The Trials of January 20

Aversions Crown Coronate their Third Album

The quartet from Down Under has returned with their latest deathcore release titled Xenocide under Nuclear Blast Records. The Klown swears that it’s neither President Trump’s or Australia’s Alt-Right soundtrack. This album reminded the Klown of two local death metal bands, Carnifex and Cattle Decapitation. The point here is that this album kicks ass! “Prismatic Abyss” was good but “The Soulless Acolyte” alone will support the Klown’s claim to this sound and it’s a track that will definitely get a pit started in a live show. “Erebus,” “Ophiophagy” and “The Oracles of Existence” sounded like another Nuclear Blast deathcore signee, Despised Icon. This was a good album especially if deathcore happens to be your thing. This latest album is also highly recommended for All Shall Perish fans.

6 out of 6, Monarchs to the Kingdom of Hate

Try staring at Aversions Crown “Xenocide” cover…*drools*

 

Terrifier Unleash Their Weapons of Thrash Destruction

Unless skipping titles is your thing, the Klown has to ask: how do you know what you’re about to read? Whatever your answer is, titles are just appetizers! Now for the main course, the Canadian thrash quintet known as Terrifier have released their sophomore album Weapons of Thrash Destruction through Test Your Metal Records. Allow the Klown to let you know that he definitely was digging this album. He really thought that he was listening to Death Angel, especially when he was hearing “Deceiver.” “Nuclear Demolisher” had the Klown thinking what if Mark Osegueda vocals were a bit harsher and did a song with Testament? Just saying, imagine Alex Skolnik’s legendary solos accompanying Osegueda’s vocals! These fine gents also provided yours truly with a theme song appropriately titled “Drunk As Fuck.” Bay Area thrash enthusiasts will LOVE this!

6 out of 6, Ready To Launch

Terrifier bust out their “Weapons of Thrash Destruction”

 

AFI Returns With A Bloody Vengeance

The Klown can hear it now… the collective groaning. “WTF Klown, that’s not metal!?” Or “Shut up Clown, you’re very drunk … or sober!?” To that the Klown would retort, that you address the Klown with a “K” not a “C!” But more importantly, whether you’re “metal AF” or a person who wants to prove that they are on par to Kerry King, we all have guilty pleasures! Without further ado, AFI has released their 10th album AFI (The Blood Album) through Concord Records. This album slightly revisits the last albums, Love Crash and Burials, however, “So Beneath You” takes you back to an upbeat version of the Sing the Sorrow album. “Dumb Kids” is catchy and harmonic as hell gives a bit of punk and indie influences. “She Speaks the Language,” in typical AFI fashion, was melodic and dark much like Decemberunderground. Not a bad album for AFI to end their (nearly) 4 year hiatus.

4 out of 6, You’ll still stick your fangs in this in the name of nostalgia! 

Deny it all you want, you know that emo kid inside you will devour AFI’s “The Blood Album”

 

Firewind Immortalize Their Newest Release After a 5 Year Hiatus

The Klown believes that Firewind was mentioned a while back. Now it’s the Klown’s turn to talk about the brand new release from these Greeks. Immortals was released through Century Media Records  and the Klown loved it. This concept album lived to its name by paying homage to the glory and beauty of a well fought battle. Although the Klown liked Sabaton’s take on “Battle of Thermopylae” featured in The Last Stand, these Greeks one-up the Swedes with their version. “Ode to Leonidas” does justice as a tribute and an ode to the fallen warrior king and will have 300 fans and proud Greeks rejoicing. This ode’s set up works great with the help of its previous and following tracks, “We Defy” and “Back on the Throne” respectively. “Lady of 1000 Sorrows” will make you feel all sorts of things because this sympathetic ballad voices those that have experienced the grueling wait and unwavering hope of seeing their soldier return from war. Firewind also tops this baby off with an extra track, “Vision of Tomorrow” which not only kicks ass but lead guitarist, Gus G, shreds away.

6 out of 6, Leonidas Would Be Proud!

Firewind make their triumphant return with “Immortals”

**Bonus Round**

Memoriam Will Remind You of Britain’s Death Metal Pioneers

Bolt Thrower fans! I have good news and bad news. First, the bad: No longer known as Bolt Thrower, Memoriam will release their debut album in March. Good news: Memoriam has released their demo The Hellfire Demos II through Nuclear Blast Records. Let’s just say that if you longed for some new Bolt Thrower material, this will definitely calm that itch. The Klown also checked their first EP The Hellfire Demos I which you can check out on their bandcamp! Simply put, the Klown can’t wait till their debut in March. No rating since it’s only 2 songs but you should take a hit!

Memorium lives again with “The Hellfire Demos II”

The Trials of August 5-12th

A Note from the Klown: Dudes and dudettes, who are incidentally still keeping up with this shit show, thank you for your patience. Although I can’t speak for Jenny Oh, the Klown has gotten through an employment change as of late and those parties aren’t gonna entertain themselves! However, due to the incentive of money this sack of fun forgot to hit “submit” to give you his two cents on the August 5 trials. So without further ado here are all the trials!

August 5^th Trials

Necromancing the Stone produces a Jewel not Vile

Necromancing the Stone has risen with a full length studio album Jewel of the Vile! Vocalist/rhythm guitarist of Arsis, James Malone joined forces with former The Black Dahlia Murder bassist Bart Williams and the ex drummer of The Absence Jeremie Kling to creating this power metal odyssey. Necromancing sprinkles elements of Black Dahlia and Arsis in this epic and melodic ride. Williams lays down great melodic and ghostly vocals that will haunt your ears in a good way. To cap this review off and give a better perspective, if you are a fan of Trivium and God Forbid it is an enjoyable album. Those who aren’t in to melodic thrash or metalcore, than this will not be worth your time.

5 out of 6 

Cover of Necromancing the Stone’s epic adventure “Jewel of The Vile”

Carnifex’s Slow Death will keep you living with latest!

Fellow San Diegans, Carnifex, have unleashed their sixth album titled Slow Death. Returning from their two year hiatus, this album has the makings for a revival instead of a death! The opening track “Dark Heart Ceremony” is a brilliant set up and hook for the album by reminding you that melodic can also contain other musical elements such as a piano. The track “Slow Death” features some of the cleanest vocals that Scott Lewis has ever sung. “Drown Me in Blood” conjures up elements of black metal tracks reminiscent to that of Dark Fortress or Dark Funeral. Simply put: this album is….. dare this Klown say…. A MASTERPIECE!

6 out of 6: THE KLOWN HAS SPOKEN!

Cover for local bad asses Canifex with “Slow Death”

Blues Pills have a golden sophomore release

If you ever wondered what tapping into the spirit of Janice Joplin would sound like, this is the band that would do it for you. Maybe the Joplin statement is a bit of a stretch but these psychedelic Swedes’ sophomore release Lady in Gold serves a good reminder: the spirit of rhythmic blues and psychedelic rock and their death was greatly exaggerated. Ellin Larsson’s vocal will hypnotize with her voice which is fueled by a gospel style chorus like in “Little Boy Preacher”. The track of the namesake album, “Lady In Gold”  is definitely a good hook to get you going and keep listening to this flower powered album. For those who are total suckers for ballads will rejoice with “I Felt A Change” for a ballad it is rather upbeat and very rhythmic.

4 out of 6

Bloody Hammers nail their fourth

The kings and queen of Transylvania County, North Carolina are back after a two year hiatus. Their latest, Lovely Sort of Death, produces a nice blend of doom and 90’s gothic sound which is perfectly displayed in “Light Come Alive”. Their current single, “The Reaper Comes,” gives you a reminder that they are primarily a doom metal band with psychedelic undertones. The tracks “Stoke The Fire” and “Astral Traveler” brew a perfect mix of rhythmic, doom and psychedelic elements providing an excellent blend of sounds. These two tracks are good anchors to get you completely hooked on this album.

6 out of 6

August 12

Metal Allegiance Will Definitely Unite Us

The highly anticipated EP album has finally come out and it does justice for our fallen metal gods. Troy Saunders of Mastodon does a great job tapping in to his inner Lemmy Kilmister for his take on “Iron Fist”. Mark Osegueda of Death Angel gives David Bowie’s “Suffragette City” an awesome thrash metal twist. Alyssa White-Gluz channeling her Glenn Frey, with a twist of her own, does a groove style version of The Eagles’ “Life in the Fast Lane” making it enough to leave one wondering what if The Eagles had gone metal under the groove banner? Fallen Heroes is exactly the homage that totally makes God and Satan unite together under a single banner of heavy metal.

 6 out of 6

Cover for the brutal tributes to the fallen metal gods.

Lacrimas Profundere give fans Hope

German gothic metal band, Lacrimas Profundere have returned after a three year hiatus and released their 11th full length album. Their current album Hope Is Here brings out a late 90’s nostalgia resembling the love metal gods HIM and industrial metal band Eisbrecher. The track “Aramis” is the embodiment of this gothic time capsule whereas “The Worship of Counting Down” shows a more modern sound to the gothic sound. “Pageant” is a pleasant surprise with a  new twist to this band’s motif and introduces a bit of blues. Rob Vitacca’s vocal will have you entranced, especially when paired with both Oliver Nikolas Schmid and Tony Bergers keyboards and guitar riffs. This current album is worth your time and shows no signs of the band slowing down.

5 out of 6