4 Bands diverge into extreme thoughts from different vestiges..

Rising- Sword and Scythe- CD/ Digital ( Indisciplinarian )

Wow this is album number four for this Majestic metal unit. The mix elements of Power, Thrash and Prog metal. Vocals are Clear , Melodic and Powerful. The Guitars and Bass are driving and make you want to move to the music. the Drumming is that of any good Prog metal drummer it accents and makes the ride all the more impressive. I'm still shocked that Rising are not bigger in the metal world and playing larger theaters and venues . At time they could stand with the bigger artist in heavy rock today the Foo Fighters, Ghosts, Slipknots and Alter Bridges of the world. The album art work plays right into the theme of the album as well. The songs on " Sword and Scythe" get stuck in your head and will not go away. Take a chance folks and check out one of the best Metal/ Heavy Rock albums of 2018 and take them to next level..

https://indisciplinarian.bandcamp.com/album/sword-and-scythe

Cult leader -A Patient Man-CD/ Digital ( Deathwish Inc)

When you hear a band and the hair stands on the back of you neck you know that got your attention.  With Cult Leader they have mixed some of my favorite styles . Death metal, Post Hardcore, Noise Rock and Post Punk. There are even some amazing Crusty moments on here. I hear bands like Rosetta, Isis, Kiss it goodbye, Integrity , Converge and Napalm Death in this full on assault on what metallic hardcore has become in 2018 . There are those Crusty punk moments that bring in the dark side from another level too. They cross the boundaries of  Metal, Hardcore, Punk and Grind. Into something that is just making me want to come back for more and more. yes this album is brutal there are some strong melodic and somber moments that really make you think as well. Avant Metallic Hardcore is what I feel sums up all of this best.

https://cultleadermusic.bandcamp.com/

Old Wounds- Glow- CD/ Digital ( Good Fight )

There are times when I think the term Metalcore is a dirty idea and is used when a band is just not sure what they want to create. With Old Wounds. I want to say Metalcore is a tag pride. as they are that a mix of Avant Metallic , Punk and Hardcore styles with twists and turns every corner. The vocalist Kevin Iavaroni back in the fold really make this impressive a fuck again. I hear elements of Eighteen Visions, Dillinger Escape plan and Beartooth in this band there are some very Shudder to think vocals and guitar moments as well. I really feel you could hear this band on labels like  Hydra Head, Discord or Deathwish inc as well. There is so much going on here from full on metallic noise to melodic emo rock to down right heavy alt rock leaning to post hardcore. Kevin can sing, scream, growl and shriek with the best of them its really is about the vocal and musical interplay that makes them so fresh and interesting. . Old Wounds is something you really need to hear. At time time I feel like Mike Patton had something to do with a band like this as its so twisted . If you like bands like Dog Fashion Disco you will love this as well. An amazing musical adventure awaits .

https://goodfightmusic.bandcamp.com/album/glow

Devouring Stars -The Arteries of Heresy-CD/ Digital/LP ( Dark Descent / Van Records )

Haunting, Cult driving  Post Black metal that is clearly a genre bender for sure. If you like other wordly over the top Black metal with overly effected vocals that sound like they are coming from a demonic doorway. Blistering and hypnotic guitars , rumbling bass and those drums of those drums that sound like a robot must be creating them.  Yes and then they going into the Blackguaze and Black noise realms as well. Devouring Star are one of those bands are forward thinking again and create a mood and ideal for the songs they are creating. This is clearly not an easy listen for the meanstream but this will be a major talking point for those that do hear  "Arteries of Heresy " in the underground.  They have fell love with bands like Mayhem, Deathspell omega, Horna and many of the Finnish Post Black metal forces out there.  I'm not sure what is going on with the artwork but it's as provoking and unsettling as the music this band creates.

https://darkdescentrecords.bandcamp.com/album/the-arteries-of-heresy