Helpless - Debt - 10 Track Album - Holy Roar Records - Release Date: 8th September 2017

Helpless

Debt

10 Track Album

Holy Roar Records

Release Date: 8^th September 2017

Written for RAMzine

Helpless – Plymouth UK

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/pg/helplessnoise

Genre: Metal Punk Whatever

The whatever bit the band have labelled their genre as had me thinking, it sounds very experimental meaning ‘anything goes’ and the band have certainly captured a ‘ruptured spleen’ sort of sound but I can’t help feeling attracted towards it – maybe it is because I love something quirky and extreme and they hit the mark on both accounts. For me it is the seething that is soothing, yes, call me a freak, I don’t care, but this album really hits the mark for being more metal, less punk. Never heard punk sung like this before anyway! All the tracks from ‘Worth’ to ‘Denied Sale’ bring an extreme pounding to the brain that should not be ignored – hard to ignore this band – that has to be said but my only negative comment is that although a lot of hard work has gone into producing this mega 10 track album the tracks do sound very similar, now that’s OK for me having the track titles in front of me but for someone who hasn’t it would be hard to distinguish one track from another.

I love the band's album cover as well, so thought that should get a mention simply because it is different and quite disturbing in its own way. It is what looks like a head that is covered with a hood but inside the hood has no face it portrays a darkness and light. The light is foreboding and the dark speaks for itself, but yes it spells danger to me and something that you wouldn’t want to see when the lights go out put it that way.

I absolutely love ‘Helpless’ (not being helpless though that is awful) but this kind of helpless is wild and untamed, the music is brittle and shatters your ears without a doubt. The experimental side clearly shows the band as just wanting to ‘let rip’ and do whatever they feel is right at the time. There is a pattern but it is always barbed with pure evil and extreme malice.

Do I have a favorite track? That is a difficult question as with each one I have listened to they all appeal in various ways, shapes, and forms and bring something disturbing to the ears so there is a lot to be observed on this album, although if like me you love something extreme and to the point, it will appeal more.

10/10

Track List:

Worth

Out of Commission

Grief Vultures

Moral Bankruptcy

Sertraline

Weightless Prayers

Ceremony of innocence

Sinkhole

Manufactured Consent

Denied Sale

Line up:

Steve

Rusty

Dan

Faces of the Bog - Ego Death - 7 Track - DHU Records - Release Date: 22nd September 2017

Faces of the Bog

Ego Death

7 Track

DHU Records

Release Date: 22^nd September 2017

Written for RAMzine

Faces of the Bog – Chicago, Illinois

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/facesofthebog

Genre: Psyche, Doom, Sludge, Stoner

Biography:

Acid soaked sludge

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The reason I picked this album was for a few reasons actually first of all their name ‘Faces in the Bog’ conjured up a lot of strange imagery. Secondly the description: A grueling, harrowing, disturbing yet fulfilling album, and the title of the band’s 7 track E.P Ego Death. So with all that in mind it was a no brainer and some things like that you just have to check out for yourself, and so far so good, it is definitely soaked in sludge for sure as ‘Precipice’ reaps havoc on the ears.

‘Drifter in the Abbey’ literally sends chills down your spine with its heavy and spontaneous groove. The vocals are abhorrent and chilling but great to hear in an acid soaked sludge dominated encounter. Oh yes, this definitely fulfills all your most twisted and evil thoughts all in one go!

‘Slow Burn’ is exactly what it says but the vocals take on a more mainstream presence which doesn’t do it for me – although Mark doesn’t let me down as in places and briefly that screech is once again resurrected to its limits, but not a song I would listen to over and over again much preferring Drifter in the Abbey.

‘The Serpent and the Dagger’ is a twisted combination of heavy doom and sludge reminding us of how a snake makes its way to its prey sneakily on its belly with its tongue sliding in and out of its mouth. Although the serpent is silent this track is harrowing but the vocals once more reveal a more normal mainstream style letting it down somewhat.

‘Ego death’ come on guys not got all night! Oh well, this is not what I expected at all.

‘The Weaver’ kicks with vengeance and wakes the slumbering reviewer from the previous track where not much was happening to a slight lull before the vehemence attacks the ears but then returns to a gloomy side however still quite entertaining.

‘Blue Lotus’ waiting with anticipation at what will be thrown at me next and so far that is a bass lick with some background noise that is hardly grueling, harrowing or disturbing.

In places this E.P really excels and then it has its disappointing moments and when they strike they are extremely disappointing. I really was expecting a lot more from ‘Faces in the Bog’ but think it is time to get out the disinfectant.

7/10

Track List:

Precipice

Drifter in the Abbey

Slow Burn

The Serpent and the Dagger

Ego Death

The Weaver

Blue Lotus

Line-up:

Paul Bradfield - Bass

Danny Garcia - Drums/Percussion

Mark Stephen Gizewski - Guitars/Vocals

Trey Wedgeworth - Guitars/Vocals

Eaten - ST - 19 Track Album - Give Praise Records - Release Date: 18th August 2017

Eaten

S-T

19 Track Album

Give Praise Records

Release Date: 18^th August 2017

Written for RAMzine

Eaten – Worcester/Cape Cod MA

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/eatengrind

Genre: Grindcore

Typical grind core that will eat you alive and only lasts a few minutes for you to get your lugholes round at times, but doesn’t everyone like grind core? Maybe not, it is very eye opening and jaw dropping the first time you experience it but seen live there is no going back – the anger, the hatred is all mixed into the tracks and it flows into people watching who are unaware of what it is doing to them. I have seen a few grind core bands in my time and felt the mood swings from normal to extreme volatile aggression as the music hits like a baseball bat and yet I don’t want to kill anyone but I want to express the emotion the music puts me through. Like with most grind core bands their tracks are shorter than an Atheists prayer and have rather disturbing and or funny track titles but always played seriously and to the very core of their being.

With grind core, you always get a lot of tracks to review but they make it difficult as the track you like sometimes only last a few seconds and then they leave you in this kind of limbo world where you have to play the track again or just move on to see how long the other ones last. No idea why this short track feature occurred, maybe singing in that growling style is hard to do for the normal width of a track – I know I couldn’t do it without coughing my lungs up so maybe that’s why, or it could be the band want to give quantity for people’s money, maybe one day I will find out, but for now I need to focus.

The band's album cover is as weird as you would expect, but leaves a lot for the mind to process. Depicting a man in the shadows being attacked by some strange looking sort of snake like things that have already bound his hands, difficult to tell whether he is outside or inside judging by the buildings in darkness it could be outside. He is clearly being controlled by these creatures, making it look quite disturbing. There are some discs which say to me he is trapped somewhere strange and there are a few bones in the picture which also suggests these snake like creatures are going to have him for breakfast!

10/10

Track List:

Bloodline

Deranged

False Teeth

Numb Mentality

Dispute

Fault Cycle

Bound

Unpleasant Disturbance

Swarm

Hunger

Religion Discomfort

Anthracosis

Ophidiophobia

Primal population

Dishonour

Pathway

Universal Plague

Line-up:

Tim

Andy

James

Dom

Der Weg Einer Frieheit - Finnisterre - 5 Track E.P - Season of Mist Records - Release Date: 25th August 2017

Der Weg Einer Freiheit

Finnisterre

5 Track E.P

Season of Mist Records

Release Date: 25^th August 2017

Written for RAMzine

Der Weg Einer Freiheit – Würzburg, Freiburg, Düsseldorf

(The way of Freedom)

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/derwegeinerfreiheit

Genre: Metal

Biography:

In August 2014 DER WEG EINER FREIHEIT signed a deal with French label Season of Mist and is about to record the highly anticipated follow-up to 2012’s “Unstille” at Ghost City Recordings, Germany.

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Oh, the awesome German accent comes from the speakers along with a strange doomy sound and then simply explodes into a head decapitating savagery! Living up to its title ‘Departure’ or if you prefer ‘Aufbruch’ but you can’t go anywhere until you have been completely mauled by the typically insane screech and out of this world musical composition that will leave you astounded!

There is a lot going on, on this E.P it starts with doom and gloom, it has a black metal feel that surrounds it and some sad lyrics as in ‘Ein Letzter Tanz’ and for those unfortunate not to understand Deutsch means ‘a last dance’ it is an oppressive track that will no doubt leave you feeling glum.

‘Skepsis Part I’ is a flamboyant magnitude of sounds that go all out to prod you in the right direction if you enjoy something meaty and harsh! It is a very substantial track that leaves no stone unturned and is as skeptical as you like! The second part of this track ‘Skepsis Part II will make your hair either curl or fall out altogether as it adapts to a demonic brush with the spiritual world as there can be nothing like this in the real world. It's blackened roots spread like a vicious virus and will consume all in seconds.

The final track ‘Finisterre’ is another back biting bit of black metal that takes a short while to come into true focus but when it does it isn’t gloomy or doomy it is good old head walloping stuff that is catchy as and the vocals boom intensely in what I would call a black metal framework.

It is a very interesting E.P that allows for a lot of head mashing creativity and heavily influenced by black metal in my opinion so should not just be regarded as metal – this E.P has a lot of balls and believe me when I say they use them to their fullest capacity

It must be rewarding doing vocals on this level without coughing or choking – but Nikita Kamprad makes the whole affair seem so simple as the final track slows to its finish it becomes apparent that for a short while they are returning to their doom roots but a surprise is in store as it suddenly explodes into a furious ending but its sound is sophisticated, spellbinding and definitely, so brutally intense.

10/10

Track List:

Aufbruch

Ein Letzter Tanz

Skepsis Part I

Skepsis Part II

Finisterre

Line Up:

Nikita Kamprad - Vocals, Guitars

Tobias Schuler - Drums

Sascha Rissling - Guitars

Nico Ziska - Bass

Crimson Star - Bay View - 5 Track E.P - Self-Released - Release Date: 23rd October 2017

Crimson Star

Bay View

5 Track E.P

Self-Released

Release Date: 23^rd October 2017

Written for RAMzine

Crimson Star – Birmingham, West Midlands

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/thecrimsonstarmusic

Genre: Hard Rock

If there is one description that hits the nail on the head with Crimson Star, it must be the words hard rock but also add in melodic as ‘The Pragmatist’ begins. It's bludgeoning melodic encounter is not only pumping magic but it blows your mind into a pleasurable void as you listen to the hard hitting bass and seamless shredding – this is mighty powerful stuff!

Another keen and eager smashing track is the feisty ‘La Prom’ it holds a superb magnetic pull that allows the listener to wallow in its glory as it is pumped from the speakers and embeds itself into the ears with a badgering force with oodles of charisma.

‘Once’ is yet another ear bashing tale of rock and heavy vibes but has a lot more mainstream vocal at the start, however, it isn’t all low key which is a good thing as I love something with a crazy beat – something move to and this one is growing on me at fast rate.

‘Euthanize Me’ starts with a sneaky bass and then some Thunderstruck smacks on the drums, but then the temperature drops slightly to show diversity but soon picks up and raises the heat once more, however, I am not a fan of the low key moments they appear a bit miserable truth be known.

Finishing off this 5 track E.P is the track ‘Gimme some’ which the band do with no exceptions and adding a keyboard into the mix which lifts the melodic temperature to very hot indeed!! Loving this track as it throws itself into some kind of raging oblivion – the gravelly vocals simply make this track stand out as being superb!

The hardest thing to bear on this E.P despite track 4 being a bit miserable, although with a title of Euthanize me it probably isn’t too difficult to understand why the band has opted for a lower key, but the rest of the E.P is hard rock grit and determination that kicks like an angry mule!

I was quite surprised they came from the West Midlands thinking they would come further afield like America so it is good that we have not lost all talent for hard rock in the UK, although somehow some bands further afield sound more polished and rehearsed. However, this is one UK band that does possess true grit and determination and can stand behind their genre proudly.

9/10

Track List:

The Pragmatist

La Prom

Once

Euthanize me

Gimme some

Line up:

James Shaw – Vocals/Guitar

Ross Edgington - Drums

Roj Ash - Bass

Black Cat Bones - Down to the River - 5 Track E.P - Broken Road Records - 29th September 2017

Black Cat Bones

Down to the River

5 Track E.P

Broken Road Records

29^th September 2017

Written for RAMzine

Black Cat Bones – Liverpool

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/BlackCatBonesUK

Genre: Hard Rock

Biography:

If there was ever a single band to prove that hard rock is still alive and well, it’s Black Cat Bones" - Head Banger Reviews.

Formed in 2013 Black Cat Bones quickly became one of the most exciting bands on the Liverpool music scene, playing The Cavern Club and the O2 Academy for the first time that same year, and not for the last time, they feature as regular support slots for touring bands. Quickly filling headline shows their exciting live performance was soon backed by their debut EP False Promises & Wasted Time, which was given rave reviews from notable colleagues such as The Answer and Bumblefoot, formerly of Guns N Roses, who said: "enjoyed your songs on sound-cloud, keep it up!"

The band has since started to build up a strong fan base across the UK playing gigs in Manchester, Blackpool, Leeds, Sheffield and London’s famous Tin Pan Alley to name but a few. Being booked to support Nazareth and The Quireboys, Black Cat Bones have also been booked to play festivals around the UK such as Preston’s Rock Fest Boltfest and Bickerstock. With the energy that they bring to the stage, style, passion and rip-roaring guitars and vocals Black Cat Bones are surely one to watch and definitely not to be missed live.

The band’s debut EP will be re-released along with their 2nd brand new EP "Down To the River" in late 2016 by Broken Road Records.

~~~~~~~~~~

Strange how things happen isn’t it? In two days exactly it will be four years ago to the day that I saw Black Cat Bones for the second time at the Zanzifest, the first time was at Metal goes Mental 12^th July 2013 also at the Zanzibar in Liverpool. Both times the band made their mark and how with their Southern blend of hard rock. I think that was the last time I saw BCB as I sort of pulled away from the Liverpool scene as it was a lot easier at the time for reasons I won’t go into, but I do remember the band being great to watch live. Which prompted me to ask for their 5 track E.P to see how far they have come in five years!

I noticed that Jay Lashbrook isn’t with the band anymore and been replaced by Adam Kerbache. Smacking the first track on the player ‘Seen better days’ I can hear a more polished act. The guitars and drums rock with heaviness while Jonnie’s voice feels stronger - great start to the E.P

The charisma of the band is still there and grown to bigger proportions not surprising with the characters in the band as Jonnie’s voice is perfect for this blend of rock and I know Ash of old on drums.

The thing that throws me a bit is why they left it four years to release their E.P? 

‘Lust’ is such an amazing track and like the first track leaves nothing from the mix.

‘Give you the World’ is another slinky track that just has the feet tapping and the head moving. The harmonies are superb! Certainly, a very forthright track that goes far in my estimation.

‘Better the Devil’ has that hard edge that pushes it toward a more ruthless conquest with brutal lyrics with a thunderous musical story behind it.

‘The River’ holds on to its electrical menace that sparks off some fantastic harmonica with a rough and ready glaze of melody that chips away at your defense.

It is safe to say that Black Cat Bones have not dropped down a peg or two but certainly pulled themselves up to their career ladder by a few notches.

It is great that the band have left the oppressive confines of Liverpool and are playing different areas and of course gaining new fans along the way. Awesome, absolutely awesome!

9/10

Track List:

Seen better days

Lust

Give you the World

Better the Devil

The River

Line-up:

Jonnie Hodson - Lead Vocals / Harmonica

Alan Rimmer - Lead Guitar / Rhythm Guitar

Adam Kerbache - Rhythm Guitar / Lead Guitar / Backing Vocals

Ash Janes - Drums / Backing Vocals

Jamie Hayward - Bass / Backing Vocals