(7/10) When I was thinking about 'steak' I was thinking about food, but not about stoner rock. But Steak is a band too. They are from London, founded in 2010 and play stoner rock. I wasn't aware that the desert reaches the UK capitol in the meantime, but listening to the music of Steak it seems to be the case.

But seriously, the name of the newest release of Steak is "Slab city", which is a camping place in the Colorado desert. Hej, here it is - the link to the heat and sand.

I have to say that I wasn't really convinced when I heard the album the first time. The songs didn't really explode when I heard them. But 'never give up' is the motto of the day. And indeed; the album takes time. The tunes grow by each listening session and in the meantime I really like what I hear. It is the small details, which you miss the first time. 

Steak takes their biggest inspriation definitaly from the mighty Kyuss. But between the lines it is also the space rock element from Monster Magnet that shines through the heavy dust of stoner rock. Or is this a fata morgana. No, song like the grooving "Liquid gold" show those influences pretty well.  Another cool song is "Pisser". Down tuned guitars make a lot of noise in this song and a hypnotic beat gives you a great time. Are my old ears right when I think I heard even John Garcia's voice joining in on this track. That is a real accolade for Steak. "Quaaludes and interludes" is nothing more or less than what the title says. The journey thought the desert continues with "Roadhead", a cool groove monster that smells like gasoline and tarmac. Another highlight is the almost never ending eight minutes long "Rising". Guitars are booming, tha bass is pounding and the drums are hammering. Stoner metal as it should be.

T um up: the whole album is an honest piece of work that reflects sweat, beer and groove. A stoner rock album on second sight - at least for me. Check it out.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Coma
2. Liquid gold
3. Slab city
4. Pisser
5. Quaaludes and interludes
6. Roadhead
7. Machine
8. Hanoid
9. Rising
10. Old timer D.W.

Label: Napalm Records

Genre: Stoner Rock

Grammy winning artist Everlast put a new song on sound cloud which can be streamed from there: https://soundcloud.com/martyr-inc/gaza-city-blues 

Everlast states the following: "This song for me is about a karmic responsibility we all share for each other. Whether it be in Gaza or young girls being kidnapped in Nigeria or young men being gunned down or beaten to death by police here in the good old USA we are all responsible for each other and if we don't start acting like it we will all 'Pay so dearly for it '." 

A few days ago I published the review for the new 7" from German death metal legend Morgoth. Here comes the video to "God is evil".

(7/10) I don't know jow often I have written about Gothenburg bands in the last weeks. Here is the next one. Deceptic are from the second biggest Swedish city too. The band was founded in 2011 by Tony Gullquist (g), Dennis Svensson (d) and William Gustafsson (v). The three guys completed the line-up by adding John Wennergren (g) and Tobias Westling (b).

Already at the end of 2011 Deceptic released their first EP. Unfortunatley some guys left the band and forced the founding trio to re-think the band's activities. They continued working on their debut album and in the meantime they also found with Otto Halling (b) and Martin Calenfors (g) two additional musicians. Boarding completed again.

"The antifact", mixed and mastered by Tue Madsen, is the name of the long awaited debut of the Deceptic. I would describe the sound of the band as Modern Metal. Gustafsson changes constantly between real singing and shouting. Some growls add the sound a certain death compontent. The same goes for the music itself as well. Sometimes very melodic and at other moment with real heavy sound eruptions Deceptic tries to bring variation into their songs.

The result is an interesting album which is from a songwriting perspective exciting. The production fits as well and the entire package stands as one unit. 

Only small point of critic is the fact that the sound of Deceptic isn't really new. There are quite some bands with a similar setup like Soilwork. They are a bit late with this kind of music, but maybe they develop further with the next record.

If Deceptic will have a breakthrough with "The artifact" is something time will will tell. Check it out and form your own opinion.

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. Heart of the swarm
2. Ocean
3. A world unkown
4. Pulling levers
5. The shining throne
6. Lead astray
7. Depraved
8. Smorgasbord of shame
9. Reborn
10. Life finds a way

Label: Dead End Exit Records

Genre: Modern Metal

(8/10) Hardcore from Montreal, Québec - that's Obey The Brave. I have to admit that I haven't heard about the band before, but I must say that their latest release "Salvation" convinced me. "Salvation" is the second full-length album from the band and follows the 2012 disc "Young blood". 

The band was founded  in 2011 by singer Alex Erian, John Campell (g), Miguel Lepage (b), Greg Wood (g) and Steve Morotti (d). Eventhough some of the guys have a deathcore history Obey The Brave goes very much in to hardcore direction, with some metal influences.

The opener "Short fuse" comes in best Agnostic Front attitude. Heavy guitar riffs and an enormous groove dominate the song. I like with Obey The Brave that they don't play as fast as possible. The rhythm and the groove is what is in focus. What goes for the opener is present in tunes like the mighty "Next level" and the bouncer "Brave the fire". The galloping beat just hits you right into your face.

The faster tracks are present on "Salavation" as well. There is the speedy "Up in smoke" which reflects the punk roots. And "I am winter" is one of the uptempo numbers too. 

All those tracks gain by the slightly hoarse vocal from Alex Erian. This guy shouts out all his pissed-off attitude and by doing this he gives the song the characteristics.

The most melodic track on "Salvation" is probabaly "Lonewolf". It stands a bit out from the rest, but still fits on the album. It adds some variety to the entire sound of Obey The Brave. 

This is really heavy stuff. Thumbs up. "Salvation" is their strongest release and I like the album.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Short fuse
2. Raise your voice
3. Up in smoke
4. Into the storm
5. Next level
6. Back in the day
7. I am winter
8. Lonewolf
9. C'est la vie
10. Full circle
11. North strong
12. Brave the fire

Label: Epitaph

Genre: Hardcore

(7/10) Miss Behaviour is a five-piece band from Kalmar, Sweden. Henrik Sproge (key) and Erik Heikne (g) studied music management there and during this time they had the idea to start with Miss Behaviour. All this happened ten years ago. Inspired by 80's hardrock and AOR they started to write their first songs which have been released on the debut album called "Heart of midwinter". 

But it's not only sunshine in the world og Miss Behaviour. It was in 2011 when the stroke of fate hit the band. Band manager Michael Sundén passed away by an horrible accident. This had of course an impact on the band.

But Miss Behaviour is back again with a new album. They got over the big loss and wrote 12 songs which are released on "Double agent". The songs of the album live from big arcs of melody. The hooklines of the songs do their job and each track is easy approachable. Guitar soli are crispy and sharp, the sing-along chorus in each song is well crafted and the ballad "Corporation arms" is OK as well. Sometimes the song drift a bit too much into pop like on "Cold response" and the Roxette-like "Don't let it end", but it doesn't disturb the positive impression of "Double agent".

What I have to criticize is the production of the album. I took the effort to listen the album on three different sound systems and I have to say that the sound is too undifferenciated. Also the clanking drum sound isn't the best one either. This could have done better, since it is the real downer of the album. Sad enough that it doesn't help to make the actually good songs really shine.

A word or better a question to the cover. Who had the idea to use pink for the text? Was Poisen the role model for this? Looks a bit like silk & velvet instead of leather & denim. But maybe this was the wished expression.

However, the songs are OK, the production could be a bit better and the cover at least presents nice girls. You decide...

(7/10)

Tracklist:

1. On with the show
2. Double agent
3. Cold respnse
4. Magical feeling
5. Corporation arms
6. Love reflector
7. Edge of the world
8. Don't let it end
9. Midnight runner
10. The cause of liberty
11. Dancing with danger
12. Silver rain

Label: AOR Heaven

Genre: Hardrock

(8/10) There have been a few band in the peak times of thrash metal, that have been quite good, but were drowning in the big amount of thrashers. Nowadays it can be refreshing to listen to some of these bands - esp. if there are re-issues from their records.

One of those bands is Num Skull. The guys from Winthrop Harbor, Illinois released their debut album "Ritually abused" in 1988. The line-up Skip McGullam (v), Rob Charrier (b), Jeff McGullam (d), Tom Brander (g) and Eric Seiller (g) plays straight-forward thrash metal. Eventhough the album is a re-issue it has the oldschool charm which got lost nowadays so often. Of course doesn't have the best sound, but that is who thrash albums in the 80's have been. Still each the production and the mix are transparent. The raw enegry won over technical finesse.

When I heard the album, and I have to admit that I missed the original version as well, I was often reminded to Slayer, Dark Angel and Possessed. Uncompromising songs with screaming guitars, breaks and some great mosh parts like in "Death and innocence". The only small point of critic is that the songs are similar to each other and are exchangable. However, I enjoyed listening to the album.

It seems that Relapse records is nowadays releasing some of those pearls. The first one was Death's "Leprosy" followed now by Num Skull. Let's see what's next. Mosh on.

(8/10) 

Tracklist

1. The end
2. Ritually abused
3. Death and innocence
4. No morals
5. Friday's child
6. Off with your head
7. The henchman
8. Pirate's night
9. Turn of a screw
10. Kiss me, kill me
11. Rigor mortis
12. Murder by the minister (Bonus)

Label: Relapse Records

Genre: Thrash Metal

A few days ago I have posted a link where you can get Lego minifigs from metal bands and legends. Here comes a link that shows you what you can do with it. The whole clip got the name:Iron Maiden - Rock in Lego" and is hilarious. Don't miss it

(8/10) Morgoth was Germans No.1 death metal band. In the beginning of the 90's the band could stand against the the upcoming grunge trend and released real killers records like "Cursed" and "Odium". But the band disbanded in 1998 and it took till 2011 that Morgoth reunited. The main reason was the 20^st anniversary of the "Cursed". The Germans played several festivals. 

In the meantime another three years went by and Morgoth released a 7" with two brand new songs. The name of the single is "God is evil". Both songs, the title track and also "Die as deceiver" are aggressive death metal monsters. The 7" is a perfect comeback signal from one of the most important European death metal bands.

"God is evil" is quite fast with impressive leads. What I like most is the heavy grooving slow part halfway of the track. This is a very excellent break and gives the song something special. "Die as deceiver" isn't a whit worse than "God is evil". It easily keeps the high level, eventhough it is maybe a bit less complex. What fits both tunes very well is the thrash influences that are part of both songs. Slayer shines through here and there, which isn't something bad at all.

I like both tracks from this 7" and I hope for a new record pretty soon.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. God is evil
2. Die as deceiver

Label: Century Media

Genre: Death Metal

The cover for the new Billy Idol album changed. Here is the new one, which I think looks much better.

Tracklist:

1. Bitter Pill
2. Can’t Break Me Down
3. Save Me Now
4. One Breath Away
5. Postcards From The Past
6. Kings & Queens Of The Underground
7. Eyes Wide Shut
8. Ghosts In My Guitar
9. Nothing To Fear
10. Love And Glory
11. Whiskey And Pills

Islandic dark metal band Solstafir will be on tour in Europe this autumn. If you want to go there and enjoy the show - here are the dates:

(8/10) It was three years ago when Hammerfall from Sweden released their latest album "Infected", a record which still reflected some of Hammerfall's trademarks, but sounded a bit darker than expected. 

"(r)Evolution" is the name of their newest output which brings the quintet from Gothenburg back on stage. The inspiration for the album title came from the second remake of the "Planet of the apes" movie. Since guitarist Oscar Dronjak has seen the film and read the name he thought that this could be a cool name for Hammerfall. And here it is.

Another thing which changed compared with the predecessor is the fact that Hector, the mascot, is back on the cover. Hector was missing on "Infected", but now he's alive again. Good. 

But it's also the music that is back with all the trademarks of Hammerfall. Since "Infected" embedded some try-out element and sounded darker than the other Hammerfall records "(r)Evolution" mirrors the Swedish quintet as we know them.

The opening triple makes this already very clear. I don't think that it is a coinsidence that the first track is called "Hector's hymn". All three song, the furious opener, the title track with its hymn-like character and the first single release, the pounding "Bushido", show in a good way what we can expect (again) from the band. Straightforward traditional heavy metal in a modern production dress. "(r)Evolution" is the promised step back to old strength and power.

But it's also the low pace rocker "Ex inferis" with the pumping bassline and a mighty but simple riff that convinced me again. The tune made me think about the old Stormwitch times. If you listen to this song you're not surprised that the Swedes show a lot of respct to the 'masters of black romance'.

"We won't back down" assures that the speed increases again. The raging song has a big melody and a straight-forward beat. This track has all the trademarks of Hammerfall and could also have been on the band's debut. More tracks like this needed. No problem. "Origins" and the bouncer "Wildfire" have exactly the same  expression. Furious metal based on a powerful rhythm section and an classical guitar line.

If the power ballad "Winter is coming" was necessary, I don't know. It was maybe needed to create a nice flow on "(r)Evolution", but it's not one of the strong ones on the album.

All in all I like the album. It is Hammerfall as I know the band. They left the experimental path they walked on with "Infected" and bethought themself on their real strength - melodic heavy metal songs. Good decision and well done.

(8/10)

Tracklist:

1. Hector's hymn
2. (r)Evolution
3. Bushido
4. Live life loud
5. Ex inferis
6. We won't back down
7. Winter is coming
8. Origins
9. Tainted metal
10. Evil incarnation
11. Wildfire
12. Demonized (Bonus track)

Label: Nuclear Blast

Genre: Heavy Metal

News from the east coast. Anthrax is releasing an live DVD in October. The name is "Chile on hell" and contains a concert of the thrash metal band that was played in Santiago De Chile in May 2013.

Here is the track list:

01. Among The Living

02. Caught In A Mosh

03. I Am The Law

04. Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.)

05. A Skeleton In The Closet

06. March Of The S.O.D. (STORMTROOPERS OF DEATH cover)

07. In The End

08. Deathrider

09. T.N.T. (AC/DC cover)

10. I'm Alive

11. Indians

12. Medusa

13. In My World

14. Got The Time (Joe Jackson cover)

15. Fight 'Em 'Til You Can't Encore: 1

6. I'm The Man / Raining Blood (SLAYER cover)

17. Madhouse

18. Antisocial (TRUST cover)

Bay area thrasher Exodus will release a new album later this year. After the band revealed the cover a few days ago it's time for the tracklist.

Here it is:

1. Black 13
2. Blood in, blood out
3. Colleteral damage
4. Salt the wound
5. Body harvest
6. BTK
7. Wrapped in the arms of rage
8. My last nerve
9. Numb
10. Honor killings
11. Food for the worms

"Blood in, blood out" is the name of the record and it was produced by Andy Sneap. It's also the first album after many years with Zetro Souza behind the mic. Good choice. The album could become a thrash highlight 2014. October 10 we all will know more.