Browsing Tag

Metallica

Give me fuel, give me DeadFire’s latest single, Pro[Pain]

Posted on 28 April 2023

It was over a year ago when we last heard the premier sleaze rock raconteurs, DeadFire, with their on the pulse hit, Anxiety Society; they’ve worn their societal consciousness on their sleeves once more with their latest single, Pro[Pain]. As democracy dies, no one will be able to hear the cries from the disenfranchised masses over their juggernautical stormer of heavy-hitting rock.

DeadFire picked up all the slack left behind by other UK rock and metal acts that are still letting their egos write their songs. Pro[Pain] is the ultimate slice of sonically monolithic vindication for anyone left reeling by a reality that is quickly becoming defined by greed and exploitation. The next time you feel like checking out of political protest, join the riff-heavy powerhouse at the helm of rebellion by tearing up your speakers with Pro[Pain]. It is enough to make you wonder what Metallica tracks would sound like if Hetfield had an ounce of relatability about him.

Pro[Pain] will be available to stream on Spotify from April 28.

Follow DeadFire via Facebook and Instagram.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Strange Authority stretched their wounds in their hard-rock heavy-hitter, L’Appel Du Vide

Posted on 15 February 2023

Amplifying the anticipation amassing around their debut LP as much as the high gain guitars, the New Jersey powerhouse Strange Authority delivered us from hard-rock monotony with the unveiling of the third single, L’Appel Du Vide, from their upcoming album, Aftershock.

With a touch of James Hetfield to the vocals before they descend into Still Remains-Esque guttural furore and instrumentals that push their hard-rock sound far from classic territory, the exploratively volatile release embraces the future of post-hardcore while keeping familiarly heavy riffs at its core.

If it has been a while since you’ve heard lyrics as impactful as the instrumentals, strap yourselves in for the high-octane multi-faceted resonance.

L’Appel Du Vide is now available to stream on Spotify. Stay tuned for the release of the LP, Aftershock, which is in the pipeline and ready to drop in late Spring 2023.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

It’s the end of the world as we know it, and The Star Prairie Project refuse to let it go quietly in their classic rock lament, Visions of War

Posted on 12 December 2022

The last time we heard The Star Prairie Project, they were serenading us through their rock ballad, Queen Isabella. Today, they are here with their aptly dark classic rock forewarning of a bomb-blistered destitute future, Visions of War.

With testaments of how visions of war pierce through the subconscious veil and perturb our dreams, it is a striking account of how plagued by the weight of the world we are. No matter how much we try to cast our gaze away from the screens which burn fear into our psyches.

It almost felt sacrilegious to appreciate the sheer ingenuity on offer here. But in the same breath, it is a stunning reminder that no matter how disparate the world gets as it amps up the chaos with every turn, humans are just as capable of fucking BEAUTIFUL things. And the tragedies falling like dominoes all around us are a crying shame of potential.

Here’s what The Star Prairie Project had to say on their latest album:

“Fight or Flight trumpets the fact that the world order as we know it is teetering and crumbling before our eyes. While too many remain oblivious to this fact, there is no denying that human civilization is facing its gravest challenges since World War II. To make matters worse, these challenges are hitting us from all possible directions.

As if we weren’t busy enough dealing with the accelerating climate change, environmental degradation, flora and fauna extinction, we’re also batting political and social discord unforeseen in many western nations … until recently. As the prices of consumer goods and gas are soaring due to the war in Ukraine, the poor become poorer, and the rich become richer. It’s unintentional, but we’re creating a fertile recruiting ground for street gangs and organized crime – the riot squads have never been busier.”

Visions of War is now available to stream on Spotify. Delve in and prepare to be arrested.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

‘Judgement Day’ is upon us in Danny Vash’s seminal rock hit.

Posted on 28 May 2022
Danny Vash

With enough filth in his guitar licks and enough vitriol in his vocal lines, the US rock artist, Danny Vash has exactly what it takes to draw in fans of Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Metallica with his standout single, Judgement Day.

The multi-award-winning single delivers exactly the kind of life-affirming vindication that rock and metal fans can only ascertain through sonic means. Yet, this is no average vintage rock revival. Danny Vash’s signature intellectual lyrics instantly broadside you with their resonance as they reflect on the inescapable nature of our mortal coil, which will inevitably lead us all to judgement day. We may scrutinise ourselves every day, giving little thought to our capacity for redemption, but if any track can empower you through your own free will while you still have sand to spare, it’s Judgement Day.

Judgement Day is now available to stream via Reverb Nation.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Unwanted Guest morbidly went for baroque in their debut album, Grave Metallum

Posted on 28 March 2022

With an intro consisting of news broadcasters announcing the deaths Cobain and Winehouse, Unwanted Guest certainly knew how to make an instant impression with the title single to their debut album, Grave Metallum.

The morbidly carnivalesque hard rock hit puts a baroque spin on grunge while carrying reminiscences to Fable Cry and Abney Park around percussion that would make Mudhoney dizzy, the frenetic bounce of the basslines and doom-harbingering guitars.

Yet, the true beauty in the title lies in the nuanced way Unwanted Guest present our ‘icons’ as the line-up in a freakshow that we voyeuristically watch in the hope we see their rise AND fall. With the media frenzy that whipped around Taylor Hawkins this month, Unwanted Guest was definitely onto something.

Grave Metallum was officially released on March 21st. It is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mainline introduce us to ‘The Unholy Idol’ through the barbarous furore in their debut album.

Posted on 1 October 2021

On October 1st, 2021, the New York-hailing four-piece Mainline delivered the psyched up classic rock revival album of the year, The Unholy Idol. Right from the first single, Sanctum, the vintage tones pull you into the grip of their unassimilated anthemic rock prowess.

You will soon see how they came about their moniker with their ability to make you feel like you’ve just mainlined adrenaline through track two, Out of the Shadows. The 10-track album is almost wall to wall with anthems, but they still found space to exhibit their dynamism as alt-rock alchemists. Standout singles include the grunge influenced title-single, The Unholy Idol, and the bitter-sweet serenade, A Distant Memory. The concluding single, No Warnings, No Signs, is where Mainline prove that they can rip through solos just as well as any of the accoladed guitar heroes and seal a place in your memory.

Any fans of Metallica, Iron Maiden, White Snake and Black Sabbath won’t want to sleep on this release. Classic rock revivals are in no short supply on either side of the pond, but when we say that Mainline are reminiscent of Metallica, that extends beyond sonic appeal and runs through to their ability to leave you enlivened. With Mainline, you get the sense that creating energising anthems that can easily become party rock hits comes naturally.

The Unholy Idol is now available to stream on Spotify.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Noise Blossom – Louderage: The Sophomore Grunge Album No Alt-90s Fan Should Ignore

Posted on 25 September 2021

The popularity of alt-rock may have been in decline since the 90s, but the level of talent runs parallel through artists such as Noise Blossom. Ahead of the release of their sophomore album, Louderage, we’ve delved into the standout single, SAD.

Right from the prelude the echo of the grunge era grips you. Amidst the nods to Alice in Chains, Soundgarden and Nirvana, Noise Blossom diversifies their sonic palette with Metallica-reminiscent instrumental tones and doomy vocals that will undoubtedly resonate with anyone whose mentality errs on the side of melancholy. In 2021, I am assuming that is everyone.

The official video for SAD premiered on September 17th; you can check it out for yourselves via YouTube.

Check out Noise Blossom on their official website.

Review by Amelia Vandergast

Mysterious ‘Ortaka’ simmers the pot with moody & masterful Electronic ‘’Last City Of England’’

Posted on 31 May 2020
https://soundcloud.com/ortaka/last-city-of-england/s-kLoLr67GRWt?in=ortaka/sets/tinku/s-ZaGfJBuEOtX

Love the leader, love the leader. Buckets of blood. You get the idea. This is a moody masterpiece really, with it’s dark undertones and badass beat. I feel like I’m in a video game, somehow trapped but finding ways out. This music is so trippy but I like it.

‘’Last City Of England’’ is the lead single off the new 2nd album by Ortaka, continuing to explore an eclectic range of influences and techniques, songs and instrumentals. He describes his music as Indie Rock/ Electronic and I feel like it should be called Ortaka music. 

This is really fascinating music and the full album is set for release on 29th May 2020. Instrumentals, drum and bass to noise rock influences are a plenty here. I would love to jam out with good friends like my buddy Dan to this as he’s such a huge drum & bass fan. 

I like the ruggedness of the ‘Orteka’ creations and I can’t quite work it all out. Perhaps that is the point, you aren’t supposed to. Just enjoy it and listen at a very high volume. 

This is an artist not to be ignored so click here on the SoundCloud link and be amazed.

Reviewed by Llewelyn Screen

TANTRIC CYCLE releases Corona (It’s a long, long story)

Posted on 23 April 2020

TANTRIC CYCLE has dropped the latest release ‘Corona (It’s a long, long story)’. A song based on the way we’re all living at the moment and it’s safe to say it sums it up well.

A rather long piece of music, at a solid seven minutes, with lyrics that portray the truths of the world at hand. Besides the meaning of it, the instrumentation that goes through it is a lot more lively and catchy. Having the fast pace riffs on the guitar and the tap on the drums adding in the electric guitar shreds towards the end.

The vocals are filled with energy and have a rather quiet volume to them, with a soft texture. Halfway through the style changes a little and becomes more of a rock song, as the volume is heightened and the instrumentation becomes slightly heavier.

Listen to TANTRIC CYCLE’s single Corona (It’s a long, long story) by heading over to YouTube now.

Review by Karley Myall

Crisis King – Tonight – If You Thought That Extreme Music Could Not Be Eclectic, Think Again!

Posted on 3 November 2017

Crisis King is an artist with a fondness for hard-hitting metal, post-hardcore and industrial tones. His recent studio work, Tonight, is an EP that features 6 original songs. The artist’s music explores genres as diverse as hardcore, industrial, new-metal and more, going for an eclectic, yet direct sound. Opening number, “Die Easy”, is an extremely powerful wall of sound that feels like a stampede of vikings, crushing and burning everything in their path. The song has powerful drums and loud guitar riffs that are down-tuned and aggressive, perfectly matching the vocals.

The dark lyrical themes on the songs of the EP are also a great match with the album’s production aesthetics, but there is also room for melodies here and there.

“The Tides” highlights the group’s most melodic side, yet it still features hard-hitting drums, loud guitar walls and serendipitous changes. Throughout the span of these 6 tracks, Crisis King really stand out for the diverse approach they are able to bring to the table, exploring different sides of their musicianship and offering up an EP that feels eclectic, yet extremely direct, just as you would expect from a band such as Crisis King!