Napalm Records

Striker is not exactly a new name in the Metal scene, seeing as bands with that name go back to the early '80s in the US, first an early Power Metal act which only left us a 1982 single before splitting up, then a Heavy Metal band from Florida which gave us a single in 1985. In the late '80s a Heavy Metal act came from Amberg (Bavaria) in Germany (they had a first run from 1988 to 2005, and then regrouped in 2010). 2009 saw the formation of an Austrian Thrash Metal act, but their status is currently uncertain...and then there was also a Hard Rock act from Seattle!

Hailing from London, UK, Steak was founded in 2010 by a foursome of musicians who took musical influences from the greater bands in the Stoner Rock, Desert Rock, and Fuzz Rock genres.

 “Cold was the ground” – the third album by these Roadburn veterans” offers dark delta blues, Southern swagger and pure heaviness : this one’s got soul!! It’s mainly the rough vocals from founder Steve Moss that enriches the sound of the band. Moss’ way of singing is raw and sometimes close to growls while the guitar riffs are based on what bands like Kyuss started years ago. Newly signed to “Napalm Records”, “Cold was the ground” is a sound of a band energized, committed, driven, with a passion to rock.

Already 4th album of the Norwegian rockers, for those who already  know the band you know what to expect, for the rest of you….

Zodiac’s first introduced themselves to me at 2014’s Hellfest,  the band just grabbed my attention to such an extent that I decided that I needed to find out more about them. First thing I found out that these guy’s are from Germany and not as I expected from one of the Southern states from the US of A. Secondly the band released 3 albums in the timespan of about 2 years… Thirdly  they  covered Cortez the killer from Neil Young without losing the essence and vibe of the original…  Back to Sonic Child know….

The Order of Israfel are yet another 2014 release with musical roots planted in the occult seventies early eighties with more than a mere hint towards the first gods of doom & gloom (also known as Black SABBATH.)  It would however not be correct to describe  THE ORDER OF ISRAFEL as just another clone of the mighty SABBATH, no sir.  The Order of Israfel does have in there line up enough experience from other bands in the doom metal genre to ensure that it’s not  all just copy and paste.

I had not heard of this German act before, but I do not think I missed anything at all. Apparently they did release seven albums before… With Zombieland, this act around singer Alex Wohnhaas brings fifty minutes of extremely catchy (after ten seconds you can sing each song along) Industrial Metal / Electro Rock with some radio-play poppiness. Gloomy and groovy, then again more integer and emotional, with the mandatory ballads included… Only once in a while, Megaherz open less trendy registers, but it can’t save the damage…

Straddling the line between the soft and the heavy Sweden’s Year Of The Goat.  Are slowly turning heads and gathering acolytes. Formed by members of GRIFTEGARD back in 2006, the band released the EP “LUCEM FERRE” in 2011 to a generally positive response? Their sound took the best elements from country mates GHOST and IN SOLITUDE fusing them with a energetic and almost positive rock sound.

Is the tenth studio album by the American stoner rock band! According to the band’s frontman Dave Wyndorf, the album is a “Reimagined” version of their previous album, 2013’s Last Patrol, featuring four new songs and two live tracks. (recorded at the AB in Brussels in 2014).

Following The Beast is the second full album from the Swedish warriors united under the banner of Gormathon, after 2010’s Lens Of Guardian (Supernova Records). There was also an EP in 2012, Celestial Warrior, by the way, and the songs from that mini-album are part of this full length too.