Welcome back to our ongoing series of LOUDER THAN LIFE 2019 artist profiles, our weekly guide through the lineup of acts who’ll take the stage at Louisville, Kentucky’s Highland Festival Grounds at Kentucky Expo Center September 27-29 in what’s sure to be one of the biggest concert events of the year. This week, we’re taking a closer look at Swedish neo-psych blues chooglers GRAVEYARD.
Swedish hard rockers Corroded are back with their fifth album, Bitter, out via Despotz Records. Since 2009, Corroded has been the backdrop of many forms of media, having the music featured in Sweden’s 2009 season of Survivor and the video game Battlefield Play4Free. Taking influences from Black Sabbath and Machine Head, Corroded have hard-hitting riffs that memorable and combined with Jen Westlin’s vocals make crowd-pleasing anthems. Since their last release, Defcon Zero, Corroded has played all across Europe, selling out shows with Pain as well as their own headlining tour. Playing massive crowds at Sabaton Open Air, Skogsröjet and Sweden Rock Festival, where they broke records as the largest crowd at the 4 Sound Stage.
Corroded pride themselves as being brothers, a family unit that works together to put music out into the ether. According to Westlin, “It’s what has gotten us where we are today – we never give up – despite setbacks that have hit us like a fist to the face we get up and use that as inspiration to create new music.” says Westlin, “Our background is in the working class which is reflected in our music. The fact that we’ve had to struggle with various setbacks to get where we are today has given us thicker skin and shines through in our music.” This album leans a little more on the heavier side than their previous work. A lot of their influences blend well together, finding a blend of European power metal with Southern American spices spread throughout. The album starts with an intro track, something that is a bit dated now but can be easily hand waived. No harm, no foul. But the second track, “Breathing”, you see the unity this band has through their music. Each bringing their own to this song, especially Guitarist Tomas Andersson. The main riff is very catchy and gets rhythm support by Per Solang (drums) and Bjarne Elvsgard (bass). This album is full of great battle anthems, something they excel at, like “Testament”. Full of chanting vocals, this is sure to become a fan favorite in their setlist. This is paired well with the follow-up track, “Scream”; Catchy choruses seem to be their bread and butter. The fastest track, “Destruction”, is a great biker rock anthem. That ended up becoming my personal favorite, featuring Westlin’s diverse vocal talent.
This is a very accessible band for fans of hard rock who are maybe looking for something a little heavier at the summer festival. With chanty choruses, I can see many beer glasses raised in Corroded’s honor. Bitter is a good track for your summer is available now! Corroded is Jens Westlin(Lead Vocals), Tomas Andersson (Guitars), Bjarne Elvsgard (Bass), Per Solang (Drums). To keep up with them, follow them on Facebook and their website.
A fearsome battle cry is heard from the North: Amon Amarth, five brutish warriors from Tumba, Sweden face an army of raving fanatics from all parts of the globe. Having formed in 1992, vocalist Johan Hegg, guitarists Olavi Mikkonen & Johan Söderberg, bassist Ted Lundström, and drummer Jocke Wallgren have had plenty of experience venturing out into the world, speaking of Viking lore and fantasy, and conquering the stages of every land they set their eyes upon. 2019 marks the dawn of ‘Berserker’ via Metal Blade Records/Sony Music, the 11th studio album from these melodic death metal titans, and it is definitely not one that you would like to catch you sleeping. ‘Berserker’ is a full-on auditory assault of brutal savagery, primal ferocity, and plenty of beautiful melodies sure to please fans of Amon Amarth, both young and old. Continue reading
Each week we’re bringing you several different spotlight segments from the Summer’s biggest rock festivals including Epicenter Festival, Chicago Open Air, and, of course, Sonic Temple! This week, we’re showcasing Göthenburg, Sweden’s Avatar – a melodic metal act with demented circus theatrics, making for one hell of a show! Continue reading
It has been eight years since the release of their last full length, “The Great Escape,” so “highly anticipated” is an understatement for their fifth record. The Swedish, melodic and progressive metal phenomenon, Seventh Wonder are finally ready to grace the world with their latest musical endeavor from Frontiers Music s.r.l. One one hand, eight years is quite some time. But on the other hand, vocalist Tommy Karevik joined Kamelot in 2012. Perhaps that may be the greatest reason of all for such a delay. No longer must we wait though, as “Tiara” drops on October 12th.
Ride the bleak train coming out of Sweden, with Egonaut, a band of black-hearted minstrels. They have been around since 2005, conjuring their audio Doom/Alt magic. The group is made up of Mikael Bielinski on bass, Dennis Zielinski on keyboards, Markus Johansson on drums, Fredrik Jordanius on guitars/vocals and Emil Kyrk on vocals. They have an impressive body of art, including the albums ‘Electric’ (2011), ‘Mount Egonaut ‘(2013), ‘Deluminati‘ (2015).
Sweden’s Shit The Cow released their first full length last December and it rips! Since 2011 they have released five EPs, ramping up to their debut album ‘Cavelord’. They describe their music as “scrapyard rock” that is “sound of an old rusty truck crashing into a tree” and I think that is true of their sound. They like to keep their songs short and tight, and that can also be said about the tracks on this new album. They have matured their sound, without cutting out any of the lean riffs. I would recommend this band and this album to someone who is looking for something like Queens of The Stone Age but with a rusty Red Fang edge to it. Robin fronts the band with guitar/vocals while Danno and Erka share the responsibility of guitar/bass. Robin gives their sound a tight rhythm to follow on drums. Continue reading
Swedish death metal veterans, The Crown return with their tenth full-length studio album, ‘Cobra Speed Venom,’ scheduled for release March 16, 2018 via Metal Blade Records. Since originally forming in 1990 under the name Crown of Thornes, the band has gone through various metamorphoses but once again manage to bring their unique rock n’ roll attitude and sensibility to their sound which is, without a doubt, unabashedly and unapologetically “metal.” By incorporating the aggressive and speedier elements of thrash, the brutality of old school American and Swedish death metal, and the groove and inhibition of arena rock; The Crown takes a refreshing approach to their own distinctive brand of death metal. There is virtually zero pretense to be heard and it’s clear while listening to this album that the group is actually having fun playing music the way they want to. As highly skilled and experienced musicians with an impressive discography to prove it, they deliver an amazingly powerful thirteen-track, hour-long annihilator of a record that will immediately satisfy and impress metal fans ranging anywhere from the casual to the über elite. Continue reading
Avatar
Avatar has long been one of those bands that dominate in their live shows and leave fans jaws on the floor not only by their sound but their amazingly entertaining stage presence. On this particular night Avatar headlined the Buckhead Theatre with opening acts Hellzapoppin Side Show and The Brains from Montreal Canada. You could say that Hellzapoppin easily fit in with Avatar’s whole theme, they aren’t a musical act but it brought something different to the show that you don’t see very often. Continue reading
Thungur formed in Malmoe, Sweden as Bend And Break in 2014. The band has a hard hitting heavy rock sound that binds melodic soothing vocal tones and harsh rapid fire moments as well. Under the name Bend And Break they have two earlier releases available on streaming platforms. ‘The Village Sessions’ is a collection of old singles and the EP ‘The Cage’ was released in 2015. Fast forward to 2017 and the band has released their debut full length album as Thungur. ‘No Going Back’ is a 100% a DIY effort. It was tracked, produced and mixed by guitarist Bjorn Stegerling and bass player Roger Nielsen. The bulk of the album was recorded at Bjorn’s studio in Malmoe. Mastering and the cover design was completed by Bjorn as well. In addition to being the bands first full length it is also the bands first physical release.
