HAPPY NEW YEAR! To ALL of my friends, partners in METAL promotions and visitors to Metal Odyssey, I say THANK YOU for your METAL support last year and may you ALL have a grand METAL 2016!! Cherish life, alwaysstay positive and stick-it-to-the-man. Metal Be Thy Name.
Below are a couple of METAL albums that are releasing this month in which I might purchase right away, depending on my budget. Yes, paying bills will continue on in 2016 and that forever sucks dehydrated donkey poop.
I dig Witchcraft. ‘Nuff said. This band is one solid reason as to why Sweden kicks Metal ass. Witchcraft’s new album Nucleus releases on January 15th, via Nuclear Blast.
AXEL RUDI PELL is an amazing guitarist to listen to and Johnny Gioeli is a very cool “throwback” vocalist too. These guys remember how Heavy Rock is supposed to be created. This new album, Game Of Sins, releases in the USA on January 22nd, via Steamhammer / SPV.
2015 was a very enjoyable year for me, when it came to Metal and Hard Rock releases. On a personal note, 2015 was one of my saddest years, due to the passing of my Father this December and then Lemmy Kilmister of Motörhead left us. May they both rest in peace. Once again, I’ve told myself to cherish life and the music that brings us together. I hope you all will share my sentiment.
On an upbeat note, I did compile my list of Top 10 Hard Rock And Metal Albums Of 2015. My Metal Brother and Metal Odyssey’s staff researcher Scott Coverdale also has compiled his Top 10 Of 2015 as well, on this same post! Whoa! My love for Classic Rock is shown on my Top 10 list with Europe and FM; both bands released what probably are their finest albums ever, in my opinion. My #1 is Enforcer From Beyond, a Metal album I consider to be beyond incredible!
My Top 10 list would never be complete without the entries of Venom and Motörhead; both bands released freaking killer albums this past year and I’ll forever recommend them both! Please check out Iron Kingdom and Fallen Angels when you can, both of these underground Metal bands deserve ALL the praise I can possibly give them and they are in my Top 10! Thank you for visiting Metal Odyssey, Happy Metal New Year and Metal Be Thy Name. – Stone
Stone’s Top 10 Of 2015:
#1
ENFORCER – From Beyond
#2
VENOM – From The Very Depths
#3
BIOTOXIC WARFARE – Lobotomized
#4
LAMB OF GOD – Sturm Und Drang
#5
MOTÖRHEAD – Bad Magic
#6
EUROPE – War Of Kings
#7
IRON KINGDOM – Ride For Glory
#8
FALLEN ANGELS – World In Decay
#9
FM – Heroes And Villains
#10
SINISTER – Dark Memorials
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Scott Coverdale Says:
This past year happened to be one of the best years in music for me in decades. Many of my favorite bands that were cranked-up on my car stereo back in 1986 were once again being cranked-up in 2015. With the likes of Whitesnake, Def Leppard, and Iron Maiden releasing great studio albums this year, it was really difficult coming up with my Top 10 for this year. Before I list my Top 2015 Albums Of The Year, I would like to shout out a huge THANK YOU to one of the Greatest Bands of all time… MÖTLEY CRÜE.
I was lucky enough to see THE CRÜE this past summer for the last time, on their Farewell Tour. It was kind of a bitter-sweet night for me, at this concert. On the one hand I was having a great time taking in the show with my high school buddies, just like we did at the “Theatre Of Pain” concert back in the day, while at the same time saying Good bye to one of my all-time favorite bands wasn’t easy. Thank You!!! – Scott Coverdale
On December 29th, 1966 – The Jimi Hendrix Experience made their television debut, performing their iconic song Hey Joe, on the BBC’s Top of the Pops. Incredible piece of Rock ‘N Roll history there!
On December 29th, 1973 – THE WHO hit #76 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart in the United States, with their song Love Reign O’er Me from their legendary Rock Opera: Quadrophenia. Whoa.
On December 29th, 1973 – The amazing LED ZEPPELIN hit #20, on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart with their song D’yer Mak’er. This song is featured on LED ZEPPELIN’s fifth studio album from 1973: Houses Of The Holy.
On December 29th, 1982 – KISS kicked off their tour in support of their tenth studio album: Creatures Of The Night. This initial concert took place at the Bismarck Civic Center in Bismarck, North Dakota. It was the first KISS tour with guitarist Vinnie Vincent replacing the super legendary Ace Frehley. This KISS tour would be their last tour in makeup, until their 1996 reunion tour.
On December 29th, 2015 – The beloved MOTÖRHEAD have their compilation The Best Of, ranked at #1 on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. MOTÖRHEAD also have their 1980 studio album Ace Of Spades ranked at #2 and their 2015 studio album Bad Magic ranked at #3, on this same chart. Rest In Peace, Lemmy Kilmister and MOTÖRHEAD FOREVER.
On December 28th, 1968 – THE DOORS released their single Touch Me. This song went on to peak at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart, becoming THE DOORS’ third Gold single.
On December 28th, 1968 – The iconic LED ZEPPELIN performed their first concert in Canada, at the Pacific Coliseum in Vancouver, supporting VANILLA FUDGE. Jumping jelly donuts, that’s freaking cool!
On December 28th, 2015 – The new studio album, Letters From The Labyrinth, from TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, is ranked at #1 on the Billboard Hard Rock Albums Chart. Very cool.
On December 28th, 2015 – The debut studio album from SLIPKNOT is ranked at #1, on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. Holy hair balls!
On December 28th, 2015 – The Best Of UFO (1974 – 1983) is ranked at #99, on the iTunes Top 100 Heavy Metal Albums Chart. Whoa.
Power Thrash champions SANKTUARY are returning in 2016 with their new album ‘Winters Doom’ to follow-up 2013’s widely praised ‘Something Fierce’. Set to be unleashed on January 22nd, the Yukon warriors of the Canadian North have teamed up with PureGrainAudio.com for the premiere and FREE download of their second single ‘Corpse Blockade’.
Bassist Cole Hume explains the track:
“A Necromancer summons the dead and forms a wall of corpses as his entourage. Moral of the story…don’t fuck with this Necromancer.”
‘Winter’s Doom’ is available for pre-order at the following bandcamp link here.
WINTER’S DOOM – Track List:
1. Space Race (4:30)
2. Wild Is The Wind (4:12)
3. Vermin Lord (6:50)
4. Winter’s Doom (3:39)
5. Open Your Eyes (4:40)
6. Corpse Blockade (4:15)
7. Maximum Authority (4:46)
Album Length: 32:55
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About:
Power Thrash champions SANKTUARY hail from the harsh and blisteringly cold of the deep far North of Canada’s Yukon Territory, situating themselves in the city of Whitehorse (pretty far north, like the Siberia of Canada eh!). They have been trekking across the country for the past 6 years to bring their fierce and dynamic high-speed riffs, catchy hooks and belted out lyrics to the Metal crowds.
A collective vision that began in high school with a group of like-minded teens fed up with the constraints of mainstream music who wanted to emulate the lifestyles of their favourite bands. Their straight-forward, no-bullshit attitudes shape their signature brand of Heavy Metal, which has led them to release the full length, 2013’s ‘Something Fierce’ that reached #19 on the national college radio loud charts, 2011’s ‘Tundrastruck’ split with Nova Scotia’s Black Moor and Montreal’s Metallian, plus two EPs – 2010’s ‘Black Magic’ and 2009’s self-titled.
Members of the band write harmoniously, basing each song off of a key riff from either Alan Binger (vocals and guitar), Glen Emond (guitar), or Cole Hume (bass) and then Anders Grasholm (drums) works his magic on the rhythm of each tune.
2016 see the band’s return with their sophomore album ‘Winter’s Doom’ set for release on January 22nd, 2016. The album features seven killer high-speed, breakneck Thrash Metal tracks inspired by the Yukon’s far North they call home, along with other issues such as politics, technology, etc..
“In the title track and album cover we portray ourselves as Heavy Metal warriors thriving in a habitat where most would perish instantaneously.That’s our homeland, the Yukon.” comments the band.
Stay tuned for what Sanktuary has to offer for fans! Visit their Facebook page for more details at: www.facebook.com/sanktuarymetal.
Barbarous hellhounds, CRADLE OF FILTH, will return to North America next year on the Inquisitional Tourture Tour 2016! The debaucherous trek will run from January 26th through March 8th, leveling a total of twenty-seven cities. Support will be provided by Butcher Babies and Ne Obliviscaris. Tickets are now available at THIS LOCATION.
CRADLE OF FILTH w/ Butcher Babies, Ne Obliviscaris:
1/26/2016 Theater Of The Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
1/27/2016 House Of Blues – Boston, MA
1/28/2016 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
1/29/2016 The Ritz – Raleigh, NC
1/31/2016 Filmore Charlotte – Charlotte, NC
2/01/2016 The Masquerade – Heaven – Atlanta, GA
2/02/2016 Venue 578 – Orlando, FL
2/03/2016 State Theater – St. Petersburg, FL
2/09/2016 New Daisy Theater – Memphis, TN
2/10/2016 House Of Blues – Dallas, TX
2/11/2016 House Of Blues – Houston, TX
2/12/2016 The Aztec Theater – San Antonio, TX
2/14/2016 Gothic Theater – Eaglewood, CO
2/15/2016 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
2/17/2016 Avalon – Los Angeles, CA
2/18/2016 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
2/20/2016 Ace Of Spades – Sacramento, CA
2/21/2016 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
2/23/2016 The Showbox – Seattle, WA
2/29/2016 Q And Z Expo Center – Ringle, WI
3/01/2016 House Of Blues – Chicago, IL
3/02/2016 Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH
3/03/2016 House Of Blues – Cleveland, OH
3/05/2016 St. Andrew’s Hall – Detroit, MI
3/06/2016 Phoenix Concert Theater – Toronto, ON
3/07/2016 Corona Theater – Montreal, QC
3/08/2016 Webster Hall – New York, NY
CRADLE OF FILTH‘s latest album, Hammer Of The Witches, was brought to fruition in Britain’s Witch County, in darkest rural Suffolk at the reputedly haunted Grindstone Studios. The album’s title is named after the “Malleus Maleficarum,” a medieval document of guidelines regarding the persecution and torture of witches – only CRADLE OF FILTH‘s title version is more retributory: It’s the Hammer Of The Witches; the hammer is in the witches’ hands and it’s payback time.
CRADLE OF FILTH have cast a commanding and macabre shadow across the metal scene for nearly a quarter of a century. Armed with their trademark, cross-pollinated assault that taps into myriad strands of sonic extremity and morbid opulence, they have steadily conquered the entire world, unleashing a malevolent slew of classic albums along the way. From the raw and rambunctious savagery of their 1994 debut The Principle Of Evil Made Flesh to the wickedly monstrous, technicolor bombast of 2012’s The Manticore & Other Horrors, the CRADLE ethos and aesthetic have had a huge impact on the evolution of Metal, the band’s insatiable appetite for performing live and frontman Dani Filth‘s unerring charisma and sense of occasion ensuring that they have established a powerful and enduring connection with Hell-bound acolytes everywhere.
Hailing from the Willamette “Valley Of Death” amongst the woods of Eugene, Oregon, technical death metal outfit OMNIHILITY returns with their third offering of audio carnage entitled Dominion Of Misery.
The follow-up to 2014’s critically lauded Deathscapes Of The Subconscious, Dominion Of Misery was again captured at Castle Ultimate with famed producer Zack Ohren (Animosity, Suffocation, All Shall Perish) who continues to lead the charge by pushing the recorded boundaries in extreme music. Dominion Of Misery includes the maniacal artwork of Mark Cooper (Rings Of Saturn, Deeds Of Flesh, Master et al) who brings the entire package alive with his twisted Lovecraftian-meets-Giger inspired visuals.
Dominion Of Misery – Track Listing:
1. Morte Aeterna
2. Psychotic Annihilation
3. Immaculate Deception
4. Dementia Praedox
5. Dead Eden
6. Within Shadows
7. Reflections in Blood
8. Parasitic Existence
9. Necrotic. Consumption. Obsession
10. Dominion of Misery
OMNIHILITY – named for the absolute belief in nothingness, manifests intense, brutal and technical Death Metal. A nod to the old-school past, combined with the immense speed and accuracy of Death Metal present, all while subconsciously channeling energy from arcane sources to destroy the minds of the multitude, with the band’s third release and second for Extreme Metal powerhouse Unique Leader Records, OMNIHILITY ups the stakes with sheer technical prowess.
Dominion Of Misery will be released via Unique Leader Records on February 26th, 2016. Preorder bundles are currently available at THIS LOCATION.
UK-based metallers, VENOM INC., will kick off their long-anticipated North American tour next month. Initially scheduled to take place this past Fall but postponed, the rescheduled demolition will pillage its way through nearly two dozen cities from January 5th through January 28th.
VENOM INC. features original Venom members guitarist Jeff “Mantas” Dunn and drummer Anthony “Abaddon” Bray with former Venom bassist/vocalist Tony “Demolition Man” Dolan. The band made their live debut as VENOM INC. in April 2015 at the Keep It True Festival in Lauda-Königshofen, Germany, performing a full set of Venom classics and played to over 30,000 people at Heavy Montreal last August.
Dolan and Dunn have spent the last few years collaborating in M:Pire Of Evil, who released their latest full-length, Crucified, in May 2013. VENOM INC. took to the streets early this past Fall on the lengthy Iron And Steel European Tour before closing the year with a Latin American live takeover. This January, North America will finally get its venomous baptism with the band again performing a full set of Venom’s most revered tunes.
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VENOM INC. w/ Necrophagia:
1/05/2016 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
1/06/2016 Strange Matter – Richmond, VA
1/07/2016 Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA
1/08/2016 The Ballroom At The Outer Space – Hamden, CT
1/09/2016 Webster Hall – New York, NY
1/10/2016 Danforth Music Hall – Toronto, ON
1/11/2016 Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
1/12/2016 Turf Club – St Paul, MN
1/13/2016 Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS
1/14/2016 Gothic Theater – Denver, CO
1/16/2016 Venue Nightclub – Vancouver, BC
1/17/2016 Neumos – Seattle, WA
1/18/2016 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
1/20/2016 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
1/21/2016 Glass House – Pomona, CA
1/22/2016 The Ritz – San Jose, CA
1/23/2016 Brick By Brick – San Diego, CA
1/24/2016 Joe’s Grotto – Phoenix, AZ
1/26/2016 Fitzgerald’s – Houston, TX
1/27/2016 Korova – San Antonio, TX
1/28/2016 Tomcats West – Ft Worth, TX
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Necrophagia will be touring in support of their latest full-length WhiteWorm Cathedral out now via Season Of Mist. Formed in 1983, Necrophagia was one of the very first Death Metal bands in the United States. Often considered pioneers in the “Horror Metal” genre, the band gained notoriety after cutting their teeth in the underground by staging ambitious live shows, chock full of blood, guts and gore.
Necrophagia went on to receive world-wide acclaim for 1998’s genre-defining Holocausto de la Morte full-length featuring Pantera frontman Philip H. Anselmo. Following this landmark album, the band went on to release several well-received full lengths and EPs, most of them still available at the Season of Mist shop.
Shit, this is good. Xtreem Music is at it again. Crusty Death Metal the way you like it. Formed originally by members of Cerebral Fix, Sabbat, Orange Goblin among others, Ravens Creed from the UK are whipping up a concoction of crusty Death Metal that’s hard to come by these days.
There’s the classic vibe channelled through the glass shards-encrusted and Thrash Metal-spiked Death Metal music that’s just extremely virulent and nasty in its final output. This here is an abrasive mass of Crust/Death/Thrash music that destroys any structure standing. The heaviness is palpable while the unique tone will make your skin peel backwards. This is the second and most potent full length of the band yet and it will rip your face right off and scrub what’s left with acid.
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Album Line-Up:
Rod Boston – Bass
Jay Graham – Drums
Steve Watson – Guitars
Al Osta – Vocals
Track List:
1. Rock Cemetery (01:38)
2. Palmer the Harmer (01:56)
3. Jungle Justice (01:53)
4. Riding the Pillock (02:58)
5. Lecturn of Burning Swords Reversed (01:32)
6. Victory in Defeat (03:11)
7. VIP Treatment (02:41
8. Go Home (02:04)
9. Bitten By Witch Fever (02:52)
10. Brigade ’77 02:02
11. Dirty Diary (01:37)
12. While You Were Sleeping (02:05)
13. Carrion Screaming (13:29)
PAGANIZER happen to be Rogga Johansson‘s main and longest-running band. Yep, that’s the man responsible for the music of bands like Putrevore, Megascavenger, Swarming, Johansson and Speckmann, Down Among the Dead Men and Necrogod, among many others.
In Rogga Johansson’s own words: “We are very excited to release a mini CD with Kunal and Transcending Obscurity early in 2016. There will be four new songs which are some of the coolest stuff we’ve done in a long time, and as special bonus there will also be a full gig on the CD too, recorded last year in Stockholm, Sweden. So be prepared for 2016, to be ripped apart and devoured ON THE OUTSKIRTS OF HADES!”
Genre – Death Metal of the PUREST kind!
Release Date – Tentatively March-April 2016
Record Label – Transcending Obscurity Records (main label)
North Carolina Death Metal machine Atrocious Abnormality are poised to strike with their highly anticipated second full length CD, Formed in Disgust. The band has released a lyric video for album track Exterminate the Apostles. Check it out at: https://youtu.be/WjOk5gTiO2M or below:
A punishing follow-up to their 2007 debut release Echoes of the Rotting, this new offering is a brutal combination of throat ripping guttural vocals and bowel shredding guitar riffs, together with an onslaught of merciless drumming and a bass bombardment of deadly precision. Ranging from fast technical sections, to slower haunting passages, to pit crushing slam and groove breakdowns, this CD has something for everyone and will satisfy the ravenous hunger of the most discerning Death Metal cannibals.
In addition to this outbreak of sickness, there are also some respectable guest vocalist featured throughout the album to maximize the blasphemous carnage. Artwork for Formed in Disgust by Marco Hasmann.
Comatose Music will unleash Formed in Disgust on March 4th, 2016.
IRON MAIDEN – If you have a Metalhead, Hell Rat or Underground Cellar Dweller you need to shop for this holiday season, just click the link below for ALL the IRON MAIDEN merch that’s sure to solve your Metal gift giving needs! Metal Be Thy Name! – Stone
Texas Progressive/Melodic Death Metallers FALL will self-release The Insatiable Weakness on January 26th, 2016. Technically accomplished and musically magnificent, the album is a tour de force of dual-guitar firepower and unforgettable melodies. Chemistry is key and The Insatiable Weakness is truly greater than the sum of its parts.
Featuring the dynamic rhythm section of session drummer Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK) and bassist extraordinaire David Gutierrez, the guitar wizardry of Daniel Benavides, and the soaring vocals and colorful keys of Jessie Santos, The Insatiable Weakness is one of 2016’s first awe-inspiring journeys into the Progressive Metal realm.
Lyric videos for new songs “Soul Ignition” and “Harvester” can be consumed hereand here, respectively. Both songs can also be streamed on FALL’s Bandcamp page below:
The Insatiable Weakness was recorded, mixed, and mastered by Robert Beltran at Precision Studios. Check out The Insatiable Weakness album teaser video here or below:
It’s that time of year! Put up your hails horns \m/\m/ and get in the mosh pit spirit for Asher Media Relations‘ latest holiday sampler ‘Happy Metal Annihilation Vol. 5’ featuring over 50 tracks and just under four hours of headbanging tunes from bands they’ve had the honour of doing PR for in 2015.
1. Accursed Spawn – Clotheshanger Abortion
2. Adrenechrome – The Lead Elephant
3. Aggression – Cut Your Sins Off (Galy Records)
4. Arrival Of Autumn – Like Fire
5. BLEED – Hate March Kill
6. BornBroken – A Nation of Ignorance
7. Cryptic Hymn – Revel In Disgust
8. Defect Designer – Crusaders (Sleaszy Rider Records)
9. Display of Decay – Created To Kill
10. Elderoth – Black And Blue
11. Éohum – Equatorial Rains
12. [Evertrapped] – Palace of Injustice (Hellstorm Recordz)
13. Evilheart – Decimated Opposition (Test Your Metal Records)
14. Exes For Eyes – Done For Good feat Speed Strid of Soilwork
15. Fall City Fall – Love And Art
16. Fallen Angels – Nightmare (Cyberdyne Records)
17. False Flag – Nest Of Vipers
18. FUCK THE FACTS – Solitude (Noise Salvation)
19. Gomorrah – A Disaster’s Nightmare (Test Your Metal Records)
20. Haiduk – Syth
21. Helleborus – Coils
22. Hibria – Pain (Test Your Metal Records)
23. id. – Sagittarius A
24. Infalling- Distorted Visions
25. Inverted Serenity – Everscending
26. Keychain – Shock Rock City
27. Leave The Living – Word of a Whore
28. Meridius – Walk the Plank
29. MUTANK – Corporate Child
30. New Jacobin Club – Parade of Innocents (Manticore Music Group)
31. Odium – Return to Form
32. Psychostick – Obey The Beard
33. Puttin’ On The Foil – Giver To The Liver
34. Pyramids On Mars – Heaven’s Gate
35. Saints of Death – Blood Vendetta
36. Scissortooth – 10 30 (Galy Records)
37. Seven Year Storm – Dyatlov
38. Silent Line – Black and White
39. Striker – Too Late
40. The Apex – Glass Walls
41. The Order of Chaos – Apocalypse Moon
42. Them County Bastardz – No Easy Way
43. Titans Eve – War Path
44. Train Bigger Monkeys – Lack of Morality
45. Tylor Dory Trio – Time The Beholder
46. Van Halst – Save Me
47. Vantablack Warship – The Pit
48. Vesperia – The Western Tempests
49. WILT – Illusion of Hope (Bindrune Recordings)
50. Windy City Slaughter – A Grave For Two
51. XUL – Orbit of Nemesis
About:Asher Media Relations is a PR company based in Montreal, QC that aids bands both well-known and independent getting heard and read about in rock and metal media around the globe, for nearly a decade. For more info, please visit the following links.
Colombian doom-gothic metallers Charm Designer will release their sophomore album “Everlasting” on February 19th, 2016 via Inverse Records.
The follow-up to 2008′s “Blood Sounds” was recorded with legendary producer Waldemar Sorychta, known for his work with Samael, Tiamat, Lacuna Coil, Sentenced and Moonspell among others, being the first time for him to produce a Latin American band. The artwork was designed by Romanian artist Costin Chioreanu (At The Gates, Arcturus, Vulture Industries, Primordial, Arch Enemy, etc.).
The lyric video for the title track “Everlasting” which is the new album’s first single and was also done by Costin has been made available and can be seen here: https://youtu.be/TkYT9YnTHJk or below:
“We’re thrilled to finally have a release date set for our new album, since it’s been a while from when it was finished and it has been a painful task to hold our breath until now. But well, I guess that is the way it should have been in order to match the huge effort all this has meant to us. This is a work of pure and genuine determination” says Charm Designer’s founder and bassist Diego M. Giorgi.
“It has been a long and amazing ride for us seeking to reach this point, and well, to be able to work with Waldemar took the project of the album to a whole new level. Also, Costin did a brilliant job with the artwork for the album. We’re absolutely pleased with the outcome of all this.”
“Everlasting” track listing is as follows:
“Everlasting” track listing is as follows:
1. Everlasting
2. The Replicant
3. Never After
4. Disruption
5. Mentors
6. Inertial Drain
7. Endowar
8. By The Unmasked
9. Policy of Truth
CHARM DESIGNER:
Andrés Herrera – Vocals and guitars
Diego M. Giorgi – Bass
Diego A. Morales – Drums
Diego A. Hernández – Live guitars
Seattle’s RHINE are proud to announce their return in 2016 with their new album ‘An Outsider’ to follow-up 2011’s debut ‘Duality’, which was first a solo effort by band founder Gabriel Tachell (guitar and vocals). Now joined by Alex Smolin on guitar (ex-Metameric), James Porter on bass (Ideofone), and Carlos Delgado (Inferion, ex-Death Crowned King) to collaborate on this project, the band has posted a trailer video to give a glimpse of what’s to come from the 10 track full length when it’s unleashed on February 5, 2016.
Band founder Gabriel Tachell comments on the release:
“‘An Outsider’ is about the struggle that comes with being different, it’s a love/hate situation. You want to shine but you’re afraid of it at the same time. You want to create trends, not follow them, but it’s scary to be the first one. It also has to do with social struggles and always feeling like a stranger. This theme is primarily represented by the title track. Many of the songs have different themes that are not all closely related. The album is all over the map emotionally. Not just angry and dark, but sometimes totally ironic or sometimes very deep and inspiring. It mixes in emotions you wouldn’t typically hear on a Metal record like joy and nostalgia. The listening experience is a journey that won’t get you worn out on a single emotion, instead it is dynamic like we are as humans. We form strong bonds to the music we love because of all these things that it can convey, and we are attempting to create something people can feel the same way about.”
1. Dreaming of Death (11:46)
2. The Spell of Dark Water (6:20)
3. An Outsider (10:05)
4. Somewhere (3:59)
5. Paralyzed (10:50)
6. Dissolved in Fire (7:53)
7. P.R.E.Y. (5:31)
8. Into the Unknown (6:34)
9. Shipwrecked In Stasis (3:02)
10. Fragments (8:21)
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ABOUT RHINE:
Seattle’s Rhine are seamlessly connecting German Thrash Metal with Swedish Death Metal much like their namesake, the Rhine River. The founder of the group Gabriel Tachell named it such for its simplicity and as a metaphor for fluidity and change. The band started in 2011 with the release of their first album ‘Duality’ which was at first a solo effort by Tachell (guitar and vocals) and eventually led to a full band. He is now joined by Alex Smolin on guitar (ex-Metameric), James Porter on bass (Ideofone), and Carlos Delgado (Inferion, ex-Death Crowned King) to collaborate on this project.
Rhine are primarily producing epic, progressive songs and yet others flow to the mouth of the river where there is a culmination of Black, Death, and Thrash Metal, occasionally tinged with classical, folk and other styles. The band has a certain frantic unpredictability in terms of songwriting and structure while the moody vocals gently ride over the extreme precision of the guitar, drum, and bass.
The four-piece are experimental in their intentions, yet melodically and rhythmically catchy with their delivery. Tachell is the primary inspiration for the current material, referencing experiences in his life from emotional turmoil, health issues, fairy tales, to dreams of finding corpses floating in a swamp. Their interesting themes and energetic music has been evolving into a unique and distinctive sound.
Live, Rhine is an unbridled horse that emote a nervous uncertainty of what is next compositionally and emotionally. The band bases their performance on the backbone of the band – guitar, vocals, bass, and drums and they definitely don’t shy away from the challenges of playing music like this live without the help of backing tracks. Their latest release ‘An Outsider’ is slated for February 5, 2016 and while it may not be heavier than the previous release, it is certainly more advanced in terms of playing, songwriting, vocal performance and production. It includes tracks featuring german lyrics, completely improvised solos and an overall human-ness that is often lost amongst other high level Metal productions in this age of quantizing and autotuning. Rhine are one band that has grown into a machine that is not to be missed.
L to R : Will Tennant – Drums/Backing Vocals, Jamie Haffenden – Guitar/Lead Vocals, Myke Caouette- Bass/Backing Vocals
Photo Credit: Travis Tiernay
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Breaking free of the constricting chains of modern music, Orillia, ON’s LIKE ANIMALS are busy creating their own uninhibited style of spastic-Math-Metal graced with emotionally charged vocals. Like a wild animal each member maintains a sense of chaos through their arpeggio guitar and bass sections, unorthodox drums peppered with dynamic changes, and finally tempered by the wavering vocals soaring just slightly above the instrumentals both in tone and feeling.
Lyrics contend with themes such as: self-doubt, lack of self-worth, depression, anxiety, and the like. The beasts within the band each perform vocal duties a sound akin to a coyote-esque choir featuring Jamie Haffenden on guitar and lead vocals, Will Tennant on drums and Myke Caouette on bass.
Their name is synonymous with their song-writing and attitude, where they are part of a pack, but still remain hungry and solitary, like a stray animal. Their 400-show track record over the years reveals their dedication to their craft having shared the stage with such bands as Fuck The Facts, Dog Fashion Disco, Adrenechrome, Downtown Brown, Scale The Summit, Polkadot Cadaver, Teethmarks and many more.
With four animal-themed EPs in tow (‘Sweet Whispers, Plagued Ears, The Undertoad, The Wild) and their new release called ‘Feral’ due out on January 22nd, 2016, the band has teamed up with PureGrainAudio.com to not only premiere the title track, but offer it for FREE download.
“We felt that Feral is the perfect first glimpse into the new EP. It really shows fans new and old what we are all about and it is a benchmark for what’s to come on the rest of the EP. It has everything Like Animals is all about, rolled up into one song. A definitive LA song for sure.” comments bassist Myke Caouette.
NWOBHM trailblazers SAVAGE have released a new studio album 7 on Minus 2 Zebra. Included with the double-album is a live performance disc titled Live N Lethal. 7 features 12 blistering new tracks, which mix old with new. Many of the tracks are fast paced and hark back to the early days whilst tracks such as “Superspy’ and Empire Of Hate’ sound akin to something off a modern OZZY album or even METALLICA at their best!
Live N Lethal features 13 live tracks. Included is the entirety of classic 1983 debut album Loose N Lethal, which is given a fresh treatment in the form of a recently recorded gig in the band’s hometown of Mansfield (UK). The Loose n Lethal album is delivered at a furious pace, along with a few choice tracks from the band’s back catalogue.
SAVAGE, once credited for influencing METALLICA to play fast, the band has a strong history starting out in the 80s. Even though the band has often been linked to the NWOBHM movement, their roots are more in the vintage Classic Rock with a modern feel. Influences such as THIN LIZZY and DEEP PURPLE abound and yet with new material they sound incredibly contemporary and fresh. Their debut album, Loose n Lethal became a classic and was the biggest selling independent import in to USA in its day. The band have had a stop-start career but came back with a vengeance in 2012 with the epic Sons Of Malice. The band has been busy ever since on the live scene in the UK and Europe and most recently an Italian tour earlier this summer.
Disc 1: 7
1. I Am The Law
2. Lock N Load
3. Empire Of Hate
4. Super Spy
5. Circus Of Fools
6. Crazy Horse
7. Speed Freak
8. The Road To Avalon (Sins Of The Fathers)
9. Children Of The Night
10. Payback’s A Bitch
11. Shake The Tree
12. Heads Will Roll
Disc 2: Live N Lethal
1. A Prelude To Rage
2. The Rage Within
3. Black ‘n’ Blue
4. White Hot
5. The China Run
6. On The Rocks
7. Aint No Fit Place
8. Dirt Money
9. Berlin
10. Cry Wolf
11. Let It Loose
12. Smiling Assassin
13. We Got The Edge
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“Savage sound as vibrant as ever. Its 10 tracks hearken back to the band’s early roots while also capturing a contemporary sound.” – Brave Words
“7/Live n Lethal is a fantastic combination of the band’s classic era and its modern age sound in one signature set.” – Metalholic
“Continuing a renaissance that began about 20 years ago, England’s Savage keep their New Wave of British Heavy Metal rumbling along.” – Dangerdog Music Reviews
CANNIBAL CORPSE will kick off 2016 with one of the most bludgeoning Death Metal tour lineups of the year! The over month-long trek, presented by The Noise, will tear across North America beginning on February 12th and run through March 20th. The band will be joined by fellow Floridian Death Metal progenitors, Obituary, as direct support, followed by Canada’s Cryptopsy, and Los Angeles’ Abysmal Dawn. Tickets go on sale this Friday, December 11th, at 10:00am local time through all local and national ticket outlets.
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The Noise presents CANNIBAL CORPSE w/ Obituary, Cryptopsy, Abysmal Dawn:
2/12/2016 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
2/13/2016 The Sea – Wilmington, NC
2/14/2016 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
2/15/2016 Theatre Of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
2/16/2016 Irving Plaza – New York, NY
2/18/2016 Paradise Rock Club – Boston, MA
2/19/2016 Town Ballroom – Buffalo, NY
2/20/2016 Opera House – Toronto, ON
2/21/2016 St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
2/23/2016 Turner Hall Ballroom – Milwaukee, WI
2/24/2016 The Ready Room – St. Louis, MO [tickets]
2/25/2016 The Granada Theater – Lawrence, KS
2/26/2016 Cabooze – Minneapolis, MN
2/27/2016 Metro – Chicago, IL [tickets]
2/29/2016 The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
3/01/2016 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
3/02/2016 Revolution Center – Boise, ID
3/03/2016 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
3/04/2016 Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
3/05/2016 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
3/07/2016 The Fillmore – San Francisco, CA
3/08/2016 Avalon Hollywood – Los Angeles, CA
3/09/2016 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
3/10/2016 House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
3/11/2016 Club Red – Phoenix, AZ
3/12/2016 Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
3/14/2016 The Aztec Theatre – San Antonio, TX
3/15/2016 Gas Monkey Live! – Dallas, TX
3/16/2016 House Of Blues – Houston, TX
3/17/2016 Varsity Theatre – Baton Rouge, LA
3/18/2016 The Side Bar Theatre – Tallahassee, FL
3/19/2016 The Ritz Ybor – Tampa, FL *no Obituary
3/20/2016 Revolution Live – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
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CANNIBAL CORPSE continues to tour in support of their A Skeletal Domain full-length, released last year via Metal Blade Records. The band’s thirteenth studio offering debuted at an astounding #32 on Billboard’s Top 200 chart upon its first week of release, making it the highest charting record in the band’s storied history! Produced by Mark Lewis (The Black Dahlia Murder, DevilDriver) at Audio Hammer Studios in Florida, the record boasts twelve ravenous tracks of confrontational, meticulously executed, ill-omened brutality, as only CANNIBAL CORPSE can deliver.
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