TL;DR Review LIST: Sorcerer, Leave the Living, Sigh, Hellbastard, Chemical Burn, Veil of Maya, Forward Unto Dawn, Third Ion, Dying Humanity, Ommadon, Wrvth, Lorna Shore & Hellacaust

This will be the most brief list of ‘reviews’ I’ve done in a long time. It’ll be basic info with a quick opinion and a score, linking to the bands Facebook or Bandcamp. Without further ado…

Sorcerer – In The Shadow of the Inverted Cross. Old school doom style with modern production. 7 out of 10 https://www.facebook.com/sorcererdoom

Leave the Living – Pacifist. Self Released metal that is very groove oriented with big melodic emphasis on guitar riffs. Fans of Lamb of God will enjoy their song writing. 7.5 out of 10 https://www.facebook.com/leavetheliving

Sigh’s new album is the first time I’ve given this band a try and honestly I don’t get it. Sounds like a terrible version of what Devin Townsend is doing. Avant-garde gone wrong. 2 out of 10 https://www.facebook.com/pages/SIGH-official-page/227550909275

Hellbastard is a crusty punk/hardcore band with massive thrash influence and it’s the thrash that keeps my headbanging hard. Excellent riffing combined with great vocal remedies makes this a gnar-banger of an album. 7 out of 10 https://www.facebook.com/hellbastardofficial

Chemical Burn’s “Raining Anvils” sounds like old Machine Head mixed with Soil, especially Soil’s vocal style. Production is good, riffs are simple yet catchy and song writing overall isn’t too bad. Guitar solos are on point though. 7 out of 10 www.facebook.com/chemicalburn

I’ve never been impressed with Veil of Maya’s style of metal and this is another album that won’t make me a fan. Matriarch uses cookie cutter ‘djent riffing’ with odd timed palm muted down tuned guitars and basic drum patterns that just bore me. Vocal performance is decent, production is top notch. 5 out of 10 www.facebook.com/veilofmaya

Forward Unto Dawn is a progressive death metal band that has a thick thudding style of song writing on Alpha that doesn’t appeal to me. Vocals are okay and the weedle’s are fun but nothing is grasping me here. Not bad though. 6.5 out of 10 http://forward-unto-dawn.bandcamp.com/

Third Ion is a progressive metal band with big influence from 8 bit gaming and technology. I am picking up a big Last Chance To Reason vibe here. The music is great, the vocals are wonderful and I am sucked into a whirlwind of great song writing and campy musicianship. 13/8 Bit is a wonderful listen. 8.5 out of 10 www.facebook.com/thirdion

Dying Humanity’s melodic death metal sound on Deadened is very basic in terms of formulaic composition and execution. The riffs are fun, the drumming is beast and I am on board with the vocals except for the clean singing. Rid of those vocals and stick with the death metal growls. 7 out of 10 www.facebook.com/dyinghumanity

Ommadon’s Empathy For The Wicked is pure filthy, drawn out doom. Crashing cymbals with storming snare pulses through the bass fuzz and guitar tone, delivering a powerful sludgy sound that was enjoyable. Hell. Yes. 8 out of 10 http://www.ommadon.bandcamp.com

Wrvth is a death metal band that has a huge emphasis on atmosphere and progression on their self titled album. Dark harmonies and sadistic writing really gives this album a unique and scary vibe, while still being catchy and enjoyable. 7.5 out of 10 http://www.facebook.com/WrathofVesuvius

Lorna Shore is a blackened technical death metal/deathcore band (I know…) that actually successfully blends all of this together to make a cohesive metal sound on Psalms. Vocals are brutal and sound is highly produced and overall put together very well. 7 out of 10 https://www.facebook.com/LornaShore

Hellacaust’s What Is Not is a raw death metal treat! There is a unreal blackened thrash/punk feeling to it that gives it extra power on top of the unholy music that is blasting from these speakers. This is gnarly. Not for the faint of heart. 8 out of 10 http://prcmusic.bandcamp.com/album/hellacaust-what-is-not-cd