Free Metal Monday: Blood Curse-Angel Witch

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Blood Curse is a heavy metal band from Caneyville, Kentucky that is comprised of Aaron Franks (vocals/guitar/bass) and Olivia Franks (drums). Active since 2016, Blood Curse has one demo and two singles to it's name. The group's latest release is a name-your-own-price cover of Angle Witch's theme song. It is taken from the group's forthcoming debut album (which is due to drop this summer!) and is a must-have for fans of traditional heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M. Pumped up with metallic passion and some true appreciation for the classic British metal band for which it is named, Blood Curse's cover of "Angel Witch" is a bit more raw than the original version, but kick ass all the same! Hopefully come summer I will be covering this band's debut...

Children of the Reptile-The End

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Children of the Reptile is a U.S. traditional heavy metal/epic metal band that has been active since 2009. Lead by vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Ozzie Darden (ex-Death Machine Weapons, ex-The Disasters), this four-piece band is based in Wilmington, North Carolina and has two EPs and two full-length albums to it's name. Released in late-January of this year, the nine-track "The End" is the second full-length release from Children of the Reptile. It serves as the follow-up to 2016's well-received "The Four Weapons EP" and finds this U.S. metal band sounding better than ever! As with the group's last EP, "The End" features damn catchy material that should please not only long-time fans of the group, but anyone that appreciates true heavy metal. If your personal CD collection includes everything from Megadeth and Metallica to Thin Lizzy, Dio, solo-Ozzy, Manilla Road, Iron Maiden, and Judas Priest then you are going to dig this outfit. You simply cannot go wrong when you mix Ozzie's tremendous vocal delivery with blazing guitar solo and the one-two punch that is this album's rhythm section! Having made their debut in 2012 with a 3-song EP, Children of the Reptile has grown into one of the most dependable metal bands out there. There is no reason why this band shouldn't be in your personal music collection and I have no idea why they are still unsigned! Just like the group's last studio album, "The End" is a A+ release in a day and age when far too many bands are just going through the motions.

Free Metal Monday: Warside-Warside

Self-release/Independent
2018

Warside is a (N.W.O.B.H.M.-influenced and eighties metal inspired) heavy metal band from Brazil that is lead by Leonardo Leão. Available for fee at the following site,"Warside" looks to be the group's first demo. It is a four-track EP that could easily pass as a long-lost relic from the early eighties. Despite it's so-so artwork, "Warside" is a fun listen and a release that I would recommend to fans of old-school metal.

N.W.O.B.H.M. Wednesday: Robespierre-Garden of Hell

Shadow Kingdom Records
2018

Robespierre is a N.W.O.B.H.M band that is comprised of David Cooke (guitars, vocals) and Gordon Logan (drums). Initially formed way back in 1983, this heavy metal/doom metal didn't have as much success the first time around as they should have. Fast forward some to 2011 and the compilation "Die You Heathen, Die!" is released on vinyl by Buried by Time and Dust Records. Slowly but surely the buzz starts to rise about this long-lost English metal band with a shit ton of talent and enthusiasm. By the time the compilation is released on CD by Skol Records (and in a killer package FYI!) just about everyone is hip to what Robespierre has to offer. That was in 2013. That summer I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to interview vocalist/guitarist David Cooke (link). Here it is early 2018 and we are just now getting a taste of what modern-day Robespierre has to offer. Let's not mince words then. For any Robespierre fans out there (and yes folks, that does include me!), "Garden of Hell" is solid proof that some things get better with age! Starting off strong with the killer track "Punish Oppressors", "Garden of Hell" is the long-overdue debut album from Robespierre and dammit man(!), it has been worth the wait! There are ten tracks in all on this British metal release and there isn't a dud to be found! This is 100% killer/no-filler N.W.O.B.H.M. that demands multiple spins and more than a few devil horns in the air salutes! Numbers like "Mare of Steel". "Feed the Fire", "The Black Mirror", and "Men of Violence" make this album stick out with grandness. By combining their familiar sound (thunderous heavy metal with grit and style!) with shades of doom metal and traditional/power metal, Robespierre has development a hard & heavy sound that is as gloomy as it dangerous! No matter whether it is "Dagon Rises", "Fear", "Welcome to the Cult" or "I am a Flower (In the Garden of Evil)", Robespierre has demonstrated the positive effects of evolving your sound and style. For a band that traces it's roots back to the early eighties, band members Gordon Logan and David Cooke still sound young and refreshed on this new album. It's obviously that both musicians still have the fire burning deep down inside. That is reflected in the dynamic performances and the way in which this album has been presented. On a scale of 1 to 10, "Garden of Hell" is a sandwiched somewhere in-between a 8.5 and 9. In my eye that makes "Garden of Hell" a new metal classic!

Elephants In Paradise-Wake Up

Edelstahl Records
2018

Elephants in Paradise is a four-piece heavy metal/rock band from Vienna, Austria that was formed in 2015 by veteran bassist Christoph Scheffel. The forthcoming "Wake Up" is the exciting full-length debut for this up-and-coming outfit that features two members of Jacobs Moor within it's ranks: guitarist Rupert Träxler and drummer Rainer Lidauer. Exceptional lead vocals come courtesy of Cara Cole and so far two singles have been released from this highly-recommended album, "Breaking Bad" and "Feeding A Lie". While these two numbers are remarkable in their own right, "Wake Up" has more in common with the grand long players of yesterday. Full of elegant and engaging numbers from an exceptionally talented and bright quartet, "Wake Up" is one of those rare modern day rock/metal albums that is better played in all it's entirety! It holds your attention from start to finish and that has everything to do with the performances of everyone involved. Lead Singer Cara Cole is a haunting presence on the microphone while her band-mates play with precision, power and passion. "Wake Up" is as much a heavy rock and roll release as it is a red hot melodic metal/power metal one. As far as debut albums go, "Wake Up" is a perfect example of how things should be done. Strong material and top-notch performances matter more than ever in a scene where heavy metal/rock bands are a dime a dozen. Based solely on the material of "Wake Up" the band Elephants in Paradise should experience lots of critical acclaim and plenty of fanfare. Unlike a lot of the terrible music that seems to be flooding modern rock radio these days, "Wake Up" is deserving of all the praise it gets!

Buck Tow Truck-Death Wields A Six String

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Formed by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Andrew Dona, Buck Tow Truck is a one-man metal band from Woodstock, Ontario, Canada. The self-produced "Death Wields A Six String" appears to be the full-length debut for this one-man project, but that is only a guess on my part. There is little to no information available on Buck Tow Truck...I mean other than the origin of the name (see below) and a brief list of influences: "Van Halen," "Dokken" (more specifically George Lynch) and "Bathory.". With that said, "Death Wields A Six String" is a nine-track album that has it's fair share of good and bad points. First, here is what works. From a music standpoint, Buck Tow Truck's latest recording is tight and solid. There are some good ideas here and is pretty obvious that Andrew has a lot of skill and talent as a musician. With a better production job, "Death Wields A Six String" might have been a cool metal album to jam out to. Or at least it could be as an instrumental metal album. Since there is really no good way to put this how about if we just skip the pleasantries and call it like it is? Andrew Dona is a terrible singer. I'm not sure who told Andrew that he could sing, but that person should have their ears examined!! What could have been a decent heavy metal album is all but ruined by Andrew's bizarre vocal delivery. If this was an instrumental album and/or had another singer, "Death Wields A Six String" could have been graded a B- or maybe even a B. As it stands now, Buck Tow Truck's debut, which incidentally you can snag for free by heading here, is a C- release. If I'm being honest, C- might even be too high for a recording like this one. Whatever the case, Buck Tow Truck does have some promise. If only Andrew could get a new singer and a better budget...

According to the promo material: "The name for the band was conceived by combining a typical 80's tough guy name "Buck" with what George Carlin considered to be a man's word. To him, man words have 2 syllables such as shotgun or tow-truck. While saying these words be sure to pump one's fist forward and back in a horizontal line as if cocking a shotgun, as George did."

Lyzzard-Savage

Fighter
2017

When I'm deciding what to review some times it's a band I've heard of or a label I know that has done a number of good releases. In this case I see the cover art looks like a 1980's t-shirt design and the band has a reptile name so I know that I have to check it out. Lyzzard hail from Portugual and before spinning this one I figured it was going to transport me back about three decades or more. The results? Yes, indeed this is very much mid to late 80's style metal. Much of the music reminds me of Running Wild before they were full blown pirates and Grave Digger before they got all semi-historical and perhaps toss in a few pinches of Grim Reaper and Judas Priest guitars bursts. The music just keeps punching away with each track. I kept expecting one or two more mellow tracks, but that never came about. Instead the album seemed to pick up the intensity as it went along. The vocals are slightly high pitched, but clean and they certainly compliment the hard-driving music. A number of bands today that play 80's style traditional metal tend to fall into the trap having a number of songs that sound very much the same. It pleases me very much does not fall into that trap at all. In fact each song has it's own personality and for most of the songs the band sets each song apart the next rather early into each track. While anyone can sound a certain way, but what really matters in the excitement for what you and that's something that shines through on every track of this album. Lyzzard are excited about the music they have created and they should because this a very impressive album.

https://www.facebook.com/lyzzardofficial

Coffin Hunters-Coffin Lord

Self-Release/Independent
2017


Formed in early July of 2016 and comprised of Eric (vox), Sean (guitars), Brian (bass), and Jorge (drums), Sonoma County, California's Coffin Hunters have blown me away with their debut EP! It is entitled "Coffin Lord" and at 19 or so minutes in length Coffin Hunters' first studio recording finds me wondering how long it will take before some label comes in and swoops this young band up as their next big thing!! Opening up with the N.W.O.B.H.M. meets rogue garage metal rocker "Petrol God", "Coffin Lord" expertly combines elements of classic heavy metal, doom metal, proto-metal, and eighties metal (see note below). Over the course of the EP's four numbers you will discover a band that is capable of completely rewiring your previously held views on what heavy metal is and what it all means. When the Black Sabbath meets (solo) Dio title track (which just so happens to clock in at over nine minutes!) closes this EP out it is all but a guarantee that you will not only hit play again, but that you'll find yourself with a gaping mouth and the pondering question as to where has this metal band been all your life! As a fan of heavy metal I couldn't be happier about this group if I tried. I love everything about this band's sound and style. I am completely blown away by this recording! That's my reaction as somewhat who loves the genre first and foremost. I've always lived by that code (fan first and writer second).  All of which makes me ashamed of this next part. I would never want to be someone to jump on the bandwagon at the very last second, but based upon this group's EP here...well, this is a winning lottery ticket just waiting to be cashed. If I wasn't a single father of two that is baring making ends meet I would throw every dollar that I had behind this group! With the right marketing behind them and the proper support system in place we could easily be looking at the next big thing in metal. It kills me to say that I see dollar signs in front of this four-piece, but man alive, Coffin Hunters are on FIRE! The group's debut was just released this month and it is free to download on CD Baby. If it was me though I would buy it on CD at four dollars. As far as straight-up heavy metal at it's finest goes, "Coffin Lord" is like the "No Life 'Til Leather" of this generation. That's a bold statement I realize, but I hear new metal bands all the time and this California band just screams "SUCCESS"! I've said it before and I will say it again. If I had one wish in life (obviously other than a better life for my kids) it would be to have my own record label for when I stumble across acts like this. As it stands now I am just going to be happy that I heard this band before a million others. And when they do get signed I do hope that it is by a label that believes in them as much as I do. 


*By "eighties" metal I mean more than just the U.S. metal scene of yesterday. In Coffin Hunters I hear traces of what was happening worldwide during those glory days! It's not just in the U.S. and Europe, but everywhere that young people were picking up guitars and reinventing heavy metal as this vibrant new movement. On the band's debut I pick up on (vintage) Swedish heavy metal as much as I do the first wave of post-N.W.O.B.H.M. British metal groups. There's so much to discover about this branch of the group's sound. When you're looking at just this area it seems endless. Imagine how epic it is when these sounds merge successful with traditional heavy metal and vintage doom. It is unreal. I am super stoked about this band and what they will sound like as they grow and evolve. Wow....


You can find Coffin Hunter's online by heading here.

Henry Metal-Wizard Vs. Demon

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Henry Metal is a California-based metal project that was just formed this year. The five-track EP, "Wizard vs. Demon" is the second release from this mysterious band in as many months. It follows the full-length album "So It Hath Begun" and clocks in at around 20 minutes. Influences seemingly range from Megadeth and Metallica to any number of hair metal bands and (weirdly enough folks) that all works on this short release. Where Henry Metal drops the ball is the song lyrics. On a scale of 1 to 10 this EP's lyrics barely pulls itself up over a 4. And to be honest I'm being extremely generous with that grade! It's harsh I realize, but "Wizard vs. Demon" reads as if it was written by a teenage drama club member with an over-inflated ego! Said lyrics suck the life right out of this EP which is a real tragic affair! Whoever Henry Metal is (whether it is one person of a couple of people) they would be better suited bringing in a proper songwriter. Seeing how strong the band's actual music is, "Wizard vs. Demon" could have been a great argument for why the NWOTHM scene is better than every. I wish that had been the case, but as it stands now this EP gets a C rating.     

N.W.O.B.H.M. Wednesday: Rock Goddess-It's More Than Rock And Roll

Bite You To Death Records
2017

Formed in 1977 by sisters Jody (lead vocals/guitars) and Julie Turner (drums/backing vocals), Rock Goddess is a legendary N.W.O.B.H.M. band from London, England that has only gotten better with age! The group's brand new 3-track EP, "It's More Than Rock And Roll", is all the proof that ones needs to make such a declaration. Backed up by longtime bassist Tracey Lamb (ex-Girlschool), Jody and Julie Turner reaffirm that there is no age restriction on rocking out! Just click on the official video of the title track to hear it for yourself!! It is posted right below this article and it is everything that I love about (straight-up) heavy metal! As someone who discovered Rock Goddess by way of the group's 1983 self-titled debut, "It's More Than Rock And Roll" makes me fall further in love with the exceptional talent that this trio continues to showcase. And that is just the EP's first track! Besides the (instant-classic!) title track you have "Back Off" and "We're All Metal". All three numbers offer a slightly different take on heavy rock/heavy metal and they are all equally suburb. With the self-explanatory "Back Off" the members of Rock Goddess put their feet down and make a stand. This stand is aided by heavy riffs and a metallic edge that just screams "Crank me up!" and "Listen up and listen good!". It's also the perfect way for this London trio to reaffirm their well-deserved place in the metal scene. Of course fans of Rock Goddess realize that this status statement isn't necessary. There has never been a question about what Rock Goddess means to the scene. If anything this just tells today's youth that this is where it all started. It was bands like Rock Goddess that broke down the doors and made it clear that heavy metal shouldn't be about your sex, but your talent and skill set! Just in case that isn't obvious enough to everyone in the metal community, "We're All Metal" spells out the fact that heavy metal is about the music and the lifestyle it fuels. I've always said that the heavy metal community is one big family and "We're All Metal" speaks to that bound. Due out on May 19th, "It's More Than Rock And Roll" is heavy metal at it's finest. If there is any fault to be found with this EP then it has to be it's length. After a couple of spins of "It's More Than Rock And Roll" you just can't help but want to hear more. These three songs remind you of the staying power that is Rock Goddess and exactly what new music means for the fans. Hopefully this EP will start the ball rolling again for this N.W.O.B.H.M. outfit and we won't have to wait so long in-between releases!

                                               

You can pre-order the digital version of Rock Goddess' new EP by heading here. Meanwhile if you head this way you can pre-order physical copies of the EP.  The first 500 copies will be signed and numbered!

Mystica Girls-Veronica, the Courtesan from Hell

Independent/Self-Release
2016

 
Mystica Girls is a heavy metal band from Mexico that has been around since 2005. In 2012 I covered the group's second EP, "Metal Rose", and now the only original member left from that line-up is guitarist/vocalist Cinthya Monroy. Back then the group had a lead singer who also played the violin. While that was certainly different, 2016-era Mystica Girls gets my vote for best overall sound and it's not exactly a close race! This 13-track recording, which is less than four months and still finger blistering hot to the touch(!), is the English version of  the group's third full-length album, "Verónica, la cortesana del infierno". In addition to Cinthya Monroy (a skilled guitarist who took hold of the microphone in 2016!), "Veronica, the Courtesan from Hell" features the talents of Bianka García (rhythm guitar), Andrea Qatrina (bass), and drummer Yolanda Moreno (Inharmonious). Despite numerous line-up changes over the years and the fact that this Mexican outfit started out in life as a cover band, Mystica Girls's latest release has the vibe of veteran act that has been churning out classics for decades! First off Cinthya Monroy shines in her new role as guitarist and lead vocalist. For a group that has had more than it's fair share of lead singers, Mystica Girls seems as if it has finally won the lottery with this line-up. Monroy's vocal delivery perfectly suites this band's atmospheric style of traditional heavy metal. On "Veronica, the Courtesan from Hell" she guides a one-in-a-million band that enthusiastically mixes goth metal, power metal, vintage heavy metal, dark metal, and occult metal into it's spell* for word wide conquest! With everything that's been happening on this crazy place that we call Earth, I'd gladly follow these metallic ladies and let "Veronica, the Courtesan from Hell" serve as our rallying call! God only knows why I lost track of this band after "Metal Rose". Thank the maker for second chances!

*Said spell starts off with a base of (original)  hard & heavy traditional metal. It's only after the pot has come to a roaring boil that Mystica Girls adds in the different ingredients. 

=fudge=: "Never Stop Firing"

Welovemusic Records
2014

Graciously sent our way by band member Jake Curtis (drums), "Never Stop Firing" is the first EP from Germany's  =fudge=. It was independently-released in May of 2014 on CD (limited to a mere 100 copies) and now, thanks to damn fine folks over at Welovemusic Records, it is available for purchase on digital platforms like iTunes, Amazon, and Spotify. Starting things off with the wicked cool "Liars and Believers", the four-song "Never Stop Firing" is the last few (nail-biting) pages of one adventurous journey that originally began back in 2012 when two industrial metal fans, Chris Techritz (vocals, synthesizers) and Paul Curtis (bass), decided to form a new band with two young guitarists that just so happened to be modern metal maniacs (Maximilian Amberger and Sebastian Michaelis). Having added in rock-steady drummer Jake Curtis, the Mainburg-based =fudge= headed into the studio with a lofty goal in mind. This five-piece band would craft a EP that perfectly reflected the various musical influences of it's band members while simultaneously creating a powerful new genre called "synthesizer metal". Based upon songs like "The Spell", "Snow", "Ascending in Bleakness", and the aforementioned "Liars and Believers" that attempt to stretch the boundaries of industrial metal and modern metal proved extremely successful! To that end, "Never Stop Firing" wasn't just a slick combination of industrial rock and modern metal. While it's true that a big part of it's strength comes from bands like Ministry, Nine Inch Nails, and KMFDM, =fudge= is much more than your typical industrial rock/metal band. There are electronic rock and synth rock elements on display here as well as some (early eighties) punk infused-new wave. And those modern metal parts? They often give way to things like U.S. power metal, melodic metal, technical metal, and (garage-worthy!) raw heavy metal. Mixing up all these things in a bubbling vat of toxic waste, =fudge= becomes a completely different creature than what one might have imagined! In many ways this clever five-piece band reminds me of the cult act, God Is LSD. Maybe not sound-wise, but just the way in which this German band effortlessly mixes harsh vocals & grinding guitars with synthesizers and a punk-like mentality. Ultimately, "Never Stop Firing" is a rather easy release to recommend and hopefully it is one that serves as enough of a springboard for =fudge=  to use as they make the well-deserved jump from underground group to well-established outfit!

Solitude-Reach For The Sky

Test Your Metal Records
2016

Solitude is a twenty year old heavy metal band that is lead by Sacrifice's Akira Sugiuchi. Not to be confused with the half dozen or so other band's with the exact same moniker, this version of Solitude could easily be seen as Japan's answer to Motörhead....if not for the slight N.W.O.B.H.M influences! Originally released in the summer of 2015 by Spiritual Beast (lead singer Akira Sugiuchi's Japanese label!), "Reach for the Sky" is Solitude's second full-length album and the group's third overall recording since first forming in 1996. This heavy-rockin' album serves as the seven year follow-up "Brave the Storm" and it features a great production job courtesy of Akira Sugiuchi and Fuyuhiko Inui.  The eight-song album was mixed by Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg (Bullet and Crucified Barbara) and it is now seeing a proper release here in the states thanks to good folks over at Test Your Metal Records. Guitarist Shingo Ida, bassist Tohru Nishida (Sacrifice), and drummer Takamasa "Mad" Ohuch (5X, D.T.F.M., Superblood, ex-Anthem, ex-Black Hole) round things out on "Reach for the Sky" and there are some mammoth moments on this disc where bands like Raven, Tank, and even Venom come to mind! Toss in some obvious love for Saxon and a touch or two of Judas Priest and you have a surefire winner on your hands! "Reach for the Sky" is due out on November 25th so be sure to mark your calendar.

The Black Heart Gospel-Wasteland America

Self-release/Independent
2016


Based in New Jersey (and comprised of four musicians who are long-time veterans of said scene!), The Black Heart Gospel is a up-and-coming modern hard rock/heavy metal band that has shared stage with the likes of Quiet Riot, Life of Agony, Overkill and even Buckcherry(!) and has one studio release to it's name in "Wasteland America". The group's line-up includes Todd Knowlden (vocals), Stan Chan (guitar), Mark Ramsey (bass), and Pete Colvin (drums) and all four tracks on this gripping EP ("Before My Eyes", "Scary", "The Growing Unknown", and the title track) are re-worked numbers from the band member's past projects. And by "re-worked" we are talking about some seriously-fierce material that has been purged of any imperfections and then re-shaped in order that it can take the form of one to stellar fucking debut! With "Wasteland American" you get four songs that are lyrically-strong and insanely well-constructed  and seeing as they all fall under the four-minute they are all perfectly suited for today's rock radio crowd! Now, considering the fact that this (recommend) EP was put out shortly after this band first came together one would have to imagine that any new material is even better. Or at least we can all hope as much! Available on sites like CD Baby and iTunes, "Wasteland American" makes the case that we could be looking at one of the next big things to come out of New Jersey! And given that scenes success that is really saying something! 

Druknroll-In The Game

Metal Scrap Records
2016

"In The Game" is the fourth full-length album from Russia's one and only Druknroll. It follows the 2015 EP, "Петля мироздания" ("The Loop Of World Creation") and this 44 minute release features 10 distinct tracks from group-founder Andrey "Druknroll" (guitar, bass, and keys) and company. Starting off strong thanks to forceful opener "The Wolf" (official video ), "In The Game" snakes it's way through a hazard-filled landscape where everything from heavy metal-flavored harsh thrash to melodic death metal just lays there waiting for the perfect chance to spring out and strike you dead! Having previously covered this Saratov-based band back in late April of 2014 (link) I feel somewhat comfortable in saying that style-wise not much has changed for this colorful lot. Of course by that I mean there really is no one true style for this modern metal that has been in existence since 2006. Like it's unique moniker, Druknroll does things however it sees fit and that isn't necessarily a track by track affair, but during the course of a single song! To be fair it doesn't always work as things can and sometimes do become chaotic. That's the danger of trying to put too many ideas into a single song. It's a small danger, but a danger nonetheless. But, what's life without a little danger now and then? It's boring. Thankfully that's not a problem with "In The Game". Above all else it's never boring! Chaotic? Perhaps. But boring? No way! At it's core an album like "In The Game" is geared towards those who like their modern metal to be interesting and maybe even a little bit genre-jumbled. In that essence it works and it makes me wonder what more this band is capable of now that they are more familiar with the English language?

Catatonic Society-Baptistina

End Times Records
2015

Issued back in March of this year, "Baptistina" is the latest offering from the heavy metal trio known as Catatonic Society. Serving as the group's long-anticipated debut album, "Baptistina" was recorded at Sharkbite Studios in the band's hometown of Oakland, California and it finds the line-up of Jay Dickinson  (guitars, vocals), Kenny Onesko (drums), and Sergiy Trushel (bass) in fine form. This full-length follows in the footsteps of the previously-released single, "Mandrake" as well as the band's first studio outing, 2014's "Demo-nology". In addition to the riff-heavy "Mandrake" and the four equally thrashtastic tracks off of "Demo-nology" ("Left Hand Path", "Lost at Sea", "Baptistina" and "Ashes") the band's new album has hard hitting cuts like "Gravity", "Solomon's Temple", "Lazarus Frankenstein", "Last Stand", and "Shiva the Destroyer". With a run-time that is over fifty five minutes (!), "Baptistina" finds Catatonic Society moving beyond the self-imposed limits of the 2014 demo with all of the various tracks working better in this context. Initially sold to me as "High on Fire meets (some) Mastodon, meets purely old school....with hooks", "Baptistina" is as much that (fairly-accurate) description as it is a great example of how well modern metal can work when you have actual musicians with talent and a knack for songwriting at the helm! With a run-time that is over fifty five minutes (!), "Baptistina" is a real treat to the senses in addition to being one of those cool albums where you will want to give it a few spins in order to pick up on all of it's subtle nuances. If only more heavy metal/modern metal bands put this amount of effort into their craft....  

Altitudes & Attitude-Altitudes & Attitude

Megaforce Records
2014

Here's a bit of an odd release and chances are it slipped by most of our readers just as it (almost) slipped right past me. You see Altitudes & Attitude is a side-project of bassists Dave Ellefson and Frank Bello. Now, you should be familiar with those two names but if for some reason you're not then that's David Ellefson of Megadeth and Frank Bello of Anthrax. Long-story short ladies and gentlemen, these two musicians/longtime friends were out traveling the world and doing these clinics (which I guess are now known as "Metal Masters"?) when they struck upon the idea of making a mini-album together. Most of the material was reportedly written while the pair was out on the road and here on their first studio recording Dave and Frank are joined by Jeff Friedl who is also the current drummer of A Perfect Circle. Naturally all the bass parts fall on both Dave and Frank and the pair even shares guitar duties*. But when it comes to the main man behind the mic? Well, then we're talking about one Mr. Bello and he actually do a bang up job singing on "Altitudes & Attitude"! Do you find that hard to believe? Go try on "Booze & Cigarettes" for size and then come back and talk to me about whose taking care of business night and day! With only three songs this could be dubbed either a EP or a single and I believe that it was filed under the latter when I initially  downloaded it off of iTunes. For some reason though this self-titled release from the oddly-named Altitudes & Attitude looks as it has now disappeared from the U.S. version of iTunes, but for future reference you can either download it or purchase a physical copy of it on Amazon. As to whether or not you should take that step really depends upon how you feel about rock and hard rock as that is pretty much what Altitudes & Attitude is all about. Anyone expecting thrash from Dave and Frank should keep on walking. "Altitudes & Attitude" opens strong with the gritty sleaze rocker "Booze & Cigarettes" and then ends the same way with the eighties metal anthem, "Here Again". And no, we are not talking about something akin to early Anthrax on the oh-so-right "Here Again", but rather a fine rocker that pays homage to the American metal movement of the early eighties. Back in the day when U.S. hard rock bands were just starting to light it up as they looked towards their British brothers for inspiration (with stars in their eyes and a gnawing hunger that could only be satisfied by even louder and faster guitar solos!) a nifty little number like "Here Again" would have made a real splash in the pond as they say. It's hard rock plus with the "plus" taking the form of imported British metal LPs and it's as good as (if not better than?) the down and dirty "Booze & Cigarettes". If you're counting though that is only two cuts out of three so what exactly is the missing puzzle piece of this 3-track recording? That would be "Tell the World" and while it isn't exactly a dud it in no way, shape or form holds a candle to the two previously-mentioned numbers that it sandwiches. It simply exists in it's own right, but there is no way whatsoever that it would be enough to discourage me from recommending this short and sweet release! I'd love to hear more from Dave and Frank, but with everything else going on for these two bassists I highly doubt that we'll see anything new from Altitudes & Attitude anytime soon. For more information on this rock/metal side project be sure to check out the group's official website here.


*The stone cold slayer that is "Here Again" features wicked lead guitar work from Gus G. (Firewind, Gus G., Ozzy Osbourne, ex-Arch Enemy (live), ex-Dream Evil, ex-Mystic Prophecy, ex-Nightrage)

Dead Earth Politics-Men Become Gods

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Almost one year removed from the band's righteous The Queen of Steel EP, Austin, Texas heavy metal groove thrashers Dead Earth Politics return with this 4-track following, "Men Become Gods", making everything right with the world. Or at least for the time being. There's always tomorrow and new darkness to be had, but for the here and now this one's a real deal banger and it bangs HARD! Mark this date down (March 14th, 2015) as that is the official release date of this praise-worthy EP. The second in a series of three EP's, "Men Become Gods" might normally get down votes for rolling out on my ex wife's B-day, but even that mistimed coincidence cannot stop the thunderous joy that comes from unleashing the beast's beats that constitute these cuts! For those who loved the band's last EP this upcoming EP is more of the same only better! That begins with the vocal styling of frontman Ven Scott and ends with the drumming of Mason Evans. In-between it's all kind of gooey goodness with the addition of new* guitarist Aaron Canady (of Austin, Texas metal band Shrapnel) likely to pay dividends for year's to come. One can't help but appreciate all that this band puts into their music and the professional way in which they present themselves. I'm rooting for Dead Earth Politics and I suggest all of our readers do the same. These guys come across as legit with "Men Become Gods" crushing all expectations and strongly hinting at a band right on cusp of something big (much like their BIG riffs!).You can find this Texas band online here or if you like here while you can hear the group's last EP over here.

*Aaron Canady joined in 2014 and was on the group's last EP as well. Even as good as the chemistry was on that particular EP (between Canady and Dead Earth Politics' guitarist Tim Driscoll) it has improved tenfold with "Men Become Gods" pointing towards serious future success for this five-piece band! Between these two (Canady and Driscoll) riffs fly everywhere, but these also gel seamlessly making the string section of Dead Earth Politics just glorious! With Will Little doing his thing on the bass (and doing it oh so smooth!) this band is (collectively) something to behold! As much as I loved the group's last release this new one is a improvement with the songwriting and overall delivery of Dead Earth Politics bordering on near-perfection! So far 2015 is proving to be real blessing when it comes to heavy metal/thrash with hooks!

Free Metal Monday: Olathia-Olathia Demo

Self-Release/Independent
2014


This is the second of two Free Metal Monday offerings that I have posted today. That in and of itself is a rarity I realize, but it get's even crazier my friends. For you see this is also the second free digital download offering of the day to feature a band from my home state of Ohio!! Honestly I cannot for the life of me remember the last time that something like that has happened here at HMTM. That's if it has ever happened. I do have to wonder. But anyway, the first one was of course Ohio's Intervoid. But, while Intervoid specializes in technical/industrial death metal (all the while doing it quite well thank you very much!) this particular band rocks walks a different path. For Olathia, who incidentally hail from the Hometown of Rock and Roll (Cleveland baby! Oh yeah!!) and feature in their ranks the very lovely and very talented Chris E. (ex-Cellbound, ex-From The Ashes) on lead vocals, it's all about the metal! As in straight-up heavy metal with at least one song ("Open your Eyes (RadioEdit)") offering the five-piece band rock radio potential. And they make their debut on the scene with this hard-driving/hard hitting (name-your-own-price) three-track EP (https://olathia.bandcamp.com/album/olathia-demo). Cleverly-titled "Olathia Demo"(!) and opening with the absolute slammer "Hellhound" this EP can also be picked up on CD for a measly three dollars which is an absolute steal if you ask me! In addition to the great voice of Chris E. the band Olathia (https://www.facebook.com/olathiametal) is made up of top-tier musicians with ties to quite a few good Ohio bands. On guitars you have Jake Nicholson (ex-Black Valor, ex-Festinate) and Steve Albenze (Idleblack) while bassist Sully (Crown Royal) and drummer Jeff Morrow (Dose, Hemi Devils, Slave to Nothing) fill out the rhythm section. All four musicians bring skill and class to Olathia with both "Hellhound" and "Open Your Eyes" offering different and yet equaling satisfying sides to what is a very cool new band. As this is only the first studio release from this Cleveland band and it is this strong and good already one can't help but hope for much more material out of Olathia in the near future. For a band that seemingly appeared from out of nowhere Olathia provides further proof that Ohio is the place to be when it comes to new and exciting rock, hard rock and heavy metal bands and artists!

Bloody Cross-Attack of the Evil Wizard

Diamond Shed Records
2014

The self-proclaimed inventors of Shed Metal*, Bloody Cross are a brand-spanking new act from Dingwall. Not too be confused with the Chilean black metal band of the same name (or for that matter the long-defunct German Christian thrash metal outfit act whose one and done album, "Coming Again", has a unintentionally funny title going on!) this recently-resurrected group was formed from the remains of the zombie/punk outfit The Terrible Bastards. Based in the Highlands, which (according to band member Ryan Sealey who was kind enough to zip this EP our way for review) is a place where there is "not much of a metal scene...in fact not much of anything", this particular Bloody Cross plays a lo-fi  version of heavy metal that retains the band's punk rock roots while distinctly leaning on the hallmarks of many a great, sloppy garage metal band of yesteryear. Not for the faint of heart or even your everyday stuck-up metal purist, "Attack of the Evil Wizard" is indeed ugly, but in a lovable kind of way! Whether you choose to call it punk metal or trash metal it's all Shed Metal to these ears and in this day and age where everything is so over the top this band's mentality that "less is more" is somewhat refreshing even if it surely won't be of every one's tastes. You can listen to and download this one for free at the link below and for more information on Bloody Cross be sure to head right here:https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bloody-Cross/1503840196568213?ref=ts&fref=ts


*Shed Metal is a "controversial cross between traditional heavy metal and low musical proficiency.".




https://bloodycross.bandcamp.com/releases