INTERVIEW WITH COBRA (2015)

Few weeks ago I had the chance to interview Cobra, one of the new true metal bands that called my attention as one of the most promising new bands of the metal scene worldwide, so after having a well established second album and having toured Europe, it was an inflection point in their career to the top, and obviously Metalheads Union is not gonna miss the opportunity of having a chat with these guys.

If you want to check their second album review follow this link

http://metalheadsunion.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/review-of-album-to-hell-by-cobra.html

Hi guys how are you? Thank you all for your time!

Hi Daniel, nice to be in contact again. Thanks for your interest in making a second interview to us.

First of all how were the band beginnings? Why did you choose Cobra as your band's name?

Cobra was born ten years ago back in 2005 when Nito and Pochuck decided to create and play heavy metal band in a rough and aggressive way. They chose Cobra as the name of the band because of an old anime they use to watch as kids. Cobra is a lethal name, such as our intentions with rock and roll music.

Have Cobra evolved in any way from the first album to the second album? How could you describe the media feedback for both releases?

Definitely. Cobra evolved in creating a solid album of heavy metal. This means not only having good songs, but delivering a unity of heavy metal: music, lyrics, artwork, ideas, and put together in order to have a blasting experience once you put play to the record.

When “Lethal Strike” was released in 2011, it didn’t have very much media attention as “To Hell” did last year and even nowadays did. The difference was that our first album had a poor promotion and distribution work. Now we are very conscious about the results of working those aspects of an album release.

You got a very aggressive style even when adding that strong hard rock drippings, how could you describe the band's style and what makes it different of most of the new traditional heavy metal bands?

Thanks for the words. I could define Cobra’s style as a very intense heavy metal rock and roll music. About what makes us different between these new traditional bands, we don’t even consider ourselves part of these tag. We are only focused about been ourselves playing the kind of music we like. We don’t want to be like the bands we admire, we want to be as relevant as them with our music.

Which bands are the most influent for you? I'd like to know your individual preferences.

I like artists that are intense with the music they make. The ones that comes to my mind right now would be Earth, The Stooges, Nirvana, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, The Wailers and Led Zeppelin.

How is the true metal scene in Peru? Now that you played in Keep it true, how do you feel about it? How did the fans react to your sound?

Peruvian metal scene is small, very underground if it’s compared to the European one. Our scene is very unorganized and informal but things are changing to better. Here the concerts are with bands of different metal styles, so it’s common for bands and bangers from here to be into heavy, black, death, doom or even psych and punk music.

Keep It True was a great experience. We never had that sensation to play in front of so many die hard heavy metal maniacs. People there really knows what metal music is about, I think they reacted very well, they could get the vibe and intention of the band. After playing there, I only want more of this.

The vocals that you do are really high pitched some times, changing from sharp to clean patterns, how do you manage to keep your voice while on tour?

I try to avoid cold drinks, smoke and cover always my neck during the tour. Although it’s enjoyable to be on the road having a good time, the best thing is always take care of your instrument.

Tell me a special memory of this European tour.

Waking up during different moments of the day and night inside the van while everyone else was sleeping. Looking at the other guys, our tour manager, the highway, the scenery and realizing that everything was real, that was actually happening. Living like that was everything I ever wanted, it was a great feeling.

Are you working on the new album? If so, could you anticipate any information? What could the fans expect for the next full length?

Right now we are writing and creating new songs. We already know which songs will be part of our third album, but now we are working in two different productions. I hope soon we can have more news about it.

Any chance to visit the UK? What about Japan? If you could choose a country to play, which one could it be?

Actually, we received a couple of offers to visit UK but distances didn’t match to go there. After the European tour we made contact with people involved in festivals and stuff not only in Europe but also in Asia, so let’s make things happen.

If I could choose a country I would like to play in Japan, like Deep Purple did in 1972.

Finally guys could you send a message to your fans?

Beware to our next move, it might be lethal for your mind.

Thanks brothers and hope to see you soon on stage!

Thanks to you Daniel for giving us a space on your site.

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Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

INTERVIEW WITH SACRAL RAGE (MARIOS AND DIMITRIS)

After releasing their first album with Cruz del Sur, Sacral Rage and their Illusions in infinite Void are getting known worldwide by true metalheads, so finally I had the chance to have an interview with guitarist Marios and vocalist Dimitris. If you'd like to check the review please click here

Hi guys! Thanks for your time and also thanks to Jan from sure shot worx for making it possible.

First of all lets talk about the history of Sacral Rage, why did you come up with that name? What different metal styles have you been influenced when the band was formed?

Greetings to all of you!!

We started on the last month of 2011 and since then we have 2 official releases and a couple of demos/promos. The mini Lp “Deadly bits of iron fragments” by Eat Metal Records in 2012 and the full length “Illusions In Infinite Void” in 2015 by Cruz Del Sur on cd and Underground Power Records on vinyl.

You can liken the name as follows: The “Sacral” element stems from the darkness, paranoia and madness we breathe while the “Rage” arises from our lethal speed and rhythm attack.

The style and vision haven’t changed although it evolved a lot. We still bow down to bands like Judas Priest, Rush, Crimson Glory, Watchtower, Nasty Savage. Just like the “old” days.

Seeing the result of this combination of styles, what bands could be the major influence for Sacral Rage?

Too hard to answer that. The only thing I can tell you is that all of our influences, subconsciously rise through our songs and we don’t have a certain band in mind when composing stuff. Of course there are certain bands that we have in the back of our minds but As much as we are influenced By Rush and Mercyful Fate evenly Annihilator and Death made the same impact on us.

Not only you covered Mercyful fate, Sacral Rage heralds that influence all over the new album, among some US metal or power metal of course, when composing the instrumentals, did you have in mind to sound like king diamond or was it something that evolved automatically at the time of each composition?

The latter I would say. As said before we don’t try to sound specifically like one or two bands of our influences. We want this to come naturally out of our songs. Of course we knew that certain parts had the King and Mercyful vibe but we didn’t force it. To tell you the truth, we are extremely horny when something like that happens not only with the King but generally.

How was the process of creation of the new album? Was it easier now that you got more experience, than the first Ep?

On the contrary it was way more difficult because we had to overcome ourselves. I believe we achieved that by far. When we composed Deadly bits we didn’t had people expecting our album so it was an easier process. But now we had to satisfy both ourselves and the listener who knew what we offered through our Mini Cd. Also all of our recent songs are way more complex, weird arrangements. This in itself requires more focus and “Discipline”.

How is the general feedback from the media?

Very good judging by the fact that the press towards new bands is very circumspect. The only thing is that many are confused regarding the style we are playing and our influences. You can read in some zines that we are playing US metal while in others Heavy metal, Prog Metal , Thrash metal etc. The average of the reviews is great!

The vocal parts are really high pitched at some parts, sometimes pure theatrical performance and really powerful also at some points, are you happy with the result?

Yeap , I am extremely happy because Dimitris really surpassed himself both in terms of composition and performance .He has a unique voice and just like the rest of the band, he has his own style without copying any of his mentors. Especially in our times where everyone tries to sing like Dickinson, Dio or whoever.

How do you feel when performing live such a large range of vocal quality in terms of low to high pitched style?

There is always a stress about my throat's condition. For this kind of vocals it should be at a perfect state. But whether it is or not when I let myself into madness the result is always the same, screams coming out from outer space, high pitch terrorism destroying the stage.

I think one of your best tracks is en cima del mal, but the song that defines your sound better is Lost chapter E: Amarna's reign, what's your favourite song from the new album?

Again this is too hard to tell because it is really too soon to answer that. If you put a gun in my head though, I would probably say the twins (Sutratma, Amarna’s). The thing about En cima is that this is a kind of a standard heavy metal tune (catchy chorus , normal structure etc). So that’s why many people say that this is their favorite. I really love this song but I believe that there are others that deepens more as far as composition, instrumentation concerns. Amarna’s on the other hand has all of our elements. It is dark, progy, technical, extreme.

How is it going with the tour after the release of Illusions in infinite void?

We have already been added to Belgium’s Heavy sound festival’s line up and we are scheduling some extra shows in Greece. We are on the talks for a tour but it’s too soon to tell anything. We are open to play everywhere, so spread the word!!

How do you feel when you see that bands like Fist, Ostrogoth or The Rods are going to share stage with you?

Feeling AWE!! We are extremely proud to share the stage with these legends. It never really crossed our minds that there would be a day that we would support these bands. We have to be prepared and play a good show haha.

Which band could you choose to share stage with, in the future?

Well: Watchtower, Nasty Savage, Armored Saint. Fuckin’A !!

Can you tell me which country is your favourite for a concert?

Well, we have only played in Greece and Cuprous so there couldn't be a proper answer to this. I am sure though that the English grounds will be killer for a gig!!

Describe your most special moment from the last tour.

Although we didn’t actually toured but made one-off gigs, I would choose the show we did with Jag Panzer, there were lots of energy, and it was really intense and also met our heroes (Really cool guys). Also the Power of the Night Fest in Cuprous was really great experience.

Are you gonna hit the UK in this upcoming tour?

We really would like to do so!!! We know there are many people who dig us but we haven’t spoken with a promoter yet. Time will come to visit the island and taste the grounds who gave birth to Heavy Metal!!

Are you getting better promotion now that you signed with Cruz del Sur records?

So far so good they say. Right From the beginning of our course with Cruz, we can see lots of interest for us. So I guess he is the right man! He is doing great job really. Our madness has been spread almost everywhere and this is thanks to Cruz del sur.

Bands like mausoleum gate or convent guilt are also with Cruz del Sur, do you know them?

Oh yeah! Mausoleum Gate did a great job with their full length. For Convent Guilt, I am not familiar but going to check them asap. Also I met the guys from Magister Templi. Another great Cruz del sur band and their singer is a great guy!!

There are many new bands next KIT that will be reference for the true metal scene, Cobra, Mausoleum gate and Sacral Rage are among this bands, how do you feel about playing in this festival?

When we first heard that we are playing at KIT, we couldn’t believe it. It is a huge Honor for us that the headquarters at KIT chose us as the new act that’s playing. This is the biggest possibly underground festival in the more classic oriented sound. The lineup is killer as always so we will try to give the most of our madness and craze to all of you.

Finally please send a message to your fans!

Salutes to all of you and we hope to make you part of our madness soon enough!! Thanks for this interview.

Support METAL not trends!!

Cheers !!!

Line up

Spyros Bass

Vagelis F. Drums 

Marios P.  Guitar

Dimitris K  Vocals

Links

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Released by Cruz del Sur Music


Post by Daniel Ortiz Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM ILLUSIONS IN INFINITE VOID BY SACRAL RAGE (10/03/15)

Sacral Rage is a speed metal band from Greece formed in 2011, they have released their first EP Deadly bits of Iron Fragments last 2013, getting known worldwide by true metalheads and receiving also positive feedbacks. After a demo last year Sacral Rage signed with Cruz del Sur records.

  Finally they releasing their first full length the next 10th of March, and the Greeks are on the right path with influences from the technical speed metal characterized from bands like Agent steel or Oliver magnum but with a dark symphonic essence all along the album, bringing memories from King Diamond, also progressive and thrash metal drippings allow Sacral Rage to create their sound effectively; the guitars and drums work very well using technical details with symphonic melodies and palm muted riffs together with complex drum patterns, combined with a high pitched vocals, clean in general but without hesitating making it sharp and aggressive at some points.

The intro Harbringer opens the album to explode in one of the best tracks of the band, En cima del Mal, as the technical palm muted guitars bangs in a totally headbanging track, fast paced speed metal combining changes of vocal styles, sharp low and clean high pitched shots leading to a powerful chorus to follow with Lost chapter E, Sutratma introducing mid tempo galloping, progressive drum and guitar parts changing to thrashy and dark melodic sections in a more theatrical song linked with Panic in the Urals (burning skies) where the thrash styled instrumentals take over the clean vocal style, the interpretation here is outstanding as it brings you to the headbanging action with multiple rhythm changes even adding some Iron maiden drippings.

Waltz in madness explodes in a speed thrash metal with ascending intensity including ultra high pitched vocal parts, changing rhythms constantly with remarkable performance on the drums, followed by Into mental east, mid tempo progressive influenced instrumental track with virtuous guitar riffs and technical drumbeats.

Continuing the good level of technical instrumentals is the turn of Inner sanctum asylum, good bass touches here as the theatrical act of the vocalist enrich the experience with low pitched and sharp parts as a Tyrannous revolt explodes like a palm muted speed power metal masterpiece, the harmony between guitars and vocal melodies on verses are exceptional as the visceral restless pace reminds to Tyran pace.

Lost chapter E Amarna's reign is the last in line and it heralds the speed metal velocity, the composition also evokes the powerful speed thrash melodies,with dark symphonic sections and outstanding vocal qualities, basically encapsulate the band's sound; but don't stop playing this track after the silence starts, there is a hidden Instrumental part at the end (after the minute 10) where the band demonstrates also a short good lesson of oldschool doom metal to end the album.

Illusions in infinite void will delight true metal fans of King diamond and Judas priest, they got the power and aggression that makes you jump to the mosh pit, boosted with remarkable technical instrumentals and complex and impressive compositions.

9/10

Line up

Spyros Bass

Vagelis F. Drums 

Marios P.  Guitar

Dimitris K  Vocals

Links

Bandcamp

Facebook

Released by Cruz del Sur Music

Post by Daniel Ortiz Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM VESSEL BY TRIAL (21 / 01 / 2015)

Trial is a classic heavy metal band from Sweden formed in 2007, releasing their first album in 2010 called The primordial temple, receiving really positive feedback from the media and after an EP (Malicious arts) and a single (Where man becomes all) due to be released next 28th November, the band have ready what it's going to be their second full length, Vessel, due to be released next 21st of January of 2015 via High Roller Records

Trial comprise the dark symphonies from Mercyful fate, present with the high pitched and clean vocals following a minor scaled melodies into a purely heavy and power metal pulse, bringing also US epic elements and drippings of NWOBHM in the compositions, mostly sophisticated with plenty of changes of rhythms and technical details.

The album start with the tittle track Vessel, ascending from a powerful acoustic intro to an intense mid tempo anthem, where the doom elements are present under the high pitched melodic vocals, continuing with To new ends, one of the best of the band, the fast paced breathtaking drumbeats are perfectly combined with the powerful and backed vocal verses, with also a special mention to the guitar performance on the solos and so on the dark melodies that creates a really forceful theme.

Ecstasy waltz come back with the doom metal dance in a slow to mid tempo track boosted with a high intensity on the vocal play that brilliantly goes high and low easily along the verses as Through bewilderment give you the epic side to the mixture in a headbanging mid tempo and melodic bomb, one of the best compositions of the band and also a good highlight of the album.

A ruined world and where man becomes all comprises the epic and dark feeling with the powerful fast paced heavy metal represented with theatrical vocal action, mostly the ingredients seen on Mercyful fate.

But Trial left the best for the end, Restless blood, a masterpiece of 13 minutes of acoustic and exploding electric guitars with dark melodies where the details on the drum performance are overwhelming, the vocals play his best shot here as the highs and low pitched styles collide with sharp, raw and clean sections, the interpretation in conclusion is just outstanding, as well as the structure of the song, surprising at the second half as it ascends to the final headbanging ending.

Trial will break the ice being one of the first albums of 2015, they managed to improve their previous works creating a true masterpiece in terms of composition and high technical level on the instrumentals, the vocals need some more control at some parts, but no doubt about it, the vocalist made an astonishing job contrasting low and highs really powerfully; add to this that the album is a non stop headbanging from beginning to the end, and the result is brilliant! Welcome to the new wave of dark traditional heavy metal.

8 / 10

TRIAL

Andréas Olsson Bass

Martin Svensson Drums

Alexander Ellström  Guitars 

Andreas Johnsson    Guitars

Linus Johansson Vocals

Links

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Released by High Roller Records



Post by Daniel Ortiz
Metalheads Union
Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM TO HELL BY COBRA

Cobra is a traditional heavy speed metal band from Peru, formed in 2005, had two demos ready by 2007, playing many gigs nationally and being well known in the national heavy metal scene, the release of their split album with Skull allowed them to gig in more south american countries in 2010.
Then, after working hard on the studio the first full length Lethal Strike came to light in 2011 via Austral Holocaust Records having good feedback from the media and also getting better known in Peru and abroad.

Finally To Hell was released last February 2014, after a year of hard work, and got distributed nationally and also in Europe thanks to Van Records.

Cobra style combines the aggressive side of Judas priest, timing it in the Defenders of the faith composition style, with the pulse and riffs from Motorhead and Venom melted in one; the vocalist is styled with high pitched, powerful techniques with sharp melodic moments, sounding like a mix of Judas priest, Exciter and Griffin.

The album starts with Beyond the curse, beginning like an epic in crescendo introduction that leads to the headbanging action in one of the top tracks of the band, from the awesome bass touch to start to the galloping drumbeats and the potent voice, this song is what true metal music sounds like, you will find yourself screaming with a fist in the air, (dudes that is a really powerful ending), outstanding bomb linked with Fallen soldier, kicking in with a fast tempo speed heavy metal style, accelerated Motorhead reminiscences and drippings of Enforcer, remarkable addictive chorus and memories of early Iron Maiden riffs, but keeping the band's sign.

Danger zone slows the drum pounding shots to a mid tempo hard rocker track, excellent interpretation on the vocals, changing from the mid range to the high pitched scream instantaneously. Rough riders takes the strong pulse of the previous song but its transformed in a genuine heavy metal attack.

Beware my wrath accelerates the speed taking you to the mosh pit, excellent harmony in the guitar duet, that is what i call a team work perfectly executed! Vocals are perfect, bringing the fury to the stage, great combo of lows and highs in a  sharp aggressive style.

When i walk the street keep the glory in the voice in another hard rocker- early heavy metal preference with powerful drumbeats, with a rhythm seen on bands like Airbourne or even Krokus or Saxon.

The tittle track To hell, blast the scene with one of the best performed songs of the album, fast paced speed metal that leaves you breathless and will make you bang your heads till the end! Awesome how they link the verses with the guitar shredding and the chords.

The last track, Inner demon, heralds their most sophisticated drums of the album, also being one of the best compositions and the most epic track up to date, forceful voice that goes in crescendo until the ultra high pitched vocals at the end, everything here is outstanding and it demonstrate the style of the band and defines their attitude very well.

Cobra released a true metal masterpiece that will be considered  a gem of the genre, without a doubt these guys are ready to the heavy metal attack nationally and internationally, with a genuine speed heavy metal that will call the attention of true metalheads around the globe, be aware of the deadly COBRA attack!

9 / 10

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Post by Daniel Ortiz from Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB