Maule – Maule (Gates of Hell)
What you see is certainly what you get when it comes to Maule‘s self-titled debut. The Vancouver quartet secures themselves in the New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal style, echoing the twin guitars, clanky bass, and street aesthetic of groups like White Wizzard, Traveler, and Pounder. The playing is tight, the pacing is energetic, and one can even detect hints of heavier influence with the vocals’ more thrash-leaning demeanor.Continue reading
Former Iced Earth members Matt Barlow and Freddie Vidales return with their third full-length album Emperors and Fools. This album sees the duo take the darkness and aggression from their previous album Well of Souls to an upper echelon. Once again drums are done by Van Williams (Nevermore) who played on the previous two LPs. The album ends with the eleven-minute long epic “Monster’s Lament” which features yet another ex-Iced Earth frontman – Tim “Ripper” Owens joining forces with Barlow. Emperors and Fools will be released on January 21 2022 through Rock Of Angels Records. The lyric video for the current single “By My Blade” can be seen here:
Matt Barlow, for the vocalist of Iced Earth and also known for Ashes Of Ares and Pyramaze has formed a new band. Jonah Weingarten (Pyramaze, Structure Of Inhumanity) and Barlow have joined up to form Sentinels.Continue reading
Melodic progressive metallers Ghost Ship Octavius, featuring lead guitarist Matt Wicklund (God Forbid, Himsa, Warrel Dane), drummer Van Williams (Nevermore, Ashes of Ares, Pure Sweet Hell) and vocalist Adōn Fanion, is streaming the lyric video for “Mills Of the Gods,” off of their brand new self titled album through a successful Kickstarter fan campaign launched in 2014. The record is available via digital outlets such as iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby, Google Play, Spotify, or simply via www.ghostshipoctavius.com. Stream it below.
The new self-titled album was recorded, mixed and mastered by Aaron Smith at Envisage Audio in Seattle, WA. Ghost Ship Octavius’ sound features technical and groove metal elements, highlighted by Adōn’s powerful clean vocals, Van’s tasteful rhythms and Matt’s melodic and intricate guitar solos. Their diverse yet complimentary music styles combine to create a powerful and dynamic sound highlighted by soaring vocals, virtuosic guitars and hooky but progressive arrangements.
Guitarist Matt Wicklund is beyond grateful for their fans who donated to their album campaign.
“GHOST SHIP OCTAVIUS is musically and artistically everything that I have always wanted to do. We put everything we had into this album and couldn’t be happier with how it turned out! The fans have been outstanding and made it possible for us to successfully fund this album independently through Kickstarter. It’s really exciting to see this all come to life! See you all on tour!”
Drummer Van Williams adds,
“I’m super stoked on this album and if I weren’t in the band I know I still would be a huge fan. It’s an exciting time for us as we are collectively brand new and forging our own path. The fans that backed this record not knowing what they would get, and our family and friends that have showed and provided support during this process are truly awesome and the ones who really brought this album to everyone else. For that I’m truly grateful and look forward to getting this beast out on the road to meet the fans that have been so positive and patient.”
Watch guitarist Matthew Wicklund’s Ghost Ship Octavius solo-writing demo video featuring a Caparison Guitars C2 Series axe below.
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Ghost Ship Octavius on Twitter
“The culmination of experiences, trials and tribulations of founding members Matt Barlow, Van Williams and Freddie Vidales”; the opening line of Ashes Of Ares biography. Now these names should rings bells and if they don’t then you probably aren’t a follower of Nevermore & Iced Earth because these guys used to play in them.Continue reading
