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Album Reviews

Album Review: Black Sites – The Promised Land?

Roughly three years after Untrue, BLACK SITES returns with fourth album, The Promised Land? Don’t let the fact that the band’s now trimmed to a trio worry you, as opener, ‘Descent’ sets the standard, robust and ready, the lyric “Cometh now the punishment for sins of yesterday / for those who lie, how many times betrayed?” laying a dark tone. Founding guitarist/vocalist Mark Sugar’s vocal range is firmly entrenched in the mid-range, so those in search of vocal gymnastics or histrionics may initially be put off, but for fans of equally melodic bands such as SOUND & SHAPE and Parallels […]

Music News

Decibel Premieres ‘On The Run’ from U.S. Black ‘N’ Rollers, VALLETTA

Decibel Magazine has premiered ‘On The Run’ from U.S. Black ‘N’ Rollers, VALLETTA. ‘On The Run’ is the second single from forthcoming full-length debut album, Summer. Listen to ‘On The Run’ Blackened Arena Rock? Melancholic Grunge ‘N’ Roll? VALLETTA’s anthemic approach to songwriting and energetic stage performance certainly makes you wonder. The band’s forthcoming full-length debut album, Summer, seeks to incinerate metal norms and create a new sound that is as grimy as it is electrifying! VALLETTA comes with an impressive pedigree. The band features drummer Justin Valletta (Mo’ynoq), bassist/backing vocalist Donald Boyd (Mo’ynoq), guitar/lead vocalist Keenan Carroll (Lord Almighty, […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Wolfbrigade – Life Knife Death

Who needs coffee and energy drinks when WOLFBRIGADE is around? Hell, who needs cocaine?! This long running Swedish band is bone-breaking speed and power in concentrated music form. I was kinda shocked when I found out their new album would be on Metal Blade. I’m glad they’re on one of the bigger metal labels, but for a band with deep roots in the crusty Swedish punk scene, it’s a strange fit. Strange or no, they haven’t toned down one iota for this record. The press compares them to DISCHARGE, MOTÖRHEAD and old ENTOMBED, and that really hits the nail smack […]

Music News

HAMMERFILOSOFI announces new EP through ATMF

International black metal duo HAMMERFILOSOFI will soon unleash a new EP on Aeternitas Tenebrarum Musicae Fundamentum (ATMF). After their much-acclaimed debut album, The Desolate One, HAMMERFILOSOFI returns with a fiery assault on the senses, in the shape of an EP entitled Solus (Igne Natura Renovator Integra); four psalms of relentless, multi-layered, and hellish madness. “The EP is an inward journey of spiritual violence and cathartic soul-searching”, comments NKTFR, and adds “Both musically and lyrically, it picks up from where The Desolate One left off and continues in a bold leap into the dark unknown”.Behind the music is as per usual […]

Music News

Album Review: Glacial Tomb – Lightless Expanse

From the fertile musical soil of Denver, Colorado, GLACIAL TOMB returns with its second full length. Annoying keys and overblown effects lead us into the ‘Stygian Abattoir’, and oh, man, are these guys trying to sound like early Gothenburg here, at least in the music. The vocals haven’t changed much since the self-titled 2018 debut, nondescript as ever. I’m sure some may thrive on the frequent shifts from second-tier death metal growl to blackish bark, but to me, there’s nothing appealing. The trio seems to feel they’re a blend of sludge, black and death metals, but the tired-ass bridge in […]

Music News

LEILA ABDUL-RAUF: Calls From A Seething Edge, Fifth Solo LP By Vastum Member, Drops October 11th On Cyclic Law/Syrup Moose; ‘Crimes Of The Soul’ Video Premiered By BrooklynVegan + Preorders Posted

Multi-instrumentalist LEILA ABDUL-RAUF, acclaimed for her evocative and boundary-pushing soundscapes, presents her fifth, most ambitious solo album to date, Calls From A Seething Edge. The album will be released in October as a co-release between Cyclic Law and Syrup Moose, who today unveil the cover art, track listing, preorders, and an intense video for the lead single, “Crimes Of The Soul”, premiered by BrooklynVegan. LEILA ABDUL-RAUF has been a key member in dozens of musical entities since the 1990s, including Vastum, Ionophore, Cardinal Wyrm, Fyrhtu, and more in recent years, preceded by time spent in Amber Asylum, Hammers Of Misfortune, […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Hatchend – Summer Of ’69

In the world of death/grind, Polish label Selfmadegod Records has long been a bastion of quality output. Bands as far-ranging as AGATHOCLES and ENCOFFINATION call it home, the former firing off multiple split releases per year, the true scatterguns of grind, the latter patient-yet-passionate doom/death. Racing headlong into this fray comes HATCHEND. ‘Shackled Humanity’ pierces right out the gate, feral and uncompromising in its love of speed, speed and speed. What’s truly impressive even from the start is the strength of the riffs themselves, lashing out from the blistering blast, discernable and diabolical at once. With no time for such […]

Music News

New HERETIC Documentary Chronicles Career of Metal Legends

The story of a legendary metal band is finally being told thanks to a new documentary from an up-and-coming filmmaker. Don’t Turn Your Back: The Story Of HERETIC tells the story of the Los Angeles-based band’s humble beginnings, from forming Reverend in 1989 to ultimately disbanding and reforming once again in 2011. This is a story of perseverance through the world of heavy metal. The documentary marks the first-ever film by Tanner Poppitt, guitarist/vocalist for MADROST and host of the Poppitt’s Corner podcast. Poppitt comments on the film, Don’t Turn Your Back: The Story Of HERETIC is my debut film […]

Album Reviews

Album Review: Pharmakon – Maggot Mass

After four albums on Sacred Bones Records (also home to releases by artists as disparate as the world-splitting KHANATE, the goth-proto-punk of LATHE OF HEAVEN and ZOLA JESUS’ electro-pop) cometh the Maggot Mass… Worry not, longtime fans of PHARMAKON, when we tell you that she’s experimenting with songs structured in a more “traditional” way. First, you must consider what one who has her past output would consider traditional, then you must put even that aside for this journey. ‘Wither And Warp’ ushers in the consecration, ceremonial in rhythm and intonation, a calling forth? Or to? Skitter-scritchings of insects, chattering, a […]

Music News

Detroit Melodic/Power Thrashers, AMONG THESE ASHES, Premiere Video for ‘Faceless War Machines’

Detroit (MI) – Melodic/Power Thrashers, Among These Ashes, in collaboration with Decibel Magazine, have premiered a lyric video for new single, ‘Faceless War Machines’. The song is taken from the band’s forthcoming new album (title and artwork will be announced at a later date). Watch the video for ‘Faceless War Machines’ AMONG THESE ASHES have completed their sophomore album, which will be announced and released later this year. The lead single, ‘Faceless War Machines’, chronicles the life of conscripted soldiers forced to a doomed fate by their tyrannical overlords. The lyrics are accompanied by the band’s colossal, machine-gun rhythms and […]

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