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April Spotlight - Aftershok

These American bands just sent out a rally call across the universe, echoing the sentiments of long standing heavy metal fans with each mighty release. This time around we get Aftershok, a hard working, ear pleasing crowd of fine tuned specialists, each equipped with the willpower to lead and not follow. With so many bands in the US striving to be the flavor of the month, Aftershok fights for the rock, really going to bat for the underground superstars, a calling to arms if you will for bands like Overlorde, October 31, and Attacker. It is this mentality and drive that really pushes true metalheads forward, reaching down to pick up those who have fallen due to the enormous amount of commercial fluff floating through the airwaves on any given day. Aftershok are a working man's metal band, a blue collar unit hellbent on delivering the finest in traditional heavy metal. Now, after nine years spent training and perfecting their craft, this crack commando unit is back in the trenches again, this time armed with their best album to date, "Burning Chrome".

Many of you will recognize the voice of Vic Hix. He was the leader of the cult 80s metal group Shok Paris, an awe inspiring band that managed to record three albums in their short career, "Go For The Throat", "Steel And Starlight", and "Concrete Killers". After a few years away from the scene Hix met up with George Mihalovich and started tossing around ideas. By 2000 the group was complete and started performing shows across the US, delighting crowds with their traditional approach to heavy metal. Memorable hooks, soaring leads, and melodic vocals are just some of the fine elements you will find within this talented four-piece. Using hard rock as the definitive foundation, Aftershok incorporate heavy riffing and fantasy styled storytelling into their brew, making for a lethal concoction sure to please even the most die-hard Euro fans. That is what I really like about the band, their fuel injected level of intense metal passion, possibly even rivaling those crazy Germans in sure fire intensity and determination. For years I've tracked down the most obscure power metal of Europe, scouting through pages and pages of German, Swedish, Finnish, and Japanese metal groups. Now it is as easy as looking out of my back door, with the likes of Attacker, Miles Beyond, Skullview, and October 31 showcasing the fact that Americans still care about metal. We still care about true metal no matter how much the press praises bands like Slipknot, Linkin Park, and DevilDriver. We are beyond that, and with groups like Aftershok backing us we prove that statement. But stepping off of my soapbox, let us go in depth with these red, white, and blue warriors.

The group released their debut "Unfinished Business", in 2002. That album showed off a band that was deeply rooted in classic metal, basing much of their sound on the hard rock backbone of the mid-80s. The band took it upon themselves to carry on the torch in much the same way as Dio, Black Sabbath, and Judas Priest. The release received critical praise worldwide and now, three years later, the band return with their Auburn Records effort "Burning Chrome", a pleasing assortment of solid tunes that demonstrates both the band's metal power and strategic command of the traditional elements but also showcases a fine group of individuals who really "get it". What exactly do they get? It is really simple. They understand what their audience wants and desires. They understand their own wants and desires by simply staying true to their roots and playing loud, rock-hard, heavy metal for the fans and for themselves. They don't dress up in trendy garb, sporting "hot topic" fashion so to speak, instead they just go out there and play the part of the average working man, striving to make it by day and hitting the stage and lights at night to deliver the proverbial goods. This is American heavy metal, no dress up, no cloning, no lies, just simple, honest, crowd pleasing fun with an emphasis on the heavy metal concept.

Really Aftershok hit on all cylinders here, whether it is the speedy race to the finish with "Livin' On The Redline" or the simple wall shaking rockers like "Burning Chrome" and "Edge Of Tomorrow". The band really is like a modern day Accept or Scorpions if you will. Both of those legendary bands delivered both foot stomping hard rock while also pleasing the "leather boys" with a powerful mastery of the galloping speed metal numbers made famous by the likes of Maiden and Saxon. Aftershok are that good, really recalling the finest moments of those diverse 80s acts. To rock or to just shred, really it can be done either way, with most of this sophomore effort made up with more faster, crunchier numbers than the band's predecessor. I really like the improvement both in speed and heaviness, with the band still keeping it's melodic hooks and catchy songwriting. I think fans will be surprised at the furious display of strength and might on faster cuts like "Sons Of Thunder", "Livin' On The Redline", and "Bombs Away". The band even incorporate a bit of "epic" songwriting with "The Gathering", which will surely please those of you with the "quickening". Also of note is Auburn's flashy packaging, with vibrant colors and crystal clear photography. This is just a super job all around.

Suits and ties out there, this is what we really want! Aftershok is a fine example of what we want brought to the table. We are tired of settling for seconds and thirds. We want pure heavy metal, pure power in pure power form. This is the perfect sound that we are looking for. We are your consumers and music lovers. We are your ticket buyers. We are your present and your future. For American radio and media, why not start the summer off with a huge bang, open up the floodgates and allow these iron-clad warriors a little room to shine. Let us burn a little chrome, eh?

Listen to "Against The Rage" now!! http://209.240.26.127/mp3/rage.mp3

Band Website - www.aftershok.com

--EC