Sinner's Blood: The Mirror Star (Frontiers Records) [Matt Bladen]
There are hundreds of bands that seem to appear from nowhere every day, we can only cover so many but Italian label Frontiers do have knack of finding these bands/artists and signing them. Whether it's a collaborative effort by established artists or brand new acts from around the world, they can't ever be accused of not being an active label. So to their latest signing Sinner's Blood who come from the South American country of Chile and bring to the table muscular melodic metal. Formed by producer, singer, and multi-instrumentalist Nasson and vocalist James Robledo (who is in several South American bands) it's a way for Nasson to showcase his songwriting talent. He's collaborated on the Chaos Magic projects before but there he really shows how good he is here, the songs on this record are heavy and melodic with a mixture of a classic heavy metal sound but with some melodic touches you always expect from any Frontiers act.
Due to Robledo's gravelly yet soulful vocals The Mirror Star remind me very much of any band involving Jorn Lande (Masterplan/Jorn etc). Rounding out the band are Nicolas Fischer (bass) and Guillermo Pereira (drums), they are the guts to the heavy tracks on this record such as The Mirror and Kill Or Die which have that American power metal sound while the rampaging duo of Phoenix Rise and The Path Of Fear are more European. Obviously there is some variation as Remember Me brings some AOR hard rocking and there are slower moments on Forever and Who I Am. This is a superb debut record from Sinner's Blood, bouncy, heavy and melodic it's a fine opening statement! 8/10
Gargoyl: Gargoyl (Season Of Mist) [Rich Oliver]
Gargoyl is the side project from Luke Roberts of Ayahuasca and David Davidson of Revocation who met whilst on tour and realised a shared musical kinship and admiration for one another. After being joined by Brett Leier on bass and James Knoerl on drums the Asomatous demo was recorded and released in 2019. From there the band have been picked up by Season Of Mist for the release of their self titled debut album. Gargoyl is a very interesting and challenging release and very far removed from the main projects of the band members. It is a swirling and jarring mix of jazzy prog and 90’s grunge though a lot of the time it defies classification sounding at its most basic like a hypnotic concoction of Opeth, Voivod and Alice In Chains. The Alice In Chains influence is massive especially in the stellar vocals by Luke Roberts whilst the music is an ever shifting, complex mix of dissonant chords and jazzy time signatures which on paper sounds like a discordant mess but it is wonderfully captivating. The writing skills of the band must be wholly applauded as they have managed to mix memorable vocal lines over very complex musical progressions.
The album starts in immediately unorthodox fashion with the brooding acapella of Truth Of A Tyrant whilst Plastic Nothing showcases the Alice In Chains on an acid trip mentality of the album. This approach continues for much of the album with songs such as Electrical Sickness, Waltz Dystopia and Ambivalent I bombarding the listener with ever sprawling twists and turns. There are a few songs which are slightly more straightforward in their approach such as the driving Nightmare Conspiracy and Acid Crown and the gentler songs such as Wraith and Asphyxia showcase some beautiful haunting melodies. There is no denying that Gargoyl is a complex beast of an album but it is one that unlocks itself and rewards the listener with more things you missed the more you listen to it. The label in trying to label this album have termed it progressive grunge rock and that is certainly one way of describing it but this is far more progressive in nature than grunge and at times even veers over into avant-garde territory.
The complex and challenging nature of this album means it definitely won’t be for the casual listener but despite the challenges it presents this is a very fulfilling album that should definitely land on the playlists of any prog fan. 8/10
R.I.P.: Dead End (RidingEasy Records) [Stuart Blythe]
Portland, Oregon’s R.I.P. loudly proclaim themselves as “Street Doom”. What the f**k is Street Doom? I found myself asking as I delved into their new release Dead End. Well, it turns out that it is a garage style, early Nirvana-worshipping, Sabbath-scuzz infected brand of punk rock. Not at all what I had expected when envisioning Street Doom in my head, although Wino and Candlemass doing shit ollies on their skateboards outside the local council offices… in slow motion… in the rain… is probably not a viable musical path to tread to be fair. Getting past my initial surprise at the overall sound of R.I.P. it immediately becomes clear that the band have a definite style which comes across as something that would easily sit alongside 80’s era Alternative Tentacles releases, vocalist Fuzz (the clue is in the name) can, and frequently does sound like a Jello Biafra who discovered Trouble and Saint Vitus instead of Crass and the Subhumans.
The lo-fi production sounds like it could actually have been recorded in your Mum’s garage on an old, slightly broken 4-track, and there is a clear aesthetic of punk ‘n’ roll DIY. Not the doom I was expecting (not really doom at all), but there is indeed some fun to be had here. Tracks like Nightmare, Judgement Night and One Foot In The Grave rattle along like a monolithic juggernaut f**ked on a cocktail of cheap bourbon and acid, with some mountainous riffs and Misfits style “everyone go Whoaaaa” choruses. Death Is Coming has a slight Deep Purple 70’s rock vibe complete with cowbell, used sparingly much to my disappointment (MORE COWBELL!!).
R.I.P. have taken all of their influences and proudly wear them on their sleeves for all to see with Bleach-era riffs easily leading into NWOBHM gallops, 80’s punk fast paced attitude and the odd 70;s rock style solo all wrapped in a fuzzy sound that sounds like what I can only describe as if Spinal Tap got hold Fu Manchu’s superfuzz pedal and turned it up 11! Dead End is a fun listen. It isn’t going to break any musical boundaries, but then I don’t think it was ever intended to. 7/10
Mountain Tamer: Psychosis Ritual (Heavy Psych Sounds) [Paul Hutchings]
Journey with three-piece outfit Mountain Tamer in an exploration of the psychedelic arts. Their first release Psychosis Ritual transports the listener on a trip through occult rhythms and the sounds of forgotten worlds. The album may only be just over 30 minutes in length, but it is a voyage well worth embarking on. The album opens with the intoxication of the title track, a true ritual which transports you skyward in a happy daze. The tempo changes throughout with the fuzzed-up Warlock dominated by huge downtuned guitar riffs.
Jangling guitar and echoing percussion introduce the trance-like qualities of Turoc Maximus Antonis, a deep, hazy song with Andru Hall’s vocals resonating as the song travels on its way. Jagged distortion throws discomfort as the monolithic lumbering of Scorched Earth follows, the riffs huge and challenging, Hall’s vocals changing in step with the record. Death In The Words retains the fuzz and utilises a driving monotone delivery that soon snares, its repetitive riff helping to induce a trance like state. With a punk attitude underpinning the stoner psychedelia, and Hall’s Perry Farrell style tone, Psychosis Ritual is cleverly named.
The linking of Casey Garcia on drums and David Tegart on bass ensures the rhythm is always anchored. It may be mellow in feel, but there is a captivating pull that you are helpless to avoid. I’d just go with the LA outfit as they explore uncharted territory. 7/10