Welcome to ‘Metal Lair’s Seven Deadly Songs’ series where we go down the rabbit hole and feature seven metal songs from all over the world past, present and future.
The Acacia Strain are having a Deliverance and Damnation moment by dropping not one but two albums, both in stark contrast of each other. Vocalist Vincent Bennet has an explanation of both records here. They have different sounds. One is slow and sludgy (Failure) while the other (Light) is heavy and fast.
“This is a split timeline between both albums. Which side of the coin did you end up on?,” says Bennett.
Incredible love for the new TAS material has been intense and copious! The band “goes harder than absolutely everybody else.” Both albums show the massive talent and diversity The Acacia Strain possess within their wheelhouse. Buy Failure Will Follow and Step into The Light here:
Cattle Decapitation – A Photic Doom. Genre: Technical death metal. Origin: San Diego, California Label: Metal Blade
Cattle Decapitation’s new album Terrasite is both melodic and blistering but this is largely the heavy beast that Cattle Decap always are. Travis Ryan wanted to go from doom to “daylight horror” and the album delivers that.
From total annihilation to rebirth, “Terrasite”takes you on a journey from anthropogenic ecocide, (Death Atlas) to a new beginning, (Terrasite).
Terrasite is an intense and provocative album that continues Cattle Decapitations tradition of exploring environmental and animal welfare issues through their music. The bands unique signature blend of death metal, grindcore, and progressive metal is on full display. A Photic Doom is the latest video installment from the album. Buy Terrasite here:
Blackbraid – Moss Covered Bones On The Altar of The Moon. Genre: Native American Black Metal. Origin: Adirondack Mountains, US. Label: Independant
Sgah’gahsowah the indigenous one-man Native American black metal band has a new single “Moss Covered Bones on the Altar of the Moon”. The single is off his sophomore album Blackbraid II due out July 7. The song is an ambient, Native American, black metal blend thats cohesive. The original sound this artist puts out is nothing short of beautiful and magnificent.Purchase Moss Covered Bones on The Altar if The Moon here:
Devildriver – This Relationship Broken. Genre: Groove Metal. Origin: Santa Barbara, California. Label: Napalm Records
Devildriver have released their new album Dealing With Demons Vol. II. The new album represents celebrated frontman Dez Fafara’s psyche and the final purging of his demons that have long haunted the band’s music. Devildriver delivers metal ferocity and continues to keep their fans satiated with amazing music. Buy Dealing With Demons Vol. II here:
Feuerschwanz kicks off with outstanding opening track “SGFRD Dragonslayer”. Lyrical references to the legendary Siegfried Dragonslayer combine with heavy riffing and Nordic mythology. The band continues to deliver stunning medieval renaissance style music coupled with lush instrumentation of the highest caliber. The new Album, Fegefeuer, is out July 7, 2023. Get Your Copy of FegefeuerNOW.
Conquer Divide – WelcomeToParadise2. Genre: hard rock, metalcore. Origins: Us, Canada & UK. Label: Mascot Records
Conquer Divide is an all girl metalcore 5 piece with vocals ranging from clean, hypnotic melodies to deep, guttural growls. Instrumentally they are extremely talented and hold their own. As an up-and-coming all female metal band in a male dominated industry these women are role models for girls who dream of being in a band. Musically Conquer Divide possess talent, perseverance and adrenalin pulsing aggression. They have released a new song, Welcome To Paradise 2 off their up-coming album Slow Burn out September 8, 2023. The song touches on the detriment humans are inflicting on our planet. Preorder Slow Burn Here:
Walk With Titans – Herakles. Genre: Power Metal. Origins: Montreal Canada. Label: Rockshots Records
Walk With Titans is an epic power metal outfit with a twist of Greek Mythology. They will be releasing their debut album “Olympian Dystopia” on May 26th, 2023 via Rockshots Records. Preorder Olympian Dystopia here: Efficient, well executed, heavy, and mythical, this is what power metal fans hunger for and this band dishes it up in spades. Check out their newly released single Herakles below.
As the repulsive creature with a twisted, insectile form and human-like intelligence emerged from its ootheca stage, it felt an insatiable hunger gnawing from its insides. Its limbs, elongated and grotesque, twitched with newfound power, and its once human eyes shimmered with an otherworldly luminescence. As it took its first trembling steps, the hybrid, sentient being was startled by the eerie silence that surrounded it. It could feel the weight of a thousand eyes on its back, and it knew it was not alone. A primal rage surged through its body, and it roared in anger, sending shockwaves through the desolate wasteland that was once Earth. The nymph stage had just begun, and it was already a force of nature.
Terrasite (noun) “terra-“ (Latin = “earth”) + “-sitos” (Greek = “food”) Definition: 1. A devourer or destroyer of land or earth. 2. Post-Anthropocene humanity
The title is a word invented by Ryan that brings together “Terra-“ meaning “earth” and “-site” derived from the Greek word “-sitos” which means “food.” “The combination of the two means ‘earth-eater.’ It’s a metaphor for humanity’s role in the destruction of the planet and is a play-on-words of the very fitting word ‘parasite.”
Fierce Cacophonist’s Cattle Decapitation are a five piece metal faction. Their niche is death-grind with a lyrical emphasis on activism. Their career encompasses almost 20 years of consistant mastery. The band have released a brand new album, Terrasite Via Metal Blade Records.
From total annihilation to rebirth, “Terrasite” takes you on a journey from anthropogenic ecocide, (Death Atlas) to a new beginning, (Terrasite).
Terrasite is an intense and provocative album that continues Cattle Decapitations tradition of exploring environmental and animal welfare issues through their music. The bands unique signature blend of death metal, grindcore, and progressive metal is on full display. Their sound on this album is so unique, its as if they’ve spawned a new genre altogether. From the opening moments the listener is immediately plunged into a world of unrelenting brutality and unyielding aggression.
What sets Terrasite apart from the bands other works is the emphasis on melodic atmospheric sound while perduring incontrovertible savagery.
One way the band distinguishes itself is through the vocal technique of frontman Travis Ryan which involves a form of tunnel throat with an interesting spin of melodic banshee wails and glottic distortion. Travis smoothly transitions from raspiness to dinosaur screams. His elocution abilities are unparalleled. Travis captivates the audience by drawing them in through strong song writing, compelling vocal delivery and emotional depth. He projects clarity and conviction through his lyrics. The spectator is able to connect to the music on a personal level which creates a powerful musical experience.
The guitars provide a subtle, textured, ambient fusion thats meant to create a divergent sound. Josh Elmore’s leads are known for his technically skilled and innovative approach to guitar. Theres a combination of intricate layering and solos with high gain tones that cut through the mix. The tapping and legato strategies add depth and complexity.
Belisario Dimuzios adds palm-muted power chords and intricacy that perfectly felicitate Elmore’s leads. One of the stand out aspects of Belisario’s guitar playing is his use of dissonant chords and atonal melodies, which add to the albums overall sense of unease and atrocity.
The craft of Olivier Pinard’s bass playing style is characterized by proficiency, versatility and his ability to create a thick and heavy foundation. The rapid-fire bass lines are one of many stand out aspects. The range of tonal textures and dynamic coupled with his use of effects peddles apply contrast and helps to anchor the music and drive it forward with relentless energy.
David McGraw’s ferocious drumming with use of polyrhythms, odd time signatures and unconventional phrasing add a sense of unpredictability. The blast beats, double bass and fills create a sense of chaos and vociferousness. He’s known for his impeccable timing, use of dynamic range and seamless transition from quiet, sparse sections to explosive full-throttle sections.
Lyrically the album emerges from total annihilation to rebirth although what has risen is very disturbing. The soaring choruses and haunting interludes add an extra layer of depth to the album’s already powerful music.
Lyrically “Terrasite” is as biting and incisive as ever, with the bands recurrent themes taking aim at everything from climate change denial to factory farming. A searing critique of humanities destructive impact on the planet.
Terrasite is a fantastic addition to the bands already impressive discography. With its combination of musical virtuosity and social commentary, its an album that demands to be heard.
Overall Cattle Decapitation’s album Terrasite is a powerful and stimulating work of art that’s a cautionary tale aiming to raise awareness about the critical environmental challenges facing the world today, and to inspire people to take action to protect the planet for future generations.
CATTLE DECAPITATION will support Dark Funeral on the tenth annual Decibel Magazine Tour. The journey will commence on May 11th in Santa Ana, California and run through June 10th in Los Angeles, California. Additional support will be provided by 200 Stab Wounds and Blackbraid.
CATTLE DECAPITATION w/ Dark Funeral, 200 Stab Wounds, Blackbraid: 5/11/2023 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA 5/12/2023 The Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ 5/13/2023 El Rey – Albuquerque, NM 5/15/2023 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX 5/16/2023 Empire Control Room – Austin, TX 5/17/2023 The Warehouse – Houston, TX 5/19/2023 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL 5/20/2023 Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA 5/21/2023 The Underground – Charlotte, NC 5/23/2023 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD 5/24/2023 Irving Plaza – New York, NY * No Blackbraid 5/26/2023 Club Soda – Montreal, QC 5/27/2023 Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON 5/28/2023 Crofoot Ballroom – Pontiac, MI 5/30/2023 The Metro – Chicago, IL 5/31/2023 First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN 6/02/2023 The Summit – Denver, CO 6/03/2023 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT 6/05/2023 El Corazon – Seattle, WA 6/06/2023 The Vogue Theater – Vancouver, BC 6/07/2023 The Roseland Ballroom -Portland, OR 6/09/2023 The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA 6/10/2023 Regent Theater – Los Angeles, CA
Thunderflix is the latest platform to hit the streaming scene, catering specifically to metalheads. Let me tell you, as a music aficionado, Thunderflix does not disappoint.
Spanning across all metal sub-genres the platform offers a vast selection of music, documentaries, behind the scenes footage and concerts. Its the worlds first on-demand metal streaming service. The best part is that its all ad- free!
Thunderflix is the conception of mastermind Samuel Douek who’s worked in film most of his life. Samuel is a die-hard metalhead who has been passionate about the metal genre since his teenage years. Growing up in a small town in Mexico City with limited access to metal music, he turned to the internet to discover new bands and connect with other metalheads. It was through this online community that he realized the need for a streaming service that caters specifically to metal fans.
Samuel spent years researching and studying the music industry, learning about the challenges faced by metal bands and their fans. He took note of how the mainstream media often overlooked and ignored metal and how metal fans had very limited resources to access their favorite bands and content. This led him to the idea of creating Thunderflix, a stage that would provide a space for metalheads to celebrate their love of the metal genre.
Thunderflix is a subscription based model aptly priced at $6.66 a month and they are always adding new content. Thunderflix can be streamed from any mobile device or TV with streaming access. Explore and download the app on the Thunderflix website here:
The platform’s interface is sleek, and easy to navigate, making it a joy to browse through the extensive library of metal content. Thunderflixhas not forgotten about the importance of quality. The audio is top notch, allowing viewers to fully immerse themselves in the metal experience.
One of the many stand out features of Thunderflix is their selection of live performances. The platform offers concerts from some of the biggest names in the metal industry such as Metallica, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Behemoth and Iron Maiden just to name a few. They also have performances from up-and-coming bands. This gives everyone a chance to experience the energy and excitement of live shows from the comfort of their own homes.
For metal connoisseurs, having a premium rostrum such as Thunderflix is essential for several reasons. Firstly, metal music is a genre that demands high-quality sound. The intricate guitar riffs, thunderous drums and mastery of soaring vocals need to be experienced with crystal clear audio to truly appreciate the power and intensity of the music. Thunderflix is a touchstone that provides just that.
Secondly metal is misunderstood and misrepresented by mainstream media. Metalheads have been subjected to lack of exceptional metal content for far too long. Thunderflix addresses this issue by setting the stage for metal to showcase the diversity of the genre and offers a wide variety of content that has been overlooked by other streaming services.
In creating Thunderflix, Samuel Douek sends a powerful message about the inequality and lack of metal. He is challenging the mainstream narrative that has neglected metal for far too long.
Overall, Thunderflix is an excellent podium that delivers on its promise to provide a quality streaming service catered to metal fans. Thunderflix emphasizes on metal content, high- quality sound and video, and its user friendly. Thunderflix is a must have for any metal fan.
It seems like The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has forsaken metal. The Rock Hall has inducted only three metal bands during their almost 40-year tenure, Metallica, Judas Priest and Black Sabbath. Iron Maiden has been nominated twice and snubbed and there’s been many other metal bands that have failed to make the cut.
Has the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame become an antiquated mausoleum? Some people may argue that the institution has lost its relevance over time and is no longer an accurate representation of the current music landscape. Others may view it as an important establishment that continues to honor the legacy of prestigious bands and artists.
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s selection process and criteria for inducting artists are determined by a nominating committee composed of music industry professionals, historians, and journalists. While the Hall of Fame has included several deserving acts in the past, there’s been wide spread criticism in the last few years over bands and musicians being over looked and under represented.
Additionally, there has been vituperation of the Hall of Fames approach with partisanship against certain genres, most notably hard rock and metal. There’s also a tendency to favor established, commercially successful artists over critically acclaimed ones.
One possible reason for this could be that the Hall of Fame’s focus has historically been on artists who have had significant impact on the development and evolution of music. While metal is undoubtedly part of the broader spectrum, there are also distinct sub-genres with their own unique sounds, histories, and cultures. Some critics argue that metal has been marginalized in the Hall of Fame because they are often associated with more extreme and controversial subject matter, and have been seen by some as being less influential or important than other music genres.
Another factor to consider is that the Hall of Fame’s selection process is somewhat opaque, with decisions made by a relatively small group of industry insiders. This can lead to accusations of bias or favoritism, particularly when it comes to genres or artists that are perceived as being outside the mainstream or not widely understood or appreciated by the general public.
Ultimately, the reasons behind the Hall of Fame’s discerning bias against metal bands are complex and multifaceted. This likely reflects a combination of factors including industry politics, cultural prejudice and subjective judgements about what constitutes “good” or “important” music.
The metal communities percipience of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame varies. Some fans and musicians view the Hall of Fame as a meaningless organization that doesn’t properly represent their music authentically.
Others in the metal community acknowledge the significance of being recognized by the Rock Hall, but still believe they still have not done enough to honor the contributions of metal and the profound impact the genre has had on music.
Its difficult to predict how the future will look with regard to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and metal music. As the genre continues to evolve and gain favor, its possible that more metal acts will be recognized and inducted.
Welcome to our “Seven Deadly Songs” series where we feature a song from different bands each week. We go down the rabbit hole exploring metal both past and present. Enjoy the trip!
Deathcore Massachusetts metal band The Acacia Strain’s new tune “FRESH BONES” off the album STEP INTO THE LIGHT via Rise Records. Theres a powerful message to be heard here about the dark side of humanity and decay of morality. Not that we need reminding of this fun fact but none the less the lyrical content is very well written. Musically this song is brutal with sludgy breakdowns and Vincent Bennett’s signature vocal stylings that we have come to love over the years. Overall Im never disappointed by anything this band puts out.
Belgian sludge/doom metal band PREDATORY VOID – ‘Endless Return to the Kingdom of Sleep’ off the album ‘Keys to the Discomfort of Being’ via Century Media Records. Dont let Lina’s angelic voice fool you, shes luring the listener into a psychosis fueled dimension filled with nightmares, sleep paralysis and subconscious fears. As the song progresses the singing goes from melodic to tortured guttural screams. The narration takes you down a rabbit hole of despair and fear. This is not a happy tune. This song reminds me of watching the movie ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ where eventually you will do anything to keep from falling asleep. Its dark and heavy and should definitely be on rotation.
Alabama metal band Gideon share the new song ‘Take Off’ from the album ‘More Power More Pain’ via Equal Vision Records. This song is an experimental fusion of groove, funky beats, nü-metal which is seeing a huge insurgence, and a dash of electronic hip hop flavor to add to the mix. It sounds a bit strange but it really works. As the vocals layer into the fray, the evolution of the breakdown progress and is insane. The monstrosity of Daniel McWhorter’s crooning is the perfect pairing with the high octane formula of the band. Listening to the song ‘Take Off’ transposes you into a conceptualized auditory getaway.
The band Strigoi dropped a new tune on us this week titled ‘The Construct of Misery’ via Season of Mist records. Its an exclusive stream on the Decibel flexi series only at Decibel Magazine at THIS LOCATION. The new song is an unsettling barrage of blackened death doom frills and shrills that take the listener on a rollercoaster ride of eccentric riffs, chaotic vocals and grizzly themes. Fasten your seat belt.
Japanese Gore-specialists FESTERDECAY’S new album Reality Rotten To The Core via Everlasting Spew is an explosion of metal. FesterDecay formed in Fukuoka, Kyushu, Japan in 2015. The song Rotten Fester Decay is a deadly goregrind track with an intro that sounds like someone has just stumbled into a bloody disgusting crime scene to their great horror. As the climactic build-up progresses there’s screaming, ear piercing guitar riffs that lead into something that surprises you (is this Dimebag Darrell guitar influences Im picking up?) which is no easy feat when you’re submerged into metal every day. The vocals are guttural and ferocious. This band is a force du jour and I foresee them becoming huge in the metal scene.
DUSK – Agnes of Romeoff the album Spectrums via Dusk studio. Duskis a one man band with Saudi Arabian artist and architect Meshari Sangora. Spectrums is the debut full-length which features 10 guest vocalists by Saudi and Kuwaiti musicians. The song Agnes of Rome features a collaboration with ABZY, a self taught singer-songwriter from Kuwait city. The talent and arduous work that was put into this album collectively is impressive. The international flavors and languages in which each song is performed I find irresistible. Im a person who enjoys all genres of metal and if the piece of music in question is well done even better. I dont shy away from diving into metalcore or any other genre to experience a piece of music. This album is uniquely designed with multiple genres, styles and influences. Agnes of Rome is no exception and the bridge is a beautifully written piece of music with clean melodic vocals. The subject matter is a very interesting piece of literary history. The whole album is worth digesting.
Witchrot band, ‘Burn Me Down’ off the album Live in The Hammer. This band is one of those hidden gems you stumble across. An avant- guard, psychedelic rock meets doom metal outfit. They are a twist of retro and modern music. Lea Reto’s contralto vocals are reminiscent of early Grace Slick as she belts out powerful Sirenic and hypnotising lyrics. The musical theme is dark and disturbing as they unravel a tale of woe and despair.
Welcome to our “Seven Deadly Songs” series where we find out how deep the rabbit hole really goes and explore metal both past and present. Enjoy the trip!
1. Swedish powerhouse metallers In Flames, ‘End The Transmission’ off their new album Forgone via Nuclear Blast. This song takes you on a journey into another realm of a bleak existence of hopelessness that seems to uncannily run parallel to current times. Fantasy or existential crisis is the real question. Musically this song is a beast and happily dances around in my head on repeat. The band proves to be a champion heavyweight contender in the metal scene by taking no prisoners.
2. Coming in second is Arch Enemy with their theatrically stunning rendition of Poisoned Arrow off their new album Deceiver via Nuclear Blast. Renaissance meets metal in this dramatical production. The lyrics are a well written roadmap of a relationship gone awry and the female heroine has been stabbed in the back by a poison arrow. The song itself is full of rich layers and tones textured with Alissa’s signature death metal growls. The song is well written and the video is well done. This is what really great musical art looks like by professional musicians. Bravo!!!
3. Coming in third is Distantwith their new song Heritage via Century Media featuring the multi octave extraterrestrial guest vocals of Lorna Shore’s Will Ramos singing the chorus. The song has a very dark lyrical theme ranging from memories of past abuse that soon morph into something sinister. The band pummels through your speakers with the ominous force of the four horsemen of the apocalypse. This is a band to pay close attention to.
4. Suicide Silence, Dying Life off their new album ‘Remember…You Must Die’ via Century Media. The lyrics ‘under a dying sun’ speak of a dying planet. This is a recurring theme among many artists who are very vocal about the cataclysmic effects of climate change and the desire to create awareness so we may make the necessary changes. I applaud them for using their platform for change. Eddie Hermida’s vocals are powerful and you can hear the passion and anger behind the message. Keep up the good fight guys!
5. Symphonic Deathcore giants Downfall of Mankindhailing from Portugal comes in at number 5 with this absolute beast of a song God of Nothingness via Lacerated Enemy Records. The lyrics ask an age old question and the vocals and band deliver a searing assault to your senses. The material produced by this band are extremely impressive. Downfall of Mankind is ferocious and I suspect we will be hearing quite a lot from them in the future.
6. UK death metal titansMemoriam, Rise To Power via Nuclear Blast. This is a super group founded by former Bolt Thrower singer Karl Willetts and Benediction bassist Frank Healy. The formula works very well and the music speaks for itself with these incredibly talented death metallers. Rise To Power reaches a level of new styles and moods weaved in to create a beautiful piece of music. This is the bands fifth album release. Feast your senses with Rise To Power and thank me later.
7. Last but not least, heres our seventh deadly pick of the week. Portuguese death doom band Oakhave released Disintegrate off their new album titled the same via Season of Mist. Its haunting melodic intro leads into a plumage of deadly riffs, thought provoking lyrics and machine gun style beats. You can hear the classical influences in the featured song and thats what makes it so beautiful. Its a 44:28 minute escape from reality.
Welcome to Metal Lair’s Seven Deadly Songs. A weekly series where we go down the rabbit hole and feature seven metal songsfrom all over the world.
1. ‘Bring Back the Plague’ from the album ‘Death Atlas’by Cattle Decapitation via Metal Blade Records. The band’s seventh studio album from 2019 is one of their most highly regarded releases so far, the band really came into their own with this one. ‘Death Atlas’ contains all the aspects we’ve come to know and love about the band like their insane blast beats and groovy riffs, but they also really brought home the more chilling and melodic side to Travis Ryan’s vocals that makes this band so unique to the genre. ~Tom Alan
2. ‘New Found’ from the ‘Fortitude‘ album, the most recent release from Gojira in 2021 through Roadrunner Records. The band creates an incredibly groovy blend by combining all of their classic sounds and tricks that they’re so well known for with their more experimental and themed aspects from the previous release, ‘Magma’. This album has an excellent combination of heavy and chill. ~Tom Alan
4. ‘Survival’ from the album‘Serial Urbicide’ via ‘Amputated Vein Records’ brought to you by the Russian Slam experts, Extermination Dismemberment. You want heavy? Here it is. Heaviest thing you’ve heard all week, guaranteed. It’s also worth noting that the outro to this track is particularly good, check it out. ~Tom Alan
5. Waters Run Deepfrom the monster album Malicious Intent by Malevolence viaNuclear Blast. Malevolence is a band to watch, they are making waves and putting out incredible music these days. The video for Still Waters Run Deep, follows the bands incredible journey from dive bars to arenas. Its an intimate look inside the bands climb through the UK underground scene. “This video is a deep dive into the history of Malevolence,” says vocalist Alex Taylor. “We dug through hours of old archive footage and picked out some highlights from over the years as the song is a tribute to the journey we have set upon together, and the bond it has formed between us. ~ Christy Lee
6.‘Cancer’ off the album ‘Color Decay’by The Devil Wears Pradavia Solid State Records. JonathanGering said that lyrically, this song is about how many people he’s looked up to and idolized that ended up committing suicide. Musically its gritty, somber and poignant. The backdrop is dramatically dark to match the songs overall theme. It’s metalcore in its purest form. With aggressive highs and moody lows the band lets you get an intimate glimpse inside the meaning behind the song Cancer. The band will be on tour this summer. Check for tour dates near you. ~Christy Lee
7. NORMA JEAN, ‘1994’ off the album Deathrattle Sing For Mevia Solid State Records. This is the bands ninth full-length album. The first thing that comes to mind when watching this video is vintage heavy metal meets modern metalcore mixed with classic hardcore punk vibes. It looks like we are watching a montage of home videos spliced together in pure chaos. This is my favorite track on the album because its a wonderful oddity. The difference is the precise musical formula that I find very enticing. Check out their new album and thank me later. This band is currently in tour. Check for dates near you. ~Christy Lee
We have curated a list of the best songs for January 28th 2023. Without further adieu here is our inaugural list of deadly songs.
1. Screaming Suicide by none other than Metallica off their highly anticipated new album, 72 Seasons which will be released on April 14, 2023. It will be the second album to be released through their own Blackened label. Props to Metallica for helping keep metal alive. This new song really slaps.
2. The Summoning off the album This Place Will Become Your Tomb via Spinefarm Records by anonymous British collective Sleep Token. Other than the fact this band is taking the internet by storm and gaining massive popularity, the song ‘The Summoning’ in particular seems to be making everyone horny. Aside from that, the vocalist has a very distinctive voice and possibly one of the greatest singers in modern history. We think its pretty good.
3. Pestilence by Arched Fire via Wormholedeath Records featuring Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. This song is literally fire. It screams of classic heavy metal Judas Priest meets modern day metal. Its a fun musical collaboration to head bang and play air guitar to. The members of Arched Fire keep up with Tim’s crooning with blazing hot instrumentation.
4. Violence No Matter What, a powerhouse Duet With Avatar and Lzzy Hale. This is an exciting metal collaboration with the masked marauders and the fair maiden who goes hard in this song. Both Johannes Eckerström and Lzzy Hales vocals mesh well together to create a high octane power ballad fueled with angst.
5. Lucyfer Prime Evil by Lordi off their latest effort Screem Writers Guild via Atomic Fire Records. LORDI are one of the major Finnish rock/heavy metal acts of our time. Mr. Lordi and his monster clan have created a devilishly delicious new track and we are looking forward to hearing the rest of the album this spring.
6. Exorcism by Belle Morte off the album Crime of Passion via Wormholedeath Records. Exorcism is in the category of symphonic metal but its more of an auditory vacation! This song is opulent, and beautifully layered with exquisite Eastern inspired soundscapes.
The unique and skillful instrumentation of abowed stringed instrument called mornin khuur and subtle khuumei (throat singing) in the backdrop both performed by Ulziisaikhan Khoroldamba are nothing short of next level musicianship. Ulziisaikhan’s much welcomed addition to this composition brings this piece to a melodic climax and quantifies the brilliance with imagination. We are in love with this piece!
7. Propaganda Machine by Demonstealer featuring members of Kataklysm, Ne Obliviscaris off his new album Monolith of Hate via Black Lion Records. Demonstealer, India’s premier metal musician Sahil Makhija’s (of Demonic Resurrection) solo venture is full of a stellar line-up of metal musicians across the globe. Demonstealer is one of the hardest working people in metal today and it clearly shows when you listen to the music. Propaganda Machine is a heavy hitting brutal death metal song with thought provoking lyrics and a barrage of intense metal riffs and beats.
You are going about your day to day when you hear a song playing that immediately pulls you in and grabs your attention. You turn up the volume and want to explore who it is so you descend down the rabbit hole.
You experiencechills and excitement as anticipation builds. You’re experiencing a heightened sense of euphoria which triggers a release of dopamine to the brain while you think, “wow, this song is fucking amazing!” Thats what really good music does for me, Ive always felt it very intensely. The lyrics speak to me as the crescendo builds. Music has the magic to in a sense take one back to a certain point in time and, for a few moments, allow one to experience memories, feelings, and emotions.
The term artist isn’t used lightly when describing your favorite band or musician. Musicians are creating profound and unforgettable pieces of art that will live on forever. They have the power to give you an escape. They become the sound track of a happy occasion or help someone get through a difficult situation. Music speaks to each of us in many different ways. The significance of music is unfathomable. This is why I do what I do to celebrate music in all its forms.
There are bands and artists you come across that leave an indelible mark that stays with you. We are very fortunate in that we have the privilege to work with and feature many extraordinary artists.
Those of us that work behind the scenes do so in order to help the bands get seen and experienced. To share their art with the world. We do this out of adulation and passion for music.
We have compiled a best of list of the top artists we have worked with this year. This is Metal Lairs inaugural best of list for the year 2022. Without further adieu, here they are in no particular order…
Leading the pack is the band Voraath. This is a modern metal band you should know about. They are a hidden gem because they are fairly new on the scene but they are rapidly gaining traction. They have their own unique brand of scifi, horror, experimental death metal music. The band features Brad Parris (Nile) on vocals and guitar, Joshua Nassaru Ward (Xael, Rapheumets Well) on drums, vocals and keys, along with Paul McBride (Implosive Disgorgence, Sweet Blood) on bass, and guitarists Daniel Presnell and Tylor Kohl.
Their music is both production wise and artistically grandiloquent. Each song takes you on a caliginous journey. Collectively this quintet work together like a well oiled machine bursting with creativity. These guys are visionaries. Their live shows are an immersive experience. This is definitely a band to keep on your radar.
Their latest music video is not just a visual background for their music. Its a cinematic adventure that can be described as chiaroscuro and noir. The video Amon The Judgeis theatrically stunning. The song follows the hunters return, their trauma of loss, the brutal reprisal upon the remaining soldiers, and the final judgement of Edgar. Their journey explores the mental complexities of trauma and under what circumstances will good people commit heinous acts.
NE OBLIVISCARIS are a five-piece Australian progressive metal band from Melbourne. They just released a new song, Equus off their up-coming album Exul. They have announced that they will release their latest album through Season Of Mist on March 24. At the same time the quintet have announced European and UK tour dates for May and June with Andoran prog metallers Persefone, with support for the first part of the tour coming from Italian prog metallers Asymmetric Universe and the second half with fellow Australian proggers The Omnific.
This band is next level. Their sound is a fusion of classical, jazz and metal with complex lyrics and superior riffing.
The song Equus is the first new material in over 5 years and it comes with a very powerful message from the band. Heres what they had to say.
“‘Equus’ is dedicated to the lives lost during the lethal bushfires that scarred Australia in 2019-2020. Alongside the people who died or were affected, many millions of animals were killed or displaced from their natural habitats, the enormity of this is something that will never be forgotten, and should not be ignored. It is also a warning that the world we live in is changing from the damage we as a species have contributed to. Within this video, the dancer represents a scorched Mother Earth, from horror to humanity, ever in tune with the heart and flow of the song (and world), and ultimately aware of the inevitable and ever growing destructive cycle we are in.”
Wednesday 13is a band that combines metal and horror which is a perfect matchmade in hell. They break barriers and create unique, theatrical experiences. One specific example is the addition to their body of work, Insides Out from the album Horrifier. With a chorus like scream for me, bleed for me cry for me die for me You know you’re in for a ride. The music video is like watching a really scary horror film with a colossal main riff, roaring with a searing chorus featuring slithering vocals and hair-raising guitar effects.
ATROCIFER has dropped their debut animated lyric video ‘No One,’ from their up- coming EP Devour The Yellow Heart. Atrocifer has seemingly appeared out of no where but boy does this song pack an existential punch!
Atrocifer isa progressive rock solo act out of West Palm Beach, Florida. All music for Devour The Yellow Heart was written and arranged by Joe Evin. Ending guitar solo performed by Shaun Rosario.
Progressive music happens to be one of my absolute favorite genres and this song has that in spades. You can hear musical influences from Opeth, The Beatles. Pink Floyd and Dream Theater and Porcupine Tree coming through. The lyrics are thought provoking, the orchestration is grandiose and the production is immaculate. I cant wait to see what comes out next!
What we have here is a fusion of Djent, death core, sci fi synth and progressive with odd time signatures. Polyrhythmic dual action guitars by Lee McKinney and Nick Rossi. Steady machine gun drum action from Cameron Loesch. The dexterity of Ronnie Canizaro’s vocals stand out and provide the icing on the cake. Joe Buras is a masterful composer on the keyboards and provides backing vocals, almost making it feel like a band with two vocalists.
Born of Osiris are still one of the most influential bands in the scene. The members are extremely talented and their song writing abilities are mastered and refined. They constantly reinvent themselves and love to surprise the listener with unexpected soundscapes.
“Sahil ‘The Demonstealer’ Makhija in my humble opinion is a criminally underrated, next level musician. Every project Demonstealer is involved in provides the impetus for success.” He’s best known for his work with Demonic Resurrection as well as Reptilian Death and various collaborations and solo projects.
Accept are German American heavy metal legends from the town of Solingen, formed in 1976. They are dubbed The AC/DC of Germanic metal. The last remaining original member is Wolf Hoffmann. Their beginnings can be traced back to the late 1960s, when the band got its start under the name Band X.
Their last album Too Mean to Die is full of music thats overflowing with sharp, crisp guitar work with in your face attitude. ‘Zombie Apocalypse’ is one such track, a storming opener that will pump you up. The zombies aren’t the horror movie kind, but rather Mark Tornillotakes aim at people addicted to their phones and social media.
Hungarian Atmospheric Black Metal Duo WitcheRhave made this list. Lélekharang – meaning ‘soul bell’ – is the third album from duo and its steeped in the folklore and ancient beliefs of their homeland. The album artwork is dark and dreamy, their music is hauntingly beautiful. The last track on the album, Moonlight Sonata Op. 27. No. 2. I. Adagio Sostenuto cover blows my mind. Their dark and melancholy interpretation is stunning. The whole album is a brilliant fusion of classical meets ambient black metal. Most of the songs begin with a capella piano sections introducing the main motif before the drums, bass, guitar and vocals join the party.
Knim are Andrew Mawer (vocals/keys), Dennis Berry (guitar/keys) and Peter Nicholson (drums).
In the spring of this year Knim stepped from the shadows of their West Yorkshire home and presented their new music to the world. Their masterful new album When A Star Falls is an epic adventure both musically and lyrically, touched with magic. It opened a portal into another world with its entwining of progressive rock and grandiose metal. Since its release everyone has been captivated by its fresh, exciting sounds.
The title track off their album When A Star falls, conjures images of sorcery, castles and fairytales. The vocals seamlessly flow with the enchanting music. The lyrics take you on a journey into realms from ancient times filled with adventure, choppy riffs, atmospheric sounds and fantastical lyrics. This is a gorgeous album with impressive sound thats sure to engage you into a transcendental state filled with ensorcellment.
Instrumental metal bands aren’t usually my flavor. With that being said I was pleasantly surprised by CYDEMIDE’S new album The Descent. This album really pulled me in! Its a gorgeous symphony of metal meets classical. Its music for refined taste.
Olivier Allard’s doctorate degree violin performance is hauntingly beautiful alongside Camille Delage’s artful Phantom of The Opera stylings on the piano. The skilled hands of drummer Alexandre Dagenais blend perfectly with the other musicians and provide the backbone. Nico Damoulianos deep frequency pitch bass playing maintains a steady rhythm. Last but not least there’s Kevin Paquet’s guitar work with melody lines, instrumental fill passages and melodic motifs mixing classical and metal riffs. Although all the musicians contribute to the writing process, the main writers are Oliver Allard and Kevin Paquet. The bottom line is the music is brilliant and intriguing.
Greek metal titans ROTTING CHRIST formed in 1987. They are noted for being one of the first bands responsible for creating the signature Greek melodic black metal sound within this region as well as a premier act within the European underground metal scene. During their rehearsal era in the late 1980s, the band began as grindcore, but quickly shifted to playing black metal with a distinctive touch. Despite the band name, as a plot twist their music has evolved into a more “mystic” path. They utilize elements such as clean melodic baritone vocals, doom, gothic metal and industrial music traits.
Ohio’s gore, death metal break out band made up of Guitarist Cameron Boggs, vocalist Devin Swank, bassist Ced Davis and drummer Cody Davidson. They are the most hyped band in modern death metal today.
Despite just releasing their debut album Tortured Whole a few months ago the founder Cameron Boggs has stepped away from the band to focus on other things in his life and we support his decision, “said the band. Below is a video “Necrosexual Deviant,” their first effort without guitarist Cameron Boggs.
CHAOSEUMband hails from Switzerland. Described as a nu/metal-core band they have their own unique sound and theres always a different flavor found in each song. They constantly reinvent themselves while simultaneously reviving the nu-metal sound of the nineties with modern flare.
CHAOSEUM’S new album The Third Eye is definitely worth checking out. Theres talent here. The production is on point and you can hear the intensive hard work and detail they put into every song. The members are technically in synch and stay on tempo. Maybe what adds to their success and sets them apart is they have a strong bond of friendshipand enjoy what they are doing. The Third Eye is a monster of an album, every track is full of adrenalin. For me the stand out song is the title track the Third Eye. I was very impressed with the way they juxtaposed middle eastern flair and vocals to classic nu metal instrumentation. Dance On My Grave, Welcome Home, My Wonderland and SanctumCinerem have thick, monumental sound characterized by distorted guitars, extended guitar solos and emphatic beats that aptly produce a recurring chaotic theme. The verses on Welcome Home are incredible but then the chorus kind of throws you off. The bridge on Satctum Cinerem is extraordinary and reminds me of The Hating by Korn. Unreal has very dark lyrical content with hidden messages. I’m still digesting it. Their music is showing why there’s an upsurge in their ever growing fan base in the metalcore scene.
L-R – Corey Wharton (Bass), Bradley Trivett (Guitar), Daniel Beavington (Drums), Stephen Atkey (Vocals) Photographer Credit – Bradley Trivettj
If you’re tired of listening to the same old bands over and over again look no further. Its time to get excited about music again! Hunting Giants is a breath of fresh air! They are keeping the metal alive with their euphonious sound. Stephen Atkeys mellifluous vocals are exquisite. The band hails from Canada where a lot of hot new acts are burgeoning onto the scene. Every song off their new album, Mythosis incendiary and this album is a must have in your music collection.
Hunting Giants’ new album “Mythos” is the crowning achievement of many years of musical work, writing, and recording. The members of Hunting Giants all came from, and are inspired by elements from prog and grunge metal bands. The album’s goal is to grab listeners and amaze them with intricate woven stories, energetic riffs, and distinctive vocals. The album is meant to be an adventure, with each track having its own flavour and setting; the songs are worlds unto themselves.
Comprised of guitarist Nick Daggers, bassist Dahlia McAluney, drummer Tim Gillman, and vocalist Amethyst Noir. They have a construct of authentic compositions and fantasy-based lyrics. Celestial Wizard is comprised of Formed in late 2017, Celestial Wizard brings a mix of fantasy and heavy metal. Theres elements of melodic death metal and traditional, power metal. Their music boasts of mostly clean Swedish death metal style growls vocals, cool riffs and killer beats. They have procured a sound thats both modern and retro at times. They have released their sophomore album winds of The Cosmos which has received wide spread praise and is fun to listen to.
RuinThrone are: Vocals: Haedus Drums: Francesco Comerci Guitar: Nicolò de Maria Guitar: Luca Grossi Bass: Alessandro Finocchiaro Keyboard: Giorgio Mannucci
If music has a medieval theme with a castle as a back drop and you throw in a dash of anything Tolkien you immediately have my attention. Powermetallers RUINTHRONE really broke the mold when they created the video for “I Am The Night.” Its exquisitely pulchritudinous and bewitching. The video is a visual and auditory peregrination.
Vocalist Haedus does an excellent job from start to finish. His singing is confident and powerful. He carries the song with charisma. The chorus is an epic maelstrom and the band works well together with skilled surgical precision.
When you’re listening to them you’re immediately transported into another realm filled with magic and mythology touched with stardust. This band has the goods to go very far in their music career and I very much enjoyed the song ‘I Am The Night.’
Midwest brutal death machineCasket Robberyhail from Monroe, Wisconsin. Their music is filled with a barrage of thick riffs, double bass, atmospheric and solo vocals, memorable choruses, crushing guitar and booming drums with demonic speed.
Their music video Post-Mortem from the album Rituals Of Death was filmed in the “Autopsy Room” at the historic Brodhead Manor, a well-known haunted schoolhouse. Brodhead Manor was built in 1906 as the first High School in Brodhead, Wisconsin. In 1939. The video has high creep factor and gore. As a a fan of horror film I thoroughly enjoyed this video.
“Indigenous black metal from the solitude of the Adirondack wilderness”, so goes the description of newcomers Blackbraid on their Bandcamp page but it does little to capture the authentic and unique experience of this new brand of black metal.
With most black metal you get the obligatory satanism and pagan rites but with Blackbraid you get stories of Native American history in a parallel to Alien Weaponry’s exploration of Maori culture. Blackbraid evokes the majesty and ferocity of classic Scandinavian black metal whilst infusing folk twists that create a sense of scope befitting an act that catapulted to the top of the Bandcamp charts.
Symphonic metal bands tend to get a bad rap. Most people assume as soon as they hear the genre they are all going to sound like 90’s symph metal clones. With Victoria K this is definitely not the case. Their sound is very different. Good different.
The band is led by the super-talented vocalist Victoria Knight, who also wrote and arranged all the music for their new album Kore. Also with the help of music composer and producer Lee Bradshaw. Guitarist Troy Downward, drummer Gerry Pantazis and bass player Craig Newman. Kore really stands out for its strong folk influences and orchestral arrangements scored by Bradshaw which forge their prodigious and appealing sound.
Victoria was also nominated as ‘Best Vocalist’ in the Metalgoddesses.com awards named amongst the best vocalists of the symphonic metal genre.
Calgary-based, progressive space rock opera style band Arcana Collective. With a narrative spanning multiple albums, Arcana Collective blends sci-fi, mythology, and a study of human action in the face of adversity.
I had privilege of promoting this band on the website recently and was pleasantly surprised. They are very different from everything else out there. I love the pretty atmospheric, ambient sound and the vocalist has a very unique voice. Its one of life’s pleasures to enjoy really good music and this band fits the bill.
Wolves of Avalon are a haunting blend of timeless storyteling, evocative folk influences and rampaging black metal. Their videos are stunningly cinematic. The Wolves’ passion for their island’s history infuses every note of their songs. The band effortlessly captivates and transports the listener to ancient times; times of untarnished natural beauty, times of strength and honour but also times of blood and hardship.
When Im listening to music or searching for something new I scan through almost every genre as I have extreme eclectic taste so when I come across a band that constantly reinvents themselves in almost every song my excitement builds which brings me to this band.
Combing elements of post rock and progressive Final Coil produces groove riffs paired with melancholy harmonies. Some of their music is fused with a doomy, melodic, ambient sound. When watching their video Lost Hope you can tell the band are perfectionists as the end result is quite interesting. Everything in their body of work has a unique sound which I find very refreshing. This is definitely a band you want to check out.
Epoch of Unlight is a melodic death metal band from Memphis, Tennessee. The band formed in 1990. They are comprised of jason Smith, vocals, guitar, joe Totty, bass, Tino LoSicco, drums and john Fortier, guitar.
The wrath that is Epoch of Unlightis mighty. This band has put out several albums all of which received praise. They play a complex black/death metal mixture, fusing a bit of the Gothenburg melodic death metal feel with a very high degree of technical musicianship, with a technical, dizzying drum performance. Their latest release, At War With The Multiverse which is dubbed a comeback album did not disappoint and is seeing critical success.
Melissa Wolfe- vocals Johnny Impact-bass Cam Loud - guitars Joe Mercy - drums Mr. Goodbarz - keys William Savant - vocals, guitars
Sepsiss is a multi Award-Winning female-fronted Hard Rock / Metal act from New England. The main focus is on the dynamic duo power couple Melissa Wolfe and William Savant. Melissa is a fusion of a modern day Betty Page, and a tamer version of Gen of the Genitorturers with the vocal range of Amy Lee. William Savant provides extreme backing vocals, growls and guitar. The two are often seen sharing a microphone during sultry renditions. The band as a whole perform very well together. Every member provides intricate balance and talent in their own right.
William Savant describes them as a modern day band and social media influencers that love to perform and show their fans a great time. They have a large fan following and a decent body of work. They also have an honorary member, Lexi who went from merch girl to growl trainee they plan on using in future endeavors. Sepsiss is a force dujour.
Sepsiss has a new album in the works. I got a sneak preview and its going to be a total banger. Stay Tuned!
Line-up: Chris Stoz Storozynski – Lead Vocals Andy Songhurst – Guitars Kieron Rochester – Bass and Vocals Chris Bone – Guitars Kev Rochester – Drums
The inimitable Forged in Black is a heavy metal outfit from Essex UK. They are in the extreme metal arena. Since their inception in 2007, they’ve taken huge strides musically and carved out a niche with a sound all their own. They play old school heavy metal with a modern twist. They have skilled precision, technicality and production. This band should be a staple in your music archives as they dont disappoint.
L-R – Sinnery- Saar Tuvi (Bass), Alon Karnieli (Guitars and Vocals), Idan Kringel (Lead Guitar), Matan Carlos Mandelbaum (Drums) Photo Credit – Or Shankerman
“Forged by the love for metal and hatred for anything else.”
Sinnery is an Israeli four-piece blackened thrash band. You can hear multiple influences play and these guys are very talented players. The band has released their second album Black Bile. Their songs are complex with multiple flavors going on. With impressive beats, relentless riffs and aggressive and abrasive lyrics.
Rock certainly isn’t dead. As you groove to CARBELLION’snew single ‘Listen For Ghosts,’ Their high octane number rips through your speakers and gives you feel good vibes reminiscent of days gone by when the rock genre was on top and the moniker of rockstar actually meant something. Cameron Kellenberger’s vocals are powerful and melodic as he belts out catchy well written lyrics. Both the guitar and bass playing by Jamie Damrow and Steve Sheppard provide skillful rhythm and flow that make you want to jam the air guitar and head-bang. The precision percussions blasting out from Brent Knimz hands that are seemingly on fire pull everything together. I highly recommend pre-ordering their new album Weapons of Choice!
Kansas City’sDreams in Peril are a five-piece groove-driven and dynamic death metal/hardcore act out of Kansas City. Combining crushing grooves with cinematic soundscape melodies, the band brings a huge dynamic that has been captured on the upcoming album ‘Ascending’.
GRAVESHADOW is: Rachl ‘Raxx’ Quinn – vocals William Lloyd Walker – guitars Aaron Robitsch – guitars/keyboards Luci Rae – bass Bones – drums
The Sacramento-based quintet GRAVESHADOW deftly mix symphonic/gothic metal with elements and influences from a variety of styles to create something epic, progressive, melodic, and powerful.
Hailing from the Emerald Isle and based in the hills of Co.Donegal these Irish Viking Metal/Norse Pagan Rockers, REN MARABOU AND THE BERSERKERS, deliver their own take on this powerful genre with a high energy stage show and anthemic, contemporary stylings. The band’s new album ‘Tales Of Rune’ was released on July 1st, 2022.
Solitaryare a thrash metal band with atmospheric black metal themes. They are from the United Kingdom and formed in 1994. They’ve been delivering the high thrash energy for over 3 decades and continue their reign of terror in the metal scene.
Consecration is a Serbian rock band from Norwich. Their unique sound incorporates elements from various musical genres earning them a growing fan base in the region.
Depressive Witches are a band from that sound like mix of black’n’roll, heavy metal, and classic rock. Their new album Distant Kingdoms has s theme which is focused on epicness, battles, and exploration of new worlds.
Violet Blend is branded an Italian alternative metal band however I hear traces of symphonic metal. They reign in Florence, Italy. The band is made up by Giada CelesteChelli (vocals and piano), Ferruccio Baroni (bass) and Michel Agostini (drums).
Giada Celeste has an incredible voice. The orchestral composition and lyrical content are good as well. They are a young band but I see the potential for them to mature and grow in time. With Giada at the helm the skies the limit. I can see this band flying high in the future.
L-R: Korrosive Lineup | Carlos Rodriguez (Bass) | Kaveh Afshar (Drums) | Rad Zarei (Vocals) | Jack Neila (Guitar) | Derek Solomos (Guitar)
Korrosiveis an unapologetic, and high-octane headbanging unit that has crushed many mosh pits around their hometown of Toronto, ON Canada. They are known for pushing the boundaries with roots in thrash and meshing elements from more extreme metal such as death and grind to break down wall after wall that enters their path.
Dead Velvet is a Nu-core band from Montreal Canada. They are a fresh new band that blends a bouncy, contagious, genre-crossing sound with a heartfelt poetic retelling of personal experiences.
I hear echoes of obvious musical influences, yet they are original. More importantly, I hear passion and love of music flowing throughout this impressive composition. I’m looking forward to hearing a lot more from this band…this is exciting stuff!
Féleth, from northern Norway. They are a provocative sounding band best described as melodic death metal with a healthy dose of technical death metal added in. The lyrical themes are often inspired by things that vocalist Espen Dagenborg finds massively wrong such as politicians waging war, being greedy, and also how humans can be extremely hateful against others. Then again there are also songs that are somewhat purely fictional, mostly showcasing his lyrical style.
Narcotic Wastelandfounded by ex-Nile guitarist Dallas Toler-Wade long-standing 18-year member of the brilliantly Egyptian-themed metal band, Nile. Dallas started Narcotic Wasteland while he was in between tours with Nile. For Toler-Wade, who is the primary songwriter for the band, the main goal is to give the listener music and lyrics that are deeply emotionally charged. Anger, sadness, and triumph are put to music the best way he knows how.
Inspired mostly by thrash metal and classic metal, Narcotic Wasteland is becoming more thrash and speed and less death metal and they write material that is meaningful and powerful.
L-R – David Kupisz – Rhythm Guitar, Colin Ryley – Lead Guitar, Marlee Ryley – Vocals, Scott Degruyter – Bass
Canadian thrashers HYPERIAare a melodic thrash/death metal band known for their wailing vocals, shredding guitars, and fast, heavy songs fused lyrical storytelling. Narratives of darkness and horror that hint at deeper underlying themes haunt the listener. Husband and wife team, Colin (guitars) and Marlee (vocals) Ryley form the core of the band.
Band Lineup: – Dmitri Alperovich – Guitar – Eren Basbug – Keyboards – Davidavi Dolev – Vocals – Jure Lopatic – Bass – Grega Plamberger – Drums and Percussion
Seventh Station is a progressive metal band based in Slovenia, led by Israeli Guitarist Dmitri Alperovich and Turkish Keyboardist Eren Başbuğ. Constructing their sound by fusing progressive metal with contemporary classical music. The band is formed between the Academy of Music & Dance in Jerusalem and Berklee College of Music in Boston.
The ocean is a vast, unforgiving world where things can go horribly awry. This is the topic of Eaten By Sharks’ latest single “Dead Weight” off the upcoming album “Eradication” – a technical death metal horror story that takes a deep dive into the gruesome possibilities that can result from daring to enter the untamed sea.
Eaten By Sharks new album which is a first Person horror experience, is a diverse combination of songs pulling from their influences in groove, death, tech, and thrash metal. Each song has something different from the next while remaining true to metal.
Line-up: Rachelle “Rocky” Moreau, Johnny Moore, Lance Hicks, and of course Kent
Dali Van Gogh is a female-fronted Hard Rock band from Halifax, Nova Scotia founded in 2008z They are known for their showmanship, originality, and musicianship, and have performed across Canada for over a decade.
With a sound that has been consistently called uniquely their own, Dali Van Gogh‘s influences are eclectic and varied, ranging from the hard rock origins of the grunge movement to the classics of musical theatre to the hard-core punk and metal of more modern times.
Nova Spei is a francophone progressive metal band that was formed in 2012 by Dany Soucy (guitar) (Dook, Legion) and in 2014 Nicolas Dumais (bass) and Dany Duplessis (vocals) joined the lineup. Stéphane Filion (guitar) joined the band in August 2018 while Julien De Carufel (drums) arrived in August 2021.
Foul Body Autopsy, from Leicester, United Kingdom are a band made up of of sole member and composer Tom Reynolds. FBA has been a part of UK’s extreme metal scene for over a decade now. The music is a fusion of symphonic black metal with blistering death metal elements. The music is adventurous, raw and a total triumph. His latest effort shows exploration into something deeply personal in a sea of despair. Check out the video below.
Vancouver, Canada’s OpusArise is an orchestral metal ensemble that brings together classical strings and metal rhythms to create luscious soundscapes to dissonant chaos. The quintet is Influenced by prog, neo-classical, and even extreme genres like black and death.
Line up: Wayne Allison – vocals, Justin Ruesch- guitars, Justin Keane- guitars, Alex Smick- bass
Malus Dextra hails from St. Louis, MO. where guitarist Justin Ruesch (former D-Railed/Brutal Harmony) resides, formed in 2017 after recruiting vocalist Wayne Allison (former A Strand of Fate/Victims of Life) with the intent to bring the world music that was not limited to boundaries of genre and subgenres. Although the core of the band is metal the music speaks to the masses for fans ranging from Killswitch Engage to Slayer to I Prevail.
Hailing from Toronto, Canada,Nihilist Death Cultis in-your-face punk rock that combines angry riffs. Bassist/vocalist Nick Sagias writes most of the music, but takes in input from his brother, drummer John Sagias and guitarist Ethan Bolduc. Those that get to witness Nihilist Death Cult play live can expect seasoned veterans going up on stage and putting on a show to match the energy of the music.
Norwegian one-man thrash bandTonic Breedwas established in 2006 as a full-on thrash quartet that abruptly disbanded in 2019. With much thought by founding member Patrik K. Svendsen, he decided to take the reins to reinvent the band and keep its candle burning. The outcome is now a one-man thrash army led by Svendsen with support from metal friends to give metalheads raw, energetic hard-hitting thrash, with melodic and groovy elements.
Shores of Null stand out from their contemporaries with their ability to blend seemingly disparate elements into their sound, overwhelmingly heavy and soothing at the same time: blackened aggression stands alongside gothic-doom sections without either sounding out of place. Their music can be both melancholic yet majestic, made of chorale-like guitar textures across the instrument’s entire range, sustained by a powerful rhythmic section and punctuated by a refined mixture of clean and growled vocals, along with extensive use of pleasing vocal harmonies which have become the band’s trademark through the years.
After Evolution is a gothic, alternative symphonic metal act from the Czech Republic. The members are, Nikolette Olsson, (singer, composer) Michal Matzner (guitar), Adam Bittó (bassguitar), Vic Janas (drums)
Nikolette’s voice is velvety smooth, melodious and lyrical. The band is a symphony of metal sounds The blend of vocals and instruments are dulcet to the ears. Nikolette’s vocal stylings are reminiscent of Evanescences Amy Lee yet younger and hauntingly beautiful.
RAUM KINGDOM are: Dave Lee – Vocals Andrew Colohan – Guitars Niall Gregory – Bass Mark Gilchrist – Drums
Irish atmospheric Post-Metal, Sludge and Doom quartet RAUM KINGDOM has a new and very Impressive EP coming out titled Monarch to be released January 27th 2023. Dave Lee leads the pack with his unreal and haunting vocals.
After the tragic and sudden passing of bass player Ronan Connor in March 2021, RAUM KINGDOM wanted to release music to honor Ronan’s memory.
The song Red Admiral is a tale of woe and regret, the antagonist is in a self imposed prison dealing with intense guilt and angst. The intro is a utopian dreamscape sound that carries the listener deep into the trenches of misguided sadness and fear. The song hits in waves of melancholy despair and peaks of ferocious hard hitting metal.
This is an album you must have in your collection. This album is well written and composed. Raum Kingdom adeptly maneuvers the listener into a auditory hallucination.
Grateful and humbled by the inundation of positive reviews and attention from music critics, webzines and fans from across the globe, haunting, fearful, Raum Kingdom continue to create hype in the community by doing what they passionately enjoy doing.
RAUM KINGDOM started out in late 2013 on the east coast of Ireland when singer Dave Lee and guitarist Andrew Colohan set out to create a soul crushing experience of sonics. When long time friends, bassist Ronan Connor and drummer Mark Gilchrist joined the line up, the project was ready to express itself.
Exploring their collective passion for all heavy genres of music, the four-piece began to channel that energy into what would turn out to be RAUM KINGDOM’s first, self-titled five track EP, self-released in April 2014. Taken unawares by the instant and positive critical response, RAUM KINGDOM‘s ability to resound with their audience comes from their heart for turning negativity into positivity and the ethos of having a blast doing what they have a passion for. To date, the band has completed numerous shows on the Euro circuit, and released an EP, a split EP with Belgian group All We Expected, and their much acclaimed debut album ‘Everything & Nothing’, a one hour sonic journey of redemtion and hope.
After the sudden and sad passing of bass player Ronan Connor in March 2021, RAUM KINGDOMwanted to release their last recordings and writings in respect for Ronan’s memory.
Their new effort is something beyond everything: emotive, melodic, atmospheric and hypnotizing. A musical journey for our deep senses.
I have compiled a list of guitar shredders for my Merry Shredmas list for light reading on your Christmas holiday. I hope you enjoy it and happy holidays from Metal Lair!
Paul Wardingham is an English-born Australian musician and producer. He’s been described as an instrumental cyborg guitar player. His style combines 7-string & 8 string riffing, melodic choruses, industrial synths and otherworldly solos to create visions of a futuristic world.
Angel Vivaldi (born June 13, 1985) is an American guitarist, songwriter and producer. Vivaldi is known for his virtuoso guitar playing style and cinematic music videos. He delivers heavy, pure modern shred Effects.
Lucas Mannis the guitarist for American deathcore band Rings Of Saturn. Lucas is known for his otherworldly, advanced alien technology guitar performances which sound impossibly difficult to learn but he masters this style effortlessly.
Ales Campanelliis a super talented bass player. He’s known for fast paced metal playing and executes perfection. He delivers furious blistering alternate picking, exhibiting his dexterity and skill as a fully rounded player.
Jeff Loomis is an award winning guitarist known for his progressive metal shredding abilities. Loomis exhibits distinctive rhythmic style, smooth technique and breakneck speed during his live performances. Not only that he possesses song writing prowess and has had an impressive career.
Brian Patrick Carroll, known professionally as Buckethead, is an American guitarist, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Buckethead is one of the most bizarre and enigmatic figures in underground and experimental music. He’s received critical acclaim for his innovative electric guitar playing.
Nita Strauss is an American musician nick named the hurricane after her powerful shredding abilities. She’s one of the most visibly talented players out there. She’s still underappreciated by the mainstream even though she tops lists of the best female guitarists.
Japanese lead guitarist Mio Jäger, shreds at a relentless pace that could give anyone a dose of whiplash. Shes a guitar warrior who plays with an amazonian ferocity taking the empowered female angle in a war like and cinematic experience.
Gretchen Menn is an American guitarist and composer who has her own original instrumental work. She performs the music of Led Zeppelin all over the U.S. in the all female Led Zeppelin tribute band Zepparella. Guitar Player Magazine’s editor-in-chief, described Gretchen’s solo music best saying she “seeks the unknown by blending disparate jazz, prog, and world-music influences into a tasty, guitaristic thrill ride.”
Joseph Andrew Duplantier is a French-American musician, best known as the rhythm guitarist, vocalist, and lyricist of heavy metal band Gojira. Joes shredding skills are heavy and jagged, Gojiras music always has a stellar arrangement. Joe gets plenty of nasty tone out of his Telecaster.
THOMAS “DROP” BETRISEY Producer / Engineer / Arranger / Mixer / Mastering Accomplished songwriter, producer, engineer, remixer and guitar shredder. Thomas’s attention to detail. He has been a former member of the swiss band Sybreed and is now in the electro/rock band MXD.
From Minnesota, Berried Alive consists of a husband and wife duo Charles and Kaylie Caswell with focus being placed on guitar by Charles Caswell and is a carefully curated world of adventurous music and multi-sensory goodies. Charles Caswell provides shredding guitar work, vocals and songwriting for the band.
JOSH ELMORE
Josh Elmore is the guitarist for the American death grind Band Cattle Decapitation. The band is from California. Josh Elmore’s shredding guitar techniques open up in these lengthy, ethereal chords providing a barrage of power chord solos. His tight knit choreography of guitar builds depth in passages determined by irresistible riffs and hooks.
Chris Wiseman is the guitarist for the American deathcore band Shadow of Intent. Chris’s interestingly catchy riffs have landed him on this list of shred masters. Shadow of Intent is getting a lot of buzz over their new album of late reaching critical acclaim and praise. This a band and guitar shredder to keep an eye on.
Zakk Wyldehas had one hell of a career so far as a shred master. He’s played with Ozzy Osbourne, fronts his own band Black Label Society and is currently providing lead guitar for Pantera on tour. Zakk’sweapon of Choice is a Gibson (Bullseye) Les Paul. He’s famous for his pentatonic runs and pinch harmonics. He has many hits under his belt and possesses melodic prowess.
Wesley Louden Borland is an American rock musician. He is best known as the current guitarist and backing vocalist of the rap metal band Limp Bizkit, the lead vocalist and guitarist of the alternative and industrial rock band Black Light Burns, and the co-founder of experimental metal band Big Dumb Face. Wes Borland is an incredibly talented musician and has earned his place on the list of shred masters.
RuinThrone are: Vocals: Haedus Drums: Francesco Comerci Guitar: Nicolò de Maria Guitar: Luca Grossi Bass: Alessandro Finocchiaro Keyboard: Giorgio Mannucci
If music has a medieval theme with a castle as a back drop and you throw in a dash of anything Tolkien you immediately have my attention. Power metallers RUINTHRONE really broke the mold when they created the video for “I Am The Night.” Its exquisitely pulchritudinous and bewitching. The video is a visual and auditory peregrination.
Vocalist Haedus does an excellent job from start to finish. His singing is confident and powerful. He carries the song with charisma. The chorus is an epic maelstrom and the band works well together with skilled surgical precision.
When you’re listening to them you’re immediately transported into another realm filled with magic and mythology touched with stardust. This band has the goods to go very far in their music career and I very much enjoyed the song ‘I Am The Night.’
With a month until the release of their new J.R.R. Tolkien-inspired sophomore album “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” due out this coming January 2023 via Rockshots Records,Italian fantasy power metallers RuinThrone are sharing with fans their latest music video for the single “I Am The Night”. In this song, the band tells the fair approval brought by those who dare to go in the opposite direction. The song is dedicated to those who bring divergence, for those who have the courage to be a dissonant voice. Morgoth is the symbol of all this; in the Iluvatar theme he refused to play music, which was supposed to be well-tuned with the others, instead, he played a dissonant melody. This daring action will be a messenger of new creations. Banished in the void, alone, the song imagines Morgoth laughing at his punishments while completing his work.
The band adds about the track:
“Talking about which song would every one of us would have picked as a single, everybody agreed we needed at least one to be a kick-ass power metal song. That kind of song that, while playing live, you can see people flying in the venue and head banging till the end. So the choice was between this one and Blessed By Loneliness. It wasn’t easy to choose, but eventually, we choose I Am The Night. The chorus is so epic, Haedus reaches the highest notes of his vocal extension and it’s also easy to be sung by the audience. The guitar and keys solos are so rad and fast, the double bass drum, the duration of the song…there was no other choice, but pick this one.”
Ruinthrone‘s “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda”is the follow-up to their 2013 debut album “Urban Ubris”. “The Unconscious Mind Of Arda” is composed of storied songs inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien’s poem, “Legendarium”. The band hopes the concepts they wrote can be “messengers” of reflection for their listeners, turning in a better awareness of their daily life.
“With this album, we think we reached our own identity. Back in the early years, we started with a classic German power metal style, but year by year we changed and matured musically. This is why we use 7-string guitars with 1/2 step-down tuning, extreme vocals, etc. For this new record, we also focused on an alternative point of view of some stories written by Tolkien. We thought it would have been interesting to explore not only some interesting characters and heroes but also the mind of the main villains.” adds guitarist Nicolò de Maria.
“The Unconscious Mind of Arda” is mixed and mastered by Giuseppe Orlando (sound tech for Rhapsody of Fire) at the Outer Sound Studios.
The album is due out on January 13th, 2023, and is available for pre-order at the following link – https://bit.ly/RuinThrone_CD
Track Listing: 1 – Prologue – 2:19 2 – The Dreamweaver – 5:14 3 – I Am The Night – 4:50 4 – Earendil – 4:49 5 – The Past Is Yet To Come – 8:00 6 – Where Wise Men Stop – 1:17 7 – In Penumbra – 6:38 8 – The Eldest – 5:24 9 – Blessed By Loneliness – 4:23 10 – For Those Who Remain 9:54 11 – Where You Belong – 2:34 Alum Length: 55:26
RuinThrone was founded in 2009 in Rome, Italy by Adriano Strinati, Haedus and Alessandri Finocchiaro. Soon after, Giorgio Mannucci (keyboards), Nicolò De Maria (guitars), and Francesco Comerci (drums) joined the band. The sound of RuinThrone is inspired by German and American metal bands like Blind Guardian, Helloween, Iced Earth, and Nevermore, but they have their own distinguishable dark and modern character.
