Sybreed

It's Sybreed today, kids, a Swiss outfit that is on my short list of "Bands That Are Incredible" (or rather, were - more on that in a second.)  So, the bad news: Sybreed's singer left the band for family reasons about a year ago, and as you'll hear, he was kinda a thing they needed in order to still be Sybreed, so, if you love them for the first time today... sorry about that; HOWEVER, the good news: the remaining badasses are continuing as Obsidians in much the same style, so be on the lookout for the first release from them under that name.  But I digress - it's "Challenger" - CRANK IT!

Sybreed - "Challenger"

Revocation

New look - same awesome.  Today, kids, it's my new favorite thing: Revocation!  Five and a half albums?!  Where has this band been hiding?!  In the depths of the internet, I guess.  Doesn't matter - every day with Boston's Revocation makes up for two days without.  I hate/love people who can sing metal and play metal lead guitar at the same time (Devin Townsend and pre-1999 Dave Mustaine, I'm talkin' to you); Revocation lead vocalist and lead guitarist David Davidson (yeh, that's his actual name - why would you choose a stage name like that?) has a degree in music from Berklee focusing on polyrhythm jazz, so dig deeper  than the main riffs and you'll find an exciting soundscape born of knowledge that is uncommon even in heavy metal guitar composition.  Anyway, before we get to it, one more thing of great importance occurs to me: it's easy to focus on the lead players, especially ones like this, but it is nigh-impossible for these people to find a group of musicians that a) they can get along, travel, and write with, AND b) who can keep up with this kind of playing, so when you're listening to/watching Revocation play, be sure you're listening to the rhythm player, the bass player, and the completely-badass drummer as well - you'll thank yourself (and hopefully me.)  It's "Invidious" and the instrumental "Apex" - CRANK 'EM!

Revocation - "Invidious"

Revocation - "Apex"

Not sure why, but the official videos aren't accessible through Blogger - probably a licensing thing.

I WAS THERE!

Well, no one seems to have noticed that I haven't posted in a few weeks, but if anyone is listening, I just had to jump on and say that I went to see the kickoff show of Black Sabbath's "The End" tour - the last tour they are ever going to play - and it was one of the best nights of my life.  If you have to, sell a kidney for chance to be at one of the shows.  Also, I had never seen them play before, and as I stood there in the third row (shout-out to Sean for sitting like a hawk on StubHub and scoring those killer tickets) watching Tony Iommi punish the blues scale on Black Sabbath, Fairies Wear Boots, Snowblind, N.I.B., and Children of the Grave, I realized that what I have always suspected is true: I have been right about everything all along.  Black Sabbath invented everything in heavy metal.  All other bands are but moons and shadows - Sabbath is the sun.  Get out there and catch the show; in two hours, you'll know where you came from and what it has all been about.  Also, Tommy Clufetos is the luckiest drummer alive and Rival Sons is the luckiest band alive.

Angel Vivaldi

No lyrics to pretend you can understand today, kids - it's the instrumetal virtuosity of Angel Vivaldi!  TECHNIQUE-CRANK IT!

FLASHBACK! - Skid Row

With the 2015 holiday over, kids, it's time to go back in time - FLASHBACK!  It's Skid Row this week.  Now, I know what some of you are saying: that Sebastian Bach and the boys were glam and that their music is, at best, hard rock.  Listen again, this time without the preconception that because Skid Row peaked with the glams, they must have been glam, too.  It's the thundering, blistering "Slave to the Grind" - CRANK IT!

Gothminister

Happy Halloween, kids - it's one of my favorite guilty pleasures, Gothminister.  DARKNESS-CRANK IT!

Nightrage

Here it comes, kids - it's metalcore veterans Nightrage! Crank it!