Here's an interesting one. Iron Hearse is a UK band whose sound is much akin to older Fu Manchu, Sheavy, The Obsessed and a doomier Orange Goblin. Get in the Hearse kicks off with a nice up-tempo “Wolf clergy” with cow-bell, which is followed by one of the prize tracks of this album, “A slow and heavy ride” God, what a memorable-like riff here and also the rest of the guitar work, showing Grant at his fiery best..
On February 5, 2013, the band announced their name change to Ghost B.C.in the United States due to legal reasons. Discussing the name change, a Nameless Ghoul said ‘B.C.’ is obviously a pun on ‘Before Christ’, but it’s just an amendment. In our world, we’re just gonna be called Ghost, and when we refer to our records, it’s gonna be the Scandinavian version, saying Ghost only, and we are never ever ever ever ever ever gonna call ourselves Ghost B.C. in any way.
These Finnish metallers sure know their game: powerful, terrific hooks; heavily overloaded sweeping rhythms; and fantastic, scorching guitar work relying on fast-mid paced, yet imaginative enough drumming. This is one well-functioning unit. And thanks to all of the above, the album flows very nicely and manages to maintain focus and interest, with a couple of softer moments, for the sake of variation. The songs are all well-written and display the band's undeniable talent.
I guess the easiest way to describe this band is to tag them with the sludge metal label. Their thick rhythms, distorted riffs, fat grooves, and heavy as shit drumming is a trademark of the genre, so I guess that's what they are. It's very hard not to be drawn onto bands like Lento, Amebix, Melvins, Godflesh, Switchblade and more when listening to this. From the opener of “Trakthor” through “Melicow” and “Moongitruce” the band seems to create an honest and raw take on.
Toxic Holocaust mutated into existence in 1999, when Joel Grind merged his love for classic punk and metal into his ideal band. Like his influences - Bathory, Venom, English Dogs, Possessed, Broken Bones – TH featured blazing riffs, gravel-throated vocals, and a deadly fixation on the evil in man and a post-apocalyptic world. Grind wrapped all of these elements up with a DIY attitude and begin writing and recording material almost instantly.
Taylor’s Universe blend elements of prog with RIO, fusion and jazz giving the listener something to think about. The album is very challenging, but never gets too loud or busy to lose the audience. Although probably categorized somewhere in the fusion camp, Taylor’s Universe have a very fresh feel to it and never gets too difficult for my liking. The result is a very listenable, free jam-oriented album with plenty of chilled-out instrumentals and infectious hooks.
Spiritual Beggars have been around for a long time. Their first self titled album was released away back in ‘94 and since then the band has strived to make melodious and challenging hard rock music always looking to be that bit different. This is fully fledged retro rock. There are edgy, driving guitar riffs, layered keyboard fills and swirls, big melodic choruses, a firing vocal performance, classy production.
Sgt. Sunshine’s brand of swinging stoner rock has not changed much, but better songs, better hooks, and fuzzier production give III a healthy advantage over its predecessors Black Hole and Sgt Sunshine.
Q. Age (previously known as Quaad H.) were founded in 1999 and took 11 years before their debut Songs For Your Lonely Island came out. Three years later, they are back with the follow-up Stop the Clocks. Don't expect overly playful progressive music, but rather some of the more grunge rock kind with electro beat influences which might as well be called indie rock.(vomit sounds by editor).
Finnish Mother Susurrus’ Maahaavaa is a freightening combination of doom, sludge, drone, post and psych rock. From start to finish, the overall atmosphere and feel of the album is there: dark, angry and electrifying. The production on Maahhaavaa is dense and overwhelming, and I mean that in a good way, but still leaves room to breathe. There are 5 tracks herein, and 50 minutes total running time, so you know you're going to get some epically lengthy songs here.
