Metalcore act Lycanthrope have been active within the Australian metal scene since 2014, and in the couple of years prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, they’d built upon a massive sound that made them seem absolutely unbeatable.
Category Archives: Album & EP Reviews
ZERO BOYS – Don’t Shoot Can’t Breathe / Long Way To Go
Active since 1980, Zero Boys emerged from the US hardcore punk scene, but the sounds on this twin tracker owe almost nothing to the influences and styles most readily associated with that vein of musical history. They have a retro and punky spirit that can’t be ignored, but the Zero Boys of 2023 present have a brilliantly melodic core that draws as much from garage rock and punk ‘n’ roll, and does so in a way that appears to create a sound that pre-dates most actual punk.
VARIOUS ARTISTS – Steel Bars: A Rock Tribute To Michael Bolton
In the minds of a lot of people, Michael Bolton is a man charged with filling his career with easy listening pop, or crooning standards. He achieved massive success in the late 80s with his sixth album, ‘Soul Provider’, a record that showcased a man with a strong voice, but beyond the Desmond Child penned ‘How Can We Be Lovers’ had very little substance.
That track was actually a welcome throwback of sorts to Bolton’s musical past. Before he became chief executive of making a generation of housewives over excited, old Mickey Two-Haircuts had already had a full career by most people’s standards. His first two albums mixed west coast pop with AM radio friendly rock tunes and material that occasionally hinted at his future success as a best-selling crooner, but a run of work released between 1979-85 cast Michael in the role of a full blooded rocker. With his band Blackjack (featuring future Kiss axeman Bruce Kulick) and as a solo performer, ‘Blackjack’ (1979), ‘Worlds Apart’ (1980), ‘Michael Bolton’ (1983) and ‘Everybody’s Crazy’ (1985) captured a run of work that could easily stand up with the best of Foreigner, Survivor and their ilk. Given the ubiquitous presence of Michael’s later, softer works, these brilliant records have all but been forgotten – or more likely ignored – by the more casual record buyer.
WITHERING SCORN – Prophets Of Demise
Although technically still a new band at the time of this 2023 release, Withering Scorn features some very familiar faces. Metal fans will recognise guitarist Glen Drover from his time as one of MegaDave’s hired hands in one of the lesser versions of Megadeth, as well as being a man who has released metal-oriented instrumental records. Bassist Joe DiBiase spent most of his musical life as a member of Fates Warning, and vocalist Henning Basse has previously been a member of Metalium and Firewind. Rounding out the line-up is Glen’s brother Shawn, a man who has also served time with Megadeth, as well as being a member of Eidolon (also with Glen) and Act of Defiance. It isn’t exactly what most people would call an “all star” line-up, but in terms of hard working, seasoned musicians, Withering Scorn has something of a pedigree.
CALLOUS HANDS – Trapped In Animated Flesh EP
The debut EP from Callous Hands (2021’s ‘Earth Mover’) wasted no time in announcing the arrival of a superbly heavy band. The three featured tracks blended groove metal, melodic death metal and elements of progressive metal for a sound that was truly impressive. In the band’s own words, the recording was “as heavy as fuck”, and certainly suggested great things to come.