Los Angeles-based progressive/melodic death metal act DREAMING DEAD has set April 20th as the release date for their highly anticipated sophomore effort, Midnightmares. The follow up to 2009's Within One, Midnightmares showcases DREAMING DEAD's ability to meld elements of black, death, thrash and Schuldiner-inspired progressive metal into one thought-provoking and intense sonic assault. Midnightmares was recorded in part at the band's home studio, with vocals, drums and mixing completed at North Hollywood's Architeuthis Sound. Cover artwork for Midnightmares was done by renowned artist Travis Smith (Opeth, King Diamond, Devin Townsend, et. al.). DREAMING DEAD are working with director Thomas Mignone and Peter Leininger (known for their work with Morbid Angel, Sepultura, Megadeth and many more) on a video for the track "Corpse Mtn." Details on the video shoot are forthcoming.
After one listen to this release I knew was in for an evening of flashbacks. This release is a joint effort created by M.Todd of TRANSCENDENT DEVICE and L.Kerr of STEEL HOOK PROSTHESES. Lovely names aren't they? I wonder if they're listed in the book? Anyways what we have here is purely background noise to give you the willies. More specifically these are the types of sounds that you hear when you're laying on the bottom of a lake or even the ocean floor waiting to die. I say that from personal experience (obviously I survived) because when you're lying in that murky darkness not breathing there is still activity going on inside your skull. I don't know the medical term but you can hear this ominous pulse that grows and fades. It's almost comforting.
Other times the sounds on here are like the back ground sound effects to some 50's Sci Fi flick most likely when viewing an alien world. There's also voice recordings so low you can barely make out what they're saying. It's almost like listening to the neighbor's radio from the other apartment window across the way in a tenement house. Personally it's not what's being said which is important. It's just that there's a voice an actual human voice which stays away the loneliness. Beyond The Threshold is eight tracks (all untitled with only their corresponding numbers as separations to designate one from the other) all reflecting like after images from some past shadow realm. It's the Twilight Zone put to tape and should be enjoyed loudly when you're sober and alone. Personally after a while of this I need coffee. When you stare at the cover art you can't help but think maybe this was an attempt at video game music. At least it's not the sound of a carnival carousel.
You would figure with all of the label signings of nostalgic styled metal acts lately that a band like GHOST TOWER would have been picked up. Obviously with this their second self released full length it's not the case. About a year ago I checked out Bellevue, Nebraska's greatest son's and daughter's debut Curse of the Black Blood. I was thoroughly impressed and expected others to be as well. I even went as far to liken them to Holland's DEVIL'S BLOOD. Although I believe lead vocalist Ameven, guitarist Matt Preston (also handling bass and keyboards on here as well as backing vocals) and whoever is drumming on here would consider themselves not influenced by anyone.
Be that as it may on this the band's sophomore effort you can't help but like the long drawn out accelerated rhythms along with the harmonic soloing done by Preston. All of which is a key trait to the traditional 80's NWOBHM plus the added doom structures give everything a dark atmosphere. This release seems faster than the previous one as if showcasing progression. While Preston's riffs lay foundation it's Ameven’s vocal parts which turn the melodic into the haunting gloom. Her entrances in songs some times takes the part of slowed intervals in between fast to mid-paced riff and solo (guitar and keyboard) dynamics. Some perfect examples appear on tracks like "Island of All-Knowing Eyes" or "Secret of Black Moss Lake".
Head of Night is not a mere reinvention nor a paint by the numbers piece of tribute. On this release GHOST TOWER have once again found a way to create something fresh and still with a warm vintage style that is always addictive. Opener "Ninth Tooth of the Gravekeeper's Grin" is an amazing fast paced greeting which you can't help but step inside this release and enjoy.
Check out the latest MELVINS track "We Are Doomed" here below. This track appears on the latest MELVINS' EP The Bulls & The Bees which comes out on Scion A/V for FREE. You can download the 5 song EP beginning March 13 at:
Death Metal progenitors CANNIBAL CORPSE today unearth their third single, “Encased In Concrete", the fourth track off the band’s crushing new studio offering, Torture.
To check it out, point your ear holes below:
Produced by Hate Eternal’s Erik Rutan, Torture is an undeniable creation of pile-driving brilliance and another testament to the band’s lifelong dedication to the death metal genre. The band’s twelfth full-length will be available to North American fans on March 13, 2012 via Metal Blade Records.
CANNIBAL CORPSE’s official U.S. headlining tour will commence this April. Sponsored by Metal Blade Records, Good Fight Entertainment and dB Drum Shoes, the U.S. Torture Tour 2012 will begin April 5 in Jacksonville, Florida. Support on the near month-long trek will be provided by Exhumed, Abysmal Dawn and Arkaik. In addition, the band will headline this year’s edition of the Summer Slaughter Festival with official dates to be announced soon.
CANNIBAL CORPSE U.S. Torture Tour 2012 w/ Exhumed, Abysmal Dawn, Arkaik 4/05/2012 Freebird Live – Jacksonville, FL 4/06/2012 The Soapbox – Wilmington, NC 4/07/2012 Lincoln Theater – Raleigh, NC 4/08/2012 V Club Live – Huntington, WV 4/09/2012 The Orange Peel – Asheville, NC 4/10/2012 The Canal Club – Richmond, VA 4/12/2012 Higher Ground – South Burlington, VT 4/13/2012 The Club At Water Street – Rochester, NY 4/14/2012 Death On The Vine Fest @ Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH w/ CANNIBAL CORPSE, The Black Dahlia Murder, Nile, Exhumed, Skeletonwitch, Abysmal Dawn, Hour Of Pennance, Arkaik 4/15/2012 The Intersection – Grand Rapids, MI 4/16/2012 People’s Court – Des Moines, IA 4/17/2012 Slowdown – Omaha, NE 4/19/2012 The Scene-ary – Wichita, KS 4/20/2012 The Black Sheep – Colorado Springs, CO 4/21/2012 Mesa Theater & Club – Grand Junction, CO 4/22/2012 Top Deck – Farmington, NM 4/23/2012 The Rock –Tucson, AZ 4/24/2012 Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX 4/25/2012 Jake’s – Lubbock, TX 4/27/2012 The Blue Note – Columbia, MO 4/28/2012 Diamond Ballroom – Oklahoma City, OK w/ CANNIBAL CORPSE, Behemoth, Watain, Exhumed, The Devil’s Blood, In Solitude, Abysmal Dawn, Arkaik 4/29/2012 Newby’s – Memphis, TN 4/30/2012 Exit In – Nashville, TN 5/1/2012 Zydeco – Birmingham, AL 5/3/2012 Double Down - Gainesville, FL
Here's a German death metal act taking their name from a ENTOMBED song (from Left Hand Path no less) as well as playing old school to the hilt. They even have Dan Swano doing the mastering. It's obvious that on here these krauts like things heavy, aggressive as well as nostalgic. That latter part might be pushing REVEL IN FLESH into tribute band territory. I'm surprised they didn't move over to Sweden and take up full residency. Strangely enough this band, started in 2011, was spawned from the ashes of IMMORTAL RITES as well as DAWN OF DREAMS who were both melodic black metal acts.
There's nothing blackened on Deathevokation in fact the album title is more than just a play on words it's an explanation. This could have just been a collection of covers by ENTOMBED, DISMEMBER and GRAVE. While I understand we're still in the midst of an OSDM (old school death metal) revival. As well as the whole purpose of said revival was to bring back those late 80's / early 90's influences. I think it's about time to separate the bands who sound cool from those who just paint by the numbers. REVEL IN FLESH for as cool as they sound are not any better or equal to the ones they've patterned themselves after.
Let me be the first to use the word "mastodonian" to ascribe a musical term to this Ottawa, Canada band. Actually I don't know if I'm the first to use such a word to describe COLLIDER as well as anyone else. For a few years now scribes have gone through various description tags which have become genre terms. Some have stuck and some haven't, you'll never see me use "beard metal" in a review.
All of this of course comes from acts who are somewhat influenced by MASTODON which the three songs on this band's self titled EP display. Nothing wrong with it although seeing that I never took the ride on the MASTODON bandwagon makes it quite impossible to go batshit crazy over this. Although you got to give the band credit where it's due.
COLLIDER has all the key elements in place aka: heavy handed sludge riffs with barked hardcore vocals plus an added progressive flair to the song structures. Frankly while listening to this the first time around I thought Brent Hinds was a guest musician or at least their producer. Either way I'm sure enough time has passed by for a new band to take the top progressive sludge spot.
I am finally taking my long threatened vacation. I've been meaning to take it since January. Instead I waited till a few of February's releases came out and now have a perfect opportunity to take a break. Plus this will coincide with my birthday which in the past was always a week long celebration.
Just for the record first off I'm heading down to the beach to spend a few days at a house with some friends on an island. It's early March which means it's going to be cold, windy and rainy. It will also be tourist free which is the way I like it. After that I'll be headed out to the country, do some outdoors type of stuff, some landscaping work, Spring cleaning in the gardens, etc.
Right now I'm looking at being a week away from SFM666. Since I don't have help then posts will be zip till then. I've informed all of the usual suspects to my plans. So till then....
In order to appreciate and respect extreme metal you must be willing to entertain controversial ideas. The members of SEEDS OF IBLIS are the epitome of that along with risking their lives in the name of black metal. If you think your band is truly blasphemous and fearless just because you write anti christian songs while living in a democratic western nation think again.
SEEDS OF IBLIS hail from Iraq, play black metal and don't like the islamic religion. Besides their religious criticism on songs like "Sex with Muhammad's Corpse", "No Islam" or "Inverted Hilal" (the crescent symbol of islam) the band, made up of two men and two women, sing the praises of Iblis aka: the devil, "In the Name of Iblis" To say this band's self described True Iraqi Anti Islamic Black Metal take on the genre is unique would also be an understatement. Given that musically they have influences reaching far from home like BURZUM and BATHORY.
The band's overall style is a mixture of thrashy second wave era and atmospheric, trance like melodies. The vocals are actually the best part coming at you with either harsh venomous screams by bassist vocalist Anahita or the backing chants and moans from the other band members. "Sex with Muhammad's Corpse" is an incredibly epic cut taking a page out of Under the Sign of the Black Mark. Were as "No Islam" is haunting as if being performed in the graveyard of religions. I really hope to hear more from this band and not just because of their music or the subject matter they target. I like them because their mere existence is a perfect example of standing up to government and religious institutionalized tyranny. And that's a lot more courageous that some progressive transcendental crap.
