Harbinger’s Killer Picks – August 2024

Greetings! It’s the last Saturday of the month so it’s time for the August issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks! Summer is winding down but the good music isn’t, as you’ll see in this second issue of this new column. So, here are my top five picks of what stood out the most for me in August.

First, Orden Ogan, the German power metal titans released their eighth studio album titled The Order of Fear (which also happens to be what “Orden Ogan” means in English) on July 5^th. I must apologize as this was a huge oversight on my part and should have been featured in last month’s issue of HKP. You see, having never heard of this tremendous band before, for literally months now, I kept seeing emails about them in my inbox and for whatever reason, I was certain that they were a black metal band. So, the emails/EPKs/DL links went straight to the recycle bin. Then I stumbled upon their latest single, “Conquest”, on YouTube and I was like, “They’re not a black metal band??” And I finally gave their LP a spin and was blown away! Moral of the story: Don’t browse through emails; read them carefully. Also, there are way too many death/black metals bands out there and I don’t care for it. Anyhow, from melodic hooks, harmonious vocals, superb guitar solos set against an atmospheric backdrop, The Order of Fear is a phenomenal record from top to bottom. So, do yourself a favour and give this band/album a spin—it’s another home run from the still very new German metal label Reigning Phoenix Music who are on a roll and releasing stellar LPs on all fronts.

Orden Ogan online: https://ordenogan.rpm.link/theorderoffearWE

Second, British thrash metal legends Solitary return to celebrate their thirty-year career on September 6^th with their fifth full-length record, Embrace the Darkness, on the heels of a short but ferocious live album, Live at Bloodstock, in 2022. This is their best album in fifteen years in my opinion. It pulls no punches, the lyrics are raw and in-your-face, the music fast and unforgiving, and the overall results are simply stunning. The quartet knows how to do thrash metal and the tracks go by at breakneck speed. They haven’t been the most prolific band but when they’re on, they’re a pleasure to listen to—although their songs are far from being joyful or upbeat. If you’re not familiar with Solitary, think of a British version of Slayer and Testament. The two first singles give you a good indication of what to expect throughout the LP—the brutal “Settle Scores the Old Way” and the brilliant “Filtering Hindsight.” My only gripe is that the album is already short enough but two of the songs won’t be included on the digital release as “Divided and Demented” is a vinyl-only bonus track while “Beat the Bastards” is a CD-only bonus tune. That’s a bit of a bummer for fans, but otherwise, Embrace the Darkness is a solid bare-knuckle affair without any hint of a dull song.

Solitary on Bandcamp: https://solitary94.bandcamp.com/

Third, New Haven, Connecticut doom/stoner metal trio Curse the Son will unleash their fifth LP, Delirium, via the mighty Ripple Music on September 6^th. Man, I wasn’t expecting to enjoy this album this much! I was familiar with Curse the Son, but their music hadn’t particularly clicked with me thus far. The first single off of Delirium, “R.I.P.”, a Witchfinder General cover, was fantastic so it got my full attention. More greatness awaited inside Delirium once I gave it a spin with the likes of “Deliberate Cruelty”, the title track, and the closing track “Liste of the Dead” among others. It’s a dark and gloomy album and one that sees the band in full control of their musical gifts. The father-son duo of Ron and Logan Vanacore, on vocals/guitar and drums respectively (a 14-year old phenom!), is in perfect harmony with the pounding rhythm of Dan Weeden on bass. There are a few instrumentals scattered throughout the record and they don’t feel tacked-on to simply fill the void as is often the case with bands who do it to pad the album’s runtime/add an extra track. Delirium is the perfect album to listen to with autumn being just around the corner and as we inch closer to Halloween. And that creepy album cover is ten shades of awesome, by the way.

Ripple Music’s Bandcamp page for Curse the Son: https://ripplemusic.bandcamp.com/album/delirium

Fourth, straight from Birmingham aka Sabbath City, heavy psych/doom quartet Alunah returns on September 20^th with their third album on Heavy Psych Sounds Records (and 7^th LP overall) titled Fever Dream. This band keeps topping themselves with every new album. Ever since the arrival of Siân Greenaway on vocals in 2017, they’ve been experimenting, constantly evolving, and fine-tuning their sound. Sadly, it was announced last week that it would be Siân's final album with Alunah. It’s already been over two years since the release of their masterpiece, Strange Machine, a record that has aged like the finest of wines. Fever Dream sees the quartet delving further into psych and less into doom, much to my delight. Once again, we are treated to gems and future classics with earworms like “Never Too Late”, “The Odyssey”, and “Far from Reality.” Melodic, catchy, and full of dazzling musical craftsmanship, Fever Dream may very well be their best LP to date, only time will tell. Siân is one of today’s greatest vocalists, all genres confounded, in my opinion, and I can't wait to see where and when we'll be able to hear her next. Alunah continues to impress and reinvent themselves as they keep going strong even after fifteen years in the game. Hopefully the next chapter in the band's life will be just as exciting as this one was. Fever Dream is absolutely worthy of a spot on the Top Ten Albums of the Year list.

HPS Records’ Bandcamp page for Alunah: https://heavypsychsoundsrecords.bandcamp.com/album/alunah-fever-dream

Fifth, another new discovery for me courtesy of, once again, Reigning Phoenix Music (RPM), Swedish symphonic metal warriors Tungsten will release their fourth album, The Grand Inferno, on November 8^th. Another band I’d never heard of who had me at hello with their single “Vantablack.” It’s probably the album I’ve listened to the most in August and it just keeps getting better with every new spin. Tungsten deliver a good balance of more aggressive tracks and softer tunes with some cool electronic effects sprinkled throughout the record. Their latest single, “Lullaby”, gets my vote as my fave song on this excellent collection of eleven kick-ass tunes. Catchy with pop tendencies and melodious to the max, The Grand Inferno’s got a larger-than-life sound. I’m really starting to get into power and symphonic metal, discovering bands that have been around for over a decade but that are new to me. Whether you’re a novice to this musical genre or a seasoned listener, I can’t imagine someone not appreciating The Grand Inferno; it’s an outstanding record from beginning to end.

Tungsten online: https://tungsten.rpm.link/grandinfernoWE 

And on that note, the second issue of the Harbinger’s Killer Picks (HKP) comes to a close. I’m really enjoying writing/sharing my thoughts on albums in this fashion. How about you, the readers and listeners; do you like the new format? Share your comments here on the blog or on the Harbinger of D.O.O.M.’s Twitter/X page. Until next time, stay safe and enjoy the tunes!

Short Story Time: The Paradigm

The first Saturday of August is here, so it’s Short Story Time! We’ve also arrived at my last novella/short story after fifteen months! And we’re ending on a strong note as this month’s feature is titled The Paradigm, my personal favourite of the novellas I’ve written. It's a noir mystery with a hint of supernatural and it stars my favourite character, Jim Coffin. Here's the nitty-gritty on The Paradigm:

“First published as part of Alan Draven's 2012 collection Spooky Showcase, now a stand-alone novella: The Paradigm.

In the tradition of Mickey Spillane and Donald E. Westlake comes a noir mystery set in 1984 with a hint of supernatural. Upon investigating Detective Harry Graves’ disappearance, private eye Jim Coffin finds himself on the trail of an odd bunch of characters, including a drop-dead gorgeous dame, a mad scientist, and a man who claims to be immortal. Along the way, Coffin begins having bizarre dreams about his own demise—could they be a foreboding of something sinister?”

You can download it as a free PDF right here. If you’ve missed the previous installments of Short Story Time, you can download each tale at the links below. Next month I’ll start talking about my upcoming Sword & Sorcery book, Amok the Powerful, which will be published in October.

“Vengeance Is Mine” is a novella about the Jack the Ripper murders—with a twist! London 1888. Jack the Ripper leaves a trail of mutilated bodies as he terrorizes the district of Whitechapel and baffles the authorities. From beyond death, one of his victims returns to haunt him and shows him the meaning of living in fear.

“The Dark Emissaries” is a novella about a girl named Harmony who returns to Bitternest for a friend’s funeral. She encounters a strange man who only goes out at night that tells her there are dark beings sucking the life out of Bitternest’s inhabitants and turning them into stone. They are called the Dark Emissaries and a sign that they are but a taste of much worse things to come. Harmony will learn that she has a bigger role to play in the fight against the Dark Emissaries.

“Cellar Door” is a novella about a court proofreader who picks up white noise on the recording of a transcript: A girl says ‘Help’ and ‘Find Cellar Door’ on it. He begins to dig deeper and discovers troubling details about a little girl that went missing in Bitternest. He embarks on an investigation to uncover the truth and answer the ultimate question: ‘What is Cellar Door?’”

“A Madman’s Atonement” is a story about a serial killer in Bitternest. That’s all I’ll say about it. It’s become a fan-favourite over the years and I’m damn proud of this one.

"Beyond the Doomed Cave", is a Bradburyesque Gothic coming-of-age tale about a witch in a churchyard.

“Silently It Creeps” is a short and nasty, creepy little tale about the monster under the bed.

“The Chilling Hour” is a tale about Nick Kubrick, a horror DJ who investigates and debunks supernatural myths in his spare time in the foggy city of Bitternest, Louisiana. He would go on to star in his own novel, Nocturnal Offerings, a few years later.

“The Errand” is a tale about a man who goes through the woods of Bitternest to run an errand and will see the course of his life altered forever.

“Hershell’s Motel” is a strange tale about an unusual motel where, you guessed it, bizarre things happen.

“The Rattling Man” is a coming of age Halloween tale. Do you believe in the bogeyman? Do you believe in the Rattling Man? Find out who or what he is!

“Crimson Nightmares” is my take on the “Halloween” movie series. Written and initially published digitally back in 2011, this 106-page novella picks up 33 years after the events of the second "Halloween" film from 1981, the night when Michael Myers terrorized Laurie Strode (played by Jamie Lee Curtis) and the residents of Haddonfield, Illinois. It follows little Lindsey Wallace, the little girl Laurie Strode babysat in the first “Halloween” (1978) film, who is all grown-up now and bears the scars of that terrible night to this day. She has moved to my fictitious town of Bitternest, Louisiana to get away from her past and has been leading a quiet life, that is until something inside Michael Myers snaps and he comes looking for her on Halloween. Add to that a killer clown with an agenda of his own and it’s a Halloween you won’t soon forget. It’ll be a showdown for the ages when Michael Myers comes to the eerie city of Bitternest.

“The Bypassed Mind”, a romantic suspense/fantasy story with some hypnosis thrown in for good measure that was directly inspired by the late, great Richard Matheson's novel Bid Time Return also adapted as the film "Somewhere in Time".

“Breaking and Entering”, the story of a man who enters people’s homes just for kicks, never stealing anything, just to see what goes on behind closed doors. One day he’ll stumble upon something that will change his life forever…

“Scapegoat”, a tale about the Curse of the Cubs, the love of baseball, some time travel, and a whole lot of nostalgia. Even if you're not into baseball, this fantasy tale filled with mystery is sure to entertain you.

Last but not least, fans of Conan and Dungeons & Dragons can also download a PDF of the first two tales of the ongoing adventures of my Sword & Sorcery character AMOK right here.