Harbinger’s Killer Picks – November 2025

Greetings! We’ve arrived at the last Saturday of November and the final issue of 2025 for the Harbinger’s Killer Picks as next month I’ll be focusing on my Top Ten Albums of the Year. So, one more time, here are my top five picks of the month, in chronological release order.

First, the hottest band in the world, KISS, celebrated two golden anniversaries in late October/early November with deluxe CD/vinyl releases of their 1975 albums Dressed to Kill and the legendary Alive! It’s no secret that KISS is my all-time favourite band so new KISS stuff, especially live albums, is always welcome. They really went all-out with these releases! You get a ton of merch like T-shirts, books, posters, cards, photos, guitar picks, stickers, and of course, CDs and vinyls. And with Ace Frehley’s passing last month, it’s comforting to revisit and celebrate this particular period of peak KISS. Even if you don’t intend to buy these rather pricey sets, you can at least head over to YouTube and listen to a bunch of remastered classic tunes and newly-released demos. For one, Dressed to Kill has never sounded crisper; a much-needed improvement over the existing releases. But the real treasure buried amongst all these bells and whistles is the full soundboard show from May 1975 at Cobo Hall in Detroit. I’ve been waiting for decades to finally listen to it and it is ten shades of awesome! It features 18 tracks and since it can sometimes be hard to track it down in all the playlists on KISS’s YouTube channel, I’ve made a playlist of it on my own YouTube channel. You can find the link below. I urge you to give it a listen; you can thank me later. I just wish they’d put it out as an Off the Soundboard release instead of including it as an extra in a boxed set; the last two Off the Soundboard releases have been seriously lacking. In any case, I’m just thankful it’s available at last in near-pristine sound quality. With KISS’s Landlocked in Vegas electric and acoustic shows (November 14-16) now in the rearview, I guess this concludes 2025 for the KISS Army. I’m excited to see what next year will bring; we’re getting closer to the New Era of KISS (2027) with their digital avatars. It remains to be seen if it’ll be as mind-blowing as they claim it will be. In the meantime, we have plenty of KISS music to listen to, thanks to the incredible body of work they’ve accomplished over the past five decades.     

Dressed to Kill on KISS Online

Alive! on KISS Online

KISS Live at Cobo Hall, May 16^th, 1975 YouTube Playlist

Second, Silver Lining Music released No Life ‘til Leather - A Tribute to Metallica's Kill 'Em All on November 14^th. I love Metallica and I think I love tribute albums even more, especially when the roster featured is this exciting. Featuring a who’s who of the best metal bands around, No Life ‘til Leather is a phenomenal homage to the godfathers of thrash metal. Instead of covering random ‘Tallica tunes, this project covers their classic 1983 debut, Kill 'Em All, from top to bottom. Now that’s my kind of record! Some songs were recorded specifically for the occasion, others have been previously available (Motorhead being an obvious example). There were only two modern bands I wasn’t familiar with: Tailgunner who open the festivities with an awesome rendition of “Hit the Lights” and Soen with their cover of “Motorbreath”—their sound reminded me a bit of Offspring circa 1994, so pretty cool. We also have The Almighty doing “The Four Horsemen”, making it sound as if Metallica had recorded it around ‘96/’97 instead of ’83; Tygers of Pan Tang putting their spin on “Jump in the Fire”; former Megadeth bassist David Ellefson handling the “(Anesthesia) - Pulling Teeth” instrumental (how poetic is that!); Lemmy & Co. doing a fine “Whiplash”; legendary NWOBHM band Saxon putting their stamp on “Phantom Lord”; Diamond Head returning the favour to Metallica who’d covered one of their own tunes—an all-time fave of mine, “Am I Evil?”—by covering “No Remorse”; fellow Californian thrash masters Testament pay their respect with “Seek & Destroy”; and British metallers Raven close things out with a scorching interpretation of “Metal Militia”. No Life ‘til Leather - A Tribute to Metallica's Kill 'Em is an instant classic and one of the best tribute albums I’ve ever heard—and I’ve listened to plenty! If you’re a Metallica fan or an old school thrash metal aficionado, then this belongs in your collection. Go get it now!

No Life ‘til Leather on Spotify

Third, Rockford, Illinois’ classic rock/power pop legends Cheap Trick returned on November 14^th with their twenty-first and final studio album, All Washed Up, marking fifty-plus years in the business! Who hasn’t heard songs like “Surrender” or “I Want You to Want Me” a thousand times? Robin Zander, Rick Nielsen and company excel at writing memorable riffs and catchy lyrics. While I’m not the biggest Cheap Trick fan, I’ve enjoyed a lot of their songs over the past decades and I think they’re a terrific band. The only album of theirs I’ve ever owned is Lap of Luxury (1988) which I bought on tape when it came out. At the time, thirteen-year-old me played the hell out of that tape and to this day, “The Flame” remains my favourite Cheap Trick song. All Washed Up is on par with Cheap Trick’s best LPs, in my humble opinion. From the opening title track, a great rocker to get things going, you know this is gonna be a fun listen. “All Wrong Long Gone" channels AC/DC; the second single, “The Riff That Won't Quit", took a while to grow on me but is a fine song; "Bet It All" with its menacing and gloomy vibe is a highlight of the record, albeit a tad too short for my taste; "The Best Thing" is a lovely Beatlesque ballad; the first single, "Twelve Gates", remains my favourite track of the LP, an instant classic; "Bad Blood" is a reworked demo from the ‘90s, a cool lost classic; "Dancing with the Band" is a high-energy, happy tune; "Love Gone" is another pretty ballad; "A Long Way to Worcester" (pronounced “wustr”) is a laid-back kind of tune; and the short closer "Wham Boom Bang" is a fun track with a retro sound. Overall, this is a strong collection of Cheap Trick songs. Are they all washed up? I don’t think so, but there comes a time for every band to take a bow and retire. It’s always better when a band chooses to exit while they’re still at the top of their game. They leave us with a significant catalog of power pop gems, and man can these guys write great ballads! All Washed Up deserves a place in your music library, or at the very least, a couple of spins to hear what the fuss is about. They will be missed.

Cheap Trick’s Official Website

Fourth, Finnish heavy metal sextet Mausoleum Gate unleashed their third album, Space, Rituals and Magick, via Cruz Del Sur Music on November 14^th. Wow, what a trip this album is! It sounds like an undiscovered gem that was made and produced circa 1980. Analog music lovers will really dig the vibe Mausoleum Gate shoots for with their unique brand of prog rock/heavy metal. The opener, “Vision Divine”, with its organ-driven sound and Jarno Saarinen’s Ozzy-inspired vocals take the listener back in time to the late ‘70s. “Lucifer Shrine” is a prog delight with a heavenly avalanche of synths, almost poppy at times, while the first single, “Sacred Be Thy Throne”, is pitch-perfect and undoubtedly the catchiest track of the record. “Shine the Night” might be my personal favourite, channeling electronic music maestro Vangelis with its synthesiser arrangements, and the title track is a spacey rocker that packs the most energy of all the songs on Space, Rituals and Magick. To close things out, the almost gentle “Witches Circle” is an epic eight-minute number that showcases a softer side of the band. A way to describe Mausoleum Gate would be to say that its Emerson, Lake & Palmer meets Black Sabbath. Or Deep Purple with Rick Wakeman on keyboards and Ozzy on vocals. It’s certainly Finnish prog metal at its best with sometimes weird lyrics about the occult and Lucifer in a cheerful kind of way, if that makes any sense. In any case, it’s a ton of fun to listen to. Space, Rituals and Magick has got cult record written all over it! It will make its way to my Top Ten Albums of the Year list with a vengeance.

Mausoleum Gate on Bandcamp

Fifth, Richmond, Indiana’s stoner metal quartet (and sometimes quintet?) Wolftooth returned with their fourth LP, Wizard’s Light, via the mighty Ripple Music on November 21^st. A great blend of Sabbath and The Sword with a dash of Maiden, this band first came to my attention when they brilliantly covered KISS’s “100,000 Years”. I’ll admit that this LP was a grower for me; I found it decent the first time around, liked it the second time, and really dug it the third time I took it for a spin. Chris Sullivan’s vocals are eerily reminiscent of vintage Ozzy at times and it just adds to the retro vibe of this record. The lyrics feature plenty of fantasy and metal themes to go along with arena-ready riffs paired with a bunch of headbanging guitar solos on top of thumping basslines and pounding drums. After a brief, mysterious instrumental intro, the riff-heavy “Sightless Archer” starts things off with a bang, followed by the infectious second single, “Darkened Path”. The title track comes next, arguably my favourite song on the album; it’s a perfect metal tune in every aspect. Next up, “Sands of Redemption”, a superb track with a tremendous guitar solo; other highlights include “Armor of Steel”, a powerful battle hymn, and the latest single, “All Father”, which is certainly the doomiest song of this ten-pack of epic gemstones. Wizard’s Light is one of Ripple Music’s best releases of 2025. It’s a solid slab of old school metal with a stoner slant, catchy and melodic, that is guaranteed to satisfy heavy music fans across the land.

Wolftooth on Bandcamp

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Wolftooth

And that’s a wrap, folks! I’ll be back on December 27^th for the last time in 2025 to reveal my Top Ten Albums of what turned out to be another memorable year for metal and heavy rock. Until then, stay safe, and crank up the tunes! 

Harbinger’s Killer Picks – October 2025

Halloween is just around the corner and we’ve arrived at the last Saturday of October! It’s time for the Harbinger’s Killer Picks. Autumn is the most stacked time of the year for new releases so I’ve got plenty for you this month. So, without further ado, here are my top eight picks for October, in chronological release order.

First, local Québec francophone rock ‘n’ roll heroes Vilain Pingouin are back to complete their trilogy of EPs which started in 2018 with Coup d’coeur followed by 2022’s Coup d’main and culminates with Coup de grâce which came out on September 30^th. The band is on its final tour across Québec at the moment and this is their final EP/album. Lead singer Rudy Caya has said that he will continue to make music but it will be via different projects in other music genres such as hip hop, reggae, electronic, heavy metal, jazz, and blues. I, for one, look forward to hearing whatever the man does. I’d been eagerly awaiting this four-track EP ever since the release of the catchy first single, “Eh oh!”, this summer. Vilain Pingouin is my all-time favourite French-singing band and their 1990 self-titled debut album is a desert island disc for me; a stellar record from top to bottom that I still listen to regularly to this day. Coup de grâce is a fitting way to end; three terrific songs and a superb instrumental. If you’re into hard rock, francophone music, or just love solid songwriting, pick it up (as well as the other two equally awesome EPs). For whatever reason, the EP isn’t on Bandcamp with the rest of their discography (only the lead single is), but I’m posting the link to their BC page and to Spotify where you can listen to the whole thing. Les pingouins nous quittent sur une bonne note! (The penguins exit on a strong note).

Vilain Pingouin on Bandcamp

Coup de grâce EP on Spotify

Second, New Jersey’s Ruby the Hatchet celebrated the tenth anniversary of their breakthrough album, 2015’s Valley of the Snake, by doing a live in-studio re-recording of it back in February-March earlier this year over at Retro City Studios in Philadelphia, PA. It’s an unexpected follow-up to 2022’s masterpiece, Fear Is a Cruel Master. The results are phenomenal and even outclass the original LP, in my humble opinion. Valley of the Snake: Live to Tape at Retro City was released on October 3^rd, exclusively on vinyl. When you purchase the vinyl, you get a bonus digital download with it. You can listen to the entire album on YouTube at the link below. They’d also released a bonus digital track back in September from the same sessions; a cover of Quarterflash’s 1981 gem “Harden My Heart”. I won’t get into a track-by-track rundown, but two of the highlights of the six-track LP are definitely the acoustic renditions of “Heavy Blanket” and “Tomorrow Never Comes”. Bottom line is, get the vinyl or listen to it on YouTube, buy the digital track; find a way to get this LP to your ears ASAP, you won’t regret it. Jillian Taylor’s soulful vocals are in a league of their own and the entire band shines on this release. This is old school, heavy psych rock at its finest, folks.

Ruby the Hatchet on Bandcamp

Valley of the Snake: Live to Tape at Retro City on YouTube

Third, the mighty Ripple Music just released a one-two punch yesterday with two awesome LPs; the first being Connecticut heavy rock band Bone Church’s third outing, Deliverance. Third time’s the charm for Bone Church and the boys have really hit their stride—Deliverance is a splendid album in every aspect. The band’s sound has changed and evolved for the better since their self-titled debut EP in 2017. Five long years have elapsed since their first LP, Acid Communion, and it’s less about Sabbath worship than it is about good old rock ‘n’ roll from the ‘70s à la Allman Brothers and ZZ Top, which in my opinion, suits them a lot better. It’s especially the case for Jack Rune’s vocals which sound tailor-made for singing this kind of material. The quintet is clearly passionate about this special bunch of songs they took years crafting to perfection and the delivery is both soulful and vibrant. From the opener, “Electric Execution”, a feel-good rocker, to “Lucifer Rising” with its occult vibes and addictive riff, to the easygoing “Goin’ to Texas” which ZZ Top would certainly approve, to the humoristic, groovy, bass-heavy “Muchachos Muchachin'”, to the kick-ass first single, the anthemic “Bone Boys Ride Out”, to the absolute epicness of current single and what may very well be the best song they’ve ever written, “Deliverance”. That song truly is a modern-day classic rock gem loaded with feeling, a catchy melody, and a gorgeous mid-section. Deliverance, the album, has it all. Long-time Bone Church fans will cherish it and newcomers will be blown away by just how great and tight the band sounds. If you’re a fan of classic rock and miss the good old days of blues-laced numbers by the likes of Led Zep and Lynyrd Skynyrd, then don’t hesitate to dive into Deliverance.

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Bone Church

Fourth, the second part of Ripple Music’s dual release from yesterday comes in the form of The Obsessed and Saint Vitus’s legendary frontman, Scott “Wino” Weinrich with his latest solo album, Create or Die. This exquisite new collection of songs goes along much in the same vein as his previous solo effort, 2020’s excellent Forever Gone, featuring a good balance of acoustic and electric tunes. Chronologically for Wino, this follows last year’s remarkable The Obsessed record, Gilded Sorrow. After the laid-back opener, “Anhedonia”, we’re treated to the first single, the jewel that is “New Terms”; this is how you write and perform an acoustic song—pure perfection! Then he plugs back in for “Carolina Fox” and its head-bobbing riff; “Hopeful Defiance”, a song of protest, is a banger; “Us or Them”, the second single, will rock you gently; “Cold and Wrong” unplugs again, another beauty in a style that has very much become Wino’s signature sound; “Lost Souls Fly” is the best track of the album, in my humble opinion, an otherworldly, hypnotic piece that will go down as a classic I’m sure; “Bury Me in Texas” is  a lovely ode to Texas with quite a bit of country jabbed into it for good measure; and the acoustic closer, “Noble Man”, had me picturing James Clavell’s John Blackthorne from Shogun in my head, a very cool song. With Create or Die, Wino strongly reaffirms why he’s such an icon of the heavy rock/doom genres. As much as I’m a fan of The Obsessed and Saint Vitus, I gotta say, these last two solo outings have been exceptional and might very well surpass the quality of his celebrated bands’ latter-day output. Create or Die has a timeless quality to it and shows that Wino has no shortage of creativity. We are lucky to have him continue to create music for us after so many decades. Highly recommended!

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Wino

Fifth, Portland, Oregon hard rockers Alpha Destroyer are set to release their debut LP, Fast Lane, on Halloween via Necromantic Press Records. This is one hell of a fun record, folks! An amalgamation of ‘80s hard rock with smatterings of old school metal, this rock quintet sure knows how to party. The four singles released thus far are all standout tracks and an excellent representation of the album: the barn-burner “Straight into the Grind”; the latest single, “Masterplan”, channelling Rush; the fiery “Lobotomized”; and the title track, “Fast Lane”, with its mystic flavour. Other highlights for me include “Sweet Dreams from Oblivion” with its tremendous guitars, the catchy “Manic Messiah”, reminiscent of Cheap Trick at times, and my personal favourite, the closer, “The Prophet”, with its gloomy, doomsday atmosphere. It’s got plenty of rapid-fire riffs and guitar solos to feed guitar lovers’ appetites, along with flamboyant basslines, and pummelling drums. Alpha Destroyer delivers the rock and metal goods in spades, wearing its Def Leppard, Van Hagar, and Morbid Angel influences on their sleeves, infusing its sound with a contagious energy. Fast Lane features a top-notch collection of bangers and is a solid meat-and-potatoes hard rock album. Highly recommended for hard rock and metal fans who miss the heyday of arena rock.

Alpha Destroyer on Bandcamp

Sixth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK’s post-punk/goth rock quartet Social Youth Cult will unveil their debut LP, The Lighthouse, on November 2^nd. This is one hell of an atmospheric record, folks. From the opening rhythms of the insanely catchy lead-in track, “Venus”, you know you’re in for a treat. The LP’s first and only single, “Close to Nothing”, follows with strong early Bauhaus vibes; a great representation of The Lighthouse as a whole. Other highlights for me include “The Man in the Photo” which feels like it’d be right at home in a David Lynch film while “She's Dread” is a beautiful, slow, and moody number. Also of note, “Strange Times”, a hypnotic tune, with singer Shaun Greer channeling Peter Murphy post-Bauhaus. This brooding band’s sound is reminiscent of ‘80s goth rock all the while instilling it with a vigorous, bleak energy that will keep them relevant for years to come. This English group serves us with a solid gothic music record that you’ll want to listen to over and over again during the cold, gloomy days of November and December. If Social Youth Cult is what post-punk sounds like nowadays, then please inject it into my veins!

Social Youth Cult on Bandcamp

Seventh, NYC hardcore/punk pioneers Agnostic Front will unleash their 13^th studio album, Echoes in Eternity, on November 7^th via heavyweight metal label Reigning Phoenix Music. Full disclosure: Until hearing Echoes in Eternity, I’d never listened to a single Agnostic Front song. I was well aware of them and of their importance in the hardcore/punk pantheon, but had yet to lend them my ears. Founded in 1980, the New York quintet is led by vocalist Roger Miret and Vincent "Vinnie Stigma" Capuccio on lead guitar. When the YouTube link to the first single, “Way of War”, popped up in my inbox, I felt compelled to click it and really dug what I heard so I figured I’d give Echoes in Eternity a chance. I’m very glad I did. I’m really not into hardcore music, and aside from a few classic punk albums from the Sex Pistols and The Clash, I don’t listen to punk, so I went into this record with nearly virgin ears. I’m aware that punk songs are quite short, but still, this album’s got 15 songs for a stretch of 27 minutes—now that’s really short! Nevertheless, there isn’t a dud for the duration of its brisk runtime; all tracks are absolute fire. Touching on themes as broad as injustice, self-doubt, fascism, and tyranny, Echoes in Eternity is a Molotov cocktail of an album. Aside from the blistering first single and opening track, some of the highlights for me include the anthemic “You Say” with its killer riff and sing-along chorus; the second single, the punchy crossover hip hop “Matter Of Life & Death” featuring RUN DMC's Darryl “DMC” McDaniels; the unbelievably catchy “Sunday Matinee” (my pick for best track on here); the kick-ass “Turn Up the Volume” with its metal leanings; the infectious “Shots Fired”, and “Skip the Trial”, a great punk rock tune with a cool guitar solo. Agnostic Front are highly regarded as pioneers of the crossover thrash genre and it’s showcased throughout this record, much to this reviewer’s pleasure. I honestly don’t know how it will fare with hardcore fans and long-time Agnostic Front devotees, but to this listener’s ears, it more than hit the mark. Unapologetic and brimming with adrenaline, Echoes in Eternity is an outstanding album that shows that Agnostic Front still has plenty of tricks up their sleeves even after 45 years of relentless aggression.

Reigning Phoenix Music’s Page for Agnostic Front

Eighth, yet another Ripple Music release coming your way on November 7^th, Black Sabbitch paying homage to Black Sabbath with their live LP Unrest in The West. This all-female Sabbath tribute band is nothing short of spectacular! Their choice of going for deep cuts rather than a crop of the more well-known Sabbath tunes is refreshing. So, no “Paranoid”, ‘’Iron Man” or “War Pigs” here. Black Sabbath’s music is just as relevant now as it was 50 years ago and that’s quite a statement. The founders of Doom and Heavy Metal can be proud of the mark they’ve left in the world of music, having influenced musicians from all ages and all walks of life. I don’t know about you, but I’m always up for a Sabbath cover song. There have been many great Sabbath tributes released over the last couple of years, including two pretty awesome ones from Magnetic Eye Records; two from the legendary Zakk Wylde and his band Zakk Sabbath; and more recently the Back to the Beginning concert last July paying homage to Ozzy and Sabbath with an all-star cast of performers. Black Sabbitch gives us an all-female perspective and puts a nice spin on things. The L.A. quartet has even performed at the inaugural Ozzfiesta at the personal invitation of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne, so they’ve more than paid their dues. I’d heard of Sabbitch online, seen some clips on YouTube, and was eagerly anticipating this LP’s release. It consists of eight tracks with a runtime of 45 minutes from Sabbath’s Ozzy era. Since they’re a tribute band, they don’t deviate much from the original songs; it’s basically a classic Sabbath show with a female lead (and backup band playing). From the superb doomy opener, “Wheels of Confusion / The Straightener”, we get terrific renditions of “A National Acrobat”, “The Wizard” (a personal favourite of mine), the lesser known “A Hard Road” from Never Say Die, “Lord of This World”, “Hole in the Sky”, “Children of the Grave” (my all-time fave Sabbath tune), and they close out fittingly with “Into the Void”. Unrest in the West treats us to a spellbinding performance that is an instant classic for Sabbath fans. It’s a must-have record for metal and doom aficionados alike. I wonder if Black Sabbitch would be up to doing another album, this time focusing on Sabbath’s Dio era. That’d be a really cool listen and something we don’t hear too often. Who knows!

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Black Sabbitch

And this brings the October issue of HKP to a close! The Harbinger’s Killer Picks will return on November 29^th for the last time in 2025 as December makes way for my Top Ten Albums of the Year. Until then, stay safe, have a spooky Halloween, and crank up the tunes! 

Harbinger’s Killer Picks – September 2025

Last Saturday of September and autumn has arrived! It’s that time of the month again: The Harbinger’s Killer Picks. Another great month of music in what is shaping up to be a stellar season for music. Fall is a busy time for music releases so this month I have seven picks instead of my usual five, in chronological release order.

First, Birmingham, England goth rock/darkwave duo Black Rose Moves released a new single titled “Club of Sin” this past September 12^th. Now I don’t usually review singles, but this one made me discover this awesome duo who also released a tremendous EP last June, Death Dance, so I thought I’d hit two birds with one stone and give both some love. First off, if you’re into classic gothic music à la Sisters of Mercy and Rosetta Stone, then you’re in for a treat! Let’s talk about the single, “Club of Sin”, a banging track with a catchy chorus wrapped in an aura of lust and secrets. It sounds different than the songs on their EP but shows the band evolving musically. The EP, Death Dance, is a thing of beauty. A 4-track affair, right from the get-go with the opening song, “Lips Taste Blood”, the listener is instantly taken back to the ‘80s and the zenith of goth music. This song is like a visit from a good old friend you haven’t seen in a while. “Shadow Dance” will get you moving with its infectious beats and rhythms; “Jessica” is an up-tempo tune reminiscent of the afore-mentioned Sisters of Mercy’s gem “Marian” that’ll stay stuck in your head all day; and they close out the set with my favourite of the bunch, “Summer of Sorrow”, a mysterious, spooky tune that has a summer vibe with its droning sound akin to cicadas and crickets buzzing. Death Dance is a runner-up for my favourite EP of the year—an exquisite collection of songs, while “Club of Sin” is a fresh and exciting number. Black Rose Moves’ Grant Leon provides haunting vocals to Mark Neat’s alluring soundscapes. Give their music some spins; they’re a talented, quality outfit with a clear vision of where they’re going. Here’s hoping we get a full-length album from this duo in the near-future.

Black Rose Moves on Bandcamp

Second, Seattle, Washington speed metal quintet Solicitor returned with their second LP, Enemy in Mirrors, via Gates of Hell Records on September 19^th and there ain’t no such thing as the sophomore slump for this band. If you thought Seattle only gave us grunge and Jimi Hendrix, think again! Solicitor does classic ‘80s speed metal with panache without pulling any punches. Sounding at times like a cross between vintage ‘Tallica circa Ride the Lightning and Priest’s heydays of Screaming for Vengeance, their latest LP Enemy in Mirrors is nothing short of breathtaking. Ringleader vocalist Amy Lee Carlson is a feast for the ears. In an alternate reality, she’s a British man and his name is Rob Halford. Whether or not you’re into female-fronted metal bands is irrelevant—Carlson’s sizzling vocals will annihilate your eardrums. But it’s not just Amy Lee that shines here; the entire band fires on all cylinders on every track. From the dazzling instrumental intro of “The Descent” to the instant classic two singles, the catchy-as-all-hell “Iron Wolves of War” and the anthemic earworm “Crimson Battle Beast”, the sneaky awesome title track to the breakneck guitar wizardry of “We Who Remain”, to the one-two punch of the deadly duo of “Black Magick” and “The Devil's Hand”, there’s no shortage of bangers on this impressive album. The songs overall are more well-rounded, melodic, and ruthless than on their already outstanding previous efforts. This band will take your life, mark my words. Enemy in Mirrors has insane replay value. In fact, after you purchase it, do yourself a favour and get their equally spectacular debut LP, Spectral Devastation, as well as their self-titled EP because, trust me, the more Solicitor you listen to, the more you’ll want. This one’s an absolute Top Five Album of the Year contender, folks. All hail Solicitor!

Solicitor on Bandcamp

Third, London, UK’s metal warriors War Grave returned yesterday with their first LP, Free Will, the follow-up to last year’s excellent self-titled debut EP. This new release came out with very little fanfare beforehand and I got excited for it as I was a big fan of their EP. After a handful of listens, Free Will is a pretty good album in my opinion but falls short of the promise of their first outing. Roman Kantoch’s vocals are just as striking here and the twin guitar threat of Trent Powell and Stuart Layne delivers awe-inspiring guitar solos and wizardry throughout the LP’s 49-minute runtime. But, because unfortunately there must often be a “but”, the songs don’t quite reach the level of arena anthems and memorable choruses their first offering had. Don’t get me wrong, it’s better than a ton of metal out there, but I was expecting more from the boys after such a magnificent debut. The highlights for me on Free Will include the title track, a solid meat-and-potatoes metal tune; the first single, “Break These Chains”, with its positive message, easily the catchiest song on the record—the LP needed more tracks such as this one; “As Far As You Can Go” with its beautiful, intricate guitar work; “Light ‘Em Up”, a moody, atmospheric piece that gets my vote for best song of the LP; and the breakneck barn-burner “Wolf & Raven”. Altogether, it’s a less thrashy record than its predecessor, closer to Priest and Maiden than, say, Megadeth or Testament, and is a guitar solo fan’s dream as it shines in that regard. I’m sure War Grave followers (and metal fans in general) will enjoy Free Will; it’s a solid metal record chock-full of fast tempos that left me a little underwhelmed, but mileage may vary, as the saying goes. In any case, give it a spin, it’s well worth your time.

War Grave on Bandcamp

Fourth, Italian classic doom metallers Warcoe released yesterday their third LP, Upon Tall Thrones, via the mighty Ripple Music. I wasn’t familiar with this band, but the best way to describe them is that they have an old school doom sound reminiscent of Trouble and Pentagram with obvious Sabbath worship (the singer even sounds like Ozzy at times). Right off the bat, if you heard the first two singles, “Octagon” and “I've Sat Upon Tall Thrones (But I'll Never Learn)”, you know exactly what you’re gonna get. The two tracks I actually enjoyed the most were the record’s two instrumentals: “Gather in the Woods”, a lovely, gentle acoustic guitar tune and “Flame in Your Hand”, a pretty solid doom number that lets the music do the talking. This is a record filled with awesome riffs. That being said, in the end, you need more than riffs to create a memorable album and it failed to stick the landing, in my humble opinion. Upon Tall Thrones doesn’t have any bad songs per se, but lacks those one or two truly great tracks that if you were to make a doom compilation for a friend, you’d simply have to have on there. I know I’ll be in the minority as the band has its hardcore followers and there’s good buzz surrounding this new record, but for me, after a handful of spins, unfortunately, Upon Tall Thrones is a decent yet lackluster affair. I still think it warrants a recommendation to doom aficionados in general, and of course, Warcoe fans.

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp Page for Warcoe

Fifth, Swedish quartet Siena Root are set to release a live double album titled Made in KuBa on October 3^rd via Perception, a division of Reigning Phoenix Music. The concert was recorded over three nights in March 2024 at legendary Kulturbahnhof (KuBa) in Jena, Germany. For the uninitiated, Siena Root is a versatile band that performs across a broad spectrum of genres such as heavy psych, jazz, blues, alternative, and classic rock. Fronted by Zubaida Solid who’s got world-class vocals, the band goes into live experimentation much to the listener’s delight. I hear echoes of Deep Purple played on the organ as well as guitars channeling Stevie Ray Vaughan that help to shape the band’s signature warm tones starting with the opener, the bluesy “Coincidence & Fate” with languorous vocals and throbbing bassline. Aside from that, some highlights for me include the epic, psychedelic number “We (We Are Them)”; “Keeper of the Flame” whose vocals are reminiscent of Adele, a ballad-type tune with smoky guitar; the Zeppelinesque “Tales of Independence”; my personal favourite, the catchy single “Outlander” which perfectly sums up Siena Root; and the dreamy “Imaginary Borders”. This 12-song collection is a fantastic entry point for newcomers and long-time fans will be reminded just how special this band truly is. Solid’s vocals are paired with languid heavy psych vibes throughout and it makes for a memorable concert. So, close your eyes, put on your headphones, light up or grab a drink, and hit the Play button—you’ll be whisked away to the show!  

RPM’s Page for Siena Root

Sixth, from Los Angeles, California’s Sunset Strip, heavy metal band Wings of Steel will take flight with their second studio LP and fourth overall release, Winds of Time, on October 17^th. Co-founded in 2019 by vocalist Leo Unnermark and guitarist Parker Halub, Wings of Steel represents the pinnacle of what the modern L.A. metal scene has to offer. Unnermark has already demonstrated on their previous releases—their 2022 debut EP Wings of Steel, first LP Gates of Twilight in 2023, and last year’s live album, Live in France—that he’s got the pipes to rival the legends of metal’s glory days. He only reasserts that fact here on this latest album. The same goes for Halub who’s a gifted axe-wielder reminiscent of guitarists who became famous as part of Dio, Whitesnake or Iron Maiden. Right from the start with the opener/first single/title track, the boys show us they mean business with a stunning song. Highlights for me include the addictive “Saints and Sinners”; the superb ballad “Crying”; the scorcher of a song “To Die in Holy War”; and the closing tune, the catchy epic “Flight of the Eagle” which is the sum of all the best parts from Wings of Steel. If you miss the good old days of American metal straight out of the ‘80s Sunset Strip, then Wings of Steel has got your fix. Winds of Time overflows with kick-ass, old school metal’s trademark lengthy guitar solos and soaring vocals. The band perfectly captures the sound and the vibe, as the kids call it, of that period many moons ago when that kind of music was pure magic and ruled the airwaves. It’s a sure-fire contender for a spot on my Top Albums of the Year and I’m sure it’ll be featured on many AOTY lists.

Wings of Steel on Bandcamp

Seventh, Melbourne, Australia prog rock trio Flitcraft will return with their third LP, Transmission Echo, via Pitch Black Records on October 17^th. Flitcraft has got quite an original sound for a band that blends so many genres from prog to classic rock and even some ‘90s alternative leanings. This collection of songs is imaginative, uplifting, and full of raw energy. The highlights for me are the first single, “Lara”, easily the catchiest tune on here with its Maiden-inspired riff; the epic, 10-minute long centerpiece, “Years”, brimming with Yes and Rush vibes; “Beside the Point” with its duelling vocals and organ backdrop; the hard rockin’ “Bottleneck” with its guitar brilliance; and the title track and closer, the impressive “Transmission Echo”, full of warm guitar tones where the trio gets to showcase its musical chops. Flitcraft is a band I’m sure we’ll hear lots more of in the near-future and Transmission Echo will surely help propel them to notoriety outside of the Land Down Under. It’s a melodic prog record with rock and pop sensibilities that should please a plethora of music enthusiasts.

Pitch Black Records’ Bandcamp Page for Flitcraft

And that’s the September issue, ladies and gents! The Harbinger’s Killer Picks will return on October 25^th just in time for the best holiday of the year. Until then, stay safe and crank up the tunes! 

The Harbinger of D.O.O.M. Turns Five!

The Harbinger of D.O.O.M. blog celebrates its fifth anniversary this weekend! It feels as if it were just yesterday that I first posted on September 19^th, 2020. I started the blog as a way to connect with other doom and metal aficionados and share my thoughts on music during the lonely pandemic months and it blossomed into this outlet for all things music (and some of my fiction writing as well). Before too long, I had bands, labels, and PR firms sending me music on a weekly basis. I’m not a musician and have no background in music other than my love of it for literally all my life since I first heard KISS at the tender age of five circa 1979. What I do is give my Distinct Opinions On Music (that’s the name of the blog, isn’t it?) going more by feeling and what speaks to me rather than doing elaborate analyses of the songs and music. The blog has evolved and gone through different iterations over the years. I Keep It Super Simple these days (see what I did there?) focusing mostly on one single magazine-type article per month giving my thoughts on my Top Five picks of the month. It might change yet again in the near future, who knows, but for now, I think it’s a good, concise formula for the blog. One stop every month and you get everything you need.

I’m very thankful for the hordes of bands, labels, and PR firms that continue to email me dozens of EPs and LPs every week. I do my best to pick a little from everyone and from most genres I enjoy listening to. I’d like to reiterate that I’m a bit picky in the type of music I review. I’m an old fart and I don’t like overly aggressive music. I’m more of an old school, traditional metal kind of guy. I absolutely will not review anything that falls under the extreme/death/black metal umbrella. That kind of music isn’t my cup of tea. At all. Apart from that, I dig all kinds of music, from hard rock to goth to doom to heavy psych. If it’s a good record, I’ll listen to it.

Here’s to many more years of the Harbinger of D.O.O.M. blog and hopefully my readers and metal fans get a kick out of reading my posts as much as I have fun writing them. I’m no longer on Twitter but if you wanna connect, give me a follow on Bluesky: @alandraven.bsky.social I’ll see you next week for this month’s edition of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks. Long Live the Harbinger of D.O.O.M.! 

Harbinger’s Killer Picks – August 2025

It’s the last Saturday of August and summer has flown by! It’s time for the Harbinger’s Killer Picks, my dear fellow music lovers. Here are my top five picks of the month, in chronological release order.

First, a reunion fifty years in the making with the original Alice Cooper Group and their follow-up to 1973’s Muscle of Love, earMusic released The Revenge of Alice Cooper on July 25^th. I wanted to let this one simmer a bit before reviewing it as I used to be a huge Coop fan back in the day. Alice is reunited with former bandmates Michael Bruce, Dennis Dunaway, Neal Smith, and even original guitarist Glen Buxton (who died in 1997) for a song. That lineup represents the classic era who made seven terrific albums together, including fan favourites Killer (1971) and 1973’s Billion Dollar Babies. My preferred era of Alice Cooper is when he returned in 1986 after getting sober with Constrictor, followed by Raise Your Fist and Yell (1987), Trash (1989), and my personal favourite of his solo LPs, Hey Stoopid (1991)—and let’s not forget 1994’s vastly underrated The Last Temptation. I followed his career through the ups and downs of the industrial era of the late ‘90s/early ’00s all the way up to the excellent Along Came a Spider (2008)—his last great album in my opinion. But after the autotuned letdown that was Welcome 2 My Nightmare in 2011, I sort of stopped caring what old Coop had to sell. I’ve only heard a handful of songs from the three LPs that followed and sadly, they all sounded very forgettable in my ears. So, when the news came that he’d be doing a classic rock ‘n’ roll album with his OG band, I was both intrigued and eager to hear if the boys could recreate the magic of the ‘70s. Unfortunately, for the most part, The Revenge of Alice Cooper is a good but not great, at times quite bland affair, in my humble opinion.

The three singles thus far are definitely the highlights of the album: the atmospheric first single, "Black Mamba", featuring The Doors’ Robby Krieger on guitar; the catchy second single “Wild Ones"; and my pick as best track of the LP, the third single featuring guitarist Glen Buxton, "What Happened to You" which takes you right back to the band’s heyday with its classic sound. Aside from that, there’s the cinematic standout track "One Night Stand" with its groovy rhythm, and their homage to The Kinks, the vibing "Crap That Gets in the Way of Your Dreams". That’s pretty much it in terms of memorable tracks on this 54-minute record in this listener’s opinion. We get a bunch of songs that are fun at times but mostly unremarkable ("Up All Night", "Kill the Flies", "Blood on the Sun", and "Money Screams"). There’s also a nice Yardbirds cover, "I Ain't Done Wrong", and a decent closing song in memory of Glen Buxton, aptly titled "See You on the Other Side". The last tier of the LP is composed of average tunes that feel more like filler than anything else to me ("Famous Face", "What a Syd", and "Inter Galactic Vagabond Blues"). From what I’ve read and heard, the album seems to be getting a mostly positive reception and I’m glad as Alice deserves all the praise in the world for such a lengthy career. I love what he and the original band have brought to the landscape of rock and metal; without Coop, the world of rock would be a very different place and nowhere near as gleefully macabre. While I can only recommend The Revenge of Alice Cooper to die-hard Alice Cooper fans, I wish Coop and the boys nothing but success with this record. We’ll always have his classic discography and its various eras to go back and listen to. For my personal taste though, his mid-‘80s/early ‘90s metal years are the ones that I cherish the most.

earMusic’s Page for Alice Cooper

Second, legendary German power metallers Helloween released yesterday via Reigning Phoenix Music their seventeenth studio album, Giants and Monsters, kicking off the celebrations for the band’s 40th anniversary. The 7-piece band shows no sign of slowing down and this LP is an excellent follow-up to their much lauded 2021 self-titled album and their Live at Budokan release from last December. Who knows how many records Helloween—or any band from the ‘80s—has left in them at this juncture of their career, so they should be cherished. I’ve got to admit, I was never the biggest Helloween fan back in their prime, or of power metal for that matter, but they’ve grown on me in recent years (and so has power metal). I really dug their 2021 effort and after a handful of spins, I’d give Giants and Monsters a pretty similar rating. It’s a different animal, not as diversified as their 2021 LP, but more accessible to non-fans, in my opinion. Also, where the 2021 record was a tad on the long side, the standard edition running at 65 minutes, this latest LP has a perfect length of 50 minutes. The highlights for me include the banging opener, “Giants on the Run”; the stellar, super catchy “A Little Is A Little Too Much” which may well be my favourite song on the record; the superb dual singing of “We Can Be Gods”; the terrific power ballad “Into the Sun” with its symphonic arrangement; the blistering epic new single that is “Universe (Gravity For Hearts)”, complete with multiple movements; and “Hand of God”, an old school metal gem. Helloween is in rare form on Giants and Monsters and the triple threat of Michael Kiske, Andi Deris, and Kai Hansen turns out to work incredibly well in the long run, much to my surprise. Helloween disciples will surely greet this album with open arms while newer fans will discover just how melodic a deluge of guitar solos and vocal harmonies can sound in the hands of metal masters. Giants and Monsters will more than likely wind up as a contender on many year-end lists. Pumpkins unite!

RPM’s Page for Helloween

Third, German power metal titans Primal Fear will unleash their 15^th studio album, Domination, on September 5^th via powerhouse metal label Reigning Phoenix Music. I’m new to this band, having only heard a handful of songs over the years but I don’t know why I never got around to properly giving them a shot. They’re every bit worthy of their 25 plus years longevity in the metal world. Primal Fear was co-founded in 1997 by singer Ralf Scheepers and bassist Mat Sinner after Scheepers wasn’t hired as Rob Halford's replacement in Judas Priest. Amongst his previous bands, Scheepers was also part of a Judas Priest cover band by the name of Just Priest. Anyhow, Primal Fear went on to have success of their own through the past two decades and are now signed to Reigning Phoenix Music. Domination is a thunderous album chock-full of soaring vocals, roaring riffs, and arena-worthy anthems. From the opening song to the curtain call, Domination is wall-to-wall power metal featuring a strong dose of trad and speed metal, much to this listener’s delight. Some of the highlights for me include the sonic barrage of the first single, “The Hunter”; the melodic, catchy second single “Far Away”; the galloping rhythms of “I Am the Primal Fear”; the emotional “Tears of Fire”; the kick-ass barn-burner that is “Heroes and Gods”; and the epic song of darkness and light, “Eden”. I have a feeling long-time fans of the band will love this latest record and new listeners will find a lot to like. Judas Priest aficionados and metalheads in general will certainly get a kick out of it. This album has put a big grin on my old face and it’s a solid contender for the Top Ten Albums of the Year list. Domination should have no problem dominating the metal charts around the world.

RPM’s Page for Primal Fear

Fourth, Brooklyn, New York fantasy doom metal quartet Castle Rat will make their highly-anticipated return on September 19^th with their sophomore LP, The Bestiary, via Blues Funeral Recordings. The Rat Queen, the devilishly sexy Riley Pinkerton, and her cohorts have taken things to another level with this one. The Bestiary is a concept album and a far more polished effort than its predecessor. Castle Rat has garnered a rabid following since the release of their debut, Into the Realm, in the spring of 2024. They launched a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign to fund what would become The Bestiary, and fully funded it in just 37 minutes! The month-long fundraiser went on to be the most successful metal Kickstarter in over a decade. No small feat, to say the least. What we get here is an even more fully realized vision of Sword & Sorcery imagery combined with Sabbath worship, classic rock tendencies, and even some NWOBHM inspiration. Right off the bat, everything sounds louder and more in-your-face on this record. It kind of reminds me of when I played KISS’s Creatures of the Night LP for the very first time, how much its bombast blew me away. From the first track and second single after the instrumental intro, “Wolf I”, with its aura of death and danger, you know that Castle Rat means business with this album. It’s followed by the first single, “Wizard”, where The Rat Queen proceeds to put the listener under her spell for the duration of the record’s 49-minute runtime. I’m glad we got a full-length record this time around as their first outing felt more like an EP disguised as an LP, with a runtime of just over 30 minutes and only six of the nine tracks were actual songs. Some of the highlights for me include “Unicorn”, an epic-sounding piece; “Crystal Cave”, a gorgeous and mesmerizing song that’s more on the delicate spectrum of things; “Dragon” with its pounding rhythms and sizzling guitar solo; and “Summoning Spell”, which is quite the hypnotic interlude. The Bestiary continues Castle Rat’s fascinating evolution and takes all the ingredients of its precursor a notch higher. Devotees of the band will love this new record and new initiates will likely be entranced by the full-package that The Rat Queen, The Count, The Plague Doctor, and The All-Seeing Druid have concocted for us. I’m sure we’ll find The Bestiary on countless AOTY lists come year-end.

Castle Rat on Bandcamp

Fifth, Québec City’s heavy metal quintet Ultra Raptor will return with their sophomore LP, Fossilized, via Fighter Records on October 7^th. I’m super stoked about this release as Ultra Raptor is a band from my town and there’s nothing I enjoy more than promoting great local talent. Formed in 2015, they released their self-titled EP in 2018 followed by their debut LP, Tyrants, on Fighter Records in 2021. They smash the doors open with the first single and title track, a war cry to signal their triumphant return. “Spinosaurus” follows, Maidenesque at times, it’s quite the incendiary tune; “Hard ‘N Fast” is self-explanatory with its hard rock roots; “Livin’ for the Riff”, the second single, is an earworm; “Bitter Leaf” with its awesome intro, is a highlight of the record and the band’s answer to Sabbath’s “Sweet Leaf”; “X-Celerator” is a speedy, thrashy gem that takes no prisoners; “Ptero-Ranger” is a battle hymn aligned with the band’s dino theme; “Down the Drain” is trad metal at its finest, complete with sing-along chorus; “Le Voyageur d'Oort” is a brief but superb instrumental. They saved the best for last with the uplifting and memorable “Face the Challenge”, my personal favourite—it should absolutely be their next single. Fossilized is full of blazing guitar solos, relentless basslines, and pounding percussions paired with powerful, high-pitched vocals that all converge together to deliver a classic slab of metal. What we get here is a more polished record than its two predecessors. Fans of Judas Priest, Annihilator, and speed metal in general will really dig this record. Ultra Raptor has evolved musically and lyrically in the past four years, serving up an energetic platter of old school speed metal. Fossilized is an album that should propel Ultra Raptor to new heights of success and I look forward to catching the band perform live here in Québec.

Ultra Raptor on Bandcamp

Fighter Records’ Bandcamp Page for Ultra Raptor

And that’s all she wrote, folks! This has been the August issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks. HKP will be back on September 27^th before the spooky season returns in October. Until then, stay safe, enjoy those last summer days, and crank up the tunes! 

ANOMALY is Live on Amazon!

Greetings dear readers! My sci-fi short story “Anomaly” is now available on Kindle at all Amazon stores and priced $0.99 US ($1.36 CAD). It’s 45 pages long and, while it’s a self-contained story, it’s also the first part of what I call The Orion Trilogy. The second and third stories will also feature self-contained tales of the further adventures of the recon ship The Orion. Here’s the official synopsis for “Anomaly”:

“The Orion, a recon ship with a crew of six, is sent to rescue the members of an expedition whose ship has crashed on an uncharted ice planet called Glacia. Before too long, this quick grab-and-go mission turns to tragedy. They encounter a malevolent being that is both merciless and enigmatic. In the vastness of space, it’s a mysterious journey filled with danger and cosmic wonder. Will the two ships’ combined crews make it out alive?”

Here are the links to purchase it in the US, Canada, and the UK:

Amazon US

Amazon Canada

Amazon UK

Until next time, have a great rest of summer and happy reading! 

Harbinger’s Killer Picks – July 2025

Summer’s in full swing and July is soon coming to an end. The Harbinger took the month of June off, but he’s back! It’s the last Saturday of the month, so it’s time for the Harbinger’s Killer Picks. Here are my top five picks of the month, in chronological release order.

First, Reflection, the much-loved Greek epic metal band, unleashed their latest LP, The Battles I Have Won, via Pitch Black Records on June 20^th. This was a band I’d never heard of and, man, what a great discovery this was when this LP landed in my inbox! For the uninitiated, Reflection has been around since 1992 and this is their fifth album. Their sound is a cross between Iron Maiden and Manowar, but more epic, more mythical. This is their first record with vocalist Kostas Tokas and it makes a world of difference for me. I sampled their previous LP, 2017’s Bleed Babylon Bleed with their former singer and it did nothing for me. On this present record, the band fires on all cylinders. From the kick-ass opener, “Only the Swords Survive”, to the three catchy singles “The Battles I Have Won”, “Lord of the Wind”, and my personal favourite, “Siren’s Song”, there isn’t a dull moment on the entire LP. Kostas Tokas’ soaring vocals remind me a bit of Scorpions’ Klaus Meine at times—he’s that talented. Other highlights include “Celestial War”, which embodies the definition of an epic tune; “March of the Argonauts”, a memorable galloping song with a fitting title; and “Lady in the Water”, a fine example of old school metal at its best. The Battles I Have Won is pretty much the perfect metal record in my opinion. From its gorgeous cover artwork to its songs of grand scope set to a landscape of powerful, melodic metal music, it’s my favourite album of the summer. Whether you’re familiar with Reflection or not, if you like metal music, you owe it to yourself to pick up The Battles I Have Won. It’s a shoo-in for the Top Ten Albums of the Year list.

Pitch Black Records’ Bandcamp Page for Reflection

Second, Dominic Harrison aka YUNGBLUD, released his much-anticipated fourth LP on June 20^th, a love letter to his musical influences titled Idols. A couple of weeks ago, I had never heard of the phenomenon that is YUNGBLUD. It took his much-lauded performance of “Changes” at the Black Sabbath/Ozzy Back to the Beginning tribute concert to get me curious to see/hear what the fuss was all about. And I’m here to tell you, believe the hype, this dude is legit! He reminds me of the revelation that was Lady Gaga for pop music about fifteen years ago; YUNGBLUD is just that, but for rock music. At times, the lavish production reminded me of Meat Loaf’s 1977 masterpiece Bat out of Hell. Some of the highlights for me include the emotional opener and first single, “Hello Heaven, Hello"; the insanely catchy second single “Lovesick Lullaby"; the phenomenal third single and my personal favourite song of the album, “Zombie”, an homage to healthcare workers; the awesome The Cure-inspired "Monday Murder"; "Ghosts", a powerful song with U2 vibes; the memorable "War", and the superb closer, "Supermoon", channeling David Bowie and Elton John. YUNGBLUD wears his influences on his sleeves on Idols and you can clearly hear shades of Bowie, Queen, U2, The Cure, Oasis and many other Britpop staples throughout. The only fault I would give this album is that due to the orchestrations, at times it sounds a little too bombastic for my taste, but overall, it’s a polished record from the opening riffs to the closing verses. A gifted singer and songwriter, YUNGBLUD has crafted in Idols a record that will be cherished by his generation for years to come.

YUNGBLUD’s Official Site

Third, Sunderland, UK Goth/Punk trio Black Rain released their self-titled debut album on July 14^th. The band describes itself as too goth for punk and too punk for goth; it’s the best of both worlds, in my opinion. A band and an album that showed up out of nowhere for me and turned out to be one of the nicest surprises of the summer. First off, the guitar tone on this album is ten shades of awesome. Black Rain’s edgy energy cuts through the darkness to give us an outstanding collection of songs. The first five tracks are traditional studio cuts while the following four were recorded raw live, I would assume in a studio as they don’t sound like they were performed in front of an audience or in a club. In any case, it’s a seamless listening experience and this record packs a hell of a wallop. The first single and opener, “Inside”, sets the tone for the entire album, a rain of nostalgia pouring down with ‘80s vibes galore. “Save Me” has echoes of The Cure and Sisters of Mercy; “Shotgun” is a bass-driven gem. “Shadows Cry” invokes a smoky, nighttime atmosphere while the second single, “Broken Words”, has a vintage sound to it that harkens back to the glory days of Punk and Goth. Another highlight for me was the penultimate track, “I Suffer Alone”, an introspective, half instrumental tune that gains momentum as it goes along to reach its sonic climax. Black Rain delivers a record chock-full of intensity with catchy melodies, splendid licks, pulsing rhythms, and riffs for days. Josh Cowey’s haunting vocals shine throughout the album. Black Rain is a short and sweet affair, running a brisk 31 minutes, but it’s a record that you’ll want to spin over and over again deep into the night.

Black Rain on Bandcamp

Fourth, alt-rock ‘90s legends Bush returned with their tenth album on July 18^th, titled I Beat Loneliness. I haven’t listened to a Bush LP since the ‘90s, back when they went under the name Bush X! I used to own their first album, Sixteen Stone, on CD and enjoyed it a lot back in the day. I bailed out after that, but have heard their follow-up, Razorblade Suitcase, many times at various friends’ places over the years. The last song I’d heard from them was the awesome “Bullet Holes” back in 2019, a track featured in the film John Wick 3. When I heard the first two singles for this new album, they sounded great, so I figured I’d give it a spin or two. It sounds like a logical evolution of Bush’s ‘90s sound. Gavin Rossdale pretty much sounds the same as he did back in his prime. This is a very personal album for him and the care he put into it can be heard throughout. While not reinventing the wheel, Rossdale and company still manage to deliver catchy hooks and melodic choruses for the vast majority of the album’s runtime. The highlights for me are definitely the two singles, "60 Ways to Forget People" and “The Land of Milk and Honey" (my personal favourite on this record), as well as the opening track, “Scars”, which sets the tone for what follows; the title song, the excellent “I Beat Loneliness”; "Love Me till the Pain Fades", and “Footsteps in the Sand". The London quartet delivers a collection of solid tunes with I Beat Loneliness. I think long-time Bush fans will really dig this new record. If you used to listen to Bush during the glory days of grunge and lost track of them over time, then maybe the nostalgia factor will pull you in and you might just have a blast.

earMusic’s Page for Bush

Fifth, Reigning Phoenix Music partnered with Hasbro to release the G.I. Joe-inspired band Cold Slither’s first eponymous album yesterday. If you were a boy who grew up in the ‘80s, then you most likely watched the G.I. Joe cartoon after school. I watched it religiously, collected the Marvel comics, and had over 50 action figures that provided me with literally thousand of hours of fun as a kid. This band is based on the cult-classic G.I. Joe episode Cold Slither from 1985 where Cobra Commander comes up with the idea of having Zartan and his Dreadnoks (Ripper, Torch, and Buzzer) form a metal band to play music with subliminal messages to brainwash the masses. The song they perform in the episode, “Cold Slither”, is wonderfully covered by the band here and was the LP’s first single. We get various audio samples from G.I. Joe episodes throughout the record which help immerse the listener in a nostalgia-filled experience. Some of the highlights for me include “Knock ‘Em Dread”, the catchy second single; “Torched”, a high-energy tune that would’ve felt right at home in the G.I. Joe episode; “Under the Dreadnok’s Spell” with its terrific rhythm and guitar licks; “Master of Disguise”, an earworm that’s the most melodic tune on the LP and which should absolutely be the next single; and “The Ballad of Buzzer”, a bona fide ballad and a pretty effective one at that. Reigning Phoenix Music strikes gold again with this project. Cold Slither, the album (and the band) is a total blast from top to bottom. It’s a light-hearted, super fun hard rock/metal album that is sure to please G.I. Joe aficionados as well as non-fans. I, for one, hope that this isn’t a one-off and that we’ll hear more music from this band in the years to come.

RPM’s Page for Cold Slither

And that’s all, folks! I hope you got a kick out of the July issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks. HKP will return on August 30^th to wrap up the summer season. Until then, stay safe, enjoy the summer breeze, and crank up the tunes!