APRIL of AUTHORITY - Dylath-Leen

It was agony, kids, but I finally chose between the last few contenders for last week of the April of Authority and it's <kick drum roll> Dylath-Leen from... France? - yeh, France - beat out the others (based on my admittedly somewhat-nebulous criteria - if you want to know whom else I considered or you want details on how I choose, all you have to do is ask me about it IN THE COMMENTS.)  Dylath-Leen's name is a reference to a dark city in H.P. Lovecraft's dreamlands.  Dylath-Leen's frontwoman Kathy Coupez not only takes care of the death growls and the clean vocals, she's also the rhythm guitarist - I love it.  CRANK IT!

APRIL of AUTHORITY - FLASHBACK! - Hellion

Whoa, kids!  Put on yer special hats that keep yer heads from blowing up - today is both FLASHBACK! Saturday AND still the April of Authority!  As if perfect symmetry was ordained by the universe, Hellion is both an awesome band with a killer frontwoman AND is named for a Judas Priest track.  Frontwoman and lawyer (yeh - all this and a law degree, too) Ann Boleyn has been shaping the world of metal for thirty years, and I'll bet you've never heard of her.  She is credited with coining the term "speed metal", and her New Renaissance Records label is responsible for launching the careers of bands like Prong (one of my favorite heavy metal bands ever), Morbid Angel, Mayhem, Supultura, and Flotsam & Jetsam.  Now show some respect - it's Hellion - CRANK IT!

APRIL of AUTHORITY - Cadaveria

Y'know, researching bands for the April of Authority is breathing new life into me.  Kind of ironic that this week's offering is Cadaveria (like "cadaver" - get it?)  Cadaveria is both an Italian band and the singer of that band.  Born Raffaella Rivarolo, Cadaveria the person was the singer of symphonic black metal juggernaut Opera IX until she and drummer Flegias left in 2001 to form the band Cadaveria, and I gotta say, it was the right move.  Cadaveria's music can be classified as melodic black metal, but it also has a throwback doom metal feel; the band proudly wears its Black Sabbath, Coven, Misfits, and Type O Negative influences on its sleeve, while simultaneously forging its own path.  Now, I've settled on "Spell" as the selection for today because it displays what I think are some of the best qualities of both the lady and the band, but so you don't get a limited impression of what I like about the outfit, I encourage you to at least also check out the tracks "The Dream" and "Death Vision", both of which have great videos, so that you can get a feel for the full range of what Cadaveria does.  But enough of me blathering - CRANK IT!

P.S.:  If you're obsessed with covers of "Call Me" (my favorite is In This Moment's killer rendition), Cadaveria does a kinda far out one, too.

APRIL of AUTHORITY - Izegrim

Oh, you live in exciting times, kids!  I have received a reader challenge to have a theme month in which I play great bands with frontWOMEN - it's the April of Authority!  (Yeh, I come up with the names myself; no, this one doesn't super make sense, except that it sounds cool - you don't like it, tell me about it in the COMMENTS.  Besides, what did ya want, Estrogen April?)  Now here's the challenge with which the challenger hath challenged me: because I have already used several great bands with frontwomen, I have had to turn over the stones of the internet and discover all new ones - and would ya believe, they're there!  Get back - it's Holland's Izegrim, fronted by the destroying one, Marloes Voskuil!  CRANK 'ER?  I hardly know 'er!  CRANK IT!

Thanks to Jessica for the challenge; I think we're all gonna like where this goes.