.end of story - .self-propelled (CDR 11tr)

US band .end of story has released one official CD and some very promising demos. One album that was only half-finished was entitled .self-propelled and sounded really great already as an unfinished album. Now guitarist/singer Skot Reed and bass player Dave Eichman have finally finished up the album with the help of drummer Troy Hagar. If you’re into King’s X style hard rock with cool, and quite odd harmonies, detuned riffing, great melodies and heavy grooves, this band is a MUST. There’s not a weak song on this platter, instead it goes between good, great and killer! Among the last category there’s the heavy One Mrs. Hippie, the funky/heavy Reaper Sublime with killer bass work from Eichman, not forgetting the outstanding cool Blue Sun with cool vintage King’s X style variations and harmonies. This is music porn! Besides being a killer guitarist with great feeling and technique, Skot is a formidable singer with a really cool tone to his voice. I sure hope some label picks this one up and gives it a proper release, coz it sure deserves it!
Janne Stark
Country: USA
Year: 2011
Label: none
Link: http://www.endofstory.com/

BLACKOUT METAL - demo (CDR 3tr)

Swedish metal merchants Blackout Metal is musically way more exciting than their name. There must be at least a couple hundred bands called Blackout. Tip no 1: Change the name boys! I saw the band live at the Rock Out Wild festival in northern Sweden last year and they did very well live. Opening track Addict starts it off with some really heavy, crunchy riffing topped with clean but powerful vocals. Second track starts out a bit weird, where it sounds like the bass and guitars are either not tuned the same or someone is playing something differently, or it’s just for effect. Anyway, the track reminds me of vintage thrashy Metallica, think Four Horsemen or Whiplash. Final track, Never Again, continues in the same vein. Tight, powerful and good! This band should definitely appeal to fans of good old thrashy metal in the vein of Anthrax, early Metallica, Megadeth, Testament and Vicious Rumours etc.

Janne Stark
Year: 2011
Label: none
Country: Sweden
Link: http://www.blackoutmetal.com/