HYPERION - Cybergenesis review

 HYPERION - Cybergenesis

Fighter Records

Just for the record back in 2020 this Italian Power Metal band put out a killer album titled Into the Maelstrom which I liked a lot. And like I always state honestly I'm not a Power Metal fan. But I like good music. So here we are six years later and HYPERION has just released the best album of their career as well as being a contending powerhouse to their German Power Metal peers. 

First off a lot of things have changed in this band in the years. Starting with new vocalist Max Morelli who joined in 2023. This guy has a better vocal style than his predecessor. He's a great Power Metal vocalist minus the heavy metal screams. Next up you've got new guitarist Francis Di Pasquale who is responsible for the exceptional lead work which runs throughout this album. I mean this guy can shred, create melodic leads and is also into guitar pyrotechnics like a English Power Metal band that I'm not very fond of to say the least. 

Anyways this eight song release should be manna from a Power Metal heaven for fans. I've gotta say "Yet We Still Fight" is my favorite cut on here. There's others like "The Shackles of Chronitus" which is Max Morelli's best vocal performance on this album. Mainman, guitarist and original member Davide Cotti is keeping this band alive and over the past few years has done well. If his vision was to create an amazing sounding Power Metal band that had an old school touch along with a tech sense on the guitars then he did it.

Don't be surprised to see this one in my end of year favorites.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hyperionbandheavy.bandcamp.com/album/cybergenesis

CRIMSON STORM - Livin' On the Bad Side review

CRIMSON STORM - Livin' On the Bad Side

Fighter Records

For some reason this band's name sounds so familiar. Prior to this release, which is their full length debut, CRIMSON STORM only put out short form releases aka: a handful of singles and an EP. The band is from Italy and has been around since 2009. So hey good for them for finally getting a full length out. But obviously it's taken some line-up changes to get to this point. 

Guitarist Logan Heads started this band in 2009. He's the only original band member. On this album he's with vocalist Pau Correas who joined in 2017. On bass there's Aless Oppossed who also came on board in 2017. Last but not least is drummer Pol Esteban Sanchez their newest band member who joined in 2023. 

So musically CRIMSON STORM is, according to the PR info, a Speed Metal / Traditional Metal band. In other words it's early Power Metal which I don't think is a bad thing to say. I mean the early albums from bands who would later be called Power Metal were full on Speed Metal, Traditional Metal and Thrash all rolled into one. Back in the day I just called it Metal. 

Be that as it may this album by CRIMSON STORM is pretty fuckin killer. First and foremost are the vocals by Pau Correas. I mean he sounds like Graham Bonnet albeit with a higher range. So for an old fuck like me who still loves that cool era of 80's Metal ah yeah he's cool. 

You add to that the amazing guitar work of Logan Heads. Aside from his speedy riffs the guy throws down some insane leads whether they be classic HM style or melodic Thrash style works of intensity. Add to all of that you've got a rhythm section that has enough power to keep a city lite for a month. 

Livin on the Bad Side is nine cuts with the opening track being an instrumental intro. With that said this is a perfect album. I mean there's not one bad track on here. Most of the songs are fast as a shark in for the kill. But "Nightmare Deceiver" is a slower rocking 1980's throwback. It could be a fuckin hit song! All in all I like this album a lot. This is the band you wanna see on the main stage at Wacken. Nuff Said!

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/livin-on-the-bad-side

GREYHAWK - Thunderheart review

 

GREYHAWK - Thunderheart

Fighter Records

I've been seeing a lot of interest in what is called The New Wave Of Classic Metal or Traditional Metal. Hell even the Youtube show Sea of Tranquility now has a segmant on it. Which just shows ya the music is getting recognized by the mainstream. The fact is this stuff has florished in the underground for a long time now. And it's been championed by cool underground labels like Fighter Records as well as many others.

So what we have here is the second full length by Seattle, Washington's GREYHAWK. This is a band I've been a fan of for some time. They started out in 2016, put out two EPs and a full length and I liked their style of metal. I mean it's classic as far as old school NWOBHM and early power metal sounds go. But on this latest release things have changed a bit.

First off there's a line up change. Gone is guitarist Jacquelynn Ziel and she is replaced by Rob Steinway. Otherwise the band is the same. Musically things have changed since their last EP which came out in 2022. Half of the cuts on here still follow the whole fantasy classic power metal route. Then you get other cuts like for example "Ombria (City of the Night)" or "Rock & Roll City" which come across as 80's hard rock. 

I'm not knocking on em since they pull it off well. Vocalist Rev Taylor does a great job with his mid-range singing style as well as his shouts and of course falsetto screams. Of course a big plus is the amazing guitar soloing by Jesse Berlin. He still shreds in the Yngwie Malmsteen style, aka: all over the place. In the end it's a decent album although I wish it was more power metal than hard rock.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE: 

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/thunderheart

JENNER - To Live is to Suffer Reissue review

 

JENNER - To Live is to Suffer Reissue

Fighter Records

So I was watching this band's video for their song "Factory of Death" and thought hey I've seen this before. Yeah I watched this video a few years ago. So sadly on my part I never bothered to check this band out originally. But hey that's what reissues are for right?

So here is the debut album by this Serbian all female thrash band. It was originally released in 2017 on Inferno Records. The band was a four piece act at that time. More on that one later. But musically this is a really killer sounding album. If I had heard this in 2017 then it would've been in my top albums of the year listings.

So why is this album so amazing? Well it has every element that you want in a thrash album. First off guitarist Aleksandra Stamenkovic is a riff maniac as well as a damm good soloist to boot. Andelina Mitic is a great vocalist with a decent rage. She howls, screams and sings like a major player. The drum work on here is solid. But hey you can actually hear the bass lines from Mina Petrovic.

In the end, hell yeah this is a great reissue. At present JENNER is still around albeit with Aleksandra Stamenkovic on guitar and vocals with a new bassist and drummer.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://jennerserbia.bandcamp.com/album/to-live-is-to-suffer

GREYHAWK - Call of the Hawk EP review

 

GREYHAWK - Call of the Hawk EP

Fighter Records

Well this band is definitely "bound by steel" as is sung in the lyrics of their opening cut "Steelbound".  Here we have a five song EP by this five piece Seattle, Washington metal act. Actually it's their second EP since the band's debut was the self released six song (five cuts and an intro) Ride Out EP from 2018. 

Now in 2020 the band released their debut full length, Keepers of the Flame, which also came out on Fighter Records. That was a pretty damm good album if you're into traditional metal. And if you're not then please leave and go somewhere else. But as far as this one goes my only gripe would be why just a five song EP?

Otherwise Call of the Hawk is a perfect continuation from their debut full length. Musically yes it's rooted in classic 80's style metal with some power metal touches. As far as that latter point there's some decent Yngwie Malmsteen influenced soloing, a few epic touches. But mainly classic heavy metal, or "true metal" as MANOWAR fans love to say, is the template here.

The EP has the twin guitar harmonies from days of yore. Catchy songs with good rhythms, I like the vocals with the occasional heavy metal screams and it bares repeating amazing guitar soloing. Call of the Hawk is a very good EP which should've been an album.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://greyhawkmetal.bandcamp.com/album/call-of-the-hawk

APHRODITE - Orgasmic Glory review

 

APHRODITE - Orgasmic Glory

Fighter Records

Well for starters you gotta love the cover artwork. To me it's out of Greek Mythology and depicts the Athenian hero Theseus when he meets up with the Minotaur in the Labyrinth. Theseus does kill the Minotaur by the way, hope I didn't ruin it for ya. But anyways if you were thinking this was some Greek band doing the whole mythology trip you would be only half right.

Yes APHRODITE are into the whole Greek Mythology trip but they're from Canada. They're also a speed metal three piece which started out a few years back and this is their second full length. The band is led by Jo Steel who's in charge of the guitars, bass and drums. Those of you in Canada might also know Jo from his one man project ICE WAR, as well as a few other acts.

The second member of this act is lead guitarist Yan Turbo. Let me tell ya this guy is a shredder to say the least. The third member here is sort of familiar to me since I know of her other band DEMONA and that is vocalist Tanza Speed. She's originally from Vaparaíso, Chile but moved to Canada some years ago and now lives in the US. 

Musically this is definitely a throwback to the 1980's. Speed Metal rose it's ugly head out of the underground hardcore scene back in the mid-80's. The bands then liked punk/hardcore but also liked some metal and leaned more to the latter. But talent wise many of em didn't have the style or chops to go full on thrash. So Speed Metal was their avenue and in the past decade or more the genre has resurfaced as being stronger than before.

So with that said let's start out with Tanza's vocals. She sounds like a perfect punk band singer from the late 80's. Her vocal style is the whole sing/speak thing with some howls thrown in. Jo Steel's riffs are catchy and a mix of melodic punk and some speed. Yeah if this came out in 1988 and the band were writing social/political songs then they would've been huge in the underground.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/orgasmic-glory

NIGHTFEAR - Apocalypse review

NIGHTFEAR - Apocalypse

Fighter Records




Now if you asked me a decade ago about my opinion on power metal I would have given you a some what dirty look. Seriously years ago I was bored with the whole English or Northern Europe shebang. Then about five or so years ago you had countries on the Mediterranean who were reigniting the whole genre with bands pushing out the old ways with some originality . These were the acts I gave props to and for good reason.


NIGHTFEAR, who hail from Spain, are one of those cool style of power metal genre bands that make music which is not generic. Yes you'll get your share of galloping rhythms on this their third full length. There's timely fluidic soloing as well as melodic chimes and fiery blasts. The rhythm section is decent but kudos to the drummer. The vocals have a snarl character whether being sung solo or chorus. 


Now with all of that said this band's song structures are amazing. The guitar work is cool as fuck. Once again this is an album that needs to be heard from front to back. I guess the term here is epic.

http://www.fighter-records.com/

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/apocalypse

HYPERION - Into the Maelstrom review

HYPERION - Into the Maelstrom

Fighter Records




In Greek Mythology Hyperion was the Titan god of heavenly light. In Marvel Comics Hyperion was a character who was a bad guy and then a good guy. He was also a rip on Superman. Oh yeah and I just acknowledged I was once into comics. Now this version of HYPERION hails from Italy and takes their name from a series of science fiction novels by Dan Simmons titled the Hyperion Cantos. 


I'm not familiar with that sci/fi series but then again I was always into the classics from the 50's and 60's. Be that as it may with lyrical themes and album concepts aside this their second full length is tagged as heavy metal. OK I'll go with that but for me this five piece act who started out in 2015 fits into the whole Euro power metal scene. Now that's not a knock on them. 


In fact this is one of those albums which you must push play and listen all the way through to get the full enjoyment. To me that's the way it should be. No filler tracks, no hit songs, just a total play through which draws you into an amazing saga. So on HYPERION's Into the Maelstrom you get all of that. We're talking a diverse array of classic late 70's and early 80's metal styles all weaved together to make an old fuck like me smile. 


First and foremost I gotta give credit to vocalist Michelangelo Carano. This man has an amazing range whether it's his usual clean vocals, the falsettos which rip or his basic harmonies. You follow that up with two guitarists, Davide Cotti and Luca Fortini plus the rhythm section of bassist Antonio Scalia and Marco Beghelli on drums. These guys are schooled in the classic metal style. Yet even though you might hear a cool influence here and there it's never a rip off. 


Basically this is a top notch release which with multiple listens will make you a fan easily. Personally I love the fluid guitar leads as well as the vocal acrobatics. Ladies and gentlemen do you like heavy fuckin metal? Then here you go.


http://www.fighter-records.com/

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/into-the-maelstrom

https://www.facebook.com/hyperionbandheavy/

WAR DOGS - Die By My Sword review

WAR DOGS - Die By My Sword

Fighter Records



At least once a year I'm lucky enough to hear a damm good band that brings back cool memories of old. I'm talking about the good o'l days of traditional metal circa late 70's/early 80's. I'm not talking about the hugely popular stuff either. It's more like a cool formula of the musicianship, songs and performance. So right now WAR DOGS rule in my not so humble opinion.


What we have here is the debut full length by this Spanish five piece act who started out in 2015. Prior to this the band released a six song EP in 2018. I  never heard that but am damm glad to hear this and you will to. Like I said they're a five piece act which means a twin guitar attack. Keep it true indeed. There's so many things about this band and their ten cut release I wanna talk about. 


Let's start with the vocals which are not over the top as far as range or heavy metal screams. They're pretty much gutsy melodic real guy type vocals. I wanna name drop a German act but can't. Either way they work perfect for this music since they blend in and do not over shine the music. 


Follow that up with the amazing riffs, some of which carry memories of the past. Look there's a cut on here that uses the "Bark at the Moon" riff. There's a few other Jake E. Lee bits (a couple of riffs and some obvious solos) which just shows ya they're fans. There's some other signature riffs from the past that will make you think MAIDEN as well. But otherwise the guitar work on here is damm good.


Something which is obvious to old school types like me when listening to new bands perform our music is how much bass is utilized. I mean it was a staple of old school metal to have the bass player prominent throughout the songs. So yes these guys have that nailed. As with the high velocity drum work which matches the riffs in speed and consistent fills. 


In the end, and seriously you never want it to, Die by My Sword is a masterpiece. It's an obvious homage to the old while still sounding fresh to someone who remembers the past. For me there's a fine line of distinction between bands that just copy the old ways and sound cool at it as opposed to those who you just know have the spirit. WAR DOGS is of the latter and their debut release is a must have for all of you keeping it true. Nuff Said.


http://www.fighter-records.com/

https://fighter-records.bandcamp.com/album/die-by-my-sword

https://www.facebook.com/WarDogsHeavyMetal/

MEAN MACHINE - Rock 'n' Roll Up Your Ass review

MEAN MACHINE - Rock 'n' Roll Up Your Ass

Fighter Records




A little history for ya back in the mid -90's, metal was going through it's own weird times. But so was the whole underground punk/hardcore music scene. Along came a band called The HELLACOPTERS outta Sweden which featured Nicke Andersson of ENTOMBED (not playing drums) on guitar and vocals. They pushed their musical love of THE STOOGES, MC5 and MOTORHEAD to the hilt. It was hard fuckin punk rock n roll and we, my friends as well as a shitload of people in the punk and metal scene, loved it. 


Of course a shitload of other bands jumped onto this bandwagon from around the world. It soon became a new genre for us into the extreme and it pissed off the anarcho punk losers. Every time now when I hear a present day band doing the same thing I get excited as fuck. Enter MEAN MACHINE a three piece act from Barcelona, Spain. Listening to this, their third full length, is as if I'm standing in a club in 1998 getting blown away by some cool punk/metal hybrid act that loves to kick your ass. 


Guitarist Juan Pedro Quesada worships at the altar of Fast Eddie Clarke. The vocals by bassist Raul Mesa are savage punk snarls. Him and drummer Marc Tapies rappid fire through their rhythms as if there's hookers waiting for em after the recording session. All in all I love the living shit out of this release. I was waiting for them to slow down and when they do they're like MOTORHEAD. When they're fast they're like the HELLACOPTERS. This is fuckin great.


http://www.fighter-records.com/

https://meanmachinernr.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MeanMachineRnR/