Ysgaroth – Storm Over a Black Sea

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

For fans of Skeletonwitch, Enslaved, Wolves in the Throne Room, Death, Morbid Angel

Streaming Now: Ysgaroth’s Thrashing Black Metal Debut Album “Storm Over a Black Sea”

Now available for streaming is the debut album “Storm Over a Black Sea” from Canada’s Ysgaroth, a progressive and technical metal outfit blending styles of old school death metal, black metal, and sludge.

“Storm Over a Black Sea” is an attempt at creating a work that is greater than the sum of its parts, each track stands alone, but only when put together does something greater emerge. Engrossed in the unique sound, listeners are suffocated with harmonies and taken on a journey. The band comments about the album in their own words:

“The release of Storm Over a Black Sea is so many things for us: validation, relief, excitement, and too many other things to say. This album took far too long for us to record and finally release, but we’re beyond excited to finally have it out. We’re trying to do a lot of things on this record: honour our influences, play some fucking riffs, and push ourselves as musicians technically and compositionally.”

With a slick balance of long songs and short songs, it is an album that people can really come back to, and absorb the small details on repeat listens. The lyrics are the manifestations of the band’s own issues with the world: regret poisoning us, our consumerist society trapped in capitalism poisoning the world, and religions of all kinds being used as another tool to divide and control us.

The mix of black metal roots, classic 80’s death metal, 90’s thrash, and sludge with the long compositions of post-metal and the shifting, churning time signatures of progressive metal is highly recommended for fans of Wolves in the Throne Room, Death, and Morbid Angel.

Storm Over A Black Sea was released on 13th November 2020

About:

Ysgaroth is a progressive extreme metal band conjured in Vancouver, Canada that seamlessly blends elements of various metal subgenres into a vicious hybrid.

Initially, Ysgaroth started as Kurt Steigler’s black metal studio project, a non-serious musical outlet, but over time he grew attached to the songs and wanted to take them live.

With the desire to hit the stage, Steigler (guitar/vocals) was joined by Steve Cuddington (drums) and Shawn Hillman (bass) With these additions, the songs got more structurally ambitious, a sludge influence began to creep into the band. Cuddington brings an absolutely crushing, hardcore-influenced drumming style that gave the songs a new vitality, and Hillman’s exceptionally musical bass playing served as the perfect bridge between the crushing drums and razor-sharp guitars. Ultimately, the sound of the band became a mix of its black metal roots, classic 80’s death metal, 90’s thrash, and sludge with the long compositions of post-metal and the shifting, churning time signatures of progressive metal. Steigler is the main songwriter, but overall the process is hugely democratic.

Track Listing:
1. Rain (1:54)
2. Nam Gloria Satanas (feat. Jessie Grace of KOSM) (7:06)
3. Sacred (5:31)
4. Altar of Scars (11:48)
5. Forward Unto Death (feat. Jessie Grace of KOSM) (5:19)
6. Deluge (feat. Erik Leonhard of KOSM) (17:24)

Reproduced with kind permission from Asher Media Relations

Until The Sky Dies – Forgotten Pact

Posted on November 18, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

For Fans of Melvins, Swans, Bolt Thrower, Faith No More, Devin Townsend

Crushing Post Doom Meets Avant Death Metal from this Adventurous Duo. Until The Sky Dies loves to add odd synths and electronics through out as well as Post Hardcore movements. The Year Zero Blueprint (2017) on Cimmerian Shade Records, PR was done by Earsplit.

Watch the video

Out November 13th 2020

Track List:
1.Chose to Die

2.Destructive Voice

3. Hope, Sorrow, Release

4. Never Wanting, Never Lost

5. I the Victor

6.Dear Mother , Not Forgotten

7. Zeppelins are not made for Flying

8. Experimental Vision

Originally posted on Metal Devastation Radio

Counting The Killers – Hidden In The Open (2020) Review

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

Cliff, my partner in crime at The Metal Asylum, has been friends with David Pankhurst on Facebook for a while and it was through their friendship that I approached David to do a review of their new EP “Hidden In The Open.”

Counting The Killers started as a conversation between Ben Robbins (vocals) and David Pankhurst (guitars and vocals) in August 2019 and very soon the project became something very special, with the band wanting to produce rock songs that would appeal to as wide an audience as possible.

The two were joined by AD Walshingham (guitar), Steve Card (bass) and Luke Smith (drums) with previous bands of the five of them including Micrafish, Scarred By Name, Gravil, Minerva Falls and High/Low.

Based in and around the Southend-On-Sea area of Essex, the EP was recorded during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic and, as yet, they have still to perform a single gig as a band. But that by no means takes away from the professionalism and musicianship of this band.

The first track from the EP, ‘Winter’ was originally released on 18^th April 2020 but, being unable to get to the studio due to Covid restrictions, the track was not mixed. The final version was eventually released in August 2020.

September brought the release of the self-titled track ‘Counting The Killers’, a rocky little number with killer riffs and pounding drums but it was the October release that really brought them to my attention.

‘Head Above Water’ was released on 25^th October and it is a haunting, emotional track that I think a lot of people can relate to. You see, ‘Head Above Water’ was written from a first hand experience of dealing with anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts and feelings, and mental health issues, especially in men, is a topic that is very prevalent and important in today’s society. To be able to say “I am not ok” should, I think, be normalised and the band are using this track to help raise money for mental health charities in the UK.

Says writer of the track David, “This song is something that I am really proud of. It’s a bit of a departure from what people expect me to write but I felt that I needed to put this down and share it. It deals with all aspects of depression from the thoughts to the situations and ways out. Ways to end it all but knowing it’s not the right thing to do. Asking for help is hard but at the end of the day it is always the right road to recovery. I brought it to the band and they instantly knew it had to be a very simplistic track and it hasn’t really changed that much from the initial idea I had.”

To help the guys raise money for mental health, all they ask you to do is visit their website, http://www.countingthekillers.com and download the track ‘Head Above Water.’ The band will then automatically donate the proceeds.

For the video to the track, the band also invited friends and family who have suffered in the past or still suffering from depression, anxiety and suicide thoughts to take part, resulting in an emotional video that shows that the “black dog” really can affect anyone in any walk of life.

The rest of the EP has a hard rock / alternative / metal feel, mixing riffs and drums with some more chilled out tracks and the band hopes there is something in their songs that will appeal to everyone.

Please check these guys out. Recording a debut EP during a worldwide lockdown couldn’t have been easy and I think they deserve all the credit, support, and encouragement that they get. Let’s hope that when this god-awful year is eventually over and gigs are allowed to take place again, these guys get the opportunity to finally perform together. I will certainly be there when they do!

EP TRACK LISTING

Another Shore

Royal Ten

Whispered Torment

Head Above Water

Winter

Counting The Killers

SOCIAL MEDIA

www.countingthekillers.com

www.facebook.com/countingthekillers

www.twitter.com/countingthekillers

www.instagram.com/countingthekillersband

Behind The Smokescreen – Scars Within EP

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

Another one of my reviews that was originally posted to Ever Metal

One thing we are proud of at Ever Metal is the diversity and range of music that we review. My last three reviews couldn’t have been any more different if I tried. I have gone from a progressive rock band to a 60’s/70’s influenced psychedelic band and now to this new EP from Greek band Behind The Smokescreen, an aggressive / groove metal outfit.

Formed in Ioannina, Greece, in 2013, the band is made up of Nikonas Tsolakos on vocals, Nasos Drougas on rhythm guitars and backing vocals, Kyriakos Magdalis on drums, Evaggelos Roukos on bass and Dimitris Lucas on lead guitars. The EP was mixed and mastered at Crown Audio Conspiracies by Achilleas Kalantzis and the cover artwork was designed by Giannis Tagmatarchis.

This is a band who wear their influences on their sleeve and have maintained a great respect and admiration for bands such as Pantera, Machinehead, Lamb of God and Black Label Society. I’m sure they would be the first to admit they are not trying to break any new ground with this EP, but it is still a stonking recording none the less.

The EP kicks off with ‘Too Ambitious’ and I absolutely loved the opening intro with its galloping guitars and heavy riffs that rumble in your belly. I was expecting really growling vocals to kick in (probably because experience has shown me that if I really love the music, I am going to hate the vocals!) but was pleasantly surprised when they didn’t. The vocals are aggressive and in your face, but at least you can still hear what the singer is singing and is even quite melodic in places.

The guitar work is fantastic throughout the EP and the solos are out of this world. The rhythm section is solid, and everybody seems to fit together perfectly. I do think a lot of the heavier bands are accused of “just making a noise” but it takes a lot of talent to be able to make a noise and it be as good as this EP!

My head was banging, and my foot was tapping the whole way through this and I just wished it lasted longer! I think these guys would be immense in a live setting so if I hear they are visiting London town at any point I will be there, with bells on! (well ok studs and buckles but you get my drift!)

I hope these guys are going to put out a full-length album soon but, in the meantime, I will go and check out their previously released album “Age of Corruption.” I suggest you all go and do the same!

As the famous Oliver once said…. please sir, can I have some more?!

TRACKLISTING:

1 Too Ambitious

2 Broken Is The Word

3 Future Re-Set

4 Shelter In I (Bonus)

LINKS:

www.facebook.com/behindthesmokescreengr

www.youtube.com/behindthesmokescreenvault

www.instagram.com/behind_the_smokescreenband

https://behindthesmokescreengr.bandcamp.com/

Originally posted on Ever Metal – Reproduced here with kind permission

The Metal Asylum – Metal From Around The Globe Special – 15/11/2020

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

Here is the playlist from our “Metal From Around The Globe” Special. We hope you find a band here that you may have never heard before! It’s always good to spread the metal \m/ Around the world in 180 minutes! Enjoy!

Seven Witches – Metal Asylum
Belphegor – Impaled Upon The Tongue of Sathan (Blood Magick Necromance – 2011) Adrian Marsden’s birthday request
Danzig – Devil’s Plaything (Danzig II: Lucifuge – 1990) Marietta Moonshine’s birthday request
Orbit Culture – The Shadowing (Nija – 2020) Sweden
Nine Treasures – Wisdom Eyes (Wisdom Eyes – 2017) China
Eternal Madness – The Truth Of Imagination (single released in 2011) Indonesia
Lords Of Black – Sacrifice (Alchemy Of Souls – Pt 2 – 2020) Spain
Harmonize – Warriors In The Night (Warriors In The Night – 2020) Cyprus
Arka’n Asrafokor – Tears Of The Dead (Fangs – 2020) Africa
Shepherds Reign – Le Manu (Le Manu – 2020) New Zealand
Girish And The Chronicles – Rock n Roll Is Here To Stay (Rock The Highway – 2020) India
Abandoned Elysium – Wild Flower (Bloom – 2017) Estonia
Tyr – Hold The Heathen Hammer High (Black Sails Over Europe – 2009) Faroe Islands
Pink Cream 69 – Walls Come Down (Headstrong – 2017) Germany
Cult Of Lilith – Purple Tide (Purple Tide – 2020) Iceland
Grenouer – Blood On The Face (Blood On The Face – 2013) Russia
Demonlord – Let The Demon Out (Only The Dead Are Safe – 2011) Hungary
Alien Weaponry – Holding My Breath (TU – 2018) New Zealand
Scars – Sad Darkness Of The Soul (Predatory – 2020) Brazil
Behemoth – No Sympathy For Fools (Zos Kia Cultus (Here And Beyond) – 2002) Poland
Blind Savior – Freedom Call (The Master Plan – 2016) Malta
Steel Tormentor – Armageddon (Return Of A King – 2010) Ireland
Knightmare – Dawning Of An Eternal Life – 2019) Turkey
Scarlet Anger – The Abominable Master Gruesome (Freak Show – 2016) Luxembourg
Toxikull – Nightraiser (The Nightraiser – 2018) Portugal
Earsplit – Biohazardous Disease (Earsplit – 2011) Kuwait
Mercyful Fate – A Dangerous Meeting (Don’t Break The Oath – 1984) Denmark
Black Crown Initiate – Holy Silence (Holy Silence – 2020) USA
Coven – Wings Of Glory (The Advent – 2017) Japan
Acid Reign – Sense Of Independence (The Age Of Entitlement – 2019) UK
Demoniac – The Trap (So It Goes – 2021) Chile
Witchtrap – Return To Hell (Evil Strikes Again – 2020) Columbia
Strident – Face To Face (March Of Plague – 2019) Israel
Terror Activator – Demise Of Disgrace (Moshing Is Available – 2019) Latvia
Leverage – Superstition (Tides – 2006) Finland
3 Inches Of Blood – Metal Woman (Long Live Heavy Metal – 2012) Canada

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio

The Metal Asylum – Metal From Around The Globe Special – 15/11/2020

Posted on November 16, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

So this week, we decided to do a Metal From Around The Globe Special. Three hours of tunage from the most far flung corners of the world. Around the world in 180 minutes. We hope you enjoy it!

https://www.mixcloud.com/themetalpriestess/the-metal-asylum-metal-from-around-the-world/

Aired on Metal Devastation Radio

Bearfist – Smile You Son Of A Bitch (2019)

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

Here is the second of my older reviews originally posted on Ever Metal

As I was also preparing an interview for Essex based band, Bearfist, I had already done a bit of research before listening to the EP, something which I never do! But even then, I wasn’t prepared for the sonic onslaught that my ears were about to suffer, and I do not mean that in a bad way!

Screaming vocals have never really been my bag, but one thing that reviewing has taught me is to never judge a band or their music based on one aspect of them alone!

Bearfist are a four-piece band hailing from Chelmsford, Essex (so essentially a local band for me!) and were formed in late 2014. The band’s heavy groove laden songs and intense live shows earnt them a reputation that saw them grace the stage at some of the UK’s favourite festivals. To note, they have played at Bloodstock in 2016, after winning the London region of Metal to the Masses, HRH Metal in 2017 and Hammerfest in 2018.

The band, itself, was an idea that started off as a chat over a few beers between mates (let’s face it, we have all been there after a few alcoholic beverages, just most of us never actually bring it to fruition) and ended up as the “groove laden wall of noise that you hear today.”

Says the band, “we originally just jumped in a rehearsal room with a bucket load of riff ideas to see what sort of animal we had on our hands.”

They didn’t just produce an animal, they produced a monster and they have press quotes to back that up!

Says Metal Hammer, “combining weighty riffs with throat-shredding vocals, Bearfist are just metal AF.” “One of the most complete acts to play the New Blood Stage,” said Virtual Festivals, regarding Bloodstock, 2016 and Overdrive also stated of the Bloodstock performance, “Bearfist just destroy it. If we were to gauge the future of metal on today’s performance from Bearfist, it is safe to say we have nothing to worry about.”

So, what is it about the band that has produced this level of praise?

“Smile You Son Of A Bitch EP” is the third EP from the beast that is Bearfist, after the releases of “The Fifteenth Day” in 2015 and “Foundations” in 2016, and was produced, mixed and mastered by Justin Hill (ex-Sikth vocalist). The cover photographs were taken by Loki Films and the final layout of the cd had been designed and edited by band member Jon Holland.

The one thing that stands out to me about this four track EP is the sheer amount of energy that emits from it. Even with it playing through the earphones on my laptop (and the earphones not actually being in my ears!) the power is there to be heard.

The guitars are heavy, with riffs that hit you right in the stomach, and in my mind, there is nothing better than heavy guitars. The drumming is tight and frantic, with double kicks popping up all over the place and in a live setting this guy must work up a real sweat! Musically, these guys are top notch and even the vocals, which as I said are not my cup of tea, are first class, performed with a raw intensity that you just cannot but admire.

This is a raw and brutal EP that will have you banging your head from start to finish and I would love to the see the mosh pit at a Bearfist gig as I think it would be mental (I wouldn’t, however, want to be IN it though!!)

If you like your metal fierce and right there in your face, then this is an EP for you. And even if you don’t, give it a try. It will blow away some cobwebs and you might just find yourself moshing along with the rest of us!

TRACK LISTING:

Death’s Emissary

Destroy The Magnet

I’m Your God

Bleed The Wrong Way

LINKS:

https://bearfistuk.bandcamp.com

http://www.instagram.com/bearfistband/

http://www.twitter.com/Bearfist_UK

www.youtube.com/channel/UChDY68CgeuE6zCOzC1AY78Q

https://www.facebook.com/bearfistuk/

Originally posted on Ever Metal

Cibola – “Downfall”

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

For fans of: Enslaved, Ihsahn, Agolloch

Rising above the cold darkness that is northern Europe, CIBOLA delivers harsh metal. Drawing upon styles and genres such as groove -, thrash – and death metal , grindcore and with a not so subtle touch of progressive metal.
“While it is hard to place them in a specific genre, it almost resembles some bands like Agolloch or Enslaved , that incorporate many different styles but seem to fall under the umbrellas of progressive metal, black metal, death metal etc.” – Zach Moonshine
In the beginning of 2020 CIBOLA released the debut ep “synopsis in four” which have had more than 60000 streams on Spotify to this date. And now it’s time for a continuation of the metal chaos with a new release called ” .DOWNFALL. “. It’s set to be released on November 13th on many streaming platforms.
Born from the mind of Toni Åkerman, and named after the mythological seven cities of gold, CIBOLA is a one man project from Sweden. And as the explorers that once searched for the golden palaces, CIBOLA searches to find meaning in an increasingly hostile world as well as find answers to the human enigma.
If your heart beats double to the sound of unrelenting metal then you have to check this out!

Check out the video

Originally posted on Metal Devastation Radio

Riveting Truth

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

For fans of Whitecross, Stryper, Legacy

On our eternal quest to bring you some of the best, the loudest and the boldest in Christian rock and metal to the front-lines Roxx Records is very excited to announce we have made our way in to Canada for this one. Please join us in welcoming RIVETING TRUTH to the Roxx Records line up.
RIVETING TRUTH is a Christian Metal band from Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Featuring members Dave Bentley out front (Vocals/Guitars) and Andrew Rudd (Bass Guitars) completing the line-up for Riveting Truth.The two have played music together since the early ‘90’s and released a nine song independent album with the band LEGACY in 1996. LEGACY played throughout southern Ontario and surrounding areas for several years opening for established bands such as Whitecross before taking a hiatus to pursue different career paths.
In 2017 Andrew and Dave created a new musical project by drawing from their musical influences of melodic groove heavy metal and RIVETING TRUTH was born.
The doubled-edged concept of the band name is that Jesus Christ is the riveting truth(John 14:6) that can fasten the gospel to our heart, soul and mind.
The band is excited to release their highly anticipated 4 song EP, which features guest solos from two of Christian metals most legendary guitar players Dennis Cameron (Angelica) and Rex Carroll ( Whitecross ).We are very excited to share the debut single and lyric video from their upcoming self-titled EP.
“The Prison” is a straight ahead Power Metal song based on 1 Corinthians 10:13. A reminder that God gives us strength to overcome our temptations, and that He always provides a way of escape from the prison of sin.
The lyrics were written by Dave Bentley and the music by Andrew Rudd and Dave Bentley. The song features a stunning lead guitar performance by Dennis Cameron of Angelica fame.Check out the single ‘The Prison’ and help us share this video for all to hear!
November 13, 2020 we bring you the debut 4 track self-titled EP on a limited edition CD pressing and we want the world to hear this one! So for a very short time until the release date you can secure your copy of the self-titled ‘Riveting Truth’ EP for the introductory price of only $7.77 only until our release date!

Visit www.RoxxRecords.com to preorder your copy today!

Watch the video

Originally posted on Metal Devastation Radio

PreHistoric Animals

Posted on November 11, 2020 by Metal Planet Media

For Fans of Muse, Tool, A Perfect Circle

”What happens when you love classic progressive rock, alternative rock and brilliant pop music? You make it very hard for yourself….. but despite that, PreHistoric Animals have gained huge success in all these areas. When they released their second album, The Magical Mystery Machine (chapter 1), they were praised by both the audience and the reviewers.
Samuel Granath and Stefan Altzar created the first album – Consider it a work of art in 2018 and when it was time for touring Noah Magnusson and Daniel Magdic (Ex. Pain of salvation) joined the band. The first Magical Mystery Machine tracks were written in 2019 and the album was released on September 30th 2020.”

Watch the video

Originally posted on Metal Devastation Radio