HAVOK, MIKE TRAMP, VADER, AND WITCHCRAFT HEADLINE A SHORT LIST OF RELEASES

Havok – V

This Colorado thrash band has been holding their own and cranking out new material every so many years. Or should I say, David Sanchez has been holding the fort down.

Much like bands like Megadeth, Exodus, and Warbringer, Sanchez has been the one constant and mastermind behind everything the band does. For years the biggest knock was how he sounded too much like Dave Mustaine when singing.

Looks like that has changed on the first single off of the album “Phantom Force”, where he kind of follows what Angelus Apatrida did years ago, and finally step away from those kinds of vocals. Coincidentally, Angelus Apatrida’s “You’re Next” saw Guillermo Izquierdo apply vocals more in the style of Zetro from Exodus.

That’s exactly what Sanchez is doing here as well. Or at least that’s my takeaway. Given the association between both bands, Sanchez has helped the band in the past, it’s also not surprising he would try something Izquierdo has already pulled off successfully. Further proof that there is nothing new in metal, but hey, as long as you can make it your own, who cares?

RELATED: DAVID SANCHEZ WAS LAST ON TALKING METAL DURING EPISODE 765 CHECK IT OUT HERE.

Mike Tramp – Second Time Around

A concept that isn’t exactly new, as bands like The Police used to do this years ago in concert. And in recent years, Monster Magnet has also released albums where they re-imagine their own material.

It’s almost like having a remix of a track or in this case an entire album. Second Time Around sees tramp taking songs from throughout his solo career, and re-imagining all of them. When Monster Magnet started doing this, fans started saying they were running out of ideas.

Sometimes this works, sometimes it doesn’t. Tramp has definitely steered his ship in more of a folk-rock direction with his last few releases. Something that could be refreshing to some fans, while infuriate others that are still waiting for him to release another hard rock album.

Vader – Solitude In Madness

The band has always been at one of the epicenters per se of European death metal. Even if they’ve been surpassed in popularity by their countrymen Behemoth, Vader continues to crack out their brand of metal. Solitude In Madness marks the band’s twelfth studio release. The first since 2016’s The Empire.

Witchcraft – Black Metal 

New album, new direction. The band has always kind of meandered between a mix of Sabbath-like riffs, and 70s classic rock. After all, the band was started as a tribute to Roky Erickson, and Bobby Liebling of Petagram.

On this, the band’s first album in four years, they go in a completely different direction, by releasing what is essentially an acoustic album. Let’s be honest, this shouldn’t surprise anyone, as there has been a trend within the metal genre for bands, especially those pegged as black metal, pagan or folk bands to release albums that are mostly acoustic. Let’s see how Witchcraft’s fan base accepts this album. Hopefully, they love it.

OTHER RELEASES THAT MAY INTEREST YOU

Alanis Morissette – Such Pretty Forks in the Road

Dramarama – Color TV

REISSUES RE-RECORDS & LIVE ALBUMS

King Diamond – Conspiracy Reissue

King Diamond – Them Reissue

Jack Russell’s Great White – Once Bitten Acoustic Bytes

Orange Goblin – Rough & Ready, Live & Loud

Article by Victor M. Ruiz of Mars Attacks Radio & Podcast, and Galaxy Of Geeks Podcast.  Connect with him on Twitter:  @vmr907