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Euro-Melting Pot Strauss Announce Second EP “Luia”

Posted in Metal, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on April 3, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Strauss - Luia - EP cover promo pic  - 2015 - 3040215MOS77

London brings people together from all walks of life. So when a French guitarist met two Italians, a Spanish guitarist and a British bassist, it seemed destiny to make noise together as Strauss (a Germanic name of course). They’re now set to release their second EP Luia around late May. Drawing from common wells of Kylesa, Kyuss and Red Fang, the fuzz-charged grooves they conjure up on Luia are infectious and dirt-laden, so you may well catch something. Meanwhile vocalist Stef possesses both crooning tones and a manic bark to contrast, and even a rap-style vocal in the vein of Zack la Rocha (Rage Against The Machine) on final track ‘2015’.

Strauss started out with modest intentions: “met one day and decided to make some noise…that’s it really.” The group eventually centered around London as their stomping ground, and quickly got their heads together to create their début self-titled EP, which received high praise from reviewers around the ‘net. Building on this success, the band hit the road far and wide, even reaching Latvia’s Fontaine Festival and Sweden’s SandvikFest to bring their manic parties. Now, it’s time for round two of hitting the studio, and Luia has taken shape spectacularly. The UK fuzz scene has never been in healthier shape, and rarely with a more wicked sense of humor.

Strauss are:

Stef – vocals
Charles – guitars
Bill – bass
Luca Immovili – drums

FFO: Red Fang, Kylesa, Kruger

Digital release is set for late May.

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“This is a damn fine first release from Strauss and for fans of catchy stoner grooves with a dirty sludgier edge, this is essential listening.” – Heavy Planet

“A sound rooted somewhere between Kylesa and Red Fang with a nice progressive touch. All in all this EP is packed with some great tunes and worth checking out.” – Stonerobixxx

“Even though it’s got these familiar elements, this stew of tunes is quite unlike any sludge/metal/stoner acts I’ve heard before.” – Ride With The Devil

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Source: Dewar PR

Strauss – Online:

Facebook

Twitter

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE STRAUSS.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

IMMORTAL BIRD – Midwest Blackened Death Grind Ensemble Confirms Western Migration Tour

Posted in Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , on April 3, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Immortal Bird - promo band photo - 2015 - #040315IBMO1

Band To Unleash New Full-Length This Summer + “New” Drummer Announced

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Midwest blackened death grind ensemble, IMMORTAL BIRD, will release a brand new full-length this Summer. Titled Empress/Abscess, the five track follow-up to 2013’s Akrasia EP, which Decibel Magazine dubbed, “dark and twisting,” and The Chicago Reader called, “…sick and greasy black metal that does an admirable job inventing the sound of a mind tearing itself apart,” was captured by Pete Grossmann (Weekend Nachos, Harm’s Way, Dead In The Dirt) at Bricktop Recording in Chicago, Illinois earlier this year and mixed and mastered by Colin Marston (Gorguts, Krallice, Nader Sadek, Atheist, Origin etc.) at Menegroth, The Thousand Caves in Queens, New York. Empress/Abscess includes a guest appearance by John Hoffman of Weekend Nachos and finds former drummer/vocalist, Rae Amitay, trading in her drum stool for a full-time position at the mic.

Elaborates Amitay: “I’ve stepped away from drumming duties and enlisted our live drummer, Garry Naples (Novembers Doom). Essentially, I had to set my ego aside and determine what was going to be the best for this music. [Guitarist] Evan [Berry] and I wrote some incredibly challenging material for Empress/Abscess, and Garry had been playing it live for months, whereas I’d been focusing a lot of my drumming energy on the newest Thrawsunblat album. My chops are in a very different place than they were when we recorded Akrasia and it would take me a week in the studio to do what Garry can accomplish in two days. Having him behind the kit saved us time, the finished product is stronger, and I was able to delve into the vocal performances and lyrics with my undivided attention. Will I play drums on future IMMORTAL BIRD albums? It’s entirely likely, but for Empress/Abscess, I passed the sticks over to the best person for the job.”

An official release date for Empress/Abscess is forthcoming, but expected to drop in late June. As a precursor to its official unveiling, the band will embark upon the Western Migration Tour 2015. Slated to kick off on April 27th in Louisville, Kentucky, IMMORTAL BIRD will traverse eleven states in over a dozen cities, with the journey coming to a close on May 14th in Madison, Wisconsin. In addition to a the West Coast trek, IMMORTAL BIRD recently confirmed appearances at Shadow Woods Metal Fest and Southwest Terror Fest with future live demolitions in their plotting stages.

“We’re really looking forward to hitting all new cities on this run of dates,” relays Amitay, “It’s time to bring Akrasia to the West Coast before we release the new record! We’ll be playing a bunch of previously unperformed material, and will again be enlisting the talents of guitarist Eric Kornfeind on this tour. Stoked to spend a few weeks playing for our friends in the West.”

IMMORTAL BIRD 2015 Western Migration Tour:

4/27/2015 Diamond Pub – Louisville, KY
4/28/2015 House Show – Nashville, TN
4/29/2015 Vino’s – Little Rock, AR
4/30/2015 Tomcats – Fort Worth, TX
5/02/2015 Lost Well – Austin, TX
5/03/2015 TBA – San Antonio, TX
5/04/2015 Sandbox – El Paso, TX
5/05/2015 The Cottage House – Flagstaff, AZ
5/06/2015 Yucca Tap Room – Tempe, AZ
5/07/2015 Katz Alley – Redlands, CA
5/08/2015 TBA – San Diego, CA
5/09/2015 TBA – Los Angeles, CA
5/10/2015 The Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
5/11/2015 Flux Capacitor – Colorado Springs, CO
5/12/2015 TBA – Omaha, NE
5/14/2015 The Wisco – Madison, WI

IMMORTAL BIRD:

Evan Berry – guitars
Rae Amitay – vocals
Garry Naples – drums
John Picillo – bass

IMMORTAL BIRD - West Coast Tour - promo flyer - 2015 - #04MOIBE

Source: Earsplit PR

* For more info on IMMORAL BIRD:

http://www.facebook.com/immortalbirdband

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE IMMORTAL BIRD.

LONG LIVE THE MIDWEST.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

MARDUK – Latin America Tour Dates For April/May

Posted in Black Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , on April 2, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Marduk - Latin America Tour Dates - 2015 - promo poster - #M663MO9339

Norrköping, Sweden’s Black Metal legends, MARDUK, will begin their Latin American tour, beginning this April 17th, in Santiago, Chile. MARDUK’s newly released album, Frontschwein, is available now! Metal be thy name. -Stone

Marduk - Frontschwein - promo album cover pic - #2015MMO10

Click these links below for more info:

Website: http://www.marduk.nu/

Facebook: Marduk Official

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MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE MARDUK.

LONG LIVE SWEDEN.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

Satyricon’s Frontman Satyr Gives Details On Upcoming “The Dawn Of A New Age” European Tour

Posted in Black Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on April 2, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

satyricon.bandheader

As stated on the Satyricon Facebook timeline by Satyr:

Personal message from the bossman: We had our last rehearsal for the tour today and we’re ready. When preparing this, the most important thing for me has been to make this tour different from our last Euro tour in 2013. We tour less and less although we play together more often than ever before. So the few tours we do should all have an identity of their own and feel special to me also. We’ve divided the show into four acts and this less conventional format is interesting to work with. I also like playing songs we haven’t played in many years. Not just old stuff from the nineties. We do that too. Come on. It’s great playing songs from Volcano and Now, Diabolical that have not been touched in many years as well. I hear these songs with new ears now. Incorporating choral arrangements from “Live At The Opera” on some songs has also been a bit of a task. Keyboard and human voices are not the same, but we have found those parts that work really well and some songs get a whole new feel to them with these additions. I’m so heavily into working on new stuff these days, that I decided I want to show bits and pieces to the crowds as well. It does not matter to me if they are bits and pieces in progress – I want to play future Satyricon material for you and I know you’ll get it. We also invited fans who play classical instruments to join us in doing improvised jam sessions and I know that it will happen in at least a handful of the shows. I love the idea that fans will take part in our show, also on a musical level. We are working on a cover album project and on some shows we’ll show you some of that on stage as well. We’re bringing a treasure chest of visual effects, I think the show in Paris will be filmed for television and we are visiting many cities we have not played before.

The old touring format is dead. This is The Dawn Of A New Age. Join me. SW

The Dawn Of A New Age European Tour 2015 kicks off on Saturday in Nijmegen, Holland. We are doing this INSTEAD of a summer festival tour, and we hope to see you all in the coming weeks.

Satyricon - The Dawn Of A New Age - promo tour poster - April - 2015 - #663SWMOF

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* For more info on SATYRICON

Facebook: Satyricon

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE SATYRICON.

LONG LIVE NORWAY.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

ORDEN OGAN “Ravenhead” – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, Power Metal, rock music with tags , , , , on April 1, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Orden Ogan - Ravenhead - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #1123

5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

Metalfistredbckgrndsmall5

ORDEN OGAN – Arnsberg, Germany’s Power Metal warriors, ORDEN OGAN, released their new 11 song studio album, Ravenhead, this past February 3rd in North America, via AFM Records. Ravenhead is a tremendous follow-up to 2012’s To The End, in my Metal opinion.

With the fittingly titled Orden Ogan, a triumphant symphonic intro with haunting chants, this compelling Ravenhead album begins. The title track kicks in with all the aural power and atmospheric energy that Orden Ogan are so gifted at creating and playing; this experience does not subside throughout the album. I cannot help letting myself being carried away by the layered songs of Ravenhead, Orden Ogan have undoubtedly turned it up a few notches between albums.

Orden Ogan - promo band pic - 2015 - #011615OOMO

Orden Ogan is a band whose albums you must really listen to and absorb, in order to take in every sonic nuance. I swear I hear bagpipes on the song F.E.V.E.R. I believe I do. Plus, as a bonus, Ravenhead can be interpreted as a concept album, if one so chooses to do so. Evil Lies In Every Man has a creepy spoken word intro of what I perceive to be a female elder from the blackest of forests; in other words a witch to my ears? Creepy nonetheless and this song soars with its Power Metal intensity. Ravenhead flows along so very fine, with the last song, Too Soon, being of the rightly chosen, moderate tempo and mood to close the listening experience out with.

Orden Ogan - Ravenhead - back cover - promo pic - Andreas Marschall

Above: back cover artwork for Ravenhead

Vocalist Seeb is a wonderful listen with his clean vocals and he also plays guitar and keyboards as well. Tobi on lead guitar, Niels on bass and Dirk on drums round out this German Power Metal band that I feel so good writing about. I absolutely love the chorus throughout Ravenhead; this is what makes European Power Metal so incredibly moving!

Orden Ogan represent European Power Metal in such an abundant way; anyone unfamiliar with this genre can tag Orden Ogan as a bullseye for a starting point. There is not only the power behind Ordan Ogan’s impressive Metal on Ravenhead; fascinating bridges lead this listener to such a dynamic listen of vast Metal sounds. Speed, ambience, acoustical, flamenco and symphonic moments, with fist raising guitar solos, European Power Metal guitar tones, and a roof raising rhythm section are all in store for you within the songs on Ravenhead.

I highly recommend Orden Ogan’s Ravenhead to any fan of Power Metal and Metal for that matter; Orden Ogan has created so much to offer here on their new album. Metal be thy name. – Stone

Orden Ogan - promo band pic - 2015 - #00333OOMO0401

ORDEN OGAN:

SEEB – vocals, lead-guitar, keyboards

TOBI – lead-guitar

NIELS – bass

DIRK – drums

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* For more info on ORDEN OGAN:

Facebook: ORDEN OGAN

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE ORDEN OGAN.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

On This Day In METAL History – April 1st… From David Lee Roth To Iron Maiden

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, Metal, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on April 1, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

David Lee Roth - Hit Parader Magazine - promo cover - April - 1984 - #0401DLRMO1

On April 1st, 1985David Lee Roth left Van Halen to begin a solo career. Yup. Shown above is the April, 1984 edition of Hit Parader, with Diamond Dave as the cover feature. Yup.

Cheap Trick - Promo Album Cover Pic!

On this day in 2008 – In the state of Illinois, this date marked the first Cheap Trick Day. This special day was decided upon, in June of 2007, in the state of Illinois. Whoa, man! Happy Cheap Trick Day, Illinois! Long live Cheap Trick!

IRON MAIDEN "The Number Of The Beast" large album pic!!

On April 1st, 2015IRON MAIDEN’s The Number Of The Beast is ranked at #33 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. This iconic Metal album was released back in 1982 and is the third studio album from the legendary IRON MAIDEN. Whoa! Long live IRON MAIDEN!

Iron Maiden - Piece Of Mind - promo album cover pic - 1982 - #66IMMO0104

On this day in 2015IRON MAIDEN’s Piece Of Mind is ranked at #45 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. Released back in 1983, this is the fourth studio album from the mighty IRON MAIDEN.

Iron Maiden - Brave New World - promo album cover pic - 2000 - #0401BDASMO

On April 1st, 2015IRON MAIDEN’s Brave New World is ranked at #53 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. Released back in 2000, this is the twelfth studio album from the magnificent IRON MAIDEN. Brave New World also marked the return of vocalist Bruce Dickinson, after his successful solo career; guitarist Adrian Smith also marked his return on this fabulous album. Whoa!

Pantera - Vulgar Display Of Power - Promo Cover Pic!

On this day in 2015PANTERA’s Vulgar Display Of Power is ranked at #39 on the iTunes Top 100 Metal Albums Chart. Originally released back in 1992, this is the sixth studio album from the great PANTERA. Long live the legacy of PANTERA! RIP, Dimebag Darrell.

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METAL BE THY NAME!

Stone - 2011 Photo #1

LONG LIVE METAL.

LONG LIVE THE ROOTS & FAMILY TREE OF METAL.

Stone.

HE WHOSE OX IS GORED U.S. TOUR ANNOUNCEMENT

Posted in Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , on March 31, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

He Whose Ox Is Gored - Tour promo flyer - 2015 - #HWOIGMO003399

Fresh off their Rumors 7” release last October, Seattle doomgazers He Whose Ox Is Gored will embark on a national tour this April, which will include Midwest and East Coast stops for the first time. The tour kicks off in their native Seattle on April 5th with Witchripper and A God or Another at Narwhal.

The band’s full length debut The Camel, The Lion, The Child’ is slated for release this fall on Bleeding Light Records, as well as more new material that will also surface in 2015. In the meantime, Ox will spread their fuzzed out style of heaviness across 14 US cities in preparation of the full length’s imminent release. All dates are below and subject to change.

4/5 Seattle, WA @ Narwhal Tour kick off w/ Witchripper and A God or Another
4/7 Missoula, MT @ Palace Lounge
4/8 Fargo, ND @ New Direction
4/9 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock
4/12 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
4/14 Brooklyn, NY @ St. Vitus
4/15 Boston, MA @ PA’s Lounge
4/16 Worchester, MA @ Ralph’s
4/19 St. Louis, MO @ The Lemp
4/20 Kansas City, MO @ Record Bar
4/21 Denver, CO @ Hi Dive
4/22 Salt Lake City, UT @ Bar Deluxe
4/23 Boise, ID @ Crux
4/24 Spokane, WA @ The Pin

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Source: Dewar PR

* For more info:

http://hwoig.com/

https://www.facebook.com/hewhoseoxisgoredseattle

https://twitter.com/oxisgored

https://instagram.com/hewhoseoxisgored/

http://hewhoseoxisgored.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/bleedinglightrecords

http://bleedinglightrecords.bigcartel.com/

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE HE WHOSE OX IS GORED.

LONG LIVE SEATTLE.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

Abhorrent Decimation – A Marriage Of Music & Art

Posted in Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 31, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Abhorrent Decimation - promo band pic - #040115 - #ADMO99

UK Death Metal outfit Abhorrent Decimation are pleased to announce they’ll be teaming up with a group of sculptors for an innovative new music video.

In the build up to their hugely anticipated debut full length album, the London-based wrecking crew have teamed up with the Head of Foundations (David Tinn) and two highly skilled artists (Jonny Cavaciuti & Olivia Davis) at East Surrey College, to commission the creation of a series of sculptures to be used in the bands next music video. The album, as of yet untitled, is slated for release later this year and is in the final stages of mixing and mastering under the scrutiny of renown producer Ronnie Björnström, Enhanced Audio Productions (Garageland Studios, Sweden). The wait will soon be over.

Whilst Abhorrent Decimation prepare for their upcoming UK tour with French Death Metal heavyweights, Benighted and Scotland’s Cancerous Womb, vocalist Ashley Scott gives us an overview of the project as he oversees the sculpture commission beginning to take form:

“We’ve been incredibly fortunate to have pulled this off… I had such big ideas for the first official music video that we would be putting out with this album. I can’t go into great detail of the concept behind it all yet but I wanted the band mutated and frozen in ice BUT I didn’t want it done using CGI. Turns out, that was a bit of an ambitious ask. I then thought about doing the whole band as a set of sculptures and freezing those. So I contacted my old friend and mentor David about the possibility of collaborating with his foundation students at the college and the rest is history. He asked that I create a brief for the project and since then the artists have just run with it. We took the first sample casts of my head a few weeks back and we are really happy with the results. Next, the whole band will be in to have moulds taken of their heads. From there, the artists will then need a little time to work on these objects before we can have them frozen and then begin shooting the vid. I really wanted to bring one song in particular to life, having these sculptures frozen in ice will do exactly that and it’s something a little different, this is an interesting marriage of music and art. You don’t see that much. And once the album is released I would love to exhibit these pieces in London.”

Abhorrent Decimation - cover pic - 2015 - #033309

Check out ‘Infected Celestial Utopia’, title track from the debut Abhorrent Decimation EP!

Abhorrent Decimation Live!

11/04/15 Croydon, The Scream Lounge
12/04/15 Bristol, The Exchange
13/04/15 Liverpool, The Magnet
14/04/15 Edinburgh, Bannermans
15/04/15 Leeds, Temple of Boom
16/04/15 Birmingham, The Flapper
17/04/15 Reading, The Facebar
19/04/15 Tilburg, Neurotic Deathfest
28/04/15 Brighton, The Prince Albert
23/05/15 Southampton, The Firehouse

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Source: Future PR

* For more info:

www.abhorrentdecimation.com

www.facebook.com/abhorrentdecimation

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE ABHORRENT DECIMATION.

LONG LIVE DEATH METAL.

Stone.

KARASAFRA “Chaos Manifest” EP – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in Metal, metal bands, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , on March 31, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Karasafra - Chaos Manifest - 2015 - #0329CMMO37

4.5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

4.5 metal-fists-4-5-album-reviews-metal-odyssey

KARASAFRA is an Extreme Progressive Metal band from Turkey. The two multi-instrumentalist members of this fine band are: Esin Tokgöz on brutal vocals, guitars, drums (and lyricist), along with Engin Can Tokgöz on clean vocals, basses, guitars and drums.

The three songs on Karasafra’s EP are: Structure of Debris, Thoughtscapes and the epic title track: Chaos Manifest. The brutal vocals of Esin Tokgöz are Black Metal and the clean vocals of Engin Can Tokgöz are very dark. I will add that there is a nice touch of Middle East accent in the vocals of Engin Can Tokgöz, on the third song Chaos Manifest. Excellent vocals, both.

Structure of Debris begins with a soft guitar intro and mellow guitar interludes do occur within this blazingly blackened song. This is an excellent song to become first acquainted with Karasafra; as this entire EP is for that matter.

Karasafra - promo band photo - March 8th - 2015 - #0308MOK

I love the guitar tones on these songs, it very much is obvious to my ears that Karasafra are conscientious at creating their own musical identity; something that is so essential to accomplish, in order to stand out within the oceans of Metal. I thoroughly enjoy the flow of the second song: Thoughtscapes. This song is beyond contagious for me and I couldn’t be more honest!

The epic title track and EP closer, Chaos Manifest, is without question to me, the most progressive song on this EP. The time signatures are smooth and the tempo changes are very pleasing for my Metal tastes. At 10:20 long, this isn’t a song you will dread due to its length, no sir. I actually feel that this epic song finishes too quickly! It’s a fantastic musical journey and well worth the 10 plus minutes that Karasafra created.

Below, listen to, download and support KARASAFRA:

I admire how these two musicians have written and recorded three songs that are so captivating and unique. There are no parts repeated from one song to the other, if you know what I mean. To have featured and reviewed this new Karasafra EP on Metal Odyssey is what highlighting quality, international underground Metal is all about. I wish this Metal duo all the very best that will come their way from their music; this is a tremendous EP and I highly recommend it to all my Metal brethren around the globe. Metal be thy name. – Stone

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* For more info on KARASAFRA:

Facebook: Karasafra

http://karasafra.bandcamp.com/

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE KARASAFRA.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

HALO CREATION – Female Fronted DEATH METAL Band From Austria Set To Release Debut Album This Autumn!

Posted in Death Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 31, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Halo Creation - promo band pic - 2015 - #0330HCMOHB

HALO CREATION is a DEATH METAL band from Vienna, Austria and was founded in 2014. Their unequivocal message is:

!!! BANG YOUR FUCKIN´ HEAD !!!

The five members of the band bring you real, powerful and straight Metal and also live, you can feel and see the brute force of HALO CREATION.

It began in a small rehearsal room in the middle of Vienna. Since the very beginning, they rehearse regularly and so the first songs accrued. In the Summer of 2014, a Demo CD with four songs on it was recorded. In September, HALO CREATION played their first live show, together with ILLDISPOSED.

Since this show, they play live regularly and already shared the stage with GRAVEWORM and JINJER. These days they are busy with songwriting for their first album and this Summer of 2015 they will enter the studio. The release of the full-length is scheduled for Autumn.

Halo Creation - promo band pic - 2015 - #02 - 0330HCMOHBV

For HALO CREATION, it is important to produce elaborated and very powerful music. When they`re playing live, the crowd should go crazy and while listening to their songs any kind of emotions should arise.

The music should be real Death Metal, which means, there will be no clean vocals nor Nu Metal parts in it. Moreover, outstanding chorus lines are important. Further, excesses in speed or changes in rhythm should be a big part of their music.

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HALO CREATION – ONLINE:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/halocreationmetal

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/halocreationmetal

ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/halocreation

Backstage PRO: http://www.backstagepro.de/halocreation

Halo Creation - classic band logo - 2015 - black on white - #77333

Source:

MetalMessage - Logo with skull - 2014

http://www.metalmessage.de

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE HALO CREATION.

LONG LIVE AUSTRIA.

LONG LIVE DEATH METAL.

Stone.

COUNTLESS SKIES – S/T EP – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in album reviews, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 30, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Countless Skies - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #4404MOCS

3.5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

Metal Fists - 3.5 - Metal Odyssey

COUNTLESS SKIES – This debut and self-titled EP from Hertfordshire, England’s Countless Skies was released back on November 7th of 2014. A self-released EP, Countless Skies does not hold back on creating a crisp production of layered Melodic Death Metal.

The Death Metal vocals of guitarist Ross King and clean vocals of bassist Phil Romeo work well together on this EP and compliment the overall somber atmosphere and vibes that I hear and feel. Then again, there are a good many musical moments within these songs that metamorphosis to a more neutral mood, moments which I can interpret as jubilation trying to fend off a sonic wall of melancholy; if that makes any sense. Countless Skies plays out as a mellifluous dreamscape with a Melodic Death Metal backdrop.

SONY DSC

Please give me some style points for trying to explain! I found this EP to be a quasi-challenge to review, regarding how I would describe it musically. Some may even interpret Countless Skies as progressive in its structure. I do recommend fans of Enslaved to Amorphis to give this band a listen and support them. I recommend Countless Skies to any Metal fan looking for a new and talented band to check out, for that matter.

Melodic Death Metal fans that are looking for the thunder of Amon Amarth be forewarned, Countless Skies are much more subtle about the power to devour. This is an EP I will definitely add to my playlist and I’m happy to spread the Metal word about. Metal be thy name – Stone

Below, listen to and support Countless Skies:

Track List: Ethereal, Penance, Everlast, Reverence

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Countless Skies:

Ross King – vocals and guitars

James Pratt – guitars

Phil Romeo – vocals and bass

Nathan Robshaw – drums

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* For more info on Countless Skies:

Facebook: Countless Skies

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE COUNTLESS SKIES.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

On This Day In METAL History – March 30th… From SAXON To KISS

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 30, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Ramones - Classic Band Logo - #900870RMOPNYC

On this day in 1974Ramones perform their first live show at the Performance Studio in New York City. Whoa!!

Sanctuary Records - Logo - black on white - 2007

On March 30th, 2000Castle Communications was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group Ltd. for £40 million. Castle owned the rights to all The Kinks back catalogue. Sanctuary Records dissolved when it later became a subsidiary of Universal Music Group in 2007.

Kiss - 2012 - Final Four Block Party - Mens NCAA - basketball - promo banner

On this day in KISSTORY – March 30, 2012: KISS rocked over 35,000 fans at Woldenberg Park in New Orleans, during the AT&T NCAA Final Four Block Party! Long live KISS!

Saxon - band promo pic - band logo - 2013 - #47

On March 30th, 2013 – The mighty SAXON performed at Estacionamiento del Poliedro de Caracas in Caracas, Venezuela. This was one of numerous dates on SAXON’s Sacrifice World Tour, 2013. Long live SAXON!

HATEBREED - Large Logo - B&W!

On this day in 2015 – The great HATEBREED are performing at Re:Public in Minsk, Belarus. Long live HATEBREED!

ACDC - Rock Or Bust - promo album cover pic - 2014 - #12

On March 30th, 2015AC/DC Rock Or Bust is holding steady at #2, on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums Chart. Rock Or Bust has spent 16 consecutive weeks on this chart. Long live AC/DC!

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MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE METAL.

LONG LIVE THE ROOTS & FAMILY TREE OF METAL.

Stone.

W.A.S.P. “GOLGOTHA” – New Studio Album Set For Release This August, Via Napalm Records

Posted in Heavy Metal, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 29, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Wasp - Classic Band Logo - white on black - 03291577BLWNRMO33

WASP - Golgotha - promo album title - 032415WBLMO29 -

COMING AUGUST 2015!

As reported by Napalm Records:

Almost six years have passed since the world saw a new studio album from Metal Icons W.A.S.P. That is about to change as W.A.S.P. has signed a new worldwide record deal with Austria’s Napalm Records. W.A.S.P. will release their 15th studio album titled Golgotha this August.

“W.A.S.P. are excited to announce they have signed an exclusive recording contract with Napalm Records. We chose Napalm for their personal belief and professional commitment to our career. We’re looking forward to years of great success together starting with the release of our upcoming album Golgotha”, states W.A.S.P. front man Blackie Lawless.

“It is a true honor to announce this signing today, a dream has come true. With their impressive career and ability to create musical masterpieces W.A.S.P have always been one of the most influential Metal bands out there since the beginning of their career. We are thrilled about the upcoming album Golgotha which will be released this summer!” – Vice President of Napalm Records Thomas Caser

W.A.S.P. came out of the Los Angeles Metal scene in 1982 gaining notoriety for their shock rock antics. With a career spanning over 3 decades, 17 world tours, and now their 15th studio album, they are a metal band that has evolved in maturity without having lost their signature sound, unlike many of their peers from their origins. Golgotha will continue down the path that 2007’s Dominator and 2009’s Babylon started on, both in production style and theme. Six years in the making, Golgotha will undoubtedly lead the listeners on the emotionally epic undertaking that W.A.S.P. has become acclaimed for!

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Special thanks to Scott Coverdale for story.

* For more info:

http://waspnation.com/waspnation.htm

Napalm Records - logo - B&W - 2013

Napalm Records

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE W.A.S.P.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

JOAN JETT – Is Guitar World Cover Feature For May 2015 Issue

Posted in classic rock, Guitar, guitars, Hard Rock, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 29, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Joan Jett - Guitar World Cover Promo - May 15 - 2015 - #030578JJMO

As reported by Guitar World:

Guitar World’s May 2015 issue features the queen of noise Joan Jett! She’s been banging out some of rock’s greatest power chords since the age of 15. With her induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, there’s only one thing you need to know- she still loves rock and roll. Special Rock Riffs Lesson: Andy Aledort examines the essential riffs and licks that define true rock and roll guitar, from Chuck Berry to Joan Jett.

Then, just over 30 years ago Judas Priest recorded the heavy metal call to arms, Defenders of the Faith. Here, guitarist Glenn Tipton and singer Rob Halford recall the making of their masterwork.

Get your copy today for $7.99!

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MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE JOAN JETT.

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N ROLL.

Stone.

MERIDIUS Self-Titled EP – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in Metal, metal music, Music, rock music, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , on March 29, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Meridius - promo EP cover pic - 2015 - #03MMOEP1

4 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

Metalfistredbckgrndsmall4

MERIDIUS is a Thrash Metal band out of British Columbia, Canada and their 3 song, self-titled EP has been released on March 20th. I really dig this band’s logo and the chosen color of red on black. That’s old school, man. Hopefully I don’t use this “old school” phrase too often; only old school kicks major ass and I live for old school Metal. Are you old school?

This EP contains a whole lot of guitar crunch, along with plenty of reasons to crank up the volume LOUD and bang thy head. The guitar solo on Walk The Plank is unreal good stuff and I admire how MERIDIUS mellows out musically in the final minute of this song; a courageous touch that works just fine for me.

Meridius - Promo Band Pic - 2015 - #03M21MO

I’m really impressed by how in-your-face the guitars are and still the vocals and rhythm section explode into the forefront as well. In other words, nothing gets buried in these songs. Another impressive element to MERIDIUS is the vocals of Eric Willmott who pronounces the lyrics in a Tom Araya (South Of Heaven) style.

What I really enjoy most is this band is a bounty of Thrash Metal promise and they don’t go for the need-for-speed route; one that would transform them into an Extreme band anyways. MERIDIUS sounds like they’re on course for some great achievements in Metal, both with their convincing musical talent and strong EP of songs. I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears on MERIDIUS. Metal be thy name. – Stone

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Track Listing: Meridius – Self Titled EP

  1. Speed Kills (3:42) – BandcampSoundcloudYoutube
  2. Walk The Plank (5:27) – Bandcamp| SoundcloudYoutube
  3. Conquer The Throne (4:17) – Bandcamp| SoundcloudYoutube

EP Length: 13:27

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EP and Live Band Line Up:

Kieran Marquis – Lead Guitar

Eric Willmott – Vocals

Sam Buchanan – Rhythm Guitar

Peter Reimann – Bass Guitar

Nolan Olson – Drums

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MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE MERIDIUS.

LONG LIVE CANADA.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

BIOTOXIC WARFARE “Lobotomized” – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in Metal, metal music, Music, rock music, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , on March 28, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Biotoxic Warfare - Lobotomized - promo cover pic - #2015BW

4.5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

4.5 metal-fists-4-5-album-reviews-metal-odyssey

Biotoxic Warfare released their debut full-length, Lobotomized, on January 19th of this year, via Slaney Records. This amazing album will be released in North America on June 23rd, 2015 via Static Tension Recordings. Biotoxic Warfare originates from Greece and list Kreator, Sodom and many of the U.S. old school Death Metal bands as their influences. Biotoxic Warfare have learned well from listening to such legendary influences and it is heard loud and clear on Lobotomized.

The opening track Mors Indecepta is an instrumental, one which builds up at a moderate pace, reminding me of Metallica’s Ride The Lightning era. Biotoxic Warfare plays Thrash Metal that is refreshingly original and they are obviously committed to what their peers Havok and Warbringer have done; that is to write, record and execute old school Thrash with 0% smoke and mirrors.

Biotoxic Warfare - promo band photo - #2015BWTM

Lyrically, Biotoxic Warfare takes no prisoners in standing up to world religions and religious beliefs, on Lobotomized. The cover art to Lobotomized says it all and I do declare the artwork screams: F’N METAL!! What is so great is how much Biotoxic Warfare makes me want to put on unlaced sneakers and a denim jacket, yet I can’t due to the freaking super cold weather we keep having here in Ohio. Yeah, my work boots and leather jacket do keep me warmer. Sorry for the momentary rant.

There are (too many to count) delectable riffs and solos exploding from Lobotomized. Mike on vocals is fabulous and doesn’t sound like any other big name from the past; something I find very embracing! Dimator on lead guitar and Stelios on rhythm guitar are an unreal six string duo to listen to, damn right they are! The rhythm section of Panagiwtis PS on bass and Orestis on drums round out this band and yes they kick Metal ass on Lobotomized too.

LISTEN to ENTIRE album below! Whoa!

Seriously, Biotoxic Warfare is a Thrash Metal band that the Metal community across every continent MUST know about and get on board with. All 8 songs on Lobotomized are formidable and worthy of being the opening track to this album. It would be sensational to see one of our Big 4 bands take Biotoxic Warfare out on tour with them; Thrash fans need to know that our Metal future has Biotoxic Warfare in it and all will be okay. Metal be thy name. – Stone

Lobotomized – Track List: Mors Indecepta, Proclaim The Gospel Of Lies, Baptized In Blood And Greed, Dysphoric Reality, Lobotomized, Lust For Hate, Parasitic Life, As We Rot (Promises Of Heaven)

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* For more info on BIOTOXIC WARFARE:

Facebook: Biotoxic Warfare

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE BIOTOXIC WARFARE.

LONG LIVE GREECE.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

On This Day In METAL History – March 28th… From RUSH To KISS

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 28, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Led Zeppelin - Houses Of The Holy - promo album cover pic - 1973 - #0328LZMO01

On March 28th, 1973 – The super-duper legendary Led Zeppelin released their fifth studio album: Houses Of The Holy. This studio album features such song classics as: The Ocean, No Quarter, The Rain Song, Dancing Days and The Song Remains The Same.

Rush - Moving Pictures - promo ablum cvr - #1977GLNP

On this day in 1981RUSH peaked at #3 on the Billboard 200 Albums Chart, with their eighth studio album Moving Pictures. This album spent three consecutive weeks at #3. Moving Pictures has since become a multi-platinum selling album for RUSH, in the United States alone. Yeah!

Scorpions - Classic Band Logo - B&W - #03282015MOS

On March 28th, 1982 – The mighty SCORPIONS performed at Palazzo del Ghiaccio in Bolzano, Italy. This was one of numerous dates on their Blackout tour. Blackout, the eighth studio album from SCORPIONS, was released the very next day, on March 29th, 1982. Whoa, man!

Skid Row - Subhuman Race - promo album cover pic - 1995 - #0328SRMO003

On this day in 1995SKID ROW releases their third studio album: Subhuman Race.

Queen - Classic Band Logo - #339770328MOQ

On March 28th, 2005 – At London’s Brixton Academy, Queen began their first tour with vocalist Paul Rodgers of Free, Bad Company and The Firm fame. Rest in peace, Freddie Mercury.

RUSH - publicity pic - #1 - 2011

On this day in 2010RUSH was inducted into the Canadian Songwriters Hall Of Fame, at the Toronto Centre For The Arts. Whoa!

Eric Singer - Tommy Thayer - Monster Mini Golf - Las Vegas - 3rd Anniversary Celebration - 03282015

On March 28th, 2015 – Monster Mini Golf Presents KISS, Las Vegas 3rd Anniversary Celebration takes place today!

RUSH - 2112 - promo album cover pic - #2112MORHLP

On this day in 2015 – The iconic studio album, 2112, from the legendary RUSH, returns to the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart!! 2112 takes #149 on this chart! Originally released back on April 1st of 1976, 2112 has spent 36 non-consecutive weeks on this chart, while peaking at #61. Right on, RUSH! Whoa!

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Stone - 2011 Photo #1

LONG LIVE METAL.

LONG LIVE THE ROOTS & FAMILY TREE OF METAL.

Stone.

BAILEY “Long Way Down” – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in album reviews, classic rock, Hard Rock, rock music with tags , , , , on March 27, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Bailey - Long Way Down - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #4466BMO - 03

5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

Metalfistredbckgrndsmall5

Bailey Long Way Down was released back on December 9th, 2014, via Frontiers Music SRL. This is a solo project for Nigel Bailey, the frontman for Three Lions. As a songwriter and guitarist, Nigel Bailey soars on Long Way Down; his vocals are contagious and melodious, while being reminiscent of a Lou GrammJohn Parr and Joe Lynn Turner style. Maybe it’s unfair to compare Nigel Bailey to the three aforementioned vocalists; still he is an excellent vocalist in his own right. Frankly, every singer is unique, in my Metal opinion.

Musically, this album’s songs are so enjoyable for me to take in, time and again. Both Bailey’s vocals and the music makes me feel so damn inspired. Very, very melodic is the Hard Rock on Long Way Down. This is an album that should appeal to a vast array of Rock music fans, from Classic Rock to Hard Rock with AOR in-between. I could easily see Bailey open for Foreigner, Styx and the like; this is quality here, my Hard Rock brethren.

Nigel Bailey - publicity photo - 2014 - #007731MO

Bailey unearths the glory days of Classic Hard Rock with this album. A key word I use often when writing album reviews is memorable and Long Way Down has it from start to finish. This is such a splendid guitar-driven album too. Bailey’s vocals sound so perfect on top of the music, it’s nothing short of amazing. I am very impressed at how Bailey could take an 80’s Hard Rock sound and make it all sound so relevant.

My favorite songs on this album are Bad Reputation, Feed The Flames and Stay; they are such outstanding songs! Heck, there are so many favorite songs of mine on this Bailey album! Once again, melodic, memorable and top-tier quality songs, vocals and musicianship are the makeup of this solo Bailey album. I 100% recommend this Bailey album to any Rock or Hard Rock fan looking for a new album they can enjoy listening to countless times over for years to come. Metal be thy name. – Stone

Track List: Feed The Flames, In The Name Of The King, Dirty Little Secret, Bad Reputation, Stay, Somewhere In Oslo, Long Way Down, Spend The Night, Love Falls Down, Ticket To Yesterday, Dirty Angel

Bailey - classic logo - 2014 - #77733MOB

* For more info on BAILEY:

Facebook: Bailey

Website: http://www.baileyrocks.com/

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE BAILEY.

LONG LIVE MELODIC HARD ROCK.

Stone.

NEPENTE “I Will Get Your Soul” – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in album reviews, Metal, metal music, Music, rock music with tags , , , on March 27, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

Nepente - I Will Get Your Soul - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #0323NMOBM

4.5 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

4.5 metal-fists-4-5-album-reviews-metal-odyssey

Releasing on March 31st is the I Will Get Your Soul EP from Colombia’s NEPENTE, via Cimmerian Shade Recordings. NEPENTE is a Blackened Death Metal band and they turn it up many notches on the Extreme as well. Metal truth be told, I Will Get Your Soul has to rank in the top 50 of most Extreme Metal albums I’ve ever listened to. Let’s face it, that isn’t too shabby. Shit, no.

This EP is mandatory Metal for every underground Hell Rat, Center Earth Dweller and Extreme Metaller. The totality of force that NEPENTE drives into my skull with their Metal is simply invigorating! I love this stuff and it feels great to listen to. The demon on the album cover artwork is a bullseye symbol for NEPENTE’s Metal extremity. The song titles (see below) I adore and are lyrically smashing!

If you have neighbors giving you shit, just crank up this new NEPENTE EP and they’ll never bother you again. Seriously. If Extreme Metal ever needed a new ambassador to spread the word and defend its Metal faithful then NEPENTE is it! Guitarist/songwriter Pablo Vasquez and his band are Metal warriors and this EP is 100% sonic proof. Metal be thy name. – Stone

All music created by Pablo Vasquez. The Nepente logo was created by Julian Carddona. The above cover art was created by Leonardo Duarte Enciso.

Track List: I Will Get Your Soul, Show Me That You Are Suffering, Gray Land, Last Rites

Nepente - promo live band collage - 2015 - #0323NMO

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* For more info on NEPENTE:

Nepente – Death Black Metal Colombia

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE NEPENTE.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

THE SHRINE “Waiting For The War” 12″ – A Metal Odyssey Album Review

Posted in Hard Rock, Metal, Music, rock music with tags , , , , on March 27, 2015 by Metal Odyssey

The Shrine - Waiting For The War - promo album cover pic - 2015 - #0327TSMO

4 Out Of 5 METAL Fists!

Metalfistredbckgrndsmall4

A 3 song 12″ that I have discovered to be damn good is Waiting For The War from The Shrine. This ultra cool slab of vinyl is available over at Tankcrimes:

http://tankcrimes.merchtable.com/distributed-music/vinyl/the-shrine-waiting-for-the-war-12-maxi-single#.VRViV0vLDwI

The title track for this EP is in general terms Punk, in the vein of an aggressive Ramones and not Sex Pistols. Maybe some will call this song Crossover Thrash or Skate Punk. Call it what you will, the title track ROCKS and that’s the main concern. The second track is Rare Breed and it’s Stoner Metal, with spirals of golden sonic psychedelia. Do not think The Sword, instead think early Uriah Heep meets Tony Iommi; or something like that. If you visit The Shrine’s Facebook page, they list their genre as: Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll. ‘Nuff said.

The third track, Waiting For The War, is Metal. The fret work tells me so. This song is an instrumental and it jams, baaabbbyyy! Playing out at 4:22, I wish Waiting For The War had another 5 minutes added on to it. Really. Good stuff. I recommend The Shrine to any fan of kick to the arse underground Metal. Metal be thy name.

Track List: Waiting For The War, Rare Breed, Waiting For The War (Instrumental)

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* For more info on THE SHRINE:

The Shrine

MetalOdyssey

LONG LIVE THE SHRINE.

LONG LIVE HEAVY AS SHIT MUSIC.

Stone.