CD Review: Emissary: The Wretched Masquerade (Power Metal, 2022)

This band combines it's very strengths to bring on something like I've not heard in a longer time.

The cover already gives you food for thought about it's meaning.

The instruments of the US band feel like hey hold a talk to each other. It's all centered around the crunching riffs and the other musicians add, follow but sometimes also contrast to this. But it's far more than this. 

It all stems of a power and passion for music that cannot be heard on every Compact Disc. Just take "In Solitude". It goes far deeper than the usual release. It fires a bunch of feelings towards the listener with it's rawness and power of riffs on the one hand while the other spreads emotions through the vocals and the ever changing drums. 

It's great to hear the songs aren't set in long duration. They follow a compact route keeping the pressure and pureness intact. The album lives of it's ideas. Emissary often have a own way to write the material and that's what keeps me on the stereo. 

The stuctures on songs like "Ruler Of Defiance" follow a unusual pattern and are filled with little snippets (means melodies of the guitar) and textures (raw riffs) not to be heard otherwise. It feels like the band created something on their very own.

The sound is loud and clear. I recommend not to hear the songs on a high level. You'll be able to enjoy all the efforts the band put in more with less volume. This record lives of it's contrasts of heavy music and the fine melodic vocals and melodies on the guitar.

"The Wretched Masquerade" is a all killer no filler release so it's well worth the purchase.

Grab a copy on CD or cassette directly out of the bands hands and have a teaser with the player below.   

The band kindly still let's you download a second disc with old band demo's if you buy a CD copy.

Vinyl copies should be available at a later date.

CD Review: Inner Siege - Fury Of Ages (Power Metal,2021)

Had a good time on most of the album also some tracks shine brighter than others.  

Colored vinyl and a printed jacket should please collectors.

The grand opening "Calling For Violence" surprised me quite well. Giving a midtempo punch it let's you come in slowly to the bands sound. The refrain calls for some scream along in live situations and it woke my interest to hear more of the "Fury Of Ages" album.

Happily "Reborn" track number two continues the good start. In contrast to the opener it changes more often throughout it's duration. The song keeps a constant riffing as a base but adds slight moments of excitement in. High screams and well placed guitar intermezzos shine.

"Firewind" speeds it all up. I'm glad to hear the cranking up doesn't ruin the sound. It's kept straight foward and the joy-factor intact. Keep the volume adjustment low, this feels great on moderate level.

Some guitar wizardy is shown on the short intermezzo "Virtuos Iniquity" before "Echoes Into Eternity" let's a high scream out. Being a good riff shooter this let's us headbang further and mixes some midtempo stop-overs into it's passages - something I love to hear.

"World Of Darkness" is a solid track but didn't resonate so well than the previous songs. Same goes for "Power.Metal.Glory" also sure it has a great refrain with it.

I love to hear the band from the United States keeps the sound on a more clear tone most of the time also on some moments I'd like to have less high tones in the sound. "Iron Lotus" is a negative example for that. I got on my nerves with the many solo sections on it.  

On "Stronghold" parallels to the great band Hammerfall come to my mind. It has a more narrative way of speaking to the audience and the refrain rushes into my heart quickly. Some high screams are placed well. 

The album becomes more direct and on-point soundwise when the album comes towards the end. The tenth track "Hero" and the closing riffer "World on fire" are such tracks. The vocals are variable and you feel they have been painfully worked on many times but the result should make all headbangers out there happy.

The album is available as a CD as well as colored vinyl with lyrics-printed jacket. Please check out one song below and consider a purchase to increase touring chances for these guys.

Reason Define sort sound with deviding sections

Some bands have this something in their sound. It feels to me as if a song is sorted into sections through a devider that works as a bridge. That's something fine in my ears. It's like you can clearly spot that one part already finished and which part is going to be played as next  Looks like this all-female Charlotte/North Carolina based 5 piece had something similar in mind when they put together a new video single.

Reason Define have a package of great riffs for you. The band photo was taken by Obscvre Photography.

Reason Define did this in a special way for me. The track "Pointing Fingers" has many sections in that are build up the way I described in the column before. Besides that the music is power filled and breathes the fire of blazing riffs in them. The drums are straight and pushing but always clear to follow. In addition a nice story has been build into the music video but just see for yourselves...

Make sure to check the website and socials since this is only one song of the new package "In Memory" that has been released in March 2019 already.
https://www.reasondefine.com/

https://www.facebook.com/reasondefine/

https://twitter.com/reasondefine

Single Review: Drop Oblivion - Damaged Goods Reworked (Thrash, 2018)

I reviewed and introduced this track already some time ago. Ian Mortimer, the man behind the project has constantly worked on the song since then. Can a good piece of music still be upgraded?

The cover for Damaged Goods, artwork created by Barnaby Oakley Crossfade Productions, (c) by Drop Oblivion

Reworked for the better
The answer is: yes it can! It is nearly unbelieveable how different the new version sounds compared to the previous version. It feels as if a new song comes out of the speakers right now.

In detail "Damaged Goods" sounds much sharper and clearer now. Most of all the different parts and sections come out to the front. Now it's clear how many riffs and finer undertoned effects this track has in it. The guitars are much louder on this version.

A new drum sound also supports the easier understanding of the track - it's like it's putting marks and properly pointing parts into their direction now. It feels easier to get a fast grip of what the song is all about now.

The guitars got some new riffs in them I think. One section is brand new - the one where the guitars are quite for a few seconds.

The vocals have been completly re-done. They have a more constant line in them now. The overall tonality of the demonicness feels like one layer being constant through the whole duration now.

It's fascinating to hear how much one track can change with such a overhaul. Very well done!

Purchase-Link & Album Crowdfunding
Pick up a copy from the digital plattform Bandcamp. It costs 2 GBP. More platforms will follow in the coming days. I'll add them as them come in.

Currently a full album is in it's finishing stages. Please help to cover the expenses for mixing, mastering and worldwide release with pre-ordering a digital copy of "Narcissistic Councilor" for 10 GBP via Crowdfunder.

Contact Data
Be sure to follow this project further through the Facebook band page of Drop Oblivion.

CD Review: Mikey Cunningham & The Aftermath - Massive head wound (Instrumental Metal, 2016)

This record shows how much you can dive deeply into the world of instrumental rock sometimes slightly mixed with power and progressive elements.

The cover of "Massive head wound", (c) by Mikey Cunningham & The Aftermath, used with kind permission

Summary
The album let's the screaming six strings speak out loud and clearly to the listener. On most of the arrangements the start goes in straight forward with compact riffing and drums that power up the rocking message. Afterwards it's time to show some solo's and a lot of guitar technique's. It comes around a bit like in those days when Jimi Hendrix was alive and put out a new record. The world was stunned to hear what he was able to make of his instrument.

Something similar remains in my mind having listened to this disc. I like that these elements still add to the song as a whole so it's not only a presentation of solo's. The only downside is that nearly all the songs are build like this so after some time some feeling of repeat comes in. But this is the way it is - I think it's already hard enough to get something like this done at all. Please remember that instrumental artists cannot rely upon standard song structures so the pure sound is all they can offer. Sometimes I had to think of Jazz songs listening to the tunes of "Massive head wound" but this can be seen as a plus as I enjoy listening to that genre from time to time, too.

The fine sound of the production made me feel comfortable and added a lot to the listening pleasure. The guitars are sharp but not to hard so they remain enjoyable. Drums are lound and clear most of all the snare set's a mark. It's a pleasure  to hear the band feels as one so it's not guitars all the way with nothing behind it. Surely a strong band backing a cool guitar performance. Don't miss this one out instrumental heads out there.

Purchase- and Preview-Link
You can pick up the album as download through the widget on the band homepage. It costs 9,99 Dollar and you can pay with Paypal. Here we have the track "Creepy Halloween Cat" for you to check out.

Contact Data
Follow the instrumental band on Facebook for show updates etc.