Wasted Land: Fade Away (Official Music Video)

Below is the official information about the new song “Fade Away” from Wasted Land. This publication does not have any more information at this point about the band's activities. It has been a long time since people heard from the band in 2013. Fans that like to keep up with metal from Middle East probably remember the name of the band from websites and blogs and things like that, but it looks like they are getting ready to make a comeback, but again, this publication does not further details at this moment. Anyway, it's good hear them again and we'll have to wait and see what else they do.

This is official information about the new song: Saudi Arabia’s Wasted Land has a new single coming out entitled “Fade Away”, this is following their self-titled 2013 album. Since that full-length, the band suggests that they have evolved over time from being melody and folk focused into something heavier, but still having a strong melodic base. “Fade Away” has been in the works since 2017, and will be the first music video from the band. Lyrically, the single talks about someone having severe depression and comparing his journey in life to that of a candle, getting shorter and shorter until it eventually burns out. Then he finds his soul’s salvation after his death. Musically, it starts with heavy doses of melody which are complimented by heavy riffs and even more melodies. To contribute to the theme of depression and life’s waning, it carries a somber and melancholic tune near the end.

The band comments on the track: “It’ll be a new mixture from our old folkish style with more heavy catchy riffs and chorus. We hope we can catch the attention from the old fans and attract new ones.”

For Wasted Land, they compose the music first and then create lyrics that fit. For this song in particular guitarist Ayman composed the lyrics a long time ago for his previous band Banj. Writing for the band is a joint endeavour between guitarists Ayman and Ahmed whenever they jam together. Vocalist Emad adds his flavours in the lyrics and of course the vocal lines. Wasted Land originally formed in 2005 to participate in Metal II gig in Dammam. Ahmed and Ayman were jamming together and felt there was chemistry between them while composing folky melodic death metal. From there they decided to add more members to create a full band. They were one of the first Saudi metal bands to get massive media exposure from outlets like CNN, BBC radio and other local and international newspapers.

Wasted Land: Fade Away (Official Music Video)

Fade Away by Wasted Land

Ultimatium - (Don't) Fear the Silence (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO) (featuring Emily Leone in vocals)

Below is a new video for the ballad "(Don't) Fear the Silence" by the melodic band Ultimatium from Finland. The song is from the 2020 album Virtuality. For your information, here is also another song that perhaps helps to paint a more whole picture of the sound of the band, "Run Like The Wind." Of course, this is a band for fans of the melodic sounds, first and foremost. YouTube has the following information about the album Virtuality.

The following information is from YouTube:

8th track of the epic progpower metal opera Virtuality, featuring Emily Leone in vocals

"(Don't) Fear the Silence is the most beautiful and saddest song on the album. Heroes have lost one of their own and they must say goodbyes in order to prepare for the final battle against the villain... This song is the first acoustic ballad from Ultimatium, with the ending chorus bringing in all the instruments. Listeners beware: the song features a sudden, hidden bass solo!" Ultimatium was birthed out the deep forests of Suomussalmi, Finland. Their 4th studio full-length "Virtuality" follows their independently released "Vis Vires Infinitus" (2015), "New Dawn" (2004, Mastervox Records), and "Hwainoo" (2008, Mastervox Records).

The premise behind "Virtuality" is an introduction of a storyline of four gamers getting stuck in a virtual reality game in a near-future setting. Packed with five amazing lead vocalists, Peter James Goodman (Conquest, ex-Virtuocity), Jukka Nummi (ex-Myon), Emily Leone, Tomi Viiltola (ex-Dreamtale, Perpetual Rage, Viilto) and Matti Auerkallio (Katra, Manzana, SoulFallen), "Virtuality" is a unique storyline about the virtual world, and the dangers of sharing everything in social media, along with up-tempo power metal songs combined with darker elements.

The story album is backed up with lots of background vocals, sound effects and a "narrator"/system voice synthesized with Amazon's Alexa.

The album introduces the best parts of power and progressive metal combined, including easier up-tempo songs, but also long, progressive mid-tempo tracks. The songs take influence from such bands as Stratovarius, Dream Theater, Symphony X and Rainbow. Especially on tracks "Digital Tower" and "Ghost of Yesterday" where influences from Ronnie James Dio and Ritchie Blackmore are easily heard.

ULTIMATIUM - (Don't) Fear the Silence (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)(featuring Emily Leone in vocals)

ULTIMATIUM - Run Like The Wind (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

https://shop.rockshots.eu/en/cd/1749-ultimatium-virtuality.html

https://smarturl.it/UltimatiumVirtuality

melodic heavy metal Blazon Rite streaming title track "Endless Halls of Golden Totem"

Blazon Rite is a traditional, melodic band that features songs of the forests, snow and swords, and other such topics. Previously in 2020 this U.S. band did the Dulce Bellum Inexpertis E.P. Now it is time for the debut full-length album called Endless Halls of Golden Totem on June 18th, 2021. The music seems to have feet in various eras because it is traditional heavy metal in some ways, but also a bit older with some 1970s vibes. The voice is a bit gritty, for melodic heavy metal, anyway. Yet, it's possible that listeners will think of some folk-ish moods or maybe some 1970s classic rock stylings. They cleary do not want to sound super computerized, and want a bit of that old-school vibe of forgotten, cult or underground heavy metal and classic rock of yesteryear. However, they are not total retro, either. The main thing is that fans of old melodic heavy metal may find the band to be an interesting listen.

Endless Halls of Golden Totem by Blazon Rite

Cirith Ungol revamps unreleased songs from the vault

Fan of the golden oldies,

The cult U.S. band Cirith Ungol was rummaging through some old material that has never seen the light of day. They decided to dust off the cobwebs and give the music the contemporary Cirith Ungol treatment. So that's what these four songs are, and the EP is titled Half Past Human. It comes out on the 28th of May. It makes one wonder how much such material they have around. Keep in mind that the band formed in 1972 and broke up in 1992, then in 2015 they got back on the horse. Below you can hear one of the "new" songs, and also their 2020 comeback album Forever Black, and also their 1984 gem King of the Dead. Sometimes it takes decades for audiences to come around and understand some music. Cirith Ungol is a case in point. Nowadays their music does not sound strange, but given that they were not a glam nor a thrash nor a commercial, radio stadium band, the 1980s audiences were not too kind to the band. While perhaps they are still not very appreciated in the U.S., it certainly looks like European audiences have been kinder to them. Considering that doom-ish genres are much more popular nowadays, perhaps listeners today are more ready than ever to give Cirith Ungol a chance. Check some of their music below and hear for yourself.

Half Past Human by Cirith Ungol

Forever Black by Cirith Ungol

King of the Dead by Cirith Ungol

KARPENTER -- Italian melodeath

Fan of European melodeath,

Below are two songs "Mechanical Sense" and "Shark" from Italian melodeath band KARPENTER. Their debut album Sleepless will be out on Friday. As you will see, the official information below calls them "alternative-metal," but it's just better to hear the music and hear for yourself. Here in the U.S. "alternative metal" means something specific, from a certain era, in a certain style, and this band does not sound "American" per se. Perhaps the term means something else in Europe?! Anyway, the vocals are semi-growled, kind of, and the guitar work is catchy, if you like melodeath in general.

ABOUT: "Rockshots Records is proud to announce they will be releasing KARPENTER's first full-length 'Sleepless' on May 28th, 2021. Named in tribute to horror movie master John Carpenter, the alternative-metal band was formed in 2019 by former Fightcast members Filippo Tellerini, Francesco Vicini, and Marco Biondi, along with Federico Conti (Creep), Manuel Nucci and Michele Mingozzi (Figure of Six). By connecting old-school influences with modern-sounding songs, the band aims at keeping the core of the style that characterized the past while projecting itself toward new and original experimentations of sounds and metal sub-genres. Sleepless will be KARPENTER‘s debut full length to follow their 2019 singles 'Dark Mountain Side' and 'The Hardest Party'. The album was recorded and mixed by Gabriele Ravaglia (Extrema) and Gianmarco Bambini at Fear Studio in Italy, and mastered by Jacob Hansen (Volbeat, Epica, Fleshgod Apocalypse)."

Track Listing:

1. Sleepless (1:23)

2. Mechanical Sense (3:14)

3. Perfection Valley (3:25)

4. Falconer (3:06)

5. Shark (3:37)

6. The Manor (4:19)

7. The Hardest Party (4:30)

8. The Swamp Thing (3:48)

9. No Vacancy (3:40)

10. Dark Mountain Side (3:42)

Album Length: 34:48

KARPENTER - Mechanical Sense (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

KARPENTER - Shark (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

https://shop.rockshots.eu/en/home/5521-karpenter-sleepless.html

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

review: Illusory -- melodic prog from Greece

Illusory

Crimson Wreath

Rockshots Records

21 May 2021

1. Besetting Sins 05:01

2. Acedia 02:11

3. Crimson Wreath 06:35

4. Immortal No 04:25

5. All Shall Fade 01:51

6. All Blood Red 05:48

7. The Voice Inside Me 01:28

8. S.T. Forsaken 08:08

9. Ashes to Dust 05:51

10. A Poem I Couldn’t Rhyme 04:22

11. An Opus of Loss and Sorrow:Pedestal I: Past Forever Last 06:07

12. An Opus of Loss and Sorrow:Pedestal II: The Isle of Shadows 09:08

13. An Opus of Loss and Sorrow:Pedestal III: Agony’s Last 06:53

14. Fortress of Sadness 10:04

total time 01:17:52

Admittedly, when the topic is an album with a duration of one hour and 18 minutes, we have something potentially rewarding, yet such a playing time will scare away certain listeners based on the attention span necessary to wrangle with this Greek band. This poses a question that needs an answer: Is this album worth all of that time and effort that you will have to put into it? Their debut album in 2013 was some 53 minutes, the second one in 2016 was an hour and 12 minutes. Now, their third is even longer. They feature melodic singing that is front and center of the songs. For that reason, it is important that the listener like the tones and shades of the singing because it is impossible to get away from all this singing. It is a gritty yet still melodic voice, but not constantly hitting those super high notes to show off. It's a good singing voice, but every listener is different and should hear it for themselves.

The music is all about slow burners. It is not slow music, but it is not full-on speed, either. The pace of the music merits commentary. While the songs are not scorchers because this is a traditional, melodic band consisting of grown-ups (the origins of the band, under a different name, go back to 1992), the music stays at recognizable, pleasant tempos, with nothing crazy, experimental nor extreme. They pay attention to make sure that the songs stay away from monotonous extended segments throughout. It's a balance between intellectual music and uptempo/midtempo moods. Without a doubt, this is one of the best aspects of the songwriting. It is skilled melodic songs with lots of talent and hard work, with a good energy that also demonstrates that the musicians are aware to keep the listener entertained, not just show that they are skilled as theorists of cerebral prog music.

If the listener accepts the premise of classic-style, traditional, melodic song-oriented writing in a contemporary interpretation, then it’s worthwhile to investigate this album. Curious listeners might consider hearing song number eight called "S.T. Forsaken." This is a rather accurate example of the personality of this album.

S.T. Forsaken

https://www.facebook.com/IllusoryBand

PHARAOH streams new song "I Can Hear Them" from forthcoming album The Powers That Be

news from Cruz Del Sur Music: "U.S. Metal Masters PHARAOH have released the second song from their forthcoming album The Powers That Be. Closing track 'I Can Hear Them' is streaming now at YouTube. 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":

Pharaoh

The Powers That Be

Cruz Del Sur Music

18 June 2021

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 - I Can Hear Them

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

Felled: "blackened neofolk" from Oregon state, USA

Felled is now streaming three songs from the upcoming album The Intimate Earth. The album is programmed for July 2nd, 2021 and it will be released on Transcending Obscurity Records (India). Metal Archives shows that the band used to be a project called Moss of Moonlight. This is now a band. Felled is folk metal and black metal, and in addition to the usual instruments, they have the violin and viola, and it is something that all listeners will notice immediately. Expect something a little bit different, and something interesting, too.

ABOUT: From the deep of Cascadia, Felled evokes the voice and pulse of the earth with their blackened neofolk metal. Violin, fourfold vocals, and soaring melodies weave a backdrop for modern lore-spinning and kindle worlds both haunting and lush.

The Intimate Earth (Folk​/​Black Metal) by FELLED (US)

German heavy metal REINFORCER streaming title track "Prince of the Tribes"

"Prince of the Tribes" is the first song from the upcoming full-length album by Reinforcer. It looks like the band previously had an EP called The Wanderer, and that was in 2018. The new album will be released on the 18th of June, 2021 on Scarlet Records (Italy). At the Bandcamp link below you can see the lyrics of the song and the titles of the other songs on the album. The band itself calls their music power metal. As you see from the artwork, battles are never far from the minds of the band. In this case, it is ancient Germanic tribes taking on the troops of the Roman Empire.

Prince of the Tribes by Reinforcer

https://www.facebook.com/reinforcermetal/

review: Nuclear Winter -- melodic extremity/industrial/techno from Zimbabwe

Nuclear Winter

Greystone

MMD Records

21 May 2021

Not content with having covered the überpopular 1980s hit “Africa” by Toto and also Frank Sinatra’s “New York, New York,” Nuclear Winter (Zimbabwe) is bold in its ongoing quest to reach the desired balance of extremity, pop music and industrial for a result centered on catchy tunes. On its third album, the solo project of guitarist/vocalist/programmer Gary Stautmeister the sound continues down the rabbit hole where melodic extremity and techno, growling, singing and some robotic/computerized vocals meet. Even though the description of it, such as the one above, might give the impression of an unsavory potpourri, and perhaps some type of experimental, novelty style of sound, this is a one-person contemporary interpretation of melodic extremity, to some extent still in 2021 identifiable as an aural descent of the styles that pair up growling/extremity with catchy melodies. The growling is there but so are the melodic vocals, as are both the chugging guitars and the hooks, and the programming/sampling to add a dimension of futuristic/computerized/robotized aspects, and happy, danceable techno beats and the sensation of industrial, or pop industrial, if you will. At this point in the trajectory of his project, Gary is really coming into his own as a musician, as a songwriter, and as the one in charge of the technicalities of recording the music. Gary has been working on all the aspects of his craft for ten years, probably longer, and he has come a long way towards making music that is fun to hear and also worthy of checking out. Fans of melodic extremity, come see what Gary has created after some ten years, two EPs, and the completion of the third album. Lastly, for the impatient audiences that want to know right away whether this is a ride that they want to take, this listener recommends going straight to song number seven, “Hidden Shrine,” as an illustration of Nuclear Winter in 2021.

Greystone by Nuclear Winter

[Curious to hear the covers mentioned in the review? Check them below.]

StormScapes EP by Nuclear Winter

https://www.facebook.com/NuclearWinterZim/

review: Hanging Garden -- the somber sublime from Finland

Hanging Garden

Skeleton Lake

Lifeforce Records

May 21st, 2021

The Finnish band Hanging Garden officially made its presence known in 2006 with a promo recording and a 2007 debut album, according to the information from Metal Archives. After five EPs, and six albums since their 2004 inception, it is time for album number seven. Looking over the information about the band, it looks like the line-up has been somewhat stable, but it is necessary to mention that on vocals since 2019 they have Riikka Hatakka joining longtime vocalist Toni Hatakka, adding another melodic voice to the band’s repertoire. The new album is nine songs in some 46 minutes, featuring an attractive variety of voices, with at least a couple of different melodic singing voices, and with quality growling. Keyboards/synths are an important element in the band’s sound, as it functions as a big canvas on which they do all the painting. The music is midtempo or on the slower side, and sometimes the pace does pick up a tiny bit, but always in a restrained way, for a pleasant, consistent listening experience. The album flows very well within the general sound of the band. The band works very hard at coming up with at least three types of melodies: keyboards, guitars and singing. Then, as a counterweight, the chunky guitars and the growling bring the heaviness. The growling is done well. It is a strong, deep, enunciated type of growling, that is mixed right so that it fits the sound. The recording team did a good job of keeping the growling at the correct volume and location in the mix. It is almost an elegant type of growling, like a gentle, kind monster. Few bands have figured out how to make growling an elegant style, and this band is about as close as this listener has heard this year.

Hanging Garden has come out of the gates with serious intentions of delivering an album that feels like a wide, grey, cloudy landscape (notice the artwork). The music is, above all, a work of and for melancholy. They seek the feeling of symphonic, melodic, pleasant heaviness in which romanticist, gothic aesthetics are indispensable to the objective of the majestic somber sublime.

Skeleton Lake by Hanging Garden

https://www.facebook.com/HangingGardenOfficial

death doom from Israel: Tomorrow's Rain

Israeli death doomsters Tomorrow's Rain have their debut album Hollow out now. It is from September 2020. They have a version in English and another in Hebrew. The growling is rather low, gruff, and more on the brutal side, which is balanced out with melodic tendencies. At the same, it's important for the fan to hear the growling for themselves and see what they think about it. The two versions also make for some interesting comparisons, even if the listener does not understand Hebrew. Being a death doom album, patience is required in order to get through the music, but of course for the devoted fan of the genre that should not be a problem, while the more casual listener may end up getting impatient with it. At any rate, for the devoted audiences, the album could prove be to be rather interesting.

ABOUT: Debut album "Hollow" out now. Featuring the following guests musicians: Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride). Greg Mackintosh (Paradise Lost). Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy/Nevermore). Fernando Ribeiro (Moonspell). Spiros Antoniou (Septicflesh). Sakis Tolis (Rotting Christ). Mikko Kotamaki (Swallow The Sun). Kobi Farhi (Orphaned Land). Anders Jacobsson (Draconian). Shlomi Bracha (Mashina). Lisa Cuthbert (Session live vocals of The Sisters Of Mercy).

Hollow by Tomorrow's Rain

Hollow (Hebrew version - מהדורה עברית) by Tomorrow's Rain

review: Antioch -- anthem heavy metal

Antioch: V

Iron Shield Records May 14th 2021

The new Antioch work is a 27-minute recording with the following songs: 1.Hang the Eagle; 2.On a Ledge; 3.A Facade at the Third Castle; 4.Demon Wick; 5.Cloven Hooves. Metal Archives shows that they did an EP in 2014, and they followed it up with three albums in 2015, 2017 and 2019. In 2021 all these five songs are stadium-rock style that are done remarkably well, built to be catchy, for headbanging, for fans of fun, party rocking heavy metal. The first song gets the ball rolling. Such a good start. Then “On a Ledge,” arrives. Very nice. The band itself will tell you that they love the anthem bands like Judas Priest, Scorpions and Manowar, and this song is an anthem. Fans of 1980s anthem heavy metal may also notice some primetime Helix (listen to “Rock You” from Walkin’ the Razor’s Edge; and then listen to Antioch’s “On a Ledge”), and Alice Cooper (the “Constrictor” and “Raise Your Fist and Yell” catchy choruses, and the tone of the voice), and Manowar’s “Fighting the World.” This Canadian band puts on a clinic on how to write anthems. When the fifth song ends, it’s time to hear it all again and again. Expect big hooks, and a great energy that is easy to get into and to remember. This recording brings up an interesting question: Is this band this good on their other recordings?!

Antioch - On A Ledge

https://www.facebook.com/antiochmetal/

review: Morbid Saint -- brutal thrash from the 1980s

Morbid Saint: Spectrum of Death (re-release) High Roller Records 14.05.2021

When Morbid Saint’s name started to make the rounds in the United States outside of their Packerland home, they seemed to arrive a bit too late in 1990. As a Wisconsin band, and not a California, New York, or (in 1990 the red-hot) Florida band, things, as you would imagine, were more difficult for them in the frozen tundra. Apparently recorded in 1988, this debut album was released in 1990. By the late 1980s, thrash bands were excited about the possibility of following Metallica’s footsteps on the way to commercial success and becoming full-time musicians. The bands had slowed down, softened their sound, and were doing ballads, slow songs, and more covers, adding more melody, and cleaning up their sound in the hopes of getting on the radio and MTV, especially after they saw the softer Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax following Metallica’s blueprint for commercial success.

Morbid Saint was out of time and out of luck.

Meanwhile, the more adventurous thrash fans and bands had their sights set on the veritable wave bubbling underneath: the unstoppable rise of death metal that was already well underway in the United States. Morbid Saint was a thrash band, but this is the type of thrash that in the late 1980s would soon turn into full-blown death metal. This is way too fast, too frantic, too brutal for the thrash of the time, and the vocals—we would say today—are closer to black or extreme metal.

They happen to sound like a combination of two bands’ albums: Kreator’s 1986 Pleasure to Kill and Dark Angel’s 1986 Darkness Descends. The mode of operation is relentless thrash: the drummer hits hard and fast, the guitar sound is classic-thrash, the vocals are the near-black metal shriek of Kreator, and Morbid Saint stays there for the entire duration. No attempts to slow down and show that they can do ballads or be melodic. They show that they shred and play brutal thrash, and do it well, that’s the whole story. Morbid Saint is one of the few thrash bands that can hang with death and black metal. For fans of death and black metal, this is one thrash album that may surprise you. High Roller Records says: "Now the incendiary classic gets a due vintage treatment, with both sound (remastered by Patrick W. Engel at Temple of Disharmony studio) and artwork (by John Kujawa, who also designed sleeves for the likes of Acrophet and Numskull) staying true to the original. The new High Roller vinyl edition guarantees a most authentic overall experience for connoisseurs and the uninitiated alike."

https://www.hrrshop.de

https://www.hrrshop.de/MORBID-SAINT-Spectrum-of-Death-LP-BLACK_1

[this link is here for informational purposes; this link not from High Roller Records, on whose album version this review is based] Morbid Sain̲t̲ - Spectrum O̲f̲ Death - Full album 1988

review: Wreche -- black metal with piano, and no guitars

Wreche: All My Dreams Came True Handsmade Records 14 May 2021

If you find yourself walking in the city of Oakland, California, USA, and you happen to hear the sound of piano, there in the street or in the park, there for the pleasure of anyone wishing to pause and listen, you might be hearing the work of pianist and composer John Steven Morgan. JSM plays traditional piano music. He also has been challenging himself through a black metal project called Wreche that in 2017 issued its self-titled debut and now presents its sophomore work.

The opening song “Mysterium” is black metal, but it sounds different, too. The percussive and vocal patterns are not what’s different, that’s the normal lunar howling in a fast context. What might really catch the fanatic’s ear is the tremolo sounds. It is not guitar. It is piano. Wreche is black metal without guitars.

Percussion (sampled drumming?), synths, deranged shrieking, and piano is the vehicle for this adventure. The music is just as deranged as normal black metal, but more somber because it does not have the harsher sound of the guitar. The piano is just much better suited for grandiose heaviness and a certain elegance than thrashing guitars. It is less melodic because the piano in general cannot reach the heights of the sweet sounds available on guitar, although, of course, with the piano on here, the listener cannot but help associate it classical music in general.

Wreche is more like an alienated, depressed, angry pianist that loves the unhinged, maniacal energy of black metal. Wreche sounds like some sort of ferocious piano therapy session. This is for people that want to try something different. A novelty. Something a bit strange, and also with some hidden beauty. Something off the map. Are you curious?

All my dreams came true by Wreche

https://www.johnstevenmorgan.com/donatepage

https://www.johnstevenmorgan.com/go-fund-me

https://www.facebook.com/johnstevenmorganmusic

KK's Priest - Hellfire Thunderbolt (Official Music Video)

This is the new music video from KK's Priest. On Facebook they say: "Announcing ‘Sermons of the Sinner’ - the new album from Judas Priest founder KK Downing."

KK's Priest - Hellfire Thunderbolt (Official Music Video)

K.K Downing.Beyond The Realms Of Death.KK'S Steel Mill-03.11.2019.

https://www.facebook.com/KKsPriest

out now: Irony Destroyed -- metal from Kenya

Recently, back in April, metalcore band Irony Destroyed announced their new music video for the song "Rebirth." Below you will find the video, and a couple of links to their music on Bandcamp, in case that you like what you hear. The band's recorded output goes back a few years, at this point, to 2017. They have done singles since then, like the new song, and they have also a longer recording called Strife To Legacy, also included below.

ABOUT: A Metalcore band from Kenya. Band Members Features: Lawrence Muchemi-Vocals; Lenny Kiano - Lead Guitarist; Issa Khalid - Rhythm Guitarist; Cyrus Kamau -Drummer.

Irony Destroyed - REBIRTH (Official Music Video)

Rebirth (Single) by Irony Destroyed

Najiskia Kuua Tena by Irony Destroyed

Strife To Legacy by Irony Destroyed

out May 14: Grave Miasma -- obscurantist death metal from U.K.

They are streaming the song "Rogyapa," which is taken from the 2021 album Abyss of Wrathful Deities. Metal Archives shows that their previous work was the 2016 EP called Endless Pilgrimage, which followed the 2013 album Odori Sepulcrorum. Grave Miasma's death metal in 2021 continues their previously established reputation as an old-school, classic-style death metal. -Metal Bulletin Zine

ABOUT: "Abyss Of Wrathful Deities is GRAVE MIASMA’s latest opus after five years of quiescence. Bone-breaking, aggressive and demonic Death Metal pairs with the accomplished and progressive production ofJaime Gomez Arellano (Orgone Studios), forming a sepulchral miasma which elevates the band’s songwriting to a previously unrivalled level. Developing on the powerful and dark sound pursued on Endless Pilgrimage, the London trio presents nine distinctively enigmatic tracks on death and resurrection, the demons of far-away lands and Tibetan burial rituals. GRAVE MIASMA are both the circling vulture and the epiphany, equally well-versed in the raw and primitive as they are in technical lead guitar orgies. Music not as a means of style, but as an accurately-wielded sharp scythe. The reverence to South American titans is obvious, yet the band has the approach of merging (de)composition with creativity, creating a contemporary yet absolutely timeless atmosphere."

Abyss of Wrathful Deities by Grave Miasma

out May 14: Dødsferd -- black metal from Greece

Skotos is the name of the 2021 EP by the long-running band. After some 20 years, a lengthy discography of albums and EPs (at least 14 in total, not including live and split recordings, according to Metal Archives), this is their latest EP of two songs, in addition to including the 2018 album Diseased Remnants of a Dying World as bonus tracks. As an introduction to the band, this is not bad at all, actually. The inclusion of the album helps, given that two songs is just too little to go by. Luckily, on Bandcamp you can hear for yourself and see what you think. -Metal Bulletin Zine

ABOUT: "Greek black metal legends Dødsferd conjure up what's arguably their best material yet. This is a step up still from their landmark album 'Diseased Remnants of a Dying World' and it retains the fiery, emotionally-charged black metal music on that one while improving upon the intensity and expression. The two songs are probably the most potent ones the band has to offer and it's impossible not to be moved by the deeply harrowing music and plaintive cries of the vocalist who's giving the performance of his career. Everything about the music is tempered to perfection and one can't help but keep listening to them over and over again. This brand new 'Skotos' release is combined with the full length album in a brand new 12-panel digipak packaging for the CD while the vinyl will see a standalone 7" edition, with the band's own label FYC Records handling the combined tape edition. This special release is not to be missed."

Skotos (Atmospheric Black Metal) by DØDSFERD (Greece)

out now: Crypts of Despair -- death/black metal from Lithuania

Crypts of Despair

All Light Swallowed

Transcending Obscurity Records

April 23rd, 2021

Effort matters. Seriousness of purpose matters. The Lithuanian band's second album exudes that dedication to making death metal a serious, not a funny, musical expression. This is more like death metal that the black metal fanatic can appreciate. The purpose, stubborn will comes across in the music rather well. The vocals are, in part, low undecipherable growling, and also a higher growl that could be called death or black metal. The guitar rhythms often work as a death metal foundation, or if not as foundation, then as a bottom layer upon which they add some black metal infusions and a pinch of dissonance, enough to be noticeable, but not so much as to be distracting. The band seems very aware of what they seek, as if they want to eliminate the weakness of death metal (generic growling, generic guitar work, certain unserious type of lyrics, cartoonish imagery) and the weaknesses of black metal (production; annoying shrieking; certain emo things; some dungeon synth comical stuff) and combine the strengths: the muscle and punching power of death metal, with the devotion and singlemindedness of purpose of strong black metal. While it is true that it might be not death enough or not black enough for some, it is right there on target for extreme metal that aims for quality. Crypts of Despair is obscurantist metal in search of rabid fanatics. Invitation is extended.

All Light Swallowed (Death Metal) by CRYPTS OF DESPAIR (Lithuania)

out now: Mindless Sinner -- vinyl reissue of Swedish heavy metal from the 1980s

Mindless Sinner

Turn On The Power (re-issue)

Pure Steel Records

April 30th 2021

Mindless Sinner today is a cult, traditional heavy metal band, one that started when Swedish youth began picking up instruments in the late 1970s and early 1980s because they wanted to join the action of the new, compact, faster, tighter hard rock called "heavy metal." After some band name changes, they finally settled on this one, and in 1983 they served up the EP Master of Evil. They returned in 1986 with this full-length album. The worst thing is that the album was recorded in 1984, but was not released until 1986. You have to strike when the iron is hot, otherwise you lose momentum. In addition to the arguments about the band name and album delays, they also seemed to have arguments about musical direction. Fortunately, the musical direction confusion was not present on the 1983 debut EP nor the 1984/1986 debut album.

The 1983 EP was good, but the album showed them stepping up to the plate and hitting very well. The vocals are prototypical legacy-style singing, melodic, strong and energetic. The guitar rhythms are dictionary-definition heavy metal: uptempo and charging forward. The music was hot, and the excitement of new, young Swedish heavy metal is palpable. In the nine songs in 37 minutes of duration, they keep up the head-banging energy. For example, if we confirm this by listening to the last four songs all by themselves, the sensation is still that the songs are rocking out, the vocals are still belting it out, the drumming still going strong, and the guitar solos are still rolling out like in the earlier songs, with a combination of rockers, anthems and some midtempo segments. For example, on this album, the second song "I'm Gonna (Have Some Fun)" is such good heavy metal in all aspects (singing, solo, drumming and those riffs!) that it is "practically perfect in every way."

In the late 1980s the band lost direction, and it wasn't until 2015 that they would get their musical direction straightened again, which is where they are now. Frankly, they must be enjoying their second life as Mindless Sinner a lot more than the 1980s because nowadays they have a cult status and have nothing left prove. They were there at the beginning of the wave of Swedish heavy metal, coming after pioneers like Heavy Load. Their two post-2014 albums have been sounding good and on solid footing, tracing a line to the 1983 EP and this debut album right here.

Turn On The Power by MINDLESS SINNER

https://www.puresteel-records.com/news/view/5846/MINDLESS_SINNER_Turn_On_The_Power_limited_Vinyl_edition_officially_released https://www.facebook.com/mindlesssinnerofficial

out now: Redd Barron -- melodic heavy metal from Illinois, USA

Who knows if the information on Metal Archives is correct, but Redd Barron was once active from 1987 to 1993, it says on there. They had a couple of demos. It looks like they were not active much or at all during the 1990s, but now in 2021 their studio album Sands of Time was issued by Heaven and Hell Records on February 26th. It is the band's "First new recordings in over 20 years." If you prefer YouTube, here is a song that the band has on their YouTube channel. If you would like to hear the entire album, it is on Bandcamp. Redd Barron's music is in the style of melodic, traditional heavy metal. We do not know for sure what their 1980s music sounded like, but this new music in 2021 is still based on the values of 1980s rock-based heavy metal with melodic singing and catchy tunes, judging from what we are hearing so far, given that this is a new band to this publication.

Redd Barron - “Nightmare”

Sands of Time by REDD BARRON

https://www.facebook.com/reddbarronrocks/