Mountain of Smoke - 'Mountain of Smoke' (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 19/6/2014

Label: Self Release

‘Mountain of Smoke’ CD//DD track listing:

1). Holden (04:06)

2). Sebastian (03:05)

3). Wise Owl (03:09)

4). Taffy (02:45)

5). Chew (03:36)

6). Captain Bryant (03:37)

7). Pris (02:17)

8). Gaff (01:35)

9). Rachel (02:32)

10). Deckard (02:17)

Review:

From Dallas, Texas comes Mountain of Smoke and yet another two-piece playing doom/sludge; I swear, it's an epidemic.  There seems to be an influx of two piece bands coming from nowhere, and while some are better than others, it's beginning to mean that such duos need to distinguish themselves. I personally know of a couple / three such two piece bands that are unbelievably heavy and Mountain of Smoke manage to distinguish themselves from the others, quite nicely I might add. The instrumentation isn't masterful. The strings, whilst using a nice, solid fuzzed, sludge tone, aren't exactly mind-blowing and to be brutally honest, you can tell this album is the band's first outing. It's raw, and has a hint of clumsiness to it, but this isn’t a bad album and it doesn’t suffer as a result.

I rather like the Blade runner theme that runs through the record, with every song on the album, referencing the 1982 Science Fiction classic.  Indeed, you'll notice songs named "Deckard", and "Rachel", after Harrison Ford and Sean Young's characters.  In fact, if I could replace the movie's score with this album, I totally would, and if that is what Mountain of Smoke was going for, then you've sold me. I get it.

Mountain of Smoke is in essence a sludge band, for sure, but I would almost call it "Stoner Sludge", with a little bit of Ministry thrown in, with early White Zombie, sprinkled with a dash of Black Sabbath for good measure.

Song length for me personally can be the Achilles’ heel for many bands in the scene, because running on one or two riffs, no matter how bone-crushingly heavy you are, can get tedious after seven minutes or so, but M.o.S understands this, and make the effort to keep things from getting too repetitive. The track "Wise Owl" is a good example. (Remember the Replicant Owl, when Deckard first meets Rachel?) 

For all the good points, personally I would have liked more variety in the vocals, each track is accompanied by the "Ministry-esque" screams, which aren't altogether bad, but the songs don't all evoke the same mood, so it seems the vocal style shouldn't either. Irrespective of that, they do the job, and it does work with the sci-fi theme.

If you like Sludge, and Bladerunner, you pretty much need this album. If you just like decent sludge metal and want something a little different, check this out. It's not the greatest album of the year, but I have to hand it to these guys for creativity, keep it up.  I for one, will be keeping an eye on what they do next \m/

Words by: Mike Borsum.

‘Mountain of Smoke’ can be purchased here

For more information:

https://mountainofsmoke.bandcamp.com/ https://m.facebook.com/mountainofsmoke | http://mountainofsmoke.com

Soundcrawler - ‘The Dead-End Host’ (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 20/2/2015

Label: Klonosphere Records

‘The Dead-End Host’ CD//DD track listing:

1.Raiders

2.Burning Scales

3.A God to Feed

4.Long Coma Slow

5.Souls From the Trash

6.The Plastic Truth

7.Civil

8.Infinite Genocide

9.And All the Seconds Left

Soundcrawler is

Vocals | Rémy Pocquet

Guitar | Paul Parsat

Guitar | Clément Reviriego

Bass | Firouze Pirolley

Drums | Robin Cauchois

Review:

From Périgueux, France, comes the self-described Stoner Band Soundcrawler, with their album "The Dead-End Host".  It’s a little fuzzed, a little stoner-metal, but perhaps not of the ilk like you'd expect, it has sprinkling of grunge and prog in the mix too. Yes, it has heavy groove riffs, guitar solos through an effects pedal or two. Yup’ it’s all there, present and correct, but that’s not all, Soundcrawler give you all that, set against a nice haunting mood as well. There is some definite artistry here, it turns out, these guys aren’t quite the same stoner metal band you were expecting.  The songs range from driving, desperate riffing rockers to hauntingly sweet pieces such as "Long Coma Slow"

There is some real effort here to set a very dark sound, but with just the right amount of the groove riffs to stay within the stoner rock/metal category.  Truthfully, as I listen to this, I can hear elements of American early 90's grunge too, with the type of harmonies you'd hear in Layne Staley and Jerry Cantrell songs.

What Soundcrawler do, is what any good band in any genre should do, refrain from writing the same song 7 to 10 times on your album. Show me some variation, and Soundcrawler do that in spades. Eclectic is good. Switch up the guitar and bass tones. Give me a little fuzz bass along with the heavy distortion on the guitars. Song 6, "The Plastic Truth" does just that, yet keeps the "haunting" quality in every song.

I liked this, and if you are into doom, fuzz, or stoner metal / rock then this is totally worth checking out.  I won't say this is the best album I’ve heard this year in similar genres, but this album is pretty damn strong.

Words by: Mike Borsum

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

http://soundcrawler-band.com | https://www.facebook.com/SOUNDCRAWLER.band
http://soundcrawler.bandcamp.com/music | http://www.klonosphere.com

Crypt Sermon - Out of the Garden (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 24/2/2015

Label: Dark Descent Records

‘Out of the Garden’ track CD//DD  listing:

1). “Temple Doors”
2). “Heavy Riders”
3). “Byzantium”
4). “The Will Of The Ancient Call”
5). “Enter The Holy Of Holies”
6). “The Master’s Bouquet”
7). “Out Of The Garden”

Crypt Sermon are:

EES | Drums

James Lipczynski | Guitars

Steve Jansson | Guitars

Will Mellor | Bass

Brooks Wilson Z| Vocals

Review:

A little doom, a little Judas Priest, add a dash of Iron Maiden and a splash of Black Sabbath and Crypt Sermon is pretty much the sum of those parts.  If every band wore their influences on its sleeves (we do. all of us.) then it's going to bleed through in their music. When I hear Crypt Sermon's album ‘Out of the Garden’, those bands mentioned at their most theatrical are what springs to mind. As expected, the opening song "Temple Doors" starts out slow and moody, very gradually building momentum, opening the album, followed by ‘Heavy Riders’, and ‘Byzantium".

Perhaps, this is a concept album, because it seems each song is telling part of one story. I do like albums that do this, but the trick is always to do it well.  All in all, this is a pretty good attempt.

While I didn’t fall madly in love with Crypt Sermon, I can certainly see how others might. My only real complaint about them is the music and vocals tend to drift to the dramatic fairly often, a little too over the top with a solo, or a little bit too much of a prolonged vocal harmony, when I would have liked to hear more solid riffing. I usually prefer a more "raw" sound, and that’s not what this band does. They approach the top, and go over it.  Some of us really like that, some don’t. It's just personal taste.

If you're one of those people who like Melodic Metal, with epic themes and lyrics and dig the NWOBHM retro sound, give this a listen. There are some pretty good riffs on display, especially with "Into the Holy of Holies".  Truth be told, most of the songs do run to the ‘Epic’ side of things. Big sweeping guitar solos, vocal melodies and "wire choir" twin solos.  In short, if that is your bag, you'll dig what this group is serving.

Words by: Mike Borsum

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

Bandcamp | Facebook

Blood Farmers - Headless Eyes (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 01/03/2014

Label: Resurrection Records/PATAC Records

‘Headless Eyes’ CD/LP track listing:

1). Gun Shot (06:17)

2). Headless Eyes (10:49)

3). The Creeper (04:51)

4). Thousand-Yard Stare (06:34)

5). Night of the Sorcerers (10:15)

6). The Road Leads to Nowhere (David Hess Cover)(05:59)

Bloodfarmers is:

David Szulkin | Bass, Guitars, Keyboards, Vocals

Tad Leger | Drums

Eli Brown | Vocals

Review:

A little bit Corrosion of Conformity, a little bit Black Sabbath Vol 4, and a lot of St Vitus, and Pentagram.  That’s pretty much what you'll get with Blood Farmers' album "Headless Eyes". Those of you who prefer Speed Metal, and lightning fast tunes with brain-smashing blistering guitar pyrotechnics can just stop reading now, and return to mastering that Dragonforce song on Guitar Hero.  You need not apply!!

However, if Dark Chocolate Covered Doomy Goodness and Soul Crushing Guitar Tones is your thing, stick with me.  As mentioned, the first track "Gut Shot" is a pretty standard Goo Goo Cluster of Doom Metal. This one does not make the often fatal mistake of going for ten minutes, relying mainly on one riff. The second track, the title song, "Headless Eyes" stands out much more.  Here, we have some voice in the background which must be taken from a movie or TV show. You know what I mean.
Think Iron Maidens "The Prisoner", or White Zombie. This voice continues to pop up now and then and almost comment on the mood of the song, which is clearly the best part. Headless Eyes DOES paint a nice dark and spooky portrait. 

I think what I like about this song is that it contains all the classic touches all doom bands use, the "Iommi Guitar Tones", the heavy plodding drums, and subtle vocal harmonies. Not to mention a good ripping solo. That’s something I think more Doom bands should use. It breaks up the monotony of a slow lumbering doom riff, which can be an Achilles heel.  So, two tracks in, and so far, so good.

Track Three "The Creeper" starts out with Bass Wah.  We loves Bass Wah when it's all dark and fuzzy. Oh Yes, Precious.  Soon comes the wailing solo riding over it, and some faint heavy riffs in the backdrop. A nice, almost pleasant and Stoner-ey kind of mood piece, this of course, is to set you up for that moment when the guitars and bass and drums start smashing your skull. Everybody does that.  It doesn't stay like that long, and then goes into a much more rocking melody, which while it did kind of remind me of the second half of Black Sabbath's ‘Symptom of the Universe’, also shows that Blood Farmers don't use the standard Doom Cookie Cutter when songwriting.  I appreciate that. This is a pretty nice instrumental song.

All in all, I'm gonna give this one a thumbs up. A bigger one if you are a doom fan.
It turns out; Blood Farmers have a pretty good pedigree, since forming in '89 and performed with some of the bands I've previously mentioned.  This, no doubt, has influenced their sound, which can also mean that a band can get pigeon-holed into a certain genre. A good doom band doesn't just dive into the plodding, low droning melodies and stay there for ten minutes, expecting you to pretend not to get bored after 7.  A good doom band gives you some changes in the song, or a new heavy driving riff for a few measures or a wailing solo to perk up the bleak soul-crushing landscape of the song.

Despite the increasing obsession to categorize every band into a genre, which is something I intensely dislike, I’m going to be a little hypocritical and say, "Yes. This is Doom Metal." However, in case you missed the point I've been hammering on about, Blood Farmers occasionally climb out of that labelled jar, and offer bits and pieces to make things interesting all the way through each song. I really like that. There is some impressive guitar work to be heard here, and if you dismiss this album because of the genre, you'll miss out.

Blood Farmers are a good Doom band, and in my opinion, "Headless Eyes" is a good album.  I'm hoping they come around to my neck of the woods. I think I need to see them live.

Words by: Mike Borsum

You can pick up a CD here and vinyl here

For more information:

https://bloodfarmers.wordpress.com/

The Jackpine Snag - The Firetower EP (Review)

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 30/4/2014

Label: Silver Maple Kill Records

‘The Firetower EP’ DD/Vinyl track listing:

1). Brother Eye (02:25)

2). With Wings (02:59)

3). The Missaukee Strut (03:12)

4). What I Done (02:44)

5). The Grand River Float (02:24)

6). La Ventura (04:03)

7). Gonna Wreck My Life (03:00)

Bio:

The Jackpine Snag started in Sept 2010. Joe Hart contacted Nick Merz and Todd Karinen about jamming some newer stuff he had worked out, and it immediately took off. within a few weeks of rocking in Joe's basement, they had 5 or 6 songs. now, they needed a name. after talking to his dad, who used to be a forest ranger, Joe really like the story about how jackpines can grow into one another and then die, leaving a nasty looking growth of wood, or a snag. so the name came from there. The Jackpine Snag played the first show in Feb of 2011. they played shows throughout the rest of the year, until Nick decided he was going to move to boise Idaho at the end of the year. after Nick left, Joe and Todd recruited Greg Lamb to fill the bass slot. after acclimating himself to the music, the band continued with their lucky streak of playing on great bills, which still is going today. in Feb of 2013, they released a 7" ep called The Omega Stump

The Band:

Joe Hart | Guitar,Vocals

Greg Lamb | Bass

Todd Karinen | Drums

Review:

You know how some bands never sound as good live as they do on the album? As if they just couldn't reproduce the same intensity?  The Jackpine Snag, from Lansing Michigan, is not one of those bands. The three piece band consisting of singer/guitar player Joel Hart, drummer Todd Karinen, and new bass player Jason Roedel offer up their second effort "The Fire Tower" on Silver Maple Records.

The band refers to their sound as "Heavy Blues Grunge Doom Rock Stuff", mostly in jest, and although all of those would apply, they don’t fit squarely into any of those. The guitar tones are dirty, low and fuzzy, and even desperate and maddening at times on songs such as ‘La Ventura’, which is also the longest on the album, clocking in at just over four minutes. Short, punchy and to the point is what you'll get.

Right from the first track, ‘Brother Eye’ you get the pounding rhythm with that dirty, nasty gritty guitar sound, coupled with Joe Hart's at times soulful and sometime howling vocals. But...what I like most about the Jackpine Snag is their sense of timing. Pauses and rests and changes all seem flawless, and they use plenty of them. If this kind of music kept the same progression and only used three chords, it would be punk. These songs don't do that. A perfect example is track three ‘The Missaukee Strut’. The rests and changes keep everything interesting, and once again the vocals go from a whisper to a howling scream, never making you comfortable, keeping you on edge. 

For my money, the song ‘The Grand River Float’ really sums up The Jackpine Snag and the album. It highlights all instruments, quick, to the point, and both soulful, nasty and desperate. I like to say to anyone who makes the mistake of listening to me long enough to let me wax philosophical, that good music, no matter what style, should make you feel something, anger, happiness, angst, whatever. Something, ya dig?   ‘The Firetower’ makes me feel a little angry, a little sad, especially if you listen to the lyrics. Also, it makes me feel really good, because as intense as these songs are, they are beautifully written. I'm not just saying that to write fluff or out of kindness. I have never, nor will I ever do that.

I fucking mean it.

There is a sweet melancholy wrapped around a crashing intensity and fuzz guitar that kinda makes you want to throw some "metal horns" and start stomping around. I don't know about you, but that pretty much does it for me. When any band can do that to me, they win.  I'm sold.  Incidentally, for the record, I have *NEVER* been fairly blazed, and played *ANY* of the JPS's records at 33 speed, just to watch the walls bleed, and demons flap around the room. Nope. Never happened, and I will continue to deny it.

Words by: Mike Borsum

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/TheJackpineSnag

http://thejackpinesnag.bandcamp.com/

Blue Snaggletooth - Beyond Thule (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 3/11/2014

Label: Arbco Records

‘Beyond Thule’ DD/LP track listing:

01. Reptiles (02:49)
02. Sleeping Mountain (04:57)
03. Serpent And The King (03:43)
04. Silver Goddess (03:17)
05. Gawkers (04:37)
06. All You See (04:34)
07. Nameless Cults (03:19)
08. Ahamkara (07:07)
09. Transmutation (02:41)

Bio:

Fronted by guitarist and singer Chris “Box” Taylor (who previously played with Mazinga, Powertrane, and Michigan legend Scott Morgan), Blue Snaggletooth was formed in 2009, when Taylor teamed up with bassist Ian Harris, guitarist Jess Willyard, and drummer Ian “Pit Viper” Sugierski. The band began making a name for themselves playing Michigan rock clubs, and their debut album, 2011’s “Dimension Thule,” sold out it’s initial pressing.

But while the first edition of Blue Snaggletooth was solid, it wasn’t meant to last, as personal commitments led to Harris, Willyard, and Sugierski leaving the group. But you can’t keep a good beast down, and Taylor has resurrected Snaggletooth with a new lineup that’s even heavier and more impressive than the first.

Guitarist Casey O’Ryan and bassist Joe Kupiec are rock & roll prodigies steeped in hard rock and classic boogie – as Taylor says, “They’re not brothers, but they should be,” and they give the band groove, energy, force, and powerful commitment. (In the grand tradition of everyone in Black Flag getting a tattoo of The Bars, O’Ryan has already gotten himself inked with Blue Snaggletooth’s artwork.) With Mike Popovich driving the groove behind the drums and Taylor wailing and laying down rhythm licks up front, this new edition is a hard rock dream machine, ready to take your mind and your ears deep into the cosmos. (And the band’s shows look as cool as they sound, with Jaime Magiera screening deeply trippy video projections to accompany the wall of sound.)

The second generation of Blue Snaggletooth isn’t wasting any time. The band is working up material for their next album, and Taylor and O’Ryan have already banked fourteen new songs that they hope to take to the studio by the end of 2013. If anyone is proving that you can honor hard rock’s past while pumping fresh blood into its future, it’s Blue Snaggletooth. Hop on board their spacecraft while there’s still room for new riders

The Band:

Chris Taylor | Guitar, vocals

Casey O’Ryan | Guitar

Joe Kupiec | Bass

Mike Popovich | Drums

Review:

Blue Snaggletooth's second effort ‘Beyond Thule’ is straight up Stoner/Proto Metal. A Gibson SG and a Classic 60's Epiphone through Orange Amps, balls out in your face Stoner Rock. If there isn't something in your soul that can't relate to heavy, yet grooving guitar and thunderous bass with wailing solos, then your name is probably Gunther, and you wear corpse-paint to your day job at Oslo Burger.

Anyway, before I even get to the music, I have to mention the awesome album art by artist Jeremy Wheeler, which was made to be seen under the black light.  If you want to purchase an actual copy of this album, you can forget a CD, because you only get it in clear vinyl, and digital download. These are cool all by themselves.

Back to the music: I fully confess, I like story songs, Ones that tell a cool story as well as rocking the fuck out. Who doesn’t? Whether its old country ballads about gunslingers, or space/stoner rock bands doing the same, you got me.  I listen to all kinds of music like everyone, so songs like Marty Robbin's ‘El Paso’, or even Gordon Lightfoot's ‘Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ haunting story songs, always catch my attention. This is what these songs remind me of. Not because the melodies are similar, but because of the places these songs take me.  Blue Snaggletooth is all over that.

My personal favourite is track 2, ‘The Sleeping Mountain’. Not only is the chorus catchy as hell, but it gives that direct but vague warning, "Don’t rouse the beast that sleeps, below the sleeping mountain,"  It doesn’t ruin it by telling you exactly what’s under there, just that it's big, and last time it was around, everything sucked for a million years. So holy-shit don't wake it up! I didn’t have a choice to like this song or not. The Star Wars figure collecting, Dungeons and Dragons playing kid in me that grew up to also like loud as Hell guitar music can't help but like this.

That story theme continues on the next track ‘The Serpent and the King’, this time evoking a classic Good vs. Evil struggle.  The next track, also tells the story of the ‘Silver Goddess’, the crowning Jewel of the album though, would have to be track 8, ‘Ahamkara.’ While perhaps speaking the band's philosophy or at least a message of transcendentalism, it also delivers a ripping fuzzed jam.

I decided to wait to review this album until I had the chance to see Blue Snaggletooth live, which I was fortunate to do just last week. To me, as I have mentioned before, the measure of a good band is one that can deliver in the studio AND on the stage.  If you can write a good song, that’s great, but if you can't reproduce that same energy or vibe on stage, it's only so useful.  Blue Snaggletooth is not that band. They bring it just as hard live as on the LP. They don't screw around in that department. But...what sealed the deal and made me a genuine fan of this band, was when I checked out their merch after their set. 

See, I am not a tiny girly man wearing skinny jeans. I can eat two or three tiny men for lunch. So, usually, when I see a new band I really like, and ask them if they have shirts in my size, the answer is a polite "No fatty. No shirt for you. Fat people don't get to represent."  Not so this time. They had my back with my sized "Fat Bastard" B.S.T for a mere ten bucks. What? A band that actually thought that maybe some of their fans might not fit into a "Large"?

In all seriousness, ‘Beyond Thule’ is a fun album. It’s got those heavy-groove riffs played loud. The songs actually entertain, not just assault the ears. I like a metal blitzkrieg too, but sometimes it's time to relax, light one up and space out with something less than blisteringly fast.  This is a great album if you dig this kind of sound. If you are like me and believe the best guitar tones were invented in the early 70's, and there should be more story songs set to these guitar tones, then you should probably buy this album right now.

Words by: Mike Borsum

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Snaggletooth/105410702837250

http://bluesnaggletooth.bandcamp.com/

http://www.bluesnaggletoothmusic.com/?page_id=2

Isole - The Calm Hunter (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 28/11/2014

Label: Cyclone Empire

‘The Calm Hunter’ CD/DD/LP track listing:

1.  The Calm Hunter (08:23)
2. Dead To Me (The Destroyer Part I) (05:44)                      
3. Into Oblivion (07:15)
4. The Eye Of Light (07:45)                                                                      
5. Perdition (06:55)
6. Alone In Silence (07:03)
7. My Regret (The Destroyer Part II) (07:57)                    

Bio:

With their first releases, ISOLE were able to secure an excellent reputation within the doom metal underground. They have elevated their status even further with their three albums released by Napalm Records.

After "Born from Shadows" it was yet again time to move on and ISOLE signed with German label Cyclone Empire for album number six.

ISOLE’s new piece of art “The Calm Hunter” impressively maintains their well-earned position and lays any doubts as to their superiority to rest. The Swedish quartet understands more than any other band how to effectively merge hypnotic melodies with viscous guitar lines.

The album's main focus is undeniably the heavy riffs and ISOLE’s trademark with vocal harmonies, but also a continuation of the path leaning towards a more progressive touch along with occasional digressions into more aggressive realms, where growls and vicious drumming reign. As such, even the epic tracks remain tantalizing and require one's complete attention, so as not to miss the fine details of this musical masterpiece. The dark euphonious landscapes created on “The Calm Hunter” and the stories where death and despair always is present will haunt your minds for a long time.

The four Swedes guarantee genuine and essential progressive doom metal. Get it now and lose yourself

Isole is:

Daniel Bryntse | guitars, vocals
Jimmy Mattsson | bass, vocals
Crister Olsson | guitars, vocals
Jonas Lindström | drums

Review:

Within the first few notes of hearing the title track "The Calm Hunter", and before looking at the biography, I knew right away these guys were Swedish. There is a distinct Scandinavian metal sound, not quite Black Metal, not quite Prog, and not quite Doom.

Isole seems to blend these styles together coupled with, what I can only describe as "very European harmonies". It seems to be their knack.

They called themselves "Epic Doom", and I’m not sure if that completely fits. To my American ears, when I think of Doom, I think of tempos that are traditionally slower than what Isole is delivering.  Perhaps "Prog Doom" might be more fitting? There ARE moments in their songs where the tempo does slow right down, and is plodded along with the harmonies I spoke of earlier, only to swing back up-tempo into more of a prog-metal theme such as the second track, "Dead to Me".

Track three, ‘Into Oblivion’ starts out as much more of a "traditional doom" pacing, but quickly adds keys and adds that smearing of Scandinavian Metal sound. If you're not a fan of Black Metal, mainly because of the vocals, then Isole might just be what you're looking for. They do tend to run into the "epic" style, that somewhat reminds me of early Mercyful Fate, without King Diamonds ultra-high range, but with the same sense of almost operatic musings. 

I'll be honest; I did not fall fanatically in love with this album. However, I can quickly and easily tell you that it does have something for everyone who loves metal or heavy music in general. The guitar tones are right where they should be. Big, distorted and loud. The drums are good and snap right into double-bass beats for a few moments right where they should when the band launches into that "Swedish Metal" cut-time. Really, the question is "Will you dig the vocals", because that is where you either will or will not like Isole.

Everything else falls into place here.

The instrumentation on the album falls right into place and sounds precisely like it should. That is to say, I almost expected the guitars, drums and bass to sound exactly like they do. It works. This not to say "predictable", but rather, that they provide what is needed.

So...back to the vocals. They ARE good. The harmonies DO really work, but like all music, this is where subjectivity comes in. If you like the kind of sound where more progressive epic vocal harmonies set against a dark background gets you going, then you're going to like this band, and this latest effort. If you prefer much more growly and "traditional" vocals, you will be disappointed, but it seems like Isole have used the vocal sound as the centrepiece to the dish they are serving. I think it works, and I will totally give credit where it is due. Their sound is polished and shined up for presentation. Again that can very much work for or against them, depending on who is listening.

Words by: Mike Borsum

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

www.forevermore.se

www.facebook.com/Isoleofficial

http://cycloneempire.bandcamp.com/album/the-calm-hunter

Amulet - The First (Album Review)

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/09/2014

Label: Century Media Records

‘The First’ CD/DD/LP track listing:

Side 1

01. Evil Cathedral (2:46)

02. Glint of the Knife (3:12)

03. The Gauntlet (4:36)

04. Bloody Night (2:55)

05. Heathen Castle (3:16)

06. The Flight (2:27)

Side 2

01. Talisman (2:37)

02. The Sacrifice (3:22)

03. Mark of Evil (3:01)

04. Wicked 'n Cruel (3:05)

05. Black Candle (2:48)

06. Trip Forever (2:29)

07. Nightmare (4:38)

Bio:

Many choose to play metal, but it’s only a dedicated few who actually are metal. It’s the fanatical, die-hard devotion to the cause that sets these genuine metal maniacs apart; it’s the spirit of metal madness that flows through them. And in London’s AMULET you have five such individuals, all proudly banging like maniacs in the name of all that’s good and heavy metal.

Their debut EP, 2011’s “Cut The Crap” 7”, was a nails-hard statement of intent. With the brawling street spirit of early 80’s metal – think of Iron Maiden’s days in rough boozers rather than sports stadiums – AMULET capture the sound of classic metal, but more importantly, they bring the feeling of fist-to-the-chops-and-don’t-spill-my-pint grit firmly into the 21st century. And what else would you expect from a band formed of such die-hard underground metal fanatics?

Since 2010, the men of AMULET have been proudly flying the flag for British steel, both onstage andoff. Guitarist Heathen Steven is the man who helped set up London’s Live Evil Festival in 2010 – run with support of Darkthrone drummer Fenriz – to showcase the best of what the underground scene has to offer. Singer Jamie Elton has spent his entire adult life recording metal bands and putting on gigs by underground legends like Pagan Altar and Cloven Hoof before the retro resurgence took flight. Drummer ‘Dave Sherwood on Drums’, meanwhile, is something of an UK mascot for passionate fandom internationally. And then there’s incredible shred-king Nippy Blackford on guitar, who has been burning the frets since the ‘90s and adds some truly exceptional flare to the album. Finally Bill Dozer not only channels Cronos on four strings, but works as a respected tattoo artist while creating all of AMULET’S artwork - including the incredible painting made for the cover of their debut, “The First”.

The Band:

Jamie Elton | vocals

Heathen Steven | guitar

Nippy Blackford | guitar

Bill Dozer | bass

Dave Sherwood \ drums

Review:

From Merry England comes the group Amulet, and from the very first track you can get exactly what these guys are going for. Their sound seems to be extremely targeted in the "New Wave of British Heavy Metal" era of Iron Maiden, or even Vardis, with a little Motorhead thrown in, but without Lemmy's unique vocals. In fact, it seems to be a bit heavy handed. With titles like "Glint of the Knife", or "Heathen Castle", they seem to be trying REALLY hard to convince you that they are a throwback to those days. In fact, so much so, it's a little hard to swallow. It's as though they are smashing the idea over your head, instead of letting you come to that conclusion by yourself.

If you didn’t get enough of that era's sound, or just think that everything should sound like early Maiden, then you might very well dig Amulet. The music IS solid, and the song writing isn’t bad at all. My only complaint would be that several of their songs tend to sound very much alike, and there isn’t quite enough versatility. I like a band that can do a fast heavy song, and then change it up a bit, or throw in an interesting part in the "Middle Eight".

Amulet doesn’t mess around with that crap, they keep the pace. That’s fine, if that's your cup of tea. However, as with any band, they are only as strong as the weakest link in the chain, and with Amulet, for me, it’s the vocals. When I think of NWOBHM, I think Iron Maiden and Bruce Dickenson, or Judas Priest and Rob Halford. Now, not everybody can match up to those guys. We are talking about some of the best metal vocalists ever. Yet, such a band needs a powerful voice to go along with those lyrics of London's back-alley stabbings, and nightmare hellscapes. Amulet doesn't quite deliver on that front.

The vocals are decent. But not great and at times, even a little choked. I don’t mean to imply that the singer is terrible. Far from it, but I was hoping for a dynamic voice to go along with my vision of Union Jacks and spiked armbands, unfortunately I was left a little cold on that front.

So, bottom line, did I enjoy this or not? Yes, but I wasn't enthralled. I like what Amulet is going for, but honestly, I think it comes off as "Trying too hard". I think the sound seems intentionally manufactured, instead of grown organically. None of the band's musicality is questionable. Each of the members of Amulet play quite well. Even the vocals, which I didn’t love, aren’t too shabby., it's just that overall, what you hear seems to be very much trying to be a lost Iron Maiden album.

So, what? You don’t like bands that have that sort of "retro" sound? Yes, I do! In fact, I love it. However, let me give you an example. Wolfmother. They have a serious retro sound especially with their guitar tones and song writing. They sound like something you'd see in some dirty club in 1974 opening up for Sir Lord Baltimore. Dirty, fuzzy and loud. Wolfmother pulls that sound off, YET, also somehow manage to sound new enough to be interesting. It's a delicate balance, when you use that kind of sound that has been done before by bands better than you. You REALLY have to try hard to distinguish yourself.

Amulet comes close to having that NWOBHM sound, but doesn’t go quite far enough to really stand out, at least for me. Not to worry, even despite this, "The First" is a solid album and if you really, really love Judas Priest, or Vardis, or especially Iron Maiden, you will probably, at least enjoy Amulet "The First".

Words by: Mike Borsum

You can pick up a copy here

For more information:

www.facebook.com/amuletmetal

www.amuletmetal.bigcartel.com