Montreal based Iron Asparagus released their new debut e.p. containing four songs. I love album and song titles like this one, so it was a hitter. This one starts aggressive in thrash metal vein but continues as kind of melodic doom on choruses and later on in the song, the title song is a hit and I like it very much, kind of like Overkill meets Sabbath patchwork. ‘Orbitoclast’ starts a bit atmospheric almost ballad like, continuing in the vein of stoner grease mixed with thrash metal. But, basically this song is ballad sometimes reminding me of Queensryche but maybe that is only me hearing that. ‘Mr.Molotov’ has eerie atmosphere with that melody being sung quietly in the start and end of the song and although not fast, it is probably the heaviest song on the record. Heaviness continues with ‘Diamond In The Dirt’ being somehow classic Bay Area influenced thrash metal with all the best this genre provided, also with some death metal growls in the vocals. Great debut.
Sometimes you discover the band and music in this our underground scene that brings joy to your black heart and Bloody Hammers from North Carolina are just that. Although this is their sixth studio opus, to me is the first and I freakin love it. There are nine songs on this opus and one better than the other. There are only two members in this band, two entities called Anders Manga and Devallia. Music is basically horror punk with lots of melody and superbly energetic songs, but there is also lots of melodic metal, almost power true metal in the songwriting, especially in And Soon The Darkness, punk rock is more on the surface in Black Sunday. Vocals by Anders Manga are one of the best vocals I have heard in this genre in last couple of years. This voice is so melodic, yet so powerful. Keyboards fit perfectly in the songs wherever they are applied creating atmosphere of melancholy and sadness, but first they create darkness but such darkness you wish for it to engulf you. Two more songs that I must mention as personal highlights are Last Rites Of Lucifer and Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark. Excellent, excellent album and my heartily recommendation.
Slovak modern power/heavy metallers EUFORY who are presenting a lyric video for their second single “Day for Night” from their third upcoming album “Fifth Dimension”, which will be released as a CD digipak and digitally via Smile Music Records at the end of March. Along with it is also launching pre-sales for the album.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 