LadyAxe "Of Hell and High Water" EP Review

  Nowadays Traditoional Heavy Metal acts have the polished production, the massive sound but on the rare occasions an analog, lo-fi sound captures the atmosphere,honesty and passion needed to create something truly worth investing your time in and getting lost within the music,this is the case with the always brilliant LadyAxe, the Metal Matriarch is originally from South Africa but has since re-located to the Emerald Isle and it has brought a fire and passion that sounds unquenchable.

 Following on from last years excellent Kairos album Of Hell and High Water tells tales of Irish Pirate Queen ,Finnish & Norse Mythology,Lovecraftian Tropes and Lore with each topic all related to the sea,the EP starts off with a bang in the shape of the brilliant Mother Of Ships which portrays the tale of Grainne Mhaol ,The Irish Pirate Queen, the song has plenty of time changes and Riffs for days all layered under soaring and passionate Vocals, things get a little bit Doomy and Eerie with Finnish Mythology inspired From The Depths Come Iko Turso a story about the bearded monster who was commanded by Pohjola to attack the ship Vainamoinen,Iko Turso would be bound by a spell cast by Vainamoinen and may never surface again, within the song a New Priestess casts her own spell to unleash Iko Turso to serve her biddings, The Priestess Calls is a very haunting and atmospheric song which sounds like the spell that awakens Iko Turso from his spell,at time it almost sounds,suddenly near the end of the track we're treated to very dark and foreboding Guitar lead which sounds like the summoning has been complete.

  Time to get into some Norse Mythology with the absolutely epic masterpiece that is And I Saw The Sister Of Visund tells the fictional tale of a viking warrior abandoned by her Brethren and her Valkyrie failed to find her despite her dying in battle,she sees what she thinks is the Visund approaching but soon realises that it is in fact her Funeral ship, unable to get to Valhalla she vows to sail her funeral ship against the will of fate,the song has a very melancholic atmosphere and is reminiscent of early Manowar,this is also were you get a taste of what Axe is capable of vocally, the closing track on the EP gives us some Lovecraftian Lore in the shape of  Malediction From The Black Reef which always seems to fit well with Heavy Metal , this song is based on the Lovecraft Novel The Shadow Over Innsmouth where U-Boats torpedo the Black/Devils Reef and Dagon curses them to never die but they're trapped within the abomination that is Innsmouth,the track has a nice mid pace with powerful and passionate vocals delivering a track fitting to close such a brilliant EP.

  Of Hell and High Water may not have the big production,folk may think this method is better but what LadyAxe does is give you plenty of Atmosphere,Ethereal and Haunting Vocals,Passion and Honesty,something lacking in Modern Power/Heavy Metal these  days,also the bravery to incorporate different topics like Lovecraftian Lore,Norse and Finnish Mythology and Historical Pirate Queens gives you transparent idea that Axe likes to challenge herself by doing the research into each topic properly,where you don't get any filler on her releases,long may this continue because it works perfectly for me.

 BANDCAMP: https://ladyaxe.bandcamp.com/ 

YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/LadyAxe13

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/LadyAxe-6085329203/?pnref=lhc

 

Keith McCoy "Humachinery" EP Review

 

  Yet another quality release from Progressive Metal/Horror/Synth Wave solo artist Keith McCoy who seems to be constantly writing new music on a constant basis , following on form the brilliant Tacky Boots and Technology we're treated to the excellent Humachinery which consists of four instrumental tracks of 80's inspired synth wave mixed with Progressive Riffs, McCoy writes,mixes and produces everything himself along with the Drmming and Bass while he enlists the talents of Alan O' Connell  of Symbiotic Tomorrow on Lead Guitar and PJ O' Connell on Rhythm Guitar.

 Straight from the get go Reactive Machine hits you with a lo-fi synth before a barrage of  riffs and drums rolls hits you like a juggernaut then the Synth and Bass are briefly pushed to the fore combined with dramatic keys then into some juicy Lead Guitar work, Limited Memory treats us to some absolutely fantastic Synth passages which have a slight Horror sounding element to them which adds a dark and foreboding atmosphere to the song.

 Theory Of Mind is all about the Synths and Keys and it feels like it could easily be part of a score in a movie,there's also a slight melancholic elelment to it,despite how short the track is it compliments the whole atmosphere within the EP, closing track Self Aware starts off with a beautifully crafted acoustic guitar piece then layered with synths,then an emotionally tinged lead takes hold ,gradually the song develops layers upon layer of synth combined with absolutely sublime lead guitar work this builds up to a crescendo of riffs upon riffs combined with drum rolls creating a song full of  feeling and atmosphere.

 Humachinery is 14+ minutes of Prog excellence and despite the lack of vocals maintains a brilliantly crafted atmosphere,at times it feels like you're listening to a movie score or soundtrack,it also has a really 80's vibe which adds a somewhat nostalgic element to the EP. Keith McCoy is not only a beast on the drums but he also has an abundance of talent with regard to song structure, mixing and producing some absolutely sublime music,long may it continue.

 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5VoteeTdGdL0VU4KHqyeUa?si=ZmtqxKqLQBad08MNGopTuQ

 BANDCAMP: https://keithmccoy.bandcamp.com/

 YOU TUBE: https://www.youtube.com/user/Sixstillmissing

 FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/keithmccoymusic/

 INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/keithmccoymusic/?hl=en

Organ Blender "Teemu Khan" Album Review

 

 You have finally awoken from some crazy nightmarish dystopian future dream but for some reason you can't decipher whether it's real or not,this is the kind of feeling/atmosphere you might envisage when you listen to the absolutely sublime new Organ Blender album Teemu Khan, following on from their 2020 EP the excellent  Blender Corp. the band have further pushed the boundaries of their post apocalyptic sound on this album by adding equal measure of Brutality infused with Industrial/Electronic sounds and samples,let's not forget the subtle hints of dark humour prevelent throughout the album, if you want a level of understanding what they're all about think Godflesh/Strapping Young Lad meets Aphex Twin.

 Straight from the get go we're treated to the short devastating bursts that are  Will It Blend? and Bear Song with a slight homage to Godflesh, both tracks set the tone for what's about to be unleashed upon your unsuspecting mind,things start to get a bit more Brutal with the extremely Rhythmic/Hypnotic Station,the samples running through this start to reveal the dystopian nightmare that's within the concept of the album.

 We're introduced to some sort of Protaganist in the form of Captain Krunch who seems to have some sort of obsession with control and power over life forms,we get an element of groove running through this song courtesy of the absolutely sublime bassline combined with rhythmic and relentless drumming ,a very hynotic electronic element kicks in about midway through the song before the brutality takes hold with short bursts of blast beats intertwined with Riff heavy breakdowns, Fish Song kicks off with a really groovy riff before unleashing a barrage of electronic beats combined with brief blast beats,this is maintained for the best part of the song then we're given a dose of pure Death Metal madness reminiscent of  Morbid Angel for the last part of the track, Blast Choir goes straight for the juggular with unrelenting speed and a really dark guitar tone,just like Fish Song there's a subtle hint of mid-era Morbid Angel with parts of the riffs eventually some eerie keyboard sound kicks in creating a really ambient atmosphere within the song, King maintains a great mid paced tempo throughout combining a balance of heavy riffs,industrial/electronic sounds with absolutely fantastic drumming.

  Things get even more unnervingly dark with the extremely apocalyptic sounding Meltdown which sounds like some impending nuclear attack is imminent with panic and fear taking its grip on everyone, things get a little eerie and surreal with the Industrial/Electronic meanderings of the excellent Mr. Cool the atmosphere on this reminds of Strapping Young Lad mixed with elements of Aphex Twin, onto the absolutely sublime Teemu Khan the techno intro is absolutely fantastic and creates a brilliant vacuum for the brutality that follows in trademark Organ Blender style which leads to peak 90's era Industrial vibes reminiscent of early Fear Factory, craziness ensues with the absolutely insane Drugz with it's relentless vocal delivery and it's dark and eerie industrial sounds,the further you get into this album the crazier it gets.

 We go deeper down the rabbit hole with the insane atmosphere we're treated to on the last three tracks Voice, Space Rave & The Nasty 90's are nothing more then surreal and darkly humourous insanity which leave you wondering what sort of nightmare have i been dragged through,like you've taken a cocktail of every hallucinogenic known to humankind and have the surreal feeling that this nightmare is neverending.

 Organ Blender are a band on the up and they've created a modern day masterpiece with Teemu Khan, if you like 90's Death Metal in the vein of Morbid Angel and Pungent Stench and Industrial Metal in the vein of Godflesh,Strapping Young Lad and Fear Factory mixed with the Techno/Electronic undertones of Aphex Twin you need to check this album out, i noticed alot of people referenced Blade Runner when the saw the album cover but on further prolonged listen you could easily add the cult comedy series Red Dwarf due to the humourous undertones running throughout the album,you can also tell the band had an awful lot of fun in the writing process in this album, on that note " You Will Surrender To The Blender".

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/organblenderband

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/organblenderband/

BANDCAMP:https://organblender.bandcamp.com/

SPOTIFY:https://open.spotify.com/artist/1k5YMnMnfE8kkI3r00MNQ3?si=4pZyy8ZURgm-NfRJTaGjPw

YOU TUBE:https://www.youtube.com/user/parigeen

MERCH:https://www.redbubble.com/people/parigeen/shop

Ren Marabou & The Beserkers "Tales Of Rune" Album Review

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 The wait has finally come to an end and now the world get's to hear the highly anticipated excellent new Ren Marabou & The Beserkers album Tales Of Rune, safe to say this is a band that produces an absolutely brilliant portrayal of Norse Mythology,Viking Lore and Paganism all the while having a lot of fun doing it which comes across extremely clear while listening to their music.

 The album opens up with the track Fenrir "The One who Dwells in The Marshes"."The Chain Breaker" a track full of passion,heavy riffing with a blend of aggressive and clean vocals a great way to set the tone for what's to come. Dodssang(Death Song) get's the adrenaline flowing with it's fast pace remeiniscent of Motorhead,midway through the pace is slowed a slight bit with added groove. We're treated to a beautifully crafted song with feeling in the form of the brilliant Kinsmen Die the track is full of melancholy and a sense of lost Viking Brethren,the lead guitar in this song is a thing of beauty adding to the overall atmosphere running throughout the song. Three of Norns starts off with a slow pace before gradually building up to Hefty Riffage and plenty of Groove then into some fantastic Lead Guitar work,this is one of my favourite trcks on the album and continues to push the atmospheric boundaries of the album to another level. Getting to the half way point on the album we're drawn into the enchanted realms of the forest with the track Huldra a song about the seductive forest creature which has plenty of killer mid paced riffs and an alluring atmosphere which captivates and traps you in it's grasp.

Onto the seventh track on the album and the absolutely sublime Sigurd The Dragon Slayer this track is all about the riffs and there's plenty of quality riffs to grab the listeners attention,the atmosphere on this song makes you feel like you're going into a monumental battle only to be betrayed and murdered after the arduous and dangerous tasks. Brand Of Sacrifice is a ripping track full passion and aggression,the presence of traditional instrumentation gives the song a really full of life atmosphere and draws the listener further into the stories within the album.

Let's Drink Mead has a very Anthemic feeling to it and sounds like Ren Marabou and The Beserkers had an awful lot of fun in the writing process of this song, the concept behing this song is about Vikings killing each other in Valhalla and then going to The Great hall and drinking Mead together, overall a fantastic song. The mood get's a little bit melancholic with Odin's Sons and Daughters the track opens up with a riff not too dissimiliar to Gary Moore or Thin Lizzy ,this is another song that builds up the pace and mood switching between a melancholic atmosphere with exceptional lead guitar work to Aggressive and Passionate Vocal delivery. Bragi(God Of Music) at intervals has a somewhat hypnotic atmosphere with the layered vocals and the presence of a Mandolin giving a nice jovial feeling. The final track on the album Finngaill(Fair Foreigners) is a fitting way to end this brilliant release with it's homage at the intro(of the song) to the traditional Irish song Oro, Se Do Bheata 'Baile, a fun song about travelling with the Viking Hordes and drinking mead.

This is the bands 4th album and is by far their best to date,they continue to push the boundaries of their brand of Viking Metal/Norse Pagan Rock with brilliant musicianship, atmosphere, passion and a will to improve with each release, Ren Marabou & The Beserkers are a band on the rise and long may it continue, Tales Of Rune is an album full of Passion,Fun,Atmosphere and all the nuances to broaden their fanbase.

STREAM, LISTEN OR DOWNLOAD THE BANDS MUSIC FROM THE LINKS BELOW

https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SO7ijOmWLl1eIOXgGMOGB?si=Jn_1X-v8TqiB2u9riUfgvQ

https://renmarabou.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0RzRnLskzx0barj6BsL87w

CHECK OUT THE BANDS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AT THE LINKS BELOW

https://www.facebook.com/renmarabou

https://www.instagram.com/renmarabou/