Phantom Fire - Eminente Lucifer Libertad

Phantom Fire is another one of those excellent projects to emerge out of the incredibly fertile Bergen scene. Featuring members of Krakow and Gaahls Wyrd, Eminente Lucifer Libertad is the sort of blazing fiery pitch black speed metal that keeps fans headbanging through the night. It's hard not to be charmed by the all guys and glory heavy metal approach of the band with their epic metal leanings, bold experimentations and ferocious overarching approach. The venom spitting vocals and tight guitar playing come together for a project that is compelling and a helluva lot of fun to lose yourself in. 

Eminente Lucifer Libertad isn't exactly reinventing the steel - but their execution is wonderfully ferocious and unrelenting. The assault that they bring to the table and the level of swagger is impressive and speaks to a project that can't help but to leave listeners in awe as they jump from peak to peak. There is a very real magic here that comes from the larger than life ministrations and the clear obsessions with some of the best metal tropes. Phantom Fire impress because of their ability to borrow from a variety of genres though. While the music is generally speakign extreme speed metal, death metal and black metal elements interplay nicely with more classic epic metal ideas. 

This is a really fun record and one that doesn't take itself too seriously. Instead it sees Phantom Fire unleashing heavy metal magic at high velocities across eleven tracks with little concern about your poser opinions. This is a balls out assault for the ages and one that is clearly a labor of love. Eminente Lucifer Libertad is exactly what you see on the cover and so much more, horns raising heavy metal that leans into the power of a good "Ough" and the fun of a shredding guitar solo. As longhairs - what more could we really want?

Pre-order the album!

https://edgedcircleproductions.bandcamp.com/album/eminente-lucifer-libertad

Terrorhammer - Gateways To Hades

 

Terrorhammer first blasted their way onto my radar back in 2015 with Under The Unholy Command. Now the band has kept it going with another full length of death defying necro speed metal madness. The balls out assault that defines their new offering Gateways To Hades is pretty over the top but that's a key part of the appeal of what Terrorhammer are doing. The assault that they outline on Gateways to Hades is brutarian and to the point. It's the sort of thing that screams of classic metal magic and leaves you gasping for air, but begging for more. 

Gateways To Hades is chaotic, terrifying and wonderfully over the top. There is a thrilling vortex of sounds that shapes so much of what Terrorhammer has done. The dynamic assault of this record is a lot of fun, it's the sort of thing that you're just going want to play time and time again. With flashy solos, high powered rhythms and riffs pouring out of every orifice, Gateways To Hades thrills in its over the top assault. Terrorhammer is going to thrill you with this record, and though it's been years between full lengths, the wait has been more than worth it. These songs are more developed and harder hitting than anything they have done before. 

If you're looking for the next speed metal explosion to thrash your face off, Gateways To Hades is your go to. This is a record that leans into all the tropes, except the tropes are awesome, so it becomes a whole helluva lot of fun. It's a record that leans into so many of the classic elements of the speed metal genre but turns them up to 11, going faster, harder and louder than so many of their predecessors but executing with aplomb. Gateways To Hades is a killer, a testament to hard work and an album that opens many doors for the band.

Pre-order the album!

https://osmoseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/gateways-to-hades

Sacrifizer - Le Diamant De Lucifer

 

Are you ready for true French speed metal punk? Probably not, but no one really is ready for the madness that Sacrifizer deliver. Their bloodthirsty brand of blackened speed metal is delicious and borrows from a wide range of influences, ranging from local heroes like ADX to much more flung inspirations like Norwegian black metal. Their new record Le Diamant De Lucifer is a masterful offering any way you slice it and listening to the band lay out their brand of evil for 10 gloriously headbanging tracks is a real treasure. 

Le Diamant De Lucifer captures the imagination because of its dedication to blasphemous classic metal magic. The title track, whose name literally translates to "Lucifer's Diamond" is a prime example of this, with a huge shout along chorus and grimy riffs that capture the imagination. This is a band who understand what it means to conjure up twisted riffs and leave your neck a wreck. The fun and flashy solos are another huge highlight of this record, really leaning into some of the rock and roll glory that Sacrifizer seem to have so finely mastered on this particular offering. It's a delight to hear them lay into it time and time again. 

Sacrifizer may not be reinventing the steel on this particular offering, but it is a whole hell of a lot of fun to bounce around and mosh with them on Le Diamant De Lucifer. It's a record that  I think classic thrash fans will love but also black metallers. It's a record that understands both the fun and the bombast of metal and which is going to take you back to why you became a metalhead in the first place. Join me in moshing under the moonlight and reveling in the high powered assault of Le Diamant De Lucifer. You won't regret it.

Pre-order the album!

https://www.osmoseproductions.com/liste/index.cfm?what=all&lng=2&tete=sacrifizer

The Necrosexual - Seeds Of Seduction

The Necrosexual is back and he is killing it. His latest offering, Seeds Of Seduction remains a fitting tribute to the insanity that is this band and the over the top magic that has come to define The Necrosexual's oeuvre. This speed/black metal blend is of a sort only rarely heard in the United States but which pays a perfect tribute to the classic 80s extreme metal sound. The over the top ministrations and demonic evocations that define this offering are just a bit tongue in cheek, but that's part of the beauty of black metal. 

Seeds Of Seduction is a triumph because the over the top and bloodthirsty nature of the band. Tracks like 'Screamin' For The Steamin' Demon Semen' are wonderfully absurd and really revel in the high school magic of classic metal. These are songs that are high powered and a whole bunch of fun. The demented yowls that punctuate this EP give it a lot of flavor and the blazing ferocity that helps to shape these tracks only makes for more addictive listening. The Necrosexual have really gone above and beyond here, refining their craft and preparing a three track offering that in about fifteen minutes explains with panache the fun of metal. 

This is The Necrosexual at his finest, relishing in the absurdly offensive sides of heavy metal and giving you a reason to raise your fist to the sky. Yes it's silly but that's kind of the point if I'm being honest. Seeds Of Seduction is a record that easily leans into all the hairiest and grossest tropes of metal but does it in such an authentic 80's fueled way that classic metal fans are going to come back to this record time and time again. So yes, it's silly. But guess what? That's the point. This record is a goddamn blast both musically and in terms of concept. Listen.

Pre-order the album!

https://necrosexual.bandcamp.com/

Children of Technology - Written Destiny

 

The Italian speed metal punx are back! Written Destiny is another wonderful blast of raucous noise from the band released by the immortal Hell's Headbangers. This is an album that is exciting, powerful and over the top. Full of thrilling guitars, ripping solos and snarled vocals, Written Destiny is a goddamn treat to get through and will keep listeners on the edge of their seats. Children of Technology know exactly what makes them great and they lean into it with aplomb. It makes for a very fun listen from an exciting and dynamic band. 

Nothing on Written Destiny is breaking new grand. In fact the band is very much focused on reproducing the magic of their second album, Future Decay. This album sees the band swaggering through a post apocalyptic wasteland of their own design. The influence of bands like Venom, Anti-Cimex and Onslaught is readily apparent and really ties into the sense of fun that helps to make this such a driving force. One particular note is the drums. While they often fall back into four on the floor beats there are a few more imaginative fills that add a nice level of flavor to the band. The album closer, "Wasteland Cratediggers" (Isn't that a great track name?) really helps to show that. 

Written Destiny is grimy and over the top. It's a record that leans into all the heavy metal magic that we fell in love with all those years ago and shows us that Children of Technology remain a band not to be fucked with. This is over the top and exciting speed metal the way it was meant to be played. They may live to ape the 80s gods, but hey, it's a helluva lot of fun - so why not embrace it? This is an album that pushes ever harder, faster and louder. It's one of the best Italian examples of the genre and has me excited to dig back into their discography!

Pre-order:

https://children-of-technology.bandcamp.com/

Stalker - Black Majik Terror

Well this one is a hell of a ride. It's been such a pleasure seeing the global speed metal scene explode in recent years and the seemingly neverending series of bands emerging from this scene with excellent compositions and a distinct vision that really serves to differentiate them in a crowded scene. The high powered theatrics of Stalker are one such offering. these New Zealand boys have crafted a high power metal assault worthy of Agent Steel themselves. Coming at you at a million miles an hour shrieking and howling, this is what speed metal is all about. 

See - Stalker can be a bit corny, but they know it. That's part of the appeal of the band. The record is full of high power riffs and thrilling takes on the genre. The way that Stalker come over the horizon shrieking and howling makes them almost something from a kids nightmare. That's exactly what I love about them though. Their hooting and hollering may to some be loathsome noise, but to me the thrill of their music is relentlessly exciting. This album has it all, flashy solos, dynamic playing and a sense that things might fall apart at any moment. It's a hell of a good time and it's something that metalheads of all stripes will love. 

Black Majik Terror is a blast from the past but with the ferocity of 2020. It's an extremely fun record that speaks to the power of true metal. The band go for a shake and tumble and it's a joy to watch them go crazy. This is an album that encapsulates so much of what makes heavy metal so much fun. Stalker give you everything you're looking for in a wild and crazy metal band. It's a delight to watch it unfold and the crashing and roaring triumph of the band will continue to charm listeners for years to come. Will you dive with them into the pit?

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/stalkerheavymetal/

Butcher - 666 Goats Carry My Chariot

Ever want a speed metal band who not only bring in elements of black metal and thrash but who also carry it delightfully over the top? Well then the hyper power assault of Butcher is exactly what you were looking for. In 2017 Butcher emerged from a long hiatus with a masterful debut full length, Bestial Fukkin War Machine. Since then they have carved a path of violence across Europe. This has culminated in a new album, the delightfully over the top 666 Goats Carry My Chariot. This is a band that do exactly what it says on the tin.

A cursory glane at the album art tells you basically all that you need to know about the band. They are unleashing pure hellfire on 666 Goats Carry My Chariot. Their blend of genres is addictive and makes for a sound that is decidedly 'metal'. The frenetic guitar playing on a track like 'Sentinels Of Dethe' is perfectly indicative of the sort of ADD riffing that helps to make this such a fun album. As the band careen forward leaping from peak to peak, Butcher prove that they are consistently among the greats. Though this is a face melting record, 666 Goats Carry My Chariot is compelling listening, with enough musical depth to ensure multiple spins.

I think what gets me about this album is how many influences Butcher are able to showcase whilst simultaneously delivering a cohesive whole. That is to say, through it all, 666 Goats Carry My Chariot is able to simultaneously demonstrate the impact of Slayer on a track like 'Metallstrom, Face The Butcher' as easily as they show their love for Bathory a few tracks later on the title track '666 Goats Carry My Chariot'. This kind of diversity would hamstring most bands, but Butcher pull it off with aplomb making for a fascinating musical journey.

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

Screamer - Highway Of Heroes

Y'know - nothing quite gets the motor going like some good old fashioned Iron Maiden worship. This isn't just a helluva fun listen, it's one of the best put together true metal records that I have heard in a good long while. Everything from the 1980's style cover art to the immaculately pieced together guitar tone speaks to what this band is and what they hope to evolve into. Screamer scream to the fore of the heavy metal underground with an overarching sense of fun that sets them far ahead of a crowded Swedish pack.

Four albums into their career it's clear that Screamer have started to really hone their craft into something special. Sure this market maybe very saturated but it's rare to find a group with the tenacity and sheer capability of execution that Screamer seem to bring to the table with such aplomb. Highway Of Heroes is a fun album that seems to transcend common limitations by just embracing an over the top sound. So yes, Highway Of Heroes is a little bit silly, but so is all metal that tries to be trve. That's a huge part of what makes it so compelling. This is a record you're going to sing along too as you blast down the highway, and the band knows it.

Overall, this is one of the most tastefully executed Swedish speed metal records in recent memory. The production is on point and the guitar work is frequently thrilling. There are all sorts of tasty little frills that serve to make the band that much better. So yes, there are a ton of Swedish speed metal bands, but when it comes down to it, Screamer have the chops, production and songwriting to put them a head and shoulders above the rest making this a meaningful and very fun little listen for any fan of bands like Iron Maiden or even Hammerfall.

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

Asomvel - World Shaker

Heavy Psych Sounds have reached out into the void and plucked a band who seem to want to be the second coming of Motorhead. Yet far from being a sad aping of passed greats, Asomvel are pushing next level speed metal. While a lot of the iconography is borrowed from Motorhead, Asomvel are capable of pushing forward in new and exciting ways. They take the legacy of their forefathers and while they may not surpass it, they show they have deeply understood it. World Shaker is a testament to what metal is and always should be, a fitting tribute to Lemmy.

This is a record that sounds absolutelym assive from first to last. Not only that though but it seems to eagerly feast on the inherent madness of the genre. Tracks like Railroad have fun over the top choruses. Meanwhile it's easy to be enamored by the balls out assault of the groovy rhythm section. The group seems to really lean into everything that has made Motorhead and really the speed metal movement as a whole special. That being said, they still don't quite capture the genres trademark swagger. What they are doing is exciting and fun, but you definitely have to ask yourself, 'What does this give me that Motorhead does not?'

There are songs here that definitely suggest Asomvel is the second coming though. They definitely have a different take on the genre and the dynamics are thrilling. At their best Asomvel are bombastic, potent and exciting. It's hard not to get revved up listening to World Shaker. It's a wild rock and roll party of the sort that few of the bands peers will ever match up too. Album closer 'The Nightmare Ain't Over' speaks to the bands neverending ability to rock, rattle and roll. Buckle up - it will be a wild ride.

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

Chainbreaker - Lethal Desire

Man - this is some good old fashioned ass kicking heavy metal. In a world infected by posers and lame hipster riffs it's exciting too hear Hells Headbangers putting out some crazed and over the top heavy metal thunder that any fan of the good old stuff can get behind. Clearly influenced by the likes of Motorhead and Venom, the rip roaring good time brought to you by Chainbreaker on Lethal Desire is a prime example of what top notch speed metal is supposed to sound like in 2019, and by God is it fun.

With circle pits being conjured up left and right by chainsaw guitars, this three piece seems to lean into everything with a leer. Made up of current and former members of Cauldron, Rammer and Toxic Holocaust the bands pedigree is more than matched with the maddening assault of these tracks. They are just a touch silly and frequently over the top - but that's kind of the point, to unleash raw cosmic fury upon posers and make you choke on a bitter pill of heavy metal thunder. Aggressive and bloodthirsty, this is a band who understand the nudge and wink of the genre but bury it in anthems of poser crushing violence.

There is an authoritative swagger to the assault on Lethal Desire. This is a band who crunch forward through breakdowns and then turn around moving fast and breaking shit as they carome through crazed odes to denim and leather. This is an album that is fun through and through but never without a hint of danger. Lethal Desire is a dynamic effort and one that rewards the listener, encouraging them to start their own circle pits in their bedrooms across America. Guaranteed to leave a smile on your face, this is the devils music the way Satan intended.

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

Roadkiller - S/T

Hard hitting speed metal with big choruses and tight riffs charging at you from the monstrous pipes of band masterful singer, Roadkiller is a bit different from your average band in the Philly punk scene. A group who owe as much to Megadeth as they do the Ramones the group fuses guitar histrionics with energetic punk riffing and a straightforward rock and roll sensibility of the sort you won't soon forget. While this record is certainly weird and powerful it is also one you will find yourself circling back too time and time again.

There is something really charming about the youthful energy and blazing exuberance of Roadkiller. Yet this isn't just a dirt punk record that people will forget about. The production while refreshingly raw is certainly clear enough to communicate the power of the ideas within and the chunky sense of forward motion that dominates the record will simply leave you in awe. This is an album that ebbs and flows, breathing adn expanding and demanding the listener really sink their teeth into all that is going on here. It makes sense on first listen, but the playing is flashy enough that multiple spins are going to pay off and give you an opportunity to uncover new layers that you might not have heard before.

Roadkiller is a throwback to all that is fun, powerful and over the top in the history of speed metal and high powered punk. While this is a record steeped in retro vibes I wouldn't say that this is just retreading old ground. There are too many influences, some from surprisingly diverse sources that I think can be counted in. Still, Roadkiller have unleashed something here that is punchy and exciting, that reflects on the burning magic of this kind of music and shows us that there is a new Philly band to be reckoned with.

Find them on Facebook! 
https://www.facebook.com/Roadkiller-193083388048165/

Cain/Maximum Oversatan - Unholy Triumvirate

Seven inch splits are one of those things that makes death metal so sacred to me - especially when it invokes the wonderful darkness of the underground as well as Unholy Triumvirate. Featuring two bands that are distinctly fucked up and classless in a way that only American groups can be this split stands as a testament to the enduring power of the metal scene and its ability to unite brothers in demented death blasting out music that hasn't advanced all that far from Venom - and frankly, that's what makes it great.

Cain start of the split off with high speed destruction coming at you at a million miles an hour. As mentioned before their first contribution, Genocide has a heavy Venom vibe to it. Meanwhile the unyielding assault of their second track, an edit of Necronomicon is equally stunning - it tears forth leaving the listener beaten down and on the ground, in awe of the musics almighty power. When Maximum Oversatan step up to the plate with their own unique brand of New Jersey blackened speed metal it becomes clear that these dudes are the real deal and will fuck you up with no questions asked, unloading cosmic death at ungodly volumes. Also they have a fun cover - and that's rad.

The raw power of these two bands helps to reflect that the Unholy Triumvirate is one of those records that is essential to understanding the spirit of death metal. It contributes to a larger whole, it is unsacred and beautiful because of that. Cain and Maximum Oversatan speak to extreme metals inherent beauty, as stripped back and oppressive as it may be. So finding yourself lost in the sublime bleakness of Unholy Triumvirate is a rare treat, heavy metal to soothe the raging soul and guide you to oblivion.

Find them on Facebook!

Cain: https://www.facebook.com/CainThrash

Maximum Oversatan: https://www.facebook.com/maximumoversatan

Heavylution

Despite my love of extremely esoteric metal there is still something in me that is still in love with the poignant and over the top side of metal. Heavylution provide exactly this, and their new record Children Of Hate gives you a fierce glimpse into what they are all about. There is a sense of heavy metal might that runs through their punchy guitar riffs and soaring vocals. While the songwriting does feel a tad clunky here and there the overall vibe the band is going for is easily achieved. There is something strangely poetic about what Heavylution do. You feel yourself falling in love with their melodic guitar lines that provide a tasty counterpoint to the crunching rhythm guitars that give depth to the verses. Heavylution are fun to listen too and get at what made me love heavy metal so much in the first place. Their fusion of thrash metal with power metal and even a few NWOBHM ideas is a lot of fun and makes for a exciting overall concept. As the band evolve things are only get better so hope on the bandwagon and enjoy the ride!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/heavylution

Comaniac

Comaniac are a wonderfully vicious little thrash band out of Switzerland. A nifty national treasure these guys seem just about ready to transcend the veil of obscurity and bring the metal to the masses. With high pitched vocals that simply rip into your ear drums couched in next to ripping guitar riffs and a dedication to brutality that is simply delectable Comaniac capture the imagination. There is a certain angular quality to the guitar playing that makes these songs a lot of fun to listen too. Never too techy there is still a sense of flash and bombast that gives the music weight, be it in epic intros like the one on 1,2 Rage or in more high speed riffs like those found on Secret Seed (Or pretty much every other track - let's be real, this is thrash metal after all) Singing about standard thrash fare and guiding mosh pits into utter destruction Comaniac clearly understand how to bring wonderfully fierce and heavy music to the fore, so dive on into the pit, the blood is fine!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/ComaniacOfficial?fref=ts&ref=br_tf

Klaymore - Justifiably Pissed

Some people say that power metal is kind of played out and doesn't have exciting stuff going down. People say it's lost its spark and now it's just silly music for the metal masses. With Justifiably Pissed Klaymore seek to restore the faith with a ferocious attack that bites down to the bone with hard hitting thrashy vocals that are directly contrasted by wailing powerful singing. This is the crux of the music and it drives Justifiably Pissed hard, keeping the band exciting and potent, proving these guys are rock and rollers who will take your soul.

While at first the whole concept seems a little bit formulaic, Klaymore quickly settle into a groove creating interesting songs that use fancy guitar work and their trademark vocal attack to help refine something that will endlessly fascinate the listener. The only real drawback I find to these guys is that the production quality is a bit subpar, things feel ab it too raw and with the vibe the band seems to want – well, better production would just put it through the roof. As is though, there are lots of great hooks here that keep things exciting and will have you singing along, even from the first listen. Justifiably Pissed proves that Klaymore know how to write some tight songs that will get you bopping along, even if metal isn't your main shindig.

At the end of the day, Klaymore are just fun to listen too. These Pittsburgh rockers have an aural assault that comes across as far tastier and much more inspiring than that of their peers. When these guys reach out, their voices soaring, guitars blazing and drums crashing, you realize that they are turned on to something special. As they refine their sound and develop their hooks they could take what is already a very strong formula and make it into something great, the sort of grim salvation that will carry you through even the darkest nights.

Find them on Facebook!

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

Iron Kobra - Might & Magic

"Attention, attention, the following record is meant to be played on 10," quite a way to start a record if you ask me! Iron Kobra have the balls of steel and the vicious riffs that are required to pass as a heavy metal band in this day and age. Coming from the speed metal side of things it's perhaps best to describe these guys as a nerdier Skull Fist. They've been around for 6 years now and Might & Magic is the veritable culmination of their work, proof that this kind of music has the power to reign loud and proud even in 2015.

From the start you know what you're in for, a hard rocking good time. Though the production quality suffers at times I feel as if it actually lends a sense of legitimacy to the music. The powerful solos and high pitched vocal attack combine to create the sort of triumphant sonic mutilation that captures the imagination and guides the listener on a musical journey. Iron Kobra are a lot of fun to listen too, they invoke Dragonlance-esque imagery with their songs and it reminds me of a much geekier time in my life. These are guys who took the silliness of power metal and gave it a slightly more old school touch, invoking Manowar, yet also Manilla Road, to get a sound that is energetic and easy to get in too.

At the end of the day, this is music for scaling the Tower of the Serpent and slaughtering Kobolds. Iron Kobra have managed to craft something lighthearted and oftentimes epic in scale. Bringing Thin Lizzy side by side with Hammerfall they manage to fuse ideas from across generations for a sound that is fairly unique, especially given the relatively limited confines of this type of music. Iron Kobra understand the spirit of fantasy oriented heavy metal, and when they turn it up, the adventure is only just beginning!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/CultOfTheSnake?ref=br_tf

Evil Invaders - Pulses of Pleasure

I've also had an affinity for thrashy speed metal, with guitar harmonies and vicious vocals, where can you go wrong? As you feel the infectious grooves of these songs wind their way into your heart there is nothing to do but bang your head and wish you were dead. Evil Invaders understand what the genre is all about and when they bring it, the bring it all. The high pitched shrieks and raw energy communicated from the first suggests that these guys may be a modern version of Exodus, doomed to take on the world.

With guitar solos seemingly in every song, you never get a sense that Evil Invaders will leave you bored. Instead Pulses of Pleasure is a seat of your pants listening experience that guides you through one of the most exciting metal albums I have heard in a good while. Sure everything is high pitched and high speed, yet the music is surprisingly dynamic, you can't help but crack a smile as the bands energetic frontman pours himself into exciting vocal lines. There is a sense of freedom and innovation here that truly hearkens back to the 80s, suggesting that this kind of music will never die, but only become louder

In many ways it seems that speed metal is making a comeback, and a lot of these records are being promoted through Napalm, they seem to have a handle on what's hot, andare doing very well as a result of it. This is a very exciting time for speed metal, it's a new birth and suggests that we may soon have a new Helloween. As for Pulses of Pleasure Evil Invaders have more than proven their mettle in metal and leave you begging for more. Hopefully it won't be too long before they come to smash our faces again!

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

Obituary in Paris w/M-pire of Evil, Dust Bolt, Rotting Repugnancy (@Le Divan du Monde, 29/01/2015)

Following the release of their latest, crowd-funded album, Obituary was back with a vengeance last Thursday for an unmissable night for any old-school death metal fan. I, for one, being the death metal aficionado that I am, could not have been more excited to finally catch these death metal icons. Opening up the festivities for the evening were no less than 3 bands, each of them offering a different take on heavy music, making up for a nicely balanced line-up. Within this lineup of opening bands (of which all of them were completely unknown to me) were some duds as well as some pretty pleasant surprises.

Kicking off the show was the Midlands based UK death metal band Rotting Repugnancy, whose set I will quickly skim to talk about the following bands. While there wasn't anything inherently wrong with the bands' brand of brutal death metal, I honestly didn't find much appeal in watching their set. There were a couple of groovy riffs here and there but for the most part I wasn't all that convinced. One could easily tell these were competent musicians, which leads me to suspect that the overall sound of their set was to blame. Being well aware that this is death metal that we're talking about, I found the guitar sound to be a little too muddy for its own good and lacking a bit of precision and crunch to give it a "fuller" sound.

Next up was a fresh new band from Germany, playing for the first time in Paris but visibly with the intention of not making it their last. As soon as the sound checking was done, Dust Bolt rushed to the stage and immediately made the jump to light speed with their insanely energetic crossover and thrash-revival sound. Visibly drawing inspiration from bands like D.R.I, Municipal Waste and Suicidal Tendencies, these young-bloods blasted off with an insane amount of energy, running across the stage, waving their instruments around like passionate musicians living the dream. These musicians, fueled with such pure passion and energy, visibly won over their audience that night and effectively managed to give a good deal of them a strong appetite for some friendly violent fun in the pit. If there is one lesson to be learned from this set, it would be that Thrash is definitely not dead, and that so long as we have passionate musicians and passionate fans, thrash will never die. Going all-in for their first Parisian show, Dust Bolt left the stage with some well-deserved praise, having effectively conquered some new territory through their musicianship well-deserving of an upcoming headlining set.

Up next on the bill was a band whose name visibly did not strike a chord for a good deal of us but whose members obviously did. M-pire of Evil, formerly known as Primevil, is an old-school speed metal act from Newcastle founded by ex-members of the genre-defining band Venom, including its founding guitarist Mantas. For anyone wondering where the magic of Venom went after their now-classic first three albums, look no further: Mantas and his team kept the essence and spirit from the early days of Venom and have been touring and writing music under this grossly unrecognized new name and new formation. It somewhat saddens me to know that such creative potential resurfaces only now, since such a band would have probably gotten a lot more recognition and influence, had they formed during the time when Venom and thrash metal was at its peak. Tony Dolan, having replaced Cronos in Venom for nearly 15 years, still was at the top of his game, as was Mantas. M-pire of Evils' set mostly consisted of classic Venom songs, with occasionally a couple of new original songs blended into the setlist. With the exception of a few sound issues that were quickly solved, this set was an incredible treat and an amazing surprise for any heavy metal enthusiast.

Finally it was time for Obituary to play the evening off. As silly as it may sound, I was pleased to find that guitarist Trevor Peres was still rocking his Stratocaster and that frontman John Tardys' passion for camo shorts had not died out after all these years. The band started off their set with the song "Century of Lies" and "Visions in my head" off of their latest album "Inked in Blood", off of which they will be playing the most songs alongside their classic debut album "Slowly we rot". Another great surprise was the presence of lead guitarist Kenny Andrews handling the solos, considering that the bands' previous show in Paris had been as a 4 piece. While not crucial, the presence of a lead guitarist did make for a nice addition.

For the next hour-and a half to 2 hours, the crowd went absolutely insane, turning the venue into a full-on death metal warzone for the entirety of the set. John Tardys' instantly recognizable howling screams certainly haven't aged a bit, and neither did any of Obituarys' classic 2-beat thrash grooves and their ever-so-crushing mid-tempo riff breaks.

In short, Thursday evening was an incredibly enjoyable evening, with some great opening acts and a top-quality performance from Obituary, who still live up to their reputation. Relying on their simple yet effective formula for nearly 3 decades now, these death metal veterans know all about consistency and doing what they do best.

Robin

PS: A special thanks goes to the guys from Garmonbozia booking and Relapse records for making this review possible!

Rotting Repugnancy

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/RottingRepugnancy

Dust Bolt

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/dustbolt

M-pire of Evil

Official Website

http://www.mpireofevil.com/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/mpireofevil

Obituary

Official Website

http://www.obituary.cc/

Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/ObituaryBand

Obituary setlist:

1. Centuries of Lies

2. Visions In My Head

3. Infected

4. Intoxicated

5. Bloodsoaked

6. Immortal Visions

7. 'Til Death

8. Don't Care

9. Violence

10. Stinkupuss

11. Back to One

12. Dead Silence

  ____________________

13. Back on Top

14. Inked In Blood

15. I'm in Pain

16. Slowly We Rot

Blackout - Armageddon

I'm tired, I've got Alestorm tonight and a whole weekend ahead of me. What better thing to motivate me into my Friday night than some good old thrash metal? Wonderfully primitive, oftentims almost demo-like in its conception, Blackout are the kind of thrash band who invoke old school Sodom. Extremely stripped back with yelled vocals and subpar production, Blackout still manage to put together something fairly enjoyable with Armageddon. It's the kind of release that reminds us of our roots and sets us on a path to extinction.

See, Armageddon is fun because its so simple. The vocal lines have a very basic sense of aggression to them which actually touches on something fairly deep within us all. The guitar tone is fairly standard fare, but I feel with a bit more attack they could be doing something truly special. One way that the record does shine is in the guitar lines. The runs,while often scale-oriented are still fun to listen too and feature a couple really cool licks without really becoming fappy. The playing is clean and finely executed. The shredded solos seem like something to come out of a basement, and are made all the better because of it.

At the end of the day, I'm still not sure what to make of Armageddon. But I will say this: if you like simplistic and face ripping thrash, then Blackout is the band for you. What they're doing is straightforward and fun if you want something that will just go straight for the gut. Yes the vocals take a few songs to get in too and some of the riffs feel recycled, but as an early effort Armageddon shows a band with a distinct sound who are excited to start pushing the envelope. Probably worth a spin for any thrasher out there, get out and keep it heavy!

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

Skull Fist, Elm Street, Night Demon, FraXurE and Widow at Webster Hall in NYC

I have a freakish dedication to this music, and I'm not sure why, but nights like last night make it all worth it. After a two hour car ride up to New York City from Philly with a couple of friends to go hang out with Elm Street it was time for a show to be remembered. Though I was hanging out within the venue before the show, as soon as the doors opened it seemed like something from a movie. The group of young fans seemed pulled straight out of the 80s, all super dedicated to the music and stoked and passionate about all the bands to come.

Widow were the first act to hit the stage, having come all the way from North Carolina for a one off. They were a lot of fun to watch, and they clearly had fun on stage. A three piece who often relied on only bass and drum parts they had flashy solos and all sorts of headbanging madness accentuating the magic of what they were doing. It's been far too long since I've seen a heavy metal band like this, and the tinges of Motorhead linked up with bits of death metal and other genres helped to make their set memorable and fun. They proved to be a great start to a night that would reek of heavy metal madness.

The next band to storm the stage were FraXurE featuring a hyper talented baby faced guitarist and a frontman who could pretty much be his father. All kidding aside, these guys were extremely tight, especially considering both how technical there music was and that this was only their third gig ever. They know how to rip it up though and they have the potential to go far. It's rare that you have a heavy metal band with this much attitude and fun. Their covers of Sentinel and the Evil that Men Do cemented them in my memory and left me begging for more. With a little luck I can book them in Philly in the near future!

I had been hoping to see Night Demon (And unfortunately I missed them at a previous show because i was 21+) and they were everything I had hoped for and more. Not a lot of heavy metal bands really flaunt the NWOBHM influence these days and it was really fun to watch these guys. They were fun to headbang along too and the high speed solos along with the bands great stage presence proved to me that they are set to be legends in their own lifetimes. They stomp it out and leave the listener in awe. A band who understand that the pleasure is to play, I predict good things happening soon for these California rockers!

Now, I was supposed to Elm Street the first time they played in Paris, however on that occasion I was unfortunately... otherwise occupied partying with Warbringer. Now I'm disappointed that I missed them, if only because Ben, the bands singer and rhythm guitarist is possibly the best frontman in metal right now. His passion for the music is insane and he left the whole crowd moshing. After diving into the pit and celebrating his drummers birthday (Marking "Twenty five heavy metal years") I couldn't help but think that this is what bands like Metallica must have been like back in the day. Insanely dedicated and unable to stop thrashing.

Finally it was time for Skull Fist, the band whose motto was "Get Fisted" I wasn't sure what to expect from these guys, but I've heard extremely good things about their new record Chasing the Dream (Which as a matter of fact I am currently listening too) They not only play some high powered speed metal, they look like a speed metal band with short bangs and tight jeans. Yet don't think these guys are a retro act, some of their techniques and madness is only 2015 material. The highlight of the set came when the bands lead guitarist hopped onto the shoulders of the frontman for the final song, prompting piggybacking in the pit. These guys know how to have fun live, and they may very well be the defining American speed metal act of the 2010's.

As the night came to a close I was tired and broken. Yet also victorious. I had scored a few good interviews, a kick ass stage dive during Night Demons set, and a few scars in the pit. Perhaps more importantly I met a whole bunch of cool cats who I hope become close friends. The New York City scene right now is extremely exciting and seems to be ready to explode. If you have the means, move their now, because if nothing else, last night proved to me that this city is above all else a true heavy metal hub!

Find the bands on Facebook!

Widow: https://www.facebook.com/widowtheband

FraXurE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/FraXurE/275339589192271

Night Demon: https://www.facebook.com/nightdemonband

Elm Street: https://www.facebook.com/metalelmstreet

Skull Fist: https://www.facebook.com/skullfisted