Night Demon -- S/T EP expanded edition review

                        

                              Night Demon – EP expanded Edtion

How can I describe Night Demon in two words? “HEAVY METAL” These guys just rip. Now I figured I do a review of the expended edition of this EP. I would suggest you try to get your hands on a vinyl copy before they are all sold out from High Roller records.  OK let’s start with the review.

The first song Night Demon is definitely an anthem that will get you headbanging and fistbanging. You got some great riffs and also I love the bass tone in this song. I like how in the middle of the song the bass and guitar are playing the same harmonies together and it reminds me of early Maiden. The Chalice has some cool bass work especially with the intro. It seems this song is becoming a live staple for them. Ancient, Ancient Evil!! This song just gets me everytime. It’s so darn catchy. Ritual has some great guitar and this song just sounds very Diamond Head influenced (which isn't a bad thing it’s a compliment).

Now if these guys were older and it had an older recording quality I would have told you that these guys were a lost N.W.O.B.H.M gem. 

There are a lot of new bands but this is the first band I can say with a 100% conviction that sound like that they got transported from 1980 to now. If you listen to the guitar tone and the vocal’s and vocal lines it just screams N.W.O.B.H.M. I think the singer Jarvis sounds like a harsher/harder version of Sean Harris of Diamond Head.

On the Expanded edition you get two covers and two live tracks.their cover of Lightning to the nations it’s just awesome. Really the best Diamond Head cover I have heard so far. You can tell they really tried their best and they absolutely delivered on it. I was glad to hear Axe Crazy by Jaguar I think they really gave the song justice and it’s cool to see them covering a bit more obscure N.W.O.B.H.M song. The two live tracks from their first gig Radar Love and Ritual both sounds fantastic. Even if you have the EP these songs just make buying the EP totally worth it.

This is one of the best EP’s every released in my honest opinion. I own three versions of it. I think I’m tad obsessed with this EP (hahaha). So pick it up and if you don’t you will be regretting you didn’t.  10/10 flawless 

Night Demon website

http://www.nightdemon.net/

Night Demon FB

https://www.facebook.com/nightdemonband

Here's where you can pick it up

http://www.hrrshop.de/NIGHT-DEMON-s-t_1

Vindicator -- Sleeping with Evil E.P review

                                       

I've been meaning to review this but I forgot to but as you can see I remembered. This E.P rips from beginning to end. Vindicator has been band I actually re-discovered. So once I finally got back into them and discovering they got Vic Stown on vocals I was even more of a fan of them now than before. So let’s get into the review.

The Succubus is a cool intro opener to this E.P. Then you get hit with the opening riffs of Sleeping With Evil it’s pure headbanging from then on out. Vic’s vocals at time reminds me of John Connely of Nuclear Assault and at other times Dave Mustaine. Riff wise it’s pretty solid thrashy but also catchy riffs.

Hockey Stick Vengeance is fast paced thrash song definitely with a bit of tongue and cheek humor in it “smashing your face with a hockey stick is the only tool I need.” In a live setting I could definitely see the crowd really like this one, and who wouldn't?

New Clear Assault: End of an Error this is a re-recording because this song is from Let There Be Blood. This was actually the first Vindicator song I ever heard quite a few years ago. The intro they added was really cool, now this is my favorite version of this song. I think the vocals and production is way better. If this song doesn't get you headbanging or going crazy then I feel sorry for you.

The last three tracks Destruction of Justice is a cool instrumental with a very cool solo. Rampage is a demo and it sounds pretty good. The last song is “Vindicator” live.

I don’t have anything really negative to say about this. It’s a great E.P and I think the songs are solid. The production is really good it’s still raw but it’s also clear so nothing really sounds muddy. The only tracks that don’t have the same production are obviously the demo and live track.

Why Vindicator aren't more known? I have no idea, they are way better than Havok and a lot of other bands. They have great songs and catchy riffs. Buy this E.P you won’t be disappointed and check out their back catalog.    9/10

Hirax -- Immortal Legacy review

So, I finally got my hands on this album. I went to L.A to go see Possessed live at the Whisky a go go (great show) so I stopped by Amoeba records and I saw this album so I had to buy it. In one word this album is "METAL!". Hirax know's how to write great songs and they are very good at delivering quality metal to the mass of headbangers ready to have a broken neck!

The first song is Black Smoke and immediately they hit you with a catchy intro riff before hitting you full speed ahead with some awesome thrash metal! Victims of the dead man this song is so catchy not in the pop sense obviously but they know how to write just great riffs that stick with you and even after I turned off this album I kept singing "Release the victims of the dead!!!!" it's a pure 100% headbanging and fistbanging song.  La boca de la bestia is another one of Hirax's thrash assault and it will throw you into the mouth of the beast.
Tied to the gallows pole is possibly tied for my favorite song off this album with Victims of the dead. Once again those twin guitar riffs are just awesome. Also you can't forget Katon's vocals and his wails! Katon is just one of the vocalist once you hear him once you will always remember him.

The music is just great with very good riffs and all the instruments are heard clearly. The production isn't muddy or anything like that. You can hear Katon's vocals great he's up front and center. However don't expect this album to have a squeaky clean production it still has a raw sound to it. Lyrically you can expect the usual Hirax type of lyrics you know songs about War and history.  For example the song "The world will burn" is about the Great fire of Rome and I remember reading in an interview that La Boca De La bestia was about a military unit please correct me if I'm wrong. One thing I like about Katon's lyrics is that he isn't trying to preach to you or anything but like he said in an interview the lyrics are more of a warning to people that if we don't try to understand each other and figure out how to get along, we'll end up killing each other.

In all I think this a very good album, and when you have the time pick it up. I want to see them live so bad so hopefully they do a U.S tour soon. One last thing is this album better than The New age of terror? I think it is. Better than El Rostro De La Muerte? I think at the moment It's tied.

 I'm feeling a strong 9/10

Hirax Facebook Page : https://www.facebook.com/KatonHIRAX

Hirax: official website: http://www.blackdevilrecords.com/

Monolith -- Embers of Resolution review

Monolith -- Embers of Resolution

 I received Monolith’s first debut album Embers of Resolution from there guitarist Kris (cool dude btw). However he told me the album I received will not be the official version released because that one will have a few tweaks but overall this is the finished project. So I’ve been wanting to review this album but I was a bit nervous since I know them personally. However as you can see I’m doing it and here we go.

The first song “Ice” comes in with a very Metallica influenced riff and it’s pretty catchy after hearing it a few times. The solos really caught my attention. However my only gripe is that the intro part last’s 3 minutes and 48 seconds. Finally when the song finally kicks in to the main riff it’s a very good song. I just think that part needs to be cut a bit since the song is 9 minutes and 6 seconds. The song is good though and Kris’s vocals sound great and David shreds in the solo (at least I think it’s David).
Trial of time is your usual thrashy song off this album with the trademark E string fast chugging riff.  Bring the Pit had to grow on me but it has become one of my favorites off the album and now thinking about it, this song sounds very good live. Blood on the rocks is one of my favorites from this album easily. The first beginning guitar parts sound very cool and I think Kris’s voice sounds great throughout the whole song. This possibly might be tied for my favorite Monolith song of this album.

Remember the day is your get everybody crazy in the venue type of song. It’s good but you can tell it was written very early on in Monoliths career. Rise with the Fallen I absolutely was really looking forward to hearing this song on this album however I was a bit disappointed since I personally prefer how the demo version had the bass and drums play along with the first guitar part. Not a bad song at all but I think that should have been included.


General of Thieves is a song I first overlooked but I have come too really like it. The bass and guitar work is great in this song which really caught my attention. Another song tied for my favorite is Being Led Blind. Dang this song is catchy. Not in the pop sense but it’s just really great songwriting on this song and it really shows. Behemoth ends off the album with a really dark droning track. Black metal inspired obviously by the name of the song. I think it’s a really good Monolith song and it’s cool to see the band trying different things.

OK now here’s in short the positives and negatives to tell you.
The Positives: Great sound of the album
All the instruments are heard clearly
Vocals are great
Guitars sound good
Bass work and sound is good
Drums sound good as well
Productions isn’t muddy

Negatives: Song lengths (Then again I’m not a prog rock/metal guy so it might be just my weirdness with song lengths.)
At times it was hard to differentiate between songs

This band is good and they definitely have a lot of potential. They sound way better than like 99% of all the other local bands around my area I am not going to list names but you get the idea. So I hope you guys enjoyed my review (let’s hope the band doesn’t get pissed at me) and have a good one.  So I’m feeling a solid  85% for this debut album and I would highly recommend picking this up.

Nocturnal Fear/ Seges Findere split. Allied for the Upcoming Genocide

Nocturnal Fear/ Seges Findere Split review

I just recently picked this up and it's awesome!! Nocturnal Fear contribute 4 tracks of there brand of crushing metal and Seges Findere have two tracks so it's a 6 track split.

Nocturnal Fear is like a black ops military unit. They come and destroy all in there path. Blood on the Battlefield shows some great riffing by Slavehunter also great drumming by Witchammer. Slavehunter plays a great solo on Infernal Nuclear Warfare (great title for a song). Slavehunter is an old school metal veteran and he knows how to write just great riffs in the best old school style. If your into Violator and that kinda stuff this isn't for you this isn't "retro-thrash".  Cast from Heaven is from there album Metal of Honor and I like this re-recording just as much as the original  however I think the drumming is better on this one. Invade to Conqueror (pt.2) is a crushing instrumental. The two first tracks will be on the next Nocturnal Fear album. "Sadistic Inquisition" on this split Nocturnal Fear is on DEFCON level 2 (Next step to nuclear war) with the new album with songs like "Seal team 666, Bite the curb, Operation Trinity" there going to DEFON 1. 

Seges Findere is a band from Brazil and they play in the black/death metal style there music is way more chaotic. I can't really find a band to compare them too since I don't listen to much of that type of metal but it was good none the less. I will probably have to check out more stuff by this band since I did enjoy the tracks on this split.

So in short buy this split when you get the chance you will not be disappointed.

Monolith -- two song preview, mini review

                                                    (Artwork for the new album)




I got this preview CD when they through it out to the crowd at one of their shows. I was excited to see how this new material sounds! So lets get on to the review!

1. The first song "Bring the pit" clocks in at 7:20 It's a pretty fast song it's pretty much comprised of Bay Area type riffing the first thing I thought about was Battery by Metallica. So it's fast and song is good however I have one minor complaint. It's too long of a song for me. Now this is just me I don't like really long songs I think if they would have maybe cut a few pieces off for example the slow chugging part instead of six times it could have been three or something I don't know I personally think the song would have been a bit better. The solos are great though! The drums sound good also! So I'm not totally knocking it because it's not a bad song just not my favorite.

2. This song "Being led blind" clocks in at 5:23. This song really caught my attention from the first part it's kinda mellow but it keeps a good pace. Then you get into this build up part which I thought was really cool. Then you get a mid pace riff and then the drums kick in and then the whole band. There's a bit of Pantera type guitar squeals in the song also. The guitarist and vocalist Kris does a very good job on this song. The drummer Jeremy does some great drumming through out the song also.

Production wise to me it sounds pretty much the same from their old demo  So the productions is good and the songs are overall very good. So keep on the look out for their new album that should be coming out hopefully by next year?  I don't know to tell you the truth but until then just keep waiting.

Infernal Assault -- Natural Selection review

                                           Infernal Assault -- Natural Selection review

Infernal Assault is a thrash metal band out of L.A.  This album just rips from front to end just speed, speed and more speed. It starts off with the song Martial Law is a song that will get you headbanging instantly. If you like to mosh then you can do that to.  The next some Cop Killer has a really cool riff and this one like it's predecessor is just all out speed. One thing I do like is that the riffs aren't Exodus type riffs you heard 1000 times before. Destruction influenced this band a lot from what I can tell. The title track has some really good guitar and bass lines and they change it up a lot more in this song which makes it more memorable in my opinion there is also a really good solo on this song also. I think my favorite song on this album is probably Scum it's just an in your face thrash song and it gets you headbanging every time!

Now onto some other aspects of this album. The vocals are pretty good, the guitar has a good tone to it. The bass at times I can hear it but other times it's really just buried other the other instruments and vocals which is a shame since when I hear the bass it sounds very good. The drums to me seem a bit too loud at times but the drumming itself is good. I think if there was just a bit better production the album would be better. One other very minor complaint I wish Death Head was on this since it's my favorite song by them. But back to production this is their debut so I wasn't expecting some very good production one thing that is prevalent is attitude they don't give a crap what people think there just playing the music how they want to. Lyrically on this from what I can hear it's violence, death, anger oh wait more violence but what do you expect from songs like Martial Law, Insane Asylum, and Cultural Death. This band definitely has potential I'm curious on how the next album is going to sound, that's if they do put out another album. Until then just grab your denim jacket and headbang until you bleed!!!


8/10