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. 

Memories Of A Dead Man answer the questions of life

These days so many great people die. Recently Martin Birch passed away. Many of you know him as the iconic person behind the production, egineering and mixing desk of Iron Maiden.

So what's the meaning behind all of our lifes? Memories Of A Dead Man have put out a new single that has some answers in the video. Behind the riffladen heavy music stand's a thoughtout message that Ben described in his own words with a look upon the cover picture of the upcoming album of the band:

I've hardly ever spotted a deer on a album cover. It quickly grabbed my attention.

"The cover would be on a "picture"  of the decline of our society, the subjects are often around human psychology and our flaws and weaknesses.  The deer is a symbol of purity and innocence that we, men unfortunately no longer have  ! "

Make sure to listen and watch closely. You may spot some unexpected instruments on this one like a saxophone solo section. Follow the band further on Facebook to see what happens next. The album release is set for October 2020.

Single Review: Crystal Faith - Pain (Metal, 2020)

Some bands can put a subject so much on point it's just unbelievable. These words ran through my head when the newest Crystal Faith single came in.

The cover already teases what's inside.

It's the rushing agony that is spread through the constant push in the first part of the song that let's me sink deeper into the track. The next step comes with the lyrics pumping in with the constant knocking of words - expressing so much of what a person in this situation is thinking and wishing for.

I hardly know of any band that keeps translating feelings and thoughts into music like Crystal Faith do on "Pain". It's a symbiosis of words and music forming a bold message that changes and forms all the way through this digital release.

Finally there's a message at the end that I cannot second enough. I hope more people will think about it having seen and heard this great track.

You can purchase music from the website of the band. Every cent helps them to keep going. Follow them on Facebook for info on all the stuff to (hopefully) come.

Video premiere: Intoxicate-Retention Rumba (Thrash, 2019)

Today we've got a premiere to hand to you. This time it's a thrash metal fast attack caused by swedens Intoxicate. They've a brand new longplayer coming up called "Cross Contamination" digitally on October 11th 2019.

Also the music is going down rough and dirty the music never misses to keep a melodic note throughout the whole duration. The constant vocal attack also feels as if it messages you directly to speak strongly to you.

Besides the fine music the lyrics have a strong meaning behind them asking the sense of free behind so many offers of today. The presentation in the background is excellent with computer screens and plenty of green colours and movements of various fitting objects to the topic. But enough said enjoy it for yourselves right here.
The whole album has 8 songs of fast & melodic Thrash-Metal from Gothenburg, Sweden!​
The album is mixed by Anders Backelin (ex-Lord Belial) and​ mastered by Andy LaRoque.
Cover art by Raimo K. layout by Daniel T.​
The band was formed in 1988 and was one of the first Thrash-metal​ bands from the area. Now they are back and stronger than ever!​

Intoxicate (SWE) - "Cross Contamination" (FALLCD043) ​
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Digital out:11/10-2019​
CD out:tba!​
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Pre-order of the record is available at Downfall Records.

www.downfallrecords.com

Onydia brings a surreal dream to life

Shortly before we leave 2018 behind many of us think of what the new year (hopefully) will bring. First let me wish all of you out there a good and safe going over into the new year.

New releases are already knocking on our door. The name of the band Onydia was created from two greek words, oneiro(dream) and diafanìs (transparent),”the display of a surreal dream in the real world, a mystical dream, our emotions when creating art.”

The album art of Onydia's upcoming album "Reflections", (c) by Onydia, used with kind permission

 After the release of the latest single Dyaphany and the videoclip for the song A New Safe Path, the female prog metal band is ready to release their debut album Reflections via Revalve Records on February 1, 2019.

Reflections is an imposing opera of modern female prog metal consisting of 8 tracks that range through melodic and evocative passages emphasized by the sweet and powerful voice of Eleonora Buono, to reach complex instrumental and guitar solo steps that surprise the listener!

You can preview the whole album with 30 seconds samples from the website of Revalve Records. Preorders are open starting January 11th online at the subpage created by the record company holding more details of the upcoming record.

Onydia shares a glimpse of hope with upcoming single

I like it when the lyrics that come with the music transport something. This part of the song can be a message, a thought, a opionion, a statement or anything else you can imagine. I've often found myselves checking the lyrics out and many times they did hold something worth reading and thinking about. So I can only motivate everyone to do the same thing and have a closer look on what the song wants to tell you.

This track of the band Onydia also has this special idea behind it of transporting something to the listener.
The Main theme of the track is the rebirth of hope when everything seems to be over as the band points out in their own words:

"Life is a complicated path which often makes us feel lonely and abandoned.

In these moments, confidence in ourselves and in our abilities make us feel alive, restoring our energy and letting us create pure art. Creation is a supernatural entity which discloses itself.

The artist cannot help but lends his soul and his voice to this entity, which is stronger and bigger than him. "Dyaphany " is an explosion of creative strength which spreads energy and positivity. "

You can feel that these words come from the heart. Here is a little glimpse on how the single will sound like. If you like progressive metal with the deepth and intensity of the female voice - this is for you. Check out the snippet on the website of the band's record company Revalve Records.
The full single is going to see the light of day on Friday 09.12.2016.

Onydia is the new project born from the hands of the ex Elarmir musicians, Eleonora Buono (Ex Elarmir), Daniele Amador (Ex Elarmir, Ade), Luca Zamberti (Ex Elarmir), After sharing the stage with bands like Arch Enemy, Epica, Sirenia and Amorphis the band continued their way with a new chapter in form of a single and album. 

The Onydia name was created from two greek words, oneiro(dream) and diafanìs (transparent),”the display of a surreal dream in the real world, a mystical dream, our emoctions when creating art”
The band signed a record deal with Revalve Records for the release of the new single in autumn 2016 and the debut album that will be released in the first months of 2017. The album will feature some special guests.

Make use of Facebook to stay in touch with the band for all the further updates.

Meshiaak release "Sin City" styled video

I'm often of the opinion that it's the small things that make life beautiful. We all don't have much in life so we need to make the best of things.

Meshiaak have come around with a brand new video for the song "At the edge of the world". The small thing that makes this one a special clip is the fact that the band let's it rain while they play the track and also use only few color elements in the black and white styled promo video. Both are things you may remember of the "Sin City" movie.

A cut-out of the album cover and the band logo, (c) by Meshiaak, used with kind permission

But for me it's far more that this. The song itself has a topic with a meaning behind it. Also it's more of a darker kind I like to hear that the music comes along in a cool style. It breathes a deep meaning- and thoughtful atmosphere. Two elements that may have become lost in this fast living world. Plus there is the vocal performance of Danny Camilleri who put's in variations and haunting parts which I love so much. The drum performance of Jon Dette is hard and you can feel the push of the beat as he plays the drums.

The reason behind this outstanding performance is easy to see. The vocalist breathes his own experiences through the lyrics as he makes clear in a statement about the lyrics: “It’s the kind of song that would speak to people on a lot of different levels, something that most people would be able to connect with fairly easily. It’s a song that is very close to me personally, especially when it came to the lyrics. It’s where I’ve found myself in the last three years and my moments of doubt, trials and frustrations concerning experiences I’ve had to go through over that time.”

The album "Alliance Of Thieves" is out now via Mascot Records/Mascot Label Group. Make sure to connect to Meshiaak via Facebook.