IMPERIALIST - Zenith (U.S. melodic black metal)

Imperialist is melodic black metal from Monrovia, California, USA. On their second album they show that they are well on their way towards establishing themselves as a band that audiences here in the U.S. have been begun to follow in a more dedicated way. Their 2015 EP opened the doors and the 2018 debut full-length was a convincing work. Now they have a firm identity as a band with a theme of science fiction and melodic black metal with a contemporary production.

Imperialist

Zenith

November 26th, 2021

Transcending Obscurity Records

Zenith (Sci​-​fi Black Metal) by IMPERIALIST (US)

https://www.facebook.com/Imperialistofficial

Fortress - Don't Spare the Wicked (classic-style heavy metal from Whittier, California)

There is a whole bunch of bands called Fortress, but this is the Whittier, California, USA, Fili Bibiano’s Fortress. Fortress is all-out, loud and proud classic-style heavy metal with a magician for a guitarist and an air raid siren for a vocalist. When traditional heavy metal bands are able to find themselves the right singer, this is how good things can sound. One question for the people living in Whittier, California is: If you have seen the band live, can the band pull this sound live? Can the singer do this for real on the stage under the bright and hot lights when the eyes and ears of the poeple are listening? Supporters of traditional, melodic heavy metal will neeed to sit up straight and take notice of Fortress because with this recording the band means business, and they are pointing directly at anyone that enjoys rocking riffs, headbanging songs and a singer that can wail, and wail he does. If this band can learn to get along and keep a stable line-up, and keeps making music, it is very possible that they might be coming to your town if you live somewhere in California, Oregon and Washington as they begin to make the trips up and down the West Coast. Here in the Seattle area there is a certain loyal audience that has been supporting traditional heavy metal and those people would be ready to grab their denim jackets and head out to bang their heads to Fortress.

Germany, you are next!

Fortress

Don't Spare the Wicked

November 26th, 2021

High Roller Records

Don't Spare The Wicked by Fortress

https://www.facebook.com/Fortressheavymetal/

LYNX - Watcher of Skies (official Video)

Lynx is a vintage-style band that makes music for a more direct sound in which the computers have not been allowed to take over the music and in which the audience is supposed to hear what the musicians are playing. Lynx plays the new revivalist young heavy metal sound that emerges in the late 1970s and up about until 1980.

Below is the video for the album title track. The song is a good representation of everything that Lynx does: the vintage sound, the guitar work, the clear rhythm section and the melodic singing. In addition, here is another video that the band calls a rehearsal for the song "Eternity's Hall".

Lynx

Watcher of Skies

November 26th, 2021

No Remorse Records

1. Miscovery 01:08

2. Grey Man 04:27

3. Lynx 05:00

4. Savage Mountain 05:02

5. Eternity's Hall 05:11

6. Odyssey 01:59

7. Heartbreak City 04:45

8. Beyond the Infinite 05:10

9. Dark Shadows Rising 04:38

10. Watcher of Skies 06:38

total time 43:58

LYNX - Watcher of Skies (Official Video)

Lynx - Eternity's Hall [Rehearsal session in Wetzlar, Germany, 2020]

https://www.facebook.com/Lynxheavyrock/

before 2021 ends: Wombbath

The old-school-minded Swedish death group Wombbath returned in 2021 very quickly after two (!) albums in 2020. This is their sixth album in total. The 2021 work is also a surprise because it is 16 songs for a total of 72 minutes. Wombbath shows a nice variety of tempos and a bit of different subgenres working within their framework of their sound. If it were 72 minutes of a single, one-dimensional style of songs, then it might be of interest perhaps exclusively to the love-it-all audiences into Swedish bands. Fortunately, the band is conscious of the need to add some differences throughout the chronological order of the songs. While there is plenty of classic-style songs (Wombbath was a demo-level band in the early 90s in Sweden before disbanding and then much later reforming in 2014), there are some groovier songs and some black-metal-like riffs in some songs; there are also keyboards and a little bit of various background vocals. It is not difficult to tell that there was an effort to make the album interesting in terms of moods, and even though it is a long album, there is a feeling that they really did try to make sure that audiences would be entertained. Maybe people might not make it through the entire album in one sitting, but that's ok, it just means that it will take a few days to get a good picture of the range of songs. This has to be one of the more interesting death metal albums to come out of Sweden in 2021, right? Sixteen songs?! Wombbath has pushed the "reset" button for themselves and have made the best album of their discography.

Wombbath

Agma

Transcending Obscurity Records

31 December 2021

Agma (Death Metal) by WOMBBATH (Sweden)

https://www.facebook.com/Wombbath

before 2021 ends: Sulphurous

On their second album the Danish duo have delivered a strong work of ominous, riff-centered heaviness and plenty of memorable elements so as to warrant serious attention from audiences interested in hearing headbanging, quality and traditional death metal. The production, sound or tone of the album is classic-contemporary, not like a specific scene in particular, but like a traditional sound that is instantly recognizable at an international level by the audiences that have a high preference and a loyalty towards sounds with memorable, heavy riffs in the style of underground death tuned down and skilled, catchy, unmelodic death metal. On a curious note, on Metal Archives there is review that is very hostile and negative. Instead, let's say it this way: a good example of the sound of classic-style, cult death in 2021 is Sulphurous. A worthwhile album that shows dedication to the art of ominous death metal.

Sulphurous

The Black Mouth of Sepulchre

October 24th, 2021

Dark Descent Records/Me Saco un Ojo Records/Desiccated Productions

The Black Mouth of Sepulchre by Sulphurous

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100048470091245

review: Mastercastle - Lighthouse Pathetic (melodic metal from Italy)

Mastercastle

Lighthouse Pathetic

Diamonds Prod.

10 January 2022

1. Who Cares for the Moon 04:18

2. The Lighthouse Pathetic 03:53

3. That's All 04:25

4. Rosso Profondo 03:41 instrumental

5. Call Your Wings 04:55

6. Monster Whispers 05:33

7. Diamonds 03:51

8. Fantastic Planet 06:39

9. Space 04:03

10. Fast as a Shark (Accept cover) 03:38

total time 44:56

The melodic band Mastercastle began in 2008 and this is their seventh album. They feature an experienced rhythm section with Alessio Spallarossa on drums and Steve Vawamas on bass. Giorgia Gueglio sings and Pier Gonella (Athlantis, Necrodeath, Odyssea, Perseo Miranda, Vanexa, Verde Lauro, ex-Amazing Maze, ex-Wild Steel, Pier Gonella, ex-Bellathrix, ex-Labÿrinth, ex-Synthphonia Suprema) takes care of the guitars. Pier plays various genres of guitar, as one can see above, but for this band he tends to be melodic, more traditional heavy metal, with elements of shredding, neoclassical and prog. The seventh full-length finds the Italians ever working on perfecting a balance between fun, rocking songs, on one hand, good, skilled instrumentation, on the other, while expanding said sound and adding new things to the music. Sometimes it is a bigger thing that listeners can notice easily, and at other times, it is small details that one might notice after a few listens.

A song like “That’s All” is melodic, catchy, with the band not over playing, not over doing things. The singing practically dares people not to sing along, and the song has a cool, classic-style rocking beat, and the guitar solo steps in big time to catch one’s attention with a bit of shredding and melody. This song is a good illustration of the main style of the band throughout the years. This type of song is a fundamental part of the band’s sound: big rhythm section, melodies, catchy riffs, sing-along chorus, skilled solos, and beautiful singing. This new album has a few surprises, like the legendary Rhapsody singer Fabio Lione on the first song, and Necrodeath’s vocalist Alberto “Flegias” Gaggiotti doing the main vocals on the classic Accept cover; they also have other guests [Andrea De Paoli, keyboards (tracks 4, 8); Mattia Stancioiu, drums (track 7); Francesco "Frullo" La Rosa, drums (track 10)]. There are other surprises to keep out an eye for, like on the title track, the guitar gets rather heavy and grooving, and even has a little breakdown groove (!) that repeats several times. That’s fun. Then, on song number six they go into the heavy blues territory; it’s still Mastercastle, but if one listens to this song separate from the rest of the album, it’s a bit unexpected from the neoclassical, shredding, melodic guitar style of the band. Song number four is a neoclassical prog instrumental track, while number eight shows some space rock moments. In short, another fun, varied album by Mastercastle, and only one question remains: Does the band have somewhere hidden in the vault a version of the Accept cover with only Giorgia on vocals (without any guests)?!

Mastercastle - Who Cares for The Moon feat. Fabio Lione

Mastercastle The Lighthouse Pathetic official videoclip

https://www.facebook.com/mastercastleband

Navalum - fast black metal from Indonesia

Navalum

On the Threshold of Creation

November 20th, 2021

1. Delirium 01:33

2. Lightning Holders 05:29

3. The Reckoning 06:09

4. A Companion to Archaic Tribe 05:36

5. Congregation of Flint 05:50

6. The Shadow Hunters 04:55

7. The Prophecy 05:14

8. Perched High Upon the Mountains 05:32

9. Prai Marapu 02:45

total time 43:03

Navalum (Indonesia) is a two-person black metal entity consisting of Harvang on guitars, bass, and drums; and Nachtar on screams and shrieks. It appears like the lyrics are based on folk tales from their country, although the lyrics are not posted on Bandcamp for listeners to read. The songwriting often features tons of tremolo guitar work, that when coupled with the speed and vocals, presents the style of prototypical, classic-style independent black metal. Yet, the recurring tremolo picking, after a while, after that repetition-hypnosis style of playing is well established, seems, at times, to have an extra melodic touch, which sounds both classic-style and a bit different (like on song number 6, which is one of the more different songs). Overall, the music could be described as blasting, raw-melodic black metal for fans of the traditional sounds for headbanging.

On The Threshold of Creation by Navalum

Cold Winds - raging black metal

Cold Winds

Whispers from the Realm of Sorrow

August 27th, 2021

Bandcamp and Metal Archives show Cold Winds as an anonymous entity. Cold Winds is raging, fast, traditional, attack-mode, shrieking, howling black metal. The spiraling, charge-ahead sound of the music is an open invitation to headbanging. The drum sound seems way too dynamic for this to be programmed drumming, and the classic-style guitar work is thoroughly entertaining. The moon-mad howling, one supposes, could be real lyrics, but it could also be non-lyrical rabid, frenzied screaming. Either way, it is done well. Song number four ends with a drum solo, further underlining the idea that there is a drummer at work here (?). Anyway, devoted fans of traditional, fast necro black metal must make sure to get their claws on this recording. There is practically nothing to complain about. The only thing now is to try to get your hands on the lyrics and also see if you can figure out who is behind this black metal.

Whispers From the Realm of Sorrow by Cold Winds

Behold The Man (Washington state, USA)

Behold The Man is melodeath from Tacoma, Washington state, USA. It seems to be a new band in this region of the country, and this is the first song that they have published. Facebook has no pictures of the band and very little information; therefore, we don't know if this is a real, functioning band or a solo project. However, another Washington melodeath band, Veriteras, has announced that that Veriteras and Behold The Man will be playing a show in Seattle in February of 2022. Veriteras says, "Our next show is back at Funhouse Seattle for the first round of the Wacken Metal Battle on Saturday 2/12! Very excited to share the stage with Chamber 6, Siren's Rain, Inpathos, and Behold The Man!!"

Behold The Man - Taken Visions (OFFICIAL METAL LYRIC VIDEO)

https://www.facebook.com/beholdthemanofficial

NOCTURNA - Daughters of the Night (official video)

Melodic band NOCTURNA (Italy) will have its debut album Daughters of the Night out in 2022. Here is a video ahead of the album.

NOCTURNA - Daughters of the Night (official video)

https://www.facebook.com/officialnocturna

MOONLIGHT HAZE - Animus (official video)

Italian melodic band Moonlight Haze has a video for the title track of its March 2022 album, their third.

MOONLIGHT HAZE - Animus (official video)

https://www.facebook.com/Moonlighthazeband

BRIDEAR - BRAVE NEW WORLD REVISITED [official music video]

Just in case that you missed it, here is a video from melodic band Bridear (Japan). It is a video from earlier in 2021.

BRIDEAR - BRAVE NEW WORLD REVISITED [Official music video]

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100059332609988

Sound Barrier - second life of the 1980s cult U.S. heavy metal band

The 1980s cult band Sound Barrier (1980-1987, 2016-present) in 2021 released two singles “It's Just the Strangest Thing” and “Blindfolded Soldier.” Both songs are available on YouTube and iTunes and probably all the other streaming platforms that people use. The California, U.S. band had their debut album in 1983 called Total Control and an EP in 1984 called Born to Rock (18 minutes). The 1984 recording is melodic, traditional heavy metal with shredding, big choruses and a powerful singing voice; with a rhythm section that keeps the beat while the guitars and vocals work overhead. Then, going back to 1983’s debut Total Control (39 minutes), the songs are rocking, fun heavy metal that highlights the rhythm section, the guitar playing and the singing. The songs have an easy-to-understand beat, and a catchy, sing-along style, with shredding, tapping, big riffs and melodic hooks. Sound Barrier were contemporaries with other Los Angeles bands like Armored Saint and it looks like they played some shows together. Their last important recording that was released in the 1980s was their 1986 album Speed of Light (36 minutes) on Metal Blade Records. In general, the 1986 album is tighter, faster with more guitar, more galloping, more shredding, more headbanging, probably a bit under the influence of the faster metal sounds on the rise at the time; it is melodic, traditional but faster than they were in previous recordings.

The new songs in 2021 continue the revival manifested with the 2017 single “I’m Just a Man.” The new music is not an attempt to recapture the sound of the 1980s but rather a more contemporary, somewhat heavier sound. It’s not clear if a new album is on the agenda for the future. At any rate, Sound Barrier in 2021 is Spacey Tracey Singleton on guitars (1980-1986, 2016-present), Bernie Kimbell on vocals (1980-1987, 2016-present), Stanley E. Davis on bass (1982-1985, 2017-present), and Eric Valentine on drums (2016-present). Their former drummer Dave "Skavido" Brown (1980-1987) died in 2013 from cancer.

[Below you will find the new music and their 1980s music.]

WARNING: Explicity lyrics in some of the songs.

It's Just The Strangest Thing

Blindfolded Soldier

Sound Barrier I'm Just A Man! (Lyric Video)

SOUND BARRIER FULL SET

Sound Barrier- Total Control (FULL ALBUM) 1983

Sound Barrier - Born To Rock EP (1984) (Full EP)

Sound Barrier - Speed Of Light (1986) (Full Album)

[It is recommended that you listen to the album on Classic Metal Samples, and not the YouTube version because the YouTube version has the wrong song sequence and the music has been sped up a bit faster than it is. It just does not sound right!!! The original recording is fast as it is, for the time when it was made. Of course, you can always just obtain your own copy!]

https://metal-samples.com/category/sound-barrier/

Sound Barrier: "Rock without the Roll".mov

https://www.facebook.com/SBround4/?ref=page_internal

Brutal Desire - melodic extreme band from Rio de Janeiro

For Brazilian melodic death group Brutal Desire there have been some important line-up changes since their beginning in 2016, including the departure of both the founding guitarist and of the vocalist, which means that now only drummer remains from the three founding members. The 2019 EP called Nec Spe Nec Metu had the old line-up, but in 2021 the new line-up has been rebuilding with two singles to demonstrate their updated sound. The music is still generally based in death metal, with melodic hooks, extreme vocals and moshing speeds, with some melodic vocals. Metal Archives shows the line-up as: Oman Oado on drums since 2016, Daniel Sales on guitars since 2019, Is-abelle Alexandre Nascimento on vocals since 2019, and with Allan Sampaio on bass since 2021 and Gabriel Viegas on guitars since 2021. The new songs are "Bloodshed" and "Something to Die for." The new songs sound promising, generally a bit like melodic-brutal extreme metal, but bringing in some more melodic strands. It remains to be seen when they will have an album or an EP, but the signs of the reconstruction of the band seem pretty good so far.

BRUTAL DESIRE -「BLOODSHED」Official Music Video

Brutal Desire - Nec Spe Nec Metu Ep. Full #brutaldesire

https://www.facebook.com/brutaldesireofficialpage/

Brutal Black - groove extremity from Suriname

Brutal Black

Prelude to the Apocalypse

April 23rd, 2021

1. King 02:42

2. The Onslaught 01:54

3. Rivers of Blood 01:41

4. Burn the Witch 02:27

total time 08:44

Brutal Black is an extreme band from Suriname, a multicultural country in South America, a bit north of the Equator, on the Atlantic Ocean, near French Guiana, Guyana, and Brazil is located to the south of it. It is the smallest country in area and population (over half a million people). The two main languages are Dutch Sranan Tongo, and also Sarnami, Saramaccan, Aukan, Aluku, Paramaccan, Matawai and Kwinti, Javanese, Carib, Arawak, Tiriyó, Wayana, Hakka, Cantonese, Mandarin and others, but Dutch and Sranan Tongo (a creole, or native lingua franca/mix) are the mostly widely spoken languages amongst the population. In terms of bands, Metal Archives shows three active bands: Asylum, Morrighon, and Brutal Black, all three apparently based in the capital city of Paramaribo. A contemporary groove growling style is shared by all three, with some differences. Brutal Black, a duo consisting of Ernesto Benschop and Romeo Nanhekhan, is a rough, heavy, pounding type of groove-death sound, with a bit of other things showing up, like deathcore. It is a contemporary post-2000, post-Meshuggah/As I Lay Dying/Pantera, post-Slipknot extremity in groove brutality, ratcheted up a few notches to something like a cousin to brutal death metal, although still different, with less riffs, less shred, less wrist-breaking speed, and more simplicity, more groove, and more low-string plucking.

Brutal Black - KING

Brutal Black - Burn The Witch

Brutal Black - Rivers Of Blood

https://www.facebook.com/BrutalBlackSuriname

Born Without Blood

Traditional death metal mongers Born Without Blood (Washington state, U.S.) brought the fast-paced, headbanging brutality. Here are a few pictures of their performance last night in Everett. They played some new material that is not recorded yet. Taylor (vocals) says that they are planning to record a couple of songs soon and also make a video. Taylor told this publication that they actually had some songs recorded, but they were not satisfied with how they came out sounding so they decided not to release that recording. One new song that they played is called "Visceral Fear" and that one went down really well with the audience. It was good to hear the riff-based, intense brutal metal of Born Without Blood.

EP by Born Without Blood

https://www.facebook.com/Bornwithoutbloodmetal/

DEAD AGAIN

Here are a couple of pictures of Dead Again (deathcore; Washington state, U.S.) live last night in Everett.

DEAD AGAIN - PREPONDERATED HATE [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] (2021) SW EXCLUSIVE

https://www.facebook.com/DeadAgainOfficial

What's Wrong

Here are some pictures of What's Wrong (metalcore; Washington state, U.S.) live earlier tonight in Everett.

Fever Dreams by What's Wrong

https://www.facebook.com/whatswrongwa

Simulation Theory

Here are a couple of photos of Simulation Theory (deathcore; Washington state, U.S.) live in Everett earlier tonight. They announced that they have a demo on Bandcamp.

Simulation Begins​.​.​. (DEMO) by Simulation Theory

https://www.facebook.com/Simulationtheoryofficial

out now: Mega Colossus - traditional heavy metal from the U.S.

Mega Colossus used to be called Colossus for more than ten years since their beginning in 2005. This U.S. band then made the decision to bite the bullet and finally change their name, probably due to the fact that there are other bands with that same name. While the name Colossus is not as common as Tormentor or Destroyer for bands all over the world, Mega Colossus is substantially less common than Colossus. With this new album, they now have a total of three full-lengths and three EPs. The North Carolina band focuses on dual guitar melodies, melodic singing and traditional heavy metal songwriting. Overall, their sound is fists-in-the-air, headbanging songwriting that showcases the guitar work and the singing. As you can see from the artwork, the lyrical matter is not as serious as their music. While the music shows a lot of effort and the singing melodies are good, the lyrics sometimes seem to point in a different direction, perhaps in a more humorous direction. That could be a point of attraction for some listeners, but maybe not necessarily for those audiences hoping for a more serious approach to the lyrics.

RIPTIME by MEGA COLOSSUS

this Saturday in Everett, WA

Here is a reminder from DEAD AGAIN about this Saturday in Everett. https://www.facebook.com/DeadAgainOfficial

One week til we throw down at Tony Vs Garage with What’s Wrong, Born Without Blood, and Simulation Theory presented by Night Adder Productions. All proceeds going to Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. Same day our music video for 'Preponderated Hate' off our Humanity's Collapse EP drops via SLAM WORLDWIDE. Be ready.... 💪😈🤘 #pnwviolence #deadgang #liquiddeathmountainwater #bigcartel #slam #deathcore #metal #beatdown

They Watch Us From the Moon - space doom from Kansas, U.S.

U.S. doomsters They Watch Us From the Moon are now streaming the song "Return to Earth" ahead of their 2022 album. It is melodic singing within a slow-burner type of sound with psychedelic and space rock vibes, and a particular image that they like to represent, like movie or cartoon characters or something similar to that. Even if one knows nothing about their image, the music should still be of interest to the devoted follower of doom with melodic singing and a certain 1970s spirit.

Return To Earth by They Watch Us From the Moon

Toys for Tots Metal Fundraiser in Everett December 18th, 2021

Friends in Everett,

Do you know about this show?

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2021 AT 7:30 PM Tony Vs Garage Toys for Tots Metal Fundraiser

with Simulation Theory, Born Without Blood, Dead [(?) Again (?) help with the logo(!)] and another band with a logo, too!!

Rat King - Washington heavies new EP out December 10th

Rat King (Washington state, USA) throughout the years has been making changes as they go along. Their sound generally revolves around heaviness, but there is no set genre for all their recordings. Their 2014 EP is an instrumental work with a doom, kind of proggy style of grooving. That was 2014. Things keep changing. Rat King 2021 sees the band continuing from they left off with their 2020 album, which is to say old-school brutality. This four-song EP is headbanging, non-technical, non-proggy extreme metal with a foundation in death metal, with very little melody. Maybe one can say that some grooving takes place. So does some blasting. It is big-riff songs with a certain simplicity of efficiency to make the impact felt on a first listen.

Santa Hipocresía EP by Rat King

Vicious Inhumanity by Rat King

Mastercastle - The Lighthouse Pathetic (official music video)

Italian melodic metal band Mastercastle (2008-present) is preparing to release a new album, which is going to be album number seven for them. At this point, I have not heard the new album, but there are two songs now that give an idea of the band in 2021. Below is the information (announcement) about the new album and two new songs from said work. Then, below that, you will find a bunch of Mastercastle music from previous years, for listeners that would like to get a better picture of the style of the band throughout the years.

“'Lighthouse Pathetic' is the new single, and video, from upcoming seventh album of Italian Melodic Heavy Metal band MASTERCASTLE. The video has been released by Morbid Vision. Audio work made by Pier Gonella. The release date of “Lighthouse Pathetic” is scheduled on 2022, January 10th.

tracklist:

Who Cares for the Moon (feat Fabio Lione) / The Lighthouse Pathetic / That’s All / Rosso Profondo (strumentale) / Call Your Wings (feat. Fabio Lione) / Monster Whispers / Diamonds /Fantastic Planet (strumentale) / Space / Fast As A Shark (Accept’s cover, feat Flegias) / Princess of Love (Demo 2008).

MASTERCASTLE line-up consists of Pier Gonella (guitars), Giorgia Gueglio (vocals), Steve Vawamas (bass) and Alessio Spallarossa (drums). Various special guests joined MASTERCASTLE in this new album, such as Fabio Lione (Rhapsody of fire, Kamelot, Angra…), Flegias (Necrodeath, Cadaveria), Andrea De Paoli (Labyrinth, ex-Vision Divine), Mattia Stancioiu (Athlantis, ex-Labyrinth, ex-Vision Divine), Alessandro Bissa (ex-Labyrinth, ex-Vision Divine), Francesco La Rosa (Extrema)."

Mastercastle The Lighthouse Pathetic official videoclip

https://www.facebook.com/mastercastleband

Mastercastle - Who Cares for The Moon feat. Fabio Lione

Wine Of Heaven by Mastercastle

Enfer [De La Bibliothèque Nationale] by Mastercastle

Mastercastle - Princess Of Love

Mastercastle Chains Official videoclip

Mastercastle - Making Love (Yngwie Malmsteen cover)