Shadows - horror-gothic heavy metal for fans of Mercyful Fate

Shadows

Out for Blood

Sentient Ruin Laboratories

May 19th, 2023

Not all “horror” bands are the same. Some of those bands are not able to make quality music because they are more concerned with the image rather than with music. It makes sense, though, time in a day is limited and if one spends most waking hours on developing the gimmicks, personas, designing masks, making outfits, stage presentation, getting attention in the press, going viral, in addition to the normal matters involved in working together in band, then how much time is left for writing music? On the other hand, this Chilean entity fits in the "horror" category, but perhaps the reason the music is good is precisely because it is music-focused, not gimmick-centered. The quality of the melodies, singing and overall songs are a welcoming invitation. Shadows seeks a sound that is both melodic and ominous at the same time. Experience also helps. Cristián Silva, the man behind Shadows, is more known for the long-running band Apostasy. Whereas Apostasy is associated with thrash-based black metal, Shadows is melodic traditional heavy metal with elements from horror and gothic styles, and in some ways fans of a band like Mercyful Fate will detect the influence. Some of these Shadows songs sound rather ear-friendly and full of melody, while others lean a lot more in the direction of the horror-gothic elements, while keeping the melodies. Regardless, it’s all done well. This is a very pleasant surprise, especially given that I saw the label “horror” associated with this music and I had low expectations. No need to worry, the quality of the music is good. I am not sure that this is a human drummer because the drums sound relatively stiff and not very animated. Even with that shortcoming, fans of ominous yet melodic songwriting may want to look into this Chilean project.

Out for Blood by SHADOWS

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100070921066521

Zero Down in Everett this Friday, May 26th

Friends in the Everett area,

Zero Down is coming to see you and they are bringing some friends.

Friday, May 26th, 2023 at Tony V's in Everett, WA

Zero Down returns to Tony V's with Special guests PAIN FIELD, STONED EVERGREEN TRAVELERS and THORN

Larger Than Death by Zero Down

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063500766042

Pain Field - Blackened Skies

https://www.facebook.com/painfieldrocks/

Roger Staffelbach - a celebration of neoclassical guitar

Roger Staffelbach

The Quest

No Dust Records

12 May 2023

Right before writing this review I had been listening to two albums that ultimately I decided not to review because I was annoyed with the vocals, especially considering that both of the bands have existed for well over 20 years each. The low-skill vocals are such a turnoff. Then I came across this instrumental neoclassical guitar album and I was glad not to have to deal with incompetent vocals that do not meet the standards. The objective of the album is to give the listener quality melodies, expressed in the form of instrumental compositions while maintaining the structure of songwriting. There is virtuoso guitar playing, shredding and dazzling skill in no short supply here, but there is also music. The guitarist Roger Staffelbach seeks intelligent, thoughtful listeners that enjoy high-quality neoclassical guitar music as an art. In addition, he invites his audience to dive into not just his neoclassical heavy metal guitar work but also into classical music itself by providing interpretations of classical composers Vivaldi ("Summer Presto") and Bach ("Air"), which, by the way, integrate rather smoothly into the overall aesthetic of this album.

Roger Staffelbach has been making music since the 1980s; therefore, it is impossible to detail correctly all the works. Nevertheless, this particular album should appeal to audiences that enjoy serious guitar music, whether it is Joe Satriani, Tony MacAlpine, Vinnie Moore, David T. Chastain, Joe Stump, Jason Becker, Timo Tolkki, Marty Friedman or any such great guitarists that make instrumental albums. On the other hand, readers that have not given instrumental metal guitar much of a listen, but that do like melodic guitar may start the journey here. Mr. Staffelbach also makes music in the traditional heavy metal format with singing, and that's the vast majority of music that he has made with the prog band Artension and other bands and projects. Anyway, if after this album, you'd like to hear his other works, I recommend Artension's album Phoenix Rising (1997). That is one that fans of Artension, which features the awesome singer John West, generally agree on. For now, we have The Quest to begin.

The Quest by Roger Staffelbach

https://www.facebook.com/roger.staffelbach

Lovebites - Stand And Deliver (Shoot 'em Down) [official music video]

Here are couple of videos from the power metal band Lovebites (Japan). Both songs come from from their fourth studio album Judgement Day released on February 22nd, 2023. In general, the band prefers to play fast and keep the shredding on the front burner. Uptempo as well as melodic, Lovebites should appeal especially to fans of power metal that want the music to keep the energy high while showcasing a great quantity of traditional talent, such as singing, skilled guitar and rhythm section. At times the shredding is the type that will make you go back and hear it again just confirm what you just heard. Below is the track list from the album. Given that the album is already out, it should be available on your favorite streaming platform.

1. We Are the Resurrection 04:56

2. Judgement Day 05:52

3. The Spirit Lives On 05:32

4. Wicked Witch 05:34

5. Stand and Deliver (Shoot 'em Down) 05:09

6. Victim of Time 05:22

7. My Orion 04:34

8. Lost in the Garden 06:07

9. Dissonance 04:57

10. Soldier Stands Solitarily 05:21

total time 53:24

LOVEBITES / Stand And Deliver (Shoot 'em Down) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO]

LOVEBITES / Judgement Day [MUSIC VIDEO]

https://www.facebook.com/LovebitesTheBand

Whythre - Scorchbreath (official music video)

Washington State, U.S. extreme metal band Whythre has two new songs available now from the upcoming sophomore album Impregnate My Hate that will be released on May 26th, 2023. It seems like some people like to reference the sound of the band to that of Children of Bodom, due to the shrieking vocals and overall melodic extreme style. Fortunately, there is time for audiences between now and the release date to spend some time with the two songs and get familiar with this band. By the way, they also have an album from 2015, but at that time it was more a two-person project and not yet a band on the recording. It's better to hear the new songs and then go back to hear the previous album to get an idea of the sound. As you will notice, the new music tends to be a bit crazier, wilder. Maybe having a couple of more people has resulted in more chaotic friendly fun.

WHYTHRE - Scorchbreath (Official Music Video) Melodic Death Metal

WHYTHRE - Scorpions of Sinai (Official Lyric Video)

Impregnate My Hate by Whythre

https://www.facebook.com/Whythre/

Ainulindalë - epic black metal from France

Ainulindalë

Les chroniques d'Arda

November 19th, 2021

Metal Archives and Bandcamp do not provide much in terms of personnel details, except a pair of pseudonyms, making this essentially an anonymous four-track, Tolkien-themed EP from France of almost 15 minutes. The music works with neosymphonic and atmospheric elements. Sometimes the music is going fast, for a grandiose sensation, and sometimes things slow down, aiming for a forest-music vibe. It's three songs and an outro. The vocals are a semi-intelligible black metal growl, not really shrieking. There is also a bit of chant-like melodic vocals, which works well in this context with the harder vocals. The guitar work, working in conjunction with keyboards, provides plenty of midtempo melody to keep listeners paying attention, given that speed is present and important, though not the only strength. The drum programming is rather obvious and it's nothing to write home about; nevertheless, this French-language duo has worked on making a recording as professional as they can with the resources that they had at their disposal. The effort to give the listener quality is palpable, and that is why genre fans may be pleased with this recording, as I am. This epic black metal sounds pretty good not just in terms of the recording but also the songs themselves, with a good sense of ambition to go beyond basic songwriting.

Les chroniques d'Arda by Ainulindalë

Countless Skies: Resonance – Live from the Studio

Countless Skies

Resonance – Live from the Studio

Willowtip Records

5 May 2023

The British band Countless Skies returns to their previous two albums from 2016 and 2020, and reimagines some of those songs while working with cellist Arianna Mahsayeh. Countless Skies is a rather meticulous band, so it is to be expected that these latest interpretations are going to entertain their fans, given the quality therein. Their sound is somewhere between melodic and progressive, with both melodic and hard vocals, as well as lighter moments that turn into blasting sections, depending on the song. While these are not new songs, but rather reworkings with the objective of incorporating the cello more into the music, the Countless Skies fan may like these recordings, as long as it is understood that this is not the follow-up to the 2020 album Glow. Speaking for myself, I have heard this album way too many times to count at this point. It was nice to hear the new subtleties with the cello.

Resonance – Live from the Studio by Countless Skies

https://www.facebook.com/CountlessSkies

They Watch Us From The Moon: On The Fields Of The Moon (official video)

Kansas, U.S. "space doom" time travellers They Watch Us From The Moon have a new ambassador to show you right before their arrival, which is tomorrow. "On The Fields Of The Moon" is a shortened version, because, you know, the real version would blind the eyes of the audiences in a case of too much, too soon. At any rate, ready or not, friend, they arrive in full tomorrow May 5, 2023. Consider the video their version of Voyager 1, which you can hear on Bandcamp now. Actually, there have Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 already on Bandcamp. For your own protection, there are only two songs on there, but the remaining three songs will be revealed very soon. They Watch Us From The Moon is bringing you the doom of space, slow and sweet, and they want to take you with them if you have your space suit on. Grab your helmet. "We're not in Kansas anymore."

They Watch Us From The Moon: On The Fields Of The Moon (official video)

Cosmic Chronicles, Act I: The Ascension by They Watch Us From the Moon

Mindless Sinner - keeping it true; to expel the false

Mindless Sinner

Keeping True Alive

Pure Steel Records

May 5th 2023

As the album title declares, they affirm that it is a real live work, and not a fraudulent recording. They are saying that they did play these songs in front of a concert audience at Keep It True festival in Germany in 2015 and that this is how they actually sounded. How honest are those statements? Only the band knows, but some of the comparison that I have done of the Keep It True YouTube footage and this recording do match, including in the “imperfections.” This live album captures them rocking out and it is very enjoyable. Mindless Sinner (1981-2014, with periods of inactivity in between) is a traditional heavy metal band from Sweden that in 1983 issued the EP Master of Evil. They returned in 1986 with a full-length album titled Turn on the Power. The vocals are prototypical legacy-style singing, melodic, strong and energetic. The guitar rhythms are definitive heavy metal: uptempo and rocking. In 2015 they returned with the album The New Messiah and followed up with 2020’s Poltergeist. Look it, the name of the festival is called Keep It True. Mindless Sinner is no swindle. Get you some no-nonsense heavy metal.

1. We Go Together 03:43

2. I'm Gonna (Have Some Fun) 03:41

3. Live and Die 04:16

4. Broken Freedom 03:50

5. Standing on the Stage 04:30

6. Master of Evil 04:49

7. Turn On the Power 05:28

8. Screaming for Mercy 03:52

9. Voice of the Doomed 05:19

10. Here She Comes Again 05:37

total time 45:05

For your information, here is a YouTube video of the band at Keep It True. The album sounds like this. The album does not sound like the vocalist went back into the studio and re-recorded his parts. It sounds like this, but with a different mix, to make the sound more balanced.

Mindless Sinner - I'm Gonna Have Some Fun - Keep It True XVIII

Mindless Sinner - Live And Die - Keep It True XVIII

https://www.facebook.com/mindlesssinnerofficial

Jaue - folk black metal from Colombia

Jaue

Cantos del Sur Salvaje

Satanath Records and Exhumed Records

17 April 2023

Colombian solo project Jaue evokes the myths and legends of ancient South America interpreted through folk black metal in Spanish. The music is essentially midpaced black metal, in a melodic style, with some additional instrumentation to bring out the folk elements, and some good melodic singing to go along with the hard vocals. The ambitious nature of the project is something that knowledgeable audiences will notice. One can tell that a ton of work had to be done by Julián David Trujillo Moreno in order for the project to come to fruition, with some help from collaborators.

Devoted fans of the combination of black metal with local and regional music and culture should at least give a chance to this Colombian entity.

If you are interested in hearing the melodic singing, check out song number three called "Tierra del fuego."

Cantos Del Sur Salvaje (2023) by Jaue

https://www.facebook.com/jaueonemanband/