The Scrolls of Akhenaten: April 26th, 2024

April 26, 2024 / Akhenaten / Leave a comment

Despite being on the road in a completely different country I still will find the time to provide you with eight killer album recommendations because music is what makes the world go round. On that topic I’ve encountered a number of bands over the past week that definitely deserve a bigger audience.

Black

The first time I was exposed to Infant Island it was when they were added last minute to a huge mixed bill that featured the likes of Gatecreeper and Fearing. It was odd but given how mixed the bill was I guess it made sense to toss a screamo band on there. Admittedly I wasn’t all that into them for this live show but decided to check out their new record when it dropped earlier this year and was shocked to find out just how damn much I liked it. This album is fucking phenomenal, featuring tons of atmosphere, triumphant guitar work that screams out over relentless blast beats and passages of intense, cathartic screaming. Screamo and black metal may seem at polar ends of the musical spectrum but bands like Infant Island manage to bridge that gap almost flawlessly and this record is proof of that. Obsidian Wreath is a phenomenal release that deserves your attention.

Death

Eyecatcher is a four piece death metal outfit that my own band Ratpiss played with while on tour in Long Island City, New York. This Maryland quartet was amazing in the live setting and their brand of Obituary / Power Trip worshipping death metal was right up my alley. Checking them out on the recording side of things I am happy to report that their first self-titled release is just as good sounding as the live versions of these songs were. This is ripping death metal with thrash metal and grindcore influence that would not go unwelcome on a playlist next to bands like Frozen Soul and Sanguisugabogg. While this EP is “blink and you’ll miss it” short, it’s packed with more killer riffs and drum beats that you can shake a disembodied leg at. If the cover art doesn’t sell you on it already, let the song titles like “Blood Carnival” and “Wormtongue” entice into the grotesque nature that awaits.

Doom

I was first introduced to Horndal through my friend Tyler. Admittedly when I first checked it out I wasn’t sure about it but after numerous repeat listens it dawned on me: this album is fucking incredible. This thing combines elements of the bright, harmonized guitar work of groups like Thin Lizzy or Kvelertak along with the progressive riffing nature of bands like Mastodon as well as the raw sense of urban decay ushered in by bands like Tombs or Morne to create a sound I’ve never quite heard before. This thing is a beast of modern metal, and not in the same way that people describe Lamb of God. This is the pinnacle of modern metal music, utilizing every aspect of heavy music that I personally love in such a way that I’ve never been privy to. It’s experimental while also being catchy as fuck, all while the gruff caveman vocals detail stories about the history and legends of the band’s hometown for which they are named.

Prog

Orbs was a band of particular interest to me back in 2010 when they first emerged onto the scene of modern, nu-progressive artists that had readers of the blog Heavy Blog is Heavy fawning. Featuring such notable names as Dan Briggs from Between the Buried and Me, Adam Fisher of Fear Before the March of Flames, and Ashley Jurgemeyer of Abigail Williams, this was a supergroup of sorts that existed to blend elements of jazz, prog, and space rock with a post-hardcore affectation and approach to songwriting, and holy moly did they ever knock it out of the park. Almost 15 years after the fact I still come back to this album and can sing along to all the words like no time at all has passed. Relentlessly interesting and masterfully composed with hooks for days both on the vocal front as well as the instrumental front, it’s a shame Orbs hasn’t been more active in the intervening years.

Punk

Another band that Ratpiss has shared the stage with, multiple times now. Philadelphia’s Diuretic absolutely fucking rule. Not only are they super cool people, but their music fucking rips too. The band has released one EP and a demo as of their existence so far, with Martyrfucker being the most recent effort. Pissed off, aggressive, loud and nasty, this is grindcore as it should be. Along with the general angry vibe of the music it also sounds raw as fuck. It’s not really “pure” grindcore in a sense since most of the music on here doesn’t rely exclusively on blast beats, and there are a lot of groovier sections with two-step parts that lean them a little bit more towards the hardcore punk side of grindcore. That said Diuretic is still full of angst, piss, and vinegar, and this EP is a prime example of just what the Philadelphia grind scene has to offer.

Thrash

This Montreal thrash trio, which has since evolved into a quartet, have been slowly making a name for themselves over the past year in Quebec and the wider Eastern Canadian scene. Taking influence from both the realms of old school thrash metal legends like Slayer and Anthrax as well as newer crossover institutions, the band doesn’t really fall squarely into one category or another. There’s a hefty amount of hardcore punk influence going on here, especially on the EP’s opener “Chernobyl”, but the ripping thrash doesn’t take long to kick in. Guitarist Christophe Michaud has one goal in mind and that’s to rip your head from your neck by making you headbang like a fucking lunatic. He accomplishes that goal in spades on here, while making sure the punk influence keeps things fun and upbeat.

Trad

Vancouver’s Gatekeeper are the best kept secret in the world of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal originating from Canada. This band embraces every classic metal cliche, taking as much influence from bands like King Diamond and Mercyful Fate as they do bands like Blind Guardian. They straddle the line between old school heavy metal outfits like Dio as well as pure power metal that emerged from Europe in the 80’s and 90’s a la Helloween. Delightfully melodic and impossibly catchy, every song on this record is absolute fucking banger and deserves to be blasted at max volume. With lyrics inspired by the works of famous fantasy and horror authors like Robert E. Howard and H.P. Lovecraft, listening to this album makes me feel like Conan the goddamned barbarian, riding a mighty steed across the plains of uncharted wilderness, a great broadsword strapped across my back.

Non-Metal

Com Truise – *In Decay*
**July 16th, 2012**
**Synthwave**
**Ghostly International**
**Orlando, Florida, USA**
**Standout Song:** “Data Kiss”

Have you ever been on a long-ass drive that you started early in the day, like before noon, and you keep on screaming down the highway, still having not reached your final destination as the sun goes down behind the hills and it seems like night is going to last forever? You’ve had one too many energy drinks and you’re wearing sunglasses to minimize the glare of the searing lights of the construction zone you’re passing through? Well this album is the soundtrack to that vibe. This is a night driving album if there ever was one. Much like other synthwave artists like Perturbator, Carpenter Brut, or Filmmaker, Com Truise has made a career off of perfectly encapsulating the atmosphere of the liminal space that is a highway after dark. That said Com Truise’s music is a bit more chillwave-leaning than the retro and horror inspired vibes of those other artists, but the comparison is still apt.

~ Akhenaten

The Scrolls of Akhenaten: April 12th, 2024

April 13, 2024 / Akhenaten / Leave a comment

This one is coming to you a day late because life got in the way this past week and I didn’t get as much time to hammer out which albums I wanted to recommend to you all on Friday. I was also busy hosting a show at The Traxide in Montreal featuring some rather excellent bands from the Maritimes, namely the blackened death metal stylings of Paratomb and progressive metal wizardry of Omnivide, along with local thrashers Grimhold and death-sludge riffologists Obelisk. Now that I’ve got a few moments of free time to myself this Saturday (between recovery) I’m going to make up for it. Read on for some of your (somewhat) regularly scheduled riff recommendations!

Black

The first time I heard this record I was absolutely floored and to this day it continues to shock me. I’d like to thank Devon Milley for this recommendation as it was through him that I discovered this band. I’ve never heard a band so perfectly emulate the sound of Darkthrone’s early material. Everything on this record from the guitar tone to the drum approach to the production to the vocal approach is the closest I’ve ever heard a band mimic that style, and they do it wonderfully. The riffage is so pure and kvlt and trve and devoid of any bells and whistles. Even the vocals sound eerily similar to the range and tone of Nocturno Culto on those classic black metal albums as well as the post-Panzerfaust era of the band. All you have to do is listen to the first track here, “Three Desecrated Hosts”, and you’ll see what I mean. If you’re at all a fan of that style of Norwegian black metal, then Germany’s Pakkt is a must-listen, especially for Darkthrone die-hards like myself.

Death

I first discovered this band through a video made by the YouTuber known as The Punk Rock MBA. I think that guy sucks but I’d be lying if I said he hadn’t put me on to some cool music over the years. Human Remains is definitely one of those bands. The first time I put this record on I couldn’t quite believe what I was hearing. “A deathgrind diamond” as one Bandcamp reviewer named Brett put it, this thing is fucking weird. There are sounds on here that I didn’t even know a guitar could make before I listened to this thing. It’s exceptionally brutal, uncompromising, relentless, and unapologetically experimental. There’s plenty of moments where the music remains firmly rooted in brutalizing the listener with blast beats and atonal guitar riffs before launching into interludes that feel like they’re drawing upon bands like Mr. Bungle and The Dillinger Escape Plan. Of course Dillinger was probably influenced by this band considering that Human Remains predates them.

Doom

Wardehns – *Now Cometh the Foul*
**December 21st, 2018**
**Stoner Metal / Sludge Metal / Crust Punk**
**Independently Released**
**Wausau, Wisconsin, USA**
**Standout Song:** “Denim Dogs”

I was put onto this band through a friend of mine who just happened to be playing them out loud on a Bluetooth speaker while I was hanging with some pals at their house. I was pretty much immediately hooked by the quality of the riffage, the production value, and just how similar it felt to the kind of sludge metal that I am really drawn to: bands like Mastodon, Kylesa, and Black Tusk. The ones who are a little artsy but aren’t afraid to get deep, down, and dirty with their music. Wardehns certainly scratches that itch for me and I’ve had this record on repeat ever since that initial encounter. It’s monolithic in size, with every song imparting the image of a group of intrepid travelers and warriors climbing their way to the top of a frostbitten mountain, surviving blizzards and avalanches, and fighting horrible beasts all along the way. The album cover is indeed a perfect representation of what kind of music you’ll hear on this thing. It comes highly recommended.

Prog

I brought up Omnivide in the intro to this article not just to tell you about the show I was at last night, but also as a genuine recommendation for a band that kicks fucking ass that doesn’t live all that far from Newfoundland. This New Brunswick progressive metal outfit just released their debut album, A Tale of Fire, last month, and are currently embarking on a tour across Canada in support of it. Having seen them live a couple of times now as well as having listened to this thing all the way through time and time again I can attest to this band absolutely ruling. If you want your brain to be disassembled and then put back together wrong then this is the record for you. Their music certainly draws heavy influence from big-name prog bands like Between the Buried and Me, but there are also shades of groups like Cynic, Obscura, and Beyond Creation to be found within. If you like any of those bands you’ll almost certainly like this.

Punk

I was lucky enough to catch Flower at Varning Fest last year, an annual underground crust punk and metal festival that occurs in Montreal. They came up from New York City to play here and absolutely tore the place apart. I thought their live performance was already great but it was checking out their recordings after the fact on my own that really sold me on them. This right here is the kind of punk I like the most. It’s loud, aggressive, angry, and dirty as fuck. All the best crust punk is only a few steps removed from speed metal and black metal and Flower really embrace that vibe on this LP. The album opens with an atmospheric blackened guitar riff that reminds me extensively of Gallhammer and Darkthrone, before the unruly punk ripping starts at full force. It’s so gross and nasty, from the raw guitar tone to the punchy drums to the pissed off vocals. Flower are fantastic, and this LP absolutely slays.

Thrash

Mexico’s Phantom are pretty much everything I want from modern thrash. Their sound is supremely old school, drawing clearly upon the bands of the 80’s, with the Teutonic sound in particular being a primary influence. If you like Sodom, Kreator, or Destruction, or at least the way those bands used to sound back in the day, then Phantom may be for you. That’s not to discount the American influence in their sound either, because notes of Slayer and Metallica definitely crop up from time to time, but ultimately they keep things rooted in that more aggressive sound that veers on the edge of black metal without ever stepping forth into the blizzard. What makes this album even more impressive is that the dudes in this band are really young, most of them being around the ages of 18 to 20. For being as young as they are they’ve got a fantastic grasp of their instruments and their songwriting capability is excellent. I’m stoked to hear what they put out next.

Trad

I never thought I would unironically enjoy a NASCAR-themed metal band but then I am the Intimidator came out of nowhere and showed me the errors of my hubris. This is the new solo project of former Poison Idea guitarist Andrew Stromstad and the entire thing is lyrically and aesthetically based around the final day of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt’s life. If that wasn’t already enough to sell you on the concept, then I’m happy to report that the music contained within is just as fucking awesome. It’s old school speed metal that draws as much influence from Metallica, Motorhead, and King Diamond as it does from a blackened speed metal act like Venom and an epic doom metal band like Candlemass. While the record may be all over the map in terms of influence it is surprisingly consistent all the way through, featuring fabulous riff after fabulous riff and vocals that’ll put hair on your chest.

Non-Metal

Shpongle – *Tales of the Inexpressible*
**March 29th, 2001**
**Chillout / Psychedelic Trance**
**Twisted Records**
**Chobham, England, UK**
**Standout Song:** “Star-Shpongled Banner”

I discovered Shpongle years ago when I was still in high school. While sick and staying home from school one day I went down an enormously long musical rabbit hole on YouTube (this was back in the day before algorithms ruined everything) which eventually led me to a fan-made animated music video for the song “Star-Shpongled Banner”. I was so enamored by the combination of the music with the visuals I was experiencing made that song stick with me for years to come, and to this day I still revisit this record from time to time. While I don’t often find myself listening to electronic music, when I do I prefer the kind of stuff that’s outside the realm of the typical club fare. I don’t go to clubs often, mind you, but I have a hard time imagining that this is the kind of thing played anywhere outside of a hippie drug den. It’s not for everyone, but if you like weird electronica you should definitely check this one out.

~ Akhenaten

The Scrolls of Akhenaten: April 5th, 2024

April 5, 2024April 1, 2024 / Akhenaten / Leave a comment

This week’s installment of The Scrolls of Akhenaten is going to turn up the heat because some of these records ended up being some of my top reviewed albums of the past several months (last year into the first few months of this year) over on our sister blog at Where Strides the Behemoth. Seriously, these are some of my favourite albums from recent memory, so even if you don’t like them, you might get a better idea of my own taste and why the albums I review here get the scores that they do (if you’ve ever been curious about that, that is.) Onwards!

Black

If ever there was a black metal project that just filled you with joy because of how utterly silly and full of whimsy the music is then this record is for you. I couldn’t believe upon first listen just how relentlessly catchy this record is. Every riff, every keyboard melody, every drum beat, just burrows into your brain and infects you like a virus. I kept coming back for more, re-listening to it again and again and again because I just couldn’t get enough of the addictive sound this record provides. Don’t let the frankly terrible cover art fool you. This album knows exactly what it wants to do and accomplishes it in spades. I can scarcely think of a black metal record that has invigorated this much energy and magnificence in me in recent memory, and for that reason Bloody Keep managed to craft what has easily become one of my favourite records of 2024 so far.

Death

Paratomb are a four piece death metal band who hail from Charlottetown on Prince Edward Island. Their first EP, while great, felt a little too adjacent to groove metal to really hook me in, especially in the vocal performance. With this new EP, however, Paratomb have absolutely outdone themselves. For one, the production here is immensely improved, sounding much more akin to old school death metal and first wave black metal instead of the more modern sound their debut EP had. Secondly the songwriting and musicianship on display has obviously matured. The songs sound way tighter and contain much more dynamism than their first effort. Paratomb had already made me a fan by virtue of being a band playing this kind of extreme music from such an isolated place, but with this new EP they’ve made me excited for whatever they’re going to get up to next.

Doom

This record almost squeaked by me at the end of 2023 and I’m glad I checked it out because it wound up making my best of list at the end of the year. I would describe this record as being an album for people who thought Ghost’s first album was great but couldn’t really vibe with everything else they did after. It’s occult-themed doom metal with a flair for the theatrical, combining huge, epic Hammond organ instrumentation with fantastic riffs and incredibly infectious vocals. Every song on this thing is a certified banger (in my opinion), chronicling the bizarre world of Albion occultism through a series of heavy, melancholy, and ultimately just mercilessly fun tracks. If any of what I’ve said sounds like this album might peak your fancy then you owe it to yourself to check this one out. It’s mesmerizing and I’ve found myself coming back to it time and time again.

Prog

The Greek band Naxatras has some of the best album art in the psychedelic rock genre, as evidenced by the absolutely badass and glorious cover art for IV, their fourth full length record. Naxatras’ music kind of falls somewhere in between the worlds of psychedelic rock, stoner rock, and progressive rock, all of which converge to create a sound that is spacious, atmospheric, and grandiose, like I’m on a hotboxed spaceship slowly cruising through the farthest reaches of the galaxy. If the phrase “far out” was an album, this would be it. The raucous drums and chunky yet sublime riffing are joined only occasionally by the vocals, which remain largely in the background, taking a back seat to the instrumentals which are front and center, in your face, ready to make you feel like you’re about to lift off into orbit, never to return.

Punk

This Montreal trio have been buds of mine for a long time, and if you think I’m gonna not shout them out just because they’re my friends well, that’s where your wrong. Skate punk has never really been my thing. It’s a genre that has always kind of turned me off with its whiny vocal approach and saccharine instrumentation, but Stand Alone have never quite fit that mould in my opinion. They’re unapologetically fast, ripping through these songs with intensity and an ability to write really catchy hooks. With drums that careen forth, unstoppable, and an attitude full of piss and vinegar and shouty vocals that are both raspy and melodic, Stand Alone definitely stands apart from the rest of the skate punk outfits I’ve personally been exposed to in Montreal. They’re a lot of fun, and if you ever get a chance to see them live I recommend you do it.

Thrash

With an introductory track that opens with a blistering double bass assault you should have an idea of what you’re in for with this sophomore effort from Japanese black thrashers Evil (appropriate name). This album pulls no punches as it seeks to accomplish its only goal: complete and total sonic destruction and the pillaging of the corridors of thought inside your mind. This stuff is unapologetically evil, brash, and violent, fitting in rather well with the early pioneers of extreme metal who sought to kick the already blazing tempo of thrash metal up a notch. Notes of Sodom and Kreator adorn this album as much as the more rock n’ roll adjacent outfits like Judas Priest and the even more raucous first wave black metal acts like Bathory and Hellhammer. If any of those bands are up your alley then this record is definitely for you. It shocked me with its quality and I hope it does the same for you.

Trad

Leather Heart – *Comeback*
**October 1st, 2015**
**Heavy Metal**
**The Fish Factory**
**Madrid, Spain**
**Standout Song:** “The Crow”

I’ve definitely recommended this album in the past when this segment was a bit more of a regular feature on the blog, but it bears repeating because this record is a complete and total masterpiece. Whenever anyone brings up the genre of traditional heavy metal or the modern NWOTHM movement I am always quick to tell them about this album. It’s a masterpiece of classic heavy metal revivalism that combines all the best tropes of the genre into one explosive cocktail of perfected, glistening steel. This is the only album that Leather Heart ever released and, to my knowledge, they’re not really doing much these days. The irony of the record being called Comeback is not lost on me, but don’t let the cliche album art and self-referential nature of the record’s title dissuade you. Every song contained within here is a brilliant piece that so perfectly encapsulates everything great about this genre.

Non-Metal

Antoine Dufour – *Development*
**2006**
**Acoustic Fingerstyle / Progressive Folk**
**CandyRat Records**
**Montreal, Quebec, Canada**
**Standout Song:** “Spiritual Grove”

The first time I heard “Spiritual Grove” by Antoine Dufour I would’ve been in high school and I remember very vividly being completely shocked that an acoustic guitar could sound like this. Dufour is an undeniably talented and skilled guitarist for whom the acoustic guitar feels more like an extension of his person than just an instrument that he picks up and plays. Far from the typical sounds of acoustic-centric folk music, Dufour adds a technically complex edge to his playing by approaching the acoustic guitar with the fingerstyle method of playing, plucking strings with pitch perfect accuracy. This approach to folk is somewhat progressive and even jazzy at times as the playing manoeuvres through different movements, never slowing down, always rolling forward to the next segment, ready to dazzle you with the beauty found within the complexity.

~ Akhenaten

The Scrolls of Akhenaten: March 29th, 2024

March 29, 2024March 24, 2024 / Akhenaten / 1 Comment

Welcome back, dear readers, to The Scrolls of Akhenaten, the weekly segment in which I, your titular host, deliver unto you recommendations of brazen, heavy, and aggressive music spanning across seven different sub-genres, as well as one non-metal recommendation for those of you who don’t like to bludgeon your ear drums into pulp on the regular (but who am I kidding, we all do that all the time anyways, right?) Read on, and consider giving some of these albums, both old and new, a listen. Perhaps you’ve already heard of them? Well, in that case, why not consider a re-visit?

Black

Cropping up right at the tail end of last year, this record almost squeaked right by me. When I saw the frankly beautiful album art though I knew I’d have to give it a shot, and I’m so glad that I did because this album rules. It isn’t pure black metal, but neither is it pure death metal, resting somewhere in between, both genres in pure harmony with one another. This album contains a great deal of symphonic elements but never do they feel unwelcome or overbearing as they so often do in the midst of other projects that attempt this sound. It feels rather like an addition to the metal rather than forcing the guitars to take a back seat. Speaking of guitars, the riffs on this thing? God damn. They’re glorious. If you’re a fan of old school melodic black metal like Dissection or even folksy melodeath bands like Wintersun then this record is absolutely for you, though perhaps is significantly darker in tone than the latter.

Death

If the album art and logo are anything to go by then you’ve probably already got an idea of what you’re getting into with this record. I first became aware of Concrete Caveman when my own band was booked on a bill with them during a tour last year that brought us to Philadelphia, and woah did they ever blow my mind. Easily one of my favourite bands that we shared the stage with during that run, they were energetic, violent, brutal, charismatic, and ultimately just a hell of a lot of fun. Musically the ape-like creature on the cover art is a pretty accurate depiction of what you should expect from this thing: utterly heavy and ignorant, knuckle-dragging riffs with a bit of a grindy, punk-adjacent edge that gives them the extra oomph to stand out in the crowd. Every riff, every guttural vocal, every scream, every pulverizing punch of the drums, feels like getting smacked upside the head with an iron shovel. Brutal.

Doom

Eschewing the standards laid down by the godfathers of rock n’ roll, Montreal’s Seum forgo the typical addition of an electric guitar in their mix, relying solely on the smooth tones of a fuzzed-out bass guitar to provide their bombastic, heavy riffs and catchy songwriting throughout this sophomore effort from the trio. While all three of the band’s members, Gaspard, Piotr, and Fred, originally hail from France, they have settled in nicely to life in Canada, a fact which comes across in their music. Both their first record, Winterized, and this 2023 follow-up, contain references to Canadian culture, as well as the culture of Montreal specifically both in the music itself as well as their artistic direction. Outside of that though, I cannot emphasize just how gosh darned catchy their music is. For a band who relies exclusively on the bass to lay down the foundation of their sound, they absolutely crush every track on this record.

Prog

This album sort of came out of nowhere for me when I was first recommended it by somebody on the metal side of Twitter. The second full length effort from Australian multi-instrumentalist and solo musician Charlie Park, Divine Laughter is a monumental slab of progressive and technical death metal that occasionally straddles the line between death metal and post metal. It feels like their are equal shades of both Cynic and Isis at war with one another behind the Jackson Pollock-esque cover painting that represents the chaos contained within this record. I’ve always had a bone to pick with tech death as a genre for so many bands having a stunning lack of ability to write memorable parts. Cave Sermon does the opposite. This record, for all its disharmonic, atonal, experimentation, has so many riffs that stand out and get stuck in your head. It’s not exactly an easy listen, but every time I go through it I find something new to love.

Punk

Around the same time that I was getting into Devil Master (2018/19, shoutout to Adam Giles for that life changing recommendation) I was also put onto a few other bands from the New England metalpunk world, Zorn being among them. Their brand of sci-fi and horror-themed metalpunk was instantly addictive, to the point that when their first full length record came out I played it almost on repeat for months. Little did I know that my own band would get a chance to open for them not long afterwards. Seeing these guys live was an unforgettable experience, but even so I still come back to this album time after time. Nothing else really scratches the itch for this type of blackened punk that has ridiculously shreddy guitars, quick and to the point, no-nonsense song structures, and vocals that sound like an unhinged madman just going brazenly feral on the mic. This was easily one of my favourite records of 2023 and it should be yours too.

Thrash

Montreal is a city that has long been known for the cornucopia of progressive and technical extreme metal bands that have emerged from it, to say nothing of being the home of legendary prog-thrashers Voivod who originated from neighbouring Jonquière. Dissimulator are the latest in this long tradition of Quebec prog and tech metal, though they’ve taken a noticeably thrashier edge than some of their contemporaries. Evoking comparisons to other tech-thrashers like Vektor and Watchtower, Dissumulator absolutely floored me with this debut record of theirs, which only dropped in January of this year. When looking at the body of work from the various members of this band, which includes such lauded acts as Chthe’ilist, Beyond Creation, First Fragment, Worm, and Phobocosm, it should come as no surprise that the music here is made by musicians at the top of their craft, combined with a catchy edge.

Trad

Forged by Melissa Moore following her departure from the black metal band Absu, Sonja is a significant departure from her work in the previous band, but one that is completely and totally welcome. Loud Arriver feels like the perfect mixture of old school heavy metal with goth rock, twisting the heavy, fist-pumping awesomeness of the former with the moody brooding atmosphere of the latter to forge a sound that is, in my opinion, wholly unique within the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal movement. The second I heard the first single from this record, “Nylon Nights”, I was immediately hooked and have not looked back since. This album is filled to the brim with absurdly catchy hooks, brilliant melodies, and an infectiousness that I just can’t shake. Everything about this album just kicks fucking ass. I literally get goosebumps when listening to it sometimes. If that isn’t enough to get you to check it out, I don’t know what is.

Non-Metal

Holy Locust – *Beneath the Turning Wheel*
**June 17th, 2023**
**Folk Punk / Gothic Country / Dark Folk**
**Flail Records**
**USA**
**Standout Song:** “Dead Wake”

I have long been a disliker of folk punk. The vast majority of the stuff I’ve heard from the genre did not appeal to me in any way, leaving me longing to either never hear the genre again or to hear something that would truly catch my ears. Enter Holy Locust. While not the first folk punk band I’ve found myself enjoying in recent years, they are the most recent that I’ve been put onto, and I can confirm that they absolutely rule. This newest album of theirs is an incredible piece of modern folk music that, unlike most of the folk punk I’ve heard, is incredibly dark and mournful, brooding in its apocalyptic misery and commands that you take it seriously. It’s less of a folk punk record and more of a proper folk album, in my opinion, drawing upon the same sort of dark, gothic atmosphere as a band like Wovenhand, who I’ve shared in this segment before. If you’ve got a hankering for banjos, accordions and fiddles, this may be the album for you.

~ Akhenaten

The Scrolls of Akhenaten: March 15th, 2024

March 15, 2024March 14, 2024 / Akhenaten / 1 Comment

*“Ever thus from the sands of time, I return, with pestilence and famine bequeathed to all.”*

Ages ago I used to do a segment on this blog called The Scrolls of Akhenaten in which I would recommend a series of albums or EPs from different genres of heavy and extreme music that aren’t from Newfoundland and Labrador. I did this simply in an effort to spread awareness of other music that I really like and to hopefully put some people on to artists they’ve never heard of. This concept was also inspired by one of our former contributors, Jonathan Simms, aka Abraxas the Reclaimer, who did a similar segment under the title of The Abraxas Decree.

All that said, I’ve decided to bring this segment back in an effort to continue spreading the good word about awesome music and also to diversify the kind of content that our readers have become used to on this blog. I would like to try to do this segment on a weekly basis, ever Friday, but for now we’re starting off with just one. The way it’s going to work is that each entry in this column will be from a different genre of heavy music, including: black metal, death metal, doom metal, prog, punk, thrash metal, traditional heavy metal, and one non-metal release as a palette cleanser.

Ergo, welcome to the resurrection of The Scrolls of Akhenaten! I hope you enjoy reading these as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Black

Some of you may already be aware of Skumstrike due to the band’s association with Profane Order and Spectral Wound, both of whom share an association with Newfoundland through their shared band member Illusory. Skumstrike is the primary project of L.A. who formed the band with Serpent Corpse drummer Z.S. Based purely on the cover art and logo alone you should already have an idea of what the music on this thing sounds like. It is unrepentant, unrelenting blackened speed metal the likes of which I haven’t truly heard before. That said if you’ve ever perused the wares of underground labels like Hells Headbangers or the band’s current home at Caligari Records then you know that what they provide is quality. This album is liable to rip your head clean off your shoulders with wretched vocals, savage riffage, and an unforgiving percussive assault from behind the kit. Raw!

Death

Speaking of Serpent Corpse, why don’t we bring them up for the death metal segment this week? These guys have fast grown into one of Montreal’s premiere old school death metal revivalist acts. While the city may primarily be known for the more technical variety of extreme metal, Serpent Corpse are at the forefront of the movement to revive the sounds of classic 80’s death metal spearheaded by bands like Obituary and Morbid Angel, and they do a damned good job of it too! There’s no bullshit to be found here. This whole album is just riff after riff after riff on top of groovy drums from Skumstrike’s own Z.S. While I would question a band’s decision to name one of their own original songs “Electric Eye” when one of the most famous metal songs ever written shares that title, it doesn’t get in the way of the quality meat n’ potatoes brutality that goes on beyond the album cover.

Doom

I was first introduced to this band by a partner of mine who is a fan of one of the folk projects that the group’s violinist and vocalist Laura C. Bates worked on. Taking one look through Bates’ page on Metal Archives and its clear that she’s got some serious chops, having worked with other names in the metal world that may be familiar to you such as Blood Ceremony, Witchrot, and Thantifaxath. In listening to this band however we’re gifted a much more somber, brooding, and atmospheric helping of melancholy doom that feels heavily inspired by nature and fantasy. If anyone is old enough to remember when the Saskatchewan band Black Tremor made the trek to St. John’s for a show at CBTG’s back in 2016, well, this band sounds like them but way more intense and with more of a focus on vocals. Völur may not be the first band to incorporate violin in their doom, but they do it damn well.

Prog

This kind of record really isn’t for everybody. It’s mixture of progressive rock elements with aspects of pop music, alternative rock, funk, and avant-garde music could certainly be off-putting to people whose taste leans more towards the heavy and extreme. That said if you’re willing to give this record a shot you could be pleasantly surprised. I know I was. Perhaps it’s the theater kid in me that loves the ostentatious presentation and the theatrical grandeur this record provides but god damn do I ever love it. When it comes to the genre of “nu prog”, which is crowned by artists like Coheed and Cambria, a lot of it can be hit or miss with me. Closure in Moscow manage to be one of the best groups in the genre simply for their musical acumen and their ability to craft absurdly catchy tunes through an experimental haze and willingness to genre-bend. Let yourself love the poppy hooks that its full of.

Punk

The Montreal hardcore scene, much like that of Newfoundland’s, has exploded in the post-pandemic world. There have been so many new bands that have emerged in the scene lately that it’s been hard to keep track sometimes. That said, with the cornucopia of new groups that pop up, some of them are bound to rise to the top. Enter Glowing Orb. These guys are easily one of the most ferocious and aggressive punk bands in Montreal, at least when it comes to their music and their live shows. If you ever get a chance to see them live, do it. You will not regret it. As for their recorded material, they’ve got a demo and a split, and then this most recent release, Subterranean Prison, which, in my opinion, contains their best tracks yet. Listen to the song “Line Goes Up” and tell me you don’t want to scream along with that chorus in the live setting. Heavy, relentless, and full of piss n’ vinegar.

Thrash

Have you ever heard of pizza thrash? If you have there are probably a few bands that come to mind with the name. Municipal Waste and Iron Reagan are up there. D.R.I. perhaps. Well, allow me to introduce you to the pinnacle of this so-called sub-genre. The creme de la creme, folks. Pizza Death. This band sings exclusively about pizza, death, and death by pizza. It doesn’t get any more laser-focused than this. Normally I’d roll my eyes at such a concept, but if I’m being honest, this album absolutely fucking rips. The band has released more music since this one but this is the album that I always come back to. It’s a glorious mishmash of crossover, thrash metal, hardcore punk, and fastcore that intersperses absolutely nuclear riffs, unrelenting drums, and vicious vocals with a sprinkling of samples of various characters from pop culture talking about pizza. It’s as hilarious as it is utterly gnarly. It makes me want to shred a half-pipe while holding a pizza box in one hand and a PBR in the other.

Trad

Do you ever long for the glory days of heavy metal? Back when the music was real? Like the 70’s? Nah, like the early 70’s? Well, yearn no further my fellow appreciator of the old school sounds. Your search ends here. New York’s Tower are perhaps the most impeccable example of the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal that I have been seeking. Other groups like Leather Heart will always have my, well… my heart, but Tower does this style with an unmatched pizazz that I have yet to encounter in my endless sifting through this sub-genre and movement. Whether it’s vocalist Sarabeth Lindon’s incredibly powerful and expressive voice, or the glorious riffs, or the creative, energetic, and commanding drumming, this album has everything that an old head could ever ask for. To match that, I saw this band live back in 2023 at Foufounes Electriques in Montreal and they ruled that stage like true professionals. I can’t speak highly enough of this album and this band.

Non-Metal

Wovenhand – *Ten Stones*
**September 11th, 2008**
**Alternative Country / Goth Rock**
**Glitterhouse Records**
**Denver, Colorado, USA**
**Standout Song:** “The Beautiful Axe”

I have been a long time fan of Wovenhand, the band led by singer-songwriter David Eugene Edwards. The group’s atypical approach to the country genre that they have often found themselves lumped in with immediately caught my ears the first time I decided to check them out, with their record Consider the Birds. However, throughout their discography, it was this album, Ten Stones, that really solidified itself as my personal favourite. Combining elements of country music and Americana folk with the darkness of goth rock and the Southern Gothic aesthetic makes this album a must-listen for fans of any of the musical genres or aesthetics I just listed off. It is gorgeous, emotionally gripping, and darkly unsettling. No doubt this record appeals to metalheads in part because it is heavy, but without an overt reliance on distorted electric guitars. Rather it feels heavy in the same way a pregnant rain cloud feels heavy. There’s a certain atmosphere here, a darkness that cannot be described.

~ Akhenaten

2023 in Review

February 7, 2024February 3, 2024 / Akhenaten / Leave a comment

2023 has been over for a little over a month now so I think it’s time we took stock of all the cool stuff and not so cool stuff that happened over the course of the last year. Let’s dive in!

This year was another rough year for businesses as both Bar None and The Abbey were forced to shut down, nixing two venues for live music and other events from the underground music community in St. John’s. Aside from that, things got rougher as members of the music community mourned the loss of Will Hapgood, the owner of The Deck who passed away suddenly earlier in 2023. His loss sent shockwaves throughout the community and resulted in an enormous show happening at the Bowring Park Amphitheater to celebrate his life and memory.

An absurd amount of new music was released throughout the year, perhaps more so than any year prior since I’ve been involved in this scene. A slew of new records from bands like The Skeats and Category VI were joined by a cavalcade of EPs from the continuously exploding hardcore punk crowd that seems to churn out new bands at the same frequency that rabbits reproduce.

There were also a ton of mainlander bands who came through Corner Brook and St. John’s this year, including Montreal black metal bands Akitsa and Infernach, Halifax d-beat warriors Black Dog, long time Newfoundland expats Brutal Youth, Montreal hardcore group Deadbolt, New Brunswick stoner punks Diner Drugs, Montreal death metal power trio Obelisk, Toronto thrashers Ammo and Californian NWOTHM upstarts Night Demon, as well as Halifax deathcore ensemble Pale Ache. For a province that sees precious few touring acts pulling through, this past year was exceptionally great.

We also held the very first edition of the Heavy NFLD Fest this past year! This was something that was a long time coming, and has always been my ultimate goal for this project, so finally seeing it come to fruition was a triumph. We’re hoping to do it again this year so stay tuned for Heavy NFLD Fest Vol. II!

Here’s hoping that this year brings with it more good news and less of the bad. Here’s to a kickass 2024.

Biggest Stories
– Bar None Closes Its Doors
– Big Space Win Jazz Recording of the Year at the ECMAs
– Da Slyme Wins Music NL ‘Loud Artist of the Year’ Award
– The Deck Renamed to Pavlov’s Electric Verandah
– Friends Hold Raffle for Sheavy Frontman Steve Hennessey’s Recovery Following Cancer Diagnosis
– Grenadier Release Trumpets Blare in Blazing Glory on Vinyl
– Heavy NFLD Fest Vol. I
– Ken Power Tattoo Company Reopens at New Location
– Lawnya Vawnya 13 Announces Lineup
– Madison Strip Calls it Quits
– Memorial Show for Will Hapgood to Happen at Bowring Park Amphitheater July 9th
– Precious Blood Announce 2023 Maritimes Tour
– Precious Blood and Da Slyme Nominated for Music NL Loud Artist of the Year
– R.I.P. Will Hapgood
– Stanley’s Pub Now Hosting Heavy Metal Karaoke Nights
– Triskelyon Signs to Moribund Records
– Triskelyon Resigns to Moribund Records in Two-Album Deal
– Yes, Officer Signs to Scilly Cove Records

Come from Aways
– Akitsa and Ifernach to Perform at The Rockhouse in September with Grole and Grenadier
– Black Dog (HFX) to Play at First Light CPAC on July 15th
– Brutal Youth to Return to the Rock for Two Shows in August
– Deadbolt to Play The Rockhouse & First Light CPAC on September 8th and 9th
– Diner Drugs to Play The Deck and The Abbey on May 12th and 13th
– Mistwalker and Øbelisk Announce 2023 Tour with Shows in St. John’s, Corner Brook, and Glovertown
– Night Demon and Ammo to Perform at the Bella Vista Events Venue on August 25th
– Pale Ache Announce Fall Tour Including Multiple Dates in Corner Brook and St. John’s
– Slaughter, Quiet Riot, and Great White to Perform at Iceberg Alley Performance Tent 2023

New LPs Released
– 6000apez – January 12
– Beereaucracy – Beereaucracy
– Beereaucracy / Catshit – Split
– Brutal Youth – Rebuilding Year
– C.A.R.E. – Creating a Righteous Energy
– Category VI – Firecry
– Chris McGee – The Strange Ritual of the Golden-Faced Man
– Count Cromulent – Thrillhouse
– Desperta – Desperta
– Falter – Salt in the Soil
– First Frost – It’s Dangerous to Go Alone
– Lithops – ((BendeR))
– Mike Fisher – Diary of a Psychic Vampire
– Mistwalker – Oceanic Heritage
– Mistwalker – Under the Fallen Sky: 10 Years in the Mist
– Needle Crafts – Frow’d Up
– Neko Suicide – Bound by Chains and Ripped in Half
– Neko Suicide – Midtown
– Neko Suicide – St. Georges, Hell 3:00 AM
– Nfrared – Under the Stairs
– The Skeats – The Skeats IV
– Triskelyon – Artificial Insanity
– WXO – Waxsongs
– Zack St. John’s – Prince of Fogtown
– Zackary Anderson – Graveyard Filled with Snow

New EPs Released
– 6000apez – Farmlife
– 6000apez – Glauchoma!
– 6000apez – Mule Touch
– Adam Sharr – To the Woods
– A Body Without Organs – Broken Terminal III: Milk Blood
– Bog Rot – Sex, Drugs, Bog N’ Roll
– Canvas – Down Horrendous
– Carnage – Free at Last
– Cerebral Palsy – Seas of Bloody Mist
– Chimp Apparatus – Sober
– compareyourself – Mary and the Misanthropic Buzzard
– Cortex Strikes Back – Cortex Strikes Back
– The Crevice – 11th Hour / Valley of Flies
– Foundation Chain – Sanrio-core
– Fucked to Death – The Penile Code
– Glitterglue – Friends Club
– Jaded Truth – Bitter
– Knarl – Bad Luck
– Lil Dirtbag – It’s Been Too Real
– Love Letters to Lewis – Letter One: Vemödalen
– Mistwalker – Pumpkinsmasher
– Mistwalker – War on Christmas
– Neko Suicide – Cross
– Ninth Quarter – Below Knee
– Nuclear Casket – Irascible
– Of Wilds – A Ghost at the Strid
– The Order of the Precious Blood – I No Longer Wish for Salvation
– Pouch Dweller – Goes to the Movies
– Ratpiss – Misanthropy Now!
– Roach Smoking Buddies – Roach Smoking Christmas
– Sex Hole – Kill or Be Killed
– Shit Dildo – Odes to the Fecal Phallus
– Skreeched In – Skreeched In
– Smoke Signals – Send Me Flowers While I’m Still Here
– Sons of an Eastern Moon – Borealis
– Winterhearth – Beyond the Frosted Graves
– Winterhearth – Rape of Eden
– Wiremouth – EP2
– WXO – Albert Rolling Down the Magical Infinite Hill

New Singles Released
– Amer Ali – “Face in the Clouds”
– Amer Ali – “Forever”
– Amer Ali – “Never Say I Don’t Care”
– Artach – “Black Metal Drummer Boy”
– Artach – “Hell on Halloween”
– Bonewing – Assorted Singles
– Category VI – “Firecry”
– Cerebral Palsy – Assorted Singles
– Chimp Apparatus – “Garfield”
– Choplicker – “Brigandine”
– Choplicker – “Heliouroboros”
– CR – “Last Address”
– Dendron – “The Glass Spire Redux”
– Disposition – “Decomposed”
– Disposition – “Slow Haze”
– Drop Your Trust – “Hacked”
– Drop Your Trust – “Think for Yourself”
– Elder Caius – “Alien Space Bats” / “From Below”
– Elder Caius – “Kailash, When It Rises”
– Everose – “Flourish”
– Ex Press – “The Island”
– Guntmold – “Menstrual Shark”
– Guntmold – “Munging”
– Guntmold – “You Suffer” [Napalm Death Cover]
– Homesick N’ Wanderlust – “When I Grow Up”
– Jaded Truth – “Bottom of the Bottle”
– Jaded Truth – “Samsquanch”
– Jaded Truth – “The Shake-Up”
– Last Cigar – “Pitchforks”
– Love Letters to Lewis – “I, the End”
– Needle Crafts – “Worried Sick”
– Neko Suicide – “2015”
– Nemophilist – “Aurora”
– Nemophilist – “Failure, Goodbyes. Isolation”
– Nemophilist – “Put Me on a Ship That is Sinking”
– Nemophilist – “Tragedy and Loss Never Known”
– Nerve Shack – “Ash”
– Nerve Shack – “Forever in Your Lie”
– Nerve Shack – “Yellow Teeth”
– Nfrared – “Betrayed for the Better”
– Nfrared – “Innocent Criminal”
– Nfrared – “Piece of Mind”
– The Order of the Precious Blood – “Suffer and Die”
– Qyn – “Ideologue”
– Rot – “Rupture” / “Delight”
– Sex Hole – “Stay Out of My Way”
– The Skeats – “Fine Wine”
– The Skeats – “Torch”
– The Skeats – “Twitch”
– So Violento – “Elegia Moderna”
– Sought – “Samqwan”
– Sought – “Valorous Asinus”
– This Day – “Euphoric State”
– Triskelyon – “Visionaires”
– Vertebraeker – “Buried Again”
– Winterhearth – “Winter Punks”
– WXO – “A.I. Instincts”

New Demos Released
– 6000apez – The Consequential Mudhole
– Bazooka – Demo 2022
– Beereaucracy – Vote for Us
– Blender – D03s 1t Bl3nd?
– Choplicker – Rollercrisis
– Disciplinary Action – Floor Demo 2023
– Doberman – Shed Demo ’23
– Glitterglue – Shed Demo ’23
– Guntmold – Guntmold
– Kicker – Kicker Demo
– Kris Butt – Old Path Demos
– Life Jolt – Floor Demo ’23
– Malpractice – We Don’t Go to Church
– Nerve Shack – Sheep Kill
– Paranoia – Paranoia
– Vehement Slaughter – Demo
– Vomit Denial – Demo ’23
– Wannabe Erudite – Remembered Demos
– Winterhearth – The Rehearsal Session

New Compilations Released
– Aeria – The Deadman Collection

New Live Albums Released
– Defense Force – Live Like Death
– Killer9000 – Live at The Deck 02/11/23
– Malpractice – Live June ’89
– Smoke Signals – Live at The Rockhouse 01/28/23

New Music Videos Released
– Artach – “Hell on Halloween”
– Beereaucracy – “Beerboarded”
– Category VI – “Coven”
– Category VI – “Valkyrie”
– Hakapik – “Don’t Make Me Laugh”
– Jaded Truth – “Bottom of the Bottle”
– Jaded Truth – “Riders”
– Jaded Truth – “The Shake-Up”
– Jaded Truth – “Worthless Meek”
– Nerve Shack – “Forever in Your Lie”
– Nerve Shack – “Yellow Teeth”
– The Order of the Precious Blood – “Bastard! Rejoice!” [Live]
– The Order of the Precious Blood – “X You Out”

Album Announcements
– Artach – Untitled New LP
– Bog Rot – Untitled New EP
– Da Slyme – If There’s No Rubble, You Haven’t Played!
– Grole – Untitled New LP
– Guntmold – Blackened Infection
– The Hellfire Club – Volume III
– Jaded Truth – Bitter
– Mistwalker – Oceanic Heritage
– Nocturnal Prayer / Funeral Fullmoon – Disciples of the Moonlight Worship
– The Order of the Precious Blood – I No Longer Wish for Salvation
– Qyn – Untitled New Release
– Riproar – Untitled New Release
– The Skeats – The Skeats IV
– Smoke Signals – Send Me Flowers While I’m Still Here
– Triskelyon – Artificial Insanity
– Wendigo – Untitled New Release
– Winterhearth – Rape of Eden
– Yes, Officer – Untitled New LP

Live Sets Filmed
– Bazooka – Live Set @ Peter Easton Pub – December 23rd, 2022
– Defense Force – Live Set @ The Dank Basement – August 17th, 2023
– Dendron – Live Set @ The Rockhouse – August 19th, 2023
– Everose – Live Set @ The Rockhouse – August 18th, 2023
– InfectDead – Live Set @ The Rockhouse – August 18th, 2023
– Jaded Truth – Live Set @ The Rockhouse – August 19th, 2023
– Kaspam Cult – Live Set @ Gower Street United Church – August 19th, 2023
– The Mill – Live Set @ The Corner Pocket – August 16th, 2023
– Mistwalker – Live Set @ The Dank Basement – August 17th, 2023
– Mistwalker – Live Set @ The Rockhouse – August 18th, 2023
– Mistwalker – Live Set @ The Rockhouse – August 19th, 2023
– Needle Crafts – Live Set @ Peter Easton Pub – December 23rd, 2022
– Obelisk – Live Set @ The Corner Pocket – August 16th, 2023
– October Wasp – Live Set @ The Corner Pocket – August 16th, 2023
– Shit Dildo – Live Set @ The Dank Basement – August 17th, 2023
– Sick Puppy – Live Set @ Peter Easton Pub – December 23rd, 2022
– The Skeats – Live Set @ The Rockhouse – August 19th, 2023
– Tunnel Vision – Live Set @ Peter Easton Pub – December 23rd, 2022
– Wretched Fiend – Live Set @ The Dank Basement – August 17th, 2023

New Merch Drops
– Artach Reveal New T-Shirts
– Everose Reveal New Patches
– Fog Coffin Reveals New Pins
– Fog Coffin Reveals New Stickers
– Grole Reveals New Hoodies
– Grole Reveals New T-Shirts
– Guntmold Reveals New Stickers
– Heavy Metal Karaoke Reveals New Stickers and Pins
– Metaphora Reveal New T-Shirts + Other Merch
– Mir Reveals New T-Shirts
– The Order of the Precious Blood Reveal New T-Shirts
– Ratpiss Reveal New Black on White Patches
– Ratpiss Reveal New White on Black Patches
– Sea Shanty Studios Now Offering Patch Services
– The Skeats Reveal New Hats
– Skreeched In Reveal New Patches
– Smoke Signals Reveal New Circular Patches
– Winterhearth Reveal New Diamond Patches

Album Reviews
– Category VI – Firecry [by Akhenaten]
– Count Cromulent – Thrillhouse [by Akhenaten]
– Dead Inner Youth – Dead Inner Youth [by Stephen]
– Jaded Truth – Take a Seat [by Akhenaten]
– Triskelyon – Triskelyon [by Akhenaten]
– Vertebraeker – Spinal Sword [by Akhenaten]

EP Reviews
– Bog Rot – Sex, Drugs, Bog N’ Roll [by Akhenaten]
– Chimp Apparatus – Sober [by Akhenaten]
– The Crevice – 11th Hour / Valley of Flies [by Akhenaten]
– Glitterglue – Friends Club [by Akhenaten]
– Foundation Chain – Sanrio-core [by Akhenaten]
– The Order of the Precious Blood – I No Longer Wish for Salvation [by Akhenaten]
– Ratpiss – Misanthropy Now! [by James Titford]
– Ratpiss – Vermin Urine [by James Titford]
– Sick Puppy – Haunt the Hill [by Stephen]
– Skreeched In – Skreeched In [by Akhenaten]
– Sons of an Eastern Moon – Borealis [by Akhenaten]
– Winterhearth – Rape of Eden [by Akhenaten]

We also released twelve new episodes of the Heavy NFLD Official Podcast this past year. We did our typical installments such as the RPM Re-Cap in March, Heavy Halloween in October, and Merry Fucking Solstice in December, but we also had genre-specific episodes focusing on grindcore, hard rock, hardcore, and grunge. Other episode topics included focuses on metal and punk from Prince Edward Island, a smattering of new metal and punk released in Newfoundland and Labrador over the past year, bands who have come to Newfoundland from elsewhere in recent years, a re-cap of artists that my own band played with during the Atlantic Annihilation Tour, and a re-cap of the bands who played this past year’s installment of Heavy NFLD Fest. You can listen to all these and more on the Heavy NFLD Bandcamp which will be linked down below.

2023 Podcast Episodes
– Episode 050: January 2023 – Newfoundgrind
– Episode 051: February 2023 – Hard Rock from the Rock
– Episode 052: March 2023 – The RPM Re-Cap MMXXIII
– Episode 053: April 2023 – NLxHC
– Episode 054: May 2023 – P.E.I. Punx
– Episode 055: June 2023 – New Metal from Newfoundland
– Episode 056: July 2023 – Come From Away
– Episode 057: August 2023 – The Atlantic Annihilation Tour Re-Cap
– Episode 058: September 2023 – Heavy NFLD Fest Vol. I Re-Cap
– Episode 059: October 2023 – Heavy Halloween
– Episode 060: November 2023 – Newfoundgrunge
– Episode 061: December 2023 – Merry Fucking Solstice IV

~ Akhenaten

EP Review: Sons of an Eastern Moon – Borealis

December 27, 2023 / Akhenaten / 1 Comment

Sons of an Eastern Moon – Borealis
August 24th, 2023
Melodic Death Metal / Folk Metal
Independently Released / Earache Digital Distribution
St. John’s, Newfoundland

Several years after the release of the band’s debut full length record, L’Anse Aux Metals, along with a lineup change that saw Alex Wells taking the seat behind the drum set, we’ve finally been graced with a new release from Newfoundland’s only folk metal group, Sons of an Eastern Moon. The long-awaited Borealis was released earlier this year and features three tracks, a decidedly smaller offering than I otherwise would’ve liked, but hey, at least it’s an offering nonetheless.

The EP opens with some acoustic guitar passages on “Final Light”, a track which serves primarily as a simple introduction to the other two songs on Borealis. Interestingly, the acoustics are accompanied by some symphonic elements in the background, which is a nice touch to the overall sound of this brief piece.

From there we go to “Nightfall” and “Warriors” which feature the same kind of kickass melodic riffage we’ve come to expect from guitarist duo Cory Fagan and John N. Roach as well as bassist Rob J. Peyton. The riffs here, much like on their debut draw influence from the greats of the Viking metal genre, such as Amon Amarth and Ensiferum, though there’s also a noticeable tinge of NWOTHM-style riffing that helps this Newfoundland quintet stand apart from their contemporaries.

The vocals from Thor “Spooky” Odinson, have often been a point of contention for this band’s style, as most people who hear of them expect a more guttural approach akin to Johan Hegg. Here, however, Odinson chooses to scream in a high pitched falsetto that has always reminded me of Cam Pipes from 3 Inches of Blood. It’s certainly unique and I, for one, enjoy it immensely. I’ve always been a defender of this creative choice from Sons, and it’s no different on this EP. It’s cool to hear a few brief moments of harsher vocals show up across this recording, however.

Alex Wells was also a great choice to fill the role of percussionist here. His drumming is fast, tasteful and lively. Every section of these songs has exactly the kind of drum beat it needs. He’s precise and tight, and even throws a few curveballs through his use of accents on the hi-hat cymbal or slower beats over fast double bass sections. There’s a spring in his step, if you will, with regards to the tempo, and helps make both “Nightfall” and “Warriors” a bit jaunty to listen to.

This is a fantastic EP from Sons of an Eastern Moon. My primary complaint is that it’s just too damn short. I really hope the band is able to pull it together for another full length release in the future because this thing took way too long to get released and ultimately feels a little underwhelming since it’s only three songs, one of which is just a minute-long intro. That said, the two full tracks that are offered here are excellent, and a great continuation of the style established on L’Anse Aux Metals. I personally can’t wait for more music from Sons of an Eastern Moon.

Final Verdict: 4/5
Awesome

Favourite Tracks:
“Nightfall”
“Warriors”

For Fans of:
Amon Amarth
3 Inches of Blood
At the Gates

Album Review: Category VI – Firecry

November 6, 2023November 6, 2023 / Akhenaten / 1 Comment

Category VI – Firecry
March 24th, 2023
Power Metal
Moribund Records
St. John’s, Newfoundland

One of Newfoundland’s longest running metal outfits, Category VI has been involved in the local metal community since at least the release of their very first demo, Vinland, way back in 2011. Over 10 years later the band has since dropped three full length records, 2013’s Fireborn, followed by 2017’s War is Hell, and now their third full length effort, Firecry. This is also the first album to be released from the band since they’ve joined the Moribund Records family.

Once again, the band provides to listeners what their longtime fans have come to expect: powerful vocals, soaring riffs, thunderous bass, and pulse pounding drumming. The band is as good as they ever have been on this album, offering up eight tracks of revivalist power metal that fit them nicely in with the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal. The songs on here deliver the goods in a way that will no doubt please fans of groups like Judas Priest, Dio, Mercyful Fate, and other heavy metal alumni of that ilk. That said, I think there are a few too many moments on here where a riff will end, there will be a moment of silence, and then the next riff will start. It happens enough times that it feels a bit distracting when listening to this record from front to back. The songwriting, while good, sometimes leaves me feeling a bit underwhelmed.

The riffs on here, provided by guitarist Geoff Waye (also of Triskelyon and Artach), as well as bassist Keith Jackman, draw upon a pastiche of 80’s metal atmosphere to conjure a sound that is both intense and uplifting while simultaneously soulful and mournful. It’s not all cold stainless steel though. Some tracks, like the heavy gut punch that is “Valkyrie” draw more upon the doomy sounds of old school Black Sabbath or Pentagram for their hammer-striking-anvil approach. The solo work, as well, is outstanding. Waye has no doubt proven himself to be an exceptional guitarist across his various projects, and that’s no different here on Firecry.

The vocals are indeed powerful, and it’s clear that singer Amanda Jackman is a very capable vocalist who is ideally at her best at the head of a group creating this kind of emotive and heart-racing music. I’m reminded of one of my favourite modern power metal bands in the world right now, Tower, while listening to this record. That said, I think some of the vocal melodies aren’t all that compelling, and could have perhaps used a bit more workshopping in order to really hit the notes that would have made certain moments like the “too loud, too proud” bit on “Valkyrie” work better.

Lyrically the themes on this album span the gamut of subject matter that you’d expect from a group in this genre. The track “Firecry” deals with the persecution of witches, the tracks “Valkyrie” and “Heavy is the Crown” are both about personal pride and triumph, the song “She Runs with Wolves” is about the strength of women, and “Coven” is an ode to the band’s own live performances and the feeling that comes from being on stage. The lyrics aren’t available online anywhere so I can’t really criticize them properly, but from what I can make out they seem well written and exactly what I want from a power metal record.

Jason Williams, who is behind the kit, is a great drummer on this record. His beat choices are perfectly suited to the exact kind of riff work that Waye and Jackman provide to him. His double bass patterns are tight and thunderous, and he holds his own with some heavy and pulverizing beats that ride on the crash cymbal excessively. He’s also great at tempo and time signature changes, of which there are several that happen throughout this record’s runtime. That said I think some of the drum sections could have benefited from more creative work with some of the fills and rolls.

I like the way this album is produced because it sounds very raw and has an analog vibe to it. You can almost feel like you’re there in the room with the band as they’re rehearsing these songs. I do, however, wish that there was a bit more reverb and that the instruments packed a bit more oomph. The guitars feel like they could use just a slight bit more bite and the vocals have an odd quality where they sit in the mix rather than soaring over the instrumentals like this genre demands.

This isn’t my favourite album of the year to come out of Newfoundland and Labrador, but it’s still a decent record from a band who haven’t ever put out a bad one. I have my issues with it, and it never really clicked with me, but I’m sure that plenty of other people out there who are as invested in the NWOTHM movement and the revivalism of old school 80’s heavy metal will find a lot to like about this record. As far as modern power metal goes, you could do better, but you could also do significantly worse. I’m hoping that Category VI doesn’t take as long between this record and their last one (6 years) to put out something else new, and I have confidence that they’ll continue making quality traditional heavy metal for years to come.

Final Verdict: 7/10
Good

Favourite Tracks:
“Firecry”
“The Vultures Never Came”
“Heavy is the Crown”
“The Cradle Will Fall”

~ Akhenaten

Heavy NFLD Official Podcast – Episode 056: July 2023 – Come From Away

October 28, 2023 / Akhenaten / Leave a comment

On this episode of the Heavy NFLD Official Podcast we pay deference to those bands from the mainland who have deigned to make the treacherous and expensive trek eastward to the humble isolated hellhole we call home.

All songs belong to the original artists. Podcast recorded by Greg “Akhenaten” Ravengrave.

Tracklist:

01. Pale Ache – “Blood”
02. Obelisk – “The Architecture of Suffering”
03. Black Dog – “Gnashing of Teeth”
04. Ammo – “Too Metal for Metal”
05. Diner Drugs – “Under Fire”
06. Black Absinthe – “On Earth or in Hell”
07. Doom ‘An Blue – “Ran Down”
08. Deadbolt – “Natural Born Hater”
09. Mistwalker – “Frigid Lacerations”
10. Shit Dildo – “Throbbelisk”

~ Akhenaten

June 2023 in Review

September 6, 2023 / Akhenaten / Leave a comment

Biggest Stories
– Black Dog (HFX) to Play at First Light CPAC on July 15th
– Friends Hold Raffle for Sheavy Frontman Steve Hennessey’s Recovering Following Cancer Diagnosis
– Memorial Show for Will Hapgood to Happen at Bowring Park Amphitheatre July 9th
– Mistwalker and Obelisk Announce 2023 Maritimes Tour
– Night Demon and Ammo to Perform at the Bella Vista Events Venue on August 25th
– Winterhearth and Precious Blood to Perform at Merciless Metal Festival 2023

New LPs
– Beeraucracy + Catshit – Beereaucracy / Catshit Split
– Brutal Youth – Rebuilding Year
– Mistwalker – Oceanic Heritage
– Neko Suicide – Midtown
– Zackary Anderson – Graveyard Filled with Snow

New EPs
– Knarl – Bad Luck
– Lithops – ((BendeR))
– Of Wilds – A Ghost at the Strid
– Precious Blood – I No Longer Wish for Salvation
– Smoke Signals – Send Me Flowers While I’m Still Here

New Singles
– Cerebral Palsy – “Artillery, Fire!”
– Cerebral Palsy – “Blood Boiled Human Organs in Rehab”
– Cerebral Palsy – “Cerebral Palsy”
– Cerebral Palsy – “Convulsions”
– Choplicker – “Brigandine”
– Disposition – “Slow Haze”
– Homesick N’ Wanderlust – “When I Grow Up”
– Precious Blood – “Suffer and Die”
– So Violento – “Elegia Moderna”

New Demos
– Vomit Denial – Demo ’23

Album Announcements
– Mistwalker – Oceanic Heritage
– Precious Blood – Suffer and Die
– Smoke Signals – Untitled New EP
– Triskelyon – Untitled New LP

Merch
– The Skeats Reveal New Hats
– Winterhearth Reveal New Riverbed Empire Diamond Patches

Watch
– Glitterglue – Live 04/15/2023

Album Reviews
– Bonginator – The Intergalactic Gorebong of Deathpot [by Abraxas]

Albums Archived
– C.A.R.E. – Creating a Righteous Energy [Crossover / LP]
– Mistwalker – Beaumont-Hamel [Black Metal / Single]
– Mistwalker – Oceanic Heritage [Black Metal / LP]
– Zackary Anderson – Graveyard Filled with Snow [Noise / LP]

~ Akhenaten

HeavyNFLD

Your source for all things heavy and all things Newfoundland.

New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal

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2023 in Review

EP Review: Sons of an Eastern Moon – Borealis

Album Review: Category VI – Firecry

Heavy NFLD Official Podcast – Episode 056: July 2023 – Come From Away

June 2023 in Review