ALBUM REVIEW: Valafar, "Wolfenkind"



By: Richard Maw

 

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 13/11/2018

Label: Independent

 

there are no bad tracks here and over the course of the eight tracks the band have crafted a fine and vicious album. Valafar are a band to watch and they are destined for greater things

 

“Wolfenkind”CD track listing:

 

1). Úlfhéðnar

2). Brotherhood of the Wolf

3). Path of the Warrior

4). Bloody Spoils of War

5). Shunned from the Light

6). The Ballad of Plainfield

7). Odin’s Call

8). Born of the Nine

 

 

The Review:

 

Valafar hail from West Yorkshire and have imbued this Viking/death/metal with a good deal of the grit the region is famed for.  Keighley and surrounding areas would historically have been part of Northumbria in the dark ages, as would (oddly)  a fair bit south of the River Humber as well- everything from Lincoln upwards was firmly Viking territory. It is not so strange, then, that these Yorkshire bruisers would be espousing a Norse doctrine and bringing tracks enthralled to the Ulf/Varg/Ulva in the form of “Brotherhood of the Wolf”.

 

With other tracks named “Path of The Warrior”, “Odin's Call”, “Born of the Nine...” you know what to expect thematically from those titles! Musically, this is absolutely rock solid- good production job, growled vocals, tales of glory and mayhem; it's all here. I suppose as a reference point this is kind of like a death metal Grand Magus. There are cracking riffs to be had here, it's not mindlessly “brutal” as the songs are thought out and the band has brought some seriously groove filled and sludgy riffs.

 

In short, this is not just speed for speed's sake death metal, but neither is it anything less than very heavy. There is something here for fans of death metal, trad metal, thrash metal and even doom metal, as well as Vikings of course. Sound wise, this is perhaps closer to Swe-death than Florida death metal, but Euro death is closer again to the mark. Think Asphyx jamming with Grand Magus via Revel in Fleshor similar and you are getting there.

 

To be clear, there are no bad tracks here and over the course of the eight tracks the band have crafted a fine and vicious album. Valafar are a band to watch and they are destined for greater things- watch this space and get out to see them live when you can. Stirring stuff.

 

“Wolfenkind” is available HERE

 

Band info: facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Castle, “Deal Thy Fate”

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 19/10/2018

Label: Ripple Music

Castle remain unique and mix up the sounds and approaches of many of your favourite bands to create a superlative heavy metal record

“Deal Thy Fate” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1). Can’t Escape the Evil
2). Skull in the Woods
3). Prelude
4). Hexenring
5). Wait For Dark
6). Deal Thy Fate
7). Haunted
8). Red Phantom
9). Firewind

The Review:

Castle have been on quite the prolific run since 2011; this is their fourth full length. 2016's “Welcome To The Graveyard” was a great, great album and my favourite of theirs to date. Is “Deal Thy Fate” a step forward, sideways or back? Either read on or go and listen to it to find out...

The band remain with a foot/other body part in several different camps. It's not doom, it's not trad, it's not thrash, it's not rock. In fact, it's all those things mixed together. The band have a spooky vibe and veer towards the doom rock of Pentagramat times, but there are many riffs here which lean towards, or even heavily on, Slayerfor reference. From the opener of “Can't Escape the Evil” and into  “Skull in the Woods”, you can only assume that Castlehave summoned Jeff Hanneman's spirit and he has communicated what he would have played from beyond the grave, leading Mat Davis to oblige. That's not to take away from the material, it's a fresh angle for the band and they work it well.

Over the course of the eight tracks and one interlude here, Castle have added to their sound and built solidly on their previous three records. “Hexenring” could have nestled very comfortably into “WTTGY” and the vocals of Liz Blackwell are as stellar as ever. “Wait For Dark”is dramatic and evil in delivery and riffage and shows the band have retained an endearing rawness to their approach. My digitally provided copy has a few glitches here and there- it is hard to ignore at times with a couple of jumps in this track and others.

Digital issues aside, the sound of the album and the title track are reassuringly analogue. The evil and dark vibes continue and work really well with Blackwell's schizophrenic vocals. Once again, Castle are hard to pigeon-hole; the title track could be out of the Angel Witch NWOBHM play book, while “Haunted” goes much further towards hard rock. There may be nothing as immediate as “Flash of the Pentagram” here, but the songs throughout are uniformly strong and the production is perfect for the band.

The melting pot of hard rock and Slayer-esque riffing continues with “Red Phantom” and it delivers a storming and hard rocking penultimate track for this confident album. For the closing “Firewind”, Castle slow things down and offer up a track which starts effectively as a maudlin ballad and then gets heavier. Hey, if it's good enough for 70's era Priest... it's good enough for anybody. Castledeliver a surprisingly emotional final statement and close out the album with strength and purpose. The band have progressed here, no doubt, and they have set themselves up for a broader sound on their next album- should they wish to deliver such a thing. Castle remain unique and mix up the sounds and approaches of many of your favourite bands to create superlative heavy metal and hard rock. Excellent.

Order “Deal Thy Fate” direct from the band HERE and via Ripple Music HERE.

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Cauldron, "New Gods"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 07/09/2018

Label: The End Records

If you want melodic traditional heavy metal with a penchant for hard rock sensibilities, there are few bands better and you won't hear a better album of that style than this one released in 2018.

“New Gods” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Prisoner of the Past
2. Letting Go
3. No Longer
4. Save the Truth – Syracuse
5. Never Be Found
6. Drown
7. Together as None
8. Isolation
9. Last Request

The Review:

Cauldron are back, close to three years after “In Ruin” and are not straying too far from their original raison d'etre: old school heavy metal, old school sounds, old school songs. Yep, Cauldronare plugging away; on the road, in the studio, presumably in a less than salubrious rehearsal room... Cauldron keep on keeping on.

“Prisoner of The Past” picks up where “In Ruin” left off, with tight and crunchy riffage- plus a dose of melody of course. The drums still thud like 83, rather than snapping like 2018 and reverb is present on the vocals and, indeed, all instruments. “Letting Go” is a melodic and dark track as the title suggests; with both of the first two tracks sounding like a wound down Accept, musically, if not vocally. Nice chorus and anthemic riffs combine to good effect.

Truthfully, I think the likes of “No Longer”could stand to be a little shorter (oh sweet prescient irony), but these are not thrashing and urgent tracks. They are hard rocking, but with quite some emphasis on rock rather than metal this time out. Again, the spectre of early Leppardis present at this feast- but it is a welcome apparition. The darkness of “Save The Truth- Syracuse” is well honed as the band again find their mid tempo groove.

“Never Be Found” doesn't move things around too much in terms of initial approach but the pre-chorus and chorus really lift this up. Great song writing and hooks. “Drown” sounds like a prime Paradise Lost track at first- a turn up for the books, but I was waiting for the tempo to lift and it did! This time, the band rip out some more thrashy riffs and it is a welcome throw back to the “Chained To The Nite” opus. Great cut.

“Together as None” is very light weight in comparison- there is plenty of light and shade on this album, for sure, but this particular track is a little too (bitter) sweet for my tastes and could easily have turned up on any hair metal album you could care to name. “Isolation”, meanwhile, fulfils its titular promise of dark sounds, being as it is an instrumental and a good one. It's maudlin and brooding and one of the best things on the record. It sets thing up nicely for the appropriate “Last Request”which is another album highlight; a little quicker, a little heavier, a little more bite.

“New Gods” represents both more of the same for Cauldron and is also leaning a bit further towards the melodic song writing present on all their releases thus far. For me, I yearn for some of the crunchier riffage that was present on earlier career tracks such as “Conjure The Mass”, but no one can deny the quality of the songs here. If you want melodic traditional heavy metal with a penchant for hard rock sensibilities, there are few bands better and you won't hear a better album of that style than this one released in 2018.

“New Gods” is available here

Band info: facebook

REVIEW & EXCLUSIVE TRAILER: Khemmis, “Desolation” & Phil Pendergast on Hendrix, Fahey & Sonny Boy

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 22/06/2018

Label: Nuclear Blast |

20 Buck Spin

Six tracks, all uniformly of a high standard and with a production that suits the record perfectly. This is a fine modern American doom album and will feature on many year end lists. This is doom for the doomed!

“Desolation” CD//DD//LP

1). Bloodletting

2). Isolation

3). Flesh to Nothing

4). The Seer

5). Maw of Time

6). From Ruin

The Review

Colorado's Khemmisreturn with this, their third full length and follow up to the very well received “Hunted” from 2016. This is doom metal, for sure- proper doom; with real singing, melodies, dark sounds and tempo changes in the vein of Sabbath.

It is not a million miles away from Sabbath or Dawn of Winter but perhaps closer to Apostle of Solitude  in that it is modern in sound and scope but with a firm grip on the genre's past. It is also distinctly American in approach- no way would you mistake this for Witchsorrowor Serpent Venom. With “Bloodletting”sslow slog to open, the listener is in no doubt that this is traditional doom. “Isolation” may be a few steps quicker, but these Denver cowboys know how to ride a groove: not too quick and they are able to make these songs swing a little rather than just plod. There is dark fare on offer here- “Flesh To Nothing”, for instance is as black as the title suggests.


The rumbling of “The Seer” is impressive and the band plays wonderfully through the changes. My personal favourite, “Maw of Time” (for obvious reasons) is a monolithic slab of sorrow and dark doom with death growls. The nine and a half minute closer “From Ruin” finishes the album off before it outstays its welcome.

Six tracks, all uniformly of a high standard and with a production that suits the record perfectly. This is a fine modern American doom album and will feature on many year end lists. This is doom for the doomed!

“Desolation” is available here

Band info: bandcamp|| facebook

REVIEW: Haunt - "Luminous Eyes" [EP]

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: EP

Date Released: 28/01/2018

Label: Shadow KingdomRecords

Fitting in squarely with the likes of Cauldron, this is heavy metal of the old school done correctly and with affection. If you want traditional sounds with a dark edge to the songs, this is most assuredly for you.

“Luminous Eyes” CD//CS//DD//LP

1). Luminous Eyes

2). As Fire Burns

3). No Master

4). Fallen Star

The Review:

Haunt are brought to you by Trevor William Church of Beastmaker fame. This is four tracks of pure NWOBHM (or should that be NWOTHM?!) worship. Expect traditional sounds; solos, raw sounding drums, galloping rhythms and also a fair amount of melancholy. Pitched somewhere between Maiden and Angel Witch, this is straight up heavy metal. The title track is rather slow burning and thoughtful but things heat up appropriately with “As Fire Burns”. The track rocks hard and features a kind of revved up Witchfinder General vibe paired with a victory /vengeance-shall-be-mine theme. Killer.

The quality and energy level is kept right up there with “No Master”, which features the type of riffage which, had this been made by a band in 1981 from, say, Newcastle, would have inspired  Metallica to cover it many years later. The EP closes with the grandiose sounding “Fallen Star”- all widdly leads and riffs, coupled with the loping gallop that the EP exhibits at various times throughout.

Fitting in squarely with the likes of Cauldron, this is heavy metal of the old school done correctly and with affection. If you want traditional sounds with a dark edge to the songs, this is most assuredly for you.

“Luminous Eyes” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Manilla Road - "To Kill A King"

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 30/06/2017

Label: Golden Core Records (ZYX)

In summary, To Kill A King is a superb and epic metal album, forged from the finest steel.

“To Kill A King” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. To Kill A King
2. Conqueror
3. Never Again
4. The Arena
5. In the Wake
6. The Talisman
7. The Other Side
8. Castle of the Devil
9. Ghost Warriors
10. Blood Island
11. The Books of Skelos Pt. 1 (The Book of Ancients)*

The Review:

Incredibly, this is the first time this legendary band has been featured on THE SLUDGELORD, but their influence on the metal underground- trad/doom/thrash, even prog- is so great that this album simply had to be reviewed. I wanted to review this when it was released earlier in the year, but finances were tight and no promo copy made its way to SLUDGELORD HQ, so I had to wait until I had the funds to buy it. I am glad I did, as for the last week; this has been in constant rotation.

Manilla Road have been putting out records since 1979(!), barring a break for much of the 90's, and each one has been different from the last. From the trad metal of “Crystal Logic” and “Open The Gates” to the chaotic and progressive “The Deluge” to the thrashier material of “Mystification”through to the mix of metal genres that has permeated everything from “Atlantis Rising” onwards, Manilla Roadare a unique band. With Mark Shelton still at the helm, Bryan Patrick's perfectly matched vocals, Neudi- a German drummer with unusual and capable technique- and Phil Ross holding down the low end, the band are tight and very focused.

Honestly, I came to the band late- I first heard “Crystal Logic” after hearing the cover of “Necropolis”by Visigoth- and then went through a few of the key albums before buying “The Blessed Curse” back in 2015. I rate that very highly indeed- I love the drum sound, love the writing, the playing and the themes. A fantastic album on every level. It was with high hopes, then, that I pressed play on “To Kill A King”.

The title track is first up and it is an epic. The sound is not dissimilar to “The Blessed Curse”- a huge bonus for me as I love the production on that one. It seems that some fans complain about Manilla Road'sproductions, but not me. I like albums to sound different from one another and to have quirks; it makes the music come alive a lot more. The tom sound is particularly excellent- it has real tone and depth to it. The snare is tight (maybe a piccolo?) and the cymbals are very bright and clear. The guitar has the usual distinctive Sheltontone and the bass has warmth and depth. As per recent releases, the vocals are reverb drenched and almost laid back in delivery. With Hamlet re-told in the title track the ten minute playing time flies by- lots of guitar workouts, several different sections and a few interesting production approaches (overlay of acoustic in the verses, for instance).

“Conqueror” blasts out of the speakers with a killer riff and some shredding leads early on and makes for a very direct second track. Good time changes, too. The much more melancholy “Never Again” is a great change of pace and a fine rumination on the nuclear threat. I really like this track and find it extremely catchy as well as being oddly relaxing- despite the unsettling subject matter.

“The Arena” finds the guitars mixed front and centre as bass drums roll and the none-more-metal subject matter of gladiatorial combat is brought to life through the music. This is rousing stuff and features some great harsh vocals to go with the more operatic delivery through the verses. Once again, the lead work is superb and the band is really firing on all cylinders. By the time of “In The Wake”, the pattern of the album becomes clear- the band have made a very dynamic record; epic songs, all out metal assaults, more mellow and introspective material and some serious hooks. “In The Wake” certainly features the latter and represents the more commercial side of Manilla Road; strong riffs, catchy vocals and mid tempo pacing. It is also rather melancholic as per “Never Again”.

“The Talisman” represents one of the album high points and offers up an excellent main riff and a very focused vocal performance- a fantastic track. The band take things down a few notches for the intro of “The Other Side”, but then switch to a strong central refrain and a great vocal from Bryan Patrick (please excuse me if I have confused him with Mark Shelton, but I think this is right) with evocative lyrics about visions of doom and manifest destiny this would not be out of place on any classic Sabbath album.

The final three tracks are balls to the wall heavy metal. “Castle Of The Devil” has great rhythmical riffing and the bass pulls the track along superbly. As ever, you are never too far from a lead break and they are all expertly delivered. Time changes also abound, just for good measure. “Ghost Warriors” has a surprisingly catchy vocal line and the central riffs are just as memorable. The historical theme is delivered with the universal message of how glorious it can be to fight against tyranny and stand up for yourself.

By the time “Blood Island” roars out of the open gate the album is close to an hour long. Truthfully, it does not feel like it to me- it just feels like an immersive listen with no one track like another. The alternating heavy track/mellow track dynamic is dispensed with in the record's final stretch, but this is fine with me- the band finish strong and go for the throat down the home straight.

Honestly, I thought was going to like this album as soon as I saw the Paulo Girardi artwork- but it has been great to hear it and really get into it. I think Manilla Roadare in something of a purple patch of their career here; “The Blessed Curse” and the “Hellwel”records are great and I also really liked “Mysterium”as a straightforward metal album. In summary, To Kill A King is a superb and epic metal album, forged from the finest steel.

“To Kill A King” is available here

Band info: official || facebook

ALBUM REVIEW: Venomous Maximus - "No Warning"

By: Ben Fitts

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 28/07/2017

Label: Shadow Kingdom Records

In some places on the album, those qualities are phrased in the same ways that fans have come to expect, and so admirably, but in other spots on “No Warning”, Venomous Maximus explore new ways to do that which they’ve always done: create infectiously and wonderfully diabolical music.

“No Warning” CD//DD//LP track  listing:

01. I
02. Spellbound
03. Pray For Me
04. Return Of The Witch
05. All Of My Dreams
06. II
07. No Warning
08. Blood For Blood
09. Endless
10. Sea Of Sleep

The Review:

Venomous Maximus have never been about pushing their musical envelope, expanding upon or diverging from what they do, but that is fine, because what they do is simply wonderful. “No Warning” is the third full-length album from the Houston-based doom metal quartet, and will not disappoint. “No Warning” is loaded with all the thick, vintage fuzz guitar tones, epic riffing, hazy atmosphere and awesomely vampy vocals that made Venomous Maximus’ last two albums so great, and what fans of the band have come to expect.

Just popping in the album and pressing play might throw a listener at first, due to the forty-eight seconds of buzzy, devilish synthesizer that opens “No Warning” on the instrumental track “I”, but any trepidation is instantly dispelled once the thudding guitar riff on the next track, “Spellbound”, kicks in. “Spellbound” is classic Venomous Maximus, with their natural, psychedelically occult vibe (and lyrics), and driving doom riffs, inflected with classic heavy metal. While these qualities are also present on other tracks throughout the album including, “Blood For Blood”, the album’s jammy nearly ten-minute long closer (although to be fair, the track contains almost 3 minutes of complete silence) “Sea Of Sleep” and perhaps best manifested in “Return Of The Witch”, one of the best songs the band has ever recorded, “No Warning” does demonstrate that Venomous Maximus have more than one trick up their collective sleeves.

While “No Warning” is still true to the sound and identity the band established on their past two albums, some tracks do find new ground, previously unwalked by the band, that still manages to exist safely within the confines of their musical territory. Tracks “Pray For Me” and the album’s title track see the band wander old school metal terrain, with muted, propulsive power chords and operatic, melodramatic melodies. Conversely, the tracks “All of My Dreams” and “Endless” see Venomous Maximus unplug for bleak, folk-influenced music, with “All of My Dreams” nearing the grim sounds of modern day gothic rock acts like King Dude.

“No Warning” shows Venomous Maximus continue to deliver material bursting with the qualities that makes their music so appealing. In some places on the album, those qualities are phrased in the same ways that fans have come to expect (and there is nothing wrong with that), and so admirably, but in other spots on “No Warning”, Venomous Maximusexplore new ways to do that which they’ve always done: create infectiously and wonderfully diabolical music. 

“No Warning”is available to buy/preorder here

FFO: Grand Magus, Castle, Sahg, The Sword

Band info: Facebook || Instagram || Bandcamp

ALBUM REVIEW: Blaze Bayley - “Infinite Entanglement” and “Endure and Survive”

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Lengths

Date Released: 18/03/2016 |

03/03/2017

Label: Blaze Bayley Records

 

 

Both “Infinite Entanglement” and “Endure and Survive” are the best work of his entire career, better than Wolfsbane, better than his tenure with Maiden and better than his past solo work.  Blaze's fire is burning brighter than ever

“Infinite Entanglement” and “Endure and Survive” track listing:

“Infinite Entanglement” CD//DD//LP

1). Infinite Entanglement

2). A Thousand Years

3). Human

4). What Will Come

5). Stars Are Burning

6). Solar Wind

7). The Dreams of William Black

8). Calling You Home

9). Dark Energy 256

10). Independence

11). A Work of Anger

12). -

“Endure and Survive (Infinite Entanglement Part II) CD//DD”

1). Endure and Survive

2). Escape Velocity

3). Blood

4). Eating Lies

5).Destroyer

6). Dawn of the Dead Son

7). Remember

8). Fight Back

9). The World is Turning the Wrong Way

10). Together We Can Move the Sun

The Review:

Blaze Bayley needs no real introduction, but he will get one here anyway. He is one of only three men to front the greatest metal band of them all: Iron Maiden. He is also a man who has often been unfairly maligned and even ignored both during his stint with Maidenand as a solo artist. Blaze's era of Maiden was different- but by no means was it no good. “The X Factor” is actually an album that has really grown on me in recent months; it's dark, complex and epic- it has made its way up the rankings in my own list of Maidenalbums (“Killers” is still my favourite). “Virtual XI” has some good moments too; “Futurereal” and “The Clansman” are both bona fide classics for a start.

That was then, though. The current album cycle that Blaze is in is both now and, literally and metaphorically, the future. I can't believe I missed out on “Infinite Entanglement” last year, but I did. For those of you in the same boat, let me bring you up to speed: Blazehas embarked on a trilogy of albums with a full Sci-fi concept. Not only that, but the three albums tell an ongoing story based around the compelling character of William Christopher Black. “Infinite Entanglement” sets the scene for Black's journey into space and his own journey of self discovery. He has members of the metal band Absolva in tow rounding out the line-up and they deliver expertly. The music here sits on the Maiden/Priesttrajectory with a more modern edge. This is trad/power/thrash or... just metal, if you prefer.

As soon as I listened to the album, really listened, I engaged with the story immediately. Blazehas gone all out here; there are voice actors for narration and links between tracks, unusual instrumentation on a couple of tracks (“What Will Come” is a vocal tour de force and features violin) and the whole album is really well produced. It's bright, clear and powerful with Blaze'svoice taking centre stage and showing an impressive depth that has developed since his Maidendays. I have listened to this album countless times over recent weeks and I never skip a track. It's a journey, it's a story, and it’s an aural experience. It represents the very best of what heavy metal can be; it's epic, grandiose, and technically excellent and it delivers on every level.

Try out the first four tracks and see if you feel the same way. It's also insanely catchy. The hooks and melodies really get into your head. I'll be honest and say I was really surprised by just how good the album is. As the first in a trilogy, it's a barnstormer. Twelve tracks (well, ten and two interludes) with not a moment wasted.

Fortunately, getting into “Infinite Entanglement”when I did meant I did not have to wait long for “Endure and Survive (Infinite Entanglement Part II)” which was released in March of this year. This time around Blaze and the band have opted for a darker feel. The production is once again excellent, with arguably a better mix, and the record plots a dangerous course. I was once again pleasantly surprised to find that the quality of songs lasts the whole way through the album. It's another cracker. Start to finish, it's a worthy listen. The title track is first up and sets the tone for an album about struggle, turmoil and determination. “Escape Velocity” is catchy and triumphant, before we learn about William Black's past in “Blood”. If anything, “Endure and Survive” is more epic than the first album of the series; huge choruses, sweeping melodies, great performances and an ensemble cast around the central four players. I won't ruin the story for you but things finish on a cliff-hanger here, as they did with the first record of the trilogy.

As “Endure and Survive” progresses, the story moves on and there are some real stand out songs along the way; “Destroyer”, “Fight Back”, “The World Is Turning The Wrong Way”... all absolute winners. Blaze and band have written and recorded an outstanding album again here. It's deep, epic, engaging and fully realized.

Blaze is now two albums into this trilogy, I can't wait for part three- due next year- and would recommend the first two albums to anyone with an interest in trad/power/epic metal with big vocals and strong performances. In closing, consider this: Blaze Bayleyis a fully independent artist. He puts out his own albums, tours relentlessly and gets very little by way of mainstream exposure. He has now released eight (!) solo albums. In a fair world, these two records would put him at the top of the metal tree. Both “Infinite Entanglement” and “Endure and Survive” are the best work of his entire career, better than Wolfsbane, better than his tenure with Maiden and better than his past solo work (“Silicon Messiah” and “The Man Who Would Not Die” are both very good also). Blaze's fire, then, is burning brighter than ever. Bring on part three!

“Infinite Entanglement” and “Endure and Survive” are available here



Band info: facebook



“11 is one louder”: Final Sign vocalist Shawn Pelata chooses his Top 5 trad metal albums

Final Sign’s foundation stems from a musical partnership between vocalist Shawn Pelata and guitarist Brian "Hellstorm" Williams which dates back to 1999, when Brian contacted Shawn with the hope of recruiting him to sing for a new project he was putting together. That short-lived endeavor became K-OCTAVE—yielding a single, highly praised album, “Outer Limits”, issued via Germany's Hellion Records in 2001.

Williams then continued with his main band, underground metal giants OCTOBER 31; while Pelata released two albums with melodic rock outfit LINE OF FIRE, as well as working with metalcore cultists KILLWHITNEYDEAD. The two kept in touch, vowing to one day work together again when the time was right.  As a proponent of unstoppable riffs Brian soon found himself with new players, and eight new songs in need of the right voice and Shawn was brought on board, finally Final Sign was born. Releasing some of finest traditional metal in the form of debut “Hold High the Flame”, it is time for The Sludeglord to share some pure metal for true metal heads and who better to discuss that with than Shaun Pelata, vocalist with the mighty Final Sign, as we once

again turn the dial up to 11 because it is, after all one louder. 

"All-time". Really, "all-time"? Yeah, really. It's so hard, after 40+ years of amazing heavy metal releases, to make lists like this. I think any metal fan would say the same. Then to be limited to only five albums is there any task more daunting to a fan?

Anyway, I poured a cup of coffee (hey, it's only lunch time) and sat down to think of my list. It was quite difficult whittling down to five albums (FIVE???), but after reheating my coffee a few times I managed to get it done. There are SO many great bands that I had to leave out (Armored Saint, Queensryche, Saxon, Accept, Ozzy-Sabbath, Mercyful Fate, etc) and so many albums in other styles that I love so much ('The Skull', 'Ancient Dreams', 'Ride The Lightning', 'Show No Mercy'). I just want you to know how much work this was and feel sorry for me. The pain is real.

So, now that I have reached the finish line, I present to you my Top 5 All-Time Favourite Traditional Metal Albums.

5). The Scorpions – “Blackout”

SKAW-PYAAAWNS!!!! Yes!! Such a great, enduring band! 'Blackout'is my all-time favourite Scorpions album and was not going to miss being part of this list. This album is pure energy! Klaus Meine is simply raging on these songs. "Blackout", "Now!", "Dynamite", "No One Like You" (!!!), "Can't Live Without You"...awesome, awesome, awesome! I never get tired of playing this album. This is an album where the production quality is so full and clear that it's absolutely timeless. THIS is the kind of energy all bands need to play with.

4). Iron Maiden – “Piece of Mind”

As I was writing this list, a buddy asked "Not 'Number Of The Beast'?" For me, 'Piece of Mind' tops them all. I love the songs, the mix, the cover art, the vibe, and most of all Bruce Dickinson's vocals. Dear lord, the vocals! Bruce is in top, top form on this record. "Where Eagles Dare", "Die With Your Boots On", "Quest For Fire", "Flight Of Icarus"...brilliant, one and all. Also, if every heavy metal fan in the world doesn’t know all the words to "The Trooper", I'd die of shock. Bruce is such a major influence on me in terms of how I want to be on stage and the kind of power I want to convey when I sing...and he's never been better than on 'Piece of Mind'.

3). Judas Priest – “Hell Bent For Leather”

I got into Judas Priest with 'Screaming For Vengeance'. MTV used to air the "You've Got Another Thing Coming" video all the time when I was a kid and I loved it. As I got older, started playing in bands, and delving into their huge and growing discography, I ended up loving all eras of Priest (even the Ripper era, although to a lesser degree). It's 'Hell Bent For Leather' that makes this list, though. Rob sounds amazing on this album. He's been a favourite of mine and a huge influence for decades now, but his vocals on this album are stellar and full of fire. "Delivering The Goods", "Burnin' Up", "Running Wild", "The Green Manalishi", "Evil Fantasies", and of course the title track, all just explode with intensity. I love it!

2). Dio – “Holy Diver”

'Holy Diver' is just such an essential album for me. Everything from the music, to the vocals, to the lyrics ("Ride the tiger!") just resonates with everything I love about heavy metal. Dio has such intensity to the way he sings and to his presentation. There's this undercurrent of crushing energy to everything he sings, whether it's the aggression of "Stand Up And Shout" or "Straight Through The Heart", or the enchanting falsetto on "Don't Talk To Strangers", or the uplifting swagger of "Caught In The Middle". Every note is delivered with unmatched sincerity and passion. When Diosings, you believe it!

1). Black Sabbath – “Heaven And Hell”

Seriously, could there be anything else? Dio gets double-billing on my list because he's Dio, and nobody else is. This album is absolutely, 100% flawless heavy metal. Not a single note is out of place. I even named the band "Final Sign" after the lyric in "Children of the Sea". It was my way of honouring not only the very roots and traditions of heavy metal, but of honouring Ronnie James Dio himself. The words "classic" or "iconic" or "legend" don't begin to do justice to this brilliantly amazing example of badass badassery. Hyperbole, be damned! This album IS heavy metal! BELIEVE IT!

 Final Sign’s latest record “Hold High the Flame” is available here

Band info: facebook