The Miserable Metal Mind Podcast

Back in July we covered Sons of Liberty’s latest single Tertulia Time , from their excellent The Detail Is in the Devil album. Ahead of their forthcoming 10th anniversary UK tour, the Southwest band has released a special T he Details of the Devil EP to commemorate the milestone.  Containing recent singles and two unreleased tracks, this is a great taster to whet your appetite before the shows. Beginning with Time to Fly , this is all the evidence you need to grab a ticket if you can. It’s a rousing anthem that shows the quality of the band. It’s a ripping, powerful track which gets the blood flowing and the head nodding. It’s followed by the moody Turn the Tide, a song full of emotion and which connects with the band’s Southern Rock influences.  It's been a turbulent couple of years for frontman Russ Grimmett who made his debut on the album. He explains what Sons means to him. “Come the end of 2022, I was in a VERY dark place. Losing my hero suddenly (my dad) and going thro...

It’s something of a niche avenue to follow but Pisa’s Wind Rose demonstrate a longevity with their dwarven metal many bands would give much to emulate.  With their fifth album Trollslayer, the quintet continues their Tolkien themed power metal and despite the criticism aimed at them by the elitists, at the end of a couple of plays I was humming and singing along to their storytelling songs. Yes, it’s one song that’s made the band’s name, but there is plenty more than the novelty value of Diggy Diggy Hole , the song from 2019’s Wintersaga , which earned the band an astronomical number of hits on the internet.  The music is fast, as one would expect from anyone carrying the power metal banner, and joyously uplifting. Francesco Cavalieri leads with his vocals that race along, on songs which carve out more stories of the dwarves of Middle-Earth. From the opening instrumental Of Ice and Blood which sets the scene with a high level of drama, there’s little time to draw breath as...

It's a gloriously guitar intro that grabs your ear and begins to escort you down this power metal path. Once this uplifting beginning to the album ceases, we hit the speed of the track A Million Ways. It’s an expertly performed track, with fast-paced drums and high-pitched vocals.  This German band are made up of very talented musicians and is headed by the vocal skills of Stephan Dietrich. Their tunes are catchy, hooky, and modern. There are several sing-along moments that will doubtless provide joyful crowd participation moments in a live setting. Although this genre tends to rely on the trope of dungeons and dragons, Turbokill do not exploit this in anyway. Subjects such as breaking out from a mundane life, the loss of loved ones, and just enjoying yourself in life are all covered in the walls of this release.  They are all performed very skilfully with technical flare. Power metal is not my go-to genre, but I find myself enjoying the uplifting atmosphere provided in th...

Dark and evocative, The End is a new single by a man who I’m most used to seeing throwing shapes and churning out heavy metal riffage. Chris Charles is known to many for his work with Godsized and Blind River, but maybe less so for his work as CC and The Devil’s Pick.  Having released a couple of tracks in 2023, which you can find on most streaming platforms, he’s now released the latest track, The End . A dark, brooding piece with some beautiful slide work, this is a melancholic and captivating song that sees his deep resonating vocals complemented by the atmospheric music that wouldn’t be out of place in a movie score. Think a Moody Western, Sons of Anarchy, or a disturbing gothic horror and you’ll get a feeling for where the man is going. It's a track that is both instant and a grower in terms of style. Whilst his musical ability is without challenge (check out the man’s resume), his vocals are something of a surprise. They are never forced, and present organically and natural. ...

I think one of the best things about doing these reviews is listened to bands that I haven't heard in ages, or ones I didn't know about. Bewitcher are one of the latter.  Formed in Portland, Oregon in 2013 by frontman/guitarist M von Bewitcher, and bass player A Magus (I'm going to hazard a guess at these being stage names/pseudonyms; I could be wrong) Spell Shock is their fourth full length album, following on from 2021's Cursed be thy Kingdom , 2019's Under the Witching Cross and, self-titled 2016 debut Bewitcher . They are joined this time by A. Hunter on drums, for their foray into hedonism, witchcraft, and, of course, evil.  It's an effects ridden intro, like a storm brewing, which then launches into a fast-paced beat with the snare drum hammering, and NWOBHM riff ripping through, as Starfire Maelstrom kicks us off, with a soaring solo gives way to Fenriz like vocal. Riffs change but keep the same vein, until a slower groove in the middle akin to The Fo...

After spending a whopping £132 million on the renovation and refurbishment of the venue, many thought it was very brave of the Bristol Music Trust to allow death metal legends Cannibal Corpse to perform in the venue. Their shows have a reputation of being chaos and carnage, but thankfully with a generally well-behaved crowd, the venue hosted an absolutely stacked evening of death and thrash metal.  Opening the show were Belgian death thrashers Schizophrenia . Taking the best parts of death metal and thrash metal and combining them together in a rifftastic killing machine, they recall bands from the late 80’s and early 90’s such as Sadus, Massacre, Solstice and Pestilence. With a stage time of 18:30 the room wasn’t heaving but it was respectfully full, and Schizophrenia unleashed a 30-minute barrage of death thrashing goodness with material taken from their 2022 album Recollections of The Insane and their two EPs. The biggest response came from their cover of Necrophiliac by the ...

This is the 10th full length studio release from the Michigan death metal outfit and the first since the untimely passing of co-founder, songwriter and vocalist, Trevor Strnad in 2022. His founding partner and the now only constant member, Brian Eschbach has taken over frontman duties, with former member Ryan Knight (2009-2016) stepping back into the fold and replacing him on rhythm guitar. The current line-up is completed by lead guitarist Brandon Ellis, who joined in 2016, and a rhythm section of Alan Cassidy on the drums and bassist, Max Lavelle, both of whom have been with the band for 12 years.  I must admit having only previously dipped into back catalogue briefly, and they have never been my go-to death metal act; now I'm wondering why.  The sound of the sea lapping the shore, does not prepare you for the tsunami onslaught to come. Eschbach launches into a raspy scream and a barrage of guitars hit you after the subtle start of opener, Evening Ephemeral . There is a like...

Hailing from London, this four piece thrash band first came to my attention at the Moshin' The Roof On festival in Derby earlier this year, where they played a blistering gig of pure thrash metal; one of the most memorable sets of the day. Their current line-up comprises Daniel Lucas on guitar and vocals, Jack Saunders on second guitar, Zaq Razaq on drums and Raimond Dobelis on bass. The band formed in 2016 and released their first album We Are Revolution in 2020, to great reviews and acclaim. Their second album Inside the Sickened Mind is a definite move forwards in the field of thrash metal, with a more polished sound and a established sound of their own.  The opener Final Act of Aggression prepares the listener that this is going to be a blistering album with a classic, jagged guitar and drum intro leading into the full band and almost spoken vocals. I y view this would not be out of place on any East Coast or early British thrash albums. The band have managed to create a fe...

This is the fifth album by the Danes since their debut in 2015, Ride the Wilderness .  Demon Head are a new band to me, and I was instantly impressed with the opening song The Chalice , which has quite a gothic feel to it. Down With the Sky follows, and Marcus Ferreira Larsen's distinctive vocals are clearly a strong part of their sound. The track is well delivered and very haunting.  Our Wicked Mother is next and must be strong contender for the next video or single. It continues with the gothic overtones but possesses a slower, more dramatic feel. Every Flat Worm was the first sampler released and I can hear Type O Negative influences with the vocal duet with Birk Gjerlufsen Nielsen alongside the piano adding to the atmosphere. The piano intro on Wildfire Main has a definite B movie horror feel through the start and would easily fit into a film. Deeper Blades is enhanced by female vocals, complementing Marcus in a slower more brooding feel, gently building up the pace ...

It was a few years ago when I was recommended to see Ill Nino at Bloodstock. I am that I went along and witnessed the Latin metalheads at full throttle.  Tonight, I get to see the band on their 25th anniversary tour. The lead singer is not with the band and is replaced by Bad Wolves / Five Finger Death Punch member Tommy Vext. The sound of Santana’s Maria Maria blasts out whilst the band hits the stage, to be swiftly replaced by the brutal opening bars of If You Still Hate Me .  The rhythms of drummer Dave Chavarri and percussion of Daniel Coute give the band their unique sound. Guitarists Jes De Hoyos and Sal Dominguez provide the metal edge, whilst Lazaro Pinas bass fills in the gaps. Vext bounces around the stage; he is a colossal unit of a man and for me gives the hardcore punk element to the band which I really like. This comes across on harder songs like I am Loco and This Is War . His vocals are still tuneful enough to cope with the lighter EMO style songs, like singl...

A midweek 'school night' gig, and my first at this intimate 250 capacity venue, for Satan's Songs in Crimson album tour. I arrived at around 7.15pm, 15 minutes before the first band was due to start and the small crowd of roughly 100 was steeped in anticipation.  Support in the form of London power-trio, Parish, who stood in on this date of the tour for Seven Sister who had to pull out. The lights dimmed, a burst of feedback exuded from the cabinets, and they started their seven-song 30-minute set. I didn't know what to expect from them, but what ensued was a slab of classic 70s hard rock/heavy metal with a hint of doom in the vein of Black Sabbath, and a sound that was bigger than three members, bassist Tony Hughes, drummer Joe Bulmer and James Paulley, frontman and guitar. There was a great interplay between the guitar and bass from the beginning of the first track, Apothecary , and the rhythm section drove the songs, as you would expect in a three-piece outfit. There...

“We’ve been coming here for 12 years” states frontman of Blackberry Smoke. “Our first show was at the Camden Barfly. Any of you there?” he asks. It’s a Sepultura at the Marquee moment as hundreds of obviously lying fans shout “yes”. Such is the popularity of the Georgian outfit that they are now selling out the venue I will always call the Hammersmith Odeon.  They’ve been through some adversity in 2024, but the band, bolstered by latest album Be Right Here , are in fine form for their final UK show of a short five-date visit to the UK, part of a bigger European and US tour that doesn’t finish until the end of the year. Tonight is the first time some have seen the Smoke, but for me it’s the sixth or seventh, and in the biggest venue so far.  Unsurprisingly, this is a band who as comfortable playing in as iconic venue as this as they are on the back of a flatbed Ford in their own back yard. They simply ooze quality, making the complex look simple, and delivering a two-hour 21 so...

I've never been to a Frat party, but I've seen enough movies like American Pie and I know What you did last Summer in the late 80s and early noughties to understand what goes on. Enter the house with Greek letters across the top, drinking from a kegger, turning the front room into dance floor and having a party playlist that spans youth culture at the time. You can throw away the playlist for this particular frat party because Dog Eat Dog’s lost album Walk with Me comprises all the subcultures that would interest all the participants of a late 90s and early noughties Frat party.  Everything gets covered here from pop punk, hardcore, ska, punk, reggae, hip-hop and new metal. And all this coming for a band that already had huge amount of air miles underneath them with touring Europe and America excessively…. surely, you're on to a winner?? The album does demonstrate a maturity in song writing in many of the songs with a smoother and less abrasive production job then their o...