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Thursday, 20 August 2015

Raising the Veil - Bosonic Quantvm Phenomena - 11 Track Album - Released 23rd June 2015

Raising the Veil
Bosonic Quantvm Phenomena
11 Track Album
Released 23rd June 2015

A Phenomena of grand proportions!

Raising the Veil – Vienna, Austria

Links:

Genre: Technical Progressive Death Metal

Compactor of Structure
No messing about for this track as the impending sizzle kicks in and goes straight for the jugular in sweeping movements that are heavy and unbridled with a deep demonic passion. The spellbinding vocals entrap you in a scourging brutality while the music’s many attributes are compelling and full of raw emotion due to excessive shredding!

The Gravitation Mantra
The technical swathes of riffage continues with a snarling vocal that persistently hunts you down and devours vehemently. Definitely not for the faint of heart as the monumental structures reach an all-time high with blistering shredding and super caustic throaty lures.

Superdense Coding Schemes
Lowering the pace somewhat to a more manageable level – the guitar dominates with a beautiful magic that the ears savour, but almost in the blink of an eye it turns into a festering mass of pure and unbridled malignance that wallops the senses.

Qubit Computed Multiverse
This is a devilish master-piece that unleashes a total madness of raging keyboard like something from an old fashioned horror movie. It boasts clean singing but mainly low guttural snarling growls that will have you gasping for breath as there is no let-up from the provoking torrent that converges on the audial.

Dark Energy Cam
Aptly titled it broods a festering darkness that displays an equal amount of energy be it of the intense variety. Once more exploding into the realms of an arduous passage that is compelling and volatile.

The Emperors New Mind
The bristling melodic hues flow freely in a torrent of bedlamic proportions. Still infused with a superb flavour of passionate rhythms and shock absorbing low grizzles, collide into a soothing seduction.

Ekpyrotic Model Simulator
The metal brims over in this track as the meaty rhythms stack up to grand proportions with a strenuous vocal. The shredding is so sharp it almost shreds itself! The dynamism knows no bounds as the track continues either, venturing briefly into a more mellow moment that quickly twists back into a malignant haze.

Many Worlds Nostalgia
This is yet more quickening tempos that congeal into yet another thrilling encounter.  The technical rhythms play a dominating role injected with a stabbing drum beat and niggly hooks. It pans out into a dream-like haze of beauty that keeps the track levelled.

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“This album is so good it hurts!”
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Raising the Veil
This is another impacting track that seethes under its own weight.  Gathering momentum very quickly and runs with it to new heights. Sparking a typical Raising the Veil frenzy of utter madness - a caustic vocal in tow, keeping the track compelling and enthused with slithers of pure melodic rapture.

Keepers of Omniscience
The sampled voice sounds like a demented Dalek on drugs with a similar space-like theme attached to its dark core. The unruly freakish riffs rain down on a brutal overtone of harsh vocal and rips the speakers apart. The punishing rhythms are enjoyably raw and powerful. (Not sure the speakers feel the same way)

The Delegates
The final track sees the use of high screams and brutally low undertones with clean singing thrown in for good measure. The track changes direction to house another mellow moment before imploding into a solid mass of rebellion.

Summary:
When you hear the name Raising the Veil you have some idea of what lies ahead despite the unpredictability of the tracks they always showcase the brutal side along with more technical and mellow margins to the many sides of the coin.

RtV don’t have to explain themselves they just do what they do best and that is to present themselves in the best light (be it dark or light) as possible.

The boundaries are surpassed with ease – at least they make it seem that way! Their virulence melting with sultry hypnotising moments that compel and enthral with devious enterprise take you on a long and involved journey into the land of melodic progressiveness.

RtV know how to make an entrance memorable and noteworthy! Their sound is grazing and bounces with desirable temptation, sizzling past the ears but leaving a lingering intensity and tenacious voracity.

No stone is unturned with Rtv it is all-out antagonism and aggression with finer moments all meshed together so everyone gets that all-round experience.

This album is so good it hurts!

10/10

Track List;
Compactor of Structure
The Gravitation Mantra
Superdense Coding Schemes
Qubit Computed Multiverse
Dark Energy Cam
The Emperors New Mind
Ekpyrotic Model Simulator
Many Worlds Nostalgia
Raising the Veil
Keepers of Omniscience
The Delegates

Members:
George Misanthrope (ex-Miasma, Monument Of Misanthropy, Disfigured Divinity) Vocals
Daniel R."Shredding Demon" Mclellan (TDDP) Guitar
Denis "Gremlin" Landry (TDDP) – Bass
Romain Goulon (Necrophagist) – Drums
Aleksandar Sukovic - Guitar

Hiraeth - The World ends with you - 4 Track EP - Polymath PR - To be released 28th September 2015

Hiraeth
The World ends with you
4 Track E.P
Polymath PR
To be released 28th September 2015

The world ends with you - and begins with Hiraeth

Hiraeth – London

Links:
https://www.facebook.com/HIRAETHUK/timeline

Artwork by Helen Hebenton - Uncanny Designs,

Genre: Melodic Hardcore

Biography:
“Hailing from the suburbs of London, Hiraeth are quickly etching their name into the underground Melodic Hardcore scene with their debut 4 track E.P “The World ends with you”.



Combining high energy onslaughts in the vain of Gallows and infectious melodies that stand beside bands such as ‘While she Sleeps’ and ‘Defeater; Hiraeth are certainly on the brink of captivating a deprived audience across the UK.

With shows booked, people screaming their name in the right places and a feverish hunger for World domination; Hiraeth are set for big things. Keep your eyes peeled in 2015, as you’ve just met your next favourite band!”

Words to Echo
This is Hiraeth’s new single taken from the band’s debut E.P.  The haunting sounds are addictive from the off and will leave you in no doubt at all that these five musicians are serious about their art, making it creative and fuel-injected with slithers of melody. The sizzling vocals turn from high octane to low bristling growls and have that metal-core flavour attached to them, but you will be drawn to the beautifully sculpted guitar chords that nestle perfectly on the grazing vocal tones and make it very memorable indeed.

Barely Breathing (Feat: William Alex Young of Clockwork)
Wreaking havoc, this track is enlightening and invasive as it parades its perfectly toned body for all to see. The goose-bumps are ever present as it ravenously attacks with brutal harshness and unleashes its captivating melody. The scythes of emotion and imposing strength just keep firing from the speakers making you impulsively turn the volume up that little bit more until it surpasses 10 on the scale!

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“Hiraeth have weaved a heavy tapestry of sounds that embellish the ears and captivate with sheer aggression! Exceeding expectations this band notably are heading for stardom with this excessively dynamic EP!”
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Beside Me
Simply explodes and needs no coaxing in order to appreciate the magnitude of honed melodic prowess that brims over with a gripping proposal employing a rich and heady, groove infused choppy rhythm that sparks further temptation into an already persuasive track.

Walkers
(And - No this is not about the crisps!) The heavy melodic swagger teases and taunts with regular conviction as it steams its way ahead not only grazing but annihilating everything in its wake. The snarling vocals turn from high pitched to sweeping the depths with utter abandonment and sizzles in a festering haze.

Summary
Bang your head to this and you are likely to end up with concussion! Its damming torment is inescapable and insatiable to say the very least. The growling seduction is rife around every corner of its sharp and lingering creative style.

Accompanying the scathing brutish vocals are some beautifully delicious melodies that haunt and reflect a dark ambiance that is potent and toxic. The riffs are blinding as the bass is stirring, so the balance is right on all levels.

Hiraeth have weaved a heavy tapestry of sounds that embellish the ears and captivate with sheer aggression! Exceeding expectations this band notably are heading for stardom with this excessively dynamic E.P.

Remember the name Hiraeth as they are likely to be become a household name very soon after its release!

10/10

Track List:
Words to Echo
Barely Breathing Feat: William Alex Young of Clockwork)
Beside Me
Walkers

Members:
Charlie Clayton - Vocals,
Cohan Woods - Guitar,
Chris Everett - Guitar,
Pete Woolven - Bass,
Daniel Berkes - Drums



Screaming Beast - Assail and Conquer - 3 Track E.P - To be released 1st September 2015

Screaming Beast
Assail and Conquer
3 Track EP
To be released 1st September 2015



Screaming Beast – Manchester

Links:

Genre: Metal

Biography:
“The musical and vocal brainchild of Daniel Mucs of Collibus, Wolfcrusher, Dirty Habit and Not above Evil combined with Anton War, formally of Gridlocked. Groovy, aggressive, punchy, yet powerfully melodic!”



It is hard to imagine Anton minus Gridlocked as this was the band I first saw him exercise his vocal chords in at the Lomax in 2012. They appeared for Metal to the Masses and sadly didn’t win but the performance they gave was brutal.

However, ‘Screaming Beast’ scooped Anton up and they made use of his grazing vocal chords and released a debut E.P entitled ‘Blistering Lies’ in 2014 along with the golden fingers of Daniel Mucs.

This Dawn, this day
The squall of riffs open up this track and bludgeon the ears to death! It bounces emphatically to one conclusion that this is unmistakably ‘Metal’ in every sense of the word and it pulverizes with conviction.



Silent Submission
Is a powerful and gripping track that holds all the epic sounds and corrosive vocals providing an all-out barbaric onslaught that swaggers with immensity, and skilful addictiveness? That only makes you want more of the same.

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“It embraces with energy and imagination and doesn’t beat about the bush – it gets down to business with hammering seduction and bruises with dynamic devilry that is hard to ignore!”
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Giving into Fear
Is a dreamy haze of guitar that turns malignant as the track opens up and fires on all cylinders, hosting an excruciating chant-like vocal ensemble, and really notches up the ferocity in a heart-felt manner that epitomises the outstanding Screaming Beast set up.

Summary:
Going into this EP with your eyes and ears open to the brutish sounds that congeal around your listening devices is the only way to tackle such heaviness!

It embraces with energy and imagination and doesn’t beat about the bush – it gets down to business with hammering seduction and bruises with dynamic devilry that is hard to ignore.

Exhilarating and swift to blossom (if that is the right word) it has the balls and enthusiastic determination to be compelling and forthright!

My only ‘meh’ moment is it doesn’t last long enough – so I think the guys should seriously knuckle down and produce a full length album in order for people to truly get to grips with their impacting sound once and for all, instead of just teasing the masses.

Each track is raw and fuelled with delicious melodies of that there is no doubt but much more is needed in order to truly whet ones appetite!

9/10

Track List:
This Dawn, this day
Silent Submission
Giving into Fear

Members:
Anton War - Vocals
Troels Lehmann- Bass
Nicolai Lomholt - Drums
Daniel Mucs - Guitar

Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Pyogenesis - A Century in the Curse of Time - 8 Track Album - AFM Records - Released 14th August 2015

Pyogenesis
A Century in the Curse of Time
8 Track Album
AFM Records
Released 14th August 2015

Just out!

Written for Metal Gods Meltdown

Pyogenesis – Hamburg, Germany

Links:

Genre: Metal/Alternative

Biography:
Well this is what Wikipedia says about Pyogenesis. “Pyogenesis are a German band, based in Stuttgart that played different genre of music such as melodic Death Metal, Alternative Rock or Punk Rock during their career and are one of the originators of Gothic Metal in 1991/1992!”

Pyogenesis

I have to say that the band have certainly tried out their fair share of genres for sure since their creation way back in 1991. Hard to imagine the German scene back then (I was there in 1993/1994) but not in a music capacity.

The sampled voice on ‘Steam paves its way’ (The Machine) booms out in a drawl as the music then takes hold in a brutal death metal vein and then twists to reveal a more alternative flair and then back into a thunderous roar. Highly diverse and a thoroughly thrilling encounter.

‘A Love once new has grown’ is a savage attack on the audial flesh with engaging fret work and gravelled vocals as well as a glorious show of harmony. Its tempered beats are feisty and forthright and give it that hard edge.

‘This won’t last forever’ is a sea of choppy riffs and captivating beats that set the way for a heavy melodic weave that screams intensity and chomps on the ears. The vocals are far reaching and blessed with a dynamic tempting seduction.

‘The best is yet to come’ starts off with a lingering riff that unfolds into an epic array of music that swamps the audial like a big black cloak. It is a very melodic track with a soft rhythmic pull that unleashes an anthemic quality and the effects are well in keeping with the track. Superb!

‘Lifeless’ starts with a beautiful piano and then turns a corner into a dark void with heavy riffs and charmed vocal mesmerification. It’s another epic encounter that takes the listener into a shadowy world with lingering hooks and attention grabbing proposals that remain forceful until the end.

‘The Swan King’ is a mad rampage of stomping energy and crazed riffs with a steely beat to back them up. The high octane riffs shroud the ears and then the vocals kick in with a tempered show of clean vocal and intense rhythms.

‘Flesh n Hair’ is another all-round epic track that reaches for the sky and surpasses it. The harmonies bring the track alive in a blaze of lingering goose-bumps and a deeper vocal that strokes the ears emanating sonic intensity.

‘A Century in the Curse of Time’ Takes us on a stroll of strings and imaginative scenery with sizzling tempered harmonies although they only sing “Yeah!” there is that magic that oozes from the liquid vocal chords of the band and will spark a chain of events that result in a spine tingling saga.

Summary:
This is one finely tuned album that flourishes in a haze of beauty and enigma. While it can be classed as metal in places it is very alternative in others. There are lots of head back, eye closing moments, where you just want to be part of the tracks and engage in their never ending beauty as well as nestle into the deeper scathing routes that turn things on their head, but it all comes together in one amazing album that should only ever be savoured and not hurried!

It seems that Pyogenesis have stood the test of time and finally found a breakthrough genre that works.

10/10

Track List:
Steam paves its way (The Machine)
A Love once new has grown
This won’t last forever
The best is yet to come
Lifeless
The Swan King
Flesh n Hair
A Century in the Curse of Time

Members:
Flo V. Schwarz – Vocals/Guitar
Malte Brauer – Bass
Oliver Wiebe – Drums
Tim Asmodeus – Guitar/Vocals



Monday, 17 August 2015

Roadhog - The Victoria - Liverpool - 14.8.15

Roadhog
The Victoria
Liverpool
14.8.15



Roadhog – Liverpool

Links:

Genre: Bone-Crunching Classic Rock

The more Roadhog gigs you attend the more laughs you have! And that’s not just my opinion, it’s the truth!  Roadhog have a strong following of down to earth fans and of course some crazy off the scale ones too, but you can’t fail to love these guys as they churn out one classic rock track after the next and don’t forget the change of lyrics!

The Victoria Pub filled up rather quickly until you felt like a sardine, but looking around the venue there wasn’t one person who was not having a good time!

 Photo: Pagan Hel
 Photo by Katie Jane Craig
 Photo by Katie Jane Craig
Photo by Katie Jane Craig

Roadhog just give all round entertainment from start to finish, without not one track you can’t sing along to unless of course you are a teenager and then these tracks may probably go right over your head, but these tracks are what made rock music so likable, indeed memorable and now well known to all ages.

Roadhog really engage an audience so you feel like part of the set from the word go, and there are nearly always a lot on their feet making use of every available gap on the floor to dance in – no matter how small.

From The Georgia Satellites’ Battle Ship Chains to Foreigner’s Hot Blooded there is a lot to enjoy and with the good old banter that comes with Roadhog as their blistering two hour set seems to just whizz by, but there has never been a set go by without people shouting for more!

A surprising track Roadhog always play is Cameo’s Word Up – an R&B track first heard in 1986 on Top of the Pops – but the band add bits of their own so it doesn’t sound like the original and thankfully Graham doesn’t own a red cod-piece! – however, it never fails to get people up and shouting out the lyrics especially after Dial L for love to W A N K – ER, that always reaps the attention it deserves.

Ray is the newest member of the band and enthusiastically smashed his kit with vigor and energy that each track warrants, helped along by the flexible fingers of Kev on guitar who can apparently shred at 50 paces, Neil on bass who pulls a different face with each chord struck (watch out for that) and not to mention Graham’s well-oiled vocal racing between rock and blues. Roadhog pull together an amazing array of tracks that even though created by the backbone of yesteryear’s rock history, still manage to make each track their own with the added ‘new’ lyrics that Graham plucks from his head saying “Sorry my mic has Tourettes!”

https://www.facebook.com/gordon.mccarten/videos/1042429589103332/?pnref=story
Video by Gordon McCarten

Finally with Steppenwolf’s Born to be Wild for all the bands biker friends – you know that the Roadhog are on the last leg of their set and it is time to once more, hit the road.

Catch Roadhog at one or all of their next gigs:
Fox & Goose – Southport – 22.8.15
Wangies – Eccles – 30.8.15
Fleece – Ashton in Makerfield – 18.9.15

Members:
Graham Lee – Vocals
Kev McGinn – Guitar
Neil Humphrey – Bass
Raymondo Wong – Drums

A special mention for Sandra and Dave Flynn (and Annie) for their heartfelt words of encouragement. Les Brunskill for just being Les, Jane & Evie for their good company, and Katie for her photography skills, Gordon McCarten for the 2 minute video, Ian Rock Ruins (from Still Stones) and his Missus for taking time out to come and support the band. The staff at The Vic and of course to Roadhog for another great night’s entertainment!

 Katie & Me
Jane & Evie