Photo by Derek Soto
Machine Head already announced the North American leg of their 2018 “Catharsis” world tour, and today they’ve revealed the dates for Europe and the UK. Continue reading
Tag Archives: UK
Venom Prison Cancel UK Tour With Decapitated
Venom Prison were scheduled to support Decapitated in the UK later this year, but after the kidnapping and rape allegations came out against the Polish metallers, the band has decided to back out of that tour. Continue reading
Hey Colossus – The Guillotine
Back in 2015, Hey Colossus blessed their willing congregation with a double album release, In Black & Gold and Radio Static High which still remain critically acclaimed to this day with their heavy Desert Rock and bluesy influences painted throughout each composition. With Hey Colossus’ dedicated fanbase showing immense satisfaction from the aforementioned, one has to question whether or not the band can live up to the high bar they set at their previous go-round.Continue reading
Slaughter To Prevail – Misery Sermon
If you find yourself wondering exactly what Alex Shikolai is barking about on Slaughter To Prevail’s debut Misery Sermon (Sumerian), it may not be because the vocals are so violently guttural that you just can’t understand a word without following a lyric sheet. It may simply be because you don’t speak Russian.Continue reading
Derange – The Awakening
London rock band Derange, whose name has connotations of insanity, irregularity and craziness, state that their main influences are bands such as Rage Against The Machine, Limp Bizkit and Deftones, however, their musical style is similar to Lacuna Coil. This comparison is not just because their lead vocalist is female, it is because Cat Pereira’s are both melodic and haunting. The main difference between Cat and Cristina Scabbia is that Cat not only sings like an angel, she also growls like a demon too; her harsh vocals in particular are extremely powerful.
One of the most interesting tracks on their self-released debut album, The Awakening (self-released) is ‘The Thinker’, which has an almost Jekyll and Hyde feel to it. The melodic parts of the song are almost relaxing, whereas the heavier parts of the song are extremely powerful and aggressive. While not an unusual tactic, many bands often try to juxtapose different elements into their sound, however, Derange have managed to do this successfully.
‘Echo’ is a ferocious track full of technical guitar riffs and fast-paced drum beats. It is hard to describe ‘Echo’ as anything other than energetic and it would be interesting to see how this song would work live. If there is one Derange song that you need to listen to on repeat it is definitely this one.
It is obvious that Derange have spent a lot of time trying to create an album which showcases the diversity of Cat’s vocals, and it has definitely paid off. Their melodic yet aggressive musical style is nothing new, but Derange have put their heart and soul into an impressive debut album.
7.0/10
JULIA CONOPO
FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Temples Festival 2015
Festival season is just around the corner, and what better way is there to start the summer than with Temples Festival? Launched in 2013, Temples is an independent music festival based in Bristol. The event will take place from 29th – 31st May at the historic venue Motion.Continue reading
Reign of Fury – Death Be Thy Shepherd
From the cover of their new album – a zombie priest cradling a mutated octo-baby above a church font filled with radioactive goo – it’s easy to have plenty of preconceptions about Reign of Fury’s second album, Death Be Thy Shepherd (Static Tension); chief among them that it will sound like Toxic Holocaust or Municipal Waste.
But looks can be deceiving and the UK-based Melo-thrash quintet definitely value a catchy hook and clean vocal above Slayer-like shredding. There’s no shortage of heavy riffs, but the band has far more in common with the likes of Iron Maiden and the NWOBHM than the Bay Area or any Thrash-revivalists.
There’s still plenty of bite – this isn’t a cheesy Swedish retro-metal record – but this isn’t for people who like their thrash gritty. ‘Harbinger of Decay’ has some definite Maiden references – especially in Bison Steed’s Bruce Dickinson-esque phrasing during the verses, ‘Hypnotise The Masses’ and “The Love of a Dying God’ have an aura of early 90s Megadeth and classic Anthrax. Guitarists Fury and Bielby know their stuff and aren’t afraid to show off their ability to interplay throughout a song. ‘All is Lost’ starts as a slow ballad Metallica would have been proud of before the second half introduces some nice twin guitar solos and harmonies.
As well as melody, the band have some progressive ambitions; only one of the album’s eight tracks clock in under six minutes long yet the band play with such energy you don’t really notice. As with most thrash and heavy metal outfits, the majority of the album is repackaging familiar sounding riffs with some new hooks. It’s no bad thing – Reign of Fury have plenty of catchy choruses, ambition and a vault full of quality riffs at their disposal.
Historically, UK Thrash has never been much to shout about. Reign of Fury haven’t really changed that, but in Death Be Thy Shepherd they have a pretty decent modern heavy metal record that pays tribute to the classics but brings plenty of energy to the proceedings.
7.5/10
DAN SWINHOE
CODE – New Album, New Direction
London’s progressive black metallers Code have announced details of their new album mut (Agonia Records)
Scheduled to be released on 27 February 2015 (UK and Europe) and 10 March 2015 (US) , the band’s fourth album sees them leave the trappings of extreme metal behind and head into the realms of post-rock. Having successfully conquered one style, they now set off a new, much less vitriolic path…
“mut is the sound of us as a band freeing ourselves not just from the confines of what CODE is, but from genre conventions of any description. The time for conforming has past and we have created an album that is the purest distillation of our creative ambition. This is the first time in the history of the band that we have created music with no reference points and as a result, this is our most stark, intimate and emotional album”.
mut was recorded in the famed Brighton Electric Studios (The Cure, Foals, Nick Cave, Royal Blood) with engineer and producer Paul ‘Win’ Winstanley. Cover artwork and layout have been created by the Austrian designer Thomas Neulinger.
Band’s fourth album, the follow-up to 2013 effort Augur Nox, will be available in slipcase CD, limited grey vinyl, hand-numbered transparent vinyl and digital formats. Pre-orders are available here
Code have released a taster of their new direction with lead off track, the progressive Dialogue
Steve Tovey