MySpace:   http://www.myspace.com/EvilLucifera666
YouTube:   http://www.youtube.com/evillucifera
FaceBook:  www.facebook.com/evillucifera666

Ok, so in reality when I get most music, I never know what I’m in for. And of course not being a big fan of Black Metal truth be told I wasn’t o optimistic about this one. Boy was I wrong, I began by listening to “Master of Torment”, and then I found myself looking for more and more songs, because I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Lucifera’s vocals are absolutely magnificent; she has some incredible Black Metal Vocals. The music is on point fast aggressive, with the right touch of violins, pounding drums, and a pure touch of evil!!! As I kept listening I found myself drifting into the music more and more, great melodies, hidden underneath complete brutality. “Triump in Malice” is the only song that I was not terribly impressed with, however that being said I was very impressed with what they are doing. Incredible music and some sick banshee like screams. Lucifera your beautiful, but the Jet Black Hair and make-up scares the shit out of me, keep up the amazing work.

MySpace:  http://www.myspace.com/takinghayley
FaceBook: www.facebook.com/takinghayleyuk
YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/Takinghayleyofficial/videos
Booking:  takinghayley@gmail.com

Now I will be the first to tell you that I’m not really into pop-punk rock, for me it’s all about the aggressiveness, however I can tell when a band has potential. The music has the right melodies and catchy riffs to make a real run at the market. From what I was able to experience first hand they have some good songs, backed by a great vocalist in Alistair Keenan, and a good production to match. Having stared in 2010 their first effort which holds no title certainly will not disappoint. “Up All Night” is by far their best effort; it starts with a super catchy guitar melody, sinks in with the vocals, and then goes to a great trio backed chorus. I could clearly see that these guys aren’t messing around with the quality that they are putting behind everything they are releasing. Not going to call anything as of yet, but I would keep a close eye on these guys, I can see ig things happening if they keep this up.

FaceBook:  http://www.facebook.com/Beyondthegallowsofficial
Merchstore:  http://beyondthegallows.bigcartel.com/
Press Contact: beyondthegallows@aol.com

From the moment I put on “Shadows of Tyranny” I was overtaken with the sheer eeriness of what I was hearing. I really felt as if I was walking into a nightmare, then it started. Buzz Sawing guitars, loud angry bass guitar, pounding drums, and some really sick vocals hit me from the start. If there is only one gripe which I have, because there’s always one, is that the solos were not as captivating as I wanted them to be, but the song writing and the structuring was highly commendable.  In your face the whole time, what really put this piece together are the vocals, going from one extreme to another. Demonic, to guttural, blend in the highs, throw in a few mids, holy shit what the hell just happened? There were only three songs available and it’s left me wondering when can I hear more? Well don’t just take my word for it, check these guys out for yourself, like what you hear, then buy some merchandise and support them so we can hear more music. Great job guys, loud and brutal just the way I like it.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/PODofficial
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Path-Of-Darkness/179143115465642

Hailing from Finland we have Path of Darkness.” Last Chance” is their first effort which is a 6 song demo which includes a mix of old and new metal.  There really wasn’t any information as far as biography on their site so it was difficult to gain a grip on what they are modeling their music on. I was able to find some live shows and listen to the songs that they have up. I was somewhat impressed with the choice in song structuring and the creativity behind it. A good mix of 80’s thrash metal, not as much on vocals as I had hoped, but none the less a good mix. Although the songs were very catchy and had some good melodies, it did lack that punch that I was looking for. I want to say that much of it was due to the recording; it was a bit muffled and lacked that in your face production that we look for with today’s recording age. I really liked the melodies and structuring on “Sound of Silence” and “Debt of the Hate”, those were 2 of my favorites. All in all check these guys out and draw your own conclusions as to how you like them.

http://blackabsinthe.bandcamp.com

Guitar/Vocals: Jack Cerre
Bass: K.M Scarlett
Drums: Austin Henderson

        Not knowing what to expect whenever I start to listen to a band for a review, I always keep an open mind. When I first started listening to Augusta (Black Absinthe‘s latest release), I will say I was not to impressed with their recording or production. As I delved deeper into the music I began to seek out the musicianship and influences. Immediately I began so notice a few pleasant similarities to some old school rock albums. Kind of has an Iron Maiden Killers/Ted Nugent feel to it, and Jack’s vocals are very similar to Lemmy of Motorhead, but in a good way. Besides the production I really liked some of the jams that they had on this. Good guitar and vocal work set this one up nicely for me. “Twisted Past” is one of the songs that captured my attention the most. Really enjoyed listening to this, I bet they have one heck of a live show.

http://www.reverbnation.com/astheysuffer
http://www.facebook.com/AsTheySuffer



        Band Members:Stitch J. Glass (Vox), Arturo Carrasco (Guitar), Ramiro Monarez (Bass), Abel Velasquez (Drums), Sam (keys-Samples)

        As they suffer, a fitting name for a band that plays complete and utter aggressive Deathcore Metal.  The five-piece is from the great state of Texas and means serious business. Stitch the bands original member wanted to create something brutal and unique, just focusing on sheer intensity and brutality. Judging from the two tracks which they have already released they are well on their way to accomplishing that goal. “Purified by Disease” and “26 Decapitated Bodies” deliver the payload with shredding low tuned guitars, blasting drums, strong on double bass, doomy keyboards atmospherics, and some sickly intense vocals. Judging by what the band has promised to bring to the music scene, it seems they have every intention of making an impact in the Death Metal world. Well let’s hope that they live up to the challenge. Right now I must say that I am very impressed by what I’ve heard, there is potential here for something greater.

http://www.twitter.com/curethecommon
http://www.myspace.com/curethecommon
http://www.youtube.com/curethecommon
http://www.reverbnation.com/curethecommon

            Band Members:  Eric Hintermaier - Vocals and Guitar, Derek Garnett – Guitar, Ramone Hall – Drums, Trevor Bennett - Bass

            Getting their start as a worship youth group band, Cure the Common has begun to make quite a name for themselves in the Midwest. Forming originally in 2010 with the concept of writing original, uplifting songs the band quickly has gained mass attention. Participating Since 2010 the have been able to perform at many youth concerts as well as having the opportunity to share the stage with several national acts as well. The music can be classified as Christian Alternative, and the lyrics are definitely positively motivated. Listening to “Carry On” and “Hear” I can see what direction they are going. Songs are catchy to a certain extent, I am impressed by their talent, the vocals have good range, and the song writing has some attractive riffs. At times I feel that the lyrics don’t exactly fit, trying to say too much at once, and although the music is good, it’s missing that driving force. With the experience and musicianship that these guys have I can see them progressing forward on their next effort.

Facebook Page
ReverbNation Page
Buy Thier Music On Amazon

Members: Jason Sain, Mark Alexander, Matt Staley, Kenny Wyatt, Sam Rhodes

        3 Quarters Dead from North Carolina is no stranger to this game. Originally forming in 1999 with founding members Matt Alexander and Kenny Wyatt after touring with metal giants Mushroomhead, the two decided to create something of their own. The group went through several changes before recruiting Matt Staley and Sam Rhodes. 3QD later culminated the five-piece by adding the vocal talents of Jason Sain who really adds a whole new dimension to their music. So what can I say about “The Cycle of Dust”, hmmmm let me just start by saying that not many heavy metal artists can cover Stone Temple Pilots and make it sound good and HEAVY!!! I couldn’t get enough of it, the more I listened, the more I asked, and why aren’t these guys signed to a major record deal? This album has an awesome quality production with some incredible song writing and music structuring. The guitar work will totally kick you in the teeth, drumming is spot on, and Jason Sain lays down some of the sickest vocals that I’ve heard in a while, constantly switching back and forth from clean, to growls, and piercing screams.  If you haven’t heard of these guys before check them out for sure, “Cycle of Dust” will not disappoint…….

ReverbNation: http://www.reverbnation.com/page_object/page_object_photos/artist_2371666
FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/underwatergunfight
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Underwatergun

Band Members:   Nick Webb, Luke Fright, Daniel Woodward, Alex Williamson, Natasha Gilbert

        The UK over the years has been well known for their talented musicians, and Underwater Gunfight is no exception to the rule. This quintet fronted by the vocal stylings of Natasha Gilbert really has grasped my attention. First I was pulled in by the Funkadelic energy of “Take me to the Temple”, wanting to hear more, I quickly turned my attention to other songs such as “Lightning Martini Glass” and “Sea Manners”. I would definitely have to say that the group has some incredible musical ability. Underwater Gunfight takes you for a ride through fast paced funk, slowing it down to some groove down licks, and flowing smoothly throughout song transitions. The musical ability is definitely there. As for the recording, overall it could have been a bit cleaner. I felt that there was a little too much reverb on the vocals, and I personally found there to be a little too much fuzz on the guitars. Not too much, but just enough to ring into my ears. Overall I really enjoyed the songs, there is great creativity here. Look these guys up and show em some love.

 ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/mercuryhouse
 FaceBook: http://www.facebook.com/Mercuryhouseband
 YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/MercuryHouseChannel/videos

                        Members: Stacy Taylor: Vocals, Andy: Guitar, Kurgen: Bass, Garx: Drums

       OK by now some of you may have noticed that I’m a little picky on recording and production, and when I first put on Mercury House’s song “Pop Vulture” the first thought that came to mind was that the bass was a little too loud, and as the song progressed I was not getting captivated by much of what I was hearing. Moving forward to “Crazed Desire” and “The Warning” I began to see a little bit more musicianship. Very diverse music choices, Stacey’s vocals add a great touch, very sexy, and smoothly flowing. Listening more I can almost feel that most of the songwriting is Bass guitar centered. The only reason I feel that way is because of the way the songs are laid out, and the ebb and flow seems to ride on Kurgen’s bass. Mercury House is relatively new to the scene forming in 2011, they have played several shows in their home country, and you can see the music potential, naturally with time comes progression.

New York City is known for many talents and Killcode is no exception. Just recently came across some of their newest tracks and have to say that they are on to something. "Hands Up" is no exception to the rule. Starting with a nice simple guitar riff, throw in some sweet atmospherics and a nice slow build to the chorus. These guys are great musicians you can definitely tell by the flows and choices on their song writing. Tom has great vocal range, not to aggressive, but seems to flow in quite nicely as the song progresses. Can’t really nit-pick on any of their talents, overall they are a good band. “Hands up” is very radio friendly and I could that this group is ready to go places. Their latest release is self-titled and worth picking up, but don’t just take my word for it check it out for yourself on Soundcloud

        Deafening, sickening, revolting... Just the way I like it. Listening to a few of their tracks I was able to get a good idea on what they are all about. I love the guitar work and creativity on their newest songs. As I first began to listen to an untitled teaser track and truth be told I just couldn’t get over the sheer intensity and aggression. Low guttural guitar work, combined with some very creative whammy work, low shifts, and pounding double bass drums. Looking into some of their live work on “This is Revenge” is a great way to see what a live show will offer you. Live they have great rhythm and seem to pour their hearts out to keep the crowd entertained. I would say that it’s definitely worth checking out, and forming your own opinions.                                 
                                                                                                            Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

When I first took a look at Cult of Dionysis I wasn't sure what to think. At first glance I thought to myself another cheezy band with a gimmick. As I peered deeper I found that COD in reality are true Metal Warriors. After getting over myself I started to listen in to the music. And to tell the truth I was liking what I was hearing. Some really great groove songs, nice melodies, and some good choice of structuring. Guitars nice and heavy, not to complex, but truly drive a point. The vocals by far were the most impressive, changing it up quite a bit, the two vocalists make the sound complete. Yes, COD has a gimmick and they seem to take it to a whole new level, the self proclaimed Justice League of Metal puts in some work to not only give us some heavy ass metal music, but they also have released a comic book series featuring Metal Super Heros.
                                                                                                                                    Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_ Wow!!! Is the first word that comes to mind when I hear "The Doomsday Prophecy". Having formed only a short time ago, this group is no stranger to the music industry. Members have been playing with other bands for years, which is why this 5 piece from NJ is just able to hit you in the face over and over again. Loki’s vocals pierce through the songs with ferocity, add some aggressive guitar riffs, and Jake drumming skills, and you got a perfect recipe. I love the way that the songs are structured. Heavy aggressive guitar riffs, mixed in nicely with some good breakdowns, and melodic harmonies where needed.  Greatly impressed by this band, they are currently playing shows in the NJ/NY area so if you get a chance go see them. Reports from the scene is that they through one hell of a show.  You can also catch their video for “Long Lost Friend” on you tube as well.
                                                                                                                                    Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

Seems to me that a good majority of the bands that I hear about coming out of Canada are just ridiculously good. No exception here October Crisis comes at you with sheer intensity. Their newest single "Crop Circles" comes out the gate setting a strong presence. Fast, aggressive, and in your face. Aaron and Yakov fill in some intricate guitar work, combining technical style with powerful groove. Both Benyamin and Yakov share vocal highs and lows, nice trade offs, well placed and fitting. "Taken from David" thier  most recent effort can be found and purchased through FaceBook, ReverbNation, and many other digital distribution vehicles. Take some time and check these guys out. Really like what their doing.
                                                                                                                                    Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

 Birmingham is known or many musical acts throughout the years, and certainly “Twinkle and the Sluts” is no exception. Their latest effort on YourLabel Records “Sluttier than Thou” brings together a bit of Rock n’ Roll and a little bit of Punk, with some female vocals to give us some worthwhile ear candy. Overall a good effort, Twinkle has a good Punk voice, not to aggressive or screamlike, but more of a softer touch to drive the point. Musically, my favorites are “Coffin Nail” and “Narcissism” they both have nice harmonies, good lyrics, and flowing guitars. “Sluttier than Thou” is out now on YourLabel Records, give them a listen, you could even download “Coffin Nail” on Facebook. Check these guys out; you may like what you hear.
                                                                                                                                        Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

For a minute I wasn’t sure that I had it right, didn’t see much information on this band and didn’t hear any vocals. The music is great, well placed structured song, nice movements from fast aggression to slow melodic breakdowns. Looking further into why I wasn’t getting enough info, I found my answer; the band is relatively new and looking for a vocalist and drummer.  If it wasn’t for the fact that I liked the music, I wouldn’t even do the review, but they seem to have a good formula. Who says that you cn’t release music without a full lineup. Good luck on the search guys, really dig the music and look forward to seeing what a full line-up sounds and looks.
                                                                                                                                        Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_The Netherlands has always been known for cold blistering Black Metal, and RAN is no exception to the rule. Keeping traditional Black Metal atmospherics, “Doomsdays Eve” stays on track with their roots of old. Decently placed harmonies, speed guitar riffs, gargle like vocals, and speed blasting drums. One has to put themselves into the shoes of the genre that they are reviewing, and with Black Metal is more about the music, image, and lyrics. Production is lacking, but it’s what the music calls for. If old school Black Metal is your cup of tea then give RAN a listen to, you might not be disappointed.
                                                                                                                                           Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario
 

_ Don’t know what it is about a nice saw like guitar sound, but from the start they had my attention. Hailing from Maryland, Head Exploder gives us their first single. It’s got a good groove, decent drums, and some nice flowing vocals. Overall the music is very simple, but the groove sets the tone on “Slushie”, the more you play it the more it sticks in your head. I am impressed for their first effort, I’m sure as Head Exploder refines their sound they will                                     begin to form their own identity.
                                                                                                                                            Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_ Sweden is not really known for Pop/Punk bands, but Endorfine is not too concerned with that. Definitely a little bit different from what you would normally expect to hear, Endorphine combines a Pop/Punk sound to create a unique sound.  Anton & Henric combine on vocals to create a very peaceful, mood changing sound. Endorfines’ music is pretty cut and dry; they are mainly concerned with having fun, and making people feel good. Along with the lyrics there are some great harmonies, and progressive feel good guitar riffs. When reading up on their biography one can clearly see that Endorfine has big goals, they seem to be on the right path. As they progress I expect to hear more from these guys.
                                                                                                                        Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

 By definition Metaxy is a person who lives between two realities. At first glance I was a bit hesitant to hear what the four-piece from Russia had to offer. “Clessidra” was the first song that was on my playlist. It took a little bit to get going and for my senses to align. After a bit I began to see a variety of musical influences, the music is mainly progressive in nature. Pavel being the lead vocalist leads Metaxy through a journey of sound. Musically I can feel the direction they want to take us through. Very creative song structuring, the guitars are trippy, psychedelic in nature, many changes in patterns, and the vocals follow with a nice range. Calm, passive, with some explosive emotional builds put it all together. I am pleasantly impressed by their ability to shift throughout the song, building energy throughout the song; “Incubus Desire” did it for me, the songs shifts from left to right, highs and lows. I’m excited to see where these Metaxy can take this.
                                                                                                                                                Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_  Newly formed Canadian Metalheads October Crisis bursts onto the scene with “Taken from David”. Having formed in 2010 the Ontario based group has already released their first full length, and doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. Doom Hammer and Forbidden are two of my favorites, promising fast paced punishing riffs, blasting drums, and versatile vocals. Yakov does a great job of mixing high pitch backup screams with crushing vocals. Song structuring has a nice flow, brutalizing speed riffs, tasty leads and well placed bass fills. Overall I really like the direction this band is taking, be expecting to hear more from these guys, keep up the good work.
                                                                                                                                        Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_ With loud blasting fury, Amoeba steps forth onto the French Death Metal scene. Having formed only recently (2010), they have already carved out quit a name for themselves. Being that they are fairly new, not much is known about Amoeba, however they are mostly in their teens and play some of the fastest most aggressive Death Metal I’ve heard.
        Out the gate "Day in Black" sets the tone. Speed riffing guitars, blasting drums, and ultra-guttural vocals really got my attention in the first 10 seconds. Just so you know this is what the intention of any artist should be, get their attention fast then get them to stay focused on the music.  
Marius , Louis , Simon do a great job creating some incredible stops, fast breaks and keeping it all relevant to the songs original purpose.  I like the way this EP flowed fast and punishing in the beginning eventually slowing to a slower groove followed by some nice filler leads. Lucas follows in with some deep guttural vocals, reminiscent of old school death metal. High pitch screams accent the vocals at points, good overall on vocals. Not as much pronunciation as I particularly like, but it is what the song calls for.  Overall “Martyrdom” got my blood pumping, their on the right track, great song.
            Had a great time reviewing these guys, brought me back to the days of Cannibal Corpse and Malevolent Creation, where speed and brutality is King. Can't wait to hear the Album.
                                                                                                                                               Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_Hailing from the “Live Free or Die” state, Anderson Lane serves up a unique blend for our minds. Mixing it up with some nice screamy vocals, throw in some melodic chords, add the technical guitar riffs, and there you have it. Wasn’t too sure about this band when I first came across them, but as I put on the first songs I became really impressed. Nice clean production, listening to “Loyal” you can hear it well defined on Micheal and David’s pitch squeals, and as Dave’s vocals switch from scream to melodic. Songs range from mid paced aggressive jams to slow harmonies, changing tempos several times during the songs, keeping a good ebb and flow between the songs. Their upcoming effort is scheduled to be released in 2012 under YourLabel Records. Not sure what their plans for tours are, but I’m sure that they want to bring their music to the world and not just the US. All I can say is that we can expect Anderson Lane to hit us hard with some good music, and if the EP rocked the Album can only be better.
                                                                                                                                                Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_ From the mountains Santiago, Chile we have Ratzinger.  It’s been nearly five years since their first album “State Enemy” was released, now like a sledge hammer to the face Ratzinger brings us “2012”. 12 new songs and a few bonus treats. The opening track “Make Make” set precedent with some pounding drums and energetic driving rhythm. As I listened more, really was impressed by the overall production and songwriting structure. Guitars have a nice thick sound not to overdone, riff structures were well placed, tasty leads, and some really nice breakdowns.  I was really impressed with the drums. Fast, heavy groves that caused my blood pressure to go up. Time was well spent these songs are a very good taste of Old and New School Thrash Metal. As for the vocals Ivan has nice aggressive screams, and when he sings in Spanish the true aggressiveness shines through. Though he does an amazing job when he sings in English his accent is very apparent and doesn’t quite strike me. Overall I was blown away by the talent in this band, they work very hard and it shows.  Keep up the good work!!!!               
                                                                                                                                                Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

_Right off the bat, this band is spilling out the influences of Pantera & Black Sabbath. The guitars are down-tuned properly, for that excellent thrash sound. It's not speedy, nor grind-core. It's a classic twist of old metal, with a modern post-apocalyptic twinge. The vocalist switches from clean to rough, growls, but no screams. Even for metal, screaming can be a bit too much. This act blends the vocals correctly, for that perfect southern metal sound. They sound as if they'd be a perfect opener for "Black Label Society".      Beer, Guts & Glory list themselves as "Rock/Metal/Legit". Rock, yes. Metal, yes. To me, the song "Whiskey" is a perfect definition of what true southern metal should be. A little on the redneck side, but not too much to alienate your American metal fans. At the time of this blog, there are 3 songs, and 4 videos. It appears that on occasion they appear live in their local areas. The only thing I would say for improving the tunes is to add a bit more guitar soloing, even though the a fore mentioned song "Whiskey" has a classic keystroke solo. "No Failure" has a solo as well, but doesn't carry very far, and leaves me wanting more. In addition, southern metal isn't known for extreme solos, so it's not out of synch or inconsistent with the genre. The song, "Crucified" is another example of definitive southern metal. Although they've not listed themselves as southern metal, I'd say this category is more to their sound.
For Full Review Visit Here: Beer Guts & Glory Full Review              Reviewed by: 1manSineWave

_ So I received an Email with very little information on this artist from Wisconsin going by the name of Patrick.  The Email only said someone told me to send you this. Naturally my curiosity and social responsibility took control and I reviewed the material taking it seriously. From the beginning the one distinguishing factor that grasped me was the production. A crisp clean production with the right touches added to every instrument. Being a guitarist I tend to listen to those first, and I must say that I was very impressed with the way that they were arranged as well as the overall sound. Chord Structuring was on point, and the solos added the right amount of atmosphere, not overdoing it with musical ejaculation.  As for the vocals the songs were well arranged, vocal range went from your soft tone to piercing screams.  Well layered vocals with the right amount of chorus and reverb. Not sure what is lies next for Patrick but I do have to say that I was not disappointed by this at all. It was indeed a unique surprise, and if he gathers a band I would love to go see the show.                                                                                                                                                                                                      Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario

Hailing from Lansing, MI Sin Theorem brings forth a heart pounding, gut retching, assault on the senses. The first thing that really came out at me were the vocals. Vocalist Chad Miller has some great powerful vocals. Able to hit low guttural shouts as well as his highs. I can best describe this as a mix of death metal with a little of hardcore thrown in between. As for the guitar work, I Was really liking the distortion. They have a heavy thick sound with just the right amount of bass and mid range in the mix. No overdoing it on either parts. Didn't hear to much solo work, but overall solos don't make the band. The music is the clear indicator of what Sin Theorem is focused on. Ronnie Lee is the final piece to the puzzle great grooves which are able to give enough foundation to the rest of the group. Overall highly                              impressed by this group and look forward to seeing more from their efforts to come. Their shows look sick!!!                                                                                                                                                                                                                    Reviewed By: Sergio "Steel Jaw" Cesario