Podcast Interview: Hank Shermann

One of the founding fathers of black metal, Hank Shermann stops by for a chin wag.The boys are a bit starstruck as they chat it up with none other than guitarist Hank Shermann about his new project with fellow ex-Mercyful Fate guitarist Michael Denner. Listen in as the man with the metal plan waxes philosophic about the metal industry and where he sees his place in it.

Be sure to show the love if you're a fan of their music by buying Denner/Shermann's EP, Satan's Tomb, which is now available from motherfuckin' Metal Blade Records. HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: Mercyful Fate - Desecration of Souls; Denner/Sherman - Seven Skulls and War Witch

Hank Shermann Interview

VLY - I/(Time)

If the idea of a post-rock Transatlantic scratches your itch, VLY may just be the band for you.One of the best things about music is the fact that, being art, the rules aren't set in stone. Traditionally, people would meet each other through mutual friends, love of a certain location (e.g. music club or store) or what have you, and after getting to know one another decide to collaborate to make music.

But British-based guitarist Karl Demata began writing with New York singer/artist Keith Gladysz after a mutual friend hooked them up, sending files back and forth across the pond without the two ever having met. This led to keyboardist Elisa Montaldo giving things her 70s Italian style progressive stamp, which led to bassist Chris Heilmann, whose classic rock attitude drove the project foward into the hands of Swedish drummer Mattias Olsson who even added the odd analog noise. After a little polish, the result was the [oddly-named] debut of the band known as VLY, I/(Time).

The result is a pretty righteous combination of classic and progressive rock, with the satisfying melodic sensibility of pop (often contrasted against post-rock guitar's wall of soundtm) and accented with the soothing ambience of electronic music. It's one of those conceptual music styles that makes the most sense when you hear it. And you really should. Tracks like Headache have a wonderful Spock's Beard or Transatlantic feel to them - largely suggested by Keith's vocals - that I thoroughly dig. All in all, this is a great album that deserves a listen by all prog lovers.

The Bottom Line: Progressive rock lovers should take to this well, especially if you like a European flavor with a modern sensibility in your jams.

- Genghis is a sucker for good, mellow prog like this...

Eldritch - Underlying Issues

Italy's prog metal homeboys, Eldritch, are at it again with a fine example of the genre.It's getting to the point where if I hear that a new band is 1) Italian, 2) progressive metal, and 3) produced or mixed by Simone Mularoni, my liking them is a fait accompli. Case in point, the 10th studio album from Eldritch entitled Underlying Issues is steadily climbing up the list of contenders for our upcoming annual Kicks and Kisses List. I mean this is some great progressive metal from a band that's been around nearly a quarter of a century, bringing to bear the confidence and efficiency you'd expect to come from that experience.

My favorite thing about European progressive metal, especially the Italian variety, is the clever blending of power metal into the mix. That element of drama, held in check by prog metal's inherent sense of dynamics makes for a wonderful variation on what often ruins one of my favorite genres of metal: wankery. Too many progmetal bands focus on super intricate themes and interludes, apparently forgetting that music should be fun and - dare I say it - catchy. Eldritch gets this, as heard in Danger Zone's opening groove or in The Face I Wear's soaring chorus. From Eugene Simone's tasteful soloing (he also co-produced) to Terence Holler's temperate vocalizations, this is a solid album of proggy jams.

The Bottom Line: There's no shortage of progressive metal to be had in the world today, but some of the best of the genre relies on the restraint of experience to reign in the tendency to overdo and overplay a song. Eldritch has been around long enough to know what to avoid, which some may characterize as "playing it safe", but this implies a fear of the unknown. Veterans just know what they're doing.

- Genghis happens to like a little power metal mixed in with his progmetal...

Horisont - Odyssey

On top of everything else about Horisont's latest album, the cover art is friggin' magnificent, amirite?That Scandanavian retro rock revival sound shows no signs of stopping and I can't say I'm upset about it. Especially where it concerns bands like Horisont and their latest studio album, Odyssey. And there's a lot to appreciate from this quintet, with influences as varied and impressive as Deep Purple, Thin Lizzy, Yes, Judas Priest, and Black Sabbath. The amalgamation and presentation of this rock soup is pretty amazing I must say.

Billed as a concept album space saga by the band, Odyssey kicks off with a nearly 11-minute title track whose beginning sounds like a cross between Rush's Temples of Syrinx and Genesis' Turn It On Again. From then on it's classic riffs and tones from these guys like they stepped out of a Land Of The Lost pylon with their plush moustaches fully intact. I'm constantly amazed at these Northern European bands' ability to utterly capture a sound as wild as early 70's rock without sounding cheesy or cliché. This stuff sounds like it dropped out of a time warp and I love it. There's a very analog feel to everything, and the songs may not make a lot of sense, but it's more about the ambience at play here. Horisont conjures up a mood that's authentic and fresh despite it obvious inspiration.

The Bottom Line: This is some great 70s style jams with a progressive touch that knows where its roots lie but doesn't trade on nostalgia. It treats its audience like fellow time travellers who want to share a journey to a much groovier time in rock n' roll. To the Wayback Machine!

Tracks Greg Brady Would Totally Play For Chicks In His Own Bedroom: Odyssey, Light My Way, Back On The Streets, and Timmarna

- Genghis felt his moustache grow THREE sizes that day...

Podcast Interview: Jørn Viggo Lofstad

Say what you will, but my man Jørn Viggo Lofstad wears some sweet, black threads.The lads return with more interview showcases, this time hooking up with the guitarist of the awesome Pagan's Mind, Jørn Viggo Lofstad, who spills the beans on his career, the process of making the band's latest [amazing] double live CD, Full Circle - Live at Center Stage, and [vocalist] Nils Rue's obsession with the movie Stargate.

And if you're a fan of Pagan's Mind's brand of progressive metal, by al means support them by purchasing their latest album from Steamhammer Records. HORNS UP!

Featured Tracks: Pagan's Mind - God's Equation and Born Through Osiris Eyes

Jørn Viggo Lofstad Interview