Funeral Rain Press Corps

Italian Metal Powerhouse Scarlet Records has announced their second set of releases in the North American Market. They are Bloodshot‘s Murder the World” and The Georgian Skull‘s Mother Armageddon, Healing Apocalypse. Both releases are scheduled for release on March 8, 2011. This is the first time that both albums have been available in North America.

Following the critically acclaimed album Ultimate Hatred, released by Scarlet Records in 2006, and having already shared the stage with renowned acts such as Six Feet Under, Born From Pain, Gojira, Stamping Ground, Heaven Shall Burn, Caliban, Sworn Enemy, Cataract and many more, Belgian hardcore-metal masters Bloodshot are finally ready to release their third full length effort, Murder The World.

Bloodshot‘s new effort, which will once again be released by Scarlet Records, is more vicious and aggressive than ever before, redefining brutality and combining the best elements of metal and hardcore to a perfect war machine crushing everything on its path. Bands like Full Blown Chaos, Sworn Enemy, Hatebreed, Cataract and HateSphere come to mind but yet Bloodshot experiences no difficulties in creating their own well distinctive sound, giving them an original touch in the metalcore scene nowadays. Murder The World will be once again dealing with the acts of another serial killer, Richard Ramirez! Recording sessions took place at Jonathas studio and DeStudio, with Dirk Miers (Do Or Die, Born From Pain) handling the mixing duties. Mastering took place at West West Side Music in New York City.

Bloodshot are ready to take their ambitions to the next level, playing and touring as much as possible, promoting the new CD’s in the most professional way, spreading the Bloodshot madness on the crowds all over the world!!

Inspired by 1970′s Heavy Metal such as Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin and Thin Lizzy, Georgian Skull have fused the past with even heavier metal bands like Clutch, Pantera and Entombed. Georgian Skull continues to redefine their sound and presence as one of the most important bands to have come out of Canada. The death of the stoner band Mister Bones brought out the most significant chapter of the band’s life: its afterlife. Which is simply known as Georgian Skull. A revolution is on its way, a great tale is about to be told, and the power of the Doom and Groove that possess this band will set out to unleash a masterful work in their new album, set to be released on Scarlet Records. Georgian Skull is absolutely one of the most crushing live bands around, a real must for any fan of Black Sabbath. Georgian Skull is a four-piece out of Windsor, London and Hamilton, Canada, fronted by vocalist/lead guitarist Al “The Yeti” Bones (also frontman for U.S.A ‘s sludge king’s The Mighty Nimbus). Mother Armageddon, Healing Apocalypse is the confirmed title of the band’s debut full length album: Apocalyptic lyrics meshed with life’s struggle for sanity, crossed with the biggest, baddest riffs around. Georgian Skull command the attention of every audience they’ve played for. Bands they have shared the stage with have been Anvil, Cryptopsy, Today Is The Day, Goatwhore, Trouble, Sons Of Otis, and many, many more. Artwork duties were handled by Vince Locke (well known for his work with death metal legends Cannibal Corpse).

Genres: Hardcore, Hard Rock
Label: Self-Released

Give ‘Em Hell, eh? The tile alone conjures up images of big sweaty dudes (with bald or very short hair) with trendy tattoos on their crossed arms while posing for their band photo. And while that might be true in The L.R.A.’s case (I don‘t know for sure since I didn‘t check their MySpace page…), you can’t judge a book by it’s cover. So let’s read on…

Give ‘Em Hell is, at it’s heart an anthem album, with songs that say things like “Fuck you!” and “Fuck off!” and “I’m a maniac!” and so on, and so on. Sure the lyrics are pretty overdone, but somehow The L.R.A. manage to make some headway in the “Just Plain Fun” department. Sure they sound like Pantera-Breed with smidgens of Thin-Sabbath, so excuse me for have a good ol’ time with Give ’Em Hell.

Overall: The tough guy bravado gets a little old in this hard rock/heavy metal hybrid, but it’s an enjoyable experience all together. Again, it’s nothing you’ve never heard before but there’s a shit ton of potential that’s bubbling under the surface.

7/10

The LRA on MySpace

Genre: Heavy Metal
Label: Independent

Quick history lesson on how I got this CD to review: I saw Fenriz had posted his Band of the Week blog and it was these Canadian metalslingers. The quote that made me want to hear them specifically is: “They sound ANCIENT and have cool influences like Thin Lizzy and probably Diamond Head. And they are alive and playing NOW.” (Read the whole blog.)
And so I sent an email to them, and the gents were happy to send me a copy of Wasteland for review.
And what an easy review to do.
Basically, if Judas Priest were formed now, and in Canada rather than England, they’d be called Metalian. This is true, pure heavy metal, and it does sound ancient.
There seems to be quite a bit of Iron Maiden influence going on too, especially in the title track.
I love it. I’ve taken a few trips through the Wasteland, and I’ll be taking a lot more.
10 out of 10.