REVIEW OF THE ALBUM DESECRATOR BY AMBUSH

Ambush is a Swedish heavy metal band formed in 2013 creating a classic Heavy Metal style melting power metal touches; they soon released their first EP Natural born killers, that catapulted them on the first line of NWOTHM bands last year following with their first full length Firestorm.

Now Ambush just released their second full length called Desecrator,

And what to say about it, actually no words could describe better this album

As a pure heavy metal masterpiece, its not only the best material they’ve created,

It's a demonstration of how one of the new wave of traditional heavy metal bands

can be at the same page as giants like Accept or Judas Priest, because we all need to understand

a new age of metal is arising with loads of new bands, and i'm proud of these bands

that keep the essence of heavy metal like the metal gods did long time ago.

Saying this, lets focus on Ambush, these guys combined clearly Accept instrumentals

With impulsive touches and power speed metal vocal style (sharp and clean, mid and

Superhigh pitched skills), all this combined with catchy choruses that will make the crowd

Crazy singing along, good examples are Possesed by evil, with galloping riffs and a perfect

Shot for live performance, or Night of the defilers, with genuine Accept structure on guitars

And halfordish vocal style, just brilliant.

Master of the sea and Chain reaction combines the same key points but with a remarkable vocal interpretation, and awesome drum shots on the verses, as Desecrator, the tittle track, bring you a the best guitar Performances of the album, just keep attention to the bridge and chorus guitar details, outstanding.

Southstreet brotherhood take the hard rocker style to light, also with a catchy chorus and a crescendo structure, as Rose of the dawn and Faster develop the strong and high speed and impulsive metal, that's how to deliver the power and glory of true metal, but just leaving the best for the last track,The Seventh seal, as a slow to mid to fast paced masterpiece that goes in crescendo developing a solid and powerful vocal capacity, everything on this track is fascinating, every sound is clockwork synchronized and in harmony, all this to explode at the end with a fast paced ending of pure speed metal, just perfect, honestly will drive you crazy if you are a classic heavy metal fan, just wow.

Overall Desecrator by Ambush is their best work, with more solid compositions and better structured choruses, it's also really hard to improve but looking at their evolution as a band, they are on the top and fresh to continue at this level, and i could say they are one the best albums of the year, and the best word to describe it is Masterpiece.

9,5 / 10

Line up

Ludwig Sjöholm - Bass 

Linus Fritzson  - Drums  

Olof Engkvist  - Guitars 

Adam Hagelin - Guitars 

Oskar Jacobsson  - Vocals

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REVIEW OF THE ALBUM OVERDRIVE BY RUNNING DEATH

Finally the long awaited full length from the German Thrashers Running death is out, full of improvements from their last EP Call of extintion (2012), read that review following this link.

What the listener will notice right after the first intro called It begins is the high level of technical performance on the instrumentals and that important progressive thrash feeling, Hell on Earth is just about this stuff, combining fast and mid paced sections with an excellent job by guitars and drums leaving vocals attacking with a high pitched harsh power; continuing with Psycho on the same line of fast pace but clearly more modern influence combined with strong mid tempo verses, slightly darker and melodic at some points.

Remote Controlled develops diverse riff combinations including palm muted galloping and melodic links with verses, creating headbanging parts and building a good chorus, clearly improving what we've seen on this album up to now, Simon nailed it on this one on the vocal interpretation, continuing with Close minded, reminding to those genuine Metallica riffs, being a clear influence for the band, strong palm muted shots and really good lyrics.

Raging nightmare explodes suddenly in a galloping headbanging bomb, that's pure moshpit thrash on fire, right in the middle of the album this is what a metalhead is waiting for, outstanding job on guitars and vocals, noticing the excellent production here is clearly better than their previous jobs, crystal clear drum details and bass performance, one of the best shots of Running death.

The instrumental acoustic track Deludium opens to Mercenary, creating an awesome crescendo straight away from the first second developing a mid thrash metal mayhem including progressive shots on the guitars, on the line of the general band's style serving as a good highlight of the album; linking to Pray for death, this time creating a doom/evil sound and accelerating the machinery to good speed thrash metal territories, it will call the attention of the listener in terms of composition.

But at my point of view the best is yet to come with the last three tracks of the album, starting with Reduced as a rhythm changing powerful shot, where palm muted and melodies dance around a pure thrash metal machine on drums, denoting a very intense vocal performance and enjoyable instrumentals all over the song; continuing without rest with the tittle track Overdrive as an old school thrash metal anthem creating an awesome job on drums including double pedal parts, with an insuperable Simon growling and singing in clean and sharp parts.

The last and best track of this album goes to I see a Fire, as the increscendo is being built from the darkness and evil style in quasi doom metal influence but soon exploding in the best riff of the album using palm muted parts in high sophisticated sections combined with excellent drum details, changing pace continuously until the epic end.

All in all Overdrive is a clear improvement and the best album up to date by Running Death, the production is crystal clear and the compositions are sophisticated, becoming a top class album by a professional thrash metal band.

8 / 10

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REVIEW EP THE END OF TIME BY LIZZIES

Lizzies is a full female line-up classic heavy metal band from Madrid, Spain, formed in 2010, released this first EP "End of time" in October 2013, influenced by bands like Judas Priest, Girlschool or Motorhead to name some, to create a sound loyal to the NWOBHM.

The album starts with Sacrifice, sudden powerful riffs forging the scene for the headbanging rhythm, classic heavy metal in its deep roots, simple and straight structure with chorus made to scream with your fist in the air. Awesome start as it continues with Blindslave, mid-fast tempo pure heavy metal, remarkable the skills on the drums, melodic guitars sometimes make the track too weak in sound (need more consistency) but still an enjoyable song followed by Speed on the road, that kicks off powerful as hell, straight from the New Wave of British Heavy Metal filled up with some epic influence and combined with a sharp high pitched vocals, making this track the best of the EP; fascinating second half of the tune that links, without a break, with Heavy metal warriors, a piece that explodes with aggressive sharp guitars, a nonstop headbanging theme with an impeccable job from everyone that will be the trademark of the band.

Finally the tittle track, End of time, is a better composed tune with predominant changes of rhythm, excellent sharp vocals demonstrating the strength and glory of heavy metal.

Lizzies just started with an album that could have perfectly been taken from an early 80s classic heavy metal band, they followed that precise sound of the NWOBHM to compose an attractive album, made for the gigs, to enjoy with the headbanging crowd. The production will improve in the full length so keep an eye on them because they are young blood, truly strong metalheads!

7 / 10

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REVIEW EP THE CALL OF EXTINCTION BY RUNNING DEATH

Running death are a Thrash metal band from Germany formed in 2004 with one first EP released in 2010 "Raging nightmare" and the 2012 EP "Call of Extinction". They've been playing many gigs nationally and internationally, and now they are getting ready for a new album at the end of 2014. Their style is a perfect mix between thrash metal old school, heavy metal and  sophisticated guitar riffs influenced by early Metallica and Megadeth, and also reminiscences of Slayer or Fight sometimes.

Call of extinction starts with Unleashed, a dark atmospheric introduction that leads to a very well composed  thrash metal mid tempo, where the guitars take the lead on the rhythms as they change it constantly,Venom/Slayer mix  style on the vocals and awesome bass sound also as the instrumental takes you to bang your head to the

 next track Killing for gods, a forceful slow heavy metal song, strong, raw and heavy is all it is about, even going epic/true metal influenced in some verses and galloping headbanging riffs connected at perfection with heavy and thrash metal mix drum beats till the end, taking you straight away to the tittle track Call of Extinction, thrash metal in its essence in the style of Megadeth, and some reminiscences of War of Words by Fight, good job on the vocals and the chorus.

Now is the turn of Celebrate your Aggression, one of the best on this EP, dark doom metal intro that links with one of the most strongest heavy rhythms, combined with excellent chorus, headbanging parts where you will scream Celebrate your aggression, just to react to one of the best changes of rhythm of the Ep, an atomic bomb just explodes in a blink of an eye, that takes you to the mosh pit and keep you breathless to the ending, where the guitars even go further doing some neoclassical metal style notes, to finish with Hunting for Heads, thrash metal that invites you to break your necks banging your heads, remarkable vocals and very well done on the chorus and the production, powerful and tough track, definitely the best of the Ep and the sign of the band's style.

Overall Running Death leaves a very good taste of Thrash metal combination with heavy metal and sophisticated instrumental, with excellent job in general by the guitarists; compositions of the tracks are excellent, solid, elaborated and well produced. Get ready for the end of the year because Running death are coming stronger than ever!

7/10

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REVIEW FIRST EP LEATHER HEART

Leather Heart are a classic heavy metal band from Madrid (Spain) formed in 2008, with a characteristic late 70's and early 80's style mix of hard rock and heavy metal, similarities with Queensryche and Judas Priest "Point of entry" era and even with influence of Dio in the composition of the instrumental; and well leaded by a sharp high pitched vocals of Adrian, using sometimes Halford vocal techniques.

They released their first EP in March 2014 and it starts with Nightmares town in-crescendo intro in a dark atmosphere to develop a classic hard rocking riff, with reminiscences of Queensryche, well done on the interpretation of the vocals as they continue with Take my breath away, powerful pure heavy metal start, in the world of Hot Rockin' by Judas Priest and Stand up and shout by Dio, excellent long chorus and headbanging rhythm to finish with an addictive ending.

After this breathtaking track is the turn of Black as night, late 70's hard rock style and awesome chorus are the strongest points in this song, to follow with Don't you go, the gem of this EP; slow start and change of rhythm to the headbanging attack, remember "the voice of the cult" by Chastain? That's a weapon very well shot in this piece, more direct chorus to sing along in the concerts. Finally is the turn of the tittle track Leather Heart, heavy-hard rock mix, very well composed and also the sign of identity of the band, Dio style all along the way.

Overall Leather Heart offer an awesome composition, following the steps of the metal gods and keeping the flame of the classic heavy metal sound burning bright. New wave of British heavy metal old school like the old times! They will have work to do, but really, I can't wait for the next album! They are young blood and doing what they like the most, heavy metal, so Keep on Rocking guys!

LEATHER HEART

7 / 10 



Tracklist:
Nightmares Town
Take my breath away
Black as night
Don't you go
Leather Heart

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REVIEW DECADES OF PAIN ALBUM BY TOXIC WALTZ

Toxic Waltz is a classic thrash metal band from Germany formed in 2009, by lead guitarist Jimi and

ex-drummer Tim. The band was complete after bass player Rahman, Angelo as vocalist and Alex as rhythm guitar joined it to become an old school thrash metal band, that is clearly fed by the influence of 

bands like Exodus, Slayer or Dark Angel; developing a Bay Area thrash metal style mixed with sophisticated riffs and also a remarcable production.

Their first album is called Decades of Pain, released in february 2014, and starts with a dark-epic 

accoustic guitar that leads to the tittle track Decades of Pain, excellent in-crescendo estructure 

leading to the classical thrash metal rhythmn, great technical drums and memorable chorus, good harmony on the guitars also as they continue with no break to the next track World of Hate, following the same style,  old school thrash metal that invites you to the mosh pit, but don't leave! they continue with Toxic Hell where they attack with fast thrash headbanging metal, more aggressive vocals and great instrumentals by the guitars Jimi and Alex.

Suicide Squad starts like the early Metallica, great job on the drums and growling vocals by Angelo

makes the difference as it continues with Green, much stronger track more on the line of Exodus this time

with excellent strong chorus to scream loud on every gig; 

Next song is Morbid Symphony, slower in rythmn and powerfull like hell, Slayer-like style as they leave us breathless till the end, just to follow one of the masterpiece of the album, Priest of Lie, definitely the best of the EP, it starts with the bass and drums followed by Angelo deep scream to blow out your brain with the first verses, thrash old school in its essence, screaming Priest of Lie! and making you bang your head till the whiplash, excellent! 

They finish the album with Obsession to Kill, keeping the same strenght of Priest of Lie, but slowing down a bit to develop the hate in every word, awesome interpretation by Angelo.

Overall Decades of Pain by Toxic Waltz is a punch of old school Bay Area Thrash Metal in your face, awesome start for this German band, with a great production also,they offer one of the best pure 

thrash metal albums of the year, leading the thrash metal flag for the future, keeping the true thrash metal alive, TOXIC WALTZ

7,5 / 10

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