Our November 2012 Band of the Month Is…

Apparatus

This was another fun poll – and unpredictable, too! Four different bands had the lead at different points during the month. But, in the end, Canadian alternative metallers Apparatus received the most votes. And now they’re our November 2012 Band of the Month!

Click here to visit Apparatus’ Band of the Month page.

Here is the final vote tally:

1. Apparatus – 495 votes (46.88%)
2. The Mystery– 341 votes (32.29%)
3. Seven Kingdoms – 162 votes (15.34%)
4. Pursuing The End – 42 votes (3.98%)
5. Destiny Potato – 16 votes (1.52%)

Time to reveal the nominees for our December 2012 Band of the Month Poll! And they are:

• Armonight, a melodic rock band from Vicenza, Italy. Armonight released their second album, Tales From The Heart, through Ravenheart Music in September.
• Markize, a trilingual electro-rock band from Paris, France. Markize will celebrate the release of their self-titled second album on November 16 with a party / concert at Le Zèbre de Belleville in Paris.
• Thought Machine, a “cyber metal” (modern / industrial) band from Milano, Italy. Thought Machine independently released their self-titled debut album in May to critical acclaim.
• Triaxis, a heavy metal band from South Wales, United Kingdom. Triaxis released their second album, Rage And Retribution, in October through Rocksector Records.
• Venturia, a melodic progressive metal band from Montpellier, France. Venturia released their third album, Dawn of a New Era, in September through Lion Music.

Visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day through Friday, November 30th!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by posting a suggestion on our Facebook page or emailing us at unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

Video: Leah – “Remember”

First things first: Our apologies that we haven’t been more active here at the blog! We hope to start posting here more often (even if the posts are short) to share our favorite new discoveries and unsigned bands with you.

Which brings me to today’s featured video, “Remember” by Leah. This lady is a rock/metal singer-songwriter from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada whose influences range from the biggest names in the female-fronted scene to new age pioneers Loreena McKennitt and Enya. (I think I also hear hints of Mariah Carey in Leah’s voice… Does anyone else agree?) And on “Remember,” you get both ends of Leah’s spectrum. Soft vocalizations and soulful cries, minimal instrumentation and full-out rock – even though “Remember” is only 4 minutes long, you have to listen to the whole song in order to absorb its beauty. Or maybe you’ll be captivated right away, just as I was.

If you like “Remember,” visit Leah’s official website to listen to her debut CD, Of Earth & Angels, in its entirety!

~ Sara

Our September 2012 Band of the Month Is…

Heaven Rain

Another month has gone by, and so has another UtF Band of the Month Poll. And once again, we’re surprised by the results. Our staff had never heard of this progressive power metal band from Bosnia & Herzegovina until one of our readers nominated them. Then we watched as Heaven Rain stormed to a commanding lead and kept it that way to the end. So, the September 2012 Band of the Month crown goes to Heaven Rain!

Click here to visit Heaven Rain’s Band of the Month page.

Here are the complete poll results:

1. Heaven Rain – 160 votes (59.26%)
2. Dorota Malek –   70 votes (25.93%)
3. Crystal Viper – 21 votes (7.78%)
4. Kontrust – 13 votes (4.81%)
5. White Skull –  6 votes (2.22%)

Time to reveal our nominees for the October 2012 Band of the Month! Your choices are:

• Akoma, a symphonic metal band from Silkeborg, Denmark. Akoma self-released their second EP, The Other Side, in March and is currently working on material for their first full-length album.
• El Cuervo de Poe, a gothic alternative metal band from Guadalajara, Mexico. February was a busy month for El Cuervo de Poe, as they opened for one of Within Temptation’s Mexican shows and released their second album Ex Libris.
• Embracing Soul, a gothic rock/metal band from Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada. Embracing Soul released their second EP, Luna, via Illusive Records in July.
• Stone Cold Outlaw, a hard rock band from Chicago, Illinois. Stone Cold Outlaw has a three-track, self-titled EP out now and is currently booking shows in their local area for the fall.
• The Forsaken Creation, an ambient metal project from Paris, France. Comprised of singer Anne-Emmanuelle and instrumentalist Eric Valley, The Forsaken Creation released its debut EP, Fragments, in May.

Visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day, every day through Sunday, September 30th!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by posting a suggestion on our Facebook page or emailing us at unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

Our August 2012 Band of the Month Is…

4Without

We thought this month’s Dame-Nation 2012 themed poll would be a close call. Turns out that it became a battle between two of Chicago’s up-and-coming hard rock bands: Burning Eve and 4Without. And after one day of Burning Eve at the top, 4Without fans came back with a vengeance. That’s why 4Without is our Band of the Month for August 2012!

Click here to visit 4Without’s Band of the Month page.

Thanks again to everyone who showed their support for Dame-Nation 2012 by voting! Here are the complete results:

1. 4Without –  851 votes (58.61%)
2. Burning Eve –  490 votes (33.75%)
3. Schoolcraft – 33 votes (2.27%)
4. Persistence of Memory – 28 votes (1.93%)
5. A.D.D. –  26 votes (1.79%)
6. (tie) MindShatter – 8 votes (0.55%)
7. (tie for 6) Last Red Ransom – 8 votes (0.55%)
8. Virulence Factor – 5 votes (0.34%)
9. DeadMansWake – 3 votes (0.21%)

Onto our September 2012 poll! Your choices are:

• Crystal Viper, a Polish heavy metal band. Crystal Viper released their fourth full-length album Crimen Excepta via AFM Records in April.
• Dorota Malek, a hard rock / metal singer from Wels, Austria. Her full-length debut album Dayphobia was released this past March via Noisehead Records.
• Heaven Rain, a progressive power metal band from Banja Luka, Bosnia. Their third release Second Sun is their first full-length album with current singer Miona Graorac.
• Kontrust, a cross-over band rock/metal band from Ried and Vienna, Austria. Although Kontrust have been around for several years, their popularity exploded in mid-2012 with the release of their new album Second Hand Wonderland.
• White Skull, an Italian heavy metal band. White Skull recently premiered the music video for “Red Devil,” the first single from their latest album Under This Flag.

Visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day, every day through Friday, August 31st!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by posting a suggestion on our Facebook page or emailing us at unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

Check It Out: Persistence of Memory

Before we get too far into our Dame-Nation 2012 Check It Out series, we should mention that two bands previously covered here at Unleash The Furies are returning to this year’s festival. DEADMANSWAKE is making their fourth Dame-Nation appearance, while Lindz Riot of Mary And The Black Lamb will bring her solo project Schoolcraft to Chicago for its US debut. So, congrats to both bands for making it onto this year’s bill!

Now… It’s time for Persistence of Memory!

Hard rockers Persistence of Memory have been making a name for themselves in the Chicago area for the past couple years. They’ve done so with their vision of a dark, melodic sound highlighted by personal lyrics. Despite being unsigned and relatively young compared to some bands, Persistence of Memory keep making – and achieving – one goal after another. Professionally record a 5-track EP titled Mind’s Eye? Check. Win the Chicago House of Blues’ Battle of the Bands competition? Check. Play at over 30 venues in 7 months, with the likes of Adrenaline Mob, A.D.D., Tantric, and Adema? Now that’s ambitious!

What exactly does Persistence of Memory sound like? Not sassy or oozing with attitude, as their promo photos may imply. I’d call their music emotionally charged hard rock with melodic female vocals and harsh male vocals. That doesn’t quite cover it, though. The band’s list of influences is long and varied: 30 Seconds to Mars, Evanescence, HIM, In This Moment, Guns ‘N Roses, Avenged Sevenfold, and Stone Sour are just a few. Jennifer’s singing style is melodic and lightly sensual, and her lyrics can be brooding, courageous, or angry. She admits on the band’s website that she’s not afraid to sing about upbeat topics as well as more melancholic ones, including her father’s death. To quote from her bio: “Jeni strongly believes the best time to write a song is when something significantly affects you because your emotions will fill up the paper without you having to create them.”

Each song on the band’s Mind’s Eye shows a different side of Persistence of Memory. “Pirate Ship” has a ska rock feel that reminds me of No Doubt, while “Cast Your Stone” and “Fade Away” seesaw between metallic crunch and softer melodic moments. My favorite track by far is “Ruin” because it’s full of surprises. Pianos, cinematic keys, Jeni trading cleanly sung lines with drummer Justin Luebeck’s grunts, tempo changes – and I won’t tell you how long it is. Just listen to it, and prepare for a rollercoaster ride.

Here’s the music video that POM shot for “Alone,” the single from Mind’s Eye. It gives you a taste of their sound and a glimpse of their in-your-face stage presence. And – *ahem* – a little sauciness, too!

At the moment, Persistence of Memory are finishing their first full-length album, which they plan to release before the end of 2012. The band also hopes to be signed to a record label before year’s end and earn a spot on the 2013 Warped Tour. (I told you they’re ambitious!) Based on their track record so far, I wouldn’t be surprised if both goals become reality for Persistence of Memory.

Persistence of Memory are:

• Jennifer Imparato – Lead Vocals
• Dan Bikar – Lead Guitar / Back-up Vocals
• Grant Forkenbrock – Rhythm Guitar
• Justin Luebeck – Drums / Screams
• Keith Hensley – Bass

Learn more about Persistence of Memory now at their official website as well as their Myspace, Facebook, ReverbNation, Twitter, and YouTube pages. And don’t forget: Dame-Nation 2012 is at The Abbey in Chicago, Illinois on Saturday, June 30th!

~ Sara

Our June 2012 Band of the Month Is…

Winter In Eden

Winter In Eden had the upper hand on this poll almost as soon as it launched. The symphonic rockers from the UK jumped to an early lead and held it until the very end, even after a couple close calls from Swedish melodic metallers End Of September. And so Winter In Eden is our Band of the Month for June 2012!

Click here for Winter In Eden’s Band of the Month Page.

Here are the final standings:

1. Winter In Eden – 359 votes (48.45%)
2. End Of September– 258 votes (34.82%)
3. 69 Chambers – 68 votes (9.18%)
4. Lyriel – 51 votes (6.88%)
5. Unleash The Archers – 5 votes (0.67%)

And when one poll ends, another one begins! Here are your choices for our July 2012 Band of the Month:

• Astral Tears, a melodic metal band from Orleans, France. In April, Astral Tears self-released their debut album Hypnotic, which combines modern alternative metal with progressive influences, Middle Eastern / oriental elements, and mesmerizing harmonies.
• Dawn of Destiny, a power metal band from Bochum, Germany. Dawn of Destiny’s recently released fourth album, Praying to the World, is their first with new vocalist Jeanette Scherff.
• Embassy of Silence, a Finnish atmospheric / gothic rock band. Embassy of Silence are preparing to release their second album, Antler Velvet, this month through Inverse Music (Finland, Scandinavia) and Ravenheart Music (United Kingdom).
• Ideal Zero, an alternative rock band from Orlando, Florida (United States). Ideal Zero’s self-titled debut EP was released in April and has been making waves throughout the Internet since then.
• Wedingoth, a gothic / progressive rock band from Rhône-Alpes, France. Wedingoth released their second album The Other Side via M&O Music in April to rave reviews.

Visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day, every day through Saturday, June 30th!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by posting a suggestion on our Facebook page or emailing us at unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

Our May 2012 Band of the Month Is…

Meden Agan

Many of you know that this month’s poll was our first “Second Chance” Band of the Month Poll, where we gave six previous second-place finishers another chance at winning Band of the Month. We thought that all bets would be off with this poll. That wasn’t the case. Greek symphonic metallers Meden Agan rose above the rest of the competition, though not before a brief tussle with Opus Doria. So we congratulate to Meden Agan with the honor of being our May 2012 Band of the Month!

Click here for Meden Agan’s Band of the Month Page.

Here is how the final tally shaped up:

1. Meden Agan– 724 votes (48.72%)
2. Opus Doria– 427 votes (28.73%)
3. Pythia – 215  votes (14.47%)
4. Die So Fluid – 65 votes (4.37%)
5. Kells – 43 votes (2.89%)
6. Sacramento – 12 votes (0.81%)

And now, here are your five choices for the June 2012 Band of the Month Poll:

• 69 Chambers, an alternative metal trio from Zurich, Switzerland. 69 Chambers released their second album Torque in Europe through Massacre Records last week, and will have a (free admission!) record release gig on May 1st at Mascotte in their hometown.
• End of September, a melodic metal band from Växjö, Sweden. End of Septemeber’s self-titled debut album will be released on May 11th in Europe and on May 22nd in North America via Ulterium Records.
• Lyriel, a melodic / folk metal band from Gummersbach and Köln, Germany. Lyriel’s recently released fourth album, Leverage, shows the band deviating from their whimsical folk metal origins and opting for a more powerful, straightforward heavy metal sound with violin arrangements.
• Unleash The Archers,a power metal band from Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Unleash The Archers are wrapping up a tour of Western Canada in support of their second album, Demons of the Astrowaste, and will release a music video sometime in May. (Do you notice how similar their name is to ours? *wink*)
• Winter In Eden, a symphonic rock band from Durham, United Kingdom. Winter In Eden will play a few shows in their native UK this month to celebrate the release of their second album, Echoes of Betrayal.

Visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day, every day through Thursday, May 31st!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by posting a suggestion on our Facebook page or emailing us at unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

Our February 2012 Band of the Month Is…

Modified

This latest poll was a fight to the finish between French symphonic metallers Opus Doria and Canadian hard rockers Modified. Every day we saw a flip-flop in the leaderboard: Opus Doria, Modified, Opus Doria, Modified… And in the final days of voting, Modified made a big enough push to claim the Band of the Month honors for February 2012!

Click here for Modified’s Band of the Month page.

Over 5,000 votes were cast this past month! Here are the final results:

1. Modified – 2,783 votes (54.59%)
2. Opus Doria – 2,143 votes (42.04%)
3. The Mariana Hollow – 90 votes (1.77%)
4. Voices of Destiny – 57 votes (1.12%)
5. Evenoire – 25 votes (0.49%)

It’s now time to start our March 2012 Band of the Month Poll!  Your choices are:

• Alpine Fault, a progressive metal band originally from Auckland, New Zealand. The band now resides in Brisbane, Australia, where they’re promoting their recently released debut album Iraena’s Ashes.
• Elyose, an electro-symphonic metal band from Paris, France. Elyose will release its debut album Théogyne on March 1st.
• Midnight Cry, a symphonic rock band from Spokane, Washington, USA. Originally a Christmas and Trans-Siberian Orchestra cover band, Midnight Cry finally released their first album of original music, Fight For This Crime, last November.
• Nightqueen, a heavy metal band from Genk, Belgium. Nightqueen will release its debut album For Queen and Metal via Massacre Records on February 24th.
• Pythia, a classical/gothic metal band from London, United Kingdom. Pythia’s second album, The Serpent’s Curse, will be released on February 27th.

As always, visit our WordPress site and scroll down to find the poll on the right-hand sidebar. Vote once a day, every day through Wednesday, February 29th!

Which bands would you like to see featured in our next Band of the Month Poll? Let us know by sending an email to unleashthefuriesmetal@gmail.com.

UtF Looks Back on 2011 – and Looks Ahead at 2012

Yup, it’s that time of year: to take a look back on the year that was 2011. In female-fronted rock and metal music, of course. However, while every other media outlet out there shares Top 10 or Top 20 lists of favorite albums, we decided to do a different kind of year-end wrap-up.

Instead of highlighting albums, we chose to highlight bands. All of us at Unleash The Furies discovered a wealth of female-fronted rock and metal bands this past year – some of which didn’t actually release any albums in 2011, but got heavy rotation in our music players regardless. With this idea in mind, four of our staff writers sat down and picked their favorite discoveries of 2011. They also shared their predictions for up-and-coming bands who could make major breakthroughs in 2012.

Let’s start with…

Video: EarlyRise – “Old Friend” (Acoustic)

Our October 2011 Band of the Month, EarlyRise, released their first music video earlier this month. Here is a gorgeous acoustic version of their song “Old Friend.” You can find the original version on EarlyRise’s debut CD, What If.