Tag Archives: Metal Zenith

Brazilian Stoner Rock/Metal quartet Gods & Punks is back with three new tracks. This time they bring a modern take on dealing with issues to the forefront of the lyrics while keeping the music more in line with their historic sound. This album was even recorded differently, using more of the remote technology that came to dominate the music world during the pandemic. There is a mellow vibe to this EP, giving it a laid-back sound and a soothing template. There is a little harshness in the tones, but the tempo leaves you feeling a bit relaxed despite the tension of the lyrical topics.

CrossRoad is a Polish four-piece Heavy/Doom Metal band. Their themes tend towards everything from personal struggles to medieval, covering a range of topics as diverse as their music. Following in the footsteps of doom legends like Pentagram, Trouble, and Black Sabbath, CrossRoad presents a collection of eight tracks that continue the tradition of heavy, doom-laden riffs and dark atmospheres. The album, including a cover of Mech, is a nod to the genre’s roots while showcasing the band’s unique take on doom metal. Take a journey through a sonic wonderland and travel through your mind as you take in everything this debut album has to offer.

King’s X – Tally Ho Theater, Leesburg, VA – March 9, 2024

Out Of Darkness is a Florida-based four-piece band operating primarily in the Classic Power/Progressive Metal realm, though that is nowhere close to everything they bring to bear on this record. The songs are shaded with Modern and Melodic Metal, bringing a classic sound into the new age. Recently, The band took the time to answer a few questions I posed to them in hopes of getting a better feel of who they are as a whole. Their responses pleased me, not just because they answered politely, but because they gave in depth, poignant answers (and cited some of my favorite bands as influences!). Read through and you will see this is a complex band with big ideas and bigger dreams. May the Metal Gods smile upon them!

Apotheus is a four-piece Progressive Metal band from Portugal that loves to weave tales to take you on a musical and lyrical journey. Very cinematic in their approach to songwriting, Ergo Atlas is a concept album that is part two of a story Apotheus is writing based on the works of Isaac Asimov. Recently, they answered some question I posed to them, clarifying a few things that I assumed incorrectly. Read on to find out what inspires them, what they think of AI and even a couple hints to the future. This is a band that write interesting concepts and takes the time to add in elements of current and future times. Part sci-fi, part current events, they straddle the line between now and forever.

Gengis Khan is an Italian Heavy/Speed Metal band formed in 2012. Master Of My Sins is the second EP from the band. They’ve also released three full-length LPs. Bringing in keyboards also adds a Power Metal flair to the mix, especially when added to the Epic/Power Metal style lyrics. Layered vocals, combined with the atmospheric keys bring the sound full circle. The versatility the band exhibits allows them to cross over and through styles while maintaining their signature sound and never losing sight of who they are as a band.

Eternal Returns is a Thrash/Death/Groove Metal band from India formed in 2009. There is a lot of sound coming from this record. Lots of notes in rapid-fire succession, blast beat drumming, chugging guitar riffs, extended screams/growls, and thundering bass create a vast soundscape full of precisely delivered tones. This is a band that likes to explore societal issues and raise self-awareness about things that are important to them. Extreme Metal and social issues go hand in hand. Metal is often a form of activism, speaking truth into brutal riffs and powerful rhythms that create a voice and a force to be reckoned with.

Cryptosis has a sound that defies expectations and limitations with equal intensity. A dizzying blend of visceral extremity, symphonic pomp, and wild, progressive invention showcase a supremely passionate band with a unique and ingenious take on metal’s amorphous rudiments. Elements of Blackened Death, Progressive Thrash, and Grandiose Symphonic Metal are all present and correct, but Cryptosis has combined them in an exhilarating, unprecedented new form that promises to satisfy on both the primal and cerebral levels.

Grave Heist/Coronary Thrombosis/Sickbay/Sacrificial Betrayal – Another Round RVA – Richmond, VA, March 2, 2024

Sacrificial Betrayal/Lost Without/Letcher/The Eylis – Another Round RVA – Richmond, VA, March 1, 2024