Showing posts with label Heavy Metal. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Heavy Metal. Show all posts

Wednesday, 16 October 2024

Banished From Eden "Primordial Salvation" EP Review

 

   Formed around 2022 the excellent Thrash/Heavy Metal Riff Machine Banished From Eden have being working silently in the shadows and have unleashed an absolutely quality debut EP in the guise of Primordial Salvation, hailing from the hotbed for metal Limerick,the band leave no cross unturned on this release,lets delve into the finer details of this short but excellent offering.


  Commencing with the absolute ripper of a tune From The Light this combines a cacophony of riffs rooted in Thrash Metal with plenty of groove and Tradiitonal Heavy Metal influences runnig thtoughout,the driving Rhytmn section is ridiculously heavy which points to a nice bit of flexibility to their sound, the relentless riff gymnastics that is As It Stands hits with a heaviness and aggression that packs a serious knockout blow to the senses,can picture plenty of fist pumping and headbanging galore with this,closing track What A Waste leans into a more slower apparoach and dark foreboding atmopshere for the better part of half the song ,then a flurry of melodic harmonies combined with a good pace and passionate vocal delivery give another idea of what the band are setting out to achieve with future material.

 


 Primordial Salvation is an excellent debut from the band,although they're at the beginning of their journey you can hear what they're setting out to do,presenting a stellar mix of Old School Heavy Metal,Thrash Metal with plenty of Groove and riffs for fucking days,this is a more then memorable offering and is the start of  something that will garner plenty of interest

RATING: 8/10



 




Saturday, 4 May 2024

Predator "Predator" Compilation Review


   Back in The Days when we had no internet or social media,the only sources for dicovering new bands/music were through either radio,zines word of mouth or tape trading ,for reasons within Ireland there was a large rejection of all things Heavy Metal(it's still prevelent today) maybe it was due to elitism within media cicles and also religious organisations vehemently rejected what they deemed to be "Satanic" or "Risque" thankfully there were a few who sought to champion Rock and Metal acts way back in the Mid 80,after the split of the legendary Thin Lizzy and untimely and tragic passing of the bands frontman Phil Lynott,there was a generation of new Rockers ready to step up to plate and make their mark on the scene ,one such Band was the absolutely brilliant Predator although the band were active for 6 years they left an undeniable mark that's still remembered to this day.



Formed in 1987 by Peter Dickson(Bass) and Alan Bynre(Drums) the band would record a demo in 10988 which would result in them get signed to Dublin based Label Solid Records were they would release the hughly regarded Self Titled Debut EP which features some classic tracks such as Predator ,  Bloodmoney & the phenomenal instumental Celtic Attack, Solid Records would also include the track  Missing In Action  on their Solid Citizens  Compilation.


  One of the main distinguishable features with Predator is the sublime Twin Guitar Leads,also the subtle little homages to Thin Lizzy within their sound albeit they were that slight bit heavier,as mentioned previously before they were signed they did a couple of quality demo tracks including Scream Dream & the ridiculously killer No Disgrace.

 

Despite some line up changes the band continued to unleash more quality music albeit with a different vocal style ,1989 would see the release of yet another quality demo the music would have a bit more of a Thrash Metal feel maybe due to the departure of one of the original Guitarists,this would add plenty of Riff Heavy tracks while still maintaining that core Heavy Metal value highlight,this would be the case over two demos and would feature some truly memorable tracks including Freedom Lies , Dreamscape and the monumental epicness of Four Seasons.

   


  The Band would revert back to the trsdemark Twin Lead Guitars for further releases ,they would support legendary Thrash Metal titans Anthrax on the Irish Leg of their Sate Of Euphoria tour playing in Omagh,Bangor and Dublin this tour was infamously remembered for a spitting incident causing anthrax to walk off stage, they wouls also earn a support slot with Queensryche on their Operation:lIve Crime tour with shows in SFX,Dublin & Ulster Hall,Belfast.


   

   The re-introduction of the sceond Guitarist would also add a much darker atmosphere to their sound.also once again the band have a different Vocalist with Lar Fraser taking over from O'Brien  which would add a more technical appraoch and an even more agressive style more closer to Thrash Metal then Traditional Heavy Metal,just before the recording of their final demo  ...Cross My Path their Guitarist Niall McGreevy would depart the band,this would spell the end of the band,although their were other reasons leading up to this as to the split.

  


 although this may seem like more of a retrospective than a review it's fantatsic that many contributing factors have helped Predator's legacy endure,massive credit goes to one of the bands founding members Peter Dickson and Cult Metal Classics for putting this phenomenal compilation together and having it in physical format,this is definitely a must have piece of Irish Heavy Metal History and an enduring legacy for a band that deserved to be spread to a much wider audience.

RATING; 9/10

FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100063486672763

Saturday, 24 February 2024

12 Gauge Outrage "About Time(Remastered)" EP Review

 


  Wexford Heavy Metal Veterans 12 Gauge Outrage have been circulatiing for the better part of a decade and gradually improve with each release,one of the founding members Richard Harpur  has always wanted to do a re-recording/remastering of their sublime debut EP About Time, 10 years to the day this has come to fruition and even though the band were happy with the original sound of the release this new improved version of the classic offering sounds so much more polished and punchier.


  Once that first chord hits with Shock Machine you can hear the obvious improvement with the sound ,there's also that element were the band have improved as musicians, this is possibly been said before about them but they blend early and mid era Metallica  extrmely proficiently, the absolutely fantastic anthem 12 Guage is one of their most popular tracks and is a proper riff fest, for some reason this reminds me (not musically) the Pantera classic Cowboys From Hell albeit it best decribes the band and what they're about.



 Too Sudden is another stellar offering full of riffs and melody all complimented with relentless efficiency and a steady flow in pace and quality vocal delivery,this one really packs a punch.closing track Dysfunctional Insanity is another insanely great track full of intricate guitar passages with added element of vocal harmonies which display some really stellar vocal trade-offs. the original mix of this release showed the massive potential of this ridiculously underrated band, 10 years later and we bear witness to some absolutely qaulity musicianship and the production this band deserves.





  12 Gauge Outrage have established the right to be a force to be reckoned with,a decade of quality music,memorable live performances, taking elements from from classic 80's metal,90's Metal tinged with a modern twist full of riffs,melody ,throw in subtle little refernces to Futurama and The Simpsons which adds a nice bit of humour to the mix,this remastered edition of About Time is absolutely fantastic and should not be ignored.

Rating: 9/10








Wednesday, 5 July 2023

12 Gauge Outrage "Siren" EP Review

 


   The brilliant Wexford based Heavy/Thrash Metal Stalwarts 12 Gauge Outrage have been cutting their trade for the best part of a decade with each release they've developed and honed their sound into something with an ode to the old school and something refreshing and modern, this is prevelent and noticable on their absolutely fantstic new EP Siren lets get into the finer details of this brilliant release.



   straight away you can hear the absolute razor sharp production,the atmosphere at the start of Control is extremely foreboding and dark the combination of the heavy riffing and twin vocal harmonies add a taut and concise element to the track, To Shreds is straight up 80's Thrash Metal that's an absolute ripping track can picture plenty of moshing and crowd surfing for this in a live enviroment, half way through and we're treated to some 90's Metallica-esque riffing with the brilliant My Ever Sleep the mind paced tempo makes this one a real fist thumper and bonafide headbanger.




   The Hanged Man is a real slow burner full of groove,heaviness and riffs for days,at times it sounds like the band have channelled the inner ghost of Dimebag Darrell and combined it  with ...And Justice For all era guitar tones and epicness, final track I See The Light is another quality headbanger full of groove laden hooks and stellar vocal arrangements giving the EP a somewhat dramatic and epic ending.



   At the end of the day 12 Gauge Outrage display their full arsenal of tricks ,even if you've never heard them before straight away you'll know they've being crafting and honing their sound for many years, on another note this band have the experience and longevity to keep getting better with each release,Siren has everything any true metalhead should enjoy,memorable tracks full of groove heaviness,ripping speed and all the nuances to make a great release and long may it continue.

RATING: 8.5/10

Wednesday, 16 November 2022

War Of Attrition "The Social Apocalypse" EP Review


    
   Let this serve as an introduction and a brief adulation to one of the hardest working new bands in the local scene the absolutely sublime War Of Attrition, having only started gigging just over a year ago the band have developed a reputation for a live show full of unbridled energy,passion and aggression, they defied all the odds by getting through the first heat of Metal 2 The Masses Ireland which resulted in them playing at the semi final of the popular competition, they continued to garner more attention by gigging on a very regular basis not just in their native Limerick but plenty of exposure in Dublin.this all culminated very recently with their first ever appearance at the extremely popular Siege Of Limerick which happened to coincide with the release of their brilliant debut EP The Social Apocalypse.





   As soon as that opening riff hits on Throne Of The Fallen King followed by the sirens in the background you get the underlying feeling of impending chaos and an empire is about to fall into the  throes of an apocalytic nightmare,this sets the tone perfectly for what's about to come to fruition, time for some riffs for days with Victims Of Avarice the combination of the dual guitars and the in your face vocals create a really raw and aggressive vibe to proceedings there is also a lot of melody which adds a great atmosphere, the darkly atmospheric intro to I Am Your God set a very foreboding tone eventually building to a raw and hectic pace which creates an abundance of madness and controlled chaos.






   We're treated to something different with the epic ballad like atmosphere of The Constant Gray we even get to hear what vocalist Nathan Price is truly capable of with some clean vocal parts and the lyrical content has an almost desperate/melancholic vibe added with the beautiful guitar intricacies of  Oceann and Diarmuid,this eventually builds up to possibly what the band can offer on future releases, an added bonus track in the form of the sublime and one of my favourite tracks by the band BPD which is full of aggression and taut riffing while the lyrical content touches on the theme of  faking mental health issues and being coercive and manipulative about them.




  For a debut release this ticks all the right boxes with regard to energy,passion,aggression and an honesty that is second to none, the production is extremely raw and is something i really enjoy about this EP, it perfectly captures what the band a truly capable of as a live entity being that it's has the sound of a live performance,stripped down rawness,aggression and an unbridled energy that is instantly addictive to listen to, War Of Attriton have set a standard that has garnered them much deserved recognition and they have all the attributes to develop their sound to another level.

Saturday, 30 July 2022

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/ 
 

Saturday, 11 June 2022

Theories Divide S/T EP Review



 
After a Long Six years between releases Theories Divide  have finally released their absolutely Brilliant Self Titled EP, the band originally recorded this in 2018 but it's only seeing the light of day in 2022 that's not going to make a difference how good this releases is,there's a great balance of aggression,feeling and atmosphere to explore on this release.

 Straight from the get go Ashes Fall hits like a tonne of bricks with plenty of Groove and Heaviness while combining Melodic passages and an extremely aggresive vocal delivery,about half way through the track there's a really foreboding riff that is full of atrmosphere and feeling which gradually builds up and unleashes an absolutely soaring lead, Fear No More opens up with a fast melodic riff and keeps switching between crushing riffs and fast paced aggressive sections complimented by even more killer lead guitar work,the mood starts to get a little more dark with the fantastic Poisonous Corruption the extremely prominent bassline throughout this track really adds to the heavy yet melodic riffs while the vocals adopt a more emotional delivery giving the whole sound much more added punch all this is rounded off with an awe inspiring lead near the end of the song.

 Half way throught the EP and we're treated to the absolutely epic track the aptly titled Rip Your Fucking Heart Out the pace is slightly slower then previous tracks but is made up for by the combination of Anger and Melodic Harmonies with absolutely fantastic drumming which is at times tribal/hypnotic while still mintaining a level of aggression, time for probably the Darkest and most emotional track on the release and my personal favourite on this release Engraved there's an almost Doom like atmosphere and structure to this track,full of anger,heaviness,Harmony and Melody,this is really hammered home at a section around the 4 minute mark that wouldn't sound out of place on some 90's Death/Doom album, overall a truly amazing offering, onto the last track on the EP the excellent   Ghosts Of Mine which kicks off with a truly excellent intro then gradually burst into an absolutely montrous song full of energy,emotion and anger.

 This is such a well crafted release with elements of different genres running throughout the EP giving it something for everyone to enjoy,the levels of atmosphere,emotions and killer musicianship makes this an offering that needs to be heard to be believed,hopefully this will gain Theories Divide even more fans then before.



STREAM,DOWNLOAD OR PURCHASE THE BANDS MUSIC(LINKS BELOW)
https://theoriesdivide.bandcamp.com/
https://open.spotify.com/artist/27dDlXgjXNa9ae30dznui8?si=mdEmz3ycQveFhdcrJOsebA

CHECK OUT THE BANDS SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS(LINKS BELOW)
https://www.instagram.com/theoriesdivide/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/TheoriesDivide

CHECK OUT THE BANDS YOU TUBE CHANNEL(LINK BELOW)
https://www.youtube.com/c/TheoriesDivide




Monday, 14 August 2017

Raptore "Rage N' Fever" Review

 Argentinian Heavy Metal Hellions Raptore are relatively new to the scene forming in 2012 in the city of  La Plata, thus far releasing a demo in 2014 and this their debut full length aptly entitiled "Rage N' Fever".

 The album was originally released last year through an Argentine label. Old School aficianados of Heavy/Speed Metal have been treated to a re-issue courtesy of the ever impressive German Label  Witches Brew with the added treat of two bonus tracks in the way of two covers of  Witching Hour by Venom and Desperadoes by Charger.  The band offer an impressive mix of Heavy/Speed Metal in the vein of Accept,(Early) Scorpions and Speedy elements similar to Exciter,also an underlying 70's rock n roll vibe which adds a very punchy feel to proceedings. The music on offer is very energetic,aggressive,riotous and heavy as hell, this is a really fun album to listen to and i'm sure the band puts on one hell of a show especially with ragers like Rage N' Fever, Runner Of Death &  Back In The Oven.

 Overall this is a seriously kick ass album, especially if you're a fan of Old School Heavy/Speed Metal, The band may well be in their infancy but show abundance of potential and may well be a top international act destined for stardom beyond their wildest dreams; Anyway this is definitely an album i'd highly recommend for you listening pleasure; A Rip Roaring relentless rock n roll rager that is sure to have all you Old School Fans Headbanging til your necks break.

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FOR "BACK IN THE OVEN" IN THE LINK BELOW
https://youtu.be/4KVko01D_S8

ALBUM AVAILABLE TO STREAM, DOWNLOAD & PURCHASE IN THE LINK BELOW
https://witchesbrewthrashes.bandcamp.com/album/rage-n-fever

CHECK OUT THE BANDS FACEBOOK PAGE IN THE LINK BELOW
https://www.facebook.com/raptoreofficial

Monday, 20 March 2017

Imago Mortis "Transcendental" Review


Brazilain Doom Metal merchants Imago Mortis came into existence in 1995,thus far they've released two demos.one EP & three full length albums Images from The Shady GalleryVida: The Play of Change & this their most recent album Transcendental.

 This is a truly spectacularly epic album with an abundance of atmosphere,emotion and passion; The band are primarliy a Doom Metal band but there's elements of Progressive soundscapes running throughout the album which adds a somewhat refreshing vibe to the whole package, Vocalist Alex Voorhees has an unbelievably powerful vocal range at times similar to the legendary Messiah Marcolin,the musicianship on this album is absolutely stellar with the Keyboards adding an eerily haunting atmosphere to proceedings, With each listen of this album there always seems to be something new grabbing my attention making the whole album thoroughly enjoyable.

Imago Mortis are a group of highly talented musicians who have released a fantastic album of epic proportions, This is well worth a prolonged listen from anyone fanatical about Doom Metal as there's plenty of worthwhile delivered by the band.
MEET THY MAKER & PREPARE TO BE DOOOOOOOOOMED!!!!!

CHECK OUT THE BANDS FACEBOOK PAGE IN THE LINK BELOW
https://www.facebook.com/imagomortisband

CHECK OUT THE BANDS YOU TUBE CHANNEL IN THE LINK BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/user/imagomortisbr


Saturday, 25 February 2017

Archityrants "Black Water Revelation" Review


Formed in 1998 under the moniker of A Tribute to The Plague, the band changed their name in 2007 to Archityrants, hailing from Curitiba, Brazil they deliver an epic brand of Heavy/Doom Metal similar to such luminaries as Candlemass & Solstice, this is their full length debut(as Archityrants) and was released in 2011.

This album has everything a Traditional Doom fan would enjoy, emotion,passion, beautifully crafted musicianship, darkness & melancholy in vast abundance all melded into epic song structures, the bands vocalist has unbelievable range adding a power that just catapults the music to a different stratosphere best potryed on Poison of Father is His Poisonous Son & Melancholic Sings of The Soul, most of the tracks on offer have great quality that will demand your attention,this is an album that gets better with numerous plays,each time something you didn't notice on a previous listen will grab your attention making it a very addictive listen.

Archityrants have masses of potential, with the right label and a few more releases they'll get a lot more exposure within the International Metal community, i for one will be paying very close attention to them in the future and hopefully they are sucessful in future endeavours.
KEEP IT TRUE KEEP IT METAL!!!!!!


CHECK OUT THE BANDS FACEBOOK PAGE IN THE LINK BELOW
https://www.facebook.com/Archityrants

CHECK OUT THE BANDS YOU TUBE CHANNEL IN THE LINK BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/user/Archityrants

ALBUM AVAILABLE FOR STREAMING & DOWNLOADING IN THE LINK BELOW
https://archityrants.bandcamp.com/album/black-water-revelation

Wednesday, 15 February 2017

The Evil Dead "Earth Inferno" Review


Hailing From Argentina The Evil Dead are a somewhat unique band with a style not too easy to categorize as they have an extremely creative style of Traditional Heavy Metal,Speed Metal,Melodic Black Metal and a underlying ting of Rock 'n' Roll, all fused into one, creating something diverse and original, The Band formed in 2006 and have released one EP, a Split and two full length albums including this one aptly titiled Earth Inferno.

 This Album has an abundance of all the styles mentioned previously, Snarling Black Metal vocals similar to what Dissection done on their earlier albums,Killer harmonies in the vein of Iron Maiden, aggression akin to Motorhead, a rock n roll vibe similar to AC/DC & Thin Lizzy; There's plenty of standout killer tracks throughout the album including Earth Inferno, Electric Evil Revisited, the epicly fantastic Maronan & the rifftastic Song Of The Hunt.

 This is a fantastic album, the band perform to a high standard and when you listen to it you get the feeling that they have a lot of fun doing so i'll even go out on a limb and say this it's one of the best albums i've heard so far this year and may well be an extremely popular album with most metalheads. I'll leave you with this The Evil Dead play with a lot of heart and passion and it shows on this release. In my opinion the band are going to be around for a long time where they'll hopefully hone their craft to a higher level with future releases, also i highly reccomend you to listen to this album,you'll be missing out big time of you don't.
KEEP IT METAL  KEEP IT TRUE!!!!!!

CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FOR "EARTH INFERNO" IN THE LINK BELOW
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSec1vSMuTk

ALBUM AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE, STREAM AND DOWNLOAD AT THE LINK BELOW
https://witchesbrewthrashes.bandcamp.com/track/earth-inferno

CHECK OUT THE BANDS FACEBOOK PAGE AND GIVE THEM A LIKE
https://www.facebook.com/theevildeadargentina


Saturday, 28 January 2017

Steelballs "Steelballs" Review



Hailing from Beunos Aries, Argentina,this is the debut release form 80's inspired Power/Speed Metal band Steelballs.

this EP has all the hallmarks of classic 80's Power/Speed Metal,highly influenced by legends such as Blind Guardian, Helloween, Accept, Manowar & Grave Digger; Consisting of three original tracks and a cover of the Helloween track Starlight, the EP may be short but sure as hell has all the trademarks of quality Power/Speed Metal,it's really uplifting, fun,anthemic, full of raw energy and personality.

All in all this is a fantastic EP,a full on Leather Clad,Sword Weilding Heavy Metal Attack
KEEP IT TRUE KEEP IT METAL!!!!!!

CHECK OUT THE TITLE TRACK AT THE LINK BELOW


ALBUM AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE,STREAM AND DOWNLOAD IN THE LINK BELOW

ALTERNATIVELY THE ALBUM CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE LINK BELOW

Tuesday, 3 January 2017

SpiritBell "Guided By Evil Light" Review


Hailing from Hungary SpiritBell are a traditional Heavy Metal band,the band formed in 2010 during that time the released three demos, then they were on a brief hiatus from 2013 til 2016 and then released this EP.

Opening track The Nameless Soldier is a solid in your face headbanger with strong doom elements and a vocal style somewhat similar to early Accept,this seems to be a running theme throughout the album, i'm not saying this is a bad thing for the band to do,nothing wrong with paying homage to someone as legendary as Udo Dirkschneider; Furthermore this is a pretty solid release with a lot of quality on offer including tracks such as Desert Ghost, The Flying Dutchman, Breath Of The Raven & the added bonus of a cover of the Cirith Ungol track Doomed Planet.

Hopefully the band can get a consistent run of writing newer material as a few of the tracks on this release previously appeared on their demo releases, nonetheless this release is well worth giving a listen as it shows how the bands sound has progressed on each release,
KEEP IT METAL KEEP IT TRUE!!!!!



Album Available to Buy at the link below
https://witchesbrewthrashes.bandcamp.com/album/guided-by-evil-light