NORTHERN CROWN - THE OTHERS (2016)

NORTHERN CROWN - THE OTHERS (2016)
(originally appearing in AEA zine)

This was a very pleasant suprise! Again, a band I'd heard nothing of previously, to be fair this is their debut album after having released an ep a couple of years previous. This album contains some very accomplished songwriting and musicianship for a debut album so im not sure if the members have had previous bands or not but either way what you have here is a very easy to listen to slab of music. The bands website and promo describe them as "doom" but I have to say I wouldn't agree with them on that , There are some slow chuggy doom parts but it's a hard one to categorise as it fits within the traditional metal and prog genres with hints of black metal, maybe it has a more 'goth' feel to it. They might even be considered the 'pink floyd' of heavy metal. Categorisations aside, the songs themselves tend to be on the longer end of the scale with some great metal riffs and some very trance inducing soundscapes utilising keyboards and other insturments rather well also utilising some aspects of electronic music and some very tasty clean melodic moments... It makes for great chillout music, great for listening to in the dark or falling asleep to. The riffage while slow is never boring, there are many trance like parts invoking images of ancient rome, or Sumerian/Middle eastern passages where the guitars/keys/wind instruments mix together perfectly. The vocals are simply superb, solid metal clean vocals (to my ears reminiscient of john bush from Anthrax) with a hint of power metal and occcassional death metal moments. Over all it suits the production of this album and the mood they are trying to create. The lads have succeeded in creating something special here and they should feel proud of themselves! I really hope this release raises the band into the next level of contenders for the metal throne.

SUICIDAL TENDENCIES - WORLD GONE MAD (2016)

Suicidal Tendencies front man Mike Muir has long been an icon of the skate / thrash / punk scene and
it's great to see him return to form with a new album that brings back the aggression of the past whilst still staying relevant to today.

I'll be honest in saying that while I loved the "Lights... Camera... Revolution" Era and before....  I haven't had a lot of time for them since the "Suicidal for Life" era as I felt they regressed into a state of semi-retardation lyrically and musically it all seemed to dissolve into eclectic mess. It is with great joy that I can say I can listen to Suicidal proudly without having a brain anuerism or wishing for it to be 1989 again

This new album features long time Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo and I wonder if this was the missing ingredient in making this band great again. His drumming is as tight as the proverbial "nuns nasty" and Dave gets to show off not only what a great metal drummer he is, but his fusion / jazzy chops and sense of timing is amazing. He is a great and versatile drummer and gets to show it off to great effect on this record. More importantly he pins down the music brilliantly weather they are winding through a funky jazzy guitar solo, or a crushing thrash or punk riff or a blazing guitar solo it always feels solid and in time. Hail Lombardo!

The other musicians on this record (I have no real idea who they are) are great too.... lots of great thrashy / punky riffs reminiscent of all era's of past Suicidal Tendencies, funky slappy bass lines abound and even the shredding solo's that old guitar player Rocky George was famous for have made a return with this new lineup

Overall its a great record and returns the once mighty Suicidal Tendencies to being relevant and metal again!  

for more great reviews go http://www.metalmixtape.com

 

SOUTH COAST METALHEADS.COM

Just got the site for the "South Coast Metalheads" live and running. If you're from that area of Australia or just interested in whats going on down there check out the site and if maybe even sign up to the forum and chat with like minded metalheads

Check it out http://www.southcoastmetalheads.com

If anyone else reading this needs a website done feel free to contact me on clickoncanberra@gmail.com or look at the website http://www.clickoncanberra.com for an idea of pricings and options available (of course if you're a metalhead I'll cut you a good discount)

CD Review: THE NIGHTSTALKER - All For A Promise

THE NIGHTSTALKER - All For A Promise (Wolfshade Recs)

(originally featured in AEA ZINE )

http://www.facebook.com/Thenightstalkerofficial

I did not know anything of this band, The Nightstalker. So I had no expectations other than the bleak foreboding imagery used on their social media. Upon immediate listen I was quite happy to hear a melodic base to the songs reminiscent of various era's of Paradise Lost and maybe some Sisters of Mercy. Nice guitar work and very tasty melodies, with a very pop sense about them. Two things stand at opposites with these tasty melodies, one being the "necro" black metal styled vocals and the “kvlt as fvck” production. I have to say I liked the contrast between the black metal styled vocals and goth rock music.... but I think maybe a lot of people would have trouble with it. Also the production is fairly “live, recorded in a dungeon” style black metal production which also adds an original but gritty feel to it, which in many other bands would take away from the sound... it strangely adds to it here. All in all the songs invoke a rather hypnotic trance like state which I would quite happily fall asleep to. The Nightstalker have a great command of melodies and their songwriting sensibilities come across very well in this music. I would like to hear them again on forthcoming releases with an improved production which I think they could really go somewhere with but at the same time part of me wants them to keep the gritty production they have here, as it really works! I eagerly await whatever these guys do next. 

-Reggae 

 Tracklist: 
1. But not in Me 
2. Sergent Mattennen 
3. Fight Under the Rain 
4. The Purgatory 
5. The Diversion 
6. The Prisonners Eescape 
7. I Miss Her 
8. The Choice 
9. In the Heart of Limbo 
10. Army of Darkness

STRAIGHT HATE – "EVERY SCUM IS A STRAIGHT ARROW" Album Review

STRAIGHT HATE – "EVERY SCUM IS A STRAIGHT ARROW" Album Review

Original review appearing in AEA Fanzine July 2016!

This is an odd one, not something I'd normally seek out but something I'm liking a lot. Straight Hate, hailing from Poland combine a number of influences from old school extreme punk like Discharge to Grind-core like Napalm Death / Terrorizer / Brutal Truth and even some dying fetus / agraphoric nosebleed for this, their very impressive debut album.

The songs seem to clock in at around a minute or so, but besides the old school punk sensibilites there's a lot involved … great riffage excellent song progressions and some really cool chorus …. and some hellish double kick and blast beats. The songs don't get boring and and are always entertaining. This is one angry band and you can hear it! I'm loving the vocals too... great projection and a seriously deathly voice that combines a lot of my favourate death metal vocalists. The guys aren't novices having formed in 2008 and 2106 being the year of their first release, these guys have obviously put in a lot of time and work to master the art of grinding and it shows.

Even if you're not a grind-core fan by definition, a lot fans of other death metal, heavier punk etc... will get something out of this, it is played with such conviction and precision that very few people would be able to deny the talent and sense of groove these guys have.

The recording is solid but still has that underground feel, it is hardly what you'd call a clean album but well recorded and the dynamics are great, all the instruments come across well in delivery which makes it much easier to listen to and enjoy!

I really can't think of anything that would make this better! It is great the way it is and I honestly think the lads are onto something great.... do yourself a favour and check them out! I see big things ahead of them if they stick to it.

Check the guys out on bandcamp:

http://straighthatepl.bandcamp.com/

or facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/sthtpl

and as always for more reviews and cool metal shit check out http://www.metalmixtape.com!

GOOGLE +

METAL MIX TAPE on Google+

Not sure if its going to do any good or not, but we've taken our first daring leap in the world of Google and got ourselves one of those Google+ pages..... we shall see how this goes!

If you are on this social network feel free to follow us or however this thing works.... the link is right there on the right of your screen!


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We have over 50 followers now and the posts are starting to get some great reach on there!

WINGS OF FUNERAL - Thrash of the Dead

Managed to score myself and unreleased song from Australian Black Metal band Wings of Funeral.... not sure what the plans for the guys releasing this gem are but if nothing else at least you can hear it here! 

Make sure you check the band out on facebook and give em a like if this rocks your world:

http://www.facebook.com/wofuneral/

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