Royal Thunder
CVI
Relapse (2012)
Like many albums, I picked up Royal Thunder's CVI because I heard someone somewhere describe it as progressive metal. Like many of those albums, it turned out to have little to do with the genre. Unlike the majority of those albums, however, I wound up being impressed by this one anyway, and here's why:Royal Thunder may just be the last true rock band out there. Listening to this album is like taking a leap back through time to the emerging heavy metal movement of the early 1970s. They have a huge blues rock influence on their music, drawing their sound heavily from Led Zeppelin and early Rush. You can definitely hear it in the juxtaposition of incredibly slow and fast rock tempos, heavily versechorus writing, and dirty production. To add a bit of confusion into the mix, lead vocalist MLny Parsonz's pipes evoke more of a 1990s alt rock sound, focusing on melodic but nastily delivered leads, complete with borderline screaming and ferocious attacks. You can just hear her tongue sticking out as she sings some of the harder sections, though she also has her more mellow moments, especially on the lumbering “South of Somewhere”. Royal Thunder's own twist on … Read more
Troubled Coast
I've Been Thinking About Leaving You
Pure Noise (2012)
I'll say, Troubled Coast are turning into one of the most steadfast bands I've heard. Their music has been on … Read more
Bosse-de-Nage
iii
Profound Lore (2012)
Pushing the black metal blueprint ever further from its roots, San Franciscan four-piece Bosse-de-Nage deliver a record of complex intensity … Read more
Memphis May Fire
Challengers
Rise (2012)
Ever since their debut full length, Sleepwalking, Memphis May Fire have departed from the southern tinged metalcore they were known … Read more
