Released through Jamey Jasta's label Ethereal Waves is the second solo album from Crowbar frontman/Down Axeman Kirk Windstein and while it's packed with NOLA riffs but a lot more as this record cherry picks from his musical brain to visit some realms you may not associate with Windstein's projects. Speaking of cherry, one of the vinyl variant bundles includes his very own Cherry Chocolate Chipotle “Sauce Of Doom”.
So vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and saucier, Windstein is a man of many talents showcasing them all on this new solo record, joining him are ex-Exhorder man Vinnie LaBellaon guitar/bass, Duane Simoneaux on drums/acoustic guitar/keyboards while Jonny Gann gives bass to the synthy, gothy Eulogy where it goes a bit Type O Negative. All these three are involved in the production of the record too giving the dynamism to the doom of Lord Of Retribution.
Things go back to his roots on Above All but there's a lot of doom on this record from The Dawning to Rise From The Wreckage both of which ramps up the likes of Candlemass, even on the cover of Eleanor Rigby by The Beatles there's a distinct doom vibe to it. So another solo outing from this king is NOLA sludge which takes some classic doom avenues, Ethereal Waves is a great, second solo record from Mr Windstein. 8/10
Besta - John Carpenter Redux (Raging Planet Records) [Sasa]
A fourpiece metal band from Portugal who take inspiration from grindcore like bands like napalm death and obituary. Their album John carpenter is definitely a goregrind piece.
The album, re-recorded from their 2014 album, is 11 songs long and roughly 17 minutes in total, the album name and song inspiration coming from the filmmaker and composer, best known for his Halloween franchise which is the album cover for this album. I am a major fan of both horror and grind which makes the album a whole lot more appealing to me. From the artwork, the name and the music itself it is definitely worth having a listen to if you are a fan of death metal and punk influence but have not listened to grind core before this would definitely be the album to start you of into the sub genre.
My favourite song within the album is Fuga De Los Angeles, I see a lot of resemblance to Vision Conquest by Napalm Death. The songs name means Escape From Los Angeles; and is based off the 1996 John Carpenter movie with Kurt Russell which makes it even more fun. It is fast and heavy. I am in love with the raspy brutal vocals, and the guitar sounding like it is in a race with the vocalist. It is quite cinematic and full of expression. The song Eles Viven has a great guitar solo, making it my second favourite song with an amazing transition into the solo and out of it. It is so well put, it does slightly stray from the grind-core genre, but it is not clumpy or rushed out. It is fun, entertaining, and easy to listen to.
The first song O Regresso Do Mal, is very death influenced and is inspired by the Halloween franchise because you feel like you are about to have a face off with the unrelenting Michael Myers. It has some black metal elements to it cussing it to not follow your typical grind-core style, but it does still blend very well with the album.
I do wish the album were longer as I found it very entertaining and greatly done. 10/10
Außerwelt - Breath (Moment Of Collapse Records) [Sasa]
Post black metal German band Außerwelt have released their new album breathe and it is a mocktail of genres that blend and mix so well.
The new album is roughly over an hour long and has 9 incredible songs, it is completely unique, and creative and every song is different to the last following a different beat and melody than the last. The band is seen as a mixture of post black metal, progressive death and melodic. I can also see some orchestral and symphonic influences as well get a range of distinctive styles and instruments incorporated into this album.
One song that stuck out to me was Finitie/Solitare, it is purely instrumental and so elegant and melancholy it is ethereal and beautiful. It is then followed by without solace which has a transition from a solo to a heavy beatdown drum and heavy vocals. The album is a clash of emotions shown by using pianos and guitars, instrumentals, and lyrics it is just so different and unique.
This album is definitely political and emotionally driven, it is not set out to follow any set genre, it is just meant to be its own thing and show raw and original art. The album cover itself is also just its own thing, it does not follow the usual black metal cover art, it is simple yet still provokes feeling. Another thing I find remarkably interesting is that it was recorded in the band's own studio between 2022 to 2024. The band has taken a big DIY to this product which makes it even more personal and authentic.
My favourite song has got to be in the night’s coating, we contemplate hope. It is such a great melody and so well composed. The band have a lot to be proud of with this album, it is not your typical post black metal album it drifts far away from traditional metal, it makes it that much more enjoyable. 7/10
Slander UK – Take It To The Grave (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Formed in a rush in 1990, Slander is still let by founding guitarists Andy Saxon-Lamb and Andy “Greg” Gregson and they are still cranking out NWOBHM as if it was those halcyon days. Back then they recorded one album and exploded in 1993, but came back in 2008 they were back, several line up shifts, being rediscovered, playing gigs and breaking up again in 2018.
However it seems they are now properly back as Andy and Andy reunited under the Slander UK banner with vocalist Steve “Whitty” Whittington, bassist Jamie Brandon and drummer Stu Pendergast rounding out the band as they geared up for their third album Take It To The Grave. They are a band who you can rely on to deliver, having spent a long time playing this style of music across Europe, they crank out the NWOBHM sound that also carries a modern glint to it.
As soon as Terrified gets going, you pretty much know what you're going to get, this is gritty heavy metal from Slander UK, the biting guitars matching the rough vocals, as they take in some thrash sounds on Requiem and show off their atmospheric side with Deguello. For fans of the NWOBHM, especially a band like Saxon, Take It To The Grave will have you digging out your old copies of Kerrang and Sounds to rediscover your youth. 7/10
The album, re-recorded from their 2014 album, is 11 songs long and roughly 17 minutes in total, the album name and song inspiration coming from the filmmaker and composer, best known for his Halloween franchise which is the album cover for this album. I am a major fan of both horror and grind which makes the album a whole lot more appealing to me. From the artwork, the name and the music itself it is definitely worth having a listen to if you are a fan of death metal and punk influence but have not listened to grind core before this would definitely be the album to start you of into the sub genre.
My favourite song within the album is Fuga De Los Angeles, I see a lot of resemblance to Vision Conquest by Napalm Death. The songs name means Escape From Los Angeles; and is based off the 1996 John Carpenter movie with Kurt Russell which makes it even more fun. It is fast and heavy. I am in love with the raspy brutal vocals, and the guitar sounding like it is in a race with the vocalist. It is quite cinematic and full of expression. The song Eles Viven has a great guitar solo, making it my second favourite song with an amazing transition into the solo and out of it. It is so well put, it does slightly stray from the grind-core genre, but it is not clumpy or rushed out. It is fun, entertaining, and easy to listen to.
The first song O Regresso Do Mal, is very death influenced and is inspired by the Halloween franchise because you feel like you are about to have a face off with the unrelenting Michael Myers. It has some black metal elements to it cussing it to not follow your typical grind-core style, but it does still blend very well with the album.
I do wish the album were longer as I found it very entertaining and greatly done. 10/10
Außerwelt - Breath (Moment Of Collapse Records) [Sasa]
Post black metal German band Außerwelt have released their new album breathe and it is a mocktail of genres that blend and mix so well.
The new album is roughly over an hour long and has 9 incredible songs, it is completely unique, and creative and every song is different to the last following a different beat and melody than the last. The band is seen as a mixture of post black metal, progressive death and melodic. I can also see some orchestral and symphonic influences as well get a range of distinctive styles and instruments incorporated into this album.
One song that stuck out to me was Finitie/Solitare, it is purely instrumental and so elegant and melancholy it is ethereal and beautiful. It is then followed by without solace which has a transition from a solo to a heavy beatdown drum and heavy vocals. The album is a clash of emotions shown by using pianos and guitars, instrumentals, and lyrics it is just so different and unique.
This album is definitely political and emotionally driven, it is not set out to follow any set genre, it is just meant to be its own thing and show raw and original art. The album cover itself is also just its own thing, it does not follow the usual black metal cover art, it is simple yet still provokes feeling. Another thing I find remarkably interesting is that it was recorded in the band's own studio between 2022 to 2024. The band has taken a big DIY to this product which makes it even more personal and authentic.
My favourite song has got to be in the night’s coating, we contemplate hope. It is such a great melody and so well composed. The band have a lot to be proud of with this album, it is not your typical post black metal album it drifts far away from traditional metal, it makes it that much more enjoyable. 7/10
Slander UK – Take It To The Grave (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Formed in a rush in 1990, Slander is still let by founding guitarists Andy Saxon-Lamb and Andy “Greg” Gregson and they are still cranking out NWOBHM as if it was those halcyon days. Back then they recorded one album and exploded in 1993, but came back in 2008 they were back, several line up shifts, being rediscovered, playing gigs and breaking up again in 2018.
However it seems they are now properly back as Andy and Andy reunited under the Slander UK banner with vocalist Steve “Whitty” Whittington, bassist Jamie Brandon and drummer Stu Pendergast rounding out the band as they geared up for their third album Take It To The Grave. They are a band who you can rely on to deliver, having spent a long time playing this style of music across Europe, they crank out the NWOBHM sound that also carries a modern glint to it.
As soon as Terrified gets going, you pretty much know what you're going to get, this is gritty heavy metal from Slander UK, the biting guitars matching the rough vocals, as they take in some thrash sounds on Requiem and show off their atmospheric side with Deguello. For fans of the NWOBHM, especially a band like Saxon, Take It To The Grave will have you digging out your old copies of Kerrang and Sounds to rediscover your youth. 7/10
Thank you for the review of our new album. Much appreciated. Slander UK.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome guys
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