Paleos - deathcore from Georgia, USA

Last month the Georgia, USA deathcore band Paleos posted on Facebook that they performed at Afropunk 2021. The announcer in the first video says that they were the only metal band at Afropunk 2021. At any rate, it looks like they did not mind the task of representing metal at the event! If you like this deathcore, you may also enjoy checking out their music on Bandcamp.

PALEOS-JEKYLL’S HYDE (LIVE AT AFROPUNK 2021 FEST)

PALEOS-AMERICAN ANTI HERO (LIVE AT AFROPUNK 2021 FEST)

Thanatophobia by Paleos

We Are The Weary by Paleos

Throwback Thursday: Hellion "Hell Has No Fury" (official video)

Let's go back to 2014. That year the long-running U.S. band Hellion (1981-1982 [as DB], 1982-1991, 1998-2000, 2000-2002 [as Ann Boleyn], 2002-present) released an EP called Karma's a Bitch. They have a bunch of other releases, of course, but from that EP they did a video for the song "Hell Has No Fury". Check it out below. By the way, you may be interested in knowing that the drummer for Hellion is none other than Simon Wright, known internationally for his work with AC/DC from 1983 to 1989 and then with Dio in the 90s, amongst other bands that he was worked with.

Hellion "Hell Has No Fury" Official Video

https://www.facebook.com/Hellion.Official

Nocturna - Daughters of the Night (melodic neosymphonic from Italy)

Nocturna

Daughters of the Night

Scarlet Records

21 January 2022

Nocturna (Italy) consists of super-duper catchy melodies with two lead singers, Grace Darkling and Rehn Stillnight. Sing along to happy, very ear-friendly songs, within a neosymphonic framework, with pop, goth and electronic music components, and this is all the concept by brainiac Federico Mondelli (Frozen Crown, Volturian, Be the Wolf and Dirty Rain). The album (eight full songs in 38 minutes) seeks to make the audiences feel happy, as if to say that there is more than enough growling, shouting, yelling and negative energy in the world. It says, “Listen to something fun!” Keyboard and guitar melodies are prominent, of course. Then, there is the singing. One voice is operatic and high, but not necessarily super high throughout the recording, and the other voice is high and melodic but not operatic. Both voices mix very well, and it is fun to hear one voice go high and the other go even higher, or hear one go full-on operatic while the other one goes for a power metal style, or sometimes it all sounds like goth-pop heavy metal singing. In a word, audiences looking for sweet, poppy singing should be pleased.

Daughters Of The Night by Nocturna

https://www.facebook.com/officialnocturna/

out in February: Shield Of Wings - Unfinished (U.S. melodic neosymphonic)

Shield Of Wings is a melodic neosymphonic band from the Chicago area, Illinois, U.S. It looks like they were active years and years ago, then perhaps disappeared. Whatever the case may be, they have an album ready to go for 2022. They have at least two songs on YouTube at this point.

Shield Of Wings

Unfinished

Elderpath Records

11 February 2022

ABOUT SHIELD OF WINGS:

SHIELD OF WINGS will begin the year of 2022 with their Epic Symphonic Metal resurrection, and their debut full-length album, Unfinished.

"These songs' roots range from a decade old to only a year, yet they all carry the weight and concurrent theme of a soul obsessed with self-analysis and growth. Often, we travel these roads seemingly alone, and sometimes we get lost in the meaningless or mundane sloughs of despond. Hope can only remain if we keep the flame alive, and sometimes we are lucky enough to find others to carry the flame with us. We hope this music helps to carry your flame for a little while, and that we may all, in our Unfinished states, never give up on our reshaping."

The number 11 has many conflicting meanings in numerology; order, chaos, balance or extravagance, it depends which tradition you consult. But for SHIELD OF WINGS, 11 years adds weight to their return to life after their sweepingly vast EP, 2011's Solarium.

Sure to appeal to fans of symphonic metal giants NIGHTWISH and EPICA, as well as film score composers like HANS ZIMMER, JAMES HORNER, and HOWARD SHORE, their new album, Unfinished, will bring into view 10 bombastic compositions of poetic exploration.

Each song from Unfinished explores themes of growth through self-examination, regret, sacrificial death and rebirth. From the "Crushing Hail" of the suffering which is inherent in life, the listener is carried through this journey, until the final track expounds upon the realization that we are all, in ways, "The Scarred Clay Reshaping." With bold, vast orchestral compositions soaring over chugging guitars, SHIELD OF WINGS makes it abundantly clear that they are Unfinished, in more ways than one.

Shield of Wings - Wetland (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Shield of Wings - Mind of Myth (Official Lyric Video)

https://www.facebook.com/shieldofwings

out in February: Abhoria - Abhoria (melodic prog extreme metal)

The U.S. melodic progressive extreme band Abhoria is now streaming three songs from their upcoming debut album scheduled for February. I would say that they are prog extreme with substantial influences from black metal, and the black metal audiences will be a key demographic for them. Hear it for yourself and see what you think. It looks like they are a band from California.

Abhoria

Abhoria

Prosthetic Records

4 February 2022

ABOUT ABHORIA: Having recently inked a deal with Prosthetic Records, dystopian black metal trio, ABHORIA, are preparing to release their self-titled debut album in early 2022.

Featuring members of Ashen Horde, Catheter and Vimana, ABHORIA recorded the album remotely, with each member contributing their elements from afar. In fact, the band only met up - and played together - after the album had been recorded. The record was engineered, mixed and mastered by Shane Howard (Martriden, Helleborus) at Sawn & Quartered Studios; Shane was able to capture the raw brutality of the band, but with a layer of slick, modern metal production. A final visual flourish came courtesy of the distinctive cover artwork by fan-favorite Adam Burke.

ABHORIA’s modern take on a classic genre relies less on traditional black metal tropes and leans toward capturing the bleak landscape of an unforgiving world in sonic form. Through their lyrical storytelling, the band explores the darkest corners of the human psyche across the album’s unrelenting eight tracks. First single, Mountebank, focuses on a con artist offering the promise of a better life for only a "small sacrifice...". Unevangelized looks at a despondent group fighting back against those offering "salvation" through religion. Grave Expectations explores a mysterious benefactor who lures people in only to hunt them for game. “There’s not a lot of hope on this album; it examines desperate people struggling to survive in an unrelenting world, as well as those who would seek to take advantage of others’ hopelessness,” says guitarist and principal songwriter Vor.

ABHORIA invite you to discard your preconceptions of the genre, and embrace a take on black metal that reflects the relentless bleakness of a world not far from our own.

ABHORIA by Abhoria

https://www.facebook.com/AbhoriaMetal

out in February: Vorga - Striving Toward Oblivion (melodic black metal)

The German black metal band Vorga is streaming three songs now on Bandcamp. Their debut album is coming up on February. The plan is to tell you more about this album in the future, but for now, if you enjoy contemporary black metal, maybe you might like this band.

Vorga

Striving Toward Oblivion

Transcending Obscurity Records

February 4th, 2022

information from Bandcamp:

Following a stunning debut EP in 'Radiant Gloom' which landed them a label deal, German black metal band Vorga return with an absolutely scintillating full length that expands upon the music on their debut and takes it to new heights. The sound is more powerful and streamlined than ever before, while remaining intense and sufficiently scathing but not so much so as to blur out the gleaming melodies that add a dimension to the band's atmospheric and otherworldly music. Similar to the sci-fi themed black metal label mates Imperialist, Vorga seem influenced by Dissection but do so much more and sonically are operating almost as an atmospheric black metal band. It's easy to get lost in the intense and engaging soundscapes Vorga create, making the listener mentally traverse endless galaxies and remain enraptured by it all, as they weave together compelling riff after riff, ensuring that no time is wasted during the extraterrestrial journey. This is one of the best and most emphatic expressions of this style, leaving no stone unturned in ensuring a fulfilling, edge-of-the-seat experience that's both refreshing and unforgettable.

For fans of - Dissection, Necrophobic, Imperialist, Mare Cognitum, Unanimated, Sacramentum, Dark Funeral, Immortal, Gorgoroth

Striving Toward Oblivion (Black Metal) by VORGA (Germany)

https://www.facebook.com/VorgaBand/

out on January 28th: Sartori (neoclassical heavy metal)

Check out Sartori, a band with their debut album coming up on January 28th. I hope to tell you more about this album this week, but for now check out this song.

Sartori

Dragon's

Fire Rockshots Records

28 January 2022

Information from YouTube:

"Rockshots Records is proud to announce their signing of SARTORI for the release of their forthcoming debut album Dragon's Fire due out on January 28, 2022.

The epic full length is nine tracks of neo-classical power metal that is melodic, technical, and progressive. Led by main composer and guitarist Andy Sartori, with vocalist Scott Board, drummer Dino Castano and bassist Rod Viquez, the band sets the mood for something more than just singing over music.

With grandiose instrumentals and heroic vocals, Sartori creates complex, melodic tunes that command attention. They are heavily influenced by classical baroque music, so the band stands as the symphony behind Andy Sartori as the ‘maestro’. What sets these guys apart from other bands is their music composition. Andy Sartori explains further:

'We use a lot of arrangements that you won’t find any other bands doing. Lots of vocals, lots of guitar quartets, duets, and harmony arrangements. My writing is based on positive vibes, positive lyric content, no criticism, no anger, and I write sometimes about spiritual content in the matter of being a better human and about life experiences, personal and in general along with influence from movies and stories I enjoy... sometimes.'

' SARTORI - Dragon's Fire (OFFICIAL VISUALIZER)

https://www.facebook.com/Sartori-207460432645058/

Dioghaltas, Veriteras, Inpathos in Bellingham, WA in April

Hello, friend in western Washington.

Yesterday the Washington state black metal band Dioghaltas published the following poster for their next appearance in the city of Bellingham on Thursday, April 21st, 2022.

https://www.facebook.com/Dioghaltas

https://www.facebook.com/VeriterasMetal/

https://www.facebook.com/InpathosBand/

Decomposition by Dioghaltas

Citadel EP by Veriteras

March Towards a Blackened Sun by Inpathos

Spitfire - Denial to Fall (classic-style heavy metal from Greece)

Spitfire

Denial to Fall

No Remorse Records

21.01.2022

Nowadays the debut album First Attack (1987; EMI) by Spitfire (Greece; 1984-1987, 1989-1990, 1990-1991 [as Speedfire], 1993-1999, 2006-present) sounds adept at melodic, polished ear-friendly songs. Things were looking up in the 80s. Unfortunately, problems, including a tragic car accident in the 80s that forced singer Dinos Costakis to retire permanently from music, prevented the band from taking advantage of their promising start. Later on, the band continued but it was not until 2009 that the second album was released. Now in 2022 on the third album (nine songs in 44 minutes) it looks like only the guitarist Elias Loginidis remains as the one constant from 1984. The sound is a robust, heavy, chunky contemporary production, while the music itself is galloping, grooving and melodic riffs, all within the context of headbanging rhythms. Elias Loginidis has been making music since at least 1984, so it’s no wonder that the album sounds profes-sional. The singing is strong, a full voice yet melodic. The music has plenty of uptempo energy, and it has no cheesy ballads (no ballads, period), just very competent song-writing and singing. Isn’t this the sound of perseverance?! The Greek band is sounding better than ever.

SPITFIRE - Denial To Fall (Lyric Video)

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100028121117590

https://www.spitfire.gr

review: Abyssus (Greece) - Death Revival (classic-style death metal)

Abyssus

Death Revival

Transcending Obscurity Records

21 January 2022

Since 2011, through a combination of about a dozen total of EPs, splits and full-lengths the Greeks have been constructing a sound based on the classics of death and thrash. Their perspective is based on their allegiance to the originals of extreme metal. For example, their first EP (2012) is called Monarch to the Kingdom of the Dead, a tip of the hat that just about all fanatics of classic thrash recognize. Throughout their trajectory they have expressed their loyalty with covers of Asphyx, Sodom, The Exploited, Death Strike, Death, Slayer, Manilla Road, Venom, Obituary, Hellhammer, Possessed, and Terrorizer. Abyssus’ own sound is death thrash, and the vocals are Obituary-like, based on the classic triangle of Venom-Celtic Frost-Possessed, proudly resulting in a voice that would make John Tardy do a double take, while the music is uptempo, fast death metal with thrash influences. Abyssus is meant to be a contemporary of the foundational classics.

In 2022 they have come out with what may be their best sounding recording so far. The new album (seven songs in 33 minutes) sounds awesome in the car. The rhythm section really gives the recording a full sound; the bass lines and drum sound give the listener an anchor, a steady beat to keep the ears engaged with the rest of what is happening in the songs. The band has been working on this type of sound for a long time: a rather traditional, accessible music to the riffs and tempos of the classics. On this album, priority number one for the band is getting listeners to bang their heads.

Death Revival (Death Metal) by ABYSSUS (Greece)

https://www.facebook.com/Abyssus666/

No Living Witness - melodic extreme metal in Olympia, Washington state, U.S.

No Living Witness (2006-present), says Bandcamp, is a melodic extreme band in the city of Olympia, Washington, U.S. They are currently a duo of Sam Haglund on guitars and vocals, and LJ on vocals. The vocals are mostly low, growling, but with some higher growling-screaming. It is an uptempo form of melodic black/death proggy guitar, but not too proggy because they like to keep things in the headbanging and grooving tempos. Sometimes the music seems like neosymphonic melodic European black metal, and at other times the death metal seems more prevalent.

Despite the extreme metal sound, they want the songs to be skilled and beautiful, not just fast and heavy. No Living Witness has skills, guitar skills, songwriting skills, as my friend Napoleon would say. Here and there, they have some melodic singing, but it seems like they don’t use it a lot, which is unfortunate because when it appears, it sounds like a cool contrast. This DIY recording deserves for fans of melodic extreme metal to check it out. It shows a lot of hard work and also sophistication. The guitar melodies alone should tell the listener that it takes months, not days, and certainly not hours, to put together No Living Witness songs on this, their third album, and fourth recording overall.

Cosmic Simulacra by No Living Witness

https://www.facebook.com/nolivingwitness

Writhe - gremlin DIY extreme Washington state, U.S.

Bandcamp says that "JM" is the person responsible for this whole dish of spicy paprika called Placid Mirror of Darkness by the project Writhe in the city of Bellingham, Washington state, U.S. This EP seems to be the first recording by Writhe. As a solo project, it is DIY, low-budget, basement recording with guitars dominating and growling being the vocal style. The vocals seem to have effects on them, and with a heavy, midtempo drum programming grooving-type of beat. The guitars are a type of midpaced melodic style mixed with some chunky chugging, and there are moments of melody. The recording is for those of us who like to hear what DIY, low-budget metal music is being made here in the state of Washington. Despite the low-quality recording that will turn off 99.99% of the 00.0001% of the metal audience that will listen to this, the fact remains that there are some good riffs and ideas in here, and some cool melodies. It's a fun listen! You know how it is. Here's the deal. You gotta get past the fog of the ugly sound, past the poverty of the recording, and hear beyond the ugliness and hear the ideas happening. You just gotta get past the barb wire and pools of mud standing in the way, and then you'll understand it better.

Placid Mirror of Darkness by Writhe

Morto-Naught - industrial cacophonous Washington state, U.S.

Bandcamp shows that a certain "LW" is responsible for the screaming-hollering-yelling and the special effects on the voice, and the guitars, drum programming and whatever other software and hardware in this industrial-extreme cacophony. It sounds like an industrial computer composer also likes extreme metal because industrial and extreme metal are both ugly, horrid, harsh and noisy endeavors, especially when both genres are thrown in this waste disposal site that is Morto-Naught. Don't expect something like "songwriting" but more like ugly music for the sake of ugly music computerized and yelling, and then the green toxic zombie apocalypse homemade DIY bedroom studio sound of Morto-Naught reveals itself.

TRANSMISSIONS by Morto-Naught

I Hate Stuart Little - True Bristolian Black Metal

The Froglord, the British gentleman of the shire, who spends most of his time making slow heaviness in defense of the frogs, has another project of the black metal fidelity incarnate of the odium he amassed and projected towards the moral corruption that is Stuart Little, duke of the ancient realm of the rat boys. As readers already know, the ancient philosopher Confucius described the rat boy in the following way in his book Harmony of the Kingdom and the Wisdom of the King, "A boy named Stuart is born to an ordinary family in New York City. He is normal in every way except that he is only just over two inches high and looks exactly like a mouse. At first, the family is concerned with how Stuart will survive in a human-sized world, but by the age of seven, he speaks, thinks, and behaves on the level of a human of sixteen and shows surprising ingenuity in adapting, performing such helpful family tasks as fishing his mother's wedding ring from a sink drain. The family's cat, Snowbell, dislikes Stuart because while he feels a natural instinct to chase him, he is aware that Stuart is a member of the human family and thus off-limits." Anyway, the Englishman Froglord finds such a state of affairs as utterly insufferable, and must let the world know of the threat that Stuart Little represents for his village of Bristol, for England, nay, for the world, nay, for the universe itself.

Therefore, it is black metal that must be the vehicle to show Stuart Little's conspiracy of the Nine and a Half Footsteps of Oblivion and Muckleberrystrandsterby.

I Hate Stuart Little by I Hate Stuart Little

Hulder (black metal) announces U.S. shows, including Seattle

Today on Facebook there is an announcement from Hulder about a handful of shows in April of 2022 in the U.S. These shows will be in support of the well-received album Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry in the style of fast, headbanging black metal. The dates announced so far listed below, where you will also find the album that is posted on Bandcamp. There have some three demos and EP from 2018 to 2020, including some songs that were later included on the 2021 debut full-length. Those previous recordings established a bit of reputation for traditional black metal with some mellow segments, and then the album has delivered on the expectations that had been created. For fans of black metal, the album should be a worthwhile listen. It looks like Hulder is based in the state of Oregon, and Seattle has been included on the list of shows announced today.

THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Today we unveil the first string of US dates in conjunction with Crawlspace Booking. Expect more announcements in coming months. Dates and venues are as follows:

4/10. Los Angeles, CA

4/14. Brooklyn, NY

4/15. Pittsburgh, PA

4/16. Baltimore, MD

4/17. Philadelphia, PA

4/29. Seattle, WA

Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry by HULDER

https://www.facebook.com/HulderUS/

Throwback Thursday: Olly Steele - the singles (2021)

In 2021 guitarist Olly Steele (UK; ex-Monuments) released some singles of instrumental music. Below is some of the music released in 2021. It is instrumental contemporary heavy guitar. If you like the music, check out the penultimate video in which Olly explains how he began playing guitar and also his work with Monuments. At the bottom there is also a Monuments video. Olly's solo music is instrumental guitar while Monuments music features scream/sing vocals.

Olly Steele | "Open" (Full Playthrough)

Olly Steele - "Balance" Full Playthrough | JTC Guitar

Untitled by Olly Steele

Try (feat Ian Kenny) by Olly Steele

Interview with Olly Steele (Monuments)

MONUMENTS - Animus (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

https://www.facebook.com/olly.steele.1

https://www.facebook.com/thisismonuments

Throwback Thursday: Tony MacAlpine - Equilibrium (2021)

Equilibrium, the 14th album by U.S. guitarist Tony MacAlpine, was released on August 31st, 2021. It is an instrumental album featuring his critically-acclaimed playing known for neoclassical and then later on for the incorporation of more styles, beyond the outstanding shredding of Edge of Insanity (1986) and Maximum Security (1987) that made guitar aficionados take notice. He is known for a melodic, memorable and intelligible songwriting style that broader audiences can understand, not just guitarists. Here are two songs from the album. Expect the music to have a great sense of songwriting with hooks and melodies, qualities that have endeared him to fans of ear-friendly instrumental guitar.

Tony MacAlpine

Equilibrium

August 31st, 2021

MacAlpine Road LLC

1. Equilibrium 03:55

2. On Teegarden's Star B 04:48

3. Euphoria 06:02

4. Object Permanence 04:46

5. Substratum of Reality 04:42

6. Genetic Drift 04:00

7. 7th Mass Extinction 04:57

total time 33:10

Equilibrium

On Teegarden’s Star B

https://www.facebook.com/tonymacalpineofficial

Konvent - Grains (official video) [death doom from Denmark]

Crafters of slowest doom-and-gloom growl accessibles heavines, Konvent (Denmark) have their sights set on March 11th, 2022 as the point to bring out their sophomore full-length Call Down the Sun. With a 2017 demo and the 2020 full-length to their name, they are preparing a reprise of their death doom. So far there is a video for the song "Grains" ahead of the new album. The video is a person walking in a winter landscape for the duration, and the music is slow, big-riff, simplistic and repeating with low, indecipherable growling and some higher screams. The song is not super slow, but it is on the slower side of things for sure, and in harmony with the reputation that they have established for slow, accessible, largely unmelodic death doom.

If you like the music, below are some links with more information. There is also a bit of their previous music if you would like to hear more of what they have done.

KONVENT - Grains (Official Video) | Napalm Records

Call Down The Sun by Konvent

[2020] Puritan Masochism by Konvent

KONVENT - Puritan Masochism (Official Video) | Napalm Records

KONVENT (DK)— Live at ESNS 2021

https://www.facebook.com/konventband

MOONLIGHT HAZE - We'll Be Free (lyric video)

The third MOONLIGHT HAZE album, titled Animus, will be released on March 18th. They now have a second song and there is a lyric video for it ahead of the March release date. MOONLIGHT HAZE is a melodic band, with neosymphonic and some power metal stylings. This song is a pretty good representation of the overall mood of their music. This is the lyric video that is available on YouTube.

MOONLIGHT HAZE - We'll Be Free (Lyric Video)

MOONLIGHT HAZE - Animus (official video)

Animus by Moonlight Haze

(2020 album) Lunaris by Moonlight Haze

https://www.facebook.com/Moonlighthazeband

Iarna (Washington, USA)

Iarna (Washington, USA) is a lo-fi, low-effort rough demo by one "Graf Drauglir" in the name of DIY moon-howling shriek black metal for the most love-it-all supporters of the genre. This demo is from 2021. This demo should be interesting to a small minority of black metal zealots that love the most DIY bedroom recording low-quality demos. In other words, stay away from it, but not if you are never discouraged by low-budget black metal recordings! Fans of no-budget, low-effort, low-skill midpaced super shriek black metal from the swamps of state of Washington, your presence is hereby requested. Don't say that you were not warned about the low quality.

Demo 1: Storm by Iarna

A Grave for Small Birds (Washington, USA)

The Washington state entity A Grave for Small Birds is Duncan Forbes (bass) and Paul Morgan (drum programming, guitars, keyboards, vocals). It is "a distraction from everyday life via screaming, blast beats and the occasional quiet bit," as they say. Some of the music seems like extreme metal, while other parts of it seem more experimental, perhaps coming from other genres of music. Some of it has a bit of a strange feel, like most metal fans might not know where some of the outside influences are coming from. Anyway, listeners who are patient and who like some of the weirder experimentation may be entertained.

A Grave for Small Birds

https://www.facebook.com/agraveforsmallbirds

Shade of Memories (Washington, USA)

Shade of Memories is a solo project here in the state of Washington, possibly in Tacoma or in Seattle. It is guitar-focused melodic music that covers various styles, and not a pure-genre project. The sound quality is pretty good and it looks like it is the work of Jay Pratt, who does quite a bit shredding and seems to do the vast majority of the work, with a few guests on a couple of songs for backing vocals and violin (one song). It is not an instrumental album and Jay seems to do the singing/screaming/yelling. Thus, it is a shredder's work, but it is not meant to be music for musicians. Who would be interested in this album? Fans of DIY albums by guitarists, given the shredding and focus on guitar. Fans curious about Washington metal may be interested, too. The album is rather long, possibly suggesting that this bun had been baking in the oven for years before it was finally ready to be published.

Shade of Memories

Glaciers of Tomorrow

March 17th, 2021

1. Shield of the Triskelion 01:53

2. The Fire Burns 01:02

3. Theater of Infinity 06:27

4. Fight for Freedom 05:02

5. Down to the Ground 07:17

6. Truth 04:20

7. The Ultimatum 05:53

8. Winding Maze 06:10

9. Arabian March Prelude 01:25

10. Quicksand 06:18

11. Covenant of the Tornado 08:48

12. Glaciers of Tomorrow 07:26

13. The Anvil 05:39

14. Borderlands to Snowy Heart 02:19

total time 01:09:59

Facebook biography: "Shade of Memories is a Metal / Hard Rock solo project that started in 2013 in the Seattle Tacoma area. it is a Heavy Metal Sound with a progressive drive that influences the music. The main sound is: Guitars, Drums, Bass Guitars, and Vocals. The sounds are created in variations and with intentions to fill the room. It focuses on a melodic approach..However, Shade of Memories is considered an experimental project, including relatively long intro’s and outgo’s with symphonic texture's and overtures. Inclusions of acoustic guitars and other world instruments and sounds are on the up and coming horizon. It’s Noise That Matters!!"

Shade of Memories - Glaciers Of Tomorrow {Full Album}

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

Contact: jaypratt58@yahoo.com

Estertor (Spain) - Tales from the Ancient Grave

Estertor (Barcelona, Spain) has its second album Tales from the Ancient Grave available on Bandcamp. This is their second work following the 2017 debut. Their years of activity are 2009-2011 and 2016-present. The music is a type of Celtic Frost-style vocals with horror thrash/death. This is "only" their second album, but they are lifers that have making mayhem in Spain for years with squads like Ered, Onirophagus, Ouija, Ermitage, Icosis, Falç, Paintone, Decapitated Christ, Empanadilla de Pus and who knows what other socially reprehensible bands that has forced them to live by the abandoned parks on the outskirts of the city where the rats, racoons and mutant rabbits rule the streets. It's not an easy life when you dedicate yourself to the art of extreme metal, but that's how things have to be for the morbid tales of Estertor. The album has a few samples of horror movies. I don't know if the movies are real or not, but they sound like movie samples. Anyway, even if you don't know anything about horror movies, this is still thrash/death for banging your head, and it is done well. Lots of big riffs, galloping songwriting and a few melodies that make the music very easy to understand for anyone that is a fan of thrash-based music.

Tales From The Ancient Grave by Estertor

https://www.facebook.com/estertorthrash

Morgul Blade - on a perilous quest to make heavy metal and black metal coexist

The denim-and-leather-and-sword Pennsylvania-Americans known as Morgul Blade (2018-present; 2019 EP) are a bit of strange bunch, in a traditional way. Maybe they are a compromise. Yeah, a compromise between the members of the band that love classic and cult heavy metal, and the members that enjoy lots of black metal. They decided that they are such good friends that they are willing to find ways to coexist. Therefore, sometimes listening just to one song will give the listener the wrong impression. The person may actually think that this is a black metal band. Or, another song may make someone think that this is U.S. metal in the style of the cult bands from yesteryear. Sometimes the guitars sound very much like traditional heavy metal, with melodic, galloping hooks, and then they might go into a tremolo-filled segment that is black metal. The vocals can sound like black metal, too, and then the melodic singing comes in, and that's how they do things in the city of brotherly love and philly steak sandwiches.

Does it seem like this music is weird?!

Right?!

Well, maybe not! Maybe think of Manilla Road jamming in a garage with Darkthrone, and maybe that will help to make sense of it all.

Fell Sorcery Abounds by Morgul Blade

https://www.facebook.com/MorgulBladeHM

Everett, WA: TUESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2022 Monochromatic Black Vicissitude Release Tour @ Tony V's Garage

Friends in Everett,

What is the night of January 18th looking like? How about this show?

Monochromatic Black (New York)

Burn Through Life

Era Of Anguish

Primordial Atrocity

https://www.facebook.com/events/4233583020086017/

Impending Doom - bring the deathcore to Texas in January

Impending Doom (California, USA; 2005-present; seven albums, two splits, and an EP) will be bring their deathcore to Texas in January. Check out their recent video "Satanic Panic" and EP Hellbent below.

1-19-22: Lubbock, Texas @ Jakes Bar & Grill

1-20-22: Houston, Texas @ The Secret Group

1-21-22: Dallas, Texas @ South Side Music Hall

1-22-22: Austin, Texas @ Come And Take It Live

1-23-22: Corpus Christi, Texas @ Boozerz Rock Bar

Impending Doom - Satanic Panic (Official Music Video)

Hellbent by Impending Doom

https://www.facebook.com/impendingdoom

VERIKALPA - Rautanen Herra (official video) - party in the forests of Finland

The Finnish forest extreme metal party animal gremlins known as Verikalpa (2006-present) are about to unleash their third album that will be called Tunturihauta, which according to my imagination in the Finnish language must mean something like "rock out and bang your head and drink lots until you stumble home." You know how Finnish bands have a reputation for being sad and depressed? Well, the gentlemen of Verikalpa bring you unapologetic fun extreme metal with a folkish vibe, like folk metal and extreme metal in a Motorhead incarnation of death/black metal. That may seem like an unlikely combination, but it will make sense once you hear the music. They have a video ahead of the album, and are streaming songs on Bandcamp. Check out their 2020 album Tuoppitanssi in its entirety below if you would like to hear what they have done previously.

Verikalpa

Tunturihauta

January 14th, 2022

1. Verikauhu 04:00

2. Kalmoarmeija 02:59

3. Riitti 04:53

4. Raivokansa 05:15

5. Rautanen Herra 03:18

6. Tunturihauta 04:32

7. Jotunimmalja 04:35

8. Taisto 03:53

9. Hurmos 03:46

10. Suohon suotu 04:24

11. Talven varjot 05:39

total time 47:14

Tunturihauta by Verikalpa

VERIKALPA - Rautanen Herra (Official Video)

Tuoppitanssi by Verikalpa

https://www.facebook.com/Verikalpa/

Maule - Canadian traditionalists streaming new song "Evil Eye"

Canadian traditional heavy metal upstarts Maule are just about ready with their debut full-length self-titled album. They are streaming the first song on Bandcamp. In this case, this song is very representative of everything that the album features. They are a celebration of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal in today's world. Equipped with an uptempo, headbanging style with classic-style riffs, Maule wears the traditions on their sleves with pride. It looks like they did a demo back in 2019 and they have it on Bandcamp in order to present to you how far they have come. Check out the new song and the demo, but keep in mind that the demo is just that, a demo, and the new album is a much better-sounding recording, as you can hear for yourself when you compare the new song with the demo.

Maule

Maule

Gates of Hell Records

14 January 2022

MAULE by MAULE

From Hell by M A U L E

Tony Martin (ex-Black Sabbath) - As The World Burns - lyric video

Below is the lyric video for the opening song from new album Thorns by former Black Sabbath singer Tony Martin (1987 The Eternal Idol; 1989 Headless Cross; 1990 Tyr; 1994 Cross Purposes; 1995 Forbidden). The album is, of course, traditional heavy metal but also a bit of other sounds are incorporated into the music, some heavier sounds, some classic rock influences, and a bit of other various things. In other words, it is heavy metal, with some of those Black Sabbath elements that people expect, but it covers wider territory, suggesting that Tony Martin does check out some contemporary metal music and some of those things find their way into the album in small, measured quantities. Below is the official information about the album.

Tony Martin

Thorns

January 14th, 2022

Battlegod Productions

1. As the World Burns 04:36

2. Black Widow Angel 04:02

3. Book of Shadows 06:19

4. Crying Wolf 04:26

5. Damned by You 04:05

6. No Shame at All 03:41

7. Nowhere to Fly 04:47

8. Passion Killer 04:49

9. Run Like the Devil 03:56

10. This Is Your Damnation 03:09

11. Thorns 05:16

total time 49:06

INFORMATION FROM BATTLEGOD PRODUCTIONS: Battlegod Productions proudly presents the new studio full-length album of TONY MARTIN! Tony Martin is an English heavy metal vocalist, best known for his time fronting Black Sabbath, initially from 1987 to 1991 and again from 1993 to 1996. Martin was the band’s second longest serving vocalist after Ozzy Osbourne. "Eternal Idol" and "Headless Cross" are among the best known Black Sabbath albums featuring Tony Martin as well as "Scream", his solo album from 2005. The new album will feature Danny Needham (Venom), Magnus Rosen (Hammerfall), Scott McClellan, who helped co-write the album, and Greg Smith, who performed with Alice Cooper, Rainbow, Blue Öyster Cult, Dario Mollo and many more!

Tony Martin - Vocals

Scott McClellan - Guitars

Magnus Rosen - Bass

Danny Needham - Drums

Greg Smith - Bass

Tony Martin - As The World Burns - Lyric Video

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100044296096726

Hanging Garden - Neither Moth nor Rust (official video) - melancholic gothic doom from Finland

The prolific Finnish band Hanging Garden (2004-present; seven albums; five EPs) will have its sixth EP called Neither Moth nor Rust ready for the world this January. At this point in its trajectory the band has established a sound based on a melancholic, somber yet melodic reputation, often with both growling and singing, but seeking a more elegant interpretation of both vocal styles, so as to be a lush, bouncy type of depressive listen. One can say accurately that this continues to be true on the EP, but the EP also gives them a chance to do something a bit different. For instance, this recording seems more melodic and softer than the overall sound of the 2021 full-length album Skeleton Lake. Yes, it is still gothic doom as an overall EP, but the melody is more prominent, if that makes sense, for a very ear-friendly and pleasant gothic doom. In addition, “The Raven Portrait” is a mellow, peaceful keyboard instrumental that serves as an interlude, while the last song is a somber fun-sad techno pop goth number, it is electronic music, and not rock at all, showing that these Finns, like a lot of European rockers, have a love of techno pop, electronic and dance music that they keep repressed and hidden. Well, for Hanging Garden, it is not a secret anymore.

Hanging Garden

Neither Moth nor Rust

Lifeforce Records

January 21st, 2022

1. Neither Moth nor Rust 03:44

2. The Last Dance 04:40

3. And Leave All Love Behind 04:58

4. The Raven Portrait 02:36

5. On the Shore of Eternity 04:13

6. Field of Reeds (Avalon Skies Rework) 04:51

total time 25:02

Neither Moth nor Rust by Hanging Garden

HANGING GARDEN - Neither Moth nor Rust (official video)

[This is the previous full-length album from 2021.]

Skeleton Lake by Hanging Garden

https://www.facebook.com/HangingGardenOfficial/

Ilium (Australia) - Quantum Evolution Event (lyric video) - melodic heavy metal

The power metal band Ilium [Australia; 1998-2002 (as Iliad), 2002-present] will have a new EP called Quantum Evolution Event out in January. So far they have 12 releases, including this new one, and their discography is eight albums and four EPs, according to the current information on Metal Archives. Right now on Bandcamp they are streaming the opening song from the EP. If you would like to read the lyrics to the song, the band's YouTube channel is streaming it with the lyrics.

Ilium on this EP lives up to their reputation as traditional power metal for headbanging: the perfect guitar tone, sound, riffs and hooks; the contemporary, polished studio sound; the overall style of joyful, happy heavy metal music (despite the album cover!); the fast, melodic, shredding guitar solos; and the singing to make you sing. You can try to sing this way, but maybe you try it when you are by yourself with no one else around because good luck trying to sing and hit those high notes.

Speaking of singing, this EP features the singing of none other than Tim Ian "Lord Time" Grose from the long-running band Lord, and who has other bands, projects and collaborations. Anyway, the singing is basically that perfect tone of the upper section of the male singing voice, a full singing and melodic singing voice. You'll notice that Tim likes to use some very pleasant, melodic background singing in some places. Ilium is Jason Hodges on guitars (2002-present) and Adam Smith on guitars, bass, and keyboards (2002-present). They got help from long-time Australian collaborators Tim Yatras (Dungeon, Lord, Germ) on drums and Lord Tim (Lord, Blackened Angel, From Beyond, and other entities) on vocals and production.

This song is a very good representation of the general sound and quality of the entire new EP.

At the bottom of this information right here you will find the band's entire 2020 album Carcinogeist and the 2019 EP Enviro-Metal. Listen to the full album, get to know the music while waiting for the new EP later on in January.

Ilium

Quantum Evolution Event

14 January 2022

01 - Ilium - Quantum Evolution Event 3:23

02 - Ilium - Tsetse 3:07

03 - Ilium - Undergods 5:06

04 - Ilium - Hostile Sky 5:17

05 - Ilium - Mothcaste 5:53

Quantum Evolution Event EP by Ilium

Ilium (official) - Quantum Evolution Event

Carcinogeist + Enviro​-​Metal EP by Ilium

https://www.facebook.com/iliumofficial/?fref=ts