Metal Bulletin Zine: September 2017

Thursday, September 28, 2017

new AXEMASTER album "Crawling Chaos" release date

OFFICIAL: Pure Steel Records has issued an official release date for the new Axemaster album "Crawling Chaos". The CD will officially be available through the label on NOVEMBER 24th. Those of you in the US will be able to easily remember the date because this year, the 24th is Black Friday!

"Crawling Chaos" combines major label quality sound, killer artwork & graphics, and material that early reviews describe as some of the best Axemaster ever. While retaining a portion of the thrash feel of "Overture to Madness", the new songs show the band's evolution with a feel that goes back to their roots from the late 80's & early 90's. In that spirit, "Crawling Chaos" includes a new version of the classic Axemaster song from 1988: "Death Before Dishonor". Pre-orders for the disc will begin on November 10th through the Pure Steel website.

The new CD features the return of vocalist Geoff McGraw, lead guitarist Joe Sims, and bassist Jim Curtis; and is the Axemaster recording debut of lead guitarist Damin Bennett (making this the first time the band has had a dual axe attack), and drummer Denny Archer. Each musician has extensive experience in music and is a true professional, which is very evident and on full display on the new album!

While "Crawling Chaos" shows the band's present and future, the "autumn of Axemaster" begins with a celebration of the band's past on October 6th with the re-release of 19 of the band's songs from 1986-1991 on a vinyl 2 record set, titled "Blessing the the Skies (and other cuts from the chamber)". It's a limited edition collectable (only 200 pressed); pre-ordering begins on Sept. 22nd through the Pure Steel website. Any radio/zines that would like MP3s of these songs (which have been mastered and now sound MUCH better than they ever have), please contact us.

"Crawling Chaos" tracklist: 1) 10,000 Pound Hammer - 2) Crawling Chaos - 3) Axes of Evil - 4) Flowers for the Dead - 5) Mystify the Dream Hypnotic - 6) Aldar Rof - 7) Shallow Grave - 8) Death Before Dishonor - 9) Bravado - 10) Knight of Pain

facebook.com/axemasterofficial

AXEMASTER VINYL DOUBLE ALBUM RE-RELEASE

OFFICIAL: While we still await the official release date for the new Axemaster CD "Crawling Chaos", we are excited to share that Pure Steel Records has issued an official release date for the re-release of old Axemaster material on vinyl which will be titled "Blessing in the Skies (and other cuts from the chamber)". The record is scheduled to be out on October 6th and pre-orders will be accepted on September 22. It will be a 2 record set including the entire "Blessing in the Skies" album, the entire "5 Demons" EP, and several other assorted songs. All the songs have been remastered and the material now sounds MUCH better than it ever has. Complete release information can be seen at http://www.axemasterofficial.com/news__notes/. The record is a definite must for all metal vinyl collectors and Axemaster fans! It will be a collectable release, only 200 are being pressed, so order your's early!!!!!!!!!

Pre-orders for "Blessing" will be taken on the Pure Steel website at http://www.puresteel-records.com/ (also where the album will be available once released), and a short time after it's released (once our copies arrive to us), a VERY limited number will be available on the AXEMASTER website at http://www.axemasterofficial.com/. Stay tuned as we will be sharing the release date for "Crawling Chaos" soon. The 2 releases are a great duo, highlighting some of the best of the old and some of the best of the new Axemaster!!!!!

facebook.com/axemasterofficial

PHARAOH Hard At Work On Fifth Full-Length Album

OFFICIAL: Melodic metal veterans Pharaoh (Official) – featuring vocalist Tim Aymar, guitarist Matt Johnsen, bassist Chris Kerns and drummer Chris Black – are currently hard at work on their fifth full-length album, which is tentatively due in mid-2018 via Italy’s Cruz Del Sur Music. The album will be the band’s first 2012’s “Bury The Light”.

Comments Johnsen: “We're doing this one a bit differently, in that before we always completed the full complement of songs and then hit the studio, but this time, we're recording tunes a couple at a time as we finish writing. Because we're not a rehearsing band and because we all live in different cities, recording as we write makes it possible to get more done in less time; while Chris Black is tracking drums for one song, I can be tracking guitars for any songs he's already recorded, and then when I'm ready to move onto the next set of rhythm guitars, Tim can start tracking vocals. We're still early in the process, though; Chris only just started tracking the first tune.

“We have four songs completed as far as instrumentation goes, and three more at about seventy-five percent. Then there are three to five more which are no more than fifty percent finished. In the past, the riffs to most songs were more or less written by one guy, and then fleshed out collaboratively with vocals and lyrics at the end, but this time, the majority of songs have been put together from the beginning with riff contributions from two or more members, and we expect to do more tinkering with the riffs than we usually do once the vocal lines are introduced. Then again, maybe we won't!”

Johnsen promises PHARAOH’s forthcoming new LP will continue in the same vein of their previous efforts; however, some new wrinkles are being thrown into the mix, namely from the technical thrash world with bands such as CORONER, HOLY TERROR, REALM and FORBIDDEN serving as inspiration.

“My arrangements involve much less repetition of riffs than is customary from a power metal band,” he says. “Lots of ‘one-and-done’ riffs, and a lot of left-field bridges and codas. At the same time, I've also started a couple tunes which are almost doom metal, assuming a definition of doom metal that encompasses MEMENTO MORI and early TYR. We'll see how those pan out, but I expect at least one of them to make the album.”

PHARAOH has released all four of its studio albums with Cruz Del Sur Music, starting with 2003’s “After The Fire”, which was followed by 2006’s “The Longest Night”, 2008’s “Be Gone” and 2012’s “Bury The Light”.

facebook.com/PharaohOfficial

Swedish extreme metal Dracena new album coming up

Dracena has now announced the new album and they have posted a bit of the new music for people to hear. Check it out at the link below.

OFFICIAL: There will be blood, there will be pain… there will be darkness and death…

We are excited to announce our 3rd album, Cursed To The Night, which will soon be released by Infernö Records as a CD and a limited edition MC. Cursed To The Night features special guest appearancens by Fredrik Folkare from Unleashed/Firespawn on lead solos and melodies and Ola Malmström from Sorcery on additional vocals on one of the songs.

The 8 new tracks were recorded, mixed and mastered by Pontus “Punchy” Ekwall at Studio Cave 2016/2017.

All drums and Ola Malmström’s vocals was recorded by Jocke at MediEvil Studios 2016/2017.

Lead solos and melodies was recorded and played by Fredrik Folkare at Chrome Studios 2017.

We’ve once again asked Mariusz Gandzel to work with us and he created the amazing cover artwork and creature “The Draque” for this album. All photos for the album and promotion was shot at Savage Photography, photos by Tallee Savage, make up by Adina Savage and photo graphic effects by Mattias Savage.

facebook.com/Dracena.SE/

Northwest Metal Fest (U.S.) scheduled for March, 2018

OFFICIAL: Originally founded by concert promoter, Lipstick bassist and local scenester Brett Miller, he launched the first Metalfest on September 19, 1981 at Lake Hills Roller Rink/Crossroads. This landmark concert featured TKO, The Mob (featuring members of Queensryche), Babylon (featuring Geoff Tate on vocals and singing for both bands that historic night), Perennial, Open Fire, Myth, Rampage and Little Wing. The second Metalfest was held on August 29, 1982 and again TKO were the headliners - along with the first NW appearance of Portland's Wild Dogs, Culprit, Overlord, Realms, Myth (with Geoff Tate on vocals) and Kidskin.

By 1984, DJ and future Rocket writer Jeff Gilbert had taken the mantle from Brett Miller and launched his Ground Zero Record label with the now legendary compilation album and borrowed the NW Metalfest name (with Brett's permission). A subsequent release party concert was held at the Moore Theater on May 12, 1984 featuring all of the bands on the record including: Miller's own Lipstick, Overlord, Open Fire, Koda Khan, Mace, Bondage Boys, Strike, SATO (featuring a young Mike Starr) and the mighty Metal Church (in their 1st Seattle concert). All these shows, as well as the Headbanger's Balls that were held at Lake Hills and The Moore, were a great success.

Now all of these years later NW Metalfest returns! James R. Beach and Brian Naron of the retro record label NW Metalworx Music (also soon to include a history book on the NW metal scenes) have joined forces with local musicians and concert promoters/bookers Amy Lee Carlson and Max Nazaryan (also of the band Substratum) and local scenester Michael Podrybau (also of the 80s bands Glacier and Harlot) to bring you an Annual 2-day extravganza. We're calling it NW Metalfest in the spirit of those classic concerts back in the day with Brett Miller's blessing. We hope to bring back the vibe of those exciting shows and give some attention to both the great older and newer bands in the local areas.

Co-Presented by NW Metalworx Music and KISW Metal Shop, the NW Metalfest will feature over a dozen bands on two stages during two nights - March 9th 7 10th, 2018 - at El Corazon/Funouse in Seattle, Washington. A blend of reunited original '80s bands, musicians who played the early Metalfests and Headbanger's Balls at Lake Hills, Moore Theater, etc. and newer metal bands. Music, merchandise, history, awards and more. Come down and celebrate the rich Northwest history of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal music!

facebook.com/nwmfseattle/

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

interview: Army of Dagon

The surprises keep on showing up, and it turns out that Army of Dagon is a band from right here in the Seattle area and somehow, it seems, they have been flying under the radar. This traditional, classic-style doom band released an album in 2015, the self-titled debut. Then in 2017 they did it again with Night of the Mystics. This is Army of Dagon from the state of Washington and they have some traditional, melodic doom headed your way. The band even has the full album streaming at the first link below, so there’s no excuse for diehard doomheads not to get with the program now. Check out the interview, but don’t forget to listen to the album, either. If you are in Seattle, catch them live on October 7th in Seattle.

Hi, there, Army of Dagon! How are things for the band this year? You released your second album in 2017! Have you had a chance to rest a bit and recover from all album work?

(Jonn Rockwell) Hi! Yes, we’ve recovered. It was actually really fun. Although it took a long time for my voice to recover. I pretty much blew it out while recording the album. I did not treat my voice well at all. Other than that, we take things pretty easy as a band. We try not to get too stressed out about what we’re doing. Recording this album was great. We recorded with Tad Doyle at his Witch Ape Studios here in Seattle. It took about 8 days to record and mix and it was a pleasure the whole time.

Who is Dagon and what army do you mean?

The Dagon we refer to is the one popularized by H.P. Lovecraft. In Lovecraft’s stories Dagon was kind an early Cthulhu, before he had written anything about Cthulhu. But both were sea-based old ones, gods of unimaginable power and unknowable motivations. There’s a reference in the ‘Dagon’ story that eventually he will tire of the scourge of humanity and destroy us all. I guess the army in our name would be part of that struggle, fighting alongside Dagon as one of his minions or fighting on behalf of humanity against impossible odds.

Metal Archives says that you began in 2011. Take us back to before 2011 and what led to Army of Dagon.

Yes, 2011 is when Dwayne, Andrew, and I started working together on some songs I had been messing around with at home. Before that, I was in a weird place personally. I hadn’t written anything or even played guitar at all for a few years and had been feeling pretty rootless mentally. I figured out that I needed to play something that would make me happy, so I went back to my love of horror and Lovecraft and 80’s metal and all these things I loved as a kid and started slowly basing some songs off that. Once I started playing with Dwayne and Andrew things changed up a bit and they added their influences to the mix, but those earlier ideas are still at the root of most of the stuff we write.

Your band is from Seattle. How long have you been playing shows in the Seattle region?

We’ve been playing out since 2012 or so. But we really don’t play that often. We’d like to, but our regular lives make it hard at times. Most years we’ve played 2 or 3 shows. We’re pretty determined to get out a lot more this time around. We have some tentative plans for next year to get out of our immediate area a bit more. So look for that. I believe it will happen!

You’ve been working fast. The debut in 2015. Then, boom, another one in 2017. Where is all this energy coming from?

Like I said, we don’t play out too much at the moment. But we practice most weeks during the year. So we get together quite a bit and that gives us a lot of time to work on new stuff. When we’re in writing mode things come pretty quick. When I’m in a writing mindset, I record a lot of riffs on my computer or on my phone. I’ll often write whole songs, but sometimes I’ll just gather up a bunch of riffs and play them for the other guys and we start cobbling together bits that sound nice together. Eventually we’ll narrow it all down to 6 or 8 songs to really focus on and I’ll write lyrics and vocal parts and we go about tightening those up until we’re pretty happy with them. We don’t agonize over stuff. We’re not out to change the world or reinvent the wheel with our music, we just want to have fun and enjoy the music that we make and the time we have.

Can you tell me a bit about Night of the Mystics, your new album? What themes motivate the ideas of Night of the Mystics?

Night of the Mystics itself comes from the line ‘with night the mystics come to trade their forms’, a line from the song ‘Evening Sky’. And most of the songs have an element of strange mystical powers referenced in the lyrics.

Sound wise, we wanted a sound that was more powerful than our first album. We wanted to keep some of the rough edges and looseness that we have when we’re having a good rehearsal. Dwayne’s tom work on the drums and Andrew’s simple, heavy bass lines lend ritualistic elements to some of the songs which add a lot to the lyrics and themes. Tad’s work on the recording added to everything in a massive way, with huge drums and a big wide sound.

I have been reading your lyrics on Metal Archives. Are they correct there? It seems like you prefer to keep the lyrics vague about magic, myths and beliefs. Where do the lyrics come from?

The lyrics at Metal Archives are correct. I think they were taken directly from our Bandcamp page and we entered those ourselves. I do keep the lyrics somewhat vague. I like to touch on the surface thing I may be writing about, but there’s usually another layer, something deeper I might be thinking about as I’m writing them. And sometimes I can go back to some lyrics a few years later and realize maybe my meaning was something completely different altogether.

Your lyrics also don’t seem to speak directly to reality. Your lyrics also are not personal, not angry, not political. Can you tell us about your thinking about this issue?

Generally the lyrics are vague descriptions of scenes I have in my head. But I do try to keep politics and other real life stuff out. There’s no anger here, there’s enough of that inundating us every day. This is a break from that. These are stories and dreams. The lyrics to ‘Bring the Stars’ are different in that they are pretty personal, but dreamy and vague on purpose, because that’s what I saw when I wrote them. I wrote the lyrics for ‘Black Mountain Keep’ based on a scene my son described to me after hearing an early version of the song without any vocals. He told me he imagined us playing to hundreds of Gollums in a mountain cave and there were dragons flying around outside protecting us from things that were trying to get into the cave. I told him he was a genius and bought him a bunch of candy. With ‘Fera Magic’ I just wanted to write the most 80’s heavy metal lyrics I possibly could. Dwayne names a lot of our songs, sometimes before there are any lyric ideas, and I’ll often write lyrics based on a name he’s come up with. So, I don’t have one approach to writing, but once I start I really enjoy it, and I’m really proud of the lyrics on this album.

Where are your next concerts? Do you have any other news that you’d like to share?

We have a show coming up October 7th at the Skylark in West Seattle, then nothing scheduled after that this year. But next year we plan to play a lot more and get back to writing for whatever comes next!

Thank you for your time.

Thank you so much for asking us these questions and for giving us the opportunity to talk about our music!

armyofdagon.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/armyofdagon

twitter.com/armyofdagon

Seattle and Washington concert calendar, updated September 27, 2017

Friends in the state of Washington,

Is there a metal music show in your area that is not listed in this calendar? Does your local metal band have a show coming up and is not listed here? Is your band's name spelled incorrectly? Are the dates wrong? If you have information about shows/updates/cancellations, please get in contact with Metal Bulletin Zine.

Seattle and Washington concert calendar, updated September 27, 2017

September 28 Mortal Ashes, Transcribing The Necronomicon, Noceur at Cryptatropa Bar, Olympia, WA

September 28 Old Iron, Glacier, Archons, The Unfortunates at The Shakedown, Bellingham, WA

September 29 Dark Tranquillity, Warbringer, Striker, ReEvolution at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

September 29 Scorpions, Megadeth at Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena, Spokane, WA

September 29 Bewitcher, Substratum, Kömmand, Pragmatic Chaos at Obsidian, Olympia, WA

September 30 Arisen from Nothing, Blood and Thunder, Emanon at Tony V's, Everett, WA

September 30 Florida Man, Snakes, Into the Storm, Deathbed Confessions at Obscurus, Everett, WA

September 30 Scorpions, Megadeth at Tacoma Doma, Tacoma, WA

September 30 Hell's Belles (AC/DC tribute) at Drafts & Drums on the Drag, Bremerton Motorsports Park, Bremerton, WA

October 2 Bat, Savage Master, Bewitcher, Substratum at Highline, Seattle, WA

October 3 The Devils of Loudun at The Pin, Spokane, WA

October 4 Cerebral Incubation, Cordyceps, Angel Splitter, others at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

October 4 The Devils of Loudun, Rhine, Whythre, Aphelion at Funhouse, Seattle, WA

October 5 American Wrecking Company at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

October 5 Hissing, To End it All, Sataray, Cromwell, DJ Minecrawl at LoFi, Seattle, WA

October 5 Thor, Weaponlord at Blue Moon Tavern, Seattle, WA

October 6 Disposable Zeros (Metallica tribute), Spectres of Chaos, Feeding Locusts, Pagan County Rebels at Tony V's, Everett, WA

October 7 A Flourishing Scourge, Anthrocene, others at The Charleston, Bremerton, WA

October 7 The Mentors, Dead Uncle Steamer at Tony V's, Everett, WA

October 7 Army of Dagon at Skylark, Seattle, WA

October 7 Zero Down, Motogeist, My New Vice at Darryls Tavern, Shoreline, WA

October 8 Hell's Belles (AC/DC tribute) at Jazzbones, Tacoma, WA

October 8 Lifeless Form, Hissing, Putrid Temple, Cavurn at The Shakedown, Bellingham, WA

October 8 Swamp Witch, Shrine of the Serpent, Fetid at Highline, Seattle, WA

October 10 Soulfly does Nailbomb performing "Point Blank"; Cannabis Corpse, Noisem, Lody Kong, others at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

October 11 Serial Hawk, Old Iron, Archons, and Glose at Lo-fi, Seattle, WA

October 12 The Obsessed, Cobalt at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

October 13 The Obsessed, Cobalt at The Pin, Spokane, WA

October 13 Odissia, Dismembering Mary, Countles the Dead at Lux Lounge Olympia, Olympia, WA

October 13 Into the Flood, Avoid, Dead Crown, Vesuvian, Await the Avalanche, Beyond the Woods at Louie G's, Fife, WA

October 13 Black Bone Exorcism, others at Slim's Last Chance Saloon, Seattle, WA

October 13 Luna Negra, Dilapidation, Inside Defiance at Georgetown Liquor Company, Seattle, WA

October 14 Ghostblood, Progenitor, Kömmand at The Kraken, Seattle, WA

October 14 Massacre At The Opera, Juda's Wake, Out The Hate, Method 13 at The Charleston, Bremerton, WA

October 14 Thou Shall Kill, What Thou Whilt, Zombie Jihad at Tim's Tavern, Seattle, WA

October 15 Warning, The Body, Worm Ouroboros at Highline, Seattle, WA

October 17 Cattle Decapitation, Revocation, Full of Hell, Artificial Brain, Transcribing The Necronomicon, Dismembering Mary, others at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

October 20 Zero Down, others at Funhouse, Seattle, WA

October 20 Blistered Earth (Metallica tribute) at The Main Street Bar & Grill, Ferndale, WA

October 21 Tony MacAlpine, Felix Martin at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

October 21 Thou Shall Kill, Violent Hallucinations, Odyssian, Carnotaurus at Obscurus, Everett, WA

October 21 Divine Skies, The War Within, No Such Season at Madison Pub, Everett, WA

October 22 Three Sixes, Perpetual Dementia, Arise in Chaos at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

October 23 Thou Shall Kill, Born without Blood, Wuththphuk at Substation, Seattle, Wa

October 23 Isenordal, Dreadnought, InAeona, Rhine at Highline, Seattle, WA

October 24 Aura Noir, Mutilation Rites, Weregoat at Highline, Seattle, WA

October 25 Wolves in the Throne Room at Obsidian, Olympia, WA

October 26 Khazaddum, Monsters Among Gods, Orator, Countless The Dead, Noceur at The Charleston, Bremerton, WA

October 27 Blistered Earth (Metallica tribute) at Union Square, Longview, WA

October 28 Hell's Belles (AC/DC tribute) at Jazzbones, Tacoma, WA

October 28 Blistered Earth (Metallica tribute) at Capps Club, Kenmore, WA

October 28 Vale of Pnath, First Fragment, Virvum, Aethereus, Withheld Judgement, Odyssian at The Pin, Spokane, WA

October 28 Skelator, Githyanki, Omni, Tiger Blonde at The Central Saloon, Seattle, WA

October 29 Vale of Pnath, First Fragment, Virvum, Aethereus at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

November 1 The Black Dahlia Murder, Suffocation, Exumed, Decrepit Birth, Necrot, Wormwitch, Ashes of Existence at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

November 4 Narcotic Wasteland, Dreaming Dead, Countless the Dead at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

November 7 Children of Bodom, Carach Angren, Lost Society, Uncured at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

November 7 Allegaeon, Ne Obliviscaris, A Sense of Gravity, A Flourishing Scourge, Vesuvian at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

November 9 Suicide Silence, Upon a Burning Body, Slaughter to Prevail, Prison at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

November 9 Rhine, Rat at The Kraken, Seattle, WA

November 11 Children of Bodom, Carach Angren, Lost Society, Uncured at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

November 12 Within The Ruins, Aversions Crown, Currents at The Pin, Spokane, WA

November 13 Suicide Silence, Upon A Burning Body, Slaughter To Prevail, Prison at The Pin, Spokane, WA

November 14 Origin, Archspire, Defeated Sanity, Dyscarnate, Visceral Disgorge, The Kennedy Veil at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

November 15 Gwar, Ghoul, U.S. Bastards at Showbox Sodo, Seattle, WA

November 17 Cannibal Corpse, Power Trip, Gatecreeper at Neumos, Seattle, WA

November 17 Washington Deathfest at The Charleston, Bremerton, WA: The Charleston (Monsters Brawl Main Stage) 6pm: Embryonic Devourment, Violent Hallucinations, Progenitor, Whythre, Ghostblood, Nihilist Nation, Ashen Pyre, Oxygen Destroyer. High Fidelity lounge (The Chaos stage 2) 4pm: Monsters Among Gods, Abiosis, Inside Defiance, Prey The Hunter, Noceur

November 18 Boycott the Baptist at The Charleston, Bremerton, WA

November 24 Arch Enemy, Trivium, While She Sleeps, Fit For An Autopsy at Showbox Sodo, Seattle, WA

November 25 Castle at Funhouse, Seattle, WA

November 27 Belphegor, Cryptopsy, Hate at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

December 2 Drawn and Quartered, Effluvia, Nekro Drunkz at The Valley, Tacoma, WA

December 2 Ghoul, The Plot Sickens, Crud Guns, Misuse of Power, Kömmand at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

December 2 Oxygen Destroyer, Violent Hallucinations, Grim Ritual, Battle Axe Massacre, Thonis, Transcribing the Necronomicon at McCoy's, Olympia, WA

December 4 Ghost Ship Octavius, American Wrecking Company, Avoid the Void, Omnisight at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

December 7 Weltesser, Body Void, Isenordal, LB! at Highline, Seattle, WA

December 8 Darkest Hour, Warbringer, Exmortus, ReEvolution at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

December 8 Heartbreaker Led Zeppelin Tribute at Rocko's Fireside, Everett, WA

December 9 Jesus Wears Armani, Massacre at the Opera, Chamber 6, Method 13, Odyssian, Born without Blood, Children of Seraph, As Pillars Fall, Blood and Thunder, After the Fallout, Prey the Hunter, Anthrocene, Bleed the Stone at at Tony V's, Everett, WA

December 16 All That Remains, Alter Bridge at Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA

December 22 Black Bone Exorcism, Thou Shall Kill, others at Substation, Seattle, WA

December 29 Zoso - The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience at Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA

January 19 Hell's Belles, Elephant Gun Riot at Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA

March 7 Machine Head at Showbox Market, Seattle, WA

March 19 Udo Dirkschneider, Zero Down, Children of Seraph at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

March 22 Michael Schenker at Neptune Theatre, Seattle, WA

April 6 Nightwish at Knitting Factory, Spokane, WA

April 15 Uli Jon Roth, Killian Mahaffey at Studio Seven, Seattle, WA

June 10 HammerFall, Flotsam and Jetsam at El Corazón, Seattle, WA

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Tuesday, September 26, 2017

the melodic heavy/power metal of Excalion (Finland)

It took a very long time for the new Excalion music to see the light of day—and we can all guess the thousand reasons why this is the first new music since 2010—but fans of heavy rock in the form of melodic traditional heavy metal and power metal should find the album pleasing. Unfortunately, we don't have a link to the full album, but if you visit the band's page, you can hear a new song that they made a lyric video for. They play something along the lines adult contemporary melodic metal. It's abundant in melodic and catchy moments, while generally keeping the heaviness level light. The singing is not very high and it's not "we are more metal than you!" and that type gung-ho style. Is it heavy metal for parents? Maybe! You might be able to play this band in the office, if you keep the volume low, and that way you can tune out the muzak that they play where you work. In fact, Excalion, you could say, is simply uptempo guitar-focused hard rock with good singing and mature lyrics. If you don't care about the issue of genre, and just want melodic rock songs, then the band could be a good discovery for you. The new incarnation of Excalion sounds very ready for the fans of melodic metal to welcome them back. The Finns were gone for a while, but they return with a quality album for sure. --MMB

Excalion

Dream Alive

Scarlet Records

release: 7 July 2017

Excalion truly shows what shedding skin means. With a vibrant, aggressive, fast yet melodic new album, Dream Alive, Excalion steers to the forefront of Finnish Melodic Metal bands. The album builds on the storyline that was established with the ‘Centenarian’ single (available through Spotify and iTunes), telling about a modern escapist who lives both the past and present, crafting his own realities. ‘Dream Alive’ takes you through this journey, welcoming you through the pathways of the new century with stories that will not escape your mind. Excalion’s new line-up combines the powerful vocals of Marcus Lång with the strong compositions of Jarmo Myllyvirta, setting the scene for the band’s signature arrangements, tight rhythms and flawless soloing. The album was mixed by Tuomas Kokko at Electric Fox studio (Trio Niskalaukaus, Ghost Brigade) and mastered by Brett-Caldas Lima at Tower Studio (Ayreon, Adagio). The outstanding artwork that captures the storyline of the album was created by a rising star from Poland, Piotr Szafraniec.

facebook.com/ExcalionBand/

Friday, September 22, 2017

the upcoming new work from occult black metal act Caïnan Dawn

Caïnan Dawn returns with an exciting new album of black metal centered upon the occult with several strands to be explored. The band works with a controlled quantity of dissonance, enough for obscurantism but not so much so that the music is overshadowed by experimentation. The band's execution of black metal works with a sense of ritualistic/shamanistic hypnosis and repetition that at times the blasting speeds and wall of sound seems to be still, calling for meditation. Of course, at first the album seems unapproachable, as if the band is not very inviting to its own music. The elements of dissonance and the hypnosis will turn off some people, but black metal supporters with a bit more patience and willingness to walk into the fog should be able to understand what the band is attempting to communicate to you. To begin this process, visit the first link below for more information and for the links there to two new songs that you can experience for yourself now. The Frenchmen have taken more than three years to release a new album, but it looks like the wait has been worth it. Having heard the album in its entirety several times now, it should be a worthwhile investigation and search to go into the album for many diehard occult black metal loyalists.

Caïnan Dawn

F.O.H.A.T

Osmose Productions

release: 27 October 2017

OFFICIAL: Once again, CAINAN DAWN has probed the infinite resonance of the everlasting chaos. Through seven tracks with strong atmosphere, the cosmic substance FOHAT revealed the mysterious link between Mind and Matter. FOHAT is the personified electric vital power, the transcendental binding unity of all cosmic energies, on the unseen as on the manifested planes. This is the final of a reversed path that was ending with Nibiru, the destructor and followed by thAVMIAL, the twins. Prepare for a journey beyond eternity. Kaos, Theos, Kosmos.

BIO: 2003 Anno Domini. During this year, Heruforod and Kobal decided to form “CAINAN DAWN” to exteriorize an idea: making palpable the unreal and the hidden. A first demo was recorded in the chaos and depression and it fell into oblivion. From then, a stasis settled. After months of reflection and study, it was not until the end of 2005 that the band recorded the demo “IN DARKNESS I REIGN” in the south of France. Direct, unfathomable and destructive, it allowed to be signed with the label Lille Eisiger Mond Productions for a release in 2008. It was from this moment that the band moved to Savoie, with a rallying of Hjoldr (Mysteriarch) on drums and Sorghal (Nehëmah) on lead guitar. Shortly afterwards, Kobal detached himself from the band and Keithan (Maïeutiste, Barús) took his place on bass guitar.

The years that followed were rich in the study of the occult. The writings of John Dee and Edward Kelley, the works of Eliphas Levy and the Golden Dawn forge the creation of the album “NIBIRU”, released in 2011 at Those Opposed Records. Following the departure of Sorghal, Avgruun (Himinbjorg, Allobrogia) replaces him on the lead guitar. But a more personal and more accomplished work is manifested in Heruforod. For two years, the album “thAVMIAL” was built. The Left Hand Path as well as the Kabbalah and the duality shadow and light will compose the eight titles of the album. It allowed “CAINAN DAWN” to sign with Osmose Productions. In 2017, the album “F O H A T” will be born. For this recording, Kloct (South of Hell, Allobrogia) replaces Hjoldr. F O H A T is the cosmic energy inhabiting the cosmos. With this album, the revelations of Helena Blavatsky and “The Secret Doctrine” will bring the illumination.

facebook.com/cainandawn

osmoseproductions-label.com/bands/cainan-dawn-band/

Thursday, September 21, 2017

review: MRTVI (UK/Serbia)

[review by MMB]

MRTVI (UK/Serbia)

Negative Atonal Dissonance

Transcending Obscurity Records

Release: 30 July 2017

1.As Consciousness Is Harnessed to Flesh Part 1 07:52

2.As Consciousness Is Harnessed to Flesh Part 2 12:50

3.Negative Atonal Dissonance 20:53

total time 41:35

Please do yourself a favor and stay away as far as possible from this experimental noise recording making the most irritating, annoying, disturbing mess of screaming, gargling and tripped out construction of antimusic, unless you are definitely looking to hear some dude who has plenty of time on his hands and access to recording equipment to do big sessions of random shouting, cutting and pasting and looping and pressing bottoms with no comprehensible order whatsoever. You may think that I am exaggerating, but this dude himself will tell you that these are not songs because to him songs are lame, commercial and traditional. The objective is to make chaotic screaming sessions and then record them and see, out of curiosity, who actually pays money to hear this. Someone will pay money, right? There is a sucker born every minute.

The individuals who consider themselves somehow intellectually superior to the human race will say all sorts of politically correct comments about how this is important experimental stuff or that this is unforgettable or unique or something along those lines, some nonsense like that, but it's difficult to say whether they will actually listen to this on a regular basis. It's nice to be nice and to seem like you are better than the person down the street who listens to normal music, like pop, hip hop, country, rock or metal and who listens to hear songs that they can enjoy. It must feel great to find a reason to consider yourself better than other people.

On the other hand, if you are not a pretentious jerk and you don't mind telling the truth, and you do want songs, then you should not waste your time with this. This will be one of the worst things that you will hear all year. This is terrible stuff. It's ok to say it. This dude that made this experimental noise understands that lots of people won't like it.

Holy cow. This is awful, awful, awful stuff.

mrtvi.bandcamp.com

facebook.com/sustainedthroughdeath

Seattle and Washington concert calendar, updated September 21, 2017

Friends in the state of Washington,

Seattle and Washington concert calendar, updated September 21, 2017

September 22 Killian Mahaffey at Hard Rock Cafe, Seattle, WA

September 22 Blistered Earth (Metallica tribute) at Pints & Quarts Pub, Lacey, WA

September 22-23 Famine Fest Seattle at Highline, Seattle, WA. Friday September 22nd. Witchtrap (Colombia), Witchaven (Los Angeles), Drawn And Quartered, Malleus (Boston), Xoth. Saturday September 23rd. Hirax (from Los Angeles), Plague Bearer (Ancient Seattle Death Cult reunion), Effluvia (recently reformed death Metal from Washington), Raptor (Portland, Oregon), Oxygen Destroyer

September 23 Wovoka, Drainage, Addaura at McCoy's Tavern, Olympia, WA

September 23 Blistered Earth (Metallica tribute) private event

September 23 Hell's Belles (AC/DC tribute) at Swinomish Casino & Lodge, Anacortes, WA

September 24 Black Table, Hexis at Funhouse, Seattle, WA

September 24 Born without Blood at Substation, Seattle, WA

September 25 Crud Guns, Monsters among Gods, DTI at Substation, Seattle, WA

September 25 The Casualties at The Pin, Spokane, WA

September 27 Chapel of Ghouls - Metal DJs at Obsidian at Obsidian, Olympia, WA

September 27 Archons, Raptor Tractor, Hexengeist at Funhouse, Seattle, WA