PONTE DEL DIAVOLO - De Venom Natura review

 

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO - De Venom Natura

Self Released

PONTE DEL DIAVOLO is an Italian band I learned about in 2024 with their debut full length Fire Blades from the Tomb. That one came out on Season of Mist records. This new one is a self release which to me seems crazy because this band is killer. Musically PONTE DEL DIAVOLO answer the question as in what if Siouxsie Soux from the old English Post Punk band SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES fronted a Blackened Doom / Post Punk act. 

I liked their debut album a lot. They also have a compilation of their three early EPs which came out in late 2024 on Time to Kill Records. That's something I really wanna pick up but for now we have this seven song full length. You've got six originals and a cover of BAUHAUS's "In the Flat Field". Ah hell yeah on the BAUHAUS cover. 

For me this is better than their debut. The songs come across as more intricate whether they be Blackened Doom or the Gothic Post Punk stuff. They even throw in a trombone player on one song. There's also a duet on "Silence Walk With Me" featuring Gionata Potenti from the Italian Black Metal band NUBIVAGANT. Of course for me it's the amazing vocals by Erba del Diavolo which wins me over along with the overall sound and atmosphere the whole band produces. 

In the end yeah this is a winner. Of course I'm shocked this release is not on a label whether small or large. I mean what the fuck is going on here?  

LISTEN AND BUY IT HERE:

https://pontedeldiavolo666.bandcamp.com/album/de-venom-natura

MESSA - The Spin review

 

MESSA - The Spin

Metal Blade Records

Back in 2024 I got into this cool band from Italy called PONTE DEL DIAVOLO. Their full length debut, Fire Blades from the Tomb, came out on Season of Mist Records. They've got a second album coming out in February which I'm looking forward to. Basically I described em as a Doom / Black Metal version of SOUIXIE & THE BANSHEES. So here we are a year later and this fourth release by Italy's MESSA came recommended to me because supposedly they're a similar sounding band and I would like em. 

Well they're no PONTE DEL DIAVOLO by a long stretch. In fact I will say a lot of things to boot. But let's get the basics down. Years ago MESSA started out as a Sludge Metal act with a sultry yet airy vocalist named Sara Bianchin. That was in 2016 with their debut full length, Belfry. All in all it was basically a continuation of late 2000's US hipster Sludge Metal with some female vocals. They were a decade late and a hundred Euros short. 

Fast forward to 2025 and MESSA are still about as original as spaghetti in Italy. On this album they're straight up influenced by SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES to a point. Now their vocalist, Sara Bianchin, is no Siouxie Sioux but she's a good singer. I do like her vocals on this release. As far as the song structures / melodies go they're mostly part jangly post punk and hard rock. Their lead guitarist, Alberto Piccolo, comes from a Stoner Rock background. His guitar work is the standout part throughout this album. In other words he can be and yeah is over indulgent like a 80's Heavy Metal guitar hero. His lead work overwhelms on every cut. 

There's plenty of Goth pop style going on with songs like "At Races" and "Immolation". The final cut on here, "Thicker Blood" reminds me of France's AMESOEURS. This band's last full length came out on Svart Records. Then they jumped to Metal Blade obviously because of better distribution and notice. But there's something I learned a few weeks ago that really didn't shock me but since I'm not part of their scene it was interesting to hear about. According from insiders, the whole new Goth and Industrial music scene has been invaded by hipsters / woke people. Yeah that's funny, they've ruined another underground scene. 

MESSA's The Spin is a decent wannabe Doom / Post Punk revival album. It's actually more Hard Rock than Metal. I believe if you're into Goth then yeah you'll like this release. Although I have to laugh at the thought of woke hiptards getting into Goth and Industrial music. I mean there's so much of that early music which is so politically incorrect. Even the late 80's / early 90's politically correct Punk crowd got offended. Losers!

 

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://messa.bandcamp.com/album/the-spin

PALANTYR - The Ascent & the Hunger EP review

 

PALANTYR - The Ascent & the Hunger EP

Dying Victims Productions

Every so often you get a year in Extreme Metal where there's a certain type of sound really making a stand as opposed to trendy bullshit. In my not so humble opinion 2025 is the year of female fronted bands ruling the roost. and here is just another cool one. 

PALANTYR is a five piece Traditional Metal act hailing from France. Technically this is their debut release but there's some baggage to it. This is a six song release. The first three tracks come from a release they did earlier this year and put out on Jawbreaker Records. the next three cuts are new. That's why it's called The Ascent and The Hunger. 

Now before I get into the vocal part let's start with the overall music sound. Much of this musically is in the MAIDEN-esque realm of sound. Some tracks like "Shan E Sorkh" and "Ravenous" stray away from the whole galloping riffs and dive bombing melodic soloing. But hey I'd rather listen to new bands doing it then modern day IRON MAIDEN. 

As far as vocalist Athenais Kordian goes, she has a powerful voice that's not over the top or gimmicky. She comes across as a gutsy Metal woman with a cool vocal range. On the song "Nosferatu" she let's her vocal talent shine throughout. On "Graveyard" she really stands out.

In the end I think this band needs a full length. Yeah I like what I'm hearing on this release. But they need to prove themselves further which I'll be the first SOB to say hell yeah! For now yeah this is a must have release.  

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-ascent-the-hunger

LADY BEAST - The Inner Alchemist review

 

LADY BEAST - The Inner Alchemist

Dying Victims Productions

Well make no mistake I've been hailing the work of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's LADY BEAST for quite a while. The last thing I had written about em was the reissue of their second album from 2015 Lady Beast II. That was last year and it came out on this label. But I originally got into LADY BEAST back in 2020 with their The Vulture's Amulet full length. I've been a fan ever since. 

So here we have the band's fifth full length and yeah I'm bias but fuck you it's damm good. First off it works well when your key musicians are still around after over twenty years. I'm talking about vocalist Deborah Levine, guitarist Chris Tritschler and drummer Adam Ramage. In recent years the band added devotees like Amy Bianco on bass and guitarist Andy Ramage (from ARGUS) who provides some killer lead work.

 

For me LADY BEAST are in my not so humble opinion a great sounding traditional metal band. Of course it's better when you have an amazing vocalist. Deborah Levine comes across as soulful, nasty and powerful sounding. And after all of these years she still sounds amazing. In fact I'd say she's at her very best on The Inner Alchemist. 

Musically this release is a melodic metal masterpiece. This is what I want to wake up to every day. I mean years ago I'd wake up and do my morning constitutional then play the radio for the weather. After which I'd push play on the turntable to hear some get the fuck up music. As always it was an album that was on the turntable for weeks. The Inner Alchemist is one of those albums. 

You tell me, wouldn't you wanna hear "The Wild Hunt" with it's cool ode to NWOBHM rhythm as well as atrocious soloing? Or how about "Through The Eyes of War" where Deborah Levine sings cool and crafty over a solid riff package and then Andy Ramage comes in with a savage sounding solo. Only to have Amy Bianco join in with a thunderous bass attack. 

Yeah I like this album a lot and the single "Inner Alchemist" should prove I'm right about this band. LADY BEAST fuckin rules!

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/the-inner-alchemist

SHRIEKING DEMONS - The Festering Dwellers review

 

SHRIEKING DEMONS - The Festering Dwellers

Transcending Obscurity Records

So here we have the debut full length by this Italian Death Metal act. Prior to this they put out an EP in 2021. Now just to be honest the first time I listened to this one my impression was not high. Here I am a second time around and I'm willing to give em their due. 

Musically SHRIEKING DEMONS are into old school sounding Death Metal which I listen to every morning with my coffee. What you don't do that? They have a female vocalist which is cool since I'm all for women in Extreme Metal especially if they throw a twist or two in the vocals. 

Unfortunately there's plenty of guttural vocals by Gabriele Rossi but not much shrieking. Still she's a good vocalist and not into melo-deth singing. As far as the music goes it runs the gambit of say the early days of USDM circa DEATH and AUTOPSY sounding material. 

That shouldn't be surprising since lead guitarist Giorgio Trombino and drummer David Lucido have worked together in other bands and are Extreme Metal veterans of the Italian scene. Giorgio Trombino adds some very cool guitar work and David Lucido is damm good with his drum work. 

In the end yeah this is a good album in that early evolution stage of the DM genre (the late 1980's) when there were hints of thrash in the sound. Personally I think their next album (plus some more original inspiration) will be better. The talent is there. I mean just look at em. 

  

https://tometal.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://shriekingdemons-label.bandcamp.com/album/the-festering-dwellers

TIME RIFT - In Flight review

 

TIME RIFT - In Flight

Dying Victims Productions

Here we have the second full length from this Portland, Oregon trio. Band wise you've got Justin Kaye on guitars and vocals who started this band in 2014 after an earlier act he was in, DOOMSOWER, disbanded. After listening to this album I wanna check out DOOMSOWER as well. Next up you have Terrica Kleinknecht on drums who joined the band in 2017. and finally on vocals there's Domino Monet who became part of this band in 2023.

Now just to get the facts out of the way. Musically this is not Extreme Metal at all. But it's pretty damm great sounding Hard Fuckin Rock. I never heard the band's debut so they're a new find for me. Sound-wise I'm remembering sounds like this from say early 1980s. Hat's off to Justin Kaye who's got a cool catchy package of riffs on here as well as cool soloing. The drum work is just classic sounding. And of course Domino Monet is just an amazing vocalist who adds plenty of soul and rage. 

In Flight is nine cuts in just over 30 minutes length-wise. So that's a classic 80's album time space to say the least. As far as songs go I pretty much like this album from start to finish. But hey as far as outstanding tracks go I'd say opener "I Am (The Spear)" kicks ass. Add to that "Coyote Queen", "Thunder Calling" and "The Hunter" are all cool as fuck. I hope the college radio stations out in Portland, Oregon are having this band's music on rotation. 

Be that as it may if this was the 1980's then TIME RIFT would be one of the coolest bands around. Well hell I remember the 80's so let's make em one of the great bands of 2025.  

https://dying-victims.de/

LISTEN HERE:

https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/in-flight

CASTLE - Evil Remains review

 

CASTLE - Evil Remains

Hammerheart Records

Here we have the sixth full length by CASTLE and it's been a six year wait. Bias alert, I'm a huge fan of CASTLE. I got into em with their debut full length, In Witch Order, from 2011. And from that point on I was hooked. Their debut and their next two albums are amazing. We're talking cool ass Doom that rocks. Their last two albums I thought were decent.

So after a long wait they're back and this album is better than the last two. First off guitarist Mat Davis is probably one of the best Doom guitarists around. If Tony Iomni is the king of riffs Then Mat Davis is in line for knighthood because he creates his own SABBATH-IAN style riffs and rarely copies. 

Next up is one of the best vocalists and bassists in Doom or just Metal aka: Elizabeth Blackwell. She just has that perfect vocal range as in not over the top, not subtle or airy. Elizabeth Blackwell is a rocker and her vocal performance is exceptional especially on this new one. 

CASTLE are technically a two piece act but they do enlist drum work from people. This time around they've enlisted Mike Cotton a Canadian who balances out the sound with some great work. 

With that all said I think Evil Remains is the threshold where their past two albums were pushing towards. CASTLE on here kick out a damm good sounding album that rocks in their own way. They've reached the summit and this is the CASTLE sound period, not a band influenced by. Then again I always thought they were pushing for their own voice.  

https://www.hammerheart.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hammerheart.bandcamp.com/album/evil-remains

ADORIOR - Bleed on My Teeth review

 

ADORIOR - Bleed on My Teeth

Dark Descent Records

For those of you who don't know (and you probably don't). ADORIOR were a cool blackened death / thrash band from England back in the late 1990's. What was great about em, obviously their sound was cool as fuck, is that they had this female vocalist named Jaded Lungs (aka: Melissa Gray). Her vocals were filth ridden hate pure and simple. But it was her singing style as in cursing and just roaring in a harsh scream or spoken wording over the music which was unique. 

The band were sporadic when it came to putting stuff out. I have their two previous full lengths; Like Cutting the Sleeping from 1998 and Author of Incest from 2005. They do have handful of splits out but I'm waiting for the compilation. Be that as it may I'm guessing the reason they are sporadic on releases is that they care about perfection. 

As of now Jaded Lungs (aka: Melissa Gray) is the only original band member. Along for the ride you've got guitarists S. Assassinator (who joined the band in 2019) and RC (who joined in 2022 as a bassist but now plays guitar). The rhythm section is filled by GRAVE MIASMA members. On drums is D. Molestor who's been in the band since 2001. And you have bassist Tom McKenna who joined ADORIOR last year. 

So with this line-up Jaded Lungs (aka: Melissa Gray) has come away with an intense extreme metal release. Musically the song structures are all over the place when it comes to blackened death with plenty of thrash thrown in. This is extreme metal opera with dive bomb guitar soloing which slice through layers of flesh. There's a bounty of trudging riff styles. A handful of death influenced blackened blast beats. Welcome to controlled chaos via extreme fuckin metal.

The bottom line is that this is now my favorite ADORIOR full length and it took a while to get here. This is extreme metal insanity which will blow you away and demand multiple listens. I just love Jaded Lungs (aka: Melissa Gray) singing over deathly musical chaos. 

https://www.darkdescentrecords.com/shop/

LISTEN HERE:

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/bleed-on-my-teeth

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

KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR - Built to Kill review

 

KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR - Built to Kill

Xtreem Music

Whenever something this cool comes my way I always wonder why they're not on top of the Metal food chain instead of some stuff that gets pushed upon us fans. I mean hey if you like thrash with an amazing female vocalist then this is right up your alley. 

Here we have the sixth full length from Spain's KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR. The band has been around since 2004 although their first full length, Dogs of War, didn't come out until 2009. They've been a Xtreem Music catalog staple since then. 

What makes this album great in my book is the band's relentless savage thrash attack on your senses. The riffs come across like diabolical gallops across your mindset. A couple of times there's a blood curtailing solo which gives you a poise. But in the end the guitars, bass and drums are so in sync in their attack. You feel brutalized and enthralled at the same time. 

Next up are the vocals by singer Lilith which are in the harsh black metal variety. I mean this woman is spitting bile with each verse. Every word out of her mouth comes across as a curse. Years ago I use to call em "witch vocals". In all of the years I think Lilith has perfected this vocal style. Seriously she's better than my ex-wife on a bender. 

The tagline on KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR has always been blackened thrash. The final cut, "Count Estruch", is about as black metal as it gets on here. For the most part this is just amazing thrash. Lilith will add in a high pitch squeal or a Tom G. Warrior grunt at times. The musicianship is perfection. I mean this is a perfect album period. 

http://shop.xtreemmusic.com/english.main.index.php

LISTEN HERE:

https://korgulltheexterminator.bandcamp.com/album/built-to-kill

HOLY MOSES - Invisible Queen review

 

HOLY MOSES - Invisible Queen

Fireflash Records

Supposedly this is the final album by Germany's HOLY MOSES. After giving this quite a few listens I'm of two opinions. First off this might be their best album ever. Secondly I have not kept up with this band over the years. Actually I'm use to the Finished with the Dogs album by them from 1987. Honestly I got into em years after that album came out. But one listen and you knew this was not going to be traditional Teutonic Thrash. I mean even in their early days they were more US sounding then German.

I own two more HOLY MOSES full lengths and they're OK. But now listening to this latest one I'm like why quit? The band aka: vocalist Sabina Classen and the guys she's enlisted since the late 2000's, have pushed the envelope when it comes to thrash. On here you've got typical progressive thrash with jazzy bass runs, well bent guitar riffs and tech death drum work. Musically calling this just thrash is a test. It's a masterpiece as far as modern thrash goes.

As far as Sabina Classen's vocals go on hear she brings across her most fearsome album performance that I've heard. Be that as it may I'm not really into this album. There are times when the band is playing some ripping thrash. But the proggy moments are way overboard to me. Sure musically it's their best album but not for me. 

https://fireflash-records.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mzdThC-kgx0&t=1160s

DAEVAR - Delirious Rites EP review

 

DAEVAR - Delirious Rites EP

The Lasting Dose Records

Ironically the other day I was just wondering whatever happened to the stoner doom act WINDHAND from the US. Then I find this release sent in for review and now I know. The band relocated to Germany, became a three piece act and changed their name. 

OK that's not true at all but in all honesty DAEVAR sound exactly like WINDHAND. Starting off with the vocals which are of that psych atmospheric, ghostly witchery siren style. Musically it's straight up fuzzy, sludgey, stoner doom which is about as original as a bologna sandwich. 

Now don't get me wrong. I actually like this type of stoner doom and have a huge stack of CDs of similar female fronted sounding acts to prove it. DAEVAR, on this their debut release, are not breaking new ground. Instead they're keeping with a cool sounding tradition. Therefore if you like a similar sounding act which hasn't put anything out in say five fuckin years then here's the alternative. 

Then I'll put it another way, DAEVAR are the new face of this style of stoner doom. The band is a three piece act featuring Pardis Latifi on vocals and bass, Caspar Orfgen is the guitarist and Moritz Ermen Bausch is their drummer. Together this trio create a huge fuzzed out mid-paced doom sound. Caspar Orfgen does deliver some cool psych tinged solos. Bausch's drum work is decent with some adequate fills. Of course the bass sound is fuzzed out. 

Delirious Rites is five songs in around thirty-three minutes. I think it's an EP but some will say it's a full length. Whatever, I like how this band brings forth both a dark sound as well as some headbanging SABBATH-ian bong smoking, heavy as fuck doom. And then that's what we all want. 

LISTEN & BUY IT HERE:

https://thelastingdoserecords.bandcamp.com/album/delirious-rites

HELLEVAERDER - In de nevel van afgunst review

 

HELLEVAERDER - In de nevel van afgunst

Zwaertgevegt

Female vocalists in black metal are a rare commodity. I've always thought that was unfortunate since the vocal possibilities are amazing. Case in point here we have the debut full length by this Dutch black metal act HELLEVAERDER. Their vocalist, Miranda Visser, conveys the pure essence of harsh vocals. Then she'll tweak in low gutturals and even higher pitched witch shrieks. 

Musically HELLEVAERDER are unapologetic-ally raw sounding second wave black metal in style. I mean sound-wise this comes across as early 90's all the way. The twin guitar attack adds plenty of cold tremolo picked harmonies as well as biting riffs. The drum work is standard old school sounding blast beating. And of course the bass is there but hardly representative. 

On a whole this seven cut release starts off on an average note. I wasn't too thrilled by the first couple of songs. So it was on their fourth cut, "In de nevel van afgunst", were the band's strength came to bare. In fact it's the latter four cuts on this full length where the band defines themselves. I'm talking about well done song structures, subtle formula breaking as well as sonic textures which draw you in as opposed to repulsing you. 

Like I mentioned earlier this is the band's debut since starting out in 2017. They also have some short form previously released stuff, a single and a split with another Dutch BM act PERFIDE. Plus there's a compilation release containing their first two demos which to me sounds interesting to check out. As far as this debut goes it's a good start.

https://www.zwaertgevegt.nl/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hellevaerder.bandcamp.com/

LADY BEAST - OMENS EP review

 

LADY BEAST - OMENS EP

Reaper Metal Productions

While still at a time when their 2020 full length, The Vulture's Amulet, is ringing in ears because of it's greatness. Pittsburgh, PA's LADY BEAST decide to drop a new five song EP on fans. Basically this is four new tunes plus a cover of RAINBOW's "Kill the King". This EP also features new bassist Amy Bianco. 

Musically the band hasn't changed sound wise from their last album. Basically it's classic sounding 80's era metal with good riffs, decent guitar soloing plus the strong vocals by Deborah Levine. In a better world a song like "Reaper" would be blasting on FM radio. Then again I thought the same with some of the songs off of their full length. As far as their cover goes it's decent. All in all here's another must own LADY BEAST release.

https://www.reapermetalproductions.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://ladybeast.bandcamp.com/album/omens

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

CAPRA - In Transmission review

 

CAPRA - In Transmission 

Metal Blade Records

I learned about this band by chance aka a video that popped up on my YouTube feed. CAPRA live in a studio for some fest. Musically CAPRA are a full on noisy attack with anger being the main focus. I'd like to drop em into the grind genre but there's so much going on with their sound that it would do them an injustice. 

CAPRA are a four piece (?) act out of Lafayette, Louisiana. Musically as far as this release goes it's a long way from the live performance I saw as well as their video for the song "Medusa". Sound wise you get some riffs and drum beats from black metal. Add to that there's some sludge metal influence but hey go figure from where they're from. 

The bottom line is that they're part of the post 90's hardcore style with a bunch of metal influences thrown in for good measure. Add to that there's some raging female vocals, well basically screaming, which is cool. Crow's vocals are unfortunately pushed back into the mix on here. Actually she sounds better in the videos. Somebody screwed that one up.

Musically I've heard this all before aka around twenty years ago because the whole metallic hardcore thing is not new. I'm guessing it was something out on Relapse back in the day. Either way this is decent and hopefully next time around they'll come out sounding more like a mix of BLACK BREATH meets PIG DESTROYER. Otherwise being angry without intelligence is stupid.

https://www.metalblade.com/us/

LISTEN HERE:

https://capraband.bandcamp.com/album/in-transmission

BOOK OF WYRMS - Occult New Age review

 

BOOK OF WYRMS - Occult New Age

Desert Records

Well I'm shocked, shocked I say, to have not heard about this band until now. No I'm not some hiptard prick loser who spends his days on the internet stealing. I live in North Carolina and we tend to learn about cool bands from Virginia whether it's from word of mouth or a club show. 

This band has two albums prior to this new one. Their last one, Remythologizer, came out in 2019 which means they could've played a show here in downtown. And if it was on a work night I missed it. They're a four piece stoner psych act from Richmond, VA. Hell with all of the doom acts that seem to come out of Richmond you'd think the place was a dystopian nightmare. 

Be that as it may I like this release a lot. You've got female vocals by Sarah Moore Lindsey which are ethereal in style. She also adds in some keyboard flair on this release. Musically this band is a text book example on how to mix stoner doom and psych as well as some sludgey moments in a pour-age which tastes so fuckin good. First off I like how this band's sound does not pigeonhole em into corners. 

What we have here is an album with some really cool song structures that contain stoner groove, that have a few pounding sludgey riffs when needed and plenty of room to toss in an acoustic melody like on the instrumental "Albrionlilly" which breaks the ice. I'd also say there's some cool psych jazz influence going on with the over eight minute cut "Hollergoblin". 

Their PR info suggests HAWKWIND as an influence. Yeah sure but whenever they throw down it's a great 70's hard fuckin rock act meets a bunch of post hippies leaving a SABBATH concert in 1971 driving a Volkswagen mini bus with a bong. Yeah there's some cool jams like on "Weatherworker". In the end I'd like to see this band perform this whole album live, with a fog machine at a local club. Then again they're probably do it all at Roadburn in Holland. 

https://desertrecords.bigcartel.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://bookofwyrms.bandcamp.com/

EVERDAWN - Cleopatra review

 

EVERDAWN - Cleopatra

Sensory Records

 

So imagine a NIGHTWISH type of band from New Jersey. Want more extraordinary info, the legendary producer Dan "The Man" Swano was involved in the mastering of the band's release. Oh year it's also some damm good sounding Symphonic Metal. Yeah regular readers of this blog, and frankly who isn't, kinda know I shy away from writing about this metal genre. I have my reasons but this sounded pretty cool.

But before we begin I must point out the baggage EVERDAWN comes with. A few years ago the band went by the name MIDNIGHT ETERNAL. The band members were the same except for their first vocalist, Raine Hilai. Because of some problems between the vocalist and the rest of the band the simple answer was to separate and change their name. They also got a better vocalist in Alina Gavrilenko but more on that later. 

One band member's name that sticks out is bassist Mike LePond. If you're an uber-fan of power metal then you know him from SYMPHONY X as well as ROSS THE BOSS. Someone else who needs credit here is guitarist Richard Fischer. This guy comes from the Yngwie school of guitar mastery. Some of this release's amazing moments come about when he kicks in with some tasteful yet technical soloing that's so fluid you could float a boat on em.

Next up is the band's newest member Russian born operatic soprano Alina Gavrilenko. Since I'm an old NIGHTWISH fan I can easily say she's the second coming of Tarja Turunen. And with all of that said I really like listening to this release. You've got amazing guitar work, epic arrangements and vocals that warm the soul. Eleven amazing cuts on here from a band that has caught my attention as far as this genre goes. 

LISTEN HERE:

https://lasersedge.bandcamp.com/album/cleopatra-2

WINTEREVE - October Dark review

 

WINTEREVE - October Dark

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Over the years I've come to know HPGD Productions as the go to label for bands who have no problem going too far when it comes to extreme music. Actually I like when bands go too far. But as it was said on Monty Python's Flying Circus so many times and years ago, "And now for something completely different." 

What we have here is the second full length by WINTEREVE, a five piece act from France. Musically they're a doom act with a female vocalist who has an interesting way of interpreting lyrics but more on that later. While I was listening to this release it was definitely a trip back to the early 90's. WINTEREVE's sound is pure gothic styled death doom. 

Yeah sure I'm all into the extreme filth but back a few decades ago bands like PARADISE LOST and MY DYING BRIDE were doing things musically which were far cooler than the 1990's mainstream crap. I'm also still a huge fan of those two acts as well as many others. 

So when I started listening to this release it was obvious where this band's influences come from. But then you have their vocalist, Marie Martinerie, who mixes up an operatic singing style with this deep baritone gruff vocal bark. Basically it's beauty and the beast from her as if PARADISE LOST'S Nick Holmes and former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen had a kid together. 

I like October Dark because it's late night metal for me to cool down with. The eight cuts on here convey a sense of dark beauty. I will say their take on the genre is more melodic as opposed to their heavier predecessors. There's also subtle hints of that symphonic metal era from a few decades back as well which at least stays in the dark realm. 

In the end I'm not going to say October Dark is a second coming sort of thing. There's some decent mix of melodic riffs, funeral dirge guitar soloing and of course plenty of atmospheric touches. I found myself latching onto cuts like "Forgotten", "Sea of Suffering" and the title song. Because of all that and Marie Martinerie's vocals then this here is a damm good release for gothic doom metal fans to check out.

http://www.horrorpaingoredeath.com/

LISTEN HERE:

https://hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/october-dark

WITCHTIT - Intoxicating Lethargy review

 

WITCHTIT - Intoxicating Lethargy

Self-Released

Here's one of the many bands I called a standout on the Maywood Mayhem Vol. 11 compilation from last year. WITCHTIT is a five piece act hailing from my home residence of  Raleigh, North Carolina. Hey support your local metal! Anyways I could swear I saw show ads back in 2019 which they were on the bill for a small club downtown. Unfortunately and probably because of work scheduling I missed out. 

Nevertheless here we have the debut full length by this local five piece act. Musically this is decent sounding doom. Their five songs on here cover a style which is part SABBATH-ian, part gothic, some cool rockin parts and of course a little sludgey. That latter point is obvious since a couple of the individuals in this band play in a cool local sludge act called NOCTOMB. 

As far as the vocals go the singer behind the microphone is named Reign. The best way I could describe her vocal singing sound/style is imagining Dinah Cancer from 45 GRAVE meets Elizabeth Blackwell from CASTLE. Yeah she's gutsy, bluesy and a touch towards old death punk from the 80's. What's very cool is how the the music works in perfectly with her vocal style or visa versa. 

Obviously female vocalists in doom acts these days is a given. But I remember a time when you had some really cool sounding bands and then all the copycats came along. WITCHTIT are not like those copycat acts and they do remind me of a new crop of bands out across the world like Australia's DEVIL ELECTRIC or Germany's WITCH RITUAL who I've written about in recent years. 

Basically we're talking about some cool sounding stuff here were the artists take classic influences and rework em with their own personality. No cloning required. In their case it's damm good and since this is a self release ya hope it will be heard by someone in the metal label world. Then maybe this Raleigh doom act could be heard by millions. I hope so.

LISTEN AND ORDER HERE:

https://witchtit.bandcamp.com/releases