metal show in Everett, Washington

Friends in Everett,

I came across this announcement about a metal show at Tony V's. It's not for a while, but it looks like a pretty good line-up.

Live at Tony V's March 28

Coven

Pain Field

Whythre

Metaphoria

all ages until 11

$10

Event starts at 8

Vermilia - Kansojen Kaipuu (Official Video) from upcoming third album Karsikko by Finnish melodic extreme project

Finnish melodic extreme metal act Vermilia will issue its third album called Karsikko on February 14th, 2025. Three of the album's songs are streaming at Bandcamp. Vermilia, according to Metal Archives, began in 2017 and seems to be an independent project that sometimes performs live, an example of which is included below, too. The vocals are melodic singing and screaming, and the music can be fast, like extreme metal, but also can slow down for more melodic passages. Over at Metal Archives there are several devoted fans that have written some really nice views on the previous two albums. For example, one review says, in part, "To complete this masterpiece, the amazing artist displays fantastic care for details, breaking the patterns with imprints of fabulous cymbal play, a few bass stand-out moments and even a couple of guitar leads. I really like that she didn't stuff solos in there just for the heck of it and only drove the creative stream into guitar leads when it came so naturally. There's also a bit of string sound in "Mustan taivaan morsian" that might be keyboard or sample but I'm not sure. To be honest, the album isn't perfect. You could pick on the fact that most songs end pretty suddenly and there is no sort of intro feel, the tracks going straight into it. But I honestly just don't care about that. There are only two debut albums that I've enjoyed as much as this. Those are Wintersun's self titled album and An Abstract Illusion's Illuminate the Path and as I never got bored of those, it is now time to see if 'Kätkyt', will stand the test of time. Now get the album, hit play, hit repeat and start obsessing!" That's what a reviewer named "andreipianoman" states.

That's very nice, indeed, right?

Another reviewer states, "I loved this record when it first came out, and I still love it to this day. It never gets old. It is quite an amazing record and one of the very best ever produced - easily in the black metal genre. I will never falter from this statement. My only concern is will Vermilia go the route of Myrkur and prove a fake or will she stay the course and prove how authentic she really is? This will remain to be seen, but I have much more confidence in Vermilia. Still, money is a corrupting power, especially in this business. Let us all hope that Vermilia stays true because there is the potential for some music for the ages, here. Until then, 'Kätkyt' is a timeless masterpiece I will enjoy for years to come!" This is the opinion of one "Quindorrian" on Metal Archives.

Therefore, as you see, there are reviewers have really followed the music for a while. I am not familiar enough to have an intelligent conversation with anyone about it at this point, but I have been listening to the new three songs and it's sounding pretty good to me, actually. In the meantime, check out the music for yourself and see what you think.

Vermilia - Kansojen Kaipuu (Official Video)

Karsikko by Vermilia

https://www.facebook.com/vermiliaofficial

Vermilia live in Berlin 30.06.2023

VERMILIA - "Vedestä Vieraantunut" - (Live at "Zobens un Lemess" Open Air 2020)

Hyperstrike - it's a new, catchy song from the Seattle band. Man, this needs an exclamation point!

Hey, stop what you're doing! Put down that bowl of guacamole! Grab your helmet and harness, it's time again to join our new Seattle metal friends calling themselves Hyperstrike. Hyper.Strike. Hyperstrike! It feels like it was just yesterday that I was finding out about this new band, well, now here they go again with a song called "Savage Sword," and man, it looks like they got the magic going on. This tune actually feels too short. Maybe because it's so good, right?! You know what, just who are these dudes? They are doing these sneaky metal songs that pop up out of nowhere and here they are with this new one.

By the way, if you are curious, I am going to include below all the relevant information that the overlords have given me access to. This information is what I know, and now you know as much as I do.

This song is just so catchy.

Ok, fine, now you can continue eating your guacamole again. Guacamole and Hyperstrike. Not too bad. Not too shabby at all. Are you going to put some hot sauce on that guacamole or not? Tabasco?! Really?!

Seattle (WA) - Powerhouse Action-Metal band, Hyperstrike, is back with an explosive new single, "Savage Sword," on all digital platforms! Serving as the ultimate rallying cry for those who know we live in a simulation, this track challenges listeners to confront the fabric of reality itself. "Savage Sword" tells the story of a world trapped in an artificial construct controlled by an evil deity broadcasting illusions from Saturn. Hyperstrike asks the provocative question: what if everything you see is a lie? The song’s protagonist wields the savage sword, a symbol of truth and rebellion, to sever the deceptive veil and spark a revolt against this cosmic oppressor.

"Savage Sword" follows close behind debut single, "Warning Shot." Both cuts will appear on the band's long-awaited debut album, High Risk, a ten-track thrill ride that drops this spring, delivering an unrelenting assault of melody, power, and precision. Each of the album's songs plunges listeners into a high-stakes narrative, from the devastating chaos of "Meltdown (Stop the Reactor)" to the primal defiance of "Steel Heart" and the warrior’s anthem "King of the Slain." The album captures the sound of rebellion with blistering guitar solos, thunderous rhythms, and vocals that alternate between soaring and savage. Recorded in the heart of Seattle’s legendary metal scene, High Risk cements Hyperstrike’s reputation as a band that dares to push boundaries while delivering unforgettable hooks. Brace yourselves—the countdown to the most electrifying release of 2025 is on!

BIO: Born in the Blade, forged in chaos—Hyperstrike is Seattle's action metal war machine. Founded in 2024 by bass-slapping juggernaut Ben "Chop Daddy" Bennett, this band doesn’t play music; they drop sonic bombs. With a shadowy past tearing through thrash titans Warbringer and Bonded by Blood, and reigning as the "Lord of the Low End" in sci-fi shredders Xoth, Bennett knew exactly what kind of beast he was building. First, he wrangled in Ilya, the shredder known as "The Claw," an assassin with riffs sharper than steel. Then came Adon, the "Brain Lord"—a maniacal force spitting venomous truths, carrying the fire from his days in Ghost Ship Octavius and the twisted depths of Spiritual Suicide. Together, they built a soundtrack for the end of the world: songs about nuclear meltdowns, cage fighters, and kings of the slain. The final weapon in their arsenal? Josh, a drum-detonating powerhouse known as "Goblin Hammer," whose percussive assault forged their chaos into a relentless onslaught. Hyperstrike is a raw, unfiltered force with hearts of steel and a taste for mania. No apologies. No survivors. Just unrelenting aggression. Brace for impact—because once the trigger drops, nothing will ever be the same.

Savage Sword

Savage Sword by Hyperstrike

Blackslash - Heroes, Saints & Fools (Official Video) + 2 more videos

The paradigm of heavy metal known as Blackslash are about to reveal their new album in its entirety to the whole world on the 31st of January, 2025. Now on their fifth full-length, and an active band since 2007, they have already established their sound as melodic, memorable, headbanging traditional heavy metal for fans of the classic sounds. Featuring a fun, pleasant, easy-on-the-ears singing voice with well worked-out guitar melodies, the new music aligns very nicely with their previous albums, including all the way back to their first official recordings in 2011 and 2013. Even more importantly, fans that have not heard their previous music have nothing to worry about: You may start with this new album and come along for the ride regardless of seniority. As evidence, the band has released three singles. I am sharing the videos that the good people at the YouTube channel have posted. The three songs are pretty convincing, I think.

In addition, the band has made videos in which they talk the songs and the album in general. Of course, start with the songs and go from there. The documentary part is in German. If you like the music and would like to know more, I'm sure that you, with your technological knowledge can easily figure out how to access it in English, like headphones that translate from German to English. Or perhaps with your fancy phone or computer, such translation is no problem at all. Anyway, I have included the German-language videos of the band talking about the album, just in case you like the music that much. And why not!

Enough. Let's get to the music videos!

Blackslash

Heroes, Saints & Fools

January 31st, 2025

Iron Shield Records

1. Heroes, Saints & Fools 04:55

2. 東京 (Tokyo) 04:26

3. Sacrificed 03:25

4. Black Widow 05:22

5. Life After Death 05:35

6. The Watcher 05:31

7. Die by the Blade 05:05

8. Where Are We Heading to? 05:37

9. Maniacs and Madmen 04:56

total time 44:52

Blackslash - Heroes, Saints & Fools (Official Video)

Blackslash - The Watcher (Official Video)

Blackslash - 東京 (Tokyo) (Official Video)

BEHIND THE ALBUM "HEROES, SAINTS & FOOLS" BY BLACKSLASH PART 1

BEHIND THE ALBUM "HEROES, SAINTS & FOOLS" BY BLACKSLASH PART 2

BEHIND THE ALBUM "HEROES, SAINTS & FOOLS" BY BLACKSLASH PART 3

https://www.facebook.com/blackslashband

ANCIENT BARDS - Soulbound Symphony (Official Video)

Italian melodic band Ancient Bards (2003 - present) has released a video for the song "Soulbound Symphony." The album will not available until April, 2005. This will be their fifth album. For fans of happy and prototypical European power metal. I just found out about this album the other day myself, so let's listen together to hear what this band is about.

Ancient Bards

Artifex

April 25th, 2025

Limb Music

1. Luminance and Abyss 03:07

2. My Prima Nox 05:40

3. The Vessel 05:58

4. The Empire of Black Death 05:10

5. Unending 05:14

6. Minister of Light 05:19

7. Proximity 03:52

8. Soulbound Symphony 06:11

9. My Blood and Blade 03:43

10. Mystic Echoes 06:01

11. Under the Shadow 05:17

12. Sea of Solitude 03:53

13. Artifex 03:28

total time 01:02:53

Martino Garattoni Bass

Daniele Mazza Keyboards, Orchestrations, Songwriting

Claudio Pietronik Guitars (lead)

Sara Squadrani Vocals, Lyrics

Federico Gatti Drums

Simone Bertozzi Guitars (rhythm), Vocals (growl)

ANCIENT BARDS - Soulbound Symphony (Official Video)

https://ancientbards.bandcamp.com

Fleshbore - Target Fixation OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (Technical Death Metal)

Fleshbore

Painted Paradise

Transcending Obscurity Records

24 January 2025

What would it take for you, dear reader, to get on board with the dazzling speeds of this excessive complexity? This is the domain of wrist-injuring, arthritis-causing fast guitar playing extreme metal. Aficionados of technicality should find comfort in an album such as this because isn't wonderful that there are such dedicated maniacs who have given their lives to the craft of fast and complex guitar playing, at the risk of lifelong body ailments and injuries, and all in the name of metal?

The vocals feature both a low and a higher growl, rhythms for moshing or for travelling down wormholes to other dimensions, and an unexpected amount of melody. At the first the melody might not be so obvious because of the barrage of noise. After a couple of listens, however, it will be easier to find.

FLESHBORE (US) - Target Fixation OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO (Technical Death Metal) Transcending Obscurity

Master Sword - living it up this weekend with some Legend of Zelda-inspired power metal

Master Sword

Toying with Time

January 17th, 2025

This is it! It is the weekend of Master Sword! I know that the U.S.-American tackle-foot-ball playoffs are taking place this weekend and I'm sure that the sports games will be a real extravaganza for all the United-States-Americans. The Americans love their tackle-fuß-ball! This is why all Americans are heroes, such a love for sports and the joyous good time of party-fiesta times. And why not! Roll out the good times. I am not sure if the tackle-fuß-ball team of Seattle, the Sea-Hawkings, is a participant in the tournament, but either way more pizza, more tacos and more libations, this week I shall learn the intricaties of the tournament because a man name Troy Aikman explains everything in a clear, robotic voice. Ok, however, also, also, hey now!

Master Sword has now delivered their new album: eight songs in 55 minutes. The band especializes in melodic songwriting featuring singing, sometimes they lean more on their prog side and at other times they go more towards the rocking energy. An interesting piece of trivia for people new to the band: The band began inspired by the video game Legend of Zelda! Do you have to be a gamer to enjoy the music? Is it necessary to know about the video game? Not at all! Look at me, I know nothing about that video game. I know nothing about any video games! I am too busy fighting the squirrels in my backyard. I am enjoying the new music. The catchy songs and singing is plenty for me to sail on a quest to the enchantment of the songs. It is prog in some ways, but not too prog that it is not fun to listen to. It's not crazy-prog, you know? It has good melodies and the band knows how to keep things reasonable for all audiences supporting of melodic metal, especially the more traditional forms, from classic rock to heavy metal and melodic prog metal.

I hope that by the end of this weekend, after the friendly robot-man Troy Aikman educates the United States of America about the rules of tackle-fuß-ball, I will also be fully immersed in the Americanness and Americanity of the prog power metal and melodies of Master Sword. Master Sword. Remember that name, write it down on your typewriter, and get on that telegraph, and get yourself some of this music. You may be surprised by the quality, skill and style of this band. I know that I was!

Come and get it.

Toying With Time by Master Sword

https://www.facebook.com/masterswordband

Prehistoria - Oh, snap, this high screaming heavy metal is going to make me lose my mind up in here, up in here

U.S.-based melodic thrashers Prehistoria are about to launch again with a new recording called Cryptic Halo. Prepared to show you their wares, this album will be their first full-length follow-up to their four-song EP from back in 2022 when they came out in a high-energy form of melodic thrash/power/heavy metal with prototypical heavy metal singing, in the sense air-raid siren. Your mission, should you accept it, is to bang your head as much as humanly possible. It is believed that the band does not know the meaning of the word "slow." None of the members of the band have a dictionary, so they are not able to look it up and see what's it all about. If you like typical metal, the Chilean banshee known as Alonso Zo Donoso will be more than glad to show you the way.

There is one song streaming right now before the album release on 11 February 2025, but below you can hear their previous EP. Together, the song and the EP, they illustrate what the album will be like. Look into this band. Everyone either hates them or loves them. Or think they are ok. What will it be for you?!

The band is made of up of the following residents in the Indiana State Mental Institute, Spa and Alligator Zoo:

Ian Bender [Zephaniah, ex-Under the Wake, ex-Argonaut] nuclear power plant low vibrations

Cody Johns [Viking, Zephaniah, ex-Eighty Thousand Dead, ex-Acheron (live)] hyperactive supersonic violence

Max Otworth [Borboropsis, Cheap Gas, Choking, Heavy Lies the Crown, Well of Night, ex-Lysura, ex-Trioxin, ex-Venality, The Eddington Limit, ex-Acheron, ex-Darkness Undying, ex-Voidweaver] high-end vibrations of the frozen tundra

Shaun Cothron [Heavy Lies the Crown, Zephaniah, ex-Acheron, ex-Obscene, ex-Photian Schism (live), ex-Viking (live), ex-Lysura, ex-VadimVon (live)] high-end waves of the tunnel of the stargate

Alonso Zo Donoso [Eternal Voyager, Unity, ex-Powerthrone, ex-Words Unspoken, ex-Dark Mirror, ex-Kjeldor, ex-Legendry, ex-Northern Insomnia Project] glass-shattering banshee screaming

Prehistoria

Cryptic Halo

StormSpell Records

11 February 2025

Cryptic Halo by Prehistoria (2025)

Cursed Lands by Prehistoria (2022)

Prehistoria - Obsidian Gateways - Lyric Video

https://www.facebook.com/prehistoriaband

Phrenelith - Neanderthal quartet streaming new song

For ten years now these knuckledraggers have been contaminating their much befouled corner of Neanderthaland. Their third album will be crawling out their cave in less than a month, based on their one thought: to pummel their instruments until the instruments break or the brutes themselves get tired, whichever happens first. So they have one song for you, signaling their willingnes to allow unknown, foreign, alien brutes like yourself to chomp on some cavernous death metal, made with all the love and dedication of a savage.

Phrenelith

Ashen Womb

Dark Descent Records / Me Saco Un Ojo Records

7 February 2025

Phrenelith is:

Simon Daniel [Ascendency, Discipel, Lesion, Alucarda, ex-Undergang (live), ex-Mold] - bass (2013-2015), guitars (lead), vocals

David [Sequestrum, Ulcerot, Undergang, Wormridden, ex-Reefer, ex-Hyperdontia, ex-Realm of Chaos, ex-Mold (live), ex-Trepanation (live)] guitars, vocals (2013-present)

Jakob (ex-Sulphurous) - bass (2015-present)

Andreas Nordgreen [Chaotian, Hectichaos, Morgellons, Sequestrum, Undergang (live)] - drums (2021-present)

Tracklist:

1) Noemata

2) Astral Larvae

3) A Husk Wrung Dry

4) Lithopaedion

5) Nebulae

6) Stagnated Blood

7) Sphageion

8) Chrysopoeia

9) Ashen Womb

https://www.facebook.com/phrenelith

Slaughtersun - This is how a violin makes death metal

New information has come in! The earlier version of this review asked the question: "What type of violin makes such death metal?" Well, the man himself Ben Karas explains below how he achieves the sound. Here is the original review below, and under it, you will find Ben's answer to the question. You will also find a link to their Ampwall page where the physical CDs can be ordered.

Slaughtersun

Black Marrow

10 January 2025

There once was a little boy named Benjamin Karas. He lived in Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. He practiced the violin day and night. In 2010 he received a telegraph to join the melodic black metal band Windfaerer, from New Jersey, and to this day Ben plays violin with that band. Then, a funny thing happened in 2013. The mailman brought him another telegraph to join the prog jazz band Thank You Scientist, also from New Jersey. A crazy thought popped into Ben's head. It was something strange. He kept asking himself this question: "How would death metal sound if my violin eliminates the guitar?" Up until that point, in the other bands there are guitarists, and Ben was thinking about making his violin take the place of the guitar.

So, this band has no guitars and what sounds like guitar is actually a violin. What type of violin? What type of strings? I do not know. The music is a type of prog-tech death, but not excessively so. It does sound different with the violin, but not strangely so, if that makes sense. If there were no information available about the band, and I just listened to the music, I really don't think I would have noticed consciously that it is a type of violin, and not a guitar. I have a confession: I did listen to this recording many times while at the gym and I had not read the information about them. Therefore, I am telling you that I was not smart enough to detect the violin. I had only noticed that I liked the smooth or fluttering rhythm of the "guitar" and I kept coming back to it to figure it out. Well, in fact, I never did figure it. It was only when I read the information about the band that I finally realized that it is a violin in this headbanging death metal band.

The keys to the mystery are explained by Ben Karas himself. He wrote to this publication to answer the questions: What type of violin do you use and how do you make sound this way? Do you use a guitar amp?

"I use a 5 string ETJ electric violin. It's a solid body instrument with a Starfish piezo pickup. I used different combinations of equipment for each song on the EP, but I'm basically running it through an overdrive pedal into a tube amp sometimes with extra EQ. For amps I used a 6505, Engl Fireball and EVO BK50 all for various songs. The Electric Eye Mudkiller and Horizon Drive were probably the most frequently used boost pedals. The strings are D'addario Helicore violin strings; nothing unusual for the instrument. Most importantly the playing technique is a major part of the sound as I've practiced imitating metal guitar playing for many years. I'm running through a tube amp. Most of them are all guitar amps, but I have a signature model, the EVO BK-50 which is a custom amp that has been adjusted specifically for the violin. It's my primary rig, but sometimes I like to blend tones in the studio or simply change things up."

https://ampwall.com/a/slaughtersunnj/merch/black-marrow-ep

https://www.facebook.com/slaughtersunnj https://slaughtersunnj.bandcamp.com/album/black-marrow-ep

The 7the Guild - Italian operatic power metal supergroup

Fans of operatic power metal may want to get in on this new collaboration called The 7the Guild (Italy). It is meant to please the audiences that appreciate traditional singing. The singers of three Italian bands join in on this project: Skeletoon, Rhapsody Of Fire and Vision Divine. Skeletoon’s Tomi Fooler is leading this project, recruiting former Vision Divine/Derdian’s Ivan Giannini and Rhapsody Of Fire’s Giacomo Voli to sing with him. The music is mostly upbeat or anthemic power metal that serves as a launching point for the three singers to go to town on this album and sing until the cows come home. Of course, fans that follow Italian power metal will know these names, but even listeners who are not too familiar with the band names and singers, it is very likely that the singing will do the job is supposed to: win people over. Right now it seems like there is only one song available for listening, but I can tell you that the entire album is like that, with power metal, with guitar melodies and a showcase of singing.

The 7the Guild

Triumviro

Scarlet Records

21 February 2025

THE 7TH GUILD

Tomi Fooler - vocals

Giacomo Voli - vocals

Ivan Giannini - vocals

Simone Mularoni - guitar

Francesco Ferraro - bass

Daniele Mazza - orchestras and arrangements

Alessio Lucatti - keyboards and piano

Michael Ehrè - drums

Holy Land 5:17

The 7th Guild 5:01

Glorious 5:38

La Promessa Cremisi 5:14

In Nomine Patris 6:35

Time 3:00

Guardians Of Eternity 5:24

The Metal Charade 5:21

Fairy Tale 6:21

BIO: The 7th Guild saw the light in 2021: the vision of Skeletoon’s Tomi Fooler was to put together a trio of commanding metal singers in the vein of the legendary Three Tenors and pay homage to the rich Italian cultural heritage. Rhapsody Of Fire’s Giacomo Voli and former Vision Divine/Derdian’s Ivan Giannini soon joined him, forming this magic entity. Catchy power metal melodies wrapped in an operatic music style; classic orchestral arrangements meet bombastic cinematic patterns, resulting in a wonderful choral result.

The 7th Guild - Holy Land (Lyric Video)

Slaughtersun - What type of violin makes such death metal?!

Slaughtersun

Black Marrow

10 January 2025

There once was a little boy named Benjamin Karas. He lived in Montclair, New Jersey, U.S. He practiced the violin day and night. In 2010 he received a telegraph to join the melodic black metal band Windfaerer, from New Jersey, and to this day Ben plays violin with that band. Then, a funny thing happened in 2013. The mailman brought him another telegraph to join the prog jazz band Thank You Scientist, also from New Jersey. A crazy thought popped into Ben's head. It was something strange. He kept asking himself this question: "How would death metal sound if my violin eliminates the guitar?" Up until that point, in the other bands there are guitarists, and Ben was thinking about making his violin take the place of the guitar.

So, this band has no guitars and what sounds like guitar is actually a violin. What type of violin? What type of strings? I do not know. The music is a type of prog-tech death, but not excessively so. It does sound different with the violin, but not strangely so, if that makes sense. If there were no information available about the band, and I just listened to the music, I really don't think I would have noticed consciously that it is a type of violin, and not a guitar. I have a confession: I did listen to this recording many times while at the gym and I had not read the information about them. Therefore, I am telling you that I was not smart enough to detect the violin. I had only noticed that I liked the smooth or fluttering rhythm of the "guitar" and I kept coming back to it to figure it out. Well, in fact, I never did figure it. It was only when I read the information about the band that I finally realized that it is a violin in this headbanging death metal band.

https://www.facebook.com/slaughtersunnj https://slaughtersunnj.bandcamp.com/album/black-marrow-ep

BRAINSTORM - Garuda (Eater Of Snakes) (official music video)

The 14th (!!) studio album from Brainstorm (1989-present) is already rolling down the pipeline for a late February release. Do fans of traditional heavy metal here in Washington State like this band? Either way, friend, how's about getting in on the sound of the German veterans of the craft? Below is the release and track information for the album.

Here is the video for the second song on the album, "Garuda." The song deals with a deity of Hinduism. Assuming that perhaps you, as I, are not particularly knowledgeable about this type of legends, mythology, religion and history, here's what Wikipedia says, as a very general introduction, "Garuda is a Hindu deity who is primarily depicted as the mount (vahana) of the Hindu god Vishnu. This divine creature is mentioned in the Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain faiths. Garuda is also the half-brother of the Devas, Gandharvas, Daityas, Danavas, Nāgas, Vanara and Yakshas. He is the son of the sage Kashyapa and Vinata. He is the younger brother of Aruna, the charioteer of the Sun. Garuda is mentioned in several other texts such as the Puranas and the Vedas. Garuda is described as the king of the birds and a kite-like figure. He is shown either in a zoomorphic form (a giant bird with partially open wings) or an anthropomorphic form (a man with wings and some ornithic features). Garuda is generally portrayed as a protector with the power to swiftly travel anywhere, ever vigilant and an enemy of every serpent. He is also known as Tarkshya and Vainateya. Garuda is a part of state insignia of India, Indonesia and Thailand. Both Indonesia and Thailand has Garuda as their coat of arms, the Indian Army uses the Garuda on their Guards Brigade Regimental Insignia. The Indian Air Force named their special operations unit after him as the Garud Commando Force. It is often associated with the Greater adjutant stork (Leptoptilos dubius)."

Just for fun and information, below are a couple of old songs from Brainstorm, just in case that they are new to you. Taken together, these three songs provide a good illustration of the general sound of the band. FYI, if you like what you hear, and while you wait for the new album to arrive, you would like to dive into one of their old albums, I recommend Soul Temptation (2003), an album that generally is considered one of their most successful with the fans.

Brainstorm

Plague Of Rats

Reigning Phoenix Music

28 February 2025

1. Beyond Enemy Lines

2. Garuda (Eater of Snakes)

3. False Memories

4. The Shepherd Girl (Gitavoginda)

5. Your Soul That Lingers in Me

6. Masquerade Conspiracy

7. From Hell

8. The Dark of Night

9. Crawling

10. Celebrate Youth (Rick Springfield cover)

11. Curtains Fall

BRAINSTORM - Garuda (Eater Of Snakes) (Official Music Video)

Brainstorm - Highs Without Lows

BRAINSTORM - 'All Those Words'

https://www.facebook.com/officialbrainstorm

Noctumbalist - Holland has been cooking up some of that blackgaze post-black metal

About a month from now Dutch "post-black metal" band Noctambulist (2016-present) will release their second full-length. Watch this video and see if you are interested in the sound of "post-black metal" or "blackgaze," as expounded by this band. This video is representative of what the entire album sounds like: a type of depressive and melancholic split-personality sound where hoarse vocals and loud guitars meet up with soft melodies and singing. Part of it sounds a bit more intense, while the other part sounds like what people in this part of the world (here, in the Seattle region, Washington State, U.S.) sometimes call "alternative" music, I think. I am not qualified to write much about that stuff (alternative, indie, grunge or whatever that music is called) because I don't like anything about it, but I am not talking about genres in general, but rather Noctumbalist, the Dutch band. So, this is Noctumbalist. Listen for yourself and see what you think.

Noctambulist

Noctambulist II: De Droom

These Hands Melt

7 February 2025

Noctambulist - Lichteter [official music video]

Noctambulist II: De Droom by Noctambulist

Impending Doom - new music video

I just found out about this video. It is a new video from the American deathcore band Impending Doom (2005-present). They have six albums and two EPs before this new that is coming up in a month.

Impending Doom

Towards the Light

February 7th, 2025

1. Christ Is King

2. Punishment

3. Towards the Light

4. Snakes and Saints

5. Will You See God?

CHRIST IS KING | PUNISHMENT

https://www.facebook.com/impendingdoom

Thy Kingdom Will Burn - two music videos from the Finnish melodic death metal band

Before the 17th of January, 2025, the release date of the full album, titled The Loss And Redemption, from Finnish melodic death metal band Thy Kingdom Will Burn, hear what they sound like with these videos. Featuring a non-sense, straighforward approach to songwriting, expect the band to stay on point. This will be their third album since 2016, when they started, according to Metal Archives. I have been listening to the album and the band is careful to keep up the same quality and characteristics throughout the album. There are no unpleasant surprises. If you like these songs, then it's very likely that you will enjoy the whole album. Sometimes there is some melodic singing, but mostly it is this type of shouted vocals, and always with these type of melodies, often associated with Finnish bands.

THY KINGDOM WILL BURN

The Loss And Redemption

Scarlet Records

17 January 2025

Perpetual Void 5:55

Obscure Existence 4:25

Martyrs Of Killing Floor 4:46

Forever In Dark 4:29

Escape From Solitude 4:44

Suffering Sky 5:40

They Have Come 4:04

Dreams Of Calamity 3:56

To End Of Times 4:56

Sydänyö 5:45

THY KINGDOM WILL BURN

Sami Kujala - vocals, guitar

Esa Virén - guitar

Janne Ruuskanen - bass

Lauri Virén - drums

Thy Kingdom Will Burn - Obscure Existence (Official Video)

THY KINGDOM WILL BURN - Perpetual Void (Official Video)

Hyperstrike - introducing a new heavy metal band from the Seattle area

It looks like so far there is only one song to hear from this Seattle area band. Frankly, I just found out about this band very recently, like maybe this week or sometime last week. It seems like they have been hiding, working, preparing to turn loose this music. Whatever the case may be, they have a song as an example of their sound: fast, traditional heavy metal. Given my igoranace of this band, check out the official hype and propaganda about them. Now you know as much as I know. You may recognize the names of some of the other bands that they are or have been associated with. If you like the song, feel free to jump on this bandwagon and see where the ride goes. I'm liking this song and would like to hear more.

BIO: Born in the Blade, forged in chaos—Hyperstrike is Seattle's action metal war machine. Founded in 2024 by bass-slapping juggernaut Ben "Chop Daddy" Bennett, this band doesn’t play music; they drop sonic bombs. With a shadowy past tearing through thrash titans Warbringer and Bonded by Blood, and reigning as the "Lord of the Low End" in sci-fi shredders Xoth, Bennett knew exactly what kind of beast he was building. First, he wrangled in Ilya, the shredder known as "The Claw," an assassin with riffs sharper than steel. Then came Adon, the "Brain Lord"—a maniacal force spitting venomous truths, carrying the fire from his days in Ghost Ship Octavius and the twisted depths of Spiritual Suicide. Together, they built a soundtrack for the end of the world: songs about nuclear meltdowns, cage fighters, and kings of the slain.

The final weapon in their arsenal? Josh, a drum-detonating powerhouse known as "Goblin Hammer," whose percussive assault forged their chaos into a relentless onslaught. Hyperstrike is a raw, unfiltered force with hearts of steel and a taste for mania. No apologies. No survivors. Just unrelenting aggression. Brace for impact—because once the trigger drops, nothing will ever be the same.

Line-Up:

Ben (Chop Daddy) Bennett - Speed Chopper Bass.

Adon (Brain Lord) Fanion - Maniacal Pyro Vocals.

Ilya (Siberian Claw) Ignatov - Elite Assassin Shred Guitar.

Josh (Goblin Hammer) Hoffman - Master Drum Blaster.

https://www.facebook.com/hyperstrikeband

Days of Jupiter - three videos from melodic band's upcoming album "The World Was Never Enough"

Here are two videos from the Swedish melodic band Days of Jupiter, which is a new band to me (living under a rock, much?!), but in reality they have been active since 2010 and this will be their fifth album. The new album is called "The World Was Never Enough" and it is scheduled for the 7th of February, 2025. A word about the two videos. The first song "The Fix" is a good representation of their classic-style, melodic sound, what I sometimes call "adult contemporary metal," meaning that it sounds like parents or mature metal music or the opposite of low-IQ, gimmicky, fake-persona, shock-value and dumb-brain-lyrics metal music. This first song is a good representation of everything that you will get on the album. Now, about the second video. It is a ballad, which is not a good representation of their sound, but it is, as you already know, another aspect to their personality. Traditional classic-rock metal bands like to include a ballad or two, and Days of Jupiter follows such a tradition. Having said all that, I have a question for you: Are you interested in some sing-along music? Be careful, though, the lyrics to the second song, "Desolation," are not exactly cheerful. The music is soft, but the song is emotionally heavy.

The last video is for the song "Original Sin," another rather representative track from the band. This song will open the album. Check the music of Days of Jupiter, February 7th will be here in no time.

Days of Jupiter

The World Was Never Enough

Reigning Phoenix Music

7 February 2025

Original Sin 4:04

The World Was Never Enough 4:07

Machine 4:13

Desolation 3:52

The Fix 4:30

Parazite 5:07

My Heaven My Hell 4:32

Denial 4:34

Ignite 4:22

Invincible 4:57

BIO: "Hailing from Örnsköldsvik, Sweden, DAYS OF JUPITER formed in 2010 with a vision of creating modern metal with powerful melodies and meaningful lyrics. Over the years, they have released four critically acclaimed albums: Secrets Brought to Life (2012), Only Ashes Remain (2015), New Awakening (2017), and Panoptical (2018). With their distinctive sound and electrifying live performances, the band has toured extensively across Europe, captivating audiences in Germany, Holland, Belgium, Spain, Finland, and Estonia. Now, with The World Was Never Enough, DAYS OF JUPITER embarks on the next chapter of their remarkable journey."

DAYS OF JUPITER - The Fix (Official Music Video)

DAYS OF JUPITER - Desolation (Official Music Video)

DAYS OF JUPITER - Original Sin (Official Music Video)

https://www.facebook.com/DaysOfJupiterOfficial

Caressing Misery - Did someone finally do gothic metal right?!

I failed to tell you about this album that came out at the end of 2024. I meant to tell you about it, but I was hoping to write a real review. You know how it is, between work and family life, sometimes things don't get done.

Nevertheless, there is one particular reason why this album might be interesting to you: it is gothic metal. That genre is a bit like a porcupine. It's not always clear how to approach it. Often gothic metal vocalists sound so fake, with their exaggerated voices of Elvis-Don Juan that it seems just too much like a fake persona of a vampire. Or, sometimes the lyrics are just too plain stupid.

Well, I still don't have the lyrics for this album, so I have no idea if they are particularly low-IQ, but from what I can understand, the lyrics seem alright. Again, I cannot really confirm that statement, but I am not getting the feeling that the lyrics are awful, particularly immature or just too dumb to consider as a listening option.

There are some growling vocals, which I could do without because the hoarse screaming, in my worthless opinion, adds nothing to the music, as the gothic male singing sounds pretty good all by itself, and farm-animal noises are not necessary here. Good news: the screaming is used very little.

Despite my reservations because I do not have all the information that I need in order to make a real assessment, I think the album does sound good, it feels like a good listening experience. When gothic metal is done right, it is a fun listening experience and it is pleasant music, a nice change of pace compared to the usual barrage of noise and speed that lots of metal music is.

Check it out and see if you are ready for this gothic metal.

Caressing Misery

Lost and Serene

The Circle Music

12 December 2024

(gothic metal)

Pentacle - Vic Records reissue of "Archaic Undead" Fury EP

Pentacle (Holland) is a death metal band that began in 1989. They have an interesting discography, the vast majority of which I have on CDs and tapes. In terms of death metal, this is a sound that I like a lot. Fans of classic death metal might like to know that Vic Records in 2024 reissued the EP called Archaic Undead Fury from 2005. Below is the Vic Records link in case you would like learn more this reissue.

By the way, the band is still active today and continues to make classic-style death metal. They are not a band that was active only in the 1980s or 1990s. To show you more about the band's motivation for their music, below is an excerpt from an old interview from 2015. I am not sure about the name of the person that interviewed them for a publication that seemed to be called Metal Warfare. It's not an interview that I did with them (although I have published a Metal Bulletin Zine interview that I did with them in the early days of this zine). However, I do like this excerpt because it explains their thinking and it may interest some readers that are supporters of death metal.

"When both Mike and I (Wannes Gubbels)formed the band in 1989 it was obvious we would appeal only to a selected audience. One of the reasons why Pentacle was formed/developed was to ‘counter’ the second wave of Death Metal in the sense we wanted to pay homage to the originators of the scene: Venom, Hellhammer/Celtic Frost, Possessed, Messiah, Slaughter (CAN), Necrophagia, Deathstrike/Master, Necrovore, Mantas/Death, Bathory, Poison (GER), Repulsion, Samhain/DesExult, Mefisto, Mutilated etc. We loved releases like ‘Consuming Impulse’, ‘Left Hand Path’, ‘Slowly We Rot’, ‘Severed Survival’, ‘Lost Paradise’, ‘Realm of Chaos’, ‘Soulside Journey’, ‘Altars of Madness’, ‘Dawn of Possession’ etc and still do, but we didn’t like the attitude of a big part of the scene which mocked the old bands, because they weren’t extreme enough (anymore) and only enjoyed the new ones. It felt like treachery to me and we weren’t interested to copy these new bands, so we decided to carry the spirit of the old guard with us. So, when the scene develops one way and you decide to go the other way... Well, it does has its consequences, yet I never felt any animosity because of our direction. People respected our sound because it was genuine from the heart and we weren’t trying to sound like the new Morbid Angel or Death, you know. They knew/felt Pentacle was an honest band and if they enjoyed it, that’s another case, but they couldn’t accuse us of follow the trend, right? Straight from the beginning we started playing cover tunes from bands like Hellhammer, Celtic Frost and Slaughter, so people knew what to expect from us. Our image made it clear we held the torch of the old bands high, so no shorts or sneakers on stage. Though the second wave of Black Metal was coming up as well, few Death Metal bands followed the path we did, so yes, we were an exception. But the choice was a very deliberate one and I still feel proud of it! Yes, our audience was different from the usual Death Metal crowd. I think we were still aggressive and intense to keep our ground related to more ‘common’ Death Metal bands, but when you start playing songs like ‘Messiah’ or ‘Tales of the Macabre’...not everyone will enjoy such primitive tracks. They are truly a blast from the past, eh? When I think of it, people who enjoyed Pentacle were often those who enjoyed the old bands as well. It was not the regular Morbid Angel crowd, but often old timers who thought it was great to see and hear a band somehow connected to their old faves and heroes or younger fans who developed a taste for the old ones as well."

BLOODLINES - "Psalm Of The Depths" official music video

If I had my act together, I should have shared this video months ago! Bloodlines is a metalcore band from Texas. They feature a pretty melodic and heavy style, with a Christian message, and they are part of Facedown Records. This EP apparently was out back on July 26th, 2024. Like I say, I am super late on this one, but if you like metalcore with a positive message, maybe this band is interesting to you. The EP is called Holiness Cries. YouTube seems to have just about all the information that you might need to grab a copy of this EP.

BLOODLINES - "Psalm Of The Depths" Official Music Video

DRAGONKNIGHT - The Legions Of Immortal Dragonlords (Official Video)

A new neosymphonic power metal entity has taken shape in Finland. At this moment the record company is not releasing too much information as to who the members of this project or band are, except that the vocals are by Mikael Salo, who Metal Archives shows having a few bands for which that website right now does not have too much information. Anyway, given that I barely know how to use this old computer from the previous century, I'm sure that you, with your knowledge of the computers and websites and such things, can probably find out more than I can-care to find out at this moment. I'm just giving you the informaiton that the record company has given me, which is not much. Be all that as it may, if you like neosymphonic, happy, feel-good rock music, then I think you might really enjoy this band. Sing along or tap your foot to the happy melodies, either way the band wants you to have a good time with their music. I have been listening to the entire album, and these songs are pretty good representations of what the album will be like: happy melodies and lots of singing.

DRAGONKNIGHT

Legions

Scarlet Records

17 January 2025

Through Sea And Fire 2:34

The Legions Of Immortal Dragonlords 4:58

The Imperator 4:41

Pirates Bloody Pirates! 4:22

Defender Of Dragons 5:30

Storm Bringer 5:00

Astarte Rise 4:57

Dead Kings In The Grave 4:23

Sword Of The Northern Lights 4:18

The Revelation 3:17

Return To Atlantis 6:54

DRAGONKNIGHT - The Legions Of Immortal Dragonlords (Official Video)

DRAGONKNIGHT - The Imperator (Lyric Video)