…c” stands the test of time. The duality cheerleader frontman next to an ear-shattering, multi-octave delivery allows the audience to easily accept Michael’s elite vocals, especially in the higher, upper note activities that take place in a potent anthem like “Bomb Food”, the militant, mechanical-oriented transition going down a storm with the festival audience. The setlist contains plenty of rebel rousing moments, encouraging crowd chants, stomps,…
…out some cool riffs and we will start working on a new album this year. So I hope for good shows and having a great time together. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NH8DWtig-Cw&pp=ygUGaGlyYWVz https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnFwBzDtpoc&pp=ygUGaGlyYWVz Hiraes on Facebook Hiraes on Instagram…
…here. The first time we really got to do something again, after 2019 was in 2022 when the first festivals started up again. There was a lot of trouble with touring, because every band was coming over here [to Germany]. Ticket sales were catastrophic. So we decided not to tour last year. 2023 was more of the same. We did a few festivals and really started to work on the new album. We actually played the festivals with our old setlist and one or two…
…mainframe thrash or death styles. The mini-drum solo break next to the four-on-the-floor foundational locomotive riffs for “Unnecessary Consuming” revels in its classic Motörhead-ish glory, while the alluring gallop next to some alternative chugging, low-tuned picking puts “A Waste of Human Being” into another potent highlight, Felipe’s fervent bark mirroring the jackhammer atmosphere to the max almost like Prong careening headfirst into Sepultura…
…was done with my studies, a psychologist, I was going to turn into a grown-up, have a full-time job, and if I’m going to have any flexible time it’s now while I’m writing my master’s thesis. I just knew I wanted to do something that was more akin to the international bands than what I was used to here. There are some progressive bands but most of us listen to stuff like Opeth, Tool, and I wanted that kind of dynamic where it’s still dark and heav…
…ely reminds of Gravesend, whose latest Gowanus Death Stomp has a similar to-the-point feel, though Resin Tomb isn’t as grind-oriented. Vermin Womb is another apt comparison overall, along with the likes of black/death merchants Ruin Lust. The massacre commences with the tightly wound “Dysphoria” and its meticulous riffs, black metal inspired lead work, and the percussive explosion that is Perry Vedelago. His drum work is the spine of Ruin Lust’s i…
…yriad of directions: not limited to the usual rock and metal, but some post-hardcore and pop-punk stylings can be found across the 5-track debut EP, appropriately titled Prologue: Burn it Down. Be that as it may, Nextanative should find plenty of support from the alt idol sources with the strength of this offering, and those seeking a heavy yet catchy time. With four ‘true’ songs and a brief instrumental introduction (“Prologue”), Nextanative show…
…. The plodding grooves of “Outer Worlds” and the chorus is a definite ‘sing-a-long,’ though admittedly “In My Dreams” takes the award for the strongest ‘sing-a-long’ with it’s ballad-y approach and potent use of Erica Ohlsson’s charismatic vocals. Those interested in the high-energy driving tempo showcases the band is known for should be quite happy as well. “Cyberdome” is an all-out romp of energy and fun, from it’s big synth section to the stomp…
…s complimentary breezy vocal harmonies hard to resist. When you need a show-stopping closer full of Clarkin’s tasteful axe skills next to a steady, mid-tempo backbeat and thoughtful vocal melodies/harmonies, look no further than the 6:24 “Borderline”, the mood shifts shimmering all the way into the tranquil, Rick Benton-fueled keyboard finale. British illustrator Rodney Matthews delivers another vibrant cover, much like he has over the years for t…
…d about the band is that you have all of this stuff that you compact into 3-4 minutes, rather than stretching it out over 8-9 minutes. It’s always nice for me, at this point in my life, that you can take those big, epic sounds and condense them into something more digestible and easy to listen to by fusing that pop side too. Premberg: That’s the cinematic, epic feel of it. It’s hard to write music in 3-4 minutes because you have so many things you…
…ou, Crust – and our subject here, Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze. The Colorado-based trio first arrived with Offerings of Flesh and Gold in 2019, serving as an eye-opening introduction to a band willing to not only push boundaries, but obliterate them entirely. Their singular morph of avant-garde black metal and ambient music was a breath of fresh air to those who found it, and admittedly, this scribe only caught wind of them a few years after said d…
…r flashy melodic death metal riffage and a soaring chorus that urges a sing-a-long. The songs with Matthew Heafy in the mix offer more of a change-up as well, particularly standout “The Rainbow Song,” which jettisons harsh vocals entirely, shifting more into a glorious, jovial power metal track that oozes positivity while still staying true to the core of the Ryujin sound. Some other highlights include the cover of the Attack on Titan opening song…
…ms” being co-written by La Torraca, and it stands out for it’s power ballad-esque energy and poignant feelings. While “Run” heads in more of a fun, folk-y direction, “Hold Back Your Fear” seems to take all of the positives associated with symphonic metal and crank them up to 11 – especially the extremely potent chorus. The covers themselves offer just as much entertainment. The aforementioned “It’s a Sin” probably stands the tallest to this writer…
Debuting in 2017 with an album of pop-turned-metal covers in Rhapsodies in Black, and composed of all-star vocalists from the symphonic and modern metal scenes, Exit Eden hit the ground running. But when you have 4 very busy vocalists in their own right, it might take a bit of time for a second round to come through. But low and behold, here we sit eight years later with Femmes Fatales, their second full-length. Now composed of three members, and…
…a new flavor via Vast Reaches Unclaimed – a rifftastic work that stands toe-to-toe with giants. 1. Night in Gales – The Black Stream This statement has been made by yours truly multiple times over the years, and it still rings true: the most underrated band in this long and storied history of melodic death metal is Night in Gales. A band who has not only been an innovator since their 1995 debut EP Sylphlike, but have had the best career renaissanc…
…case some massive growls and screams as the band stomps through mostly high-tempo riff-fest that still manages to keep enough hooks in to grab your ear, particularly when they slow it down to a crawling breakdown at the end. The title track closes the album, and switches gears yet again to show how striking the band can sound when they move further into the atmospheric and melodic side. Muller uses some clean-ish vocals when necessary, the the ins…
…I remember Tim discussing in a previous interview your abilities as a multi-media specialist for the band. Has it been a long-running interest, do you have any special degrees or training in the field? Also, what are your thoughts on the tools of AI that could help or hinder what is done in this field? Cleary: Not unlike me being a singer, it’s sort of a necessity. I decided to try it, I have always been interested in music videos. When I was a ki…
…ne is that At the Plates is far more than a gag offering. Do you enjoy well-written, all-around solid death metal? Because Omnivore is stuffed to the gills with it. Catchy, worm it’s way into your ears type of stuff. Opener “With Their Cutlets” kicks off things with plenty of blasting energy and a barrage of frantic riffing to the point where your ‘gimmick mindset’ is going to drop off immediately. The riffs hit hard, whether they are more speedy…
…e VR controllers) as this song feels very ‘classic’ Dragonforce in its over-the-top theatrics, yet grounded with a sense of melody to make it feel incredibly balanced. The music video is quite an amusing treat too! (Dragonforce official website/Dragonforce on Facebook) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jovdRlXz8sk I Legion “Broken Mirrors Pt. II” (featuring Chris Clancy) Such a treat to be able to say that there’s a new I Legion track! A second part…
…t of East of Eden is going to be very strongly utilized. Starting off the 5-song EP in a one-two punch is some of the most energetic and bombastic material of the release. “Evolve” showcases the frantic mixture of guitar riffing and Ayasa’s violin entanglements in the best possible way. The driving tempo just makes you want to move around and then it elevates to a potent, soaring chorus that lets Akane shine while still keeping the rest of the ins…
…n by the Scream’s most recent EP stands as being just as ferocious and left-of-center as ever. Absolutely jarring transitions that jump from blastbeat-ridded gurgling and frantic riffs to soaring, pop-drenched melodic moments, but there’s nothing quite like them. 14. Beyond the Black – Beyond the Black (Nuclear Blast) A self-titled album that seems to re-assert a more symphonic sound than the more experimental Horizons, Beyond the Black play to th…
…ribadism,” where the blasting drums hit with more buzzing riffs and tremolo-esque melodies that twist around the chorus. Falling into that category of ‘I can’t believe it’s one person,’ Bloody Cumshot deliver an explosive dose of Gothenburg-styled melodies updated to modern times that’s sure to win any genre fans over. As a second effort, Deflorantism showcases Junya’s talent as something to keep your eyes and ears on in the future. Feel free to c…
…year: “Pictures Remain.” 5. Jord – Tundra (Hammerheart) A relatively under-the-radar atmospheric black metal band from Sweden, Jord deftly works in shoegaze (some nice Alcest choices here) for seven songs of cinematic bliss. 6. Imperium Dekadenz – Into Sorrow Evermore (Napalm) Perennially unsung German black metallers Imperium Dekadenz take their sweet time in releasing new material — Into Sorrow Evermore was their first in four years. But, when…
…ies to the fullest. Cool to see, as Tampa’s metal community is truly one-of-a-kind, and one we’re proud to be a small part of. Immolation continues to be one of the leaders in death metal, and their continued run of high quality albums and live performance continue to cement their legendary status. A lot of the old guard haven’t been able to keep turning heads like Immolation does, and from our perspective, there’s zero chance of a decline in sigh…
…Law, in the hands of main multi-instrumentalist/vocalist Pancho Ireland. In 2022 alone, he released two full-length albums and an EP for the group – setting the stage for this latest four-song EP Grimoire for the Ultimate Sinner. Joined by another prolific musician in the traditional/power metal circles Cederick Forsberg on drums, this is another treasure trove dive into the 80’s Teutonic heavy/power metal scene, with special guest solo work to ad…
…ld you want to be on our song? Sent him the demo, and he loved it. He’s low-key, and he thought it would be volcanic. We are all fans of funk and old rhythm and blues, classic hip-hop and stuff. He wrote this really fun rap about being a lady killer (laughs). Gavin is a really old friend of my wife’s. He has played saxophone with lots of bands here in Ireland. We wanted someone to play sax, but we also knew he might be the kind of guy who might sa…
…it’s been very surprising indeed, because the band formed just one year-and-a-half ago! We got a bunch of songs, we recorded them, and that’s it! We choose the more catchy and straight in your face; it’s a demo, so you don’t need to be so bothered after all! I didn’t expect such a thing! Consider that we’ll have our first album out soon, and we re-recorded “Krushing All Altars,” “Sepulchrist,” and the title track with something new! Also, the cove…
…ok-y melodies are the core elements that make up the track as it slowly ear-worms its way into your head. But then follow-up new song “Wonder Lust” just feels like it takes all of those elements and cranks them to eleven. It’s rousing verses offer an great build-up to a beautiful chorus that blends together flashy guitar melodies, glowing synths, and the combined vocal efforts of Awoi Akase, Rin Suzunone, Luna Hizuki, and Ako Momota into a stunnin…
…Flames atmosphere throughout the record – not only from the Colony/ Clayman-eras, but a bit of the follow-up discography where they got more streamlined in terms of hooks. The record closes on another uplifting note for “Honesty Is a Dream”, the guitar work of Ruben Sanchez along with Antonio capturing the magnificence of classic Iron Maiden as easily as Dark Tranquillity or In Flames as Markus once again use his rhythmic rasp to initiate call to…
…e Heart” a prime example as the atmosphere changes quickly into machine gun-like salvos that match the intense vocals of Jemiina Helloise, before careening into this mid-tempo instrumental segment worthy of Children of Bodom supreme quality. At other points traditional old school chord progressions enter the fold – especially bringing listeners to life for “Maiden of Death”, while the speedy stair step action during “Blood Widow” takes on a more m…
