Bludy Gyres “Echoes of a Distant Scream” Album Review + Stream…

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Bludy Gyres

Echoes of a Distant Scream – Vinyl // CD // DD

SoMan Records – February 1, 2017

Reviewed by Terry “The Ancient One” Cuyler

 

Band Logo

          
                       Sabbuth Bludy Sabbuth

 

With it’s roots in the music of the legendary metal icons Black Sabbath, doom metal is one of my favorite sub-genres of metal. So when Matthew at Taste Nation LLC asked me to review Bludy Gyres album Echos of a Distant Scream I didn’t hesitate to accept the opportunity. Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia the doom metal quartet made up of guitarist Isidore Herman, drummer Dennis Reid, and ex-Hallows Eve members bassist and frontman Tommy Stewart, and guitarist Chris Abbamonte founded their band as  Bludy Gyres in 2014. After releasing the “Self Titled” EP Bludy Gyres and the 18 minute single Behold! Your World Now Burns, Bludy Gyres released the single Defy the Lie produced at Tommy Stewart’s Blue Ogre Noise Lab and released in 2016 as a sample of what will be the full length album for their 2017 release Echos of a Distant Scream.  The band signed on with Bordeaux, France’s SoMan Records for this album offering Limited Edition Vinyl and CDs.

Band Logo 2

 

Listening to Bludy Gyres debut LP Echos of a Distant Scream was quite the experience. Rather than concentrate on monotonously slow sluggish music that is full of feedback and growling vocals, Bludy Gyres takes a more classic approach to doom metal. Like early British doom metal bands such as Black Sabbath the music is bass heavy however the band threw the power trio book out of the window and incorporates elements of early British Prog such one might hear in the music of King Crimson. This is done by having dual guitarists Isador Herman and Chris Abbamonte share the stringed instrument duties with  bassist and frontman Tommy Stewart. While drummer Dennis Reid besides setting and keeping the tempo helps fill in the sonic atmosphere creating sounds on his drums vocals and stringed instruments can’t. My favorite songs from this album are ‘O.O.D.’ and ‘Live to Bleed.’

 

Live Band Pic

 

If you like classic British doom metal and Progressive Rock Echos of a Distant Scream will impress you immensely. Echos of a Distant Scream is available for digital download on Bandcamp, Amazon, and iTunes. For those that want a CD or Limited Vinyl, I recommend the band’s Bandcamp Page (below).

 

 

Bludy Gyres is  Facebook
CHRIS ABBAMONTE -guitar Chris’ Facebook Page
DENNIS REID -drums Dennis’ Facebook Page
ISIDORE HERMAN -guitar Isidore’s Facebook Page
TOMMY STEWART – bass, vocals Tommy’s Facebook Page

Arcadea “Arcadea” Album Review + Stream…

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A Metal Synth-ony from Bizarro World

Arcadea

Arcadea – Vinyl // CD // DD

Relapse Records – released June 16, 2017

Reviewed by Terry “The Ancient One” Cuyler

 Greeting tasters this is Terry the Ancient One. For the last few days now I have been listening to Arcadea the new “S/T” debut album by the super trio made up of drummer // vocalist Brann Dailor (Mastodon), Keyboardist Core Atoms of (Zruda & Gaylord) and Keyboardist // Guitarist Raheem Amlani (Withered & Scarab). Having not even learned of Brann Dailor’s new band until recently, I had no clue what I was going to be listening to. The Result is a visionary, 10 song synth odyssey that was recorded at Orange Peel Studios in Atlanta, GA. The self-titled debut record will see its release via Relapse Records this June.

With song titles like ‘Army of Electrons’, and ‘Through The Eye of Pisces’ I figured this would be Space Rock or some kind of Heavy Psych. But what I heard took me completely by surprise  when I realized this was not just Space Rock or Heavy Psych.

 

Band Pic

 

A concept album Arcadea has said envisions a future 5 billion years from now, where the impending collision of galaxies creates a new order of planets. Where cold, distant moons pledge alliance to new suns and expanding gas giants implode into black holes. Ancient drones, forever adrift, record toxic tales of love between dying stars. Where lifeforms in suspended animation, dream among the ice rings of Saturn and cosmic war wages among gods and planets. It is in this universe that Arcadea reign supreme as the last surviving space wizards since the final extinction.

While some power trio purists may be butt hurt there are no fuzzy guitars or ponderously slow and sludge laden bass lines.  Rather, those who love progressive, heavy psychedelic rock, space rock, and electronica will love this album. Unlike some electronic driven rock music Arcadea does not sound plinky plonky or overly light and airy. Like The Alan Parsons Project of aulde, Brann, Core, Raheem prodigiously weave a tapestry of sound . Listeners will feel like they are taking a ride through space and time through a tapestry of psychedelic soundscapes.  To get the best effect I would recommend using a pair of headphones unless you have a kick ass stereo.

DEATH OF KINGS Reveal ‘Kneel Before None’ Album Details; Stream New Song + Tour Dates

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One of the U.S.’ most promising, upcoming oldschool thrash-influenced bands, Atlanta’s Death Of Kings, have shared some details of their upcoming release. ‘Kneel Before None‘ will be issued through Boris Records on June 2nd and is the anxiously awaited full-length follow up the band’s fierce 7″ Single, ‘Hell Comes To Life‘. Death Of Kings is sharing the new song ‘Shadow Of The Reaper‘ today, an incendiary salvo of scorching guitars and all-out metallic aggression.

In further news, the band will also embark on a US tour that will begin in June. All dates can be found below.

DoK KBN LP

Tour Dates:

June 1st – Atlanta, GA @ the Clermont Lounge (record release)
June 9th – Knoxville, TN @ Open Chord
June 10th – Louisville, KY @ Haymarket Whiskey Bar
June 11th – Chicago, IL @ Cobra Lounge
June 12th – Detroit, MI @ The Dodge
June 13th – Pittsburgh, PA @ Black Forge Coffee Shop
June 14th – Blackthorn 51 in Queens, NY
June 15th – Boston, MA @ O’Briens Pub
June 16th – Brookyln, NY @ Golden Sounds
June 17th – Richmond, VA @  25 Watt
June 18th – Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone