Harbinger on Vacation!

Summer’s almost over and pretty much everyone I know has had a week or two (or even three) off, gone on vacation, etc. It’s been a crazy busy summer for me with work, the blog and my compilation project, and finishing up the edits on my book. It’s finally my turn to take some time off for ten days at long last! Bandcamp Friday will return on September 2^nd but you won’t find my monthly roundup. The blog will go silent from now until September 7^th or 8^th and emails will be left unanswered unless I see it’s something urgent. I really need some time to relax and enjoy myself after the hectic year I’ve had so far. Time to recharge the battery to return fresh and ready to start promoting Doom Comes Knocking, my Bandcamp compilation due out September 23^rd, as well as my final novel, Once Upon a Time in Bitternest, which will be published on October 25^th.

I’d also like to take a moment to unveil what will be the new avatar for the blog, Twitter, and Bandcamp for Harbinger of D.O.O.M. Marvel’s Dr. Doom has been a good friend up to now, but it’s time to have an original, unique design to represent this blog going forward. I’ve premiered it on Twitter yesterday and here he is now below: The Harbinger of Doom! Featuring gorgeous artwork by my girlfriend, Madame Doom. On that note, I bid you farewell, I’ll be back before you start missing me. Enjoy the tunes and stay safe! 

Musings: Black Budget - Crown of Misery

Black Budget is a desert punk band based in Toronto, Canada. The trio features Pedro Alvarado, Jack Laing, and Michael Orpen. They’ve released a handful of singles thus far but on September 23^rd, they’ll unleash their brand-new EP, Crown of Misery. They describe themselves as “featuring roaring guitars, aggressive drums, rib-crushing bass, and ferocious vocals” and they deliver on that promise—in spades. The 4-song EP is a brisk 15-minute affair that will get your blood pumping.

“Detonator” kicks off the proceedings with a bang: a straight-up, high-energy punk song with thumping bass, guitars dipped in vitriol, and fierce vocals. “May 19^th” has a catchy riff, and just like its lyrics say, “I’m still in your head” and “I am in your head”, this song too will stay stuck in your head! It also features terrific drumming and is a definite highlight of the four tracks. “Acid Tongue” has a foreboding vibe to it that I really dig with great guitar parts. This is the best of the four songs, in my humble opinion. We close off with “Talk”, the mellowest of the bunch but still a kick-ass song, and while I found the previous track to be the best, this one, however, is my personal favourite. It’s got really cool lyrics, a catchy rhythm with a relentless guitar sound.

While I’m usually not much of a fan of punk rock, I found Black Budget’s brand of fuzzy desert punk quite enjoyable. They’re a good blend of punk, fuzz, and desert rock (hence the term fuzzy desert punk), but they really do bring something fresh to the table. If you enjoy either of those genres of music or fancy music that raises a little hell, then by all means give their songs a spin. Check out/pick up Crown of Misery once it drops on September 23^rd and you’ll see for yourself how infectious this set of songs is.

Black Budget on Bandcamp: https://blackbudget.bandcamp.com

The Man Behind the Harbinger

If you’re a follower of this blog or if you follow me on Twitter, you know what to expect from your good old Harbinger by now in terms of content. One thing you don’t know (or at least the vast majority of you out there don’t) is who’s behind this cyber magazine. Well, I thought it’d be a good time to reveal a little more about myself. I’ve been a fiction writer for about seventeen years, writing as Alan Draven and sometimes as Neal Vandar (an anagram of Alan Draven). I’ve written mostly in the horror genre with some thrillers and fantasy stories along the way. After all this time, I’ve decided to call it quits, as I’ve stated this morning on my author blog. So, my upcoming seventh novel, Once Upon a Time in Bitternest, will be my final book.

I’d invite you all to check it out this coming October 25^th. It’ll be published in print as a trade paperback and digitally on Kindle. You can peruse the cover art below. Here’s what it’s about: “Bitternest. City of drunken ambitions and sunken dreams. For more than a century, dark and supernatural occurrences have been a part of day-to-day life in this Louisiana town. Jeremy Cyrus, a vampire who was around in the first decade of the town’s inception, has returned to the beloved city he calls home. The Woolrichs, a wealthy family of werewolves, now rule the city from the shadows with an iron fist. They’ve had bad blood with Cyrus dating back almost 150 years.

Marty Johnson is a struggling freelance writer living in Chicago. His lifelong fantasy has been to rob a bank. One day he decides that it’s now or never and finds the perfect opportunity down south in a town he’s never heard of called Bitternest. Meanwhile, one of Marty’s best friends, Carter Adams, is obsessed with catching a serial killer who slipped through his fingers in Chicago and who appears to have made his way to Bitternest. Along with a couple of their pals with delusions of grandeur, they’ll join forces to pursue their goals.

Cyrus. The Woolrichs. Marty. Carter. Their paths will collide in an action-packed, supernatural thriller where the stakes are at their highest. No one will come out unscathed and not everyone will make it out alive. It’s a tale for the ages where past history clashes with the present and the outcome will change Bitternest’s future forever.”

I’ll have more info and some links for you over the coming weeks. If you’d like to purchase a signed print copy, let me know by emailing me or messaging me on Twitter and I’ll take care of it. The price point should be around $20 US for the print version. Have no fear, though, the Harbinger of D.O.O.M. blog is alive and kicking with plenty of goodies in store for you, starting with the Doom Comes Knocking Bandcamp compilation on September 23rd. 

Audiobook Showcase: X-Men – Soul Killer

The Uncanny X-Men are Marvel Comics’ first mutant team. Created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby in 1963, they’ve become one of the hottest comic book properties in the world rivalling Spider-Man, and DC Comics’ Batman and Superman. Continuing the series of classic Marvel novels being released as audiobooks for the first time, today we showcase X-Men: Soul Killer. Of all the X-Men novels, this one is my favorite. It was initially published in February 1999 and has now been issued by Audible this past July 12, 2022. It was penned by veteran fantasy/horror author Richard Lee Byers who’s got more than 40 novels under his belt and who has written numerous Forgotten Realms novels. James Anderson Foster handles the narration.

The official synopsis for the book is as follows: “The demon lord Belasco plans to use Rogue to bring the evil Elder Gods to Earth. The X-Men and their sister team Excalibur must stop him before Rogue's very soul is destroyed. Their unexpected—and untrusted—ally is the lord of all vampires: Dracula! And the Count always has a more sinister agenda up his sleeve.” This novel is quite different than other X-Men—or Marvel novels, for that matter—as it features the legendary Dracula. It gives the story more of a horror/fantasy feel and puts the X-Men in peril from the get-go. Together they must unite to face the evil of Belasco. Don’t let the bland reissue cover art fool you, this one is action-packed from beginning to end and an absolute blast to read/listen to.

Cover art for the 1999 print edition

There’s a lot to like about this novel. Byers is clearly familiar with the X-Men and is a seasoned writer in the genre, depicting a plethora of fan-favorite characters and doing them justice. His writing style is direct, straight-to-the-point, his dialogue is punchy, and his pacing is pitch-perfect. The story covers a lot of ground but moves rapidly and there’s never a dull moment. Thanks in part to James Anderson Foster who does a terrific job narrating and voice-acting the various players. This is nine hours and sixteen minutes that felt like half of the runtime.

The selection of X-Men and Excalibur members is plucked from the comic book titles of the late ‘90s era. For the X-Men, we have Rogue, Storm, Wolverine, Cyclops, and Jean Grey (Phoenix). For Excalibur, there’s Nightcrawler, Colossus, Kitty Pride (Shadowcat), and Amanda Sefton. It makes for great interactions and everyone gets a chance to shine. It really does feel like reading a multi-comic story arc and you can easily imagine the panels and action unfolding in your mind.

If you were a Marvel Comics reader in the 1990s and followed the mutant titles, then this book will be right up your alley. It’s a ton of fun, has aged rather well compared to other Marvel prose reissues, and makes for a quick read/listen. If you fancy Dracula stories in his many incarnations, then I’d wager you’ll also get a kick out of this one. If you’re to buy only one X-Men novel, make it this one. Excelsior!

Dracula Artwork by Boris Vallejo

Rating: Five stars out of five

Get your copy on Audible 

Other Marvel Audiobook Reviews:

Fantastic Four: Doomsday

Avengers: The Man Who Stole Tomorrow

Fantastic Four: Redemption of the Silver Surfer

Hulk: The Ultimate Hulk

Musings: Gone Cosmic - Send for a Warning, The Future’s Calling

Gone Cosmic is a heavy psych, progressive, bluesy quartet from Calgary, Alberta. Their sophomore opus, Send for a Warning, the Future’s Calling, will be unveiled on September 2^nd via Grand Hand Records. It’s their follow-up to Sideways in Time which was released in 2019 through Kozmik Artifactz. The band consists of Abbie Thurgood on vocals, Devin “Darty” Purdy on guitar, Brett Whittingham on bass, and Marcello Castronuovo on drums.

Send for a Warning explores themes of heartache, loss, grief, and navigating through these tumultuous times we live in. This new album offers a 40-minute escape from the pandemic and all forms of isolation, bringing uplifting and positive messages to listeners. From the opener, “Crimson Hand”, Thurgood’s soulful vocals set the tone of this wonderful collection of songs. She reminds me of Linda Perry, ex-4 Non Blondes, at times. It’s got a catchy riff and a drum sound reminiscent of Our Lady Peace’s. “For Sabotage” is a gem of a song with its infectious rhythm, lyrics of positive reinforcement, and Thurgood’s vocals are on full display here. The drumming is exquisite and the guitar is sublime on “Envy Thrives” and the whole mood of the song instantly evokes images of a hot night. One of the most immersive tracks on the record. “Causeway” is a definite highlight, and man, can Abbie Thurgood sing! She’s a singer and a half. “The Wrong Side of Righteous” is another stellar track, followed by the slower tempo of “Endless”, which is heavy on the psych, all the way to the bass-heavy “To Refuse Compromise.” “Taste for Tragic” is another bass-driven, galloping tune that takes the listener in a different direction once more. It’s one of the pleasures of this album—no two tracks are alike. It leads us to the final song and title track, “The Future’s Calling”, which closes out the record with a spoken word/social commentary.

Gone Cosmic delivers a terrific and very diverse concept album of sorts with Send for a Warning, the Future’s Calling. It’s full of heavy rock, psychedelia and a cool throwback to ‘90s alternative rock. The band plays together like a well-oiled unit led by a phenomenal singer in the form of Abbie Thurgood. Their ability to craft lyrics that are timely and music that hits on a deeper level will leave its mark on listeners. Don’t hesitate to give Gone Cosmic’s world-view a spin, it’s a breath of fresh air.

Gone Cosmic on Bandcamp: https://gonecosmic.bandcamp.com/ 

Canuck Spotlight: Cauchemar

Cauchemar (French for Nightmare) is a French-Canadian heavy metal/mystical doom band from Lac-Simon, Quebec (a town near Montreal). Formed in 2007, they are led by the charismatic Annick Giroux on vocals with François Patry on guitar, Andres Arango on bass, and Joël Ladouceur on drums. What’s special about this band is that they sing in French when the majority of metal bands in Quebec choose to sing in English to get more exposure and reach a larger audience. Their brand of metal is traditional and their doom is mystical, giving them a unique sound. Their influences range from Black Sabbath, of course, to Witchfinder General, Pentagram, and Pagan Altar. You can also clearly hear echoes of NWOBHM throughout their output.

They released their first EP titled La Vierge Noire (The Black Virgin) in 2010 to critical acclaim. They followed it up with a terrific first LP in 2013 titled Tenebrario. It’s full of doom and gloom and evokes images of Italian Giallo movies from Maestros Dario Argento, Mario Bava, Lucio Fulci, and Sergio Martino. Their third album which came out in 2016, Chapelle Ardente (Fiery Chapel), solidified their status as a band that can hold their own against the best doom and metal bands from coast to coast, regardless of language barriers. Earlier this summer they released their latest record, Rosa Mystica, which may very well be their best yet. I recently wrote about the album on the blog. Cauchemar put on a stellar show in Montreal a few weeks ago at Piranha Bar for the Rosa Mystica album launch. The event was filmed in its entirety and is available for your viewing/listening pleasure at the YouTube link below.

Cauchemar is a band that we Canucks have many reasons to be proud of. On top of delivering awesome music, they seem like a really nice, down-to-earth bunch. I’m certain their star will keep shining brighter and brighter in the years to come. Kudos to them for continuing to sing in French and giving us so many memorable songs. Here’s hoping they embark on a tour and play in Montreal again soon as they are a treat to see live. Give them a spin, whether you understand French or not, I’m sure your ears will be delighted.

Cauchemar on Bandcamp: https://cauchemar.bandcamp.com/

Cauchemar on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cauchemarmetal

Cauchemar Live at Piranha Bar on YouTube 

Musings: Raptore - Blackfire

Raptore is the brainchild of singer/guitarist Nico Cattoni. The band was initially formed in 2012 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Two years after the release of their 2016 debut album Rage N' Fever, Cattoni relocated his base of operations to Barcelona, Spain and started from scratch with a brand-new band. Raptore also signed with a label that happens to be a purveyor of some of the finest heavy/speed/thrash/trad metal in the form of Dying Victims Productions. Blackfire, their sophomore record, is the result of these major changes and is an absolute banger of an album.

Let me preface this article by saying that this record is like a highly-addictive drug. Start listening to it and you won’t be able to stop. The fact that it’s got a brisk 32-minute runtime only makes it easier to hit the repeat button and play it again, Sam. Blackfire is speed/thrash metal done right times ten. Six years have elapsed since their first effort and every single aspect of Raptore has improved. From the higher production values to a tighter-sounding band, Cattoni’s command of the English language to all-around excellent musicianship, this 8-song collection is flawless. With influences from KISS, Accept, Exciter, Iced Earth with a little hair metal and NWOBHM thrown in for good measure, what we have here, folks, is a winning record.

Don’t let the soft piano intro of “Triumphal March to Hell” fool you—this song will rip you in half and spit on your remains. I even hear echoes of Pantera’s Cowboys from Hell in there. “Prisoner of the Night” has got a catchy chorus and riffs galore. The title track is a killer tune and is a highlight of the album with its big hooks and massive riffs. “Devil Ascends” is fast and frantic, featuring an awesome guitar solo. “Phoenix” is melodic and memorable and could easily have come out in the ‘80s. Maybe my favorite track of the record. “Demon’s Lust” is another stellar song and has an anthemic quality to it. “Dirge” is a short, quiet and gorgeous instrumental. The album comes to an end with the appropriately-titled “Death”, a barn-burner of a song with a throbbing bassline.

Not enough people are talking about this incredible album right now. It needs—deserves—to be heard by the masses! So, crank up the volume to 11, grab a couple of cold ones, and let yourself be blown away by Raptore’s Blackfire. It’s a phenomenal occult/demonic-inspired throwback to the glorious speed metal of the ‘80s. It’s definitely one of the three best albums of the year in my book.

Dying Victims Productions’ Bandcamp page for Blackfire: https://dyingvictimsproductions.bandcamp.com/album/raptore-blackfire

Raptore on Bandcamp: https://raptore.bandcamp.com/music 

August is Here and So is Harbinger Friday

Bandcamp Friday is set to return in September, but for this first Friday of August, your friendly Harbinger of D.O.O.M.’s got you covered with some hot music picks to cool you down. You can support bands and labels all-year round, but I like to share my suggestions whenever Bandcamp Friday is missing in action. So, without further ado, here are my top five picks for this Harbinger Friday.

Numero um, master curator Weedian is back once again with another stellar compilation, this time, Trip to Portugal, jam-packed with 35 bands bringing us a wide range of variety in the genres of Doom/Stoner/Metal/Heavy Rock/Psych. As usual, it’s a “Name Your Price” release which you can grab right here. 

Number two with a bullet, Dying Victims Productions unleashed speed metal band Raptore’s phenomenal Blackfire. This is my favorite album of the month, folks, and I’ll have a Musings column about it sometime this weekend. Get in on the fun here.

Third, Riding Easy Records has struck gold by signing a new band from Los Angeles called Early Moods. Judging by their EP and first single, this debut LP will be smokin’ hot! They have a classic doom/metal sound that I just love. The album is out today and I can’t wait to take it for a spin and so should you.

Fourth, the mighty Ripple Music releases the fifth tome of their excellent Turned to Stone series today. This time around, the split features Australia’s Planet of the 8s and Duneeater. You can find my review of it here and pick up the record right here.

Fifth, if you’re looking to pre-order an album that will surely be hotter than hell, how about the return of San Francisco’s Hell Fire on Riding Easy Records with what promises to be their biggest album yet titled Reckoning. It’s out on August 12^th, but if you pre-order it now, you get three songs instantly right over here.

That’s it for another edition of Harbinger Friday, boys and gals. Hopefully you’ll find something to your liking and contribute in supporting those hard-working indie bands and labels we love so much. What would we do without music in our lives! Until next time, stay hydrated and enjoy your tunes!

Musings: Cauchemar - Rosa Mystica

Cauchemar is a French-Canadian Metal/Doom band from Papineau Regional County in the province of Quebec (it’s a town close to Montreal for those unfamiliar with it). They’ve just had the album launch for their latest album, their fourth, Rosa Mystica, this past weekend at Piranha Bar in Montreal, as I posted on the Harbinger’s Twitter page on Saturday. The record was released in May but completely flew under the radar for me, I’m ashamed to say, for a band from my neck of the woods (i.e. Montreal). This unfortunate oversight will be remedied in this edition of Musings.

The quartet led by the charismatic Annick Giroux has been around since 2007, releasing three albums and an EP so far. It’s been six years since their last record, Chapelle ardente, which was their best album in my opinion. Rosa Mystica follows in the same vein, expanding on their signature mystical and dark themes. It was well worth the six-year gap between albums. What I really love about this band is how effortless everything sounds, they really play as one cohesive unit. The fact that the songs are in French is a big bonus for me (French being my first language) and a breath of fresh air as even in Montreal (or in Quebec in general), there are very few metal bands who sing in French. Well, good metal bands, anyway.

On to this magical album, shall we? “Jour de colère” (Day of Wrath) is a foreboding doomy tune with a quiet intro and echoes of NWOBHM sound that I love so much. A terrific riff-heavy song. “Rouge sang” (Blood-Red) is catchy as hell and evokes nostalgia of the heydays of metal. The organ-driven “Notre-Dame-sous-Terre” has atmosphere to boot and killer guitars. “Danger de nuit” (Danger of Night) is a kick-ass rock song with great lyrics, and easily the most accessible song on the album. “Rosa Mystica”, the title track, is a superb song with a gorgeous mid-section. A definite highlight! “Le tombeau de l’aube” (Dawn’s Tomb) is the shortest track here running just under three minutes in length, a quick and energetic number to get your blood pumping. “Volcan” (Volcano) is another highlight with its sing-along chorus and fiery guitar. “La sorcière” (The Witch) is my favourite track, with its slow start before taking flight. It’s an absolute gem of a song and Giroux shines particularly here on vocals. A very hypnotic tune and the doomiest song on the record. I recommend watching the videoclip that they did for the song on YouTube, it’s a beauty!

I’m still on the fence as to which of Cauchemar’s records is my favourite: 2016’s Chapelle ardente or this year’s Rosa Mystica. They’re different beasts chock-full of memorable songs and mystical songwriting. In fact, there isn’t a single dud on either record. I’d say that Rosa Mystica is certainly their most accessible record to date and their most polished. Perhaps also the one that has the most “rock” vibe as opposed to falling into the more metal/doom categories of their previous efforts. It’s without a doubt one of the best records of the summer (and I’m sure it’ll wind up on my top albums of the year list when the time comes). Whether you’re into traditional/old school metal and/or doom, or even if you just enjoy straight-up rock, you’ll have a blast with Cauchemar’s latest, regardless of whether you speak French or not. Pick up Rosa Mystica at your earliest convenience.

Cauchemar on Bandcamp: https://cauchemar.bandcamp.com/music