One of the finest labels for those with a liking for 70s influenced style stoner rock is Californian label Ripple Music, whose latest releases (Mos Generator, Grifter, Stone Axe, Devil To Pay, Mothership) maintain the quality and reputation with energy a-plenty.
French horde Aosoth, with members known from e.g. Antaeus and Temple Of Baal, return with their fourth full length, again via Agonia Records (the reviews on the former full length albums Ashes Of Angels and III are still available within Concreteweb’s Archive Section; see the update on April 13th 2010 and May 7th 2011 respectively).
Anthrax is an American trash metal band from New York and was formed in 1981 by guitarists Scott Ian and Danny Lilker. The band was named after the disease that those two saw listed in a biology textbook, using it because it sounded "sufficiently evil". the band has since released ten studio albums and 20 singles, and made an EP featuring American hip hop group Public Enemy. The band was one of the most popular of the metal scene in the 80’s.
One of Ireland’s most prominent bands return with the third full length studio recording, almost exactly two years after Mammal (see Concreteweb’s Archive Section’s May 9th 2011-update for the really fabulously written -hehe- review done by undersigned). The stuff, coming with rather sober artwork, lasts for forty eight minutes, by the way.
Agents of Chaos is a hard-rocking band from Seattle witch got started somewhere around November 2009. The band consists of founder/ guitarist Brien DeChristopher, vocalist Jake McCoy, bassist Michael Keesal, and drummer Scott Henderson. You might think that band with its fearsome name may sound like a speed metal, thrash, or punk. Well, you couldn’t be more wrong.
The Gates Of Slumber is a doom metal band from Indianapolis, USA. Their band name is taken from the Cianide song “Gates of Slumber” from the album A Descent Into Hell.
Steak Number Eight are a band who are comfortable with the style they produce which always makes for a solid and worthy listen and their new release is no exception
Mind you readers. This is not really a ‘new’ album. It’s a compilation of songs from Neurasthenia’s ‘Possessed’ (2007) and ‘Your Omen’ (2009) albums, that have been re-recorded, re-arranged, re-mixed an finally re-mastered.
Whatever they may have done with these songs, I don’t give a damn. It still stays trash, and trash has never been, and will never be, a genre that I truly like. There are parts in these songs I like, but most of it I’d like to treat to the fast forward button.
The style is distinctly sludge groove math metal with a ballsy guitar/drum/bass/vocalist line-up. Think of garage Black Tusk inspired screamy metal songs with a very upbeat head-nodding lilt in the standard verse / chorus / solo / verse format. What's more, Howl sport a punk-style attitude/aesthetic yet somehow combine it with a higher degree of metallic accessibility. The band has a strong sense of including hooks and great fuzz leads without sacrificing the grooviness, to quickly grab the listener's attention.
Hailing from France, Hacride is another entry into the alternative metal field. Hacride take sheer musical force and commanding vocals to new heights. Intricate guitar work collides with masterful tempo changes, the rhythmic patterns are furious yet inventive in their splendour. Luiss Roux’ vocals are an additional strongpoint as they fit in with their sound perfectly, but hopefully he will restrain his singing a little bit, less is more.
