17. Hard Action-Hot Wired Beat
This album is fresh out of the (in)box and it is everything advertised. It seems 2017 brought several Nordic bands to the countdown, including these Finnish rock n rollers. They have a 70's rock feel very much like The Hellacopters minus the Ace Frehley sounding vocals. Vocals kinda remind me of the clogged nasal sounding rock n roll vocal stylings of Mooney Suzuki frontman Sammy James Jr. The album is straight up rock n' roll. ROCK!
16. Fireball Ministry-Remember The Story
Fireball Ministry are back, after five years, and now that the sound has seeped into my bones, it's quite a needed fix after such drought. All the songs even sound so familiar, their sound remains unfettered and true. James Rota's voice is something I find to be so soothing and distinct, and still sounds like he did on their first record in '99.
15. Deep Purple-Infinite
Deep Purple are also back, and to get it out of the way, it's Steve Morse on guitar, not Ritchie Blackmore. The album and band still prove to hold their weight in the genre that they essentially created. I do notice that the album is laced with a curse word, something like one per song, and it's kinda tacky and unneeded. It's
"Dad Rock" for sure, accent on the ROCK because it does just that. Take a 2017 stoney keyboard ride with the heads who built the machine, the HOF'ers done did it again!
14. Trapped Under Ice-Heatwave
These guys have built a rep and foundation within the last 10 years here on the East Coast, and they keep spreading. This album is a return from a short hiatus, after only 2 records. Meanwhile, the side projects and associated members, namely Turnstile, have basically taken over the hardcore scene. This album proved to be a good workout record for me in 2017, chocked full of adrenaline inducing hardcore punk positivity. Hardcore loyalists may think it's weak, but, looking at some the side projects like Angel Du$t, it's a solid record ten fold.
13. Municipal Waste-Slime and Punishment
This album is everything you expect from these dudes, fast ADD and beer fueled crossover thrash. Plenty of mosh and humor to add to the catalog, nothing out of the ordinary for these dudes. Solid effort, new drummer remains conservative in his approach, which is cool, not a flashy freshman, business as usual for these nutbags.
12. Iron Reagan-Crossover Ministry
I'll admit, their first album, I felt like I was in the future, listening to Municipal Waste after the guitarist Ryan quit and took his sound with him. BUt, this album reinforces the last IR album, and now, I get it. And, I like it better than the new Municipal Waste. I can't help but compare the two. Essentially, both bands rule, no complaints. Thrash or be thrashed!
11. Atomic Bitchwax-Force Field
These NJ stoner rockers are right back atcha with a new record, and without fail, it's another bad-ass stoner rock-fueled rock album. These guys have a boogie that is unparalleled in the stoner rocker universe. It's a ZZ Top on crack sorta strut, it rules. Guitar hero rippage mania.
10. Horisont-About Time
I stumbled upon this band about exactly a year ago, while checking out some live music while visiting Austin, TX. These guys came in on tour opening for Electric Citizen, which, was a good band, but, they had no chance following Horisont. Horisont put on one the best shows I have seen in recent years. The sound is a 70's feel, vocals kinda Geddy Lee shrill with a blistering early metal jolt, and shredtastic dueling guitars that rounds out what is an incredible band. Plenty of cowbell and headbanging, make for a hell of a time. Check these guys out, one of the best bands playing music today.
Horisont at Beerland, TX
9. Mastodon-Emperor Of Sand
Some of their finest pieces of music lay on this record. I finally have come around to liking the vocal stylings of these guys. And, I literally mean, these guys, because they all share vocal duties. I couldn't stand it on the last few album, but, now, I have come to the realization that this IS their sound, it's not going to be all Leviathan and I'm ok with that, Phew!, that took a bit, but, I'm here, and, this album is soooo fucking good. Classics for the catalog for these dudes. Here's a documentary of them building this record. Check it out.
8. Foreseen-Grave Danger
Holy smokes, these dudes from Finland bring the OG crossover hardcore!!!! Another Nordic band crushing everything in it's path!
It reminds me of late 80's NYHC when everyone crossed over, and Carnivore ruled NYC. It's got that Crumbsuckers, AF's Cause For Alarm feel to it, and it plain rules.
7. Backtrack-Bad To My World
Top of the game reppin' NYHC is Backtrack, with a new album after 3 years. I can't say that I like it (or the album cover) as much as their first two albums, but, it's better than most albums of 2017. It's crammed full of mosh, packed into 2 minute HC punk songs. The production is tight, that drum set sounds so powerful and snappy. NYHC at it's best for 2017.
Backtrack at the Fuze Box, Albany 2017
6. Warbringer-Woe To The Vanquished
Warbringer never fails to bring the thrash. Possibly the best new thrash band to come out in recent years, these guys have yet to show any signs of slowing down. Though they have had several lineup changes, this current lineup is THE lineup, and, once again, this album shreds.
Warbringer ar Trickshots upstate NY
5. Red Death -Formidable Darkness
This band should explode on the scene with this release. Red Death come from the DC hardcore scene, and have that early COC ferociousness and kinda remind me of NYHC's Sick Of It All. The crossover sound should bring fans from metal and hardcore alike, making this a band a record to look out for!
Red Death rockin Upstate Concert Hall
4. Night Demon-Darkness Remains
Night Demon returns with a new guitar player at the helm and another solid rocking album. The guitar work seems to have drifted from a Kiss worship to a style akin to Van Halen's California, which is a sweet fit, considering California is where Night Demon hails from. Darkness Remains is no departure from their brand of NWOBHM style American metal. Check out my silver vinyl! Slick!
3. Screamer-Hell Machine
This album is 100% metal. If you look up heavy metal in the dictionary, this album will fall out of the book and crush your big toe. It makes you want to drive a Monte Carlo really fast. It rules. The Swedes do it again. It's the 80's, and everything is badass.
2. Power Trip-Nightmare Logic
Dallas thrashers return with a solid follow up to their debut banger which had a lot to live up to. Fuckin nailed it. I went and saw them recently on a one-off (their tour in support of Cannibal Corpse) on a Monday night, and they blew the doors off the joint. New album is moshtastic and has the tasty basic formula of build up to monster break down and we here at Full Metal Racket are perfectly ok with that.
Power Trip at Chrome upstate NY
1. Higher Power- Soul Structure
UK's Higher Power has that perfect sound that reminds us of post NYHC like, well particularly Into Another, and even classic groove mosh like Leeway. The fazer on that guitar screams 90's guitar sound a'la Janes Addiction, Faith No More, Alice In Chains, Quicksand, Primus, etc. The production is flawless, and they pull it off live identical to what you hear on wax. It's hardcore, metal, punk, rock, everything that rules.
THANKS FOR CHECKING IT OUT,
NOW GO BUY SOME MUSIC!
