review: Cirith Ungol

Cirith Ungol

Forever Black

Metal Blade Records

24 April 2020

“How many of you would work 22 years, 5 nights a week for free, this after putting in an 8 hour day job during just to pursue an ever elusive dream that is somehow always out of reach." Rob Garven, 2010 (Cirith Ungol drummer)

The 1981 debut by Cirith Ungol (1972-1992; 2015-) and subsequent albums were ahead of their time or just too weird for the audiences, or born too late, or all three. In the 1980s there were a lot of rules, uniforms, and the bands followed those rules. This California band sounded too proggy-doomy-fantasy at a time when there was a lot of super low IQ druggy Los Angeles bands, drunk-jerk/narrow-minded thrash bands, and the drugged-out big bands were obsessed with being as famous as the King of Pop. The biggest metal bands were unhappy with albums sales in the millions. They wanted TENS of millions. This Tolkien-loving band was something like one third prog, one third doom, one third heavy metal, and just too much for the rules that said: be glam, be thrash or be stadium metal. The songs would sort of go sideways, and go bluesy doom prog and just sound unorthodox for the young minds expecting either Van Halen or Metallica or Priest-like songs. Poor devils, the listeners! They did not know what to do with this band. To top it all off, the singer had a slightly strange yelly-wildman-in-the-woods quality; not super bizarre, but certainly not a party metal singer, for sure.

Decades later enough fans have remained stubborn by keeping the name alive. It turns out that more people are ready for the music now. It doesn’t sound that unusual today, given that nowadays pig squeals, accordions, grunting, growling, guitarless metal are real things, and there is even a capella metal, mariachi metal, and blues doom is a thing, Swedish bands make retro proto metal in unusually large quantities, and there is jazz metal, to name but a few of the things that metal bands do today. Well, well, well, good ole literature professors Cirith Ungol are not so weird now!

It the 1980s it seemed like the band had not gotten the memo that said:

“Attention all metal bands,

For the 1980s you are required to sound only like Van Halen/Ratt/Motley Crue, Metallica/Slayer/Megadeth, or Priest/Scorpions/Maiden. Write lyrics only about metal, the news, parties or religion. Drop all prog sounds right now. Drop all hard blues doom guitar sounds now. Your public image must be: a cool alcoholic, an awesome druggy, a party person or an evil, tough, sick jerk. Do not give your band a strange name that no one knows how to pronounce. No Tolkien names allowed! No literary album covers, either.”

The above memo went out, but this band never received it. If they received it, they grabbed the paper, rolled it up into a ball, and they threw it in a trash can.

It is now 2020 and the band has finally ended their studio silence. The metal world is much more ready for this music: classic heavy metal with a bit of prog and doom vibes. In some of the guitar playing you will hear a bit of that hard rocking blues proggy heavy metal of the 1970s. In addition, given the passage of time, the singing is a bit lower, and sounds as good as ever in its own peculiar, unique, cult way, but less screechy than in the 1980s. The band basically broke up because it seemed like nobody cared about their music. It took decades, but the new chapter of the band is now in the process of being written. Here is the evidence. Believe it or not, Ripley.

Cirith Ungol "Legions Arise" Lyric Video (OFFICIAL)

Cirith Ungol "Before Tomorrow" (OFFICIAL)

cirithungol.bandcamp.com

out on April 24th: ROAD WARRIOR

ROAD WARRIOR is traditional heavy metal from Australia. Their second album Mach II is out on April 24th, 2020. Road Warrior is new to this publication. Check this official information about find out more about the band: Uncompromising traditional metal from the rough Australian terrain!

On their second studio album Mach II, Australian metal tyrants Road Warrior push traditional metal forward with fist-clenching manliness while remaining true to the past.

Road Warrior bassist/vocalist Denimal Blake is a songwriter by trade, metalhead at heart and proud purveyor of metaphor. When discussing his manner of collecting songwriting ideas for the band’s second album, Mach II, he envisioned himself as a massive, ancient dragon, perched atop a giant stockpile of precious riffs, jealously guarding each and every one, no matter how tarnished and old. Through the age-old process of riff elimination and songwriting maturation, Mach II was born, an album that brings forth “more” of everything from Road Warrior’s sonic arsenal in comparison to their 2018 Power debut: More melodies, more guitar harmonies, more solos and more vocals. In fact, the word “more” was thrown about so much that Blake joked the album should have been called More II instead of Mach II. Mach II, though, is fitting since it is a more sophisticated offering than its predecessor.

Recorded at Against the Grain Studios in Adelaide, South Australia with producer Andy Kite, Mach II is the sound of a band maturing while remaining true to its traditional heavy metal roots, walking the proverbial tightrope in trying to preserve the past while attempting to push forward into less-chartered territory. The album — with the exception of “Fox Devils Wild” — rests largely in swaggering, barrel-chested mid-tempo, fist-banging terrain, a space previously occupied by greats such as Crimson Glory and Savatage, benefitting from the classic metal-tinged guitar playing of Ben “Overdryve” Newsome and rock-solid timekeeping of drummer Dillon “Villon.”

On Mach II, Blake and company tackle themes such as ancient gods, freemasons, the collapse of civility, warrior castes and regicide, all with the notion of balancing content with sing-ability, one of the album’s defining traits thanks to Blake’s street-tough, but melodious vocals. (“Trying to sing a pre-written piece of poetry over a song can often be like trying to push a marshmallow into a coin slot,” he jokes.) Even with such a balancing act, Road Warrior transcends 1980s retro metal mongering with a firm, stout degree of attitude and defiance, rarely heard in the traditional metal scene.

Ultimately, there is an underlying element of tongue-in-cheek within Road Warrior’s music. In the mind of Blake and his bandmates, everything serious and even threatening should be discounted as a product of the grand jest of life. After all, humor weakens the enemy and girds the will of free men.

ROAD WARRIOR - Fox Devils Wild

roadwarrior-metal.bandcamp.com

out on April 24th: WALLOP

WALLOP is returning after decades of absence since the 1980s. The German band has decided to follow their original idea of traditional heavy metal the way of the old, as you can hear and see on their official video below for their 2020 album Alps on Fire that is out on April 24th. To learn more about the band, see the official information here: How do you hear new, original and authentic 80’s metal in the 2020’s?

Well, the band who released their well-known debut album Metallic Alps in 1985 (and disbanded one year later) has returned with the original line-up, as aggressive, loud and enthusiastic 35 years on! WALLOP!

When drummer Stefan Arnold left his former band Grave Digger in 2018 after a 23-year run, it was time for the cult band WALLOP to rise from the dead.

To be honest: A lot of bands rely on the success of their early productions. The WALLOP story continues exactly at this point. After a short 35-year break, they continue with true 80’s old school metal - without realignment, experiments with orchestras or three failed concept albums.

The first step was made in April 2019, when a 4-track promo EP was released, and the band performed their very successful reunion show. Recently the band finalized the new album Alps on Fire, which contains old songs as well as some new and previously unreleased material, including the RAVEN cover “Crash, bang, wallop”, where no other than Mr. John Gallagher of Raven added vocals and guitar solo! In February 2020 the band decided to sign a deal with Pure Steel Records, the right partner in crime to execute the ambitious plans, the band has for the future.

The line-up is the original band from 1985 and is a true band – not one remaining member from the old days with a bunch of hired guns - which has become very rare in nowadays music industry.

WALLOP means true old school heavy metal with catchy, straight and powerful songs. The material on the upcoming album sounds old school but fresh and delivers what the metal crowd is looking for: full metal power at its best!

WALLOP Wall of sound (Official Video)

facebook.com/Wallop69/

out on April 24th: BLIZZEN

On April 24th, 2020 there is a bunch of albums coming out. BLIZZEN is one of those bands and their 2020 album is called World in Chains. The band sticks to speed metal as their main sound. This is their second album. Listen to a song from the new album and check out the official information about the band: Since their debut EP "Time Machine" from 2015, the Hessian guys from BLIZZEN have built a reputation in the European underground as one of the leading representatives of the "New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal" and already played at well-known festivals such as Harder Than Steel 2014 or Metal Assault 2016, where they succeeded to get the crowd on their side. Four years after the High Roller release "Genesis Reversed", "World In Chains" is the second album and we are proud to welcome the quartet to Pure Steel Records now. From sing along numbers such as the opener "Gates Of Hell" to Speed breakers like "Forged With Evil" and the final "Forsaken Soul" to the hymnal title track and "Serial Killer", BLIZZEN once again offer a full dose of Old School heavy metal with melodic to screeching "high pitched" vocals. Recorded was the album by Markus Nöthen at the Airstream Studios in Koblenz, Evil Invaders guitarist Max Maxheim was also included in the mix. Spandex fans, Cauldron/Enforcer advocates and people, who are not completely averse to NWoBHM, should immediately add the new album to their shopping list.

BLIZZEN - Forged with Evil

facebook.com/BlizzenOfficial/

out on April 24th: Victoria K

The Victoria K debut album Essentia is out on April 24th, 2020. Below are two official videos that are a good representation of the general sound. To find out more the music, see this official information: Rockshots Records is proud to announce their signing of Australia’s Victoria K for the release of her debut album “Essentia” coming April 24, 2020. The full length was produced by Lee Bradshaw and features special guest Michalina Malisz (Eluveitie).

The Melbourne singer/songwriter has made her mark on the rock and metal scene with the release of her debut single ‘Monster’ in 2016, featuring guitar work by Brett Garsed (John Farnham Band) along with her 2019 follow up track ‘Lacuna’ distributed in Australia and New Zealand by Warner Music Group (Australia) and is the lead single off the upcoming album. The single garnered a lot of media praise and created an opportunity for Victoria K to support Swiss folk metal giants Eluveitie for their May 2019 tour date in Melbourne, a performance that had the crowd chanting for an encore.

Although the album was originally a solo project, it has now developed into the current band structure with each member bringing their own energy and experience to the collective. The band is looking forward to collaborating on future releases and is now heavily focused on the release of this debut full length in April 2020. Victoria K adds:

“‘Essentia’ is Latin for Essence. Essence is the indispensable quality of something that determines its very nature or character. So I guess the album as a whole tries to tackle and define the very nature of humanity. In a way, I’m trying to unravel the complexity of human essence and emotion. It all hopefully leads to being struck by a moment of Sonder – therefore the realization that everyone, including strangers, has a life as complex as our own, despite our lack of awareness of it.”

Victoria K‘s talented songwriting and compositional influences include Evanescence, Within Temptation, Nightwish and Kamelot amongst other current bands in the European metal scene and her music have been likened to be a blend of these influences. Victoria K has racked up hundreds of thousands of views on YouTube with her own original creations and through featured videos alongside a number of talented musicians covering a plethora of songs. Victoria K‘s covers include Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper”, Nightwish’s “Last Ride of the Day”, Metallica’s “Nothing Else Matters” and Kamelot’s “Insomnia”, the latter of which received attention from the band themselves on Twitter and led to a meeting of talents when the American power metal band found themselves in Melbourne during their 2018 ‘The Shadow Theory’ Australian tour.

VICTORIA K - Forsaken (Official Music Video - Feat. Sheri Vengeance)

VICTORIA K - The Haunting (Official Music Video)

facebook.com/victoriakofficial/

out now: TRAVELER

The Canadian old-school heavy metal band TRAVELER has their 2020 new album Termination Shock streaming in its entirety now at the Bandcamp link below. Here is some official information about the new work: Highly anticipated second album from Canadian true metal merchants!

Just over a year after the release of their successful debut self-titled album, Calgary’s Traveler has returned with the high-voltage Termination Shock!

The buzz on Calgary’s Traveler reverberated throughout the international metal community in 2019. Their self-titled debut album quickly caught fire upon its release, with fans mesmerized by the band’s patented blend of old-school riffing, rafter-reaching vocals and dueling lead guitars. Traveler also proved their worth in the live arena, actively playing dates in their native Canada, the United States and also delivering the goods to rapturous European audiences, in particular, a well-received spot on Germany’s Keep It True festival. Realizing that now was the right time to strike for the ever-important album number two, Traveler has returned in 2020 with Termination Shock.

Tracked during the latter months of 2019 and early 2020 by producer Jan Loncick, Termination Shock captures Traveler in full stride, their indomitable blend of early speed metal theatrics and classic metal know-how fleshed out even more thanks to the bevy of ideas from founding member and primary songwriter Matt Ries. Ries admits he approached Termination Shock the same way he did for Traveler’s first demo — with no expectations, simply writing for the pure sake of enjoyment. Ries spent the better part of 2019 assembling the tracks for Termination Shock, fine-tuning the songs right up until Traveler hit the studio. However, Ries had some additional help this time — vocalist Jean-Pierre Abboud wrote lyrics to every song but one, bassist Dave Arnold contributed a song from his previous band, Striker, and JP Fortin of Deaf Dealer gifted Traveler with a composition of his own.

Termination Shock benefits from more variety in Traveler’s arsenal — the album features some of the band’s fastest songs to date, complemented by an array of mid-tempo juggernauts and even some more progressive-leaning arrangements. The album title — provided by Arnold — laid the foundation for Abboud’s elaborate science-fiction storytelling, while cover artist Dylan Barstad once again perfectly illustrated Traveler’s world.

An album that will meet the demand in every way: more speed, more solos, more harmonies and more blistering vocals, Termination Shock shows that Traveler has no intention of succumbing to the sophomore slump.

TRAVELER - Termination Shock

travelermetal.bandcamp.com/album/termination-shock

out now: LIVE BURIAL

Officially this album comes on April the 24th, 2020, but the album is already streaming in its entirety at the Bandcamp link below. Check out the official information about Live Burial's new album Unending Futility. "Death metal band from the UK, Live Burial, emerge with an astounding album that melds the best elements of classic death metal from all over. There's this undeniable rugged and scathing quality that is contrasted with the dark, brooding and often twisted structures. Painful vocals soar over rumbling, heaving parts that hearken back to the days of early Death, Morgoth, Asphyx and even Fleshcrawl. There are emotive strains shimmering in a desolate, forsaken landscape. Live Burial make it all work and it comes through effortlessly. They are forging a powerful sound that will echo through the ancient corridors of this style. 'Unending Futility' is an accomplished album that will hold appeal to any fan of well-written death metal and must not be missed. For fans of: early Asphyx, Morgoth, Death, Cancer, Gruesome, Skeletal Remains, Bolt Thrower, Unleashed"

LIVE BURIAL (UK) - The Crypt of Slumbering Madness (Death Metal) Transcending Obscurity HD

liveburialdeath.bandcamp.com/releases

out on April 24th: CLOVEN HOOF

Here is another album that comes out on the 24th of April! This is the cult band CLOVEN HOOF (New Wave of British Heavy Metal). Of course, the line-up is very different from the old, old days.

The new album is called Age of Steel. One interesting thing going on with the album is that some people are saying that they are hearing a lot of Iron Maiden and Halloween in the new album, parts of songs that are reminiscent of those band's songs. Anyway, check it out and see what you think. Do you hear the parts that sound like Helloween's "March of Time"?! Below is some official information about the long-running band.

Cloven Hoof were originally formed in the West Midlands in 1979. Following their legendary debut EP »The Opening Ritual« in 1982, Lee Payne and his boys went on to record six highly regarded full-length studio records and making a name for themselves as one of the most original sounding protagonists of the entire New Wave Of British Heavy Metal movement.

The name of Cloven Hoof’s brand new studio album is »Age Of Steel«. And what a fitting title it is! Bassist and main man Lee Payne takes over the story: “I personally feel it is our best ever release, it really is a tour de force with every song a total killer! The album features the return of the ‘Dominator’ character, who has been genetically brought back to life to wield death and destruction across the galaxy. His empire is restored to its former glory and the story will conclude on the album after this, so watch this space! The concept album is back!”

“I always want to top the last album and I have to dig deep to achieve that,” continues Lee Payne with a smile on his face. “I strive for perfection and I have a very clear vision of what »Age Of Steel« should be like. »Who Mourns For The Morning Star?« was without doubt a great album. The new one just takes it one stage further with more layering and texture next to blistering heavy guitars. It will encompass everything we do well but with greater depth and colour. There are some really evil sounding tracks on there, and get ready for a really adventurous musical piece that takes up a whole side of the album.”

CLOVEN HOOF - Gods Of War - official Lyric Video (PURE STEEL RECORDS)

Touch the Rainbow - Touch the Rainbow

facebook.com/clovenhoof1979

out on April 24: TRICK OR TREAT

There's a bunch of albums coming out on April 24th! This is one of them. This is TRICK OR TREAT. Check out two new songs below.

Trick or Treat (2002) is European power metal with a fifth album called The Legend of the XII Saints. Devoted fans of the style should be interesting and possibly very pleased with the shiny and bright sound of the new album. The official information about the album says: "2 epic songs for 12 legendary knights, one for every zodiac's sign! This time, Trick or Treat were looking for something new and different, something that they have never done before: a concept-album freely inspired by the ‘Saint Seya’ anime, and more precisely The Legend of the 12 Gold Saints of the Zodiac saga. Each song is a monographic work that delves into the personality of the knights and the compelling plot that binds all the characters to the goddess Athena. On their long-awaited sixth studio album the happy metal crusaders have once again managed to forge an epic and entertaining sonic tale, enriched by majestic orchestrations, refined arrangements and catchy refrains.'The Legend of the XII Saints' is going to be available starting from April 24th."

TRICK OR TREAT are a crazy bunch of musicians: they are one tight power metal band and they sure deliver the goods on stage, but they also like to share some fun with their audience – that’s why everybody loves them.

Formed back in 2002 by lead guitarist Luca Cabri and initially performing as a tribute to Helloween, they quickly got very popular and played the most renown live clubs around Italy: after a couple of intense years on the stage, they recorded the “Like Donald Duck” 4-piece demo and signed a deal with Valery Records for their first full-length, named “Evil Needs Candy Too”, which came out in 2006. The debut got a terrific response and put TRICK OR TREAT back on the road for the following two years, playing over 100 gigs in Europe and U.S.A.

Nevertheless, the guys kept writing more songs and in 2009 they gave birth to their second LP, called “Tin Soldiers”, which features Michael Kiske (Helloween, Place Vendôme) on two songs and Michele Luppi (Vision Divine, Killing Touch) on another one: as expected, the record receives a brilliant feedback on the scene (for instance, it breaks on the Japanese charts at the 29th place) and the band plays some top festivals, like the Agglutination, the Palasharp I-Metal Fest and the Italian Gods Of Metal. Last but absolutely not least, TRICK OR TREAT have also been recently selected as opener band for Helloween’s “The 7 Sinners World Tour 2010/11” together with special guest Stratovarius.

in early 2012, Luca Turilli announced that the Trick or Treat’s singer Alessandro Conti is the new lead singer of the band “Luca Turilli’s RHAPSODY”. the first album: “Ascending to infinity” is already a hit in metal-charts all over the world. In the 2012, Trick or Treat come back with a new album, a concept inspired by the novel of Richard Adams “Wathersip down”, which features Andre Matos on one track. The album’s called “Rabbits’ Hill pt.1″. In 2014 Trick or Treat toured as support to Sonata Arctica during the "Pariah's child" european tour (21 shows)

the 8 july 2016 the band releases the new album "rabbits' Hill pt.2" (the first with Frontiers records/ King records) the first feedbacks are just incredible, also thanks to the guest singer that appear on it: Tony Kakko (Sonata Arctica) Tim "ripper" Owens (ex-Judas Priest) and Sara Squadrani (Ancients Bards - Ayreon)

TRICK OR TREAT? Make your choice…

TRICK OR TREAT "ARIES: Stardust Revolution"

TRICK OR TREAT TAURUS: Great Horn

scarletrecords.it/releases/trick-or-treat-the-legend-of-the-xii-saints/ facebook.com/trickortreatband

review: Sölicitör

Sölicitör

Spectral Devastation

Gates of Hell Records

24 April 2020

Many are the obsessions with speed. The grind freaks often rely on short bursts of chaotic speed, while some death metal mutants frequently go full blast with precision, and thrash bands love the mosh riffs. These Seattle area rockers love the speed, too, but for them it is a vehicle for their traditional, classic-style heavy metal, a leaner, meaner, focused sound of galloping and fast riffs, shredding and heroic-villainous singing. The music is not extreme metal, but the pace is intense enough that dissenters of the extreme might just find these songs interesting, and possibly different from the usual, less intense style of the golden oldies. Drums, bass, guitars, microphone. Turn them on, and just pounce! Sölicitör sounds like they wake up to eat metal for breakfast, lunch and dinner and go to sleep thinking about the next headbanging tune that they will write. They are metal and sing about metal in a very proud way. Maybe living in a place like Seattle makes the misfits even more devoted to their cause while they are surrounded by a famous fish market, water water water everywhere, coffee shops galore, and a Space Needle that points accusingly at the metal bands, asking, “Do you dare to be metal in this town? in this town?!”

How to make classic-style songs in 2020 that rock with the classics and with the fans of the contemporaries? How to make songs interesting while generally keeping the songs very uptempo? These are the questions that the Washington state band seeks to answer. Do bands that play fast all the time paint themselves into a corner?! Not if you’re into music that works like adrenaline! Who needs caffeine when you have Sölicitör music to jolt you out of your fatigue?! Their mission is clear and they have their marching orders: rock! It was written long ago:

We didn't come for their sympathy

We didn't come for their soul

We didn't come for their bigotry

We didn't come for their gold

We never said we were perfect

We'll lay it on the line

They can stick their censorship

Where the sun don't shine

We came here to rock!

Sölicitör did not write those lyrics, Saxon did, but the goal is the same, metal, glory and fame, working to make metal great again, whether in Britain or in the Seattle rain for the fanatics of fast, headbanging and shredding and wailing. Sölicitör came here to rock.

solicitor-speedmetal.bandcamp.com/releases

review: Arallu

Arallu

En Olam

Satanath Records

September 22nd, 2019

This publication totally missed the boat on this September 2019 album. Let’s rectify now. The band (1997) is a long-running Israeli interpretation of Middle Eastern-flavored uptempo, headbanging extreme metal. They are skilled and knowledgeable, and they do many things that it bears spending time on some of those qualities. First of all, they keep the music on point, disciplined, compact and intelligible. They seem ambitious, capable of making their music considerably more complex, but they refuse to make show-off, long, meandering songs. In that sense, the black metal ethic enhances their strengths by making the music comprehesible to extreme fans in general: people wanting uptempo, fast metal. In point of fact, they persistently keep their songs in the range of 3-5 minutes as a general way of writing songs.

As already stated, black metal is the main foundation. More specifically, it is often black thrashing with strong, aggressive growling that is surprisingly intelligible despite the harsh style. The band uses the darbuka, a percussion instrument, in some spots for a sensation of joviality, a different feeling (in metal) of cheerful tones, with a light vibe. They also use the saz, a string instrument. For U.S. audiences a reference might perhaps be the sound and feeling of hearing the banjo; it is an upbeat sound; meaning that, for instance, for people here in the U.S. it is normal to think of the banjo in that way. Of course, the saz is not the banjo! At any rate, Arallu’s use of the saz provides another side to their sound.

Do these melodies seem familiar to people in the Middle East in general? Are they different variations of traditional Middle Eastern melodies? This reviewer does not pretend to know the answers to these questions. For U.S. extreme metal audiences, Nile is known for the use of Middle Eastern melodies. Arallu, in that sense, may be very, very interesting to U.S. fans.

ARALLU - The Center Of The Unknown [Official Video]

ARALLU - Guard Of She'ol [Official Video]

arallu.bandcamp.com/album/en-olam-physical-digital-album

review: Volturian

Volturian

Crimson

Scarlet Records

24 April 2020

Techno/dance/electronic music often has a huge, simple big beat that grabs the attention. Volturian uses that idea for the production, and then applies it to their songs for a very ear-friendly pop-oriented sound. The drums do not sound like acoustic drums, but like drums of electronic music, and the beats are very vertical, up down, up down, and will prove effective for instant gratification. Besides simple pop-like beats, the music relies on sweet melodies by the guitars. The rhythm guitars also use simple, direct ideas that sound pleasant to the ear, and above the rhythms the guitar melodies pour on the sugar. The keyboards pour on even more syrup. These songs won’t make you bang your head, but maybe make you dance. Pop-electronic music married heavy metal, and they had a big, bouncy baby and the baby’s name is Volturian. “You gotta see the baby!”

The melodic-pop singing completes the circle. These vocals could be on top pop hits that the radio plays. There is some growling/screaming in a few spots throughout, but it’s not very much. The little bit of screaming does not make or break the album. It’s the melodic singing that makes the album. Know one thing: You need to hear no more than 30 seconds to know if you like it. Do you like it or not? From elementary school kids to adults, the music is instant and people understand it quickly. It’s meant to be fun, poppy songs to put you in a happy mood. True story, “I like this!,” said a seven-year-old right after some 10 seconds of the song “The Killing Joke.”

VOLTURIAN - Broken (Official Video)

VOLTURIAN - New Life (Official Visualizer)

facebook.com/volturian/

review: Unmerciful

Unmerciful

Wrath Encompassed

Willowtip Records

24 April 2020

“I wanna go fast!” -Ricky Bobby

“If you ain’t first, you’re last!” -Ricky Bobby

Listening to this blast attack team is a test of the audience’s capacity to focus on small details at high velocities, like reading while running full speed on a treadmill. Fun, right? And how! What does the passenger see on the side of the road looking out the window when the car is going 75 miles per hour (not when you look into the distance but when you look at the side of the road right next to the car)? Can the passenger assemble a mental picture of what they’re seeing? Endurance, dexterity, precision and taking human ability to its limits. The American Midwestern group excels at blistering speed. The guitars shred and gallop, while the bass guitar, drums and growling create synchronized chaos.

This is not melodic, it’s not catchy because the objective is not ear-friendly tunes but exercises in super fast compositions. Some listeners will enjoy that all-out nonstop style, while others will appreciate the challenge of putting together the puzzle at this speed. Many fans just like the ridiculous speeds and some young musicians will take up learning to play fast, tight, shredding, carpal tunnel-causing guitar. Young drummers will find out if they can train themselves to be this agile, tough and alert to play this way for long periods of time.

The blinding speeds are tons of fun, but just as important is skill. Unmerciful has nothing to offer to fans if not an obsessive compulsive fixation on playing the music air tight and doing it well, as well as it is possible by imperfect, living beings made of flesh and blood. It will take cyborgs to play faster, tighter and better than this. Until that time arrives, enjoy this warp speed ride. Now, listen, Ricky, you may be wondering to yourself, "Should I give Unmerciful a listen?" That's the problem. Too much thinking. "And here you sit, thinking. Well, Ricky Bobby is not a thinker. Ricky Bobby is a driver. He is a doer. And that's what you need to do. You don't need to think. You need to drive. You need speed. You need to go out there, and you need to rev your engine. You need to fire it up. You need to grab a hold of that line between speed and chaos, and you need to wrestle it to the ground like a demon cobra!" Word.

unmerciful.bandcamp.com/releases

BARBORA (TUBLATANKA) Žeravé Znamenie Osudu cover

"BARBORA is a Slovak progressive/fusion metal guitarist based in London, UK. Her debut original EP 'TARTARUS', a 6-track concept project combining traditional thrash with influences from flamenco and jazz, was released on October 1st 2013 and featured guest appearances from multi-instrumentalist and singer Simon Duthilleul Vannucci (Nibirus, ~Obsession~) and singer/songwriter Kaya Labonte-Hurst. In summer 2014, BARBORA brought together a live band consisting of multi-instrumentalist Edwin Jack-Chapman and drummer James Wise, to begin working on her next project ENIGMA, and to play live shows. The band took London & Essex by storm with their unique and experimental blend of metal, jazz, and insane time signatures. On December 25th 2014, the band released an instrumental metal version of Wham!'s 'Last Christmas', releasing the track digitally via Bandcamp and Soundcloud. In December 2015, they released their debut album, ENIGMA."

(TUBLATANKA) Žeravé Znamenie Osudu Cover

barbora.bandcamp.com

THE SCUM "No Forgiveness" lyric video

"Manizales (CO) - Colombian Death Metal masters The Scum have released a lyric video for 'No Forgiveness,' the second single from the band's forthcoming Dead Eyes EP. This time, the band from Manizales surprises us with a fast and ruthless song that recalls the sounds of pioneers of old school death metal, such as Benediction, Grave, Unleashed, Dismember, and Entombed. The video was edited by Francisco Henao and Attia Studios in Manizales. The song has a first class production job with the participation of Tomás Skogsberg doing the Mix at Sunlight Studios (Dismember, Carnage, Necrophobic, Grave, Entombed) in Sweden, and mastered by the renowned engineer Andy Classen (Holy Moses, Asphyx, Belphegor, Krisiun, Destruction) at Stage One Studio in Germany. Dead Eyes will be released May 1 via Wild Noise Productions. The EP was produced in Sunlight Studios by Tomas Skolberg and mastered by Andy Classen at Stage One Studio. Last month the band released the official video for the title track, which features none other than Dave Ingram of the mighty Benediction. An impressive work directed by Juan Diego Escobar Alzate and Afasia Films, the video, premiered by Slam Worldwide has already 8.000 views on YouTube."

THE SCUM - No Forgiveness (OFFICIAL LYRIC VIDEO)

THE SCUM - DEAD EYES (FEAT. DAVE INGRAM OF BENEDICTION) [OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO] (2020)

facebook.com/thescummusic/

Arcane Relic (black metal)

Arcane Relic is old black metal and their 2020 recording is called Demo MMXIX. Listen to the music at the Bandcamp link below.

1.Intromancy 01:55 instrumental

2.Fantasising the Absolute and Ultimate Infinity Catharsis 06:04

3.Apotheosis of the Impetuous Nocturne Piercing the Veil of Nyx 07:17

4.Unchaining the Wolf (at War) 05:29

arcanerelic.bandcamp.com/releases

Revanent (black metal)

Revanent is raw-necro black metal from Wisconsin, U.S. Listen to their four-song self-titled EP at the Bandcamp link below.

Revanent

Revanent

April 12th, 2020

1.The Path 03:26

2.Revanent 01:57

3.Goat 02:53

4.Fade 02:46

total time 11:02

revanentband.bandcamp.com/releases

TULIP - The Inner Light (Official Video)

Tulip's album High Strangeness is out now. Here is the video for "The Inner Light," and good luck trying to get this song out of your head after you hear it. For some silly reason, we forgot tell you about the video, even though we have been watching this video about 25,000 times since it first came out.

"Forged in the fire of excommunication, Texan transplants ‘Tulip’ deliver their own brand of symphonic metal, spearheaded by ex-professional opera vocalist Ashleigh Semkiw, and Colin Parrish on guitar. Emerging together for the first time in September 2018, the members of Tulip are established artists, having performed for a decade in their respective past acts; Ashleigh in professional opera, Brandon with ONI throughout Europe alongside the likes of Children of Bodom and Lamb Of God, Ryan sessioning across the USA and Canada, and co-lead member Colin as an accomplished recording and mix engineer.

'TULIP', their self-titled debut EP was self written, recorded and mixed, and was mastered by the legendary Troy Glessner (Devin Townsend, August Burns Red, Disturbed). The five song collection delivers symphonic metal with a modern groove oriented twist.

Following their first US tour with Swedish metal outfit Evergrey, Tulip went even further with their next recorded effort. The upcoming LP "High Strangeness” boasts twelve tracks of bone crushing drums, searing guitars and masterful vocals underpinned with full orchestration and layered synths."

TULIP - The Inner Light (Official Video)

facebook.com/wearetulipofficial

Neorhythm - Zeus Rules! (Vocal Video)

"Dark Groove Metal Duo NEORHYTHM have released a vocal video for "Zeus Rules!," a track from the band's recently released Terrastory album. NEORYTHYM released Terrastory on March 20. Featuring 11 tracks of dark, progressive groove, Terrastory is a concept album with themes covering the 4.5 billion year history of planet Earth."

"NEORHYTHM arrange an intricately designed formula of heavy-hitting Groove Metal developments. All fans of metal should relish this one. NEORHYTHM most definitely deserve attention." (9/10) - Metal Temple

"Neorythym deliver a bombastic set of head-bangers that are filled with some serious gravitas while never coming across pretentious." - Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life

"This is one of those albums that certainly has enough instant appeal to please, but definitely grows and improves over time with multiple spins. Neorhythm have produced an enjoyable and worthy album of heavy music." - Wonderbox Metal

The band elaborates on the concepts behind Terrastory: "Terrastory is a conceptual album that reviews and describes the history of planet Earth from the origin of the star to the present day, the history and evolution of Mankind and Civilizations, and even tries to look into the Future. With our new songs, we penetrated the temporal space from the Archean Eon to Art Nouveau, explored various cultures and tried to convey not only lyrically, but also musically the development of our father’s home, from the protobacterial world to perfect technological progress. For History is a treasury of human deeds, a witness to the past, an example and a lesson for the present and a warning for the future."

Neorhythm - Zeus Rules! (Vocal Video)

facebook.com/neorhythmofficial

BLACKCAST - The American Dream (Official Music Video)

"The new music video for the single 'The American Dream' from San Diego metalcore band BLACKCAST. The band is for fans of August Burns Red, Wage War, Currents, Meshuggah. Our new single, 'The American Dream' is about the struggles of immigrants and their journey in getting to the USA. You will hear about the struggles that one may experience during that hard journey that unfortunately gets overlooked sometimes.'"

About: In 2015, in the heat of San Diego, USA, Blackcast started as a 6 piece band featuring two vocalists, 2 guitarists (Dany Khouli and Armand Guerra), a bassist (Hakeem Kelly) and a drummer (Richard Bocanegra). Along the way, there was a falling out with our first 2 vocalists and Blackcast became stagnant until the arrival of vocalist, Tyler Walters, who helped push the band to where it needed to go.

Blackcast was soon able to play alongside big bands such as Born of Osiris, Atilla, Hatebreed, Bleeding Through, Spite, and Bad Omens. For two years they played gig after gig and released two albums, their self-titled debut in 2016 and "Riches to Ruins" in 2017. After that album, life situations and creative differences saw the departure of all the members except for Bocanegra and Guerra. They were replaced by Montgomery Turel (guitar), Luis Perea (vocals), and Richard Orozco (bass).

The new lineup quickly released four banging singles "Against The World" (2018), "Buried Alive" (2019), "Brain Dead" (2019) and "The American Dream" (2020). They are on a roll and can't wait to show that they are stronger than ever and ready to prove that they still can make ears bleed and heads bang!

Ambition is high, Blackcast has been zoning in on being heavy and dark with all the breakdowns you can handle, and then some. There is more in the works for this collaborative band; focusing on keeping their sound consistent and technical, fans can expect nothing but sheer energy delivered straight to their faces during performances.

BLACKCAST - The American Dream (Official Music Video) Metalcore

facebook.com/BlackcastMusic/

ARKA'N-Tears of the Dead Official Video

The debut album by ARKA'N (Togo) is called Zã Keli. They say about themselves: "The band’s originality stems from their music, “Asrafo-core” which is a fusion of hard rock/metal and African mystic and warrior music. Since 2010, ARKA’N ASRAFOKOR has paved its way on the Togolese music scene as an impressive hard rock metal band which creates, records and performs its own songs deriving their particular sound from the intense African character of their compositions."

Listen to the album at the Bandcamp link below these videos.

ARKA'N-Tears of the Dead Official Video

ARKA'N-Les Peuples de l'Ombre-Concert IFT 2018

arkan1.bandcamp.com/album/z-keli

LOVEBITES / Golden Destination [MUSIC VIDEO]

"Meet one the most promising rising stars of Japan’s female metal scene, Lovebites. The band consist of, Asami (lead singer), Miho (the band leader and the bassist), Haruna (drummer), Midori (guitarist) and Mi-Ya (guitar and keyboards). The Lovebites sound owes a debt to the many great overseas heavy metal bands that have directly influenced their writing. Coupled with their own unique take on music, with each members eclectic background and experiences, everything has culminated into forging a truly formidable group.

It all started with a break-up of a girl’s metal band. Miho, who played as a live member in several bands after the break up, decided to form a new band. She called up her old band mate and the ex-drummer of Destrose, Haruna, to put together a new metal band in 2015. Miho and Haruna already had a huge following within the girls’ metal scene do this news spread quickly and created great excitement among many fans.

Miho and Haruna started their search for band members and fate led them to meet Asami, the lead singer of Lovebites. She was already an experienced singer, having been on the road with Japan’s top stars such as Vamps and Uverworld as their back-up vocalist. Also her wide vocal range and tremendous control, helped to determine the specific Lovebites sound – a deep heavy metal sonic structure with dynamic crystal clear vocals.

In 2016, Midori, the former guitarist of Gekijo★METALicche, joined the band as a full member, as well as Mi-Ya, (ex-a Drop Of Joker and the guitarist of 21g) as a supporting member. Having the powerful twin guitars of these two distinguished and outstanding guitarists was the cherry on top, and so Lovebites was born.

On November 18, 2016, Lovebites made their official live debut at “Women’s Power presents Girls Band Next Generation” at Tsutaya O-West in Shibuya, Tokyo, sharing the stage with Disqualia and Mai Yashima.

Lovebites started working on their first EP at the end of 2016, joined by amazing an engineering team of Mikko Karmila and Mika Jussila from Finland who are known for their work with Nightwish, Children Of Bodom and Amorphis to name a few. The Lovebite EP was the culmination of those sessions, released in mid-2017. In August, Mi-ya became a full member of Lovebites and, as a full 5 member group, they released their first full album, Awakening From Abyss, in October 2017."

The Lovebites EP EP 2017

Awakening from Abyss Full-length 2017

Battle Against Damnation EP 2018

Clockwork Immortality Full-length 2018

Daughters of the Dawn - Live in Tokyo 2019 Live album 2019

Electric Pentagram Full-length 2020

Golden Destination Single 2020

LOVEBITES / Golden Destination [MUSIC VIDEO]

LOVEBITES / When Destinies Align [4K MUSIC VIDEO]

LOVEBITES - Rising (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

facebook.com/LovebitesTheBand/

Montreal's GORLVSH debut album out June 5th

Bringing their bizarre, mathy, metallic hardcore music to ears everywhere, Montreal, QC power trio GORLVSH (pronounced Gore-Lush) have their single 'Sheppard One Is Down' below. The track is off their forthcoming debut album "New City Vibe" due out June 5, 2020 via No List Records and Ancient Temple Recordings. With a tornado of crushing heavy sludgy riffs and energetic energetic sound, GORLVSH is suited for anyone looking for something completely different, the band explains: "We constantly wrote music with the live show in mind. We wanted that to a good blend of all the things we dig that bands do, scrapping the weakest stuff along the way, and constantly iterating upon the songs we dig. Eventually, when we decided to record the full length, we just worked backward from which tracks were most exciting to make something we could be proud of. We’ve upped our production game a lot, but focused primarily on what makes our sound unique, finding riffs that work for our blend of multiple bass amps, octave pedals, and a ton of distortion and fx. We really aim to sound as good and professional as possible, despite our DIY ethos and $0 recording budget.”

Entitled “New City Vibe”, the album is a new mantra, as an injunction. New City Vibe is decadence. The lyrics on the release are all about today’s challenges, individualism, hyper-sexualization, ordinary violence, competition between individuals and deadly ideologies destroying people's lives. For those who are from the band's hometown of Montreal, the artwork represents the iconic Farine Roses building.

Gorlvsh - Sheppard One is Down

Facebook.com/gorlvshmtl

upcoming DISMALIMERENCE album

Chicago-based black metal horde DISMALIMERENCE will release its debut full-length album - Tome: 1 - this summer on Transcending Records. The album's first single is now streaming courtesy of Atmospheric Black Metal. Check out "Negligence of the Forgotten" below. Transcending Records will release Tome: 1 June 26 on vinyl (black and gold marble editions), CD and digital formats.

Evoking the cold fury of emotive black metal powerhouses like Woods of Desolation and the warmer approach of artists such as Panopticon is Chicago’s own DISMALIMERENCE. A blistering yet beautiful Black Metal outfit whose origins date back to the year 2011 and a dark time in the life of front man and guitar player Elijah Cirricione. The band’s eight track debut full length Tome: 1 puts DISMALIMERENCE in place to be a group to be acknowledged in the US Black Metal scene.

Elijah began to craft the album that would become the group’s debut full length, Tome: 1, when going through what can only be described as an emotionally crushing period of his life time. Although the band took the backseat for a few years, in 2018 DISMALIMERENCE took shape and finished Tome: 1 through the addition of guitar player Matt Mifflin, bassist Craig Hamburger, and drummer Joey Casillas. The quartet have gained a considerable following in the metal scene of their home city of Chicago, playing a multitude of shows with bands such as SepticFlesh, Ensiferum, and Saor.

Dismalimerence - Negligence of the Forgotten (SINGLE)

dismalimerence.bandcamp.com/album/tome-1

review: Khôra

Khôra

Timaeus

Soulseller Records

April 17th, 2020

This is not really an album as much as it is sliding down the rabbit hole only to roll down into a bunch of other holes further down. It seems apparent enough at first. Blasting extreme metal, extreme vocals. The first song seems like a black metal track, with a contemporary production, kind of fancy schmancy studio magic and extreme metal, but most likely still very much recognizable as a descendant of black metal, perhaps with a proggy influence. You may be thinking, “Ok, I know where this is going. Black metal.” Not quite! The second song shows a much more melodic side, including some singing, and a more proggy edge to the music. “Ok, I don’t really know where this is going. Let’s see.”

It turns out that there is a solid portion of black metal, but so is there a serious proggy underbelly to this beast. To be honest, it is not an easy album to understand at first, unless you are a big proghead. It does require patience and repeated listens to begin to see what’s going on. The album is more like a book that’s meant to play games with the reader a little bit, not a linear narration. It’s not a meat-and-potatoes extreme album. There seem to be quite a few vocal styles peppered throughout. There are fast, blazing tempos, and there are symphonic parts, slow segments and other things to achieve variety. It’s not a weirdo nor experimental work per se, but the prog is strong with this one, resulting in a somewhat challenging but enjoyable listen.

soulsellerrecords.bandcamp.com/album/timaeus

review: Reptilium

Reptilium

Adrenochromacy

Slam Worldwide

17 April 2020

Four songs for about 15 minutes of total playing time is the art of this U.F.O.-themed brutal, slamming death grunt entity from Ecuador. Deathcore, brutal death metal, and slam all went out to a big party and all of them ended up passed out in the same corner of the bar. Then, they all watched documentaries and testimonies about Ebola, ancient Egypt, extraterrestrials, and everything in between. The reptiles out here stay low, low, slamming, blasting and brutal, and because it is 15 minutes, this thing sounds best when it goes round and round on repeat for a good time. reptiliumsect.bandcamp.com

review: The Black Dahlia Murder

The Black Dahlia Murder

Verminous

Metal Blade Records

17 April 2020

The ninth album finds the long-running act at glorious heights from their humble beginnings in Middle America when they were a young band of the new millennium. They are known for their good work ethic, and people know them for touring a lot and for being reliable in the making of albums, with a new one every two years, more or less. In short, such a serious, hardworking band has been able to carve out its own little niche in the market, and that’s a very nice achievement for them as a small, humble band that came up in the brave new world of music after 2000. The reputation the band has now, they got it from those concert goers that have seen them live in bars, house parties, front lawns, clubs, and street corners anywhere that will allow them to play. It is downright impressive what this stubborn little band from nowhere has done to survive doing the thankless job of playing extreme music.

Album number nine does at least three things of interest. First, the pace often stays within thrash and blasting speeds for moshing and headbanging songs. Second, the songwriting shows a great obsession with working in melodies into each song. This must be one of the reasons why they continue to be relevant; the guitar melodies are a highlight. Third, there is certain fun or memorable aspect to the songs, despite the fast tempos. This is fast melodic death metal, but the melodic aspect continues to be just as central as the extremity.

The vocals feel mostly like screechy growling. There are some lower, brutal death metal vocals, and the song “Child of Night” features such appealing growling almost completely, for example. While the music should appeal to fans of thrashy riffing, melodies, fast/shred guitar in general, the screechy vocals do require that the new listeners make up their own mind about this particular type of screaming.

theblackdahliamurder.bandcamp.com

out now: The Rhubarb

Stoner fans looking for new blood now have The Rhubarb (Scotland) to delve into. Their second recording called "Black Sun" is now streaming on Bandcamp. The band is new to this publication, too, but it looks like back in 2016 they released their first EP. They have the big, thick riffs that go at a nice and comfortable pace, with that 1970s vibe, of course, so the die-hard stoner fans should feel at home listening to this new music. They describe themselves as follows: "The Rhubarb are a stoner doom band from Glasgow Scotland, influenced by Black Sabbath, Sleep, High on Fire and Electric Wizard and Hawkwind. Their combination of male & female driven vocal and high fuzz drugged out riffs proves an extremely potent mix."

1.Drag Me to Hell 06:10

2.Part-Time Suicide 07:23

3.The Waters 07:54

4.I'd Do Anything 08:02

total time 29:29

therhubarb.bandcamp.com/album/black-sun