Maynard James Keenan is an American singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, winemaker, actor, and former soldier. He is probably best known as the lead singer of the multi-platinum bands TOOL and A PERFECT CIRCLE. In 2003 he created PUSCIFER, a side project and “a playground for the various voices in [his] head, a space with no clear or discernible goals, [and] where [his] Id, Ego, and Anima all come together to exchange cookie recipes”. (I used to knows guys who knew just such places well, but they didn’t end up releasing either records or videos, heh) The above video though, was filmed by Tim Cadiente (Barton Perreira) and Meats Meier (3D Art Space). ‘Telling Ghost’ comes from PUSCIFER's second studio album ‘Conditions Of My Parole’, which was released on Puscifer Entertainment in October 2011. Below you’ll find videos ‘Man Overboard’, animated by Meats Meier, and ‘Conditions Of My Parole’, co-directed by Mike King (Flea Circus Films) and PUSCIFER. Both tunes are taken from the 2011 full-length, produced by Mat Mitchell and PUSCIFER, mixed by Mat Mitchell and Josh Eustis, and mastered by Bob Ludwig and Bernie Gardner.
“A departure from the angst of TOOL and the esoteric darkness of A PERFECT CIRCLE, the synth-heavy album has a more autumnal feeling about it, combining layers of electronic ambience and programmed drums with the singer's yearning vocals to create a kind of cold loneliness. It’s this isolated sound that Keenan thrives in, with his trademark vocals adding just the right amount of drama to the mix and acting as the glue that manages to hold everything together when the mood strikes him to drift into more aggressive territory on songs like ‘Toma’ and ‘Conditions Of My Parole,” commented Gregory Heaney, Allmusic – read the rest here]
Tasmanian devils' (as they are known in some predictable circles) new album will be released on February 7th, 2012 in North America and on February 10th, 2012 in Europe, but by all means do listen to PSYCROPTIC fifth studio album, ‘The Inherited Repression’, before its release in its full technical death metal glory here, at Guitar World. (The stream has since ended.) The album was produced, engineered and mixed by one of the band's founders guitarist Joe Haley, while Alan Douches handled mastering duties. Pre-order the album here (Nuclear Blast USA) and here (Nuclear Blast Europe), on iTunes and Amazon.
“ ‘The Inherited Repression’ is far and away my favorite PSYCROPTIC album thus far - all of us in the band think this. It’s the age-old cliché from bands when they talk about their current album as being the best of their career, blah, blah, but I have to say it because it’s true. We wouldn’t think there is a point of going on if we couldn’t outdo each album prior. We are certainly not playing music for anything else than the love of creating it and performing it. ‘The Inherited Repression’ is quite different from anything we have done in terms of song writing and structure, and we spent a lot longer writing and demoing the songs before we recorded it, which you can tell. It’s a very dynamic album - the fast elements faster, the slow elements slower, and a lot of light and dark binding it together. It’s a very catchy album as well - you can tap your foot, bang your head or anything else you want. Basically it has a lot of groove on it from start to finish,” [commented guitarist Joe Haley]:
PSYCROPTIC was formed in 1999 by brothers Dave and Joe Haley in Hobart, Australia. With vocalist Matthew Chalk and bassist Cameron Grant, the brothers self-released PSYCROPTIC debut full-length, ‘The Isle Of Disenchantment’, in 2001, which was followed by ‘The Scepter Of The Ancients’ in 2003 (Unique Leader Records). In 2004, with their star on the rise, the group embarked on their first Australian tour as well as European tour with their Swedish brothers in arms DISMEMBER and ANATA. PSYCROPTIC lost vocalist Matthew Chalk upon their return to Tasmania, whom they replaced with Jason Peppiatt before issuing their third studio album, ‘Symbols Of Failure’, in 2006 (Neurotic Records/Willowtip Records/Stomp). With it PSYCROPTIC impressed Nuclear Blast Records, who offered the band an international recording contract. Logan Mader-mixed and mastered fourth full-length ‘Ob(Servant)’ was released in 2008:
“PSYCROPTIC usually go for the jugular, and they take great pleasure in kicking, stomping, and pummeling the listener into submission. … But never let it be said that bands like PSYCROPTIC lack chops or can’t play their instruments. Musicianship, in fact, is a crucial part of the equation on ‘Ob(Servant)’. These Aussies favor a complex blend of technical death metal and technical metalcore; technical is definitely the operative word where PSYCROPTIC are concerned, and the fact is that you need good chops to play music that is so unapologetically technical,” [was unapologetically perceptive Alex Henderson, Allmusic – more here]
PSYCROPTIC features: Jason Peppiatt – vocals, Joe Haley – guitar, Cameron Grant – bass and Dave Haley – drums
‘Beaten And Left Behind’ comes from LANDMINE MARATHON's most recent album ‘Gallows’, released in September 2011 in North America and finally out across Europe this week. The video was directed by Raul Varela. ‘Gallows’ was recorded by LANDMINE MARATHON guitarist Ryan Butler at Arcane Digital Recording Studio and mastered by Dave Shirk at Sonorous Mastering. It features the debut of the band's new drummer Andy York. The ‘Gallows’ cover art was created by UK artist and DEVIATED INSTINCT guitarist Rob “Mid” Middleton, known for his artwork for NAPALM DEATH, EXTREME NOISE TERROR and others. Listen to another new track, ‘Cutting Flesh And Bone’, below, and buy LANDMINE MARATHON stuff here (Prosthetic Records):
LANDMINE MARATHON: Cutting Flesh And Bone
Formed in 2004 in Phoenix, Arizona, LANDMINE MARATHON released their first demo of grindcore/death metal/hardcore/thrash in 2005, followed by debut full-length, ‘Wounded’, in 2006 (Level Plane Records). Their second album, ‘Rusted Eyes Awake’, came out in 2008 and was re-released a year later by Prosthetic Records:
“For their second long-player, the group seemingly sought to explore the very moment when thrash became death, given the improbable velocity with which they attack corrosive headbangers like ‘Certain Death’, ‘Bled To Death’ and ‘Heroin Swine’ - to the point that one wonders whether such near-blastbeat velocity would have even been achievable some 30 years earlier. Others, like the two-faced ‘Xenocide’, alternate a crawling first-half grind with a more typical flurry in its second half, all topped with words condemning American insularity (we think) with stellar results, and several more also indulge in the blood & guts lyrics typical of many genre-defining death metal bands. Finally worth mentioning is that LANDMINE MARATHON's vocal Armageddon is carried out by a charming young lady by the name of Grace Perry, whose crust-layered grunts and vicious shrieks leave nothing to be desired when compared to the boys' club that dominates the scene,” [expressed himself cleverly Eduardo Rivadavia, Allmusic – more here]
2010's “scorched, desolate and angry as hell” third album and LANDMINE MARATHON's debut on Prosthetic Records, ‘Sovereign Descent’, was recorded at guitarist Ryan Butler's Arcane Digital Recording Studios, mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music and has featured the artwork by acclaimed artist Dan Seagrave:
“Even at 40 minutes, it’s punishing and something of an endurance test. Those who like their metal relentless and punky will find much to bang their heads to, though,” [added Phil Freeman, Allmusic – more here]
LANDMINE MARATHON features: Grace Perry – vocals, Dylan Thomas – guitar, Ryan Butler – guitar, Matt Martinez – bass and vocals and Andy York - drums
Listen to Toronto's NEPHELIUM debut album, ‘Coils Of Entropy’, in its vehement death metal entirety here (BandCamp) or below; NEPHELIUM's debut full-length will be officially self-released on February 7th, 2012. ‘Coils Of Entropy’ was recorded at Rouge Valley Studios in Toronto, produced, engineered and mixed by Darius Szcepaniak and mastered by Steve Benford. The album's artwork was created by Juanjo Castellano. Support NEPHELIUM via their Bandcamp page:
NEPHELIUM: Coils Of Entropy
Formed in 1990 by guitarist Alex Zubair and drummer Alan Madhavan in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, NEPHELIUM re-established themselves in Toronto, Canada over 10 years ago. Releasing debut demo ‘Archaic Malevolent Sorcery’ in 2002, followed by ‘Ignite The Wrath Of Silence’ EP in 2003, it took the band a long while to complete their debut full-length. NEPHELIUM co-founder Alan Madhavan explains:
“From the scorching heat of the Arabian deserts to the blistering cold of what we now call home, this debut album has literally and figuratively come a long way. The aged yet modern style of death metal with a subtle integration of Middle Eastern melodies is a perfect musical collaboration of our minds and souls. A ferocious ride with concepts and lyrical themes written around the observations of an entity witnessing the world and its demise through different eras and music that creeps up the caverns of your brain, be ready for a hybrid onslaught of technical mastery and bloodcurdling brutality. We firmly believe that it was well worth the wait but don’t take our word for it, give it a spin and determine that for yourselves. However, don’t cry when your speakers demolish your insides… you were warned…”
NEPHELIUM features: Devlin Anderson – vocals, Alex Zubair – guitar, James Sawyer – guitar, Flo Ravet – bass and Alan Madhavan - drums
LIBERTEER, the creation of Matthew Widener (CRETIN and CITIZEN) is “a manifestation of total anarchy, driven by an incendiary lyrical message designed to burn the system down!” Such a lofty statement deserves a bit more elaboration, wouldn’t you say?
“My thoughts on politics slowly changed over the past six years. In CITIZEN I had a sense of outrage about our government, but because it still supported the idea of state, it doesn’t make much sense to me now. I’ve come to embrace the ideas of anarchy. The old band name, CITIZEN, represents a system of exclusion and nationalism, things I can’t stand now, so I had to rename the band and change a lot of things. I think the good things about the music are still there - the thematic, major-key riffs, the d-beats and blasts - but the message is now pure,” [commented Widener on the formation of the band and band's debut, out today, January 31st, 2012 through Relapse Records. He added:] The album is one long song, with a handful of the coolest riffs reappearing as leitmotifs, like a pissed off opera made of blasts and d-beats. It’s utterly relentless. Plus, there’s a training montage at the halfway point.”
LIBERTEER's debut ‘Better To Die On Your Feet Than Live On Your Knees’ (“the soundtrack to a populace casting off the chains of state, church, and economic oppression, and fighting tooth and nail to recapture personal freedom”) is being currently streamed in its liberating entirety here, at Lambgoat, and below. Once informed about the state of affairs, get further instructions (CD) here (Relapse Records).
[Decibel's Chris D described LIBERTEER's musical activism thusly:] “Amidst uncompromising blasts of anarcho-crust-punk-pissedasfuck whatever (a NAPALM DEATH / DISCHARGE Molotov cocktail birthed in nastiest defiles of Every City, USA), LIBERTEER throws down like it’s 1776. By using/integrating military march music and (perhaps) roots music of the Appalachians [eastern United States], it’s fair to say that Widener's putting the “anti” in American. The gutter-home charge vs. triumphant stroll in recently occupied/now liberated minds is certainly a strange juxtaposition, but it works.” [Read the rest here]
Tirelessly spreading black metal terror since 1995, AZAGHAL's latest unholy enterprise and ninth full-length, ‘Nemesis’, comes out tomorrow, January 31st, 2012 on Moribund Records. Over 50 minutes long, ‘Nemesis’ is AZAGHAL's longest creation so far; thrash and atmospheric elements (and even some acoustics) notwithstanding, the album abounds those Nordic-style black metal blastbeats you’ve come to expect.
Co-founded by Narqath (Tomi Kalliola) and V-Khaoz in 1995 in Hyvinkää, Finland, AZAGHAL recorded their first demo in 1997, shortly after vocalist Varjoherra joined up. Two more demos followed in 2008, as well as 7” EP ‘Harmagedon’. AZAGHAL's debut album, 1999's ‘Mustamaa’ was originally released as vinyl-only by Melancholy Productions, but was later re-released as CD by ISO666. Second full-length, ‘Helvetin Yhdeksän Piiriä’, followed quickly that same year, with quite a few splits and compilations filling the gap before the band's next full-length was issued, 2002's ‘Of Beasts And Vultures’. Founding member and drummer V-Khaoz was let go by the band after its release, while lead guitarist JL Nokturnal was enlisted just before the album was recorded. The next string of splits would end with the EP ‘Kyy’, issued in 2003, followed by proper album ‘Perkeleen Luoma’ in 2004 (Aftermath Music). AZAGHAL played their first live show in 2004, appearing at the Under The Black Sun Festival in Germany. In 2005, they recorded ‘Codex Antitheus’, which was followed diligently by ‘Luciferin Valo’ in 2006. Chernobog replaced dummer TM Blastbeast after the 2006's issue, as Niflungr would fill in for Varjoherra on bass and vocals. In keeping with the band's tradition, 2008's album ‘Omega’ (Moribund Records) was succeeded by full-length ‘Teraphim’ a bare year later.
AZAGHAL features: Narqath – guitar, JL Nokturnal – guitar, Chernobog – drums and Niflungr - bass and vocals
They are young, polite and they know their Greek mythology. They go by affluential name ELYSION FIELDS (where, according to the aforementioned source, those chosen by the gods (the righteous and the heroic) would remain after death, to live a blessed and happy life), yet they like their pizza, BBQ and enjoy their walks on the beach just like the rest of us. They also have a new album out since November 2011, ‘New Beginnings’, which can be listened to and bought here (Bandcamp) or via player available below. ‘New Beginnings’ comes adorned with artwork by Michael Steinheiser (Wake the Dead Clothing):
ELYSION FIELDS: New Beginnings
Influenced by such acts as AS I LAY DYING, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA and AUGUST BURNS RED, ELYSION FIELDS formed in 2008 in Chicago, Illinois. They released a self-titled six-track EP in 2009 and have since shared stage with the likes of AUGUST BURNS RED, MYCHILDREN MYBRIDE, DARKEST HOUR, MISERY INDEX and many notable others.
ELYSION FIELDS features: Josh – guitar & vocals, Chris – vocals, Jason – drums, Ryan – bass and Scotty – guitar & vocals
Scott Vogel's TERROR keep releasing videos and I keep track (see below). ‘The New Blood’ comes from the L.A.-based hardcore band's latest release ‘Keepers Of The Faith’, which was produced by Chad Gilbert (NEW FOUND GLORY) at Buzzbomb Studio, engineered by Paul Minor, mixed by Matt Hyde and released in 2010 on Century Media Records. Do click here and become wiser; every time they release new video I get to do just that:
“Dude, I loved your band's cover of straightedge revenge. I would’ve sang along but I was at the back buying beers,” [is just one example of by now legendary “vogelism”, a term used for - often hilarious - on-stage banter by TERROR's founder Scott Vogel]
“There’s something liberating about a band that know the tools they have to work with and use them faithfully. TERROR never tries to play over their head or stretch past their capabilities; it’s unabashed hardcore simplicity from beginning to end,” [commented on ‘Keepers Of The Faith’ About.com's Justin M. Norton – more here]
TERROR was formed by vocalist Scott Vogel (formerly lead singer with bands like DESPAIR, SLUDGEFEST and BURIED ALIVE) in 2002. A four-song demo, an EP and a lot of touring later, the band signed with Bridge 9 Records and released a nine-song EP entitled ‘Lowest Of The Low’ in 2003. TERROR spent the rest of that year touring, including a stint in Europe with BIOHAZARD. The group signed with Trustkill Records and issued two albums through that label; 2004's ‘One With The Underdogs’ and 2006's ‘Always The Hard Way’ – the latter reaching number 10 on Billboard's Heatseekers chart. Later on, bassist Carl Swartz and guitarist Frank Novinec left the band to concentrate on FIRST BLOOD and HATEBREED respectively. ‘Rhythm Amongst The Chaos’ EP followed in 2007 (Reaper Records) and the band got included in Century Media's 20 year celebration covers album, 2008's ‘Covering 20 Years Of The Extreme’. ‘The Damned, The Shamed’, TERROR's fourth full-length, was released by Century Media Records that same year.
TERROR features: Scott Vogel – vocals, Nick Jett – drums, Jordan Posner – guitar, Martin Stewart – guitar and David Wood - bass
Inferno Magazine is currently streaming the new album by Finland's doom, gloom & despair masters, SWALLOW THE SUN, titled ‘Emerald Forest And The Blackbird’ – click here to get there. SWALLOW THE SUN's fifth full-length, set for February 1st, 2012-release on Spinefarm Records, was recorded by Mikko Karmila at Drumforest Studios in Viitasaari and Sonic Pump 2 in Helsinki and by Hannu Honkonen at Noisework Studios, also in Helsinki. The ‘Emerald Forest And The Blackbird’ was mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa, and mastered by Mika Jussila at Finnvox Studios. The album's artwork was created by Rami Mursula. Besides the recognizable voice of Anette Olzon, Aleah Stanbridge's (TREES OF ETERNITY) vocal contributions can be found on two tracks. Pre-order the album here (Record Shop X).
“I found myself listening to an old Finnish lullaby called “Sininen Uni” over and over again, and suddenly images started pouring into my mind of a dad reading a tale to his dying child, trying to explain where the child is going that night, the tale of ‘Emerald Forest And The Blackbird’,” [does his best to cheer us up Juha Raivio, the band's main songwriter] “Finally this image lead me into a long journey through this night and got me trapped in the limbo between the dusk and the dawn. The place where you face your demons and angels, meet the souls of the ones you loved and lost. Will we walk the night forever, or let the night forgive us and let us say a last goodbye? These are songs from the limbo, notes of sorrow, hate, love, darkness and light. The tale of ‘Emerald Forest And The Blackbird’.”
Check out SWALLOW THE SUN's latest video, ‘Cathedral Walls’, below. Directed by Tage Rönnqvist, the song features the voice of NIGHTWISH' Anette Olzon.
(The “death & doom luminaries”) SWALLOW THE SUN was formed in 2000 by Juha Raivio, in Jyväskylä, Finland. The band signed with Firebox Records on the strength of their first recording, 2003's ‘Out Of This Gloomy Light’ demo. STS' debut studio album, ‘The Morning Never Came’, came out that same year and was received with much critical praise. Their 2005's ‘Ghost Of Loss’ peaked at position 8 on Finnish Top 40 Albums chart, with 2007's ‘Hope’ (Spinefarm Records) climbing their home-country's charts even higher, reaching position number 3. In 2008, SWALLOW THE SUN felt obliged to tell the tale of “an old hermit, deep woods, loneliness and the plague”, and out came their first EP ‘Plague Of Butterflies’, a 35 minutes long song “of crushing gloom, beauty and despair” divided into three parts. It, of course, conquered the Finnish charts. Jens Bogren-produced fourth album ‘New Moon’ was issued on Spinefarm/Svart Records in 2009:
“Imagine the surprise of your average wannabe teenage vampire who erroneously purchases ‘New Moon’ - not the soundtrack album for the popular “Twilight” movie franchise - but the fourth album by doom/death demi-gods SWALLOW THE SUN. Or vice-versa!” [just fixed my morning Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic] “In either case, there’d be little chance of crossover given the Fins' continuing commitment to the harshest elements of their metallic sound - all leviathan riffs and beastly growls and shrieks - even as they progressively experiment with tighter song arrangements, melodic singing, and gothic accents (see ‘Falling World’) amid the ever-present symphonic backdrops that have served them well since the start of their career. … Not unlike KATATONIA before them, SWALLOW THE SUN can’t help but evolve, and it’s ultimately the very gradual rate at which they do so that makes it almost impossible for even the most stubborn of fans to begrudge them that evolution, with the alternative being stagnation. People who think like that may as well go buy that shitty “Twilight” soundtrack.” [Read the rest here]
SWALLOW THE SUN features: Mikko Kotamäki – vocals, Juha Raivio – guitar, Markus Jämsen – guitar, Aleksi Munter – keyboards Matti Honkonen – bass, and Kai Hahto – drums
Those wonderful people who make up MASTODON have just released a new video, Tim Biskup-directed and animated ‘Dry Bone Valley’. The tune comes from the sludge/stoner/alternative metal outfit's latest album, ‘The Hunter’, recorded at Doppler Studios in Atlanta with producer Mike Elizondo, and released via Roadrunner/Reprise Records in September 2011. Below you’ll find MASTODON's video ‘Curl Of The Burl’, directed by Roboshobo (Robert Schober), who also helmed their amazing ‘Divinations’ and ‘Sleeping Giant’ videos. ‘The Hunter’ has reached position number 10 on the Billboard 200 and has sold, to date, over 75,000 copies in the U.S. alone.
“Fueled by Brann Dailor's jazzy, machine-gun drumming, songs like ‘Octopus Has No Friends’, ‘All The Heavy Lifting’, and ‘Bedazzled Fingernails’, despite coming in at under five minutes, are epically arranged, and the surprisingly hummable, bass melody-led swamp monster anthem ‘Creature Lives’ sounds like a SABBATHy, Lovecraftian [H.P., writer] take on JANE'S ADDICTION's ‘Summertime Rolls’. The closest ‘Hunter’ comes to reaching an apex is on the breathless ‘Spectrelight’, a relentless three-minute slab of pure unadulterated fury that will probably clock in at around a minute and half live, but it’s an album that doesn’t really need to peak, as it never promises a thing it can’t back up, boldly and loudly,” [commended James Christopher Monger, AllMusic – more here]
Born out of a mutual admiration for the MELVINS, BLACK SABBATH, NEUROSIS and THIN LIZZY, MASTODON was formed in late 1999 by drummer and vocalist Brann Dailor, guitarist and vocalist Bill Kelliher, bassist and vocalist Troy Sanders and guitarist and vocalist Brent Hinds. On the strength of a four-song demo, the band signed with Relapse Records in 2001. The EP, ‘Lifesblood’, was released that same year and the group's full-length debut, ‘Remission’, which followed in 2002, was received by overwhelmingly positive reviews. 2004's ‘Leviathan’, loosely based on Herman Melville's “Moby Dick”, signaled a turning point in the band's career, appearing on critics' best-of-the-year lists across the musical spectrum:
“Lurking beneath is an expansiveness more massive than anything found on the shores. The sound on ‘Leviathan’ seems bottomless and infinite in the best possible way: it’s not a dip in the pool; it’s a headlong cliff dive into deep waters,” [wrote AllMusic's Wade Kergan - read the rest of the review here]:
MASTODON eventually landed a deal with Warner Bros. to release their third album, ‘Blood Mountain’, which debuted at number 32 on the Billboard 200 and received a Grammy nomination in the “Best Metal Performance” category for the song ‘Colony Of Birchmen’:
“What does it add up to?” [asked AllMusic's Thom Jurek out loud] “Something old and something new, a heavy metal that’s utterly gargantuan to wrestle with because it actually moves the style into brand new territory, an unfamiliar terrain which will accord it much name calling and crying of “sellout” by the unwashed masses who are more conservative about their steely brand of “folk music” than the Newport crowd was about Dylan [Bob] going electric. Yet, for those daring enough to take this in, there are true bloody treasures to behold and receive.” [He concluded - read more here]:
Fourth album, ‘Crack The Skye’, was released in 2009 through Reprise Records; the album debuted at number 11 on American albums chart Billboard 200, selling over 200,000 copies in the U.S. to date, making it one of MASTODON's highest selling albums:
