The New Wave of Traditional Heavy Metal: Part 2
SkullFist, White Wizzard, Cauldron, Holy Grail
Keeping up with new music, the Metal Today section of the Metal Hall will keep readers informed on all the great new bands and music in heavy metal and hard rock from the present, and past ten or so years.
SKULLFIST
Skull Fist
Ontario Canada the home to Skullfist who got their start in the mid 2000s but didn’t release an album until the “Heavier Than Metal” EP in 2010. With energetic galloping rhythms and twin leads all the traditional metal components of Maiden and Riot (see ‘Sign of the Warrior’) were in place for the 2014 album “Chasing The Dream”. Like Enforcer, Skullfist also have their 80s Accept type straight forward side on the catchy ‘Bad For Good’. Check out the album here on their Youtube channel, https://youtu.be/hM4HIfRFq90 .
Three albums and two eps so far, the band gave an update on their Facebook page they are currently working on new music.
Keep up with Skullfist here: https://www.facebook.com/skullfisted
WHITE WIZZARD
White Wizzard
Getting the wheels going in 2007, Los Angeles based White Wizzard have released four albums and two eps to date. The band has seen several lineuo changes over the years with bassist Jon Leon keeping it together. Wearing their New Wave of British Heavy Metal influences on their sleeves, third album “The Devil’s Cut” from 2013 carries on stylings from Iron Maiden , Angel Witch, Tygers of Pan Tang, and Saxon. Listen to the album here on Youtube, https://youtu.be/HkBJGmeP2aE . July of 2021 Wizzard recorded a cover of Iron Maiden’s ‘Flight of Icarus’, with Mikey Dean Gremio (ex-Cellador) on vocals, plus the new single, ‘Viral Insanity’ featuring guest vocals from former Yngwie Malmsteen singer Mark Boals.
Official FB page: https://www.facebook.com/WhiteWizzard
CAULDRON
Cauldron
Shortly after forming in 2006, Canadian three piece Cauldron released an Ep “Into the Cauldron” a year later. Five studio albums followed, the most recent “New Gods”, came out in 2018. A little different sound from the vocals by bassist Jason Decay who has a monotone more passive delivery. Music is also more minimalist, tempos not often fast but they do have them moments, riffs and bass working in straight forward unison. Over the course of the pandemic in 2020 the band has not been very active on their Facebook page, no updates if Cauldron are still active or new music is on the way.
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/CAULDRONmetal
HOLY GRAIL
Holy Grail
One of the more aggressive, yet still melodic, names from the first wave, California’s Holy Grail have released three studio albums and two Eps since 2009. The last album “Times of Pride and Peril” from 2016, no new music since with the last post on their Facebook page from 2020. No updates on social media whether or not the band is still active or not. Anyway, enjoy one of the more recent melodic songs, ‘No More Heroes’ (Official Video) here https://youtu.be/HzqKgGC2zH8 . Hopefully the band will post something soon. https://www.facebook.com/holygrailofficial/?ref=page_internal
