Vacation Extended

Due to circumstances dealing with work and home I am unable to continue Scumfeast Metal 666 for a while. Sorry but I've gotta take care of other things.

DISMEMBERMENT - Denied Salvation EP review

DISMEMBERMENT - Denied Salvation EP
Self Released
Genre: Blackened Thrash

Ohio's DISMEMBERMENT follow that rare American metal tradition of not being so easily defined. In the same vein as SKELETONWITCH and DECEASED, this four piece act refuse to round off their edges in order to be properly placed in the correct genre peg hole. Sure they go by the moniker blackened thrash which is strongly evident but there's a whole lot more going on with this band's overall sound as represented by their five song EP. Denied Salvation is DISMEMBERMENT's second EP. Their first, The Condemned, came out last year. When I first took a listen to this one my initial reaction was are you sure these guys are American? They sound quite European, let me see your papers? I detect an accent. Actually it's more of a DESTRUCTION and AURA NOIR influence which I think is cool as fuck, then again I'm a long time fan of those two bands. You have these intense filthy sounding thrash riffs paired up with fast paced drum pounding and topped off by sulfuric vocals. They even kick in some searing solo work and that's just part of the package although it's a perfect description of songs like "Gateways To The Past" or the opener "Last Rites".

To find the rest of the band's surprises as far as genre combinations you really need to pay attention. Bands who fail at cross genre pollinating are those who make things too obvious. DISMEMBERMENT allows things to be subtle and mysterious whether it's the guitar solo on "Perpetual Malice", the death like minor song structures at the mid-point in "Reap What You Sow" along with the classic sounding riff, the fuckin bass soloing in the opener "Last Rites". Hell I could continue but I'll just say that this band's song craft is damm good as well as being a breath of fresh extreme. After a few years of hearing new jacks channeling 80's Bay Area bands or Crossover Hardcore retro acts it's sort of a relief to hear something not following blindly down the same path especially here in the U.S. Along the lines that I started this review, DISMEMBERMENT are a rare one who have taken the darker devious approach to their craft and you'll be wearing a neck brace but sporting a sinister grin after listening to this to prove it. I wouldn't be surprised to hear that they've been signed to a decent label who appreciates what they're doing and gives em a chance to prove it with a full length later this year.

Rating: 5/5

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/DISMEMBERMENTohio

Bandcamp: http://dismemberment.bandcamp.com/

AGNOSIS - A Painful Pattern EP review

AGNOSIS - A Painful Pattern EP
Self Released
Genre: Sludge / Doom

This is AGNOSIS's first release since their Hecate EP from 2005 at least that's what the promo info stated. In all honesty this is the first time I've heard of this New York act (sorry guys). Although after a quick info search (I emailed a friend  for an expert opinion) I learned that AGNOSIS started out around a decade ago, has a slew of releases out including various demos, EPs and a full length from 2005 titled Zero which my respected doom scribe friend stated is an unheralded doom sludge classic. He also wrote "oh yeah they're fuckin good". I might as well just leave the room but I've gotta write something other than "oh yeah they're fuckin good" but in all honesty this is pretty fuckin good at least three out of the four cuts on here.

The opener, "The Weight of Distrust", is a four and a half minute instrumental which is a decent enough sludgey psych piece. It's just something which would sit better at the end of a forty minute pummeling then as an intro. That last sentence is important because what comes next is a pummeling. Remember these guys are from New York City so they know full well how to beat the living crap outta ya then leave you bleeding in the gutter. "The Path of Repeated Failures" with it's thunderous plodding bass line and acid burned throat vocals is a beat down even with the SABBATH meets NOLA psych riffs jumping out at it's end. The next cut, the thirteen and a half minute long "Writing by Candlelight", is like 40 WATT SUN with an caustic acid casualty on vocals. Harsh vocals screamed and spited out over a doom gloom precession to the graveyard.

The final cut was a big time surprise as well as being eclectic. The band covers "All Your Sins" from PENTAGRAM's Relentless album and has Dave Sherman, the former bassist from SPIRIT CARAVAN, helping out on vocals. I figured AGNOSIS would slow this down to the point where it would sound like playing the original with a quarter on top of the needle. Instead it sounds like they put a boot on it. It still has that rough reverbed edginess to it. Kinda reminds me of what KILLDOZER did with their cover of "Hush" which is always good to throw on for a few laughs especially at the expense of a classic rock fan. I think the bottom line here is that AGNOSIS needs a new full length because a four song EP isn't enough to capture all of their thunder.

Rating: 4/5

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/agnosis



Sorry no vids.

Scum Video: BURN THE PRIEST live 1998

BURN THE PRIEST live part 1 at The Caboose Garner NC 8-7-98

Here's another part of the Caboose Memories series. The Caboose was a little o'l club that hosted extreme music bands (punk & metal) back in the late 90's in Garner, NC which is just outside of Raleigh the state capital. I remember when BURN THE PRIEST played this show. They would play the Caboose twice before changing their name to LAMB OF GOD. Over the years BURN THE PRIEST have had this cult like appeal which the members of LAMB OF GOD kinda look down on. I really don't understand why. It's basically the same band. So here's some footage of classic era BURN THE PRIEST which was filmed by Andy Miller back in 1998 and it was his birthday.

Scum News: Candlelight Records Sampler Available For Free Via Amazon Starting Today

Candlelight Records today launches a free label sampler available exclusively from Amazon.com. The 8-song sampler includes previously unreleased material from FALLOCH, THE ROTTED, WODENSTHRONE, SEAR BLISS, WOE, WINTERFYLLETH, RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER and includes the first single from IHSAHN’s new album Eremita.



“The Paranoid” is taken from IHSAHN’s anticipated fourth solo album. Set for release June 19, Eremita was mixed by Jens Bogren (Opeth) and features performances from drummer Tobias Ornes Andersen (Leprous), saxophonist Jorgen Munkeby (Shining-Norway), guitarist Jeff Loomis (ex-Nevermore), and vocalists Devin Townsend, Einar Solberg (Leprous), and Heidi S. Tveitan (StarofAsh). MetalSucks editor Vince Neilstein says, "The Paranoid" is a perfect introduction to Eremita. It's heavy, expansive, and it's complex without being an asshole about it. Not that any of this should be surprising; IHSAHN’s been developing his own singularly definable sound for three albums now, so fans should know what to expect.”



The inclusion of an early production mix of RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER’s “Fucking Wild” follows the recent announcement of the band’s forthcoming new album, Ghostmaker. The Philadelphia-based quartet recently completed a string of regional performances and are now gearing up for dates to support the new album once it hits stores nationwide on June 19. Guitarist Ryan Moll says, "the title of this track says it all. It’s a rather suiting description of its relentlessness. The lyrics were written by Shawn (Riley) and the title was inspired by some old live Venom recordings."


FALLOCH’s “The Ghosts That Haunts This Path” is a new song for American audiences. Previously available as a b-side to a European-only single, the song showcases the impressive stylings of the Scottish post-black metal duo. MSN Metal called the band’s debut Where Distant Spirits Remain, “a drop-dead gorgeous, haunting piece of work.” Kerrang called it, “intoxicating, haunting, beautiful.” Brooklyn Vegan adds, “it's clear that FALLOCH aims to walk along the righteous path of adventurous black metal bands like Alcest. Where Distant Spirits Remain is a great first step in that direction.”



Planning to hit the studio in early June to lay down tracks for their third album, WOE’s reworked “Quietly, Undramatically” opens a new door on the title track from the band’s popular 2010 release of the same name. Vocalist/guitarist Chris Grigg notes, "the remixed version of 'Quietly, Undramatically' is a more accurate representation of what was hoped to achieve with the material and offers a different perspective into the album." Decibel Magazine said, “Woe strive for sophistication without falling into the usual pitfalls of pretentiousness, cartoonish-ness or undue gloss. Essential aggression is maintained, while the atmospheric and emotional depth envelopes are pushed with a bold fearlessness.”



To listen/download the sampler visit here: http://www.amazon.com/Candlelight-Sampler-Explicit/dp/B007ZJEIPC



http:/www.candlelightrecordsusa.com

https://www.facebook.com/CandlelightRecordsUSA

ROARBACK - Face The Sun EP review

ROARBACK - Face The Sun EP
Self Released
Genre: Death Thrash

Now here's a band that's flat out insane. Their name fits their music perfectly. Think dark aggressive thrash with plenty of death metal overtones and a vocalist who barks like an obnoxious drunk. ROARBACK hails from Denmark, "King Diamond Rules!", and despite this being ugly death thrash, the vocalist is incredible as far as sounding completely offensive. Add to that the musicianship is top notch. Off course the riffs are dirty as sin and catchy as hell headbanging, throw up those horns you bastards cool but the soloing, especially on "My World", is damm good. Then there's the song "Warmachine" which is excellent violence encouraging thrash dripping with hatred, ridicule and utter contempt. There's four cuts in all and this band is ready for a full length. Years ago we use to call this "beating people up" music. I guess it still is since while I had this playing someone came to my front door asking me to sign some petition so I punched the guy.

Rating 5/5


Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/roarback

Bandcamp: http://roarback.bandcamp.com/

SYLVATICA - Mosemanden CD review

SYLVATICA - Mosemanden CD
Self Released
Genre: Folk Metal

I have this smart ass / drive people crazy game I pull out every so often when I find the time to excite a boring moment. If I'm around someone and they say Denmark or use the word danish then I immediately yell "King Diamond Rules!" It's kinda like a safe word for metalheads because how many people, especially here in the states, mention Denmark? Also the breakfast danish has be surpassed by the donut and the biscuit. Now I'm not just babbling on like an insane person because there's a reason, a damm good reason in fact, for my talk of Denmark and the Danish. This band hails from there. SYLVATICA are pretty much your typical Folk Metal act which means they're a melodic death metal band who use folk song structures within their sound.

Now maybe I missed something but don't Folk Metal acts use some actual traditional folk instruments? Where's the tin whistles, the fiddles, the accordions, the deer antlers? The closest thing this band has is a guitarist named Thor who only plays live with them. Although the opening cut "Som Aftens Timer Atter Nøler" starts out with some acoustic guitar, big fuckin deal. As far as this release goes well it's a second rate FINNTROLL and at least they have trolls. There's a few catchy numbers on here like "Markedsgildet" or "Mjölner og Mjöd". The vocals are of that constipated gruff variety. The main theme through out is a complete lack of excitement. Sure not everyone can be FOLKEARTH but a little fun injected into the music wouldn't hurt. Have a little self respect why dontcha, you're from Denmark. "King Diamond Rules!"

Rating: 2/5

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SylvaticaOfficial
Bandcamp: http://sylvatica.bandcamp.com/