Seattle-based doom/sludge trio DEATHCAVE will return to the stage this Winter for a two-week run of live dates beginning December 2nd in Seattle, Washington and concluding December 15th in Sacramento, California. Support will be provided by labelmates Heiress as well as Worship, Duhkha and Ugly on select shows. See all confirmed dates below.
Named after the Apache Death Cave in Arizona, DEATHCAVE was forged in 2018 and hit the ground running as its three members — Freiburger (Throne Of Bone, Brain Scraper), Benny Koslosky (Swampyheavy), and Tony Muñoz (Razorhoof, Worship) — are longtime veterans of the underground touring circuit.
The band released their critically lauded Smoking Mountain full-length last year.A devouring fusion of thrash, psychedelic, stoner, and doom elements with lyrics based on personal stories reinterpreted in the realm of mythological tales, DEATHCAVE’s Smoking Mountain revolves around the concept of inevitable death and decay of not only humans, but nature as well.
Smoking Mountain was recorded by Ben Verellen (Harkonen, Helms Alee) at The Unknown in Anacortes, Washington, mixed by Verellen at Verellen Amplifiers and mastered by Brad Boatright (Integrity, Full Of Hell, Gatecreeper, High Command) at Audioseige. The thundering five-track offering, which includes guest vocals by Andrea Vidal (Holy Grove), Dave Verellen (Botch, Narrows), and Neil McAdams (Black Breath), as well as a track dedicated to late Black Breath bassist Elijah Nelson, and is available digitally and on limited edition vinyl.
Stream Smoking Mountain via the DEATHCAVE Bandcamp page at THIS LOCATION.
DEATHCAVE is putting the finishing touches on their followup to SmokingMountain with details to be unveiled in the weeks to come.
We’ve been out on the road on our US dates for a week now and it’s been great catching up with you all again!
We’ve seen that times are tough for a lot of people now and we would like to do what we can to make life a little easier for you.
To that end, some of the US venues have very kindly agreed to create a code so you can bring a friend or loved one along for a night of rock and comedy and share the healing power of music!
Harder Truths is the epic debut solo release from JOSEPHIZAYEA featuring some heavyweights of the metal world including the legendary Doc Coyle from BAD WOLVES & GOD FORBID, Kris Norris, formerly of DARKEST HOUR, Buz McGrath of UNEARTH, Chris Daniele, formerly of The ACACIA STRAIN, Tim MacMillar of PROTEST THE HERO, THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD’s Justin Longshore, as well as Josh Gilbert of AS I LAY DYING / WOVENWAR.
“I’m absolutely elated to announce the coming release of my first ever solo album, “Harder Truths”. I did my very best to assemble this album in collaboration with some of the best and brightest songwriters in heavy music, some of whom I have personally been following for many years, and even a few of whom I’m honored to now call my friends. This endeavor took a lot of time to put together, as ensuring my commitments to my other projects, Sour Times, Seeking Sirens, and From Under Concrete Kings was paramount of my priorities. Also of tremendous importance was doing this thing the right way, involving as many of my friends in my current and former bands into the fold as possible, because I wouldn’t be here today without them. I truly hope that you all will find this release well worth the wait.”
JOSEPH has been producing songs and performing as a vocalist since 2007, and has released nine albums, numerous singles and covers of various genres. Currently the vocalist for FROM UNDER CONCRETE KINGS, SEEKING SIRENS, and SOUR TIMES, he’s shown no signs of slowing down. This collaboration album will be released under the umbrella of JOSEPH’s production company “Do Work” on the 26th November 2021.
A Collection of One Minute Songs Written and Recorded By Freese During the 2020 Covid Pandemic
Freese on tour with Sting, The Offspring and Devo…
(Los Angeles, CA) – September 2021 – Like many musicians during 2020, Josh Freese (drummer, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, & composer) began writing and recording every day from home. Freese announced last May on social media, “In a series I’m calling ‘Quickies,’ I’ve recorded 1 min songs that I’ll start posting in the next day. Solely for the fact that it’s been the most fun I’ve had creatively in a long time and I’m getting off on it.” Sure enough, the songs (accompanied with original videos directed by Josh) went viral across Josh’s rabid social media fanbase. Now, the entire collection will be available to purchase
Loosegroove Records, a label owned by Stone Gossard (Pearl Jam) and Regan Hagar (Malfunkshun, Brad, Satchel), are excited to release Josh Freese Just A Minute, Vol. 1, which features 20 one-minute songs all written and composed by Josh Freese.
Some featured tracks on the record include “The Dwarves And The Queens” – Josh explains “I love the Dwarves and I love the Queens Of The Stone Age and have been a part of both their extended families for over 20 years. The bands were friends, had a big falling out years ago and it’s never been the same. I’ve always thought it was a shame and that they somehow should be friends again one day. I like ’em better together than apart….a couple of the last real rock n’ roll bands out there still doing it. This song comes from pure love for all those guys.”
“Heavy Metal Car Collection” garnered an impressive response from the interwebs when it was first posted earlier this year. Josh thoughtfully reflects on the cut, “If Cardi B can sing about her ‘Wet A** P***y’ I should be able to sing about some heavy metal guy’s car collection. The original title was “Vince Neil’s Car Collection” but I’m already talking about him in one of the other tracks (Headlock Headlock Nicolas Cage.) Vince doesn’t need two songs about him. Maybe my next record will be a whole Vince Neil concept album? With the state we find ourselves living in right now I think it’s my responsibility to talk about issues like this and hopefully get a dialogue going between people and make the world a better place. I know you know what I’m talking about.”
Stream Heavy Metal Car Collection and The Dwarves And The Queens, here and watch the original video for HMCC here.
The record will be available on vinyl & digitally everywhere on October 29, 2021. Complete track listing below.
Artist: Josh Freese Album: Just A Minute, Vol 1. Release Date: October 29, 2021
Side A 1. Aint Nuthin Funny Bout 2020 2. Where I Have To Go 3. The Dwarves and The Queens 4. Can’t Get Married, Can’t Get Buried 5. Baby’s First Beard 6. I Might Fix It 7. Headlock Headlock Nicolas Cage 8. The Ghost Of Hardy Fox 9. Disneyland Is Closed 10. Foaming Meats
Side B 1. Heavy Metal Car Collection 2. Wanda Is White 3. 2020 Blues 4. Get Help 5. Margot Robbie 6. I Took You To The Fair, Didn’t I Ruf 7. Your Body Is A Nightmare 8. Learning To Like It 9. Mom Buns 10. Lock Down
About Josh Freese:
Josh is most notably known for this work as a member of both The Vandals and Devo. He also has appeared on over 400+ records and has toured with bands such as Guns N Roses, A Perfect Circle, Nine Inch Nails, Weezer Paramore, Sting, The Replacements, Devo, The Vandals & more.
More on Josh in his own words!
“If you hate reading bio’s as much as I hate writing them, I’ll do us both a favor and try and make this short and painless. I’ve been playing drums with everyone under the sun for the past 30 yrs. Joined the musicians union when I was 12 to play Top 40 out at Disneyland and then started touring and making records when I was 15. I’ve appeared on hundreds of records with artists ranging from Michael Buble to Suicidal Tendencies. Nine Inch Nails to Glen Campbell. Sting to The Vandals. A Perfect Circle to Danny Elfman. DEVO to Guns n’ Roses. The Replacements to Weezer to…you get the picture. A bunch of fantastic artists and probably twice as many bad ones. I’ve made some solo records and have co-written songs with Queens Of The Stone Age, Guns n Roses, Sting, The Vandals, A Perfect Circle, Devo and more.
It’s been full steam ahead since I left the 10th grade to go on tour up until March 2020. Once I realized I was going to be home for more than 20 minutes for the first time ever (and most of my work vanished for the foreseeable future) I had to figure out how I was going to keep sane and stay creative. I retreated out to my studio to write songs with no agenda or expectations. I needed an escape from the ’no fun real world’ that was just outside the studio door and wanted to utilize finally having some time to myself….to be myself. Once again, writing songs that I wasn’t going to do anything ‘professionally’ with. I had no plans to release them and didn’t care about ever trying to make a dime with any of it. I was just ENJOYING doing it and entertaining myself. Maybe I’d make some wacky little videos on my iPhone and stick em up on instagram? And that’s what I started doing a bit of. But then when one of your best friends (and longtime cheerleaders) is Stone Gossard who just happens to have his own label and he comes to you saying “let’s put this thing out” I didn’t have to think twice about it. Sure, why not? After all, it’s what we do and this album is a great example of something being done creatively from a completely pure and honest place. Just take the lyrics to “Headlock Headlock Nicolas Cage” or “Your Body Is A Nightmare” and I think you’ll agree.
I feel like my solo records are similar to a tree falling in the forest. They might go completely unnoticed…but if you happen to have one land on you it’s going to do some damage…and you’ll probably never walk the same.”
The hooded hooligans in GHOUL will rise from the wretched depths of Creepsylvania to offer up their long-awaited Live In The Flesh opus October 22nd via Tankcrimes!
Captured live at the Oakland Metro Operahouse in 2018, Live In The Flesh spews forth eighteen of GHOUL’s most delightfully granulated odes including “Off With Their Heads,” “As Your Casket Closes,” “Wall Of Death,” and the title track from their chart topping Dungeon Bastards full-length.
Offers GHOUL’s Digestor of the delectable collection, “”At long last, the live GHOUL experience you’ve all been waiting for is being released by the mighty Tankcrimes Records. This thing has more hooks than a place with lots of hooks. I dunno. A fishing boat? A hook factory? It’s got thrills, chills, a hacking cough, and a 104-degree fever. The good news for you is, by the time it drops on October 22nd it likely won’t be infectious anymore.”
In advance of the record’s release, today team GHOUL unveils a white-hot video for “Word Is Law” at THIS LOCATION.
GHOUL’s Live In The Flesh will be released on CD, digitally, and on limited 2xLP in four color variants: 250 x die hard splatter (splatter vinyl + signed and splattered set list), 350 x half highlighter, 400 x blue, and 1000 x highlighter yellow (retail variant – in stores only). Find CD preorders (just $6.66) HERE, LP preorders HERE, and digital preorders HERE.
Additionally, from September 14ththrough September 21st, all GHOUL CDs will be $6.66! Who says GHOUL doesn’t love bargains?! Don’t miss out. Go to THIS LOCATION for all your GHOULish CD needs.
But wait! There’s MORE! The masked mutants will defile stages later this Fall beginning with The Splatterthrash Bash in November in San Francisco and The Decibel Metal And Beer Festival in December in Los Angeles with additional live spectacles to be announced in the coming weeks.
GHOUL: 11/26/2021 The Splatterthrash Bash @ Great American Music Hall – San Francisco, CA w/ Deathgrave, Captured! By Robots, Mutilated Tongue [tickets] (tickets)
12/11/2021 The Decibel Metal And Beer Fest @ The Belasco – Los Angeles, CA w Cave In, Dead Guy, Hate Eternal, more [tickets]
“For those who lived through Nancy and Ronald, S.O.D., and D.R.I., GHOUL’s sound is like finding a shoebox of discontinued candy, all of it fresh to eat…” — Decibel
Sept. 14, 2021 – FaithNoMore have issued a statement regarding the band’s tour cancelation:
“To say that we feel shattered by these cancellations would be a complete understatement. It has been a real challenge to return to this music after a 5 year absence, but we have been working hard for a few months now, and these last few rehearsals left no doubt that we were back to top form, which makes this statement very difficult to write.
Coming on almost two years of pandemic and lack of work, it has been heartbreaking to give our crew the news. We consider our crew like family. And then, equally importantly, we are aware of what this means to our fans, who have been patiently supporting us– hoping, as we have, for a break in this frustrating situation. Many folks have taken isolation quite hard, and patiently waited as shows have been postponed time and time again. This will be tough for them.
And yet in spite of all this, we have a family member who needs help. We believe that forging ahead with these dates would have had a profoundly destructive effect on Mike, whose value to us as a brother means more to us than his job as singer. He can count on our 100% support to do what he needs to do to get things right. Just as we also ask for your support right now.
Thank you for continuing to believe in us.”
– Bill, Jon, Mike B. & Roddy”
Impacteddates:
September 16 Maryland Heights, MO Saint Louis Music Park
September 18 Chicago, IL Riot Fest
September 21 Pittsburgh, PA Stage AE
September 22 Newport, KY Ovation Pavilion
September 24 Kansas City, MO Grinders
September 25 Indianola, IA Knotfest
October 10 Sacramento, CA Aftershock Festival
October 15 Las Vegas, NV T-Mobile Arena
October 16 Fresno, CA Save Mart Center
October 18 Oakland, CA Oakland Arena
October 22 Los Angeles, CA Banc of California Stadium
October 23 Los Angeles, CA Banc of California Stadium
Canadian extreme metal band ILLYRIAN have premiered their latest single, “Age of Fire” exclusively on Metal Underground. The track is taken from their upcoming EP Aegis due out on October 15th 2021.
Founded in 2015 in Calgary, Canada, ILLYRIAN was formed from the remnants of several bands and music projects in their local scene. Seeking to bring together their different backgrounds and strengths, the band quickly set to work on what would become their debut offering, 2016’s Round 2: Fight!
2019 marked the release of ILLYRIAN’s sophomore record, The Entity, Unknown. The album solidified the band’s signature approach to the metal genre, blending elements of death and thrash metal with technical and melodic composition.
Adventuring out from their prototypical thrash metal roots while embracing the energy and drive from the genre, their sound further evolved into a more focused and precise vision, injecting elements of death metal and less conventional textures such as world percussion and traditional folk instruments into their music.
For their album, The Entity, Unknown, ILLYRIAN was awarded the 2020 YYC Music Award for “Metal Recording of the Year,” punctuating a comparatively quiet year for the unit. Soon after, the band set to work on writing and recording their next production – a concept EP. Intentionally narrowing the scope of it to fully explore and realize its story and musicality, it was written and refined in isolation from one another both due to circumstance and creative choice.
Now, with the EP recorded and ready to be unleashed, late 2021 will see the arrival of Aegis, and the return of ILLYRIAN.
The epic folk metal outfit have unsheathed their new single, “Rise Forth”, which is streaming now exclusively via V13. The song is the title track from the new album landing on the 8th October 2021.
“Rise Forth” is the title track from the first full-length album from SIREN’S RAIN. A battle song, “Rise Forth” has a Viking metal feel to it, complimented by group frame drums, reminiscent of the ominous drums of war parties. Rich Hurst, vocalist of JESUS WEARS ARMANI and armoured combat fighter, lends his voiceover talents to the track. The unrelenting ending of the song was written to encourage maximum audience participation in the pit.”
Legendary bassist and King’s X frontman dUgPinnick is gearing up to add another highlight to his storied career, releasing his fifth solo album Joy Bomb on October 15th via RatPakRecords. The upcoming album is dUg’s first solo album of new material since 2013’s Naked and features twelve brand new tracks with one bonus track.
“Joy Bomb is a collection of tunes I’ve been writing for the last two years,” dUg says. “The pandemic has made me go deeper into myself and how to deal with everything and everyone in a new way. These songs are all about truth the way I see it, and I’m thankful that at 71 I can still make music that hopefully matters. Joy Bomb is my latest offer.”
From the charging rhythms of album opener “Jon Boy” all the way through the barnstorming closing track “Making Sense Of The Bones,” dUg proves that age is nothing to him and provides an album packed with the groove, swagger and soul that he has honed and perfected over his extensive career. dUg’s ability to combine a multitude of his influences into one seamless offering is on full display, tapping into everyone from Rage Against The Machine to Sly Stone to Black Sabbath. “A Long Way From Home,” “Like A Wolf” and “The Poison” show why dUg is still one of the best in metal and rock, while “I Can’t Fight This Feeling,” “Social Distancing” and “Long Live Love” exemplify his ability to think outside the box and expand his range.
Track Listing: 01 Jon Boy 02 A Long Way From Home 03 Key Changer 04 Equally Divided 05 I Can’t Fight This Feeling 06 Like A Wolf 07 Social Distancing 08 Love And Fear 09 Long Live Love 10 Slaves 11 The Poison 12 Making Sense Of The Bones 13 Like A Wolf (Reprise)
Promo pic by Hannu Perälä (Hannu Perälä Photography)
Finnish melodic death metal band Wolftopia is set to release their debut album Ways of the Pack on December 17th 2021 via InverseRecords.
“Hound of War” is the first single by the melodic death metal band Wolftopia, from the Finnish city of Vaasa. Introducing their 2021 debut album, Ways of the Pack, this is a hard-hitting single that grabs you with the first notes and won’t let you go until the last chords have faded. The song begins with a massive double guitar riff, played aggressively by lead guitarist Topi Karhunen and frontman Aleksander Okhotnikov and supported by the wild double bass drums of Tom Israels and growling bass guitar of Tim Reus. The song opens up hard, shakes the listener awake and drags them into the aggressive, fast and bombastic world of Wolftopia.
Okhotnikov explains that the song was inspired by the Gothenburg death metal scene and that inspiration of the band’s western neighbours can be heard in the riffs. “Hound of War” might be one of the more straightforward songs on the album, but it expresses perfectly what Wolftopia is all about: fast-paced, melodic and atmospheric death metal. This is evident from the crunchy double guitar riffs in the introduction and verses, but also from the majestic solo by lead guitar virtuoso Karhunen and the brooding bridge, glowering with power chords and a heavy bass sound.
Album cover by Roberto Toderico
This brooding aggression might be a surprise for those who look at the inspiration for the lyrics. The words tell of the wolfhound Huan, from the classic J. R. R.Tolkien love story of Beren and Lúthien. The story isn’t only about love, however: it also asserts that destiny is foretold and can’t be denied. And that’s the angle that “Hound of War” focuses on. The threatening bridge and the sorrowful, emotional guitar solo and outro are a representation of this struggle to accept our destiny.
San Antonio (TX) – Prolific Melo-Death/Black Metal artist BRYAN ECKERMANN has announced the forthcoming release of eighth full-length album Plague Bringers. The album, which serves as Part II to 2018 concept album Winters Plague (The Final Eclipse), will be released on November 5.
Winters Plague (The Final Eclipse), or Part I, detailed an alien invasion of earth by blocking out the sun with a giant ship and freezing the planet in which humanity inevitably arises to defeat the aliens. Plague Bringers, or Part II, details the aftermath from the aliens’ perspective as they resurrect their long dead queen, clone an army, and escape their dying planet to enter earth once more. Using the power of a magic orb they open a portal through space, then hide in the darkness, manipulating human minds to force mass suicides in their attempt at revenge. The mission however is in itself a suicide mission without the use of their ship to block out the sun (their weakness). They know they will perish along with the humans, leaving earth as a mass grave of emptiness… “Tomorrow is a lie, we won’t survive” but revenge is sweet.
Set to a melodic black/death metal soundtrack, the music and lyrical content go hand in hand, as each plays a significant part in the storyline to tell the grim tale of the two races’ demise.
FFO: For fans of: Arch Enemy, Old Mans Child, Death, Hypocrisy, King Diamond, Agathodaimon, Mors Principium Est, Zornheym, Carach Angren.
1. Ice Queen, 2. Sands of the Hourglass** 3. The Devouring Sun, 4. Reflections in a Dirty Mirror 5. Moonlight and Frostbite*, 6. Plague Bringers, 7. An Oath of Scrying Souls, 8. Astral Realms, 9. Skinwalker, 10. Of Death and Decay, 11. Tomorrow’s Lie** 12. Oblivion
Album Credits:
Recorded, engineered, produced, mixed and mastered by Bryan Eckermann at Bonespill Studios (Aug. 2020-Aug. 2021)
All music and lyrics written by Bryan Eckermann. Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Keyboards and Drums by Bryan Eckermann.
*Guest vocals on track 5 by StuBlock (Into Eternity, ex- Iced Earth).
**Guest drums on track 2 and guest drums/vocals on track 11 by ClintonWilliamson (Darker by Design).
DISTORTION MUSIC GROUP is a new boutique record label helmed by industry veteran and Juno award winner, MaurizioIacono. Having fronted the long running extreme metal band Kataklysm (Nuclear Blast Records) as well as Ex Deo (Napalm Records), and Invictus (Entertainment One) over the last three decades; in addition to launching Hard Impact Music Inc. in 2008, (a music management company that quickly grew into a top performing home for metal artists worldwide), Iacono has distinguished himself as a forward-thinking music industry entrepreneur. Iacono has also helped build two thriving touring agencies: Continental Touring in North America and Decibel Touring in Europe, giving DISTORTION MUSIC GROUP a big advantage in developing musical careers through the touring outlet.
DISTORTION MUSIC GROUP aims to serve artist needs and create a partnership that benefits everyone involved in this ever changing musical climate.
Horror Pain Gore Death Productions have signed vicious Death/Thrash Metal assassins CHARRED. The debut album Prayers Of Malediction is up now for pre-order and will be released October 1st on CD and Digital formats.
Hailing from the swamps of South Florida, CHARRED perform vicious Death/Thrash Metal. Prayers Of Malediction showcases nine tracks of pure blasting brutality that is not for the faint of heart. Prepare for annihilation as CHARRED leave their mark on the underground with an intense slab of sickness and slaughter!
Prayers Of Malediction was recorded at Angel Recording Studios, mixed & mastered by Anthony Burke and features artwork by Robert Cerrito. For fans of Bone Sickness, Celtic Frost, Darkthrone, Death, Deathhammer, Evil Army, GISM, Pestilence, Repulsion and Sepultura.
Pre-save this release on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. at ffm.to/charred
TRACK LISTING: 1. Incantations Of The Pyromancer, 2. Disseminating Hatred, 3. The Athame Of The Witchking, 4. Entity Of War, 5. Killsite, 6. Enthralling The Weak, 7. Consumed By The Catacombs, 8. The Means Of Destruction, 9. Kesai Khati (Eater Of The Raw Flesh)
Indiana’s DEATHONFIRE are confirmed to play at this year’s FullTerrorAssaultOpenAir festival.
Following the successful release of their 2021 EP, Six Foot Box, and lack of shows due to the pandemic, DEATH ON FIRE is eager to get back performing in front of a live audience. The Full Terror Assault festival marks a momentous date in the beginning of the band’s live shows planned for Autumn 2021.
Full Terror Assault brings the energy and atmosphere of the European style extreme metal festivals to the USA. The independently run event, held in Cave In Rock, Illinois, strives to bring impressive underground acts to the festival stage. Taking place from September 8th – 11th, it’s three days on non-stop brutality. DEATH ON FIRE will be taking to the stage on Thursday September 8th.
Connecticut psychedelic doom band WHENTHEDEADBOLTBREAKS have joined forces with Electric Talon Records for the release of their 9th album, As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy. Featuring four original tracks and a mind-bending cover of THE DOORS’ “Not to Touch the Earth,” As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy ushers in a new era of doom.
Electric Talon Records will release As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy on digital, CD and vinyl formats on October 31.
As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy is the second chapter of a story that starts with As Hope Valley Burns (to be released in late 2021 by Argonauta Records). The band comments on the dual releases:
“’As Hope Valley Burns’ and ‘As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy,’ are unique albums for WHEN THE DEADBOLT BREAKS. We have pushed our boundaries sonically. Originally recorded with the intention of a 10-song record, we found that the length of the songs did not fit the time frame of a single release. The decision was made to split the songs up, and release it as essentially, part one and part two. The heavy is heavier, and the mellow, spacial parts are even more so. Akin to our first few records, we have returned to more aggressive drumming, and psychedelic spaces, yet this record has a certain depth and maturity to it that was missing in the past.”
The album was written and recorded during the early part of the pandemic, sonically reflects uncertainty and hopelessness with massive volume. With gorgeous artwork crafted by Leanne Peters, and layout by the infamous Bill Kole, this album is a monstrous sculpture of beauty, angst and despair.
Music for As Hope Valley Burns: Eulogy was recorded and produced at Room SevenZeroEight. Drums were recorded and produced at Project 7:06 by Rob Birkbeck. The album was mastered by Juno-Six.
TRACK LISTING:
1) I Live In The Dirt 2) Cleanse the Death 3) Gods Eyes 4) Forever in the Fire 5) Not to Touch the Earth
Conjuring ludicrously distorted guitar tones and guttural lows, doom-fuzz trio MNRVA combine the essence of doom metal with a razor-sharp sludge edge. Since forming in 2018, MNRVA have been striving to transcend the boundaries within heavy music by cultivating a progressive style. Their debut EP Black Sky provided a tantalising glimpse of MNRVA’s musical capabilities and paves the way for their upcoming full-length, releasing via Black Doomba Records.
MNRVA comments:
“We are super excited to announce we’ve signed to Black Doomba Records! The vibe they are on is the perfect fit for MNRVA and we can’t wait for everyone to hear the record in 2022.”
Tommy Stewart of Black Doomba Records comments:
“Black Doomba Records is proud to have sealed a pact with South Carolina’s MNRVA. I’m looking forward to sharing the upcoming album which is dripping with fuzzy sludgy vibes and a bit of southern style sludge. Initially I think what got me the most were the vocals, cloaked in floating and haunting melodies and the songs themselves. MNRVA will be out on vinyl and CD and I can wait to share it with fans.”
MNRVA’s forthcoming release was recorded at The Jam Room Recording Studio which has been used by the likes of south-eastern U.S. heavyweights such as BARONESS, BLACK TUSK, and KYLESA. The heavy trio strive to produce an unyielding sound blending the guitar grind of the MELVINS, the vocal interplay of MASTODON, and the post-doom heaviness of BEREFT.
We are very pleased to announce the newest addition to the Witherfall merch store. TheCurseofAutumn complete guitar tablature book. We teamed up with transcriber Evan Bradley to painstakingly transcribe all of the individual guitar tracks from Curse Of Autumn. Almost 200 pages of music, lyrics and photos. The complete guide to all the notes and fingering positions where parts are performed. Every purchase also comes with an access code to download Guitar Pro files that can be slowed down or looped.
ASHESOFREDEMPTION has released their new EP Washed in Blood (W.I.B). Re-energizing the groove metal genre, ASHES OF REDEMPTION is a one-man band spearheaded by Justin Buell and based out of Detroit, MI.
Recorded with multiple different session artists from all around the world, located in countries such as Italy, India, and Indonesia, W.I.B was written and produced by Justin Buell who also undertook guitar and bass tracking. The theme of the music is forcing yourself to persevere through some of life’s darkest moments. Channelling his own experiences from his time in the Marine Corps Infantry which included two deployments to Iraq during the war, Buell pours this inspiration into his music. In particular, “By Design” was written from a war veterans’ perspective.
“Rotten” is about losing the ability to communicate with people. It deals with grief and wanting to confide in someone but being unable to, resulting in a body and mind that feel foreign. The song highlights the fact that we continue on without help despite the destruction it causes.
“By Design” deals with the physical and mental pain of war. It starts with a physical injury, which leads to questioning if it was worth it. When the physical pain heals the mental pain still remains. The song speaks of the struggles that brings and the ultimate demise in this particular case.
“W.I.B.” is about losing innocence. Once lost it refers to the grind of opening wounds and repairing them ultimately creating an offensive on others. A sort of defence mechanism. Destroy in blood or feel defeat. “Unscathed” is a song about having to pull the plug on a loved one. It deals with the struggles a person in that position goes through and how everyone involved is touched in some way. No one leaves unscathed.
Disorder Recordings announces the late October release of Broken Mortal Coil, the debut album from new Chicago-based outfit CONTRITION. The group unites current/former members of Nachtmystium, Wolvhammer, Usurper, Cobalt, Yakuza, Novembers Doom, Chrome Waves, Bones, and more, and the album features guests from The Black Dahlia Murder, Impaled, Graveripper, and Gridfailure.
CONTRITION’s sound picks up where prior collective Doomsday left off, rebuilding the lineup with a new moniker and immense intensity. The band unites Jerome Marshall (Cobalt, Yakuza) on vocals, Garry Naples (Novembers Doom, Without Waves) on drums, Jeff Wilson (Chrome Waves, Deeper Graves, ex-Wolvhammer) on guitars and synth, and Jon Woodring (Bones, ex-Usurper) on bass. The group’s Broken Mortal Coil debut is a gnarled, gritty affair, recorded during the 2020 lockdowns. The album delivers a deluge of stomping, groove-forged, low-end savagery, with the influence of early 1990s death metal, thick modern tones, and a hostile, streetwise vibe.
Broken Mortal Coil was engineered, mixed, and mastered by Jeff Wilson at Disorder Recordings, and completed with cover art by Ethan McCarthy (Primitive Man) and design by Wilson. Further expanding the record’s attack, CONTRITION invited several guests to contribute to the record, with additional vocals on “For Misery” by Trevor Strnad (The Black Dahlia Murder), additional guitars on “Diluted” by Leon del Muerte (Impaled, ex-Exhumed), additional synth and vocals on “Desolation Star” by David Brenner (Gridfailure), and additional guitars on “Nihilistic Right” by Corey Parks (Graveripper). The album closes with a twisted rendition of Nirvana’s “Tourette’s.”
A brief teaser for CONTRITION’s Broken Mortal Coil is now playing at THIS LOCATION.
Broken Mortal Coil will see release through Disorder Recordings October 29th, on 12” vinyl, digipak CD, and all digital platforms. Find preorders RIGHT HERE.
Watch for additional audio previews, videos, and more to post over the weeks ahead.
Broken Mortal Coil Track Listing: 1. Diluted 2. Amped 3. Nihilistic Right 4. For Misery 5. Desolation Star 6. Added Subtraction 7. Without Guilt 8. Tourette’s (Nirvana cover)
CONTRITION: Jerome Marshall (vocals), Garry Naples (drums), Jeff Wilson – (guitars/synth), Jon Woodring (bass)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin’s TOXICRUIN will unleash their sophomore album (and M-Theory Audio debut) “Nightmare Eclipse” this Friday. The new record – which is streaming now exclusively on the band’s Bandcamp page in advance of its release – displays a furious metallic attack that BraveWords says “gnaws, scrapes and shreds the senses, adopting the very best of a bygone era of thrash melded with death metal sensibilities and a decidedly modern finish.” CD, digital and limited-edition maroon-colored vinyl editions of “Nightmare Eclipse” – which features artwork by Mark Richards (Revocation, The Black Dahlia Murder, Municipal Waste) – are available now at smarturl.com/toxicruin.
“It’s been a long time coming but the day is here, and we’re way too stoked to finally get this out to everybody!” states drummer David Miller.
TOXICRUIN is also set to unleash its metallic power live at concerts throughout the fall. The group will first celebrate the release of “Nightmare Eclipse” with a free-admission headlining performance this Saturday at Whisky D’s in Two Rivers, WI. The band will then perform at Full Terror Assault Open Air 2021 in Cave In Rock, IL, where they will perform alongside Exodus, Misery Index, M.O.D. and more than 40 other bands throughout the weekend. TOXIC RUIN will also be performing at additional shows throughout the Midwest in September and October; see below for additional information.
The first taste of the metallic mayhem to come on “Nightmare Eclipse” was revealed through the music video for “Ritual Rebirth,” which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/Ny1iFI-tE30. The group followed that up by unveiling a music video for the title track of “Nightmare Eclipse” at https://youtu.be/7pH5YZ2f3xk.
The aural pummeling continued with the release of the play-through video for “Divine Acclimation” at https://youtu.be/3Dy00ra0Aak. The final feast of samples from their newest album came with the lyric video for “Defiler,” which can be viewed at https://youtu.be/t7KDXfb1Ra8.
TOXICRUIN was formed in 2014 with a mission of blending classic thrash metal, old-school death metal and modern technicality and tones into a wicked headbanging brew. Operating out of their collective hometown of Sheboygan, the band released their debut album, “Subterranean Terror,” in 2016. This opening salvo showcased the group’s burgeoning barrage of furious riffs and lyrical content ranging from the sociopolitical commentary of tracks such as “Seat of Corruption” to the beloved craving of a good drink on songs such as “Alcoholocaust.”
The group followed up their debut with the 2018 EP “Mortal Insolence,” which saw the current lineup of TOXIC RUIN take shape with Behrendt stepping into the vocalist position and the debut of rhythm guitarist Blake Toltzmann alongside lead guitarist Jacob Baneck and drummer David Miller.
The current lineup of TOXIC RUIN began writing and recording “Nightmare Eclipse” while relentlessly touring the United States in 2019 alongside bands such as Lich King and Stonecutters and playing multiple festivals including Full Terror Assault and Slam Dakota, plus winning 2nd Place in the 2019 edition of Wacken Metal Battle USA. The result is the band’s most mature and complex material to date, while also being their heaviest display of force so far. Guest appearances from guitarists Glen Drover (Eidolon/ex-Megadeth), Derek DeBruin (Micawber) and Nick Weyers (Aronious) provide additional ear candy for aficionados of guitar wizardry.
“Nightmare Eclipse” is the next evolution in blending the heavier sounds of metal’s past with the modern musicianship of metal’s present. More information on the band’s plans for the remainder of 2021 and the beginning of 2022 will be revealed in the weeks to come by M-Theory Audio and at facebook.com/toxicruin.metal.
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