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HEMOPTYSIS – Ink Deal With Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records!

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 March 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Phoenix, Arizona – March 8th, 2011 – On the same day that their first full length album is released (Misanthropic Slaughter), Phoenix based Metallers HEMOPTYSIS are proud to announce that they have signed a licensing deal with German label – Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records. Click here to check them out: Rock It Up / IceWarrior Records

Commented vocalist/guitarist Masaki Murashita: “We are proud to be working with such a great group of people. Franko at Rock It Up has really done an amazing job in making this deal happen. We look forward to our continued success throughout Europe and we hope to be playing many shows over there in the near future”.

Misanthropic Slaughter is available worldwide online now at this location: http://www.misanthropicslaughter.com as well as iTunes, Amazon.com and other fine online retailers. Misanthropic Slaughter will hit stores throughout Europe in late April of 2011 via Rock It Up Records.

METAL ODYSSEY CONGRATULATES HEMOPTYSIS! HORNS UP!

GO KICK SOME F’N METAL ASS HEMOPTYSIS!

Misanthropic Slaughter Track Listing:

Misanthropic Slaughter

Hopeless

M.O.D.

Impending Doom

And The World Dies

Interlude

The Cycle

Blood Storm

Shadow of Death

Hadephobia

End of Sorrow

HEMOPTYSIS is:

Masaki Murashita – vocals & guitar

Ryan Miller – lead guitar

Sunao Arai – bass

Travis Thune – drums

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

HEMOPTYSIS – REVERBNATION

HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website

HEMOPTYSIS – myspace music

HEMOPTYSIS – Facebook

LONG LIVE HEMOPTYSIS.

Stone.

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Withering Soul “No Closure” Releases Today, March 8th, 2011!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOUL – No Closure from Chicago’s WITHERING SOUL sees release today, March 8th, 2011 through Mortal Music. X-Plosive Metal called No Closure a “brilliant record”, The Offering Webzine dubbed it “a great Black Metal album” and Blistering.com declared it “a great album”.

No Closure is a combination of Symphonic Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal with some Gothic overtones thrown in as well. As an added treat, guest backing vocals have been provided by Melissa Ferlaak. Inclusive of quality Scandinavian influences, but now with mature competency, Withering Soul have carved out their own path that is destined to generate a buzz in the underground and capture fans across the board.

(Source: Clawhammer PR)

* For more info on Withering Soul, click the links below:

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

Wanna read my album review for No Closure? Just click the big header link below!

Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.

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CHIMAIRA “Wild Thing” Cover Song – A Horns Up To Charlie Sheen’s “Major League” Movie And Available Now at iTunes!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 7, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) – CHIMAIRA joined in the fun of celebrating Charlie Sheen last week by covering the song “Wild Thing” in the studio, a tribute to Charlie Sheen’s 1989 hit comedy movie “Major League”. “We had some fun at the studio”, says Chimaira’s front man Mark Hunter.

Chimaira is currently in the studio finishing up their upcoming record to be released later this year. Recently signing a new record deal with eOne Music for North America, South America and Japan, Mark Hunter offers: “We are excited to start the new decade with a team that believes in our music, has our back and thinks outside the box. eOne are one of the very few labels out there who still give a damn about the genre and Chimaira are proud to be a part of that. Expect great things in 2011”.

Chimaira released their album “The Infection” back in 2009 to serious critical acclaims with hit singles “Secrets of the Dead” and “Destroy and Dominate”, which claimed the #30 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Their most recent effort was a three disc live DVD, which also features a documentary about the band called “Coming Alive”.

* Over the past 10 years, Chimaira has sold close to 500,000 albums.

A “Wild Thing” song history, (see below), brought to you by Metal Odyssey’s Stone:

* “Wild Thing” was written by songwriter Chip Taylor, (real name: James Wesley Voight), who was born in New York City. This iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll song was originally recorded by The Wild Ones back in 1965. The English Rock Band – The Troggs covered “Wild Thing” back in 1966 and reached #1 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of 1966.

Stone’s “Wild Thing” Cover Song Review:

Okay, I bought this cover song of “Wild Thing” from iTunes today. It realistically served me right. I never thought I would be saying this about Chimaira… they actually made a (gulp) “fun” song. This cover version has it’s Metal grooves happening with plenty of crunch. Yes, Mark Hunter still sounds quite pissed off vocally, so don’t worry all of you Chimaira die-hards out there! “Wild Thing” clocks in at 2:30 long, so it’s no epic, it’s just a good Metal kick-in-the-ass to kick start my day. Or is that kick start my night? A Must Metal buy for only $1.29!

CHIMAIRA:

Mark Hunter – vocals

Matt DeVries – guitar

Rob Arnold – guitar

Andols Herrick – drums

Chris Spicuzza – keyboards, samples & backing vocals

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

CHIMAIRA – Official Website

CHIMAIRA – myspace music

CHIMAIRA – Official Facebook

CHIMAIRA (chimairaband) On Twitter

* You can preview and/or buy Chimaira’s cover song “Wild Thing” at iTunes by clicking on the link below!

http://bit.ly/eRJQ0z

(Source: eOne Music)

* Metal Odyssey receives 0% compensation from iTunes for directing you to their store for making a song purchase. This is all done in good Metal faith, to assist all fellow Metalheads worldwide, in finding easy access to this new Chimaira song. Metal be thy name.

LONG LIVE CHIMAIRA.

Stone.

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FAITHSEDGE – Releasing Self-Titled Debut On April 19th, 2011! Album Details and Some Metal Thoughts…

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, melodic metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, progressive metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

FAITHSEDGE – What do you get when you combine Heavy Metal and Hard Rock with a bit of Progressive sound and style? FAITHSEDGE is the Metal answer. FAITHSEDGE will be releasing their self-titled debut album on April 19th, 2011, via Scarlet Records. This “new” band can surely be recognized as a supergroup, only the ego’s appear to be non-existent, based on the quality Heavy Music I’m listening to. Five songs are currently streaming on the official FAITHSEDGE website and they are worth every second of your Metal time to check out! (See link at bottom of post)

Making up this veteran lineup of musicians that are FAITHSEDGE: Giancarlo Floridia on lead vocals and guitar, has worked alongside world respected producers Mike Talanca (David Bowie/Foreigner) and Juan Croucier (ex-Ratt) along with others. Songwriter as well, Giancarlo founded FAITHSEDGE in 2009, in Huntington Beach, California. Well known bass guitarist and producer Fabrizio Grossi has worked alongside numerous names in the music industry, including: Alice Cooper, Steve Lukather, George Clinton, Ice T and Cypress Hill, to name a many few.

Alex De Rosso on lead guitar has played “live” lead guitar for Dokken, while touring the globe with them. Alex De Rosso is without a doubt, a widely respected guitarist amongst his peers in the recording industry and has worked alongside some of the very best. Tony Morra on drums owns his own studio in Nashville, Tennessee (the Downtown Batterie) and has played with Rebecca St. James and Van Zant to name a couple.

I’d like to tell the world that I really dig what I hear thus far from FAITHSEDGE. There is a Classic Rock meets Classic Metal feel and vibe that jumps right out of the songs from this band. Giancarlo on vocals sounds excellent, lending plenty of emotion to the lyrics. After listening to Giancarlo, you just might think he is a standout vocalist and guitarist with Arena Rock roots, stretching back to those glory days we call the 80’s. Psyche-you-out guitar licks are aplenty, which gives this band it’s heavy and melodic muscle.

Collectively (not to leave out anyone) FAITHSEDGE plays tight, melodic Hard Rock and Heavy Metal that spills over with many memorable moments for me. This is top quality, this is FAITHSEDGE. These are songs that are worthy of being heard live and loud in any venue on this planet. Metal be thy name.

* Phil Vincent – provides additional background vocals.

This FAITHSEDGE album was:

* Produced, recorded and mixed by Fabrizio Grossi.

* Recorded at Noize Factor Studio (Valencia, CA).

* Mastered by Tom Baker at Precision Mastering (Hollywood, CA).

Track Listing for FAITHSEDGE (partial due to availability)

Another Chance

Let It End This Way

Somewhere In Your Heart

The World Keep Falling Down

There’s Still Hope

* Album cover picture by: Richard Crosthwaite

* Album cover model: Jessica Renee Wilson

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

FAITHSEDGE – Official Website

SCARLET RECORDS

LONG LIVE FAITHSEDGE.

LONG LIVE ESKI.

Stone.

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CALIFORNIA METALFEST V – AS I LAY DYING Headlines On Saturday, March 19th, 2011! Bands Listed!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal favorites, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

CALIFORNIA METALFEST V – This looks like an extremely cool Metalfest to me! Tim Lambesis (vocalist & founding member) of As I Lay Dying is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist that I applaud tremendously, in this vast world of Metal. I consider Tim to be a prodigious Metal talent. The Powerless Rise (Metal Blade) is the most recent album from As I Lay Dying and one that I listen to consistently. As I Lay Dying tears it apart, per usual, on this strong album of Metal.

It’s the Extreme side of As I Lay Dying that made me gravitate to them in the first place, mixing multiple styles of Metal together to form their own standout sound. Metalcore, Metal and Extreme… we can play the genre game all day long here, just know that As I Lay Dying is one substantial Metal band out there today. Man, I wish this California Metalfest V was just down the street from me! Two words for any Metalhead that is going to this show… you lucky.

I get the biggest Metal kick out of Tim’s side project world-known as Austrian Death Machine. The Thrashin’ Death grooves that Tim Lambesis has created with Austrian Death Machine are infectious to my Metal lovin’ ears. Plus, the parody of Arnold Schwarzenegger through the character (voice-over) of “Ahhhnold” is just (gulp) fun Metal stuff. I recommend any rabid Metal fan out there to get their ears into Austrian Death Machine (if you already haven’t).

The above CALIFORNIA METALFEST V poster pretty much says it all when it comes to any general Metal info!

* For more necessary info like directions/how to buy tickets, click link below:

City National Grove Of Anaheim

* For more Metal info on AS I LAY DYING, click link below:

AS I LAY DYING – myspace music

LONG LIVE CALIFORNIA METALFEST.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

3 Comments »

KISS, JOURNEY and DAUGHTRY – HEADLINING ROCK USA 2011 FESTIVAL IN OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock festivals, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROCK USA 2011 – It’s spectacular Rock ‘n’ Roll news! KISS, Journey and Daughtry will be headlining the Rock USA 2011 festival at Ford Festival Park in the great city of Oshkosh, Wisconsin! This extremely cool Rock USA 2011 will take place on July 14th, 15th and 16th. There is a “TBA” (to be announced) shown, so we will stay tuned as to what band is added! The three days of band lineups for Rock USA 2011 are listed below. These lineups are current with the Rock USA 2011 website as of March 29th, 2011:

JULY 14TH BAND LINEUPS:

DAUGHTRY

BUCKCHERRY

PUDDLE OF MUDD

CHEAP TRICK

BOXKAR

JULY 15TH BAND LINEUPS:

JOURNEY

LYNYRD SKYNYRD

TBA

CANDLEBOX

WARRANT

HYDE

JULY 16TH BAND LINEUPS:

KISS

KORN

HOLLYWOOD UNDEAD

DOKKEN

ROAD TRIP

KINDRED SOUL

You did read that right… CHEAP TRICK, BUCKCHERRY, LYNYRD SKYNYRD and KORN are on the bill too! Metal be thy name, this looks to be one incredibly potent lineup of bands!!

* My Metal research has found that Oshkosh, Wisconsin has a population of 64,592, with a metropolitan population of 160,000. These are 2007 statistics.

* For all info including ticket info just click on the links below:

ROCK USA OSHKOSH 2011 – Official Website

ROCK USA OSHKOSH 2011 – Facebook

LONG LIVE THE ROCK USA FESTIVAL.

LONG LIVE THE POWER OF ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

Stone.

14 Comments »

Rock Jamberoni – A Dream Album Of Classic Rock, Southern Rock and Heavy Metal Jams!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news, southern rock with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 5, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROCK JAMBERONI – Have you ever wished for that one day, when you were handed the golden keys to a record company by being named it’s Chief Executive Officer? With this newly bestowed title, you are now able to create that one Rock ‘n’ Roll album that forges your name alongside the legends of Rock ‘n’ Roll history? Well, yesterday I received word via email that my Rock ‘n’ Roll wish has been granted. For today only, I have been officially designated as the CEO and producer for Coverdale Records.

Given my new found Rock ‘n’ Roll power, I’ve decided to take up the fun task of compiling an album of legendary songs. These songs feature kick ass Classic Rock, Southern Rock, Hard Rock and Heavy Metal jams! These jams aren’t just merely a guitar solo heard at the beginning or during the middle of a song, these are full-throttle instrumental jams that last more than a minute with total band participation. Below is the album track listing of such legendary jam songs… and I’m titling this revved-up album – Rock Jamberoni. The expected release date is March 24, 2011. Enjoy!

Rock Jamberoni – Track Listing:

Green Grass and High Tides – The Outlaws

Fall of the Peacemakers – Molly Hatchet

Highway Song – Blackfoot

Freebird – Lynyrd Skynyrd

Working Man – Rush

Whole Lotta Rosie – AC/DC

Wasted White Boys – W.A.S.P.

Hallowed Be Thy Name – Iron Maiden

Fade To Black – Metallica

Beyond the Realms of Death – Judas Priest

Layla – Derek and the Dominos

Diamonds For Eyes – Whitestarr

* Bonus Track:

Hocus Pocus – Focus

Life Is One Gigantic Jam Session!

Scott Coverdale.

3 Comments »

HELSTAR – Announce New Texas and NYC Area Shows!

Posted in Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on March 3, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HELSTAR – Riding high on the incredible response to their recently released seventh full-length Glory Of Chaos, Houston’s HELSTAR are busy booking live appearances for the coming months. In addition to their appearance this weekend at the San Antonio Metalfest, several brand new Summer appearances have also been confirmed, both in their home state of Texas as well as two appearances in Northern New Jersey, with more to be announced for New York City and more shortly.

HELSTAR Confirmed Live Appearances:

3/05/2011 The Dorm – San Antonio, TX

6/17/2011 The Rail – Fort Worth, TX

6/18/2011 Dirty Dog – Austin, TX

6/24/2011 Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ

6/25/2011 *TBA – New York, NY

Released in North America via AFM Records in early February, HELSTAR’s Glory Of Chaos is a ballsy, blazing full-length display of pure American heavy metal, taking their classic sound to aggressive new measures on the new album.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

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

HELSTAR – Official Website

HELSTAR – myspace music

LONG LIVE HELSTAR.

Stone.

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Metal Odyssey Celebrates Two Year Anniversary!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

METAL ODYSSEY – Back on March 1st, 2009, I started this Metal Odyssey – Heavy Metal Music Blog. As days, weeks and months passed by, I realized that Classic Rock, Punk Rock, Rock, Hard Rock and even Folk Rock were being consumed by my ears all of my life as well. It’s the Rock classics of yesteryear that made me the Metalhead I am today anyways! With so many Rock genres crossing my Metal path, I began to write album reviews and commentary about them. So, a union of Rock ‘n’ Roll sort of happened within a two year period on Metal Odyssey. My first love is Metal, yet I’m a bona fide Rockaholic. If it Rocks, I’m listening and blabbing… regardless of genre.

* I chose to show the album cover for Slayer’s Show No Mercy at the top of this post for one simple reason: this album represents my coming of Metal age as a young lad… when the bands I began to follow were no longer available at my Caldor department store!

Without making a huge list of names, I want to say THANK YOU:

* To all the visitors and subscribers to Metal Odyssey. Without you Rockin’ guys and gals, there would be no reason to even have this blog! Really. Sure, I enjoy writing about music… only it is extremely more enjoyable knowing that my “stuff” is actually being read by others who either agree or disagree with me. I thank all the visitors and fellow Metalheads for their comments!

* To all the bands and musicians who I’ve interviewed and/or became friends with during the past two years. It’s Rockin’ guys and gals like you, who’ve inspired me to listen better and write all the more about Metal and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

* To all my peer Rock, Hard Rock and Metal bloggers out there. Many I have become Metal buddies with and I can’t describe just how cool that makes me feel! Rob Rockitt at HARD ROCK HIDEOUT, Kinger at Demolish Fanzine – 1980’s Heavy Metal Revival and Metal Mark at Heavy Metal Time Machine… thank you for listening to my whining and helping me out as often as you do. Gee Metal whiz you guys ROCK.

* To all the incredibly cool PR guys and gals who have been instrumental in helping Metal Odyssey have the Metal muscle to deliver the Metal goods! Metal be thy name.

* A special thank you to my wife and Scott Coverdale for their support! Coverdale’s Metal research is a splendid thing and he is embarking on being a contributing writer for Metal Odyssey too!

* Anyone that I forgot to thank… THANK YOU!

* To read the very first post I ever wrote for Metal Odyssey, just click that big header link below. When I read it now I get embarrassed.

HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK RULES.

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

LONG LIVE METAL.

The word “splendid” was used in this post.

Stone.

19 Comments »

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – ADDED TO 2011 DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL!

Posted in concerts, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich)

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH have been confirmed for this year’s DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL held in Donington Park, UK from June 10th through June 12th. Sharing the stage with legends as LINKIN PARK, DEF LEPPARD and SYSTEM OF A DOWN. Front woman Alexis Brown comments, “I feel by us being added to Download that we’ve been handed a huge opportunity. I can’t wait to see what lies in store. The line up is pretty sick too!” This will also be the band’s first official performance in the United Kingdom and outside the US. More information on DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL can be found on their website, tickets are on sale now. Click here for info: DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL

* For more info on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, click the link below:

Straight Line Stitch – MySpace.com

* For more current Rockin’ news releases on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, click the large header link below:

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – Reveals More New Album Info, Premieres Another Brand New Song, Pre-Order Available!

LONG LIVE STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.

Stone.

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SYMFONIA – All-Star Melodic Metal Project To Release Debut Via Armoury Records This April! New Song Stream Available!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, melodic metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, Power Metal, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on February 28, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

SYMFONIA — the new Melodic Metal project featuring the all-star lineup of guitarist Timo Tolkki (ex-Stratovarius), vocalist Andre Matos (ex-Angra), drummer Uli Kusch (ex-Helloween), bassist Jari Kainulainen (ex-Stratovarius) and keyboardist Mikko Harkin (ex-Sonata Artica) — are gearing up to release their debut full-length. Titled In Paradisum, the ten-track offering was recorded mainly in Finland, mixed and mastered in Italy and produced by Timo Tolkki. The record will be released in North America via Armoury Records on April 19, 2011.

To check out a stream of “Pilgrim Road,” the sixth track off In Paradisum, visit the band’s official website HERE [click the “News” link].

In Paradisum Track Listing:

01. Fields Of Avalon

02. Come By The Hills

03. Santiago

04. Alayna

05. Forevermore

06. Pilgrim Road

07. In Paradisum

08. Rhapsody In Black

09. I Walk In Neon

10. Don’t Let me Go

Honoring the heritage of their previous bands, SYMFONIA is a force no serious melodic metal fan will be able to ignore. The band made its live debut on February 18 at the Finnish Metal Expo in Helsinki, Finland. To check out some fan-filmed video footage, point your browser HERE.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

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

http://www.symfonia.fi

http://www.eaglerockent.com

LONG LIVE SYMFONIA.

Stone.

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ROTTEN SOUND “Cursed” – Releases In U.S. On March 15th, 2011!

Posted in Death Metal, deathgrind, Extreme Metal, grindcore, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROTTEN SOUND – Finland’s Deathgrind/Grindcore warriors Rotten Sound have returned with another studio album of 16 new songs titled: Cursed. This new album is releasing on March 15th, 2011, on Relapse Records. Rotten Sound is currently on tour in the U.S.A. and are spreading their legendary, ultra-aggressive and Extreme Metal sound on the East Coast. Here are the current U.S. tour dates:

02/26/11 – New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre

02/27/11 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

02/28/11 – West Springfiled, VA @ Jaxx

03/01/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero

03/02/11 – West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx

03/03/11 – Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah

03/04/11 – Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11 Tavern

ROTTEN SOUND:

Keijo Niinimaa – vocals

Mika Aalto – guitar

Sami Latva – drums

Kristian Toivainen – bass

Track Listing For Cursed:

Alone

Superior

Self

Choose

Hollow

Ritual

Green

Machinery

Power

Plan

Declare

Addict

Exploit

Terrified

Scared

Doomed

* For more info on ROTTEN SOUND, click on the links below:

ROTTEN SOUND – myspace music

RELAPSE RECORDS

LONG LIVE ROTTEN SOUND.

Stone.

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The 53rd Grammy Awards – Some Hard Rock and Metal Thoughts…

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal songs, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 25, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

53rd GRAMMY AWARDS – On February 13, 2011, the 53rd Grammy Awards took place. Yippee. Planet Earth is saved once again. Generations of Metalheads are so honored to have a select few of our bands nominated by this red carpet billionaire’s club. Per usual, the “establishment” behind the Grammy Awards has not a remote clue in knowing the difference between Hard Rock and Metal. Here is Exhibit A in explaining my Metal point:

Ozzy Osbourne is NOT a Hard Rock artist. Um, no. So, why was Ozzy Osbourne nominated for “Best Hard Rock Performance” with Let Me Hear You Scream from his 2010 Scream album? I’ve listened to this song enough times to realize it’s NOT Hard Rock. Yes, Ozzy has been known for his ballads in the past, Goodbye To Romance, So Tired and Mama I’m Coming Home are a few examples. These Ozzy ballads can very well be considered Hard Rock. My argument is, Let Me Hear You Scream is NOT a ballad, it is Heavy Metal or Metal, whichever you prefer. Therefore, WTF am I missing here? Calling this Ozzy song Hard Rock is like calling Slayer’s Reign In Blood album… Modern Rock.

Any astute fan of Ozzy Osbourne and/or Heavy Metal will agree, that 95% of Ozzy Osbourne’s music catalog is… Metal or Heavy Metal, whichever you prefer once again. Plus, 95% is probably too low. It’s very sad, that  the “decision makers” behind the Grammy Awards cannot tell the difference between world known and historic Rock genres such as Hard Rock and Metal. It’s like not knowing the difference between a beer and an ale. There is a difference! Ozzy Osbourne is extremely deserved of a Grammy Award for Let Me Hear You Scream, make no mistake about it. Ozzy was also deserved of many, many, many, other missed nominations for a Grammy award in the past as well. Metal be thy name.

When it came down to “Best Metal Performance”, that so-called sacred institution called the Grammys got it right with all of their nominations being Metal. Big deal. Their supposed to get it right for Metal sakes. However, the Grammys are decades late in honoring the ultra-legendary Iron Maiden. El Dorado from their 2010 studio album, The Final Frontier, was nominated for this “coveted” award and won. In my Metal opinion, the first five Iron Maiden albums are superior to that of The Final Frontier. Self-titled (1980), Killers (1981), The Number Of The Beast (1982), Piece Of Mind (1983) and Powerslave (1984) are audio textbooks for Metal 101. I will even add the 1988 album, Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son, to this list of Iron Maiden excellence. These are the influential and legendary Iron Maiden albums, the albums that bulldozed the path for countless Metal bands to travel, spanning into a fourth decade now.

I realize that a “Best Metal Performance” never existed during the years when Iron Maiden’s first five albums were released. This Grammy category did exist back in 2007 and Iron Maiden’s 2006 studio album A Matter Of Life And Death was ignored, which is a superior album to that of The Final Frontier as well. Am I happy for Iron Maiden winning the “Best Metal Performance” Grammy? Of course I am. The mainstream Grammys acknowledging Iron Maiden for their Metal contribution(s) has been long overdue. Do you think Iron Maiden cares if I’m happy for them? I doubt it. I will close with this, Iron Maiden should know where their true glory reigns within their album of catalogs and The Final Frontier is not in the same class with their previous albums I mentioned. Some may disagree with me, only I do know that I’m not alone in my Metal thinking.

LONG LIVE OZZY OSBOURNE.

LONG LIVE IRON MAIDEN.

Stone.

5 Comments »

Classic Rock… What Would I Do Without You?

Posted in classic rock, classic rock bands, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on February 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

CLASSIC ROCK – Yes, I will admit, the thought of a world without Classic Rock is a bit scary. Just in the last couple of days, I thought to myself, what would I do without Classic Rock? If it wasn’t for the bands, solo musicians and albums of Rock ‘N’ Roll’s yesteryears would Metal as we all know and love it in 2011 be the same? What would Rock and Hard Rock have sounded like the past 20 years without Classic Rock? The Classic Rock bands that I turn to on a consistent listening basis, are equivalent to comfort food. My mashed potatoes and chicken pot pies of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

Truthfully, bands like the Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Queen, Pink Floyd, Styx, The Doors, Deep Purple, Rainbow, Cheap Trick, Foreigner, Heart, Bad Company, Grand Funk Railroad, Yes, Sweet, Asia and Boston give me an engulfing sense that everything is either alright or it’s gonna be alright. There are countless more Classic Rock bands that I can rattle off here, of course. These bands and their albums have forever been linked to moments I’ve experienced through life, good or bad, from a young lad to adulthood. Certainly, any fan of music knows what I’m getting at here… I hope.

I can’t leave out KISS… their 1970’s catalog of albums can realistically be tagged as Classic Rock, regardless of the Hard Rock and Heavy Metal that they are so famously known for. How about Motörhead? Can a case be made that this iconic Rock ‘N’ Roll band’s legacy is, after all, Classic Rock worthy? Am I just getting too damned sentimental in my thoughts? Am I becoming this big old softy after all? Classic Rock is synonymous with good times. That’s just the way I feel about this era of Rock ‘N’ Roll.

There will never be another 1950’s, 1960’s, 1970’s or 1980’s. Those are all decades that will continue to live on through their respective music, with no genre excluded. No decade can ever be duplicated for it’s pop-cultural or Rock ‘N’ Roll impact. Duplication of a Classic Rock sound and/or style is merely called influence. Classic Rock grows it’s roots deeper into the fabric of Rock ‘N’ Roll history with each passing day. There are young bands of today that will inevitably be looked upon as influential and classic as well… 25 or 30 years down the road by different generations of fans.

Who are these bands of today that will be the Classic Rock influences of tomorrow? Is it Kopek? Rooney? My Darkest Days? Pop Evil? Daughtry? Sons Of Sylvia? I never thought of this question when I was a young lad. I used to think that the bands I listened to back then would not be around once I turned, um, the age I am now. Man, was I ever wrong! I’m very glad that I was wrong too.

LONG LIVE CLASSIC ROCK.

Stone.

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STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – Reveals More New Album Info, Premieres Another Brand New Song, Pre-Order Available!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich)

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH has released more details on their upcoming record along with another new song from their new record entitled “Laughing in the Rearview,”exclusively at ArtistDirect.com.

Hear it here: http://bit.ly/h6lLAo

“Laughing in The Rearview is about hardships in life and then later on in life looking back you realize things weren’t as bad as you’d initially thought. So you laugh at it.” says front woman Alexis Brown.

Track listing For The Fight Of Our Lives:

1. Tear Down The Sky

2. Conversion

3. Laughing In The Rearview

4. Cold Front

5. No Tomorrow

6. Bar Room Brawl

7. One Reason

8. Never Surrender

9. Living Dead

10. Sound Of Silence

11. Ashes In The Wind

A few pre-orders are available as well offering an array of added incentives not otherwise offered in stores. Click here http://bit.ly/fZ8zF7 for the bands merch store or here for iTunes, http://bit.ly/gxXYvJ.

The band recently shot a new music video for their new single “Conversion” with veteran director Dale “Rage” Resteghini. “Conversion is one of my favorite songs on the record because its about shedding old skin & becoming a whole another being. I’m really stoked that its the first video off our new record.” says Brown.

Listen to “Conversion” here: http://bit.ly/hBIVb0 and watch the behind the scenes video here:  http://bit.ly/hcq0Vh

The band recently announced that they have been added to the robust lineup that is the 2011 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL featuring MEGADETH, DISTURBED and GODSMACK. The band will be appearing on the “Extreme Stage” on all dates along with SUICIDE SILENCE & ALL SHALL PERISH. “Getting added to Mayhem is definitely a highlight of our careers thus far. There are so many amazing bands we thought we’d never get the opportunity to play with & now we get to. It’s gonna be a surreal summer for sure.” says Brown. Dates can be seen below.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH has completed work on their new studio album, “The Fight Of Our Lives” due for release on March 22, 2011 via eOne Music. The new album is set to include eleven new songs and will be the follow-up to their album, “When Skies Wash Ashore” released in 2008. The band is set to hit the ground running in 2011. After finishing recent dates supporting NONPOINT, the band is in the middle of the much anticipated debut tour of TIMES OF GRACE, a new collaborative effort between Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach. Additional support on that tour will come from the mighty WAR OF AGES.

Supporting Times of Grace:

2/22 New York, NY @ Gramercy

2/24 West Chester, PA @ The Note

2/25 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls

2/26 Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance

2/27 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2011 tour dates

Jul. 09 – San Bernardino, CA @ San Manuel Amphitheatre

Jul. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

Jul. 12 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater

Jul. 13 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre

Jul. 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Jul. 16 – Albuquerque, NM @ Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion

Jul. 17 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

Jul. 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Jul. 20 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center

Jul. 22 – Boston, MA @ Comcast Center

Jul. 23 – Montreal, QUE @ Parc Jean Drapeau

Jul. 24 – Hartford, CT @ The Comcast Theatre

Jul. 27 – Holmdel, NJ @ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center

Jul. 29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion

Jul. 30 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live

Jul. 31 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center

Aug. 02 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless V. Beach Amphitheater

Aug. 03 – Raleigh, NC @ Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek

Aug. 05 – Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

Aug. 06 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre

Aug. 07 – Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center

Aug. 09 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre

Aug. 10 – Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center

Aug. 12 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre

Aug. 13 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-Ask-Gary-Amphitheatre

Aug. 14 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheater

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

* For more info on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/straightlinestitch

http://www.twitter.com/slsband1

http://www.allinmerch.com/straightlinestitch

http://www.myspace.com/straightlinestitch

http://www.youtube.com/straightlinestitch1

(Source: eOne Music)

LONG LIVE STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.

Stone.

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Motörhead “Icon” Compilation CD – Made My Metal Day!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, life, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Motörhead – This is how my Metal story went: You see, I was feeling rather chipper due to my receiving a “clean bill O’ health” from my doctor on Tuesday, February 22nd. Therefore, when Stone feels good about being healthy, well, that’s cause for celebration. What did I do you query? I drove to my nearby Target “Greatland” store and parked my car. There is something about going to Target that makes me feel like things are cool in Stone’s land. It’s called living on the edge. (chuckle). I can’t understand it, I just go with it. Upon sitting there in this Target parking lot, I wondered what the hell was I suppose to be buying anyways? I guess I’d find something I figured to myself.

Once I was in the store, I walked over to the household cleaning supplies aisle and grabbed a couple packages of those all-purpose cleaning wipes. Then I grabbed a jumbo package of those anti-bacterial handi-wipes too… with kids and a cat, they really do come in handi, um, I mean handy. Well, by now you are probably wondering what the hell handi-wipes, all-purpose cleaning wipes and Target has to do with this Motörhead Icon compilation CD huh? As anyone who listens to Hard Rock or Metal Music knows, the CD selection at Target simply stinks like camel feces on a humid day. However… there are those rare moments… when a cool CD can be found at Target. This Tuesday trip to Target was just that moment.

While browsing the CD’s, from the corner of my eye, I saw that vintage Motörhead logo and Snaggletooth. The CD that jumped out at me was actually a black and white cover of the 1977 debut/self-titled Motörhead album. As it turned out, this Motörhead CD is a compilation or greatest hits (take your pick) of this incredibly legendary Rock ‘n’ Roll band. Apparently, Sanctuary Records has released an assortment of Classic Rock and Heavy Metal bands through their Icon series of compilations last year and Motörhead is one of them. I’ve seen Icon compilations of Styx, KISS and Rush recently for sale on the retail level, only this was the first time I found Motörhead!

Yes, I own every song that is on this Motörhead compilation already, so have I wasted my money? Simply put… nope. I just could not resist the urge to buy this CD today. It’s F’n Motörhead. The vintage CD artwork and back cover photo of Lemmy, “Fast” Eddie Clarke and Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor were motivating factors for me to make the purchase, plus being a Motörhead fan and Metal music hoarder does help. This is about having 12 Motörhead classics on one CD, with eye candy artwork, that I can grab when I’m on the move… I can slap this CD into my car stereo and have instant Motörhead gratification!

On a personal Metal level, I’m psyched that I made it through a doctor’s appointment and psyched that I bought this Motörhead CD on the same day. I guess there was a legitimate purchase for me to get on this Target trip afterall… and it was Motörhead. Metal be thy name.

Sure, there a dozens, perhaps hundreds of Motörhead compilations out there. I’m sure it was no easy task, choosing the best songs from this Rock historical band’s vast catalog, to be on this CD. My favorite song on this Icon compilation is Killed By Death. If it were up to me, I’d have chosen One Track Mind (from Motörhead’s 1983 album – Another Perfect Day) to be on this compilation as well. The track listing is shown on this Motörhead CD cover photo, at the top of this post. The type may be too tiny or fuzzed out to read, so here is the track listing below to help out us elder Metalheads:

Iron Fist

(We Are) The Roadcrew

Ace Of Spades

Louie Louie

Eat The Rich

Motörhead (Live)

Bomber

Rock ‘N’ Roll

Damage Case

Dead Men Tell No Tales

Killed By Death

Overkill

Long Live Motörhead.

Stone.

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HULL – Brooklyn Sludge Rockers Announce U.S. 2011 Tour Dates!

Posted in Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, sludge metal with tags , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Three guitar led Brooklyn progressive Sludge rockers, HULL, are readying for a near two-week tour with post-doom troupe Batillus next month. The 12-date trek will commence on March 11 at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia, including a run through SXSW in Austin where they’ll crush the masses at the Full Metal Texas and The End Records showcases, and draw to a close at a special Manhattan performance on March 26th at The Studio at Webster Hall. Confirmed dates below:

HULL 2011 U.S. Tour with Batillus:

3/11/2011 Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA w/ Ominous Black

3/12/2011 Strange Matter – Richmond, VA w/ U.S. Christmas, Balaclava

3/13/2011 Hideaway – Johnson City, TN w/ U.S. Christmas

3/17/2011 Emo’s [Full Metal Texas SXSW Showcase] – Austin, TX w/ Rwake, Trap Them, All Pigs Die and more…

3/17/2011 Ale House [ The End Records’ SXSW Showcase] – Austin, TX w/ Goes Cube, Novembers Doom and more..

3/18/2011 Triple Crown Tattoo – Austin, TX w/ Pack Of Wolves, Mutilation Rites

3/19/2011 Shiner Bar – Austin, TX w/ Pack Of Wolves

3/21/2011 Siberia – New Orleans, LA w/ The Body, Mutilation Rites

3/22/2011 Little Hamilton Collective – Nashville, TN w/ Mose Giganticus, Sacaea

3/23/2011 Reservoir Bar – Chapel Hill, NC w/ Caltrop

3/24/2011 Sidebar – Baltimore, MD w/ Caltrop, Billows

3/25/2011 The Meatlocker – Montclair, NJ w/ Caltrop

3/26/2011 The Studio at Webster Hall – New York, NY w/ Caltrop

HULL kicked off what will prove to be a busy year with a devouring performance opening for Doom legends Pentagram. As previously announced, the band will release their epic Viking Funeral EP, initially self-released in 2005, on vinyl via Science Of Silence records later this spring. The limited edition wax version will come in 180 gram blood red/black swirl vinyl with the song on one side, a laser etched image on the other and a parchment insert with the detailed Viking Funeral saga as well as a sticker and digital download info all wrapped in a Viking Funeral poster and wax-stamped with the band’s logo. To get your hands on some Viking Funeral vinyl (as well as a sampling of the new tunes), don’t miss HULL on this upcoming run of dates.

The band is putting the finishing touches on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed Sole Lord debut, issued via The End Records in 2009. Their sophomore full-length will be co-produced by Brett Romnes (who played drums on the Viking Funeral EP) and mixed by Billy Anderson (Sleep, High On Fire, Neurosis, Eyehategod, Melvins et al). The record is slated for release this Summer with another bout of live dates to follow. Stay tuned for further info…

(Source: Earsplit PR)

LONG LIVE HULL.

Stone.

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Wildside, Bangalore Choir and Slik Toxik – Hair Metal Album Flashback to 1992

Posted in classic rock, glam metal, Hair Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, metal music, Metal Reviews, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on February 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Hair Metal was alive in 1992, the only thing was that nobody noticed. For that matter, I didn’t even notice I was winding down my five year college career back in 1992. However, there were three outstanding debut albums I want to revisit from that blurry year of ’92. Wildside – Under The Influence, Bangalore Choir – On Target and Slik Toxik – Doin The Nasty are three albums I believe would have been huge hits, if only they had been released in a more rightful timeline three or four years earlier. Instead, these albums were seriously overlooked while the malcontents of Metal (aka Grunge bands) were storming their way onto the Metal scene.

Of these three albums, my personal favorite is Wildside’s Under The Influence. There is not a bad song on this album, in my opinion. Wildside’s Drew Hannah epitomizes what a Hair Metal vocalist is all about. Raw and powerful are his vocals, there are no other adjectives needed. From the opening track Hang On Lucy and onward, this album kick’s major Metal butt. So Far Away is a terrific follow up tune that keeps the Metal riffs rolling. Just Another Night is a power ballad and just a fantastic song all around. Drew Hannah’s voice just soars on Just Another Night and is a bit reminiscent of a Steelheart style of ballad. Looks Like Love is another slow tempo song, still it packs some great guitar licks.

A song that continues on the momentum of Under The Influence is one of my personal favorites on this album… Hair Of The Dog. The only blemish on Under The Influence may very well be Kiss This Love Goodbye. This is another power ballad that just misses the mark for me. Wildside ends their impressive debut album in grand Arena Rock style with Clock Strikes. Regardless if Under The Influence is out of print or not, if you can find a copy I definitely recommend getting your hands on it. Wildside Under The Influence is truly one of the most underrated Hair Metal albums of all-time.

On Target by Bangalore Choir came equipped with a familiar Metal voice in front man David Reece, who had previously fronted for German Heavy Metal legends… ACCEPT. (David was Accept’s lead vocalist for their 1989 studio album – Eat The Heat). For obvious reasons, the combination of David Reece and Accept just didn’t work out very well. While David’s work with Stream and Sircle of Silence wasn’t all that bad, his vocals in my opinion on On Target is what I consider to be his finest work. Opening with the muscle behind Reece’s vocals, the songs Angel In Black and Loaded Gun act as a Mike Tyson one-two punch that grabbed my attention immediately with some catchy grooves and chorus.

Now we enter into the power ballad segment of On Target, which is typical of all Hair Metal albums… If The Good Die Young (We’ll Live Forever). This is one doozy of a power ballad and it’s done so extremely well that I could debate it as one of the best power ballads ever recorded. After a couple of tempered down tunes, the pace picks up once again in what I consider Whitesnake fashion with one of my favorite songs on this album – All or Nothin’. On Target doesn’t finish off with the same fury as Under The Influence does, it’s not that the songs are bad, it just doesn’t conclude with that punch I was hoping for.

Doin’ The Nasty by Slik Toxik may very well be the least known of these three 1992 Hair Metal albums. Still, nothing stopped Slik Toxik from releasing an excellent Metal album that would have received some of the same praise that bands such as Firehouse and Slaughter were receiving just a couple of years earlier. Nicholas Walsh in my opinion has an excellent Metal voice and may be the best of these three vocalists I’ve discussed here. Big Fuckin’ Deal starts this album off on the right Rockin’ foot. Helluvatime follows and continues that headbanging anthem style. Sweet Asylum just Rocks the house! This is a favorite song of mine from Doin’ The Nasty and it screams with outstanding guitar licks.

It’s my belief that White Lies/Black Truth would have been a pretty big commercial hit had it been 1989 instead of 1992. This song is a personal favorite of mine, it’s catchy and very melodic, making for a perfect recipe for radio. There are a few songs on Doin’ The Nasty that aren’t standouts, yet they shouldn’t turn off any rabid Hair Metal fan either. That leads me into the power ballad on this album – By The Fireside. This is one of those songs that will surely have you flickering your lighters in a darkened concert arena, not to mention flickering your honey by the fireside! Doin’ The Nasty finishes off pretty strong, the only gripe I have is this album should have ended with Midnight Grind.

During a 90’s decade when the Metal world had changed from the big hair and big guitars to the somber sounds of Grunge, it’s great to look back upon a few Hair Metal nuggets from that era which are uplifting gems today. It’s remarkable to think, what a couple of years could have meant for these bands in terms of album releases. I guess that’s why there is truth to “timing is everything”. Twenty years later, Under The Influence, On Target and Doin’ The Nasty still do the Hair Metal alumnus such as myself proud. Lastly, I’ll make a couple of suggestions. If you haven’t listened to these beauties in a long while, then dust ’em off and Rock out! If you’d never given them a listen at all, it’s time to check ’em out and join the hair club for men party.

Scott Coverdale.

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EYEHATEGOD Forced To Cancel Milford Connecticut Show Tonight, February 21st, 2011

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, sludge metal with tags , , , , , , , , on February 21, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Due to inclement weather conditions, EYEHATEGOD have been forced to cancel their scheduled appearance tonight at Daniel Street in Milford, CT. The band extends their sincerest apologies to all the fans and friends hoping to rock this evening and plan to return soon to make up the date. Misery Index, Thy Will Be Done, Nightbitch and Guerra will perform as scheduled.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

Stone.

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Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

Posted in Black Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, symphonic metal with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 20, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOUL – Rising from the Metal shadows of Chicago, Illinois, Withering Soul has left me somewhat spellbound by their brand of Black Metal. No Closure is their debut full-length, scheduled for a March 8th, 2011 release on Mortal Music, with distribution via MVD Entertainment Group. Seriously, I did not have any pre-conceived thoughts about Withering Soul and their debut album upon my pushing the play button. Halfway through No Closure, I was extremely entertained and gratified by the all-encompassing melodic and Blackened sound that Withering Soul has tapped into.

As each song played out on No Closure, I was awaiting that one song, perhaps two songs that would fall flat to the ground. It never happened. Withering Soul has all their gears rotating with Blackened precision and I truthfully declare there is not a dull moment to be heard on No Closure. Mykil on vocals delivers the evil tones with Black and Death Metal variety. It’s Mykil’s Blackened fury that takes center stage though and he is a feast to listen to. Mykil’s brother Krystofer on guitar and synths lends the melodic thickness and orchestrated atmosphere of darkness, a combination that swirls together with fantastical results.

Night of the Revenant and Requiem of Sorrow are two atmospherical instrumentals that lead me down a darkened path with somber walls caving in around me. These two melancholic songs are what sets Withering Soul apart from being just another all-out Extreme Black Metal band. Withering Soul doesn’t just go for the jugular from the opening note on No Closure, instead, this is a band that takes a reflective tone towards their music by slowing the Extreme Blackened momentum down to a crawl on both instrumentals. This tempered down instrumentation can have a profound affect on the mind and both Night of the Revenant and Requiem Of Sorrow are surreal moments that I embrace.

Sadistic Redress, Tides of the Accursed and The Sequitor are three songs that I single out for grand Extreme Black Metal reason… they each exemplify how Withering Soul can play toe-to-toe with their Extreme peers of any Metal genre. On each of these songs Mykil’s vocal rage (and range), high-speed tempo and full-blown Extremity of Metal musicianship are carved out in Blackened stone. The layering of sounds that Withering Soul creates are reminiscent of Cradle Of Filth, yet what I take away from this album is calling this band an original, without question.

An underground vibe pulsates enormously within the songs of No Closure, with one exception: Unquiet. This song begins with Traditional Metal guitar licks that continues throughout it’s entirety. Guest vocalist Melissa Ferlaak provides her symphonic touch to Unquiet, giving this song an accessible multi-genre appeal. Coupled with Mykil showcasing his diverse vocals along with a strong hint of Goth vocals, this song truly excels. With Unquiet, the significance of being unique is brought out to the open by Withering Soul, showing this band is unafraid and unashamed to branch out musically within the context of an underground Black Metal style. I find Unquiet to be an admirable creation and dynamic listen by Withering Soul.

The darkened ambient feel that Withering Soul has created on No Closure is indeed an alluring Metal attribute. Symphonic Black Metal is served up with muscular guitar parts and a heavy laden rhythm section on their debut full-length. Make no mistake, Withering Soul is giving out extreme doses of Black Metal vibes and sounds through their music, only this band is not over the top with their style or sound.

Withering Soul does convince me of their reverence to this majestic Black Metal genre that so many of us uphold as the ultimate Metal mystical experience. Withering Soul have created ten songs that are unbelievably memorable for my senses. No Closure is a debut album that may very well be the measuring stick of Withering Soul’s future Black Metal catalog.

* Melissa Ferlaak is an American Soprano and the lead singer for Echoterra.

Withering Soul:

Mykil – vocals

Krystofer – guitars & synths

William – bass

Marek – drums

Track Listing For No Closure:

Night of the Revenant

Phantasmal Chaos Divinity

The Sequitor

Tides of the Accursed

Possession of Deception – Part II

Sadistic Redress

Manifest Transparency

Lifeless They Lie

Unquiet

Requiem of Sorrow

* For more info on WITHERING SOUL, click on the links below!

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.

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