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Metal Odyssey’s Stone Picks His Top Ten Albums Of 2010!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on January 3, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Metal Odyssey’s Stone – Picking the “top ten list” of anything in life is not that easy. Choosing my Top Ten Albums Of 2010 proved to be more daunting than I had initially expected, with there being multiple dozens of excellent albums released this past year, spanning across each sub-genre of Metal, not to mention Hard Rock and Rock as well. I decided this year, to pick out only those ten albums that I can honestly say moved me… as a complete album of songs. I have never limited my ears, mind and soul to just Metal, anyone who knows me or any regular visitor to Metal Odyssey understands this. Therefore, finding an album in my “top ten” that is not full-throttle, pedal to the Metal, shouldn’t come across as scandalous.

An album that makes my “top ten” list will move me emotionally, sending signals to my senses that either A: psyches-me-out of my Metal mind or B: makes me feel as though I’ve found a long lost friend, a friend I’ll now have for the rest of my Metal life. Of course quality musicianship, songwriting and overall production comes into play… only those three attributes will fall into place when an album is truly special to me.

Maybe you’ll enjoy, become slightly amused and or confused by my Top Ten Albums Of 2010. Either way, my intent is to showcase and appluad these albums and the bands that created them. Hopefully I peak your interest to buy an album or two from this list. These are the albums that will stand the test of my Metal time on Earth.

#10

KATAKLYSM – HEAVEN’S VENOM

KATAKLYSM epitomizes the marriage of melodic and heavy… and succeeds so brilliantly in a Death Metal genre, a genre that has profoundly matured into mandatory importance in my Metal history book, many full moons ago. I’ll say this time and again, when Maurizio Iacono sings, I listen. Jean-Francois Dagenais on guitar is not just impressive, his playing is beyond that. If Death Metal needed “that band” to bridge the gap between the meat & potatoes and the progressive, then KATAKLYSM is that band. “Heaven’s Venom” is more than just another excellent Melodic Death Metal album, it is a collective “sound” and “vibe” that makes me realize that maybe “extreme” should be replaced with “pristine” when describing these ten songs.

On December 2, 2010, I posted a review on Heaven’s Venom, giving more Metal details as to why KATAKLYSM is sitting atop my tier of Metal legendary bands. Clicking the big header below will take you there!

KATAKLYSM “Heaven’s Venom” – Death Metal Mastery To Devour

#9

KROKUS – HOODOO

The “Classic” Krokus lineup returned in 2010 to bring their Hard Rockin’ brand back… to kick our asses! Metal be thy name, Krokus DID kick my ass with “Hoodoo” and all I can say is: “thank you sirs, may I have more?” A (gasp) fun album is “Hoodoo”, that gives a wink and a smile to the gloriously loud and colorful 80’s decade of Arena Rock and good times thrills. If the songs “Too Hot” and “Hoodoo Woman” doesn’t get your Hard Rock adrenaline flowing, then maybe you should consider living as a hermit in the forests of Maine.

On April 27, 2010, I reviewed Hoodoo and did not hold back my Hard Rockin’ affection for this timeless Hard Rockin’ band. Click on the large header below to see!

KROKUS “HOODOO” – CASTS A HARD ROCKIN’ & HEAVY METAL CLASSIC SPELL!

#8

JON OLIVA’S PAIN – FESTIVAL

Jon Oliva is a man of music. He proves this on “Festival”, by connecting the Rock ‘N’ Roll dots, Jon Oliva has his Classic Rock influences of the Beatles and The Electric Light Orchestra coexisting with the Savatage blood that flows through his ultra-talented veins. Is “Festival” a Heavy Metal album? On the surface it is… only once you really listen to this album a few dozen times, you might very well agree with me that “Festival” is a celebration of Jon Oliva’s musical career. The dark themes and nightmarish lyrics behold a realism that I find stunning, making me hope and pray that Jon Oliva and his band will create a “Festival”… part 2.

On April 15, 2010, my review for “Festival” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Click on the large header below to read all about it!

Jon Oliva’s Pain – Festival (2010)

#7

THE NEW CZARS – DOOMSDAY REVOLUTION

What Greg Hampton (founding member, lead guitarist & vocalist) created with his band The New Czars, is one of the finest blends of Rock Music styles my ears have heard in years. “Doomsday Revolution” takes a Modern Hard Rock lead, with Industrial and Funk experimentation weaved within it’s lustrous interior. Greg Hampton might very well be the “missing link” within a generation of Rock vocal legends such as Glenn Hughes, Ian Gillan, David Coverdale and yes… Robert Plant. If that sounds too good to be true, then get yourself a copy of “Doomsday Revolution” and thank Stone for serving you right.

Back on September 8, 2010, I posted a detailed album review for Doomsday Revolution. You can click that big header below if you want to read all about it!

THE NEW CZARS “DOOMSDAY REVOLUTION” – AN INDUSTRIOUS & CREATIVE APPROACH TO ROCK MUSIC DIVERSITY

#6

AVENGED SEVENFOLD – NIGHTMARE

“Nightmare” is the fifth studio album from A7X and very well should be anointed as their very best. Powerful, angry and raging is “God Hates Us”, while the album opener “Nightmare” speeds on with it’s relentless up-tempo that makes me feel like I belong in the pit, carrying on like a psyched-out Metalhead from 1989. Seriously, what A7X has accomplished with “Nightmare” is nothing short of a Metal miracle, with having to cope with the loss of Jimmy “The Reverend” Sullivan. I won’t hold back calling this “Nightmare” album the “Back In Black” or “Black Album” of A7X’s catalog.

On November 9, 2010, my review for “Nightmare” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Check it out by clicking the header below!

Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare (2010)

#5

KOPEK – WHITE COLLAR LIES

What’s this? A Hard Rock three piece? A Modern Hard Rock three piece? Can these guys play? Who invited them to the party? Stone will tell you right now… KOPEK is a three piece, they are a Hard Rock band and they bought the copyright for the word relevance. By the way, KOPEK will be invited to the party and they are bringing with them a case of Hard Rock whoop ass that will have you begging “them” for more. Guitarist and vocalist Daniel Jordan brings that “it” factor to the Hard Rock table, “it” being his charisma that resonates from each and every song I hear on “White Collar Lies”. Drummer Shane Cooney and bassist Brad Kinsella round out this Hard Rockin’ trio from Dublin, Ireland, making them a band I recommend to every breathing human being on Earth.

On June 28, 2010, I presented to the world, an album review for White Collar Lies. If you want to know more about this KOPEK album that you should really buy, then click that friendly header below… it will serve you right!

KOPEK “WHITE COLLAR LIES” – DEBUT ALBUM IS A PRESENT & FUTURE STANDOUT OF MODERN ROCK

#4

DANZIG – DETH RED SABAOTH

This new DANZIG album could have easily been titled: “How Glenn Danzig Got His Groove Back”. “Deth Red Sabaoth” is a return to dark form for Glenn, with each song carrying it’s worthy weight of thump and stump heaviness. Dare I say once again… Old School? These flashbacks to the Heavy Metal glory years never hurt any band and DANZIG churns out the songs that I want to hear on a long, lost, dark nights cruise through the remote countryside. “Black Candy”, Deth Red Moon” and “Ju Ju Bone” are the three songs that stand-out among, well, 11 stand-out songs. Each time I listen to “Deth Red Sabaoth” I realize wholly, that Glenn Danzig is back… and that makes Stone feel very Metal comfy.

On July 22, 2010, my review for “Deth Red Sabaoth” was posted on Hard Rock Hideout. Check it out for yourself by clicking the header below!

DANZIG – DETH RED SABAOTH (2010)

#3

ACCEPT – BLOOD OF THE NATIONS

An Udo-less Accept is hard to “accept”… unless you listen to “Blood Of The Nations”. Mark Tornillo made me a believer from the first note he bellows on “Beat The Bastards”, while not being an Udo clone, Mark just accomplished what always came natural to him… that’s to sing like an Old School Metal warrior! With a near perfect version of the original Accept lineup grinding out 14 songs, at the culmination of my first listen to this album I wanted MORE! This is an Accept album that solidifies this band’s Heavy Metal importance and existence of both past and present. “Blood Of The Nations” also reminds all of us aging Metalheads, that Old School Heavy Metal dreams really do come true.

On September 14, 2010, I posted a very psyched-out review for this Blood Of The Nations album. Check it out if you like, by clicking the big ol’ header below!

ACCEPT “BLOOD OF THE NATIONS” – A METAL TRIUMPH AND RETURN TO METAL GLORY FOR ACCEPT!!

#2 (Tie)

EXODUS – EXHIBIT B: THE HUMAN CONDITION

Why have I made it a “tie” between EXODUS – Exhibit B: The Human Condition and OVERKILL – Ironbound? The answer is simple… Thrash Metal albums, from these two ultra-legends, sounding this damn outstanding, has fortunately collided with an uncanny equality. Choosing between these two albums as which is best, is liking choosing between two iced mugs of Blue Moon Ale. Pick ’em. Founding members Gary Holt (guitar) and Tom Hunting (drums) are the Metal backbone to Exodus being not just pioneers of Thrash Metal, Exodus is one of this genre’s true leaders in 2010. This album is as brutal as any that Exodus has released… and these guys sound tighter than ever!

#2 (Tie)

OVERKILL – IRONBOUND

As with Exodus, Overkill are pioneers of the Thrash Metal movement that has seen a resurgence of popularity that reminds me of the 80’s. “Ironbound” is full-blown and in-your-face Thrash Metal that glistens with Old School hunger and never relents with it’s crushing and force driven songs. Founding members Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth (vocals) and D.D. Verni (bass) are living proof that they can create and play Thrash Metal for 30 years and counting, with different lineups, while never losing a touch of relevance. After three decades of albums, Overkill quite possibly made their verybest with “Ironbound.”

On March 8, 2010, I reviewed “Ironbound” on Hard Rock Hideout. Click the header below to read the complete details!

Overkill – Ironbound (2010)

#1

SCORPIONS – STING IN THE TAIL

“Sting In The Tail” radiates every quality that I yearn for in choosing a #1 album: heaviness, hardness, melodic, memorable, emotional and Old School… all wrapped up into one celebratory goodbye after spanning nearly five decades of existence. This album dominated my Metal soul like none other in 2010, even the ballads “The Good Die Young” and “The Best Is Yet To Come” made an instant impact on me… and I never wave the flag for ballads that often. Klaus Meine sounds as incredible as ever on vocals, while this entire band plays with the fire of twenty year olds. “Sting In The Tail” was not a return to the glory days of 80’s Heavy Metal, instead, this album showcases just how electrifying the Scorpions still are after so many decades. The Scorpions go out proving to me, they never lost their edge. There will never be another band like the Scorpions.

Back on April 3, 2010, I posted a detailed album review on Sting In The Tail. Click the large header below, to read about how much I really dig this Scorpions album!

SCORPIONS – “STING IN THE TAIL” DELIVERS THE ANTIDOTE OF HEAVY METAL EUPHORIA!

LONG LIVE METAL.

THANK YOU SCORPIONS.

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Stone.

* Below is a list of other great sites/bloggers that cover Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. They will be sharing their “Best Of 2010” lists and thoughts as well. It is well worth the trip to any and/or all of them!

Heavy Metal Addiction —  http://heavymetaladdiction.com

The Metal Minute — http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/

Layla’s Classic Rock — http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/

Hard Rock Nights — http://hardrocknights.wordpress.com/

The Ripple Effect — http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/

Imagine Echoes — http://www.imagineechoes.com/

Hard Rock Hideout — http://hardrockhideout.com/

Heavy Metal Time Machine — http://metalmark.blogspot.com/

Metal Excess — http://metalexcess.com/

All Metal Resource — http://allmetalresource.com/

Bring Back Glam — http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/

Hair Metal Mansion — http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/

Stone.

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Thank you, my Metal Buddies At The South Mall f.y.e., You All ROCK!

Posted in classic rock, Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , on December 30, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Life is filled with surprises, sometimes good, sometimes lousy. This “thank you” post is about a lousy surprise that came through my email box this past Christmas weekend. My neighborhood f.y.e. store is closing. Closing. Could it be? Is this some sort of vile prank? No, unfortunately, this email came directly from f.y.e.’s online marketing department… just letting me know that there were to be closeout deals to be had, due to the Allentown/South Mall store being eventually closed. Deals. I think it is a RAW deal whenever any store closes, especially a store that is notoriously known for stocking the best assortment of Metal CD’s this side of the Atlantic.

Deals. What about the store employees? Their losing their jobs is no deal… and being notified on the Christmas bulls eye, right during the heart of the Christmas holiday, is no damn deal. Plus, this will now be one less store that record companies can have their CD’s and merchandise stocked at… no deal. Maybe for the “casual” customer, the one who buys two CD’s and/or DVD’s per year at f.y.e. will see this as a “deal”… where they can walk in and stock up on the six CD’s that they would have purchased throughout an entire year… at 30% off. This is NO deal for the customers, like myself, who spends quite an impressive amount of money throughout the entire year, on dozens of CD’s.

Factor in the relationships a customer like myself makes, with the employees of this f.y.e. over the years and this store location closing – is no damn deal. The employees of this f.y.e. store were and still are world class when it comes to professionalism and knowledge in their product. Never did I encounter a situation where any employee at this f.y.e. did not know what I was asking for… or talking about. Besides knowledge of music, these employees I dealt with here, also bestow something else that is not commonly found in retail this day and age… they were all (gasp) friendly.

It is a sign of the times, that CD sales are dipping and the mp3 is celebrating it’s dominance upon music fans. I can’t dispute any corporate entity for having to cut costs and make their bottom line look appealing to investors… it’s a cyclical force of capitalism. What I can point out, however, is the lack of vision that giant retailers have towards the music industry as a whole. There is a product out there to sell, CD’s and DVD’s along with entertainment merchandise will never go away, (unless CD’s and DVD’s are no longer manufactured)… some other retail location “somewhere” will have it for sale. In the meantime, with all of the “shrinking aisles” of CD’s and music store closings happening in realtime, I don’t want to hear anyone balk about Super Walmart carrying the goods… and having CD’s for sale at competitive prices too.

Where I live, there is no abundance of independent CD and record stores. There’s flea markets during the non-winter months. Then, there’s Super Walmart. Sure, Best Buy still carries CD’s and limited vinyl releases… only their aisles are shrinking with this product too. Forget Target… it’s the flavor-of-the-month when it comes to their CD aisles. Super Walmart never had an Extreme Metal selection as an f.y.e. does… and they never will. If there was/is any competition between an f.y.e. and a Super Walmart, it is for the Walmart “only” titles of CD’s and bubble gum Pop Music. When it comes to Metal, forget it… f.y.e. has the biggest selection. Apparently, having the biggest Metal selection is not enough, if your not selling at a level where the corporate profit margin is not making the rich happy… and richer.

I will miss my neighborhood f.y.e. and without question, miss the interaction I continuously had with their employees. Each one of them made Stone feel like he belonged in their store… each one listened to what Stone had to say. I wish I could say that about every store I frequent, only I can’t. I have to grin and shake my head, while realizing that f.y.e. has NO CLUE as to the quality people that have worked very hard for them at this location… working diligently to make f.y.e. rich. So, f.y.e., it’s no deal for me to save 30% on my CD purchases I made today… it is an important and sad deal though, to have to say goodbye to these following exceptional employees:

NATALIE

STACY

JOHN

ERIC

DANNY

Whenever a company or store closes it’s doors, PEOPLE are affected… and employees are people. I wish the above named employees of this f.y.e. store all the very best that life can bring them. They all made my shopping experience at this f.y.e. store worth my time and money, as well as memorable. Thank you, my Metal Buddies at the South Mall f.y.e., YOU ROCK!

LONG LIVE THE CREW OF SOUTH MALL’S F.Y.E.

Stone.

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KHORS – New Track Stream “Sacrament Of Buyan” Available Via Noisecreep!

Posted in Black Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on December 29, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

AOL Noisecreep is currently streaming “Sacrament Of Buyan,” the eighth track from KHORS’ latest full-length, Return To Abandoned, released last month via Paragon Records. On their fourth long player, the Ukrainian black metal horde yield the harsher, brooding sounds of earlier works whilst mixing in the melancholy and atmosphere of 2008’s unsung blackened gem, “Mysticism”. “Sacrament Of Buyan,” is based in Slavic mythology — Buyan is reportedly the only place where you’ll find “Koschei the Deathless” soul buried inside a needle inserted into an egg that lurks in a magical oak tree.

(Earsplit PR, December 29, 2010)

To check out “Sacrament Of Buyan,” point your browser HERE.

 

 

LONG LIVE KHORS.

Stone.

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ACHREN – An Extreme Metal Band On The Metal Rise!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on December 27, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ACHREN – Formed back in 2003, from Glasgow, UK, comes the Extreme driven, Metal force of ACHREN. To take a passage from their bio, which best sums up their sound: “Crushingly heavy and uncompromising metal, filled with raw and razor sharp riffs, Death Metal growls, Black Metal screams and pounding drums, they create a unique sound forged as Blood Metal.” After listening to ACHREN’S streaming Metal on their myspace and Reverbnation sites, (see links below), I couldn’t agree more with this Metal description of their Extreme sound… this previous description took the Metal words right out of my mouth. How could Stone top that description? Eventually though, I will when describing ACHREN in the future.

Metal be thy name, it is always a glorious Metal moment when a band like ACHREN crosses my Metal path… this band embodies all the elements of Extreme Metal, that my ears and senses need to devour for Metal survival. After listening to ACHREN’S streaming songs, I didn’t hesitate and went straight to Itunes to purchase their EP and single from 2008, (see info & link below). Here is some very cool information about ACHREN that I’m sure any devout Metal lovin’ maniac will appreciate:

ACHREN is about to release a live DVD from Bloodstock Open Air 2010 and are the winners of the Bloodstock Open Air 2010 Metal 2 The Masses Initiative. ACHREN are now confirmed to play the Metal Battle Stage at Wacken 2011, plus they will be releasing their debut album in the Spring of 2011!

* ACHREN’S spell binding performance of brutal Death Metal proportions captivated the gathered masses in the New Blood Stage at this years festival!

Frontman Scott Anderson: “The Metal 2 The Masses Initiative has given us a great chance to take the band to a different level. The whole team at Bloodstock work so hard to make it the best Metal festival in the UK and we can’t thank everybody enough for providing us with this great opportunity.”

* ACHREN filmed their whole Bloodstock Open Air set, which is scheduled for release in January on DVD in January of 2011. Their yet untitled debut album is now complete and ready for a Spring release in time for further 2011 Summer festivals!

(Source: ACHREN press release, December 26, 2010)

* You can currently purchase the Extreme Metal of ACHREN, (released in 2008), on Itunes. Their 4 song EP Blood Metal and the single Blood Soaked Banner are there! I highly recommend both EP and single… amazingly Extreme and brutally saturated – Blood Metal! I bought these releases by ACHREN… and it served me right.

Just click this link:  http://www.itunes.com/achren

ACHREN:

Scott Anderson – vocals & guitars

Callum Kirk – guitars & bass

Gordon Johnston – drums

John Clark Paterson – bass

* For more info on ACHREN, just click on the links below:

ACHREN – myspace music

ACHREN – Reverbnation

ACHREN – Official Website

Wacken Open Air Festival

BLOODSTOCK OPEN AIR

LONG LIVE ACHREN.

LONG LIVE EXTREME METAL.

Stone.

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ONSLAUGHT “Sounds Of Violence” – Releases In North America February 8th, 2011!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , on December 21, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ONSLAUGHT – England’s legendary Thrash Metal ambassadors are back again! ONSLAUGHT will be having their new studio album Sounds Of Violence released in North America on February 8th, 2011! Sounds Of Violence will be released on Germany’s AFM Records. This new ONSLAUGHT album was recorded and produced in the renowned Hansen-Studios in Ribe, Denmark (Destruction, Heathen, Mercenary). ONSLAUGHT have already confirmed a headlining European tour, joined by Suidakra and Debauchery in April of 2011. Appearances on some of the biggest European Festivals throughout 2011 have also been confirmed.

* ONSLAUGHT released their first studio album, Power From Hell, back in 1985. Other ONSLAUGHT studio albums: The Force (1986), In Search Of Sanity (1989) and Killing Peace (2007).

ONSLAUGHT:

Sy Keeler – vocals

Nige Rockett – guitar

Andy Rosser-Davies – lead guitar

Jeff Williams – bass

Steve Grice – drums

* International release dates for Sounds Of Violence:

Japan – January 12th, 2011

Europe – January 28th, 2011

USA/North America – February 8th, 2011

(Sources: Earsplit PR and Onslaught myspace music)

* For more info on ONSLAUGHT, click here: ONSLAUGHT – myspace music

Track Listing For Sounds Of Violence:

Into The Abyss

Born For War

The Sound Of Violence

Code Black

Rest In Pieces

Godhead

Hatebox

Antitheist

Suicideology

End Of The Storm

Bomber

* Bomber is a cover song of the Motörhead classic, which features guest appearances by Phil Campbell (Motörhead) and Tom Angelripper (Sodom).

* This cover song of Bomber, was released on December 17, 2010. It can be purchased at Itunes, Amazon and HMV Digital. * On the ONSLAUGHT myspace page, it states: “All profits from this single release are to be donated to the Help For Heroes charity.” A gigantic Metal kudos goes out to ONSLAUGHT  and AFM Records for this act of charity! Help For Heroes is an incredibly reputable charity that raises funds to help support wounded British Armed Forces veterans.

* To learn more about Help For Heroes, click here: Help For Heroes

LONG LIVE ONSLAUGHT.

Stone.

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CROWBAR – Streaming Another New Song! “Sever The Wicked Hand” Releases February 8, 2011!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, sludge metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on December 20, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) – CROWBAR have released another brand new song, “Let Me Mourn” from their upcoming release “Sever The Wicked Hand”, due out in the U.S. on February 8th, 2011, on eOne Music. “This is one of my personal favorites on the record.  Haunting vocals and melodies. Low tuned doom at it’s finest”, says front man Kirk Windstein.

“Let Me Mourn” can be heard here: NOISECREEP

The band will release their crushing, long-awaited new studio album, “Sever The Wicked Hand” on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 via eOne Music. The full album is available now for pre-order on iTunes. Just go here to get it: http://bit.ly/faUOCI

The new album, produced by Kirk Windstein and mixed by Zeuss, is the band’s first new album of all new original studio material since 2005’s “Lifesblood For The Downtrodden”. Windstein recently told Decibel Magazine, “This is probably the most important record of Crowbar’s career”.

NOISECREEP.COM is debuting a the first new track called “The Cemetery Angels” recently which can be heard here: NOISECREEP

(Source: eOne Music press release, December 20, 2010)

* For more info on CROWBAR, just click on the links below:

CROWBAR – Official Website

CROWBAR – myspace music

Kirk Windstein

CROWBAR:

Kirk Windstein – vocals & guitar

Matthew Brunson – guitar

Patrick Bruders – bass

Tommy Buckley – drums

Track Listing For Sever The Wicked Hand:

Isolation (Desperation)

Sever The Wicked Hand

Liquid Sky And Cold Black Earth

Let Me Mourn

The Cemetery Angels

As I Become One

A Farewell To Misery

Protectors Of The Shrine

I Only Deal In Truth

Echo An Eternity

Cleanse Me, Heal Me

Symbiosis

LONG LIVE KIRK WINDSTEIN.

LONG LIVE CROWBAR.

Stone.

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Metal Odyssey’s Top Six Unsigned Metal Bands Of 2010!

Posted in Black Metal, Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 19, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Top Six Unsigned Metal Bands of 2010: There are countless unsigned bands in the world today, representing every genre of music. Metal Odyssey receives a fine share of demos and fully produced CD’s from unsigned bands. Many of these bands have potential to take their music to the next level, where there are those bands that should consider other career options. Then, there are the bands that are ready NOW for a major independent or major label to grasp onto what they are creating and playing. These are the unsigned bands that NEED to be signed NOW, to a major independent or major label.

I have chosen my favorite six unsigned bands of this past year and want to share them with the world, as a special edition of Metal Odyssey’s “Best Of” lists for 2010. A few of these bands I had the Metal pleasure to interview during 2010, while the other bands I’m sure I’ll cross Metal paths with one day soon. At the end of the Metal day, these six Metal bands are my favorites from the unsigned crowd of 2010. Here’s hoping that maybe one of these bands, if not all, will spark your Metal curiosity like they did mine!

Metal Odyssey’s Top Six Unsigned Metal Bands Of 2010:

MORPHINE KILLER

(Photo by: Stephanie Grant – imsteph.com)

From Southern California, there is the dynamic Metal duo of Brandon Ortiz, aka Eski and Belle Roka that make Morphine Killer… so damn killer to listen to.

What makes Morphine Killer such a tremendous Metal band is their quality songs, filled with quality vocals, lyrics and musicianship… the entire 100 yards of Metal. I reviewed their Nightmares EP with a posting back on April 23, 2010. Check it out for yourself by clicking that unreal looking header below!

MORPHINE KILLER “NIGHTMARES” EP – UNLEASHES UNREAL METAL EXTREMITY!

Back on May 16, 2010, Eski and Belle Roka took the time to answer some questions I threw at them. You can read this very cool interview by clicking on the very loud header below!

MORPHINE KILLER – Q&A WITH METAL ODYSSEY!

Throw It All Away is the new single that Morphine Killer released earlier this year, it will be on their forthcoming full-length album – Sickening. You can purchase this fantastic song on itunes, along with Morphine Killer’s two raging EP’s: Unapologetic and Nightmares. For now, take a listen to Throw It All Away by clicking on that cool box below! I hope you dig this song as much as I have been!

* For more info on Morphine Killer, click on the links below:

MORPHINE KILLER – Official Website

MORPHINE KILLER – Myspace music

DERAILED

Out of the Great White North… comes a Traditional Metal Band that brings Old School back with their very own supercharged Metal vibe and eye popping Metal skills… thank you Calgary, Alberta, Canada for – DERAILED. Led by founding member Dean Boland, the lead guitarist and a man of many Metal hats, Derailed is a big Metal deal to my ears. If you haven’t heard of Derailed just yet… your gonna.

On June 26, 2010, I posted the album review for the Derailed debut album Judgement Day. You can read all about it by clicking the huge header below!

DERAILED “JUDGEMENT DAY” – AN OLD SCHOOL WRECKING BALL OF METAL & HARD ROCK!

On August 4, 2010, my interview with Derailed’s Dean Boland was posted. Check it out by clicking the gigantic header below… it will serve you Metal justice.

DERAILED – A METAL ODYSSEY INTERVIEW!

* For more info on DERAILED, click the links below:

DERAILED – Official Website

DERAILED – myspace music

SERGEANT STEEL

On both sides of the Atlantic, there is Metal aplenty. Metal is a worldwide phenomenon that will never say die. Austria can very well boast, they are the home country for – Sergeant Steel. Every neighborhood in every country should have a band like Sergeant Steel, their brand of Hard Rock colliding with Old School Heavy Metal is so damn contagious.

On July 1, 2010, I posted the album review for Sergeant Steel’s debut – Lovers & Maniacs. You can read about this Hard Rockin’ & Metal Thumpin’ album by clicking on the bloated header below!

SERGEANT STEEL “LOVERS & MANIACS” – GOOD TIMES & CONTAGIOUS HARD ROCK DEBUT FROM AUSTRIA!

Back on July 14, 2010, my interview with Phil Vanderkill, the flamboyant front man for Sergeant Steel, was posted. If you want to get an “inside” track on just what Sergeant Steel is all about, click on the hefty header below!

SERGEANT STEEL: A METAL ODYSSEY INTERVIEW

* For more info on Sergeant Steel, click on the links below:

SERGEANT STEEL – Official Website

Sergeant Steel – MySpace Music Page

VALDUR

From Mammoth Lakes, California, VALDUR caught my Metal attention with a fiery blast of Black Metal whoop ass. Metal be thy name… VALDUR is for real.

On November 18, 2010, I posted the album review for VALDUR’S blackened Metal triumph which is called – Raven God Amongst Us. I highly recommend you take the time to check it out, by clicking that rotund header below!

VALDUR “Raven God Amongst Us” – A Raw And Apocalyptic Black Metal Storm

* For more info on VALDUR, click here: VALDUR – myspace music

NEUTRAD ARCHON

NeuTrad Archon released their full-length album this past year, titled – Overture. With ten songs that more than smoke the Metal meter to a melting point. These songs on Overture have undeniable substance, both lyrically and musically, with an unrelenting ability to satisfy my Extreme Metal hunger.

Their progressive, blackened, momentarily Folk Metal and downright darkened with Metal Extremity. This band knows how to incorporate a melodic drive to their sound as well, utilizing the keyboards throughout Overture and on one track violins are introduced, which makes NeuTrad Archon not just ultra-diverse in their Metal style, it makes them a band to latch onto and brag about to your Metal peers. This band has all the right ingredients to be huge in the Metal world one day.

* Look for a complete album review of Overture in early 2011, right here at Metal Odyssey!

* For more info on NeuTrad Archon, click on the link below:

NeuTrad Archon – myspace music

WINDFAERER

With New Jersey as their home base, the trio of M. Gonçalves (vocals, guitars, bass), Valcek (Violin) and JP Andrade on drums have created an album that mesmerizes my Metal senses with their full-length, eight song, album debut – Tribus. Windfaerer is such a band of Metal talent, it’s unquestionably scary. This is blackened Folk Metal at it’s underground finest, making me want to leap through the dark and foreboding fields of my neighborhood at night, in euphoric Metal glee, while raising the horns to the moonlit sky.

* Look for a complete album review of Tribus in early 2011, right here at Metal Odyssey!

* For more info on Windfaerer, click on the link below:

WINDFAERER – Myspace Music

METAL RULES.

LONG LIVE UNSIGNED METAL BANDS.

LONG LIVE THE SPIRIT OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Stone.

* Below is a list of other great sites/bloggers that cover Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal and will be sharing their “Best Of 2010” lists and thoughts as well. It is well worth the trip to any and/or all of them!

Heavy Metal Addiction —  http://heavymetaladdiction.com

Hard Rock Hideout — http://hardrockhideout.com/

Heavy Metal Time Machine — http://metalmark.blogspot.com/

Metal Excess — http://metalexcess.com/

All Metal Resource — http://allmetalresource.com/

Bring Back Glam — http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/

Hair Metal Mansion — http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/

Imagine Echoes — http://www.imagineechoes.com/

The Ripple Effect — http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/

Hard Rock Nights — http://hardrocknights.wordpress.com/

Layla’s Classic Rock — http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/

The Metal Minute — http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Stone.

13 Comments »

NIDINGR “Wolf Father” – One Of Black Metal’s Blackest Unleash Their Strike

Posted in Black Metal, Extreme Metal, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on December 13, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

NIDINGR – The bells of inner Earth are tolling and the lava in hell is boiling, while NIDINGR is uncoiling their Blackest of Metal unto the suspecting and unsuspecting of humanity. Metal be thy name, is this band the keeper of the Darkest Black Metal core… they very well hold the key and secrets to the depths of infinite Metal Blackness. This is Black Metal, unleashed by NIDINGR at it’s most profound underworld greatest. Make no mistake, Wolf Father is an album where you sit down the Black Metal pupils and tell them to listen and learn. After a five year absence in making a new album, (the last being Sorrow, Infinite And Darkness from 2005), this Norwegian Black Metal band has created six new songs based on Norse Mythology themes.

If you find yourself straying about, wondering which bands new album can produce the heaviest and darkest blows of pure Metal, your answer lies within the songs on Wolf Father. Are there heavier and more Extreme albums that exist? Of course. Only don’t try to stay up all night searching for anything heavier. The constant on this album, is that all six songs carry out their sole purpose to devour whatever sounds of calm that may be in their atmospheric path. I do say with Metal certainty though, that NIDINGR wasn’t going to disappoint themselves or any dedicated Black Metal fan out there by creating this piece of Blackened work.

Fafnismol introduces the listener into the world of NIDINGR, with flamingly furious rhythms and breakdown riffs that are as haunting as they are original. Hellhammer on drums crushes down the beats with mind blowing speed. Cpt. Estrella Grasa belts out his torment laden vocals with viciousness that Black Metal loyalists come to expect, from one of the best this genre has to offer. Amidst the blackness there are many guitar parts that flirt on the melodic razor’s edge, all the while the all encompassing blanket of Black Metal stylings override this album as undisputed, darkened and pure underground.

If you are searching for that Black Metal curtain to lift up and reveal the extremity of sound that beckons you, Wolf Father will envelope your senses with it’s fortified blackness. Once you listen to Wolf Father you will undoubtedly listen again and again,  trying to come to grips that a Black Metal band such as NIDINGR can be this unimaginably extreme. I recommend highly all Black Metal fans to catch onto this blackened offering from NIDINGR, new fans to this genre should, no, need to grasp what Wolf Father is all about.

* Below is a roll call of associated Black Metal bands attached to each band member:

Teloch – guitar/bass (1349, Gorgoroth, Ov Hell, Orcustus, Umoral, Konsortium), Blargh – guitar/bass (Gravferd, Dødheimsgard), Cpt. Estrella Grasa – vocals (Kort Prosess), Hellhammer – drums (Emperor, Immortal, Shining, Thorns, Umoral, Mayhem)

* For more info on NIDINGR, click here: NIDINGR – myspace music

NIDINGR:

Teloch – guitar & bass

Blargh – guitar & bass

Cpt. Estrella Grasa – vocals

Hellhammer – drums

* Garm – from Ulver guest appears

Track Listing For Wolf Father:

Fafnismol

Baldrs Draumar

Reginsmol

Voluspo

Hymiskvitha

Lokasenna

LONG LIVE NIDINGR AND THEIR BLACK METAL.

Stone.

1 Comment »

NIDINGR “Wolf Father” Releases January 18, 2011!

Posted in Black Metal, black metal albums, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on December 8, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

NIDINGR – Cult Norwegian Black Metal unit NIDINGR return from a five year hiatus with their raging new album. The assassins that form this deadly unit have culminated their dark arts and aggression on their sophomore full-length Wolf Father, the uncompromising album sure to scathe listeners with its relentless whirlwind of black metal wrath. NIDINGR remain a mainly cult act, although some might conder them a “super group” of sorts when they discover the band is comprised of a long list of notable black metal artisans including bassist/guitarist Teloch (1349, Gorgoroth, Ov Hell, Orcustus, Umoral, Konsortium), bassist/guitarist Blargh (Gravferd, Dødheimsgard), vocalist Cpt. Estrella Grasa (Kort Prosess), and drummer Hellhammer (Immortal, Shining, Thorns, Umoral, Mayhem, Emperor). Wolf Father even features a guest appearance from Ulver’s Kristoffer Rygg (a.k.a. Garm), and features artwork by French visionary Valnoir of Metastazis, known for their work with Watain, Ulver, Peste Noire, Nachtmystium, Anteus and more.

* NIDINGR Wolf Father will be released on Vendlus Records, January 18, 2011.

* For more info on NIDINGR, just click here: NIDINGR – myspace music

(Source: Earsplit press release, December 3, 2010)

Track Listing For Wolf Father:

Fafnismol

Baldrs Draumar

Reginsmol

Voluspo

Hymiskvitha

Lokasenna

LONG LIVE NIDINGR.

Stone.

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KATAKLYSM “Heaven’s Venom” – Death Metal Mastery To Devour

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on December 2, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KATAKLYSM – Released on August 24, 2010, on Nuclear Blast America, Heaven’s Venom marks the tenth studio album from Kataklysm, arguably the most brutally powerful Metal band ever exported from The Great White North. This new Kataklysm album is fully loaded with ten songs, which exceed the boundaries of what great Death Metal is supposed to accomplish… by mesmerizing your senses into a state of Extreme Death Metal delirium. It is a tried and true Death Metal band like Kataklysm that I cannot resist rooting for, their tireless effort to make their presence known as a Death Metal force, in the vast world of Metal, is an undisputed benchmark of their existence.

From the onset, Soulless God annihilates with it’s all encompassing and overpowering Death Metal fury. All ten songs for that matter, are an enormous listen into just how Kataklysm has evolved over the past two decades, with their obvious stamp of originality upon the genre of Death Metal, a genre which has become a behemoth in the annals of Metal Music. The melodic nature of Kataklysm’s sound is derived from guitar virtuoso Jean-Francois Dagenais, he can play the heavy while instilling an accessibility to this band from his diverse playing. Even casual Death Metal fans should easily adhere their ears to what Deganais plays here, with loyal fans knowing that he is one of the finest in all of Metal.

Without hesitation, Heaven’s Venom is one of the most engaging Death Metal albums I’ve ever listened to. Slivers of progressiveness will sparingly peer around Kataklysm’s corner, with the spoken word being utilized in the songs: A Soulless God and Hail The Renegade. Kataklysm has never been about fast food Death Metal, this band’s intricacies have always lied within their passion for creating songs that leap out at you with rage and then abruptly casting searing melodic turns without notice. Lyrically, Heaven’s Venom embarks on dark personal struggles and values, with revenge and triumph being touched upon in prolific style, which Maurizio Iacono conveys with undisputed domination. Maurizio is one of those vocalists… when Maurizio sings, Stone listens.

The themes of divide and conquer and good versus evil may seem cliche with their simplicity, only Kataklysm gives forth a larger story than that throughout Heaven’s Venom. The markedness of Heaven’s Venom is truly a carry over from the rest of Kataklysm’s catalog of albums, once again embarking on what I construe to be… thinking man’s Death Metal. Yes, contrary to any department of psychology misnomer, Death Metal can be smart, both lyrically and musically. Along with the forever legendary Death Metal pioneers the likes of Death, Kataklysm will unconditionally receive my Metal accolades for their artistic point style too.

My personal favorite song on Heaven’s Venom is As The Walls Collapse. I will survive all the demons you throw at me, I will deny all the weakness inside… these are lyrics that psyche-me-out beyond Metal belief. Combine intelligent and powerful lyrics with elevated Death Metal grooves and yes, this song is a masterful achievement that will not become obsolete for my ears. I could go as far by saying: As The Walls Collapse sounds superiorly delectable, when listened to ten times in a row, very loudly.

Without exception, is Heaven’s Venom relentless with the double bass and copious rhythmic blasts from Max Duhamel, holy mother of Metal does Max lock himself into a phrenetic groove on every song. Metal be thy name he is outstanding. The combination of Max Duhamel behind the kit and Stephane Barbe on bass makes for an earsplitting wall of Death Metal welcomeness. Heaven’s Venom is what I consider an undeniable right choice for any Death Metal, Metal or Extreme Metal fan alive today. An album such as Heaven’s Venom doesn’t just fall from the sky, this is as creatively heavy as it gets with Death Metal, while being fortified with the upmost intensity and Death Metal proficiency that I’ve come to expect from Kataklysm.

* For more info on KATAKLYSM, just click on the link below:

KATAKLYSM – MySpace Music Page

KATAKLYSM:

Maurizio  Iacono – vocals

J-F Dagenais – guitars

Stephane Barbe – bass

Max Duhamel – drums

Track Listing For Heaven’s Venom:

A Soulless God

Determined (Vows Of Vengeance)

Faith Made Of Shrapnel

Push The Venom

Hail The Renegade

As The Walls Collapse

Numb And Intoxicated

At The Edge Of The World

Suicide River

Blind Saviour

LONG LIVE KATAKLYSM.

Stone.

2 Comments »

AMON AMARTH – Announce Title Of New Album Set For 2011 Spring Release!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on November 30, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Kings of Swedish death metal AMON AMARTH have just announced the title of the their forthcoming album as Surtur Rising. Due out in the spring of 2011, Surtur Rising marks the group’s eighth full-length studio release and undoubtedly one of 2011’s most anticipated albums by fans and critics alike. Surtur Rising is the follow-up to the highly acclaimed 2008 release, Twilight Of The Thunder God, which landed the #7 spot in Revolver Magazine’s Top 20 Albums of 2008 and what MetalSucks called “[a] bottomless gauntlet of riffs that the band endlessly takes gargantuan swigs from, sounding both lush and emotive as well as skull crushingly heavy… every goddamn one is a chest-beating anthem.” Outburn declared how Twilight Of The Thunder God “will render you nothing short of ecstatic” and Time Out New York noted that “AMON AMARTH plays some of the most unabashedly epic metal you’re likely to find these days.” Be sure to stay tuned to MetalBlade.com for more details on Surtur Rising.

AMON AMARTH:

Johan Hegg – vocals

Olavi Mikkonen – guitar

Johan Söderberg – guitar

Ted Lundström – bass

Fredrik Andersson – drums

(Source: Earsplit press release, November 30, 2011)

* For more info on AMON AMARTH, just click on the link below:

AMON AMARTH – Official Website

* For more info on Metal Blade Records, click here: METAL BLADE RECORDS

LONG LIVE AMON AMARTH.

Stone.

2 Comments »

THE WRETCHED END: New Track Streaming Via Decibel Magazine!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on November 25, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE WRETCHED END — the blackthrash trio featuring ex-Emperor/ex-Zyklon guitarist Samoth, Mindgrinder/ex-Scum guitarist Cosmo and ex-Dark Funeral/ex-Aeon drummer Nils Fjellström — recently unleashed their debut full-length, Ominous, via Candlelight Records.

In honor of its release, you can check out “The Armageddonist,” the third track off the debilitating outing, courtesy of Decibel Magazine HERE.

THE WRETCHED END formed in 2008 as a creative collaboration between Samoth and Cosmo, who previously worked together in deathpunk project Scum. In addition, Cosmo played bass with Zyklon when the band toured Europe 2001 with Morbid Angel. The two have long spoken about an extreme metal project and thus, THE WRETCHED END was born.
(Source: Earsplit press release)
LONG LIVE THE WRETCHED END.
Stone.

1 Comment »

CROWBAR – Announce New Album Title And Track Listing Revealed!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, sludge metal music with tags , , , , , , , , on November 24, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) — Legendary Metal-Sludge giants CROWBAR will release their crushing, long-awaited new studio album, “Sever The Wicked Hand” on Tuesday, February 8th, 2011 via eOne Music.

* The full album is available now for pre-order on iTunes.

The new album, produced by Kirk Windstein and mixed by Zeuss, is the band’s first new album of all new original studio material since 2005’s “Lifesblood for the Downtrodden.” Front man and founder Kirk Windstein recently told Decibel Magazine, “This is probably the most important record of Crowbar’s career.”

(Source: eOne Music press release, November 23, 2010)

Kirk Windstein – Crowbar founding member, vocalist and guitarist.

Sever The Wicked Hand Track listing:

Isolation (Desperation)

Sever The Wicked Hand

Liquid Sky And Cold Black Earth

Let Me Mourn

The Cemetery Angels

As I Become One

A Farewell To Misery

Protectors Of The Shrine

I Only Deal In Truth

Echo An Eternity

Cleanse Me, Heal Me

Symbiosis

Long Live Kirk Windstein and Crowbar.

Stone.

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EASTERN FRONT “Blood On Snow” – Outwardly Wicked And Saturated With Melodic, Blackened Intensity

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on November 22, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

EASTERN FRONT – Caution: Eastern Front will tear your eardrums inside out and use them for slingshots, while your eyeballs widen and thine jaw drops in utter amazement from their Extreme Speed, Heaviness and fiery Blackened intensity. That is just the beginning… and I was well convinced after listening to the opening track – Stalinorgel, that Eastern Front has taken an enormously serious approach to their Extreme Music. One must listen to all eight songs that Eastern Front has created here, then absorb them all into thine senses and realize this band is not of the cookie cutter variety. Metal be thy name, has Eastern Front made quite the Black Metal statement with Blood On Snow.

The title track, Blood On Snow, clocks in at 8:31 and it is over eight minutes of 100% Black Metal majesty. From the mind invading and senses pummeling blast beats to the vicious guitar leads… and everything else in between, this title track is a Blackened Metal ride of ferocious euphoria. Can this Eastern Front album get any better? It sure can. The very next song, Unleash The Panzer Division, is an introduction to just how melodic guitar leads can coexist with dark, Black Metal ferocity of sound. These two songs, back-to-back are like a double dose of Eastern Front whoop ass… straight to my skin rippling forehead.

At The Gates Of Moscow is a mini Black epic in it’s own right, with seven minutes of unrelenting and Extreme song writing precision. Nagant’s warrior strong vocals are overwhelming with excessive power on At The Gates Of Moscow. Where Warriors Once Fell, this album’s closer, is the answer to what Iron Maiden would sound like if they were to try their Metal hand at Black Metal. Then again, this is Eastern Front, a Black Metal band that has put forth their very own style with more than subtle confidence. This is a Black Metal band that is overflowing with convincing Metal skill sets. If Eastern Front intended to save their Blackest best for last, they surely have succeeded with Where Warriors Once Fell.

If there is to be one consistent adjective to describe Blood On Snow, it has to be… powerful. From Nagant’s vocals to Holocaust’s unreal guitar leads and every nuance in between, the muscularity of Metal explodes with this bands Blackened style and character. Krieg on rhythm guitar, Destroyer on bass and Destruction on drums all enrich this album to it’s dark and Extreme fullest. Eastern Front sounds razor sharp and very tight on this album, they sound ready to take on the world, with a skull splitting deliverance of their Black Metal power surge.

Listening to this album is like getting hit by that continuous storm wind, that malicious wind that comes out of the northern sky with an unnatural vengeance… and all you can do is respect it’s overall strength. Blood On Snow is swirling with melodic speed throughout each song, with tempo changes, string arrangements and sound effects that are not incorporated for listening convenience or sell out, rather they exist due to the real emotions that Eastern Front has built into this beyond entertaining Black album.

* Blood On Snow was produced by Anders Backelin at Andy LaRocque’s Sonic Train Studios in Sweden. The quality that Andy’s Sonic Train Studio brings to the cascading Black Metal sound on this album is blatantly obvious and arguably, one day in the future… legendary. From the onset to the last note of Blood On Snow, I can hear the painstaking attention to detail, amongst the layers of sound, that great producers like Anders Backelin and Andy are conscientious about. Andy LaRocque is an original member alongside the ultra legendary King Diamond. Andy plays guitar, keyboards and is a songwriter for King Diamond. Andy was also a guitarist for DEATH, appearing on their 1993 studio album – Individual Thought Patterns.

* EASTERN FRONT lists Ipswich, United Kingdom, as their land of origin, on their myspace music page. (See myspace link below).

* EASTERN FRONT – Blood On Snow was released in Europe, on Candlelight Records, on September 13, 2010. Blood On Snow was released in the U.S. on Candlelight Records, on September 21, 2010.

* For more info on EASTERN FRONT, just click on the link below:

EASTERN FRONT – myspace music

EASTERN FRONT:

Nagant – vocals

Holocaust – lead guitar

Krieg – rhythm guitar

Destroyer – bass

Destruction – drums

Blood On Snow – (Back Cover of CD above)

Track Listing For Blood On Snow:

Stalinorgel

Battle Of Smolensk

Blood On Snow

Unleash The Panzer Division

Motherland

Dvenadtzat Kilometrov Ot Moskvy

At The Gates Of Moscow

Where Warriors Once Fell

EASTERN FRONT HAS ARRIVED… BEST TO LET THEM IN.

Stone.

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VALDUR “Raven God Amongst Us” – A Raw And Apocalyptic Black Metal Storm

Posted in Black Metal, black metal albums, Extreme Metal, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , on November 18, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

VALDUR – From Mammoth Lakes, California, VALDUR unleashes upon the world… Raven God Amongst Us. A self financed, full length album of Blackened might, Raven God Amongst Us has been released on drummer Sxuperion’s very own Bloody Mountain Records. All nine songs on this formidable album, create a steady flow of darkened melodies that lay within the layers of cataclysmic guitar leads, phrenetic drums, earth trembling bass and vocals that gather electrifying steam, with each passing second. It’s the overall apocalyptic vibe of no turning back, that engages the senses on Raven God Amongst Us.

Taking into account, the back to back songs of Past Of Wolves and Vicious Existence, it is the plummeting and spiraling Blackened atmosphere of falling into the unknown abyss of something uncannily dark. VALDUR presents their Black Metal in a raw state of serrated lined appeal… one could not expect Black Metal to suddenly open up and reveal harmonious chorus over syrupy keyboards. VALDUR is making a statement by realizing a Black Metal foundation is built on key Black Metal fundamentals, a vastly dark atmosphere that tantalizes on the embraceable bizarre, rawness and everything else… Blackened.

Traditional lyrical content, coupled with a luring and engaging sound of Black Metal in it’s most anti-mainstream existence, is amassed within and outside the walls of dark sound as each song plays through on this album. This album mirrors the storm clouds that are about to swallow up a sun-lit sky, it’s the impending winter storm that science could not fathom. Commercialized darkness and Blackness can take a back seat to what VALDUR is creating here… this is underground, this is Black Metal… this is VALDUR and their creation they have named: Raven God Amongst Us.

* For more info on VALDUR, just click on the link below:

VALDUR – myspace music

Track Listing For Raven God Amongst Us:

Intro

Wound Fires In The Afterlife

Great Abyss Unfold

Gravlagt I Morkets Natt!

Med Fjell I Horisonten

Berserrker

Past Of Wolves

Vicious Existence

Creation

VALDUR IS HERE.

Stone.

2 Comments »

MORPHINE KILLER “NIGHTMARES” EP – UNLEASHES UNREAL METAL EXTREMITY!

Posted in Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, gothic metal bands, gothic metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MORPHINE KILLER – released their Nightmares EP back in October of 2009, on Final Breath Records. What makes this duo of Belle Roka, ( Vocals, Keyboards) and Eski, (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums) stand out is their undying Extreme Metal delivery… which is all structured and written quite well on the five songs heard on this Nightmares EP. Morphine Killer has incorporated all the dark ambiance within their heavy riffs and cyclone guitar leads… just one listen to Clutching Defeat should make the non-believers fall to their weakened knees. Eski exhalts his no compromise Extreme vocals to a prolific level of Metal Grind purity.

With Eski and Belle sharing vocal duties, it’s soft harmony and a swift, crushing extreme blow to my Metal ears that keeps me coming back for more. Morphine Killer has incorporated a mix of Metal genres into their one-two Extreme thunder strike… with convincing and serious results. I have posted the song Pride Comes Before A Fall, on April 15, 2010, realizing that Belle’s luringly tender vocals sucks me into the Extreme Metal explosiveness that their music brandishes. Listening to this Morphine Killer – Nightmares EP is like entering valley of the Extreme Metal grooves, not one song replicates the other, each Metal corner turned seems to be better than the last.

One listen to Home and I can envision Morphine Killer opening for Kittie… and that would be a killer show of Metal proportions. Can I make a fair comparison of Belle Roka to Morgan Lander of Kittie? I certainly can, despite each being unique vocalists… this comparison is a compliment to both of these Metal divas. The influence nod to Classic Rock icon Heart is posted on Morphine Killer’s myspace music page… and I can understand why, each time I hear Belle sing. What is refreshing about Morphine Killer is that they apparently are climbing the Metal ladder the old school way, with their obvious musical talent guiding them each Extreme step of the way.

She’s Slipping Away opens up with a Traditional Metal approach, doom ridden riffs and thunderous drum beats are sewn with a quaking bass that only becomes more deliriously addicting once Belle begins to vocalize the lyrics. Oh, yes, you better watch your Metal back however, the semi-growling and sneering backing vocals are evident courtesy of Eski… dark, creepy and a necessary Metal musical additive. I’m a sucker for the emotions that a keyboard can bring to music. Belle adds just this to She’s Slipping Away, with melancholy atmospherics in the background.

In Silent Agony concludes this Nightmares EP and does so with an Extreme Metal exclamation point. Eski is showcased on vocals throughout In Silent Agony, jumping out from the onset like a catastrophic furnace blast… no warning… and I’m not running, just consumed with Extreme satisfaction, Metal be thy name.

We live on a planet where there are quite a few Metal bands doing their thing and going with the flow… Morphine Killer is doing their thing alright, only their sound and diversity pushes them out in front of the up and coming Metal pack. Anytime a young Metal band creates quality songs through musical talent, while embedding slivers of Old School, I’m going to Metal endorse them to the fullest. It should not take the Metal world too long to grasp with their ears what Morphine Killer is creating here, a Metal sound that encompasses the dark and the light… which makes this Metal fanatic Extremely pleased with their discovery.

* You can purchase Morphine Killer – Nightmares EP directly on the Morphine Killer website or at Amazon.com.

MORPHINE KILLER – Official Website

Stone.

3 Comments »

IWREASTELEDABEARONCE – “YOU AIN’T NO FAMILY” MUSIC VIDEO!

Posted in avant-garde metal music, Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme music, heavy metal music, Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore music, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

IWREASTLEDABEARONCE – An Avant-Garde Metal Band, they do not disappoint on the Extreme whatsoever. Just one listen to You Ain’t No Family will prove this point… very clearly. I always like wandering regularly, into the Extreme Metal side of the Universe. IWREASTLEDABEARONCE has caught my Metal attention and I really do not know how this band could become any heavier or more extreme. Is IWREASTLEDABEARONCE the future of Metal? In my Metal opinion, nope. However, this amazingly Extreme Metal Band is gonna make a run… at being at least a part of the future of Metal!

If you have neighbors that have been really annoying you lately, just turn the volume up very high on You Ain’t No Family, with the repeat button within reach, with your house windows up. This will make anyone aware instantly, that Extreme Metal exists and is not going away anytime soon!

I hope you enjoy this song and video of You Ain’t No Family as much as I do!

WARNING: This video and song is not meant for ABBA fans.

IWREASTLEDABEARONCE released their first full-length studio album – It’s All Happening on June 2, 2009, on Century Media Records. You Ain’t No Family is on this album. IWREASTLEDABEARONCE utilizes an array of music styles, from Metalcore to mellow interludes, only the end result is still the same… Extreme Metal. Avant-Garde, yes, only very Extreme!

LONG LIVE EXTREME METAL!

Stone.

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ATROCITY – “COLD BLACK DAYS” EP RESONATES WITH GOTHIC METAL

Posted in cool album covers, current gothic metal bands, Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme metal music albums, extreme music, gothic hard rock bands, gothic hard rock music, gothic metal, gothic metal albums, gothic metal bands, gothic metal music, gothic metal music 2004, gothic metal songs, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, Metal, metal music, metal music albums, metal music ep's, metal odyssey, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ATROCITY – hailing from the grand Metal country of Germany, has their musical origins tracing back to 1985, while their Atrocity roots date back to 1989. The early years of Atrocity has them as a bona-fide Death Metal Band, with changes in their style taking them in the Industrial Metal and Gothic Metal directions. This brings me to this Atrocity EP – Cold Black Days, a bizarre and chilling track list of four songs. The bizarre adjective used prior, borders alongside haunting. Understandably, these are the adjectives one wants to hear when Gothic Metal is being discussed, it goes with the Gothic territory. To say the songs heard on this EP from Atrocity are a soundtrack to a vampiric slasher film, makes all the sense in the Gothic scheme of things. There are those times when one needs to take a nibble before they order the complete meal, lending an ear to EP’s makes sense… it’s sampling a band before an entire album purchase is made a reality.

I won’t tell a Metal fib… I like this Atrocity band and all of the Gothic nuances that go along with their music. From the articulate arrangements heard on the single Cold Black Days to the eerie atmospherics, with lead vocalist Alexander Krull narrowly hypnotizing my senses with his sinister delivery. I am not running for cover… I am now more intrigued by Atrocity than ever before. Antediluvian World is for all intents and purposes, Gothic in it’s mood and overall heavy appeal. However, this song plays out with some Thrash meets Symphonic, interwoven with a sliver of Hardcore. A wonderful blend of extremities I hear in Antediluvian World, while a dark Gothic cloud of mourning hovers over it. Atrocity has succeeded in welcoming me into their mysterious and melancholy world of Gothic Metal, thanks to this Cold Black Days EP.

ATROCITY, as they appeared on Cold Black Days EP:

Alexander Krull – lead vocals

Mathias Roderer – guitarist

Thorsten Bauer – guitarist

Chris Lukhaup – bass guitarist

Martin Schmidt – drummer

Cold Black Days – EP Track Listing:

Cold Black Days

Cold Black Days (Radio Mix)

Antediluvian World

Cold Black Days (Das Ich Remix)

Cold Black Days EP was released on Napalm Records/SPV in 2004.

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KITTIE AND GOD FORBID – 2010 NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES!

Posted in concerts, cool album covers, current heavy metal bands, current heavy metal music, Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme music, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal bands, heavy metal bands 2010, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2010, heavy metal tours, metal music, metal odyssey, Music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on February 9, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KITTIE and GOD FORBID – TOUR DATE SCHEDULE – NORTH AMERICA!

3/3/10 – Toronto, ON. Opera House
3/4/10 – Mar Montreal, QC. Underworld
3/6/10 – Sayreville, NJ. Starland Ballroom
3/7/10 – Raleigh, NC. Volume 11
3/8/10 – Allentown, PA. Crocodile Rock
3/10/10 – Huntington, WV. V Club
3/11/10 – Covington, KY. Mad Hatter
3/14/10 – Milwaukee, WI. The Rave
3/16/10 – Waterloo, IA. Spicoli’s Rock Garden
3/19/10 – Columbus, OH. Al Rosa Villa
3/20/10 – Flint, MI. Machine Shop
3/21/10 – Cleveland, OH. Peabodys
3/23/10 – New York, NY. BB Kings
3/24/10 – Foxborough, MA. Showcase Live
3/25/10 – Nashua, NH. Amber Room
3/26/10 – Orono, ME. Ultra Lounge
3/27/10 – Poughkeepsie, NY. The Chance

Two unreal great Metal Bands… together… this shall make for one HELL of a show!

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SKELETONWITCH – “Breathing the Fire” Set My Metal World Ablaze

Posted in Album Review, Black Metal, black metal 2009, black metal albums 2009, collecting heavy metal albums, cool album covers, creepy album covers, current black metal albums, current black metal music, current death metal albums, current death metal music, current extreme metal albums, current extreme metal music, current heavy metal albums, current heavy metal music, current metal albums, current thrash metal, current thrash metal albums, current thrash metal music, Death Metal, death metal 2009, death metal guitarists, death metal music, death metal vocalists, essential death metal albums, essential heavy metal albums, essential metal music albums, essential thrash metal albums, Extreme Metal, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, extreme metal music albums, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal album covers, heavy metal albums 2009, heavy metal music, heavy metal music 2009, Heavy Metal Reviews, melodic death metal albums, melodic death metal music, Metal, metal music, metal music today, metal odyssey, Metal Reviews, Music, new thrash metal albums, scary album covers, scary rock music songs, spooky album covers, spooky metal album covers, thrash metal 2009, thrash metal music, thrash metal today with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on October 14, 2009 by Metal Odyssey

Skeletonwitch "Breathing The Fire" small album picSKELETONWITCH released their second full studio album with Prosthetic Records, Breathing the Fire, on October 13, 2009. I could not resist the Metal temptation and need of picking up this new CD on my visit to f.y.e. today. As I stood there staring at the hellish and downright evil artwork on the front cover of Breathing the Fire, it dawned on me… the Metal wait is over for this new Skeletonwitch. Yeah, very often enough I want my Metal pretty damned fast and extreme in every musical facet. All twelve songs on this album are extremely worthy, I can’t point out any skip overs whatsoever. Skeletonwitch does not fall short of Extreme Metal – every song on Breathing the Fire is blended with the very best of several Metal genres.

Skeletonwitch brings forth the Thrash Metal attack combined with Old School Speed Metal, adding Death Metal and Black Metal influences just for great Metal measure. With all of these incredible Metal genres explored here, Skeletonwitch is a Metal band that I cannot pigeonhole into one genre. That is fine with me, I am sure Skeletonwitch could care in the least as well… Metal is… Metal. Breathing the Fire is one incredible Metal album to look back upon for 2009, it is like the late season, supercharged and extreme power blast of Metal Music that has set my Metal world ablaze. I always say, that with Metal bands like this, it makes me feel confident knowing that the flag for Metal will be waving high for years to come. Chance Garnette on lead vocals is as mean and talented as I could hope for – his dual Death Metal growls and Black Metal screams are what this music is about. Anyone familiar with Extreme Metal should agree, that this style of Metal was not meant for crooning out the ballads. Chance Garnette gets my Metal horns with thunderous praise. In my Metal opinion, Skeletonwitch can play, it’s not the easiest task to make an album of this Metal genre sound like a standout.

The guitar leads, dual leads and solos have a melodic, Old School – Speed Metal appeal, while never taking away from the overall dark mood of any of the songs. The rhythm section holds everything together like a vice and these songs grip my Metal psyche with pure Metal domination. I once read a professionally paid Rock critic write – melodic and heavy do not coexist… uh, they do. The Metal proof is in actually listening to Skeletonwitch and Breathing the Fire… the rest is Extreme and at times, melodic Metal candy for your ears. To extract each song and dissect it here would be nonsense, the overall themes to know are that these songs are about death and submitting to evil. ‘Nuff said. Ah, Metal. I will state, Blinding Black Rage is as horrific, evil and nightmarish of a song lyrically that I have ever heard. Ah, Metal… Extreme Metal, I love this stuff. This is the new generation of Extreme Metal, take it or leave it… I’m taking it. If you are looking for the current Metal that is happening now, take my advice and give Skeletonwitch – Breathing the Fire a thorough listen… it served me right.

Skeletonwitch as they appear on Breathing the Fire:

Nate “N8 Feet Under” Garnette – guitars

Chance Garnette – lead vocals

Derrick “Mullet Chad” Nau – drums

Scott “Scunty D.” Hedrick – guitars

Evan “Loosh” Linger – bass

Track Listing For Breathing the Fire:

Submit to the Suffering

Longing for Domination

Where the Light has Failed

Released from the Catacombs

Stand Fight and Die

The Despoiler of Human Life

Crushed Beyond Dust

Blinding Black Rage

Gorge Upon My Soul

Repulsive Salvation

Strangled by Unseen Hands

… And into the Flame

Skeletonwitch "Breathing The Fire" large album pic

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