Album Review---Sinister Realm "World of Evil"

I'm a huge 80's classic metal fan and sadly all the greats from then probably wont be around for much longer so I was so happy to find this band just scouring around Bandcamp. Their name is Sinister Realm and they deserve your undivided attention if your a fan of Maiden Priest Saxon Dio etc. Its 8 songs of classic riffing and sing along choruses that pay homage to the greats and just from listening to this album, I can say they should have no shame in this. Every song starts with a riff that makes you listen to the whole song so the hooks sink into you right away. The opening track "Dark Angel of Fate lets you know these guys aren't fucking around! and it pretty much continues this through "Bell Strikes Fear"(my favorite song of the album) all the way through the instrumental "Forest of Souls" where you get slight reprieve before closing out the album with the last two tracks.  I also like the doom element in a few of their songs like the closing song "Four Black Witches" and" Prophets of War". It really adds to the overall feel and presentation of the music. And as expected for musicians who play in bands of this genre, the playing is excellent. Well crafted solo's, drums that really drive the song forward, bass that brings a real fullness to the sound and vocals that just make you pay attention and digest every word. While the singer Alex Kristof doesn't really stay in the Halford or Dickinon range, he does soar high a few times so I would compare the vocals to Dio or Biff Byford from Saxon. Just an excellent offering from this Allentown PA band keeping the future of true metal bright! If your bummed there's no new offerings from Maiden or Priest you should pick this one up, it fills that void perfectly.  The album is available for download now(bandcamp link below) and a physical copy releases in August from Shadow Kingdom Records.
4 1/2 meadhorns out of 5

https://www.facebook.com/SinisterRealm?hc_location=stream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGachsP96fA&feature=player_embedded
http://shadowkingdomrecords.bandcamp.com/album/world-of-evil

Album review---Howl "Bloodlines"

Relapse Records is becoming what Roadrunner was to me in the late 90's early 2000's. A label you could trust for some damn good metal(sadly its a label I avoid at almost all costs now).  Having never heard of these guys before I took a listen to a few songs and ordered their latest CD.  What awaited me was a barrage of relentless songs full of savage riffs, breakneck tempo changes and hooks that really sunk into me. If you cant drink beer to this give up drinking. This is a relentless album from the start and in a day and age when everyone seems to want to have a sensitive side these guys tear at you with their teeth and you should love every second of it.  The influence of every major metal band from the last 30 years is on display yet its a sound totally their own and very modern sounding.(Think Crowbar meets Slayer with black metal inspired vocals) Hopefully these guys will rise above the shit in the metal scene and produce quality albums for many more years to come. I really think they can. I also want to commend the production. Its very polished yet it doesn't take away from the raw feel of this album. I mean every part of this album is mixed perfectly. I really didn't have a stand out track after I listened a few times its just a solid album start to finish. They just announced a US headlining tour with Lord Dying for July and August so go see them if they play near you.
4 meadhorns out of 5
https://www.facebook.com/HowlHeavyMetal?directed_target_id=0
http://www.relapse.com/search_result.php?search_by=all&q=howl&x=13&y=3

Album Review---Black Sabbath "13"

Black Sabbath is my favorite band of all time so when I heard they were reuniting I was very excited. But then Bill Ward chose not to participate for whichever reason which really sucked. So I will base this review on the actual music and not the stupid corporate shit that seems to ruin all good things.  This album is a good album but I wouldn't put it in the same category as the classics although its way better than "Never Say Die". In fact I really don't think it will be mentioned much after a couple years after the hype disappears.  A lot of the songs are reminiscent of earlier songs.  Most fans will instantly compare the opening track "End of the Beginning" to the ultimate metal song "Black Sabbath". Songs like "Loner and" "Zietgiest" are comparable to "NIB" and "Planet Caravan", which isn't a bad thing but maybe a little unoriginal and in my opinion the worst 3 songs on the album. There are some good original sounding songs on here though. I really enjoyed "God is Dead" a lot. Its actually the song that ended my boycott I had on this album. It is impossible not play a little air guitar or headbang to the riff that comes in at the 6:20 mark. I also felt that "Dear Father" may be one of the darkest songs in their entire discography and Sabbath is at their best when it comes to darkness. "Live Forever" and "Age of Reason" are worth mentioning also due to their awesome riffs. I think the bonus edition had the three best songs on the album. "Methademic","Peace of Mind" and "Pariah" were the freshest sounding songs without losing the element that made Sabbath great. Iommi and Butler are still in top form and thank god for that gift to mankind.  Ozzy's vocals were actually good and autotune free which was a pleasant element to the album, yet some of the lyrics were pretty hokey and his use of the word "Yeah" over and over is really annoying. The move to get Brad Wilk was genius since Rage Against the Machine has a very swing feel to their music and I commend his playing in the absence of Bill Ward. I really liked the drums on "Damaged Soul" in particular. I though they captured the classic feel of the evil blues this band does so well. Also a comment about the art work. I really don't like it and it doesn't keep the same feel as the classic albums which if your gonna push this as a reunion of the classic Sabbath at least use the same logo or art style, its almost like they started as a new band image wise. And the title "13" is really weak to me and has been done to death. I think the title "God is Dead" would have turned way more heads because Black Sabbath is suppost to scare the shit out of people.  You should give this album a listen at least even if your in the screw everything Sharon has a hand in camp much like myself. I did really think its a good record for todays metal offerings, I just wish it really was the original lineup.
3 1/2 out of 5 meadhorns

www.blacksabbath.com

Album Review---Amon Amarth "Deciever of the Gods"

Its that time again when the best viking metal band in Midgard comes to tell tales of gods of old and this time Loki is immortalized in the excellent new album "Deciever of the Gods".  I know some people say its the same thing over and over but thats a positive to me cause its good everytime. The awesome guitar riffs and harmonies, the pummeling double bass that never gets stale, the death metal vocals that you can actually understand, themes of brotherhood and just the awesome song writing(it really is the AC/DC of viking metal) are all present and still enjoyable after 9 albums. Like the first track on all of thier albums the opening track primes you to grab an axe and split skulls with it, and theres really no letting up for the 48 mins of brutal viking tales on this album. "Blood Eagle" may be the brutalest of all the songs on this album due to the torture technique its about and the soundbyte before the music starts really sounds horrific.   Songs like"Father of the Wolf", "Shapeshifter","We Shall Destroy" and "Under Siege" will probably become set staples, but really any of the songs could be. The only song that had some different elements in it is the song "Hel".  It has clean vocals sung by fellow swede Messiah Marcolin from the legendary Candlemass, which is a first for this band, as well as a foray into doom metal for a bit, but do not worry its still Amon Amarth. And like the last few albums it ends epicly and in this case its the song 'Warriors from the North" letting you know your journey is over until next album beckons you to gather arms. The deluxe edition comes with the "Under the Influence" ep of some cover songs.  If you need a new album to buy(not steal) this is a album of the year candidate for sure.  You wont regret it unless you think emmure is awesome.
5 out of 5 meadhorns    
www.amonamarth.com

Album Review---Earthling "Dark Path"

I saw these guys play in a dive bar last year in my hometown of Asheville NC.  While the sound wasn't the best there, thier performnce spoke volumes so i was really glad to get a copy of thier debut on Forcefield Records a few weeks back. This is pure thrash with black metal and some punk infused in it.  In fact you could call it charred thrash metal, due to the production sounding like some of the early black metal pioneers like Bathory and early Celtic Frost for example.  When the opening lyrics of the title track proclaim "Were on a dark fucking path" you better believe it and light a torch.  It runs about 35 mins long but there's never a dull moment.  The twin guitars shred through riffs furiously with blast beats and heavy bass tones driving the songs forward at a rapid pace, while the vocals howl of dark subject matters and shredding solo's peppered throughout making this a most enjoyable metal album.  A recent writeup in Decibel magazine should help propel these guys towards the top.  If your a fan of thrash or black metal you should check this album out and keep an eye on thier tour dates.
5 meadhorns out of 5
https://www.facebook.com/earthling.virginia?fref=ts
http://www.forcefieldrecords.org/store/

DVD Review---Judas Priest "Epitaph"

I'm a long time Judas Priest fan, although I've never gotten the chance to see them live, so this DVD may be the next best thing.  I wish the classic lineup was in tact however I will say KK Downing's replacement Richie Faulkner is no slouch and you couldn't really tell he was the new guy except he looks 30 years younger than everyone else.  At least one song from every album Halford sang on is included yet I thought it would have been really awesome to include a song from the 2 Ripper albums "Jugulator" and "Demolition". They were perhaps the 2 heaviest Priest albums following the excellent "PainKiller" album. But at 23 songs there is a shitload of Judas Priest Heavy Metal as the metal god describes their sound. My only complaint is Turbo Lover, I just never liked that song. But then again I also regard Turbo as their worst album. Chances are even a casual Priest fan will know 3 quarters of the setlist but the lesser known cuts are what really makes this DVD awesome. The stage and lighting were pretty fucking metal as well, sometimes it looked like they were playing from a spot in hell, with the pyro and red lighting being prominent throughout the show. The band is in top form and the LIVE feel is captured to perfection. Halford's highs may have suffered a bit but it still impressive for as old as he is. Tipton and Scott Travis haven't lost anything and Ian Hill is just solid on the bass. I bought this on Blu Ray and have to say the picture and sound quality is top notch. If you buy this put a cooler next to your recliner and listen loud!
4.5 meadhorns out of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OSLlUVrLUnI

EP review---Krowwn "Hyborian Age"

I discovered this band a couple months ago, scouring around Bandcamp(which is really the best site to discover unsigned bands)and was instantly hooked after listening to their 6 songs of high adventure and awesome doom riffs. But I think their sound is just as much stoner and southern metal. The intro riff for their instrumental "Stormborn" is about as southernfried as it gets. While songs like "At the Cromlech" and the closing track "The Melnibonean" show their doom influence Its a very solid debut for this 3 piece band who hail from Venice Italy who have only been around a very short time. With groove laden riffs, distorted bass, vocals that tell of adventure in foreign lands and drums that drive the songs forward you will enjoy this EP. If you are a fan of Black Sabbath, St Vitus, Trouble or any of the old masters of doom and darkness buy this EP.
4 meadhorns out of 5
http://krownn.bandcamp.com/album/hyborian-age
https://www.facebook.com/Krownnofdoom

DVD Review---Iced Earth "Live From Ancient Kourion"

 Live from Ancient Kourion is an exceptional release for a live DVD/CD. It serves as a greatest hits package but also includes many songs from their last studio release "Dystopia". Anyone

who thinks Stu Block isn't the right guy to front Iced Earth may be deaf, he does all era's of Iced Earths history to perfection. However perfection is really my only problem with this release. Its not very LIVE sounding apart from the audience. There's no mistakes by anyone in the 2 1/2 hr run time. But I understand you don't want a bunch of mistakes in a product you sell to the public.(I like a little bit of humanity from metal gods when I see them live). A behind the scenes documentary is also included if your into band logistics. All the fan favorite's are included such as Burning Times, Declaration Day, Damien etc. Of course the highlight of the set is Dante's Inferno which really should be the standard for metal songwriting. At 12 coin you really cant go wrong buying this, however the ultra limited release of a Blu-ray was a bit strange since it seems to be the dominant format nowadays.

4 mead horns out of 5
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFBDjXsu7hk

Iced Earth

Album review---Anciients "Heart of Oak"

I had never heard these guys until they were announced as openers on Lamb of God's latest tour, so taking a quick listen to see whether I should go early to see them I was instantly convinced I had no... choice but to go. Unfortunately their van broke down on their way from Canada so I didn't get to witness the sheer awesomeness this band possesses. From the opening notes of the first track "Raise the Sun" this band drawed me in and didn't give any reason to stop listening. The vocals go in between clean and harsh (very similar to Opeth) which I think adds to the overall dynamics of this album. Every note is perfectly placed and the nearly 1 hour of music is a pleasure to listen too. Each member of this band is a master of their craft to say the least. There's so many influences laid out on the table for everyone to hear from Death ,Doom and Thrash metal to classic rock. The journey culminates with the instrumental song "For Lisa" which turns into an Allman Brothers jam showing the diversity in the songwriting from this band. The artwork is pretty badass also and compliments the subject matter of the music perfectly. (There is a MP3 album with 2 bonus tracks from an earlier EP but i'm just reviewing the physical CD) Fans of Opeth, Mastodon and prog metal in general should buy this album or at least give it a listen. Be proud Canadian metallers, your country has forged another fine metal band.
5 out of 5 Mead Horns
http://anciientriffs.bandcamp.com/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o3JgMZKHqrU