Huntress - I Want To Fuck You To Death

 HUNTRESS are back with the follow up to their buzzworthy debut album Spell Eater, which was released in 2012.  The album entitled Starbound Beast will be released on July 1st via Napalm Records.  The band recorded the album at Hobby Shop Studios in Los Angeles, CA, working with famed producer Zeuss (Shadows Fall, Hatebreed, Agnostic Front).  The artwork for Starbound Beast was created once again by Vance Kelly (Slayer, Ghost B.C., Mastodon).

HUNTRESS has unveiled the first song from Starbound Beast.  The track entitled “I Want to Fuck You to Death” was co-written for singer Jill Janus by legendary Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister. Frontwoman Jill Janus spoke about the collaboration: "I met Lemmy through my former band Chelsea Girls. We'd play hard rock and metal covers featuring guest celebrities. Lemmy was already friends with the girls, so he played "Ace of Spades" with us and it blew my mind. We stayed in touch and would meet up at The Rainbow for drinks. So I asked him a few months back over Jack & Cokes if he'd write lyrics for a Huntress song and he said 'Sure'. A few weeks later, I met him at the studio during Motorhead recording sessions. Lemmy handed me two two pieces of notebook paper with the lyrics for 'I Want to Fuck You to Death'. I am beyond honored. To me, this is a love song. It is the most romantic song I've ever heard."

Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister also spoke of the collaboration: “The first time I heard Jill’s voice with Chelsea Girls, it was phenomenal. I wrote these lyrics from her point of view, the Huntress. ‘I Want to Fuck You to Death’ was inspired by her, written for her. I’ve always had a soft spot for her. And a hard spot too…

Paradise Lost 25th Anniversary Tour Dates

Thirteen albums into PARADISE LOST's 25 year career, namedropping is pointless. The only band they can and should be held up against for comparison and consideration is PARADISE LOST.

With a career dating back to 1988, and their official recording debut in 1990 (Lost Paradise), the band has been riding and rollercoaster of highs and lows. Guitarist Aaron Aedy remembers the early days: "I remember our first rehearsal at Studio X in the Dean Clough complex of Halifax, it was Saturday March 26th between the hours of one and four pm. We had a few ideas flying around and managed to write our first opus 'Blood-filled-eyes' and start our 2nd 'Plains of Desolation', I can only describe these songs as unique.Afterwards we all went to the pub after to celebrate. Three and a half months later we were playing live, supporting Acid Reign and Re-Animator at the legendary Frog and Toad Night Club in Bradford. We had a 30 minute slot and only 15 minutes of music so we played one song twice, attempted a Sodom cover we hadn't even learned and Nick [Holmes, vocals] did his stand up for the rest of it."

Over their following career, PARADISE LOST have not only created and defined genres and styles, but almost immediately transcended them. From the crawling, harrowing doom of their 1990 debut 'Lost Paradise', to the electronic flourishes prevalent in 1997's 'One Second', 1999's 'Host' and 2007's comeback to the heavier side of metal "In Requiem" and the latest opus "Tragic Idol" in 2012, their sound has continued to evolve vastly, but haunting melody and dark rock power has remained at the very core of their identity.

In 1991 the band released 'Gothic', not so much an album title as the definition for an entire genre, while the influence 1995's huge-selling masterpiece 'Draconian Times' - the missing link between Metallica and the Sisters of Mercy - echoes loudly in today's scene, with the likes of Cradle of Filth, Nightwish and HIM owing a huge debt to their knack for injecting heavy rock with their trademark dark sheen.

Now it's time to celebrate 25 years of glamour and gloom with a very special show at the Metal Hammer Gloden Gods Awards that will be held on June 17 at London's esteemed Indigo2 venue (headlined by that other British legend called Motorhead).

PARADISE LOST invited their friends Cristina Scabbia (Lacuna Coil) and Gus G (Firewind, Ozzy Osbourne) as special guests to present a very special set-list. Cristina: “I am so very excited to announce that my friends PARADISE LOST are performing live at this year’s annual award show of Metal Hammer UK at the Indigo2 in London on Monday 17th June… and I’m going to perform with them! SO very excited!!!! Come and join us!

There are also some very special 25th anniversary shows coming up that PARADISE LOST will play with Lacuna Coil and some very special guests TBC, the dates of which are as follows:


Oct 30th - Wolverhampton - Wulfrun Hall 
Oct 31st - Glasgow – ABC 
Nov 1st - Manchester – Ritz 
Nov 3rd - London – Roundhouse

Nick had this to say about the forthcoming anniversary shows: "25 years IS a long time, on the surface we may look ramshackled, but playing music for so many years has kept us young in our hearts and I truly believe that a youthful spirit is one of the greatest things you can’t buy in a pub.
We have written many albums, played many concerts; we are older and not really any wiser, but there is a strong possibility we may play a song you thought we never would. So please come along and join the celebrations with us, including our biggest UK headline show to date!"

Cristina (Lacuna Coil) adds: "PARADISE LOST were in between the bands that strongly influenced me as a singer, when I started my career with Lacuna Coil, so it is just awesome for me to realise we'll share the stage with them on this upcoming tour. I am sure that the dark vibe coming from the stage will totally embrace old school and new fans making it an event you absolutely CAN'T miss! Boy, I can't wait!!!"

Stormbringer - MMXIII (CD Review)

01.MMXIII
02.Gazing At The Grave
03.Mark Antony
04.Save Me
05.Destroy
06.Grinder
07.Sanity
08.Submerged
09.Darker Days
10.Control
11.Welcome To Hell

Mike Stockley (Vocals)
Ash Smith (Guitar)
Dom Wallace (Guitar)
Darren McCullagh (Bass)
Jon Paul Quantrill (Drums)

Stormbringer first came together in the summer of 2011 After a couple of Sunday afternoon beers between Dom and Ash. Both had just come away from their longterm projects, Deadeye and Nekkrosis respectively, and were looking to embark on a new journey. Dom was also a member of the Viking Skull, who were between tours at this point so it seemed like the perfect time to start on something new. Dom then made the decision to contact Jon Quantrill to see if he would be interested in becoming involved in the new project. After a bit of thought Jon joined the band, followed by Darren McCullagh.

After about a year and with the music for the album already recorded, Stormbringer added the finishing touch to their line-up. Mike Stockley (Ex Narkan, great london band had a song called "Eat Mt Ass") joined the band in the winter of 2012 after a mutual friend said “you have got to check this guy out”. Mike was exactly what the band were looking for, a classic rock voice with a contemporary edge and a lyrical ability that was perfect for the sound the band had created.

Opening with a doom laden instrumental 'MMXIII' what follows is another ten slabs of huge rock anthems, every song is just perfect, superb vocals, great music, some nice guitar solos.

This has a real mature heavy rock quality that few bands have at the moment!

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of : Mercy House, Voodoo Six, Viking Skull.




FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/Stormbringerrock?fref=ts

Tempestora - The Battle Begins (CD Review)

01.Relentless
02.New Age Dawns
03.Halls Of The Slain
04.Conquering The Masses
05.Too Blind Too See
06.Wrath Of The Repentant
07.Sanity Deprived
08.A Bloodline Broken

Sam Shiers (Vocals/Bass)
Jay Deakins (Guitar)
Alex Hawes (Drums)

Hailing from Gloucestershire, Tempestora formed in 2009 taking inspiration from the classic speed/thrash genre as perfected by Slayer and Megadeath.

In 2010 they released a 4 track ep and gigged throughout the country, they won their regional heat of 'Metal For The Masses' and were rewarded by a slot at Bloodstock alongside Evile and Children Of Bodom, another noteworthy support came in Bristol alongside Gama Bomb in 2011.

Last year they played at the 'Heaven And Hell' festival sorted out a deal with Casket Records and began recording their debut album in march.

Starting with 'Relentless' a song both matched in speed and excellent musicianship and it has to be said a song title that sums up the power that produced the enxt few songs as well.
Agressive vocals are tempered with an underlying melody, yet the speed remains intense, powerful drums and screaming rifferey with solid bass work somehwre in between.

However with 'Sanity Deprived' we get a different beast, starting with some echo laden guitar we get a slow and heavy beat flowing into some full on thrash, but its when it hits the slower bits that the song takes on a more (dare i say?) mature approach.

Much can be said for the closing song 'A Bloodline Broken' where maidenesque riffery opens to a technical pattern, this is a solid piece of work and by far my favourite track.

In an age where much thrash/speed metal churns out the same old crap, it's good to hear some well put together music that is both intelligent and brutal.


Rating 8/10

For Fans Of : Sylosis, Decapitated, Virus

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tempestora/127758117278600

Red Jester - Red Jester (CD Review)

01.Nasty
02.She Devil
03.Dirty Lovin
04.Best Thing
05.Sweat Box
06.Punching Bag
07.By Your Side
08.Just Emotions
09.Riding The Night
10.Problem Child
11.The Rain

Jim Parkin (Vocals)
Dan Faulkner (Guitar)
Darren Dodds (Bass)
Matt Paton (Drums)

Guest:
Jill Beckett (Backing Vocals)
Kate Parkin (Backing Vocals)

Hailing from the Midlands the four piece rock band first came together in 2010 and started to play music drawing on various influences from Classic Rock, Punk, Heavy Metal and even Britpop.

In February 2011 they released a six track demo which gained an 8/10 review on this very site!

Having spent a lot of time on the road and then heading to the studio they have now released their first album.

Kicking off with the bouncy groove-laden 'Nasty' with its punchy chorus and what sounds like a sample from an "Adult Movie" (Usually the drummer's private collection).

'She Devil' keeps the groove going with a Rob Zombie vibe, the songs structure has similarites to 'Welcome To The Jungle'.

Anthemic stop/start riff meets sleaze rock on 'Dirty Lovin' a song to make you smile;
"Going down pink or brown" now thats a lyric even King Lizard's Flash Roxx wouldnt write!!!! Oh wait are they playing snooker???

Sounding like a mid seventies pop rock song (Bay City Rollers meets The Sweet??) the heart felt 'Best Thing' has "Radio Play" written all over it.Some great guitar work and strong vocal delivery with nice backing vocals make this one pleasant on the ear.

Moody and sleazy sums up 'Sweat Box', song also showcases each band member with little bass and drum solo's thrown in with the guitar solo.

'Punching Bag' still has that Motorhead 'No Class' riff running through it, hell even that solo sounds like one of Eddie's, great track!

Time for the epic rock ballad with 'By Your Side' delivers exactly what i expected starts slow with nice acoustic and electric guitar and an emotive vocal, then as it goes along it builds up with some fine female backing vocals and a sweeping guitar solo!

Think of Oasis but more upbeat and with a decent vocalist duetting with a girl then that is what you get with 'Just Emotions'.

There is an old NWOBHM riff lurking within 'Riding The Night' but this is a much more up to date sounding song and again the female backing add's depth.

'Problem Child' returns to that sleaze rock sound and manages to name check Nikki Sixx, throw in a sample saying "we dont want to scare anybody" and police sirens.

Rain f/X and nice acoustic guitar introduce the albums final track 'The Rain' which starts slow then after a vocal breakdown kicks into a full on anthemic rocker.
This one has all the hallmarks of Alice In Chains, its an epic and quite stunning finale.

Wihtout any doubts at all i can say this is a fantastic album, full of hooks and riffs, blended with style and melody, it has the feel of a sleaze rock album at times, then a classic rock one.
The music does not match the bands image (much in the same way Akercocke in suits didnt match their Black Metal sound), its a style and sound that keeps you on your toes, never quite knowing what's coming next.

Not sure how the band will proceed from this point, i would suggest some promotional music videos for 'Best Thing' and 'The Rain' and aim for some radio play.

A band to look out for and see live!

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of : Wildside Riot, Mercy House, King Lizard, Voodoo Johnson

FACEBOOK https://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Jester/102808806427073

Blood Ceremony - The Eldritch Dark (CD Review)

01.Witchwood
02.Goodbye Gemini
03.Lord Summerisle
04.Ballad Of The Weird Sisters
05.The Eldritch Dark
06.Drawing Down The Moon
07.Faunus
08.The Magician


Alia O'Brien (Vocals/Flute/Organ)
Sean Kennedy (Guitar)
Lucas Gadke (Bass)
Michael Carrillo (Drums)

Canadian doom metal band formed in 2006, their "flute tinged witch rock" harking back to late 60's occult band's Coven and the early 70's british band Saturnalia, mixed with the early doom of Black Widow and the folk of Jethro Tull has made them quite unique.

Since the release of their highly acclaimed 2011 album, Living With the Ancients, Blood Ceremony has been recognised as an internationally regarded live act. Having played main support to Ghost on the majorly successful '13 Dates of Doom' US tour, they concluded their debut headline European tour with a sell-out show in London.

After these live performances, Blood Ceremony enclosed themselves within a dank, tomb-like chamber to begin preparations for their third album. After a mind-numbing spell in the analogue womb of Toronto's ProGold Studios, the band is now ready to unveil their newest, and most accomplished, musical offering: The Eldritch Dark.

Recorded and mixed by producer Ian Blurton (Cauldron, Cursed) and mastered by Canadian recording legend Nick Blagona (Deep Purple, Rainbow, Crazy World of Arthur Brown), The Eldritch Dark is a full-length paean to the darker corners of folklore and legend. Containing eight tracks of black magic rock 'n' roll, the album crackles with the excitement of a nocturnal ritual.

Tales of witch-cult gatherings in wooded glens, pacts made in torch-lit abbeys and Victorian magic are accompanied by vintage-style hard rock riffs, snaking bass lines and stirring flute melodies.

The Eldritch Dark also sees the band exploring a more folkier side of their sound; most evident in the hymn-like 'Lord Summerisle' and the murderous early Fairport Convention tinged folk-rock epic 'Ballad Of The Weird Sisters'.

'Goodbye Gemini' is almost psychedelic bringing to mind Jefferson Airplane, similar in style is 'Drawing Down The Moon' where the Doors seem to be jamming with Tony Iommi.
19th century sorcerer, Oliver Haddo, makes a return appearance in the riff-hypnotic album
closer 'The Magician' an 8 minute epic worthy of any Jethro Tull fans attention.

Rating 10/10

For Fans Of : Purson, Black Widow, Jethro Tull, Coven, Fuchsia

Age Of Taurus - Desperate Souls Of Tortured Times (CD Review)

01.A Rush Of Power
02.Sinking City
03.Always In The Eye
04.Walk With Me My Queen
05.Desperate Souls Of Tortured Times
06.Embrace The Stone
07.The Bull And The Bear

Toby Wright (Vocals/Guitar)
Alastair Riddell (Guitar)
Richard Bruce (Bass)
Darius Claydon (Drums)

Formed in 2009 by vocalist/guitarist Toby Wright, Age of Taurus was initially a one-man doom metal mission. Inspired by masters of the craft like Candlemass, Trouble and Revelation, the project was intended more as a studio affair rather than something more alive. However, after increasing interest in the band and a succession of glowing reviews of debut demo 'In the Days of the Taurean Empire', Toby decided that there was no turning back and duly put together a fully working line up; enter bassist Richard Bruce, lead guitarist Alastair Riddell (Ex Blood Island Raiders) and drummer Darius Claydon.

The band quickly began writing together and started to develop and define a sound that suited their combined musical direction. With their feet still firmly planted in the doom metal field, the group were able to explore other paths of influence, particularly bass-driven seventies hard rock and the oh-so-punishing twin guitar attacks that ruled the speakers during NWOBHM's golden years.

Produced by Jaime Gomez Arellano (Angel Witch, Ghost), 'Desperate Souls of Tortured Times' is a 42 minute collection of material written during their transition over the past three years.

This is the kind of doom metal that hits you square in the head, like slab after slab of concrete hitting you, its relentless and massive!!!
Stunning vocals, powerful drums, pounding bass and epic riffing!

When we get to 'Embrace The Stone' we are treated to 8 minutes of darker stuff, rhythmic drums bounce this one along till it gets to this really slow bit with atmospheric vocals and am almost symphonic chorus backing.
Stunning piece of work! The last song returns to the heavier sound.

I didnt have much to say, but then i dont need to, the music says it all, its Doom its awesome, now go buy it!!

Rating 10/10

For fans of : Cathedral, Electric Wizard, Witchsorrow, Blood Island Raiders