The Ghoulstars - The Dark Overlords Of The Universe (Season Of Mist)
Some Finnish horror metal/punk now with The Dark Overlords Of The Universe, from The Ghoulstars. Influenced by The Misfits, White Zombie and Murderdolls, there's a certain expectation coming into the record that is cemented with opener Too Ghoul For School thundering with schlock horror lyrics, wavy melodic guitars, big drum sound and gang vocals it's creepy, kooky, woozy and spooky.
Emerging from the grave in 2021, they're something of a Finnish supergroup featuring members from Kuolemanlaakso, Hooded Menace and Thermate, their experience is second only to their fandom as The Dead In Purgatory is Morricone meets Volbeat as Zombie Apocalypse goes full Mr Only & Co.
Inspired by an 80's VHS B-Movie aesthetic every song is brimming with retro gold lyrically there's more to it than just catchy references to 40 year old media, a few of the songs deal with personal and emotional issues but mostly this album is about fun and if ghoulish, horror punk rock gets you bouncing and wanting to paint a skull on your face then you'll get a lot out of The Dark Overlords Of The Universe. 7/10
Hysterese - Hysterese V (This Charming Man Records)
Hysterese have been cranking out riffs since 2009 which explains why this other the cult metal acts fifth album.
They're a band who do things very D.I.Y, punk, metal, hardcore fan base the whole thing, the dual vocals and guitars of Helen Runge-Kehle (guitars/vocals) and Moritz Kehle (guitar/vocals) rage and roar, with the rhythm section of Lukas Anderer (bass/vocals) and Kai Hirt (drums) thunder with a raw pace that emerged from the garage.
With album five though the band have done a bit of refining to their rough sound, with 80's sounding melodies on Love Hurts, sleaze on No Dreams, post punk on Nightfall, classic metal on Obsidian and even cover of Necropolis by Manilla Road, switching up their garage punk with the leather and studs of heavy metal.
It's an album that stalks, struts and strikes, punk and metal in a noisy unison, Hysterese still do it raw, loud and heavy. 7/10
Embrace Of Souls - The Battle Of The Dead (Rockshots Records)
It's fair to say that after two records Italian band Embrace Of Souls know their sound. Dual vocal symphonic power metal, richly produced with orchestrations augmenting more tradibal European power metal gallops.
The vocal interplay between Giacomo Rossi's powerful heavy metal voice against Martina Mazzeo soaring soprano tell these conceptual stories of "medieval world consumed by a mysterious plague that corrupts human souls" well as the records narrators, letting the band made up of Valerio Edward De Rosa (guitars), Xavier Rota (bass), Davide Baldelli (keys) and band founder Michele Olmi (drums) create the cinematic, music to accompany them.
Be it muscular power metal gallops on the opening Title Track, the neo-classical Spine, the dramatic Betrayal, the powerful The War or the symphonic brilliance of The Dark Lord, there's not much the band can't turn their hands too, moving through various aspects of power metal and doing all of them all well, the top tier drum work a highlight.
Will some of this be familiar to fans of power metal? Yeah of course. However Embrace Of Power have the experience to make it a unique, enjoyable, listening experience. 7/10
Hellforce - City Of Dis (Self Released)
Formed just under a year ago from the home of Sabaton Falun, Sweden, Hellforce are young band with a lot of talent and some very old school influences, inspired by classic heavy metal they cite Grave Digger, Savatage and Accept as who they want to sound like.
They kick off with The Cursed Land, a raging heavy metal romp that's got all those influences in it, from the galloping bass and drums to the shredding guitars. It's classic metal so it's not the most complex sound but what is ultra impressive is that none of Hellforce are even 18 yet!
Leonard Hansson (vocals/bass) is 16, William Ols (guitar) is 14 and drummer Leo Mullback is only 12 but they already sound like they've been playing together for a decade or more, their skill is very high, just listen to the solo sections in Dawn Of Evil and Pain & Suffer.
Really all four songs on this album are well written and very well performed, not just for musicians of their ages but for bands with many more years on the clock. Lots of potential and some classic metal riffs from Hellforce on their debut EP. 7/10
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