Tag: heavymetal

ALBUM REVIEW: CHILDREN OF BODOM

Children Of Bodom: A Chapter Called Children Of Bodom (Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019)

Reviewed by: Jim Harrison

Review Score: 9.5

Legendary Finnish melodic death/doom metal band Children Of Bodom will release their new live recording of their last live show called, A Chapter Called Children Of Bodom (Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019). This recording is very important as not only is it the last show COB played as a band but also was prior to the untimely death of guitarist and vocalist Alexi Laiho on December 29, 2020.

Children of Bodom formed in 1998 and released a total of ten studio albums, two live albums, two EP’s, two compilation albums and one DVD in their storied career. With a huge catalog spanning over two decades they became a genre defining piece to the early 2000’s metal scene creating a fast, heavy vibe with the addition of keyboards that’s made their sound totally distinctive. Their origin of the name was derived from the Lake Bodom murders in 1960 and carries an interesting story.

The final line up upon their split in 2019 were, Alexi Laiho, vocals and lead guitar, Jaska Raatikainan drums, Henkka Seppälä bass, Jane Wirman keyboards and Daniel Freyberg rhythm guitar. Laiho and Freyberg carried on as Bodom After Midnight in 2020 up until Alexi Laiho’s death.

This live album has all their hits and incudes eighteen tracks with great audience participation and interaction.

There are so many great moments on this album and personally for myself as a huge fan I love the fact that the show starts ‘Under The Grass and Clover’ which ignites the show and really sets the tone for the cerebral assault and you can tell it gets the crowd amped up.

Some of the other highlights for me are the classic tracks ‘In Your Face’ that is such an amazing live track. ‘Shovel Knockout’ is another crowd pleaser as well is ‘Bodom Beach Terror’ that showcases Wirman’s keyboards. The ominous ‘Every Time I Die’ adds a doom sound and pounds the audience into total submission, this is one of my favourite COB songs.

Fan favourites, ‘Are You Dead Yet’ and ‘Blood Drunk’ gets the fans into a hyped frenzy. Tracks ‘Follow the Reaper’ and ‘Hate Crew Deathroll’ will please all COB fans new and old as these are hits that showcase how great this band is.

Another one of my all time favourite songs is ‘Lake Bodom’ which has a classical vibe that rips into a face melter of a track. The audience is going wild for this one and it’s so heavy with Laiho’s signature voice just ripping through this. This sounds so good live and you can feel the excitement. The last track ‘Downfall’ from their second album Hatebreeder that was released in 1999 and actually was the last track on that album. What a great way to end the album, fast and heavy.

This is a special release not only for being their last performance but acting as an ongoing memorial to Alexi Laiho’s legacy and Children of Bodom’s contribution to the metal movement. This will be a great addition to any Children of Bodom fans collection and serves as a great way to bring in some new listeners who hopefully will check out their back catalog and see how musically, vocally and lyrically talented this band is.

Definitely pick this album up and play it at eleven!

A Chapter Called Children Of Bodom (Final Show in Helsinki Ice Hall 2019) drops December 15, 2023 via Spinefarm.

ALBUM REVIEW: GRYMHEART

Hellish Hunt

Rating: 9 

Review by: Jim Harrison 

Grymheart is set to release their debut album, Hellish Hunt on September 22, 2023 through Scarlet Records.  Formed in 2020 and hailing from Budapest, Hungary this quartet brings a mix of folk metal harmonies and melodic death metal giving the listener a massive sound. 

Vocalists and guitarist Gabriel Blacksmith has a distinct voice that really gives this band their own sound.  Bassist Dargor Rivgahr  pulling in the listener with killer base lines; drummer, Sorin Nalaar whose drumbeats keep the heart pumping and guitarist, V’arhel  whose talented riffs and creativity keeps the listener engaged.  This is an exciting tight knit unit that will appeal  to all metal fans.

The album art was created by Gyula Havencsák  who has done art for Burning Witches, Accept and Stratovarious.  The album begins with a short instrumental “The Twilight is Coming” with a classical, folky guitar riff and rips into track two “Hellbent Horde” which is fast and furious.  It’s melodic but Blacksmiths vocals give it that evil, death metal sound.  This is one of two of my favourite tracks on the album.  “Ignis Fatuus” has a classical folk guitar start and again the song rips into a killer riff.  This is a melodic metal track with death metal and clearer vocals giving this track a PowerWolf  sound and would be awesome live.

“To Die By The Succubus” is the first single release and video.  This is my second favourite track, the drums and guitars are fantastic.  The video is well done and this is a great teaser for the album.  The band is in hoods, lots of great imagery and vocalist Blacksmith has a Tom G, Warrior from Celtic Frost look and sound about him, what a cool track. 

“My Hellish Hunt” captures the essence of the band lending itself to a demon/monster  hunters vibe reminiscent of The Witcher or Van Helsing movies.

Heading into just over half the album, “Army of the Graves“ starts slower but turns into a faster melodic track with a killer chorus. Track “ Everlost“ has more of a death metal vibe to it and so does “Fennirs  Sons” both tracks remind me of Children of Bodom. 

“Facing the Kraken” is the fastest song on the album and the drums and bass just pound.  I love the title and this song is another example of the essence and imagery of this band.

“Harpies of Devil” has the double kick drum, massive guitar riffs and the vocals just light it up.

The last track “Monsters Among Us” has a huge sound finishing this album on a high, actually leaving you wanting more.  The heavy guitar riffs, pounding drums and bass  mixed with superb vocals puts the listener over the edge.  Slowing with classical guitar midway than blowing it up again, it seems the band incorporated everything in the arsenal to finish this off in style.  This will be another great live track.

I am always excited when I have the privilege to review a debut album and I am in the witness of something special with this band. 

I predict Grymheart will become a leader In this genre, bringing something for all metal fans.  Their musicianship, writing, vocals and subject matter are tight and creative setting them apart from other bands.

I recommend this album.

Gabriel Blacksmith: vocals, guitar 
V’arhel: guitar 
Dargor Rivgahr:  bass
Sorin Nalaar: drums 

ALBUM REVIEW: EVILE

The Unknown 

Review Score: 7

Reviewed by: Billy Klare

UK thrasher’s Evile drop their sixth album “The Unknown” on Friday July 14, 2023 through Napalm Records. Evile are best known for their retro inspired thrash metal approach heavily influenced by the U.S. bay area thrash scene, especially Metallica. I’m a long-time fan and loved 2021’s “Hell Unleashed” album which was a full throttle thrash attack, easily their most vicious record to date. I expected something similar this time around but Evile had something else in mind with a shocking 180 degree turn.  

I was four songs into “The Unknown” when I stopped to make sure it was the same UK thrash band I’ve listened to for the past twelve years. Long-time Evile fans should prepare for a significant shift in musical direction. The blistering thrash metal attack of “Hell Unleashed” is almost entirely gone as Evile shift to a slower, heavier, groovier and more melodic song writing approach. 

Ol Drake delivers a very different vocal performance focusing on melodic clean singing leveraging a diverse range of emotions. The drums (Ben Carter) and bass (Joel Graham) have a dominate position in the mix helping drive the new heavier sound. The ferocious guitar solos of the past are replaced with slower emotive atmospheric guitar tones. The lyrical content is more mature covering topics about depression, personal loss, self-esteem and nightmares. 

The album opens with the title track “The Unknown”, a slow dark atmospheric song with surprisingly clean melodic vocals (and the first single). The pace picks up on “The Mask We Wear” following a similar style to Metallica’s “Sad But True”. “Monolith” is a dark trance inducing track emphasizing the use of backing vocals. A power ballad “When Mortal Coils Shed” comes next in the vein of Metallica’s “The Unforgiven” & “Nothing Else Matters”. Evile finally taps into their thrash roots with “Sleepless Eyes” & “Out Of Sight” but with a less aggressive and more melodic approach relative to “Hell Unleashed”. 

The tempo slows down once again on “At Mirror’s Speech”, another chugging heavy song reminiscent of later era Metallica but ends with a cool slow doom grind. The pace accelerates on “Reap What You Sow” and “Beginning Of The End” successfully combining heavy groove metal and clean melodic vocals (and lots of backing vocals). The album closes on a strong note with “Balance of Time” integrating the best components of the new sound and the older thrash style.  

Listening to “The Unknown” was an interesting musical journey for me, the album was completely unpredictable with countless surprises. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the faster aggressive thrash side of Evile but I fully respect their decision to make a change. The new style won’t be for everyone and I definitely prefer the faster songs on the record. Evile always wore their musical influences on their sleeves and comparisons to Metallica’s “Black” album will be inevitable and fair in my opinion. Evile’s courageous musical change reminds me of another UK thrash band Xentrix and their “Kin” album released in 1992 which I only fully appreciated a decade later, perhaps “The Unknown” will follow a similar path for me. I suspect Evile will broaden their fan base and all metal fans should give this record a chance but the new style may be too much to absorb for die hard thrash fans.      

Standout Tracks – “Beginning Of The End”, “Balance Of Time”, “Sleepless Eyes” and “Out Of Sight”

Track Listing

  1. The Unknown
  2. The Mask We Wear
  3. Monolith
  4. When Mortal Coils Shed
  5. Sleepless Eyes
  6. Out Of Sight
  7. At Mirror’s Speech 
  8. Reap What You Sow
  9. Beginning Of The End
  10. Balance Of Time

Line-Up

Ol Drake – Vocals & Lead Guitar
Adam Smith – Rhythm Guitar
Joel Graham – Bass
Ben Carter – Drums

ALBUM REVIEW: BLACKNING

Awakening Rage

Reviewed by: Jim Harrison

Rating: 8.5

Blackning, a Brazilian thrash metal band that hail from Santo Andrè, São Paulo are releasing thier third album via Black Lion Records on July 28, 2023.  My first listen to this album blew me away and I had to do a review to get the word out that this is a “must listen” for thrash enthusiasts everywhere.  A brutal assault of heavy thrash that doesn’t give in and pounds the senses to the very last note.  The band consists of Clèber Orsioli vocalist/guitarist, Renan Pigmew drums, Richard Brigas bass/backing vocals and Zozi Fernando guitarist all talented musicians who have created such an individual, honest album.

The album has two instrumental tracks “Disfigured Trust” which sounds like it could have easily been on Slayer’s Seasons In the Abyss album and “Lex Talionis” that showcases a wicked drum beat. The first track “Violate” is one on my two favourite tracks and has a cool siren sound which sets the tone of the album that this will be a massive thrashing undertaking.  The early releases of songs “Greed and Lies”, “ Never to be Free” and “ Eye For An Eye” all were smart choice’s to wet the listener’s appetite for what this album is about without giving away too much prior to the release.  I love it when bands do that. “Lamb To the Slaughter “ is my second favourite track on this album which showcases Orsioli’s strong vocals and a fast pounding drum beat by Santos.  The guitar work by Fernando absolutely speeds this song along. “Insanity of Power” starts slower with a cool guitar riff and then explodes into some darker vocals.  “Vengeance Is Mine” is another massively sounding track that showcases how heavy this album is.  “Unnamed Reality” has a killer bass sound by Brigas, coupled with the pounding drums makes this track the heaviest on the album.  The vocals on this song are amazing.  The last track “Lies That Bind” has a fantastic drum beat that makes this song very melodic.  Orsiolis vocals again rip this track to shreds and really finishes the album off as heavy as it began. 

The album art was created by Björn Goobes/Killustrations which is superb and  awakens the rage of this album.

What I like about this band is they are consistent with the thrash movement, creating a unrelenting attack that doesn’t have any compromises and is an honest creation from start to finish. It has everything you want in a thrash album, speed, heavy, dark vocals, awesome musicianship and packs a punch. I strongly recommend this album. 

Cléber Orsioli:  Vocals /guitars 
Renan Pigmew:   Drums
Richard Brigas:  Bass/backing vocals 
Zozi Fernando:  Guitars 

https://www.facebook.com/blackning

Check out other 2023 Metal Pit album reviews

ALBUM REVIEW: EXTREME

Six

Review by: Marsworth

Rating: 7.5

June 9, 2023 was a huge day for hair metal fans around the globe as it was the release of EXTREME’s newest record entitled ‘SIX’ which is, believe it or not, their sixth studio album. Even with having released two singles back in April of this year, “Banshee” and “#REBEL”, the record still nicked the top of the charts in several countries. Alongside earMUSIC records, the multi-platinum rockers have hit #2 on the rock charts in both the UK and the USA. Fans have been raving about the sound and mix of the record being just as, perhaps better than, the band’s infamous 1990 release ‘Extreme II: Pornograffitti’ making it worth the nearly 20 year wait for a new release! Each and every member of EXTREME are ready to grab us by the hand and show us the “Other Side Of the Rainbow”.

EXTREME  is:

Gary Cherone – vocals
Nuno Bettencourt – guitar
Pat Badger – bass
Kevin Figueiredo – drums

As previously mentioned, there are elements of ‘Pornograffiti’ and even ‘III Sides to Every Story’ filling the covers of every cut that the band serves up. The agelessness of Cherone’s voice echoes throughout every track overtop of every thunderous bassline given to us by Badger intertwined with Figueiredo’s solid foundation. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not all unicorns and butterflies, some songs seem slightly basic for the band as it doesn’t hold the same funk as earlier records. Although, the kick of “Beautiful Girls” could win over the hearts of many that previously haven’t heard of EXTREME. The positives definitely outweigh the negatives on this record as we see nods to Van Halen, absolutely angelic harmonies, and totally stellar songwriting. The groove of “Banshee” makes something in me switch on as Bettencourt plays like a beast waiting to be unleashed. It’s about time that there be a rock record that’s actually worth the wait of the long time listeners. The least we can say as fans: Welcome back, Extreme!

TRACK LIST:

  1. RISE
  2. #REBEL
  3. BANSHEE
  4. OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW
  5. SMALL TOWN BEAUTIFUL
  6. THE MASK
  7. THICKER THAN BLOOD
  8. SAVE ME
  9. HURRICANE
  10. X OUT
  11. BEAUTIFUL GIRLS
  12. HERE’S TO THE LOSERS