15 MORE Hard Rock/Metal Bands You Should Be Listening To in 2015 and Beyond

Back in May I posted an article called 15 Hard Rock/Metal Bands You Should Be Listening To In 2015… and Beyond. This was in response to the ridiculous list of 15 Metal Bands You Should Be Listening To in 2015 that was released by that mega authority on all things metal, VH1. My list got a lot of attention from my readers and after posting that article I received quite a few messages from people thanking me for turning them on to some bands that they never heard of. That right there is why I do this folks.

After releasing that list I realized that I could easily think of 15 more bands that you should be listening to in 2015 and beyond so here’s part 2 for you all. I’m sure as soon as I post this I will think of other bands you should all be listening to but this should keep you all busy for a while. I hope you will make your way through this list and maybe find a few of your new favorite bands. If you like what you hear, let them know and spread the word. This is the only way that we can get the word out on some amazingly talented bands since we can’t rely on commercial media to do it for us. Enjoy!

 

The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell
https://www.facebook.com/theshovell

The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovel is a band that is every bit as interesting and awesome as their name. This is British dirty back rock n’ roll at it’s finest. Somehow, these fine upstanding lads have managed to find a way to combine influences Black Sabbath, early Motorhead, and The Who and create some of the most fun, raunchy rock n’ roll that I’ve heard in quite a while.

 

The band released their stellar Check ‘em Before You Wreck ‘em album last year which is still getting quite a few spins regularly. Unfortunately, The Admiral Sir Cloudesley Shovell has yet to grace the US with their presence so for now, all we can really do is dig on their facemelting releases and just hope that they’ll make their way across the pond and really show us what they’re all about.

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Anubis Gate
https://www.facebook.com/AnubisGate

Danish progressive metal band Anubis Gate is a band that I never ever knew existed until hearing their self-titled 2011 album. I assumed that it was their debut album but I discovered that they had released four other albums with a different vocalist. Honestly, I have never given the other releases a listen because I am such a huge fan of bassist/vocalist Henrik Fevre’s work on the 2011 self titled album and 2014’s Horizons. Both of these albums became huge favorites of mine. Anubis Gate isn’t your typical prog metal wankers.

 

These guys are masters of the craft of delivering complex arrangements but doing so with lots of hooks, melody, and powerful vocals that make the hairs on my arm stand a full attention. I was so looking forward to seeing them at the 2015 ProgPower USA Festival but unfortunately the band had to back out due to personal issues. Well, at least I have these amazing albums to listen to.

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Blues Pills
https://www.facebook.com/BluesPills

You all must think I’ve been paid off by the Swedish government or something but I can’t help it if so many of my favorite band come from Sweden. Blues Pills is a band that I have been obsessing over since being blown away by their 2012 debut EP, Bliss. Since then, Blues Pills has released two more EPs, their debut full length album, and in 2015 released Blues Pills – Live. Fronted by the soulfully charismatic Elin Larsson, Blues Pills delivers an addictive, soulful, psychedelic kind of blues infused rock n’ roll that I find myself gravitating to on a regular basis.

 

I wish this band would bring their sonic, exciting live show to the US as they have pretty much ignored the US. Maybe it’s all part of a well planned scheme to take over. Whatever it is, I hope that Blues Pills knows that they have quite a following here in the states that would love a dose or two.

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Blood Ceremony
https://www.facebook.com/bloodceremonyrock

Finally, a band that I fucking love that’s not from Sweden! Coming out of the the Great White North, Canada’s Blood Ceremony is one of the the best modern occult rock bands out there today. Combining influences such as Black Sabbath, Fairport Convention, and Jethro Tull, Blood Ceremony created their own of folk inspired occult rock that intrigued and excited me. This was that “something different” I had been looking for.

Lead by flutist/organist/vocalist Alia O’Brien, Blood Ceremony has released 3 stellar albums with 2013’s The Eldritch Dark being my favorite of the three. Last I heard, Blood Ceremony was working on an album which will hopefully be released sometime in 2015.

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Christian Mistress
https://www.facebook.com/ChristianMistress

From a part of this country that is more known for turning out a whole slew of doom and punk bands, Christian Mistress emerged from the Portland/Washington state scene boasting a raw, gritty, NWOBHM sound that blew me away from the very first listen. The songs are extremely well written and they are performed with a burning, passionate sound of a band that is hungry and ready to take on the world. It’s that fire that is very evident in their sound that drew me in so quickly and made me a fan.

 

Lead by vocalist/lyricist Christine Davis, Christian Mistress has put out two of my favorite modern metal albums, Agony & Opium and Possession. The band is about to embark on a lengthy world tour in support of their forthcoming album To Your Death.

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Crobot
https://www.facebook.com/Crobotband

Ever since laying ears on this young, up and coming band back in 2012, Crobot was a band that I knew would go places. Since then, Crobot has gone on to share the stage with bands such as Anthrax, Volbeat, Truckfighters, and Motorhead just to name a few. Crobot has taken a modern approach to the kind of psychedelic space rock that classic bands such as Captain Beyond and Deep Purple perfected decades ago. The result is some amazing rifftastic songs featuring one of the best lead singers out on the road today, Brandon Yeagley.

 

Crobot released their stellar self-titled debut in 2014 and have been on the road since well before it’s release blowing audiences away with one the single best live shows you will see in your life. If you get the chance, check this band out live. It will seriously blow your mind and make you a fan for life.

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Dead Feathers
https://www.facebook.com/deadfeathers

When I first heard Dead Feathers I thought for sure they were Swedish but low and behold, they’re from Chicago. Who would’ve thought that the Windy City could be capable of turning out such a fantastic band. This young, psychedelic band embodies the vibe and the spirit of bands that their grandparents probably listened to and they do this kind of music with a lot of passion and sincerity. Just one listen to these kids and you can tell that they truly love the music that they are making.

 

Lead by soulful, brooding vocals of lead singer Marissa Allen, Dead Feathers pulls from influences such as Coven and Jefferson Airplane while throwing in some folk elements as well. Dead Feathers proves to me that there is hope for the younger generation. In a time where most bands their age are screaming cookie monster vocals and tuning their guitars down to unimaginable lows, Dead Feathers are preserving a timeless style of hard rock music and keeping it alive for a whole new generation to discover, devour, and love.

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The Devil’s Blood
https://www.facebook.com/thedevilsblood

Dutch occult band The Devil’s Blood was a band that only last for four years and three albums. Founded by lead guitarist/songwriter Selim Lemouch, the Devil’s Blood also featured his sister, Farida Lemouchi on lead vocals. When I first saw/heard the Devil’s Blood I was absolutely mesmerized by everything about them. Their live performance was like a ritual of sorts and the songs were epic occult rock masterpieces.

 

Pulling from the 70’s psychedelic occult rock sounds of bands like Black Widow and Blue Oyster Cult, The Devil’s Blood delivered one of my favorite albums of the genre, 2011’s The Thousandfold Epicentre. The Devil’s Blood disbanded in January 2013 and in 2014, founding member/songwriter Selim Lemouch committed suicide leaving behind a short but very powerful legacy of music. This is without a doubt a band that should be heard and appreciated by all.

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Electric Citizen
https://www.facebook.com/ElectricCitizen

Cincinnati’s own Electric Citizen is a band that totally came out of nowhere for me. On my never ending quest to find new bands to love, Electric Citizen really jumped out at me with their album Sateen. Lead by the husband/wife team of Tina (vocals) and Russ (guitar) Nolan, Electric Citizen delivers some seriously riff laden psych rock that will please any fan of this genre. In a time where this kind of music has become somewhat of a trend, it’s starting to become really easy to weed out the ones that are just doing this because it’s cool.

 

Electric Citizen’s songs are full of passion, grit, and feel and with just one listen you’ll realize, much like me, that these cats are the real fucking deal. Electric Citizen are currently working on the follow up to Sateen which will be released some time in 2016. For now, dig on Sateen and see just what I’m talking about.

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Enforcer
https://www.facebook.com/enforcerofficial

Again, another band from Sweden is making a list of bands that you MUST be listening to. I might just end up moving to Sweden and start learning how to speak Swedish. I guess for starters I’ll start hanging out more at Ikea and eating Swedish Meatballs but that’s beside the point. The point of this is that Enforcer is a band that you must be listening to if you love the sound, vibe, and spirit of metal bands of old. When I first heard Enforcer I thought maybe I was hearing something from 1985 or something.

 

Epic, over the top vocals, thrash in your face twins guitar attacks, ad thunderous drums, and songs that beckon back to the metal gods of old, are just part of what I love about Enforcer. What I love the most about them is that it’s bands like Enforcer that remind me that the metal music I grew up with is still very much alive and well. I love that such a young band has taken it upon themselves to preserve this kind of music and share it with a whole new generation of metalheads.

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Kadavar
https://www.facebook.com/KadavarOfficialS

German power trio Kadavar makes music that grooves, melts faces, and that is so riff laden it would make Cream jealous. When Kadavar is performing live they are absolutely electrifying yet their albums still manage to capture all of the excitement and energy of their live performances which is a rarity. The band has put out two stellar albums (Kadavar, Abra Kadavar) and this year will be releasing their 3rd album, Berlin.

 

Berlin is the band’s band’s best release to date as it shows a lot of growth in their songwriting and a tighter, more disciplined performance. Kadavar will be hitting the road in 2015 and touring all through 2016 in support of Berlin. Get out and see this band as they put on a show that is not to be missed.

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Scorpion Child
https://www.facebook.com/scorpionchild

Austin, TX weird rockers Scorpion Child really blew my mind with their 2013 self-titled debut and to this day that album gets frequent spins. It’s one of those albums that really appeals to a lot of moods so everytime I listen to it I find myself connecting with the songs a bit differently each time. Scorpion Child is part krautrock, part psych rock, and just a dash of 90’s alternative in there. Listening to Scorpion Child I hear elements of Pentagram, Blind Melon, and hearing their awesome cover of the Lucifer’s Friend classic “Keep Going” showed me what an influence that particular band is on them.

 

Scorpion Child will hopefully be releasing a follow up to their stellar 2013 debut sometime this year featuring a new and much improved lineup so I can’t wait to hear what they have in store for us.

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Siena Root
https://www.facebook.com/sienaroot

Siena Root is a group and an experimental project with its roots in analogue old school rock music. The foundation is a trio from (surprise!) Sweden that’s been around since the late ’90s. The sound is classic but yet original, founded on heavy organ, strat leads, bass riffing and big drums. It is also often enriched with bluesy soulful vocals, Indian classical instruments and psychedelic vibes.

 

Siena Root at times reminds me of a heavier version of Rusted Root as they really embrace a sort of world music vibe. The band has put out some amazing albums and boasted no less than 23 members coming in and. If you’re looking for a good introduction to this amazing band, I highly suggest their 2011 live compilation, Root Jam.

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Slow Season
https://www.facebook.com/slowseasonmusic

Slow Season is a psych rock band straight outta California that really blew my mind this year. American label Easy Rider Records pretty much seems to be the American cousin of the European label Rise Above Records as they seem to sing some of the coolest American bands playing this kind of music.

 

I caught these guys supporting Electric Citizen and Mondo Drag on tour this year and I was so impressed with their soulful, blues infused groove rock. The songs were so well written and performed with so much swagger and attitude that you just couldn’t help but be moved by them. They also boasted easily one of the best drummers I have come across in a long time. This band is without a doubt a band to keep your ears opened for. Slow Season’s 2014 release Mountains is a great album and one that will please any fan of great, riff driven psych rock with great lyrics, tasteful and inspired guitar playing, and soulful vocals.

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Troubled Horse
https://www.facebook.com/troubledhorse

Sweden’s Troubled Horse is a new favorite of mine that I just recently discovered. Their 2012 Step Inside album is another example of great gems that get buried and/or lost in the shuffle only to be discovered on my endless quest to find new bands and music that moves me. Troubled Horse’s music is definitely a nod to the spirits or rock n’ roll past but their spin on it takes them into more of a Doors’ like territory more so than the typical Sabbath inspired psych rock.

 

The song “Bring My Horses Home” was the song that pulled me in and the album as a whole is a really fantastic list from start to finish with not a bad song in the bunch. I wish I knew what it was that was in the air and/or water in Sweden that turns out so much amazing music.

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