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February 12th, 2024 Reviews

Durbin – Screaming Steel (Frontiers Music)

…in once again illustrates that younger artists can deliver classic, traditional heavy metal to an audience clamoring for more material beyond cranking up the oldies but goodies for the thousandth time. Screaming Steel hopefully helps get the band more touring / festival opportunities to build an even deeper, faithful following. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JY8CdVlAK7c https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jTPn7NCtPc Durbin on Facebook…

February 12th, 2024 Reviews

Illumishade – Another Side of You (Napalm)

…t the band had signed with Napalm Records as well as releasing a sophomore effort was certainly a welcome one. Another Side of You doesn’t have the same conceptual story feel as the debut, but shows them as willing and able to play around a bit with their formula while still maintaining a stunningly high bar. The ‘Disney gone metal’ vibes still offer a beautiful, ear-catching quality, as does Fabienne Erni’s enigmatic vocals, but the diverse offer…

February 9th, 2024 Reviews

Revolution Saints – Against the Winds (Frontiers Music)

…roup, the prospect of this Mark II lineup is beyond exciting! And that really jumped out at me with “Will I See You Again”! Not surprisingly, this was my favorite. This is one I keep going back to. Elsewhere there is greatness afoot with “Show Me Your Light”, the high octane “Save All That Remains”, and opener “Against the Winds.” The bottom line is this: Revolution Saints are here to stay, and let’s hope we have many more albums that I get to rev…

February 8th, 2024 Features

Infected Rain – Vehicles for Emotion

…force and Amaranthe. Then its time to prepare for summer festivals, and hopefully a really nice tour in autumn…maybe even two. We are trying to see if we can make it work. But we have a lot of shows coming up, the new album comes out in February, and a lot of music videos after that. There’s a lot going on! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7t9SspFWKA&pp=ygUNaW5mZWN0ZWQgcmFpbg%3D%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-JGQgnwpGE&pp=ygUNaW5mZWN0ZWQgcmF…

February 6th, 2024 Features

Dust Bolt – Follow Your Instincts

…look on new label AFM Records, his concerns for a younger generation to hopefully keep the metal scene alive, and future touring plans including hopefully some North American dates. Dead Rhetoric: Sound & Fury is the fifth studio album for Dust Bolt. You mentioned in the background information that after your previous album Trapped in Chaos that things were getting more complicated in your lives now that your older – plus the pandemic occurred whi…

February 5th, 2024 Reviews

EXA – Left in Shards (Self-Released)

…emon. While four years may seem like an eternity for the sophomore record Left in Shards, the pandemic probably slowed down productivity (or proper rehearsals). Continuing the DIY output including self-production duties handled by guitarist/vocalist Tom Exa, this is crisp thrash of a pristine variety – locked into many Bay Area traits while containing the right balance of fluid, sophisticated lead breaks as well as killer, musically tasty transiti…

February 4th, 2024 Features

Eternal Storm – A Rising Tide

…! Torres: As Daniel says, we will try to play live as much as possible, hopefully we can work through the busy schedules, but there will be some live shows for sure. And also we haven’t been idle all this time before the album release, and the next record is quite in an advanced stage at the moment. Not only that, but we have been working on a couple of extra things, more on the experimental side, and we hope we can share them with you relatively…

February 2nd, 2024 Reviews

Dymytry – Five Angry Men (AFM Records)

…ith no letdown across its swift 40-minute playback. The record cover probably will spark a bit of conversation (or controversy) given the anti-hero holding weapons with animals poking out in the background – yet the musical contents showcase Dymytry as an impressive quintet for those that love commercial-oriented modern metal. Five Angry Men isn’t necessary breaking the mold – more so keeping in line with a sound that may have developed stateside…

February 2nd, 2024 Reviews

In Vain – Back to Nowhere (Fighter Records)

…le the latter leans into Iron Maiden meets Blind Guardian territory musically, the vocals of guitarist Daniel Cordón forceful with the occasional melodic high note propensity to match the exciting, driving anthem components. Influences encapsulate a mix of European power, American thrash, plus classic British heavy metal aspects – often intertwined from one measure to the next, depending on the atmosphere and attitude put forth. Uplifting riffs al…

February 1st, 2024 Features

Rifforia – Ready to Destroy

…e that the offers come to us also so that we can go out there and play. Hopefully a couple of festivals during the summer and a tour later in the year. Dead Rhetoric: What do you think you’ve learned the most over the years regarding the music business having a father with such a long, vast career that he’s had? Johansson: I have learned that it’s a tough business. But it (contains) a lot of good people, a lot of music lovers. You are creating a b…

January 31st, 2024 Reviews

Night Fever – Dead End (Svart Records)

…rdcore, Night Fever with Dead End prove that they’ve lost no intensity, scrappiness, or sheer determination to shove their songwriting into tight windows of explosive madness. In the end, it’s a wonderful sound that hopefully means the next effort will be a couple of years down the road instead of making us wait ten. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ni-1QOLniKU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Jx_5i3lG7s Night Fever on Facebook…

January 31st, 2024 Reviews

Show N Tell – The Ritual Has Begun (No Remorse Records)

…ing with abandon. Then there’s the piercing high range nature of Dave vocally. It can be hit or miss depending on your preferences, as at times the screech-like screams could be nails on the chalkboard hard to handle. But you can’t deny much like Skull Fist or early Helloween, his delivery on “I’m Alive” is 100% metal, while his versatility on the Maiden-esque closer “The Second Death” could be something worth exploring a bit more in the future. S…

January 30th, 2024 Features

Selected Singles – January 2024

…he group’s roots, while showing a glimpse at how they can move forward. Hopefully we get more soon. (Ladybaby official website/Ladybaby on Instagram) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jGQXLCVFOIU PaleNe0 “aLiVE” Straddling the hard rock/metal line, Japanese act PaleNe0 manages to combine upbeat, almost pop-ish energy along with heavy riffs and even some dabblings into more extreme territory (especially the vocals). Their newest single, “aLiVE,” ca…

January 26th, 2024 Reviews

Mourning Dawn – The Foam of Despair (Aesthetic Death)

…Apex,” followed by a further foray into electronic beats in “Suzerain,” carefully layered with crunchy guitars and spoken word pieces (these are in French, so we’re unsure of the lyrical context). Definitely a stark departure from the band’s long-running doom stylings, and to some, elements such as these may be jarring, as they’re not expected. To our ears, these keep us on our proverbial toes, and as a lover of electronic music, these elements ar…

January 25th, 2024 Features

Any Given Day – Unbroken Spirits

…on compared to having just one person guest on a song. Golinski: It’s totally different than what you normally see, and that was the point. We wanted to bring both styles of both bands together in one song. We wanted to take the brutalness of Any Given Day and the quieter parts of a chorus from Annisokay, and we think it fit perfectly as it came out. People seem to feel the same, so we did it right with this collaboration. Stiller: There’s actuall…

January 24th, 2024 Reviews

Dust & Bones – Mission Back To the Forbidden Planet (El Puerto Records)

…utting away any excess to push the best foot forward track by track. Probably the larger cult appeal of Dust & Bones lies in their home country to extend possibly into other European countries – as Mission Back to the Forbidden Planet contains adequate performances through catchy hooks yet is very familiar to those who love the stripped down, bluesy / punk-oriented heaviness on display. Kudos though to the space-oriented, astronaut filled illustra…

January 23rd, 2024 Features

Saxon – Hurling Fire and Steel

…are a great band, and a really big influence on us. I used to go see them before we were really anything. They’ve been making albums a lot longer than we have, their first album I think was back in 1969. They are looked upon as a 70s band really, whereas we are looked upon as an 80s band. Musically, it’s a generational difference. I think it’s a great package for the fans because they can see the legacy of the music being played live. Dead Rhetori…

January 21st, 2024 Features

Advocacy – Perseverance Through Decoherence

…n’t that technical of a guitarist. I knew what limitations I had both vocally and musically at the time. This sounds like me, and that was very clear, but it has changed through the years from the band it was then to the band we are now. I’ve developed myself as a musician. Dead Rhetoric: The Path of Decoherence is the latest studio album for the band. What can you tell us about the songwriting and recording sessions for this effort? Where do you…

January 18th, 2024 Features

Dissimulator – A Lower Form of Resistance

…That’s where the inspiration comes from, I like the whole vibe aesthetically, references to other movies or shows like Blade Runner. It’s a cool sounding board. Dead Rhetoric: How did the cover art concept come about with artist Jesse Draxler? It’s definitely not conventional and can be as equally as thought-provoking as what you display with the contents of the record musically… Leduc: I had this idea. I didn’t know how I was going to do it. You…

January 17th, 2024 Reviews

Metalite – Expedition One (AFM Records)

…en along with. 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…

January 15th, 2024 Reviews

Not Secured, Loose Ends – Ouroarboros (codomomental inc)

…Ouroarboros is an interesting one, taking old songs and giving them not only English lyrics but entirely reworking them. The songs are still recognizable, but this far from a case of a mere re-recording of older tracks. With that fresh imbuing of mostly new members singing, the reworked arrangements, and English lyrics, it gives more than enough reason for older fans to revisit the group’s rebirth, as well as an excellent starting point for newco…

January 9th, 2024 Features

Rome In Monochrome – Pushing Ego Out of the Equation

…en it coming, I knew it, but I am starting to see the Matrix alive, and I definitely don’t like it. I don’t want to be in a world where reality is hard to define and where discerning truth from lie is our fucking day job. Life is about sharing feelings and connections and, if we lose it, what does our lives amount to? The best change for the greater good of all would be in the direction of feelings but I don’t know if we are losing them these days…

January 8th, 2024 Reviews

Bull of Apis Bull of Bronze – The Fractal Ouroboros (Fiadh Productions)

…g. “Our Overt Apocalypse” has a similar scope, though constructed differently to no less effect, with the song beginning slowly and traversing back and forth between methodical riffs and concurrent sobering soundscapes. Finale “Ekstasis, Enstasis, and the Fractal Ouroboros” is a clinic in songwriting and guitar dexterity, smoothly ebbing and flowing to an eerie conclusion. This album is a challenging listen, but those up to it will absolutely reap…

January 7th, 2024 Features

Exit Eden – Breaking the Mold

…ere able to send him ideas and he worked on them with us or for us. He really understands the concept really well. It was great to get the original concepts together and just to see what we would choose. Dead Rhetoric: Did it seem like a natural progression to write original songs to go along with the covers? It seemed that there was also a want to write songs within the band before. Brunner: Yes, I would say so. We do love to put ourselves into a…

January 5th, 2024 Reviews

The Grandmaster – Black Sun (Frontiers Music)

…ynchronicity between the guitars, keyboards, and bass while the drum work deftly moves between power, groove, and progressive measures as Per unleashes more of his multi-octave vocal prowess. Resolute in its melodic metal stance, Black Sun isn’t exactly going to turn the world ablaze in terms of its approach. The Grandmaster delivers an interesting mix of modern meets power songwriting, adding in a flair for dramatic soundscapes to polish off thei…

January 4th, 2024 Features

Daniel Barkasi Best-of 2023

…, but the proof is in the Spätzle – The Black Stream is undeniable, and hopefully Night in Gales gains the reverence they’ve earned. Continue on to page 2 for my top 15 songs of the year, a bunch of honorable mentions, show of the year, label of the year, and finally some musings on the new year. We’re expanding the top songs list to 15 this year. Why? Because we can, and I like adding up to an even number. That, and with there just being so damn…

January 3rd, 2024 Reviews

Alluvial – Death is But a Door (Nuclear Blast)

…initiation for those who may have missed the band’s earlier efforts as it effectively pushes each direction to the next level. Given that there’s only four songs on Death is But a Door, it’s unsurprising but quite cool that each song has it’s own vibe. Opener “Bog Dweller” starts with some big death metal riffing and groovy mid-tempo crunch. The riffs are meaty and potent for the band’s sound, and operate in that sweet spot of just enough melody…

January 2nd, 2024 Features

Striker – Rev Up With Ultrapower

…tickets – holy smokes. The barrier of entry to get on tour is so high, hopefully that can stabilize itself or else it will be a lot harder for bands to tour in general. We will see. Where there is a will, there’s a way. Bands will still tour, they will just figure it out. Dead Rhetoric: You also have a love for 80’s LA/Sunset Strip bands – what are some of the guilty pleasures or underrated bands from that era that you believe people need to do a…

December 29th, 2023 Reviews

At the Plates – Omnivore (Self-Released)

…longer tracks, such as “Terminal Filet Disease,” by taking the time to carefully build up some mood into the track, keeping melody at the forefront as they escalate it into greater intensity. Omnivore happily pays homage to some of the death metal greats in fun ways, but it more than stands up on its own merit. At the Plates’ second full-length offering is a road map to how fine death metal should be crafted, and leaves you with a feeling of ‘dam…

December 28th, 2023 Concert Reviews

Katatonia / Gost – December 9, 2023 – Level 13, Orlando, FL

…synth back and forth, while ritualistically interacting with a pentacle carefully laid out on the ground. Ominous and infectious, Gost brings a liveliness along with their trance-inducing aural landscapes that combine to form quite the potent wallop. The gothic touches of “Blessed Be” and “Coven” from Rites of Love and Reverence, along with Gost’s seldom utilized bellowing clean vocal delivery, were a well-placed change of pace that the crowd was…