Harbinger’s Killer Picks – March 2025

Last Saturday of March, winter’s almost over, and it’s time for the Harbinger’s Killer Picks! Another month stacked with awesome albums and I’ve got my top five picks for the LPs I enjoyed the most, in chronological release order.

First, Seattle, Washington doom metal duo Year of the Cobra returned after a six-year absence with their phenomenal self-titled album via the Prophecy Productions label on February 28^th. I first discovered this band in 2019 with the release of their second LP, Ash and Dust. I then proceeded to buy their other LP, ...In the Shadows Below (2016), and their two EPs, Burn Your Dead (2017) and The Black Sun EP (2015). I was blown away and couldn’t believe that this band only consisted of drum and bass. What? No guitars? Nope. Bassist/vocalist Amy Tung Barrysmith and partner, drummer Jon Barrysmith, have proven since their inception in 2015 that they are a powerhouse and do totally fine without a guitar in the mix. They’ve been one of my favourite bands of the last ten years and I was eagerly anticipating this new album. They hadn’t been completely quiet in the past six years, popping up on compilation albums from time to time. Amy also fronted the two Slower albums last year and I knew it was just a question of time until the dynamic duo returned with a proper collection of songs worthy of their crushing doom metal brand of music.

Year of the Cobra, the album, is nothing short of breathtaking. From the thick and heavy opener, the second single “Full Sails”; the riffs galore of the first single “War Drop”; the absolute earworm that is “Daemonium”; the infectious drumming rhythm of “Alone” paired with Amy’s formidable vocals; the vintage YOTC sound found on “7 Years”; the melodic, more mainstream-sounding “The Darkness”; “Sleep” which will make you nod your head and pump your fist; to the perfect coda, the aptly titled “Prayer”, a gorgeous, contemplative and gentle gem of a song featuring Amy on keyboards. If you like your doom metal low and slow, then you’ll love Year of the Cobra’s latest masterpiece. It’s got a grungy vibe at times that I really dig and showcases a different side of the duo that we hadn’t seen before on their previous offerings. Year of the Cobra is a feast for the ears. Whether you’re a long-time fan or this is your first time perusing their music—and I envy you for the delights you are about to unearth—this LP is stunning from top to bottom. Only time will tell, but this may very well be their finest record to date. It certainly is my album of the month and a definite contender for the coveted Album of the Year spot.

Year of the Cobra on Bandcamp

Prophecy Productions’ Bandcamp Page for YOTC

Second, post rock/heavy psych instrumental Italian trio Ikitan are back with their first full-length album, Shaping the Chaos, which was released on March 7^th. I first found out about this band in 2020 when they released their fantastic 20 minute and 20 seconds one-track EP titled Twenty-Twenty. I also conducted an interview with them back in August 2021. They followed up that release with a double single in December 2021, Darvaza y Brinicle, which was released as an EP on cassette and included “Twenty-Twenty” on Side B with the two singles “Darvaza” and “Brinicle” on side A. Their music has a unique quality to it that stands out from your everyday instrumental tracks thrown on an album as filler tracks. Shaping the Chaos is no different. The album includes those two catchy instrumentals as well as seven new pieces. Recorded over the last four years, the finished product showcases the band’s evolution and dedication to their craft. It features terrific guitar licks, heavy bass lines, and a thunderous drum sound. Apart from the afore-mentioned tunes, some of the highlights for me include the bass-driven, proggy opener “Chicxulub”; the album’s lead single, a riff-fuelled jam titled “Sailing Stones”—in relation to the name of the band, Ikitan, who is the alleged god of the sound of the stones; the majestic “Natron”, grand in scope, featuring a violin that beautifully complements the track; and “Bung Fai Phaya Nak”, a superb, gentler piece that is at times whimsical. Ikitan has gone to great lengths to deliver a memorable instrumental album in which each piece shapes its own identity. Fans of stoner, heavy psych, prog, and metal will find a lot to love on Shaping the Chaos.

Ikitan on Bandcamp

Third, veteran Greek stoner and heavy psych quartet Nightstalker made their triumphant return on March 14^th via Heavy Psych Sounds Records with their seventh album, Return from the Point of No Return. I wasn’t familiar with this band, even though they’ve been around since 1994, and upon receiving the promo e-mail, at first, I mistook them for the great French metal band Nightreaper. Anyhow, it rapidly proved to be a great find as I got hooked right away from the first few bars of the heavy opener, the kick-ass “Dust” which is desert rock at its finest. “Heavy Trippin”, the first single, is more laid-back while the second single, “Uncut” is an absolute banger and my favourite song on the album by a mile. Next up, the title track and third single, is a distorted, pounding tune while “Shipwrecked Powder Monkey” is a cool, slow jam. Lead singer Argy Galiatsatos’ vocals are highly reminiscent of Ozzy’s on the two last songs, the head-bobbing “Falling Inside” and the longest track of the record, the wandering “Flying Mode.” If you’re looking for a record that seriously rocks, Return from the Point of No Return delivers the goods aplenty. It’s an album filled with contrasting songs, from crushing desert rock to more languid bluesy riffs with Sabbathian undertones. Honestly, I wasn’t prepared for how much I’d enjoy this record and it keeps getting better with every new listen. Return from the Point of No Return is quite the achievement for Nightstalker.

Heavy Psych Sounds Records’ Bandcamp Page for Nightstalker

Fourth, San Francisco thrash metal legends Heathen returned with a killer live album titled Bleed the World: Live on March 14^th via Nuclear Blast Records. I’d lost track of this band since the ‘90s and was happy to hear that they were still alive and kicking. They might have released only four albums in the span of 35 years, but they are simply fantastic performers live. The album features performances recorded in several cities across the United States during their 2023 tour. Bleed the World is not a full concert though; the band wanted the LP to fit on a single vinyl, hence this 40-minute, 9-track album. It’s the only gripe I have with it: It’s too damn short! I would’ve loved a full show from them, or at least a double live album. As it stands, Bleed the World is a splendid sampler of their four LPs and a great introduction to the band for newcomers. We get four excellent tracks (including a short instrumental) from their 2020 record, Empire of the Blind: “This Rotting Sphere”, “The Blight”, “Empire of the Blind”, and “Sun in My Hand.” The latter song is the live album’s lead-off single and has now become my favourite Heathen song ever. It’s catchy, melodic, and showcases the band’s old school roots with a modern edge. There’s a terrific song from 2010’s The Evolution of Chaos, “Dying Season”; the dazzling “Hypnotized” from 1991’s Victims of Deception; and two songs from their awesome debut LP, 1987’s Breaking the Silence, with the memorable “Goblin’s Blade” as well as their exceptional cover of Sweet’s 1974 avant-garde metal number, “Set Me Free.” I’m a huge fan of live albums. Given the choice between a band’s Greatest Hits album or a live record, I’ll pick the live LP any day of the week. Heathen’s Bleed the World: Live is a first-rate live record that deserves a spot in your Heathen LP collection or any metalhead’s audio library. It’s definitely one of the best metal releases of 2025 thus far. My interest in Heathen has now been renewed and I can’t wait to hear their next studio album.       

Heathen on Bandcamp

Nuclear Blast Records’ Bandcamp Page for Heathen

Fifth, Lady Beast unleashed their fifth LP and ninth release overall yesterday titled The Inner Alchemist via German boutique metal label Dying Victims Productions. This old school metal band from Pittsburgh has been unleashing awesome metal since 2009. They’re a cross between Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, and Motorhead. It’s been five years since their excellent previous LP, The Vulture’s Amulet, and four years since their last EP, the stellar Omens. Deborah Levine’s imposing vocals lead this band like a general commanding an army. The three singles (“Oracle's Omen”, “Inner Alchemist”, and “Off with Her Head”) are a top-notch representation of the nine-song collection that is The Inner Alchemist: killer tunes with brilliant guitar solos and catchy riffs with an unforgiving rhythm section. The highlights of the LP for me, however, are the gentle tune “Starborn” that turns ferocious with galloping guitars, and the menacing mystical metal of “Crone's Crossroads”, which gets my vote for best track of the album. “Feed Your Fire” is fast and melodic; “Witch Light” is a marvellous instrumental with its guitar frenzy; and “The Wild Hunt” is a solid meat-and-potatoes metal track. The Inner Alchemist is yet another outstanding release from this beloved traditional metal quintet. If you’re familiar with Lady Beast, then you know what to expect and they always deliver. If you’re not acquainted with this powerful metal beast, then you’re in for a hell of a good time. Long live Lady Beast!

Lady Beast on Bandcamp

Dying Victims Productions’ Bandcamp Page for Lady Beast

And another issue of the HKP has come and gone, folks! The April issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks will drop on April 26^th. Until then, stay safe and crank up the tunes!

Celebrate MLB’s Opening Day with a Baseball Short Story!

Greetings! Today is the day baseball fans have been waiting for: Opening Day! As a huge baseball fan, I’m stoked to watch my Cubbies get back in action (sure, we had the two games in Japan last week, but now baseball will be back for good). To celebrate the occasion, I’m publishing a Redux version of my 2018 baseball tale, “Scapegoat”, initially penned under the pseudonym Neal Vandar. It was only available as a free PDF in the past, but as of today, it’s now available on all Amazon markets on Kindle at the low price of $0.99 US / $1.42 CAD. I hadn’t read it since I first wrote it in 2018. Not to toot my own horn, but I’m just as proud of it now as when I wrote it. In fact, I’d say “Scapegoat” is one of my Top 3 best short stories. I polished it a bit and gave it a brand-new cover from a photo taken by yours truly at Chicago’s Wrigley Field. And it’s not just for baseball fans; I can promise you that even if you don’t know anything/or don’t care about baseball, if you like suspenseful time travel tales, then you’ll get a kick out of it. Here’s the official synopsis:

SCAPEGOAT is a short fantasy tale about baseball, the curse of the Cubs, time travel, and a whole lot of nostalgia. Sam Burke is a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. He has a special gift—or curse—depending on how one looks at it. If he concentrates hard enough and if the circumstances are just right, he can time-shift to transport himself to a different time and location for a few brief moments. More often than not, he fails and nothing happens. One afternoon at Wrigley Field, he attempts to time-shift to a fateful Cubs game in October 2003. To his surprise, he succeeds, but something goes wrong and he seems to be stuck there. He’ll soon realize that he’s in way over his head after he tries to change History. Will Sam be able to fix things and return to his own timeline?

You can purchase it through this link on Amazon.com for folks in the U.S.

Or you can pick it up via this link on Amazon.ca for my fellow Canuck readers.

Enjoy “Scapegoat” and the 2025 baseball season! I’ll keep you posted in the weeks to come on more updates about my sci-fi short story, “Anomaly”, including some artwork reveal. Until next time, happy reading! 

Harbinger’s Killer Picks – February 2025

The Harbinger’s Killer Picks is back in your life! Issue number 2 is here. This month was filled with an overload of great albums and I couldn’t narrow it down to only five, so I have a whopping nine picks for the LPs I listened to and enjoyed the most for February and March releases, in chronological release order.

Before I get started though, I’d just like to take a moment to say that I’ve left Twitter about three weeks ago, and that goes for both of my accounts (Harbinger of Doom and my Alan Draven author account). I refuse to continue to contribute anything to a platform that is owned by the dangerous, evil, megalomaniac Elon Musk. I don’t usually mix serious issues/politics with my work/art, but this is where I draw the line. The two accounts are still live and I won’t delete them (you never know if one day he doesn’t decide to sell the platform), but don’t look for me there anymore as I’ve logged out. Instead, you can find me on Bluesky (where I’ve been for the past three months) under my author name Alan Draven. This is my only Bluesky account and it will serve for both my author and Harbinger of Doom needs. Feel free to follow me there: @alandraven.bsky.social

Now that that’s out of the way, on to the albums. First, long-time readers of this blog are well aware by now that KISS is my favourite band of all-time. So, when a new project or release that’s KISS-related surfaces, you can bet it’ll get my attention. Such is the case when Kenn Nardi, of the outstanding KISS-centric franKENstein Creations YouTube channel, released on February 7^th an expanded musical theater version of KISS’s Music from The Elder, retitling it A World Without Heroes. The Elder has always been one of my Top 5 favourite KISS LPs and Kenn just made it even better! This, ladies and gents, is a work of art! Expanded to 26 songs, adding Elder-era tracks like “Nowhere to Run”, “Take Me Away (Together As One)”, and “I’m a Legend Tonight”, as well as Psycho Circus’ “Journey of 1,000 Years”—trust me, those songs all fit perfectly within this new narrative Kenn has spun—this 1hr45mins double LP deserves to be heard by every KISS fan, even those who hate The Elder (and Lord knows there’re a lot of you!). This is the true KISS concept album we’ve always wanted.

Kenn is like a mad scientist; as he did with KISS’s Hotter Than Hell a few months ago, he took very specific existing guitar/drum/bass parts from original KISS tunes and reconstructed the songs to some extent. He tweaked and rearranged some tracks, sometimes altering the lyrics slightly with Gene/Paul’s actual vocals to make them fit this new storyline. You can read about Kenn’s process in the video description on his YouTube channel and even listen to him talk about it at length with Mike Brandvold and Mark Cicchini on this week’s episode of the awesome KISS Podcast Three Sides of the Coin (links below). Kenn also made a gorgeous 30-page program to follow along as you’re playing the album. It really immerses the listener into a full-blown musical in two acts. It allows you to experience the story in great depth with details on the setting of each scene, who the characters are, the song lyrics, and more. The best part of all this is that it’s absolutely FREE!! I encourage you all to follow Kenn’s YouTube channel and share your thoughts on his work. He’s a super passionate KISS fanatic who puts a lot of time and effort into his reworkings of KISS songs and albums. His channel truly is a treasure trove of cool KISS remixes. While A World Without Heroes may be geared toward the more hardcore KISS fans, the rest of his channel’s content is bound to please even casual KISS and hard rock music enthusiasts.

franKENstein Creations’ YouTube Page for A World Without Heroes (MP3 download link in the video’s description) 

Three Sides of the Coin’s Interview with Kenn

Second, iconic prog metal giants Dream Theater returned with their 16^th album, Parasomnia, on February 7^th. I must admit that I’m a casual Dream Theater fan, so I really can’t tell how this new LP stacks up against the rest of their catalogue. I was introduced to them back in 1997 by a buddy of mine. I proceeded to pick up their Images & Words and A Change of Seasons albums on CD. I love both dearly but for whatever reason, I never followed their career after that and have only heard a handful of their songs since. Fast forward to Parasomnia for which I’d heard the first three singles and enjoyed at least two of them. For me, “Midnight Messiah”, while a straightforward tune, is the catchiest song on here and is my favourite track of the LP, followed closely by “Night Terror”, the first single. Clocking in at 71 minutes, which isn’t out of the norm for DT, the album flows harmoniously like a river with intermittent waves and rocky undercurrents. From the opening cut, “In the Arms of Morpheus”, an eclectic roller coaster instrumental which serves as a good sampler for what follows leading up to the epic nearly 20-minute closer, “The Shadow Man Incident”, which could be construed as the flipside to the opener, it’s a solid and diverse record. Another track worthy of mention is the almost poppy, at times Pink Floydesque “Bend the Clock”, a terrific song showcasing LaBrie’s vocals and the band’s musicianship in all its glory. I have a feeling Parasomnia will end up on many Dream Theater and prog metal fans’ Top Albums of the Year list at the end of 2025. Will it be on mine? Probably not, but I do believe it’s a strong release that is every bit worthy of the quality associated with the Dream Theater brand that fans have come to expect.

Inside Out Music’s Bandcamp Page for Dream Theater

Third, Houston's occult rock quartet Warlung released their fifth album, The Poison Touch, on February 14^th via Heavy Psych Sounds Records. A follow-up to their excellent 2022 outing, Vulture’s Paradise, this latest record is their most accomplished yet. It’s got a cool ‘70s vibe throughout and that always scores brownie points with me. It feels like a concept album of sorts. The highlights for me are the second single, “White Light Seeker”, which is probably the catchiest track on here; the ambitious centerpiece, the epic nine-minute long “Spell Speaker” featuring a splendid guitar solo; the slower-paced “The Sleeping Prophet”; and the first single, “29th Scroll, 6th Verse”, which ebbs and flows like a tidal wave with its slick retro sound. Warlung fans rejoice! The boys are back and better than ever. The Poison Touch is stacked with great tunes from beginning to end. If you’re new to the band, The Poison Touch is a great way to get acquainted with them.

Heavy Psych Sounds Records’ Bandcamp Page for Warlung

Fourth, Blackie Lawless and his winged assassins, W.A.S.P., put out a surprise digital release of their Bonus Tracks and B-Sides CD on Valentine’s Day. Taken from their gorgeous 7 Savage: 1984-1992 CD Boxset that came out in January, the release contains 15 tracks culled mostly from the bonus tracks featured on the deluxe editions of their first four LPs. For some reason, W.A.S.P. always flew under my radar and I wasn’t exposed to their music growing up in the ‘80s. Aside from their big hits “I Wanna Be Somebody” and “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)”, and their reputation for shocking live shows back in the day, I wasn’t that familiar with their music. That all changed last summer when I stumbled upon clips of their Album One Alive Tour. I liked what I heard so I proceeded to purchase their 1984 debut LP, their 1992 masterpiece The Crimson Idol, and their most recent album of new material, 2015’s Golgotha. Blackie Lawless is such an underrated singer and songwriter; he truly is one of the best in the business and I find he’s gotten even better with age. I instantly fell in love with the band and Golgotha, particularly, shot straight to my Top 30 favourite metal albums of all-time. If you haven’t heard it, I urge you to give it a spin, it’s absolutely phenomenal and very moving at times. The 7 Savage Boxset was a little too pricey for my budget so I skipped it, but I’m thrilled that this bonus tracks CD has now been released digitally. I picked it up without hesitating and I also purchased their 1987 Live…In the Raw album on the same occasion. That’s another must-have release, by the way.

Anyhow, back to this Bonus Tracks and B-Sides release. It features the afore-mentioned anthem, “Animal (Fuck Like a Beast)”, a dazzling cover of the Stones’ perennial hit “Paint It Black”, a thunderous rendition of Led Zep’s “When the Levee Breaks”, and a stunning take on Mountain’s “Mississippi Queen” which surpasses the original, in my humble opinion. Other tunes like “Savage”, “Lake of Fools”, and “War Cry” showcase the band’s diversity and Blackie’s ability to sing a wide range of musical styles. Bonus Tracks and B-Sides is a great companion to your W.A.S.P. album collection and a terrific old school metal LP from top to bottom. W.A.S.P. and non-W.A.S.P. fans will find something to cheer about in this eclectic collection of songs spanning their early years before the band sang less about partying and focused on more serious and mature issues. If anything, it’s a great way to get warmed up with Blackie & company before delving into their back catalogue. Do yourself a favour and pick this one up and grab one or two more of their LPs while you’re at it, you won’t regret it! MadfishMusic’s Bandcamp has a lot of their older albums while W.A.S.P.’s official Bandcamp has a handful of their more recent releases, including Golgotha.

MadfishMusic’s Bandcamp Page for Bonus Tracks and B-Sides

W.A.S.P. on Bandcamp

Fifth, Swedish heavy rock quartet Temple of Discord are set to release their debut LP, In the Ashes, via the mighty Ripple Music label on February 21^st. When I first heard that a new band fronted by Wytch guitarist Mattias Marklund was formed, I got instantly excited. Wytch’s 2021 Exordium LP is one of my favourite records of the last five years and, in my humble opinion, one of the best LPs ever released on the Ripple Music label. Marklund handles both guitar and vocal duties this time around and Temple of Discord’s music is more in the vein of heavy rock than the occult rock we were treated to with Wytch. The highlights for me are the second single, “Black Out the Sun”, which is also my favourite track and the catchiest tune of the LP; “Razor Me”, a song reminiscent of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds; the kick-ass, punky “All Their Lies”, and the closing track, the meditative “Rails”. While this LP isn’t on the same level as Wytch’s, it’s still a solid effort that will tide us over until Wytch release their sophomore album. Fans of that band owe it to themselves to check out In the Ashes and heavy rock aficionados are sure to find something they’ll like as well.

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Temple of Discord

Sixth, veteran German metal band Brainstorm will unleash their 14^th LP, Plague of Rats, via Reigning Phoenix Music on February 28^th. I hadn’t heard any of the quartet’s albums prior to Plague of Rats, but this was a great discovery for me. The second single, “Beyond Enemy Lines”, opens the album in classic metal fashion with a jolt of vigour. The first single, “Garuda (Eater of Snakes)”, follows and it’s one of the catchiest tunes on the LP. Other highlights for me include the ballady duet “Your Soul That Lingers in Me”; the high-energy “Masquerade Conspiracy”; the melodic earworm that is “The Dark of Night”, and the sing-along rock metal of “Crawling” which may very well be my fave track of the LP. Brainstorm delivers the metal goods aplenty. Plague of Rats is a fine album and while it doesn’t reinvent the wheel, it’s consistent throughout and should satisfy Brainstorm fans as well as old school metal enthusiasts.

Reigning Phoenix Music’s Page for Brainstorm

Seventh, Dirkschneider, former Accept frontman Udo Dirkschneider’s band, will unleash a reimagined version of Accept’s seminal 1983 LP titled Balls to the Wall RELOADED on February 28^th via powerhouse metal label Reigning Phoenix Music. I used to have the title cut on a metal compilation many moons ago on tape in the ‘80s during my teenage years. Apart from that, I have to confess that I’d never listened—to my knowledge, at least—to any other song from Accept until a few weeks ago. So, I went and sought out Accept’s original Balls to the Wall LP on YouTube to take it for a spin. I gotta say, it’s pretty good and it allowed me to appreciate a little more what Dirkschneider and friends did with this reloaded iteration. To be fair, I much prefer Accept’s original version of the songs, but that’s not to say these new renditions don’t stand on their own for modern audiences or even for fans of Accept or Udo Dirkschneider. For one thing, this is a duets album, meaning each of the ten tracks features Udo and a well-known metal legend collaborating together on the songs. The title track features Joakim Brodén of Sabaton; “London Leatherboys" has Saxon’s Biff Byford singing along, and we also get a star-studded cast of singers on subsequent tracks such as Mille Petrozza of Kreator, Nils Molin of Amaranthe, Michael Kiske of Helloween, Ylva Eriksson of Brothers of Metal, Danko Jones, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister, Tim “Ripper” Owens of Judas Priest & KK’s Priest, and the lovely Doro Pesch on “Winter Dreams”, which is one of the highlights of the album for me. Balls to the Wall RELOADED is chock-full of catchy metal riffs, arena anthems, fiery guitar solos, and reinvigorated rock ‘n’ roll classics. While I’m sure this LP won’t become the go-to release to listen to this vintage set of Accept tunes, Balls to the Wall RELOADED does reignite a spark to some old classic songs with a fresh approach. Old school metal fans everywhere should give this energetic new take to Balls to the Wall a listen; it’s a record that is as relevant as ever that’s been given a new lease on life.

Reigning Phoenix Music’s Page for Dirkschneider

Eighth, Swedish prog rock quartet Nebula Nine are getting ready for takeoff with their debut EP, The Last Sky Piercer, to be released on February 28^th. This four-track EP is a thing of beauty! From the gentle, melodic opener “Sky Piercer”; the superb traditional prog number “Terminal” with its nod to classic ‘70s prog with a modern edge; the hypnotic and heavy first single, “Blood Red Eyes”; to the meditative, drifting-in-space mood of “Maroons” as a closing track. The Last Sky Piercer is a multi-layered, highly-textured sonic experience that fully puts the musicianship of its band members on display. It’s a short, sci-fi concept album with a theme of a hopeful future for mankind. Fans of Yes, King Crimson, and Pink Floyd will find a lot to like here. Nebula Nine has a promising future in our universe and I, for one, am looking forward to hearing more from them.

Nebula Nine on Spotify

Ninth, Lordi, the legendary Finnish rock/metal band will return with their 19^th studio album, Limited Deadition, on March 21^st via Reigning Phoenix Music. This record is a ton of fun, folks. Lordi first came to my attention in 2006 with their now classic song “Hard Rock Hallelujah” when they won the Eurovision Song Contest that year. I bought their The Arockalypse (2006) album back then, but I sort of lost track of them in the years that followed, only hearing/seeing some of their songs pop up on YouTube over the course of the last fifteen years. And then Limited Deadition landed in my inbox about a month and a half ago and I gave it a spin. It instantly rekindled my interest for this wild and crazy band. This album is ten shades of awesome and features some of the best songs I’ve ever heard from Lordi. With a theme of ‘80s toys and the usual tongue-in-cheek horror references, it’s jam-packed with energetic, synth-driven hard rock earworms.

Some of the highlights for me include the catchy “Legends Are Made of Clichés”; the excellent 1^st single, “Syntax Terror”; the proggy “Killharmonic Orchestra”; the ode to horror flicks and horror magazine “Fangoria”; the 3^rd single, the clever “Hellizabeth”; and the super fun closing track, “You Might Be Deceased”. Limited Deadition contains sixteen tracks, including five cool humoristic adverts, and clocks in at 45 minutes. It’s hard to tell if long-time fans will dig this LP as much as I did since I haven’t kept in touch with the monster band’s output over the course of the last decade. I can at least promise that you’ll have a good time listening to this record. It’s infectious and it is proof that Lordi are still relevant today, well over thirty years since their inception. Newcomers to the band who’ve never had a chance to sample the band’s weird brand of rock/metal will most likely get a big kick out of Limited Deadition as it’s a very accessible record and one that goes down easy like a cold beer on a hot summer day. In any case, I declare Limited Deadition my album of the month and certainly a worthy contender for the Top Ten Albums of the Year list.

Reigning Phoenix Music’s Page for Lordi

And that’s all she wrote for the year's second, massive issue of HKP, folks! The March issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks will drop on March 29^th. Until then, stay safe and crank up the tunes! 

Harbinger’s Killer Picks – January 2025

Happy New Year everyone! The first Harbinger’s Killer Picks of 2025 has arrived! I’ve got a leftover release from 2024 as well as four hot picks from recent and upcoming January/February 2025 releases. Here’s hoping 2025 will be as great or surpass the phenomenal year that 2024 was for music. Without further ado, here are my top five picks in chronological release order.

First, Metallica’s Helping Hands 2024 benefit show took place on Friday, December 13^th at the intimate YouTube Theater in Los Angeles. The show was broadcast on December 19^th on YouTube and made available for purchase as MP3s and lossless audio on their Live Metallica Website on December 23^rd, just in time for Christmas. This is a fantastic show from top to bottom, featuring a very different setlist than on their current M72 Tour. The first five songs are semi-acoustic and then the band goes fully electric for the next eight tunes. The concert opens with a great rendition of a track from Reload, “Low Man’s Lyric”, which hadn’t been played live since 1998. Then we get a cover of Diamond Head’s “Helpless”, a Garage Days gem performed semi-acoustically. We move on to a superb Bachman-Turner Overdrive cover, “Away from Home”, which I’d never heard Metallica cover before. To close out the semi-acoustic set, we’re treated to gorgeous renditions of “If Darkness Had a Son” and “Nothing Else Matters” with a little help from the SistaStrings duo on violin and cello.

Then the boys plug in to play their instrumental masterpiece “Orion” followed by a rare performance of one of my favourite songs from And Justice for All, “The Shortest Straw.” Then they hit the Load album with “Until It Sleeps”, a song that has aged gracefully; I personally enjoy it a lot more now than when it was first released back in 1996. Afterwards it’s on to a kick-ass rendering of “Screaming Suicide” from 72 Seasons followed by another tune not often played live, “The Unforgiven II” from Reload, performed for the first time in nine years. Up next, a phenomenal, swampy version of “Fuel”, also from Reload, a song that’s vastly improved over the years. After that, Pearl Jam bassist Jeff Ament joins the band for a blistering performance of “Hit the Lights” off of Kill ‘Em All and they close out the show with their perennial classic, “Master of Puppets.” Whether you’re a casual Metallica fan or you’ve been listening to them since the ‘80s, Helping Hands 2024 is an outstanding live set from the titans of metal that belongs in any metalhead’s music collection.

Metallica on the Live Metallica site: https://www.livemetallica.com//live-music/0,853/Metallica-mp3-flac-download-12-13-2024-YouTube-Theater-Los-Angeles-CA.html

Second, alternative/progressive metal band Suns of the Tundra (SOTT) have just released a 20^th Anniversary Remix of their self-titled debut album on January 12^th. The London and Cardiff band’s original lineup for this record was formed of Simon Oakes on vocals/guitar, Andrew Prestidge on drums/keyboards, and Rob Havis on bass. The previous iteration of the band was known as Peach GB in the 1990s before they split up and bassist Justin Chancellor left to join American prog metal band Tool. Some of these new remixes use new rhythm guitar parts from Mark Moloney who joined the band in 2005 and has been an integral part ever since. I wasn’t familiar with SOTT prior to listening to this record and shame on me—they’re absolutely amazing! Their debut album sounds like it could’ve been recorded now so much it sounds fresh—a testament to how well it’s aged over the last twenty years. The kick-ass first single, “Paper Wraps Stone”, is reminiscent of Tool, which is a comparison I’m sure they’d rather avoid but I make it as a compliment and if you’re a fan of that band, it’ll give you a good indication whether you’d enjoy SOTT or not. “Telescopic Misanthropy” and “Minus” are infectious tunes that stick with you. “Redeye” might be my favourite track of the LP; it has a lot going on musically. “Splinters” is another highlight, a hypnotic song that will put the listeners in a trance. And to cap things off, we have the epic “Syzygy parts I, II & III”, a rhapsody of sorts which initially appeared as three distinct tracks on the 2004 release. Suns of the Tundra, the band and the album, are well-worth your time and ears. Whether you’re a long-time fan or like me, are just hearing about them for the first time, their remixed self-titled debut is a terrific way to discover/re-discover their music before perusing the rest of their catalogue with more recent LPs such as 2019’s Murmuration and 2023’s The Only Equation. Fans of prog metal in general will have a blast with this record.

Suns of the Tundra on Bandcamp: https://sunsofthetundra.bandcamp.com/album/suns-of-the-tundra-20th-anniversary-remix

Third, doom legends Pentagram return with their ninth studio album and their first in ten years, titled Lightning in a Bottle, on January 31^st. Full disclosure: I always found Pentagram to be highly overrated and haven’t enjoyed any of their previous albums. I like a handful of their songs, but that’s about it. Frontman and founder Bobby Liebling is notoriously hard to work with and the band has gone through more than a dozen roster changes over the years. They seem to have landed a top-tier lineup for this record, consisting of guitar maestro Tony Reed of Mos Generator and Stone Axe, Scooter Haslip on bass (also of Mos Generator), and Henry Vasquez on drums of Saint Vitus fame. I have to say, this is in my opinion the band’s most solid album to date. The catchy two singles, “Thundercrest” and “Live Again”, are representative of the overall sound of the LP. The very personal “Lady Heroin” is another highlight as well as “Solve the Puzzle”, while the title track with its heavy riff gets my vote for best track of the album. Whether you’re a long-time fan of the band or have never been impressed by their output, I recommend taking Lightning in a Bottle for a spin, you’re bound to have a good time listening to it.

Heavy Psych Sounds Records’ Bandcamp page for Pentagram: https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/pentagram-lightning-in-a-bottle

Fourth, Swedish rockers Gin Lady will unleash their seventh opus, Before the Dawn of Time, on February 7^th via the mighty Ripple Music label. This album is a throwback to a plethora of genres from classic rock, roots rock, prog rock, and even acid folk. It’s a very accessible album that’s got a Beatlesque quality to it. From the get-go, “The Paramount” sets the tone for the entire LP; an instant classic in my book. “Mighty River” is a folky, sing-along kind of tune. The second single, “Tingens sanna natur”, which is actually sung in English (The True Nature of Things), is a slower-paced beauty of a song. “Ways to Cross the Sky” is a warm, multi-layered song and one of the LP’s best. The energetic “Turn Back” is the catchiest track on the record. The proggy “Mulberry Bend” has got a cool ‘70s vibe. It’s followed by the mysterious and mystical “The Universe Vibrant Rings” and a great rhythmic tune titled “The Brain.” The piano-driven, ‘60s sounding “Bliss on the Line” takes us to the last track, “You’re a Big Star”, reminiscent of Tom Petty with its retro sound—a definite highlight of the album. Gin Lady is a band whose music instantly puts you in a good mood. Before the Dawn of Time is the first must-own record of 2025 and one of Ripple Music’s finest releases in recent years.

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp page for Gin Lady: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/before-the-dawn-of-time

Fifth, Germany’s alternative/industrial metal band Enemy Inside will release their third record, Venom, via powerhouse metal label Reigning Phoenix Music on February 28^th. I’d been eagerly anticipating this album based on the first couple of singles I’d heard. It’s a very frustrating LP for me. Let me explain. Frequent readers of this blog know of my distaste for extreme metal and all its subsidiaries (black, death metal, etc). To me, growling, barking, or screaming ruins a song, period. Such is the case for many of the songs found on Venom. Now, I know I’m in the minority and that extreme metal has hordes of enthusiasts, so I’m sure that for the vast majority of listeners, this growling will only enhance the songs. In any case, what I found good on this album, I really did enjoy, with catchy gems such as “Should Have Known Better”, “Sayonara”, “What We Used to Be”, “Fuck That Party” and the cool ballad, “Let Me Go.” On the other hand, songs like “Venom”, “Dirt on My Name”, “Innocent”, and “Unburn” were ruined for me by the afore-mentioned growling. I find it a shame that a talented singer like Nastassja Giulia doesn’t use her vocal gifts to simply sing melodically the way she’s proven she can. She sounds like a cross between Britney Spears and Gwen Stefani (I know for metal fans that this sounds like I’m taking a dig at her but it’s not; I mean it as a compliment). Overall, Venom is a fine metal record with pop sensibilities that, were it not for its extreme leanings, I would’ve loved. Unfortunately, I’m just not the target audience for this one but I do recommend it to Enemy Inside fans and anyone who enjoys edgy metal with pop sensibilities.

RPM’s Enemy Inside page: https://reigningphoenixmusic.com/artists/enemy-inside

And we’re done for the first issue of 2025, folks! The February issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks will land on February 22^nd. Until then, stay safe and crank up the tunes! 

Harbinger of D.O.O.M.’s Top 10 Albums of 2024

Happy Holidays everybody! 2024 is almost in the books and it feels like it just flew by! It’s time for my traditional Top Ten Albums of the Year list, and man, did we get a phenomenal year for music once again! I already gave you a preview back in June with my 2024 Mid-Year Top Ten; some of the albums on that list switched places, others have left it entirely to make room for the second half of the year’s releases. These are basically the albums that I find myself going back to the most often. As usual, it strictly contains LPs released in 2024 in the genres and subgenres of Metal and Rock. So, without further ado, here are my ten favourite records of 2024 with a link to my review/killer picks article for each one featuring links to purchase the LPs:

10. VAZUM – Western Violence

9. Ace Frehley – 10,000 Volts

8. Tungsten – The Grand Inferno

7. Flat Black – Dark Side of the Brain

6. Bottomless & Witching Altar – Graveyard Thunder

5. Thrasherwolf - Inside the Sickened Mind

4. All For Metal – Gods of Metal (Year of the Dragon)

3. Bruce Dickinson - The Mandrake Project

2. Sebastian Bach – Child Within the Man

1. Judas Priest – Invincible Shield

And there you have it! I hope my list makes you discover an album that you’d overlooked or not given a spin yet. For regular visitors of the blog, I thank you for tuning in from time to time throughout the year and hope you’ll swing by often again in 2025. I’d also like to thank all the bands, labels, and PR firms for sending me albums week in, week out; I can’t review or talk about everything, but I do my best to shine a light on the music I really enjoy. I’ll see you all at the end of January for the first Harbinger’s Killer Picks of 2025. Until then, Merry Christmas and a healthy Happy New Year to all! 

Harbinger’s Killer Picks – November 2024

The penultimate month of 2024 has arrived! It’s the last Saturday of November, so it’s time for the fifth issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks! It will also be the final one for 2024 as next month I’ll be doing my Top Ten Albums of the Year list instead. Once again, I’ve got some cool music recommendations for you chosen from what I found were the best LPs I listened to this month. So, here are my top five picks for November in chronological release order.

First, Canadian hard rock maestro Ian Blurton returns with his band Future Now for a super cool LP titled Crimes of the City that was released this past October 30^th digitally and on November 15^th on vinyl. This album was a grower for me; I liked it upon first spin but didn’t think it was anything special. On subsequent listens, I really came to dig it a lot. Some highlights for me include “House of Lords”, a cool hard rock number which is definitely my fave track of the LP; the catchy “Cast Away the Stones”; the riff-driven “In Broken Lines”; the melodic “Seventh Sin of Devotion”, and the head-bobbing closing tune “Assailed by the Sun.” Fans of ‘70s & ‘80s classic rock/hard rock will find a lot to love with Crimes of the City; it puts a fresh twist on a tried and true formula.

Ian Blurton’s Future Now on Bandcamp: https://ianblurton.bandcamp.com/album/crimes-of-the-city

Second, doom purveyors Grave Disgrace released a stellar live album on November 6^th titled Live at Lastochka. I’ve loved this band ever since I first heard their Rest in Peace album back in 2020. They’re probably the most underrated old school doom band out there. Here they perform most of their 2023 LP Visions of Tomorrow as well as a couple of tracks from their excellent 2020 Rest in Peace record plus a great track (“Everlasting Fire”) from their 2018 effort Sabbatharium and even a new song, “Mad”, which they had released as a demo back in June. Overall, this is a solid live album from top to bottom and I’d recommend it to fans of old school doom, especially vintage Sabbath as their frontman, Alexey Uvarov, sounds eerily like a young Ozzy at times.

Grave Disgrace on Bandcamp: https://gravedisgrace.bandcamp.com/album/live-at-lastochka

Third, Dying Victims Productions are it again, having released on November 22^nd what was one of my most anticipated metal albums of the fourth quarter—Raptore’s Renaissance. This fresh blend of traditional/speed metal is the follow-up to 2022’s excellent Blackfire. Nico Cattoni and his band have managed to top that LP with this phenomenal gem of a record. Some highlights include the guitar-heavy banger of a single “Satana”, the old school metal goodness of “Abaddon”, the catchy sing-along tune “Requiescat in Pace”, the epic NWOBHM-inspired “Kingdom Come”, and last but not least, what’s probably my fave track with its killer intro, “All Fires the Fire.” Renaissance is a strong contender for the Top Ten Albums of the Year list.

Dying Victims Productions’ Bandcamp page for Raptore: https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/renaissance

Fourth, there’s nothing like British steel to satisfy your metal cravings and Forged in Black will be unleashing a remastered version of their debut LP from 2013, titled Forged in Black Remastered MMXXIV on December 3^rd. I first found out about this band last summer when they did an outstanding cover of Iron Maiden’s “Be Quick or Be Dead” and I went hunting for their music. I’ve been a huge fan ever since and to have their awesome first album remastered/re-released is a special treat. The songs are crisp and punchier than before and the LP sounds like it could have been released this year for the first time. In an album devoid of skippable songs, highlights for me include the kick-ass opening song, “Reins of Sorrow”; the addictive earworm, “Accusations of the Innocent”; the blistering “The Rapture”; the banger of all bangers, “Fortify or Die”, and the now classic, epic title track, “Forged in Black.” We also get two awesome bonus tracks in the form of the title songs to their two EPs from 2013/2014: “The Tide” and “The Exodus.” It’s an LP that has aged like a fine wine. Forged in Black’s debut is absolutely essential for all metal fans.

Forged in Black on Bandcamp: https://forgedinblack.bandcamp.com/

Fifth, German power metal legends Helloween are set to release a new live album titled Live at Budokan on December 13^th via powerhouse metal label Reigning Phoenix Music. The show was recorded back in September of 2023 at the famous Budokan arena in Tokyo, Japan. Brimming with energy, this is a perfect live greatest hits package for new and old fans alike. The band is in rare form and the fifteen tracks included cover most of the band’s impressive catalogue. We get some songs from their 1985 debut album, Walls of Jericho, a bunch of songs from both Keeper of the Seven Keys LPs from 1987-1988, a track from 1994’s Master of the Rings, a couple of tracks from 1996’s The Time of the Oath, as well as four tunes from their latest self-titled album from 2021. Highlights for me include a stellar rendition of “Skyfall”; a kick-ass version of their classic “Eagle Fly Free”; terrific sing-along songs like “Future World” and “Power”; a killer medley; a superb performance of “Best Time”; and a deftly-executed 20-minute interpretation of their masterpiece “Keeper of the Seven Keys.” Chock-full of arena anthems, Helloween show no signs of slowing down after forty years of delivering first rate power metal classics. This solid two-hour show is a testament to their longevity and Live at Budokan will undoubtedly please long-time Helloween fans and serve as a great starter pack for a new generation of fans.

Helloween Online: https://helloween.rpm.link/liveatbudokanWE

And that’s all she wrote, folks! Issue number five of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks has come and gone. Hopefully you’ll discover some great music from those picks. Check back here at the end of December for my Top Ten LPs of 2024. The Harbinger’s Killer Picks will return on January 25^th, 2025. Until then, stay safe and crank up the tunes! 

AMOK THE POWERFUL Pub Day is Here!

Greetings dear readers! The big day has finally arrived: Amok has been unleashed as a 6”X9” trade paperback and digitally on Kindle! Visit your country’s Amazon to purchase a copy of the book. Some Amazon sites may have a few days delay for the paperback to appear but I’m told it should show up on the entire Amazon network very soon. The reference price is $15.99 US for the paperback and $4.99 US for the Kindle. All other sites will adjust their price based on the exchange rate on the day of purchase in your respective country.

Here’s the book’s synopsis:

From the Author of BITTERNEST and NOCTURNAL OFFERINGS Comes a Collection of Eight Connected Sword & Sorcery Tales

Armed with his mystical sword, a young barbarian named Amok and his friend Goyiir the sorceress embark on a quest to seek answers about his forgotten past. As they head west toward the mythical province of Atlantia, the road is long and fraught with peril.

They’ll battle a wide variety of foes ranging from ninjas, spectres, and even aliens as they carve their way through the cycle of seasons. Will Amok and his friends survive to face the nearly-indomitable evil of Atlantia's tyrannical ruler, the Harbinger of Doom?

*** This book is for mature audiences only. It contains explicit adult situations. Discretion is advised. ***

Here are the three main Amazon sites’ Kindle links:

Amok the Powerful on Amazon.com

Amok the Powerful on Amazon.ca

Amok the Powerful on Amazon.co.uk

 

And for the trade paperback:

Amok the Powerful on Amazon.com

Amok the Powerful on Amazon.ca

Amok the Powerful on Amazon.co.uk

In closing, the book received its first early review a few days ago and it’s a 5-star review! Check it out over at Goodreads. Hopefully many more reviews will follow soon. I’ll keep you updated whenever there are mentions or reviews that pop-up about the red-maned barbarian’s book. I’ll also post a sample of the book in the days to come. If you pick up AMOK THE POWERFUL and enjoy it, I’d be very grateful if you took the time to leave a review on Amazon and/or Goodreads to help me spread the word to other potential readers. Word of mouth is what works best to sell books, so tell your friends, family, and work colleagues about this book that is very dear to me. Until next time, happy reading and Long Live Amok!