A gripping journey into the dark abysses of human psychology in the form of first-class Death and Thrash Metal madei n Germany.
Taking the listener on a gripping journey into the dark abysses of human psychology, leaving you hardly any time to catch your breath, Gelsenkirchen, Germany-based Death/Thrash Metal squad Smorrah Is unleashing upon us all their first full-length album, titled Welcome To Your Nightmare, following up on their 2018 EP The Evil Within. Produced, mixed and mastered by Michael Streckbein and Smorrah at Vyrah Studios, and displaying an 80’s and 90’s-inspired artwork by Timon Kokott Artwork, the new release by vocalist Marius Wegener, guitarist Daniel ‘Pumper’ Hartmann, bassist Christian ‘Kraje’ Krajewski, and drummer Raphael Swierczynski is a hard-hitting thrash and groove beast highly recommended for fans of Pantera, Sepultura and Exhorder, among others, representing a huge step forward in their career.
Like a scene taken from a horror movie, an obscure intro suddenly explodes into a visceral sound led by the harsh and piercing roars by Marius in Welcome to Your Nightmare, while his bandmates bring an avalanche of Groove Metal to the song. Then investing in a more direct thrashing sonority, it’s time to slam into the pit to the sound of Dead Snake Eyes, with the nonstop drums by Raphael and the slashing riffs by Daniel taking the song’s animosity to a whole new level; followed by Age of Decay, even more demented and vile than the previous songs, once again showcasing the infuriated Death Metal riffs by Daniel and the always sick growls by Marius. The band slows things down a bit while sounding heavier and more obscure in Killing Spree, with Raphael smashing his drums supported by the low-tuned, menacing bass by Christian; and maybe Hope Dies Last, but Thrash Metal will never die, with the band offering us a furious and incendiary attack that should ignite some fun circle pits during their live concerts.
Get ready to bang your head nonstop while raising your horns to Buried Underneath, an old school, 80’s-infused Thrash Metal extravaganza spearheaded by the classic riffs by Daniel where not a single space in the air is left empty; whereas once again blending the heaviness of Death Metal with the rebelliousness and austerity of Thrash Metal the band brings forward Death Awaits, with Marius deeply vociferating like a demented beast while Daniel kicks ass as usual armed with his riffs and solos, flowing into Evil Betrayal, another modern-day Death and Thrash Metal attack by the quartet reminding me of some of the most recent creations by bands like Nervosa, Torture Squad and Sodom, with Raphael showing no mercy for our necks with his crushing beats. Lastly, let’s enjoy over six minutes of darkness, introspection and insanity in When the Tide Comes In, where the harsh vocals by Marius transpire rage and fury, always accompanied by the unstoppable, violent sounds brought into being by his bandmates while also alternating between more melodic moments and pure savagery until its epic finale.
If you have what it takes to face the unstoppable mosh pits generated by Smorrah in their new album Welcome To Your Nightmare, you can grab a copy of it directly from the band’s own BandCamp page or from the Sick Taste Records’ Big Cartel, and don’t forget to also start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, and to stream more of their music on YouTube and on Spotify. The guys from Smorrah are eagerly waiting to welcome us all to our worst nightmare with their new album, and if you consider yourself a true lover of contemporary Death and Thrash Metal, I’m sure you’ll have a very good time even with the psychological torment you’re about to endure.
Best moments of the album:Dead Snake Eyes, Hope Dies Last and Evil Betrayal.
Worst moments of the album:Welcome to Your Nightmare.
Released in 2024 Sick Taste Records
Track listing 1. Welcome to Your Nightmare 4:51
2. Dead Snake Eyes 4:45
3. Age of Decay 5:54
4. Killing Spree 3:58
5. Hope Dies Last 3:45
6. Buried Underneath 5:40
7. Death Awaits 5:00
8. Evil Betrayal 5:19
9. When the Tide Comes In 6:25
Band members Marius Wegener – vocals
Daniel ‘Pumper’ Hartmann – guitars
Christian ‘Kraje’ Krajewski – bass
Raphael Swierczynski – drums
The best thing about a show being scheduled on the same night as Super Bowl is that traffic is pretty much nonexistent, turning the lives of all metalheads who don’t really care about American football a lot easier when it comes to getting to the venue in time to see all bands playing. That’s exactly what happened last night in Toronto at the always cozy Lee’s Palace, when the fantastic bands INHUMAN CONDITION, ORIGIN and VADER brought to the city a true celebration of extreme music during their 40 Years of the Apocalypse Anniversary Tour 2024, another incredible event organized by the unstoppable Noel Peters of Inertia Entertainment. As usual, my friend Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi (as well as other photographers) were there to register some wild moments of all three bands, but honestly I don’t know how they managed to stay alive and keep their cameras intact during the sick circle pits going on the entire night.
The first band to hit the stage was Tampa, Florida’s own Death/Thrash Metal beasts INHUMAN CONDITION, who were by far one of the best and most electrifying opening acts I’ve seen at any concert in the city in the past few years. Spearheaded by the incendiary frontman Jeramie Kling, the band put on a beyond entertaining show, playing songs from all of their albums including their 2022 release Fearsick and their 2023 EP Panic Prayer, with songs like Panic Prayer, Euphoriphobia and I’m Now the Monster inspiring all concert goers to slam into the pit like there’s no tomorrow. As expected, the two songs that generated the wildest mosh pits were Godzilla and Tyrantula, with everyone at the venue, including the band, acting like wild beasts on stage and in the floor section. Jeramie also had some words of wisdom to share with everyone last night; first of all, he said that a true metal concert needs three things, those being the headbangers, the circle pits, and the crowd surfers, and of course bodies started flying around as soon as he mentioned that. Also, that everything we’ve ever heard about Florida, all rumors and so on, are all true, which was quite funny as it’s usually people outside of Florida who make fun of the state. Well, one thing I know for sure, and that’s that heavy music in Florida is phenomenal, with bands like Inhuman Condition showing everything they got on stage anywhere they go, and if you know nothing about those guys, go check their music on BandCamp and on Spotify, as I’m sure you’ll love to get caught in their mosh.
Setlist Recycled Hate
Panic Prayer
Euphoriphobia
The Neck Step
I’m Now the Monster
Killing Pace
Civilized Holocaust
Godzilla (Blue Öyster Cult cover)
Tyrantula
Band members
Jeramie Kling – vocals
Taylor Nordberg – guitars
Terry Butler – bass
Colton Zietler – drums
After a quick break, it was time for Kansas City-based Technical/Brutal Death Metal veterans ORIGIN to keep the circle pits moving frantically to the sound of their vicious, intricate and demolishing creations. Having released the album Chaosmos back in 2022, the band formed of vocalist Jason Keyser (and by the way, if you haven’t listened to it yet, go check the album Inferno by his brand new project Arborescence of Wrath as it’s a killer album), guitarist Paul Ryan, bassist Mike Flores (one of the best bass players I’ve seen in a while), and drummer John Longstreth showed absolutely no mercy for our necks and souls during their demented performance, blending Technical and Brutal Death Metal with nuances of Grindcore just to make things even more infuriated. The band was ruthless, savage and beyond technical, sounding absolutely insane with songs like Chaosmos, Panoptical and The Aftermath driving everyone at the venue simply insane inside the pit. Jason also had some words to say to the crowd before playing the song Decolonizer, where he showed his pure old school vein by demanding everyone to not take any pictures or record any videos of the song, but simply to go nuts inside the circle pit and collect bruises and black eyes as the memories of that moment (although they kept checking their phones due to Kansas City Chiefs being one of the teams playing the Super Bowl). Needless to say, it was intense, as well as the wall of death he organized before even playing one of the songs, trying to make their show as 90’s-inspired as possible. Origin are one of the coolest bands of the underground scene, and in case you still don’t know them go check their infernal music on Spotify, and don’t miss their live concerts whenever they take your depraved city by storm.
Setlist
Expulsion of Fury
Chaosmos
Accident and Error
Panoptical
Saligia
Decolonizer
Portal
The Aftermath
Unattainable Zero
Band members Jason Keyser – vocals
Paul Ryan – guitars, backing vocals
Mike Flores – bass, backing vocals
John Longstreth – drums
It was getting late (and cold) in Toronto, but nothing that could stop Poland’s own Death/Thrash Metal institution VADER to crush everything and everyone that dared to cross their path at Lee’s Palace last night. The band formed of the iconic Peter on vocals and guitars, Spider also on the guitars, Hal on bass, and Michał Andrzejczyk on drums was flawless throughout their entire set, celebrating 40 years of existence for the delight of all lovers of extreme music in Toronto. Their setlist was a thing of beauty, including songs from their 1992 cult album The Ultimate Incantation, like Vicious Circle, Dark Age and The Crucified Ones, plus several other classics like Black to the Blind, while closing their setlist with a newer song, Shock and Awe, from their latest opus Solitude in Madness, released in 2020, and the response from the fans in Toronto was brilliant, with the circle pits moving majestically until the very last second of their performance.
It’s impressive how they can still sound to tight, vicious and heavy after so many decades on the road, showing their utmost passion for Death and Thrash Metal, and of course as we all know how much they love to play for us, that inspired us to send our love back to them by headbanging nonstop, raising our horns, and getting wild in the pit. The only “issue” was that their official photographer doesn’t seem to be a big fan of crowd surfing, but that was fine as all crowd surfers quickly learned that show was not the best place to practice such metallic art. Anyway, apart from that, and from the same two guys that almost got into a fight with each other countless time (please, be adults and behave next time, alright?), everyone had an amazing time together with those Polish metallers, and hopefully we’ll also have the pleasure of hosting in Toronto the celebration of their 45th, 50th, 55th and so on anniversaries, keeping the fires of Death and Thrash Metal burning forever in the city.
Setlist Macbeth (Laibach song) Decapitated Saints
The Wrath
Chaos
Vicious Circle
Dark Age
The Crucified Ones
Silent Empire
Sothis
Black to the Blind
Carnal
Wings
Cold Demons
Epitaph
Dark Transmission Para Bellum
This Is the War
Helleluyah!!! (God Is Dead)
Never Say My Name
Come and See My Sacrifice
Triumph of Death
Shock and Awe The Imperial March (John Williams song)
Band members Peter – vocals, guitars
Spider – guitars
Hal – bass
Michał Andrzejczyk – drums
This Los Angeles-based Brutal Death Metal outfit will crush you with their sophomore opus, an eleven-track beast that delves into the disturbed minds of those falling into psychopathic tendencies.
Known for their massive and impactful delivery of extreme brutality, Los Angeles, California-based Brutal Death Metal band Stages of Decomposition is unleashing upon humanity their highly anticipated sophomore studio offering, titled Raptures of Psychopathy, threatening to burrow into your brain like a death metal worm and liquefy it with brutal riffs, chaotic blast beats and adrenaline-invoking time signatures that convey the terror and psychological aspects of the stories told. Recorded by the band’s own guitarist Marco Aromatario, mixed and mastered by Manuel Acevedo at Beatcrusher Recording Studio, and displaying a horror-fueled artwork by Tony Cosgrove (with design by Sidjimbe Art), the album is an eleven-track beast that delves into the disturbed minds of those falling into psychopathic tendencies, with each song encapsulating the murderous essence of true crime, drawing inspiration from infamous figures like Vaughn Greenwood, Richard Ramirez, Jeffrey Dahmer, and more, all brought into being by Salvador Rodriguez on vocals and bass, Cesar Barajas and Marco Aromatario on the guitars, and Daniel Smoo on drums, highly influenced by the raw intensity of Dying Fetus, the brutality of Suffocation, and the slam-infused chaos of Kraanium.
Offering a glimpse inside the mind of Jeffrey Dahmer, the opening tune Drilling of the Cerebellum presents an initial narration full of gore and horror that evolves into a feast of bestiality led by the demented drumming by Daniel, kicking off the album on a beyond violent mode; and Cesar and Marco show no mercy for their stringed axes, extracting bloodthirsty riffs in What Lies Within while Salvador barks and roars like a maniac nonstop. And Salvador continues to haunt our souls with his avalanche of “bree breee breeeeees” in Beast of Jersey, while his bandmates make sure the atmosphere remains as gory and visceral as possible in a fun and vibrant onrush of Brutal Death Metal. Then we have Killing Under Possession, sounding absolutely infernal from the very first second, with Daniel sounding inhumane behind his drums, therefore inviting us all to slam like true metalmaniacs inside a blood-drenched circle pit; whereas there’s not a single second to breathe as Stages of Decomposition will mercilessly bludgeon your cranial skull to pieces in Murder by Proxy, again showcasing the slashing riffage by Cesar and Marco.
Skid Row Slasher is another headbanging extravaganza spearheaded by the deep, visceral roars and barks by Salvador, who also makes sure the earth trembles armed with his rumbling bass, and just when you think the quartet couldn’t sound more demented they will decimate your senses with Carve Out the Eyes, a fast and no shenanigans Brutal Death Metal assault that should sound amazing if played live. After such demonic onrush, the band adds elements from the Thrash Metal played by Slayer to their core Death Metal, resulting in a high-octane, mosh pit party titled Fetal Devourment, with Daniel once again stealing the spotlight with his pulverizing beats and fills; whereas Crawl Space Burial is a solid creation by the band where Salvador keeps vociferating like a rabid beast in the name of gore and extreme music. Then enhancing their animosity to a whole new level we have Human Extermination, a well-balanced, demonic fusion of classic Death Metal with Brutal Death Metal, followed by Mass Psychosis, offering us all two intense minutes of evil Death Metal for our vulgar delectation, hammering our souls with their crushing drums, venomous riffs and the always vile guttural by Salvador until the very last second.
Get ready to be swept away by the savage and brutal Death Metal blasted by Stages of Decomposition in their new album, available for purchase by clicking HERE (and for streaming on YouTube and on Spotify), delivering an onslaught of ferocious guitar work, pounding drums, and guttural vocals, creating an atmosphere of unbridled aggression, and you can also show your support to their undisputed violence by also following the band on Facebook and on Instagram. The band’s brand new opus of real-life horror-infused Brutal Death Metal will be the perfect soundtrack for your lone night walks through desert streets and obscure alleys, but I’m pretty sure if you’re listening to it at top volume or sporting a Stages of Decomposition shirt you’ll be one hundred percent safe, as no serial killer will dare to attack you after noticing your amazing taste in music.
Best moments of the album:Drilling of the Cerebellum, Carve Out the Eyes and Fetal Devourment.
Worst moments of the album:Crawl Space Burial.
Released in 2024 Gore House Productions
Track listing 1. Drilling of the Cerebellum 4:59
2. What Lies Within 3:10
3. Beast of Jersey 2:42
4. Killing Under Possession 3:36
5. Murder by Proxy 3:26
6. Skid Row Slasher 3:36
7. Carve Out the Eyes 2:37
8. Fetal Devourment 3:04
9. Crawl Space Burial 3:12
10. Human Extermination 3:46
11. Mass Psychosis 2:09
Band members
Salvador Rodriguez – vocals, bass
Cesar Barajas – guitar
Marco Aromatario – guitar
Daniel Smoo – drums
This Norway-based Technical Death and Thrash Metal unit will attack our senses with their first full-length offering, a monstrous masterwork of old school extreme music ecstasy.
Formed in Oslo, Norway in 2018, the ruthless yet very technical unit Sovereign is ready to unleash their lethal blend of evil Death and Thrash Metal in their first full-length album, titled Altered Realities, the follow-up to their 2020 debut EP Neurotic. Three years in the making, “Altered Realities is a product of an ever-evolving journey we have taken as a band, from our start in 2018 and culminating in the album’s recording in early 2022,” reflects lead guitarist Tommy Jacobsen, joined in the band by former Nocturnal Breed band-mate Vidar Fineidet also on the guitar alongside drummer Cato Syversrud, and vocalist and bassist Simen “Gravskjender” Grong. “We strive to push ourselves, both in terms of speed and technicality, whilst still keeping a groove and dynamic. Our approach to death/thrash is an interplay between fast-paced aggression and a slower, more groove-oriented feel. The lyrical themes of the album mirror events and unrest that happened during the time of writing and is in itself a journey,” complemented Tommy about the band’s monstrous masterwork of old school extreme music ecstasy, being recommended for fans of Nekromantheon, Sepultura, Pestilence, Dark Angel, Demolition Hammer, and many others.
Atmospheric noises grow in intensity until an avalanche of violence and progressiveness hits us hard in Altered Reality, led by the harsh gnarls by Simen while Cato delivers a fusion of Death, Thrash and Doom Metal through his obscure beats and fills; and Tommy and Vidar dictate the pace with their flammable riffage in Futile Dreams, supported by the always rumbling kitchen by Simen and Cato, being therefore highly recommended for fans of Immolation, flowing into the disruptive, massive Nebular Waves, with its caustic riffs slashing our ears mercilessly while Simen continues to roar in the darkest and most demented way possible. And Counter Tech is another breathtaking hybrid of Death and Thrash Metal exhaling aggression and intricacy where Cato pounds our cranial skulls nonstop with his damned beats.
There’s no time to breathe as the quartet will bring hell on earth with the frantic, insane and demonic The Enigma of Intelligence, a six-minute lecture in both old school and modern-day Thrash Metal perfect for some action inside the circle pit, whereas their second to last onrush of thrashing sounds comes in the form of Synthetic Life, blasting our putrid minds once again to the infernal riffs and striking solos by the band’s guitar duo and the always hammering drums by Cato. Lastly, get ready for ten minutes of top-of-the-line Thrash and Death Metal in Absence of Unity, starting in a rhythmic, groovy manner spearheaded by Cato’s classic beats, offering us all an amalgamation of blackened sounds, cryptic passages and the ruthless growls by Simen, getting darker and darker as the music progresses, and with its climatic ending putting the perfect conclusion to the album as a whole.
In summary, if you love the violence of Death and Thrash Metal, but at the same time you nurture a deep passion for the more technical and intricate side of music, you’ll have an absolute blast listening to Altered Realities, which is available for purchase from the Dark Descent Records’ BandCamp page or webstore as a CD (in the US and Europe), an LP (in the US and Europe) and a pro tape (also in the US and in Europe). In addition, don’t forget to start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, and to stream all of their wicked creations on Spotify or any other streaming service. Sovereign are among us to fill all empty spaces in the air with their technical aggression, and I’m sure once you start listening to their new offering you’ll instantly become addicted to their pulverizing music.
Best moments of the album:Futile Dreams, The Enigma of Intelligence and Absence of Unity.
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2024 Dark Descent Records
Track listing 1. Altered Reality 7:01
2. Futile Dreams 4:29
3. Nebular Waves 3:46
4. Counter Tech 5:40
5. The Enigma of Intelligence 6:05
6. Synthetic Life 4:17
7. Absence of Unity 10:16
Band members
Simen “Gravskjender” Grong – vocals, bass
Tommy Jacobsen – lead & rhythm guitars
Vidar Fineidet – rhythm guitars
Cato Syversrud – drums
One of the must-see names of the current Canadian scene is back with their breathtaking sophomore album, sounding as destructive and violent as it is soaring and captivating.
Bringing forth their signature mixture of traditional Heavy Metal, Melodic Death Metal, Thrash Metal and more, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada-based Melodic Death Metal outfit Lutharo returns with their sophomore opus (and strongest effort to date), titled Chasing Euphoria, following up on their critically acclaimed 2021 debut Hiraeth. Recorded by drummer Cory Hofing at Coho Studio, with additional recording by Thomas Ireland and mixing and mastering by Lasse Lammert of LSD Studio, and showcasing a stunning artwork by Swedish artist Niklas Sundin, Chasing Euphoria is as destructive and violent as it is soaring and captivating, inspiring us all for some vigorous headbanging, boisterous pits and chanting singalongs together with frontwoman Krista Shipperbottom, guitarist Victor Bucur, bassist Chris Pacey and the aforementioned drummer Cory Hofing.
The epic, cinematic intro Gates of Enchantment will set the stage for Krista and the boys to crush our souls in Reaper’s Call, presenting an amazing guitar job by Victor that sets fire to their music in the name of Melodic Death Metal, therefore resulting in a beyond thrilling start to the album. Their violent yet very melodious sounds keep hammering our cranial skulls in Ruthless Bloodline, with Cory dictating the song’s galloping pace with his heavy beats accompanied by the metallic bass by Chris; and get ready for another blast of sick riffs, thunderous bass and unstoppable drums in Time to Rise, with Krista once again showcasing all her vocal range with both her clean vocals and she-demon roars. In Born to Ride we’re treated to pure metal lyrics roared by Krista (“We’re striking the lights out stately / Let the banners fly / Sights never guided me before just stifled my might / Short circuited odds and judgment / With victory to taste / When the blind leads the blind, / You’re at the edge of a blade”) amidst a beyond exciting and incendiary sound perfect for hitting the highway, followed by Bonded to the Blade, a good song albeit not as dynamic as the rest of the album. Victor continues to deliver sheer adrenaline through his riffs and solos, though.
The title-track Chasing Euphoria will bring to our avid ears more of the band’s modern-day, electrifying Melodic Death Metal, with the soaring vocals by Krista walking hand in hand with the massive wall of sounds crafted by her bandmates; and the band then enhances their epicness to a whole new level in Creating a King, offering more of their crystal clear, visceral melodeath with Cory pounding his drums mercilessly from start to finish, resulting in the perfect song for some sick headbanging. There’s no sign of the band slowing down at all, as Strong Enough to Fall is another feast of Canadian Melodic Death Metal with the striking riffs and solos by Victor sounding venomous, enfolding us all in a Heavy Metal embrace. A futuristic start quickly evolves into a straightforward Melodic Death Metal attack by Lutharo in Paradise or Parasite, where Krista keeps delivering her trademark hypnotizing vocal lines while Chris and Cory build a strong base boosted by the song’s background orchestral elements; whereas the doomed bass by Chris ignites the closing tune of the album, titled Freedom of the Night, offering the listener seven minutes of fast-paced riffs and beats and the always sharp yet charming vocals by Krista, or in other words, it’s a more introspective creation by the band putting a climatic finale to their metallic feast.
Lutharo Chasing Euphoria Ultimate Bundle
Lutharo are definitely going places armed with Chasing Euphoria (both figuratively and literally speaking, as they’re gearing up for a massive tour across the United States and Canada), and if you want to show such awesome band from the current Canadian metal scene your utmost support, you can start following them on Facebook and on Instagram, always keeping an eye on their tour dates, subscribe to their YouTube channel and stream more of their breathtaking music on Spotify, and above all that, grab a copy of Chasing Euphoria from their own official website (including the more-than-special Chasing Euphoria ultimate bundle, featuring the album on limited edition pink and blue marble vinyl, a limited edition signed photo, an album T-shirt, a “Time To Rise” patch, a battle flag, and limited edition guitar picks), or you can also find your favorite version of the album by clicking HERE or HERE. Lutharo are definitely going to make a lot of noise worldwide armed with their new album, a cacophony of all that is metal, always chasing euphoria and inspiring us to bang our heads nonstop to the music by one of the best bands of the contemporary Canadian scene.
Best moments of the album:Reaper’s Call, Born to Ride, Creating a King and Paradise or Parasite.
Worst moments of the album:Bonded to the Blade.
Released in 2024 Atomic Fire Records
Track listing 1. Gates of Enchantment 1:13
2. Reaper’s Call 4:00
3. Ruthless Bloodline 4:12
4. Time to Rise 4:21
5. Born to Ride 3:52
6. Bonded to the Blade 4:33
7. Chasing Euphoria 4:31
8. Creating a King 4:08
9. Strong Enough to Fall 4:56
10. Paradise or Parasite 5:07
11. Freedom of the Night 6:45
Band members
Krista Shipperbottom – vocals
Victor Bucur – guitars, backing vocals
Chris Pacey – bass
Cory Hofing – drums
New year, same old savagery! That’s what you’ll get here at The Headbanging Moose during this promising year of 2024, and in order to start it with a bang let’s continue our annual tradition and kick off our metal lady of the month segment with a superb bassist that will surely put you to raise your horns and bang your heads in the name of heavy music. She’s such a badass woman that even her name rocks, and I’m more than sure you’ll love to listen to her rumbling bass guitar embellishing the airwaves wherever you go. I’m talking about Austria and Switzerland’s own Joey Roxx, a veteran metalhead who has been kicking some ass as the bass player for German Heavy Metal powerhouse Mystic Prophecy for almost a decade, delivering the goods and taking no prisoners in her quest for heavy music.
Born somewhere in time in the stunning country of Austria, but raised and currently living in Switzerland, our unstoppable Joey Roxx, whose real name is also a mystery to most of us, had her first memories related to music in general already at a very young age, mentioning the big, out-of-tune grand piano in her family’s living room as her earliest one, which was also the very first instrument she tried to play when she was still a little child. She also mentioned in one of her interviews that she remembers the music her parents used to play in their home during her childhood, citing a record by Reinhard Mey, a German Liedermacher (or “songmaker”, a German-style singer-songwriter) as one of the rare good moments of her parents’ albums, and also that her father used to “torment” her with the music by world renowned German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor Richard Wagner (due to the fact he was Hitler’s favorite composer, that became one of the worst memories of her early musical contact, symbolizing her punk soul already growing inside of her). In the end, she had to dig deep to find something that she was somehow allowed to listen to, saying that her parents have absolutely no influence on how she got into music, and that she had to listen to “her” music secretly. Furthermore, when she was around 11 or 12 years old, she had her very first contact with rock and metal music by becoming the drummer for a Gotthard/punk cover band at the girls’ boarding school that she attended.
Even though Mystic Prophecy was formed back in 2000 in Bad Grönenbach, Germany by frontman R. D. Liapakis (Valley’s Eve) together with together with Martin Albrecht (Valley’s Eve, Stormwitch, Rough), her career with the band began only in the year of 2015, having already released with the band the albums War Brigade (2016), Monuments Uncovered (2018), Metal Division (2020), and Hellriot (2023), plus the EP Hail to the King, in 2021, all available for a full and detailed listen on Spotify and on YouTube. Currently formed of frontman R.D. Liapakis and our metal diva Joey Roxx alongside Evan K and Markus Pohl on the guitars, and Hanno Kerstan on drums, the band plays a well-balanced and thrilling fusion of American Power Metal with classic Heavy and Thrash Metal, and all those elements can be easily recognized in their music as for example in the songs Hellriot, Azrael, Metal Attack, Demons of the Night, Unholy Hell, Dracula, Metal Division, Eye To Eye, Metal Brigade, and many more, as well as in this amazing live performance in Greece alongside Nightrage, Firewind and Rage back in 2017, all with Joey kicking some serious ass armed with her rumbling bass guitar.
Apart from her sensational metallic journey with Mystic Prophecy, she was also the founder and bassist for the band Hangmän’s Nooze (between 2008 and 2010); played bass for Kissin’ Black (between 2015 and 2016), Swiss Melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock act Paganini (between 2013 and 2019) and Swiss Melodic Heavy Metal/Hard Rock act Shezoo (between 2010 and 2014); and played bass live with German Melodic Heavy/Groove Metal act Souldrinker in 2014. In addition, she was also the rhythm guitarist for a band named Dezert Eaglez from 2005 until 2007, but again, there’s isn’t much available online about the band and their music (all it’s known is that it was just a teenage garage band, and that right now she’s also playing in a Black Sabbath tribute band called Lady Evyl, along some more.
As a teenager, Joey had posters of Sebastian Bach, Mike Tramp (of White Lion) and The Kelly Family (an Irish rock, pop and folk music music group consisting of a multi-generational family) hanging in her room, and she used to listen to a lot of Gotthard as well, with their song In The Name still having a special place in her heart. And speaking about The Kelly Family, it looks like Joey was a huge fan of their music, as she mentioned in an interview that they were the first concert she’s ever been to, and that she also has several of their albums in her private collection. She was not a fan of their music, though, it’s just that she was growing up in a small village in the Swissmountains, and didn’t have much options to consume music. In the early nineties there were only groups like Backstreet Boys or Spice Girls or the likes of these known to children, plus the Kelly Family, which was the only one who played live with real instruments, and as she was playing music since she was four she never got into what she herself likes to call “plastic dance performance/playback show” stuff, so The Kelly Family was the only logic thing to be into as a 10 year old kid. However, Joey turned into a Rush fangirl with time, considering them their favorite band, and Bravado her favorite song ever. As a matter of fact, when asked about three songs that should not be missing on a perfect mix tape, Joey obviously added Bravado to the list, complementing it with Battleship Chain, by The Georgia Satellites, and Get The Funk Out, by Extreme.
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Furthermore, our dauntless bassist said that her first self-bought album was Down To Earth, by Rainbow, saying that “I thought the cover was beautiful. The music on it is even better.” She also considers Extreme the most underrated band of all time, and she’s very proud of having the album The Ship, by Swiss Progressive Heavy Rock band Tea, in her collection, signed by the band’s vocalist Marc Storace with the comment “But you’re far too young for that!” At her funeral, she said she wants the song I Hope They Serve Jack Daniels In Hell, by Bourbon Crow, to be played, and that a romantic evening must include the music by Belphegor (and no one knows if she was joking or not when she said that). She also said that she doesn’t like to listen to digital music, but only to CD’s and vinyl, enjoying CD’s while she’s driving and leaving all vinyl for when she’s at home; and by the way, when asked about which albums she would take to a deserted island, she said that she would never go to any island without her record collection. Her taste for good music goes on, as besides rock and metal music she’s also a fan of Blues and Southern Rock, Horror and Death Punk, Russian classical music, and honest pop music (“not the radio nonsense,” as per Joey herself), also saying that she doesn’t like all that “more show, less music” nonsense that happens with bands like Sabaton, Battle Beast and Powerwolf.
Joey is also an avid concert goer, of course whenever she’s not touring with Mystic Prophecy, mentioning Rush on the Snakes & Arrows Tour in 2007, Rush at Sweden Rock Festival in 2013, and (guess what!?) Rush on the Time Machine Tour in 2011 as her top three concerts of all time. I guess I don’t need to repeat that she’s indeed fanatic for the most important Canadian rock band of all time, right? As a matter of fact, she considers Canada the country with the most “best of all time” bands, including not only Rush and Triumph, but also Honeymoon Suite, Aldo Nova, Loverboy, Devin Townsend and so on. On the other hand, she mentioned Mötley Crüe as one of the bands she doesn’t want to see live again, as the last time she saw them it was quite embarrassing for the band and their fans (despite Joey loving their music very much). She also mentioned that she can’t stand still at a concert by American Southern Rock band Dan Baird & Homemade Sin, or at a concert by any of Dan Baird’s bands. And if you also love the thrill of live concerts like Joey, click HERE and go catch Mystic Prophecy live, as I’m sure you’ll love to have your ass kicked by Joey and her ruthless bass together with her talented bandmates.
Not only an accomplished musician, Joey has also ventured through other industries and markets, all connected to rock and metal, and all related to the visual aspects of the business. For instance, she’s the creative designer at JR with the Scissorhands, crafting handmade, authentic Rock N’ Roll clothing; she’s the manager (or at least used to be the manager) at Roxx Off Concerts; and she’s also a former “mad hatter” (yes, like the character from Alice in Wonderland, designing cowboy hats and custom shirts) and custom cutter at Souls of Rock Clothing, showing all her versatility in our rock and metal universe. Although she lives and breathes music one hundred percent of her time, she mentioned in an interview that that she’s probably one of the few people who has never sung in the shower, and that there’s no such amount of alcohol in the world (by the way, she’s a a beer and single malt whiskey girl) that would make her sing along to a hit song (unless maybe Eisgekühlter Bommerlunder, a song by Die Toten Hosen). And last but not least, she said that if one day she ever gets married, she hopes there’s an Elvis there, because she will probably be drunk in Las Vegas with him as her best man. I thought Elvis is always supposed to be the priest at those famous Vegas weddings, but if Joey wants him to be her best man, who are we to go against one of the most versatile and badass bass players hailing from the current European heavy music scene, right? Jokes aside, this is just her way of saying that she will never ever get married and have a family, because the chances of her being drunk in Vegas again are pretty low to zero, and those marriages are not official in Europe and can be annulated within 24 hours, which FOR SURE would be the case if ever that might happen to her for some sort of strange reasons.
“I’m quite open to anything that’s played with a lot of passion and real instruments. I can even find hip-hop to be of good quality and enjoy it live with a band, even if I’ll never really like it.” – Joey Roxx
“Whatever your age may be, when you go to a heavy metal gig, you’re a teenager again.” – Rob Halford
I believe that quote from the Metal God himself perfectly represents the year of 2023 for most of us metalheads, including of course myself and my buddy Keith Ibbitson of Metal Paparazzi as we’ve been to countless metal gigs this year (and you can see detailed reviews with amazing professional photos for each one of them HERE), keeping our inner fires burning during such difficult times for the entire world. A never-ending economic crisis that’s dragging tons and tons of people to poverty everywhere, the Russo-Ukrainian War that persists for almost two years now, the extremely sad and inhumane Gaza–Israel conflict, all environmental disasters that in the end are all mankind’s fault, and so on. On the heavy music side, we witnessed the final concert ever by KISS, the end of great bands like The Agonist and Betraying the Martyrs, and the deaths of Sebastian Marino (former guitarist of Overkill and Anvil), Michael “Majk Moti” Kupper (former guitarist of Running Wild), Jon Kennedy (former bassist of Cradle of Filth and former vocalist of Hecate Enthroned), Hiroshi “Heath” Morie (bassist of X Japan), Charlie Dominici (former vocalist of Dream Theater), and several other talented musicians.
Despite all those losses, it was a very good year for heavy music, as bands kept fighting for rock and metal no matter what, putting on fantastic albums and memorable tours for us fans, with some already voicing their dissatisfaction against Live Nation and Ticketmaster for their sky-rocketing ticket prices, shady fees, and an obscure ticket reselling “mafia” running in the background that inflates those prices even more. In 2024 we’ll surely (and hopefully) see more of this insurgence against their ticket monopoly, and while we wait for that let’s enjoy The Headbanging Moose’s Top 10 Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Albums of 2023, excluding EP’s, best of’s and live albums, offering our avid ears the perfect soundtrack to every single moment in our lives, even if that moment is the apocalypse.
1. UADA – Crepuscule Natura (REVIEW) One of the rising stars of the current Melodic Black Metal scene returns with their majestic fourth album, unleashing upon us five sonic vessels.
Best song of the album: Retraversing the Void
2. Cattle Decapitation – Terrasite (REVIEW) Fear the devourer of earth in the form of the brand new and absolutely majestic album by California’s own Deathgrind masters.
Best song of the album: We Eat Our Young
3. Overkill – Scorched (REVIEW) One of the pillars of old school Thrash Metal will scorch the earth to the sound of their breathtaking new album.
Best song of the album: The Surgeon
4. Hellripper – Warlocks Grim & Withered Hags (REVIEW) Behold this infernal storm of Blackened Thrash Metal by a one-man army deeply rooted in his Scottish origins.
Best song of the album: Goat Vomit Nightmare
5. Viscera – Carcinogenesis (REVIEW) UK’s own Technical Death Metal/Deathcore monster returns with their striking sophomore album.
Best song of the album: Sungazer
6. Cannibal Corpse – Chaos Horrific (REVIEW) The mighty Corpse is back with another pulverizing album of old school, undisputed Death Metal, blasting gore, blood and violence.
Best song of the album: Chaos Horrific
7. Primal Fear – Code Red (REVIEW) German Power Metal masters are back with their thirteenth opus, a hard-hitting metal lesson and living proof of the healing power of music.
Best song of the album: Play a Song
8. Werewolves – My Enemies Look and Sound like Me (REVIEW) The most savage Blackened Death Metal band from Australia returns to the battlefield in full force with an even more demented offering.
Best song of the album: I Hate Therefore I Am
9. Vomitory – All Heads Are Gonna Roll (REVIEW) All heads are gonna roll to the sound of the infuriated new album by one of the most important bands in the history of Death Metal.
Best song of the album: Raped, Strangled, Sodomized, Dead
10. Marduk – Memento Mori (REVIEW) One of the pillars of Swedish Black Metal is back with a devilish new album, reminding us that we all must die.
Best song of the album: Blood of the Funeral
And here we have the runner-ups, completing the top 20 for the year:
11. Angelus Apatrida – Aftermath (REVIEW)
12. Immortal – War Against All (REVIEW)
13. Blackbraid – Blackbraid II (REVIEW)
14. 4ARM – Pathway to Oblivion (REVIEW)
15. When Plagues Collide – An Unbiblical Paradigm (REVIEW)
16. Hrothgar – Rise of Ragnarök (REVIEW)
17. Mystic Prophecy – Hellriot (REVIEW)
18. Tsjuder – Helvegr (REVIEW)
19. Hyperia – The Serpent’s Cycle (REVIEW)
20. Sarcoptes – Prayers to Oblivion (REVIEW)
In addition to all that, let’s bang our heads with our Top 10 EP’s of 2023 to prove once and for all that not all great albums of the year have to be so long. The EP’s from this list are simply awesome, showcasing the band’s talent and their ability to sound epic even if the music lasts for only a few minutes.
1. Imperial Demonic – Beneath the Crimson Eclipse (REVIEW)
2. Spectral Lore – 11 Days (REVIEW)
3. Admire the Grim – Rogue Five (REVIEW)
4. Saint Vermin – Together as None (REVIEW)
5. Lost Brethren – Dimensional Rift (REVIEW)
6. Cryptosis – The Silent Call (REVIEW)
7. Nemesism – Nemesism (REVIEW)
8. Decompose To Ashes – In The Eternal Silence (REVIEW)
9. Dysease – Era of Decay (REVIEW)
10. Throat Locust – Dragged Through Glass (REVIEW)
Do you agree with our list? What are your top 10 albums of 2023? Also, don’t forget to tune in every Tuesday at 10pm BRT on Rádio Coringão to enjoy the best of classic and underground metal with Jorge Diaz and his Timão Metal, and every Thursday at 8pm UTC+2 on Midnight Madness Metal e-Radio for the best of underground metal with The Headbanging Moose Show! And if you lost some of our latest special editions of The Headbanging Moose Show, including our Top 20 Underground Albums of 2023 – Parts I and II, go to our Mixcloud page and there you have hours and hours of the best of the independent scene, sounds good?
Metal Xmas and a Headbanging New Year! See you in 2024!
And before I go, I need to talk once again about Savage Lands, a nonprofit featuring members of Megadeth, Sepultura, Obituary and other legends of metal to support forests in Costa Rica, who released an amazing single titled The Last Howl back in November. The Last Howl is a howling tribute to the howler monkey, which are endangered in Costa Rica. The song features Savage Lands co-founders Sylvain Demercastel and Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth), as well as support from John Tardy (Obituary), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Poun (Black Bomb A) and Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A). 100% of the song royalties will help fund nature sanctuaries, establish green zones and other land preservation projects in Costa Rica. Having said that, why don’t you go and make a nice donation to the cause, and learn more about Savage Lands on their official website? I’m sure Sylvain and Dirk, plus everyone else involved in this magnificent project, will love to receive that Christmas gift from you!
A fearless trio form the Netherlands will attack our senses armed with an exciting new EP, a first warning shot in anticipation of the band’s 2024 new studio album.
Formed back in 2020 in Enschede, a municipality and city in the eastern Netherlands, from the ashes of a band named Distillator, Progressive Thrash Metal outfit Cryptosis is back in action after their critically acclaimed 2021 debut album Bionic Swarm with a fun and vibrant EP titled The Silent Call. Recorded by Olaf Skoreng at The Moon, and mixed and mastered by Fredrik Folkare, The Silent Call serves not only as a new sign of life by Laurens Houvast on vocals and guitars, Frank te Riet on bass and mellotron, and Marco Prij on drums, but also as a first warning shot in anticipation of the band’s new studio effort which is in the works for next year.
The strident guitars by Laurens ignite the awesome title-track The Silent Call, showcasing futuristic, cosmic lyrics (“Grand structures, scrape the cosmos / and shadows, dance with deceit / my presence is known, yet obscured / amidst the babel of voices”) amidst a fusion of Thrash, Death and Black Metal with a strong melodic vein. Put differently, if this is an indication of what to expect from their next album, I can’t wait for it. Marco then dictates the pace with his thunderous beats in Master of Life, a previously unreleased song from their 2021 album Bionic Swarm sessions, while Frank makes sure the earth trembles armed with his bass in another Progressive Thrash Metal feast, not to mention the awesomely desperate, raspy vocals by Laurens. And recorded in Athens, Greece in November 2022 during the band’s latest European tour, we’re treated to an excellent version of Prospect of Immortality, where the trio showcases their refined technique and passion for heavy music, bringing sheer adrenaline to the crowd, while the second live song, Transcendence, sounds absolutely bestial, perfect for some action inside the mosh pit, with Laurens once again kicking some as on vocals supported by the rumbling kitchen by Frank and Marco.
Two original songs, two live songs, and an endless amount of adrenaline and heaviness. This is in a nutshell what you’ll get in The Silent Call, available for a full listen on Spotify, and on sale from the band’s own webshop or by clicking HERE or HERE, making us eager for the band’s 2024 full-length album as already mentioned. Hence, don’t forget to follow those talented Dutch metallers on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates (and after listening to the live songs from The Silent Call I bet you’ll be more than excited to see Cryptosis on stage), and so on, adding an extra touch of thrash to your already frantic metalhead life.
Best moments of the album:The Silent Call and Transcendence (live in Athens).
Worst moments of the album: None.
Released in 2023 Century Media Records
Track listing 1. The Silent Call 5:00
2. Master of Life 4:12
3. Prospect of Immortality (live in Athens) 6:15
4. Transcendence (live in Athens) 4:05
Band members Laurens Houvast – vocals, guitars
Frank te Riet – bass, mellotron, backing vocals
Marco Prij – drums
Let these Swedish Grindcore beasts put their hands around your throat to the sound of their infernal sophomore opus.
It’s not too often that you come across a Grindcore album that gives you the kind of thrilling intensity that you’ve come to expect from this style of music, and at the same time there’s unpredictability in the writing which keeps you hooked. That’s exactly what you’ll get in Our Hands, Your Throat, the sophomore beast by Gothenburg, Sweden-based Grindcore animals Walking Corpse, following up on their 2020 debut The Fear Takes Hold. Displaying a sick artwork by Portuguese artist CVSPE (aka André Trindade), the new album by vocalist Henrik Blomqvist, guitarist and bassist Fredrik Rojas, and drummer and bassist Magnus Dahlin showcases the band’s most aggressive and innovative side, providing variations to break monotony and even predictability without compromising on the pure blistering, cathartic expression of Grindcore and, therefore, being highly recommended for fans of Rotten Sound, Fuck the Facts, Bathtub Shitter, Terra Builder, Spurn, Antigama, and Ernia, just to name a few.
Dreamflesh Navigator is absolutely devastating and evil from the very beginning, a demented Grindcore tune led by the unrelenting drums by Magnus while Henrik sounds inhumane on vocals. Then, Fredrik hammers his guitar in great fashion in Born in Hell, adding a touch of progressiveness and dementia to the trio’s already incendiary metal music, or in other words, it’s one of the most infuriated Grindcore songs you’ll listen to this year, followed by the title-track Our Hands, Your Throat, bringing forward more of their wicked sounds with Magnus crushing his drums like there’s no tomorrow in a lecture in extreme music and insanity by such talented group. And investing in a more melodic sonority with elements from Hardcore and Thrash Metal we have The Wheel, perfect for “dancing like a monkey” to the slashing riffage by Fredrik, whereas in Brainworm we face less than two minutes of pure violence spearheaded by the venomous, deranged roars and barks by Henrik.
Slowing things down a bit while also enhancing their obscurity, the trio fires the metallic Falling Through A World of Wounds, with their bass jabs hitting you hard in the face, and nonstop savagery and hatred flows from their riffs, bass and drums in Malediction, while Henrik continues to growl like a beast, followed by The Last Laugh, one of the most depraved songs of the album where Henrik sounds even more infuriated than before, resulting in a Swedish Grindcore party at its finest. Nothing Grows Here, the longest of all songs, will drag your soul to a realm of insanity and evil, where Magnus once again kicks some ass behind his drums supported by the razor-edged riffs by Fredrik. And how about one minute of pure aggression as the second to last song of the album? That’s what you’ll get in Forever Sleep, setting the tone for the obscure closing tune Eye of an Angry God, where Magnus dictates the song’s pace with his caustic beats while Fredrik will pierce your souls with his riffs, putting a brilliant ending to the album.
Those merciless Swedish Grindcore marauders are waiting for you on Facebook with news, tour dates and other nice-to-know information about their music, and of course you can also stream all of their insane creations on Spotify to properly disturb the peace of your neighborhood. Furthermore, above all that, don’t forget to show those unrelenting Swedish metallers your utmost support by purchasing a copy of the excellent Our Hands, Your Throat from their own BandCamp page, as well as from the Transcending Obscurity Records webstore as an 8-panel digipak CD (in the US or the EU), or as a very special CD + shirt combo (also in the US or the EU) sooner than you can say “violence”, letting Walking Corpse put their damned, blood-soaked hands around your throat in the name of classic Grindcore.
Best moments of the album:Born in Hell, Our Hands, Your Throat, The Last Laugh and Eye of an Angry God.
Worst moments of the album:Malediction.
Released in 2023 Transcending Obscurity Records
Track listing 1. Dreamflesh Navigator 1:37
2. Born in Hell 3:58
3. Our Hands, Your Throat 3:36
4. The Wheel 4:57
5. Brainworm 1:38
6. Falling Through A World of Wounds 3:38
7. Malediction 1:48
8. The Last Laugh 2:27
9. Nothing Grows Here 5:17
10. Forever Sleep 1:09
11. Eye of an Angry God 3:58
Band members Henrik Blomqvist – vocals
Fredrik Rojas – guitars, bass
Magnus Dahlin – drums, bass
Savage Lands – Nonprofit featuring members of Megadeth, Sepultura, Obituary and other legends of metal to support forests in Costa Rica 🇨🇷
Artists occasionally support causes through donations to organizations. With SAVAGE LANDS, Megadeth drummer Dirk Verbeuren teamed up with his guitar-wielding friend Sylvain Demercastel to create their own US 501(c)3 non-profit.
Savage Lands raises money for reforestation & the creation of sanctuaries free of human destruction. Using their own royalties, donations and other fundraising efforts, the organization builds nature sanctuaries, establishes green zones and other land preservation projects. They partner with other non-profits, scientists and forest engineers, as well as Decibel Magazine and Season of Mist.
“If you want to make a difference, take action! Our greatest hope with Savage Lands is that it will inspire you to join us, and if you can, to start your own initiative to help preserve animals, forests, and our planet”, says Dirk.
Fittingly, “The Last Howl” is a howling tribute to the howler monkey, which are endangered in Costa Rica. The song features Savage Lands co-founders Sylvain Demercastel & Dirk Verbeuren, as well as support from John Tardy (Obituary), Andreas Kisser (Sepultura), Poun (Black Bomb A) & Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A).
100% of the song royalties will help fund nature sanctuaries, establish green zones and other land preservation projects in Costa Rica.
Lineup Dirk Verbeuren (Megadeth) – drums
Sylvain Demercastel – guitar
Andreas Kisser (Sepultura) – guitar
John Tardy (Obituary) – vocals
Poun (Black Bomb A) – vocals
Etienne Treton (Black Bomb A) – bass
Recording
Savage Lands / Adair Daufembach / John Tardy / Andreas Kisser / Steeven Corsini
Taking the listener on a gripping journey into the dark abysses of human psychology, leaving you hardly any time to catch your breath, Gelsenkirchen, Germany-based Death/Thrash Metal squad Smorrah Is unleashing upon us all their first full-length album, titled Welcome To Your Nightmare, following up on their 2018 EP The Evil Within. Produced, mixed and mastered by Michael Streckbein and Smorrah at Vyrah Studios, and displaying an 80’s and 90’s-inspired artwork by Timon Kokott Artwork, the new release by vocalist Marius Wegener, guitarist Daniel ‘Pumper’ Hartmann, bassist Christian ‘Kraje’ Krajewski, and drummer Raphael Swierczynski is a hard-hitting thrash and groove beast highly recommended for fans of Pantera, Sepultura and Exhorder, among others, representing a huge step forward in their career.
If you have what it takes to face the unstoppable mosh pits generated by Smorrah in their new album Welcome To Your Nightmare, you can grab a copy of it directly from the band’s own BandCamp page or from the Sick Taste Records’ Big Cartel, and don’t forget to also start following the band on Facebook and on Instagram for news, tour dates and so on, and to stream more of their music on YouTube and on Spotify. The guys from Smorrah are eagerly waiting to welcome us all to our worst nightmare with their new album, and if you consider yourself a true lover of contemporary Death and Thrash Metal, I’m sure you’ll have a very good time even with the psychological torment you’re about to endure.
THE HEADBANGING MOOSE 