Another year, another page in the books of metal. 2016 proved to be an interesting year and in my eyes I think one spectrum of the metal universe got more attention this year than usual which of course is a very good thing if you’re me. Continue reading “Fernando’s Top 13 Albums of 2016”
Another year, another turning point, another chapter in metal has passed. Something that’s always intrigued are music videos so it’s time to take a look at my pick for the Top 13 Music Videos of 2016. Continue reading “Top Ten Tuesday – My Top 13 Music Videos of 2016”
It could not have gotten any more international than this past week when metal from many regions of the world congregated in the midwest for a devastatingly killer time. What makes it all the more sweeter is when you know all the bands on the bill. Continue reading “Concert Review: The North American Principle Tour”
It’s one of the greatest feelings in the world when you underestimate the power of an album. That brings us to the latest efforts from Canada’s own, The Agonist. Continue reading “Album Review: The Agonist – Five”
Your boss can take his micro-managing bad breath and endless stupid ideas that are a road to nowhere and stick it under his half-priced toupee. With your check in hand and the entire weekend to jam out, liberation has come. Floating down the highway your car just seems to find the liquor store (how does this keep happening?), and you skip down the aisle looking for the tasty suds that will wet your whistle. Continue reading “Femme Fatales Part 2”
When I first stumbled upon The Agonist years ago, I became a casual fan, really only listening to their singles and a few other tracks here and there. With a new singer, new attitude and more, this might be a strong return for the Canadian quintet. After losing former singer, Alissa White-Gluz to the legendary Arch Enemy, the group recruited new talent, Vicky Psarakis who is proudly from Chicago. After this major lineup change, the group is now ready to unleash their fourth album later this month titled, Eye Of Providence. When I discovered the group, they had this strong metalcore sound that didn’t agree with me too much, but after hearing this album, I connected with it pretty easy for the most part and have changed my thoughts on them, for now they have a straight-up killer in your face metal attitude, boy am I glad to have heard this album. I feel like since they lost a major player, they upped their game on this one which is certainly the strong statement. The vocal style has remained the same, keeping Alissa’s clean to death shifting growl style intact, and the aggressiveness on this album is a lot more than I had anticipated, my goodness.
[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urcLhku0I7Y[/tube]
You can get any more intense than with the opener, Gates of Horn and Ivory. Let the pits open up and swallow the masses, this track is pure adranaline in a colossal track. It’s really bold and strong when an artist let’s a little reality on the loose, as the lyrical content speaks nothing but truth about modern day bullshit. Let the headbanging commence! Danse Macabre also follows a similar heavy style. The track is titled after the French words for “Dance of Death.” Also speedy and aggressive, the track follows a melodeath style and one of the best solos I have ever heard for any metal track, it’s killer. I Endeavor is pretty much putting the metal to the pedal. It does not slow down and has that awesome continuous double bass that deems this track really energetic and hyper. Awesome stuff. Vicki really showcases her vocal range in the track, Architects Hallucinate. Her clean vocals really dominate throughout, as there is more clean vocals on this track above all the others.
Disconnect Me brings back headbangs and mosh style metal-ness. More speed and aggression, this one is on par with the first track. While clearly the majority of the album is evil and just brutal, the group does take a different approach on the album as best exemplified in the track, The Perfect Embodiment. It still is heavy, but really focuses more on a cleaner method of heavy, staying on track with the clean vocals and the harmonic solo adds variety to their musicianship. It really starts to get dark and melancholic in the track, A Gentle Disease. With the tone of the track, I can just imagine the body of someone decaying as this sorrowful track plays in the background, it really puts one in that deep dark pit of gloom, which I respect when an artist can bring one to another state of mind with their music. The final track, As Above, So Below is a superb and strong finish to this insane album. Vicki certainly knows how to use her harmonious vocals on this one, the chorus is quite addicting, I was headbanging throughout. With the track being just under 8 minutes in length, it was a wise choice to place at the end. No screams, no crazy double bass, no shredding solos, its a simplistic track that has a curious effect on me, I can’t quite pinpoint it, just something about this one struck me with awe and wonder. Excellent.
[tube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=To3-0Q8EUrM[/tube]
Already being a month into the year, this is currently my favorite release of the year so far. If I were to pick three words to represent the album: brutal, stimulating and sick. For a band that was almost pure metalcore in their beginning days to now, wow they have made a drastic change in their sound. These guys should feel proud in creating an amazing album, it just gives me goosebumps in all honesty. If you want crazy brutality, you got it, if you want straight up metal up your arse, you definitely got it, I can’t get over this album, I seriously was not expecting the power this album had on me, consider me a full-time fan. If there was one thing that the album could of improved upon……that’s a good one, maybe more double bass? The amount this album has is satisfactory and plentiful. For those who think the band has gone or might go to shit because Alissa left, no my friends, this album has converted me into a fan. When you pick this album up on February 24th, you might see the group in a new badass light. Stay Metal m/
Eye Of Providence: 9/10
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The universe of Heavy Metal is in buzz right now. I as well as everyone else have slowly digested the shocking bit of news that the reigning Queen of death and growl, Angela Gossow, has stepped down from her throne in Arch Enemy and passed on her crown to her replacement, Alissa White-Gluz. I was pretty shocked and devastated at the news, considering they are one of my all time favorite, religiously followed groups. My heart dropped and died momentarily, now I know what people feel like when one of their groups disbands or an essential member of a group leaves. This is a first experience for me. Gossow revealed that she wanted to spend more time with her family and venture out to other interests. New band? Maybe. She also confirmed that she would also remain as the band’s business manager. Alissa comes from the Canadian metal band, The Agonist. Her time with them lasted a decade in which she herself was also a screamer. She admited that Arch Enemy was her favorite band, thus bringing a whole new chapter in her life. On a side note, she is not the only newest member, for the band has recruited new guitarist, Nick Cordle. He has been with the band since 2012, so this is the first album with two new members. Fresh blood is always interesting.
The announcement of a new lead member also came with a music video. I think the band knew that this was gonna be a big blow to many of us, so it was safe for them to throw a little gift our way as well with their latest music video entitled, War Eternal. The track is the first to come off of the album also titled, War Eternal, set to be released in June. I had posted in my Top Ten Metal Anticipations article back in January that this was one of the albums I was looking forward to this year, and I can honestly say that based on this single alone, this album should be explosive! I personally am very glad she has adopted Angela’s style, attitude and presence. Alissa, you have shocked the world with your potential. Is she worthy and adept to keep her newly handed “crown”? Ladies and Gentlemen, we bring you the glory and power that is Arch Enemy. m/
The Metal Alchemy 