Album Review: "Call To War" by Infernal Death

Call To War

When's the last time you thought about the small, European Nation of Denmark?

I suppose though by American standards, all of the European nations, save Russia, are small. d

It's a state that doesn't really stick out to me as having a strong identity. Sure, Hamlet was set there, but I can't think of anything exquisitely Danish, aside from the pastry.

One thing that makes Denmark great, to me anyway, is the amount of great metal it exports. Lars Ulrich, King Diamond (and Mercyful Fate), Volbeat, and I'm sure there dozens more that are just escaping me right now.

I suppose in the end, it's not all that different than say Tampa Bay or Seattle. Today's Danish band is Infernal Death. In their 26th year of existence, they have smashed out some very bruising death metal.

Album Review: "The Heart and The Thrill" by The Battery Electric

The Heart and The Thrill

How many currently active bands can you name today that are straight up rock'n'roll?

I'm not talking about arena rock, or hard rock, or stoner rock, but just what we remember as rock'n'roll.

Jim Morrison nailed it in 1968 when he said rock'n'roll was dead. The classic three chord sound had already withered and died and in it's place came rock.

Then arena rock, then punk rock, then hard rock, acid rock, and pretty much anything else you could ever imagine.

Well, thankfully, there are a few groups around that are still out there banging out their chords and singing their wails and hail, hailing rock'n'roll.

The Battery Electric is the latest to cross my desk and I have some things to say about what they do.

Interview: Felix Martin Is Trying To Keep It Traditional

Felix Martin

Allow me to paint a picture for you.

I'm on vacation with my family in Disney World when I get an interesting email from Prosthetic Records.

Apparently 14 string guitar whiz Felix Martin was coming to St. Louis and if I hadn't see him "tapping his way" through town, I should check it out.

Well, as a guitarist and a fan of instrumental guitar, I was confused that I had never heard of this fellow.

I do enjoy tapping, sweeping, riffing, and any other gerund that describes instrumental guitar, but Martin is very different than most of those guys. The only contemporaries of theirs I can name would be Tosin Abasi's, Animals As Leaders. Jazz, metal, funk, fusion, they both have this in common, but instead of two guitarists and a drummer, Martin is two guitarists, and he's supported by bassist, Killian Duarte, and drummer, Phil Galatioto.

Martin and Duarte both were good enough to sit down with me and answer some questions.

Album Review: "The Existential Codex" by Monsterworks

The Existential Codex

How many bands are there that just never seem to put out enough music?

Is there really anything worse than a band getting onto the five year plan? When a band I love only does any real work every four to five years, frankly that sucks.

When it's a band I find particularly compelling, it's very off putting. 

Especially since we are no longer in the age of two to three years on the road in support of an album. I can't understand why so many bands don't get rig back to it and keep us interested.

Most tours nowadays don't last much more than two or three months, then we wait. If you don't get to see them in your town, the wait is even longer.

Album Review: "Grotesque Creation" by Fetid Zombie

Grotesque Creation

When I think back to death metal, I'm transported back to a bedroom in 1992. My friend Will was into death metal.

I'd never heard of this kind of music and it was disgusting, brutal, and just over the top.

Vocally and lyrically, it was really hard to take! I was just a lad of 16 at that point, though still very metal.

A couple of years later, many of the greats and originators of the genre were in my music collection and even some not so greats. I was beginning to see the future of metal.

I recall a time when my friend and I were discussing metal and how was it going to get heavier? Well, I had no idea at that time that 7 string guitars existed, but what about 8 string? Then what happens if you detune them to Dropped B! Add triggers to the drums so the blast beats sound like AK-47s!

Album Review: "Ride" by Motor Sister

Ride

One of the most interesting thing about running this little blog is not just learning of kick ass new bands, but getting a look into kick ass bands of the past.

This review is a little of column A and a little of Column B. 

Motor Sister is the result of a birthday present from Pearl Aday (yup, Meatloaf's daughter) to her husband, Scott Ian (yup of Anthrax).

There's an old power trio Ian loved, Mother Superior. Personally, I wasn't remotely familiar with them.

So enter Mother Superior frontman, Jim Wilson, who works with Aday. Then toss in a few friends who enjoy rocking out and then there's a pickup gig with Ian, Wilson, and others playing these old tunes and loving it.

Metal Blade Records happened to have been there and thought that putting this out as an album would be the smartest thing in the world to do...so here we are. 

Interview Karma To Burn Talks Stoner Rock, Numbers, and Malt Liquor

2/11/15 Setlist

When Karma To Burn came into St. Louis on February 11th towards the very end of their tour, they took out some time to speak to me.

Years on, they're still touring, churning out albums, and hailing the almighty riff.

Glacially Musical: Let's start off with the simple things. What are your influences?

Will, Guitar: I don't know. As a kid I started off with classic rock and heavy metal. Around 12 or 13 I moved onto a lot of punk rock and hardcore.

As a real little kid, I listened to real rock'n'roll: Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis.

Started to get heavier, Zeppelin, Hendrix, moved onto AC/DC, Def Leppard, and Iron Maiden. Moved onto Black Flag, Sex Pistols, and Dead Kennedy. Then we came up with this crapola.

Evan, Drums: I grew up around a lot of music. My parents always went to shows. There was a good music community in the town where I grew up and I always gravitated towards the drums. I was always listening to classic rock, just the heavy stuff. It was obvious to me that when I was young, I was just digging rock'n'roll.

Sort of the same story as Will. Classic Rock and heavier stuff. Going from there, I had my ups and downs, especially my teens. There was some stuff in there I definitely wish I wouldn't have listened to, but I came out of that all right.

"True Prayer" by Santiparro

True Prayer

It's been a long time since I've reviewed an album like Santiparro's True Prayer.

In fact it's been a very long time since even heard something like this.

But here we are and I'm taking it for a spin and I think it's worth telling you all about it.

A little history on our subject is in order first. This album was funded via a kickstarter campaign. That is completely and utterly awesome.

I say this as someone still waiting for that album I helped fund to drop....

After a spiritual awakening in 2007, our friend started really getting things moving including starting an educational center called Golden Drum under the tutelage of Shaman Maestro Manuel Rufino.

What can I say? This is an interesting dude.

Album Review: "Graveyard of Eden" by Dehuman

Graveyard of Eden

Today we're looking at the Belgium's Dehuman's sophomore album.

I'm not going to mention waffles. I'm also not going to mention what I really think of Dubbels, Tripels, and Quadrupels.

I'm only going to talk about death metal.

Their debut, Black Throne of All Creation, came out three years ago and spawned several tours with some major acts.

Kaotoxin is releasing their follow up and it's a very unique piece of music.

Formed in 2006, this quartet from Brussels has only undergone one member swap in the past nine years. Only the man behind the drums has changed. However, he was on the first album, so no changes since last they spoke.

Album Review: "You and Your Lion" by The Delta Routine

The best part about writing a music blog is the research.

Maybe it's finding a hidden gem in the sea of jewel cases.

Then again, it could very well be that I no longer have to listen to terrestrial radio in order to hear new music. When people tell me that music is terrible in 2015, I say, no the media is terrible.

So...today I'm looking at a band from Milwaukee, WI who are on the cusp of releasing their fourth album.

They list off their influence as a whole lot of vintage punk rock, the Ramones, The Stooges, etc and oddly enough, Kings of Leon. Now, being as I'm not much of a fan of any of those bands, why in the world did I decide to listen to this?

Because influences do not necessarily determine your sound, but more importantly, I didn't notice till after I'd heard the whole record.

BONUS REVIEW: "Gore Metal: A Necrospective 1998-2015" by Exhumed

Gore Metal....

It's been a bit too long since we've had any classic death metal around here.

Due to my vacation, my latest business trip, and more I am still behind in my reviews and I have missed some, what I consider to be, important reviews.

Today I received an email that this record is out today and after having seen them open for Carcass and Obituary in November, I couldn't let this pass without my having mentioned it.

I became a fan of death metal in the heady early days of the Tampa Bay scene. A classmate of mine had Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed, and many more.

In those pre-internet days, we didn't have the ability to learn about other bands as easily as we do today. So, long running death metal masters, Exhumed never arrived into my record collection. In fact, I'd never heard of them until they hit the stage on November 2nd.

Album Review: "For The Duration of Psychiatric Treatment" by Charming Timur

For the Duration of Psychiatric Treatment

I will admit to being a bit behind in my work and my writing, and for that I apologize, but I am working to catch back up...and I always do.

Yes this album is already out and I didn't give you the advance peak, but I think it's worth it to check out last month today.

Today we are checking out something all the way from the hockey mad country of Finland...birthplace of Duck great, Teemu Selanne!

This album is a strange mix of style and genre. In the promo email I received, it was referred to as a musical planewreck.

Charming Timur is the brainchild of Lauri Santeri Lohi of Helsinki. This "band" is a solo project in the true sense of the word. Mr. Lohi (Santeri? Santeri Lohi?) plays all of the instruments on this album at expert levels.

Album Review: "Burial Dream" by Sarin

Burial Dream

I'm almost temped to shout HELLO CLEVELAND!

Today is the first time I've reviewed an album in two weeks. Yes, I worked hard to get caught up and now I'm behind.

So, once again, I'm playing catch up.

Today we're taking a look back to about two weeks ago. I received an email from Brampton, Ontario based Sarin.

Well, like most time when a band emails me, I wasn't familiar with their music, but I'm always willing to listen.

They're a doom, sludge, stoner metal band. I'm not sure if our friends in Sarin are too picky about which particular term we choose. I'd have to imagine that some bands get a bit snippy about it. I suppose it's kind of like death metal and technical death metal and melodic death metal. There's probably a difference, but it's hard to spot!

Album Review: "Shepherd of Souls" by Bleeding Gods

Shepherd of Souls

Let's head over across the sea to the Netherlands.

How we get Dutch out of that is well, well beyond me.

I'm sure there is a significant list of reasons as to why we use this particular nomenclature in  English, but I don't feel like doing that research at this particular moment in time.

As for the country itself, well, I'm forced to admit that there are no strong images readily available to me besides their bright orange World Cup kits...

And that of van Persie.

You may recall that I'm an Arsenal fan and yes, I'm still bitter about that transfer.... Anyway, today I'm examining another debut album. Out of the ashes of several Dutch bands, the guys, and girl, have formed Bleeding Gods.

Album Review: "Steel Bearing Hand" by Steel Bearing Hand

Steel Bearing Hand

Lately I have seen a spate of eponymous debut albums.

To me, that's an absolutely wonderful thing. I cannot tell you how many different bands I have reviewed on this site but in my over 250 reviews and interviews, it cannot be more than ten brand new artists that I have reviewed.

Maybe it's more, I really don't know.

This is the kind of thing that really sets me ablaze though. I started this blog with the idea that there was still great music being made.

It has evolved into my only reviewing what I consider to be albums that you should own if you like these genres.

I am pleased to introduce you to the eponymous debut of Dallas's Steel Bearing Hand. I'm even not totally in hate with the name. We know now that all the great names have been taken.