Heavy metal

Exelerate – Exelerate

Exelerate – Exelerate
From The Vaults
Release Date: 10/03/2023
Running Time: 46:02
Review by: Chris Galea
9/10

When I first delved into this homonymous album from Exelerate, the music kept throwing my mind back to classic U.S. Metal bands such as Vicious Rumors, Chastain, Apocrypha and Satan’s Host. Turns out they’re actually Danish and this is the band’s debut album.

I say it’s a debut album but it doesn’t really sound like one…the musicianship and tightness of the songs are what you’d expect from battle-hardened (Metal) troopers. The album starts and finishes with soft, mellow moods but in between are several bouts of whiplash-inducing Power/Thrash Metal.

Earlier on I made reference to a number of U.S. Metal bands but most of all “Exelerate” kept reminding me of Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins. In fact I continuously had to check if the singer was Alan Tecchio. Turns out his name is actually Stefan Jensen and he’s got an amazingly powerful voice. But it’s not only Jensen that shines. The rhythm section is furious throughout the album and the songs are always punctuated by blazing guitar solos.

A few tracks have melodies that I associate with middle-eastern music and although there are no ‘ballads’ the songs sometimes slow down…briefly…before getting back to good old energetic Heavy Metal. Sometimes those mellow parts work, sometimes they don’t, but for sure their contrast helps accentuate the music’s heaviness.

So yes this is an excellent debut album and if any of the names I’ve dropped already have a place in your record collection then I’d strongly recommend you check out Exelerate.

‘Release’ Official Video:

TRACKLISTING:
01. Arrival
02. No Escape
03. Spawn Of Satan
04. Release
05. Children Of The Sun
06. God Of Man
07. Lethal Assault
08. In Between Sanity (feat. Sofia Schmidt)
09. Epilogue

LINE-UP:
Mads Sørensen – guitars
Stefan Jensen – vocals, guitars
Io Klarstrup – bass
Stig Eilsøe-Madsen – drums

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Chris Galea 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 adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Alex Nunziati – Black Space Void

Alex Nunziati – Black Space Void
Moribund Records
Release Date: 24/03/23
Running Time: 36:53
Review by Paul Hutchings
5/10

According to the blurb that accompanied this release, “Black Space Void” is a highly anticipated release. Well, I might be a bit mutton in my old age, but I can’t believe that many were waiting on tenterhooks for this second solo album, for despite its raw feel, there’s not a lot going on here to really excite. In fact, it’s a struggle to plough through the whole eight tracks.

Italian Alex Nunziati has a pedigree, with his other outfits including Malamorte, Theatres des Vampires and Lord Vampyr, all bands I admit I know nothing about. Nunziati’s first solo album “Il Mangiatore di Peccati” (“The Eater of Sin”) was released last year, but again didn’t reach these ears, so I’m taking Black Space Void without any baggage. The huge challenge with this album is twofold. Firstly, as a solo project where the artist plays everything, it’s incredibly difficult to be overly critical, because this is immense musicianship in many ways. The other challenge is that it’s impossible not to draw comparisons and here it’s Sepultura, Cavalera-era that rears its head throughout. And unfortunately, if I want to listen to Sepultura, then it’s one of those albums that I reach for.

The musicianship is rudimentary at times, and at other times it’s a real struggle. There isn’t one song on this album that really grabbed me by the throat and demanded I play it again. Instead, the music just washed over me without any real impact. The opening track ‘The Revenge of the Humans’ is an average song, whilst the laborious ‘Stardust’ does absolutely nothing to get either the thrash juices flowing, or the more curious synapses engaged.

‘The Universe Doesn’t Need Us’ does add a bit of bite for the first minute, before descending into a crossover hybrid that really doesn’t spark the fire in any real way. It may take a while before you realise that “Black Space Void” has a total Sci-Fi lyrical content, with outer space themes alongside humanity’s mistreatment of Earth. All very honourable indeed, but let’s face it, it’s time for a cull anyway.

The biggest problem I have with “Black Space Void” is that it’s just average from start to finish. Nothing stands out, despite the obvious talent. A classic example is ‘Possessed By Astral Eternity’. It’s frenetic, played very well, and does absolutely nothing. Even the final song ‘Vulnerable’ with its racing thrash vibe fails to ignite. Overall, a disappointing release.

TRACKLISTING:
01. The Revenge of the Humans
02. The Day the World Died Again
03. Stardust
04. The Universe Doesn’t Need Us
05. Possessed By Astral Entity
06. Black Space Void
07. The Prophet
08. Vulnerable

LINE-UP:
Alex Nunziati – Everything

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Paul Hutchings 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 adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s With Jaodae

EMQ’s With Jaodae

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Heavy Progressive Metal band, Jaodae. Huge thanks to their drummer, Spencer, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

My name is Spencer and I’m the drummer for Jaodae. Our guitarist Rob and I started the band in 2016, just meeting a couple times a month to jam without any intention of playing gigs or even recording. In 2019 we decided to self-produce, record and release our debut album, and after all those typical and relatable covid setbacks, we’re writing, gigging and recording more than ever. Recently paired with Black Throne Productions and brought on a full-time bassist. Things are finally running smoothly!

How did you come up with your band name?

It’s a Twin Peaks reference, Season 3. Judy (or Jowday) is “a mythological entity and powerful negative force studied by the Blue Rose Task Force.”

What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?

We’re from Toronto, ON. The scene here, from our perspective anyway, is vast and hard to put a finger on, in a good way. There is definitely a boom in hardcore and doom metal, but the benefit of being a band that sounds like a smorgasbord of genres means we get to play with bands of all different subgenres of metal, hardcore and punk. We like that.

What is your latest release?

Our latest single PORCOCANE is from our upcoming EP CHIMAERA, out March 17th on Black Throne Productions

Who have been your greatest influences?

As a band, that’s tough to nail down, but in our Venn diagram of bands include Ihsahn, Intronaut, Gojira, Enslaved, Meshuggah, stuff like that. Proggy without being noodle-y, and always heavy. Those bands definitely influence our composition style.

As a drummer, I’d say my top 5 are Jamie St Murat, Navene Koperweis, Thomas Haake, Nick Yacyshyn and Kevin Boutot. Listen, I CANNOT play anything like Jamie or Navene or Thomas, but it’s kind of who I’m channelling when writing parts. Even if it’s just a vibe.

What first got you into music?

My Dad playing Zeppelin IV in the car when I was something like 4 years old. I asked him to play Stairway to Heaven about 4 times until he was like “… I think that’s enough”.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

It would be amazing to get some kind of industrial element into some future tracks, so I would say Drew McDowell or Tristan Shone from Author and Punisher. I always thought doing an album with a different singer on each track would be cool too. Nice to be instrumental, gives you that freedom.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

ROADBURN. Easily the best curation of any heavy festival anywhere, I would kill to go to it let alone play it.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Bands get gifts from fans? Sounds nice!

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Been digging into a lot of David Crosby recently, would have loved to see Crosby, Stills and Nash live. Even if they all fought each other on stage. What a show, ahmirite?

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

I’m also in film and television, and after working so many different jobs in the arts, I have to say that the pipeline from song idea, to song, to recording, to performing is all a lot easier as a musician. I didn’t say it’s EASY, but being DIY with your music is achievable without a crew of people. That’s fucking amazing.

I hate that musicians are priced out of music gear.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

That they should listen to our band, we’re sick.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Lots come to mind, but I feel like a “metal” answer would be appreciated, so I’ll say Meshuggah: Catch 33.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?

I would have to say Vinyl because the band’s art – music and album art – can be experienced at its full potential while they can actually make a bit of coin off of it.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

I wouldn’t say it’s the best, but our first gig was an opening slot in Windsor Ontario. People really come out to shows in Windsor, and it was amazing to look up after a nervous first few songs and actually see a full house of support. I remember being like “This is the best. I missed this”.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Writing TV, it rules.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Larnell Lewis, Gene Hogan, Matts Morgen, Bernard Purdie and Benny Greb. They’re all world class drummers and they all seem friendly and it’s a dinner party at my house for fuck’s sake, everyone be NICE.

What’s next for the band?

Lots. EP coming March 17th, and an even bigger release later this year. Hitting a lot of new places with some killer bands, and we have some special video / visual treats coming with us.

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

You can find our music on ALL streaming platforms, but we always point people towards Bandcamp for a download. We’re busy on Instagram (@jaodaemetal) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/jaodae), so if you want to keep up to date on new music, gigs, anything at all, gives a follow.

Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?

What? Jam and chocolate? I’m not a monster, thank you very much.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Just reiterating that aside from our VERY exciting CHIMAERA EP release on March 17th, we have SO MUCH MORE coming out through Black Throne Productions in 2023, so we encourage you to give us a follow on our socials and get your ass to gig!

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

Night Demon – Outsider

Night Demon – Outsider
Century Media Records
Release Date: 17/03/2023
Running Time: 37:11
Review by Richard Oliver
8/10

Traditional heavy metal is in a very healthy place in 2023. Metal will always continue to evolve and expand in different sounds and directions but the origins of the genre are never forgotten or overlooked. As well as a good chunk of the old school bands still kicking out great albums and putting on fantastic live shows, there has been a newer generation of bands disregarding anything beyond the 80’s and performing traditional heavy metal like it is still 1983. The NWOTHM (New Wave Of Traditional Heavy Metal) movement has countless bands in it and one of the best out there are California’s Night Demon who are releasing their third full length album “Outsider”.

Much like the previous two Night Demon albums, “Outsider” is some straight up heavy fucking metal taking influence from the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) scene as well as the US power metal scene of the 80’s with a sound that is rough and ready as well as very melodic. You have songs which are driven by the driving riffs and pounding rhythm such as ‘Obsidian’ and ‘Escape From Beyond’ as well as songs where melody and atmosphere take centre stage such as ‘Beyond The Grave’ and ‘A Wake’ though one of the clear highlights of the album is one where all these elements are combined in ‘The Wrath’ with a melodic first half giving way to a riotous second half where the sound verges on speed metal. Despite only being a three piece, the guys in Night Demon make up for it in a beefy sound and intensive performances with a fantastic vocal and thunderous bass performance from Jarvis Leatherby whilst Dusty Squires pounds his drums into dust and Armand John Anthony rips out killer riffs and sweet solos aplenty.

Night Demon have taken on the difficult third album challenge with relish and released an absolute belter of an album in “Outsider”. Is it original sounding? Fuck no. Does it sound good? Fuck yes! Like nearly all of the bands in the NWOTHM movement this is an old school sounding record with the sole intention of playing classic sounding heavy metal. Having got into metal music at a time when it was deemed tragically uncool to like old school heavy metal with the fashion being rapping, baggy jeans and chains but heavy metal doesn’t need to be cool and whilst fashions and trends may come along they will always die off. WIth bands like Night Demon still flying the flag for traditional heavy metal and sounding this damn good, it is safe to say that true metal will never die.

‘Escape From Beyond’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Prelude
02. Outsider
03. Obsidian
04. Beyond The Grave
05. Rebirth
06. Escape From Beyond
07. A Wake
08. The Wrath
09. The Last Day (Bonus Track)

LINE-UP:
Dusty Squires – Drums
Armand John Anthony – Guitars & Keyboards
Jarvis Leatherby – Vocals & Bass

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Richard Oliver 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 adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

EMQ’s With Feed After Midnite

EMQ’s With Feed After Midnite

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Canadian Heavy Metal/ Hard Rock band, Feed After Midnite. Huge thanks to their drummer, Sean Bolster, for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Sean Bolster, I’m the Drummer. Marc, Denis and Yvon have been playing in various bands together since high school. In 2018, they were given the opportunity to play in a local radio battle of the bands; they recruited former member Dylan to play Bass. The chance to get back on stage re-ignited their passion to be in a band. As this felt more like the formation of a new band than a revival of an old band, they decided on a new name and a new approach was needed. It took a few line-up changes until the band felt that they really found their sound, with me (Sean) joining in 2020 and Shane joining 2022 after Dylan left to do another project.

How did you come up with your band name?

We had our first show booked but didn’t have a band name yet and the promoter needed a name by the next day. During a break from practice, the band was trying to come up with a name with no luck. Looking for inspiration, we looked through books on Marc’s bookshelf, when we found a novel for the movie Gremlins, someone said “Don’t feed them after midnight,” and we all looked at each other. Someone said “What about the opposite? Feed after Midnight?” We all agreed but decided to change it up a bit with the spelling of Midnite.

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?

We live in Canada near Ottawa. Ottawa/Gatineau has a fairly vibrant metal scene with local band-type shows happening weekly throughout the various venues. If a large touring band skips Ottawa we’re lucky to be a couple hours drive from Montreal, QC. In my opinion the metal capital of Canada!

What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)

On November 25 2022 we released our first EP entitled “The Hunger”. We are promoting the official self-produced music video for the single called “False Awakening”.

Who have been your greatest influences?

Yvon and really all of the band love all things that are horror or sci-fi related from the 80’s and 90’s, so that’s certainly an influence on the themes Yvon writes about. Movie Directors like John Carpenter (They Live), James Cameron (Terminator), Sam Raimi (Evil Dead), George A Romero (Dawn of the Dead) to name a few, as well as bands like Faith No more, Deftones, Alice in Chains, Metallica and Killswitch Engage. They all influence our sound as a band.

What first got you into music?

I have always been musical. I remember my parents listened to Micheal Jackson or The Police records on the stereo all the time. I played trumpet as a kid in school, then I switched to electric guitar when I discovered Nirvana. I discovered I was a drummer when I was 15. My friends and I wanted to start a band but we were all guitar players! I seemed to be able to drum better than everyone else, so that’s where it started for me.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Honestly, that’s a tough question to answer. It would be cool to collaborate with anyone in the metal scene! We have so many heroes I don’t know where you would start. We are just starting out as a band really so if someone well known approached us with an offer, I’m sure the first thing we would have to do would be to pinch each other to make sure it was really happening!

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Another tough question! I think we would probably choose to go as big as possible and go with the Wacken Open Air Festival in Germany.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

Nothing yet, just their love and adoration and cash haha!

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

We love you and want to thank you all for supporting our art by coming to shows, buying merch, or streaming and sharing our content.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

Dimebag Darrell and Vinnie Paul. Absolute legends gone far too soon!

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

None of us are really full-time musicians, although we all play our instruments at a professional level we don’t make a living off of music. The band project is mostly self-funded, and the largest means to fund recordings is with ticket and merchandise sales. We all really enjoy doing this and wish for it to blossom someday into something full time but recognize you have to do the work to get there.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

De-centralization is a recurring theme in the last couple of decades or so. People taking the solutions to what ails them health-wise more and more back to natural type remedy/foods and into their own hands. The creation and rise of cryptocurrency signal people’s desire to take back control of their finances away from government corruption with “sound money” like Bitcoin. So true with the music industry I think the Internet has already revolutionized the industry, with social media allowing artists to interact more directly with their audience. Now with the ease at which artists can self-produce and distribute high-quality content, the need for a record/production company is becoming more of an option and less necessity. So the thing that I would like to see change is in fact happening! I anticipate in the future we will see more artists like Tom MacDonald, entirely independent artists at the top of the charts.

Name one of your all-time favourite album?

Sepultura, “Chaos A.D.” for sure! They all are fantastic musicians. I love anything Max does, But Igor’s drumming throughout this album is a source of inspiration for me and my drumming.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

The biggest gigs so far happened before I joined the band. The boys opened for BUCKCHERRY and then another time opened for BEASTO BLANCO. I anticipate big things to come for us though, we have just begun and lately everything has been turning up Milhouse! So to speak for us.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

I don’t make a living playing drums. I’m a licensed Electrician with the hopes of one day making music full time. We all are approaching music from the same sort of angle, there’s no such thing as rules when it comes to stuff like this.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

If I was having a dinner party where I could invite anyone in the world… I would invite Dave Grohl, Mike Patton, Adam D, Max and Igor Cavalera.

What’s next for the band?

This year we have a few things that we would like to accomplish. We’ve played lots locally in Ottawa so we feel it’s time to branch out. We have our sights set on playing an out of town show possibly in Montreal, Kingston or maybe Toronto nothing solid yet we will see. We want to release some new music by the fall or winter. We would love to play an outdoor festival-type show, but nothing solid yet. Overall we just want to continue to work on growing our band and enjoy the process!

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/3WLWnYF2ck1BMIqwCUN80Z
Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/feed-after-midnite/1532832697
Youtube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5eoIn0hdhr17cGcJyyYfaw
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/feedaftermidniteband/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/FeedAfterMidnite/

Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake

According to my research, the “correct” answer depends on what part of the U.K. you are from.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thank You so much for being part of the metal community and helping bands like us reach a wider audience. \M/

EMQ’s With Mortalus

EMQ’s With Mortalus

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with USA Heavy/ Trash Metal band, Mortalus. huge thanks to them for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Mortalus is equal parts classic and modern, heavy and melodic, power and finesse, focused and loose. We take our craft very seriously, but by the time the album closes, the listener will know that we still like to have a little fun while we are at it. Michelle Gann shreds guitar and covers lead vocal duties. Bryan Bedgood lays down the groove with the bass and backing vocals. Patrick Mahoney fills out the drums and everything percussion.

Our band is celebrating 10 years this year. It has been a very heavy and epic journey.

How did you come up with your band name?

Patrick is the founding member of the band. In the very early days, there were several friends and family that helped to come up with something that was unique, impactful, and heavy.

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?

We are from the southern United States, based our of Little Rock, Arkansas. The metal in our area is currently entering a renaissance phase. There are lots of new bands on the scene that are inventive and exciting our ears!

What is your latest release?

Our sophomore LP, which is out on February 24, 2023, is a showcase of all everything metal. It has been a whirlwind since the last album was released. Impactful events such as a global pandemic, political and worldwide turmoil, addiction, inequality and prejudice, losing family members, decayed friendships, and re-evaluation of one’s own perspective all went into the making of We Are Human.

Who have been your greatest influences?

Metallica…because it’s Metallica! Bur really, there are so many influences for each band member.

Michelle: Iron Maiden, Evergrey, Pink Floyd and Ozzy. I also grew up with a lot of 70’s and 80’s classic rock (The Police, Toto, Journey, Styx, Kansas, Foreigner…. I could go on forever). Those epic melodies really made an impression on me. Because of those bands, I really can’t write a song without some type of catchy melody in it.

Bryan: Toto to Testament, Chicago to Candlemass, White Lion to Black Sabbath, Night Ranger to Nevermore, Kansas to Kamelot, SRV to EVH… you get the point. I draw influence from all sorts of musical inspiration, especially as a multi-instrumentalist. For Mortalus, more specific influences would be Iron Maiden, Billy Sheehan, Mike Porcaro, Michael Anthony, John Myung, Steve DiGiorgio, and of course Dave Willems.

Patrick: I grew up in New Orleans and was surrounded by Jazz, Funk, and early pioneers of doom and sludge metal. However, I was most influenced by thrash in the 80s and crossovers such as Agnostic Front and Dirty Rotten Imbeciles. Most notably though, my playing style is a little Kenny Aronoff for groove, Nick Menza for fantastic footwork and interesting fills, and Dave Lombardo for complex single strokes.

What first got you into music?

Patrick – I came from a very musical family. Nearly every aunt, uncle, grandparents, and both parents were musicians. Music was part of everyday life whether it was on vinyl, 8 track, or cassette. There was always something interesting on in the background. Irma Thomas, Kenny Rodgers, Men at Work, and Pat Bentar were some of what was on in the car or blasting through the home stereo. I first took an interest in piano, but my passion was the drums. Thankfully I had very accommodating parents and siblings that tolerated the thunder that came from my adolescent bedroom as I learned to play and further developed my craft.

Michelle – I came from a musical household. My dad is an amazing vocalist, and he was in rock bands for much of my early childhood. I was shy though and would only sing privately in my room until I was about 18 or 19. I started playing guitar at age 15 because I started getting into metal. A couple of my good friends had guitars and it looked like fun. I just thought, “I bet I could do that too.”

Bryan – As a youngster, my Mom would have the radio on and I would always gravitate towards the Chicago songs, like 25 Or 6 To 4, Beginnings, etc. I picked up trumpet because of Chicago, Dizzy Gillespie, and Doc Severinsen. Then the ‘80s happened (yes, I’m in my 50’s), and it was all downhill from there!! Def Leppard, Ratt, Cinderella, Whitesnake, you name it. Then I’d add in some Metallica, Ozzy, Overkill, all the Shrapnel Records shred stuff, etc. My favourite album of all time is still Toto IV, 40 years running.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

Miley Cyrus. She seems like she would be a lot of fun to work with. You never know what would be coming up next and is super collaborative and creative!

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

Download – because Donnington…… the history of it all, from Monsters Of Rock to the current Download. Such legendary line-ups since 1980. To just be a small part of that would be super rad!

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

We appreciate all gifts! We have never received anything too weird or too “out there”.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Keep an open mind and an open heart, but don’t apologize for your love of metal. Metal fans are truly everywhere you would never know unless you play it loud, talk about it, and take pride in sharing your passion with those around you. You never know who you might inspire. Make the world a better place, one chug at a time

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

David Bowie. He was everything and had no boundaries. He pushed through gender conformity, cultural norms, and continued to reinvent himself, his bands, and his art.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

The creative process and experimentation. When a song finally comes together…it’s all running smooth and we’re all locked in. It is a feeling nearly impossible to top. Pure magic!

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

The money hungry big machines of music. The amount of music that is released commercially is so small. There are so many emerging and existing artists that are out that continue to push the bounds of simple notes. Too band some of the smaller local and regional acts don’t get more exposure and airplay to see how these artists could mature.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Master of Puppets by Metallica. It is the perfect blend of harmony, speed, and thrash.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?

We all like physical media. Vinyl has made a huge comeback and sounds stellar on modern and vintage turntables. However, we love CD’s… they are portable, are crystal clear, and cheap to produce. We are thankful for streaming and all forms of electronic / downloaded media. It makes sharing our music so much easier and in the ears of a wider audience.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

Thrashing Through the Snow (December 2019) at the Revolution Room in Little Rock. This was a fundraiser show featuring some stellar acts to raise money for our local Food Bank. Hundreds thrashed the night away and we were able to raise lots of money and canned food for the Arkansas Food Bank.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Not having as much fun, that’s for sure. We all have different interests from painting, building cars and motorcycles, spending time with our families or recording new projects.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

Freddie Mercury, Robin Williams, Babe Ruth, Cher, Marilyn Monroe. This would be such an eclectic group…the stories and humour alone! Can you imagine the topics!

What’s next for the band?

World domination, of course!! Seriously though, we are lining up tour dates in the US as we speak. We are hoping to line up European dates in 2024. Along the way, inspiration will strike and writing for the next record will begin.

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

Please see below:
Web: https://mortalusmetal.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/mortalusmusic
Bandcamp: https://mortalus.bandcamp.com/
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/mortalusmetal
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmXBdTXOcGWj6lDwGs9ncsA/videos
iTunes: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/mortalus/948128896
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/51U4peXYL5KVjvxiH5ZOWs
Amazon: https://music.amazon.com/artists/B00QT157XY/mortalus
Twitter: @Mortalus_band
Instagram: Mortalus_Metal

Like the “pop / soft drink / cola / Coke / soda pop” name debate in different parts of the USA……

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Go buy our new album, We Are Human, and thrash to Mortaus!

Worselder – Redshift

Worselder – Redshift
Ellie Promotion/ Season Of Mist
Release date: 17/02/2023
Running time: 45:00
Review by Alun Jones
8/10

January is over. Yet the cold still lingers, steel grey skies still shroud us. The iron glow on the horizon promises more snow. We stumble like children through the deep snow drifts of the French Pyrenees, our bodily extremities feeling icy cold. We are here in search of Worselder, Metal warriors who hail from these parts…

Here we have “Red Shift”, the latest endeavour from the mighty Worselder. It’s their first LP since “Paradigms Lost” in 2017, no thanks to the delay caused by the bloody pandemic. They’re back in full-on, skull crushing style here, though – picking up where they left off with the well-received success of the last album.

Part Power Metal, part Thrash, with a bit of old school Trad Metal, the Worselder’s music is aggressive and direct, no superfluous cheese. Opening tracks ‘Para Bellum’ and ‘Point of Divergence’ are furious Metal with chugging riffs and fast pace. It’s infectious, head banging stuff. There’s a ferocious Metalcore attack embedded in there too, particularly on ‘Pillars of Smoke’.

It nearly goes wrong on ‘Absurd Heroes’, where a truly ugly slap bass stinks things up in the intro. It’s only a minor setback though – ‘Atheist’ kicks the doors down with a killer riff and ‘The Exoteric Verses’ melds a haunting atmosphere with a Death Metal chant along. ‘Insurgents (Part 1)’ is a smart instrumental and good change of pace, leading to the frenzy of ‘Insurgents (Part 2)’. All wrapped up with the epic ‘Ascent to Rebirth’, it’s a solid effort.

The production is top notch, and the musicians are excellent, without being over indulgent or obvious with their playing. Worselder are a far more formidable band than I had initially expected, and “Red Shift” is a pleasant surprise.

TRACKLISTING:
01. Para Bellum
02. Point of Divergence
03. Pillars of Smoke
04. Absurd Heroes
05. Atheist
06. The Exoteric Verses
07. Insurgents (Part 1)
08. Insurgents (Part 2)
09. Ascent to Rebirth

LINE-UP:
Guillaume Granier – Vocals
Yoric Oliveras – Guitar
Jérémie Delattre – Guitar
Michel Marcq – Drums
Yannick Fernandez – Bass

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Alun Jones 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 adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.

Avatar – Dance Devil Dance

Avatar – Dance Devil Dance
Black Waltz Records
Release Date: 17/02/23
Running Time: 42:00
Review by Paul Hutchings
8/10

I’ve always dismissed Avatar as a bit gimmicky. Frontman Johannes Eckerström’s sinister face paint never appealed. I’m not a big fan of the Joker style leer that looms large from every press photo. I’ll admit that watching a show from Wacken at a friend’s party a few years ago softened my opinion somewhat, but I’ve never sat down and listened to them in anger before. So, it was with some curiosity that I decided to give the band’s latest album, “Dance Devil Dance” a go.

It’s their ninth album so I’m late to the party. The Metal circus that the band have crafted over two decades has earnt them a huge following, mainly in mainland Europe, but they are also capable of selling out the Academy venues across the UK. So, what is the album about? Eckerström states: “I woke up to the truth one day. With my heart pounding, and a heavy breath, I knew for sure. I am Satan. The snake and forbidden fruit with a longing for knowledge, freedom, and agency. My feet were moving. I thought I was running, but I was dancing. A celebration. Yes, I am the Devil, and I believe that one day you can be the Devil too. It is my hope and ambition that this album will help you find your way there. As such, it’s a celebration of love, lust, and democracy.”

It’s the title track that opens the album. A stomping, driving march that combines the Industrial power of Rammstein with the hooks of Avenged Sevenfold, it’s an ideal first track and immediately warms you to the band, for it’s a furious rocker that leaves you gasping for more. The pounding of ‘Chimp Valley Mosh’ brings a Nu-Metal edge to the band’s sound, a pulsing bass throbs whilst Eckerström is bringing it large. If the band genuinely want to reconnect with the dark one, this is the way to do it.

It may be that this is the normal Avatar sound, but so far, I’m liking what I hear. The explosive ‘Valley of Disease’ carries a nasty edge, the kind of rusty blade that will do serious harm. The change in tempo and vocal delivery is unexpected, whilst the switch works well. It’s impossible to avoid nodding along to this song.

As “Dance Devil Dance” continues, it’s evident that their early influences included the Melo-Death of In Flames as well as Slipknot, Gojira, and the industrial vibes of Ministry, Killing Joke and Marilyn Manson. But there’s evidently a sound that is unique to Avatar, even if I’m not fully locked into it. ‘On the Beach’ maintains the tempo and is surely a crowd pleaser with its punishing bass riff and switch to an almost Funk segment. At times there’s a sinister undertone to the band’s music. The fusion of Rob Zombie and The Beach Boys on ‘Gotta Wanna Riot’ is both compelling and off putting at the same time.

What I will say is that Avatar gets the heart racing. High energy, up-tempo and a bit chaotic, the mix of styles brings them into a league of their own. Each track is different; there’s not formulaic by numbers writing going on here. There’s funk in ‘The Dirt I’m Buried In’, which is supported by thick chunky riffs and gang vocals, whilst the chainsaw guitar work on ‘Clouds Dipped in Chrome’ brings the band into semi-Death Metal territory.

With just a couple of tracks to go, I’m starting to appreciate why this band have such a fanatic following. They don’t get me wanting to try and find a ticket for their UK tour which kicks off imminently, but I’m certainly more at home to their sound than I thought I might be. To cap it all off, Avatar rope in Lzzy Hale for the finale, ‘Violence No Matter What’. Now, I’m one of the few people on the entire planet who doesn’t get her appeal, and despite the big riffs and the screaming vocals of both Hale and Eckerström, it’s not the strongest track on the album for me, with some irregular time changes and jarring direction.

I wonder if this is the review that anyone would want. Surely, Avatar is a marmite outfit. I’m not rushing out to seek out more, but I’m not turning it off either. That may be the worst thing for an artist and for that I’m sorry. I did enjoy this album though. If you love Avatar, I’m sure “Dance Devil Dance” will delight you. If you haven’t got involved, this might be the one to try. As the band say, “This is our best album yet. It is Avatar at our most laser-focused, at our most razor sharp. There’s no BS, no extra fat. Every track is a weapon and has a purpose. It’s all in the title, as this album is our angriest, horniest, and most spiritual release, all at once. It’s a must-hear”. I think I’ll leave you decide that.

‘The Dirt I’m Buried In’ Official Music Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Dance Devil Dance
02. Chimp Mosh Pit
03. Valley of Disease
04. On the Beach
05. Do you feel in Control
06. Gotta Wanna Riot
07. The Dirt I’m Buried In
08. Clouds Dipped in Chrome
09. Hazmat Suit
10. Train
11. Violence No Matter What (Ft Lzzy Hale)

LINE-UP:
Johannes Eckerström – Vocals
Jonas Jarlsby – Guitars
Tim Öhrström – Guitars
Henrik Sandelin – Bass
John Alfredsson – Drums

LINKS:

EMQ’s With Spektrvm

EMQ’s With Spektrvm

Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Greek Heavy Metallers, Spektrvm. Huge thanks to them for taking part.

What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?

Hello, we are Spektrvm. Thanos (vocals), George (Guitar), Nick (Guitar), Mike(bass), Lyo (Drums). Our music style can’t really be very specifically labeled. The most generic title would be Heavy Metal, but sometimes we are more Doom, sometimes more Progressive, more Folk, more Nu, Alternative, Modern and so on. It really depends on who is listening to it, and what comparisons their minds make while doing so. Mike (bass) and George (guitar) met in high school and bonded over their shared love for music. They formed a covers band initially, but after a couple of years, they decided that it was time for original material.

How did you come up with your band name?

The name came up during a brainstorming session by the initial group, as “Spectrum” originally, because of the diversity of musical tastes within the band itself, and the completely different styles of songs they would be performing. Later on, with the finalisation of the line-up, and the album’s content inspiration, the name took on various different meanings, and was finalised to Spektrvm, which of course is pronounced the same, but now written in the old Anglo-Saxon form, to contribute to the later ideas.

What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?

We are from Athens, Greece. The Metal / Rock scene here is very decent with more than dozens of great bands, that deserve recognition, due to their originality, uniqueness and skill, in a list that is too long to write down.

What is your latest release?

After releasing 2 video clips in June of 2022, our latest release was our debut album, “Blood for Heaven” which can be found on all major musical platforms.

Who have been your greatest influences?

Some of our influences are Tool, Disturbed, Avenged Sevenfold, Metallica, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, Pearl Jam and a dozen other great artists, even outside of the Rock / Metal scene, that have left their small mark, translated in this album. As for the next one, who knows?

What first got you into music?

I can’t speak for the former members, but for the current line-up it was definitely music itself. The magical feeling that brings tears in your eyes when you hear something completely awesome. We wanted to be able to cause this to other people, while also being able to pass our message to the world, in hopes of contributing to making it a better place.

If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?

On the top of that list would definitely be our inspirations, but we would take the opportunity to collaborate with any musician and / or band that we objectively find to be sound, while also respecting their personality and values.

If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?

There is not just one on that list. Some of us dream of the Download festival, or Wacken Open Air, Rock in Rio and many more. We aspire to one day appear, where some of the greatest of all time have performed and entertain a massive amount of fans in the audience.

What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?

There is nothing in this list that is not in the list of “NSFW”.

If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?

Thank you so much for supporting us, but also the music scene in general. We love you very much and can’t wait to see you on the 7^th of July at Rockwave Festival in Greece, where we will be opening for the legendary Deep Purple, along with Saxon, Asking Alexandria, As I lay Dying and more! We’ll bring our A-Game and we expect you to do the same.

If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?

I would say Freddie Mercury. He had so much more to give, and his death was a tragic loss. We could also argue for Dio, but he lived a full life.

What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?

We love the energy and the feeling of the stage. We love writing our own material and expressing our music. Also, how familiar we can become in 45 minutes on a stage with people in the audience that we have never met before. Music brings you closer. Hate is a strong word, but we could argue that we dislike how being a musician is not considered as a “real job” by some people.

If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?

We would love to see musicians being promoted based on skill again, and not on trends as a product, or through nepotism / status.

Name one of your all-time favourite albums?

Each of us has a different one of course, so for me (Thanos), I would say that “Ten” by Pearl Jam would be my favourite album so far. There might be independent songs from other albums and artist that I like more, but as a whole, this one takes the cake.

What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?

Everyone has their own understanding and way of intimacy with music. So, this is a personal question to each person specifically, but most would probably say Vinyl.

What’s the best gig that you have played to date?

We played our album’s live release at Temple Athens, as headliners, with a decent amount of people in the audience, 2 great bands, an awesome venue, and special effects (fire, smoke, dry ice, robotic lights etc.) which has had some great reviews and we were really proud of putting it together.

If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?

Thanos is a teacher, George is a confectioner, Nick is a stock investor, Mike is a hairdresser / bartender, and Lyo is a small business receptionist / manager. I think that with or without music, that would still be what each of us does.

Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?

If we were to only invite alive ones, it would be David Draiman, Slash, Jason Richardson, Flea and Luke Holland, one greatly respected musician for each of our spots.

What’s next for the band?

We are now starting to write material for the next album, we are looking to release a single this year, and the second album to be released at the end of this year or early 2024. We have some gigs lined up, in various countries, with a big one coming up as we said, on the 7^th of July at the Rockwave Festival in Greece. Everything will be updated on our social media, so no one has to miss any of our next moves.

What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?

You can find us on Facebook under Spektrvm , on Instagram under spektrvm.official , on our YouTube Channel under Spektrvm Official , on Spotify under Spektrvm. Click on any of the hyperlinked words to be immediately transferred to each of our channels.

Though we are not British, we would have to go with Barm or Barm Cake. Though Tea Cake sounds nice as well.

Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?

Thank you so much for the invitation to this interview. It’s been lovely. Keep supporting the Metal / Rock scene. Spektrvm Out!

Screamer – Kingmaker

Screamer – Kingmaker
Steamhammer / SPV
Release Date: 13/01/2023
Running Time: 39:18
Review by Victor Augusto
8/10

As I’m getting old with my almost 40 years of existence, I push myself hard to not repeat the same things that I used to complain about people of this age, when I was younger. One of the constant complaints I hear is about old famous mainstream bands and their retirement coming close as they reached decades on road. It looks like people love to bother these bands. If Iron Maiden (for example) releases a new album, people won’t like the new songs, but if they don’t record a new stuff, people claim that these bands are only living by the old hits.

Instead of always acting the negative person about music, why people don’t try to find new bands to enjoy? And here is something that I can recommend for you in this case, from a classic traditional Heavy Metal album “Kingmaker”, which is the fourth full album from the Swedish band Screamer. By the way, I felt that I had discovered them in a good moment of their career, because they sound very professional after more than 10 years on the road together with the three releases during this period.

My first general impression is how good the guitar arrangements sound. Jon Morheim and Dejan Rosić have a great synergy to share good riffs, melodies and solos. They bring a mix of Judas Priest and Accept for the band. The bass of Fredrik Svensson Carlström is pretty strong to complement the quality of the music, and also very present. Another highlighted aspect is how clear and organic the instruments sound. Nothing plastic or digitalized; neither too raw.

I’ve mentioned two great Heavy Metal bands as reference that are very heavy bands when we think in this specific style, Screamer has chosen a simple drums and vocals lines approach and for me, it is a good fit, offering a good and relaxing sensation for the listener. Even faster tracks like ‘Chasing the Rainbow’ keep this spirit of a blend of Heavy Music with a source of peace to recharge your mind whilst you are listening to it. This song even carries a good keyboard addition in a very Jon Lord (Deep Purple) style, also few double bass from Henrik Petersson. Probably it is my favourite song from the album.

The melodies become more present in ‘Ashes and Fire’ and the cadenced guitars open space to an incredible vocal interpretation from Andreas Wikström. Personally, I think here is when Andreas put all his capability that shows how great he does his job.

Well, I could spend lots of word to describe the entire album, but I truly recommend that you do it by yourself. If you love a great Heavy Metal band from the eighties, which have a music full of power, also full of professional arrangements on their compositions, I have no doubts that you will love them.

Nevertheless, it worth a mention that the best quality of “Kingmaker” (for me) is exactly the amazing equation among all elements of a band from this genre. Nothing here is over-exacerbated or massive. It’s quite the opposite and you will have a good entertainment with this album, so stop to be a grumpy old man and go to listen to them.

‘Kingmaker’ Official Video

TRACKLISTING:
01. Kingmaker
02. Rise Above
03. The Traveler
04. Hellfire
05. Chasing the Rainbow
06. Ashes and Fire
07. Burn It Down
08. Fall of a Common Man
09. Sounds of the Night
10. Renegade

LINE-UP:
Andreas Wikström – Vocals
Jon Morheim – Guitars
Dejan Rosić – Guitars
Fredrik Svensson Carlström – Bass
Henrik Petersson – Drums

LINKS:

Disclaimer: This review is solely the property of Victor Augusto 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 adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.