Hammerhead starts journey with EP release tomorrow

It's unbelievable that many musicians perform already for years before they find the proper people to create music with. In Nashville Tennessee it's the Heavy Rock formation Hammerhead that includes such people who have been active in the South East United States for years already. 

Mark Paradise is the lead singer and song writer for the band along with Micheal Graham Sally the riff meister. Mike comes up with the Monster Killer riffs and Mark structures the songs and writes all the lyrics.

Hammerhead are pushing heavy with the first EP "Chaos",

Drummer Joe Troutt hard hitting drive has carried him through many years of experience with many bands as as well as this one. Jeremy Arvin the bass guitar player has backgrounds of Metalcore and deathcore genre. Zayden Stankard is free a young gun slinger lead guitar player. Laying down scorching tasteful lead guitars from insprations of thrash an progressive technical music. 

Together they'll drop the six song EP called "Chaos" tomorrow. Heavy Metal Underdogs had the fortune of listening to three tracks in advance and a blast during that time. Having never heard any snippet before it was great to hear that the band already put together a organic and very heavy sound on it's very first release. 

The songs live of the contrast of the powerful riffs with the pushing groove on the one hand and the melodic and feeling deep-in-thought vocals that seem to fly like a bird over the place on the other hand. 

Hammerhead have put together a tight and pressure-filled sound that is filled up with massive riffing. They crush through the songs and they often find it's end in a release of emotional and often long stretched vocals. Happily it doesn't feel like many parts repeat themselves - the band always finds variations and the solo sections will surely ask guitarists out there how they were done.  

I hope the band is going to reveal the meaning of the lyrics in the coming time. They are presented with so many variations and intensive ways that the vocalist more lives and expresses them through his voice.

It's hard to let the music go of your head once you've heard it. The leave something in you behind and that's a good sign in my eyes. Make sure to pre-save this fine release for listening on services like Spotify or Apple music.

This live-video gives a idea what the band's sound is all about.

EP Review: Chipper - Reality Check (Stoner Rock,2023)

Music has the power to overcome many bad things. Chipper, a band out of Greece had to face many troubles but they made it through. The Reality Check EP as a result hands the power further to the listener.

Chippers new EP comes with a gloomy artwork.

What I like so much is the combination of heavy power riffing mixed up with a lot of groove portions and easier parts putting in a lot of fine work on the instruments showing the talent of the four musicians. You can quickly check this out for yourselves by the first full song "Terror 'n Fame". The vocals are rough and dirty but keep listening - there's far more to come.

But there's more than "only" heavyness to be found on the EP. Already it's next track "Remedy Light" comes in a lighter package and tonality. It changes it's format from verses with lighter guitar playing up to a heavier refrain that put's in more of the raw powered sounds. It's the working with so many different sounds and moods that makes this release stand out.

The "Oldschool Rocket Army" is a slightly faster and more harder number with great chorus that invites to rock along to it. I like the more open and clearer vocals in that section.

Finally "Under No Gods Cloud" closes the release with rough notes but lighter vocals. There's a section towards the end which plays around with sound possibilities - a fine way to give more life into the music.

Make sure to take a teaser with the player below. A digital copy is available for five Euro on Bandcamp which will help the band to create new and more music for you.  

Stitched Up Heart roll heavier through the USA

In fact the Los Angeles based heavy rockers began to start making noise already way back in 2010 but Stitched up Heart came around as a completely new band to me.

The colors underline the dark and heavier music of Stitched Up Heart.

The newest single "Conquer & Divide" combines a fine mixture of lighter verses that leave the music room to breathe and vibrate along with much heavier refrain parts that fly through the air but never overload the ears of the listener too much.

It's still possible to locate all the musicians contributions properly, a fact that is much welcomed to me because everyone has it's moments to shine especially in this particular song taken of the newest album "To the wolves" that came out the start of this month.

The video underlines this showing the performance in a well to follow perspective. It's in fact a dark video shot but doesn't roll over your feelings with negativity.

Sure the best way to experience music is at a live situation. 

Stitched Up Heart are currently on tour with ESCAPE THE FATE along with D.R.U.G.S., POINT NORTH, AND GARZI in the United States. Pick your chance to see them if they're performing close to you.

Sept. 12 - Pittsburgh, Pa. @ Jergels

Sept. 13 - Columbus, Ohio @ King of Clubs

Sept. 15 - Pontiac, Mich. @ Crofoot

Sept. 16 - Covington, Ken. @ Madison Theater

Sept. 17 - Nashville, Tenn. @ Brooklyn Bowl

Sept. 19 - Atlanta, Ga. @ Masquerade Heaven

Sept. 20 - Birmingham, Ala. @ Iron City Birmingham

Sept. 22 - Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live - Ballroom

Sept. 23 - Dallas, Texas @ The Factory

Sept. 24 - San Antonio, Texas @ Vibes Event Center

Sept. 26 - Phoenix, Ariz. @ The Marquee

Sept. 27 - Los Angeles, Calif. @ Belasco

Sept. 29 - Riverside, Calif. @ Riverside Municipal Auditorium

Sept. 30 - Las Vegas, Nev. @ Brooklyn Bowl

Oct. 1 - San Francisco, Calif. @ DNA Lounge

Oct. 3 - Seattle, Wash. @ The Showbox at the Market

Oct. 5 - Portland, Ore. @ Bossanova Ballroom

You can listen to more of the band on Spotify and follow the combo through Facebook for all updates.

Single Review: Wicked Smile - Daze Of Delirium (Heavy Rock, 2022)

When it comes to playing Metal music that could be used on a party many bands often use cliché lyrics. It surely fits to the mood and is surely easier to write but it misses out a chance of talking about something important.

The cover art of Wicked Smiles single comes as a unique photography.

Heavy Rockers Wicked Smile from Australia don't go this route. The topics featured on the debut "Wait for the night" have a range from civil unrest, bullying up to mental health. 

The newest single is set as a bold stomping track. After a short guitar introducer the music begins it's heart beating work. It quickly becomes evident that the song calls to have a good time. 

Anyway it's not that easy to come by. The vocals go a direct line in the verses but start to splitter up in the refrain. The guitars follow this path like as if they crack up from time to time. It offers a more abrasive side but makes the listener having more and more rounds to get through it. It plays around with the riff which hangs in my mind afterwards. 

This hardly comes as a surprise once you know that lead vocalist Danny Cecati (ex Pegazus & Eyefear) stands behind the microphone while Stevie Janevski and Dave Graham are to be heard on guitars. It has a good duration - not too long but also not too short so it's good to enjoy.  

What's coming up next ?  The boys have announced an upcoming headline tour of the United Kingdom in November, where they will also perform at renowned festivals such as Hard Rock Hell and Winter Storm. 

Wicked Smile were also recently added to the Silverback Touring roster where the boys have an upcoming Australia wide December tour with rock legends Skid Row.

Make sure to connect with them through Facebook to hold the line. 

Video Premiere: Disout - All Of Them (Heavy Rock)

I'm constantly overwhelmed to hear how much more music is worked out in detail in the time we're living in.

This brand new track of Disout is a good example for that. While it starts out as a rough track you may first think of thrash metal. But soon it becomes clear that it's far more than a "simple" riff slasher.

The cover of Disout's current output "MIEN"

The drumming in the back goes a unusual pattern and changes so much that you may feel the need to sort on the first listen but it fit's well once you realized how  this works with the overall sound. The vocals also wander to different places inside the song. They suit the words well and express a wide range of feelings - a ever changing landscape of emotions as a look behind it's meaning underlines.

Disout's debut album "MIEN" is about people and society. "All of Them" sees the dark side of humanity, feelings and emotions of the main character.  

If you feel compelled by the video don't hesitate to purchase and listen the whole album or check out the band's web presences.

BUY CD -  https://www.amazon.com/Mien-Disout/dp/B08VN6W4PB/ref=tmm_acd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid&sr
SPOTIFY - https://open.spotify.com/album/3n8rcxIPNEnQGjh7m13977?si=z0k1Sy1pSTWA7ITyYmR1Jg&nd=1
ITUNES - https://music.apple.com/us/album/mien/1542736456
 
Social:
https://www.facebook.com/disoutofficial
https://www.instagram.com/disoutofficial/
https://twitter.com/disoutofficial

Lords Of Salem spit fire in these silent times

In this time of no live shows it feels like water in the desert when you're able to see a artist perform at all.
 
I had a lot of fun as I checked out Lords Of Salems newest live recording. The  heavy Rock band seeds a heavy potion of power in the 25 minutes of the video duration. It reminded me a lot of a mixture between harder Alice Cooper songs and the abrasive vocals of Udo Dirkschneider.  

Besides that I warmly welcome the directness of the sound Lords Of Salem perform with. You can rock out straight to the music without need to dig in too deep into the sound. That's the fun we need in these times!
 
Besides that the video has a very professional presentation on a bigger stage with fine lightshow and fire effects and even a girl spitting some fire.
 
Make sure to purchase the first EP "Hell Over Salem" produced by Achim Köhler so the band can continue to spread more fun in the future.

SpiteFuel return with a Flame To The Night in November

After the release of the outstanding concept album "Dreamworld Collapse" last year, moving months lie behind SpiteFuel, which caused a lot of unrest among their fans with the departure of their frontman and the introduction of the new singer Philipp Stahl.

Without a long creative break the songwriting machine of the guitarists Eurich and Pflüger continued to run at full speed and created 11 tracks which have opened a new chapter in the history of the band.

"Flame To The Night" is the name of the new longplayer which was produced in summer, again at the Gernhart Studio Troisdorf under the direction of Martin Buchwalter and will be released on November 8th via Black Sunset/MDD.

So how is the new album going to sound like? The record company states: "The guys combine on their new album well-known trademarks of the band like the technically sophisticated guitar riffing and a lot of feel for melody with a new, more "snotty" attitude to a wild, rocking, metallic mixture, which shows that there is only one direction for the band: Full speed ahead! Be prepared!"

I'm looking forward to what SpiteFuel has made of a precious situation like this. Many big stories in Metal history have proven that it can be a chance for a change. I'll keep a eye on them on Facebook to see how the story goes on.

Single Review: Swirl - The Lift (Heavy Rock, 2018)

Feeling bad? This one track will help you get back in a good mood.

Introduction
Swirl came to me as a band playing the classic heavy rock note but having spread own ideas and fine undertones all over their sound. This track called "The Lift" comes around as a first sign of new music from the US band.

The cover of Swirl's new single "The Lift", (c) by Swirl, used with kind permission

Summary
The sound is much shaper, clearer and compact than on the previous release - the Swirl disc that contained songs that also were used in the "Ditch Day Massacre" movie. I think that's a big plus. You can access the music much faster this way I think. Overall the song does what the track name promises -  it lift's my feelings up. It has a easier feeling with it compared to the older tunes.

What else has changed? The vocals are outworked more and point the listener's attention to various corners of the song. It shows evolvement no question. The last third is a bit rougher with repeating the chorus over and over again and much heavier guitars in the sound. That goes a bit deeper under the skin. That's why I would say they do heavy and not just hard rock.

Puchase Link & Stream
You can pick the song up as download single as part of the running GoFundMe campaign. If you purchase the track over there you will not only get the electric but also the accoustic version of "The Lift" as a bonus.

If you spend some more money you can get your hand on some more cool stuff in return. For instance the band is open to play a house party for people living in certain regions of the US - wouldn't that rock your next birthday party? Just imagine you can say you have the band onstage tonight that has songs that were used in the "Ditch Day Massacre" movie. People could rock out to this all the way! Overall the more you give the more new music the band can produce.

If that doesn't fit your needs you can still get the onetracker as regular download on the portals such as iTunes but this only secures you the electric version.

Song Stream
Listen and relax.

 
Contact-Data
Keep a eye on Swirl with Facebook or check the good old homepage of 'em.

SpiteFuel take us to "Dreamworld Collapse"

Things are moving constantly forward in the SpiteFuel camp. After a successfull first album and lot's of shows during this year the Heavy Rockers are preparing relentlessly new music for their followers. The first fruits of their efforts are already coming into sight so today we can hand the first details of the upcoming longplayer to you.

The upcoming album, which will be called "Dreamworld Collapse", will be released in spring next year via MDD Records and will follow a lyrical and musical concept.

Therefore the band apparently has planned some surprises, because on their Facebook page they are announcing the upcoming album as follows: "We are so happy to work with so many great people on this project to bring you our vision of this record… stay tuned!"

Make sure to stay in connection with SpiteFuel using Facebook so you won't miss out anything.

Knowing that waiting can be a painful thing I've included a proshot live video of one of the band's performances below. The song comes of the first album "Second To None".

It's been filmed with official license of the band but still has the raw and unfiltered charme of a real live recording with it. You can even spot the fun of the musicians in their faces while performing live  during  the clip - those emotions have been captured very well. Not to be seen often in such recordings.

Moscow shares thoughts on the inner voice

Always listen to your inner voice! That's what Russian Rock Goddess Moscow tries to express with her song and video for the track "Queen of Sin". I like that raw screamed refrain. It cuts this part of the song out of the softer context of the rest of the music. Additonally there are some spoken distorted pieces in there, too. That add's even more to the special feeling this single represents in my ears.


Underneath the rocking attitude the track holds a strong message in it's lyrics which I think is well worth taking a moment to think about...

When asked about the meaning behind “Queen of Sin”, Moscow said: “The 'Queen of Sin' idea was originally based on the philosophy of Nietzsche, which basically says that you are your own god and your own devil, you are in charge of your morals, to decide what's good and what's bad. Listen to your own Queen of Sin, which we all have deep inside.”

Check out more of Moscow by following her on the social accounts hosted at Twitter and Instagram.or go directly to iTunes to purchase the EP of the same name.

Live Review: Semperfield / Insanity Moments - Lingen 15.07.2017

What a fantastic night! It was a great pleasure to discover two fresh bands at this very summer evening. A little story about feeling like going back to the days of your first concert visits.

Having arrived early at the venue was a plus. I had the pleasure to talk to some people outside of the venue and could easily get into the mood for the evening. The venue this time was a youth center that was kind enough to give new bands a chance and host the event. Sure it's small in there but I love the way the few space is used. For instance there's a area where you can put up your jacket. The holders are mounted underneath a nice collection of vinyl that are drapped at the wall. It feels a bit like home.

Precisely at 20h Insanity Moments took to the stage to open up their set. The band seized their chance and gave the crowd a good insight into their unique sound offers. It's one of those young bands that are able to express the situation they are living in through their music. It felt like a wild mix of Rock, Metal and some easier Pop elements. It talked to me as if it's all about what the guys are going through these days - you can feel that there's the power and sometimes the frustration in that comes along in life. I think it's something that feels like pouring out your heart to someone because you can't hold all of this back.

Insanity Moments live at Kotten Lingen 15.07.2017

Vocalist Jan Blume stood out a bit with his fearless performance. For some reason the audience held a distance to the stage but he filled the gap with going straight into there and perform directly in front of those people. I think that surprised most people and added to the good songs of the band. Check out a live recording done at another venue that the band uploaded to YouTube.


Shortly afterwards Semperfield took over and they played their hearts out this evening. While mostly sticking to the Heavy Rock formula the band played a long and very extended set to the audience. This concert sometimes felt endless to me - and that's a good sign. I thought they would never end this set. Semperfield mostly brought their own original material with them which surely has been inspired by the Foo Fighters but was a great pleasure to the writer of these lines. They also played a cover tune every here and there. Nirvana's "Smells like teen spirit" was warmly welcomed by the crowd and the audience changed into a pit feeling like a mirror of the power that was circulating on stage.

Semperfield rocked the youth center Kotten at Lingen 15.07.2017

Here's the videoclip for the band's own song "Dusty Paradise" for you to check out.

Finally it should be mentioned that this was part 3 of a new concert series in Lingen, Germany. Part 4 is already coming up and will take place on August 19th 2017 at Alter Schlachthof in Lingen. Kings Call will be the headliner of that evening. Make sure to pick all the further information from the Facebook page for the concert series.

Interview with SpiteFuel (Heavy Rock, 2017)

SpiteFuel are a powerful and relatively young Heavy Rock band from Germany. Their roots go back to the days when Strangelet were still around. This legendary formation brought to life the well respected "First Bite" record that presented the band playing old school Deep Purple vibes all along mixed up with a lot of emotion and slightly modern metal elements while sticking overall to the oldschool sound package.

Following the split up of Strangelet three members (vocalist Stefan Zörner, Tobias Eurich und Finn Janetzky)  joined forces with the Ex-Devil's Darling members Timo Pflüger and Björn Hessenmüller. They didn't waste time and gave birth to a new combo called SpiteFuel that aims at a much heavier sound while keeping the spirit of Strangelet alive through the use of hooklines that people will remind and sing-along to.

After a strong first album teaser in form of the "Sleeping With Wolves" single their debut album "Second To None" is getting closer with each day. While we wait for the release on 7th of April 2017 we seized the time in between to have a prelisten to the songs and talk with vocalist Stefan Zörner about the details of the impending full length release. Have a listen to the first single while reading the interview in the player below.

Heavy Metal Underdogs: The first appetizer to the album was the Maxi CD "Sleeping With Wolves". It came out in the good old tradition some time before the album release as a physical disc (and also download). This is a courageous decision in my eyes.

What gave the point to finally decide to put it out as a real disc in a digital age?

Stefan Zörner: Ha! Yeah, just as you said! In the good old tradition! That was the intension! We decided this together with Markus (Rösner), our label-boss and friend. We wanted to release the single in a physical form to set an first exclamation mark. Also we are no big fans of that “download-Thing” and we wanted to give a first “real” CD to our supporters and fans. And to be a worthy appetizer to the album, of course, haha!

Do you write the songs as a band do you have a strict limitation who is reliable for certain aspects of the songs?

Both! Most of the songs are created by one of us and come in as demos. In rehearsal we put the tracks together, change some parts or discus the parts, refrains or bridges. When the music feels good and right for all of us, Tobi and Timo think about their solos and I start to write the lyrics and vocal-melodies. Even when I write songs on my own, there is always the music the first in my mind. Tobias is our main songwriter, but Timo and I are writing songs, too. A very comfortable situation for a band, haha! There are so many new songs in stock, we can´t wait to bring them in form and put them on an album!

The album put's a signature with many outworked and long guitar solos. Was this something you had in mind when you composed the music for the album or how did it come together?

Ha, we all love guitar solos and -old school or not- we want solos in our songs! Timo and Tobi are great solo guitarists and so there was no other way for us to create the music! We don´t give a fuck if it´s hip or not, we just do the shit that we love and we would even buy, haha!

These two boys spend hours over hours in their solos and riffs, and I really love the way, they give a special note to the songs! SO all I can say is... more solos, please!!!

Some vocal parts on "Second To None" sound experimental or are performed in a unusual way. How do you work on them and how long does it take until you feel fine with them? Do the other band-members maybe also contribute ideas to them?

Uhhh, most of the hmmm “stranger” (*laughs*) vocal-arrangements happened just as we (Martin Buchwalter and I) recorded them! But ok... I had a kind of concrete vision in my head HOW they should sound, hahaha! In fact, no joke, there was a real close connection between Martin and my humble self, he knew exactly how to push or demand me in a real creative and kind way! This was a so fantastic experience for me to record the vocal-lines!

Vocalist Stefan Zörner performing live, (c) by Tiffany Anne, used with kind permission

Let's have a closer look upon the lyrics. Who writes them?

Most of the lyrics are children of my weird and colourful mind, haha! Sometimes, there are concepts, words, even song-names, that Tobi wants me to write or to complete his music with my lyrics, as you know, we are not just band-mates, we are also close friends (Tobi and Timo are two of my best friends!). A very cool way to write lyrics, too! And I really LOVE new challenges!

Obviously the texts talk a lot about real life aspects. Did you had certain situations on your mind when you wrote these lines?

Definitely! Always! As you can say, SECOND TO NONE is a diary of my inner thoughts, reflections and reactions to all that I experience, feel and even dream. Drama baby, drama! (*laughs dirty*)

To write about shiny demons, castles and how bloody mad or tough I am... no, Sir, sorry, not my cup of tea in the SpiteFuel-context. The real life is the real shit. And I still think, just a hand full of (cool) people read lyrics anyway, so I can write WHAT I want and very intimate... no one cares, hahaha!

Would you say that the lyrics for various tracks are somewhat linked on the album? (I had the feeling)

Okay... YOU are one of the few cool lyric-readers, hahaha! Yeah, it´s kinda funny, some reviewers and even close friends asked me about the “concept” behind SECOND TO NONE. The first reaction was “there is no concept, dear!” But... hell the fuck, there IS a loosely concept! This happened in a ... more subconscious way. But the concept IS there, yes. There are three blocks of lyrics, three emphases. Love, Faith and my reflection on the music scene and the industry... try to figure it out! Haha!

Is there a sort of message you would like to transmit to the listener this way?

No! It really doesn´t matters if the listener just enjoys the music or if she or he is willing to go deeper into the album and it´s lyrics. The only thing I would like to say is: Have fun with the songs, enjoy the sound and let your fantasy do the rest!

The band logo of SpiteFuel, (c) by SpiteFuel, used with kind permission

What do think about the thought of being able to change your past? Do you believe in the Butterfly-Effect? (this refers to the movie of the same name - strictly part 1. In this film the main character is able to change his past using a certain book. In the end every change he does make his life and those of his friends even worser in the present time.).

I really love that movie! I am a great fan of science fiction and theories like used in “Butterfly-Effect”. To answer your question: I think, that every thing we do, every good, every bad word or act comes back to use one day. Karma. Also I am a Christ. I try to do my fucking best. Every day I try not to be a big asshole, haha! And... hmm... no, I won´t change the past. Because all that we are now are the results of what we did once.

The track "Regrets" got me. Do you think that regret also can have a positive effect for someone who has to deal with it?

Jah, of course, man! As I always say... we all are human. In all the brilliant moments, with all the gifts, we are able to use... and in the same way with all the mistakes, defective doings and shit. We are both. Angels and demons. But we can choose. Always! Ant to regret is a basic step into the light, out of that fucking void called “desperation and hatred”.

The cover artwork is outstanding. Would you mind and give us a little hint on the meaning of it? I also had the feeling that the title "Second To None" could have a double-meaning behind it...

(Explanation: This could be related to the saying "We have beat you second to none". Or it's a second leading into nothingness...)

The cover artwork and inlay of SpiteFuel's "Second To None" CD, (c) by SpiteFuel, used with kind permission

Yeah, the artwork by the great Travis Smith is outstanding! We are very honoured! And yep, double-meaning is correct! You can also say hmmmm every song on the album is second to no other track (to none)! Or: The album is second to none before. There are so many ways to interpret the title, yeah!

And the tower, the angel, burning wings, the clock... it all stands for strong symbols. Time is flame that will burn our wings. Live life now. Be human. Just be. There is so many within this artwork. I am very happy with this cover!

Some elements of the "Second To None" sleeve and the "Sleeping With Wolves" single are to be found in both artworks (e.g. the clock). How are both connected to each other?

No big deal! We just wanted to give a hint to the full album within the artwork for the single. So there is the tower/ angel in the background. The more essential details are the wolf and the dollars, of course! “Sleeping” is a statement to the industry and the “Lemmings” nowadays. Same story in “Whorehouse Symphony”. I think, it is important to make a stand. Popular or not... well, I don´t give a fuck!

Finally: was there a moment in your life when music became something outstanding for you? Was there a key situation that maybe changed it all?

Uhhhh... I think, that was when I first listened to David Bowie´s masterpiece “Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars”, must be in the early 80´s. That sound, that championship to use lyrics, that coolness and glitter and (slightly) rock... it never let my down. From that day on I used to sing (ant I am still trying, hahaha!) 

You can preorder the album at the online shop of MDD Records or place your order through Amazon.
If you live in the USA you can order the record through Lone Star Metal based in Texas.  Make sure to have a look upon the band's Facebook account to follow them on the next steps towards the album release and have a look at the tourdates (directly to be found as the sticky first post on the page). 

CD Review: September Mourning - Volume II (Dark female fronted Rock/Metal 2016)

A smashing piece of female fronted rock/metal music taking you deep into the world of dark and grown-up comic characters without losing the sense for the real world.

The front cover of September Mourning's Volume II, (c) by September Mourning, used with kind permission

Summary

Some albums take you into another world. This particular one is a fine example for this. Besides the heavy and diverse rocking music tracks that invite you to have a good time and rock out to them this release contains far more.

It let's you sink in deep into a realm of comic characters that could be easily transfered from the real world. While the characters for sure are fictional you can easily connect with them if you look upon the story with adult eyes. It's like in the real world we are living in. The actions they do for sure aren't real but like in a fairytale you can see all the relations have a consequence and you may be able to learn something of the plot in the end.

It's for sure a album that aim's at the grown-up audience. Much to much of the story is based upon hard facts but if you like to take a brief time of your own life without going into a unrealistic realm this album is for you. The music screams out for a proper show on stage and I think the band should be worth a visit. Just look at the end of this review for US dates starting End of Feburary 2017. I hope they'll come to Europe/Germany some other day, too.

The music itself comes around hard and heavy. Often there are haunting moments inside of them - the vocals give express so much of what the topic of the song is all about. The guitars and drums push you constantly but also leave room to breathe every here and there. It's a thin line between heavyness and melody but this band has the ability it takes to provide songs that are authentic and lighter at the same time.

Preview-Track

The album has been released via Sumerian Records.. Music is always worth it so please support those that provide us with such a great treat. I've added the video for "20 Below" to give you a quick first insight into the band's sound.


 
Tour Dates

Be sure to see the band live in the United States starting in February 2017 alongside Dope, Combichrist and Davey Suicide. Dates are given below:

02/27 @ Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
02/28 @ Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
03/02 @ Liquid Joe's - Salt Lake City, UT
03/03 @ Sunshine Studios - Colorado Springs, CO
03/04 @ Aftershock - Merriam, KS
03/05 @ Outland Ballroom - Springfield, MO
03/06 @ Underground - Omaha, NE
03/07 @ Gabe's Oasis - Iowa City, IA
03/08 @ Amsterdam Bar & Hall - St Paul, MN
03/09 @ Courtside - Dubuque, IA
03/10 @ Q&Z Expo Center - Ringle, WI
03/11 @ The Sandlot - Green Bay, WI
03/12 @ The Annex - Madison, WI
03/13 @ The Metal Grill - Cudahy, WI
03/14 @ The Agora - Cleveland, OH
03/15 @ HOME Bar - Arlington Heights, IL
03/16 @ Big Shots - Valparaiso, IN
03/17 @ The Apollo Theatre - Belvedere, IL
03/18 @ The Machine Shop - Flint, MI
03/19 @ The Music Factory - Battle Creek, MI
03/20 @ Trixie's Ent. Complex - Louisville, KY
03/21 @ Diesel - Pittsburgh, PA
03/22 @ Reverb - Reading, PA

The band September Mourning, (c) by September Mourning, used with kind permission

03/23 @ Highline Ballroom - New York, NY
03/24 @ Palladium - Worcester, MA
03/25 @ Fish Head Cantina - Halethorpe, MD
03/26 @ Arizona Pete's -Greensboro, NC
03/28 @ The Haven - Winter Park, FL
03/29 @ The Orpheum - Tampa, FL
03/30 @ O'Malley's Sports Bar - Fort Lauderdale, FL
04/02 @ Southport Music Hall - New Orleans, LA
04/03 @ Grizzly Hall - Austin, TX
04/04 @ Scout Bar - Houston, TX
04/05 @ Fitzgerald's - San Antonio, TX
04/06 @ Trees - Dallas, TX
04/08 @ Club Red - Mesa, AZ
04/09 @ The Regent Theater - Los Angeles, CA

SpiteFuel release slightly dark-toned single

Sometimes snippets circulate early letting you guess about the quality of a upcoming release. SpiteFuel did the same for the "Sleeping with wolves" release and combined it with a show announcement at the Live Factory in Adelsheim, Germany that will take place on the upcoming weekend (03. December 2016).

The cool thing is that the trailer only gave few cuts out to the listener so not much was given out too soon. Anyway I liked it this way and the fact that the band not only invited to their upcoming performance but also mentioned the other bands on the billing, too. Such a treat is not to be found often these days.

Anyway right now we're given the full title track of the "Sleeping with wolves" single. I can only recommend to listen to this one, it's a burner for all those loving melodic but also heavy and slightly dark metal music. It's great to hear the band kept the focus on developing a unique style with a positive basic tone but not forgetting the real world and working parts of how it's like to live on today's planet earth in with the sound. Just listen to the heavier and slower riffing in the verses and the massive variations on the vocals to find out what I'm talking about.


The 3 track Single contains with the title track for the first time a taste for their new album, which will be titled "Second To None" and will be released in spring.

As a bonus, this 3-song single contains a bombastic, orchestral soundtrack version of the titletrack, arranged exclusively by Arkadius Antonik (SuidAkra, Realms Of Odoric), as well a re-recording of "Never Surrender“.

The cover of the "Sleeping with wolves" single. Cover artwork by Fabian Schwarz with additional work by Travis Smith, (c) by SpiteFuel, used with kind permission

The single is available as a fine tradtional packed Compact Disc in the MDD mailorder and at the liveshows of the band. In addition you can get it as download with some bonus content (Cover, booklet and CD tray graphics as well as the "Never surrender" videoclip in MP4 format) for only 2 Euro on the Bandcamp page of SpiteFuel.to shorten the waiting time on the album . No matter which format you prefer, tracks 2 and 3 are always single exclusive songs.

Maybe this is also a nice idea as a christmas or St. Nicholas gift? Remember that Bandcamp offers the gift option directly at each product page - it's easy to find directly underneath the "Buy now" button.

Make sure to check SpiteFuels Facebook page to keep track of upcoming shows and the next steps 'till the album release in spring 2017.

SpiteFuel: in the studio! Album in spring, Single in December.

So we didn't had any news on the heavy rockers from SpiteFuel here on the site for some time. What's happening over there?

The band has played some gigs in the meantime and was busy preparing songs for the first album. They constantly keep adding gigs to their schedule but as of today we have a little more concrete news snippet for you.

SpiteFuel with a happy crowd in the background, Photo credit: Hobbit Hauser

SpiteFuel has entered the Gernhart Studios (where already Destruction, Elvenking and Perzonal War recorded their albums) in Troisdorf, Germany (that's near Cologne) these days, in order to record their new longplayer, which will be released on MDD Records next spring.

In order to shorten the waiting time, the band is already planning a single entitled "Sleeping With Wolves" in December, which will include the brand new song in various versions. Among other things, an orchestral implementation is currently underway, for which composer Arkadius Antonik (Realms Of Odoric, SuidAkra) is responsible.  

Sounds exciting to me. As for now here's a list of dates the band will play in the upcoming time here in germany. For updates and more info on these show always check back to the Facebook page of the band.

Btw: I just saw that the band is hosting a video diary on the same site so we can keep a close eye on the progress in the studio that way. :-)

2016
22. October - The Ranch Festival, Hechingen (with Brainstorm, Mystic Prophecy and many more!)
05. November - Bonfire Support, ROFA Bad Friedrichshall
30. December - Red River Party with Wild Rider, Heilbronn

2017
11. March 2017 - Rock im Wildpark, Bad Mergentheim
06. May 2017 - A Chance for Metal Festival, Andernach

To help skip the waiting time until the new single and album will be released here is the first full song that the band has put out earlier this year.

SpiteFuel prove that they will "Never Surrender" with first single

After Strangelet called it quits only roughly a month ago I was sceptic if the new formation called SpiteFuel would be able to carry on the torch that has been ignited with the "First Bite" album. You know when such great releases come along it's always hard to go on after that. That album blew me away like a storm so it was a high mark the new band would have to take.

But they made it! They once again charmed me enough with these mega refrain so I couldn't get off listening to the track. It's after all for sure a bit heavier than the previous material was but it still feels authentic.

You can feel that the main spirit that has been the core of Strangelet has been faithfully taken care of and is alive and well in this new song as well. The new heavyness tightens the material for sure but it never feels as if the old glance has left. It moreover shines in new colors. But enough of me speaking - have a taste for yourselves in the player below.


The new track "Never Surrender" will be available soon on iTunes, Spotify and the like for purchase. I'll update the article with proper links as soon as I receive them.

Right now there's also a limited physical edition available as a special promo CD. If you purchase any item of the band in the webshop of MDD Records (T-Shirts, Hood Zippers and patches and more are available) or at the shows of the band at the merch booth you'll receive one disc with the song on it for free with your purchase (this goes of course only as long as stocks will last).

The limited edition of the first SpiteFuel single "Never Surrender", (c) by MDD Records, used with kind permission

The band will play the following shows in Germany in 2016:
10. September - Birthday Massacre with The New Black, Wilanzheim
22. October - The Ranch Festival, Hechingen
05. November - Bonfire Support, ROFA Bad Friedrichshall
30. Dezember - Red River Party with Wild Rider, Heilbronn

Shows in 2017
11. März 2017 - Rock im Wildpark, Bad Mergentheim

A full length album is scheduled for release in spring 2017 via MDD Records.

Don't forget to like SpiteFuel on Facebook so you won't miss out on further updates in the meantime.

CD Review: Strangelet - First Bite

Note:  If you have a own band or project that you think might fit in well here for a review or as a presentation / introduction please drop me a line or two in a E-Mail. Please see my profile for my E-Mail adress. I appreciate new suggestions very much so don't hesitate to contact me. I'm also interested in band news / updates / tourdates so keep the stuff coming. Thanks!

If you're having troubles writing in English please send me a E-Mail in your preferred language or use the free Google Translator to transfer your message to English. I also use that tool, it's of course not perfect but I think it will mostly likely work out for our purposes.

Short Introduction

The unsigned german band Strangelet plays Heavy Rock that is heavily influenced with Sleaze and Metal elements. The band has a constant line-up since 2012 and played over 30 gigs in about two years. Their full length album "First Bite" has been self-written, self-produced (Jonas on keys is also the prospective sound engineer and producer of the band) and self financed. The mastering was done by Stem Masters Munich (J.B.O., Fiddler´s Green…). Currently the band is already in the process of writing material for the next release of the band.

   

(c) by Strangelet, used with kind permission

Summary / Player

This album came as a total surprise to me and it struck me hard. I wasn't sure what to expect of a band with this mixture of elements but this is a must have to all those people loving music that is hard rocking at mostly midtempo speed. All tracks come fully dedicated and the band gave it's full heart blood to make each song a unique experience. 

Their sound is hard to compare to but I would most compare them to Unisonic or Gotthard but with a strong addition of keyboards to the sound that remind me a lot of the good old Deep Purple. It's this full dedication of the sound along with the vocals that have some touch of Gotthard-like spirit that makes them something special. In fact it is a outstanding debut record. It's music that could describe various days in your life, each with a different vibe. 11 days of your life...

You can check out the full album from the website of the band. I've also added the two promotional videos at the track by track section to give you a fast idea of the band's sound. The record can be ordered as a pressed Compact Disc for 10 Euro plus shipping and handling through the E-Mail contact adress of the band. Please see the linked contact page of the band for the mail adress. A MP3 download version of the album is available as well from the same contact adress. There's also some merchandise available like a T-Shirt. Just ask the band for the details. 

Update 2015/06/11: If you live in Japan and would like to buy the CD you may do so at the shop of Anderstein Music.

Update 2015/03/09: For all visitors from the USA/Canada - the album is also available from CD Baby. The download is available for 9,99 Dollar.

You can follow the band on Facebook or YouTube to stay in touch with them.

Track-by-Track-Review

1. Privilege of Power


The direct riffer for the start of the album. A uptempo track that easily kicks you in to the album. Very straight and direct it takes on a ride. But wait, it's just the beginning of it all...

2. Nothing
A stomping midtemo song. Cool whistling of the melody at the start. This one is a straight scream along track that you can go on with from the very first listening. The solo comes in very hard. Takes you even further inside and wanting to hear more.

3. Tainted
My absolute favorit! I loved this from the very start. It speaks so much of what is in my heart. It's a beautiful midtemo hymm. The refrain will let you sing along again. The keyboards set the deep mark with vocals here for the first time. This is when you're really inside music! A organic song that goes straight to the heart.

4. Pray To Break
The intro comes very mythical, followed up by a straight uptempo rocker. The hammond sounding keyboards form the theme of the song, while the vocals come very stretched out on this one. A modern way of songwriting in here but one that fits to the mood of the music.

5. Stillborn


A half ballad with much guitars and punch. It feels like a song for the empty days in your life. The bass comes in very cool while the guitars add one of these shining moments that you seldomly find in music. A riff breaker takes the song to a heavier level with much keyboards and shred guitars. Some echoing notes and last notes form a unusual ending to the song. Well worth listening to it.

6. Snakebite
The intro comes in very epic. A riff-ripper this one turns out to be a very straight go-along track with hypnotic keyboards once again. The end is very progressive and jammed along like. Reminds the most of Deep Purple this one.

7. Hell & Back
Keyboards start this one up, a solid midtemo stomping track. The song goes back-and-forth in structure but let's you easy walk along to it.

8. Touch The Sky
A very edgy and progressive one, the riffs hack hard around on this piece of music. A rough cut-refrain, the keyboards play a major role jamming a lot inside the track.

(c) by Strangelet, used with kind permission

9. Catching Fire
The start is very balladesque this one is a hard midtempo pushing track.The keyboards have a very distinct hammond note and also form the end of the track.

10. All That's Left
My heart's broken this one seems to scream! Very strong vocal performance that is only followed by some keyboards. Surely a challenge to each singer. Guitars only at the end of this forming a soft solo and ending to "All that's left".

11. Hiding Star
The last light shining on the sky tonight. That's what this one reminded me of. A slow track dominated by keyboards once again with soft vocals form a perfect fade-out to the album. Let's hope we'll hear and see more from this band!