Album Review- Anthrax: For All Kings

“For All Kings” is the eleventh studio record by American Thrash/Speed Metal band Anthrax and was released on August 26^th, 2016. Now those who have followed my reviews know my very first review was “Worship Music” and that album alone has solidified Anthrax’s staying power. Now after a very lengthy amount of touring, Anthrax are back with this new record and I already can say it is one of my favorite covers of the year. Meeting the band earlier this year was really awesome as well and I’ve been so eager to listen to it I can’t wait anymore so let’s dive right into For All Kings.

Track Rundown

1.Impaled-The album opens with an intro similar to how “Worship Music” did. However, this one is a lot more grand and medieval sounding. I have to say it builds wonderfully to the real opening track.

2.You Gotta Believe- Opening in a straight head on thrash attack, I really love how bass heavy the production is right away. The whole band is just as tight as they were five years ago. Joeys voice is one of the few timeless voices that never depletes he still sounds amazing. Jon Donais right away I can feel his Shadows Fall influences with a darker sound in his solos. There is almost this psychedelic bass interlude in the middle that I really dig it is really out of left field and totally works it adds a progressive feel to the album. Fantastic opener and a great return of the band.

3.Monster At The End- This song has a Spreading The Disease kind of feel in the guitar tones but that dark feel of Persistence Of Time. It has an awesome catchy chorus as well. The guitar harmonies are pretty cool as well with Donais doing some awesomely haunting sounding bends. His solo’s really stand out as well they have more of a bite to them I feel than Robs did. Even a mid paced Anthrax song can be insanely heavy, great song.

4.For All Kings-Opening with an awesome vocal performance from Joey, this song almost has a power metal element in the beginning but immediately gets that heavy Anthrax riffing thrown right in. This track has one of my favorite chorus’ on the album it just feels so epic. The solo is just amazing as well it’s just so well done.

5.Breathing Lightning-This song has a more upbeat feel with the cleaner guitars thrown throughout it. It still is a very powerful and incredibly original song as well. It does change up the pace a bit and still has some killer riffs in it as well. One of the most powerful tunes on the album very rocking song.

6.Breathing Out- Sort of an outro track from the previous song but it is very beautiful and very well done I love that they included it on the album.

7.Suzerain- Easily the heaviest song on the album with non stop low chugging riffs. The thing I have always liked about Anthrax is how their heavy sound has always gone perfectly with Joeys soaring voice. This song isn’t particularly a thrash song it is more of just a straight forward heavy metal tune. Another great song!

8.Evil Twin- This song when I first heard it could’ve sworn it was an outtake from Persistence of Time. Seriously these guys have lost no steps in how they play. This is to this album what “Fight Em tIl You Can’t” was on the last. Pure thrashing Anthrax what more do you need?

9.Blood Eagle Wings- Opening with more clean guitars that sound really great and add good atmosphere. It heads straight into an almost Sabbath-ish riff. The riffing during the verses has a real progressive feel to them with the little weird turns they make. This is an amazing heavy mid paced tune that speeds up towards the middle and ends near perfectly. The band should really be proud as this song is probably one of their best written.

10.Defend Avenge- Opening with feedback and a heavy riff going in and out and boom, you are straight into it. It almost reminds me of Metallica’s “Frayed Ends Of Sanity” a bit which is pretty cool. I love how jumpy this song is and how Anthrax just make it that way naturally. The bass, oh the bass it is so much more audible than it was on the last album to me anyway. I love Scotts backup vocals here as well they are still just as powerful as they were in the old days. A great fun song with an out of control yet precise solo.

11.All Of Them Thieves- This song sounds almost a bit Pantera-ish in its riffing in the beginning.  It does quite a long build up with Charlies drums thumping relentlessly. It has an interesting chorus to it as well. However, when it gets to the solo, this song goes out of control. It is still amazing how Anthrax can still play as fast as they do.

12.This Battle Chose Us- This song with the really heavy bass sounds like SOD a bit to me which I dig but it blasts into a total riff-o-rama (yes I used that term). This song is a head banging tune with a bit more melodic chorus that I really dig. There are so many different sounds on this record and I love it.

13.Zero Tolerance- The last song on the album and I have to say the build at the beginning is really really good It gets me really anticipated and holy hell they have matched a tune like Gung Ho with its speed. This song is 100% Thrash Metal and it is no holds barred all the way until the freaking end.

Overall, I give this record a 9.8 out of 10. Easily one of Anthrax’s most focused albums and definitely one of their most creative. This album is yet another straight home run for a band 30 plus years into their career and again they have proved they still have the guts against bands nearly half their age. Anthrax are definitely, at least out of the Big 4, the reigning champs and I can’t wait to see them on tour bringing some of these tunes to the stage. Now go on, put on For All Kings and MOOOOOSHHHH!!!!!!

Album Review-Brimstone Coven: Black Magic

“Black Magic” is the second studio album from Doom/Occult rock group Brimstone Coven and was released January 29^th, 2016. I had first heard this band literally right when they released their self-titled debut and I really was into their stripped down approach to their music. However, I felt like they could have pushed a bit harder especially with the production it sounded quiet in parts to me. Now they have released their next disc so let’s see if it’s worth the wait.

Track Rundown

1.Black Magic- starting with some nice heavy riffing and I really dig how audible the bass is it really holds the sound together. The vocals have that analog like fuzziness with them and I really dig the production a lot more as well it feels more I don’t know more atmospheric? It is hard to explain. This song is really catchy and leaves a good impression especially to first time listeners. The solo really has that Sabbath sound and I think this is the first band I’ve heard to really nail Iommi’s style. However, it still sounds pretty original.

2.Black Unicorn- This song starts with some of that Jazzy kind of progression in the drums and guitars and there is some really soulful singing here as well that I dig. Nice quick rocker.

3.Beyond The Astral- I like the riff in this song it almost sounds kind of Cream like with a Sabbath-ish guitar behind it. It still has that really dirty occult feel to it with the vocals almost reminding me of the band Coven from the late 60’s. One of my favorite tracks.

4.As We Fall- This song has a cleaner softer opening to it and is a nice change of pace on the album. It actually reminds me a bit of the first Ghost album. This song has a more Ballad like feel to it but the atmosphere is nailed pretty good on the head with some reverb behind the vocals and a clean yet still dirty guitar and fuzzy bass cranking it out. Really really good song!

5.Upon The Mountain-This is a heavy riffing song with some cool vocals behind it that really seem to echo with the guitar. The solo to this one is one of my favorites on the record as well it just grooves really well.

6.Slow Death-My favorite song on the album simply because the rhythm really gets my foot tapping. I over the bumping bass especially in the background. There is a lot more of a prominent jazz and soul influence on this song which sets it apart form just being a standard rock song. And cmon the solo from Corey Roth is just so awesome.

7.The Seers- This song has a really good heavy riff to it that sounds mountainous and with that vintage sounding production it works so well. The solo for this tune is my favorite as well on the album its bends and everything just sound so good.

8.The Plague- This song has a softer and darker feel to it I really like how creepy this song sounds as well. The more Psychedelic spacey solo is really cool as well, A really well written song to say the least.

9.Forsaken- This one has a softer riff opening to it as well but goes almost into a stoner rock sounding chord progression. This song has a more Cream approach it feels especially with the vocals. A good heavy tune.

10.I really love the slowly fading in drum beat with all the crow noises it sounds really cool and This song actually has more of  Pentagram feel to it like I swear im just waiting for Bobby Liebling to come in and start singing. This song has more of a drone to it in the constant riff and low hovering vocals. It has a bit of a change up in the middle with some really cool note progressions which heads right back into the heavy droning to round out with just essentially a jam session until the song ends. A good heavy end to this album.

Overall, I give this album a 7.5-8 out of 10. This album really exceeds what they did with their first record with a darker production and everything just sounds so much heavier as well. The song writing is actually a bit more varied with some softer atmospheric pieces and still retaining the “rock” feel. Brimstone Coven is gonna be one of the bands to continue the retro rock sound and I have no problem with that because these guys really know how to play some good tunes. 

Album Review-Local H: Hey, Killer

"Hey, Killer" is the eight studio album by Illinois Grunge group Local H and was released in April, 2015. My history with this band is actually fairly new as my friend Brad encouraged me to review this groups new album, which i never take no for an answer, so I said yes. Doing some research, i found out these guys have quite a history including many line up changes since their beginnings in 1987. I figured since most grunge music I dig I'd enjoy these guys, so lets see what their newest album has to offer.

Track Rundown

1.The Last Picture Show In Zion-Opening with a very fuzzy haze of distortion, This song really goes into a hard rocking venture that i dig. When the vocals come in it sounds a bit like Alice In Chains which i can get into. The harmonies have a kind of Psychedelic feel to em as well. Heavy groovy opening tune and a good first impression.\

2.City Of Knives-This one has kind of a punky feel with more shouting vocals and frantic guitar riffing but is still pretty laid back as well. The chorus is simple and catchy which i like as well. Very straight forward rock n roll song.

3.Freshly Fucked-With a title like that, how could you not be drawn to listen to this song? It almost kind of reminds me of a Misfits/Black Flag hybrid. Very reminiscent of old school punk but with better production laid over it.

4.Gig Bag Road-This song has that nice riff driving rock that bands like soundgarden pumped out way back when. I love how fuzzy the guitars are on this record as well it adds a more garage band feel to the whole record.

5.The Misanthrope-This song is another grungy punk driven song and has these actually gothic kind of feeling parts but im sure thats just me. The verses are really catchy, this is one of my favorite songs on the record.

6.One of us-Opening with more clean guitars, there is still an eerie feeling within the chord progression with Scott Lucas' soft vocals. This song is really heavy in how it is executed. Really enjoyable song.

7.Leon and The Game of Skin-Opening with that quick punk drum beat really gets me hyped and the fuzzy bass slowly fading in is really cool too. It almost has a new wave-ish feeling in it with the clean chorus guitars. It really caught me off guard with how ti didnt go into a straight forward rocker. However it is really good and catchy all over the place.

8.Mansplainer- This song has that really really evidence 90s alt rock sound to it, but nonetheless is still pretty good. Doesn't go into anything straining from the typical formula it is really straightforward.

9.Age Group Champion-This song has a heavy but melodic sound to it which I really enjoy. This is my favorite song for that reason as it combines the softer sounds with their heavier sounds.

10.John The Baptist Blues- Another more rocking song with some heavy catchy riffs. Not much to say but it rocks.

11.I Am A Salt Mine- A really soft song to go out on with some interesting sounds in it as well. It is really atmospheric sounding as well which I like and I enjoy that they went out on a softer note as well.



Overall, I give this record a 7.5 out of 10. This review was another one that I went into nearly completely blind but I enjoyed what I heard. Even thought this record was alot of straight forward kind of throwback material, there were some interesting style choices in songs, catchy melodies and some pretty good written lyrics, This record hasn't really broken any new ground but it is a fun record and anyone a fan of this band will surely enjoy it.