DEMON SPELL - Evil Nights EP review

 

DEMON SPELL - Evil Nights EP

Dying Victims Productions

Let me explain something to ya. Years ago when you had underground bands doing the whole classic heavy 80's metal revival thing. The singers of those bands would do the whole heavy metal scream style which was either an influence of Halford, Dickenson or somewhere in between. No one would ever touch King Diamond because well he's fuckin King Diamond. 

Now in the past decade because things have changed. These days you've got some great bands channeling old MERCYFUL FATE. For example you've got ATTIC from Germany, MIDNIGHT PRIEST from Portugal and now you have DEMON SPELL from Italy. I mean while listening to this I felt it was a MERCYFUL FATE demo. 

Now DEMON SPELL are a four piece act. Vocalist Federico Fano sounds like 80's era King Diamond. Guitarist Francesco Bauso is damm good with the catchy riff action. Plus the rhythm section of drummer Dario Casabona (this guy is damm good) and the bass thunder of Riccardo Liberti (this guy is also damm good) keep these songs interesting and powerful. 

When I first checked out this four song EP, the opening cut / title track didn't win me over all the way. But next up was "Black Wings" followed up by "Dark Deceiver (Woman of the black Oath)" and these two cuts are the best of the four. The last track "Evil Nights" is a decent rocker. But the two inbetween tracks rule the most. So this Italian band needs a full length. But until then this one rules!

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE: 

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/evil-nights

ATTIC - Return of the Witchfinder review

 

ATTIC - Return of the Witchfinder

Van Records

In all honesty (and if you are a regular reader of this blog then you know I'm honest as the day is long) I learned about this German five piece band earlier this year. I'll give props to a favorite Youtube channel of mine for recommending them. But just for the record ATTIC started out in 2010, released their first demo in 2012 and now we have their third full length. And yeah I haven't heard their two previous albums. 

So whats cool about ATTIC? Well if you give this one listen then you'll believe that this band is the musical reincarnation of early MERCYFUL FATE. I mean vocalist Meister Cagliostro is a dead ringer for King Diamond. But as far as the songs go ah yeah it's also a reminder of the Hank Shermann and Michael Denner guitar era. The songs are haunting, sometimes there's an added MAIDEN-esque galloping rhythm thrown in along with some black metal touches. I do like all of the songs on here but the final cut "Synodus Horrenda" is an amazing opus. But anyways this is just an amazing album period end of story. 

Then again OK it's MERCYFUL FATE worship so why should you check it out? Well honestly I hate bands who are carbon copies of others. AC/DC worship bands are the worst. But I listen to this and think well King Diamond hasn't come out with anything new in a while. I'm a huge MERCYFUL FATE fan and here we have a new band that's taking something we all know and continued on where it left off. 

With that all said I believe ATTIC's Return of the Witchfinder album will be played a lot by me this year and I've got to get their early stuff. 

https://van-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://attic-vanrecords.bandcamp.com/album/return-of-the-witchfinder-2