One of the 'Big Four' of German thrash metal Kreator have been steamrolling ahead with aggressive music since 1982 but throughout that time it's been the constant presence of vocalist/guitarist Mille Petrozza and drummer Jürgen 'Ventor' Reil who have been raising the Flag Of Hate since the beginning.
Their newest album is another kick straight to the jaw, inspired by horror movies, death, violence, war (you know all the good stuff) Krushers Of The World displays the band on top form, there are young thrash band who could only dream of being this visceral.
Snarling vocals and riffs come from Petrozza who locks down the ferocious speed. Ventor blasting like a man half his age on Screen Serpents the track that announces this new record.
The rages builds until there's melodic virtuosity from lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö (Barbarian) as the bottom end thud is the domain of Frédéric Leclercq, switching between the raging torrents of thrashing speed (Blood Of Our Blood) to the sledgehammer mid-paced chugs (title track). There's even a guest appearance from Britta Görtz of Hiraes who joins Mille for a duet on the classic metal influenced Tränenpalast.
With Jens Bogren giving this sixteenth studio album, a modern heaviness, it's a record that sees Kreator reminiscing on their journey to get to where they are now, while moving ever forward, always searching for new destinations to bring their Extreme Aggression to.
Krushers Of The World? You know it! Prepare to be turned to dust. 9/10
Lionheart - Valley Of Death II (Arising Empire) [GC]
There are many differing core’s out there in the metal world at the minute, the only one that is really worth investing in is the OG core, hardcore! Of course, there are many different variations on the HC sound some need to be binned off and others need to be embraced, Lionheart are one of those bands that you need to really need to listen to if you love hardcore.
The rages builds until there's melodic virtuosity from lead guitarist Sami Yli-Sirniö (Barbarian) as the bottom end thud is the domain of Frédéric Leclercq, switching between the raging torrents of thrashing speed (Blood Of Our Blood) to the sledgehammer mid-paced chugs (title track). There's even a guest appearance from Britta Görtz of Hiraes who joins Mille for a duet on the classic metal influenced Tränenpalast.
With Jens Bogren giving this sixteenth studio album, a modern heaviness, it's a record that sees Kreator reminiscing on their journey to get to where they are now, while moving ever forward, always searching for new destinations to bring their Extreme Aggression to.
Krushers Of The World? You know it! Prepare to be turned to dust. 9/10
Lionheart - Valley Of Death II (Arising Empire) [GC]
There are many differing core’s out there in the metal world at the minute, the only one that is really worth investing in is the OG core, hardcore! Of course, there are many different variations on the HC sound some need to be binned off and others need to be embraced, Lionheart are one of those bands that you need to really need to listen to if you love hardcore.
The last album I reviewed by them back in 2022 (Welcome To The West Coast III) got a perfect 10 and found their back catalogue make it into my regular rotation of listening. It’s now a new year and they are back with a new record Valley Of Death II. LET’S FUCKIN’ GO!!
Kicking off, literally with Bulletproof its straight down to business as expected, we get some wonderful groove infested riffing that has that edge that really makes it stand out, the vocals are a force of nature and covered in vitriol and it has a wonderfully crafted and heavy as fuck ending which is about as perfect as I could ask for!
Chewing Through The Leash has a bounce and bravado that only a band on top of its form can pull off and Lionheart nail everything here, riffs, thundering drums, massive bass and crunching vocals and just because, there are a few dogs barking added in as well and you may think what the fuck? But stick with me because trust me it sounds awesome only slight issue is that tit from Kublai Khan is on this track which is annoying.
I’m not sure if Ice Cold is meant to remind me of Stone Cold Steve Austin but the shattering glass that starts it gives way to a furious and angry punk fueled barrage that makes you feel that you have been in the ring with Stone Cold and when they slow it all the way down it just gets better and better as it goes until it just cuts off and you are left wanting more.
Of course you get exactly what you want on title track Valley Of Death II where they mix the best of their sound with some furious groove metal, the bass breaks down and carries the verses and then they explode into life and it’s a riotous success in every way.
The feeling I get listening to this is what I first got when I heard Wake The Dead by Comeback Kid and trust me that is as big a compliment as I could ever pay an album! It doesn’t sound like it; it just has a certain something that you can feel which makes it more of an experience.
No Peace is a total gear change and sort of drops the pace slightly, it’s a slow burn and I feel it might take a few listens to really make sense, I can feel the passion and energy that drips from all the notes, but it just feels a bit like I might be missing the point?
Roll Call is back to the more familiar hardcore crunch and more dogs for good measure, lots of dogs on this album so far! And this is a real blink and miss it track but manages to fill it 1:30 runtime full of massive guitars, apocalyptically angry vocals and its basically all out fury in music form.
Salt The Earth has an almost anthemic feel to it but at the same time still manages to be packed full of harshness and it is never shy to throw in a huge beatdown riff just for the hell of it, this song could just be the last riff for another 5 minutes and I wouldn’t complain!
Release The Dogs surprisingly doesn’t actually feature any dogs this time, but it does feature scathing, vitriolic punk rage and is another sub-2-minute track that arrives, makes it point, rudely and then just fucks off, wonderful stuff!
In Love With Pain has another bass heavy lead that crashes into more wonderfully chaotic beatdown filled hardcore, then switches between the varying styles and all are executed to absolute perfection and every crossover just makes the song improve as it goes.
Now, I’m not sure who will come out best from last track Death Grip as it features a guest slot from A Day to Remember guitarist Kevin Skaff, will this now make Lionheart appeal to a much wider crowd which they truly deserve, or will it give a bit more hardcore credit back to ADTR?
Either way we, the listeners are the winners from it all because it’s a fucking stonking track and has everything the made ADTR great in the beginning and makes Lionheart amazing now, big beatdown riffs every-fucking-where, the song has the perfect mix of pace and rhythm and is truly a fitting way for this album to finish.
Of course you get exactly what you want on title track Valley Of Death II where they mix the best of their sound with some furious groove metal, the bass breaks down and carries the verses and then they explode into life and it’s a riotous success in every way.
The feeling I get listening to this is what I first got when I heard Wake The Dead by Comeback Kid and trust me that is as big a compliment as I could ever pay an album! It doesn’t sound like it; it just has a certain something that you can feel which makes it more of an experience.
No Peace is a total gear change and sort of drops the pace slightly, it’s a slow burn and I feel it might take a few listens to really make sense, I can feel the passion and energy that drips from all the notes, but it just feels a bit like I might be missing the point?
Roll Call is back to the more familiar hardcore crunch and more dogs for good measure, lots of dogs on this album so far! And this is a real blink and miss it track but manages to fill it 1:30 runtime full of massive guitars, apocalyptically angry vocals and its basically all out fury in music form.
Salt The Earth has an almost anthemic feel to it but at the same time still manages to be packed full of harshness and it is never shy to throw in a huge beatdown riff just for the hell of it, this song could just be the last riff for another 5 minutes and I wouldn’t complain!
Release The Dogs surprisingly doesn’t actually feature any dogs this time, but it does feature scathing, vitriolic punk rage and is another sub-2-minute track that arrives, makes it point, rudely and then just fucks off, wonderful stuff!
In Love With Pain has another bass heavy lead that crashes into more wonderfully chaotic beatdown filled hardcore, then switches between the varying styles and all are executed to absolute perfection and every crossover just makes the song improve as it goes.
Now, I’m not sure who will come out best from last track Death Grip as it features a guest slot from A Day to Remember guitarist Kevin Skaff, will this now make Lionheart appeal to a much wider crowd which they truly deserve, or will it give a bit more hardcore credit back to ADTR?
Either way we, the listeners are the winners from it all because it’s a fucking stonking track and has everything the made ADTR great in the beginning and makes Lionheart amazing now, big beatdown riffs every-fucking-where, the song has the perfect mix of pace and rhythm and is truly a fitting way for this album to finish.
Now, it was never really in doubt that this album would be good, but it surpassed my expectations and then some! Hardcore when done right really is just the best music in the world, it can provoke so many feelings and reaches your soul in way that other genres cannot.
Lionheart have the ability to make you feel EVERYTHING ALL AT ONCE and they really deserve to be massive and if there is any justice in the world Valley of Death II will be the album that helps them make that first steps to world domination. 10/10
Swedish heavy metal band Bullet brings us a mighty one with 11 tracks of thrilling and punchy headbanging anthems. Their sound is reminiscent of the likes of WASP and AC/DC (whom they’ve played alongside with the release of their second album) their newest one Kickstarter does what it says on the tin.
Bullet formed in the early 2000s; they’re no strangers to what's expected of them with six previous albums tucked in their back pockets. It’s obvious to me while giving this one a listen to, that they know what they're best at and deliver what we want, which is; to put plainly, some classic and old school sounding bangers.
I’ve never heard of Bullet before this week and I’m starting to think that I’ve been missing out. Everyone plays superbly, the guitar riffs are clean and effortless and are played with contemporary skill as well as managing to feel vaguely familiar and the racing drums and rumbly bass add an addictive pulse throughout. It's fun all round and me being a fan of the genre, may be slightly bias when I say there’s not a lot on this album that I dislike. Maybe the pitch of the vocals was off putting at first, I wasn’t sure whether I liked it or not (much like Axl Rose), but it fits the genre like a glove.
A personal favourite of mine from this album is Avenger and Spitfire. The choruses are extremely catchy, and the piercingly hearty vocal sustains and backing vocals are compelling. The guitar solos are irresistible and can rival Van Halen and both tracks are short and sweet. Overall, Kickstarter is solid and 20 years of hard rocking experience shine through. 8/10
Velvetcut - The Great Chameleon: New Skin (Rock hopper Music) [Rich Piva]
Finnish alternative rock outfit Velvetcut have been around since 1999. They are new to me, but for the fans of the band, their latest release, The Great Chameleon (New Skin), is a return, after a long absence, to their 90s alt rock stylings.
Unfortunately for a guy who grew up during that time, the eleven tracks on this record sounds like it is from the stuff a couple of albums after the good stuff the bands of that time put out.
You know, like the fourth Live record. The fourth Everclear record. Anything by The Vines. Stuff like that. A bit watered down and without the bite that the early 90s first couple albums from the masters had.
You may like this if you like the Foo Fighters, which I stopped doing around album two. You may like this if you liked what was on the radio in 1996-97. I did not. You hear a song like Run Rabbit Run and think you may get something like Jane’s Addiction, but it is more like Third Eye Blind.
This is how I feel about all of the songs on The Great Chameleon (New Skin). There was a band called Liars Inc. that came out in the 90s that no one paid attention to. Go track that down instead.
It is not terrible, but it is the same old same old stuff that was the same old same old back when these bands were doing their thing in the 90s. Velvetcut is fine. They play well but this is nothing I want to listen to at this point in time, but if you liked when the late 90s watered down all the good stuff then you may dig The Great Chameleon (New Skin). 4/10
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