Sweden’s own Heavy and Doom Metal coven will drag you to their Stygian lair to the sound of their breathtaking fifth full-length offering.
Three years after the release of their critically acclaimed album Lucifer IV, Stockholm, Sweden’s own Heavy/Doom Metal/Rock coven Lucifer returns from the depths of the underworld with a new and breathtaking offering, simply titled Lucifer V, blasting our ears with their characteristic doomed sounds in the name of darkness and evil. Highly recommended for fans of Ghost, Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Witch Mountain, Coven, Kadavar and Fleetwood Mac, among others, the new album by the talented witch Johanna Platow Andersson on vocals, Linus Björklund and Martin Nordin on the guitars, Harald Göthblad on bass and Nicke Andersson on drums will put you in a fantastic trance with its sharp and enfolding fusion of Heavy and Doom Metal with Rock N’ Roll, proving why the band has become a reference in the genre worldwide.
The Black Sabbath-inspired riffs by Linus and Martin ignite the thrilling opening tune Fallen Angel, showcasing the band’s trademark groove and darkness, with Johanna stealing the spotlight already with her mesmerizing vocals; whereas a Doom Metal start gradually morphs into the rockin’ extravaganza At the Mortuary, where once again Nicke showcases all his talent behind his drums dictating the song’s charming pace in great fashion. Then investing in a more direct Rock N’ Roll sound, get ready to dance in the dark together with Lucifer in Riding Reaper, with the riffs by the band’s guitar duo exhaling electricity and feeling, and the cabaret-inspired sound of the piano sets the tone for Johanna to deliver her passionate, devilish vocals in Slow Dance in a Crypt, a beautiful ballad that should sound amazing if played live, not to mention the song’s fiery guitar solos. Right after that we have A Coffin Has No Silver Lining, a true Rock N’ Roll anthem played to perfection by Johanna and the boys, bringing to our ears an addictive chorus and the striking riffs and solos by Linus and Martin.
It’s then time for another ass-kicking creation by Lucifer titled Maculate Heart, starting in an introspective way before exploding into a feast of Heavy Metal and Hard Rock led by the hammering drums by Nicke, followed by The Dead Don’t Speak, bringing forward four minutes of the band’s classic sonority with hints of Blues Rock added to their core essence, in special to the awesome guitar solo by Linus. Let’s now hit the road with Lucifer to the sound of Strange Sister, with Johanna having another soaring, sensational vocal performance supported by the rumbling bass by Harald and the classy beats by Nicke; followed by the straightforward tune Nothing Left to Lose but My Life, which despite being a solid song and having its dark charm it’s below the rest of the album in terms of energy and creativity. And lastly, there’s still time for two alternate versions of At the Mortuary (Halloween edit) and Maculate Heart (radio edit) as bonus tracks, and both are just as incendiary as the original ones.
Johanna and her henchmen are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more of their music, news, and their tour dates (and you should never miss a Lucifer concert as it’s simply brilliant, like the one I had the pleasure to witness in Toronto in November), and don’t forget to also subscribe to their official YouTube channel and stream all of their stylish compositions on Spotify. And above all that, go grab a copy of the incendiary Lucifer V by clicking HERE or HERE, adding to your grim album collection one of the coolest albums of another dark and sinister year ahead of us.
Best moments of the album:Fallen Angel, Slow Dance in a Crypt, A Coffin Has No Silver Lining and Maculate Heart.
Worst moments of the album:Nothing Left to Lose but My Life.
Released in 2024 Nuclear Blast
Track listing 1. Fallen Angel 3:15
2. At the Mortuary 6:07
3. Riding Reaper 4:19
4. Slow Dance in a Crypt 4:28
5. A Coffin Has No Silver Lining 4:25
6. Maculate Heart 4:09
7. The Dead Don’t Speak 3:58
8. Strange Sister 4:20
9. Nothing Left to Lose but My Life 4:40
Bonus tracks 10. At the Mortuary (Halloween edit) 4:56
11. Maculate Heart (radio edit) 3:37
Band members Johanna Platow Andersson – vocals
Linus Björklund – lead guitars
Martin Nordin – rhythm guitars
Harald Göthblad – bass
Nicke Andersson – drums
The ambassadors of Ukrainian Progressive and Groove Metal took the city of Toronto by storm on an electrifying and sold out night of first-class music.
Despite the insane traffic to get in and out of Toronto due to countless accidents, the endless construction in the city and so on, I was able to make it just in time (and by that I mean just a minute or so before Monuments kicked off the night) for the feast of Metalcore, Djent, Progressive and Groove Metal by MONUMENTS and JINJER at The Phoenix Concert Theatre during their North American Tour 2023 this Friday in Toronto. The concert had been sold out for weeks already, warning all concert goers that it was going to be a hot and packed night for fans of both bands; however, I think everyone at the venue was not just ready for that, but highly prepared for the heat and eager for some action inside the circle pit, and as it was a Friday night let’s say that any worries about working or going to school the next day were left outside the venue, generating a fun and intense energy inside The Phoenix Concert Theatre.
It was close to 7:30pm when London, UK-based Progressive Metal/Djent act MONUMENTS hit the stage for a breathtaking performance, receiving a truly wild reaction form the crowd with tons of horns and fists in the air, with everyone jumping up and down together with the band, and above all that, with an incendiary circle pit taking a good chunk of the floor section for the delight of all Torontonians who love a mosh pit more than they love their own families. Still promoting their 2022 album In Stasis, the band formed of the extremely talented Andy Cizek on vocals, John Browne on the guitars, Werner Erkelens on bass, and Mike Malyan on drums was on absolute fire from start to finish, setting the bar really high for Jinjer. All songs played by the quartet, including their newest ones Cardinal Red, False Providence, Opiate and Lavos, sounded fantastic live, and I’m sure after Friday their fanbase will only grow bigger and stronger in Toronto. If you want to know more about the music by Monuments, go enjoy all of their creations on Spotify, and whenever they visit your hometown during one of their tours, get ready for a wild Djent ride with those UK guys.
Setlist Cardinal Red
I, the Destroyer
Degenerate
False Providence
Opiate
Nefarious
Lavos
I, the Creator
Band members Andy Cizek – vocals
John Browne – guitars
Werner Erkelens – bass
Mike Malyan – drums, samples
Although Ukraine’s own Metalcore/Djent/Progressive/Groove Metal institution JINJER was supposed to have started their flawless performance at 9:10pm, they ended up hitting the stage 10 minutes earlier than that, most probably because the team setting up the stage for them worked faster than expected. That means the break between bands to check the merch stand, to grab a beer, go to the washroom or chat with your friends was slightly shorter than we thought, but that wasn’t an issue at all because everyone at the venue was more than eager to see the stunning Tatiana “Tati Booyakah” Shmaylyuk and her henchmen kicking some ass on stage in an incendiary display of heaviness, groove and passion for heavy music. Furthermore, it is a true pleasure seeing a band like Jinjer becoming such a big name in the scene, as last time I saw them back in 2018 opening for Cradle of Filth they were “just” an opening band.
Jinjer haven’t released anything new yet after their 2021 album Wallflowers, but it was crystal clear that their fans were there on Friday for some fun it didn’t matter what the setlist was going to be. Well, let’s say we had the utmost pleasure of enjoying live pretty much all of their already classic songs including Perennial, Ape, Teacher, Teacher!, Who Is Gonna Be the One (my favorite of the entire concert), Call Me a Symbol, and Judgement (& Punishment), among many others. Needless to say, Tatiana stole the show with her incredible clean vocals and demonic harsh growls, her hypnotizing dance moves, and her undeniable charisma, creating a powerful connection with all Jinjer fans at the venue. Of course, her performance wouldn’t have been so compelling without the support of her bandmates Roman Ibramhalilov on the guitars, Eugene Kostyuk on bass, and Vlad Ulasevich on drums, who are by the way sounding A LOT tighter, better, heavier and more precise than the last time I saw them live.
Fortunately, I had the support once again from my friend Keith Ibbitson of Lower Eastside Photography to take proper photos of the whole night, as it was nearly impossible to get close to the stage due to the rowdy crowd at The Phoenix Concert Theatre, plus of course the fact that the circle pit was massive and simply walking through it was not an option. As the band played their closing song, the infuriated Sit Stay Roll Over, that task got absolutely impossible, ending their blazing performance on a high note and leaving all attendees eager for another night of Jinjer awesomeness in the city in a not-so-distant future (not to mention the fact the show ended around 10:30pm, giving everyone plenty of time to catch any type of public transportation available back home, go for some drinks, or just stay near the venue for some quality chat with their friends). Moreover, I’m sure whenever Tatiana and the boys return to the city it will be a sold out concert once again, because when a band like Jinjer keeps putting their hearts and souls into the making of their music, that beautiful energy flows into the minds of their fans, strengthening their ties and helping guide the band to stardom, just like what happened this Friday in Toronto. Or as Tatiana herself would say… Booyah!
Setlist Perennial
Ape
Copycat
Teacher, Teacher!
Who Is Gonna Be the One
I Speak Astronomy
Call Me a Symbol
Vortex
Home Back
Pisces
Dead Hands Feel No Pain
Judgement (& Punishment)
Sleep of the Righteous
As I Boil Ice
Encore: Sit Stay Roll Over
Band members Tatiana Shmaylyuk – vocals
Roman Ibramhalilov – guitar
Eugene Kostyuk – bass
Vlad Ulasevich – drums
A ruthless UK Death and Thrash Metal squad attacks with their third full-length album, a blitzkrieg-like listening experience with a full frontal assault that pulls no punches and will leave your head spinning in delight.
After forming in the city of London, England in 2010, the infernal Death/Thrash Metal squad The Bleeding has been on a demolishing roll with the release of an array of EP’s and albums offering their fans top-of-the-line extreme music made in the UK. Now in 2023 the band formed of Jamie Stungo on vocals, Tasos Tzimorotas on the guitars, Jordan Muscatello on bass, and James Loh on drums attacks again with the pulverizing Monokrator, the third full-length opus in their career. Produced by Ronnie Björnström and Tasos Tzimorotas, mixed and mastered by Ronnie Björnström at Björnström Sound & Production, and displaying an old school artwork by Juanjo Castellano, Monokrator combines thrash elements comparable to latter day Exodus, Kreator and Destruction with the ferocity of Demolition Hammer, and a vocal attack akin to Jeff Walker and Chuck Schuldiner, to create a blitzkrieg-like listening experience with a full frontal assault that pulls no punches and will leave your head spinning in delight.
Pedal to the metal as it’s time to slam your dammed body into the pit to the sound of Chemical Lobotomy, a fantastic display of Death Metal spearheaded by the venomous blast beats by James while Jamie vociferates rabidly nonstop, followed by Chainsaw Deathcult, absolutely incendiary from the very first second, where the riffs by Tasos will penetrate deep inside your skin while Jordan makes the earth tremble with his sick bass lines. Put differently, if the album had ended here it would have already been a phenomenal release by The Bleeding. After such demented display of extreme music we have Mutation Chamber, slightly slower but still brutal and vile, showcasing another superb job done by Tasos with his demonic riffage, whereas Union of Horror is just as bestial as its predecessors, a beyond electrifying Death Metal onrush once again presenting an insane James on drums supported by the metallic bass punches by Jordan.
Get ready to be smashed like an insect by The Bleeding in Screams of Torment, bringing forward all their dexterity and fury, being therefore tailored for lovers of classic Death Metal; and Tasos will cut your ears with his strident axe in On Wings of Tribulation, another bestial display of Death Metal sounding very technical while Jamie screams mercilessly. The title-track Monokrator is a lecture in Death and Thrash Metal, with Jamie’s devilish roars walking hand in hand with the thunderous instrumental parts crafted by his bandmates, resulting in the perfect soundtrack for some frantic action inside the circle pit. And lastly, the band invites us all to kill inside the pit in Throes of Repulsion, sounding and feeling absolutely fast, furious and insane from start to finish, with the caustic riffs by Tasos and the unstoppable beats by James leaving you totally disoriented after all is said and done.
This beast of an album can be appreciated in full on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course if you think you have what it takes to get into the pit together with The Bleeding, you should purchase a copy of the album from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Redefining Darkness Records’ webstore in the United States (CD or LP) or in Europe (CD or LP), from Apple Music or from Amazon, and don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram. The Bleeding are not just aiming at putting the UK back on the Thrash and Death Metal map with Monokrator, but they also want to put a huge smile on your face while you listen to the album, keeping their evil motor running for many years to come in the name of good extreme music.
Best moments of the album:Chemical Lobotomy, Chainsaw Deathcult and Monokrator.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2023 Redefining Darkness Records
Track listing 1. Chemical Lobotomy 3:16
2. Chainsaw Deathcult 3:50
3. Mutation Chamber 4:22
4. Union of Horror 3:50
5. Screams of Torment 4:09
6. On Wings of Tribulation 3:47
7. Monokrator 3:59
8. Throes of Repulsion 3:07
Band members
Jamie Stungo – vocals
Tasos Tzimorotas – guitars
Jordan Muscatello – bass
James Loh – drums
Get ready for double the awesomeness here at The Headbanging Moose with our talented, charismatic and stunning rock and metal ladies of the month of July, turning up the heat even more this summer. Hailing from London, England, this amazing UK duo will rock your world with their fusion of Rock N’ Roll, Punk Rock and Heavy Metal with several other styles, always sounding vibrant, fresh and dynamic and, consequently, getting a bigger and bigger fanbase with each one of their releases. I’m talking about the electrifying English Hard Rock duo Nova Twins, formed of vocalist and guitarist Amy Love, and bassist, keyboardist and backing vocalist Georgia South, two unrelenting women who will kick your ass with their first-class music, wicked videos and incendiary live performances, and I’m sure you’ll become addicted to them after knowing more about their career.
Formed in 2014 in “The Big Smoke” (under the name BRAATS, when they released a song named Bad Bitches that can be seen being performed live HERE), Nova Twins are chaotic and hyperactive, charming and insane, describing their music as “Urban Punk”, and their perfect sync comes from years and years of friendship. Having been close friends since childhood, and having played in bands that were often booked on the same bill, the duo is the perfect example of how a DIY attitude can be extremely beneficial if you love what you do and if you keep working hard to achieve your goals. Sewing their stage outfits from scratch, and filming their music videos using smartphones with the help of Georgia South’s mother, the then teenagers Amy and Georgia quickly gained considerable recognition in the local Southeast London open-mic scene, playing at renowned venues including The Fox & Firkin and Ravensbourne Arms, and releasing their debut single titled Bassline Bitch online back in 2015, leading to the release of their self-titled debut EP in 2016.
Of Iranian and Nigerian descent, vocalist and guitarist Amy Love has always had a love for the electric guitar despite not being able to play it when she first started to make music, always finding guitarists to accompany her on songs, considering very frustrating the fact she couldn’t play the guitar herself, which could cause some hurdles in her creative process; whereas Georgia South, who’s of Jamaican and Australian descent, and whose father is also a musician named William South, first started learning the bass guitar when she went to band school over a summer holiday at 13 years old. They met as teenagers through Georgia’s brother and felt a connection right away “I was introduced to Georgia’s family and we just got on like a house on fire,” said Amy in one of her interviews. “I went to her house one day and we clicked immediately.” They didn’t think about forming a band right away, though, due to Amy’s solo project and Georgia being involved in a local band, but of course, as you already know, it didn’t take long for the duo to get united in the name of Rock N’ Roll.
The duo has already released two full-length albums, those being Who Are the Girls? in 2020 and Supernova in 2022, plus their aforementioned self-titled EP in 2016, the EP Thelma and Louise in 2017, and another EP in 2017 titled Mood Swings, as well as several singles. All their wicked creations can be found on YouTube and on Spotify, including the official videos for Cleopatra, Taxi, Play Fair, K.M.B., and Wave, among others, not to mention all official and unofficial live footage such as Cleopatra live at Rock im Park in 2023, and Bassline Bitch live at Hellfest in 2019, and you can also click HERE for all things Nova Twins.
Having already toured with several amazing bands the likes of Prophets of Rage, Wolf Alice, Skunk Anansie, Bring Me The Horizon and Enter Shikari, Amy and Georgia have also collaborated with Bring Me The Horizon on the song 1×1, from their 2020 album Post Human: Survival Horror, with Koder on the song Vibrations – Remix, from the 2017 EP Vibrations, and with Tsar B on the song Flitch, found in the 2020 EP’s Unpaintable and Flitch. They’ve also performed with Fever 333 during their BBC Radio 1 Maida Vale session, won Best UK Breakthrough Band at the Heavy Music Awards, ranked in NME’s 20 best debut albums of 2020, became the face of Dr. Martens Alternative A/W campaign, and started their own custom clothing line called Bad Stitches.
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Highly vocal about the rock and metal scene, and about the musical roots that helped them craft their path to stardom, the duo is influenced by an array of artists and musicians it’s actually hard to list all or even to label them, showing how diverse their taste can be. “We’re influenced by so many different things that I don’t think we’d feel comfortable being stuck to one thing. We enjoy experiencing and being inspired by different genres, whether it’s hip-hop or jazz. Music’s music and it comes in different forms, but makes you feel different things at the right time,” commented the duo. Having Skin (of Skunk Anansie) and Tom Morello (of Rage Against The Machine) as their friends and mentors, Nova Twins strongly believe that having those mentors has been crucial for their growth as musicians, always receiving constructive feedback and technical advice from those seasoned musicians. In addition, the duo also loves to support new bands, mentioning Gully Boys, Pinkshift, Zaria, The OBGMs and HO99O9 as some of the artists they enjoy listening to and seeing live.
Regarding their live performances, Georgia mentioned in one of their interviews that she wants fans to leave their shows feeling “like they’ve released everything, and like they feel seen in the room.” They’ve been touring everywhere, taking their electrifying music to the stages in the UK, Europe and the United States, being the headliners in cities like Toronto, New York and Los Angeles, and even playing at famous European summer festivals the likes of Hellfest and Rock im Park, always taking good care of themselves to be able to perform in full force. “We’re quite disciplined. Drink fucks my vocals and if Georgia was drunk on stage there’s no way she’d be able to tap dance on her pedalboard. You have to go that step further to make sure you’re keeping alright. When we were first on tour we’d have sweets and crisps and shit on our rider, and always be hungry but forever eating and sitting in a van for eight hours all day. Now we’ve taken all the crap off, and on our day off our tour manager will try and find a cool, scenic place or a hot tub where you get a discount cos it’s winter.”
Always serious about representing their communities in the rock and punk scene, the duo believes visibility is a key part of opening the door for other black punk acts. However, in the beginning they felt alienated form the scene due to the fact that punk aesthetics are at the same time innovative but extremely strict, and despite the fact the movement is linked to anti-racism and leftist political ideologies, it’s still a white male-dominated scene. “People didn’t know where to put you on the playlist, or people wouldn’t have you play here because you didn’t ‘look rock’.” That’s one of the main reasons that led Amy and Georgia to start the Voices for the Unheard Instagram series in June 2020, as part of their efforts to further conversations around the Black Lives Matter movement, interviewing renowned artists including Big Joanie, Connie Constance and Oxymorrons, among others, about liberation, anti-racism, personal style and more, plus an exclusive Spotify playlist. Furthermore, the project culminated in a vinyl compilation and a live show on Dr. Martens’ Instagram. “We thought we were in a band just like any other band, but, as we went along, we slowly realized that when we were playing these festivals, we were looking at people that didn’t look like us backstage, and the people playing on stage didn’t look like us either. We would see people in the audience that looked like how we felt growing up, coming to shows like this. So then we were like, ‘We have to do it for them’. We are representing so much more that isn’t supported in the industry, in the mainstream, or anywhere at this point,” commented the duo.
They’ve also started seeing a lot more inclusivity in the alternative music scene, with lots of women, non-binary people and people of color being part of a new wave of rising talent, and having faced several hurdles as black women in rock music they’re more than fine as being role models to those up-and-coming artists. “We don’t shy away from being role models because, whether you like it or not, you are a role model if you have lots of people going to your Instagram every day and checking what you’re saying. We had so much difficulty at the beginning, and we don’t want that to be the case for new bands starting out now so we just like to boost people and make them feel confident and that they can strive to do anything.” And that’s why Amy and Georgia are so awesome, using their music not only to entertain us all, but also to make the whole world a more inclusive and, therefore, much better place to live.
“Own your power. Whether it’s owning who you are, where you’re from. Your power could be your culture, where you’ve come from, what you’ve been through. Own it.” – Amy Love
“The world is limitless to you. There are no limits or ceilings to what you can do. The world is Supernova – you can break through.” – Georgia South
A Colombian Death Metal horde based in the UK is inviting us all to join Satan’s crusades to the sound of their pustulent psalms of inverted sanctity.
At the spearhead of a new assault upon the bulwarks of civilization comes the barbaric Brutal Death Metal/Deathslam horde of Imperial Execration, armed with the rotting horror of their debut album Commanding Satan’s Crusades. Formed in 2019 by two Colombian musicians now relocated to the UK, drummer Ruben Jaramillio (Ataud, Engulfed In Abomination), and guitarist and bassist Eduardo Camargo (Ataud, Goreinhaled, Despondency), this putrid platoon of Satan’s soldiers is completed by the bestial bellows of the infamous Colombian vocalist Oscar “Mr. Oscarnivore T-666” Macias (of Carnivore Diprosopus), together creating six pustulent psalms of inverted sanctity and added to that grim order of service a cover song that exhales death and gore. Mixed and mastered by Tom Bradfield at Grindethic Records, and displaying a sick artwork by Venezuelan artist John Quevedo Janssens, Commanding Satan’s Crusades will leave no doubt about the future, as there is no light at the end of the tunnel, there is no redemption and absolutely no resurrection, being therefore recommended for lovers of the devastating music by Suffocation, Gorgasm, Devangelic and Disentomb, just to name a few.
Summoning of the Ancient Hordes sounds utterly putrid, gory and demolishing from the very first second, and it’s impressive how just three guys can make so much noise. Moreover, Oscar’s deep barks sound and feel inhumane throughout the entire song (and album), accompanied by the classic blast beats by Ruben. Commandments of the Age of Darkness is another onrush of first-class Brutal Death Metal that will decimate your damned soul during its three demented minutes, with Eduardo doing a fantastic job with both his riffs and bass lines, and those three Colombians are ready to pound our cranial skull to dust with the venomous Throne of Sadistic Abominations, a lecture in Brutal Death Metal that lives up to the legacy of the genre with Oscar vomiting the song’s dark words majestically.
In His Ominous Presence the band keeps the insanity and blasphemy of the album at an unimaginable level, with Ruben being absolutely bestial behind his drums in this ode to darkness, and he keeps hammering his drums in Lords of Tyrannical Perversion, with Eduardo’s evil riffage providing Oscar with exactly what he needs to bark nonstop. There’s still more fuel to burn to the sound of Victory of the Stygian Empire, with its cryptic intro evolving into a brutal assault of classic Death Metal led by the gruesome vociferations by Oscar. Put differently, it can’t get any heavier than this, flowing into their cover version for Dehumanizer’s classic tune Condemned (check the original version HERE, from their 1998 demo Prophecies Foretold). Needless to say, Imperial Execration’s version is just as demonic and obscure, with Eduardo kicking some serious ass with both his riffs and bass punches.
The malevolent, hellish Death Metal played by Imperial Excretion in Commanding Satan’s Crusades can be appreciated in all of its glory on YouTube and on Spotify, but of course let’s show those Colombian metallers our true support by purchasing their fulminating album from the band’s own BandCamp page, from the Comatose Music BandCamp page or webstore as a CD or as an amazing CD + shirt + sticker bundle, and from several other locations such as Discogs and Barnes & Noble. They are also eager to hear what you have to say about their newborn vile creations on Facebook and on Instagram, inviting us all to join Satan’s crusades to the sound of their thrilling, sulfurous Death Metal, and I’m sure we’ll have a very good time banging our heads manically with them.
Best moments of the album:Summoning of the Ancient Hordes, Throne of Sadistic Abominations and Victory of the Stygian Empire.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2022 Comatose Music
Track listing 1. Summoning of the Ancient Hordes 3:08
2. Commandments of the Age of Darkness 2:59
3. Throne of Sadistic Abominations 2:56
4. His Ominous Presence 2:57
5. Lords of Tyrannical Perversion 3:21
6. Victory of the Stygian Empire 3:41
7. Condemned (Dehumanized Cover) 2:55
Band members
Oscar “Mr. Oscarnivore T-666” Macias – vocals
Eduardo Camargo – guitars, bass
Ruben Jaramillio – drums
And the Bay struck back in the city of London, Ontario for the delight of all Thrash Metal lovers slamming into the pit on a completely sold-out night.
INTRO: The Bay Strikes Back Tour 2022
Featuring Bay Area Thrash Metal icons DEATH ANGEL, EXODUS and TESTAMENT, the fantastic party labeled The Bay Strikes Back Tour 2022 actually started back in Europe in February 2020, but only lasted for two months due to all COVID-19 restrictions at that time. However, in 2022 the three bands got back in action with the first leg of a North American tour in April and May, another European leg in the summer, and now a second North American leg this fall, including the sold out, majestic thrashing night on October 1 at the London Music Hall in London, Ontario, here in Canada. The place was jam packed from the very first second the doors opened at 6pm, and that was the landscape until Testament closed the night already past 11pm, requiring a lot of stamina, headbanging and moshing from the fans lucky enough to get a ticket for such unique night of pure Thrash Metal.
Precisely at 6:50pm, and with the merch lines still being huge (which caused several fans to miss part of the concert), San Francisco, California’s own Thrash Metal squad DEATH ANGEL kicked off the night on a high note, blending old school tunes the likes of Mistress of Pain and Voracious Souls with newest hits such as The Moth and Humanicide, from their latest effort Humanicide, released in 2019. Mark Osegueda was on fire throughout the entire concert, showcasing an amazing vocal performance while his bandmates made sure there was plenty of heaviness and speed for the fans at the London Music Hall to get into the circle pits. It was really cool to see bassist Damien Sisson sporting a Toronto Raptors jersey, and of course seeing how much Canadians love Death Angel. Right after they finished playing the closing tune, the excellent Thrown to the Wolves, it became obvious that their setlist was way too short, but I’m sure the band will be back for a full-bodied, ass-kicking performance sooner than we can say “Thrash Metal”.
Setlist The Ultra-Violence / Mistress of Pain
Voracious Souls
Seemingly Endless Time
The Dream Calls for Blood
Caster of Shame
The Moth
Humanicide
Thrown to the Wolves
Band members
Mark Osegueda – vocals
Rob Cavestany – guitar
Ted Aguilar – guitar
Damien Sisson – bass
Will Carroll – drums
After a quick bathroom/beer/merch break, all fans at the venue got in their desired positions for the fulminating Thrash Metal attack by the one and only EXODUS, and it was indeed a killer lesson in violence. Steve “Zetro” Souza, Gary Holt, Lee Altus, Jack Gibson and Tom Hunting felt at home in London, crushing everything and everyone that crossed their path during their high-octane, heavy-as-hell performance, and consequently putting a huge smile on the faces of everyone at the venue. Promoting their sensational 2021 opus Persona Non Grata, the band delivered endless adrenaline in a setlist that beautifully mixed new songs like The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves) and The Years of Death and Dying with old school thrashing classics including A Lesson in Violence, Blacklist and Bonded by Blood. Zetro and Gary were insane on stage the whole time, while their fans were simply slamming into the pit like there’s no tomorrow. Close to the end of the show, before they played the electrifying The Toxic Waltz, Zetro thanked everyone at the venue for an amazing sold-out night and thanked security for the excellent job done in keeping everyone safe during the concerts, while a Canadian flag with the Exodus logo was shining bright behind the drums, and Gary made a tear of pure joy fall from everyone’s faces when he played a snippet from Slayer’s undisputed classic “Raining Blood”. We need Slayer back. Anyway, as usual they ended the concert with Strike of the Beast, or maybe I should say STRIKE OF THE FUCKIN’ BEAST, with a promise Exodus will soon return to Canadian lands for another lesson in violence.
Setlist
The Beatings Will Continue (Until Morale Improves)
A Lesson in Violence
Blood In, Blood Out
The Years of Death and Dying
Deathamphetamine
Blacklist
Piranha
Prescribing Horror
Bonded by Blood
The Toxic Waltz
Strike of the Beast
Band members
Steve “Zetro” Souza – vocals
Gary Holt – lead and rhythm guitars
Lee Altus – lead and rhythm guitars
Jack Gibson – bass
Tom Hunting – drums, percussion
It took a little longer for Oakland, California-based Thrash Metal titans TESTAMENT to hit the stage at the London Music Hall, more specifically at 9:30pm, but I must say the wait was totally worth it as Chuck Billy and his crew masterfully blasted our hearts and souls with their very technical, infernal and thrilling Thrash Metal. It didn’t matter if they played newer songs like Rise Up, The Pale King and WWIII, or thrashing classics the likes of Practice What You Preach and First Strike Is Deadly, the crowd went mental into the circle pit, inspiring the whole band to play even faster and heavier than usual. The new songs from their 2020 album Titans Of Creation sounded fantastic live, but it was the old school stuff that set endless fire to the pit. I have to say that D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate), Electric Crown and The Formation of Damnation might be three of the finest Thrash Metal anthems of all time, and if you add to that the sensational way Eric Peterson and Alex Skolnick slashed their axes, the rumbling bass by Steve Di Giorgio, and of course the unparalleled drums by Mr. Dave Lombardo, who received perhaps the most heartwarming ovation from the crowd from all bands, there you have the cream of thrash served on a plate of pure gold to their Canadian fans. Chuck Billy was having an amazing time, being extremely happy with the reaction of the crowd before Native Blood when he mentioned the importance of the day before the show, September 30, to all indigenous people due to the National Truth and Reconciliation Day in Canada, and pretending he was “brewing” pure Thrash Metal in the giant “casserole” known as the floor section while fans were in a devastating mode during Into the Pit, among a few nice stories he told in between songs. Everyone left the London Music Hall extremely satisfied with the whole night, in special with the ass-kicking performance by Testament, and it won’t take long for them to return to Canada to blast our ears once again as long as we always practice what we preach.
Setlist Rise Up
The New Order
The Pale King
Children of the Next Level
Practice What You Preach
WWIII
D.N.R. (Do Not Resuscitate)
Native Blood
Night of the Witch
Electric Crown
The Formation of Damnation
First Strike Is Deadly
Into the Pit
Alone in the Dark
Band members
Chuck Billy – vocals
Eric Peterson – guitar
Alex Skolnick – guitar
Steve Di Giorgio – bass
Dave Lombardo – drums
This unrelenting London, UK-based Death Metal entity will corrupt us all to the sound of their most intense, aggressive and challenging release to date.
Most bands mellow with age, but that’s not the case with London, UK-based Death Metal entity De Profundis. Nearly two decades since their inception, the band currently comprised of Craig Land on vocals, Shoi Sen and Paul Nazarkardeh (both of Monument of Misanthropy) on the guitars, Steve Woodcock on bass and Tom Atherton on drums has only evolved to become more and more extreme with each album, their latest probably being their most intense, aggressive and challenging release to date, entitled The Corruption of Virtue, the follow-up to their 2018 critically acclaimed album The Blinding Light of Faith. Produced by Peter Dowsett and displaying a sick artwork by Alex Tartsus (Depravity, Sepulchral Curse), The Corruption of Virtue is an absolute treat for any fan of Death Metal who likes the music to be demanding, engrossing and well thought out, being therefore highly recommended for lovers of bands such as Death, At The Gates, Carcass and Martyr, among several others.
The quintet wastes no time and begin their Progressive Death Metal attack in Ritual Cannibalism, where Craig sounds awesomely gruesome on vocals supported by Shoi and Paul’s acid riffage, not to mention the demolishing beats by Tom; whereas Sectarian Warfare is even more devastating than the opening tune, with Shoi and Paul being simply flawless armed with their stringed axes while Steve and Tom make the earth tremble with their respective bass and drums in a lecture in Death Metal. Then the low-tuned, rumbling bass by Steve will crawl deep inside your mind in the venomous Relentless March, the perfect fusion of brutality and intricacy, with Craig sounding like a creature from the abyss; and it’s time to slam into the circle pit like a headbanging bastard to the sound of Weaponised Rape, where their progressive vein gets even stronger spearheaded by the unstoppable blast beats by Tom.
Sick guitar riffs and solos spiced up by endless violence and dementia are the main ingredients in the multi-layered Death Metal feast Embrace Dystopia, simply infernal from start to finish, and more of their undisputed Death Metal is offered to us all in Desecrating Innocence, with Craig vociferating rabidly in the name of evil, blasphemy and rage. In Religious Cancer we face three minutes of vicious, thunderous sounds blasted by De Profundis where the guitar solos by Shoi and Paul sound as sharp as a knife, always supported by the metallic bass by Steve. Following such demented tune, another round of their obscure but extremely melodic and technical music is offered to us all in Scapegoat, showcasing a great job done by the band’s guitar duo while Tom hammers his drums mercilessly. Lastly, we’re treated to another solid composition titled The Sword Verses, and albeit it lacks a little of the violence from the rest of the album we can still enjoy Craig barking in great fashion as usual.
As already mentioned, De Profundis are far from slowing down or mellowing as the years go by; quite the contrary, in their vicious new opus The Corruption of Virtue they keep growing as a Death Metal beast, and if you want to show your total admiration and respect for those British death metallers you can start following them on Facebook and on Instagram, stream more of their infernal music on Spotify, and of course purchase a copy of the caustic The Corruption of Virtue from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records webstore as a CD or as a gatefold LP with metallic effect and UV lamination by clicking HERE or HERE. It’s not easy at all to sound even more brutal than usual with each album released, but if the band in question is De Profundis let’s say that their new album proves that’s just another regular day in their undisputed career.
Best moments of the album:Sectarian Warfare, Desecrating Innocence and Scapegoat.
Worst moments of the album:The Sword Verses.
Released in 2022 Transcending Obscurity Records
Track listing 1. Ritual Cannibalism 3:34
2. Sectarian Warfare 4:09
3. Relentless March 4:47
4. Weaponised Rape 4:08
5. Embrace Dystopia 4:35
6. Desecrating Innocence 4:55
7. Religious Cancer 3:20
8. Scapegoat 4:03
9. The Sword Verses 4:59
Band members
Craig Land – vocals
Shoi Sen – guitars
Paul Nazarkardeh – guitars
Steve Woodcock – bass
Tom Atherton – drums
It’s time to get into a bloodsoaked cage fight to the sound of the thrilling debut album by an up-and-coming London, UK-based Hardcore outfit.
Featuring the stunning French vocalist Rachel Aspe, known for her time with the iconic French Neo-Metal act Eths, and TesseracT guitarist James Monteith, London, England-based Crossover/Hardcore unity Cage Fight have just unleashed upon us mere mortals their debut self-titled effort, one of the most furious records to emerge from the UK in years. The anger and frustration of the band’s debut album is the perfect catharsis for our times, not only showcasing all the talent of the aforementioned Rachel and James together with bassist Jon Reid and drummer Nick Plews, but the artwork itself, a grabbing hand with the Cage Fight logo tattooed on the palm, visually portrays the violent rage at the core of the band’s music. Legitimately tattooed by Rachel, a tattoo artist by trade, the process of creating the image is as impactful as the final artwork itself, giving you a very good idea of how ruthless and austere the album sounds. “I cherish the ability to channel my anger through this outlet. In a world full of uncertainty and frustration this type of music was the only thing I found solace and balance in. These songs have a deep meaning for me and I hope this is something that other people can relate to,” commented the multi-talented Rachel about such outstanding album.
Featuring Jeremy Sylvester, a highly influential and prolific Garage and House producer from the UK, the album begins with a modern, electronic Intro that sets the stage for The Mirror Shattered, a bestial Hardcore tune with Punk Rock elements led by the venomous guitars by James while Rachel roars manically, therefore living up to the legacy of bands such as The Exploited and Ratos de Porão. There’s no time to breathe as Nick keeps hammering his drums in Killer, another excellent composition showcasing a high-octane fusion of Crossover Thrash and Groove Metal where once again James is infernal armed with his axe. Rachel sounds possessed by a demonic entity throughout the entire album, and it couldn’t have been any different than that in the awesome Hope Castrated, a massive, in-your-face Hardcore feast where Jon’s rumbling bass and Nick’s furious beats will make your head tremble, and it’s then time to slam into the pit and raise our horns in the name of rebelliousness and rage in Make A Decision, absolutely fast and furious thanks to another flawless performance by Nick on drums while Rachel showcases her trademark she-demon screams for our total delight. Their Punk Rock vein pulses stronger than ever in Guillotine, with the slashing, piercing riffs by James walking hand in hand with the bass punches by Jon, not to mention Rachel even fires some gruesome, vile Brutal Death Metal screeches.
The MMA entrance-inspired interlude Cage Fight! warms us up for the metal battle entitled Shine Don’t Fade, sounding and feeling pulverizing from the very first second thanks to the dynamic and evil sounds blasted by James, Jon and Nick, perfect for breaking your neck headbanging; whereas in One Minute the quartet plays at the speed of light in a great hybrid of classic Thrash Metal the likes of Anthrax with the more ferocious music by Lamb of God. In Tell Me What Real Is, less visceral but still heavy-as-hell, dense and demonic, Rachel keeps screaming inside our heads while her bandmates extract sheer animosity form their sonic weapons, whereas in Respect Ends there’s absolutely no sign of tiredness by the band, with James once again kicking ass with his riffage while Rachel delivers an insane dosage of animosity through her growls. Then we have Eating Me Alive, featuring guest vocalist Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder), who sadly died on May 11 at the very early age of 41, bringing an extra touch of violence to the overall result by making an awesome vocal duo with Rachel; followed by My Dreams, which starts in a somber manner before exploding into the band’s modern-day Crossover Thrash. Moreover, Rachel leads her henchmen for over six minutes of aggressiveness, dementia and fury. And lastly we’re treated to their cover version for Body Count’s Bitch In The Pit (check the original song HERE), a sensational rendition by Cage Fight with Rachel stealing the spotlight with her enraged, she-wolf roars, turning her into the undisputed “bitch in the pit”.
In a nutshell, Cage Fight more than nailed it with their debut opus, providing us headbangers with a very good reason for raising our horns nonstop and slamming into the circle pit like there’s no tomorrow. Hence, don’t forget to stream the album in full on Spotify, to follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news and tour dates (and believe me, you don’t want to miss their live performances if they take your city by storm), and of course, to purchase your favorite version of such intense album of European Hardcore by clicking HERE. As you might have noticed, Rachel, James, Jon and Nick are waiting for you inside the cage for an ass-kicking metal fight to the sound of their debut opus, but you better be prepared to have your ass kicked in the name of Hardcore and Thrash Metal, of course.
Best moments of the album: The Mirror Shattered, Hope Castrated, Guillotine and Bitch In The Pit.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2022 Candlelight Records
Track listing 1. Intro 1:25
2. The Mirror Shattered 2:34
3. Killer 3:17
4. Hope Castrated 2:54
5. Make A Decision 3:15
6. Guillotine 2:32
7. Cage Fight! 0:58
8. Shine Don’t Fade 3:15
9. One Minute 4:04
10. Tell Me What Real Is 3:18
11. Respect Ends 3:03
12. Eating Me Alive 3:37
13. My Dreams 6:16
14. Bitch In The Pit (Body Count cover) 3:05
Band members Rachel Aspe – vocals
James Monteith – guitar
Jon Reid – bass
Nick Plews – drums
Guest musicians
Jeremy Sylvester – samplers on “Intro”
Trevor Strnad – vocals on “Eating Me Alive”
Behold the sophomore opus by an international entity that’s back from the underworld, offering us more of their blackened yet technical Melodic Death Metal with gory themes.
Almost three years after the release of their debut effort A Craving For Flesh, the infernal, multi-national outfit known as Gorebringer is back with more of their Melodic Death Metal with gory themes in the form of their sophomore album, entitled Terrified Beyond Measure. Produced by the band itself, mixed and mastered at Tide Studio in London, England, and displaying an old school cover art by Delic Saike, Terrified Beyond Measure represents a step forward in the band’s career, currently comprised of Serpent on vocals, Kaz “Stench” B on guitars and bass, and guests Krzysztof Klingbein on drums and Burak Ulugüney on keyboards and synths, showcasing an “evilution” in their slightly blackened and somewhat technical sound, but melodic and yet dirty at the same time, being therefore recommended for fans of At The Gates, Death and Dissection, among several others.
Arising from the underworld, the quartet begins blasting their instruments with sheer violence and hatred in The Bottomless Pit, where Serpent sounds beyond bestial on vocals supported by the pulverizing drums by Krzysztof, or in other words, a perfect and devilish way to kick things off; whereas keeping the level of adrenaline extremely high it’s time for Man To Beast, another high-octane, pulverizing feast where Stench is on fire armed with his sharp riffage and rumbling bass lines, while Burak keeps the atmosphere as grim as possible with his spot-on keys and synths. Then we have the title-track Terrified Beyond Measure, bringing to our ears a full-bodied sonority alternating between galloping drums and bass and pure dementia with Serpent roaring manically nonstop, and like a stone crusher from hell Krzysztof will demolish our senses in The Evil Ones, providing Stench all he needs to slash our ears off with his beyond strident guitar lines in a lecture in contemporary Melodic Death Metal with a visceral Black Metal twist.
The instrumental interlude Moon Circle sets the stage for the band to demolish our senses once again with A Blackened Circle, an Arch Enemy/In Flames/Soilwork-inspired extravaganza showcasing piercing riffs, pounding drums and the always venomous gnarls by Serpent. It’s indeed a solid and entertaining tune albeit losing some of its punch after a while, though, whereas Necro Mess is a thrilling instrumental creation by Gorebringer where Stench delivers an amazing performance on the guitar supported by the blast beats by Krzysztof, resulting in a sonic hurricane that will please all fans of the genre and generate intense mosh pits if played live one day. Finally, closing such infernal album of Melodic Death Metal we have Flesh Feast, sounding fast and furious just the way we like it with Serpent’s growls making a brutal paradox with the crisp, melodic guitars by Stench, leaving us eager for more of their music in a not-so-distant future.
As aforementioned, the pulverizing Terrified Beyond Measure, which is by the way available in its entirety on YouTube and on Spotify, represents a huge improvement in the sound by Gorebringer, and you can put your dirty hands on that album by purchasing it from the Great Dane Records’ BandCamp page or from Apple Music. Don’t forget to also follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram, keeping in mind that gore is their business (and business is good), which means unless you have what it takes to face their evil Melodic Death Metal, you’ll become an easy prey to them.
Best moments of the album: The Bottomless Pit, The Evil Ones and Necro Mess.
Worst moments of the album:A Blackened Circle.
Released in 2022 Great Dane Records
Track listing 1. The Bottomless Pit 4:06
2. Man To Beast 4:49
3. Terrified Beyond Measure 5:49
4. The Evil Ones 4:25
5. Moon Circle 0:59
6. A Blackened Circle 4:47
7. Necro Mess 3:38
8. Flesh Feast 5:45
Band members Serpent – vocals
Kaz “Stench” B – guitars, bass
Four distinct musicians from four different countries united in the name of metal, bringing to us all a truly unique sound, unmistakably heavy and angry, yet refreshingly different and unpredictable.
Originally founded by Greek-Kiwi vocalist and lyricist Aliki Katriou in 2016 together with British guitarist James Scott (replaced by French guitarist Paul Allain in 2017), bassist Marcin Orczyk from Poland, and Brazilian drummer Rodrigo Moraes Cruz, London, UK-based Extreme Metal act Eight Lives Down has its roots in Groove and Thrash Metal, but constantly branches out stylistically incorporating influences from Progressive, Death and Black Metal, as well as various other musical genres such as Punk Rock, Blues, and traditional folk music, while vocals range from low growls and high screams to clean and even operatic phrases, creating a truly unique sound, unmistakably heavy and angry, yet refreshingly different and unpredictable. Now in 2020 the quartet is ready to invade our senses with their debut full-length opus, entitled Humans, showcasing all their versatility, dynamism, creativity and rage, all enhanced by the album’s top-notch mixing and mastering done by Dan Baune at Noise Foundry Productions, while embraced by a modern, stylish artwork by Dylan Sutton.
The blazing guitar riffs by Paul kick off the sick and groovy Opening Shots, bringing forward a fusion of Melodic Death Metal with more modern and alternative styles, with Aliki growling like a true she-demon for our total delight, followed by Misguided, where the metallic bass jabs by Marcin will hit you in the face while Aliki blasts her wicked mix of clean vocals and harsh gnarls, leaning towards contemporary Thrash and Groove Metal while Rodrigo dictates the pace with his classy beats. Then the mesmerizing vocalizations by Aliki accompanied by tribalistic sounds and tones ignite the heavy and experimental Angela, with Paul, Marcin and Rodrigo bringing sheer progressiveness to the music with their refined techniques, whereas From The Cradle is a lot more introspective, grim and atmospheric than its predecessors, starting in a semi-acoustic manner while Aliki declaims the song’s dark lyrics, sounding at the same time like a 90’s Groove and Funk Metal tune and a modern-day thrashing tune, something a wicked band like Faith No More would definitely do.
More of their rumbling sounds permeate the air in the also heavy and furious Sacrifice, a lecture in Groove Metal by Eight Lives Down where Aliki’s roars get deeper and more enraged while Rodrigo sounds pulverizing on drums, supported by Marcin’s menacing bass; and in Organize Your Mind the quartet offers us all a hybrid of the rebelliousness of Alternative Metal with the intricacy of Progressive Metal, with Paul being on absolute fire with his demented riffage, while also presenting interesting atmospheric passages and endless heaviness. After that it’s time to break our necks headbanging together with Aliki and the boys in Colder, adding hints of Heavy Rock to their already crushing sonority while Paul and Marcin have a fun duel with their strident riffs and solos and low-tuned bass punches, respectively. Lastly, you better get ready for nine minutes of introspection, groove and heaviness in the form of Why, starting in a serene way with Aliki declaiming the song’s cryptic words, evolving into a thunderous metal feast led by Rodrigo’s visceral beats, not to mention the incendiary solos by Paul as the icing on the cake.
This precious gem of Extreme and Experimental Metal can be enjoyed in its entirety on YouTube, but of course in order to show your support to Aliki and her loyal henchmen you should definitely buy a copy of Humans from their own BandCamp page, from their webstore or from Amazon, as well as follow the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and other nice-to-know details about such up-and-coming metal band, and subscribe to their YouTube channel for more of their idiosyncratic creations. It will certainly be more than just interesting to see what the future holds for Eight Lives Down with their upcoming releases, if they’ll keep experimenting like crazy or if they’ll set a defined shape and style for their music. Until then, while we wait for the creative mind of Aliki to provide us more insanity in the form of music, we can keep banging our heads nonstop to Humans, by far one of the best alternative albums of the year.
Best moments of the album: Opening Shots and Sacrifice.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2020 Cult Of Parthenope
Track listing 1. Opening Shots 3:50
2. Misguided 4:01
3. Angela 3:56
4. From The Cradle 7:40
5. Sacrifice 3:52
6. Organize Your Mind 4:21
7. Colder 4:20
8. Why 9:02
Band members
Aliki Katriou – vocals
Paul Allain – guitar
Marcin Orczyk – bass
Rodrigo Moraes Cruz – drums
Three years after the release of their critically acclaimed album Lucifer IV, Stockholm, Sweden’s own Heavy/Doom Metal/Rock coven Lucifer returns from the depths of the underworld with a new and breathtaking offering, simply titled Lucifer V, blasting our ears with their characteristic doomed sounds in the name of darkness and evil. Highly recommended for fans of Ghost, Black Sabbath, Blue Öyster Cult, Witch Mountain, Coven, Kadavar and Fleetwood Mac, among others, the new album by the talented witch Johanna Platow Andersson on vocals, Linus Björklund and Martin Nordin on the guitars, Harald Göthblad on bass and Nicke Andersson on drums will put you in a fantastic trance with its sharp and enfolding fusion of Heavy and Doom Metal with Rock N’ Roll, proving why the band has become a reference in the genre worldwide.
Johanna and her henchmen are waiting for you on Facebook and on Instagram with more of their music, news, and their tour dates (and you should never miss a Lucifer concert as it’s simply brilliant, like the one I had the pleasure to witness in Toronto in November), and don’t forget to also subscribe to their official YouTube channel and stream all of their stylish compositions on Spotify. And above all that, go grab a copy of the incendiary Lucifer V by clicking HERE or HERE, adding to your grim album collection one of the coolest albums of another dark and sinister year ahead of us.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 