Harbinger’s Killer Picks – July 2024

With half of the year in the books, I’m shaking things up a bit going forward. Welcome to the first edition of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks. Similar to what I used to do for the Bandcamp Friday Roundup, on the last Saturday of every month, I’ll give you my thoughts on five picks of what I consider are the best albums I’ve encountered during that month. It’ll consist of recently released and upcoming records. This column will replace the Musings and Rapid-Fire Reviews columns. I will no longer do lengthy reviews of specific albums. Anyway, does anyone ever read those entirely apart from the labels/bands/PR firms who submitted the albums? Instead, I’ll share my opinions and comments with you in one concise paragraph. It’ll be like a monthly magazine presenting you its picks for the best upcoming records with links to purchase the LP on Bandcamp, when available, or other platforms. So, without further ado, here is the first issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks!

First, Flat Black, Canadian guitarist Jason Hook’s new band, just released their debut LP, Dark Side of the Brain, last week. Hook is best known as the former lead guitarist of heavy metal band Five Finger Death Punch. I’ve never been a big fan of FFDP, but based on the handful of singles I’d heard from Flat Black in the last couple of months, I was hooked, no pun intended. Jason Hook is an underrated guitarist and he put together a stellar band. Dark Side of the Brain is a banger of an album featuring thirteen awesome hard rock and metal tunes, with a few slower-paced numbers and even a ballad of sorts. Singer Wrex Horton shows a lot of promise as the lead vocalist and the band sounds tight. Strangely enough, the only song I didn’t care too much for is “Nothing to Some” featuring Corey Taylor of Slipknot fame. Chock-full of arena-ready anthems, this is a solid album from top to bottom and it keeps getting better with every new spin.

Flat Black on Bandcamp: https://flatblackmusic.bandcamp.com/album/dark-side-of-the-brain

Second, Wizard Tattoo, the Indianapolis-based prog metal project by multi-instrumentalist one-man army Bram the Bard, is back with a new concept EP titled Living Just for Dying which was released yesterday. It continues in the same vein as his debut LP from last summer, Fables of the Damned. I love the vibe of the project, the artwork that goes along with it, and how great in every aspect of the craft Bram actually is. This four-song collection is just as great as the previous album. The only song I didn’t care for—and this is based on my personal preference—is “Tomorrow Dies”, a black metal song. In the span of four songs, we go through acoustic classic rock style to prog rock to metal by way of grunge to deliver a very eclectic EP.

Wizard Tattoo on Bandcamp: https://wizardtattoo.bandcamp.com/album/living-just-for-dying

Third, the mighty Ripple Music, as part of their “Beneath the Desert Floor” series, has seen fit to re-release Fireball Ministry’s third LP, Their Rock Is Not Our Rock, on August 9^th. Believe it or not, I’d never heard of this band before and what a fine surprise it was to plunge head-first into this nearly twenty-year old LP without prior knowledge of any of the songs. The big hit on this record back in the day was “The Broken” which was featured in the video game WWE SmackDown! vs. Raw 2006, and I can tell you that it’s not even the best song on the album. So, you’re in for a treat if you dug that song. It’s a strong LP from a kick-ass band, and it actually made me curious to hear their previous efforts. Fireball Ministry’s entire catalogue does not disappoint and this particular LP is a great pick for a re-release and serves as a perfect introduction to this talented stoner metal quartet.

Fireball Ministry on Bandcamp: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/beneath-the-desert-floor-chapter-4-fireball-ministry-their-rock-is-not-our-rock

Fourth, All For Metal, a phenomenal six-piece heavy metal/power metal band—or heroic metal as I like to call it—will unleash their sophomore LP, Gods of Metal (Year of the Dragon), on August 23^rd. All For Metal absolutely blew me away here! Hailing from Germany and Italy, the dual vocal threat of Tom “Tetzel” Schmidt and Antonio Calanna are a force to be reckoned with. If you enjoy bands like Manowar, you’ll have a blast with this record. I’ve been listening to it non-stop ever since it dropped in my inbox and it’s even cracked my Top Five favourite albums of the year list. Full of melodic anthems, catchy choruses, fiery guitar solos, infectious energy, and a larger than life sound, Gods of Metal is a bona fide metal masterpiece.

All For Metal Online: https://allformetal.rpm.link/godsofmetalWE

Fifth, Black Sites, a prog metal trio out of Chicago, Illinois, will release their fourth LP titled The Promised Land? on September 6^th.  Black Sites perform a cool blend of prog metal, hard rock, and old school metal. They draw inspiration from Voivod and Black Sabbath and it makes for a great sound. I haven’t heard their previous records, but this one is a polished affair featuring a crop of seven top-tier songs. If you enjoyed their first two singles, the excellent, galloping “World on Fire” and the darker, proggier “Descent”, then it’s safe to say you’ll have a good time with The Promised Land?. It’s a very diverse record that showcases just how skillful this trio is.

Black Sites on Bandcamp: https://blacksites.bandcamp.com/album/the-promised-land

That’s it, folks! The first issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks comes to an end. I hope you like the new format and that it’ll make you discover some awesome albums over the months to come. See you next month, and in the meantime, crank up the tunes!