INCURSION - BLINDING FORCERating: 8.5

 

An incursion is an invasion or attack, usually brief, and this Florida based band had a short existence from 1982 - 86 with no official releases outside of a local compilation at the time. In 2018 the two original guitarists, and drummer got back together resulting in The Hunter (EP) in 2020. Blinding Force, their first full-length album continues with all the traditions from the ‘80s American heavy metal bands like Riot, Jag Panzer, Omen, and Cirith Ungol. Now in 2022, they are full force in the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal.

Title track opens the album with strong riffing and vocals like any one of the above mentioned names. Even the music has an older sonic aesthetic, doesn't sound over produced or fiddled with. "Vengeance" drives with force, steadfast drums and guitars.

"Running Out" maintains the energy, "The Sentinel" leaves room in the verses for singer Steve Samson to show his range. Traditional gallop to "The Rites", "Master Of Evil" very Iron Maiden Killers album in the guitar bass harmony. Drum pattern begins the epic Manowar melody in "Strike Down", and "Hang Em High" hits with twin guitar harmonies.

TODAY IN METAL HISTORY 🤘 DECEMBER 13TH, 2022🤘CHUCK SCHULDINER,

R.I.P. Charles Michael "Chuck" Schuldiner (DEATH, CONTROL DENIED) May 13th, 1967 – December 13th, 2001

COFFIN TORTURE - BLENNOID

 

Second album here from South Carolina freakies Coffin Torture, a sludgey death metal duo who lay down tons of awkward, sideways vibes on Blennoid. Autopsy immediately come to mind, but there's a more hardcore feel here as well, a smart Relapse atmosphere, the recording, handled by Kylesa's Phillip Cope, probably helping with that.

I really like the occasional clanking and clashing of extra percussion and other sounds, while songs like “Budo” lay down more head-bopping stoner riffs, although filtered through a heavy Electric Wizard haze, thankfully. The band just stomps and sludges through the grime on the mighty and massive “Confessor” and album highlight “Crawling Spleen”, pure death/doom goriness, this band really tapping into Autopsy's spirit in a way that very few pull off. The riffs on this song just pull and tear apart, as do the ones found on the massive, pummelling title track. “Yateveo” ends things off with a brisk gurgling punk gallop and a bit of dynamics and a lighter touch before the repetitive hypnosis of the closing.

IRON MAIDEN – THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST / BEAST OVER HAMMERSMITH (40TH ANNIVERSARY LIMITED DELUXE EDITION)

 

By and large, when an established rock or metal band changes their lead singer, bad things happen – either artistically (1998’s Van Halen III) and/or commercially (1994’s Mötley Crüe). Iron Maiden is one of the rare instances where a vocalist switcheroo helped elevate them in both areas – when Bruce Dickinson inherited the lead singer spot from Paul Di’Anno, in time for 1982’s The Number Of The Beast.


Featuring some of Maiden’s best-known tunes (the title track, “Run To The Hills,” “Hallowed Be Thy Name”) and fan favorites (“Children Of The Damned,” “The Prisoner,” “22 Acacia Avenue”), TNOTB served as Maiden’s global breakthrough. And right around the time of the album’s release, a performance by the group at the Hammersmith Odeon in London was recorded…and sat on a shelf for many years (before eventually being issued in 2002 as Beast Over Hammersmith, as part of the Eddie’s Archive CD box).

 

PANTERA LIVE

 

On December 9th, Pantera - featuring Phil Anselmo (vocals) and Rex Brown (bass) backed by Zakk Wylde (guitar) and Charlie Benante (drumns) - brought their tribute tour to Knotfest Colombia in Bogota, Colombia. Fan-filmed video is available below.

The setlist was as follows:



"A New Level"
"Mouth For War"
"Strength Beyond Strength"
"I'm Broken"
"5 Minutes Alone"
"This Love"
"Yesterday Don't Mean Shit"
"Fuckin' Hostile"
"Planet Caravan"
"Walk"
"Cowboys From Hell"
"Domination / Hollow"

QUIET RIOT: NOVA MÚSICA COM DUBROW, BANALI E SARZO SERÁ LANÇADA NESTA SEGUNDA

 

O videoclipe oficial de uma nova música da lendária banda Quiet Riot, intitulada “I Can’t Hold On”, fará sua estreia online nesta segunda-feira, 12 de dezembro. A faixa, que apresenta o falecido vocalista do Quiet Riot, Kevin DuBrow, e o falecido baterista, Frankie Banali, ao lado dos atuais membros Rudy Sarzo, no baixo e Alex Grossi, nas guitarras, foi composta por DuBrow e Grossi. A música foi produzida, projetada e mixada por Alistair James, enquanto o vídeo foi dirigido pela viúva de Frankie, Regina Banali.




Em março passado, Rudy disse que o próximo álbum de estúdio do Quiet Riot incluiria uma música que foi originalmente gravada com DuBrow, o que poderia indicar ser “I Can’t Hold On”. O músico de 72 anos, que recentemente voltou ao Quiet Riot após uma ausência de 18 anos, falou sobre a possibilidade de material novo do grupo durante uma entrevista ao The Rock N’ Roll & Coffee Show. Ele disse:

THE COMMONERS - FIND A BETTER WAY

Citing The Black Crowes as “a considerable influence,” The Commoners from Toronto, Ontario beautifully meld blues, soul, and good old-fashioned rock ‘n roll into a warm and soothing musical experience. Although the roots-based band is pictured as a four-piece on the album cover – vocalist / rhythm guitarist Chris Medhurst, bassist Ben Spiller, lead guitarist Ross Hayes Citrullo, and drummer Adam Cannon – are joined by their friend, organist / piano player Miles Evans-Branagh on eight of the nine songs on this stunning, Southern rock inspired album.

Opening song and title track “Find A Better Way” features a special guest appearance from The Trews keyboardist Jeff Heisholt, and was mixed by Kevin “Caveman” Shirley (Aerosmith, Iron Maiden, Journey). What an inviting way to start an album! Put simply, “Fill My Cup” is irresistible. “More Than Mistakes” is reminiscent of under-rated mid-‘90s Canadian rockers, Buffalo Brothers. “Too Much” hits that sweet spot just right. “Naturally” marks the mid-point, thereby providing a mellow yet impactful interlude.

“I Won’t” is highlighted by pedal steel courtesy of Michael Ekhart, and sees The Commoners veering towards country music. “Deadlines” brings back the euphoric element found at the beginning of this record. Passing the seven-minute mark, “Hangin’ On Again” is by far the longest of the bunch, resonating as it builds. Rather than going out with a bang, The Commoners opt for a tender closer in the form of “Alive”. Whether full-on ripping or acoustic picking, authenticity and sincerity are undoubtedly the name of this alluring game.