FROM EXILE, progressive rock group from Atlanta, Georgia, recorded a NINE INCH NAILS cover EP, named it ‘Just Like You Imagined’ and is giving it away for free in a variety of digital formats - here. The effort was produced and mixed by Eric Guenther and John Douglass and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. Album's art was created by Jordan Haley. In addition, a video for one of four recorded tributes, ‘A Warm Place’, featuring Emil Werstler (of DAATH, LEVI/WERSTLER, CHIMAIRA-fame) was directed by Michael Corrigan and shot by Sidarth Kantamneni and can be viewed below.
This is how MetalSucks' Axl Rosenberg puts it: “All four tracks here (‘The Great Below’, ‘Ruiner’, ‘Sin’, and ‘A Warm Place’) start out being relatively loyal to the originals before veering way off-course. ‘Ruiner’ now features a bouncy hard-rock section, harmonized vocals, and a guitar solo that maintains the raw simplicity of the one that appeared on ‘The Downward Spiral’ [NIN album] while putting its own bluesy spin on the proceedings; the melody for ‘A Warm Place’ is now presented as a tear-jerkingly gorgeous slide guitar piece, expertly played (natch) by Emil Werstler; ‘Sin’ rocks way harder than it did on ‘Pretty Hate Machine’, and some new, ambient synths during the chorus give it an epic dimension it really never had before. Sometimes it’s hard to tell where the guitars end and the keyboards begin, which is one of the elements I like best about FROM EXILE.” Read the rest of it here.
FROM EXILE features: Eric Guenther – guitar, vocals and keyboard, John Douglass – guitar, vocals, keyboard and bass, Ben Wetzelberger – guitar and bass and Kevin Talley – drums.
Debut full-length album by New Haven, Connecticut based black metal band IPSISSIMUS has been released yesterday, May 24th, 2011 via Metal Blade Records. ‘The Way Of Descent’ features the band's EP, ‘Three Secrets Of Fatima’, along with three new songs. The album was recorded at Sonic Environments studio with “sonic alchemist” (which means engineer & producer in IPSISSMUS language) Jeff Weed. The album cover, created by artist Micki Pellerano, features “all manner of ritual act, executed by man and beast, conjuring an apparition of the Egyptian fertility goddess Hathor” as explained by band's drummer Haimatokharmes (“IPSISSIMUS heartily endorses procreation as well as annihilation.”). The layout was designed by artist Alessandra Benedetti. Below you’ll find IPSISSIMUS song ‘The Third Secret Of Fatima’ Haimatokharmes elaborated thusly: “We are especially proud of this one on account of its synthesis of blast, melody, ritual drums, all played in the old fashion. Longtime fans know it from our self-released ‘Fatima’ EP and I must say it is the song people usually tell us is their favorite out of the trinity. The lyrics are a collaborative effort (written in English and Coptic), but they are straight old-school Satanism, a blend of blasphemy and devil-worship. Bless!”
Revered drummer remarked upon the album as a whole as well: “The title aims to encapsulate the lyrical matter of the new songs, which deal with various katagogic themes in Gnostic, Luciferian, and Merkavah traditions as applied to Left Hand ethics and praxis.” Sound-wise: “It’s an interesting sound, at turns raw and filthy, yet also warm and spacious, which I suppose is fitting for hymns to the abyss. Expect some traditional black, melodic riffage à la the ‘Fatima’ material as well as the occasional avant-garde element - I believe this will be the first black metal album to employ a waterphone.”
IPSISSMUS came to be when His Emissary (guitar) and Haimatokharmes (drums) “met by providence on 6/6/06”, and, as the legend goes, found in one another worthy vessels of channeling the occult philosophies into ritual black metal. Tichondrius (bass & vocals) joined the band some months later to complete the trinity. Within a month the trio released a demo entitled ‘Trampling The Host’. The blasphemous three soon became known for their technical and raw live performances. In 2008, IPSISSIMUS independently released the ‘Three Secrets Of Fatima’ EP.
Swedish progressive metal band WOLVERINE has just released new album entitled ‘Communication Lost’ via Candlelight Records; American fans will have to wait until June 21st, 2011 for their copy. The band is extremely proud of ‘Communication Lost’ especially since due to some complicated personal developments within the band after the release of WOLVERINE's previous effort, ‘Still’, this album almost never came to be. Lyrically, the album deals with personal issues the band and its individual members experienced during the four years spent on composing the material. ‘Communication Lost’ was produced by the band itself, recorded at various locations in Sweden, mixed by Jacob Hansen at Hansen Studios in Denmark and mastered by Eroc at Eroc's Mastering Ranch in Germany:
WOLVERINE was formed in 1995 by Marcus Losbjer and Stefan Zell. The pair was soon joined by Stefan's younger brother Mikael, and after some experimenting with melodic death metal and after signing with Zizania Entertainment Group, WOLVERINE released a mini-CD, ‘Fervent Dream’, in 1999 to enthusiastic reviews. In 2001 WOLVERINE recorded their debut full-length album, ‘The Window Purpose’, which was released through DVS Records, again to overwhelmingly positive reviews. New bassist, Thomas Jansson, joined the band about that time to allow Stefan Zell to focus solely on vocal duties. 2003's ‘Cold Light Of Monday’ came out via Elitist Records, a sub-label of Earache Records. In 2005 WOLVERINE traveled to Germany (and the Spacelab Studio) for the second time to record the album ‘Still’, had split with Earache Records somewhere along the way, and signed on to Candlelight Records for the release of their third full-length in 2006. ‘Still’ went on to become WOLVERINE's best selling album to date and earned the band some great reviews, including 5/5 mark from Kerrang! magazine.
WOLVERINE features: Per Henriksson – keyboards, Thomas Jansson – bass, Marcus Losbjer – drums, Mikael Zell – guitars and Stefan Zell – vocals.
Blackened death metal outfit's, BOOK OF BLACK EARTH, new album, ‘The Cold Testament’, is streaming now at Stereogum in its entirety. ‘The Cold Testament’ is set for May 24th, 2011-release via Prosthetic Records. The album was tracked by Chris Common at the Red Room Studio in Seattle and mixed and mastered by Dan Swanö at Unisound in Sweden. The album cover was created by renowned artist Derek Noble.
BOOK OF BLACK EARTH was formed in late 2003 by TJ Cowgill (guitar), Hank Guthrie (keyboards), Joe Axler (drums), Larry Perrigo (bass) and Rebekah Dunbar (guitar). The band is said to boast a sound “as dreary and evil as the blackened skies that set upon many a cool, damp day in the band's hometown”, Seattle. BOOK OF BLACK EARTH made their mark upon the extreme metal underground with self-titled, self-released three-song demo in 2004. Group's 7-song album, 2006's ‘The Feast’, (20 Buck Spin Records) was received well by various magazines and listening public alike which led to their signing with Prosthetic Records in 2008. Their second album, ‘Horoscopus’, which investigates the Catholic church's secret fascination with astrology throughout history, followed quickly: “As an album concept, this subject matter isn’t likely to result in any bookings at the Vatican for BOOK OF BLACK EARTH, but it will surely endear the group to most anti-establishment-minded heavy metal fans - as will their impressively consistent and sonically well-balanced recipe for death metal,” commented AllMusic's Eduardo Rivadavia.
BOOK OF BLACK EARTH features: TJ Cowgill – guitar and vocals, Ricky Way – bass, Joe Axler – drums and Rob Beebe – guitar and vocals.
The innovative Egyptian-born New York City-based artist NADER SADEK has formed his own death metal project under his own name, and invited guitarist Rune Eriksen (AVA INFERI, AURA NOIR, ex-MAYHEM), vocalist Steve Tucker (ex-MORBID ANGEL), and drummer Flo Mounier (CRYPTOPSY) for the ride. The album features a whole array of most respected extreme metal musicians, including MAYHEM frontman Attila Csihar, CATTLE DECAPITATION vocalist Travis Ryan and ex-MONSTROSITY guitarist Tony Norman. The project's debut album, ‘In The Flesh’, has been just released in Europe (May 16th, 2011) by Season Of Mist Records, in collaboration with Greyhaze Records. North American release has been pushed back for June 7th, 2011. Listen to the album in its amazing entirety at this location (DeciBlog), get your own copy here and visit Nader Sadek on Vimeo for the visuals that accompany his music.
“We created a monstrous machine of an art piece that I believe will shock the senses and open people's minds,” commented Sadek. “The hybrid of influences is by far one of the most unique works to have come out in recent memory. Flo's attack resembles machinery inside a tank on a battlefield, while still being able to lucratively reproduce the sound of hive of knives swarming and tearing skin to vapor. Each hit and bang is strategically and intelligently placed. Building on top are the mind bending guitars of Rune, which quickly stab razor-like, shredding the inner layers of the skin with palm muted aggression and psychopathic minor chords, creating a sculpture of flesh and metallic bone. Flowing into the bloodstream of this skeleton immortal life is injected though the burning voice of a god, Steve performs with aggression and anger unheard before. I am truly proud of this creation and grateful to my new brothers. I cannot wait for it to be unleashed onto the world!”
‘In The Flesh’ is also one hell of a concept album: it invites us on “a journey to the depths of the earth, where substances of a repulsive nature dwell; beneath the earth's crust, over millions of years creatures have disintegrated and decayed until taking on ghastly new life as petroleum. Like a return of the undead, petroleum and its derivates have wrought cross-cultural conflict, environmental pollution, and economic distress,” goes the explanation. With a visual and aural assault, Sadek aims to re-interpret petroleum's sinister insinuation into our everyday lives. Nine songs and a series of original drawings video works explore several aspects of the commodified resource we find ourselves fatally dependent on.
NADER SADEK features: Nader Sadek - songwriting, artwork design and production, Steve Tucker – vocals, Rune Eriksen – guitars and Flo Mounier – drums
India's THE DOWN TRODDENCE (or T.D.T. for short) have just released a brand new video for ‘Shiva’. The video was directed by KS Hashim. ‘Shiva’, the clip, comes with with an explanation: “The music video depicts the story of Raavana's penance for Lord Shiva's blessing. Angry at Shiva's silence, Raavana goes to Kailasa and plays this shloka with a veena made out of his intestine. The video also shows Pottan Theyyam (an art form which tells the story between Sankaracharya and Lord Shiva). It briefs the meeting of Lord Shiva disguised as Pulayan (down trodden) with the intention to further test Sankaracharya's knowledge who is proud of himself and about to ascend “Sarwanjha Peedam” (throne of knowledge).”
Nevertheless, THE DOWN TRODDENCE hail from North Kerala, Kannur, India. This six-piece metal band experiments with various music genres but feels most at home with thrash and melodic death metal. Words-wise, it is said that T.D.T. songs articulate the illness of the social system and its dismal failures. The band also dreams of the ultimate social revolution and wishes to confront the social system. Well, in the meantime, they play music we should all take time to listen to. Do so here (Facebook) where you can download some of THE DOWN TRODDENCE's music free of charge and/or via players below.
THE DOWN TRODDENCE features: Varun - lead guitar, Munz – vocals, Nezer - bass and vocals, Sushin – keyboards, Ganesh – drums and Rinoy - rhythm guitar.
Apocalyptic metallers, A STORM OF LIGHT, have just released their new album, ‘As The Valley Of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade’, via Profound Lore Records in the UK and North America and Roadburn Records / Burning World Records in Europe today, May 17th 2011. The album is available for free listening in its entirety here (Noisecreep). “Before this release, we were more concerned with creating an overall mood or feeling. While I think we made two suffocatingly intense records, this one has made us a better band. For us, the record has a great flow and sort of tells its own story as the songs flow. It also makes playing live a lot more fun for us, as the intensity shifts more than ever before,” vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist and artist Josh Graham told Noisecreep. The album, whose title I will not write again, features many guest-musicians including an appearance by SOUNDGARDEN's lead guitarist Kim Thayil, along with guest-appearances by Jarboe (ex-SWANS), Kris Force (AMBER ASYLUM), Nerissa Campbell, and members of SLEEPYTIME GORILLA MUSEUM, BOOK OF KNOTS, and U.S. CHRISTMAS.
New York City's A STORM OF LIGHT was formed by accomplished musician and artist Josh Graham (also a member of NEUROSIS and formerly of such acclaimed acts as BATTLE OF MICE and RED SPAROWES). In 2008 the group released its “atmospheric, mildly industrial, post-metal” debut album ‘And We Wept The Black Ocean Within’ on NEUROSIS home-base Neurot Recordings. A split release with Canada's NADJA, entitled ‘Primitive North’, and second full-length, ‘Forgive Us Our Trespasses’, followed in 2009, again via already mentioned record label.
A STORM OF LIGHT features: Josh Graham - guitar, vocals, synthesizers, banjo and piano, Domenic Seita - bass, backing vocals and percussion, BJ Graves – drums and Joel Hamilton - guitar, modular synth, Wurlitzer and percussion.
American gore & death metal pioneers, NECROPHAGIA, have finally released their - long awaited and many times delayed - album ‘Deathtrip 69’ (May 16th, 2011 in Europe and May 17th, 2011 in the U.S.) through Season Of Mist Records. You can download the title-track free of charge right here (Season Of Mist) and should listen to another new track, ‘Naturan Demonto’, at this location (MySpace). Commented band's founder, vocalist, the only remaining original member of the group as well as slasher movie enthusiast Killjoy: “The new material sounds like it should have chronologically followed [NECROPHAGIA's debut album 1987s] ‘Season Of The Dead’, consisting of very dark and heavy riffs interwoven with audio horror and inhuman vocals.” ‘Deathtrip 69’ comes as a limited-edition digipak (with bloodpak) and as a black “vinyl style” disc. Album's art was created by renowned tattoo artist Jake Arnette.
Obsessed with horror movies, VENOM and HELLHAMMER, Frank “Killjoy” Pucci formed NECROPHAGIA in late 1983, in Wellsville, Ohio. The group became quite popular in the underground “tape trading” scene after releasing ‘Death Is Fun’ demo in 1985. NECROPHAGIA's first full-length, ‘Season Of The Dead’, was released in 1987 on New Renaissance Records: “[The record] sounds like the work of young guys who have overactive imaginations and a taste for Freddie Krueger movies. … Although not a gem,’Season Of The Dead’ is an entertaining, if limited, footnote in the history of death metal. - Alex Henderson, AllMusic. Shortly after its release, the rest of the band fell out with its founder and NECROPHAGIA would split up, due to musical differences. In 1994 Killjoy and PANTERA's Philip Anselmo begun plotting NECROPHAGIA's return from the dead by enlisting drummer Wayne Fabra, bassist Dustin Havnen and guitarist Anton Crowley (otherwise known as Phil Anselmo). This lineup released 1998's ‘Holocausto de la Morte’ and 1999's ‘Black Blood Vomitorium’ EP. After signing with Season Of Mist Records, out came another MCD, 2001's ‘Cannibal Holocaust’, featuring bassist Jared Faulk, GORELORD's Frediablo as second guitarist and keyboardist Opal Enthroned (then Anselmo's wife). Killjoy announced yet another new line-up for 2003's ‘Divine Art Of Torture’ and 2005's ‘Harvest Ritual Volume I’; joining him and Frediablo were Frediablo's brother Fug on guitar, Iscariah (ex-IMMORTAL) on bass, Titta Tanni on drums and Mirai Kawashima (SIGH) on keyboards. ‘Harvest Ritual Volume I’ also featured guest appearances by actor and musician Bill Mosely and SLIPKNOT/MURDERDOLLS' Joey Jordison.
NECROPHAGIA (currently) features: Killjoy (DeSade) - black blood vomiting and corpse shrieks / vocals, Boris Randall - necromantic 6 string suicide / guitar, Damien Matthews - desecrator of goats blood and cloven hooves / bass and Shawn Slusarek - tombstones and witchfyre / drums
Belgium's CHANNEL ZERO, arguably “the best metal band that Belgium has ever known”, also referred to as the “Belgium METALLICA”, is expected to release a new Logan Mader-produced album entitled ‘Feed 'Em With A Brick’ on June 17th, 2011 in Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg through Roadrunner Records. The new single, ‘Hot Summer’, can be downloaded for free at this location; the video for the song was directed by Pascal Baillien. ‘Feed 'Em With A Brick’ is CHANNEL ZERO's first record since 1997.
CHANNEL ZERO, comprised of vocalist Franky “DSVD” De Smet Van Damme, guitarist Xavier Carion, drummer Phil Baheux, and bassist Tino DeMartino, formed in Brussels, Belgium, in 1990. The band's name was inspired by the PUBLIC ENEMY's ‘She watched Channel Zero’. The band signed with German label Shark Records and released its self-titled debut album two years later. Second offering, ‘Stigmatized For Life’, which came out in 1993, was produced by W. Stach and mixed by PANTERA's Vinnie Paul. CHANNEL ZERO's third release, 1995's ‘Unsafe’, produced by Andre Gielen and mixed by Michael Barbiero, proved to be their most successful release to date. The success of the album took the band on world tour with, among others, MEGADETH, DANZIG, and BIOHAZARD. Released in 1997, CHANNEL ZERO's fourth studio offering, ‘Black Fuel’, was engineered and produced by Attie Bauw. The group disbanded that same year. In 2009 however, the band announced a series of sold out reunion gigs. After releasing the single ‘Black Flowers’ in 2010, CHANNEL ZERO announced it has begun working on a new album.
CHANNEL ZERO features: Franky DSVD - vocals, Phil B. - drums, Tino De Martino – bass and Mikey Doling (SNOT, ex-SOULFLY) – guitar.
Before KARMA TO BURN release the follow-up to their highly acclaimed comeback album ‘Appalachian Incantation’, we get to watch their highly curious brand new video ‘The Cynics’, created for the track taken from the forthcoming album entitled ‘V’ by director Meats Meier. KARMA TO BURN's latest recording is to be released on May 27th, 2011 on Napalm Records. The song, ‘The Cynics’, belongs to a group of only three named album tracks – one of those three being BLACK SABBATH cover ‘Never Say Die’ – and these three come garnished with the voice of YEAR LONG DISASTER vocalist Daniel Davies. The other five album tracks are reportedly still instrumental in keeping with the band's long-held tradition. ‘V’ was produced in Dave Grohl's Studio 606 by John Lousteau. The new album is said to “celebrate monumental riffs and spirited performances, as the band successfully manages to create a hypnotic sound cosmos with purely instrumental tracks that pay homage to the godly powers of the groove”. Pre-order your own copy of ‘V’ here.
KARMA TO BURN is desert rock/stoner metal band from West Virginia, USA. In 1997 the band released their self-titled debut album through Roadrunner Records which earned the group a widespread critical praise for their dark, trance-like metal riffs, but, unfortunately, sold poorly. After some lineup shifting, ‘Wild, Wonderful Purgatory’ was released in 1999; KARMA TO BURN's first fully instrumental album (on which they didn’t even name the songs, simply assigning them numbers as they were written, a practice KARMA TO BURN have kept). Third full-length, ‘Almost Heathen’, was released in 2001 via Spitfire Records.
KARMA TO BURN features: William Mecum – guitar, Rich Mullins – bass and Rob Oswald – drums
Newly reformed NWOBHM phenomenon, STAMPEDE, have returned with a new album entitled ‘A Sudden Impulse’, the long-long awaited follow up to their classic 1983 studio album ‘Hurricane Town’. ‘A Sudden Impulse’ was released on Rock Candy Records / Grind That Axe Records on May 9th, 2011. Vocalist Reuben Archer commented on the new album: “We have a harder sound now, the melodic hooks are there and I think we have a lot more edge than the first time around – especially due to our new powerhouse drummer Stevie G, and also Chris, whose strong rhythm guitar, vocal and guitar harmonies contribute enormously to the new sound. It has all resulted in making the reincarnation of STAMPEDE an even more exciting project for us.“ Promotional videos for three new songs, ‘Shame On You’, ‘Having Fun’ and ‘Send Me Down An Angel’, are available below.
STAMPEDE was formed in 1981 by father and son duo, Reuben and Laurence Archer. The band signed with Polydor Records in 1982, released an 4-track EP entitled ‘Days Of Wine And Roses’ to encouraging reviews and, after appearing at Reading and Mildenhall Festivals, released live recordings of the performances as the first STAMPEDE album called ‘The Official Bootleg’. Group's debut studio album, ‘Hurricane Town’, followed a year later. STAMPEDE also toured with the likes of DEF LEPPARD, WHITESNAKE and Gary Moore. Following Rock Candy Records' reissue of the re-mastered ‘Hurricane Town’ in 2006, Reuben and Laurence Archer, together with original bassist Colin Bond, decided to reform the band in 2009 with new drummer Steve Graystone and guitarists Chris Clowsley and Rob Wolverson.
STAMPEDE features: Reuben Archer - vocals, Laurence Archer - lead guitar, Rob Wolverson - guitar, Colin Bond - bass, Steve Graystone – drums and Chris Clowsley - guitar.
Erik Rutan's HATE ETERNAL heavy and brutal new album is called ‘Phoenix Amongst The Ashes’. The album is set for European release on May 9th, 2011, its North American release date is set for May 10th, 2011, while Australians (and the rest of the world) will have to wait until May 13th, 2011 to get their hands on this vicious beast. The responsible label is Metal Blade Records. HATE ETERNAL recorded their fifth studio album at Erik Rutan's (who, aside from being a highly respected death metal legend also runs his own recording studio and occasionally moonlights as producer, heh) own Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida, with mastering being handled by Alan Douches of West West Side Music, New York. Buy ‘Phoenix Amongst The Ashes’ here (Metal Blade) if you dare.
Commented the big man himself: “ ‘Phoenix Amongst The Ashes’ is an album that we did everything possible to create a death metal classic that would stand out amongst all of our releases as an album that not only carries the traditional HATE ETERNAL sound, but expands the boundaries of what is possible within the confines of extreme death metal. I feel that this album truly represents a band that overtime has matured into creating our most dynamic and intense album yet. At times fast and extreme, at times, heavy, atmospheric, evil and melodic with the darkest of overtones. I truly feel this is one of my finest moments in my career and a defining moment for HATE ETERNAL. If you are a death metal fan, you should give it a listen, you won’t be disappointed!” In addition, MetalSucks conducted an extensive and insightful interview with the group's founder, guitarist and vocalist Erik Rutan – read it, if interested, right here:
Ultra-fast death metal band HATE ETERNAL was formed in 1997 by former MORBID ANGEL and RIPPING CORPSE guitarist Erik Rutan. With guitarist Doug Cerrito (ex-SUFFOCATION), bassist Jared Anderson and drummer Tim Yeung completing the lineup, HATE ETERNAL recorded their first album, ‘Conquering The Throne’, in 1999. (“The album is quite predictable and not very distinctive, yet it’s easy to get into if you have a taste for grindcore and death metal and are in the mood for naked, unmitigated aggression,” commented Alex Henderson, AllMusic). In 2002, as drummer (and snake breeder, also known as “Take One”) Derek Roddy (ex-NILE, ex-MELEVOLENT CREATION) replaced Tim Yeung, the band recorded their second album, ‘King Of All Kings’, produced by Rutan (as will be all following releases). Randy Piro stepped in after Jared Anderson left the group due to an admitted drug problem. (He died in his sleep of an unspecified cause two-and-a-half months before his birthday in 2006). HATE ETERNAL's last effort for Earache Records, third full-length, ‘I, Monarch’, was released in 2005. Hailed by critics and fans alike, the album put forth an innovative new musical approach in extreme metal, while retaining the elements of speed and brutality that dominate the genre. (“ ‘I, Monarch’ is 40 minutes of distilled essence of death metal, with Rutan's Cookie Monster vocals declaiming crypto-religious S&M lyrics over his own hypnotically repetitive riffs and flashy, technically excellent solos, while a close-to-inaudible bassist and the superhuman blastbeat drummer Derek Roddy hurtle along at near-impossible speeds behind him,” commented Stewart Mason, AllMusic):
Jade Simonetto became the group's new permanent drummer in 2007 and, with Shaune Kelley as second guitarist and CANNIBAL CORPSE's Alex Webster on bass, out came HATE ETERNAL debut for Metal Blade Records, 2008's ‘Fury & Flames’, described as a diverse, heavy, chaotic, and emotionally fueled record:
Follow-up: “From then on [album's intro track ‘Rebirth’], the album rampages to the end, taking no prisoners along the way and leaving no bit of sonic real estate unfilled. It’s this busy feeling that dominates the album, with the band cramming so much into every moment that the songs feel not only menacing, but inescapable. For the most part, the only respite that’s to be found on the album comes from the momentary gaps between tracks, giving listeners a second of stark silence to gather themselves up before the next assault comes,” wrote AllMusic's Gregory Heaney. Read the rest of the album's review here.
In July 2011, HATE ETERNAL released video for ‘Lake Ablaze’, directed, shot and lit by David Brodsky. “Death metal videos rarely employ such starkly nuanced ambiance,” reads the clip description, “but ‘Lake Ablaze’ makes this assaultive song feel downright pleasant. Vocalist Erik Rutan and his guttural screams are bathed in soft orange, pink and purple light while the St. Petersburg, Florida trio unleash their fury in a smoky warehouse.”
HATE ETERNAL features: Erik Rutan – guitar and vocals, JJ Hrubovcak – bass and backing vocals and Jade Simonetto – drums
The entire new album by Mexican stoner/doom metal act MALIGNO, ‘The Funeral Domine’ is available for free listening via player available below. The album which will undoubtedly attract some attention, if nothing for its captivating cover, was released April 29th, 2011 via Iguana & Asenath Records. ‘The Funeral Domine’ was recorded by MALIGNO at La Nave studios in Monterrey, Mexico, mixed at 7hertz Studios in Los Angeles with producer and engineer Billy Anderson, and mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music, New York. ‘The Funeral Domine’ features guest appearances from acoustic rock duo Rodrigo Y Gabriela and TESTAMENT's Alex Skolnick. The video for ‘Shine’ was directed by Adrix Gaal for El Gallinero/Piraña Productions.
MALIGNO formed in 2005 in Monterrey, Mexico, with the intention of paying homage to one of the most influential heavy metal bands of all time - BLACK SABBATH. They released their self-titled debut album in 2006 via Iguana & Asenath Records, with Alan Douches-mastered ‘Universevil’ following in 2008. Mexican edition of Rolling Stone Magazine proclaimed the group's second release to be one of the ten best albums recorded that year by Latin artists. MALIGNO has shared stage with METALLICA, GUNS N’ ROSES, IRON MAIDEN, MASTODON and many other prominent acts. You can download some of MALIGNO's tracks for free at this location (Facebook).
MALIGNO features: Ivan Tamez on gutar, Andreas Saenz on drums, Marco Gil on bass, Zef Vega on gutar and Luis Barjau on vocals
Swedish pioneers of dark music, LAKE OF TEARS, have just released their eight album, ‘Illwill’, via AFM Records . ‘Illwill’, made available as CD, as limited-edition digipak and as limited 180-gram vinyl, marks the band's return, four years after their latest release, ‘Moons And Mushrooms’.
LAKE OF TEARS was formed in 1992 in Borås, Sweden, by Daniel Brennare (vocals and guitar), Jonas Eriksson (guitar) Michael Larsson (bass) and Johan Oudhuis (drums). The group recorded a demo in early 1993 which caught the attention of Black Mark Productions. Debut full-length titled ‘Greater Art’, straightforward doom metal album, was released in 1994 with ‘Headstones’, following a year later. 1997's ‘A Crimson Cosmos’ turned out to be the group's breakout record, introducing melody and progressive, psychedelic influence to their sound, signifying the beginning of a new musical chapter. Ulrik Lindblom replaced guitarist Eriksson who was, in turn, subsequently replaced by guitarist Magnus Sahlgren. Atmospheric and introspective album ‘Forever Autumn’, released in 1999, was dubbed “the group's finest accomplishment” by Jason Anderson (AllMusic). LAKE OF TEARS' last effort for Black Mark label came in 2002 in form of straight-up rock & roll album ‘The Neoniai’. After a brief hiatus, LAKE OF TEARS teamed up with Noise Records in order to release ‘Black Brick Road’. Heavier, darker sounding seventh album, ‘Moons And Mushrooms’, came out via Dockyard 1 Records in 2007.
LAKE OF TEARS features: Daniel Brennare on vocals and guitar, Johan Oudhuis on drums, Fredrik Jordanius on guitar and Mikael Larsson on bass
British melodic death metal act THE SOULLESS are just about to release new album via Earache Records. The album is entitled ‘Isolated’ and will hit European stores on May 16th, 2011 and North American ones on June 7th, 2011. Music video for the track ‘Unaltered’, taken from the new record, was directed by Thomas Welsh. Album cover is the work of Ryohei Hase: “The guy on the front is supposed to be hung up as an outcast from society. He is isolated, which ties in with the album's title and lyrical themes within,” commented vocalist Andy Wardle. ‘Isolated’ can be pre-ordered at Earache Records' online stores.
THE SOULLESS formed in 2006 in Bath, England and used to be known as IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION until about a year ago: “When we decided on the name IGNOMINIOUS INCARCERATION, we never anticipated the level we would get to. Had we known, I’m sure we would have chosen a simpler name,” commented the group. (I am with them on this one; having chosen a ridiculous web-address for this blog myself, heh, though I’m not implying I’ve reached any levels here.) Soon after the inception, the band had landed a support slot for BRING ME THE HORIZON and toured with TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED. Being tipped as one of the best new British death metal bands, THE SOULLESS signed a worldwide record deal with Earache Records in 2008. Their Scott Atkins-produced debut full-length entitled ‘Of Winter Born’ was released in 2009.
THE SOULLESS features: Andy Wardle on vocals, Steve Brown on guitar, Chris Ball ob bass, Dan Wilding (ABORTED / TRIGGER THE BLOODSHED) on drums and Kristan Dawson on guitar.
