Well, we finally made it to the end of the first real week of 2024. Congrats! What say we go out with a bang? — courtesy of the loudest, fastest, heaviest and hardest tracks to menace my inbox. Bolt the doors, unplug the phone and crank it up until the knob breaks off:
Ace Frehley | 10,000 Volts
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Grammy-nominated Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inductee and guitar legend Ace Frehley will release his new studio album 10,000 Volts on Feb. 23, 2024. Produced by Ace and Steve Brown (Trixter), the 11-track LP sees Ace perform electrifying, hard-hitting, riff-heavy rock ‘n’ roll. The title track kicks off with a surging riff, and Ace’s swaggering delivery takes hold and never lets go. It culminates on the chantable chorus, “She hit me like 10,000 volts, when I saw her face,” giving way to a fret-burning guitar solo. The accompanying visual for the track was directed by Alex Kouvatsos from Black Wolf Imaging and shows Ace and his band performing the powerful, riff-heavy track live.”
Baratro | The Bad, The Bad And The Ugly
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Noise-meets-sludge heavy trio Baratro (with Dave Curran of Unsane on bass and vocals) reveal the second single off their debut album The Sweet Smell of Unrest, due out Feb. 2. The rumbling Milano trio delivers another scorcher with The Bad, The Bad And The Ugly. This four-minute shot of noisy blues brews steady, showcases the band’s incredible wizardry and will take you into a nearly prophetic pilgrimage throughout desolated lands. As slowly crushing and shattering as the trio can get!”
Bipolar Architecture | Metaphysicize
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Progressive post-metal four-piece Bipolar Architecture have released a video for Metaphysicize, the third single from the forthcoming album of the same name, set for release on Feb. 2. A gloriously discordant clash of glacial half-time breakdowns, polyrhythmic post-rock atmospherics and blackened banshee howling from frontman Sarp Keski, Metaphysicize is an uncompromising statement of intent from the international outfit currently based across Istanbul and Berlin. Hurtling into life in 2020, Bipolar Architecture were born from the smouldering ashes of stalwart death-metal group Heretic Soul. Having retained all the nihilistic fury of their former outfit, Bipolar Architecture introduced the forward-thinking ferocity of hardcore as well as the atmospheric dynamism of post-rock, before unleashing this searing new sound on their 2022 debut Depressionland, which quickly turned heads and left ears ringing.”
The Risen Dread | Betrayal
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Risen Dread are a metal band from Dublin who have successfully established themselves as one of the country’s most promising heavy acts in recent years. With an EP and a full-length already under their belts, they are expanding their discography in the new year with the sinister single and video Betrayal. Guitarist William Ribeiro says: “Betrayal, even though I had some of those riffs for a while, is the first song we wrote after the drummer left. We wanted to do the opposite of what we did for our last album, we wanted this track to be straight to the point and not only fast, we wanted it to be aggressive and heavy, with headbanging riffs as well as moshpit parts. I think Betrayal summarizes the dread that rises again from within each band member after this 2023 year. Nothing better than talking about a woman locked up by her mother. Can you imagine how she felt?”
Kill The Lights | From Ashes
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Kill The Lights, featuring former members of Bullet For My Valentine, Throw The Fight, Threat Signal and Still Remains, will drop their sophomore album Death Melodies on March 8. They have also shared the video for From Ashes. With its classic, ’80s semi-ballad songcraft twinned with modern sounds, From Ashes is a new anthem that should accompany any and all rigorous activity. Going to the gym? Put From Ashes at the top of your playlist; it will get the blood and adrenaline pumping through those veins. The band say: “From Ashes lyrically discusses having to live with the pain of knowing that you let your loved ones down.”
Whom Gods Destroy | In The Name Of War
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Whom Gods Destroy, the formidable new progressive metal group formed by keyboardist Derek Sherinian, guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal and vocalist Dino Jelusick, along with the potent rhythm section of bassist Yas Nomura and drummer Bruno Valverde, will deliver their debut album Insanium on March 15. As the first appetizer, they shared the first single and opening track In The Name Of War. Thal says: “Derek, Dino and I began writing this song in 2020; it was the first song we wrote together. This song captures a lot of what the band is about, it’s a good example of what to expect from the album. The song gets pretty intense when the band kicks in, an unexpected contrast, the music tells the story alongside the lyrics — the Eastern scale melody in the chorus followed by the ‘war drum’ pattern, the bridge feeling like it’s heading toward something, an urgency.”
Lifesick | Reverse Birth
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Love And Other Lies is the new EP from Danish metallic hardcore group Lifesick. To mark its unveiling, the band dropped a video for Reverse Birth, featuring a guest vocal by Nails’ Todd Jones. Says vocalist/lyricist Simon Shoshan (aka Simon Sorrow): “This is from personal experience. I have a lot of ADHD and from time to time, I deal with stress, depression, and anxiety. I went to a psychiatrist to get help and the first ‘doctor’ I spoke with gave me the feeling that I just wasn’t trying enough and that I just felt too bad for myself. So that gave me the best mindset to write these lyrics and I think they speak for themselves.”
Foetal Juice | Mountain Of Gore
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “After unleashing their latest album Grotesque in November, U.K. death grinders Foetal Juice have a new drum playthrough to brutalize the masses with. The second track on their latest full-length, Mountain Of Gore features groovy drums over a simple riff. The band’s style for this one is more Exhumed and Impaled-influenced, with rabid drum fills everywhere. The band say: “We wanted to change a few things up on this album and include some slower, groovier sections than we have before. The intro to the song is a result of that. We think this one includes one of the fastest bomb blasts on the album too. It is a really groovy bouncy song throughout to keep a crowd energized at live performances.”
Hatred Reigns | To Depths Unknown
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Canada’s Hatred Reigns offer a brutal assault on unsuspecting listeners. They believe in a no-holds-barred approach and do not relinquish their grip until the last note is unleashed. Their latest release Awaken The Ancients is an eight-track sojourn into other worlds, paying homage to classic films and literature as well as their musical influences. For those who like to get into the nitty gritty, they now present the track To Depths Unknown. Frantically falling, flailing to and fro, the protagonist is caught in a whirlwind of uncertainty, grappling with the unpredictable twists of their destiny. Their ultimate destination remains shrouded in mystery as they descend into the abyss of the unknown. The album encountered numerous adversities during its recording process, including COVID-19 lockdowns, illnesses, technical challenges, and complex musical arrangements. Despite these hurdles, the band’s unwavering dedication has resulted in an album that defies conventional limitations.”
North Sea Echoes | Open Book
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Two members of the pioneering progressive metal act Fates Warning — Ray Alder and Jim Matheos — continue to brave new waters with North Sea Echoes. Today, the duo revealed that their debut album Really Good Terrible Things is due out Feb. 23. And they shared the first taste of the record with the single Open Book, the first song written for the album. Matheos shares: “With Ray’s lyrics about ending and beginnings, it felt like a good mood to start off with.” Alder adds: “The line ‘we’re a cloud behind the moon’ is referring to the fact that we are all basically an impossibility. Yet here we are. And we will go on until we can’t. I’m speaking of inevitability.”
Disastroid | Garden Creatures
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “San Francisco’s hybrid heavy trio Disastroid share Garden Creatures, the title track of their new album arriving Feb. 23. Disastroid have been serving up sludgy, grunge-infused stoner rock for the better part of a decade now, refining a sound that weaves heavy riffs with angular guitar lines, odd time signatures, and hazy walls of fuzz. As influenced by ’90s noise-rock as they are by modern psych, doom and post-metal, they deliver thick, satisfying stoner rock stomp while also embracing layers of noise, tripped-out feedback, and some unpredictable song structures. About the new single, they say: “Garden Creatures is a pummeling voyage of heavy riffs that fall into a psychedelic garden of poisonous delights. A remnant of some ’90s Seattle rock falling into the clutches of aggressive noise rock while visiting a psychedelic landscape for a moment.”
Per Wiberg | Dead Sky Lullaby
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Swedish rock multi-instrumentalist Per Wiberg (former Opeth, Spiritual Beggars, Candlemass) presents the second single from his solo album The Serpent’s Here, due March 15. He says: “I’d like to think Dead Sky Lullaby’s good traveling music, a kraut/space rock rager that boasts a Hawkwind-meets-Sonic Youth vibe with a big chorus in the vein of Killing Joke. It was recorded live in the studio, it shows and it sets the tone for the rest of the album. It’s kinda divided in two parts with different types of choruses. The first part’s a bit wilder and the second has more of an epic melodic feel to it. It’s all tied together by the apocalyptic lyrics and a beat that could go on forever and ever and ever.”
The Obsessed | Realize A Dream
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “U.S. doom metal giants The Obsessed release their new single Realize A Dream, from their upcoming fifth studio album Gilded Sorrow, out Feb. 16. Says frontman Scott “Wino” Weinrich: “This track is an example of how amazing the universe is: I wrote this track while still in high school. Later, I showed it to Dale Flood, who asked to record it on the Unorthodox’s Asylum album engineered by Frank Marchand. Fast forward to The Obsessed’s Sacred sessions with Frank. Out of the blue, he said that we should cover this Unorthodox song. I replied, Realize A Dream? He said, “Yeah, how did you know?” “Because I wrote it!” This song is about destiny, questions on existence, and a human’s quest for answers related to life. It’s a real old song, but still relevant in my opinion.”
Marble Ghosts | Old School
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Recently emerging onto the Canadian metal scene with a distinctive sound and a fierce commitment to challenging societal norms, Marble Ghosts announce the release of their debut self-titled EP and the powerful single, Old School. The single is a thrash punk medley with a biting, unforgettable chorus that serves as an anthem for the disaffected. The song’s message resonates with those weary of being ruled by a vocal religious minority. Old School is not anti-religious; instead, it targets those who use their beliefs to promote hatred towards LGBTQ communities and advocate for stripping away women’s rights. Marble Ghosts explain: “With the words, ‘God is love and God is hate,’ Old School speaks to the way that fundamentalists twist and pervert teachings to fill an agenda of hate. This song is the fuck you to them. Fuck any god whose believers can’t accept love in different shapes and forms and who believe they can tell a person what they can do with their body.”
Metal de Facto | Rise Amaterasu
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Exploding onto the metal scene in 2019, Finnish power metal band Metal De Facto made their debut with Imperium Romanum, a theme-driven collection of songs about Ancient Rome that was bombastically nostalgic old-school power metal. These fresh but familiar songs quickly caught the attention of metal listeners, with first single The Conqueror amassing over 200,000 video views and over 600,000 streams. Consisting of guitarists Esa Orjatsalo (ex-Dreamtale) and Mikko Salovaara (Kiuas), bassist Sami Hinkka (Ensiferum, ssSHhh), keyboardist Benji Klint-Connelly (Everfrost) and drummer Atte Marttinen (ex-Kivimetsän Druidi). It was announced in 2022 that Mikael Salo (ex-Thy Row, ex-Dyecrest) would no longer be the band’s singer. On the same day, new vocalist Aitor Arrastia was introduced along with the announcement of the band’s upcoming second album Land of the Rising Sun Part 1.”
