Rage - Spreading The Plague (Steamhammer/SPV) [Matt Bladen]
Still led by the bellowing voice and booming bass of Peavy Wagner on what is close to 40 years, German heavy metal veterans Rage return with a treat for their legions of fans as the set out on a tour with Brainstorm.
To say thank you the band rounded out by drummer Vassilios Maniatopoulos, guitarists Stefan Weber and Jean Borman have compiled and EP of three previously unreleased songs that were written during the Resurrection Day (their previous album) sessions, there's also three bonus tracks but we'll get to those in a moment. To Live And Die is a thrashy opener with lots of vicious riffs and a big chorus while the title track is bouncy anthem built on some great drumming as they bring the aggression back for The King Has Lost His Crown for the most Rage-like song here, the guitars themselves are brilliant here.
Three songs that could have been included on their last album easily, they are worth the price of admission but there are some bonuses; the riff heavy The Price Of War 2.0 has already been released as a single but is released for the first time on a record, A New Land is a recent track written as an unplugged version, giving another side to this German metal institution. The final here is the classic Straight To Hell from a live stream where they call out their fans, in the most direct way possible. This EP gives back to their dedicated fan base and will be snapped up on their tour I'm sure. 7/10
Sonic Flower - Me And My Bell Bottom Blues (Heavy Psych Sounds) [Rich Piva]
Tokyo, Japan’s Sonic Flower is the psych rock offshoot of the amazing doom band Church Of Misery. Full disclosure, I think Sonic Flower is just as good of a psych rock band as CoM is at doom, even though the latter gets more of the praise and attention. The latest offering coming from our friends over at Heavy Psych Sounds, Me And My Bellbottom Blues is more of the great bluesy psych rock and fuzz the band has been offering since back in the early 2000s.
Me And My Bell Bottom Blues is an apt title for this record, as you can just picture what’s to come by that and the retro cover art that paints the perfect picture before you even hear a note. The opening track, Swinherd is a fuzzy, Grand Funk inspired trip that grabs you right off the bat. Blues guitarist and newest flower Fumiya Hattori makes an impact right off the bat on this track with some killer bluesy fuzz and some serious shredding. Love Like Rubber has a riff that reminds me of Supernaut, so the doom influence never is too far away for these guys, but it leads into some more fuzzy blues rock that will get you moving.
There is next-level guitar work throughout this one and this is highlighted on this track. A heavier Black Crowes vibe perhaps on Black Sheep, but a way more aggressive version with outstanding results. Captain Frost is a retro ripper with a great riff and some more excellent bluesy fuzz. Sonic Flower, the closer is another standout that is a ten-minute blues rock ripper that will both leave you breathless and wanting more.
This one is a killer fuzzy seventies inspired rifftastic blues explosion. If any of those words trigger positive vibes for you, might I suggest checking out Me And My Bell Bottom Blues. Sonic Flower is hitting on all their fuzzy cylinders on this one and I highly recommend you checking it out. 8/10
Blitzpøp - MDMA (Self Relased) [Rich Piva]
Blitzpøp has some fun stuff going on in their debut release, MDMA. A super group of sorts (members of Mother’s Cake, Giant Anteater, and Vintage Caravan) their debut EP is a straightforward party rock record with elements of garage, alternative and even some heavy soul leanings which making super fun release.
The opening title track starts out with a nice grungy crunch and the veers to sound something like a Jack White track but with female vocals and is also catchy as hell. There is 90s alternative feel to all six tracks on the EP, very evident on The Sickness Is Coming that once again has that crunchy opening with vocals that could be something on a buzz clip and even has some Blur Song 2 vibes. Martyr more 90s style goodness with an almost Tom Morello like riff associated with it.
Pia’s voice is great, highlighted right out front on the slowed down track Spirit Of Times, which is a full on 90s female fronted alternative hit track. Cybergods has more Rage vibes in the guitar tone but ratchets up the soul vibes I mentioned earlier. Pia on full vocal display on this one too.All The Pain Is Real is reminds me of a Garbage track, keeping the 90s theme going and going in a very good direction.
This is a strong EP from these veteran musicians coming together to create something that it sounds like they had a blast making. I hope we get more from Blitzpøp, but for now enjoy these six songs of 90s alt rock with some soul goodness. 7/10
The Mighty Wraith - Elegies (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
Hailing from that metal heartland of the Black Country, The Mighty Wraith play fist in the air heavy power metal, the band all bring denim cut offs, entry of hair, dual guitar harmonies and powerful vocals. Elegies is their second album foowing their 2014 debut and a few EP's, they've been plying their trade all over the country with many UK bands and at a lot of festivals.
Hailing from that metal heartland of the Black Country, The Mighty Wraith play fist in the air heavy power metal, the band all bring denim cut offs, entry of hair, dual guitar harmonies and powerful vocals. Elegies is their second album foowing their 2014 debut and a few EP's, they've been plying their trade all over the country with many UK bands and at a lot of festivals.
If I was making a comparison of would be a band such as Iced Earth, this is because Matt Gore's vocals sound a lot like Matt Barlow's able to hit those snarling mids and those soaring highs as well, a track such as Tyrant's Demise showcases this perfectly. The duo of AZ Potter and Jamie Williams on guitar weave in and out of each other differing from the very definitive, they play rhythm, they play lead dynamic to something more fluid that comes from the NWOBHM (Purity/Deceitful Intentions), thrash (Momentum) and power metal.
Ash Bentley grinds in the grooves on Crossing Over with some throbbing bass work while Jake Withers' drumming is a powerhouse on Face On The Mirror, ideal for the more muscular metal The Mighty Wraith play. With the dramatics coming on Seasons Of Sorrow, and the opener To Fall And Rise Again, Elegies is a boisterous follow up full length from these Brits who bring a very American style of power/traditional metal. 7/10