Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Seven Kingdoms - The Fire Is Mine
Seven KingdomsThe Fire Is Mine
Label: Nightmare / Sony / RED
Furious melodic progressive thrash metal with epic choirs is the order of the day for the third release from this Florida group. Led by the amazing female vocals of Sabrina Valentine and recorded at Morrisound Studios by legendary producer Jim Morris (Iced Earth, Obituary, etc) this release has the backbone to explode onto the metal scene and do some serious damage.
• Seven Kingdoms Website • Seven Kingdoms Facebook • Seven Kingdoms WikiTusmørke - Underjordisk Tusmørke
TusmørkeUnderjordisk Tusmørke
Label: Termo Records
Immediate flashbacks to early Jethro Tull flooded my senses on first listen, only to give way to other obvious influences from Gong, Can, Caravan, etc. While their name means twilight in Norwegian, their retro prog-psych music is twisted with a dark dose of Nordic folk and folk magic while being played out in atmospheric analog format thanks to the antique equipment that was used for its making.
• Tusmørke FacebookClutch - Earth Rocker
ClutchEarth Rocker
Label: Weathermaker Music
Ten albums in, and they are still hot as fuck! Self-admittedly wrought with more forethought, focus, and polish than some of their prior releases, Earth Rocker will knock your socks off. Their hard-rockin’ antics and usual sardonic lyrics have never sounded better.
• Clutch Website • Clutch Facebook • Clutch WikiSuicidal Tendencies - Thirteen (13)
Suicidal TendenciesThirteen (13)
Label: Suicidal Records
Wow! Mike Muir is still making music! After a 13 year haitus, ST comes back with a heavy-hitting album filled with what they are known for: blistering. thrashing punk with some great funky interludes filled with the irascible wit and wisdom of Mike Muir.
• Suicidal Tendencies Website • Suicidal Tendencies Facebook • Suicidal Tendencies WikiBeefus - The Itching Below
BeefusThe Itching Below
Label: Ys Records
Madison’s musical mad scientists are back with more fractured, nonlinear globular grooves fitted with fantastic farcical lyrics and warbled vocals. Disturbed, depraved, and outrageous musical experiments of the most uncouth kind. And at all times, watch out for that itch..
• Beefus Website • Beefus FacebookASG - Blood Drive
ASGBlood Drive
Label: Relapse
Somewhere between the vocality and alt pop of Jane’s Addiction and the infectious sludge metal of Baroness is where ASG (Amplification of Self Gratification) find their strongest footings. This mega-riffing North Carolina crew knows how to pour on the body-waving grooves and mate them with melodic vocals to scorch your lobes.
• ASG Facebook • ASG WikiValient Thorr - Our Own Masters
Valient ThorrOur Own Masters
Label: Volcom Entertainment
Balls-to-the-wall slip sliding stoner sludge metal from North Carolina has never sounded so good! Pulsing and pounding riffs and rhythms spiral and surge, blistering with unvarnished intensity and brilliance. Grab hold!
• Valient Thorr Website • Valient Thorr Facebook • Valient Thorr WikiDelain - Human Contradiction
DelainHuman Contradiction
Label: Napalm Records
Still having a soft spot for female fronted symphonic metal, I was pleased to find that the Dutch band Delain’s newest delivers an ample amount of crashing metal attacks juxtaposed against delicate refrains and floating synth driven atmospheres. Charlotte Wessels demonstrates an emotional but not overpowering vocal approach, which propels their overall musical ferocity and gothic undertow to new heights and depths.
• The Delain Website • The Delain Facebook • The Delain WikiBrownout - Brownout Presents Brown Sabbath
BrownoutBrownout Presents Brown Sabbath
Label: Ubiquity
Take the Austin-based Latin funk band Brownout, add congas, horns, zest and psychedelics to choice catalog selections from Hard Rock and Heavy Metal godfathers Black Sabbath and you get Brown Sabbath, their funky, salsafied cousins. They make it surprisingly hard to decide whether to bang your head or dance your ass off to these 7 classic tracks.
• Brownout Website • Brownout Facebook • Brownout WikiThe Werks - Inside A Dream
The WerksInside A Dream
Label: The Werks
Psychedelic shredding flows into jamming dance rhythms before being hopping up with a slap bass flurry and ear bending harmony vocals on the newest (and greatest) release from The Werks. This Ohio based quartet harnesses their technical prowess in ways hereto before un-assembled, allowing them to deliver a blissful transformational swipe across the musical spectrum. The dream is alive and they are appearing LIVE 3/11 at High Noon Saloon in Madison, WI and 3/12 at Miramar Theater in Milwaukee, WI.
• The The Werks Website • The The Werks Facebook • The The Werks WikiHelmet - Dead To The World
HelmetDead To The World
Label: earMusic
Helmet’s 8th studio album and their first in 7 years finds scene influencing band leader Page Hamilton and crew delivering fuzzy warm hypnotic riffs through a surprising variety of styles and approaches, while still managing to weave in signature counter-intuitive rhythmic approaches and combinations. Some of these experiments work better than others, but overall manage to deliver a solid release. How does this play out live? Find out on 12/15 at High Noon Saloon in Madison when they appear with openers Local H.
• Helmet Website • Helmet Facebook • Helmet WikiEvanescence - Synthesis
EvanescenceSynthesis
Label: BMG
Focusing on orchestra and electronica, Synthesis revamps and recomposes the groups top hits, plus 2 new songs, into a full symphonic experience. The amazing Amy Lee is the conductor and focal point of this touring extravaganza, playing piano and singing her heart and soul into this highly acclaimed and award winning music. A grandiose occurrence!
Appearing on 12/5 at Orpheum Theater in Madison, WI.
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