You want it loud? You came to the right place — my site ain’t called Tinnitist for shiggles, bucko. Here are the latest metal and hard rock offerings to menace my inbox. Raise your head, bang the dead (or something like that):
Hellfire 76 | Rags To Rage
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “North Carolina southern metal duo Hellfire 76 just dropped their rippin’ video for Rags To Rage, the title track from their upcoming debut album, due Nov. 29. The song showcases the band’s signature combination of fuzzed-out grooves and occult-themed storytelling, drawing from founding member Von Bury’s New Orleans roots. “Musically, it’s fast and aggressive; lyrically, it’s pretty much an “action/reaction” lyric — each to its own interpretation,” they say. “Simply put, we wanted a song that kicked down the door right from the start. It’s full of fast grooves with rapid-fire lyrics.” The two-piece outfit, featuring Von Bury (guitar/bass/organ/vocals, formerly of the southern gothic act Lovesucker and the occult rock act Bloody Hammers) and Mike McGuiness (drums, formerly of industrial metal act Face The World), deliver a massive wall of sound that belies their minimal lineup. Recorded in a single take Rags To Rage demonstrates the raw power and precision that has earned Hellfire 76 recognition as one of the heaviest two-piece acts in the local scene.”
Super Monster Party | Another Castle
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “These highly motivated and talented guys aren’t just playing music and video games — thanks to their creative efforts, we are provided with an immersive multimedia metal experience, as it has never been seen before, picking us up and taking us in completely. On their video game-inspired record Rage Quit, the South Florida band take us on a journey through the realm of Permadeath — a colorful blend of classic 16-bit video game world replicas which you have to conquer. The album features six new tracks, six reenvisioned tracks, and an alternate narrative path for the series. In SMP’s pixelated nostalgia-inspired universe, we’re jumping and running through the spheres of old-school video game bangers like Mortal Kombat, Doom, Sonic the Hedgehog, Dance Dance Revolution, Castlevania, The Legend of Zelda, Super Mario Bros and Final Fantasy. Permadeath is also the name of SMP’s captivating, free-to-play 2D platform game, featuring a soundtrack of their instrumental tracks.”
Whisky Of Blood | Baby Revolution
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Whisky Of Blood are a band born from the desire to return to the roots of ’80s rock. They describe their sound as rock ’n’ roll, full of melodies, powerful and funny. Today, they share their latest music video for Baby Revolution off their new album Diablesse of Revolution. The album was mixed and mastered by Staffan Karlsson (Arch Enemy, Dream Evil) plus features guests Chris Holmes (Ex-W.A.S.P., Mean Man) and Steff Rabilloud (Rising Steel, Urgent).”
Catharia | Devouring Firmament
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Catharia return with their intense new single Devouring Firmament, taken from their upcoming second album Unimaginable Dreams of Fate, due out on Dec. 6. This track is a powerful evolution from their debut, blending black, death, and progressive metal influences with raw emotion and intricate melodies. Influences like Cradle of Filth, Dimmu Borgir and Dissection run deep, but Catharia have carved out their own dark, complex sound. Founded by guitarist Matt Powell in the late 2010s, they were born from his desire to create a sound that is dark, aggressive, and technical yet deeply melodic. The addition of vocalist Nick Kiefer, helped solidify Catharia’s sound. With bassist Dylan Thompson and drummer Michael Edrington now in the fold, they are stronger than ever and ready to deliver their most ambitious work to date.”
Marble | The Sleepless King
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Symphonic metal fans, the wait is over! Italian band Marble return with their powerful new release T.I.M.E., an album that dives deep into themes of self-discovery and theatrical mystique. From dramatic riffs to melodic interludes, Marble deliver an immersive experience. They are also sharing the video for The Sleepless King. Inspired by Lady Macbeth, this single combines Eleonora Travaglino’s powerful vocals with intense thrash-like verses and captivating solos. T.I.M.E. revolves around female characters in the history of Western theatre, marking the time in the stylistic evolution of stage performances, starting with the ancient Greek tragedy of Euripides, passing through the British theatre of William Shakespeare to the Russian social revolution of Anton Čechov, and on to the modern American theatre of Samuel Beckett.”
Marko Bojkovic | What We Accomplished
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Prog guitarist Marko Bojkovic will return with his eighth studio album Powercore in January. Packing the most punch with perfectly combined progressive metal, power metal, metalcore and djent — along with influences from jazz fusion to classical music — Powercore (named after his own brand of metal) is meant to send positive messages. Musically, the album’s guitar solos are among the best he’s written. Bojkovic has become known on the internet for his economy-picking prowess, which he showcases to excellent use on the songs in his full-length. “In spring of 2023, I went through the roughest moment of my life. People spread lies about me and because of that, I couldn’t be with an amazing group of friends I made as long as we were hoping, which caused me to go through heartbreak. When I tried to state my innocence, they fought alongside me and helped me try to stay with them. Although we failed to keep me with the group, we formed an even stronger friendship through the experience and accomplished a greater goal… becoming eternal friends. This song is dedicated to them.”
