The Re-Stoned - Plasma (2012)

 I had been searching for this album since its release, but couldn't find it and so did a lot of you, as you asked from us to upload it. Even though I didn't have the time to write a review, what I heard was pretty awesome and since you wanted to listen to it too, I couldn't do something more but to share it, so...here it is!
 The Re-Stoned's long awaited album is pretty much intense, showing more of the stoner potential of the band, keeping the bluesy elements alive though, just like how we got to know them.
 The motif of Plasma, being instrumental just like the previous ones, keeps the same style of the previous records of the band, focusing especially on the astonishing compositions. The space sound effects become more and more trippy, the bluesy solos keep the same pace and so does the wah-wah and the stoner riffs, which come to add the deepness to the total of the album.
 A dose of psychedelia together with a reminder of the blues, plus the modern heavy style of stoner, Plasma keeps the modern and old ways in a great unison and harmony. That's something that suits the tastes of the lovers of old and new styles and so much more for those who cherish both!
 What we can easily notice, is that those Rusian's music gets more and more experienced, giving us one great album after another, making them a band with great potential and minds full of original ideas!
 If you ask me, Plasma is an album worth buying, better in vinyl, keeping the old ways alive!
 Support the band if you want to see more of their awesome stuff coming our way!
Download here: File Download
Band Info: Bandcamp Page

Ufomammut - Idolum (2008)

 This is Ufomammut with a great album called Idolum. That is the album that helped me getting to know those Italians and their freaking awesome music and I'm pretty happy to say that if the first impression matters the most, then the impression I formed is that this band is fantastic, with riffs and sound effects that could be described as extraterrestrial.

 Idolum is an album that surely shows the potential of the band, with those sounds that someone could think that they come straight from the outer space right into their ears. The imposing doomy riffs are another thing that I consider a remarkable feature in this album, which add a more "rough" touch in that space travel called Idolum.

 Even though it could be considered as an instrumental album, there are voices coming out in nearly every song, a feature that adds deepness to every song, making the space noises come to life, becoming a creature.

 All these together make up for an one-hour great space trip, from the starting notes till the end of the album. Just close your eyes, imagine you're in a spaceship, or that you float in space and everything you'll be listening to...will take life!

Support the band and buy their album if you like it!

Album info: Metallum Page

Listen to the album here: Youtube

Soul Vigilant Tribute : United States Power Metal (Part 3)

• Liege Lord

One of the most underrated and overlooked bands of the scene, Liege Lord were formed as Deceiver in 1982 in Stamford, Connecticut. After recording a demo and an EP they released their raw and intense first album, Freedom's Rise in 1985 that left us cult classics like Rage of Angels and For the King with massive guitar riffs and one of the most intense vocal performances of the scene by Tony Truglio but for all the good things the album  had to offer, it remained largely underground, mainly because of its poor porduction and is only revered and appreciated by metalheads who are truly devoted to classic heavy metal.They then proceeded to release two more magnificent albums : Burn my Touch in 1987 and Master Control in 1988, the latter managing to get some significant recognition among metal fans in general. They split up in 1990 and reunited again last year with most of the original lineup still intact but they haven't released any studio material yet.

Standout Records : All of them

• Attacker

Another greatly overlooked band of the scene, Attacker were formed as Warloc (missing the k) in 1983 and changed their name one year later. After recording a demo in the same year they proceeded to release their debut, Battle at Helm's Deep in 1985, which is considered by some to be the first pure power metal record to come out of the U.S along with Helstar's Burning Star. The debut was really raw sounding and it was very speedy and aggresive for its time save for the more epic mid tempo parts like the self-titled song's verses. They came back even more powerful 4 years later with their second effort (which is also their best IMO) called The Second Coming. It had an even more intense vocal performance than the debut as John Leone (R.I.P 1994) took original vocalist Bob Mitchell's place in 1986. The second album also had a more melodic approach than its aggresive predecessor.They disbanded one year later (1989) and reunited again in 2001 with drummer Mike Sabatini and guitarist Pat Marinelli being the only original members left. They have released three albums ever since and one of them (Giants of Canaan) was released this February and truly reminds me of the band in its days of glory in the 80s.

Standout records : Battle at Helm's Deep, The Second Coming, Giants of Canaan

• Heir Apparent

Heir Apparent are perhaps even more overlooked than the two previous bands. Formed in 1983 they released 2 demos in 1984 and then they released their debut, Graceful Inheritance in early 1986. Even though it didn't get all the recognition it deserves I have to say the album is simply astonishing.With melodic guitar riffs and solos and a great vocal performance by Paul Davidson the album is one of the most enjoyable this scene can offer with unsung hymns like Keeper of the Reign, Masters of invasion and Tear Down the Walls (personal favorite).The band recorded two demos after leaving  Black Dragon Records. They released their second album, One Small Voice in 1989 which followed a more progressive direction than its predecessor. The band has been active ever since but due to inconsistencies in the lineup and the lack of a record company they have been only able to release some demos the latest of them being released in 2003. The band performs live very often though and they are definitely worth seeing.

Standout Records : Graceful Inheritance

• Virgin Steele

Time for a well-known band of the movement once again.Virgin Steele were formed in 1981 and released their self-titled debut one year later.It was really good, though the trademark sound of the band had not been established yet and the album sounded a lot more like what hard rock and glam metal bands were doing at the time. They then started walking down the path of greatness and establishing their own style with their next three albums, Guardians of the Flame, Noble Savage and Age of Consent, released in 1983, '85 and '88 respectively.The epitome of their carreer had not been released yet though. After releasing the mediocre album Life Among Ruins in 1993 they went on to release their greatest albums, The Marriage Between Heaven and Hell Part I & II ('94 and '95 respectively), Invictus (1998) and The house of Atreus act I and II ('99 and 2000). These albums mainly with the help of David DeFeis' trademark vocal and keyboard performance (and songwriting of course) managed to touch the hearts of metalheads around the world with songs that could really tell well-crafted stories and speak to one's soul. These albums are probably more related to classical music than anything progressive metal bands like Dream Theater have released. Virgin Steele are still active and are still able to deliver spectacular albums like The Book of Burning, even though their latest effort left me unsatisfied.

Standout Records : The Marriage Between Heaven and Hell I&II, Invictus, The House of Atreus I&II

• Slauter Xstroyes

Back to the underground scene with one of the most progressive bands of the movement, Chicago's Slauter Xstroyes.Being formed in 1979 under the name Naj and recording a demo under that name, they soon changed it to Slaughter and Destroyers and finally slightly modified it to the one we know today.Although they were one of the earliest bands in the movement they were not able to release a record until 1985 when they released their great debut called Winter Kill.Slauter's complex melodies, an over the top vocal performance and frequent time signature changes made them one of the bands that helped create the genre we now call progressive metal.Something that added to the beauty of their sound were their really cheesy and irrelevant lyrics (listen to Mother, Motherfucker). In my opinion they were as vital to the genre's creation as bands like Fates Warning and Queensryche, although they did not sound like these bands at all as Slauter's sound was rawer and a great deal more aggressive than the other two. They split up in 1989 and reunited again with slight changes in the lineup to give us another fine record that goes by the name Free the Beast.Although they did not release any further material they continued touring and remained active until 2012.

Standout Records : Both records that are mentioned (Winter Kill, Free the Beast)

• Well, folks that was the end of this tribute.I hope you liked it! More tributes coming soon!

Tokyo Blade - Night of the Blade (1984)

 By the time I bought this album, it got to be one of my favorite Heavy Metal albums. Night of the Blade is a NWOBHM album that represents its genre so accurately, giving a great example of what NWOBHM is. Power and passion!
 With songs that speak about love, adventures of warriors and beasts, this album is going to allure you with its really nice lyrics and its pretty tuneful compositions. The solos are great, of course and Vic's vocals are so full of passion and power, making the lyrics take life.
 What's odd about Night of the Blade, is that it was previously recorded with the former vocalist Alan Marsh, but after he left, the album was re-recorded with Vic Wright on vocals. Alan's backing vocals were present in the re-recording, just like the first version of the album. The first version can still be found and a lot of people insist that it's better than the one with Vic. Giving my opinion, I believe Vic's vocals suit best with the style and the lyrics of the album, even though, I consider impossible Alan's songs to be sung by Vic with the same passion and style.
 In conclusion, I'm completely sure to say that the songs are going to get stuck in your head one after the other, as that's just what happened to me. What you just need is to be a lover of NWOBHM, or generally a Heavy Metal fan and keep your ears clear and focused on what you will hear, because believe me, people, it sure is hell of an album!
 Make sure to listen to it and better in vinyl, keeping the good old ways alive!
Album info: Metallum Page

Soul Vigilant Tribute : United States Power Metal (Part 2)

                                

• Manilla Road

Formed in 1977 in Wichita, Kansas, Manilla Road is not only one of the first metal bands to come out of the U.S, but they are also one of 

the first to use epic theme lyrics and imagery.They released their debut called Invasion in 1980, which was the breakthrough year of the NWOBHM. Manilla Road showed the world of heavy metal that U.S bands could stand right next to their contemporaries in Europe.Invasion was followed by Metal, the album that defined their unique style with The Shark's trademark solos and the use of keyboards, which was not common in metal at the time, and after that came the magnificent album called Crystal Logic, a true landmark in the history of heavy metal.After releasing some more classic albums like The Deluge and Open the Gates, they disbanded in 1992 and reunited two years later, remaining still active and are still able to deliver masterpieces (Voyager), even though all of the original lineup except for Mark ''The Shark'' Shelton (the heart and soul of the band) is gone.

Standout records : Crystal Logic, The Deluge, Voyager (and more) 

• Riot

Riot.The band with the worst album covers.Ever.Luckily their music was the exact opposite.Formed in 1975 by guitarist Mark Reale (R.I.P 2012) they were not only one of the first metal bands to come from the U.S, but they were also one of the first U.S metal bands (if not the first) to release a record, their debut, Rock City being released in 1977.It surely doesn't sound like today's metal, but it was clearly ahead of its time.The follow - up albums Narita and Fire Down Under, fully embraced the sound of the NWOBHM, giving us classics like Swords and Tequila and Road Racin', but it was not until 1987, when their quintessential album, Thundersteel was released and instantly became a classic in the hearts of all heavy metal fans.It clearly influenced the sound of the European power metal, not even musically, but also lyrically with its powerful and uplifting themes about real life and fantasy alike.The band still remains active, but after the unfortunate death of guitarist and mastermind Mark Reale and vocalist Tony Moore's departure in 2012 the lineup remains incomplete and the band has stopped performing for the moment.Their last album, Immortal Soul, was a very good effort and a good way for Mark to say farewell to us. R.I.P.

Standout Records : Fire Down Under, Thundersteel

• Helstar

Hailing from Houston, Texas, Helstar is one of the purest power metal examples the USA has to offer (many other bands in the USPM scene are considered by many to be just traditional heavy metal).They were formed in 1981 and released their debut, Burning Star in 1984, after recording 2 demos.Then, they proceeded to release classic albums such as Remnants of War and Nosferatu.James Rivera's over-the-top vocal performance and the complexity of the guitar work shook the waters of the U.S heavy metal scene.They were also one of the few traditional-sounding bands to employ speed drumming, giving a thrash metal edge to their sound.They disbanded at some point, after the release of their weakest album, Multiples of Death (1995) and they reunited again in 2007 with their classic Remnants of War lineup and have given us 3 great albums until today.

Standout records : Remnants of War, Nosferatu, A Distant Thunder

• Savatage

And now it's time for my personal favorite.Savatage started as Avatar in 1979 in Tampa, Florida and released a 3-track EP under that name in 1983.They changed their name to the one we all know the same year and released their sensational debut, called Sirens.A year later, they released what I revere as the greatest EP in all of metal, The Dungeons are calling.After releasing a not-so-amazing album (Power of the Night) and a really bad one (Fight for the Rock), they released the great classic Hall of the Mountain King (1987) and a year later they came back with another classic, Gutter Ballet, which turned the band's raw heavy metal sound into a more progressive and artistic direction.Everything changed in 1993 when Jon Oliva left the band and gave his place to vocalist Zak Stevens.After releasing the great album Edge of Thorns in 1994, guitarist and main songwriter Criss Oliva died in a car accident (R.I.P).The band went on to record 3 more albums with Stevens on the mic, until Jon Oliva's return in 2001, when the band recorded their last album, Poets and Madmen.After releasing the album the band was put on hold and has remained so until today.

Standout records : The Dungeons Are Calling EP, Hall of the Mountain King, Gutter Ballet

• Vicious Rumors

Another great example of pure U.S power metal, Vicious Rumors were formed in Santa Rosa, California in 1980. 5 years later they released their awesome debut, Soldiers of the Night, an album cited as an influence by many of the power metal bands at the other side of the sea.Then they proceeded to release their (IMO) magnum opus, Digital Dictator and after releasing their mediocre self-titled LP, they came back even more powerful with another masterpiece, Welcome to the Ball.Due to inconsitencies in the lineup, their sound has changed dramatically over the course of time and thus making them push their sound into a more groove metal direction, in a similar vein to Pantera, which surprisingly was not bad at all.The new sound suited the band quite well in fact.After releasing 2 albums in that direction, they decided to go back to their trademark power metal sound.The band has been in very good form, even after the turn of the millennium and have given us 4 overall solid records, one of which was released just a month ago.

Standout Records : Digital Dictator, Welcome to the Ball

See you around mates!Keep checking the Vigilant for part 3!

Otis ( pre-Sons of Otis ) - Paid to Suffer EP (1994)

 Was I to describe briefly this extended play, I'd probably use " an introvert's rage ". Half an hour of early, really early, and primitive Sons of Otis trying to find themselves and their musical identity. And so they did. Here you can hear some elements that were to follow them thoughout  their carreer, such as the simple, repetitive - yet no dull - compositions, the heaviness of their riffing, the thick basslines. However, in my own perspective, this release is much more aggressive than any one of their later would ever be.
 As I said, the riffs are heavy, really heavy, and doomy. If you're not into repetitive doom / stoner you're probably not going to like any of the songs. The sludgy production adds a lot to the overall dark feeling that is captured. A wall of sound during the whole running time, little feedback to the point that it's compulsory and a lot of negativity. The main source of which is the vocalist / guitarist, with his "ugly" vocals and his even "uglier" / filthy solos. The first time I heard of him singing, Steve "Zetro" Souza of the Exodus fame came to my mind. This guy should be really pissed off, he spits way to much hatred in every track, just like mr. Souza used to do back then. As for the solos, they fit perfectly with the slow and grim riffing and the thick basslines.
 This short album reeks of anger and it feels like someone is vainly searching for revenge. It's filthy, it's dismal, it's sludgy, it's creepy and - of course - it's DOOMy. It may appeal to you, it may not. Sure thing is that it will piss you off.
 Enjoy your listen here and  " shut your Windows.."

RIP Jeff Hanneman

 Today is a really sad day for all of us, who like, love and respect Slayer as a band and not only. Jeff Hanneman passed away after he suffered liver failure. A metal legend fell today, but he will be always remembered by all of us. Rest in peace, Jeff Hanneman and may your solos be heard South of Heaven.