Meliah Rage - Interview January 2013

 

1.         Meliah Rage did not have a steady course since its formation in 1987 to these days. Lots of line-up changes, several record labels, change in musical style, etc. When you look back, how do you see 25 years of Hard ‘N’ Heavy over your shoulders?

Wow... 25 years! Who would have thought! Well, it would certainly be tough to keep any band together for 25 years without lineup changes... even the wealthy ones! I will say I/we have always made it a point to have at least three original members on any record we've ever done. Bands like Iced Earth, Anthrax, Metal Church, Exodus, Overkill, Testament and many others have done records with only 1 or 2 original members which to me at some point takes away from the legacy of the band. I put the number of having 3 original members or we wouldn't do a record. Again 25 years of making metal without making much money at it would be nearly impossible to keep all members for that amount of time!

As far as style change goes, being the primary music writer and arranger I just write what I feel. Of course our second vocalist Paul Souza brings a different vocal vibe to the table. Mike Munro was more Hetfield-ish and Paul is more melodic. They also write what they feel so it is what it is... A record sounding like our 1988 debut "Kill to Survive" probably isn't going to happen.

  
2.         New record, new label. “Dead To The World” was released in July 2011 through Italy’s Metal On Metal. How did the collaboration with this independent label take place and how is it going so far?

Metal on Metal contacted us after noticing our 'at the time' label wasn't doing their job. That label was on its last leg and did absolutely nothing to promote 2009's "Masquerade". We were just about ready to start searching for a label but after a few emails and calls from Metal on Metal there was no need.

How is it going? The label... Absolutely great. They're quite simply the best, most thorough, in touch with their genre, hard working label we've dealt with since Epic! Jowita at the label will give her feelings on the music, my bad spelling, photos or just about anything we present to her... That's a good thing! She cares!!!

Meliah Rage members, all being our 40s, we have other things going on and I wish we could give the effort and time the label does!

3.         After more than a year apart from the release, what’s the balance in terms of reactions from the press and fans? What about live shows?

 

For the most part the reaction has been positive, but of course not everyone is going to like a new record without original frontman Munro. I will say a lot of the reviews seem to compliment the guitar work which I will always be proud of... that's what I do and if someone likes it that's cool!

Only one show booked so far. Next summer in Ohio at the Warriors of Metal festival.

4.         The lyrics are always an important part of Heavy Metal. Would you like to highlight and explain some of the lyrics in “Dead To The World”?

I'm not the lyrics writer so it's hard for me to give an explanation of the lyrics. There is no doubt that they have a dark tone to them. Paul was going thru some tough times when the record was being recorded and if you dig in you can see that!

 

5.         Playing this type of traditional Hard ‘N’ Heavy, which is not trendy or commercial, what are your thoughts on the current Hard ‘N’ Heavy scene? Are there any new bands that you like or you just stay faithful to the old school stuff?

Funny you ask! I went to a club the other night to see a younger friend's band. There were 4 bands and they all had that newer type of singing. Not my cup of tea but they were all good at what they did. It's all generational. I remember older metal fans thinking thrash was unlistenable when Metallica and Megadeth were starting making waves in the mid '80s. They would say that singing is terrible... well now my generation is saying that about newer bands. Bottom line, if you're good at what you do that's all that counts!

What I like? Classic Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer, Arch Enemy, Queens of the Stone Age, AC/DC, Riot (Guy Spuranza records), Krokus "Harware" (not much of their other stuff), old Scorpions, Stones '67 to '72... etc., etc.

6.         What are your plans for the nearest future?

I have been working on a side project with Jon Hardy who is the singer/bassist from the indie band The Bags. The project is called MEXICAN APE-LORD and so far so good. It will sound a bit like Meliah but with a few different twists. Stay tuned!

7.         Thanks a lot for your time. Do you want to leave a final message to the Portuguese Metal fans?

Well, thanks for reading this if you made it this far!

Interview by: Ricardo dSdS

Answers by: Anthony Nichols (guitar)

http://metal-on-metal.com/bands/meliah-rage/

http://www.facebook.com/MeliahRage

http://www.myspace.com/meliahrage
http://www.meliahrage.com/

Sacred Gate - Interview October 2012

1.         Sacred Gate was born from the ashes of Made Of Iron (great record, by the way). Can you quickly explain this metamorphosis and introduce the musicians in Sacred Gate?

- Made of Iron existed from 1999 until 2005, there were some differences between some band members and so it came to the split. In 2008 me, Jim and Holger, all Made of Iron members, got in touch again and we decided to make a new start, under a new name so we formed SACRED GATE. Unfortunately Holger left the band in 2010 but we found very fast a replacement. The line up at the moment consists of Jim Over on the vocals, Peter Beckers on the bass, Chris Wolf on the drums and me on the guitars.

2.         The debut album “When Eternity Ends” was just released. Tell us a little bit about the whole process (composing, recording, production).

- We had some songs from the Made of Iron era, for example ‘’Burning Wings’’, but also some new material. We began with the recordings in November 2010, at the Metallurgy Studio which is in the middle of the city where we live. We recorded the album in 12-13 days and we had another 5-6 for the the mix and mastering. It is a classic metal album, I would say something between Iron Maiden and Iced Earth. Of course we want to create our own style and sound but in the beginning everyone compares you with some famous bands.

3.         How did the collaboration with Italy’s Metal On Metal take place and how is it going so far?

- We sent emails and CDs to a lot of labels, and actually Jowita from Metal on Metal records was the first person who replied. She said that she liked the songs a lot and she wanted to offer us a deal for the release of the album. We heard good things about Metal on Metal so we signed to them. We had another 3 offers but this one was the most serious and the best for the band. Everything goes very well so far, they are doing a good job and support all their bands the best way they can.

4.         The lyrics are always an important part of Heavy Metal. Would you like to highlight and explain some of the lyrics in “When Eternity Ends”?

- I write all the lyrics, and I like all of them, but the best ones for me are those of ‘’In the Heart of the Iron Maiden’’ and ‘’ Vengeance’’ which are very dark and mystical lyrics about an alchemist who is arrested, tortured and killed by the Holy Inquisition. And also the lyrics of the song ‘’When Eternity Ends’’ which is an anti-war song about some leaders of big nations and their buddies from the industry who don’t care about the lives of innocent people or their own soldiers, sending them to wars, just for their own interests, or ‘’Creators of the Downfall’’ which is about the decline and fall of our civilization by self destruction. ‘’The Realm of Hell’’ has also some very interesting lyrics about a man who dies and goes to hell, very typical heavy metal lyrics.

5.         Playing this type of traditional Hard ‘N’ Heavy, which is not trendy or commercial, what are your thoughts on the current Hard ‘N’ Heavy scene? Are there any new bands that you like or you just stay faithful to the old school stuff?

- The most not-commercial bands in the heavy metal scene are in the underground, many of them change their style when they sign to bigger record companies, maybe they think they can sell more records by doing that... The thing that matters is not if their sound is old school or modern but the music itself. When I listen to music at home, I listen most of the time to older albums. The bands that I like a lot at the moment are Grand Magus, Wizard, Amon Amarth. The new Kreator album is also a great one.

6.         Is there a tour already aligned to promote this record?

- No, there will be no tour, only some concerts. A tour is too expensive for a new band and you need a very strong financially record company.

7.        What are your plans for the nearest future?

- We are recording at the moment the next studio album that will be released in 2013. It will be a concept album about the 300 Spartans and the battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. It will be a very epic, heavy but also emotional album. We are in contact with a lot of promoters to play next summer at some festivals, something that is not so easy as every band wants to play at festivals,  and we are organizing by ourselves some gigs or with some friends of ours who play in other bands.

8.         Thanks a lot for your time. Do you want to leave a final message to the Portuguese Metal fans?

- Thank you very much for this interview and your interest in SACRED GATE. I want to say to all the metal fans in Portugal to continue supporting all the bands they like, to buy their CDs and go to the concerts to keep the metal scene alive, even if there are hard times at the moment, especially in your country and my country Greece.

Interview by: Ricardo dSdS

Answers by: Nicko Nikolaidis (guitars)

http://www.sacredgate.net/ / http://www.myspace.com/sacredgatemetal / http://www.facebook.com/sacredgatemetal / http://metal-on-metal.com/bands/sacred-gate/

Mortalicum - Interview October 2012

1.         The new album “The Endtime Prophecy” was just released. Tell us a little bit about the whole process (composing, recording, production).

- It actually started in 2010 when I had written the first two songs for the second album which were The Endtime Prophecy and My Dying Soul. From there it went really smoothly with Henrik also bringing in great music to the band. In the end we even had songs that we saved for a bonus release (released by the band, not the label). We wanted to keep the album around 45 min. and it’s also great to have something extra to make available for the fans. We began recording in our own studio in April 2011. We first tracked the drums while the rest of us played along for reference. We don’t use click-tracks, we don’t cut and paste, we just record our music the way it sounds. After that we tracked bass, guitars, leads and vocals. No magic really. Then in October I began the mixing and mastering process and in November we handed over the complete album to the label. It was released in April this year (2012).

2.         This is the second release through Metal On Metal. How did the collaboration with this Italian independent take place and how is it going so far?

- It was back in late 2009 when we had recorded all songs for the Progress of Doom album when I contacted the label. I used the song Into the Night to get their attention and after they heard the whole album we signed the deal. The collaboration is going very well and they are really dedicated to the old-school metal and travel to practically every festival that exists. I must praise their passion for metal!

3.         Your sound is not chained to a particular style but you blend several influences, ranging from 80s Traditional Metal to 70s Hard Rock going through some Heavy Doom. Which are your main influences?

- Black Sabbath for sure is our biggest influence and inspiration, but also Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Rainbow and all those classic bands that made great music back in the 70’s and 80’s. Even though we play quite heavy music the classic rock legacy must not be forgotten since it’s a big part of our sound and style. We like to get the grooves and melodies in our music as well.

4.         The lyrics are always an important part of Heavy Metal. Would you like to highlight and explain some of the lyrics on “The Endtime Prophecy”?

- Some songs share a conceptual theme about the endtime prophecies and some questions and views on that theme. The songs The Endtime Prophecy, Devil’s Hand, Embracing Our Doom and The End are all linked together lyrically. The other lyrics in general are about life and death and the struggles and questions surrounding that.

5.         Playing this type of old school Hard Rock / Metal, which is not trendy or commercial, what are your thoughts on the current Hard ‘N’ Heavy scene? Are there any new bands that you like or you just stay faithful to the old school stuff?

- I have to admit I mostly stay faithful to the old stuff. I think some new bands try too hard to sound like something from the 70’s or so. But still, who can blame them? The sound was great back then!

6.         Is there a tour already aligned to promote this record?

- No, there is no tour planned unfortunately.

7.         What are your plans for the nearest future?

- We are flying to Malta in early November to participate in the Malta Doom Metal festival. It will be great to meet with friends and play at the festival which is getting stronger every year. It’s their fourth edition already!

8.         Thanks a lot for your time. Do you want to leave a final message to the Portuguese Metal fans?

- Thank you Ricardo for this interview! It is much appreciated! The final message is: Support the underground bands and buy their albums! They are the true metal heads who play music for the pure love of it. They hardly ever get the money they’ve spent back, so every dime that finds its way back to the bands is worth gold. And remember... Stay Metal!!!

Interview by: Ricardo dSdS

Answers by: Patrick Backlund (bass)

http://www.myspace.com/mortalicum / http://www.facebook.com/mortalicum / http://metal-on-metal.com/bands/mortalicum/

Skelator - Interview October 2012

1.         First of all, can you guide us into the world of Skelator, when did you start the band, releases, important live shows and significant line–up changes?

- Me and my best friend Max started the idea of the band when were young teenagers getting into Metallica. At first we wanted to write songs about politics, war and religion because we were both raised under socialist ideals. But later when we heard Slayer and Iron Maiden we decided to write songs that would paint a picture in your mind and let you make up your own story to them. I met Pat Seick in high school and he had been drumming for a few years at that point so we thought we'd have a go at it and see what could be done. We wrote some pretty awesome but really shitty thrash metal songs and played all over San Diego spreading the blood of posers everywhere. Later we had a falling out and then we went trough a whirlwind of new members until Pat came back and we had Jesse and Rah in the band in 2004.

 

Thus began the second era of Skelator “The Time of the Sword Rulers”. We had been listening to Manowar for a long time at that point and we wanted to go for a more epic sound. We recorded the “Swords” EP in the Winter of 2004/05 and began to send it out to the European labels/press and got some pretty cool reviews here and there. In 2005 the “Swords” EP was nominated as the best Hard Rock/Metal album by the San Diego Music Awards. During our first tour we started writing more songs for our next release “The Gore of War”. This was a split album with our friends GutRot. A lot of people did not understand why we did a split with a Death Metal band but honestly we did it to promote not only the San Diego metal scene but to promote diversity in the global metal scene entirely. Then in 2005 Patrick left to Olympia, Washington to finish his college degree. Robbie moved up to Seattle, Washington 6 months later and then I followed 6 months after that when Pat was done with school and living in the same place as Robbie. But in between all that we played one final show with Helstar and Agent Steel at the Burning Star Festival in San Diego.

The third era of Skelator goes through even more members than I even want to recollect, but we did get to opening up for bands like Slough Feg, Doomsword, Zandelle, Thor, Rotting Christ, Mantic Ritual, Hatchet and Witchaven. Patrick left the band in 2007 but to come back to the band in 2010 when we needed him the most...

The fourth era is where we are today with a band of hardened metal warriors. “Death to All Nations” was our first album to really penetrate the international market and the first album where we had found our true sound and not just rip off our heroes. “Agents of Power” was another leap beyond that and the response has been amazing from both our fans and the press around the world. In this era we got to open up for bands like Primal Fear, Accept, Symphony X, Anvil and Rhapsody of Fire.

2.         How did the collaboration with Italy’s Metal On Metal take place and how is it going so far?

- In 2007 we played at the Swordbrothers Festival in Germany. After our set Jowita came to us saying that she and her husband were starting a new label (Metal on Metal) and that they were interested in signing us. We decided to take it and they have treated us very well since. If it wasn't for them our album not be available in many shops and mailorders, as well as on iTunes, Spotify, Zune, Amazon MP3 and countless other official digital distribution centers.

3.         The new album “Agents Of Power” was just released. Tell us a little bit about the whole process (composing, recording, production).

 
- Well, like any album it takes a few months of collaborative songwriting to get even close to the recording process. We then took a week off to record all the drums, rhythm guitars and bass. Then another week to record all the fundamental vocals. After that it was every weekend recording guitar solos, backup vocals, falsettos and keyboards for another month or so. Then like 3 weeks of mixing and a week off to the guy to master it for CD and vinyl (coming later). Then we send it to the label and wait about 6 weeks till it is released and then another 6 weeks until we get our copies in the mail from Italy. By the time you get the CD in your hand you almost forget that you had just created an album and then you get happy again.

4.         After four independent tracks, the album continues with the conceptual alignment of tracks “Elric: The Dragon Prince (A Tale Of Tragic Destiny In 12 Parts)”. Can you guide us through this concept? Which books or stories particularly influence it? And what made you choose this particular character, considering that so many bands already did it in the past?

 

- I read the book in high school back when I started the band. It really hit close to home for me. Elric of Melnibone is basically a mix of Darth Vader meets Captain Kirk. He is full of hate and full of regret but he still knows how to save the universe and get some sex on the side. I based our epic on the first and third books of Elric because I feel they have the most important plot points in his life. Obviously I heard all those other bands and they helped me find the right aspect of Elric to sing about because they mainly covered the sixth book, the end of his saga and the end of his universe. So don't wait for us to write about that because Domine already beat us to it and did a better job than we ever will.

5.         Traditional Heavy Metal is not exactly trendy these days. Although Skelator has some back history, it is nonetheless an Underground band. Metal On Metal is also an Underground label run by two Metal fans. What are your thoughts on the current Hard ‘N’ Heavy scene? Are there any new bands that you like or you just stay faithful to the old school stuff?

- Yes we are underground and we are fine with that. We never started this band to make a bunch of money or fuck a bunch of chicks. We just want to write Heavy Metal the way we see fit and have fun doing it. As for newer bands? Evil Survives, Spellcaster, Vanlade, Borrowed Time, Split Heaven, Volture, Stonewall and Enforcer are great bands that have the same passion for real metal as we do and there are countless other bands as well.

 

6.         Is there a tour already aligned to promote this record?

- We are touring the west coast here in USA in a couple days and then we will do a couple shows in Germany in early 2013.

 

7.         What are your plans for the nearest future?

- After our west coast tour we will find a new bassist and begin our fifth wave in Skelator history. We are writing new songs and will continue to do so until we break.

8.         Thanks a lot for your time. Do you want to leave a final message to the Portuguese Metal fans?

- Thanks for having us and we hope to play in Portugal someday and lay waste to every poser in our sights with our metal and our might. The world is ours to conquer, War is Declared, Death to the False. GIVE ME METAL OR GIVE ME DEATH!!!!

Interview by: Ricardo dSdS

Answers by: Jason Conde-Houston (vocals)

http://www.myspace.com/skelator / http://www.facebook.com/TrueSkelator / http://metal-on-metal.com/bands/skelator/

Salário Mínimo “Simplesmente Rock + Beijo Fatal” (Metal Soldiers, 2011)

Novo álbum de 2009 para os Salário Mínimo e como bónus o LP de 1987 “Beijo Fatal”. O novo trabalho é Hard Rock melódico e radio friendly. Não é nada acima da média mas, para quem gosta de coisas mais melódicas mas roqueiras, ouve-se bem. Já o disco de 1987 é puro Heavy Metal oitentista. Solos, ritmos, voz, produção, tudo remete para a aproximação tradicional ao género. Em ambos as vocalizações são em português. Já devem ter percebido que a minha orientação vai para o material mais antigo, mas o disco de 2009 também tem os seus pontos de interesse. Parecem duas bandas distintas, mas isso já vai do gosto pessoal. Mais uma recuperação digna de registo, através da Metal Soldiers, para uma banda Brasileira. 75% RDS

www.bandasalariominimo.com.br
Metal Soldiers Records (Portugal)
http://metalsoldiersrecords.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalsoldiersrecords
metal.soldiers.2008@mail.com

Stress “Live ‘n’ Memory” (Metal Soldiers, 2009)

A mais antiga banda de Heavy Metal do Brasil, formada em 1977. Em 1982 lançam o primeiro disco do género naquele país. Os Stress reivindicam também o estatuto de primeira banda de Thrash Metal do mundo, pois a sua estreia foi lançada um ano antes do “Kill ‘Em All” de Metallica. Polémicas à parte vamos à revisão de este CD. Gravação ao vivo em 2005 e que marcou o regresso da banda aos palcos. São 11 faixas, entre as quais a abertura “Heavy Metal”, tema que vem dos Metal Pesado, pois as bandas têm um ponto de contacto a certa altura. Como bónus temos direito a 4 raridades demo de 1986, altura em que a banda estava a enveredar por uma sonoridade e visual Glam Rock (fez-me lembrar os Portugueses Ibéria na mesma altura). A fechar o CD uma versão demo da faixa “Coração de Metal”, habitual nos concertos, e que não tinha até à data edição oficial. Não será talvez o melhor ponto de partida para desconhecedores da banda, tal como eu, mas talvez vos faça ficar curiosos por ouvir os discos de estúdio. Eu fiquei. RDS 80%

www.stress.mus.br
www.myspace.com/stressbrasil
Metal Soldiers Records (Portugal)
http://metalsoldiersrecords.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalsoldiersrecords
metal.soldiers.2008@mail.com

Metal Pesado “Metal Pesado” (Metal Soldiers, 2011)

Outra banda de Metal oitentista já extinta, oriunda do Brasil. Os temas são antigos, e variam de 80 a 84, mas o que encontramos aqui são regravações feitas pelos antigos membros da banda. Não se trata de uma reunião, mas apenas uma ideia que surgiu pelo ainda gozo enorme que estes músicos têm pelo Heavy Metal. O som parece saído da década de 80 e este disco poderia passar despercebido como sendo gravações originais. As vocalizações são em Português e as letras são as típicas do NWOBHM sobre Heavy Metal, o sobrenatural, misticismo, idade média, etc. Poderia dizer que preferia as gravações originais, mas estas também estão muito boas. O espírito está lá intacto. Aliás, como bónus temos direito a 5 faixas da altura (um promo de rádio 83 + 2 live 83/84 + 2 demos 83), por isso não nos podemos queixar. Muito bom. RDS 90%

www.metalpesado1.com.br
www.myspace.com/metalpesadomusic
Metal Soldiers Records (Portugal)
http://metalsoldiersrecords.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalsoldiersrecords
metal.soldiers.2008@mail.com

Zarpa “Luchadores de La Paz” (Metal Soldiers, 2011)

Banda Espanhola no activo desde finais de 1977. Este disco data de 2001 e é editado 10 anos depois pela Metal Soldiers, devidamente remasterizado e com 6 temas inéditos como bónus. As vocalizações são em espanhol, tal como habitual nas bandas do país vizinho. A produção é a típica espanhola para o Hard ‘N’ Heavy e, sinceramente, nunca me cativou muito. A sonoridade da banda varia entre um Hard Rock e um Heavy Metal mais tradicional. O disco ouve-se bem e é curtido, mas o som é muito genérico e não traz nada de atractivo que faça sobressair os Zarpa do resto da manada. Ainda tentam incluir aqui e ali ideias diferentes, tal como música Celta ou Neoclássico, mas com resultados que não ultrapassa a média. Para fãs de nomes como Saxon, Deep Purple, Obus, Baron Rojo ou até Medina Azahara. 65% RDS

www.zarparock.com
Metal Soldiers Records (Portugal)
http://metalsoldiersrecords.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalsoldiersrecords
metal.soldiers.2008@mail.com

Inquisição “Reborn” (Metal Soldiers, 2010)

Álbum de 2010 para os Brasileiros Inquisição. Hard Rock melódico com aproximações Heavy Metal e vocalizações em inglês é o que nos oferecem nestes 11 temas. O som produção está meio abafado mas ouve-se bem. Além dos novos temas, temos direito a mais 6 sub-intitulados “The 1985-1987 Demo Tapes Revisited”. O título explica tudo. As demos dos 80s re-gravadas em regime live no estúdio. Estes têm letras em Português e têm um som de produção mais fixe, na minha modesta opinião. A sonoridade é mais 80s Heavy Metal. Gosto mais destes bónus, embora todo o disco tenha os seus pontos positivos. Interessante teria sido incluírem também as versões originais das demos. RDS 75%

www.myspace.com/inquisicao
Metal Soldiers Records (Portugal)
http://metalsoldiersrecords.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalsoldiersrecords
metal.soldiers.2008@mail.com

Metalmorphose “Nossa Droga É O Heavy Metal” (Metal Soldiers, 2010)

Mais uma banda Brasileira já extinta e que a Metal Soldiers reedita. Catorze são os temas reunidos neste CD, e vão desde 1984 a 1988, entre demos e lives. Além disso temos direito a um bónus gravado já em 2008, “Sadie” uma versão dos Beatles, que foi registada de propósito para um tributo Brasileiro à referida banda britânica. 80s Heavy Metal com fortes influências NWOBHM é o que temos. Típica produção oitentista, crua, potente, mas perfeita para o estilo. O som varia de faixa para faixa, mas isso é perfeitamente normal numa compilação do género, e apenas as duas faixas ao vivo têm um som mais sofrível, mas mesmo assim audível. Muito bom todo o disco. A versão de 2008 de Beatles “Sadie” é que destoa um pouco junto dos outros temas, mas serve o seu propósito. Mais uma pérola para os amantes do Metal tradicional. RDS 85%

Metal Soldiers Records (Portugal)
http://metalsoldiersrecords.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalsoldiersrecords
metal.soldiers.2008@mail.com

Alta Tensão “Metalmorfose + Nigeria” (Metal Soldiers, 2011)

Este compacto reúne dois álbuns, devidamente remasterizados, da já extinta banda Brasileira Alta Tensão. O “Metalmorfose” de 1985 é mais 80s Heavy Metal, tem melhor som de produção (típica sonoridade crua do Metal oitentista) e vocalizações em português com as habituais letras do género. É mais a meu gosto, vou ser sincero. Já o segundo disco aqui incluído, “Nigéria” de 1990, assenta num Heavy com toques Thrash; o som de produção já não é tão bom, está algo abafado e retira-lhe poder; e em termos de composição não está tão bem conseguido. Aqui as vocalizações já são em inglês, o que lhe retira algum do encanto, a meu ver. A normal tentativa de internacionalização de qualquer banda, percebe-se. Há ainda tempo para uma cover de “Fireball” dos Deep Purple. O CD vale pelas 7 faixas de “Metalmorfose”. RDS. 80%

Metal Soldiers Records (Portugal)
http://metalsoldiersrecords.webs.com
http://www.myspace.com/metalsoldiersrecords
metal.soldiers.2008@mail.com

Toxic Holocaust – An Overdose Of Death… (2008) – Relapse

Esta é uma one-man-band da responsabilidade de Joel Grind. O novo trabalho “An Overdose Of Death…” é o primeiro através da Relapse e contém 13 temas em pouco mais de 36 minutos e meio. A base do som Toxic Holocaust é o Thrash Metal dos 80s, mas descortinam-se por aqui elementos Punk / Core / Crust que lhe dão um ar mais cru e sujo. A isto alia-se ainda uma roupagem Rock ‘N’ Roll mais descontraída. Algures entre Motörhead e Venom, Slayer (inícios) e Discharge, Celtic Frost (inícios) e Exploited, Bathory e D.R.I. As influências são mais que notórias e assentam exclusivamente na velha escola. Apesar de não ser nada de transcendental, gostei do que ouvi e está a dar-me um gozo enorme “voltar atrás no tempo”. A salientar a produção crua e suja a fazer lembrar as produções de antanho, cortesia de Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden, Zeke, High On Fire, Dwarves). Para os amantes do som retro Metal / Thrash / Black / Punk / Crust dos 80s. 75% http://www.toxicthrashmetal.com/ / www.myspace.com/toxicholocaust / http://www.relapse.com/
RDS

Toxic Holocaust - Wild Dogs

Fires Of Babylon – Fires Of Babylon (2008) – Metal Heaven

Fires Of Babylon é mais um dos inúmeros super projectos que abundam o cenário metálico hoje em dia. Este inclui o vocalista Rob Rock (ex-Impellitteri, Warrior, Axel Rudi Pell, etc), o guitarrista Lou St.Paul (Winters Bane), o baixista Kelly Conlon (ex-Death, ex-Monstrosity) e o baterista Robert Falzo (Shatter Messiah, ex-Annihilator). Como eu disse, mais um entre outros. Mas passará despercebido ou irá destacar-se? Fica um pouco acima da média, é um disco de bom Heavy Metal, mas não é um título que se irá tornar num clássico. Longe disso. Este disco homónimo do projecto inclui 10 temas, em cerca de 48 minutos, de Heavy Metal com pés assentes na década de 80, em particular, na vertente US do género. A qualidade dos músicos envolvidos é inegável (a voz de Rob Rock é, só por si, metade do disco), a composição está acima da média, e conseguem criar malhas fantásticas mas, no final, não ficamos com nenhum refrão ou melodia a “tocar” na nossa cabeça. Mas não fiquem com a ideia errada! O disco é bom, muito bom, mas apenas enquanto dura pois, depois de se ouvir a última nota, não há “ecos”. São 48 minutos de bom Heavy Metal para curtir, “headbanging”, “air guitar” e “horns up” incluídos. E só de olhar para esta fantástica capa, já temos disco! Para fãs do US Heavy / Power dos 80s. 75% http://www.metalheaven.net/ / http://www.germusica.com/
RDS