Eastern European METAL

Two albums coming from our friends in Russia and Hungary today. Kruiz is from Russia, forming while the country was still under communist rule, and having to dodge some of the regulations of the government in order to release their material. The band went through a few different styles, but their album I'm uploading today (a self-titled effort) is pure speed metal, and is mega awesome. On one of their long-lost demos, this band actually recorded a song at 318 bpm. None of the songs on this album get that fast, of course, because studio albums should be coherent. But don't expect a snoozy, atmospheric trip.

Our other band is Pokolgép, from Hungary. They were one of the first Hungarian metal bands, and are still putting out albums to this day. Their style is a form of traditional heavy metal with some speed and power influences thrown around. This album was released right after a major line-up change, and yet ended up being one of the best albums they ever put out. Highly recommended.

Kruiz - s/t (1988)
Pokolgép - Adj Új Erõt (1991)

Running Wild - Pile of Skulls

The best Running Wild album. Fuck Death or Glory, fuck Black Hand Inn. And those are both great albums in their own right, so that's saying something. Crazy awesome speed metal from one of Germany's biggest bands. Riffs down your fucking throat the whole way through. You will enjoy this, unless you're into artsy folkfag stuff. In which case, why are you in the shark? LEAVE THE HALL!

"Pile of skulls, conspiracy
Beware of the revealing key
No dance of joy, no harmless spree
No chance for you to hide or flee"

Pile of Skulls (1992)

Harry Conklin Funtime Hour

Harry Conklin is most-known for his position as the frontman for Jag Panzer. But did you know that in between his two stints in JP, he was in two other bands? Well, he was. And they were pretty good, too. First, he joined the band called Satan's Host, which played a grim form of 80's heavy metal with Satanic themes. While doing so, he took up the brilliant stage name of Leviathan Thisiren. Now that's a name to scare your children with. He recorded two albums with the band, but only one was ever released: the campy-as-shit Metal from Hell. The second album, Midnight Wind, has been bootlegged, but never officially released (though that is apparently on the way). It's a solid album with a great performance from Conklin, but the production leaves much to be desired. Still, it's worth a listen. After his stint in Satan's Host, Harry headed over to Titan Force, another heavy metal band, but with a much lighter tone. Again, he recorded two albums with the band, both of which are here. These have significantly better production, and are better overall than his Satan's Host material. With dual guitarwork from Mario Flores and Bill Richardson ranging from good to awesome, these albums border on power metal at times. And once again, Conklin gives a solid performance.

Harry's back in Panzer now, and seems to be staying put for the time being. While these bands never got the exposure JP did, they shouldn't be overlooked.

Satan's Host - Metal from Hell (1986)
Titan Force - s/t (1989)
Titan Force - Winner/Loser (1991)

Winters Bane - Heart of a Killer

Shit, I am in an uploading frenzy right now. Today, we have a really cool band by the name of Winters Bane. Based in Ohio, USA, they're mostly known for being the band Tim "Ripper" Owens was in before he joined Judas Priest. He only made one album with the band, but man, this is a great album. Winters Bane play a form of heavy/power metal, leaning towards the heavy part. Owens puts out a great vocal performance here, and has a slightly wider range than his work in Priest and Iced Earth. And those shrieks, those glorious shrieks! Good solos, a wide variety of riffs. Plenty of stuff to keep you interested. The first six songs of the album tell the story of a judge who sentences a murderer to death, then gets a heart transplant from the recently deceased murderer, causing him to become possessed (or is he?). The last four don't follow the concept, but are good songs on their own. If you like Tim Owens or you're just looking for a ballsy power metal album, this is a good way to go.

"The wages of sin is death, my son
You've gambled on your life
I know it's hard to see, my son
The light that shows the WAAAAAAAYYYYYY"

Heart of a Killer (1993)

Solitude Aeturnus - Through the Darkest Hour

I uploaded this album for somebody on the forum today, so I thought I'd throw it up here, too. Solitude Aeturnus are one of the pretty well-known bands in the doom scene, seeing as they've been around nearly as long as Candlemass. Based in Texas, they play traditional doom metal. I'd say they're a bit heavier than Candlemass, with a darker feel to them, rather than sorrowful. This is mostly due to Rob Lowe's vocals, which aren't operatic like Messiah's (but he does a wonderful job anyway). You may have heard the name Robert Lowe quite a lot recently, and that's because he just took up the spot as Candlemass's frontman after Messiah's second departure. You may have also heard rumours that he was due to be Nightwish's replacement for Tarja Turunen, but then they pussied out and brought in another pale chick. Booooo Nightwish. Anyway, Through the Darkest Hour is the band's third album, and they definitely knew what they were doing. HEAVY, dark, and full of riffs to hold your attention. What more do you want from a doom band?

"Drowning lies in bottles of time
Shipwrecked for no one to see
Reaching as far to other worlds
Besieged by numbered days"

Through the Darkest Hour (1994)

Savatage - Hall of the Mountain King

By request. Savatage is pretty well-known amongst the metal community, and Jon Olivia is somewhat of a legend (and also one of the founders of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra). Their sound is a sort of proto-power metal, but more melodic than thrashy. Almost like a progressive NWOBHM band. This is their third album.

Hall of the Mountain King (1987)

Iron Savior

Two uploads in one day?! I must be CRAAAAAZY!

Iron Savior is a power/speed metal band from Germany. Formed by the legendary Kai Hansen and Piet Sielck (who was Michael Weikath's predecessor in Helloween, before they were Helloween), this band is dedicated to bringing you sci-fi themed metal with enormous balls. As in, washing machine-sized. No fruity keyboards to be found here, Iron Savior are all about riffs. And they're good riffs, able to get you headbanging in seconds. Their lyrical content is mainly an ongoing sci-fi story about the remnants of Atlantis and a sentient spaceship called, appropriately enough, the Iron Savior. Kai Hansen left the band after their third album, but they've continued on without him, and are just as strong as ever. Sielck is a well-known producer amongst power metal bands, and the post-Kai albums in particular have near-perfect production. In their ten years of existance, they haven't progressed or changed very much at all. But you can always expect a solid album out of the band, and I believe you will enjoy each and every one of these. If you're looking for a particular one to start out with, though, I would go with Condition Red.

"Ancient calls from somewhere in time
We have to follow the sign
Distant voices; sources unknown
Where will they lead us? Where will we go?

On the scent for the lost - COMING HOME!"

Self-titled (1997)
Unification (1999)
Dark Assault (2001)
Condition Red (2002)
Battering Ram (2004)
Megatropolis (2007)

Overkill - Wrecking Everything

Not a whole lot to say here, because, to be honest, I don't know a whole lot about Overkill. I do know that they're one of the first thrash metal bands, and they are quite good at what they do. What I'm uploading for you today is the audio rips from their live DVD, Wrecking Everything. This was their most recent live album, and was also released as a CD. However, the CD only had about half the concert on it, while the DVD contains it in full (and thus, you'll be getting the full concert with this upload). It covers pretty much all of their career, and the band sounds exceptionally tight despite the fact they've been doing this for over twenty-five years.

NOTE: This is NOT a video file. These are audio files. You'll only be hearing the concert, not seeing it.

"I hate your rules, I hate 'em all!
Hate being marked to take the fall!
Planet's not big enough for me and you;
But most of all, I HATE YOU!"

Wrecking Everything

Virgin Steele - The Book of Burning

Another album from my favorite band, Virgin Steele. The one I'm uploading tonight, The Book of Burning, is an interesting work. Half of it is composed of re-written and re-recorded tracks from the early days of Virgin Steele, from their first two albums. The other half are songs written in the mid-nineties by David DeFies that never made it onto a VS album (some were also written with the help of former band member, Jack Starr). It was released to celebrate the band's twentieth anniversary. A lot of quality heavy metal on here (yes, this album is heavy metal - some orchestral stuff, but nothing to bring it into the power metal fold), and it's interesting to see how DeFies has changed some of the songs from the band's early days to reflect the style of their later albums. There's some dangerously high levels of cheese in some of these songs, mainly because they were penned in the 80's, before VS's lyrics became more serious. But the songwriting is top-notch, par for the course for Virgin Steele. It isn't quite as good as their other albums because it's not a cohesive work, more just a collection of songs. Also, some of the songs (particularly the new tracks) tend to drag on longer than they should. It's still highly reccomended to fans of the band, and others may enjoy it as well. There are some killer tracks on here - "Guardians of the Flame" is even better than before, "A Cry in the Night" works much better as an acoustic ballad, and "The Redeemer" is one of the best VS songs ever written. If you liked any of the other Virgin Steele albums, this one shouldn't disappoint you.

"We are the guardians of the flame
Masters of the ancient rites
Our duty was ordained;
To protect the realm of light"

The Book of Burning (2002)

Icarus Witch

A bit of hometown pride today for a band from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Icarus Witch formed in 2004, but if it weren't for the modern production values, you'd never know it. This is one of the few bands out there that REALLY draws their power from all the classic 80's heavy metal bands. No progressive or experimental qualities here, folks, so if you're looking for that, look elsewhere. In Icarus Witch, you'll only find excellent dual guitar work with interesting, mid-paced riffs and a solid, albeit nasally, vocal performance from Matthew Bizilia. Roses on White Lace, their EP, covers an old Alice Coooper song and makes it sound entirely different and new (and also offers three other original songs that deal with fantasy topics). It's heavier than their full length album, Capture the Magic, but if you like one, you'll like the other. If you're looking for something really deep and meaningful, or something that pushes the boundaries of metal music, you're out of luck with Icarus Witch. But if you want a band that carries the banner of Judas Priest and True Heavy Metal everywhere, then you're in luck today.

"Once you have seen it with your own eyes
You'll believe that the mirror cannot lie
In order to see it...
The secret is second sight

CAPTURE THE MAGIC"

Roses on White Lace (2005)
Capture the Magic (2005)

Unholy Cadaver

Everybody loves the Hammers of Misfortune, right? Well, back in the late 90's, they weren't called by that name. The Hammers were first known as Unholy Cadaver, and today I'm bringing you two thrice-buried demos of the necrokvlt from this band. The first one is an 8-track demo, and the second one is a 3-track. The 3-track demo doesn't have any new songs, but I believe the 8-track one might just be a compilation a fan made, while the 3-track was one actually made for distribution and promotion. There's no real difference except in the production, which is slightly better on the 3-track. Anyway, the main question is: What does this sound like? Well, there's a LOT more black and doom influence in the music than there is in the Hammers. Also a more liberal use of sampling. The songs tend to stick to one style, only increasing or decreasing in tempo. Appropriately enough, the one track that has all the different influences and style-blending the modern band is known for is "Hammers of Misfortune." I really have no idea who was in the band at this point, but I believe John Cobbet is on vocals. It's definitely not Mike Scalzi, I can tell you that (though Mike does make an appearence on "Hammers of Misfortune"). They're harsh, mainly black metal growls. The lyrical content is dark and also reminiscent of black metal, calling on such topics as necromancy and zombies. There is a stand-out track in terms of lyrics, however, with "Fuck the Galactic Police". It's not as great as the band we know today, but it's still definitely worth checking out.

8-Track Demo (???)
3-Track Demo (???)

Fates Warning

Progressive metal fans have probably heard of Fates Warning before, seeing as they're one of the originators of the style along with Dream Theater and other powerhouses. What you may not know, however, is that their first four albums were power metal! Indeed, way back in the early 80's, even before Keeper of the Seven Keys was revolutionizing the genre, Fates Warning was a proto-power band with only a glimmer of the progressive stylings the band would later take on. Back then, their writing style was divided up between current guitarist and band leader Jim Matheos and their vocalist, John Arch. Arch's influence must have been the power metal style, because after he left the band in 1987, they released only one more album in that proto-power style before going completely progressive. Because this album is focused more on power metal, I'm only uploading the first four albums for you today. The band's debut, Night on Bröcken, sounds like a sped up Iron Maiden, especially with Arch's vocals sounding vaguely like Bruce Dickinson's (though much higher). If I was going to compare Arch to anybody, though, I'd say he's most like Geoff Tate with a higher range. Anyway, after that, the band released two awesome albums that are undoubtedly shining moments in proto-power. The Spectre Within and Awaken the Guardian are both undeniably great albums, and I would suggest those two to be your first downloads. John Arch left after that third album, the band replacing him with Ray Alder fairly quickly. Alder is also a competent vocalist, and he does a good job in their fourth album, No Exit. This album may be the most interesting out of all the four, as it adopts distinct thrash influences into the power style. There's also noticeable experimentation in the album, especially in the twenty-minute long closing track, "The Ivory Gate of Dreams". After this album, the band took on an entirely progressive style. John Arch has only done one or two guest appearences since he's left the band, but did release an EP in 2003 called A Twist of Fate. Nothing's been heard since then.

"Never really a holy man, even though
I understand the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
He's the one that scares me most
Ashes to rain...You feel no pain..."

Night on Bröcken (1984)
The Spectre Within (1985)
Awaken the Guardian (1986)
No Exit (1988)

POWER METAL TOURNAMENT ALBUMS

Every single album in the Gaia metal forum power metal tournament has now been posted here. The bracket is posted up in the thread at the moment, and I would suggest downloading as many as you can before the tournament starts, the priority going to the albums that will be matched up first.











Seed One: Virgin Steele - The House of Atreus - Act I












Seed Two: Fates Warning - The Spectre Within











Seed Three: Grave Digger - Rheingold











Seed Four: Helloween - Keeper of the Seven Keys Part I












Seed Five: Kamelot - The Black Halo












Seed Six: Elvenking - Heathenreel












Seed Seven: Jag Panzer - Ample Destruction











Seed Eight: Hibria - Defying the Rules











Seed Nine: Gamma Ray - Land of the Free











Seed Ten: Kiuas - The Spirit of Ukko












Seed Eleven: Luca Turilli - Prophet of the Last Eclipse












Seed Twelve: Stratovarius - Visions











Seed Thirteen: Sonata Arctica - Silence












Seed Fourteen: Blind Guardian - Imaginations from the Other Side












Seed Fifteen: Children of Bodom - Something Wild












Seed Sixteen: Dream Evil - Dragonslayer











Seed Seventeen: Iron Savior - Unification











Seed Eighteen: Manticora - 8 Deadly Sins











Seed Nineteen: Nocturnal Rites - Shadowland











Seed Twenty: Rhapsody - Power of the Dragonflame











Seed Twenty-One: Dragonland - Astronomy











Seed Twenty-Two: Olympos Mons - Conquistador











Seed Twenty-Three: Falconer - Chapters from a Vale Forlorn











Seed Twenty-Four: Rage - Perfect Man











Seed Twenty-Five: Time Requiem - Time Requiem











Seed Twenty-Six: Angra - Temple of Shadows











Seed Twenty-Seven: Nightwish - Oceanborn











Seed Twenty-Eight: Edguy - Mandrake











Seed Twenty-Nine: Avantasia - The Metal Opera Part II











Seed Thirty: Running Wild - Under Jolly Roger (password: LordDarkness)











Seed Thirty-One: Hammerfall - Crimson Thunder











Seed Thirty-Two: Cage - Darker Than Black

When people ask you what the definition of "epic" is, I want you to point them to this post. If any of the links don't work, or require a password where I haven't listed one, please notify me ASAP. Happy listening.

A Note About Requests

I'd entirely forgot about requests in the process of uploading all these albums...I figure some of you will have requests for certain albums, and I'm perfectly willing to find them and upload them for you, especially if they're ones I'm interested in myself. All I ask is that they fit the theme of the blog (heavy/power/speed/thrash metal). I won't be pissed if you request a power/prog album or something like that, though. But don't you dare ask me for drone or a Moonblood demo. I should be able to find whatever you want, unless it's some kind of gr1m, thrice-buried demo of the n3crokvlt. Just post a comment in the latest post in the blog, and I'll get right on it.

Angel Witch

A bit of a deviation from usual on this post. Then again, NWOBHM led to power, speed, and thrash metal, so it's sort of just like going back to the roots, right? Anyway, Angel Witch were one of a multitude of NWOBHM bands. I don't really have a lot of information on them, to be honest, but I do know very good metal when I hear it, and this album is very good metal. Some have even called this the greatest NWOBHM album of all time. Very well-written riffs and solos, a great rocking vibe throughout the whole album. The vocals are nice - higher-ranged, but not a lot of shrieks. My personal favorite thing about this album is the guitar tone; particularly during the lead guitar parts. It just sounds perfect for NWOBHM. Note that this is the reissued album, with six extra bonus tracks. And you want all of them, believe me.

"I'm going to go insane if nothing happens soon
I look out at night to see your shadow by the moon"

Self-titled (reissue with six bonus tracks) (1980)

Jag Panzer

Jag Panzer are an American power metal band from Colorado. Though they've been around since the early 80's and have released about eight albums, I'm only posting one today. Ample Destruction is the band's debut album, and also one of the greatest USPM albums ever recorded. Heavily influenced by NWOBHM bands like Diamond Head and Blitzkrieg, this album had ridiculously enormous balls for the time that it was released. It's one of the heaviest power metal albums you will ever find. Mark Briody's awesome riffs and solos combined with Harry "The Tyrant" Conklin's amazing voice make a great, great record. Conklin in particular shines due to just how much effort he puts into this album - powerful mid-range vocals and awesome shrieks abound. His vocals aren't as refined as they are on later albums from the band (obviously), but everyone should enjoy them anyway. Harry left the band after this album and the band went through some transistory stages before reforming in 1996 and taking on a more progressive/power sound. Those albums are all good, but none have quite hit the level this one did.

Note: Harry joined a band called Titan Force after leaving Panzer, and apparently the two albums they put out are very similar to this one, and of similar quality. I'm going to see if I can track those two down, and if the rumors are true, I'll make sure to post them here.

"Gonna break ya, shake ya, slap you on your back
Use all my metal power to give you a HEART ATTAAAAAAAAAAAAAACK"

Ample Destruction (1984)

Helstar

You know what I love? Power metal. You know what else I love? America. You know what else I love? Metal from the 80's. So it's pretty needless to say that I really like Helstar, as they are American power metal from the 80's. The band originates in Texas, and is fronted by semi-legend James Rivera, vocalist of a thousand bands. Their style is the classic American power metal mold, with some thrash influence. Larry Barragan is one of the most underrated guitar players ever - his solos on these albums are awesome. Technical, but not wanking. Catchy, but not simplified. The riffs are nice, too. Rivera sounds like an American Rob Halford with even higher shrieks. Nosferatu is their best album, but A Distant Thunder has to be mentioned for containing "Winds of War", one of those amazing power metal epics that only come along every once in a while. In the vein of "Rebellion in Dreamland" or "The Crucifix", it starts out with a keyboard intro, then suddenly TEARS YOUR FUCKING FACE APART with riffs. But all of these are good albums - all highly reccomended. Enjoy.

"Off to destroy and kill my enemies
For betrayed we were in the scriptures of peace
Beyond the star OF THE RISING SUUUUUUUN"

Burning Star (1984)
Remnants of War (1986)
A Distant Thunder (1988)
Nosferatu (1988)

The Sword

The Sword are an American doom metal band from Texas. Having just got their start in 2003, this band is showing a lot of promise. Heavily Sabbath-influenced, this is just your basic trad. doom. A bit more up-tempo than usual, but undeniably in the doom genre. And holy shit is this HEAVY. You like crushing riffs? I do, and I loved this album. Not to mention that these guys are actually getting popular. They toured with Trivium, and their song "Freya" was featured in the setlist of Guitar Hero II. Hopefully the publicity won't change their music for the worse. This is a band to watch.

"The battle rages, but they fight in vain
When all is done, they must begin again"

Age of Winters (2006)

Hammers of Misfortune

I can't do a Slough Feg post without following it with a Hammers of Misfortune post. That would just be silly.

The Hammers are another band from California. Started by John Cobbet (of GWAR, Ludicra, and formerly Slough Feg) and formerly containing Mike Scalzi (of Slough Feg), this is another band that will stand out to you immediately. It's hard to put these guys into even a hybrid genre, their music is so diverse. I hear heavy, I hear NWOBHM, I hear doom, folk, even black metal in their sound. Each song is a like a composition from a different band, but there's always a noticeable sound to keep it all cohesive. The Bastard, their first album, is a more basic heavy/power work, and is also a concept album. Their next two albums throw out diversity like it was candy. The band even has three vocalists - two male and one female. You'll always be finding something new in these albums.

"Within you live my manufactured dreams
Soon we'll be repackaging your quaint, rebellious schemes..."

The Bastard (2001)
The August Engine & The Locust Years (2003 and 2006, respectively)

The Lord Weird Slough Feg

I know I've been lax in updating, which is kind of sad this early in the blog's life, but I'm making up for it with an awesome-tacular band. The Lord Weird Slough Feg (who are now referred to officially as simply Slough Feg) hail originally from central Pennsylvania, USA, but are now located in California. This is one of those bands where you can recognize them immediately - from the Celtic-folk influences to Mike Scalzi's powerful, unique vocal delivery, this band really stands out. Their music is mainly heavy power metal with folk influences, but they do play around with some doom elements on their latest two albums. Any album is a fine one to start with if you've never experienced the band before, but my personal favorites are Down Among the Deadmen and Twilight of the Idols.


"I am a space pirate, you know my name..."

Self-Titled (re-release with bonus tracks) (1996)
Twilight of the Idols (1999)
Down Among the Deadmen (2000)
Traveller (2003)
Atavism (2005)