Dead Sun released seventh album by the Swedish mastermind Rogga Johansson, who played, have been playing or is playing in too many famous bands and projects to mention here. For sure one of the most prolific musicians in Swedish underground metal scene. This opus contains ten songs of full blooded Swedish death metal, quite a good mixture of old school Stockholm Swedish death, with Entombed, Dismember and Grave coming to mind, but there is also melody reminding me a bit of all those great Gothenburg melodic death metal bands, namely At The Gates and especially Edge of Sanity, whose work I love and respect so much. One of the songs that are highlights on this opus for me is for sure ‘Sand and Rot’ being melodic death metal lesson, with almost some gothic influenced drumming and structure and having that atmospheric parts with synths and flutes if I am not mistaken, or maybe it is only synth. The album as a whole is epic lesson in melodic death metal with heavy hitters like ‘Tid For Jakt’, one of the two songs sung in Swedish, then ‘Mausoleum Melodies’ and the title song. Melodic death metal is my favorite death metal subgenre, so I love this one. Go listen!
Boss’ Daughter from Nevada are one of the most hard working bands in the underground and this is their new album with SBÄM Records and it is a blast! This one contains 16 songs but don’t worry it is neither too long or boring. I am surprised how varied this album is. There are your classic fast skate melodic punk songs leaning in the nineties melodic punk like ‘Never Alone’ or ‘Photography’. But, there is almost ska punk rock vibe with ‘Extinction’ and ‘Singing About Drinking’ reminded me a lot of country songs in its skeleton, although it is a punk rock song. Vocals remind me at time of Fat Mike with color of voice and way of singing. Backing vocals and harmonies are just great and you caught yourself humming to the songs long after the album is finished playing. Brass and horns sections in some songs reminded me of Mad Caddies, but their fastest songs, like in one of my favorite on this record, ‘Religious Convenience’. Lyrics deal with personal themes, but cleverly written and somehow making me sad and nostalgic, but hey, maybe it is just me. Everything on this record suits me as a listener and fan of such punk rock just fine. Some of the songs I must also highlight on this record are ‘Four Seasons And A Movie’, ‘Away’ and ‘Imaginary Arguments’. Great one.
The Lackeys are hailing from Ottawa, Canada and this is their brand new e.p. containing five songs. These guys play nice melodic punk with some fast excursions into more melodic hardcore punk side of things. Vocals and backing harmonies are superb melodies, also guitars and great songwriting. There is not much to say about this one, except that it is excellent and I would love to listen to a full length somewhere in future. Lyrics deal with anxiety, breakups, fear, uncertainty, inner battles and love, also about taking a dump with a cell phone in hand haha which many of us do. I am sure these guys also sound fantastic live, maybe we will see them in Europe one day. Till the full length album, go listen to this one and show some love for The Lackeys.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 