if you missed it: three traditional heavy metal bands: Noble Beast, Kaine, Vestal Claret

Noble Beast (U.S.): Noble Beast (Tridroid Records)

Do you speak power metal? Well, Noble Beast does! Noble Beast is a “Blind Guardian, Jr.” with a vengeance of ice and snow from the land of ten thousand lakes. Hansi Kürsch-like vocals are at the forefront and the band plays early blindguardianesque fast, thrashy/speedy power metal. Ok, I do not have a legal document of confession from the band, but either I like Blind Guardian too much or Noble Beast likes Blind Guardian too much, or both. For this reason, you should hear the singing with your own ears and see if you like it, given the peculiarity of Kürsch-style vocals. As for the music, the band celebrates with fireworks and unicorns the heritage of heavy metal. The band sounds like they have been working for years on coming up with the perfect power metal shredding and melodies. They present a question to you, dear listener: How much do you like power metal? Well, if you are madforcrazy about it, this band from Minnesota, U.S. would like for you to give the music a listen. You will have stories to tell, and they will, too, because it’s you they like, ugga mugga. www.facebook.com/noblebeastband www.tridroid.bandcamp.com

Kaine (U.K.): The Waystone

Bruce Dickinson has at times observed that one difference about Iron Maiden is the way that the band’s guitarists write smooth melodies and riffs, and that this way of composing has nothing to do with being “heavy,” and doing these chugging chords that are obnoxiously loud, impressing in particular the younger listener through tricks of volume and noise. Traditional-conservative heavy metallers Kaine appear to understand Bruce Dickinson’s point perfectly well: metal music is not about how heavy your music is, actually. If you think about it, there are many, many currently famous and successful non-metal rock bands that sound heavier, chunkier and chuggier than heavy metal like Kaine.

Metal music as Kaine understands it, is about riffs, melodies, guitar work in general, songwriting, singing and overall talent. Kaine is in no competition to have the heaviest sound. It’s easier to be loud, than make the effort to write riffs and make a coherent song. This is Kaine’s second studio full-length album, according to Metal Archives. Early Maiden seems like an influence here, in the smooth melodies and riffs; you may also detect other New Wave of British Heavy Metal sounds, perhaps Blitzkrieg or Angel Witch; in places, such as the song “The Waystone” the band expands into more proggy territory, with keys and other mellower passages, which again, can be seen as a Steve Harris influence, through his love of 70s prog.

The creative energy of the band is their most positive strength, in my view. If late 70s-early 80s metal interpreted by a younger band looks an appealing proposition, then here’s Kaine. www.facebook.com/kaineband

Vestal Claret (U.S.): The Cult of Vestal Claret (Cruz del Sur Music)

Traditional heavy metallers Vestal Claret seem like a band that hates it when they hear metal musicians attempt to justify or apologize for metal’s socially unacceptable traits, like when a band says that they have a “positive” message about “believing in yourself,” and make it appear like metal music is some sort of life coach for people who need encouragement or reassuring.

No. Vestal Claret is not that way. If metal offends some people’s feelings, religious or social beliefs, well, that’s fine, it’s not for them. Or, if you hate it when you see metal musicians going around saying, “We are not really Satanists or into blasphemy. We are just having fun with some silly images, you know, like you see in the movies. We’re just normal dudes with families, like you.”

No. Anyway, what do you care if someone thinks you are a Satanist? You play blasphemous or sick music, so what? Are you asking for people’s approval or what? These songs are about witches, murder, evil and the occult. There is no “positive” message about living your life better, in a more “healthy” way that helps to interact with your classmates or neighbors. This music is mentally deranged traditional-conservative occult-themed heavy/doom metal for those into other cult metal like Manilla Road, Brocas Helm and Cirith Ungol. They don’t sound like those bands, but they are quirky, strange and metal like those bands. www.facebook.com/VestalClaret