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

Shadows

Out for Blood

Sentient Ruin Laboratories

May 19th, 2023

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

Out for Blood by SHADOWS

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

Zero Down in Everett this Friday, May 26th

Friends in the Everett area,

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

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

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

Larger Than Death by Zero Down

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

Pain Field - Blackened Skies

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

Roger Staffelbach - a celebration of neoclassical guitar

Roger Staffelbach

The Quest

No Dust Records

12 May 2023

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

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

The Quest by Roger Staffelbach

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

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

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

1. We Are the Resurrection 04:56

2. Judgement Day 05:52

3. The Spirit Lives On 05:32

4. Wicked Witch 05:34

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

6. Victim of Time 05:22

7. My Orion 04:34

8. Lost in the Garden 06:07

9. Dissonance 04:57

10. Soldier Stands Solitarily 05:21

total time 53:24

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

LOVEBITES / Judgement Day [MUSIC VIDEO]

https://www.facebook.com/LovebitesTheBand

Whythre - Scorchbreath (official music video)

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

WHYTHRE - Scorchbreath (Official Music Video) Melodic Death Metal

WHYTHRE - Scorpions of Sinai (Official Lyric Video)

Impregnate My Hate by Whythre

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

Ainulindalë - epic black metal from France

Ainulindalë

Les chroniques d'Arda

November 19th, 2021

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

Les chroniques d'Arda by Ainulindalë

Countless Skies: Resonance – Live from the Studio

Countless Skies

Resonance – Live from the Studio

Willowtip Records

5 May 2023

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

Resonance – Live from the Studio by Countless Skies

https://www.facebook.com/CountlessSkies

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

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

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

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

Mindless Sinner - keeping it true; to expel the false

Mindless Sinner

Keeping True Alive

Pure Steel Records

May 5th 2023

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

1. We Go Together 03:43

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

3. Live and Die 04:16

4. Broken Freedom 03:50

5. Standing on the Stage 04:30

6. Master of Evil 04:49

7. Turn On the Power 05:28

8. Screaming for Mercy 03:52

9. Voice of the Doomed 05:19

10. Here She Comes Again 05:37

total time 45:05

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

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

Mindless Sinner - Live And Die - Keep It True XVIII

https://www.facebook.com/mindlesssinnerofficial

Jaue - folk black metal from Colombia

Jaue

Cantos del Sur Salvaje

Satanath Records and Exhumed Records

17 April 2023

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

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

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

Cantos Del Sur Salvaje (2023) by Jaue

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

Immortal Guardian - Roots Run Deep (feat. Ralf Scheepers) [official music video]

Immortal Guardian

Roots Run Deep ft. Ralph Scheepers (Primal Fear) (single)

M-Theory Audio

22 March 2023

Power metal homerun hitters Immortal Guardian have a video for the song called "Roots Run Deep." Previously they have released four new songs, and this is the fifth one, with the grand plan of having the full-length album ready before the fall of 2023. As you will see, they have Primal Fear air raid siren Ralf Scheepers coming in from the bullpen for some guest vocals. The band seems to have started out Harlingen, Texas, U.S. in 2008, and now called Las Vegas home, and since their debut full-length album Age of Revolution they have substantially increased their batting average and continued with 2021's Psychosomatic. They are on the move again looking for that homerun. With five new songs available now, maybe that's exactly what they will do. Watch and see, with five innings down, do they have four more to bring the ducks home? The bases are loading nicely so far.

Immortal Guardian - Roots Run Deep (feat. Ralf Scheepers) [Official Music Video]

https://immortalguardian.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.facebook.com/igmetal

Century - traditional heavy metal from Sweden

Century

The Conquest of Time

No Remorse Records

21.04.2023

Classic-style heavy metal band Century (Sweden) did a demo in 2020, a single in 2022 and the time for the debut full-length has arrived. Interestingly enough, this is not yet a full band because it is Leo Ekström on drums and bass and Staffan Tengnér on guitars, vocals and bass. The album is nine songs in 36 minutes. The most appealing factor is their melodies. They prefer melodies that are not overly sweet. The singing is important, but this is riff and rhythm headbanging music. The singing fits the music, but it seems too secondary and could stand for Staffan to devote more time to that area, in addition to improving on the lyrics, as some of these lyrics are too typical and empty, and are there for Staffan to have something to sing, not something to express from the heart. Don’t let the constructive criticism fool you, I have enjoyed this album a lot and I appreciate their effort very much. Expect serious heavy metal with a tendency towards a melodic-ominous style.

The Conquest of Time by Century

https://www.facebook.com/centuryswe

Fifth Angel - When Angels Kill (official music video)

In case that you have not seen it, here is the latest video from the Washington State, U.S. melodic heavy metal band Fifth Angel (1984-1989, 2010, 2017-present). The song is called "When Angels Kill" from the upcoming album also titled When Angels Kill. If you like the new song, you might also enjoy the live recording found below the new video. In addition, if you do like both videos, maybe you will also have fun going back to the elegant, beautiful sound of the melodic heavy metal of the band in the 1980s. While we wait for the new album, there is a quite a bit of history to catch up on, right?!

Fifth Angel

When Angels Kill

Nuclear Blast

June 16th, 2023

1. Descent into Darkness

2. When Angels Kill

3. Resist the Tyrant

4. On Wings of Steel

5. We Are Immortal

6. Empire of Hate

7. Run to the Black

8. Seven Angels

9. Blinded and Bleeding

10. Kill the Pain

11. Five Days to Madness

12. Ashes to Ashes

13. The End of Everything

14. Light the Skies

FIFTH ANGEL - When Angels Kill (OFFICIAL MUSIC VIDEO)

Fifth Angel live | Rockpalast | 2019

Fifth Angel - Time Will Tell

https://www.facebook.com/fifthangelofficial/

Trip The Wire - "Hurricane" (official music video)

Trip The Wire

Trip The Wire

16 June 2023

Here are a couple of videos from Trip The Wire from the state of Washington, U.S. Their self-titled album is "retro" heavy rock. The music is back-to-basics of guitars, drums, bass and singing, and avoids distractions like background or samples or special effects. They sound like a band interested in playing these songs live similarly to the recording. Listeners should be able to hear the instrumentation relatively clearly because the band wants audiences to hear the songwriting and focus on the songs and the melodies. The band refers to their music as "hard rock," but it's heavy rock/heavy metal, not blues rock, because the guitars have a certain crunch to them, which comes out in selected places. One gets the impression that at least some members of the band like metal music, but they are not trying to be all-out headbanging metal. They prefer the variety and diverse songwriting of 1970s heavy rock. While a song like "In the Crossfire" might sound like traditional heavy metal, the other songs make it obvious that they want a bit more variety.

In the Crossfire 4:21

Anti Love 3:50

Hurricane 4:37

Zombie Child 3:33

Shine On 4:38

The Fire 4:52

Maybe Next Time 3:56

Outta My Hands 4:46

Never Enough 4:42

Step Nine 6:13

Trip The Wire - In the Crossfire (Live)

Trip The Wire - "Hurricane" (Official Music Video)

Hurricane by Trip The Wire

Decaying Crypt - Seattle death doom

Decaying Crypt

Demo MMXXI

September 23rd, 2021

So far it seems that there is only this 26-minute, five-track recording released by this Washington State, U.S. cavernous death doom band; they call themselves "old school death metal." Their interpretation of heavy consists of blasting, undeniable, full-speed-ahead moments that will bang those heads that do not bang, while the slow-motion crawling sections are an important part of their sound. Recommended for fans of Incantation and the bands that are the children and grandchildren of Incantation: the furious death metal and the slow parts. As long as the slow passages are acceptable to the listener, better yet, very enjoyable, Decaying Crypt's demo should be building up a small following (or maybe not so small, we'll see) of die-hard supporters of primal cave brutality.

DEMO MMXXI by Decaying Crypt

Vesuvian - melodic death metal from Seattle

Vesuvian

Emergence

April 9th, 2023

This month of April 2023, after two previous EPs, the Seattle melodic death metal band Vesuvian (2014-2015 [as Ocean of Obsession], 2015-present) has issued its debut full-length album called Emergence. At this particular juncture the band has arrived at a rather polished sound based on melodic extreme metal with a neosymphonic background, in addition to other elements, like some melodic singing and slower passages. I am not that familiar with the new album so far because I have only heard it one time as of right now, although I am now working on hearing it a second time. Having seen the band live, it’s nice to hear recorded some of the newer material that they have been telling audiences about. It is also nice to see the band get to the point where they sound like they are capable of making come to life the music that they hear in their minds as Vesuvian music. Back in the early days before they even changed their name to Vesuvian, they sounded like a young band working within metalcore-based sounds when they were just getting their feet wet. Nowadays they have grown in experience and they have come a long way towards a more professional melodic death metal sound.

Emergence by Vesuvian

https://www.facebook.com/Vesuvianmetal/

Infecting the Swarm - ultra brutal woof woof from Germany

Infecting the Swarm

Pulsing Coalescence

Lacerated Enemy Records

14 April 2023

When you are the band Infecting the Swarm, you always try to do the worst you can. Make your cacophony as fugly as possible, and sound you grabbed a bunch of Pantera records and you violently shoved them into a meat grinder, and the sound of the meat grinder chewing up and spitting out the shattered pieces is the sound of Infecting the Swarm. Goodness, this is as atrocious as it is marvelous: super-duper lowest-growled, eat-the-microphone vocals; animalistic barbarian drum blasting (programming?) and unmelodic, thick rhythms. Don’t show this music to your teachers! They will say, “Angie, oh, honey, I’m worried about you. I don’t think this music is appropriate.” They might call social services, animal control and the local Boys and Girls counselor to ask you if you are doing ok. Angie, you tell those fools that you are doing ok. Tell them, “Hey, you liked stupid fake so-called music like that Mr. big-butt rapper guy when you were young! You can’t judge me when you were dancing to Vanilla Ice and MC Hammer in your day! Now get out of my room and let me listen to Infecting the Swarm, alright?!” Friend, come this way only if you want to hear the most repugnant metal.

INFECTING THE SWARM – Pulsing Coalescence by Lacerated Enemy records

https://www.facebook.com/InfectingTheSwarm

Brutal Desire - melodic death metal/metalcore from Rio de Janeiro

Brutal Desire is a Brazilian metalcore/death metal band that began in 2016. Their 2019 EP, which shows some death metal with additional and various influences, is called Nec Spe Nec Metu, and it is shared here from YouTube. That music was with their previous vocalist Enrico Salvatore. Then, in 2019 their vocalist joined and her name is Isabelle Alexandre Nascimento. From what I can tell, they do not yet have a new album or EP, but they have recorded two singles in 2021, according to the information on Metal Archives. Their most recent direction is a bit more melodic, with a shock rock factor thrown in, coming across as melodic extreme metal of metalcore, death metal and other components. At any rate, below is the video for the 2021 single "Bloodshed." As of right now, there does not seem to be any more recent music. Let's wait and see if an EP or album is released at some point. On Metal Archives it shows that the band is rounded out by Oman Oado, who has been drumming with the band since 2016; and guitarist Daniel Sales who joined in 2019.

BRUTAL DESIRE -「BLOODSHED」Official Music Video

Brutal Desire - Nec Spe Nec Metu

https://www.facebook.com/brutaldesireofficialpage/

Narnia - "Wake up Call" video

The long-running power metal band Narnia (Sweden) released a new album in March called Ghost Town. Known for soaring vocals and an abundance of melodies, their trademarks remain in 2023. Sometimes their sound seems more prog power or neoclassical or traditional heavy metal, and in a way, it's all those things, and of course, plenty of direct power metal. If you are new to the band, Narnia takes inspiration from "The Chronicles of Narnia" by C.S. Lewis. Sometimes their lyrics seem like stories, and the band prides itself on bringing a different, more positive perspective on life, based on Christian beliefs. Anyway, the bottom line is quality power metal, that's always been their goal and continues to be to this day. Check out the video from the album. This song is a pretty good representation of what the bands sounds like and of their lyrics.

1. Rebel 04:06

2. Thief 05:06

3. Hold On 04:05

4. Glory Daze 04:27

5. Descension 07:11

6. Ghost Town 03:43

7. Alive 04:02

8. Modern Day Pharisees 04:11

9. Out of the Silence 04:18

10. Wake Up Call 05:52

total time 47:01

NARNIA - WAKE UP CALL (OFFICIAL VIDEO WITH LYRICS)

https://www.facebook.com/narniatheband

Treedeon - sludge from Germany

This past March saw the release of the third album by Germany-based sludge purveyors Treedeon. Expect a super heavy psychedelic stoner guitar sound and screamed vocals that may seem furious, crazy or desperate, or all three. They love a massive sound of slow guitar and a wall-shaking rhythm section. Doom fanatics should have plenty here to entertain them. This is a twisted version of late 1960s pschedelic rock loaded up with weight of a couple of tons of anger. This ain't the summer love.

New World Hoarder by Treedeon

https://www.facebook.com/Treedeon/

Sölicitör - the Seattle speedsters are in Europe right now

Seattle speed metal leather rockers Sölicitör are in Europe now. If you have never their brand of speed metal, then check out the recording below. Of course, they have a lot more where that came from.

See this tour photo for the remaining dates. It looks like Germany and Holland are next.

All Debts On Death by Solicitor

https://www.facebook.com/solicitor.speedmetal/

Masses in Atrophy - Michigan deathcore/death metal

I never heard this Michigan deathcore/death metal band's 2019 recording A Blackened Gate Beyond The Stars when it was released. As it turns out, on April 10th on Facebook they posted that the band is over. This is the only recording shown on Metal Archives or Bandcamp. It is three songs in 11 minutes. To my ears, hearing this music for the first time, it seems like a deathcore band incorporating some prog/tech death elements into their music, and moving a lot closer to death metal, while some of the groove/djent sounds seem to be present to some extent. Hey, you never know, maybe they are finished or maybe not. This recording is not too shabby and it would not be surprising if they feel like they left some business unfinished.

A Blackened Gate Beyond The Stars by Masses In Atrophy

https://www.facebook.com/massesinatrophy/

Necronomicon - thrashing from Germany since 1984

Necronomicon

Constant to Death

El Puerto Records

April 28th, 2023

1. Constant to Death 02:57

2. They Lie 02:44

3. Redemption 02:52

4. Stored in Blood 03:28

5. The Guilty Shepherd 05:33

6. A Voice for the Voiceless 03:26

7. Black Rain 05:37

8. Children Cry Alone 02:07

9. Bloodrush 03:09

10. Down from Above 05:02

11. The Blood Runs Red 05:13

total time 42:08

The thrashing began in 1984 and soon in 1985 the Germans had two demos that were the basis for the 1986 self-titled debut album. While thrash in 1986 was already more polished and commercially viable, Necronomicon, having started later, tended to show some rawer traits, including on the 1987 sophomore album. By 1988, the sound had become tighter and more experienced. While their first two albums are fun second-tier albums, on their third one they seemed to step up their game. Unfortunately, some time was lost and their next album was released in 1994. Worse yet, it was not until 2004 that they released another album. Ever since then, however, they have been releasing albums in 2008, 2012, 2015, 2018 and now 2023. The main thing to know is that they are reliable thrash. It’s all here, the screamed vocals, the prototypical riffs, the guitar solos and the pounding rhythm section. There are no ballads, no love songs, no groove, just galloping thrash riffs of headbanging metal. The strength of this album is their ability to make their songs fun. The tight thrash has a bit of hooks, licks and melodies along with the speed, things to please the die-hard, collector-minded thrash fanatic. Nowadays only the singer guitarist Freddy remains from 1984. Metal Archives shows that Freddy is joined by Marco Lohrenz on bass since 2013, Rik Charron on drums since 2019 and Glen Shannon on guitars since 2019. As someone that still likes the first two albums and their other albums, too, I like the mentality and consistency that the band has shown throughout their career.

NECRONOMICON - They Lie (2023) // official Clip // El-Puerto-Records

https://www.facebook.com/necronomiconofficial

Tanith - classic rock heavy metal lives

Tanith

Voyage

Metal Blade Records

21 April 2023

The most prominent member of this British-American band is guitarist and vocalist Russ Tippins, active since 1979 with New Wave of British Heavy Metal band Satan (later named Blind Fury, then Pariah and then Satan again). They have Cindy Maynard on vocals and bass, and Keith Robinson on drums. Tanith is classic rock in the style of the 1970s, something in between the metal of late 70s Judas Priest and Scorpions, and the prog rock of Rush, Budgie, Deep Purple or Uriah Heep and other bands like that. They are certainly not headbanging metal, but they do a good job of rocking, and avoiding going off the deep end with the prog, avoiding long, meandering self-indulgence.

Tanith does not sound perfect. You know how 1970s bands do not sound perfect but real when you hear a Led Zeppelin, Mountain, Sir Lord Baltimore, Heart or Black Sabbath song? This is like that, not perfectly and clinically robotized. It sounds human and it is on purpose. Truth be told, if you listen to mostly computer heavy metal music, it takes a few listens for your ears, so distorted by the Milli Vanilli-style fraudulence of metal rock, to adjust to Tanith. In short, you can tell that this band intends to play this music live. On their debut album back in 2019 they sounded like they were on to a good thing. Indeed, they are in 2023.

Voyage by Tanith

https://www.facebook.com/TanithNYC/

Nightmare Endless - black metal from the U.S.

Nightmare Endless

Concretum Infernum

November 20th, 2021

First things first, turn the volume up, way up, friend, because it is the only way that this necro black metal recording can be heard correctly in order to be understood. Shrieking, wild vocals, an abrasive guitar sound, and a drum sound to match the sandpaper-on-skin cacophony. Once the listener gets past the bitter curtain of lo-fi cave sound, the actual music can be heard. At times the speed remains constant, like this duo is in their zone, and the extended segments of speed allow the listener to get more comfortable, during which the speed has not slowed down, but it feels like it for the listener because the extended segments of speed last a while and invite the listener to merge onto the highway of runaway speed. Speed up to merge! Listening to this recording you will notice that the drums are noisy, rambunctious and wild, and not robotic, mechanized and stiff. Can sampled drums sound this way? Can programmed drums sound this way, this “imperfect” and bonkers? Nowhere does this duo say who they are and what instruments they play, but this drum sound seems to have a certain personality and style, suggesting that perhaps this is not a computer but a black metal maniac behind the drum kit.

Thus, we can break down the 26 minutes of this recording as follows:

1. Autophobia (06:58) – blasting, raging black metal

2. Rotting Forest (05:29) – blasting, raging bm w/ midtempo middle part

3. Nex Maximus (07:41) – midtempo/fast bm w/ a bit more melody

4. Nox Somnium (05:15) – midtempo, most melodic raw black metal instrumental song

5. Outro 00:59 – slow guitar finish without drums, just guitar

Recommended for people looking for black metal that does not sound like a sham.

Concretum Infernum by Nightmare Endless

Greenwater - Tacoma stoner doom

Greenwater is stoner doom from Tacoma, Washington State, U.S. Five songs in 25 minutes, it does not take long to understand that the 1970s simple, heavy riffs are Greenwater's main way of doing things. They are from Tacoma but if someone said that they are from New Orleans it would seem pretty natural because there is a connection with the sound of bands like Down and Crowbar. There is lots of British and U.S. classic rock that echoes in the grooves of Greenwater. Fans of all things 1970s heavy rock may like what this band is doing on their first EP.

Greenwater EP by Greenwater

Kheshig - Tacoma, seriously, what are you doing?

Oh, blimey, mate, the Tacoma townsfolk are certainly bonkers, aren't they? Is there better evidence than Kheshig? Kheshig is either rubbish or brilliant. Next time you are taking the tube, get some Kheshig doom sludge going, and Bob's your uncle, you'll be quids in. It's one track, 25 minutes of faffing around the same basic riff as slowly as possible. Is this wally or genius? There may not be more than a couple riffs throughout the entire recording. Brilliant, innit? There are four previous EPs, but start with this one, and see if it's your cuppa or perhaps you want to run away. I blame all of this shenanigans on Electric Wizard. I blame Electric Wizard for many things, but I definitely blame Electric Wizard for this, too.

Mourning of The Witch by KHESHIG

Devangelic - blasting death metal from Italy

Devangelic

Xul

April 7th, 2023

Willowtip Records

The fourth album by the Italian band is instantly pleasing to audiences of blasting death. Equipped with very low, indecipherable growling, a plethora of blasting rhythm segments and warp-speed guitar blazing, Devangelic gets to the point quickly and stays on point. The first element to notice is the cool guitar work. Sharp and catchy, heavy both as a contemporary and a prototypical death guitar sound, it’s a fun listen of twisting, contorting, zigzagging unmelodic riffs. The second attraction is the songwriting. Compact and efficient, the 39 minutes go by rather quickly listening to the frenzied speed. How they manage to sound fun while going bananas on their instruments is a credit to the band. It’s not all blasting, either, as they have some slow, plodding com-ponents for some variety.

Unfortunately, the band has had some things that keep the death metal crowds from putting Devangelic at the top of their lists. They began with cartoonish, gimmicky artwork for their first album and the follow-up EP. They have moved towards more mythological ancient Middle Eastern topics; sadly, it is the hoax of Lovecraft/Crowley that some metal bands like. Surely, an Italian band should have no shortage of historical/mythological topics if they look towards their own history and mythology from the ancient Italian lands to today’s events, without treading the fraudulent path of the previously mentioned white supremacist, Nazi sympathizing self-appointed “prophets” of the 20th century.

The band needs better vocals. The vocalist seems all too pleased to turn in a just good, standard performance (who knows how much is real and how much is computer effects and auto tune and things like that). There is zero variety in the low growling. It is not energetic nor wild nor unpredictable; it’s just the same monotone, pretty-good “brutal” vocals. More creativity and more craziness is necessary. I would like to see the band to be less afraid to incorporate more guitar solos, more guitar in general, more intelligent and less nonsense lyrics, and much wilder, more unhinged and utterly savage vocals. Of course, I would appreciate it if they use real, live drums, too. Despite these criticisms, I have enjoyed this album. In the ten years since their humble beginning, they are one of the more entertaining bands in the field of blasting brutal death metal that I have heard this year.

Xul by Devangelic

[The first song streaming "Udug-Hul Incantation," a slow track, is not representative of the band's style. This track is a more basic, simpler song reminiscent of Nile's "Sarcophagus" (from 2002's In Their Darkened Shrines album), which also was not representative of that album.]

https://www.facebook.com/devangelic.official

Convergence - death metal from Spokane, Washington, U.S.

Check out this new death metal from the state of Washington, U.S. The name of the band is Convergence and it looks like this is their debut album called Extinction Level Event released on the 15th of March, 2023. Metal Archives shows that the band is:

Matt Browning (bass);

Cassidy Kleinman (drums) [Rutah, ex-Umbilical Cord, Corpse]

Mark Pettit (guitars)

[ex-Rancor, ex-Umbilical Cord, Corpse, ex-Rutah, ex-Nganga]

Jason Pilalas (guitars, vocals)

[ex-Umbilical Cord, Evolutions Per Minute]

I have not had a chance to hear the entire album, just some songs on YouTube. It looks like they some experience because of their involvement in other bands in the Spokane area. Let's hear more from this band, what do you say?! YouTube seems to have the entire album.

Effigy For The Dying