(review) Anzillu – ‘Ex Nihilo’

We didn’t have a Finnish band for a while here on the pages of this webzine. Anzillu are from Helsinki area and they formed in 2019. After four singles this is their debut full length opus. This one contains 9 songs. The music is basically thrash metal, but so much more in these songs. ‘Needles (On My Nerves)’ is a classic thrash metal 80-ies influenced song, but I was surprised and blown away by hitter ‘Mental Graveyard’ having blast beats and aggression of blackened thrash metal. Songs are raw and brutal, with screaming vocals but also angry shouting fine vox done by Teemu Kemppainen, with chainsaw buzzing guitars, speed, but also couple of modern groove thrash hooks and catchy melodies here and there, like only Finnish bands can do. Lyrics deal with some personal surviving themes, anger and state of the world, anti corporate and about war, also they are pretty misanthropic and self nihilistic and that is what I like about this band even more. Also, being a thrash metal record, there are blistering guitar solos, courtesy of guitars Jesse Kämäräinen and Sami Katajainen. This is an all out aggressive thrash metal attack so have a listen and go get this one.

7,5/10

Bandcamp

(review) Destronomer – ‘The Two Horns’

I have been listening to lots of doom lately, due to winter and weather and I just feel like it. Destronomer are hailing from far away Sydney, Australia, across the globe and this is their debut full length opus. This one contains eight songs. The music of Destronomer can be described as a melodic and epic doom metal with some up tempo more straightforward stoner metal influenced parts interweaving with some more psychodelic atmospheric songwriting as in excellent ‘Bin Diver’ where perfect vocal melody lines and doomy parts interplay with I would say also post metal parts and strong bass lines, but I must especially highlight vocals on this opus. Nathan Williams has such superb voice, gentle where needed, melodic and full voice which expresses all the emotions behind the music. This is a strong debut album for all of you who like your doom metal epic and melodic. My personal favorites: ‘Bin Diver’, ‘Core Fallen’, ‘Eschaton’.

8/10

Bandcamp

(news – new video) LA’s melodic punks Holyfangs released new video!

Formed in 2021, HOLYFANGS is a new punk rock band based in Los Angeles, California. The sound is instantly familiar, yet fresh, heartfelt and pulsing with life. A driven, angst-fuelled combination of tasty riffs, crunching grooves and blood-soaked melodies that bite. For fans of Banner Pilot, No Trigger, The Menzingers and Dillinger Four.

Holy Fangs is;

Giuliano Messina – guitar and vocals 

Chris Behrens – guitar

Michael Nusbaum – drums

Gabe Mayeshiro (ex-Spanish Love Songs) – bass