Rolling Metal 2017

speaking of internal rage exploding, Ululatum Tollunt

http://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/quantum-noose-of-usurpation

If you're in a mood for broootal death metal, Cranial Engorgement's Horrific Existence is worth your time.

https://gorehouseproductions.bandcamp.com/album/horrific-existence

I'm kind of stoked to see Astronoid (just got their LP delivered!) and Moon Tooth tonight!

I got Marduk and Incantation tomorrow. and Mayhem on the 13th!

Disharmony
Goddamn The Sun
(Iron Bonehead Productions)
Release Date: 3/3/2017

http://www.themidlandsrocks.com/wp-content/uploads/Disharmony-Goddamn-the-Sun-600x600.jpg

Decibel is streaming a track from the album
http://decibelmagazine.com/blog/2017/1/24/track-premiere-disharmony-open-the-gates-of-elthon

Despite having formed in 1991 and disbanded four years later, this is the Greek band's actual debut album following reformation a few years ago, although they did have a collection of demos and an EP appear during that time.

As Decibel says, "If you like your black metal arcane and your riffs memorable and slightly melodic you’ll instantly fall for this album. Goddamn the Sun sounds like something earnest and evil enough to have come out in ‘94, except the production rings true to the modern era, and there’s not an ounce of affectation to be found anywhere within earshot of this thing."

The Flight Of Sleipnir
Skadi
(Eisenwald)
Release Date: 1/20/2017

http://images.bigcartel.com/product_images/190154045/TFOSSkadi2017.jpg?auto=format&fit=max&h=1000&w=1000

http://open.spotify.com/album/1pmCC3WVzkJSYzGg45zbyF
http://theflightofsleipnir.bandcamp.com/album/skadi

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HraGatggx6c

This is the Denver band's sixth album, which is an accomplishment in and of itself. Every release has beautiful and intense artwork and packaging from what I can tell and that attention to detail certainly makes it's way into the music which merges heavy psych rock and folk influences but still embraces being a metal band, albeit a really unique metal band.

The band Venenum I was hyping above has a track on the Decibel forums available for streaming.

http://decibelmagazine.com/blog/2017/2/6/track-premiere-venenum-issue-cold-threat

sweet. I actually got their prior EP after you posted about them the other day - good stuff.

anyone listen to the Pillorian album yet? apparently it has leaked

I did (not a leak a digital promo). I liked it. Need to listen a few more times to see if I love it.

Ha, that's good to hear. I'll have to go and look for it in the dark corners of the internet.

Meanwhile, here's something for anyone who isn't sick of post/atmospheric black metal:

https://violetcold.bandcamp.com/album/anomie

My Bandcamp interview with Iranian black metal dude Akvan is up now.

Good interview. Picked that up per your mention, and it's very enjoyable.

I drove an hour and a half each way to the land of Rumspringa, Lancaster, PA, to catch the Astronoid / Moon Tooth tour. I am very glad I did.

Like how a Simon H. said above, if I closed my eyes during Astronoid's set I would have sworn that they had keyboards, but they got the sound out of three guitars that modulated with clashing harmonies to create shimmering soundscapes. The singer is an acquired taste with a high falsetto-like voice but it fit in with the dreamlike quality of the band's self-described "dream thrash." I spoke with one of the guitarists after the show for a bit, Mike is his name. Nice guy, stoked that we came from so far away to see them. He liked my Agalloch shirt so I asked him if they liked the emotive moods that shoegazing black metal conjure but felt such stuff wouldn't allow them to stretch out musically (honestly, prog fans would enjoy this band a lot too) and he hedged a bit saying they listen to everything, surprising me by saying they started off listening to pop punk! But also thrash which made more sense. Great band.

I liked the Moon Tooth album but live they were so much better, very tight with a singer who commanded attention. The wife thought they sounded like Incubus and then I read a review on Encyclopaedia Metallum and it also makes the comparison, though I also hear a lot of Dillinger Escape Plan crazy-catchy-crazy as well. I surmised that the guitarist was the real metal guy in the band and then come home to find out that he's in the latest incarnation of Riot, kinda confirming my suspicious.

I don't often make long drives to see bands anymore. Being in Philly it's usually not necessary. But I'm glad I did, it was a lot of fun.

Astronoid:

http://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16729539_10158204540895597_1704618321795902066_n.jpg?oh=7bb65afe15e766435a936cbbc18bff82&oe=590753D4

Mopon Tooth:

http://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t31.0-8/16665631_10158204545155597_2625154205625184550_o.jpg?oh=97198454aa9d8c5e459f370e34e24a19&oe=5944AA64

new Overkill is pretty good! seems to be less high octane metuhl than their latest few releases and more like the sleazier 80s stuff they did, even a few elements of cock rock here and there. hooky as hell too.

surprising me by saying they started off listening to pop punk

ha! knew it

oh, blood command's funeral beach is one of my favorite metal records of the last few years and they're finally putting out a new one in april!

new song is definitely the poppiest thing they've ever done, i love it https://soundcloud.com/tigerfysisiskformat/blood-command-cult-drugs

new Overkill is pretty good! seems to be less high octane metuhl than their latest few releases and more like the sleazier 80s stuff they did, even a few elements of cock rock here and there. hooky as hell too.

― Neanderthal

I want to see them with Nile on Tuesday but I have seen both bands numerous times before and the same week Mayhem, Inquisition, Black Anvil is playing Thursday and Alcest with The Body is playing Saturday (and that same day Xibala is playing a matinee) and it's tough paying for three shows in a week (and also doing so with a 50+ hour work week).

New Pyrrhon EP has two free-metal improv pieces, one new song, one Death cover.

http://pyrrhonband.bandcamp.com/album/running-out-of-skin

Man, you people who saw Astronoid are making me envious.

Also wow that the singer plays those lines while singing those lines!

yeah that was unreal

huh, apparently Dallas Toler-Wade is leaving Nile. There's a tiny part of me that hopes this'll be a positive change: as much as I like his song contributions, it seems like over the years his thrashy, more direct style was getting farther and farther away from what I loved about the first two albums. OTOH I fear an album full of 10 minute Sanders epics, which I likewise have grown weary of.

New guy is from some fellow SC band called Enthean. Never heard of em but will check out.
https://www.facebook.com/nilecatacombs/posts/10154238517646016

ha, check that, I have in fact heard this Enthean before (they were mentioned at m-a), sort of a swirl of varying vanillas, but overall probably closest to late Emperor or even Zyklon's first one (in vox esp), with some Dimmu/Arcturus/Covenant and an occasional tech death part thrown in. Actually Bound by Entrails comes to mind, who I like much more.

https://enthean.bandcamp.com/album/priests-of-annihilation

I thought I had already posted this one but guess not

https://wiegedood.bandcamp.com/album/de-doden-hebben-het-goed-ii

Second album from this Belgian black metal group (features members of Amenra and Oathbreaker)

Dudes. Inquisition are PHENOMENAL live. Holy shit fuck

I've seen videos of them live that looked amazing. One of the live at Saint Vitus ones they play for like 15 minutes with no break and when they stop the drummer looks like he's going to die... then picks right back up after 30 seconds.

Apparently It/Tony Sarkka passed away; there's a lengthy remembrance by an ex-bandmate (and more importantly, longtime friend) here:
https://www.facebook.com/bohlinmichael/posts/1289794004446485:0

Awww man RIP.

Great week in Philly for shows...

Tonight - Overkill / Nile
Wednesday - Havoc / Exmortus
Thursday - Mayhem / Inquisition / Black Anvil
Saturday - Xibala (matinee) followed by Alcest / The Body / Creepers (Deafheaven side project)

Because I am working a lot this week and I have limited funds, I am only able to see the Thursday and Saturday shows unfortunately.

The band Anomalie that I was hyping above have premiered another song from their album:
http://puregrainaudio.com/audio/anomalie-preview-new-visions-album-with-stream-of-vision-ii-the-wanderer-exclusive-premiere

definitely going to Overkill/Nile. Nile, honestly, I don't care if I ever see again even though I love them and they're fun live, but I was blown away by Overkill in 2015.

of COURSE Cryptopsy are doing None So Vile in its entirety on this tour, and not coming to FL, and coming to ATL on a day I might not be able to get up there.

on the other hand, they pretty much played half of it the last time I saw them headline, so...I guess I'll live. it's kinda funny, Flo is like the only dude in the band who actually played on that album.

New Sabbath Assembly May 12th! Yay!

New Artificial Brain April 21
https://www.profoundlorerecords.com/artificial-brain-complete-work-on-new-album-infrared-horizon-pre-orders-available-new-track-posted/

art is wicked

http://i.imgur.com/qXYbMaa.jpg

there's a song there at the link, I should add, sounds very Artificial Brainy

Awesome

i am psyched

Champ Morgan, vocalist for awesome Texas grind act Kill The Client, has a new solo semi-ambient electronic noise project, Derelict Satellite. The debut release is four tracks, running about 55 minutes total:

https://derelictsatellite.bandcamp.com/

so Immolation opening for that Max/Iggor Roots show, eh? wish I'd known - I never get to see them.

dude that Artificial Brain record is the TRUTH

I refuse to listen to any album by any metal band with vowels in their name this week

there's a song there at the link, I should add, sounds very Artificial Brainy

― Devilock, Thursday, February 16, 2017 1:54 PM (one hour ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

omg it really does, i love it so much

feels like there's a bit more space in the composition and everything sounds a little brighter than anything i remember from the previous record. so down

Looking forward to the new Apostate Viaticum. Atmospheric death-thrash from Ireland:

https://invictusproductions666.bandcamp.com/album/before-the-gates-of-gomorrah

MIA on metal so far this year, but just heard this track from new Bay Area supergroup Extremity, and very much recalling old school Bay Area and Florida death metal:

https://soundcloud.com/20-buck-spin/extremity-crepuscular-crescendo

Looking forward to the new Apostate Viaticum

They played Dublin last weekend with Asphyx and Vircolac, another great Irish (OSDM) band. I missed it 'cause I'm old and tired and I had a cold.

there's uh another band called Extremity on Spotify. the tracklist of their 2016 album is errr

Very sad to hear about Tony Saarka above - that was a moving remembrance write-up ... Ophthalamia is always such an epic listen for me - all my fave metal touchstones in one band - Dominion and A Journey Into Darkness rule so hard.

the new Montfaucon is super interesting and good except for the vocals, which are super not necessary at all