REVIEW FIRST EP BY TOLEDO STEEL

Toledo Steel are a classic heavy metal band from Southampton, UK, formed in 2011 and releasing their first demo in december 2012, Toledo Steel have been touring around the country and finally after adding the second guitarist to the band the first EP came out in August 2013, consisting in three missiles of pure heavy metal encapsulating the essence of NWOBHM.
The band comprises Rich Rutter on the vocals, Kyle House and Tom Potter on the guitars, David Lovell with the bass and Matt Dobson on drums.

The ep starts with Alcatraz with a classic heavy speed metal riff, headbanging moshpiting pulse developing a strong straight high pitched vocals, awesome sharp sound all over the song by Rich and axe masters Kyle and Tom, the chorus is also exceptional, made to be singed along in every gig, fists in the air; as we continue with Black widow, taking reminiscences from Iron Maiden and memories of heavier than metal by Skull Fist on the main riff, forging a powerful melodies on the vocals where the lows and high pitched styles are amazingly well combined; well done on the drums creating Judas priest late 70s techniques combined with drippings of power metal styled structure.

Flames arise take us back to the mid 80s with a truly headbanging authentic heavy speed metal with drippings of epic melodies, reminiscences of bands like Virtue, the mid tempo changing rhythm is outstanding, true metal in every chord! The instrumental parts are in an excellent harmony leaving you breathless til the end!

Overall this first EP by Toledo Steel  is riveting from start to finish with a crystal clear production, awesome job by every single member of the band,for sure Toledo Steel not only are here to stay, this band will probably be one of the leading bands of the new wave of traditional heavy metal.

8,5 / 10


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Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW CD "A NEW DAWN IN THE AGE OF WAR" BY DIVINE CHAOS

Divine Chaos is a Thrash metal with Death metal influences band formed in 2005 in UK. They have previouslyreleased an EP in 2007 "Every empire shall fall". After years in development the band have released their first full length album "A new dawn in the Age of War" via Evil EyE Records. The band is comprise of Ben Friston on vocals, axemasters Chris O'Toole and Matt Gilmour, Dave Bennet on the bass and James Stewart (Vader) on the drums. Divine Chaos' are influenced by bands like Sepultura or Carcass, who were mainly responsible for developing the early 90s thrash metal and death metal combo.

The album starts with one of the albums hits as a pure thrash metal track, strong and angry headbanging masterpiece, Last Confession delivers a great technical surge from the guitars and outstanding pulse by James on the drums making it a moshpiting intense piece continued by Death toll rising forged with symphonic elements and twisting the best of epic death metal and thrash in a mid/fast changing tempo, and at times, theatrical track where the listener is drawn to appreciate the quality in every band member in detail, truly amazing.

The myth of human progress heralds another mid tempo early 90s thrash metal attack, comprising heavy and forceful verses and dark well done thought-out chorus'. There is a short lull in the attack before they take you back to the deadly moshpit with one of the best of the album, Shadow of God, old school thrash metal headbanging as hell with one of the best catchy chorus' which will be perfect to scream along to at the bands gigs, dripping with breathtaking rhythms as Ignorance Everlasting starts slowly building increasingly into a crescendo of darker sounds reaching a mid-tempo riff that is extremely well created.

Rivers of blood is another of the fast tempo tracks from the album which is dripping with old school thrash fused with death metal influenced riffs, an awesome vocal interpretation with both a high and low pitched harsh style; great tribal ending guys, very effective!

Fields of the Fallen attacks you with the strong sharp axes and a speed heavy thrash machine gun on the drums, with exceptional chorus' where you definitely will break your neck banging your head; this track is full of rhythemic breakdowns all amazingly well linked within the structure of the track.

Sinai Sands is an epic instrumental interlude that take you to the last track, Perpetual War Policy, shooting to kill from the beginning where we find pure thrash metal structure with death elements and dark symphonies; this missile probably encapsulates the style of the band best.

Divine Chaos' first full length album demonstrates a body of work that aims to make you bang your head from start to finish,  James Stewart's drumming is truely remarkable, He is also Vaders drummer and lends the album an unstoppable death/thrash metal combination; the guitar work is exceptional, outstanding and technically superior. The Vocals are in harmony in every song, inspiring hate.

'A New Dawn In The Age Of War' is an excellent album with superb production, riveting from start to finish, a real Thrash Metal Masterpiece in 2014!

9 / 10

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Evil Eye Records

Review by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads union and Metalheads union FB