Hamerex - The Last Ride - Promo Mix - Taken from the Forthcoming E.P - IX Music - Released 19th February 2015

Hamerex

The Last Ride

Promo Mix

(Taken from the forthcoming E.P)

IX Music

Released 19^th February 2015

Stunning!

Hamerex – Wakefield, West Yorkshire

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/hamerex

Listen and buy here:

https://hamerex.bandcamp.com/album/the-last-ride

Genre: Heavy Metal

Biography

“Hamerex, a heavy metal band formed in 2004, have released their second album IX. While their first album, 'Rites of Passage', was well received by many reviewers and fans alike, 'IX' has so far surpassed itself, being dubbed by fans as a "Masterpiece" and a "Work of Art" while receiving many stunning reviews and being called "one of the most outstanding albums of 2013"

Reign of Fire

I think the guys can be proud of this track as it picks up steam and rises to the challenge of being just one that can be classed as ‘well worthy!’

Since losing Chris Moules on vocals Steve has stood up to the plate and combined his energetic guitar work along with becoming the voice behind Hamerex.

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“What I love most about Hamerex is the way they display poignant strings with bone crushing moments so it isn’t just one thing you get but a combination of everything!”

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What makes this track so moreish is that feverish constant chug that immediately kicks up a storm and reels you in.  The heart of the track is melodic and fiery and unleashes a predatory assault on the ears.

It twists and thrusts compel and excite as they build to an all-out thunderous climax! The guitar work is deftly carved and offers slower moments along with faster more voracious offerings.

The obvious determination and passion exuded through-out this track is quite simply ‘perfection!’ While the heavy beats are immaculate and sharp and combined with a strong vocal and corrosive rhythm it is indeed very moreish!

Hamerex are now in their eleventh year and are growing stronger by the minute and this track proves the fact! The relentless hypnotic emotions are rife with creativity.

What I love most about Hamerex is the way they display poignant strings with bone crushing moments so it isn’t just one thing you get but a combination of everything!

It is an impacting track that is well worth a listen or six! And this track has been played a lot more than six times as it is catchy and compelling and forges the way ahead for the next offering from Hamerex.

This track alone will leave you feeling satisfied! I have pre-ordered my copy of the new EP of which this track is featured and believe me I can’t wait to receive it!

9½/10

Track List: For the new E.P to be released 15^th March 2015

Calm before the Storm / Natures Wrath

Ride on Ruin

·         Reign of Fire

Apophis

Members:

Steve Blower - Guitars & Vocals

Andy Firth - Guitars

Simon Brooks - Bass

Darren Kelsall - Drums

Adrenochrome - Rabble Rouser - 12 Track CD - Muerte Media - Released 1st January 2015

Adrenochrome

Rabble Rouser

12 Track CD

Muerte Media

Released 1st January 2015

 Rabble Rouser - Aptly named!

Written for Blackened Horde zine

Adrenochrome – Blackstone Valley, USA

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/adrenochrome

Listen Here:

https://adrenochrome1.bandcamp.com/

Recorded by Kris Lapke at The Doom Room, Pawtucket, RI (c) 2015 Adrenochrome / Muerte Media. Art by R.Cinami / Muerte Media (c) 2015

Genre: Metal every which way!!

Biography:

“Adrenochrome would best be described as 'Sonic Disorientation'. The power of supersonic riffs and odd grooves. Blending together new and old to produce their sound with elements of death metal, doom, grind-core, punk, jazz & black thrash. Lyrically showcasing anarchism, self-empowerment, revolution and anti-theism. Incubating since 2011 but officially active in August 2013, Adrenochrome hails from Blackstone Valley, RI. Adrenochrome has had the pleasure of opening for Suffocation, Eyehategod, Iron Reagan, Swashbuckle, Sin of Angels, Headrot, No Raza, Nekrogoblikon and more!”

Intro

A sampled voice informs us about the author Aldous Huxley – the guy who recalled his experiences when taking a psychedelic drug. If he listened to Adrenochrome I could understand why!

Dead Breed

Just dust away the cobwebs and throw your hair about to this little ditty – this track festers under the skin and explodes with an antagonistic flurry! The riffs eat you from the inside out!

Natural Restoration

Another heavy weight mammoth expulsion of mega annihilation (try saying that after a few lemonades!) This bludgeoning track will unleash the caged metal animal in all of us – no doubt! Demanding and abrasive!

Game of Life

Captivating by its primitively wild beginning and full on rabidity that is raw and immense in every sense of the word. If you don’t feel angry after listening to this there is something wrong with you! Fiercely engrossing with heaps of tension!

Bleed the Myth

More tension a brewing – the turbulence reaches its climax very early on and leaves its mark of brutality! The sheer aggression is powerfully thrilling and captivating with its awkward ranting and severe savagery. Prepare to be assaulted by the audial!

DEVolution

The shrill and perplexing start to this track will make your ears bleed – well if you are anything like me you will have the volume up to its max capacity! The squalling growls are really impressive as the surrounding music invades the ears (what’s left of them) and will swamp you with an aggressive onslaught.

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“Undiluted, devastating and evil to within an inch of its life – a must for all hard core metal heads who love bathing in acid!”

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Consumed/Destroyed

Scintillating as it is captivating, the sonic madness continues to impress.  There is no coaxing here just full on metal attack! It is violent and rampaging.  The riffs and beats can definitely be described as consuming and destroying as the vocals battle it out with the drums and guitar – nobody wins!

Interlude

A plethora of unimaginable sounds and samples that will wreck your head even further on this mechanical monster!

New World Slaughter

No regard for the unwary, none whatsoever! The virulence continues to climb to its peak and reaps utter chaos.  The guitars are thrusting and malevolent with a battering of beats and guttural growls this is an infectious slurry of putridity – just go with it!

Corporate Insurgence

Full of intrigue with fast paced opening, it brutally savages in a cruel momentous swagger of rigorously compelling sounds that are ‘just right’ for a hungry metal head! Something to sink your teeth into and that does not mean someone’s head, although you can’t help but feel your blood coursing around your veins while listening to this! Utter madness!

Misinformation

A calm sampled voice points out the meaning of misinformation – at only 2 minutes and 2 seconds this track then melts into the outro.

Outro

A more doom laden sound emerges. It is spiteful and creepy as the malevolence grows taller with every striking riff until it is chopped short.

Summary:

Unbridled filth and calamity reigns supreme on this album. It holds the answer to keeping warm on a cold winter’s evening! By that I mean it speeds up the blood and of course your head will want to join in, that is of course if you can keep pace with the caustic rhythms that lie in wait for the unsuspecting listener, although we are all hardened metal heads, aren’t we? So it shouldn’t pose too much of a problem!

It’s definitely ALL beast and no beauty here though. It can be likened to a full vat of acid ready to immerse its victims into and then simply walks away laughing! The adrenaline will be pumping long after the music finishes – you can bet on it!

The album floods you with a vindictive onslaught of evil and spawned atmospheric tension so much so that it is hard to ignore.

Undiluted, devastating and evil to within an inch of its life – a must for all hard core metal heads who love bathing in acid!

10/10

Track List:

INTRO 00:23

DEAD BREED 02:10

NATURAL RESTORATION 03:13

GAME OF LIFE 03:12

BLEED THE MYTH 02:43

DEVolution 02:26

CONSUMED / DESTROYED 03:22

INTERLUDE 00:41

NEW WORLD SLAUGHTER 03:12

CORPORATE INSURGENTS 03:35

MISINFORMATION 02:02

OUTRO 00:12

Members:

Tayte Leigh – Guitar

Evan Barone – Guitar

Josh Watkins – Vocals

Rob Cinami - Drums

Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks - Mo Anam Cara - 10 Track CD - Triple Goddess Records - To be released 20th March 2015

Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks

Mo Anam Cara

10 Track CD

Triple Goddess Records

To be released 20^th March 2015

To be released very soon!

Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks – Long Beach California

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/JoyShannonandtheBeautyMarks

Produced, mixed & mastered by Mark Sheppard

Photography by Xun Chi

All music and lyrics by Joy Shannon

Discography:

“As in the Wilderness” (2008),

“The Opium Wars or Love in Lieu of Laudanum” (2009)

“The Black Madonna” (2010),

“Out of My Dreams and Into My Arms” (2011),

 “The Oracle” (2013)

 "Mo Anam Cara" (2014).

Genre: Neo-folk, Celtic Pagan Folk, Doom

Biography:

Joy Shannon and the Beauty Marks are a Celtic Pagan Folk/Neo-folk band fronted by the Irish multi-instrumentalist singer Joy Shannon on Celtic harp, cello and harmonium.

Joy Shannon

It is not surprising that this CD was sent to me for obvious reasons. Now is the time to be with one on a journey through the Celtic calendar and embrace the true spiritual feelings within one’s self.

The Winds of Hel

This is a very mournful and poignant track. It delights in bringing an ambiance all its own and sends the proverbial shiver down the spine on listening.  Its Celtic and Pagan roots are very prominent and enjoyable to witness.

Samhain

Is a dark and mysterious track that holds a rich and vibrant beauty caressing the senses with delicate voices and delightful Harp Ensemble? It really takes you back to glorious green mother earth. The tones are steeped in a soft haze that mirrors the reflection of a track that allows your mind to wander freely.

Midwinter Ghost

The delicate fingers of Joy Shannon gently glide over the strings of her harp like waves washing over a shoreline. The beauty of this track is very therapeutic and relaxing. It features backing vocals from Amelia Barron, guitar from Daryl Hernandez and bass from Andy Zacharias. It has a spellbinding effect that simply mesmerises the soul.

Imbolc – Invocation to Brighid

This is quite a short track compared with the last three. It conjures up images of a flickering fire and around it stands Brighid a Goddess in her own right. Backing vocals by Rachel Star Allbright.

Ostara – Blodeuwedd

A real awakening of the Spring Equinox this track is dream-like but highly intense, although it still has that delicate balance of sacred voice and strings.

The Fires of Beltane

Another poignant track that lifts the spirit to great heights.  It is deep and meaningful with clever use of instruments. It most definitely brings out the Celtic and Pagan spirits as the track unfolds.

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“It thoroughly embraces through balance and rebirth just as the seasons do – It is magic in its purest form!”

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Midsummer Witch Hunt

This track is dedicated to all the witches who died in the flickering flames for having a sixth sense. Being persecuted by people who did not have a connection to earth. It is an amazing song that really brings out the dark side and is deeply disturbing!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8japP08hj0

Midsummer Witch Hunt - A highly disturbing video!

Lughnasadh – Maeve, the one who intoxicates

Sending chills down the spine this song glides gently on an ambient bed of notes. The backing vocals of Amelia Barron are haunting. Joy’s voice being the most prominent are lilting and exquisite and between them and the music is one more intense track to behold.

Findulas

With vocal imagery this track is a beautiful love song although sad as you would expect! Love never runs smooth! Its melodic and vibrant tones gently graze the senses and are embracing. Traversing the monumental terrain it is yet another masterpiece of strings and haunting voices that leave their mark.

Mabon– Airmid, Bring back the dead

Another intensely rich track that connects to the soul with an abundance of deep tones and poignant notes that flourish with a new awakening.

Summary:

The whole album is rife with new awakenings and based on the Celtic calendar, going into detail of all Pagan holidays. It will bring you to the understanding that Mother Nature is never far away.

Mo Anam Cara translated means Spirit Guide (although in Irish it means Soul Mate) and is very apt for this album, as it does guide you through an intense journey. It awakens mind, body and soul. Although there are no raunchy tracks to be had here – there is little need for them as each track delivers pure magic through the vocal concentrate and diligently played strings alone.

It is persistent in guiding the listener and connecting them with what the earth represents in spirituality. Its essences are magical and will revitalise anything that lay dormant in the brain, although beware darkness appears around each corner so navigate well.

It thoroughly embraces through balance and rebirth just as the seasons do – It is magic in its purest form!

9½/10

Track List:

The Winds of Hel

Samhain

Midwinter Ghost

Imbolc – Invocation to Brighid

Ostara – Blodeuwedd

The Fires of Beltane

Midsummer Witch Hunt

Lughnasadh – Maeve, the one who intoxicates

Findulas

Maboh – Airmid, Bring back the dead

Members:

Joy Shannon – Celtic Harp/Cello/Vocals

Andy Zacharias – Stand-up Bass

Amelia Barron – Backing vocals on 3, 6, 7, & 8

Daryl Hernandez – Guitar on 1,2,3,6,7,8,9, & 10

Jon Zell – Guitar on 4 & 5

Rachel Star Albright – Backing Vocals on 4 & 5

Special thanks to Madeleine Baggins