…mi-spoken bit from guitarist/Ebow player Ian Arkley encompass a mix of bard-like, folk-oriented charm next to darker growls and mysterious, haunting whispers. The arrangements vary from the direct, compact offerings for “When You Look Back” or the relatively faster, peppier “Another Light” to much more maudlin, epic tracks such as opener “The Liar and the Fool” or “The Last Lullaby” where longer instrumental passages or diverse melodies envelop th…
…end of the year. Exit Stage Death is the film I’m working on. We have another music video coming out for “Revenge of the Wolf” that Norman did as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rl2I_87n5CY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9XsmFB8W08 Bat on Facebook…
…ture of hand-picked favorites from the members themselves, previous digital-only offerings, as well as unreleased or re-recorded cuts to truly make this a special release. The first CD opens with the magnificent “Way of the World” off 2002’s Hollowed By Thy Name record, an 8:26 arrangement showcasing the band’s dramatic melodic power metal abilities, including a special guitar break from ex-Helloween/Masterplan’s Roland Grapow. From there the reco…
…ansitions allows these songs to shine even brighter – the latter given a co-writing assist by ex-Stratovarius main man Timo Tolkki. In under 40 minutes, Violet Eternal with Reload the Violet create an intoxicating, familiar blend of melodic power metal with European/Japanese ethics on hand. Should be interesting to see if this will be an active outfit, as there’s something magical in these performances worth exploring for future records. https://w…
…And for those wondering, the group isn’t all studio magic either, as they’ve been playing shows already and fan footage seems to suggest they are hitting it out of the park. Watch as they continue to catch more buzz as word of mouth spreads. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eFicWRSgT8&pp=ygUkdG9nZW5hc2hpIHRvZ2VhcmkgYW5zd2VyIHRvIGV4dHJlbWUg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EuBGsmThfu0&pp=ygUcdG9nZW5hc2hpIHRvZ2VhcmkgdW5kZXJuZWF0aA%3D%3D Togenashi To…
…now. There’s plenty of cool stuff coming up in Europe for us. Next week, we’ll play Portugal for the first time. Can’t wait for some good weather finally! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HgUL8TAkCc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefgY5zd65k Vulture on Facebook…
…ths for the second half, it will more than satiate anyone looking for high quality extreme metal that tosses the traditional boundaries aside for something insightful and far more unique. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iknlk-9oCgI&pp=ygUIYW1pZW5zdXM%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7gfLjGK8jaA&pp=ygUIYW1pZW5zdXM%3D Amiensus on Facebook Amiensus on Instagram…
…essive grooves alongside it’s more melodic moments – offering a catchy sing-a-long while giving fans plenty to headbang over. It’s “Cityscapes” that arguably offers the greatest shift in the band’s sound, focusing on more on some almost atmospheric hookiness to the cut and melancholic tinge that gives it a more unique feel that the tracks that surround it. The final song, “Breathless” offers quite a bit of bang to it, while also ending on a hopefu…
…f snarls, screams, and militant barking – if you aren’t swept up by the mid-tempo riffs or double-kick inducing windmill tempos, the total picture pushed within “Static” and “Compulsive Ruminations” should smash through as a multi-sensory odyssey worthy of repeat engagement. Progressive time signature shifts against a swirling mass of deadly riffs infiltrate “Vials” – a back half stunner that also features another jaw dropping lead break while the…
…ica. We want to go back to Asia and Australia. We want to make sure that everybody loves the record. We want to give people the chance to go see us live. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W09tedr1KI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUNMbmrcNW8 Necrot on Facebook…
…dy rockers, and occasional ballad-esque offering that intertwine the larger-than-life Teutonic choruses, fluid/thoughtful lead breaks, as well as bluesy / classical-oriented nuances to keep the platform sturdy as ever. With an Egyptian-style intro that harkens back to the Metal Heart days, “Diving Into Sin” opens the record in heads down anthem form – the riffs powerful next to the clockwork rhythm section mainframe, allowing Mark Tornillo’s gritt…
…ction if the death/thrash side crushes the sonic palate. Standout Tracks: “With Deep Regret”, “Condemnation “, “Flash of Inspiration” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y5MrHUWz-ng Disbelief on Facebook…
…Shadowbound”, someone doing a solo project that reached out to me. That is on YouTube. If somebody wanted to reach out to me to do vocals, I would absolutely say yes. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mu9ZDiDIFE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3KrFTtrBME Dialith official website Dialith on Facebook…
…s the ruckus, Coady Willis proving he’s a versatile skinsman whether on mid-tempo beatdowns and straight-up punk/thrash lashings. “Lightning Beard”, Pike’s ode to his El Camino, is classic HoF scorcher material, whereas “Hunting Shadows” is a deeply personal track for the Shirtless One, not unlike Luminiferous‘ “The Cave”, but not as memorable as the former. “Darker Fleece” closes the record with a titanic riff that trudges on for nine minutes wit…
…ic lead break plus subsequent catchy circular sequence. Settling into a mid-tempo punch for the follow-up “Nights in Turmoil”, the steady double bass foundation allows the other musicians to slither at varying paces, while Lee stalks in his vocal delivery in varying shades of Teutonic rasp or forceful soldier mold depending on the feel of the verses to chorus. Transitions often appear in unexpected places where these gentlemen go from comfortable…
…rmony-oriented passages, with the integrity of those aforementioned artists inspiring these gentlemen. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eAGgoJ2Ql8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rwScIHewaw Stormborn official website Stormborn on Facebook…
…ummer festivals, and we are currently planning our first headline tour but that won’t be until 2025. Baumann: We will start some writing again too. It never ends [laughs]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9v3C1oU6A0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KfmQU1g6Uk&pp=ygUGdmVudWVz Venues on Facebook Venues on Instagram…
…d with Live Blood on the table, who can blame them? Those not in the know need this as a proper gateway to the discography – and others already keen to this group’s abilities are aware of this must-buy status. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPolFTsf7yc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJYPJZzMRBQ Tygers of Pan Tang official website Tygers of Pan Tang on Facebook…
…iffs, and Benton’s evil-sounding vocals with the same level of polish and devastation that the band built itself upon. This far in, that’s more than enough reason to give them a few listens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT3enm7sKJY&pp=ygUHZGVpY2lkZQ%3D%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Pj67ZU89i4&pp=ygUHZGVpY2lkZQ%3D%3D Deicide official website Deicide on Facebook…
…lse has to happen on the side. We will be busy – a touring schedule right up to Christmas and then we are talking already about next year. It’s going to be exciting. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV8USmxRzw0 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYPFFZFBBYY Accept official website Accept on Facebook…
…. Defiance will not stain the deep discography of the group – and should add more acclaim for an act that still has plenty left to say creatively for those who love the melodic, AOR-side of heavy metal. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PyXf7YBNEto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NoxYnawQ_-s Praying Mantis on Facebook…
…d Ligature” which opens up with a Jacob Bannon guest spot and ends with not-so-ecstatic trumpeting. 15 years in, and Full of Hell just keeps doing whatever the hell they want with their sound, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Coagulated Bliss is the soundtrack of the American dream, and the inevitable horrors that came with it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5MeB7fa8vGA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZ26WDVpVnQ Full of Hell official websit…
…s improved the health and status of the metal genre here – as I remember 25-30 years ago, it would be tough to get 100-200 attendees to decent festival lineups like Powermad or the Classic Metal Festival? Ravage: Again, it’s hard to say. A festival like this – I was talking to Christian who runs the festival when I went last year to the Stormbringer Festival. He was saying that over 70% of the people who go to Hell’s Heroes are from out of state….
…bs or to tens of thousands across the festival stages. Crank this mutha loud, scream along and enjoy these songs. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNdblw-IIdI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jngaz3WLZSU Kickin Valentina on Facebook…
…that stay in your brain for quite a while. An act to watch if you enjoy this style that may be cult-like in appeal, yet still vibrant to those who clamor for more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOBxo8Tpizc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KL3RC_Nq8o A Neverending John’s Dream on Facebook…
…etting, definitely. “Desolation’s Harp” concludes the opening salvo of fast-as-fuck drumming and soaring dynamics anchored by Paparo’s unreal vocal performance. Joel Moore, Inter Arma’s newest and (hopefully) permanent bass player, makes his dexterous presence known with the title track and breather “Endless Grey”, as Trey Dalton and Steven Russell solo the shit out of their axes. “Gardens in the Dark” is Mike Paparo’s most memorable vocals to dat…
…so great! But yeah, we are trying to get things going, so there’s lots on the horizon. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V97-IxNPaoM&pp=ygUHc3VsZHVzaw%3D%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-uw2lFaMek&pp=ygUHc3VsZHVzaw%3D%3D Suldusk on Facebook Suldusk on Instagram…
…s while still remembering the main components that make melodic death/black metal so appealing. Keep an eye on these guys as they’ll be moving up the ranks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0koZUBa8dBA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbsW2fdOYso Bloody Falls on Facebook…
…cord Lifeless Birth is out now via Tankcrimes, so pick yours up wherever you buy your music. Standout Tracks: “The Closer”, “Superior”, “Drill the Skull” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5W09tedr1KI https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUNMbmrcNW8 Necrot on Facebook…
…e will they go on the finale? Anticipation is high that they’ll go for broke in the details to execute another blockbuster modern progressive metal product. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bWtr29dqPeo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8h03p__Mb6g Loch Vostok on Facebook…
