“Straight to your face, tougher than a Spartan, heavier than a bulldozer, louder than a chainsaw” that’s the way Bring On The Bloodshed describes their sound. From around the Dutch capital of Amsterdam, this face melting heaviness comes to destroy your speakers. But does ‘Amonst The Ruins’ also contain some music? Or did they record mostly noise?
Heavy Metal
Varg – Das Ende Alle Lügen
The German Varg is back again. The band who, with the ‘Rotkäppchen’ EP, released an appetizer for a new full length album. From the entertaining and funny 2015 single, to ‘Das Ende Alle Lügen’ is quite a big step. From the jolly folk metal that these “Wolves”, as they call themselves, have released, we dive deep into a heavier and more aggressive kind of music with which Varg attempts to end all the lying in the world.
Skeptical Minds – Omega-Thanatos
Last time we discussed a record, we were talking about Phantasma, a trio of musicians which included a short novel on their album ‘The Deviant Hearts’. Including a book with the album turned out to be a fantastic choice, but also an interesting one. How could a band make a record so very special, that everyone should have to buy the physical copy and not just download one? The Belgian band Skeptical Minds got the idea to include a comic book with their latest effort ‘Omega-Thanatos’.
Overall Loudness Fifteen Best Albums of 2015
Orange Outlaw – Desert Wolf
Energy, power, passion and love for music. That’s what this Dutch band is all about. Straight out of Amsterdam, the rockers of the new Orange Outlaw are here to conquer the world with an old school mix of powerful hard rock meets heavy metal. Three years after the band got together their debut album is finally here. I’m not sure you can find a “real” ‘Desert Wolf’ in Amsterdam, but the album gives you almost more than you can handle!
Ython – Titanomachy
The Belgian metal scene is blooming like never before. I honestly don’t know why, but all of a sudden the Belgians decided to go and make some amazing heavy metal music. Following the releases of Temptations For The Weak and Guilty As Charged, who both partook in the Red Bull Bedroom Jam, is the independent release of Ython’s debut album ‘Titanomachy’. Let’s see if these Belgians have the potential to become titans.
Skindred – Volume
In the legacy of the famous reggae and hip hop nu-metallers of P.O.D., the Welch formation called Skindred went on combining root rock and nu-metal to create the ultimate mix. The sixth album by the band making “Reggae Punk Metal with a twist” is called ‘Volume’ and we took taken the time to try to sit still and see if we are supposed crank up the volume with this record.
W.A.S.P. – Golgotha
Unfortunately, I’ve been born a decade too early to experience the legendary hard rockers of W.A.S.P. in their original setting. Also, I’ve never been able to see Metallica, with Cliff Burton, open for them in the USA. With that out of the way I dare to say, I’ve never really been introduced to W.A.S.P. ‘Golgotha’, the new album by Blackie Lawless and companions, was my first encounter with their music. But man, I’m so very, very glad I got a chance to dig into this record!
Tad Morose – St. Demonius
Let me quote you the Swedish band that I’m about to review. Tad Morose claims the following: “Probably the best band in the world!” Now I know my sarcasm, and I know very well when someone is making a joke, but I just can’t leave this quote to be, without responding to it. Because Tad Morose could quite possibly also be the worst band in the world. But to judge a band you don’t know is very unprofessional, so let’s find out if ‘St. Demonius’ proves this band to be the best.
Powerwolf – Blessed & Possessed
Before reviewing the new Powerwolf album, I should state that I completely missed the bandwagon when it comes to this band. ‘Blessed & Possessed’ is their sixth album already and I’m ashamed to say that the latest addition is the only one that I’ve listened to. But once I dived into the record I found out that Powerwolf’s music is extremely addictive and absolutely worth your while.