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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

NIDINGR:

Teloch – guitar & bass

Blargh – guitar & bass

Cpt. Estrella Grasa – vocals

Hellhammer – drums

* Garm – from Ulver guest appears

Track Listing For Wolf Father:

Fafnismol

Baldrs Draumar

Reginsmol

Voluspo

Hymiskvitha

Lokasenna

LONG LIVE NIDINGR AND THEIR BLACK METAL.

Stone.

1 Comment »

Ten Very Uncool Hard Rock And Heavy Metal Album Covers Part III

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, humor, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on December 12, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

LOOK WHOSE COMING OVER FOR CHRISTMAS.

UNCOOL – Once again, I’m back at it again… for a third installment of “Ten Very Uncool Hard Rock And Heavy Metal Album Covers”. Why do I embark on such a Metal task you query? Due to the fact that I admire and uphold the album covers that have stood the test of time: All Iron Maiden album covers along with Molly Hatchet, Motorhead, Asia, Boston, Lääz Rockit, Overkill, Avenged Sevenfold, King Diamond and of course, DIO, have all had astounding artwork and graphics to represent their prodigious music over the decades.

Why can many bands and solo artists have their image and music dutifully represented by their album covers, while many others are packaged by their artwork and imagery like a stale can of inedible baked beans? We now live in the age of “the mp3”, where album cover artwork is for all intents and purposes, non-essential to the mp3 consumer. That is a Metal shame. All of us “Old Schoolers” know the importance of the beloved album cover and realize the album art more often than not parallels the songs heard within.

Try taking a walk through the CD aisles (or aisle) of Best Buy or browse around the internet music websites… you’ll find it is nearly 50/50 as to the cool/uncool ratio of album covers out there. This remarkable cool versus uncool album cover fiasco has been going on for decades, since the very beginning of Rock ‘N’ Roll itself! I don’t try to advertise myself on being “The Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Album Cover Authority”, still, I hopefully know how to decipher the uncool from cool after all my Metal lovin’ years.

Enjoy this list, become informed, gain knowledge and above all… if you happen to purchase one of these CD’s in the near future, just cover it over with “something” at the checkout, so other customers don’t witness your purchase. In the event you purchase one of these CD’s via mail, you are safe, no one will know you bought a CD with an uncool cover, just the dude who packaged it for shipping will know. If you become annoyed by this “Part III” list, well, you must like uncool Hard Rock and Heavy Metal album covers then.

* An uncool album cover does not necessarily mean that the respective band and the music heard on the album is uncool as well. If the album is a total stinker with it’s product of music, I would warn the world. Without further delay, here is the non-prestigious list of Ten Very Uncool Hard Rock & Heavy Metal Album Covers Part III:

Foreigner – No End In Sight: The Very Best Of Foreigner (2008)

Bon Jovi and Nickelback have made prior uncool album cover lists here at Metal Odyssey for the same stale reason: a boring image of a… highway. What is it about highways and album covers? Why do these desolate paths of macadam/dirty asphalt keep popping up? I don’t care about the album title being “linked” with an image of this highway either. Highways are daunting, lonely and filled with road rage, therefore, highways are stressful. There really is “no end in sight” to the amount of times bands wind up with highways on their album covers. You’d think that after all these decades, Foreigner would want to have a cool album cover representing their legendary songs.

Nickelback – All The Right Reasons (2005)

Hey… look who’s back! It’s Nickelback! For a second time with another “uncool album cover induction” with All The Right Reasons. This marks the second album cover from Nickelback with a highway on it! I can think of a million reasons as to why this album cover is uncool and BORING, here is one: Regardless of the year and make of the automobile shown in the picture, this album cover is nothing more than an auto dealership brochure cover.

30 Seconds To Mars – Self Titled/Debut (2002)

? Doh!

Saving Abel – Self Titled/Debut (2008)

This day and age, I don’t know if I’m looking at a guy or a girl butt here. So, with all the confusion, this album cover is… uncool. For “me” it is anyways. Plus, how many more times do we need the “butt in tight jeans, staring at you in the face” album cover? An exceedingly overdone “theme”.

Bon Jovi – Cross Road (1994)

Just another Bon Jovi “Greatest Hits”. Wow, so compellingly Rockin’… Jon Bon Jovi and his band sitting around in a diner and doing nuthin’. OMG… that is so cool! Yeah, right. In reality, this band would never be caught in a blue collar diner… more like a 10 star, caviar serving, white linen restaurant on Rodeo Drive is more like it. Stone isn’t getting fooled. As an uncool bonus, this photo of the band is washed out and blurry. This photo would receive an “F” grade, back in my photography 101 class in college. This album cover makes Bon Jovi’s “second appearance” on a Metal Odyssey “uncool album cover” list. Congratulations Bon Jovi!

Collective Soul – Afterwords (2007)

Just embarrassing, really. Where is the slight or even remote imagery of “Rock” involved here within this album cover? This is more better suited as a Martha Stewart Living magazine cover. Metal be thy name.

Pearl Jam – Pearl Jam (2006)

I don’t care how many albums were sold of this Pearl Jam release… this is a perfect example of over thinking what your album cover should look like and convey. Trying to go for the “it’s over their heads” mentality doesn’t work for me either, with this album cover. It’s not over Stone’s head, this cover is just 100% uncool. This style of photography and art worked extremely well for Pink Floyd, a legendary band that knew what legendary album covers should look like. Most recently, Pearl Jam is into cartoons on their album cover with Backspacer… go figure.

Judas Priest – Point Of Entry (1981)

Since the day I first bought this Judas Priest album on vinyl, (probably around 1982/83), up until today, this cover just falls flat for me. I absolutely LOVE this album and Judas Priest is a core band for my Metal lovin’ soul. Do I feel guilty then, that I’m choosing a Judas Priest album cover for an “uncool list”? Nope. This “original” album cover for Point Of Entry is so super bland, that it will be forever filed under: What were they thinking? The super scary part about this album cover, is the blue printer paper that stretches on for miles, actually simulates a… highway!!! Even the ultra-legendary Judas Priest dabbled in the highway theme for an album cover! It probably cost $50 in U.S. funds to create this album cover too.

Dokken – Under Lock And Key (1985)

First, Under Lock And Key is a Dokken album that potently Rocks like there is no tomorrow. No, it’s not the hair or fashion that is uncool here. These styles are still utilized by many bands today. This image was an identity to a grand decade of 80’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal. Instead, what makes this Dokken album cover so uncool is that gigantic, cardboard key. That key ruined it. Minus that key, this album cover never comes up in an uncool album cover conversation. Who was behind this idea? That oversized, concocted, cardboard key would have served better inside a middle school lobby, with the words scrawled upon it: Unlock the key to your child’s education.

Christmas In Your Ear – (Release date unknown and who cares)

Gee Metal whiz, this compilation of Christmas songs, covered by some of the most popular names in Rock history, has not only an uncool album cover, it has an annoyingly uncool album title! Christmas In Your Ear. (!) Metal be thy name. The next uncool thing I’ll uncover will be a cookbook titled: Christmas In Your Stomach. What’s up with the raging serial killer’s face in the Christmas tree ornament? Talk about issues… that dude needs some anger management treatment fast. I could understand the album cover, only if it contained Death Metal bands covering Christmas songs. With the likes of Billy Squire, Red Hot Chili Peppers, The Smithereens and Pat Benatar, etc. on this CD, the cover does NOT fit the contents of what you’ll be listening to. Simply put, an embarrassing album cover and title. I think I’ll change the name of this blog now to: Metal Odyssey In Your Eyes.

METAL BE THY NAME.

LONG LIVE HARD ROCK & HEAVY METAL.

Stone.

7 Comments »

MOTORHEAD “The World Is Yours” – Official Release Date Is January 18, 2011!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock 'n' roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on December 11, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MOTORHEAD – On January 18, 2011, the ultra-iconic Motorhead will be releasing their 20th studio album, (21st studio album if you count On Parole from 1979). The new Motorhead album is titled – The World is Yours. The first opportunity to purchase a “pre-release” of The World is Yours, is by buying the upcoming issue of the (UK) Classic Rock magazine. This issue of Classic Rock has a release date of December 28, 2010, on Amazon.com.

* The Classic Rock edition comes as a 132 page deluxe magazine, dedicated to Motorhead as a “Motorhead fanpack”, with the CD of The World is Yours, a poster and metal pin badge. A career spanning overview of Motorhead with interviews of each band member are featured in this issue as well. Classic Rock Magazine.com reports this special Motorhead fanpack issue will be available for sale on December 14, 2010.

* The CD/DVD release date is January 25, 2011. The DVD includes the following:

– Documentary on the recording of The World is Yours

– Manchester Apollo live footage (30 minutes)

– Ace Of Spades (acoustic version)

– Get Back In Line (video)

– I Know How To Die (video)

(Source for release dates: The official Motorhead website referred me to Amazon.com, once I clicked on the album cover for This World is Yours on the Motorhead homepage. Therefore, Amazon.com is where the release dates were found.) **Release dates vary from country to country, plus, if you subscribe to Classic Rock magazine, the release date may be different from what date I’ve posted. Metal Odyssey is just reporting what dates have been found from researching through the official website of Motorhead, Classic Rock Magazine.com and Amazon.com.

* For more info on Motorhead, just click here: MOTORHEAD – Official Website

* For more info on Classic Rock Magazine: Classic Rock Magazine.com

* The World is Yours will be released on Motorhead Music via EMI distribution.

2010 – the 35th Anniversary of Motorhead Rock ‘N’ Roll!

MOTORHEAD:

Lemmy Kilmister – vocals & bass

Phil Campbell – guitar

Mikkey Dee – drums

Above is the Classic Rock Magazine “Motorhead Fanpack”. You can pre-order it at Amazon.com, the only thing is… get ready to shell out $47.68 (U.S. funds) for it.

Track Listing For The World Is Yours:

Born To Lose

I Know How To Die

Get Back In Line

Devils In My Head

Rock ‘N’ Roll Music

Waiting For The Snake

Brotherhood Of Man

Outlaw

I Know What You Need

Bye Bye Bitch Bye Bye

MOTORHEAD FOREVER.

Stone.

4 Comments »

IGLOO WARFARE – A Metal Odyssey Interview!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, instrumental music, interviews, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on December 10, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

IGLOO WARFARE – Brandon Ortiz, aka Eski, is a very busy guy these days. It is a minor miracle that Metal Odyssey caught up with him recently, to get a Metal lowdown on his side project Igloo Warfare. Metal instrumental ear candy is how I best sum up Igloo Warfare. With Eski being in full control of it’s creation, from playing every instrument heard, through production, to the final recorded songs, Igloo Warfare is his work of Metal art.

Songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, band manager, promotion and marketing manager, record label owner (Final Breath Records) and every other imaginable title associated with overseeing his music getting heard and noticed, is what Eski is all about. Eski isn’t taking a bow to the “do-it-yourself” crowd, he is leaping over them with his envious drive and passion for the music he loves to create.

With Belle Roka by his side, there is also Morphine Killer keeping the Metal irons burning and the creative genius side of him stirring. Throw in the recent opportunity for Eski to step in to help Faithsedge on bass duties and you have not just a multi-taking musician… you have what is an example of devotion. Here is what Eski had to say:

Stone: So, Eski, how did the name Igloo Warfare come about?

Eski: I got the nickname “Eski” when I was about 15 years old, mainly due to the fact of looking like an eskimo, and being able to withstand the cold weather. I liked the idea of eskimos being up to something inside those igloos, so I went with “Igloo Warfare”, being a random Rock Band name I made up on the spot.

Stone: What inspires your songwriting for Igloo Warfare?

Eski: I love writing music, and usually what happens is I have a lot of Morphine Killer songs on the backburner, ready for vocals. But sometimes I will write songs for a particular mood, such as being an energetic video game song, or a moody movie song.

Stone: What comes easiest for you, writing music or playing it?

Eski: Writing it, definitely! There’s a lot of nuances that come around when it comes down to recording, and it has to be perfect. I have experimented with writing on the spot to the drums I program, because sometimes you just have to go where the music takes you.

Stone: I get that “Escape From New York” vibe on “Spider Whispers Death”. Did you initially set out for a Science Fiction meets Horror element with Igloo Warfare’s sound? Are you a fan of John Carpenter’s haunting movie scores?

Eski: I didn’t really set out for that vibe, but I wanted a sort of eerie vibe with the music, mixed with metal.. maybe that is the music version of science fiction meeting horror! Without knowing it, I have been influenced by John Carpenter! I love the Halloween movies, and Big Trouble In Little China (I loved that they got the idea for Raiden from Mortal Kombat from this movie).

Stone: Do you see your instrumentals being better suited for motion pictures or video games? Perhaps both?

Eski: I’d like to hope for both, but possibly more video games. I’d really like to get into either area if I could, though! I grew up with video games that had awesome music that helped inspire the mood, and I hope to do the same one day.

Stone: Will vocals ever be added to Igloo Warfare’s music?

Eski: I would like to think so! If they do, most likely they are going to end up a Morphine Killer song, unless someone else does vocals as a guest spot, and maybe we can release it as such.

Stone: With “Dopeth”, is it safe to say you are a fan of Opeth?

Eski: Absolutely, I love Opeth. Mikael Åkerfeldt is one of my favorite vocalists.

Metal Odyssey Note: Check out below, the Metal instrumental of Dopeth for yourself, courtesy of IGLOO WARFARE!

Stone: What’s the latest news you can share about Morphine Killer?

Eski: We’ve been working on ten or so songs that still need a bit more fine tuning. We’ve been really busy with our upcoming baby release than CD release, so please excuse us!

Stone: You and Belle are very much excused! A new baby on the way is much more important!

Stone: You’re also currently busy helping out Faiths Edge, handling the bass duties. What’s that been like?

Eski: It’s been really fun to just jam with friends and not feel the pressure of taking the reins so much. It’s also a really fun learning experience to work with another song writer and be able to bounce ideas off of each other. I helped him write a new song which might or might not appear on his next CD, so we’ll just have to wait and see!

Eski with Belle Roka

Morphine Killer publicity photo by: Stephanie Grant/imsteph.com

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

IGLOO WARFARE – Reverbnation

IGLOO WARFARE – myspace music

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

MORPHINE KILLER – Myspace music

MORPHINE KILLER – Official Website

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

THANK YOU, ESKI.

LONG LIVE ESKI AND HIS MUSIC.

Stone.

1 Comment »

Marty Friedman – Happy Birthday From Metal Odyssey!

Posted in guitar legends, guitarists, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, speed metal, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on December 8, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

MARTY FRIEDMAN – World renowned & legendary guitarist Marty Friedman turns 48 years old today, December 8, 2010. Happy Metal Birthday Marty! Marty Friedman solidified his elite guitar status during his days as a Metal axe slinger for the ultra-legendary Megadeth, appearing on five of their albums. Marty played guitar alongside Dave Mustaine, on such seminal Megadeth albums as: Rust In Peace, Countdown To Extinction, Youthanasia, Cryptic Writings and Risk.

Marty was already the established and well revered guitarist among the Heavy Metal universe before that historic gig. Teaming up with guitar great Jason Becker to form Cacophony, releasing Speed Metal Symphony in 1987, on Shrapnel Records. Speed Metal and the art of shredding was highlighted by the neo-classical Metal techniques and skill that Marty and Jason bestowed with their Cacophony team-up. Go Off! was the second and final studio album from Cacophony, released in 1988, (Shrapnel).

That is Marty on the left, Jason on the right, (above album cover). This was a very cool album then and it still is now. Metal Odyssey highly recommends both Cacophony albums… don’t pay attention to any old and stale mainstream album reviews on ’em, those mainstream Rock critics don’t know what they’re listening to anyways.

* Marty Friedman founded the Heavy Metal band Hawaii, back in 1982. From 1983 to 1985, Hawaii released three full-length studio albums. Hawaii could best be described as Speed meets Power Metal.

* Marty Friedman has also released 12 solo albums, (studio & live combined), from 1988 to 2010 and has always been known for his instructional videos/DVD’s on guitar playing and techniques as well.

* Above is a really cool Japanese promo poster/ad for Marty Friedman’s 1996 solo album – True Obsessions, released on Shrapnel Records.

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

Marty Friedman – Official Website

LONG LIVE MARTY FRIEDMAN.

Stone.

7 Comments »

Heaven & Hell “Neon Nights – 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell – Live In Europe” Is Heavy Metal Elite

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 7, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

HEAVEN & HELL – Back in 1982, an elite group of musicians known as Black Sabbath released a double live, molasses heavy album titled: Live Evil. In 1982 those two vinyl disks were like gold, to a then sixteen year old who knew a whole lot about nothing. Going on three decades later, that Live Evil album still is gold to this same dude, who knows a little about something. Fast forward to 2007, the legendary lineup of Ronnie James Dio (vocals), Tony Iommi (guitar), Geezer Butler (bass) and Vinny Appice (drums) returned to public view known as Heaven & Hell, with their Live From Radio City Music Hall double live album, released on Rhino Records. This legendary foursome was back… albeit a name change. Taking on the name of one of the most prolific Heavy Metal albums ever to be recorded, Heaven & Hell was now this bands identity.

Yes, Bill Ward was the amazing drummer on that phenomenal Heaven And Hell album from 1980, a legend without discussion. However, Vinny Appice is one quarter of Heaven & Hell and always will be. I won’t dare compare the Live Evil album of ’82 to this newly released Heaven & Hell: Neon Nights, 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell, Live In Europe, (released November 16, 2010, on Armoury Records for Niji Productions). There is nothing to gain by comparing this band to itself, some three decades prior. I am not the same person I was three decades ago… the past is a memory and the future is today.

This historic Heaven & Hell concert was recorded at the Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany, back in 2009. Yes, the late and ultra-legendary Ronnie James Dio does sound older on this newly released live album, only his vocals still gives me the same euphoric chills now as he did so many years ago. While listening to Neon Nights-Live In Europe, I realize I’m listening to a man who was a fighter, a man who was not going to back down to any illness that may invade his body. I think of my father, who is currently battling cancer, I think of his strength and will to live as well. I could only hope and pray that I can be as strong and courageous as these two amazing men.

It is the human factor that comes across so strong and vividly on this new Heaven & Hell album, I’m listening to a band that was with me all those years when I was lost and now listening to a band when I was found. The images and memories just come alive for me, as I keenly listen to this Heaven & Hell album… memories of seeing DIO on the Dream Evil tour of 1987, remembering holding, listening to and staring at my Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll album, while being introduced to real Rock ‘N’ Roll at an age where it was most important. I reflect on that first time I heard the opening riff from Tony Iommi, clearing the path for Voodoo and how it made me a believer in what Heavy Metal does for my soul.

No, this is not going to be a standardized album review of this new live Heaven & Hell album. I can’t find it appropriate in my heart or soul to give one. Instead, this album is a celebration of what these four men, these musicians, have given to me and an untold number of other fans for three decades plus… their music speaks louder to me now than it did in 1982. I’ve found my new piece of gold that I’m holding, listening to and staring at in 2010, the only difference now it being a CD, the one constant is… it’s Heaven & Hell.

* To donate to the Ronnie James Dio “Stand Up And Shout Cancer Fund” and find out more about current DIO albums and merchandise, just click on the link below:

Ronnie James Dio.com

Track Listing For Neon Nights – 30 Years Of Heaven & Hell – Live In Europe:

Mob Rules

Children Of The Sea

I

Bible Black

Time Machine

Fear

Falling Off The Edge Of The World

Follow The Tears

Die Young

Heaven And Hell

Neon Knights

LONG LIVE THE MUSIC OF HEAVEN & HELL.

REST IN PEACE, RONNIE JAMES DIO.

Stone.

3 Comments »

The Damned Things “Ironiclast” – Releases December 14, 2010!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on December 6, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE DAMNED THINGS – On December 14, 2010, Ironiclast, (Island/Def Jam), the debut album from The Damned Things, releases among the masses. The Damned Things features a heavy hitting lineup from the Hard Rock and Metal world: Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano of Anthrax, Keith Buckley of Every Time I Die and Joe Trohman and Andy Hurley of Fall Out Boy.

You can currently listen to Friday Night (Going Down In Flames) and We’ve Got A Situation Here, both songs on the Ironiclast album, streaming on The Damned Things myspace music page, (see link below). Iconiclast (Rough Mix) is also streaming there as well. The sound of The Damned Things takes on a Heavy Metal meets Arena vibe, melodic with an elevated, anthem like feel and quality. The Damned Things have created songs that are both accessible to the casual Heavy Metal fan as well as long time Metalheads!

With a robust lineup of musicians that The Damned Things bestows, fans would expect their songs to sound good, right? Instead, this band’s songs sound great! It’s always a tremendous thrill for me to hear about a group of musicians, from different backgrounds, getting together to create an album… it’s even a greater thrill when it sounds like a Rockin’ success! I’ll be getting my ears onto this new debut album from The Damned Things on December 14th and it will serve me right. Look for a full album review of Ironiclast in the near future, right here on Metal Odyssey.

Take a look below at the 7″ clear vinyl single of We’ve Got A Situation Here, (B side is Ironiclast), that I picked up at Hot Topic recently:

This 7″ clear vinyl single is an “Ultra Limited Edition” of only 1,000 copies made! Whoa. Whoa again. I paid $4 (U.S.) for it at Hot Topic and currently there are only two copies for sale on Amazon.com. One is selling for $18.99 and the other is $24.99, (U.S.) funds! I guess I made out like a Metal bandit at Hot Topic! Take that Amazon, ha, ha. Let’s give a giant Metal hooray for Stone! I sometimes feel like Stone “The Metal Hunter”.

* For more info on THE DAMNED THINGS, just click on the links below:

The Damned Things – myspace music

The Damned Things – Official Website

THE DAMNED THINGS:

Keith Buckley – lead vocals

Scott Ian – rhythm guitar & vocals

Joe Trohman – lead, rhythm guitar & vocals

Rob Caggiano – lead, rhythm guitar & vocals

Andy Hurley – drums & percussion

Track Listing For Ironiclast:

Handbook For The Recently Deceased

Bad Blood

Friday Night (Going Down In Flames)

We’ve Got A Situation Here

Black Heart

A Great Reckoning

Little Darling

Ironiclast

Graverobber

The Blues Havin’ Blues

LONG LIVE THE DAMNED THINGS.

LONG LIVE ULTRA LIMITED EDITION VINYL.

Stone.

2 Comments »

GAMA BOMB “Tales From The Grave In Space” – A Thrashin’, Moshin’, Old School Blowout!

Posted in Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , on December 3, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

GAMA BOMB – Released back on February 9, 2010, on Earache Records, Tales From The Grave In Space is a Thrash Metal album that mixes in spooky themes, plenty of good times-moshin’ vibes and a whole lot of Old School. Metal as my witness, Gama Bomb gets it. These Irish dudes are obviously well versed and influenced by the golden age of Thrash Metal, still they deliver a fresh approach to making Old School feel like it’s new again. In comparing Gama Bomb’s sound to any of the legendary Thrash Metal bands, Anthrax comes to my Metal mind. The gang vocals coupled with the vocals from Philly Byrne, over all the free spirited Thrash noize that Gama Bomb administers, has me leaning towards those days when Anthrax sported printed shorts, unlaced sneakers and comic tees.

All legendary comparisons aside, Gama Bomb is a younger band that seems to have caught some Thrash Metal magic in a bottle… all the while steering away from anything that can make their Thrash Metal come across watered down. In other words, no silly ballad or over production will be heard on Tales From The Grave In Space… thank God. This Gama Bomb album is all about the meat and potatoes of Thrash Metal, with stacks of excitable guitar leads, solos and thick riffs. Mentioning the gang vocals again, only magnifies the nod of importance that Gama Bomb takes towards an Old School vibe and persona.

Metal be thy name, each time I listen to this Gama Bomb album, I get all Metal invigorated, wishing I decided on having a mosh pit added onto my house. That’s fine though, my current household surroundings shall suffice. As you listen to this album, it’s easy to discern Gama Bomb is not about being pissed off, instead their Thrash evokes having one damn ghoulish good time. There’s no disputing Gama Bomb likes to have (gasp) fun with their song titles and lyrics, which in turn makes them all the more enticing. So often, listening to music is described as an escape, with Tales From The Grave In Space, I have gleefully escaped any antagonistic stimuli peering in from the outside world.

All twelve songs are rip and tear Thrash and Gama Bomb accomplished quite the complete album without any aggregate waste. Thrash Metal fans both young and (gasp) old should give Gama Bomb a thorough listen… it is Metal time well spent for me. The songs on this album are all relatively short, with just two songs clocking in just barely over 3 minutes. The lack of an epic song is actually like a breath of Metal fresh air. The equality in these songs running time makes for a rapid fire listen that never loses my Metal attention.

Back in late February or early March of this year, Metal Buddy “Kinger” from Demolish Fanzine – 1980’s Heavy Metal Revival emailed me a link to check out Gama Bomb giving away free, their newly released Tales From The Grave In Space via download. Kinger couldn’t believe it, nor could I, that a band and it’s respective record company were actually giving their fans the opportunity to download their new album free of charge! It was a stupendous lead from Kinger, breaking this Gama Bomb news.

A huge Metal kudos goes out to both Gama Bomb and Earache Records! I checked as recent as today, (December 3, 2010), to see if Tales From The Grave In Space is still available for free & legal download… it is! Just click on the link below to download this Thrashtastic album from Gama Bomb, FREE!.. courtesy of Gama Bomb and Earache Records.

FREE GAMA BOMB ALBUM FROM EARACHE RECORDS!

I did purchase the hardcopy of this Gama Bomb CD at fye sometime around this past March. The liner notes and all accompanying artwork were the draw… there are 8 mini comics within the liner notes, each one corresponds to a track on Tales From The Grave In Space.  The mini comics are: Three Witches, Last Ninjas Unite, Escape From Scarecrow Mountain, Apocalypse 1997, Return To Blood Castle, Polterghost, Skeletron and Mummy Invasion. There are also some amusing and vintage magazine/comic ads from yesteryear in these liner notes as well, the likes of: body building, kids binoculars and acne cream. Fun stuff are these liner notes.

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

GAMA BOMB – myspace music

GAMA BOMB BLOG

GAMA BOMB:

Philly Byrne – vocals

Joe McGuigan – bass & backing vocals

Luke Graham – guitar

Domo Dixon – guitar

Paul Caffrey – drums

Track Listing For Tales From The Grave In Space:

Slam Anthem

New Eliminators Of Atlantis B.C.

Three Witches

Last Ninjas Unite

Escape From Scarecrow Mountain

Mussolini Mosh

We Respect You

Apocalypse 1997

Return To Blood Castle

Polterghost

Skeletron

Mummy Invasion

LONG LIVE GAMA BOMB.

Stone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

KATAKLYSM – MySpace Music Page

KATAKLYSM:

Maurizio  Iacono – vocals

J-F Dagenais – guitars

Stephane Barbe – bass

Max Duhamel – drums

Track Listing For Heaven’s Venom:

A Soulless God

Determined (Vows Of Vengeance)

Faith Made Of Shrapnel

Push The Venom

Hail The Renegade

As The Walls Collapse

Numb And Intoxicated

At The Edge Of The World

Suicide River

Blind Saviour

LONG LIVE KATAKLYSM.

Stone.

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The Devil Wears Prada “Zombie EP” – Get Scared, Get Very Scared…

Posted in extreme music, hardcore bands, hardcore metal music, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore music, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , on December 1, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA – From the initial sounds of an angry thunderstorm hovering upon you on the opening track Escape, The Devil Wears Prada proves there is no room for watering down a concept EP that revolves around… Zombies. Zombie EP, released on August 24, 2010, on Ferret Records, is for all Metal intents and purposes Extremely Heavy.

All five songs are about Zombies and the nightmare of having them take over humanity. Zombies… that’s Metal. The Devil Wears Prada makes it very apparent that they are Metal as well, based on their extremities of speed and heaviness, combined with vocals that quite possibly could bring Mount St. Helens down to its fiery knees. Metal be thy name, can Mike Hranica belt out the lyrics with the upmost Hardcore potency, while making me feel like I really should be scared about these damned Zombies.

If there ever was any doubt that a Metalcore band could pull off an amazingly Extreme Metal EP of the harshest degree, then the The Devil Wears Prada makes me a believer. This young band has given me every reason to believe they will be around for another ten or twenty years from now… while never lending themselves to being just another number on the long list of Metalcore star gazers. What makes Zombie EP so real for me, is it’s sheer intensity that never caves into a dull moment. Metal be damned, just try to fast forward through any one song on Zombie EP and you are short-changing yourself from the total relentlessly Extreme package.

The Devil Wears Prada "Zombie EP" large album promo pic #5

I can completely embrace what The Devil Wears Prada has accomplished with this Zombie EP. Yes, their fusion of Extreme Music genres is worthy of raucous applause, only the haunting Zombie concept just seems to fit so perfectly with their ferocity of sound, that in turn envelopes the mind and senses so seemlessly well. All the key elements of Extreme Metal and Hardcore are ever apparent with The Devil Wears Prada. To lump this band into a Metalcore only bucket is a result of not listening to what they play. From the blast beats to a guitar tandem spilling out memorable heavy riffs while mixing up Death Metal caliber grooves, the melodic shades of this band do spill out onto their songs by some amazing miracle.

My recommending The Devil Wears Prada to Metal, Hardcore and Extreme Metal fans is an easy thing to do. Giving this band a listen and experiencing their fired up energy and Extreme sound on this EP might just serve many a Metalhead right… both young and old. Just the front cover photo of this Zombie EP gives off enough scary vibes to last an hour. There is something about those sinister power lines, amid the backdrop of a fog filled landscape and greying sky… that’s Zombieville if I ever saw it. The liner notes contain excellent creepy and macabre photography as well, along with the back cover to this Zombie EP, (see pic below).

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA:

Mike Hranica – vocals & lyrics

Chris Rubey – guitars

Jeremy DePoyster – guitars & vocals

Daniel Williams – drums

James Baney – keys & synth

Andy Trick – bass

Track Listing For Zombie EP:

Escape

Anatomy

Outnumbered

Revive

Survivor

* For more info on The Devil Wears Prada, just click on the link below:

The Devil Wears Prada – Official Website

LONG LIVE THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA.

Stone.

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

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

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

AMON AMARTH:

Johan Hegg – vocals

Olavi Mikkonen – guitar

Johan Söderberg – guitar

Ted Lundström – bass

Fredrik Andersson – drums

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

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

AMON AMARTH – Official Website

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

LONG LIVE AMON AMARTH.

Stone.

2 Comments »

OVERKILL – European Killfest Tour 2011 Tour Dates!

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

OVERKILL – My fellow European Metalheads, Thrashers and Old School Metallers… whatever Metal label you go by, the European Killfest Tour 2011 looks to be your destination for the ultimate Thrash Metal experience. Thrash Metal Legends Overkill will be headlining, with fellow Thrash legends Destruction supporting! Thrash veterans Heathen will be on the bill along with After All. The month of March, 2011 is going to be a Thrashtastic one to remember… courtesy of Overkill and their European Killfest Tour!

The following are tour dates for the European Killfest Tour 2011:

03/03/11 – GBR – London @ O2 Islington Academy

03/04/11 – GER – Köln @ Esslgfabrik

03/05/11 – GER – Geiselwind @ Music Hall

03/06/11 – GER – Stuttgart @ Longhorn

03/07/11 – GER – Frankfurt @ Batschkapp

03/08/11 – SWI – Zürich @ Volkshaus

03/09/11 – ITA – Milano @ Live Club

03/10/11 – AUT – Wörgl @ Komma

03/11/11 – HUN – Budapest @ Petőfi Hall

03/12/11 – TCH – Brno @ Fleda

03/13/11 – POL – Warsaw @ Stodola

03/15/11 – GER – Berlin @ Columbia Club

03/16/11 – GER – Hamburg @ Markthalle

03/17/11 – GER – Braunschweig @ Meier Music Hall

03/18/11 – BEL – Antwerpen @ Trix

03/19/11 – NED – Enschede @ Atak

(Source: Overkill official website: http://www.wreckingcrew.com)

* For more info on this European Killfest Tour 2011 and more Overkill news, just click on this link: OVERKILL

LONG LIVE OVERKILL.

LONG LIVE DESTRUCTION, HEATHEN and AFTER ALL.

THRASH METAL REIGNS.

Stone.

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DARKBLACK “Midnight Wraith” EP – Traditional Metal With Underground Appeal

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , on November 28, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

DARKBLACK – Midnight Wraith, a five song EP from Portland Oregon’s DarkBlack, will be releasing on December 1, 2010, on Stormspell Records. Wether you call yourself a Traditional Metal or Old School Metal fan, DarkBlack is a band that may inspire your going out to buy that 1983 Chevy Nova you’ve been holding out on… complete with fuzzy, black dice hanging from the windshield mirror with hood stripes too. As with their Traditional Metal peers, the likes of Enforcer, Ravage and White Wizzard, (to name a few), DarkBlack takes me down Metal memory lane to a time when bootleg and demo cassette trading was the norm.

Stop right there. Is there any Metal relevance you ask? Hell yeah there is! DarkBlack is a Metal band that doesn’t seem to care about contemporary fads… Old School Metal never says die! With that said, this Midnight Wraith EP does sound raw and absent of any multi-million dollar producer… and that is what makes this new release from DarkBlack all the more appealing to my Metal ears.

If any Metalhead out there needs to be swayed into listening to Midnight Wraith, just revisit the first two Iron Maiden albums from the Metal yesteryear. They were not the muscular produced gems of Iron Maiden’s The Number Of The Beast or A Matter Of Life And Death albums. In a perfect Metal world, Metal is best when it stays underground… and DarkBlack seems to have tapped into those underground Metal vibes quite naturally.

DarkBlack may not have their own Boeing 757-200 jet, complete with a band mascot painted on it, yet what they do have is a Metal hunger in their playing and it comes right out at me through their songs. Yes, there is plenty of room for DarkBlack to expand on their Metal palette, however, if one is to look at the legacies of Motorhead and Venom, who gives a crap about how raw a band does sound anyways, especially when the seeds of Metal legitimacy have been planted.

All five songs on Midnight Wraith seem to lure me in, they are like Metal bait on a hook. The riffs, guitar leads and solos are memorable throughout all five songs, admittedly they are kinda hard to ignore. A streamlined speed and heaviness combined with a melodic approach is what DarkBlack has embarked upon. I can’t help rooting for a band like DarkBlack, these guys would be voted off that bubble gum Fox network talent show in a heartbeat and would make the cast of Glee run for cover. What’s wrong with that? Absolutely nothing, is the correct answer.

Timothy on vocals could justifiably use some more oomph in letting his pipes be heard, he is a very decent singer… a production tweak is really all it takes there. As for the overall musicianship you can expect to hear on Midnight Wraith, it is all about the foundation. DarkBlack has it and will no doubt continue to build upon it. Sometimes you have to reach back into your Metal archives and realize that some of today’s biggest Metal bands never sounded super polished on their first two or three albums either. DarkBlack is worth checking out and keeping a Metal eye on… give ’em an Old School try, it might just serve you right.

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

DARKBLACK – myspace music

Midnight Wraith EP Track Listing:

Doom Herald

Power Monger

Golden Idol

Midnight Wraith

Broken Oath

GO GET ‘EM DARKBLACK.

Stone.


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OVERKILL Side Project – THE BRONX CASKET CO. Signs To eOne Music

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

Left to right: Jack Frost/guitar, Rob Pallotta/drums, Charlie Calv/keyboards and DD Verni/vocals & bass

(New York, NY) — eOne Music has signed a world wide deal with NY rock band THE BRONX CASKET CO. “I am totally psyched to be working with eOne for the new Bronx Casket release! They did an amazing job with the Overkill record and I know they will do the same for this. Having a label home where people “get” it and are psyched to work a record is a great feeling”, says front man DD Verni.

The band originally formed in 1998 by Overkill co-founder and bassist DD Verni.  Having played in one of the most respected thrash bands ever for over 2 decades, why have another band? Two reasons, states DD, “the challenge of writing interesting new material and for fun of course!”

The bands second release caught the ear of playwright Andrea Lepcio. Soon after, Verni and Lepcio were collaborating with 3-time Tony Winner Hinton Battle to direct and choreograph. Soon the seeds of “The Bronx Casket Co., A New Musical” were planted. Verni quickly recruited several members from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra to perform. The cast consisted of performers from the Broadway shows Hairspray, Rent and Dance of the Vampire. There have been several performances off-Broadway for producers/backers and the show is still in the writing stages. It has a gothic/Broadway score with a twisted love story woven throughout. Songs from the first two Bronx Casket Co. releases are included in the show, as well as 13 new songs D.D. Verni penned just for the musical.

It’s been five years since THE BRONX CASKET CO. last released an album and has been well worth the wait. Verni concludes, “This Bronx Casket record is the best we have done, and we are looking forward to getting out on the road and doing some shows.” As with every Bronx Casket Co. release, Verni has charted new territory, and stretched his writing boundaries.

* The forthcoming 2011 album, from The Bronx Casket Co. is titled: Antihero

* Antihero has been produced and engineered by DD Verni, at his New Jersey based – Gear Recording Studio.

* For more info on THE BRONX CASKET CO., click on the link below:

THE BRONX CASKET CO. – myspace music

THE BRONX CASKET CO.

DD Verni – Vocals & Bass

Jack Frost – guitars

Charlie Calv – keyboards

Rob Pallotta – drums

Michael Romeo – shredding guitar solos on new album – Antihero

PARTIAL TRACK LISTING FOR ANTIHERO:

Antihero

Bonesaw

Holy Mother

NYC (Devil’s Playground)

You Look Like Hell

I Never Loved You Anyway

Death On Two Legs (Queen cover song)

My Way (Frank Sinatra cover song)

(Source: eOne Music press release, November 22, 2010)

LONG LIVE THE BRONX CASKET CO.

Stone.

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Earthride “Something Wicked” – A Crunching Doom Metal Ride!

Posted in doom metal music, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, stoner metal music with tags , , , , , , , , on November 26, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

EARTHRIDE – Doom Metal, Biker Doom Metal and to a Metal degree Stoner Metal. This is Earthride. Let me tell you this much, if you are looking to take that gritty and bad-ass Metal ride you’ve been hankering for, look no further than this Maryland based band for just that. With more than enough mainstream dime-a-dozens getting all the attention from the Rock “scholar” mags, it’s a full-throttle, Doom pedal to the Metal band, like Earthride, that gets their proper Metal due here on Metal Odyssey.

Something Wicked is the third full-length album from Earthride and it’s exceedingly muscular in all of it’s Doom Metal glory, with Stoner riffs galore. If this album was actually alive and breathing, I would want it to be my personal body guard. Woven with blue collar toughness and plenty of underground thump and stump Metal, Earthride succeeds with their own Metal stamp of originality, combined with song quality. Plus, the production gives way to a raw appeal with just enough polish, to make Something Wicked sound so menacingly strong.

Ozzy Osbourne era Black Sabbath fans and Doom Metal aficionado’s should be thankful, that a band like Earthride is crunching out Metal as heard on Something Wicked. Earthride could very easily have named their new album Earthshaker… due to the Earth pounding bass courtesy of Rob Hampshire. Vocalist Dave Sherman sounds like a crusty combination of Lemmy Kilmister and Billy Gibbons, while still coming across as a damn cool original. Then again, after enough listens of what Earthride is playing here, the Motorhead and ZZ Top influence arguably exists musically… in my Metal opinion.

The opening track, Something Wicked (I May Become) lays down the Metal ground rules as to what Earthride is bringing to the party… some seriously Heavy, thick and trudging songs that have Old School guitar leads and solos intertwined within. This is a band and an album that solidifies the “what you hear is what you get” Metal school of thought. Don’t expect any experimentation or that one song that will throw you off guard, this is Earthride and they are aren’t about to cater to the diverse Metal enthusiasts anytime soon.

Amidst all the Doom and Stoner appealing riffs, there is some southern boogie in Earthrides step too. Force Fed Fear plays out at 8:31 long and is admittedly my favorite song on Something Wicked. Kyle VanSteinburg lends the boogie down riffs on this molasses heavy kicker of a song, while also providing a meat and potatoes solo that burns. Force Fed Fear is a mighty way to cap off this album.

Metal be thy name, I give Something Wicked 8 out of 10 Metal Fists.

EARTHRIDE:

Dave Sherman – vocals

Kyle VanSteinburg – guitar

Eric Little – drums

Rob Hampshire – bass

* For more info on Earthride, all you have to do is click on the link below:

EARTHRIDE – myspace music

* Something Wicked was released on July 20, 2010, through Earthride’s very own Earth Brain Records.

* Something Wicked was recorded, mixed and mastered by Chris Kozlowski, (Blue Cheer, Pentagram, Melvins and Trouble), at the Polar Bear Lair.

* Featured guest guitarist is underground Metal legend – Scott “Whino” Weinrich of Saint Vitus, Shrinebuilder, The Obsessed and Spirit Caravan fame. “Whino” appears on the track Supernatural Illusion.

* Included in the graphic layout of this Something Wicked album are the actual X-rays and MRI’s from the various injuries sustained over the years by all four members of Earthride. That’s Metal. That’s Earthride.

Something Wicked Track Listing:

Something Wicked (I May Become)

Hacksaw Eyeball

Make Up Your Mind

Destruction Song

Zodiac

Watch The Children Play

Grip The Wheel

Supernatural Illusion

Force Fed Fear

LONG LIVE EARTHRIDE.

Stone.

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THE WRETCHED END: New Track Streaming Via Decibel Magazine!

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

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

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

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

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CROWBAR – Announce New Album Title And Track Listing Revealed!

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

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

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

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

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

Kirk Windstein – Crowbar founding member, vocalist and guitarist.

Sever The Wicked Hand Track listing:

Isolation (Desperation)

Sever The Wicked Hand

Liquid Sky And Cold Black Earth

Let Me Mourn

The Cemetery Angels

As I Become One

A Farewell To Misery

Protectors Of The Shrine

I Only Deal In Truth

Echo An Eternity

Cleanse Me, Heal Me

Symbiosis

Long Live Kirk Windstein and Crowbar.

Stone.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

EASTERN FRONT – myspace music

EASTERN FRONT:

Nagant – vocals

Holocaust – lead guitar

Krieg – rhythm guitar

Destroyer – bass

Destruction – drums

Blood On Snow – (Back Cover of CD above)

Track Listing For Blood On Snow:

Stalinorgel

Battle Of Smolensk

Blood On Snow

Unleash The Panzer Division

Motherland

Dvenadtzat Kilometrov Ot Moskvy

At The Gates Of Moscow

Where Warriors Once Fell

EASTERN FRONT HAS ARRIVED… BEST TO LET THEM IN.

Stone.

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BON JOVI and POISON – Who Cares About Their Recycled “Greatest Hits” Collections Anyways?

Posted in Hair Metal, Hard Rock, hard rock albums, hard rock bands, Heavy Metal, metal odyssey, Music, rock & roll, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on November 21, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

BON JOVI/POISON – Metal be damned their back. I’m not talking about the bands Bon Jovi and Poison themselves, I’m talking about their recycled, re-mastered, decades old “hits” that everyone on planet Earth already owns. Yes, both bands have reintroduced to the world, once again, their sacred “hits” and have now decided to call them… “collections”. The sole purpose of these “collections” being released now, is for their being purchased as holiday gifts, the timing could not be any more prosperous for Bon Jovi and Poison.

Some poor dude out there is gonna get this Bon Jovi The Ultimate Collection as a Christmas present this year…  just because he probably mentioned once, during a family reunion picnic, that he digs the song Bad Medicine. That’s so damn unfortunate. Some poor Hard Rock chick (who owns every Poison album already) is gonna receive this Poison Nothin’ But A Good Time Collection as a holiday grab bag gift at work… all due to her saying she has dug Poison her whole life to someone at the company cafeteria. Terrible thought, I know.

Any fan of Poison or Bon Jovi already owns every damn studio album, live album and greatest hits as it is. I don’t think either band is hurtin’ in the big pay day department either… still, it’s all about the $$$ and no remote care in the world for the long-time fans who want “new” studio recordings of songs. This is Bon Jovi’s fourth “greatest hits” album… hello, egomaniacs anonymous? Maybe these new “collections” from both bands are fitting for younger fans who are just getting into their music, I will concede that. Plus, I’m certain there are a ton of Democrat politicians who have been voted out of office this November that will buy this new Bon Jovi “Collection” as well. Those soon to be former Democrat politicians owe Bon Jovi for his supporting them… so there is always that new market to tap into.

How many times does Poison need to release a “greatest hits”? It’s been eight long years since Poison released a studio album of “new” songs, the last being 2002’s Hollyweird. Four “new” songs on Bon Jovi’s Ultimate Collection is like giving their loyal fans a bagged fart, disguised as a secret toy surprise, in the middle of bland tasting cheerios. Oh, I forgot, This Bon Jovi band is too “busy” to make a full-length album these days. This is as perfect an example, as I can point out, to two different bands becoming so commercial and worldly popular, that anything they decide to refry and belch out, is to be automatically accepted by the Rock listening and buying public. NOT!

Seasoned Rock and Hard Rock fans worldwide, save your hard earned money this holiday season and do yourself an “ultimate” favor by staying away from these “ultimate” collections. I’m not taking away from either band being solid and great in their own musical regards, that is not my intent. I really, really, dig Poison, always have and will. However, giving a little extra more money to the Salvation Army kettle, this holiday season, sounds like a much more valiant way to expend any more disposable income that I already don’t have.

Metal be thy name.

Stone.

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DORO – “25 Years In Rock” Releases December 7, 2010 In North America!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal concerts, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on November 20, 2010 by Metal Odyssey

DORO – Metal’s “real” Queen is Germany’s Doro Pesch and she is celebrating her 25th Anniversary as such in grand Metal style. 25 Years In Rock… And Still Going Strong will be released on Nuclear Blast in Europe on November 26, 2010 and November 29 in the UK, while a December 7, 2010 release is slated for North America. This amazing DORO package is a 2 DVD/1 CD, featuring the celebration of her 25th Anniversary concert on December 13, 2008, at the ISS Dome in Düsseldorf, Germany, (Doro’s hometown).

Live concert footage includes: Big City Nights and Rock You Like A Hurricane with Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker, Always Live To Win with Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, Walking With The Angels with Tarja Turunen, True As Steel with Warlock line-up of 1986 and Warrel Dane, All We Are featuring all the guests from this incredible night, plus many more Metal surprises! The total running time is 5 hours on DVD! Whoa… that’s a ton of DORO greatness!

* DVD 1 is live concert footage, while DVD 2 is a documentary with highlights, extras and bonus features.

DORO – 25 Years In Rock Ltd. Edition Double LP Picture Disc, (above). This beauty is being sold directly on Century Media – CM Distro.com. As of November 20th, I’ve seen it as “temporarily out of stock”… so it’s a hot DORO commodity!

* Click below to see the third trailer for DORO – 25 Years In Rock

DORO – 25 Years Of Rock (2DVD/CD Slipcase)

DORO – 25 Years In Rock CD Track Listing:

Introduction

Earthshaker Rock

I Rule The Ruins

You’re My Family

Herzblut

Unholy Love (Featuring Honza K. Behunek)

East Meets West (Featuring Chris Boltendahl and Axel Rudi Pell)

Burn It Up (Featuring Jean Beauvoir)

Above The Ashes

Celebrate (Full Metal Female Version)

Breaking The Law

LONG LIVE DORO PESCH… THE METAL QUEEN.

Stone.

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