Album Review – Ofanim / La Torre Oscura (2024)

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Behold the dark tower of Blackened Death Metal ruled by a Mexican entity whose name invokes the sinister angels of the prophetic vision of Ezekiel 1:15-21.

Carrying a name that invokes the sinister angels of the prophetic vision of Ezekiel 1:15-21, Chihuahua, Mexico-based Blackened Death Metal entity Ofanim has just unleashed upon humanity their first full-length opus, entitled La Torre Oscura, or “the dark tower” from Spanish. After going through many names and lineup changes, the brainchild of vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Armando Valles returns form the abysmal depths of his homeland with an album that exhales sulfur and darkness, with half of the album coming from their 2022 debut EP Embracing Death, plus new compositions that help Ofanim in proudly continuing to burn the flame of Black and Death Metal and, therefore, in keeping the project alive against all odds.

El Odio Comienza, or “hate begins”, is sulfurous and absolutely evil from the very first notes, an onrush of Black Metal made in Mexico where the devilish roars by Armando together with his caustic riffs will pierce your soul mercilessly, whereas Embracing Death sounds even more infuriated than the opening track, with the blast beast and unstoppable riffage by Armando being exactly what we need to worship evil and, of course, embrace death. Sal is another demented, grim aria by Armando where he keeps vociferating rabidly amidst an insane amount of heaviness and evil, followed by Esteban el Primero, adding elements of Blackened Death Metal and classic Death Metal to his core sonority, and with the drums sounding demolishing from start to finish. Then we have the title-track La Torre Oscura, keeping the atmosphere as demonic and unfriendly as possible, with Armando’s deep growls and strident riffs sounding amazing.

Armando shows no sign of slowing down or delivering smoother sounds; quite the contrary, it’s pedal to the metal in the infernal Saulo, where his harsh vociferations walk hand in hand with his Black Metal riffs and drums, while 2030 is a song perfect for some intense headbanging to the ruthless hurricane of sounds blasted by Armando and his Ofanim, most probably the heaviest and most disturbing of all songs. Then we have Hedonismo, leaning towards a more direct Death Metal sonority where the guitars by Armando will pierce your rotten corpse mercilessly until the very end, followed by Hielo, which is Spanish for “ice”, a solid Blackened Death Metal composition but not on par with the rest of the album, sounding a bit generic and stale. Last but not least, let’s enjoy two minutes of sheer heaviness in Ultimatum, where Armando’s massive drums and devilish guitars make an interesting paradox with all background elements.

Although La Torre Oscura was recorded solely by Armando, he has already recruited an army of uncanny soldiers to join him in his live rituals, and you can stay up to date with all news and live concerts by Ofanim by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, or by clicking HERE, and blow your speakers with high-quality Blackened Death Metal made in Mexico by subscribing to Ofanim’s YouTube channel and by streaming their devilish music on Spotify or any other streaming service. Of course, above all that, go grab a copy of La Torre Oscura from their own BandCamp page. The Mexican extreme music scene has always been a thing of beauty, and of course Ofanim are among us to keep that amazing trend and fill the air with their evil magic until the end of times.

Best moments of the album: Embracing Death, Esteban el Primero and 2030.

Worst moments of the album: Hielo.

Released in 2024 Headlight Productions

Track listing
1. El Odio Comienza 2:39
2. Embracing Death 5:02
3. Sal 3:27
4. Esteban el Primero 5:34
5. La Torre Oscura 5:31
6. Saulo 2:12
7. 2030 4:26
8. Hedonismo 4:16
9. Hielo 3:22
10. Ultimatum 2:10

Band members
Armando Valles – vocals, all instruments

Album Review – Against the Seasons / If The Ocean Could Sing (2024)

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Join this talented Polish musician and his excellent new album of Atmospheric Doom and Post-Metal on a journey through the dark waters of the inner self.

If the ocean could sing, what would it say? That’s the question asked by Polish guitarist Damian Kinowski in If The Ocean Could Sing, the new album by his Atmospheric Folk/Doom/Post-Metal project Against the Seasons. Mixed, mastered and recorded at Versus Records, displaying a beautiful artwork by Aghy Purakusuma, and featuring guests Michał Miluśki (Aether) on vocals and Łukasz Tomczak (Immalum) on bass and drums, the album is a journey through the dark waters of the inner self, portraying a mix of emotions and reflections that haunted Damian during a melancholic period, while also inspired by the music by Woods of Ypres, Forest Stream, Thrawsunblat, Alice in Chains, and many others.

A massive riff by Damian kicks off the album on a high note in Exile, accompanied by the pounding drums by Łukasz and with Michał bringing his share of melancholy and darkness to the music with his devilish roars. Then we’re treated to an amazing rendition by Damian and his henchmen of The Astral Dialogue, by Agalloch (check the original version HERE), presenting the heaviness of the original with the band’s own modern and vibrant twist, followed by Ode, a detailed song with a nice balance between Doom and Folk Metal by the trio, with the guitars by Damian setting the tone while Łukasz delivers sluggish yet fierce beats, all boosted of course by Michał’s anguished roars. Reflection On The Pond brings to our avid ears another round of their Atmospheric Black Metal overflowing pain, melancholy and obscurity, with the acoustic and electric guitars by Damian once again penetrating deep inside our souls; and it’s then time for the second cover of the album, The Sun Was In My Eyes: Part One by Woods of Ypres (also check the original version HERE), sounding even more imposing and epic. Finally, an acoustic intro by Damian kicks off the closing aria Elegy Of The Stars, offering over ten minutes of serene passages intertwined with atmospheric and somber blasts of Black Metal, with the vocal lines by Michał overflowing anger supported by the ominous drums by Łukasz.

If The Ocean Could Sing can be appreciated in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course in order to truly support the underground you can grab a copy of the album from the project’s BandCamp page, and don’t forget to also subscribe to their official YouTube channel. Damian and his Against the Seasons are definitely making the ocean sing in their enfolding and melancholic new album, offering a feast of Atmospheric Black and Doom Metal with Post-Metal nuances for admirers of the genre that will certainly fuel Damian to keep embellishing the airwaves with his dark and extremely melodic music for many years to come.

Best moments of the album: Exile and Elegy Of The Stars.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Exile 4:56
2. The Astral Dialogue (Agalloch Cover) 5:18
3. Ode 4:43
4. Reflection On The Pond 4:24
5. The Sun Was In My Eyes: Part One (Woods of Ypres Cover) 6:31
6. Elegy Of The Stars 10:18

Band members
Damian Kinowski – guitars

Guest musicians
Michał Miluśki – vocals
Łukasz Tomczak – bass, drums

Album Review – Limbes / Liernes (2024)

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A languid, raw, sensitive, literate, true and sincere piece of Atmospheric Black Metal offered to us all by a multi-talented musician hailing from France.

Mastering by Jack Shirley at The Atomic Garden Recording Studios, and showcasing a stylish artworks by Dehn Sora, the obscure Liernes, by Paris, France-based Atmospheric Black Metal one-man project Limbes, is the logical continuation of the previous album Écluse, from 2021, a languid, raw, sensitive, literate, true and sincere piece of Black Metal. However, it differs from the latter by a more accessible approach than in the past. Thus, long and atmospheric tracks mingle with the usual torrents of hypersensitivity by the project’s mastermind, vocalist and multi-instrumentalist Guillaume Galaup, all embraced by the Stygian poetry by Marie “Ciguë” Husson, turning the album into a must-listen for fans of Wolves In The Throne Room, Ultha, and Paramnesia.

Pied de Pilori, or “pillory foot”, sounds absolutely atmospheric from the very first notes, with Guillaume building a dense and enfolding ambience that will puts us all in a trace, exploding halfway through it into sheer violence and obscurity, with his harsh vociferations and visceral guitars piercing our souls and minds. Les Côtes à l’Unisson, or “coasts in unison”, also begins in a serene and gentle manner, this time sounding even more atmospheric than the opening track with Guillaume focusing on more delicate sounds like the background synths without forgetting to add heaviness to the music through his beats and guitars; whereas featuring guest vocals by Russian artist Kariti, Buffet Frigide is a lecture in Atmospheric Black Metal made in France, with the sound of all instruments by Guillaume building the perfect stage for Kariti to shine with her hypnotizing vocals, alternating between pure ethereal moments and more vicious sounds where Guillaume darkly roars together with Kariti, instantly connecting with the pulverizing Aulnes & Poussières, or “alders and dust”, where once again our lone wolf hammers all his instruments in the name of dark and caustic metal music, always adding his share of insanity to it through his anguished gnarls, ending in sheer melancholy.

The music by Limbes is definitely not an easy listen for the average music fan, demanding time and focus to absorb all the elements crafted by Guillaume during each one of the lengthy songs from the album, but once it hits you, then you’ll have an amazing experience listening to the album in its entirety. Furthermore, you can get more details about Guillaume and his Limbes by visiting the project’s Facebook and Instagram, stream more of his music on Spotify, and buy the excellent Liernes from his own BandCamp page, from the Frozen Records website, or by clicking HERE. Guillaume was truly inspired when composing his new album under his Limbes project, and I highly recommend you listen to the album to the smallest detail to capture all the passion, agony, pain and darkness overflowing from each song, therefore helping place Limbes as one of the must-see names of the modern extreme music scene.

Best moments of the album: Pied de Pilori and Buffet Frigide.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Frozen Records

Track listing
1. Pied de Pilori 11:36
2. Les Côtes à l’Unisson 6:54
3. Buffet Frigide 12:13
4. Aulnes & Poussières 10:49

Band members
Guillaume Galaup – vocals, all instruments

Guest musician
Kariti – vocals on “Buffet Frigide”

Album Review – Bad Marilyn / Eye of the Snake (2024)

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The debut album by this talented Swiss Heavy Metal outfit will take you on a journey to a magical world to the sound of its eleven incendiary tracks.

Founded in the summer of 2023 in Wangen an der Aare, Bern, a municipality in the Oberaargau administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, Heavy/Power Metal warriors Bad Marilyn have just unleashed upon us their debut album, titled Eye of the Snake, an album that will transport the listener into a magical metal world. Recorded at Kangaroo Studios, The TrakShak Studio and The Hämst Studio, produced, mixed and mastered by Dennis Ward, co-Produced by Sammy Lasagni and Andri Leonardo, and displaying a classic artwork by Stan-W Decker, Eye of the Snake offers eleven powerful songs thoroughly crafted by the Helvetic formation of Andrea Raffaela on vocals, Sammy Lasagni on guitars, David Craffonara on bass, Andri Leonardo on keyboards, and Armin Schöpfer on drums.

An epic intro quickly evolves into the Power Metal feast I Die Inside, where the whimsical keys by Andri walk hand in hand with the she-wolf roars and soaring vocals by Andrea, whereas Middle-Eastern sounds ignite the also very melodic and headbanging Eye Of The Snake, where Armin pounds his drums nonstop supported by the solid bass lines by David; and leaning towards Melodic Rock and AOR we have Perfect Moment, but of course without forgetting their classic Heavy Metal essence, with the guitars by Sammy sounding striking and harmonious. Retribution is not as exciting as the previous songs and quite confusing at times, albeit the vocals by Andrea are spot-on as usual, but fortunately back to a more direct sonority the band offers our ears the upbeat, melodic Heavy Metal tune Children Of Tomorrow, with Armin dictating the pace with his classic beats and fills. Sammy then takes the lead with his Iron Maiden-inspired riffs in When She’s Gone, a song that blends melody and heaviness in a well-balanced manner.

Their Rock N’ Roll party continues with an overdose of metallic riffs and blast beats titled Revolution, where Andrea delivers a striking vocal performance supported by the fast and thrilling music by her bandmates; and it’s time for a charming power ballad titled Legend Of Salvation, where the power of Armin’s drums is boosted by Andri’s stylish keys. Queen Of Thunder carries an old school name for a song with a strong 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal vibe, keeping the adrenaline flowing in the album while also showcasing more of Andrea’s beautiful vocals, with Andri also kicking some ass with a nice keyboard solo; and they take their heaviness to new heights in Eternal Pain, led by the pounding drums by Armin and the slashing riffage by Sammy, resulting in a thrilling Heavy Metal attack tailored for fans of 80’s heavy music. Last but not least, we’re treated to one final strike of soaring vocals and classic riffs in We Will Rise, putting an incendiary ending to the album.

Eye of the Snake can be appreciated in full on Spotify, but of course you can show your utmost support to Andrea and the boys by purchasing the album from their BandCamp page or webstore, or by cliking HERE, and don’t forget to also give the band a shout on Facebook and on Instagram. This Swiss band definitely knows how to craft fun and vibrant Heavy Metal, taking you as mentioned to a magical world to the sound of their flammable music, and just like a snake I’m sure they’ll strike again soon with another album just as good as their debut offering.

Best moments of the album: I Die Inside, Revolution and Eternal Pain.

Worst moments of the album: Retribution.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. I Die Inside 4:42
2. Eye Of The Snake 4:18
3. Perfect Moment 4:55
4. Retribution 4:22
5. Children Of Tomorrow 3:45
6. When She’s Gone 4:15
7. Revolution 4:00
8. Legend Of Salvation 4:30
9. Queen Of Thunder 4:34
10. Eternal Pain 4:16
11. We Will Rise 5:15

Spotify bonus track
12. Stay Awake 4:34

Band members
Andrea Raffaela – vocals
Sammy Lasagni – guitars
David Craffonara – bass
Andri Leonardo – keyboards, backing vocals
Armin Schöpfer – drums

Concert Review – Kittie (History, Toronto, ON, 07/12/2024)

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Kittie’s first show in Toronto in ten years was an amazing celebration of the legacy of the band, of diversity, and obviously of our good old heavy music.

OPENING ACTS: Dear Evangeline and Vile Creature

I really want to understand what the hell is going on with traffic in the city of Toronto and surroundings. I left my place yesterday with plenty of time to get to History to see DEAR EVANGELINE, VILE CREATURE and KITTIE kick off their Fire Tour 2024, but due to all construction, rain and whatever else, it took me over two hours to get to the venue. Due to that driving nightmare, I missed the entire performance by Brampton, Ontario’s own Hardcore/Sludge Metal newcomers DEAR EVANGELINE, which was a real bummer as I was eager to see those girls live. At least we can all enjoy their self-titled EP on Spotify, and also click HERE to know more about such a promising Canadian band.

Another bummer was the fact that my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi didn’t get a photo pass due to some bullshit about “high demand for passes”, or something like that, but I was there as I had a ticket and I think I saw only ONE photographer apart from the band’s own, so I guess either the organizers didn’t want any external photographers taking pictures of the event (which makes no sense at all, as you want people to see those photos and get inspired to attend future shows, right?), or all of the ones who got the limited passes “didn’t attend the show”, if you know what I mean. Anyway, the photos in this review are a piece of shit because of that reason, and I almost though about not reviewing the show; however, I think Kittie still deserve a nice review because they kicked ass on stage on Friday.

At least I was there in time for St. Catharines, Ontario’s Sludge/Drone/Doom Metal beast VILE CREATURE, a non-binary duo who explores themes of veganism, LGBTQ, animal rights, and anti-oppression in their music, and let me tell you it was a dark and extremely heavy performance by vocalist Vic, vocalist and guitarist KW, and a special guest drummer who I knew nothing about. I have no idea about their setlist, but I’m pretty sure they played a few songs from their latest albums Cast of Static and Smoke (2018) and Glory, Glory! Apathy Took Helm! (2020), both available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and all songs sounded insane. One of the best moments of the show was when KW took a few minutes to talk about how much he loves Kittie, that it was Kittie who inspired him to play heavy music after years not knowing where he belonged as a gay guy, and that he sports his Kittie shirt from the very first Vile Creature live concert. It was a very emotional moment for sure, and seeing KW and his Vile Creature kicking ass right before his favorite band of all time was truly inspirational.

Band members
Vic – vocals
KW – guitars, vocals

KITTIE

The fact that both opening bands had short setlists allowed London, Ontario’s Alternative/Groove Metal powerhouse KITTIE to kick off their musical extravaganza relatively early, at around 9pm, giving a feeling of a matinee to the whole event as they wouldn’t play past 11pm for sure. That would have been a good thing if traffic back home wasn’t another nightmare, but I won’t complain about it again. Let’s focus on the show, and what a show it was! Morgan Lander, Tara McLeod, Ivana “Ivy” Jenkins (holy shit, Ivy was insane during the whole show!) and Mercedes Lander were on absolute fire throughout their entire set, which makes total sense as their new album Fire in indeed an incendiary one. Needless to say, their 22-song setlist inspired everyone at the venue to slam into the circle pit and to have a wild time with all crowd surfing going on, making the girls from Kittie really proud of their local fans in their first show in Toronto in ten years.

Blending some of the most electrifying songs of their new album the likes of Fire, We Are Shadows and Eyes Wide Open with classic including Cut Throat, Spit, Funeral for Yesterday and Brackish, the quartet sounded tight, focused and mesmerizing, and when we thought the show was over after the heavy-as-hell We Are the Lamb, the band got back and kicked us hard in the head with a special encore with the songs One Foot in the Grave and Do You Think I’m a Whore, a nice surprise that caught everyone off guard and that turned up the heat inside the venue through the roof. Having said all that, keep an eye on their tour dates by clicking HERE, stream all of their amazing albums, including their new beast Fire, on Spotify or on any other streaming service, and don’t miss the chance to see those four Canadian girls live whenever they take your city by storm. I just wish I had better photos of the band to show you, of course, but you can’t win ’em all, right?

Setlist
Fire
I’ve Failed You
Cut Throat
No Name
Spit
What I Always Wanted
Sorrow I Know
Look So Pretty
Ugly
We Are Shadows
Into the Darkness
Eyes Wide Open
Severed
Funeral for Yesterday
In Winter
Vultures
Charlotte
Mouthful of Poison
Brackish
We Are the Lamb

Encore:
One Foot in the Grave
Do You Think I’m a Whore

Band members
Morgan Lander – lead vocals, rhythm guitar, piano
Tara McLeod – lead guitar
Ivana “Ivy” Jenkins – bass
Mercedes Lander – drums, backing vocals

Album Review – Occulta Veritas / Irreducible Fear of the Sublime (2024)

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A multi-talented Italian musician will attack your senses with his Atmospheric Black Metal debut effort, a dive into the beauty of darkness, sublimated in songs with intense melodies and riffing.

The multi-talented Daniele Vergine, the Turin, Piedmont, Italy-based guitarist for Noise Trail Immersion, is a musician who has in his strings not only the Post-Black Metal played by the band he is part of, but also the darkest and most Atmospheric Black Metal, as presented to us all in his solo project Occulta Veritas (or “the hidden truth” from Latin), debuting with the album Irreducible Fear Of The Sublime. Recorded, mixed and mastered by Daniele himself, and displaying a Stygian cover art by Vama Marga, the album is a dive into the beauty of darkness, sublimated in songs with intense melodies and riffing brought into being by Daniele on vocals, guitars and drums, alongside guest bassist Gabriele Ponziano, being highly recommended for fans of Krallice, Altar of Plagues, Yellow Eyes, and Thantifaxath, just to name a few.

Serene, grim sounds gradually evolve into a harsh, visceral Atmospheric Black Metal aria titled The Mirror Stage, where Daniele’s vocals and guitars sound truly haunting, or in other words, it’s an embracing start to the album that beautifully introduces us to Daniele’s cryptic realm, followed by The Sacred Horizons of Totality, where he keeps his ethereal, somber ambience strong, with his classic beats and fills, together with the low-tuned bass lines by Gabriele, enhancing the project’s darkness considerably. Daniele’s harsh gnarls and strident riffs will penetrate deep inside your psyche in Metonimia, exhaling modern-day Atmospheric Black Metal; whereas S(Ⱥ) is an instrumental tune that could have been shorter, but it’s still captivating and cold, with Daniele blasting minimalist sounds until the very last second. The second to last eerie creation by Daniele comes in the form of Bound to Incompleteness, with his demonic, visceral screams creating a very interesting paradox with the more melodic sounds from his guitar, whereas lastly we’re hit hard with the title-track Irreducible Fear of the Sublime, presenting elements of Post-Black Metal while still sounding obscure and vile, with Daniele once again roaring and growling nonstop, bursting his lungs with anger and despair.

Irreducible Fear Of The Sublime hides a poetic, philosophical soul, expressed both in the sumptuous cover painting and in a veiled melancholy that seems to envelop all the songs and that comes from having probed the depths of the unconscious, in the wake of the studies and theories of French psychoanalyst Jacques Lacan. Hence, if you want to feel all those emotions crafted by Daniele in his newborn beast, you can purchase a copy of the album from the I, Voidhanger Records’ BandCamp page or from Metal Odissey in Europe (CD or LP) and in the United States (CD or LP), and don’t forget to also give him a shout on Instagram. Partly instinctive drive, partly projection of desires, the music of Occulta Veritas is another torch lit in the darkness of the spirit, and I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time letting the music by Daniele penetrate deep inside your soul in this stylish album of dark music.

Best moments of the album: The Mirror Stage and Irreducible Fear of the Sublime.

Worst moments of the album: S(Ⱥ).

Released in 2024 I, Voidhanger Records

Track listing
1. The Mirror Stage 7:57
2. The Sacred Horizons of Totality 4:43
3. Metonimia 3:49
4. S(Ⱥ) 4:19
5. Bound to Incompleteness 5:31
6. Irreducible Fear of the Sublime 5:47

Band members
Daniele Vergine – vocals, guitars, drums

Guest musician
Gabriele Ponziano – bass

Album Review – Kerry King / From Hell I Rise (2024)

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Like a demon arising from hell, the iconic Kerry King returns to action armed with his debut solo album alongside a stellar lineup in a lesson in both old school and modern-day Thrash Metal.

When you put together Slayer’s indomitable, iconic guitarist Kerry King, the fantastic vocalist Mark Osegueda of Death Angel, former Vio-lence and Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel, Hellyeah bassist Kyle Sanders, and Slayer and former Testament, Forbidden and Exodus drummer Paul Bostaph, you know it’s going to be an extremely heavy, evil and violent feast of Thrash Metal. That’s exactly what you’ll get in Kerry King’s debut solo album From Hell I Rise, his first material since disbanding Slayer back in 2019. Produced by Josh Wilbur, the album sounds like Slayer without being Slayer, bringing to our avid ears an overdose of caustic riffs, soaring vocals and blast beats, or in other words, a must-listen for fans of both old school and modern-day Bay Area Thrash. Well, just take a look at the album’s demonic artwork and you’ll quickly realize Mr. Kerry King and his henchmen are not among us to bring peace nor hope.

As soon as you hit play you’ll face Diablo, a beyond electrifying intro to the album, almost working as a full song, opening the gates of hell for the quintet to attack us all in Where I Reign, a lecture in contemporary Thrash Metal where Mark’s vocals sound incendiary, while the scorching riffs by Kerry and Phil will penetrate deep inside our skin. Residue is a heavy-as-hell extravaganza by the band that delivers sheer aggression in the form of obscure, grim guitars and the always hammering drums by Paul; followed by Idle Hands, the first single of the album, offering the perfect fusion of the music by Slayer and Death Angel, with of course the trio formed of Kerry, Mark and Paul blasting our cranial skulls with their infuriated sounds. Trophies of the Tyrant is another late Slayer-inspired tune where the groovy kitchen by Kyle and Paul add endless density to the overall result, all spiced up by Kerry’s trademark solos, whereas Crucifixation, the longest of all songs from the album, is a hurricane of acid Thrash Metal, with Paul taking the lead with his inhumane beats while the band’s guitar duo slashes their stringed axes nonstop. And Tension sounds like a song taken from Diabolus in Musica or God Hates Us All, being very modern while still showcasing Kerry’s characteristic old school sound, albeit not as exciting as the other songs.

Everything I Hate About You is a bestial display of Thrash Metal by the band where Mark sounds possessed on vocals, resulting in one minute and twenty seconds of pure insanity that will ignite some demented circle pits during their live concerts, flowing into the also headbanging, groovy Toxic, where Mark once again roars and barks like a creature from the underworld, keeping the album at a humongous level of violence. Then flirting with the Groove Metal played by bands like Lamb of God while also showcasing strong elements from Mark’s own band Death Angel we have Two Fists, not to mention the sound of the guitars is simply striking; whereas a song by Kerry King named Rage doesn’t need a lot of explanation, as it’s pure riff-driven Thrash Metal with endless animosity and, of course, rage flowing form Mark’s raspy vocals. Paul keeps pounding his drums in great fashion in Shrapnel, with the band offering an avalanche of wicked riffs and deep vocals, being therefore perfect for slamming into the pit while they craft one of the most detailed sounds of the whole album. And lastly, we’re treated to the perfect way to conclude the album, the title-track From Hell I Rise, an incendiary, frantic and heavy tune just the way we like it in classic thrash, with Kerry and Paul making an insane duo with their riffs and beats.

This beast of an album can be appreciated in full album on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you want to put your dirty, evil hands on it you can grab a copy of it by clicking HERE or HERE, or click HERE for all things Kerry King, including the links to his own Facebook and Instagram. Just like a phoenix arising form the ashes, or maybe I should say a demon arising from hell, Kerry King returns to the battlefield with his striking debut solo album, and hopefully he’ll keep delivering awesome music like what’s found in the album in the near future (even if Slayer are back for good), because with a stellar lineup like what he’s put together we can rest assure all hell will break loose to the sound of his visceral thrash.

Best moments of the album: Where I Reign, Idle Hands, Everything I Hate About You and From Hell I Rise.

Worst moments of the album: Tension.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Diablo 1:54
2. Where I Reign 3:51
3. Residue 4:40
4. Idle Hands 3:45
5. Trophies of the Tyrant 3:33
6. Crucifixation 5:15
7. Tension 2:48
8. Everything I Hate About You 1:21
9. Toxic 3:54
10. Two Fists 3:37
11. Rage 3:25
12. Shrapnel 5:01
13. From Hell I Rise 3:33

Band members
Mark Osegueda – vocals
Kerry King – guitars
Phil Demmel – guitars
Kyle Sanders – bass
Paul Bostaph – drums

Album Review – Wolfheart / Draconian Darkness (2024)

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Finnish frontrunners of icy Melodic Death Metal return with the musical embodiment of frigid, dark winter nights that, while terrifying and foreboding, reveal the majestic power and beauty of the natural world.

Finnish frontrunners of icy Melodic Death Metal, the unstoppable Lahti, Päijät-Häme-based Wolfheart, are preparing to unleash their latest album, Draconian Darkness, taking every aspect of the band’s trademark sound of colossal melodies, growling vocals, and driving drum rhythms to searing new levels. Recorded, produced, mixed and mastered by Saku Moilanen at Deep Noise Studios, the follow-up to their 2022 album King of the North is the musical embodiment of frigid, dark winter nights that, while terrifying and foreboding, reveal the majestic power and beauty of the natural world, all carefully brought into being by Tuomas Saukkonen on vocals and guitars, Vageliss Karzis on lead guitars and clean vocals, Lauri Silvonen on bass and backing vocals, and Joonas Kauppinen on drums.

An imposing, epic start gradually evolves into the metallic feast Ancient Cold, with all background orchestrations adding an extra touch of epicness to the heavy and technical sounds blasted by Tuomas & Co., whereas Joonas pounds his drums in the name of Melodic Death Metal in Evenfall, with their riffs matching perfectly with the deep roars by Tuomas, or in other words, it’s a beautiful song from the North. It’s then pedal to the metal in the just as heavy and multi-layered Burning Sky, where the riffage by Tuomas and Vageliss will pierce your mind like an arrow on fire; while slowing things down but sounding just as melodic we have Death Leads the Way, presenting nice headbanging riffs complemented by the classic drums by Joonas. And in Scion of the Flame the band brings elements from Symphonic Metal to their core Melodic Death Metal, resulting in a very detailed and epic song tailored for fans of Finnish melodeath.

Back to their more vicious sonority, it’s time for the violent Grave, a metal assault showcasing harsh lyrics (“Cross breed of pure violence and virtuous flesh / Driven by the principle of wrath / Overfeed the senses / Let the cancer cells devour / Cranial nerves under profusion of information”) and endless electricity, and their razor-edged guitars will keep cutting our skin deep in Throne of Bones, while Lauri and Joonas fill out every space left in the air with their rumbling bass and drums. It’s not as exciting as the other songs, though, but still really enjoyable. Then in Trial by Fire the quartet once again delivers a high-octane, groovy and incendiary Melodic Death Metal feast where Tuomas deeply roars supported by his bandmates until the very last second. Lastly, we face The Gale, starting in a serene and soothing manner in paradox with the rest of the album, and alternating between more violent moments and pure acoustic sounds, putting a charming yet strong ending to the album.

The guys from Wolfheart are waiting to show you all the glory of the North, and you can join them by following the band on Facebook and on Instagram, by subscribing to their official YouTube channel, by streaming their music on Spotify, and of course by purchasing a copy of the excellent Draconian Darkness by clicking HERE. Melodic Death Metal will always be one of the best genres to translate the harsh yet alluring cold of the winter into music, and the unstoppable Wolfheart are offering exactly that in their powerful and enfolding new album.

Best moments of the album: Evenfall, Burning Sky and Grave.

Worst moments of the album: Throne of Bones.

Released in 2024 Reigning Phoenix Music

Track listing
1. Ancient Cold 5:37
2. Evenfall 4:03
3. Burning Sky 4:15
4. Death Leads the Way 3:22
5. Scion of the Flame 4:01
6. Grave 4:22
7. Throne of Bones 5:28
8. Trial by Fire 3:53
9. The Gale 4:28

Band members
Tuomas Saukkonen – vocals, guitars
Vageliss Karzis – lead guitars, clean vocals
Lauri Silvonen – bass, backing vocals
Joonas Kauppinen – drums

Concert Review – Hyperia (Rivoli, Toronto, ON, 07/07/2024)

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A fantastic heat wave of Canadian underground metal hit the city of Toronto this Sunday night with three of the most must-see bands of the current scene.

OPENING ACTS: Invicta and Thunderor

The heat is on in Toronto, and together with it comes an overdose of the Canadian underground like what happened last night at Rivoli when TUNDEROR, INVICTA and HYPERIA kicked off Hyperia’s sensational Constricting Canada/Europe Tour 2024, and I believe it’s the first time ever this thrilling band from Vancouver, British Columbia is touring not only Eastern Canada, but also venturing through European lands. Needless to say, Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi and I were there to celebrate the music and professional growth of Hyperia, proving Canadian metal is alive and kicking, with band’s like Hyperia, Invicta and Thunderor being more than ready to take over the world.

I must confess it was a little late for the doors at Rivoli to open, only at 8:30pm on a Sunday, but nobody seemed to care about that late start, and a little after 9pm Kitchener, Ontario-based Melodic Death/Thrash Metal outfit INVICTA kicked off the metallic ceremony with a fast-paced, heavy-as-hell performance, inviting all concert goers for some vigorous headbanging. The band spearheaded by the talented vocalist and guitarist Kyle Edissi, who also plays the guitar for Heathen on their live shows, delivered the goods, playing songs from their two album Halls of Extinction and Triumph and Torment (both available on BandCamp and on Spotify, by the way) for the delight of the small but excited crowd that attended the show. Those guys should definitely be opening for renowned acts like At The Gates, Sylosis, Arch Enemy and so on during their future tours in Canada, and I’m sure once more people get exposed to Invicta’s first-class heavy music, they will go places.

Band members
Kyle Edissi – vocals, guitars
Jonah Kay – guitars, backing vocals
Steven Rowlands – bass, backing vocals
Reef Hassanien – drums, percussion

The show must go on, and after a short break where everyone could enjoy good quality beer for a very decent price (which doesn’t happen very often at concerts, as you might know), Toronto’s own Heavy Metal trio THUNDEROR began their melodic and incendiary concert based on their 2022 debut Fire It Up, available on BandCamp and on Spotify, including Fire It Up, Dangerous Times, Thunderor and On the Run, putting everyone to dance and have a very good time in the name of Rock N’ Roll. Guitarist Johnny Nesta and bassist Brycen Gunn were obviously amazing, but it was the band’s mastermind JJ Tartaglia (of bands like Skull Fist and Final Trigger) who truly impressed me the most. How can he sing and play drums at the same time, and sound so good in both? He has indeed become a staple of the Canadian underground scene, and if you have a chance to see him playing live, please go for it, because he’s a great person and a superb musician that deserves all our recognition.

Band members
JJ Tartaglia – vocals, drums, keyboards
Johnny Nesta – guitars
Brycen Gunn – bass

HYPERIA

I’ve been a fan of Melodic Thrash/Death Metal machine HYPERIA since day one, having already reviewed all of their albums, those being Insanitorium (2020), Silhouettes of Horror (2022) and The Serpent’s Cycle (2023), but I honestly had no idea if I would ever be able to see them live as touring from one coast of Canada to the other is extremely pricey these days. Well, to my total surprise and sheer happiness, yesterday I had a fantastic time witnessing frontwoman Marlee Ryley, guitarists Colin Ryley and Skyler Mills, bassist Jon Power, and drummer Aaron Bell kicking some serious ass on stage in preparation for their more-than-deserved debut European tour starting on July 14 at Masters of rock in the Czech Republic. It was wild, intense, and above all that, as metal as it could be, putting a huge smile on everyone who was brave enough to stay at the venue until (very) late on a Sunday night, completely ignoring the fact the next day would be an always boring Monday.

Most of their setlist was based on their newest album The Serpent’s Cycle, with songs like The Serpent’s Cycle, Trapped in Time and my favorite of the night, Automatic Thrash Machine, sounding killer live, and the band was so relaxed and having a good time that Marlee herself went down to the floor/pit to have a good time with the fans more than once, with Jon also joining the crowd during the last song of their set, the excellent Pleonexia, and that translated into a very warm and vibrant reaction form the crowd. All of their wicked creations are available on BandCamp and on Spotify, and if you’re in Europe and have a chance to catch Hyperia live in the coming weeks, don’t miss the chance to see one of the coolest names of the current Canadian scene. I would love to see them on July 21 at the famous Carts & Horses, the birthplace of Iron Maiden, because they definitely deserve to reach new heights with their undisputed thrash, and hopefully when they return from Europe I’ll have another chance to see them here in Toronto in a not-so-distant future.

Band members
Marlee Ryley – vocals
Colin Ryley – guitars
Skyler Mills – guitars
Jon Power – bass
Aaron Bell – drums

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Album Review – Arhat / Secrets of Ancient Gods (2024)

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Crafted in the style of ethnic Extreme Metal, the newborn spawn by this Ukrainian horde will take you on a journey into the world of ancient gods and mysterious rituals, reflecting the depths of wisdom of ancient civilizations.

Crafted in the style of ethnic Extreme Metal, blending Death, Groove, and Thrash Metal, the breathtaking Secrets of Ancient Gods, the sophomore album by Kyiv, Ukraine’s own Groove/Death Metal beast Arhat, will take you on a journey into the world of ancient gods and mysterious rituals, reflecting the depths of wisdom of ancient civilizations. Mixed and mastered by Dmitry Kim, re-amped by Oleksandr Chernikov, and displaying a badass artwork by Viktor Gudkov, the new album by Alex Sitkoff on vocals, Anton Skrebov on the guitar, Anton Inov on bass, and Ivan Semenchuk on drums offers ten striking songs imbued with the spirit of mystery and magic, embodied in sophisticated melodies and epic arrangements, with the band also utilizing the Turkish ney, sitar, percussion, and cinematic sound design throughout the entire album, blending symphonic orchestrations with ethnic elements.

Get ready to be dragged to the mystical world ruled by Arhat to the sound of the album’s Intro, a mesmerizing, enfolding wall of sounds that will captivate your senses before we face Abyss Of Flame, a full-bodied, whimsical Groove Metal attack by the band showcasing darkly poetic lyrics (“Out of your body, / Your mind is free / You see the things, / As they should be / Power and energy / Of purity / The waves of life, / Vitality”) amidst sheer devastation blasted by Anton Skrebov, Anton Inov and Ivan. Their fusion of Groove and Death Metal with ancient, ritualistic sounds gets even more striking in Karnak, with Ivan dictating the pace while Alex roars nonstop in the name of the ancient gods; and Ivan leads his bandmates in the also embracing and obscure Arcana XVI, offering more of the band’s incendiary hybrid of extreme music styles. Moreover, the bass by Anton Inov sounds absolutely metallic, hitting us hard in the head mercilessly. And after that, the visceral riffage by Anton Skrebov will pierce our minds in Nasha Khoda Nevpynna, which is Ukrainian for “our walk is unceasing”, keeping the adrenaline flowing in the album to the devilish roars by Alex.

Then featuring Oleksii Syrota of Voracity, Symbols is a demonic song where the quartet will crush our souls with their groovy and infuriated sounds, with the deep Brutal Death Metal-style guttural by Oleksii sounding simply amazing; and let’s keep raising our horns and banging our heads while worshiping the ancient gods in Path Eternal, where Ivan sets the pace with his heavy and vile beats and fills. The band puts the pedal to the metal in the faster tune Wheel Of Fate, an excellent choice for some sick circle pit action, with Anton Skrebov extracting strident sounds from his guitar supported by the rumbling bass by Anton Inov, followed by The Great Unknown, featuring Dmytro Moskalenko of Violateress, offering us all another round of their otherworldly words (“You are alone in dungeons / Sharp stones are cutting your skin / Uncanny voices from darkness, / Are filling you with doubts and fear / The Great Unknown!”) boosted by a massive, detailed sonority. Finally, Shlyakh Do Prozrinnya, or “the path to enlightenment”, is an amazing closure to one of the most powerful albums of the year, with Alex once again stealing the show with his demonic roars supported by the crushing drums by Ivan.

Allow yourself to immerse in the captivating world of mythology from past epochs and feel the sounds of antiquity that remain relevant even today in Secrets of Ancient Gods by streaming the album in full on YouTube and on Spotify, and even better, by purchasing a copy of it from Arhat’s own BandCamp page, and remember you can also keep an eye on all things Arhat by following the band on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. Despite all adversities the country is facing, Ukrainian extreme music is blooming and getting stronger than ever, and we must thank Arhat not only for being part of that beautiful scene, but also for offering us in their newborn spawn exactly what we need to unveil the darkest secrets of ancient gods.

Best moments of the album: Abyss Of Flame, Arcana XVI, Symbols and Wheel Of Fate.

Worst moments of the album: None.

Released in 2024 Independent

Track listing
1. Intro 1:44
2. Abyss Of Flame 5:36
3. Karnak 4:48
4. Arcana XVI 4:58
5. Nasha Khoda Nevpynna 4:18
6. Symbols 3:31
7. Path Eternal 5:27
8. Wheel Of Fate 5:12
9. The Great Unknown 4:40
10. Shlyakh Do Prozrinnya 3:26

Band members
Alex Sitkoff – vocals
Anton Skrebov – guitar
Anton Inov – bass
Ivan Semenchuk – drums

Guest musicians
Oleksii Syrota – vocals on “Symbols”
Dmytro Moskalenko – vocals on “The Great Unknown”