Free Metal Monday: Heavyskies-Heavy Demo

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Heavyskies is a California heavy/thrash metal band that is comprised of Chris Dauenhauer (guitar/vocals), Gabriel Moreira (guitar, vocals), Matt Barnhart (bass), and Josh Josten (drums). Formed in late 2016, this San Jose-based group lists it's influences as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, Anthrax, Slayer, and Metallica. Based on what "Heavy Demo" has to offer (and it's a solid amount of promise) I'd say that the group's biggest influence would be (post-Master Of Puppets) Metallica (up to and including the Load/Re-Load period of this once great thrash metal band). Either way this four-track EP is free to download.

Mortalus-Heart So Black

Independent/Self-Release
2018

Mortalus is a heavy/thrash metal band from Little Rock, Arkansas that is lead by vocalist/guitarist Michelle Gann. Influences range from Judas Priest & Iron Maiden to bands like Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth, Overkill, Testament, Anthrax, and Death Angel. On the band's full-length debut, the aptly-titled titled "Heart So Black", it's groups like Crowbar and Pantera that bridge the gap between those different metal genres. Not surprisingly, the Arkansas-based group has hit on a sound that is bad ass to the core! With a run-time of just over 45 minutes, "Heart So Black" is chock full of heavy riffs and skull crushing leads. All at once hard-hitting and heavier than hell's bells, Mortalus' first full-length album is a monster recording that has mean motherf**ker written all over it!! It would be well-worth the price of admission for the music alone. What's really cool about the album though is how it mixes this sick music with well-thought out lyrics. With themes that cover everything from the politics of the music business to my favorite topic, zombies(!), "Heart So Black" is a heavy metal thrasher that actually makes you think about the subjects at hand. I'm not sure about everyone else, but I cannot remember the last time that I really thought about subjects like the sacrifice of soldiers while I was making a mosh pit out of my living room! As such, I've got to give mad props to the members of Mortalus for covering the hard stuff, some of which was obviously very personal to the band. It couldn't have been easy opening up so much on your first album, but it most certainly made the album that much more real and vibrant. Having formed in 2014, Mortalus (guitarist/lead vocalist Michelle Gann, guitarist/backing vocalist Donald Holland, bassist/backing vocalist Bryan Bedgood, and drummer Patrick Mahoney) suffered multiple medical issues and personal hardships in the pursuit of their debut album. In a very real way you can feel the pain and heartache that went into the making of this album. Maybe that is the reason this album works so well? Whatever the case might be, "Heart So Black" is the sound of one band that struck it rich in style and substance the first time out. Here's to the hope that this is just one of many good things to come from this exciting new metal band! For more information on this buzz-worthy band be sure to check out the group's Facebook page.

Legacy-Wings of Eternity

Self-Release/Independent
2017

"Wings of Eternity" is the debut EP from up-and-coming Italian metal band Legacy. Formed in late December of 2014 (and not to be confused with all of the other Legacy's out there these days!), Bergamo, Lombardy's loud and proud export is filled to overflowing with youthful enthusiasm and enough energy to power up half a dozen bands! Let's all give high praise to the heavy metal gods above that this group's talent level matches all of that eagerness! Inspired by the classic metal artists that came before them, Legacy sports a stylish sound that owes as much to Iron Maiden, Riot, Accept and Judas Priest as it does Helloween, (early) Running Wild, Megadeth, Metallica, and Death Angel. Irregardless of how that reads on paper, "Wings of Eternity" is it's own beast and a supremely creative one at that! With charismatic lead vocalist Niccolò Nava a complete natural on the mic, "Wings of Eternity" shows of the mad musical chops of guitarist/vocalist Paolo Spreafico, guitarist/vocalist Dario Riboli, bassist Fabio Vanotti, and drummer Gianluca De Rosa. There is always something special about young metalheads paying homage to to their idols while simultaneously carving their own niche in the metal scene and this five-piece Italian band is no different. If anything at all, "Wings of Eternity" shows off a young band that already understands how to craft quality music that makes a clear statement as to who they are and what they bring to the heavy metal community at large. On their debut EP Legacy draws the listener in close as they present straight-ahead heavy metal with a thrash metal finish. The material grabs hold of your attention and ultimately you will find yourself cheering on this new band. In that regard Legacy already has a step up on the competition. With "Wings of Eternity" hitting all the right notes, Legacy is one young band that is worth keeping an eye on. You can easily do that by following the band on Facebook. To hear this excellent EP for yourself (and trust me here friends you are going to want to do just that!) be sure to head over to the group's YouTube page. These young metal maniacs have a lot of heart and soul and it's obvious that they love the scene that they are part of. We need more talented heavy/thrash metal groups like this one so let us all hope that this is just the beginning of a successful career for this Italian band.

Free Metal Monday: Nomanic-Nomanic

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Nomanic is a up-and-coming heavy/thrash metal band from Orange County, California that has "Huge potential for success!" written all over it! Members include Ryan Rangel, Chris Bramlett, Eddie Chacon, Morgen Chiaravolloti, and Nick Wheatley. The group's (highly-recommended) self-titled EP, which was just released last month and is free to download, showcases a hungry and talented young band that won't be pigeonholed and isn't afraid to shake up the thrash metal scene! While the EP itself is a bit rough around the edges production-wise, "Nomanic" features strong material that is expertly performed by a group of skilled (if seemingly sincere) musicians. With one eye pointed toward perfection, Nomanic has all of the tools needed to go the distance...especially if they are as good live as they are on tape.

Regicide-Fall of an Empire

Self-Release/Independent
2015

Formed in 2006 in Las Cruces, Regicide is a traditional heavy metal/thrash metal band and the recently-released  "Fall of an Empire" is their debut album. The band is comprised of vocalist/guitarist Issac Trujillo, lead guitarist Dominic "Dimemond" Flores, bass guitarist Andrew "The Android" Silluron, and drummer Brandon "Brack" Gallegos and their influences range from the likes of Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and Motörhead to bands like Testament, Anthrax, Metallica, Pantera, Megadeth, and Slayer. With a run-time of just over thirty minutes there is obviously not that much to this eight-track recording and in all honesty that's probably a good thing as New Mexico's Regicide has a long way to go before they can hope to compete with their elders. While the band's take on heavy/thrash metal isn't exactly bad it isn't great either. If anything it's just so-so and a lot of that has to do with the album's overall generic sound. There's nothing here we haven't heard a thousand times over and what is here is colorless and flavorless. As much as I would like to support these underground metalheads I find myself uninspired and unmoved by their debut album here. Hopefully that will change over time, but seeing as this band is already some nine years old it doesn't look promising in that department. This one is only for die-hard collectors who must have anything and everything thrash related.     

Forklift Elevator-Borderline

Self-Release/Indpendent
2015

It looks as if I'm on a Italian kick today as first there was one-woman occult/doom rock project Psychedelic Witchcraft and now we've got the heavy metal act Forklift Elevator. While the first one is inspired by groups such as Jefferson Airplane, Fleetwood Mac, Iron Butterfly, and Coven this band lists the likes of Pantera, Black Label Society, Lamb of God, Rammstein, Korn, and System of a Down as their influences. There is one connection between both of these Italian bands though and that would be the mutual influence of one Black Sabbath. Both Psychedelic Witchcraft and Forklift Elevator owe a debt to the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath, but let's be honest here and just say that there are LOTS of bands that would fall into that category! It's simply a curious notion that one particular band (in this instance it's Tony Iommi's band) could have such wide-ranging impact. Not that it's all that important to the issue at hand. It's just curious. Anyway, as we are here today to talk about the self-produced "Borderline" let's jump on into that fire!. Forklift Elevator's first full-length album is available on Soundcloud and on the group's official website and for a group that began life in 2009 as a cover band it sure seems as if they've come quite a ways! These days Mirco Maniero (rhythm guitarist) and Enrico M. Martin (lead vocalist) are all that remain of the original line-up, but given the chemistry that members Stefano Segato (lead guitar, backing vocals), Marco Daga (bass) and Andrea Segato (drums) bring to the party everything about "Borderline" is right as rain! What exactly are we looking at then when it comes to "Borderline"? With influences as wide flung as Black Sabbath and Pantera (by way of the nu metal band Korn it should be noted!) this one particular slab of metal has a nu metal thrash vibe going for it and my friends it most certainly IS better in person than it is on paper! The band's sound works because it's foundation is built out of legit metal riffs as made popular by the likes of Black Sabbath, (early) Metallica, Slayer and Motörhead. That being said, Forklift Elevator could stand to adopt more of the lead guitar work of said bands. Mirco Maniero's rhythm guitar seems to get most of the action and these five musicians would benefit a great deal by focusing more of their attention on the Lamb of God and Black Label Society influences and less on the Korn and System of a Down! Or at least that would be my preference as I always prefer ripping leads over heavy riffage. Both styles have their place in heavy metal and it's likely that Forklift Elevator are more geared towards their sound for a reason. As they are already working on a new album that is scheduled for release in the second half of 2016 maybe, just maybe that will be a fortunate change for the band. Either way I like what I hear on "Borderline" and I'm board this band's rock train as they roll on out of the station and make their way down the line. Now backed by Atomic Stuff Promotion, Forklift Elevator have every-chance in the world to make-it or break-it. That ball is in their corner so we'll just see what their next move is....

Angel Martyr-Angel Martyr

Self-Release/Independent
2014

I'd like to start off this short post by first apologizing to Angel Martyr for missing their April 11th post on Heavy Metal Time Machine's Facebook page. Next I'd like to apologize to all of our readers who have thus far missed out on the band's solid five track demo here. All of you deserved better treatment then that. For you see, Angel Martyr is the real deal! There's nothing fake or trivial about this band or their name-your-own-price demo here. These guys are the genuine article! Originally formed in 2006 as Wraith'sing, with hella cool guitarist/vocalist Tiziano "Hammerhead" Sbaragli (Etrusgrave, ex-Harvest) the sole original member left from that band's short existence, this N.W.O.B.H.M.-influenced heavy/speed metal three-piece from Italy thrashed their way back into existence in 2010 as Angel Martyr. Now rounded out by such equally skilled players as Dario "Destroyer Rostix" Rosteni (bass) and ex-Etrusgrave member Francesco Taddei (drums) this tried and true heavy metal band looks forward to the day when the world bows before the might of all that is Angel Martyr! Between the wicked singing and dangerous shredding off Tiziano "Hammerhead" Sbaragli and this band's boiling hot to the touch rhythm section that Earth-shaking event should be sooner than later! Especially seeing as how this trio's old-school approach to heavy/speed metal is not to be trifled with! In all seriousness though, "Angel Martyr" is a great first step for this Italian band and seeing as it is technically free you have very little to lose by checking it out over on the group's bandcamp page. If you live in this band's neck of the woods then by all means check them out live! It's usually all or nothing when these kinds of metal bands hit the stage and I'd bet my last dollar that Angel Martyr tears the roof down when they perform before a metal hungry crowd! Much thanks indeed to Angel Martyr for contacting us about this demo and for our readers please remember to support your local metal scene whether in Italy of here in the States as that's where the real magic is!

Zero Down-No Limit to the Evil

Minotauro Records
2014

Released a little over a month ago, "No Limit to the Evil" is the latest release from Seattle, Washington's own Zero Down. At a little under forty minutes in length it is Zero Down's forth overall full-length release and it serves as the long-overdue follow-up to late 2011's "Looking to Start a Riot". Falling somewhere in that grey area between traditional heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M. (think Judas Priest/Iron Maiden territory) this Seattle band if further complimented (and I mean drop-dead seriously COMPLIMENTED!) by the punk backgrounds of the various members (gang vocals do a good job of bridging the band's punk rock roots with their more modern approach to thrash rockin' the joint down!) and a full-tilt admiration for all things Motörhead! The vocals of Mark "Hawk" Hawkinson (formerly of crossover/punk band DUMT) are shredded raw and man if that doesn't just give this five-piece an extra air of attitude then I don't know what will! Rounded out by what might just be one of metal's most underrated set of guitarists in Lenny Burnett (ex-No Direction) & Matt Fox (ex-DUMT) and featuring a pretty steady rhythm section in Ronnie Banner and drummer Chris Gohde (bass and drums respectively) Zero Down opens strong on the riff-heavy, Metal Church meets Thin Lizzy on a road trip to HELL(!) "Return of the Godz" before the title track pulls back the curtains further showcasing the strength of this band's (well-developed since first forming back in 2002!) distinct take of traditional heavy metal. While the sounds of the seventies rock hard on a number like "Cold Winter’s Night" and "Leche di Tigre" cruises towards Sabbath territory it's the slammer "Phantom Host" that really proves that a band like Zero Down can push the speedometer all the way to the floor! Even if a cut like "Suicide Girls" falls flat there is the memorable "Steve McQueen" to put everything back into perspective. "Devils Thorn" recalls classic Accept even as it's a raw and ravaged slab of garage metal! The Motörhead love thrashes heavy on "Two Ton Hammer" and by the time we close with the excellent "Black Rhino' we've taken an interesting walk through the hallways of heavy metal where bands from A (Accept and early Anthrax) to Z (fellow Seattle natives Zeke and  Znöwhite) are paid homage to. And that right there is what makes a band like Zero Down so fantastically fun to listen to! Zero Down are heavy metal for the sake of heavy metal and they make no bones about it! They are not afraid to shuffle the deck style-wise and given the band's obvious taste for not only metal (Raven, Judas Priest, Metallica and Motörhead being just a few choices being highlighted), but hard rock (AC/DC) and classic rock (Thin Lizzy) there is so much here to digest that you might want to take a second helping! At the end of the day this one proves to be the perfect addition to any self-respecting metalhead's personal collection!

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Zero-Down-Fan-Page/262964899318?ref=ts&fref=ts

DEADIRON-""Bloodline" (Sneak-Peak Single from upcoming new album,"Into the Fray")

It has been a L-O-N-G time since we last heard from Cleveland's DEADIRON. Too long in fact! Or at least when it comes to the faint suggestion that new (studio) music is in the works! For, pretense-wise (as in making sure everyone knows your name!) this hardworking band sure seems as if they are always out and about playing live and building on their (ever-growing and fanatical!) fan-base. With this new number (previewed via the band's video for said thrasher!) Ohio's traditional heavy metal madmen/power thrashers storm back into the spotlight with plenty of head-banging& hair-raising riffs and (thank the maker above for that my friends!) solos that will make you FONDLY recall an era (sadly) long past when guitarists used to actually shred the holy hell out of their axes when they tackled lead solos! Imagine that? I'd be lying though if I said that "Bloodline", which will release to the public in the next month or so,  picks up right where the band left off with their 2012 release, "Out of the Rust and Ruin", as this METAL FUCKING MAD track sounds like it's coming from a completely new band, more hungry and bloodthirsty then ever! That's not to say that former guitarist Sunny K isn't missed. He is, but the band seems to have rallied around themselves, figured they better solider up and have come crashing out with all guns blazing! It's thanks in no small part to bands like DEADIRON that the Ohio metal scene is still hot shit so if you get a change then by all means check these guys out live while they are still our sweet little secret! Sooner or later somebody in a tie and suit is going to hear these guys and snatch them up as DEADIRON puts to shame more then a few (try hundreds!) signed metal acts! With a new album, "Into the Fray", due out for release around July it sure looks as if DEADIRON fans (and, F.Y.I., lovers of all things killer heavy/thrash metal) should have plenty to look forward to this Summer! 

http://deadiron.com/