Rockstar Reviewer

Words by Anselm Anderson Previously, I reviewed a few upcoming bands from Rouen, France. Inner Light is the next in line for review, with a look at their debut EP titled "Inner Light." A female-fronted metalcore band combines harsh vocals with an energetic and melodic metal sound on their five-track release. This year has seen a slew of progressive new metal bands with a strong dynamic. Inner Light is no different with lead vocalist Marine leading the way with her unapologetic guttural vocals. The EP's opening track features a raw and emotional brand of metal, blending technical and melodic guitar work. On "Inside My Veins" " the music builds to a scintillating and sinister climax. The thick basslines provide a crunchy edge.  Photo Credit: Sushi Photo Lab The fractious "Monsters" is next with Marine's vocals reminiscent of an enraged individual, snapping over erratic percussion. There is a sense of urgency and seriousness in the music. The f...

Words by Anselm Anderson The highly-anticipated debut EP from rising alt-rockers, The Fires Below , called Masquerade, was released last Friday. The EP includes four tracks packed with energetic rock, featuring in-your-face punk stylings blended with groove-orientated stoner metal riffs. The Fires Below is ready to make a big impact on the rock world. Formed during the London lockdown, the band includes Smithy's towering vocals, Del's thunderous drumming, Sam's crunchy riffs, and Si's rumbling basslines. Photo Credit: Lorenzo Guerrieri The band draws influences from bands like Sepultura, QOTSA and Sex Pistols. They blend intensity with social topics such as consumerism, greed and corruption in twelve minutes of rousing rock and roll. The emotional vocals of Smithy blend with the dual guitars and basslines.  The Grunge-infused "Masquerade" is full of mesmerizing, groove-laden riffs that are both captivating and haunting. Next up is "Another Day" by t...

Review by Anselm Anderson Seattle-based Beltfed Weapon has just released Darkened Demise, their fourth EP, a couple of weeks ago. Formed in 1999 by guitarist/songwriter Frank Hetzel,  the true "Veterans" of the metal scene incorporate elements of speed, thrash and death metal.  I decided to write this review after I read the backstory for this album. The album is dedicated to the memory of vocalist and project founder Tim Aymar, following his untimely death in February.  Darkened Demise  gave the ex-Control Denied vocalist the opportunity to experiment with his vocals alongside some experienced musicians. Tim Aymar befriended Frank Hetzel on Facebook after the latter became a fan of the band. Hetzel emailed Aymar about a project he was working on and invited Aymar to write down some tracks. Beltfed Weapon, led by Hetzel, has released 3 EPS: Beltfed Weapon (2001), Peacekeeper (2009), and Raining Plague (2015). I recently came across the EP, Darkened Demise, w...

Review by Anselm Anderson The dark overlords of the rock world return with a six-track EP, ' Perdition'. King of The Dead  is a band I have covered over the years. They are described as a 'Mysterious force' clad in cloaks. This release has a 70's radio-friendly appeal mixed with punk and organs!. The album continues where 2021's The Summoning left off. The infectious ' The Surmon For The Cursed' starts things off with a call to arms over the shrill of the organs as mentioned earlier. The guitar-driven charms of 'The Hunt' is followed with sweet vocal melodies over a soaring riff reminiscent of pop punks acts like The Offspring and Alkaline Trio. Moreover, The vocal melodies certainly add to the attraction of King of The Dead and their penchant to tell stories that are personal and uplifting. The band create conceptual art that appeals to a certain audience. This can be heard in the anthemic 'Courage' with its pop sensibilities and punk ...