Calgary’s Riot City bring enough metal fire power to blow the t-tops out of your ’84 Camaro mid-cruise. The band’s debut album is full of ripping solos, galloping double-bass and soaring vocals that will be transport you back to a time when heavy metal parking lots were a way of life. Between time warriors, steel riders and living’ fast, this band covers all the authentic metal topics in a single release. Fans of NWOBHM and 80’s metal pick this up now!
Hot takes on new and recent releases as well as some that we just discovered.
Beastmaker – Eye Of The Storm
With one final EP release (the 11thin less than a year!) Trevor Church winds down the mighty Beastmaker so that his new project, the more traditional metal band Haunt can rise up. The EP series was an amazing feat that ends on a high note with our favorite of the series. Eye Of The Storm combines the best elements of Beastmaker with the new stylings of Haunt to craft a perfect epilogue to the Beastmaker era and prologue to what is to come from Haunt.
Gale – Gale
Arizona band Gale immediately hits you in the face with huge riffs on the opening track of their new self-titled release. Big, thick riffs paired with vocalist Brandon Tutty’s distorted screams make for a formidable follow up to the band’s 2014 release Vol.1. The decimated forest on the cover of the album is a perfect wrapping for this scorched earth sludge release.
Flight – A Leap Through Matter
A fresh slab of late 70s NWOBHM from Norwegian group Flight. The band takes a big leap in both production and song writing on their second release A Leap Through Matter. Flexing their guitar muscle on tracks Reviving Waves and One With The Sun show that the band is comfortable stretching out a tight riff with a solo or two to create a dynamic metal album.
Green Lung – Woodland Rites
The highly anticipated full-length debut from Green Lung lives up to the hype with eight tracks of fuzzed out occult rock. Green Lung brings a slightly more subdued, melodic sound to Woodland Rites which ups the sinister feel of each track without losing their edge. Let The Devil In pulls back just enough to let the hook really grab you before the riff takes over.
Swords and sorcery and heavy metal have been linked since the primordial days of the genre. Both interests were most certainly pursued in basements across the country so it is no surprise that they would soon influence one another. The fantasy influence remains strong with many current metal bands including the likes of Pittsburgh’s Legendry and Texas’ Eternal Champion among others. Picking up the battle ax to continue the journey is Columbus’ Grayhawk with their ambitious new album The Sacred Seal.
The band’s first full-length is an epic 12 track story complete with an intro that serves as a prologue to the story that unfolds as well as the band themselves. The story really takes off with the galloping opener All Is One. Jack Proctor’s drums and Ron Camstra’s bass are the horses carrying Zac Szymusiak’s fiery guitar work into the first of many solos about three minutes into the first track. The band really starts to find it’s groove on Dragic’s Deal with a chugging riff and a hook that requires repeated listens. The album’s centerpiece Test Your Metal is a thrash metal epic that takes some proggy turns before it races to a glorious double-bass finish. The Sacred Seal closes with The Tale to Come… which hopefully means there are more metal adventures to come from Grayhawk. Are you willing to roll the dice on this journey?
Hot takes on new and recent releases as well as some that we just discovered.
Jesus Piece – Only Self
Philly hardcore band’s much anticipated first full-length does not disappoint. Dense production and multiple influences elevate this album above the standard hardcore fare. Only Self firmly establishes Jesus Piece as the standard-bearer of the new generation of hardcore bands.
Deathbell – With The Beyond
French doom band that absolutely kills it on their first release. Soaring female vocals float over huge riffs. If Windhand is your thing, pick up this release right away.
Potion – Women Of The Wand
Doom three piece out of Sydney, Australia adds some big guitar solos and psych flair to the fuzzed-out riffs. Two excellent singles released so far.
Shadowmaster – Shadowmaster
Cinematic doom metal in the vein of Electric Wizard or Ramesses. Hypnotic riffs awash in swirling cymbals punctured by tortured, distorted vocals.
Vuil – Hell
Old school thrash out of Scotland takes us back to the early 80’s packing plenty of speed and riffs. The band channels Motorhead on the ferocious track Hellracer.