The Swedish occult hard rockers return with their new album of sinister, gothic, melodic rock anthems. It's got slow burning magic on Subortus with a triple guitar attack, the songs sound huge as the guitars jangle with gothic darkness on top of a crunchy rhythm grooves. It carries the flame of YOTG's previous records with that mix of Blue Oyster Cult, Pentagram, Wishbone Ash and The Cure. You could say it's Ghost but YOTG have been doing this longer and better in my opinion for ages. Luxuria is a galloping rock anthem reinforced by organs which do actually come into their own on the haunting and soulful Ira where the bands main weapon of Thomas Sabbathi's fantastic vocals. He is the key to this bands sound with a wide range and powerful delivery that has him emoting like he's in a Steinman project on Ira which is a stirring mid album progressive piece. It's followed by the psych rocker in the shape of the immediate Superbia. Novis Orbis Terrarum Ordinis is a stylish album that is drenched in sorcery and black magic that tunes into the radio rock appeal with some prog edges especially on Subicio which has some keening female vocals meeting with Thomas' as it evolves into a intense guitar solos as it slows into the crushing final part. An album that is a musical journey from beginning to end, light the incense, cast a spell and welcome the Year Of The Goat. 9/10
High Command: Beyond The Wall Of Desolation (Southern Lord Recordings) [Matt Bladen]
Well this is a properly good heavy metal release. Guitarist Ryan McArdle and vocalist Kevin Fitzgerald formed the band trying to make the gnarliest, heaviest metal album they could prompting the creation of the New Wave Of Worcester Heavy Metal, (that's Worcester Massachusetts not in the UK). Have they succeeded? Well as the chainsaw riffs peel the skin of your face, you can shout hell yeah! A mix of the second thrash scene hitters such as Testament, Exodus and Death Angel. High Command are and aggressive beast coming from the Bay Area and Punk scenes with blistering solos, break neck riffs, barked vocals and of course numerous dive bombs, there's very little let up save for some groovy stomping such as on Merciless Steel and Forged To Kill which will just beg for some pit action. Kevin Fitzgerald's lyrics are based heavily in the fantasy realm with nods to the world's of George R R Martin and Frank Frazetta. This is an album that is more than the sum of its parts as Devoid Of Reality segues into a dramatic orchestral piano piece before the chainsaw guitars come back with a vengeance. For a debut release Beyond The Wall Of Desolation could put High Command on the par with Power Trip in terms of modern thrash bands that have that vicious crossover appeal, it could be one of my albums of the year. 9/10
In Search Of Solace: Enslaved To Tragedy (Nuclear Blast) [Liam True]
Making Metalcore standout in this day and age is difficult as you’re always going to get the bland bands who just have no flair or motivation in their music. In Search Of Solace however are taking Metalcore and pushing the boundaries of Metalcore. Being destructive with stomach-churning breakdowns, eardrum-shattering vocals. Most of the music in this scene is pretty basic and generic, but ISOS have created a different sound, being technical yet true to their roots, it’s a brutal assault that makes you crave the following song to see what kind of innovative sound they’re going to pump out. All in all the band produce a new sound to the stale genre while making the Metalcore as prominent as it can be. 8/10
Bearers: Inhumation (Self Released) [Liam True]
Some fantastic Metalcore from Glasgow. Through 10 songs and 40 minutes the Glaswegian quintuplet group push out some of the best and most unusual time signature changes so far this year, but pull it off so well that the record as a whole feels like one big experimentation. With crushing breakdowns and larynx shattering vocals. Not to mention the entire album is a mosh pit inducing frenzy of Metalcore madness. Throughout the record you can hear influences from other bands, but mainly I caught influences from fellow Metalcore outfit Oceans Ate Alaska, with the unique guitar tones and hard-hitting drums. Not as technical, but they do this so simply that it doesn’t need to be technical at all. There’s not really a stand out song to me, but the most energetic and adrenaline building song has to be Neurotic as you can just feel the intensity and energy from a packed-out venue bursting through the speakers. Some good unique metal. Well done guys. 7/10
Bearers: Inhumation (Self Released) [Liam True]
Some fantastic Metalcore from Glasgow. Through 10 songs and 40 minutes the Glaswegian quintuplet group push out some of the best and most unusual time signature changes so far this year, but pull it off so well that the record as a whole feels like one big experimentation. With crushing breakdowns and larynx shattering vocals. Not to mention the entire album is a mosh pit inducing frenzy of Metalcore madness. Throughout the record you can hear influences from other bands, but mainly I caught influences from fellow Metalcore outfit Oceans Ate Alaska, with the unique guitar tones and hard-hitting drums. Not as technical, but they do this so simply that it doesn’t need to be technical at all. There’s not really a stand out song to me, but the most energetic and adrenaline building song has to be Neurotic as you can just feel the intensity and energy from a packed-out venue bursting through the speakers. Some good unique metal. Well done guys. 7/10
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