Friday, March 31, 2017

Ocean Grove - 2016 - Intimate Alien (Music Video)

Ocean Grove is a post-hardcore band from Melbourne, Australia. They incorporate electronic and metalcore elements to their hardcore inspired attack. Intimate Alien is taken from their debut LP The Rhapsody Tapes available from UNFD.

G.L.O.S.S. - 2016 - Trans Day Of Revenge (Bandcamp)

Today is International Transgender Day Of Visibility, in honour of that and to honour our LGBTQ2+* brothers and sisters blast the last G.L.O.S.S. record as loud as your system can play it.

Thursday, March 30, 2017

Anthrax - 2017 - Carry On My Wayward Son (Stream)

Anthrax is an American thrash metal band. Carry On My Wayward Son is taken from the expanded  version of their latest LP For All Kings.

Afterlife - 2016 - Vicious Cycle (Music Video)

Afterlife is a nu-metal/alt metal band from Palm Beach, Florida. Vicious Cycle is the title track of their debut EP available from StaySick Recordings.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Holycide -2017 - Annihilate...Then Ask! (Bandcamp)

Holycide is a thrash metal band from Madrid, Spain. The singer Dave Rotten has also played in Avulsed. Annihilate...Then Ask! is their debut LP. Bang your head!

Primal Attack - 2017 - The Prodigal One (Lyric Video)

Primal Attack is a thrash metal band from Lisbon, Portugal. The Prodigal One is taken from their sophomore LP Heartless Opressor available via Rastilho Records, following up their 2013 debut LP Humans.

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Black Star Riders - 2017 - Heavy Fire (Music Video)

Black Star Riders is a five piece hard rock band made up of most of the latest Thin Lizzy lineup. Heavy Fire is the title track of their third lp, available from Nuclear Blast Records.



Monday, March 27, 2017

Juelz Santana - 2017 - Back In My Zone (stream)

Juelz Santana is a rapper from New York City associated with The Diplomats (Dipset) and Cam'ron. He released Back In My Zone with DJ Get It Rite in anticipation of his third LP Born To Lose, Built To Win.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs - 2017 - Sweet Relief (Music Video)

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs is punked up stoner metal band from Newcastle On Tyne. Sweet Relief is taken from their debut LP Feed The Rats available from Rocket Recordings. 

Sunday, March 26, 2017

Thieves Like Us - 2017 - Broken Mirror (Music Video)

Thieves Like Us is an electronic, poppy, post-punk band from Berlin, Germany. Broken Mirror is taken from their fifth, self-titled LP, following up 2012's Bleed Bleed Bleed.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Lord Vigo - 2017 - Blackborne Souls (Bandcamp)

Lord Vigo is a three piece epic doom metal band from Kaiserslautern, Germany. Blackborne Souls is their debut LP following up 2015's Under Carpathian Sun. Highlights include When The Bloodlust Draws On Me, For Being Unknown and Eternal Saviour

Fall Of Carthage - 2017 - Fast Forward (Music Video)

Fall Of Carthage is a four piece groove & thrash metal band. Fast Forward is taken from their sophomore LP The Longed-For Reckoning.

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Astradica - 2017 - Front Row (Music Video)

Astradica is a three piece heavy metal/hard rock band from Drammen, Norway. Front Row is taken from their latest LP Deadly Eruption



Wednesday, March 22, 2017

Balfor - 2017 - Black Serpent Rising (Bandcamp)

Balfor plays black & barbaric death metal band from Kiev, Ukraine. Black Serpent Rising is their sophomore LP.

Dark Rites - 2017 - Hall Of The Slain (Music Video)

Dark Rites is a three piece melodic death metal band with international membership. Hall Of The Slain is taken from Dark Rites self titled debut LP available from Sliptrick Records.

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Fankaz - 2017 - Broken City (Music Video)

Fankaz is a four piece melodic hard core band from Ferrara, Italy. Broken City is taken from their latest LP Seities.

Monday, March 20, 2017

Segrëgates - 2017 - Burstön (LP)

Segrëgates is a three piece garage punk band from York, UK. Burstön is their debut LP. Segrëgates play a punked up brand of garage rock with a heavy dose of Motörhead worship. Segrëgates start with an aggressive punked up brand of garage rock and hammer out riffs that bring to mind both Motörhead and more general punk rock. The singer has a suitably melodic, gravely voice that bring's Lemmy to mind while still being suitably unique.




From the opening blast of the self-titled song to the final wailing chaos of Riding With The Driver Segrëgates do an excellent job of melding their hard rocking garage sound with the punked up metal sound Motörhead defined. Step Aside has a heavy, danceable groove while No Regrets and Turn It Loose are anthems to memories lost at the pub. Other highlights include Segrëgates, Roll N Roll, and Traitor Collaborator. With Burstön Segrëgates have crafted an hard rocking, Motörhead worshipping, danceable debut. 

John McBain - 2017 - First Earth Battalion (Music Video)

John McBain is an American guitar player who has played with Monster Magnet, Hater, The Desert Sessions, The Queens Of The Stone Age and The Wellwater Conspiracy. First Earth Battalion is from his latest solo LP of experimental psychedelia Accidental Soundtracks Vol. 1: The Alpha Particle available from Vacant Stare Records.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Habitual Sins - 2016 - I Pray For You (Music Video)

Habitual Sins is a heavy metal band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I Pray For You is taken from their debut LP Personal Demons available from Pure Steel Records.

Saturday, March 18, 2017

While She Sleeps - 2017 - You Are We (Music Video)

While She Sleeps is a five piece metalcore band from Sheffield, England. You Are We is the title track of their third LP available from Nuclear Blast.

Friday, March 17, 2017

Seminary - 2017 - Automnymous (LP)

Seminary is a one man grindcore band from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Automnymous is his latest LP. Seminary play grindcore with a technical metal edge. For the most part this straight ahead grindcore, fast to the point of obscenity, unintelligible screeched vocals and covered in distortion.



Every so often a hint of metal shines through, songs like Depth Of Shade and Parabolic Chains take a step out of the chaos towards intelligible riffing. There isn't much else to say here, if you like grindcore you will enjoy this. Highlights include Surfeit, Famile, Cur Eternal and the aforementioned Parabolic Chains & Depth Of Shade. If you're looking for some chaos with a metal edge Seminary's Automnymous will serve well. 

We Blame The Empire - 2017 - Broken Home (Music Video)

We Blame The Empire is a five piece metalcore band from Austria. Broken Home is taken from their latest LP These Waves Won't Take Me, in support of The Sea Shepherd conservation group.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Wound - 2016 - Morbid Paradigm (Music Video)

Wound is a four piece death metal band from Wiesbaden, Germany. Morbid Paradigm is taken from their sophomore LP Engrained available from FDA Records.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Pulse - 2017 - Aberration (LP)

Pulse is a deathcore band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Aberration is their debut EP recorded at the House Of Gain Studio. Pulse play an atmospheric brand of deathcore, giving the songs space to breathe and expand and fill your consciousness. Transparency takes it's time opening up the album, filling the space with post-rock guitars and burying the growled vocals back in the mix before things kick into hyperdrive.




 Burning Decades continues the high energy riff fest and Oculus strips away any fat leaving a lean, mean head banging anthem. Deity and Aberration close out the album bringing in more atmosphere to dilute the heaviness. This isn't the most consistent EP ever but it is a definite statement of intent, laying the groundwork for where Pulse might go next. If you're looking for some deathcore that knows how to let the songs breathe Pulse's Aberration will serve well.



Stromzaun - 2017 - Dort Im Nirgendwo (Music Video)

Stromzaun is a four piece melodic punk band from Beckingen, Germany. Dort Im Nirgendo is the title track of their latest LP.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Beheaded - 2017 - Beast Incarnate (Bandcamp)

Beheaded is a technical death metal band from Malta. Beast Incarnate is their sixth LP available from Unique Leader Records

Enemy Remains - 2016 - No Faith In Humanity (Music Video)

Enemy Remains is a groove metal/hard rock band from Newington, Connecticut. No Faith In Humanity is the title track to their sophomore LP following up 2012's Two Faces Two Minds.

Monday, March 13, 2017

Sweeping Death - 2017 - Astoria (Bandcamp)

Sweeping Death is a five piece progressive, thrash metal band from Wildsteig, Germany. Astoria is their latest LP.

Holycide - 2017 - Annihilate...Then Ask! (LP)

Holycide is a five piece thrash metal band from Madrid, Spain. Annihilate...Then Ask! is their debut LP courtesy of Xtreem Music. Members of Holycide have also played in Inntrance, Avulsed, Violent Eve & Dark Moor. From the opening moments of Afterworld Remants to the final thrashing moments of Back And Forth Holycide never let up for a moment. This is how I like my thrash metal, with a heavy dosing of speed metal to up the energy level even more.



Dave Rotten puts his gruff growl to great use while the dual guitars spew riffs and solo's in every direction. They cite Slayer and Testament among others as inspiration and do an excellent job of living up to those influences. Highlights include Eager To Take Control, Motorhead, Bonebreaker, Deserve To Be Erased and the title track. If you're looking for some speed infused thrash to bang your head to Holycide's Annihilate...Then Ask! will serve well. 

Aviana - 2017 - Solar (Music Video)

Aviana is a five piece metalcore band from Gothenburg, Sweden. Solar is taken from their debut LP Polarize.

Saturday, March 11, 2017

Dioxide Angel - 2017 - The Bitter Taste (LP)

Dioxide Angel is a industrial hard rock band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. The Bitter Taste is their latest LP. Dioxide Angel started in late 2015, evolving into a full band with the addition of a guitarist and vocalist. Don voz Oxide started with synth based, industrial hard rock tracks, lots of screaming synths and programmed drums going as hard as they can, reminding me of a more danceable Psyclon Nine. From there they add ex-Scum Runners guitar player Zack Hard on backing vocals and filling out the hard rock sound. With the addition of Nekawa (Juice) Evals and his eclectic vocal delivery you have the ingredients necessary for Dioxide Angel.



At their best Dioxide Angel provide hard hitting, hard rocking, danceable songs. Songs like Coke Whore and Noizemaker fill every little nook and cranny with sound while Evals delivers his vocals, ranging from menacing to jubilant and back again.  Other highlights include Victory Dance, Getting Away With Murder and Technophobia. If you're looking for some industrial rock that is both heavy and danceable Dioxide Angel's The Bitter Taste will work well.  

Kid Colling Cartel - 2016 - My Evil Side (Music Video)

Kid Colling Cartel is a blues rock band from Luxembourg. My Evil Side is taken from their latest LP In The Devil's Court.

Friday, March 10, 2017

Invisible Mirror - 2016 - Frozen River (Music Video)

Invisible Mirror is a five piece heavy metal band from St. Gallen Switzerland. Frozen River is taken from their latest LP On The Edge Of Tomorrow available from Wormhole Death.

Thursday, March 09, 2017

Culminated - 2017 - Ajna (EP)

Culminated is a four piece deathcore band from Mexico City, Mexico. Ajna is their sophomore release, following up 2012's Cenizas. Culminated play instrumental, technical, progressive deathcore with just a touch of djent citing Animals As Leaders & Meshuggah. With Psychosomatic Culminated come roaring out of the gate, the high energy song is packed to overflowing with riffs and solos.



Infinite is a slight step down, the riffs aren't quite as smooth but L.S.D (Lost Sacred Dimension) brings the energy back up with double bass pedals and melodic riffs while also expanding the sound with synth flourishes in the background. Hybrid Mind is another head banger overstuffed with riffs & solos while Outfinite chugs the ep to a close with more synths. I usually have no patience for instrumental metal, this is a rare EP that successfully commands attention without a lead singer. If you're looking for some djenty, technical & progressive deathcore Culminated's Ajna will serve well.

Ego Kill Talent - 2016 - Still Here (Music Video)

Ego Kill Talent is a three piece rock band from São Paulo, Brazil. Still Here is the title track to their sophomore LP, following up 2015's Sublimated.

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

Agonie - 2017 - Culte Funèbre (LP)

Agonie is a two piece black metal band from Quebec, Canada. Culte Funèbre is their debut LP following up 2016's debut EP Dèliverance. Culte Funèbre opens with Noirceur D'Hiver which plays by the black metal rules and lays out the template for what is to come. Lots of blasting drums, slashing guitars and guttural cookie monster demon vocals. The second track Austère brings in the other main element of this LP, the clean guitar lines.



Most of the power of this album comes from the contrast and interplay between the more traditional dark, aggressive black metal atmosphere and the melodic, sorrowful clean guitar lines. The production can be an issue here, the drums feel a little thin & tinny, they don't hit as hard as they can but that's a relatively minor problem. On Culte Funèbre Agonie have crafted a debut LP that walks the line between raw aggression and meditative despair 

Latexx Teens - 2016 - The End (Lyric Video)

Latexx Teens is a five piece industrial hard rock band from Italy. The End is from their third LP Be Wrong.

Tuesday, March 07, 2017

Wiccans - 2017 - Automaton

Wiccans is a punk rock band from Austin, Texas, USA. Automaton is a track from their forthcoming LP Dull Tools. Get Hype!

Samskaras - 2017 - Asunder (LP)

Samskaras is a two piece death metal band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Asunder is their debut EP, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy) and Marc-Olivier Fréchette at The Grid. It follows two singles from 2014. Samskaras consists of Eric Burnet (Derelict, Unburnt) providing guitars & vocals and Alexandre Dupras (Teramobil, Unhuman) providing drums. From the opening moments of Fuelscape it is clear there has been an upgrade in sound, the production gives these songs a fuller, grander feel.



Samskaras play technical death metal with a progressive flourish. It can be easy for bands that play technical or progressive music to get lost in the technicality, to complicate the music with time changes simply to complicate the music. Samskaras avoid that problem by writing good songs and avoiding cliches, everything is where it should be in the proper amount. Here's where I would list my favourite songs but there's no need when an EP is this consistent. If you're looking for some technical, progressive death metal that isn't purely that, Samskaras' Asunder will serve well. 

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes - 2017 - Modern Ruin (Lyric Video)

Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes is a punk rock band from England. Frank Carter has also played in Gallows and Pure Love. Modern Ruin is the title track of their sophomore LP, following up 2015's Blossom.


Monday, March 06, 2017

Ad Christi Gloriam - 2017 - Ad Christi Gloriam (LP)

Ad Christi Gloriam is a black metal band from Nova Scotia, Canada. Ad Christi Gloriam is their debut LP. This band starts with a base of cold, old school sounding black metal and builds outwards. They self describe as "happy black metal screamo math rock prog metal hybrid weird fuckin thing" while others describe them as experimental blackgaze or simply avant garde black metal.



The base of the music is the icey guitars slashing through the air, the vocalist who sounds like a torture victim and pounding drums blasting at you that black metal is known for, then expanded with symphonic synths and a few melodic riffs. Ad Christi Gloriam is never satisfied to sit still in one genre or movement, each song has elements of many types of music but it always come back to the ice cold black metal. If you're looking for some experimental, avant-garde black metal Ad Christi Gloriam's Ad Christi Gloriam will serve well. 

Outsiders - 2017 - Out Of Reach (Music Video)

Firewind play power metal. Ode To Leonidas is taken from their eighth LP Immortals.




Sunday, March 05, 2017

Ocean Sleeper - 2017 - Six Feet Down (Music Video)

Ocean Sleeper is a metalcore band from Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Six Feet Down is taken from their self titled, self released debut EP.

Saturday, March 04, 2017

Gothic - 2017 - Disillusion (Lyric Video)

Gothic play technical, melodic & gothic death metal from Lupeni, Romania. Disillusion is taken from their latest LP Demons available from Loud Rage Music.

Friday, March 03, 2017

Evenline - 2017 - Straiitjacket (Music Video)

Evenline is a alt metal/hard rock (Alter Bridge, Papa Roach) band from Paris, France. Straitjacket is from their latest LP Tenebris available from the Dooweet Agency.

Thursday, March 02, 2017

Dreamcar - 2017 - Kill For Candy (Lyric Video)

Dreamcar is a power pop/new romantic super group. The band consists of three quarters of No Doubt Tony Kanal, Tom Dumont and Adrian Young and fronted by AFI's Dave Havok

Lanthanum - 2016 - The Darkness (Music Video)

Lanthanum is a post-grunge metal band from Cheyenne, Montana. The Darkness is taken from their debut LP Ascend The Mountain.

Wednesday, March 01, 2017

Four Star Revival - 2016 - The Underdog (Music Video)

Four Star Revival is a hard rock/heavy metal band from Dayton, Ohio. The Underdog is the title track of their latest ep following up 2014's self titled debut.