Sumo Cyco – Opus Mar


One of Canada’s best-kept secrets will be exploding into the music world once again as Hamilton, Ontario’s own Sumo Cyco drop their second full length album since establishing in 2011. Opus Mar (Self-Released/Pledge) was produced by their very own lead guitarist Matt ‘Md13’ Drake and renowned producer James ‘Lerock’ Loughrey, known for his work with Skindred and Joss Stone.Continue reading


Righteous Vendetta – Cursed


Cursed (Another Century) hits a lot harder than Wyoming Metalcore quintet Righteous Vendetta’s past works, such as the Lawless (Red Cord) album and the Defiance EP (Street Smart). Sadly, though, it is an album that falls short of their promising reputation, and, yes, it is a heavy album, but upping the ante seems to have cost them their originality.Continue reading


Within The Ruins – Halfway Human


“This is what I’m fucking talking about!” were my exact words the moment the very first song off of Halfway Human (eOne/SPV/Longbranch), ‘Shape Shifter’ finished playing in my ears for the first time. Since then I have not been able to turn this album off. Brushing your teeth to ‘Absolution’, track seven on the album has proven quite difficult with all the head banging. “No longer will we be casualties to an unrealistic world!!!!”….toothpaste everywhere!Continue reading


Mord’A’Stigmata – Hope


I am very picky about my Black Metal. Most of it, to me, sounds like it was recorded in a concrete basement or dungeon somewhere. I understand that it is supposed to make it sound dark, mysterious, and demonic, to sound, almost as if it was recorded during a Satanic ritual…Continue reading


Amerakin Overdose- The Great Amerakin Dream


amerikin-overdose-album-cover-ghostcultmag

After a dark rendition of the United States of America ‘s national anthem as the albums intro, Amerakin Overdose kicks you in the teeth with a series of fast paced songs. If you are not strapped in yet, you might want to be, because this is the beginning a heavy ride. Continue reading


High Elevation Rock Festival: At Fiddler’s Green Amphitheater


High Elevation Rock Festival ghostcultmag

The date was September 10, 2016. I awoke from a sleepless night. Not from heartache or drama, but from anticipation. You know, a night rocking out to music, memorizing that last verse of your favorite song, looking up YouTube videos of opening acts. That utterly restless night lost in the imagination of the next days adventure. That’s right, that night before the big show. For me it is the ‘High Elevation Rock Festival’ at Fiddlers Green Amphitheater in Denver, CO sponsored by Monster Energy.

Continue reading


Hellyeah – Unden!able


 

Hellyeah Undeniable album cover ghostcultmag

Once again Hellyeah has proven why they are dubbed with the name “supergroup”. This all American heavy metal band consists of many of the biggest names of metal to date. Including vocalist Chad Gray of Mudvayne, former guitarist Tom Maxwell of Nothingface, bass player Kyle Sanders (Bloodsimple/Monstro), guitarist Christian Brady, and former Pantera drumming legend Vinnie Paul. Release their fifth album since their debut in 2007, entitled Unden!able (Eleven Seven Music).

This in your face power house of an album will get your body begging for the pit. From beginning to end the album shows the raw talent of the five member team. Fast paced riffs, wicked blastbeats, brutal break downs, and demonic vocals, this thirteen track album reminds us of what it means to be “Born and Breed a metalhead”.

The album opens up with ‘!’. This powerful intro begins raising the intensity inside your body until you are slapped in the face by track 2 ‘X’. This track is full of a strong lyrical rhythm accompanied with powerful double bass, strong break downs, and mind shredding riffs. Then it leads my personal favorite song on the album track 3 ‘Scratch a lie’. Chad Grey brings those blood chilling screeches, and fast paced lyrics that made him the monster he is today. This song will make you want start a mosh pit at your family reunion. The fourth track ‘Be Undin!able’ is what I like to call the anthem song. Most albums have them. It is the song where it seems to bring the crowd together, though heavy and still has the possibility to knock your teeth out, it’s a song with a positive message and encourages us to stand together as one.

Next song ‘Human’ was the first single off the album. This song gave you the sneak peek of this monstrous album. Though not as heavy as the rest, it still gives you the adrenaline pumping, head banging feeling the rest of the album gives you. The album slows down a bit with the next couple tracks. Though still pure metal, it is just not as in your face as the beginning half. ‘Leap of Faith’, ‘Blood Plague’, the Phil Collins cover of “I Don’t Care Anymore” and ‘Live or Die’ bring you back to the typical Hellyeah style, the heavy metal outlaw, showing a little bit of that southern side of metal. ‘I Don’t Care Any More’ features some leads courtesy of Vinnie Paul’s brother, Dimebag Darrell Abbott, making an appearance via tapes from beyond the grave.

Then there is the track ‘Love Falls’. A melodic ballad that pulls at the heart-strings. Chads’ lyrics transport you to a heartbreak we have all received before, showing his embarrassment and humanity. It’s a refreshing song in the midst of such chaos and brutality. Then the sirens fill your ears. A short intro ’10-34′ that leads into a riot, ‘STARTARIOT’. This song alone makes me want to bleed in a pit. The impact of the drums, the lyrics, guitar, amazing bass riffs, all of it. It’s the perfect storm for a circle pit. Lastly, ‘Grave’. The last song of the album. Just as strong and in your face but has a nice fade out giving you a sense of rejuvenation. Like you just won a war. All and all this album is strong, fast, brutal, and most importantly, HEAVY!

In closing. This album is a must have for any metal fan. It shows the roots and development of our beloved genre. Combining southern and heavy metal together into a sweet harmony of chaos. I recommend this album to anyone and it will be in my playlist for a while. Did they make a great album. I say Hellyeah.

8.0/10

TIM STEBBINS

[amazon asin=B01DVJSX7S&template=iframe image1]