Golers – In ‘n’ Outlaws

Originally out as a limited edition CD in 2013, In ‘n’ Outlaws is now digitally poised to pounce on the world and a tremendous assault it is too. The fourth album from Canadian punk metallers Golers, the release is a furious and ridiculously contagious slab of crossover ferocity throwing thrash, hardcore, and crust punk voracity into one bruising and belligerent treat. Every mention of the Vancouver quartet seems to draw comparisons to Slayer and DRI, and it is hard to be any different here, though there are plenty of other extreme provocateurs hinting in the spicing of the ultimately fresh fourteen track brawl.

Golers first uncaged their belligerent and sonic fury on ears in 1998, forming after the end of the band they were all playing in, Subversion. The following year saw debut album South Mountain Style uncaged, it establishing the core Golers sound which has snarled and rampaged ever since. 2nd Generation followed in 2004, offering a honed and more impacting flavouring which again was intensified and broadened a touch more with Backwoods Messages five years later. Sparking the keenest attention on the band yet, its well-received arrival was more than emulated by the appearance of In ‘n’ Outlaws with easy to expect greater success coming with its digital unveiling. Recorded with producer/engineer/manager Rob Shallcross (Gene Hoglan, Strapping Young Lad, West Of Hell), the album commandingly and tenaciously shows why Golers has been so greedily devoured on records an live across North America and Europe alike, a presence taking in shows and tours with bands such as Toxic Holocaust, Kreator, The Accused, Napalm Death, Suicidal Tendencies, Dayglo Abortions, Destruction, Ghoul, and Prong. The ultimate step of recognition has yet to be breached though; something In ‘n’ Outlaws definitely has the potential to trigger given the opportunity.

The album’s title track roars in ears first, riffs and rhythms an instant bombardment, gripping attention and an early appetite with force. The great blend of vocals led by Walter ‘Chainsaw Charlie’ Mason, straight away ignite an already contagious offering whilst the sonic craft of Derek ‘Henry the 1st‘ Rockall squeals with appeal against the caustic scrub of riffery from Mason. Catching the anthemic essences of thrash and punk in one almighty invitation, it is a thrilling start potently backed straight away by the even more hostile Lemon Eyed Devil and the following irritability of Angle Disruption. The first of the two is sheer primal virulence, vocals and grooves a spiteful bait against the fiercely provocative muscles of Jason ‘Cranswick’ Mosdell’s swings and Stuart ’Jonny Goler’ Carruthers predatory bass lines. Its punk rabidity is matched by that of its successor, a song with a bee in its bonnet and malevolence in its breath. Again though, every hook and rhythmic swipe seems to have a devious contagion matched by grooves and riffs, an enslavement of ears and imagination upon which the vocal squalls impressively vent.

Behind the Sun embraces a heavy metal spicing in its corrosive turbulence of sound and aggression next, the track as addictive as those before but finding a rawer, nastier nature to seduce and scar simultaneously. It is a bracing and abrasive quality which is just as vocal in Inbred Militia and soon after Kamikaze. Both tracks brawl with the senses and ignite emotions, the first blessed with a delicious crunchy growling bassline amidst a tempest of guitar and vocal inhospitality. It is pure addiction; the bands thrash intent the raging force of the compelling intrusion. The latter of the pair savages with every syllable and note expelled but again has a catchy enticement to its grooves which leave ears basking.

It is fair to say that there is no weak moment across the whole of In ‘n’ Outlaws; some songs might have a surface similarity at times but each reveals its own distinct character in time, as proven by the sonically inflamed Paradise Entrails, with its bewitching niggling and repetitive grooving, and the vicious When Shit Goes Down. This track scowls and abuses with every rhythmic flex and vocal glare, it’s brief but inescapable ire undiluted intimidation with, as in the previous track, a melodic toxicity to share.

The more composed and melodically fuelled Scratch steps forward next, it’s sonic enterprise a riveting tonic which as you might rightly assume, is soon smothered by an unfriendly vocal confrontation still impressing in its multi prong attack, and a more classic metal coloured voracity. It is another slight twist in the album and nature of songs, one turned a few degrees more in the hellacious storm of Quickshit McGraw with its exhausting intensity and melody induced trespass of the senses, and again in the rabid punk flirtation of Country Blumpkin, this another heady peak in the album.

The album ends as welcomingly riotously and adversarial as it began, Alcoholics Unanimous coming first and bellowing with rancor and rhythmic violence; a malice tempered again by irresistible and unrelenting grooves. It is a tremendous onslaught from the start but finds a new ground of addictiveness with its slip into a punk bred anthem towards the end. The Path is equally as incendiary and persuasive with its concussive charge and vocal causticity, whilst the closing Riff Cult / Relations just stands before ears and growls them out in sound, vocals, and attitude to provide a mouth-watering, energy sapping end to a thoroughly invigorating and rigorously enjoyable album.

Golers will be a secret to a great many no more, new hungry appetites sparked once In ‘n’ Outlaws hits the webby place. The album might not be quite announced as the very best thrash/punk metal offering in history but it is destined to be one of the favourites.

In ‘n’ Outlaws is digitally available from February 6^th via Bandcamp. Check https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Golers-Inbred-Militia-/103231376426551 for details.

RingMaster 05/02/2015

Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright

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All Else Fails – Fucktropolis

As Canadian metallers All Else Fails escorts the passions on a hungry and richly satisfying trip through new EP Fucktropolis, you soon realise that the eclectic R.I.Y.L. in the promo for the record was not merely casting a wide net to pull people in but actually an accurate call on the diverse sounds parading their sinews upon the release. Listed are the likes of Killswitch Engage, In Flames, Cancer Bats, and Five Finger Death Punch, and in the EP all those essences can be heard as rich spices within something which is not exactly drenched in originality but offers an intensively riveting encounter setting thoughts and emotions aflame.

Hailing from Edmonton, Alberta, All Else Fails has carved out a big reputation certainly in North America for their constantly evolving and vibrant sound and live performances which has seen the band alongside the likes of Protest the Hero, Cancer Bats, Dayglo Abortions, 3 Inches of Blood, Fear Factory, Threat Signal, Decapitated, Suffocation, and many more as well as numerous festivals. Their previous releases, especially 2011 album The Oracle, What Was, Is And Could Have Been, have equally earned strong acclaim whilst the band itself has garnered nominations at the Edmonton Music Awards for the past two years. Now the quartet of vocalist/guitarist Barrett Klesko, bassist/backing vocals Seedy Mitchell, guitarist Mike Sands, and drummer Shane Tym, return with was is claimed to be their heaviest and most expansive release yet. The Suicidal Bride Records released Fucktropolis is a tremendous proposition, one which though not quite flawless leaves a determined hunger to keep band and their releases entrenched within future horizons, with some retrospective investigation too.

First track AntiMartyr emerges from behind a vocal sample wrapped in musical drama. It is not long before riffs and rhythms add their menace to spark a smothering rise in intensity and immediately enterprise and temptation grip thoughts and senses. Soon the track takes full hold as guitars carve out a weave of sonic manipulation and a fury of riffs driven by ravenous basslines and now fully imposing drum volleys take aim. The harsh vocals growl and scowl with excellent lure and expression, reaping the aggressive sounds for further intent. It is not all about ravaging the ear though as equally excellent clean vocals and acidic melodies spiral around the muscular hulk of the song to offer a full range of rich flavour and variety. The technical strikes of the guitars jar and crack on bone with riveting relentlessness locked in compelling craft whilst the array of vocal delivery keeps things moving and evolving within song and thoughts.

The following Better Left Undead unravels a precise groove from the off, additional melodic flames searing the surrounding air before holding sway as the gruff vocals graze the surface of the lyrical narrative, soon replaced by again accomplished clean persuasion. They are a moving target which never settles in to a singular gait, much like the music, and it all adds to a continually intriguing and appetising proposition. The song itself is strongest when its rage is lit but the mellower and sultry washes within still leave hunger greedy to immerse its teeth into the emotive meal. As the intensive face of the song returns with a Bloodsimple feel to its caustic breath the song leaves the flight of the release as potent and enthralling as its predecessor started it.

     La Demencia Violenta  with its sultry mystique swirling behind the again rigid framed rhythms and steely riffs is a provocative wash of metallic bite and sonic colour, the smouldering heat of the vocals initially swapped for a full fire of sizzling syllables and spite coated words. There is an underlying lure to the song which calls persistently even when the track savagely bites at the ear, imagine Palms meets Five Finger Death Punch, and though arguably it is in the shadow of the rest of the EP, the track burns and lingers perfectly, especially its jabbing compelling riffs.

The final two songs are simply the pinnacles of the release. Firstly Obedience At The Altar of Sacrifice steps up face to face with the listener, its passion brewing from behind a mesh of brightly hued guitar sculpting and rhythmic building. Limbs and neck are soon in eager union with its rapacious energy and torrential gait, though again melodies and harmonies as well as descriptive keys all have a defined place in the brawling storm. It is a scintillating blaze of heavy and corrosive, one which simultaneously scars and seduces with skilful majesty, but one instantly challenged by the following triumph A Most Unwanted Reprieve. The track is just anthemic metal at its very best, group calls roping in the passions as riffs and drums set addictive trap after trap in the unbridled charge of howling invention and sinew clad imagination. The best track on Fucktropolis with its almost schizophrenic avidity, it is the perfect end to an outstanding release. Actually it is not quite the finish as there is the hidden track The Deep Roads, but as it is just a brief schizo reprise of the opening to the previous song, it is not really something to be discussed, though it did raise a grin.

Fucktropolis is simply great, a release which has limbs, senses, and passions leaping in tandem with its metallic adventure. If this is the direction and future ahead of All Else Fails, there will be exciting times as the band places themselves on the front line of world metal.

http://allelsefails.ca/

9/10

RingMaster 30/07/2013

Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright

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Besieged – Victims Beyond All Help

Originally a self-release limited to 300 copies in 2010, Victims Beyond All Help the debut album from Canadian thrashers Besieged is getting its worldwide unleashing via Unspeakable Axe Records, the new sub-label of Dark Descent Records. After allowing the seven track tsunami of rapacious riffs and flavoursome aggression to rampage relentlessly over the senses it has to be said about time too. The album is a terrific release, a hungry ravaging of the ear which leaves you exhausted but fully immersed in satisfaction. With a more than open tint of death metal to its rapacious creative appetite, the album is prime thrash metal with plenty of further added  spicery and though it maybe does not leave as many lingering memories as you would wish, it is a towering fury of merciless and richly rewarding provocation.

Hailing from Winnipeg, Besieged first released the Visions of Pain demo in 2004 to good responses with the first appearance of Victims Beyond All Help equally commanding. Across the years the thrashers built a strong and fevered fan base in their home town and beyond, especially sourcing eager passions with their stage performances which has seen them share stages with the likes of Death Angel, Dayglo Abortions, Razor, Dying Fetus, Toxic Holocaust, Inepsy, Anonymus, Hellacaust and many more. Wrapped in its original old school artwork painted by the legendary Ed Repk, the re-issued album is set to deservedly take the band to ears far beyond their continent and even saying so amidst the suggestions elsewhere that the band is no longer with us, hopefully it will be a trigger to more and greater things from the band.

From its first breath opener Internal Suffering flies for the throat, drums crippling and caging any thoughts of evasive manoeuvres whilst riffs flail the ear in a torrent of finely crafted sonic lashings. As the vocals offer their own intensive provocation the track is a bruising insatiable predator which without veering from its prime directive employs enough psychotic grooves and sonically honed temptation to secure the strongest attention. This is not the breaking down of barriers or moving into new realms for thrash or metal but simply the enslaving of greedy expectations with refreshing and undiluted passion bred aggression.

Both the following Death and Buried Alive continue in the same ferocious vein, though each with a little concentration has their individual intent and volatile characters. The first is a raw tempest of caustic energy and provocation, a track which is unrefined vocally and melodically charged at its guitar crafted heart and a blistering adrenaline fuelled corrosive scrubbing of the senses. Its successor takes a less demanding stance…well for the first mass of seconds before again flipping into an intensive stomp though arguably for the first time on the album there is a more deliberate inventive twist and switching of intriguing aspects, as well as a punk breath to its drama clad hooks mid-way.

The formidable start is just as impressively continued by The End, even if it is initially not quite as striking or unpredictable as other songs though it does evolve into something stronger with numerous confrontations. It continues the pressurising of the senses with ease and marks the beginning of the strongest part of the album. The title track as you would expect is no slouch in predacious riffing and excellent rhythmic irritation but to this it infuses an adventurous and skilfully developed melodic and imaginative enterprise. There is a familiarity to the alluring grooves and melody soaked additives but nothing you can define or label, and it all adds to the adventure of the enthralling song.

From the infectiously virulent Trapped Inside with its addictive grooves and hardcore vocal expulsions along its raucous course, the album offers up its pinnacle with the closing Black. At its core the track savages with prime thrash venom and animosity but around this mighty assault the band seduces with a persistently shifting maelstrom of epidemically inducing riff devilry, melodic flames which soar over the constantly at work intensity, and a sonic nagging with its just irresistible. The best song by far on Victims Beyond All Help amongst nothing but very good tracks, it is a potent antagonist to want and hope to hear more from this incredibly promising band. Whether we will time will tell but if it is to be their solo moment of glory it will leave a deep mark with their name on it.

https://www.facebook.com/Besiegedthrash

8.5/10

RingMaster 08/07/2013

Copyright RingMaster: MyFreeCopyright

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