Album Reviews



Review: MUNICIPAL WASTE – ‘Slime And Punishment’ [Official Music Videos]

Storming in back to business and stirring up the broth yet again, MUNICIPAL WASTE is back and ready to crush your skull against their wall of sound with full force like a German tank missile. Richmond, Virginia crossover thrash young bloods MUNICIPAL WASTE hits back after a five year gap with their latest and brand new record, ‘Slime And Punishment‘. It’s been well over a decade now and it won’t be wrong to bestow the moniker of ‘crossover kings’ to MUNICIPAL WASTE, as it’s what evidently time and again they’ve proved so far down their short and marvellous career so far. Perfectly matured and well executed punk and thrash metal riffs, combining hardcore elements, they have really upped the ante in their own genre, which is a laudable thing. Clocking in just shy of 30 minutes, and loaded with a blitkrieg of 14 tracks, MUNICIPAL WASTE takes no shit and proves yet again that this isn’t for the weak hearted. If you’re looking for anything short of fast, gritty and uncompromising thrash violence then you better look away. ‘Slime and Punishment‘ was recorded by the band themselves and sent to Bill Metoyer (known for his work with SLAYER, W.A.S.P., LIZZY BORDEN and DARK ANGEL) in Hollywood, CA to be professionally mixed. The album is not so far away from it’s release date and the flood gates would open on June 23rd, 2017, out via Nuclear Blast Records. Continue reading

Review: RENDERED HELPLESS – ‘Entities Of Transdimensional Emergence’ [Official Album Stream]

Rendered Helpless is a brutal slamming death metal band from Christchurch, New Zealand. It’s a 1 man side project created by Alexander Paul. He does everything by himself besides the drums because those are programmed. He is the man behind the brutal vocals and the nasty guitar riffs. Alexander’s main band is Organectomy which he is the vocalist for. First his focus was on that band but after some time he came back to Rendered Helpless and gave birth to the filthiest album mankind has even known that goes by the name ‘Entities Of Transdimensional Emergence’, available on SLAMWORLDWIDE and on their bandcamp page. The main idea behind this side project was to practise vocals and instruments but after this album got released it became much more. Before making this album he released a few singles via soundcloud and some demos and compilations as well. Just last year he created his debut album ‘Unstoppable Parasites’ which will grab you by your throat and squeeze till it implodes. I’m glad he decided to focus on Rendered Helpless because this is for sure one of my favorites slam releases of this year!

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Review: MISS MAY I – ‘Shadows Inside’ [Official Videos]

Miss May I is a band everyone has heard of one way or another, they are almost impossible to miss out on. This soul touching metalcore band formed in 2007 and are from Ohio, America. They are mostly known for their powerful release ‘Vows For A Massacre’, this is an EP that features the song ”Apologies Are For The Weak” which got the band a spot on Rise Records. This song has also been included in the famous video game Saints Row: The Third! ‘Monument’ from the year 2010 is their debut album, this album peaked at 10 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart. Besides that they have released 4 albums including their newest one ‘Shadows Inside’ which will get released tomorrow via SharpTone Records! The 2th of June to be exact. Albums like ‘At Heart’, ‘Rise Of The Lion’ and ‘Deathless’ debuted in the Top 5 on Billboard’s Hard Music chart. There is no band out there that has had such a great start into the genre as them, they have always delivered and they always will. 

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Review: Valdsamt Motstand – ‘The Great Equalizer’ [Album Stream]

Valdsamt Motstand were formed in february 2010 in Karlstad, Sweden. The band has released three albums, two EP’s, and four demos. The band has a grindcore sound that also mixes other metal elements that allow them to stand out among the wide array of bands in the music scene today. Valdsamt Motstand first self released 2 demos in 2010 and another in 2011. ‘The Speedball Sessions’ was released via cassette and digitally in 2011 and then ‘Förbannelse/Revolver EP’ in 2012 both as  independent releases. The band then signed Hogre Tempo Records and released their debut album on a label in 2013. They followed that up with an EP in the form of a 7″ in 2014. The band currently lists 3 full members of the band. Martin Abraham – lead vocals, David “Devan” Jansson – bass, and Micke Larsson – guitars. The band has now recorded and released ‘The Great Equalizer’ again on Hogre Tempo Records. The album is well thought out, diverse and includes some of the most thought provoking lyrics I have read in quite some time. The Great Equalizer’ was recorded, mixed and produced by Valdsamt Motstand at Speedball Studios, Karlstad, Sweden in 2016. Drums on the album was performed by Micke Jörstad. 
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Review of Grasping at the Shadow’s “Nothing After Death”. Extreme Metal With An Unexpected Twist.

Grasping at the Shadow is:

Dylan Holcomb – Vocals

Daniel Avalle – Guitar

Kimberly Hovencamp – Violin

Jon Kaufman – Drums

Every now and again, a band crosses our paths that is so new, so cool and so unique that they simply must be afforded a place among the best Metal has to offer, no matter how big or how small they are. Grasping at the Shadow is just such a band. Being introduced to them by showing up early for the Cavalera brothers “Return to Roots” tour late last year (Review), I got to behold this emerging band visually and sonically right out of the gate. No hearing the killer band and then trying to make the time to see them at a convenient live performance at some later date. Nothing like full emergence right from the start. Upon finding out that a new CD was on the way, I asked the fine folks in Grasping at the Shadow for first crack at a pre-release review and they graciously agreed, recently forwarding me the new tracks for Nothing After Death, due out June 16, 2017.

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Review: A KILLER’S CONFESSION – ‘Unbroken’ [Official Videos]

A Killer’s Confession is the new band by former Mushroomhead vocalist Waylon Reavis. The band formed in September of 2016 and less than a year later the band has wrapped up recording their debut album and released it via one of the most premier labels in metal. A Killer’s Confession released ‘Unbroken’ on April 28th, 2017 (Physical copies released May 12th) through Megadeth bassist Dave Ellefson’s label EMP. The band released several singles from the album in the form of lyric videos beginning with the self titled track “A Killer’s Confession” on Nov 16, 2016 which featured a guest performance by Korn guitarist Brian “Head” Welch.. They followed that up with “L.O.L (Life of The LOST)” and “1080p”. The album was partially recorded and mixed at Kentucky’s Third Sky Studio with Reavis, and Co-Producers Thom Hazaert, Richard Easterling, and fellow A Killer’s Confession members Jon Dale, and Matt Trumpy. The band played their very first show in December and quickly went on a headlining tour the following month to start off the New Year. With Waylon leading the way this band will rise to the top. Continue reading

Review: Unleash The Archers – ‘APEX’ [Offical Videos]

Photo By: Shimon Photo

Unleash The Archers are a Canadian heavy metal group with a classic feel from Victoria, B.C.  Starting in 2007 by vocalist Brittney Slayes and drummer Scott Buchanan with guitarist Brayden Dyczkowski, and soon to be joined by Mike Selman (Guitar), Zahk Hedstrom (Bass) to round out the group. They released two albums with this lineup ‘Behold the Devastation’ (2009) & ‘Demons of the Astrowaste’ (2011), both of which were released independently. ‘Demons’ marked the departure of Mike Selman and introduced Grant Truesdell into the fold, who had previously recorded two solos for ‘Demons’ prior to joining the band. In 2012, they released a three song EP, solely on 7” vinyl, titled ‘Defy The Skies’. This release also marked the departure of original bassist Zahk Hedstrom. In 2015, Unleash The Archers was signed to Napalm Records and released ‘Time Stands Still’.  This was the first album without guitarist/songwriter Brayden Dyczkowski, who left in 2013, and is said to have altered the band’s sound into a more traditional heavy metal direction with the addition of new guitarist Andrew Kingsley. In 2016 they began work on their 2nd effort under Napalm Records with their current lineup of Brittney, Scott, Grant, Andrew and introducing new bassist Nikko Whitworth. Their new album is called ‘Apex’ and will be released on June 2nd via Napalm. Continue reading

REVIEW: STEVE GRIMMETT – ‘Personal Crisis’ [Live Performance Video]

If there is anyone who could ever get close to the moniker of ‘The Human Siren’ like Bruce Dickinson, then it is the legendary singer of NWOBHM heavy weights GRIM REAPER, STEVE GRIMMET, who also sang for LIONSHEART and also sang for a brief period for one of my favourites, ONSLAUGHT. All classic british heavy metal bands. Despite being 57 years old and over 30 years of musical prowess and experience under his belt he still manages to defy his age and hit those high notes and octaves like as if it were his heydays. He is surely like a fine old wine, he can’t help but only keep getting flawless with every passing year. It’s interesting to see so many British vocalists have this thing in common, like Bruce, Rob Halford whose voice remains undeterred. Is there some kind of secret secluded only to British singers? I guess so. STEVE GRIMMET recently hurdled across a major event that rendered all his fans to feel sorry for him, ‘taking away’ considerably a significant part of him. Continue reading

Review: JIBE – ‘Epic Tales of Human Nature’ [Song Stream]

After about 14 years, JIBE has finally returned to the scene to release their fourth full length record, ‘Epic Tales of Human Nature’. The band originally formed in the mid 90s and became legendary in the music scene of Dallas, Texas. Their unique alternative rock sound came from influences such as U2, Pearl Jam, and Jane’s Addiction. They had success on the radio in the southern US with hits like “I’ll Meet You Halfway” and “Yesterday’s Gone”. The band toured nearly nonstop throughout their career, hitting the road with artists like Kings of Leon, Marilyn Manson, and Jerry Cantrell. JIBE broke up in 2004 shortly after their third record ‘Uprising’ (2003). The band reunited for their first show back in September 2015 and began work on this new record the following year. ‘Epic Tales of Human Nature’ was recorded at Orb Studios in Austin, Texas and produced by Matt Noveskey. The album drops in two weeks on June 9th. Pre-order the record here. Continue reading

Review: Camel Driver – ‘Camel Driver’ [Album Stream]

Photo Credit : Andreas, PsyKArin    neckbreaker.de

Camel Driver is a three piece instrumental group coming out of Kiel, Germany. They started up in 2012 and are consisting of Christoph (bass), Alex (drums) and Lutz (guitar). These guys have worked and earned their respect both on stage and in their scene and in their native home of Germany. Camel Driver are quoted as “Going Deeply into versatile songwriting to create their own colorful and massive sound landscape.” They are citied as desert rock with metal infusions along with some fine-tuned jazz oriented parts. Their album was via Pink Tank Records. Pink Tank is a DIY label that was founded in 2013 and is based out of Hamburg, Germany. Camel Driver is one among the 20 bands on the Pink Tank roster. Though the band released their self titled debut on August 31st, 2014, it still resonates with fans both new and old.
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