Saturday Singles: Toxikull-“Nightraiser”

Mosher Records and Firecum Records
2018

Formed in 2016 (and previously known as Toxic Room), Toxikull is a (killer!) Portuguese speed/thrash metal band that sports one bass ass moniker! Thank the metal gods above and below then that their latest single, "Nightraiser", lives up to the group's fucking wicked name!! Fronted by the brothers Lex Thunder (Midnight Priest) and Michael Blade, Toxikull* goes straight for the jugular with the raw and utterly ruthless "Nightraiser"! It mixes classic speed metal and thrash with modern heavy/thrash metal. Filled with great guitar work, a sick rhythm section,  and demonic screams from hell, this headbanger clocks in at just over five minutes! Well-written and all but guaranteed to start a mosh pit(!), "Nightraiser" also serves as the title cut for the band's upcoming EP. If this sinister single is anything to go by, "The Nightraiser" EP might just be one of the best speed/thrash metal releases of 2018! We can only hope. While we wait for that moment, this monster of a metal moment can be experienced by checking out the video below. Enjoy!

*Possessed by the spirits of old school heavy metal, speed metal, and thrash, Toxikull also includes bassist/vocalist Armageddon (Booze Abuser, Okkultist) and drummer The Lorke.

Iron Hunter-Killing Machine

Underground Power Records
2017

Iron Hunter is a (vintage speed metal-infused) heavy metal/power metal band from Spain that is fronted by Emi Ramirez (Midnight Rites, Unhuman Nature, Witchfyre, ex-Atreides, ex-Ardegan, ex-Trial). Formed in 2015 (and originally known as Starlight), "Killing Machine" serves as Iron Hunter's debut offering and it finds Portrait's Per Lengstedt providing guest vocals on the old school banger that is the title track. This 7" single also includes "From the Ashes".  These two numbers (which are both home run hits!) go a long way in showcasing Iron Hunter's slick ability to combine vintage heavy metal, N.W.O.B.H.M., European power metal, and classic speed metal. Some of the group's influences include Riot, Iron Maiden, Running Wild, and (old) Helloween, but overall this Spanish metal band has their own thing going on and it is a real blast! As I type this Iron Hunter is (reportedly) working on their first full-length. I'll be sure to keep an eye out for that. In the meantime you can find out more about this young metal band on Facebook.

Steel Inferno-Arcade Warrior 7"

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Steel Inferno are a 80's-inspired heavy metal/speed metal band that my friend and fellow blogger Emil Öhman indirectly turned me onto thanks to the fact that I follow his music feed on bandcamp. Formed in 2012, with this 7" serving as the band's second overall release, Steel Inferno is based in Copenhagen even if the various members of this female-fronted band originate from Greece, France, Poland and Denmark. Lead vocals are capably handled by Karen (aka Karen Collatz Christensen) with this female-fronted heavy metal/speed metal act rounded out by speed-worthy guitarists Lars (Lars Lyndorff Krelskov ) & Patrick (Patrick Thomsen Mantzouridis ), bass player Thierry and drummer Krzysztof. Musically-speaking Steel Inferno offer up the likes of Accept, Slayer, Savage Grace, Agent Steel, Iron Maiden, Omen and ADX as influences, but here on the tasty "Arcade Warrior" it's all dished out pipping hot with a fresh slice of originality serving as the mouthwatering side dish! With only two numbers though this 7" from Denmark's Steel Inferno will likely leave you longing for more so it's a damn fine deal that earlier this year the band also released a recommended demo* right? Online you can find these speed-tinged metal maniacs at this link (https://www.facebook.com/steelinferno666) while you can sample "Arcade Warrior" by heading here:http://steelinferno.bandcamp.com/album/arcade-warrior-7

And as for the band's other release? The one that turned me onto Steel Inferno in the first place? Well, that particular piece of classic hard & heavy speed entitled  "Demo 2014" can be downloaded for free by heading here: http://steelinferno.bandcamp.com/album/demo-2014. All in all you can never get enough killer female-fronted metal if you ask me so band's like Steel Inferno will always be welcome here at HMTM. Especially when they are just as capable of rocking out as they thrashing out like this five-piece is! What? I didn't mention this band's capacity to "rock out"? Where are my manors today? I must apologize as sure enough  the members of Steel Inferno have hard rock additives running through their veins. And when you take hard rock's sensibilities and you tangled it up with heavy metal-infused speed you get a band that is all the more capable of hitting you from all these different directions at once! The scene needs more band's like
Steel Inferno. The type of bands which are not afraid to get their hands dirty by digging up a little of everything spice-wise in order to make their brand of metal all the more flavorable! Needless to say I'm slapping my seal of approval on "Arcade Warrior" as well as "Demo 2014"! Two great releases from one female-fronted metal act in the same year? I can't think of the last time I've seen that happen!

Hellion-"Karma's A Bitch" Single

New Renaissance
2014

"Karma's A Bitch" is the first single to be released from Hellion's upcoming EP of the same name. And of course the very cool Hellion (not to be confused with the now-defunct Washington, DC of the same name) is a L.A.-based heavy metal/speed metal band which features the eternally young Ann Boleyn and has been going on and off since 1982. The five track EP which this killer cut is taken from is due out on October 7th and so far fan's have been treated to not only this fantastic track, but the Dio-ish "Hell Has No Fury". That particular song (which lat out ROCKS friends!) can be found here and for the lovely Ann and her band (featuring Simon Wright of AC/DC and Dio fame incidentally!) it's simply a tale of getting better with age. Both "Karma's A Bitch" and "Hell Has No Fury" come packaged with the kind of youthful enthusiasm and energy that you would expect out a young band only here we're talking heavy metal anthems that have the benefit of sensational songwriting and craftsmanship! Fans of old should literally pounce of the EP when it is released as should those who just love top-notch female-fronted traditional heavy metal! My plan is to cover the EP in it's entirety once it's officially released, but for the time being I would encourage everyone to download this single and support this long-standing U.S. heavy/speed band. You can find out more about Hellion at their Facebook page posted below or by heading over to their official website: http://www.hellion.us/home 

Hellion's Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/Hellion.Official