Mockingbird-Mockingbird

Hellville, Innervenus
2011

With Mockingbird's original 2010 self-titled EP being sold out it was only a matter of time before someone decided to re-issue it. This Akron,Ohio based atmospheric sludge metal band have been destroying everything in sight since they formed in 2007. The band is made up of musicians who had ties to other Ohio bands over the last 17 years including Rune, Rue, Ultra Lord, Twenty Third Chapter, Medusa Complex, Ichabod Crane and Soul Compost. Having shared the stage with Keelhaul, Today Is The Day, Unsane, Jucifer, Unearthly Trance, Red Sun, Mouth Of The Architect, Fistula and Khann the band is a powerful force in the Ohio metal scene. For my original review of their EP just follow the link below. This re-issue includes the bonus track "Trained Apes" that was not included on the original CD release. The new cut is another fine example of the progressive side of Mockingbird. This slow and somber number leaves you with a lump in your throat. Quite the change from their usually slab of riff heavy nasty sludge, but this is a band who like to shake things up so this really should come as no surprise. Mockingbird continues to lead the charge of fine Ohio heavy metal bands and this re-issue is an example of just how serious they are about being the best of the best.




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Mockingbird-Mockingbird EP

Innervenus Records 2010

Mockingbird was formed in the winter of 2008 by three friends (Andy-guitar,Chad-drums and Mike-bass w/ Tom joining on guitar eventually) all veterans of the Ohio music scene. Taking a D.Y.I approach to their music and lifestyle Akron, Ohio's Mockingbird have shared the stage with bands like Keelhaul, Today Is The Day and Unsane and play a form of atmospheric hardcore/sludge metal. Comparable at points to Mastodon this EP is just plain wicked and plows you over with it's pummeling riffs. Heavy bass lines give way to progressive guitars as Mockingbird shreds it's way through four tracks of metal greatness. It's my hope that bands like this will prove that Ohio still has plenty to offer in the field of ambitious metal. While this EP is currently sold out the band does plan to re-release the EP on LP and CD in late March. They are also in the process of writing for a full length release and have a split 7" with Red Sun due out this winter. Further information can be found at the groups myspace page (myspace.com/6mockingbird6) or at www.reverdnation.com/mockingbirdmetal. I highly recommended picking up this EP when it is re-released. Mockingbird should become a household name with killer music like this. I look forward to hearing more from them in the near future.

Andy's Top 30 Heavy Metal Album Reviews of 2011

This year I have decided to do things a little different for my 2011 best-of. Instead of risking a list that would just be a mirror image of Metal Mark's I have decided to post a best-of based solely on my own album reviews. In other words these are the best albums I reviewed personally over the past year with some notes here and there just to keep things interesting. Obviously it is no particular order. Enjoy.

1)Ichabod Crane-Brimstone (Local hardcore, metal, thrash mash up band does good)

2)Bloodbound-Unholy Cross

3)Conflicted-Never Be Tamed

4)Totimoshi-Avenger (Weird and yet so powerful)

5)Ear Danger-Full Blast At Last (Just one of many older bands to grace my list)

6)Hell-Human Remains (What a great year it was for older heavy metal bands!)

7)Exxplorer-Vengeance Rides An Angry Horse (Power metal from the masters!)

8)Death Mask-Sitting In The Dark

9)Satan's Host-Celebration: For the Love of Satan (Re-recorded and re-worked classics!)

10)The Approach and The Execution-The Blood March (Protest The Hero meets Iron Maiden?)

11)Ana Kefr-The Burial Tree (II) (The new face of black metal!)

12)Junius-Reports from the Threshold of Death (Majestic and stunning!)

13)Mockingbird-Mockingbird

14)Bitches Sin-The Rapture (NWOBHM greats return!)

15)Thurkills Vision-For The Sleeping (Modern metal done right!)

16)Priscilla-Eight Lives Gone (Sleazy industrial trash metal?)

17)Times Of Grace-The Hymn Of A Broken Man

18)Praying Mantis-Metalmorphosis 30th Anniversary Special Edition EP (More great NWOBHM!)


19)Sign Of The Jackal-The Beyond (Limited Edition EP) (Horror movies, heavy metal and a female vocalist? Oh yeah!)




20)Voivod-Warriors Of Ice (A live album that showcases just how good these guys are)




21)Deadiron-Deadiron (More local metal like Iron Maiden meets Bay Area Thrash with an Ohio touch!)




22)R.U.S.T.-Forged in the Fire of Metal (Classic heavy metal from a new band. What is not to love?)




23)Benedictum-Dominion (The best in female fronted heavy metal)




24)Saxon-Call To Arms (Welcome back mates!)




25)Megadeth-Thirteen (Maybe Bay Area Thrash isn't dead?)




26)Dexter Ward-Neon Lights (Some of the best heavy metal out there!)




27)Skull Fist-Head öf the Pack




28)Killing Joke-Live at Hammersmith Apollo (Another excellent live album from a classic band!)




29)Slander- Careless Talk Costs Lives (Seriously good metal from a newer NWOBHM act)




30)Riot-Immortal Soul (American heavy metal at it's finest!)

All in all a pretty good year for heavy metal. Lots of local acts proved worthy of praise while plenty of older bands put out new albums that were just killer. There was great releases in straight up heavy metal, thrash, modern metal and black metal. Hopefully 2012 will prove to be as good!