UK´s legendary NWOBHM veterans Saxon released an album with cover versions of the songs by musicians and bands which had an influence and served as inspirations for their long year running stint as UK´s premier heavy metal band besides Iron Maiden. This one contains 11 songs of more or less known songs and I somehow like The Beatles, Rolling Stones and Motorhead covers the best. I am usually not eager of bands delivering cover albums because they often mean only record contract fillers with labels but this is an okay album and I have nothing but respect for Saxon being in the scene for so long throughout the years and all ups and downs of their career and the scene itself. Biff´s specific voice is really fun to hear in these songs and it is an interesting choice of covers.
Serbian black metal institution The Stone released brand new, ninth full length opus. Existence of this band goes back to 1996 when they were called Stone To Flesh but let us speak of this new opus. It contains eight songs of pure and merciless black metal with some thrash and death metal influences in some songs, but mainly it is black metal, fast, atmospheric and without gothic or sympho parts, only pure black metal evil the way it should be done. Most of the songs are in Serbian language and since we basically speak the same, I understand all of it. Lyrics are not your typical in your face, but rather deep and personal, dealing with inner evil and fighting your own demons and darkness. Besides blast beats and speed, there are some slower melodic and melancholic parts that add to the drama, emotions, anguish and aggression. My personal favorites are: Okamenjen, Kosturnice and Jebes pero dodaj mac. For sure one of the best black metal releases this year.
Pathfinders are hailing from France and this is their debut full length album. This band was formed in 2018 and they called themselves after NASA´s space probe Mars Pathfinder. Like their namesake, these guys are not afraid to explore the outer fringes and expand the limits of modern metal. It is thrash metal with progressive and groove metal influences but it is so much more. This is modern metal, although I cringe a little still when I hear this term. Pathfinders play metal. Period. Guitar work is harsh, heavy and not to be joked with, but there are enough melodic and catchy guitar hooks with some atmospheric parts, almost melancholic, but then again it returns to harsher side of metal. Vocals are story for themselves. How easily they transform into screaming, return to melodic beautiful clean voice then back again to almost thrash angry shouting and growling. I love it. Songs are aggressive, yet so varied and so imaginative and well written. At times music of Pathfinders reminds me of Croatian band called Core System, yet Pathfinders are more hard and more metal and I love it. My personal highlights are: Damned Earth, Precious Star. This is a very strong debut album.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 