EIDOLON - COMA NATION (SKYSCRAPER)
A new album, new Singer, new direction for Canada's Eidolon.Gone is frontman Brian Soulard, in is Pat Mulock for the bands 5th Studio album as Glen and Shawn Drover find a more diverse vocalist, and from what I hear  listening to this disc and others worldwide have as well, Eidolon have made a great choice not that Soulard was bad, I've seen them play live and he is great but Pat Mulock is fantastic on Coma Nation, a perfect choice. Along with Glen's awesome guitar work this makes one hell of a Power Metal disc and Canadian to boot.
Just listening to the intro "Nemesis" gives you a taste of what Eidolon is about.  The band has a great future as Europe has given Coma Nation solid reviews since its release.  The title track is pure Power Metal as chords chug along in true Eidolon fashion.
Not many Canadian bands come to mind (except Hanker orAnnihilator) who play the same style as Eidolon, but its nice to know that Power Metal is not non exsistent in this country since a lot of bands now a days play Death/Black Metal.
This CD is a must have for all as Eidolon have shown the world what they are capable of. This just makes me crave more Power Metal from these guys and you will too. Cheers!

Metal Mike.................................................................9/10
DOWN FACTOR - PURE (SCOURGE RECORDS)
Here's Down Factor who come to us from Oakland, California led by George Anderson Lead guitarist and vocalist for this four peice Heavy Metal band. One of the hardest working bands in the state of California, judging by just reading their Bio, Down Factor are really looking to take it to the next level. And as far as their music goes, think of it as Slayer meets Sepultura, an Intense riffing journey you wont soon forget.
Jackhammer kick drums as heard through out Pure by Jon Riggs as George Anderson's vocals tear your skin apart, just listen to "Brother 6" and "13 Crosses" for an example. Steve Smyth of Testament and DragonLord helped out on solo's for Pure as John Santos played rthymn.
This is the kind of Thrash/Death Metal all metal fans of any age can appreciate. Down Factor is here to stay, Heavy Metal never sounded this good until now.

Metal Mike...............................................................9/10
HOME
WWW.DOWN-FACTOR.COM
CONQUEST - NO BOUNARIES (INDIE)
This band kicks some serious ass! Pure heavy as shit Metal. Conquest deliver on this album some of the most addictive riffs since Metallica's "Kill em all" or Pantera's "Vulgar display of power".
Total Thrash something a lot of bands today don't do much of. "Just before the dawn" lead off track helps you start the headbanging early, and be carefull you dont fracture your skull! its that damn good.
I guess it helps a bit that I love Thrash the most and always have. But I think anyone who has an open mind like I do for Heavy Metal will love this.
More Kreator like riffs on "Ruin my life" as Lead Vocalist/ Guitarist Derrick Brumley belts out some awesome powerfull vocals on this as well as the rest of the album. "No mercy" is the best (and only one I know of) metal song in honor of those who died in the September 11th attacks on the World trade center buildings.
I cant say enough about this band as they blew me away from the start.
Here's to Conquest's Metal future.
Thrash on!

Metal Mike........................................................9.5/10


WWW.CONQUESTMETAL.COM
WATER DEPTH - PREMONITION (BC INTL.)
Water Depth is from here in Canada. This 4 piece Power Metal band gives us an interesting 5 track CD full of all the grooves and vocals you'd expect but the diference is that its Canadian and how many times have you heard that? Canada is not full of Power Metal bands, nor do the fans (a lot of them) really know many of the bands like Blind Guardian, Rhapsody or Primal Fear who are extremly popular overseas.
Water Depth sounds almost Gamma Rayish without the singer. "Eyes of the storm" adds searing vocals with a tasty riff to go with it. "Final" with help on backing vocals by "Rob the witch" adds to a really cool tune.
Overall, Water Depth adds depth to a Canadian scene already bursting with all kinds of talented Metal artists.
Look for more bands like this in the future as it starts to get crowded...fast.

Metal Mike..............................................................7/10
PAGES.INFINIT.NET/SODOM/WATER.HTML
WWW.EIDOLON-NIGHTMAREWORLD.COM
RAFFERTY RULES - NAME YOUR GOD (INDIE)
Here's Rafferty Rules from Volos, Greece one of many Greek Metal bands to come out of the Greek Metal Scene recently. This CD has some serious Dimebag Darrell riffs with a touch of Zakk Wylde at times.
Strong aggressive vocals to boot, the Greek scene has a lot of promise as evidence on Name your god.
Country's like Sweden, Germany and Norway who are the most popular places on earth for metal, Greece is sure to get noticed sometime in the future as one of the world's biggest and best underground Metal scene's around.
Rafferty Rules may just lead the way to the top of the mountain.
"The B.U.S.H. (around me)" chugs along with an interesting set of background vocals to help it breathe.
"Radium of a hole" is the best example of Zakk Wylde like guitar riffs from the start as it hooks and grooves about. In the future maybe Rafferty Rules will concentrate more on lyrical content, even though I usually listen to the music ahead of the lyrics its nothing to worry about. These guys were born metalheads in a country whose scene deserves to get noticed worldwide.
Rafferty Rules... perfect name.

Metal Mike..........................................................8.5/10
WWW.RAFFERTYRULES.COM
REFLECTION - ODYSSEY (SECRET PORT RECORDS)
Here's Reflection one of the most Melodic bands I've heard in a while. They add very interesting elements to thier songs like a greek narrator telling of a story in a land far far away along with great guitar work from Stathis Pavlandis.
Fans of Symphony X will like this concept album from Greece, probably the most underrated Metal scene in the world today. Favourite tracks include "Cyclops" "The Scorceress" "Slaughter in the island of the sun"
and "The Forbidden Seed" with a really cool chorus.
I dont think this band should stray away from their Melodic/Progressive sound as influences like Iron Maiden, Rhapsody and Therion keep this very interesting and makes one notice the time and hard work Reflection puts into the making of an album like Odyssey. They could benefit from adding another guitarist sometime in the near future but for now this CD shows strong creativity in the bands writing and musical process. 15 tracks might seem a little long at first but its not as long as you may think.
Good luck to Reflection in the future, as Greek melodic Power Metal lives on!

Metal Mike........................................................7.5/10
WWW.REFLECTIONGROUP.GR
BLACK FATE - UNCOVER (SECRET PORT RECORDS)
Yet another band From Theodosis Miras Label Secret Port Records. This is Black Fate another straight forward progressive Power metal band from Larisa Greece. Great riffs on this record as Guitarist Tsintzilonis Elias grooves on tracks like "No Mask" and "Queen of the night". Even better you will notice right away not just this CD's great production but lead vocalist Papakostas Stelios power voice makes this album worth every minute, check out "Exile of Dreams" for proof.
This may have a very polished sound to it but lets give credit to where credit is due, Black Fate grooves heavily along unlike a lot of greek bands who stick to big fat heavy riffs or just a Blind Guardian style sound.
These guys play a Groove heavy/ Hard rock style with some influences like Dream Theater, Yes, and even old New York city Greek band Collision can be heard on Uncover. Recomended for those who like groove heavy riffs with even better melodic vocals.

Metal Mike......................................................8.5/10
BABYLON MYSTERY ORCHESTRA - DIVINE RIGHT OF KINGS (INDIE)
This is easily one of the most interesting CD's I've had to review. Babylon Mystery Orchestra led by guitarist Sydney allen johnson will make you really think and think again as he tackles such topics as Greed, Power, Lies, and Religion.
Their focus on lyrics is BMO's strong point.
All songs on the album are also unique and very different from one another but tell the whole story of Babylon Mystery Orchestra and this CD's concept. "We are power" and "Savages with Cash" offer the heaviest of riffs when you listen beyond the lyrics to the music itself. But maybe more bands nowadays should put songwriting first, I'm not saying that all bands dont. Even though this may not appeal to all fans of Metal Sydney Allen Johnson will truly get your attention I guarantee that.
Babylon Mystery Orchestra holds all the power on this Disc.

Metal Mike........................................................7/10
WWW.BABYLONMYSTERYORCHESTRA.COM
BLOODSHOTEYE - 3 SONG DEMO (INDIE)
Bloodshoteye who call themselves "Canada's most southern metal band" come from Leamington, Ontario.
This is a 5 piece Extreme Metal band that slams you to the ground on this 3 song demo with such  powerfull riffs, Blistering Bass and vocals you wont know what hit you.
It doesnt matter how many times you listen to this CD, unless you know ahead of time, you wont guess that they have two vocalists and one is female. Both Mark and Jesicka (love that name hehe) growl as fierce as anyone in Metal today. Angela Gossow (Arch Enemy) would be proud of Jesicka. Mad furious riffs on this Demo make me proud to be Canadian with this kind of talent as I bet Bloodshoteye's Live shows are something to truly discover on your own to get the full effect.
Look for Bloodshoteye when they come to conquer a city near you.

Metal Mike.................................................8.5/10
WWW.BLOODSHOTEYE.TK
SAD EYED ANGEL - 4 SONG DEMO (INDIE)
Superb bombastic killer Metal comes from the state of Illinois in Sad Eyed Angel. These 4 guys add speed filled riffs to compliment furious vocals and kick drums on this 4 song demo.
Imagine what you'd get if you take some Slayer, stir in a heaping tablespoon of Pantera, add a hint of 80's Metallica and there ya go, a Heavy Metal mosh recipe one can't resist.
"Serrated Silencer" track #2 grabs you by the throat from its first few notes and adds a nice change of pace from riff to chorus back to riff madness.
"Ignorance" rolls along with thrash like speed and violent vocal screams by Nate (Lead Guitar and Vocals) and Ryan (Guitar and Vocals).
Overall this is worth all the spare time you may have. So if you really want to wreck your neck from headbanging or fracture your bones in the mosh pit, then this platter is for you.
Contact the band for more earth shattering fun by clicking the link below.

Metal Mike..........................................................9/10
WWW.SAD-EYED-ANGEL.COM