Ankit Sood

Demon Hunter – “Outlive”

 Posted by on May 7, 2017 at 20:22  No Responses »
May 072017
 

Before I get on with my review, I would like to mention that this band was a favourite of the late TMR Reviewer, Peter Willoughby, fondly remembered as the “WhiteMetalMan”, and in his honour I take it upon myself to hear this album through his ears and review it as he would have. So here it is.

Demon Hunter, an American Christian Metalcore band formed by the two Clark brothers, emerged the scene in 2000, and are out with their eighth studio album “Outlive” which was released by Solid State Records on March 31, 2017. Ryan and Don played together previously in Coalesce and Neurosis. Ryan had previously played guitar in hardcore band Focal Point, and released an album on Tooth & Nail/Solid State when he was still in his teens. Don left the band to pursue a career in Graphic design and family obligations.

As a headlining act, Demon Hunter helped introduce audiences to bands like August Burns Red. They’ve co-headlined with Red and toured as direct support for both In Flames and As I Lay Dying in the United States and parts of Canada. They’ve travelled to South America, Europe, and Australia, headlining major festivals and club shows alike. Continue reading »

Believer – “1 of 5”

 Posted by on May 1, 2017 at 21:11  No Responses »
May 012017
 

After a hiatus (Believer disbanded in 1994, when Daub announced that he and Bachman would reform the band), Believer came back in action in March 2005, and is recently making headlines with its first instalment of one of five EP which was released this March. They gained much worldwide recognition for their boundary-breaking, artistic form of progressive metal music. Their early albums had collaborations between metal and orchestral musicians which sealed the band’s legacy. Believer’s focus on creativity and innovation earned praise from fans and musicians worldwide.

Believer, which is an American technical thrash metal band from the late 1980s and early 1990s, is known for playing a hybrid of thrash and progressive metal, using innovative symphonic elements in thrash metal. Their lyrics deal with topics of philosophy, theology and social issues. The two primary members of the band are vocalist/guitarist Kurt Bachman and drummer Joey Daub, who were joined by several others after their 1989 debut album, Extraction from Mortality. Continue reading »

Kna’an – Orphaned Land & Amaseffer

 Posted by on April 9, 2017 at 21:05  No Responses »
Apr 092017
 

When the German theatre director, Walter Wayers, approached upon the subject of the biblical story of Abraham in the land of Kna’an, he started to play it out in his head a musical journey in collaboration with Middle eastern folk and metal bands, Orphaned Land and Amaseffer. This paved way for a collaborative effort between the two bands and resulted in an amalgamation of a folky classical sound that transcends many barriers and brings in life to the myth. The album was released on the 26th of August 2016 under the label of Century Media Records.

Orphaned Land is an Israeli Oriental metal pioneer, that have Arabic, Jewish and West Asian Influences, as they use Progressive, doom, death metal and Middle eastern folk music elements in their sound. After going through several line-up changes, the band currently comprises of two of its founding members Kobi Farhi on Vocals and Uri Zelcha on bass. Their music promotes peace and unity within the three main Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam and Christianity. Each of their albums have some concept related to two extremes: a meeting of East and West, past and present, light and darkness, and God and Satan.

Amaseffer is an Israeli Progressive metal formed in the year 2004 by the drummer and percussionist Erez Yohanan, and guitarist Yuval Kramer. A year later, a second guitarist Hanan Avramovich joined and completed the line-up. This is also when the band got its name “Amaseffer” – from Hebrew “Am Ha’Sefer” – People of the (holy) book. Amaseffer was formed with the idea of a historical trilogy in mind – to tell the old testament’s story of the Exodus, from the Hebrew slavery period in ancient Egypt, through the years in the desert, and up to the entrance of the twelve tribes of Israel to the promised land of Canaan. Continue reading »

The Right Wing Conspiracy – “To Defy”

 Posted by on April 2, 2017 at 16:53  No Responses »
Apr 022017
 

After a decade of existence, The Right Wing Conspiracy independently released their 5th full length album “To Defy” on the 3rd of August 2016. This Christian Grindcore band from Myrtle Beach, South Carolina USA was formed in the year 2006, and lists Napalm Death, Nasum, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Brutal Truth and Godflesh as some of their influences. The band featured former members of Zadok and Clear Convictions. In the past, the band had shared the stage with Diecast, Grave Robber, Early Graves, The Secret, Death Before Dishonor, Finger Painted Death, At Half Mast, The Hundredth, Conception of Being, The Creepshow Mofo, SAVAS, and many others. Synonymous with the band’s name, their lyrics are outspoken, satirical and politically incorrect.

The album opens up with “To reap” which gives a good blasting on the drums and heavy guitar chugs but ends in no time moves on to the title track “To Defy” which again ends as soon as the listener gets the hold of what was shoved down one’s ears. This formulaic continues for the rest of the album, and song after song we get jolts of shock lasting for about a minute. The album finishes up in less than 15 minutes, considering it has 17 tracks listed, makes one believe that all tracks would be chosen in some order to deliver something extra-ordinary. But that’s not the case here, as the songs have abrupt openings and equally abrupt closing. Continue reading »

Megadeth – “Dystopia”

 Posted by on April 1, 2017 at 23:23  No Responses »
Apr 012017
 

There comes a time in reviewer’s life when he’s asked to review a band he’s been worshipping all his Heavy metal life, and that moment has come for me. I love and devour Megadeth, and who wouldn’t. There is no denying that Megadeth is an Epic Thrash metal band, be it for their ballistic delivery of rhythm or their wringing guitar solos. “Dystopia” marks the bands 15th thrash metal album which was released under Dave Mustaine’s Tradecraft label via Universal on the 22nd of January 2016. Yes, this review is coming in late but nonetheless is an important one for all of us here at the Metal resource, for it won the 59th Grammy Award for the Best Metal performance this year, in 2017.

Everything has been running late with this album. It was earlier scheduled to be released in early 2015, but the bandmembers faced troubled times and in November 2014, guitarist Chris Broderick and drummer Shawn Drover decided to part ways with the band only to form in “Act of Defiance” later on. David Ellefson confirmed that the band was looking out for replacements, and later confirmed to have Chris Adler (of the Lamb of God fame) on drums and Kiko Loureiro (of the Angra fame) on guitars. “Dystopia” was produced by Frontman Dave Mustaine and Chris Rakestraw, and has guest appearance of country musician Steve Wariner to play the steel guitar parts of the album.

Dave Mustaine stated that the album’s sound would feature a different musical and stylistic approach and which may be influenced with his guest performance alongside the San Diego Symphony. The band has definitely gone more aggressive compared to its 2013 release Super Collider! Continue reading »

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