Children of the Reptile-The Four Weapons EP

Self-Release/Independent
2016

Sporting one of the coolest monikers out there(!), Children of the Reptile is a up-and-coming heavy metal band from Wilmington, North Carolina that is every-bit as epic as their name suggests! The group's wide array of influences include (but are not limited to!) Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Judas Priest, Rainbow, Manilla Road, Loudness, Megadeth, Brocas Helm, The Lord Weird Slough Feg, Metallica, and even Thin Lizzy!! According to the Metal Archives, Children of the Reptile was originally formed in 2008 by vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist Ozzie Darden (ex-Death Machine Weapons, ex-The Disasters) and guitarist/vocalist Chris Millard (Salvación, ex-Wrathlord) for a one-off show. It was only in 2009 that this U.S. epic heavy metal band became the real deal. After putting out their 3-song debut EP in March of 2012, Children of the Reptile went on to release a self-titled album in 2013. Just released on November 19th, "The Four Weapons EP" is the latest studio recording for this four-piece lot. It finds Ozzie Darden and Chris Millard backed by bassist/vocalist David "Pils" Hufham and drummer Jon Kiker (ex-Death Machin Weapons, ex-Wrathlord). While Jon Kiker has since been replaced by Chase Kelly, "The Four Weapons EP" did feature his immense skills and he should be duly credited. And speaking of (MAD) skills, Ozzie Darden and Chris Millard have the twin guitar attack style of Tipton/Downing (Iron Maiden) and Smith/Murray (Judas Priest) down pat! Simply put, the guitar solos on this EP are KILLER! For fans of real heavy metal (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, solo Ozzy, Dio, etc.) these leads will feel like a homecoming of sorts. Meanwhile the tight rhythm section is right there in line with the strings...and so is lead singer Ozzie. Darden's voice is honest and sincere and it fits right in with the overall mentality of this 4-track recording. Easily verified by listening to just one of the songs on this tremendous EP, Children of the Reptile has a real love for the music that they have created. Whether it's the instrument number "Arrival of the Dark Child" (which slays!) or the EP's three "regular" songs ("4 Weapons", "Sieg Zeon!", and "Goblin's Treasures"), "The Four Weapons EP" is 100% authentic in it's delivery! There is nothing fake about recording or the  extremely-talented band that crafted it. God, is that every refreshing or what? Real heavy metal from a honest to goodness real heavy metal band. Who would have thought it possibly that such a cool thing still existed in 2016? Available for the low price of only $5.00 (which frankly is a steal of a deal for this twenty plus minute EP!), "The Four Weapons EP" is for fans of traditional heavy metal as well as epic metal. It's a A+ recording in a world where we all too often settle for B- releases and it comes with my highest of recommendations! 

S.A. Adams-A Murder of Crows

Self-Release/Independent
2016


It's been a long time in the making, but the recently-released "A Murder of Crows" is a brand new solo offering from New York City's own S.A. Adams. The full-length album, which was recorded in S.A. Adams' home territory and is only available in digital format*, comes along some 12 years after Adams' last solo recording, "Mutated". Of course in-between 2004's "Mutated" and S.A. Adams' latest release there was 2010's "Unearthed" and the 2016 digital EP, "Sins of Your Flesh", but as far as brand new  full-length albums of the fist banging metal variety are concerned this particular recording is the real deal. Having first started his solo career way back in 1992 after leaving  The Fury , S.A. Adams has managed to roll out some of the best (if sadly underrated) power metal/thrash albums out there. In that same time-frame (and really it's thanks in no small part to his absolutely praise-worthy ability to construct solid material and then (often times) handle all of the vocals and instruments himself!) he has also impressed plenty of critics and built himself up a small (if not completely loyal!) following. All it takes is one listen to S.A. Adams' all-powerful "A Murder of Crows" to understand why both his fans and the critics continue to heap praise and admiration onto this New York native! Not only has "A Murder of Crows" been well worth the long wait (and then some!) it is one of Adams' finest moments! For a top-notch metal musician like S.A. Adams' that's saying quite a bit. Especially as we talking about one hell of an exceptional musician that has made a career out of having one solid gold moment after another! Speaking of solid gold moments, the terrific number "The Rising" opens things up on the must-have "A Murder of Crows" and for fans of head shaking & body slamming heavy metal it is nothing short of a strike it rich moment! Of course the exact same thing can be said about this power-packed album as a whole, but in all honestly listeners can find that much out for themselves should they decide to pick up this release that is being touted as one the heaviest albums of S.A. Adams' career!! I for one am not going to argue with that assessment. Granted I might mention how this album oddly enough comes across as one of the most sincere and enduring releases from S.A. Adams to date, but there again listeners can make up their own minds as far as that statement is concerned. Available for purchase over at at Amazon and CD Baby, "A Murder of Crows" is real heavy metal** from S.A. Adams and some very special guest musicians. Unfortunately this digital album did not come with any kind of line-up information so I am afraid I can not name any of those guest musicians other than Raven's John Gallagher. He shows up to play on the second to last track ("Samurai") and just like every cut on this new recording it is stone cold sick! I only wish that I could name every other guest on this digital delight, but at least it's something to think about (as is the fact that S.A. Adams actually has guest musicians to begin with on one of his solo releases!). Needless to say, "A Murder of Crows" comes highly-recommend....




*Or at least it is as of this writing


**As with other recordings from S.A. Adams there is nothing fancy or pretentious about this release. At the end of the day S.A. plays honest to goodness heavy metal that picks apart everything from seventies punk to nineties thrash and then super glues the whole thing back together with some ass kicking hard rock that would have made Lemmy proud! In other words, "A Murder of Crows" shreds! 

Interview with Bad Frankenhausen's Tom Goldman

How's this for perfect timing? Just this past Monday I reviewed Bad Frakenhausen's new album "Eins" and here it is Wednesday(!) and I am now proud to present an interview that I conducted with this London band's guitarist/vocalist, Tom Goldman. I want to thank Tom for taking time out of his schedule to chat with us about his band and Bad Frakenhausen's (highly-recommended!) debut album. If you haven't read my review of "Eins" yet then be sure to check it out by heading here. Meanwhile you can find "Eins" online by following this link.


Andy (A)-For our readers who might not be familiar with your band could you give us a brief rundown on who's who in Bad Frankenhausen and what you...or rather your band...is all about?

Tom Goldman (T)-We’re Bad Frankenhausen, a three piece Hard Rock/Metal band from London England. We follow the traditional ‘Power Trio’ formation of me (Tom) on guitar and vocals, Rob on Drums and Paul on Bass. The general idea behind the band is to have a Classic Rock/Metal vibe with some modern influences as well, with a focus on big, memorable riffs!

A-I'd say you succeeded with that game plan Tom! How and when did your band form and how did you decide on your unique moniker?

T-Although Bad Frankenhausen was formed officially in mid 2014, it’s existed quite a bit longer in different forms. Rob, Paul and Myself have played together since 2009, with various vocalists, but nothing really led to anything. In late 2013 after a bit of a break we got together as a three piece and I took over the vocal duties. From there we rewrote or started afresh with the material we had previously written and soon after we launched as Bad Frankenhausen.The name comes from a town in Germany. We all liked the sound of it and it’s quite different from many of the ‘typical’ metal band names. It also continues a proud tradition of rock bands named after places!

A-That's so very true LOL! Who is the primary songwriter in the band? Lyrically-speaking there seems to be a great deal of fantasy going on. Not that I'm complaining any since I totally dig the material that you guys have put out!

T-I think it's pretty mixed. We all contribute quite a lot to the music side. Occasionally I will bring something complete to the band, but even then we will work on it together and swap stuff out or improve on riffs. It's become a really collaborative process. Sometimes it might be a starting point of a simple riff or idea, or maybe we jam something. It's different every time, but the collaboration is key.The lyrics on "Eins" are done in much the same way, in that we have all pitched in ideas at various points. In some cases there has been a general idea, in others its more specific. We've tried to keep sense of humor about things too. There's quite a strong 'tongue in cheek' element to what we write too. I think "Eins" as a whole lyrically deals with the idea of desperate or deluded characters, it's a theme that we come back to quite a lot.

A-On your full-length debut I can hear traces of Black Sabbath and Motörhead. What are some of the bands that influenced you?

T-Well, as you mentioned Sabbath are a huge influence on us. As well as other classic rock bands like Deep Purple and Led Zeppelin. We certainly use their bluesy approach to riffing quite a lot in our songs. You’re quite correct in saying that Motörhead are important too, particularly vocally. Definitely some Priest and Megadeth there too!There’s some other stuff in there as well. Paul and I listen to a lot of Black and Death Metal, and although it may be subtle, there are some references to that in our songs, particularly in the guitar work – Although you may have to look for them! Also there’s quite a substantial Prog influence too in places.I would also say there’s particular influence from a lot of Doom and Stoner bands too. Bands like Electric Wizard and Orange Goblin, and also many bands from The USA, particularly Southern Metal and Desert Rock groups. Pantera, Down. Basically anything with great riffs and a strong groove!

A-Coolness! Not counting your odds and ends collection entitled "Vol 1",  "Live" was your first full-length release. What made you decided to go that route?

T-We'd written a lot of material and we just wanted to get it recorded. We've been lucky in that we're quite prolific in that respect. It just seemed logical to us to do a full length, to get definitive versions of our music on record, rather than doing a few separate EPs.

A-Well, it worked for the band MC5 so why not you guys! LOL! We briefly touched on it, but talk to us about your new album. How did it all come about and how have fans and critics reacted to it?

T-It's been a long time in the making! We recorded it and mixed it in June/July last year. The artwork was done over the Summer and Mastering was completed in October. We've been sitting on if for a few months, so it's good to have it out. Reactions have been great. Considering we have not had an "official" release for it yet, it's been a pleasant surprise to find that people have discovered it. Hopefully more people will get to hear it and enjoy it soon; we plan on sending out copies to a range of people/place. It will be "interesting" to see what the reaction will be!

A-In a very good way "Eins" has an almost live feel to it. Was that purposeful?

T-Absolutely. We are big fans of the natural live sound of music and want to give people the impression that they are in the studio with us playing when they listen, rather than have something over produced and artificial. It just seems to fit in with our style.

A-In our email exchange you mentioned "Eins" getting a physical release. When can fans expect that?

T-We are hoping that we will have the first physical copies early March, with an aim to have them for sale later that month or early April.

A-Awesome! Who are some of the bands that you've played with so far?

T-We've played with quite a lot of excellent bands on the London scene. Last week we played with Overthrow and in the last year we've been lucky enough to play with the likes of Empire Warning, Possessor, Suffer No Fools, Morag Tong, Unheard Before the Wake, Slave Steel and so many more - apologies to those who I've missed! We've been very lucky with who we have got to play with.

A-As a follow-up to that question who would you like to play with if given the chance?

T-In the immediate future, would love to play with some of the other local bands we haven't had the chance to like Wretched Toad, Wychhound, DBM, Khadian, Jackknife Seizure... But in the future who knows? There are obvious big name choices... But we've a while to go till we are there yet.

A-Since we're kind of on the subject already Tom what is your local scene like?

T-It's really good and getting better. I keep seeing new bands who are really impressive, whilst those who are have been on the scene for a while are progressing so much. The only thing that is a pain is that every month another venue seems to close, restricting where we can play. That being said, there's a dedicated group of promoters and venues who put in a huge amount of effort to support the scene. It's a really cool time to be involved in it.

A- Are there any other local bands that you'd like to suggest for our readers?

T-There are so many! Overthrow UK, Wretched Toad and Empire Warning are good places to start.

A-Thanks Tom. I'll have to check those bands out. Let's get back to your group though. What are some of your favorite moments so far with Bad Frakenhausen?

T-Definitely the live shows. They've gotten to be so much fun for us. It's great to see people's responses to new material, as well as seeing the same faces in the crowd!

A-To that end, what's the one thing that your band always has to have with them when you hit the road?


T-Either beer or guitar tuners.

A-Both of those are essential items that's for sure! Does Bad Frakenhausen rock out any cover songs live?

T-We do a pretty tasty version of "Tales of Brave Ulysses" by Cream...

A-Sweet! I'd love to hear your take on it. Alright, it's either or time. Black Sabbath with Ozzy or Dio?

T-Love Dio, but Ozzy.

A-I'm more of a Dio man myself, but it's all good. How about Metallica or Megadeth?

T-Megadeth - Love that guitar work.

A-Dave is one hell of a guitarist. An underrated one, but one of the greats all the same. OK, how about this one. Electric Wizard or Orange Goblin?

T-Electric Wizard.

A-Judas Priest or Iron Maiden?

T-Priest. I think most people in the UK would go for Maiden, but there's just a consistency with Priest I love.

A-I can't argue with that. So, what does the rest of 2016 have in store for you guys?

T-We've got a few more shows lined up (check the Facebook), then we intend to hit the studio again - We have a bunch of new material that we need to get down, so look out for another release later in the year! After that more live shows and hopefully we can expand out of the London scene, and journey to the rest of the UK and beyond.

A-I'll be sure to keep an eye out for your new material as I suddenly find myself hooked on your sound! Now I always let artists have the last word so go ahead Tom. The mic is all yours so feel free to share your words of wisdom. Or if you'd rather not go that route then you can feel free to share your favorite cocktail recipe! Whatever it is you want to lay down then have it!

T-We really want to thank you Andy for covering us. It does mean a lot. We would love if some of your readers would check out "Eins" on our bandcamp page, or even some of other, free releases. We want as many people as possible to hear our music, and we'd love to know what you all think.

A-The pleasure was all mine!


As a word of closing I am going to second Tom's suggestion my friends. For all of our readers out there (and yes, I'm especially talking to all of you who are fans of  raw/real metal and hard & heavy rock n' roll!) be sure to check out Bad Frankenhausen's "Eins". This power trio's riff-heavy & barroom-approved debut album has so much to offer and the more times that I listen to "Eins" the more I find myself wanting to wave the banner that is Bad Frankenhausen! Every-bit as loud & proud as they come, Bad Frankenhausen is one band that I not only plan to follow, but share with all of my metal brothers and sisters! And of course if you live in London and/or any of the surrounding areas be sure to check Bad Frankenhausen live. Having heard this band's live material (thanks to their bandcamp page) I can tell you that this type of heavy rock/hard & heavy metal simply SLAYS on the live stage! If you get a shot at seeing Bad Frankenhausen live then do it! God knows I would if I only lived across the pond! 

Free Metal Monday: Tower-Tower

Self-Release/Independent
2015

For today's Free Metal Monday feature we have Tower from New York City. The band is expertly fronted by Sarabeth Linden and the name-your-own-price "Tower" looks to be the group's first studio recording. Produced, mixed & mastered by Jeff Filmer and the band-members themselves, "Tower" features three cool tracks in the form of "Flames", "Mountains", and "Hold on to Me". That last number is arguably the best of the lot and on this EP the line-up looks to be Sarabeth Linden (lead vocals), James Danzo (guitar),
Zak Penley (guitar), Philippe Arman (bass guitar & vocals), and Joey Bouchard (drums). Tower is every-bit as real and rock-steady as the city it hails from (after all this city gave us everyone from The Ramones to Nuclear Assault)! and because I believe in giving credit where credit is due this is yet another fine suggestion from the one and only Paul Rote! There are a lot of  good reasons why I follow Paul on Bandcamp, but the biggest one would have to be the fact that the two of us share similar tastes in music. In the case of  Tower that would be heavy rock/heavy metal with a none-to-subtle eighties tint! Paul was more or less spot on when he said "This lies somewhere between Mötley Crüe and Accept", but let's make sure to clarify that comment by adding the word "early" to Mötley Crüe and rewriting the last bit so that it says "Restless and Wild" through "Metal Heart"-era Accept. Otherwise that is Tower in a nutshell and on this three-track EP these New Yorkers want nothing more than to share their love of old-school hard rock and heavy metal with the old and young alike! As this is (potentially) the band's first recording there is obviously room to grow, but from what I hear on "Tower" this is one group that could do some serious damage if given a fair shot. I'd love to see what this band could do with a legit budget and hear how they would fare on a full-length album. For now this EP is a great addition to any one's personal collection and I will eagerly be hyping it to friends and fellow collectors!

Tysondog-Cry Havoc

Rocksector Records
2015

Friends, family and fellow followers of all things loud and proud (and flat out the almighty f**kin' power cord!) this LP before us is hand's down the most eagerly-awaited releases of 2015! Or at least it was for me! Let me explain. Back in May of 2012 I covered this N.W.O.B.H.M. band's EP, "Hammerhead 2012", and at the time I made the remark that I hoped it wouldn't be too long before we would see a new full-length release from these Newcastle heavy metal merchants. Needless to say, "Cry Havoc" is long-overdue! Where have you been hiding Tysondog? Why the long wait? What took so long between then and now? I do have to wonder. The thing is that's neither here nor there. "Cry Havoc" is finally here and therefore we move on to the bigger question of the day. Was "Cry Havoc" worth the extra long wait? Is it everything that a long-time N.W.O.B.H.M. fanatic/Tysondog fan could ask for? For this N.W.O.B.H.M. fan/collector the answer is short and sweet. Yes! Yes, "Cry Havoc" is everything I could have hoped for and yes, even more! From the material to the overall production everything is just so right about Tysondog's latest. So much so in fact that it's almost hard to believe that this band goes all the way back to the early eighties and yet sounds this INVIGORATING and overall INTENSE! Credit that to the production job if you must seeing as it was handled by the one and only Jeff "Mantas" Dunn (founding member of Venom of course, but also with Mantas and Mpire of Evil!). Or at least it starts there as "Cry Havoc" feels like a release that Mantas would have his hands all over! And that my friends is a damn fine thing as Mantas is HUGE when it comes to REAL metal! Working with the material at hand (which is beyond heavy as it hammers away at your eardrums from the word go!) Mantas took what Tysondog had (strong as steel material!!!) and presented it in such a perfect way! Everything from John "Clutch" Carruthers's commanding lead vocals to the fabulous (read: shredtastic!) solos of new lead guitarist Steve Morrison (Judas Rising) is spot on and from the moment this one opens with the heavier than hell title cut it's all over! You are hooked from the start and treated to a very rare kind of album where traditional heavy metal, N.W.O.B.H.M., speed metal and even Motörhead-inspired heavy rock all combine in absolute perfect harmony! With Kev Wynn (bass), Paul Burdis (lead guitar) and Phil Brewis (drums) rounding out this mad pack of dogs things get nice and hot the move this long player moves along! With their N.W.O.B.H.M. roots still firmly in tack the band is never shy about branching out into new areas of hard rock and heavy metal as "Cry Havoc" showcases a seemingly reborn band infused with additional elements/influences such as AC/DC, Soundgarden (or really the very early days of Soundgarden when they were still heavily into all things post-Black Sabbath!), the aforementioned Motörhead and even early (solo) Rob Zombie/White Zombie! Lest you think that Tysondog is simply trying to appeal to modern day tastes pretty much everything about this five-piece band comes as as sincere, real and downright-honest with "Cry Havoc" sounding as close to classic metal as you can get! If you take anything away from this new release (other than how remarkable it is that they sound stunningly fresh!) it should be how Metal the album is compared to what's on the market these days! Pound for pound this LP is is as Metal as it gets which only helps to reaffirm the fact that there has never been a better time to be a N.W.O.B.H.M. fanatic then now! Due to drop on on April 20, 2015, "Cry Havoc" is yet another great release from a record label that is also home to such great N.W.O.B.H.M. bands as Avenger, Tygers Of Pan Tang and Quartz. "Cry Havoc" includes 12 brand new songs with not a dub to be found amongst the lot! You can actually hear one of this LP's cooler tracks, "Shadow of the Beast" (which features some prominent bass playing by Kev Wynn!) right here:https://soundcloud.com/rocksector/tysondog-shadow-of-the-beast although like I said there really isn't a bad song to be had here! "Cry Havoc" opens with the grueling punishment that is the title cut and from there it just heavy hitter after heavy hitter with solid tracks such as "The Needle",  "Parasite" and "Nemesis" leaving little room for doubt as far as the integrity and intensity if 2015-era Tysondog! Doom metal fans should enjoy "Into The Void" as it has tasty classic metal licks sandwiched in-between vocals that out Ozzy even the Ozz man himself while "Playing with Fire" takes the harsher side of Judas Priest and gives it a heavy dose of heavy rock and roll! Speaking of the harsher things in life (or at least when it comes to the boiling hot "Cry Havoc"!) there is the number "Relentless" which could be seen as the missing link between old Tysondog and Pantera!  And that's just a sampling of what's in store with "Cry Havoc"! The album, which is available for pre-order now as a special CD Fanpack direct from Rocksector Records at www.rocksector.com, is really the next evolutionary step for a band early releases balanced hard rock and heavy metal/speed metal so perfectly. It's N.W.O.B.H.M. after getting a face lift and a shot of adrenalin and at the end of the day it's simply an album that I can't help but ramble on and on about! "Cry Havoc" is not only a essential pick-up for fans of Tysondog, but it's a mandatory must-buy for those who still claim to love tried and true heavy metal and everything that it represents!

Review of Tysondog's "Hammerhead 2012":
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2012/05/tysondog-hammerhead-2012.html

Metal News: Hellraiser announces new album "No Turning Back"!

It has been a long time coming, but I am stoked to report that Alton, Illinois' Hellraiser are finally releasing a follow-up to their 1995 debut-album "Cut Yer Teeth On This"! That's right ladies and gentlemen. The very same Hellraiser that appeared in my January 8th, 2012 Forgotten Gems article* has announced the long-overdue release of album number. Man alive I never thought I would see the day that this hard & heavy outfit would treat us to another round of down-home/shot-worthy metal so imagine my surprise when lead vocalist/songwriter J.W. Street contacted me out of the blue to ask if I would be interested in covering the group's new release! Of course the answer to that question was a rousing "Hell Yeah!"! And as much as I loved the band's last album, "Cut Yer Teeth On This", there is simply no comparison between the two recordings. "No Turning Back" is not just the band's sophomore release and it sure as hell is not just another hard rock/heavy metal platter. Instead, "No Turning Back" is (hand's down!!!!) the COMEBACK album of the year! All I can say is WOW! Band members Jeff Street, Robert Thornton (Lead Guitar, Rhythm Guitar & Backing Vocals), Brett Hall (Bass Guitar & Backing Vocals) and Craig Moss (Drums & Backing Vocals) have outdone themselves and then some! Obviously these heavy rockers spilled some serious blood over the making of this new album as it is one ass-kicking monster of a metal album from start to finish! October 25th is it's tentative due date and for fans of Hellraiser this album will be well-worth the long wait! So, what of the album then? Well, read on! The overture "Time (Stands Still For No One)" leads right into "No Turning Back" and my first thought was was "I am totally digging the mix of Motörhead, Judas Priest, Metallica and Motley Crüe!". Heavy as it gets and a hundred times more hot than their name suggests, Hellraiser makes quick work of the naysayers who still insist that rock and roll is a young man's game with "Stand Up" serving as their battle cry! "Devil Woman" is blistering AC/DC worship (as if there is anything wrong with that!) while "Locked And Loaded" is outlaw Kiss. I must confess that by this point in "No Turning Back" I did start to wonder if this was the same band that made "Cut Yer Teeth On This". Simply put the energy of this band is off the charts! Talk about getting better with age! It's as if the years off did nothing but rejuvenate this band. I mean "King Of The Road" sounds like Dio getting shitfaced with American hard rock/blue's band The Four Horsemen while "Go Away (Bitch)" is AC/DC and/or Krokus as envisioned by a dirty gang of riff-hungry garage metalheads! Love it! "Little Bit Of Action" is Hellraiser doing what they do best. By mixing up a lethal cocktail of rock, hard rock and heavy metal and then delivering it straight to the listeners eardrums it's nothing short of heaven! The regularly version of "No Turning Back" ends strong with "Nuthin 4 Nuthin....." and it's cuts like this (where the band perfectly blends together the likes of AC/DC, Guns 'N Roses and Motörhead" that leave you aching for more! I'll tell you what. I had to hit repeat several times just because I could not get enough of the new Hellraiser! This one is just track after track of hard rock gold! Now, while the regularly album ends there (incl. my "bootleg" copy which simply reads "Radio Promo Copy"!) the digital version of "No Turning Back" looks like it will include two bonus tracks! At least that is per the group's Facebook page. The two tracks in question are on "Heatstrokes" (Krokus) and "Trick or Treat" (Fastway). As I have not heard the two cover tracks I cannot in good conscience comment on the quality (or lack thereof) of these digital album exclusives. That said, both Krokus and Fastway are like-minded acts making the choice of covers a particularly inspiring event. The thing is no matter what version of Hellraiser's upcoming album you spring for we're still talking about the strength of the group's original compositions. That is the heart of "No Turning Back" and it's a heart that will hopefully keep on pumping this kind of killer music! Let's just hope that the wait between this one and album three isn't quite so long!

You can find the band online here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hellraiser/216918791685237

*http://metalmark.blogspot.com/2012/01/forgotten-gems-hellraiser-cut-yer-teeth.html

Lords of Ruin-Life Is A War

1605 Records/ Sullen Musik
2013

If you're a little "older and greyer" like me then odds are pretty good that when you think about it the music of Orange County, California it's punk and hardcore that springs to mind. The O.C. scene was once nothing short of amazing. Is it still that way? I do have to wonder. Or at least when it comes to punk and hardcore. On the other end of the spectrum though everything seems to be in order. From the way O.C.'s Lords of Ruin go about things it sure sounds as if the the heavy rock/hard driving (and even harder living) metal scene is doing just fine. Still, chances are that you may not have heard of Life of Ruin prior to today and I for one wouldn't fault you for that. This California band, whose mission statement and main focus in life is "to bring back honest, powerful & heavy hard hitting rock & roll", didn't appear on my radar either prior to clicking on the link for "Life Is A War" but now I can't help but feel as if I've been missing out! Formed back in the summer of 2010, and with their first show ever seeing them open for Korn (!), the band is currently made up of  lead vocalist Lauren Boquette (Drown, Famous & SiX), lead guitarist Jimmy Craig, rhythm guitarist Travis Dunn, bassist Chico Tovar and drummer Lagarto "Paco" Marley. The three original founding members of the group are Lauren Boquette, Jimmy Craig and Travis Dunn while Chico Tovar and Lagarto "Paco" Marley replaced Eric Dilday & Corey Bush (who both performed on the aptly-titled "Life Is A War"). This 5-track release sees the band channel their various influences such as Pantera, (Black-era) Metallica, Judas Priest, AC/DC, Motörhead, Guns N' Roses, Black Sabbath (among countless others) into a fresh sounding beast of a EP! This isn't the first release from Lords of Ruin as that distinction belongs to the group's 2010 self-titled LP. That release, as well as a 2011 EP called "Beehive" and a exclusive new single entitled "Ghost of Finneran" (which you can find on iTunes), helps make up the back-story for this band. The only think is, as the hard-hitting and gritty  "Life Is A War" proves, Lords of Ruin is all about moving forward while doing it loud and doing it right! You can find this EP on iTunes and be sure to head over to the band's website for more information about not only the EP, but their other recordings, etc.


http://www.lordsofruin.com/home.html 

Asomvel-Knuckle Duster

Bad Omen Records
2013

Twenty years have passed since vocalist/bassist Jay-Jay Winter (RIP 2010) and guitarist Lenny Robinson first started Asomvel. Back then the group, which also featured ex-Cathedral/Acid Reign drummer Mark Wharton, could not have possibly guessed all that would happen to their band in the coming years. Before they could even get around to releasing their first demo, "The Blood Eye", which featured a "fitting" cover of a great white shark on the move, they reportedly went through ten or so different drummers in a way that would make even Spinal Tap chuckle! Not so funny though was the tragic passing of Jay-Jay Winter. Killed in a road accident in 2010, Jay-Jay's death would nearly crippled the band. While ex-Deathwing bassist Conan, who also plays/or did play bass in deathcore act Tangaroa (not quite sure if he still plays with them or not as there are conflicting reports online), would step in to handle vocals and bass even he knew that he could never really replace Jay-Jay and to this day both the band members themselves and fans still consider Jay-Jay to be a member of the band. Now, I freely admit that this release was a spur of the moment/impulse buy and prior to receiving it in the mail I had never heard of this British three-peace (which is rounded out now by drummer Jason hope) so I do not know how this one could or would compare to their older material. As I simply did not wish to be bias one way or the other I purposely choose not to listen to any of their previous recordings. That means "Knuckle Duster" is it for me as heck, I didn't even listen to samples of this one before I ordered it off of Amazon! I simply went by a review that I read in some metal mag (or was it online?) and now you will have the same option if you want. Here's the nitty-gritty details of this English heavy metal act. And actually gritty is as good a place to start as any. These English rockers play real, working man blues, drink hard and play even harder rock/metal that sounds as if it was honed by playing in every dive bar, biker hangout and empty parking lot between in Europe and the U.S.! That's a compliment of course as these fine gentlemen play working-clash rock and roll with lyrics that reflect a life that's seen it's fair share of blood, sweat and cold beer. These guys sound as if it's been a hell of journey, leaving behind them a trail of cheap liqueur and "Bad Mojo Rising" women, but we all know that "it's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll"! That said, in Conan we find a better then advertised bassist whose gruff, whisky-soaked vocals fall somewhere between Zodiac Mindwarp (the man and not the band) and a certain Lemmy Kilmister (the main man period!). He's able to convey real emotion with his delivery while the rest of the group as a whole, which at times (admittedly) did have me thinking about Lemmy's band, rock the part the freak out with a wonderful blend of sleazy hard rock, raw blues-rock, drunk punk rock and of course heavy metal! On one hand these guys (deservedly so) fit into perfectly into my ideal collection of all things "loud and proud". On the other hand though these English musicians do a good job of playing "cut  the crap all you crazy cats and get down with your bad selves!" rock and roll that wouldn't be too far out of place if served up hot and spicy alongside the likes of Neil Young, Aerosmith, Kiss, AC/DC or Ted Nugent! So yes, even though I "took a big chance at the high school dance" when I bought this one blind it paid off big time! This is one of those "9 points out of 10 points" or "three and a half stars out of four" albums that's a leap and a (HUGE) bounce better then (and yes, it does make me choke up to say this as I'm a total fanboy for the band!) "Aftershock" (I'll cover Lemmy's latest release tomorrow if I can) from a band that is "shut your mouth I'm just talking about Shaft" epic in magnitude and ready for the big time/primetime baby!

Dogs of Delphi-Irons in the Fire

Self-Release/Independent
2013

Based in Kansas City Missouri, whose pro football team the Chiefs are very likely to remain undefeated after they destroy my hometown (not so) pro team today, the Browns (especially when it comes to our anemic and down-right offensive offense!), let me introduce all of  you to the band Dogs of Delphi. This real deal, raw, ravenous and ready to strike band is not only heavier then King Kong's (big and hairy) testicles, but their demeanor is even nastier then damn stinky ape! Dogs of Delphi, with what I expect is their debut-recording, offer up (for your listening pleasure of course!) 5-tracks of unapologetic metal. This mid-west act is every bit what you'd expect based not only upon their cool moniker and the EP's gripping title, but also the effective black and white art-work that dons this EP! This five-track release opens strong with the cutting "Voice's of the Sky" and like a mean and vicious junk yard dog, whose gone rabid and has developed a taste for human flesh, it sinks it's blood-craved teeth into you and just doesn't let go!  Not even the album's closing number, which in this case is the gut-punching title-cut "Irons in the Fire", offers relief from it's trap-jaw so don't bother saying any prayers or begging for mercy. Long after this one is (technically) over your head is still going to be rattling from all of the meaty riffs and you'll be wondering where that mack-truck is that just ran you over! Now, usually I try to steer clear of a band's self-penned description. But, in the case of the Kansas City act it is actually a fairly spot-on description. As such it would be hard for me to argue against such a fact as the following. In a nutshell, Dogs of Delphi are said to be what you would get when you combine the three bands Black Sabbath, Clutch and Corrosion of Conformity into one volatile collective. Alright, you've got me as the "volatile collective" part I added myself. The thing is it's all too real and this band's sonic destruction is downright dangerous! So, this one sure does seem to be a combination of all three (Black Sabbath, Clutch and Corrosion of Conformity) with the Clutch part having everything to do with the sound & style of lead singer Adam Vinck. As he has the same kind of gnarly vocal delivery that a younger Neil Fallon did, which is f**king wicked friends, it's easy enough to draw a line between Dogs of Delphi and Clutch. Beyond that yes, sure enough there are those definite pieces/parts of both of the (other two) previously mentioned bands (Black Sabbath and Corrosion of Conformity). But, hold on a minute or two as we check out some of the other groups that spring to mind when you're talking about Dogs of Delphi. There's quite a bit of  anything/everything that Phil Anselmo had/still has to offer the heavy metal community.  This four-piece recalls the likes of Pantera, Superjoint Ritual and Down and in this case that's far from a bad thing! It's simply that Dogs of Delphi has more the enough substance to keep them interesting. With a guitarist like Todd James on hand, who keeps himself quite busy by laying down groove-heavy riffs (with the emphasis on HEAVY!), there does seem to be a tiny bit of (let's hold off on the psychedelic please and, in it's place, how about we try it with a bit more punk fellas?) Monster Magnet. Well, there's that and then (and I'm not sure why it was that I came away with this one) I heard the familiar rumblings of the mighty Motörhead in between Dogs of Delphi's riffs. Why it is that bands like this always bring me back to Lemmy and company I just don't know. Maybe it's a genetic defect on my part?. Either way there are also a lot worse things in life then being compared to a band like the one Lemmy fronts! On subsequent listens (as this one DEMANDED that I listen to it a half dozen or so times!) I came away with the impression that Dogs of Delphi could be what an alternate universe version of Motörhead would sound like if their biggest influences had been not only bands like Black Sabbath, C.O.C. and Clutch, but also "No Life 'til Leather" era Metallica! All of that just goes to show the diversity of this Kansas City collective and how "Irons in the Fire" is a beast of an EP!  Well, that and then it shows that my mind never likes to stay in one place for too long. I will chalk that one up to all the years of headbanging and thrashing out as it would explain the scrambled egg brains of mine! And hey, Dogs of Delphi, which is filled out by the pair of  bassist Michael Christopher (formerly of Primer 55) and drummer Jason Byrd (formerly of Cherry Wench with Todd James), might not helped me any with there monstrous riffs, but you are not going to hear me complain! Maybe the group's not a well-known commodity right now, but if they keep on cranking out this kind of ball-crushing, heavy on the groove and southern fried for extra crunchiness material then that will change soon enough. Be sure to clear out the runway for this Kansas City collective when you do secure a copy of this EP. Because let me tell you, when they come down to land these 5-tracks it's going to make one hell of a heavy metal explosion and leave layers upon layers of carnage everywhere! You can snag a copy of this one on iTunes, Amazon and other sources that deal in all things digital and all things "hotter then hell and capable of drop-kicking the devil's ass all the way to heaven" metal!

The Fury-Sex (2013 Re-Issue)

Minotauro Records
2013

Well now what do we have here? If this LP isn't the surprise re-release of the year (that honor would have to go to Mox Nix!) then it sure as hell must be up towards the top of the list! For Italy's Minotauro Records it sure does seems as if 2013 has been a banner year for the record label as far as re-releases go. And now comes the news that Island Park, New York's The Fury (featuring the one and only S.A. Adams!) will be getting the same kind of  royal treatment that Mox Nix did! It's a well-deserved moment for The Fury as these guys, who were grossly underrated, deserve not only another listen, but such star-studded treatment. Why? Well, we'll get to that point in a moment. First though one last note in regards to The Fury's new home. It's been a case of so far, so good (or at least in regards to 2013) for Minotauro Records and while I only received the music for "Sex" (meaning I haven't seen the finished product for myself) chances are pretty good that whole package will make for a must-own for heavy metal fans. This is one label that does good work and really knows what fans and collectors are looking for. So kudos to them for this signing. Alright, on to New York's own The Fury and why this is one band that deserves to be more then a mere footnote in the annals of metal. Now, I've covered S.A. Adams (who handles both lead vocals and guitars here) before with the 2010 issue of "Unearthed". The link to that review is provided at the bottom of this article. I bring that review up as there are obvious correlations between the recordings that make up "Unearthed" and the music of The Fury. While I'll leave it up to you the reader as to whether or not to read the whole back-story behind "Unearthed" (and how this band was the next step for S.A. Adams before he would go on to embark on a rather successful solo career) there is one connecting point that sticks out. While S.A. Adams had been playing in a Judas Priest/Iron Maiden kind of band (prior to the "Unearthed" recordings) everything would change for him after he went out and witnessed a Motörhead/Wendy O. Williams/S.O.D concert. From that point on he set his mind of forming a new band that was part punk and part metal. The "Unearthed" recordings drew from punk bands like GBH & The Stooges as well as the more "metal" groups of the day such as Motörhead, Exciter, Raven and so. In much the same way The Fury, which first came together in 1987, was a band that drew from both punk (Sex Pistols, GBH, Dead Boys) and metal (Motörhead,Raven and, as pointed out by my contact from Minotauro Records, Gotham City!). And, even if the above art-work for this re-release doesn't suggest that such a band lies in waiting (although it has to be said that it is MUCH better then the original cover which featured what looks like a blow-up sheep sex toy!), the picture of the group right below does paint such a picture I'd argue!

As I'm not exactly sure who played what besides vocalist/guitarist S.A. Adams (the Metal Archives lists both "past" and "last known line-up" band members) I can at least give a run down on the group's whole catalog. After releasing four demos between 1989 and 1990, which might be some kind of record!, the group released the 4-track, 7'' EP "A Dozen Thorns" in 1990 on Network International. Limited to just 400 Copies, and reportedly (per the Metal Archives again) a "poster/pack", it set the stage for The Fury's 1992 (self-released) full-length album "Sex". The only other release was the supposed 1990 VHS, "Reflections of the Unwasted Time" (which reported documented the early years of The Fury). This re-release features bonus material including a copy of live cuts that (I would assume) were pulled from The Fury's live, 1990 cassette tape. While the group was often tagged as just "power metal" the true story is represented not only on the studio cuts, but in the live versions. Here we see a "real" heavy metal band that was very much in vogue with the underground crossover movement. The only difference being that while most crossover acts of the day played over-the-top, lightning-fast thrash, with which there is nothing wrong with, this 3-piece band drew from the more Motörhead side of things. Well, there's that point and then there is the fact that The Fury most definitely had that (then familiar) New York vibe to them! Imagine Neil Turbin era Anthrax (before they went from denim and leather heavy metal to a more stream-lined thrash style) or maybe even a raw, (much more metal then punk) garage rock version of  Manitoba's Wild Kingdom. Along with maybe even The Rods and (early) Twisted Sister those were just some of the New York group's that carried that city's (then) unmistakable vibe. And The Fury, God bless em', were right there in the middle as well just doing there thing as evident by "Sex". During their (far-too) short time together The Fury would go on to support not only bands like Metal Church, Overkill, Blitzspeer and Non-Fiction, but most impressive of all, Manowar! Not too bad for a little band from Island Park, New York right? Sadly "Sex" would be the only full-length album released by The Fury as a proposed follow-up failed to make it from concept to reality. Of course these day S.A.Adams is a more well-known name then back in the day thanks to his successful run as a solo-artist, but that doesn't take away the need for a re-issue like this one. If the idea of a New York band that drew from acts as diverse as Raven and the Sex Pistols scares you (if you are a heavy metal purist through and through) then just look at "Sex" as if it were like Motörhead going through an 80's metal time-warp! The Fury were a cool band back then and, as this inspired collection affirms, they still are. Be sure to keep your eyes out for The Fury's expanded re-issue of "Sex" and if you'd like to see what S.A. Adams is up to these days then be sure to check out his website right below.


http://www.saadams.com/ 

Review of S.A. Adam's "Unearthed"
http://metalmark.blogspot.com/search?q=S.A.+Adams 

Beasto Blanco-Live Fast Die Loud

Rat Pak Records
2013

What's that you say? You're not familiar with the band Beasto Blanco? Don't worry my friends as soon enough you will be. In fact, if the god's of rock and roll continue to do their thing, which means that not only do they keep on smiling down on these hard rockers and showing them good fortune, but also that they kick down any doors and remove any and all roadblocks in their path, then soon enough this new group could very well be on every one's mind! It's only a matter of time I figure. You see, it's one thing when you have the likes of Alice Cooper, Nicko McBrain (Iron Maiden), Mikey Dee (Motörhead), John Corabi (Mötley Crüe) and even producer Bob Ezrin (Alice Cooper, Kiss, Pink Floyd, Hanoi Rocks, etc.) singing your praises right? I mean that itself is pretty impressive as we're talking about some well-respected artists in Cooper, McBrain and Dee, but getting respect from fellow musicians is not that unusual you could argue. But, when you have celebrities raving about you then that really says something! Did I just say celebrities? Yes, I did. What's more, we're not just talking about any old B-grade talent here, but rather a huge celebrity endorsement from a guy who most certainly knows his way around good music. That fan is none other then Johnny Depp! That's right, the guys in Beasto Blanco have found a new fan in actor/musician Johnny Depp. Remember that at one point in time Depp, who I'll admit to having a man-crush on, played guitar in a band with Butthole Surfers front-man Gibby Haynes called "P". So, Johnny does have a pretty solid grasp on underground, up-and-coming acts. Besides, having Depp as a fan can't hurt this band's chances any. Before you go off thinking that this is anything but blue collar, street-wise music though be assured that this group my friends, and I'm talking to all my fellow rock and metal fanatics who are all about their music being loud and proud (mainstream or not), most certainly comes across as a local "band down the road". The music jam-packed within this album walks the walk of street-ready, leather jackets and switchblades metal. And it should go without saying that it rocks the shit out a set of stereo speakers! Beasto Blanco is the kind of group that bleeds integrity and plays like they've got a chip on their shoulder the size of a boulder! Formed in 2012, and every bit as punk and as sleazy as they wanna be, the band is the brainchild of Alice Cooper bassist Chuck Garric (who handles bass and lead vocals here) and guitarist Chris Latham (of Paper Back Hero fame). Energetic as hell, the music here is raw, real and honest. But then again that was the whole point of this band from the very get-go. Fans themselves of bands like White Zombie and Motörhead, the two musicians (Garric and Latham) initially set out on a journey to create something that this world could use a lot more of-real, no-frills, throw your horns high in the sky, rock like it's the end of the century, heavy music with attitude and just the right kind of self-assurance that makes your act stand out above the pack without making you look like a major douche! There's a difference of course and in Chuck Garric's hands this band stands tall and proud and yes, it's an addictive formula. To that end they enlisted a few guests (Calico Cooper, Glen Sobel, Jonathan Mover and more) to help out in the studio and share their vision of creating the perfect rock n' metal album. When it was all wrapped up and finished, and the dust that all these folks had kicked up finally went and settled down, the group ended up with this 11-track, full-length debut album that is the stuff that could only come by way of blood, sweat and lots of cold beers. Right off the top of my head tracks like "Breakdown" will no doubt appeal to all the Rob Zombie fans out there and a cut like "Beg To Differ" is definitely for those who love their Motörhead, and yes, that includes me! It doesn't just stop and end with Rob Zombie and Lemmy though. "Live Fast Die Loud" , which is both a cool album title and a cool album cut, is forged from the same pits of hell that spit-forth Lucky Bastardz and bands as diverse as Metallica and the Ramones. Even the likes of AC/DC, Zodiac Mindwarp and The Love Reaction, Megadeth, Soundgarden, (later day and much more metallic) Black Sabbath, Anthrax, W.A.S.P., early Mötley Crüe, Kiss and Skid Row could be viewed as influences so there's no way anyone could walk away from this one without feeling like your insides have been turned inside out and that your body had been force-feed to a metal grinder! If that sounds like just the poison that you've been searching for then don't just walk when this one drops at the tail end of October but run, and I mean run fast, for this is one release that you do not want to miss out on! You can pre-order this bad mo-fo at the link below and as always remember to live your life loud and proud!

http://www.ratpakrecordsamerica.com/beastoblanco
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