Every month we search out the best unsigned metal bands from across the globe, taking into consideration the musicianship, songwriting and production of the album. All of the below bands are on the right path to securing a record deal. They have taken the time to carefully put together the product it takes to move to the next level.
Interested in having your unsigned metal band featured in this column?
Email your promo material to heavymetal@aboutguide.com with the subject line Drago's Dungeon. You must send a link to your recording and a bio. I will personally check out all submissions, but only the month's best will unlock the key to the Dungeon.
Please give these bands a chance and support them. Check out their websites and more importantly purchase their merchandise. The underground is an incredibly important part of metal and these bands are the true definition of what that represents.
Genre: Power Metal
Portugal’s Cruz de Ferro play straight forward no frills heavy metal. Their latest release Guerreiros do Metal finds inspiration from Grave Digger, Sabaton and features Iron Maiden like guitar harmonies. Vocalist Rocardo Pombo utilizes a gruff approach and is very reminiscent of Grave Digger’s vocalist Chris Boltendahl. The vocals are sung in Portuguese, which provides authenticity and adds a cultural element.
Featuring thick heavy riffs the music varies between mid tempo and up-tempo tracks. The title track starts with staccato picking before blasting into the quickest song on the record. The chorus is anthem like and is memorable; it will make you want to throw the devil horns in the air. Opener “Defensores” features another catchy vocal melody that utilizes some excellent double bass drumming. The guitar playing is top notch as the leads contain a lot of harmonies, shredding and finesse playing.
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Influenced by the likes of Exodus, Amon Amarth and Kreator, Canada’s Dead Asylum have unleashed a stellar debut offering. General Carnage crafts technical compositions that are blended with a sheer ferocity while managing to retain unforgettable vocal melodies. Musically it's more dominated by their thrash influences, while the vocals are pure death metal. Excellent melodic riffing fills the record and sets the band apart from their peers.
The guttural vocals of Tyler Forde and Mike Lister dominate the release. Never utilizing clean vocals, they spew forth a combination of deep bellows blended with a melodic aggressive approach. Drummer Samantha Landa is fierce behind the kit as she effortlessly balances blast beats with groove passages. She also nails the double bass drumming. “Ashes of the Saviors,” “Payable in Blood” and “Every Dead Thing” finds Dead Asylum executing the perfect carnage for any death metal fan to sink their teeth into.
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
It is just a matter of time before Texas’ Hod are picked up for a new full-length release by a credible label. Their latest demo The Uncreated is a vicious slab of blackened death metal. At just three songs that equal twelve minutes of music, the impact it leaves is ludicrous. Every song brings an intense pace and never lets up. At such speeds it is amazing how the guitar riffs still come across perfectly and have incredible clarity.
“I Am Destroyer” is an intense blast beat infested song, which finds vocalist Vladibeer Reebs annihilating the microphone. It's filled with thrash inspired riffs and an intense guttural vocal that will have you shouting along. The band manages to create a live sounding recording that is not over-produced, but is still polished. The musicianship is tight and despite the speed, Hod manages to incorporate amazing guitar riffs throughout the release.
Genre: Progressive Metal
Intelligent, thought-provoking musicians are hard to come by. Philadelphia’s Surgeon do it all, combining complex musical landscapes with clever lyrics. With the release of their sophomore record Chemical Reign, the band finds itself making huge strides. Only consisting of three members, the musicianship is phenomenal and showcased throughout the record. The fact that the vocal melodies are also memorable is another attribute that the band has nailed.
Combining progressive fundamentals with straightforward rock, Surgeon also sprinkle in doom elements to round out its sound. Guitar player Lydia Giordano plays with amazing finesse and technique. Every song has her trademark soloing. Vocalist Sean Bolton shares similar traits with Slough Feg’s Mike Scalzi and utilizes a midrange presence on his vocals. With great effect he also employs an aggressive vocal as an accompaniment.
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
The fact that this is a debut record is astonishing. Canada’s XUL have released a stunningly impressive record with Malignance. It's an atmospheric journey that is overflowing with striking musicianship, songwriting and inspiring symphonic elements. They combine black metal riffing and shrieking vocal passages fluently with guttural death metal vocals and movements. The band sounds so seasoned and focused one would think that they have been together for years.
Double bass drumming and tremolo guitar picking are scattered throughout the album. XUL impeccably balance aggressiveness with atmosphere. The culmination is the infectious “Winter’s Reign,” with its gorgeous orchestration interplay with extreme riffs and double bass drumming as halfway through a beautiful breakdown is executed before an arpeggio induced solo. Vocalist Levi Meyers spews forth an incredible vocal on “Tomb of Tyrants” for a crushing closing to a brain-assaulting blend of blackened death metal.
Interested in having your unsigned metal band featured in this column?
Email your promo material to heavymetal@aboutguide.com with the subject line Drago's Dungeon. You must send a link to your recording and a bio. I will personally check out all submissions, but only the month's best will unlock the key to the Dungeon.
Please give these bands a chance and support them. Check out their websites and more importantly purchase their merchandise. The underground is an incredibly important part of metal and these bands are the true definition of what that represents.
Cruz de Ferro – 'Guerreiros do Metal'
Genre: Power Metal
Portugal’s Cruz de Ferro play straight forward no frills heavy metal. Their latest release Guerreiros do Metal finds inspiration from Grave Digger, Sabaton and features Iron Maiden like guitar harmonies. Vocalist Rocardo Pombo utilizes a gruff approach and is very reminiscent of Grave Digger’s vocalist Chris Boltendahl. The vocals are sung in Portuguese, which provides authenticity and adds a cultural element.
Featuring thick heavy riffs the music varies between mid tempo and up-tempo tracks. The title track starts with staccato picking before blasting into the quickest song on the record. The chorus is anthem like and is memorable; it will make you want to throw the devil horns in the air. Opener “Defensores” features another catchy vocal melody that utilizes some excellent double bass drumming. The guitar playing is top notch as the leads contain a lot of harmonies, shredding and finesse playing.
Dead Asylum – 'General Carnage'
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal
Influenced by the likes of Exodus, Amon Amarth and Kreator, Canada’s Dead Asylum have unleashed a stellar debut offering. General Carnage crafts technical compositions that are blended with a sheer ferocity while managing to retain unforgettable vocal melodies. Musically it's more dominated by their thrash influences, while the vocals are pure death metal. Excellent melodic riffing fills the record and sets the band apart from their peers.
The guttural vocals of Tyler Forde and Mike Lister dominate the release. Never utilizing clean vocals, they spew forth a combination of deep bellows blended with a melodic aggressive approach. Drummer Samantha Landa is fierce behind the kit as she effortlessly balances blast beats with groove passages. She also nails the double bass drumming. “Ashes of the Saviors,” “Payable in Blood” and “Every Dead Thing” finds Dead Asylum executing the perfect carnage for any death metal fan to sink their teeth into.
Hod – 'The Uncreated'
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
It is just a matter of time before Texas’ Hod are picked up for a new full-length release by a credible label. Their latest demo The Uncreated is a vicious slab of blackened death metal. At just three songs that equal twelve minutes of music, the impact it leaves is ludicrous. Every song brings an intense pace and never lets up. At such speeds it is amazing how the guitar riffs still come across perfectly and have incredible clarity.
“I Am Destroyer” is an intense blast beat infested song, which finds vocalist Vladibeer Reebs annihilating the microphone. It's filled with thrash inspired riffs and an intense guttural vocal that will have you shouting along. The band manages to create a live sounding recording that is not over-produced, but is still polished. The musicianship is tight and despite the speed, Hod manages to incorporate amazing guitar riffs throughout the release.
Surgeon – 'Chemical Reign'
Genre: Progressive Metal
Intelligent, thought-provoking musicians are hard to come by. Philadelphia’s Surgeon do it all, combining complex musical landscapes with clever lyrics. With the release of their sophomore record Chemical Reign, the band finds itself making huge strides. Only consisting of three members, the musicianship is phenomenal and showcased throughout the record. The fact that the vocal melodies are also memorable is another attribute that the band has nailed.
Combining progressive fundamentals with straightforward rock, Surgeon also sprinkle in doom elements to round out its sound. Guitar player Lydia Giordano plays with amazing finesse and technique. Every song has her trademark soloing. Vocalist Sean Bolton shares similar traits with Slough Feg’s Mike Scalzi and utilizes a midrange presence on his vocals. With great effect he also employs an aggressive vocal as an accompaniment.
XUL – 'Malignance'
Genre: Blackened Death Metal
The fact that this is a debut record is astonishing. Canada’s XUL have released a stunningly impressive record with Malignance. It's an atmospheric journey that is overflowing with striking musicianship, songwriting and inspiring symphonic elements. They combine black metal riffing and shrieking vocal passages fluently with guttural death metal vocals and movements. The band sounds so seasoned and focused one would think that they have been together for years.
Double bass drumming and tremolo guitar picking are scattered throughout the album. XUL impeccably balance aggressiveness with atmosphere. The culmination is the infectious “Winter’s Reign,” with its gorgeous orchestration interplay with extreme riffs and double bass drumming as halfway through a beautiful breakdown is executed before an arpeggio induced solo. Vocalist Levi Meyers spews forth an incredible vocal on “Tomb of Tyrants” for a crushing closing to a brain-assaulting blend of blackened death metal.
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