Tag Archives: High Roller

BLACK VIPER: Total metal overkill

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Norway isn’t exactly known for producing a lot of  outstanding speed metal acts. In fact, we’re not known for producing bands performing speed metal at all. When Oslo-based Black Viper released their demo a couple of years ago, you got a sense that the number of outstanding releases within this genre was about to grow significantly. Now that the debut album, “Hellions Of Fire” has arrived, it is safe to conclude that Black Viper has produced a world class album inspired by the likes of Agent Steel and Holy Terror. Hail Norwegian speed metal! Hail Black Viper! Continue reading →

PROCESSION: Doomed from birth

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I admit it, it has taken way too long to finish this piece. When this interview took place, it was still a week or so until the release of “Doom Decimation”. Some reviews were already out there, does Procession’s main man Felipe care about what the reviewers think about the album? Continue reading →

AIR RAID: Crossing the line

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Even though “Point Of Impact”, was a letdown compared to both the EP “Danger Ahead” and especially the Swedes first full length releases, “Night Of The Axe”, I conducted an interview with bass player Robin  Utbult. The bands new offering “Across The Line”, featuring new singer Fredrik Werner, sounds much more interesting again, and we once again hooked up with Robin to get the latest on the band.

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DEMON BITCH: Collective insanity

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Demon BitchLet 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 →

LETHAL STEEL: Harsh and heavy

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Just like they did last year, with Trial, High Roller is once again supplying us with one of the early highlights of the new year. This time the band in question is Lethal Steel, and the album is called “Legion Of The Night”. Even though the band has existed for something like five years now, this is the debut album from the Swedes. Metal Squadron spoke to guitarist Johan Frick to get all the background info on what is yet another very promising heavy metal act from Sweden. 

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TRIAL: An early highlight

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trial-photo3When you listen to the band’s first demo and compare it to the new album, “Vessel” set to be released in January, it’s easy to hear that the band has improved massively over the course of four or five years. The band has a much stronger identity these days, and the songwriting is so improved that I sometimes have a hard time understanding we’re talking about the same band. Even though 2015 hasn’t started yet, I am pretty sure “Vessel” will end up in my top 15 when it’s time to make that list again in a year’s time.

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PLAYLIST: Week 13

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1. BATTLEROAR “Blood Of Legends” (Cruz Del Sur)battleroar-blood_of_legends_import-battleroar-26636900-1656044988-frnt

– With Gerrit singing, this sounds quite different, still very cool. Needs a bit of time.

2. PORTRAIT  ”Crossroads” (Metal Blade)

– Can’t stop spinning this one. So many storng songs and exciting parts. Vocals not as upfront as on the last one.

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NOCTURNAL: Unholy thrash

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The new Nocturnal-album “Storming Evil” really took me by surprise. Don’t misunderstand me, I enjoyed the stuff I heard from the band in the past as well, but this new one, the band’s first for High Roller, really made an impression with it’s extremely high level of aggression and energy combined with the bands ability to pen great songs. Continue reading →

SPEEDTRAP: Heavy metal thunder

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I worked hard preparing the questions for this interview back in August 2013, but unfortunately never heard back from the band. A week or two back, half a year later, the answers finally reached me. Completely out of the blue, I would say.

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BORROWED TIME: Epic and doomy heavy metal

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2013 has been a marvellous year for heavy metal. Seldom have we been flooded by such a quantity of great releases, and it looks like an  impossible task to create a personal top ten list as the year draws to an end. One thing is certain though, the self titled debut from Borrowed Time out of Detroit, Michigan is certain to figure. Hell, I am sure it will be in my top three. You can read my full review of the album somewhere else on this site, so let’s just keep it short and simple here: This album rules! Continue reading →

PLAYLIST: Week 39

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1. Borrowed Time “Borrowed Time” (High Roller)391_borrowedtimestlp_bg

– A refreshingly different take on pure heavy metal. Some cool ideas. Lots of identity.

2. In Solitude “Sister” (Metal Blade)

–  Great album, but so far I prefer the more metallic approach of the last album.

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VOLTURE: Nothing but pure heavy metal

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VoltureGroupWith their new album coming out on High Roller Records in mid-September, it was time to hook up with bass player Ryan Waste  for the full story on a band that with “On The Edge” shows a lot of improvement on the EP “Shocking Its Prey”, released through Heavy Artillery back in January 2011. Continue reading →

SIGN OF THE JACKAL: No candy or flowers

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Promoshots 2012I have a soft spot for female fronted heavy metal bands, or should I rather say I have a soft spot for great female fronted heavy metal bands? Just like I adore great heavy metal-acts fronted by a male singer. The difference is that the really good female fronted heavy metal-acts are few and far between. Only a couple of acts, I am talking about pure heavy metal-stuff now, have left an impression, and releases by bands like Masque, Malteze, Acid and Chastain will always have a place in my collection. Continue reading →

PROCESSION: No spelling error

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procession-photoPROCESSION is definitely one of the finest new doom metal bands out there. The heavy riffs, the majestic voice of singer Felipe, the beautiful solos, everything about this band is perfect. Especially the way the band sounds on the new album “To Reap Heavens Apart”. Taking nothing away from “Destroyers Of The Faith” which was an excellent album, but this new one is simply amazing. Continue reading →

DEAD LORD: “A bit Lizzyish”

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dead_lord_by_micke_ripWhen it comes to seventies inspired hard rocking stuff, in the vein of UFO and Thin Lizzy, Vanderbuyst have already proved their worth by releasing three albums, ranging from solid to very good. Sweden’s DEAD LORD, which tested the waters with a 7 inch last year, is ready to unleash their first full length, and it’s a damn fine one. The title? “Goodbye Repentance”. Continue reading →

SHORT AS HELL VIII: Witchgrave

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WITCHGRAVE’s first release was ”The Devil’s Night” back in 2010. I hooked up with Joakim Norberg to hear if it came as some sort of surprise when a high profile underground label like High Roller came knocking and wanted to put out what was basically a demo on vinyl? Continue reading →