Alex Garoufalidis let's hearts beat in stereo

Today we've got something a bit different. It's a softer toned song but it's build a great way and I think a wonderful moment to all the open minded out there.

The new single by Alex Garoufalidis will quickly find a way into your heart. 

At the start it's only vocals and piano reaching out to your ears. But this makes it even more special as it already shows you with how much emotion and intensity this particular song comes to you. It's simply impossible not to keep listening.

Afterwards the single builds slowly with drums giving some movement into the sound. As the refrain came in it was already too late for me. The music already touched my heart so much that I knew I had to talk about it on this blog. So much emotion talking to me in all the words that fit so well into the music with such proper instrumentation that it is simply impossible not to hit the repeat button once "Hearts beat in stereo" comes to the end. I think I've not heard such a moving song in a long, long time.

Make sure to listen to Alex Garoufalidis brand new single here or check it out over on Spotify. There's also a full album coming up so make sure to stay in touch so you won't miss out the next steps towards the release.

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.

Neocracy open the road to the new album with heavy catchy single

I remember the time the first Neocracy album hit my inbox. It was a special album full of sensible and broken feelings beautifully packed in riffing songs. The raw sound made it sure all the feelings came through in a direct way without changes.

The new Neocracy is a bit different from what the band released this far.

The newest single called "Torment" goes a different way. It's sound is still soaked with riffs but the drums are way heavier this time and a word on precise timing. The contrast comes in with the vocals that are fine and full of emotion. It's refrain is a earworm that once it's inside your mind won't leave you again. 

But the track has even more to offer. The last third comes with a surprise showing dark toned vocals that the bassist throws into the sound. It all get's a heavier touch before a extended guitar solo and the female vocals close the single. You can intensively feel the dedication the musicians put into the making of "Torment". It's a well worked out track with fine mixing - you need to listen closely to hear all the details that are inside.

Make sure to follow Neocracy further on Facebook and the popular Instagram network. After this teaser I'm sure many of you out there can't wait to see and hear how the band moves on in the upcoming time.

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.