2014 Review

Been a good year for music, nice to see Slipknot back (Though yet to hear the album!), mind you have yet to hear the new At the Gates as well.

In terms of reviews this year been well over 100 sent to me, the best since 2009.

So here is my top ten albums and one EP.

01.TRIPTYKON

02.INFESTUM

03.WEAPON (UK)

04.ADMIRAL SIR CLOUDESLEY SHOVEL

05.NECROPOLI

06.AMULET

07.ALBEZ DUZ

08.aAND?

09.NIGHTMARE

10.SATURN

And the EP is                                                   KEMAKIL

Music videos, not been that many this year that have made much impact on me, but a couple do stand out.

Kemakil - The Shard (EP Review)

01.The Shard
02.Times Up!
03.Dead Wagon
04.Great Minds Destroy
05.Prejudice

Rob Durrant (Guitar/Vocals)
Chris Stockdale (Guitar)
Tim Franklin (Bass)
Aaron Boast (Drums)

Suffolk thrashers formed back in 1988 by Rob and Chris, however it wasn't until 2007 that a solid line up was put together and an album's worth of material was recorded at Rob's house and became the demo 'Gondolas On The Styx'.

In 2008 Aaron and Haydn Morgans joined and after successful shows in Ipswich and London, the 'Blood Removal Machines' EP was recorded at Punch Studios in 2009.

For the next 2 years the band gigged throughout the UK playing support to bands like Virus, Shrapnel, Savage Messiah and Bonded By Blood.

2012 Haydn leaves the band but is featured on the self titled album released in June 2013. recorded at HVR Studios just outside Ipswich, his replacement is Tim from 'Fallen Humanity'.

Recorded earlier this year comes the first Ep from the new line up and is available as a free download.

No intros just straight into the action! 'The Shard' for some reason reminds me of Celtic Frost in the early days, its full on thrash, high speed stuff, but some dark elements lurk.

The pace slows a little for 'Times Up!', very solid timing changes and a vocal that is punctuated note for note by the drums.
Half way through the agression kicks in followed by a screaming guitar solo, the timing style reminiscent of glory days Slayer.

More frantic drumming greets 'Dead Wagon' complete with another great "shout it out loud muthafucker!' vocal.

The last 2 'Great Minds Destroy' and 'Prejudice' form a 5 minute instrumental work out, i counted at least 7 different timing changes ranging from powerchords to almost blues all wrapped in a thrash patched leather jacket!
Theres something for everybody here (except vocals).

Quite a surprisng little ep of well thought out music, with a nice raw feel, proving that when it comes to thrash we can still produce real original quality.

Rating 9/10
For Fans Of : Elimination, Mutant, Evile, Bonded By Blood, Municipal Waste

FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/KEMAKIL

GET THE EP HERE : http://kemakil.bandcamp.com

Kemakil - Kemakil (CD Review)

01.Cause Of All War
02.Iram Of The 'Ad
03.Hell Patrol
04.Free To Obey
05.Chemical Attack
06.Illuminati
07.The Vile, The Bad & The Ugly
08.Nightmare Existence
09.Nuclear Proliferation
10.Persecution Of The Hmong

Rob Durrant (Guitar/Vocals)
Chris Stockdale (Guitar)
Tim Franklin (Bass)
Aaron Boast (Drums)
Haydn Morgans (Bass: Tracks 5 - 10)

Suffolk thrashers formed back in 1988 by Rob and Chris, however it wasn't until 2007 that a solid line up was put together and an album's worth of material was recorded at Rob's house and became the demo 'Gondolas On The Styx'.

In 2008 Aaron and Haydn Morgans joined and after successful shows in Ipswich and London,the 'Blood Removal Machines' EP was recorded at Punch Studios in 2009.

For the next 2 years the band gigged throughout the UK playing support to bands like Virus, Shrapnel, savage Messiah and Bonded By Blood.

2012 Haydn leaves the band but is featured on the new album recorded at HVR Studios just outside Ipswich, his replacement is Tim from 'Fallen Humanity'.

Sound effects and melodic guitar lead you into a false sense of calm as the opening track 'Cause Of All War' blasts at high speed through the speakers.

The pace changes slightly between doomy guitar work and full on thrash assault for 'Iram Of The 'Ad' with a bit of maidenesque guitar work thrown in for good measure.
This mix of styles remains for the next few songs, each perfectly executed with screaming vocals, very fast drumming blended with solid bass work and epic guitar solos.

Always a favourite song 'Illuminati' delivers extreme power just as it does live, this is a mosh pit masterpiece, agressive, evil, fast as fuck!!

'The Vile, The Bad & The Ugly' is one of those brooding thrash songs, has a touch of Judas Priest's 'Exciter' about it.

'Nightmare Existence' harkens back to the early days, its short, fast and has a great guitar solo, and that pedal work punches through the speakers.

The final song 'Persecution Of The Hmong' is another mid tempo rocker, full of timing changes, some almost bluesy guitar work and all held together by an array of punishment to the drum skins.

I said it before and i will say it again "a mosh pit masterpiece, agressive, evil, fast as fuck!!"

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of: Evile, Savage Messiah, Kreator, Municiple Waste.

FACEBOOK : https://www.facebook.com/KEMAKIL

Feb Gig Flyers

KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR, SAVAGE MESSIAH, KEMAKIL, INSULTERS, M.A.D Live At The Gaff 15.08.09 (Gig Review)

KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR

SAVAGE MESSIAH
KEMAKIL
INSULTERS
MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION



The Gaff, Holloway Road 15.08.09

MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION

Amazing heavy band from Brighton making their London debut.

Started their set with the vocalist blowing the horn (HA ha the vocalist got the horn!!!) they then set about a very accomplished set for a band whos average age was just 19.

INSULTERS

The first of tonights Spanish bands, this lot play good aggressive death metal with a twinge of black metal thrown in.

KEMAKIL

Awesome Ipswich thrashers, tonight playing as a four piece with the guitarist now doing vocals as well.

I tell you what they sounded better than ever, they are really god at their craft and execute with precision.

SAVAGE MESSIAH

The only London band on the bill and fuck me are they good!

This is a highly professional band with fantastic stage presence, great songs, four incredibley talented musicians and main man Dave has a wonderful voice with a great range.

A british megadeth but with their own originality, a new album is about to be released..go but it!

KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR

Headliners from spain Korgull are an aquired taste, its a relentless onslaught of distortion, high speed drumming, pounding bass and evil screaming vocals!

MUTUALLY ASSURED DESTRUCTION

INSULTERS

KEMAKIL

SAVAGE MESSIAH

KORGULL THE EXTERMINATOR

INFESTATION, VIRUS, DAMNAS, KEMAKIL Live At The Gaff 11.07.09 (Gig Review)

INFESTATION
VIRUS
DAMNAS
KEMAKIL

The Gaff, Holloway Road 11.07.09

KEMAKIL
Old school thrash metal delivered a very high volume.Whilst there was nothing wrong with their music or their musicianship the band seemed a little quiet almost nervous, they went down really well but need to put it over with more confidence.

DAMNAS
Tight, professional and well executed high adrenaline thrash.They blew the venue up!Massive riffs and screaming vocals were the order here, an absolute pleasure to watch, really top quality performance.

VIRUS
They are really moving forward with an onstage presence that demands attention, which they get with large amounts of front row headbanging, a couple of mosh pits and evreybody singing along to both old and new songs.Coke is now clearly at home on stage and stomps around like a man possessed (Though sometimes his enthusiam gets the better of him and he occasional misses the micraphone when singing).All in all a great set that left the crowd wanting more.

INFESTATION
This was to be guitarist Matt's last show, but instead of playing he stood up to share vocal duties with Dave, making this a unique live performance which delivered on every level.Scathing guitar riffs and joined by screaming death metal vocals and high speed drumming held together with solid bass lines.They topped off the perfect metal night perfectly.

STU

KEMAKIL

DAMNAS

VIRUS

INFESTATION