Full Album Stream: The Moth Gatherer: A Bright Celestial Light – new album

Swedish experimental/progressive duo THE MOTH GATHERER, featuring Alex Stjernfeldt and Victor Wegeborn, prefer to speak through their music which is just fine by me, since due to their and their label's generosity we get to hear a whole lot of them. Their new debut album, ‘A Bright Celestial Light’ can be streamed in its highly emotional and unstoppable entirety (from its opening track ‘The Water That We All Come To Need’ to ‘Intervention’, ‘A Road Of Gravel And Skulls’, ‘The Womb, The Woe, The Woman’ to its closing tune ‘A Falling Deity’) here (SoundCloud) or below. THE MOTH GATHERER's debut full length is due on April 16th, 2013 in Europe and on April 30th, 2013 in North America on Agonia Records. Get your own copy of ‘A Bright Celestial Light’, available as a CD and as a LP, here (Agonia Records store):

“THE MOTH GATHERER's music is hard to label, due to the band's [multi-dimensional] approach towards the songs they create; the debut offers long and complex [yet] surprisingly simple and compelling tracks, abundance of tempo changes and variations that surround the album bask in a emotionally charged, progressive yet utterly melodic slower-sections, addictive enough to stimulate the imagination,” [the press release instructs]

“[CVLT Nation's reviewer recommends ‘A Bright Celestial Light’ to the fans of heavy experimental music:] With the inclusion of electronic elements to give a more psychedelic dimension to their music, something that is further [aided] by the ingenious use of synths, keyboards and various effects to build a daunting atmosphere, the album will remain unforgettable to anyone after the very first few minutes. What is even more intriguing is the emotional charge that comes [from within] the band's music, from the heavier cathartic moments of songs like ‘The Water That We All Come To Need’ to the melancholic lead guitar parts, for instance in ‘Intervention’, ‘A Bright Celestial Light’ transfers an extreme variety of emotions to the listener,” [- read the rest here:]

Warbeast: Destroy – new album & Blood Moon – new video

 

On a warpath through North America since April 2nd, 2013 supported by Housecore Records, we, on this side of the Atlantic, get to enjoy Texas metal alliance's, WARBEAST, second LP via Season Of Mist today, April 12th, 2013, together with WARBEAST's new video ‘Blood Moon’, directed by Mike Holderbeast and featuring the acting talents of the band's guitarist Scott Shelby. ‘Destroy’, recorded with PANTERA and DOWN frontman and Housecore Records founder the legendary Philip H. Anselmo at his studio Nodferatu's Lair, is available as a CD and as a LP here (Season Of Mist e-store) and here (Housecore Records):

“This album is simply meaner and heavier than our first [2010's ‘Krush The Enemy’]. We’ve managed to keep the variety we had, but we allowed ourselves more freedom to go beyond the traditional songwriting patterns. It’s less predictable,” [stated vocalist Bruce Corbitt. Lyric-wise:] I just wanted to write about a wide range of subjects and emotions. Topics include everything from werewolves and humans warring with aliens, to national disasters and a robotic monster called “Warbeast”. There’s also a track called ‘Egotistical Bastards’, which could be about many people I know,” [he added, apparently laughing] “I want people to feel like they’ve been hit with a sledgehammer ten times in a row when they hear this. As long as they feel strongly about, we’ve accomplished our mission.”

In related news, Season Of Mist unleashed Philip H. Anselmo (backed by an instrumental threesome dubbed THE ILLEGALS) and WARBEAST split MCD (also available as 10” LP) titled ‘War Of The Gargantuas’ on the European market back in March 2013. Described as “a bite-sized glimpse into American heartland metal at its most extreme” as well as “a timely holiday stocking stuffer for the aging mosh pit veteran in your family, but not exactly mandatory listening for everyday metal heads” by Eduardo Rivadavia, AllMusic (more here), get your own copy of this rarity here (Season Of Mist).

 

Formed in 2006 in Arlington, Texas by vocalist Bruce Corbitt, who used to be the voice of thrash titans RIGOR MORTIS, guitarist Scott Shelby, who was part of the riff machine behind GAMMACIDE, and drummer Joey Gonzalez formerly of DEMONSEED, WARBEAST recorded their debut full-length with bassist Alan Bovee and guitarist Rick Perry. ‘Krush The Enemy’, released in 2010 on Housecore Records, was described as “a fierce metal record” and prescribed to fans of “second- or third-tier, regionally successful old-school thrash acts like DEFIANCE, HALLOWS EVE and RIGOR MORTIS” by Phill Freeman, AllMusic (read more here).

WARBEAST features: Bruce Corbitt – vocals, Scott Shelby - guitar, Joey Gonzalez – drums, Bobby Tillotson – guitar and Casey Orr – bass

 

Full Album Stream: This Misery Garden: Cornerstone – new album

Swiss champions of melancholy, THIS MISERY GARDEN, have just put forth their second full-length exposition of mankind's destructive behaviour, ‘Cornerstone’, today, April 12th, 2013 via Season Of Mist. ‘Cornerstone’, available from April 16th, 2013 on in North America, was recorded and mixed by Drop (of SYBREED fame) at Downtone Studio in Geneva, Switzerland and mastered by Jens Bogren at Fascination Street Studio in Örebro, Sweden. THIS MISERY GARDEN have released two videos in promotion of the album, Mathias Wälti-directed ‘Siamese Again’ and Renaud Kritzinger-directed ‘Warning Zone’, both available to you below. ‘Cornerstone’ can be purchased here (Season Of Mist e-shop):

“Not everything coming out of this Alpine country is chocolate and cheese,” [the label delivers the final blow] In darker times the halberds, pikes and swords of the fierce confederation's mercenaries were feared on Europe's many fields of battle. THIS MISERY GARDEN easily capture the dual nature of their home country on their second full-length ‘Cornerstone’. One side is marked by a catchy lightness of melodic rock, which will speak to friends of ALTER BRIDGE and STAIND. The other face of this five-piece is a melancholic darkness that reminds of early KATATONIA and the alienated strangeness of TOOL. Lean back, close your eyes and let your mind and soul be captured by ‘Cornerstone’!”

Formed in Geneva, Switzerland in 2005, THIS MISERY GARDEN are known “for taking things somewhat slower in order to achieve excellence and clockwork precision”. In 2007 they recorded a 3-track demo and in 2009 they unleashed “fourteen powerful yet melodic songs” - also known as their debut album titled ‘Another Great Day On Earth’ – through Galileo Records.

THIS MISERY GARDEN features: Steve – vocals, Laurent M. – guitar, Antoine – guitar, Jay – bass and Stephan - drums

Full Album Stream: Kadavar: Abra Kadavar – new album & Come Back Life – new video

 

These lovely gentlemen, called Lupus, Mammut and Tiger, are time travelers. According to Nuclear Blast Records, the world's leading scientists have recently confirmed this as a fact – as if conformation was in fact needed. From the 1970's they bring charming, riff-driven vintage hard rock you, most patient visitor, can listen to here (Classic Rock Magazine), as KADAVAR's second longplayer (2012's eponymous debut album being their first), authentically named ‘Abra Kadavar’, is being released upon Europe today, April 12th, 2013, on Nuclear Blast. ‘Abra Kadavar’ will effortlessly drop on North America on April 16th, 2013. The album was recorded, produced, mixed and mastered at Tiger's (drummer) studio. So, grow a full beard, resole your platform shoes and iron your bell-bottoms;‘Abra Kadavar’ must be bought from here (Nuclear Blast Europe), here (KADAVAR store) or via iTunes and Amazon. Now, concerning the album's art:

“[Explained KADAVAR’s front man Lupus Lindemann:] Joe Dilworth [former  STEREOLAB drummer] had already worked with us for our debut album. He’s one of the best photographers I know and always understood our ideas which is why we wanted to cooperate with him again. He proudly brought an old camera from the 60's and a colour film that had been expired for ten years to the shooting – hard to get and highly coveted, because it causes unpredictable deviants as far as colour and contrast are concerned. As one can see: we’ve used this very film!”

Follow-up: KADAVAR's ‘Abra Kadavar’ entered the German Album Charts at number 42. The band felt it was “a little inappropriate to enter the charts with music like theirs in this day and age”. However, they were absolutely delighted with the achievement. Furthermore, they’ve released a new Nathini van der Meer and Annikki Heinemann-directed video ‘Come Back Life’ which documents KADAVAR's trip from Texas to California, USA (“our baggage got lost and we had no place to sleep, no backline, no money, and as if that wasn’t enough, the '64 Ford Galaxy that we had bought after a long search blew up in our faces after ten minutes on the highway – but all is forgiven now”).

KADAVAR features: Lupus Lindemann – vocals and guitar, Mammut – bass and Tiger - drums

 

 

 

Dark Sermon: In Tongues – new album

 

Having nothing less than total domination on their minds as well as claiming not to care about what is marketable or what sells, their album is nevertheless out in North America through eOne and Good Fight Entertainment since late March 2013 and is now available in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records, April 12th, 2013. Combining the fist-raising melody of European death metal, the blackened underbelly of bleak blast-beating musical warfare, the churning malevolence of technical death metal and the uniquely down-to-earth flair of the NWOAHM (New Wave Of American Heavy Metal), DARK SERMON's new album is recommended to the fans of BEHEMOTH (“the suffocating stomp”), GOJIRA (“the brash experimentalism”), and JOB FOR A COWBOY and THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER (“the all-out ferocity”). Determined “to stand apart from the cookie-cutter garbage and trend-following cretins who have overcrowded the scene”, DARK SERMON naturally turned to Florida's AudioHammer Studios, home away from home to such business' greats as Jason Suecof, Mark Lewis and Eyal Levi, to record the album, and to artisan Eliran Kantor to provide the symbolization. For a better insight into DARK SERMON's debut album, check the three tracks off it, available in video/audio formats below. ‘In Tongues’ should be ordered from here (Nuclear Blast Europe), from iTunes and/or Amazon:

“DARK SERMON have made the seemingly impossible their mission: to bridge the gap between outwardly disparate subgenres of metal, to champion the cause of the downbeat and betrayed, to traverse the globe performing their compositions and to become the biggest metal band they can become through determination and effort. They want to influence the next generation of metal bands the way their favorite bands influenced them, with two powerful weapons: uniqueness and innovation. And with a debut album like this one, DARK SERMON [are] well on their way down that path,” [the press release concludes]

 

Formed in 2009 in Tampa, Florida, the five young men that make up DARK SERMON were reportedly destined to create heavy music together from a young age, “wearing metal T-shirts, blasting classic albums on their Walkmans on the school bus and pounding out drumbeats on their desks at school”:

“I’ve always found art, music and self-expression to be the most important aspects of human life,” [declared vocalist Johnny Crowder] We were put on this Earth to create.”

DARK SERMON features: Johnny Crowder – vocals, Austin Good – guitar, Neal Minor – guitar, Austin Chandler – bass and Bryson St. Angelo - drums

 

 

 

 

Koldbrann: Drammen – new video & Vertigo – full album stream

Let us all celebrate “the foul old town that conceived KOLDBRANN” by watching their new video ‘Drammen’ directed by Effektor, as was the band's first video released in promotion of their January 2013 release ‘Verigo’. ‘Totalt Sjelelig Bankerott’, available for your viewing pleasure below, features guest vocals by KVELERTAK's Erlend Hjelvik. As mentioned, ‘Vertigo’, received warmly by the metal press and entering the band's home country official album chart at position number 20, was issued in January 2013 on Season Of Mist. With due caution (“Beware! This ‘Vertigo’ will leave your head spinning!”) get your own copy of the album here (Season Of Mist e-shop), here (KOLDBRANN store) or via iTunes or BandCamp here, where you can listen to the album in its threatening black metal entirety as well.

“[Stated KOLDBRANN:] While KOLDBRANN has always paid tribute to the early pioneers of Nordic black metal, the band has, throughout its existence, strived to retain a distinct identity. Spending our formative years in relative isolation in Drammen, away from the interference of any metal scene, we learnt to do things our own way from the get-go. In that respect, our third album, ‘Vertigo’, represents a brand new chapter in the band's history. While retaining a substantial share of uncanny groove, the album also explores more doom-ridden, and progressive soundscapes than on our earlier works. It still sounds very much like KOLDBRANN, but with a fuller, more complete flavour. Rest assured: never have we put so much work and personal investments into an album. Never have we gone to greater lengths to chisel out each composition to suit our aural visions. It has been a long and winding road, and countless hours of tribulation. But that is now of the past. ‘Vertigo’ is here!”

So, out of Drammen, “a shunned old industrial town, situated along the dirty riverbanks of Drammenselva [upon which] most Norwegians look at as a grey and foul road junction on the way to Oslo”, come KOLDBRANN. Formed by vocalist Mannevond, they “fight to keep the flame of old school black metal (in light of GORGOROTH, MAYHEM and DARKTHRONE) burning” since 2001. KOLDBRANN, counting Mannevond, guitarist Kvass and drummer Fordervelse, recorded a demo they called ‘Pre-Prod 2002’, incorporated bass player Jonas “Raskolnikov” Christiansen (from SLAVIA) to their lineup in 2002, and, on account of a strictly limited rehearsal tape, ‘Mislyder Fra Det Nekrotiske Kammer’, which circulated the Norwegian underground at the time, got invited to appear at Legions Of The North Festival. In 2003, KOLDBRANN recorded their debut full-length ‘Nekrotisk Inkvisition’. Following, Christiansen left to focus on SLAVIA and Stian Johnskareng (known later on as S.G.J.) became the band's new bassist. In 2004, KOLDBRANN released a split 7” with LJÅ and ‘Nekrotisk Inkvisition’ saw its official launch. Emboldened by positive feedback, the band sought out  G. Antonsen as their second guitarist. Another 7”, ‘Atomvinter’, followed before KOLDBRANN unleashed their sophomore full-length, ‘Moribund’, through Twilight Vertreib in 2006. Their first European headlining tour ensued, and they rounded up the year with another split 7” with FAUSTCOVEN. Next, KOLDBRANN issued ‘Stigma: På Kant Med Livet’ EP and another 7” called ‘Russian Vodka’, before they parted ways with drummer Fordervelse and guitarist G. Antonsen, who were eventually replaced by Folkedal and Voidar respectively. As such, KOLDBRANN took their time working on their third album; in true Scandinavian black metal fashion (“to deliver quality over a speedy production”), the process which began in 2010 was brought to a successful end in 2012.

KOLDBRANN features: Kvass – guitar, Mannevond – vocals, S.G.J. – bass, Folkedal – drums and Voidar – guitar 

Full Album Stream: Anciients: Heart Of Oak – new album

Somewhere between sheer apocalyptic heaviness and precise riffing, smoking the hashes of the pharaohs, lays Vancouver and from it emerge ANCIIENTS, also smoking the hashes of the pharaohs, who combine “fuck-off-huge chords with mind-altering riffage” that apparently take us on an unfamiliar trip. Or something like that. Hence, take that unfamiliar trip with the help of the handsome player available to you below; it is called ‘Heart Of Oak’, it is ANCIIENTS' new and debut album about to be released in Europe, April 12th, 2013, and due in North America on April 16th, 2013 on Season Of Mist. One of the most anticipated albums of 2013, according to Decibel Magazine, was recorded with Jesse Gander at Hive Studios and comes adorned with art by Alison Lilly. It should be bought here (Season Of Mist e-shop):

“[Concerning the tune called ‘Faith And Oath’, guitarist Chris Dyck explained:] It began lyrically with some combo ideas about the Mayan's serpent-god beliefs and a strange dream I had about a snake-killing ritual. The serpent originally was representing the deceiver; as the song progressed and the vibe was realized it became our anthem for courage and strength.”

 

 

Founded in Vancouver, Canada in 2010, ANCIIENTS started as a creative outlet for vocalist and guitarist Kenny Cook, and became fully realized band once Cook and vocalist and guitarist Chris Dyck combined their creative efforts and the band's line-up was solidified with bassist Aaron “Boon” Gustafson and drummer Mike Hannay. Prior to their debut LP, ANCIIENTS released their self-titled EP and ‘Snakebeard’ 7”, engineered by Shawn Penner and mastered by Stu Mckillop:

 

KEN Mode: Counter Culture Complex – new video & Entrench – full album stream

 

 

“Sure, like most other bands, it’s probably safe to assume that KEN MODE don’t wander around hammering into submission anyone who crosses their path, but given the musical savagery at work on ‘Entrench’ (especially given the sheer rage and disgust that come through on ‘Your Heartwarming Story Makes Me Sick’), it’s easy to dive into the fantasy that if these guys are in your neighborhood, you might be better off seeking safety in numbers,” [dived into presumed fantasy Gregory Heaney, AllMusic, who proclaimed the Canadian trio winners of “the arms race when it comes to intensity” – read the rest of his review here]

Canadian noise artists', KEN MODE, fifth album or “massive punch in your face”, ‘Entrenched’, was released on March 15th, 2013 (March 19th, 2013 in North America), through Season Of Mist. The album was recorded at Private Ear Studios in Winnipeg, Canada with Matt Bayles who mixed the album as well, and mastered by Ed Brooks at RFI Mastering in Seattle, Washington. The sculpture presented on its cover, photographed by Ryan Klatt, was created by Lil Duncan (Ben Bonner). The album should be sought out (available as a digipak CD and as a double LP) here (Season Of Mist e-shop) immediately, if still alive after listening to ‘Entrench’ described by Emperor Rhombus, MetalSucks, as

“the garbage and wreckage left behind after the metal party let out, a field of bent steel, burnt-out cards, severed limbs, and beer cans cradling mouthfuls of backwash,”

(more here), in full here (BandCamp) or bellow:

 

KEN MODE, (an acronym for “Kill Everyone Now”, based on a quote by Henry Rollins), was formed in 1999 in Winnipeg, Canada by brothers guitarist and vocalist Jesse Matthewson and drummer Shane Matthewson, and bassist Darryl Laxdal. After recording several demos between 1999 to 2003, KEN MODE put forth their debut full-length, ‘Mongrel’, in 2003 through Escape Artist Records:

 

In 2004, Laxdal left the band but returned a year later in order to finish the band's sophomore album, 2006's ‘Reprisal’. Following the release, Laxdal departed and was replaced first with Drew Johnston and later on with Jahmeel Russell with whom KEN MODE recorded their third album, 2008's ‘Mennonite’, issued through Jesse Matthewson's own label Arctodus Records:

 

 

Profound Lore Records issued the band's fourth longplayer in 2011, featuring yet another new bassist Chad Tremblay. The ‘Venerable’, produced by Kurt Ballou, was highly recommended to those “who miss the floor-punching, bulging-throat-veins style of angular yet stompy post-hardcore that was everywhere between 1998 and 2003” by Phil Freeman, AllMusic:

“Their songs have a deep, rumbling bass sound, the guitars are jagged, combining hardcore-ish riffing with dissonant screeches and bursts of noise; the drumming is tribal and punk at once; and the vocals are a hoarse, panicky bark reminiscent of CONVERGE's Jake Bannon and several hundred other short-haired, tattooed dudes in arty post-hardcore bands. But while they may not be doing anything particularly original, and may indeed serve older listeners as a nostalgic reminder of the days when bands like BOTCH and COALESCE bestrode the earth, they are very good at what they do, and manage to put a fresh spin on a fairly minimalist (and therefore, one might incorrectly assume, inherently limited) style,” [he wrote – more here:]

 

KEN MODE features: Jesse Matthewson - vocals, guitar, bass and piano, Shane Matthewson – percussion and Andrew LaCour – bass and vocals

 

 

Meshuggah: I Am Colossus – new video

MESHUGGAH's new video ‘I Am Colossus’, first shown here at Metal Hammer's, was directed and animated by Magnus Jonsson. The tune comes off the Swedish experimental metal powerhouse's latest LP, ‘Koloss’, issued in 2012 on Nuclear Blast Records. Described as “accessible and addictive” album by metal press, download yourselves its opening track, ‘I Am Colossus’, for free here at Scion AV, and visit Nuclear Blast for additional free track, ‘Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion’, here. The album's artwork (called “Gateman”) was created by Russian artist Luminokaya who had reportedly spent nine months developing the piece: “The artwork,” stated MESHUGGAH drummer Tomas Haake, “speaks for itself.” And indeed it does. The group has also released two additional videos in promotion of the album, ‘Break Those Bones Whose Sinews Gave It Motion’ directed by Owe Lingvall of Village Road Film and Anthony Dubois-directed video ‘Demiurge’, both available for your viewing pleasure below. ‘Koloss’ has debuted at number 17 on the U.S. Billboard Top 200 chart, with first week sales of over 18,000 copies, proving to be MESHUGGAH's highest charting album to date. Buy ‘Koloss’ (and your next favourite T-shirt) here (Nuclear Blast Europe), here (Nuclear Blast US) or through MESHUGGAH Facebook here:

“While restraint isn’t necessarily a word one would seem likely to use while describing a band as extreme as MESHUGGAH, it’s exactly that quality that makes ‘Koloss’ such a solid, even airtight, album. With so many years of experience as innovators under their belts, they have the kind of restraint and patience required to not overplay songs like the album-opening ‘I Am Colossus’ and the later track ‘Swarm’. Rather than feel the constant need to dazzle the listener with guitar heroics, MESHUGGAH let everything just unfold in the most brutally heavy and effective way possible,” [wrote Gregory Heaney, AllMusic – more here]

In related news, MESHUGGAH have recently partnered with Scion AV to offer ‘Pitch Black’, two exclusive, unreleased tracks available as a digital download. ‘Pitch Black’ is made up of the track ‘Pitch Black’, recorded in 2003 by Fredrik Thordendal at Fear and Loathing studio in Stockholm, Sweden and ‘Dancers To A Discordant System’, recorded live at Distortion Fest, Eindhoven, Netherlands in 2012. So, head over here (Scion AV) and treat yourselves to some free MESHUGGAH.

MESHUGGAH was formed in 1987 in Umeå, Sweden by guitarist Fredrik Thordendal, bassist Peter Nordin and vocalist Jens Kidman. In 1989, they released a debut self-titled EP, and in 1990 they added drummer Tomas Haake to the lineup and secured a contract with Nuclear Blast Records through which they issued their first studio album, 1991's ‘Contradictions Collapse’. “Offering a complex form of metal that combined the sweeping adventurism of math rock, the oddball tempos of experimental jazz, and the stunning brutality of thrash metal, MESHUGGAH raised the bar for metal bands everywhere upon their debut,” was AllMusic's Jason Ankeny opinion of it. With Kidman relinquishing his guitar to Mårten Hagström in favour of singing, two EPs preceded their next longplayer, 1995's ‘Destroy Erase Improve’:

“With ‘Destroy Erase Improve’, MESHUGGAH shattered any preconceived notions about what death, thrash, and prog metal could be with one astoundingly accurate, calculated blow. The Swedish outfit managed to surpass their startlingly original, if relatively immature, debut ‘Contradictions Collapse’, with a record so pure in concept and execution, it borders on genius. Lyrical themes visualize the integration of machines with organisms as humanity's next logical evolutionary step, while the music backing it up is mind-bogglingly technical, polyrhythmic math metal - the work of highly skilled men with powerful instruments,” [deemed the album nearly perfect John Serba, AllMusic – more here]

In 1998, bassist Gustaf Hielm officially joined the band after more than two years of servicing as a session member. MESHUGGAH's third album, ‘Chaosphere’, was issued that same year, and a compilation of their rare tracks, called ‘Rare Trax’, filled the gap in 2001, before the release of the group's fourth album, ‘Nothing’, in 2002. ‘Nothing’ broke onto American charts, entering Billboard 200 at number 165. (“Their fourth full-length slab, only further cements their place as masterminds of cosmic calculus metal - call it Einstein metal if you want - and, to their credit, they’re really the only ones to fall into said sub-subgenre,” daringly wrote John Serba, AllMusic – more here). In 2004, Dick Lövgren joined MESHUGGAH as their new bassist and in 2005 ‘Catch Thirtythree’ was issued. In the U.S. the album charted slightly worse than its predecessor, entering Billboard 200 at number 170. The band had spent nearly a year recording their next offering, 2008's ‘Obzen’. The album debuted at number 59 on the Billboard Top 200, with first week sales reaching well over 11,000 copies. ‘Obzen’ entered the official album chart in Sweden at number 16 and had earned MESHUGGAH their second nomination for Swedish Grammy:

“Power, compositional ethics, and musical acumen are all tied to one thing, building a foundation that just gets wider, deeper, and more intense as the album wears on. Check the frenetic slash and burn ethos in ‘Pineal Gland Optics’, where both guitars stagger their rhythmic attack keeping vocalist Jens Kidman on the money the whole time. It gives way to the unwound pummeling drum and guitar solo riff that introduces ‘Pravus’, with its sense of taut dynamics, hair-trigger tensions, and an explosiveness that is literally unequaled. This is sheer attack metal, played by a band that has run from simplicity to excess and incorporated them both into a record that is on a level with anything else they’ve done, even if not all the elements marry perfectly yet,” [wrote Thom Jurek, AllMusic – more here]

MESHUGGAH features: Jens Kidman – vocals, Marten Hagström – guitar, Fredrik Thordenthal – guitar, Dick Lövgren – bass and Tomas Haake – drums & vocals

Drowning Pool: Resilience – new album

 

Listen to the new DROWNING POOL album ‘Resilience’ right here (AOL Music) right now, because it won’t be there forever. Once the album stream has ended, you’ll have to search for ‘Resilience’ on Amazon or iTunes, providing you’re into their kind of music, Texas-flavoured heavy metal. DROWNING POOL's fifth longplayer, co-produced by  Kato Khandwalla and John Feldmann and about to be issued through Eleven Seven Music come April 9th, 2013, is their first recorded with vocalist Jasen Moreno who joined the group in 2012.

 

DROWNING POOL's bittersweet story began in 1996 when guitarist C.J. Pierce and drummer Mike Luce formed the band in Dallas, Texas, with bassist Stevie Benton joining in shortly after. In 1999, then highly regarded metal vocalist Dave Williams became part of the band. DROWNING POOL's debut full-length, 2000's ‘Sinner’ described as “smooth and perfect, like a plan having gone off according to plan” by AllMusic's Kurt Morris (more here), debuted at number 14 on the Billboard Top 200 chart and was certified Platinum within six weeks of its release. In 2002, the 30-year-old singer Dave Williams died from a heart disease. Unfortunately for DROWNING POOL, their most successful single ‘Bodies’, off their debut album ‘Sinner’, received some unwanted publicity in 2003 after it was revealed it was used by interrogators at the Guantanamo Bay detention camps for purpose of torture. With new singer Jason Jones, the band recorded 2004's ‘Desensitized’ which reached position number 17 on the Billboard Top 200. Citing irreconcilable differences, singer Jones left DROWNING POOL months after the album's release. In 2006, the band announced Ryan McCombs as their new vocalist. The following year DROWNING POOL issued their third album, ‘Full Circle’, on their new label, Eleven Seven Music, to moderate success, and their eponymous full-length which came in 2010 climbed to position number 35 on the Billboard Top 200. In 2011, Ryan McCombs left DROWNING POOL to rejoin SOiL.

DROWNING POOL features: ‪Jasen Moreno – vocals, C.J. Pierce – guitar, Stevie Benton – bass and Mike Luce - drums‬