Solefald

 Today in 2010 Solefald released the album Norrøn livskunst

Oslo,Norway Post-Black Metal/Avant-garde

Status:Active

Years active 1995-present

Solefald has often been categorized as "avant-garde black metal", and to these ears that's a fine description of this adventurous Norwegian duo, with the possible exception being they are gradually moving away from "real" black metal. With each successive album they reach just a bit further, branching out just a bit more, such that one album doesn't sound a lot like the next yet they all sound uniquely like Solefald. Though both guys are credited with vocals, it's Lars Nedland's clean, strong voice that truly stands out, so much so that other bands featuring him (Age Of Silence is a good example) invariably end up described as "sounds like Solefald". Most recently they released the two-CD epic An Icelandic Odyssey, and true to form they continue to forge a diverse sound uniquely their own. To these ears, the best album is 2001's Pills Agains The Ageless Ills, but there's no dud in the bunch. Kudos to these guys for expanding the boundaries of extreme music.

Indie Recorings

Cornelius Jakhelln Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Lyrics

Lazare Vocals, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion

Guest/Session

King Wah Howls (track 4)

Agnete Kjølsrud Vocals (female) (tracks 3, 7)

Benedicte Maurseth Vocals (female) (tracks 1, 2, 10), Hardanger fiddle (track 1)

Kjetil Selvik Saxophone (tracks 4, 5, 7)

Vangelis Labrakis Guitars (lead) (track 6)

1. Song til stormen 04:56

2. Norrøn livskunst 04:16

3. Tittentattenteksti 04:14

4. Blackabilly / Stridsljod 05:49

5. Eukalyptustreet 09:24

6. Raudedauden 03:11

7. Vitets vidd i verdi 05:35

8. Hugferdi 05:53

9. Waves over Valhalla (An Icelandic Odyssey Part III) 06:28

10. Til heimen yver havet 04:15

54:01

The poem "Song til stormen" is from "Glør i oska" (1946)

Cover art for "Norrøn Livskunst" by Trine + Kim Design Studio

King is credited for "wah howls" on track 4 courtesy of Chilihead/Egghead Prodz. King is a character that performs in the band Chilihead in Cornelius Jakhelln's novel Voguesville. The song "Stridsljod / Blackabilly" is dedicated to King.

Indie Recordings' pressing has several typos, mostly being misplaced spaces "e.g. "Norrø n Livskungst" and "SOLEFAL D"

Recording information:

Vox Cornelii, guitars & bass recorded at Oslo Lydstudio.

Vox Lazari recorded at Dub Studio.

Drums recorded and produced at Toproom Studio.

Keys and effects recorded at Mezzanine Studio.

Taka Minamino

 Today in 2008 Taka Minamino released there debut album AngelWing

Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan / Los Angeles, California, United States Neoclassical Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active:?

Taka Minamino proves shred lord on his 2009 release Angel Wing, Guitar work is impressive, not only the speed of it, but it has what most shredders forget about, it has some soul. Guest appearances on Angel Wing include Jeff Scott Soto and Derek Sherinian, other than that, this entire cd is full out Taka. If I had to compare it to another release, I would put Taka right next to Yngwie, so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about in general. Best thing to do is pickup your own copy of Angel Wing or checkout www.takaminamino.jp and decide for yourself. I look forward to bigger and better things for Taka and I hope to get the chance to see his skills live in 2010. Full Metal Rock gives Taka 2 thumbs up. Hold on to your hats

Crystal Force records

Kevin Jones Vocals (additional)

Rafael Borks Piano, Orchestrations

Jeff Bowders Drums

Kelly Simonz Bass

Taka Minamino Guitars

Guest/Session

Jeff Scott Soto Vocals (additional)

Tony Franklin Bass

Derek Sherinian Keyboards

1. Divine Death 01:16

2. Afterlife in the Hell 04:16

3. Violence Breeds Violence 04:11

4. Forever Love 05:33

5. AngelWing 04:33

6. Memories of You 05:16

7. My Requiem 04:39

8. Eye of Tranquility 01:38

31:22

Skelator

Today in 2008 Skelator released there debut album Give Me Metal or Give Me Death

San Diego, California (early), Seattle, Washington (later)

Epic Heavy/Speed Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1998-present

What started as a bunch of teenage San Diegan Slayer/Manowar fans writing songs about Skelator taking over the world has turned into a bunch of 20 something year old Rainbow/Sabbath fans writing songs about their favorite fantasy books. The band has stayed true to itself through the years writing epic songs, and rock anthems. We are not a joke, but we also know how to have fun. Bands that take themselves too seriously bore us. But bands that don't play from the heart should be destroyed, this is our decree.

Independent

Carl Larsson Bass

Samuel Rodger Guitars

Patrick Seick Drums

Jason Conde-Houston Vocals

Robbie Houston Guitars

1. Night Stalker 05:10

2. Riders of the Wehrmacht 04:21

3. She-Ra 03:53

4. Skelator 05:02

5. The Skelatorian Manifesto 03:09

6. Wrath upon the Cross 04:19

7. Crusade 07:40

8. Give Me Metal or Give Me Death 06:14

39:48

2007 re-recording of the band's 2003 demo of the same title. It was originally available only as download from the band's website.

Christ Agony

 Today in 2008 Christ Agony released the album Condemnation

Morąg (early), Olsztyn (later),Poland Melodic Black Metal

Status:Active

Years active:1990-2005, 2005-2007 (as Union), 2007-present

Christ Agony is one of Poland's cult underground extreme metal bands, having formed in 1990 by guitarist/vocalist Cezar. Cezar has been the one mainstay in the band, the lineups frequently changing over the years. Reviewed here are two mid-period albums, 1995's Moonlight Act III and its successor, Darkside, released in 1997. The band is broadly in the black metal camp, though their style isn't quite the traditional black metal style, instead borrowing more from traditional metal riffing, with an epic, drawn-out songwriting style. Moonlight is the more conventional of the two albums, as Darkside is much more experimental, with industrial touches, a more somber, melancholic feel (in places), and some clean singing. On the strength of these two albums, Christ Agony hasn't quite reached must-hear status, but their somewhat original style is commendable, and that alone makes them an interesting listen.

Razorbleed Records

Cezar Vocals, Guitars

Reyash Bass, Vocals (backing)

Icanraz Drums

Guest/Session

U. Reck Keyboards

Rav Xela Intros on "Tzelem H Chiva" & "Avich H Meletz"

1. Devil's Invocation 06:06

2. Psalm ov Livia Khao'tsu 04:48

3. Condemnation Pt.I 04:17

4. Temptation ov Lost 06:13

5. MarchManifesto 05:30

6. BloodSeedNation 04:30

7. Condemnation Pt.II 04:15

8. Cult Domination 05:38

9. The LeviThan'Suite 12:13

10. Purgatory Beast 02:20

55:50

Cezar dedicated album in memory of His Mother Elizabeth 1945 - 2007.

Comes in a slipcase.

Recording information:

Recorded at Studio X Olsztyn 18-24.04 & 11-14.07.2008.

Unearthly Trance

 Today in 2007 Unearthly Trance released the EP Eleven Are the Voices

New York City, New York Sludge/Doom Metal

Status:Active

Years active 2000-2012, 2015-present

These New Yorkers have been plying their trade since 2000, with a string of albums and several splits (not listed here) to their credit. The term "drone" is sometimes mentioned when describing this band, but to these ears it's more of a secondary influence, as the style here embodies sludge metal to a T -- slow, angry doom with tortured hardcore-ish vocals. The pace rarely quickens and the mood seldom approaches anything upbeat, and that's how sludge metallists like it.

Land o'Smiles Records

Jay Newman Bass

Darren Verni Drums

Ryan Lipynsky Vocals, Guitars

Guest/Session

Pete McCoil Lyrics (Track 2)

Side A

1. Veins 06:35

Side B

2. Phoenix Undead 08:09

14:44

Comes in gatefold cover on black vinyl.

Sides that normally would be listed as A and B are listed as 6 and 5, respectively.

Devin Townsend

 Today in 2006 Devin Townsend released the album The Hummer

Vancouver, British Columbia,Canada Progressive Metal, Ambient

Status:Active

Years active: 1997-present

Industrial metal singer/guitarist Devin Townsend was born May 5, 1972 in Vancouver, British Columbia; after picking up the banjo at age five, he moved to guitar at 12, and within a few years was leading the band Grey Skies, later known as Noisescapes. Sending the group's demo to the Relativity label, Townsend was not only offered a solo deal but was also tapped to sing on Steve Vai's 1993 LP Sex & Religion, a collaboration that further extended to the guitar god's 1996 effort Fire Garden. In between, Townsend worked on a series of projects with Front Line Assembly, and in 1995 issued the solo Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing under the alias Strapping Young Lad. A stint with the satiric punk band Punky Bruster yielded the Cooked on Phonics LP before Townsend began work on the second Strapping Young Lad album, 1997's City. In a move away from the industrial and death metal of previous recordings, he next formed Ocean Machine -- with J.R. Harder and Marty Chapman -- for the accessible Biomech, which was issued later that year.

HevyDevy Records

Devin Townsend Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards, Programming

Guest/Session

Jeff Feinstein Flute

1. The Hummer 15:55

2. Arc 23:04

3. Consciousness Causes Collapse 06:39

4. Equation 03:16

5. The Abacus 08:03

6. Cosmic Surf 16:27

01:13:24

-Just like Devlab before it, this is an ambient record.

Motörhead

 Today in 2005 Motörhead released the Live album BBC Live & In-Session

London, England Heavy/Speed Metal, Hard Rock

Status:Split Up

Years active: 1975 (as Bastard), 1975-2015

Led by one of metal's most iconic figures in Lemmy Kilmister, Motorhead formed in 1975 and really never let up for an amazing 40 years, dishing out their brand of dirty speed/rock metal with surprising regularity. Lemmy himself got his start as a roadie for Jimi Hendrix, later played in the seminal space rock band Hawkwind, and after being fired from that band for doing drugs (!), he struck out on his own with Motorhead, and the rest is history. Of course there's the seminal early period of the band, when the Kilmister/Clarke/Taylor lineup released a string of albums such as Bomber, Overkill, and the unmatchable Ace Of Spades, but unlike many bands, Motorhead managed to scarcely alter their style from one album to the next and yet released quality albums late in their career, culminating with 2015's Bad Magic.

Sadly, all things do come to an end. With Lemmy in failing health, the band completed a European tour in late 2015, and a late cancer diagnosis resulted in Lemmy's passing away in December, officially putting to rest one of heavy metal's most enduring bands.

Postscript: drummer Mikkey Dee hooked up with Scorpions of all bands, while Phil Campbell recruited three of his own sons and has put an EP under the title Phil Campbell And The Bastard Sons.

BBC

Lemmy Kilmister (R.I.P. 2015) Bass, Vocals

Fast Eddie Clarke Guitars(R.I.P. 2018) (tracks 1-12, CD 1; 1-5, CD 2)

Phil Campbell Guitars (tracks 6-9, CD 2)

Würzel (R.I.P. 2011) Guitars (tracks 6-9, CD 2)

Philthy Animal (R.I.P. 2015) Drums (on tracks 1-12, CD 1; 1-5, CD 2)

Pete Gill Drums (tracks 6-9, CD 2)

1. Keep Us On the Road (Bbc John Peel Session 1978)

2. Louie Louie (Bbc John Peel Session 1978)

3. I'll Be Your Sister (Bbc John Peel Session 1978)

4. Tear Ya Down (Bbc John Peel Session 1978)

5. Stay Clean (Bbc In Concert 1979)

6. No Class (Bbc In Concert 1979)

7. White Line Fever (Bbc In Concert 1979)

8. I'll Be Your Sister (Bbc In Concert 1979)

9. Too Late Too Late (Bbc In Concert 1979)

10. (I Won't) Pay Your Price (Bbc In Concert 1979)

11. Capricorn (Bbc In Concert 1979)

12. Limb From Limb (Bbc In Concert 1979)

1. Fast and Loose (Bbc Radio 1, David Jensen Session)

2. Live To Win (Bbc Radio 1, David Jensen Session)

3. White Line Fever (Bbc Radio 1, David Jensen Session)

4. Like a Nightmare (Bbc Radio 1, David Jensen Session)

5. Bite the Bullet/the Chase is Better Than the Catch (Bbc Radio 1, David Jensen Session)

6. Killed By Death (Bbc Radio 1, Friday Rock Show)

7. Orgasmatron (Bbc Radio 1, Friday Rock Show)

8. Doctor Rock (Bbc Radio 1, Friday Rock Show)

9. Deaf Forever (Bbc Radio 1, Friday Rock Show)

10. Orgasmatron (Bbc Radio 1, Friday Rock Show - Spoken Word)

As part of its 2005 Motörhead reissue campaign, Sanctuary Records compiled and released a collection of BBC Radio 1 recordings featuring the band. This double-disc, 22-song release includes a series of four shows: a 1978 John Peel session, a 1979 In-Concert session from London, a 1981 David Jensen session, and a 1986 Friday Rock Show session. There's nothing particularly revelatory here, especially when you consider the bonus discs of such material that accompanied Sanctuary's concurrent Motörhead reissues. However, collectors will be happy to have these sessions readily available in such a format, and ultimately, that's who this release will most interest, collectors and only collectors. ~ Jason Birchmeier