American avant-garde black metal project Gull Skull
has released its debut album, My Favorite Season: Nuclear Winter. The album was
recorded, mixed, and mastered at Rampike Studios by sole member Cicuta
Maculata.
Rooted in Appalachia, USA, Gull Skull combines
dissonant tremolo-picked guitars and relentless blast beats with electronic
frequencies, industrial hums, and layers of static. The result is a raw,
noise-driven soundscape reflecting themes of geopolitical anxiety, total
warfare, and nuclear devastation.
I've just discovered a real treasure in the extreme
metal scene, and this is a band I'm going to keep coming back to whenever I
need my mind blown away! ALCHERA is a name every death metal maniac should be
acquainted with, as this German band delivers a powerful and uncompromising
blend of brutality, melody and technical craftsmanship. Their music sweeps you
away with razor-sharp riffs, a concrete rhythm section and compositions that
combine sheer aggression with a remarkable sense of atmosphere.
Formed in 1997, ALCHERA released their debut album in
2003, only to return with their sophomore effort approximately eight years
later. Why such a talented band has taken so long to deliver a follow-up
remains a mystery to me, but, as we Greeks say, better late than never! Era is
certainly an album worth keeping close.
The musicianship on display is impressive, with a
sound that is sharp, raw and brutal without sacrificing melody or intricate
guitar work. The compositions are further enhanced by the band's diversity and
their ability to incorporate different influences without losing sight of their
death metal foundations. Both the brutal and melodic sides of the genre are
well represented, while black metal touches, a cold, epic atmosphere and even
some classic heavy metal riffs and passages add further depth to the material.
The combination of brutal and higher-pitched vocals, a
three-guitar attack and a pounding rhythm section gives the songs considerable
weight and ferocity. At the same time, the guitar arrangements provide enough
variety to prevent the album from becoming one-dimensional, while the very good
production allows the different elements to work effectively together.
All in all, Era is a strong and varied death metal
release that balances aggression, melody and atmosphere with confidence.
ALCHERA have delivered an album that deserves to be discovered by fans of
extreme metal, and this is definitely one you don't want to miss!
Το
New Wave of British Heavy Metal είχε και άλλα συγκροτήματα αποτελούμενα από
τρεις μουσικούς εκείνη την εποχή, όπως οι Tank και οι Venom, για να μην
προσθέσω και τους Motörhead, που προϋπήρχαν του συγκεκριμένου κινήματος. Οι
αδελφοί John και Mark Gallagher, μαζί με τον Rob Hunter, αποτελούν μια
περίπτωση, αν όχι μοναδική, σίγουρα από τις λίγες.
Αυτός
εδώ ήταν ο δίσκος με τον οποίο έκανε το ντεμπούτο της η τριάδα και, κατά τη
γνώμη μου, ένα από τα καλύτερα ντεμπούτα συγκροτημάτων, δίπλα στα ομότιτλα Iron
Maiden (1980) και Saxon (1979), καθώς και στο Welcome to Hell των Venom, που
κυκλοφόρησε την ίδια χρονιά, το 1981.
Γρήγορος
και άμεσος, με νευρικούς ρυθμούς και διάθεση για χαβαλέ στους στίχους, αποτελεί
το πρώτο από τα τρία κλασικά άλμπουμ τους που ακολούθησαν. Περιλαμβάνει μερικούς
από τους πλέον αναγνωρίσιμους ύμνους τους, όπως το Lambs to the Slaughter, το
οποίο διασκεύασαν αργότερα οι Γερμανοί thrashers Kreator, το Hellraiser, το
ομότιτλο κομμάτι, τα Hell Patrol και Hard Ride, το προδρομικό για το Power
Metal For the Future, καθώς και το Tyrant of the Airways. Στον δίσκο συναντάμε,
επίσης, τη διασκευή στο Action των Sweet, ένα τραγούδι που έχουν διασκευάσει
και οι Def Leppard!
Με
λίγα λόγια, ένα άλμπουμ που, όπως θα το χαρακτήριζα, αποτελεί από μόνο του μια
συλλογή τύπου «best of»!
English:
Another Trio of Madmen Among Us!
The New Wave of British Heavy Metal had other bands
consisting of three musicians back in the day, such as Tank and Venom, not to
mention Motörhead, who predated the movement itself. The Gallagher brothers,
John and Mark, together with Rob Hunter, were part of a rather rare breed, if
not a unique case.
This was the trio’s debut album and, in my opinion,
one of the finest debut albums in heavy metal, standing alongside the
self-titled Iron Maiden (1980) and Saxon (1979), as well as Venom’s Welcome to
Hell, which was released in the same year, 1981.
Fast and direct, driven by nervous rhythms and a
playful, tongue-in-cheek lyrical attitude, it was the first of three classic
albums that would follow. It features some of the band’s most celebrated
anthems, including Lambs to the Slaughter, later covered by German thrashers
Kreator; Hellraiser; the self-titled track; Hell Patrol; Hard Ride; the Power
Metal-forerunner For the Future; and Tyrant of the Airways. The album also
includes a cover of Sweet’s Action, a song that has also been covered by Def
Leppard!
In short, this is an album that, as far as I’m
concerned, is practically a “best of” collection in its own right!
Ο
πρώτος προσωπικός δίσκος της Doro Pesch ή, ίσως, ο τελευταίος στον οποίο
εμφανίζεται ως Warlock. Ηχογραφημένος στην Αμερική, όπως και το πραγματικά
τελευταίο άλμπουμ των Warlock, Triumph and Agony, κυκλοφόρησε σε μια περίοδο
κατά την οποία το συγκρότημα αντιμετώπισε νομικά προβλήματα σχετικά με τη χρήση
του ονόματός του. Έτσι, η ξανθιά τραγουδίστρια συνέχισε τη μουσική της πορεία
ως σόλο καλλιτέχνιδα, ακολουθώντας τα πιο εμπορικά μονοπάτια των δύο τελευταίων
άλμπουμ των Warlock.
Heavy
Metal με μια δόση αμερικανικού ήχου, ας το πούμε και Hard & Heavy, αν και ο
όρος αυτός είναι μάλλον αδόκιμος! Η Doro, η οποία εκείνη την εποχή ήταν ακόμη
πολύ εμφανίσιμη, παρά το μικρό της ανάστημα, πλαισιώνεται από γνωστούς
μουσικούς. Στα ντραμς συναντάμε τον Bobby Rondinelli, από την εποχή των Rainbow
με τον Joe Lynn Turner, ενώ στην κιθάρα βρίσκεται ο Jon Devin και στο μπάσο ο
Tommy Henriksen. Στα πλήκτρα έχουμε έναν ακόμη γνώριμο μουσικό, τον Claude
Schnell, γνωστό από τα τέσσερα πρώτα άλμπουμ του DIO.
Η
λογική του προσωπικού δίσκου γίνεται φανερή από το πρώτο κιόλας κομμάτι, τη
διασκευή στο A Whiter Shade of Pale των βετεράνων rockers Procol Harum, που
έγιναν γνωστοί τη δεκαετία του ’60. Ακολουθούν άλλα δώδεκα τραγούδια, σε ένα
χορταστικό άλμπουμ με τις δυνατές και τις λιγότερο ενδιαφέρουσες στιγμές του.
Τα Save My Soul, World Gone Wild,
Angels with Dirty Faces, Hard Times, I Am What I Am, Cry Wolf, Under the Gun και River of Tears, μαζίμεμπαλάντεςόπωςτο Beyond the Trees, αναδεικνύουντηφωνήτης Doro.
Εκείνη
την εποχή, η τραγουδίστρια δεν είχε ακόμη καταφέρει να περιορίσει τη βαριά
γερμανική προφορά της στους αγγλικούς στίχους — κάτι που, εδώ που τα λέμε, δεν
τελειοποίησε ποτέ!
English:
This Girl Just Won’t Stop!
Doro Pesch’s first solo album or, perhaps, the last
one on which she appears under the Warlock name. Recorded in America, like the
actual final Warlock album, Triumph and Agony, it came out during a period when
the band faced legal problems over the use of its name. As a result, the blonde
singer continued her musical career as a solo artist, following the more
commercial direction established on Warlock’s final two albums.
Heavy Metal with a touch of American influence, or
perhaps Hard & Heavy, although that term is rather questionable, to say the
least! Doro, who was still quite a striking presence at the time despite her
petite stature, is backed by a lineup of familiar musicians. Behind the drum
kit is Bobby Rondinelli, known for his time with Rainbow during the Joe Lynn
Turner era, while Jon Devin handles the guitar and Tommy Henriksen the bass. On
keyboards, we find another familiar name, Claude Schnell, best known for his
work on DIO’s first four albums.
The album’s solo-artist approach becomes apparent from
the very first track, a cover of A Whiter Shade of Pale by veteran rockers
Procol Harum, who rose to prominence in the 1960s. Twelve more tracks follow,
making this a substantial release with its share of highlights and less compelling
moments. Songs such as Save My Soul, World Gone Wild, Angels with Dirty Faces,
Hard Times, I Am What I Am, Cry Wolf, Under the Gun and River of Tears, along
with ballads like Beyond the Trees, put Doro’s voice firmly in the spotlight.
Back then, the singer had yet to overcome her strong
German accent when singing in English — something that, to be fair, she never
quite perfected!
The third release from this German melodic Heavy/Power
Metal band bears the group’s own name, a choice that may suggest that the
musicians consider it their strongest work to date, while also signalling a
fresh beginning. Whether this was their intention or not, one thing is certain:
Elvenpath is a very good Heavy Metal album!
Drawing inspiration from giants such as IRON MAIDEN,
MANOWAR and HELLOWEEN, the band have developed a personal sound that also
brings to mind several excellent German bands from the ’80s that never achieved
the recognition they deserved. More specifically, while the influence of the
aforementioned groups is evident, ELVENPATH’s music is closer to the style of
acts like ATTACK, STORMWITCH and even HEAVENS GATE. These references should
give you a good idea of what to expect, and believe me, I am not exaggerating.
ELVENPATH deliver melodic Metal with freshness, energy
and genuine passion, combining strong riffs, memorable melodies and skillful
musicianship. The songs have the kind of drive that makes it difficult to
resist banging your head, even if you consider yourself one of the more
demanding listeners. Special mention must also be made of the vocals, as
Dragutin Kremenovic proves to be an excellent fit for the band’s music, adding
character and conviction to the compositions.
So, if you are looking for a solid European Metal
release with a distinct identity, one that stands apart from the many albums
that flood the scene every month, Elvenpath is definitely worth checking out.
Polish Heavy/Thrash Metal project No Mästers have
released their self-titled debut album, recorded, mixed and mastered by Jan
Bartoszewicz at 7A Studios.
Formed on New Year's Eve 2018 following the breakup of
Polish underground act The Avengers, No Mästers is the creative vision of
guitarist and songwriter Jan Bartoszewicz. Developed over several years in an
improvised studio in Wrocław, the album reflects the project's DIY ethos,
creative independence and personal approach to songwriting.
With the debut now completed, No Mästers are preparing
to transition from the studio to the stage, with plans to assemble a power trio
for live performances.
Nearly six years after their sophomore effort
“Warnaments”, Swedish outfit TORCHBEARER return with their third full-length,
“Death Meditations”, and the long wait has clearly worked in the band’s favour.
The result is a striking album that confirms their place among the more
interesting acts in the extreme metal underground.
Musically, the band moves fluidly between death and
black metal, yet never at the expense of memorability. Their songs are catchy,
with hooks that linger long after the record has finished, drawing on the
strongest traits of both genres. The rawness and heft of death metal meet the
classic, enchanting melodies of its melodic offshoot, while the coldness and
extremity of black metal are underpinned by the imposing, dark keyboards typical
of the atmospheric, majestic strain of the style.
This stylistic blend is carried by the sheer ability
of the musicians involved. Their technical command translates into carefully
crafted compositions, with elaborate riffs and intricate solos that heighten
both the beauty and the sharpness of the material, while lending the album a
subtle progressive tint. The production does justice to the writing, giving
each element room to breathe without dulling its edge.
Lyrically, “Death Meditations” is a concept work
inspired by the thoughts and philosophy of “Hagakure”, the book on the way of
the samurai, a theme that suits the album’s austere, disciplined and fatalistic
character well.
An engaging and impressive release, “Death
Meditations” comes highly recommended to all fans of extreme metal.
