PHARAOH release lyric video for "Lost In the Waves"

Below is the news release about the new album The Powers That Be by long-running U.S. melodic heavy metal band Pharaoh. This is their fifth album, and the first album in nine years.

U.S. Metal Masters PHARAOH have released a lyric video for "Lost in the Waves," a song from forthcoming album The Powers That Be. Check it out at the following location below. The Powers That Be, the band's first album in nine years, will be released on June 18 through Cruz Del Sur Music. The album is available on Compact Disc, Black Vinyl, Limited Ultra-Clear Vinyl, and Digital formats. Pre-orders are available below. Long-running American metallers PHARAOH emerge with The Powers That Be, a nine-song offering of challenging melodic metal featuring a guest solo from Voivod’s Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain!

Nearly 25 years ago, drummer Chris Black (High Spirits) conceived PHARAOH at a party while listening to Saxon. Shortly thereafter, he emailed one his fellow metal ‘zine writers, Matt Johnsen, selling him on the idea. At the time, Black was focused on Dawnbringer; Johnsen was simply excited to be part of an exciting new project. The object was to create a melodic metal band — a certifiably “un-hip” thing circa the late 1990s — that tapped into their deep well of influences. Once Black and Johnsen landed the services of up-and-coming singer Tim Aymar (Control Denied, Psycho Scream) and bassist Chris Kerns, PHARAOH’s permanent lineup was born, embarking on a journey that has produced now five studio albums of unmistakable class and quality, the latest being The Powers That Be.

The follow-up to 2012’s Bury the Light was recorded exclusively by the members of PHARAOH — Black tracked his drums in Chicago, while Johnsen decided to cut his guitars, Aymar’s vocals and Kerns’ bass at his home studio in Eastern Pennsylvania. However, like most bands, PHARAOH’s scheduling fell victim to the global pandemic. Aymar was able to complete his first vocal session right before the lockdown occurred, but the band had to wait several months to resume recording.

The extra time was worth it, though. The Powers That Be is PHARAOH’s most diverse and adventurous effort to date, charting a new, progressive path while maintaining the band’s stylistic traits. Those traits, like they always have, rest heavily upon the spider-web riffing of Johnsen, the air-tight rhythm section of Black and Kerns, and Aymar, whose range and growling rasp continue to make him one of metal’s most identifiable singers. Case in point, “Waiting to Drown,” a song Johnsen calls a “murder ballad” that highlights Aymar’s haunting baritone, as well as “Dying Sun,” where his desperation and fierce resolve emerge as an album highlight.

The Powers That Be also includes a guest guitar solo from longtime collaborator Jim Dofka (Dofka) on “Ride Us to Hell,” as well as a new face, Voivod’s Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain. Mongrain was a last-minute addition to the album — due to various scheduling conflicts, PHARAOH was approaching the eleventh hour to land a second guest soloist since the album was already tracked. But, once the band made contact with Mongrain, the Canadian guitarist delivered a stunning solo in less than a week for the album’s title track.

The album’s lyrics were written during one of America’s most tumultuous periods in recent memory. The pandemic, coupled with a volatile political situation served as fodder for PHARAOH, who has been tackling matters of politics since 2006’s The Longest Night. Far from preachy, the lyrics on The Powers That Be are thoughtful and carry enough depth to where listeners can determine their own meaning. It correlates to the album title — The Powers That Be represents the forces that stifle creativity and decency, from the plague of white supremacy to the ravening predation of capitalism.

Track Listing:

1. The Powers That Be

2. Will We Rise

3. Waiting to Drown

4. Lost in the Waves

5. Ride Us to Hell

6. When the World Was Mine

7. Freedom

8. Dying Sun

9. I Can Hear Them

Line-up:

Chris Black- Drums

Matt Johnsen- Guitars

Tim Aymar - Vocals

Chris Kerns - Bass

PHARAOH - Lost in the Waves

CD: https://tinyurl.com/yemygyly

LP: https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2490

LMT LP: https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/index.php?route=product/product&product_id=2491

Bandcamp: https://cruzdelsurmusic.bandcamp.com/merch

facebook.com/PharaohOfficial

out now: Akiavel -- death metal from France

The second album by French contemporary death metallers Akiavel is called Væ Victis. The album was released on April 23rd, 2021. Check out the entire work at Bandcamp. Below is also the official information about the band.

About AKIAVEL: Embrace the new death metal masters and their second full-length album “Væ Victis”! AKIAVEL equals blistering and crushing death metal madness and, with this new chapter, returns with relentless destruction and greater punishment than ever before. AKIAVEL will release their second full-length, “Væ Victis” on April 23rd, 2021! Not allowing a global pandemic to slow them down, “Væ Victis” comes only one year after AKIAVEL’s debut full-length album. This concept album delves into the darkest parts of the human psyche. Further evolving their sound, AKIAVEL takes a radical approach to their musical assault, consuming the listener with dizzying maelstroms of chaos. “Væ Victis” embodies the word “death,” putting forth an intrusive battery of blistering guitars, pummeling drums, and scathing vocals that culminates in one of the most robust death metal records the genre has seen yet. In 2018, vocalist Auré, guitar player Chris, drummer Butch, and bass player Jay came together to create a sound distinctly modern but with an appreciation for the old school death metal legends from the ‘80s & early ‘90s. It didn’t take long until the chemistry between this quartet to hit critical mass. The band have always been quick to lay out the hits, releasing their first, self-titled, EP that December. Drawing inspiration from bands such as: Morbid Angel, Deicide, Obituary, Cannibal Corpse, Testament and Gojira, this showcased their trademark sound: a mix of Groove, Thrash, Black and Old-school Death Metal, with a touch of melodic riffs, heavy rhythmic and hardcore sounds.

Although limited by the pandemic, the live performances that followed were executed with stone cold merciless aggression. AKIAVEL made their first stage appearance at the Hellfest Off festival in Clisson in June 2019 (Stéphane Buriez (Loudblast, Sinsaenum, Les Tambours du Bronx) joining the band on stage for 2 mythic covers) and participated in the charity Metal Help Fest 2 in September 2019 at the Secret Place (Montpellier). The debut full-length album, “V” was a fast follow, released in February 2020. Tracks such as "My Lazy Doll" or "The Witness" hit you right in the face with shredding riffs, neck-breaking drums, and skull-crushing guttural vocals - courtesy of one of the most dynamic frontwomen in death metal. These releases, along with their reputation in the French music scene, drew the attention of fans and major media outlets worldwide. The band is sponsored by several tier-one brands (Darius Guitarz. Dominger Pickups USA, SP Custom, Skull Strings, and ProOrca drumsticks). Additionally, their debut album “V” was named the Best Underground Metal Album of 2020 by Metal Injection. And now, only one year later, AKIAVEL are back with more! Buckle up for a blistering musical ride through the minds of the most abhorrent humans to ever walk the earth. Metal at its best!

Væ Victis by Akiavel

out now: Frozen Crown -- power metal from Italy

Italian power metallers Frozen Crown have their third album out now and it is called Winterbane. Below are a couple of tracks from the album. Below is also the entire album from Bandcamp.

ABOUT: ‘Winterbane’ is the new album from Frozen Crown, coming two years after the very successful sophomore effort 'Crowned in Frost' which gave the band huge media exposure – over 18 million views total on YouTube for their singles – and made it possible to be featured as special guest on the 2020 DragonForce European tour, amongst many other accomplishments. 'Winterbane' sees Frozen Crown amplifying the classic heavy and power metal components of their sound and toning down the symphonic influences even more, resulting in an aggressive and monolithic album thanks to the tasteful riffs and guitar leads of mastermind and songwriter Federico Mondelli and the astonishing female vocals provided by talented singer Giada "Jade" Etro. 'Winterbane' broadens Frozen Crown's musical landscape while keeping intact an uncommon taste for haunting melodies and catchy refrains.

FROZEN CROWN - Far Beyond (Official Video)

FROZEN CROWN - Blood on the Snow

Winterbane by Frozen Crown

https://www.facebook.com/frozencrownofficial

out now: Vexillum -- power metal from Italy

Italian power metallers Vexillum have a new album in 2021 called When Good Men Go to War, their fourth album. Below are two songs from the album.

ABOUT: With a solid line-up and a new impact in terms of sound and image, resulting in a very modern and contemporary feeling, Vexillum are now proud to release their new album six years after the acclaimed metal opera ‘UNUM’. ‘When Good Men Go to War’ takes the band and the listeners on a mystical voyage across the seas; the overall tone of every chapter is dark and vicious without renouncing to the band’s renowned northern-celtic folk melodies. The titletrack and its scream of anger is the epicenter of these tales, but the whole record is a masterpiece of heavy metal forged in fire, blood and steel. In ancient times, the vexillum was the battle flag for battalions: one of the signals of the battlefield under which each one was gathering to fight. It still stands for the honor, the courage and the heritage of whom brings it in all the eleven glorious songs of ‘When Good Men Go to War’!

VEXILLUM - When A Good Man Goes To War (Visualizer)

VEXILLUM - Sons Of A Wolf (Official Video)

https://www.facebook.com/vexillumofficial

Tokyo Blade vs Tokyo Blade: Night of the Blade vs Night of the Blade - The Night Before

Tokyo Blade: Night Of The Blade" (re-release) High Roller Records 16.04.2021

Tokyo Blade: Night of the Blade ... The Night Before High Roller Records 30.04.2021

Here we have a very interesting situation, even if at first it might seem confusing. Tokyo Blade is a band from the late 70s-early 80s New Wave of British Heavy Metal, running behind the lead pack of Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Saxon, Diamond Head, Girlschool and the other bands that had albums ready to roll in 1980. Tokyo Blade's debut is from 1983, and then they did this album right here called Night of the Blade.

Back in the early 1980s many of the bands of the new hard rock that came to be known as "heavy metal," were looking at commercial success as an attainable goal, especially considering that their heroes, the older bands of the 1970s hit big around 1980. Even though Led Zeppelin was no more, and Black Sabbath and Deep Purple had been floundering, worn out or lacking direction in the late 70s, another crop of bands was ready for the 1980s: AC/DC (despite having a new singer), Rush, Scorpions, Judas Priest, and so many, many others were ready for the new opportunities of the 80s, and even Sabbath, Ozzy and Rainbow were looking pretty good now.

Tokyo Blade in 1984 was ready to strike with this, their second album, which features good, catchy singing, melodies and a fun, rocking style, for fans of classic-style 1980s traditional, melodic heavy metal. Not all was well within the band and record label, apparently. It turns out that this album was fully recorded with the original singer named Alan Marsh, but then a new singer named Vick Wright was brought in to do new lead vocals. Now the people of High Roller Records are issuing both the official version of the album and the version with the original singer. Here is the track list for both albums.

Tokyo Blade: Night of the Blade, official version with Vic Wright on vocals.

01.Someone to Love

02.Night of the Blade

03.Rock Me to the Limit

04.Warrior of the Rising Sun

05.Unleash the Beast

06.Love Struck

07.Dead of the Night

08.Lightning Strikes (Straight Through the Heart)

Tokyo Blade: Night of the Blade - The Night Before, unofficial version with Alan Marsh on vocals.

01.Night of the Blade

02.Warrior of the Rising Sun

03.Unleash the Beast

04.Love Struck

05.Attack Attack

06.Fever

07.Dead of the Night

08.Breakout

09.Madame Guillotine

10.Someone to Love

The difference in song sequence in the unofficial version creates the impression of a grittier, heavier album, while the official version, which begins with a radio-friendly song, highlights the more melodic aspects. This same song is the last one on the unofficial album. The unofficial album begins with an all-out banger, and it is not until the fourth song that a more melodic song shows up. The unofficial version also has a slightly rougher sound, which may not be noticeable to most listeners. In the opinion of this listener, people new to Tokyo Blade should begin with the official album simply titled Night of the Blade. Die-hard fans that are collectors will no doubt enjoy the unofficial version, too, as it is a good album, of course. What is the difference in singers? On both versions of the album the backing vocals are Alan Marsh’s. Both singers sound very similar. Both voices go high, and both voices are solid and legit. One difference is that the official version has some more ear-friendly vocal tones, and a little more rock star singer personality, for a more melodic, a slightly smoother style. Logically, if your mind has for decades only known the official version, then the unofficial version cannot all of a sudden replace the imprint of what some fans consider a classic or at least a gem.

Unfortunately, after this album the band lost direction and became a glam rock band, and in 1985 they sounded a lot more like U.S. commercial glam rock, and things went downhill very quickly and badly with bad album after bad album in the 80s and 90s, as many fans have observed. It wasn’t until 2011 that they tried to make things right. Nowadays things are going a lot better in terms of metal music, and Alan Marsh has been back with them for an album in 2018 and 2020, but that’s another story. Regardless, their 1983 and 1984 albums are worth the time of the fans of 1980s melodic metal.

https://www.hrrshop.de/TOKYO-BLADE-Night-of-the-Blade-LP-BLACK_1

https://www.hrrshop.de/TOKYO-BLADE-Night-of-the-Blade-The-Night-Before-LP-BLACK_1

https://www.hrrshop.de/TOKYO-BLADE-Night-of-the-Blade-The-Night-Before-SLIPCASE-CD_1

https://www.hrrshop.de

[These videos are here for your information only. These are not from High Roller Records, on whose versions of the album this publication's review is based.]

OFFICIAL VERSION Tokyo Blade - Someone To Love

OFFICIAL VERSION Tokyo Blade - Night Of The Blade

UNOFFICIAL VERSION Tokyo Blade - Someone To Love (Alan Marsh On Vocals)

UNOFFICIAL VERSION Tokyo Blade - Night of The Blade (Alan Marsh On Vocals)

out now: Malformity -- U.S. death metal debut album after formation 30 years ago

You hear stories like this all the time from older metal fans. Some band that did some demos back in the day that fans in the local scene liked. Then, something happened. The band ended because of some members did not have time for a band and a full-time job and school, or some family issues, or perhaps some problems of a personal nature that got in the way. The band remains known only to those older fans that still have the demos. Malformity is apparently a band that fits the profile. They supposedly began 30 years ago, but the death metal band now has its debut full-length album as an accomplishment. Metal Archives seems to show that two of the members might have been there at the beginning of the band or in the early days, so it does look like they have some continuity with the old days. In terms of the music, this is heavy, catchy, straightforward old-style death metal, not very far removed from the style of the late 1980s and early 1990s that inspired them as young people. The long hair that they used to have disappeared decades ago, but their love of death is fully intact. It makes one wonder how many grandparents in the state of Georgia, USA have those old casette tapes with the rehearsals and demos. "Kids, gather around because grandma Kelly is about to tell you about that time that she and grandpa Bill went to a Malformity show and ended up in the middle of the mosh pit. The year was 1994, and Malformity was opening for Cannibal Corpse and Unleased in Atlanta ..."

Malformity

Monumental Ruin

Unspeakable Axe Records

19 April 2021

Unspeakable Axe Records says: "It has been a long, torturous road for the veterans of Atlanta death metal band MALFORMITY. Formed initially in 1991, when their own genre was still in its infancy, they created only a handful of demo recordings before calling it quits four years later. A long-overdue reformation happened in 2014, after which the band produced a couple of EPs and honed their craft. At long last, 30 years after their initial formation, MALFORMITY have produced a monstrous debut album, with the suitably forbidding title Monumental Ruin. Literally decades in the making, this beast shows the band at their sharpest and most evolved, mixing American and European death metal styles with a sure hand. Incorporating grind and doom influences where appropriate, Monumental Ruin is every inch the ancient, towering structure depicted on its atmospheric cover art. This is death metal old in spirit as well as in the age of the band that made it, but with a clear, current-day production and youthful vigor and brutality that keeps pace with any act you might name. Unspeakable Axe Records is proud to unveil Monumental Ruin on CD and cassette this April, with a vinyl release set to follow in early summer.'

Monumental Ruin by Malformity

out now: Endseeker -- Swedish death metal zombies from Germany

This is the third full-length studio album and it follows 2019's The Harvest. Endseeker (Germany) is Swedish death metal, and at this point they are showing some death n' roll tendencies. Some of the songs are uptempo, but it's not all like that. They have some midtempo grooves and also some slow, melodic moments. The vocals remain gruff throughout and there is no experimentation in that department, but the music shows groove and a surprising amount of melody that contradicts possible expectations of meat and potatoes death metal. Fans of death n' roll may find this album to be a very nice listen.

Thank you for coming to this Ted Talk.

Endseeker

Mount Carcass

Metal Blade Records

16 April 2021

Mount Carcass by Endseeker

out now: Brats -- pre-Mercyful Fate punk rock in 1979

Brats features both the young guitarists Michael Denner and Hank Shermann before the Mercyful Fate days. The vocalist/bassist is Yenz. Brats does not sound like Mercyful Fate, and sounds very much like a punk band, that direct, heavy rock fusion of simple, fast rock and roll with lots of energy. This recording is rough, and not polished, beautiful work. In truth, fans of old punk rock are going to be the main audience that will enjoy it without much hesitation. The recording will of be interest to the die-hard, obsessive collector of all things related to Mercyful Fate/Michael Denner/Hank Shermann. To the Mercyful Fate fan that is expecting the music to sound similar to Mercyful Fate in some way, we have to say that this is not the case at all. This is in the spirit of the punk rock of the time. Below is a YouTube post of the music, for your information, but this particular version of the recording available to this publication comes from High Roller Records.

Brats

The Lost Tapes - Copenhagen 1979

High Roller Records

16.04.2021

ABOUT: official information from High Roller Records: "Copenhagen’s very own BRATS morphed into the one and only Mercyful Fate when a certain Kim Bendix Petersen (aka King Diamond) joined them towards the very end of their short career.

Apart from the future Mercyful Fate guitar duo of Michael Denner and Hank Shermann (calling himself Hank de Wank back then) BRATS featured singer and bass player Yenz (also known as Yenz Leonhardt or Yenz Cheyenne; born Jens Arnsted). Yenz later went on to form Geisha and Y (together with King Diamond bassist Hal Patino). Before splitting up, BRATS issued one self-titled studio album issued by CBS Denmark in 1980 (which has recently been re-issued via High Roller Records). The Lost Tapes Copenhagen 1979 pre-dates the group's sole studio effort and offers a unique insight into the inner workings of a true cult band.

Singer/bass player Yenz knows the whole story: 'BRATS Mark I was a four-piece. They were active for four months in the summer and fall of 1978 and were featured with three titles on a legendary Danish Punk Rock compilation Pære Punk in April 1979. Those tracks were Dreams, I Do What I Wanna Do and Magazine. The band played a handful of shows in Copenhagen in ‘78, and I guess I witnessed most of them. After a show with my own band in February 1979, Hank came over and told me about their break-up, and asked if I and our drummer Monroe would be interested in continuing BRATS with him as a three-piece. The day after I was already writing new material with Hank, and two weeks later we started doing shows. It was an extremely productive time for us, we were hammering out songs at a respectable pace. The tracks on 'The Lost Tapes' document the summer of ’79 and are all BRATS Mark II recordings.'

All in all, the The Lost Tapes contains 16 songs, which back in 1979 were officially scheduled to be released as the band's début album. Yenz explains: 'The record label Irmgardz were getting ready to press up the vinyl when the invitation to a meeting with CBS came up. CBS was aware of the Irmgardz project and had already drawn up an agreement where one of the first clauses stipulated that no material recorded prior to the deal could be released by any third party. That was a classical take or leave it proposition. No way around it. So The Lost Tapes is in fact the BRATS debut album, exactly as we intended it. Just with a 40-year delay.'"

Fully restored and mastered from original tapes by Patrick W. Engel at TEMPLE OF DISHARMONY in September 2020

HRR 791LP, ltd 500, 200 x black, 200 x silver + 100 x transparent ultra clear w/ red and white splatter vinyl, 425gsm heavy cardboard cover 4 page insert

HRR 791CD, slipcase

https://www.hrrshop.de/BRATS-The-Lost-Tapes-Copenhagen-1979-LP-BLACK_1

https://www.hrrshop.de/BRATS-The-Lost-Tapes-Copenhagen-1979-SLIPCASE-CD_1

https://www.hrrshop.de

Brats ‎– The Lost Tapes Copenhagen 1979 FULL

out now: Aggravator -- thrash from Texas, USA

Aggravator seems like the name of an old-school thrash band, doesn't it? It might make you think of Kreator a little bit. These Texans already have two studio albums to their name (2014 and 2016), and two EPs (2012 and 2019). This is a new EP with an interesting story about the band's history, as you will read below. In terms of music, the vocals are angry, harsh, like they are yelling at someone who owes them money and has not paid them but was supposed to pay them six months ago. It's kind of grimy, dirty thrash, and full of vinegar in the veins. This music is terrible if you are doing yoga, but it's perfect is you are looking for a musical form of caffeine.

Aggravator

Unseen Repulsions

Empire Records

16.04.2021

ABOUT: Empire Records proudly presents "Unseen Repulsions" - the new MCD/MLP of San Antonio / Texas based Thrashers AGGRAVATOR! The band was formed in 2008 by vocalist/rhythm guitarist Derek Jones and drummer Mike Cortes. After playing the local circuit for a while they were joined by bassist Tristan Hernandez and lead guitarist Jesse Lopez. AGGRAVATOR released their first demo "Seven Swords" in 2010, which was followed by their full-length album "Age of Combat". On the strength of this release, AGGRAVATOR was asked to play the 2012 edition of Inferno Metal Festival in Oslo, Norway. After returning from overseas, they embarked on a three week West Coast tour, further promoting "Age of Combat". In 2013 the band began working on the second album and released their sophomore effort entitled "Populace Destructor" in the summer of 2014. The album received nothing but praise from the press and was included in several best of the year lists, including Revolver Magazine's top five releases for the month of May. AGGRAVATOR returned overseas for a Scandinavian tour which included an appearance at the well renowned Muskelrock Festival 2016 in Sweden. Upon their return to the U.S. AGGRAVATOR followed up with an appearance at Full Terror Assault II Festival 2016 in Cave In Rock, IL. Their third full-length "Sterile Existence" was released in October 2016. The metal community has taken well to the album receiving solid, credible reviews throughout the world. While in the process of recording their next album, the band was struck with the devastating news that Jesse Lopez passed away. Taking some time to gather their thoughts and recover from their loss, the band was determined to honor the last works of Jesse Lopez. AGGRAVATOR went on to release their self-titled EP in September 2019, featuring the last works of Jesse Lopez and closing the chapter of the original four piece line-up. With new material in the works and signing a two album contract with Empire Records, AGGRAVATOR looks forward to writing new music and performing throughout the world.

Unseen Repulsions by Aggravator

https://www.facebook.com/aggravatorthrashmetal

out now: Monarch -- shredding, melodic speed metal from California, USA

In 2017 Monarch issued the album Go Forth... Slaughter. You could say that it's a solid thrash album, but now in 2021 they have turned up the shredding and the melodic hooks. They are still fast, but they have really spiced up the speed with improved musicianship, and the guitar work now is primed to grab people's attention for its sophistication, not just the speed and loudness. The difference is clear, and fans of serious guitar playing will notice that Monarch is in the business of serious guitar playing.

Monarch

Future Shock

16 April 2021

BIO: Monarch is a heavy metal band from San Diego, consisting of Matt Smith on vocals and guitar (NIHILIST, DAMCYAN), Casey Trask on guitar (THE THREE TREMORS, CAGE), Gabe Mendez on bass (SUPRA SUMMUS), and Adam West on drums. Formed in 2007 by Casey Trask and some buddies in high school, Monarch weaved its web across San Diego, finding the best musicians to keep up with the lightning-fast rhythms, smashing drums, and screaming guitar solos, the standard was hard to keep until the right members were found. Adam West was next to join the band bringing a fearsome ferocity that few have ever seen in a drummer. His all-out style drumming and love of heavy metal was a perfect fit for Monarch’s earlier thrash metal material and has since been refined into a speed metal killing machine. Next to join would be Matt Smith, always revered by the members of Monarch as being one of the most creative and eccentric musicians in San Diego playing with local bands Damcyan and Nihilist, Adam and Casey would go to his shows and stare in awe as he would warm up and soundcheck with Yngwie Malmsteen licks. Matt joined the band around 2016, a year later the band would release their debut album “Go Forth… Slaughter” featuring raw thrash metal with a hint of what was to come, with Matt’s affinity and background in classical music, the sound was bound to evolve in the most epic way imaginable. Last to join, but certainly not least, was Gabe Mendez. The members of Monarch would always enjoy watching Gabe’s band Supra Summus perform in San Diego in which Gabe was the bass player/ lead vocalist and was certainly more than capable of the demanding rhythms of Monarch. In 2020, Monarch recruited this demon beast of a bass player and hasn’t looked back since. Monarch has shared the stage with bands such as Death Angel, Nervosa, Powerglove, Act of Defiance, and in 2019, they won the Wacken Metal Battle in the USA to guarantee a slot at the greatest heavy metal festival in the world, Wacken Open Air. Monarch will release their new album “Future Shock” in the year 2021.

Monarch - Future Shock [Full Album] 2021

https://www.facebook.com/MonarchThrash/

review: Avaland -- prog power metal opera featuring guests from Primal Fear, Savatage, TSO, Rising Steel, Nightmare and more

Avaland

Theater of Sorcery

Rockshots Records

2 April 2021

Avaland is a prog power metal opera, written and composed by Adrien G. Gzagg, who apparently is a 22-year-old Frenchman, the lead singer and keyboardist. With him are Christophe Feutrier and Lucas Martinez on guitars, Camille Souffron on bass and double bass, and Léo Mouchonay on drums. This is the first album, and it features the following singers and guitarists: Ralf Scheepers (Primal Fear), Zak Stevens (Savatage/TSO), Zaher Zorgati (Myrath), Emmanuelson (Rising Steel), Stéphan Forté (Adagio), Madie (Nightmare) and more, according to the official information, which states that the album “presents the story of a young sorcerer who could bring the light back in the kingdom of Avaland, and he have to learn to control his powers, powers linked to the Storm.”

The music sometimes does go into uptempo moods, but the main style used is midpaced with the keyboard rhythms central to the song, in which the rhythm guitar, bass and drums going all in on the big, steady beats that are easy to remember. Of course, there is lots of melody, from the keyboards and guitars. Yet, if we have to state one reason to hear the album is the singing. It is a singing extravaganza in the style of the most successful acts in this field, like Avantasia by Tobias Sammet (from power/heavy band Edguy [Germany]). Fans that love good melodic, traditional metal singing should very pleased with the album. There are many things to enjoy, from the variety of voices to the songwriting, and it is a most entertaining listen. If there are any shortcomings, it is probably the weak sound of sampled drumming that sounds too plastic and soft; and the use cursing, which reduces the potential audience in the case of prog power fans that adults with kids.

https://www.facebook.com/avaland.metal.opera

AVALAND - Holy Kingdom Of Fools (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

HELLOWEEN - Skyfall (Single Edit) (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

"Helloween is a German power metal band founded in 1984 in Hamburg, West Germany by members of bands Iron Fist and Gentry. Its first lineup consisted of singer and guitarist Kai Hansen, bassist Markus Grosskopf, guitarist Michael Weikath, and drummer Ingo Schwichtenberg. After the release of a self-titled EP and their debut album Walls of Jericho in 1985, it expanded into a quintet with the addition of singer Michael Kiske, Hansen choosing to focus on guitar instead. Under this line-up, they released the Keeper of the Seven Keys albums (1987 and 1988), which established Helloween as a notable heavy metal band and led to the creation of the power metal subgenre." (Wikipedia)

HELLOWEEN - Skyfall (Single Edit) (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

https://www.facebook.com/helloweenofficial

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - Burn The Sky (2021) (Official Music Video)

"Flotsam and Jetsam is an American thrash metal band that was formed in Phoenix, Arizona, in 1981. Before settling on its current name in 1984, the band had existed under three different names, Paradox, Dredlox and Dogz. Their current lineup includes vocalist Eric A.K Knutson, guitarists Michael Gilbert and Steve Conley, bassist Bill Bodily, and drummer Ken Mary. Flotsam and Jetsam went through several lineup changes over the years, leaving Knutson as the only constant member. They are also notable for featuring bassist Jason Newsted, who left the band shortly after the release of their debut album to join Metallica as Cliff Burton's replacement. Flotsam and Jetsam has released thirteen studio albums in their career, with the latest being 2019's The End of Chaos. Despite not achieving similar levels of commercial success as some of their thrash metal contemporaries, the band emerged as part of the second wave of the genre in the mid-to-late 1980s, and has enjoyed some moderate success in the United States, with two of their albums (1988's No Place for Disgrace and 1990's When the Storm Comes Down) entering the Billboard 200 chart, and their fourth album Cuatro (1992) cracking the top 30 on the Heatseekers chart." (Wikipedia)

FLOTSAM AND JETSAM - Burn The Sky (2021) (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/flotsamandjetsam.official

LIGHT THE TORCH - Wilting In The Light (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

"NEW SONG out now! Watch 'Wilting In The Light'" (New album, You Will Be The Death Of Me, June 25th) "Featuring Howard Jones (ex-Killswitch Engage) on vocals, Francesco Artusato (ex-All Shall Perish) on guitars and Ryan Wombacher (ex-Bleeding Through) on bass."

LIGHT THE TORCH - Wilting In The Light (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

https://www.facebook.com/LightTheTorchOfficial

out now: Wheel -- classic-style traditional, melodic doom from Germany

By looking at their history and their involvement with previous bands, these Germans have a long and complicated biography that reaches back to the 1980s, at least for some members. They could easily do a documentary just about their previous bands alone, right there in the city of Dortmund. Their style with Wheel is plodding, trudging rhythms (but not super slow funeral doom, that's a different genre, of course) with guitar melodies, similar to Candlemass and Solitude Aeternus. Speaking of Solitude Aeternus, fans of that band might be interested in hearing this melodic singing right here. You might be pleasantly suprised by the soft, gentle, and slightly desperate tone of Wheel's singing. Wheel is epicus doomicus metallicus.

ABOUT: On their first studio album in eight years, Preserved in Time, Germany’s Wheel delivers seven songs of brooding, emotional doom that promises to be an early 2021 favorite! Wheel was formed in 2006 in Dortmund, Germany by guitarist Benjamin Homberger, bassist Marcus Grabowski and vocalist Arkadius Kurek under the name Ethereal Sleep. The trio knew each other from previous local bands, namely power metallers Avanitas and thrashers McDeath, but opted for a brand of doom inspired by vintage Katatonia, Opeth and Paradise Lost. However, Homberger’s heart lied with heavy, emotional and old-school doom metal like Cathedral, Trouble and Saint Vitus. When drummer Carsten “Cazy” Jercke joined the fold in 2009, a name — and sound — change was in order. Jercke suggested “Wheel” not only because it was easier to pronounce in the band’s native German, but it also resembled the slowly-grinding mill wheel as heard in the intro of “Mills of God” on the band’s self-titled 2010 debut. Wheel released their second studio album, Icarus, in 2013, but then underwent a period of inactivity. The band lost their rehearsal space and real-life events like starting a family and new day jobs took precedence. However, this gave the members of Wheel, more time to fine-craft the songs that would eventually comprise Preserved in Time, their first new studio album in eight years and Cruz Del Sur Music debut.

Recorded by Homberger in the band’s rehearsal room and mixed and mastered by Dennis Koehne, Preserved in Time represents a bold step forward from Icarus for Wheel, especially in the production — the album is raw but is heavier and doomier. And, in keeping with that natural feel, the members of Wheel left in minor mistakes and recorded without a click-track. The result is an epic, expansive batch of songs that highlights Kurek’s depth as a vocalist as well as the band’s sterling compositional abilities where each song ebbs and flows in plumes of reflection and misery, set to the charge of heavy, foreboding riffs and climatic melodies. According to Homberger, the Preserved in Time album title was inspired by the idea that time is a vessel, and all that happened is preserved as long as someone remembers. This theme is reflected on the album’s gorgeous art nouveau-styled cover art featuring a woman holding an hourglass as either a symbol of reverence or burden — that is up to the listener to decide. In what promises to be one of early 2021’s first significant doom metal releases, Preserved in Time heralds the emergence of Wheel as one of Europe’s finest practitioners of a style that is forever revered.

Preserved in Time by Wheel

Soothsayer -- this weekend's sludge misery is already here

After years of EPs and a live album, Soothsayer arrives with its debut full-length album proper. The Irish band is atmospheric sludge with extreme metal tendencies. Sometimes the vocals seem to be multiple gremlins ranting and raving in the caves near the swamp, and sometimes the genres all run amuck in a big dust bowl of foggy, grey hopelessness. Be aware: This is one for the people that enjoy miserable metal music.

ABOUT: "Irish doom/sludge band Irish doom/sludge band Soothsayer released a gem of an EP a few years back but nothing could've prepared us for this powerful, monolithic album which happens to be their debut full length. Somehow they have retained the emotionally-charged atmosphere while adding next level intensity to their music. It is now pulsating with raw, irrepressible energy which is almost bursting through the music, echoed by a truly harrowing performance by the vocalist. The sentiments of frustration, rage and despair come through because of the systematic and apathetic destruction of nature, and it has had enough and is now lashing back at all of us. This album captures this feeling perfectly using an organic sound, eschewing the use of paint brushes to create the artwork with fallen leaves, and most importantly, channeling the chaos surrounding us all into pure sonic catharsis in a manner that this genre can barely contain. This is one of the most emotive and turbulent albums in the realm of doom/sludge metal while being consistently plaintive, angry and evocative at the same time. For fans of - Eremit, Cult of Luna, Eibon, Primitive Man, Jupiterian, Inter Arma, 71TonMan."

Echoes of the Earth (Atmospheric Doom​/​Sludge Metal) by SOOTHSAYER (Ireland)

throwback thursday: Black Death -- 1984 debut album, heavy metal from Ohio, USA

With origins that go back to 1977, they did some demos in the early 1980s, and 1984 had their self-titled debut album. The complete album is available on Bandcamp. Fans of cult heavy metal will be interested in this band!

Black Death by BLACK DEATH

Dark Requiem -- black thrash from Tennessee, USA

Dark Requiem is a band from Tennessee, USA that plays black/thrash/death obsessed with creating classic-style underground extreme metal. Listeners will hear Celtic Frost, Sepultura and Slayer, amongst other influences. This is their four-song demo from 2021.

Dark Requiem by Dark Requiem

Strychnine (2002-present; Pullman, Washington state, USA)

Strychnine is extreme metal. Metal Archives shows a 2009 album called Manifestations of Evil Made Divine. Here's a track from YouTube.

Strychnine - Manifestations Of Evil Made Divine

https://www.facebook.com/strych9666legions/

Strychnine (1981-1987; Kent, Washington state, USA)

Strychnine was a traditional heavy metal band. Below is a recording from YouTube. Metal Archives shows two demos and single in the 1980s: Strychnine Demo 1984; No Escape Single 1984; Pull the Plug Demo 1987.

Strychnine - Strychnine (1987 Demo)

Strike (Washington state, USA)

Below is the first song from the 1984 EP "Strike" by Strike (1983-1985; Bellevue, Washington).

STRIKE- Shell Shock

Storm Of Kaos (Washington state, USA)

Storm Of Kaos is one-man black metal.

Hostis Humanis Generis by Storm Of Kaos

Stolen Society (Washington state, USA)

This melodic metalcore band seems to be inactive at this point. Here are some songs on Bandcamp from some years ago.

Thin Walls by Stolen Society

Open Your Eyes by Stolen Society

Steelscape (Washington state, USA)

It looks like this instrumetal band lasted 2005-2014. Below is the music available on Bandcamp. They also seem to have it on YouTube.

ABOUT: "Steelscape is an American instrumental progressive heavy metal band from Bremerton, Washington, United States, which formed in 2004."

Blueshift Demo by Steelscape

Montage

review: Herzel (France) -- traditional, melodic heavy metal debut album Le Dernier Rempart

Herzel

Le Dernier Rempart

Gates of Hell Records

19 March 2021

Herzel (France) is traditional heavy metal with melodic singing with lyrics in French, and in a few carefully selected places the album has some folk melodies, but they are certainly not a folk band. They are firmly rooted in legacy, classic-style heavy metal, and should be of interest to fans of that style, and also to fans of true metal and power metal. Here’s the thing about this band. We know that there are a lot of good bands in the international traditional heavy metal local scenes, but this genre has an Achilles’ heel, namely, the singing. Other genres have their own Achilles’ heel, like death metal’s generic growling; doom’s “average-dude-hollering” vocals; thrash’s faceless riffs and punk yelling, prog’s boringness, so on and so forth. Anyway, Herzel has good singing, and what a difference it is to hear a new traditional band when the singing works. In addition, the riffs work, and the shredding and soloing sounds awesome. The production is worthwhile, and shows the band’s desire to have the sound of real drums (This zine has no information about whether this is just good sampling or whether it is, in fact, real drums). In the singing there’s a bit of the high notes and whatnot, and that’s good. However, the singing voice has a natural melodic tone that makes it attractive. Such a good debut album.

Le Dernier Rempart by Herzel

hear it now: LORD (Australia) super duper gigantic 23-song Undercovers Vol. 1

Some time recently this little publication told you about these covers by Australian heavy metal heavyweights LORD. We thought that you would not mind a reminder that you can hear the whole thing now and see what you think. As you know, this album is not for people who do not like covers, but if you do like covers, the 1980s (and some 90s), heavy metal and also some pop, and also LORD, you might like this monster compilation. It is Lord metallizing or remetallizing songs that they like. Warning: There are some super famous songs on here, but there are also some lesser-known songs from legendary bands.

ABOUT: UNDERCOVERS VOL. 1 will be an exclusive 23 track release available on Bandcamp as both a digital release and as various bundle packs that includes a T-shirt, and a CD that is hand-numbered and limited to 500 hand numbered copies only, worldwide. Both the CD and streaming platforms will have a limited track listing, with Bandcamp being the exclusive destination to own all 23 tracks, which includes two covers by Lord Tim’s Blackened Angel project, as well as over 2 hours of Andy and LT talking about the stories behind the songs. The entire release clocks in at over 3 hours and 40 minutes.

Australian metallers LORD have announced their new covers album, “Undercovers Vol. 1” due out 2 April 2021 on Dominus Records. Featuring first single “To the Moon and Back” by Australian Pop Group Savage Garden.

Bassist Andy explains, “Covers have been a big love of ours since the early days of Dungeon right up to and including now. Over the years in LORD these tracks have ended up on limited edition releases, bonus tracks in isolated parts of the world and other weird and wonderful places. These songs have been scattered over so many different places that even we struggle ourselves to remember where on earth all of these songs can be found.

While bands around the world continue to navigate these uncertain times, we thought this would be the perfect opportunity to release this collection of cover songs, as well as new recordings, to keep the LORD machine moving while we continue to write new music.”

Andy continues, “UNDERCOVERS VOL. 1 is the first instalment of amassing this ever growing collection of cover tracks that LORD have recorded over the years whether it be in the studio or on the stage. There will be many you’re familiar with and there will also be a few surprises. Of course, we couldn’t help ourselves and decided to record two new cover songs for this release, SAVAGE GARDEN’s “To the Moon and Back” and JUDAS PREIEST’s “Reckless” and we even threw in two covers from LT’s Blackened Angel project. Artwork has been once again created by the talented TRISTAN TAIT and a hand numbered limited edition CD release will celebrate the highlights from Volume 1 of our Undercover journey.”

Undercovers Vol​.​1 by LORD

out April 16: Cannibal Corpse -- death metal old workhorses streaming two new songs

Cannibal Corpse

Violence Unimagined

Metal Blade Records

April 16th, 2021

The old men of gore horror extremity have now added the respected musician and producer Erik Rutan to their ranks. Cannibal Corpse is to death what AC/DC is to classic rock, consistent, stubborn, reliable and an international treasure to their fans. The band would hate to disappoint even one single fan by changing the formula that has paid the bills for decades. While other bands have fallen by the wayside or got tired of death, the Americans will die on this hill proclaiming their profession to be death metal forever and until the wheels come off. The band began sometime in the Middle Ages, have survived depressions and recessions, politicians and preachers, and for hundreds of years have been offending, annoying, and pleasing people all over the world. Listen for yourself to the new songs.

Violence Unimagined by Cannibal Corpse