FORBIDDEN – The tour poster pic seen below tells all… FORBIDDEN 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.
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:
LONG LIVE KINGDOM OF SORROW!
Stone.
MORPHINE KILLER – released their Nightmares EP back in October of 2009, on Final Breath Records. What makes this duo of Belle Roka, ( Vocals, Keyboards) and Eski, (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Drums) stand out is their undying Extreme Metal delivery… which is all structured and written quite well on the five songs heard on this Nightmares EP. Morphine Killer has incorporated all the dark ambiance within their heavy riffs and cyclone guitar leads… just one listen to Clutching Defeat should make the non-believers fall to their weakened knees. Eski exhalts his no compromise Extreme vocals to a prolific level of Metal Grind purity.
With Eski and Belle sharing vocal duties, it’s soft harmony and a swift, crushing extreme blow to my Metal ears that keeps me coming back for more. Morphine Killer has incorporated a mix of Metal genres into their one-two Extreme thunder strike… with convincing and serious results. I have posted the song Pride Comes Before A Fall, on April 15, 2010, realizing that Belle’s luringly tender vocals sucks me into the Extreme Metal explosiveness that their music brandishes. Listening to this Morphine Killer – Nightmares EP is like entering valley of the Extreme Metal grooves, not one song replicates the other, each Metal corner turned seems to be better than the last.
One listen to Home and I can envision Morphine Killer opening for Kittie… and that would be a killer show of Metal proportions. Can I make a fair comparison of Belle Roka to Morgan Lander of Kittie? I certainly can, despite each being unique vocalists… this comparison is a compliment to both of these Metal divas. The influence nod to Classic Rock icon Heart is posted on Morphine Killer’s myspace music page… and I can understand why, each time I hear Belle sing. What is refreshing about Morphine Killer is that they apparently are climbing the Metal ladder the old school way, with their obvious musical talent guiding them each Extreme step of the way.
She’s Slipping Away opens up with a Traditional Metal approach, doom ridden riffs and thunderous drum beats are sewn with a quaking bass that only becomes more deliriously addicting once Belle begins to vocalize the lyrics. Oh, yes, you better watch your Metal back however, the semi-growling and sneering backing vocals are evident courtesy of Eski… dark, creepy and a necessary Metal musical additive. I’m a sucker for the emotions that a keyboard can bring to music. Belle adds just this to She’s Slipping Away, with melancholy atmospherics in the background.
In Silent Agony concludes this Nightmares EP and does so with an Extreme Metal exclamation point. Eski is showcased on vocals throughout In Silent Agony, jumping out from the onset like a catastrophic furnace blast… no warning… and I’m not running, just consumed with Extreme satisfaction, Metal be thy name.
We live on a planet where there are quite a few Metal bands doing their thing and going with the flow… Morphine Killer is doing their thing alright, only their sound and diversity pushes them out in front of the up and coming Metal pack. Anytime a young Metal band creates quality songs through musical talent, while embedding slivers of Old School, I’m going to Metal endorse them to the fullest. It should not take the Metal world too long to grasp with their ears what Morphine Killer is creating here, a Metal sound that encompasses the dark and the light… which makes this Metal fanatic Extremely pleased with their discovery.
* You can purchase Morphine Killer – Nightmares EP directly on the Morphine Killer website or at Amazon.com.
MORPHINE KILLER – Official Website
Stone.
WITCHCRAFT – is a throwback Metal Band, a Stoner Metal Band if you will. This band is also well known as Doom Metal. O.k., they are resiliently Old School Heavy Metal, that is for certain. Metal is… Metal. Listening to Witchcraft is always like a breath of fresh Metal air for me. I just get that everything is mysteriously mellow vibe from their music, uh, Metal. Even if the lyrics from Witchcraft are a bit doom & gloom, it doesn’t get me down. Basically, Witchcraft does cast a Metal spell on me! (Man, is that corn dog or what?). Early last year, I picked up a downright nifty Witchcraft 7″ vinyl single, (45rpm), that is green. You betcha… green vinyl. (See pics of my Witchcraft 45 below at bottom). My Metal research has found that the green vinyl pressing I own is considered a repress from 2007… and limited to 200!!! There is only 200 of these Witchcraft 7″ green vinyl, 45rpm’s in the entire world!!! I’m very pleased to be the owner of one.
The two songs on my Witchcraft 7″ green vinyl 45rpm are:
Side A:
If Crimson Was Your Colour
Side B:
I Know You Killed Someone
Both songs carry a semblance of early years Heavy Metal, sprinkled with some psychedelia nuance. The riffs scream Old School, as well as the vocals of Magnus Pelander, who also plays guitar. The echo vibe that happens on these Witchcraft songs make them all the more retro pleasing. These two songs are heavy, no speed or mind blowing solos… just some real good Metal. Witchcraft is not from the early ’70’s, nor are they from the ’80’s either. Witchcraft formed in 2000, releasing their first studio/self titled album Witchcraft on Rise Above Records in 2004. Witchcraft hails from Örebro, Sweden.
Fans of these unreal legends – early/Ozzy Osbourne era Black Sabbath, Pentagram, Saint Vitus, Candlemass or any Doom Metal Band, just might take a Metal liking to Witchcraft. Stoner Metal fans of The Sword, High On Fire and Sleep, to name a few, could easily sink their teeth into Witchcraft’s Metal too.
Witchcraft are:
Magnus Pelander – vocals & guitar
John Hoyles – guitar
Ola Henriksson – bass
Fredrik Jansson – drums
* I Know You Killed Someone does not appear on any studio album from Witchcraft, essentially this is a non-album track.
* If Crimson Was Your Colour appears on the Witchcraft studio album – The Alchemist, released in October of 2007.
* Witchcraft is signed to Rise Above Records… an independent label.
* I paid roughly around 7 dollars (U.S.) for this Witchcraft record, that included shipping too.
Here is what Side A looks like:
Here is what Side B looks like:
Both sides of this Witchcraft 45rpm plays excellent too!
Here is what the front cover sleeve looks like:
Here is what the back cover sleeve looks like:
Thanks for reading about and looking at my Witchcraft – green 7″ 45rpm of If Crimson Was Your Colour. Check this band out, if you already haven’t… it’s really good Metal!
* The word – “nifty” – was used in the first paragraph on Metal Odyssey.
Stone.
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Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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