Apeiron Bound is an extreme progressive metal band from Tampa in Florida and Multiplicity is the bands debut album that was released back in August 2022, and there are a whole host of guest musicians, session musicians and guest vocalists that feature on this epic album.

The album talks about themes such as the sociopolitical climate, abuse, escapism, narcissism, and the battle between good and evil and these are all themes that can be related to by anyone, the album’s concept being one of Zen (the light side of humanity) and Chaos (the dark side).

With twelve tracks in total, the album lasts just over an hour and really is a masterpiece in progressive metal, with a little bit of just about everything else thrown in for good measure.

The guitar work ranges from intricate solos to full-on riffs being thrown at the listener from all angles and this contrast really makes for some interesting listening. Likewise, the drumming is energetic and frenetic when it needs to be but more laid back and serene at other times and the basslines, which are meaty, really add another dimension to the tracks.

The band uses other instruments, such as the piano, to add a bit of atmosphere to the album, and this is done really well, the music really creating some haunting imagery to the sounds. This is then blown wide open when the guitars totally erupt, heavy and brutal, and the symphonic elements of the album really kick in.

With time and pace changes being a key element of the album, the direction the band takes the music is constantly changing. One minute we are being battered with death metal growls and pounding riffs and drums and the next we are being lulled with soft piano work, and even electronic elements are thrown in to give an almost futuristic feel at times throughout the album.

The vocals are immense, ranging from the death metal growls as mentioned above, to black metal screams to classic heavy metal melodic, clean singing and the backups that complement the leads really add depth to the tracks.

This is an album that the listener could never get bored listening to. There is so much going on, creating something that sounds likes organized chaos, you really need more than one listen through to really hear all that this album has to offer!

If I were asked to compare this band to another, I really wouldn’t be able to do it, as these guys have really made a sound that is unique to them. BUT, if you could imagine throwing Dream Theater, Dimmu Borgir, and Arch Enemy into a pot, mixing it around for a bit and then adding some Cradle Of Filth and Threshold, then you would be halfway to what these guys sound like.

The band has a BIG BIG sound and for their debut album, this is simply phenomenal. I mentioned the word epic at the start of the review and that is just what this album is. A true epic masterpiece and I am already looking forward to what else these guys can come up with!

So, if you are a fan of just about any genre of metal, then please check this band and their album Multiplicity out. You really will not be disappointed!

Track Listing:
1) Astral Projection
2) Thought & Memory
3) Eleutheromania
4) Melancholic Zen
5) My Sweet Stockholm
6) Firmament
7) Precocious Tribalism
8) Emotive Servitude
9) Absent Familiarity
10) Chaotic Fervor
11) Astral Reflection
12) Era In Fenim // Novis Iniitis

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

DCxPC is a collaboration that books and releases music from live shows for multiple bands and they have one goal and that is to release music by bands they love. “No contracts, no record deals, just a faith in the punk rock community.” The collaboration has already released fourteen recordings, with many more in the pipeline.

Live & Dead is a new format for DCxPC, with live recordings on one side (of the vinyl) and dead (studio) on the other and this release for Moat Cobra is the first released in this format.

So now we know a bit about the team behind the release, what about the band it is showcasing? Moat Cobra is a sludge metal, hardcore band from Orlando in Fl, consisting of members Brett Beavers on vocals, Dave Moreno on guitar, Al Serrano on drums and Roberto Oppenheimer on bass, and was formed in 2013.

The first half of the album (the live part) is raw and energetic, just like any live show should be. The guitars are heavy, and the drumming is energetic and the vocals, complete with screams and growl, are totally awesome. The energy and passion for the music that the band has is clearly heard in the live part of this album and this would also be heard by the audience at the time of recording.

The “dead” part of the album, the studio recordings, is just as fantastic as the live part, and really shows the talent that these guys have. Not quite as raw as the live t performance, there is still a grittiness about the recordings that really makes them stand out.

The guitars are pounding, riffs really hitting you in the stomach and the drumming is hard and frantic, once again showing how energetic and vigorous the music really is. Meaty basslines show through more on the “dead” part of the recording, adding an extra groove that is perhaps missing from the “live” part, but showing that this band really is a force to be reckoned with.

The lyrics are more audible in the dead parts of the album, although this is to be expected due to the nature of live and recorded performances, but the vocals are just as strong on both the live and dead parts.

Releasing both live and recorded songs on one release is a great way to introduce a band to the listening public and I think it is a system that really works, as the listener has the advantage of hearing the band in both settings.

Another great release by DCxPC and by a band that is now firmly on my radar. Great band, great production, great album! Be sure to check out both Moat Cobra AND DCxPC for other releases and recordings!

Track Listing:
1) Blood Crops (live)
2) Devour (live)
3) Bad Star (live)
4) Singularity (live)
5) Gladius Vulgarius (live)
6) Soffo Cone (live)
7) Permian (live)
8) Permian (dead)
9) Prelude (dead)
10) Lick The Knife (dead)
11) Bad Star (dead)
12) Gladious Vulgarious (dead)
13) Singularity (dead)
14) Blood Crops (dead)

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Sylvatic Black are Christopher Labi Rance and Miriam de Silva from Sweden and together they are going to create melodic metal songs to tell dark stories about vampires, witches, mythological creatures and much more.

Deadly Kiss, about a female vampire, is their debut single and was released on 03/07/2023.
This is a great track that fuses a multitude of genres together to create a sound that is unique to the band.

With a hard rock foundation, the track also reaches out into the glam rock genre as well as having metal and gothic influences too.

With heavy guitars that are melodic and full of hooks and riffs that really will captivate you and draw you into the song, the drumming is energetic and the meaty basslines also give the track a slight swagger that really finishes it off. The guitar solos are clean and perfectly carried out, giving an almost haunting vibe to the track.

The vocals are a mixture of both male and female and the contrast is great to hear, and the backing vocals have fantastic harmonisation with the leads, really creating a depth and dynamism to the track.

There is big sound that comes from this pair and I, for one, really can’t wait to hear more from them.

Awesome track!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Having previously reviewed music by Foundry Town Survivors in the recent past, I am always eager to hear more from this duo from the USA and once again they did not disappoint. Mark Tomorsky and Tommy Johnsmiller are two lifelong friends and veteran musicians, and the band name is a homage to their working-class backgrounds.

Hey! Is their latest single, a “high-energy, take no prisoners rocker,” and was released on 14/07/2023.

Bursting into life right from the off, this is an explosive track, that will really get the listener moving. On previous tracks, the two friends have mixed electric guitars with acoustic to create a great contrast, but this has not been done with this track. The guitars are purely electric with some great riffs being thrown out to the listener, and the solos are awesomely performed.

There is a genuine rock n roll vibe to this track with energetic drumming and funky basslines also showing through, and the nostalgia that this song creates really takes the listener back to a time when classic rock n roll ruled! And with the sound these two have created with this track, it still does.

The vocals are perfect for the style of song, classic rock in nature, and the harmonising that is done with the backing vocals really creates a great depth and vibe to the song.

With some catchy lyrics and hooks this is a really easy to listen to song that will certainly be your ear worm for the rest of the day.

Another great track from this pair! I think this one might just my favourite of the lot……so far!!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Cassetta are a hardcore metal band from Southern California and features members of Pressure Cracks, Scars Of Tomorrow, The Arson Choir, Fake Figures and ex-Suicide Silence and current POD drummer Alex Lopez. Swallow The Sun is the band’s debut single, released on 12/07/2023 and features guest vocals from Cameron Miller of Duhkha.

The track was written by the band’s vocalist Conor Eaton, and it deals with the struggles of depression, loss and the overwhelming grief that comes with losing people around him and this is a theme that many people will resonate with.

The track is a brutal mix of hardcore, punk, metalcore and death metal that takes the listener on a dark, and deeply personal, journey. The resulting sound is one of pure energy, simple and ferocious.

Erupting with guitars that throw heavy, pounding riffs at the listener from the very start, a slight distortion and down tune also helps to create the skull cracking background for the music arrangements. With meaty basslines and intense, pommelling drum work, this track really shakes you right to the core, hitting you right in the stomach with its force and aggressiveness.

Vocally, there is a mix of metalcore screams and death metal growls and the two actually really do compliment each, creating a fantastic contrast for the listener. The change between the two certainly keeps the listener on their toes and the variations on speed throughout the track also helps with this, giving the listener much to listen to.

As a debut track, this is absolutely fantastic and if the standard the band has set themselves, then I look forward to great things from them in the future!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Pump5 is a veteran rock band from Southern California, consisting of members frontman Steven Barnett, bassist Drew Cates, drummer Andre Bonter and guitarist Alex Kane, and the band have been busy pushing their latest single Make Me, released on 20/04/2023 and their new album, Paradise Place.

Make Me is a high energy rock n roll track that will have anyone who listens to it dancing around their living room with their air guitar in hand!

Bursting into life almost from the off, the guitar work on this track is superb. The riffs are heavy and pulsing and really pull you into the song. The drumming is energetic, and the basslines are meaty and give the song an extra swagger to it.

The vocals are intense, powerful, and very reminiscent of the 90’s heyday of bands such as Velvet Revolver, Guns N Roses, Buckcherry and Myles Kennedy. I can imagine frontman Steven jumping around the stage during this track and this will certainly become a crowd favourite.

The energy that is emitted from this track is just immense and highly contagious. The lyrics and hooks are extremely catchy, and this will definitely become your ear worm for the day once you have listened it.

This is an awesome track and a must listen to for fans of any of the bands that have been mentioned, plus a lot more from the guitar rock genre. These guys are certainly at the forefront of the genre and as a group of longtime friends, they are certainly here to stay!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

I have previously reviewed music by Blind Man’s Daughter and was eager to hear more but before I tell you about this track, let me remind you who Blind Man’s Daughter is.

Blind Man’s Daughter is a melodic progressive metal band from Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA, starting out in 2012 by founding member Ashley Wolfe, but it wasn’t until 2022 that the project really came to life. Working with local musicians, Blind Man’s Daughter soon grew into one of the most exciting sounds in the metal scene.

Kyhell is the band’s latest single, released on 23/06/2023 and is taken from their debut album, Sundressed, an album that shares Ashley’s personal journey of self-discovery and the search for a purpose.

With its foundations firmly in the “progressive” genre, there are elements of both rock and metal shining through, creating a sound for the band that is new, fresh, and unique.

With heavy guitars that throw riffs at the listener from all angles, there are also some really intricate solos and passages that really gives the track a depth and dynamism. Distortion is used at times to help create a sludgy feel to the track, but the clean guitar breaks and solos really add a great contrast.

The drumming appears to be very haphazard, but this is done in such a way that there is structure and balance to the sing, and with some meaty yet funky basslines, this side of the music arrangement really holds the track together.

Once again, Ashley’s vocals are strong and powerful, changing from clean, melodious singing to growls and everything in between, and her voice is one of the main focal points of the track.

With time and pace changes throughout, there is so much to listen to in this track that, even after three or four run throughs, I was still hearing things I hadn’t heard before, and with lyrics that conjure up all sorts of fantastic imagery, this really is a track that delves deep into your inner consciousness and keeps you enthralled.

Another awesomely great track from this incredibly talented singer / songwriter / musician.

Please check Blind Man’s Daughter out for yourself and see what you think. With this amount of talent on display I really don’t think you will be disappointed.

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Inherit The Ashes is a blackened death metal band from Germany, formed in 2022, and consisting of members Norman Mann, Jan Feld, and Nicolas Perrault. They released their debut single, Florida Man, in April 2023 with critics praising them for its raw power and strong deliver, and Idolmaker is their latest single, released on 07/07/2023.

At just over four minutes in length, Idolmaker starts off quite solemnly with some gentle guitar and drum work, but don’t let that lull you into a false sense of security as around the forty second mark the song literally erupts, with the guitars becoming a lot heavier, throwing riffs left, right and centre at the listener and the drums becoming less like a military band and more like a death metal band, fast, pounding and profound.

It is very hard to distinguish what genre this track falls into (and who wants to be pigeon-holed anyway?!) as the track sways between genres, straddling a multitude of them, creating a great sound that the band have really made theirs.

The vocal style switches from death metal growls to black metal screams and this is done with ease and both styles very much suit the music that accompanies them.

The track is very forceful and hard-hitting and if it doesn’t have you banging your head along to it, do you even like metal music? This is old school death metal meets black metal but all with a modern twist that keeps it up to date.

Awesome track that will appeal to death metal, black metal, and heavy metal fans alike!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

I have previously reviewed music by The Pulltops and was eager to hear more from them. Better Life is their latest single and was released on 07/07/2023, but before I tell you about the track, let me remind you who The Pulltops are.

The Pulltops are a Milwaukee based duo who play a mixture of indie rock, power rock and album rock. Consisting of drummer Mark Pierret and guitarist Tom Crowell, they were both eclectic record collectors and so really clicked when they joined their first band together.

Despite having some musical differences with Mark leaning heavily towards old country and soul music and Tom preferring the experimental and underground scene, they found common ground with pop music and string hooks.

Better Life is a song about “trying to find your place in life and the things that make you happy when you are surrounded by all trappings of modern life,” a theme that I think a lot of people will be able to resonate with. I, for one, certainly can!

Coming from the band’s new EP, Between The Lines, his track is slightly darker than the previous one and has a more alternative rock than pop rock feel to it.

The guitars are heavy when they need to be and the drumming is, once again, a very prominent feature of the track. The electronic elements of the song really give it a hollow yet emotive vibe and this really pulls the listener in.

The vocals are simply phenomenal on this track. Strong and powerful, there is also a grittiness about them that really does send shivers down your spine and the layered backups really add to the atmosphere of the song.

I loved the previous track I reviewed by this great band, but I think I am in love with this one more. it is so raw and powerful, and it really is difficult not to feel the emotion that is emitted from it, both by the vocals and by the music.

Fantastic!

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum

Daniel Bohn is a singer / songwriter from St Louis, Missouri and Emotions In The Sky is his latest album, released on 18/07/2023. Performing all the guitar, drums, piano, and bass parts on the album as well as the vocals, Daniel also wrote and recorded the album with mixing and mastering carried out by Dorian Falconeri.

The album is a concept album, following on from Colors Of The Land, released in 2021, and takes the story to a grim and dark war zone, and is the story of a god that is seeking revenge on another god.

Daniel says that this album “takes my music heavier, faster and more groovier than ever!” and it is his first on the Sliptrick Records label.

This is an album full of twists and turns and is a combination of many genres, having its main focus on progressive metal.

The album starts off quite serenely but very soon everything erupts, and this is when the album really comes into its own.

With heavy guitar riffs that really hit you in the stomach (in a good way) and pounding galloping drums and meaty basslines, this really is a metal album at heart. But the electronic elements that creep in change the whole perspective of it, making it so much more than just a metal album. more melodic elements are brought into the mix, and this combined with the heaviness really create a great contrast, meaning there is so much for the listener to hear.

The vocals on this album are absolutely phenomenal. Daniel switches from melodic, almost shoegaze style vocals, where the lyrics merge with the music making it difficult to distinguish the two, to death metal growls and black metal screams with ease, and the listener would be mistaken in thinking there was more than one singer. The contrast in vocal style not only on different tracks, but during each track too, is really great to hear and this shows Daniel’s talent and diversity.

The time and pace changes throughout the album really keep the listener on their toes and just one listen through is not enough to her all that this song has to offer. The album is multi-layered not only giving it so much depth but also creating an atmospheric ambience that really does sends shivers down your spine.

What an absolute gem of an album. There really is something for everyone here and fans from all genres from black and death metal to prog metal and beyond are going to love this album. Plug it into your ears and you really will be transported away from the real world, for just under an hour anyway!

Check Daniel and his music out! You really won’t be disappointed!

Track Listing:
1) The Red Blight
2) Divinity
3) Alone
4) Silver Winds
5) Oizys
6) Disdainded Gods
7) Putrefacation
8) Kujira

This review is the property of The Metal Asylum