Metal Assault: Album Reviews

By Andrew Bansal

In the recent past, Iron Maiden have retained and enhanced their reputation as the ultimate heavy metal institution, triumphantly exploring newer territories and large-scale business ventures, such as touring the world in their own ‘Ed Force One’ jet flown by singer Bruce Dickinson and releasing the Trooper beer, but most importantly, through unmatchable live performances that have continually set and raised the standard for the genre. Since the release of their 2010 effort ‘The Final Frontier’ and the subsequent world tour, they finally put out an official release of the ‘Maiden England’ DVD and toured the globe again to bring back some of the selections from the 1988 ‘Seventh Son Of A Seventh Son’ tour, giving younger fans a much welcomed opportunity to get a taste of that era. Fast forward to 2015, Iron Maiden have completed a set of brand new tunes and the most important metal event of the year is upon us, as the band is ready to unveil their sixteenth full-length studio album, the double LP ‘The Book Of Souls’ on September 4th. Here is Metal Assault’s take on what listeners can expect from it. Continue reading “Iron Maiden – The Book Of Souls”

By Andrew Bansal

Even amidst growing concerns surrounding frontman Lemmy’s deteriorating health, rock ‘n roll godfathers Motörhead refuse to slow down and are celebrating their 40th anniversary this summer with a US headline tour and their 22nd full-length studio album ‘Bad Magic’, released on August 28th via UDR Music. The previous album ‘Aftershock’ (2013) presented some quintessential Motörhead compositions, and despite the recent troubles Motörhead has faced as a live band being forced to cancel and curtail performances, the consistency of their studio material has always been one of their major strengths, and normally, a new Motörhead album would be expected to deliver the goods in a manner as strong as ever. This time the expectations have been lower, but fans would find it to be a pleasant surprise. Continue reading “Motörhead – Bad Magic”

By Andrew Bansal

Longstanding Def Leppard guitarist Phil Collen started a blues side project in 2012, recruiting a group of talented musicians in an attempt to revive a musical style that lends to the roots of all forms of heavy music but is rarely heard in its purest form in the modern day. The group is called Delta Deep and besides Collen on guitar and vocals, features Robert DeLeo on bass, Forrest Robinson on drums and Debbi Blackwell-Cook on lead vocals. Delta Deep released their self-titled debut full-length album on June 23rd 2015 via Mailboat Records, and can be rightfully described as a combination of ‘extreme blues’ and ‘rock-n-soul’. Continue reading “Delta Deep – Self-Titled”

By Andrew Bansal

Originated in Chicago, Illinois in 2007 but now based out of Seattle, Washington, thrash/hardcore punk group Vile Display Of Humanity independently released their fourth full-length album, a 20-track self-titled offering. Taking inspiration from the likes of Toxic Holocaust, Rancid and Lefover Crack, Vile Display Of Humanity have toiled hard first in the US Mid-West and then on the West Coast, spreading their own interpretation of the type of music they love listening to. Their newest release comes as appropriately self-titled because it is by far the most precise and accurate representation of the band. Continue reading “Vile Display Of Humanity – Self-Titled”

By Andrew Bansal

American heavy metal giants Lamb Of God released their seventh full-length studio album ‘VII: Sturm und Drang’ on July 24th 2015 via Epic Records, and above all else, it is a product of the band, their vocalist in particular, undergoing dark, long periods of tribulation. In 2012-13, frontman Randy Blythe was jailed for and acquitted of manslaughter charges faced as a result of a fan’s death on a stage in Czech Republic, and during this time, Blythe’s own well-being as well as Lamb Of God’s future were under threat. But, lyrically fueled by the experiences of the vocalist and musically boosted by the heightened levels of skill and maturity of the rest of the group, Lamb Of God have emerged triumphant with what can be best described as their finest hour. Continue reading “Lamb Of God – VII: Sturm und Drang”

By Andrew Bansal

New Hampshire-based atmospheric/post/progressive black metal band Vattnet Viskar are ready to release their second full-length album ‘Settler’ on June 29 2015 via Century Media Records. They started out in 2010 and released a self-titled debut EP in 2012, but the 2013 debut full-length ‘Sky Swallower’ and subsequent touring garnered them widespread attention as one of the most promising modern flagbearers of extreme music. The new album serves as a great follow-up and an ideal step forward. Continue reading “Vattnet Viskar – Settler”