ALBUM REVIEW: Mortillery - "Shapeshifter"

By: Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 27/05/2016
Label: Napalm Records

“Shapeshifter” finds the band firing on all cylinders, really attacking, sinking their teeth into each and every song. “Shapeshifter” shows growth, depth and progression.  I think it’s safe to say they broke the mold with this record.

“Shapeshifter” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Radiation Sickness
2). Age of Stone
3). Bullet
4). Mantis
5). Black Friday
6). Wendigo
7). At the Gates
8). Torture
9). Shapeshifter

The Review:

Love Mortillery.  Love this record, disc number three for the band.  It’s become a regular staple in my playlist at the gym.  “Shapeshifter” is energy defined.  I dig retro thrash when it’s done right and for the right reasons.  Dust Bolt’s new record is a great example of this.  Old school as musical fashion doesn’t work for me.  Mortillery attacks this sound with a vengeance and makes it all their own.  This is denim and leather metal, fist in the air.  And Canada with their beer and metal, add Mortillery to the list of great Canuck bands – Exciter, Zimmer’s Hole and 3 Inches of Blood.

I should say that there’s a big similarity between Mortillery and 3 Inches of Blood, vocal-wise, but that’s ok, I’ll take that.  What I like about this band is that I feel like they’ve “become” with this record, that is, Mortillery found their style and perfected the hell out of it.  Tight is an understatement. 

It’s not thrash for the sake of thrash or speed metal because it’s expected, these songs are well crafted and rock out the way metal should sound.  “Shapeshifter” finds the band firing on all cylinders, really attacking, sinking their teeth into each and every song.  “Retro Thrash” or “Old School Metal” can be something of a niche genre.  “Shapeshifter” shows growth, depth and progression.  I think it’s safe to say they broke the mold with this record.

“Radiation Sickness” and “Black Friday” are stand out songs for me.  Because I can see this band touring with Exodus or Nuclear Assault back in the day, jamming these songs live.  The record itself, “Shapeshifter,” has a big sound to it, a live sound showcasing Mortillery at their crossover best.  Keep an eye on this band.  Nukem, Dust Bolt, Mortillery.  The new big three of this genre.

“Shapeshifter” is available now

Band info: official | facebook

FFO: Nukem. Dust Bolt, Exodus, Nuclear Assault

ALBUM REVIEW: Nukem - "The Unholy Trinity"

By: Theron Moore

Album Type: Full Length
Date Released: 16/09/2016
Label: Sleaszy Rider Records

“The Unholy Trinity” can be filed right in between Nuclear Assault and, well, EVERYONE else.  They’re that good.  Killer tunes, killer vibe, mosh till you die…

“The Unholy Trinity” DD track listing:

1). WarWolf

2). Evelyn’s Awakening

3). The Atomic Age

4). The Deceiver

5). BloodSeeker

6). T.V. Crimes

7). D.O.I.

8). Lethal Injection

9). Lucida Sidera

10). Nukem All

11). Suspicious Minds

The Review:

“Long Stick Goes Boom.” Krokus. If you’re a metal fan you know this reference. Goes hand in hand with “The Unholy Trinity” from San Diego CA’s Nukem, just louder, like the original blast here in New Mexico, mucho years ago, but fiercer. You can mosh to this! From the first cries of “WarWolf” to the final exit of “Nukem All,” which by the way sums up the album and attitude nicely, Nukem have come to play. Forged in fire, birthed in metal, Nukem lays waste to everything around them, much like the “The Unholy Trinity” for which their record is so aptly named and they sing of. Crushing. Killing. Nukem. The essence of destruction. Old school the way music was meant to be. Burn it down gentleman. And leave no survivors.

Nukem is: Steve Brogden-Guitar& Vocals, Norm Leggio-Drums and Don Lauder-Bass Guitar. Look for their debut offering “Unholy Trinity” on Sleaszy Rider Records, September 16th, 2016. And to add to the metal mayhem Nukem has invited the best of the best guest musicians to uptick the body count: Laura Christine (WarFace and Zimmer’s Hole), Jimmy Durkin (Dark Angel), Craig Locicero (Forbidden) and Reece Scruggs of Havok fame.

The band initially found buzz with their video “Evelyn’s Awakening” on Facebook. Social media does it again. This time helping out a band that truly deserves praise. Nukem is well thought out, tight sounding, killer thrash. Take away the tags and what do you have left? Metal. That’s what these guys are. They live and sleep it. They bleed and sweat it. You hear it in their tunes, it can’t be ignored. They’re not following the generic template of boring metal via Disturbed, or Five Finger, or Butcher Babies.

They’re reaching back into their roots and writing as well as playing, from the heart. And it shows. They’re taking a new turn and a new twist on a genre that’s been with us for, well, since ’81? And thank god for that. And thank god for Nukem. Breathing new life and new energy into this style of music. Not one song is a throwaway, every song is bangable. If I’m a major metal label, I’m looking at this band…. Give me more….

The songs rip. Hard. Fast. But not speed metal for the sake of speed metal, thrash for the sake of thrash, as I said before, well thought out songs paying homage to a genre since gone and resuscitated with help from Warbringer, Gama Bomb, Lost Society, etc. Nukem stakes out their territory and takes the pussy without asking. The first four songs set the pace for an album whose bar has been set that high, that can’t be humanly achieved, simply, greatness. And Nukem does it. No. Nukem destroys that.

I can hear the integrity. The genuine love of and FOR metal. Ten tracks of Mayhem. Not a single bit of fodder or pandering anywhere. Something I can’t say about every band I review. Thrash for the love and appreciation for the genre. “The Unholy Trinity” can be filed right in between Nuclear Assault and, well, EVERYONE else. They’re that good. Killer tunes, killer vibe, mosh till you die kinda band. Buy this record!

“Unholy Trinity” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

FFO: Nuclear Assault, Gama Bomb, Havok, Lost Society