Sunday, March 31, 2013

Xandria - Forevermore

I've got a nice song for you today. From female-fronted symphonic metal band Xandria, Forevermore. Give it a listen.

-Zombie Viking


Saturday, March 30, 2013

Listen to Starkill, Now

So Starkill, the band I'm going to be seeing with Hypocrisy in a few weeks, just released a new music video from their upcoming album, Fires of Life. And if you're not currently watching it, check it out! This is just good melodic death metal.


I actually found out recently that Starkill is the renaming of a band I had previously had my eye on, Massakren. If you haven't heard their stuff, check it out. It definitely has a more black metal tinge than their more recent music. The song above also has a couple Dimmu-sounding sections. It's all good. Honestly, I'm just pumped that a band I had previously found and thought was awesome has rebranded into something bigger and better. I'm also excited that I'll get to see them live!

I mean sure, Starkill's music isn't amazing or anything, but it's damn solid. Throw in a few great solos and you have yourself a quality band. That's what makes for something long lasting. If a band completely blows me away on first listen, there's a much greater chance that I'll grow out of them quickly. But if I hear a band and think they're solid, I'll most likely grow fonder of them over time and I'll probably still be listening to them in a few years. So check out Starkill.

-Zombie Viking

Monday, March 25, 2013

Finntroll - Blodsvept Album Review

The title track to Finntroll's latest, Blodvept was released on the internet a few weeks back. Listening to it, it sounds like good old Finntroll. The song is catchy and heavy, everything the band is known for. Listening to it, you think you'd be ready for the album. You'd be dead wrong. Blodsvept is a great song, but it sounds like it could be on any one of Finntroll's previous albums. This album, though, is something unexpectedly amazing and unique in its own right.


Blodsvept is the tried and true Finntroll formula you know a love, but with a few great changes. And the end result is something better than I would have ever guessed. The album focuses more on dividing the different elements of the music - the folk and the metal. Previous albums sort of mixed everything into one hectic package, blaring catchy folk tunes behind crazy guitars and drums. In Blodsvept, the folk parts shine in their own right, alongside the metal. There are many more moments where all the guitars and drums cut out and all that's left is lovely folk music (and usually Vreth's brutal vocals). This all combines for a damn catchy album. Seriously, there isn't a bad song on this thing! I especially love songs like Rösets Kung and Skogsdotter where you can hear the trumpets, banjo and every other unorthodox instrument loudly and clearly, separated from the metal.

The whole album gives off the great humppa vibe that Finntroll is known for. But overall it sounds somewhat different from the previous albums. That's always been a staple of a good band, one that can make every album sound different while still keeping a (good) staple sound. Every songs presents the dilemma of not knowing whether to dance or to bang your head. There's a nice mix of upbeat party songs and extremely catchy folky songs. Every song has the same crazy amount of energy to it. Honestly, I have nothing bad to say about Blodsvept.
Even the album art is awesome!
I'll be the first to admit that Finntroll isn't among my favourite artists. They're definitely a great band (why else would I be listening to them?), but there's always been something that's stopped me from loving them. It looks like that's all going to change now. Blodsvept is an amazing effort from the Finnish folk metallers that never disappoints. Listening through for the first time, I kept waiting for the song that I wouldn't like. There's always at least one song on a Finntroll album that I don't enjoy for whatever reason, whether it's too slow or there's so much going on that it becomes muddled. But this song never came. Like I said previously, there really isn't a bad song on the album, every song is unique and catchy.

The only reason I can see for someone not liking Blodsvept is if they don't like Finntroll as a band. They've always been one of the heavier folk metal bands and that doesn't change here. But anyone who enjoys folk metal or any of Finntroll's previous music should listen to Blodsvept. Like, right now. Go, buy it or find it online. This review's over.

-Zombie Viking

Monday, March 18, 2013

Late Update News: Statovarius Releases New Album, is Awesome

Things don't seem to be going too well
It's been over a week and I still haven't listened to all the songs from Stratovarius' new album Nemesis. But the songs that I have heard are pretty darn awesome. Especially the moment last night where I just had my music playing through and Out of the Fog came on. And I was blown away. I mean, Stratovarius is good, but they have a limited amount of amazing songs. This was one of them. That and Fantasy are my favourite songs that I've actually heard from the album.

It's not all great though. Like too many other power metal bands, Stratovarius decides to squeeze in some slow songs and ballads. Lots of people like that crap. I am not one of them. Just a matter of taste I suppose. I enjoy my music aggressive and fast paced, with the occasional slow song if it's really really good.

This is far from an album review, but go check out the album yourself. They've even made a music video for Halcyon Days. The song? Great. The video? Uhh, the transitions into all the different shirts are cool I guess. There's not really much else in the video besides the band playing, as bands tend to do, so I give it a big meh. But you should watch it anyway! Just click right here:


I'm just doing the uninitiated a public service. You're welcome.
-Zombie Viking

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Concert Time!

Finally, the summer concerts are starting to be announced. It was pretty disappointing when I found out I wouldn't be able to go to Paganfest IV with Ensiferum due to having an exam the next day, but I think I'm over that now. Both Hypocrisy and Finntroll will be releasing (awesome) new albums within the next couple weeks and then are both touring in North America!

http://www.last.fm/event/3525812+Hypocrisy+at+The+Annex+Wreckroom+on+4+May+2013

http://www.last.fm/event/3539913+Finntroll+at+The+Opera+House+on+12+August+2013

Hypocrisy will be coming with a death metal barrage consisting of Aborted, Arsis and Krisun. They'll also be bringing along a young band that I've been watching for a bit, Starkill. If you haven't head anything from them yet, check them out. Here, I'll make it easy for you, I'll embed one of their videos.



If that doesn't excite your earholes then... you don't like melodeath I guess. It's okay, it's not for everyone, I understand. But damn, these guys don't even have a Metal Archives page and already I'm going to get to see them. I am excite.

The tickets for this concert are less than $30, I've got nothing to lose. This year May 4th won't just be Star Wars day. I've even been yearning to see Peter Tägtgren for a pretty long time. You can tell I'm a fan, I even made a post about him. So this concert is guaranteed to be pretty awesome. I haven't even been to a death metal concert in forever, it's been all folk for me recently. Anyway, here's some Hypocrisy. May 4th!


After this gem of a concert it looks like I'll be going back to folk metal. And what better way to do that than with Finntroll? This will be my second time seeing them but they'll have released their new album in that time. And it already sounds good. If you haven't already heard Blodsvept, search it up. Go on, do it. I'm not going to embed a third video for you.

They're also, according to the Last.fm page, coming with another band called Trollband. I'm not sure if this is legit or if the event just hasn't been fully updated yet, but it sounds pretty awesome. In fact, I'd love it if they just came with a huge barrage of troll metal bands. TrollfesT will be here in April playing at Paganfest, so maybe they can stick around? Now that would be one hell of a concert. There would be so many people in troll costumes.. Now I'm really thinking about trolls.. Ok, fine, I'll post Blodsvept for you to listen to. But only because it's so damn good and catchy


It looks like I've got a pretty good summer ahead of me. Now I just need to inform my friends and see who will be accompanying me on this magical journey of metal.

-Zombie Viking

Friday, March 8, 2013

Die For Metal



For those of you out there with Android devices, you may want to check this out. Though it's already in the "most popular new game" list so maybe you have.

Die For Metal is a new app by Sinsquid Games that has you running around and... dying for metal. Pretty self explanatory. Here's the official description:
Are you ready to die for Metal? 

It's a brutal battle to be a member of a legendary death-metal band. But if you have the balls, you could do it. 

Die For Metal is a 2D Platformer where you play as a pagan metal-viking, battling though 3 worlds, with 45 levels, from ridiculously easy, to extremely hardcore. 

I mean, is this even a question? I gave the developers money for just making a metal app my phone so desperately was missing. I'm writing this post as I download the game. So go, buy this app. It's only a dollar, what do you have to lose?

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sinsquid.dieformetal

-Zombie Viking

Thursday, March 7, 2013

Finally, Gloryhammer!

Rejoice warriors, for the epic fantasy power metal power epic force band Gloryhammer has finally released their first song and video to accompany it. It's been almost 8 months since I last posted about Gloryhammer, but the day has arrived. The resulting song is what you'd expect, epic fantasy power metal. And same goes for the video. The band plays their song in some forest while some kid runs around and a sorcerer waits in a ruined building for all eternity. It's far from bad, but it's also nothing wholly new or unique. However, Chris Bowes is behind the whole thing and they take the whole subject as unseriously as you'd hope. I'll be sure to catch Gloryhammer's debut album when it finally hits shelves.

-Zombie Viking