Who says reviewing must be all about the latest music that is coming out? Not The Bellwethers that’s for sure, as this is a review of their track Fractured which was released all the way back in 2018, and I, personally love doing retrospective reviews!

The Bellwethers are an originals rock band from Phoenix, Arizona formed in 2010, fronted by female singer KD Zinevich and if you would like to know more about their sound “think classic 70’s era psychedelic, punk and blues tossed into a blender ad turned on high!” Well, that’s what their website states anyway and I actually think they have hit the nail right on the head.

With vintage 70’s riffs from classic bluesy guitars, the vocals are rolling and have a certain twang to them, maybe a hint of country rock, but strong and gritty. There is a beefy bassline all the way through the track, shining through on its own at times, and crashing cymbals throughout really do fill the song out.

There is a great change of pace towards the end of the track, almost taking the listener by surprise, before building back up again to a classic rock ending.

There is a great swagger to the track, giving the song a little bit of attitude and this comes from both the singer and the musicians behind her.

Overall, this is a great track and one that would be great to see live. I am going to look these guys up and check them out a bit more. I would love to discover what else they have been up to, past and present!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

I recently reviewed the single Breathe by this Swedish symphonic, melodic metal band, and I finished my review by saying that I would love to hear from them, and I got my wish, only this time it’s the whole EP Duality I (cue the big smiles from me!)

Duality I is the band’s debut EP, released on 01/11/2022 and kicking off with the single Breathe, this features six tracks, each just as epic and breath-taking as the previous.

The band is fronted by Alice, a pop singer who answered an advert looking for a “pop singer for a metal project” and what a voice she has. Alice had no experience of working in the metal world, but you would not be able to tell this from listening to this EP. Her vocals are formidable, haunting yet strong enough to keep up with the heaviness the rest of the musicians bring to the mix.

From crunching guitar riffs through to an impressive bass and drum section and symphonic, electronic synths this EP really does have it all. And once again, the fusion of power metal, melodic death metal and progressive metal, along with the pop influences really do make for an amazing sound.

There is a great mix of death metal growls with the female vocals, each working well to enhance the other. The final track All I Want To Say, also features clean vocals from the male singer and, although this is quite a surprise, it is something that also works really well.

At about 35 minutes in length, this is a dark, haunting slab of music that really does draw you in. Each track leads perfectly on to the next, suggesting the band have the tracks perfectly placed and the production is excellent. This is a self-released album and I, for one, can’t believe these guys haven’t been snapped up by record labels galore.

I, personally, really liked this EP and if you like riff-laden, symphonic, melodic metal with a touch of classic and death metal thrown in as well as synths for a touch of electronic metal for good measure, I am certain you will love it too.

Track Listing:

1) Breathe

2) Losing Rhythm

3) My Release

4) The Change

5) Falling Down

6) All I Want To Say

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Lucid Evolution are an extremely talented foursome from Richmond, Virginia and Moments is their latest offering released on 08/08/2022. They were formed in the autumn of 2021 and have since built up a strong following.

Not only blurring the lines between psychedelic, progressive, indie, and modern rock, this band have totally bent all genres out of shape, mixing them all together to form a unique sound just for themselves.

Led by strong yet angelic and at times haunting female vocals from Lynne Holloman, who is also the songwriter and keyboardist, the guitars, provided by Shaun Neal, are psychedelic yet hazy and downright dirty. The strong funky bass beats are brought to us by bassist Jake Lawrence and Brian Holloman completes the line up on percussion and backing vocals.

With influences from the likes of Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Radiohead, Fleetwood Mac and Portishead, the band have pretty much invented a genre all their own.

The song kicks off with funky beats and drums, before the wah-wah guitars and reverbed vocals come in, giving the song a very 70’s stoner vibe.

Although very up tempo with lots of rock-inspired guitar solos and superb drumming, the track does also have a very “floaty” feel to it, adding to the whole intoxicating feel of the track.

This is definitely a song that will draw you in and keep you there, with different sounds and feelings coming from the track at every play through.

Please do not just listen to this track once, as once is not enough. Turn off the light, lay down, close your eyes, and listen to it time and time again. I really don’t think you will be disappointed.

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Saves The Witch is a mostly instrumental project from North Carolina, led by Eric Maynes and She Dances With Knives is their new single, released on all platforms on 04/11/2022.

Fusing post-metal, post-rock and ambient rock, the music of Saves The Witch is an eclectic mix that ranges from the heavy to the meditative with blues undertones.

Being totally guitar-driven, this instrumental track starts of slowly with soft drums and a plucking guitar sound, before kicking in with lots of distortion and dirty guitars and bass, giving the track a very atmospheric and ambient feel.

Being an instrumental, the song has to have something to keep the listener engaged as there are no words that can do this job for them, and I think the band does this excellently by using time and tempo changes throughout the track, switching from the slow and atmospheric to the more up tempo and fuzzy effortlessly and with ease.

Mix all of this in with the wah-wah guitar solos and the plodding, heavy bass lines and you have 3 minutes and 45 seconds of anthemic, post metal, sludge that is great to chill out to.

I would like to hear from this band and will be checking out their Bandcamp page as soon as possible!

A definite must for fans of doomy, sludgy, grungy music….and you don’t even have to learn any words!!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Katie Drives hails from North Germany, growing up in the countryside on classical music, before finding shelter in the popular genres of music. Starting out just doing covers and working behind the scenes, she now releases her own original work, influenced by 2000’s alternative / pop-rock bands and Ghosts is her latest single, released on 21/10/2022.

Although, backed by a great band of musicians, Katie’s powerful voice, reminiscent of the likes of Pink and Kelly Clarkson, is the driving force behind this terrific track. An emotive break up song, there is plenty of passion to express the feelings of break up, but enough assertiveness for the song not to be wallowing.

There is a subtle grittiness about the song and mixed with the tapping melodies and pop influences, along with alternative rock guitaring, this track will appeal to an extensive ranging audience.

Playing (as per her Facebook page!) a “rebel-against-your-very-nice-dad kinda pop rock” there is an unruliness about the song that will attract rebellious teenagers, while also keeping “more mature” listeners entertained.

Featuring the voice of Los Angeles based poet and musician Dear Me towards the end of the track, there is a stark contrast between sorrowful emotional singing and sharp spoken words, portraying both sides of the breakup the song is about.

If you love the music of Pink and Kelly Clarkson, you will love this song. I really liked it, and it kicked off my Monday morning with a bang.

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

DCxPC Live Vol. 7 Presents Curtains & Swift Knuckle Solution Live At The Danger Room

DCxPC is a collaboration that books and releases music from live shows for multiple bands and November saw Volume 7 – a split between Curtains and Swift Knuckle Solution, recorded at The Danger Room in Florida.

Curtains are a band from Florida keeping punk, emo and rock ‘n’ roll alive. Drawing inspiration from bands such as The Get Up Kids, Jets To Brazil and Texas Is This Reason, this is a high-energy, fast-paced band who use melodic guitar riffs and fast pounding drums. How the singer keeps up with the music, I will never know but this recording of three of their tracks shows the natural talent the four members have and just how well they play together.

Swift Knuckle Solution, however, are a heavier band and lean more to the grittier, grimier side of punk.

Also from Florida, they use hardcore punk vocals mixed with meatier and catchy riffs. Still, high-energy, and fast-paced, there is a more aggressive nature to their music and their three tracks from the album show just how in your face and punchy their sound is.

Live recordings, the raw and also the polished (you know those live albums that have been so over-produced the listener cannot tell that it is, in fact, live!) do not always sit well with me. I prefer my live music to be right there in front of me, rather than coming through my speakers (hey just my opinion, each to their own I guess!) but this one is actually rather good.

I think it’s the rawness that makes this one stands out to me as punk music, in general, is brutal anyway and these two bands showcase this perfectly!

Track Listing:

1) Curtains – Scattered

2) Curtains – Downturn

3) Curtains – Smoke Alarm

4) Swift Knuckle Solution – Take The Ride

5) Swift Knuckle Ride – Bonham And Moon

6) Swift Knuckle Solution – Dead Palms

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

It is always a good thing when an artist or a band uses music to help them portray a particular theme or to get a distinct message across to their listeners and that is exactly what Soundhoose do.

Soundhoose are a Los Angeles based trio who want to “create a safe community where fans can openly release their depression and anxiety and relinquish their seclusion to be united in music.”

“A full-on rock ‘n’ roll assault” Soundhoose are an alternative pop-punk inspired rock band who “crank out rebellious anthems,” and have a personal vendetta against the stigma and ignorance surrounding mental health problems, an issue that has been so neglected.

With Jeremy Bauer on bass, Paul Burns on drums and Brandon Smith on vocals, this track could be catalogued under any of the alternative, post punk, punk, or metal genres, as the lines between genres are distinctively blurred.

Its big, big chorus will have you humming along for the rest of the day, the great bass lines and thumping drums that open the track are continued throughout and the guitarwork is impressive. The vocals, tiered to give the track the intensity and dynamism it needs, are clean and clear yet strong and powerful enough to get the message of the song across.

The band are so focused on their fight that 20% of their merch sales and 10% of ticket sales are donated to the JED Foundation, a charity in America to help with the emotional health and suicide awareness of teens and young adults.

Not only does this song rock, but the message it is sending out will resonate with the majority of people in one way or another.

Please check out the track, then check out the band.

A fantastic job done all round, guys!!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Asterous are a dynamic duo from Vancouver in Canada and Animus is their latest offering, released on 28/10/2022.

Playing songs that blur the lines between good and evil, growth and destruction, emotion and apathy, this pair blend alternative rock and hard rock but with hints of pop, goth, indie and grunge too.

Consisting of The Destructor Don Beaudain “puppet master and expert string manipulator” and Rummy Kandola “queen of the keys and auditory articulator,” Asterous know how to make moody and atmospheric tunes.

With layered vocals and piano, great bass lines coming through the mix and technical drumming keeping everything tight, Animus is a super edgy twist on alternative music.

The guitar work is fantastic, and the solos have a hint of Pink Floyd (always a good thing in my book!) and the vocals are haunting yet expressive. The mix of female lead vocals with male backing work wells and the distortion used on both these and the guitars only augments the melancholy feel of the track.

There is a great pace to the song, starting softly and calmly with clean synth, before dirty, fuzzy guitars come in and the track builds in speed and intensity.

This is a song the duo should be extremely proud of, not just because, musically, it is an excellent track but also because it was recorded and mixed by themselves so that “their vision came across fully and exactly the way they wanted it to!”

I wait expectantly for the next offering from this Canadian twosome as I have no doubt it will be incredible.

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

Every so often a song comes along that just makes you smile, and Monster Crunch by Mother Vulture is one such song.

Mother Vulture are four guys from Bristol, England who play “hectic blues punk with a love show that will leave you with horrible injuries!” and are “for fans of being happy, achieving your dreams and not dying!” and Monster Crunch is their latest single, released 11/11/2022, from their debut album Mother Know Best which is due for release on 25/11/2022.

Kicking off with a humming sound (a motorbike maybe?!) the track soon erupts into a full-on blues punk assault.

With frenzied drumming coming at you at 200mph, and noisy yet methodical guitarwork this is a high-speed track that is full of energy and enthusiasm. The vocals are great, clean, and clear yet full of the punk attitude that is needed, and the singer keeps up with the pace of the track effortlessly.

There is a big, catchy chorus and this will have you pogo’ing almost instantly.

I am not a big punk fan, but I really did love this track. Its definitely one to make you smile and just go and have some fun with.

The band have built up a reputation of being ferocious live and I really can see the energy that is in this track being transferred easily to the stage.

A great band who really do seem like they are having a lot of fun making music and one that would definitely rock any party or festival😊

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum

InAir, a three-piece alternative rock band from Reading, England, are back with a new single titled Same Skies. It is their first release since the EP Dreamfall released in 2017 and boy, what a return!

Dedicated to a late friend, Same Skies, is a powerful track full of emotion and first-hand experiences.

Starting off with subtle drums and guitars, this really is the calm before the storm, as the song soon erupts into a frenzy of heavy riffs, technical and energetic drumming, and atmospheric synths.

The vocals are quirky as the singer has a strong cockney accent and, although unique, this really does work well with the track. Emotional and powerful this guy really does pack a punch with his singing, and you can’t help but sense everything he is feeling. The melodic emo vocals are addictive and, as soon as the song finishes, you just want to hear him sing again.

The song has a wide range of influences but the main, I think, is the sound of the alternative metal bands of the 2000’s but, with the thick guitar riffs of modern metal, there is a unique twist.

The tempo and time changes throughout the track keep the listener interested and the anthemic chorus will have you singing along at the top of your lungs in no time.

Great track from a band I will certainly be checking out more!

This review is purely the property of The Metal Asylum