A precious gem of Progressive Thrash and Death Metal made in Denmark, courtesy of an up-and-coming horde that’s more than ready to take the entire world of heavy music by storm.
Hailing from Silkeborg, a small city located in the middle of the Jutlandic peninsula in Denmark, here comes a new Extreme Metal horde that goes by the powerful name of Xenoblight, playing a multi-layered fusion of Progressive Thrash and Death Metal characterized by an intense and blistering atmosphere, while at the same time maintaining an apathetic and melancholic lyrical universe. Although the band is relatively new to the scene, being founded in the beginning of 2017, Xenoblight spent the following year carefully crafting their first record while playing only a limited number of shows before entering the studio, unleashing now in 2018 their debut opus Procreation.
Featuring an obscure and stylish artwork by Fendie Art, Procreation not only brings forward in its ten unrelenting and totally demolishing tracks what the band comprised of the she-demon Marika Hyldmar on vocals, Rasmus Tobias Clemmensen and Mikkel Jepsen on the guitars, Steffen Hagelskjær on bass and Thomas Halborg Madsen on drums is capable of, but it’s also a lesson in how to blend the best elements from old school and modern extreme music with tons of progressiveness and feeling, turning it into a must-have for any diehard fan of the music by renowned bands such as Behemoth, Cattle Decapitation, Gojira, Kreator, Skeletonwitch and Fleshgod Apocalypse, among several others.
In the intro Procreation the band offers the usual “calm before the storm” until they come crushing like a bulldozer in Descension, a crisp and modern display of Progressive Death Metal with a lot of punch where Marika begins gnarling the song’s lyrics in a beyond devilish way (“Behold our entitled savior / Spreading knowledgeable fumes / Binding hands with a single glance / Beredied for a stance… / …Entering the mortal realm / With stricts holds of selfproclaimed victories free from shame”), also showcasing a fantastic job done by Thomas with his piercing beats and fills. And Steffen Hagelskjær kicks off the dark tune Shapeshifter with his menacing bass, with the music morphing into a flammable hybrid of Thrash and Death Metal where Rasmus and Mikkel slash our ears with their heavy and metallic riffs.
Obsidian Chromatism is a traditional Progressive Death Metal creation where the entire band fires sheer aggressiveness, building the perfect stage for Marika and her demonic growls; whereas in the song that carries the band’s name, Xenoblight, we’re treated to three minutes of piercing sounds and nonstop beats and fills in a demolishing instrumental voyage, with highlights to the scorching guitar riffs by Rasmus and Mikkel. Then without giving us a single second to breathe Xenoblight keep blasting pure evil through their instruments in Nocturnal Manifestations, a frantic, furious and superb display of modern-day Thrash and Death Metal led by the enraged screams by Marika, with Thomas once again sounding brutally amazing on drums while Rasmus and Mikkel are bestial with their solos, followed by Transcendence, where a whimsical start morphs into another explosion of contemporary and vibrant Thrash and Death Metal, sounding like a hybrid between Exodus and Death. Moreover, Marika takes her insanity to a whole new level, making it the perfect opportunity for cracking your spine in half into the circle pit.
Kill Yourself. brings less than a minute of pulverizing Blackened Thrash Metal by the band, and even with such restricted amount of time in their hands they were capable of delivering a fun and electrifying tune, setting the stage for the full-bodied Predominance, led by the classic shredding by the band’s guitar duo. Furthermore, in this bold and thrilling 6-minute ode to devastation, Thomas not only is a beast on drums but the complexity of his beats is outstanding and, needless to say, Marika once again kicks us in the head with her hellish roars. And an instrumental start warms up the listener for the rabid harsh growls by Marika in the closing song Virus, perhaps the most progressive of all tracks, showcasing thrashier-than-hell, austere lyrics (“Delusional pesticides / Stand asunder / Tributing their gods / Keepers of the luminescent humanoid pollution”) in a display of first-class European Extreme Metal, also bringing gripping guitar lines and an extremely crisp drumming.
You can take a very good and detailed listen at this precious gem of Danish extreme music on Spotify, and follow the band on Facebook and on YouTube to keep up to date with all things Xenoblight. And in order to show your proper support not only to the band but to underground metal in general, you can purchase Procreation directly from the band’s BandCamp page or Big Cartel (as a regular CD version or as a CD + shirt bundle), as well as from iTunes or from Amazon. Xenoblight are set to take the world by storm with their incendiary debut opus, and if you consider yourself a true fan of extreme music you must have such incredible album on your hands. Because in the end, if you don’t buy it, I guess Marika and her henchmen will have to pay you a not-very-pleasant visit, if you know what I’m saying.
Best moments of the album: Shapeshifter, Nocturnal Manifestations, Transcendence and Predominance.
A magnificent opus of epic-painted Power Metal with symphonic arrangements and amazing guitar work, where various guest musicians help give form to an album that will be a delight for any lover of the genre.
Formed back in 2005 by guitarist Leonardo Gatti in San Miguel, a city in the northwest region of Greater Buenos Aires located around 30km from the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Symphonic Power Metal band Preludio Ancestralhas been making a name for themselves since their inception with a steady flow of high-quality releases, starting with the EP Silencio and the full-length album Hacia lo Inmortal, both in 2012, followed by the 2013 EP Putrefaction, the 2015 album Kybalion, and the 2016 album El Misterio de la Pasión Divina, gaining strong recognition not only in their native country, where they even opened for acts like Rhapsody of Fire and Stratovarius, but also everywhere where the epicness and electricity of Power Metal are admired.
Now in 2018 the band comprised of the aforementioned Leo Gatti on the guitars and keyboards, Ari Katajamäki on bass and Diego Camaño on drums are set to release a brand new album titled Oblivion, a magnificent opus of epic-painted Power Metal with symphonic arrangements and an awesome guitar work, where various guest musicians hailing from different parts of Argentina and Europe give form to an album that will be a delight for any lover of the genre. As a matter of fact, due to the fact that almost every song of the album has a different lead singer, Oblivion feels like three or four album in one, with the music always remaining fresh and captivating throughout its 10 distinct songs (or 12 if you purchase the special Japanese edition of the album).
Presagio is a cinematic intro that takes you to the world of Preludio Ancestral, where the flammable sound of the guitar by Leo and the unstoppable beats by Diego are joined by Alessio Perardi on vocals in King of Silence, a classic Melodic Power Metal tune the likes of Dragonforce and Stratovarius; followed by Storm, a Power Metal extravaganza led by the intricate drums by Diego with Enzo Donnarumma taking the vocal duties, while Leo and Ari bring tons of melody and feeling to the musicality. And Alessio is back on vocals for a fast and harmonious exhibit of modern-day Melodic Metal named Fear of Falling, showcasing all elements we love in this type of music. Furthermore, Ari is simply fantastic with his bass, smashing his strings mercilessly while guest keyboardist Gabliel Crisafulli embellishes the overall sound with his kick-ass solo.
With Fran Vázquez on vocals, Preludio Ancestral offer a mid-tempo, melodic tune titled Ready to Rock, leaning towards the darker and deeper metal crafted by icons such as Dio and Saxon. Moreover, can you feel those beats pounding inside your mind? Moving on with the album, the title-track Oblivion, featuring Juan Pablo Kilberg on vocals, could be part of a concept album due to its initial narration and pace, morphing into straightforward Power Metal the likes of Helloween and the early days of Sonata Arctica, with Juan Pablo also delivering a crisp guitar solo to make things even more epic. Then it’s time to slow things down a bit with a power ballad titled Universal Love, presenting more of the voice of Alessio Perardi, passionate solos by Leo and a dense background, but unfortunately with the overall result falling flat after a while.
In Reflection in the Wind they get back to a faster and more slashing musicality, presenting a solid instrumental base by Leo, Ari and Diego that sets the perfect stage for Kimmo Perämäki to thrive on vocals. This is one of those songs to sing along with the band wherever you are, not to mention another spectacular keyboard solo by Gabliel Crisafulli. In Dust World, a classic mid-tempo tune led by the powerful riffs by Leo, Alessio Perardi returns for one last breath of his potent vocals, while Ari and Diego keep the atmosphere as thunderous as it can be, before the closing act in Oblivion, titled Metal Walls, brings Daniel García on vocals in what can be considered the most modernized of all tracks, displaying elements from distinguished styles such as Alternative, Industrial, Dark Metal and Hard Rock, and let me tall you that the final result is above all expectations, in special due to the amazing job done by Leo on keyboards.
In summary, Oblivion (available for a full listen on Spotify) will not only cement the name of Preludio Ancestral as one of the best and most professional bands from this new wave of Symphonic and Power Metal in their homeland, but it will also help the band spread their wings and reach higher grounds in the world of heavy music. And if you wan to show your honest support to such up-and-coming act, simply go check their Facebook page and YouTube channel for news and other shenanigans, and purchase Oblivion through the band’s own BandCamp page, through the Xtreem Music webstore, through the Spiritual Beast webstore, or on Amazon. May the power of Heavy Metal be with Preludio Ancestral anywhere they go, and may other bands from Argentina and South America follow their steps and deliver more metal music to fans tired of having bad and fake music shoveled down their throats by their local TV shows, radio stations, and websites.
Best moments of the album: King of Silence, Fear of Falling and Reflection in the Wind.
Worst moments of the album:Universal Love.
Released in 2018 Fighter Records/Spiritual Beast
Track listing 1. Presagio 1:04
2. King of Silence 3:49
3. Storm 4:02
4. Fear of Falling 4:30
5. Ready to Rock 3:45
6. Oblivion 5:07
7. Universal Love 4:24
8. Reflection in the Wind 3:31
9. Dust World 4:49
10. Metal Walls 5:35
Japanese Edition bonus tracks 11. Like A Star (New Version) 3:31
12. No Man’s Land 3:27
Band members Leonardo Gatti – guitars, keyboards
Ari Katajamäki – bass
Diego Camaño – drums
Guest musicians Alessio Perardi – vocals on “King of Silence”, “Dust World”, “Fear of Falling” and “Universal Love”
Fran Vázquez – vocals on “Ready to Rock”
Daniel García – vocals on “Metal Walls”
Juan Pablo Kilberg – vocals on “Oblivion”
Raffaele Raffo Albanese – vocals on “No Man’s Land”
Kimmo Perämäki – vocals on “Reflection in the Wind”
Enzo Donnarumma – vocals on “Storm”
Gabliel Crisafulli – keyboards solos on “Oblivion”, “Reflection in the Wind” and “Fear of Falling”
Juan Pablo Kilberg – guitar solos on “Oblivion”
José Paz – keyboards on “Presagio”
Children of the night who follow The Headbanging Moose, get ready to be bitten by the sexiest and most alluring female vampire of our modern day society on our metal chick of the month session in this month of May. Born on April 2, 1980 in Florence, capital of Italy’s Tuscany region and home to many masterpieces of Renaissance art and architecture, here comes the stunning Sonia Siccardi, better known by her vampiristic name of Sonya Scarlet, lead singer and lyricist for Italian Extreme Gothic Metal band Theatres des Vampires. Are you ready to fall prey to our bloodthirsty temptress?
Before joining Theatres des Vampires, Sonya was already involved with music and performing arts at a very young age, having studied ballet at the Santa Cecilia Academy from the age of 4, later deciding to study opera singing at the academy. It was when she was a teenager that her passion for heavy music started, as at the age of 13 she attended her first ever concert, seeing the iconic Yngwie Malmsteen live. In addition, the first record she’s ever bought was Guns N’ Roses all-time classic Appetite for Destruction, bringing all elements she loves in music, those being sex, alcohol, drugs, and of course, our good old Rock N’ Roll. She didn’t have any real band before joining Theatres des Vampires in 1999, saying she only had an amateur band in high school made of alcohol addicts, and that she was “too fucked up” at that time to engage in anything serious or professional.
Despite having a background in classical music and ballet, Sonya was destined to become the frontwoman for Theatres des Vampires due to her rebelliousness and passion for the darker side of things, as ballet was too delicate for her. “I saw a black endless road in front of me, calling me and I had to follow it. From there I started this life. If I could live my life again, I would do exactly the same things and go back once more to dance. I have spent half of my life doing that’’, said our Italian vampire about her longtime relationship with dancing. It was in 1999 when she finally joined Theatres des Vampires as a backing vocalist together with Justine Consuelo, who left the band in 2002. In late 2004, when the band’s founding member and vocalist Lord Vampyr left the band, Sonya became their lead singer, taking a huge step forward in her already flourishing career as a musician. However, due to a breakdown she suffered in 2008, the band went on a hiatus for a few years, getting back on track in 2011. Sonya said it wasn’t too hard for her to become the lead singer for Theatres des Vampires, with the only issue being the fact that the band’s main voice was a male voice, which made it more difficult for her to adapt and change everything instead of starting something from scratch. She had to work hard to make her voice connect with the band’s old songs, and the very positive reaction of the fans especially during their live concerts showed her she was following the right path, proving once again that that a good looking girl can also have a strong personality and a powerful voice.
As a backing vocalist, Sonya recorded with Theatres des Vampires the EP Iubilaeum Anno Dracula 2001, in 2001, and the full-length albums Bloody Lunatic Asylum, in 2001, Suicide Vampire, in 2002, Vampyrìsme…, in 2003, and Nightbreed of Macabria, in 2004. After taking over the band’s vocal duties, she also recorded the albums Pleasure and Pain, in 2005, Anima Noir, in 2008, Moonlight Waltz, in 2011, and Candyland, in 2016, as well as the EP Cult of Lahmia, in 2012, and the live DVD’s The Addiction Tour 2006 and Moonlight Waltz Tour 2011. You can spend hours and hours enjoying the lustful vocals by Sonya in songs such as Resurrection Mary, Carmilla, Angel Of Lust (live in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, in 2010), and several videos from the band’s official DVD The Addiction Tour 2006, such as Dances With Satan, Lilith Mater Inferorum, Pleasure And Pain, La Danse Macabre Du Vampire, and Angel of Lust.
Our sweet and dark vampire has also participated in several interesting bands, albums and projects as a guest vocalist, making the music more vibrant and rousing it doesn’t matter the style played. For instance, she recorded vocals for the 2010 album Existence, by Argentinian Melodic Symphonic Power Metal project Beto Vazquez Infinity; vocals on the song Oblivion from the 2015 album Etoilé, by Industrial/Gothic Metal band J.T.R. Sickert; additional vocals on 100% Hell from the 2006 album 100% Hell, by Italian Black/Death/Thrash Metal squad Necrodeath; vocals on New Life from the 2013 album Untouchable Failure, by Italian Progressive/Doom/Gothic Metal act Resonance Room; and as a guest vocalist on the songs Acid Orgy and Dark Skies, from the EP Clubbers Die Younger, released in 2012 by the electro-industrial duo known as Alien Vampires. Furthermore, Sonya was also involved in a project in 2012 to produce a Gothic horror movie titled The Cult of Lamia, directed by David Bracci, where she would obviously play the part of a vampire. You can check the teaser trailer for the movie HERE and the making of HERE, but it looks like everything was put on hold due to financial issues and no one knows if the movie will ever be released.
When asked about her main influences and biggest idols in music, Sonya provided a list of brilliant musicians and performers I’m sure you’re going to love, despite also saying that her lyrics, her music and her fans are what truly inspire her during her concerts, as well as several other sources such as a sunset, a landscape, literature, poetry, classical music, opera, movies, and life itself. Her list of idols include names like Diamanda Galas, Tarja Turunen, Angela Gossow, Björk, Tori Amos, Siouxsie Sioux, and Nina Hagen, each one being very unique, revolutionary and rebellious in their own way. Furthermore, although Sonya is a declared lover of opera and obviously of Gothic Rock and Metal, she also loves to listen to a lot of distinct styles such as Glam Rock, Thrash Metal, Apocalyptic Folk, Doom Metal, Black Metal, and any other type of music with great atmospheres, with some of her favorite bands of all time being Elend, Katatonia (in special their very first album Dance of The December Souls), Samael, Naglfar, Morbid Angel, Diamanda Galas and Crematory, among others. And guess what song she would like to have played at her funeral? That would be Ludwig van Beethoven’s Symphony no. 9, but played by a real orchestra in a desecrated church under the candlelight. Romantic and inspiring, isn’t it?
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Being the lead singer of a band and being on constant tours is not an easy task to anyone, and if you’re a woman that’s even harder on your body and mind due to all private activities you have to “share” with several men such as the changing room, sleeping and taking a shower. However, it seems that is exactly the type of challenge Sonya always wants, as she loves to take care of herself, always going to the gym to find the right balance to her body and soul. In addition, she considers her bandmates her true blood brothers, making it a lot easier for her to face the hassles of living on a bus for a long period of time. And in regards to her stage performance, she said that as the music by Theatres des Vampires is like the soundtrack to your best nightmare, she likes to create a special atmosphere to the crowd, sliding into the fans’ souls and “taking their blood”. She thinks that the secret for being on stage for over 20 years is to believe deeply in what they do, and to consider the band as a real family that goes through all the problems that can happen in such a long time, sharing all adrenaline on stage and therefore giving their fans the best experience they can get. As a matter of fact, due to that extreme behavior on stage, Sonya has already had a few issues in some of the countries she visited with the band, such as allowing some fans to drink her own blood and unintentionally inciting suicide.
As we’re already talking about drinking someone’s blood, let’s focus now on Sonya’s inner passion for vampirism, which she considers the most fascinating form of seduction. For Sonya, vampirism represents “courtship without touching except to kill and eat the prey, the rebirth of life through life itself that is the blood, immortality, the charm of ancient times, the obscurity, the night that hides its creatures”, saying she has always been interested in Gothic novels, occultism, vampirism and everything from the dark side of the world and from the invisible world since she was a young girl. She complemented by saying that it was fate, not coincidence, that made her join Theatres des Vampires, as she found people who shared the same interest for vampirism and all its related topics. And regarding the style of the band being labeled as “Vampiric Metal”, our bloodlust diva said that she thinks a label like that helps people to find what they like, and that she’s learning how to use that type of tag in social media, albeit it’s not easy to describe the music by a band in one word or tag, especially because behind every band there’s an amalgamation of different ideas, influences, people and years of work.
Regarding Sonya’s dark and hypnotizing looks, she said that although many fans consider her a sex symbol, she doesn’t see herself as one, as she’s only being herself, getting aggressive and rude whenever needed. However, she does think image is something very important, as it’s the first thing people pay attention to or care about any person. Music always comes first, of course, but Sonya also considers her clothes and makeup an important part of her performance and her lifestyle in general. In addition, Sonya even mentioned her stage image is not different from her everyday life, saying she feels free to do what she wants on stage and, as a consequence, to provide her fans a truly unique experience. Still talking about her connection to fashion, some of you might not know this but Sonya studied fashion design for four years in Rome, learning to love the creative and research process behind a fashion show and the making of clothing, with names like John Galliano, Alexander McQueen and Vivienne Westwood being among her favorite stylists. Despite all that, she doesn’t like to follow any trends, as she believes being yourself is the most important thing in this business, but there are a few types of makeup and clothes she has always had with her such as deep black smokey eyes, pale white powder and red, fuchsia or pale pink lipstick, and Gothic and metal clothing, having her own personal stylist, Katja Diktator, to design her stage clothing and clothing she wears for video and photo shoots.
If you think our vampire bombshell is not a socially engaged person and that she only thinks about her music and her image, let me tell you that you’re absolutely wrong, as Sony is involved with two amazing foundations, those being Jay Nepal Foundation and Time4Life International. For instance, with Time4Life International, Sonya has already traveled to very poor areas of countries like Nicaragua, where she was able to help poor children who lived in a garbage dump, with her mission being searching for people that wanted to give them a real hand, to give them the chance to go to school and having a real meal far from the dump. With the action-based humanitarian organization Jay Nepal Foundation, Sonya is part of a volunteer-based, apolitical and non-religious group working on post-earthquake responses, relief and recovery in communities across Nepal. And not only her Jay Nepal Foundation group is apolitical and non-religious, but Sonya doesn’t follow any political party nor any type of religion either. She’s indeed a very curious woman who likes to read and learn about everything that’s part of the “invisible world” as she calls it, but she doesn’t believe in the Christian church, preferring to read more about heathenism and its rituals and celebrations. Needless to say, Theatres des Vampires are not connected to any political party or regime, as they’re musicians and they want to be free and to have their freedom of speech, not making any propaganda to anyone.
When asked about her hobbies and how she enjoys spending her free time, Sonya said that for her there’s no real difference between work and hobbies, as she loves writing, painting, studying art, theatre and music, all part of her life with Theatres des Vampires. Of course, as any regular person (if we can call her “ regular”) she also enjoys spending time with her husband Tiziano Panini (also known as Billy T Cooper, lead singer for J.T.R. Sickert), her family and friends, travelling and having lots of beer with the people she loves, and watching movies (at home, as she hates going to the cinema). In addition, Sonya also loves practicing sports, going to the gym four or five times a week (something very important for her body and mind), and being in the mountains doing trekking, skiing or horse riding, for example.
A few additional nice-to-know facts about Sonya is that she considers herself to be an always-evolving person, always learning with her mistakes, trying to be a more concrete person, and always learning to be more diplomatic for the good of the band (despite trusting people less and less). She also has a very peculiar view of suicide, saying people should be free to do what they want as long as they don’t harm others and they respect other people’s freedom. She said life can be very hurtful, but at the same time it offers us several amazing things, with the most beautiful things in life being the simple ones, saying sometimes we just need to join nature, getting far away from all chaos that surrounds us to properly appreciate everything and to understand what is really important in life. Actually, when she was growing up her dream was to live in an ancient castle hidden by the woods, lost somewhere in the north part of Europe with very few people around her (and that’s still one of her dreams, I guess), showing how much she enjoys being in contact with nature and not with people.
“I think on stage it is very important to be yourself and to express what you really feel and what you want to give to your audience. Therefore I follow my feelings and what inspires me during our show are my lyrics, our music and our fans. I still do not know what I’m going to do on stage before the performance. It’s a surprise, also for me! Anything can happen…” – Sonya Scarlet
Enjoy 11 stunning metal tracks influenced by a myriad of modern Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore elements, brought forth by a multi-talented female-fronted outfit hailing from New York City.
If you’re a fan of modern-day Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore, I highly recommend you go take a detailed listen at Relive//Regret//Repeat, the brand new album by New York City-based female-fronted outfit The Fallen Prodigy. Featuring a straight-to-the-point artwork by Rob Walden (Rob Walden Design), Relive//Regret//Repeat, the follow-up to the band’s 2015 EP Passengers, consists of 11 stunning metal tracks influenced by a myriad of modern metal elements, being absolutely perfect for fans of the high-octane music by renowned acts such as Trivium, Killswitch Engage, Arch Enemy, As I Lay Dying and All That Remains, among several others.
Comprised of the unstoppable Jay Jimenez on vocals, Andrew Padilla and Daniel Davenel on the guitars, Jonathan Rodriguez on bass, and Joseph Falzone on drums, The Fallen Prodigy solidified their lineup back in 2014 and wasted no time, putting together music that can crush the stereotypes that may surround the metal genre. Through hard work, dedication and great music, The Fallen Prodigy set out to bring something new and unique back to the metal scene, and the music found in Relive//Regret//Repeat will show you exactly what they mean by that, smashing you like an insect with its over 50 minutes of top-of-the-line Melodic Death Metal.
The opening track Extinct is modern, visceral and aggressive form the very first second, with the guitar duo Andrew and Daniel sounding absolutely fantastic. However, it’s Jay who steals the spotlight with both her deranged growls and her potent clean vocals, showcasing all her talented right from the start of the album. Even more violent than the album opener, Boy Who Cried Wolf presents a devilish Jay on vocals, singing and screaming about our vile human nature (“You live life like you deserve more than others / Manipulating everyone and everything to have things your way / You long for acceptance and will seek it at any cost / Consumed by arrogance you’ll always find yourself”), while Joseph doesn’t let the insanely high level of energy go down with his frantic beats; followed by Regret, which starts in an almost electronic vibe before exploding into vibrant Metalcore, with Jay once again providing a fantastic balance between her harsh screams and clean vocals and with the crisp sound of guitars boosting the song’s impact considerably.
Leaning towards more traditional Melodic Death Metal (especially the characteristic Scandinavian sound), the whole band blasts the fresh and gripping Stray, with highlights once again to the amazing sound extracted from the guitars by Andrew and Daniel, whereas Misery is led by the dynamic drumming by Joseph, with Jonathan delivering those rumbling Groove Metal punches from his bass while the music alternates between neck-breaking moments and total devastation. The awesome Eighty-Sixed is a heavier-than-hell, straight-to-the-face high-end Metalcore tune where the extremely talented Jay growls and screams nonstop like a rabid beast, or in other words, it’s that type of song that will ignite some serious circle pits during their live concerts; and featuring guest vocalist Lauren Babic of Canadian Alternative Metal act Red Handed Denial, Composure is a very technical and melodic creation by The Fallen Prodigy, yet still as aggressive as it can be, delivering a modern-day message from the band to our ears (“Disaster awaits those who find a home in a filth called misery / My soul is being held captive / Somewhere it’s screaming just let me go home / Just let me go home”).
Then get ready to bang your head like a maniac to the crushing main riff in Fractured, before a slamming feast begins led by the brutal beats by Joseph in a multi-layered composition where Jay thrives thanks to the amazing support provided by her bandmates. In Repeat, featuring guest vocals by Will Ramos of American Deathcore band A Wake in Providence, we face a band that doesn’t know the meaning of the word “soft”, with the total havoc blasted by the entire band being spiced up by the welcome dosage of progressiveness brought forth by the guitar duo to the musicality; followed by Relive, a good song that feels a bit confusing at times despite the always solid work done by the stringed trio Daniel, Andrew and Jonathan, accompanied by guest guitarist Angel Vivaldi. Last but not least, the final song of the album, titled Endure, is a solid statement by Jay and the guys that they will carry on no matter what, keeping the flame of Melodic Death Metal alive and kicking, enfolded in a classic sound with the band’s own twist, therefore ending the album on a truly high note.
You can listen to the entire Relive//Regret//Repeat on Spotify and get a better sense of how potent and dynamic the music by The Fallen Prodigy is, and also visit their Facebook page for news and tour dates, and their YouTube channel for more of their music. And in case you want to grab a copy of such electrifying album, there are several location where you can find it such as the band’s own BandCamp page and Big Cartel (as a CD + poster bundle or a CD + T-shirt bundle), on iTunes, on Amazon, or on CD Baby. If I were you I would definitely keep an eye on what The Fallen Prodigy are up to, because whenever they take your town by storm you must be there to experience a lesson in Melodic Death Metal and Metalcore, just like what they did in Relive//Regret//Repeat. In other words, do you think you have what it takes to face Jay and the guys?
Best moments of the album: Extinct, Boy Who Cried Wolf, Eighty-Sixed and Fractured.
This American Groove Metal power trio returns with a brand new album showcasing more of their crushing guitars, gritty vocals and thrash and groove drumming.
Norwalk, Connecticut-based Groove Metal power trio Kaos Reign is here to assault your senses with their unique mix of Death, Doom, Groove And Thrash Metal, drawing influences from early Sepultura, Slayer, Death and Pantera. Formed in 2013 by lead singer and guitarist Bill Klopfer and drummer Chris Anderson, the band has been on a roll since their inception, having already released the full-length albums Embrace the Fire, in 2014, Screaming for Salvation, in 2016, and now in 2018 their brand new opus Epiphany, an album that continues to follow Kaos Reign’s path of crushing guitars, gritty vocals, and thrash and groove drumming, but at the same time showing an evolution in their music.
More refined and dynamic than its predecessors, and featuring a straightforward, dark artwork by the band’s own Bill Klopfer, Epiphany brings a band that’s in absolute sync, with Bill’s vocals sounding versatile while his riffs are memorable and captivating. Bassist Matt Duggan rounds out the sound with the execution of his distinctive bass lines, whereas Chris Anderson’s extreme drumming portrays confidence and style. With its lyrics touching on themes of inner struggle, determination to overcome, and societal issues, encouraging us to proceed with caution and understand the chaos that consumes us, Epiphany will certainly please fans of fast and extreme music who are also searching for gripping background stories that effectively spice up the music being played.
Wicked, dark sounds ignite a belligerent Groove Metal onslaught by Kaos Reign titled Selfish Backstabber, displaying a solid instrumental, endless electricity, and Bill screaming the song’s acid lyrics like there’s no tomorrow (“I watch your actions and learn / You preach your belief, you don’t believe / You taste so sour I yack / The aftertaste, post nasal burning”). Following such sharp start we have a hybrid of Thrash Metal and Hardcore named Dispatch the Threat, where Chris keeps smashing his drums, therefore inspiring us to slam into the pit, with the song’s cleaner vocals sounding like a metal version of Rage Against The Machine’s Zack de la Rocha; and Lethal Injection, bringing more rumbling and groovy sounds blasted by Bill and Matt while Chris continues to add intricacy to the band’s violent music. Put differently, this is an excellent choice for their live concerts and a fantastic addition to the playlist of anyone who loves modern Groove Metal. And the title-track Epiphany presents darker elements in its intro, suddenly morphing into another crushing metal attack and also displaying hints of Southern Metal, with all instruments together generating a hurricane of heavy sounds and tones.
The album loses its grip a little with the not-so-inspired tune The Criminal Inside, despite all aggressiveness showcased by the band and the always rhythmic beats by Chris, but fortunately in Parasite the band gets back on track with their flammable Groove Metal, with highlights to the thrilling guitar lines by Bill and to more of their austere and aggressive words (“Leeching off society / A parasite sucks the blood / Right from / the eye of the storm / The side effects / are visible”). Under the Knife is the most visceral and destructive of all songs, and therefore one of the top moments of the album, with all three band members extracting crushing sounds form their instruments, presenting a great sync between Bill’s riffs and Chris’ drums, not to mention the metallic bass lines by Matt, whereas in Everyone is Offended they slow down their dementia, but still sounding heavier than hell. In a nutshell, this is a mid-tempo, groovy creation by Kaos Reign where Bill keeps sending a not-so-happy message through his demented vocals.
And their slamming party goes on with another melodic and fierce song titled How Do You Sleep at Night?, where Chris doesn’t stop pounding his drums and Bill even brings forth some thrashier riffs the likes of Slayer and Testament. Punish Myself is perfect for headbanging like a maniac, blending the thunderous sounds of Groove Metal with the slashing insanity of Thrash Metal, with Bill smashing his strings mercilessly without forgetting to add harmony to the music; followed by Placebo, a lot less groovy and venturing through Southern Metal grounds, singing about the dangerous market of addictive legal drugs (“I am on a big dose / I feel so comforted and relaxed / Why live life sober? / When you can be prescribed happiness”). However, despite being a relatively good song, it definitely lacks the band’s characteristic speed. And Isolation Chamber, the most somber and wicked of all tracks, closes the album on a high (and obscure) note, even presenting elements from Doom Metal (especially on Chris’ beats and Bill’s vocals).
If you want to show your support to this talented and unrelenting American power trio, you can purchase Epiphany (which by the way is available for a full listen on Spotify) from the band’s own BandCamp page, from CD Baby or from Amazon, but as you already know the world of Kaos Reign is not limited to Epiphany only, which means you can get an overdose of their belligerent music by visiting them on Facebook, on YouTube, on ReverbNation and on SoundCloud. And I believe you might be asking yourself what will be the next step in the evolving path crafted by Kaos Reign, right? Well, let’s hope it doesn’t take too long for us all to have an answer to that and get more of their sharp metal music sooner than expected.
Best moments of the album: Selfish Backstabber, Lethal Injection, Parasite and Under the Knife.
Worst moments of the album:The Criminal Inside and Placebo.
Released in 2018 Independent
Track listing 1. Selfish Backstabber 5:12
2. Dispatch the Threat 4:11
3. Lethal Injection 4:45
4. Epiphany 4:09
5. The Criminal Inside 4:21
6. Parasite 4:54
7. Under the Knife 3:53
8. Everyone is Offended 4:39
9. How Do You Sleep at Night? 4:35
10. Punish Myself 5:26
11. Placebo 4:32
12. Isolation Chamber 4:53
Band members Bill Klopfer – vocals, guitar
Matt Duggan – bass
Chris Anderson – drums
Join this mad patrol of Italian metallers where drinking beer, slamming into the pit and showing your passion for heavy music are the only rules you need to follow.
Forged in the distant year of 1991 in the metallic pits of Padua, a city in Northern Italy’s Veneto region, Italian Heavy/Thrash Metal squad Mad Agony went on a huge hiatus starting in 1993 due to the departure of one of its founding members, but their inner passion for true heavy music didn’t die at all, leading the band to rise from the ashes in 2011. After their rebirth to the world of heavy music, the band released in 2013 the full-length album Chernobitch, gaining positive feedback from fans and critics worldwide and, consequently, inspiring them to keep recording heavy music in the following years, culminating now in 2018 with the release of their second full-length installment, titled Mad Patrol.
Comprised of “Mad” Max Zane on vocals, Samael Von Martin on lead guitar, Andrea “Babetz” Babetto on rhythm guitar, Dani D3vine on bass, and Demian De Saba on drums, Mad Agony play a wild and straight-to-the-face fusion of several styles such as Heavy Metal, Trash Metal, Hard N’ Heavy, Hard Rock and even Black Metal, with their songs being characterized by endless amounts of electricity and being highly recommended as the playlist for any fun rock n’ roll party where drinking all the beer you can until you drop is mandatory. Put differently, Mad Agony don’t aim at reinventing the wheel with Mad Patrol, but just to keep partying and carrying the flag of Heavy Metal proudly in honor of the golden years of the music we all love so much.
The headbanging riffs by Samael and Andrea rev up the engines in the opening track Cold Stars, an old school fusion of the classic Thrash Metal played by Anthrax with the more visceral music blasted by Forbidden where Mad Max lives up to his own nickname with his rabid screams, and with the music ending powerfully with a flammable solo by Samael. Then crushing guitar lines kick off an epic and impactful ode to Thrash Metal by Mad Agony, titled Circle Of Fire, also bringing hints of the Power Metal played by bands like Grave Digger and Running Wild and, consequently, being highly recommended for admirers of 80’s traditional metal music; whereas in Let Me Die we’re treated to a mid-tempo sonority showcasing rumbling bass punches by Dani and steady, fierce beast by Demian, with its rhythm reminding me of the classic “Bang Your Head” by Quiet Riot. It gets a bit tiring after a while, though, but nothing to worry about.
More Beer is one of those old school thrashing hymns with a beyond fun theme, with the whole band destroying their instruments during the faster pieces, while the slower parts are spearheaded by the slashing riffs by Samael and Andrea; followed by Party Time (Zombie Version), a Rock N’ Roll party by Mad Agony where Mad Max couldn’t sound more inspired on vocals while Samael fires pure awesomeness through his riffs and solos. And in Warriors Of The Whales, which by the way has an amazing name, the vocals by Mad Max sound somehow inspired by the great Udo Dirkschneider, becoming an awesome option for slamming into the pit during their live performances, with Demian being utterly brutal on drums.
Antiochia – Back To Bare Metal is a classic instrumental Heavy Metal extravaganza showcasing potent drums and electrified guitar riffs and solos, before Mad Agony get back to a more Rock N’ Roll and Hard Rock vibe in the flammable You Bring Me To The Ground. Simply grab your beer, slam into the pit and have fun with this exciting tune, with highlights to its catchy chorus and the exciting pace led by Damien and his solid beats. And lastly, we have Metal Thrashin’ Mad, their cover version for the classic by Anthrax from their 1984 album Fistful Of Metal (check out the original version HERE). Needless to say, Mad Agony’s version is just as incendiary, entertaining and old school, with the demented vocal performance by Mad Max being the icing on the cake.
You can get more details about Mad Agony and their unrelenting metal music through their official Facebook page, and purchase your copy of the well-crafted and upbeat Mad Patrol from the band’s own webstore (where you can buy the way buy the special edition with a bonus live CD) showing your support to such obstinate band and, as a consequence, keeping the flame of underground metal burning brighter than ever. And besides, how not to be tempted to join a “mad patrol” of Heavy Metal? You have to be really mad not to take part in such distinct squad.
Best moments of the album: Circle Of Fire, More Beer and Metal Thrashin’ Mad.
Worst moments of the album:Let Me Die.
Released in 2018 Independent
Track listing
1. Cold Stars 5:11
2. Circle Of Fire 4:33
3. Let Me Die 5:07
4. More Beer 2:24
5. Party Time (Zombie Version) 2:55
6. Warriors Of The Whales 3:48
7. Antiochia – Back To Bare Metal (instrumental) 6:13
8. You Bring Me To The Ground 3:24
9. Metal Thrashin’ Mad (Anthrax cover) 2:51
Disc 2 – Live Somewhere And Nowhere 10. Chernobitch 4:26
11. Back In Town! 3:04
12. Subconscious Fear 5:41
13. Presence 4:24
14. Boundaries Of Death 6:58
15. Iron Fist (Motörhead Cover) 2:56
16. Mad Agony 3:56
17. Mad Agony (feat. Pietro M Rock) (Video version) 4:20
18. Trick Or Treat (Fastway cover) 4:50
Band members “Mad” Max Zane – vocals
Samael Von Martin – lead guitar & backing vocals
Andrea “Babetz” Babetto – rhythm guitar & backing vocals
Dani D3vine – bass & backing vocals
Demian De Saba – drums & backing vocals
A talented six-piece Melodic Death Metal act from Finland returns with a brand new EP where they step up their game in terms of quality, intricacy and professionalism.
If you’ve been following The Headbanging Moose for a few years already, you might remember a Finnish Melodic Death Metal band from the city of Lahti named Forte Ruin, who released in 2015 their debut self-titled EP comprised of three original compositions filled with memorable melodies, powerful riffs and catchy choruses. Now in 2018 that talented six-piece metal act returns with a brand new EP entitled Rebuilding the Machinery, where not only they step up their game in terms of quality and intricacy, but the band formed by Arttu Ruusunen on lead vocals, Saku and Samu Aaltonen on guitars and backing vocals, Arto Viitanen on bass and backing vocals, Veli-Matti Kyllönen on keyboards, and Jere Aaltonen on drums sounds a lot more professional and ready to spread their music throughout the four corner of the earth.
And the EP kick off in full force with Down in Perdition, a very melodic and pounding creation by the sextet showcasing clean and rumbling sounds, spiced up by the futuristic keys by Veli-Matti while Arttu growls the song’s poetic lyrics rabidly (“All these revelations and present / Are finally align so that we’ll understand / Our time here has come to an end / In perdition we could meet again perchance”). Furthermore, Saku and Samu not only deliver excellent riffs during the whole song, but their solos are also beyond thrilling. Then deeply rooted in classic Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal we have the title-track Rebuilding the Machinery, faster than its predecessor and presenting a great balance between visceral growls and clean vocals, as well as a great job done by all band members with their instruments, in special Jere with his fierce and rhythmic beats.
Displaying hints of American Alternative and Nu Metal (and once again with the keys by Veli-Matti bringing a whimsical aura to the musicality), Colony Collapse Disorder exhales sheer electricity, with Arto delivering thunder through his menacing bass lines while the guitar solos elevate the song’s impact and taste considerably. In Electric Frames, just like what they did in their previous EP, Forte Ruin add nuances of Jazz and electronic music to their Scandinavian Metal, and the the final result couldn’t sound more fantastic, all boosted by the song’s lyrics which seem taken from a song from the 70’s (“Great illusion within’ electric frames / We can see the integration / While we process all the traveling light / Of electric frames”). And Saturation Point, featuring guest vocals by Jules Näveri from Profane Omen, is tailored for banging your head nonstop or playing some ass-kicking air guitar, with the bass lines by Arto bringing tons of groove to the musicality while the keys by Veli-Matti keep adding a touch of delicacy to the overall result.
Featuring a modern and sinister artwork by Finnish artist Marianna Maaninka, Rebuilding the Machinery not only has all the elements we search for in Melodic Death Metal, but it also brings additional layers of intricacy and feeling thanks to all other music styles Forte Ruin incorporate in their music, and in order to show your proper support to this Finnish squad go check their Facebook page, YouTube channel and Spotify for news and more of their music. You can purchase Rebuilding the Machinery from their own BandCamp page, as well as from Record Shop X or CD Baby, and add such distinct collection of Scandinavian Metal songs to your personal playlist, courtesy of a band that might be taking their initial steps in the world of heavy music, but that at the same time already sounds like veterans due to the high quality of their compositions and their utter professionalism.
Best moments of the album: Rebuilding the Machinery and Electric Frames.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2018 Independent
Track listing
1. Down in Perdition 4:18
2. Rebuilding the Machinery 3:57
3. Colony Collapse Disorder 4:29
4. Electric Frames 4:24
5. Saturation Point (feat. Jules Näveri) 6:27
Band members Arttu Ruusunen – lead vocals
Saku Aaltonen – guitars & backing vocals
Samu Aaltonen – guitars & backing vocals
Arto Viitanen – bass & backing vocals
Veli-Matti Kyllönen – keyboards
Jere Aaltonen – drums
Guest musician Jules Näveri – guest vocals on “Saturation Point”
Enjoy this Stygian and occult album featuring seven tracks of pure gloomy Doom Metal, masterfully delivered by an Italian quartet that has already succumbed to the dark side of music.
Let’s dive deep into the sluggish and obscure realms of old school Doom Metal to the music by a Italian quartet that goes by the name of Summ, formed in 2017 in the Italian capital Rome. Comprised of Mark Wolf on vocals, Painkiller on the guitar, Marcas on bass and Rick on drums, Suum are releasing now in 2018 the full-length album Buried Into The Grave, featuring seven tracks of pure gloomy Doom Metal, bringing to your ears not only a Stygian sound tailored for the doomed, but also cryptic lyrics about darkness, doom and occultism, being highly recommended for fans of Black Sabbath, Danzig, Candlemass, My Dying Bride, Electric Wizard, and all other bands and artists that have beautifully succumbed to the darkest and most lugubrious side of music.
If there’s rain, thunder and wind, you know the music is going to be doomed, which is exactly what happens in the opening track Tower Of Oblivion. Marcas kicks off this damned feast with his low-tuned bass until the rest of the band joins him in darkness, with lead singer Mark Wolf haunting our souls with his Black Sabbath-inspired vocals while Painkiller fires sheer obscurity through his riffs, with all vileness increasing in intensity until its crisp ending. And their Doom Metal mass goes on in Black Mist, led by the steady beats by Rick while the phantasmagoric vocals by Mark and the heavier-than-hell riffs by Painkiller generate a truly somber atmosphere; followed by Buried Into The Grave, which in my humble opinion is the most Stygian of all tracks of the album (hence, it would definitely make Tony Iommi proud). Not only the vocal lines are deep and deranged, but the combined sound of guitar, bass and drums create this gloomy creature that will mercilessly enfold you just like pitch black darkness.
Last Sacrifice is another classic Doom Metal tune spearheaded by the slashing riffage by Painkiller and the slow but intricate beats by Rick, putting you on a trance and inspiring you to crack your neck headbanging, with the music flowing smoothly and darkly until the end. Then bringing the most acid and somber elements from Stoner Metal and Rock we have Seeds Of Decay, an atmospheric and sluggish creation by Suum with highlights to the rumbling sounds extracted by both Painkiller and Marcas from their hellish strings, whereas in the melancholic and introspective instrumental The Woods Are Waiting we face more rain and wind, going on for a bit too long though (albeit nothing that will make you skip it). And finally, rhythmic drums and scorching hot riffs ignite their last breath of old school Doom Metal, the somber extravaganza titled Shadows Haunt The Night, where Painkiller sounds absolutely on fire during the entire song, adding an extra touch of malignancy and obscurity to the final result.
You can succumb to total darkness by listening to Buried Into The Grave in its entirety on YouTube, by visiting Suum’s official Facebook page, and obviously by purchasing such dense and entertaining album from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Endless Winter webstore, from the Hellas Records webstore, or from Discogs. Those four skillful Italian metallers not only live up to the legacy of traditional Doom Metal, but based on the high-quality of the music found in Buried Into The Grave, they’re also more than ready to carve their names in the history of such distinct music style.
Best moments of the album: Tower Of Oblivion, Buried Into The Grave and Shadows Haunt The Night.
Worst moments of the album:The Woods Are Waiting.
Released in 2018 Endless Winter/Hellas Records
Track listing
1. Tower Of Oblivion 6:25
2. Black Mist 4:40
3. Buried Into The Grave 4:55
4. Last Sacrifice 5:13
5. Seeds Of Decay 5:44
6. The Woods Are Waiting (Instrumental) 3:38
7. Shadows Haunt The Night 4:23
Band members Mark Wolf – vocals
Painkiller – guitars
Marcas – bass
Rick – drums
And Mr. Axel Rudi Pell strikes once again, delivering another entertaining collection of rock and metal tunes supported by his loyal army of skillful musicians.
If there’s a musician that truly loves what he does, that person has to be the iconic German Heavy Metal/Hard Rock guitarist Axel Rudi Pell. It’s incredible how consistent this accomplished guitar virtuoso is with his amazing solo band, not only by delivering top-tier music since the band’s inception in the far, far away year of 1989, but also by not taking too many years to record a new album. As a matter of fact, if you take a detailed look at the band’s complete discography, you’ll notice that every two years there’s a brand new Axel Rudi Pell full-length album released for our total delight. Furthermore, his creativity and ability to compose high-end music have been flourishing in the past decade, with the releases of the extremely well-crafted albums The Crest (2010), Circle of the Oath (2012), Into the Storm (2014), Game of Sins (2016), and now in 2018 the excellent Knights Call, the 18th studio album in his undisputed career.
Featuring a traditional artwork by British illustrator Martin McKenna, who by the way has been working with the band since 2010 with the release of the aforementioned The Crest, the secret in Knights Call is not a secret at all, but the result of a lot of hard work, perfect synchronicity among all band members, and above all that, a solid and consistent lineup that has been accompanying Mr. Axel Rudi Pell for a while, comprised of the underrated Johnny Gioeli on vocals, Volker Krawczak on bass, Ferdy Doernberg on keyboards and Bobby Rondinelli on drums. Apart from Mr. Rondinelli, who joined the band in 2013, all others have been with Axel for a very long time, with Volker being a member of the band since the beginning in 1989 (and even before that if you consider his time with Steeler), while Johnny and Ferdy since 1998’s Oceans of Time. Actually, when you hit play and start listening to the flammable rock music blasted by those veterans in Knights Call, you can kind of feel how they know each other extremely well.
The Medieval Overture is a classic medieval-inspired Axel Rudi Pell intro to the Rock N’ Roll feast titled The Wild And The Young, a song about getting old in style and having good memories of a time that’s never coming back (“Sometimes I’m dreaming of the past / Making love in the summer while it lasts / But life ain’t easy as it seemed / Much tougher and louder than I dreamed / I thought I was living in paradise / And those were the days of my life”), led by the unparalleled riffs by Mr. Axel Rudi Pell and the always flammable vocals by Johnny. Following such strong start we have Wildest Dreams, a keyboard-driven Hard Rock tune where Volker extracts rumbling sounds from his bass while the competent Bobby keeps the music at a very pleasant pace, bringing that characteristic sound from the band’s old releases; and Long Live Rock, their musical representation of our passion for Rock N’ Roll, or in other words, a tribute not only to themselves but to all rock and metal heroes of our lives, showcasing a thunderous kitchen by Volker and Bobby , with Ferdy complementing Axel’s metallic riffs and solos flawlessly.
Then it’s time for The Crusaders Of Doom, one of those imposing, epic creations by Axel and his henchmen, a mid-tempo song full of atmospheric keyboards and classy guitar lines, all embraced by a passionate vocal performance by the talented Johnny. Truth And Lies is another upbeat composition by the band, a 70’s-80’s-inspired instrumental party for lovers of Progressive Rock and Metal presenting gripping keys and the always mesmerizing riffs and solos by Axel, while in Beyond The Light Mr. Gioeli returns after a “break” with what’s most probably his strongest vocal performance of the album, powerfully declaiming the song’s lyrics (“Is there life beyond the light / In the valley of the souls we’d lost long ago / Is there life beyond the light / Only in our dreams or in reality”). Those guys definitely know how to craft beautiful and touching ballads, and this one is no exception to that.
Knights Call Limited Edition Boxset
Getting back to their 80’s Hard Rock sonority, Slaves On The Run is a straightforward tune presenting all elements we love in the music by Axel Rudi Pell, being a more than excellent option for their live concerts. Furthermore, Axel and Ferdy are once again in total sync, while Volker keeps pounding his bass in a very melodious way. The second to last song in Knights Call, Follow The Sun, brings more old school Rock N’ Roll and Heavy Metal for our avid ears, with the album’s crisp production allowing us to feel the beats by Bobby inside our heads while Johnny keeps firing his potent vocal lines, also bringing a chorus tailored for singing along with the band. And closing this very entertaining album we have a 9-minute aria of classic rock and metal with hints of Arabian music titled Tower Of Babylon, something we’ve seen the band doing before. You’ll find yourself wandering through the realms of epicness and intricacy forged by Axel and crew, with his guitar solos sounding absolutely hypnotizing.
After listening to Knights Call (and I’m sure that’s something I’ll be doing for a long time), I’m more than certain it’s quite impossible for Axel Rudi Pell to release a bad album. There are several versions of Knights Call available for purchase HERE, but if I were you I would go for the deluxe boxset which includes a red/black LP in gatefold cover and with printed innersleeve, a digipak CD + poster, a patch, a sticker, a photo card, a doople sided A1 poster, and a skull tin-cup with an engraving of the band logo. And after all is said and done, we can all rest assured that in less than two years we’ll be treated one more time to the captivating rock and metal music crafted by one of the best guitarists hailing from the beautiful Germany.
Best moments of the album: The Wild And The Young, Long Live Rock, Slaves On The Run and Follow The Sun.
Worst moments of the album:Truth And Lies.
Released in 2018 SPV/Steamhammer
Track listing
1. The Medieval Overture (Intro) 1:43
2. The Wild And The Young 4:20
3. Wildest Dreams 5:43
4. Long Live Rock 5:34
5. The Crusaders Of Doom 8:01
6. Truth And Lies 4:48
7. Beyond The Light 7:45
8. Slaves On The Run 5:13
9. Follow The Sun 5:12
10. Tower Of Babylon 9:50
Band members Johnny Gioeli – vocals
Axel Rudi Pell – guitar
Volker Krawczak – bass
Ferdy Doernberg – keyboards
Bobby Rondinelli – drums
Enjoy this short and sweet lesson in Death Metal made in Northern Ireland, taking you into the dark heart of the human condition.
Behind the locked doors that lie in the shadows, at the end of forgotten passageways, in the depths of every human mind, madness waits, scratching at the splintered wood with bleeding fingers. However, sometimes those locks fail, or the keys are purposefully turned, unleashing the monsters from within. The Dark Triad, the brand new EP by Northern Irish Death Metal quartet Strangle Wire, is the sound of the monsters set free, the sound of broken minds and twisted personalities, and the sound of an insidious assault on the light that keeps the night at bay.
Formed in 2017 in Belfast, Northern Ireland’s capital, the band comprised of I (Pete Clarke) on vocals, II (Greg “Daff” Diffin) on bass, III (Ross Duffy) on the guitar, and IV (John Curlett) on drums plays what can be called “Psychological Death Metal”, being highly recommended for fans of Dying Fetus, Cannibal Corpse and Sinister, among several other Death Metal icons. Featuring a classic artwork by British musician and designer Tom Bradfield, The Dark Triad is divided into three sections, entitled Narcissism, Psychopathy and Machiavellianism, taking the listener into the dark heart of the human condition, propelling them ever onward with a musical force of savage intensity, Death Metal possessed of speed, groove and supreme heaviness.
III (or Ross, if you prefer) kicks off the Death Metal hurricane titled The Games They Play with his metallic riffs before pure anarchy and devastation take over the world, with I (Pete) firing his deep, enraged and bestial growls nonstop. Put differently, this is one of those songs tailored for fans of extreme music who simply love to slam into the pit more than they love anything else in life. Then tribal sounds start another heavier-than-hell, putrid Death Metal feast named The Narcissist, a slow and steady tune from the pits of hell led by the rhythmic beats by IV (John), while II (Greg) and III keep slashing our skin with their demonic strings. Then we have Psychopathic Blue, showcasing guitar lines that remind me of the work done by Thrash Metal acts like Slayer and Testament, but still being pulverizing and demonic as good old Death Metal should be. The quartet is on fire and in total sync throughout the entire song, delivering belligerent and rabid sounds for our total delight, with I’s hellish roars getting even deeper and more primeval.
And their metallic demolition goes on with more furious blast beats, infernal vociferations and crushing riffs in The Failure Exhibit, where the band practically demands that we all get into the circle pit and slam to the total havoc they generate by their instruments; whereas if you’re a diehard fan of old school Death Metal the likes of Cannibal Corpse you’ll have a blast with Through a Black Lens, where IV sounds like a machine gun on drums while I is a demonic bulldozer on vocals. Furthermore, there isn’t a single second of peace during the entire song, it’s nonstop action boosted by the excellent riffage by III and a beyond violent atmosphere. And last but not least, as the final onrush of extreme music by Strangle Wire we’re treated to a headbanging, menacing chant titled Den of Iniquity, sounding insanely heavy from the very first second until its neck-breaking end, while I keeps barking like a creature from a deep and dark cave.
The Dark Triad, which is available for purchase from the Grindscene Records’ webstore, from Code 7, or from Amazon, is not only a very promising and vibrant start for Strangle Wire, but also a “mini-lesson” in how to properly unite technique, feeling and rage in Death Metal and in extreme music in general. And if that’s just a mini-lesson as I said, can you imagine how pulverizing Strangle Wire will sound when they come back with their first full-length lecture?
Best moments of the album: The Games They Play and Through a Black Lens.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2018 Grindscene Records
Track listing
1. The Games They Play 3:33
2. The Narcissist 4:26
3. Psychopathic Blue 3:21
4. The Failure Exhibit 3:39
5. Through a Black Lens 3:56
6. Den of Iniquity 4:50
Band members I – vocals
II – bass
III – guitar
IV – drums
Hailing from Silkeborg, a small city located in the middle of the Jutlandic peninsula in Denmark, here comes a new Extreme Metal horde that goes by the powerful name of Xenoblight, playing a multi-layered fusion of Progressive Thrash and Death Metal characterized by an intense and blistering atmosphere, while at the same time maintaining an apathetic and melancholic lyrical universe. Although the band is relatively new to the scene, being founded in the beginning of 2017, Xenoblight spent the following year carefully crafting their first record while playing only a limited number of shows before entering the studio, unleashing now in 2018 their debut opus Procreation.
Obsidian Chromatism is a traditional Progressive Death Metal creation where the entire band fires sheer aggressiveness, building the perfect stage for Marika and her demonic growls; whereas in the song that carries the band’s name, Xenoblight, we’re treated to three minutes of piercing sounds and nonstop beats and fills in a demolishing instrumental voyage, with highlights to the scorching guitar riffs by Rasmus and Mikkel. Then without giving us a single second to breathe Xenoblight keep blasting pure evil through their instruments in Nocturnal Manifestations, a frantic, furious and superb display of modern-day Thrash and Death Metal led by the enraged screams by Marika, with Thomas once again sounding brutally amazing on drums while Rasmus and Mikkel are bestial with their solos, followed by Transcendence, where a whimsical start morphs into another explosion of contemporary and vibrant Thrash and Death Metal, sounding like a hybrid between Exodus and Death. Moreover, Marika takes her insanity to a whole new level, making it the perfect opportunity for cracking your spine in half into the circle pit.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 