Metadox makes "Open Call" for vocalist

Frank Tosi, the driving force behind New York’s DesDemon, resurrects his band Metadox after the demise of DesDemon and announces an open call for a vocalist. 

Originally established in 2001, Metadox had rose quickly in the New York metal circles when signing with Metal Mayhem Music, to opening for respected artists Dragonforce, Kamelot, and Moonspell.  The band imploded prematurely during their studio recording sessions in 2006.   Frank Tosi mentions “Metadox deserved a lot more than what was afforded at the time. I'm a little older now, I have more knowledge, contacts, and  I'm a much better musician now.  As much as I will always love and cherish the good points of what DesDemon became, I know Metadox will be much more appealing to a broader spectrum of metal fans."

Metadox is currently holding vocalist auditions globally.  If interested and have the passion and the vocal range similar to: Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Iced Earth, King Diamond, Huntress, Slayer, or Firewind, then contact us.  Frank Tosi states, “We are looking for someone who is seasoned, dedicated, have similar interests, able to front a band, and write quality lyrics”.  Metadox will revamp their existing material and collaboratively write new music for pre-production of their debut release.  

Provide some information about yourself, any audio, video, or EPK links.

All interested, please contact Frank Tosi at: Auditions@MetadoxMetal.com

           

Weblinks:

www.metadoxmetal.com

www.exilemetal.com

Chelsea Knaack Joins Heliosaga as New Lead Vocalist

Symphonic/Power Metal band Heliosaga are proud to welcome their new vocalist Chelsea Knaack!!!!   

 Chelsea Knaack is known for her lead vocals in DesDemon and brought her impressive talent to their 2011 release on Radtone Music Japan. 

Damien Villarreal formed Heliosaga in 2010 with a dynamic selection of musicians around San Antonio, Texas. Heliosaga’s powerful moving melodies, enhanced by Chelsea Knaack’s passionate soprano voice, will make Heliosaga a force among the ranks of the female fronted genre. 

Heliosaga are writing new material and will begin pre-production for label representation following  Chelsea’s relocation to Texas this Summer.

The name Heliosaga is a metaphor derived from helios, the Greek word for sun, and saga meaning the story/ history; thus, Heliosaga represents the journey of life. 

Chelsea Knaack states "I was looking for a new chapter in my life with a new adventure and Heliosaga fit the plan. It was also the chemistry with the guys; we are all very similar in many ways. It will be a great adventure indeed."

Heliosaga adds “Chelsea’s vocals are moving, her stage presence is captivating and she has an immense passion for this kind of music. Shortly after meeting we realized how well we click on personal and professional levels, so we can say that we have gained a great friend and an incredible band mate! We are eager to begin recording our debut album together, which will be released early next year.”

Heliosaga look forward to touring in support of their debut album.

This year and 2013 will be exciting years for Heliosaga with much more activity.   

Heliosaga is Chelsea Knaack (lead vocals), Damien Villarreal (guitars and keyboards), Ken Lambdin (guitars), Jacob Horning (bass), and Jordan Ames (drums).

Heliosaga’s 2011 demo tracks can be accessed at their Reverbnation site.   Check often for news updates and new material.

Weblinks:

Band:  http://www.heliosaga.com

Facebook Band Page:  http://www.facebook.com/Heliosaga

Reverb Nation:  http://www.reverbnation.com/heliosaga

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/#!/heliosaga

Blistering.com Debuts Track From Power Theory's An Axe to Grind    Blistering.com, in conjunction with Pure Steel Records and Philly-based trad metallers POWER THEORY, have posted a stream of the song "Edge of Knives" from the band's forthcoming album, An Axe to Grind. Click yourself over to this location and check it out.      Germany's Pure Steel Records will release An Axe to Grind on June 29, 2012, the day the Philadelphia band performs at WARRIORS OF METAL FEST V OPEN AIR at the Frontier Ranch in Pataskala, OH. The masterfully composed follow-up to (the originally self-titled) Out of The Ashes, Into The Fire... And Other Tales of Insanity reissue, the new album is a traditional heavy metal attack influenced by acts like Saxon with a Metallica/(early) Metal Church vocal delivery. Classic metal riffing and soaring twin-leads combine with thrashier elements to produce an album that is as ironclad as it is memorable. The album cover was painted by Eliran Kantor, also known for his work on Sodom's In War and Pieces and Testament's The Formation of Damnation. This is first rate American Heavy Metal. Check out An Axe to Grind Promotional Video at this location.    Metal-Rules TV has posted a series of three interviews with POWER THEORY.    Check 'em out:   Part I: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9GS22JAa2Kw   Part II: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uG4Rg6_4-SI Part III: www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhuUgFSDXj8   An Axe to Grind Cover Art & Track Listing:          1. Edge Of Knives 2.  Deceiver 3. Pure Steel 4. An Axe To Grind 5. A Fist In The Face Of God 6.  The Seer 7. On The Inside 8. Colossus 9. The Hammer Strikes

Terrorizer Magazine Now Streaming Katana's Latest Release "Storms of War"

Breaking news from Listenable Records...

Terrorizer.com, the online portal for Terrorizer Magazine, is now streaming Storms Of War, the newest Album from Sweden based traditional heavy metallers KATANA.

Recorded and mixed at Sonic Studios by King Diamond legend Andy La Rocque, Storms Of War draws influence from Saxon, Maiden, Priest, Grim Reaper and Manowar. Any fan of early 80's metal will feel right at home.

Storms of War will be released on June 19th

Tracks:

The Reaper

Wrath of the Emerald Witch

Kubilai Khan

The Samurai Returns

City on the Edge of Forever

No Surrender

In the Land of the Sun

The Gambit

Modesty Blaise

The Wisdom of Emonds Field

A link on the right hand pane can be found at http://www.terrorizer.com/

Latest release from Bible Of The Devil to hit shelves in May

Bible of The Devil's sixth full length release "For The Love of Thugs & Fools" on Cruz Del Sur Music shows a band unafraid to to display their roots.

In all honesty I had never heard of Bible of The Devil before this release but the press release had the magic words "two guitar attack" and "anthemic vocals" and told me I had to give this one a listen. I'm glad I did. The last release these guys had was 2008's "Freedom Metal" and it's evident they have used the intervening years very well.

Guitarist/singer Mark Hoffman's vocals sit somewhere between Udo and Ace Frehley and not in a bad way. Although I would not describe them as anthemic they fit with the subject matter of the songs and serve them well.  

So what about those guitars? I hear classic hard rock and metal influences all over this album. Iron Maiden is very much in evidence here. The dual leads on "Night Street" are on example. "Anytime" and "Yer Boy" echo the timeless two guitar attack of Thin Lizzy. "Out For Blood" is a mix of old school Kiss mixed with Motley Crue.

All in all this is classic riffage that doesn't disappoint or overwhelm.

All in all this is one solid collection of songs. Mark Hoffmann states, "The few years since the last full-length have been like a dare. A dare to create a soaring, punishing rock 'n' roll record of this magnitude. It is a dare that we have been forced to answer ourselves." They have delivered on that. If I were to knock anything it would be the intro piece "Sexual Overture". In my opinion it didn't seem to connect with the track that followed and it is totally different from the rest of the disc.

For those of you that listen to lyrics, this one will give you some great stuff. These guys are from the rough side of Chicago and their songs deal with the life they see around them. There's some weighty stuff in here. "Can't Turn Off The Sun" is a good starting place to delve into the lyrical content.

So if all this sounds good to you then go grab "For The Love Of Thugs & Fools" when it gets released on May 8. Besides the aforementioned intro track there isn't a bad song on here. And be sure to keep an eye out for them on tour this year as well.

For more info on the band head to their official site or support them on Facebook

Devastating new Release from A Sound Of Thunder

Everyone knows I like my metal tunes to come in around 4 minutes. 

A Sound Of Thunder's new release Out Of The Darkness opens with a track that comes in at 8:31 that's almost the dreaded jam band song length. And ya know what? This track is so strong that I never noticed until I was looking at the track list.

What puts this one in a leg like that? Two words…Nina Osegueda!!!

This is one vocalist that is absolutely sonically stunning. I am blown away by her vocal abilities and she ranks right up there with Veronica Freeman and Angela Gossow in this reviewers book.

The scream at the beginning of "Fight Until The End" will firmly cement the Veronica comparison.

This is some first rate power metal on this release, the bands second after Metal Renaissance in 2011. These guys have not let up so far and I can't wait to hear what comes next. 

Besides the killer pipes from Nina there's a killer group of players in here too. Founder Josh Schwartz lays down some great guitar riffs topped with old school melodic hooky solo lines. This guy is no one trick pony. Stylistically the ten tracks on this one touch all styles and they are done to perfection.

The rhythm section? Dead nuts on beat. No over playing. No derivative masturbatory double bass over everything. The Chris Haden keeps the groove and new bassist Ben Washburn keeps it all right in the pocket weaving the drums and guitar together.

Best tracks? There ain't no bad ones but if I had to cough up the top three they would be "Fight Till The End", "Murderous Horde" and "Kill That Bitch"

Bottom Line: Melodic. Killer vox. Top notch production. This one's a metal masterpiece. Buy this now and metal your nuts off!!!

Thank You Lance and all the folks at Nightmare Records for continuing to put out killer metal like this.

I urge all you metal heads to hit the Nightmare Records site and check out all the metal goodness in store there.

Facebook:  www.facebook.com/asoundofthunder

Website: www.asoundofthunderband.com

ReverbNation: www.reverbnation.com/asoundofthunder

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: 

http://www.reverbnation.com/ontoprock 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/On-Top/153690374644194

http://ontop.bandcamp.com/ http://soundcloud.com/ontoprock 

http://www.myspace.com/bandontop 

http://www.purevolume.com/ONTOP

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" 

www.listenable.net 

www.shop.listenable.net 

www.myspace.com/listenable 

www.twitter.com/listenable 

www.facebook.com/listenablerecs 

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.

Sycco Returns

Dario Sycco returns to podcasting as a Metal Detector. On the air since 2006, Sycco (former co-host of Radioactive Metal, This Week in Metal and Focus on Metal podcasts) is not afraid to express his opinion. His large collection of metal and 30 years of metal listening experience combined with extensive knowledge of audio production help to turn Metal Detector into a metal podcast with balls and charisma. This show is all about metal discoveries with everything a discriminating metalhead would ever want including news, trivia, guests, killer music & much more. If you’re not afraid of the explosive combination of German precision, British sarcasm and Polish sense of humor produced in isolation of frozen Canadian prairies, then this might be a show for you. If you’re looking for an old-timer digging into his nostalgia box of vinyl, you may have to look elsewhere.
Episode 1 features an interview with Tony Iommi, segment on the truth behind the Big 4 of Thrash, news, trivia, great music and much more. The show is available as a free subscription via iTunes. You can also check out Dario's new website www.TrueMetalhead.com. All his former shows as well as the new Metal Detector are available on the largest metal podcast network called Cast Iron Ring.