KING - Fury And Death (Soulseller Records) [Matt Bladen]
I've been waiting for this one for a long time, I fell hard for Aussie band KING on their last two records so I've been looking forward to a new one since 2019's Coldest Of The Cold, so when it dropped in my inbox I stuck it on and once again KING bewitch me with their melancholic blackened death metal, the intro track Mist, evokes a far off vista of frozen lands as a solitary boat makes its way through the unknown. With the atmosphere set Perception Ignited lights the fuse and we’re off on another epic extreme metal quest.
Blistering blast beats from David Haley conduct the pacing, long time live bassist Tim Anderson added to make them a four piece, locking down with Haley for the relentless march. Slowing down for Volcano, there’s a beefy build driven by Haley who explodes again Anderson and guitarist Dave Hill adding the stuttering, grooving riffs. Hill is a founder member with Haley and vocalist Tony Forde, and his guitar playing provides the nastiness and melody to these tracks.
Musically if bands such as Wolves In The Throne Room, Enslaved or Behemoth, tickle your fancy then so too will KING. The white hot heat of Australia nowhere to be felt on this glacial style of extreme metal but with glimmers of light coming on the Mountains Of Ice where the clean guitars rule and Tony Forde’s vocals are still paint stripping and raw but carry emotion too, similar to Paradise Lost’s Nick Holmes when he’s in full Bloodbath mode.
There’s an adventurous tone to this album, leaning on the Viking influences of Enslaved, so Black Dimension has a sway to it and Once And For All brings some classic/modern metal as does Into The Fire which comes from melodeath with lots of killer guitar solos. It’s this concoction of styles that first drew me to King as a band and they seem to refine it and retool it with every release. Fury And Death is another impressive chapter of KING’s history as a band, melodic, malicious, multifaceted extreme metal from the Southern Hemisphere. 8/10
Hitten - While Passion Lasts (High Roller Records) [Rich Piva]
The promo for the Spanish band Hitten was labeled as “traditional hair metal” so I obviously went and grabbed it. I was surprised by a few things in my research and listening. First, these guys have been around for a while. As their new one, While Passion Lasts, is their fifth album with their first demo coming out in 2011. Second, while there is definitely some hair metal going on here, the band leverages all sorts of 80s metal worship for the ten songs on While Passion Lasts, with mostly positive results.
The title track kicks us off after a short instrumental opener, and it sounds like Back For The Attack era Dokken in all the best ways. Except these guys add some underlying synths as well. The guitar work is top notch, and the song would have been a strong single for a hair metal band back in 1987, and I mean that in the most positive way. Blood From A Stone has more of those vibes but Is musically a bit heavier with the double bass drum and the chugging guitar. I get a Screaming For Vengeance lite vibe from this track, down to the dual guitar solo. This song rips.
Remember The Midnight Spell record from a couple years ago? If not, you should check it out, but this one would go nicely next to that. Mr. Know It All has some G 'N' R Out Ta Get Me vibes or maybe Dangerous Toys, either way I am in, especially with the cowbell. The heavier side of Skid Row comes through as well on While Passion Lasts. Unholy Games shows how much these guys love Dokken, as this is their Alone Again, but not quite as good as what Don and the boys did back in the day (I swear I love Dokken no matter what I have said in other reviews).
Dark Stalker is another ripper, reminding me of Tooth And Nail era Dokken until the solo which total Iron Maiden worship. Great song. I also dig Where It All Begins which sounds like the best part of what Winger brought to the table as well as the closer Crimetime that could be a Priest cover.
Yes, Hitten is borrowing from our 80s heroes, but they do it so well it is hard to criticize all the heavy worship on While Passion Lasts. The musicianship, especially the guitar work shines on While Passion Lasts and the songs are there too. If you dig all things 80s metal this is something you should check out for sure. 8/10
Icantdie - Errors (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Shouty, riffy and inspired by hardcore/metal bands such as Everytime I Die and Dillinger Escape Plan, South Wales trio Icantdie bleed angular prog into razorsharp hardcore before rounding off the edges with accessibility, they were formed as an idea by vocalist/guitarist Kyle Smith who teamed up with Adam Kerslake on drums and Sam Bennet on bass. They have built up a following with some acclaimed music behind them, their live show visceral and volatile, using this experience on this new EP called Errors.
If you just heard Follower you'd think that Icantdie are just an early 2000's punk band, the chorus vocals, shouting and distorted guitars stabs all trademark's but then they also into something more atmospheric, breaking down at the end into catharsism. Following this though is the chunky beatdowns of Teaser, post-hardcore burning through with rage and might. Kyle wanted to make this a chaotic listen, and the schizophrenic changes in pace and atmosphere where needed.
With a musical backing that is textured but venomous Smith gives his angriest performance by far, raging on the closing Reaper as Kerslake and Bennett batter you with rhythms. It's the antithesis of opener Hater which jangles with self loathing, it reminds me of Stone Sour when Corey was still palatable, but this is better, giving you the tone of the EP as it moves into some repeating heaviness. Icantdie put a lot into the their melting pot and Errors overflows with talent, angst and fury. 8/10
Psychic Trash - Psychic Trash (RidingEasy Records) [Rich Piva]
Detroit’s Psychic Trash is made up of two veteran misfit musicians of have something unique to offer in the form of their debut self-titled album. This one is out there, like some of the out there Melvins stuff we all love, but there is more than Melvins worship here. Psychic Trash is heavy prog psych punk sludgy goodness that goes in all sorts of directions that creates a difficult but satisfying listen of something you didn’t know you needed until you heard it.
Ocean Song kicks us off and kicks you right in the head. There are these clean vocals that for some reason stick to you as the music swirls around like it is circling a drain in a grime-filled whirlpool. Unsane jumps out to me as an influence during certain parts of this one.
There is a consistent chug and buzz that accompanies everything on Psychic Trash. Uncanny Valley leaves you out of breath and a bit confused in the best sort of way. This one has some hardcore vibes to it, until it doesn’t, which will make sense when you hear it. The riff is killer on Uncanny Valley, and this is heavy stuff. I dig the middle instrumental proggy parts here, but it is filthy prog if prog at all. Underlings is the most straight ahead Melvins worship, especially in the vocals but also with the sludgy riff and up the tempo fuzzy punk that melts your brain.
House Of Butterflies opens gently until the lovely and gentile creatures morph into a grotesque sludgy psych beast but somehow with harmonies. The last song, Odysseys Away, is a ripper, the fastest tempo track that merges the punk side with the sludge side Psychic Trash perfectly.
It is not a straightforward listen, but the debut from Psychic Trash is a rewarding one. If you like Melvins craziness with some psych, prog, and punk leanings thrown into a strew pot a spooned out for you in a dirty ass bowl for immediate consumption, then Psychic Trash may be for you. You don’t know you want it until you get a taste. 8/10
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