WENCHES - Stupid Sick (Album Review)

Release Date: July 11th 2025. Record Label: Various. Formats: Cassette/CD/DD/Vinyl

STUPID SICK - Tracklisting

1.Haulin' Ass Fault 04:08

2.Buzzkiller 03:25 

3.Boneless 03:55

4.When I Died 04:20

5.Kick It Down (feat. Chad Price) 03:16

6.Throw Me to the Wolves 03:04

7.Dearly Departed 04:27

8.Like Lightnin' (feat. Jonathon Newby) 04:48

Members

Jarod (guitar), James (vocals), Mike (bass), and Brad (drums)

Review

Post-Punk/Heavy Metal troublemakers WENCHES return with their second album Stupid Sick and it’s a whole load of rebellious fun with the band being influenced by the likes of MC5, MOTORHEAD, The Stooges and even Classic Hard Rock icons such as The Who and The Rolling Stones. The record is quite in your face with its turbo-charged Punk Rock sounds but really comes alive when WENCHES transform into HEAVY METAL riff maestros with a subtle Post-Punk energy holding everything together.

There’s no Progressive or Complex rhythms around on Stupid Sick as WENCHES are a first rate RAWK & ROLL band in every sense of the word. The songs are catchy and absolutely full with Streetwise attitude with Jamie’s vocals combining Garage Rock grit and the flamboyant attitude of Heavy Metal especially within the excellent batch of opening tracks of Haulin’ Ass Fault, Buzzkiller and Boneless. There’s a great style of NWOBHM themes merging with the classic Detroit Rock City scene on the sublime second track of Buzzkiller. 

It’s so refreshing to hear a band that just wants to rock out and get straight down to business in good old fashioned Rock and Metal music. There’s a ton of great instrumental solos performed by everyone within the band and when the Speed Metal attitude appears, WENCHES become a drastically different band where they have an air of excitement and danger to their whole creative outlook.

Stupid Sick merges sounds from the Sixties, Seventies and Eighties era of Heavy Rock with a refreshing modern day aesthetic which is helped by the excellent work carried out by Carl Byers (Idiot, Graveripper, Usurp Synapse) who recorded the album and Don Fury (Quicksand, Helmet, Sick of It All) who mastered the record. So the band has some pretty big talent helping along with their creative journey.

WENCHES have also called upon the talents of Chad Price (vocalist of ALL, Drag the River, A Vulture Wake) on Kick It Down and Jonathan Newby (Brazil, JC Autobody and heavy supergroup Fixation Arc) on Like Lightnin’ who bring their own stamp of Rock & Roll authority within two of the finest tracks on the record.

The lyrics contained within Stupid Sick are very straight to the point but they match the outrageous mood of the whole album and it’s absolutely refreshing to hear even when they’re being way too playful and over the top at times. 

Stupid Sick is keeping the the true spirit of ROCK & ROLL alive with an unapologetic style of music that we don’t come across at all these days and WENCHES deserve all the critical plaudits coming their way. This is ROCK & ROLL the way it’s meant to be delivered. 

Outstanding. End Of.

Words by Steve Howe

Thanks to WENCHES for the promo.

Stupid Sick is available to buy from the links below:

The Ghost is Clear Records (CD) / Already Dead Tapes (CS) /  Master Kontrol Audio (Vinyl). 

Links

Official | BandCamp

Dangerface Release New Song And Video For Pardon My Douche! From New Album Be Damned!

The newest Fysisk Format signing Dangerface is primal rock'n'roll in the style of The Good The Bad and The Zugly, Gallows and Bronx. Hailing from the west coast of Norway, from the hometown of Kvelertak, Stavanger, they are ready to release their second record "Be Damned!" April 28th.

"Pardon My Douche" is the first single from "Be Damned!". The song is without a doubt the “rockiest” Dangerface has ever been. You’ll get sing-a-longs and classic rock guitar riffs. In short, the song is about the ability to get out of harmful and toxic relationships, no matter what form they take.

The song has been released with a music video made by vocalist Michael Myklebust.

Pardon My Douche will be released January 27th on Fysisk Format.

Dangerface released their debut album «Get Loud!» in 2019, which received praise from the likes of Metal Hammer UK and PunkNews.org. Following the release of the album, Dangerface toured relentlessly and also played a spot on the 2000 Trees Festival in the UK the same year.

Metal Hammer called «Get Loud!» a «mightily impressive debut that promises much more to come».

Credits:

Dangerface is:

Michael Myklebust - Vocals
Jan Eirik Forland - Guitars, backing vocals
Christian Levik Monsen - Guitars, backing vocals
Mikael Christensen Moe - Bass, backing vocals
Steinar Fattnes - Drums, percussion, backing vocals

Guitar by Sindre Wathne Johnsen
Keys by Vetle Raustein
Additional backing vocals by Sigvart Waage

Produced by Dangerface
Recorded at Bridge Burner Recordings by Arvid Tjelta
Mixed by Ørjan Kristoffersen Lund @ Bridge Burner Recordings
Mastered by Brad Boatright @ AudioSiege

Cover: Michael Myklebust

Photo by Eric Furulund

Thanks To CZ Promotions for all of the info.

Links

Official | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

The King's Pistol Premiere New Single SNOW BLIND From Upcoming New EP - I AM THE KING

'Snow Blind', a brand new single from The King's Pistol with a video by Witch Finder General (Devil's Witches) from their third EP 'I Am The King' which will be premiering on New Year's eve ahead of the pre-sale starting end of January with Majestic Mountain Records.

'Snow Blind' gives us a razor sharp look into what's in store for us with The King's Pistol's third ep, 'I Am The King', an electrically eclectic and raucously rowdy slice of filthy rock and fucking roll heaven.

Dripping with equal parts soul and sleaze, The King's Pistol has taken their already salaciously clever songwriting and unflappably tight musicianship to the next level and beyond with their third offering which boasts a boisterously addictive collection of tracks fit to soundtrack the most debauched of celebrations or a simply misenthropic, table flipping fist to cuffs down at the local pub. This is a balls to the wall, no nonsense rock and roll made Pistol style, brilliantly brash with lashings of psychedelic wonder and grimy disco fever.

Pistol's satiny, lyrical pomposity and chunky riffing, stomping Hendrixain interludes and blasting beats right on the money from drummer James Farmer, Andy Shardlow's bombastic bass stylings tying this rousingly volatile little hand grenade into something something akin to a giant, ticking time bomb of intoxicatingly thrilling, rollicking rock and roll revelry. 'I Am The King' Is coming for you and we get a good taste of what's in store with 'Snow Blind'!

Turn it up and get twisted with The King's Pistol!

Snow Blind Recorded at Foel Studios
Engineered by: Chris Fielding
Mixed and mastered by: James Farmer Jnr
Video: Witch Finder General

LInks

Facebook | Instagram

Thanks to Majestic Mountain Records for all of the details.

Introduce Yourselves: THREE BIRDS WHISPER

What is the name of your band?

We are Three Birds Whisper

What is the genre of music that you play?

Our music style is ranged from folk through to spacey, psychedelic times and heavy Rock'n Roll colored with saturated vibrations. The lyrics are engaged and with a poetic visions of the world...

Our creations are influenced by musics like those of Nirvana, Thin Lizzy, Black Sabbath, Kyuss or The Clash but also music from everywhere like Siklawa, Idir, Camaron de la Isla, Salif Keita, Victor Tsoi...

If our band could be compared to anything, it would be a cloud in pants with a candy for spirit.

Can you give a brief history of the band of how it came together and where it is today?

Based in Beaune (21) France, the band began in the late 2011 founded by Oli, and then picked up in August 2013. Musicians who have left their mark on the band were: Thomas Malecki, Bruno Valentin, Cedric Peyrot, Christian Trouvé, Michel Maussire, Ary Chotkan. 

We are now Stil on drum, Yuliya on keyboard an Oli on guitar / voice.

We are preparing a third album.

What can people expect from your music?

Take refuge in the bottom of your soul.

Empty yourself of all your pain inflicted by this world and let yourself be carried away.

This music was created with all our guts for your happiness and to change this world lost in its futile and destructive material quests.

It is created to wrap you in spiritual sweetness, protect you and accompany you on the path that leads to the ultimate dream ... 

What is the best release that folks should check out from your band?

Our most successful song is Tsar Bomba from the album Kindness is Intelligence.

Where can people find you on Social Media?

https://tbw.fr

https://open.spotify.com/artist/7CLfyXK1V1a4QOK6pkLQ8F?si=EXVf8zz_Qk6uuYBanw6IPg

https://music.apple.com/artist/three-birds-whisper/1524263862

https://www.deezer.com/fr/artist/101383832

https://soundcloud.com/tbwband/

https://www.facebook.com/tbwband/

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCBYWIVCf9IYenYiDVtQ06ig/featured

https://twitter.com/tbwfr

https://tbwtbw.bandcamp.com/

https://fr.napster.com/artist/three-birds-whisper

Heavy Temple - Lupi Amoris (Album Review)

Release Date: June 18th 2021. Record Label: Magnetic Eye Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Lupi Amoris - Tracklisting:

1. A Desert Through The Trees

2. The Wolf

3. The Maiden

4. Isabella (With Unrelenting Fangs)

5. Howling Of A Prothalamion

Band Members:

High Priestess Nighthawk - vocals. bass guitar

Lord Paisley - guitar

Baron Lycan - drums

Review

Philadelphia, PA, is home to the brilliant trio Heavy Temple whom, after some EPs, singles and a split, finally unleash their debut full-length, 'Lupi Amoris'. And what can I say? Based on the band's previous output this is the logical and excellent conclusion, there's no other way about it. Having guided Heavy Temple from its inception in 2012, High Priestess Nighthawk, who’s amazing voice, songwriting and eloquent bass playing is a big part of the band’s identity, has an extremely powerful trio at hand with Lord Paisley on guitar and Baron Lycan on drums. The breath-taking blend of psychedelic doom, blues, heaviness and esoteric lyrical vantage point they unleash ‘Lupi Amoris’ is absolutely stunning, crushingly stunning in fact. 

I might give it all away from the start but Heavy Temple’s first full-length is simply fantastic, don’t know if I can find any better adjectives than that, but that’s how it is, folks! This band gives me the good vibes from the get-go and as unrestrained and free-flowing as this band is, there are no boundaries to what they do. Hence, I get completely lost in the music as soon as it starts and, when everything is over the feeling of contentment and being re-charged is so abundant.

Based on the story of the Red Riding Hood from a female point of view ‘Lupi Amoris’ starts off with ‘A Desert Through The Trees’. It’s full of riffs, it’s bluesy and esoteric in nature. Loud and powerful, this song is a brute force yet beautiful and vivid and finishes off crushingly heavy. ‘The Wolf’ picks it up and becomes spaced-out and trippy after about two minutes. Not particularly fast it is still bone-crushingly heavy as Heavy Temple unleash a wonderful take on modern-day blues. It leads straight into ‘The Maiden’ which gradually builds up to fever-pitch and then some. Drops a little in the latter half during the fuzzed-out trippy solo only to explode in the end. Brilliant solo, by the way. Isabella (With Unrelenting Fangs) starts off with a wonderfully slow thick and heavy bassline akin to Jethro Tull’s ‘Broadsword And The Beast’. The band keeps it slow, lurking and kind of sinister with a sense of foreboding gloom. This excellent album ends with the only instrumental piece, ‘Howling Of A Prothalamion’ and what a way to close everything out. While Nighthawk and Lycan are pounding the listener to dust, Paisley throws off the shackles and shreds his guitar to a bloody pulp…all while the band collectively emits a state of transcendence, euphoria and catharsis. Absolutely wonderful!

In conclusion, whatever music your band plays, approach it like Heavy Temple. Because their music, is honest; it’s healing and rejuvenating and it’s bloody fantastic. Don’t miss out on ‘Lupi Amoris’ you hear!

Words by Håkan Nyman

Thanks to Magnetic Eye Records for the promo.

You can buy Lupi Amoris now on CD/DD/Vinyl from Magnetic Eye Records

Links

Facebook | BandCamp | Twitter | Instagram

LICANTROPY Premiere New Song - Another Wolf Game - From Their New Album - Extrabiliante

LICANTROPY were born during the first full moon of May 2017, in the Venetian moorland, when Tommaso Mantelli (Captain Mantell, AMA, Kirlian, Il Teatro Degli Orrori), Luca Ramon (Hope You’re Fine Blondie, Waterproof) and Alberto De Lazzari (LAD, Industria Onirica) followed an instinctive and primordial attraction. LICANTROPY do not stand to musical clichés, rather they prefer to take unexpected and destabilizing drifts and to tell you an ironic point of view, bizarre episodes and adventures on lycanthropy, with raw sounds and a punky attitude. A true psychedelic intersection between music and visual art is going on over here and can be seen as the core of the project.

In 2018 another crazy full moon forced those 3 werewolves to record "Extrabiliante", their brand new output, to be released February 10th on capable Go Down Records. It all started with impro-sessions at Outside Inside Studio, followed by more concrete structure to the tracks by recording vocals and overdubs at Groove Studio.

Mixed by Alberto De Lazzari at the Fishbowl Studio and mastered at Lesder Studio by Tommaso Mantelli, the new album “Extrabiliante” is a multiform blend of styles which binds together psychedelia, garage, punk, rock’n’roll and a fine stream of pop taste.

You can hear the stunning new track - Another Wolf Game - from the upcoming new album.

The band have said this about their new video

"The video follows the continued Mexican saga of Mr Wolf as he gets involved to join a poker match against 'The Boss'. Things start to get hairy as Mr Wolf tries to win the match and taking his prize; the hands of the wife from The Boss. As Mr Wolf starts to lose his fortune, The Boss uses an artillery of his worst tricks to defeat him out of the game, ending in a sudden stand off.They will both die for love but no one has to lose the battle

Released 10.02.2020, Go Down Records

Formats: CD

Tracklist:

01. Hispanic Wolf
02. Big Bad Affair
03. Pale Moonlight
04. My Fat Long Tail
05. Extrabiliante
06. I Wolf The Line
07. Another Wolf Game
08. The Revenge Of The Wise Wolf
09. Bite Me Wolf
10. Coyote?

Licantropy is:

Tommaso Tom Wolf Mantelli | guitar, vocals
Luca Luke Sky Walker Ramon | drums, percussions, vocals
Alberto Royal Albert Wolf De Lazzari | organ, synth, vocals

For more info visit:

www.facebook.com/licantropyband
www.godownrecords.com

Thanks to Dominik at All Noir PR for all of the details

CAPRA - Unholy Gallows (EP Eeview)

Release date: June 09th 2018. Label: Self Released. Format: DD

Unholy Gallows – Tracklisting

1.Red Guillotine 03:15

2.Hot Lips 03:18

Members

Tyler

Jeremy

Ben

Lee

Review

CAPRA aren’t usually the type of band that we feature on the blog. As they play an aggressive blend of of Hardcore Punk, Rock and Roll with Screamo tendencies. However CAPRA do have a former member of The Midnight Ghost Train within their ranks. So I’ve decided to give their latest EP – Unholy Gallows – a chance.

And I was pleasantly surprised by it harsh rock and roll vibes and fast-paced melodic riffs. This reminds me of Kvelertak in many places. Especially how CAPRA blend harsh vocals and atmospheres with a modern progressive sound. The EP can be very adventurous at times especially on the second track – Hot Lips.

CAPRA do add heavy sludgy guitars on certain parts of the EP. I need to hear more from this band. Hopefully CAPRA will release something more substantial in the future such as a longer EP or mini-album. As the two EP’s they’ve released so far whilst superbly entertaining, I need to see if the band can generate the same violent excitement on a longer release.

Until then Unholy Gallows is a superb sounding EP with enough thrills and spills to keep you wholly entertained.

Words by Steve Howe

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp

Kvelertak - Nattesferd (Album Review)

Release date: May 13^th 2016. Label: Roadrunner Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Nattesferd – Tracklisting

01. Dendrofil for Yggdrasil

02. 1985

03. Nattesferd

04. Svartmesse

05. Bronsegud

06. Ondskapens Galakse

07. Berserkr

08. Heksebrann

09. Nekrodamus

Band Members:

Erlend Hjelvik (lead vocal)

Bjarte Lund Rolland (guitar)

Maciek Ofstad (guitar)

Vidar Landa (guitar)

Marvin Nygaard (bass)

Kjetil Gjermundrød (drummer)

Review:

Apparently Kvelertak caused a bit of stir with their 2013 album "Meir" because already it wasn't heavy enough compared to their debut self titled album "Kvelertak". Keyboard warriors across the interweb started the calls of "sell out" and presumably that they weren't "kvlt" enough. Just because they have gained some success in Norway and the stations there play them on the radio (because Norwegians are fucking cool), that doesn't mean we all need to worry. You wont be seeing them at Radio One's Big Weekend any time soon.

But I'll tell you now those same guys are going to fucking hate this, because Kvelertak don't give a shit what you think. They're going to do what they want to do (the whole point of being in a band) and apparently what they want to do is spawn an entire new genre.

I'm calling it "Van Halen Black Metal"....

Don't be fooled by album opener "Dendrofil For Yggdrasil" which is probably one of the heaviest tracks in the bands weaponry and definitely the album. Full BM tremolo picking and those by now distinct vocals of front man and owl fanatic (I've made that up) Erlend Hjelvik batter you stupid for nigh on six minutes

This isn't really what this record is about. I think it's here to trip some of us up. I certainly wasn't expecting what follows it.

"1985" the first single from the album (probably another Grammy nomination coming soon) and the title track "Nattesferd" really showcase the three guitars that Kvelertak have at their disposal as glorious 80's sounding licks, riffs and harmonies are literally everywhere. Pounding NWOBHM inspired riffs, mixed with their trademark punk and roll sound, scream out of the speakers,and then do my ears deceive me? No. No they don't. They're singing now. Clean vocals. Harmonies no less!

By this point you should be grinning ear from ear at the sheer glory of the thing!

The next track is without a doubt my favourite on the record and if you asked me (which no one has to be fair) it's my favourite song of the year. The band call it "Svartmesse" but me and the wife (nearly) call it The Car Party Song, as it's all we can listen to when we're out and about. Even our baby thinks its a banger.

I'm not going to say anymore about it but go and pop on a headband and some spandex trousers and just lose yourself in the moment by clicking here.....

The rest of the album is equally as good. Standout tracks for me being "Ondskapens Galaske" and "Heksebrann"

Album closer "Nekrodamus" is a real smasher as well. Slightly slower in it's approach and with maybe a bit more of an air of menace but still with all the swagger that they can muster. And they can muster quite a bit....

If you hadn't guessed by now I love this album. In a day and age where so many bands are miserable as fuck and take themselves way to seriously it's truly refreshing to hear a band just enjoying what they're doing and long may it continue.

Albums like this are life affirming and make me remember why I feel in love with heavy music in the first place. Pop on a copy and remind yourself as well.

Words by Simon Ross Williams

Links:

Official | Facebook

Mohicans - S/T (EP Review)

Release date: December 18^th 2015. Label: Creator Destructor Records. Format: CD/DD/Vinyl

Mohicans – S/T – Tracklisting

Eagle

Swan

Road

Canyon

Bixbi

Trench

Band Members:

Chris

Zac

Justin

Review:

This band is a hardcore, punk rock, metal burst of adrenalin. The singer sounds rabid with foam spurting out of his mouth. The guitar sound is rotten and faultless in purpose with the bass and drums providing the backbone of this diehard brute.

This current release provides more gratification and less clatters than their previous release of Sky/Ocean/Trench (2012). Short, one-word song titles are continued from the previous outing and represent the gist of this album. Each song on this new record is like a round of boxing; gloves filled with sand and loaded with nails, delivering quite a wallop of fury through all out energy. Force equals mass times acceleration.

The cover is not polite, depicting blood dripping from a ram skull, the end product of being gored by veracity, which ultimately symbolizes the essence of this band and the music they play.

You may wish this album was longer in duration, like another ten songs, but maybe you can’t handle any additional hooks or body shots because the pummeling from the upper cuts and round houses have already demolished your light weight, puny frame. Don’t be upset, you can’t always be the toughest guy on the block. 

These guys know the strength of their skills, so get ready to spend some carbohydrates as they speed up your metabolism and jumpstart your nervous system.

Thanks to this album, this week has been a steady diet of beer, pizza, and broken bones.

Words by Nick Palmisano

Thanks to Earsplit PR for the promo. Mohicans S/T EP is available to buy on DD/Vinyl from Creator Destructor Records now.

Links:

Facebook | BandCamp