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Showing posts from May, 2020

Album Review: Grace.Will.Fall - Barren by Design (2020)

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Photo Credit: David Connard  / Grace.Will.Fall Grace.Will.Fall - Barren by Design Release: May 29, 2020 Label:  Midsummer Records Format: Vinyl / Digital Length: 38:09 Genre: Crustcore / Post Hardcore Origin: Jönköping, Sweden Hoarse vocals, galopping beats, intelligent breaks and a deeply gloomy atmosphere. The fifth album by Grace.Will.Fall is a great display of their melange of sophisticated Post Hardcore and dirty Crustcore. The air on this release is full of smoke and mist while the band mercilessly (but organized!) hacks and thrashes forward. It also appears as if Grace.Will.Fall have fueled up some Heavy Metal before they started writing the songs for "Barren by Design". NWoBHM licks easily slide into the brachial soundscape on this album. These merge with the stomping and shouting (Post) Hardcore surrounding that is highly impacted by the heritage of Amebix and Tragedy. Grace.WillFall present a very refreshing and uncommon approach t

Single Review: Earthbender - Comedy Night / Not Your End (2020)

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Photo Credit: Earthbender Earthbender - Comedy Night / Not Your End Release: May 29, 2020 Label: selfrelease Format: Digital Length: 07:50 Genre: Metalcore Origin: Layton, Utah Imagine going to a comedy night when a very shy mic check gets interrupted by a gutturally grunted "CHEEECK!!". That's how the first track 'Comedy Night' from Earthbender's new release commences. The growled shout directly leads into a heavily rolling Metalcore riff and plenty of humorous additives. After less than three minutes the hilarious mix of Death and Black Metal, Metalcore and Mathcore is displaced by the more intense second track 'Not Your End'. Earthbender easily cross boundaries of genre, style and intonation. Together with their featured guest vocalist Garret Rapp  ( The Color Morale ) they mow everything down. Brachial force, harsh breaks, a melodic part and intense brutality - this song is a killer! The humorous style kind of reminds

EP Review: Snackwolf - Appetizers (2020)

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Artwork: Samuel Lucas Snackwolf - Appetizers Release: May 29, 2020 Label: 30 Kilo Fieber Records Format: 7'' Vinyl / CD / Digital Length: 07:23 Genre: Punk Rock / Skate Punk Origin: Stuttgart , Germany Hallo, ihr Hungrigen! Heute haben wir einen köstlichen Appetithappen vor uns. In der Küche standen für uns Jonas  (Gitarre und Gesang), Danger  (Gitarre und Gesang), Hesse  (Schlagzeug und Gesang) und Flo  (Bass und Gesang). Die vier Köche sind den ein oder anderen Lesenden sicherlich aus Küchen wie Planet Watson , Kuballa, Kill Valmer, Down Eight One, Dropkid oder Stehcafe bekannt. Geliefert wird das kleine aber feine Menu via 30 Kilo Fieber Records - wahlweise auf sieben Zoll Vinyl, kleinem Silberteller oder in digitaler Form. Wie es sich für gute Appetizers gehört, servieren uns Snackwolf vier kleine, recht unterschiedliche aber doch aufeinander abgestimmte Häppchen. Melodischer und flotter Skate Punk schmiegen sich liebevoll an den Gaumen an und s

Album Review: Tape Shapes - Overload (2020)

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Photo Credit: Tape Shapes Tape Shapes - Overload Release: May 22, 2020 Label: selfrelease Format: Digital (tape will follow soon) Length: 33:39 Genre: Stoner Rock / Grunge Origin: Hamburg , Germany Sollten euch die Tape Shapes aus Hamburg noch nicht untergekommen sein, solltet ihr spätestens jetzt die Ohren spitzen. Das Vierergespann aus der Hansestadt  hat nämlich Album Nummer Drei veröffentlicht und hat damit die bisherigen schon sehr guten Releases nochmal überboten. Hinter dem Namen "Overload" versteckt sich über eine halbe Stunde kräftiger Stoner Grunge. Das Album könnt ihr seit 22. Mai auf gängigen Plattformen streamen (Links sind am Ende des Beitrages). Auf analoge Tonträger von "Overload" müssen wir leider noch ein wenig warten. Simone  am Schlagzeug sorgt mit tonnenschweren und gleichzeitig treibenden Rhythmen für das massive Grundgerüst auf "Overload". Der Bass von Elena  legt sich kratzig-crunchy auf die Beats und unt

EP Review: Ironstone - Prophecy (2020)

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Photo Credit: Ironstone Ironstone - Prophecy Release: May 29, 2020 Label: selfrelease Format: CD/Digital Length: 26:30 Genre: Progressive Metal / Modern Metal  / Djent Origin: Bendigo, Australia "Prophecy" is the first release by Ironstone who were founded in 2017. The band since then worked on their reputation in their hometown Bendigo as well as in the Melbourne Prog and Metal scene. Now the waiting is over and the quintet presents their first EP. On "Prophecy" the band plays a powerful, chequered and very modern version of Progressive Metal. Choppedly heavy rhythms and distorted riffs build the foundation of the soundscape on "Prophecy". Above Ironstone build manifold levels of interacting melodies and harmonic spheres. Guitars, bass and keyboards impact each other and create wholesome harmonies on which the voices of all five band members narrate deepn and meaningful stories. The lyrics, too, are as versatile as their musi

Album Review: Self Disgrace - Fetus in Fetu (2020)

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Photo Credit: Self Disgrace Self Disgrace - Fetus in Fetu Release: March 9, 2020 Label: Malevolence Records Format: CD/Digital Length: 28:53 Genre: Thrash Metal / Death Metal Origin: Milan, Italy "Fetus in Fetu" is the second album by Milan-based band Self Disgrace. My first encounters with the album were associated with mixed emotions. The opener 'Deliverance' commences with a gorgeous offset beat and the background vocals murmuring "Ave Satanas". That made me very happy. The onset of the aria-like singing puzzled me though. But once the intro was over Self Disgrace slided into their very own variant of Extreme Metal and I was content again. The music Self Disgrace is a unique approach to Extreme Metal. Rhythm and Groove are mostly defined by Death and Thrash Metal. The melodies though show strong impact of symphonic music, Heavy Metal and oriental scales. Central to the musical landscape is vocalist Dielle Green  whose voice I

Single Review: Pressor: Twist The Bliss (2020)

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Photo Credit: Stas Vasilev  / Pressor Pressor - Twist The Bliss Release: May 18, 2020 Label: [addicted label] Format: Digital Length: 11:44 Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Sludge / Krautrock Origin: Kostroma , Russia The newest single by Stas Vasilev  (synths, guitar, vocals), Anton Khmelevskiy  (guitar), Denis Zarutsky  (bass) and Daniil Kornev  (drums), also know as Pressor is out. The band from Kostroma delivers two parts of a new track, 'Twist' and 'The Blist'. Together that's "Twist The Blist". "Twist The Blist" is highly electrifying. Pressor play a deeply psychedelic and dark form of sludgy Krautrock on this one. It is the kind of pitch black music you just dive into and experience a joyride alongside flickering lights with. The dark sound of the synthies adds to the feeling by its Wave -like atmosphere. This mesmerizing piece is a great tune, not only for fans of The Melvins or Jalayan . Oozy, sludgy, psychedeli

Album Review: Hardland - Reach the Sky (2020)

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Photo Credit: Hardland Hardland - Reach the Sky Release: May 24, 2020 (Digital) / November 29, 2020 (CD) Label: New Dream Records Format: CD/Digital Length: 49:42 Genre: Hard Rock / Heavy Rock Origin: Thessaloniki , Greece Hardland from Thessaloniki have produced a new album for you. Three years after their selftitled debut the quartet is back with ten new Hard Rock songs. That means, heavy riffing, crunchy sounds and autochthonous beats create a timeless soundscape situated eveywhere between the early 1980s and today. "Reach the Sky"commences with the tough track 'Coming Home' which makes clear what the audience can expect from this album: honest, powerful, Scorpions-like Hard and Heavy Rock. Not matter if you listen to this in the car, on the motorbike, in the bar or at the beach, this releease kicks butt. But instead of blunt force and pure attacks, Hardland present themselves soulfully versatile. Slow jams such as 'Midnight Lover

Album Review: Juice Oh Yeah - Juice Oh Yeah (2020)

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Photo Credit: Alexandra Veselova  / Juice Oh Yeah Juice Oh Yeah - Juice Oh Yeah Release: May 22, 2020 Label: [addicted label] Format: CD/Digital Length: 38:41 Genre: Klezmer Doom / Psychedelic Rock Origin: St. Petersburg , Russia Boris Shulman  (fretless bass, vocals) and Sviatoslav Lobanov  (drums) are Juice Oh Yeah. The duo from St. Persburg stands for avangardistic realisations of Psychedelic Rock and Stoner Rock. The band calls their own style Klezmer Doom. They even call themselves the best Klezmer Doom band of the third millenium! The sound on their selftitled album is defined by mesmerizing and atmospheric arrangements. The release is a holistic journey through space and time. Psychedelic Rock meets Klezmer and dances wildly with fuzzy tunes and jazzy rhythms. Juice Oh Yeah play timeless and borderless music that is made to impress. Pompous soundscapes are erected by powerful musical scaffolding and intense choirs. These constructs build themselves

EP Review: Dweller - White Rabbit (2020)

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Photo Credit: Fulton Hobbs  / Dweller Dweller - White Rabbit Release: May 22, 2020 Label: selfrelease Format: Digital Length: 20:51 Genre: Metalcore / Melodic Hardcore Origin: Melbourne , Australia "White Rabbit" is the first release by Melbourne's Mealcore quintet Dweller. Their debut is an intense, melodic and emotional output. Raw Hardcore is displayed via chequered rhythms and a powerful aura between desparation and raised fists. Metallic riffing meets harsh breaks and melodic choruses. Dweller play hightempo Metalcore with multi-level melodic leads and vocals. The songs' structures are defined by rough soundscapes, dark atmosphere, and clean bridges as they climax. Hardcore motifs comparable to Bane form the powerful backbone on which Heavy Metal riffing adds to tempo and intensity. The clean vocals in the background support the brachial shouting. In bridges and choruses those clean vocals move towards the centre of the musical lan

EP Review: Sebastian Döbbelin - Una Vuelta Más (2020)

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Photo Credit: Cecila Amor  / Sebastian Döbbelin Sebastian Döbbelin - Una Vuelta Más Release: May 07, 2020 Label: selfrelease Format: Digital Length: 25:01 Genre: Psychedelic Rock / Alternative Rock / Instrumental Sebastian Döbbelin ist ein Künstler aus dem spanischen Ort Albacete. Hier widmet sich Döbbelin  dem Home Recording. In Eigenregie spielt er alle Instrumente ein und auch Mische sowie Produktion stammen aus der Feder des Solo Artists. Das neueste Werk aus dieser heimischen Schmiede ist Sebastian Döbbelin s dritte EP "Una Vuelta Más" (spanisch: "noch eine Runde"). Auf fünf Tracks experimentiert der Künstler mit Psychedelik, ausgefallenen Songstrukturen und einem äußerst angenehmen warmen Grundton. Das Tempo spielt sich zumeist im niedrigen bis mittleren Bereich ab und erweckt wohltuende Assoziationen von Wellengang, leichter Meeresbrise und einer hinterm Ozean untergehenden Sonne. Gelegentlich packt Döbbelin  den Funk aus und gibt

Album Review: Lunar Swamp - UnderMudBlues (2020)

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Photo Credit: Damiana Merante Art / Lunar Swamp Lunar Swamp - UnderMudBlues Release: March 2, 2020 Label: Fuzzy Cracklins Length: 27:13 Format: Mini-CD, Digital, Stream Genre: Doom Metal / Blues Rock / Swamp Blues Welcome to the Swamp. Lunar Swamp from Catanzaro in Calabria, Italy have recently came out with their first release "UnderMudBlues", a five-track Mini-CD available on Californian label Fuzzly Cracklins. As you might get from both band name and album title, this is all about heavy doom-ridden Swamp Blues. Lunar Swamp themselves call their style Shamanic Doom Blues - a well-fitting description of the music displayed on their debut. The five tracks on "UnderMudBlues" are defined by heavy psychedelic Blues motifs, an omnipresent Fuzz effect and the occult atmosphere of Doom Metal. Like stompig through oozy terrain the trio ponderously moves forward. Drummer S.M. Ghoul  is responsible for the steady and intense motion in p

Album Review: Fartuuna - Zweiter Vorname Glück (2020)

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Und direkt noch eine Veröffentlichung aus dem Hause Tanz auf Ruinen . Sarah Fartuun Heinze  aus Cottbus ist Theaterpädagogin, Gaming Expertin und Liedermacherin . Ihr erstes Album "Zweiter Vorname Glück" ist eine bunte Reise durch die Welten von Musik, Gesellschaft, Humor und nachdenklichen Themen. Mit ihrem zweiten Vornamen Fartuun (Somali: Glück) hat die Künstlerin direkt Album und Künstlername benannt. Hier fällt mir zum ersten Mal auf, dass "Künstlername" im generischen Maskulin steht. Wenn jemand einen gerechteren Begriff findet, lade ich euch ein, mir davon zu schreiben. Photo Credit: Marlies Kross  / Fartuuna Fartuuna spielt auf ihrem Debut Album knapp eine Dreivertelstunde warme Musik voller Abwechslung. Sie präsentiert sich auf 15 Stücken mit Wortwitz, fantasievollen Ausflügen, intelligenten Pointen und einer guten Portion Realismus. So lässt die Musik auf "Zweiter Vorname Glück" die Zuhörenden immer wieder abheben, wegschweben und wieder

Split Review: Probably Not - More Than Skin / ZilpZalp - ...unter dem Eis (2020)

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Today, we're having a beautiful Split 12'' to listen to. The non-profit indenpendent label Tanz auf Ruinen has just released Probably Not's "More Than Skin" and ZilpZalp's "...unter dem Eis". Both releases can be streamed individually and at least for ZilpZalp's songs I know they have been released on MC as well. But there are good reasons for prefering the 12'' version that contains both bands' music. Photo Credit: Alex Hall  and Josh Föst A-Side: Probably Not - More Than Skin (19:26): Probably Not from Exeter, England play rough and melodic Post Hardcore . Hoarse screams and arraining vocals are accompanied by a raw and emotional soundscape. Rhythms and riffing are highly versatile and create a shaking feeling by their twitchy dynamics. Altogether the beats in combination with the rough sound of guitar and bass remind of stormy weather on the open sea. Not only fans of acts such as Palm Reader or Hang the Bastard will

EP Review: Act the Fool - Down (2020)

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Act the Fool aus Langenau veröffentlichen eine neue EP aus 30 Kilo Fieber Records. "Down" ist der Name des zweiten Werks der Langenauer. Etwa siebeneinhalb Minuten brettert das süddeutsche Quartett auf vier neuen Songs aus den Boxen. Laut eigener Beschreibung spielt die Band Hardcore Punk . Dem Suffix würde ich da widersprechen. Was hier geboten wird, ist lupenreiner Hardcore im Stil von Punshable Act oder im weitesten Sinne von Bane. Photo Credit: Act the Fool Act the Fool hauen kompromisslos auf den Putz und animieren sämtliche Körperteile zum ausschweifenden Mosh. Besonders der Opener 'No One Ever Paid' hat es mir angetan. Hier wird ein bisschen Discharge durch die Zeilen einer zweiten Sängerin mit eingebracht. Ihre Einlage ist auch der am besten verständliche Gesangspart. Der Sänger von Act the Fool verschluckt in seinem gepressten Shouting leider sehr viele Silben, was viele Textzeilen nahezu unverständlich macht. Treibender und stampfender Hardcor

Album Review: Amorphia - Merciless Strike (2020)

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In January I reviewed the first album by India 's Old School Thrash Metal band Amorphia " Arms to Death ". For some reason their second album "Merciless Strike" escaped my notice even though it was released in January 2020. But better late then never, I'll talk to you about the new release by Amorphia. Let's enjoy some kick-ass Thrash Metal from Cherthala , Alappuzha. Photo Credit: Amorphia / Awakening Records Amorphia are very true to party principles. The theme of "Merciless Strike" resembles the one from "Arms to Death" a lot. Nevertheless, the second album pleases me even more than the debut. Amorphia have worked on the vernier adjustment a lot. The arrangement of the songs is further defined than before and still they mow down huge landscapes with their thrashing sound. Beyond any sign of mercy or remorse Amorphia bomb straight forward with full throttle. Hacking, slaying Thrash Metal in its purest form leaves nothing

Album Review: The Great Black Shark - VOMIT (2019)

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After their two demos " The Art of Eating " (2017) and " The Energy consuming Mechanics of Hate " (2017) The Great Black Shark from Athens released their first album "VOMIT" last year. The Great Black Shark is a Greek band dedicating themselves to Post Punk , Noise and Experimental Garage Rock . Photo Credit: The Great Black Shark "VOMIT" contains ten tracks lasting about 35 minutes. The attribute fitting best to describe the sound on the album is energetic. Steady movement is given by the Garage Rock foundation of the songs. Dark and gloomy Post Punk atmosphere wavers through the air like a cold mist. And then there's the experimental note added by synthetic and analogue sounds which run through the soundscape like little projectiles. The feeling "VOMIT" creates is a nihilistic and grueling one. The Great Black Sharks give me the impression of watching a concert in the middle of of a post-apocalyptic Mad Max-like world.

Split Review: Bronco / Christmas 7'' (2020)

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Es ist Zeit für ein unschlagbares Tag Team. Das Schaffhausener Stoner Punk Quintett Bronco hat sich mit den Saarländer Satanic Rockers Christmas zusammen getan, um eine krachend laute Split heraus zu bringen. Die Bands sind bereits seit einiger Zeit miteinander befreundet und beglücken uns nun in Corona Zeiten mit einer schönen 7'' Split. Limitiert auf 150 schwarze und 50 gelbe Platten könnt ihr euch das schicke Scheibchen über Sixteentimes Music oder Lux Noise Music auf den heimischen Plattenteller holen. 01 Bronco - Cowboy (03:31) Die Schweizer eröffnen mit ihrem Heavy Stuff. 'Cowboy' wird mit einem aufmunternden "You'll never be free" eröffnet. Ein mächtiges Stoner Rock Riff leitet in die nächste Attacke ein wie eine gewaltige Dampfwalze. Und ab dann folgt eine massive Breitseite aus Stoner Punk und Heavy Rock. Bronco marschieren geradewegs über die Plattenrillen und lassen weder links noch rechts etwas anderes zurück außer verbrannter Erde.

EP Review: Citrus Blossom - Eyes filled with Apathy (2020)

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On this lovely Sunday I want to introduce you to another great band from Greece . Vasilis Papadopulos  (guitar and vocals), Konstantinos Baxevanis  (bass) and Thanasis Psonidis  (drums) from Thessaloniki are Citrus Blossom. The trio was founded in 2017 and dedicated themselves to Rock'n'Roll . On April 10, 2020 Citrus Blossom released their first EP "Eyes filled with Apathy", 25 minutes of soulful and grooving Rock music. Photo Credit: Achilleas Mesaikos  / Citrus Blossom As the first song 'Stranger' kicks in, Citrus Blossom show off their powerful style: fearless, intensely rolling Heavy Blues Rock with tons of Groove and delicate movement. Minimalistic and yet broadly arranged they form a huge soundscape with their three instruments. And when you think the song is over, Thanasis  counts in for the big finale of the opener. A beautiful trap that makes me very happy. Citrus Blossom are covering a broad spectrum on their debut. Thoughtful and sentimen