Steel Mammoth are a raw eclectic rock act powered by the fusion of punk and metal. What’s most intriguing about this Finnish band is that they’re a steam roller of hybrid styles, but there is still something unique about them. This vocalist adds an absolutely outrageous element to the band. His zany charisma is unique and creates a distinguishable characteristic that listeners will either love or hate. The band’s style and sound has some semblance of style that is reminiscent to the Murder Junkies without the anti hero and scapegoat GG Allin at the helm, but it’s also far more avant garde in perspective. It pitches in and out of terrain that could easily be compared to the Melvins or Voivod, also. I appreciate that Steel Mammoth has implemented a songcraft that is eerily close to the music of the 70s. Atomic Oblivion isn’t just an homage, it really sounds like it came out of time warp. It’s classic vintage odd ball rock music with a heavy metal kick. Steel Mammoth's Atomic Oblivion was released on August 18th.
Circle’s Terminal album is an opus that crosses into powerful ambient territories in zealous defiance of modern rock's standard structures. There is nothing that one would consider normal from this Finnish quartet. Their energy is frantic and passionate, however, orchestrated through the brilliant clockwork of their elite genre bending song craft. Few bands can artfully move through a mosaic of styles so seamlessly without rendering their efforts to filthy and painfully pretentious noise. At its core Circle revolves around a maelstrom of rock one could immediately liken to the confrontational proto-punk meltdown of The Stooges. The Finnish vocals conjure a rabid esoteric mantra of eclectic tribal Norsemen dancing dangerously close to insanity, as the music dives through psychedelic, glam-pop, and furious acid rock riffs. Terminal is the example of how far rock music can continue to grow without the boundaries of stereotypes and genre models. bandcamp
Interview with vocalist/guitarist Samy Elbanna | By Nicholas Pendergast
(Photo: Ville Juurikkala)
1986 was a big year for thrash metal. To its credit, it saw the release of quintessential albums like Metallica’s Master of Puppets, Megadeth’s Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying?, and Slayer’s Reign in Blood, three albums that established the genre for the 30 years that followed after, leading to today. In 2016, that thrash metal calling is still hammering away into eardrums around the world. Along with contemporaries like Bio-Cancer, Warbringer, and Dr. Living Dead, Finland’s Lost Society are tearing up show after show, paving their way and paying their dues. Lost Society are a fierce force in the New Wave of Thrash Metal, and they should be expected to shred for some time to come. In the grand tradition of thrash metal, their focus is on speed and energy, but also on substance.
Lost Society are amped about their third full-length, Braindead. Expect a ton of riffs and solos that will cut you in half.
“The songwriting period started pretty much in the end of 2014 when our shows were done for the year,” vocalist and guitarist Samy Elbanna says of Braindead’s origins. “We’ve always wrote all of the material together at the rehearsal place, because that way, all of us get to throw around cool ideas with our own style into the songs to make them even more dynamic and interesting. One of the cool things we did did a bit differently this time around was that, after writing all of the songs, we went through them one at a time just to see if there was anything we could add or take out. Basically, we produced the songs in some way before we hit the studio.”
When asked what it is about the ‘80s thrash metal scene that makes it so influential, even for the younger generations of fans who weren’t around when the music first blew up, Elbanna says, “I’d have to say that the raw aggression in the music is the biggest reason—for me, at least.” He adds that there was a genuine passion behind the music, noting, “It’s just one of those genres of music where no one is faking anything, everything comes straight from the heart, and it’s all about the music and no bullshit. Also, the fact that the live shows are out of this world, with so much energy and passion, that makes the genre so special.”
Lost Society have been able to distinguish themselves from their peers in the thrash metal community partly because of their fantastic songwriting and guitar work. The Finnish rager, Elbanna, concludes that he and fellow guitarist Arttu Lesonen came through with the best solos of their careers on Braindead. “During the time after the release of 2014’s Terror Hungry and the recording sessions of Braindead, we’ve been practicing a lot,” he emphasizes. “We’ve practiced not only individually, but together too, which has made it really easy for us to make the harmony solos, and I think you can hear from the album that me and Arttu just work really well together on the solo parts.”
Check out Braindead—and its cover art by Jan Meininghaus, which Elbanna says fits the album perfectly—especially “I Am The Antidote,” “Riot,” and “Only (My) Death is Certain,” which Elbanna calls his favorite tracks on the album. Make sure to crank those up and blast out those apocalyptic feels. Time to riot!
