Album Reviews


Review: RED CLOUD – Ursa Minor [Album Stream]

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I’ve always said that the best music is sometimes harder to find. Well today i’ve been proven wrong. The best thing that can ever happen is when an amazing new band and album is essentially delivered directly to my front door. That’s what happened to me when singer/guitarist Aaron Williams sent me the new album ‘Ursa Minor’ by his band Red Cloud. The album was released independently by the band on May 24th, 2016. The band was formed in 2012 in Eugene, Oregon. This album is a follow up to 2013’s ‘The Cloud’s Sound EP’. Red Cloud just adds to the list of amazing bands that call the state of Oregon home. The band has this refreshing sound that gives them this overwhelming listen-ability. The straddle the fence when it comes to declaring them hard rock or metal. There are stoner rock and psychedelic elements in there but they have so much more to offer that you can’t really classify them with a few measly words. Continue reading →

Review: I, Captain – Mantras for Mindlessness [Stream]

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Sometimes you come across a band and you start listening to their music and you just don’t want to stop. This is what has happened to me when I discovered the Finland based band I, Captain. The band was formed by Axel (Vocals, Bass), Viktor (Drums) and Andreas (Guitar) in 2013. It was a year later that Lukas (Guitar) became the final addition to the band and really completed their sound. It would only take the band a couple years to release their debut in January 2015. The EP titled ‘Surf the Supernova’ was 5 tracks of mesmerizing Psychedelic stoner rock. The band recently followed up their 2015 EP with the 3 track demo ‘Mantras for Mindlessness’. They released these 3 songs in April of 2016 and advised the songs will be re-recorded for their upcoming album release. Continue reading →

The Future: Atlanta’s Hall of the Elders

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My lovely daughter took me to The Big Ticket festival here in Jacksonville, FL a couple of months ago. The line, of course, was blocks long to get in and not moving. As is typical in the festival atmosphere, everyone was friendly and socializing with those around them in line, discussing who they were waiting to see, who they had seen before and finding out who was going to future concerts in the area. There were also many out-of-towners with so many bands playing at one venue. After waiting for about five minutes, we were approached by Jack White, promoting his band: Hall of the Elders. We struck up and easy conversation about his band and music in general. Of course, I am always on the lookout for new tunes and emerging bands to throw my support behind! Jack is a very cool guy with a wide variety of tastes in music. We exchanged information and eventually got back in touch so that I could take a closer listen to Hall of the Elders. Consider me very impressed… Continue reading →

Simon Says Die: Vancouver Death Metal

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Modern Death Metal is alive and well from one corner of the United States to the other. The emerging band Simon Says Die from Vancouver, WA definitely has the upper, West Coast covered in this respect. Originating as a one-time show act in 2011 by guitarists Sean “The Beard” Bowden and Josh Bridge, Simon Says Die was born.

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Forsaken Memoriam – From Greece, With Perfection…

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Forsaken Memoriam: Forsaken Memoriam, Artwork by Neopithecus Illustration

Damn! Greece’s Stoner band scene continues to impress our staff! From Heraklion, Forsaken Memoriam is the latest in an ever-growing stream of winning bands we have had the pleasure to review.

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Review: ACE FREHLEY – ORIGINS VOL.1 (Track Streaming)

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Legendary former KISS axeman Ace Frehley is back at it again! This time paying homage to songs and artists that inspired him to become the “Space Ace” that he is today. “ORIGINS VOL. 1” is a high energy collection of rock ‘n roll classics re-purposed and repacked by the Spaceman giving them all a fresh new sound like only Ace can. Coming fresh off of a Billboard 200 Top 10 release with 2014’s SPACE INVADER (the only KISS related solo album to accomplish that feat) Ace keeps the momentum rolling with his latest offering that will hit the streets April 15th 2016 via eOne Entertainment.

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Zakk Wylde: “Book of Shadows II”

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Metal Nexus recently received a pre-release copy of “Book of Shadows II” by Zakk Wylde.  While this album is by no stretch of the imagination, Metal, it is the Zakk Wylde and after listening to it, deserves a high place on our must-have list for 2016, regardless.  Release date is set for April 8, 2016.  With no spoilers, we respectfully submit the following review of this pivotal album:

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Metal Church “XI”: Flames of the Phoenix

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The much anticipated CD by Metal Church, aptly named “XI” is due for release on March 25th.  With the return of singer Mike Howe, whose last release with the band was 1993’s “Hanging in the Balance”, those that have followed the band for as many years or more have been anxiously waiting to hear the result of this star-crossed reunion.  Metal Nexus recently procured a pre-release copy for review and…  But wait…

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Coronal Mass Ejection: A Journey Into the Haze

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Coronal Mass Ejection recently dropped their instrumental, self-titled, five song EP. Recorded in less than eight hours, it boggles the mind to learn that such a rich and complex texture of sound comes from only a trio of very talented musicians: Vincent Sorgentoni on guitar, Steve DiEva on bass and Patrick Wiwel on drums. Also incredible is the fact that the band is in its infancy, coming together in December of 2015! Their music certainly does not reflect the band’s age.

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Review: Lord Almighty – “Paths” [Stream]

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Sometimes music can be so addictive, but luckily you can’t overdose on metal (Or I would have perished many years ago). A new addiction of mine is the killer genre bending band Lord Almighty. They are a band that doesn’t set boundaries and really can’t be caged into one style. The band sounds like have spent decades together honing their sound, but the truth is they formed just a few years ago in 2013. The founders of the band Goose (lead guitar) and Keenan (rhythm and vocals) began writing material almost immediately which would become their debut EP released in April of 2013. They don’t waste much time as they followed up that EP pretty quickly with their newest release “Paths”. Continue reading →