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STALKER
Stalker From Wellington, New Zealand play some classic kick ass thrash, yet they inject fresh venom into mid-80s era metal like Exodus/Dark Angel. Even though this is the band’s first demo, it’s impressive and they’ve recently released the three song demo on cassette and 7″ vinyl, but you had to be quick – they’re gone! Looking forward to a full-length.
Daif – bass, vocals
Chris – guitar
Nick – drums
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NIGHT VIPER
Gothenburg, Sweden’s Night Viper play riff-heavy classic metal in the wheelhouse of Priest’s British Steel – catchy and heavy. Led by the iron-voice of Sofie Lee Johansson, their debut album came out in 2015 on Svart Records. We’ll be hooking up with Night Viper very shortly for a Q&A.
Sofie Lee Johansson – Vocals
Tom Sutton – Guitar
Jonna Karlsson – Drums
Emil Ridderstolpe – Guitar
Ruben Åhlander Persson – Bass
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REBEL WIZARD
Self-described “negative wizard metal” out of Melbourne, Australia, Rebel Wizard are essentially a one man project of metal mastermind Bob Nekrasov. His other project the ambient black noise metal Nekrasov has been around since at least 2007. With Rebel Wizard he has managed to carve a niche out of the giant metal slab and produce a couple of wicked records of lofi thrashing metal. Rebel Wizard sounds like a fusion of classic heavy guitars with demonic Revolting Cocks-like hardcore vocals. I’d say it’s refreshing but it’s more like a kick in the batteries.
Bob Nekrasov – all instruments and vocals
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WAINGRO
Heavy as cement shoes, Vancouver’s Waingro straddle the line between doom metal and the rage of a band like Whores. This trio make a lot of noise and I hope they have some new stuff on the way. In the meantime….
Nate Pennell – Bass, Vocals
Benjie Nesdoly – Drums
Brian Sepanzyk – Guitars, Vocals
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SWEET LICH
Sweet Lich from Falkenberg, Sweden distinguish themselves from the pack by channeling the spirit of Witchfinder General’s classic NWOBHM hook-metal but adding a secret weapon in vocalist Jakob Kramsjö, one of the best metal voices I have heard in a long time. They are a little mysterious with only Kramsjö and drummer William Schakonat listed as current members but their debut record – Never Satisfied is first-rate.
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BATTLEROAR
It’s swords, kings and epic battles from Athens, Greece. Battleroar play power metal alive with complex riffs, dexterous drums, and dramatic lyrics. What struck me while listening to their 2014 record – Blood of Legends was the stunning violin prevalent throughout the record. A perfect soundtrack for watching The Last Kingdom or Game of Thrones. Battleroar are working on a fifth record and have a split with Omen coming out this spring.
Gerrit Mutz – vocals
Stavros Aivaliotis – Bass
Michael Kontogiorgis – Guitars
Greg Vlachos – Drums
Kostas Tzortzis – Guitars
