Lamb of God - The Duke - 5 Track E.P - Nuclear Blast - Release Date: 18th November 2016

Lamb of God

The Duke

5 Track E.P

Nuclear Blast

Release Date: 18^th November 2016

Written for RAMzine

Lamb of God – Richmond VA

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/lambofgod

Genre: Metal

Lamb of God formed a blazing trail 15 years ago and have never looked back, and on their trail inadvertently sparked the so-called New Wave of American Metal from the start of the 21^st Century. Together this Virginian quintet both refined and redefined the conception of intensive brutal metal in the modern age.

In 15 years the band have made 7 Studio albums, Released 1 Live album, 1 Compilation album, 3 video albums, 12 music videos, 1 EP, and 9 singles, and now they have a new 5 track E.P out called The Duke.

Bands have all sorts of ideas and things that spark ideas when it comes to writing tracks, but maybe none as strange as writing some of the lyrics for the album VII ‘Sturm und Drang’ (To be released 24^th July 2017 via Epic Records USA and Nuclear Blast UK) while in prison accused of causing actual bodily harm to a fan at a LOG show in Prague in 2010, for which Blythe was later acquitted of all charges.

The first track on the EP is called ‘The Duke’ is a fresh approach from LOG sounding clearer and crisper, but still complex and distinct. ‘Culling’ is a wild and untamed composition with plenty of balls and something that isn’t uncommon from LOG at all. ‘Still Echoes’ is invasive and holds an extreme amount of toxicity, so much so it should carry a warning! ‘512’ was written while in the confines of a prison cell and obviously holds memories of a none too pleasant time in Blythe’s past, but dare I say it? It’s captivating! The rhythms are hearty and have an unquenchable thirst for sheer ferocity! ‘Engage the Fear Machine’ ends the EP on a high note, as its infectious encounter hits hard. The intense proposal of sound wallows in compelling character and essences that surge as it tightens its grip further on the aurals.

It is certainly another solid addition to their discography list, and will no doubt be a success for the band along with their new album Sturm und Drang (Storm and Stress) There is no doubt about it Lamb of God have got their feet firmly under the table and are looking stronger than ever, despite what life throws at them. With each year that flies by they remain one of the most influential bands on the metal scene today and it’s hardly surprising!

9.5/10

Track List:

The Duke

Culling

Still, Echoes Live from Rock Am Ring)

512 (Live from Bonnaroo)

Engage the Fear Machine (Live from Bonnaroo)

Members:

Randy Blythe - Vocals

Mark Morton - Guitar

Will Adler - Guitar

John Campbell - Bass

Chris Adler - Drums

Ion Dissonance - Cast the First Stone - 11 Track Album - Good Fight Music - Release Date: 21st October 2016

Ion Dissonance

Cast the First Stone

11 Track Album

Good Fight Music

Release Date: 21^st October 2016

Written for RAMzine

Ion Dissonance – Montreal, Canada

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/IonDissonanceOfficial

Genre: Metalcore

Well if you like the complete and utter extreme in all things metal you have come to the right place. Ion Dissonance is profoundly metal core. It will eat you alive from the inside out and is unmerciful as it spits out the bones! This nu-metal has always intrigued me when hearing it live. The roar of the vocals smothering the senses and make your ears bleed and there is no other feeling than that of sheer ecstasy as the brutal swathe of sounds hit with such ferocity it is like you have been run over by an express train! This album is one such album that forces its primal instincts onto you and never lets up for a second if it did you would feel disappointed!

Battering the senses to a pulp, its punishing routines are eager to commit murder in the highest degree, with scathing rancour and brutish energy! The unusual angular riffs on ‘To Expiate’ are sheer madness. There are no bridges to gap because it’s all contained in one fell swoop of GBH to the aural cavities. More resounding insanity pours from the speakers as the vicious onslaught continues in a seething proposal of snarling and evolving emotion. ‘Untitled II’ diverts its attention away from the brutality leaving a haunting and eerie infection of suggestive intrigue in our midst. The band don’t deviate far from their savage and emotionally charged encounters for long and revert back to their comfort zone of pure barbaric intent.

The onslaught continues with ‘III Will’ if you didn’t have a headache before you certainly will after listening to this, although it is well worth it because the intensity is what defines it a great album.

‘Treading on thin Ice’ is another battering ram of a track that if it was human would bleed profusely but not before bursting into flames first! Its rhythms are hearty and niggle with stirring inescapable sound. You can hear the roar of the bass as it engulfs the senses and devours with intent. ‘Virtue’ leaves nothing to the imagination apart from ripping your ears from your head and melting your face with unadulterated predatory discord and utter savagery! The final track offers no let up from its evil clutches and antagonises with spiced grooves of malice.

If you love being battered within an inch of your life by intense brutality then this is the album to own!

10/10

Track List:

Burdens

The Truth will set you Free

To Expiate

To life the dead hand of the Past

Untitled II

Suffering – the Art of letting go

III Will

D.A.B.D.A State of Discomposure

Treading on thin Ice

Virtue

Perpetually doomed the Sisy

Members:

Kevin - Vocals

Antoine - Guitar

Sebastien - Guitar

Dominic - Bass

Jean-Francois - Drums

Eternal Deformity - No Way Out - Temple of Torturous Records - Release Date: 18th November 2016

Eternal Deformity

No Way Out

7 Track Album

Temple of Torturous Records

Release Date: 18^th November 2016

Written for RAMzine

Eternal Deformity – Żory/ Sari/ Sarri/ Sohrau, Poland

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/eternaldeformity

Genre: Avant-garde, progressive, doom, gothic, death, deform and even black metal and Satan knows what else... btw: God's got pretty lost and confused!

Now it’s Poland’s turn to have a crack at the whip with an eclectic mix of genres all blending starting off with doom-laden melodies and eerie noises that haunt consistently! The second track sounds like the band have opted for a bit of black metal this time, although not in the usual vein but certainly with the vocal. The music then deviates into insane madness as the keyboards take hold and furthering on sounds gothic! As ‘Sweet Isolation’ begins it is obvious that the vocal sounds deranged and are along the lines of satanic black metal, however, there is a change of direction as they then divert to clean vocals that sound urgent and heartfelt, although the sudden change in direction is somewhat confusing. ‘Reinvented’ is a haunting eerie track that lasts a good 10 minutes plus and is an epic encounter, this time heading for death metal in the genre stakes, with fast-paced urgency and scathing lures. The keyboard plays a big part in adding depth and captivating infectiousness. ‘Mothman’ is stark and dream-like, its spindles of honed riffs coagulate into a mesmerising, seductive glow floating gently through a harsh beat, however, it holds imagination and is quite a hypnotic track. ‘Mimes, Ghouls and Kings’ offers a whispered vocal intensity amid a harsh and solid rhythm that brazenly turns heavier and blacker by the second. It’s quite a rugged composition, festering with sinister edginess and a vocal that would scare Satan himself! The track is over seven minutes long so giving the listener plenty of time to come to terms with its ever-changing adventures. ‘Glacier’ is another epic track with the focus being on the highly intense keyboard and underlying harshness of rhythms that twist and turn into something malignant. Vocally it is damning with lower than low toned growls that penetrate with eerie haunting keyboard noises that add spice to an already amazing track!

Although Eternal Deformity has problems deciding which genre they want to fall into, it isn’t a bad thing, as I feel they don’t want to be pigeon-holed allowing for far-reaching diversity which they have achieved make no mistake!

There is an excitement contained within the album, oozing from its highly strung tracks is an epic feel that does a lot to pique interest, adding to its ever-changing textures, so there really is a lot to savour on this album.

9.5/10

Track List:

I

Esoteric Manifesto

Sweet Isolation

Reinvented

Mothman

Mimes, Ghouls and Kings

Glacier

Members:

Przemysław Smyczek - Guitar

Przemysław Kajnat – Bass/Vocals

Piotr Rokosz – Keyboards/Vocals

Arkadiusz Szymuś - Guitar

Tymoteusz Ciastko - Drums

Broker - Quixota - 9 Track Album - Smalltown America - Release Date: 21st October 2016

Broker

Quixota

9 Track Album

Smalltown America

Release Date: 21^st October 2016

Written for RAMzine

Broker – Brighton, UK

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/BrokerUK/

Genre: Hard Core/Math Core

Talk is a real vehement track with its Math Core haunting every angle. The deliberating melody is quick to add in an unusual flavour along with the controlling vocal edge that is mean and untamed. Eau De Vie has a natural bounce that is quick off the mark and literally screams vengeance for its sins! Quixota has a sneaky melody running through its veins that hold plenty of fuelled aggression and possesses an addictive quality. Torso, the Idol one cannot help but feel the tongue in cheek vibes reading this title, well Metal heads usually don’t hide their sense of humour especially when writing tracks and it would seem that this one is no exception to the rule! Although it does seem rather flat in comparison to the previous tracks… Yoghurt there’s that sense of humour again! This it would appear is a very angular and screechy, it doesn’t sit well on the ears vocally, although the sneaky rhythms do redeem the track somewhat.

What the Contestants don’t know is another rowdy composition that is irritable and cranky, no other words can describe it, and it is only a filler track of one minute twenty-nine seconds! The Grass is always greener in Kreuzberg whether it is or it isn’t I will take the band's word for it. The maniacal vocal rantings are loud and brash accompanied by some superb drumming. Increasing in venomous rancour the track has some good moments that pique with excellent and impressive melody. Miller possesses more sneaky little choppy melody but it sounds like the groove is stuck! This slow amble is not a very interesting track for sure and sounds like nobody is enjoying themselves. White moves back into its comfort zone pronto! It invites a strange madness that is quite riveting along with a hellish rhythm that douses the flames nicely, although the excitement is somewhat short lived with a vocal that slips into a black hole!

This is a rather strange album that can in one breath excite and at the same time, I am sorry to say bores. The melodies when they strike are the bands redeeming feature, but sometimes vocally it sounds like they are suffering from a devilish hangover as on ‘White’ and ‘Torso, the idol’ is flat and wouldn’t win any prizes for being particularly exciting so it is a real push me pull you of an album!

6/10

Track List:

Talk

Eau De Vie

Quixota

Torso, the Idol

Yoghurt

What the Contestants don’t know

The Grass is always greener in Kreuzberg

Miller

White

Members:

Duncan Harrison - Guitars/Vocals

Laurence Tritton - Bass/Vocals

Mark Roberts - Drums/Vocals

Black Orchid Empire - Archetype - 13 Track Album - The Record Label - Release Date: 11th November 2016

Black Orchid Empire

Archetype

13 track Album

The Record Label

Release Date: 11^th November 2016

Written for RAMzine

Black Orchid Empire - London

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/blackorchidempire/

Genre: Rock

Black Orchid Empire lure you into this false sense of security, starting off with a very soft take on things that make you think ‘lame’ and then what kicks in is a very haunting rhythm that is purely addictive. The harmonies are tempered and really superb. Black Orchid Empire certainly seem to have a lot of tricks up their sleeve, managing to produce a good solid chugger on ‘God is Awake’ reaping its reward for being catchy. ‘Here’s to you’ offers a very run of the mill track that sounds quite mainstream although the lyrics are heartfelt – magically, it turns everything on its head and opts venomous, goes to show you can’t trust anything in this game! ‘This City’ again sounds quite tame but I am not falling for this again and so sitting back and waiting for the ferocity to kick in – perhaps this is where the band have the last laugh!

‘Melancholia’ is what it says on the label so I doubt there will be any surprises here.

‘Rabbit in a Snowstorm’ sounds more like bees in a honeypot! But at only 35 seconds long can’t think why the band have put this on their album as a filler at all. ‘Riches and Rags’ are pretty much the same with their lure of kicking things up a notch but returning to their softer roots, although far too mainstream for me to enjoy fully. ‘Riff of Death’ finally something to really get your teeth into. With a great fast pace and the sound of urgency with great rhythms pulsing through its veins, it has to be my favourite track! ‘Speed of Sound’ doesn’t really get off the ground so to speak, staying grounded and quite melancholy. ‘Walking Disaster’ is quite unusual, as it holds some superb vocals and riffs which pique the interest and catchy for its sins! ‘Medicine’ possesses some thunderous riffs, a solid beat and feisty rhythms along with strong harmonies helped along by a meaty chug – perhaps another favourite on the album?  ‘Mountain’ is quite soft in approach and almost dreamy – predictable, if you like. ‘Ended up like this’ drags its feet in a very hap-hazard way and is yet another unnecessary filler.

This slips into far too many strolls and not enough cantors for me, with an odd couple of tracks that go all out to please! Blowing more cold than hot for me.

6/10

Track List:

Come in

God is Awake

Here’s to you

This City

Melancholia

Rabbit in a Snowstorm

Riches and Rags

Riff of Death

Speed of Sound

Walking Disaster

Medicine

Mountain

Ended up like this

Members:

Paul Visser – Vocals/Guitars

Dave Ferguson – Bass/Vocals

Billy Freedom - Drums

The Original Cruisers - Christmas Toy Run - Southport - 20th November 2016

The Original Cruisers

Christmas Toy Run

Southport

20^th November 2016

Yes, it is that time again. The time when bikers get together and make a truly awesome effort to bring smiles to the faces of disabled children by donating hundreds of toys to the Springbrook home in Southport, and in charge of it all was Charlie and Jan Brown of the Original Cruisers.

Just a little note from Adam & Co:

Who knew that in the planning of this event that it was going to be so amazing. A massive thank you to Zoe Stanmore and Janet at Dobbies for asking us to bring Santa in, in style. A huge thank you to the clubs Cat Mcc, Millenium Mcc, Southport Coasters and friends of the Original Cruisers who took the time out for a few hours to be a part of it. Huge thank you to Sonja Alker for bringing the amazing Trike out to make sure Santa had a safe arrival. Leaving Dobbies to make the annual journey to Springbrook Children's Home in Ainsdale, we had a car full of toys to donate to the children, their faces were a picture. The Original Cruisers would like to thank all that took part for making it something great yet again. Thank you and we hope you all have a Merry Christmas.

The Bikes started off the run and then cars were added at Dobbie’s Garden Centre where lots of things were happening. People dressed in various outfits, Donkey rides, gift stalls and more – it was certainly the hive of activity and a great place to meet up before heading off on the procession.

The place was heaving with people all buying presents for loved ones and friends it was an amazing sight.

After meeting up, and bikes and cars decorated we all set off just after midday – the long winding procession began and the sun shone down on us all. As we made our way to Springbrook, disaster struck as some inconsiderate driver pulled in front of us and we got caught at some traffic lights and watched as the last biker turned a corner and disappeared from view.

As the lights changed we turned the corner but everyone had vanished so we had to try and follow as best we could, however, Darren Oc was travelling behind with Jackie and Leanne so after some phone calls we finally caught up with the procession outside Springbrook, much to all our relief.

 Outside Springbrook Children's Home

Charlie & Jan's Bike

 Graham RoadKing and Mick Cook

The toys were carried into the house and laid out on a table and everyone was given either a hot or cold drink, whichever they preferred and caught up with various friends to discuss the ride.

Some of the children were already eyeing up the toys and some were even playing with them, but you couldn’t blame them really!

Photographs were taken of the riders and the children outside the home, and then it was time to head back to the Falstaff for another catch-up.

The Falstaff Pub was warm and inviting as always and everyone took to a corner and discussed the day’s events.

At the Falstaff

A warm and special thanks, to the lovely Mr Graham Roadking Oc for allowing me to get my leg over his Harley Davidson Bike! That meant a lot! 

 I could get used to this....

Me and Mr Roadking

Awesome meeting up with Charlie Brown Oc, Jan Brown Oc, Adam Brown Oc, Tracey Oc, Amy Longworth Oc, Hana Doyle, Steve Barfoot, Leeanne New, Jackie Meadows Oc and Loraine Latham and Billy.  Mick Cook Oc and Darren Oc. Love you people! And a special hug for my Oggy for taking the photo's and for getting us to the venue! x

--------------------

The next toy run is on the 4^th December and I believe a much larger event than last year with floats, buses and cars. Adam Brown certainly knows how to throw an event. Already the Brown household is filled to the brim with donations from willing participants and there's still more to be added.

The atmosphere for these toy runs is just phenomenal. Everyone gets involved and works hard to achieve the best possible time for these deserving children and it is a pleasure to be a part of it.

Please do what you can, if it is donating gifts or just turning out to see the procession – do your bit! It all adds to the magic of Christmas!

 PS: Hope Adam Brown is feeling a lot better today after suddenly being taken ill at The Falstaff. Speedy recovery Adam x (I do love you more!) x

Roadhog - Live @ The Victoria - Woolton - 19th November 2016

Roadhog

Live @ The Victoria

Woolton

19^th November 2016

Roadhog – North West

links:

https://www.facebook.com/Roadhog-Classic-Rock-Band

Members:

Graham Lee – Vocals

Kev McGinn – Guitar

Neil Humphrey – Bass

Pete Almond – Drums

After being unable to attend the Fox and Goose in Southport last week, due to chronic back pain, I made a concerted effort to attend The Victoria gig and was so pleased I did. On entering the venue I was approached by a guy named Pete who manages the Vic about seating and a table, (as the high stools and tables are just inaccessible for me – being a short-ass) and was placed right at the front of the stage, as we all know the Fox and Goose isn’t exactly made for comfort, but having a table and comfortable chair made all the difference.

Due to the location of the venue, nestled between residential accommodation, it isn’t a late gig, finishing at 11pm, but Roadhog more than filled the time with some classic tracks from the past.

The band started their set with some lighter tracks like Sweet Home Alabama, I just wanna make love to you and Tush, just to lull the crowd into a false sense of security J and then when the second set began they went head first into the nitty gritty and rocked the pace up, which always works!

Everyone was happy and contented and joined in the ensuing banter that usually follows between tracks. Roadhog are famed for doing it and it’s a good move – nobody feels left out at one of their gigs for sure.

With just a quick five minute break the band were back on the small stage at the Vic and bombarding the audience with some powerful renditions of songs from yesteryear.

Oggy tried his best not to swear, but in usual Oggy mode a few little un-savouries passed through the mic that apparently suffers from Tourette’s - much to the delight of the audience, but let’s face it, Oggy without swearing is like fish without chips, and anyway, we all expect it now! Plus the obligatory changing of the lyrics to certain songs such as Hot Blooded, Whisky in the Jar and of course Alright Now, when the band stop playing as Oggy reveals the words “and I rubbed my nob all over her face!” Even I find it difficult remembering the right lyrics once the band start playing those tracks.

The audience always gets a good ear bashing at a Roadhog gig but together they make a good strong formidable team.

With time running out the band changed a few tracks to allow for a couple of requests from the ever-eager audience and quite unusual for them nobody was dancing although space was at a minimum, however for the final track Born to be wild which is always played in honour of bikers everywhere, the rule was broken and two women immediately took to the floor and went wild! Especially when the mic was handed to them to join in the chorus! A great end to the night!

~~~~~~~~~~

 Jane - Thanks for your continued support and friendship

Neil and Jan - Glad you are an item now! It's official x

Special mentions to Pete the Manager of the Vic for sorting out the table and chairs, Jane Craig for instigating everything beforehand, so the night was made a lot more relaxed and comfortable, plus the bar staff at the Vic, Neil Hastie and Jan Hull for their stories and banter which made the night a lot funnier, more than usual, and travelling the furthest to see the band – we love you both! Sandra and Dave who always make a concerted effort to come and support the band, and to the Physiotherapist who offered help at the end of the night with my stick – much appreciated. And also to the rest of the punters who stayed until the very end and joined in.  Not forgetting Roadhog for putting on another fun filled night’s entertainment that we all enjoyed immensely! Cheers Oggy, Kev, Neil and Pete.