REVIEWS AUGUST 2024
«July | Index | September»Fast Eddie Clarke: Make my Day - The Rock 'n' Roll Story Of Fast Eddie Clarke
BMG on Sept. 6 - 4CD/Book Box Set, DigitalThis collection celebrates the late guitarist Fast Eddie Clarke (born Edward Allan Clarke - 1950-2018), who played with bands like MOTÖRHEAD, FASTWAY and UFO among others. This is a career retrospective, which also includes a 320-page book written by veteran rock journalist Kris Needs with Clarke's widow Mariko Fujiwara.
That this will be an interesting adventure is pretty clear already from the beginning, as it begins with a psychedelic heavy rocker that last for 8 and a half minutes. But there's also some pure rockers in the good old school. On the first disc we get songs from his early years with bands like CONTINUOUS PERFORMANCE and MUGGERS. Pretty good stuff, but nothing special to be honest.
On disc 2 it's all in on his years with MOTÖRHEAD, where Eddie played guitar between 1976-1982. And it's not just the classics, but also demo recordings for the "Bomber" album. We also get the chance to hear Eddie singing on 3 songs here: "Step Down", "Emergency" and "Stone Dead Forever". This is without a doubt the most explosive disc in this box, and it all sounds very good.
Disc 3 is pretty explosive too. Here we have recordings from his years with FASTWAY, which he formed together with UFO bassist Pete Way after he had left MOTÖRHEAD in 1982. But there's also 2 recordings from a demo with Pete Way. Really good sftuff here too, and nice to hear the song "All Fired Up" again, which I have not heard since the 80s. That song deserve more attention, and should be a classic. But there's of course more candy to discover here.
And the last disc here gives us a taste of his solo career. The first songs are collaborations with MOTÖRHEAD as far as I can hear, but with Eddie on vocals on 1 of the songs. Some songs here reminds me of a more energetic Ace Frehley (KISS), while other songs are pure blues numbers. I like the MOTÖRHEAD songs and the hard rock songs best here, but the blues rockers are not so bad either.
Well, this box is definitely worth checking out and a must-have for fans of Fast Eddie Clarke - No doubt about that.
motorhead.lnk.to/fasteddiemakemyday | facebook.com/fasteddieclarke10
SKID ROW: Piece Of Me
earMUSIC - Digital SingleThis is the second single from the upcoming live album/concert film "Live In London", which will be released on September 20. And "Piece Of Me" is a song from SKID ROW's classic debut album, which I guess is seen by most fans as their best moment ever. The band deliver with energy and passion, and Erik Grönwall show us all that he can sing just as good as Sebastian Bach did in the early days. I have no doubts that the new live release will be a excellent experience. But while you wait for that, you should check out this single.
youtu.be/-li-_GwpBiM | skidrow.com
SKARLETT RIOT: Luminate
Despotz Records - Digital SingleUK modern metal quartet SKARLETT RIOT gives us a new single, which is taken from their new album, "Caelestia", which will be released on October 25.
They have previously shown us that they can be really powerful and have a damn good singer, and that they are very good at making great songs. Lately I have not been so impressed though, as the latest singles have been softer and weaker than what I'm used to hear from them. So I got a little dissapointed actually. But if that's what they want to do, who am I to judge?
This new single might be a little better at least. It has a soft and melodic verse and a more powerful chorus. So it's almost like a power ballad, but not really. Worth listening to anyway, so there's still some hope I guess.
youtu.be/Fqgpbv3VfLQ?si=SjkK8ak--RdXdH6M | despotz.bigcartel.com/artist/skarlett-riot | despotz.se | facebook.com/skarlettriotuk
The HELLACOPTERS
Concert at Kungstorget in Göteborg, Sweden on Aug. 30, 2024I have not seen The HELLACOPTERS live in many years, so it was really about time. And now they just happened to play at Göteborgs Kulturkalas (city festival that last for a week in Gothenburg), which means free entrance (the bus from Borås and back is not exactly cheap though), so I had to go.
Well, when they began to play, I sat at a restaurant and didn't see shit because of all people. But when the beer was finished I left for the concert area instead, and succeeded to get closer to the stage. The band seemed to be really on fire and delivered a good show with songs from their whole career, which means many of my favorites. They played for something like 1 hour and 50 minutes, and it was really good, just as I wanted it to be. And there's not much else to add there..
SAVAGE EXISTENCE: Killing In The Name
King2Music Records on Aug. 30 - Digital SingleFrom Costa Rica comes this metal band, and they have done a cover of the RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE classic "Killing In The Name". It's the second single from their upcoming album, "Bright Lights", which will be released on September 27.
It's a groove metal infused version that they have made, with elements of Southern rock, heavy vocals and melodic interludes. It might not be as explosive as the original version, but yet it's very powerful and absolutely not bad at all.
SAVAGE EXISTENCE was formed by 2 Canadian musicians in 2020, and if I get it right, they has released 2 albums so far.
king2music.com
DOULOS: Bellum
Rottweiler Records on Aug. 30 - Digital SingleDOULOS are based in Riverside, Southern California. They play a heavier kind of hardcore, built on muscular riffs and impassioned vocals. And this song is really fat and heavy, and hardly something for those who want fast hardcore. Yet it's a pretty good song, but actually not much else than that.
I don't know much about this band, but they have at least released a EP in 2021 and their full-length debut in 2023. So if you like this song, then you have some more to check out.
instagram.com/doulosxhc | rottweilerrecords.com
HAMULEC: Stos
Hamulec - Digital SingleHAMULEC is a Polish band that play thrash punk, with influences from legends like ANTHRAX, VENOM and SLAYER, as well as old school punk from their homeland. The band formed in 2018, and released their debut single, "Generacja", in 2020. With nearly 1 million streams on Spotify and lots of followers on social media pages, they seems to be one of the fastest-growing metal artists in Poland.
This is a hard and heavy, but yet energetic little song. Pretty o.k., but honestly not much else to tell you the truth. So why they are so popular is a mystery for me. But I guess they might have better songs than this?
youtube.com/watch?v=cRNbr4Jq6m4 | instagram.com/hamulec_b
FREYA: Blood Thirst
Upstate Records - Digital SingleFREYA hailing from Syracuse, USA and are veterans in the hardcore/metal scene. They have just released a powerful new single, where they blend hardcore intensity with thrash metal fury. It's a straightforward anthem that will fit perfect for both hardcore and metal fans. It has the typical aggressive vocals and the gang choirs, as well as the metal guitars. Hard and heavy stuff.
bfan.link/blood-thirst | upstaterecordsny.com | linktr.ee/freyaband315
Filippa Nässil: Mount Shasta
Despotz Records - Digital Single
Well, this song is at least in English, but once again a soft song and still not the blues rock that I expected to hear. I want some more action, and not some laidback lullabies. A new album with her band THUNDERMOTHER would be more interesting (but they will deliver a new single soon anyway). But that's just my opinion of course.
THUNDERMOTHER leader/guitarist Filippa Nässil will release her solo debut album, "American Diaries", in the fall. The album will contain both English and Swedish versions of all the tracks. "Mount Shasta" is the second single.
despotz.bigcartel.com/artist/filippa-nassil | facebook.com/nassilrocks | despotz.se
RAT BOY: She's The One
Hellcat - Digital SingleThis time these British boys deliver a catchy ska song. It's another song taken from their new album, "Suburbia Calling", which will be released on October 4. I have heard a few singles from that album now, and I begin to think that it can be a really interesting album.
These guys blend punk rock, ska and hip-hop, and I like all genres but the last. "She's The One" is free from hip-hop anyway, and I really like it, even though it's a love song.
youtu.be/KulwB0kXXf0
THUNDERBIRD DIVINE: Little Wars
Black Doomba Records on Aug. 30These 4 guys came together in March 2017, and hailing from Philadelphia. The idea was to create some riff-heavy psychedelic/stoner/doom in the spirit of artists like MONSTER MAGNET, HAWKWIND, FLOWER TRAVELLIN' BAND, MC5, GRAND FUNK RAILROAD and similar acts. But THUNDERBIRD DIVINE are not afraid to add elements of other genres to their heavy rock sound. No instrument or style is off limits for this group. And that may sound wild and crazy, but fact is that this doesn't sound so wild and crazy at all. In the end it's a party for every fan of heavy rock music, and especially stoner rock and heavy psych. So I'm pretty sure that if you like that, then you will like this album too, because it's a really strong material with lots of good songs that they have created here.
facebook.com/thunderbirddivine | facebook.com/blackdoombarecords
ELDER: Live At BBC Maida Vale Studios
Stickman Records on Aug. 30 - LP, CD, DigitalThat psychedelic rock and heavy rock goes hand in hand is hardly something new. This band also add progressive rock to that, which isn't anything new either. But it doesn't always have to be so new and unique.
ELDER gives us 3 pretty long songs, that are between 9:21 and 15:34 minutes. The recording took place at BBC Maida Vale Studios, as the title says, and that happened in August 2023. It was broadcast on Radio 1 Rock Show, but will now also be available in several formats for everybody to listen to.
And listening to this is a little like a musical adventure, with long instrumental parts. But it definitely works if you're in the right mood for this kind of music. And these people seems to be very good at what they are doing, which is often enough to make fans of progressive rock interested. But psych rockers and heavy rockers will probably like this too, without a doubt.
stickman-records.com/shop/elder-bbc | beholdtheelder.bandcamp.com
DENY: Call Of The Void
DiSTAT Records on Aug. 30 - Digital EPSwedish hardcore/punk band DENY have been active for many years now. They formed back in 1995, and I have reviewed some of their stuff before. After the release of their album "Wildfire" last year and a tour in Mexico in May this year, they will now release a new 4-track EP.
And what can I say about this then? It's hardly like they are trying to reinvent the genre with any new elements, but rather the same old school hardcore/punk as they use to play. But in this case we don't want any new ideas, who probably just would destroy the experience anyway. So just sit back and enjoy the ride.
As the songs are short - just 53 seconds to 2:17 minutes - this is over pretty fast. Almost too fast actually as it's not bad at all.
deny.nu | facebook.com/DistatRecords
DELIVER THE GALAXY: Bury Your Gods
Massacre Records on Aug. 30 - CD, LP, DigitalDELIVER THE GALAXY hailing from the Harz region in Germany, and "Bury Your Gods" is the third studio album by these melodic death metallers. The album delves deep into the world of pre-astronautics, introducing the idea that humanity is not alone in the universe. It discusses the thesis that an alien race visited earth during the time of the ancient Sumerians and shared their knowledge and technology of various pyramid constructions. Compared to the previous releases, the band has adopted a heavier sound, but it's still an intense experience.
Well, this is absolutely not bad at all. There's lots of good stuff to discover among these 13 tracks. And I think I don't have to describe the sound, as you probably already know what melodic death metal sounds like. And it's not like this band is doing anything unique, but I'm pretty sure that every fan of the genre will like what they hear anyway.
lnk.to/massacrerecords | deliverthegalaxy.com
AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS: Chewing Gum
Matador Records - Digital Single
It's 3 years since Australian punk rockers AMYL AND THE SNIFFERS released their last album, but they will now release their third studio album, "Cartoon Darkness", on October 25 via Rough Trade Records. And that's really good news, as this is a damn good band, even if I wasn't so impressed by their last single, "U Should Not Be Doing That". This song was much better though, so there's still hope that they might have made another great album.
"Chewing Gum" is catchy but not the most energetic they have made, yet a very nice song.
youtu.be/DxOMGj8P2hY
ECLIPSE: Still My Hero
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - Digital SingleIf you're a fan of melodic hard rock from Sweden, then you should already know this band. Otherwise it',s really about time that you discover them now. Because this is one of the best bands in this genre right now, even though I have heard much stronger songs than this latest single. It's absolutely not bad, but unfortunately it has that touch of modern pop that I don't really like. On the other hand, a weaker song with ECLIPSE is not the same as a bad song, so I guess they get away with it.
"Still My Hero" is taken from the upcoming album, "Megolomanium II", which will be released on September 20. And that's really something to look forward to. Because a new album with ECLIPSE is always exiting.
youtu.be/rvpzqRHOIfk
MAGNOLIA PARK: The Void
Epitaph Records - Digital SingleI would guess that they want to call this mix of nu metal, hip-hop and hard rock metalcore. But I would almost like to call it pop metal instead. Some parts are hard and heavy, but we also have more soft and melodic parts as well. Yet it's not completely hopeless. I'm pretty sure that I have heard much worse songs with this Orlando band. But if you happens to like modern stuff like this, then don't listen to me, because what do I really know about this?
youtu.be/fe3h9-XQOdc
TEMPLE WITCH: Ocean Thousand, Mountain Thousand
Wormholedeath Records on Aug. 30 - Digital AlbumThis is probably best described as more heavy than fun, because this was actually a little boring to listen to after a while. But I guess they are pretty good at what they are doing anyway, so if you think experimental doom metal sounds interesting, then I guess you could give this a chance. Inspiration for these songs is said to come from bands like SubRosa, BLEAKHEART, YOB and SPOTLIGHTS, among others. Not any bands that I use to listen to.
The album confronts personal loss, desperate confusion and loneliness, and discusses change and the growth that comes as a result. Conceptually, the band was inspired by ancient philosophies, such as Taoism and Stoicism, and their daily application.
TEMPLE WITCH was born during the pandemic, and released their debut album, "Hand In Hand With Chaos", in June 2021.
linktr.ee/templewitch | wormholedeath.com
REZET: Rezet
Violent Creek Records on Aug. 30 - LP, CD, DigitalEven if this album is self-titled, it's the 6th studio album from this northern German speed/thrash metal band. It's adrenaline-fueled and full of heavy riffs. Simply a speed/thrash metal attack in the good old school. The only thing that I don't like here is the piano intro. But otherwise just great stuff all the way. You should really check out this album, because it's very strong (both musically and the songs).
This album marks a new chapter for REZET, with the addition of 2 new members: guitarist Nikolay Atanasov (AGENT STEEL) and bassist Lorenz Kandolf (TRAITOR). This seems to have given the band some new energy.
youtu.be/wXyKZl9WAaA | /bfan.link/rezet | rezet.de
Tuk Smith & The RESTLESS HEARTS: Rogue To Redemption
Gypsy Rose Records on Aug. 30 - CD, LP, DigitalIf I get it right, Tuk Smith is a punk from rural Georgia, which is now based in Nashville. He has been frontman for BITERS, and is also a producer. Tuk Smith & The RESTLESS HEARTS is his solo project, which has nothing to do with punk.
I guess that this could be something for fans of the more melodic stuff with BON JOVI and ENUFF Z'NUFF, but also fans of artists like Bruce Springsteen and Bryan Adams. It's in other words a catchy and melodic kind of American summer rock that we get here. But it's said to be a mix of THIN LIZZY, 90s power pop and melody-driven punk.
"Rogue To Redemption" is his second album. His first album, "Ballad Of A Misspent Youth", came out in 2022.
NIGHTHAWK: Vampire Blues
Pride & Joy Music on Aug. 30 - CD"Vampire Blues" is the third album from this Swedish hard rock band, which was formed by bass player Robert Majd (METALITE, CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD) as a project where he got to play some guitar and work with different musicians. This time he has teamed up with Linnea Vikström (THUNDERMOTHER) on vocals, Robban Eriksson (The HELLACOPTERS) and Peter Hermansson (220 VOLT) on drums, Nalle Påhlsson (TREAT) on bass and Richard Hamilton (HOUSTON) on keyboards. So we talk about a Swedish supergroup more or less. And do they deliver? Man, if you only knew how great this album is!
You could almost see this as an old compilation LP, as there's many different songs here. But it doesn't really matter in what direction they go, because all songs are fantastic. And except for their own original songs, we also get 2 covers: "S.O.S (Too Bad)" by AEROSMITH and Sam & Dave's "Hold It Baby" (featuring Danny Hynes from WEAPON).
The energy is mainly really high, and some of these songs could almost go as action rock. But there's also lots of passion and soul in these songs. This album is a must in your collection! And especially if you like to party, because I'm pretty sure that everybody will love this album if you play it for your friends.
youtu.be/UDEbQSr4ON0 | facebook.com/atlantisdrivemusic | prideandjoy.de
CONSTANCIA: IV Evermore
Pride & Joy Music on Aug. 30 - CDSwedish band CONSTANCIA was formed in 2007 by former TOKEN keyboardist Mikael Rosengren. He got in touch with guitarist Janne Stark (OVERDRIVE, GRAND DESIGN, LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, Merryweather Stark etc), who liked the songs and joined the band. Peter "TrumPeter" Svensson (MERCY, FAITH, OVERHEAT, LOCOMOTIVE BREATH, MOUNTAIN OF POWER) came in on drums, and the band was completed with bass player Michael Müller (JADED HEART) and singer David Fremberg (ANDROMEDA). The band's debut album, "Lost And Gone", was released in 2009.
It has often taken a few years between each album, and there have been a few changes in the lineup (the singer and the bassist has left the band), but we have now come to their 4th album. This time it's just 3 years since their last album, "Brave New World" (2021), was released. And the singer on that album, Pete Godfrey (IN FAITH, BLOOD RED SAINTS), is still with them on this new album.
CONSTANCIA label their music as "melogressive hard rock". Which means that it's melodic, but also progressive and aggressive. And this time it's said that they have taken it all up to a higher level, with an even more aggressive punch and some heavier riffs, yet maintaining the melodies and hooks.
Well, it sounds good anyway, there's no doubt about that. I would guess that people who are into both melodic hard rock and melodic metal will like this. But it's not impossible that fans of progressive rock and metal will like this too.
youtu.be/AKDV60XjNms | constancia.se | prideandjoy.de
The MERINGUES: Royalty
The Meringues - Digital SingleThe latest single with Canadian band The MERINGUES is a very catchy punk rock/power pop song in the old school that I really like. So I can really recomend you to check it out if that sounds like something that you would like. And there's not much else I can say about that..
The song is taken from their upcoming album, "Pavlova's Dog", which will be released on September 16, where they blend in elements of post-punk, alt-rock and new-wave.
youtu.be/AziDpNmH8Ow?si=v673qrD70k84-mq6 | themeringues.com
The TROUSERS: Pretty Vacant
The Trousers - Digital SingleHungarian garage rockers The TROUSERS are doing a cover of the SEX PISTOLS classic "Pretty Vacant", and it's absolutely not bad. The song is taken from their new covers EP, "Garage Nights Revisited", which was released earlier this month. Fun to listen to a few times, but probably soon forgotten. And that's all I have to say about that..
The TROUSERS formed in 2005, and has delivered 6 studio albums.
wmmd.lnk.to/TheTrousers_GarageNightsRevisited | thetrousersband.com
CHROMEDUST, BLUFF CREEK and DOWNPOUR CITY
Concert at Stadsparken in Borås, Sweden on Aug. 24, 20243 local rock bands were playing in the afternoon at the city park. No entrence and all ages.
DOWNPOUR CITY was the first band, and they played some kind of rock, which is the best description I can give you. It was honestly not so good, even though it seemed to have potential at least. Maybe with a other singer, because for some reason I think his voice didn't really fit in. But in their defense it can be said that their bassist was sick, so they had to borrow a guy from a other band, and he had never heard the songs before. Not until they rehearsed about 1 and a half hour earlier at least. To play 2 slow songs in a row wasn't such a good idea. Those 2 was their most boring songs.
Next band was BLUFF CREEK, and they was much better. Some kind of stoner rock and sometimes grunge/alternative rock. Rock and metal with heavy guitars anyway, or heavy hard rock as we say in Sweden. Why have I never heard about this band before? I think they said something about an album on Spotify or something like that, so if you like to use that, then you should really give these guys a try.
CHROMEDUST have had a hitaus for 5-6 years now, and features the frontman from EXIT STAGE LEFT. They used to play a lot, and I saw them a few times. Now they decided to do a reunion show, but I don't know if there will be more. Anyway, what they play is some kind of American classic rock, both covers and their own original material. And this must be the best show I have seen with them, so I guess that hiatus was not so bad as it gave them some extra hunger for rock. Good stuff.
CULT OF ORPIST: Attack Of The Zombie Cans
Brutal Records on Aug. 30 - CD, DigitalCULT OF ORPIST hailing from Greece, and released a self-titled EP in 2022. Now the time has come for their full-length debut, "Attack Of The Zombie Cans", where we get a dose of death/thrash metal that will attack all your senses. It's raw and aggressive, and will probably make you bang your head like a maniac. Because this is not extremely brutal, so it's pretty catchy as well. I like what I hear, because this is really good and therfor worth checking out.
linktr.ee/brutalrecords.official
BROTHERS OF METAL: Nanna's Fate
AFM Records - Digital SingleNovember 1 will see Swedish metal vikings BROTHERS OF METAL release their new album, "Fimbulvinter". "Nanna's Fate" is one of the songs from that album. And this wasn's so hot, as it's actually a power ballad. But it has a really big chorus anyway, and that's always something. But I expected some good old heavy/power metal instead, and not this. It's 2024 and not 1984, so you won't get a hit anyway. Could still be worth a try for those who like power ballads though.
BROTHERS OF METAL will be on tour in Europe in November.
brothersofmetal.bfan.link/nanna-s-fate | shop.afm-records.de/brothers-of-metal | facebook.com/brothersofmetalofficial
FALLING IN REVERSE: Popular Monster
Epitaph Records - LP, CD, DigitalWell, it's not so hard to figure out that this band is something for a younger generation than mine (many of these songs would actually have fit better for my former neighbour, who had really bad taste in music, and obviously a hearing problem as I could hear that shit through the wall). These guys often blend in hip-hop in their modern rock, which I'm not a fan of, unless it's the old school or mixed with metal. Sometimes there's a metal outburst, and then it sounds much better.
Not much here might satisfy my taste, but a more catchy and melodic thing like "All My Life" was not so bad anyway. And then we suddenly have a harder hardcore/metal song like "Ronald", which was not so bad either. So this is not completely hopeless anyway, even though most of the other material is much weaker, as they always have to destroy the songs with that stupid hip-hop that I don't like. The worst song must be the opening track, "Prequel", which is more or less modern hip-hop. Songs like "Zombified" and "No Fear" are also useless hip-hop shit.
And who's the pounder on the album cover? I hate that he's starring at me. Very irritating.
epitaph.com
PRECURSOR: Thick & Thin
Gold Stock Records - LP, DigitalVancouver band PRECURSOR seems to be stuck in the 90s skate punk/melodic punk rock. Because this sounds exactly like many of the bands from that time. They are said to blend punk, skate punk, softcore, melodic hardcore and pop punk influences. It's very melodic, but at the same time energetic. And even though they sounds like a hundred other bands, this is just as good as any other 90s band in this genre, so it could of course be worth a try if you like that.
I don't really know what else I should say, as you should have a pretty good picture of their sound by now.
youtube.com/watch?v=9EoA8dL0erM | precursor604.bandcamp.com/album/thick-thin-2
STRUCK A NERVE: Inside The Torture Fortress
Struck A Nerve - Digital SingleUK thrashers STRUCK A NERVE has released their second single. And this time they wanted to show their heavier side, as they also love death metal and hardcore, and wanted to bring some OBITUARY inspired stuff to the table. The lyrics deal with a notorious Uzbek prison called Jaslyk - a horrific place that was the site of massive and extreme human right abuses, and was operating until fairly recently.
Yes, heavy it is, but also very good. So a song worth checking out if you like heavier thrash in the old school.
distrokid.com/hyperfollow/struckanerve/inside-the-torture-fortress
MANDY MANALA: Mandy Manala
Mandy Manala - CassetteSo, I got a cassette from Finland with no other information than a story about an old witch named Amanda Von Treiss, who was tortured and burned back in 1563 in southern Germany. But as she died, she was left in limbo and suffered in hundred of years. One day she got saved by a shadow, which was the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If she could withstand all 9 circles of hell, she would gain the right to resurrection and the chance of vengeance on those who done her wrong. She succeeded and entered another form in the year 2024, and decided to call herself Mandy Manala.
So what about the music then? Well, it's some kind of occult retro hard rock/heavy metal that sounds really good. Actually so good that I had to Google the name so that you can listen to them too - But zero, nada, nothing! So how you are going to get your hands on a copy of this cassette is a very good question, because I don't even have any contact information.
You are really missing something here, that's for sure. Because this band is doing everything right. They really know how to make great hard rock/heavy metal songs in the old school, and the sound quality is extremely good. It's loud and clear, so this is not just a demo tape, but seems to be a professional recording. And that just makes it even more mysterious..
Well, I'm very glad that I got a copy at least, because this is brilliant. They should really promote themselves better, so that more people can hear them.
BLUE ÖYSTER CULT: 50th Anniversary Live - Second Night
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - 3LP, CD/DVD, Blu-ray, 2CD/DVD/3LP, Blu-ray/3LP, 2CD/DVD/Blu-ray/3LP, DigitalBLUE ÖYSTER CULT celebrated their 50th Anniversary with a very special set of 3 sold out shows in a row in September 2022 at Sony Hall in New York City. Each show featured the band playing in its entirety 1 of their first 3 albums ("Blue Oyster Cult", "Tyranny And Mutation" and "Secret Treaties"), followed by a set of deep cuts and classics from their other albums.
The first night was released in late 2023, and now the second night has been released in several formats, where they performed the second album, "Tyranny And Mutation". And with the deep cuts and classics, we get almost 2 hours of music here. But most of it is really good stuff, so this is a great album. I would guess that this is mainly something for the hardcore fans though.
BLUE ÖYSTER CULT must be one of the bands that has released the most live albums. I'm not really sure how many there is, but there's a lot anyway, and there will be more. Other classic bands that has released lots of live albums are DEEP PURPLE and MOTÖRHEAD for example.
youtube.com/watch?v=aZozYncl6oA | ffm.to/boc50thsecondnight | facebook.com/blueoystercult
Jim Peterik & WORLD STAGE: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - CD, DigitalThis is a concept rooted in musical and spiritual collaborations among artists and friends. This time Jim has collaborated with people like Mike Reno, Jason Scheff, Toby Hitchcock, Cathy Richardson (JEFFERSON STARSHIP), and Neil Donnell (CHICAGO), Sophia Sheth, Kevin Farris, Marc Scherer and Dave Mikulskis, as well as The IDES OF MARCH. Both old and new names.
The music that we get here is pretty kind melodic rock/AOR in the classic league. It sounds good until the second half of the album, where they seems to lose it completely by playing some soft crap that sounds more like country and pop to me - Totally useless! But otherwise no problem.
I would guess that this could be something for fans of the softer stuff with classic acts like TOTO, CHICAGO and similar stuff.
youtu.be/Qe29CM9057U | ffm.to/jimpeterikworldstage | facebook.com/officialjimpeterik
SILVERA: World Behind Doors
Mighty Music on Aug. 23 - LP, CD, DigitalThis kind of modern hard rock is absolutely not my thing. There's too many soft songs that sounds like pop to me. This Danish band might not be the worst case, but it doesn't give me that much to listen to this. I'm pretty sure that they are doing a really good job though. So if you're into this kind of stuff, then give them a try and don't listen to me.
SILVERA is a Danish band, and their debut album, "Edge Of The World", was released in 2020. "World Behind Doors" is their second album, and I guess it could be something for fans of VOLBEAT, NICKLEBACK, ALTER BRIDGE and similar stuff. There's also collaborations with DREAMSHADE and Guarnica Mancini (The GEMS, ex-THUNDERMOTHER) on this album.
bit.ly/slvr-tgt | silvera.dk | mightymusic.dk
EARTH LUX: Earth Lux
Metalville Records on Aug. 23 - CDEARTH LUX is a new band, formed by French composer/singer/multi-instrumentalist Steph Honde and Brazilian composer/drummer Fred Mika. They have previously worked together in a band called SUNROAD. Among the other people on this album are German singer/composer/producer/multi-instrumentalist Michael Voss (MSG, MAD MAX, CASANOVA) on bass guitar, British musician/producer Steve Mann (ELOY LIONHEART, MSG) on keyboards, and American composer/singer/bassist Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen, RING OF FIRE, Uli Jon Roth) on vocals.
With this new band, they aim at melodic hard rock with 70s influences. It's heavy and catchy, and the songs are really strong and powerful. There's absolutley nothing to complain about when it comes to this band's music, so you should really give them a try.
I don't really know what I should compare them with though. But for some reason I often think of SCORPIONS in the 70s and early 80s when I listen to this. Not sure why as they don't exactly sound like them.
metalville.de
THROWE/SLOEVSIND: Splittelse
Vinyltroll Records on Aug. 23 - LP2 Danish hardcore bands has teamed up for a split record, THROWE and SLOEVSIND. But to just call it hardcore is not enough, as this is so dark and intense that I almost want to call it blackened hardcore instead. But I go with dark hardcore/metal.
THROWE describe their style as "pitch-black psychological hardcore", and all their lyrics are in Danish. This is their follow-up to the 2022 release "Forfald".
SLOEVSIND makes their debut here. They play a dark and metallic hardcore, and they sing in English.
"Splittelse" is described as "an intense experience and a sonic journey that explores the darkest parts of the human mind and emotions". But even though it's dark, it's also really raw and full of energy, as well as angry and heavy. I have heard both better and worse, but you should give it a try at least.
throweband.bandcamp.com | facebook.com/sloevsind | facebook.com/vinyltrollrecords
TRANSPORT LEAGUE: Unkill Crash
Black Lodge Records - Digital Single"Unkill Crash" is taken from the upcoming album, "We Are Satan's People", which will be released on October 4. And this is a powerful song that show us all that these Swedish groove metal veterans are definitely back again after a 3-year hiatus. Check this out and enjoy the ride is my advice. And there's not much else to say there..
youtu.be/IPSCu9f1-XQ | orcd.co/we-are-satans-people | facebook.com/transportleague | blacklodge.se
The LINDA LINDAS: Yo Me Estreso
Epitaph Records - Digital SingleSo, another single with these LA girls, and it features no other than Weird Al Yankovic on accordion. It's taken from the new album, "No Obligation", which will be released on October 11. And once again I get a little dissapointed, as this is another song that is far away from as good as the songs on their debut album, "Growing Up" (2022), was. So I'm sorry, but I think the second album will be a big dissapointment actually. I have of course heard a lot worse though, so it's not totally hopeless.
I guess we can call this alternative pop punk/power pop, and the song is in Spanish.
youtu.be/jo0Z-P_87_A
ALL FOR METAL: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
Reigning Phoenix Music on Aug. 23 - CD, LPThis is the second album with ALL FOR METAL. They play a epic kind of heavy/power metal. It's powerful and melodic, sometimes with symphonic or even Asian elements, which makes it majestic. The songs are simply big and strong, and I would guess that this could be something for fans of bands like POWERWOLF, RHAPSODY OF FIRE, DREAM EVIL and similar acts. Catchy anthems done with lots of passion is what you can expect from this band.
When it comes to the lyrical theme on this album, there's a fascination for Japanese myths and legends (in Japan 2024 is the year of the dragon). In at least a couple of songs here, it's Scandinavian myths and legends instead.
ALL FOR METAL was formed in 2022 by their love for classic heavy metal. The debut album, "Legends", came out in 2023. And if you like this new album, then you should check out the first album too, because it's also very good.
youtu.be/5A04DZNtH-w | allformetal.com | reigningphoenixmusic.com
BÖDEL: Grisarna Och Snuten
DiSTAT Records - Digital SingleThis is a heavier song with our new crust punk favourites, but just as good as anything else they have done so far. The song is taken from their new EP, "Välkommen Till Avrättningen", which is released digitally today (Aug. 16). It will also be released as a 7" vinyl in the fall.
I have already been writing about the band in my previous reviews, so if you want to know more, read one of those. But let's just say that if you miss the Scandinavian crust punk from the 90s, then you should really check out this band.
youtube.com/watch?v=SpMUDi3GbVU | instagram.com/bodel_hardcorepunk | facebook.com/DistatRecords
DINOSAUR JR.: Show
Jagjaguwar - Digital SingleToday (Friday, Aug. 16), these veterans release a 15th anniversary expanded reissue of their seminal second post-reunion album, "Farm", originally released in 2009. This expanded deluxe edition of the album features 4 songs never pressed to vinyl and never given worldwide release before, and "Show" is one of these 4.
This is a pretty short and weird song, that just last for a minute. Not really sure what's the point with this song, and why they release it as a single. It's like they try to combine punk and experimental/psychedelic parts, and the result is very confusing. But I guess you have to give this odd little song a few chances.
dinosaur-jr.lnk.to/Show | dinosaur-jr.lnk.to/Farm-15th-Anniversary | dinosaurjr.com
ELECTRIC GUITARS: Speed Of Sound
Mighty Music - Digital SingleDanish guitar duo Soren Andersen and Mika Vandborg deliver a new single with their band ELECTRIC GUITARS, and it sounds just like it should. In other words we get a dose of energetic hard rock, with a catchy chorus and an explosive solo. Yes, this is a really good song, and not that much to talk about. Just listen and enjoy.
ELECTRIC GUITARS will be touring in Denmark from late November to late December. Go see them if you can, because I think it will be a damn hot show.
bfan.link/speed-of-sound-1 | electricguitars.dk
Chesty Malone And The SLICE 'EM UPS: Hell Is Full And We Need The Room
Cleopatra Records - MCD, DigitalThis is an American metal/punk band who captures the raw energy and aggression of MISFITS, MOTÖRHEAD, The PLASMATICS and VENOM. When it comes to this 4-track EP, you could also throw in elements of KILLING JOKE, METALLICA and NYHC. It's a sound that seems to be drenched in sweat and blood, and I like what I hear. These songs are absolutely worth checking out, because this band kicks ass.
This EP marks the return of the band's classic "Torture Rock" LP line-up from 2011 - Jaqueline Blownaparte on vocals, Anthony Allen Van Hoek on guitar, Üruk Brutal on bass, and Angel Cotte (DEMOLITION HAMMER) on drums.
youtu.be/6joSQXNgZRY | chestymalone.com | cleorecs.com
STRAIGHT RED: Love Ain't Enough...
Made Of Stone Records on Aug. 16 - LP, Cassette, DigitalThis 6-track EP is the first release from this American band, and it seems to be about football (or soccer as the Yanks call it). And as I'm not such a big fan of any kind of sports, I don't really get the fasination of a football team. And like sports when you're a punk, how punk is that? If you want to be against everything that other people do, then you should also be against football.
But that's just my opinion of course, and I have nothing against the music that this band is playing, which is a very British punk for the working class. Think of a mix between Oi! and the second wave of UK punk. It's mainly old school, and it should fit perfect for both old and new punks.
straightredfc.bandcamp.com/album/love-aint-enough | realgonerocks.com
DYNAZTY: Devilry Of Ecstasy
AFM Records - Digital SingleSwedish melodic metal band DYNAZTY is back with a new single, and it's a first taste of a new studio album that will be released soon (no title or release date yet, but it will soon be revealed).
This is melodic but powerful, and also a surprisingly good song. Now they might even have made that extra good song that I missed on their last album, "Final Advent" (2022). Yes, this is a top song that you really should give a try.
dynazty.bfan.link/devilry-of-ecstasy | dynazty.com | afm-records.de
SOULS OF STEEL: Songs Of Steel
Wormholedeath Records on Aug. 16 - Digital AlbumSOULS OF STEEL is a metal band from El Salvador, who are inspired by bands like MEGADETH, SYMPHONY X and METALLICA, among others. The band was formed in 2021, and released their debut album, "Songs Of Steel", in December last year. It will now be released digitally by Wormholedeath Records.
"Songs Of Steel" is said to "dive deep into the band's journey, exploring a range of themes with each track offering a unique perspective. The album breaks away from genre norms, tackling issues like political decay, women's empowerment in rock, fractured friendships, and heartbreak". The soundtrack to that is some kind of thrash metal with their own twist, or however I should describe it? But there can just as well be a more melodic song, and suddenly it sounds like powerful hard rock or something instead. And that's probably why they describe themselves as hard/thrash metal.
This album is not bad, but the extra good songs are few in the beginning. But the more I listen, the stronger it gets.
soulsofsteel.com | wormholedeath.com
THERMALITY: The Final Hours
Black Lodge Records on Aug. 16 - CD, LP, DigitalTHERMALITY is a Swedish melodic death metal band with members from Vara and Göteborg (aka Gothenburg). And even though their roots are in the 90s and early 2000s, their sound is fresh, as they combine their favorite parts from that era with some modern elements.
The band formed in 2020, and released their debut album, "Before I Get To Rest", in February last year. That was followed by a EP, "Tales From The North", in June the same year. So it seems like we have a very creative band here. And they should let that fire burn, because this album is really hot.
If you want something heavy and powerful, yet melodic and not slow, then you should really give these guys a try.
blacklodge.se/artists/thermality | facebook.com/thermality
EISREGEN: Abart
Massacre Records on Aug. 16 - 2CD Mediabook, 2LP, Box Set, Digital"Abart" is this German metal band's 17th studio album. It's said that it picks up where their last album, "Grenzgänger" (2023), left off.
EISREGEN is not so easy to place in just 1 sub-genre, as they blend various kinds of metal, like death and black metal, gothic and dark metal, as well as doom metal. This gives us a very diverse and entertaining material with a monstrous sound. That they sing in German just makes it even more hard, but there is of course also some room for melodies. And yes, it sounds very German, and not exactly like metal from anywhere else.
14 tracks is in most cases a few too many, but most of these songs are really good stuff, so I should not complain about a small detail like that.
lnk.to/massacrerecords | facebook.com/eisregen.official
DENIGRATE: Crystal Rest
Inverse Records - Digital SingleHelsinki-based doom metal band DENIGRATE will release their 4th full-length album, titled "To The Goddess Unknown", later this year. The first single is a song called "Crystal Rest", which has ingredients of both doom and death metal, as there's both harsh and clean vocals. It's dark and melancholy, almost a little tormented actually. But we also have some melodic parts in this song, which makes it a little easier to listen to. Interesting stuff.
DENIGRATE was founded back in 1996, so they are hardly a new band. Yet I can't remember if I have heard about them before. But this band has obviously been taking it slow, as they have not released that many records through the years.
youtu.be/E2Bbs7SYe88 | facebook.com/denigrateCamp | inverse.fi
BÖDEL: Välkommen Till Avrättningen
DiSTAT Records on Aug. 16 - Digital EPAfter a damn good single, "Bilan Faller", there's high expectations for some more. And here comes a EP with 7 tracks. The varity might not be the biggest, but they definitely live up to my expectations. But what was that useless intro good for then? Otherwise just straight, fast and angry crust punk that makes me think of the happy 90s. This is a must-have in every hardcore/punk collection. No doubt about that!
BÖDEL is a band from Sweden, with members from bands like The CROWN, DENY, VÄNSTERNÄVEN, PASTORATET, The LIPTONES, MÄHÄLIUM and ANTABUS, to name just a few of all the bands they have been playing with through the years. All but the singer are veterans. The singer, Leya, is the daughter of guitarist Arvid, and she has previously been doing some guest vocals for CHØRNOBYL. This young lady can really scream, and fits perfect for this band.
"Välkommen Till Avrättningen" was previously released on cassette in just 60 copies, which sold out in 2 days. It will aslo be released on a 7" vinyl via Atrocious Disarray in the fall.
facebook.com/profile.php?id=61554108637897 | facebook.com/DistatRecords
YOSEMITE IN BLACK: The Pursuit Of
Terminus Hate City on Aug. 16 - LP, Cassette, CD, DigitalYOSEMITE IN BLACK hailing from Atlanta, USA, but have roots in Douglasville, GA. Their music is described as "a sonic wrecking ball that leaves no survivors in its wake". This relentless attack is a mix of hardcore aggression and metallic heaviness. They let loose an explosive energy, and yet it's not chaotic at all. Just really raw and brutal, just like this kind of metallic hardcore should be.
This is definitely a hardcore band worth checking out, and there's not much else to add there..
facebook.com/YosemiteInBlackATL
FLOTSAM & JETSAM: A New Kind Of Hero
AFM Records - Digital SingleThrash metal veterans FLOTSAM & JETSAM has released another single from their new album, "I Am The Weapon", which will be released on September 13. That will be their 15th studio album.
"A New Kind Of Hero" is the opening track of the album, and it's a uptempo attack in the good old league. Very good and very promising for the upcoming album. Check out!
flotsamandjetsam.bfan.link/a-new-kind-of-hero | flotsamandjetsam.bfan.link/i-am-the-weapon | flotstildeath.com | shop.afm-records.de
FATE: Around The Sun
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - Digital SingleFATE is a Danish hard rock band, originally formed in late 1984. They split up in the early 90s, but in 2005 they were back again. A new studio album, titled "Reconnect 'N Ignite", will be released on October 18. "Around The Sun" is a taste of that album.
Now you could of course think that it should sound old school just because they are such an old band. But this actually sounds pretty modern. It's a good hard rock song in the melodic league, and you should give it a try. That's all I have to say..
youtu.be/JFVxvLlMYKk | facebook.com/Fatetheband
HELL IN THE CLUB: The Kid (with Tezzi)
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - Digital SingleOh, this is my favorite song from their latest album, "F.U.B.A.R.", which was released about a year ago. But this is a new version of the song, featuring new singer Tezzi Persson (INFINITE & DIVINE, VENUS 5). And her voice fits perfectly for this band, so it could be interesting to hear some new stuff, because I really like this band. This song is a must to check out!
HELL IN THE CLUB is an Italian/Swedish band, who mix classic hard rock and sleaze, heavy metal and party songs, 50s rock n roll, and anything in between. They have been around for nearly 15 years, and "F.U.B.A.R." is their 6th full-length album. If you like artists such as CRAZY LIXX, CRASHDÏET, SKID ROW, W.A.S.P., Alice Cooper and HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, then you should also enjoy what this band is doing.
youtu.be/8k_4CHlVYTk | orcd.co/fubar | hellintheclub.com
Jon Anderson & The BAND GEEKS: True Messenger
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - Digital Single"True Messenger" is the second single from a forthcoming album, "True", which will be released on August 23. It might not really be my type of music, but it's not completely useless anyway. Fans of old progressive rock from the 70s should be happy to hear this. Because that's what this sounds like to me.
Jon Anderson is most well-known as the singer of British prog rockers YES, which he was a member of from 1968 (when they formed) until the mid-2000s. He is 79 years old (80 in October), but still recording and touring.
youtu.be/ty4M-EluOMs | ffm.to/jonandersontrue | jonanderson.com | richiecastellano.com/bandgeek
MALVADA: Down The Walls
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - Digital SingleFemale rock band MALVADA formed in March 2020. The band quickly attracted attention as one of the most promising acts in the Brazilian rock scene, and in November 2023 they signed with Italian label Frontiers Music. They are now aiming at international succees.
"Down The Walls" is a heavy and rhythmic song, with a modern rock sound, but I can also hear a touch of the 90s. So you could say that it's both familiar and new. It sounds o.k. anyway. But I think I have to hear some more from this band before I can say how good they really are. It sounds promising anyway.
youtu.be/DmP4c8JA_7c | malvadabanda.com.br
UNÉN: My Love's Broken
Frontiers Music s.r.l. - Digital Single"That was 5 very long minutes" was my first response when the song was over. But after listening some more, it might not be so bad after all.
UNÉN is a modern melodic metal band from Helsinki, Finland. They also blend in elements ranging from progressive to pop, blending intensity with sensitivity in its sound. There have been some line-up changes since the band formed in late 2021, but in February 2024 they signed with Frontiers Music, so I guess this is a taste of their debut album?
This is a heavy song, but it also have some symphonic elements. And even if it took a few listenings, this is not bad at all. I think you should give them a try.
youtu.be/rcEQkTKKOwg | unenband.net
EVILYN: Mondestrunken
Transcending Obscurity Records on Aug. 16 - CD, Cassette, DigitalHere we have another one of these brutal and technical bands. EVILYN are actually not always that nice to listen to, as it sounds more like unorganized chaos than music sometimes. Luckily not all the time though. So they have their good moments too. But that makes it a bit difficult to really get a hold of them. On the other hand, some people want their music to be challenging. One thing is for sure though, they will pulverize everything in its way.
So if crushing technical/dissonant death metal sounds like your kind of challenge, then I guess that this full-length debut could be of interest for you.
EVILYN features members of bands like MALIGNANCY, EXIST, NORSE and THOREN.
evilyndm.bandcamp.com/album/mondestrunken | transcendingobscurity.bandcamp.com
GYAOS:DIABOLICAL: (destruction, vector, convergence) → {this.world.is_gone();}
To The Death Records on Aug. 16 - CD, DigitalThis is a solo project by Johnny Riott from The EROTICS, and here he calls himself Austin Koll. This is his third album, and it has nothing to do with what The EROTICS are doing. No, this is more extreme, some kind of crossover thrash with some crusty black metal thrown in. Swarming guitars, blasting drums, thick grooves and raw vocals is some of the ingredients that you can expect to hear here. This is not catchy and nice, but rather raw and extreme instead. It might not be the best that I have heard, but it's o.k. anyway, so it's hardly the worst either.
gyaosdiabolical.com
GRAVE ROBBER: The Cellar Sessions
Thumper Punk Records - CD, DigitalFor nearly 20 years, this horror punks have been lurking at the cemetery and singing about it. But they have never been afraid of doing a cover once in a while, and not always what seems to be the most obvious song for a band like this. Now they have collected some of these covers on a new album. And it's really a wild mix of artists that we get here - MISFITS, BLACK SABBATH, RAMONES, METALLICA and NIRVANA are grave dancing with Bette Midler, David Bowie and Cyndi Lauper etc. Some songs obviously works better than others. Punk, metal and rock seems to be what fits best for this band. But when they try to do a cover of a pop song, then it doesn't really work that good. I would not say that anything is horrible though.
A fun party album that you listen to a few times and probably forget until you find it again and listen some more.
facebook.com/graverobberpunk
LAS HISTORIAS: House Of Pain
Electric Valley Records - LP, DigitalLAS HISTORIAS is a power trio from Argentina, that melds the stratospheric guitar madness of Jimi Hendrix and the bluesy psychedelia of the 60s with the heavy riffs of doom and stoner luminaries. The band formed in 2018 as a duo, but became a trio in 2019. A self-titled EP was released in April 2020. With the addition of a new track exclusively for a vinyl release via Electric Valley Records that same year, the band revamped it as their debut album.
4 years later they have a modified line-up, and have been experimenting with new sounds. This demo release serves as a foretaste of this heavy psych group's forthcoming second full-length. And what can I say? This is exactly the heavy and psychedelic adventure it's supposed to be. I guess some illegal substances can help for an even deeper experience. But that shouldn't really be necessary, as the music itself more or less feels like a drug rush.
It sounds good anyway, even though I didn't take any drugs when I listnened to this.
lashistorias.bandcamp.com | linktr.ee/electricvalley
ROULETTE: Love's The Drug
Black Lodge Records - Digital Single"Love's The Drug" is taken from an upcoming EP, "From Now Until Today", which I don't have any release date for yet. This song is said to be the perfect soundtrack for the summer roadtrip, and that's not impossible that it would work good for that kind of activity. It's a catchy and melodic feel good song, which is perfect for any summer activity. I really like it. So if you're into melodic rock/AOR, then you should really check this out, and there's not that much else to say about that.
blacklodge.se | facebook.com/RouletteSwe
Bill Wyman: Drive My Car
BMG on Aug. 9 - CD, LP, DigitalAs you might know, Bill Wyman is a founding member of The ROLLING STONES, which he played bass with between 1962-1993 (and briefly in 2023). "Drive My Car" is his 9th solo album, and it's the first since 2015.
The first half of the album is mainly laidback rhythm and blues. But after half the album it's like he suddenly got more energy, because then there's more action. Now Bill's silent and low voice might make some of these songs more laidback than they really are, because this old man doesn't have the loudest voice. No wonder as he is as much as 87 years old. And I actually think it's cool that he's still playing. Not many others do that at that age. Respect!
5 of the tracks on this album are self-penned. The rest is covers by artists like Bob Dylan, Taj Mahal and John Prine, as well as 2 songs written by Dutch guitarist Hans Theesink. The biggest influence on the album is said to be JJ Cale, if that gives you an idea about the sound?
lnk.to/DriveMyCarPR | billwyman.com
BANG BANG FIRECRACKER: Ain't Nothin' Gonna Change
Bang Band Firecracker - Digital SingleSo what have they done this time then? Well, this was hardly a hit anyway. They have made much better songs than this as far as I can remember.
It begins slow with just drums and guitar. After exactly 1 minute they finally start to rock. It's heavy but doesn's seems to be really focused or how ever I should describe it. It simply sounds a little strange somehow. It could probably have been a good hard rock song, but I guess it's those unfocused guitars that destroys it for my experience of this song.
This is the second single to be released from a Septology of works conceptualised as "Seven Deadly Singles".
bangbangfirecracker.com
TEMPLE WITCH: This Too Shall Pass
Wormholedeath Records - Digital Single"This Too Shall Pass" is taken from the upcoming sophomore album, "Ocean Thousand, Mountain Thousand", which will be released on August 30. It's said to be unique, as it was written in dedication to a lost friend - "It confronts the loneliness after a friend's passing and the difficulty of moving onward when such an important attachment has evaporated from one's world", says the band.
TEMPLE WITCH is a doom metal trio from Ohio, USA, who was formed in September 2020. Their debut album, "Hand In Hand With Chaos", was released in June 2021.
This song is heavy of course, but also melancholy and pretty long with its 10:19 minutes, yet pretty powerful as well. It's the best description I can give you, but you will probably get what I mean if you listen to it. It',s a good song anyway, but maybe not much else as it's a little too long.
youtu.be/YlnJwdR83Mg?si=ze_iiOdVvTK2x1vI | linktr.ee/templewitch | wormholedeath.com
SOULS OF STEEL: Legends Reborn
Wormholedeath Records - Digital SingleSOULS OF STEEL was founded in 2021, and they label themselves as a hard/thrash metal band from El Salvador. They are inspired by classic bands like MEGADETH, SYMPHONY X and METALLICA.
"Legends Reborn" is taken from their forthcoming debut album, "Songs Of Steel", which will be released on August 16. It's said to be "an anthem celebrating the metal community's power, unity, and indomitable spirit, portraying them as warriors who find strength in their shared passion for music and their defiance against societal norms". It sounds like a o.k. metal song to me, but I don't know if I would call it an anthem, because it's not of that caliber.
"Songs Of Steel" was previously self-released in December 2023, so you can probably find it digitally.
youtu.be/IGZRCrhFvKY?si=BEp-UrTMtepdnFkQ | soulsofsteel.com | wormholedeath.com
SIRIUS: A Quest For Life
Wormholedeath Records - Digital AlbumSIRIUS play a very traditional kind of heavy/power metal, and nothing wrong with that. What you can expect is catchy choruses, powerful vocals, lots of riffing and twin-guitars.
The album features 2 guests: Tim "Ripper" Owens (KK'S PRIEST, ex-JUDAS PRIEST, ICED EARTH, Yngwie Malmsteen) and Derek Sherinian (BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION, WHOM GODS DESTROY, ex-DREAM THEATER).
SIRIUS was formed in 2007 in Athens, Greece. It took some years to find the ultimate line-up, so it wasn't until 10 years later that they finally released their first EP, "Wings Of Fire". A funny thing is that 3 out of 4 members are named Demitris. I guess it's a very common name in Greece.
This band's music is more powerful, with strong vocals. They are not doing anything new and unique here, but they are doing it really good, and they have a very good material. So this could of course be worth a try.
linktr.ee/siriustheband | wormholedeath.com
TRUBBEL and TROUBLEMAKERS
Concert at Liseberg in Göteborg, Sweden on Aug. 3, 2024Concerts at the amusement park/tivoli Liseberg is another strange experience. Lots of people who all seems to walk against me, queues for a way too expensive beer, families, teenagers and then lots of punks on top of that this evening (punks are nice people though).
TROUBLEMAKERS was the first band out, and it's a favorite band that I have seen many times through the years. They existed back in the 80s for the first time, and came back again in the mid-90s. And I have been a fan since the first time I saw them in the 90s. They might actually be the band that I have seen the most times.
They usually begin their show with a couple of old classics, but not this time. Now they began with some songs from their latest albums, so it wasn't as much action as I expected it to be. But after something like 5 or 6 songs (or whatever it could be) they finally played some old classics as well as some covers, and then there was more action in the audience.
I don't think that I have ever seen a bad show with TROUBLEMAKERS, and this was really good too.
TRUBBEL is just like TROUBLEMAKERS a band from Göteborg, and they have been around for something like 14-15 years now. I have seen them a few times before, and they are a very good live band. They actually succeeded to attract more people than the first band, so it wasn't easy to take photos for me.
I have not been listening to TRUBBEL that much, so it's just a couple of songs that I reconized and really like, but the rest of their songs are not bad either. As usual they did a really good show, and the audience seemed to like them a lot.
facebook.com/trubbelgbg | troublemakers.se
SCORCHED EARTH: The Day Of The Damned
M.U.S.I.C. Records - CD, DigitalWith titles like "Dead Human Feast", "Flesh Eater" and "Necrophiliac Misanthropic Satan Worshipper", I guess it's not so hard to figure out what kind of music this band is playing. Yes, it',s classic death metal of course. It's heavy and powerful, and never too brutal or extreme. So you could say that they are on the right side of the border. Or rather my side of the border then.
SCORCHED EARTH hailing from Toulouse, France. "The Day Of The Damned" is not just their debut album, but also their first concept album, where we follow a series of nuclear wars that lead to a series of catastrophes and paranormal events, threatening the very existence of our world.
They might not be here to reinvent the genre, but they do what they do so damn good that you just have to like it anyway.
facebook.com/ScorchedEarthFR | facebook.com/musicrecordsfrance
The BLAST WAVES: Ωmega-Drive
M.U.S.I.C. Records - CD, DigitalThe BLAST WAVES is a French retro hard rock/heavy metal band, formed by Alexx Asch in 2012, but not active until 2017. After many line-up changes, the band is stabilizing in 2019. Their first EP, "Total Mess", was released in 2021.
With this new album they wanted to become more important and think bigger, so they blend in some thrash, rockabilly and glam in their 80s hard rock and heavy metal. The vocals is sometimes loud (but absolutely not all the time, just here and there), and once in a while the guitarist seems to think he's Yngwie Malmsteen (in lack of a better description). So I guess that this can easily be too much for some people. But it's mainly not as wild and crazy as it might sound, but more like a hard rock and heavy metal album in the old American 80s tradition.
This band is not as professional as their heroes though, as they sounds like a demo band to me, both when it comes to the sound and the songs. Not bad though..
facebook.com/TheBlastWave | facebook.com/musicrecordsfrance
MY DARKEST RED: The Flame
Sneakout Records/Burning Minds Music Group - Digital SingleThis is the second single from this Italian dark n roll band's debut album, "Midnight Supremacy", which is scheduled for release on September 27. It sounds gothic and laidback, but with a more melodic and melancholy chorus, or however I should describe it? It's a good song anyway, so maybe you should give it a try if you like dark rock and goth.
I don't know what else I should say about this song, and I'm too busy to think as there's so many other reviews to write.
youtu.be/7NYO7CoVnu8 | facebook.com/mydarkestred | burningmindsgroup.com/sneakout
NEPAL DEATH: Freak Street Blues
Nepal Death - Digital SingleYet another single from these local (Borås, Sweden) psych rockers. And as usual they have a guest appearance, and this time it's no other than the Swedish legend Ebbot Lundberg from The SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES and UNION CARBIDE PRODUCTIONS on backup vocals. As Ebbot rarely collaborates these days, his involvement on this track is truly special. Additionally, legendary guitar manufacturer Danelectro recently highlighted the use of their Vintage White 12-string electric guitar in this song.
If you want to try a psychedelic trip back to the late 60s/early 70s, but without taking any drugs, then try this band. It might not be the exact same experience, as they are actually rocking pretty good in this song. This was much better than the last single, so I say o.k. to this.
youtu.be/SUlABAPGXaM | nepaldeath.com
The STABBING JABS: The Stabbing Jabs
Reptilian Records/Beast Records - LP, DigitalIt seems like this album has already been released in Europe by French label Beast Records in April. But now Reptilian Records has just released it in North America too.
Anyway.. The STABBING JABS is a band from Cincinnati, Ohio. They have members from acts like CHROME CRANKS, GG Allin & The MURDER JUNKIES, GANG GREEN etc. On this debut album they deliver loud high-octane punky rock n roll. It',s very riff-based, but also raw and dirty, as well as filled with blood and sweat (probably some alcohol as well). Think of a mixture of noise rock, punk and rock, and you might get an idea of what this band sounds like.
This band's music is pretty cool, and their songs are absolutely not bad at all. I would guess that this could be something for both punks and noise rockers. But it',s not impossible that some action rockers and garage rockers might like it too.
thestabbingjabs.bandcamp.com | reptilianrecords.com | beast-records.com
3000AD: Ghettocide
Total Metal Records - Digital Single3000AD is a crossover/thrash metal trio from Christchurch, New Zealand, and this is the second single from their forthcoming second studio album, which I have no title or release date for yet. It sounds like the classic bands in this genre, even if they seems to have their own twist too. A pretty good song anyway, and if they have more songs like this, then the new album can be of interest.
I don't have much else to add there, I'm a busy man..
youtu.be/uchQIdrkVPI?si=3j-tnegZlsHZaAC_ | totalmetal.metalscraprecords.com
Ursäkta Röran Vol 7: Vi Bygger Brända Broar
GrönPeppar Records - CD, Digital
So, we have come to the 7th volume of this compilation, which features various Swedish punk and hardcore bands. And as usual it's a wild mixture of more kind stuff and some really fast and aggressive. Among the more well-known names are BLISTERHEAD, CRASH NOMADA and possibly TVÄrNITAD. And some of the new acquaintances are LUVGHUL, RUBBAT and HESA FREDRIK. BÖDEL and ETT STEG NÄrMARE DÖDEN stand for the hard and aggressive elements, while KANOTÖRERNA and FLASKHALS play more melodic. But we also have more odd and alternative artists like Vera Norea, KAMPEN, SODAKILL and FRU SKRÄCK.
Among the ones I like best this time are LUVGHUL, TVÄRNITAD, KAMPEN, Vera Norea and BÖDEL. But I would not say that anything is bad here. So it's a really strong collection of bands this time.
gronpepparrecords.bandcamp.com/album/urs-kta-r-ran-vol-7 | karlekochuppror.myshopify.com «July | Index | September»
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