Veteran Bay Area thrash / progressive metal band, Imagika are scheduled to release their next album in May of this year. Their next album is titled, “Portrait of a Hanged Man”, two songs from which have already been posted on their myspace page. The songs are familiar-sounding according to Imagika standards, but the band seems to have taken a heavier approach, reflected in some of the guitar riffs and Norman Skinner’s vocals – which are almost “Chuck Billy” heavy at times.  Of course, the low growls are accompanied by falsetto and high screams – which is kind of a rarity these days for metal bands. There aren’t too many vocalists out there going “higher”, so it’s cool that they’re keeping the tradition alive.

They recently completed their line-up with the addition of a second guitarist and will be playing at The Venuez in Santa Clara at the end of the month.