Interview: Unleash The Archers "It's not hard to be metal,it's just hard to be noticed"

I like to think about where metal has come from and where it's been.

When I was a young lad, just saying heavy metal was enough to know what kind of music I was into.

Nowadays, there are more metal sub-genres than I could ever personally name. 

So, this term, progressive metal came to be. Well, when you look back at the founders of Heavy Metal, weren't they already progressive?

Tony Iommi would play more riffs than anyone could count before you blinked! Look at Steve Harris and Adrian Smith...those two riffed out like nobody's business. Metallica went more progressive on their second album.

I guess I don't like this term, but I do love the music. Today we hear from Unleashed The Archers on the eve of their new album and tour....

Album Review: "Bicycling In Quicksand" by Derek Bishop

Bicycling In Quicksand

Twitter is kind of a funny thing. Unlike Levar Burton's Levar Burton character from The Big Bang Theory, I'm not finished with Twitter...the connections I've made there have been great.

As a semi-famous music blogger who can't ever seem to get himself to shut up for more than four to five minutes at a time....

I have connected with about seven million bands over the years of doing this. Most of them follow me, then I follow back, they never interact with me, never talk to me about coverage, and then unfollow me later.

I'm kind of a big deal you see.

Well here's one of those rare times when the artist actually interacted with me, chose to send me his music, and well is just a general good follow. Click here and do that. Just be forewarned, this is not Simon Pegg's alter ego...as far as I know.

Album Review: "On Borrowed Time" by My Hollow

On Borrowed Time

Once more we travel to visit our neighbors to the north.

Another country that could very easily have been my homeland, but I'm not polite enough to be a Canadian.

That's a lot like how I don't work hard enough to be a Japanese.

But silly jokes I got from the People of Canada twitter account aside, I think that many of us here down in the States do not realize how diverse the metal scene is in The Great White North.

Today's band, My Hollow is releasing the follow up to their 2012 EP, Cold Dark Days.

It's been a bit of a long time since we've heard any new music from them, but as we dig into the album, I believe that you'll see why they can't just pop out an album every four to seven days....

Album Review: "Curse of the North: I" by Curse of the North

Curse of the North: I

This isn't stoner metal, but let's talk about that concept for a minute.

Awhile back, bands decided that the missing link between Metallica and Black Sabbath was lost, so they became that missing link.

They became the second generation Sabbath.

That's pretty cool. They created bands based on a place and time that no longer existed. The pretended years of metal evolution didn't take place and they went back in time to create a family of metal that never existed.

Our band today feels like they've done something very similar. What if The Misfits and Samhain never existed? What if the Mesa/Boogie sound wasn't standard in metal in the 80's....what if what if...

Album Review: "Wild Boars and Trains" by Johnny B Beast

Wild Boars and Trains 

Let's again celebrate the universal language that is music.

Close your eyes and think about blues.

When I do that, I see a very smoky bar with someone playing a guitar up front and singing, but how much of that can you see now?

I can't name many places in my town where I can go see a man singing his heart out. Follow the path, the Blues started in the American south, moved the Tennessee, and on to Chicago.

From Chicago to London and all points beyond. Americans took back the Blues from the English, and now we're looking a man from the former Soviet Republic, Latvia playing his own brand of the Blues.

I can't tell you much about his homeland other than naming off a few NHL hockey players here and there, but I can tell you he's got some blues to share with you.

Album Review: "Blackmail The Nation" by Ultimate Holocaust

Blackmail the Nation

BRAND NEW BAND!

I recently asked the other day if people are still listening to new music. I foolishly asked if anyone listened to any bands that were formed after the 80's.

It's easy to forget that it's 2015 and I'm getting old, but today...

Let's talk about Ultimate Holocaust.

Our new friends are from Italy. Honestly, I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea of Italian Extreme Metal.

I'm frankly at a loss, but we seem to be receiving some very good exports from our boot shaped friends.

Five years in and they're finally releasing their debut album, and like Nuke Laloosh, they're announcing their presence with authority.

Album Review: "Hard Time" by Lady Flint

Hard Time

Any time an artist reaches out to me with their album, I do try very hard to check it out.

Unfortunately, not everything meets my criteria, and sometimes things just get forgotten.

Today, I received an email from a band way over in France called Lady Flint.

Well, the name was interesting as was their email, back and forth we went and here we are talking about that album.

Hard Time is the debut album from the French Blues-Rock duo, though they had an EP out last year as well.

Hard Time is being released on digital formats and on vinyl in September. Due to my recent vinyl switch, I'm definitely going to get in on that action...

Album Review: "Downfall Rising" by Wombbath

Downfall Rising

Today we're playing the long game.

You'll see why in a little bit.

But let's all begin with welcoming back Wombbath. It feels like we're seeing a rebirth of many old school death metal bands and here's yet another one.

If you're not familiar, let's have a short refresher course shall we?

They were originally formed in 1990 in Sala, Vastamland, Sweden.

Like another famous Swedish act, Entombed, they play a brand of Death'n'Roll. Not quite as crazy heavy as proper death metal, but still death metal.

In after one full length, a split, and a pair of EPs, Wombbath went dark. Here we are twenty some years later with their sophomore LP!

Interview: Biotoxic Warfare Lobotomizes The Rest of Us

Recently I reviewed the debut effort by Biotoxic Warfare.

I found their debut album to be a refreshing change of pace in the extreme metal scene. Unlike most bands who stick with a single style, they blend thrash and death metal together and create a very new idea.

Lobotomized is one of the best albums I have heard in a very long time, and it would definitely be the best "death metal" record I've heard in ages.

I really can't say anything negative about it. It's just one of those perfect albums.

I wanted to get to know these guys a little bit better, and thankfully George Dimitrakakis was willing to answer my silly questions.

Please note. Dimitrakakis's answers are not edited.

Album Review: "Rite of Ascension" by Vacivus

Rite of Ascension

Today we're looking at the official first release from Vacivus.

Last year some time a recording of their rehearsal was released in some form.

Amazing time to be alive isn't it?

Well if you don't know who this band is, perhaps you know them under their previous moniker, Dawn of Chaos?

No, that's fine. That's why I'm  here.

There are a lot of EPs being released these days. This is kind of interesting if you ask me.

This one is the tenth release by the relatively new Goatprayer Records. There's also a limited run of 100 copies on cassette. I'm still a bit confused by the tape thing coming back, but that's awesome if you like it.

Wolf Council Vinyl Giveaway

The Wolf Council

Welcome to the first Glacially Musical music giveaway.

First and foremost, let's discuss today's subject: The Wolf Council.

I reviewed their debut album back in January ahead of it's February release. On Feb 24th, it was released through the usual outlets, CD and digital.

But there was a demand for this album to be released on vinyl and their label, Static Tension Recordings is doing just that.

The rub is that there are only going to be 500 copies total of this LP pressed in three colors. I've teamed up with Static Tension Recordings in order to give one test pressing away to a lucky winner.

Here are the particulars:

Start Time: NOW!

End Time: Friday 6/19/15 at 12pm Central Standard Time.

What do you have to do to win:

1) Follow myself @13blog and Static Tension Recordings @StaticTension

2) Tweet me @13blog and @StaticTension under #wolfcouncil.

Sample: "Hey @13blog I want to win #wolfcouncil from @StaticTension!!!!!!!! WOO!"

The random winner will be chosen at 12:30PM Central Standard Time.

Disclaimer: Winner must reside in the USA or offer up a USA mailing address.

There is no limit times you can enter because I won't be able to keep track anyway.

No purchases necessary and good luck!

Here's how I'm keeping track. I am favoriting each entry I receive. I have found a Random Number Generator and I will use it and tweet to pick the winner. No favorites!

Album Review: "Time Stands Still" by Unleash the Archers

Time Stands Still

Let's talk about Canada.

The Stanley Cup Finals are in full swing, sorry Canada. The Women's World Cup is in full swing up there too right now.

Personally, I love the Great White North and frankly it's been far too long since I've made it up to our neighbor.

Being good neighbors, we've lent Canada metal or they got it from our absentee parent, The United Kingdom.

Either way, Canada has been really kicking out some great metal in the last year or so. Until recently I was caught completely unawares regarding Canadian music besides the big ones.

Metal especially. I'd like to review a metal record from each of the provinces. I think I'm still missing Quebec, PEI, Saskatchewan, BC, Alberta, New Foundland, and Nova Scotia. Come on, guys. Get on it!

Album Review: "Fallen Statues EP" by Sense of Fall

Fallen Statues

Every so often, an independent artist will email me and ask that I check out their music.

Today's review came all the way from Scandinavia, Finland to be exact. Sadly, I've had to many reviews from Finland lately that I already used my Monty Python Finland joke.

I don't know any other Finnish references...so sorry about that.

Frankly, I don't know much about this particular band. They originally formed in 2008.

The band as a five piece unit has existed since 2012 when they named themselves Sense of Fall.

They speak highly of the variety in their songs, and there's definitely quite a lot going on in the songs here. They simply call their music melodic death metal.

Interview: Sisters Of... Starts Off With Metallica

Sisters Of...

Let's take a trip to St. Joseph, MO.

From my spot here in St. Louis, MO, when I think of St. Joe, I think of the Pony Express and what must quite the long trip by car to get there.

I never really think of it having a bustling music scene or anything like that.

I honestly don't even know the size of the town in my home state.

Sisters Of... certainly make me want to get down there and see what's in the water so to speak.

I recently reviewed their debut album, and it was an interesting ride to say the least. I really didn't know what to expect and I still came away from it shaking my head in disbelief. 

So, let's find out a little bit more about these fellows here....

Album Review: "Lobotomized" by Biotoxic Warfare

Lobotomized

What's in a label?

How many artists do we know that defy the commonplace pigeonholing?

Well, I'd wager that there aren't enough of them out there.

Today's album review is the debut record of Biotoxic Warfare from Heraklion, Crete.

Yes, that's in Greece.

This is a band that's the musical offspring of two distinct, though similar on the periphery. Biotoxic Warfare has two great loves: Bay Area Thrash Metal and Tampa Bay Death metal.

Yes, it's true that Death Metal was borne of Bay Area Thrash, but what happens if you put both elements into equal parts?

Album Review: "Son of Boogie Woogie" by Ron Thompson

Son of Boogie Woogie

"I'm in the music business. I spend all day not making money!" says the smarmy manager in a recent MC Chris sketch.

What if there was a record label that wasn't about making money? That was a non-profit organization?

Well, meet The Little Village Foundation.

That's just what they're doing...how cool is that?

Well, let's get on with it. Today's album review is Ron Thompson.

The man himself is not new to the scene. Stevie Ray Vaughan was once counted among Thompson's fans.

In the before time, he cut some singles for the legendary Chess Records. Here today we have some new music by the man and it shouldn't be missed by any fans of the Blues.

Album Review: "Ghosts" by Carnalation

Ghosts

Lately, I've been on a kick where there's been too little metal, so I'm kind of back on the metal track.

But tracks are made of metal, so there we go.

Today we're headed to Finland.

Finland, Finland, Finland, the country where I quite want to be...Eating breakfast or dinner...

Carnalation is a newish act on the scene. They formed to play a festival in their native Seinäjoki, Finland. 

Since then, they began to gain some acclaim and better bookings and eventually released their debut EP, Doomsday Diaries in 2010. Years later, we're now treated to their fist release for Inverse Records, Ghosts.

Interview: Andy Gabbard "I'm the carrot."

Andy Gabbard

Let's talk about Andy Gabbard.

He's hardly new to the world of music. He's one quarter of the Buffalo Killers who've released six albums on Alive-Natural Sound Records.

The Buffalo Killers have been at this for a long time indeed.

Their first album was released in 2006 and their latest, Holy Reverie, just last year.

Most notably, for me today, is that he's also recently released his first solo album.

Honestly, going into that review, I was not very familiar with his day job band, but blues based fuzz rock will always hold my interest and I wanted to see how this was different and get to know the man a little bit better.

Album Review: "Stories From A Fallen World" by Carnival of Flesh

Stories From A Fallen World

Let's talk about Black Metal.

I'm sure that some of you realize that I really don't much care for this particular genre of music.

In terms of my taste, I would liken it to country music. Yes there is some country (black metal) that I enjoy, but I find that too much country (black metal) today falls into certain genre stereotypes that just really turn me off.

So I find myself saying that I do not enjoy country (black metal), but of course there are always exceptions.

Today we review the latest album by Carnival of Flesh out of Belgrade, Serbia. I do believe this is the first time I've written about a Serbian band, but not the first time that I've written about Serbian Culture....