Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats - Blood Lust (2011)

 Pretty influenced by Black Sabbath and other bluesy stuff, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats come from Cambridge, Cambridgeshire (England), with a great second album called Blood Lust, released a year after their first album, which is nearly as awesome as the second is.
 Being the second album of the band, Blood Lust shows that Uncle Acid and his deadbeats found their own style of music and it's just something that we haven't listened to since the good old days of the first Sabbath albums. All that, personally, brings me a feeling of relief, as I find out that not all bands have forgotten the old ways of music, meaning that people can still produce old-school music, something that could be considered a bit forgotten due to the modernisation of the genres.
 Anyways, focusing on Blood Lust, I have to tell you that you should be reading the lyrics from the start of the album till the end of it and what I can assure you is that you will be taken back to the times when the witches ran wild and the sorcerers lived in secluded towers. The lyrics, of course, are about occultism, murders, darkness, rituals and sometimes about romance and fit just perfect with the music and of course with the voice of Uncle Acid, which has a bit of a sick tone. The compositions remind of Iommi's heavy, unforgettable riffs that were written in the early years of Black Sabbath and that's what makes their sound "Sabbathised". Still, the tones keep a specific motif
in the whole album, except for the last song "Untitled", in which we can hear some crows and then the song comes in, different of the previous songs, as it is an accoustic one. What is noticeable in this album is that this time, Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats made little use of the Organ, which they used in the first album.
 Finally, I have to say that Uncle Acid and the Deadbeats is a band that keeps the old-school ways alive and if you haven't already checked them, you really should, especially if you are a lover of the Ozzy era of Black Sabbath and, generally, the first wave of metal and the blues!
Support the band if you like them and buy their albums!
Info here: Metallum Page

Satan - Life Sentence (2013)

 Many great groups in the history of metal tend to reunite after staying inactive for a certain time period and most of these reunions could not stand up to the original work of these bands. However, Satan, one of the most extreme and influencing bands of the NWOBHM decided to break that rule by releasing this gem. Life Sentence is a modern classic and a nod to the old school that comes straight from the 80s and is on par with the band's greatest album released until now, none other than their mindblowing debut, Court in the Act. Everything from the band's days of glory is here. From the duelling guitar melodies of Steve Ramsey and Russ Tippins (which were a major influence to speed and thrash metal),to the simple, yet addictive drum patterns of Sean Taylor, to the savage vocals of Brian Ross (who also performs in Blitzkrieg). Trust me, that guy can still hit those high notes like he did back in '83!All of the songs have the band's trademark sound, with a dash of good old 80s speed metal. The band doesn't make any huge innovations, but that, of course is the point of the album, to make you travel back in time when heavy metal was raw, fast and aggressive with lyrical themes that portrayed the problems and fears of that time period, that in my opinion still exist : apocalyptic wars, society and personal struggles.
 So, in conclusion Life Sentence is a flawless comeback from a band that, simply put, has managed to stand the test of time. If you haven't yet listened to it yet, then grab a beer, wear your old leather jacket, play it full blast (preferably on vinyl) and have yourselves a good time!

Find info here : Metallum Page
Download : Rockbox