My HeadBangers welcome one of Finland’s Hottest bands with great growl vocals Bloodred Hourglass, aka BRHG.  Let’s hear a song, I’m sure most of you have been hearing them already but, they’re just perkele good.  

“VALKYRIE”

This song is 3 years old, but it’s still one of my favorites.

Now let’s meet the guys:

Names from left to right on bottom right pic:

Jarkko Hyvönen

Jose Moilanen

Jarkko Koukonen

Antti Nenonen

Lauri Silvonen

“Six Feet Savior”

I love this song too.  Well there’s really no song that I do not like of BRHG.  Listen to those growl vocals, paska, you know I’m all about the growl vocals, and listen to the instruments, it all melds together with a hard, rough, slam it up in your face sound.  Yes and I love it and so do you.  Who doesn’t like some melodic death metal, yeah I didn’t think so my headbangers.

  Now a little bio on this guys:

BRHG is a melodic death/thrash metal band from Mikkeli, Finland.  Some say death some say thrash, so you will have to judge for yourself.  This was taken off their web site, “Inspired mainly by metal sound, but never disregarding the influences from various other musical genres.”  So like I said it’s up to the individual to decide.  To me I’ll go with melodic death metal.

They are known for their great live performances.  The band’s themes are focused on the individual’s experience of everyday life, as well as environmental issues.

The first full-length album “Lifebound” was released in 2012, in 2015 their second album “Where the Oceans Burn” was released.  In January 2017,  BRHG finished the recordings of their third album  “Heal” which was released in Finland in October 2017, claiming #13 on the official Finnish album chart.  Their new album “Godsend” is out now, so get it. 

“The Unfinished Story”

Like I said I cannot find one song I do not like, even though I’m sitting here with a cold and coughing my ass off, I still hear this music speak to me.

“Ask and You Shall Receive”

GD listen to Jarkko K’s growl vocals, I kid you not I could listen to him for hours, but, also listen to the words and what these guys are saying.  I know it’s hard to concentrate on the words when you have all this metal in your face, so listen to it 3 or 4 times till its crawling all over you, then simmer down and listen to the words.  There’s alot going on with these guys and I look forward to hopefully meeting them someday, as they are not to far away.  In the meantime they have some upcoming gigs and I’ve listed them below, you can get more details on their FACEBOOK page.  Try to catch them, you’ll love it.

August 2 -3  SaariHelvetti     Viikinsaari   Tampere, Finland

August 8  Bloodstock Open   Burton upon Trent, United Kingdom

Well my Headbangers that’s it for this week.  Join me next week for another band and another song, in the meantime, yeah you know it’s coming, don’t stand to close to the fire if you can’t handle the burn……..

COMING UP HEADBANGERS – FEEL THE BURN….

•  Week 47 – September 7 – Brackish Tide –  Metal – Somerset County, MD
•  Week 46 –  August 31 – Kryptos – Old School Heavy Metal – Bangalore, India
•  Week 45 – August 24 – Spyder Volt – Alternative Rock – Laredo, Texas
•  Week 44 –  August 17 – Descent of The ArchAngel – Underground Metalcore – US
•  Week 43 –  August 10 – Dark Messiah – Heavy Metal – Winnipeg, Canada
•  Week 42 –   August 3 – Arcsin -Modern Melodic Progressive Metal – Miami, Florida
  
•  Week 41 –  July 27 –  Methane Metal – Southern Thrash Metal – Sweden/Jersey
•  Week 40 –  July 20 –  Bloodred Hourglass – Melodic Death/Thrash Metal – Mikkeli, Finland
•  Week 39 –  July 13 –  Atarka – Metal – Birmingham, UK. 
•  Week 38 –  July 6   –  Silverbullet Band – Symphonic Heavy Metal – Riihimaki, Suomi
• Week 37 –  June 29 –  Hammer Down Hard – New Age Hard Rock/Metal
•  Week 36 – June 22 –  Syth Glasgow – Old School Metal – Glasgow, Scotland
• Week 35 –  June 15  – Virtues – Metalcore – Brisbane, Australia
• Week 34 –  June 8  –  Vovkulaka  – Dark Angry Evil Metal – Odessa, Ukraine
• Week 33 –  June 1  –  Executioner  – Hardcore Thrash – San Antonio, Texas
• Week 32 – May 25 – Night Shadow – Power/Speed Metal – San Diego, California
• Week 31 – May 18 – Primitive Machine – Rock, Dublin City, Ireland
• Week 30 – May 11 – Daggerplay – Punk,  Rock n Roll, Power Pop, Helsinki,     Finland
• Week 29 – May 4 –  Kalmo – Finnish Doom Metal – Kerava, Finland

•  Week 28 – April 27 – Repaid in Blood – Pure Fucking Geek Metal – San Jose, California               
• Week 27 – April 20 – Arch Enemy – Melodic Death Metal – Halmstad, Sweden 
• Week 26 – April 13 – Falling Into Red – Hard Alternative Rock – Pittsburg, Pennsylvania
• Week 25 – April 6 – Tulsadoom – Evil Barbaric Heavy Thrash Metal – Vienna, Austria 
• Week 24 – March 30 – Dream Troll – Old School Rock – Leeds, England
• Week 23 – March 23 – The 69 Eyes – Goth & Roll – Helsinki Finland
• Week 22 – March 16 – Ghost Season – Alternative Metal – Athens, Greece
• Week 21 – March 9 – Vane – Pirate Melodeath Metal – Poland
• Week 20 – March 2 – Ravenscroft – Rock – Orange, California
• Week 19 – Feb 23 –  Love Machine – Heavy Rock – Milano, Italy
• Week 18 – Feb 16 – Children of Bodom – Melodic Death Metal – Espoo, Finland
• Week 17 – Feb 9 – 10 Gauge – Hard Rock – England, UK
• Week 16 – Feb 2 – Everlit – Hard Rock – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Week 15 – Jan 26 – Victim of Illusion – Progressive Rock – Turin, Italy
• Week 14 – Jan 19 – September Sky – Alternative Metal – Indianapolis, Indiana
• Week 13 – Jan 12 – The Edge of Reason – Rock/Post Hardcore – Regensburg, Germany
• Week 12 – January 1, 2019 New Years Day – The HU BAND – MONGOLIA
• Week 11 – Dec 29 – Apocalyptica – Rock/Metal – Helsinki, Finland
• Week 10 – Dec 22 – Hidden Scars – Prog/Indus Metal – Las Vegas, Nevada
• Week  9 –  Dec 15 – In Hell – Black Death Metal – Lille, France
• Week  8 –  Dec 08 – Fireproven – Prog Death Metal – Tampere, Finland
• Week  7 – Nov 30 – Amon Amarth – Death Metal – Tumba, Sweden
• Week  6 – Nov 23 – Chernobyls Uterus – Grindcore Metal – Pripyat, Ukraine
• Week  5 – Nov 17 – Five Finger Death Punch – Metal – Las Vegas, Nevada
• Week  4 – Nov 10 – Universal Theory – Gothic Metal – Madrid, Spain
• Week  3 – Nov 03 – Mawcore – Hard Rock/Metal – Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
• Week  2 – Oct 27 – Sin7 Band – Heavy Metal – Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Week  1 – Oct 20 – Forever Still – Hard Rock/Metal – Copenhagen, Denmark

OK silence, no talking, listen to this first.

“Golden Snake”

Growl vocals Headbangers, you know there’s nothing in this world that I love  more than my growl vocals, well that and fire, but you all know that.  To me growl vocals is what really makes a metal band, and not everyone can do them, before you all start havin a fit remember what speaks to me may not speak to you.  I’m all about my bands, every member is important, every instrument, but I just happen to love growl vocals, it’s a special voice that can pull it off, we all like different things my Headbangers, that’s what makes us a metal family.  This is pretty damn interesting just looking around the net on Atarka and I found this:

Atarka is one of the five elder dragons of Tarkir. She is a robust beast with antlers, horns and fur. She breathes green flames. The ultimate predator, Atarka spends her days, and most of her nights, hunting and feasting.

Perkele could it possibly be, paska Dragons and Fire.  I couldn’t ask for much more than that.  I love it.

OK let’s meet these guys with the supreme growl vocals and great sound:

These are some great pics guys:

Jamie Smith – Vocals
Daniel K.P. McCarthy – Guitar, Vocals
Adam Bayliss – Bass Guitar
Alex Dutton – Guitar
Phil Sheldon – Drums

Here’s a live clip of “Tollund Man” 

This is just a sneak peak into their debut album, I can’t even say the name, but it will be released in late 2019. 

Here’s a little back ground on the Tollund Man:

I’m telling you these guy impress the paska out of me with the meaning behind their songs.  Really I want to know who is coming up with all these great ideas over there.  Guys, tell me who it is or is it all of you??  Well my HeadBangers that’s all the info I can give out on this up and coming band.  I cannot wait for their debut album to come out and will update you all as soon as I hear anything.  In the meantime join me next week for another band and another song.  And remember don’t stand to close to the fire if you can’t handle the burn…..

The metal man took me to Helsinki today and to Jussi’s (69Eyes) bar “The Riff”. It’s beautiful and I have pics to share. Here we go:

The barrel of Jack Daniels has arrived and is reserved for next Sunday, Jussi’s birthday, the party starts at 6 PM, and there are sure to be some local Rockers there.

First off I want to say before I even start, this is a bad ass bunch of Headbangers.

“Lady of Lies”

Sorry my Headbangers but I had to get that out of my system, I’m feeling the burn with this group.  Let’s look at some bio on these guys:

Silver Bullet’s inception dates back to the year 2008 when the band was founded under the name of Dirge Eternal and it was around this time that the quintet started carving its very own niche by basing their entire lyrics on the gloriously gory genre of horror movies. The first demos already served as ominous harbingers of the gloriousness that was to come, before former Dreamtale vocalist Nils Nordling and ex Turisas bass player Hannes Horma completed the pack and helped forging the full-length debut “Screamworks” that was released in mid-2016. The album’s guiding theme – classic horror movies – was masterfully transferred to the stage, with actors serving as zombie nurses, possessed little girls and even as a chainsaw-wielding lunatic, making Silver Bullet’s notoriously entertaining live shows an audiovisual experience in a class of its own. After an extensive and highly successful stretch of touring, the Finns will return with their second offering of powerfully orchestrated, riff-infused Symphonic Power Metal in 2019. Though the backdrop of horror flicks was left behind, “Mooncult” nevertheless serves as a real spine-chiller, offering a hauntingly thrilling plot set in the vastnesses of Scotland that is loosely based on a true story. Having teamed up with up-and-coming metal powerhouse Reaper Entertainment Europe, new shores of eerie excellence are just a knife’s throw away. Brace yourselves to be ripped apart by silver bullets of purest heavy metal!

“The Witches Hammer”

Let’s meet the band:

Nils Nordling – Vocals
Hannes Horma – Guitars
Henri Asikainen – Guitars
Ossi Elonen – Bass
Patrik Albrecht – Drums

“She Holds The Greatest Promise”

Well if that’s Symphonic Heavy Metal you can add me to the thumbs up list guys.  I love this band, I really do no bullshit here either, but you know what speaks to me may not speak to you, that’s how it goes.  Well Perkele, paska I’m putting one more on here just because I love it, sorry Headbangers……

“Tormentor”

I love the vocals, Nils really has a powerful voice and it mixes with the instrumentals perfectly, neither drowns the other out.  Close your eyes when you listen to music like this and let it take you places you’ve been or haven’t been yet.  These songs sound so good but, still have the edge we headbangers crave in our metal, and you know what I mean, if you don’t you’re not a true headbanger.  Silver Bullet is like slow, cool burning fire and you all know how I feel about my fire………..

That’s it for this week my Headbangers, join me next week for another band and another song.   Remember don’t stand to close to the fire it you can’t handle the burn………………

Well my headbangers, I have been told, “Where are you from”, “I’m from Kansas, USA, “Oh well you’re not in Kansas anymore”.  Perkele don’t I know it LMFAO.  They say TUSKA, according to Google and local people means, pain, distress, agony, and suffering.  Well believe me it is all those things and more.  Once you enter the arena it’s like crossing over the yellow brick road.  There is so much to see, hear, scream that it’s like sensory overload.  This is my first but not my last Tuska Festival.  I’m posting some videos of bands and pics of new friends made and hope to run into again.  Here we go, get ready for pure fire…..

Ok so it’s no big ass secret that I love my Amorphis, so that’s where I’ll start:

Amorphis is a Finnish heavy metal band founded by Jan Rechberger, Tomi Koivusaari, and Esa Holopainen in 1990. Initially, the band was a death metal act, but on later albums they evolved into playing other genres, including heavy metal, progressive metal, and folk metal. They frequently use the Kalevala, the epic poem of Finland, as a source for their lyrics.  Frankly, I don’t care what genre they play, Tomi is the KING OFF THE GROWL VOCALS, NO QUESTION AND THAT IS THAT.

Now on to a band called “The Cult of Luna”

Now before Stam1na, yes you heard me right Stam1na, I want to introduce you to some new friends.  You can sit down with a table full of people and the conversation will always lead to music and more information that I did not know.

Every person I met was so nice and helpful, like the first night when the Metal Man couldn’t find me. I swear it’s something new everyday but you know:

Here we go my Headbangers  – Stam1na – the best hair moshers on the planet.

There is so many great bands here, it’s just metal heaven.   

The Metal Man with that hair.

One thing that impressed me the most was how people with disabilities were given their own area to view the bands.  These people really care about each other and no one is over looked.  Not even me a foreigner, I fell on my knee when I was at the country house the first week, one to many Long Drinks, and I can’t count the number of times I was told here sit, sit.  I love this place, metal people from all walks of life were there, from harbor workers to the tv personality, who never mentioned what he did, Metal people truly are one family.

More new metal friends, everyone talks to everyone no matter where you are from.  I met people from Japan as well as South America.  Finland is the center of the metal universe believe me.

Sunday, the last day of Tuska is kids day, ok I was like Kids day omg.  But nope here the Finnish have us beat again.  The kids have a couple of hours to come in and have their face painted like little mini me Belzebubs. Look lol.

The next generation of Headbangers, but they are learning from their family and friends about the metal music and the metal family where you are always welcomed and safe.  Then they grow up to look like these two, ready for the world, complete with the white eye contacts, I wanted the dragon eye myself.

Then the end to a great festival, the Tatoo, yes finally, after talking about it for months and months we did it and now it’s done.  PERKELE on the right for arm in Runes of course, I mean we are metal heads after all.  My new tatooist, did a great job, I’ll deffinetly be back cause you know I need my fire my headbangers.

I have to say I wasn’t sure if I would make it through day 2, but I did.  Then day 3 came and then Tuska was gone till next year.  But I have great pics and videos to keep my company till the next festival, which in this part of the world could be anywhere at anytime.  Well my headbangers that’s it for this special edition, join me  next week for another band and another song.  Till then remember don’t stand to close to the fire if you cant handle the burn………….

Hard Rock – Heavy Metal

Well my Headbangers it’s time for a little Hammer Down Hard, let’s start with a song to get you all FIRED up.

“Bloodshot Eyes”

Here’s some bio directly from their management, thanks Nancy.

HAMMER DOWN HARD was formed by renowned hard rock drummer singer/songwriter Lonnie Hammer (Jack Russell’s Great White, Every Mother’s Nightmare, Black Oak Arkansas) in the Fall of 2017. The brainchild of Hammer, with assistance from manager Kim Allegrezza (The Allegrezza Agency), HAMMER DOWN HARD hand-picked some of the finest musicians in the hard rock and heavy metal music scene to join the ranks.

The debut album, Total Annihilation, presents all-star guest performances by members of Shinedown, Candlebox, Saliva, Great White, Black Oak Arkansas, Twelve Stones, Winger and Surrender The Fall. Total Annihilation debuted at #3 as the Most Added record on the Metal Contraband Chart and remained in the Heavy Top 40 for eight weeks. HAMMER DOWN HARD was voted Rockwired Magazine’s Artist of the Month for August 2018 by the fans only weeks after their debut and was selected as one of the Top 20 New Bands 2018. AXS exclusively premiered the “Total Annihilation” music video January 3, 2019. “Total Annihilation” AXS Video Premiere link: http://www.axs.com/136290

Lonnie Hammer branched out into new territory both musically and lyrically with HAMMER DOWN HARD, pushing deep into new creative realms. With honest songs, top notch lyrics, powerful vocals and shear rock fury you can feel the energy as well as the incredible enthusiasm this formidable band brings to the music world. Not only do they rock a crowd, they rule, conquer and certainly get everyone to stand up and take notice. The band’s very first gig was July 11, 2018 at RockFest 2018 in Cadott, WI., that night’s main stage lineup was HAMMER DOWN HARD, Autograph, Skid Row and Ace Frehley. Not bad for a first gig!
Total Annihilation complete album on Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/hammer-down-hard/sets/total-annihilation/s-

Here he is my headbangers “Lonnie Hammer”  or as I call him Fire Man

I’m putting this listing here so you can all see how much talent is going on in this album, yeah it’s fire, I was head banging to every song.

Studio musicians-

Lonnie Hammer (Black Oak Arkansas, Every Mother’s Nightmare, Jack Russell’s Great White): Lead vocals and drums
Justin Rimer (12 Stones): Guitar and bass guitar
Zach Myers (Shinedown): Guitar: “Who I Am”
Brian Quinn (Candlebox): Guitar: “Killing Time”
Donnie Wayne Smith (Winger): Guitar: “Total Annihilation” “Wakefield” “Fox On The Run” “Bloodshot Eyes” “Christine”
Wayne Swinny (Saliva): Guitar “Bloodshot Eyes” “Conquer and Divide”
Tony Cardenas Montana (Great White): Guitar “Fox On The Run”
Lou Kouvaris (Riot and 2018 Hall of Heavy Metal History Inductee): Guitar “Conquer And Divide”
Devon Hightower (Surrender The Fall): Bass guitar “Wakefield” “Bloodshot Eyes”

“Total Annihilation”

Pretty impressive wouldn’t you say, I haven’t found one song i didn’t like and I’ve listened to some more than once.  I love how it reminds me of the good old heavy rock. 

“Killing Time”

See my Headbangers, this is why I love doing my blog.  Some bands you find are right in your own backyard, while others are across the planet.  Wherever you find your fire breathe it in and let it take you to places you’ve never been, that is if you can handle the burn……

That’s it for this week my Headbangers, join me next week for another band and another song.  Try to find your fire, it makes everything so much more, trust me I know.

My Headbangers welcome from Glasgow, Scotland the old school Metal Band:  Syth

I want to jump right into a song, I’ve listened to all of them so instead of the usual 3, I have to put 4 this week.  Yeah seriously these guys are that good, I love the way some of the songs start out sounding like they could be the opening music for Return of the King, Lord of the Rings.  But hey you know what I always say what speaks to me may not speak to you, but these guys do, they heat the blood my bangers.

I love this song: “The Liar’s Eyes”

Let’s meet the band:

Left to right: Allen, Barry, Niall, Mark

The idea of Syth was first formed in 1999, but it wasn’t until 2001 that the members got into a studio and played together.  As it is with a lot of bands there are professional and personal differences, and breakups eventually happen.  

Syth reformed again in 2015, with former guitarist Alan Stares as bassist and Dave Bisset taking over as lead vocalist in 2016. A third album, comprised mostly of songs composed before the second split and intended as a final statement from the band, was recorded on and off from 2016 and finally released in December 2018.

Syth went through a few breakups but are now a cohesive unit and I was told they will be gigging again after one member recovers from surgery. I was happy to hear that because they are to good to split. In the mean time I have picked a few songs that I love.  Listen and I think you’ll agree there is fire here….

“Where Valkyries Cry”

“Defiance”

“Demons of the Kirk”

Well Headbangers that’s it for this week.  Join me next week for another band and another song.   And as I always say don’t stand to close to the fire if you can’t handle the burn….

Welcome to Finland, Metal Capital of the Universe. 

I’m in Finland for the Tuska Festival and to see my metal man, without him I would not have know about the great bands this part of the world has to offer.  I can’t name them all it would take weeks, but just a few Children of Bodom, 69 Eyes, Amorphis, Stam1na, see what I mean and that’s just my favs, there are so many more. I took a few pics and just wanted to share a look at the Baltic Sea.

From Brisbane, Australia, this is Virtues

Nathan Barker – Drums

Zeke Ferrington – Bass Guitar

Daniel Devitt – Guitar

Wade Felsch – Vocals

Alex Miller – Guitar

Virtues, formed in May 2018, is a five piece metalcore band from Brisbane, Australia. Combining a mixture of sounds ranging from punk to deathcore, Virtues’ sound is a fine balance between brutality and melody and provides something for every metal fan. All members have been in other bands ranging from punk to death metal.

Their debut single was #42 on The Faction’s Hardest 100 Countdown in Australia

“When in Rome”

Their latest single “White Willow” was released in May 2019, here it is, gotta love these growl vocals.

As a relatively new band, even though they have all played with other bands, I feel that their  sound is as raw and savage as you would think the outback would be.  The music is hard and Wade’s growl vocals are some of the best I’ve heard, raw and savage,  you know I love my growl vocals.  I’m looking forward to posting more on this band as they move forward.  They have all that it takes to make it in the metal arena, just keep that fire……..

Well my Head Bangers that’s it for this week.  Join me next week for another band and another song, and as I always say, don’t stand to close to the fire if you can’t handle the burn.

Get ready Head Bangers here comes some Dark Angry Evil Metal from the Ukraine, and I’m not holding back, their story alone would make a great movie.

Let’s start with a great song, love this:   “My Devil”

This Bio was written for all Head Bangers by the Supernatural Sage VolK.  It’s longer than the usual bio, but it’s so PERKELE interesting I couldn’t take any out:

There was an icy feeling in the studio that day as singer-drummer-songwriter VolK was recording. The leader of the morbidly mystical metal band Vovkulaka is also known as a supernatural sage. Upon careful investigation, he found he was channeling the ghost of a key maker that had died in the room adjoining the studio, thus, solving the mystery of a pile of keys left behind in the property. Welcome to one dark entry in an occult metal life.  We’re not Satanists-we’re a metal band-but I have a cred,” VolK says.  “I investigate haunted palces all over the world and invite the evil in.

“With a tagline #painneversoundedsogood, a deep commitment to exploring paranormal activity, and a catalog of brutally catchy songs, Vovkulaka is adding an infectiously visceral injection of evil enlightenment to modern metal. 

Ghost hunting informs Vovkulaka’s (Ukrainian for werewolf) lyrical content, and VolK (Russian for werewolf) shares his fascinating paranormal experiences via the band’s Facebook page. In addition to his connection to this other realm, VolK also explores personal hauntings such as caustic relationships, inner demons, and the negative voices we all hear in our head.

Vovkulaka’s darkly cathartic metal also conjures tribal spirituality, dubstep, goth, industrial, and a myriad of permeations of thrash and nu-metal. Other aesthetic signposts include the rhythmic onslaught of Slipknot, the engaging spectacle of Babymetal, and the crushing groove metal of artists like Korn, Pantera, and Rob Zombie.

Onstage, Vovkulaka is something of a twisted carnival with VolK as the ringleader, conjuring the chilling masked imagery of Pinhead from Hellraiser while being flanked by stunning dancers Naya G and JuleZ deeply attuned to his beastly rhythms. This profound connection evokes the ancient tribal history of the “the drummer and the dancer.” Joining the three is brutally gifted Ivan Manoloff on guitar. The quartet’s lush and gritty sound is filled out by triggers.

Vovkulaka first made a seismic impact with its debut single, “Glory to the Heroes,” featuring Keith Lynch on Guitar (Bill Ward Band, Ozzy Osbourne), is a modern metal anthem bursting with ear-candy musical motifs, a rousing chorus, and touches of nu-metal swagger. The song was dedicated to Ukrainian soldier Nadiya Savchenko (jailed in Russia but released in May 2016). “Glory to the Heroes” was gifted to the Ukrainian people as a gesture of empowerment and freedom. Currently, the song is also being played in France, Russia, and the United States. In addition to this showing of patriotic devotion, Vovkulaka also recorded a metal version of the “Ukrainian National Anthem.”

Here it is Head Bangers listen:   “Glory to the Heroes”

Other Vovkulaka classic tracks include the band’s second single, “My Devil,” and “Defy.” “My Devil” entrances with intricate power metal grooves, vocals that vacillate between guttural roars and soulful singing, and a dubstep solo by DJ Gigantor from the band Evol Intent. Here, the demonic haunting comes courtesy of a toxic past relationship. Razor-sharp syncopation rules the industrial pummel of “Defy.”

Standouts from Vovkulaka’s most recent breakthrough studio sessions include “Darkness Calling,” “Cemetery Voices,” and “The Purple Door.” “Cemetery Voices” opens ominously with funeral bells and charges forward with a white-knuckle thrash ride punctuated by sludge metal and gritty industrial ambience. The track is a journey into the negative voices in our head.

“Cemetery Voices”

“Darkness Calling” is a grinding dose of groove metal with throbbing dubstep passages. The sinister “Purple Door” begins with Naya G and JuleZ sensually naming colors in English and Ukrainian in what seems like a coded message. The track boasts eerily melodic keyboard melodies, throttling power metal riffs, glitchy dubstep moments, and monstrous singing and hooky vocalizing. “Purple Door” recounts a disturbing occult-flavored odyssey from another realm.

The tale of Vovkulaka dates back to a trip to the Ukraine where VolK’s interest in mysticism spurred him on to investigate a fort from the 1600th century. The location was the site of heinous torture, and the spirit of a Polish princess killed there haunts the ancient location to this day. During this visit, VolK had a song epiphany themed around the colors of the Ukraine flag. At the time, the political climate was reaching a boiling point. Fired up, VolK wrote the opening salvo of what would become his life’s work: Ukraine-based and paranormal-themed malicious metal. Upon his return to United States, VolK began his working relationship with iconic producer Darian Rundall, and his studio association with fleet-fingered guitarist Stone from the metal band Contortion.

Up next, Vovkulaka will storm the Ukraine and Europe with its mesmerizingly morbid live show, touring, playing one-off shows, and making festival appearances. VolK, a man of few words, says in closing: “I have cut off all ties with everyone, quit everything, and sold all of my possessions to dedicate myself to Vovkulaka. This is my everything.”

Well my Head Bangers if you don’t find anything interesting with this group I don’t know what to say.  I love the music, and there are a lot more songs on Utube.   But their story is what grabs me.  I know every band has a different story, but as a paranormal lover this one really interested me.  But you know what I always say, what speaks to me may not speak to you.  But that all being said, I love this band and look forward to hearing more from them.  They definitely bring the fire

Well my Head Bangers that’s it for this week, join me next week for another band and another song, and remember don’t stand to close to the fire if you can’t handle the burn…..

As I will be headed for Finland and my Metal Man in 8 days, finally down to single digits, I would like to do a shout out to my Tattooist at Beautiful Body Tattoo’s for doing such a great job with my Runes it means SISU, google it,