Gloryful-Ocean Blade

Massacre Records
2014

Ten month's after issuing their well-received (if reportedly nowhere near as intense as this epic, 40 plus minute release is) debut album, "The Warrior‘s Code", Gloryful return with the rock-steady "Ocean Blade". As a follow-up tot he band's 2013 first full-length it's highly energetic and technically-rounded and as hard-driving and flat-out crushing as opener "Hiring the Dead" is the album, which was mixed by the legendary Dan Swanö and mastered by Charles Greywolf (guitarist of Germany’s Powerwolf), only gets better as it advances with it's attack just like the mythical beast posted above! Formed in the summer of 2010 by lead singer Johnny La Bomba (a rough-edge type of singer who really adds to the gritty nature of this five-piece act!) and guitarist/occasional bassist Shredmaster JB (aka Jens Basten), Gloryful, who made their debut the same year as forming with the 3-track demo, "Sedna’s Revenge", combines elements of classic heavy metal and near-epic metal with both speed and power metal. Lyrically-speaking the band is driven by the Inuit-legend of sea goddess Sedna, but for all intensive purposes let's just say that "Ocean Blade" should readily appeal to everyday metalheads as much as it does to the epic and Euro-flavored crowd. Or, if you will, power metal fanatics in general or those who simply love straight-ahead, kick-ass METAL! Well-written, effectively performed and as steady-handed as they come (with more than it's fill of fist banging moments and air guitar-worthy shredding leads!) "Ocean Blade"is worth it's weight in pirate gold and makes for a nice addition to one's heavy/power metal collection. 

Blizzard Hunter-Conqueror Of Destiny

Self-Released/Independent
2014

Peruvian heavy/speed metal band Blizzard Hunter was first formed in 2006. Originally conceived as a Ozzy Osbourne tribute band and going by the name of Blizzard (with the Hunter part added only recently due to trademark issues) the group eventually made the move from playing other artists material to performing their own. With guitarist Lucho Sanchez (ex-Disinter, ex-Necropsya, ex-Bleed of Hate) leading the way Blizzard Hunter entered the scene with their first release entitled "Demo 2011". At the time of the demo's release the group was fronted by vocalist Mauricio Medina, but (along with changes to the drummer position) that has now changed seeing as Sebastian "Dragon" Palma (Lightning, ex-Morvidhen) has firmly taken hold of the mic and made it all his own. From this point forward it would be foolish of Blizzard Hunter to make a change. Just as the change from Blizzard to Blizzard Hunter will help them in the long run (as there are far too many bands going by that moniker!) so will the addition of this high-caliber lead vocalist who brings a sense of magic to the mix! As for the rest of the band? Besides Sebastian "Dragon" Palma and the aforementioned Lucho Sanchez the current version of Blizzard Hunter includes guitarist Toño "Wild Rocker" Rojas De la Cuba, bassist Lalo "Indú" Salas and drummer Daniel Ruiz de Castilla. On "Conqueror Of Destiny" we are treated to the same three songs that made up the group's 2011 demo, but it's highly likely that in additional to there being a different, more improved line-up going on with those three tracks ("I'm On My Way", "Ghost Rider" and "The Joke") the new EP features upgrades in both sound and style! That's just a guess on my part, but seeing as strong as these three individual tracks are here on "Conqueror Of Destiny" it would make little to no sense that they were this good before. Why? Well, logic would follow that if the past versions of these three metal gems were this powerful and epic then this Lima-based outfit would already be signed and working on their second or third full-length LP! As a music critic one has to be careful to not toss around or overuse the term "perfect", but in this case Blizzard Hunter's new EP there is just no other way to go about it! For Peru's Blizzard Hunter it's a matter of taking what they most love most (80's speed metal, traditional heavy metal, N.W.O.B.H.M. and even early progressive power metal) and then, by way of a lightning bolt of energy and enthusiasm(!), giving it a make-over so that the end result is an EP that finds all of those influential high-points loving nestled up to epic metal as well as both the European and American style of power metal. It really does end up sounding nothing short of glorious! And it most certainly makes Blizzard Hunter into a legitimate contender. There's little doubt that had this band come along in the eighties a release like "Conqueror Of Destiny" would be considered a classic. As it stands now it's a classic piece of recording and whether we choose to drag out American, European or Swedish bands to compare Blizzard Hunter to it would all end up being the same. These guys are great and "Conqueror Of Destiny" should make EVERY ONE'S best of 2014 list! This self-produced EP was recorded at Quarter Note Studios and it can be downloaded here: http://blizzardhunter.bandcamp.com/releases.Meanwhile there is also a tape version of "Conqueror Of Destiny" that can be pre-ordered at the link below. Due to be released by Sarlacc Productions it is limited to 100 copies, but as a collector's item in the making it is well worth acquiring! Either way though you can't go wrong with Blizzard Hunter and with a rumored album in store for later this year/possibly 2015 this is one band that I'm betting will pay off huge dividends for the label that signs them to a long-term deal!
http://sarlaccproductions.bandcamp.com/album/conqueror-of-destiny

Free Metal Monday: The Metal Madman Radio Show/Online Metal Promo-The Root of All Madness Compilation

Here's a nice new free 27 track compilation album to get you through this Metal Monday and the rest of the week. The Metal Madman Radio Show (USA) has teamed up with Online Metal Promo to release "The Root of All Madness", a free download compilation featuring a mix of "27 current, deep cuts and unreleased songs from up and coming as well as established hard rock and heavy metal artists from around the world"! And boy oh boy there are some real crunchers scattered throughout this compilation my friends! This one is a real treat! I've covered more then a few of these bands and I'm stoked to see them all present here on this killer comp! Here's the actual track list and you can find the link to download this compilation at the bottom of this page:


1 - Stu Marshall - The Hammer 
2 - Death Dealer - Curse Of The Heretic 
3 - Tren Loco - Vieja Escuela
4 - Skinner - Orphans Of Liberty
5 - Witchcross - The Eyes of Lucifer 
6 - Station - Don't Take Heaven Away From Me
7 - Zephaniah - Blackbeard's Revenge
8 - Diamond Lane - Kiss The Ring 
9 - Metralla - Sotanas de Satanas
10 - Cage - Final Solution
11 - Mindmaze - Mask of Lies
12 - Maxxxwell Carlisle - The Power of Metal Compels Me
13 - Lords of the Trident - Face Of The Enemy
14 - Ignitor - The Kaiser
15 - Archetype - The Dark Mirror 
16 - Patan - A Golpe Te Haces
17 - Hessler - Never Lost My Way
18 - Hellscream - VII (Seven Sins)o 
19 - Lady Beast - Hot Pursuit 
20 - Maligno - Shine
21 - Renacer - Espiritu inmortal 
22 - Ravensthorn - Lost in Darkness 
23 - Dire Peril - Astronomical Minds 
24 - Serpentor - Privacion Ilegitima de la Libertad
25 - Enceladus - Darkened Aura 
26 - Sinister Realm - World Of Evilo 
27 - Tales of Pain - Black Wings


https://www.dropbox.com/sh/mqsfdocmkyrfu4a/AABixmhR-XZsRaCnNYCudlx4a

Sinbreed-Shadows

AFM Records
2014

 Featuring within it's ranks two members of Blind Guardian, Marcus Siepen (guitars) and Frederik Ehmke (drums), and having originally gone by the name of Neoshine (with an EP, "With a Neoshine", surfacing in 2005 and a demo, "III", appearing in 2007) Germany's Sinbreed are now on album number two with the exceptional "Shadows". With the band's guitarist/keyboardist Flo Laurin sitting in the producer's chair and producer Markus Teske (Symphony X, Vanden Plas, Neal Morse, Saga and many more) once more taking care of the mixing and mastering aspects of "Shadows" just like he did on the group's (well-received) 2010 debut-album, "When Worlds Collide", "Shadows" ends up as an early 2014 favorite in the field of European-styled melodic power metal/speed metal! With a line-up that also includes former Neoshine member Alexander Schulz on bass and the (spotlight-stealing) Herbie Langhans (Beyond the Bridge, ex-Seventh Avenue, ex-The Preachers, ex-Neoshine) on vocals Sinbreed, in an effort to put some real space between themselves and the rest of melodic power metal/speed metal scene, marches their way through album number two with cuts such as (opener) "Bleed" ("Shadows" first single), the sweeping "Call To Arms" and "Leaving The Road" staking a claim early on that this one will be epic!  Pardon the pun, but closer "Standing Tall" stands tall with it's power metal take on Iron Maiden and even as the band speeds things up on the likes of  "Far Too Long" and "London Moon" they never lose focus on task at hand, creating melodic metal masterpieces! Sinbreed's ability to write catchy numbers along the likes of  "Call To Arms", "Bleed" and "Far Too Long" is head's above the competition and given the stylistic differences offered on numbers like the majestic "Reborn" and the aggressive "Black Death" ( a monster of a cut, "Black Death" is by far the heaviest and most "extreme" number on this disc and it just BOOKS it's way right down the middle of the road!) it's hard not to be pleased by this band's obvious quest towards balance and perfection. Sinbreed has all it takes to be the voice of a new generation of melodic power metal/speed metal bands. That's of course if their voice can end up being heard more frequently then it has been. After all four years between albums is a real long stretch! Based on what's going on with "Shadows" might it just be that the time has come for all involved to push this act to the forefront? One could make that argument and I most certainly would!

Zephaniah-Stories from the Book of Metal (2014 Re-Release)

Self-Release/Independent
2014

Six years has passed since Indiana's Zephaniah first released "Stories from the Book of Metal". Recorded at JTW Recording Studio in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (with producer Joel Wanasek working side-by-side with Zephaniah on this unheralded gem!), "Stories from the Book of Metal" was the band's lone piece of studio work during their initial five year run (2005-2010). With the band now reformed and two new members, guitarist Tony Rudny (Beneath It All) and drummer Cody Johns (Viking, 80000 Dead), pairing up with the returning original members, (vocalist) Logan Detwiler (Valhalla), (guitarist) Justin Zych (Viking, Vindicator, Valhalla) and (former drummer turned bass guitarist?) Ian Bender (Beneath It All), Zephaniah can turn their attention towards their upcoming sophomore, "Reforged". That release should drop sometime later this year and it's worth repeating this little bit of information that has been making it's way around the net (especially for long-time fans of the group although even those who might be new to this Indiana-based band's distinct take on heavy metal would do well to jot this note down as it's bound to be a headbanging good time!). Per the promo material: 

"The band will triumphantly return to the stage to headline the USA's Warriors of Metal Fest VII from June 26-28, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio where the band will play their entire debut CD, "Stories from the Book of Metal" from start to finish."

That sounds like it would be an epic event given the overall strength present on Zephaniah's debut album! On any other day you could call this one straight-up power metal, but that tag would seem to fall short as there is much more to this release then initially meets the eye. Helped out by the stellar production, "Stories from the Book of Metal" features catchy melodies and fairly lethal lead solos that flirtatiously dance between speed metal and European-style power metal. On the one hand it's a somewhat smooth take on the genre (with Logan Detwiler's clean singing giving the band a bit more flash and class then what one might expect from a band of this particular field), but there's little chance of mistaking this album for anything but METAL, what with (amazing) drummer Ian Bender pounding the living daylights out of his drum set and all! Even more amazing is the fact that the bass playing of (the departed) Tyler Sumwalt is actually discernible(!) as that is something that is far too often for my tastes buried in the mix. and finally we are treated to some rather nice piano passages courteous of guest musician Adam Guingrich and it has to be said that the direction that the band took when it came to "Stories from the Book of Metal" is something to be admired. For comparisons sake you could look towards the likes of Hammerfal and Dragonforce as (quite honestly) those two names were thrown around long before I even was aware that this album would be getting a re-release. As source material goes both bands would seem legit although it has to be said that Zephaniah's debut album is colored in differently then those two bands making "Stories from the Book of Metal" a tastefully assembled piece of speed metal/power metal. It's also one that should most assuredly be added to ones' metal collection and it's an album that has me anticipating what this band can pull off on their 2nd full-length adventure!