Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genre: Heavy Metal, Speed Metal

Label: Heavy Artillery Records

NONE of you have any idea how badly I have been wanting for this day to come! I’ve been following these lads since they were Final Awakening (sort of) then Leatherwitch and then finally, Spellcaster. “I can’t wait until the demo comes out.” It did. I reviewed it. “Can’t wait for the EP to launch!” It did. I reviewed it. “Hey guys, when’s the album gonna get here?”

Oh, it’s here…

Under The Spell features re-recordings of all of the songs from the EP Spells Of Speed (minus the live tracks) so there’s an instant metal boner for anyone who missed out on all the glory of Locked-On or Chainsaw Champion. In addition to old favorites, the soon-to-be new crowd favorite, Nite Of The Hellbeast and insta-pit-stigator, Molten Steel and more join the ever grown ranks of completely off the wall classics that Spellcast farts out like three alarm chili!

Thomas Adams still sounds as powerful as ever, especially since they went back and did retakes of when he faltered a wee bit back on the EP. The track, Sands Of Fear is where he gets to kick you in the ass the hardest with his unique brand of vocals. He even dips into some growls from time to time!

Cory and Tyler still have it in spades when it comes to whipping up neck-wreckin’ riffs! I dare you to listen to Molten Steel and NOT try to bang your head and play air-guitar! And let’s talk about the human beer can that is Shad Covert and his ability to expand on a gallop beat until it’s a living, fire breathing entity… shit! Shad actually conjured the goddamned Hellbeast!

Holy fuck! I can hear Gabe playing the shit outta his bass this time around! It sounds glorious and all, but in Power Rising, there’s a few spots were it kind of fluctuates from the background to the foreground in a odd bit of a mixing snafu. No real harm done though. You just REALLY get to hear what he’s made of for a few seconds!

There is one thing I should bring up though. As far as “new” material goes (they’re all technically new since they were all re-recorded) there’s three totally new tracks and an minute, forty-one intro on an eight track album. Some may find this bullshitty, but most of us won’t care to terribly much.

Overall: The spells have been cast, the posers slain and your life has been given meaning! Under The Spell is every bit as mind blowing as you thought it’d be and maybe even a little more! Recommenced for fans of… well, METAL!

9/10

Spellcaster On Reverbnation

Spellcaster On Facebook

Genre: Gothic Metal, Doom

Label: Napalm Records

Ah, Draconian. When referring to a law or the application therefor of, it means to be extremely harsh and/or outdated. But when referring to the Swedish gothic doom band, this is most certainly not the case! I wonder if there is an actual correlation between the name they chose and their music? Maybe they sing in the language of the dragons?

As soon as things start moving along, I’m instantly reminded of Battlelore. A tired and overdone comparison I’m sure, but an accurate one at that (Yes, I know that Draconian predates their Finnish label mates by about five years, but I heard Battlelore first so the comparison stands further). Opening track The Drowning Age is a behemoth of steel thorns and rows and rows of severed heads on pikes! Every time I hear the line, “Let’s bring our Gods to the gallows; a new moon will shine on you!” I get the goosebumps!  (Plus, any song that mentions the Chimera is insta-win in my book since it’s my daughter’s name.)

If there’s one thing that Draconian does right in A Rose For The Apocalypse, it’s the darkly romantic mood it casts in both the lyrical and instrumental senses. Elysian Night is an excellent example of this with it’s slow tempo, melodic female vocals (also the best song to just sit and groove on her singing as well) and expertly sectioned synths. The later is something that most bands of this kind of genre tend to overuse or turn into a gimmick. Thankfully, Draconian does not.

However, what they do overuse is they same basic song structure for just about every song on the album. If you don’t mind your gothic doom a little on the repetitive side (and how can you not since it’s another pitfall that these type of bands fall into) then this won’t bug you in the slightest.

Overall: A Rose For The Apocalypse is an extremely enjoyable album. From the depths of the nightmare evoking growls to height of the ethereal lyrics, Draconian drinks from the chalice of awesome!  …even if none of them sound like Sean Connery. (BOOM! Dragonheart reference!)

9/10

Draconian Official

Draconian On Facebook

Draconian On MySpace

(NOTE: The opening question was asked before the June 2nd concert had taken place. The guys in Thornafire have been understandably busy lately, so we won’t hold it against them.)

Thanks a lot for the interview! Exacerbated Gnostic Manifestation is easily within my Top 20 list of favorite death metal albums of all time, so this interview is kind of a big deal for me.

Thanks for the great comment Chase, we just do what we do because we worship Death Metal.

So, Thornafire are going to be opening for Slayer on June 2nd as part of their World Painted Blood tour in South America, eh? Do you mind if I attempt to flatter you all and say that I see you guys overpowering Slayer in sheer badassery?

The truth is that the show was very crazy. We were plenty of good luck, we played with a basic back-line but we got a clear and strong sound, cleaner than the Kings of Killing. As I said previously on the press, I think the 13,000 attendees got a good impression from us.

I read somewhere a while back that you guys planned on touring the U.S. only to find out that you actually couldn’t. What happened and do you plan on trying again in the future?

We fixed all the papers several months in advance, but the embassy guys are really slow with paperwork and such. I am booking a new tour for Europe and after that one I’ll try to book something for the U.S. with our the new CD, I already have contact with a guy who works dealing with paperwork to get the musician’s visas.

As a musician, who would you say your biggest influences are?

I always liked the old twisted vibe from Morbid Angel on their demos, also some Bach, at least I try to play Death Metal with a sense and not play a random generic material that is quite boring.

I’ve always wanted to ask, what did you mean by naming the band Thornafire?

Our previous singer came up with the name, it was during the time that there was almost no band with a one one-word name. It isn’t based on faith, believes, or politics, it’s just referring to the strength of spirit.

Is Ibex Moon as awesome a label on the inside as it appears to be from the outside?

Yes, indeed, John the owner is always very active and easy to deal with, the label has only bands that play good music, they don’t have Metalcore bands. We have a very direct deal and a pretty good one, besides that I work for them as a graphic designer.

Are there any new details that you would be willing to share about your upcoming album? You mentioned that it’s going to be a little different than what you’ve written in the past. How so?

I do not want to change the style of the band for any reason, we are an underground band and that allow us a very creative independence as we don’t depend from the major markets. Certainly will be a new album following this Dark Line,  the new songs are currently sounding really good.

Is there a song in your catalog that appears to get more people moving more than the rest during live shows? Maybe one that gets more people battered and bruised that the rest?

That is Clergy’s Betray, the audience really enjoy it. For instance, the Slayer show we opened with that one.

What are your Top 5 Favorite Death Metal Albums?

Oh yeah, it’s an easy question:
1.-Morbid Angel – Altars of Madness
2.-Autopsy  - Mental Funeral
3.-Celtic Frost – To Mega Therion
4.-Krisiun – Conquerors of Armageddon
5.-Hate Eternal – Conquering the Throne

Obligatory Stupid Question: Is there something in the water down there that makes EVERY extreme metal act to come out of Chile and its surrounding areas so fucking awesome?

Ahhh, Latinos have always lived the scene Extreme Metal scene with a lot of passion. I guess that’s why we add more feeling and madness to the music, sometimes with pretty basic recording studios, equipment, back-line and so on but then from time to time some infernal beasts come from these lands.

Is there anything you’d like to add for the FuneralRain audience?

Oh, thank Chase for the space given to Thornafire, and just wait for our new album as I’m working hard on it and this new stuff will sound un-listen-able for fans of Amon Amarth. I am also on the artistic/visual work, and I’m building a new tour of Europe and then USA (I hope), so if you see the Thornafire logo on a poster for some concert around, don’t miss the experience to see our blackened poison flowing through the amps.

Thornafire On Facebook

Genre: Hard Rock
Label: Stomp Records

Byron Stroud, best known for his work in Strapping Young Lad and Fear Factory, started this band from the reunion of Caustic Thought, and brought Burton C. Bell in when the original singer decided not to take part. So what ended up happening is a strange little bastard child was created with City of Fire – its a beast with a very diverse set of teeth.
Opening with the particularly catchy/nut punching “Carve Your Name”, a mood is definitely set for the album, and it’s obvious it’s not a cheery one. The music seems to be taking cues from death metal, with maybe a bit of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest influence (a nod to trad metal song structure/tone) or even Canadian hard rock from the 90′s (hm… strange that…).
There’s even some touches of Type O here.
Overall, there’s tons of stuff going on with various tempos, moods – usually angry or melancholic moods – and textures in the general sound of the album. A great thing about this is it’s catchiness. It wouldn’t surprise me if you checked it out and was singing choruses the next day.
At first listen, however, I hated this. I even wrote a different review that ripped this album all new sets of assholes. Then I listened to it again, and realized it’s pretty damn good. And that I shouldn’t listen to review material when I’m in a bad mood.
Favorite tracks: “Carve Your Name” and “Rising”. The latter s a great hard rock tune while the former is an angry metal song that will definitely get stuck in your head.
7 out of 10.

City of Fire on Facebook.

Genre: Stoner Metal
Label: Napalm Records

After being fired by Roadrunner Records for firing their singer, these instrumental stoner metal innovators found a fair amount of notoriety. But then without Roadrunner or a singer, they moved onto Spitfire then Napalm and have since (or so it seems) found even more ways to create moving, instrumental metal.
Riff after riff is churned out on V, and not a single one is wasted or filler. Each song (still only titled with a number) is a perfect desert jewel that shines brightly with it’s own strange, sometimes psychedelic light. They could all easily feature vocals, as all have verses, choruses, and bridges. But thankfully all but three have such a distraction from the awesome tone.
I’m especially particular to Rich Mullins’ bass tone and technique. Very classic sounding, but still his own.
The songs “The Cynic”, “Jimmy Dean”, and “Never Say Die” are the ones with a singer, a man by the name of Daniel Davies, also from the band Year Long Disaster. His voice is perfect for K2B’s reverb drenched music, and is a highlight of the album.
And yes, “Never Say Die” is a Black Sabbath cover, and it’s a fucking killer rendition. Faster, with a very different energy. The man sounds nothing like Ozzy (who does, really?) but he definitely owns this song, making it a Karma to Burn track more than a Black Sabbath cover.
V kicks ass.
7.5 out of 10.

Karma to Burn on Facebook.