Archive for Extreme Metal

MACABRE – Announce 2011 Summer North American Tour; European Tour Begins In April!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, gore metal, grindcore, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Murder Metallers MACABRE have announced a string of North American tour dates for this Summer, the latest in their ongoing Grim Scary Tour supporting their latest blistering full-length Grim Scary Tales. Set to kick off in late July, MACABRE will hit the road for two weeks as direct support for Gore Metal outfit Exhumed, and also joined by Cephalic Carnage and Withered.

MACABRE will first hit the road for the previously-announced European leg of the tour in mid-April, with special guests Birdflesh, Rompeprop, and with nine select dates of the tour also including support from fellow Chicagoan Bruce Lamont.

Confirmed Dates For MACABRE The Grim Scary Tour:

European Grim Scary Tour with Birdflesh, Rompeprop, Bruce Lamont (on select dates):

4/16/2011 Salzman Factory – Kassel, Germany

4/18/2011 Feierwerk – Munchen, Germany

4/19/2011 Marx – Hamburg, Germany w/ Bruce Lamont

4/20/2011 Sticky fingers – Gotenborg, Sweden w/ Bruce Lamont

4/21/2011 Kafe Deluxe – Vaxjo, Sweden w/ Bruce Lamont

4/22/2011 Ungdomens Hus – Uppsala, Sweden w/ Bruce Lamont

4/23/2011 O’Leary’s – Kristianstad, Sweden w/ Bruce Lamont

4/24/2011 Turock – Essen, Germany w/ Bruce Lamont

4/26/2011 Exit Chmelnice – Prague, Czech Republic w/ Bruce Lamont

4/27/2011 Nova Pekaren – Nitra, Slovakia w/ Bruce Lamont

4/28/2011 Prostor Tančírna – Ostrava, Czech Republic w/ Bruce Lamont

4/29/2011 Skullcrusher club – Dresden, Germany

4/30/2011 Neurotic Deathfest – Tilburg, Netherlands

5/01/2011 4Ecluses – Dunkerque, France

5/03/2011 Dynamo Werk 21 – Zurich, Switzerland

4/04/2011 Pieffe Factory – Nova Gorica, Italy

5/05/2011 Escape – Vienna, Austria

5/06/2011 Warpurgis Metal Days Fest – Hauzenberg, Germany

5/07/2011 Puntpop Festival – Wuustweezel Belgium

5/08/2011 Steinbruch Theater – Darmstad, Germany

North American grim Scary Tour with Exhumed, Cephalic Carnage, Withered:

7/24/2011 Central Illinois Metalfest – Urbana, IL

7/25/2011 The Rave – Milwaukee, WI

7/26/2011 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN

7/27/2011 Royal Albert Arms – Winnipeg, MB

7/28/2011 The Exchange – Regina, SK

7/29/2011 The Pawn Shop – Edmonton, AB

7/30/2011 The Distillery – Calgary, AB

7/31/2011 Sapphire Nightclub – Kelowna, BC

8/01/2011 Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC

8/02/2011 Studio Seven – Seattle, WA

8/03/2011 Branx – Portland, OR

8/04/2011 Slim’s – San Francisco, CA

8/05/2011 The Alley – Sparks, NV

8/06/2011 Cheyanne Saloon – Las Vegas, NV

8/07/2011 The Key Club – Hollywood, CA

The band’s turbulent new full-length Grim Scary Tales presents the classic MACABRE style fans have come to expect, cleverly combining nursery rhyme sing-along quirkiness with ultra-tight, high-speed, Gore/Grind/Death ingenuity. MACABRE have cleverly devised a “story book of murder” with this album, as Grim Scary Tales tracing back to the earliest recorded and most infamous mass killers.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

* For more info on MACABRE, just click on the links below!

MACABRE – MURDER METAL

MACABRE – myspace music

MACABRE – REVERBNATION

* To check out my album review for Grim Scary Tales, (posted on January 30, 2011), click on the large header link below!

MACABRE “Grim Scary Tales” – A Bloody Good and Terror Filled Escape of Metal Tales!

LONG LIVE MACABRE.

Stone.

Frankie Sparcello of Exhorder – Rest In Peace

Posted in groove metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 24, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

It has been reported just about everywhere, that Frankie Sparcello (bass guitarist) of EXHORDER passed away on March 22, 2011. This is sad news for the entire Metal world. The loss of Frankie Sparcello only adds to the long list of Metal heros our Metal community has lost in the last two years alone. Metal Odyssey extends condolences to the family, friends, band mates and fans of Frankie Sparcello.

EXHORDER was scheduled to play at the Maryland Death Fest IX, which runs May 26th through May 29th, 2011, at the Sonar in Baltimore. EXHORDER originated from New Orleans, Louisiana, back in 1985. With two studio albums and one “split” live album in their catalog, EXHORDER has always maintained their loyal fan base, receiving the respect and brandishing influence among their peers, regardless of any periods of inactivity. Frankie Sparcello was the bassist for EXHORDER on their 1992 studio album The Law.

EXHORDER Discography On RoadRunner Records:

Slaughter In The Vatican – (1990)

The Law – (1992)

EXHORDER On Split, Restless Records:

Live Death – (1994)

Long Live The Metal Of Exhorder.

Rest In Peace, Frankie Sparcello.

Stone.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – Stream Entire New Album “The Fight Of Our Lives”, Giving Away Single For FREE Via iTunes!

Posted in Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, heavy metal albums, heavy metal bands, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich)

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH is streaming their entire new album “The Fight Of Our Lives” this week over at AOL Music, to celebrate it’s release that comes out today, March 22, 2011.

Listen to “The Fight Of Our Lives” here: http://aol.it/gLKCmO

Their current single, “Conversion” is featured on iTunes as the FREE “Discovery Download” single of the week. Download it here: http://bit.ly/hLdGni

The band has no qualms about staying on the road this year. They recently announced off-dates with the one and only IN FLAMES during their run on the  2011 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL. They’ve also announced a handful of dates with road mates NONPOINT, Revolver magazine’s “Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock: Hell Hath No Fury” tour supporting IN THIS MOMENT and last but not least, DOWNLOAD FESTIVAL.  All dates can be found below.

Supporting Nonpoint:

4/6 Tallahassee, FL @ Floyd’s Music Store

4/7 Charleston, SC @ Jimbo’s Rock Lounge

4/8 Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans

4/9 Johnson City, TN @ Capones

4/10 Winston Salem, NC @ Johnny and Junes

4/18 Fayetteville, AR  @ Rogue

4/19 Amarillo, TX @ The Sorority House

4/20 Farmington, NM @ Top Deck

Supporting In This Moment:

4/25 Sparks, NV @ The Alley

4/27 Boise, ID @ Knitting Factory

4/28 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

4/29 Portland, OR @ Bossanova Ballroom

4/30 Spokane, WA @ The A Club

5/01 Billings, MT @ Railyard

5/03 Des Moines, IA @ House Of Bricks

5/05 Madison, WI @ The Annex

5/06 Grand Rapids, MI @ Intersection

5/07 Barrington, IL @ Penny Road Pub

5/08 Evansville, IN @ Boney Junes

5/09 Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music Hall

5/10 Lawrence, KS @ The Bottleneck

5/11 Tulsa, OK @ The Marquee

5/12 Lubbock, TX @ Jake’s

5/13 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad

5/14 Tucson, AZ @ The Rock

5/15 Flagstaff, AZ @ The Orpheum

Supporting In Flames:

7/18 Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium

7/25 Niagara Falls, NY @ Rapids Theatre

7/26 Clifton Park, NY @ Northern Lights

8/01 Charlotte, NC @ Amos’ Southend

8/08 Kansas City, MO @ Harrah’s

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2011 Tour Dates:

Jul. 09 – San Bernardino, CA @ San Manuel Amphitheatre

Jul. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

Jul. 12 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater

Jul. 13 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre

Jul. 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Jul. 16 – Albuquerque, NM @ Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion

Jul. 17 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

Jul. 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Front woman Alexis Brown is the featured “Hottest Chick in Hard Rock”, in the newest issue of REVOLVER MAGAZINE. Copies are on stands now!

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH originally hailing from Knoxville, TN, features Alexis Brown on vocals, Seth Thacker and Kris Norris on guitar, Jason White on bass, and Kanky Lora on drums.

(Source: eOne Music)

* For more info on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, click the links below:

Straight Line Stitch – MySpace.com

http://www.facebook.com/straightlinestitch

LONG LIVE STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.

Stone.

Withering Soul – Apochs.net Now Streaming Four Tracks From “No Closure”!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, gothic metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 22, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOUL – Packed with more Metal than your grandma’s hip replacement, our good buds at Apochs.net have again extended a fiery set of horns and are currently streaming four (yes, four) new tracks from the recently released slab of Blackened brilliance No Closure from Chicago’s WITHERING SOUL. Hook your laptop up to the good speakers and cruise over to: Apochs.net – Apochs Metal Review

No Closure is a combination of Symphonic Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal with some Gothic overtones thrown is as well. As an added treat, guest backing vocals have been provided by Melissa Ferlaak. Inclusive of quality Scandinavian influences, but now with mature competency, they have carved their own path that is destined to generate a buzz in the underground and capture fans across the board.

(Source: Clawhammer PR)

* Check out my full review for No Closure (posted on February 20, 2011), by clicking the big header link below:

Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

Track Listing For No Closure:

Night of the Revenant

Phantasmal Chaos Divinity

The Sequitor

Tides of the Accursed

Possession of Deception – Part II

Sadistic Redress

Manifest Transparency

Lifeless They Lie

Unquiet

Requiem of Sorrow

* For more info on WITHERING SOUL, click the links below:

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.

MARYLAND DEATH FEST IX: May 26th thru 29th, 2011 – Metal Bands Listed and Info!

Posted in Death Metal, death metal bands, death metal festivals, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, sludge metal, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 19, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

MARYLAND DEATH FEST IX – Take a look at this lineup of Metal bands! Metal be thy name, there is enough Death Metal firepower at this Maryland Death Fest IX to make any fan of Extreme Metal drool for a month! From May 26th, thru May 29th, 2011, the Maryland Death Fest IX will be letting loose at Club Sonar in Baltimore, Maryland. (See links at bottom of post for more info on Maryland Death Fest IX and Club Sonar).

It’s an incredible Metal feat to corral such an impressive amount of Metal bands together for four days! I can only imagine the logistics involved. Metal as my witness, this vast lineup of bands kicks some serious Metal ass. With Metal Legends the likes of Coroner, Neurosis and Cathedral being on the same bill, the influence meter for younger bands will be exploding! Corrosion Of Conformity brings their diverse Metal history to this Death Fest IX and this lineup gets meatier by the Metal minute. Dutch Death Metal all-stars, Hail of Bullets, will be making a U.S. appearance here as well and they will certainly set forth their old school Death Metal proficiency upon the masses.

The legendary Voivod looks to add some potent Thrash with their progressive extremity. Thrash Metal warriors Nuclear Assault are back! Thrash Metal has their pioneering flag bearers at this Death Fest IX without argument. GHOST has been stirring up quite the Metal buzz the last several months, they should fit right in with this Death Metal party just fine. Their brand of old school, Classic Metal with their identities unknown, will only recruit more fans at this amazing event to the dark and evil gospel according to GHOST!

* For more current info, news, ticket info, event history, hotel info and band running order, just click on this link: MARYLAND DEATH FEST IX

* For more info on CLUB SONAR in Baltimore, Maryland, plus directions, just click on this link: SONAR BALTIMORE

LONG LIVE MARYLAND DEATH FEST.

LONG LIVE DEATH METAL.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

HEMOPTYSIS – Streaming “Misanthropic Slaughter” Album Online!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal, thrash metal bands with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 18, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

HEMOPTYSIS – Phoenix Arizona’s Hemoptysis have announced that their debut album “Misanthropic Slaughter” is now available for streaming in it’s entirety via the band’s new bandcamp page : HEMOPTYSIS – bandcamp page

* “Misanthropic Slaughter”, as well as singles, are also available for download on the Hemoptysis bandcamp page as well.

* Physical copies of “Misanthropic Slaughter” are available worlwide at this location: HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website

“Misanthropic Slaughter” was produced by Grammy Award winner Ryan Greene (Megadeth, NOFX, Alice Cooper) and has received over 20 positive reviews worldwide… all before it’s release! “Misanthropic Slaughter” will be available in stores throughout Europe via Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records in late April, 2011.

HEMOPTYSIS:

Masaki Murashita – vocals & guitar

Ryan Miller – lead guitar

Sunao Arai – bass

Travis Thune – drums

* For more info on HEMOPTYSIS, click on the links below:

HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website

HEMOPTYSIS – myspace music

HEMOPTYSIS – Facebook

HEMOPTYSIS – REVERBNATION

* Metal Odyssey reminds those who want to help out our great friends in Japan, to click on the link below for assistance:

http://www.google.com/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

LONG LIVE HEMOPTYSIS.

Stone.

IMPENDING DOOM – Sign a World Wide Deal With eOne Music! 2011 Tour Dates Listed!

Posted in Death Metal, deathcore, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal bands, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 17, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) — Hard hitting “gorship” outfit IMPENDING DOOM have signed a world wide deal with eOne Music. “We’re very excited to start a new chapter in our career on a label who has proven to be a staple in the Metal community,” says guitarist Corey Johnson. The band is writing new material to be released later this year. Johnson continues, “We’re certain that with our new material, the touring plans we have on the horizon and having such a powerful label behind us there will be no stopping Impending Doom!

IMPENDING DOOM are currently on tour with NORMA JEAN and STICK TO YOUR GUNS, with a few weeks left before they head over to Europe for the first time in their career alongside WHITECHAPEL.

w/ Norma Jean, Stick To Your Guns

3/16 Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s

3/17 Pittsburgh, PA @ Mr. Smalls

3/18 New York, NY @ Gramercy Theatre

3/19 Worcester, MA @ Palladium Upstairs

3/20 Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon Club

3/22 Richmond, VA @ Canal Club

3/23 Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall

3/24 Tampa, FL @ State Theatre

3/25 Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade

w/ Whitechapel

04/08 Glasgow, UK – Cathouse

04/09 Sheffield, UK – Corporation

04/10 Manchester, UK – Academy 3

04/11 Birmingham, UK – Academy 3

04/12 Islington, UK – Islington Academy

04/13 Portsmouth, UK – Wedgewood Rooms

04/14 Paris, FRA – Boule Noire

IMPENDING DOOM have achieved success in recent years with releases like “The Serpent Servant” and “There Will Be Violence;” both cracking the Billboard Top 200 Chart. Often seen on tour with acts like CHIMAIRA, WHITECHAPEL and AUGUST BURNS RED, the band has no plans of stopping now.

IMPENDING DOOM are Brook Reeves on vocals, Cory Johnson on guitar, David Sittig on bass and Brandon “B-Town” Trahan on drums.

(Source: eOne Music)

* For more into on IMPENDING DOOM, just click the links below:

IMPENDING DOOM – myspace music

IMPENDING DOOM – facebook

LONG LIVE IMPENDING DOOM.

Stone.

VREID: Norwegian Black Metal Collective Unleash Fifth Full Length To North America Today!

Posted in Black Metal, black metal albums, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 15, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Norwegian black metallers VREID today release their fifth studio album, simply entitled V, in North America via Indie Recordings. Issued to European territories in February, the nine-track offering was produced by bassist/songwriter Hváll at his own 1184 Studio and has already received a positive response from European press, earning a perfect 6/6 rating in Scream Magazine in Norway and an 8/10 in Terrorizer who called the record VREID’s “most accomplished work to date.”

V Track Listing:

01. Arche

02. The Blood Eagle

03. Wolverine Bastards

04. The Sound Of The River

05. Fire On The Mountain

06. The Others & The Look

07. Slave

08. Welcome To The Asylum

09. Then We Die

Check out the video for “The Sound Of The River”, filmed in Wroclaw, Poland by Grupa 13 (Behemoth, Amon Amarth) Just click this link

 

The song is reportedly inspired by the book Markens Grøde/Growth Of The Soil by Knut Hamsun (a book which earned the legendary and controversial Norwegian author a Nobel prize in literature in 1920).

ABOUT VREID:

VREID, Norwegian for “wrath,” arose from the ashes of Windir, following the tragic death of Valfar in January 2004. At the time the band consisted of Windir members Hváll (bass), Steingrim (drums), Sture (vocals/guitar) and new guitarist/longtime friend, Ese. This lineup went on to release four albums and one DVD.

Between 2004 -2006 VREID released two full-lengths on Tabu Recordings: Kraft and Pitch Black Brigade. The music was a natural continuance of the music Hváll wrote with Windir, with a new twist — the ambiance of Windir and rawness of Norwegian black metal meshed with the rocking groove of Sepultura, Metallica and Motörhead. The lyrics were in both English and Norwegian, and heavily influenced by historical themes.

By 2006 VREID signed to then-new imprint Indie Records. Their third album, I Krig (Norwegian for “at war”), was released in May 2007. All the lyrics were based on poems from 1946 by Gunnar Reiss-Andersen, a member of the Norwegian resistance fighters during WW2. In 2009 they released Milorg. With English lyrics, the album once again dealt with the resistance movement’s work in Norway during WW2. The album received rave reviews and is VREID’s greatest success to date.

Since then, the band has been on a long-lasting path of progression and success. Their European headlining tour with Kampar and Iskald (on which they played Milorg in it’s entirety almost every night) was nearly sold out everywhere. They also did an extensive tour with Pestilence as special guests on their comeback tour. In April 2009 VREID performed on the main stage of the Inferno fest. Their set included pyro, movie screens and guest performances to illustrate the themes from their last album. This show is the backbone for their first ever DVD, Vreid Goddamnit that was released in September 2010. In the summer of that same year, VREID found themselves playing some of their most monumental shows ever on the main stages of mammoth festivals like Wacken Open Air, Summer Breeze, Brutal Assault, Oslo Live and Zwarte Cross. For the US release in October 2009, they did the Heathen Fest with Eluveitie and Belphegor which took them to 29 cities in 31 days.

VREID spent 2010 playing select festivals and shows, with their main focus on writing V. Build upon Norwegian blackness and ’70s rock, on V, the Norwegian black ‘n’ rollers are reunited with guitar maestro Strom from Windir and Ulcus days (former guitarist Ese fled the band late 2009). With history as the lifeline of their lyrics, V focuses its thoughts on Hamsun, Munch and Sarte and is clearly bears some of their heaviest and most complex songs ever recorded. VREID have marched across the world performing over 200 shows since their start back in 2004, and will be hitting the road 2011. Further details to be announced in due time.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

VREID Lineup:

Hváll – Bass

Sture – Vocals/Guitar

Strom – Guitar

Steingrim – Drums

LONG LIVE VREID.

Stone.

Masaki Murashita of Hemoptysis – Comments on His Native Japan, Concerning Current Crisis

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, japan, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, world news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 15, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

As the country of Japan has suffered tremendously from the recent earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear reactor problems, we have all been watching in horror and feeling for the people of Japan. Some have been hit on a more personal level, Hemoptysis vocalist/guitarist Masaki Murashita is a native of Japan and has issued the following comment:

“I first want to thank our fans for the overwhelming support they have shown me in the last few days since my home country of Japan was hit by devastating earthquakes and a tsunami. I have been in contact with my family and friends in Japan and they are safe at the moment but not out of harm’s way. This is without a doubt one of the most difficult and tragic times for my country. The Japanese people are strong and resilient but any help you can spare for the people of Japan would be greatly appreciated. You can help by following this link”  http://www.google.com/intl/en/crisisresponse/japanquake2011.html

Thank you. Masaki

On March 8th, 2011, Hemoptysis released “Misanthropic Slaughter” and signed an European record deal with Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records. The album is available on iTunes, Amazon and other online retailers digitally, physical copies are available worldwide via HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website and copies will hit store shelves throughout Europe via Rock It Up Records late next month.

* For updated Hemoptysis info, visit these links:

HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website

HEMOPTYSIS – myspace music

HEMOPTYSIS – Facebook

LONG LIVE HEMOPTYSIS.

LONG LIVE JAPAN AND IT’S GREAT PEOPLE.

Stone.

INCANTATION – To Play Neurotic Deathfest 2011!

Posted in Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 10, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

INCANTATION – U.S. Death Metal pioneers Incantation have recently been added to the already stacked lineup for this years Neurotic Deathfest, which runs April 29th & 30th in Tilburg, Netherlands. Drummer Kyle Severn gave the following statement:

“On behalf of myself and Incantation, we would like to announce that we have just added to the greatest indoor European Death Metal Fest lineup that we have ever seen. Yes, I’m talking about this year’s Neurotic Deathfest in Holland. Incantation is honored to share the stage again with the almighty Autopsy, as well as the return of At The Gates and other Metal legends like Obituary and new Metallers of the 2K-era – Hail Of Bullets. We plan to play a very obscure set in honor of this amazing lineup and for our very supportive fans, old school and new alike. With a well rounded fest lineup bound together with leather and spikes, you will not want to miss this Incantation set-list, which is already a making in Metal history. We are riding the Metal storm out with the same lineup as we had this time last year when we successfully spread blasphemy across Europe during our headlining tour for the highly respected 7″ EP “ScapeGoat” with Alex Bouks (Goreaphobia, Master) guitars, Chuck Sherwood (Blood Storm) bass, John McEntee on guitar and vokills and myself skinsmans Kyle Severn on the drums… Kyle666″.

Neurotic Deathfest 2011, featuring the likes of At The Gates, Autopsy, Obituary, Hate Eternal, Incantation and many more, is already shaping up to be the most brutal festival of the year. Keep checking in at NEUROTIC DEATHFEST 2011 for information, updates and to buy tickets.

(Source: CLAWHAMMER PR)

LONG LIVE NEUROTIC DEATHFEST.

LONG LIVE DEATH METAL.

LONG LIVE INCANTATION.

Stone.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS – Apostles Of Darkness Over The Americas Tour Begins March 9th, 2011!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal concerts, heavy metal festivals, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , on March 9, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS – their thirty date North American tour alongside Melechesh, Hate, Lecherous Nocturne and headliners Rotting Christ embarks this Wednesday, March 9th in Virginia. Dubbed the Apostles Of Darkness Over The Americas, this massive Black/Death tour lineup shall easily prove to be one of the most Extreme Metal tours of 2011 so far.

Apostles Of Darkness Over The Americas:

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS with Melechesh, Hate, Lecherous Nocturne and headliners – Rotting Christ:

3/09/2011 Jaxx – West Springfield, VA

3/10/2011 Championship Bar & Grill – Trenton, NJ

3/11/2011 Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY

3/12/2011 Rocko’s – Manchester, NH

3/13/2011 The Palladium – Worcester, MA

3/14/2011 Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale, NY

3/15/2011 Petite Campus – Montreal, QC

3/16/2011 Mod Club – Toronto, ON

3/17/2011 Blondie’s – Detroit, MI

3/18/2011 Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH

3/19/2011 Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL

3/20/2011 Station 4 – St. Paul, MN

3/22/2011 The Republik – Calgary, AB

3/23/2011 Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB

3/25/2011 El Corazon – Seattle, WA

3/26/2011 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR

3/27/2011 DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA

3/28/2011 Chain Reaction – Anaheim, CA

3/29/2011 The Key Club – Hollywood, CA

3/30/2011 Brick by Brick – San Diego, CA

3/31/2011 U.B’s Bar – Mesa, AZ

4/01/2011 The War Legion Underground – Amarillo, TX

4/02/2011 The Marquee – Tulsa, OK

4/03/2011 Rail Club – Ft. Worth, TX

4/04/2011 Emo’s – Austin, TX

4/05/2011 Walter’s – Houston, TX

4/07/2011 Brass Mug – Tampa, FL

4/08/2011 The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA

4/09/2011 Volume 11 – Raleigh, NC

4/10/2011 The Casbah – Charlotte, NC

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS’ latest album In The Absence Of Light was released in September via Candlelight. Recorded at Conquistador Studios in Cleveland and mixed by Peter Tagtgren (Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Celtic Frost) at Black Lounge Studios in Sweden, the album presents founder/vocalist/guitarist Sorceron with new guitarist Ian Jekelis and drummer Ken Bedene. The album’s eight songs, written exclusively by Sorceron, contain far more urgency then the band’s previous material, cutting down on snyth and keyboards without depleting their crushing atmospheric capabilities, while adding a more brutal, sinister edge to their attack.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

LONG LIVE ABIGAIL WILLIAMS.

LONG LIVE EXTREME METAL.

Stone.

HEMOPTYSIS – Ink Deal With Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, Thrash Metal with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Phoenix, Arizona – March 8th, 2011 – On the same day that their first full length album is released (Misanthropic Slaughter), Phoenix based Metallers HEMOPTYSIS are proud to announce that they have signed a licensing deal with German label – Rock It Up/IceWarrior Records. Click here to check them out: Rock It Up / IceWarrior Records

Commented vocalist/guitarist Masaki Murashita: “We are proud to be working with such a great group of people. Franko at Rock It Up has really done an amazing job in making this deal happen. We look forward to our continued success throughout Europe and we hope to be playing many shows over there in the near future”.

Misanthropic Slaughter is available worldwide online now at this location: http://www.misanthropicslaughter.com as well as iTunes, Amazon.com and other fine online retailers. Misanthropic Slaughter will hit stores throughout Europe in late April of 2011 via Rock It Up Records.

METAL ODYSSEY CONGRATULATES HEMOPTYSIS! HORNS UP!

GO KICK SOME F’N METAL ASS HEMOPTYSIS!

Misanthropic Slaughter Track Listing:

Misanthropic Slaughter

Hopeless

M.O.D.

Impending Doom

And The World Dies

Interlude

The Cycle

Blood Storm

Shadow of Death

Hadephobia

End of Sorrow

HEMOPTYSIS is:

Masaki Murashita – vocals & guitar

Ryan Miller – lead guitar

Sunao Arai – bass

Travis Thune – drums

* For more info on HEMOPTYSIS, click the links below:

HEMOPTYSIS – REVERBNATION

HEMOPTYSIS – Official Website

HEMOPTYSIS – myspace music

HEMOPTYSIS – Facebook

LONG LIVE HEMOPTYSIS.

Stone.

Withering Soul “No Closure” Releases Today, March 8th, 2011!

Posted in Black Metal, Death Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , on March 8, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOULNo Closure from Chicago’s WITHERING SOUL sees release today, March 8th, 2011 through Mortal Music. X-Plosive Metal called No Closure a “brilliant record”, The Offering Webzine dubbed it “a great Black Metal album” and Blistering.com declared it “a great album”.

No Closure is a combination of Symphonic Black Metal and Melodic Death Metal with some Gothic overtones thrown in as well. As an added treat, guest backing vocals have been provided by Melissa Ferlaak. Inclusive of quality Scandinavian influences, but now with mature competency, Withering Soul have carved out their own path that is destined to generate a buzz in the underground and capture fans across the board.

(Source: Clawhammer PR)

* For more info on Withering Soul, click the links below:

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

Wanna read my album review for No Closure? Just click the big header link below!

Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.

CHIMAIRA “Wild Thing” Cover Song – A Horns Up To Charlie Sheen’s “Major League” Movie And Available Now at iTunes!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 7, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(New York, NY) – CHIMAIRA joined in the fun of celebrating Charlie Sheen last week by covering the song “Wild Thing” in the studio, a tribute to Charlie Sheen’s 1989 hit comedy movie “Major League”. “We had some fun at the studio”, says Chimaira’s front man Mark Hunter.

Chimaira is currently in the studio finishing up their upcoming record to be released later this year. Recently signing a new record deal with eOne Music for North America, South America and Japan, Mark Hunter offers: “We are excited to start the new decade with a team that believes in our music, has our back and thinks outside the box. eOne are one of the very few labels out there who still give a damn about the genre and Chimaira are proud to be a part of that. Expect great things in 2011”.

Chimaira released their album “The Infection” back in 2009 to serious critical acclaims with hit singles “Secrets of the Dead” and “Destroy and Dominate”, which claimed the #30 spot on the Billboard Top 200 chart. Their most recent effort was a three disc live DVD, which also features a documentary about the band called “Coming Alive”.

* Over the past 10 years, Chimaira has sold close to 500,000 albums.

A “Wild Thing” song history, (see below), brought to you by Metal Odyssey’s Stone:

* “Wild Thing” was written by songwriter Chip Taylor, (real name: James Wesley Voight), who was born in New York City. This iconic Rock ‘n’ Roll song was originally recorded by The Wild Ones back in 1965. The English Rock Band – The Troggs covered “Wild Thing” back in 1966 and reached #1 in the U.S. on the Billboard Hot 100 in July of 1966.

Stone’s “Wild Thing” Cover Song Review:

Okay, I bought this cover song of “Wild Thing” from iTunes today. It realistically served me right. I never thought I would be saying this about Chimaira… they actually made a (gulp) “fun” song. This cover version has it’s Metal grooves happening with plenty of crunch. Yes, Mark Hunter still sounds quite pissed off vocally, so don’t worry all of you Chimaira die-hards out there! “Wild Thing” clocks in at 2:30 long, so it’s no epic, it’s just a good Metal kick-in-the-ass to kick start my day. Or is that kick start my night? A Must Metal buy for only $1.29!

CHIMAIRA:

Mark Hunter – vocals

Matt DeVries – guitar

Rob Arnold – guitar

Andols Herrick – drums

Chris Spicuzza – keyboards, samples & backing vocals

* For more info on CHIMAIRA, click the links below:

CHIMAIRA – Official Website

CHIMAIRA – myspace music

CHIMAIRA – Official Facebook

CHIMAIRA (chimairaband) On Twitter

* You can preview and/or buy Chimaira’s cover song “Wild Thing” at iTunes by clicking on the link below!

http://bit.ly/eRJQ0z

(Source: eOne Music)

* Metal Odyssey receives 0% compensation from iTunes for directing you to their store for making a song purchase. This is all done in good Metal faith, to assist all fellow Metalheads worldwide, in finding easy access to this new Chimaira song. Metal be thy name.

LONG LIVE CHIMAIRA.

Stone.

CALIFORNIA METALFEST V – AS I LAY DYING Headlines On Saturday, March 19th, 2011! Bands Listed!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal favorites, metal music, metal odyssey, metalcore, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 6, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

CALIFORNIA METALFEST V – This looks like an extremely cool Metalfest to me! Tim Lambesis (vocalist & founding member) of As I Lay Dying is a vocalist and multi-instrumentalist that I applaud tremendously, in this vast world of Metal. I consider Tim to be a prodigious Metal talent. The Powerless Rise (Metal Blade) is the most recent album from As I Lay Dying and one that I listen to consistently. As I Lay Dying tears it apart, per usual, on this strong album of Metal.

It’s the Extreme side of As I Lay Dying that made me gravitate to them in the first place, mixing multiple styles of Metal together to form their own standout sound. Metalcore, Metal and Extreme… we can play the genre game all day long here, just know that As I Lay Dying is one substantial Metal band out there today. Man, I wish this California Metalfest V was just down the street from me! Two words for any Metalhead that is going to this show… you lucky.

I get the biggest Metal kick out of Tim’s side project world-known as Austrian Death Machine. The Thrashin’ Death grooves that Tim Lambesis has created with Austrian Death Machine are infectious to my Metal lovin’ ears. Plus, the parody of Arnold Schwarzenegger through the character (voice-over) of “Ahhhnold” is just (gulp) fun Metal stuff. I recommend any rabid Metal fan out there to get their ears into Austrian Death Machine (if you already haven’t).

The above CALIFORNIA METALFEST V poster pretty much says it all when it comes to any general Metal info!

* For more necessary info like directions/how to buy tickets, click link below:

City National Grove Of Anaheim

* For more Metal info on AS I LAY DYING, click link below:

AS I LAY DYING – myspace music

LONG LIVE CALIFORNIA METALFEST.

LONG LIVE METAL.

Stone.

Metal Odyssey Celebrates Two Year Anniversary!

Posted in classic rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock and roll, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on March 1, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

METAL ODYSSEY – Back on March 1st, 2009, I started this Metal Odyssey – Heavy Metal Music Blog. As days, weeks and months passed by, I realized that Classic Rock, Punk Rock, Rock, Hard Rock and even Folk Rock were being consumed by my ears all of my life as well. It’s the Rock classics of yesteryear that made me the Metalhead I am today anyways! With so many Rock genres crossing my Metal path, I began to write album reviews and commentary about them. So, a union of Rock ‘n’ Roll sort of happened within a two year period on Metal Odyssey. My first love is Metal, yet I’m a bona fide Rockaholic. If it Rocks, I’m listening and blabbing… regardless of genre.

* I chose to show the album cover for Slayer’s Show No Mercy at the top of this post for one simple reason: this album represents my coming of Metal age as a young lad… when the bands I began to follow were no longer available at my Caldor department store!

Without making a huge list of names, I want to say THANK YOU:

* To all the visitors and subscribers to Metal Odyssey. Without you Rockin’ guys and gals, there would be no reason to even have this blog! Really. Sure, I enjoy writing about music… only it is extremely more enjoyable knowing that my “stuff” is actually being read by others who either agree or disagree with me. I thank all the visitors and fellow Metalheads for their comments!

* To all the bands and musicians who I’ve interviewed and/or became friends with during the past two years. It’s Rockin’ guys and gals like you, who’ve inspired me to listen better and write all the more about Metal and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

* To all my peer Rock, Hard Rock and Metal bloggers out there. Many I have become Metal buddies with and I can’t describe just how cool that makes me feel! Rob Rockitt at HARD ROCK HIDEOUT, Kinger at Demolish Fanzine – 1980’s Heavy Metal Revival and Metal Mark at Heavy Metal Time Machinethank you for listening to my whining and helping me out as often as you do. Gee Metal whiz you guys ROCK.

* To all the incredibly cool PR guys and gals who have been instrumental in helping Metal Odyssey have the Metal muscle to deliver the Metal goods! Metal be thy name.

* A special thank you to my wife and Scott Coverdale for their support! Coverdale’s Metal research is a splendid thing and he is embarking on being a contributing writer for Metal Odyssey too!

* Anyone that I forgot to thank… THANK YOU!

* To read the very first post I ever wrote for Metal Odyssey, just click that big header link below. When I read it now I get embarrassed.

HEAVY METAL & HARD ROCK RULES.

LONG LIVE ROCK ‘N’ ROLL.

LONG LIVE METAL.

The word “splendid” was used in this post.

Stone.

ROTTEN SOUND “Cursed” – Releases In U.S. On March 15th, 2011!

Posted in Death Metal, deathgrind, Extreme Metal, grindcore, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , , , on February 26, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

ROTTEN SOUND – Finland’s Deathgrind/Grindcore warriors Rotten Sound have returned with another studio album of 16 new songs titled: Cursed. This new album is releasing on March 15th, 2011, on Relapse Records. Rotten Sound is currently on tour in the U.S.A. and are spreading their legendary, ultra-aggressive and Extreme Metal sound on the East Coast. Here are the current U.S. tour dates:

02/26/11 – New York, NY @ The Gramercy Theatre

02/27/11 – Worcester, MA @ The Palladium

02/28/11 – West Springfiled, VA @ Jaxx

03/01/11 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero

03/02/11 – West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx

03/03/11 – Charlotte, NC @ The Casbah

03/04/11 – Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11 Tavern

ROTTEN SOUND:

Keijo Niinimaa – vocals

Mika Aalto – guitar

Sami Latva – drums

Kristian Toivainen – bass

Track Listing For Cursed:

Alone

Superior

Self

Choose

Hollow

Ritual

Green

Machinery

Power

Plan

Declare

Addict

Exploit

Terrified

Scared

Doomed

* For more info on ROTTEN SOUND, click on the links below:

ROTTEN SOUND – myspace music

RELAPSE RECORDS

LONG LIVE ROTTEN SOUND.

Stone.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH – Reveals More New Album Info, Premieres Another Brand New Song, Pre-Order Available!

Posted in Extreme Metal, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 23, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

(Photo Credit: Tom Medvedich)

(New York, NY) — STRAIGHT LINE STITCH has released more details on their upcoming record along with another new song from their new record entitled “Laughing in the Rearview,”exclusively at ArtistDirect.com.

Hear it here: http://bit.ly/h6lLAo

“Laughing in The Rearview is about hardships in life and then later on in life looking back you realize things weren’t as bad as you’d initially thought. So you laugh at it.” says front woman Alexis Brown.

Track listing For The Fight Of Our Lives:

1. Tear Down The Sky

2. Conversion

3. Laughing In The Rearview

4. Cold Front

5. No Tomorrow

6. Bar Room Brawl

7. One Reason

8. Never Surrender

9. Living Dead

10. Sound Of Silence

11. Ashes In The Wind

A few pre-orders are available as well offering an array of added incentives not otherwise offered in stores. Click here http://bit.ly/fZ8zF7 for the bands merch store or here for iTunes, http://bit.ly/gxXYvJ.

The band recently shot a new music video for their new single “Conversion” with veteran director Dale “Rage” Resteghini. “Conversion is one of my favorite songs on the record because its about shedding old skin & becoming a whole another being. I’m really stoked that its the first video off our new record.” says Brown.

Listen to “Conversion” here: http://bit.ly/hBIVb0 and watch the behind the scenes video here:  http://bit.ly/hcq0Vh

The band recently announced that they have been added to the robust lineup that is the 2011 ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL featuring MEGADETH, DISTURBED and GODSMACK. The band will be appearing on the “Extreme Stage” on all dates along with SUICIDE SILENCE & ALL SHALL PERISH. “Getting added to Mayhem is definitely a highlight of our careers thus far. There are so many amazing bands we thought we’d never get the opportunity to play with & now we get to. It’s gonna be a surreal summer for sure.” says Brown. Dates can be seen below.

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH has completed work on their new studio album, “The Fight Of Our Lives” due for release on March 22, 2011 via eOne Music. The new album is set to include eleven new songs and will be the follow-up to their album, “When Skies Wash Ashore” released in 2008. The band is set to hit the ground running in 2011. After finishing recent dates supporting NONPOINT, the band is in the middle of the much anticipated debut tour of TIMES OF GRACE, a new collaborative effort between Adam Dutkiewicz and Jesse Leach. Additional support on that tour will come from the mighty WAR OF AGES.

Supporting Times of Grace:

2/22 New York, NY @ Gramercy

2/24 West Chester, PA @ The Note

2/25 Millvale, PA @ Mr. Smalls

2/26 Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance

2/27 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club

Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival 2011 tour dates

Jul. 09 – San Bernardino, CA @ San Manuel Amphitheatre

Jul. 10 – San Francisco, CA @ Shoreline Amphitheatre

Jul. 12 – Seattle, WA @ White River Amphitheater

Jul. 13 – Boise, ID @ Idaho Center Amphitheatre

Jul. 15 – Phoenix, AZ @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion

Jul. 16 – Albuquerque, NM @ Hard Rock Casino Presents: The Pavilion

Jul. 17 – Denver, CO @ Comfort Dental Amphitheatre

Jul. 19 – St. Louis, MO @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheater

Jul. 20 – Cincinnati, OH @ Riverbend Music Center

Jul. 22 – Boston, MA @ Comcast Center

Jul. 23 – Montreal, QUE @ Parc Jean Drapeau

Jul. 24 – Hartford, CT @ The Comcast Theatre

Jul. 27 – Holmdel, NJ @ P.N.C. Bank Arts Center

Jul. 29 – Pittsburgh, PA @ First Niagara Pavilion

Jul. 30 – Washington, DC @ Jiffy Lube Live

Jul. 31 – Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Bank Center

Aug. 02 – Virginia Beach, VA @ Verizon Wireless V. Beach Amphitheater

Aug. 03 – Raleigh, NC @ Time Warner Cable Music Pavilion at Walnut Creek

Aug. 05 – Chicago, IL @ First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre

Aug. 06 – Detroit, MI @ DTE Energy Music Theatre

Aug. 07 – Indianapolis, IN @ Verizon Wireless Music Center

Aug. 09 – Oklahoma City, OK @ Zoo Amphitheatre

Aug. 10 – Dallas, TX @ Superpages.com Center

Aug. 12 – Atlanta, GA @ Lakewood Amphitheatre

Aug. 13 – Tampa, FL @ 1-800-Ask-Gary-Amphitheatre

Aug. 14 – West Palm Beach, FL @ Cruzan Amphitheater

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH originally hailing from Knoxville, TN, features Alexis Brown on vocals, Seth Thacker and Kris Norris on guitar, Jason White on bass, and Kanky Lora on drums.

* For more info on STRAIGHT LINE STITCH, please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/straightlinestitch

http://www.twitter.com/slsband1

http://www.allinmerch.com/straightlinestitch

http://www.myspace.com/straightlinestitch

http://www.youtube.com/straightlinestitch1

(Source: eOne Music)

LONG LIVE STRAIGHT LINE STITCH.

Stone.

EYEHATEGOD Forced To Cancel Milford Connecticut Show Tonight, February 21st, 2011

Posted in Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, heavy metal news, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, sludge metal with tags , , , , , , , , on February 21, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

Due to inclement weather conditions, EYEHATEGOD have been forced to cancel their scheduled appearance tonight at Daniel Street in Milford, CT. The band extends their sincerest apologies to all the fans and friends hoping to rock this evening and plan to return soon to make up the date. Misery Index, Thy Will Be Done, Nightbitch and Guerra will perform as scheduled.

(Source: Earsplit PR)

Stone.

Withering Soul – “No Closure” Explodes With Black Metal Impressiveness

Posted in Black Metal, Extreme Metal, Heavy Metal, metal music, metal odyssey, Music, rock music, rock music news, symphonic metal with tags , , , , , , , , , on February 20, 2011 by Metal Odyssey

WITHERING SOUL – Rising from the Metal shadows of Chicago, Illinois, Withering Soul has left me somewhat spellbound by their brand of Black Metal. No Closure is their debut full-length, scheduled for a March 8th, 2011 release on Mortal Music, with distribution via MVD Entertainment Group. Seriously, I did not have any pre-conceived thoughts about Withering Soul and their debut album upon my pushing the play button. Halfway through No Closure, I was extremely entertained and gratified by the all-encompassing melodic and Blackened sound that Withering Soul has tapped into.

As each song played out on No Closure, I was awaiting that one song, perhaps two songs that would fall flat to the ground. It never happened. Withering Soul has all their gears rotating with Blackened precision and I truthfully declare there is not a dull moment to be heard on No Closure. Mykil on vocals delivers the evil tones with Black and Death Metal variety. It’s Mykil’s Blackened fury that takes center stage though and he is a feast to listen to. Mykil’s brother Krystofer on guitar and synths lends the melodic thickness and orchestrated atmosphere of darkness, a combination that swirls together with fantastical results.

Night of the Revenant and Requiem of Sorrow are two atmospherical instrumentals that lead me down a darkened path with somber walls caving in around me. These two melancholic songs are what sets Withering Soul apart from being just another all-out Extreme Black Metal band. Withering Soul doesn’t just go for the jugular from the opening note on No Closure, instead, this is a band that takes a reflective tone towards their music by slowing the Extreme Blackened momentum down to a crawl on both instrumentals. This tempered down instrumentation can have a profound affect on the mind and both Night of the Revenant and Requiem Of Sorrow are surreal moments that I embrace.

Sadistic Redress, Tides of the Accursed and The Sequitor are three songs that I single out for grand Extreme Black Metal reason… they each exemplify how Withering Soul can play toe-to-toe with their Extreme peers of any Metal genre. On each of these songs Mykil’s vocal rage (and range), high-speed tempo and full-blown Extremity of Metal musicianship are carved out in Blackened stone. The layering of sounds that Withering Soul creates are reminiscent of Cradle Of Filth, yet what I take away from this album is calling this band an original, without question.

An underground vibe pulsates enormously within the songs of No Closure, with one exception: Unquiet. This song begins with Traditional Metal guitar licks that continues throughout it’s entirety. Guest vocalist Melissa Ferlaak provides her symphonic touch to Unquiet, giving this song an accessible multi-genre appeal. Coupled with Mykil showcasing his diverse vocals along with a strong hint of Goth vocals, this song truly excels. With Unquiet, the significance of being unique is brought out to the open by Withering Soul, showing this band is unafraid and unashamed to branch out musically within the context of an underground Black Metal style. I find Unquiet to be an admirable creation and dynamic listen by Withering Soul.

The darkened ambient feel that Withering Soul has created on No Closure is indeed an alluring Metal attribute. Symphonic Black Metal is served up with muscular guitar parts and a heavy laden rhythm section on their debut full-length. Make no mistake, Withering Soul is giving out extreme doses of Black Metal vibes and sounds through their music, only this band is not over the top with their style or sound.

Withering Soul does convince me of their reverence to this majestic Black Metal genre that so many of us uphold as the ultimate Metal mystical experience. Withering Soul have created ten songs that are unbelievably memorable for my senses. No Closure is a debut album that may very well be the measuring stick of Withering Soul’s future Black Metal catalog.

* Melissa Ferlaak is an American Soprano and the lead singer for Echoterra.

Withering Soul:

Mykil – vocals

Krystofer – guitars & synths

William – bass

Marek – drums

Track Listing For No Closure:

Night of the Revenant

Phantasmal Chaos Divinity

The Sequitor

Tides of the Accursed

Possession of Deception – Part II

Sadistic Redress

Manifest Transparency

Lifeless They Lie

Unquiet

Requiem of Sorrow

* For more info on WITHERING SOUL, click on the links below!

WITHERING SOUL – REVERBNATION

WITHERING SOUL – Official Website

LONG LIVE WITHERING SOUL.

Stone.