Amsterdam based metallers The Charm The Fury have released their sophomore album “The Sick, Dumb & Happy” which promises to deliver an explosive thrash/classic metal blend with timeless 80s and 90s vibes.

“Down On The Ropes” revolves around a high impact guitar driven heavy groove with additional old school thrash accents that call for stomping and headbanging while vocalist Caroline Westendorp steals the scene with intensely aggressive vocals.

“Echoes” will stand out for the insanely entertaining groove spiced up by harsh growls and thick rhythmic backbone but, depending on your music preferences, the very radio friendly polished chorus might feel out of place or too poppy to be taken seriously.

“Blood And Salt” mainly leaves behind the heavier music core, even if scattered anger drive momentums are still present, to focus on widely accessible melodies and on Westendorp’s charismatic mellow clean vocals.

“Silent Wars” puts aside any savage moshpit friendly dynamics and delivers a very traditional metal ballad with easy acoustic melodies and emotionally charged clean vocals.

“Songs Of Obscenity” offers a venomous metalcore oriented sonic assault with loads of tight guitar riffing and later gains a more traditionally melodic momentum but again Westendorp’s guttural screams seem to be more interesting than the actual instrumental work.

In the end, “The Sick, Dumb & Happy” might sound fun and entertaining with its inner particularly wide music diversity, often with a classic metal approach or a modern metalcore attitude, but it doesn’t always feel like a truly cohesive effort.

As the retro rock/metal trend continues to gain fans worldwide, Swedish rockers Saturn are ready to release their sophomore album “Beyond Spectra” packed with the band’s own blend of groovy riffs with an incredibly honest vintage sound.

“Orbital Command” holds a melancholic soul filled of warm passionate melodies but you should crank up the volume to fully enjoy the crispy energy of the guitar riffs and the wild charismatic solo.

“Nighttime Badger” feels darkened and moody with dominant super retro guitar riffs, trippy psychedelic accents and an overall irresistible warm nostalgic sound.

“Electrosaurus Sex” is a surreal fun track that could have been recorded in the 70s and all instruments work together to create a retro infused groove.

“Still Young” might deliver the catchiest groove with relentless guitar riffing, compelling melodic leads, rocking vocals and simple good vibes that do not need particular special effects to become memorable.

“Helmet Man” features a decadent space rock groove that relies heavily on memorable blistering guitar leads shifting from catchy melodic to borderline somber doom.

“Beyond Spectra” will be a delightful discovery for lovers of vintage music as Saturn has put a lot of serious effort to successfully concoct a cosmic nostalgic music trip with the right analog tones and a genuine passion for 70s rock/metal.

American thrash outfit Warbringer proves to be back in excellent shape with the new album “Woe To The Vanquished” which is ready to unleash an overdose of proper old school influenced thrash metal songs.

“Silhouettes” has a savage yet balanced rhythm that will get you ready for some necessary headbanging as raw and venomous guitar riffing, well supported by solid bass lines, keep on acquiring impressive energy in traditional thrash fashion.

The title track features a rather aggressive fast paced approach amplified by anger driven screams and a scorching crescendo of guitar riffs but also a somber mood enhanced by a charismatic guitar solo.

“Spectral Asylum” still focuses on monolithic thrash oriented riffing but channels more melodic moody musical themes with a fancy guitar solo and dramatic harmonies characterized by a heavily blackened sound further amplified by particularly ferocious vocals.

“When The Guns Fell Silent” delivers a different epic approach that leaves behind part of the essential thunderous thrash core to focus mainly on a slower dystopian atmosphere elegantly expressed in the inspired anguished melodies, impressive melancholic lead guitars and tormented screams.

Classic thrash lovers will fully comprehend and appreciate “Woe To The Vanquished” which tends to stay true to familiar and nostalgic Bay Area thrash elements but also delivers hints of a promising progressive musical blend.

American progressive metal band Vangough has released a brand new full length entitled “Warpaint” which aims to leave a mark in the chaotic music scene focusing on intriguing and emotional songwriting as well as variegated instrumental styles.

“Morphine” combines calm emotional melodies and vocals with more powerful prog oriented dynamics especially expressed in the eclectic lead guitar work. The whole song is infused with dramatic vibes but features also some unexpected fierce growls.

“The Suffering” showcases a particularly crunchy rhythmic backbone with sleek bass lines and solid drumming. Emotionally charged vocals follow nice harmonious passages within a somber moody theme but also display more aggressive tones that match the tight guitar riffing.

“Knell” revolves around a grandiose melancholy with clean soft vocals and minimalist guitar melodies. As the rhythm gains a heavier momentum, vocals and guitar melodies acquire a cold sense of desperate desolation.

“Black Rabbit” stands out for the compelling prog oriented instrumental work that takes a dominant role with subtle technical accents and dynamic style variations in the midst of a gloomy introvert atmosphere enhanced by dreamy arpeggios.

“Warpaint” might not be an astonishing perfect album nevertheless Vangough shows remarkable potential and consistent interesting ideas resulting in an enjoyable collection of songs that might attract a wider audience.

French death metal grinders Benighted are ready to unleash their latest and most confident brutal effort “Necrobreed” filled with furiously punishing fast songs.

“Reptilian” packs a straightforward explosive array of anger driven guitar riffs well supported and amplified by a super tight bass & drums combo and venomous growls.

Featuring guest vocalist Trevor Strnad of The Black Dahlia Murder, “Forgive Me Father” stands out for the vicious blackened guitar driven sonic assault with a breathless fast rhythm that occasionally slows down with catchy dark accents.

The title track features loads of traditional death metal elements with powerful guttural vocals and acute ravenous screams in the midst of a constant plummeting asphyxiating pace.

“Monsters Make Monsters” brings a diverse scenario with a more atmospheric approach and some style and tempo variations that convey a primordial blackened mood ultimately leading to unexpected melodic piano passages.

“Reeks Of Darkened Zoopsia” delivers another relentless crescendo of crunchy guitar riffs while the overall mood acquires a sinister aura further enhanced by savage vocals.

“Mass Grave” is filled of intense traditional death/grind guitar riffing and once again the hammering rhythmic section reaches incredible speed while, towards the end of the song, particularly blackened guitar driven variations and dramatically tormented screams take the center stage.

Yes, Benighted successfully demonstrates to fully comprehend and express the concept of extreme metal but also takes time to feature scattered interesting melodic accents and “Necrobreed” might not be the most diverse or eclectic album as it mostly stays true to a brutal galore that calls for wild headbanging and moshpit.

Among new emerging bands, technical metal quartet Disperse might stand out thanks to the new full length “Foreword” which features a multifaceted mixture of prog/jazzy tunes with some modern pop catchiness.

“Stay” has luminous atmospheric approach before introducing a kaleidoscopic array of complex prog influenced guitar work and syncopated rhythm that never feel overwhelming as all instruments effortlessly blend within easier melodic themes.  “Surrender” showcases enthralling technical prowess, especially in the majestic guitar work, with interesting tempo variations and impressively rich prog textures without compromising the song’s positive melodic energy.

On “Bubbles” the band combines dreamy atmospheres and a generous dose of odd-time signatures while shifting from peaceful harmonies to heavier guitar driven rhythms.

“Tomorrow” delivers remarkable prog oriented guitar work with a stronger crunchy approach that reaches a serious acme with faster precise riffing towards the end of the song.

“Sleeping Ivy” features surreal electro infused atmospheric layers embellished by intricate melodic guitar passages and soft vocals that always evoke a brighter mood.

“Gabriel” stands out for the intriguing jazz oriented guitar work that tends to hold the spotlight surrounded by delicate dreamlike atmospheres.

Overall, Disperse demonstrates a fascinating creative force that deserves legit appreciation and “Foreword” is a confident work of music characterized by compelling attention for stylish details.

British sludge rock band Hark is ready to unleash the sophomore album entitled “Machinations” which promises to deliver a heavily intricate collection of songs.

“Fortune Favours The Insane” immediately showcases great potential channeling a moody desert rock with familiar stoner influences  in the midst of a more aggressive confident guitar riffing.

“Disintegrate” tries to build a powerful groove with prominent heavy guitar riffs but also delivers some melodic themes with slower stoner oriented vibes enhanced by entertaining guitar leads.

“Speak In Tongues” is all about a monolithic guitar driven groove with loads of gritty riffs and a mid paced solid rhythmic section but there is also space for a quite interesting series of guitar leads that carry more melodic elements.

“Comnixant 30” is an instrumental track that stands out for the compelling progressive style variations with luminous melodic guitar work and a rather atmospheric mood that leaves behind the previous heavier rhythms.

The most epic and lengthy track “The Purge” showcases a more experimental approach to spice up the strong sludge rock core focusing on an energetic multifaceted guitar work that will certainly grab the listeners’ attention.

While “Machinations” shines for some remarkable intriguing ideas filled with a generous dose of heavy sludge fueled grooves it would also greatly benefit from a less muddy sound and more diverse song structure.

Sludge stoner rockers Hyborian has released a massive guitar driven album entitled “Volume I” which is meant to deliver high impact tracks with solid heavy riffage and intriguing interstellar/fantasy oriented lyrics.

“As Above, So Below” starts as a proper spacey ride that creates a bit of suspense before introducing a series of guitar riffs as crunchy as possible.

“Blood For Blood” runs on harsh guitar riffs that relentlessly build a catchy heavy groove with wild palpable sludge/stoner elements but also occasional smoother melodic accents while mysterious spacey sounds and voice bring an enigmatic closure to the track.

“Ajna” features progressive influenced melodic guitar work but Hyborian also incorporates another solid round of heavily tick guitar riffing to create a massive groove with a savage rhythmic section.

On “Dross” a thunderous rhythm clearly calls for stomping and headbanging while lead guitars deliver crispy melodies culminating in a catchy solo followed by an outer space outro.

On “Volume I” Hyborian tends to ‘space out’ but never forget to maintain monolithic heavy grooves that will trigger the listeners’ interest and curiosity for what the band might deliver in the future.

 

Helsinki based post punk/rock band Hello Black Hole featuring Johan “Goatspeed” Snell, known as the creative force behind the cult band Beastmilk, is ready to release a 4 track EP entitled “In No Good Hand” generously packed with loads of catchy melodies.

“Tight Rope Tightens” shows some rough punk roots with a mid paced indie rock style rhythm that naturally surrounds a super catchy series of polychromatic melodies.

“Five Hundred Rocks To Throw” has a raw garage rock approach with scratchy guitar driven rhythms and slightly rebellious vocals but is also full of luminous melodies that culminates with a smooth crispy guitar solo.

“Crude Awakening” starts with charismatic bass lines followed by an overload of catchy dirty guitar riffs that nicely build a healthy rocking groove. While the post punk attitude lingers throughout the song, the melodic core conveys a rather somber mood.

“In No Good Hand” might be short but Hello Black Hole certainly delivers an entertaining groovy work of music with lovely dark accents suitable for a wide audience.

After a short hiatus Kataklysm’s side project Ex Deo comes back with the third full length “The Immortal Wars” on which charismatic vocalist Maurizio Iacono proudly narrates the endeavors of the great military commander Hannibal during the Punic wars.

“The Rise Of Hannibal” features dominant magnificent symphonic arrangements that convey a theatrical atmosphere while guitars and thick bass lines deliver obscurely nuanced melodies in a well constructed mid paced rhythm with subtle death metal echoes.

On “Crossing Of The Alps” the melo-death inspired guitar work acquires a more powerful role amplified by a crispy energetic rhythmic section and embellished by a captivating polished melodic guitar solo while Maurizio delivers viciously fierce growls.

“Cato Major: Carthago Delenda Est!” relies on a heavier primordial rhythmic backbone as drums and guitars acquire a more aggressive impetus surrounded by cinematic sinister symphonic orchestrations and warrior style choirs.

“The Roman” starts with solemn symphonic orchestrations conveying a tragic mood that gradually gives way to a relentless guitar driven ferocious sonic attack and enthralling shredding but the song reaches its epic acme with Maurizio’s inspiring Italian words filled with heartfelt devotion to the historic unrivaled grandeur of Roma.

With triumphant orchestrations and dramatic atmospheres “The Immortal Wars” celebrates history and glory and Ex Deo mark their return to the music scene with the expected majestic style. Ave Roma!