Brutiful Metal Radio

Onslaught – VI

Onslaught – VI
AFM Records
Release Date: 20/09/2013
Running Time 39:30
Review by Rick Tilley
10/10

This Review was first published in 2014 and is reprinted courtesy of Brutiful Metal Radio

I have been a big fan of Onslaught since their debut album ‘Power From Hell’ hit the streets in 1985. They were at the forefront of the UK Thrash movement back then and a perfect counterpart to the Bay Area and German scenes. I was also lucky enough to be part of the crowd who witnessed one of Sy Keeler’s very first gigs with the band at The Marquee Club, London in April 1986 when they supported Exciter. Due to the timetable running a bit late everyone was inside the venue when Onslaught emerged onstage to soundcheck ‘Let There Be Death’, which they did with such ferocity and precision that there were bodies and open mouths everywhere you looked. It was one of those spine tingling moments that only happen occasionally, it remains forever scorched onto my brain and second album ‘The Force’ is still one of my all time favourites!

What happened in subsequent years up until their eventual split in 1991 is a story for another day, needless to say I was more than a bit surprised, but extremely happy, when they decided to get back together in 2005. “VI” is Onslaught’s third album since returning and not only is it the best of the three it is also very close to being their finest hour. This is about as heavy and precise as a squadron of British Chieftain Tanks hitting you at full force, in other words “Fucking Immense”! Thirty second intro ‘A New World Order’ leads into ‘Chaos Is King’ and for the next forty minutes the skin is going to be melted from your face. Keeler’s venomous, spitting vocals improve as he ages and this is arguably his best ever performance. Founding member Nige Rockett and Andy Rosser Davies’ guitar work is outstanding, and in places reminiscent of Slayer’s Jeff Hanneman (R.I.P) and Annihilator’s Jeff Waters. Jeff Williams bass thunders and rumbles in perfect unison and new drummer Mic Hourihan appears to have been taking lessons from Gene Hoglan such is his split second timing. There really isn’t a poor track here and ’66’Fucking’6′ is going to become a thrash anthem!

Yes, I unashamedly love this album and after such brilliant releases from Exodus, Testament, Annihilator and Kreator in recent years I’m proud to say that Onslaught have matched them. I’m just pissed I never got round to reviewing this last October because it would have been top three in my albums of the year list. Double check the score I’ve given this, believe me, I don’t hand that out very often!

TRACKLISTING:
01. A New World Order
02. Chaos Is King
03. Fuel for My Fire
04. Children of the Sand
05. Slaughterize
06. 66’Fucking’6
07. Cruci-Fiction
08. Dead Man Walking
09. Enemy of My Enemy

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to reproduce and part of this review, unless you have the explicit permission of both parties; failure to comply will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

The Deep – Premonition

The Deep – Premonition
Self-Released
Release Date: March 2015
Running Time 53:37
Review by Rick Tilley
10/10

This review was first published in 2015 and is reprinted here courtesy of Brutiful Metal Radio

When vocalist Tony Coldham kindly sent me The Deep’s four track demo last year I immediately knew we were in for something special! Tony has now very kindly sent me an un-mastered copy of ‘Premonition’, the band’s debut album, due in March 2015 and if the demo whetted your appetite then this is going to absolutely knock you for six and remember I’m listening to an unfinished version!

Some members of The Deep have been around the music business since the early 1980’s, and have been part of Airrace and Rogue Male, amongst other bands. It’s fair to say that between them they have a rich heritage but if you don’t believe me then listening to ‘Premonition’ will be the only evidence you need! The Deep’s sound is rooted between Classic Hard & Heavy Rock, Melodic Rock and NWOBHM so think Saxon meets UFO and Uriah Heep and this album has given me goose bumps in places I didn’t know you could get them!

First and foremost is Tony Coldham’s voice which is utterly outstanding, reminiscent of one of my favourite vocalists Bernie Shaw (Uriah Heep, Grand Prix, Praying Mantis). Tony’s singing is the centrepiece of The Deep, power and emotion ring out in equal fashion and he absolutely destroys many modern day ‘singers’, but as I said in my review of the demo, that in no way takes anything away from the rest of the band who are all utterly superb. Paul Smith and Mick Feleppa’ guitar work & backing vocals are fabulous. Riffs and solos fly with abandon, whether the song is heavier or more ballad driven (The Deep are extremely good at mixing things up) and bassist Don Whiberley along with drummer Steve Kingsley have become a very solid and entertaining rhythm team!

Being in a superb band doesn’t just mean having good musicians though. You all know as well as I do that what matters most are the songs themselves and ‘Premonition’ is packed to the rafters with good songs. All four tracks from the demo are present and correct but the six new tracks showcased here are equally as good and it feels like the album has been sequenced perfectly, something a lot of bands don’t bother with now in the downloading era! From the opening Saxon like riff of ‘The Rider’ through to closer ‘Turn Me Loose’ this is 100% quality and I’m privileged to be one of the first to here it! Highlight moment for me currently, and it’ll probably change, is ‘Saga’. One of the quieter tracks but it’s near seven minutes of perfection and is just magnificent!

It’s only the middle of January and to receive an album of this magnitude so early on in 2015 is really quite something special. Even though there will be other bands that get given more column space this year I will be shouting The Deep’s name from the rooftops until you all get fed up with me because this band is too good to ignore and ‘Premonition’ is a must have for any lover of Classic Rock & Metal’. I’ll be damned if I know what this album will sound like when it’s actually completed because I honestly don’t think the band can make it any better!

TRACKLISTING:
01. The Rider
02. You Take My Breath Away
03. Night-Stalker
04. Cold-Hearted
05. All I Want
06. Out Of Touch
07. Premonition
08. Spell-bound
09. Saga
10. Turn Me Loose

LINKS:

Cover Artwork

http://cadiesart.com/home

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

Gaskin – Edge of Madness

Gaskin – Edge Of Madness
High Roller Records
Release Date: 24/08/2012
Running Time: 41:27
Review By Rick Tilley
8/10

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN AND FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2014

If you read my recent review of Gaskin’s gig at The Rock Den last month, then you’ll know how impressed I was with them and how much of a pleasure it was to finally see them live after so many years. Meeting with Paul Gaskin after the gig, he was kind enough to give me a copy of Gaskin’s most recently released studio album ‘Edge Of Madness’ (2012) and here is my review!

Gaskin arrived on the UK Metal scene in 1980 and were squarely lumped in with the NWOBHM movement at that time. They released two very good albums ‘End Of The World’ (1981) and ‘No Way Out’ (1982) and then, as so many bands did, faded away! I didn’t get into Rock & Metal until very late in 1982 so, even then, I was already a little late for the Gaskin party but I got hold of both albums in 1983 and still cherish them. I always felt, as many people did, that there was more to Gaskin then pure NWOBHM. They could certainly thump out the metal when they wanted to but Paul’s influences in Blues & Heavy Rock meant they were always a more melodic prospect than many of their peers and I personally thought they were very underrated! They returned in 2000 with third album ‘Stand Or Fall’ and after many ups and downs have thankfully been a more regular band on the circuit again since 2010!

And now we come almost up to date with fourth album ‘Edge Of Madness’ which is the best sounding Gaskin release to date, thanks to a fine production from drummer David John Norman, and an album that sees the band do what they do best which is give us eight full and two short instrumental tracks full of the trademark Gaskin sound! They know exactly what works for them and write the songs they love playing so there is no point expecting anything modern or original. This is a good hard rock album and if you have an ear for melody, some great guitar playing and fairly dark lyrics then you’ll really enjoy this. I certainly do!

What I am going to say is that one track doesn’t work so well for me and that’s ‘Wake Up Dead’ Now lyrically it’s a very personal, emotional and dark song, dealing with Paul’s descent into depression and drugs at a low point in his life and they are an engaging listen, but musically I find the track pedestrian and plodding, especially at over six minutes. However, Gaskin more than make up for it with opener ‘Damnation’, which has a very mid-paced sounding Saxon riff and is a good way to start the album, ‘Heart Like Thunder’, ‘Bedlam’, The title track and the barn storming and brilliant ‘The Contract’.

Apart from Saxon, there are elements of Diamond Head, Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow and even a couple of instances that reminded me of classic UK Melodic Rock greats FM! Paul’s voice has stayed intact over the years, although he comes across more powerfully live and his guitar work is lovely, with a certain Ritchie Blackmore feel in places. Fellow guitarist Andrew Solomon is an excellent soloist and the aforementioned Norman on drums and bassist Mick Cross make a very solid rhythmic team. We also get a couple of guest appearances from Emma Hudson on backing vocals and Hawkwind’s Nik Turner who turns in a nice saxophone solo on the track ‘Mans’ World’

I’m not going to suggest that Gaskin have released an album of the year contender, but you also know what else I’m going to say if you are a regular reader. If it’s played with passion and emotion and nearly all the songs rock your boat then it doesn’t matter. Edge Of Madness is a good album and it’s by Gaskin. That I’m still saying that band name in the year 2014 means a lot because they, along with Saxon, Motorhead, Priest, Rush, Magnum, Demon and UFO were one of the bands that set me off on my long rock journey over thirty years ago and they deserve their moment in the spotlight! Come on Paul, I want album number five!!

TRACKLISTING:
01. Just Before Dawn
02. Damnation 04:36
03. Heart Like Thunder
04. Man’s World
05. Wake Up Dead
06. Lost & Lonely
07. The Contract
08. Bedlam
09. Te Amavi
10. Edge of Madness

LINKS:

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

Hammerforce – Access Denied

Hammerforce – ‘Access Denied’ (2013)
Metalism Records
Release Date: 27/03/2013
Running Time: 51:00
Review By Rick Tilley
9/10

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN AND FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2014 ALTHOUGH I HAVE NOW GIVEN THE ALBUM A SCORE OUT OF TEN.

Hammerforce have returned with their sophomore album ‘Access Denied’ and for anyone unfamiliar with their sound and who has to have a genre tag, I have taken it upon myself to give them the title ‘Twisted Power Metal’. Hailing from St. Petersburg in Russia, Hammerforce are one of a handful of bands, I can think of, who are breathing fresh life into the power metal genre and if you crave something a little bit different then these guys come highly recommended!

Why do I call them twisted? Well, they are essentially an extremely good power metal band at heart, and possess all the good elements of that genre in spades. Soaring vocals, powerhouse drumming and bass runs with fantastic guitar work, but…where they stand out from legions of other bands is in the keyboard department. ‘Nikita Merzlyakov’ delivers some quite stunning work. If you can imagine synth work in an almost dance/trance style mixed with classic power metal you’ll find something that really shouldn’t work, or so I keep telling myself, but in actual fact adds an outstanding clash of styles, especially for a huge fan of the genre, like myself.

The album kicks off with ‘I Am I’ and leaves you in no doubt that this is going to be a pretty special listen. Picking out individual tracks is pointless though, because most of them follow a similar pattern, although that doesn’t mean they all sound alike, far from it. There are some great melodies and choruses contained here that will have fans of Dream Theater, Symphony X, Pagan’s Mind and Dragonforce jumping and headbanging for all that they are worth. There are also elements of classic metal bands such as Judas Priest, so anyone who thinks I’ve lost my mind will very definitely know what side of the fence Hammerforce sit on. Fantastically produced, mixed and mastered by Nikita at his own studio, and with artwork and booklet to put much bigger bands to shame, ‘Access Denied’ is nine tracks (plus two bonus cuts sung in Russian) of awesome catchy metal that should really see the ‘Hammerforce’ name spoken by many more people in the coming months. Check out their website, which gives you access to lots of free songs and see what you’ve been missing!

NOTE:

It looks like it has been very quiet on Hammerforce Social Media for quite a while now, which is unfortunate, but I wanted to share the review again because “Access Denied” is such a good album and deserves to be heard.

Rick – November 2017

TRACKLISTING:
01. I Am I
02. Templates For All
03. Wasted
04. Mass Media
05. Fugitive
06. Earth Is On Trial
07. No Place For The Old Men
08. Reflections
09. Access Denied

LINKS:

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to reproduce any part of this review, unless you have the explicit permission of both parties; failure to comply will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Neverworld – Visions Of Another World

Neverworld – Visions Of Another World
Dream Demon Recordings/Self Released
Released 22/03/2014
Running Time 57:27
Review By Rick Tilley
9/10

THIS REVIEW WAS WRITTEN AND FIRST PUBLISHED IN 2014

I am honoured to be one of the first people to listen to and review the debut album ‘Visions Of Another World’ from Progressive NWOTHM Metal band Neverworld. I know there are a lot of people who have been pulling their hair out waiting for this so I’ll not beat around the bush, are you ready everyone…Forget the bubblegum, this CD kicks ass BIG TIME!! Neverworld have delivered a rip roaring and emotional nine songs of metal magic and fantasy spread over nearly an hour and I still fail to understand why they have not been snapped up by a record label! Hopefully with this release, and the exposure it will undoubtedly bring, Neverworld will be able to hold their collective heads up high and say “We have arrived!”

Opening with the ticking of a clock and gorgeous orchestration, the instrumental ‘Tempus’ sets the scene wonderfully. This leads headlong into the title track riff and we’re off on our Neverworld journey of discovery. When vocalist and guitarist Ben Colton kicks in with his trademark thundering scream the Cheshire cat grin on my face was huge. Not only is this track heavy it has wonderful melody, a sublime chorus and immense guitar solos courtesy of Colton and fellow axe master Jack Foster. Believe me these two make an outstanding team. Couple that with the fabulous bass work of Gary Payne, drumming of Mike Vaughan and keyboard wizardry of Daniel Potter and you’ve got a super talented bunch here! Not content with this amazing opening salvo the guys then lead in, almost immediately, to arguably their best known song and anthem ‘They Live’. If you’re already a fan of the band then you’ll know what an absolutely mighty track this is. Instantly recognisable as giving Neverworld their signature sound it is one of those songs that will be remembered long after I’m gone! ‘Blood & Romance’ is up next, a near perfect 10 minutes of emotional impact that introduces us to sublime female guest vocalist Christina Gajny. Her voice compliments Ben’s superbly and she puts a lot of more well known female singers to shame! Without pause for breath the titanic riff of ‘Ghosts’ comes next and also what I think is Ben’s crowning moment vocally on the album. He absolutely nails the singing with enough power to split an atom!

I could go on telling you how good these tracks are. ‘The Wheel Of Misfortune’, ‘Eminent Reprisal’, ‘Salt Water Bandits’ (with guitar work that gives me goose bumps) and final song ‘This Fire’, which comes full circle and leads back into the ticking clock, are all utterly superb, the quality of writing, lyrics and musicianship is outstanding and you would be correct in thinking I’m just a little bit in love with this band. As far as influences go then think Dream Theater, Fates Warning, Gamma Ray, Judas Priest, Sonata Arctica, Iced Earth and Blind Guardian amongst others i.e. some of my favourites which is probably why this works so well for me!

Of course, I always try to be completely honest when reviewing and if there is one (only very slight) weak point, it’s in the production. Mike’s snare drum could definitely do with being higher in the mix, especially on the heavier numbers as it can get a bit lost, and on a couple of occasions Daniel’s keyboards come through a little too loudly, but you also have to remember that Neverworld do not have the resources to employ Mr ‘Uber’ Producer and this whole album has been produced by themselves. With that in mind, I sort of feel bad even mentioning it!

At the end of the day, for a debut album, this is nothing short of blissful to listen to and I’m utterly stoked for the guys that they’ve released something this good because they deserve nothing less. Artwork and CD booklet are also of extremely high quality, damn, I know how hard they’ve worked on this and it shows. It’s only March and I have yet another contender for my top five albums. Get ready everyone because Neverworld are here to stay!!

Neverworld photo courtesy of Sally Newhouse

TRACKLISTING:
01. Tempus
02. Visions Of Another World
03. They Live
04. Blood And Romance
05. Ghosts
06. Wheel Of Misfortune
07. Eminent Reprisal
08. Salt Water Bandits
09. This Fire

LINE-UP:
Mike Vaughan – Drums
Jack Foster – Guitars
Ben Colton – Vocals, Guitars
Gary Payne – Bass
Daniel Potter – Keyboards

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to do adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities

Reproduced with the kind permission of Brutiful Metal Radio

NitroVolt – Pänzer

NitroVolt – Pänzer
Mausoleum Records
Release Date 12/08/2014
Running Time 32:51
Review by Rick Tilley
8/10

‘NitroVolt’…For some reason I really like that name, and after listening to their second album ‘Pänzer’ there is also a lot to like about this German band. NitroVolt ply their trade in a variety of genres, namely Speedrock, Rock ‘n’ Roll, Punk, Hardcore and a little bit of Thrash. Take ‘Motorhead’, add liberal doses of ‘Airbourne’, Rose Tattoo and ‘AC/DC’ (after they’ve been smoking some good weed) and mix together with a little ‘Warfare’ and ‘Septic Death’ and what you get is a completely unpretentious thirty minutes of fun!

NitroVolt have been around, in one form or another, since 2004. They have toured relentlessly and built a following the hard way. In 2011 they were rewarded with a record deal (IHP Records) and released their debut album ‘Rock ‘N’ Roll Commando’. to favourable comments. Unfortunately the record company folded and the owners disappeared leaving the band high and dry. Undeterred, they forged ahead, and where many bands would have packed it in NitroVolt persevered, and have now signed a deal with Mausoleum.

‘Pänzer’ kicks off with the speedy ‘Pay The Price’, and at just under two minutes it leaves you in no doubt as to what this album is all about. Dirty, sweaty and alcohol soaked rock music with loads of catchy tunes and some great guitar work (Phil Campbell from Motorhead would be proud of some of these solos). Tracks follow swiftly with barely a chance to take breath. ‘Twisted Shot Of Booze’, ‘Hardröck Queen’, ‘Rock It Out’ and ‘Hail Hail’ all bristle with energy. At first you might be a little put off by the vocal scream/bark of singer and guitarist ‘Tom Krämer’ (NitroTom), but after a few listens it all makes sense. NitroVolt’s lineup is completed by ‘Tim Vader’ (NitroTim) on guitars, ‘Luciano Vanini’ (Louis Nitrovolt) on bass and ‘Shockstar’ on drums who all play with the required amount of filth. Everything sounds great production wise but I reckon seeing these guys live would make for a great evening out, although you might need an extra long cold shower afterwards!

There are thousands of bands around and many of them are releasing long, story driven albums or similar. I have nothing against that, but once in a while I just like to get back to basics, open a beer, let my hair down and listen to some unadulterated heavy rock ‘n’ roll and NitroVolt fit that bill very nicely thanks.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Pay the Price
02. Rock It Out
03. Don’t Let Go
04. Twisted Shot of Booze
05. Lie to You
06. Into the Night
07. Hardröck Queen
08. Going Down
09. Born to Love
10. Get Rid
11. So You Die
12. Hail Hail

LINKS:

Originally written for Brutiful Metal Radio in 2014 and reproduced here with their kind permission

Walkway – Top Shelf Content

Walkway – Top Shelf Content
Self-released
Release Date: December 2012
Running Time 51:57
Review by Rick Tilley
9/10

Walkway are a Classic Rock band whose name has been cropping up on my radar regularly over the last few months, with some very positive comments, so there was a good level of anticipation when loading their debut album ‘Top Shelf Content’ into my CD player for the first time! So the question is have they justified all the hype? My answer is unequivocally yes! Formed in Diss, United Kingdom in 2008, and influenced by bands such as Van Halen, Aerosmith & AC/DC they have literally not stopped since, gigging almost constantly and building a great live reputation on the way, including supporting ‘The Darkness & Black Stone Cherry in 2012. This album is a culmination of all that hard work and hopefully a springboard to launch Walkway, deservedly, to much bigger and better things.

‘Top Shelf Content’ kicks off with ‘One Touch Too Much’ and straight away you are hit by the quality of musicianship and catchiness of the song, something that doesn’t let up for the whole album. Musically the influence of the above named bands is recognisable, but I would like to add a few more to the table. Imagine Tyketto, Little Angels, Giant & Tesla mashed together and that would be a good start. Bass player Alex Rosedale & drummer Joe Evans make a great rhythm section, holding everything together nicely and powering the songs along. However, vocalist and rhythm guitarist Chris Ready and brother lead guitarist James Ready have to take credit for elevating this band above the norm. Chris has a great voice with just the right amount of gravel, but that can be as smooth as silk when needed. As for James, well his guitar solos are seriously impressive and remind me very much of Giant’s Dan Huff in places. Tracks such as ‘Overrated’, ‘Life Is Looking Good (To Me)’, ‘Rise’ and ‘More Than Enough’ have enough hooks to reel you in completely and believe me the air guitar and drums take a good battering when listening to this. There are also several quieter songs which hit the mark. ‘Thank You’ will have you raising your lighter and waving your arms high. Production is also very well handled, although for the type of rock that Walkway play, I did think the mix was a little bit too clean. A bit more rawness next time round would be welcomed, although of course that is just my opinion.

Another band that are criminally unsigned, Walkway have delivered a fantastic debut album that really should make people sit up and take notice. There is no way ‘Top Shelf Content’ is going to stay on the top shelf (or any other shelf) for that matter as I suspect many places will be sold out before long.

TRACKLISTING:
1. One Touch Too Much
2. More Than Enough
3. On And On
4. Overrated
5. Life Is Looking Good (To Me)
6. In And Out Of Love
7. Take A Back Seat
8. All I Want
9. Wasted Time
10. Get Out
11. Rise
12. Thank You

LINE-UP:
CHRIS READY – Lead Vocals / Rhythm Guitar
JAMES READY – Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals
MIK SKIBA – Bass Guitar / Backing Vocals
ANDY BURLACE – Drums / Percussion / Backing Vocals

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Tilley and Brutiful Metal Radio. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this review, unless you have the strict permission of both parties. Failure to do adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Reproduced here with kind permission from Brutiful Metal Radio

Originally written for Brutiful Metal Radio in 2013

DGM – Momentum

DGM – Momentum
Scarlet Records
Release Date 26/03/2013
Running Time 56:04
Review By Rick Tilley
10/10

Question! When is a very good album NOT a very good album?

Answer! When it’s so bloody brilliant as to render that description completely useless!

DGM’s eighth album ‘Momentum’ has quite literally sprung from nowhere to go straight to the top of my list of best albums for 2013 and it is going to take something of seismic proportions to knock it off that spot. Considering the amount and variety of music I’ve reviewed and listened to already this year, that is really quite a statement, but this is sheer quality and class from start to finish. I’m already on about my twelfth listen, it gets better each time and the goose bumps are ever present.

What makes it so special? Well firstly it’s not just a case of ‘Momentum’ being ‘all killer and no filler’ but every song from opener ‘Reason’ to album closer ‘Blame’ is so utterly stunning that a new word for killer needs to be thought of! To my ears every note is nigh on in perfectly the right place. Vocals, melodies, choruses, solos (keyboard and guitar), tempo, time changes; bass & drums, absolutely everything has been given the Midas touch! Sometimes, the stars align with my eardrums and that is what has happened here. Mark Basile (vocals), Simone Mularoni (guitars), Andrea Arcangeli (bass), Emanuele Casali (keyboards) and Fabio Costantino (drums) have quite simply created a masterpiece and you cannot get the smile off of my face when listening to ‘Momentum’.

DGM have long been regarded as one of the best Prog Metal bands around, although they have never reached the same level of success as Symphony X or Pagan’s Mind. Those bands better watch out though because, whilst the previous albums of DGM that I’ve heard have been very good, ‘Momentum’ takes it into the stratosphere. In fact they couldn’t have picked a better name for the album. As if to prove that those two bands are sitting up and taking notice ‘Russell Allen’ (Symphony X/Adrenaline Mob) and ‘Jorn Viggo Lofstad’ (Pagan’s Mind) make stunning guest appearances on this album to add an even further layer of brilliance. Those of you that read my reviews on Brutiful or elsewhere know that I do not heap praise on an album lightly! I also don’t give scores at this site, but if I did, and to quote an often used line from Spinal Tap, “This one goes up to eleven”!

Note – Added 11/06/2017

As you know I now give scores and I’ve somewhat shot myself in the foot by saying above that I’d give this album an eleven, however, I have absolutely no problem with giving it full marks because, even four years on, ‘Momentum’ absolutely kills! I shall also be reviewing their recently released live album ‘Passing Stages, Live In Milan And Atlanta’ very soon!

TRACKLISTING:
1. Reason
2. Trust
3. Universe
4. Numb
5. Pages
6. Repay
7. Chaos
8. Remembrance
9. Overlord
10. Void
11. Blame

LINE-UP:
Mark Basile – Vocals
Fabio Constantino – Drums
Andrea Arcangeli – Bass
Simone Mularoni – Guitars
Emanuele Casali – Keyboards

LINKS:

Reproduced here with kind permission from Brutiful Metal Radio

Originally written for Brutiful Metal Radio in 2013

Lifer – Cursing Them Out

Lifer – Cursing Them Out
House Of Doom
Release Date 01/03/2011
Running Time 46:57
Review by Rick Tilley
9/10

Do you love Down, Pantera, Clutch & Sabbath? Do you live for Thrash, Groove & Southern Metal with a dash of Hardcore, Punk & Death? If the answer to any of these is yes, indeed if you just love Heavy ‘fucking’ Metal then you need Lifer! If you’ve yet to hear this band, who come from South Wales (no they aren’t from the States, although you wouldn’t know that from listening to them), then be prepared because they will be hunting you down and bludgeoning you until your face bleeds.

Originally released in 2011 ‘Cursing You Out’, Lifer’s debut album is one huge beast, which actually strains not to escape from your stereo as you play it. From the first notes and scream of opener ‘Curse You Out’ you know you are listening to something special. Every song is filled with enough hooks to make ‘Hellraiser’ look like a kids film, the vocals and lyrics of lead singer ‘Scriv’ demand attention from the off (Anselmo really does have some serious competition with this guy), everything is beautifully produced (the quality is amazing for an independent), there is some fabulous guitar work and drumming on offer, it’s heavy as lead, but with melody and emotion in abundance. Lifer are a product of their collective upbringings and that knowledge has stood them in good stead when writing these songs. There are no standout tracks because the whole album is full of them, ‘Bring It Down’, ‘Loss’, ‘Long Time Dead’, ‘Broken Bones’ & ‘Goathead’. Once you hear these they will be firmly embedded in your withered skull!

Lifer gig relentlessly in the UK, also playing on some major festival bills including Hammerfest and have recently supported Orange Goblin to excellent pres. They have many more shows in the pipeline as well as getting ready to release album number two. I know how good these guys are live because I witnessed them destroy Bloodstock Festival’s ‘New Blood Tent’ in 2011, and I’m very much looking forward to seeing them again next month. 2013 is going to be a big year for Lifer. Any doubters should quickly retreat. I may not be the first person to review this but I’ll be on the front line shouting “I told you so” when this band take off. Simply immense!

TRACKLISTING:
1. Curse Them Out
2. Nothing Left To Lose
3. Bring It Down
4. Reach
5. Loss
6. Broken Bones
7. Goathead
8. Long Time Dead
9. Raging Waters
10. Embrace The Madness

LINE-UP:
Web – Guitars
Scriv – Vocals
Simon – Bass
David – Drums

LINKS:

Reproduced here with kind permission from Brutiful Metal Radio

Originally written for Brutiful Metal Radio in 2013

Neverworld – Welcome To…Neverworld EP

Neverworld – Welcome To…Neverworld EP
Self-released
Release Date: 2010
Running Time 16:40
Review By Rick Tilley
9/10

In recent years the resurgence of metal and rock acts with a more traditional sound has been a revelation, taking me back to those far flung days of my youth when Maiden, Priest and Saxon ruled the airwaves. I first became aware of UK based band Neverworld about two years ago after reading an excellent magazine review but thanks to a ridiculously long list of bands to check out it wasn’t until six months ago that I finally had the pleasure of listening to their debut EP, and what a pleasure it was! Originally released in 2010 the three tracks on ‘Welcome To…Neverworld’ (financed and recorded by themselves) showcase a band absolutely on fire and intent on bludgeoning you until you bow down into submission! It was only right, therefore, that I took the time to write this review and spread the word further.

Kicking off with the classic quote “I have come here to chew bubblegum and kick ass, and I’m all out of bubblegum” from John Carpenter’s film ‘They Live’ they launch into the massive first track, the aptly named ‘They Live (We Sleep) with a riff and scream that might even have Rob Halford quaking in his boots and the EP never lets up. Far from being a straight retread of what has gone before though, Neverworld mix up their influences superbly. From the more traditional leanings of the first song, almost Dragonforce feel of ‘Into the Heart of Chaos and the quietly building, but still extremely powerful ‘This Fire’ there is a huge progressive feel to Neverworld’s music. The quality of musicianship on offer is outstanding, with the guitars and keyboards deserving special mention, but they manage to infuse that with fantastic emotion, making this EP so much more enjoyable to listen to, and in vocalist/guitarist Ben Colton they have a star in the making. He has excellent range in his voice and you can clearly hear what he is singing about. Believe me I love a good grunted vocal but this makes a pleasant change.

It is not easy to pigeonhole Neverworld into a particular genre, which is great because they have found a unique sound, but if you were to take the above mentioned bands and mix them with the power metal sounds of say Iced Earth and Blind Guardian, then further add some early Dream Theater and Pagan’s Mind you’ll be somewhere near. They are currently putting the finishing touches to their debut album ‘Visions Of Another World’ which will be released this year. With so many bands around these days, talent sometimes isn’t enough to propel you to the next level (you only have to switch on the TV to see countless examples of untalented rubbish).Neverworld not only have serious talent but they work damn hard too (check out the fabulous cover artwork and booklet for more proof of this). There is no doubt in my mind that they thoroughly deserve to be snapped up by a label and soon. If they aren’t there really is no justice! Either way Traditional Metal is in safe hands with bands of Neverworld’s quality at the helm.

TRACKLISTING:
1. They Live(We Sleep)
2. Into The Heart of Chaos
3. This Fire

LINKS:

Reproduced here with kind permission from Brutiful Metal Radio