It isn’t easy to describe or classify just what the Australian Metal Band, Elm Street is. They’re not exactly a thrash band. They’re not exactly an extreme metal band. And they’re not exactly a traditional metal band. But they just might have components of all three to make them what they are.
Elm Street has a new album on Massacre Records entitled The Great Tribulation, with a release date of October 27, 2023. And yes, all three of those aforementioned elements are infused into the record.
The Great Tribulation has eight total tracks, but there is a decent amount of music here. Sox of the eight tracks are at least six and a half minutes in length, and the epic opening track ‘Seven Sirens’ is just over eleven minutes long. And that is one thing to like about this album. Many times the opener will be an up-tempo, straight up 3-5 minutes long. Not here. ‘Seven Sirens’ has a bit of a slower intro, with a couple of tempo changes that takes you through a metal music journey. It doesn’t seem like that long of a song because it keeps you musically interested. It’s a great track, and kudos to the band to have this as a unique Opening Track.
The remainder of the album has a good flow to it with a few songs again featuring tempo changes like ‘The Price Of War’, ‘If Provoked, Will Strike’ and “A State Of Fear’. It even has an Instrumental, ‘The Last Judgment’. This is great stuff, and the entire album features the skilled musicianship of all four band members. They are supreme musicians!
The Great Tribulation is not your standard metal album, but it’s a great sounding production that has twists & turns, but also hits you right between the eyes with power. All in all it’s an aggressive metal album by an aggressive, younger band that brings maximum effort to it. And it delivers!
The Great Tribulation drops on October 27th via Massacre Records.
ALBUM REVIEW – DIAMOND WEAPON
Diamond Weapon – All Heart, No Sleeve
Reviewed by: Mostowski
Review Score: 9.0
The first thing for me to say is that I’m a Brit living in Spain and have never been to Toronto. Secondly, and to be perfectly honest, I have no idea what post-hardcore is. As far as I know, we don’t really have bands that sound like this so much over on this side of the pond. Perhaps that is why I like Diamond Weapon’s new album, All Heart, No Sleeve, so much. I wouldn’t normally go for something like this, so I have surprised myself this time.
If you were to ask me about hardcore, I’d definitely bring up bands from the 80s like DRI, Crumbsuckers, S.O.D, M.O.D, or even UK Hardcore rave from the 80s. So, I am writing this review based only on its own merit, as an album, and not the genre. The first bands that came to mind upon immediately spinning were Idles and Sleaford Mods. This is not because they sound anything like Diamond Weapon, but because the attitude and subject matter of “normal life” is so closely linked with what these guys do.
Diamond Weapon, as mentioned, hail from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. They formed in 2016 and found each other online, which is unusual (or NOT) these days. It sounds to me like there is a thriving music scene in Toronto and that Diamond Weapon may be an important part of that scene, as they have had some accolades within that scene. With a couple of EPs and albums behind them, Eyes and All I Wanted Was The Other Side, it definitely seems that Diamond Weapon are making waves in a big way.
It is hard for me to review this album song by song as there seems to be a theme about something we all experience: life’s struggles, missing people or relationships (or the ending of). Maybe I’m completely wrong, but these songs seem to spin tales of real life in quick succession (the songs are quiet short). In fact, I wonder if the album might be a complete story? After some further research, It seems my theory could be correct.
‘A Harsh Lesson In Vulnerability’ seems to be about life’s battles, whether that be paying bills, robbing WIFI, or the people we meet and experiences had when going abroad. These are just a few of the things I took from the lyrics, which I think many of us have experienced and can associate with. For me, this is a track that strikes a real personal note. We have all felt vulnerable in our lives at some point.
‘There Were, In Fact, Some Frills’ is a strange and infectious one. It seems to have electronic drums and clocks in at 1 min and 5 seconds of pure loveliness. To me, it seems to be the intro to the next track, ‘Dorothy’.
‘Dorothy’, at first listen, seems about the Wizard Of Oz, but who knows. It could just be a metaphor. This is a stand out track for me, with some great beats and bass. It’s very easy on the ears with the shouty vocals being completely appropriate, showcasing the emotion that the singer is feeling. This is possibly my favourite track.
‘Gillian’ could be a love song or about a lost love. It is a beautiful song that speaks of the feeling of love or not having love (or was it just a one night stand?). It would seem there are thoughts of picket fences and sheep dogs, so maybe things didn’t work out as he had wished. This album feels like it could be very personal to the lyricist.
All I can say about the next song, ‘Who Survives The End Of The World’, is that it reminds me of the kind of phone call we all never want to get, but some of us have. Just listen and see how it makes you feel. It is very heartfelt.
The last track, ‘Science Fiction At The Edge Of Existence’ seems to again be from personal experience (or maybe it is about technology and how it will impact the future). I’m just guessing.
Although this review is by someone who knows nothing about the genre, this album had me bobbing my head from the first few bars to the last few. Perhaps I cannot really describe it in a way that maybe a Torontonian could (is Torontonian a thing? ) or a post hardcore fan might, but as a music fan of anything good, I felt I could give an objective review based on the quality of the music.
I love the mix of the screamy/punky shouting combined with the clean singing. The melodies and minimalistic electronic sounds are very refreshing. Throw in some good riffs, great bass lines and some lyrics that I can really connect with, and you have me hook, line and sinker.
At the end of the day, as a European, Diamond Weapon is quite foreign to me. With that in mind, perhaps I am more enamored by it than, say, someone from Toronto. No matter, the songs are short, catchy, shouty, and punky, with a nice touch of melody and programmed sounds, and a nice organic production.
All Heart, No Sleeve is definitely not generic. For me, that is a good thing (as people are not generic). I hope that this is exactly what I would hear if I saw them live. I am definitely now a big fan, and hope that one day they manage to get to this side of the pond.
All Heart, No Sleeve is available for pre-order HERE.
ALBUM REVIEW – BLOOD INCANTATION
Luminescent Bridge 12’’
Reviewed By: Mostowski
Review Score: 9.0
What to say about Blood Incantation? They come from Denver, Colorado in the US, and have been putting out material since 2011. To be honest, this band have stumped me a little with respects to genre, which is a good thing! They are a death metal band, that much is obvious, but there is more to this band than the ears first realize. I’m intrigued, to say the least, about their influences and would love to ask them “what’s going on in your heads?”
Their back catalogue is a real mixed bag with three demos: an EP, Interdimensional Extinction, three albums, Hidden History of the Human Race, Starspawn, and the much praised Timewave Zero, which moves away from their eclectic spacey death vibes. It is basically an ethereal ambient journey of analogue drone and dark synths, which is like a classical opus that evokes thought and meditation but may not be for the pure metalheads. Check it out and make up your own minds.
Blood Incantation’s latest release is a ’12’’ maxi single. I’m not sure what that means these days, but anyway…… the 12” has two tracks and both tracks couldn’t be more different.
The First track ‘Obliquity Of The Ecliptic ‘ is eight and a half minutes of metal adventures that had me from the start. It’s got fast heavy riffs, and I especially like the second riff. The vocals are roar evilness with some nice echo effects that give a foggy forrest vibe. The drums are complex and furious with a great production. Perhaps the mastering of Arthur Rizk (Kreator, Cavalera Conspiracy) has a lot to do with the quality of the mix and mastering as it sounds top notch, even on crappy ear buds. I guess there is bass somewhere, but it’s hard for me to make out. Maybe it’s just holding the rhythm tight, and maybe on better headphones it will be more prominent.
The track is segmented into three parts. The first part of the track is what you might expect from a death metal band: aggressive, dark, heavy, fast paced and moody with soul-eating echoing vocals and chunky biting guitars that makes you feel like running with wolves. Then there is the mid-section, a beautiful, mellow, eerie transition piece that leads into what I can only describe as a Candlemass-like ‘Epicus Doomicus’ piece of instrumentation that is full of doom, passion, and depth. It is slightly slower paced than the first part of the track but delivers such power and grace and melody. There has obviously been a lot of thought that went into creating this track. It is a very impressive piece of work.
The second track ‘Luminescent Bridge‘ could be from a different band. I think this says a lot about how metalheads are perhaps more openminded than people may think. Yes, even metalheads have a mellow side! I’ve been wondering how to describe ‘Luminescent Bridge‘. There is a lot of analogue electronic stuff with a clean guitar sound and some very trippy sounds going on indeed. It kind of keeps you waiting for the riff or the drums to kick in, and they do a little, but then there is piano and some nice gentle guitar semi-soloing with cymbal splashes, and even what sounds like some horns and something that sounds like Tibetan chanting. It simply takes you on a journey that is cosmic, mystical and you have no idea where you may be going but it seems to be a little ominous.
I think with bands like Ghost, the world of metal is becoming ever more diverse, which is great for the art. It wouldn’t surprise me if Blood Incantation were fans of Jean-Michel Jarre or some other electronic musicians. I’m very impressed by these two tracks. The production and composition is second to none. I hope there is more to come from these guys. Well done!
Bood Incantation are:
Paul Riedl – guitars, vocals Morris Kolontyrsky – guitars Jeff Barrett – bass Isaac Faulk – drums
Catch them on tour in October in North America if you can.
ALBUM REVIEW: SADISTIC FORCE
Sadistic Force – Midnight Assassin
Review By: Jim Harrison
Review Score: 9.0
Blackened speed metal band Sadistic Force will follow up their critically acclaimed debut album Aces Wild from 2021 with their new release Midnight Assassin through Goat Throne Records on October 13, 2023.
This release is actually on a Friday the thirteenth and that just adds to the excitement.
The Austin Texas trio consists of James Oliver vocalist/guitarist, Blaine Dismukes bass and Jose Alcaraz drums bring an even faster more brutalized heavy sound continuing from the debut album.
The eerie cover artwork was done by artist Timbul Cahyono who has worked with other bands such as Knife, Massacre and Malevolent Creation and sets the visual direction of what’s to come.
Oliver James is quoted as saying “Midnight Assassin is a record steeped in blood and terror” and after the first listen it hits you like a fist.
The album starts with a quick intro ‘The Unseen Force’ which has an ominous horror sound to it breaks into the second track ‘Corpsewood Curse’ which lights the album on fire right out of the gate. The heavy drums and bass thump along the fast guitar creates a pace of how fast and heavy this band is. The guitar solo is killer and the vocals snarl this song to completion.
‘Speeding Black Leather Hell’ is the first single released and gives the listener a sneak peek into how strong this album sounds. The sheer speed of this song and Oliver’s massive vocal performance makes this song a top thrash track in 2023. Musically this song could have been easily on either of the first two Metallica albums it has that vibe.
‘Midnight Assassin’ is one of two of my favourite tracks as the drums and bass give this song such a heavy groove. It has a doom/blackened thrash change ups throughout that give this song an old school vibe modernized for today’s listeners.
‘Nuremberg Nights’ starts with a great drum intro into a serious fast speed metal flow. The sneaky bass line gives this a darker sound and the vocals are thick giving this song a Slayer vibe.
“The Butchers Apron” takes you on a thrash journey with that thick, crunchy guitar sound. I love how it slows than takes off, another killer drum track. The vocals really showcases on this song.
‘Marked For Death’ is my other favourite track on this album. There is an ebb and flow to this song slowing than speeding up with a quick drum solo sending this track in a different direction. This is a cool effect as it keeps the listener engaged and guessing where it will go next. This would be an awesome song to see live.
‘Campaign of Sin’ has an interesting sound to it, possibly a southern rock groove that I can only describe as Pantera mixed with a Motörhead vibe. Make no mistake this is a heavy song and sounds amazing. This track highlights the musical diversity of this band.
The last track ‘Howl Of The Horde’ finishes this album off on a high and creates a bone crushing ending to one hell of an album.
This album is what being a metal fan is all about as this band is vocally and musically talented with fantastic writing. Sadistic Force encompasses so many different metal genre’s that there is something for every metal fan.
This band gives homage to the old school sound bringing a versatile relevancy that makes this such a killer release.
I recommend picking this album up and cranking it up to eleven.
Sadistic Force is:
James Oliver: Vocals/guitar Blaine Dismukes: Bass Jose Alcaraz: Drums
ALBUM REVIEW – RESTLESS SPIRIT
Restless Spirit – Afterimage
Reviewed by: Jim Harrison
Review Score: 8.5
Stoner, doom instigators, Restless Spirit will release their anticipated third album via Magnetic Eye Records on October 6, 2023.
The Long Island Trio wanted to go into a slightly different direction than previous releases with punching tight guitars, pounding rhythems and emotionally raw vocals and they definitely accomplished that with this killer collection of songs.
The personal feel of this album lyrically can be a cautionary tale of how to deal with personal loss and tragedy and singer/guitarist Paul Aloisio made this a labor of love with band mates Jon Gusman, drums and Marc Morello, bass.
The superb cover art created by artist Luca “ Sollomacello” Martinelli gives you some insight into their albums content. Some of the band’s influences including Black Sabbath, Type O Negative and The Sword puts you in that frame of mind something awesome is coming.
The album starts with “Marrow” one of the three early releases giving fans a sneak peek how great this album is. That soul piercing guitar riff starts the song off than the thumping bass and drums kick in. This has a solid Sabbath sound with strong vocals giving a sludgy doom sound.
“Shadow Command” with Mike Hall as a guest vocalist adds a thick sound which gives this song a heavy spooky groove. This is one of three of my favourites on this album.
“Of Spirit and Form” has a killer bass/drum beat mixed with a crunchy, darker guitar sound. The vocals on this song are amazing and the guitar solo is fantastic. This is another one of my favourite tracks and could make my list for top songs in 2023.
“All Furies” was another early release that included guest guitarist Scott “Wino” Weinrich from The Obsessed. This is my third favourite track and the heavy guitar riff right out of the gate blows the lid off this song. Fast and heavy, how I would describe this song.
“Brutalized” the midway instrumental really shows of the musicianship of this band.
“The Fatalist” another early release plows a big sound with a Type O Negative groove. That eerie doom intro gives way to a superb vocal performance. This would be a cool track to see live.
“Hel’s Grasp” is the longest song at 6:25 takes you on a multi directional journey. The heavy drum intro speeds this up and than it slows. The bluesy guitar riffs works great showcasing the vocal performance. About half way through the song things get heavier and faster.
The last track “From the Dust Returned” sends this album off in style just how it began, heavy and dark. That cool base line at the beginning thumps and when the drums and guitar kicks in that sludgy doom sound dominates. Great finish to a solid album.
Restless Spirit has created something special on this album successfully combining a classic stoner vibe with a cool updated doom sound. The vocals mix perfectly with the musicianship and the listener gets a definite feel how talented this band is.
Usually by the third album bands typically solidify their sound. Restless Spirit has done that as well as augment each release keeping themselves not only relevant but original.
I recommend this album for metal fans looking for the real deal. This band delivers on all points so pick it up and play it at eleven.
Paul Aloisio: guitar, vocals Jon Gusman: drums Marc Morello: bass
Guest musicians: Scott “ Wino” Weinrich guitars on “The Fatalist” Mike Hall vocals on “Shadow Command”
