Elmsfeuer/Schatzsuche/2013 CD Review

  Elmsfeuer  are  a  band  from  Germany  that  plays  a  mixture  of  metal,  folk  and  medieval   rock  with  a  musical  style  they  call  pirate  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2013  album  "Schatzsuche".

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present on  this  recording,  while  the  folk  instruments  bring  a  very  dark,  atmospheric  and  medieval  sound  to  the  recording,  as  for  the  bass  playing  it  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  metal,  folk  and  medieval  rock  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  with  a  good  amount  of  melody  being  thrown  into  the  riffing ,  while  the  lead  guitars  which  are  only  used  briefly  are  very  melodic  sounding  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  use  full  chords  and  finger  picking  to  enhance  the  folk  elements  of  the  recording.


  Vocals  are  mostly  clean  singing  folk  metal  vocals  with  some  spoken  word  parts  being  used  at  times,  while  the  lyrics  are  written  in  German  and  cover  pirate  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  to  it.  

  In  my  opinion  Elmsfeuer  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  metal,  folk  and  medieval  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Schatzsuche"  "Das  Wahre  Leben"  "Der  Seeman"  and  "Der  Zebrochen  Krug".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Caulfield Interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

We're like the melodic hardcore version of the beastie boys. Word to ya mother.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?

Loud and proud

3. What  are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?

Overcoming regret. Not being the person you despise. Having love for your friends. Getting your shit together. Reaching out to your brother.. feeling lost in a crowd.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?

It's taken from the lead character in catcher in the rye!

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

Parkway drive is hard to beat. We played manning bar with Silverstein last month. That was awesome!!

6. Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

Yeh. Every show we play we wanna rock harder faster, harder and louder than the one before. I need a vacation. (I'm aware I said harder twice)

7. Recently you split out a split with Vestiges, what are your thoughts on the other band that participated?

?? wrong band.

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal and hardcore?

Unbelievable. Everytime I check our fb some new country wants us tour there. It’s so exciting for us.

9. Are there any other musical projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?

Ned’s in a band called  Awaken I am. Check them out!

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

Faster, harder, louder & harder

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

I really like in hearts wake album divination. Forgive me. I'm runnin bout 9 months late. That shit rules. I think the whole band really dug bmth's last album. 

12.Outside of music what are some of your interests?

So many things!! We like video games, sports, complaining about stuff, We also go and check bands out together a lot, but I guess that still counts a music.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?

Buy our album. Please. We will like you and be your friends.

It should be out by August and will be called VANITY 

Face Down Interview

1. Can you tell us a little bit about the band for those that have never heard of you before?

- We're just a bunch of guys doing what we do, and hoping to be able to make everybody have the best time of their lives while listening to the album or seeing us live.

2. How would you describe your musical sound?- It depends on who you ask, we've all got a variety of musical influences, but of course we've got something in common, and that's what makes us do what we do and love every riff and little detail of it.

3. What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the music?-Lyrical wise I try and make them accord to the southern style that we have, of course some of them relate to some hard situations that I've been through, and I like to try too to send a message out, commenting on some of the bad situations of todays society and world.

4. What is the meaning and inspiration behind the bands name?The meaning of the name... well truly it's just about not giving up and keeping your head high. I'd say maybe a bit of putting your troubles on your back, and plowing though with your own will power too.

5. What are some of the best shows that the band has played so far and how would you describe your stage performance?

- It depends, the concert we had with Lofofora was incredible but it was a different vibe than the concerts we've had in small bars and concert rooms, there we were all so close that the exchange of energy was incredible, and that's what I love most about what we do, I'm an in your face with the public kind of guy. 

Stage performance wise... I'd say energetic, definitely energetic, being a public bound guy, I love to go and scream in the faces of the guys down in the pit. 

6. Do you have any touring plans for the future?

- Unfortunately not as of yet, but hopefully very soon we will, it'd be incredible to cross the great pond and play our backsides off over there.

7. Currently you are unsigned, are you looking for a label and if so what kind of label do you feel that would be a perfect fit for the music?- We're not really looking for a label at this moment because Black wave is taking good care of us in the promotion department and in finding us a nice number of quality concerts. We'll see for the second album if we get any offers, but it's not what we're concentrated on at this precise moment, right now we just want to concentrate on doing some nice gigs and kicking everyone's ass!!!

8. On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of metal and sludge?

- Up to now we haven't had very much, but the little that we've had has been motivating. We'll see as we go on doing more shows and get a bit more exposure out there.

9. Are there any other musical projects besides this band or is this a full time line up?

- One for all, and all for Face down. hehe

10. What direction do you see your music heading into on future releases?

- Time will tell, but for sure they'll be as kickass as the first one.

11. What are some bands or musical styles that have influenced your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?

- As I said before, our music comes from a variety of styles and one common factor "metal", each one of us have groups that the other guys don't like and others that they do, a common factor could possibly be Pantera, but I think essentially that maybe we all like different parts of their songs, and thus, they all being in the same group, make us a little on the same path.

12. Outside of music what are some of your interests?

- Personally I'm a sports addict.

13. Any final words or thoughts before we wrap up this interview?
- Just to stay tuned for future concerts all round, and be prepared to be blown away!!! hehe

Krownn/Hyborian Age/PRC Music/2013 CD Review

  Krownn  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  very  old  school  and  traditional  form  of  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of t heir  2013  album  "Hyborian  Age"  which  was  released  by  PRC  Music.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present on  this  recording,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars  and  at  times  they  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  traditional  doom  metal  riffs  that  are  very  heavy  and  old  school  sounding  with  a  good  amount  of  melody  being  thrown  into  the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  old  school  and  melodic  sounding  traditional  doom  metal  guitar  solos  and  leads,  as  for  the  acoustic  guitars  when  they  are  utilized  use  finger  picking  to  add  more  classic  metal  elements  to  the  recording.

  Vocals  are  mostly  clean  singing  doom/heavy  metal  vocals  along  with  a  brief  use  of  spoken  word  samples  as  well  as  a  brief  use  of  screams  being  utilized  on  the  last  song,  while  the  lyrics  cover  the  fantasy  writings  of  Robert  E.  Howard,  Michael  Moorcock,  J.R.R Tolkien  and  George  R.  Martin,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  dark,  heavy,  old  school  and  professional  sound  with t he  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length  and  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Krownn  are  a  very  great  sounding  traditional  doom  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a fan  of t his  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  recording.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "For  The  Throne  Of  Fire"  and  "Gods  Of  Magnitogorsk".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Get Rad/I Can Always Live/Gilead Media/2010 CD Review

  Get  Rad  are  a  band  from  Wisconsin  that  plays  a  very  old  school  form  of  hardcore  punk  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2010  album  "I  Can  Always  Live"  which  was  released  by  Gilead  Media.

  Drums  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  drumming  with  not  much  in  the  way  of  blast  beats,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow,  mid  paced  to  fast  riffs  that  combine  punk  and  old  school  hardcore  with  the  heaviness  of  metal  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  and  there  are  no  guitar  solos  or  leads  present  on  this  recording.

  Vocals  are  all  old  school  sounding  hardcore  style  vocals,  while  the  lyrics  cover  hateful  and  everyday  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  recording.

  In  my  opinion  Get  Rad  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  old  school  hardcore  and  punk  with  elements  of  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Life  Without  A  Plan"  "Fucked  Off  Death"  "No  Easy"  and  "I  Want  To  Kill  A  Priest".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Voodoo Mule/Voodoo Zoo/2013 CD Review

  This  is  another  review  of  a  recording  from  Voodoo  Mule  with  the  music  continuing  their  hybrid  of  doom  metal,  sludge,  and  stoner  rock  with  the  full  length  being  self  released  in  2013  and  called  "Voodoo  Zoo".

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present on  this  recording,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  dark  tone  with  riffs  that  follow  the  riffing  that  are  coming  out  of  the  guitars.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  doom  metal,  sludge  and  stoner  rock  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  old  school  and  psychedelic  sounding  doom  metal/stoner  rock  guitar  solos  and  leads  that  have  a  blues  feeling  to  them  at  times.

  Vocals  are  all  clean  singing  doom  metal/stoner  rock  vocals,  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  everyday  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy,  dark,  old  school  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present  on  this  album with  some  of  the  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  this  is  another  great  recording  from  Voodoo Mule  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  doom  metal,  sludge  and  stoner  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Honeyland"  "Im  A  Midnight  Moler"  and  "Church  Snake".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.

Voodoo Mule/Demo 2011 Review

  Voodoo  Mule  are  a  band  from  Slovenia  that  plays  a  mixture  of  doom  metal,  sludge  and  stoner  rock  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  self  released  2011  demo.

  Drums  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  playing  with  no  fast  drumming  or  blast  beats  being  present on  this  recording,  while  the  bass  playing  has  a  very  strong  and  powerful  sound  with  heavy  and  dark  riffing  that  dominates  throughout  the  recording.

  Rhythm  guitars  range  from  slow  to  mid  paced  riffs  that  combine  doom  metal,  sludge  and s toner  rock  together  to  create  a  sound  of  their  own  with  some  dark  sounding  melodies  being  thrown  into the  riffing,  while  the  lead  guitars  are  very  dark  and  old  school  sounding  doom  metal/rock  guitar  solos  and  leads.

  Vocals  are  mostly  clean  singing  stoner/doom  metal  singing  along  with  a  brief  use  of  high  pitched  sludge  screams,  while  the  lyrics  cover  darkness  and  desert  themes,  as  for  the  production  it  has  a  very  strong,  powerful,  heavy, d ark,  old  school  and  professional  sound  where  you  can  hear  all  of  the  musical  instruments  that  are  present   on  this  recording  with  the  two  songs  being  long  and  epic  in  length.

  In  my  opinion  Voodoo  Mule  are  a  very  great  sounding  hybrid  of  doom  metal,  sludge  and  stoner  rock  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACK  "Powder  Boy".  RECOMMENDED  BUY.