SevenKingdoms

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Nothin' Top Heavy about ON TOPS's latest


"Top Heavy" the latest release from East Coasters ON TOP



ON TOP has created a powerful ripping release with their latest, Top Heavy. The bands first full length release following a the three song demo Another Night Of Sleaze in 2008 and a six track EP in 2010.
The power trio plans tour this release is poised for a great year ahead.
Jaron Gulino puts forth a killer vocal performance on this one, to say nothing of his great bass work too (Witness track 9). Danny Piselli's drum style is very comparable to a cross between Wild Mick Brown and Phil Rudd. The icing on the cake is the arrival of new guitar slinger Alex Kulick (formerly of Striker). Alex stakes his claim right away on the 44 second intro track "Top Heavy" which shows off a fair bit of EVH flair and technique. That one segues into Into The night which reminded this metal head of Queenryche's "Queen of the Ryche" before going into a classic Dokken style verse and chorus. Where once again Alex runs throw a killer lead break.
Four of the tracks are redone versions of track as on the prior two releases but unlike when some bands do this and you tell the old ones form the new ones, not on this disc. It all a very cohesive disc and it all flows nicely.
Standout tracks include the aforementioned "Into The Night", "Success And Excess", and "Hot N' Wet"
If you yearn for the days of metal tunes about decadence and good times with a some anthemic stuff chucked in for good measure this release has 11 tracks of just what you are looking for. With most tracks clocking in at under 5 minutes you can listen the whole thing and be surprised at quick it all goes by. That's a good thing in these days of way too many tracks on a disc.

The bottom line ON TOP is like Dokken meets AC/DC meets Crue and results are great. FoM gives this one a buy rating.

Top Heavy can be purchased at this location: http://hpgd.comoj.com/store/hpgd036.html

ON TOP Band Links: 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Free Sampler from Listenable Records



Listenable Records is offering fans a free 22-track sampler, which is now available for streaming and download at sampler.listenable.net. The album, which features tracks from many Listenable's dynamic and diverse roster of artists - past and present - includes Gojira, Svart Crown, Sarah Jezebel Deva, 77, Hate, Serpent Cult and many more.  Full sampler tracklisting below:


01- TORNADO
"Hate Worldwide" taken  from the album "Amsterdamn Hellsinki"
02- GOJIRA
"Yama's Messengers" taken  from the album "The Way of All Flesh"
03- STEPHAN FORTE
"Duat" taken from the album " "The Shadows Compendium" 
04- SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA
"The World Won't Hold Your Hand" taken  from the album "The Corruption of Mercy"
05- BETRAYING THE MARTYRS
"Martyrs" taken  from the album "Breathe in Life" 
06- KATANA
"Phoenix On Fire" taken  from the album "Heads Will Roll"
07- SVARTCROWN
"Into A Demential Sea" taken  from the album "Witnessing the Fall" 
08- HATE
"Lux Aeterna" taken  from the album "Erebos"
09- HEAVENWOOD
"Once A Burden" taken  from the album "Abyss Masterpiece"
10- IZEGRIM
"Deathstrip" taken  from the album "Code of Consequences"
11- KRUGER
"Villains" taken  from the album "For Death, Glory and the End of the World"
12- PANZERCHRIST
"Impact" taken  from the album "Regiment Ragnarok"
13- TORMENTED
"Come Back from the Dead" taken  from the album "Rotten Death"
14- THE ORDER OF APOLLYON
"Never" taken  from the album "The Flesh"
15- CAVUS
"Death Rattle" taken  from the album "Fester And Putrefy"
16- 77
"High Decibels" taken  from the album "High Decibels"
17-DARKANE
"Convicted ( Live )" taken from the live cd /dvd "Layers of Live"
18- LIVARKAHIL
"The Flesh of All Damned" taken  from the album "Signs of Decay"
19- ELECTRIC MARY
"OIC" taken from the album "III" 
20- THE RED SHORE
"The Seeds of Annihilation" taken  from the album "The Avarice of Man"
21- THE ORDER OF APOLLYON
"Word" taken from the album "The Flesh"
22- SERPENT CULT
"Growth of the Soil" taken from the album "Raised by Wolves" 


Saturday, February 11, 2012

Life's Blood Great New Release From Widow

Released November 11th on Pure Steel Records "Life's Blood" the new release from Widow is a winner for fans of NWOBHM as well as great American metal.



Life's Blood is the North Carolina based bands fourth release and the first on Pure Steel records.
Just look at the cover art for this bad boy. That's classic metal my friends. That's what drove metalheads to explore all those unknown bands in the import bins. First look and I was whisked back to cover for the Witchfinder General classic "Friends of Hell" release.



Is the music within worthy of such a kick ass cover? Hell yeah!!!
This is 12 tracks of solid metal. None of this mono-tempo crap. We are talking about songs that build from cool intros. Just when you think you have an idea where it's going, you get a fresh twist.
NWOBHM is deceptive. It sounds simple but you have to have all things in the right measure to achieve great NWOBHM feel and Widow does it right. Crisp solid drumming, pumping bass lines, clean vocals, and twin harmonies leads...from a three piece!!!
Okay so they do the Brit bit to a tee but that ain't all they alo toss in some great American influences as well. The last band that did that as effectively as this was Tokyo Blade on their last release.

Usually I can pick out that one song from a release that is my pick from it, but not this one. Every track on this is great. I CAN however pick the coolest track name, "I Scream for Ice Queen"

Focus on Metal puts Widow's "Life's Blood" on the must have list of albums this year.
This is one of those release that you will want to listen to from track one "Lady Twilight" to track 12 "The One I Know". I know I did...and LOUD.

www.reverbnation.com/widow
www.myspace.com/widow
www.puresteel-records.com


Stay tuned to Focus on Metal to hear select tracks from this incredible metal release.