ATREXIAL - SOUVERAIN

The powerful Spanish black metal band, Atrexial, is set to release their debut album, Souverain, on May 30, 2017 via Godz Ov War Productions.  Souverain is packed full of harsh riffs, cut throat vocals, and thunderous, yet precise drumming; presenting black metal fans with something fresh, gritty, and explosive to blast as loud as possible all summer long.

Souverain checks all of the boxes of what is expected of a black metal album; simple and to the point. Atrexial did not attempt to reinvent the wheel with Souverain, nor did they arbitrarily add glitter to make it pretty.  What they, effectively and marvelously, did was freshen up a well established genre, with some killer tracks that keep the listener engrossed and audibly intrigued.  Tracks like like “Trinity” and “The Hideous Veil of Innocence” fine tune the balance of heavy chugging riffs with roaring harmonics, while still showing off some flare with a hefty helping of doom. The album’s title track, “Souverain”, is a magnificent example of Atrexial combining all of their ferocious qualities in one swift, unrelenting strike. The breakdown alone would make what's left of even the most rotten corpse’s arm hair stand at attention.

There is no doubt that fans of raw, gritty black metal, that boasts excellent production quality, will enjoy Souverain. Atrexial will remind fans of the ferocity of metal legends Cradle of Filth, Emperor, and even Lamb of God; all while maintaining a crisp edge, like a freshly sharpened axe that's ready to strike. It's incredibly rare and refreshing for a debut album to sound this savage, yet smooth. Atrexial will come across to fans as an impressive, well oiled machine and it will blow their minds when they find out that this is their first rodeo.  Bottom line, ladies and gentlemen, Souverain is a massively explosive first outing, which displays a tremendous amount of promise. The exceptional musical prowess of Atrexial is staggering, to the point that is almost unfathomable that Souverian is the beginning of their journey. Souverian is quite possibly the best black metal album of 2017 regardless of what comes out over the next 7 months.  Make sure to jump aboard this ship sooner, rather than later, so you're not left in all of its wake.

Tracklist

1. Enthronement
2. The Hideous Veil of Innocence
3. Under the Scourge of Lamashtu
4. Catharsis Through Torment
5. Unmerciful Imperial Majesty
6. Illuminatur
7. The Ominous Silence
8. Ascension
9. Shadows of the Nephilim Throne
10. Trinity
11. Souverain
12. Eternal
    

Lineup
Naga S. Maelström - Guitars, Bass, Synths, Songwriting & Backing Vocals
Louen - Main vocals, Guitars & Lyrics
Labelua - Drums

Follow Atrexial here:

https://www.facebook.com/Atrexial/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1GPIszttSk (full album)

https://atrexial.bandcamp.com/releases

Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on May 5, 2017

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MISSILES OF OCTOBER - BETTER DAYS

Belgians Missiles of October recently released their gutter, groovy, garage style punk LP, Better Days, and holy hell does it make you want to turn your brain off and mosh until you pass out from heat stroke.  

Better Days is made up of ten kickass, grimy punk rock tracks that are just raw and edgy, with no fluff and no filler.  Tracks "State of Crisis" and "Problems" are take them as you see them; fast and furious. To be honest, from "No Brain No Headache" to "Blah-Blah-Blah", Better Days is just track after track of heavy, yet groovy, garage style punk that will take fans back in time to the glory days of bands like Voivod or The Gories.  

Sometimes less is more, only being a trio, Missiles of October proves that it doesn't take more than some grit, attitude, talent, and a couple distortion pedals to put out some killer tunes.  Better Days gets to the core of what punk is (and was) really about; simplicity, extreme volume, ass kicking attitude, and slam dancing the night away.  Order or download Better Days ASAP, you will seriously thank me!

Tracklist

1. State of Crisis
2. No Brain No Headache
3. Satisfaction in Nothing
4. Better Days
5. Everyday
6. Loser
7. Chainsaw
8. Problems
9. Blah-Blah-Blah
10. Two Feet in Sludge

Lineup

Lionel Beyet: bass & scream
Bob Seytor: drums
Mathias Salas: guitar & scream
extra Guitar on "Looser man" by Ralf Jock

Check out Missiles of October here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Missiles-Of-October/342925235719273
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJNlNZoyYtc


Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on May 3, 2017
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HOLLOW - HOME IS NOT WHERE THE HEART IS

Reminiscent of metalcore giants Bullet For My Valentine and Bring Me the Horizon, Hollow’s Home Is Not Where The Heart Is is a melodic fist pumping, skull crackin’ collection of infectious tune-age. With songs like “Delta F508” and “Coward King” perfectly blending harmonious clean vocals with raging lyricism and explosive roars; each track builds off the energy of the previous one, leaving you wired on adrenaline and ready for more. Even the more FX oriented build up into “Tonguespeak” knows when to bring the pain right on time as not to let things cool down.

Hollow kicks off Home Is Not Where The Heart Is as explosive as nitroglycerin and filled it to the brim with bloody knuckled bangers that leave your mind rocked harder than an Alaskan avalanche. Seriously, Home Is Not Where The Heart Is is an an album you are not going to want to miss out on. So drop whatever you’re doing and go listen to the new single “Anomaly” (video) just so you can get a small taste of the molten lava heat Hollow is about to scorch your face off with when their album, Home Is Not Where The Heart Is, drops June 9th.

Tracklist
1. Coward King
2. The American Dream
3. Dis/connect
4. Anomaly
5. Too Far Gone
6. Delta F508
7. No Offense
8. Tonguespeak
9. The Wicked
10. Alpha/Omega
11. (Null)

Follow Hollow on social media:
https://www.facebook.com/hollowbandstl
https://twitter.com/HollowBandStl
https://www.instagram.com/_hollowbandofficial/


Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on May 2, 2017
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NOUMENA - MYRRS

Finland natives Noumena are set to debut their album Myrrs on April 28th and it is undoubtedly worth the wait.  Myrrs is proof positive that phenomenal music has no borders and that music is a language in itself. 

Myrrs is not just a metal album, it is a melodic metal dreamlike saga.  The guitars not only shred but also build up to big, beautiful harmonies that float into your ears like moths with razor blades for wings. The tasteful use of piano in tracks like “Syvalla vedessa”, in conjunction with the powerful and angelic voice of Suvi Uura, is like floating on a cloud. But don't get too comfortable, for it is not long before those beautiful dreams become harrowing nightmares with the raw grit of Antti Happanen's vicious growls and Tuukka Tuomela's hard hitting riffs that strike like lightning. Throughout Myrrs the sleek transition between guttural and harmonic clean vocals with riffs to match is just fantastic. 

Myrrs is a well crafted melodic metal masterpiece, each track building the mood and evoking its own genuine emotional response; whether that be the urge to mosh with tracks like "Metsan viha" or being on the verge of tears with the heartfelt somberness of "Sanansaattaja".  Together, these nine tracks, build a world of their own, becoming more than just another metal album but a fully cerebral adventure that every music lover should partake.

Tracklist

1. Kohtu
2. Metsän viha
3. Kirouksen kantaja
4. Sanat pimeydestä
5. Sanansaattaja
6. Roihu
7. Murhehuone
8. Pedon veri
9. Syvällä vedessä

Lineup

Antti Haapanen - Growls
Suvi Uura - Clean Vocals, Growls, Piano
Ville Lamminaho - Guitars, Mandolin
Tuukka Tuomela - Guitars
Hannu Savolainen - Bass
Ilkka Unnbom - Drums

Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on April 26, 2017

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LIV SIN - FOLLOW ME

LIV SIN, the newest project of former Sister Sin front woman, Liv "Sin" Jagrell, is set to release their debut album, Follow Me, on April 28th via Despotz Records. LIV SIN has a modernized metal sound; combining old school heavy metal, thrash, black metal, and mixing in modern elements in order to create something that is their very own. Mixing of old and new musical styles is becoming more popular with bands like In Flames and Pagan's Mind leading the charge; LIV SIN is set to successfully march in to battle right alongside them.

Follow Me is an excellent blend of harmonious yet haunting vocals and ferocious guitar riffs that would make Dio proud. Tracks like “Let Me Out” are as catchy as they are adrenaline pumping, boasting forceful riffs which build up to addictive outro shreddage and a booming chorus. Sultry tracks like the silk covered fist of “I’m Your Sin” and the seductive “The Beast Inside” will have metal heads new and old stabbing themselves in the heart and thanking metal mistress LIV SIN for the pleasure of doing so. If that weren’t enough she’s also included a killer ode to the legendary Rob Halford in her duet cover of “Immortal Sin” with 69 Eyes vocalist Stefan Kaufmann.

The unique mixture of more “American” style of clean hard rock vocals combined with the Swedish metal guitar shredding creates a monster sound; a sound so colossal that even those that followed Sister Sin's 13 year reign will find it new, refreshing and appealing. It doesn't take long to realize that LIV SIN isn't Sister Sin version 2.0; they are bigger, better, and Liv is bearing a brand new set of shiny fangs. LIV SIN is making a statement with Follow Me, one that is loud and clear, “I was metal, I am metal, and I am a force to be reckoned with".

Tracklist

1. The Fall

2. Hypocrite

3. Let Me Out

4. Black Souls

5. Godless Utopia

6. Endless Roads

7. Killing Ourselves to Live

8. I'm Your Sin

9. Emperor of Chaos

10. Immortal Sin

11. The Beast Inside

Lineup

Liv "Sin" Jagrell - Lead vocals
Patrick Ankermark - Guitars
Chris Bertzell - Guitars
Tommie Winther - Bass
Per Bjelovuk - Drums

Check out LIV SIN on social media:

www.facebook.com/livsinmusic/

liv-sin.com/

Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on April 17, 2017

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INSANITY - TOSS A COIN

Switzerland natives Insanity are bringing back 90's harcore (Hatebreed, Pennywise, Strung Out) in style with their sophomore full-length release Toss A Coin, available May 26th via Bastardized Recordings.

While Toss A Coin is most definitely a Throwback Thursday worthy album, it is by no means dated or stagnant, quite the contrary actually. Tracks such as "No Tolerance for Intolerance", "Toss A Coin", and "With My Friends" are great reminders of the days when punk was about social issues, and rebellion, but still having a good time with your boys (or girls). While you may not feel the urge to pop the cork on some fine Pinot Noir while listening to Toss A Coin, but what you will find yourself doing is chanting spirited anthems from the choruses of "All I Need", "Die For", and "What's Hardcore" with a pint in hand, side-by-side with your best pals.

Toss A Coin reminds us that hardcore can be harder than a cannonball without being depressive or dreary. It also reminds us that artists can have a stance on social issues without being whiny, soft-spine snowflakes and instead choose to spit in the face of adversity, like the old days. Toss A Coin is simple in it's construction; the riffs and beats are good but fairly straightforward, the lyrics and vocals are powerful but not grandiose but what the album lacks in "artistic depth" (said with a chuckle), it more than makes up for with guts, message, and delivery. Music doesn't need to be complicated, technical, or dare we say "fancy" to be good; sometimes less is more and Insanity got it right with Toss A Coin, this album is great reminder of why we love the metal scene so much, quite simply good music.

Tracklist
1. No Tolerance For Intolerance
2. Find A Way
3. Toss A Coin
4. What I See
5. With My Friends
6. Down
7. All I Need
8. One Day
9. $laves
10. What's Hardcore
11. Die For

Check out Insanity here:https://www.facebook.com/insanity.metal
http://www.bastardized.net/

Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on April 17, 2017

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BURY THE MACHINES - WICKED COVENANT

If you combined Ghost B.C., TesseracT, and Mastodon with a touch of extra bleak madness, you'd get Bury the Machines, the new solo project of John E. Bohmer Jr, and the upcoming release Wicked Covenant courtesy of California based label Midnight Collective.

Wicked Covenant is heavy, haunting, melodic, and just all around amazing.  This three track EP showcases Bohmer's ability to evoke awesome like a necromancer summons spirits.  Wicked Covenant is dark, yet groovy, and stirs adrenaline and emotions without being neither overly aggressive or mopey.  Dissecting this EP track by track is almost a crime; "Beneath My Wrath", "A Victim's Tears", and "Waterweapon" are like a three acts in a magnificently grim play or penultimate chapters in a tale written by Edgar Alan Poe. While each track has it's own feel, each continuing to building on the last with the ever present feeling of impending doom.  Wicked Covenant is like a compact, evil version of Pink Floyd's The Wall.

Seriously, add Wicked Covenant to your list of summer must have albums, you will be glad that you did!

Check out Bury the Machines here:

https://midniteclv.bandcamp.com/album/wicked-covenant
http://bit.ly/wickedcovenant
http://burythemachines.com/
https://burythemachines.bandcamp.com/
https://www.facebook.com/burythemachines/
https://www.facebook.com/midniteclv/

Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on April 17, 2017

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EMPTYBROOK - EMPTYBROOK

Finnish sludge metalers Emptybrook are set to release their self-titled EP, Emptybrook, via Inverse Records on April 17th.

Four of the five tracks on Emptybrook stand out; “Repeat”, “The Grand King of Fuckery”, “Smoking Weed with Numbskull Emptybrook in the Country Side”, and “Hit the Wall or Hit the Ground”.  The opener “Repeat” is up tempo and overflowing with playful riffs, starting albums with energy is always a good thing. “The Grand King of Fuckery” is heavy as hell and “Smoking Weed with Numbskull Emptybrook in the Country Side” is fast, both are thick and muddy like good sludge metal should be. All three tracks are absolute bangers. Just as Emptybrook seems to slow it down with "Hit the Wall or Hit the Ground", the thought passes because the track kicks the energy back up again before it ends.

Finding inspiration from the Finnish low budget, B-movies of the 70's and 80's, Emptybrook uses a bit of cheeky humor to soften the rough edges of THE METAL, ensuring that they don't take themselves too seriously and answering the age old question "is there even life without cheese?". The answer is no, there is no life without cheese and Emptybrook is serving it it up better than most. This EP is proof that awesome heavy metal, or music for that matter, doesn't require a ton of production work; if it is good, it stands on it's own (just like low budget movies).

You will definitely want to snag a copy of Emptybrook at release so when these guys make it big, you can have that sense of smug superiority for being hip to their game before the rest of the world. Emptybrook, we sprinkle that shit on everything and you will too!

Check out Emptybrook here:

https://www.facebook.com/Emptybrook
https://twitter.com/emptybrook

Lineup

Vocals  - Ollijuhani
Guitar - Ilkka
Bass - Jaakko
Drums - Pasi

Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media April 15, 2017

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PYROXENE - PYROXENE

Slovenia's experimental heavy metal quintet, Pyroxene, are set to release their self-titled EP, Pyroxene courtesy of Inverse Records on April 21st. Describing themselves as 'solid metal', they've created an experimental amalgamation of music that is truly their own, a repertoire ranging from blues to rock, that puts them in a class of their own.

Pyroxene is veritably an eccentric approach to heavy metal, a mishmash of 80's hairband and power metal. Very prominent, theatrical, prog-esque vocals backed by heavy metal guitars fill Pyroxene's five tracks. The first track on the album, "Fireborn", is vocally a disaster, there is no nice way to put it. The high pitched backing vocals are atrocious, the only redeeming quality of this track is the guitars, which have moments of breakdown and guitar riff awesomeness. The stand out track on the album is the second, "Bullets Fly", it is very reminiscent of Def Leppard, but with almost a punk twist on the vocals. The track starts with a super catchy beat and the guitar work is very cool, it is most definitely toe tapping, head bopping winner. The closing track, "Helium-3", starts off strong, boasting pretty killer guitar riffs, but it is about the 4:02 mark that it vocally goes awry. It is at that point that vocalist, Jan Tehovnik, summons his inner David Coverdale (Whitesnake), and let's out a high register cry and it isn't glorious, it is just bad. While Tehovnik's range is impressive, the 'outburst' doesn't fit the track and is not a pleasant surprise.

It isn't easy putting your art out there for others to judge whether it is good or bad; art is subjective and what is one man's treasure will just be a blob of paint on canvas to another. Pyroxene is filled with killer guitar work by Kristjan Hacin and Andraž Kumar, so the technical foundation is there. Tehovnik has moments he shines on this EP as well, but it is when he is simply singing, not trying to be Mariah Carey on steroids. With the exception of "Bullets Fly" it is almost as though Hacin, Kumar, Hrovat, and Cizej are in one band and Tehovnik is another. There doesn't seem to be harmony between the vocals and the music, it is possible that is an engineering issue or possibly it is the sound Pyroxene was going for. As mentioned earlier, art is subjective. While eclectic combinations can be good, they have to flow and move together, otherwise it just ends up a wreck. While Pyroxene isn't completely awful, it isn't something that would be considered good either. With that being said, I would give Pyroxene another shot at gaining a new fan because the potential is there, it is up to them to execute on it the next time around.

The video for "Helium-3" can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAgMwIc19ys

Tracklist
1. Fireborn
2. Bullets Fly
3. Cleansed in fire
4. Electric Funeral (cover)
5. Helium-3

Lineup

Jan Tehovnik: vocals
Kristjan Hacin: solo guitar, backing vocals
Andraž Kumar: rhythm guitar, backing vocals
Mate Hrovat: bass guitar, backing vocals
Domen Cizej: drums

Check out Pyroxene here:

https://www.facebook.com/smrt.in.razdejanje
https://twitter.com/pyroxeneband
http://instagram.com/user/pyroxeneband/4592797291
http://www.pyroxene.eu
https://deathdestruction.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/pyroxeneband

Written by Ken Kaizer for Bloodrock Media on April 7, 2017

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