Metal Reviews

You're welcome to comment on:


Click here to see the review.

I only listened to this band once, but bands like Sheavy, Terra Firma, and maybe even Trouble come to mind. It's totally retro, which seems to be the fad right now. I never thought stoner doom would be a big thing. I had a brief fascination with it in the late 90s. I still go back and listen to Sheavy and continue to follow Orange Goblin. I'm gonna have to listen again I guess cause I'm still trying to figure out what's so special about these guys. Sounds like many things I've heard before, which is fine as long as it's a fun listen. Maybe I just need to be in the right mood.

It's retro without being entirely a copy of anything else. A lot of the bands I mentioned in the review seem entirely rehashed from bands before them. RT adds something new in the bluesy vibe that seems to come right out of Christ's riffs on Lucifuge honestly. RT is crazy fucking catchy and it took me several spins before I even cared about them. I saw 'em live, what's his face was pushing them hard on the forums, I listened to the albums a few times, gave it a rest and then later after my niece mentioned them again it finally clicked. I wouldn't really apply the stoner label to them though at all. Nor doom. They really play bluesy hard rock or metal with possible hints of those labels.

Listened to some songs online and will give them a proper chance eventually. Interesting band to say the least.

This not stoner doom, man.

This sounds refreshing.

Alright guys, I'm convinced that I haven't given them a good chance yet and it may be keeping me from getting a lot of enjoyment out of it. Maybe I am lumping them into a heap that I shouldn't have. Trapt, you and I have similar tastes it seems so I definitely have a lot of respect for your opinion. I'm going to start listening to it more.

I'm liking this a lot, thanks for bringing this band to my attention Trapt.

On a side note, I wish there were more female vocalists in metal.

Dude, there are plenty of female vocalists in metal.

http://www.heartofmetal.net/t17610-fema ... rock-metal
http://www.soniccathedral.com

It's almost no longer a gimmick, besides the bands I mentioned in the review who are total gimmicks in my eyes.

Not a gimmick:
Sludge: Salome, Jucifer and Kylesa.
Death metal: Landmine Marathon and Fuck the Facts.
Grindcore: Agoraphobic Nosebleed.

Ha. I didn't even read that woefully ignorant review.

The Devil’s Blood, Huntress, Jess and the Ancient Ones, Christian Mistress, and Blood Ceremony are all gimmick bands?

I love how they're playing "heavy metal nostalgically" and it's just "old school heavy metal with lady vocals," but somehow Royal Thunder's "retro stoner-heavy metal sound" is different.

Here's a simple fact for you: Metal bands "with female vocalists" has been a "trend" for 30+ years.

And before you reply, I'll quote the great Harlan Ellison:

“You are not entitled to your opinion. You are entitled to your informed opinion. No one is entitled to be ignorant.”

Yeah, they're not a gimmick because I like 'em. Rehashed John Christ riffs are way better than the hackneyed shit those other bands play.

And thinking that lady vocals after Warlock and Girl School were not a simple gimmick, note that beauty and beast vocals in goth metal, all the power metal operatic singers, and the trite new wave of bands I referred to doing occult metal or whatever the fuck they call it all beg to differ. I'm not saying the bands I listed are all shit (in the same way that not all retro thrash acts are unlistenable), but at least having a lady vocalist who doesn't have a stereotypically feminine voice, Mlny has got some grit in her croon, goes a long way from distinguishing Royal Thunder from the pack.

Listening to Parsonz Curse and it is way cool.

I don't think trapt's claim about The Devil's Blood/Blood Ceremony/etc is totally off. Maybe not a gimmick but definitely a trend.

Yes, a trend that's always been around. Right.

Should I quote Ellison again?

All of a sudden I started hearing a lot about a dozen bands with girl singers playing Sabbath riffs so I'd call that a trend.

That's because you and too many others let the mainstream or hipster indie publications like Pitchfork dictate your thoughts.

The Devil's Blood formed in 2006, as did Blood Ceremony. Trends don't last that long. All the other bands listed are newer bands, but they're also very different from each other. What trend are they following?

The point is: Bands fronted by chicks have been playing these styles of music for decades. It's not a trend! And if you call yourself a music fan yet never search beyond the shit that is spoon-fed to you through media outlets, then that's on you.

Trends comes and go quickly. Short shorts and headbands and striped socks pulled up to the knees was a trend. Flat tops were a trend. Music that's always been there and always will be there but suddenly has a light shined upon it by the mainstream is not a trend.

Trends come and go. One minute they're there, next minute they're gone.

But the memories last a life time.

You might be right. That's fine. But trends are only trends if people pick up on them. If they are advertised, if they get record labels, if they get on to big tours, all of which are occurring right now, BECAUSE IT'S A FUCKING TREND. They could have been around for a decade, but not until other bands converge around their particular style then it becomes a trend.

Leaving this here for future viewing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7V1KqkunzM

Baizley and Mlny performing EULA, I think. I'm in the library without headphones.