Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway

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May 22nd will see the Ripple Music release of ‘Earhammer Sessions‘, the new live-studio recording from the high impact WAR CLOUD, formerly of Oakland, California.

For this outing, the quartet went into Oaktown’s Earhammer Studios with Greg Wilkinson, armed with an arsenal of select songs from their two previous studio albums. What resulted was a no-frills-needed, raw delivery of eight ballistic numbers; each served up in real-time and then mastered by Alan Douches (Baroness, Solace, Arsis). Yes indeed, the West Coast-based warriors went for the collective jugular of listeners via some of their most revered fan favorites.

Applying all the astounding aspects of their talents and musicality, WAR CLOUD – Alex Wein (vocals, guitars), Sam Harman (bass), Joaquin Ridgell (drums), and 2019 addition to the band, guitarist Nick Burks (Stonecutters) – raises the stakes. Well known for the aggressively electrifying way in which they render contemporary heavy metal with an obvious knack for nods to 70’s proto-metal and NWOBHM movements, WAR CLOUD keeps things fresh and thrilling.

This is something fans of the band discovered when they surfaced in live settings back in 2014, then they doubled down on and drove home with their official album releases. From their 2017 self-titled debut, ‘War Cloud‘, to 2019’s sophomore follow-up, ‘State Of Shock‘, WAR CLOUD has established a rock-solid reputation for wielding blistering metal wherever they may be. Right now, that would be Austin, Texas, as WAR CLOUD recently relocated their band HQ to the Lone Star State.

Today, we reinforce that claim with the premiere of the single, “Striker“, via the lyric video below. The song originally served as the lead-in track to the ‘State Of Shock‘ album, but here in its newly revised state as live ammunition, the song is as intense as it is incendiary. From the roll-out of its manic, head-whipping induction, its dual guitars driving things further and faster with dizzying accelerations backed by locomotive-like rhythms. You’d better strap in for this one.

Also included is the audio track stream of “Vulture City” and a previously unveiled live performance clip for “Give’r“, two other tracks hailing from the upcoming live release. The footage in the live video was filmed in a barn outside Cologne, Germany, as well as Moto Guzzi Motoraduno in Lecco, Italy, and Officine Sonore in Vercelli, Italy.

 

Tracklist:

01. Vulture City
02. Give’r
03. Chopper Wired
04. White Lightning
05. Divide And Conquer
06. Tomahawk
07. Speed Demon
08. Striker

The ‘Earhammer Sessions‘ from WAR CLOUD is available in a variety of formats including Limited Edition test pressing vinyl LP, Worldwide Edition classic black vinyl LP, limited digipak CD, and standard CD. It will be released May 22nd via Ripple Music with pre-order available at the following location links:

UNITED STATES    /    NON-U.S.

 

 

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2020, Bandcamp, Heavy Metal, Metal, Music Premiere, Proto Metal, Ripple Music, War Cloud