XIII Doors have dropped their second single and quite literally Unleashed The Beast!

Their previous single Lead The Way which I’ll also link below was excellent, and this is no different. These lads just know how to write really good songs. There’s all the riffs, leads and all that good stuff, but they really have great melody and write absolute earworms.

Their debut album is due next year and it’s sure to be an Irish album of the year contender on the strength of these two tracks. Bit of a spoiler here, but they’ll be on my singles list for this year. It’s superb stuff and I’m excited to see what comes next.

Previously released single/video Lead The Way.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/XIIIDOORS

Asylum Road are a 4-piece metal outfit from the Northwest of Ireland

Asylum Road blends influences from groove, metalcore, NWOAHM and deathcore to create their unique brand of hard-hitting Irish metal.

Asylum Roads Debut Single “The Fear” is the first single from the inaugural EP scheduled for release in early 2024 via Earache digital distribution.

Asylum Road’s founding member Dylan Kelly started work on the project in 2019, writing and recording all the band’s early material along with Darryn McCartney. In 2023 the line-up was solidified with the addition of Brian Smyth on bass and Eithan Murray on Drums. The band began work on writing and recording their debut release, ahead of its 2024 release.

Asylum Road plan to tour extensively across Ireland and beyond in 2024 in support of their EP with dates in Derry, Belfast and Dublin on the cards with more to be announced.

The lads dropped a few demo’s earlier this year to help get their name out, but this is a big step up. Darryn and Brian were members of now legendary Derry based band Hybris, and it’s great to see them back at it.

There’s loads of groove on offer here and it’s a proper catchy track that just gets the head going spontaneously. A really solid first offering from the lads and I look forward to what comes next. One to watch in 2024!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/asylumroadband

Uragh are a relatively new band that became known by competing in the Dublin based Metal Too The Masses this year. They done well and reached the final with word spreading about this excellent new band in the process.

They released their debut single Decimate a few months ago and it was apparent that these lads were onto something. What has come now has only backed up that belief and we are witnessing something truly special before our eyes/ears.

They released this statement yesterday.

ALBUM ANNOUNCEMENT
Our upcoming single “Monarch” marks the first release from our debut album “Maelstrom“. Just a few months ago, we would never have dreamt about making an entire album, but somehow we got there, and we are more than proud of what we have achieved. Irrespective of how many people hear it or like it – to us it means the world; our own humble little bit of artistic immortality. It’s a work of passion and determination, and if it means just a little bit to a few of you out there, we couldn’t be happier.

“Maelstrom“ will be a digital only release for now and is due in the first half of next year – more information about the album within the coming weeks.
Love,
Uragh 

If this track is anything to go by, we’ve got a definite album of the year contender! The new single Monarch is one of the best tracks released by an Irish project this year, full stop! It’s incredible! Check it out below and follow them.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uraghband

Aborted Earth have released their latest track Dead Behind The Eyes, which is taken from their forthcoming EP Denouement that drops next Friday.

This will also be the final release to include their longtime guitarist and writer Shannon Bowman who shall be focusing on his studio Xeropulse Media going forward and will be the bands producer. On the flip, this will be the first time the band have used a proper drummer and not a program in the form of Dan O’Connor (Also of Crossfire) with an announcement on a new guitarist on the way, so things are still in a positive place despite the loss of a forming member.

This band have had many different sounds over the years. Grindcore, Industrial and more. In the past their releases could go anyway, which always kept them interesting as they experimented with their sound. With their next release Denouement they have taken bits of all their releases over the years and formed them to possibly find their overall sound? You can never tell with this band, but this is their best work to date in my opinion.

The EP consists to six tracks and all are top quality. The second track has a real Carcass feel to it as one example and it’s a dark listen that won’t be for everyone. It works for me though as I imagine it will with many others that have enjoyed this bands output over the years.

This is one of the better Irish EP’s this year and will no doubt make my top 10 list next month? We’ve had curveballs coming from every angle recently, but this is a great release and will likely make the cut.

9/10

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AbortedEarth

Bandcamp: https://abortedearth.bandcamp.com/track/dead-behind-the-eyes-single?fbclid=IwAR1XSbyTeoBRf3cEA665BW7s5EDAc_ObVe18c3sj_5gQapqrbuChGqDoLtA

Thrash metal titans Crossfire is set to strike hard with their latest sonic onslaught, “Turned to Stone.” This single is the second ferocious track from their upcoming album, “Switch To Reset,” slated to drop like a metal meteor on December 15, 2023, via Wormholedeath record label.

“Turned To Stone was an opportunity for us to tap into some of our traditional heavy metal influences, while still injecting a healthy dose of speed and thrash!
Inspired by the Greek tragedy of Medusa, it also showcases us experimenting with some vocal harmonies and choruses that we’re sure people will enjoy singing along to.
It’s definitely different for us, but we loved it too much to not release it – we hope that everybody else loves it just as much!”

This is certainly looking like a late Irish album of the year contender. The lads have worked hard on this and have their craft down. I’ll post both released tracks as of now so you have a better idea of what’s to come.

www.instagram.com/crossfire_ireland
www.youtube.com/@crossfire5860
www.facebook.com/Crossfirebandthrash
crossfirethrash.bandcamp.com
linktr.ee/crossfirethrash
Spotify: tinyurl.com/SpotifyCrossfire

Art taps into the metaphysical and the archetypes of our existence – it lets us experience loss, death, love – it prepares us for all of those things in some way. That’s the value, that’s the perspective I wish to create from.” – Ihsahn 

Ihsahn has announced the release of his new album on 16th February 2024 via Candlelight Records. The Norwegian progressive metal visionary has dared to push the realms of creative expressionism even further with his eighth studio offering. The release will embody two melodically interlinked versions of the same album: one prog metal, one fully symphonic, both creating a cinematically-influenced masterpiece that is simply, definitively entitled Ihsahn.

Ahead of the release date, Ihsahn has shared the frenetic first single ‘Pilgrimage To Oblivion’ with accompanying video filmed by Shaun Hodson at Loki Films. For the orchestral version of the track, a visualiser by Costin Chioreanu has been created. 

Commenting on the new single, “‘Pilgrimage to Oblivion’ serves as a rather immediate introduction to the overarching musical and conceptual aspects of the album. The lyrics go directly into the storyline and the video is the first in a sequel of videos portraying the whole story.”

Whilst his musical journey has been frequently revelatory, the masterful control of rhythm and movement displayed throughout Ihsahn shows his work as a songwriter and composer at its most focused and self assured. A gargantuan endeavour and one that Ihsahn professes to be one of the most complex projects he has ever undertaken, is a labyrinthine rabbit-hole of his own design; the scale of ambition immediately apparent. Wholly self-produced and scored over the course of three years, the metal version has been mixed by Jens Bogren, the orchestral version mixed by Joel Dollié and both versions were mastered by Tony Lindgren. Ihsahn freely admits that the process pushed him to his limits. It began, simply, with a piano.

Comments Ihsahn, “On average, I´ve been releasing a full-length album every second year since I was 16. And, you know, that has given me some opportunity to explore different options, so for my eighth full-length solo record, I thought, ‘okay, how can I do what I do best, but also raise the bar tenfold? At the heart of what I do is black metal, extreme distorted guitars and screaming, but since the earliest Emperor recordings you’ll hear the keyboard parts influenced by classic soundtracks by the likes of Jerry Goldsmith, John Williams, Bernard Herrmann, John Carpenter and so on. So, I approached the writing with the intent to present the material in its full-blown metal expression, but also to arrange the orchestral parts in such a way that they would work independently. Somehow an attempt to write a soundtrack within the structures of the full production, allowing me to explore different, and sometimes contrasting, variations of essentially the same music. In the end I wrote all the music as a piano short-score and arranged it for a typical band ensemble and orchestra, accordingly, making sure everything interlocked.”

It’s that compositional core that allowed Ihsahn to build the two records from the ground up – a Herculean feat for the self-professed, self-taught musician, but it is perhaps that very absence of formal training that allowed him to throw out the rulebook and simply follow his instincts, and the time afforded by the pandemic created the natural gap required to so heavily invest himself in the project. As Ihsahn explains, that self-induced pressure came from a desire to keep his loyal fanbase and himself interested, which is not only the defining feature of his latest record, but it’s also the central characteristic of his entire solo career. 

“To create something worthwhile, you can’t aim for what an audience might expect, but you can aim to make something the best that it can be. When given the opportunity to make a record, it’d be arrogant to assume it’d be another Dark Side Of The Moon, or OK Computer, or Black Album, but somehow it’d be arrogant not to try!?! Admittedly, this is the hardest and most complex musical project I have ever done, and in the end, on a personal level, also the most gratifying. I really had to step up, and I learned so much in the process.”

And from the orchestral grandiosity of opening track ‘Cervus Venator’ – whichever side of Ihsahn you choose to sit down with first – the epic, soundtrack qualities and richly hewn textures of Ihsahn are immediately apparent. It is a masterwork by any standard, and the definitive expression of Ihsahn’s boundless capabilities as an artist. It’s a journey he’s eager for his dedicated fans to connect with.

Joining Ihsahn on this album are Tobias Ørnes Andersen and Tobias Solbakk on drums and percussion, with Ihsahn’s son Angell Solberg Tveitan adding additional percussion and violins by Chris Baum. Artwork for the album was created by Ritxi Ostariz with all promotional photography by Andy Ford. 

Not satisfied to only create a dual-record, there is also a conceptual story which underpins both sides of Ihsahn – a pair of separate but interwoven Wagnerian narratives revolving around the traditional hero’s journey, and while Ihsahn is reticent to tell all, he is confident that meaning will soon emerge for listeners willing to show equal commitment.  

“I’ve been honoured to work with some astounding visual artists on this, who were all given access to my scrapbooks, music, lyrics, stories, mood boards etc. It’s been amazing to see how they’ve all interpreted the material differently, but still in a way that binds everything together.

“It’s a privilege that I get to make music and travel the world to play my music. And when I say this is subjectively my greatest musical achievement so far, it has nothing to do with ego or prestige, but rather to do with gratitude for the experience. Art taps into the metaphysical and the archetypes of our existence- it lets us experience loss, death, love – it prepares us for all of those things in some way. That’s the value, that’s the perspective I wish to create from.”

IHSAHN online:

Ihsahn Official Website || Facebook | Instagram || Twitter | Candlelight

With a roar of heavy metal thunder that shakes the bones he comes, cloaked in dust and power. Riding from the broken lands with the devil at his back, from the desolate nuclear wilderness where the only life is twisted, in body and in soul. He is the death bringer, a bounty hunter, a true rebel without a cause. He salutes no flag and bows for no overlord, calls nowhere home but the empty spaces and the roads in between. Harder, faster, louder…forever living free.

Exploding out of the fertile Irish metal scene come Settler; a brash and brilliant barrage of gut punching riffs and thunderous drums. Smashing through the walls of darkness that cast long shadows over so much underground music, grinding introspection and doom laden obsessions beneath their wheels of steel, they reach back to the vibrancy and bombast that once characterised heavy metal. With their debut, self-titled EP the band have delivered an unequivocal statement of intent – they’re here to make you bang your goddamn head and have one hell of a good time.

Cast iron riffs are entwined in gleaming melodies, the rhythm section lay down locked in bass depth charges and canon fire beats while wild, over the top vocals spin beguiling stories – no monotonous grunting and growling here as frontman Paul explores every facet of his voice to give an electrifying, energy charged performance. Sparkling solos provide the finishing touch as they scythe through the heart of each song, bringing to mind Metallica’s Kirk Hammett in his prime. Everything you could want in a steel clad, rock solid metal release is here, to glorious excess. Open your ears and let Settler remind you what real heavy metal is all about!

While Settler are a new entity, each member of the band has served time with the likes of Three Hour Ceasefire, Shardborne, Trenchknife, Dark Matter and The Swarm. They bring all that experience to bear on this EP, giving an incredibly accomplished, confident aura to expertly constructed songs like ’Captor Logic’. This is undoubtedly the start of an incredible heavy metal adventure, so reach for that denim and leather and climb aboard. Be there at the birth of a legend.

Well, this is definitely an Irish EP of the year contender! For the style of music they’re aiming for, they have absolutely nailed it! I’ve listened to this EP a few times now, and it’s a real grower too. Great riffs and just solid old school heavy metal!

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SettlerMetal
Bandcamp: https://settlermetal.bandcamp.com/album/settler

Scáth na Déithe – ‘Virulent Providence’
(Vendetta records – 2023)

Irish Black Metal solo project Scáth na Déithe has returned with a new full length opus entitled ‘Virulent Providence’, and released by Vendetta records on LP, CD and cassette that comes fabulously adorned by the wonderful artwork of Luciana Nedelea. Featuring just two lengthy tracks, the album gets underway with the furious machinations of ‘Virulent Providence Part 1’, (Can you guess what track two is called?) which combines seering vocals, oppressive guitar leads with a deeply cavernous, dark sound, and a cacophony of pummelling drumming that all come together in a surging, rampaging smorgasbord of violence, darkness and menace; interspersed with passages of swirling, calming yet ominous Dark Ambient sounds. With such an intense style as this, the vocals have to be just right, and the brooding, scathing tone set by Cathal Hughes sets the tone perfectly in matching this album’s maelstrom of malevolent sound.

Though sporting very much the same style as the opening track, ‘Part II’ increases the intensity and menace with slow, drawling style that creeps and lurks forward at its own interminable pace. It then rises slowly and steadily to a crescendo that doesn’t quite fulfil the explosive raw power I was expecting. That said, ‘Virulent Providence’ is an impressive display of harrowing soundscapes that many will enjoy.

(7/10 – Marksson)

https://scathnadeithe.bandcamp.com/album/virulent-providence
https://www.facebook.com/scathnadeithe

Cell Games have released their new single/video Here’s To Your Bones. My formal introduction to this band outside live clips. I’m impressed. Very impressed actually!

I can’t quite put my finger on what this track reminds me of. Is it a Ministry/White Zombie vibe? Maybe! There’s a strong 90’s sound present and it’s right up my alley.

I’m very interested to see where they go after this and will be keeping a eye on them going forward. They’re definitely doing something different in regards to the Irish scene and I’m fully onboard on the strength of this track.

One to watch!

Follow them: https://www.facebook.com/CellGamesBand

Raum Kingdom are set to release their new album Monarch tomorrow aka January 27th.

It’s in basic terms a perfect mix of post rock/metal/sludge/doom. That’s done to absolute perfection. It’s heavy, mood driven with all the best aspects of my description and more. Dave’s haunting vocals are incredible, with Greg’s backing vocals they have a real dynamic with their sound. The musicianship is top drawer and it’s a real body of work. A work of art basically!

I was a fan of their previous album Everything & Nothing, but this is a step up! It’s going to be in many album of the year conversations for absolute sure come the years end such is the quality of this release.

There’s quite the story around this album, to unfortunately include the passing of their previous Bass player Ronan ‘Bones’ Connor when the album was 90% completed. R.I.P.

They have carried on, and brought in Niall (Greg) Gregory also of Okus on Bass/Backing vocals to bring their vision to fruition. A fitting tribute to their friend as this is such an amazing album.

In closing, this will be in my end of year list without question. It’s an amazing album that only gets better with repeat listens.

10/10

Follow them: https://www.facebook.com/Raum.Kingdom.ie

This was their lead single Red Admiral. It gives an example of what to expect tomorrow. Which you can order at this link: https://raumkingdom.bandcamp.com/album/monarch