Category: Album Reviews 2017

Panzer – Fatal Command

Featuring Destruction’s bassist & vocalist Schmier, ex-Accept Stefan Schwarzmann on drums, V.O Pulver of Poltergeist & G.U.R.D on guitar and newly recruited lead guitarist Pontus Norgren of Hammerfall, Panzer makes a clear bold music statement and vows to stay true to heavy metal on the sophomore release “Fatal Command”.

As soon as “Satan’s Hollow” begins with a vicious guitar riffing galore and fancy melodic leads you know what to expect from these unstoppable metal veterans. Straight to the point, the band keeps a plummeting bass & drums combo while guitars and vocals never fail to sound fierce yet certainly catchy and a sweet classic metal shredding guitar solo fits the explosive mood.

The title track is another ‘80s style heavy metal anthem so it stays true to a recognizable music formula as galloping sharp guitars get you ready to headbang and of course the massive chorus and the skilled guitar solos are a nice addition.

Besides delivering a big catchy chorus “We Can Not Be Silenced” keeps alive a true metal essence and a rebel attitude with a constant guitar driven groove and absolutely audacious vocals while the lead guitar harmonious momentum brings some charismatic diversity.

“I’ll Bring You The Night” is filled with classic heavy metal dynamics as familiar chunky riffs keep a tight rhythm always spiced up by highly entertaining flamboyant lead guitar work that adds a melodic approach and a necessary sparkling variety.

“Skullbreaker” has an unmistakable vintage heavy metal structure as loads of classic guitar riffs build thick rhythmic sections and melodic leads channel a darker mood further enhanced by venomous vocals.

“The Decline (And The Downfall)” doesn’t really deviate from the whole true heavy metal approach but tends to focus on somber guitar melodies that obviously culminate with majestic polished solos delivering additional solemn depth but you still get some cohesive thrash oriented rhythmic patterns.

Call it a supergroup or a side project nevertheless there is no space for posers on “Fatal Command” as Panzer passionately pays homage to NWOBHM and thrash putting in the mix the best elements of an unforgettable golden era that we all learned to love.

The Howling Void – The Darkness At The Edge Of Dawn

Ryan Wilson’s The Howling Void has composed the elegantly gloomy sixth album “The Darkness At The Edge Of Dawn” delivering slow paced darkened nuances and contemplative atmospheres.

With a grim yet peaceful state of mind “Distant Shores” pays homage to decades of dark/doom metal with solemn atmospheric vibes and minimalist at times ethereal melodic passages vividly depicting desolate soundscapes but guitars can also acquire heavier dynamics.

The title track is filled with crestfallen melodic patterns where obviously guitars and keyboards arrangements hold a dominant role diligently weaving soulful harmonies through immense melancholic atmospheres yet this song features additional lovely sonic variations such as the tasteful jazzy twist of sweeping guitars in the cathartic breakdown.

Inspired by familiar doom dynamics “Silence And The Setting Sun” stands out for the intricate guitar work capable of delivering mellow introvert melodic moments as well as some traditional doom oriented riffage constantly surrounded by bleak atmospheric layers and occasional whispered vocals evoking a wintry feeling that you just cannot dismiss.

It is certainly impressive that all instruments and vocals are performed solely by Ryan Wilson and his haunting songwriting feels absolutely genuine on “The Darkness At The Edge Of Dawn” which will appeal to lovers of doom and profound melancholy.

Dead Quiet – Grand Rites

Canadian metallers Dead Quiet are eager to conquer the audience with the sophomore work of music “Grand Rites” containing a massive blend of classic heavy metal roots, stoner and doom.

“Moon Cruiser” is all about tight guitar riffing and chunky rhythmic patterns but there are hints of stoner rock providing some welcomed trippy vibes further enhanced by vintage keyboards arrangements and intriguing melodic progressions while vocals often becomes angered screams.

“Blood Lovers” begins with atmospheric keyboards introducing a crescendo of gloomy melodic guitars that will acquire a heavier attitude building cohesive classic rock grooves amplified by intensely thick bass lines yet keeping a melodic core spiced up by retro keyboards accents.

“Disgraced” showcases a power ballad approach as everything slows down significantly to favor lovely slow burning melodies leading to an absolutely compelling borderline dramatic guitar solo enhanced by steady melancholy infused keyboards layers and obvious dominant retro flavors.

“Fucking Oath” clearly evokes a moody doom essence that influences deeply the heavier guitar riffs and the consequent strong bass driven rhythmic patterns accompanied by subtle ‘70s rock oriented spacey keyboards and a wild vocal delivery.

“Grand Rights” closes the album reflecting the weirder and at times dissonant tonalities of the second half of songs and is certainly not an ordinary metal track as Dead Quiet seems to become more adventurous. You still find a great deal of stoner rock/metal elements as guitar riffs ensure a heavy rhythmic section that will eventually evolve into a darkly spaced out sonic realm.

As you can tell immediately there are experienced musicians behind Dead Quiet ensuring a mature sound and songwriting skills which result in an enthusiastic music approach and the retro rock/metal tonalities render “Grand Rites” an enjoyable listening experience.

The Fright – Canto V

Fronted by charismatic baritone vocalist Lon Fright German dark rockers The Fright are ready to delight the audience with the fifth full length “Canto V”, a gothic rock manifesto conceptually inspired by Dante’s Inferno and the current political/social crisis.

A flourishing dark mood is immediately palpable on “Bonfire Night” as Lon Fright delivers exquisite gothic tinged vocals (we need more baritone singers in the current rock/metal scene!) in the midst of refined and always extremely catchy melodic guitars that invite you to sing along and provide a certain addictive rock groove that gets stuck in your mind.

Still keeping a very melodic approach “Wander Alone” definitely channels some entertaining goth vibes and again guitars skillfully maintain pleasantly catchy rhythmic patterns inevitably enhanced by Lon’s heartfelt vocal delivery seamlessly shifting from particularly gloomy tones to an edgy rocker style.

“Fade Away” might be mistaken for a simple borderline ballad but its inner gothic charisma should not be dismissed as recurring soft piano melodies contribute to create a rather darkly emotional palette that favors contemplative guitar melodies and inspired vocals.

You will become easily addicted to the understated beauty of the guitar melodies and the malicious dark chorus of “Oblivion” as an accessible bass & guitar combo leads to a captivating steady rock crescendo while Lon’s vocals delightfully pay homage to decades of alluring goth ‘n roll.

Featuring guest vocalist Michelle Darkness of End Of Green “Leave” has a bewitching dark aura channeling magical ‘80s goth & glam flavors, especially in the memorable chorus, and the grave vocals here are simply spellbinding bearing a dark romanticism well supported by loads of catchy melodic guitars and a fancy rocking guitar solo.

“Drowned In Red” continues to evoke the gothic mood that pervades the whole album as slow paced darkened melodies tend to dominate the song’s structure expressing pure melancholy while some crunchy guitar riffs add subtle metal influences but the darkly mesmerizing catchiness of Lon’s vocals will undoubtedly conquer any listener.

The catchy nature of the guitar driven grooves and the enchanting darkened flavors of “Canto V” absolutely deserve a wide audience as The Fright successfully & delightfully channels the best nuances of goth & rock.

 

Legend – Midnight Champion

Legend is another absolutely intriguing band coming from the burgeoning rock/metal scene of Iceland and the newest effort “Midnight Champion” elegantly gathers kaleidoscopic nuances and multiple influences ranging from retro electro-goth to modern post-metal flavors.

“Cryptid” is a winning album opener where mysterious sounds introduce an eclectic music blend that certainly focuses on atmospheric quality with loads of compelling synths arrangements favoring a darkened mood yet the comforting vocal delivery and the steady understated guitar grooves provide subtle energetic dynamics.

“Time To Suffer” offers engaging electro beats reminiscent of unforgettable ‘80s electro-goth style and you might have to just let go of any inhibition and start dancing yet Legend packs the main melodic core with overwhelming darkness as groovy crunchy guitar riffs hold hints of distorted industrial metal elements and vocals shift from polished delivery to a more wicked tone.

Almost like an electro ballad version “Adrift” relies particularly on hazy luminous atmospheric layers and powerfully contemplative vocals channeling an emotional palette but towards the end gains a higher dose of energy and epic vibes with sparkling melodic composition.

After a dramatic atmospheric beginning revolving around impressive vocals the title track swiftly acquires majestic vibes as well as somber melodic catchiness built by monumental synths and minimalist guitars.

With some pop upbeats and charming retro atmospheric arrangements “Liquid Rust” definitely evokes some surreal romantic gloom yet the main rhythm & chorus become too catchy to trigger sadness as the flawless electro rock blend here feels both danceable and spaced out.

While all over “Midnight Champion” lingers an exquisite Nordic feeling that belongs to cold winter days Legend is always able to provide great catchiness in every rhythmic variation/pattern resulting in a widely enjoyable work of music.

Destruction – Thrash Anthems II

A thirty years career deserves a bombastic celebration and with the help of a successful crowd funding campaign Destruction has chosen to re-record and re-imagine a collection of classic songs on the album “Thrash Anthems II” which is the rightful continuation of the previous “Thrash Anthems” released in 2007.

With a moody acoustic intro “Confused Mind” starts this nostalgic trip revisiting the early days of Destruction and proceeds with the expected overdose of tight thrash style guitar riffing. Originally “United By Hatred” was on the same 1986 album “Eternal Devastation” and certainly maintains that vintage thrash sonic assault that we have learned to love.

“Black Mass” is an obscure beast with loads of crunchy riffing but also some memorable melodic guitars that acquire a renewed powerful crispy sound in this modern recording.

Originally released on the band’s first full length “Black death” successfully channels pure anger with straightforward guitar riffs and ravenous screams keeping old school thrash metal alive.

“Satan’s Vengeance” obviously comes with vibrant diabolical vibes embedded in the vicious guitar riffs and drumming complemented by a killer fast guitar solo.

Compilations or ‘best of’ albums often receive mixed feelings but if you are a loyal longtime fan of mighty Destruction “Thrash Anthems II” deserves a spot in your collection.

Dark Embrace – The Call Of The Wolves

Spanish dark metal band Dark Embrace aims to conquer a solid spot in the metal scene with the newest effort “The Call Of The Wolves” which features the renowned talent of Snowy Shaw behind the drum kit.

The album opener “Memories” introduces the listeners to a dark sonic realm fueled by solemn atmospheric arrangements with remarkable hints of melancholia and loads of melodic guitars work nicely entwined with sharper classic metal riffage.

“Time Will Tell” becomes heavier with a frenetic combo of drum blasts and guitar riffs while vocals efficiently shift from darkened growls to theatrical clean delivery while keyboards provide additional dramatic melodic textures.

The title track maintains a profound dark essence with gloomy keyboards layers and intense growls marching through an ensemble of tight guitar riffs and somber melodies.

“Let The Blind To See” amplifies the gothic metal nuances with darkly emotive keyboards but also channels an understated sense of grandeur with a particularly fervent vocal delivery while the whole instrumentation keeps a fierce rhythmic backbone.

The eponymous track “Dark Embrace” doesn’t deviate from the dark metal approach but actually enhances it focusing on gothic style guitar melodies yet always provides a fair dosage of heavier & faster grooves.

“The Call Of The Wolves” clearly draws inspiration from decades of gothic metal and there is an absolute love for all things dark as well as subtle epic vibes that could gain a wider audience for Dark Embrace.

 

Motörhead – Under Cöver

After the heartbreaking passing of legendary Lemmy Kilmister the new Motörhead album “Under Cöver” featuring a great selection of covers is a nice way to keep Lemmy’s legacy alive.  Throughout their years together Lemmy, Phil Campbell and Mikkey Dee had fun covering some favorite songs and “Under Cöver” never fails to show the band’s enthusiasm and chemistry besides an inevitable sense of nostalgia.

Judas Priest’s classic hit “Breaking The Law” certainly sounds different with Lemmy’s scratchy delivery and more wild rock ‘n roll oriented.

The unreleased version of David Bowie’s iconic classic “Heroes”, originally recorded during 2015’s Bad Magic sessions, sounds particularly melancholic but the rock party vibes and the catchy guitar grooves are still quite evident.

Ted Nugent’s  radio hit “Cat Scratch Fever” doesn’t feel particularly different from the original but certainly Lemmy’s signature vocals do add a seasoned rocker edge.

Rolling Stones’ “Sympathy For The Devil” will always be an unforgettable great song and Motörhead deliver a very entertaining interpretation with full focus on killer guitar work.

Metallica’s “Whiplash” truly becomes irresistible in this Motörhead version maybe because of Lemmy’s genuine raw rocker voice or the gritty guitar sound regardless this is one of the best covers in this particular collection.

For faithful Motörhead’s fans around the world “Under Cöver” is definitely a must-have collection item and a rightful celebration of timeless rock classics.

 

Sorxe – Matter & Void

Phoenix based band Sorxe is relatively a new name in the metal scene but the sophomore effort “Matter & Void” demands the listeners’ full attention as these guys deliver captivating songwriting ideas with intense psychedelic flavors.

The spacey atmospheric vibes of “Hypnotizer” introduce massive guitar driven grooves and certainly the untamed screams help maintaining a heavy approach but with undiluted creative force wild guitars tend to take the spotlight leading to a charismatic guitar solo.

The psychedelic nature of “Distraction Party” is definitely attention worthy as fierce guitar riffs and distorted licks guide the whole instrumentation through monolithic rhythmic patterns that will occasionally slow down with stoner oriented melodic passages.

“Never To See” puts aside the expected overdose of heavy sludge concoctions to create an enigmatic atmospheric maze with a consequent trippy mood and it’s like feeling lost in a remote desert at night when the guitar work start to deliver hazy melodies but also slightly macabre nuances.

On “The Endless Chasm” Sorxe raises the bar with a genuine desire for experimentation in order to escape the need to follow the annoying standard rules of music composition. There is still a cohesive backbone of stoner doom & sludge elements to satisfy a thirst for punishing heavy rhythms yet this lengthy track will take you through a multi-dimensional music journey when everything slows down to favor acidic rock melodies built by an excellent guitar work that just seems unstoppable within an addictive psychedelic whirlwind.

Ensuring a majestic heavy assault that benefits also from the presence of two bassists, “Matter & Void” dwells in a darkened psychedelic limbo where Sorxe carefully crafts intricate and often unexpected music patterns that will inevitably intrigue the audience.

Black Wail – Chromium Homes

The story of Jersey City’s rockers Black Wail starts in 2014 so they might still be considered an emerging act but the newest EP “Chromium Homes” is meant to gather a wide audience with a dazzling blend of 70’s hard rock and psychedelia.

The fuzzy guitar harmonies of “They” immediately set the vintage mood that will dominate the album as the band proves to be capable of channeling the most beloved elements of classic southern rock skillfully spiced up with multifaceted stylish details such as the trippy vibes of stoner rock, the versatility of bluesy guitar style and a heavier sludge attitude.

On “Thee Ghost” guitar driven rhythms acquire crunchy dynamics ensuring a quite heavy wall of sound yet elegant atmospheric details evoke darkened nuances definitely amplified by fierce vocals while gradually an acidic rock trip becomes palpable with groovy guitar riffs & melodies.

The title track features absolutely pleasant bluesy rock grooves bearing lavish retro rock tonalities which always provide additional entertaining quality with loads of smooth guitar licks, genuine rocker style vocal delivery and slightly trippy atmospheric layers.

It would be hard to resist the cathartic doom nature of “Norwegian Wood” as Black Wail slows down the rhythm to fully enhance the band’s darker side and evoke psychedelic dreamy soundscapes that constantly surround the whole instrumentation leading to a highly enjoyable guitar solo.

Certainly “Chromium Homes” showcases talented musicianship and a lovable darkened rock vision as Black Wail puts a lot of passion in the composition of these tracks.