Jacobs Moor-Self

Self-Release/Independent
2017

Jacobs Moor is a progressive power metal/thrash metal band that has been active since 2010. Self-produced by the band members themselves (Richard Krenmaier-vocals, Rupert Träxler and Johannes Pichler-guitars, Stephan Först-bass, and Rainer Lidauer-drums), "Self" is the latest studio album from Jacobs Moor. It was sent my way courtesy of drummer Rainer Lidauer. Having covered the band's 2014 debut album, "All That Starts", and the 2015 EP, "The Evil in Me", I looked forward to diving straight into this recording. After a brief instrumental introduction ("March of the Flies") we cut right into the heart of the matter with "Watching Atrocities" (see video below). This powerful piece rips the album wide open and leaves little doubt as to the fact that this five-piece band is back and as killer as always! Not that there was any doubt whatsoever. Given the strong effort that was was "The Evil in Me", "Self" merely reaffirms the mad skills of this technical and precise power/thrash unit. Making our way through the heavy thrash of "The Absence of Me" and the sick title track (progressive metal with muscle and might!), "Self" proves to be a remarkably consistent album. Not so much in a style kind of way. It's actually impressive songwriting and the overall performances of everyone that wins the day. It seems pretty obvious that the material on "Self" has been re-written and re-worked to maximum efficiency. When it comes to "Self" there is also a lot of variety to be found. While technical power metal is primarily what is on display, "Self" goes a long ways towards adding a little bit of everything to the mix. It's all here from the blues to modern day extreme metal. There are touches of classic metal and hard-edge thrash. Harsh and clean vocals give way to sensational drumming while the stringed instruments are nothing short of dynamic! "Self" is the rare kind of album where every song gels together and yet each track could work on it's own. Opening with the shortest track on the album ("March of the Flies"), Jacobs Moor ends "Self" with the longest cut of the bunch. Clocking in at over eleven minutes(!), "Hopeless Endeavor" shows of the many talents of this veteran act. Now in their seventh year together (it's almost eight years really), Jacobs Moor should be a household name by now. The fact that they are not is a tremendous shame. Maybe "Self" will end up being the band's winning ticket? Let us hope so. Because quite frankly this Austrian metal band has sat on the sidelines for far too long.



Video for "Watching Atrocities":

Jacobs Moor-The Evil in Me

BleedingStar Records
2015

Active since 2010, Jacobs Moor is a five-piece band that is based in Vienna, Austria and now has one full-length album and an extended EP to it's name with the release of "The Evil in Me". Having previously covered the group's full-length debut album, "All That Starts", I had high hopes for this extended EP and thankfully Jacobs Moor didn't let me down! Issued back in late November of 2015, "The Evil in Me" is just over 35 minutes in length and it includes two new studio tracks (the speed metal-tinged (hack & slash) killer title track and the equally awesome (and strangely hypnotic) "Away"!) and a handful of live cuts. For this highly-skilled/tech-savvy progressive power metal/thrash metal act this proves to be a damn wise move as it showcases the band's strength in both areas. The new studio material offers everything that I loved about this band's (independently-released) 2014 debut album only with more teeth and a greater sense of urgency! All at once melodic and menacing both of these numbers, "The Evil in Me" (5:47) and "Away" (7:28), present a clear and clean portrait of one band that has not only found it's sound, but has nearly perfected it!! Meanwhile the aforementioned live tracks (which are songs from the group's first release) are nice and punchy and offer great alternatives to the original source material! In other words it's a win-win situation for this up-and-coming progressive power metal/thrash metal act that is currently composed of Richard Krenmaier (vocals), Johannes Pichler (guitars), Rupert Träxler (guitars), Stephan Först (bass), and Rainer Lidauer (drums). Even though Jacobs Moor has always flown slightly under the radar fans and critics alike are finally starting to notice this group thanks to strong efforts like this EP. You can find "The Evil in Me" over on iTunes and Amazon and let's all hope that 2016 finds this Austrian metal collective hard at work on album number two!

Sunrunner-Heliodromus

Minotauro Records
2015

"Heliodromus" is the third full-length release from Portland, Maine's Sunrunner. Their first release on Minotauro Records, "Heliodromus" is a grand adventure that explores themes related to the Mithraic Mysteries and even if it is not technically a concept album this intelligent recording is (arguably) the band's most epic release to date! It's also the heaviest Sunrunner has ever been since they first came together back in 2008. Originally starting off as more of a progressive rock band than anything else (with small amounts of heavy metal tossed in for good measure!), Sunrunner has obviously evolved over the course of three albums, but "Heliodromus" takes things to a whole different level! After a short introduction the five minute plus "Keepers of the Rite" starts things off with a highly explosive and utterly wicked bang (!) and before long this talent-laden lot throws caution to the wind as they add power metal, classic metal/N.W.O.B.H.M. and even doom (!!) to a well-expanded progressive rock sound that already included unique instrumentation, odd arrangements and exotic (musical) elements. Speaking of which, "Heliodromus" is one of those fun recordings where just when you think you have this band tagged they come from out of nowhere to (pleasantly) surprise you with something completely different! Sure enough the promo material for this is absolutely correct when it talks about Sunrunner being a "epic progressive heavy metal, influenced by Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and German power metal". That part of Sunrunner is a beast and then some! Throw in a reference point or two to post-"Black Album" Metallica and possibly even Helloween and you're looking at this band's heavier edge. It's all golden, but then again so is this band's folk metal side! Yes, you heard that right. This band has a folk metal side (try on "The Plummet" or size) and what's more I love it! That in and of itself might not sound all that unusual, but for the fact that I usual can take or leave folk metal (and it's mostly leave!) and I enjoyed the hell out of this part of Sunrunner! Such folk metal works extremely well when paired up next to heavy moments like "Technology's Luster" and (collectively) it all builds up rather expertly to the album's closing number (and certainly this album's most-ambitious moment), "Heliodromus". With a run-time that clocks in at 21:13 (!), "Heliodromus" is as insane a cut as it is epic and it ends a neat journey that started by way of the 28 second "Dies Natalis Soli Invicti". With it's solid production and influx of creative arrangements, "Heliodromus" is easily recommended to fans and newcomers alike. You can check out the trailer to this intriguing album below and for more information on this Portland collective be sure to check out the band's Facebook page here.

Pyramaze-Disciples Of The Sun

Inner Wound Recordings
2015

Seven long years have passed since Pyramaze's last album, "Immortal". Now armed with a new lead vocalist in Terje Harøy (Teodor Tuff, ex-Memorized Dreams) and having been blessed with the good fortune that is guitarist/bassist and producer Jacob Hansen (Invocator, ex-Eidetic, ex-Jacob Hansen, ex-Beyond Twilight, ex-Anubis Gate, ex-Maceration, ex-Broomshanka, ex-Guffe & Jacob) this Danish power metal band marks it's return with the excellent "Disciples Of The Sun". Initially founded in 2002 by guitarist Michael Kammeyer, with such top-tier vocalists as Lance King, Matt Barlow and Urban Breed having helped make this melodic power metal act the popular band that they are now, Pyramaze made their debut in May of 2004 with the well-received full-length album "Melancholy Beast". Since that fateful moment the band has seen more than it's fair share of line-up changes with today's version featuring sole original members Jonah Weingarten (keyboards) and Morten Gade Sørensen (drums). Despite all of the shake-ups Pyramaze has remained a rather consistent band with both "Legend of the Bone Carver" (2006) and "Immortal" (2008) receiving similar high praise as this band's debut album. With guitarist lead Toke Skjønnemand rounding out the band's line-up on "Disciples Of The Sun" and guests like Joost Van Den Broek (ex. After Forever, Star One),
Kim Olesen (Anubis Gate) and Henrik Fevre (Anubis Gate) stopping by to lend a hand the band's forth full-length album is one that should appease fans and newcomers alike! New lead singer Terje Harøy proves his worth well before "The Battle of Paridas" wraps up and from the album's brief instrumental opener, 
"We Are the Ocean", to this album's last call (the sublime "Photograph") there's seldom a dull moment! "Disciples Of The Sun" offers one splendid cut after another and thanks to the production job of Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Amaranthe, Epica, Evergrey) everything sounds clean and clear! Making a case for this album is an easy task as both the songwriting and the individual performances of each band member falls remarkably close to phrase "Absolute Perfection"! And thanks to the vast amount of "exotic" ingredients that went into the making of Pyramaze's latest release (heavy rock, hard rock, melodic metal, progressive rock/power metal, U.S and European power metal and even heavy power metal/thrash!) this is an album that keeps on giving with each new spin! "Disciples Of The Sun" was a pleasant surprise on this snow-covered day in dreary old Ohio and it's one release that I plan to come back to soon enough! 

Defyance-Reincarnation

See note below*

Minotauro Records
2015

Well, well, well what do we have here? Is it really you Defyance? Apparently so. Yes, it's the same Defyance that was covered here, here and here. And now they are back with their forth full-length album in "Reincarnation"! For Defyance (a U.S. progressive metal/power metal whose roots can be traced all the way back in time to 1989!) the title of their upcoming release on Minotauro Records could not be any more accurate if they tried! "Reincarnation" is a spot-on title as the sound here reflects a band that has been reborn while A) Retaining everything that made them so fantastic to begin with (the fact is the style and substance of this Iowa-based band has never been called into question!) and B) Evolving to the next great plain of existence! And as a reborn act they have the majestic quality of a newborn. They have that extra sparkle that comes from experiencing a new life form for the first time. "Reincarnation" is the past and present colliding together and it is (simply put) great. Well, not just "great". It's more like Tony the Tiger "GREAT!!!!" but with an extra helping of sugar heaped on in the form of two bonus covers! Those who be Fifth Angel's "Wins Of Destiny" and Riot's "Sign Of The Crimson Storm" and as a fan of all three of these bands (Riot, Fifth Angel and Defyance!) all I can say is "Wow"! It's something special how album number four for a band such as Defyance rolls out bone-snapping winners like the one-two punch that is opener "High Ground" and the LP's second track, "Rangers Lead The Way", while balancing out the back end of "Reincarnation" with the two smashing cover choices! Between the sheets you're likely to discover gems like the slow rocker "Devil Dogs" and the emotional "Deeds Not Words". Even if I can't quite put my finger on what makes "Reincarnation" so wicked to begin with (Is it the material on hand or the way in which it's delivered? Is it the band members themselves (as individual standouts) or is the way these four emerge as a collective? Or is it simply a case of all of the above and then some?) the end result is always the same. "Reincarnation" just rocks! The classy nature of a number like "Love Honor More" mixes so well with the classical structure of "From The Ashes" that you can't help but feel as if this release was custom crafted by some mystical force. The individual songs pack plenty of punch as "singles" while the album as a whole flows effortlessly from the speakers and into your eardrums where they are gobbled up in glorious delight! From the same four original (read: AWESOME!) band members that gave us the great "Time Lost" we are treated to one of 2015's best power metal releases and it doesn't get any better than this! Maybe we should just stop the competition this year and just award this four-piece the title already? Frankly, this one's going to be hard to top my friends. Unfortunately though it looks as if most of you will be waiting until spring time to find that out. At least that time frame is the last I heard for this album's release date, but it will be well worth the wait. All eight of the new numbers are near perfect in form and execution with the two aforementioned cover songs nicely rounded out by a original demo version of "Passing Of The Night". Said number original appeared on the group's 2002 effort, "Transitional Form", and the rougher version presented here easily fits the overall feeling of Defyance's latest work. Quite obviously I highly recommend  the album "Reincarnation" with the though process that this CD should really appeal to all fan's of U.S. power metal as well as our readers out here in cyberspace that just love high-quality progressive power metal! For updates on this release be sure to follow Minotauro Records online here and be sure to bookmark their official site right here.

*Album artwork presented here may or may not reflect end product.

Greensleeves-Inertial Frames

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Active since 1993, with this hour plus release offering proof positive that when it comes to high-quality progressive metal Europe and North America do not have the market cornered(!), Brazil's Greensleeves makes their triumphant return to the heavy metal scene with the Victor Schmidlin-produced album, "Inertial Frames". No strangers to the writers of Heavy Metal Time Machine (or for that matter to fans of top-tier progressive metal of the melodic persuasion!) this skilled five-piece previously appeared in these very pages thanks to their full-length debut-album, "The Elephant Truth"*. That particular album offered a unique mash-up of all things hard and heavy with the added benefit that it fell under the blanket of progressive/power metal and it was reviewed here by the one and only Metal Mark. The thing is that was way back in November of 09! Incidentally that was also the last time that fans of Greensleeves were able to wet their whistles with new studio material. So, naturally this new album is a long time coming. But, thanks to talents of guitarist Victor Schmidlin (ex-Dynahead) and his overall exceptional band-mates the long wait appears to have been well-worth it as this band has returned with a fine example of how to make a progressive metal album that is immensely technical while simultaneously hard-hitting and down-right enjoyable! Sounding for all the world like a heavier Dream Theater or possibly even Symphony X (only with a bit more attitude and more of a sense of urgent energy), "Inertial Frames" offers everything fans of the genre could ask for from well-thought out and moving passages to thunderous riffs and even some hearty take-downs that border on power metal! Unfortunately very few things in life are absolutely perfect and to be fair there are a few faults to be found with the band's sophomore album. On occasion there are ideas that don't sound as if they were thoroughly followed through but this could be attributed to the time off between albums and the fact that even the best of bands can be rusty right out of the gate. Also the mix on album number two can be a bit uneven at times with the vocals of one Gui Nogueira all but suffering as a result. Again, it's not a every-track occurrence but when it happens you notice it. For a self-produced affair though it's a minor complaint as this album certainly comes across as a labor of love from Greensleeves to their fans. And trust me when I say that the good times far outnumber the bad times on "Inertial Frames". There is way more to love about Greensleeves these days and man alive it is just so good to see that this band is still going at it after 20 or so years! For more information on this Brazilin act and to find out how to secure a copy of their new album for yourself be sure to head over to the link that follows! 
 https://www.facebook.com/greensleevesfb

*http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2009/11/greensleeves-elephant-truth.html

Jacobs Moor-All That Starts

Bleedingstar Records
2014

Self-produced by the band members themselves, "All That Starts" is the full-length debut album from Austrian metal act Jacobs Moor. Founded in 2010 by Richard Krenmaier (Speed Limit, ex-Stygma IV, ex-Surrender, ex-Big Heat, Della Street), Johnny Sommerer and Rainer Lidauer (ex-Far Beyond Innocence, ex-Marcin Suder), with both the studio line-up for "All That Starts" and the live line-up of this Vienna-based act listed below*, Jacobs Moor is another relatively new band whose sound and style covers many different genres. Influenced by the likes of Machine Head, Devil Driver, Leprous, Slayer, Testament, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Dream Theater, Pantera and Lamb Of God and being the benefactors of lead singer Richard Krenmaier's all encompassing voice this Austrian stretches modern metal and progressive/melodic power /thrash metal into all kinds of unusual shapes! As dark and oppressive as the music might be at times (and also as gloomy as the band members themselves intended the art-work above to convey!) it's also strangely illuminating making "All That Starts" a record well-worth visiting from time to time. Available pretty much wherever fine music is to be found these days ( iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, etc), "All That Starts" is a fine start for Jacobs Moor. Especially seeing as it does the band members and the metal community as a whole proud by offering up another much-needed soundtrack for this crumbling world for which we are all to blame...

 * Jacobs Moor's studio line-up included:
   Richard Krenmaier-vocals
   Johnny Sommerer-guitars, bass (except "Faceless Man") and cellos
   Rainer Lidauer-drums

  Along with the following guests:
  Werner Taus-bass on "Faceless Man"
  Günther Maier-2nd guitar solo on "Final Sound"

  Meanwhile the live band features:
  Richard Krenmaier-vocals 

  Johannes Pichler-guitars 

  Rupert Träxler-guitars 

  Stephan Först-bass 

  Rainer Lidauer-drums

A Sound of Thunder-The Lesser Key of Solomon

Mad Neptune Records
2014

On September 9th Washington, DC-based A Sound of Thunder will release their fourth full-length album "The Lesser Key of Solomon". Up front the obvious must be stated. If ever there was proof that one does not necessarily need the backing of a major label to achieve success then it would have to be this female-fronted band and their Kickstarter-funded new LP! Produced by Kevin '131' Gutierrez (While Heaven Wept, Raven, Shinedown) and funded in big part by the "Legion of Thunder" (A Sounder of Thunder's loyal fan base) "The Lesser Key of Solomon" will be released on the group's own label and for members Nina Osegueda (vocals), Josh Schwartz (guitar), Jesse Keen (bass, keyboards) and Chris Haren (drums) this phenomenal album isn't just as good as it gets for the band, but rather it serves as the group's defying moment while further proving just how criminally underrated this four-piece is! After the release of group's "Time's Arrow" (an album which made my best-off list for 2013!) it would have seemed hard to fathom that this progressive power metal band could have possibly bested it. But, here it is and with it's genre-defying mix of all things hard and heavy (it's not just progressive power metal anymore folks, but traditional heavy metal, speed metal, melodic metal, dark metal, symphonic metal and even hard rock!) and it's overall dark vibe "The Lesser Key of Solomon" leaves me thinking that not only will it make this year's list, but it might just top the list! Classically-trained vocalist Nina Osegueda, who has rightly been described as "the love child of Rob Halford and Bruce Dickinson", sounds better then ever as she stretches her voice to new heights! On "Udoroth" (a number that was previously released as a Kickstarter exclusive) she end's up leading the band through epic metal territory and yet she masterfully switches things up on the beautiful (Doro-ish) "The Boy Who could Fly". And then there is atmospheric "One Empty Grave". I'm at a loss when it comes to fully spelling out the power of this gripping number. It's wonderfully mysterious and for Nina it stands at a moment when all the stars align. At this point in the game Nina has the world at her fingertips as he leaves the listener spellbound by her alluring voice. To be fair it helps tremendously when you're teamed up with skilled musicians like Schwartz, Keen and Haren who combine their creative efforts in order to give their lead singer an ever-expansive stage upon which she can perform. This trio is instrumental (no pun intended!) in making sure that number's as different as "Elijah" (Savatage meets Dio while Merciful Fate looks on? Maybe. Only here there is so much more going on!), "Master of Pain" (sweet Dio worship!) and the heavy, power metal track "Black Secrets" all retain that one distinctive sound that is undeniably their own! With 10-tracks total (all of which are tied together thanks to this album's supernatural themes) "The Lesser Key of Solomon" has so much to offer longstanding fans of the group as well as newcomers. Ending with the eight-minute plus "House of Bones", which is one cut where the band elegantly lays their open hearts out for all to examine, A Sound of Thunder (or "ASoT" as their known to fans) has recorded the most versatile album that one could have only dreamed of and whether you can lay a definitive tag at feet of this motivational band or not isn't much of a problem. The real problem is having to wait until September 9th in order to have the whole package (music, booklet, stunning artwork, etc.) come in it's physical form!

https://www.facebook.com/ASoundOfThunder

Want to have your own copy of this spectacular metal masterpiece? If so then head to the link below to pre-order "The Lesser Key of Solomon".

 http://www.asoundofthunder.bigcartel.com/

Free Metal Monday: Gravity Rain-The Shining Silence

Self-Release/Independent
2014

With no reviews posted this past weekend I thought I'd make up for it by posting two great (free) downloads. The first one (a 27 track promo compilation) was just posted and while that release covered a wide-range of artists this "name you're own price" digital download simply covers Russia's own Gravity Rain. Of course that's not to say that there is anything simple about Gravity Rain and/or the music of "The Shinning Silence"! For one thing Gravity Rain isn't so much a band as a mission. And the man behind this mission? Well, that would be Russian songwriter Danny Klaven (vocals/guitars). In his own word's this talented vocalist/songwriter says: "When I was forming this band, I wanted to create music for the rock lovers that is not aggressive, that you could think and somewhat meditate while listening to it, that will have a lot of melody, beautiful vocals, but will retain the power of metal guitars and drums." Sound's good right? Here in Gravity Rain (a project that interesting enough was initially described to me as somewhat of a fusion of Tool and the Devin Townsend Band) Danny enlisted musicians Artyom Kuznetsov (guitars), Dmitry Aleksandrin (bass) and Nikita Kochkin (drums) and the results are pretty solid as far as this three-track EP goes. Mission-wise Danny succeeds as Gravity Rain does have plenty of melody as well as powerful metal guitars and drums.  Gravity Rain could best be described as a cross between  melodic metal and (progressive) power metal and on their bandcamp page (http://gravityrain.bandcamp.com/releases) further mention is made of Staind and In Flames (as far as sound goes). The Staind reference point is actually a good addition to the Tool and Devin Townsend ones as Gravity Rain relies on modern day heavy rock with punch! All told "The Shining Silence" is well-written and performed and for those who enjoy heavy, guitar-punctuated melodic rock/metal a EP like this one should find plenty of fans!

Defyance-Time Lost (2014 Re-Release)

Minotauror Records
2014

Following in the footsteps of the previously covered 1996 album "Amaranthine", "Time Lost", which was recorded at SR Audio in Des Monies, IA and Northlake Studio in Otley, IA (with Sean McMahon serving as producer alongside keyboardist Matt Bell and the band members themselves) and initially self-released in 1999, was the second full-length album from Knoxville, Iowa-based Defyance. In addition it is the third (again, self-released mind you) Defyance recording to see a proper CD re-release from the wonderful folks over at Minotauror Records and, if this shaky memory of mine serves me correct, it was my first introduction to this highly-underrated U.S. metal band. As was the case for "Amaranthine" (a recommended release in it's own right folks!) the humble heavy metal beginnings of Defyance were soon paved over by (somewhat) harder power metal and as the band further explored this new found territory they would also begin to further embrace the mindset that progressive rock and metal can and does add that special little something to the mix (especially when done right). And frankly it's that exact one-two combination (power metal of the U.S. variety plus some excellent progressive rock/metal moments) that made "Time Lost" the true winner that it was (even if it was an underground winner that far too few got to experience first hand back in the day!) and still is! Even though "Turn To Yesterday" might tow the line between power and prog (with bands like Fates Warning, Dream Theater and even Queensrÿche coming to mind) on numbers such as "Between The Lies", "My Nightmares" and "Break The Silence" it's a whole different ballgame. Here on "Time Lost" those sort of moments truly benefit from the twin guitar solos of Brent Scott & Marcus Peterson and, even if the power metal on display here never reaches truly epic levels, there's still enough of a punch to these sort of cuts that it should easily serve to bring a smile to the faces of many a true headbanger! With the progressive rock elements present and accounted for but still kept in check the band made good on their promise to deliver a worthy follow-up to "Amaranthine". Even if so it was not exactly smooth snailing for this underrated act. Line-up changes between album number one and album number two meant that it was rough going for this U.S. metal band and by the time Defyance had finally laid down bulk of the tracks for "Time Lost" they were looking at two new additions in Scott Andreas and Rob Mcgrath. As the band was desperately trying to find all the rights pieces to make a real run at things adding a new bass player probably wasn't much of a big deal. To that end Rob Mcgrath was recruited into the fold and his playing on "Time Lost" is solid and it actually provides a nice balance/compliment to drummer Doug Beary. The real change though was in the vocal department. Looking around locally the group ended up acquiring ex-Sinister Minster member Scott Andreas (also ex-Atomic Opera) who, having replaced the departed Brian Harrington, brought with him a voice that has been compared to the likes of Bruce Dickinson and D.C. Cooper! All told these new additions proved quite beneficial for the band and Defyance, perhaps reborn and even rejuvenated by these changes, emerged from the studio with the near-perfect "Time Lost" in hand! Defyance proved that even in the face of adversary they could emerge stronger. With all of the turbulence that was going on around them it would stand to reason that the nearly 50 minutes long "Time Lost" would have hiccups right? And yet here it is, a shining example of the lasting impact of progressive power metal! Given their hard work and dedication to their craft, everything fell smoothly into place with the group's sophomore recording and whether you are a fan of bands like Fates Warning, Dream Theater, Crimson Glory and Queensrÿche or you are more into Iron Maiden-like power metal this one offers something for everyone!To say that this one is highly recommended is putting it mildly!

Everthrone-Evil Tongues

Tribunal Records
2013

Released at the end of last year and serving as the debut album for this South Carolina five-piece, "Evil Tongues", which was produced by Divebomb remastering engineer Jamie King, is another recording from the Divebomb Bootcamp series. Original formed under the name of Merzah in 2005, during which time the group released one EP entitled "In the Trenches" and one LP called "Saturn Dreaming of Mercury", the band changed their name to Everthrone in 2012 and, from the sounds of this long-player, never once looked back! Lead by the talented Russell Plyler (a front-man for all occasions he makes hasty work of both the original cuts on this album, which come down to a fairly traditional melodic power metal/progressive metal style, while also conveying the proper emotional response needed for a cover of Real Lifes' "Send Me an Angel") this heavy metal doesn't have all of the pieces in place yet, but there are enough signs pointing towards greater things to come that it's easy enough to overlook any negatives that might be encountered along the way (let's just say that the rest of the band hasn't quite caught up to the skill level of Russell Plyer and leave it at that). Chalk this one down as a band to watch. 

Manta Ray- Visions Of Towering Alchemy

Divebomb Records
2013

For this entry into Divebomb Record's "Bootcamp Series" we must step inside the WABAC machine and return to another time period. While it might not seem as if it was all that long ago, as we're only talking about 20+ years having passed, the fact is so much has changed (from our day to day lives to the world in which we now we come home) that it might have been a 100 years ago! Long before the internet made us all slaves to technology, and the best albums (usually only to be found on cassette tape and vinyl mind you!) could still be had by going to your local Mom and Pop store down the street, a young band named Manta Ray released their one, and unfortunate as it would prove to be, only release in "Visions Of Towering Alchemy". The exact time (1990) and place (Dallas, Texas) are recorded in the pages of history (or Heavy Metal History that is), but what has been previously laid to paper in regards to this young band is woefully inadequate! The band Manta Ray, which had formed one year earlier and was lead by guitarist/vocalist (and recent Hollywood Musicians Institute' graduate) Lance Harvill, issued this (originally) four-track EP that, despite being less then twenty minutes in length, told the world everything that they needed to know about the band's long-term potential. Unfortunately for every good album that came out that year (Death's "Spiritual Healing", Annihilator's "Never, Neverland", Judas Priest's "Painkiller", Prong's "Beg To Differ", King's X's "Faith Hope Love", Mother Love Bone's "Apple" and Social Distortion's "Social Distortion") there were more then enough train-wreck releases from likes of  Poison, Warrant, Slaughter, Don Dokken, Firehouse and Dread Zeppelin (God, remember them?) to derail the hopes of any up-and-coming band. And of course lost in the shuffle of a dying heavy metal scene was this young Dallas act. At the time this should have been just the starting point for a promising career. While the Lance Harvill might not ring any bells now there was some serious talent waiting in the wings as far as Lance's cohorts. Standing beside Lance was guitarist Mike Morgan (ex-Hell Church, ex-Seventh Gate) and two gentlemen who would go on to have quite the successful careers (bassist David Harbour and drummer John Luke Hebert). While both of these individuals would go on to play with Chastain, Leather and King Diamond (!) it would be David, whose exceptional bass playing was obvious from the very start of his career, who really took after Manta Ray's far too brief existence! Not only did this talented bassist find himself with Chastain, Leather and King Diamond (and not to mention the ambient act Equimanthorn), but he was also involved with solo projects from the likes of David T. Chastain and Michael Harris. All of which is fine and dandy I hear you saying, but what about this particular band and the re-released "Visions Of Towering"? I'm glad you asked as "Visions Of Towering Alchemy", which was originally laid to tape at Dallas Sound Lab Studios (Pantera and Rigor Mortis), showcases a young band that had so much to offer a scene that was in desperate need of earnest heavy metal like this. Early Queensrÿche would be one good starting point as far as references are concerned. Anything from the "Queensrÿche" EP up to "Rage for Order" would be in order. But, "Visions Of Towering Alchemy", having now been expanded to a six-track EP thanks to the inclusion of two bonus cuts in "Guilty" and "On My Own" (both from the 1991 demo "Die Hard"), would likely be a welcomed addition to those who count Sanctuary's "Refuge Denied" and Dio's "Lock Up the Wolves" as part of their personal heavy metal collection. Along with a little maybe a little Crimson Glory ("Transcendence"-era), Lethal (their "Programmed" album), Fates Warning (only up to their "No Exit" album though) and Mainiax & Ray Gunn (two cult 80's metal bands who sadly only released one release apiece like Manta Ray!) and there you have it! Six (slightly) prog-leaning heavy metal/power metal tracks of exceptional quality. That is what this particular "Bootcamp Series" release from Tribunal Records' offshoot label, Divebomb Records, has to offer. Here's the thing though (and this is one thing that I really like about Divebomb releases). You don't just have to take my word for it. Nope. You can actually listening to samples of this cult re-release at the link below! How sweet is that! Just be forewarned though of one tiny little detail. As with the other release in the "Bootcamp Series" this one is limited to just  500 copies! So, you know the drill then right? You snooze, you lose! It's as simple as that folks! Personally I'd suggest that you not miss out on this one, but that's just me! Still, at a mere $7.00 this one seems like a real no-brainer my friends. I'm just saying....

http://tribunalrecords.bigcartel.com/product/manta-ray-visions-of-towering-alchemy

August-August

Arkeyn Steel Records
2013

Move past this album's unassuming and (frankly speaking) uninspiring cover art (and forgive the fact that this band hails from the musical wasteland that is known as Hollywood, California) and you're likely to discover that sometimes, yes sometimes, the best heavy metal can be found in the most unlikely of places. And in this case it can be packaged with such simplicity (as far as this ones presentation is concerned) that, unless you somehow knew the real treat hidden under it's wraps, that you'd be excused for walking past it. Of course you should know where I'm going with this recently-released, limited-edition compilation (1,000 hand-numbered CD copies) from California's August. Arkeyn Steel Records is another one of those record labels that always seems to have their hands on some real gems of the 80's underground metal scene and August, which was formed in 1988 by two former students of Musicians Institute of Hollywood, California (guitarist Mike Moore and bassist Houston Thad Cranford), is no different in that regard. As was the case with the prior 2013 releases from Xcel and Alloy Czar (both of which come highly recommend and have ended up in my private collection) this collection of August material has been painstakingly re-mastered and the result speaks for itself. The nine tracks here are clean and clear and the ever feature of this band, which also featured lead vocalist Tony Russo (R.I.P.) and drummer Andy Shea, sounds damn near perfect! Now, despite hailing from the land of big hair and even bigger egos the heavy metal on display is of the progressive/U.S.power metal variety. If that (somehow) has you thinking about early Queensrÿche then you my friend win the golden prize! Thankfully this four-piece decided early on to push themselves and what resulted was a sound that (besides the early, 1983-1984 or so, Queensrÿche reference point) should appeal to fans of Crimson Glory, Heir Apparent and Lethal! Throw in a little mid-eighties Judas Priest to even it all out and there you have August. And yes kids, it is a beautiful thing. Wait, what is it exactly that is "a beautiful thing" I hear you asking? Well, being able to discover new gems from heavy metal's glory days like August You'll have to excuse me while I wax nostalgic a bit, but those (the eighties/early nineties) really were the days. Other then maybe the early eighties (when I would have been only 9-10 and had not yet discovered what would eventually become one of the great loves of my life) the mid to late eighties was an exciting time to be a heavy metal fan. New bands were cropping up pretty much overnight and it seemed as if every area of the U.S. had it's own set of (hometown pride) heavy metal heroes! When bands like August made the scene you could feel the love and passion these acts had for their music and (even more so) their fans! It was a time when the floodgates came open and, despite never making it past the demo stage for a lot of these young acts, they still gave 100% and the scene was on fire! Of course there are still local bands doing the same thing and playing music for themselves and for their fans. But in a way it's all so different. The Internet has made it so a lot of bands don't need to build up a local and loyal fan base and these kind of well-love demo recordings have been replaced with digital downloads. Between that and the fact that this kind of U.S. power metal doesn't really exist anymore it's a different world entirely. Still, with recordings like this you can relive those moments while also supporting traditional heavy metal/power metal acts who, while quite deserving, just didn't make it to the next level for whatever reason. While I can't comment on the booklet that comes with this one (as it's a "digital download" promo kind of world anymore kids) from the sounds of it this one should be just as sweet as both the  Xcel and Alloy Czar ones were. Along with a bio and unpublished photos the CD will include lyrics so that with each track you can read along while you rock out! That's always a good thing! Obviously this one is recommend for collectors of all things eighties heavy metal as well as fans of Queensrÿche, Crimson Glory, Heir Apparent and Lethal!