#traditional metal

[nightisthenotion]

Steve Harris

[fastlane-to-nowhere]

Ight, lemme get a show of hands, who fucks with Trouble (my favorite local band of all time)

[evydraws]

Throwback to this Halfling cleric and her glowing hamster friend - painted in acrylics in 2021.

The forest and trees are based on pictures I took behind the supermarket’s parking lot. And the clothing folds are all me in sweatpants, loose shirt, and a blanket, as I have perfect hobbit proportions.

[music-addiction-disorder]

The cover of our newest single “Discretion For The Generous” Image by @zev_deans and @christopherraymond1 Century Media Records 2024

SONJA: Melissa Moore - Vocals / Guitar Ben Brand - Bass / Synth Grzesiek Czapla - Drums / Percussion

SONJA - Discretion For The Generous (OFFICIAL VIDEO)

Listen to “Discretion For The Generous” here: https://sonja.lnk.to/DiscretionForThe...

Directed and Edited by Zev Deans Director of Photography: Christopher Raymond Gaffer: Cole Frasher AC: Brendan McGowan HMU: Ali Ciotto

metal goth heavy-metal post-punk  traditional-metal transgender Philadelphia

[wolverineblues]

Sonja

[lunarcaress]

I MADE A SICK EPIC METAL PLAYLIST USING MP3S I TOTALLY LEGALLY HAVE ON MY COMPUTER AND I TRIED CONVERTING IT ONTO STREAMING SERVICES BUT COULDN'T DO THE WHOLE THING BECAUSE SOME OF THE ALBUMS I LIKE ARE OBSCURE AF UNFORTUNATELY EVEN THO THEYRE LIT

*deep inhale* however,,, here it is...

the spotify version [71 out of 84 tracks] - listen here

orrr the youtube version [76 out of 84 tracks] - listen here

reblogs are appreciated not because i get anything material out of any of this but just because i love helping people discover new music that they might like :}

[metalsongoftheday]

Monday, July 10: Eternal Champion, "Invoker"

Arthur Rizk somewhat stealthily became a major figure in metal over the past several years, making his name as a producer nearly in parallel with playing with multiple acclaimed trad metal revivalists.  With Eternal Champion, his drumming had a classic (and great) wet sound that brought added life to the charging anthemic bridge and chorus on “Invoker”.  Although the tune had a slow intro along with mellow and ambient verses, once Rizk kicked in the track had a nice gallop and mid ‘80s indie metal feel.  What separated “Invoker” and Eternal Champion, alongside Rizk’s work in Sumerlands, was an unerring sense of craft that illustrated both bands understood that the power of this sound lay not only in the imagery, riffing and production, but even more so in the songwriting.

[cavedwellermusic]

The Night Eternal - Fatale (2023)

For their first republication partnership with CDM, Dovendyr - Heavy Metal Historian shares with us their review of German heavy metal act The Night Eternal's new album Fatale, released July 14th on Ván Records.

With their 2021 full-length debut, The Night Eternal has demonstrated themselves to be a competent up-and-coming heavy metal act from Essen, Germany. Dovendyr picked up a copy of their debut from their hometown on a trip back from Wacken Open Air in 2022 and was blown away. With the release of their second full-length album, Fatale, Dovendyr looks to see if The Night Eternal builds off of the success of their debut.

[xmystophalesx]

Best New Heavy Metal Releases Week of February 24th, 2023

I think I am safe in declaring that this was hands down the strongest week overall for Heavy music of 2023 so far. The sheer length of the list can certainly attest to this. As another example of the strength of this week, I am actually still debating on moving some albums from the “Best of the Week” section to the “Standouts in the Genre” sections simply because the amount of albums is unwieldy. There are just so many damn good albums this week. Hell, I haven’t even decided what is the overall pick of the week yet. 61 albums that made the list out of 118 that were on my original playlist, so just slightly over 50% made the cut, which is one hell of a good week. So let’s get to some of these highlights before I change my mind and make the highlight section 20 albums long.

Insomnium-Anno 1696 (Melodic Death)**

Anyone that knows me also knows I am a big fan of this band. The level of attention to detail in the overall songwriting is second to none. I always get the feeling that even the most minor moments of sound coming out of my speakers were agonized over. The levels of reverb used transitioning from distorted guitars to acoustic was thought about for 5 days, with pros and cons written on a whiteboard followed by fistfights to determine the perfect level. I don’t know for sure, of course, and maybe they are just so insanely talented that they can throw an album that is this incredible together in a short weekend. You know an album is incredible when you feel that emotional response just from the act of listening to it. This album is simply breathtaking in its sheer beauty and brilliance. This album will be VERY high on my end-of-year list. You are doing yourself a disservice if you don’t listen to this album at least once, even if you don’t like the Melodic Death genre. It really is that damn good.

Ciemra-The Tread of Darkness (Melodic Black)**

From one incredible album to another. The way I was gushing about the Insomnium album, you would think that the overall pick of the week is obvious. I did as well as I have listened to that Insomnium album via a promo for about the last three weeks. During that time, I was absolutely certain it had the top spot nailed down. Until I heard this. Debut album from this Melodic Black Metal band out of Belarus. I’m not prone to hyperbole, at least I don’t feel that I am, but this is hands down the BEST debut album in this genre that I have EVER heard. Mainly mid-tempo throughout, with incredible riffing and melody lines over the top, breaking into these acoustic passages that remind me of classic Opeth at times. There are definitely moments of speed here and there but it always falls back into that mid-tempo groove that they do incredibly well. Off of the very first listen, I was online buying this album on vinyl, even though I knew the shipping rates from Europe would be almost as much as the album itself. This album is worth three times the amount I paid for it. All I can really say is wow….fucking wow.

Marvel-Double Decade (Hard Rock)**

I wasn’t sure if I should include this on this list as this is all out Rock at its very heaviest. I decided to, as I know from personal experience, most people that are into metal have an open mind and feel that good music is good music. Well, this is good music. What would you get if you put the Hellacopters, Thin Lizzy, Cheap Trick and Jet into a blender? This album right here. This album is a compilation of 23 tracks spanning an hour and 17 minutes and worth every minute.

Death Pill-Death Pill (Punk/Crossover)**

I’m sure there are more than a few women that are extremely pissed off here in the US with all the bullshit thrown their way. Hell, I’m sure this level of anger can be felt all over the world to some degree or another. I say all of this because if you are looking for an album that distills this anger down into a musical form, these four ladies have you covered. Being from Ukraine, they have more things to be angry about than the average and that feeling is palpable here. Just from the very first listen, this band went on my list of “must see” live bands. Hopefully, I will get that chance.

I will cut it off there as with me gushing about the Insomnium and Ciemra albums, this post is already too damn long. Great albums deserve praise and I am definitely here for it. Listen to music and fill your soul with happiness. Until next week, and as always,

BANG THY HEAD!!!

All worthy of a listen if you like the genre

*= standout in that genre

**=best of the week regardless of genre

Best of the Week

Insomnium-Anno 1696 (Melodic Death)**

Ciemra-The Tread of Darkness (Melodic Black)**

Frostshock-Frostshock (Melodic Death)**

Death Pill-Death Pill (Punk/Crossover)**

Marvel-Double Decade (Hard Rock)**

Venomous Concept-The Good Ship Lollipop (Punk/Hardcore/Heavy/Hard Rock)**

Lovebites-Judgement Day (Power/Heavy)**

Okkultist-O.M.E.N (Death)**

Bodyfarm-Ultimate Abomination (Death)**

Sarcoptes-Prayers to Oblivion (Black)**

Kamala-Karma (Thrash)**

Azaghal-Alttarimmeon Luista Tehty (Black)**

Standouts in their Genre

Idolatrous-Sorrow on Midgard (Melodic Death)*

Manigance-The Shadows Ball (Progressive Power)*

Praetor-Praetor (Thrash)*

Adversor-Portrait of a Wasteland (Thrash)*

Megaton Sword-Might and Power (Epic Heavy)*

The Design Abstract-Transhuman Ascendant (Symphonic/Melodic Death)*

Steel Panther-On the Prowl (Glam/Heavy)*

Child-Meditations in Filth (Grind)*

M.T.G.-Lobotomized (Thrash)*

Air Raid-Fatal Encounter (Heavy/Traditional)*

Itinerum-Dream and Fly (Symphonic/Melodic)*

Rapine-Cries for Reprise (Thrash)*

Morphetik-Proclamation of War (Thrash)*

Primal Enemy-Milwaukee Sewer Metal (Thrash)*

Ars Nova-Abrazando los Sombras (Progressive)*

Coffinborn-Cadaveric Restribution (Death/Old School)*

Burn the Ocean-Modern Ruins (Grunge/Modern Rock)*

Dragon-Unde Malum (Thrash/Hard Rock/Heavy)*

IceStorm-The Northern Crusades (Melodic Death/Heavy)*

Lonesome_Blue-Second to None (Hard Rock/Heavy)*

Ontborg-Following the Steps of Damnation (Melodic Death)*

Pil & Bue-Special Agents (Modern Hard Rock/Heavy)*

Pist-The Bleak Unrest (Stoner)*

Worthy of a Listen

7 H. Target-Yantra Creating (Technical Death/Brutal)

Enemy of Reality-Where Truth May Lie (Symphonic)

SacratusWhere the Sounds were Corrupted (Death/Thrash)

Spiritu Mors-Voidwards (Black)

Ascension-Under the Veil of Madness (Power)

Welded-Time is Winding Down (Thrash)

Funeral Winds-Stigmata Mali (Black)

Kollaps/e-Phantom Centre (Sludge/Post)

Dark Embrace-Dark Heavy Metal (Melodic Death)

Gaslarm-Contaminated (Thrash)

Fairytale-Army of Ghosts (Heavy/Power)

Brimstone Gate-Return from the Brimstone Portal (Black/Death)

Sentinel-Koronus (Heavy Progressive/Metalcore)

Thy Gnosis-Seroconversion (Technical Death)

Total Hate-Marching Towards Humanicide (Black)

Zephid-Manifestation of Chaos (Death)

Broken Fate-Fighters & Dreamers (Thrash)

Haken-Fauna (Progressive/Hard Rock)

Furnace-The Casca Trilogy (Death)

Spectral Damnation-Extra Aecclesiam (Black/Death)

Hammerhedd-Nonetheless (Groove)

Merlock-Onward Strides Colossus (Stoner/Psychedelic)

Morwinyon-Wastelands (Atmospheric Black)

Slumbering Sun-The Ever Living Fire (Melodic Doom/Psychedelic)

Westing-Future (Psychedelic)

Wretched Fate-Carnal Heresy (Death)

I simply couldn’t choose between these albums so for the second time ever there is a tie for pick of the week. With an easy 5 VERY content bulldogs out of 5, Insomnium and Ciemra will share Pick of the week.

[horrid-phantasm]

Keepers Of The Flame Metal Fest

[wastehound-voof]

Traveler - Prequel To Madness (2024)

Have some face melting metal.

[ramitdown]

Goals:

I want her vibes:

His hair:

His voice:

And this motorcycle:

[sonic-emporium]

I'm laying awake at night I can't get you out of my mind All I can hear is my heart beat And a voice in the dark of some kind

Where are you now? The fears are coming back to me once again Oh, I wish you were here taking good care of me I want you

I feel as though I'm out in the cold Out in the cold—Hear me calling Cold Out in the cold—Please rescue me

I know it was you I hurt (I didn't mean to hurt you) So much to forgive and forget Can't take anymore of this hurt (Oh no, oh no) There's so many things I regret

Where are you now? The fears are coming back to me once again Oh, I wish you were here taking good care of me I want you

I feel as though I'm out in the cold (You shut me out) Out in the cold—Hear me calling (Where are you now? I need you, I'm so...) Cold (Can't you hear my heart beat?) Out in the cold—Please rescue me

Give me a chance, baby There's nothing I wouldn't do to make it alright Just for one more chance, baby I need all your loving tonight

Where are you now? The fears are coming back to me once again Oh, I wish you were here taking good care of me I want you

I feel as though I'm out in the cold (You shut me out) Out in the cold—Hear me calling (Where are you now? I need you, I'm so...) Cold (Can't you hear my heart beat?) Out in the cold—Please rescue me (Why don't you rescue me?)

Cold (You shut me out) Out in the cold—Hear me calling (Where are you now? I need you, I'm so...) Cold (Can't you hear my heart beat?) Out in the cold—Please rescue me (Why don't you rescue me?)

I'm so cold (You shut me out) Out in the cold—Hear me calling (Where are you now? I need you, I'm so...) Cold (Can't you hear my heart beat?) Out in the cold—Please rescue me

[valleyofsacrifice]

[music-addiction-disorder]

80s Hair Metal meets Gothic Rock in Sonja’s Video for “Nylon Nights”

The new single from Philadelphia gothic hair metal outfit Sonja, “Nylon Nights,” is a revenge tale for the ages.

It all started in 2017, when Texas black metal musician Melissa Moore came out as transgender to her Absu bandmates and was promptly fired via text message. The betrayal, hurt, and subsequent shunning rocked her to the core. Drummer Grzesiek Czapla and bassist Ben Brand joined forces with her to form her new band Sonja.

Sounding like a heady mix of goth rock and 80s hair metal bands, Sonja blasts powerful hooks that would be right at home opening for the likes of NWOBHM stalwarts, Mötley Crüe, The Cult, and Sisters of Mercy alike, culminating in their first full-length (and Cruz Del Sur Music debut), Loud Arriver. Loud Arriver is Moore’s first full-length album in a decade, marking her debut as lead vocalist. (POST-PUNK.COM)

SONJA

Loud Arriver (2022)

Cruz Del Sur Music

Philedelphia / Pennsylvania / U.S.A. 🇺🇲

ALBUM OF THE YEAR... PERIOD!!!

1. When The Candle Burns Low... 05:28

2. Nylon Nights 04:34

3. Pink Fog 04:18

4. Wanting Me Dead 05:59

5. Fuck, Then Die 04:55

6. Daughter Of The Morning Star 04:03

7. Moans From The Chapel 02:57

8. Loud Arriver 05:39

It is a catharsis: much of the music Melissa Moore wrote during the Absu debacle is now lost due to the adversity surrounding her gender; the pandemic further delayed production. But Sonja forged ahead, creating big, anthemic songs.

As Moore notes on the origin of the band:

“We actually started in 2014 and were active under the radar while Absu still existed. When Absu collapsed in 2017, Sonja went into full focus, and I was a shattered person. Its output couldn’t be rushed because the stakes were so high now.”

On songwriting for Sonja’s debut album, she adds:

“Interestingly, the lyrics were written in a time of fear and darkness for me. Right up until the moment I sang them in the studio. I was existing in a numb void. I really had to acknowledge that I was cut off from the light. I can only delve deeper or wait in place for nothing. The performance of these songs demands a power that only came to me recently, and I descend into my surroundings more intentionally now.

The video for the lead single ‘Nylon Nighs”, directed and edited by Geneva Jacuzzi collaborator Zev Deans, depicts a sex worker who seeks revenge on a betrayal from a John. It’s a metaphor for oh, so much – yet the emotionally charged video ultimately shows her getting the upper hand, so to speak.

On working on the video, Zev Deans comments:

“It is not often that I see this deeply eye-to-eye with a collaborator. I’ve done a great deal of surreal and fantastical work with bands that want to keep things on the lighter side of the spectrum. I rarely get to tell a story that is this personal, especially a story that is so grounded in reality in terms of set and setting. Sonja presented a challenge that I was all too excited to meet.”

(POST-PUNK.COM)

Loud Arriver was recorded in 2019 at Creep Recording Studio in Philadelphia with Dan Kishbaugh. Its vocals were tracked with acclaimed producer Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Enforced, Kreator). (POST-PUNK.COM)

Ben Brand - Bass / Backing Vocals

Melissa Moore - Guitar / Vocals

Grzesiek Czapla - Drums

At the first hint of dusk a primal terror awakens inside me

Ruinous desire swirling in the air

Unpredictable strangers on the hunt to fulfill their darkest fantasies

I know they're all coming for me again tonight

A pack of wolves coming to devour

And they might get me this time...

But I'll take a piece of every one of their souls as payment

@beardedguy1369 @wolfofodin-scotland-edinburgh @boundandbimba @gloria-glitter @x-heesy @goblinkleaver @maidenintexas1 @bonedaddy-13 @moonstar-magic @twinqlinglights ...