Lethean was formed in 2012 by musician James Ashbey, but they have existed beneath the fold for quite some time now. Ashbey created Lethean with the goal to combine his love of various traditional metal genres: doom, the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, and epic metal, with a world of mythical & magical themes. Read more…
It’s been three months since the legendary Mark Shelton of the epic metal titans Manilla Road passed to the other side. His sudden death made shock waves across the metal world. Mark was one of the kindest and most dedicated individuals out there – over four years of writing kick ass metal music without a hint of wavering. His never-ending devotion to music led him to a number of projects over the years in addition to his mainstay of Manilla Road – The Riddle Master and Hellwell to name a couple among a legion of others. One such project, buried long ago, was a collaboration with fellow US metal powerhouse David T. Chastain. Read more…
The Manilla Road is long and triumphant. It spans forty years and eighteen studio albums. It’s a glorious one, with few blemishes and high point after high point. I’ve spent a lot of time listening to and reflecting on Manilla Road’s expansive discography since Mark “The Shark” Shelton passed away. Manilla Road’s catalogue is virtually unmatched, with very few bands getting anywhere close to their level of quality, consistency, and volume. Even with a discography as mighty as it is massive, one album stands out to me amongst the rest – The Deluge. Read more…
Today marks fifteen years since John David (J.D.) Kimball passed away. I wanted to take the time today to remember him and highlight his legacy. Kimball is known for his work as Omen’s vocalist and lyricist during their classic era. Together with Jody Henry on bass guitar, Steve Wittig on drums, and founder Kenny Powell on lead/rhythm guitar, the classic Omen line-up put out three full length albums and EP of some of the best US power metal around. Kimball was one of the greatest vocalists in the genre and I wanted to honor his legacy by discussing early Omen’s sound and his contribution to the metal community. Read more…
Gatekeeper, a project formed by guitarist Jeff Black, have existed in some form or another since 2009. After years of writing and pulling together a band, Jeff and co. burst out onto the scene in 2013 with their EP titled Prophecy and Judgment. Gatekeeper didn’t shy away from being very clear about their main influence – from the core sound to the imagery and lyrics, Prophecy and Judgment draws from German epic metal stalwarts Atlantean Kodex. Gatekeeper have finally graced us with their debut album, East of Sun, just a few months ago via Cruz Del Sur Records. Read more…
Manilla Ungol? Cirith Road? I have a difficult time choosing the best nickname for Italy’s Vultures Vengeance. Vultures Vengeance fall squarely into the epic heavy metal genre that Italians have been so graciously worshiping for decades. They’re a band who does not shy away from wearing their influences on their sleeve. The band channels legendary acts such as Omen, Manilla Road, Cirith Ungol, and Italy’s own Dark Quarterer in ways that pay homage but at the same time are unique. Read more…
Epic Heavy Metal from Canada. Much like the Gorgon of ancient Greek mythology, Tales of Medusa are a band with a shroud of mystery and legend behind them. When they were still active, this Canadian based epic heavy metal band operated like no one else. The band members went by pseudonyms, there was no promotion of the material by the band, they avoided record labels like the plague, and there was no conventional way to obtain their music. Read more…
It’s no secret that Greece has a penchant for the epic. How could they not? With a mythology filled with gods, titans, and heroes, the songs practically write themselves! The Greeks have always been fixated with big song structures, heavy fantasy lyrics, and massive vocals. The depth and quality of the Hellenic epic metal scene cannot be understated, especially once you factor in the relative size of the country. Read more…
Epic Heavy/Doom Metal from Germany. Having come out at the tail end of 2017, Old Mother Hell’s debut isn’t too recent. However, they’ve recently received a much wider distribution and have absolutely been kicking my ass so I’ll be making an exception for this wonderful band! Read more…
On Friday July 27th, Mark “The Shark” Shelton passed away while playing the Headbangers Open Air fest in Germany.
Mark was an active musician from 1977 all the way to the very end. In his decorated career that spanned over 40 years, Mark has put out 20 full length albums. Read more…