Under a year ago Killswitch dropped their phenomenal album Atonement. Fast forward 9 months and they’ve just dropped the B-Sides to that album. Six bonus tracks with all of the revenue from this going to charities for the Covid-19 relief fund. The six track EP itself it abundant of classic Killswitch style. The heavy Metalcore melodies. The furious riffing. The Machine-like drums and the high end chorus’ are all present. The only thing it needs, is to be longer than it is. It’s a great EP. To The Great Beyond is a slight change to the way they usually write songs, but it feels like it belongs there anyway. Hollow Convictions is ripped straight from previous album Disarm The Decent with the slower chugs and Jesse’s vicious growls echoing through you. Killing Of Leviathan is as heavy as the depths which the beast lurks. No Devotion shows the band can still write a kick ass ballad while still retaining their signature riffs and sound. I Feel Alive Again is a cross over between Kilswitch and every other Pop Punk sewn together with Leech’s distinct voice bellowing creating the perfect atmosphere. Closer Prophets Of Treason is the showstopper and cherry on top of this six track dream. Being heavy and in tune with Disarm The Decent again it rips you a new one. If you have the chance pick up the EP to support the charities they’re donating this all too. It’s for a good cause. 10/10
Ash Return: The Sharp Blade Of Integrity (Swell Creek Records) [Liam True]
Forming from the ashes of previous band Moizan, Ash Return was founded in 2019 and have released their first full length just under a year later with The Sharp Blade Of Integrity. The band quickly put their line up together consisting of Gerrit (drums), Kniffel (guitar), Outso (guitar), Tank (bass) & Johnny (vocals) and together the band invented their genre, Swordcore, and I've no idea what that it, but it’s Ash Returns. Personally I se the band as a crossover between Thrash, Hardcore and Heavy Metal. The amount of genre switching on this album is unreal. It starts out has a normal Hardcore record, albeit a tad softer than normally, but it slowly descends into the Thrash side with the wild pounding riffs clinging onto you and slowly then heads into the Heavy Metal side with catchy licks and chorus’, remnant of Iron Maiden and other stadium filling bands. Openers One and Drown In Tears set the pace of the album by kicking it into 100mph from the off. From there the momentum doesn’t slow down and they keep the pace with the speed ridden guitars, machine gun drumming and soaring vocals that cut through the stratosphere. While relying heavily on the chorus’ to get stuck into the mind of the listeners, there’s riffs aplenty to keep you listening for more. And with the reply value high on the album, I know I'll be spinning this one for days on end. 9/10
Ryders Creed: Lost Souls (Off Yer Rocka) [Rich Oliver]
Lost Souls is the second album from Midlands rockers Ryders Creed. It is 11 songs of hard rocking goodness that straddles the line between classic rock and contemporary hard rock. It is the kind of music definitely aimed at the Planet Rock audience so it can be a bit on the safe and samey side of things. There are still some belting hard rock tunes on here with the groovy riffs and killer solo in the title track, the swagger of Meant To Be and the belting single Cut Me Down. The vocals by frontman Ryan Antony are serviceable. There is nothing particularly wrong with them but nothing great either. They lack a bit of power and passion for my liking. Ryders Creed have a decent hard rock album here with Lost Souls. It does the job and will definitely appeal to the Planet Rock and Steelhouse crowds but it doesn’t stand out in a sea of soundalike bands. It is perfectly functional hard rock but it won’t set your world on fire. 6/10
Ghouls Come Knockin': Blitztank (Self Released) [Rich Oliver]
Blitztank is the second album by Austrian metallers Ghouls Come Knockin’. The band released their debut EP Death Rock Mayhem in 2012 followed by the debut full length Dead Beat Glory in 2013. We had an EP in 2015 titled Whiteliner so it’s been a few years since there was new material from this band. Originally formed as a death ‘n’ roll band, Ghouls Come Knockin’ sit more along the lines of dirty hard rock, heavy metal and punk rock on Blitztank. With 12 songs and an album duration of just under 35 minutes, Blitztank is chock full of short, sharp and hard rocking tunes. These are punchy and in your face but catchy, melodic and upbeat with that defiant punk rock spirit. The band are an incredibly tight unit and have a sound that is equally raw and polished. Ghouls Come Knockin’ have a great little album here. It is not going to win any awards for originality but is a raucous release full of fun hard rocking songs. These guys sound like they would absolutely slay in a live environment. 7/10
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