My World of Music – est. 2013
'Leaves From Yesteryear' is the successful comeback of the Norwegian sound architects. The album, actually more of an EP, combines band history and present in an entertaining and impressive way. Welcome back.
Blazon Rite is a new metal outfit, hailing from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The band, including Pierson Roe (b), Ryan Haley (d), James Kirn (g) and Johnny Halladay (v), released a few weeks ago their first EP, a four-track record with pure underground metal. The album starts slow and with a cinematic intro, being the starting point... Continue Reading →
The importance of live shows and festivals can't be emphasized enough. Not only that these are the moment that bring metal to life, they are also initiator and motivator for some veteran bands to return onstage and maybe more. Tyrant, hailing from Pasadena, California, is one of these bands that had some first heydays in... Continue Reading →
Gus G. and Firewind have been in the business for 20 years now and after such a long time the guys release a self-titled new album, a new treat of melodic metal. 'Firewind' is like a kind of new beginning, considering the fact that long time member Bob Katsionis left the band and Henning Basse... Continue Reading →
Six songs, 13 minutes - that's hardcore and that's the newest release of Long Island, NY-based The Great Lie. Nearly two years after having released an EP entitled 'All Roads Lead to Where You Stand' the quintet returns with 'Defying Extinction'. The six tracks on this EP are like musical twisters and there is not... Continue Reading →
Blast Bomb stands for dirty and down-to-earth rock, spiced up with a strong pinch of a punk attitude. The first time I heard of Blast Bomb was when they opened for Life Of Agony last year in Hamburg. Due to a relatively late announcement as support and an early stage time, the guys had to... Continue Reading →
It is countless years ago that Naglfar released their latest studio album. 'Téras' escaped the purgatory in 2012 and since then there was not much new material of Naglfar's Swedish Black Metal to be heard. This is changing right now, because with 'Cerecloth' a new record is in the starting blocks. Naglfar's seventh album to... Continue Reading →
'Sanctuary' is an album, which shines by its intensity. The four danes manage to create sound collages which are dark and melancholic. On the other hand, they also manage to give the whole sound expression a certain lightness every now and then, which makes this longplayer to an interesting journey through varied worlds of gloom. I was impressed by 'Sanctuary' and maybe even a little bit of Danish happiness was spilling over to me.
I think that most people don't think of an acoustic album when reading 'Black Metal'. Black metal, that stands for Venom and their cult album and/or for a genre with all its gloom and musical purgatory. At least as far as darkness is concerned, the new Witchcraft album makes a good contribution to the grayer... Continue Reading →
'V' is a milestone album for the Colorado-based thrashers and it's on of the best thrash metal releases in years. What a pity that live shows are cancelled at the moment since I would love to see the band performing these songs live onstage. Two thumbs up.
The Alligator Wine is an outfit I can recommend to fans of well-crafted and melodic Rock music that comes with nuances and twists that not necessary follow the standard recipe. And it's exactly this divergence, being the extra spice that makes a difference.
You must have some qualities connected to your music if a guy like Matt Bayles (Masterdon, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam) takes care of the production of one of your albums. Greek 1000mods have this musical excellence and they reveal with 'Youth of Dissent' a new proof of work after a 4 years waiting period. 1000mods started... Continue Reading →
'Solitude in Madness' showcases a band that's as wild and fierce as they have been over the last 37 years. Vader didn't lose any of their intensity and power. No foot on the brake and no intention for compromising on aggressiveness, that's Vader. Together with an extremely well done production the longplayer is a real challenge for amplifiers and speakers. Now it's up to each of you if you accept the challenge.
Three years after 'Who Mourns for the Morning Star?' it is 'Age of Steel' that provides again hard-hitting Heavy Metal, music with an oldschool spirit and a modern production. Two thumbs up.
While other bands and labels partly postpone their new releases, Trivium and Roadrunner Records take another road. Matt Heavy and band mates release their new album as planned. In times of cancelled concerts and festivals it is a well-done step to keep fans optimistic, at least with new music, because what would the world be... Continue Reading →
Markus' Heavy Music Blog 