Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year - We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year
We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New YearWe Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year
Label: Eagle Rock Entertainment
12 classic holiday tracks respun into riffed up xmas anthems by select metal all stars from bands including Anthrax, Judas Priest, Toto, Styx, Ratt, Dio and Black Sabbath. Something is both heartening and horrible as Lemmy gargles the lyrics to “Run Rudolph Run” and Geoff Tate warbles out “Silver Bells” while Chuck Billy growls a decidedly NOT “Silent Night.”
• We Wish You A Metal Xmas And A Headbanging New Year WebsiteAlmah - Fragile Equality
AlmahFragile Equality
Label: Blistering Records
Well flavored and maturely tempered power metal featuring former Angra members. Robust guitar solos are intertwined with pulsating rhythms and urgent vocals justifying the quality and caliber of this melodic power metal fury.
• Almah Website • Almah WikiFaces Of March - Confessions
Faces Of MarchConfessions
Label: Kurfew Records
Even though this female fronted gothic tinged power metal outfit sways a bit heavy on the commercial side for me, they throw down some catchy tunes, decent ballads and a tight vision of their future. Onward!
• Faces Of March WebsitePelican - City of Echoes
PelicanCity of Echoes
Label: Hydra Head
Chicago born, hard hitting massive expansive rhythm-scapes filled with anxious doom and a crusty chagrin. Not all is lost though, as the musical twists and turns afford some blissful vistas via dynamic plateaus and sonic soliloquies.
• Pelican WikiSiebenburgen - Revelation VI
SiebenburgenRevelation VI
Label: Blistering Records
Impending gothic doom gives way as a firestorm of melodic black metal is unleashed upon the listener. The vocals are more growled and gritty than screamed and there are nice female vocal flourishes. Even though it is well done, evokes sinister ambience, etc. black metal has become kinda stale at this point.
• Siebenburgen Website • Siebenburgen WikiCasanatra - Death Ride
CasanatraDeath Ride
Label: Blue Worm Records
Two guitars and a drummer from St. Paul blasting out plush, post-grunge, groovy hard rock complimented with multiple melodic vocals and warm fuzzy tones. This band sounds better all the time!
• Casanatra WebsiteVolbeat - Guitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
VolbeatGuitar Gangsters & Cadillac Blood
Label: Mascot Records
A Danish group that has refined their Misfits meets Pantera musical style to include a stronger punk-a-billy attitude with more gang vocals while still maintaining their hep cat swagger and stance. Slick, resourceful and fun.
• Volbeat Website • Volbeat WikiBurn Sand Burn - Not In Reverse
Burn Sand BurnNot In Reverse
Label: Gary the “Landlord” Records
This 3 piece spawn of Denver, CO gleefully cranks out spunky punk/post punk utterances that twirl tales of melodic indie pop platitudes into a vision of an energetic now.
Eisbrecher - Sünde
EisbrecherSünde
Label: Metropolis Records
Not all German industrial metal bands sound like Rammstein, but these folks sure do. The unyielding throbbing metal marches form a platform for the foreboding deep German vocals that are barked with a crisp snap.
• Eisbrecher Website • Eisbrecher WikiLuna Mortis - The Absence
Luna MortisThe Absence
Label: Century Media
Displaying a polished melodic thrash attack, this Madison quintet marks the major metal scene in a big way! Fronted by a metal maiden and cajoling intricate yet cohesive fretboards furies into the neckwrecking percussion finds solid grounding here.
• Luna Mortis WikiCycle Of Pain - Cycle Of Pain
Cycle Of PainCycle Of Pain
Label: Reform Records
Black Label Society bassist exhibits his latest exploits that fall not far from the tree. Sludgy, grungy metal admittedly grown from the Black Sabbath side of heavy music but also reminding me of Soundgarden at times. Too many musical cameos to mention.
Epochate - Chronicles Of A Dying Era
EpochateChronicles Of A Dying Era
Label: Metropolis Records
More than just a collection of songs, these electronic doom prophets have delivered an evolving cinematic style landscape of bleak synthetic orchestral ministrations. Foreboding vocals are fed into this strained and grainy industrial view of reality while propelled to epic, dynamic and tragic trajectories.
• Epochate WebsiteView More
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