Dreadnox: The Hero Inside (Die Hard/Nightmare)
Dreadnox are a metal band that hail from the most metal loving country in the world, Brazil. One thing Brazil have always been keen on in their metal, apart from Sepultura, is the classic old school style of bands like Maiden, Priest and especially their own home grown bands like Angra. Dreadnox are definitely the type of band Brazil have always produced and they play their style of classic/power metal with precision, flair and even branch out a little into heavier territory. The band is made up of
Fábio Schneider's excellent vocals, he is somewhere between Ripper Owens and his kinsman Andre Matos in terms of style, with gritty mid range and some sky scraping highs. On guitar is Kiko Dittert who riffs with dual harmonies of Maiden but also the harder thrash riffage of 'Deth and 'Tallica. He is supported in the rhythm section by Dead Montana on the bass and drummer Felipe Curi on machine gun duty. The gunshots and sirens start off Final Siege with a bit of atmosphere before we are driven straight into riffage galore at the beginning with what is a strong opener, the pace then rarely lets up from there with the band throwing in lots of elements to their sound but not drifting too far from their traditional metal sound. Abuse Of Power has the chugging guitars of 'Tallica behind it before we are back in Iron Maiden territory with Who Can Be Sure Of Anything which has that authentic epic feel that 'Arry and co do so well, before the finale gets faster and even has some screams for good measure, the Maiden theme continues on the title track which even has a bass led gallop! This Brazillian quartet have some real chops and merge classic metal with heavier styles seamlessly, this is proper metal how it's supposed to be done, no frills, nothing too complicated but just big, quality metal tunes. Go and find out about Dreadnox you won't be disappointed! 8/10
Viathyn: Cynosure (Independent)
There has been a slew modern power/progressive metal bands coming out of the great white north of Canada and Viathyn have one album behind them with Cynosure being their second release. Much like the debut this is a concept album that is (as the band put it) an "exploration into the chaos and the beauty of the natural (and unnatural) world, with themes of discord, affliction, disillusion, enlightenment, and grandeur, as seen through the eyes of nine storytellers". So nothing to complex then *gulp* but I wouldn't expect anything less from a progressive band. The band are all amazing musicians with both guitarists playing for their lives with riffs and solos galore on tracks like The Coachman which also has a snippets of In The Hall Of The Mountain King (Greig not Savatage), the drumming is fast and furious and the bass playing is as usual the basis of all the rhythms. Tomislav Crnkovic also, helpfully, has a superb voice adept to crooning melodies and also the occasional growl. He and Jacob Wright are also the excellent guitarists Crnkovic on rhythm and Wright providing the solos and leads, they work together for immense effect on the songs that twist and turn with loud and soft dynamics used to full effect on Shadows In Our Wake with it's melodic middle section, the slower pace of Time Will Take Us All explodes into a rapid fire and melodic final part and the final track Cynosure. Viathyn are a great band that play progressive music that is heavy, technical but never overly so, the focus is on the excellent songs played with skill, the band blend genres at will with Albedo having a death metal vibe from the dual kick drumming and screams before ending with a choir and Three Sheets To The Wind has plundering folk/pirate metal sound. Viathyn are of the same ilk as Borealis or Above Symmetry, two other bands I find excellent, this is yet another awesome addition to the North American progressive/power metal stable. 9/10
The Black Stymphalian: Khaos Sigma (Self Released)
"This is a bit tasty!" that was my first remark upon hearing this the second EP from Darlington UK based The Black Stymphalian. The 'band' is made up of Jaymez Stephenson who handles all the stringed instruments providing both the guitars and the bass as well as keys etc he is joined by the blitzkreig drums of Lyle Cooper and vocalists Greg Fender and Ian Gillings, who are both from the Robb Flynn/Randy Blythe school of growls and screams. As Chaoskampf erupts from the stereo we are battered by superfast drumming and the amazing riffage of Stephenson who channels the modern thrash of Machine Head even incorporating the more recent progressive elements on tracks like Rules Of Engagement which also draws influence from American's Trivium (especially their Shougun faze). This EP is a bit special, 5 awesome tracks that show of the frankly stunning playing and songwriting of Stephenson who is a one man band in the truest sense, he has brought the dual riffs of modern American metal, merged it with searing solos, a progressive edge, crystal clear production and recruited some top notch musicians to aide him. With some great tracks like March Of A Blackened Christ, Martyr No More and the excellent closing shot of The Awakening this is an EP of top notch metal, could we have a full length soon please? 8/10
Dreadnox are a metal band that hail from the most metal loving country in the world, Brazil. One thing Brazil have always been keen on in their metal, apart from Sepultura, is the classic old school style of bands like Maiden, Priest and especially their own home grown bands like Angra. Dreadnox are definitely the type of band Brazil have always produced and they play their style of classic/power metal with precision, flair and even branch out a little into heavier territory. The band is made up of
Fábio Schneider's excellent vocals, he is somewhere between Ripper Owens and his kinsman Andre Matos in terms of style, with gritty mid range and some sky scraping highs. On guitar is Kiko Dittert who riffs with dual harmonies of Maiden but also the harder thrash riffage of 'Deth and 'Tallica. He is supported in the rhythm section by Dead Montana on the bass and drummer Felipe Curi on machine gun duty. The gunshots and sirens start off Final Siege with a bit of atmosphere before we are driven straight into riffage galore at the beginning with what is a strong opener, the pace then rarely lets up from there with the band throwing in lots of elements to their sound but not drifting too far from their traditional metal sound. Abuse Of Power has the chugging guitars of 'Tallica behind it before we are back in Iron Maiden territory with Who Can Be Sure Of Anything which has that authentic epic feel that 'Arry and co do so well, before the finale gets faster and even has some screams for good measure, the Maiden theme continues on the title track which even has a bass led gallop! This Brazillian quartet have some real chops and merge classic metal with heavier styles seamlessly, this is proper metal how it's supposed to be done, no frills, nothing too complicated but just big, quality metal tunes. Go and find out about Dreadnox you won't be disappointed! 8/10
Viathyn: Cynosure (Independent)
There has been a slew modern power/progressive metal bands coming out of the great white north of Canada and Viathyn have one album behind them with Cynosure being their second release. Much like the debut this is a concept album that is (as the band put it) an "exploration into the chaos and the beauty of the natural (and unnatural) world, with themes of discord, affliction, disillusion, enlightenment, and grandeur, as seen through the eyes of nine storytellers". So nothing to complex then *gulp* but I wouldn't expect anything less from a progressive band. The band are all amazing musicians with both guitarists playing for their lives with riffs and solos galore on tracks like The Coachman which also has a snippets of In The Hall Of The Mountain King (Greig not Savatage), the drumming is fast and furious and the bass playing is as usual the basis of all the rhythms. Tomislav Crnkovic also, helpfully, has a superb voice adept to crooning melodies and also the occasional growl. He and Jacob Wright are also the excellent guitarists Crnkovic on rhythm and Wright providing the solos and leads, they work together for immense effect on the songs that twist and turn with loud and soft dynamics used to full effect on Shadows In Our Wake with it's melodic middle section, the slower pace of Time Will Take Us All explodes into a rapid fire and melodic final part and the final track Cynosure. Viathyn are a great band that play progressive music that is heavy, technical but never overly so, the focus is on the excellent songs played with skill, the band blend genres at will with Albedo having a death metal vibe from the dual kick drumming and screams before ending with a choir and Three Sheets To The Wind has plundering folk/pirate metal sound. Viathyn are of the same ilk as Borealis or Above Symmetry, two other bands I find excellent, this is yet another awesome addition to the North American progressive/power metal stable. 9/10
The Black Stymphalian: Khaos Sigma (Self Released)
"This is a bit tasty!" that was my first remark upon hearing this the second EP from Darlington UK based The Black Stymphalian. The 'band' is made up of Jaymez Stephenson who handles all the stringed instruments providing both the guitars and the bass as well as keys etc he is joined by the blitzkreig drums of Lyle Cooper and vocalists Greg Fender and Ian Gillings, who are both from the Robb Flynn/Randy Blythe school of growls and screams. As Chaoskampf erupts from the stereo we are battered by superfast drumming and the amazing riffage of Stephenson who channels the modern thrash of Machine Head even incorporating the more recent progressive elements on tracks like Rules Of Engagement which also draws influence from American's Trivium (especially their Shougun faze). This EP is a bit special, 5 awesome tracks that show of the frankly stunning playing and songwriting of Stephenson who is a one man band in the truest sense, he has brought the dual riffs of modern American metal, merged it with searing solos, a progressive edge, crystal clear production and recruited some top notch musicians to aide him. With some great tracks like March Of A Blackened Christ, Martyr No More and the excellent closing shot of The Awakening this is an EP of top notch metal, could we have a full length soon please? 8/10