CD Review: October Thorns - Circle Game (Deluxe Edition, Progmetal 2022)

This is the ultimate version of a legendary demo. It's faithfully re-stored and reworked to today's standards. 

All of October Thorns work can be enjoyed on one CD now.

The listener get's to hear eight progmetal gems that are a blast. It's permanent powerfull playing power overwhelmed me. All the songs call out the full dedication and detail work anyone can imagine to be a trademark of this genre.

Sure it's progmetal all the way but there are elements woven into the sound that need to be discovered first. With every round you'll get to hear more of them. I think that's why it's nearly listenable infinite times because it takes much time to fully get into October Thorns sound. I myselves thought I had it all after just one walkthrough but having heard "Soul Forge" for a second time opened my eyes for all the detail work.

Of the studio songs the tracks Jihad and Soul Forge stand the strongest on my mind. Along with the title track I think they already show why a purchase of this disc is worth it. But the release as a whole wears this typical highlight feeling that comes to my mind of listening to progmetal. The power of the music along with all the memorable hooklines is hard to resist and pushes me everytime.

The bonus demo tracks show music that has been held back. Those songs are not fully produced of course but in good condition ayway. Thinner sound flows through the speakers but the power remains the same. I guess these tunes didn't fit to the others at the time of the demo release.

But they are great anyway. They just need more patience to be enjoyed compared to the first nine offerings on "Circle Game". They are not so straight-forward in terms of music but show a more experimental side of October Thorns.

The release comes with a detailed 20 page booklet. It holds the full lyrics to the album. There are plenty of photos showing the band at several phases of the existence at promotional shootings as well as a collage with many live shots of the shows the New Yorker played.

Finally a good batch of reviews reflects on the media echo the band got upon release of the demo and playing shows. They are presented with the original typo and media logos. Some reviews come as original pages taken of music magazines.  

A all new interview with vocalist Paul LaPlaca offers a in-detail look into October Thorns art of creating decicated music and how the band came together and broke up.

Make sure to pick up a copy on the website of Divebomb Records. Fans of the genre get music for weeks to discover and enjoy in their ears and hands.

October Thorns is still active on Facebook these days.  

EP Review: Kilter - Sys (Instrumental Jazz Metal, 2021)

Some bands really dare to go new ways. That's what came to my mind as I heard the newest output of brooklyn-based band Kilter.

While the basics of the three tracks on this one source of solid groove taken of the Jazz genre, it's the build-up that opens my ears so wide. "Sentinent Robotics" for instance plays around with wild bass and saxophone riffing. The segments come out in little potions and evolve over the tracks duration. But what I love most to hear is that the elements talk between each other. It's going back and forth but never loses it's line so the music keeps track- and enjoyabile.

Most of all the sound adds to the experience. It's clear and direct. You can easily spot all elements and enjoy them. It's a variable release. "The Turing Test" is much slower creeping through your speakers but builds with every second passing. The middle part consists of fat grooves going hand in hand with the songs theme. Fine detail work towards the end.

"Mind-Body Problem" forms the last and longest one. Experimenting with saxophone noise the beginning already introduces a unusual song. It keeps going this way but adds a nice bass riff in the background to finally explode a little bit into a float of saxophone noise experimentation.

If you're open to something new and sounding so much different try Kilter. They don't serve the usual but wake your ears for fresh sound. The trailer has some snippets of the release that is expected to drop on June 25th 2021. 

Make sure to pre-order this gem through the Bandcamp page of Kilter or pre-save it to your Spotify library.

 

NYC music veterans re-launch Radio show Merciless

I hope this site helps all of you people out there to discover new music and stay up to date every here and there. Happily there are more people out there who also help to spread the word about our beloved music. This may be of interest to you since I know a lot of people still love to listen to radio. It's fine as a media to enjoy while you can have a eye on other things, too.

One of them is the radio format Merciless: the all things heavy and aggressive weekly radio show hosted by former In-Effect/Roadrunner/Zomba label A&R/Author Howie Abrams, and underground legend ILL BILL. This audio-based two hour show just made it's re-launch and here are some details. Make sure to tune in!

Longtime friends and sharers of musical interests, Howie Abrams and ILL BILL, have re-launched their popular weekly two-hour radio show, MERCILESS, at Bushwick Radio in Bushwick, Brooklyn after a year-plus at East Village Radio.

The hosts of the radio show Merciless: the all things heavy and aggressive weekly radio show

Merciless features classic, and what the guys refer to as “new classic” metal, hardcore, punk, thrash and crossover; complimented by unique insight and first-hand experiences from Howie and Bill concerning their respective and collective relationships to the artists they play.

Previous guests on Merciless include: Rob Trujillo (Metallica), Away (Voivod), Danny Lilker (Nuclear Assault, S.O.D., Brutal Truth), John Gallagher (Raven), Monte Conner (Roadrunner Records, Nuclear Blast), Tim Williams/Mike Kennedy (Vision of Disorder) and others.

Merciless can be heard every Thursdays from 3 – 5 PM Eastern at www.Bushwickradio.NYC; or on the free Bushwick Radio app, on TuneIn or Spreaker.

Here is some more info about the guys hosting the show:

Howie Abrams is a former music business executive turned author, who has worked with bands the likes of: Bad Brains, Nuclear Assault, Sepultura, Agnostic Front, Misfits, Madball, 24-7 Spyz, Shelter, Type O Negative, Biohazard, Dog Eat Dog and many others. More recently, Howie co-authored Finding Joseph I; An Oral History of H.R. from Bad Brains (Lesser Gods), as well as The Merciless Book of Metal Lists (Abrams Image).

ILL BILL is an emcee, producer and unabashed metal fanatic. He is well-known for infusing heavy metal and hardcore influenced lyrics into his work with Non Phixion, La Coka Nostra, Heavy Metal Kings and also as a solo artist.