REVIEW OF THE ALBUM ELDERSLIED BY INCURSED

Incursed is an epic folk metal band formed in 2007 in Bilbao, Spain. The band released three full lengths, debuting in 2009 with Morituri and followed by a great title called Fimbulwinter in 2012; then two years later, last december 2014, Incursed released their last and best album up to date, Elderslied.

Incursed style comes from the melodic pagan and folk sounds in its essence, using orchestrated parts all over and developing really intense epic power metal compositions with instrumentally complicated structures,the vocal parts swaps from clean melodic style to growling sections; got influences from bands like ensiferum or Caladmor, guitars deliver the powerful melodies with technical sections brilliantly combined with sophisticated drums.

Song of the ancient takes us to this melodic folk metal journey, as an orchestrated instrumental intro that evolves metalized in Heart of yggdrasil, being a perfect highlight of the band's style, remarkable compositions on the verses and powerful chorus made with clean vocals, following the act with the acoustic notes of Raging wyverns, soon to be epically transformed in a highly intense slow-mid tempo anthem highly accelerated at some parts.

The wild hunt heralds one of the best riffs of the album, with a remarkable job on the vocals, going high pitched growing and clean style on the chorus, amazing also on the double pedal drums and followed by Beer bloodbath, forging another catchy melodic riff of those of headbanging and moshpiting, awesome job at the end with the in-crescendo rhythmical bomb leading to Tidal waves, good riffs and headbanging pace in growling vocals, followed by Jötnar, with ascending composition, adding nice violin background melodies in one of the best created songs of the band, theatrically brilliant.

After the instrumental interlude of A fateful glare, the action literally explodes with Lady Frost, another lesson of the band's sound in full power, fast paced headbanging bomb with breathtaking compositions on the verses and melodic chorus, the guitar performance is remarkable combined with the keyboard solo, followed by The undying flame, forging some classic folk melodies, in an intense slow mid tempo ballad of well performed growling vocals and clean styled chorus.

The classic opera tunes of Sauren Lurraldea are suddenly boosted with symphonic power metal soul, good rhythm changes and beautiful melodies, with good details on the background keyboard as the next track kicks in, One among a million, increscendo patterns with good harmony on the instrumentals, excellent details on the drum performance and really intense vocal sections, following the same good strategies used previously, finalising with an astonishing ending.

Promise of hope gives the final touch to the album in a instrumental melodic anthem, including orchestrated sections and choir backgrounds crafted at perfection, simply epic.

Incursed really worked hard to create an excellent album, Elderslied is sophisticated and perfect instrumentally, combining very well folk and pagan with power metal including symphonic, neoclassical drippings and also death metal shots, really well elaborated album that, without innovating, will be one of the best of the year on their genre.

8,5 / 10

Line up

Juan Sampedro Bass

Narot Santos Vocals, Guitars (rhythm)

Jon Koldo Tera Keyboards, Vocals (backing)

Asier Fernández Guitars (lead)

Asier Amo Drums

Links

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MySpace

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Promotion by METAL MESSAGE





Post by Daniel Ortiz
Metalheads Union
Metalheads Union FB

REVIEW OF THE ALBUM STALLIONS OF STEEL BY PROWLER

Prowler is a classic heavy metal band from Germany formed in 2008, and released their first EP Hard Pounding heart in 2012, Finally Prowler released their debut album last 27th February with Pure Steel Records, under the name of Stallions Of Steel .

Prowler develops a classic new wave of British heavy metal sound in every single note, reminding of bands like Angel witch, Fist or Praying Mantis at their first line up, mid to fast paced rhythms generally with straight riffs and catchy choruses by a well played high pitched and clean vocal style.

Motorcycle of love kicks in and demonstrates what the band is all about in their mid tempo pace with Saxon reminiscences, remarkable guitar work on the riffs as the speed of sound accelerates to a pure speed classic heavy metal with Freedom, guitars are awesome specially in the solo, great teamwork with the drums making it headbanging all the way.

Mind and might hits with a killer mid tempo rhythm and one of the best choruses of the band including some good drum details, as Stallions of steel goes increscendo in another classic NWOBHM lesson becoming a good highlight of the album's sound.

Mexican Story heralds the best progression on the vocals, also the rhythms are really addictive and in general the intensity is boosted with power and glory, being in my opinion the best track of the band, as the riffs of Out of the night take you to bang your head in a very strong and straight shot of pure traditional heavy metal, well composed bridge and better guitar riffs all over.

Paranoia explodes in another speed metal headbanging bomb with good drum details and really good composition on the vocals as Prowler continues the mid tempo action with galloping, changing riffs and a really intense chorus.

A Maiden's Funeral contains some interesting riff performances with technical points on the teamwork of guitar and drums, remarkable the composition after the second half of the track, the crescendo part is outstanding.

Good album by Prowler, they managed really well the old school sound of the NWOBHM, will be a must have for any metalheads familiarized with bands like Angel Witch, Saxon or Holocaust; could be better produced, drums need more presence and generally the band need to work hard for the next album, but for sure, this is a pure genuine classic heavy metal band that will have lots to talk from now on!

7,5 / 10

Line up 

David Junold Guitars

Clemens Richter Guitars

Marvin Mehrländer Bass

Ronny Dietrich Vocals

Michael Czernik Drums

Links

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Buy the album Stallions of Steel

Release by Pure Steel Records

Review by Daniel Ortiz from 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

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Released by Cruz del Sur Music

Post by Daniel Ortiz Metalheads Union and Metalheads Union FB