Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genres: Heavy Metal, Power Metal
Label: AFM Records

I love German metal. And so, it’s no surprise that I love Axxis’ Utopia album. Right from the start it’s full of powerful riffs, nice keyboards, and an amazing vocalist. Bernhard Weiss is his name, and he’s got a strong set of pipes that register a little on the high side.
The album itself is a fantasy story about finding Utopia, and for the first time in Axxis history, features a song sung in German (“Fass Mich An”).
If you’re down with traditional heavy or power metal, or you just want to try it out for the first time, or if you’re even a fan of Axxis already, I definitely think you could do yourself a favour with picking up this album.
My favourite tracks are “The Last Man on Earth”, “Fass Mich An” (which makes me want to find more power metal that’s all in German), and the slower “Father’s Eyes”.
8 out of 10.

Axxis on MySpace.

Genres: Blackened Death Metal, Progressive Metal, Thrash
Label: Independent

From Portland, Oregon, Seventh Gate come roaring out of the gate with Amnesty, their second indie E.P.
Four tracks long, the demo is a wicked vision into what sounds like young talent. It’s fast, thrashy, and pretty fucking evil sounding. Think Slayer and Dimmu with touches of Opeth and a little Happy Days at times.
I think these guys are going to be able to carve a nice niche out for themselves if they keep this up.
7 out of 10.

Seventh Gate on MySpace.

Genre: Black Metal, Electronica
Label: Satanica Records

Malpertuus’ Satanica debut and first full-length is an odd trip to be sure.
The guitars are heavily processed, making the album sound more like keyboard based blackened Viking metal more than straight up black metal, and the way the riffs go remind me of Nintendo music from the early days of the original N.E.S. It makes me want to go and play some Zelda and get me some rupees.
I found myself having some of the song “Divine Theology” stuck in my head after the first hearing of the album, and after I’ve been able to listen to it, I think “Divine Theology” is one of my favourite songs. The same goes for “Prophecies of War”. At least, I think they are “Divine Theology” and “Prophcies of War”. The album lists eight songs, but there are nine tracks. So my track names might be wrong, but track numbers are 4 and 6.
In the end, Odyssea is a good listen, and a further progression into what black metal can be. It’s also the type of album that many people might try to say is not black metal at all because of the heavily processed sound. I like it, however, and I think it’s also a progression from Malpertuus’ debut EP.
7 out of 10.

Malpertuus on MySpace.

Candlelight Records today confirms the label’s springtime releases including new albums from BLAZE BAYLEY and OCTOBER FILE. The albums follow the label’s recent successes with FEAR FACTORY, IHSAHN – both Billboard chart entries – and THE BREATHING PROCESS. The label also confirms touring activities for FEAR FACTORY, HAVOK and more.

England’s OCTOBER FILE returns with the release of their second full length album. With hopes to expand their American profile, Our Souls to You features eleven new songs. Dark, aggressive, and angular, the band spent the better part of a year laboring over the album’s material. Bassist Steve Beatty notes, “we spent a year writing and rehearsing, taking our time and arguing intensely. We feel it’s been worth it.” Our Souls to You includes a bonus disc featuring production work by Justin Broadrick (Godflesh). Metal Hammer says OCTOBER FILE “burns with all the fiery, punk-spirited menace of Black Flag and the fervent apocalyptic brimstone of Killing Joke, but with a sound that’s all their own.” OCTOBER FILE has toured Europe with Killing Joke, Prong and most recently completed dates with Fear Factory. Confirmed track listing for Our Souls to You is: 1. Crawl, 2. Corporate Evasion, 3. Falter, 4. Dredge, 5. Eau Du War, 6. Our Souls to You (Part I), 7. A Public Display of Anger, 8. Isolation, 9. September, 10. Love is (A Warm AK47), 11. Our Souls to You (Part II).

Promise And Terror finds the return of BLAZE BAYLEY, the cherished former vocalist for Iron Maiden (replacing Bruce Dickinson in the late 90’s). It is a dark and emotional album that has already found much acclaim via its recent European release. For American fans this is the first album featuring a renewed, international line up and contains eleven new songs, several with heart-felt lyrics dedicated to the unfortunate loss of the singer’s wife in 2008. Metal Hammer says, “Blaze is on fire again,” while popular metal review site MetalReview.com calls, “Blaze Bayley is one of the most dedicated, war-torn heavy metal warriors roaming the planet.” The band is currently amidst European tour dates and are looking to visit the US late summer. Confirmed track listing for Promise And Terror is: 1. Watching the Night, 2. Madness And Sorrow, 3. 1633, 4. God of Speed, 5. City of Bones, 6. Faceless, 7. Time to Dare, 8. Surrounded By Sadness, 9. The Trace of Things That Have No Words, 10. Letting Go of the World, 11. Comfortable in Darkness.

Touring will be intense for the label this spring with FEAR FACTORY kicking off American dates today. The shows, in support of their latest album Mechanize, run through April 11 and includes the band’s anticipated performance at Revolver Magazine’s Golden Gods Awards in Los Angeles on April 8. The band will be announcing more American and Canadian dates; additional details to follow. Colorado-based thrashers HAVOK align with Hammerfall and Echoes of Eternity for a run of dates beginning March 28 in San Diego. The band will then join Primal Fear for dates in May. The performances continue to support the band’s 2009 debut, Burn Los Angeles metal magazine Keeper says, “Havok really grabs the intensity, power and in-your-face attitude that only a rare few have. Burn is a true must have for any fan of great thrash metal.” THE BREATHING PROCESS and THE ATLAS MOTH, recently completing a run of dates including several at the South-By-Southwest Music Conference, are expected to announce dates shortly.

FEAR FACTORY w/ Winds of Plague, Dirge Within, Periphery
3/22/2010 Marquee Theatre – Tempe, AZ
3/23/2010 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
3/24/2010 The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO
3/26/2010 House of Blues – Dallas, TX
3/27/2010 White Rabbit – San Antonio, TX
3/28/2010 The Channel @ Wired Live – Houston, TX
3/30/2010 Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
3/31/2010 House of Blues – Lake Buena Vista, FL
4/01/2010 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
4/02/2010 Valarium – Knoxville, TN
4/03/2010 The Village – Little Rock, AR
4/05/2010 Aggie Theatre – Ft. Collins, CO
4/06/2010 Mesa Theatre – Grand Junction, CO
4/08/2010 Club Nokia (Revolver Golden God Awards) – Los Angeles, CA
4/09/2010 Regency Center @ The Grand Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
4/10/2010 House of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
4/11/2010 House of Blues – San Diego, CA

HAVOK w/ Hammerfall, Echos of Eternity
3/28/2010 House of Blues – San Diego, CA
3/30/2010 House of Blues – Los Vegas, NV
3/31/2010 Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
4/01/2010 UB’s Bar – Mesa, AZ
4/02/2010 The Rock – Tucson, AZ
4/04/2010 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
4/06/2010 Trees – Dallas, TX
4/07/2010 Emo’s Lounge – Austin, TX
4/08/2010 Meridian – Houston, TX

HAVOK w/ Primal Fear
5/20/2010 Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
5/21/2010 Jaxx Nite Club – Springfield, VA
5/22/2010 The Palladium – Worcester, MA
5/23/2010 Club Imperial – Quebec City, QC
5/24/2010 Opera House – Toronto, ON
5/26/2010 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
5/27/2010 Blondie’s – Detroit, MI
5/28/2010 Phoenix Hill Tavern – Louisville, KY
5/29/2010 The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
5/30/2010 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
6/01/2010 Bluebird Theater – Denver, CO
6/03/2010 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
6/04/2010 Peter’s Room – Portland, OR
6/05/2010 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
6/06/2010 Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana, CA
6/08/2010 House of Blues – Los Angeles, CA
6/09/2010 UB’s Bar – Mesa, AZ
6/10/2010 The Rock – Tucson, AZ
6/12/2010 Meridian – Houston, TX
6/13/2010 Emo’s – Austin, TX