Sweden has a long and rich history when it comes to epic, melodic doom metal. I don’t have to educate you about Candlemass of course, but lesser known bands as Sorcerer and Memory Garden, amongst others, are also part of the tradition. Below are a newer band carrying the same torch, first with the release of “Across The Dark River” back in 2014, and following it up with “Upon A Pale Horse”, their second for Metal Blade, released back in May this year. Continue reading
With the release of “Darkness Remains”, Night Demon should be able to please most of those who enjoyed “Curse Of The Damned”, the band’s debut album from 2015. Jarvis Leatherby and his companions still deal in strongly NWOBHM-based metal performed with plenty of energy and enthusiasm. While the new album is the main talking point, Jarvis also lets us in on life on the road as well as his involvement in Jaguar and Cirith Ungol. Continue reading
After a long period of silence, it’s almost six years since “Invincible” was released, Holy Martyr cement their place as one of the most reliable Italian bands nowadays with the release of the concept album “Darkness Shall Prevail”. This particular feature, based on no less than four different interviews done with the band throughout the years, the first one back in 2002 and the last one in March this year, should be one of the very best sources of information on Holy Martyr out there. Grab a cup of coffee, and put everything aside while you let guitarist Ivano Spiga guide you through the history of Holy Martyr.
The new album from Sweden’s Trial, “Motherless”, is one of those releases that will create mixed opinions among the people who enjoyed their stellar 2015-release “Vessel”. It’s certainly more on the experimental side of things, and I guess the fact that I haven’t fully made up my mind about it, suggest that it isn’t the easiest to digest. I guess only time will tell how good an album “Motherless” is. Last time I did something on Trial, I spoke to Andreas Johnsson, and he told me that my interview object this time around, the band’s other guitarist, Alexander Ellström, was partly responsible for him playing guitar in the first place. Continue reading
As long as there is some quality involved, bands that stick out by doing something different, have a good chance of being featured here at Metal Squadron. Finland’s Chevalier is one of those bands, as their newly released, so far digital-only, demo “A Call To Arms” features raw speed metal, pretty fresh and original song writing and a fitting minimalistic production. I caught up with guitarist and main songwriter Tommi to get the details on this newly formed, Helsinki-based act. Continue reading
When musicians decide to do something slightly different within the frames of traditional metal, it usually catches my interest. Ezra Brooks, a solo adventure by S. Vincent, based in Toronto, Canada, really appealed to me, more or less upon first listen. The unpolished production, the cool riffs and solos, and the rather limited, but yet cool vocals all worked quite well. Since I first heard the demo material about half a year ago, the songs have been remastered, an extra track added and the material released on CD via Barbarian Wrath. “Target” is one of the more original sounding releases in our field so far this year, and more than interesting enough for me to hook up with Vincent for for some much needed info on this project. Continue reading
After a somewhatmediocre debut released back in 2009, Hürlement from Paris in France showed real signs of improvement with the follow up “Terreur Et Tourment”from 2013. Fast forward another four years, and the band is ready with their third full length release, “La Mort Sera Belle”, another fine album destined to appeal to everyone into honest, classic heavy metal in the vein of Running Wild and Manowar. I got in touch with singer Alexis who put a real effort in to shed some light on both the history of the band as well as the brand new album, out since early January on Emanes Metal. Continue reading
I did an interview with Attacker when they released their excellent album “Giants Of Canaan” early in 2013. When the new one, “Sins Of The World” arrived and proved to be just as good, the need to do a more indepth article on the band with main songwriter Michael Benetatos felt really strong. After a couple of weeks with questions and answers bouncing back an forth between us, with Michael doing and oustanding job, this feature has finally come to its conclusion. It’s an indepth article focusing of course, on the period since Michael joined the band back in 2001 with emphasis on the last two albums, both releases being among the very best metal albums released in this millenium. Continue reading
After the really promising demo “Rising”, Italy’s Vultures Vengeance secured a deal With Gates Of Hell Records and released the mini album “Where The Time Dwelt In” last October. It took some time to finish this interview, but in the end, all band members contributed to what can be viewed as a follow up to the chat we had back when the band first sprang onto the scene. Continue reading
A lot of the background and history of Eternal Champion were covered in the first and second interview we did with the guys. This Third one could and probably should, have been published earlier, but singer Jason Tarpey is a busy guy, and it has been a tough couple of months for me as well, not being able to devote as much time as I like to the site. However, patience is always rewarded, and here is chance to get some information on “The Armor Of Ire”, clearly one of the very best releases of 2016. Continue reading
After a rather mediocre demo tape, the multinational Steel Inferno just released their first album, “Aesthetics Of Decay” through the French label Infernö Records. A band with members from France, Poland, Greece and Denmark sounds like an interesting story, especially on paper, but I guess noone moved from the country they were living in just to be part of Steel Inferno. If it was VolBeat maybe, but Steel Inferno is for sure another story. Guitarist and main songwriter Lars has the answer to this as well as my other questions about the past, present and future of Steel lnferno. Continue reading
Two tracks might seem like little to judge a band on, but I have to say I was very impressed with the pair of songs Road Warrior presented on their debut tape release, “Ignition” a few months back. I soon established contact with main man Denny “Denimal” Blake” to get some vital information on this promising new act who already has plans for further releases. First, please let us in on the story of Road Warrior. When was the band formed and under which circumstances? I believe that you and Darren have been in at least one band together, but what made you want to perform heavy or power metal together? Continue reading
I’ve covered Dark Forest before, both when “Dawn Of Infinity” and “The Awakening” were released. The result of those two email-conversations can be read here. Even though Christian Horton is one of those musicians that put a lot of effort into his answers when he does interviews via the internet, I really wanted to speak to him personally this time in an old school phone interview. Christian accepted, and here you can read the result of our hour long chat about past, present and future in the Dark Forest-camp. The main focus however, is the brand new album “Beyond The Veil”, to be released through Cruz Del Sur towards the end of this month. Continue reading
There has been a lot of quality stuff released as demos this year, and one of the huge suprises, was “Demo 2016” (se review here) from Iniquity, a brand new band from Athens, Greece. I was one of the lucky ones that managed to grab a copy of the demo before it sold out, but do not worry, I am pretty sure these recordings will find their way into other formats as well. By the way, the band is a good example of what can happen when you contact Metal Squadron, as I probably would have missed out on the initial tape run if the band hadn’t made me aware of it. I immediately got hooked on the material and suggested an interview so that I personally, and others that care, can gain some insight into this very promising act. Bass player P. V. and guitarist J. M. gathered to answer my questions.
Let me be honest with you, 2016 hasn’t been the most exciting year when it comes to new heavy metal releases, and the first six months haven’t really been able to reproduce top notch quality as the two last years delivered. The first full length from Demon Bitch from Detroit, Michigan, titled “Hellfriends” is right up there with the top quality releases of the last few years though, and together with Ravensire’s “The Cycle Never Ends” and Stone Magnum’s “Holy Blessings To None” it represents the definitive highlights of the year in metal so far. We conducted a pretty extensive interview with the band when they released the excellent EP “Death Is Hanging…” back in 2014, and when the band got in contact again to make sure I had access to the new album, I didn’t hesitate to suggest a new interview. Four of the members helped out answering my questions. Enjoy! Continue reading
It’s been a few quiet months here over at Metal Squadron, but let’s get to work again, and why not start with an American newcomer who released their first full length through the excellent German label Underground Power back in April. “Revolution Street” is the title, and it’s well worth spending three quarters of an hour with. I got in touch with founder and bass player Pat Gloeckle to get the full story on the band that debuted with the demo “Rite Of Rebellion” back in 2014. Continue reading
I recently called singer Mark J. Dexter from Dexter Ward to speak about the band’s new album “Rendezvous With Destiny”. Since it was the first time the two of us had a chance to speak together, I started by asking Mark some personal questions, the first about his experience as a singer. Continue reading
“Prelude” is the first full length from Britain’s Wytch Hazel, and band that has been around for a while now, contributing a two song demo, an EP as well as a split single with Metal Squadron favourites Borrowed Time. The new album represents a big leap forward for the band, and is one of the pleasant surprises of the year for me personally. I got in contact with songwriter, guitarist and singer Colin Hendra, and this is what came out of an hour long conversation on the phone. Continue reading
When it comes to traditional doom metal with a strong heavy metal-influence, there are really not many better bands than Stone Magnum around. “From Time…To Eternity”, released in the summer or 2013 was a killer album, and already then I spoke to Dean Tavernier in an interview you can read here. The new album is called “Holy Blessings To None”, and as always Dean was more than willing to answer my questions about what is without doubt one of the stand out releases of the first three months of 2016. Continue reading
With their three excellent demo tapes, first released separately throughout 2014 and then collected onto “The Warrior’s Spell”, available both on CD and LP last year, Tarot is one of the most interesting acts to pop up during the last few years. Their strongly seventies influenced brand of hard rock, might not appeal to all the metal heads, but it seems like most of the people that show an interest in the band, end up loving the dreamy sounds of Tarot. Main man Will, also the guy behond Heavy Chains Records, have always been a supporter of Metal Squadron, and this extensive chat sums up what has happened with the band since the last feature we did back in August one and half years ago. The main focus of course, is the band’s brand new album, “Reflections”. Continue reading
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