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Watch Black Label Society Perform a Rare Ozzy Osbourne Cover
They haven't played this one in over 20 years. Continue reading… -
EP REVIEW: Bloody Vengeance – Stuka Deathstrike
Bloody Vengeance from Germany take their name from one of my all-time favourite records. Their prior releases are superb and their live shows are lethal. Now they return with a new EP which Nuclear War Now Productions will unleash on the 30th of April. Combining black, death and thrash metal; especially of the South American vein; this is a band for underground maniacs.
Storming into life with a blitzkrieg of hammering drums and maniacal guitars, Bloody Vengeance make their presence known and they will not be taking prisoners. The militant, Brazilian-style metal fills the air with the musk of warfare noise and bestial devastation. The clear-cut riffing is brutal and the snappy drum sound ensures all rhythmic artillery is felt at high calibre. From ballistic guitars to heavy shelling from the percussion, this is truly exceptional and intense material that has one of the best mixes for the band to date; allowing you to truly feel the bombastic vitriol at full capacity. The clarity of the drumming and bass is absolutely pulverising and hugely boosts the elite sound of this killer band. These first two tracks will certainly maul you without mercy.
I think the unexpected moment for many will be the third track “White Clouds”. After the Teutonic steel of “Stuka Deathstrike” and “Messerschmitt Massacre” which are both unfaltering storms of death, there is something that is very different about this third track. The musicianship is strong, the idea and concept are cool, but it has a more cinematic feel to it. I am not sure it’s quite up there with the others for me, but it’s an interesting new angle for the band and definitely still keeps the wartime spirit of the record at its heart and the drumming on this is wicked! Now let’s get onto the finale. “Raging Death” could not be more appropriately named. Ending in a hammer blow of total visceral carnage, this song is a perfectly explosive final bout for the Bloody Vengeance crew and a real highlight from the band. From marauding grooves to all-out mayhem, this EP has plenty to offer in its short running time and is a defiant statement to continue the legacy of Bloody Vengeance as we eagerly await the next album. Though this is no mere teaser, a fierce and worthy release in its own right.
Only four songs in little over twenty minutes and yet so much ferocity, force and violence is packed into this short release. The three more extreme pieces are a perfect example of Bloody Vengeance’s top-shelf ability to concoct fearsome metal savagery and the more unusual “White Clouds” speaks to their dexterity. Personally for me this song held the EP back a little bit in terms of momentum, especially due to its length, but otherwise this is a brilliant release. The other three songs, however, are absolutely ruthless. Hearing more from Bloody Vengeance is always something I welcome and the excellence of their 2014 and 2023 albums is still audibly strong. “Ruído de Guerra” especially is a pinnacle of this sound in recent times for me. Anyways, back to the new EP, it is certainly a worthwhile assault of militant metallic warfare. Apparently this is to bridge the gap until their next full length, something I am very excited for, and I am glad to have this shorter campaign to keep the battle going until its arrival.
Rating: 8 out of 10.
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30 of the Best Rock Covers by Women
A playlist in honor of International Women's Day. Continue reading… -
“There was a lot of violence. We were fighting off stage moshers, people were running in and crashing into us. Those were violent times”: How a “desperate” band dived into Egyptian myth and made the album that reinvented death metal in the 21st century
The story of Nile’s monstrous Black Seeds Of Vengeance -
Album Review: Lamb of God – Into Oblivion
Album Review: Lamb of God – Into Oblivion
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
This is a motherfuckin’ invitation! The only one you could ever need!
That’s right, Lamb Of God are back with their tenth studio album “Into Oblivion”. A band who have toured across the globe and who’s impact on the world of metal cannot be understated. Having achieved pretty much everything to achieve, where do Lamb Of God go from here? Especially with guitarist Mark Morton stating that there isn’t ‘really much that’s out of bounds for us creatively’, hinting at a band who may have exhausted their creative capacity. Sometimes musicians need a moment to reflect on where they’ve come from to know where they are. Which is why Lamb Of God outlined that they’ll be paying homage to bands that influenced them from the local Richmond, Virginia scene of the early 90s. In addition, Mark adds rather succinctly that they want to write music ‘that we think is cool’ without what they consider to be the external pressures and influences that detract from their artistic vision. How will all of this manifest on “Into Oblivion”? Let’s find out…
The album’s title track ‘Into Oblivion’ kicks things off with a blistering statement. The guitars sharp yet melodic and inviting, sitting on top of a rhythm section tight as a mechanic’s wrench! Vocalist Randy Blythe sounds as fierce as ever and showing no signs of aging. Compare his voice to earlier studio recordings and you’ll barely notice any wear and tear. They increase the pressure and pace though with ‘Parasocial Christ’, and coming in at barely 3 minutes in length, it has a no BS and straight on the nose delivery! This will appease fans of their earlier work, evoking a similar vibe to ‘As The Places Burn’ in a brief yet muscular effort. Though things slow down with a much sludgier yet no less powerful track in ‘Sepsis’, similar to ‘El Vacio’ where the vibe is low and slow although served with heaps of melancholy on the side. Both of which are crucial to the overall ebb and flow of the album. In fact, the pacing of the album is pretty excellent; you feel neither overwhelmed by the sheer weight of the pummelling riffs (of which are there are many) nor feel under stimulated through tactical yet necessary slower parts to build tension and intrigue. These slower acts act as respite before ‘St Catherine’s Wheel’. Despite it’s calmer opening, this is certainly a slow burner and before you know it you’re dealing with a legit bruiser of a track. Though the album reaches its peak with ‘Bully’ another melodic number that packs a punch.
Let’s face it, the world’s a pretty crazy place right now…and that’s putting it mildly! Blythe pulls no punches in providing a sobering blunt social commentary on the planet we live in. ‘Devise/Destroy’ provides the best example of this in perhaps his strongest performance on the album.
Lamb Of God have an embarrassment of riches at their disposal to get the best possible end product from the studio. Which is remarkable considering how much of this was recorded at Morton’s home set up! Though they know their sound inside out and the finished product comes across as rough and gritty but by design. A design that allows you to feel a very raw yet believable edge.
“Into Oblivion” is everything you’d expect from a Lamb Of God album. Which sounds great, but also highlights a problem. Where’s the challenge to try something different and push boundaries? One may consider “Into Oblivion” to be a little too safe in this regard. By the same token though, bands can be accused of selling out if they even think of attempting to try maybe something slightly different, so damned if they do and damned if they don’t. “Into Oblivion” would serve as a great introduction to Lamb Of God and a solid representation of their signature sound. Whilst the band may have reached their creative peak though, “Into Oblivion” demonstrates that Lamb Of God are still kings of metal and will not be abdicating the throne anytime soon.
The post Album Review: Lamb of God – Into Oblivion appeared first on The Razor's Edge.
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IMMORTAL GUARDIAN – Έβγαλαν διασκευή του “The Immigrant Song” των Led Zeppelin μαζί με τις Leather Leone και Mary Zema
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Sabaton – Announce Rescheduled Dates For 2026 North American Tour
Sabaton have announced a new dates for their previously postponed North American tour. The band called off the original shows in order to allow bassist Pär Sundström sufficient time to heal from “inflammation in his arms”.
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Ravaged By The Yeti – Ink Deal With Testimony Records
Swedish extreme metal formation Ravaged By The Yeti proudly announce the signing of a multi-album deal with Testimony Records.
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Horizon Ignited – Deliver New Standalone Single
After dropping their third studio album Tides last year, Finnish melodic death metal force Horizon Ignited return with brand-new music: their latest standalone single “Monument”. Written during the Tides sessions, “Monument” didn’t make the final album.
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Gabi Garbutt: Radical Love – Single Review
Gabi Garbutt: Radical Love (INH Records) DL / Streaming Out Now Gabi Garbutt returns with single Radical Love, the first for INH Records ahead of their eagerly anticipated third album With Radical Love the acclaimed singer-songwriter begins a new phase of their career. A striking, reflective piece of artistry in songwriting, The track is a […]
The post Gabi Garbutt: Radical Love – Single Review appeared first on Louder Than War.
