Heavy Metal New Blood Band Profile : Orylyus

Orylyus


Andy Joinson - Vocals
Ashley Guest - Drums
Matt Ensor - Guitar
Colin Trent - Guitar
Jason Riggs - Bass
iPod (black 160gb) - Backing Track

Formed in 2010 Birmingham based metallers Orylyus released their six track EP "Stories Heard... Yet Not Recalled" in December 2011 and Heavy Metal Bullet had the pleasure of reviewing it, you can check that out right here

The band class themselves as purely "Metal" but with influences from the Industrial and Melodic Death scenes, and in a view reminiscent of this writer believe "the idea of all these sub-genres is becoming a bit silly... like electro mass murder happy flowercore"

The band is currently going through an image change as they don't want the metal scene to think they are black metal (face paint) so there will be a new, but still faithful to the old, image, logo and a new beginning for the new EP. New releases will take a harder hitting approach to the music and the band warn to be ready for melodic noise.

And then onto the Heavy Metal Bullet questions, and I can say without doubt this is definitely a band with personality!

"I bloody legged it up the road to my train station... in a kilt"

HMB: How did the band name come about?
Orylyus: Well the name is a made up word created from around about 3 words (English and Foreign), with the final meaning being "Put the Fear back into the Fearless"

HMB: What's the first Heavy Metal Album you bought?
Andy: Well the closest to heavy metal I first received was Skid Row's "Skid Row", what a great fuckin album!! First I bought was Korn's self titled debut.
Ashley: The first CD I bought was Korn's "Follow the Leader" I then went on to buy Metallica's Black album

HMB: What's the most recent Heavy Metal album you bought/downloaded?
Andy: Woods of Ypres "Grey Skies and Electric Nights"... Amazing band.
Ashley: Hahahaha the last CD I bought... erm... its been a while since I've bought once from a store... I'm poor. Romeo Must Die, that's it the latest one "Hardships in Season" for £2... Bargain! Go see them live they do crazy things like announcing they are selling their album for £2 haha
HMB: Having seen Romeo Must Die I would totally agree you should go see them live!

HMB: Do you have any albums in your collection you would be embarrassed to tell a metal head you own?
Andy: Ok... nothing I'd be too embarrassed to show anyone really... I know I'm into some dreadful stuff lol... so Aqua!! That's gonna be the one I say here lol... trust me give it a chance
HMB: (coughs discretely) and moving on...
Ashley: No but I've got plenty of Metal I'd be ashamed to show a pop fan!

HMB: Strangest thing you have seen at a gig?
Andy: Mortiis
Ashley: Pints for £2.50!! Girls at a Rush gig!

HMB: Any funny band related stories?
Andy: I'll leave this one to Ash...
Ashley: Myself and our bassist Jason were in Frankfurt for the weekend to see Rush. After the gig we went out for many a drink and I parted ways with him at 5.30am to go home. After narrowly avoiding being beaten up I decided to get a McDonalds. So I was walking down the street with my Big Mac in hand and a rather dirty looking prostitute started shouting at me in German. I decided to ignore her, as you do, but she was having none of it and tried to grab my food. I was having none of that so pushed her away from me only for her to stumble backwards and fall over a bin (in a rather comedic fashion I may add). Leaving her with her legs up in the air and not wanting to be beaten up by any pimps I bloody legged it up the road to my train station... in a Kilt
Andy: See, I have stories but I can't beat that...

So go check out the album and you will not be disappointed and want to know more about the band then you can check out these handily placed links right here!
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Where to Promote your Metal Band : Metal Thunder Radio

Metal Thunder Radio

Some of you may have noticed that Heavy Metal Bullet teamed up with Metal Thunder Radio a little while ago to join forces on a Band of the Week feature. The feature gives bands exposure not only on Heavy Metal Bullet but also on Metal Thunder Radio.

Now is time to get to know a little more about Metal Thunder Radio. Scott and Brian kindly answered some interview questions to give you an insight.

HMB: When did the radio show start?
MTR: Our first show was on Tuesday, March 13th 2012

HMB: What was the main reason for starting the radio show?
Scott: Our main goal was to be a voice for all the unsigned and signed underground bands around the world. It's hard to get your music out there, we know because we both used to be in a band together so we wanted to help.
Brian: Yeah we want to be the focal point for underground music from all over the world. To be a centralised place where people can come and discover great music that they would not otherwise be exposed to.

HMB: What do you think is the single most important thing for a new band to do to promote themselves?
Scott: Support their local scene! I cannot stress this enough. Social media like Facebook and Twitter is great and everything, but you have to get out there and be seen. And you have to support other bands. You can't expect people to come to your show, without ever going to one of their shows.
Brian: Definitely. New bands need to show their face anywhere and everywhere. Support and respect go a long way in the underground scene. Remember you are part of a bigger overall community and if you want people to come down to your shows and buy your merchandise, you need to do the same for other bands.

HMB: Any other tips for promoting bands?
Scott: Work hard, play shows and do everything you can to get your music out there. If you're good you'll get noticed.
Brian: Hard work is one of the most important things. Writing and recording is only part of the process. You need to go out to your local clubs. Get to know the local promoters. Show that you're willing to do what it takes to get people in the door for your shows. If that means going out to a club to show face and support other bands even though you have worked all day and are dead tired that is what you have to do. Remember nothing will be handed to you, you need to work for everything you get.

HMB: What are your own personal music tastes?
Scott: Old school metal, hard rock and classic rock. I grew up in the 1980s so my tastes are along the lines of Slayer, old Metallica, Iron Maiden, early Def Leppard, Black Sabbath etc. But I also love classic rock acts like Grand Funk Railroad, Boston and even some of the Top 40 stuff from the 80s.
Brian: Definitely old school metal, thrash, death metal, classic and southern rock. Bands like Slayer, Testament, old Metallica, Overkill, Death, The Doors, Black Sabbath etc

HMB: Anything else you would like to add?
Brian: Like Scott said earlier, we played in a band for a better part of a decade. We played everywhere from CBGB's to L'Amours, from NY to California and everywhere in between. We played with national acts like Nuclear Assault, Type O Negative, Carnivore and played shows to nobody. We know what its like to be in the underground scene. I think that experience helps shape the radio show and its content. There are a lot of great bands out there looking to get exposure any way they can and hopefully we can help.

So head on over to the website and tune in on a Tuesday to experience Metal Thunder Radio for yourselves.

Metal Thunder Radio Website
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Heavy Metal New Blood Album Review : Kevlar Bikini - Explodisiac

Kevlar Bikini - Explodisiac
Rating : 6.5/10

Mixed by Tomas Skogsberg (Emtombed, Katatonia, At the Gates) and mastered by Pelle Henricsson (Meshuggah, In Flames) Kevlar Bikini's album "Explodisiac" is packed full of riffs and strong base lines and manages to hold your attention from start to finish.

My initial thoughts were that it was reminiscent of Steel Panther, however, moving through the album it is obvious to me that this is a superior version of that style of music with tight production and the right element of seriousness and fun within both the music and the lyrics.

So first with the positives, the stand out track for me would be "Supersized Buttcake" a strangely titled track that is so packed full of riffs that it nears the physical limits of what can be included in a track. It's a theme for many other good tracks on the album such as "Devil's Jukebox" and "Kiss it like it's Skinny Liv Tyler" the latter track there being a perfect closer to the album.

My only criticism of the tracks on the album is "Urinea" not quite a ballad but no where near the same energy as the rest of the album and to be honest it just didn't seem to fit. While I like the fact Kevlar Bikini have added something into the album different to other tracks, gotta love diversity, it just didn't really work for me.

So why should you go check out this album? While the style of the music is not necessarily that unique it is done well and would lend itself very well to a live show. That coupled with the excellent production quality should make this a must for anyone looking for some riff laden good rock and roll.

Track Listing:
1. Devil's Jukebox
2. Yikes Mama
3. Rats and Copycats
4. Supersized Buttcake
5. Suped up Maching
6. Sweet Ride
7. Jab
8. Pretzelspine
9. Urinea
10. Kiss it Like It's Skinny Liv Tyler

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Heavy Metal New Blood Profile : Morbid Roots

 Morbid Roots


LuPo - Vocals
Morbid - Guitar
Deigo - Bass
Manolol - Drums

Hailing from Mexico City Morbid Roots originally formed in 2005 but Morbid is the only remaining member of this line up by 2010 things were back on track when Morbid, LuPo and a former member Heller hooked up with Manolol at a party and after a few jamming sessions he was in the band bringing his brother JP with him.

Just in time too as a month later the band competed in and won a battle of the band competition, managing to win themselves a recording session which is currently being used to record their debut album "Massive Extinction Event".

Having been sent a couple of tracks recorded at home "Lilith" and "Master of Time" I can definitely say I will be interested in hearing the album once it is finished. The production is very rough on these demo tracks which is to be expected but there is some definite potential with this band.

So now to find out a bit more about the band with the Heavy Metal Bullet interview questions:

Heavy Metal Bullet (HMB): Who would you say your influences are?
Morbid: This is a tricky one... Everyone in the band has different influences, thus making our style and our sound a little more unique. However, I can say that we all agree at least on Metallica, Pantera and Slayer

HMB: What was the first Heavy Metal Album you bought?
Morbid: Me personally, I didn't buy it, my brother was given the Black album for his birthday but he didn't like it so he gave it to me and I loved it!

HMB: What was the last Heavy Metal album you bought/downloaded?
Morbid: Cannibal Corpse's "Tortured"

HMB: Do you own any albums you would be embarrassed to tell a metal head you own?
Morbid: I own the Abba Gold greatest hits

HMB: What's the strangest thing you have seen at a gig?
Morbid: We were at a house party that had a band (we didn't play at this one) and they were really weirdly dressed to begin with so that caught our eye. But suddenly a kid wrapped in duct tape comes from behind the band and stands in front of the vocalist, who throws gasoline at him and set him on fire! The kid was obviously screaming, the floor was on fire, and everyone was panicking. So a friend and I put out the kid and another friend put out the fire on the floor. After all this we asked the band what they were thinking and all they said was "you don't understand our art".

So follow the links below to check out a little more about the band and Heavy Metal Bullet will follow up on the debut album.

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Heavy Metal New Blood EP Review : Orylyus - Stories Heard... Yet Not Recalled

Orylyus - Stories Heard... Yet Not Recalled
Rating: 8.5/10

The EP opens with an slow atmospheric into "Apraxia" which while featuring sounds of a storm ironically turns out to be the calm before the storm...

Prepare yourselves for the fast paced shredding, pounding percussion and brutal vocals to come.

The title track "Stories Heard... Yet Not Recalled" and "Chaotic Dreamsphere" both prominently feature the twin guitars and contain some decent guitar solos, although I have to say the solo on "Chaotic Dreamsphere" is by far my favourite.

Brutal vocals underpin the EP, with well controlled screaming that complements rather than over-powers the music. All tracks with the exception of the title track feature some clean vocals as well, these are done well and in the right places, which combined with the depth of the supporting music do not detract from the heaviness of the album and avoid falling into the rigid verse chorus structure that sometimes appears in tracks with a mixture of clean and growling vocals.

The percussion and keys should not be forgotten, both add to the music in different ways with the drums and bass keeping the wall of heaviness going and the keys providing an excellent contrast in places.

"Chaotic Dreamsphere" is definitely my favourite track on the album as it manages to showcase all the instruments without sounding too cluttered and of course the vocals both brutal and clean pull the whole sound together, I've already mentioned the guitar solo but worth pointing out again!

My only criticism of the entire EP is the placement of the interlude "Awakening" in the middle of the EP. While it can't be denied it is a beautifully executed piece featuring the keys with a soft drum backing, the rest of the EP is so intense that for me this breaks the whole energy slightly. I'm torn as I do like the instrumental track but feel it may have served the EP better incorporated in the intro rather than in the middle of the EP.

That said I really enjoyed the energy, intensity and skill on this EP and it left me the way a good EP should... reaching for the play button to listen again.

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Track Listing:

1. Apraxia (All is Silent)
2. Stories Heard... Yet Not Recalled
3. Eyes of the Desired (Erotomaniac)
4. The Awakening
5. Chaotic Dreamsphere
6. Mans Fall From Grace

Heavy Metal New Blood Profile : Trauma Theatre

Trauma Theatre

Jari Ylostalo - Guitar
Joni Tuuri - Guitar
Jani Niemelainen - Vocals
Markku Tuuri - Drums
Ilja Salakka - Bass

Finnish Metallers Trauma Theatre have literally just released their new promo the aptly named "Promo 2012" and to check out what Heavy Metal Bullet thought about it you can read the review right.... here!

So now it's time to find out a little more about the band behind the music. Jari and Joni had known each other since they were teenagers and after hanging around together in the same band projects in 2009 they started a new project Trauma Theatre.

"A new project where we'd play simple metal music with good rockin' attitude" Jari Ylostalo

With influences such as Killswitch Engage, Soilwork, Slipknot and Raised Fist the band got to work and their demo "Songs of Broken Relationships" was released in 2010 followed by the afore mentioned "Promo 2012" in yes you guessed it 2012! They are currently writing songs at full speed so we can await the next instalment...

So onto the interview questions:

Heavy Metal Bullet (HMB): What was the first Heavy Metal Album you bought?
Jari Ylostalo (JY): Vulgar Display of Power
Joni Tuuri (JT): Slipknot

HMB: What was the last Heavy Metal Album you bought?
JY: Soilwork - Panic Broadcast
HMB: An excellent choice, still on heavy rotation for me!
JT: Rage My Bitch - Fell on Black Season

HMB: Do you own any albums you would be embarrassed to tell a metal head you own?
JY: I don't own any albums like that any more
JT: Backstreet Boys - Millennium is probably the most embarrassing thing to have :D
HMB: Ok... and moving swiftly on ;)

HMB: What's the strangest thing you've seen at a gig your own or someone elses?
JT: This Finnish band Stamlna's singer/guitarist Hyrde stopped playing in the middle of a gig and went mud wrestling with girls wearing bikinis in front of the stage. This happened a couple of years ago.

So where can you go to check these guys out? Well conveniently I am just about to let you know!

Trauma Theatre Website
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So don't be shy, go check them out say hello!

Heavy Metal New Blood Album Review - Turbyne - Destroyer Creator

Turbyne - Destroyer Creator
Rating:  7/10

After the slow, atmospheric instrumental "The Inevitable", in kicks the heavy and strong guitars and drums of "The Void". The music gradually builds up layers adding some more complicated guitar sections and the rough vocals of the verse gradually give way to the bordering on clean vocals of the chorus. With a solid guitar solo thrown in for good measure this is a good start to the Album

"The Successor" then kicks in with a sound much heavier on percussion backed up with an intricate layer of guitar playing. The vocals are more death metal on the verses than the previous track but again brings in clean vocals for the chorus. The combination works pretty well creating a contrast in the track while the music behind remains consistently heavy and again the guitar solo really kicks it.

So far so good and onto "Cheap Death" while maintaining the heaviness the tempo of the track is slower than "The Successor" and the verse goes straight into the clean vocals in contrast to the previous two tracks. This fits better than the death metal style vocals would have and creates a quite atmospheric start to the track before the heavier vocals kick in for a couple of lines. I would probably class this as the weakest track on the album, it feels like it needs a little bit more energy as I keep expecting something a little more from it, if more of the track had matched the ending then I think it would have been a stronger song on the album.

And so the closer "Dedicated Warlord" this kicks in heavier than "Cheap Death" and the fast guitars over the simple but fast and effective drum beat line up perfectly for the rough vocals to enter with more brutality than earlier tracks particularly while growling "Warlord!". Once again the clean vocals come in for the chorus and while there is enough in the music to sustain the heaviness I think this track could maybe have benefited from the harsher vocals all the way through.

While a little formulaic at times with the rigid verse chorus structure the music has enough diversity across the album to prevent this becoming too repetitive and the guitar solos are outstanding in all the tracks. The contrast between clean and heavy vocals works well but again could be mixed up a little more.

This is a solid album and definitely puts Turbyne in my bands to watch out for list!

Check it out for yourselves...

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