Review/Unboxing: The Metalhead Box - May

Welcome to a little bit different of a review or unboxing. I'm not sure what we should call this one, but regardless today we are checking out the May edition of The Metalhead Box, a box dedicated to bringing some cool and exclusive items to Metal fans monthly, so let's jump in and see what we can find.

THE SHIRT

Right on top as we open the box is a shirt with a logo I was unfamiliar with. The art, as well as the logo, clearly Black Metal had me very interested. Upon a little bit of research, we found the band is Vargrav, a Finnish Black Metal band who are beyond excellent. I'm definitely a big fan of the shirt, the art is excellent and the back print, “As Night Swallows The Night” with a pentagram is something I'm sad my longhair will cover.

THE CDS

Right underneath the shirt was a few CDs. First, right on top, was Mayhem’s 2009 Season of Mist release “Ordo ad Chao”. While I'm a fan of Mayhem and this is an album a lot of people talk about, I had yet to hear it so this was a really cool album to have in my collection. Next up was Drudkh’s “Autumn Aurora” which is a band I had been meaning to listen to for quite a while. The album cover is spectacular and upon a few listens, I have to say I'm a fan, very glad to have received this album. Third, was an album from a band called Reign of Vengeance which was a DOA Magazine release. I was unfamiliar with this band prior to receiving this box, always happy to check out new stuff though so this is an album that will definitely get a few spins over the next few days. Last, was a sampler from the label Relapse Records, known for having some high profile bands on their roster. Obituary, Iron Reagan, Exhumed and Gruesome just to name a few of the bands on the album, definitely a good way to find some great new bands you may not know.

THE CASSETTE

The second coolest part of this box and a The Metalhead Box exclusive item is a transparent red cassette copy of “Eonian”, the new album from Nuclear Blast Records alumni Dimmu Borgir. The album came out with very split reception, but love it or hate it, this is a very cool item to own!

THE MAGAZINE

Right under the CDs and cassette is a copy of DOA Magazine, a Death Metal magazine I'm unfamiliar with. Taking a quick flip through, there's a lot to offer in here including a ton of album reviews and interviews. This will definitely be a good read for anyone into getting other opinions on albums before (or even after) buying them.

THE SIGNATURE

So now it's time for the coolest part of this box, hidden under everything else and nestled in right under the magazine is a nice The Metalhead Box exclusive picture of Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing, complete with signature. Regardless of whether you're a fan primarily of Black Metal, Death Metal, Thrash Metal, Metalcore, Doom Metal, whatever you can decide, everyone knows Judas Priest. Any Metal fan can appreciate how cool of an item this is to receive and it's definitely a good way to close out the box.

Bloodbound "War of Dragons" Review

                Power Metal and dragons go together like peanut butter and jam and Bloodbound are showing this off to the fullest extent with their newest release “War of Dragons” released through AFM Records. Without a doubt, this is the definition of Power Metal, as “War of Dragon” takes you on a fantastic fantasy journey through time and space to show you the war of dragons.

                Kicking off with “Battle in the Sky” and “Tears of a Dragonheart” you get a very quick grasp of what this album with be like. Fast paced, impressive riffs, consistent and impressive musicianship with awe inspiring solos and of course, the majestic voice of Patrik Johansson. The opener “Battle in the Sky” is fairly straight forward, doesn’t toss you any curve balls and just kind of allows you to get use to what Bloodbound are here to do, take you on a journey and shred. Much like the track before it, “Tears of a Dragonheart” is much of the same, an introduction to the other part of Bloodbound. The side that instead of being straight of Power Metal, packs more of a punch, has more of a Speed Metal backing to it and the solo in this song shows it all, making the one in “Battle in the Sky” look like something a child would play.

                Instrumentally and vocally this album is impressive, beginning to end, it was unexpected to say the least. While Power Metal isn’t all that easy to find the exact bands that influenced them, there was one stand out song on that album that had a very Judas Priest vibe in the style it was written and the way it was done, specifically vocally. “King of Swords” is very reminiscent of “All Guns Blazing” off of Judas Priest’s album “Painkiller”, the vocals kick off with such sheer power that they almost sound harsh, like they’re about to belt out some crazy Death Metal vocals, before leading into something more similar to the rest of the album, while still maintaining Power and Speed.

                To round up everything stated above, this is a Power Metal album for anyone who’s a fan of Power Metal, the musicianship is incredible, the production is top notch and everything is mixed in so well that it doesn’t feel like anything is overpowering anything else, while still being able to hear every aspect of the album, which is where a lot of bands of every genre fail. If you’re a Power Metal fan, or you’re looking for a place to start, this is it. Bloodbound blew all expectations out of the water with “War of Dragons”.

100/100

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Six Feet Under "Graveyard Classics IV: The Number of the Priest" Review

                Six Feet Under mastermind Chris Barnes is at it again, following up 2015s “Crypt of the Devil” the band are back already with the fourth version of their “Graveyard Classics” this time, focusing solely on two bands; Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. That’s right, two of the most influential Metal bands, both known specifically for the range their vocalists have, are being covered by this Death Metal band. We are going to split this up into two parts, since the album in split up this way anyways, we will focus on the Priest section first then the Maiden section.

                To start off, side one is 5 classic Priest songs and although tuned a little lower, the instrumentals sound great. This side opens with “Night Crawler” off the bands fan favourite album “Painkiller” and right off the bat you can tell how this is going to go. With the slightly lowered instrumentals to match Barnes’ guttural voice, the vocals kick in and for a lot of people, the interest will shut off. Throughout each and every song, the most dynamic change in vocals you get is the change from the growls to the squeals and back again. I’ll give that the first few times, the squeals make me chuckle, but lose their glamour when you realise that these are songs that most metalheads love, falling apart right in front of you. “Genocide” from “Sad Wings of Destiny” is a lot of the same and outside of very minor actual singing shoved in the back and mixed in very low in “Invader” it’s practically all the same as well. It goes without saying that the Priest side is a bust.

                Spoiler alert, the Iron Maiden side doesn’t differ much and bothers me twice the amount. Again, while the instrumentals could be a redeeming factor, the practically monotone vocals absolutely destroy it. The best song on this side is probably the opening “Murders in the Rue Morgue” as Paul Di’Anno’s vocals aren’t quite as operatic and ever changing as Bruce Dickinson’s are. “Flash of the Blade” do show off the excellent musicianship of the rest of the band but is much in the same as the rest of the album, if you made it that far, you’re either hoping that something will change or you’re a sadist.

                Four installments is enough, it’s time to call it quits on the songs that should never be covered by a Death Metal band. Chris, just bury the idea and make a new series where you cover classic Death Metal songs, hell this is a different band, you could probably even get away with redoing “Hammer Smashed Face” if you really wanted. If you’re fucked up, or maybe you just really like Chris Barnes and never want to forget the good old days, then maybe you should pick this up. If you’re a sensible metalhead who doesn’t want to hear a fourth album of ruined classic Rock/Metal songs, I highly suggest you avoid this.

10/100

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