Sheesh, I know I say this a bunch this time of year, I feel like a broken record. But really, these releases are slow this time of year. It’s true, they will pick up some, so all hope is not lost, just making it a little harder for me to do this blog (but hey, that’s why I get paid the big bucks). Anyway, there’s not a lot I’m into this week, so expect a bunch of birdshit.
WTP?!?! (that’s “what the peck,” to those not initiated) Anybody that has read this blog knows that I am NOT a fan of Nuclear Blast. I’m sure there’s some market for this, but realistically, this stuff leaves me, I dunno, deflated… So one part Survivor and other parts, uhhh, I dunno… Beast in Black come out with From Hell With Love and well, it’s not my thing. Just the start, that keyboard sound straight out of the ’80s (think Europe’s “The Final Countdown”). So this is power metal and I guess there’s some of that. To me, this is a blatant attempt at radio play (you know Ghost is on the radio now, so…). This is wimpy AF and features the guitar player of UDO. Their Wikipedia lists Judas Priest, Manowar, WASP, Accept and Black Sabbath as influences, and even an eighth-rate clone of any of those bands would be a drastic improvement. Oof… this stinks.
2 Fucking Pecks.
So you know how metallic hardcore started in the US? Have you heard Snake Tongue? Well, they’re from Sweden and they are releasing No Escape No Excuse on The Sign. So here’s the deal, this has a little bit of sack here. I mean, a little grit, BUT it’s European and although this certainly hits all of the notes that a metallic hardcore band should hit (gruff vox, punk parts and mosh riffs), NENE misses the mark in that it feels a little unauthentic and stiff. There’s nothing wrong with this per se, it’s just that it’s a clone of much better bands/releases.
5 Fucking Pecks.
Greek death/black dealers Rotting Christ are back at it after over 30 years with their 13th release, The Heretics, on Season of Mist. So calling this “black metal” is not really fair, as they certainly were around during the second wave of black metal but don’t sound like “modern black metal.” So this is cooler than I expected and I like it a little more than I thought I would. There is some death, some black metal, some orchestration, some trem picking and… an Iron Maiden cover?!?! That being said, this is the strongest of their most recent releases and worthy of checking out. BTW, they still are not into Christianity.
6 Fucking Pecks.
So, like, Hatebeak did a split release with Boar Glue featuring Richard Christy (Death, Charred Walls Of The Damned and Chrotchduster) on Puppy Mill Recordings. Peck this shiz out!
