Metal Bulletin Zine: March 2014

Monday, March 31, 2014

Breaking News: LED ZEPPELIN reunites, new studio album coming in 2014; world tour to follow

In an unbelievable turn of events, right out of the blue, Led Zeppelin has posted this statement on their website today Tuesday.

"Good news, beloved and faithful fans!

We have been recording a new studio album this past month and we have four new songs completely ready to go. We decided to keep this news a secret until now because we did not want to get our hopes up and give you, the fans, false hope that this would finally happen.

We do not want to give away too much right now, but we are going in the direction of 'Communication Breakdown,' 'Immigrant Song,' 'Good Times Bad Times,' and 'Rock and Roll."

Why?

Simply put, really, we wanted to return to the heavy side of the band. First, we did have a hand in the creation of this heavy metal genre. Second, since our dear friends Judas Priest and Black Sabbath have released boring albums like 'Nostradamus' and '13,' we wanted to get back to the music that put us on the map in the first place, actually.

Robert has gotten all the country music out of his system and Jimmy is no longer interested in experimenting with violin bows, but actually wants to get back to playing guitar the old-fashioned Zep way. Brilliant!

At any rate, all the lads are ready to rock again and we want to tour again, as it's been such a bloody long time. We want to return to the world stage and really want to rock the world and especially Nebraska! Hello, Nebraska!"

That's the complete statement by Led Zeppelin at this time. Watch this space for more exciting details! More news will be posted as soon as we get them.

Breaking News: BILL WARD rejoins BLACK SABBATH: the final album and world tour in 2014/15

This event is going on right now and the details are arriving fast. All four members of Black Sabbath are holding a conference today Tuesday and here are some major details to report to you.

Black Sabbath and Bill Ward have decided to put aside their differences and Bill Ward will be rejoining Sabbath for the last and final album and tour.

When asked how this happened, Bill said: "Everybody knows that I am going to die soon, or if it's not me, then it's Tony, for sure, or you never know when Ozzy needs to spend a year or two in rehab, so we talked and it's all good with the blokes now. We have been friends for a long time, mate, and we didn't want to say cheerio to the world without all of us together one more time."

For his part, Ozzy chimed in: "Well, you know, we all love Bill, he's a bloody good friend, and it's just time to do the right thing and do this thing right. Plus, you know, really, Bill wanted more money, and since in the bank I already have, like, 589 trillion dollars, I figured it would be ok to give him some. Bill's a bloody friend, blimey!, and right now I am mad at Sharon, anyway, so why not, eh, lads?"

That's all we have to report at this very second, but there's more coming. We will keep you updated on this breaking news as more details arrive. Watch this space for more news.

FREE name-your-price crust, thrash, black from Mexico: Disterror

Disterror has two recordings, moving from raw crust to a more thrash/black style, though still crust in some ways. Regardless, one thing is for sure: Disterror lives up to its taking up of the word "Dis." Discharge obsessives have now a new band from Mexico to search.

www.disterror.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/Disterror?fref=ts

Sunday, March 30, 2014

FREE name-your-price 25-minute EP of melodic death doom by Mist of Nihil (Greece)

FREE 25-minute EP of melodic death doom by Mist of Nihil (Greece)

Mist of Nihil's EP give a clear identity of melodic melancholic metal. The mix of death and doom in this case is pretty uptempo and catchy. It's a good-quality recording for a band's first recording. Check it out.

www.mistofnihil.bandcamp.com/album/buried-laments-ep

www.facebook.com/Mistofnihil

FREE three-song demo of death/thrash in Spanish from Venezuela: Nefarius

FREE three-song EP of death/thrash in Spanish from Venezuela: Nefarius

This demo already shows where Nefarius is going. Riffy, fast thrashing death, but with a melodic edge.

www.soundcloud.com/banda-nefarius

www.facebook.com/pages/Nefarius/491249640928609?fref=ts

FREE name-your-price EP of old school raw black/thrash from Los Angeles: Transcendence

"Morbid Reality" is the name of the EP of 80s-inspired black/thrash/death like the early days of Sepultura or Sodom, more or less, in that raw style.

www.transcendence69.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/transcendencedeathrashofficial

Saturday, March 29, 2014

what a coincidence, I was just talking about Nightwish the other day: ex-Nightwish singer Anette Olzon's new album: "Shine"

I would say that the album is melancholic pop. If you want to hear Anette outside of a rock context, with pop melodies that sound sad at the same time, with her vocals at centerstage, then your chance is here. Of course, this is not rock music in the sense of rock and roll; it's pop marketed to Nightwish listeners, "gothic metal" supporters and others who like pop. With more exposure, whether radio, tv, movies and whatnot, Anette will make bank; huge, lots of money. It could be the type of music that's everywhere and you end up annoyed with it because you can't escape it at work, at the grocery store, at the movies, at the mall, in tv commercials, Xmas time and all of that.

Some Nightwish listeners wanted to know what happened to Anette. Careful what you wish for. She might be all over your life now.

www.facebook.com/anetteolzonofficial

it's tricky and it's not that easy: prog, tech and experimentation in death metal: GIGAN: "Multi-Dimensional Fractal Sorcery And Super Science" (Willowtip)

The truth is that I should have noticed a lot earlier the awesomeness of prog-tech-experimental death metallers Gigan, but I did not. Fortunately for me, and those readers that like death metal AND want to hear new things within death metal, Gigan's album is something worth looking into. It sounds as heavy as the heavies of death metal, but it's so twisted and even freaky, yet it's not about being weird or wacky. Gigan is fast, technical, with a tendency to add unexpected guitar wizardry into the center of the blender.

It appears that Gigan has asked itself this question: "Is it possible to play fast, heavy-duty death metal and create some new structures within a technical death metal context? Is it possible to play fast, play heavy and give the guitar room to wander, and the drums room to roam free, not just blast in a linear way?"

Gigan is death metal, Gigan is not pleased with just copying the old death metal bands.

Do you like death metal, but also want to hear a band that makes the effort to give its own twist?

I recommend Gigan.

www.facebook.com/Giganmusic

Thursday, March 27, 2014

FREE pay-what-you-want 21-minute EP of raw metal from the UK: Wyrdforge: "Her Wings Unfold War"

This band has a mission: to play their instruments in a such a way that they destroy them. It's old-style raw intensity without any regard to whatever is going on. Somewhere between gutter punk and unpolished death/black is where you might find this band.

www.wyrdforge.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/Wyrdforgeofficial

attention Nightwish listeners: operatic gothic metal from Spain: Tears of Martyr: "Tales"

Tears of Martyr has history that dates back to the mid 90s, but what is more relevant right now is their album "Tales," which is as professional and talented as anything in this style that I have heard recently. Supporters of the Nightwish style should find lots to enjoy here, from the singing, of course, to the symphonic sounds and the combination of uptempo rocking with slower moments.

Berenice Musa's singing will be a revelation to the audiences into the style, for sure. Musa goes as high as the sky and the sound that you will hear will be the windows in your house shattering.

www.tearsofmartyr.com

www.facebook.com/tearsofmartyr

FREE album: the kids are not alright in Argentina, either, and they got angry groove pantera-ish metal: Num

Ok, if you are a major Pantera-sound lover, and you want to learn a bit of angry Spanish words, then come on up to the grooveland of Num because they have a free pay-what-you-want album for you.

www.estoesnum.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/NUMband

the slo-mo super duper heavy duty slug of doom black metal: Lamentations of the Ashen

I don't know about what's going on in your world, but over here at the International Headquarters of Metal Bulletin Zine (grandma's basement), there sure is a lot of doom happening.

Here's another example of what's happening between doom and black metal; sometimes it's more doom-ish and sometimes it's more black metal-ish. Lamentations of the Ashen is cave-recorded doom black, so it's doom, yes, but it sounds ugly, like ugly-face angry-gremlin-living-alone-in-the-mountain doom ugly.

Wouldn't you know it, it's a one-person project. That's dedication.

www.lamentationsoftheashen.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Lamentations-Of-The-Ashen/168536829851639

the thrash groove of Terrorway (Italy): "Blackwaters"

If you combine one pound of Pantera and one pound of Hatebreed, you will get two pounds of Terrorway. That's what it sounds like to me. The vocals are that "angry scream growl" that characterizes so much hardcore, and the riffing sticks to that simple beat that makes the young kids mosh and push each other around, which means that if Terrorway comes to your town people will be wanting to "jumpdaduckup" or whatever it is that Max Cavalera tells people to do at a show, that's what will happen.

Who knows, maybe even the old cranky thrashers might "jump" in when they see the pit because Terrorway has the groove that makes the moshers want to move.

www.facebook.com/Terrorway?ref=ts

Texas' metallers HOD will tour the Midwest and the South in early April: TN, IL, MI, OH, GA, LA

San Antonio blackened death legion, HOD, is pleased to announce their official union with newly revamped Arctic Music for the release of their long-awaited new full-length, Book Of The Worm, this Summer.

Comments the band of the chaos set to ensue. "The album is long overdue, but finding the right label to work with takes time. Label head, Julian Hollowell, made us a great offer, and knowing Julian for years, due to his membership in Kult ov Azazel, we knew this was the right choice for us. The wait is worth it."

In related news HOD intel, the band will embark upon another short run of live abrasions next week alongside New Orleans black/death dealers, Abysmal Lord! The slaughter will begin April 2nd in Memphis sullying a total of seven metropolises.

HOD w/ Abysmal Lord:

4/02/2014 The Buccaneer - Memphis, TN

4/03/2014 The Bada Brew - Chicago, IL w/ Cardiac Arrest

4/04/2014 Corktown Tavern - Detroit, MI

4/05/2014 Taxidermy House - Cleveland, OH

4/06/2014 Sluggo's - Chattanooga, TN

4/07/2014 The Star Bar - Atlanta, GA

4/08/2014 Siberia - New Orleans, LA

www.facebook.com/pages/Hod/118127951554999?ref=ts&fref=ts

Denmark, you are next in May!! The bass & drum maniacs have their sights set on you: TOUR by FOSSILS and BEEHOOVER

The two bass and drum based rock-duos, Danish FOSSILS and German BEEHOOVER, join up for three May dates in Denmark under the name of The Bass & Drum Mayhem & Doom Tour DK 2014.

Noise rock duo, FOSSILS, recently released their second album, Flesh Hammer, through Indisciplinarian. The album has been praised by national and international media alike and in connection with the release, the band played two very successful Danish release shows. Now the Danes will have another chance to witness the explosive duo live in May, where they will play three shows in Copenhagen, Aarhus and Aalborg alongside German doomsters, BEEHOOVER. Unique for this lineup is that both bands are bass and drum duos, but as where FOSSILS is purely instrumental, BEEHOOVER incorporates vocals; very huge, gnarly and distinct ones for sure.

Duo number one, BEEHOOVER, has forged an original style of doomy and complex rock since 2007, having released four albums to date -- all on esteemed indie label Exile on Mainstream -- the latest being the critically acclaimed The Devil And His Footmen from 2013. BEEHOOVER has a very solid name in the German rock scene and has toured all over Europe, especially in the UK, which they're playing nine shows these very days. The three upcoming Danish shows will mark the band's first visit to their northern neighbors in Denmark.

Duo number two, FOSSILS, released their debut album, Meat Rush, in 2011 and the live EP, The Veal Thing, in 2012. Through playing shows in Denmark with acts such as Liturgy, ZU and Health as well as touring the US, Germany and Iceland, the duo has stirred up a strong reputation as a powerful live band. Their second and latest album, the severely intense twenty-minute Flesh Hammer is an impressing display of the bands both head-on direct, thundering and also intelligent and challenging rock n' roll rooted in metal, punk and hardcore. Flesh Hammer can be ordered from Earsplit Distro.

FOSSILS & BEEHOOVER - The Bass & Drum Mayhem & Doom Tour DK 2014:

5/08/2014 Stengade, København - Copenhagen, Denmark

5/09/2014 Radar - Aarhus, Denmark w/ Drön

5/10/2014 1000fryd - Aalborg, Denmark

www.facebook.com/beehoovermusic

www.facebook.com/fossilsmusic

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Double yikes! Cop Problem--that's right, that's their name!--is about to burst from punk anger, fury, ire, temper and frustration!

Do you remember Occupy Wall Street? Were they angry?

Well, Cop Problem sounds like they are mad as hell more than that!

www.copproblem.com

www.facebook.com/CopProblem

Yikes! Why these stoners so angry? Because they live in Arizona!: Godhunter

Yikes! Why these stoners so angry? Because they live in Arizona:! Godhunter

They are not happy about the Arizona government reactionary and racist policies.

But Godhunter also has the heavy stoner rock/metal to go along with the attitude. Sometimes they sound like a really angry version of early 70s Sabbath, like a heavy stoner band with some angry punk growl vocals. It's familiar and new and they don't quite sound like you think that they would.

When you think of Arizona you can have something different to imagine: Godhunter. If you live in Arizona, now you have something to help you with your frustration. That's how this band sees it. www.godhunter.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/godhuntertucson666

Sunn O))) & Ulver got together once and this is what happened, for real, this is what happened when they made some sounds together

And what happened pretty much what you would expect: meditation ambient sounds.

"Are you trying to be funny?"--you might ask.

No. Seriously. It is ambient, spacey sound manipulation.

You push play, and that's what you hear.

If you have heard Sunn O))) and you know drone, this is what you know. Slow, repetitive, mellow sounds. That's it. You got it.

www.southernlord.com

Do you want to support a doom growl metal band's demo from Bulgaria?: Upyr

40 minutes of doom, that's their demo. It may be a demo, but to these ears it sounds relatively good quality, and not like a rushed, homemade project. To the music: the vocals are growled and the music takes a long time to get going, and when it does get going, it's still slow, of course. The riffs are few and far in between, as are the drum beats, and the growling is not in any hurry to finish up a word. Some other types of vocals do show up in this recording. Anyway, I think you get the picture, this doom gets down and gloomy, and then it takes a dive for more grey and downcast moods. Face it, there's no hope here; just misery. It's downhill from here. Life won't get better. That's the message that Upyr has for you.

Cheer up, at least life does not last forever.

www.upyr.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/upyrband

Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Old Metal Al told me to tell you young whippersnappers to listen to Manilla Road

Manilla Road: “Mystification” (Shadow Kingdom Rec.)

Curious to hear what Old Metal Al would tell me about this band, I checked with him. Maybe I shouldn’t have. He wouldn’t stop praising Manilla Road. There is something about this band that makes the old heavy metallers go bonkers. That “something” could be: (1) This Wichita, Kansas band’s demo is from 1979/debut from 1980; (2) their 1982 album is called “Metal”; (3) this album “Mystification” from 1987 is the sixth album; (4) they have a bunch of albums and their fanatics are very vocal about defending this band, whose latest album “Mysterium” is from 2013. As to the album at hand, “Mystification” combines dark/horror themes/imagery with fast, uptempo and a bit thrashy (in places) headbanging cult heavy metal. The themes have that old metal obsession with the occult, as you’d find in so much classic metal; and classic metal, this is. Al is right.

an old pic from 1980 something?

a more recent pic

www.store.shadowkingdomrecords.com

www.facebook.com/ShadowKingdomRecords

Old Metal Al says: "This band is the reason why metalcore sucks!!!": Feed Her to the Sharks

"Just look at this picture, dude!"

"Oh, and could their name be any more stupid?"

Old Metal Al sometimes seems like an angry metalhead, but you can't blame the guy sometimes. I mean, you can't make this stuff up. This band is actually called that, and that is their look. Priceless.

Of course, they are going to be millionaires, too.

Old Metal Al was in a bad mood today and that's what he told me to tell you.

Then he went back to listening to Manilla Road.

DVD: Chthonic (Taiwan): melodic symphonic, folk black metal: "Chthonic - Ián-Bú"

If you have never heard this band or have never seen any live footage, this dvd showcases the mix of modern symphonic black metal with the traditional instrumentation that the band made its trademark.

In terms of the live performance, the band is in great shape and very comfortable in front of the home crowd. It's for sure that the enthusiasm that the audience gives to the band, the band returns to them doubly.

In terms of sound, it's a very clear sound, with a professional quality. I don't know what the traditional instruments used are, but they give the band a sound of its own, a modern, symphonic black metal sound with a traditional twist.

www.chthonic.tw

www.facebook.com/chthonictw

reworking the Pantera groove thrash sound for a new generation: Pitch Black Mentality (Norway)

When you think Pantera, what is the first place you think of?

Norway, correct?

Pitch Black Mentality certain believes it. This vocalist might remind you of the younger, more melodic and tuneful Phil Anselmo.

Well, anyway, that's what I hear in this band. Perhaps it is not only the Pantera sound they rework, maybe a bit of Machine Head and/or the modern chugging melodic growl metal that is so popular with kids nowadays.

Get ready to get down with the modern groove thrash of Pitch Black Mentality! FYI, the album is called "The Pitch Black Reality" and it is a professional album, not a demo or an EP or something like that. The album is the band's debut and it is a professional recording with the modern sound.

www.facebook.com/PitchBlackMentality

FREE album by anticapitalist growlthrashers from Greece: Revolted Masses

Revolted Masses has an album called "Us or Them" that is 50 minutes of groovy thrash in a new school aggro way. Plus, if you like anticapitalist, political lyrics, Revolted Masses is something you to dig. Go here for the download and try it and see if it works for you. If it does not work for you, on Facebook they have lots to give a sample of their style, too.

www.sendspace.com/file/dr9dsp

www.facebook.com/revoltedmasses

www.revoltedmasses.net

if you don't like ugly black metal, don't even bother: FREE pay-what-you-want SPLIT by experimental/black metallers Insect Court and Flagellant

if you don't like ugly black metal, don't ever bother: FREE pay-what-you-want SPLIT by experimental/black metallers Insect Court and Flagellant

Yup. you read that correctly. Only for those with an ear for the ugly stuff.

www.negationrecords.bandcamp.com/album/insect-court-flagellant-split

FREE pay-what-you-want EP of Northwest hardcore: FUNERALS

www.funeralscult.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/funeralscult

FREE discography pay-what-you-want depressive cave one-person black metal: Nostalgique (U.S.)

Nostalgique has a ridonculous amount of depressive black metal available. With all this music, you little depressed ones never have to feel alone. Nostalgique will be there by your side. This is ugly, unfancy, raw black metal, just FYI. Don't expected anything shiny and bright.

www.nostalgique.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/3nostalgia3

Monday, March 24, 2014

FREE avantgarde black metal album from Death Morgue

If you like it weird, then step over this way. Here you will find the info for the free album.

www.facebook.com/pages/Death-Morgue/602215326481583

gather for the beginning (2 free songs) of the symphonic fast melodic black death of Suotana (Finland)

This is the band's demo and they want you to have it for free because this is the beginning of the Suotana trip.

www.suotana.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/Suotanaband

FREE black metal split album that includes the UK black metal gremlins Baalberith

If you like black metal, Baalberith has something very nice for you. A split album with three bands. Baalberith, of course, plus also Hex Morbidity and Forneus, these last two bands also from the U.K.

www.baalberith.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/Baalberithuk

more cave inaudible black metal from Indonesia: Hellvete

Alright, let's keep it going, Indonesian black metal for the ugly ways. www.facebook.com/pages/Hellvete-Depressive-Ambient/259918907439691?ref=br_rs

www.reverbnation.com/hellvete

2 FREE songs by the one-person ambient depressive cave black metal from Indonesia: Nazaroth

You know how this rolls. It's not fancy and it's not for all the metalheads. This is how we find out who loves black metal, the ugly way.

www.reverbnation.com/Nazaroth

www.facebook.com/pages/NAZAROTH/407716039251591

FREE thrash by the Colombians from Medellín: God of Lies

God of Lies has three free songs for the metalheads who want to hear some thrash from Colombia. Get your neckbrace on because it's going to be fast and shredding. God of Lies wants to convince all thrashers looking to do the toxic waltz.

www.reverbnation.com/godofliesband

www.facebook.com/pages/GOD-OF-LIES-SPEED-THRASH-METAL-BAND/140896215922807

reissue of a classic of doom: Revelation

Revelation: “Salvation’s Answer (Shadow Kingdom Records)

My friend Old Metal Al says that there are many reasons why supporters of traditional, melodic doom that do not have this title should get this 1990-recorded album. He says that he remembers that when he bought this album when it came out, he had to double check that it had not been recorded in 1980 or 1981 somewhere in the U.K., because to his ears it sounded like it was straight out of the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, like some sort of sibling album to a band like doomsters Witchfinder General. (Revelation is from Maryland, U.S.) This is a no-filler album; every song has lots of charm; a classic doom charm. Al says that he remembers that this album sounded nothing—nothing—like the metal released in 1991. Now, in 2014, he says that this album has gotten better, if you like old doom. “What a special album,” he underlines. Well, it’s difficult to argue with those facts. www.store.shadowkingdomrecords.com www.facebook.com/ShadowKingdomRecords

the Chilean cult is alive: Lucifer's Hammer

Lucifer’s Hammer (Chile): "Night Sacrifice” (Shadow Kingdom Records)

Lucifer's Hammer has a hot three-song demo that is a must for those who love the New Wave of British Heavy Metal along the lines of classic Blitzkrieg, Raven, Angel Witch, Satan; and other cult bands like Manilla Road.

I mention those names because these Chileans are very well versed in early 80s classic and cult heavy metal. If you love old heavy metal, then this band will appeal to you immediately. Or at least that's what I think will happen because these riffs, this attitude, this vibe, these songs have been stamped with the mark of heavy metal, straight from the book of heavy metal.

Highly recommend for said listeners.

www.lucifershammer.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/Lucifershammerband

back to the origins of Cradle of Filth: the band's demo as a special release

Cradle of Filth collectors will be interested to know about the band's their demo from 1993 as a special release.

www.facebook.com/Mordgrimm

the rock blues of Mach22: for those into Guns n Roses, The Black Crowes

Mach22 specializes in old-fahioned "classic rock" and "hard rock." I am not qualified to talk about this music, but people into those styles will probably find this music the most appealing.

If you are interested, the band's album is called "Sweet Talk Intervention" and they already have a video for people to see.

www.facebook.com/mach22

Saturday, March 22, 2014

new issue Metal Bulletin Zine 41

new issue Metal Bulletin Zine 41 is available to read and download here

http://issuu.com/metalbulletinzine/docs/metalbulletin41

catch the beginning of the symphonic power metal of Feridea (Finland)

Here's a new band just starting out and they have a few songs for you already!

www.soundcloud.com/ferideaofficial

www.facebook.com/ferideaofficial

FREE 46-minutes of ambient doom soundscapes to chill the whole weekend: Nocturnal Lust

If you are a music listener, if you really do listen to music, in particular to mellow music in the ambient doom style, you will find that Nocturnal Lust is for you. I guess there are some vocals in here, but I just don't hear them or haven't noticed them too much, so it sounds instrumental, spacey, trippy, peaceful, yet heavy and a bit nihilistic, too. This could be music for meditation or music for going to sleep or for having in the background while you do yoga. Or, for doing your homework. It's not "weird and experimental", actually, but rather quite intelligible as songs and music, as heavy ambient with subdued guitars and not-too-prominent drums that create an atmosphere, as opposed to taking over the song to become the focal point. Vibe, feeling, atmosphere, mood, all are what Nocturnal Lust is about.

www.nocturnallust.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/NocturnalLustDoom

If you don't like death metal, you don't want none of this. Arterial Mist (U.S.); Thunderwar (Poland)

Arterial Mist: “Draining Your Life.”

For Arterial Mist, trends come and go, but death metal remains; disgusting, ugly death metal. With this EP, they are calling out the creeps to come out of the woodwork and join the pit. Cannibal Corpse, Suffocation, …you get the picture. Gory lyrics, gory drawings on the cover, gory band logo. Arterial Mist is probably a band likes old Cannibal Corpse, but they think that Cannibal Corpse has “toned it down” too much nowadays. Arterial Mist is not pretending that they are the greatest thing since sliced bread. They like death metal and that’s what they play. Word. www.facebook.com/ArterialMist www.arterialmist.bandcamp.com

Thunderwar: “The Birth of Thunder”.

My impression from this four-song EP is death metal that is neither “brutal” nor “technical” per se, while perhaps using a bit of the modern aesthetics for the band’s strength: a classic dm-influenced style. Perhaps sounding like a “baby Malevolent Creation” at this point, this is only the band’s debut and it’s a solid one. I was surprised how good this sounds. Nice soloing, too. Listeners who are death-metal-forever should look into Thunderwar. www.facebook.com/thunderwarofficial www.thunderwar1.bandcamp.com

Thursday, March 20, 2014

black metallers Curse of Satan (Indonesia) have three free songs for you

Go here for three free songs by these black metallers who are getting their feet wet. It's a rough recording, so this is only for the black metallers for life.

www.reverbnation.com/curseofsatan

bunch of good-for-nothing punks ruining it for everybody and loving it: Haymaker

If you hate hardcore, you will detest these obnoxious bullies. If you love hardcore, you will detest these obnoxious bullies. Ain't no rocket science. Hardcore lifers, this one's for you.

www.facebook.com/pages/Haymaker/174418079249836

Fool, you ain't no ninja! Die Choking is ninjas of grind.

Die Choking. That's how you do it, kids. Name your band Die Choking. Play grind. Do an EP and make it quick and get out. Brilliant.

www.diechoking.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/DieChoking

old-fashioned hippy rock: The Socks (France)

According the band itself, they recorded this music live in the studio on analog tapes. Well, it does sound like it was recorded back in the 70s, and I mean that as a good thing, of course, and this does not sound like some garage band, but like a big-time band playing old, classic rock at their peak powers of classic rock; it's a bit bluesy, a bit doom, a bit trippy and hard rocking, too.

The crucial element is that The Socks has a wonderful energy. Sometimes I get the feeling that The Socks could be a bunch of metal dudes who at some point got so frustrated with the studio magic fakeness and the "perfect" albums of "modern metal." The Socks is not the most metal band, clearly. However, the energy, the hard-hitting drumming suggests that, in fact, The Socks is a bunch of metal dudes into 60s, 70s rock.

The drums sound real, you can hear the bass guitar, and you distinguish the guitar riffs and the singer does a good job of giving it his all in his singing style.

Check out the video for "Some Kind of Sorcery" (it's on YouTube) and see if you enjoy the doom, stoner and classic rock spirit of The Socks.

www.thesocks.fr

www.facebook.com/thesocks

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

old death metal, is that your bag, baby?: Ribspreader (Sweden): "Meathyms"

Ribspreader: “Meathymns” (Vic Records).

Rogga Johansson is a riff-making machine of old-style death metal. Rogga appears to have about 567 bands and I’m not sure, but it looks like most of them are old-style death metal with grooves. This is the fifth album (I think) by Ribspreader and it sounds like Autopsy and early Entombed jamming. It’s simple, direct and for headbanging, with a musical mentality akin to Overkill, Motorhead, Slayer, Destruction, Sodom, Master: give the listener what the listener wants. Rogga supporters expect him to make groovy old death metal and he’s glad to oblige. Wham, bam, another one by Rogga's assembly line factory of death metal. www.facebook.com/pages/Ribspreader/148182408532846

Do you want some super catchy ear candy pop power goth? The Strigas (Italy)

THE STRIGAS: A Poisoned Kiss To Reality

The Strigas have their new album ready and it has everything that power pop goth rock listeners could possibly want, just about. The album sounds like a radio-hit-after-radio-hit recording.

This band has the look, they'll make lots of money.

www.facebook.com/thestrigas

CARCASS begins the tour TODAY in Florida; Georgia and Texas are next; then the West, and then ...

CARCASS begins the tour TODAY in Florida; Georgia and Texas are next; then the West, and then...

DATES:

Tues, March 18 / Orlando, FL / The Beachum Theater

Wed, March 19 / Atlanta, GA / Masquerade

Fri, March 21 / Dallas, TX / Trees

Sat, March 22 / Austin, TX / Mohawk

Mon, March 24 / Phoenix, AZ / The Press Room

Tue, March 25 / Santa Ana, CA / The Observatory

Wed, March 26 / San Francisco, CA / The Regency Ballroom

Fri, March 28 / Vancouver, BC / Commodore Ballroom

Sat, March 29 / Seattle, WA / Showbox Market

Sun, March 30 / Portland, OR / Roseland Theater

Wed, April 02 / Denver, CO / Summit Music Hall

Fri, April 04 / Minneapolis, MN / Mill City Nights

Sat, April 05 / Chicago, IL / House Of Blues

Sun, April 06 / Columbus, OH / Newport Music Hall

Mon, April 07 / Pittsburgh, PA / Stage AE

Tue, April 08 / Toronto, ON / Sound Academy

Wed, April 09 / Montreal, QC / Metropolis

Thu, April 10 / Boston, MA / Paradise Rock Club

Fri, April 11 / New York, NY / Best Buy Theater

Sat, April 12 / Philadelphia, PA / Trocadero Theatre

Sun, April 13 / Silver Spring, MD / The Fillmore

www.facebook.com/OfficialCarcass

BLACK METAL Ghost Bath (China): “Funeral”

Here we go again with Ghost Bath and it’s another whoa-man-yikes one! A previous issue of Metal Bulletin Zine, number 39, observed that not much information on Ghost Bath is available. Leaving aside the unconfirmed questions of location and identity of the musician(s), let’s get to the nitty gritty of the new album “Funeral” that follows the 2013 EP named “Ghost Bath.”

Once again, it’s another set of looney tunes of deranged melancholic neopsychedelic postpunk postblack metal. For the record, yes, Ghost Bath features completely insane-asylum worthy high-pitched shriek-howling; plenty of awkward moments (crying, seemingly out-of-tune segments, special effects, horror-movie vibes and other goodies like that), but there is also plenty of melody by way of the guitar and keyboards.

A type of unified postblack metal framework aligns together the variety of song moods, which at the risk of too much reductionism, can be summed up as follows: fast, cave black metal passages; melodic/melancholic/goth/horror moments; and the “post” component that arguably is the bread and butter of the Ghost Bath sound identity. This album features a mix of mellow tracks like the instrumentals “Silence,” a simple guitar-only number, or “Sorrow,” a sad piano track, plus the usual suicide-obsessed and nihilist freak-out tracks.

The non-instrumental tracks do have lyrics in English, just so you know. Here’s the kicker: if the yeller is agonizing in English and pronouncing those lyrics, no one will ever, ever figure it out because it is a vocal style that goes for howling and shrieking.

That’s it, I’m calling it right here and now: Ghost Bath is going to be huge in China, bigger than Elvis, Beattlemania, Sabbath, Priest, Maiden and Metallica combined, bigger than Dead Horse even! OK, maybe not more famous that Dead Horse, but you’ve got to admit that Ghost Bath is postmodern to the postmodern. How can you not enjoy the weirdness?!

Did I tell you yet that this album is available for free?!!

www.ghostbath.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/blackghostbath

THRASH Bat (U.S.): "Primitive Age” (Tankcrimes Records)

THRASH

Bat (U.S.): "Primitive Age” (Tankcrimes Records)

Taking from Venom what they need, using the Exodus attack as they please, raiding the Discharge vault, Motorhead’s crunch to a fault. This is the way of the Bat.

Rejecting the modern studios, playing thrash dirty and furious, the Bat plays no silly game, they say “poseurs” are to blame. This is the way of the Bat.

The shirtless Manowar boys run away, afraid what the Bat has to say. Ego bigger than Metallica and Priest, the Bat eliminates each name from the list. This is the way, the way, the way of the Bat.

Moshers, hoboes and freaks; the Bat in thrashing action. They will insult you, get a reaction. 1987, this volume knob goes to 11. 1988, no, that’s way too late. Travel back in time, the streets and the grime. Five songs, 13 minutes, that’s what you’ll get, and a lesson in violence you won’t soon forget.

Old (old!), ugly (fugly!), analog thrash, that is the way, the way, the way of the Bat!

[FYI: Bat is ex-DRI drummering Felix Griffin; ex-Cannabis Corpse guitaristing Nick Poulus; and bassering/shoutering Ryan Waste—metal show “Living Fast” hostering—from everthrashers Municipal Waste.]

www.bewareofthebat.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/bewareofthebat

THUG METAL for 90s groove people into Pantera/Sepultura/Machine Head: DEF-CON-ONE (U.K.): "II"

THUG METAL for 90s groove people into Pantera/Sepultura/Machine Head: DEF-CON-ONE: "II"

Chunky, chunky, chugga, chugga knuckledragging guitar in for the grooves and more grooves. Aggro scream shout hollering like mad about something in a "thug metal" way.

If you like Hatebreed and Pantera, basically, simple knuckledragging neanderthal "tough guy bar band" rock hardcore rock, then Def Con One will take you to the 90s.

www.facebook.com/defcononehq

Monday, March 17, 2014

the power metal of Lunar Explosion (Italy): "Lunar Explosion"

This is the band's debut and they sound like a young band finding its way in power metal. They have the melodies and the right attitude and I think they have their hearts in the right place. Clearly, they are paying their dues, getting experience and working on their abilities in songwriting.

While not ready for the big time yet, Lunar Explosion should continue on their stubborn path and do what they want, and in time, it is Lunar Explosion that will show the fruits of their work. Keep it up and let's see what happens next time.

www.facebook.com/pages/Lunar-Explosion/155529451152231

Metal Bulletin Zine is on Facebook

Visit and like if you are on Facebook

www.facebook.com/pages/The-Metal-Bulletin-paper-zine/238441519609213

Kaotoxin Records has flipped the script on your grind-loving ears! Geez, that's a lot of grind, Kaotoxin!!

Various Artists Monsters! (Six of a Kind) Kaotoxin Records

This is for the serious grind fanatics. What a bonkers compilation this is! It's noisy, obnoxious, fast stuff that just plain ridoncolous.

"I like fast music!"

Oh, do you now?

Well, say hello to the six little friends from the gutter. Hold on to your lunch because we're about to find out what "fast" means when Kaotoxin Records jumps into action.

Track List:

1. Monsters

2. Is your love a rainbow?

3. Blinded (Nasum cover)

4. Intergalactic twitch

5. Brownian motion

6. Stretching ***

7. Reaching hubble on a unicorn

8. Rendez-vous on the constellation of Adrienne

9. Take a walk on the grind star

10. Back on the earth

11. (intro)

12. We mean *** war

13. Insomnias

14. Grind of war

15. Por los siglos de los siglos

16. Precious murder

17. Puking massacre

18. Martyr

19. Nothing more

20. The croft

21. Save the planet, kill yourself ('14)

22. Human cancer

23. Lies, incorporated

Tracks 1-3 by Total *** Destruction

Tracks 4-10 by Department of Correction

Tracks 11-14 by C.O.A.G

Tracks 15-19 by Miserable Failure

Tracks 20-21 by Unsu

Tracks 22-23 by Infected Society

www.facebook.com/kaotoxinrecords

black metallers Cryptic Forest will tour Europe in April

The band says:

Together with the crazy Norwegians of TrollfesT and our brothers of Finsterforst, we're going to be on tour all across Europe starting from April 18th this year!

Be prepared for some merciless battles and destruction! No more long talking - See you on the road!

The tour dates are as follows:

18.04. K17, Berlin (DE)

19.04. From Hell, Erfurt (DE)

20.04. Little Devil, Tilburg (NL)

21.04. Underworld, London (UK)

22.04. Glazart, Paris (FR)

23.04. Connexion, Tolouse (FR)

24.04. Mini-Z7, Pratteln (CH)

25.04. Rock It, Aalen (DE)

26.04. Ragnarök, Lichtenfels (DE)

27.04. Rock'n'Roll Arena, Romagnano Sesia (IT)

28.04. Backstage, München (DE)

29.04. Escape Metalcorner, Wien (AT)

30.04. New Evil Music Festival, Darmstadt (DE)

01.05. Große Freiheit, Hamburg (DE)

02.05. B52 Music Club, Eernegem (BE)

03.05. Helvete, Oberhausen (DE)

www.cryptic-forest.com

BLACK METAL Cryptic Forest (Germany): Ystyr” (Einheit Produktionen)

The very modern, very competent black metal of Cryptic Forest does not require many listens to become intelligible given the professional sound quality and the polished thrashy, headbanging riffing, and the on-point drumming that quickly attracts the listener’s attention towards the steady and fast approach to the songwriting. Oftentimes the riffs sound like total headbanging thrash, like on “King of Cryptic Forest,” a song that exemplifies an affinity for fast, speedy, 80s thrash riffing, not usually associated with black metal. Another dimension consists of slow, repetitive notes/hooks/melodies, for the “cold” vibe. Then, on a song like the closer “Creatures of the Dark” the band shows off its more melodic metal side, with audible keyboard work and some melodic singing. Overall, the vibe is blasting modern thrashy black metal, however.

The central objective for Cryptic Forest is fast, headbanging metal, and they are good at it. They have a professional production and work the tunes that metalheads from a wide spectrum can understand. The frenetic pace of “Call to War” and “Ystyr” for instance, is downright infectious. Songs like these will easily cause whiplash or other types of neck and back injuries. It’s a double dog dare: Cryptic Forest dares you to not headbang. I bet you can’t do it. You have to do it; and this band knows it, too. No self-respecting metaller will resist the huge speed metal monster riffs. www.cryptic-forest.com

www.facebook.com/cryptic.forest

Italy's answer to System of a Down: 81db: "A Blind Man's Dream"

81db does not stick to one genre, instead it's a blender of prog rock, classic rock, metal, rap rock, funny rock and other things, too. They might sound like a prog metal band one moment, and like Korn the next, and more than a few moments like System of a Down.

Let's just say that they do not like limits too much.

Check it out if you want to hear a band from Italy that will gladly confuse you!

www.facebook.com/81dbofficial

Sunday, March 16, 2014

SAINT VITUS: Legendary Doom Metal Icons Announce Thirty-Fifth Anniversary Tour

Legendary doom metal icons, SAINT VITUS, are pleased to announce a very special run of live rituals to celebrate their astounding thirty-fifth anniversary! Sponsored by Scion AV, the tour will commence on May 8th in Albuquerque and wind its way through fifteen cities, coming to a close on May 25th in Dallas. The band will be performing the planet-rumbling Born Too Late album -- the first SAINT VITUS outing to feature the imperious voice of Scott "Wino" Weinrich -- in its entirety alongside other renowned VITUS hymns. The band will be joined by Portland stoner rock power trio Sons Of Huns, supporting their recently released Banishment Ritual full-length on EasyRider Records. Comments the band of their coveted spot on the tour, "We can't be any more stoked to support one of the finest purveyors of doom and crush many cities in our wake!" Tickets go on sale Friday, March 14th.

SAINT VITUS w/ Sons Of Huns

5/08/2014 Launch Pad - Albuquerque, NM

5/09/2014 Club Red - Phoenix, AZ

5/10/2014 Cheyenne Saloon - Las Vegas, NV

5/11/2014 The Observatory (Psycho De Mayo Fest) - Santa Ana, CA

5/13/2014 The Echo - Los Angeles, CA

5/14/2014 SLO Brew - San Luis Obispo, CA

5/15/2014 Strummer's - Fresno, CA

5/16/2014 Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA

5/17/2014 Branx - Portland, OR

5/18/2014 Highline - Seattle, WA

5/20/2014 In The Venue - Salt Lake City, UT

5/21/2014 Marquis Theatre - Denver, CO

5/23/2014 Red 7 (Outside) - Austin, TX

5/24/2014 Fitzgerald's Downstairs - Houston, TX

5/25/2014 Three Links - Dallas, TX

SAINT VITUS:

Dave Chandler - guitar

Scott Weinrich - vocals

Mark Adams - bass

Henry Vasquez - drums

www.facebook.com/saintvitusofficial

Tour News: Destrage will tour Italy

Destrage have confirmed their first tour of 2014! The band will be touring throughout their home country, beginning on March 29th. This tour will follow up the band's massively successful hometown show in Milan. The venue was sold out, with several hundred more fans outside of the venue! Destrage posted an update about that show with images on their facebook page HERE. Vocalist Paolo Colavolpe comments: "What's better than hitting some of the best venues of our country to start our AYKMN tour 2014? This is gonna be some serious fun! See you on the road people, ciao belli!"

Are You Kidding Me? Tour.

03/29 Gualtieri, IT Temporock

04/04 Roma, IT Traffic

04/10 Cesena, IT Vidia

04/11 Calenzano, IT Cycle Club

04/12 Calvari, IT Muddy Water

04/24 Torino, IT Lapsus

04/25 Romagnano Sesia, IT Rock 'n' Roll Arena

04/26 Verona, IT Sincity

04/27 Tricesimo, IT Interstate Studio 270

www.facebook.com/destrage

an answer to Killswitch Engage and All That Remains: Eyes Wide Open (Sweden)

Eyes Wide Open (Sweden): "Aftermath"

or perhaps a young version of Killswitch Engage, All That Remains and In Flames.

Eyes Wide Open sounds like they have really, really studied the most successful bands in the genre of melodic/growl rock-metal and have set themselves the goal of making it as big as they can.

Let's do a checklist:

Chugging rhythms? Check.

Melodic guitar? Check.

Pop hooks? Check.

Simple, easy songs that are radio-friendly? Check.

Aggro vocals? Check.

"Clean" vocals? Check.

On YouTube it looks like the young kids like the music a lot and it makes them jump up and down with excitement. Eyes Wide Open is in your face about it: they want to make it big and have the songs that can do it. They just need the audience and the promotion.

If you want melodic rock ear candy, then Eyes Wide Open should be one to look out for.

On the other hand, if you are a grumpy pants and you roll your eyes every time you hear the words "In Flames" or "Killswitch Engage," then stay away from this because you will be very upset and you will get a heart attack from anger about how this is not "real" metal and how...blah, blah, blah.... oh, you know... Just go listen to Marduk. You'll feel better.

www.facebook.com/Eyes.Wide.Open.SWE

FREE 12-minute EP of grind: Eaten (U.S.)

"Depraved" is the name of the EP with 12 songs of grind, just like the doctor ordered!

www.eatengrind.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/pages/Eaten/290800964380242

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Tour News: PILGRIM: Rhode Island Doom Conjurors Tour Underway

Rhode Island doom conjurors, PILGRIM, is currently crumbling stages across the US supporting reunited stoner rock icons, Spirit Caravan. The trek will level nearly two dozen metropolises by its conclusion and features three performances at this year's edition of SXSW including special sets at the Metal & Lace Lounge Showcase and the Tone Deaf Touring Showcase. Additional live PILGRIM rituals to be announced in the weeks to come.

3/17/2014 Launchpad - Albuquerque, NM

3/18/2014 Cheyenne Saloon - Las Vegas, NV

3/19/2014 Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA

3/21/2014 Rotture - Portland, OR

3/22/2014 El Corazon - Seattle, WA

3/24/2014 The Shredder - Boise, ID

3/25/2014 Burt's Tiki Lounge - Salt Lake City, UT

3/27/2014 Marquis Theater - Denver, CO

3/29/2014 Reggie's - Chicago, IL

3/30/2014 Cactus Club - Milwaukee, WI

3/31/2014 The Fifth Quarter - Indianapolis, IN

4/01/2014 Outland Ballroom - Springfield, MO

4/02/2014 Rock Island Brewing - Rock Island, IL

4/03/2014 Fubar - St. Louis, MO

4/04/2014 Hi Tone - Memphis, TN

4/05/2014 V Club - Huntington, WV

4/06/2014 Hideaway - Johnson City, TN

4/08/2014 Pyramid Scheme - Grand Rapids, MI

4/09/2014 Skully's - Columbus ,OH

4/12/2014 31st St Pub - Pittsburgh, PA

4/13/2014 Empire - Springfield, VA

4/14/2014 AS220 - Providence, RI

4/15/2014 Saint Vitus Bar - Brooklyn NY

www.facebook.com/hailthepilgrim

the legion of boom, doom and gloom: Descend into Despair (Romania)

Descend into Despair (Romania)

After hearing the music, it’s clear why Descend into Despair is one to watch in the doom genre, particularly after the new album “The Bearer of All Storms.” Perhaps it might help to see the following information in this format about “The Bearer of All Storms”:

DISC 1.

1.Portrait of Rust (10:09)

2.Mirrors of Flesh (8:28)

3.Pendulum of Doubt (10:44)

4.Triangle of Lies (16:35)

DISC 2.

1.The Horrific Pale Awakening (17:54)

2.Plânge glia de dorul meu (17:44)

3.Embrace of Earth (10:28)

The total time is more than 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Opener “Portrait of Rust” projects a grey forlorn musical landscape of plodding guitar, depressive keyboards, decidedly unhappy melodies and an amicable, cave-monster growling at a slow pace. After that song, the listener will not expect anything merry to show up. The slow-motion depression is well on its way as the second song begins and you’ll be forgiven for not noticing that it is a different song, given that the album flows so well, taking depression to lower lows and melancholic valleys of no sunshine.

The mood that you are in will likely affect the reception to this giant of a doom/death doom/funeral doom album. Or, maybe the album will change your mood. No matter, the only real requirement, I would say, is an affinity for very slow, melancholic doom. I, for one, had no idea what awaited going into this. Once the music began, I did not have any intentions of sticking around for an hour and half listening to one album. I thought that I would check out a song or two, but that’s not what happened. I ended up staying for the complete album. That’s why it’s best to let it play and see where the spectrum of miserable moods goes.

“Pendulum of Doubt” has some melodic singing, but how depressive that sounds, too. It almost sounds like it’s a man crying; not quite, but you get the idea. “Triangle of Lies” runs more than 16 minutes, yet it works dense melodies that somehow make one forget that it’s the same song, it’s another long passage of low-key melodies and heaviness.

This tunnel of no light only gets more oppressive and claustrophobic once we enter each of the two almost-18-minute tracks. Monsters and ghosts growl and chant at the listener passing by in the night. With that, we reach the end, the last song is “only” more than 10 minutes; and so it is: 10 minutes of sad bells, more ghostly weirdness. This track, in all seriousness now, could work at a funeral.

By the way, the band has other, earlier recordings available for free at Bandcamp. For instance, “Wings of Solitude” (23:10) is a demo from 2010, “Vanity Devotion” (30:31) is an EP from 2011 and “Hierophant of the Night” (12:36) is a single from 2012. Personally, I like these older recordings and have been listening to them recently when I stumbled upon them. The demo from 2010 gives a good idea of the aesthetics at work with Descend into Despair, but the new album is miles ahead, of course, in terms of songwriting, experience, skills and sound quality. Therefore, these recordings are a good preview of the band’s potential, while the album is the manifestation of the potential carried out to its logical conclusion.

The album certainly becomes more comprehensible with each new listen, and it’s highly recommended to the listener seriously into doom/death doom/funeral doom. With so much to absorb, that it will take the rest of 2014 to make sense. In a way, I hope that the band does not have a new album out in 2015 because I will need some time just to uncover what’s going on and to recover from the totality on display.

www.facebook.com/descendintodespairband

www.descendintodespairdoom.bandcamp.com

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

FREE 17-minute recording of black doom by Predatory Light from New Mexico

How about some new music today? Predatory Light has something for you!

www.predatorylight.bandcamp.com

Tour News: GNAW: NYC Demented Noise Peddlers To Annihilate Pitchfork's SXSW Show No Mercy Fest Tuesday

GNAW Live Incursions 2014:

New York demented noise peddlers, GNAW, will be showering Austin ears this week with their corrosive canticles at Pitchfork's Show No Mercy showcase March 11th alongside Indian, Kylesa, Power Trip, Christian Mistress, Windhand, Iron Reagan, Youth Code, Primitive Man, Psalm Zero, Sannhet and Yautja. The following month GNAW will spread their audio plague across Europe with their cohorts in Italian avant noise duo, OvO, for a run of live rituals through Belgium, France and the United Kingdom. But the sonic deconstruction won't end there. On May 16th, GNAW will crush the dreams of the hopeful as part of the Red Bull Music Academy Fest alongside Tim Hecker, Napalm Death, Gunplay, Wolf Eyes, Bastard Noise, Lubomyr Melnyk, Skullflower, Okkyung Lee, Clipping and more!

3/11/2014 Pitchfork/Show No Mercy Showcase @ The Mohawk - Austin, TX

4/26/2014 Ancienne Belgique - Brussels, BE w/ Alos

4/28/2014 Le Saint Des Seins - Toulouse, FR w/ OvO, Cober Ord

4/29/2014 Les Instants Chavirès - Paris, FR w/ OvO

5/01/2014 The Victoria - London, UK w/ OvO, Shitwife

5/02/2014 Mellomello - Liverpool, UK w/ OvO

5/03/2014 The 13th Note - Glasgow, UK w/ OvO, Black Sun-Drum Korps

5/04/2014 Leave Me Here All Day Fest @ The Cluny - Newcastle, UK w/ OvO, Necro Deathmort, more..

5/08/2014 St Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, NY w/ Whitehorse

5/16/2014 Red Bull Music Academy Festival @ Knockdown Center - Queens, NY

www.facebook.com/Gnawtheband

Tour News: SAMOTHRACE European Tour 2014

Tour News: SAMOTHRACE European Tour 2014 Seattle's riff-dredging doom powerhouse, SAMOTHRACE, is preparing to return to European soil in just over two weeks, with a new bout of shows confirmed in Holland, Denmark, Germany, Italy, France and Belgium at the very end of March and into the first two weeks of April.

3/28/2014 DB's - Utrecht, Netherlands

3/30/2014 Loppen - Copenhagen, Denmark

4/02/2014 Chemiefabrik - Dresden, Germany

4/05/2014 McQueen - Parma, Italy

4/06/2014 Freakout Club - Bologna, Italy

4/08/2014 La Miroiterie - Paris, France

4/09/2014 Jeugdhuis Tijl - Diest, Belgium

4/10/2014 Roadburn Festival - Tilburg, Netherlands

www.facebook.com/samothracedoom

Tour News: YAUTJA Currently On Tour To SXSW; Massive Spring Tour With Cult Leader Announced

Nashville's grinding hardcore trio, YAUTJA, is already back out on the road on their third major tour of the season, while the dust from their last two tours still settles atop the remains of the cities where the band recently visited.

3/11/2014 Mohawk - Austin, TX @ SXSW Pitchfork Showcase

3/12/2014 Javalina - Austin, TX @ SXSW Stereofly Showcase

3/13/2014 Quantum Lounge - Austin, TX @ SXSW Invisible Oranges Showcase

3/14/2014 Austin, TX @ SXSW

3/15/2014 Trends Die Haus - San Antonio, TX @ SxSw Spillover Pt. II

3/16/2014 Walter's Downtown - Houston, TX

3/17/2014 Hound Dogs - Baton Rouge, LA w/ Christworm

3/18/2014 Seasick Records - Birmingham, AL w/ Null

4/03/2014 TBA - Knoxville, TN

4/04/2014 MACRock - Harrisonburg, VA

4/05/2014 TBA - Louisville, KY

4/06/2014 TBA - Kansas City, MO

4/07/2014 Bar Bar (Carioca Cafe) - Denver, CO

4/08/2014 Baby Haus - Laramie, WY

4/09/2014 TBA - Salt Lake City, UT

4/10/2014 The Crux - Boise, ID w/ Cult Leader

4/11/2014 New Frontier Lounge - Tacoma, WA w/ Cult Leader

4/12/2014 Laughing Horse - Portland, OR w/ Cult Leader

4/13/2014 100th Monkey Café - Chico, CA w/ Cult Leader

4/14/2014 TBA w/ Cult Leader

4/15/2014 Aladdin Jr - Pomona, CA w/ Cult Leader

4/16/2014 51 West - Tempe, AZ w/ Cult Leader

4/17/2014 The Naylair - El Paso, TX w/ Cult Leader

4/18/2014 Red 7 - Austin, TX w/ Illustrations w/ Cult Leader

4/19/2014 TBA w/ Cult Leader, Illustrations

4/20/2014 Three Links - Dallas, TX w/ Cult Leader, Illustrations

4/21/2014 The Conservatory - Oklahoma City, OK w/ Cult Leader

4/22/2014 TBA - St. Louis, MO w/ Cult Leader

4/23/2014 TBA - Memphis, TN w/ Cult Leader

5/05/2014 Cafe Coco - Nashville, TN w/ Cult Leader

5/06/2014 The Forge - Birmingham, AL w/ Cult Leader

5/07/2014 TBA - Atlanta, GA w/ Cult Leader

5/08/2014 TBA - Tallahassee, FL w/ Cult Leader, Ex-Breathers

5/09/2014 Churchill's - Miami, FL w/ Cult Leader

5/10/2014 Uncle Lou's - Orlando, FL w/ Cult Leader

5/11/2014 Tin Roof - Charleston, SC w/ Cult Leader

5/12/2014 Milestone - Charlotte, NC w/ Cult Leader

5/13/2014 Strange Matter - Richmond, VA w/ Cult Leader

5/14/2014 Sidebar - Baltimore, MD w/ Cult Leader

5/15/2014 TBA - Philadelphia, PA w/ Cult Leader

5/16/2014 The Grand Victory - Brooklyn, NY w/ Cult Leader

5/17/2014 O'Brien's - Allston, MA w/ Cult Leader

5/18/2014 AS220 - Providence, RI w/ Cult Leader, Tinsel Teeth

5/19/2014 The Lair - Buffalo, NY w/ Cult Leader

5/20/2014 Mr. Roboto Project - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Cult Leader

5/21/2014 Yonka House - Detroit, MI w/ Cult Leader

www.facebook.com/YautjaTN

Gilead Fest final schedule

Gilead Fest 2014 presented by Gilead Media July 18-20 Oshkosh Wisconsin

Friday - July 18th, 2014:

5:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Oozing Wound

Protestant

Thou + The Body Collaboration

Inter Arma

Hell

Ash Borer

Saturday, July 19, 2014

2:00 pm - 10:00 pm

Hexer

Owlfood

Sea of Bones

False

Geryon

Kowloon Walled City

Mutilation Rites

Bastard Sapling

The Body

Sunday, July 20th, 2014

1:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Northless

Alraune

Generation of Vipers

Seidr

Lychgate

Uzala

Loss

Barghest

Thou

www.gileadmedia.net

Tour News: FULL OF HELL Announces April Tour With Column Of Heaven & Record Store Day Split With Psywarfare

The invincible, noiseblasting killing machine, FULL OF HELL, this week confirms a pair of impending offensives upon the humans, including new tour actions and new studio documentation of their tactics.

FULL OF HELL Tour w/ Column Of Heaven:

4/24/2014 TBA - Buffalo, NY w/ Gas Chamber

4/25/2014 TBA - Boston, MA w/ Cleansing Wave

4/26/2014 AS220 - Providence, RI w/ Fucking Invincible

4/27/2014 Silent Barn - New York, NY w/ The Communion

4/28/2014 The Gütah - New Brunswick, NJ w/ Fleshtemple

4/29/2014 Secret Location - Philadelphia, PA w/ Backslider

4/30/2014 TBA - Washington, DC w/ DOC

5/01/2014 The Shop - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Slices

5/02/2014 Yonka House - Detroit, MI w/ Dead Church

5/03/2014 Soybomb - Toronto, ON w/ Wastoids, Cvntpvnt

www.facebook.com/fullofhell

Tour News: ENABLER Locks East Coast Tour To New England Metal & Hardcore Fest

After several months off the grid, metallic punk radicals, ENABLER, now pledge full-on annihilation in 2014, today announcing their revamped lineup, a plethora of upcoming live actions, and the completion of their highly anticipated second LP.

NABLER Confirmed Tour Actions:

4/10/2014 Dragonfly Lounge - Madison, WI

4/11/2014 Error Records - Champagne, IL @ Skeletal Lightning Fest II

4/12/2014 Bier Stube - Moline, IL w/ Northless

4/13/2014 The Demo - St. Louis, MO

4/14/2014 The Donut Shop - Covington, KY

4/16/2014 Badlands - Syracuse, NY

4/17/2014 The Palladium - Worcester, MA @ New England Metal & Hardcore Fest w/ Cop Problem

4/18/2014 The Worthen - Lowell, MA w/ Cop Problem

4/19/2014 Grand Victory - Brooklyn, NY w/ Cop Problem, Go Deep, Agitator

4/20/2014 Backroom Studios - Rockaway, NJ w/ Cop Problem

4/21/2014 Kung Fu Necktie - Philadelphia, PA w/ Cop Problem

4/22/2014 Hook Up - Virginia Beach, VA

4/23/2014 Strange Matter - Richmond, VA

4/24/2014 Mr. Roboto Project - Pittsburgh, PA w/ Die Choking, Black Mask, Meth Quarry, Rabid Pigs

4/25/2014 Carabar - Columbus, OH @ Forward Ohio Fest

4/26/2014 Blind Bob's - Dayton, OH

4/27/2014 Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL

5/16/2014 Centre-Ville De - Montreal, QC @ Pouzza Fest

5/25/2014 Baltimore Soundstage - Baltimore, MD @ Maryland Deathfest

6/14/2014 Sharks Club & Billiards - Appleton, WI @ No Tomorrow Fest

www.facebook.com/enablermke

Sunday, March 9, 2014

Jojo from Fuglymaniacs has heard the new Hirax album and this is what he told me to tell you

Jojo from Fuglymaniacs has heard the new Hirax album and this is what he told me to tell you:

www.fuglymaniacs.com

FREE 4-song recording by Brazilian modern death metal upstarts: Degolate

If you are angry that you lost one hour today, then mosh. Advice from Degolate.

www.degolate.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/degolate

FREE EP of symphonic power metal: Mindwake (France)

This 22-minute EP gives an excellent idea of Mindwake's version of symphonic power metal!

www.mindwake.bandcamp.com

www.facebook.com/MindWake

TOUR NEWS: IRON REAGAN Tour To Commence This Sunday

Relapse Records is extremely proud to announce the signing of Richmond, Virginia hardcore thrash supergroup, IRON REAGAN. Consisting of current and former members of Municipal Waste, Cannabis Corpse, Darkest Hour, Mammoth Grinder, Suppression and a thousand other killer bands, IRON REAGAN formed in 2012 and consists of vocalist Tony Foresta, guitarists Phil Hall and Mark Bronzino, bassist Rob Skotis and drummer Ryan Parrish.

Additionally, IRON REAGAN are plotting a roadside takeover set to begin this Sunday. The seven-week run will take them to SXSW and back and includes dates with Occultist and Ghoul.

IRON REAGAN

3/09/2014 The Hideaway - Johnson City, TN

3/11/2014 Pitchfork Showcase @ Mohawk - Austin, TX

3/13/2014 The Basement - San Antonio, TX

3/14/2014 Converse/Thrasher Showcase @ Scott Inn - Austin, TX

3/14/2014 MetalSucks Showcase @ The Dirty Dog - Austin, TX

3/15/2014 Tone Deaf Showcase @ Red Eyed Fly - Austin, TX

3/16/2014 Spill Over Fest @ Club Dada - Dallas, TX

3/18/2014 529 - Atlanta, GA

3/19/2014 The Odditorium - Asheville, NC

w/ Occultist:

4/02/2014 Strange Matter - Richmond VA

4/04/2014 Macrock Festival - Harrisonburg, VA

4/05/2014 The End - Nashville, TN

4/06/2014 Vino's - Little Rock, AR

Weapons Of Mosh Destruction Tour II w/ Ghoul, Occultist:

4/09/2014 Club Red - Tempe, AZ

4/10/2014 Soda Bar - San Diego, CA

4/11/2014 Constellation Room - Santa Ana, CA

4/12/2014 Rock City - Camarillo CA

4/13/2014 The Roxy - Los Angeles, CA

4/14/2014 Midtown Barfly - Sacramento, CA

4/15/2014 Branx - Portland, OR

4/18/2014 Tankcrimes Brainsqueeze Fest - Oakland, CA [info] *no Occultist

w/ Occultist:

4/22/2014 Gino's - Salt Lake City, UT

4/23/2014 Moe's - Denver, CO

4/24/2014 Replay Lounge - Lawrence, KS

4/25/2014 Fubar - St. Louis, MO

4/26/2014 Three Floyd's Brewery [Dark Lord Day] - Munster, IN

4/27/2014 Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL

4/28/2014 Frankie's - Toledo, OH

4/29/2014 Ace of Cups - Columbus, OH

4/30/2014 Smiling Moose - Pittsburgh, PA

www.facebook.com/pages/IRON-REAGAN/235448059864772

Friday, March 7, 2014

FREE thrashing EP and interview with Thy Blood (China)

Thy Blood (China)

These thrashers’ EP, simply called “Thy Blood,” is available for free at Bandcamp. Thy Blood was active 2001-2007 and in 2011 they returned to action. When you hear it, you will notice the skill level and the overall tightness of the execution. Thy Blood is no beginners’ band, and they sound professional. Whether you like Bay Area thrash, the German thrash style or the newer thrash from nowadays, there is something in it for everyone: headbanging riffs, modern growling vocals, songs with a beat, a bit of melodies in places. The five-song EP is: 1.Golden Age (3:38)

2.Blindfold (4:23)

3.Feather (4:15)

4.War (4:15)

5.Polizei (4:24)

The band is comprised of guitarists Jack Chen and Wei, bassist A Gui, screamer Cao Hui and drummer Alain. When this zine contacted Thy Blood about more information about the band, it was the drummer Alain who responded. This is what Alain reveals about Thy Blood. --

Do you have other recordings?

Currently we are in the writing process of the next songs, so for now that's all there is on tape.

What is going on with Thy Blood in China at the moment? You are in Shanghai, correct?

We are writing new songs and hope to start to get some gigs starting in April. Yeah, we are in Shanghai, and actually there's not much going on, so as to say the metal scene is very, very limited. A few big bands made it to China though, Metallica came last year and some other bands like Behemoth, Periphery.

In Shanghai there may be around 20 million inhabitants in the broader region, but there are only a mere 3-5 places where bands can have shows, that’s not including stadiums that welcome bands like the Rolling Stones (they are coming soon).

What are your plans for the band?

Our plan for now is to have a good batch of songs, and then start having shows in the surroundings of Shanghai and the other centers in China, Beijing being the most important (others are Chengdu, Wuhan, etc.)

What happened that made Thy Blood reunite in 2011?

In 2007, the original drummer left Shanghai for Ireland and at that moment it just fell apart for some time. It took 4 years to take things up and get a new drummer and reunite musicians.

What type of jobs do you all have in Shanghai? Is it difficult to find jobs?

Project manager, electronic commerce, computer engineer. Yes, it's not so easy to get jobs here as well. A few of us are project managers in different fields.

Do you think that you will have a website in English in the future? I visited your website, and it looks cool, but unfortunately, I cannot understand Chinese.

For now Bandcamp is our only presence in English. We are considering adding something else to the mix in the future.

Where did you record the EP "Thy Blood"?

We recorded it in our very tiny 12 square meters rehearsal room. There are many recording studios in Shanghai, but not the type that would record Metal bands. For our next release we are thinking of renting some place at least for the drums.

Your song titles are in English. Are the lyrics, too? Well, "Polizei" is German, actually. What do you think about having lyrics in Chinese? or perhaps, you do both?

All our lyrics are in English. On our next release will have both English and Chinese copies of the lyrics.

So, what inspires your lyrics? Most of our lyrics describe our lives and how the society and the government interrelates with it. “Golden Age” is a song about our longing for the 80's rock 'n roll stars. “Feather” is about the Movie Paradise Now.

Thanks for posting the music on Bandcamp! What would you like thrashers outside of China to do to support Thy Blood?

Download our music and share it! Who knows maybe some day we can tour overseas. Thanks a lot for your mail! All the best to you.

Alain

www.thyblood.bandcamp.com

THE END.

Thursday, March 6, 2014

Tour News: GIGAN: Exploratory Tech Metal Ambassadors Announce Ceremonies And Hallucinations Tour 2014

Exploratory tech metal ambassadors, GIGAN, will take to the streets this May for another rash of live rituals. Scheduled to initiate on May 2nd in Wisconsin, the Ceremonies And Hallucinations Tour will wind through twenty metropolises. As a bonus, the Chicago show will feature a full liquid light show and Super 8 visual accompaniment, manifesting the ultimate live GIGAN experience! Additionally, the tour will include special guests on both coasts, specifically Transylvanian eclectic metal sorcerers, Negură Bunget, in both Santa Ana and Las Vegas, as well as Mike Browning's iconic Nocturnus A.D. in Tampa!

GIGAN Ceremonies And Hallucinations Tour 2014:

5/02/2014 The Bottom End - Appleton, WI

5/03/2014 The Wisco - Madison, WI

5/04/2014 The House Of Rock - Eau Claire, WI

5/05/2014 The Cobra Lounge - Chicago, IL

5/06/2014 The Brass Rail - Fort Wayne, IN

5/07/2014 The Haymarket - Louisville, KY

5/09/2014 The Haven - Orlando, FL

5/10/2014 The Brass Mug - Tampa, FL w/ Nocturnus A.D.

5/11/2014 Atticus Bar - Jacksonville, FL

5/14/2014 White Swan - Houston, TX

5/15/2014 Reno's - Dallas, TX

5/16/2014 Beerland - Austin, TX

5/17/2014 Zombie's - San Antonio, TX

5/18/2014 The Weather Balloon - Roswell, NM

5/20/2014 The District - Tucson, AZ

5/21/2014 Tempe Tavern - Tempe, AZ

5/22/2014 The Boncroft - San Diego, CA

5/23/2014 The Handbag Factory - Los Angeles, CA

5/24/2014 Malone's - Santa Ana, CA w/ Negură Bunget

5/25/2014 Cheyenne Saloon - Las Vegas, NV w/ Negură Bunget

www.facebook.com/Giganmusic

Wednesday, March 5, 2014

interview with funeral doomsters Ephemeros (Portland)

Ephemeros (U.S.)

Speaking of funeral doomsters Ephemeros back in issue number 38, Metal Bulletin Zine observed:

“Recently, I have been listening to Ephemeros a lot, and I have been wondering why that is. It could be that Ephemeros masterfully works funeral melodies and that is really all there is to it: Ephemeros has great melodies. This trait makes it very difficult to argue with the music, and very easy to agree with it.”

This zine also noticed about the album titled “All Hail Corrosion”:

“Ephemeros plays very slow throughout the complete album, yes, and the growling is low and slow, yes, and the slow heaviness is meant for stopping and smelling the roses, and for forgetting your fast, busy life. The riffs themselves are a journey to the places where plodding, tripped out heaviness meets up with melancholy and melody, and it all makes sense when Ephemeros puts it together.”

Recently guitarist Chris gave these answers to an interview about Ephemeros and other bands that the members of Ephemeros are in, and about life in Portland, Oregon. Ephemeros is: Garrett (bass), Chuck (drums), Jesse and Chris (guitars), Josh (vocals).

“All Hail Corrosion” is:

1.All Hail Corrosion (13:53)

2.Stillborn Workhorse (10:40)

3.Soilbringer (15:29)

Is "All Hail Corrosion" your debut. I have read the names of your other bands, but I am not going to lie: I have not heard your previous bands. For Ephemeros, whose insane idea was it to play very slow doom?!

Yes, “All Hail Corrosion” is our debut record, and we're very excited about it. We have 2 long ass songs written and plan to finish a 3rd and record a new album in the fall of 2014. Previous bands span lots of genres. Graves at Sea is sludge/doom, Nux Vomica is crust/melodic death metal, post-metal, and ambient/atmospheric, Elitist was, well, I dunno what to call it, very angry and heavy music rooted in hardcore. This band was the idea of Jesse and Chris, and we basically just wanted to play very slow and heavy music that was both brutal and beautiful, following in the steps of a lot of European funeral and death doom bands.

Did you record bits and pieces of the songs at a time or did you play the songs all the way through?

Oh, we had plenty of "go-backs" and overdubs, but nothing too excessive. We tried to take out each song in the largest cuts possible. I believe there was some minimal sound replacing done to certain kicks/snares that maybe didn't sound too hot, but most of what you hear is the live real time recordings. We didn't question Fester at Haywire much at all about his recording techniques, partially because we completely trust him, and also because we don't have any strong opinions for/against modern recording techniques. If it sounds good, which we think it does, we're happy.

I keep hearing that Portland has a thriving scene of punk and metal. Do you feel that this is accurate? I guess funeral doom is never going to be "hip" and "cool," is it? Or, maybe I'm wrong?!

Well, I went to see Pallbearer last night and couldn't believe there were 400 people there, so maybe it's catching on? Yes, Portland has a very thriving punk and metal scene and we are very much a part of it through our other bands, our jobs, and just our friend circles. Ephemeros is lucky to be part of such a thriving scene.

Your song "Stillborn Workhorse" was on YouTube even before the album was released. Does that bother you?

It bothers us just a little bit... but not much. I mean, we'd like for people to purchase our tunes and support our band as well as the record labels that put up so much money to make it happen. On the other hand, I'm just happy people are listening to our tunes. I'm happy anyone gave enough of a flip to bother putting our stuff on Youtube.... that's rad.

Reviewers usually talk about how funeral doom is depressive and use this silly language, like hopelessness and things like that. But when you are playing the songs, do you not feel joy and happiness?

I like to think our music evokes several feelings, but yes, there is some joy and happiness that comes from it. We try to make music that reflects our hopelessness in the world, but also those moments of light and hope that always shine through. I also think our tunes are a release for anger and rage. And also, it’s good stuff to get high, close your eyes, and take a friggin’ breather from this stressful life. Practice is like therapy to us.

I looked up the definition of Ephemeros and I was wondering if the lyrics are part of an overall concept. I have not read your lyrics, but I do like to know what people are screaming about. Who in the band writes the lyrics? How would you describe your lyrics?

They lyrics are written by Josh, the singer. They are all over the map, expressing all of the feelings I mentioned in the earlier question. We have a loose concept of time, erosion/corrosion, decay, and the slow march to death. Ephemeros is the Greek root word for the modern word "ephemeral" which means something, typically something in nature, that only lasts one day. Like an ephemeral insect or stream. The Greek root word translates to "of the day". So I suppose the theme is being aware of our gradual decay, but also living in the moment and embracing the moments of joy as they come and go.

How much of the song "Soilbringer" was made up at the studio? Was it more than 15 minutes before you recorded it? Did one of the guitarists, Jesse or Chris, just keep going with the riffs and then your drummer Chuck, just said, "Oh, well, I'll just keep going, too"? Next thing you know, boom, a 15-minute song?

Haha, no, that is nearly exactly how we wrote it at practice and perform it live, with maybe a few extra ambient sounds thrown in.

What is the longest that your vocalist Josh can hold a continuous growl? Also, if Josh forgets a lyric, would the rest of the band notice? Would your bassist Garrett give him a look, like, "Dude, you messed up!"?

You're cracking me up...I have no idea how long Josh could hold a growl, but he seems to be able to hold it as long as is needed hahah. And no, if Josh messed up, we wouldn't likely notice. In fact, we'd just assume he was experimenting and hopefully making his vocal part even more awesome.

Here are some quick Portland questions. What are some of your favorite metal or punk Portland bands from the 1980s?

Well, this is just me, but I'm gonna say the Wipers and Dead Moon.

What are your favorite places for vegetarians or vegans to eat in Portland?

None of us are actually vegetarian, but some of us are ex-vegans, and we all are part of a general community and environment here in Portland where there is vegetarian food all around us. So, unlike a lot of meat- eating Americans, we eat vegetarian often, and don't think much about it. When we have potlucks or meals with guests we always know there needs to be options for our veg fam/friends. I think we can all say we support a diet that consists of more than just fast food and processed meat. From there, we each have our different opinions and diets.

What are the clubs where Ephemeros and friends play?

We play currently a lot at Rotture, Tonic Lounge, and The Know. In the past we played Ash St, Plan B. We'll probably play Slabtown soon.

What are some things that you hate about Portland?!

Mostly the same things I love, all the progressive hippies and freaks. It's love/hate. I hate the way people drive. Overall though, I love it here … wait a minute, are you interviewing me? Or Ephemeros?

Have you ever watched Portlandia?! Do you like it?!

We've all seen it and I think we'd all agree it has its moments, but is a little overrated.

OK, that's it. Thanks for your time!

Thank you for the interview and interest in our band!!! Cheers!!!