Metal Monday: 5 Bands you might not know, but should

posted in: Features • Rock

As you likely already know, OurStage is a music discovery platform serving all sorts of great musical artists. Sometimes, though, there are bands that people should know about but, for whatever reason, don’t.  Here are five awesome metal bands to put on your radar. They’re not OurStage bands (yet) but could very well be future superstars.

First, we take a look at a French band Hacride. The term “progressive metal” would pigeon-hole Hacride, and that’s really not fair. After all, “progressive” doesn’t say much about the band’s style. The closest style match to Hacride would surely be the Dutch band Textures (but you might not know them either). Originally more of a technical death metal band, Hacride has since worked with more complex time signatures and avant-garde soundscapes, as well as more intricate songwriting not typically found in the technical death metal subgenre. The most remarkable thing about Hacride is how the band seamlessly incorporates a broad range of styles in a short amount of time. Like most progressive metal bands, Hacride has resorted to writing longer songs, with the average song length off their most recent album being 8 minutes.

Album recommendation: 2009’s Lazarus
For fans of: Isis, Textures, Opeth

Next, we take a look at another progressive metal band based out of Brooklyn, NY: Tombs. Drawing heavy influence from stoner metal, punk,  NY hardcore and more, Tombs have fused genres with very distinct styles into one gargantuan beast ” a sound comparable to an elephant stampede. With only 3 members, Tombs has a surprisingly dense and powerful around. Among the relentless chaos of the drums, guitar and bass, the wailing, raspy emotional vocals tie everything together. One moment the black metal influences are undeniable, the next you’ll swear the band sounds like Isis. Self-described as meta/psychedelic/experimental on their MySpace page, Tombs definately live up to their description.

Album recommendation: 2009’s Winter Hours
For fans of: Wolves in the Throne Room, Intronaut, Mouth of the Architect

The third band on the list is Boston’s Revocation. Rising stars on the metal scene, they were signed by Relapse Records in ’09 before releasing one of the better albums of last year ” Existence is Futile. A band best described as “metal at its purest,” Revocation borrows heavily from ’80s heavy thrash and early death metal. Every song is filled to the brim with seething vocals, furious riffage and face-melting solos. What separates this band from every other metal band out there, however are the harmonies and melodies not typically found in metal. Jazz, blues, pop ” it’s all in there.  Revocation is a band for people who like to have their faces melted off on a consistent basis, but don’t want to be bombarded by the same pentatonic sweeps used by every other band.

Album recommendation: 2009’s Existence is Futile
For fans of: Arsis, Skeletonwitch, Testament

Coming in at Number 4 is Illinois-based progressive deathcore band Born of Osiris. While the term “deathcore” is seen as a scarlet letter by many bands, critics and fans ” some bands are able to transcend the label and create a sound beyond breakdowns and growling vocals. A mix of technical death metal, grindcore and jazz guitars, Born of Osiris fits into an interesting niche all their own. No part of the band’s music becomes stale or dull.  The songwriting is fresh while themes, style and technique are never overused. A band searching endlessly for enlightenment in musical form, it’s hard to imagine they’re far from that big break.

Album recommendation: 2009’s A Higher Place
For fans of: The Red Chord, The Faceless, All Shall Perish

Last on today’s list is Chickenhawk out of Leeds, UK.  Chickenhawk stumbled across a sound born of a Friday night filled with drinking, fighting, and partying. Best described as noisy and distressed, the Chickenhawk formula is a simple: every song is loud and thrashy, filled with hooks and riffs. With seemingly nonsensical song themes, a video about a zombie apocalypse, choruses that read “Take me to the moon, man, in a tin can. That’s so cool, man,”  it’s fairly obvious that Chickenhawk’s music is geared toward a rowdy and raucous good time. After listening to Chickenhawk appropriate responses include (but are not limited to): drinking, moshing, headbanging and partying. One listen and you’re sure to respond with “Thank you sir, may I have another?”

Album recommendation: 2008’s Chickenhawk
For fans of: Everytime I Die, Converge, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster

Check out the video for Chickenhawk’s latest single, “I Hate This, Do You Like It?”