Reviews: Dead Label, Yawning Sons, Aphrodite, Winterleaf (Reviews By Matt Bladen)

Dead Label - Anthology (Independant)

Dead Label are very much a band whose star is on the rise, the Irish extreme metal crew released their second album Throne Of Bones in 2016 and this led them to play numerous high profile gigs with bands such as Fear Factory, Machine Head, Jinjer, the biggest being two support slots with the mighty Gojira as well as festivals such as Bloodstock, Metaldays and Download. They were poised to make their return to Donnington last year (then this year) but with Covid this has been shelved meaning that the band have moved into recording mode, the result of which is the new EP Anthology. Formed of four previously released singles (none of which appeared on Throne Of Bones or its predecessor Sense Of Slaughter) adding two new songs in Deadweight and Flux. 

The new songs, and the singles, all show why the band are in that 'next big thing' category, with their groove/death/extreme metal, is razor sharp and focussed like a smart bomb ready to take out all around. Anthology is basically a piece of fan service due to cancelled gigs and while we wait for their new album but it's loaded with great music. The very personal Deadweight gets things started, the addition of new guitarist Mick Hynes adding another layer of heaviness to the already skull shattering riffs of Danny Hall (guitar), Dan O'Grady (bass) and Claire Percival (drums). 

Deadweight is a thunderous opening ramping up the aggression as it leads into the more metalcore grooves of Pure Chaos, a track that will certainly get the masses moving when gigs come back. At only six tracks they have to grab you and be varied, all factors you get here with the thrashy Triggered and the thumping Flux as False Messiah brings a melodic touch of Machine Head as the crushing Dystopian Complex closes the EP. Anthology serves its purpose of keeping your expectation high for Dead Label's new album while neatly compiling all of the releases from the last few years. 8/10 

Yawning Sons - Sky Island (Ripple Music)

The second album from Yawning Man and Sons Of Alpha Centauri is yet another desert rock masterclass from legends of the genre. Comprised of Gary Arce (guitars), Marlon King (guitars/vocals), Nick Hannon (bass), Stevie B (drums), Kyle Hanson (drums) and Blake (effects) Sky Island is a thrilling fusion of sunshine infused desert rocking and jazzy prog rock where the songs are primarily instrumental, full of reverb drenched riffs, expressive drums and using the vocals as an additional layer of instrumentation. Vocally they have yet again tapped Mario Lalli (Yawning Man/Fatso Jetson) on the ringing Cigarette Footsteps, Scott Reeder (Kyuss, The Obsessed) on the euphoric, shamanic Digital Spirit and Wendy Rae Fowler (Queens of the Stone Age, earthlings?) on the echoed Shadows And Echoes but this time bringing on Dandy Brown (Hermano, Orquesta del Desierto) for the atmospheric Low In The Valley and the grooving Gravity Underwater. Sky Island is a musical journey into the furthest reaches of the universe with the best guides we can get. Expand your mind and visit Sky Island. 8/10       

Aphrodite - Orgasmic Glory (Fighter Records) 

Aphrodite are a Canadian speed metal band formed by Jo Steel of Ice War (who release their new album in May) and musically it's very similar to Jo's other band in that there are 8 tracks of frenzied guitar playing, coming from Jo and Yan Turbo who unleash solos like they're going out of style. Jo plays everything else on the record while Tazna Speed from Demonia brings her almost acerbic vocals style to the record as well. As with a lot of speed metal there is a distinctly D.I.Y/punk edge both in the songwriting and the production too. Dance Wild And Free has a repeating shouty chorus, Meadows Of Asphodel is a little slower becoming more like traditional heavy metal. That's pretty much all you can say about this record, its raw and rabid, sitting in that first wave of NWOBHM bands, if you're a denim and leather lover then you'll be running a circle in no time. 5/10

Winterleaf - Leaves Of Winter (Self Released)

Winterleaf is the solo project of Thessaloniki melo-death band Ephemeral's singer Elias. He handles everything here (vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, orchestrations) and adapts the melo-death sound of his main band with a heavier atmospheric doom sound. Imagine those earlier Paradise Lost records and the early Katatonia too and you'll be on to a winner, especially as the title track crawls it's way out of the speakers with down tuned guitars and layered strings. Musically it's very dense with Elias' compositions really having an emotional edge as he's joined by Paladine guitarist John Kats on Darkest Of My Days which is the records most melodic offering due to the lead guitars. 

One intro and two 6 minute tracks is well enough to give you a feel of what Winterleaf are about however there is a cover that closes out the album. The track is a Gothic/Death/Doom version of Iron Maiden's Brave New World, it features guest leads from Ephemeral's Jim Gaianos, and as with all other Maiden covers treads thin ice. Hearing it without Bruce's Air Raid siren and the gallop is a little disconcerting but I've got to give Elias kudos for his balls to adapt this song. Leaves Of Winter is solo record that is different enough from Elias' main band to interest. 6/10