Album Review: Skyless Aeons – Drain The Sun (CDN Records – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life “Progressive death with touches of doom and thrash metal, Skyless Aeons look to take their sound to a more majestic stage. Aiming to make a massive splash with a debut that is as enjoyably heavy as it is thought-provoking. 8/10” https://www.gbhbl.com/album-review-skyless-aeons-drain-the-sun-self-released/
Posts By Asher
0 Album Review: Skyless Aeons – Drain The Sun (CDN Records – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life “Progressive death with touches of doom and thrash metal, Skyless Aeons look to take their sound to a more majestic stage. Aiming to make a massive splash with a debut that is as enjoyably heavy as it is thought-provoking. 8/10”
0 Without Mercy Guitar Playthrough Showcases The Shred of “The Disaster” Off Upcoming Album “Seismic”, Playthrough Premiere via GuitarWorld
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – September 30, 2020
For fans of Cattle Decapitation, Meshuggah, Whitechapel, Pantera, Decapitated
Without Mercy Guitar Playthrough Showcases The Shred of “The Disaster” Off Upcoming Album “Seismic”
Playthrough Premiere via GuitarWorld
New Album “Seismic” Due Out November 20th
Featuring guests Jeff Loomis (Arch Enemy, ex-Nevermore), Chris Broderick (Act of Defiance, ex-Megadeth, ex-Jag Panzer)
L-R – Ryan Loewen (Bass) DJ Temple (Guitars) Alex Friis (Vocals) Matt Helie (Drums)
Photo Credit: Shimon Karmel
Canada’s Without Mercy have their new album “Seismic” coming out in November and recently unleashed the first single “The Disaster” to throttle listeners around the world.
Teaming up with GuitarWorld today, guitarist DJ Temple is showcasing the shred on the track with the premiere of his playthrough that can be viewed HERE.
Temple adds:
“‘The Disaster’ was written to be unrelenting. Showing the best example of yourself under the worst conditions. Read the lyrics, they’ll get you there. I’m using my killer Schecter JL series on this track and running it down with Ernie ball strings and EMG 707’s. Then a single patch cable that runs to my kemper power rack and blasting through my EVH 4×12. Dunlop was my pick of choice on this record as well. Easter egg fans may notice a bracelet on my left hand which nods homage to an organization I’m proud of.”
The lyric video for “The Disaster” can also be viewed on YouTube.
Single download and stream are available on Apple Music, Spotify HERE.
Without Mercy’s forthcoming album “Seismic” is the fifth release from the band who have garnered praise from metal fans around the world for almost two decades. Unrelenting and diverse, this upcoming offering contains the most tracks to date on a single album from them. Regular listeners and uninitiate soon-to-be fans will adore the song structures, the complex rhythms and the overall diversity that makes up the album. The lyrical content will have them reflecting and invested while the relentless attitude of the compositions brings them to a new level of satisfaction. Featured on the album are metal titans Chris Broderick and Jeff Loomis.
Without Mercy formed in 2004 and through trial and tribulation, the band grew in fan base and discography. Producing material and touring bountifully, it resulted in accolades and awards and even features on video games. Over the years, they have grown and matured as musicians and people, each bringing different ideas to the table that they wanted to express.
For fans of Cattle Decapitation, Meshuggah and Whitechapel, expect the whole album on November 20, 2020 via Bloodblast Distribution.
Album Pre-Save HERE. Physical Pre-Order at Withoutmercyband.com.
Track Listing:
1. Thunderbird (ft. Jeff Loomis) (4:53)
2. Abysmal (5:42)
3. Left Alone (4:00)
4. Wiindigo (4:55)
5. Disinfect The Soul (ft. Chris Broderick) (7:18)
6. The Disaster (3:52)
7. Possessed (4:04)
8. I Break The Chain (4:44)
9. Uprooted (4:58)
Album Length: 44:29
For more info:
Withoutmercyband.com
Facebook.com/withoutmercyband
Instagram.com/withoutmercyband
EPK
– 30 –
“The thrash-stomp modes on “Worthless” ring like a head-on collision between DECAPITATED and BIOHAZARD with a dash of power metal thrown into the solo section. Alex Friis wrings his throat to huge extremes, hopefully leaving tissue intact as he hits agonizing squeals while throwing indictments against former band members — guess on your own who that might entail. DJ Temple’s guitar work on “Worthless” is terrific..” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Blabbermouth
“Vancouver’s Without Mercy is a prime example of how putting in a little bit of elbow grease can result in advantageous outcomes. The quartet play their brand of melodic, groove-laden death metal independently, but refuse to remain held back by a lack in the promotional and money machine backing departments. Over the course of a decade or so, the band has experienced the same highs and lows as most others, but their successes – which include a small handful of recordings, a bigger handful of tours, and appearances in video games – have been felt at a deeper clip because they’ve essentially managed everything themselves.” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Decibel Magazine
“In a word, the music rips. And it also thunders, and punches so fast and hard that it’s like a jackhammer-sized nail gun ramming bolts into concrete at high speed while the operator howls and shrieks for all he’s worth, segmented by a start-stop breakdown that will give your skull a good rattling and lit up by swarming guitar flurries that are as fiery as the torches in the video (Burn).” (Mouchido EP 2016) – No Clean Singing
” the band live up to their name with each song on this 4 track EP going for straight for the throat; merciless aural violence and tight, technical proficiency melded with some serious might!” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Worship Metal
“Mouichido might only be a brief four songs and nineteen minutes long but, by the end of it, the Canadian death metal wrecking machine have left you in no doubt as to what they’re about.” (Mouchido EP 2016) – PureGrainAudio
“Right from the beginning you feel the weight and the immensity of Mouichido and one listen just doesn’t do it justice. This is a re-release of previously recorded material with a new vocalist and even so, Without Mercy comes out swinging again and knocks it clear out of the park.” (Mouchido EP 2016) – Cadaver Garden
“possibly the most savage song to ascend from the depths of the west in a good long while.” – Canadian Beats
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ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
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0 Protokult’s Streaming New Album “Transcending The Ruins”, Premiere via Bravewords
(contact info below)
NEWS RELEASE
Montreal, QC – September 30, 2020
For fans of Arkona, Korpiklaani, Windir, Nightwish, Turisas, Skyforger
Protokult’s Streaming New Album “Transcending The Ruins”
Premiere via Bravewords
New Album “Transcending The Ruins” Out October 1st, 2020
L-R: Dawid (Bass), Kaveh Afshar (Percussion), Ekaterina (Vocals, Woodwinds), Martin Drozd (Vocals, Guitar, Synthesizer), Jack Neila (Rhythm and Lead Guitar)
Protokult have been defining folk/pagan metal since 2009 when they released their debut album “Ancestral Anthems”, since then they have created three additional uncompromising and relentless albums with their fifth “Transcending The Ruins” coming out on October 1, 2020.
Over two years in the making, “Transcending The Ruins” is a rush, meant to be enjoyed either as a whole journey or at any entry point, the band ensures. Approaching this record with a bit more maturity and consistency, the result is heavier, faster, darker.
Inspired and fascinated by various metal genres alongside folk-culture, after a few years of experimenting, Protokult was meant to fuse the two together while paying homage to the past, Bacchanalian festivities, and honouring the underground.
For fans of Arkona, Korpiklaani, and Nightwish, the record pulsates from start to finish yet incorporates the massive dynamics, ambience, and dashes of folk-melodies that the band has become known for.
Before “Transcending The Ruins” officially releases, the band have teamed up Bravewords for the album’s exclusive full stream HERE.
The band comments on the full length’s release:
“‘Transcending The Ruins’ is an album about growing up and tipping our hats to the great metal influences of the generations. Some can say the industry has been shaken hard and is in a state of flux so as artists we try to outdo ourselves on every performance and transcend what the popular or common standards may be. Everyone is playing on the edge of their ability and no matter whether you listen from start to finish or dive in randomly, that energy and sincerity are everywhere. This is Protokult on speed all the while putting on a professional face, which makes it the most consistent and rewarding album to date.”
“Transcending The Ruins” will be out on October 1, 2020. Album pre-order on Bandcamp.
Music Video “Feed Your Demons” – YouTube
Music Video – “Troubled Lad (Slainte Mhaith)” – YouTube
Track Listing:
1. Mark Of Thunder (6:45)
2. Feed Your Demons (6:25)
3. 1516 (Keeper of the Hops) (3:58)
4. Oy Kanada (5:29)
5. Troubled Lad (Slainte Mhaith) (4:30)
6. Na Gryanoi Nedele (1:47)
7. Rusalka (6:17)
8. Valley of Thorns (7:45)
9. Wenches (4:23)
10. Greet The Dawn (6:09)
11. Dead New World (15:23)
Album Length: 1:08:57
Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Protokult
• All songs written by: Martin Drozd, Ekaterina
• Produced by: Protokult, Darren Mcgill
• Mixed by: Darren Mcgill
• Mastered by: Tyler Williams
• Album Artwork by: Marie Cherniy
• Member of SOCAN
• Canadian Content (MAPL)
Album Band Line Up:
Martin Drozd – guitar, vocals, keyboards, additional percussion, jawharp
Ekaterina Pyatkova- vocals, recorder,
Kaveh Afshar – drums
Jack Neila – rhythm and lead guitar
Dave Slowiak – bass, gang vocals
Live Band Line Up:
Martin Drozd – guitar and vocals
Dave Slowiak – bass and backup vocals
Ekaterina – vocals, recorder and synth
Jack Neila – guitar
Kaveh Afshar – drums
Guest musicians:
Quinn Strahl – electric violin
Matt Hilden (Vesication) – vocals
Joe Feral- vocals
Jesse Harvey (Ammo) – vocals
Cristina Marcu – operatic vocals
Ewelina Ferenc- folk vocals
Corktown trans-choir:
Jason Adamo, Geoff Hodsman, Andrei Sin, Davey White, Matt Hilden, Oliver Salathiel
For more info:
Protokult.com
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter
EPKAbout:
As interests in history, paganism and folklore took an increasingly strong hold on folk metallers Protokult, they were inspired to unleash their debut album, “Ancestral Anthems” in 2009. With the first two pressings selling out in months, they vowed to take things to the next level while continuing to deliver a unique mix of Canadian and international influences. In 2011, they released their next offering, the EP “Marzena”, then followed by sophomore album “No Beer In Heaven” that was widely praised for its hooky fun-loving anthems, especially the single “Get Me A Beer!”.
Protokult.com
EPKAbout:
As interests in history, paganism and folklore took an increasingly strong hold on folk metallers Protokult, they were inspired to unleash their debut album, “Ancestral Anthems” in 2009. With the first two pressings selling out in months, they vowed to take things to the next level while continuing to deliver a unique mix of Canadian and international influences. In 2011, they released their next offering, the EP “Marzena”, then followed by sophomore album “No Beer In Heaven” that was widely praised for its hooky fun-loving anthems, especially the single “Get Me A Beer!”.
Protokult’s goal? To unite its members’ diverse cultures into one sound, balancing tradition and folklore with heavy, thrash, and black metal for headbangers everywhere.
Over the past few years, the ever-evolving Protokult has graced the stage with the likes of Arkona, Turisas, Alestorm, Gloryhammer, Tengger Cavalry, Cellar Darling (X-Eluveitie) and Razor.
With beauty and the beast-like contrast between Ekaterina’s haunting vocals and the band’s metal rampage, they are ready to unveil their third full-length “Transcending The Ruins”, which is slated for release on October 1st, 2020. The album captures the reformed quintet at an all-time high, showcasing an impressive palette of powerful riffs, glorious onslaughts, and essentially reminds us, why we love heavy metal and it’s darker atmospheric shades.
– 30 –
“they’ve got a good sense of humor, and they sound top-notch” – Metal Sucks
“boozy blast of heathen prog” – Team Rock
“Le metal a du talent.” – Metal France
“a superb album. Protokult gives folk-metal a new nice dimension. Their progressive folk-metal approach is a very delicious one. Don’t let the ‘beer-titles’ fool you, the band goals are far beyond beer-humpaa. They’re far more serious, despite of the sometimes quite merry tunes. This is one of the best folk-metal albums I’ve heard this year” – Folk-Metal.nl
“Let’s mark the list down, shall we: Awesome Folk music spanning different areas of sound and direction, check! Creative and art work based around an old fashioned beer hall, check! And last, but certainly not least, BEER themed music!!!!.” – Metal Temple
—
ASHER MEDIA RELATIONS
Jon Asher – Music Publicist
#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
#.514.581.5780
asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
Facebook @AsherMediaRelations
Instagram @AsherMedia
Tweet @AsherMedia
0 Metal Temple – Snakeblade – The Kingdom ““The Kingdom” is an addicting spin that will blow brains & shatter windows with explosive clarity. Full of density, technical prowess & engaging captivation. This is an incredibly amazing debut album, and I will most look forward to their upcoming projects. And for a singular writing attempt, bravo! I couldn’t help but score this as a masterful piece of other-worldly malevolence which most certainly deserves a slot in your collection for sure. Check it out! 10/10”
Metal Temple – Snakeblade – The Kingdom ““The Kingdom” is an addicting spin that will blow brains & shatter windows with explosive clarity. Full of density, technical prowess & engaging captivation. This is an incredibly amazing debut album, and I will most look forward to their upcoming projects. And for a singular writing attempt, bravo! I couldn’t help but score this as a masterful piece of other-worldly malevolence which most certainly deserves a slot in your collection for sure. Check it out! 10/10” http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/s_2/snakeblade-the-kingdom.htm
0 Metal Temple – Autocatalytica – Powerclashing Maximalism “Overall, this is Progressive Death Metal turned up to 11. The tight instrumentation is un-matched. 8/10”
Metal Temple – Autocatalytica – Powerclashing Maximalism “Overall, this is Progressive Death Metal turned up to 11. The tight instrumentation is un-matched. 8/10” http://www.metal-temple.com/site/catalogues/entry/reviews/cd_3/a_2/autocatalytica.htm
0 The Independent Voice Ezine – Every Hour Kills – ReAwaken “Give Every Hour Kills a try if you’re into modern and progressive metal that comes with extra intrigue if you like using music to perk your curiosities.”
The Independent Voice Ezine – Every Hour Kills – ReAwaken “Give Every Hour Kills a try if you’re into modern and progressive metal that comes with extra intrigue if you like using music to perk your curiosities.” https://www.theindependentvoice.org/2020/09/28/every-hour-kills-reawaken/
0 The Independent Voice Ezine – The Myopia Condition – Event Horizon “The Myopia Condition showcase some serious skill and killer musicianship with their debut release. Watch out for their release this fall and prepare to get shaken!”
The Independent Voice Ezine – The Myopia Condition – Event Horizon “The Myopia Condition showcase some serious skill and killer musicianship with their debut release. Watch out for their release this fall and prepare to get shaken!” https://www.theindependentvoice.org/2020/09/27/the-myopia-condition-event-horizon/
0 Album Review: Protokult – Transcending The Ruins (Self Released) – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life “With the epic folk-melodies and chants of Feed Your Demons, the bouncy Oy Kanada and the hefty hold that Troubled Lad (Slainte Mhaith) has, the dynamic sound of the band really come to the surface. From that kind of grandiose music to another with the hyperactive traditional metal 1516 (Keeper of the Hops) where many a beer will be sunk. The operatic vocals of Ekaterina, unfiltered metal purity of Valley of Thorns and grin-inducing folk highlight that is Wenches, ensure this is an album that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. 9/10
Album Review: Protokult – Transcending The Ruins (Self Released) – Games, Brrraaains & A Head-Banging Life “With the epic folk-melodies and chants of Feed Your Demons, the bouncy Oy Kanada and the hefty hold that Troubled Lad (Slainte Mhaith) has, the dynamic sound of the band really come to the surface. From that kind of grandiose music to another with the hyperactive traditional metal 1516 (Keeper of the Hops) where many a beer will be sunk. The operatic vocals of Ekaterina, unfiltered metal purity of Valley of Thorns and grin-inducing folk highlight that is Wenches, ensure this is an album that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. 9/10” https://www.gbhbl.com/album-review-protokult-transcending-the-ruins-self-released/
0 Pick up the new issue of Zero Tolerance Magazine #097 w/ interview and review of Deathnoisefrequency
Pick up the new issue of Zero Tolerance Magazine #097
w/ interview and review of Deathnoisefrequency
https://www.ztmag.com/news/issue-097-autumn-2020-edition/
0 EPK – Ysgaroth – Storm Over a Black Sea (2020)
EPK – Ysgaroth – Storm Over a Black Sea (2020)
Publicist – Jon Asher – asher[@]ashermediarelations[.]com
For fans of Skeletonwitch, Enslaved, Wolves in the Throne Room, Death, Morbid Angel
Album Title: Storm Over a Black Sea
Release Date: November 13th, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Ysgaroth.com (coming soon) | Facebook.com/Ysgaroth | Twitter.com/ysgaroth | Instagram.com/ysgarothofficial | YouTube
“Simply put, the album is an enormous surprise, an unexpected gem that arrives without much advance fanfare. It is, after all, this Vancouver trio’s debut album. But they’re not taking tentative steps here. The songs are remarkably ambitious in their construction and remarkably demanding in their execution. Fortunately, the instrumental skill displayed here is at a very high level, and the songcraft, while elaborately multi-faceted and wide-ranging in its stylistic scope, is thrilling to behold.” – No Clean Singing
“Songs like “Forward Unto Death” and the colossal 17-minute closer “Deluge” perfectly highlights what this band can do, spinning out intricate and aggressive tracks with killer riffs, pummeling drums, complex and strange song structures, and absolutely gorgeous lead work, all contained within a raw, savage production job which sports a guitar tone that cuts like a jagged stone dagger… a promising young band…” – The Metal Crypt
“This is sophisticated extreme metal that demands repeat listening.” – Scream Blast Repeat
“If you’re looking for a unique black metal record to carry with you into this winter season, look no further! Fantastic stuff, really.8/10” – Noob Heavy
“The sound of the band has it all: black metal, death metal of the ’80s, thrash of the ’90s, sludge with post-metal, and the final signature of progressive metal. This is a very promising new band… Listen to “Storm Over A Black Sea”, it’s worth it.” – Greek Rebels
“Unexpected melodic harmonies are accompanied by grating vocals of the harshest on the album as a whole; Steigler sounds like his voice could give out at any point before a step up into a fiery blend of Black Metal rhythms with Death Metal leads sweeps everything aside like the loser of a game of chess ripping the board from the table and throwing all the pieces into to the sky with furious intent. That rise and fall pattern between the two styles keeps you on your toes, never quite sure when it’s going to switch personality and when it does it has the grace and speed of an assassin. How on Earth Ysgaroth follow this up is beyond us… [8/10]” – Metal Noise
“This is an impressive debut, with great songs” – UK Thrashers
“The real nugget of play and exploration in this album is the 17 + minute final track, ‘Deluge’. it opens with powerful slow sludgy guitar distortion, but then slows down to a very interesting drum and bass riff session with softer blackened vocals over – the guitar spends that time in off the front. But then, the forces of power and direction come together and the energy picks up again. I would have to say that this track is a fabulous clincher for the album, but also just as a track, it is super. If you are down with noisy bands, and are okay with a few of the ‘black metal’ rules being broken, Ysgaroth’s, “Storm Over A Black Sea”, is the album to check out.
4.5 / 5” – Brutalism
“The music is melodic extremity, with a certain black metal feel in places and with some prog tendencies, but still moshing and headbanging metal. The vocals are shrieked a lot, although there is some growling in there, too. While the vocals scream black metal, the music points to some surprising melodic places. Ysgaroth is brutal and melodic and they plan to have their cake and eat it, too. Is it possible?! Ysgaroth is going to find out! Would you like to come along? It will be a fun ride through the minds of these Canadian brutes. Just when you think you got them figured out, they will surprise you with 17 minutes of the song “Deluge.” It’s like they decided to let us see that they love Scandinavian extreme metal, but maybe when you’re a Canadian prog band you can’t really avoid having some Rush sneak into your subconscious.” – Metal Bulletin Zine
[Download Album Cover | Download Album Lyrics]
Album Title: Storm Over a Black Sea
Release Date: November 13th, 2020
Label: Self-Release
Track Listing:
1. Rain (1:54)
2. Nam Gloria Satanas (feat. Jessie Grace of KOSM) (7:06)
3. Sacred (5:31)
4. Altar of Scars 11:48)
5. Forward Unto Death (feat. Jessie Grace of KOSM) (5:19)
6. Deluge (feat. Erik Leonhard of KOSM) 17:24
Album Length: 49:05
L-R: Shawn Hillman (Bass) | Steve Cuddington (Drums) | Kurt Steigleder (Guitar, Vocals) – Photo Credit: Jade Weekes
Ysgaroth is a progressive extreme metal band conjured in Vancouver, Canada that seamlessly blends elements of various metal subgenres into a vicious hybrid.
Initially, Ysgaroth started as Kurt Steigler’s black metal studio project, a non-serious musical outlet, but over time he grew attached to the songs and wanted to take them live.
With the desire to hit the stage, Steigler (guitar/vocals) was joined by Steve Cuddington (drums) and Shawn Hillman (bass) With these additions, the songs got more structurally ambitious, a sludge influence began to creep into the band. Cuddington brings an absolutely crushing, hardcore-influenced drumming style that gave the songs a new vitality, and Hillman’s exceptionally musical bass playing served as the perfect bridge between the crushing drums and razor-sharp guitars. Ultimately, the sound of the band became a mix of its black metal roots, classic 80’s death metal, 90’s thrash, and sludge with the long compositions of post-metal and the shifting, churning time signatures of progressive metal. Steigler is the main songwriter, but overall the process is hugely democratic.
The debut album from the band “Storm Over a Black Sea” will be unearthed on November 13th, 2020, and considering the growing amount of music they have been writing – fans can expect a lot more from Ysgaroth.
Album Credits:
• All songs performed by: Steve Cuddington, Shawn Hillman, Kurt Steigleder
• All songs written by: Ysgaroth
• Produced by: Ysgaroth & Michael Krauschaar
• Mixed by: Michael Krauschaar
• Mastered by: Michael Krauschaar
• Album Artwork by: Braden Farr
• Music is Canadian Content (MAPL)
Album Band Line Up:
Steve Cuddington – Drums
Shawn Hillman – Bass
Kurt Steigler – Guitar and Vocals
Jessie Grace – Vocals on Nam Gloria Satanas and Forward Unto Death
Erik Leonhard – First guitar solo in Deluge
Live Band Line Up:
Steve Cuddington – Drums
Shawn Hillman – Bass
Kurt Steigler – Guitar and Vocals
Discography:
2020 – Storm Over a Black Sea
Shared Stage with:
Chaos Century, Wraiths, Rejected Sanity, SVNEATR, Death Machine, Hexripper, Exterminatus, Illyrian, BornBroken, Suicide Forest, Ozawar, Arrow in the Quiver, Param-Nesia, Kayas, Demon Cleaver, Tribunal, Basic Instinct
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