Rambling Man's Reviews

  Words by Anselm Anderson Genus Ordinis Dei, the Italian black metal band, has just released "Three Kings," the latest single from their recent album "The Beginning," which came out in December via Eclipse Records . The track combines the grandeur of symphonic metal with the intensity of black metal to create an exhilarating new song for the band. The trio of musical academics formed in 2011 after graduating from Italy's top music academies. They aimed to blend modern metal with symphonies to create a cutting-edge sound.  They had their first experience of this when they met Lacuna Coil bassist M arco Coti Zelati on tour, who agreed to produce their debut album.  The band released a trilogy of albums as a concept to define their sound, culminating in last year's release, "The Beginning." "Three Kings" showcases magnificent string arrangements, strong rasping vocals, and poetic lyrics. The song opens with a cinematic collision of bomb...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Atmospheric  Black metal traces its roots in the Nordic region during the nineties with acts like Burzum and Ulver . The genre has really taken off in the past twenty years with the addition of several sub-genres and outside influences such as folk and post-rock. However, British newcomers Aklash aim to challenge that statement with their newest EP  Reincarnation. The quartet formed in 2010 in southern England but their fanbase has grown in that time with notable live performances and the release of their previous three efforts: 2013's self-titled album, 2018 's Where The Ocean Meets The Sky,  and 2021's Horizon. Reincarnation is eight tracks of wonder and awe, as the band capture the influences of their European roots. The inclusion of folk, metal, goth, and prog-rock styles helps to convey the lyrics of philosophy, theology, and anamorphosis to the listener. The band consists of Nicholas Millar (Guitar, Violin and Main Vocals), Yiannis...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Sweden's Female fronted blues rock band Ebba Begkvist and TheFlat Tire Band recently released their second studio album Four Wings  via the excellent The Sign Records.  I have written some reviews for the label in the past and they usually produce some superb music from Sweden. 'Four Wings' is no exception as it is an album really about two halves; the first is 70's induced heavy blues rock, and the second is psychedelic and soulful melodies. The follow-up to 2020's Spilt Milk was produced and recorded by Ebba herself at  Silence Studio in Koppom as well as Helgen Studio, in Stockholm. As a producer, this allows her to add depth and emotion to each track. Formed in 2017 as a solo project, Ebba Bergkvist later added bassist Björn Björnehult Korning, drummer Adam Randolph and Finnish guitarist Jonas Skeppar to form the band it is today. Ebba gained critical acclaim after the release of her debut album, "Alright," in 2019, and wen...

  WORDS BY ANSELM ANDERSON Prog Metal band Questing Beast hails from New England, USA. They recently released the first in a trilogy of records entitled Birth. T he Ten Tracker is a concept album based on the World's End, a scornful god and an interdimensional system. The lyrical content and subsequent music would have impressed many fantasy novelists like George R.R Martin, Frank Herbert and J.R.R Tolkien. Formed in 2019, the quintet of vocalist Joe Harris, guitarists, Joe's sister Jane and Shane Malouf- Pieterse, drummer Christian Kincaid and Warbringer bassist Chase Bryant on bass has spent the past three years writing, recording and mastering their modern-day masterpiece: a mixture of heavy metal, deathly growls, jazz passages and elements of opera. 'Birth' was produced by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios in Allston, MA. Each track Is brought to life in a unique and bombastic fashion, enlightening and frightening us. The doom-stricken riffs of 'A Comet's T...

WORDS BY ANSELM ANDERSON Country singer/songwriter Lauren Freebird  has recently released a new single “Either Way." She continues to be a strong female role model in the rock and country music scene, with her latest track about dealing with heartbreak following a relationship. 'Either Way' showcases Lauren's powerful vocals and slick guitar lines, making her a star to watch. The track captivates the audience with the lively electric guitar and the resounding tom-tom beats throughout the song. Lauren then enters the fray with her powerful, commanding voice as she reflects on the anger felt at the end of her relationship  “ So I tore the pictures off the damn wall / and get lost in a couple glasses of alcohol. ”  Freebird continues to educate the listeners through her soulful voice and relatable lyrics. Her tone soon changes on the turnaround of the track as she says“ I’ve learned to love myself now / And that has filled your place / And mama said this wound would...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Singer/songwriter Thadeus Gonzalez recently released his fourth album Street Fights Are Starting to Hurt. The artist is a critically acclaimed genre-defying artist with an album about the human complexities and emotional conflicts experienced through life. Gonzalez hails from Oakland, California in The States, and has built his reputation on his subject matters, emotional songwriting and exploration of several genres such as folk, punk, blues and soul. 'Street Fights..' is another album that examines these genres through poignancy and raw emotion. Precision and dynamism bring each track to life to create a touching release of ten pop-tinged, rock tracks. All tracks are recorded, engineered, produced and mastered by Kyle Homme.   Tim Narducci  offers additional production values to the album. The anthemic "Street Fights" kicks off the release with its upbeat riffs, catchy chorus, and a blend of pop sensibilities and soft rock. This song sets...

  Words by Anselm Anderson Rambling Man's Reviews returns this week with another promising band from London, England. The Fires Below i s a band featured on these pages last year when their debut EP, Masquerade, was reviewed .  I remember describing how they would make a big impact with their grunge and punk style. Nine months later, the trio returns with "Thorns," their latest five-track release, showcasing more intensity, grooves, and metal than their previous work. The Fires Below formed two years ago during the pandemic lockdown. The trio consists of vocalist Smithy, bassist Si and drummer Sam. They have raised their expectations for this release by incorporating more variety into the tracks. They combine desert rock, alt-metal, punk, and stoner to create a hard-hitting and cutthroat style of metal, which strikes the listener through the ears. Lead singer Smithy confessed that the trio found their identity through their energetic live performances, helping the band g...

  Words by Anselm Anderson The Rambling Man continues the coverage of excellent upcoming bands from Britain. Today I look at 'Elysium', the new EP from Heavyweights Enquire Within. The Londoners arrive with the follow-up to 2021's LP Rebirth.  I admit that I have yet to hear their previous works but was enticed by the names of their influences. The band combines the guttural screams of Lamb of God with the melodic tenacity of Machine Head and the lyrical wisdom of Trivium to unleash a hell-raising slab of breakneck metal on this seven-tracker. The band was formed in 2016 by school friends lead guitarist Dan Lewin and drummer Henry Waller. The latter's brother, Jacob, soon joined them on vocals and released 2020's debut Bloodlines and 2021's Rebirth. Enquire Within may sound like a job advertisement but they have gone all out on this release. They blend all the deft riffs of those bands mentioned above with the aggression of bands like Kreator to produce a cutt...

WORDS BY ANSELM  Upcoming British Rockers The Black Vultures return with a follow-up song to last year’s “Treat Me Like An Animal”. I remember being fond of the track so was excited to receive this. “Never Say” is released this Friday, February 2nd and is a more blues-infused addition to the heavier first track. If you are unaware of The Black Vultures, please let me indulge you. Hailing from the Welsh Valleys, they are described as “an energetic four-piece”. The band had a great 2023 with the release of the popular “Treat Me Like An Animal” achieving critical acclaim and extensive airplay. ( You can find the review below). They aim to grow their fanbase with more gigs across Wales and the UK. They play guitar-driven rock with a blues influence and their songs focus on personal encounters and emotions. “Never Say” is no exception to this rule—the track centres around the topic of ending a relationship on amicable turns. The track’s silky blues riff and well-timed rhythms remind m...