Laser Enforcer!!!!!!!!! The song is pretty awesome, can't wait to hear the album.

Damn, where was it? Texas? I was at MDF and the setlist looked a lot like this, except with a couple of tracks less. No Queen of the Black Coast (!) or Divine Victim! But I'll be seeing them in Montreal in August so I guess they'll play them! Do you remember how long they played?

According to what other people have said here, they've gotten a lot worse live recently due to dropping the second guitarist and just going with Lips. It seems like you haven't seen them since they did that, since I'm pretty sure it was post-documentary, so just be warned that apparently they're not up to the standard they set with two. I've only seen them with one, and I have to say I was underwhelmed, especially considering I'm quite fond of some of the band's material to begin with.


Some pretty rockin' tunes getting linked lately guys, too many for me to comment on individually but I'm definitely listening to and digging a lot of them. To add something of my own, I recently discovered Hammersmyth, a fucking ripping early 90s progressive USPM band in the style of Talisphere or Prodigy/Oracle. Tons of energy and riffs coming from everywhere, along with really ambitious song structures. Only released two demos but definitely worth a look.

I'm in the middle of doing a review for the most recent Brutal Hand album... can anyone recommend anything that sounds like them? I honestly can't come up with a single band that has excellent vocals yet somehow manages to be totally boring like them... They have this weird style of modern riffing which I just can't find the words to describe. Anyone?

Manilla Road will play at least 90 mins in Montréal and it's gonna be a cool MA con since a lot of MAers are going, we should definitely set up a meeting of some kind. I can't wait! I just got a job too, so I'll be able to buy a shitload of merch. There's still a lot of tickets available and the lineup is cool! http://www.wingsofmetal.com/

Brutal Hand, never heard of them but the name is terrible! Failsafeman reviewed them so I guess he could help.

And unlike the MDF it will be quite easy to gather as the Katacombes is pretty small. Can't wait to see them again, they're just so good live. I feel like seeing them just makes me want to see them more haha. The show got me in a huge MR binge too. Just got through like half of their dicography in a couple of days. And finally gave Mysterium a proper listen too, pretty neat stuff, not disappointing at all.

Yeah, I reviewed that album too and it's not hard to find bands that bear a similarity in one or two elements, but it's really really hard to think of bands that are similar to Brutal Hand's overall sound. Two I might recommend are Ripper, specifically their second album (the guitar tone on that is absolutely huge, something the youtube track doesn't do justice at all), and Seasons of the Wolf. Both feature keyboards paired with unusual vocals and churning, repetitive yet hypnotic riffs to create a moody, heavy atmosphere.

MR played a fucking two hour set at Chaos in Tejas, at a really small venue where I could (and did) get within 1-2 feet of the guys. It was glorious.

So I've been listening to a lot of Malice lately. Got me thinking what James Neal is up to these days and I found the videos below. I think he still sounds pretty good considering he has said he didn't re-join Malice again because he can't hit high notes anymore.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmCGYoOuCBI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_U3LUmk618

I think he's been listening to a lot of Creedence.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQBarRXj ... youtu.be&a

Someone uploaded the new Slough Feg track on youtube! \m/

Came here to quote my old post and add this to it, but you beat me :'( I should have known by how you liked it on facebook!

But yeah, sweet track. Sounds like something that could have come from a few albums ago more than something that continues in the mold of The Animal Spirits, which makes me excited. The silly laser sound effects are a clear throwback to Traveller!

I can think of a lot of bands/songs with excellent vocals that are totally dull.

Really glad I got around to these guys. Haven't had time to listen to anything all the way through yet, but that will likely happen in the next few days. It's going to be riff-splendant.

I'm also excited for the new Slough Feg track as compared to Animal Spirits. Couldn't get into that one nearly as much as a lot of their other albums, though it's still got its charm. I thought for sure they were going to go further in that direction.

I wouldn't care if Slough Feg made an acoustic folk album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xWWBX85DqC4

live Eternal Champion track from the Manilla Road gig. It was actually their first live show. Definitely a band to watch for the epic trad metal fans. The singer had a Crystal Logic backpatch and I stood next to him for part of MR's set, cool guy.

Hah! Well, good to know he's still involved in music. I think he could've done well in Malice still even without the high notes, but their new album with James Rivera was cool anyway, so whatever (the re-recordings weren't as good as most of the originals, but that was a given).


Sounds pretty good! We need more Michael Moorcock metal, if you ask me. I don't have a comprehensive mental list of every band that's written a lot of songs about his stuff, but Blacksword, Borrowed Time, Hawkwind, and of course Cirith Ungol are all awesome.

check out their two recorded songs up on youtube if you haven't, definite talent here.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HN4uFLrDbc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e19mNlth4Yg

haven't heard Blacksword, looks interesting.

For real? It's Lunatic_Asylum's band, he's been a semi-regular 'round these parts for years now.

Check this out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULbveXeB20U

That's L_A on lead guitar.

That was REALLY good!!
Has a really nice drive to it! And epicness!

That's good stuff...it's too bad they only released two demos

I got Headless Cross this week. This is pretty damn good, almost like a continuation of The Mob Rules. What's the consensus on the other Tony Martin albums? Interested in getting that Deluxe Edition of The Eternal Idol with the Ray Gillen version, and I've heard good things about Cross Purposes and Tyr.

Also, I finally got a copy of Ample Destruction and Tyrants. Ample Destruction is still awesome, and it's so nice having it in disc form. Generally Hostile <3

@Dandelo; every Sabbath album with Tony Martin on it is pretty good (not counting Forbidden, that is), but I'd rec you to go after Tyr first, as I find it to be just right after Headless Cross in sheer quality (HC being the best of their albums with Martin on it). It's not as dark as HC, instead opting for a more epic, majestic approach. I think you'll like it.

Speaking of Martin-era Sabbath can someone point me to some bands that sound like that era of Sabbath? I tried to find something like that but to no avail.

Candlemass' "Chapter VI" is essentially Tony Martin Sabbath. Try that.

USPM-wise, what am I missing? and yeah I realize there's a lot of crossover here with heavy and speed metal.

A Tortured Soul (basically USPM mixed with Mercyful Fate)
Agent Steel (newer albums)
Attacker
Ballistic
Borrowed Time
Cauldron Born
Crescent Shield
Damien Thorne
Destiny's End
Enchanter
Helstar
Jag Panzer
Liege Lord
Matthias Steele
Max Planck
Medieval
Medieval Steel
Metal Church (some of their stuff)
Mystik
Omen
Onward
Oracle/Prodigy
Othyrworld
Overlorde
Razorwyre (NZ band, but relevant)
Riot (close enough on some albums)
Satan's Host (new stuff, since Conklin joined)
Seven Witches
Skelator
Skullview
Steel Aggressor
Steel Assassin
Steel Prophet
Tension (pre-Ballistic)
Titan Force (pre-Jag Panzer)
Twisted Tower Dire (earlier stuff moreso)
Vicious Rumors
Virgin Steele (some stuff)
Vulvagun (Australian, but relevant)
Wardog (also pre-Ballistic)
Zuul

You're missing:

DEADLY BLESSING - Ascend from the Cauldron
ALTERED STATE - demo
SACRED WARRIOR - Master's Command
TALISPHERE - demo
FAITH FACTOR
MYSTIC FORCE

Well you're missing some really fucking obvious bands, first of all. Queensyche, Crimson Glory, Fates Warning, Shok Paris. Somewhat less obvious but still well-known are Griffin, Warrior, Realm, Deadly Blessing. Plus there are tons of demo-only bands on there. Really, if you're just looking to fill in the holes in your repertoire, just do an advanced search. Power metal from the US and Canada between 1980-1995 should basically catch everything.

Also, Titan Force are post-Jag Panzer MK I, not pre-Jag Panzer.

Yeah I know all those, just didn't include em for whatever reason.

Well, don't know a couple of the ones Temple posted, thanks.

edit: some more I missed, thanks to someone on another forum:

Bishop Steel
Cyperus
Lords of the Crimson Alliance
Malibu Barbi
Messiah Force
Nasty Savage
Outlander
Sacred Heart
Stormtrooper

actually haven't heard all of these, although I'm sad I forgot LotCA. Spellcaster counts too!

How about Witchhammer?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42Oaz_cJTgY

Aska
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tj1PLlKuRDA

You're missing Zions Abyss, Canadian but in the general Vicious Rumors area, with strong musicianship, even stronger singing, and some excellent hooks. Also, Taramis who were something like Australia's Fates Warning, but rougher around the edges and a lot more ride in the rhythm section.

EDIT: You're missing Slauter Xstroyes as well, which I'll assume was an innocent oversight.

Not obligatory, but a recent demo favorite of mine is Disorder, with really intense vocals somewhere between King Diamond and young Warrel Dane, but relatively straight-forward and chunky riffage.

ah shit, Slauter! Incredible band.

It's ironic, I wrote a heavy metal article a while back and Zions Abyss was featured in it. I just fail

you could try some of the the post-Last in Line Dio. Martin made a living enunciating like the king of rock n roll. Or Sabbath's Dio albums, especially Dehumanizer (which might as well have been Martin).

Incidentally, Im looking for some classic sounding metal with Dio-esque vocals. So far the only truly enjoyable band I have found is a little known 80's euro metal beast called Angus.

Obligatory Pharaoh mention.

Thanks for the help with Tony Martin Era albums. Looks like I'll be hunting a copy of TYR down.

Giuntini Project. Tony Martin on vocals.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ImP_Pr3AWM

This goes for both, I guess.
Moahni Moahna:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=duNw8GQ4GWs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljGn_dESDKY

The brand new kick ass Civil War album has that Dio clone from Astral Doors singing and it's the best thing he's ever been a part of.

Have you heard Lions Share - Dark hours? Doesn't sound like you have.

Life Sentence lived up to, and maybe surpassed the hype I had read. This thing sounds so young and fresh! I love that they decided to completely regress, none of the thrash influence from Pariah to be found. The whole album is faster than I expected, but when they charge it's in a speed metal way. Siege Mentality has that one riff that sounds like Break Free turned inside out and I fucking love it.

Oh and Corsair are pretty cool, at least the Alpha Centauri EP. Definitely heavier than the SKR write-up had me expecting. I wasn't expecting those soulful vocals either, almost southern sounding.

That one's cool, but Astral Doors - Evil is Forever is even better. Tons of fun.

And yeah the new Satan is awesome. I really need to buy a proper copy sometime soon.