Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Napalm Records 

Ugh. Here we go again. Another band that’s hyped up based solely on the fact that they’re fronted by a woman. It doesn’t matter if she’s awesome or if she’s terrible, if she’s ugly or hot. I don’t care. Can’t we just talk about the band in general? Could the promo guy at Napalm Records just of said they this band is a badass heavy metal outfit from California and then build into the fact that the vocalist’s name is Jill and that she’s got magnificent metal pipes? Look at that! I got the point across that she’s a she and she can bust out the metal scream without making it sound like I’m trying to turn your world upside down!

But yeah, all of that aside, what we have here is Huntress and their first full length release, Spell Eater. As stated before, this bunch plays heavy metal. It may not be the old school’s definition, but it’s still pretty damned metal in old school spirit! Think of a slightly slower version of 3 Inches Of Blood with more self-restraint and  more vocal variation.

Let’s talk about those heavy metal guitars first. The solo that bust out of nowhere in Sleep And Death was pretty much all you need to hear to figure out what lead guitarist Blake Meahl’s style is all about: playfulness, unpredictability and madness! Manic riffs and out-there solos set aside, guitarist Ian Alden enforces the Metal Is Law mentality fostered by Huntress with his brand of rhythmic ruckus.

Drummer Carl Wierzbicky (who some of you may remember and worship from his work with DarkBlack) kicks out the most purely heavy metal performance of the group. Mid-paced beats and moderately used rolls and the like allow the drums to remain prominent without overpowering the other performances, which I’m sure Carl could of done. The other in the duo of well known contributors  is bassist Eric Harris (formally of Skeletonwitch). Eric’s role in this album is understated. He has shown in the past that he’s got the balls to play bass loud and proud, but he’s kinda forced to the back of the class, as the bassist generally is. But it’s not generally this tragic since this album could of used a little more depth and Eric’s talents could of helped out with that.

What this album really lacks though, is catchiness. Sure the band is good overall, but there’s nothing much here to keep you invested until the very end. I never once found myself singing one of these tunes while I was cooking, in the shower or even just after I finished listening to the album and am walking to the fridge for whatever reason. It’s not a deal breaker by any means, but I probably won’t be jonesing to listen to Spell Eater anytime soon.

Overall: Spell Eater is nowhere near as amazing as all of the hype would have you believe, but Huntress really aren’t anything you should pass up if you have the chance to do otherwise. Yes, there’s a female vocalist. Yes, she delivers the goods pretty fucking well (the rumors are true, she sounds amazing) and looks good while doing it. Other than that though, this album is worth a listen but will probably be rejected based on all of the hype or not given a second chance just to be sure. I suggest you give it a shot.

7/10

Huntress Official
Huntress On ReverbNation
Huntress On Facebook

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Napalm Records
Format: Digital Promo (Napalm Records)

After several issues of a couple magazines (most notably Terrorizer) were talking about this female-fronted ‘true’ metal band (and after seeing their singer in next to nothing, honestly) I needed to hear them. And so it came to pass that I got to get my hands on a digital promo of Spell Eater.
I’ve given the album a couple listens now, and I’m quite impressed. Female-fronted bands of late have been leaving me with a listless feeling, like they are just trying too hard, and falling short of their goals; and when I found out that Napalm was taking care of Huntress I was honestly a little bit worried that they may be getting overshadowed by the label’s other, more well-known female-fronted bands. But no, this troupe is definitely not going to get lost in the label, nor do I feel listless after listening. Quite the opposite, in fact!
Think King Diamond if King Diamond was a hot blonde with an affinity for Siouxie Sioux, and you’re getting into the right territory. Musically the band brings to mind Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and even some newer Opeth. And well, King Diamond. Galloping guitar and bass, soaring vocals, growls, and spine tingling/finger wrecking solos are brought together to create Spell Eater.
Favorite songs are the lead-off single “Eight of Swords”, which is catchy as hell, “Aradia”, which reminds me a bit of mid-90’s Fear Factory, and “Senicide”, the second track from the album.
In total, I’m definitely loving this album and I’ll be buying it when it comes out.
8.5 out of 10.

Spell Eater Tracklisting:
1. Spell Eater
2. Senecide
3. Sleep and Death
4. Snow Witch
5. Eight of Swords
6. Aradia
7. Night Rape
8. Children
9. Terror
10. The Tower
11. The Dark

Spell Eater Personnel:
Eric Harris: Bass
Carl Wierzbicky: Drums
Blake Meahl: Lead Guitars
Ian Alden: Rhythm Guitars
Jill Janus: Vocals

Genre: Heavy, Black, Doom Metal 
Label: Independent

You would not believe the size of the smile on my face when this little gem materialized in my mailbox. I metaphorically splooged all over Inverticrux’s (formally known as Vintage Flesh) last album, Hour Of The Night Gaunts, so my expectations are impossibly high for their 2012 release, Virgin Reaper. With an album title like that, they’re well on their way to meeting those standards. What mysteries were to behold within? Were there any other changes along side the band name? My mind is racing with the wondrous possibilities…

Immediately, I’m ecstatic to find that the schizophrenic genre melding remains in Inverticrux’s own patented style.  Mixing elements of classic heavy metal, some toned down doom metal and slivers of black metal to make something that’s original and easily distinguishable as belonging to these New Hampshire psychopaths!

Holy… was that a harmonica? Fuck yes! I’ve always said that more metal bands should utilize the power found inside this little magical wind instrument! Granted it’s only found in the song A Cautionary Tale, but I’d rather it be in only one track than in none at all. Personal excitement over discovering the use of an under appreciated instrument aside, the overall instrumentation in Virgin Reaper has a crusty, filthiness going for it that rarely gets the praise it deserves when it’s discovered outside of punk or related versions of black metal. I for one am stoked to find it here!

More praise is to be sent vocalist RayPissed’s way! He changed up his vocal tactic this time around by ditching the constant falsetto (which so many others apparently had a problem with) and replacing it with more variety. Gruff, but not tough guy vocals lead the way while being backed up with the occasional higher end tune and and even better still version of his haunting bellowing! The guy is a vocal genius!

The production is another tally in the positive side of things. Everything sounds much crisper than it did in Hour Of The Night Gaunts while still completely down and dirty. And let’s talk about that cover art! The titular character is clutching his recently used scythe in one hand and a bloody cherry in the other while standing on a pile of skulls, surrounded by blood drenched, big titted chicks! Fucking METAL!!!

Overall: Tinkle me pink to find out that Virgin Reaper holds it’s own against it’s predecessor with it’s stylistic variations and crusty similarities! Inverticrux is a band that knocks down genre expectations and will continue to do what they wish, when they wish on into the future and Funeral Rain will be right there behind them, cheering them on all the way!

10/10

Inverticrux On Facebook 

Genre: Heavy, Power Metal
Label: Killer Metal Records

It has been quite a while since I’ve received something even remotely close to heavy metal or power metal. Iowa’s metal maestros Unity manage to cram the two aforementioned genres together with a wee bit of a progressive sound thrown in for a taste of fucking awesome!

Within the first two tracks you can tell that these guys really like their Iron Maiden. The third track erases any doubt of that completely and then raises the flag for fans of Gamma Ray! I’m tingly all over! Especially when a wicked solo erupts out of nowhere and melts your face clean of the bone (a la Raiders Of The Lost Ark). Following your facial reconstruction, vocalist Alonso “Zo” Donoso finishes off what’s left with a voice so perfect for what Unity is doing here. Power vocals that may as well be the voice of God since when Zo sings, everyone listens. Not necessarily because they want to, but because they are compelled to.

Even the obligatory power metal ballad doesn’t suck! Do you have any idea how fucking rare it is to come across a band that decides to write and record a ballad that isn’t cheesy, oversimplified or just plain horrible? Blue Moon rare! Honestly, I don’t know if I can make this any clearer to everyone. Unity is amazing, plain and simple. Check them out if you’re new school, old school or anything between or beyond.

Overall: Seriously, if you’re a fan of European heavy/power metal and wish that there was an American band could sound just as good, look no further. You’ve found them! True American Metal is REBORN!!!

10/10

Unity Official
Unity On ReverbNation
Unity On Facebook  

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Independent

Metal Warriors Part 2, eh? So… what’s it going to be then? It’s not a split since there is only the one group credited. Is it a tribute album? Kinda. Though, I’d call it more of a compilation of cover songs. And Y.O.C. (as in Yalin Ongun Cosgun, after the vocalist) covers quite a bit in this here cover comp! From 80′s thrash (Metallica) to the super shreddy type stuff (Malmsteen) to Paul Dianno era Iron Maiden.

But the question still remains: Is it any good? Read on…

First up on this seven track disc is Flotsam & Jetsam’s Monster… ok, so we’re off to a bad start. But I can’t rightfully blame the guys in Y.O.C. for this craptastic song. Although, they did choose to put it on this compilation… It’s a great cover of a bad song. Walk away taking that one however you want to.

Up next, we’ve got Iron Maiden’s Remember Tomorrow… Now. We’re. Talking! Not only is this a great cover of a great song, it’s a perfect choice to throw listeners into the mood that Y.O.C. was undoubtedly shooting for! I personally would of scrapped Monster and started off with this one.

And now, onto my my favorite song choice on Metal Warriors Part 2: Blitzkrieg! The best part of this cover is the fact that you can tell that they were listening to A Time Of Changes and not Garage Inc. when they decided to cover this.  A cover, well done.

Regrettably, Y.O.C. cover Metallica’s Battery next. I’m fucking tired of hearing this song! The original and all of the other covers (even Van Canto’s cover of this song kills me on some level) will soon be stricken from my iTunes library if this shit keeps up! To be fair, it’s a decent enough cover instrumentally, though the vocalist’s style just doesn’t seem to sync up through most of the song.

Yngwie Malmsteen’s I Am A Viking? InstaWin! Next track!

Yay! I can bitch again thanks to this cover of Axel Rudi Pell’s Eyes Of The Lost! Look, if this is just a vocal cover compilation, then just do songs that feature the vocalist like this. But thus far, we’ve had track after track that require some skill on the guitarist/bassist and drummer’s parts as well. But again, it’s a good cover so… you know?

Finally, we come to a cover of TORANAGA’s Sword Of Damocles. Gotta be honest, I never heard the original before and by the sound of this cover, I won’t be checking it out. It’s thrashy/heavy metal-y, but it still manages to not be near my cup-o-tea. Sorry guys, ya lost me here.

And that’s that! I HATE cover compilations. Even more, I HATE reviewing them. But as far as these things go, this one wasn’t really bad at all. I got bored listening to songs that I already knew and in most cases, heard much better covers of already. But I didn’t roll my eyes or impatiently wait for the track to finish nearly as often as I normally do.

Overall: If you can’t get enough cover songs, you’ll probably dig this seven track compilation. But if you’re like the rest of us, it’ll wear you down pretty damned quick.

7.5/10

Y.O.C. On MySpace