Bloody Hammers-Under Satan's Sun

All year I've been going on about how 2014 is the year for rock and roll, and there are so many great examples of this. My latest rock band to praise now is Bloody Hammers, a desert rock group off Napalm Records. A group who are really starting to make a name for themselves on a sound based off crunchy riffs and chanted vocals. Their new record, Under Satan's Sun is an instant classic, from the opening hit, The Town That Dreaded Sundown you are mesmerized and drawn in, a slave to the beautiful rock and roll madness of Bloody Hammers.

There is something really engaging about the fuzzy vibes of the Bloody Hammers sound. The guitar tone is highly enjoyable and as I dig into it I have to say I feel like I have found love. There is a very distinct classic rock vibe, yet it is run through a modern context. These guys worship Alice Cooper, but it's not hard to hear touches of bands like Type O Negative impacting the sound. You feel the riffs reach down and they hit somewhere deep, getting at something special, the sort of beautiful musical madness that only comes once a generation if you're lucky. Somehow, Under Satan's Sun draws you in, yet it's not like any of its peers, the mysterious beauty around it defies words, but simply digs in under your skin.

I'm probably just a silly romantic, but this is the sort of record that suggests to me that there are still new and exciting things to be done in rock and roll music. With poignant grooves and a beautiful understanding not just of what they are trying to do, but how to do it, Bloody Hammers get at the soul. It's easy to fall in love with Under Satan's Sun and as I spin it again and again I become aware I am wholly under its spell. So come, join me in these dark satanic mills, working to find the light, yet not the light that most point to, instead the beautiful darkness found under Satan's sun.

Find Bloody Hammers on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/BloodyHammers

Signs Preyer

Southern inspired groove metal? Yes please! (Speaking of which, I'm going to see Lamb of God on Sunday!) The bass heavy attack of Signs Preyer is more than mere Pantera worship, this is a band with their own unique approach to metal incorporating influences like BLS and Red Fang without sounding much like either of those groups. Instead this band uses a lot of excellent clean vocals and some truly hard hitting riffsto create something new and exciting. The way their riffs flow is not typical of groove metal, instead it tends to be a bit jazzier with some cascading arpeggios that most groove bands would avoid. Yet there are also some good old hard hitting riffs with a crushing drive worthy of a group like Devildriver. In sum, what sets this group apart is essentially the excellent (and dominating) clean vocals, which obviously give the band a taste of their own. Toss in some great riffs that you can really get a pit started with (I'm looking right at you 'Anger') and you have yourself a band who have the potential to be the next big thing out of Italy. Groove metal fans across the globe, look out for the metal force that is Signs Preyer!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/SignsPreyer

Regulation Nine

Regulation Nine is a nifty rock band from Nashville, the throbbing heart of American music. With a tightly polished sound that still somehow retains its 'live jam' feel Regulation Nine have created something fresh and interesting with their music. They take the traditional maxims of modern rock and infuse it with a heavy country vibe. The guitar parts feature some unique lines too which makes sense considering the guitarists classical and jazz backing. This gives the music a unique flavor and allows the band to do things that you might not otherwise hear from this sort of group. In particular, the solo on Know No is especially good and very tasty! What I think makes this band cool is that they can appeal to the casual fan, but they really are pushing the envelope on what rock can be. I think they just need a little more time to fully develop their ideas. If they incorporate more jazz elements into their sound then I get the feeling that Regulation Nine can be truly great!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/RegulationNine

Face Down-The Long Lost Future

A lot of modern thrash is obsessed with technique or speed. Both of which are definitely key aspects of the genre, yet it is easy to forget the third key ingredient, groove. Face Down is a Parisian band that makes sure to push the groove to the max to accent their tasty Lynyrd Skynyrd influenced sound. Their new record Long Lost Future is the latest metal fodder from Blue Wave Productions and I must say, it is a refreshing blast of thrash metal madness that seeks to explore a different, groovier vein of the genre than many modern purveyors might investigate.

The crunchy riffing and bluesy solos of Long Lost Future belie the true might of Face Down. This is a band that takes the bluesy southern rock formula and turns it to 11. While there are some definite hard thrashing moments that is but the background for the true nature of the music. Layered on top of a standard Metallica styled thrash vibe come loads of chunky rhythm and old school riffs that make Face Down into something unique. They have a more punishing attack than many who seek to fuse metal and blues yet they are simultaneously much more influenced by classic rock than most modern thrashers. The end result is interesting and hard to turn off!

To wrap up, Long Lost Future shows a promising new breed of thrash that Face Down seek to spread across the world. With hard partying songs like Poker Time and My Last Tequila Face Down they have uncovered a great combination of bluesy groove and metallic heaviness. I especially enjoy the phenomenal solos that really give the music the magic of the 70s and the sheer aggression of thrash bands like Overkill Face Down have come upon an excellent mix which is accented by great riffs and magnificent songwriting. Something that could unite both classic rockers and modern metallers Long Lost Future is a hard rocking slab of metal magic.

Find them on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/face-down/338939868759

Lowbau-A Darker Shade of Blues

Lowbau is a tasty hard rock band who make a brand of groovy bluesy very much in the vein of Black Label Society or even Pantera. With heavy and passionate vocals Lowbaus sound is one filled with a bluesy power yet also one that is infused with a classic heavy metal energy. The end result is an earthy and addictive metal record replete with gallons of groove which allow A Darker Shade of Blues to shine as a great album which both recalls the genres roots and seeks to bring it forward, something few modern bands manage to do successfully.

The songs are usually pretty straightforward, they have a 70s hard rock feel to them in both their bluesy grooves and crunchy guitar parts. Yet A Darker Shade of Blues is much harder than most music that came out in that epoch. That's where the Pantera and Lamb of God influence comes in, allowing the sound to fulfill its maximum potential with a southern rock and redneck metal influence. Together, these ideas give A Darker Shade of Blues a great rock and roll attitude that allows the songs to ring true and shine through a saturated scene.

In conclusion, A Darker Shade of Blues is a fun and brutal rock n roll record which reminds me distinctly of Pantera or even some Motorhead. The combination of old school rhythms with more modern metal elements makes for a sound that is both grounded and reality and gloriously destructive. Fans of early heavy metal and groove should love this record. Lowbau know what they want to do and do it well. A Darker Shade of Blues is a very tasty release anyone with an inkling for hard rock and devastating blues should enjoy!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/LOWBAU?fref=ts

Spiral Arms

Spiralarms is a groovy hard rock band with southern rock sensibilities and a ton of groove. Featuring former members of Death, Forbidden, Systematic and Man Made God, you gotta love these guys and their rock and roll sensibilities. Their songs have an earthy feel to them that keeps them grounded in reality. It reminds me a lot of bands like Gypsyhawk, they hit the soul and really resonate with the listener. Spiralarms have a supreme confidence to them that reminds me of Pantera. This confidence allows their riffs to ring out with an intimidating power that shows these guys are destined for greatness. They are unashamed of their sound and seems to be almost always turned up to the max. In brief, Spiralarms know how to rock and anyone who appreciates the heavy stuff will definitely be grooving along to their chunky guitar parts. With strong songwriting and some riffs that just make me want to dance this is a delicious band who any fans of hard rock will love.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/spiralarmsband/app_2405167945

Piston

 

Piston is a straight up rock and roll band with a southern feel to them. Straight out of the garage these guys have a raw sound that you will not soon forget. Their music is catchy and rather heavy. The guitar playing is punchy and some of the riffs arejust spectacular. He manages to capture the bands energy into one headbanging guitar line. The bass work is heavy and really helps the band keep the energy level up. I particularly like the bass in the verse line of Dark Angel where we see the bassist enforcing the riff and giving it new life. The drumming is solid and Dark Angel even has a drum solo which is really cool. The drummers' solid beats keep the energy level up the entire time and never let you rest easy. His playing is fiery and really drags you into the sound. The vocals are passionate and powerful, you can FEEL the singer putting his heart and soul into this band's songs. I really like the raw majesty that you can hear in his voice. Finally, a word on the production, once more Lzr Production delivers perfectly providing a tight sound that can not be criticized. Loz Shaw is truly a master behind the mixing table. In conclusion, Piston is an awesome rock band with tight production who you should listen too!

https://www.facebook.com/PistonUK