If you thought Sabaton were obsessed with Word War I, then you clearly don't know about 1914, or you don't like extreme metal. The Ukrainian trench warfare enthusiasts are now on album number four based around the horrors of The Great War, and anyone who has done any research into it will know I mean horrors.
1914-1918 was one of the most bloody and brutal chapters in European history and unlike the Swedes, the blackened death doom of these Ukrainians is a much more fitting style of music in which to discuss Ypres, Passchendaele and Verdun. It's also far more resonant as 1914 are a band who have had much of their momentum, on the live stage stalled due to the invasion of their country.
The album title is Latin for "With United Forces" and was the personal motto of Franz Joseph I, equally it's a motor for the band themselves as they try to stay resilient through what is happening on their country and produce their conceptual, cinematic music. It's also reflective of this records tone, the abject misery and pointlessness of WWI, described on previous records gives way to a feeling of hope. The personal stories of men who endure but survive, taking on the hell on earth that was Europe in this period and through 'united forces' coming out the other side.
What I love about 1914, other than their music which is a given, is their commitment to historical accuracy and their use of real events and personal accounts of the period. Viribus Unitis comes from the view of a Ukrainian soldier from 1914 to 1919, portraying every facet of this horrific conflict and it's aftermath with a human lense.
Aaron Stainthorpe of High Parasite, Christopher Scott of Precious Death and Rome’s Jerome Reuter all join the record to add their talents to these stories, 1914's conceptal approach giving them room to take on different roles within the narrative. 1914 don't need guest recognition though as their music speaks loudly enough for itself.
At times it's blistering and rapid, like an artillery barrage being dropped on enemy trenches, at others bludgeoning and crushing like an early mechanised cannon crawling over No Man's Land, then in an instant it's harrowing and solem, rife with doom laden introspection.
However there's more with more melodic guitars, broader orchestal movements and even clean vocals, used with the sound effects, spoken word moments and samples to make it a truly cinematic affair. 1914 still make historically potent and politically charged extreme metal that is relevant to today.
Through blackened death doom focussed on the darkest moments of The Great War they show that we can overcome tyranny as a united force and only through camaraderie and unity will we be able to make it out the other side. 9/10
Dune Aurora - Ice Age Desert (Octopus Rising) [Rich Piva]
The ladies of Italian band Dune Aurora bring some nice and fuzzy heavy rock on their debut record, Ice Age Desert, which has the trio delivering the goods with nine tracks of what you want to hear in your fuzzy stoner/desert rock. This is some seriously solid heavy and melodic stoner goodness that differentiates itself with killer, three part harmonies living alongside all the riffs.
Opening with a bluesy, harmony filled opener, Gateway is just that to what’s coming up on Ice Age Desert. It is an interesting way to kick the record off, with a build up to Tundra, where the title is cold but the riffs are hot, and the harmonized vocals are killer. Ginny Wagon brings both the voice and the riffs, partnering her siren song voice and axe work perfectly.
1914-1918 was one of the most bloody and brutal chapters in European history and unlike the Swedes, the blackened death doom of these Ukrainians is a much more fitting style of music in which to discuss Ypres, Passchendaele and Verdun. It's also far more resonant as 1914 are a band who have had much of their momentum, on the live stage stalled due to the invasion of their country.
The album title is Latin for "With United Forces" and was the personal motto of Franz Joseph I, equally it's a motor for the band themselves as they try to stay resilient through what is happening on their country and produce their conceptual, cinematic music. It's also reflective of this records tone, the abject misery and pointlessness of WWI, described on previous records gives way to a feeling of hope. The personal stories of men who endure but survive, taking on the hell on earth that was Europe in this period and through 'united forces' coming out the other side.
What I love about 1914, other than their music which is a given, is their commitment to historical accuracy and their use of real events and personal accounts of the period. Viribus Unitis comes from the view of a Ukrainian soldier from 1914 to 1919, portraying every facet of this horrific conflict and it's aftermath with a human lense.
Aaron Stainthorpe of High Parasite, Christopher Scott of Precious Death and Rome’s Jerome Reuter all join the record to add their talents to these stories, 1914's conceptal approach giving them room to take on different roles within the narrative. 1914 don't need guest recognition though as their music speaks loudly enough for itself.
At times it's blistering and rapid, like an artillery barrage being dropped on enemy trenches, at others bludgeoning and crushing like an early mechanised cannon crawling over No Man's Land, then in an instant it's harrowing and solem, rife with doom laden introspection.
However there's more with more melodic guitars, broader orchestal movements and even clean vocals, used with the sound effects, spoken word moments and samples to make it a truly cinematic affair. 1914 still make historically potent and politically charged extreme metal that is relevant to today.
Through blackened death doom focussed on the darkest moments of The Great War they show that we can overcome tyranny as a united force and only through camaraderie and unity will we be able to make it out the other side. 9/10
Dune Aurora - Ice Age Desert (Octopus Rising) [Rich Piva]
The ladies of Italian band Dune Aurora bring some nice and fuzzy heavy rock on their debut record, Ice Age Desert, which has the trio delivering the goods with nine tracks of what you want to hear in your fuzzy stoner/desert rock. This is some seriously solid heavy and melodic stoner goodness that differentiates itself with killer, three part harmonies living alongside all the riffs.
Opening with a bluesy, harmony filled opener, Gateway is just that to what’s coming up on Ice Age Desert. It is an interesting way to kick the record off, with a build up to Tundra, where the title is cold but the riffs are hot, and the harmonized vocals are killer. Ginny Wagon brings both the voice and the riffs, partnering her siren song voice and axe work perfectly.
Tundra has a couple of cool tempo changes to go along with all the other goodness going on. The rhythm section of Serena Bodratto and Roberta Finiguerra not only hold down the back end perfectly, they also add so much to the vocal harmonies as well, which I just love. A cool riff kicks off Burning Waters that heats everything up in multiple ways. The trio understands melody, and this track confirms this.
The band reminds me of Kabbalah, just more driving rock than atmosphere. Crocodile opens sounding like a Fu Manchu song and is a straight up ripper that paired with the harmonies is just killer. The guitars get a bit psych to start until the full on ripper Trapdoor kicks you right in the teeth. Sunless Queen is the epic on Ice Age Desert, with a riff right out of Seattle and a slower burn. This track is the most diverse and best amongst all of the nine songs and certainly channels Soundgarden but with three part female harmonies.
Dune Chameleon has more Fu but also I also get Truckfighters and Tidal Wave vibes on this one and it is sure to be a live crowd pleaser. The elements play a big role on Ice Age Desert, with Fire being a stoner rock siren song if I have ever heard one. The rhythm section shines on this track, leading the drive when the pace picks up. I am not sure what they are saying in the closer, Se Ponga El Sol, but the record closes like it started, with some excellent, stoner/desert rock with amazing vocals and cool changes.
Dune Aurora brings it on their element-field, hot and cold, always heavy and always harmonizing debut record. Ice Age Desert is an excellent start for a trio who gets both the heavy and the harmonies, like a band that has been doing it for decades. Great stuff and a killer first full-length. 8/10
The Behaviour - Pedestals (Rexius Records) [Rich Piva]
The Behaviour is a gothic alternative rock project created by Marshall Kilpatric. This is the bio I stole from their Bandcamp page and it fits pretty much perfectly. Kilpatric’s low vocals, the dark sound, the shoegazy feel, and swirling guitars all meld well together on the band’s new EP, Pedestals.
Starting with the JAMC/MBV/Slowdive feel of Dark, Not Quiet, you can hear you are in for an atmospheric goth party, all in black. Phantom Hands has a Cure thing musically and the vocals makes this one stand out. I love when it goes all Radiohead at one point too. Haunting.
Dune Aurora brings it on their element-field, hot and cold, always heavy and always harmonizing debut record. Ice Age Desert is an excellent start for a trio who gets both the heavy and the harmonies, like a band that has been doing it for decades. Great stuff and a killer first full-length. 8/10
The Behaviour - Pedestals (Rexius Records) [Rich Piva]
The Behaviour is a gothic alternative rock project created by Marshall Kilpatric. This is the bio I stole from their Bandcamp page and it fits pretty much perfectly. Kilpatric’s low vocals, the dark sound, the shoegazy feel, and swirling guitars all meld well together on the band’s new EP, Pedestals.
Starting with the JAMC/MBV/Slowdive feel of Dark, Not Quiet, you can hear you are in for an atmospheric goth party, all in black. Phantom Hands has a Cure thing musically and the vocals makes this one stand out. I love when it goes all Radiohead at one point too. Haunting.
Great dark vibes aplenty continue on MK Ultra, which is not a lite beer but is more dark goodness that brings a Murder By Death thing to the goth offerings. Invisible Sun is the most up-tempo song out of the five on the EP, giving off this Bauhaus meets Yaz thing. Dark is how I feel about The Reckoning, which melds 80s goth with 90s alt rock perfectly.
There is a lot of potential with The Behaviour. The darkness, the swirl, The Cure…Pedestals is a great EP for those who prefer to wear black, look down, and get lost in guitars. Good stuff with potential to be great. 8/10
Sainted Sinners - High On Fire (ROAR) [Matt Bladen]
With Whitesnake now over and David Coverdale calling it a day fully only recently, there are plenty of bands who will be looking to take over that mantle. One who has been shooting their shot for a number of years is Sainted Sinners.
There is a lot of potential with The Behaviour. The darkness, the swirl, The Cure…Pedestals is a great EP for those who prefer to wear black, look down, and get lost in guitars. Good stuff with potential to be great. 8/10
Sainted Sinners - High On Fire (ROAR) [Matt Bladen]
With Whitesnake now over and David Coverdale calling it a day fully only recently, there are plenty of bands who will be looking to take over that mantle. One who has been shooting their shot for a number of years is Sainted Sinners.
Drawing their name from the 1985 Whitesnake record Saints And Sinners, the last to feature that legendary Ready An' Willing line up, the blues based hard rocking of High On Fire draws a lot of inspiration from that Coverdale, Moody, Marsden, Murray, Lord and Paice era. However they also takes in other acts such as Deep Purple (Hide In The Dark), Van Halen (Sweet Sweet Addiction) and a bit of Sunset Strip strutting on Out Of The Blue and even Black Sabbath on Lost In A Storm, closing things out with a rollicking cover of Who Are You by The Who.
High On Fire is their fifth album and they have doubled down on the sounds of the 70's and 80's bringing classic rock to the modern era, Down In A Hole sounding particularly contemporary. With an Extreme-like funk on Sunshine, or the bluesy balladry of Empty Days Of Wonder, High On Fire is a record with tough rhythm section, tonnes of Hammond/Guitar duels and gritty vocals that will appeal to hard rock fans. 7/10
High On Fire is their fifth album and they have doubled down on the sounds of the 70's and 80's bringing classic rock to the modern era, Down In A Hole sounding particularly contemporary. With an Extreme-like funk on Sunshine, or the bluesy balladry of Empty Days Of Wonder, High On Fire is a record with tough rhythm section, tonnes of Hammond/Guitar duels and gritty vocals that will appeal to hard rock fans. 7/10
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