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Allegaeon’s Release of Their Second Rush Cover, “Animate”

Little did we know that Allegaeon, whose album Proponent for Sentience hit our lists for best of 2016 (check out our extensive review here), recorded not one, but two spectacular Rush covers! Those of us that heard “Subdivisions” immediately fell in love with their rendition of it and made it their most streamed song off of the aforementioned album. Celebrating today’s date, January 6, 2018, the date version of the band’s song “1.618”, Allegaeon have just cut loose with “Animate” worldwide on all of the digital music services. It can be sampled and bought at your favorite source here.

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Robb Flynn “How Nobody [Everybody] Missed This Gigantic Rap Influence On Our Band I’ll Never Understand”

The man really needs no introduction, Machine Head’s guitarist and vocalist Robb Flynn. Machine Head first came on the scene in 1991 and released their debut album ‘Burn My Eyes’ which has been a staple of American groove and thrash lovers catalog. The band has went on to release 9 studio albums their most recent of which is titled ‘Catharsis’ that comes out January 26th via Nuclear Blast Records. The album is the long awaited follow up to 2004’s ‘Bloodstone and Diamonds’. Machine Head has already released the title track and “Beyond The Pale” from ‘Catharsis’ and with a total of 15 tracks on the album we can’t wait to hear what each and every track has to offer. Make sure to pick up the album at any music retailer on January 26th.  Continue reading

Plague’s Top 10 Albums Of 2017

2018 is finally here! I don’t know about you, but after all the terrible shit that happened in the world this past year I’m definitely glad there was a heaping mound of great metal album releases to fall back on when things got rough. I think we can all agree that good music is more than just luxury we enjoy, but to many of us, a necessity, an escape from the tumultuous clamor of our increasingly difficult realities. When you’re a person who loves heavy music more than you love most people sifting through all of the stellar releases 2017 has given us can become a daunting task, but after some time for reflection I’ve compiled my ten favorites, and I’m excited to share them with you. Continue reading

Wessel’s Top Ten Albums Of 2017!

2017 has been a crazy year for me personally but there were always 10 records that kept me going and those are the 9 above excluding ‘Wrong One To Fuck With’ by death metal machine Dying Fetus. So sit back, relax and enjoy the show!

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Odyssey’s Top Ten Albums of 2017!

Best of 2017

Like every year, we have been inundated with tons of killer, new Metal in 2017. Thankfully, we here at Metal Nexus have the freedom to share what we personally liked over the course of the year. No sales numbers. No record label affiliation or pressure. No sub-genre infighting. No BS. Just an honest list of what struck us individually. Like past years, my list is as broad as my musical tastes and covers everything from instrumentals, to Tech Death, to Power Metal, to Thrash and even a top-notch Progressive Rock band. Hopefully, some of my favorites will become yours and will propagate the audience for each and every band listed below. I sincerely hope that 2018 brings bands and albums this good. Enjoy and continue expanding our Metal family!

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Stone’s Top Ten Albums of 2017!

 

These are the best ten records I heard in 2017, and I think they prove unequivocally that despite what you may have heard, nearly seventy years on rock and roll is alive and well. You may have to do a little more legwork than you’re used to to find it, but trust me, it’s there. Bands all around the world carrying on the traditions of those who came before, while also constantly rebuilding the whole thing in their own image. Hearing the evolution is exhilarating enough to make wading through all the crap worthwhile. This list was in a constant state of flux. There were another four or five records that could’ve just as easily made the cut, and half the albums here were in the top two at one time or another. Continue reading

ORNIMENTAL Release Lyric Video for “Love Thy Enemy”

 

Ornimental is a band with a mission, a mission to put the groove punch, originality, and excitement back into metal, where it belongs. The band was founded by lead guitarist Danny Perry and drummer Julio. The name itself, Ornimental, comes from the Latin prefix Orni (to celebrate or decorate) and the root word mental (of intelligence or insanity), and true to form, Ornimental delivers an intelligent, possessed sound that celebrates the origins and foundations of hard rock and metal alike. More than anything what Ornimental has come to mean with regards to the bands sound is unique. With influences ranging from metal legends like Megadeth, Van Halen, Metallica, Arch Enemy, and Pantera. The band doesn’t of course stop with influences from the metal world, within their musical you can also hear classical music influences from composers like Beethoven or Mozart.  Continue reading

Count Doom’s Top 10 Albums Of 2017!

2017 is wrapping up, and once again it’s been an incredible year for all genres of METAL! If you are still one of those people who thinks modern Metal has nothing to offer, I have a news flash for you: YOU’RE DEAD WRONG! We are at a point now where you can literally find hundreds of bands to satisfy whatever genre you may be into, all it takes is just the smallest amount of research on your end via YouTube, metal sites and various other sources! While compiling this list I originally had thirty five albums I considered worthy of being “TOP TEN” material. So while it pained me to have to narrow things down, I eventually decided to go with the releases that had the strongest impact on me. As far as honorable mentions go, I’d like to recommend that folks check out ‘Mareridt’ by Myrkur, ‘Planetary Space Child’ by Ruby The Hatchet and ‘8’ by Ufomammut all of which would have made my list if I had more time to give them repeated listens. Also, I may get crucified for this, but I really enjoyed ‘Road Rage’ by Quiet Riot! It’s not top ten material, but it’s a quick listen that keeps you entertained throughout! Anyway, without any more delay, here’s my top ten releases of 2017!

 

 

 

 

10. Below – Upon a Pale Horse

Founded in 2012 Below is an Epic Doom Metal band from Sweden. With ‘Upon a Pale Horse’ you will get epic riffage in the style of early Candlemass mixed with beautiful Iron Maiden-esque melodies and truly sorrowful vocals. Highly recommended if you’re a fan of traditional Doom Metal.

 

9. PowerFlo -Self Titled

Featuring members of Biohazard, Cypress Hill, and Fear Factory: Powerflo is a band for those who enjoy the sounds of funk, Hip-Hop, and Metal all merged into one. While this release doesn’t bring anything new to the table in terms of sound or lyrical content, it makes up for that by having killer musicianship that is an even more intensified version of Cypress Hill’s rap/metal album ‘Skulls And Bones’. Also, I’d like to point out that I am a HUGE fan of having Sen Dog rap over metallic riffs (Check out his other band SX-10) and on this release he unleashes an anger that we haven’t heard from him in quite some time!

 

8. Lares – Mask of Discomfort

Mixing elements of Doom, Black, and Death Metal with a Psychedelic twist Lares are a band sure to assault your ears with their MASSIVE wall of sound! At nearly 40 Minutes ‘Mask of Discomfort’ is a release that warrants multiple listens truly to absorb all that is taking place in the music. Stand out tracks would be “Conjuring”, “Fog Of Terror”, and “Witness Of Lares”.

 

7. Kreator- Gods of Violence

What needs to be said about Kreator that hasn’t already been stated? They are legends in thrash metal and ‘Gods of Violence’ perfectly exemplifies why. This album is fast, violent, melodic and just down right catchy! At less than an hour long ‘Gods of Violence’ is a one two punch that will leave you begging for more!

 

6. Memoriam- For the Fallen

‘For the Fallen’ by Memoriam is an album that lives up to the hype. It’s chock full of old school death metal riffage and features the return of legendary Bolt Thrower vocalist Karl Willets! If that isn’t enough to draw you in, I’ll also point out that every song on ‘For the Fallen’ is written to near perfection! Seriously, I truly believe that the riff in “Reduced To Zero” is one of the best riffs of the year! Memoriam embraces the roots of Death Metal with this release and all who listen will be in for a treat!


5. Novembers Doom – Hamartia

Now right off the bat I’ll admit that I had a bit of an unhealthy obsession with ‘Hamartia’ upon it’s release; everyday I would listen to it in its entirety multiple times throughout the day. I did this for nearly three weeks! Eventually I found other albums that I enjoyed slightly more throughout the year.With that being said, I would still HIGHLY recommend this album to just about anyone who likes doom / death metal with slight gothic influences! Stand out tracks include “Devil’s Light”, “Ghost”, and “Apostasy”.

 

 

4. Blackfinger – When Colors Fade Away

Led by the voice of doom himself Eric Wagner has blessed us once again with a soon to be classic album full of sorrow, despair, and a bit of sarcasm. The title track as well as “Waiting For The Sun”, and “Beside Still Water”, take us into more ballad like territory but of course with a psychedelic and doom-y twist to them, while “All My Sorrow” and “Can I Get A Witness”, are heavier and will be pleasing to fans of classic Trouble. All in all, if you are a fan of anything Eric Wagner has done, their really is no reason for you not to give ‘When Colors Fade Away’.

 


3. Kadavar – Rough Times

With ‘Rough Times’, the Berlin trio known as Kadavar decided it was time to release their heaviest album to date, and honestly the result is everything I could have hoped for! Songs like INTO THE WORMHOLE and the title track are bludgeoning slabs of doom while “Vampires” and “Words Of Evil” are more likely to satisfy fans of the bands older works. All in all, ‘Rough Times’ is a fuzzed out masterpiece worthy of your time!

4. Void Cruiser – Wayfarer

Currently located in The Andromeda Galaxy but originally from Helsinki, Void Cruiser are the very definition of a hidden gem. I was introduced to ‘Wayfarer’ by my friends at Bionic Records earlier this year and even then I knew that what I was hearing would be something special! I was listening to an album with a thick wall of fuzz and psychedelic, however that is not all it had going for it. This is a band of highly competent musicians and very capable songwriters! A shining example of this would be “I Didn’t Lie But I Know That I Should Have” which features some of the most soulful guitar playing I’ve heard this year! Please, do yourself a favor and listen to ‘Wayfarer’ in its entirety I promise that your experience will be a pleasant one!

1. The Obsessed – Sacred

Led by the mighty Wino, The Obsessed have once again returned with not only my favorite release of the year, but quite possibly one of the best doom Metal/ stoner rock releases in recent years! Starting with the re- recorded version of the classic Obsessed song “Sodden Jackal”, you know right away that you are in for a great listen! The production is top notch, Wino’s vocals and guitar playing are as menacing as ever as exemplified on songs like “Perseverance Of Futility” and “Stranger Things”; while songs like “Punk Crusher” and “Be The Night” showcase the impressive skills of Dave Sherman (Earthride) and Brian Constantino! Considering that Wino has been in music since the 70’s and is still releasing quality material is nothing short of a miracle, but I have faith that this is not the end. I have a strange feeling that in the upcoming years Wino will continue to deliver and carry on the torch that was past to him many years ago from the temple of Sabbath and Hendrix!

SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY Guitarist Marc Rizzo To Release Solo Album ‘Rotation’

SOULFLY/CAVALERA CONSPIRACY guitarist Marc Rizzo has set the release date for his new LP ‘Rotation‘, in stores March 30th via Combat Records/EMP LABEL GROUP/AMPED in North America, and COMBAT/SPV in Europe. Rotation is the 4th solo release for Rizzo, following 2004’s ‘Colossal Myopia‘, 2006’s ‘The Ultimate Devotion‘ (both released by legendary shred label Shrapnel), and the independently released 2010 LP LEGIONNAIRE.

Produced by Chris “Zeuss” Harris (HATEBREED, SOULFLY, ROB ZOMBIE, CHIMAIRA), and featuring cover art by Melody Myers (ESCAPE THE FATE), Rotation is a blistering showcase of Rizzo’s pummeling eclectic diversity, showcased on album tracks including “Spectral Intensities”, “Thrash Boogie”, and title track “Rotation”, combining Rizzo’s penchant for pummeling, low-end riffs, with thrash-intensive leads and heavy latin flavor.

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Editor’s Top 10 Albums Of 2017!

 

2017 saw the rise of some amazing new bands, the comeback or reunion for others and also genre staples that consistently put out amazing records. Choosing a top 10 albums was incredibly hard this year and some albums I really enjoyed were so close to making the list. Veteran bands return with amazing follow up albums that stay true to their sound and other bands have evolved and changed their sound for the better. Only picking 10 albums meant I had to leave out some albums I truly loved this year, some of those honorable mentions are: Owl Company ‘Horizon’, Shit The Cow ‘Cavelord’, Prophets Of Rage ‘Self Titled’, Body Count ‘Bloodlust’, Hogan’s Goat – ‘Self Titled’, and Mutoid Man ‘War Moans’. In years past without as much competition these albums would have certainly made the cut, but they are each amazing albums that deserve attention.  Continue reading