Dungeon Wolf-Metal's Back

Self-Release

2021

Lead by Deryck Heignum (vox/guitars), Dungeon Wolf is a three-piece U.S. metal band that was last heard from on 2017's "Slavery Or Steel". Recorded at Analog Vintage Studios in Florida, "Metal's Back" is the sophomore release from this gritty outfit that defies easy categorization. Mixing and mashing together elements of epic metal, doom metal, and power metal with the unrelenting, one-two punch that is raw metal/garage metal, Dungeon Wolf 's latest recording is a welcome return to the days when heavy metal was mean & ugly! Everything about this album just screams old-school!! From the unpolished/edgy production to the non-PC lyrics, "Metal's Back" is an appropriate title for this throw-back affair that had me deliriously day dreaming about late-80s/90s underground & unsigned metal maniacs!  Self-recorded and distributed, Dungeon Wolf's second album is eight tracks of pure, unfiltered rage in a bottle just waiting to be released upon the world! For more information on this CD release be sure to contact to drop a message to Deryck on Facebook.

Invictus-Burst The Curse

Self-Release/Independent
2019

Germany's Invictus, formed in 2017 with the 3-track "Burst The Curse" serving as their debut offering, is a power/speed metal band that is fronted by Nicolas Peter (guitarist for the awesomely-named Beerhammer!). The five-piece group features three members with ties to the heavy metal/thrash band Avator and has one of the finest opening tracks in memory with this EP's title track! Influenced by many a classic German power/speed metal band (Grave Digger, Iron Savior, Primal Fear and Helloween), Invictus works best when they stick to high-end, catchy, well-crafted and blazing power/speed metal ("Burst The Curse") or gripping, straight-up power metal ("Someone Out There"). Those two numbers are the bookend numbers on this EP. Unfortunately, "Gaia" is smack dab in the middle of those two solid tracks. A poor attempt at a ballad, "Gaia" is a three minute plus exercise in patience that left me saying "What just happened to the epic band that gave me that wicked title cut?". While one can appreciated and maybe even applaud the band's attempt at creating three different sounding tracks, "Burst The Curse" would have been a better effort if Invictus would have stuck to what they are good at: engaging& energetic power/speed metal that seems almost custom-built for fans of Helloween and the like. Still, two out of three ain't bad. Especially seeing as the title cut of this EP is perfectly suited for power/speed metal compilations!

Lords of Salem-Hell Over Salem

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Based in Stuttgart, Germany and lead by vocalist Postel (a powerful and highly-expressive front-man that is easily the biggest selling point of this up-and-coming group!), Lords of Salem is a goth-laden/horror rock-infused hard & heavy rock/metal band that has one stellar EP to it's name. Released on October 31st of 2018, "Hell Over Salem" is the debut recording from this four-piece outfit that looks as if it just stepped straight out of a 1980-something post-apocalyptic movie!

Starting off with the upbeat, groovy, and ghoulish "Monster Girl" (a horror rock and roll number that oddly recalls both The Cult and the likes of Rod Zombie & Wednesday 13!), this four-track EP by Lords of Salem clocks in at under 15 minutes in length, but that's more than enough time to get the job done. Boosted by the strength of the title track and "Zombie Monkey Woman", Lords of Salem's first offering showcases a young band that already knows how to write catchy material that is filled with great hooks, inspired-samples, and colorful lyrics! Mixed and mastered by Achim Köhler (Primal Fear, Brainstorm, etc), "Hell Over Salem" is a quirky fun recording that takes its cues from everyone from The Misfits to Zodiac Mindwarp and the Love Reaction. A short and sweet EP, this release should find a huge fan base with anyone that loves the likes of (later day)White Zombie, Rob Zombie, Wednesday 13, and quite possibly even The Murderdolls.

Current playlist

Hey, there. Yes, we  have not posted anything in a while. Particularly me. I have been listening to a lot but writing very little other than a few lines here and there over at our Facebook page. Hoping to change that soon. Can't guarantee when exactly, but I'm aiming to get reviews out of the latest from Lizzy Borden, Lucifer, Kissin' Dynamite and the full length debut from Iron Hunter. I have not done an interview in years, but I briefly shook off the laziness when I saw a call out for interviews with Death tribute act Gruesome so I fired off some questions to them and will post those once I get them back.

I'm currently listening to-
All the albums above I said I'll review soon plus..
DRI-Four of a kind
Death- Human, Spiritual Healing
Gruesome-Twisted Prayers
Exhumed-Death Revenge
Armored Saint-Symbol of salvation re-issue
YOB-Our raw heart

Watching-
World Cup of course
Too many past episodes of Storage Wars
Arena football (yeah, I know, I know)

Reading-
various cookbooks and not much else

Waiting for-
NFL
NHL

***What are you listening to?

Monument-Hellhound

Rock Of Angels Records
2018

British heavy metal band Monument will release "Hellhound" on May 25th, 2018. Preceded in life by 2016's "Hair of the Dog", this 12-track recording* serves as the group's third full-length album since forming in 2011. Opening by way of  the solid "William Kidd" (see official video below), "Hellhound" finds lead singer Peter Ellis (ex-The More I see, ex-White Wizzard) and crew once again mixing together the best parts of of N.W.O.B.H.M. (Iron Maiden, Judas Priest) and traditional heavy metal (everything from Anvil to Rainbow). With production courtesy of  Tony Newton, Monument's forthcoming album is arguably the strongest effort to date from this extremely-talented lot! Frankly-speaking, everything about this album rocks!! Having aimed for the "live" sound of these London metal merchants, Tony's Newton's slick production highlights Peter Ellis' soaring vocals, the thunder and lightening sensation that is the rhythm section of "Hellhound", and the album's (epic and simply tremendous!) lead guitar solos! With each and every number offering something new and exciting(!), "Hellhound" is traditional heavy metal at it's absolute finest!! It is obvious that a lot of hard work went into the construction of the songs of this high-flying disc! And the individual performances? The fact is everyone has put their best foot forward on this must-have release. Packed with heavy metal glory that will blow more than a few minds, "Hellhound" is what happens when every member of a band gives 100% effort in a studio setting. As good as all of the material is musically, Monument's new album would be wasted if the songs weren't well-written. Thank the maker of all that is metal that this isn't the case. Lyrically the album covers a lot of ground (per Monument's awesome lead singer the lyrics touch on history, urban London life, the occult and personal relationships) while musically this is what makes British heavy metal so great to begin with. It's not only the blazing leads and stunning vocals, but the beautiful way in which melody and metal madness work so well together. Ending by way of two choice cover songs (one from Rainbow and the other one from Iron Maiden), "Hellhound" is all about waving the flag proudly for true heavy metal! If you are a fan of top of the line British heavy metal, this forthcoming album should be a part of your personal collection!!

*The CD consists of 12 tracks (9 tracks plus 3 bonus tracks) while the limited-edition vinyl version will only have the 9 "normal" tracks.

Stray Bullets-Shut Up

Sneakout Records
2018

Active since 2007, Italy's hard rock band, Stray Bullets, offer up some easy & sleazy glam on their full-length debut album, "Shut UP". Released on January 26th, 2018, this well-crafted release serves as the follow-up to the self-recorded album, "Lost Soul Town". Having teamed up with the good folks over at Atomic Stuff Studio, a huge chunk of "Lost Soul Town' was re-written & re-recorded in order to present this enthusiastic recording! Fronted by Alex Chinaski and featuring the mad skills of guitarists Steven Evil and Nick, bassist Dave Dufford, and drummer Zen, Stray Bullets official debut is sure to bring a smile to the faces of sleaze/glam fans as well as anyone that likes (catchy and fun) down and dirty hard rock!! This hidden gem features some sinsational guitar work and more than likely it will remind some of our older readers of the heyday of the L.A. hard rock/glam metal scene. If laid back (hard & heavy) sleaze is your drug of choice, "Shut Up" is the fix you need!  

AxMinister-The Crucible of Sin

Self-Release/Independent
2018


Toronto, Ontario's AxMinister, fronted by vocalist/bassist Nicholas Klaus and citing bands like Megadeth, Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, and Manowar as their primary influences, will release "The Crucible of Sin" on Friday, May 4th. It is a five-track EP that was produced by Ryan Jones and mastered by Harry Hess. Clocking in at just under twenty three minutes, this impressive EP opens up strong with the cut "Prey" and only gets better from there! With each passing track better than the last one, AxMinster's forthcoming EP is bound to impress fans of (rugged & tough) heavy/power metal!! Having first come together in 1999(!), AxMinister is a (razor blade sharp) group that has been tearing it's way through the scene since 2008. Lyrically the group covers topics such as film, history, politics, and religion. Guitarist Tim Smith and drummer Bas von Bismark round out the official line-up on this (classic heavy metal and N.W.O.B.H.M.-inspired) powerful metal release. Meanwhile there are some cool backing vocals courtesy of Nick Allaire. Available for pre-order at the link above, "The Crucible of Sin" is a lyrically-strong (hard & heavy) power metal recording with strong lead vocals, great guitar solos, a slick rhythm section, and inspired songs that will make you want to wave the banner of true heavy metal for all to see!! This is honest to goodness heavy metal that has been made possible thanks to hard work & dedication of true heavy metal maniacs. For more information on this heavy/power metal band be sure to check out AxMinister's Facebook page.

Devils Rage-Desolation

Self-Release/Independent
2018

Devils Rage is a D.I.Y. melodic death metal band that hails from Sursee, Switzerland. Having first come together in late 2006 (with their current line-up in place since 2010!), this highly-skilled & downright scary outfit has one EP and two full-length album to it's name. Released this past March on the 17th, the 11-track "Desolation" is the group's latest album to date. It serves as the follow-up to 2015's "Impending Demise" and was sent to me by one of the group's guitarists, Patrik "Schumi" Schumacher. Lead vocals come courtesy of Stefan "Lalas" Häfliger (a brutalizing growler that is a much-feared beast on the mic!) and with a run-time of just over 45 minutes in length, "Desolation" is a perfect way to get a quick fix of top-tier death metal! Well-crafted and featuring a nice production job that plays to the strength of this simply-savage release(!), Devils Rage has delivered an album that should appeal to fans of both vintage and modern-day melodic death metal!! If melodic death metal with monstrous guitars, gritty overtones and a pulverizing rhythm section is your thing (and why wouldn't it be?) then "Desolation" should be on your short list of new albums to buy!