Last month, Texan crossover metallers Power Trip released their second album 'Nightmare Logic' via Southern Lord Records – and it's undoubtedly an early contender for one of the best heavy albums of 2017. Building on everything that made their debut full-length 'Manifest Decimation' such a refreshing listen, 'Nightmare Logic' ups the levels even further with some serious shout-along hooks, huge instrumental chops, and no-nonsense delivery, clocking in at just 32 minutes.
Having witnessed the raw energy of a Power Trip live show, Last.fm can attest that Power Trip have a wide appeal reaching beyond a typical metal fanbase; they're equally at home on the lineup of a festival like This is Hardcore as they are opening up for groove metal titans Lamb of God.
With that in mind, we caught up with Power Trip vocalist Riley Gale to pick his brain about his favourite bands right now – and he didn't disappoint, recommending us a wide range of artists across the heavy music spectrum, from hardcore to death metal. Press play on our playlist of Riley's top ten recommendations, and read on below for more info on each band.
Iron Reagan (731k scrobbles)
Tags: Crossover, thrash metal, hardcore punk
We interviewed Riley just a few days after Power Trip finished a U.S. co-headline tour with Iron Reagan - who have also just released a career defining album, 'Crossover Ministry' – so it's no surprise he shouted them out first in our interview as "one of my favourite bands to tour with", and describing them as his favourite crossover thrash band. Check out 'Fuck The Neighbours', the lead single from 'Crossover Ministry', a straight-to-the-point party anthem.
Mammoth Grinder (429k scrobbles)
Tags: Sludge, hardcore, crust
Featuring Power Trip drummer Chris Ulsh on vocals alongside Iron Reagan's Mark Bronzino and Ryan Parrish, Mammoth Grinder play sludgy, hardcore-influenced death metal and are due to release their new album 'Cosmic Crypt' later in 2017. Describing Mammoth Grinder as "just…unreal good", Riley also enthuses that "basically any band that Chris Ulsh does is about as good as it gets in that genre". Which leads us on to….
Impalers (38k scrobbles)
Tags: D-beat, crust, hardcore punk
Another Chris Ulsh project, Impalers are "a motor charged punk band that just absolutely smokes… a lot of rock 'n' roll riffs and these solos that just shred your face off". Impalers' most recent release 'Psychedelic Snutskallar' is a breakneck listen of lo-fi punk goodness; check out 'Acousmetre' on our playlist.
Genocide Pact (10k scrobbles)
Tags: death metal, doom metal
One of the opening bands on the Power Trip/Iron Reagan tour, Genocide Pact only have one release to their name so far – 2015's 'Forged Through Domination' – but their sound is full of promise. Having also supported the likes of Nails, Toxic Holocaust, and death metal pioneers Deicide, it surely won't be long before Genocide Pact's sludgy brand of death metal is making serious waves.
Red Death (111k scrobbles)
Tags: hardcore, crossover, deathcore
Another band that Riley names as one of his favourites in the crossover thrash scene, Washington D.C. four-piece Red Death play a "very cool New York Hardcore/Corrosion of Conformity" brand of crossover – if you prefer your crossover bands to lean more towards hardcore than metal, then Red Death are for you.
Gatecreeper (73k scrobbles)
Tags: Death metal, hardcore, grindcore
Riley points to Arizona-based Gatecreeper, who released their debut full-length 'Sonoran Deprivation' in 2016, as ones to watch: "the new record turned out really well, I'm proud of those guys". Taking a massive influence from Swedish melodic death metal while infusing their sound with the stripped-back brutality of American death legends like Obituary, Gatecreeper effectively combine the best of both worlds.
Midnight (977k scrobbles)
Tags: Speed metal, black metal, thrash metal
Playing a raucous blend of speed metal with the influence of early black metal, Midnight are "like today's Venom… a rip-rockin' Motorhead type of band one of the coolest live bands I've ever seen". Watching footage of Midnight's live shows, it's easy to see why - with the masked trio tearing through their lightning-paced material, and asking fans to bring their guitars to the show to be 'sacrificed' onstage.
Iron Age (413k scrobbles)
Tags: hardcore, crossover, thrash metal
Riley calls Iron Age "some crazy guys… they were like our older brother band" who influenced Power Trip in their early days. After releasing two albums, Iron Age broke up in 2011 – but reformed in 2017 to play more shows in their native Texas. Definitely a band to check out for fans of Power Trip, our fingers are firmly crossed that Iron Age's reunion will result in new material.
Protester (25k scrobbles)
Tags: hardcore, straight edge, punk
Playing textbook straight-edge hardcore, Protester are a side-project of Power Trip's tourmates Genocide Pact who Riley simply describes as "fucking awesome" – check out their 2017 self-released 'Hide From Reality' LP to hear why.
Turnstile (1.5 million scrobbles)
Tags: hardcore, NYHC, punk
Riley points to Turnstile as being "almost a pop hardcore band", emphasising their melodic hardcore sound. Having built up a cult following since 2010 through their demos and EPs combined with a notorious live show, Turnstile released their debut full-length album 'Nonstop Feeling' in 2015 to massive acclaim.
Power Trip's second album 'Nightmare Logic' is out now through Southern Lord Records – check out their page on Last.fm for more info.
