I Am Heresy: Thy Will – new album

The only thing Facebook is good for is its “description/influences/inspiration” thingy and I AM HERESY describe themselves there as “the blacker the sun, the darker the dawn” (I’m guessing from COIL's ‘Fire Of The Mind’) kind-of-a-band, while their label forewarns of approaching storm when addressing I AM HERESY and their new album ‘Thy Will’. Out now everywhere, March the 4th, 2014, on Century Media Records,

“on ‘Thy Will’ shimmering black metal melodies crash with chaotic 90ies-noisecore in the vein of DEADGUY and full-on thrash-treats fight vicious negativity reminiscent of clevo hardcore icons INTEGRITY. Furthermore, I AM HERESY sprinkle in dark and heavy folk elements to add a whole different dimension to their sound,” [says the label]

In order to better understand how this intriguingly described sound sounds like, do check out I AM HERESY's three new tunes below. Furthermore, ‘March Of Black Earth’ video apparently stands in defiance of the standard views of “good and evil”:

“It speaks of human exploration into a life without fear or reverence for imaginary deities, who are bent on suppressing our most natural desires. If those deities deem a lust for knowledge, freedom of our carnal self, and disobedience to be sinful, then let us become the best sinners we can be! Each suffering character in the video represents self-sacrifice, killing what is left of our self-expression. The ominous beast in the plague mask represents each character's individual oppression. Their freedom is personified by the archetype Belial, or Baal, (“without a master”) who represents an infernal innocence, freedom, and mockery of self-imposed slavery. Hear the call... Free yourself from the bondage of self-denial, and accept the gift of sin,” [appeals I AM HERESY singer Nathan Gray]

The band that insist they are not Nathan Gray's (of BOYSETSFIRE) side project, are generously giving away the tunes ‘Rahabh’ and ‘March Of Black Earth’ free of charge here. ‘Thy Will’ which is one of this year's musical highlights according to KREATOR's Mille Petrozza, awaits your order here (CM Distro Europe), here (CM Distro North America), here (I AM HERESY store), on iTunes, Amazon etc:

“The whole concept of evil, hell and purgatory is made up only for one reason: few people in power use them to create fear and link their believers to them. In the end, all of these fears are constructs to grant these people more power and wealth. Moving away from these fears, making up your own mind, and creating a view on life that’s based on knowledge and reason can be very liberating“, [appeals once more Nathan Gray]

[And again:] “Come ye daughters and sons of chaos and mystery! We intend to rebuild and create the archetypes of rebellion and revolution against self induced repression. Reveling in anthemic battle songs of lust, pride and indulgence in order to create a ritual purification from the stagnant impotence of servitude and self denial.”

 

Formed in 2011 by vocalist Nathan Gray in order to “live out his love for dark, violent noise”, I AM HERESY, counting guitarist and vocalist Jonah Latshaw (MAY 4TH MASSACRE and son of BOYSETSFIRE guitarist Joshua Latshaw), guitarists Simon Gray (son of Nathan Gray, MAY 4TH MASSACRE) and Gregg Kautz, bassist Jay Sin and drummer Crumbs (brothers, THE DEAD AND GONE), released their “imposing, frenetic, unrelenting and certainly unrepentant” debut self-titled full-length in 2012 on Magic Bullet Records (in Europe via End Hits Records in early 2013): 

 

I AM HERESY features: Nathan Gray – vocals, Jay Sin – guitar, Simon Gray – guitar, Gregg Kautz – guitar, Matt Balog – bass and Crumbs - drums

 

Full Album Stream: Nothing: Guilty Of Everything – new album

Influenced by a line from the play “The Balcony” by prominent and controversial French novelist, playwright and poet Jean Genet: “It’s the hour when night breaks away from the day, my dove, let me go”, or so their Facebook page says, Philadelphia's NOTHING reportedly “seamlessly merge the huge distorted guitar sound of 90s/00s alternative rock giants MY BLOODY VALENTINE and SMASHING PUMPKINS with JESU's introspective post-metal/hardcore” on their just released debut LP ‘Guilty Of Everything’. Available for your listening pleasure in full below, courtesy of Relapse Records, ‘Guilty Of Everything’, was recorded and produced by Jeff Zeigler and awaits your order here (Relapse Records store), on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify etc. This triumph of a debut that “successfully manages to be massively loud, darkly introspective and totally beautiful all at once” is being revered by the industry experts as well, with Noisey describing it as “the most complete, satisfying, and original-sounding shoegaze album since the scene that celebrated itself burnt out”, NPR saying it “is epic and stirring, even unnerving at times, but it carves a path toward enlightened serenity” and Rolling Stone and Stereogum depicting NOTHING's sound as “vast” and “enormous” respectively. So, since not much else is known about NOTHING, trust the experts' opinions and/or trust your own judgments:

Full Album Stream: Destrage: Are You Kidding Me? No. – full album stream

 

DESTRAGE first caught my attention back in 2011 with their ‘Neverending Mary’ video for a rather silly, personal reason and look at them now: they are all grown up and are releasing albums through Metal Blade Records. MetalSucks is streaming ‘Are You Kidding Me? No’ right here right now, so check it out; the title track features a guest appearance by Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal. DESTRAGE's third album and their Metal Blade debut is out now everywhere, March the 4th, 2014. Described as “intricate and batshit crazy” by MetalSucks and “just straight up bonkers in the best way possible” by Metal Injection, the album was recorded at RecLab Studios with Larsen Premoli and at Adrenaline Studio with Daniele Nelli. Mixing and mastering was done by Will Putney at The Machine Shop in New Jersey and the cover illustration was done by Marco Tafuri with the layout completed by The Jack Stupid. Get the latest DESTRAGE offering here (Metal Blade store), on iTunes or via Amazon.

 

DESTRAGE was formed in 2005 in Milan, Italy. Their debut mix of “European melodic death metal, best of American thrash/hardcore and rock ‘n’ roll, speed, core, sickness, and sometimes introspectiveness” was recorded in 2006 with Ettore Rigotti. Called ‘Self Id Generator’, the promo helped DESTRAGE land a deal with Japanese label Howling Bull. They released their debut full-length, ‘Urban Being’, in 2007 (Coroner Records distributed it worldwide from 2009 on), followed by ‘The King Is Fat'n'Old’ in 2010. Additionally: DESTRAGE “destroy, create, transform, sublimate. They worship enthusiasm and venerate the shake that it gives.” Also, they “shoot zombies in the face”.

DESTRAGE features: Paolo Colavolpe – vocals, Matteo Di Gioia – guitar, Gabriel Pignata – bass, Ralph Salati – guitar and Federico Paulovich – drums

 

 

Exmortus: Foe Hammer – new video & Slave To The Sword – full album stream

EXMORTUS, who, of course, are “an entity amongst themselves and their music, both complex and thoroughly hook-laden”, have just released a new, Ron Thunderwood-directed video for ‘Foe Hammer’ off their thoroughly enjoyable album called ‘Slave To The Sword’. Equipping it with an appropriately looking cover created by legendary heavy metal painter Philip Lawvere, EXMORTUS had conjured “the kind of album you want to hear pouring from the windows of a van with a Viking fighting a demon in space painted on it” according to Revolver (more here) and the kind of album that “would make a perfect soundtrack for a non-sucky remake of Conan the Barbarian”, according to About.com (more here):

“With virtuoso guitar performances and a flare for modernizing classic speed metal, it’s an album that, despite a couple forgettable mid-tempo death anthems, looks back at a rich history of extreme music, then takes a step forward in terms of aggression and technical wizardry. EXMORTUS further prove that Prosthetic [Records] is one of today's leading merchants of thrash.”

Well, I wouldn’t know about that, but Prosthetic Records is indisputably a generous label, one that respects the potential buyer; ‘Slave To The World’, recorded with engineer/producer Zack Ohren, is therefore available for a full listen below. The album is out now in North America as CD, LP, cassette and digitally (shop for it here here/Prosthetic store), since February 2014, and is available worldwide via Amazon, iTunes and BandCamp (here): 

 

Formed in 2002 in Whittier, California, EXMORTUS released their full-length debut album, ‘In Hatred's Flame’, in 2008 through Heavy Artillery Records, following a string of demos and EPs. Since then, EXMORTUS' invigorating twin-guitar mix of neoclassical shred, Bay Area thrash, progressive death and traditional heavy metal has earned the group a devoted following, including that of their new label, who noticed the talented Southern California quartet after the release of their sophomore LP, 2011's ‘Beyond The Fall Of Time’: 

Get Band email for free at ReverbNation.com

EXMORTUS features: Mario Mortus ( Mario Moreno) – drums, Conan (Conan Gonzales) – guitar and vocals, David Rivera – guitar and Jovanni Perez – bass 

 

Chrome Division: Lady Of Perpetual Sorrow – new video

(Norwegians started to train for Winter Olympics right after the huge ice shelf of the last ice age first melted (between 11,000 and 8,000 BC), and that’s why they top the Sochi 2014 medals table with 21 medals in total (10 gold, 4 silver and 7 bronze). And do remember, Norway is a country of a little above 5 million inhabitants – 134 of those compete in the current Olympics). CHROME DIVISION of course know the colour of their metal; this lovely although sad tune, ‘Lady Of Perpetual Sorrow’, comes off their fourth album ‘Infernal Rock Eternal’, issued through Nuclear Blast Records in January 2014. On it, Shagrath (born Stian Tomt Thoresen/of DIMMU BORGIR fame) and his merry men (Shady Blue, Damage Karlsen, Ogee Ferrari and Tony White) bring shamelessly back the memories of those awful 1980s, calling this travesty “their different side” and “their love for dirty rock and roll” (and I’m still not kidding about the 80s). CHROME DIVISION's ‘Infernal Rock Eternal’ awaits your order here (Nuclear Blast store), on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon/Amazon MP3 etc.

“For some mysterious reason (maybe long winter boredom), Scandinavians find time to start more bands - full-time and side-project - in any given week than the rest of the planet's denizens will manage in a lifetime,” writes Eduardo Rivadavia (AllMusic Guide). It actually started in the summer of 2004 for CHROME DIVISION, with DIMMU BORGIR's vocalist Shagrath and then-bassist Nagash. After enlisting bassist Björn Luna (ASHES TO ASHES), vocalist Eddie Guz (THE CARBURETORS), lead guitarist Ricky Black and after Nagash opted to bow out of the band and was replaced with drummer Tony White (“From this point it was evident that CHROME DIVISION was to be more than just a side project. From now on they were like a force, spawning stripped down groovy rock'n'roll, with a primitive attitude, also labeled as “doomsday rock'n'roll,” claims the band's official bio), out came debut album entitled ‘Doomsday Rock 'n Roll’. This 2006 Nuclear Blast release was commented by already mentioned music critic as follows:

“It must be said that the album's 12 gas-guzzling hard rock anthems are pulled off with astonishing confidence and what seems like surprising ease. Maybe it’s the freshness of working within such purely hard rock idioms that help these normally uptight black metal musicians rid the music of its inherent clichés.” [More here]

The album reached position number 31 on the Norwegian Albums Chart: 

“After a while Shagrath rejoined the CHROME guys,” reads on the band's bio, “exhausted [from] touring in the name of Satan, hungry for more rubber-smelling rock. It was time to create another CHROME album.” And accordingly, the second album, ‘Booze, Broads And Beelzebub’, followed in 2008 which Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic, dutifully reviewed:

“Don’t make the mistake of letting a few quick listens convince you to miss-categorize CHROME DIVISION as some outdated, Scandinavian chapter of L.A. GUNS, because buried beneath the relative simplicity of all these songs can be found frequent little reminders of DIMMU BORGIR's usual songwriting complexity - be they subtle minor chords or unforeseen dynamic shifts in the arrangements - that help to keep things interesting.” [More here:]

The Norwegian ambassadors of decadence released their third album, ‘3rd Round Knockout’, in 2011. Marcus Jervis, About.com, listened and learned the following:

“Both musically and lyrically, there is little deviation from the formula; simply a stream of snotty riffs and driving rock rhythms providing the backbeat to tales of heroic drinking, back street brawls and endless sexual conquests. Even a punked-up version of the Johnny Cash classic ‘Ghost Riders In The Sky’ is given similar treatment, proving that these boys take no prisoners.” [More here:]

CHROME DIVISION features: Shady Blue – vocals, Shagrath - guitar and backing vocals, Damage Karlsen - lead guitar and backing vocals, Ogee Ferrari – bass and backing vocals and Tony White – drums 

 

Full Album Stream: Wolves Like Us: Black Soul Choir – new album

This just in: visit Metal Hammer here and listen to the full new WOLVES LIKE US album ‘Black Soul Choir’. Metal Hammer promises WLU's “metallic, punked-up anthems will get your week off to a cracker”, but you better check it out first yourselves before you order your own copy here (Prosthetic Records store), since Metal Hammer reads kind of partisan on the matter, calling WOLVES LIKE US “one of their very favouritest new bands”. Anyhow, ‘Black Soul Choir’ will be issued through Prosthetic Records on February the 24th, 2014 in Europe (except in Germany where it’s due on February the 28th) and on March the 4th in North America. Produced at the Propeller Studios in Oslo with Mike Hartung, ‘Black Soul Choir’ is the follow-up to the band's acclaimed 2011 debut album ‘Late Love’, which the band supported with no less than five tours (150 shows) and fifteen festivals: “We are extremely proud and happy with the record, and can’t wait for people to hear it and [for us] to play these songs in front of an audience. It’s been a long trek making these traps of sonic feedback for you to enjoy. We hope you like it,” said vocalist and guitarist Lars Kristensen. ‘Black Soul Choir’s art was created by Matt Ryan:

Singer and guitarist Lars Kristensen, guitarist Espen Helvig, drummer (and cymbalist) Jonas Thire and bearded bassist Toy Kjeldaas, influenced by artists such as QUICKSAND, HUSKER DU, SWERVEDRIVER and AFGAN WINGS, formed WOLVES LIKE US in 2010 in Oslo, Norway in order to “make the urgent, powerful new music they love”. The group had signed with Prosthetic Records in early 2011 and began recording ‘Late Love’ in Oslo with Ruben Willem at Haust / Caliban Studios. ‘Late Love’, depicted as “solid, moving album” by Greg Pratt, Revolver, followed in June 2011 in Europe and in September of that year in North America:

WOLVES LIKE US features: Lars Kristensen – vocals and guitar, Espen Helvig – guitars, Jonas Thire – drums and Toy Kjeldaas – bass

Full Album Stream: Artificial Brain: Labyrinth Constellation – new album

We are not talking Jupiter or Saturn here, we’re talking “a planet which walks in a swarm of suspended moons that burns itself upon the sun to build immunity to radiation as well as gorges itself on poisonous light and colon spasm its roots unto the sediment”. We are also talking an album that will affect your day. Which way – it depends on your predispositions. Therefore you better steel yourselves before you delve into ARTIFICIAL BRAIN's ‘Labyrinth Constellation’. Out today, February 18th, 2014, on Profound Lore Records, the agonising debut LP featuring the talents (and ails) of REVOCATION's Dan Gargiulo on guitar, Keith Abrami on drums, Samuel Smith on bass, Jon Locastro on guitar and Will (Smith) on vocals, awaits your order here (Profound Lore store) and on BandCamp here. ‘Labyrinth Constellation’ was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Colin Marston (of GORGUTS, KRALLICE and DYSRHYTHMIA fame) in his Thousand Caves studio, while its art was concocted by Paolo Girardi. Activated in 2009 in “fucking space”, momentarily acting out from Long Island, New York, this is, as already mentioned, ARTIFICAL BRAIN's debut full-length album, although they have already butchered cosmic giants in 2013 on ‘Butchering Cosmic Giants’ EP. But let us concentrate for a moment on what MetalSucks' Dave Mustein (who “enjoys overanalyzing, overthinking, and meddling with your heads”) thinks about it:

“It’s post-death metal, if you will. … The most instantly noticeable quality of ‘Labyrinth Constellation’ is its evocative power, inspiring vivid images and adjectives alike. This means that the band's space themes aren’t lost in gimmickry à la RINGS OF SATURN; ARTIFICIAL BRAIN are fully aware that there’s more to “space” than randomness, dissonance, and abrupt rhythmic shifts. … It’s a kind of swirling, mesmeric force, exemplified in tracks like ‘Orbital Gait’, whose recursive ellipses seem to fling us out of our time and space and through a portal to dimension 5612. This leads to the development of fuzzy but widely diverse atmospheres, resplendent with contrasting emotional premises. … Though despite its sonic variance and meticulous songwriting, ‘Labyrinth Constellation’ doesn’t entirely fulfill its name. A constellation is a gestalt, a composite, greater than the sum of its individual stars; ‘Labyrinth Constellation’, were it a true constellation, would be pretty difficult to recognize as a single amalgamated entity,” [heh… and you will find much more here:]

ARTIFICIAL BRAIN features: Dan Gargiulo - guitar, Keith Abrami - drums, Samuel Smith - bass, Jon Locastro - guitar and Will - vocals

Full Album Stream: Sahg: Delusions Of Grandeur – new album

Well, it is a new album (as far as I’m concerned and) as far as Americans are concerned, since SAHG's fourth LP will grace their stores from tomorrow, February the 18th, 2014, on, courtesy Metal Blade Records. ‘Delusions Of Grandeur’ – a fine, fine album - just listen to it below – became available in Europe in October 2013, apparently, through Indie Recordings. “Nothing less than 48 minutes of impeccable musicianship and flawless delivery”, the album was recorded live at Solslottet Studios/Castle Of The Sun with producer Iver Sandøy. SAHG's “fourth entry in the annals of wickedness, a doom-infused, heavy rock fireball that’s set to torch speakers around the globe”, as put by Metal Blade, was welcomed with open arms by European press. For example, Rock Hard Greece described it as “an epic culmination of artistic maturity, intelligence and inspirational prog melodies”, and France's Metalchroniques advised: “Try the trip, you will not be disappointed”. So, try the trip after you’ve read the instructions provided by the label, and then order your own copy of ‘Delusions Of Grandeur’ here (Metal Blade store), here (Indie Recordings store – top right corner), on iTunes, Spotify etc:

“Inspired by imagery from Stanley Kubrick's “2001: A Space Odyssey”, Fritz Lang's 1927 masterpiece “Metropolis”, the eerie aesthetics of sci-fi author Sean Williams' “Astropolis” quadrilogy, and Norwegian novelist Karl Ove Knausgård's explosive autobiography, “My Struggle” [yes, “Min Kamp”], there’s no denying the depth of thought as well as musicianship that underlies SAHG's fourth, most ambitious release. And from the breathtaking, cinematic dynamics opening salvo ‘Slip Off The Edge Of The Universe’ to the thundering muscularity of ‘Firechild’ and the utterly cosmic, 11-minute sojourn of ‘Sleeper's Gate To The Galaxy’, this is the stuff landmarks are made of. Get involved:”

Active since 2004, Bergen, Norway-based SAHG quickly impressed Swedish Regain Records who signed the band on strength of just a few demos; apparently “filling the void in the Norwegian metal fauna”, SAHG's debut album, counting vocalist and guitarist Olav Iversen (MANNGARD), drummer Kvitrafn (WARDRUNA), bassist King/Tom Cato Visnes (GOD SEED, OV HELL etc) and guitarist Thomas Tofthagen (AUDREY HORNE), was a success in Norway where it entered charts at number 31, as well as abroad. Their 2006 debut, ‘Sahg I’, was praised by critics and fans alike, receiving a perfect 10/10 from Germany's Rock Hard and a 8/10 rating from Metal Hammer UK. Shortly after, drummer Kvitrafn announced his departure from the band and was replaced with Tor Bjarne Bjelland. Classic Rock magazine hailed SAHG's sophomore album, 2008's ‘Sagh II’, as one which “teeters on the edge of a modern day classic”. With new drummer, Thomas Lönnheim, the group recorded ‘Sahg III’ which was released in 2010 through Indie Recordings:

“Now, given SAHG's roots in the Norwegian black metal movement and the unfair expectancies imposed upon its former practitioners (i.e. thou shalt not, under any circumstance, be likable), it’s entirely possible that a few fans will perceive these new heights of compositional maturity and widespread appeal as demystifying and even downright offensive to some long-abandoned cause. But, one can always hope that those goblins gave up searching for the one ring long ago, and will thus leave SAHG alone to grow and prosper in the real world,” [commented Eduardo Rivadavia – more here]

SAHG features: Olav Iversen - vocals and guitar, Thomas Tofthagen – guitar, Tony Vetaas - bass and vocals and Thomas Lønnheim – drums and percussion

Full Album Stream: Benighted: Carnivore Sublime – new album

Saint-Étienne, known for its bicycle industry and the Society of Mary (“...think as Mary, judge as Mary, feel and act as Mary in all things”), also managed to produce one of the most vicious death metal bands of late: BENIGHTED. Stéphanois' (that's how inhabitants of Saint-Étienne are called in French, apparently) new and seventh album is streaming in its relentless-vocal–onslaught-bulldozer-heavy-riffs-and-close-to-inhuman-drumming entirety here/Terrorizer and here/Stereokiller. ‘Carnivore Sublime’ is due on February the 14th, 2014 in Europe and on February the 18th in North America on Season Of Mist. The album, recorded at Kohlekeller Studios in Darmstadt, Hessen, Germany, features eleven ferocious new tracks and a guest appearance by Niklas Kvarforth (Sweden's SHINING). The new BENIGHTED video, ‘Experience Your Flesh’, was directed and produced by Kick Your Eyes Productions. In case you survive the audio/videoonslaught, BENIGHTED's ‘Carnivore Sublime’ (plus goodies) awaits you here (Season Of Mist e-shop), on iTunes and BandCamp (here).

BENIGHTED was formed in 1998 in Saint-Étienne, France by members of French death and black metal bands DISHUMANIZED, DARKNESS FIRE and OSGILIATH. A mix of death, black metal and grindcore comprised BENIGHTED's first self-produced and self-titled album in 2000. In 2001, BENIGHTED signed with French label Adipocere Records and recorded their brutal and technical death metal album, 2002's ‘Psychose’. Inspired by vocalist Julien Truchan's work in a psychiatric hospital, the schizophrenic album (of black, thrash metal, grindcore and hardcore), ‘Insane Cephalic Production’, was released in 2004. Recorded during 2005 at Kohlekeller Studios, the band's fourth LP, ‘Identistick’, appeared in 2006, followed by BENIGHTED next brutal offering, 2007's ‘Icon’ (Osmose Productions). Once again returning to Kohlekeller Studios in Darmstad, Germany where BENIGHTED recorded their fastest and most violent songs yet, BENIGHTED's sixth album entitled ‘Asylum Cave’ featured guest appearances by ABORTED's Sven de Caluwé and DEVOURMENT's Mike Majewski. ‘Asylum Cave’ was issued through Season Of Mist in 2011:

BENIGHTED features: Julien Truchan – vocals, Olivier Gabriel – guitar, Kevin Foley – drums, Eric Lombard – bass and Adrien Guérin – guitar

Full Album Stream: Cynic: Kindly Bent To Free Us – new album

Me, I am a terrible CYNIC - yet, Winter Olympic Games seem to bring out something positive as well. So before you “leap (before you look)” over here/Metal Hammer Germany, here/Metal Hammer Greece, here/Prog Magazine UK or here/Rock Hard Italy to enjoy the new CYNIC album (somewhat sarcastically called) ‘Kindly Bent To Free Us’ in its cosmic-riddles-alien-transmissions-tasty-riffs totality, let us first check the latest medal count: Germany suddenly leads with five gold medals, Norway is second with four gold medals and no less than twelve in total, Canada is third, Netherlands fourth, Switzerland fifth, the mighty United States and Russian Federation sixth and seventh respectively, then (what-is-going-on-with-the-new-BELPHEGOR-album) Austria is 8th and, finally, tiny Slovenia to whom I congratulate on their first-ever Olympic gold medal – 9th. Now let us continue with the serious business that is CYNIC's third full-length album: ‘Kindly Bent To Free Us’ will be released on February the 14th, 2014 in Europe and on February the 18th in North America through Season Of Mist. Guitarist and vocalist Paul Masvidal, drummer Sean Reinert and bassist Sean Malone recorded and produced the album at Perfect Sound Studios in Los Angeles; it was engineered by Jason Donaghy, mixed by R. Walt Vincent and mastered by Maor Appelbaum. The album's art was created by late American artist Robert Venosa. So, “have [CYNIC] finally gotten lost deep up their own asses” or “they’re still plotting to get things in motion eventually, having everything coalesce in the end in a way you never thought possible. (Dare I say, they’re not entirely unlike Larry David in that regard.)” to borrow Sammy O'Hagar's words (who, btw, believes “while it may not be as iconic as their first two albums, ‘Kindly Bent To Free Us’ is nothing less than the band maintaining their excellent status quo” – more here/MetalSucks)? To ascertain, do listen to the record filled with some delightful statements such as: “True hallucination speak/inhale/you better get a friend to help you” or “Animals are something invented by plants/to move seeds around/An extremely Yang solution”, and then order the album available as digipack CD, as limited edition collector's box, as limited edition double LPs in various colours, and digitally here (Season Of Mist e-shop), on iTunes or from BandCamp here.

Formed in 1987 in Miami, Florida by vocalist and guitarist Paul Masvidal, guitarist Jason Gobel, bassist Mark Van Erp, and drummer Sean Reinert, CYNIC began recording their first demos after bassist Tony Choy joined the band. In 1991, as the band went on temporary hiatus, Masvidal and Reinert performed on DEATH's ‘Human’ album and Choy joined ATHEIST. In 1992, CYNIC reunited with new bassist Sean Malone and signed with Roadrunner Records; the band's ground-breaking debut full-length album ‘Focus’ “meshed metal and jazz on an unprecedented scale, and explored the creative possibilities of this strange musical hybrid to a degree which has yet to be equaled” (Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic – more here). Citing musical and personal differences, CYNIC disbanded again in 1994. Most members turned to side projects: Paul Masvidal, Sean Reinert and Jason Gobel formed the short-lived project PORTAL together with bassist Chris Kringel and vocalist Aruna Abrams. Season Of Mist released the PORTAL demos as ‘Portal Tapes’ on CD and vinyl  in 2012:

Reunited again in 2007, CYNIC's second LP, 2008's ‘Traced In The Air’, featured newcomer Tymon Kruidenier who replaced guitarist Jason Gobel:

“Ultimately, the album does CYNIC's legacy justice precisely because it challenges the listener to comprehend, by opening more doors than it closes and posing more questions than obvious answers - and what could be more “progressive” than that?,” [had asked/answered Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMuisc – more here:]

Next, CYNIC explored “sci-fi prog folk” (which is “part psychedelic rock, part minimalist restraint”) on 2010's ‘Re-Traced’ EP, and journeyed from the Amazon jungle (“on the lips of a shamanic wise-woman as portrayed by Amy Correia”) to outer space (“on the luminous wings of songwriter and guitarist Paul Masvidal's electric guitar”) on 2011's EP ‘Carbon-Based Anatomy”:

“In spite of its rather grotesque cover art, this six-song suite hardly ever roams into recognizably “metallic” terrain, but instead coasts along dreamily on ethereal sounds more typical of new age or ambient music. At their most aggressive, ‘Box Up My Bones’, ‘Elves Beam Out’ (say what?), and the title track partake in patches of hyperactive drumming, minor-chord guitar figures, and fluid solos, but never will they ignite anything resembling a mosh pit. There’s also no sign of either Paul Masvidal's processed vocoder or coarse death metal vocals of yore, leaving his newfound shy croon fully exposed to the elements, nude and fragile, yet compatible, nonetheless, with its new surroundings. So too are the variety of female voices provided by one Amy Correia on ‘Carbon-Based Anatomy’s remaining three cuts, which largely serve as connective tissue between the proper tunes cited above; hear her ululating like an aspiring Asha Bhosle [Indian singer/Bollywood] on ‘Amidst The Coals’ and ‘Bija!’ (the latter rich in atmospheric tabla), then coolly narrating esoteric mish-mash on the closing ‘Hieroglyph’,” [commented Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMuisc – more here:]

CYNIC features: Paul Masvidal – vocals and guitar, Sean Reinert - drums, percussion and keyboards, Sean Malone - bass (album), Amy Correia - vocals (album) and Max Phelps - guitar and vocals (live), Brandon Giffin - bass (live)

Death Angel: Left For Dead – new video

The “powerhouse of tight and shiny thrash metal”, DEATH ANGEL, have released a new Tommy Jones-directed video for ‘Left For Dead’, off ‘The Dream Calls For Blood’, the band's seventh album. Issued in October 2013 through Nuclear Blast Records, ‘The Dream Calls For Blood’ sold 5,400 copies in the United States in its first week of release, and had cracked U.S. Top 100 (at number 72 on The Billboard Top 200 chart). The album was recorded at AudioHammer Studios in Florida with Jason Suecof, while Brent Elliot White provided those seriously upset wolves for its cover. “DEATH ANGEL still sound visceral and hungry decades into their work, a rare case of a band getting sharper as it goes instead of mellowing,” voiced his opinion Fred Thomas, AllMusic who placed the group's latest offering in the “top tier of extremely inventive and exciting metal albums” (more here). To discover just how visceral and hungry they sound you’ll have to buy a copy ‘The Dream Calls For Blood’ here (Nuclear Blast Europe), here (Nuclear Blast USA), on iTunes or Amazon:

Instrumental in the development of thrash metal genre, DEATH ANGEL was formed in 1982 in San Francisco Bay Area by cousins guitarist Rob Cavestany, vocalist and bassist Dennis Pepa, guitarist Gus Pepa, and drummer Andy Galeon. While still in their teens, DEATH ANGEL recorded their 1986 Kirk Hammett (METALLICA)-produced demo ‘Kill As One’, and drummer Galeon was only fourteen when the band recorded their debut full-length album, 1987s ‘The Ultra-Violence’ (which went on to sell 40,000 copies in just four months) with vocalist Mark Osegueda. The track ‘Bored’, off DEATH ANGEL's second release 1988s ‘Frolic Through The Park’, had won a spot on MTV's “Headbanger's Ball”, impressing Geffen Records enough to offer the band a record deal. Regarded by many critics (and fans) as the band's finest effort, they next recorded 1990s ‘Act III’ with producer Max Norman; with it “finally reaching musical adulthood (though some band members were still barely old enough to vote)” (Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic – more here) as well as reaching position number 24 on the Billboard Top 200. The group's rise to fame was tragically cut short in 1990, when the band's tour bus crashed in the Arizona desert. Drummer Andy Galeon was critically injured, and would need more than a year to recover. Following, vocalist Mark Osegueda left, while the remaining bandmembers went on to form THE ORGANISATION, releasing two full-length albums under that name. DEATH ANGEL reassembled in 2001 to perform at a cancer benefit for TESTAMENT frontman Chuck Billy. In 2004, they released their fourth album ‘The Art Of Dying’ through Nuclear Blast Records which peaked at number 50 on the Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. The band recorded their fifth album at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 with producer Nick Raskulinecz; the end result, 2008s ‘Killing Season’, was described as a “modern heavy metal album, with selected hallmarks of old-school thrash (and a few other musical styles) seamlessly woven together” by Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic (more here). In 2009, DEATH ANGEL released their first-ever live concert DVD called ‘Sonic German Beatdown’, followed by their sixth album ‘Relentless Retribution’ in 2010, which peaked at number 9 in Hungary, at number 45 in Germany and at number 10 on the Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart, selling over 2,700 copies in its first week in the U.S. alone:

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DEATH ANGEL features: Mark Osegueda – vocals, Rob Cavestany – guitar, Ted Aguilar – guitar, Damien Sisson – bass and Will Carroll – drums

Eyeconoclast: Rise Of The Orgamechanism – new video & Drones Of The Awakening – full album stream

According to EYECONOCLAST and filmmaker Giulio Ferro, the time “when man will stop being merely human and will give birth to a new, stronger and improved version of himself through genetic manipulation and integration with technology” nears. Well, I don’t know about genetic manipulation, but integration with technology, fine genes and hard work work very well for some mere humans these days in Sochi; I would like to congratulate to Norway on seven medals (and many more to come) in total so far, to Canada for current best medal ranking to that crazy Austrian kid (Matthias Mayer) who won yesterday's crazy downhill, to Poland for yesterday's ski jumping gold and to Slovenia for their ski jumping silver, and so on. Incidentally Italy, EYECONOCLAST's home country, has currently two medals: Christof Innerhofer's downhill silver and Armin Zoeggeler's luge bronze. But back to business: ‘Rise Of The Orgamechanism’ comes off Italian death metal maniacs' Prosthetic Records debut ‘Drones Of The Awakening’ which is conquering the world in its full metal attire since April 2013. EYECONOCLAST's second full-length album, which introduced new vocalist Giuseppe Di Giorgio, was recorded at EYECONOCLAST guitarist Stefano Morabito's 16th Cellar Studio in Rome, Italy. Courtesy Prosthetic Records, listen to the full ‘Drones Of The Awakening’ below, appreciate, and buy the album here (Prosthetic Records store), from iTunes, Amazon MP3 or BandCamp:

Formed in 2003 in Rome, Italy, EYECONOCLAST “began their venture into the eerie realm of heavy music” in the already mentioned 16th Cellar Studios where they recorded their first official demo, ‘Binary Encoded Sunset’, with Stefano “Saul” Morabito who would eventually end up replacing Cristiano Trionfera (these days FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's guitarist and vocalist) on guitar. In 2005, EYECONOCLAST self-produced their second demo ‘Clustered Dead Ending Corridors’; containing five tracks, two of those were included on separate compilation CDs issued by Terrorizer Magazine, the recording gained the band a deal with Swedish label Downfall Records. In 2008, EYECONOCLAST released their debut full-length album, ‘Unassigned Death Chapter’, which featured HOUR OF PENANCE's Giulio Moschini on bass. In 2011, the band recorded their latest EP with current bassist Paolo Ballarotto; ‘Sharpening Our Blades On The Mainstream’ proved to be the last recording with vocalist Carlos “Synder” Mastantuono, who has been since replaced by Giuseppe Di Giorgio. 

EYECONOCLAST features: Giuseppe Di Giorgio – vocals, Stefano Morabito – guitar, Alessio Cosenza –guitar, Paolo Ballarotto – bass and Mauro Mercurio – drums 

 

Dream Theater: The Looking Glass – new video & Dream Theater – full album stream

“Some will not admit their fifteen minutes have expired/Too much attention much too soon/Don’t see you walking on the moon/You are caught up in your gravity/Bathing in the spotlight/Imitating fame…” observe DREAM THEATER on ‘The Looking Glass’, off the band's highly successful self-titled twelfth studio album, released through Roadurnner Records in September 2013. DREAM THEATER's first album to involve new drummer Mike Magnini in the creative process from the beginning, had become DREAM THEATER's second highest charting album in the States (landing at number 7 on the Billboard Top 200 chart, behind 2009's ‘Black Clouds & Silver Linings’ which peaked at number 6) and their third consecutive album to enter the Top 10. Furthermore, ‘Dream Theater’ had conquered the Indonesian, Japanese and UK Rock charts, came in at number 2 in Italy, Hungary and Finland, at number 3 in Argentina, at number 4 in Germany, Holland and Czech Republic and number 5 in Canada, Sweden and Switzerland (and the list goes on). In the US alone, ‘Dream Theater’ had sold around 34,000 copies in its first week. Produced by guitarist John Petrucci and mixed and engineered by Richard Chycki, the album that earned its creators a Grammy nomination in “Best Metal Performance” category for ‘The Enemy Inside’, can be still heard in full here (Rolling Stone). Order ‘Dream Theater’, its art created by Hugh Syme, from the band's site here, or grab a copy from Roadrunner USA store here etc:

Formed in 1985 in Boston, Massachusetts by guitarist John Petrucci, bassist John Myung and drummer Mike Portnoy, with vocalist James LaBrie joining in 1991, the first DREAM THEATER album, 1989's ‘When Dream And Day Unite’, featured Charlie Dominici as lead vocalist. Their first album recorded with LaBrie, 1992's ‘Images And Words’, is the band's most commercially successful studio album to date. Entering the Billboard Top 200 at number 61 upon its release, the album was later certified Gold by the RIAA. The last DREAM THEATER album to feature keyboardist Kevin Moore, 1994's ‘Awake’ which peaked at number 32 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200, was followed by 1997's poorly received ‘Falling Into Infinity’, which debuted on the US charts at number 52. With Jordan Rudess firmly behind the keyboards, DREAM THEATER next recorded ‘Metropolis Pt. 2: Scenes From A Memory’; issued in 1999, it was voted “the number one all-time progressive album” in a poll conducted by Rolling Stone in 2012. The group's sixth album, 2002's ‘Six Degrees Of Inner Turbulence’ which explored different themes of lifetime struggle such as alcoholism, loss of faith, self-isolation, sanctity of life and death and various mental illnesses, landed position number 46 on the Billboard Top 200. After 2003's ‘Train Of Thought’ came the band's final release on Atlantic Records, 2005's ‘Octavian’, followed by their first album issued on Roadrunner Records, 2007's ‘Systematic Chaos’, which peaked in the top twenty in eight countries' sales charts (at number 19 in the USA): 

The last album to feature founding member Mike Portnoy, 2009's ‘Black Clouds & Silver Linings’, conquered European Albums Chart as well as Finnish and Hungarian charts, came in at number 2 in Japan, at number 3 in Sweden, Germany and Holland, at number 4 in Poland and at number 6 in USA and Canada:

2011's ‘A Dramatic Turn Of Events’, for which DREAM THEATER “underwent a self-proclaimed musical change, reevaluating and restructuring themselves”, was a commercial success, selling 36,000 units in the United States in its debut week, where it charted at number 8 on the Billboard Top 200:

DREAM THEATER features: James LaBrie – leading vocals, John Petrucci – guitar and backing vocals, John Myung – bass, Jordan Rudess – keyboards and Mike Mangini – drums

Fleshgod Apocalypse: Pathfinder – new video

Dio mio! Italian demigods (at least in the eyes of many) FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE have a new album out since August 2013 and I have found out about it just now! An unforgivable oversight on my part. Entitled ‘Labyrinth’, symphonic death metal horde's third full-length album was produced, mixed and mastered by Stefano Morabito at 16th Cellar Studio in Rome, while its art comes courtesy Colin Marks. According to vocalist and guitarist Tommaso Riccardi, the concept of ‘Labyrinth’ is based upon the myth of the Labyrinth of Knossos and every character related to it. (King of Crete, Minos, son of Zeus and Europa, ordered Daedalus to construct a labyrinth in which he kept his son, the Minotaur. Every nine years, he would send seven young boys and seven young girls to the labyrinth, to the Minotaur. After his death, Minos became a judge of the dead in the underworld.) The band had reportedly “focused on the philological aspect in order to represent all the elements of the classic world and, through a manic and meticulous research, they managed to create a metaphor with our times, as the maze can be associated with the endless search for what we really are”. Described as “grandiose, powerful” by Exclaim.ca, and (“they could be singing about bacon… it’d still) epic, delicious” by MetalSucks, ‘Labyrinth’ awaits your order here (Nuclear Blast Records' store), on iTunes and at Amazon's; furthermore, visit FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's official store here where you’ll find FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE extreme traditional handcrafted pasta (30% off!!!) and FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE “Minotaur” and “Ariadne” wine (help available in video form below), as well as the band's latest CD and the rest of it.

Formed in 2007 in central Italy, FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's debut full-length album, ‘Oracles’, came out in 2009 through Willowtip Records and Candlelight Records. Phil Freeman, AllMusic, found it “something of a missed opportunity”, although he acknowledged that “the band can definitely play, and the songs are good” (more here). FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE entered the 16th Cellar Studio in Rome once again to record an EP called ‘Mafia’ which was released in 2010 through Willowtip Records: 

In early 2011, the band had signed a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast Records and their Nuclear Blast Records debut, ‘The Agony’, followed in in August 2011; it sold over 1,400 copies in the United States in its first week, and had entered the Billboard's New Artist Chart at number 18:

“Italy has never yielded a truly brilliant extreme metal band - until now. FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE create crushing brutal death metal laced with sweeping orchestrals and pained wailing vocals, and ‘The Agony’ is a total triumph for this young band. Most notable is FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE's ability to weave chuggy riffage and tireless blast beats with epic orchestral passages, resulting in a tapestry of romantic brutality,” [wrote Revolver's Christopher Krovatin – more here:]

FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE features: Tommaso Riccardi – vocals and guitar, Paolo Rossi - bass and clean vocals, Cristiano Trionfera – guitar and vocals, Francesco Paoli - drums, guitars, and vocals and Francesco Ferrini – piano and orchestration 

Darkane: Mechanically Divine – new video & The Sinister Supremacy – full album stream

 

 

Its video created by Sinemax Produktion, ‘Mechanically Divine’ comes off DARKANE's first new material album in over five years, ‘The Sinister Supremacy’. Mixed by Daniel Bergstrand (Dugout Productions), its art, representing a “Rorschach test as seen by an individual who has completely succumbed to the sinister supremacy”, created by Carlos Holmberg, ‘The Sinister Supremacy’ was issued in June 2013 in Europe (Massacre Records) and in July 2013 in North America (Prosthetic Records). Featuring the return of original vocalist Lawrence Mackrory, the album showcases a new, darker and heavier sound, while remaining true to melodic death and technical thrash: visit Metal Injection here to hear ‘The Sinister Supremacy’ in its entirety. Get your own copy of the album through Amazon, Massacre Records and here (Prosthetic Records store):

“The band ramps up the hostility, but at the same time the songs are more accessible than ever before. The riffs are pummeling and drummer Peter Wildoer is a beast behind the kit. Mackrory brings the vocals to an aggressive level that the band hasn’t seen, but at the same time his use of enunciation and unique blend of melodic vocal melodies is remarkable,” [commented Dan Drago, About.com – more here]

 

 

Formed in 1998 in Helsingborg, Sweden by guitarist Christofer Malmström and drummer Peter Wildoer, DARKANE first recording also featured bassist Jörgen Löfberg, guitarist Klas Ideberg and vocalist Bjorn “Speed” Strid, whom you may know as SOILWORK vocalist. Due to conflicting commitments with SOILWORK, Strid was replaced with  Lawrence Mackrory who happened to be producer's Daniel Bergstrand studio assistant at the time. And thusly, DARKANE debut full-length, 1999's ‘Rusted Angel’, came about. Alas, Mackrory, also FORCEFEED frontman, could not join DARKANE on ensuing tour; luckily, Andreas Sydow, throgh some persuasion, eventually relented. Comprised of “many moments of near-virtuoso accomplishment and athleticism” (Jason Anderson, AllMusic – more here), DARKANE sophomore album, ‘Insanity’, followed in 2001 on Nuclear Blast Records. Encouraged, (the band had rebuilt their practice space adding “a great deal of recording equipment”) and recorded DARKANE's third album under the watchful eye of Daniel Bergstrand. ‘Expanding Senses’, released in 2002, “boasted a potent balance of brutality, musicality, and style” (Andy Hinds, AllMusic – more here). Following the release, the band had toured extensively throughout Europe, the U.S. and Japan; consequently drummer and founding member Peter Wildoer suffered a serious wrist injury, causing the band to wait until he, Wildoer, fully recovered. In 2004, DARKANE began recording ‘Layers Of Lies’ which was completed by spring of 2005. Following the promotional tour, DARKANE filmed a hometown concert which they released as their first official live DVD, ‘Layers Of Live’. In 2007, after vocalist Andreas Sydow left, the band engaged vocalist Jens Broman with whom they recorded their fifth album, 2008's ‘Demonic Art’:

“DARKANE continue to distinguish themselves with the high degree of musicality with which they manage to embellish the harsher elements of their songwriting; including everything from symphonic passages, to tightly wound harmonies and jaw-dropping guitar solos (as melodic as they are technically complex),” [wrote Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic – more here]

DARKANE features: Lawrence Mackrory – vocals, Christofer Malmström – guitar, Klas Ideberg – guitar, Jörgen Löfberg – bass and Peter Wildoer – drums

 

 

Indian: Rhetoric Of No – new video & From All Purity – full album stream

You will suffer through the new INDIAN video ‘Rhetoric Of No’, created by Madeline Quinn, and later on you will suffer through the new INDIAN album ‘From All Purity’. While the band think of it modestly as their “darkest and most varied material to date”, their label, Relapse Records, admits it to be the “true antithesis of easy listening”, promising it will ruin your day. Decibel says ‘From All Purity’ is “the sound of four guys hammering away the pain”, Metal Insider describes it as “pummeling, atmospheric, blackened doom that lives somewhere in some alternate universe where the evilest of sounds are worshiped for their darkness, their bleakness, their lack of all hope at all”, while always entertaining MetalSucks applauds:

“It’s just so fucking ugly and unpleasant that, unless you’re in the mood to go looking for diamonds in the vomit-encrusted rough, it can sound like an endless, sickly death march. It clocks in at just under 40 minutes, but it sounds like an eternity. But that’s not necessarily a bad thing: INDIAN know that doom's slowness can be used to stretch out one's concept of time to submerge whoever’s listening into something truly vicious. ‘From All Purity’ does that masterfully. If you’re brave enough to venture in, you’ll find yourself knee-deep in some gnarled brilliance. It may smell like bat guano, though.” [Sammy O'Hagar (who writes for MetalSucks and not the Washington Post nor Cat Fancy, and has been doing so since 2008 for all three) – more here]

Celebrating along with the Americans and the Norwegians their first (that I know of) 2014 Winter Olympics gold medals as I am writing this, do venture in, from the album's hateful beginning to its bitter end, below. Recorded at Electrical Audio and Soma Studios in Chicago with engineer/co-producer Sanford Parker, INDIAN's fourth longplayer is out now everywhere (since January the 21st, 2014) through Relapse Records. It awaits your brave order here (Relapse Records' store), on iTunes, Amazon and BandCamp: 

 

These blackened-doom-noise-terrorists, INDIAN, operate out of Chicago, Illinois since 2003. In fact, claims the label, INDIAN had spent much of their formative years developing the volcanic sound that now seems as natural to them as breathing. Their debut EP, 2004s ‘God Slave’, was a self-released mission statement, “welcoming the band into the world like young, kicking, screaming giants”. INDIAN's full-length debut, ‘The Unquiet Sky’, came out in 2005 via Portland, Oregon-based Seventh Rule Recordings in 2005, followed by ‘Slights And Abuse’ in 2007 and ‘The Sycophant’ a year later. Each of these releases found the band gaining momentum and attracting followers, including Relapse Records. In 2010, the band began to craft their fourth full-length, ‘Guiltless’, issued in 2011 to rave reviews (Metal Hammer called it a “pretty much an essential album”):

“The one-two punch of the eight-minute death march ‘Guiltless’ and the four-minute, double bass drum-driven ‘Guilty’ is the album's centerpiece, and it’s savagely assaultive but oddly cathartic at the same time, the soundtrack to curling up on your bedroom floor and screaming into a pillow. As with most sludge and doom metal, it all gets a little oppressive after 40 minutes, but taken one or two songs at a time, ‘Guiltless’ is a potent album by a band with a lot of power and the talent to use it wisely,” [wrote Phil Freeman, AllMusic – more here:]

INDIAN features: Dylan O'Toole – guitar and vocals, Will Lindsay – guitar and vocals, Ron DeFries – bass and Bill Bumgardner – drums