EP Review: Persecutor - Persecutor (Thrash, 2020/2007)

Real thrash metal is timeless. But sure as it is it's not that easy to create and record this music genre properly. This underground EP by polish thrashers Persecutor suprised me with it's fine and outworked production as well as dedicated songwriting showing the solid skills of the band.

A shining thrash diamond has be re-issued in digital format these days.

Also it's first release dates back to 2007 it shows what a underground act with much engagement and heartblood can put out if they want to. While the start "Embryonic Lifeform" goes the typical rough way to hit the listener quick and hard the other tracks evolve. The songs go a midtempo route every here and there and the vocals given more time now show the full glow a dark voice can offer given it's place in the music. "Dogs Of War" is the best example for that.

"Dementia" shows the diversity the band has in themselves. The song structures change from part to part and are a shed of joy to listen to. "The Art Of Killing" closes the release with a slower edgy riffing songstructure and blasting parts.

These days's this little shing diamond has been re-issued the digital way on all streaming plattforms. Below you can find a direct link to listen to the music on Spotify. So sit back, relax and let this fine notes sink in to power you up once more. t just takes few minutes duration.

Single Review: Intoxicated Rage - Battlefield (Thrash, 2019)

Intoxicated Rage, boldly proclaims to be one of the most engaging and unforgettable acts in the New England heavy metal scene. Their name alone speaks directly to the experiences they provide in their music and live performances—anger, power, and entertainment.

Their mission is to force fans to “LET IT OUT”; when performing they want the audience to release all negative energy in a fun and positive experience. The group wants to highlight those raw emotions and take them out of people so they can be better off as individuals. Fans can be sure that after leaving an Intoxicated Rage show they will have an understanding of full on “F***ING RAGE” from headbanging, moshing, and laughter.

Intoxicated Rage released a new single today.

The new single "Battlefield" is the most wired track in Thrash Metal I've heard of in a long time. I love how the song slowly builds. But what I love even more are the riffs. They are played hard and hacked in a bit unusual way. It makes the whole track exciting and crawl slowly out of the speakers.

You can never be sure how it goes on and that make you listen closer. You want to know what comes next. Plus the singer takes this tune to a new level with the more melodic voice. Besides the heavier parts inside the vocals it also pushes a positivity into "Battlefield". It makes the whole song break up like the leaves on a tree in spring. The end is dark and hard and goes without mercy.

The new single is currently already available for stream/purchase on Spotify.


This makes me curious on how the band will move on. A look upon Facebook or their website is highly recommended to keep track of the next steps since a album entitled "Apocalpyse" has been announced.

Single Review: Zarthas - 4 Letter Word (Alternative Metal, 2018)

Are electronics to be tolerated in our music ? I think we should be to open to going new ways. I am glad I did check the new single of Zarthas out. It gave so much so I felt the need to share the word.

The cover of Zarthas new single "4 Letter Word"

This single proves why this can have advantages. While the overall sounding is sharp and going in straight it's those little electronical effects that have been cleverly placed all over the durartion that makes the track stand out a bit. It gives it a exciting kick and prevents the music from becoming monotone.

Don't worry anyway Zarthas make sure the music remains kicking in forward with
lot's of heavyness so the music never loses itself in all the effects. Besides that there are also clear parts to be found which bring in a calming note to the overall riffhacked tonality of the single. The vocals change all the while which also adds to the fun of listening and discovering.

I hope this will be the beginning of something new in the release circle of the band. No one know's for sure yet so it's safe to keep a eye on the homepage or socials of Zarthas to stay up to date.

Homepage
Facebook
Twitter

You can check the video below or listen to the track on Spotify. The song has been released through Inverse Records so I think it should also be available for streaming and purchase through most of the other common plattforms.

CD Review: A Place To Fall - Lost Myself (2016)

What we have here is a bitter brutal post hardcore album that leaves no mercy as about it's message. This band screams out that they really want it all and they've put in so much energy that it will make your speakers blow. Find out how post hardcore should sound in 2016.

Introduction

The band came to my attention at a Open Air festival here in Lingen - the Rock am Dom. At that time the band was starting to form in line-up as well as soundwise but it was already clear that they would sound very promising. So I kept a eye on them and followed them further both on Facebook as well as live at the Rock am Pferdemarkt and a little later at the Abifestival contest. In the meantime the band wrote and recorded "Lost Myself" and over the gigs one could easily see and hear that the band has evolved quite a lot.

The cover of Lost Myself, (c) by A Place To Fall, used with kind permission

Summary / Album overview

The album has a lot of killer qualities. As I wrote above I was able to follow the development of the band but never expected such a result in the end. The record comes straight in with the intro for "The Rise", a dark haunting melody carving the way for what is about to come. The following "Your Fall" shows the heavyness the band combines along with great rhythm. The vocals come in quite harsh on this one but are always melodic and outworked with much passion.

The same goes for "All your lies". That song was already available as stream early at the band's Youtube channel but this version is quite different. The contrast of growls of guitarist Oliver and the clean parts of vocalist Sebastian gives this one a special kicking note. You'll remember this after listening. The tile track that follows shows a masterpiece in my eyes and a first high peak of the record. This one builds slowly crawling on the floor just to explode at the refrain directly into the listeners face. Don't miss out this one.

"New Hopes" goes a more straight way vocal-wise but I love the riffing and drumming on this one. It goes back and forth and shakes 'till the end. "We're Fading Away" has a anthemic refrain and is most melodic and straight forward of the album. The clear guitar parts have been my favorite from the first listen.

We continue on "Dream of Memories" that rips us up with a direct riff. Many vocal layers and variations on this one. Very heavy indeed. "Photographs" is next to go. It's a dark number which much heavy distorted guitar sounds and rhythm changes but a lot of brutal elements nevertheless. "Behind A False Light" closes the album in a straight forward way. The clean notes towards the end leave you with a redemption feeling.

Purchase-Link

The record is up on digital outlets such as Amazon, iTunes and Google Play for 8 Euro. The band also has physical copies on sale in a beautiful fold-out case for the same price. It is available through their webshop or you can message the band through Facebook if you don't have Paypal.

Player

The whole nine songs can be heard on Spotify or Deezer. I've also included the track "We're fading away" for all of you who don't have a acoount there or just want to quickly check out the bands sound.





Contact Data

The band has a cool Facebook page up and running and also offers a insight into the bands activities via Instagram. Also make sure to have a look on their homepage if you want to contact or book them.

CD Review: Light Among Shadows - Welcome...Back!

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

Light Among Shadows are a female fronted symphonic metal band from the south of Spain. In the past years the band released two full length albums entitled "At the Gates of Dawn" in 2011 and only one year later "Welcome...Back!" and toured with both records in the meantime. The style of the band is inspired by fairy tales and horror stories.

At the moment the band is working on the third record with María Barragán on vocals.
This review talks about the second release of the band named "Welcome...back!" with Tatjana Klee, the female voice of the band performing the vocal tracks on the songs of the first two albums.

(c) by Light Among Shadows, used with kind permission

Summary / Player / Purchase-Link

I like albums like these very much. While they are very smphonic and detailed bands like Light Among Shadows keep the heavyness straight in which means that the power doesn't get lost in all the details and sometimes epicness of the tracks.

What we have here is a very riff-oriented album with very outworked vocals on all tracks. You can hear and feel that a lot of time has been spent making the tracks sound perfect. The drums are pushing hard forward with gives the album the extra power. Luckily enough it's not only a album full of smashing tracks but also has a lot of softer moments to offer and never misses out the melody to keep the tracks heart-touching. All in all the album comes with much diversity and often changing parts that can be found in each song.

Please check out this album and if you like go and buy this record to support bands like this one and to have a diamond in your collection that will shine on through moments in life when there's darkness around you. It's well worth it.

The album can be purchased in digital format in stores like Amazon or itunes. Also make sure to have a listen to it first in the Spotify player below. The video for the title track is also one everyone should have a look at. It tells the story of the album compressed in one video so it's a short film which is highly recommended by me and can be seen below in the track by track section.




Track-by-Track review

Welcome...Back!
Very heavy and compact start of the album, much riff-along to the double-bass attack. The refrain comes straight from the heart. A perfect kick in for the album.




Children of the Underworld
Riff-oriented midtempo rocker. The refrain pushes up the speed and makes one want to sing along. Think this could turn out very well on a live show.

When you close your eyes
A balladesque intro followed up by a riff storm intermezzo start this one. A softer bridge leads over to a riff-hacking stomping track. The beautifull vocals are giving it a warm touch. This track is very diverse and shows a wide range of emotions in it. Music speaks out so much more than words could ever do...

Homecoming
A spoken, soft dreaming intermezzo giving the listener a moment to take a break. I like it when a album has parts like this that give you a little pause before the journey goes on.

Of wonder and horror
It's a strong, riff pounding track with stretched vocals and a slightly progressive touch in it. This track needs some time to sink in, so a re-listen is recommended to get the full point in this one.

Through the maze of thorns
A song with a powerfull, hard intro going over to a softer first verse and a pushing refrain. This piece of music has many changes between soft and hard parts in them while the vocals come in majestic and also some spoken verses are inside which surprises the listener. Great solos here. A long and very intensive track.

(c) by Light Among Shadows, used with kind permission

Lost in a sea of nightmares
A powerfull start followed by softer but a bit reverbed vocal parts. It goes over back to the intro rhythm then. This song plays a lot with diversity in the vocals which seem to fit to the theme of the lyrics so it fits very well here.

Mirage

Some time for relaxing again. A soft spoken bridge leading over to the next song.

Dreamshaping

The intro starts soft and the guitars play around with the songs theme. A rougher refrain while the rest comes with a slightly balladesque feeling to it. The end has a effect sort of a redemption feeling to the writer of these lines. A warmly welcomed feeling.

The world behind the mask

The push-in goes fast with a soft going-over while the refrain presents in a slow and stomping way. The feeling overall in this track is somewhat ghostly with many fast changing parts in them. The end comes as a overburning experience which gives more redemption feeling while the end is soft and slowly fading away leaving one behind with many thoughts...

A tarnished mirror

Time for another break! Another soft intermission with dreaming notes in them. The drums are kept very hard and cold on "A tarnished mirror".

Back to where you've never been

We start with a compact riff before vocals and drums are the only things that can be heard. The riffs are set very hard here and the track is catchy. The refrain is outworked a lot with many layers of vocals all around. You'll surely remember this one once heard.

Alone

A soft start and the song moving forwards slowly. The changes between soft and hard parts are arranged epicly with a outstanding solo in here. The vocals are also set in a epic direction while the tonality overall is set on heavyness with a focus on working out the details a lot.