War Gods of the Deep-Monsters, Magic & Mayhem

Self-Release/Independent
2016

It's not very often that you get a promo request from a band that is named after a Vincent Price movie. Let alone one whose goal in life is to sound like "80's Motley Crue & Metallica had a baby and let David Lee Roth, Gene Simmons and Glenn Danzing babysit it"! To say I was left somewhat bewildered by all of that is the understatement of the century, but maybe that's just the way that War Gods of the Deep rolls? That was actually my mindset during the brief moment in time between looking at this request and actually listening to it.
The question now is did this hard rock/heavy metal band live up to it's vivid description on their (relativity new) debut EP? If I'm to be perfectly honest here (and why shouldn't I be?) then the answer is no. More than anything the (rather short) "Monsters, Magic & Mayhem" sounds like Black-era Metallica meets modern hard rock/heavy metal. Now, before anyone gets all worked up about that let me just make one thing perfectly clear: War Gods of the Deep's three song debut works. In fact not only does it work, but it's a better recording for what it actually is as opposed to what it purports to be. Imagine that! For any kids out there that might be reading this (even if it's only my two teens) there is a lesson to be learned from that. Just like in real life it's always better to be true to yourself.....

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! 

Secret of Boris-Your Ghost

Cabo Records, LLC
2015

"Your Ghost" is the 12-track debut album from Secret of Boris. This Dallas, Texas-based band is lead by the rock-star/rock-steady voice of Cameron Taylor (a great singer who would also be comfortable fronting either a 90's alternative radio act or some post-metal/nu metal outfit!) and features three guys named Ryan in guitarist Ryan Byrd, bassist Ryan Ragus and drummer Ryan Arthur. Having previously shared the stage with bands like Black Light Burns, Hed(pe), F5, Underoath, Ugly Mustard, Fair To Midland, Anberlin, God Forbid, Boondox, and Hopesfalle this Texas act has a larger-than-life sound that is equal parts (modern) hard rock, radio rock, electronic rock and heavy rock/heavy metal. With catchy melodies, hook-happy guitar solos and what could only be described as an overly addictive sense of rhythm this is another new(ish) rock band poised for greatness! While they list their influences as Porcupine Tree, Mudvayne, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails and Rammstein you could also toss everyone from Stone Sour to P.O.D. into the mix (with the likes of Therapy?, Pantera and even Monster Magnet not far behind!) and you would be just as close to describing everything that there is to love about their BOLD sound! Secret of Boris is one rock radio hit away from the big time and given the poor state of the modern hard rock scene let us all hope that said hit song happens soon!

Pavic-Is War The Answer?

Anteo/ NVM
2014

Italy's Pavic, so named because of founding member/guitarist Marko Pavic, made their debut in 2005 with "Taste Some Liberty". Followed-up by "Unconditioned" in 2008, Pavic, which now includes two new members in lead singer Joe Calabro and drummer Antonio Aronne (and is rounded out by bass guitarist Aleks Ferrara and keyboardist Lorenzo Antonelli), will release this, their third over-all release (and first without any guest musicians), on January 24th. Mixed by producer Rick Beato (Shinedown, Fozzy, Ingram Hill) and sporting a "interesting" cover of Duran Duran's "Notorious" (yes really!) the album finds Pavic moving away from the melodic hard rock that was found on their first two albums towards a more "heavier" direction. Without taking anything away from the group's new front-man Joe Calabro, especially as he has a set of pipes just about perfectly suited for today's modern hard rock radio scene, the mix of heavier material, which in and of itself isn't all that bad (even if it is fairly unconvincing and decidedly unremarkable in it's delivery), and softer material gives "Is War The Answer" an uneven feeling. And, while there is nothing here to suggest that Marko Pavic is anything but an extremely talented individual, there isn't really any numbers on "Is War The Answer" that comes across as anything more then pedestrian. It's very likely that Pavic's latest release will be embraced by fans (as well as those who thought that the mid-00' hard rock radio scene was "To Die For"), but it's highly doubtful that anyone else will bite on this.

Reaper's Riddle-"Drop" Single

Self-Release/Interdependent
2013

I'm pleading ignorance when it comes to Perth-based Reaper's Riddle. Until this morning I had never heard of this heavy rock/heavy metal band. Thanks to the cool folks over at Killshot PR, who actually dropped the music video for "Drop" onto my lap, that's all changed. I now have another up-and-coming band to keep an eye out/ear out for. After checking out their new single "Drop", which mark's their first foreign into the world of music videos, there was no question at all that I'd be adding them onto my radar. There was one other question though. Does a band that's been at it for 5 years now actually count as a up-and-coming act? Maybe or maybe not. If that's the only issue I walk away with after checking out "Drop" then this band must be doing something right! Formed in 2009, with their self-titled demo LP dropping the very same year, the band has slowly been building up a loyal fan-base in their home country thanks to some solid studio-releases and, what is said to be, highly energetic live performances. Reportedly the band's first record-release party  resulted in a packed venue that was completely sold out of alcohol by 11pm! There's no doubt in my mind that the people who did manage to gain entry into the group's "record-breaking debut launch" worked up quite a thirst thanks to the band's early working-class style of hard rock. I know as much thanks to the fact that (after listening to "Drop" a few times) I went and picked up their back-catalog on iTunes! Having done so I can honestly say that this is one group that has improved with each new release. So, besides being described as a beast when it comes to playing live, Reaper's Riddle do know their way around a studio. It's easy to hear the group's musical progression with all things eventually converging on "Drop" and (subsequently) their upcoming concept album "The Ballad Of Tristan Daye" (expected for release sometime in mid-2014). With a strong front-man like Clayton Mitchell standing front and center the band's future does look promising. He's got just the right kind of pipes for this sort of heavy rock/heavy metal band and while he stays busy on the mic there are two guitarists on board who do more then just throw out  bunch of random riffs. Michael Willis and Dan Bishop help to keep things moving along with some solid hard rock solos. That makes sense as this band knows a thing or two about good hard rock bands and great hard rock hooks! Classic acts like Black Sabbath, Alice Cooper, Judas Priest, Kiss, Metallica, AC/DC, The Four Horsemen, Dio and Megadeth have no doubt crept through the tiny cracks and influenced this bunch. Then again we're also talking about a group that "likes" newer acts such as Rob Zombie and Disturbed and has probably picked up a few pointers along the way from bands like Godsmack, Pantera, Dark New Day and Avenged Sevenfold. If all of that leaves your head spinning then just stop, sit down, take a deep breath and plug into "Drop". It will all make more sense then. From the vocals to the guitars and yes, even all the way down to the rhythm section (featuring bassist Jason Edwards and drummer Wayne Frodyma) Reaper's Riddle has the right kind of line-up and the right kind style and sound to make it. Heavy rock like this is really the best of both worlds as you could imagine this single played on FM radio just as you could easily as you could picture these guys hitting the road with a heavyweight act like Motörhead. Heck, I could easily see "Drop" getting the Lemmy seal of approval! Reaper's Riddle are just that kind of band and one worth keeping an eye and ear out for.




Music video for "Drop"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdVwbQtVec8

Gloomball-The Distance

Steamhammer / SPV
2013

The Mannheim, Germany 5-piece known as Gloomball (interesting choice of name all in all) first came together in 2010 as a studio project. Doesn't it seem more and more like that's the case with a lot of bands these days? Really though, and let's be honest here, there's nothing all that unusual about going that route first as it gives these sort of young groups a firm place to get that initial footing down. As they started out that way then it is worth noting  that Gloomball put out two demos prior to this full-length debut. Now, whether just one or both of those demos (or neither I suppose) came about with a full-fledged band in place is left up in the air. Not that it matters much in the end though. Although, for those who have followed this band from the very beginning, it is worth mentioning that four songs from those demo days made it onto "The Distance".  Fans would probably recognize those cuts as "In Blood", "Bitter Place", "Long Time Gone" and "We Do Belong". For the rest of us it's all new anyway so we'll get to the heavy rock that Gloomball lays down in just a second or two.. All told "The Distance" features seven brand-new tracks, those four leftover demo days tracks as mentioned and a pretty kick ass cover version of Robert M. Tepper's "Rocky IV." contribution, "No Easy Way Out". What's it all about though? Just what is the band selling with their full-length debut album then? Both of those questions are good so let's just see if we can get down to the bottom of this German group's sound together. First though just whose who in Gloomball? With lead vocals from Alen Ljubic, who sometimes comes across as Rob Zombie's illegitimate son (especially on the heavy rocker/opener "Overcome"!) while other time's he sounds as if he should be fronting a System Of A Down cover band, the band features a solid front-man. The rest of Gloomball is filled out by guitarist Björn Daigger (who composed the majority of these tracks with vocalist Alen Ljubic), guitarist Jossi Lenk, bassist Basti Moser and drummer Danny Joe. Stylistically these guys pull the trigger and go all out for this combination of modern hard rock (Hinder, Alter Bridge, Breaking Point, Nickleback, Shinedown, Papa Roach, Saving Able, etc), alternative hard rock/grunge (Rob Zombie/White Zombie, Sevendust, 12 Stones, 36 Crazy Fists, Soundgarden, Queens Of the Stone Age, Seether, Urge Overkill, etc.) and misc. other genres, acts and artists like Fear Factory, Pantera, Zakk Wylde and Filter. It's all well and good then as Gloomball keeps things moving and keeps things interesting! Everything about this young group from the lyrics to the actual music on hand points toward a band that has great promise.