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Sep 21 2022

Blood Command – 2022 Praise Armageddonism Album Review – Norway DeathPop Metal

Blood-Command-Praise-Armageddonism-Norway-2022
Blood Command Praise Amageddonism 2022

Release Date

July 1, 2022

Loyal Blood Records

Hassle Records

Tracklisting

1.”Praise Armageddonism” (Awake Theme) -> Recommended

2. “Saturday City” -> Recommended

3. “The End is Her” -> Recommended

4. “Everything You Love Will Burn” > Sick Transition Track

5. “Questionable Taste in Friends” > Background Music

6. “A Villains Monologue” -> Favorite

7. “Nuns, Guns & Cowboys” – > Recommended

8. “I Just Want That Movie Ending” -> Recommended

9. “Burn the Blasphemer” -> Recommended

10. “Last Call for Heaven’s Gate” -> Recommended (includes killer instrumental)

Total Recommended Tracks – 8 / 10

Who is Blood Command, Praise Armageddonism for?

Blood Command’s, Praise Armageddonism, is for fans of Paramore, Marmozets and the like, but the aggressive metal, punk, hardcore version if you can picture that. The song “Saturday City” and “The End is Her” are pretty picture perfect representations of the pop side of the band.

This is one those albums that has the ability to bond music lovers. If you like your music with screams, heaviness laced with punk energy and your significant other is into Paramore like pop hook madness then crank this album together.

Not every song will be a winner with both sides, but there will definitely be some shared cuts.

Members

Vocals – Nikki Brumen

Guitars – Yngve Andersen

Bass – Simon Oliver Økland

Drums – Sigurd Haakaas

Blood-Command-Praise-Armageddonism-2022
Blood Command – Bergen, Norway

Why is Blood Command Unique?

Here is some interesting background info circling Blood Command.

I am almost positive vocalist, Nikki Brumen, is the third Blood Command singer. Praise Armageddonism, Blood Command’s fourth album, and is Nikki Brumen’s first Blood Command album. Becoming the new singer required Nikki to relocate from Melbourne, Australia to Bergen, Norway.

Nikki Brumen is the former singer of the Australia band, Pagan. Pagan disbanded and Nikki was hit up by Blood Command through social media asking her if she wanted the gig. This album was completely recorded with former singer, Karina Ljone, and then shelved when she hung up her dancing shoes for motherhood.

Blood Command then re-recorded this record with Nikki Brumen along with navigating massive distance between Nikki and the band due to Covid traveling restrictions.

I discovered Blood Command through Spotify with the 2017 album Cult Drugs and was instantly hooked on the creative heavy, dance, thrash aggression. I highly recommend checking out Cult Drugs. Both albums very similar but different and both you can set to repeat without fail.

Pro tip to all the young bands: band chemistry effortlessly creates a unique sound everyone digs, there is no chasing this sound, being genuine kills it live every time

Blood-Command-Nikki-Brumen-Live
Blood Command Vocalist, Nikki Brumen

What happened to Nikki’s previous band, Pagan?

From what I found, Pagan decided to just go their separate ways in January of 2020.

Courtesy of ManiacsOnline interview with Nikki Brumen:

“Pagan announced are break up in early 2020 and I knew I still wanted to play music, so I started jamming with friends and then all of a sudden I got a message on Facebook from Yngve and he introduced himself and said that he knew my band Pagan had split up, and he loved Pagan and that he had a proposition for me, would I want to front Blood Command, because their singer was leaving and I’d always had his dream voice.

I was a fan of Blood Command already, I’d actually put Blood Command as one of my top 5 bands of 2019 in an interview with Kerrang. So the stars really aligned. I couldn’t actually believe it when I read the message, like every friend that I told that I’d been asked to join a band not only from Norway but from Bergen which is my favourite place I’ve ever been, they were just laughing, saying that this cannot be real, surely you’re getting catfished. But it was real and it is real and it’s just amazing. ” –Nikki Brumen

Pro tip: Go hard or go home. It’s so easy to call it quits, but so hard to believe in yourself & keep going. Hard work & patience gives you a better chance at succeeding in this ridiculous industry

Nikki-Brumen-Pagan-Blood-Command
Pagan Featuring Nikki Brumen pre Blood Command (Why doesn’t Nikki have a beard too?)

Praise Armageddonism – Review

I can’t say enough good things about the new 2022 Blood Command album, Praise Armageddonism. The album has been out for two and a half months and I can honestly say I listen to the album in its entirety all the time.

Praise Armageddonism has this umami thing to it, to put it in foodie terms. It’s a bowl of food where every bite looks the same & initially tastes the same, but in every bite you notice something different and as a result you can’t stop eating because you might taste something new and exciting.

Blood Command has a crazy knack for squeezing the most out of every album by using an instrument that comes out of left field. An example of this is the closing track “Last Call for Heaven’s Gate”. Blood Command likes to throw keyboards and horns into the mix and it always takes the song and album to another level.

I have always loved this super creative style of writing taking thrashy aggression and smashing it with ultra pop. Cheap Trick brought this type of song writing to my attention and The Wildhearts as well as all of the Ginger Wildheart projects such as Hey Hello or Mutation further amplified my creativity as a songwriter.

There is always something special when a single bass line, “Villains Monologue”, is enough to stir your shit up. It won’t stop playing in my head. The band chemistry & performance on Praise Armageddonism alone is enough to demand high praise. The bonus that the songs are as hooky as fuck is some tasty icing.

It feels like Nikki Brumen will be the vocalist for quite some time. Nikki compliments the band extraordinarily well and completes the band. Blood Command comes off as a band on a mission to devour and conquer not the Nikki & the dudes show. Really excited about what follows.

If you dig what you hear and are interested in some band merch then head over to Blood Command’s bandcamp for exclusive vinyl record, apparel & music deals. If you don’t see anything you like make sure you visit the website store.

Skål,  Cheers Mates!

Blood Command Videos

Tour

Blood Command tour dates

Let’s Talk Amigos!

Please hit us personally here at Vanzig Studios for any reason whatsoever using the Contact Form. If you’re curious where Carly and I come from then read over our bio.

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Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Reviews · Tagged: 2022, Female Fronted, Metal Genre, New Album Release, Punk Genre, Rock Genre

Feb 01 2022

#41: Moon Tooth Guitarist, Nick Lee, Talks Perseverance, Dedication & Self Belief – 2022

Moon Tooth – Long Island, NY

This episode is a phone call w/ Moon Tooth guitarist, Nick Lee. You can hear all sorts of metal influences in Moon Tooth such as Mastodon, Lamb of God, Pantera and a many others. There are moments during the “Crux” album where you can hear King X like textures.  

We have known Nick & drummer, Ray Marte, for many years and have watched Moon Tooth grow incredibly over the years.  All of Moon Tooth’s achievements have been the culmination of a serious work ethic, immense talent, pursuit of greatness and the undying passion for music.

Nick talks about the growth of Moon Tooth over its 10 year existence, new album this Spring, Rolling Stone, Pitchfork, working with The Machine Shop & Mark Morton (Guitarist/Lamb of God), playing acoustically, touring globally as Riot’s guitarist, gear and a more. 

Update 2022:

The much anticipated follow up to the Crux album was released May 2022, entitled Phototroph courtesy of Pure Noise Records. I have full intention to do a proper write up on this record once I get a few more spins under my belt and have 100% focus.

In a nutshell, Phototroph is a beast of a metal album with unbelievable band chemistry, musical chops and is quite the hard rock metal rodeo cluster of prog madmen at work. All metal heads & metal musicians need to give this album a listen love it or hate it.

I have read many reviews of people praising it, hating it and everything in between. What I really dig about this album is that it is not Crux two. This album completely stands on its own and will most likely reach an entirely new audience helping break MT even further. Check it out!

Follow Moon Tooth: 

Instagram – @MoonToothShreds

Bandcamp

Moon-Tooth 2022

Support Vanzig Studios

“Rock N Roll for Airheads”

#vanzignation

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Spotify as Vanzig Studios & Carly Quinn – Guitarist/Bassist for: Midnight Mob & Misfit Saints

Email: Airheads@VanzigStudios.com

Bands Mentioned: 

Moon Tooth, Riot, Exemption, Midnight Mob, Misfit Saints, Lamb of God, Mark Morton, Mastodon, Pantera, Black Label Society, Kings X, Judas Priest, Scorpions, Michael Schenker Group

Videos:

Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Podcast · Tagged: 2022, Gear, Interview, Metal Genre, Podcast

Dec 31 2021

#40 Conversation w/ 50q Record Label Founders Sid Riggs & Lee Caruso Jr. Music is Passion, Genuine & Oozing w/ Coolness | Pittsburgh, PA – 2021

Record-Label-50Q-Logo

Record Label 50Q

This episode is a phone call with 50q Records Co-Founders Sid Riggs & Lee Caruso Jr based out of Pittsburgh, PA.

Sid is a drummer, songwriter, engineer & producer working with major labels and such acts as Alice Cooper, Rob Halford, Seether, Saliva, John 5 and many others.   

Lee Caruso Jr is a guitarist, singer, songwriter, engineer, producer and fronts his band Big Atlantic. Both dudes share our passion for music & helping others taking a stab at the music industry by sharing experiences, information & expertise.

This is a must listen episode for musicians looking to push their career. Hearing this back even months later after posting still hits home. The core of this conversation centers around just goin for it. Stop overthinking next steps and book your show play for one. If you are a musician the chance of you doing anything using a social media approach first have less than a one percent chance at having a career.

Follow 50q Records :

Instagram – @50qrecords

Support Vanzig Studios “Rock N Roll for Airheads”

#vanzignation

VanzigStudios.com

Instagram: @VanzigMoshPit

Spotify as Mickey Squeeze & Carly Quinn Guitarist/Bassist for: Midnight Mob & Misfit Saints

Email: Airheads@VanzigStudios.com

Bands Mentioned:

Alice Cooper, Seether, Saliva, John 5, Guns N Roses, Taylor Swift, Smashing Pumpkins, 21 Pilots, AC/DC, Abba, Aerosmith, Midnight Mob, Misfit Saints

Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Podcast · Tagged: 2021, Interview, Metal Genre, Podcast, Record Label, Rock Genre

Oct 20 2021

#37 Dave Caggiano – Current State of Music & Misfit Saints New Single “I Don’t Care” | Long Island, NY

DSC_1557 Dave Caggiano is a motherf*cker that knows music.  Dave produced all of the Midnight Mob & Misfit Saints material as well as Craving Strange, Mother, Gina Cutillo, Last Turn Off Broadway, Jackknife Stiletto, Va Va Voom, Dead Rocking Horse and many others.  He is a die hard rock n roll music fanatic whose sole mission is to have artists take their songwriting craft & performance to the next level. It’s not about the money it’s about the art. This episode is a recorded phone call I had with Dave going over the latest released Misfit Saints single, “I Don’t Care” (9/11/21).  We go over what we both like & dislike about the mixes and suggest certain edits before going over to mastering (43 minute mark).  We also talk about 1,000 bands because that’s what we do.   Where is Dave? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.caggiano.7 Instagram: @DNoise666 VanzigStudios.com Instagram: @VanzigStudios Find Us on Spotify as Vanzig Studios & Carly Quinn   Bands Mentioned: The Faces   Small Faces   The Rolling Stones   Kiss   Scorpions   Cheap Trick   Black Crowes   Last Turn Off Broadway   Craving Strange   Art Gurfunkel   Paul Simon   Blue Murder   White Snake   Thin Lizzy   Dream Theater   Black Sabbath   Rush    Peter Frampton   Humble Pie   Wicked Lester   Steve Miller Band   BTO   Pink Floyd   Santo & Johnny   Magpie Salute   Liquid Logic   Alice in Chains   Pearl Jam   Soundgarden   Mother Love Bone   Warrant   Bulletboys   Jet Boy   Firehouse   Anthrax   Megadeth   Slayer   Metallica   Motorhead   Paul McCartney   Testament    Crumbsuckers   DRI   Cromags   Judas Priest   Led Zeppelin   Deep Purple    Cream   Yes    Genesis   Aerosmith   Motley Crue   Poison   Winger   Exodus   Violence   Death Angel   Saigon Kick   Alice Cooper   Dixie Dregs   Ratt   Van Halen   Steve Vai   AC/DC   Iron Maiden   Savatage   Trans Siberian Orchestra   Jewel   Fu Manchu   Clutch   Pantera   Bobby Brown   John 5   Trixter   Pat Benatar   Def Leppard   The Who   The Doors   Peter Gabriel   Mother    Cat Stevens   Simon & Garfunkel   Midnight Mob   Misfit Saints   Kacey Musgraves   St. Paul & the Broken Bones   Lake Street Dive   Harry Styles

Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Podcast · Tagged: 2021, Female Fronted, Metal Genre, Misfit Saints, New Single Release, Podcast, Pop Genre, Punk Genre, Rock Genre

May 05 2021

#33 Dave Caggiano – Music Production During Covid & The Black Crowes | Long Island, NY

We have known Dave for more than a decade & he is a motherf*cker that knows music.  Dave produced all of the Midnight Mob & Misfit Saints material as well as Craving Strange, Mother, Gina Cutillo, Last Turn Off Broadway, Jackknife Stiletto, Va Va Voom, Dead Rocking Horse and many others.  He is a die hard rock n roll music fanatic whose sole mission is to have artists take their songwriting craft & performance to the next level.  It’s not about the money it’s about the art. Where is Dave? Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/david.caggiano.7 Instagram: @DNoise666 VanzigStudios.com Instagram: @VanzigStudios Find Us on Spotify as Vanzig Studios & Carly Quinn

Written by Mickey Squeeze · Categorized: Podcast · Tagged: 2021, Gear, Metal Genre, Midnight Mob, Misfit Saints, Pop Genre, Punk Genre, Rock Genre

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