old reviews from blog

Night Demon -- Curse of the damned

3/8/2015

Night Demon is a band from Ventura, California and when I saw them play live they absolutely blew me away. Now, there is a lot of bands who have have this old school style of metal. Night Demon however is different they don't sound like a copy they have their own sound and really stand out from the rest of the pack.

This album rips and goes straight for the throat with the first song "Screams In The Night" and already gets you head banging and fist banging. Some great riffing throughout this song.
The second song "Curse Of the Damned" is so freaking catchy. The bass work is amazing. Brett's solo on this song is one of my favorites on the album. The drummer Dustin does a great job on this one."Full Speed Ahead" sounds like a pumped up Thin Lizzy song. Really liking the bass and guitar in this song.

"The Howling Man" is in one word EPIC! I can't get enough of this song. Jarvis really showcases some great bass work. My second favorite solo by Brett is on this song. Dustin's drumming is absolutely spot on as well! This song may be 6 minutes but it goes by very quick and it has become one of my favorite Night Demon songs for sure.

"Heavy Metal Heat" sounds like hard rocking heavy metal song from the 70's. "Run For Your Life" has some really good hooks. The last song "Save Me Now" I really like. It starts with an intro that reminds of something from the 80's and then once the song kicks in its filled with a hooky bass lines and guitar riffs. A great way to end the album.

Now the production sounds absolutely great. It's clear and all the instruments can be heard. However, it still has the raw metal element we all know and love. The musicianship is top notch, all the band members obviously know what they are doing. Jarvis sounds fantastic on vocals definitely reminds me of Sean Harris from Diamond Head. I can't wait to hear these songs being played live, I think they will sound amazing.

Pick this up and you will not be disappointed and for all the vinyl collectors there will be a cover of Riot's " Road Racing" exclusive just to the vinyl. Make sure to catch the band on their current U.S tour with Skull Fist and Elm Street. They will be playing two headlining shows in California.

10/10 Every song is great all KILLER no filler! Up the Demon!

Night Demon links:
http://www.nightdemon.net/
https://www.facebook.com/nightdemonband

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Midnight -- No Mercy for Mayhem

3/8/2015

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Midnight’s new album "No Mercy for Mayhem" is awesome. I remember when there first album dropped in 2011 and I’ve been waiting ever since for a new album. So now it’s 2014 and we get some new music from Midnight. Now, Midnight as usual has a Venom and Motorhead sound but there are other NWOBHM influences that come in. Also, the punk attitude runs clean through this record. Which is something I really like if you ever seen them live (I have once) you can see that onstage as well.

The first song "mercy curse" is just an intro and then we go into “Evil Like a Knife” and it’s a great song really catchy riffing and a hooky chorus. With a ton of attitude and aggression a total fist and headbanging song for sure. “Prowling Leather” slows down to more of a mid-paced song. With some great lead guitar work throughout. My next favorite song is “Degradation” it definitely has that “Rock N’ Roll” Motorhead type feel in the beat and guitar work. Also, it was cool that they put “Destroy Tsunami’s power” as a bonus track since it’s really great song.

One of the many things Midnight/Athenar does well is he knows how to write aggressive songs with a hook. Also, the bass tone sounds great on this record. All the instruments are heard loud and clear. As with Satanic Royalty they nailed it with the production. It’s raw but yet clear at the same time which is another plus for me.

The second disc is Midnight Live in Cleveland and this is raw, loud, and pure Midnight. There is a great selection of songs and some funny stage banter from Athenar. This second disc is only available with the first initial pressings of the CD for this album.

9/10

*Highlights Evil like a knife, Prowling Leather, Degradation, Try Suicide, Aggressive Crucifixion.

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Vindicator -- Sleeping with evil

3/8/2015

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I've been meaning to review this but I forgot to but as you can see I remembered. This E.P rips from beginning to end. Vindicator has been band I actually re-discovered. So once I finally got back into them and discovering they got Vic Stown on vocals I was even more of a fan of them now than before. So let’s get into the review.

The Succubus is a cool intro opener to this E.P. Then you get hit with the opening riffs of Sleeping With Evil it’s pure headbanging from then on out. Vic’s vocals at time reminds me of John Connely of Nuclear Assault and at other times Dave Mustaine. Riff wise it’s pretty solid thrashy but also catchy riffs.

Hockey Stick Vengeance is fast paced thrash song definitely with a bit of tongue and cheek humor in it “smashing your face with a hockey stick is the only tool I need.” In a live setting I could definitely see the crowd really like this one, and who wouldn't?

New Clear Assault: End of an Error this is a re-recording because this song is from Let There Be Blood. This was actually the first Vindicator song I ever heard quite a few years ago. The intro they added was really cool, now this is my favorite version of this song. I think the vocals and production is way better. If this song doesn't get you headbanging or going crazy then I feel sorry for you.

The last three tracks Destruction of Justice is a cool instrumental with a very cool solo. Rampage is a demo and it sounds pretty good. The last song is “Vindicator” live.

I don’t have anything really negative to say about this. It’s a great E.P and I think the songs are solid. The production is really good it’s still raw but it’s also clear so nothing really sounds muddy. The only tracks that don’t have the same production are obviously the demo and live track.

Why Vindicator aren't more known? I have no idea, they are way better than Havok and a lot of other bands. They have great songs and catchy riffs. Buy this E.P you won’t be disappointed and check out their back catalog. 9/10

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Hirax -- Immortal legacy

3/8/2015

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So, I finally got my hands on this album. I went to L.A to go see Possessed live at the Whisky a go go (great show) so I stopped by Amoeba records and I saw this album so I had to buy it. In one word this album is "METAL!". Hirax know's how to write great songs and they are very good at delivering quality metal to the mass of headbangers ready to have a broken neck!

The first song is Black Smoke and immediately they hit you with a catchy intro riff before hitting you full speed ahead with some awesome thrash metal! Victims of the dead man this song is so catchy not in the pop sense obviously but they know how to write just great riffs that stick with you and even after I turned off this album I kept singing "Release the victims of the dead!!!!" it's a pure 100% headbanging and fistbanging song. La boca de la bestia is another one of Hirax's thrash assault and it will throw you into the mouth of the beast.
Tied to the gallows pole is possibly tied for my favorite song off this album with Victims of the dead. Once again those twin guitar riffs are just awesome. Also you can't forget Katon's vocals and his wails! Katon is just one of the vocalist once you hear him once you will always remember him.

The music is just great with very good riffs and all the instruments are heard clearly. The production isn't muddy or anything like that. You can hear Katon's vocals great he's up front and center. However don't expect this album to have a squeaky clean production it still has a raw sound to it. Lyrically you can expect the usual Hirax type of lyrics you know songs about War and history. For example the song "The world will burn" is about the Great fire of Rome and I remember reading in an interview that La Boca De La bestia was about a military unit please correct me if I'm wrong. One thing I like about Katon's lyrics is that he isn't trying to preach to you or anything but like he said in an interview the lyrics are more of a warning to people that if we don't try to understand each other and figure out how to get along, we'll end up killing each other.

In all I think this a very good album, and when you have the time pick it up. I want to see them live so bad so hopefully they do a U.S tour soon. One last thing is this album better than The New age of terror? I think it is. Better than El Rostro De La Muerte? I think at the moment It's tied.

I'm feeling a strong 9/10

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Nocturnal Fear/Seges Findere -- Allied for the upcoming genocide

3/8/2015

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Night Demon -- Curse of the damned

Midnight -- No Mercy for Mayhem

Vindicator -- Sleeping with evil

Hirax -- Immortal legacy

Nocturnal Fear/Seges Findere -- Allied for the upcoming genocide

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