Years active: 2002-2004 (as Locrian), 2004-present
Thrash metal continues to thrive well into the new millennium, though thankfully Arizona's Vektor isn't going the stale retro route. The band self-released Demolition in 2006 and have since released a followup, Black Future, on the up-and-coming thrash label Heavy Artillery. Though the band now dismisses Demolition as little more than a demo and not a true representation of their sound, it does show quite a bit of promise and is not bad at all in its own right. Sure, it's a bit rough around the edges, and the production isn't what it should be, but their brand of progressive-laced Germanic thrash has something going for it. No doubt Black Future is the place to start when trying these guys out.
Heavy Artillery Records
David DiSantoGuitars, Vocals
Erik NelsonGuitars
Blake AndersonDrums
Frank ChinBass
1.Black Future05:03
2.Oblivion04:54
3.Destroying the Cosmos06:47
4.Forests of Legend10:16
5.Hunger for Violence05:30
6.Deoxyribonucleic Acid04:45
7.Asteroid06:49
8.Dark Nebula10:28
9.Accelerating Universe13:31
01:08:03
Edition with coloured Heavy Artilley, redcontacts on back cover, and "Builtbyicon" Matrix on disc.
Today in 2009 Helix released the album Vagabond Bones
Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Hard rock, heavy metal
Status:Active
Years active 1974–present
The Canadian heavy metal band Helix formed in 1974 in Kitchener, Ontario; comprising singer Brian Vollmer, guitarists Brent Doerner and Paul Hackman, bassist Keith Zurbrigg, and drummer Brian Doerner, the group debuted in 1979 with Breaking Loose. White Lace & Black Leather followed two years later, and was the first Helix release to feature new bassist Mike Uzilac and drummer Leo Nebudeck; with 1983's No Rest for the Wicked, the group signed to Capitol, substituting Nebudeck for another new drummer, Greg "Fritz" Hinz. Bassist Daryl Gray replaced Uzilac in time for the follow-up, Walkin' the Razor's Edge, which spawned the hit "Rock You"; 1985's Long Way to Heaven, meanwhile, topped the charts in Sweden. After touring in support of 1987's Wild in the Streets, Brent Doerner quit Helix, and the remaining quartet resurfaced with Back for Another Taste. In 1992, Hackman was killed when the group's van rolled down a 40-foot embankment after a concert in Vancouver; Helix forged on, however, with Brent Doerner returning to the lineup long enough to record 1993's It's a Business Doing Pleasure, which also featured guitarist Greg Frazer. In 1998, Helix -- now comprising Vollmer, Gray, Hinz, and guitarists Mark Chichkan and Gary Borden -- issued Half Alive. A collection of B Sides arrived in 2002, followed by the full-length Rockin' in My Outer Space in 2004. Power of Rock N Roll arrived in 2007.
Univerasal
Brian Vollmer - vocals
Sean Kelly - guitar, bass, background vocals
Brent "The Doctor" Doerner - guitar, background vocals
Steve Georgakopoulos - guitar
Brent "Ned" Niemi - drums
Rob MacEachern - drums
Greg "Fritz" Hinz - drums
Daryl Gray - bass, background vocals
Cheryl Lescom - vocals
All songs written by Brian Vollmer, Sean Kelly and Moe Berg except where noted.
The Animal Inside (Won’t Be Denied)
Go Hard or Go Home (Vollmer, Kelly)
Vagabond Bones
Monday Morning Meltdown
When the Bitter's Got the Better of You (Vollmer, Kelly)
Hung Over But Still Hanging In (duet with Russ Graham of Killer Dwarfs)
Best Mistake I Never Made (Vollmer, Kelly)
Make 'Em Dance (Vollmer, Gord Prior, Steve Georgakopoulos, Kelly)
Jack It Up (Vollmer, Kelly, McConnell)[7]
Unreleased tracks
It's a Long Way to the Top (AC/DC cover featuring Brent Doerner, Greg Hinz and Mike Uzelac)
Vagabond Bones is a studio album by heavy metal band Helix, released on November 17, 2009. It is Helix' 12th full-length studio album and 21st album released overall. It contains performances from members of the 1980s Helix lineup: Brian Vollmer, Brent Doerner, Daryl Gray and Greg Hinz, as well as former member and co-producer Sean Kelly. Kelly departed Helix during the production of Vagabond Bones, prompting the reunion of the 1980s band. Kelly remained on hand to finish the record before leaving to tour with Nelly Furtado.
During the early stages of recording, frontman Brian Vollmer reunited the surviving members of the No Rest for the Wicked lineup (Brent Doerner, Mike Uzelac, and Greg Hinz) to record a new version of the AC/DC classic "It's a Long Way to the Top", to be included as a bonus track. The track was dropped, and it appears unlikely that it will ever be released due to legal reasons. The CD was originally to be titled It’s Rock Science, NOT Rocket Science!, before being changed to Vagabond Bones after one of the songs on the album
Today in 2007 Mechanical Poet released the album Creepy Tales for Freaky Children
Moscow,Russia Orchestral Progressive Metal (early), Alternative Rock (later)
Status:On hold
Years active: 2002-2009
Mechanical Poet is an ambitious Russian band, formed around 2002. After the well-received Woodland Prattlers was released in 2004, the band broke up, citing artistic differences. Guitarist Lex Plotnikoff put together a new version of the band, with the first output being the interestingly-titled Creepy Tales For Freaky Children in early 2007. Creepy Tales mix hard rock, melodic progressive metal, and even a bit of goth rock, resulting in an accessible but not overtly poppy sound (save for "Once Upon A Day", where a lighter, poppier side of the band comes out). This seems to be a concept album of sorts, given the Tim Burton-esque artwork and the general soundtrack feel of the album as a whole. Apparently part of the story is continued in the band's next work, the even more adventurous Who Did It To Michelle Waters?. This is a pretty original band, and recommended to melodic prog metal fans in particular.
Today in 2008 Deadlock released the album Manifesto
Schwarzenfeld, Bavaria,Germany Melodic Death Metal/Alternative/Groove Metal
Status:Active
Years active: 1997-present
German straight-edge metallers Deadlock have gone for broke with Earth.Revolt, an ambitious concept album that brings together elements from several extreme metal genres. At their core they are a melodic death metal band, with one-dimensional metalcore-styled vocals (though a guest female vocalist breaks up the monotony in a few places), though at times they slide into black metal territory and also some gothic moments via some atmospheric keyboards. The result is less a blending of several styles and more a case of the band playing different styles as they see fit. The production and musicianship values are top-notch, and there's clearly an audience for this, but the overall package is lacking a bit in the originality department, particularly with the glut of metalcore/melodeath bands currently on the scene.
Lifeforce Records
Tobias "Tobi" Graf (R.I.P. 2014) Drums
Sebastian Reichl Guitars, Keyboards
Johannes Prem Vocals
Gert Rymen Guitars
Sabine Scherer Vocals (female), Keyboards
Thomas Huschka Bass
Guest/Session
Michael Popp Programming (Additional)
The Hitfarmers Mixing, Scratching
Warpath Vocals (track 5)
Sick Since Vocals (track 5)
Morten Løwe Sørensen Drums (10)
Michael Bernhard Gerber Saxophone (track 6)
Christian Älvestam Vocals (track 9)
1. The Moribund Choir vs. The Trumpets of Armageddon 01:10 instrumental
2. Martyr to Science 05:13
3. Slaughter's Palace 04:22
4. The Brave / Agony Applause 04:03
5. Deathrace 06:46
6. Fire at Will 04:53
7. Seal Slayer 05:39
8. Manifesto 02:24 instrumental
9. Dying Breed 05:38
10. Altruism 03:24
11. Temple of Love (The Sisters of Mercy cover) 03:07
46:39
Recorded at Slaughterhouse Studios by Sebastian Reichi.
Mixed and Mastered at Hansen Studios by Jacob Hansen.
Inspired by progressive metal behemoths like Neurosis and Isis, Across Tundras formed in Denver, CO when vocalist/guitarist Tanner G. Olson (a former member of Sioux Falls, SD post-hardcore outfits Spirit of Versailles and Examination) joined forces with bassist Kyler Sturtz and drummer Heath Rave. Their first official release was 2005's Divides EP, which was shortly followed by 2006's Dark Songs of the Prairie album, released through Crucial Blast Records, and featuring epic semi-ambient compositions in the mold established by the band's heroes, only spiced with discreet traces of country music.
Today in 2007 Sworn Enemy released the album Maniacal
New York City, New York Hardcore (early), Crossover/Metalcore (later)
Status:Active
Years active:1997-1999 (as Mindset), 1999-present
Queens, NY, metal-hardcore hybrid group Sworn Enemy have been playing together since 1997. Vocalist Sal "Enemy" LoCoco, drummer Paulie Antignani, and guitarists Lorenzo Antonucci and Mike Raffello gigged often in the New York area, eventually attracting the attention of Hatebreed vocalist Jamie Jasta, who released the group's debut EP, Negative Outlook, on his Stillborn Records label in 2001. After adding bassist Mike Couls (formerly of Detroit's Cold as Life) the group continued its hard work ethic, clocking in over 100 shows in the second half of 2001. The popularity of their EP led to a major-label deal with Elektra and in 2003 their first full-length, As Real as It Gets, was released. Sworn Enemy then jumped back to the indies (Abacus to be exact) for the October 2005 release of The Beginning of the End. Soon after, the band underwent a drastic makeover, replacing their bassist, drummer, and guitarist Mike Rafello. The new lineup made for a more metal edged sound, akin to speed metal icons Exodus and Testament, and with a new blueprint set in place, the band made plans to record their sophomore album with I Lay Dying drummer Jordan Mancino filling in on the skins. Maniacal was released on February 12, 2008.
Today in 2006 One Man Army and the Undead Quartet released the single Christmas for the Lobotomizer
Trollhättan,Sweden Death/Thrash Metal
Status:Split-up
Years active:2004-2012
This lengthy-titled band was one of several offshoots of The Crown, here featuring vocalist Johan Lindstrand. As heard on their debut album, 21st Century Killing Machine, their style wasn't a million miles away from The Crown, but nor was it a continuation of that band either. Rather, they played crunchy, modern thrash (inevitably bands in this style are compared to The Haunted, and One Man Army are in the same league), relentless and intense, with a spot-on production and venomous, convincing vocals from Lindstrand. After four albums, the band called it quits in late 2012, with Lindstrand back in his old, reformed band.
Nuclear Blast
Robert Axelsson Bass
Marek Dobrowolski Drums
Johan Lindstrand Vocals
Pekka Kiviaho Guitars (rhythm)
Mikael Lagerblad Guitars (lead)
1. Christmas for the Lobotomizer 04:08
2. Devil on the Red Carpet (live at Summer Breeze 2006) 05:48
3. Hell Is for Heroes (live at Summer Breeze 2006) 04:41
4. Bulldozer Frenzy (live at Summer Breeze 2006) 03:47
18:24
Limited to 500 copies, only available directly from Nuclear Blast.
