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.

EP Review: Lady Beast - Omens (Power Metal, 2021)

Are musicians always in need of a big budget to get something great done ? The brand new Lady Beast EP has a basic sound but not a big production behind it. 

The cover invites to think about it's meaning.

Nevertheless the band put together great songs. They feel like very different parts flow into each other without cutting edges.

The music also feels outworked more - take the vocals as example. They are more fine tuned this time and often show many different aspects and approach on high singing in a different way compared to similar material of other bands.

In fact I have to listen to these songs multiple times to fully get inside. That surprised me a bit. The good side is that it didn't kick me away at first listen so I kept trying another time and was rewarded with the discovery of the mentioned refined work on their music.

If you're into classic power metal you'll quickly get this started but it will do something with you. Maybe you'll feel the way I did - thinking wow - this is somewhat different than music I've heard before. This goes especially for the songs "Blood For Blood" and "Kill The King".

The guitar solos go deeper. They are highlighted through a significant higher toned sound and stand out of the sound. It's like this on all of the songs of this EP.

Pre-Order the CD (10 bucks) or LP on screen printed black/white splatter vinyl (20 euro) 

http://shop.reapermetalproductions.com/products?utf8=%E2%9C%93&search=omens

Preview the mini album with the opening track right here.

EP Review. Incursion - The Hunter (2020, Trad Metal)

A traditional metal release that reminds me of classic Judas Priest days (Screaming for vengeance) with slight thrash metal riffs every here and there.

This one goes in straight, grooves out a lot. It's not too hard soundwise so the listening is more of joy than having to fight through rough notes. Yet in all the riff-blasting there are breaks every here and there that bring in some fresh wind into the direct sound. It's mostly guitar-driven with a slighty edge on playing the six strings. "Warrior of Destruction" is a good example for this.

"Guiding Faith" shows the band's ability to go for more epic songwriting. The opening riff is already bolder and the song changes far more in it's duration. But don't worry the next track "Fade to black" already pumps in more heavyness and goes in straighter with more speed. It's high vocal screams are outstanding! 

"Kingdom of the dead" is a riff-hacker and speed-run. This spreads out a lot of fun and feels like a reminder to thrash days. It doesn't fiddle around and that's what I love so much. Sounds great!  
 
All in all this feels like a journey that has many stations in it. A travel through a rich landescape of metal riffs.

Metal lovers need to have this - but make sure to be a friend of the high notes. They occur often so you need to feel fine with them. It's available on Bandcamp as download, CD and vinyl (sadly the orange one is already sold out).

New Amoriello tape feat. classic metal with many well known guests

It's the tape that started it all for me. That's why you can see a cassette tape with the Metal Underdogs logo as a banner picture of the support page for the Underdogs on Facebook.

That's why I'm looking forward to the upcoming Amoriello release. This time it seems to be focussed on the high pitched days of Metal as the vocals in the first preview track are dominated of that style.

Be sure to act fast before the dark get's you. Artwork by Juan M. Bello

But also the selection of musicians that contributed to the release talks of a closer look upon certain people to contribute their signature sounds to the release because they all are well experienced in that field.

Carlos Zema All Vocals  (Immortal Guardian, ex-Outworld)
Emilio Martinez  Bass (Yngwie Malmsteen touring)
Ken Stravopoulos  Drums  (ex-Cacophony)
Anthony Stahl  All Keyboards  (Mike LePond's Silent Assassins touring)
James Amelio Pulli   Bass (Impellitteri)
BJ Zampa    Drums (Dokken, House of Lords)
Ronni LeTekro  Guitar Solo  (TNT)
Glen Drover Guitar Solo (ex-Megadeth, ex-King Diamond)
Alex Masi  Guitar Solo  (ex-Metal Blade Records artist)
Toby Knapp  Guitar Solo  (ex-Shrapnel Records artist)

Just relax, sit back and enjoy the title track right here, right now.

The full tape will have five songs that have been created by the studio project. The tracklist reads:

1) Dear Dark     2) This Burning Evil   3) Thirty Four Strings of Fury
4) Magic Wand (Abracadabra)    5) Milan's Lament

Amoriello Dear Dark EP will be released by Ice Fall Records on Cassette this Friday, March 13th 2020 in a edition of only 50 tapes. See the Ice Fall webshop for details and the possibility to place your order.

Corners Of Sanctuary push harder on "Finding Sanctuary"

What I like so much is to see bands evolving. It's always great to have a ear and eye at the start and to see what happens next. Corners Of Sanctuary have developed a lot throughout the time that lays beyond.

Having always been a solid metal band that kept it mostly mid-tempo the band has revamped it's sound with much more power (lot's of double bass drum attacks on this one) and extended work on the vocal side. Their newest track "Finding Sanctuary" taken of the best of compilation album of the same name displays that perfectly for me.

Would like to have and keep that song? Now problem, it's currently up for free download from the band's homepage.

The complete “Finding Sanctuary” album can also be downloaded for free when fans purchase a limited-edition “Kiss Your Ass Goodbye” tour shirt exclusively designed and distributed by LA’s rock fashion guru Metal Babe Mayhem. To receive a 15% discount, use promo code COSMBM15 at checkout by visiting the official Corners of Sanctuarty website by July 10th. 

Update 2018/07/13: The deadline has been extended 'til July 21st. This means the shirt is still available with the same discount code from the link above. Every order also comes with a free download of the "Finding Sanctuary" album.

The new collection, which was mastered by legendary LA producer Bill Metoyer (Slayer, W.A.S.P., Armored Saint), contains 11 tracks, including four completely re-envisioned songs: “Unsung Hero,” “Ready for Battle,” “Eighty-sixed,” and the titled track “Finding Sanctuary”. The physical version of the album is only available at the band’s live shows in either CD or cassette format.

The cover for Corners Of Sanctuary's release "Finding Sanctuary", (c) by Corners Of Sanctuary, used with kind permission

Speaking of live shows: the band will tour Germany in a few weeks plus do more gigs in the US in 2018. Here are the full dates:

July 13th - Hanover, PA
July 20th - Ardmore, PA
August 10th - Frankfurt, Germany
August 11th - Uelsen, Germany
August 13th - Genk, Belgium
August 15th - Hanover, Germany
August 17th - Oldenburg, Germany
August 18th - Lingen, Germany
September 2nd - Long Branch. NJ
October 14th - Baltimore, MD
November 4th Santa Ana, CA.
November 7th - North Hollywood, CA
November 9th - West Hollywood, CA
November 10th - San Diego, CA

A brand new studio album has also been put out in the meantime. Corners of Sanctuary’s fifth album, “The Galloping Hordes,” released on Killer Metal Records, is now available digitally and will be released on CD in the beginning of August.

CD Review: Terra IncΩgnita - Sign With Blood (Epic Heavy Metal, 2016)

Let's discover the Terra IncΩgnita and find the unseen in form of melodic yet very heavy and groove oriented music highlighted by vocals ranging from dark tones to high notes and also some develish laughs can be heard.

Good things come your way when you least expect them. So it happened to me with this 4 track disc of greece-based band Terra Incognita. They crossed my way at a moment I felt down but the band gave me the power to push on forward.

The cover of the EP "Sign With Blood", (c) by Terra IncΩgnita, used with kind permission

It felt to me just as if I was discovered them at one of those moments you know while being on a summer Open Air festival and you hang with people near the stage. Out of nowhere there are these songs in the background and you turn around because they've caught your attention. You want to know who the heck is singing so high and is able to keep these high notes standing for such a long time while the band grooves and powers throughout the whole duration...

Summary

So what has made me curious? Sure thing the band takes what they feel fits best together. This ranges from the classic rock metal anthem formula up to dark classic metal parts but also throws in modern guitar effects every here and there. Sometimes there is also softer part in it giving a moment to breathe just to be back with more heavness shortly afterwards.

The strength of this EP comes from it versatile formula. The music never becomes one-direction styled. Instead it moves and changes withing few moments. It's a high art nevertheless because it sounds like one piece and never loses it's direction so you don't feel as if it's just pressed to be this way. It maintains a natural style.

It's fine to see the agression is finetuned and placed at the proper positions so it always underlines the expression of the music. The vocals round out the great feeling these tunes gave me. They change and besides the great high pitched classic vocals they take forms like speaking, laughing, whispering at times. It's a pleasure to follow the band and while I'm typing these words the music of Terra Incognita is running once and again in the background.

Preview Stream and Purchase-Link

Make sure to tune in to the video of the track "Conqueror" offered below. More can be heard at the Spotify channel of the band or see their Youtube page for some live recordings.

You can pick up a copy as download over at Amazon Music or Google Play.

Contact Data

Please keep in mind that these EP is a teaser to the coming album “Fragments of a Ruined Mind”. So make sure to follow Terra IncΩgnita further on Facebook or check their homepage so you won't miss out on how the story continues...

CD Review: Mercy Isle - Undying Fire (Symphonic Metal, 2016)

A epic piece of symphonic rock and metal that sets it's focus on dedicated listeners of intensive sounds.

Mercy Isle are a American-Dutch symphonic metal/rock band with massive female vocals. The band is a fusion of American pop/rock with elements of European symphonic metal. "Undying Fire" is the first full length release.

The album art for Mercy Isle's "Undying Fire" record, (c) by Mercy Isle, used with kind permission

Summary

Having heard this album several times now it always makes me wonder how deep and completly musicians are able to turn towards music. This album is like it was made to show how much the creators are giving there all and everything into the music.

The longplayer start's out easy with the first three tracks being all songs you would expect of a symphonic metal release these days. The tunes are direct rockers going straight to the meat. You can imagine a crowd going all on it They invite you to let your feelings let go and are a good opener to warm you up for what's to come.

Song four is a ballad turning the tides. Yet easy to access it already becomes more detailed and has some changes in it. This serves as a bridge to "No one will save you" and "Uncaged" both being the hardest to get by tracks. They need the full attention of the listener and are loaded with massive sounds and vocal layers. Being patient pays off and will reveal it's full potential to you.

"I Am" is sort of a crawling number, midtempo all the way but feels warmly welcomed through it's fresh attempt. Something not to be heard that often in this genre of metal. "Saying Goodbye" gives more silent moments - they give you time to take a moment off of the everyday stress and let you dream. The last two tracks give room for the more complex formula deserving higher attention to have the full point. The more often you listen the more you'll enjoy them.

Purchase-Link and Album Preview

If you're after a album that needs several rounds and offers complex and deep song structures "Undying Fire" will give you satisfaction for months. There are also lighter tracks but it surely is for all those that love to focus themselves on music and nothing else. Pick up a copy digitally on Bandcamp or order the silver disc from the same location. The band deserves some bucks for giving us such in-depth music.

For a quick overview I've included the full album stream below.

Upcoming Shows / Contact Data

Some shows have been announced for October 2017 in the Netherlands. Check the band's homepage for more details. Hold a further eye on this band using Reverbnation, Twitter or Facebook.