn the whole mother down! Stone Cold Kill might be a young band in age and regards to their actual time together, but you'd never know it from the way this EP unfolds! Vocalist/bassist Ralph Robinson has the soul of a much older man and his voice adds extra emotional depth to a number like "Nothing to Lose". Meanwhile we find guitarist T-Bone flipping his way through the playbooks of many a great English guitarists (both past and present) which ends up resulting in hints of the N.W.O.B.H.M. scene as much as it does both Asomvel and Motörhead. If there's a downside to be found with "Out For Blood" then it would have to be it's too short for it's own good length! By the time the band really has you worked up and ready to totally unleash on everything and everyone it's all over! This would have been served as a full-length affair, but I do understand all too well how those kinds of things take time and (realistically speaking here) cold hard cash. Hopefully these three can pull off such a feat in 2014 as they have the skills and ultimately the DNA to really shake up the heavy metal scene! I know I'll be keeping an eye out for them and, damn right friends, I'll be crossing these old arthritic fingers of mine that they pull it all off in style! The heart of heavy metal needs some new, young and exciting, fresh blood to keep it pumping for years to come and Stone Cold Kill are just what the doctor (Dr. Rock) ordered!

Against The Grain-Surrounded By Snakes

Self Destructo Records
2013

Serving as the follow-up to their aptly-titled full-length debut release, 2012's "Motor City Speed Rock", this makes album number two for Detroit's Against The Grain. That's right boys and girls. From the same great city that gave us Motown (and of course the MC5 and Iggy and the Stooges) we have the newest saviors of rock and roll, Against The Grain. Or are they the destroyers or rock and roll? Either way it's all good as this band, which was formed in 2009 and also has a 2010 self-titled release to their name as well as 2011, 7" split EP with Chapstik, delivers the same kind of speed freak, burning rubber and burning blunts heavy rock and roll that makes life just so much more easier to cope with! From the minute this one opens with the oh-so-appropriate "Raise Your Glass" Chris Nowak (vocalist/bassist for Against The Grain who may or may not be another one of Lemmy's no doubt limitless bastard offspring!) and company roll out the red carpet for punks and metalheads alike! Motörhead seems like a good starting part substance and style-wise (And yes, their are style points awarded in life kids so do it right!), but these lads, who list MC5, Motorhead, Fu Manchu, Dead Kennedys, Turbonegro, Pentagram, DRI, Thin Lizzy and Black Sabbath as a few of their influences, cover a lot of ground on these 12 tracks as we'll soon enough see. After the fitting opener sets the stage and we blaze past the Motörhead-infused title cut we get things cooking with the MC5 meets Black Flag cut "Get in the Van". These boys then channel C.O.C. on "Outta Touch" before crisscrossing their way back to some boogie-woogie Motörhead on "Don't Care What You Say"! For those most part all of the numbers on "Surrounded By Snakes" (length-wise) have all the trademarks of punk rock songs. Every track here (with the exception being the four-minute plus doom-laden track "Last Breath") finds a band quite comfortable in the fine art of smash and dash style dirty rock. "Get Ready", which is under two minutes in length, is "Garage Days Re-Revisited"-era Metallica taking a harder look at what makes hardcore punk work so well to begin with while the 1:44 length "Comin’ Home" is drunken speed-punk as envisioned by a hungry young rock and roll band that just wants to play for the hell of it all! While Chris Nowak has the lead vocalist part down pat (moving between Lemmy and a rougher James Hetfield at times while also sounding like he could have easily fronted an eighties punk/hardcore band on "Outta Touch" and "Comin' Home") and his bass playing is never in question (we're talking thick and heavy playing here boys and girls!) special mention should also be paid towards the rest of Against The Grain. Lead guitarist/backing vocalist Nick Bellomo and his cohort Bryan Griffin (no, not the character from Family Guy!) crank things up big time on this 12-track platter of dirty speed-rock and whether we're talking about boogie cuts like "Get in the Van" and "Don't Care What You Say" or the near-thrash attack styling of numbers like "Under Attack" and "Livin' a Lie" (both of which showcase a band that is all too familiar with early LPs of Metallica and Slayer!) the pair are equally capable of making it all work. Drums meanwhile are handled by ex-Break Anchor Rob Nowak and with Kyle Davis serving as a touring guitarist this is one act that is too good to pass up! Speaking of touring, this Detroit act supposedly plays in the neighborhood of 150 shows a year(!) and has played with the likes of The Meatmen, Church of Misery, Valient Thorr (who are similar in nature to what these Detroit rockers are all about), Nashville Pussy, Black Fag, The Hookers, Gang Green, D.R.I, The Angry Samoans, Zeke (whose fans would no doubt love this band!), Jello Biafra and the Guatanomo School of Medicine, Guttermouth, Jugheads Revenge, Agent Orange, D.O.A., Iron Cross, Negative Approach, The Flatliners, Hit and Run, Star Fucking Hipsters, Murphys Law and countless others! That means I've got another band that I have to keep an eye out for here in my little part of Ohio. One would imagine that a live show for this bunch is equally (if not more so) cool and that heavy cuts like "Padded Cell" and "Extinction" just shred the living daylights out of everything when played live! Now, picking a fave moment on this one would be hard as these rad rockers pull out all the stops as you can imagine. The album definitely opens strong with "Raise Your Glass" and then closes in similar fashion with the gritty "Extinction" which, believe it or not, touches on some N.W.O.B.H.M. moments! Still, numbers like "Outta Touch", "Get Ready" and "Comin' Home" appeal to the old punk in me while the cool title cut, which also features a bit of N.W.O.B.H.M. guitar playing (think a street punk's take on Iron Maiden) and the tracks "Under Attack" and "Livin' a Lie" are the stuff that heavy metal wet dreams are made of! So, picking just one number out of these twelve would be a hard chore and I'd much rather just advise that you grab the whole kit and kaboodle! As it appears as if it's available in both digital and physical formats (with an LP version available as well!) there's no reason not to try hunt this bad boy down for yourself! And, seeing as it would make a very cool last-minute present for Christmas for that certain someone in your life, an album like "Surrounded By Snakes" is also worth sharing! So, snag and bag this one folks. If you love all things Lemmy or bands like Zeke and Valient Thorr then this is the album you've been wishing for!