Metal Shock Finland’s David Pearce caught up with DRAGONFORCE Guitarist Herman Li at The Waterfront Norwich just before they played their headlining show on October 19th, and discussed the new album “Maximum Overload” – released via earMUSIC (Europe), Metal Blade (US), Universal (Canada), 3Wise (Australia), Roadrunner (Japan) – Topics also included were playing in a church, the ending of the British tour and the start of the world tour. Listen to the chat below:
Artist – SOUL THROWER Album – The Beginning Of Dark Nights Label – Heliaed Records / Indie Year – 2014
1. Thrive In The Fire 2. Gore 3. Hurt Your Face 4. Skeleton Dance 5. Needle 6. A Years-Long Funeral 7. You Are The War 8. Man Of Nothing 9. Demoness 10. Shipwreck
SOUL THROWER is a band from Estonia founded in 2011 and who have been delivering a towering Mountain of dark rock! SOUL THROWER’s debut album “The End of Your Days” carries you through an emotional rise and fall with solos and crushing rhythms by lead guitarist and writer Val Tvoar of Estonia. American vocalist Daner Stumblejunk delivers every track with passion and skilful precision. From Metsatoll, guest musicians Marko Atso (drums) and Raivo “Kuri” Piirsalu (bass) are masterfully solid. In 2012, after more than a year of blood, sweat and energy, SOUL THROWER’s “The End of Your Days” delivers artistic craftsmanship of the highest level. In March 2014 the band is releasing “The Beginning Of Dark Nights” on Heliaed Records / Indie.
The album starts off with ‘Thrive In The Fire,’ this is a classic start to the album and the sound of the song reminds me of the grunge era such as early ALICE IN CHAINS. It has some really good riffs and classic style vocals, a great start. The second and third songs are ‘Gore’ and ‘Hurt Your Face.’ Both of these songs continue to impress me a great deal with their hard riffs and outstanding solos and quality vocals.
The fourth song is ‘Skeleton Dance’ which starts off with a heavy bit of riffage, then the vocals come in and they really remind me of classic Layne Staley of ALICE IN CHAINS. Top quality in the delivery and perfect in every way,very impressed with this song. The fifth and sixth songs are ‘Needle’ and ‘A Years-Long Funeral.’ The song ‘Needle’ is a bit slower than the others on the album, but as good in the delivery of the vocals. The riffs are as solid as you would hear anywhere, the solos are very precise and very well executed. ‘A Years-Long Funeral’ – this song again has a really good sound; the guitar work is outstanding along with the solos which just take my breath away. The vocals, what more can I say really but awesome.
The seventh and eighth songs are ‘You Are The War’ and ‘Man Of Nothing.’ The seventh song is more up tempo than the others on the album, but it is still as good. Instantly my foot is tapping and my head nodding away to the drumbeat. I also find it very hard not to get the old air guitar out and give it a good whirl around, brilliant. ‘Man Of Nothing’ starts off with a solid bass line then the guitars come smashing in with a top quality piece of riffage, the vocals are perfectly delivered in every way.
The ninth song is ‘Demoness’ which begins with talking, then the riffs come bursting in with style. The vocals are strong and well delivered as they can be, they just cannot get any better. The guitar work is amazing it just grabs you and says listen to my awesomeness and I have to agree 100% with that. The last song on the album is ‘Shipwreck’ which is what I would call a classic ballad and I think it is a perfect way to end such a cracking album. The solo on this is just mesmerizing, I close my eyes and drift away then it gets a bit heavier and it takes me away to a different place. It is just great, I love it.
Overall
The album is absolutely stunning. If you are a fan of ALICE IN CHAINS you will definitely love this the sound of the vocals and the way the guitars sound is just amazing. The album had me tapping my foot, my head nodding and at one point I dusted down my air guitar and gave that a whirl. I think even Jerry Cantrell would be very impressed by this, but that is my opinion. This album would definitely be worthy of going into my personal collection.
Artist – SOLDIER Album – Dogs of War Label – Starhaven Records Year – 2013
1. Dogs of War
2. I Can’t Breathe
3. Fireflies
4. The Eye
5. Lock ‘n’ Load
6. Bedlam
7. Demon in the Room
8. I Am
9. Forever
10. Take Me Home
11. No Man’s Land
Bonus Tracks
12. Sheralee
13. Crash Course
14. The Hanging Tree
SOLDIER are a British band formed in 1979, featuring Garry Phillips (vocals), Ian Dick (guitar), Steve Barlow (bass guitar) and Ian Astrop (drums). Since then there have been a lot of line up changes, then after about twenty years they formed again in 2002-2003. The original line up of Garry Phillips, Ian Dick, Steve Barlow and Ian Astrop then recorded the ‘Infantrycide’ E.P. which came out in 2002.
“We wanted to put something out quite quickly and when we listened back to the old stuff I loved the riff in ‘Infantrycide’. The ‘Live Forces’ recording is very poor audio quality and I thought it would be great to record it properly. Also I always thought the original recording of ‘Silver Screen Teaser’ sounded more like a blues song, and had always wanted to record it beefed up. So with those two, and two new songs, we had an E.P.”
In 2013 the new release from SOLDIER is ‘Dogs Of War’. This is very much a contemporary metal album, although as Ian notes: “We have still managed to retain the NWOBHM sound in the songs, and in the production of the album too. In my opinion it is a very strong album – there are no tracks we just threw in to fill the running time: they are all really good songs. Speaking for me, this album represents what I have been trying to achieve as a songwriter and musician for many years, and I truly believe this is the strongest material SOLDIER have produced to date.”
The first song on the album is ‘Dogs of War’ and the first thing that hits you is a cracking intro’ riff, full of power and instantly getting my feet tapping. The vocals are clean and the lyrics are catchy in the chorus, and with the twin guitars and a superb solo, overall a great start to the album. The next three songs are ‘I Can’t Breathe’, Fireflies’ and ‘The Eye’ and all these songs have great twin guitar riffs, very good strong lyrics and stunning solo’s, typical of the NWOBHM genre.
The fifth song on the album is ‘Lock ‘N’ Load’ , that starts with a strong intro’ riff with pounding drums, and then the vocals come soaring in with purpose. The song has lyrics that you can easily relate to, and sing along with; the twin guitar solos are just awesome. The next three songs are ‘Bedlam’, ‘Demon In The Room’ and ‘I Am’ and all of these songs have got some amazing vocals and lyrics. The guitar work is sensational and the drums keep the beat perfectly. These are all top quality songs.
The ninth song on the album is ‘Forever’ and starts with a classic riff which gets my head nodding instantly, the song itself is great, the guitars on it are out of this world with some superb solos, and the riff carries on through the song. The vocals are top quality, just what you would expect from a band of this quality. The next three songs are ‘Take Me Home’, No Mans Land’ and a new take on the old song, ‘Sheralee’. These songs are superb in every way, the guitar work right through to the vocals, and the drums pounding out the rhythm; they are classic NWOBHM songs.
The thirteenth song is ‘Crash Course’ and is an instrumental which starts off with a classic style riff, this goes through the whole song, but then the second the guitar comes in with a great solo which blends into the song perfectly. The final song on the album is ‘The Hanging Tree’ which is an acoustic song. This shows just how versatile the band is, I could listen to this song all day, it is so soothing and mellow, a perfect ending to a great album.
Overall, this album is as great, coming from the NWOBHM genre. “Dogs Of War” has some great classic twin guitar riffs and solos and the vocals are just out of this world. I would easily put this album right at the top; in my opinion if you like the old NWOBHM then you will love this. SOLDIER have outdone themselves with this classic album.
Album Rating 10/10
Members Richard Frost – Vocals Ian Alan Dick – Electric and Acoustic Guitars Miles Goodman – Electric Guitars Steve Barlow – Bass Guitar Alex Smith – Drums
Metal Shock Finland’s Dave Pearce caught up with Owen of TRIAXIS at Hammerfest 5 not long after he had played the Second Stage and here is what he had to say about his influences, about their style of music, the music business and what they have been up to since the release of their album “Rage and Retribution” and what Triaxis is up to in the future.
Metal Shock Finland’s Dave Pearce caught up with CHEMICALS OF DEMOCRACY at Hammerfest 5 not long after they had played the main stage and here is what they had to say about their influences, new band members and what they have been up to since the release of “American Scream”.
Metal Shock Finland’s Dave Pearce caught up with THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF at Hammerfest 5 not long after She had played the Main Stage and here is what she had to say about her influences, about her style of music, the music business and what she is doing in the future following her successful Ep “Evolution”
Artist – SOUL THROWER
Artist – SOLDIER 
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 