…remes to an unsurprising level of fervent execution. There’s plenty of full-on brutality available for those who desire a pummeling – “Quasi-Sentient” and “Mysterium Tremendum” exemplify Hideous Divinity at their most punishing. “More than Many, Never One” provides a taste of the discordant in its enrapturing aura, whereas closer “Leben Ohne Feuer” ends on an authoritative, grim note by virtue of unnerving builds that explode into apexes of raucou…
…breaks unfolding next to multi-octave low to upper register vocals in the best King Diamond-esque tradition for standout track “The Thief’s Candle”. Katte and Max Povver showcase numerous licks, tricks, rhythms and harmony situations that captivate, with that classic meets neoclassical touch that Iron Maiden or early NWOBHM followers devour – one listen to their work in “The Baleful Baron” or the title cut attests to their killer abilities. Sombe…
…It evolved to be it’s own thing. Dead Rhetoric: Defiance is the third full-length for the group. How did the songwriting and recording sessions go for this set of material – and where do you see the biggest differences in this album compared to Despondent Death from 2015 and the follow-up Abhorrent Disease released in 2019? Perez: Defiance was written in a very different way. First of all, the pandemic happened, so everyone had the time to work o…
…me and again. The main vocal presence from Frank Urschler has more of a mid-range folk-ish nature to his verses, the unison choirs keep the choruses easily attainable for even the most fearful audience singers of the world. Most will be hard pressed not to be screaming / vocalizing to the key hooks for “Altar of Illusions” or the Blind Guardian-esque “Empty Shell” (think Tales from the Twilight World-era here), the former alluring musically on its…
…erence Holler is probably best known through the metal community for his 31-year stint in the outfit he co-founded Eldritch – a power/progressive metal outfit of which classic albums like El Niño all the way through 2021’s EoS thrilled this scribe to no end. Leaving in 2022, this solo venture Holler explores more of his classic rock, AOR, and 70s/80s influences for this debut album Reborn. The results are quite inspiring, especially for those who…
…vocal melodies and arrangements came, we realized that this is a pretty pop-oriented song. We had started writing songs for the album and the songs were already sounding more experimental, so we decided to roll with it.” “Lyrically, it is about people in power tearing us apart and watching us destroy ourselves. I don’t know why but I get this image of Jack Palance in Tango & Cash sitting in his leather chair, looking at 50 TV’s, just waiting to pu…
…the live show. With the pop samples, the really high energy. As far as the best shows we’ve done… Moate: What sticks out most in my mind is the best shows on the last tour we did. They are most recent in mind – Chicago, Portland, Maine, Detroit. Dead Rhetoric: You also have a special color-scheme going on with your merchandise – can you discuss the thought process behind this? Selfish: We don’t have anything specific as far as what we want to do w…
…t of time writing. We also took on a fifth member at the beginning of this writing process. Our long-time friend Greg came on board, as a second guitarist. He added a huge element to the writing, to the playing, all of that. Dead Rhetoric: You decided to expand the lineup into a five-piece outfit. What seemed right about doing that at this point in time, and how does this expand the options as far as songwriting and performances with the group? Je…
…They also, again straight from the band, “utilized more than a hundred-year-old instruments, such as zither or hunting horn.” There are even a few Edgar Allen Poe excerpts present. Ambition is high, no doubt. With all of that background information in mind, it’s evident that Defying were going for an aged, wholly unique period specific space for their maze of black metal endeavors. The question, of course, is whether Wadera stands as aspirational…
…we have the Zelda-inspired cut “Power of the Triforce” that melds the happy-go-lucky chorus and mid-tempo riffing with some high-octane bursts of shred. And while it wasn’t everyone’s cup of tea, “Doomsday Party” has to be a major highlight, with it’s more ’80s inspired synths and melodies done in a very melodic Dragonforce way, something that’s bound to be a fun break in the live scene in between more furious bouts of extreme power metal. It’s a…
…s. Mirko Witzki, who is from Germany, and Kami Zero, who is an amazing make-up artist and stylist. It’s kind of like we come with the song, and if we have an idea we throw it in and tell them what its about. We let them work their magic, because they are great artists with great ideas. Then that’s where the magic happens, because we let them do what they are best at. We go there and just create these videos together. We are so happy we got to know…
…te the two sometimes. I’m also the manager of the band, I deal with the day-to-day things. I’m the guy who’ll talk to the booking agent, the record label people, the PR people, the tax accountants, the travel agents. So many people are involved. We had a manager for ten years, and then in 2016 I took the initiative and handled it all myself. It was a great decision; I don’t regret it as I’m a hands-on guy for a lot of things. I’m a very DIY guy, I…
…ising act for not just fans of Kalidia, but of anyone looking for some well-done power metal. Of War and Flames soars triumphantly from beginning to end, full of a variety of tempos and melodic touches that are sure to catch your ear. The best part, is that they avoid the usual power/symphonic metal ‘more is more’ philosophy and keep things short, sweet, and full of energy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YfPDijUzgqM https://www.youtube.com/watch?…
…arefully crafted storyline about consciousness awakening. You’ll get a nine-track odyssey that contains intriguing vocal-led material sitting side by side with thoroughly entertaining instrumental songs – traversing their Middle Eastern upbringing in waves of djent, jazz fusion, and natural progressive-laden tendencies. When people experience progressive metal, worry often sets in that the intricate angles, tantalizing time signature manipulation,…
…various times that you just capture and develop as it comes? Habeeb: Music-wise, I’ve always found that we are best when we are in a room collaborating together. Throwing ideas around – even though in the modern day it’s easier to just email each other with ideas and tracks, that’s awesome and I am on board with it. But I always like to be in a room to write. With lyrics, I’m very bad. I leave them to the last minute; they are intimidating to me….
…nowledge of dynamic expression in the songwriting means that you’ll be hard-pressed to fast forward through any of the songs – by the time the shapeshifting crunchy to soothing finisher “Not Good Enough” concludes, most followers will race to go back to the beginning for another satisfying playback. With Relapse, Vlad in Tears seem to have hit their stride in the balance between heavy rock, alternative, and gothic sounds. It’s a cross-pollination…
…light hook-wise. The quintet also excel in reflective ballad pieces – “The Best Things” probably one of their best in quite some time, Henrik Klingenberg setting the stage through his piano, keyboard, and orchestration angles along with Tony to give this arrangement an alluring power rock meets classical feel. Also returning is Mikko Karmila on the mixing board – last working with the band back in 2012 on Stones Grow Her Name, the man knows how to…
…e this big stadium band. It doesn’t work that way anymore. People are more online based, so you have to create most of your content online. You have to be putting out music videos, you have to be putting out constant posts, pictures, music, little clips so that you can reach a bigger audience. It doesn’t just happen organically by going to shows anymore. Unfortunately, as I wish it still did. I feel like that would be a lot easier in some ways bec…
…get your bearings before holding your head high! “Centipede Bite” is a full-on attack of the senses, which is A-OK with this guy! Meanwhile “Soul Observatory” just rocks, and “Acid Bath” is a tune that makes you wanna break things to. The album ends with “The Venus Baroness I” and “The Venus Baroness II”. Both tracks work well together and wrap up this journey perfectly. Again, I didn’t know these guys before, yet love them now. The album is out n…
…and, the label, and management? Faulkner: Yeah, it is really. When you are writing an album and you write songs, you are very close to them, so you don’t really have an objective opinion. Or less of an objective opinion because you are so close. That’s when management gets involved, that’s when the label gets involved from an outside point of view. They are also looking at the current musical landscape and what’s going on there. How can we get thi…
…which combines Angel Lelikakis and drummer Orfeas Tzortzopoulos in a frenzy going to town, but in a controlled manner. Throw in a killer solo from Gus Drax (again!) and this is another winner on a record full of them. Closing the disc is “The Fire Paths of Fate,” a nearly ten-minute epic that is easily one of the best I’ve heard. Bottom line? Profane Prayer is not only an absolute beast of an album from Suicidal Angels, it is one of 2024’s best…pe…
…yries (Raise the Hammers)”. Kalli’s rhythm guitar work possesses this proto-metal meets 80s edge, his lead breaks naturally intuitive for the service of the song, while he allows space for the progressive bass lines from Phil to also rise to the occasion. Another positive comes in the natural tones achieved through the drums of Neudi – you can feel the human authenticity behind every speedy fill, natural snare / kick combination, and the cymbal cr…
…stals. (laughs) Maestas: Between that and lots of records. I’ve got the Cha-Cha-Cha records. I’ve had this record for as long as I can remember. My aunt put her own return address on the label of the record. She passed away many years ago. I collect old 8 mm films. I have 8 mm film nights with my friends, we watch old horror movies and other people’s vacation videos from the 50s and 60s. Whatever else I find on there, sometimes I find these for $1…
…seven years – at a time when many artists are putting out albums on a three-to-five-year clip. A transitional record of sorts, David recruited an all-Italian lineup to write and record this material – a testament to his current adopted home in Italy. The outcome is a much more primal offering, leaning into heavier, dynamic directions that prove he’s not content to be a one-trick pony in this style. The opening strains of “Enemy Is Me” alert the li…
…ted as the tenth studio record keeps the four-piece alignment to great songwriting with stellar melodies as well as a bevy of musicianship-oriented tricks front and center – delivering nine new songs plus another killer 80’s radio classic given a reinterpretation. The mixture of catchy anthems and power-hungry cuts keeps the momentum bursting, Gus G as a guitarist alert to the cause of listeners devouring his neoclassical, shred-tastic abilities –…
…you needed reminding. All told this is a fantastic album from start to finish. Job For a Cowboy truly came to play on Moon Healer and the results are nothing short of spectacular. Like I said at the beginning of this writing, this is not just a new album release…this is an EVENT. Standout Tracks: All of Them https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm5Z-ciozcc https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SywCGhiwNyw Job For a Cowboy on Facebook…
…that we played in support of that album. Instead of hitting the studio and writing songs as soon as possible. It sparked a mutiny within me, and I started writing the wrong kind of songs for Sonata Arctica. I should have probably released a solo album at that point, to have a catharsis to clean my mind and be happier to drive Sonata Arctica in the direction we were already going instead of drifting back and forth with the following albums. It’s pr…
…Will further cemented their standing, with three of the four demo songs re-done along with six other originals, forming out to be one of the best albums of 2020. Four years later, we’re graced with The Wishing Tomb, and a loftier expectation could not be had. A smooth, scene setting intro track sets the tone, with “Timeless Ones” assuredly roaring into life, dripping with sadness and Paasela’s endearing croon. Truly one of the most underrated voi…
…have no troubles finding their way into quite a few new listeners ears with a bigger label behind them, as it truly should be. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-uw2lFaMek https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9tm-b2WCxA Suldusk on Facebook Suldusk on Instagram…
…is more difficult than composing progressive music. Anybody can do fifteen-minute-long songs, it’s easy to do this. It’s not easy to do a three-minute song which is not regimented. The world changed, and there seems to be no place anymore for big progressive new bands. Dead Rhetoric: How do you balance the music responsibilities you have with your career as well as maintaining the business side of things, plus the relationships, friends, and fami…
