Blissful Valentine’s! Granted, cuddly teddy bears and love hearts do not appear steel on the floor of it, but when you already know that Saint Valentine was truly martyred and had his head lopped off, and given steel’s penchant for doomed romance (Sort O Unfavorable, Black Sabbath, HIM… take your choose!) we would say there’s nonetheless loads of causes to have fun in the present day. Not least of which is a recent batch of recent songs to your listening pleasure.
However first, the outcomes of final week’s vote! There have been some heavy hitters and oddities out in pressure, however it was established bands all spherical who took podium locations ultimately. Rivers Of Nihil’s sax-laden Home Of Gentle took an admirable third place, whereas Arch Enemy gleefuly dived into 80s grandstanding with Paper Tiger. The general champions nevertheless had been Spiritbox, that band’s ascent wanting unstoppable as they rack up Grammy nominations and pack out arenas like Alexandra Palace.
We have one other stacked line-up for you this week with new singles from Lacuna Coil, Lordi and Sicksense, in addition to a re-recorded Ozzy Osbourne function that provides an additional layer of poignance to the Prince Of Darkness’s impending retirement. As ever, do not forget to solid your vote within the ballot under – and have a incredible weekend!
Billy Morrison ft. Ozzy Osbourne, Steve Stevens – Gods Of Rock N Roll
It is no shock that Ozzy’s dominated the headlines once more this week as tickets went on sale for his Again To The Starting farewell efficiency. But when there is a bittersweetness to the considered the Prince Of Darkness hanging up his spurs for the ultimate time, it is tempered by a reminder of the superb music he is given us over the previous 50+ years as greatest mate Billy Morrison launched a re-recording of his 2015 Ozzy team-up Gods Of Rock N Roll. With an added symphonic swells, it is an additional poignant reminder that there is extra to Ozzy than simply Sabbath and even Loopy Prepare, his ballads among the many greatest in heavy steel historical past.
Lacuna Coil – I Want You Had been Lifeless
How’s that for a Valentine’s sentiment? Lacuna Coil may’ve began out within the realms of goth steel, however they’ve steadily expanded their sound over the previous 20+ years to include different subgenres and kinds. Whereas they’ve usually gotten heavier over the previous couple of albums – and the freshly launched Sleepless Empire definitely does not break that pattern – newest single I Want You Had been Lifeless is as an alternative a straight-ahead membership steel banger, the music’s large hook delivered with gusto by a band who’re no strangers to singalongs.
Lordi – Hellizabeth
Nearly 20 years since they gained Eurovision and impressed numerous oteher steel bands to take part within the competitors, Lordi stay largely unchanged. They could gown like GWAR’s extra average cousins, however their sound is rooted in pure 80s heavy steel/onerous rock cheese, like a collision between King Diamond and Toto. Hellizabeth delivers on that promise with an oh-so-brilliant refrain and a few superb guitar solos that’ll have you ever pining for the times hairspray and latex.
Daybreak Of Ouroboros – Slipping Burgandy
Oakland’s Daybreak Of Ouroboros have at all times struck a steadiness between explosive black steel and serene melody, however with producer Lewis Johns (Rolo Tomassi, Conjurer, Svalbard) twiddling the dials for his or her upcoming third album Bioluminescence – out March 7 – these parts appear extra vivid and stark than ever earlier than. Earlier single Bioluminescence completely illustrated the dynamics at play, however with new music Slipping Burgandy add extra of a grandiose sense of intrigue, solely to convey the whole lot crashing again down with a colossal breakout within the music’s latter half. It is a thrilling spectacle, and has us excited for the album.
Sicksense – In This Carousel
Sicksense may be the nu steel flex for former Agonist vocalist Vicky Psarakis, however on newest single there’s an air of Jinjer-like cosmic prog steel. From the shimmering opening guitars to Vicky’s vocals which swing from clean, lilting melodies to harsh, guttural screams, Sicksense seize the temper completely while infusing their very own nu steel inspirations into the combination to create one thing utterly immersive and sensible. Preserve your eyes out for his or her debut Cross Me Twice on March 28.
Tiktaalika – Misplaced Continent (ft. Tommy Rogers)
The pseudonym utilized by Haken guitarist Charlie Griffiths’ solo output, Tiktaalika’s newest single bridges epic, old style steel with a way of extremity and prog weirdness for a scrumptious, tremendous bizarre gumbo. Titled Misplaced Continent, the observe options fellow trendy prog steel champion Tommy Rogers of Between The Buried And Me, the pair becoming a member of forces to create a luxurious buffet of riffs. Suppose Voivod by the use of Urne and you have sense of the expansive scope the music has.
Storm – Strolling Lifeless
Metalcore has lengthy been handled as the brand new child on the block as far as steel subgenres goes (regardless of being well-liked for over 20 years by this level), however its repute for bringing fresh-faced new expertise to the steel scene nonetheless stands. It does not come far more fresh-faced than Storm, nevertheless; the 16-year previous Norwegian artist has been making waves on-line and newest single Strolling Lifeless presents a decidedly up to date spin on the model with trendy pop parts combined in amidst the snarls, howls and breakdowns inherent to the style.
Battlesnake – The Fathers Of Iron Flesh
Like riffs? Miss when steel bands had been madder than a field of frogs? Battlesnake have you ever lined in that case, the colorful Aussies making their return this week with The Fathers Of Iron Flesh, a strutting retro-rock sounding observe that quickly provides option to jolting breakouts (assume Blood And Thunder by Mastodon). With the band returning to the UK this summer season – for headline exhibits in addition to competition appearances – it is a good time to familiarise yourselves with their quirky model of old style rock’n’roll.
Imperial Triumphant – Pleasuredome (ft. Dave Lombardo & Tomas Haake)
Belief New York’s avant-garde excessive steel masters Imperial Triumphant to give you one thing totally thoughts boggling. Newest single Pleasuredome begins out with lurking meance, solely to burst out into what can solely be described as a jazz tackle the blastbeat that once more transforms later right into a tribal samba breakout. Fortunately they have some critical expertise behind the equipment to assist land the utter mania within the type of thrash legend Dave Lombardo, whereas Meshuggah’s personal sticksman Tomas Haake pops up… to do a spoken phrase bit. Yeah, fucking mad.
Tetrarch – By no means Once more (Parasite)
Tetrarch obtained the leap on virtually everybody within the nu steel revival by changing into the motion’s first rising stars, so seeing them gearing up for a 3rd album is thrilling stuff. The Ugly Facet Of Me is ready for a Could 9 launch and newest single By no means Once more (Parasite) hones in on the band’s ear for hooky earworms, a music which bridges the likes of Korn and Linkin Park while providing its personal sonic imprint. This appears like a future steel membership banger.
BEX – Crybaby
Bouncy, infectious and buzzing with elecro punk depth, BEX is a rising star of the nu gen. Newest single Crybaby captures the scene’s genre-hopping tendencies with a wild-eyed magpie sensibility that sees the British artist combine pounding alt. rock riffs, pop choruses and lurching low-end that would not really feel amiss in 90s nu steel. The actual fact the observe options songwriting credit by Sam Matlock of Wargasm solely provides to the sense that BEX is clearly tapped in to this vibrant new wave.
Iron Kind – Changing into The Blade
Metalcore newcomers Iron Kind announce themselves with the emotive, thumping Changing into The Blade. Drawing closely on post-hardcore, there’s greater than a touch of Svalbard’s personal ultra-emotional blasts of bracing noise to the one, which is hardly shocking given bandmemeber Alex Heffernan performed with the group from 2019 to 2020. Taken from the band’s debut EP Reduce From Chilly Blood, due March 21, it is one other signal that British steel is in high quality well being.
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