FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
I hate to self-plagiarize, but this line is good enough for me to recycle: “This was my third time seeing Accept in the last three years, something which, had you told me I’d be saying come 2012 back when I was, well, 12, I’d probably have assumed they’d just invented time travel by then or something.”
Inamorata is an emotionally taxing journey leaving you breathlessly heartbroken and physically exhausted yet hungry for more. If you’re a fan of aggressive, heartfelt and challenging metal, to let Inamorata pass you by would be simply opprobrious.
While Cancer Bats have never released a record that anyone could call a failure, this album should be a widespread, runaway success – it deserves to be, it is absolutely their best, most accessible album to date.
I’d recommend the documentary for metal fans who are particularly interested in the origins of the genre and the roots of metal in hard rock. While I think the narrative could have been weighted more evenly, there is some fascinating archival and interview footage in Så Jälva Metal, and seeing the music from a new cultural perspective is refreshing and eye-opening.
Earlier this month HELLYEAH kicked off their current North American tour supporting VOLBEAT at Toronto’s Kool Haus. Hellbound’s Ola Mazzuca was there to speak with band members Chad Gray and Tom Maxwell about the band’s struggle with their own personal demons, their place in metal and the band’s soon to be released new album “Band Of Brothers”
“Clockwork Angels” is indeed a serious contender for album of the year. Utterly breathtaking!
Talk about a surprise, the debut full length by Georgia’s Royal Thunder has got to be the sleeper hit of the summer, and one of the most unexpected, surprising albums so far this year.
Distilling Van Zandt’s work down to a poignant acoustic framework (as he used to do so well in a live setting) brings the immediacy and lyrical genius of his work to the fore. However, not only does the album pay due respect to the influence Van Zandt has had on Kelly, Von Till and Wino, it also serves as a reminder of the sublime artistry that sits at the heart of their own work. If you can’t find something to latch onto among these nine hauntingly picturesque tracks, or recognize Kelly, Von Till and Wino’s own legacies at play, then it’s best you check your pulse to see if you’re even living.
If you crave intelligent, forward thinking, original and downright unsettling music than the self-titled effort by Metallic Taste Of Blood should satisfy your every need. This is sheer musical bliss. Utterly breathtaking!
Adrien Begrand reviews the May 4th Saskatoon performance by Untimely Demise, Grand Master, Mares of Thrace and Agony Spawn at Amigos.