Archive for the metal music Category

ACCEPT “BLOOD OF THE NATIONS” – 2 DAYS TO GO UNTIL IT’S U.S. RELEASE! SOME METAL THOUGHTS…

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 12, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

ACCEPT – Their back. With a new lead vocalist in Mark Tornillo. Wolf Hoffman and Herman Frank are the guitar duo with Peter Baltes on bass and Stefan Schwarzmann on drums. This is ACCEPT 2010… and I can’t wait to get my ears melted by the scorching Metal that Blood Of The Nations is about.

I’m feeling quite confident that Blood Of The Nations will be a great listen. Why? Well, I entrust in the words from Metal Odyssey’s correspondent Scott Coverdale… who has stated today: “Blood Of The Nations is a strong contender for Metal Album Of The Year“. Scott Coverdale goes on to say: “Regardless of where you purchase your CD’s, be it f.y.e., Best Buy, Target, Walmart or an independent mom/pop record store, if they aren’t carrying Blood Of The Nations… demand it!

Scott Coverdale continues to say: “This album is definately the heaviest album that Accept has ever recorded. I would even say it is a bit faster and heavier than Restless & Wild. For all those who are skeptical of Mark Tornillo being able to fill an UDO-less Accept, you will definately be pleasantly surprised, almost to the point you’ll like his vocals better… in my opinion. Producer Andy Sneap is a genuis”.

Stone’s thoughts: Wow. Now, for the Metal record, I am an UDO advocate, one who feels strongly that his vocals are the signature of this legendary band we have known and embraced as ACCEPT over the decades. Scott Coverdale has his Metal opinion and he is very much entitled to it, just like anyone else. Indeed, with an “UDO-less” ACCEPT, there will be a huge void to fill in the vocals department, certainly. I have listened to just one song from this new ACCEPT album – The Abyss. I have been Metal impressed by this song since I first heard it, dating back to May 3rd, 2010. The band sounds 100% Metal potent, with Mark Tornillo’s vocals sounding just super to my ears. If anything, while listening to The Abyss, I hear a “touch” of UDO in Mark’s vocals. Is it just me? I don’t know. Still, Mark Tornillo is a unique vocalist, a veteran front-man and comes with plenty of Metal credibility.

Coverdale has already listened to this new ACCEPT album quite a few times now… and he is Metal thrilled to say the least. I look forward to giving my Metal insight/review on this new ACCEPT album in the very near future.

* Producer for Blood Of NationsAndy Sneap, has woven his legendary Metal career working with the likes of: Megadeth, Exodus, Testament, Blaze BayleyArch Enemy and Onslaught… just to name more than a few.

* Legendary ACCEPT guitarist Wolf Hoffman is credited as being the photographer for the front cover image on Blood Of The Nations.

ACCEPT – Blood Of The Nations releases on September 14, 2010 in the U.S. on Nuclear Blast.

* For more info on ACCEPT, just click on the really cool links below:

ACCEPT – Official Website

ACCEPT – myspace music page

* Century Media Records online (aka) CM Distro is a site where you can buy ACCEPTBlood Of The Nations. Just click right here to get it: Century Media Records/CM Distro

ACCEPT vocalist Mark Tornillo has made his mark in Metal History with New York/New Jersey’s Heavy Metal/Power Metal ambassadors – TT Quick.

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

* In case you missed it on Metal Odyssey back on May 3rd, 2010, check out the post which featured the still video/song for The Abyss, from Blood Of The Nations. Just click on the big and luring link below and you can listen to The Abyss:

ACCEPT – “THE ABYSS” FROM “BLOOD OF THE NATIONS” ALBUM – HERE IT NOW! PLUS MORE ACCEPT INFO!

Blood Of The Nations – Track Listing:

Beat The Bastards

Teutonic Terror

The Abyss

Blood Of The Nations

Shades Of Death

Locked And Loaded

Time Machine (North American Bonus Track)

Kill The Pain

Rollin’ Thunder

Pandemic

New World Comin’

No Shelter

Bucketful Of Hate

LONG LIVE ACCEPT!

Stone.



TEN VERY UNCOOL HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL ALBUM COVERS PART II

Posted in classic rock music, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 5, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER?

I don’t advertise myself to be an “expert” in Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album cover design. Nor am I a photography expert either. What I do know is this… a Hard Rock or Heavy Metal album cover should entice fans or potential fans to buy the album. Skulls, flames, guitars, dragons, sword & sorcery, space aliens, monsters, spooky landscapes, the paranormal and the macabre is right up my Metal alley when it comes to album covers. You won’t find this cool stuff on the album covers below. Marketing Hard Rock and Heavy Metal should be simple, right? Well, that is not always the Metal case, as you shall see from the following list of ten very uncool album covers that I have compiled… just for you… and it’s “Part II”!

Years ago, I did earn a degree in Graphic Communications, therefore I think I know what cool Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album artwork is supposed to look like. Then again, what do I know? Some, if not many of the albums in this top ten list have probably sold millions of copies worldwide… so my opinion on these very uncool album covers is probably one big, nasty and smelly fart in the wind anyways.

* Just because an album cover is uncool, doesn’t necessarily mean that the music contained within is lousy. This list, as with the first list, only points out those Hard Rock & Heavy Metal album covers which Metal Odyssey finds so extremely boring and embarrassing that they are… well, uncool.

Here are Metal Odyssey’s Top Ten Very Uncool Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Album Covers Part II, enjoy! Or, try to enjoy.

#10:

Hard Rock Essentials: 1980’s (1995)

Wow. Is that supposed to be a guitar in the center? Um, it’s missing some parts. Ahhh! Those two skulls are so NOT scary! These aren’t the skulls and guitar that I’m looking for on an album cover! This is what a record company gets, when they don’t want to pay the $$$ for decent Hard Rock artwork. Instead, it looks like some record company gave a kindergartner the “go” on this one. Or, it’s some overpaid record executive’s fourth grade kid that did it. Either way… this artwork stinks like rotten cabbage.

#9:

Metal Church – The Human Factor (1991)

Look, anyone who knows me, knows I revere Metal Church… every Metal Church lineup too. With that said, this album cover does this Metal Church lineup NO Metal justice whatsoever. It looks like these guys are laying down on a (gulp) Disco dance floor from Saturday Night Fever. The Metal Church “classic logo” is there, only it’s not enough.

#8:

Torben Enevoldsen – Heavy Persuasion (2007)

Alright, Torben, sit right there and hold up your guitar’s neck directly in front of your face… o.k., a little to the right, hold still now, why aren’t you smiling? Sit still… done! What a picture we got! That didn’t take too long now, did it? Man, Torben, this is gonna make an awesome album cover!

#7:

Lee Aaron – Metal Queen (1984)

Um, yup. Anyways, Lee Aaron really doesn’t look like a queen here at all. Instead, let’s be real, she looks more like a lady barbarian. Where’s the queen’s clothing? Hey… that’s a cardboard sword! Is that backdrop a soiled shower curtain? Regardless, this is not the sword & sorcery I’m talkin’ about. Where’s Doro Pesch when we really need her!?

#6:

Koushik – be with

Apparently, Koushik is a Canadian electronic musician. That’s what my Metal research has uncovered. Despite the lack of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal tags associated with Koushik, this album cover is just a MUST to make this list. I should have never thrown away my kids drawings from when they were one years old. Damn, I could be selling them right now… to record companies as album covers! I could have been rich! I could understand if this cover was for Kids Bop though.

#5:

Symphonity – Voice From The Silence (2008)

Trust me… these dudes called Symphonity ROCK. However, the Power Metal & Speed Metal that this cool band is great at just does NOT resonate on this album cover. Honestly, if I did not know about this Symphonity band, I would swear this was a Gospel album.

#4:

Helloween – Chameleon (1993)

As with Metal Church, Helloween is a band that I honestly revere. Helloween invented Power Metal for Metal sakes. Helloween F’n Rules. However, Chameleon is hands down, my least favorite Helloween album ever released… and it has the worst Helloween album cover ever created. Yes… Metal be thy name.

#3:

Heavy Metal: Head Bangin’ Hits (2003)

It’s some girl wearing a Dee Snider Halloween wig and Jerry Garcia glasses. Um… not my idea of a “Heavy Metal Chick”. It’s covers like this that makes me ask… WTF?

#2:

Heart Of Metal 2 – Various Artists (2001)

Yeah, o.k., like every Metalhead out there is gonna give their sweetheart a barbed wire heart, as a token of their Metal love. Here baby… I love you baby… uh, don’t get cut on this barbed wire heart. Over the years, it never ceases to amaze me, the over zealous stereotyping that we Metalheads receive. Like we are all a bunch of cash strapped barbarians, that rummage through landfills for anniversary gifts. If I gave my wife a barbed wire heart… she would then know that I totally lost my Metal mind, plus I’d get kicked out of the house as well. Hey, not even Hot Topic sells these barbed wire hearts. Not yet anyways.

#1:

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives: Road Songs That Rock – Hand Picked by Guy Fieri (Compilation) – (2008)

F’n Whoa. Hey, I don’t need that Food Network or Guy Fieri hand picking ANY Rock, Hard Rock or Heavy Metal songs for me. Stick to eating your high cholesterol foods Guy. Plus, I don’t see the F’n connection between the Food Network and Rock ‘N’ Roll anyways. Furthermore, I NEVER connected Guy Fieri to Hard Rock, Heavy Metal or any Rock Music for that F’n matter. All of a sudden, Guy Fieri is the second coming of Wolfman Jack.

Do you think the Food Network would let me have a 30 minute show called… Cooking With Stone? Bet your Metal butt they wouldn’t. Yet it’s alright for the Food Network to set loose their “food experts” on the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal world. Gee Metal whiz.

This is a perfect example of a corporate entity getting involved where they DON’T BELONG! It’s all about the quick $$$ isn’t it Food Network? By the way… the track listing is not too shabby on this CD. I don’t own it and would never buy it… due to the Metal fact it has a damn Food Network logo on it with Guy Fieri laughing all the way to the bank… or should I say refrigerator?

Stone.

BLACKIE LAWLESS OF W.A.S.P. – HAPPY METAL BIRTHDAY!!

Posted in celebrity birthdays, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music history, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 4, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BLACKIE LAWLESSOn September 4, 1956, Blackie Lawless was born. On that day, the history of Heavy Metal was solidified and secured. Blackie Lawless turns a Metal cool 54 today! Happy Metal Birthday Blackie Lawless! You are a Metal Odyssey – Lifetime Metal Warrior. With 14 studio albums and 4 live albums as the founding Metal leader of W.A.S.P., I and Scott Coverdale give you a Metal salute and a rousing THANK YOU!

THANK YOU Blackie Lawless for also standing up against the PMRC back in 1985… our freedom to listen to the music that we love in America was on the brink due to this PMRC “group” and WE WON due to our Metal and Music community banding together as one. Scott Coverdale and I don’t forget what you stood up for back in those late 80’s. Stone and Scott Coverdale shall never forget their Metal roots, therefore, we shall never forget the history of Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P.!

THANK YOU for creating Babylon. This 2009 studio album of unreal & supercharged Metal was heralded as the #1 Heavy Metal album of 2009, right here, on Metal Odyssey! On December 28, 2009, Metal Odyssey posted their “Top 25 Heavy Metal Albums Of 2009”. Anyone who missed it can read all about it and check out W.A.S.P. Babylon being #1, just by clicking on the big and cool link below:

METAL ODYSSEY’S TOP 25 HEAVY METAL ALBUMS OF 2009

* After the release of Babylon, I was so psyched out of my Metal mind about this album, that praising one song at a time from it seemed like a logical Metal choice. Here is the post, from November 14, 2009, that gives Metal praise to the Chuck Berry classic Promised Land, that W.A.S.P. so admirably covered on Babylon:

W.A.S.P. COVERS CHUCK BERRY CLASSIC – “PROMISED LAND” ON “BABYLON” ALBUM

* On November 11, 2009, I gave a Metal thumbs up to the song Crazy from Babylon:

W.A.S.P. “CRAZY” FROM “BABYLON” ALBUM IS WOVEN WITH HEAVY METAL MATURITY

* And on November 10, 2009, I ranted and Metal raved about W.A.S.P. covering the Deep Purple classic Burn that is heard on Babylon:

W.A.S.P. COVERS THE DEEP PURPLE CLASSIC “BURN” WITH HEAVY METAL PRIDE ON BABYLON ALBUM!

* On March 10, 2010, Metal Odyssey posted about just how incredible W.A.S.P. Live… In The Raw truly is. You can check it out by clicking on the magic link below:

W.A.S.P. – “LIVE… IN THE RAW” RESONATES THE LIVE POWER AND SOUL OF HEAVY ROCK ‘N ROLL!!

* On January 14, 2010, Metal Odyssey featured a post about the collector side of Stone when it comes to W.A.S.P., the 12″ single of The Real Me is shown in all of it’s Metal glory! Click that jim dandy link below to check it out:

W.A.S.P. – “THE REAL ME” 12″ SINGLE FROM 1989 REVISITED!

* On December 30, 2009, Metal Odyssey got all Metal giddy about the 1989 picture disc of The Headless Children. Yes… that fine link below will take you right to this post:

W.A.S.P. “THE HEADLESS CHILDREN” 1989 PICTURE DISC IS FOR KEEPS!

* Going back to April April 24, 2009, Metal Odyssey wasn’t bashful about being Metal psyched about the 1985 studio album – The Last Command. Metal be thy name, this is a fabulous W.A.S.P. album! Read for yourself, if you so choose, by clicking the link below:

W.A.S.P. “The Last Command” is a Heavy Metal classic!

* Back on March 21, 2009, Metal Odyssey celebrated 26 years of W.A.S.P. Heavy Metal! A terrific post was written to celebrate this amazing and historic Heavy Metal event. The link below shall guide you to this Metal read:

Celebrating 26 years of W.A.S.P. Heavy Metal!

* For those who want to learn about more incredible W.A.S.P. albums from the past, all you need to do is click on the links below. These are all album reviews written by Stone!

* From March 15, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – DYING FOR THE WORLD

* From March 15, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – STILL NOT BLACK ENOUGH

* From March 15, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – HELLDORADO

* From March 14, 2009:

W.A.S.P. – THE CRIMSON IDOL

So, as anyone can see, Blackie Lawless and his amazingly important and Metal historic band W.A.S.P. are and forever will be embraced here on Metal Odyssey.

LONG LIVE BLACKIE LAWLESS!

BLACKIE LAWLESS = HEAVY METAL & ROCK ‘N’ ROLL LEGEND

Stone.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH ANNOUNCE TWO SEPARATE TOURS WITH 36 CRAZYFISTS AND SOULFLY

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on September 2, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH have announced dates along side both 36 CRAZY FISTS & SOULFLY. Dates will run from mid September through the end of the year. “We are excited and honored to be supporting 36 CRAZY FISTS on their first national headlining run. When we’re out with those boys it feels like home because we know all of them so well and it just makes for a much more fun experience. It’s going to be a party for sure!” says front woman Alexis Brown.

The band is also set to do a short Canadian run with HATEBREED this month with a slew of off dates. Visit http://www.myspace.com/straightlinestitch for more info. When asked about having the chance to tour with SOULFLY, Alexis continues,“We get to tour with SOULFLY too? WOW! That about sums it up. We have been fans of SOULFLY since day one. They have been rockin’ out for a minute, and now that we get to support them just makes everything that much sweeter. We’re really looking forward to sharing the stage with them and hopefully learning a thing or two along the way.”

w/ Hatebreed

Sep. 06 – The Blind Dog – Windsor, Ont.

Sep. 07 – The Music Hall – London, Ont.

Sep. 08 – Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, Ont.

Sep. 09 – Club Soda – Montreal, Que.

Sep. 10 – The New Capital Music Hall – Ottawa, Ont.

Sep. 11 – Illot Fleurie Park – Quebec City, Que.

Sep. 13 – Oxygen Nightclub – Moncton, N.B.

Sep. 14 – The Cunard Centre – Halifax, N.S.

w/ 36 Crazyfists and Taking Dawn

September 16th Seattle, WA – El Corazon

September 17th Portland, OR – Peter’s Room

September 19th San Francisco, CA – Avalon Ballroom

September 20th Las Vegas, NV – The Farm

September 21st Los Angeles, CA – Whisky A Go-Go

September 24th Mesa, AZ – The Nile

September 25th Farmington, NM – Gator’s Bar And Grill

September 26th Lubbock, TX – Jake’s

September 28th San Antonio, TX – Scout Bar

September 29th Houston, TX – Scout Bar

September 30th Dallas, TX – Trees

October 02nd St. Petersburg, FL – State Theatre

October 03rd Jacksonville, FL – Brewsters

October 05th Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade

October 06th Charleston, SC – The Oasis

October 07th Fayetteville, NC – Rock Shop

October 08th West Springfield, VA – Jaxx

October 09th Vineland, NJ – Hangar 84

October 10th Philadelphia, PA – Polaris

October 14th Flint, MI – Machine Shop

October 22nd Denver, CO – Marquis Theater

October 23rd Colorado Springs, CO – Black Sheep

w/ Soulfly and Incite

November 26th Los Angeles, CA – House Of Blues

November 27th San Diego, CA – House Of Blues

November 28th San Francisco, CA – Slim’s

November 30th Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre

December 02nd Chicago, IL – House Of Blues

December 04th Cleveland, OH – House Of Blues

December 08th New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre

December 09th Philadelphia, PA – Theatre Of Living Arts

December 12th Ft. Lauderdale, FL – Revolution Live

December 15th Dallas, TX- House Of Blues

December 16th Houston, TX – House Of Blues

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, originally hailing from Knoxville, TN, features Alexis Brown on vocals, Seth Thacker and Pat Pattison on guitar, Jason White on bass, and Kanky Lora on drums.

* Their latest release on eONe/Raging Nation Records “When Skies Wash Ashore” is in stores now!

* For more info on Straight Line Stitch visit – Straight Line Stitch – MySpace.com

For more information on eOne Metal please visit http://www.e1metal.com/ or follow @E1MetalATTACK

(Source: eOne Music press release, September 1, 2010)

Stone.

HIGH ON FIRE “FROST HAMMER” – A METAL SONG FOR THE METAL AGES

Posted in Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal songs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, stoner metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 29, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

HIGH ON FIRE – Good health. Family. Cool Metal buddies. Sunny skies. Free stuff. Cold beer. Finding an independent record and CD store. Finding a quarter in the grocery store parking lot. Taking a relieving dump. Sure, these are all the big and some little things that can perk up the human spirit. However… it’s Metal that never fails to perk me up time and again, year after year, day after day.

Hearing that one Metal song that lifts me up is always a reminder as to why I am hooked on the greatest music in the history of mankind. What’s the greatest music in the history of mankind you query? Uh, it’s Metal. This is Metal Odyssey after all, that you are visiting. Sure, there are other Rock genres covered on Metal Odyssey… only Metal is the end all and be all. Metal be thy F’n name.

I’ll get to the Metal point here: Frost Hammer from the High On Fire album Snakes For The Divine – kicks some serious Metal ass. Frost Hammer is an instant adrenaline surge for me. Whoa… I’ve been Metal supercharged by High On Fire. A charging pissed off beast, out of the dark northern woods of no man’s land is Frost Hammer. Des Kensel on drums plays with enough fierce enthusiasm, with so many cool fills, that it’s mind numbing. Lead vocalist and guitarist Matt Pike leads the way with his nailed to the Metal riffs, leads and a solo so fast and tenaciously addicting that it smacks me senseless.

The triple Metal threat of Matt Pike, Des Kensel and Jeff Matz are as potent as any power trio I’ve ever listened to. For me to state otherwise, would be untruthful. On Frost Hammer these guys play tight, no, super tight, defining what “in-your-face” Metal is supposed to sound like. Frost Hammer is one of those great Metal songs, where I wish it would continue on for another five or ten minutes. Nonetheless, this song will always sound like an epic to me. High On Fire didn’t rewrite any sacred Metal rules with Frost Hammer… they just stayed true to ’em.

With speed and heavy coexisting so deliriously well on Frost Hammer, there is no moment to really catch your breath. This is not even a Thrash Metal song, yet it rivals the fierce and bombastic tempo of such. Just hearing Matt Pike bellow out – “Frost Hammer”! is enough to make me feel secure in my own little Metal world, which I love to get lost in continuously.

High On Fire doesn’t make Metal that’s fashionable, they make Metal that kicks ass… period.

* For more info on High On Fire, just click the link below:

HIGH ON FIRE – myspace music page

* High On Fire – Snakes For The Divine was released on February 23, 2010, on E1 Music.

LONG LIVE HIGH ON FIRE!

Stone.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER – THE DEFLORATE TOUR 2010… NORTH AMERICAN DATES LISTING!

Posted in death metal music, extreme metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 28, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDERDeflorate, the fourth studio album from The Black Dahlia Murder, was released on September 15, 2009, on Metal Blade Records. Deflorate reached #43 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart and went to #5 on the Billboard Top Independent Albums Chart. With subsequent worldwide touring since, The Black Dahlia Murder are now setting their Extreme Metal sights on a North American tour… The Deflorate Tour. This blazingly Metal fierce band will be headlining, with opening bands – Goatwhore and ARKAIK.

The Black Dahlia Murder:

Trevor Strnad – vocals

Brian Eschbach – guitar

Ryan Knight – guitar

Ryan “Bart” Williams – bass

Shannon Lucas – drums

Check out the tour dates below… The Deflorate Tour just might be in your backyard.

* For more info on The Black Dahlia Murder, just click the link below:

The Black Dahlia Murder – myspace page

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

GOATWHORE – myspace page

Goatwhore are touring in support of their 2009 studio album release – Carving Out The Eyes Of God, released on Metal Blade Records, on June 23, 2009.

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

ARKAIK – myspace page

ARKAIK are touring in support of their new studio album – Reflections Within Dissonance, which was released on Unique Leader, on January 26, 2010.

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER – THE DEFLORATE TOUR WITH GOATWHORE AND ARKAIK/U.S. AND CANADIAN DATES:

09/28 – Columbus, OH @ Skully’s

09/29 – Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place

09/30 – Brooklyn, NY @ Europa

10/01 –  Hartford, CT @ Webster Underground

10/02 –  Bucksport, ME @ The Kave

10/03 – Quebec, QC @ Imperial de Quebec

10/04 – Montreal, QC @ Petit Cafe

10/05 – Ottawa, ON @ Ritual

10/06 – Toronto, ON @ The Wreck Room

10/07 – Lemoyne, PA @ Championship

10/08 – Richmond, VA @ Canal Club

10/09 – Wilmington, NC @ The Soapbox Laundrolounge

10/10 – Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah

10/12 – East St. Louis, MO @ Pop’s

10/13 – Des Moines, IA @ The Vaudeville Mews

10/14 – DeKalb, IL @ House Cafe

10/15 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Mixtape Cafe

10/16 – Toledo, OH @ Headliners

(Source: Metal Blade News Update Newsletter, August 27, 2010)

EXTREME METAL RULES.

Stone.

WHITECHAPEL – “THE CORRUPTOUR” FALL 2010 SCHEDULE!

Posted in death metal music, extreme metal music, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

WHITECHAPEL – Now that Whitechapel are finished with being a potent part of the Vans Warped Tour Twenty Ten, they are set to headline their very own tourThe Corruptour. Whitechapel will be supported by Impending Doom, Miss May I, Oceano and I Declare War, beginning on October 1st, 2010, in Macon, Georgia and culminating on October 23rd, 2010, in Nashville, Tennessee.

Out supporting their third studio album – A New Era Of Corruption, released June 8th, 2010 on Metal Blade Records, Whitechapel is an all-out Extreme Metal Force of Deathcore Fury… and The Corruptour shall showcase this Metal fact.

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

http://www.thediseased.com/

Whitechapel Are:

Phil Bozeman – vocals

Ben Savage – lead guitar

Alex Wade – guitar

Zach Householder – guitar

Gabe Crisp – bass

Kevin Lane – drums

Whitechapel – The Corruptour

With:Impending Doom, Miss May I, Oceano, I Declare War:

10/01 – Macon, GA @ The 567

10/02 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room

10/03 – St. Petersburg, FL @ State Theatre

10/04 – Jacksonville, FL @ Rain (Plush Complex)

10/05 – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero

10/06 – Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall

10/07 – Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11 Tavern

10/08 – Norfolk, VA @ Norva

10/09 – Jermyn, PA @ Eleanor Rigby’s

10/10 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre

10/12 – Boston, MA @ Harper’s Ferry

10/13 – Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance Theatre

10/14 – Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon

10/15 – Toledo, OH @ Headliner’s

10/16 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection

10/17 – Elgin, IL @ Mad Maggies

10/19 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave

10/20 – Sauget, IL @ Pop’s

10/21 – Louisville, KY @ Headliners Music Hall

10/22 – Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco

10/23 – Nashville, TN @ Rocketown

MONSTER MOSH II

With: The Devil Wears Prada, Enter Shikari, Black Veil Brides:

10/31 – Frisco, TX @ Dr. Pepper Arena

(Source: Metal Blade News Update, August 20th, 2010)

KICK SOME EXTREME DEATH METAL & DEATHCORE ASS WHITECHAPEL!

Stone.

THROWDOWN – RELEASE 2 NEW MUSIC VIDEOS FROM THEIR “DEATHLESS” ALBUM!

Posted in extreme music, hardcore metal music, hardcore punk rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on August 3, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THROWDOWN RELEASE TWO NEW MUSIC VIDEOS FROM THEIR LATEST ALBUM “DEATHLESS”

(New York, NY) — THROWDOWN will be unleashing two new music videos for songs “Tombs” and “Blinding Light” from their latest full length DEATHLESS today, exclusively on Metalinjection.com. The band had not so recently released two videos for songs “This Continuum” and “The Scythe” earlier this year on Headbangers Ball, vocalist Dave Peters explains the difference this time around.  “‘Tombs’ and ‘Blinding Light’ are my two favorite songs on the record. ‘Blinding Light’ didn’t initially have that creepy vibe that it took on later during production. Unfortunately, the vocal and guitar layers are what give it that vibe, and it’s not real easy to reproduce live as a four-piece. I’m notorious for painting us into a corner that way, but it’s ridiculous to dumb a song down or not use parts in fear of translating it live in my opinion.”

Peters goes on to talk about a past experience of playing a new song live, and the sometimes spur of the moment tactics used to get through a set. “We actually played it live once before we finished writing it. I straight up free-styled the lyrics. No one even noticed. Just nonsense.  I probably mentioned waffles and Manny Ramirez. We played with DANZIG that night and I sang the ‘Danzig shopping list’ (http://bit.ly/ccTPQX) while Mark was tuning. About 9 people lost their minds. The other 2400 were confused.”

Videos for “Tombs” and “Blinding Light” can be viewed here: http://bit.ly/cKR5n8

THROWDOWN’S latest album, DEATHLESS was released last year to extraordinary critical praise.  DEATHLESS has been hailed as the bands most powerful and diverse offering to date.

“Simply put, ‘Deathless’ is a breath of fresh air in a scene that has been overrun with deathcore / screamo clones.”- Loudside.com 8/10

“The gents have given it their all with the outcome being more sharp, crisp and with an emollient approach that still stays old school.” ABORT Magazine

“With Deathless, Throwdown find the perfect combination of beauty and brutality to create an absolute metal masterpiece!” thenewreview.net 5/5

You can purchase / preview DEATHLESS on iTunes here: http://bit.ly/79DPjO

For more information, please visit:

http://www.throwdowngo.com

http://www.myspace.com/throwdown

http://www.twitter.com/throwdown

* (Source: entertainmentone – press release, August 2, 2010)

KNOCK ‘EM OUT, THROWDOWN!

Stone.

DARKEST HOUR – TO ENTER STUDIO & ANNOUNCES PRODUCER FOR NEW RECORD!

Posted in Death Metal, death metal music, Hard Rock, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on August 2, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

DARKEST HOUR TO ENTER STUDIO &

ANNOUNCE PRODUCER FOR NEW RECORD

(New York, NY) — DARKEST HOUR are about to enter the studio and they have announced that they are teaming up with renowned SOILWORK shredder Peter Wilchers. The band has put a lot of time and thought into choosing the right producer for this record and they’re convinced they’ve found one. “We’re really excited about working with Peter on this album.  It’s going to be amazing collaborating with such an inventive and unique guitarist/musician to produce and document what we feel is the most emotional and melodic Darkest Hour album to date,” says drummer Ryan Parish.

With records such as ALL THAT REMAINS’ “The Fall of Ideals” and SOILWORK’s latest effort, “The Panic Broadcast” under his belt, DARKEST HOUR are quite confident in what Peter brings to the table. “Peter is someone we’ve admired and very much respected as a musician and producer for quite some time.  Being a pioneer of the Swedish metal sound, (which has so greatly influenced our band) we hope to refine all of those classic elements with him and incorporate new methods to improve our songwriting” says font man John Henry.

This time around, these songs we’re done a bit differently. Guitarist and founding member Mike Schleibaum explains, “We have been working on these tunes ever since we left the studio lastD April. The Eternal Return was written during a very dark, bleak time for the band and I think that record matches that in both tone and character. Our vision was for it to be an in your face, no frill aggressive assault.  The new material shares in that aggression and pushes Darkest Hour beyond the unknown.” The new songs are just about finished and ready for the studio. “I am very exited to work alongside the Darkest Hours guys, and I know from hearing some of their new material that it will be a killer one,” says Wilchers himself.

For more information on DARKEST HOUR and their experience in the studio with Peter, visit http://www.darkesthour.cc for updates over the next few months.

http://www.myspace.com/darkesthour / http://twitter.com/Darkesthourrock

* (Source: entertainmentone – press release, August 2, 2010)

GO GET ‘EM DARKEST HOUR!

Stone.

FORBIDDEN – NORTH AMERICAN TOUR DATES FOR 2010!

Posted in concerts, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 28, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

FORBIDDEN – The tour poster pic seen below tells allFORBIDDEN is BACK! Thrash Metal in 2010 has become even more potent!

FORBIDDEN ARE:

Russ Anderson – vocals

Craig Locicero – guitars

Steve Smyth – guitars

Matt Camacho – bass

Mark Hernandez – drums

Forbidden debut album – Forbidden Evil from 1988.

* For more info on FORBIDDEN, just click on that fantastic link below:

FORBIDDEN – myspace music page

LONG LIVE FORBIDDEN!

Stone.

THE ABSENCE “ENEMY UNBOUND” – RELEASES SEPTEMBER 14, 2010! TRACK LISTING & ALBUM ART!

Posted in death metal music, extreme metal music, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, heavy metal songs, melodic death metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , on July 23, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE ABSENCE – On September 14, 2010, The Absence – Enemy Unbound will be released on Metal Blade Records. Enemy Unbound will be the third studio album released by The Absence, all on Metal Blade Records.

You can listen to the new single from The Absence – Enemy Unbound on their myspace music page, (click link below)… it’s worth multiple listens. Enemy Unbound is fast, heavy and chock full of melodic guitar moments. Don’t be swayed by The Absence bringing melodic guitar to the Metal table though… this song blisters with extreme vocals from Jamie Stewart and the pummeling attack of Jeramie Kling on drums and Mike Leon on bass. Listening to the duo guitars of Peter Joseph and Patrick Pintavalle is a substantial reminder of just how potent The Absence is with their Metal sound… and talent. Blending both Death and Thrash Metal styles together, while stirring in strong melodic consistency, is what The Absence delivers.

* Jeramie Kling has rejoined The Absence on drums. Jeramie parted ways after touring in support of their debut album – From Your Grave. (Source: Metal Blade News Update).

THE ABSENCE ARE:

Jamie Stewart – vocals

Peter Joseph – guitar

Patrick Pintavalle – guitar

Jeramie Kling – drums

Mike Leon – bass

Track Listing For Enemy Unbound:

Vertigo

Erased

Deepest Wound

Maelstrom

Enemy Unbound

Solace

The Bridge

Warton

Hidden In White

Vengeance and Victory

Triumph

The Absence Discography:

From Your Grave (2005)

Riders Of The Plague (2007)

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

THE ABSENCE – myspace music page

METAL BLADE RECORDS

Stone.

WHITECHAPEL – LAUNCHES NEW & OFFICIAL WEBSITE!

Posted in death metal music, extreme metal music, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 18, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

WHITECHAPEL – Released their third full length album and second on Metal Blade RecordsA New Era Of Corruption, on June 8, 2010. Now… Whitechapel has launched their new and official website! This new & official Whitechapel website is Metal muscle bound with music videos, live videos, video interviews, tour dates, news, store and more! To access the media, blogs, contests and forum portions of Whitechapel’s website, you have to buy a membership.

Stone’s Note: This is a 1 year interactive membership you would buy. Regardless, there are 3 levels of paid membership you can choose to purchase, with each level having different Whitechapel merchandise included with the paid membership, (the higher your level of membership, the better and more merch that is offered… and the third level is loaded). Click on the link below to see for yourself!

http://www.thediseased.com/

WHITECHAPEL is bringing their brand of Death Metal Technicality and all out Extreme Metal fury to the thousands of fans attending the Vans Warped Tour Twenty Ten! Find out more about Vans Warped Twenty Ten by clicking the all-knowing link below:

Vans Warped Tour Twenty Ten

WHITECHAPEL ARE:

Phil Bozeman – vocals

Ben Savage – lead guitar

Alex Wade – guitar

Zach Householder – guitar

Gabe Crisp – bass

Kevin Lane – drums

Stone.

REDEMPTION “SNOWFALL ON JUDGEMENT DAY” – A PROGRESSIVE METAL ALBUM NOT TO OVERLOOK

Posted in hard rock albums, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal albums, progressive metal bands, progressive metal music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 16, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

REDEMPTION – Snowfall On Judgement Day is an entertaining listen in quality Progressive Melodic Metal. Released on October 6, 2009, (on InsideOut Music/The Century Family Inc.). Snowfall On Judgement Day marks the fourth studio album release from Redemption. Each song is thoughtfully written lyrically, with very impressive musicianship throughout. The songs on this album are layered with an almost exquisite sheen, with all the ambiance and textures one can expect from a Progressive Metal Band of substance.

The vocals of Ray Alder are pronounced, while never overreaching. Ray Alder is a veteran of the Metal Music world, while also being the lead vocalist for the quite famous – Fates Warning. Redemption plays as a seamless and cohesive unit, making each song the star on Snowfall On Judgement Day. Nick van Dyk and Bernie Versailles are a potent duo on guitars, adding very interesting and downright likable melodic moments from beginning to end on this album. Greg Hosharian on keyboards adds all the atmospheric and melodic elements of mysticism, openness, sense of flight and emotional highs and lows. I guess Greg seems to cover it all, when it comes to sensory interpretation of his keyboard playing.

Chris Quirarte plays drums in the spirit and style of one Mike Portnoy of Dream Theater fame. This comparison may sound complimentary, which is rightfully justified, in my Metal opinion. Chris comes across to me as a drummer not trying to play hard and stand out, he is just simply mastering the beats and adding all the right drum fills within each song heard. What more can one ask for from their drummer? With each musician in Redemption seeming to convey their astuteness for their craft, I still need to mention Sean Andrews on bass, who helps anchor the rhythm section and doesn’t fall short on speed when the song dictates.

James LaBrie, lead vocalist for Dream Theater, is a guest vocalist on the song Another Day Dies. This song captures an almost total Euro Power Metal sound and feel. It’s the guitar leads and solo that seem to keep it from melting over completely into this comparison. James LaBrie’s vocals makes for a perfect match, with this Progressive Metal style that is Redemption. I still like Ray Alder fronting this band though, he is by no means a second tier front man. The harmony and tone of Ray Alder’s vocals are tailor made for Redemption… to my ears anyways.

Hopefully, my descriptive thoughts on Redemption as musicians, can help you understand just how the songs play out on Snowfall On Judgement Day. This band and this particular album should not be relegated to the back of the line. Flying under the Progressive Metal radar can’t be a reality in Redemption’s future. When there are so many bands and their albums to choose from in the vast world of Heavy Music genres, it’s a band like Redemption that just can’t go overlooked. I invite anyone who loves to hear songs and not four minute hits, to step right into the Progressive Metal creation that is Snowfall On Judgement Day.

Fans of Dream Theater, Queensryche, Coheed And Cambria and Mastodon should be very enthused by Redemption and Snowfall On Judgement Day. I’m pleased to have purchased this album and I highly recommend Redemption to any fan of Hard Rock or Heavy Metal that is looking to expand their music listening interests in a more progressive way.

* The song Keep Breathing, is an emotional and tender song written in dedication to Nick van Dyk’s daughter Parker. On the last page of the liner notes, what I read broke my heart. Being a father of twin daughters, the medical battle that Nick’s daughter Parker is going through just really hit home with me. To directly quote Nick van Dyk: “my daughter Parker was diagnosed with a terrible eye condition called Cone Dystrophy. This is a genetic condition, that prevents the retina from forming properly, resulting in the loss of central vision”. Nick writes: “there is currently no cure or treatment for Cone Dystrophy… even with corrective lenses, her vision will be 20/200 or worse. She will be unable to drive a car and do many things that people take for granted”.

Nick van Dyk continues, in the liner notes: If you are looking for a charity to support, please consider the Foundation Fighting Blindness, which can be found at http://www.blindness.org”.

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

REDEMPTION – Official Website

REDEMPTION – myspace music page

Redemption, as they appeared on Snowfall On Judgement Day:

Ray Alder – vocals

Nick van Dyk – guitar & keyboards

Bernie Versailles – guitar

Sean Andrews – bass guitar

Chris Quirarte – drums

Greg Hosharian – keyboards & keyboard solos

* Snowfall On Judgement Day was produced by Nick Van Dyk and Tommy Hansen.

Track listing for Snowfall On Judgement Day:

Peel

Walls

Leviathan Rising

Black And White World

Unformed

Keep Breathing

Another Day Dies (With guest vocalist James LaBrie)

What Will You Say?

Fistful Of Sand

Love Kills Us All/Life In One Day

Stone.

Murderdolls and ARTISTdirect.com Team Up for Exclusive “My Dark Place Alone” Premiere – ARTISTdirect News!

Posted in hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, heavy metal videos, horror metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 16, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Just click the cool link below to view the exclusive premiere of Murderdolls – My Dark Place Alone:

Murderdolls and ARTISTdirect.com Team Up for Exclusive “My Dark Place Alone” Premiere – ARTISTdirect News.

Joey Jordison (Slipknot).

Wednesday 13.

MURDERDOLLS.

Releasing on RoadRunner Records, August 31, 2010!

Stone.

MURDERDOLLS – “WOMEN AND CHILDREN LAST” RELEASES AUGUST 31, 2010!

Posted in hard rock albums, hard rock bands, hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, horror metal, horror punk, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 13, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MURDERDOLLS – And on the 13th day, God created the Murderdolls. O.k., so maybe God did. The real Metal fact is this: Murderdolls are BACK! On August 31, 2010, ROADRUNNER Records will be releasing the newest installment of heavy duty carnage, from this Supergroup. The legendary Joey Jordison (Slipknot) plays both guitar and drums on Women And Children Last. Wednesday 13, (Yes, that Wednesday 13!), is the lead vocalist and plays guitar and bass as well.

* Metal Odyssey Note: I did refer to Joey Jordison as “legendary”… and if anyone disagrees, well, you obviously have never listened to any Slipknot albums in your entire life… especially All Hope Is Gone. Metal be thy name.

On June 22, 2010, the RoadRunner Records website was serving up, (for just 48 hours), a free download of the Murderdolls single – My Dark Place Alone, from the forthcoming Women And Children Last. I took full advantage of this Metal freebie. Let  me just describe this song as honestly as I can… An F’n intense and brutally supercharged Metal song, fueled with hellishly delectable speed and fury, that shall pummel thine senses into a state of maddening glee. ‘Nuff said. No? All right, here is a song review for the more intolerant and faint of heart out there: My Dark Place Alone shall invade your mind, space and soul by brute force… so grab your first aid kit, food rations, your ABBA albums, loved ones and seek shelter soon.

* Metal Odyssey Note: You can currently purchase My Dark Place Alone on itunes.

As read on the Murderdolls official website, (see link below), Joey Jordison states that Wednesday 13 came up with the new album title of Women And Children Last, being a funny joke on the Van Halen album “title” – Women And Children First, released back in 1980. (Just so the readers know… I revere that Van Halen album). Wednesday 13 reveals on the Murderdolls official website: “So the record is going to have ideas from all over the place. It’s heavy, it’s Glam Rock, it’s Hard Rock, it’s Metal, it’s… there’s not hip-hop though”. Sounds like a kickin’ ass album to Stone.

* From what I have been reading, Motely Crue’s legendary Mick Mars does appear on two songs, making Women And Children Last all the more Metal intriguing. Song titles have been revealed, with the two Mick Mars songs as well… only I don’t want to spell out these songs until it is “officially” stated on a credible site or from a credible source. Maybe this info is out there, already credibly established. Still, I just don’t want to wind up as a corn dog at the end of the day.

* Some of the new album’s song titles have been revealed on the RoadRunner Records website, (see link below), they are: Death Valley Superstars, Summertime Suicide, Drug Me To Hell and of course, My Dark Place Alone.

Murderdolls released their debut album in 2002 – Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls, on RoadRunner Records. Initially being a Horror Punk Band, Murderdolls are now promising a wide array of Heavy Music styles on Women And Children Last. From listening to their new single – My Dark Place Alone, Murderdolls have taken a few steps aside from their Horror Punk style of eight years ago. I really am looking forward to hearing this new Murderdolls album in it’s entirety. You can count on this album being reviewed right here on Metal Odyssey. I have a sinister suspicion I’m gonna really like it.

* For more info on Murderdolls, just click on the links below!

MURDERDOLLS – Official Website

www.myspace.com/murderdollsband

ROADRUNNER RECORDS

LONG LIVE MURDERDOLLS!

Stone.

OVERKILL – TO TOUR AUSTRALIA, SEPTEMBER 2010, FOR FIRST TIME!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands, thrash metal music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 10, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

OVERKILL – Thrash Metal Legends, OVERKILL will be taking their 25th Anniversary Tour down under, to the great country of Australia, this September of 2010! The cool poster pic below tells all. From what this tour poster pic reads, this is the first time ever OVERKILL will be unleashing their Thrash Metal in Australia! OVERKILL will be supported on all the Australian dates, by Australia’s very own Thrash Metal attack known as – MORTAL SIN.

*Metal Odyssey has no other information on this tour, just the tour image with info as you see it.

* OVERKILL is out supporting their amazing 2010 studio album release – IRONBOUND, released on E1 Music, on February 9, 2010.

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

OVERKILL

* The link address for more info on OVERKILL touring Australia in September, 2010 is: http://www.overkillband.com.au/

LONG LIVE OVERKILL!

Stone.

KINGDOM OF SORROW – RETURNS WITH THE METAL LETHAL “BEHIND THE BLACKEST TEARS”

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, Heavy Metal Reviews, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, music reviews, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on July 2, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KINGDOM OF SORROW – The triumphant Metal return of Kingdom Of Sorrow commenced on June 8, 2010, with the sophomore release of behind the blackest tears, released on Relapse Records. Better get your Metal game face on and strap yourself in, before you let this new Kingdom Of Sorrow album beat down your eardrums into submission. This album is a listen in the most cement shattering, steel bending and Earth stirring form. Crunching and thunderous invading guitar riffs courtesy of Kirk Windstein, (of Crowbar & Down fame), are an ultimate Metal statement from this Metal legend. Kirk sharing vocals with Jamey Jasta, (of Hatebreed fame) makes for one hell of a bone shattering Metal dynamic duo.

A vast audience of fans and critics call Kingdom Of Sorrow a supergroup and that is justified. I rather look upon Kingdom Of Sorrow as a real Metal group, no jet setting or bragging rants about their red carpet waltz’s… these are two blue collar Metal veterans that aren’t polishing off any plastic Grammy’s that sit atop a grand piano. Jamey Jasta and Kirk Windstein execute their brand of Metal like a crashing meteor, obliterating all the stillness and serene landscape that gets in their way. They serve it up and smack you down with their extreme vocals, combined with heavy as molasses riffs, that explodes Doom meets Stoner and mixed with some good ol’ Sludge in it’s most ferocious form. Listening to behind the blackest tears isn’t comparable to opening up a can of Metal whoop ass, instead it’s like opening up a 5o gallon drum of Metal whoop ass. Metal be thy name.

Enlightened To Extinction greets you with an apocalyptic riff that leads into some melodic heaviness courtesy of a nod to some Metalcore, with Jamey Jasta exhibiting his Metal vocal diversity. God’s Law In The Devil’s Land pulsates with Kingdom Of Sorrow’s Metal fury, giving every reason as to why Jasta and Windstein are so great at sharing lead vocals. This song should be played extremely loud, atop a creepy mountain peek, during a full moon for some unsuspecting innocent village below to get panicked by. As Hardcore as Monuments Of Ash sounds, it’s Metal leanings and fillings are what makes the hair stand up straight on my arms. Whoa, does Monuments Of Ash kick my Metal lovin’ ass.

Behind The Blackest Tears can easily be targeted as my favorite song, it grooves along so incredibly heavy and just gives off some invitingly creepy vibes from every musical angle. From Heroes To Dust is another opportunity where Jamey Jasta lets his vocal diversity be heard. A more somber and turned down vocal delivery only gives From Heroes To Dust it’s proper due. This song is probably the closest thing Kingdom Of Sorrow will ever get to creating a ballad. Salvation Denied is without deliberation, the most Extreme and vocally Hardcore laced song on behind the blackest tears… and a damn good song at that.

No Class, the Motorhead cover song, is done quite impressively by Kingdom Of Sorrow. It’s an intimidating hurdle to cover a true classic like No Class, only Jasta comes impressively close to the legendary Lemmy Kilmister’s unique vocal style. As far as the music and song structure goes, Kingdom Of Sorrow left well enough alone… and that’s a great thing, if it aint broke don’t fix it. Still, hearing this version of No Class on the limited deluxe version of behind the blackest tears is a welcomed Metal treat to my Old School ears.

Soldiers Of Hell, the Running Wild cover song, plays out with an ultra contagious Heavy Metal vibe that is non-stop. The guitar play are an intense high to listen to on Soldiers Of Hell, proving to be a fabulous song choice for Kingdom Of Sorrow to cover. Saluting a real-deal, Old School and pioneering German Heavy Metal Band as Running Wild, along with covering the immortal and ultra important Motorhead, gets a Metal kudos from Metal Odyssey!

I purchased the deluxe edition of behind the blackest tears at my neighborhood fye, at a very decent price of $8.99, (U.S.). The cover pic, at the top of this post, is that of the slipcase cover of this deluxe edition. (The regular cover pic for behind the blackest tears is seen below the band names).

* Metal Odyssey gives behind the blackest tears – 5 out of 5 Metal Fists!

Who am I to find something wrong with this great album? When the Metal is this great, I stand up straight, bang my F’n head, raise the horns to the air and tell it like it F’n is.

* For more info on KINGDOM OF SORROW, just click the links below:

KINGDOM OF SORROW – MySpace Music Page

KINGDOM OF SORROW ARE:

Jamey Jasta – vocals

Kirk Windstein – guitars & vocals

Additional Studio Musicians:

Charlie Bellmore – guitars & bass

Nick Bellmore – drums

Track Listing For behind the blackest tears:

Enlightened To Extinction

God’s Law In The Devil’s Land

Monuments Of Ash

Behind The Blackest Tears

Envision The Divide

From Heroes To Dust

Along The Path To Ruin

With Barely A Breath

The Death We Owe

Sleeping Beast

Torchlight Procession

Salvation Denied

Bonus Tracks On Limited Edition:

No Class (Motorhead Cover Song)

Soldiers Of Hell (Running Wild Cover Song)

* KINGDOM OF SORROW is currently touring with OZZFEST 2010!

* For more OZZFEST 2010 info, just click the cool link below:

OZZFEST 2010

LONG LIVE KINGDOM OF SORROW!

Stone.

AS I LAY DYING & WHITECHAPEL ON BILLBOARD TOP 200 ALBUM CHART!

Posted in death metal music, extreme music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 29, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

As taken from the Metal Blade Records News Update from June 25, 2010:

“Metal Blade Records, still home to two titles on the Billboard Top 200 Chart! Los Angeles based metal label Metal Blade Records is currently home to two of the year’s heaviest titles to break this week’s Billboard Top 200 Chart. Knoxville Tennessee’s WHITECHAPEL spent their second week on the Billboard Top 200 at #153 with the band’s highly anticipated album A New Era of Corruption and San Diego California’s Grammy nominated group AS I LAY DYING is now spending their SIXTH week in the Top 200 Chart, landing the #137 position. Metal Blade Records would like to congratulate both bands for this remarkable achievement and thank them for their dedication and all their hard work in creating the best albums of their career’s to date”.

Metal Odyssey would also like to congratulate As I lay Dying and Whitechapel as well… it is a great feeling when two Extreme Metal Bands make some F’n noise in the mainstream album charts! With my loyal leanings towards the Heavier and Extreme side of Metal, I cannot hold back the Metal appreciation I have for these two bands cracking into a world wide known and accepted album chart like Billboard.

* For more Metal info on As I Lay Dying, click the links below:

http://www.ThePowerlessRise.com

http://www.AsILayDying.com

http://www.myspace.com/asilaydying

* For more Metal info on WHITECHAPEL, click the links below:

http://www.aneweraofcorruption.com

http://www.whitechapel.com

http://www.myspace.com/whitechapel

http:/www.facebook.com/whitechapelmetal

* For more Metal Blade Records info, click the links below:

http://www.metalblade.com

http://www.metalblade.tv

AS I LAY DYING – THE POWERLESS RISE:

* Check out the music video for As I Lay Dying – Parallels, a speed burning and Metal furious song taken from The Powerless Rise album. Just click on that cool box below!

WHITECHAPEL – NEW ERA OF CORRUPTION:

LONG LIVE METAL!

Stone.

KATAKLYSM “HEAVEN’S VENOM” – RELEASES AUGUST 2010 & NEW ALBUM ARTWORK!

Posted in Death Metal, death metal music, extreme metal bands, extreme metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 15, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

KATAKLYSM – Originating from Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Kataklysm is a Death & Extreme Metal Band, that packs a multi-potent blast of energy within the framework of their creativity. Kataklysm will be releasing their eleventh studio album – Heaven’s Venom, on Nuclear Blast Records, on August 20th in Europe and August 24th in North America. Check out the new album artwork above! If this imagery and art for Heaven’s Venom is any indication of just how strong, dark, heavy and extreme the songs within are… then my Metal anticipation for this new Kataklysm album is at the highest Metal level. Whoa. Whoa again. I’m predicting Heaven’s Venom will easily be a Metal Odyssey’s top twenty album pick for 2010… just where it winds up in the list is to be determined.

Since Kataklysm’s 1993 EP release – The Mystical Gate of Reincarnation, this band has 18+ years of bringing their brand of Metal carnage to the masses… with absolutely NO signs of slowing things down for nuthin’. This new album, coupled with Kataklysm’s touring on Ozzfest, should catapult this veteran band to even larger Metal heights, while recruiting new fans along the way.

KATAKLYSM ARE:

MAURIZIO IACONO – vocals

MAX DUHAMEL – drums

JEAN-FRANCOIS DAGENAIS – guitars

STEPHANE BARBE – bass

* The track listing for Heaven’s Venom is not yet fully released. I would not want to give any song titles away on Metal Odyssey without the appropriate credibility.

Kataklysm is also on the OZZFEST TOUR 2010. The Ozzfest Tour gets started on August 14th, in San Bernardino, California. Kataklysm is a second stage act, along with Black Label Society, Skeletonwitch, Kingdom Of Sorrow, Drowning Pool, Goatwhore and Saviours. This is one blistering second stage at Ozzfest 2010! The Ozzfest main stage acts are: Ozzy Osbourne, Motley Crue, Halford, Devildriver and  Nonpoint.

* You can get more info on OZZFEST 2010 by clicking the link below:

OZZFEST 2010

* For more info on KATAKLYSM, click the very important link below!

KATAKLYSM – MySpace Music Page

Back on January 4, 2010, I posted about my Kataklysm – Prevail picture disc… and the Prevail album too. You can read it by clicking the ultra-large header below:

KATAKLYSM – “TAKING THE WORLD BY STORM” PICTURE DISC & “PREVAIL” ALBUM = DEATH METAL DOMINATION

LONG LIVE KATAKLYSM!

Stone.

SHOTGUN CURE – METAL BAND LOOKING TO RISE AND CONQUER WITH “DEPRAVITY UNLEASHED” EP

Posted in hard rock music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal music, heavy metal news, heavy metal videos, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 9, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

SHOTGUN CURE – It’s always a great Metal feeling, to come across a young band of Thrashers that feed off their Old School Thrash and Metal influences and put it to good Metal use. Shotgun Cure is a Metal Band that does just this and they are doing it damn well too. Originating from Toronto, Canada, Shotgun Cure is not out trying to reinvent any Metal historic genres, instead they are grabbing the Metal torch and running with it… and I only hope they don’t stop for ‘nuthin or nobody. Sure, their five song EP – Depravity Unleashed is raw… however, isn’t that how all the legends of Metal Music used to sound like in the beginning? Plus, how often are we now hearing the veteran Thrash Metal Bands wanting to return to their roots and rediscover their raw energy they once captured and assaulted our Metal senses with?

Having a raw sound is not a negative, it’s being real and blue collar. That’s Metal. There is plenty of time ahead for Shotgun Cure to polish their outer crust a bit… just about every veteran Metal Band has done so eventually. It’s what I hear within the inner core of Shotgun Cure’s Metal that counts. A sound and feel of talent that hits me with a brick load of credibility. With influences that range from Iron Maiden to Opeth, with Pantera, Slayer and Kreator inbetween, Shotgun Cure knows about which bands to learn a thing or two from.

These guys are not looking to be hobby musicians anytime soon. Shotgun Cure brings an energy that comes across as genuine, no pretensions, with aspirations of success spilling out from the vocals and guitar of Harut Savchenko, the thunderous bass playing of James Tulloch and the furious drumming of Kyle Lecourt.

Sustainment has the riff… one that opens up this song with an uncanny reminder that all is well for the future of Metal Music, thanks to rising bands like Shotgun Cure. Add the speed guitar solo from Harut, with a pummeling bass and drums and Sustainment shall sustain any Metalhead’s attention – no questions asked. Unswayed is the 7:35 Metal epic on Depravity Unleashed, forging it’s power and Metal might upon my ears without any remorse. The guitar play of Harut swelters with Thrash enormity of Old School days gone by on Unswayed, just a fine example of how tight Shotgun Cure can play on this song.

Shotgun Cure is a song that elevates this EP to a higher level, with it’s melodic guitar leads and ever memorable riffs. It is only fitting that a standout song on Depravity Unleashed is also the name of the band. Iron Shadow is an all-out Thrash blitz that distinguishes Harut as a natural when it comes to having Thrash Metal vocals… nothing is forced or contrived, it’s all authentic to these ears. Kyle on drums makes his presence quite heard on Iron Shadow, as ballistic as he is on time. Exercise This is an exercise in raw and force driven energy that is channeled through the Metal from Shotgun Cure with no compromises… no slacking on the speed here. If one is to headbang to Exercise This, they might as well order their neck brace in advance. This song is a welcomed punishment to my senses.

The reality heard in Depravity Unleashed, is that of a band giving their all. The unreal cool thought is what the future holds for Shotgun Cure… a future that should find this Canadian Metal Band making headway not only across North America but across the Atlantic as well. Only Metal time will tell, however, as I will be rooting for Shotgun Cure all the way.

* Metal Odyssey gives Shotgun Cure – Depravity Unleashed EP 4 out of 5 Metal Fists!

It’s the younger generation of Metal Bands like Shotgun Cure, that will ensure the music we Old School Metalheads cherish, will continue to reign for decades to come.

Track Listing For Depravity Unleashed EP:

Sustainment

Exercise This

Unswayed

Shotgun Cure

Iron Shadow

* Check out Shotgun CureSustainment – Live by clicking the cool box below… oh yeah… don’t forget to crank this Metal up LOUD too!

* You can check out more cool info on Shotgun Cure and also purchase the Depravity Unleashed EP, plus more merch by clicking the link below:

SHOTGUN CURE – MySpace Music Page

Left to right: James Tulloch (bass), Harut Savchenko (vocals & guitar), Kyle Lecourt (drums).

Stone.