Hammr-Unholy Destruction

Hells Headbangers Records
2018

Formed in 2013 and originally known as Schizoid Hammer up until 2015, Cleveland, Ohio's Hammr (sic) is a one-man black/speed/punk metal band that has one EP, one demo, and this full-length album to it's name. J. Hammer (Devils, Outline, ex-Demona) is the main-man behind the magic mirror and band's such as Venom, Celtic Frost, Iron Angel, (early) Slayer, Discharge, (early) Bathory, and Sodom serve as the inspiration. Lead solos come courtesy of Midnight's Commander Vanik (who also mixed the album) and the album was mastered by none other than Joel Grind (Toxic Holocaust)! Self-dubbed "satanic speed", Hammr is (blood-dripping) raw black metal/underground speed that has been spiked with the last dying breath of dive-bar punk. Naturally, that makes "Unholy Destruction" a must-have recording...especially if you are a fan of the aforementioned Midnight!

Burial Ground-Pain For Pleasure

Independent/Self-Release
2017

Burial Ground is a one-man metal from Russia. The main man in charge of everything goes by the name AlexFromBeyond (Dead Zone, From Beyond, Mass Hypnosis) and this three-track demo is simply the latest in a long list of demos that have been released since 2015. That was the year that this blackened speed metal/thrash project got off the ground. If I'm counting correctly "Pain For Pleasure" would be demo number ten! Toss in the single "Hellraisers" and a compilation entitled "Sounds of Evil" (both from 2016) and you have the complete discography for Russia's Burial Ground. That is a shit ton of work in the past two years!!  Obviously I can't vouch for all of those releases, but here's the wild part friends: "Pain For Pleasure" is fine as fuck!! I mean sure, it is a little strange how this Russian metal band sounds almost German. That's kind of odd, but it's must certainly not a deal-breaker! If anything it's just an observation. Otherwise, "Pain For Pleasure" is a blackened take on wicked speed metal/thrash from the guy pictured below. If that phrase sounds good to you (the whole blackened speed/thrash metal part) then stop what you are doing and mosh your way on over to this one-man band. For more information on Burial Ground there is also this Facebook page.

Bull Funk Zoo-Dangerous Radio

Independent/Self-Release
2016

Due to be released on September 11th, 2016, "Dangerous Radio" is the second full-length album from the one of a kind one-man ROCK project known as Bull Funk Zoo. Having previously covered Bull Funk Zoo (aka producer, multi instrumentalist, vocalist, and insanely-skilled guitarist Assaad Lakkis) back in late March of this year by way of the wild and crazy ride that was "Would You" I knew enough to expect two things out of this release. The first thing was that it would be completely unique and/or experimental. That had been the case with the wicked single "Would You" and it's (just as damn cool!) follow-up, "Burnin"*. These two album tracks offered a different take on heavy rock and from everything that I had read about Bull Funk Zoo' main-man Assaad Lakkis (ie: his backstory and his wide-range of musical influences**!) all signs pointed towards more of the same on his new disc. The second expectation that I had about "Dangerous Radio" is that it would be LOUD and ROCKING! Whether it was the album's artwork, it's highly-suggestive title or just the way in which those two previously mentioned singles had seemingly set a precedent there was something that told me this album was going to be a BEAST. Sure enough I was right. "Dangerous Radio" is nothing short of a rock and roll rampage! Essentially what you've got here is garage-worthy HEAVY rock doing shots of Jägermeister with the likes of seventies classic rock, blues-rock, funk-rock and punk rock while there is a Red Bull & moonshine-fueled prison riot going on!! In other words, "Dangerous Radio" lives up to it's inspired title while simultaneously making Bull Funk Zoo one hell of name to keep an eye on! Produced, mixed and mastered by Assaad Lakkis himself, "Dangerous Radio" is the sound of one extremely-talented man taking guitar rock on a adventure-filled ride through the wasteland that is today's modern rock scene in order to bring hope to all those who are dying and in desperate need of real music in order to survive. Bull Funk Zoo is the hero that many have been searching for. Thank the almighty god's of hell-fire and (blistered fingers) rock and roll that he is finally here!






*Check out the official video of "Burnin" by heading here

**  Assaad's influences range from James Brown & Motown artists to Soundgarden and Megadeth! He grew up inspired by everything from Kiss to Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jeff Beck. Toss in some major love for old-school punk as well as jazz(!) and you have one damn-fine multi-instrumentalist that has it all covered1!

Free Metal Monday: Rebel Wizard-Invocation of the Miserable Ones

Self-Released/Independent
2015

For today's Free Metal Monday offering we will be looking at the Melbourne, Australia's one-man project, Rebel Wizard. Formed in 2013 by Australian musician Nekrasov (with a self-tilted demo appearing in mid-November of that same year), Rebel Wizard has (appropriately-enough) been described as a cross between Iron Maiden and Judas Priest-styled traditional heavy metal and the blackened thrash sounds of Usurper and Aura Noir. Last year alone this atmospheric band released a total of five EPs(!) with the latest one being the 17 minute plus "Invocation of the Miserable Ones". As of this writing (February 22nd, 2016) Rebel Wizard's latest 4-track EP is available to download as a "name your price" option, but then again so is all of Rebel Wizard's back catalog!

Despot-Satan in the Death Row

Self-Release/Independent
2013

With a trio of EPs due for release starting sometime later this year, "Satan in the Death Row", which was the first full-length release from one-man project Despot, is worth investigating if only so that it can serve as some sort of foundation/introduction to this Brazilian black metal project. The biography of Despot seems simple enough. Formed in 2008 by sole member Marcelo Murrer (formerly of Necrocult and Unholy Massacre Marcelo takes care of all of the music here incl. vocals and instruments), Despot hails from Belo Horizonte, Brazil (the same sinister area that brought us Sepultura and Sarcofago among others!) and while this might just have been the group's first full-length release it wasn't Despot's first foray into the studio as three demos were issued between 2009 and 2010! With "Satan in the Death Row" the oddity doesn't simply begin and end with the cover artwork (no idea about that one friends...) seeing as Despot enjoys a hearty breakfast featuring just about all kinds of meaty metal! There's hints of  German thrash (early Sodom and Destruction) as well as the music of Despot's hometown (Sepultura, Sarcofago and even Mutilator). There's (of course) the black metal influences (Celtic Frost, early Rotting Christ and Bathory) and even death metal influences such as Immolation, Angel Corpse and Morbid Angel. But then there's also influences and sounds that you just can't quite put your finger on. As the drum parts here are programmed, which is the (unfortunately) one of the chief complaints about "Satan in the Death Row", there's a slightly off-setting mechanical vibe to the material but even beyond that the music of Despot is just....different. Sole member Marcelo Murrer obviously knows what he wants by this point in time it's just that Despot (even for a eclectic black metal band) bring so much to the breakfast table to devour that there are occasions when it gets downright messy! Still, there's just something about "Satan in the Death Row" that makes you want to hear more from Murrer's project so I'll be keeping an eye out for the new EPs so that we can further explore the music and the madness that lies at the heart of Despot. Until then, should you feel adventurous and in need of some simple mind expansion that is, give this album a workout of your own. You never know, but you just might find yourself as keenly drawn in by the odd appeal of this Brazilian one-man project as I and many others have been!

http://despotband.bandcamp.com/