Album Reviews


Review: SHIT THE COW – ‘When in Caracas’ [EP Stream]

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Shit The Cow is a band of Swedish rockers set out to explore the limitations of their own universe, and from what I’ve heard there are no limits on what this band can do. The bands risk taking when it comes to sound has really developed their music into something new. They are conquering uncharted territory and inventing sound as they go. They’ve done what is classified as “rock disco” on their 2012 release ‘Volume/Cow’ before moving on to a more garage rock sound on 2013’s ‘Salt Of The Earth’. Then they evolved into a more punk feel with 2014’s ‘Rissna’ before moving to more darker elements on “67p” in 2015. ‘One With The Devil’ released in 2016 was one of my top 10 favorite releases. The band has defined their sound as “Scrapyard Rock” and it’s very fitting. The band simply takes inspiration from all over and juxtaposes their sound. The band had released 5 EP’s and then 2017 saw the release of their first full length ‘Cavelord’. Shit The Cow wastes no time writing and recording and the band is releasing yet another EP on December 14th, 2018 titled ‘When in Caracas’. 

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Review: CURRENTS – ‘I Let The Devil In’ EP [Official Music Video]

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Currents is the metalcore act that manages to fill up a hole in my heart. They don’t just take everything that makes metalcore great, they also take it to the next level! After having listened to ‘I Let The Devil In’ for 2 times I have realized that they are the band that the scene is missing!

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REVIEW: JASON BECKER – ‘Triumphant Hearts’

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What comes to mind when you think of the term Guitar Hero?  Is it the video game? Is it your favorite guitar player?  For me, it was the obvious guitar icons like Eddie Van Halen, Jimi Hendrix, Randy Rhoads, etc.  It wasn’t until recently I learned the true definition of a Guitar Hero.  Two words: Jason Becker. Continue reading →

Review: IMMORTAL SŸNN – ‘Machine Men’ [Album Stream]

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Immortal Sÿnn is a five-piece metal band from Denver, Colorado, who claim to be bringing back the old school – and on their latest release ‘Machine Men,’ their follow up to the 2015 EP ‘Barfly,’ they do that claim justice in a variety of ways. Stylistically they bring a plethora of classic heavy metal, thrash, and NWOBHM influences to the table in a seamless fashion that definitely showcases their love for the aforementioned genres. Continue reading →

Review: DEVILLE – ‘Pigs With Gods’ [Album Stream]

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Deville was birthed in 2004 after searching for the perfect members for a period of time. Since the 2004 line-up there have been nearly 400 gigs and festivals Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Czech Republic, the United States and pretty much any other country you can think of. 2005 makes their debut release on Daredevil Records. The two years later the band would sign with Buzzville Records and release their first full length album. In 2016 Markus Nilsson and Markus Åkesson decided to leave the band and the new lineup, announced in August, was complete with Martin Nobel on bass, known from bands as Bad Barber, and Martin Fässberg on drums, known from Quit Your Dayjob, Suma A.O.. Those along with Andreas Wulkan from Death Ray Boot on lead guitar and band founder Andreas Bengtsson on guitar and vocals complete the bands current lineup. On October 26, 2018 Deville released ‘Pigs With Gods’ via Fuzzorama Records. ‘Pigs With Gods’ is the bands second release on Fuzzorama and their fifth release in their career. The album picks up where their last album ‘Make It Belong To Us’ left off , moving in an even more heavy direction straight towards metal, leaving the stoner genre behind in favor of a more classic metal sound.

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JOHN GARCIA Returns With ‘John Garcia And The Band Of Gold’

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Desert rock legend John Garcia is back with and he brought some sand-covered riffs for your ears. Garcia is a founding member and former vocalist of the now disbanded Kyuss. Since their split Garcia has not stopped working on project after project, often bringing on old bandmates like Scott Reeder and Brant Bjork. After forming Slo Burn, Unida, and Vista Chino Garcia released two solo albums. Some of these included original material or different takes on old Kyuss tunes. Since his last recording, The Coyote Who Spoke in Tongues, John Garcia and the band have found a new energy that is palpable from the first note.

 

John Garcia And The Band Of Gold begins with the introductory track, “Space Vato”. As tiring as introduction tracks have become, this ramped up an energy that prepared you for the coming tide of the album. Garcia’s identifiable and unique voice is as strong as ever. With the small bite-sized tracks the album does not exhaust or lose momentum; One track moves on to the next without one staying for too long. Tracks like “Chicken Delight” and “Popcorn (Hit Me When You Can)” are groovy tracks rooted in old acid rock with modern aggression and style to them. “Lilliana” is riff powered desert rock, something that can only be born from sand. My favorite track on the record “Apache Junction” is pure Sabbath-worship that channels the energy of a song like “Hand of Doom”. After spending a day in the desert, you sit and stare at the stars with “Softer Side”. This ends the album on a soft and euphoric note.

John Garcia And the Band Of Gold is out via Napalm Records  January 4 with a European tour happening shortly after its release (dates below). To keep up with John Garcia and his band, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Live:
JOHN GARCIA And The Band Of Gold
Special Show w/ Nick Oliveri, Luna Sol, Death in Pretty Wrapping
29.11.18 US – Las Vegas / Vinyl

w/ Dead Quiet
23.01.19 FR – Paris / Le Trabendo
24.01.19 FR – Bordeaux / Le Krakatoa
25.01.19 ES – Madrid / Caracol
26.01.19 ES – Barcelona / Razzamatazz 2
28.01.19 FR – Lyon / Le Kao
29.01.19 CH – Zurich / Bogen F.
30.01.19 IT – Milan / Santeria Club
31.01.19 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle  
02.02.19 AT – Graz / Explosiv
03.02.19 HU – Budapest / A38
04.02.19 CZ – Prague / Rock Cafe
05.02.19 DE – Nürnberg / Hirsch
07.02.19 DE – Jena / F-Haus
08.02.19 DE – Berlin / SO36
09.02.19 DK – Copenhagen / Loppen
10.02.19 NO – Oslo / John Dee
12.02.19 FI – Helsinki / Tavastia
14.02.19 SE – Stockholm / Debaser Strand
15.02.19 SE – Gothenburg / Sticky Fingers
16.02.19 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan
17.02.19 DE – Cologne / Helios 37
19.02.19 BE – Leuven / Het Depot
20.02.19 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
21.02.19 DE – Essen / Turock
22.02.19 NL – Tilburg / 013
23.02.19 UK – London / O2 Academy Islington

Review: SILENCE IN THE STARS – ‘Believe’ [Select Tracks Streaming]

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2017 seen the formation of Southwest Virginia hard rock band Silence In The Stars. The band released their debut self-titled full length last year. At the time the band was a 5 piece. Currently the only remaining members are lead vocalist Ryan Osborne and guitarist and backing vocalist Jeffery Mullins. Silence In The Stars has now found the time to write and record a 16+ minute EP. Though the band is currently just a duo they found help in recording from both their producer and another talented band in the region. The new EP titled ‘Believe’ was recorded by John Chaney and Mark Chaney and was produced by John Chaney. Then the album was mixed by Steve Correo. ‘Believe’ showcases Ryan Osborne on lead vocals, Jeffery Mullins, producer John Chaney and Mirrored Image guitarist Mark Chaney all helped out with the guitar work, Jeffery Mullins also played drums on the album as well, bass and keyboard parts was also added by Mark Chaney. The EP was released on November 30th.

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Review: SUNDECAY – ‘Gale’ [Track Stream]

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Sundecay is a progressive doom band based in Toronto, Canada. While rooted in the classic sounds of proto-doomsters like Pentagram, St. Vitus and of course Black Sabbath there are hints of proto-metal influencers like Dust and High Tide. The band is preparing to self-release their 4 track EP ‘Gale’ on November 30th. The Canadian quartet is made up of Mark Chandler and Brian Scott on guitar. Brian also is the artist behind the cover art for ‘Gale’.  Derek Hoffman on bass, engineer and mixer, Julian Vardy on drums and Rich Pauptit on providing the vocals. The band has a DIY approach that keeps everything in house and thus keeps their vision for ‘Gale’ streamlined, and I believe that has a great deal to do with the success of this EP. Sundecay’s heaviest moments often shift away from genre conventions, much like Pallbearer, Monolord, and many “post-metal” offerings in recent years. Though the band is in the realm of proto-doom and doom they aren’t really bound by any genre and often straddle the lines on various other genres.  Continue reading →

Review: CREATE A KILL – ‘Summoned To Rise’ [Album Stream]

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‘Summoned to Rise’: the new album from Create A Kill is an homage to forefathers of Thrash, specifically those that would help shape the birth of Death Metal, ala Slayer, Sodom, Possessed, Kreator, and Dark Angel. Create A Kill carve out a vicious collection of tunes that will make you want your bang your head like it’s 1989! ‘Summoned to Rise’ was recorded and mixed by Gus Rios who also wrote all the music for the album while Alex Marquez and Matt Harvey contributed all the lyrics. The album was released July 13, 2018.

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Review: PEZZ – ‘More Than You Can Give Us’ [Album Stream]

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1989 was the birth year for the band Pezz. Forming in the hometown of Elvis Presley this Memphis quartet brought punk rock to a town with the blues. Pezz is Memphis’ longest-running socially conscious punk band. The band is currently comprised of founding members Marvin Stockwell and Ceylon Mooney. Having performed as a trio previously and several lineup changes the remainder of the band is currently Shawn Apple, and Christian Walker. Ben Nichols the vocalist of American country-punk rock band Lucero also was once a member of Pezz as a bassist from 1997 until 1998 when he left the band to form Lucero. The bands first demo was recorded in 1991, just as the band were cutting their teeth in the all ages hardcore and punk scene based at the legendary Antenna Club. The band followed up and released two 7″ EPs in 1992 and 1993. It wasn’t until 1995 that the band would release their debut album ‘Livin’ The Life Of Riley’ on the Memphis based Truant Records label. Two years later the band signed with Los Angeles punk rock label BYO Records that was owned and ran by two of the brothers in the California punk rock band Youth Brigade. It was after signing to the label that the band would attain more national attention and thus the band began a non-stop 4 year tour taking them through the U.S., Canada, UK and Europe. Since 1997 the band has 8 releases the last of which was the EP ‘The Wicked Leading the Blind’ in 2010. Fast forward 8 years and the band has now recorded and released a new full length album titled ‘More Than You Can Give Us’, their first full length since 2001. The album contains 10 lyrically inquisitive tracks and released on August 25, 2018. The album was recorded by the band in January of 2012 at their practice space and later mixed by engineer Alan Burcham. ‘More Than You Can Give Us’ was then mastered by sough-after-loud-rock mastering engineer Brad Boatright (Sleep, American Standards) at Audioseige in Portland, Oregon. Pezz is no longer the touring juggernaut they once were and they stay relatively close to home and work to apply the ideals and concepts they sing about and improve their local community.  Continue reading →