GREYHAWK - Warriors of Greyhawk review

 

GREYHAWK - Warriors of Greyhawk

Cruz del Sur Music

When you come to this site that last thing you expect is some Extreme Metal maniac talking about Power Metal. But hey I do know what sounds cool regardless. With that said I've been following this Seattle, Washington five piece act for a few years now. They started out in 2016.Their debut full length, Keepers of the Flame, came out in 2020. They followed that up with the great Call of the Hawk EP in 2022. But 2024's Thunderheart was decent. 

With all of that said I still figured GREYHAWK would become the premier US Power Metal band of the 2000's. Duh, so listen to this one.This album equals or better outs what the Germans have been doing of late. I mean like hey HELLOWEEN, listen to this US steel.

So what's great about GREYHAWK? Well lets start with vocalist Anthony Corso. This guy does the whole Power Metal vocal style as well as belt out some 80's style Hard Rock singing. Next up you've got the guitar duo of Jesse Berlin, the riff master, and Rob Steinway, the soloist. This pair nail it throughout this album. The drum work and bass duties are flawless.

 

GREYHAWK's third full length is a masterpiece of Power Metal combined with some 80's Melodic Hard Rock. I knew this band was gonna be great. 

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTEN HERE:

https://greyhawkmetal.bandcamp.com/album/warriors-of-greyhawk

FER DE LANCE - Fires on the Mountainside review

 

FER DE LANCE - Fires on the Mountainside

Cruz del Sur Music

Here we have the second full length from this Chicago, Illinois act. The genre tagline on this is Epic Doom Metal again. Now I use the word "again" because I remember checking out this band's full length debut, The Hyperborean, from 2022. Back then I wasn't into it plus the tagline description is totally wrong. 

This time around the same tagline is applied and it is wrong. Actually it should be "coming to a Pagan Fest tour near you." Yeah sound-wise this is what was once referred to as Battle Metal. In other words it's part Power Metal with an emphasis on the sword and sorcery themes. In the PR material they mention BATHORY's latter Viking era material as being an influence. Yeah I'll say these guys listened to Nordland Vols: 1 and 2. 

Now with that all said FER DE LANCE's second album is pretty damm good if you acknowledge what it really is. I'm still laughing a bit since this band is from Chicago. Which every weekend has shootings, murders, robberies and their mayor is a scumbag. And this band is writing songs about swords and sorcery which have no satire to their city's problems. So hey fuck reality and lets delve into fantasy.

But with that said FER DE LANCE is a band made up of Metal veterans who know how to create epic sounding anthems which should make em a headline act at WACKEN 2026. I mean listen to this early in the day and walk out later unto a world of assholes. You're a battle hardened winner. I must admit that I'm not a fan of this type of music as I once was. But damm I can recognize talent and on this release FER DE LANCE explodes with it. 

OK first off let's start with the song writing which is incredible. It reminds me of a concept album with acoustic elements weaved in to explosive epic numbers. The vocals soar with guitars cascading in with epic melodies. At times there's some great monumental soloing. The vocals are varied in style which gives things more variety. The rhythm section is over the top. 

I believe the bottom line is that FER DE LANCE's sophomore album is America's best export to the European Metal continent who created this epic sounding music. In all honesty I think it's better than what they have produced. And yeah FER DE LANCE should be a headliner at Wacken 2026.  Nuff Said!

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTERN HERE:

https://ferdelancemetal.bandcamp.com/album/fires-on-the-mountainside-2

TOWER - Let There Be Dark review

 

TOWER - Let There Be Dark

Cruz del Sur Music

I like when newer bands start out strong with that fury of the past and then recreate it all in their own image. On this TOWER's third full length they've forged something powerful and slightly different then last time I heard em. And just from the beginning here I'm gonna say this fuckin album rules.

I first got into this New York five piece act with their second album Shock to the System. I saw em on that tour and they were amazing. It was great female fronted Metal as far as contemporary acts go these days. They were very rock influenced but had plenty of NWOBHM influence within. So that album was one of my top favorites of 2021. It still is in fact I'd label it a classic album of the 2020's decade.

So with this new one yeah it's forged in a different and better way. Starting with the obvious, Sarabeth Linden's vocals are over the top. I mean she has that operatic high style plus some hard rockin vocals to boot. I thought she was captivating to hear last time around. But on this album I'd say Sarabeth Linden is one of the greatest vocalist in Metal right now.

The second thing which is great about this album is the amazing rocking guitar duo of James Danzo and Zak Penley. The riffs are in that speedy NWOBHM style and the solos just bite yer head off. Along with that the band has new drummer Keith Mikus who joined in 2022. This guy is pretty fuckin dynamic in his playing. Also there's original bassist Philippe Arman who also came back into the fold in 2022. So this is like a super fuckin line-up. 

Now when the opening cut "Under the Chapel" hits then you know, if you're a fan, that this is not exactly the TOWER you knew. Since the album title is Let There Be Dark then yeah TOWER has moved slightly to the darker side. Also this album has more of a metallic edge as well as still being melodic and aggressive sounding. 

This album is just fantastic as in one of the best albums of 2025.

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTEN HERE:

https://towernyc.bandcamp.com/album/let-there-be-dark

CHRISTIAN MISTRESS - Children of the Earth review

 

CHRISTIAN MISTRESS - Children of the Earth

Cruz Del Sur Music

So does anyone else remember CHRISTIAN MISTRESS? Well yeah I do, back in the late 2000's they where what you would call "a thing". Basically they were a new female fronted Metal band with some good musicianship. some people in the Metal media put em into the Doom genre category. I didn't but hey I'm not a hiptard. 

The band, who were from Seattle, Washington, started out in 2008. Their debut full length, Agony & Opium, came out in 2010 on 20 Buck Spin records. Their second and well received album, Possession, came out in 2012 on Relapse Records. This was their high point. Then in 2015 the band released To Your Death which was a decent rocker. After that the band went silent. 

I own all three of the CHRISTIAN MISTRESS full lengths. I still think Possession is a great album. But here we are ten years later and the band is back but not what you think. The band right now is still Christine Davis on vocals, Tim Diedrich who joined in 2014 on guitar, Jonny Wulf is still on bass and Reuben W. Storey still on drums. Back in the day this band was a five piece act but those two original guitarists are gone. 

So what does CHRISTIAN MISTRESS sound like ten years later? Well in all honesty they're not as good as they use to be. Musically this eight song release reminds me of a time decades ago when you'd have an average sounding rock band with a female singer and you thought they were OK. At their high point years ago CHRISTIAN MISTRESS were probably filling a five hundred capacity venue. Listening to this I think they'd be lucky to get thirty people to see em in a bar on a Saturday night. 

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTEN HERE:

https://christianmistress.bandcamp.com/album/children-of-the-earth

DEMONBITCH - Master of the Games review

DEMONBITCH - Master of the Games

Gates of Hell Records / Cruz del Sur Music

When I saw the name of the band my first thought was cool it's some new female fronted metal. OK I was really fucking wrong on that one. Instead what we have here is some complex out of the box sounding Power Metal with a vocalist who is unique sounding to say the least. 

DEMONBITCH are a US five piece act hailing from Detroit, Michigan. The band has been around since 2011 and this is their second full length release. Now when it comes to the Power Metal genre I'm like sure I've got a collection of what someone better than me would call the classics. I have no problem with that since I'm not an aficionado / expert fan of the genre. 

Normally I use to say I've listened to it and it's not my thing. But I believe this second full length by DEMONBITCH needs to be written about for two reasons. This is either great US Power Metal or I'm still a Power Metal novice and should just give up. Be that either point matters when I listen to this release I can't help but think of CIRITH UNGOL. 

Not that DEMONBITCH sound anything like CIRITH UNGOL. It's just that you've got some really cool sounding music with a polarizing vocalist. Look Logon Saton is an amazing clean singing vocalist with an amazing range. He also lets you know every octave he can achieve throughout this release. What's really evil is that after hearing this five times in a row you actually like his eclectic singing style.

As far as the music goes well there's another break from standards which makes this release unique or insane. I believe the guitar work on here is absolutely insane. I mean there's a steady amount of NWOBHM and Speed Metal rhythm song structure style. But then the guitar soloing comes into play and you're sitting there listening and then freaking out at the six string blasts coming through your speakers.  

In the end it's Yngwie meets MAIDEN meets Power Metal traditionalism meets that crazy band who had guitarists jumping around on trampolines on stage with a singer who's all over the fuckin place. Yeah this is insane and I like it.   

http://www.gatesofhellrecords.com/

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTEN HERE:

https://demonbitch.bandcamp.com/album/master-of-the-games

 

STYGIAN CROWN - Funeral for a King review

 

STYGIAN CROWN - Funeral for a King

Cruz del Sur Music

And yet another female fronted doom band I'm checking out this year. Well it has so far been interesting. With that said this is the second album from STYGIAN CROWN. They're a five piece act hailing from Los Angeles, California. So there's a couple of things to notice. This band features two GRAVEHILL members. Who by the way are a damm good death thrash band. I have a couple of their releases.

Now as far as STYGIAN CROWN goes well if you handed me a blank CD and asked what I thought of it. I'd say it sounds like some death metal musicians trying to play epic doom with a singer who's not very good. OK so I'm half right. On here, aside from a boring opening instrumental, STYGIAN CROWN do come out of the gates with some heavy handed doom which would make an old school CANDLEMASS fan think is OK but a new school fan go "cool dude", especially if you're into the hype. 

And I've gotta say musically this album meets the marks as far as quality doom riffs, a rhythm section nailing things to perfection. Props to Eric Bryan's bass work on here. Add to that I like their use of piano and violin to their overall sound on a few songs. But I'm not a fan of the vocals. Melissa Pinion does pull off a few halfway decent performances but overall I'm not in her fan base. 

This ends up being kinda sad since musically this is a decent album plagued by one variant. Reminds me of my problem with the early albums by CIRITH UNGOL. Great music but those vocals.

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://stygiancrown.bandcamp.com/album/funeral-for-a-king

MEGA COLOSSUS - Showdown review

 

MEGA COLOSSUS - Showdown

Cruz del Sur Music

Raleigh, North Carolina's own traditional metal band comes out with their fourth full length since starting out back in the mid 2000s. In all honesty I've never written about this band nor have I seen em live over the years. So hey no hometown bias alert on my part. I do remember years ago when they first started out and the local music media were hyping the hell out of em. Then again the local music media were a bunch of hipsters. 

 

Be that as it is this latest from MEGA COLOSSUS is a melodic power metal sounding release. I mean sure there's plenty of MAIDEN-esque galloping riffs but also some 70's hard rock riffage like on the title cut. There are times listening to this when I'm thinking "imagine when Metal actually rocked." I mean lead vocalist Sean Buchanan can wail. 

Musically this is cool as far as old Power Metal meets some damm good 80's Metal standards and toss in some DRAGONFORCE influence. There's plenty of highlights like the amazing guitar solo work, which is eclectic as hell, the harmonies and the wild song structures will capture your ears to the fullest. And hey like I said earlier the vocals are amazing. 

The sad truth is that MEGA COLOSSUS is a band that should be playing at WACKEN but will most likely be playing a half empty club here in Raleigh. Showdown, despite it's horrible cover artwork, should be something that any power metal fan will love. 

 

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://colossusmetal.bandcamp.com/album/showdown

SMOULDER - Violent Creed Of Vengeance review

 

SMOULDER - Violent Creed Of Vengeance

Cruz del Sur Music

Here we have the second album by Canada's SMOULDER. I really liked their debut, Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring, from 2019. After listening to this new one a few times it's obvious the sophomore jinx does not apply. SMOULDER are, or should be, looked upon as true greatness as far as true metal goes in these modern times. 

So there are a lot of things going on here to that greatness. First and foremost are the vocals by Sarah Ann Vincent. This woman has a powerful vocal style that oozes true metal. She sings from the heart which you've gotta love. She's got a powerful  gutsy style going on. And she's the perfect singer for this style of music. 

SMOULDER are a touch MAIDEN-esque (aka: galloping rhythms, twin guitar harmonies and of course some amazing leads). Add to that they love some doom as well as the whole old ways of MANILLA ROAD and a touch of CIRITH UNGOL with better vocals of course. Yes it's old school metal worship with no hits or MTV videos. Sarah Ann Vincent and company come off doing sagas on all of the seven cuts here. 

Violent Creed Of Vengeance is an amazing album and something that I'll be listening to for a long time. SMOULDER did not just put out a second album. They put out a masterpiece. The tag line for them is epic metal (whatever that means) but hey the close to ten minute opus "Dragonslayer's Doom" is pretty fuckin epic.   

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://smoulder.bandcamp.com/album/violent-creed-of-vengeance

GATEKEEPER - From Western Shores review

 

GATEKEEPER - From Western Shores

Cruz Del Sur Music

So a few years ago (2018 to be exact) this Canadian band came out with their full length debut, East of Sun. Musically it was in the vein of that past epic heavy metal sound. Yeah I'd also say they were leaning into power metal. Toss in some MANOWAR influence as well as some others, yeah too many to name, and you had a decent album. Yeah it was cool and had plenty of variety in the song writing style. 

The band's mainman, guitarist Jeff Black, had started GATEKEEPER in 2013. Their debut EP, Prophecy and Judgement, from that year is still highly praised to this day. So when I saw that this new album was coming out I was seriously interested. Then I started listening to the release and thought hey this is different. Yeah in the interim between albums Jeff Black made some line-up changes. 

For starters you've got new vocalist Tyler Anderson who I'll say is better suited for the whole power metal sound then previous singer Jean-Pierre Abboud. Also there's a new guitar slinger in Adam Bergen who replaces Kenny Kroecher. The rhythm section of bassist David Messier and drummer Tommy Tro are still in the fold. 

Listening to this album I'm automatically reminded of how ICED EARTH and HELLOWEEN started out but made subtle changes in their progression soon afterward. GATEKEEPER is in that vein of moving forward from just being a cool sounding throwback act to full on power metal greatness. OK sure I'm pushing the hyperbole again so they're not in that camp of major greatness yet. But From Western Shores puts them in the fight for 2023 at least.

There's eight cuts on here. The album opens with the title track. It's a powerful one and when the chorus hit I was like hey that's a different singer. Of course musically it's great with a solid guitar solo. What follows is a mix of melodic numbers with a slice of viciousness here and there. Jeff Black delivers on some solid riffs throughout. But I got to give it to the additions of vocalist Tyler Anderson and guitarist Adam Bergen. They've made this band better.   

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://gatekeeper.bandcamp.com/album/from-western-shores

ERIC WAGNER - In The Lonely Light of Mourning review

ERIC WAGNER - In The Lonely Light of Mourning

Cruz Del Sur Music

In the summer of 2021 the Doom Metal universe lost one of it's greatest voices. Eric Wagner the singer/frontman of TROUBLE, The SKULL and BLACKFINGER passed away in August of that year. If you were into his music then you know his passing was a major loss. He will not be forgotten by us fans. This solo album he did was completed and delivered to the label a month before his untimely death. It was supposed to come out in November 2021 but the release date was moved to March 2022.

 

From what I've read this solo album was very important to Eric. It was a work in progress for a number of years. He brought in friends/former band mates from the Doom metal community to help out. As far as they go you've got drummer Dave Snyder from TROUBLE and BLACKFINGER. Dave was also co-writer on a number of these tunes. Then there's guitarist Chuck Robinson also from TROUBLE, BLACKFINGER and the THE SKULL. Bassist Sean McAllister from TROUBLE. Bassist Ron Holzner who was also in TROUBLE and the SKULL. Also there's Victor Griffin from PENTAGRAM. 

 

Listening to this, now a posthumous release, was kinda tough since Eric hasn't even been gone for a year. To make matters worse there are too many songs that reference death. Sure it's doom but some songs just cut too close to the reality of Eric's passing. For example opener "Rest in Piece" is a great song in the whole TROUBLE /THE SKULL tradition. But damm it hits ya. Obviously most of this album is filled with material which will appeal to long time fans. There's only a few cuts which take on a melancholy approach. "If You Lost It All" with cello player Brian Gaona almost sounds like Bowie. The title cut follows suit in it's mournful approach. It's also a highlight of the album.

In The Lonely Light of Mourning is an amazing release and sadly the last one of original material we'll ever hear again from Eric Wagner. 

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/store/

LISTEN HERE:

https://ericwagner.bandcamp.com/album/wagner-in-the-lonely-light-of-mourning

 

APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE - Until The Darkness Goes review

 

APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE - Until The Darkness Goes

Cruz del Sur Music

APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE are a US doom band that I use to like a lot. Their second album, Last Sunrise, from 2010 is an amazing album. Sure I like their style of Midwest melancholy misery but I really liked the cover songs they attached to the end of that album. Be that as it may I never thought their two follow-ups were just as cool. I'm talking about 2014's Of Woe and Wounds and From Gold to Ash which was their last one from 2018. 

For me it was like Last Sunrise was a band with a new toy and experimenting around with it. Were as their last two releases came off as having learned the toy but just stuck on the first level of play and never going further. So here we are some years later with their fifth full length. And although their melancholy doom and gloom approach is still profound. This one comes off with far more sadness than before. 

Until The Darkness Goes is also their shortest album to date coming in at a little over thirty six minutes. That's five songs that go over the five minute mark and a short instrumental. The band has learned to create songs that are dense and concise. Yeah misery doesn't need a lot of filler. APOSTLE OF SOLITUDE still have a good balance of chunky riffs, clean vocals, solid drum work and this time more thoughtful songs. Great album.

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/blog/

LISTEN HERE:

https://apostleofsolitude.bandcamp.com/album/until-the-darkness-goes

TOWER - Shock To The System review

 

TOWER - Shock To The System

Cruz del Sur Music

The "big thing" in metal for 2021 was legacy bands putting out new long awaited releases. Then this album drops and I'm like, really? After one listen to TOWER's second full length I pretty much forgot about the legacy's. TOWER, a five piece act who hail from New York, take their influences from early metal (late 70's/early 80's) and retrofit it with some modern energy.

Just to point out the obvious, Shock To The System is a perfect title. From the onset of this album and over all of it's ten tracks, this is high energy stuff. Let me add to that. This is kick ass fuckin metal. We're talking full on anger, power and aggression that has long been missed in modern day metal of this type. 

First off you've vocalist Sarabeth Linden who's singing style is akin to a gutsy screamer. The truth is she can wail like a fuckin banshee. Add to that the twin guitar team of Zak Penley and James Danzo who pretty much tear things up via great old school riffs and dynamite solos. Finally there's the newer rhythm section of bassist Jack Florio and drummer James Jones. Both of these guys seem to have melded well into this band and bring the force of the past to the present.

So with a force of talent, a feel for rage and ability to write impressive songs it's obvious TOWER's second album has to be one of the best metal albums of 2021. Aside from everything I've mentioned there's cuts with galloping rhythms, some pure speed metal anthems and some melodic numbers which grab hold of your psyche. From start to finish this album is perfect.

https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/blog/

LISTEN HERE:

https://towernyc.bandcamp.com/releases

THE WIZAR'D - Subterranean Exile review

THE WIZAR'D - Subterranean Exile

Cruz del Sur Music




I get music from all over to write about on this site. For example this particular act is from the island of Tasmania. And since they're on the Cruz del Sur label you can guess the music is gonna fit in with some old school traditional sounds. Honestly I'm surprised I haven't heard of em before. They've been around for sixteen years, have a bunch of previously released material and I usually get all the out of the way stuff to review. 


But anyways THE WIZAR'D are a four piece act (two guitarists, a bass player and drummer). One of the guitarists takes on lead vocals which come across as a nasally Ozzy or Terry Jones from PAGAN ALTAR. Musically this has been genre tagged as doom but that's not it at all. If you think of some slower NWOBHM sounds like the previously mentioned PAGAN ALTAR or early JUDAS PRIEST. Hell you can place any medium paced heavy metal act from that era who were heavily influenced by the occult and there you go. In the end it's OK.


https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/blog/

https://hcrthewizard.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/arcanemetalmagick/

LUNAR SHADOW - The Smokeless Fires review

LUNAR SHADOW - The Smokeless Fires

Cruz del Sur Music



Over the past decade I've gotten to the point where I don't care to dis on bands. On the other hand I have no problem dissing people who push over hyped horseshit. Case in point here we have Germany's LUNAR SHADOW who I never heard of till today. I must have a life because according to some promo info, as well as quotes from other music scribes, they've been the "IT" band since their debut, Far from Light, came out a few years back. Obviously I must have been picking my nose at the time in order to have this second coming over looked. 


Give me a fuckin break! OK so this is supposed to be classic metal meets Scandinavian black metal. Excuse me but a few tremolo picked riffs during two songs does not make this DISSECTION influenced. What we have here is simply, and symphonic at times, Euro power metal. They're from Germany OK. Somebody call BLIND GUARDIAN and tell em there's some upstarts biting at their heels as well as their Nuclear Blast record contract. 


A few times these guys are interesting like when they're stealing from MAIDEN on songs like "Laurelindorenan" or the even more epic "Hawk of the Hills". The bottom line here is they're following a power metal formula of MAIDEN-esque dual guitar harmonies as well as song structures minus the Steve Harris bass. Add to that a vocalist with a decent yet commercial sounding falsetto. Worse yet is their piano interplay which makes me cringe. Look it's power metal, nothing wrong with that if you're a fan of the genre OK? Get A Life!


https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/blog/

https://lunarshadow.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/lunarshadowband

SMOULDER - Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring review

SMOULDER - Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring

Cruz del Sur Music




Every once in a while within the framework of extreme metal something comes along that just hits all the right buttons. That's for me personally of course, others might think differently. This Canadian band has created a debut full length release that is the answer to what I wanna hear as well as look at. Yeah I rarely mention art work but when you look at the album cover your first thoughts would be CIRITH UNGOL. That's because the same artist, fantasy painter Michael Whelan, who did covers for them also did the cover for Times of Obscene Evil and Wild Daring. 


Onto the music we start with the vocals. Musically this is epic doom meets traditional heavy metal. You can have a great sound but if your vocals are weak (which happens) then the band dies. That's not the case here. Vocalist Sarah Ann (aka: Sarah Kitteringham of BANGER TV fame) is an amazing vocalist. She actually sings as opposed to gimmicky singing styles of doom which some women in the genre do. She's like a gutsy Valkyrie or a shield maiden singing from her heart and soul. 


Music wise there's six cuts on the full length. The songs are a mix of steady paced epic doom and slower numbers all based on the realm of sword and sorcery fantasy fiction. The riffs and rhythms are massive in style. The drum work is powerful as it needs to be. The lead work is tastefully done. The production is what all melds this together which gives it an old school feeling. The band is a labor of love for the classic metal sound. There are plenty of acts who can fake it. This band has it in their blood. Perfection lives here, nuff said.



https://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/blog/

https://smoulder.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/SmoulderDoom/

LADY BEAST - Vicious Breed review

LADY BEAST - Vicious Breed

Cruz del Sur Music



Here's a band that from what I've read has been likened to IRON MAIDEN with a female vocalist. Well I'm glad to see I'm not the only person out in the metal media guilty of hyperbole. While having some galloping rhythms doesn't make a band MAIDEN devotes. Neither does borrowing a riff from SABBATH's "Heaven & Hell" on their cut "Always With Me" make you thieves. LADY BEAST does rock in the true metal sense.

If this Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania five piece act's goal was to recreate a 1980's sounding metal album well they nailed it. Deborah Levine's gutsy vocals and the lead guitar soloing are out front of the basic rhythms. All of that means the production is perfect 1980s. As far as the touches of MAIDEN there's "Every Giant Shall Fall" as the most obvious. Well there is "Sky Graves" but that's an instrumental. Most of the other cuts are more subtle but in the long run it shouldn't matter.

LADY BEAST started out back in 2009, have two previous full lengths, an EP from last year and a line-up change or two. I haven't heard any of their previous output but I will say the Vicious Breed is definitely a perfect release. Every song is cool as fuck, grabs you by the throat and of course exciting. If there's one problem I can see it's that it's thirty years too late. 

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/


https://ladybeast.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/ladybeastofficial/

ARGUS - From Fields of Fire review

ARGUS - From Fields of Fire

Cruz del Sur Music




Here's the fourth full length and you could say long awaited release by Pennsylvania's ARGUS, a band that captured my interest years ago. I got on the bandwagon at the beginning with their 2009 self titled debut full length. That one ended up on my year end favorites list. No surprise, I have liked everything else they've released since. That would basically consist of two more full lengths and two EPs. 

ARGUS blends classic doom aesthetics and traditional metal bombast into something that comes close to CANDLEMASS meeting IRON MAIDEN. We're talking epic melodies matched with powerful rhythms that at times have that galloping approach. Toss in the powerful vocals of Butch Balich and you've got one top shelf metal release for 2017. I figured getting that point out of the way quickly.

After a short "Into the Fields of Fire" acoustic guitar intro, this release jumps in with power via the cuts “Devils of Your Time” and “As a Thousand Thieves". Along with Balich leading the vocal attack there's longtime riff creator Jason Mucio on guitar and drummer Kevin Latchaw keeping on with the classic pounding. ARGUS are now accompanied by new guitarist Dave Watson who produces some cool chunky leads (and also produced this release) and bassist Justin Campbell who's work is stand out.

Other standouts are  “216” where newcomers Watson and Campbell strut and shine via powerful bass lines and guitar leads that cut through steel. "You Are The Curse" is a metal anthem to throw the horned fist to. "Infinite Lives Infinite Doors" brings forth the epic in eleven minute length. "Hour Of Longing" continues the doomish theme. Enough of the song by song stuff. This is just classic metal done by devotees. Nuff Said.

http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

https://argusmetal.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/argusmetal

WALPYRGUS - Walpyrgus Nights review

WALPYRGUS - Walpyrgus Nights

Cruz del Sur Music




I've been living in Raleigh, NC for quite some years now, actually twenty eight years (yeah I'm a transplant) and I've learned that when it comes to metal certain truths are evident. I don't care what trend or flavor of the month rolls through town. This area has deep roots in traditional or classic sounding metal. So here's a band with enough true metal roots in this area's music scene to ruin a whole bunch of flashers in the pan's days. 


WALPYRGUS might've started out in 2012 but their band membership is one of local respect. You've got guitarist and main songwriter Scott Waldrop of TWISTED TOWER DIRE, vocalist Jonny Aune also of TWISTED TOWER DIRE as well as formerly in HELLRAZOR and VIPER, then there's bassist Jim Hunter of WHILE HEAVEN WEPT, TWISTED TOWER DIRE and OCTOBER 31, Charley Shackelford is the band's second guitarist formerly of the legendary doom merchants DAYLIGHT DIES and finally on drums it's Peter Lemieux of VIPER (Lemieux has since been replaced with by Carlos Denogean of SALVACION) In no uncertain terms people this is a supergroup.


Let me follow that up by saying this debut full length is worthy of a supergroup. Walpyrgus Nights is kinda a mix of PRIEST, DIO, MAIDEN and so much more even punk. Seriously "Dead Girls" is probably the best most catchiest MISFIT-esque punk song you've heard a metal band do in years. Opener “The Dead of Night” contains that classic duel lead guitar harmony approach which of course reminds me of THIN LIZZY. It's a precursor to much more as the songs flow on throughout this release. The vocals are clean melodic and almost in what I'd call radio friendly, that's if radio actually played good new music again instead of AOR classics and that urban stuff.


Speaking of vocals, Jonny Aune offers up one of the best vocal performances that will remind you of Dio on the song "Palmystry" than anywhere else. The first time I listened to that song I thought somewhere Ronnie James is smiling and throwing them the horns. And just to throw in more fuel to this band's fiery love of 80's metal they do a WITCH CROSS cover "Light of a Torch" just for kicks. All in all Walpyrgus Nights is just a classic sounding release that reminds you of metal's past (that's if you're old enough to remember it) while at the same time keeping it sounding fresh and new. Then again with all that talent amongst it's membership how could it not be great.



http://www.cruzdelsurmusic.com/

https://walpyrgus.bandcamp.com/album/walpyrgus-nights

https://www.facebook.com/Walpyrgus

http://walpyrgus.com/