Review (Unsigned): Otis Reaper

Otis Reaper

Members:

Jay Murchison (Vocals)

Ben Price (Guitar)

Madison Clifton (Bass)

Cres Murchison (Drums)

Location:

Jackson, US

Style:

Sludge/Doom

You'll like this if you like:

Cathedral

Baroness

Kylesa

Current Release:

Self-titled EP is now available on their Facebook via Heavy Voltage Records.

It is clear that many bands (particularly on the underground circuit) are yearning for the musical days of yore. Where attitude and enthusiasm mattered more than polished production, where fans flocked to underground live shows in someone’s awful, sweat and rat infested basement to go mad to the latest disgusting sounds. Those days are largely behind us now, but some bands are dedicated to bring that old school sound right back at us!

Otis Reaper is such a band, and despite songs that largely sound very similar to one another, their attitude is unmistakable. The guttural vocals of Jay Murchison are evocative of the old school black metal era, which collide with the sludgy, doom-tinged guitars and bass ala Kylesa. The resultant sound is an unusual and intriguing collision of the old school black metal and the modern sludge movement. Despite my earlier comments about over production, the mix does sound quiet and the drums a tad muddy. Despite this, Otis Reaper have concocted an interesting sound which is definitely worth a listen (or two).

Rating: 3/5

Websites:

www.facebook.com/otisreaper666

www.myspace.com/otisreaper

Review (Unsigned): Killed The Fixtion

Killed The Fixtion

Members:

Nelson Ceron (Vocals)

Kevin Izquierdo (Guitars)

Robert Asencio (Bass)

Abbad Ibn Townsend (Drums)

Location:

New Jersey, US

Style:

Heavy Metal/Hardcore

You'll like this if you like:

Down

Pantera

Current Release:

Their latest single 'Pulse' is now available to download on their Facebook

Their latest single ‘Pulse’ is now available to download on their Facebook

One of the great draws of heavy metal is, of course, the unique and uncompromising music. But metal is also a band of brothers who all share a common interest: METAL!! As a result of this, metallers find a combined sense of identity and a way of escaping any negative aspects of their own lives. So you feel you’re not alone, that you have millions of companions who have your back. This is very much true for New Jersey brothers-in-arms Killed The Fixtion. Stating that members were involved with gangs in their youths, Killed The Fixition’s mission is bring a sense of fun and positivity into our otherwise dull and sometimes depressing lives.

Such honesty is refreshing, and their music does exactly what their mission statement suggests. It is clear that, whilst their music is by no mean ground-breaking, these guys are having a blast with the music they’re creating. Release an aggressive three song demo in 2010, KTF (impressively) went on to support modern thrash metal titans Evile. The demo itself is an impressive collection of feel-good, hard-hitting and uncompromising thrash-laden tunes. Their latest single ‘Pulse’ has a sludge feel about it. The vocals are reminiscent of a ‘Black Album’-era James Hetfield; with the bass heavy elements make your brain shake in your skull. Yes, the sound is stuff we’ve heard before and won’t be breaking new ground, but should that matter? Each member loves what they do, and they’re having a fucking good time.

Rating: 3/5

Website:

www.facebook.com/KTFNJ (Where you can listen to their excellent new single ‘Pulse’)

Review (Unsigned): Sacrilegious Throne

Sacrilegious Throne

Members:

Awrath (Vocals)

Horkos (Guitar and Bass)

Drums recorded by John Watt (October File)

Location:

East Anglia, UK

Style:

Symphonic Black Metal

You'll like this if you like:

Satyricon

Dimmu Borgir

Immortal

Current Release:

'Acts of Apostasy' is out NOW!

Black metal was a genre mainly confined to our Scandinavian counterparts; they seemed the only race capable of producing the cold and unrelenting sound that would make even Lucifer quake in his boots. However, bands like Satyricon and Dimmu Borgir have spawned an unholy bastard in the shape of the UK’s very own blackened tyrants Sacrilegious Throne. If you want to know what the apocalypse feels like, then you’re in luck because that’s exactly what their debut release ‘Acts of Apostasy’ feels like.

It is the sheer grandiose and over-the-top production that first strikes the ear. The unrelenting and abusive wall of noise conjures a disturbing and uncomfortable atmosphere, the likes of which Dimmu Borgir and co can only dream of. ‘Spreading the Swam’ and ‘Creating Eternal Darkness’ are the strongest songs on the album, spawn both fear and cruelty from within. Possibly the most refreshing aspect of this band is that they have not relied on corpsepaint and the devil to sell they sound as a black metal outfit. It is the music that does all the talking, rather than the aesthetics. It is what the sound summons in the imagination that is the most disturbing characteristic of this band. One can only imagine what devilish styling’s these guys would showcase in a live setting. This band needs to be heard to be believed.

Rating: 5/5

Websites:

http://sacrilegiousthrone.bandcamp.com/releases

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Sacrilegious-Throne/103713846376048?sk=wall

Review (Unsigned): Cast Iron Crow

Cast Iron Crow

Members:

Jake Navarra

Sam Gouveia

Ryan Long

Joseph Evans

Location:

California

Style:

Grunge/Psychedelic Rock

You'll like this if you like:

Alice in Chains

Incubus

Soundgarden

Current Release:

'First Edition' will be available on Amazon.co.uk on the 8th November

Grunge was a sound largely restricted to the 90’s (with a few obvious exceptions) and many would argue that the genre died when Nirvana front man Kurt Cobain decided to re-decorate his walls in 1994. Despite many a metal head declaring grunge the ‘metal killer’ of the 90’s, it would be foolish to assume that none of these bands have an influence on the generation of alternative musicians of today.

Cast Iron Crow hail from the sunny shores of California, an unlikely place for the depressing, downbeat stylings of grunge you might think? Err, well no is the short answer. With a nostalgic sound akin to the face melting rifts of a ‘Facelift’ era Alice in Chains, Cast Iron Crow also bring grunge bang up to date. Vocalist Jake Navarra has a style reminiscent of the late, great Layne Staley whilst still having a great range which makes CIC’s sound unique and intriguing. The strongest song by far is the excellent ‘Mindlapse’, which despite being fundamentally grunge has a psychedelic edge which is a delight to the ears. The fantastically rift-laden tone of ‘Beyond the Brain’ has a slightly Black Sabbath-esc edge to it, giving an unusual, but unique sound into the picture. ‘Brother’ and ‘People of Clay’ are examples of a  band who, despite their youth and lack of experience, are competent song writers who obviously have a love and passion for their music. Listening to Cast Iron Crow transports you back to a time where grunge and alternative music dominated the airwaves and where experimentation was encouraged (not frowned upon). This is an impressively professional, talented and unique band that i for one can’t wait to hear more of in the future!

Rating: 4/5

Websites:

http://www.reverbnation.com/castironcrow

http://www.facebook.com/CASTIRONCROW

Check out the video for their first single ‘Mindlapse’: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bOUHnolRZdI

Album Review: Pain of Salvation - Road Salt 2

Pain of Salvation are a band that have been very influential to Progressive Rock & Metal musicians, whilst also at the same time have been widely overlooked to audiences from either genre.

Pain of Salvation are a band that like to take chances on their audience stylistically, although most of the band's albums stay away from long songs which is a typical trademark for Progressive Rock. Pain of Salvation have always been acknowledged as a Progressive Metal band and yet on this dual-part album 'Road Salt', the band have gone down a more accessible Classic Rock route.

The main difference between 'Road Salt 1' & 'Road Salt 2' is that, 'Road Salt 2' has a slightly darker sound that also shows some reflections from earlier albums, which to fans having disliked 'Part 1' for the change in style, will warm to 'Part 2' more.

Pain of Salvation have always been a band to strongly focus on a lyrical direction and the words and the message of the band are as important as the music. 'Road Salt 2' is no exception and here vocalist Daniel Gildenlow has dubbed the 'Road Salt' albums a pseudo-concept, that aren't portraying a typical story but are instead loosely based around the notion of making tough decisions. 'Road Salt Part 1' is about asking the questions and 'Road Salt Part 2' is attempting to answer those questions.

Daniel Gildenlow is the true star of Pain of Salvation and he could well be one of the most emotive vocalists around in rock and metal today. Gildenlow always challenges you with meaningful ideas on 'Road Salt' and each song conveys a great depth of emotion and soulfulness. The only downside to this album or the Road Salt duality is that there seems to be some of the progressive magic missing from past albums.

You can catch Pain of Salvation on tour with Opeth this November!

Rating: 7/10