Beastwars - IV

After over a year off for various reasons, we have returned solely because we wanted to review the new Beastwars album. I really wanted to review this as I was at this band's debut album release show in their hometown back in what now seems like many years ago.

If you're unfamiliar with the band common reference points are early Soundgarden (by that, forget Superunknown and anything afterwards),early Mastodon (pre-Crack the Skye) and High on Fire but as far as this listener can tell Beastwars have for the most part put their own spin on sludge. This is a reunion album of sorts which means it could easily be forgettable like the final Soundgarden album, what was it called again?

On this album, Beastwars initial call for attention is entitled "Raise the Sword", and they sound like a band ready for battle, which is fitting since frontman Matt Hyde was battling lymph node cancer before this album. The song is slow with an early Soundgarden dueling the Jesus Lizard sound and you have to give a New Zealand band huge props for using a very fitting Bruno Lawrence sample from the New Zealand dystopian movie, The Quiet Earth. "Wolves and Prey" is one of those songs that the word sludge was invented to describe. It sounds like the musical equivalent of a concrete mixer's end result before drying and it's the kind of heaviness you get stuck in and have difficulty escaping in a hurry. "Storms on Mars" shows that Matt Hyde can do much more than just roar although he also does that here, this song sees getting tuneful and able to carry a melody (although if you're familiar with their song, Iron Wolf you would have known that he possessed this ability). Beastwars really build an oppressing atmosphere and the entire band changes tempo a few times in this song using a quiet/loud soft/heavy dynamic combined with the sheer emotion conveyed vocally make it one of the highlights of the album.

The early Soundgarden worship is incredibly strong in "Omens". It runs a little too close to the original for my liking and detracts from Beastwars' own musical stamp on sludge. Hyde's vocals on "Sound of the Grave" evoke a haunting feel as he takes a much more melodic approach yet manages to sound like he has risen from the grave. A lot of death metal vocalists are going to go green with envy. At the beginning of "The Traveller", Matt howls over a guitar are reminiscent of blues players like Howlin' Wolf. The song is shortly pulled back into the modern world of music and the slow building tempo changes lend the tune motion.





The piano in "Like Dried Blood" will take a number of listeners by surprise as it takes nothing away from the musical heaviness and aids in weighing down the sheer heaviness of the subject matter of the song. Relax though, Beastwars haven't turned into Ben Folds Five as the heaviness is turned up more than a notch around the mid-point of the song where the guitars just about drown out the sound of the piano.

"IV" is not only a strong comeback album but a strong album overall. "Storms on Mars" is the song most likely to hook new listeners in and it is baffling that it wasn't released as a single rather than the early Soundgarden alike, "Omens". IV is definitely designed to be listened to as an album with three slower somber songs concluding the album you just know that thought went into putting the songs in order. I'm crossing my fingers that I get to see the band live the next time I'm in New Zealand.

3.5/5

Edit: A little over 12 hours of writing this and the band released this video for "Storms of Mars".


Release date: 28 June 2019


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High Priestess - High Priestess

Record Label: Ripple Music



High Priestess are a recently new Los Angeles trio who play heavy psychedelic music. The band was formed in 2016 through an advertisement that the band's bass player and vocalist, Mariana Fiel placed on Craigslist when she was seeking like-minded musicians. The band now consists of Katie Gilchrest on guitar and vocals, Mariana Fiel on bass/vocals, and Megan Mullins on drums. The three musicians released a five song demo in 2017 and got a record deal with Ripple Music due to their musical style and the strength of their work so their first album has now come into fruition.

The first song "Firefly" informs their listening masses as to what High Priestess is all about. The band immediately lay on a hypnotic psychedelic groove which the the trio then incorporate with the slow crushing plod of doom metal. The soaring yet melodic vocals add further to the ethereal quality of the song. The ten minutes of the song takes psychedelic influences from the past and the metal element and the prominence of the instruments gives the song a modern feel. "Despise You" opens with a much more laid back approach and the singing starts much earlier in the piece. This second composition also takes a metallic twist with loud drums and frightening growls that seem much more sinister than most death metal bands as they aren't a constant feature and take you by surprise. Elements of the song are reminiscent of Soundgarden but High Priestess definitely have their own unique thing going.

The intro to "Banshee" wails doom metal but the dreamy vocals come in and the loud drums disappear for a while only to return again. The band utilize the loud-quiet-loud approach to great effect. "Take the Blame" is a fuzzed out heavy jamming rock tune. Some of the tune is in the video below.



The vocals on "Mother Forgive Me" are quiet with some even whispered and this aids the hypnotic psychedelic quality to remain a constant feature.

Starting an album with the longest song didn't seem a wise choice but High Priestess still command your attention immediately and they aren't about quick punches although this self-titled does have a couple of short burners and the variations in tune length are a wise move. This album is recommended for anyone interested in modern psychedelia.

3.5/5

Release Date: 18 May 2018


High Priestess on bandcamp




High Priestess on Facebook


Small Takeover on Facebook

Within The Giant's Reach - In the Beginning

Record Label: Self-release

In the beginning, there was no God. So God created one. Within the Giant's Reach looked at and listened the last twenty years of metal. And they saw and heard that it was good. So, it is written.


On the first song on "In The Beginning, which is called "The Summit" the band combine a furious Slipknot rhythm with Phil Anselmo style vocals although towards the end of the song the vocalist takes a much more death metal direction. "Faceless" has a digital sound that isn't miles away from Japanese band, Mad Capsule Markets. There's a similar vibe of controlled chaos due to the drummer, Evan Parigi's timekeeping.

After the nu-metal opening,there's a stomping feeling to "Rise". The vocals are definitely used as an instrument in this track and it's an effect that works well for Within The Giant's reach as the drums and the vocals seem to play off each other. This is a track that will have nu-metal fans wetting themselves. Collapse/Rebuild contains the ferocity of early Korn although, for most of the track, the vocals of Norman Lucas head in a more death metal direction. When the semi-rapped part comes in, it's difficult not to think of Biohazard and their melding of hardcore, metal and rap.

This EP is recommended to fans of Coal Chamber, early Korn, Slipknot and other bands mentioned in this review(Pantera don't really count).





3/5

Release Date: 11 May 2018



Within The Giant's Reach on bandcamp


Within The Giant's Reach on bandcamp

Destroyer of Light - Hopeless

Record Label: Heavy Friends Records


After releasing their second album in 2017 which we reviewed here. Texan doom merchants Destroyer of Light have returned to the fold and have released a "Hopeless" two song EP. In this day and age, it's becoming more and more questionable as to what exactly constitutes an album, a single or an EP. The lines are undeniably blurred when you consider "Dopesmoker" by Sleep and " Mirror Reaper" by Bell Witch.

On "Hopeless" slow crushing riffs accompanied with clean vocals are the order of the day. This time the vocals of Steve Colca don't remind me quite as much of Ozzy and are more often reminiscent of former Candlemass vocalist Messiah Marcolin. These songs remind me mostly of Candlemass although Destroyer of Light often head towards a more fuzzed out sound. Check out half of this release in the video below and judge for yourselves.




3.5/5

Release Date: 11 May 2018



Destroyer of the Light on bandcamp


Destroyer of Light on Facebook

Deny - Parasite Paradise

Record Label: Cramada




Swedish D-beat should be enough of a description of Deny's music for many out there to know whether or not they like it. Fast and angry punk rock with vocals that border on yelling would be a suitable outline for those unfamiliar with the music of Discharge and the D-beat sub-genre that the UK band spawned and was so named due to the band's drumbeat. The rest of you will already expect fast angry short songs heavily influenced by Discharge. "Parasite Paradise" is a comeback album as it's the first release for the band in a decade.



The longest song on "Parasite Paradise" clocks in at two minutes and twenty two seconds. There's no question as to whether or not this music is punk. It's sandpaper raw and scratches the right itches and places that don't itch until they bleed.



3.5/5

Release Date: 29 April 2018



If you do Spotify you can check them out here



Deny on bandcamp


Deny on Facebook

The Second Coming of Heavy (Chapter Eight)

Label: Ripple Music


"Already recognised as one of the world's leading purveyors of Rock ‘n’ Roll, Stoner, Doom and Heavy Psych, Ripple Music upped the ante in 2015 with the arrival of one of their most ambitious projects to date, The Second Coming of Heavy Series.

Serving as an ongoing showcase for some of the best and heaviest bands emerging from the underground, each installment shines a light on those worthy of your attention. Consisting of one, 12” slab of multi-coloured vinyl with full colour sleeves and inserts, the series is designed to be saved and treasured, like a fine anthology of books. So much so when the albums are filed next to each other, the complete collection of aligned spines form a mind-blowing image direct from the underground".

The above quote was taken from the electronic press kit that accompanied the review copy of this album and it hits the nail on the head with the information about this series and the record label releasing the material.

This volume features a North American and a European band. The American band, Ride The Sun hail from Southern California and the European band, The Trikes are residents of Germany. The balance of this LP favours the US band, Ride The Sun get five songs and The Trikes get four. Time for some US/European trade balance discussion. There's a raw rock sound to a number of these tracks which is more Motorhead than Kyuss. According to Ride The Sun's bandcamp, there are two vocalists in this band, which maybe why sometimes the vocals are close to close to Neil Falloon of Clutch and at other times much rawer.

While Ride The Sun are about rocking your face of, their German offsiders, The Trikes are more laid back and instead of going for the throat, this band creep up on the listener with catchy melodic, jamming guitars and a reliable drummer providing the background beat which all fit into a psychedelic groove of fuzz together. Just listening to the music, it's impossible not to get the feeling that these musicians know each other well. A further inspection of their bandcamp site reveals that the vocalist/drummer and the bassist share a family name.

If I had to declare a winner between the two bands, then the prize would go to The Trikes as their musicianship is clearly of high caliber however it's clear Ride The Sun achieve their goal of rocking out and taking others along for the ride.

3.5/5

Release Date: 4 May 2018

The Trikes on bandcamp/Ride The Sun on bandcamp



The Trikes on Facebook/Ride the Sun on facebook

Four Lights - Kobayashi Maru

Four Lights are a pop punk band from Seattle. Kobayasi Maru is their second record. The band's music falls somewhere between power pop and punk-pop. The emphasis is more weighted towards pop than either punk or power with tight harmonies. The press sheet mentions a Weezer influence and that band definitely comes through in "Characters" and "Scene of The Crime". However, this whole album is about as punk and, for that matter, about as pop as The Goo Goo Dolls have been since they got a song in a Meg Ryan movie (check out their "Hold Me Up" and "Superstar Wash" albums for when they peaked musically).



Record Label: North AmericaBomb Pop Europe: Stardumb



Despite my complaints, the catchiness of most the songs on Kobayasi Maru is undeniable but this album feels too long as too many of the songs just blend together. Four Lights claim to love nerd culture and be pop punk but anyone hoping Four Lights used "Milo Goes to College" as a blueprint is heading for a disappointment. To be fair to Four Lights, the most appealing songs on "Kobayashi Maru" are songs that run over the three minute mark. "Jimmy's Song Part 2" and "Characters". In these tunes, Four Lights really put themselves across as tight and accomplished songwriters.





If emo or Weezer excites you, then "Kobayashi Maru" will be for you. Now, where is that nomeansno album?

2.5/5

Release Date: 20 April 2018



Four Lights on bandcamp



Four Lights on Facebook

Against Evil - All Hail the King

Record Label: Transcending Obscurity

Indian band, Against Evil are a straight up traditional meat and heavy metal outfit. It's easy to hear the influence of eighties mainstream metal on the band. Don't think about the metal that the music television of the time was pushing or thrash metal but instead think Judas Priest, Iron Maiden and Manowar. Against Evil have a pumped up metallic sound without sounding like a carbon copy of any of the before mentioned bands.

Against Evil have a beefy sounding vocalist or two(both the rhythm guitarist,Sravan and the bass guitarist, Siri are credited with vocal duties), who can carry a tune without needing to show off that he can do high-pitched screams. The groups songwriting is strong as is the riffing. Often an all-in chorus comes in where you'd expect there to be a scream which works in the band's favor The rhythm section has a muscular bass and is a solid unit throughout the album.






"Bad Luck" is reminiscent of early Motley Crue with a similar punchy guitar sound and its all-in chorus. There's a definite Manowar influence on "Gods of Metal" but Against Evil aren't delivering a facsimile as they have their own thing going and stamp their own identity into the tune. Against Evil aren't exactly reinventing the wheel but they deliver catchy and enjoyable head-nodding metal. Oh and by the way, Jeff Loomis from Nevermore and Arch Enemy provides a guest guitar solo on "Sentenced to Death", which could be a selling point for many although Against Evil are definitely all capable musicians. The music video for the song is below. While "All Hail the King" may not be an instant stand out album but it certainly is a solid metal album.



3/5

Release Date: 6 April 2018




Against Evil on bandcamp




Against Evil on Facebook

Axminister - The Crucible of Sin

Label: Self-release

Some times it really is worth looking at the promo sheet. It would have been easy to ignore Toronto band, Axminister simply due to the piles of death and black metal that comes this way and just write them off as another band that will only appeal to fans of those sub-genres and not write about them at all. However the publicity sheet recommends the band for fans of Iron Maiden, Manowar, Slayer and Megadeth. So, there is a warning that it's time to get prepared for revved up speed metal.

It's immediately apparent that Dave Mustaine is a huge influence on the vocal style of Nicholaus Klaus as he employs an incredibly similar snarl. The riffing and song structure of "Prey" and "Salvation" have also been learned from the Megadeth textbook. There's a definite Manowar influence on the chest-beating chorus of "The Trials of Hercules". The vocals are raspier and the chorus isn't quite as catchy as it might have been. The song's best moments are when the vocals stop and the instruments are given a metallic thrashing. The intro to "The Succubus and The Crucible of Sins" is in a sea shanty style that is reminiscent of many a viking and folk metal band however Axminister veer away from the ocean as their desired pirate booty contains thrash metal.



There is undeniable Slayer influence creeping through "Sanctus Equitus Mortis" and strangely the vocals are their strongest on this tune. Axminister add a little melody to the tune and, after a tempo change and a couple of layered choruses, the song then ends in a much more traditional heavy metal fashion.

It's hard to shake the feeling that this is a band still trying to find their own sound. Despite that the Mustaine snarls are great and more of them throughout the EP would have been nice.

Release Date: 4 May 2018

3/5



Axminister on bandcandcamp


Axminister on facebook

Bang - The Best of Bang

Label: Ripple Music

Bang were a cult band back in the early seventies. Power trio Bang released their debut album in 1971. Since the band were considered the American Black Sabbath by some, it could be argued by many whether they fit under proto-metal umbrella or not.

The Black Sabbath influence is so strong on tracks like "Lions...Christians" and "The QUeen" that you wonder how many bats the singer has bitten the head off. There's undeniably heavy UK influence on this group in both senses of the word, "Questions" sounds like a missing link between Stray and Led Zeppelin due to the vocals doing the high-pitched part that Robert Plant became renowned for during his Led Zep days.

There's a delightful simpleness to the rock of "Mother". The song is catchy and there are echoes back to the fab four but while Bang were looking to the past, they were also looking forward. "Keep on" is from a similar mould and you can check this tune out on soundcloud. (Yay, I finally got my head around Soundcloud. Oh, no. I didn't. That site still sucks for embedding music on blogger). Many listeners will hear the roots of both what is now known as classic rock and also doom metal on tracks such as "Feel The Hunt". If "Windfair" was stacked up through more amps and turned up to 11, it'd sound rather similar to an English band named after torture device. There's some great soloing on "Don't Need Nobody". "Feels Nice" has a huge Zeppelin influence and if you've never liked Zep, this track will also beg the question, why does he sing like that?

This Anthology will nestle down in the vinyl format in the record collections of stoner and psychedelic rock/proto-metal fans and meat and potatoes hard rock fans. If you've enjoyed any rock albums that were released in the early seventies or if you'd like to, then "The Best of Bang" is a good arrival point.

4/5

Release date: 20 April 2018

Mordor - Darkness...

Pagan Records



Here's another comeback album. Poland's doom metal peddlers, Mordor have definitely taken a long time between drinks. It has been 21 years since there previous album. The band blot the landscape by painingt a bleak atmosphere with heavy riffs and deep throaty vocals.

The band walk the tightrope between atmospheric post-rock or post-metal on many on their tunes. There's a black metal influence on "L.U.C.I.F.E.R." with a similar guitar tone and incredibly fast drumming that veers away from plodding doom metal but Mordor still keep their musical template. There's a slow build to "Melancholy", which incorporates black metal with a more atmospheric sound which are married with deep gruff caveman style vocals that would seen many a sludge band green with envy. The band convey a Gothic feel that in the album closer, "Dark Room", which has a sparse and dark sound.



Fans of death-doom will eat this album up and non-purist black metal fans will be intrigued by the manner in which Mordor has incorporated one of their favourite metal sub-genres. There aren't any quick hooks on "Darkness.." so those looking for a quick metal fix won't find much to their liking here as Mordor favor long songs with no tunes briefer than six minutes.

3/5

Release date: April 20 2018


Mordor on facebook

Satanic Surfers - Back from Hell

Label: Mondo Macabre

This Swedish punk band's comeback album should be right up my alley. After all, I loved the pop punk that the Epitaph record label was putting out in the mid-90's.

However this album is boring as hell. Sure there's loud guitars and it's fast and melodic but it's mostly generic as hell. There is an experiment with combining reggae with Pennywise style surf/skate punk on "Self-Medication" and whilst it doesn't really help the song that it comes in late in the picture, it's hard to shake the feeling that this is the most innovative Satanic Surfers get.. "Ain't No Ripper" sounds like came straight from a skateboarding video soundtrack and Satanic Surfers got a well used but reliable cookie cutter. "Madhouse" asks that age old question, "Who let the dogs out? "Nowhere Fast" has a speedy edge that is reminiscent of the faster material on the later Descendents album but not quite as catchy. "Paying Tribute" is the Satanic Surfers version of the Descendents "Thank You" but the Swedes have a punk and roll edge.



This album will no doubt appeal to fans of skate punk and 90's pop punk fans who still pop out their old CD's now and again. Those looking for hooks and those looking something on the harder side of pop punk may find a little of what they are searching for on "Back From Hell" but whether it satisfies or even leaves the listener wanting more is uncertain.

2.5/5

Release date: April 13 2018



Satanic Surfers on Facebook




Satanic Surfers on bandcamp

Vantablack Warship - Vantablack Warship

Record Label: Self-release

I remember going circuses as a kid enjoying the animals doing tricks, laughing at the clowns and being enthralled by the gymnastics of the trapeze artists and the tightrope workers. The tightrope walkers especially captured my attention as somebody who absolutely hates looking down from heights. I've always started shaking when I'm on the third floor of a shopping mall if I can see below. The enthrallment is similar for music, when bands straddle the tightrope between genres it's fascinating and attention grabbing. Vantablack Warship straddle the tightrope between hardcore and metal.

You might be asking yourself, which kind of metal do these genre-benders straddle? On "Another Dead Rockstar", it's black metal but there's an undeniable modern hardcore edge. On "Black Tongue Bertha", it's groove metal and I'd guess that a few members of this band own both Pantera T-shirts and albums. The vocals are spat out Phil Anselmo style. "Blood on the Mat" is Pantera wrestling with Converge. Kneel and pray you don't get hurt as a mere spectator. Towards the end of the song when a more standard rock beat is set down, the vocals move in the puking and growling direction of Blaine from The Accused.





Is death metal groove a thing or groove death metal? Because that's the twisted direction that "Kill this Kid" takes. It's slow but there's a metallic edge and a grooving underbelly. There's a little of nineties noise rock twisted in their mixture too. Amphetamine Records fans should be all over this track. There's a clear Slayer influence on the riffing on "Ruderalis" although the vocals lean towards blackened hardcore. "Abrasive Pulmonic Speak" sounds like Helmet jamming with Slayer. The chorus to "Crisis" is oddly reminiscent of "Stay Hungry" period Twisted Sister but the tune is a lot heavier and sludgier than anything Dee Snider's crew did in the eighties.

On surface level, Vantablack Warship come across as a metallic hardcore but scratching below the murky surface, the band are integrating nineties noise rock and black metal. If you wanted to hear any of the bands mentioned in this review take on a more experimental edge then I'd recommend checking this album out. With the eight song on full album clocking in at under thirty minutes, Vantablack Warship, thankfully don't wear out their welcome. In this day and age of over sixty minute albums and even songs, brevity is warmly welcomed.

3.5/5

Release Date: 26 January 2018

Vantablack Warship on bandcamp


Vantablack Warship on facebook

Untime - Untime

Record Label: Ampmandens Records



I'm willing to stake my wages that when you think Norway and metal, groove metal is not what comes to mind. It's more likely black metal, which conjures up images of bleak weather, snow and forests in the Scandinavian country. Groove metallers Untime have been knocking around for twenty years. They've finally got around to releasing their debut album this year.

As Untime are a groove metal band, the Pantera influence shines through brightest but there's also a tablespoon of "River Runs Red" period Life of Agony. Tracks such as "Some to Pay" open with that guitar tone and chugging rhythm that Pantera were renowned for during the nineties. "Mysterious Ways" is thankfully not a U2 cover but a fierce and muscular Untime groove metal original. "The Chosen One" is how Pantera would sound if they'd allowed New York tour mates Biohazard to influence their sound.

Untime's drummer bashes his kit in "This Picture". The vocals are somewhere in between rap, hardcore and metal without the band abandoning the groove metal template. Untime prove they're far from one dimensional groove metallers in "One Step", which contains a heavily grungy underbelly. "Manipulation" comes off as pure nineties Pantera worship. Untime sound stronger when they go down the Biohazard road and integrate elements of hardcore and rap like on the track, "Pale and Grey"than when they imitate the band who claimed to be stronger than all. It might be telling that the last track is called, "This is Nothing Compared to What's Coming". Hopefully what is coming doesn't sound as much like Pantera.

3/5

Untime on facebook

Rapture - Paroxym of Hatred

Record Label: Memento Mori


How good can a Greek retro-thrash metal be? Rapture play unrelenting, ferocious thrash with a touch of death that is a throwback to the early eighties. Easy reference points are Slayer, Dark Angel and Kreator. This is largely due to the vocals of Apostolos Papadimitriou, whose barks fall somewhere between Mille Petrozza and Tom Araya. The band thrash along the Teutonic highway rather than taking in the sea air of the Bay Area. When Rapture go full throttle, they veer into death metal territory but keep the thrash edge, which is a feat not many bands can pull off. Just get a load of the death metal and thrash metal banging together tightly in the title track.

Those who like their thrash metal on the technical side will find what Rapture have served up on this vinyl to their taste as it is undeniably present in tracks like "Redemption through Isolation" and "Quintessence of Lunacy" plus a number of others. There's no doubt each of the musicians in this band can play their instruments with razor sharp precision and it's the tightness of the musicianship, which will have many a metal fan drooling over this band due to this release.



Other band comparisons that are likely be thrown at Rapture due to the sheer strength of "Paroxysm of Hatred" are Sadus, Dark Angel, Pestilence, early Believer and Demolition Hammer. This is Rapture's second album and is already a serious contender for album of 2018 in these quarters. 2017 was a great year for metal and 2018 is shaping up to be even better.

4/5

Rapture on bandcamp


Rapture on facebook

Master and Dehuman - Decay into Inferior Conditions

Record label: Xenocorp

If you've been into death metal for a long time, then you've surely heard of one of the bands on this dual release and I'm betting that would be death metal underground stalwarts, Master and their core member Paul Speckmann since the band have knocking around since 1983. In comparison, Belgium death metal band, Dehuman are newcomers to the scene having formed in 2006.

Master delivers four songs on this release, which were taken from a soundboard recording of a gig the band played in Helsinki, on October 7, 2016. The band still has an old school death metal sound and there's no mistaking this for a studio performance as the audience are loud and clear. There's a raw bootleg feel to these tracks that will no doubt have ex-tape traders reminiscing of days long gone by.

Dehuman have a similar old school sound and their recordings are live in the studio. The vocals are scooby doo style growls that will have many pinpointing Obituary as a major influence on the overall sound of these Belgians. There's some strong guitar soloing on "Morbid Sun", that wouldn't sound out of place on albums from other metal sub-genres. The drums are punished with an unrelenting brutality that makes it difficult not to pity them.

This is a limited release which insures cult status. "Decay Into Inferior Conditions" is available in 200 copies limited edition "tour souvenir" DigiPak CD and 300 copies limited edition 12" LP+CD first print DigiPak so get on it fast if it sounds like your thing because it's been available since December 2017.


3/5

Release Date: 19 December 2017

Dehuman on facebook


Master on facebook

Ozone Mama - Cosmos Calling

Label: Ripple Music


Can you name any Hungarian bands? I sure can't. Here's comes Ozone Mama. Problem solved, I can now name a Hungarian band. What would a Hungarian band signed to Ripple Music sound like? My guess and probably yours was Sabbath tinged stoner rock. We're wrong though. Ozone Mama have a southern rock sound.

From the first full song, "Straight On Till Morning Light", it's loud and clear that Ozone Mama possess strong songwriting skills and are aiming and succeeding at producing rock radio-friendly tunes. The Black Crowes are an easy reference point as Ozone Mama take a very similar stylistic approach. "High Ride" contains a vibe not unlike an Ozzy eighties single, which in a world where Black Sabbath clones are a dime a dozen actually feels like a breath of fresh air , although vocalist Márton Székely resists temptation to go full Oz which works in the band's favour. There's a Stones swagger to "Shout at The Sky" and the vocals go in Led Zeppelin era Robert Plant direction. The title track starts with licks that contain a very swampy southern flavour. If you didn't know you'd likely swear this band was from one of the southern US states. "Freedom Fighters" features some tasty guitar solos from András Gábor and it is a catchy little ditty with the vocals up front in the mix. The catchiness continues with "Cold Light of Day". Those who like stories in their southern rock songs will enjoy, "The Alchemist" which is a laid back yet rocking tune. The early seventies influence is strong in "Moon Pilot" as it is reminiscent of early Bowie, Pink Floyd plus a number of hard rock bands without sounding like a mere copy.

Although this is the third album from Ozone Mama, it was my first time hearing them and they're a band we're all likely to hear more from if they're given the right push. It's very easy to see why Ripple Music has signed this band. This album begs for and deserves rock-radio airplay in a major way.

3.5/5

Release Date: 19 January 2018



Ozone Mama on Facebook

The Cops - First Offense

Label: Artificial Head Records



The Cops are another Texan band but from the Houston punk side of the tracks. The band specialize in fast catchy punk songs viewed from the eyes of the law. The band dress up as law enforcement when they're on stage.

Musically The Cops have a melodic edge and take cues from US eighties pop punk rather than the nineties variant. Bands that come to mind listening to these dudes are The Adolescents, Articles of Faith, JFA, The Descendents. "Street Hooker Love" channels The Ramones via Sloppy Seconds. The Cops keep proceedings brief with none of their song tickets clocking over three minutes. Hell, most tracks don't even escape over the two minute mark.



While it's clear that The Cops are a tongue in cheek novelty band, they do offer social commentary on an often corrupt police force while retaining a sense of fun. If you're a fan of any of the bands mentioned in the review then you should get your "First Offense".



3.5/5

Release Date: 16 February 2018



The Cops on Facebook

Witchcryer - Cry Witch

Label: Ripple Music

On paper Witch Cry sound awesome; a Texan doom metal band with both the classic heavy rock influences of the likes of Black Sabbath, Uriah Heap and Deep Purple and combine it with the slightly more modern doom influences of Trouble and Saint Vitus. The band have female vocals that are reminiscent of Janis Joplin. The band have their chops together and sound really tight.

So what's the problem? It's hard to shake off the feeling this is nothing but a nostalgia trip. The songs here just don't catch this listener's attention. Overworked and overused Sabbath riffs need catchy hooks. The catchiest song on "Cry Witch" is "Witchfinder General" although the album closer "Lapis Philosophorum" is an attention grabber where the band ditch the heaviness (unless you consider Jethro Tull heavy) and vocalist Suzy Bravo is gives her strongest performance. I'd bet these songs work well live but this album just leaves this listener flat.

2.5/5

Release Date: 19 January 2018

Witchcryer on facebook



Witchcryer on bandcamp

Grimtone - Memento Mori

Label: Extreme Metal Music


Grimtone are a Swedish black metal group founded in 2016 and feature two guys from Swedish metal bands, Stonegriff, Nebulous Aura and Extermination, who you may or may not have heard of. I hadn't heard of any of them myself. Stonegriff is a doom band and one guy wanted to make black metal and Grimtone is the end product of his desire.

"Memento Mori" opens with a quiet and short instrumental piece entitled "Intro". The second track "Souls Reborn into Hate" lets the listener know what they are in for. Grimtone are undoubtedly black metal with the bumblebee guitar tone but what sets this band apart from most black metal that comes my way are the vocals. They are audible and for the most part it's easy to work out what the vocalist is singing as he's up front in the mix. Those who have entered the world of black metal for blast-beats will take pleasure from the opening of "The Blood of The Dead" although they may be thrown when Grimstone slow down.


Ignoring the vocals there's a post-metal feel to this track as the guitar sound is cleaner than a lot of black metal. Those who like the typical shrieked vocals, buzzing guitar tone and blast-beats will enjoy the album's title track. Even when shrieking, the vocals are thankfully clearer than most black metal. Those who come to black metal for speed will find what they're looking for in "Fields of Pale Limbs" even if the tune does slow down a little and near mid-tempo towards the end. For these ears, the effect of contrast of speed works.

The upfront vocals and the dynamics the band use when the tempo changes that separate Grimtone from the black metal hordes. Those who don't normally enjoy black metal may well enjoy this album as more accessible than a lot of the sub-genre.

3.5/5

Release Date: 8 December 2017



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