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: 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 

 

Tesseract: Of Matter – new video

“Imperfection you will find / Look close enough / Tear off the mask I need… I don’t begin to proclaim that I know… Bless my lips for the first time before you don’t…” sings Ashe O’Hara in TESSERACT video ‘Of Matter’ which does not make me struggle with my conscience (or make me remember that terrible movie called “Prometheus” – see below). ‘Of Matter’ comes off the group's second album ‘Altered State’ which did very well for them, debuting at number 94 on the Billboard Top 200 and at number 4 on the Billboard Top Hard Rock Albums chart. Issued through Century Media Records in May 2013, ‘Altered State’ was produced, mixed and mastered by the band's guitarist Acle Kahney and bassist Amos Williams at their own 4D Sounds studio in Milton Keynes, England. TESSERACT's first full-length recording with new vocalist Ashe O’Hara, was also commented on as “a follow-up album that doesn’t just live up to their debut, but blows it out of the water” by Gregory Heaney, AllMusic (more here). The album is available as a limited special edition double CD including the album's instrumental version, as a double LP (in different vinyl color options), as a standard CD and as digital download. Kindly shop here (CM Disto Europe) and here (CM Disto North America), via iTunes or Amazon. As explained by Century Media, ‘Altered State’ is not just the second TESSERACT album; it is also a valedictory statement from a band that have always followed their own path and aimed higher than the vast majority of their supposed peers:

“For whatever reason, we’ve always felt a little out of context to our friends and peers,” [elaborated bassist Amos Williams (and he may just as well be describing yours truly, heh)] “I’m sure everyone feels that, but let’s just say we’ve never quite fit. This has been a blessing for us creatively, as it has allowed us a certain freedom. As always, on this album there appears to be a rule of contradictions. Although things are less hectic than before, they are also far more delicate and tricky. The impact is less explosive, but more shattering as a result. Mood, atmosphere, melody, and experiment are the main focus. Although it may have gone off on its own journey, it is still TESSERACT somehow."

Formed in 2003 as a studio project for guitarist Acle Kahney, TESSERACT's line-up was completed by 2007 with Jay Postones on drums, James Monteith on guitar, Amos Williams on bass and Abisola Obasanya on vocals. In 2009, Daniel Tompkins took over vocal duties and the band recorded their debut full-length ‘One’, which was released in 2011 through Century Media Records: “But perhaps most impressive of all is how naturally these many elements are meshed together, not to mention the uplifting emotions they convey against such oppressive prog metal backdrops,” wrote Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic (more here). In 2012, TESSERACT recorded ‘Perspective’ EP, with new vocalist Elliot Coleman who left the band mere weeks after the EP's release.

TESSERACT features: Acle Kahney – guitar, Amos Williams – bass, Jay Postones – drums, James Monteith – guitars and Ashe O’Hara – vocals 

Aenaon: Der Müde Tod – new video & Extance – new album

(So here we are, the last day of 2014 Winter Olympic Games: truth be told, following the Games on mostly muted TV set – since some – not all! - of our here commentators' and winter sports experts' expertise starts and ends with ice cubes in their drinks – is quite tiring, but thankfully ICED EARTH (their Transformers headgear-wearing soundman including) refilled the batteries with their performance yesterday.)

AENAON's ‘Der Müde Tod’, “the tired death” - as far as I know, comes off the Greek progressive black metallers' second full-length album ‘Extance’, issued through Code666 Records/Aural Music on January the 20th, 2014. The tune, its video created by Sotiris Benekos, features guest vocals by FUNERAL and IN VAIN's Sindre Nedland and saxophone by Orestis Zirinis. ‘Extance’ was recorded at Crown Studio in Greece, mixed by AENAON and their guitarist Achilleas C., mastered by Tom Kvalsvoll at Strype Audio in Oslo, Norway, while its art was created by Polish artist Lukasz Wodynski. Purchase this interesting album here (AENAON's store), on iTunes or through Amazon:

According to the official bio, AENAON was born in 2005, somewhere in the central Greece – as an idea. If I deciphered the given information properly, that  idea occurred to bassist Thyragon and guitarist Draugen. When vocalist Astrous and drummer Vanghmar comprehended that idea during the year that followed, the quartet started to work on materialising it. Achilleas C. joined the band as second guitarist in 2007 for a brief period of time and as Dagwn was brought in as his replacement, AENAON signed with the Canadian Bleak Art Records through which they released an EP entitled ‘Phenomenon’ in 2009:

Alas, Draugen and Vanghmar left the group by the end of that year and Achilleas C. was once again drafted as guitarist. A split 7” with Romanian band SATANOCHIO came out in 2010 on Floga Records/Orkestral Promenade Productions, before AENAON signed with Code666 which was to release their first proper album:

‘Cendres Et Sang’ followed in 2011 through Code666 Records, a sublabel of Aural Music. The album was recorded at Crown Studio in Greece, produced and mixed by Achilleas C. and Astrous, engineered by Pantelis Kalogiros and Stratos Kountouras, and mastered by Tom Kvalsvoll. The album featured guest appearances by vocalists Ørjan “V'gandr” Nordvik (of HELHEIM and AETERNUS fame) and DAKRYA's Thomais Chatzigianni, as well as contributions by pianists Vasilis Agiomyrgianakis and Pantelis Kalogiros and saxophonist Christos Agouridakis:

AENAON features: Astrous – vocals, Achilleas C. – guitar, Anax (J.M) – guitars, Thyragon – guitar and Nycriz – drums

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 

 

Kill Devil Hill: Leave It All Behind – new video

(Excuse me, yes, but Tina Maze (Slovenia: population 2 million approx / 7 current Winter Olympics medals in total) yesterday, Ted Ligety (USA: population 317 million approx / 21 current Winter Olympics medals in total), Patrizia Kummer (Switzerland: population 8 million approx / 10 current Winter Olympics medals in total) and Vic Wild (Russian Federation: population 143 million approx / 21 current Winter Olympics medals in total) today, surely killed the devil out of that hill.) ‘Leave It All Behind’ comes off KILL DEVIL HILL (Kill Devil Hills is an actual, existing town in North Carolina, USA, renowned for its pirating past (occurring around Kill Devil rum) and the Wright brothers' first successful powered flights) second studio album ‘Revolution Rise’, out since October 2013 on Century Media Records and which, I swear, did not purposely ignore. KILL DEVIL HILL, featuring such heavyweights as drummer Vinny Appice (former BLACK SABBATH, HEAVEN & HELL, DIO etc), bassist Rex Brown (former PANTERA, DOWN), guitarist Mark Zavon (former W.A.S.P.) and vocalist Jason “Dewey” Bragg (former PISSING RAZORS), produced ‘Revolution Rise’ along with Jeff Pilson. The album was mixed by Jay Ruston, and its art created by Sam Shearon. It sold around 2,150 copies in the USA in its first week of release and will sell much more internationally, if you buy ‘Revolution Rise’ here (CM Distro USA), here (the band's store), on iTunes or via Amazon.

 

Formed in 2011 in Kill Devil Hills in North Carolina by Appice, Brown, Zavon and Bragg, KILL DEVIL HILL released the supergroup's debut, self-titled album in 2012 through SPV/Steamhammer:

“Yes sir, some tasty metal is served. … That’s because KILL DEVIL HILL is not an album that requires detailed analysis to appreciate. Its sole mission seems to be one based in listener appreciation for no-frills metal/rock that grooves and hooks with just enough grit to maintain street-cred with the perpetual naysayers. Mission accomplished,” [went straight to the point Scott Alisoglu, Blabbermouth – more here:]

KILL DEVIL HILL features: Vinny Appice – drums, Rex Brown – bass, Mark Zavon – guitar, Jason “Dewey” Bragg – vocals 

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

Scorpion Child: Kings Highway – new video

 

 

(Having been immersed deep in my own transcendence's wheel of time… and, of course, the Winter Olympics… (quick medal count: Germany leads with 7 Gold medals and 12 in total, Netherlands (the kings and queens of speed skating) are second with 5 Gold medals and unbelievable 17 medals in total, Norway stands firm third with 5 Gold and total 14 and SCORPION CHILD's home country (even Texas played its snowy part this year, I read) currently occupies seventh place on the medals table – and thank you, Ov Father, for finally recognising the hard work of one of your bests: Bode Miller) So, SCORPION CHILD, in cooperation with the talented director and award-winning stop-motion animator Jess Cope, released a new video for ‘Kings Highway’ (“a bluesy slow-burner”) off the band's eponymous debut LP out on Nuclear Blast Records since June 2013. Upon its release, ‘Scorpion Child’ entered German Media Control charts at number 84. SCORPION CHILD's nine, hook-filled chapters of heavy psych rock, produced and arranged by Grammy-nominated Chris “Frenchie” Smith using analog recording technology, got the metal press' big league excited (see below). To get exited yourselves, shop here (Nuclear Blast Europe store), or search for this wonder, available as CD, vinyl and digitally, on iTunes or Amazon:

“This eponymous debut from Texan quintet SCORPION CHILD surely ranks among the most head-scratching LPs of 2013, maybe the entire decade thus far. Why? Because it’s so damn hard to fathom what heavy metal category to file the band under: trad, retro, stoner, groove - heck, even '80s hair metal springs to mind, at times - like some kind of headbanger morality test, nagging one to distrust that gut feeling insisting everything will actually be just fine in the morning. Which is another way of saying you’ll probably need several listens to solve SCORPION CHILD's riddle; but given some effort, you’ll be glad you did,” [wrote Eduardo Rivadavia for Blabbermouth – more here]

 

 

It is fair to say that SCORPION CHILD come from lots of different places, not only logistically but musically as well, with influences as diversified as classic 80's thrash metal to the old school southern blues of Blind Willie Johnson, Lemon Jefferson and Willie McTell. In 2006, the musicians gathered in Austin, Texas to form a band and soon enough they found their own footing. After years of balancing full-time jobs at coffee shops and bars around the town, an experience they say forced them to be very disciplined, in 2010 SCORPION CHILD finally gained peer recognition and critical praise from local and regional press.

SCORPION CHILD features: Aryn Jonathan Black – vocals, Shaun Diettrick Avants – bass, Christopher Jay Cowart - lead guitar, Shawn Paul Alvear – drums and Tom “The Mole” Frank – rhythm guitar

 

 

 

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

Korn: Spike In My Veins – new video

The American nu metal institution known as KORN has just unleashed a new video upon this world; Rolling Stone has premiered ‘Spike In My Veins’ video - the site's John Gentile explains: “KORN fight media manipulation with ‘Spike In My Veins’, the tune is “tension-filled”, it “attacks governmental data surveillance and modern information overload” and that “the video reflects the band's mindset”. And then he proceeds:

“From the onset, we see them stomping around a room filled with TV monitors, as the video first cuts to news reports of data surveillance before the broadcast is interrupted with a Justin Bieber report. There’s not-so-subtle images of President Obama walking out to give a Presidential Address that’s spliced with him walking onto Jimmy Fallon's stage and videos of Toronto mayor Rob Ford and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie interrupted by shots of Miley Cyrus and Kanye West. KORN's point is clear: Is news news or just entertainment?” [More here]

For a four and a half minute-long self-explanatory video – that’s a lot of explaining, a “modern information overload”, maybe? And if KORN's point is so clear, why is the point a question? Anyhow, ‘Spike In My Veins’ comes off KORN's eleventh studio album ‘The Paradigm Shift’, issued in October 2013 on Caroline Records/Spinefarm Records. ‘The Paradigm Shift’ sold nearly 46,000 copies its first week of release in the USA alone, to land position number 8 on the Billboard Top 200. The album charted at number 7 in Germany, Austria and Australia, at number 11 in Poland, at number 20 in Denmark and at number 26 in France. The first KORN album to feature original guitarist Brian Welch since 2003's ‘Take A Look In The Mirror’ was produced and mixed by Don Gilmore, engineered by Mark Kiczula and mastered by Brad Blackwood. The album's art was created by Roboto (David D. Navarro). ‘The Paradigm Shift’ awaits you in stores, on iTunes, Amazon etc:

“Replacing the sort of creeping, churning aggression that emanated from their earlier work is a newfound vigor. This makes for a refreshing change of pace from the band, who have been on a real hot streak when it comes to experimenting with their sound. And even though ‘The Paradigm Shift’ might not be the album that listeners might expect after a reunion with “Head” [Brian Welch], it shows the kind of creativity and inventiveness that, love them or hate them, helped to make them an influential force in heavy music. This capacity for change is what has helped KORN to make it this far, and it’s a quality that will probably see them continue to flourish as time goes on,” [wrote Gregory Heaney, AllMusic – more here]

 

 

Formed in Bakersfield, California by guitarists James “Munky” Shaffer and Brian “Head” Welch, bassist Reginald “Fieldy Snuts” Arvizu, and drummer David Silveria, KORN were known as L.A.P.D. before they met (mortuary science student) Jonathan Davis in 1993. As KORN, they have recorded their debut self-titled album with producer Ross Robinson, with it establishing a new wave of metal (nu metal) as well as starting off Robinson's career. Their 1994's debut, released through Immortal/Epic, peaked at number 72 on the Billboard Top 200 and was eventually certified Gold. KORN's second album, 1996's ‘Life Is Peachy’, reached position number 3 on the Billboard Top 200 and sold in excess of 100,000 copies in its first week; the album was certified Platinum in the U.S., Platinum in Australia and Gold in Canada. KORN's third full-length release, 1998's ‘Follow The Leader’, is credited with bringing nu metal to the mainstream; produced by Steve Thompson and Toby Wright, the album peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Top 200, and conquered Australian, Canadian and New Zealand's charts. ‘Follow The Leader’ was certified Platinum five times in the U.S. alone (and three times in Australia and Canada). 1999's ‘Issues’ propelled KORN straight to the top of American charts. Produced by Brendan O’Brian, the album has reportedly sold over 11 million copies worldwide since its release. KORN's fifth album, 2002's ‘Untouchables’, reached position number 2 on the Billboard 200 Top and had won the band a Grammy for the single ‘Here To Stay’. In 2003, KORN released ‘Take A Look In The Mirror’; the self-produced album entered the Billboard charts at number 19 and peaked at number 9. ‘Take A Look In The Mirror’ was the last album (until now) the group has recorded with guitarist Brian Welch and KORN's last issued on Immortal/Epic. KORN's next Platinum album, 2006's ‘See You On The Other Side’, was released on EMI/Virgin Records. Their last to feature drummer David Silveria was produced by Davis, Atticus Ross and the production team The Matrix. ‘See You On The Other Side’ debuted at number 3 on the Billboard Top 200, and remained on the chart for 34 consecutive weeks. In 2007, KORN released their “untitled album” which reached number 2 on the American charts. For their next record, the band had returned to their first producer, Ross Robinson; ‘Korn III: Remember Who You Are’ was issued on Roadrunner Records in 2010. With it they peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Top 200 (and “remembered who they were just in time to forget it all again on ‘The Path Of Totality’” as put by S.T. Erlewine, AllMusic): 

In December 2011, KORN came up with ‘The Path Of Totality’, on which the band explored dubstep and electronic territory with some of the world's leading dubstep and electronic producers and DJs, including Skrillex, Excision, Datsik, Noisia, Kill The Noise and 12th Planet. The album had conquered the U.S. Dance & Electronic Albums chart and had peaked at number 10 on the Billboard Top 200. ‘The Path Of Totality’ sold 55,000 copies during its first week:

“Unexpected this move may be, but not unnatural. KORN always emphasized texture over riffs, so shifting from a gray guitar grind toward claustrophobic electronic collage doesn’t induce shock, apart from the shock that the album actually works. KORN's cast of collaborators … does not redefine the band's character but rather reinterpret it, retaining the same tempos, the same creeping minor-key melodies and riffs, the same sense of enveloping angst that have been present since their 1994 debut. The difference of arrangement - heavy on skittish drums and electro walls of assault - has the curious effect of making KORN seem not adventurous but rather mature… [took the words from my mouth Stephen Thomas Erlewine, AllMusic – more here:]

KORN features: Jonathan Davis – vocals, James Shaffer – guitar, Brian Welch – guitar, Reginald Arvizu – bass and Ray Luzier – drums 

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