Damaj-The Wrath of the Tide

Self-Release/Independent
2017


Damaj is a Scottish heavy metal band that has two EPs to it's name. The self-released "The Wrath of the Tide" is the group's latest one. It shows up four years after the band's debut, "Give Me Time", and features the line-up of Danny Stewart (vox/guitars), James Haggart (lead guitar/backing vocals), David Douglas (bass), and Scott Macleod (drums). Available as a digital download and as a limited-edition CD (link), "The Wrath of the Tide" is the band's first recording with Scott Macleod as well as my first experience with this four year old group. Based on the artwork above I half expected this EP to be epic metal. As the old saying goes "Never judge a book by it's cover". Opening number "The King" is a cross between thrash and really heavy traditional metal. The clean vocals of lead singer Danny gel perfectly with the band's aggressive approach. While the title track pays homage to Iron Maiden and the N.W.O.B.H.M scene, "The Testament of Judas" is every bit as gnarly as "The King". Of the two contrasting styles, thrash metal is where I see this four-piece band truly excelling. Either way though the guitar solos on these first three cuts are dynamite. So are the bass parts and the drumming. When it's comes to straight-up METAL this is a skilled band that knows exactly what it's target audience wants! It's only on the EP's last track that this Scottish four-piece tries something completely different. Clocking in at just shy of six minutes, "The Well of Souls" is a hard and heavy metal piece that places more of an emphasis on rhythm than anything else. There are no real guitar solos to speak of. Instead this last track is compacted hard and heavy metal with a fist in your face attitude! I hate to us the term "nu metal" here, but in a way that is almost what this band strives for. The thing is you would never find a nu metal track like this piece. Whatever you want to call it, "The Well of Souls" works as a number and it adds a bit of variety to what is already a stand up EP. 

Dark Ministry-The Sermon Begins

Metal Scrap Records
2017

Dark Ministry is a up-and-coming metal band that hails from Ottawa, Canada and is fronted by Tyler Knapp. Formed in August of 2015 by drummer Rik Charron (ex-Exciter), "The Sermon Begins" serves as the studio debut for this (extreme) five-piece band and it includes the songs "Killing Machine", "Voodoo Sacrifice", and "Blood Driven". All three tracks offer a slightly different (and yet thoroughly enjoyable!) approach to old-school metal/vintage thrash with the only true connection being the hardcore/crossover voice of Tyler Knapp. Tyler's vocal style might not be suited to every one's tastes, but as a long-time fan of harsh and aggressive metal vocalists I couldn't help but appreciate the edgy attitude that it gives "The Sermon Begins"! Otherwise you can expect razor sharp lead solos, pounding drums, and thick bass riffs on this short, but most certainly recommend(!), 3-track EP. With more than enough material for a full-length album at their disposal, Dark Ministry could easily prove to be a force to be reckoned with down the line. 



* Along with eighties thrash and the crossover-appeal that is offered by way of it's lead vocalist, Dark Ministry's "The Sermon Begins" has flashes of ("Painkiller"-era) Judas Priest, Anvil, and (not surprising given the drummer involved) later day Exciter.

Death of Kings-Hell Comes to Life

Boris Records
2017

Based in Atalanta, Georgia and active since 2009, Death of Kings is a (vintage thrash-infused) traditional heavy metal band that seems to love Motörhead as much as I do! The obvious question now is where have they been all my life? Eh, scratch that. After taking a look at the group's Facebook page it sure looks as if Death of Kings has been tearing up the scene for some time now. Apparently they have also shared the stage with the likes of Morbid Angel, D.R.I, Mastodon, Skeletonwitch, and 3 Inches of Blood. I guess the better question would be "Why am I always the last to know about groups like this?". Having made their studio debut in 2010,  Death of Kings now has two demos, two EPs, a split, and one single to it's name. For some dumb reason this 7" vinyl serves as my first introduction to these thrash-loving merchants of true heavy metal. That is an epic fail on my part so how about if I reach across the aisle and make things right? Due out on March 31st, "Hell Comes to Life" is the latest recording for this (loud & proud) band that is lead by Matt Matson (vocals/guitar). With bassist Scott Price and drummer Amos Rifkin (Spewtilator) anchoring this mean S.O.B with brute force, Death of Kings also features guitarist Matt Kilpatrick from the death metal band Cemetery Filth. This forthcoming release includes the title track and "Hell Patrol". As previously mentioned, Motörhead is a key source of inspiration, but then again so are the bands Exodus, Testament, Slayer, (early) Tank, Kreator, Destruction, (and to a lesser extent) Venom. On the second spin, "Hell Comes to Life" reaffirmed my suspicion that there was some love shown for Seattle's The Accüsed vibes, but I don't think it is intentional. It might just be something as simple as Matt Matson's vocal delivery, but I felt it all the same. Speaking of Death of Kings kick ass front-man, Matt does a stand-up job of getting right after the mic on these two tracks. His vocal style makes "Hell Comes to Life" all the more unrelenting (and dare I even say sinister?) Backed up by his (unholy) heavy metal brothers in arms, Matt Matson grabs hold of the listener and delivers a fierce & fiery sermon on hell's power to rock you from the grave! With a full-length album due out later in the year, I simply cannot wait until Matt delivers a follow-up lesson with the full blessing and support of this (heavy metal worshiping!) thrash-attack band!!

Free Metal Monday: Angerhead - "Iron Fist" (Motörhead cover)

Active since February of 2011, Angerhead is a stone-cold killer San Jose, California-based metal band that is lead by mad-man Paul Hastey and rounded out by guitarist Eric Beard (Bomb and Scary, Dr. Chunk), bassist Jim Pegram (Patryk deRosa) and drummer Ron Redeen (ex-Brother Cain). This heavy-rockin' four-piece has two top-quality  EPs to it's name (2012's "Pissed Off!" and 2014's "Angerhead") and both recordings (which BTW are highly-recommended kids!) were independently-released. While these two distinct EPs have helped set this punk/hardcore-infused heavy metal/thrash quartet apart from the pack chances are good that it's Angerhead's soon to be released 3rd EP, "Fueled by Rage", that will be the real game changer! In addition to three original compositions, "Fueled by Rage" includes a choice cover of Motörhead's "Iron Fist". As a life-long fan of Motörhead I just have to say that as far as covers go this one is fanFUCKINGtastic! If ever a band did right by Lemmy and the lads then this is it! It's quite obvious that the members of Angerhead are big-time fans of Motörhead as they put a shit-load of heart and soul into this classic cover song that you can/should download for free by clicking here. Even if the other three songs on "Fueled by Rage" are merely so-so this incredibly heart-felt tribute to Motörhead will be enough to push Angerhead out in front of the crowd! Granted I don't foresee that happening (the other three songs being decent at best and what not) as everything that I have heard from Angerhead has so far been solid. Hopefully I will get a chance to review "Fueled by Rage", but in the meantime be sure to give this ass-kicking cover a chance.

Angel Sword-Rebels Beyond the Pale

Underground Power Records and Heavy Chains Records
2016

What's this we have here? A brand spanking new full-length album from Finland's one and only Angel Sword? Here it is and we're almost at the end of January and I'm still getting Christmas presents? Hells to the bells fuck yeah! In case you're wondering what it is that I'm on about here's the score kids. Helsinki, Finland-based Angel Sword (Jerry Razors-vox, guitars, Sylvester Shredder-guitars, backing vox,
Eviltaker -bass, and St. Peter-drums, backing vox) is a band that I previously covered back in May of 2015. The group's last EP, "The Midwinter Tapes", was a hotter than hell mixture of traditional heavy metal, N.W.O.B.H.M. and thrash that was topped off with (damn fantastic!) punk-like Lemmy vocals. That EP pretty much blew my head right off and made me have MAD cravings for more of Angel Sword's energetic and enthusiastic take on STRAIGHT-UP FUCKING METAL! It's obviously long-overdue, but "Rebels Beyond the Pale", which was recorded in 2015 and will be released in 2016 through Underground Power Records and Heavy Chains Records, is Angel Sword's first full-length album and to say that I was psyched to see this one appear in my inbox is an understatement!  Picking right up where "The Midwinter Tapes" left off (with all four of those tracks making their way onto this must-snag release), "Rebels Beyond the Pale" not only showcases Angel Sword's already appealing ability to blend traditional heavy metal, N.W.O.B.H.M. and thrash into something rather fucking awesome(!), but it adds a little more punk to the intoxicating cocktail as well as riff-heavy rock & roll! To go along with the previously-released four tracks off of the band's 2015 EP there are several new cuts including the killer opening number "Devastator" (a speed metal punk classic!), "Lightning Runners", "Lawmaker", "Sign of the Raven", and "Witches Never Die". Those last two cuts, "Sign of the Raven" and "Witches Never Die", are atmospheric and ambitious with the former even embracing the more doom-laden side of the late N.W.O.B.H.M. movement! The album's new material offers great insight into the overall growth of this heavy metal quartet and given time I can really see this band becoming the next big thing in the N.W.O.T.H.M. scene. That's not too say that the older material isn't just as satisfying as the new stuff. Everything that I said about this band in my last review stills holds true. If anything this album's mash-up of new and old material goes along swimmingly with Angel Sword's vast array of influences. From punk metal to traditional heavy metal it's all here and in brightly lite colors to boot! The thing is words alone cannot fully convey just how cool Angel Sword's debut album is which is why you need to hear "Rebels Beyond the Pale" for yourself. Of course once you do that it's only right that you share the discovery with all of your friends and loved ones! Heavy metal being a group sport and what not, "Rebels Beyond the Pale" makes for a hell of a satisfying soundtrack to all of the chaos and mayhem so be sure to A) Buy this one asap and then B) Play it LOUD and PROUD! Need anymore info? If you answered "Yes" then be sure to head over to the group's Facebook page. Otherwise what are you waiting for?????

Eisenhauer-Horse Of Hell

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Formed in 2007 and featuring Simon Bihlmayer of the German thrash band Running Death, Eisenhauer is a four-piece band whose hearty sound threads the thin line between hard & heavy metal and thrash. This well-regarded four-track EP serves as the group's latest effort and it is the naturally follow-up to to the band's 2013 full-length debut, "Never Surrender". Interestingly enough "Horse of Hell" features a song called "Never Surrender" and it's a slam-dunk slab of guitar-heavy metal! But, we're getting ahead of ourselves as there are other topics on the table that need to be addressed. First off the line-up is rounded by vocalist/guitarist Christian "Waxe" Wagner, bassist Thomas "Ase" Aschermann, and drummer Johann Bechteler. The aforementioned Simon Bihlmayer handles additional guitar duties for this Bavarian quartet and the six-string department is really where it's at when it comes to Eisenhauer. The guitar work on "Horse Of Hell" is second to none and it gives this band's heavy metal/thrash sound a sweet touch of rock and roll! With Christian "Waxe" Wagner's voice serving as the cherry on the top of this metallic treat, Eisenhauer whips out four tracks of instantly enjoyable metal that is all at once classic and modern in it's approach. Self-described as "ASS KICKIN´METAL" (an apt description), Eisenhauer does the metal community a solid when it comes to the four-track "Horse Of Hell" as this one ends up being a hidden gem in a vast field of complete rubbish (AKA: Much of what passes for new heavy metal these days!). Had I actually managed to compile a "Best Of" list for 2015 this EP would have made the cut as it's the complete package: Top notch songwriting and performances that is balanced out by a stellar production! What more could a metal fan ask for then that? You can find these guys online by heading here and as the final thought I just want to thank METALMESSAGE for sending this band's information my way. Good metal isn't impossible to find these days, but it sure does help matters when you have folks like METALMESSAGE looking out for you!

Stormlurker-A Dark Formation

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Released this past October, "A Dark Formation" is is the debut offering of the slickly-named Stormlurker. "But, who or what exactly is a Stormlurker?" I hear you asking. Well now, that's where introductions are in order. Talking at least a part of it's name from the (naturally) stormy-state of his home state of Florida (with that lurker part of the moniker quite possibly & unintentionally a subconscious nod toward the late great H.P. Lovecraft!), Stormlurker is the brainchild of guitarist/vocalist Deryck Heignum. And that would of course be the same Deryck Heignum of Norselaw fame! Having teamed up with drummer Austin Lane and bassist Stan Martell (the main man who actually produced this smooth as fuck album, but more of that later!), Deryck Heignum actually turns his attention away from the N.W.O.B.H.M.-inspired punk metal that is Norselaw and (with relative ease) conquerors the field of heavy metal-tinged thrash! Fans of the Ohio band Norselaw should already be familiar with Deryck's talent as both a guitarist and vocalist, but for everyone else here's the deal. Stormlurker's front man is one part fine-tuned metal maniac and one part straight-out MANIAC! He's a wiz on the guitar (Shred Shack compared Deryck's playing to "No Rest For the Wicked"-era Zakk Wylde and frankly-speaking here folks that's not too far off from things!) and as a vocalist he's got a nice otherwordly range. Deathly-growls give way to the same kind of wicked vocals that you might just find on some of your favorite late-80's/early-90's thrash albums! What it boils down to is this: this cat has extra sharp claws and he can growl! When it comes his guitar playing on "A Dark Formation" it's as classic as they come while there's also plenty of modern-day mech metal riffs and a doomish over-glow! You know the old saying though right? No man is an island. Not even Deryck Heignum.....or at least not here!! That's where bassist/producer Stan Martell and skinsman Austin Lane come into play. The first lays down fantastic
riffs that are gritty and robust. Stan's style is a perfect fit for the band and in standing by Deryck he offers more straight-line metal material that sharply cuts through the air like a mad mans blade cutting through soft flesh! Meanwhile the drumming on this is stone-cold killer! Not only does Stormlurker's drummer keep the beat, but he mixes in a slew of different styles along the way! On "A Dark Formation" you're just as likely to be reminded of Judas Priest as you are Slayer (drum-wise) and all of that makes for a trio that impossible to ignore! Before we get into the overall sound of this power trio I feel as if we must give a special shout-out to Stan Martell's production on "A Dark Formation". When I first heard this release two things popped into my mind. The first thing was "Holy shit that's hot!" and the second one was (and yeah, this one is weirdly out there!) "This is like something that I would hear on Liquid Metal*!" Obviously Stan not only excels in the filed of bass playing, but as a producer to! All of which brings us to the album's actual music. The best way to describe Stormlurker's particular style would be thrash metal that is influenced by classic/traditional metal. That in and of itself would be wicked right? Even so there's more to it than that. Peppered with doom, power metal and even some death metal elements this proves to be an exceptional release that sounds completely unique and original. Much like his other band Norselaw, Deryck Heignum's Stormlurker sounds like nobody else! When was the last time you heard any band coming across like that? Never right? Well, this band is the real deal as is this self-produced/self-released recording. In a world of imitators here's another band that is far too good to remain unsigned! All that's needed is for the right set of ears to hear this one and it's game on! Here's to hoping that happens friends..... 


Want to know more about Stormlurker? Well then you're in luck! You can find this band online here
and you can read an interview with the band by going this way.




*Back when I had Sirius Radio I used to LOVE their station Liquid Metal. They always seemed to have class act bands on there with crystal clear production that was nothing short of flawless. That same kind of feeling I had for those albums I feel for "A Dark Formation". To put it bluntly, "A Dark Formation" features a stellar, Grade A  production job!

French Metal Friday: Gang-Live Is All

Underground Investigation
2015

Active since 1990, Gang is a heavy metal/thrash band that hails from Fismes, Champagne-Ardenne and is currently comprised of Bill (lead vocals), Steve (lead guitars), Biggy (lead guitars), Philty (bass guitar), and Malo (drums). As of this writing this veteran French group has six full-length albums, a EP of covers, and one additional live recording  ("Heavy Metal Road 666 - Live in Fismes 2012") to their name with LP number seven planned for sometime in 2016. This particular live release was recorded during the SOS Festival 2014 in Manchester, Radcliffe, UK. The set list for this live recording featured new material off of Gang's latest full-length release, "Inject the Venom" (which I covered here ) such as "All the Fool Around",  "Chaos for Glory", "Primal Reign", "All of the Damned", and "The King Becomes A God". There is also some older material such as "Believer / Betrayer" and "Skull's Out of Genocide" from 2010's "V" and a obligatory cover track in "Total Eclipse" (Iron Maiden)! The full track list appears below this review, but let's just say that Gang put together a nice assortment of material for this live release! Fans of this French hard & heavy thrash outfit should appreciate "Live Is All" if for no other reason than the fact that it sure seems to be a fair representation of these merchants of metal in the flesh! With a run-time of something like 40 minutes this upcoming release makes you feel as if you were right there in the crowd and a part of all the action! I can't begin to tell you how nice it is to hear a live album that actually sounds as if it came from real live event. There's nothing fancy about this one and it's quite obvious that nothing has been "touched up". With Gang what you see is what you get and just like the great wine that their home country is known for this French band has only improved with age! As it is due to drop in October Gang fans will have to wait just a little while for this release. In the meantime be sure to follow the band's Facebook page and while you're at it why not head over to be Gang's online site to hear sample bits from this disc? I've also included a link below* for another review that I did for this French band. Unless I'm mistaken (which happens a lot for me now that I'm getting that old "Touch Of Grey") it is also the first album that I ever covered from Gang.

"Live Is All" Track List:
 
1. Behind the Gate
2. All the Fool Around
3. Chaos for Glory
4. Believer Betrayer
5. Total Eclipse (Iron Maiden)
6. Primal Reign
7. Skull’s out of Genocide
8. All of the Damned
9. Make Some Noise for the Froggies
10. The King Became A God
11. Back to Asylum


*My first taste of this French band came by way "1993". Titled after the year in which it was released, "1993" was the band's debut album and even though it might not sound like it from my review I have come to enjoy the album extended EP quite a bit for what it is.

Uzziel-Torn Apart

Dr. Music Records
2015


Hailing from Micheldorf, Upper Austria, Uzziel is a traditional heavy metal/melodic thrash quartet with "Torn Apart" serving as the band's latest recording. The group is fronted by bassist Mex (Mortuary (Aut), ex-Legacy, ex-Morbid Breed) and according to the band's Facebook bio the word Uzziel comes from the Torah and it supposedly means "El is my strength or God is my strength". Guitarists Francis & Hati and drummer Tom round things out in Uzziel and this 14-track album is actually the band's sophomore release as it follows a 2011 demo entitled "Broken". Whether it's worth mentioning is open to debate, but "Torn Apart"  was originally issued in digital form back in October of 2014 by Darkspace Music. Thanks to Dr. Music Records it will now be seeing a physical release sometime this summer which should please fan's of the band. "How about the rest of us?" I hear you asking. As it turns out, "Torn Apart" is a good times/bad times kind of release. Where should we start? How about we touch on this album's ills and then we'll say a word or two about what works. As it's Friday I'll keep it light and simple especially as I know you all have places to go and people to see! The bad news about "Torn Apart" would be lead singer Mex (aka Markus Pilz). I feel as if I should preface this by saying when it comes to Mex's voice it would work on any other day. Or rather in a different version of this band. While the music is nice mash-up of classic heavy metal and melodic thrash (with cool little sprinklings of hard rock, groove metal and hardcore punk) Mex's voice is extremely harsh and sadly it's even a bit monotonous. If he was fronting a more crossover-leaning version of Uzziel I could see his aggressive mic work serving as a positive. Seeing as the band's album falls closer to heavy metal than hardcore it doesn't. And in a way that moves us to the positive aspects of "Torn Apart". Even at it's hardest and heaviest the music found within "Torn Apart" is melodic. There's also some clever guitar work to be found on "Torn Apart" and while none of this is mind-blowing, Uzziel's sophomore release shows actual promise. In the end Mex's voice really works against that promise, but I suppose it is possible that people could enjoy this while simultaneously tuning out the vocals? So what does it all mean? What's the final verdict? Well, If I was to grade it, "Torn Apart" would get a C+ as it's got good stuff going on even if it's nowhere near a must-add kind of album.

Mortician-Shout for Heavy Metal

Pure Underground Records
2014

Vorarlberg, Austria-based four-piece Mortician (who are not to be confused with the horror-obsessed U.S. death metal/grindcore band of the same name!) are a N.W.O.B.H.M-infused classic heavy metal act whose roots can be traced back to 1983. Early on the band's influences were said to be the likes of Kiss, AC/DC and Judas Priest and in 1987 the group released a demo entitled "Street Warrior" and a EP known as "No War". An additional demo followed in 1989 by the name of "Break The Rules" before the band call it quits in 1990. After taking a "few" years off (19 to be exact!) Mortician was reformed in 2009 with guitarist Thomas "Tommy Lee" Metzler (ex-Art of Fear, ex-Tyran Virgin, ex-Psycho Holiday) and bass player Patrick Lerchertook serving as the sole original members of the band. Since then the group has released a compilation album entitled "No War & More", a 2011 self-titled full-length release and now this (fittingly-titled) recording, "Shout for Heavy Metal". Rounding out Mortician these days we have lead vocalist Daniel Khan (formerly of power metal band Art of Fear) with a drummer by the name of Alex credited in the promo material's notes. It's actually the title track that opens this album and drummer Alex slips right into the fold with "Shout for Heavy Metal" finding this Austria act merging N.W.O.B.H.M. greats such as Saxon, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden with the likes of Accept! With the throaty vocal delivery of Daniel Khan giving Mortician a gritty exterior the band takes a number like "Eagle Spy" to soaring heights (no pun intended!) and it's rather cool to hear how everyone from Saxon to Guns N' Roses (and even the one and only Motörhead!) is worked into the program! While Mortician's early career might have been influenced by Kiss, AC/DC and Judas Priest here we find a reshuffled heavy metal band where Judas Priest is just the beginning with the end of the adventure (ie: "The Devil You Know", "Black Eyes" and "Inner Self") pointing towards the likes of Slayer, Exodus and Megadeth! The "string" section here makes those sort of links work with "Shout for Heavy Metal" certainly living up to it's title in more ways then one! Then again so do songs like "Rock Power" (where this well-rounded band had me envisioning a mash-up of Accept and Manowar!) and the album's darkest moment, the slow descent in madness that is "Hate". Meanwhile the Judas Priest/Megadeth vehicle "Wrong Way" is the perfect way to wrap this LP up as it ends things on a high note! With a run-time over 40 minutes Mortician's latest effort is a wet dream come true for fans of pure metal and one that I hope to add to my physical music collection in the very near future!

Dark Hound-Dark Hound

Rampart Struggle Records
2014

Formed in 2009, Nashville-based Dark Hound is a technically-skilled, heavy (and yet oh so wonderfully melodic in all the right ways!) four-piece band made up of bassist/vocalist ET Brown, guitarists Elliot Gordon (Clorange) and Evan Hensley (Nightfall) and drummer Josh Brown (Enfold Darkness, Nashvillbilly). Chiefly a product of yesteryear's heavy metal heroes (Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Pantera, Testament and Dream Theater just to name a few!) this Tennessee outfit has plenty of love for the scene's roots while offering up a more modern day approach to what a lot of people would just lazily label traditional heavy metal. More then anything though this cool band riff is just as awesome and diverse as that list of influences would suggest with the self-titled "Dark Hound" offering a hell of a lot of bang for the buck! The group's Facebook page quotes guitarist Evan Hensley saying how he'd love to see Dark Hound "put Nashville on the map for metal!" and with a stellar-release like this one under their belts that goal does not seem all that far-fetched! As someone who has been to Nashville and witnessed first-hand it's obsession with all things country and even blues it's great to see a band like Dark Hound pull off a bit of a coup and bring some much-needed killer metal to the scene! "Dark Hound" features well-written and superbly-crafted material with plenty of finesse and charisma so naturally this rock-steady affair comes with my highest recommendation!

http://www.dark-hound.com/

Aittala-Effigy

Self-Released/Independent
2014

No strangers to those of us here at Heavy Metal Time Machine, North Carolina-based metal act Aittala (so named because of the group's founder, sole consistent member and lead singer/guitarist Eric Aittala) was previously covered by Metal Mark in 2010 (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2010/04/aittala-bed-of-thorns.html) and 2011 (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=Aittala-Haunt+your+flesh+). Now, some three years since we last heard from the group thanks to their submission of  "Haunt Your Flesh" (an album which, frankly speaking and all friends, seems to have drawn mixed reactions judging by the various online reviews I uncovered in preparation of this particular review) Aittala are back with their third full-length album since Eric formed the very first version of Aittala WAY back in 1992 while he was in Holland of all places! With a grand total of 10 tracks (seven brand new ones along with three "re-imagined" tracks from the group's 1993 demo, "Selling Heaven", with those being "Sinister as the Serpent", "Selling Heaven" and "Creators of Doom") album number three from Eric Aittala is a tale of two cites (so to speak). Before we delve into what works and what doesn't work though let me be perfectly clear about something. Despite looking over Metal Mark's past reviews for this NC (dangerous) metal outfit (and scanning numerous online sources for background information on this dark progressive, hard & heavy powerhouse) I walked into Aittala's presence with no pre-conceived notions whatsoever and without even a hint of prejudice. In my mind Aittala would either stand on their own two feet or fall over, track by track being the ultimate means of judgement placed upon this long-running heavy metal venture. Nothing more and nothing less folks as I let this LP unfold and I drifted into Eric's world of darkly-tinted heavy metal where he joins up with like-minded (highly-skilled) musicians in order to (hopefully) create an album worthy of recommendation. And speaking of musicians, here is how it all boils down:

Tracks 1 - 7 feature a line-up of:
Eric Aittala - vocals, guitars, keys     
Randall Rhodes - bass, backing vocals
Gary 'Zeus' Smith - drums      

Those particular tracks are as follows (with grades!):  "Pigs" (A-), "Effigy" (A), "Russian Roulette" (A+),  "Souvenirs" (A+), "Erased" (B+),  "Deconstruct" (A+) and "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (A+). 

Meanwhile tracks 8-10, which are the the re-worked/re-recorded tracks from the previously mentioned 1993 demo ("Sinister as the Serpent (2014)", "Selling Heaven (2014)" and "Creators of Doom (2014)"), have a line-up of:
Eric Aittala - vocals, guitars, keys        
Jon Doe - bass
Ed Vereijken - drums
And their grades? "Sinister as the Serpent" would likely get a C-C+, "Selling Heaven" would get the same thing while "Creators of Doom" would get a B.

Of the two line-ups mentioned neither one really stands out from the other (in other words they are both more then fine in their own right) although (from those grades and all) the first lot of tracks honestly features better source material then the latter. Otherwise the skill-level of these musicians never comes into question. Everyone is spot on whether we are talking about string instruments of percussion. However the elephant in the room should be addressed. That would be Eric's voice. Far from being a bad lead singer, Eric simply has a style which is a bit one-designational in tone. Reminding me somewhat of a gruff Daron Malakian (System of a Down, Scars on Broadway), Eric sounds good on about half of these tracks while on the other half he just comes across as average. Is it enough of an issue to cause a distraction? Honestly no. It's merely that he seems to be a slightly average singer whose true skill lies in his song-writing ability and his guitar playing. On paper it sounds like such a minor complaint especially when stacked up next to the powerful delivery of a number like "Something Wicked This Way Comes" (a dark thrash/pseudo industrial metal cruncher and the first single from "Effigy"). Especially as the powerful nature of many of these numbers is simply too good to be ignored! Besides "Something Wicked This Way Comes", the video of which can be seen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nq9pCxeUSRY, numbers like "Pigs"(a none-too subtle punch in the gut stomper!), thrash rocker "Effigy" and the slightly-progressive "Russian Roulette" ( A doom-laded Black Sabbath meets Merciful Fate, 70's fazed over hard & heavy rock and roll soul crusher? Sure!) are play-by-play examples of how to sit down, write-up and then brilliantly create songs that will stick in your memory long after a record ends! Favorite moments here on "Effigy" then? Too many to count folks! "Souvenirs" for example brings to mind a slowed-down Slayer (and yes, that is f-in' wicked!) while "Deconstruct"  is smashing industrial metal that would make Prong fans stand up and smile! And since Eric is equally adapt when it comes to heavy synth lines and keyboard passages as he is when it comes to razor-sharp riffs an album like "Effigy" covers a lot of territory! Even the last three numbers here, which actually do help to show this band's evolution, can't disguise Eric's skill. Sure, they are a bit more vanilla then the new music (although "Creators of Doom (2014)" has a certain charm to it), but they still have an edge to them. While it would have been a bit more cool to see what Eric and company would have done with three additional new songs (since the growth, the leaps and bounds if you will, between album number two and album number three is nothing short of EPIC!) these re-imagined numbers wrap things up nicely. So, what can one say about Aittala's "Effigy" then? High marks are awarded for the song-writing here and the performances. Oh, and it's production. Wow. Recorded at Incognito Studios, Raleigh NC Mixed and Mastered by Mike Schaefer at Schaefer Sound Productions (with Eric W. Aittala and Mike Schaefer co-producing the whole affair) this one sounds great! Total professional job all around with everything sounding damn near perfect! Everything falls smoothly into place with the overall effect being a clear and clean recording that is more modern then one might expect (given the furious nature of this beast!), but still a tease "shady" as to make this one seem a hair primal and underground. There is plenty of variety (music-wise) with subtle shades of classic heavy metal, doom metal, progressive rock, dark metal, thrash, industrial metal and hard rock all coming into play. And more so it all gels in such a manor as to make the whole affair seem down-right natural! If you are looking for a heavy metal album that will keep you entertained and invested in the music at hand then this one would fit that bill. Pound for pound this one just does not disappoint! And at the end of the day eventually even Eric's voice blends into the mix. I can honestly say that having listened to "Effigy" about three times now the vocals seem like less of an issue with each new spin! Aittala might be slightly hindered by Eric's singing but there are so way too many positives about this recording that I'd be a fool to not suggest adding "Effigy" to ones collection! "Effigy" shows how it's possible to explore different textures, add in elements from a variety of sources and still keep your sound grounded! You can find out more about Eric and his band over at Aittala's official website: http://www.aittala.com or by stopping by the group's Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/aittalamusic) for a visit. And be sure to keep an eye out for this monster when it drops on the 17th of June! If you're a fan of all things hard & heavy (especially dark-tinted metal bands that come packaged with an electrical charge!) then this really is one album that should be hunted down!

Running Death Interview

Bavaria, Germany's thrash metal maniacs Running Death last appeared here at HMTM back in November of 2013 (http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2013/11/running-death-call-of-extinction.html). With an upcoming debut album due to be released sometime this year I shoot some questions over to band member Julian (Guitar, Shouts) to discuss not only the new album, but the band in general! Much thanks goes to Julian and if you call yourself any kind of thrash fanatic and you have not checked out this young act yet then by all means do so right now! You will not be disappointed!


Andy-Can you give us an update on what is going on with the band these days?

Julian-We're super busy working on our upcoming debut album which we'll release sometime around the end of 2014. Writing songs, discussing and writing lyrics, designing artworks...in general it's about finding the next incarnation of Running Death.

Andy-Fair enough. Previously though you have released a demo and 2 EPs. Can you tell us a little bit more about the musical sound on those recordings and also how do they differ from each other?

Julian-The first EP, "Raging Nightmare", is a rough, simple and young recording. We wrote those 5 tracks fairly quickly, but still have so much fun playing them after the years. So we know we did something right there - although that's not where we want to be musically. Our second EP, "The Call Of Extinction", is a more brave exploration of the sounds we want to create. While still building upon known themes, there's a lot that makes it stand out from most other thrash metal records. It's both rough and techy, melodical and groovy, new and old. We all have very diverging musical tastes - which makes for demanding but rewarding songwriting sessions - and what you hear on this record is all that combined.

Andy-Cool! Can you tell us then a little bit about the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores to back up the music?

Julian-Every day we see things we don't like, important people behaving in disgusting ways, small people suffering for reasons they don't know. When writing lyrics, we strive to tell stories around those images we're emotionally connected to, in order to fill us with as much energy as possible when playing live. There's not just one or two singers in our band, there are spots where none of us can help but shout along.

Andy-Hey, the more the merrier right? So, what is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Running Death' anyway?

Julian-Whatever it means to you! We're not even sure of the "original" meaning any more, each of us has a personal interpretation. One of those is, that you'll find your death in not being able to stop running, to stop doing what you're doing already, not being able to take a step back and realizing what you're really with your life.

Andy-What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

Julian-Opening for Suicidal Angels in a big venue sure was a lot of fun, considering external influences, but besides that we try to make every show the best show we've ever played, no matter how small or big the venue is. We want to push ourselves as far as possible, becoming something as a group that the individual never could have achieved.

Andy-That's wicked about Suicidal Angels! Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Julian-Once our album is done we'll tour the shit out of all we can get!

Andy-Nice! Now, unfortunately you are currently unsigned. That said are you looking for a label or have received any interest?

Julian-We're talking with a few, but haven't settled for one yet as we want to put all our focus on writing and recording our album at the moment. Once we're done with writing we'll look into that more seriously so we have a good label and publisher to release the album with.

Andy-Are any of the band members involved with any other musical projects these days?

Julian-Simon plays guitar in heavy metal formation "Eisenhauer" as well, I highly recommend you to check them out! I (Julian) am just starting an experimental metal project with some friends, but there's nothing interesting to tell yet.

Andy-I'll have to look into "Eisenhauer" then. Sounds promising! On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of thrash metal?

Julian-If you consider reviewers fans, excellent! Next we want to reach foreign metal heads too. Especially exciting about the reviews we receive is that reviewers often like the exact same things we like in our music! That gives us a good feel about the way we translate our emotions and ideas into the realm of music.

Andy-When can we expect newer material and also what musical direction do you see the band heading into during the future?

Julian-We're pushing for a release end of the year, with many exciting tracks that are heavier and catchier than the old stuff, yet at the same time instrumentally and musically more powerful. In this way the record will sit in between the two previous ones, but also not! It combines the best of both but takes everything a huge step forward.

Andy-Awesome, I cannot wait to check it out! How about we tackle a rather standard, stock question next. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

Julian-We're coming from kind of different camps here, the biggest influence though - that existed from the very beginning - came through Simon and Jakob listening to a lot of Megadeth and Annihilator. Later on we mixed in more progressive stuff, like Mars Volta feels on drums and jazzy dissonant riffs on guitars, but also more good old rock 'n' roll groves and energy.

Andy-Coolness! Do you have any non musical interests?

Julian-Definitely! We drink beer, smoke cigarettes and listen to heavy metal! Oh, but we also frequently play Frisbee and Uno, meet up to listen to new records and enjoy us a good beer! Haha :D Simon likes traveling a lot, Jakob digs movies and any kind of old school stuff, I (Julian) write a lot of software.

Andy-Well, it seems we share a lot of non musically interests then LOL! Now, before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thought

Julian-We think you're doing an excellent job at making people aware of awesome metal releases, keep up the good work! And cheers to the reader!

Andy-Thanks for the encouragement! And for you readers be sure to keep an eye out for Running Death! 

Lions of the South-Chronicles of Aggression

Self-Release/Independent
2014

U.S. metal act Lions of the South, which formed in 2008 and happens to hail from Florida (Miami), released this, their full-length debut album and only piece of recording to date, back on January 1st. Now Rock 'N' Growl Promotion has steeped in to handle the PR for this heavy metal/thrash metal trio and, having now streamed this LP two times over, it's not too hard to fathom why they've caught the attention of said promotion! This power trio, who might technically hail from Miami even if it's fairly clear to all involved that their roots can be traced all the way back to South America, features Cristobal Perez on lead vocals and guitars, Felipe Vilches on bass and Andres Nayar on drums and, thanks in no small part to the surprisingly clean, crisp and clear production job that has taken place on this self-released slab of metal, this up-and-coming three-piece is packed with promise! The likes of Sepultura, Megadeth, Pantera (and maybe even some Slayer?) has been soaked up by this trio from South Florida and then it's been chewed up and spit out in the most venomous of ways making "Chronicles of Aggression" a blistering collection of chunky HEAVINESS! Not short on talent, Lions of the South could easily make headway in today's scene if they can build on the success of this early 2014 thrash attack!