Cave In will always be one of my favorite bands and one who made an undeniable dent on underground history. The band has announced a record called Final Transmission, featuring the last recordings of Caleb Scofield. If this is their final record, it is a fitting and dignified end to the band’s tenure.
It is impossible to hear “All Illusion” and not have some serious feels. Really gorgeous tune and fits seamlessly into their already profound and beloved catalogue. I hope this release serves as a way for the band to feel closer to their legacy than ever and helps to soothe some of the loss whole also comforting fans and giving us great new songs to enjoy for years.
Links to pre-order new album “Final Transmission” available everywhere June 7th, 2019 via @HydraHead
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Friday, February 15, 2019 at 9:36 AM (PST)
The Royal are back with a new video that seems to add a little more nu metal influence to their generally metalcore sound. “Deathwatch” is taken from the album of the same name, out on March 8th, 2019 through Long Branch Records.
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at 9:11 AM (PST)
photo by Ryuji Segawa
Alabama hardcore crushers GIDEON have released a 2 song EP called No Love/No One. The EP is just the tip of the iceberg for what’s to come from Gideon, as the band enters the studio to record a full-length due out later in the year. The band will also be making an appearance at Rock USA this summer.
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Thursday, December 27, 2018 at 12:51 PM (PST)
Angus Clark with the late Jill Janus
2018 was an intense year. That’s an understatement. I hope in 2019 we manage, where possible, to be more understanding to one another and foster growth. I am thinking about how much passion people carry for hardcore, metal and the like and I hope we can harness that into continuing to improve and not by gaslighting and targeting journalists who are trying to ask reasonable questions about potential ties to NSBM or sexism or other issues. I can like a band’s music but if they start doing that, it is really a souring experience.
It’s weird being a musician and a writer because your net of considerations is perhaps wider. I am not saying that as a superiority thing or in any way to diminish writers who aren’t also artists. If anything I think being a writer as well as a performer makes me side with journalists more, because they get way too much shit from a lot of bands who ought to know better (which doesn’t mean some writers can’t do better as well, trust me). Still, there are a lot of hateful little troll caves sprinkled through our fair Metal Middle Earth, so to speak. And even a few sewery Mordors. But I digress.
Or do I? Mental health was a big concern this year for myself and others. One of my favorite metallers, Jill from Huntress, was lost way too soon as she struggled with depression. Her fight was not in vain though as she inspired so many and will always be remembered.
Look, we get that some of you just wanna rock or have ‘fun’ or be edge lords. Other people use metal and hardcore as a refuge and to heal from experiencing hate. You aren’t an outsider if you are reinforcing the status quo of patriarchy, transphobia, racism, factory farming, yadda yadda. I was super bummed. for instance, to see Mark Hunter of Chimaira and Chris Barnes of Six Feet Under /Cannibal Corpse fame yucking it up on Twitter the other night making arguably transphobic jokes about educating people to be more inclusive of non binary people. Mark said he felt he was on acid for seeing a video about AFAB people who menstruate but identify as male. Maybe, just maybe he meant that it was weird for him to get used to or wrap his head around as it is outside his cis het experience, but he didn’t call out the supporters in his comments who were saying they should be burned- which thankfully Twitter had the user remove.
Hot take. it is actually good to teach people to be inclusive of different gender identities and make them understand that different people are figuring out themselves at different times in their lives. Barnes made it even worse and wrote “yawn” when confronted about his own shitty follow up joke that sounded like a fifteen year old just heard about Woodstock.
LGBTQAI people have contributed and continue to contribute so much to punk and metal culture. Stop shitting on us with normalizing nasty jokes at our expense. That isn’t ‘extreme’ or cool or ‘metal’. It’s just embarrassing. Read the Non Binary Wiki and get your head out of a bad batch of AC/DC covers and songs about murdering girls and maybe catch up with 2019 where people are facing serious persecution. I am never listening to any of either of your music again, dudes. I hope that was worth losing several decades of support over.
Thanks, y’all who have supported this site and who try to make the scene a better place. “SJWS” are not “the real Nazis”. Please. Let’s do better. Support Black Flags Over Brooklyn in 2019, for starters. And we will take it from there, cool? See you on the other side of the calendar, kids.
Posted by longhairedpoet on Monday, December 10, 2018 at 4:19 PM (PST)
Savannah, Georgia metallers Vatican have signed to 1126 Records, where they’re expecting to put out their debut album spring 2019.
Ahead of that release the band have released the music video for their song “Thirty-One Staples.”
“”Thirty-One Staples’ is about revisiting my childhood home through a lucid dream,” said singer Jonathan Whittle. “Observing my past and witnessing an event which put me in the hospital for two months with 31 staples to the head and having to relearn all motor skills. I came out stronger thanks to the discipline I gained from having built myself back and learning from that experience. Ultimately, it’s about diving back into your mind where the worst moments of your life happened: remembering who you are, what you’ve gone through, and that pain is truly temporary.”
The band will begin recording their new album at Silver Bullet Studios in Burlington, Connecticut with Greg Thomas (END, Misery Signals, Shai Hulud).
Vatican will also be hitting the road with The Acacia Strain later this month.
Check out the video for “Thirty-One Staples” and Vatican tour dates here.
Posted by Metal Riot on Thursday, October 18, 2018 at 1:35 PM (PST)
Slew of music stories for you goblins today. First though, CW Supergirl is finally bringing Lex Luthor onto the show. Please write them and tell them to consider me for the role as I am bald enough (too many tats though).
The metal world was rocked by the sad news of Oli Herbert from All That Remains passing away unexpectedly, with many people expressing how nice he was and what a sad turn of events it is. I have definitely stopped being a fan of the band some time ago, but politics aside, this is a super sad situation for everyone involved and we wish them sincere condolences. Oli certainly was talented and was loved by a lot of people.
Some mourners below:
Oli Herbert was a unique personality and extraordinary talent. His kindness was felt every time we'd meet up on the road. The music world and metal community has lost one of its best. My condolences to the members of All That Remains, his friends, family and legacy of fans.
Definitely shitty. That said and politics NOT aside, I waited a day to write that I ALSO wish sincere condolences to the families of children murdered in preventable gun nut school rampages almost daily which ARE mostly acted out by white supremacists who are all gassed up by toxic Info Wars who All That Remains’ singer Phil went on recently, so I hope if he doesn’t like death he reconsiders some of his horrible positions on poorly regulated gun access and shady outlets. It is genuinely sad that his friend died but I also don’t think helping Phil stay famous to spout whataboutisms, pretend “f-gg-t” isn’t a harmful word and other macho nonsense was the most awesome life choice for anyone in that band just because they got paid.
I have almost more dead friends than living at this point and so am by no means mocking the end of someone’s life, just hoping it will also cause the singer of this band to do some soul searching on the fleeting nature of time and how glorifying poor gun regulation and the NRA only brings more death to OTHER people’s family and friend groups. And how ANY right wing power leads to mental health care for depression and instability being put way on the backburner. Sorry if that’s “too soon” but that is the same thing Republicans say every time we ask for meaningful reform. I am beyond offended by anyone who is supporting or enabling their platforms in 2018 under Trump.
In other shitty news:
Hoping the talented @CCHELSEAWWOLFE and this excellent label seriously reconsiders this and drops off. Mjk “response” was dismissive “how dare you” Aggro machismo victim blaming culture whether guilty or not. https://t.co/xlYDzRbxRg
Castle, still prob the band we have covered most on this site, remain unstoppably rad and a pitch perfect heavy metal band. The West Coast road warriors have a new album Deal They Fate streaming HERE today! Matt and Liz are the coolest. Hails!! Castle has also announced U.S. tour dates in support of Deal Thy Fate. The band will launch a two week West Coast trek on November 23. The just-announced live dates are as follows:
Castle U.S. tour dates:
November 23 Dunsmuir, CA Spirits
November 24 Portland, OR Tonic Bar
November 25 Bellingham, WA Shakedown
November 26 Salem, OR The Space
November 27 Seattle, WA Highline
November 28 Eugene, OR Old Nick’s
November 29 Oakland, CA Elbo Room
November 30 Sacramento, CA Blue Lamp
December 1 San Jose, CA Caravan
December 4 Phoenix, AZ Yucca Tap
December 5 Los Angeles, CA Resident
December 6 San Diego, CA Tower Bar
December 7 Ventura, CA The Garage
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Monday, October 15, 2018 at 1:59 PM (PST)
Deathcore action heroes Signs Of The Swarmare hungry, and I don’t just mean that they look like they could use a big helping of lasagna each. The group have been working hard to leave an impression and slam an impact crater into the surface of the scene. I always think about how fired up Korn was when they toured with Danzig years ago and wonder what new bands will come out blazing with similar desire to make crowds go crazy nowadays. Well, Signs Of The Swarm aint slouchin’ live, that’s for sure!
Now the group have released pro shot live footage from their stint on this year’s Devastation on the Nation Tour, which saw them performing alongside Aborted, Psycroptic, Ingested, Disentomb, Arkaik, and Venom Prison. The set was filmed by Matti Way (From The North Films) at the tour’s stop in Mesa, Az date.
Physical order bundles for SIGNS OF THE SWARM‘s Unique Leader debut The Disfigurement of Existence are available HERE.
Digital bundles are available HERE.
\m/
Good luck to this band. Let’s support new acts and help metal’s future stay strong.
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Thursday, October 11, 2018 at 8:37 PM (PST)
Just a reminder that the new one In Our Wake from blood sucking metalcore bruisers Atreyu hits streets October 12th and it is a winner. Here is the title track “In Our Wake” in case ya missed it. Much higher production value video than the early days, lol. Brandon still grand slams those catchy cleans to the moon. We stan. Like Thrice, it is good they have embraced their grandest ambitions because the songs aren’t held back and the emotion can come through without being self-conscious.
Posted by longhairedpoet on Sunday, September 30, 2018 at 5:46 PM (PST)
Photo Credit: Spinesplitter
In the eleventh hour, I bring you my September wrap-up. Holy fucking shit September was one hell of a month. Fortunately, the new music has been good inside and outside of metal. Whether you’ve been trying to avoid Supreme Court-Senate-Nomination-Bullshit, or you’ve been raising all the hell about it you can, whether you’ve been working with survivors in an emotional time of need, or doing your best to survive on your own, whether you’ve been writing to cope, or just playing your show to get through – September was rough as shit.
I’m glad to come back at the end of every month, especially on months that this is the only post I write for Metal Riot, and share with y’all what I thought was really cool throughout the month.
Check out the four albums I enjoy the most this month here.
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Thursday, September 27, 2018 at 3:23 PM (PST)
Chicago hardcore unit HARM’S WAY will join Terror on their North American headlining tour beginning tomorrow, September 28th in San Diego, California. The trek will run through October 16th in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with additional support to be provided by Backtrack, Year Of The Knife, and Candy. From there, HARM’S WAY will take a short break before joining Cannibal Corpse and Hate Eternal for a US tour that will stretch from November 2nd through December 6th. See all confirmed dates below.
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Sunday, September 23, 2018 at 7:47 AM (PST)
Dustin Kensrue and the Thrice boys lead the pack for me this month. It was my favorite hard rock record of September, even though it also has some very quiet moments. I know there was a lot of super good heavier stuff out this month (Pig Destroyer, Bangladeafy and the proggy, great new Voivod or rowdy Clutch releases of course deserve a tip of the hat) but pound for pound I think Thrice’s first release for Epitaph is a fantastic release and probably my favorite from the band since way back around The Artist In The Ambulance. That is not to say they haven’t released anything good since then, far from it. I just happened to really connect with these new songs and think it is a damn fine rock album, as great a release from a band ten albums into their celebrated career of expectation upturning as you are ever likely to hear.
I can remember around the time of The Illusion Of Safety or maybe Artist when they were working with Island that there was chatter in the press they were gonna be the next Metallica. I thought that was a bit much of an expectation to hoist on the dudes and people should prob just let them do their own thing and develop. In 2018 a song like “Everything Belongs” might make you think they are the next Coldplay. I for one love Coldplay but that would also be kind of ambitious. Not to say Thrice can’t still sell a buttload of records. This album has plenty of room for hit material, but also makes interesting statements and musically is an excellent balance between accessible and far from bland artistry. Heck, Emma Ruth Rundle is even on it and everything she touches is amazing.
Posted by Morgan Ywain Evans on Friday, September 7, 2018 at 1:36 PM (PST)
Baltimore metalcore faithful VELA have delivered a video for their song “Cult Of The Mountain” which we are happy to premiere for you today. They have an early 00’s metalcore influence (like so many acts, as that was a very influential era) but also cite more heavy metal or progressive metalcore hybrid bands like Trivium and Born Of Osiris as influences on their heavy sound. A full length album is intended for 2o19 with details to be announced in the future. I gotta say, it is hard to get sick of dueling guitars and some steadfast rabid kick drum devotion. I dug this track, though it does not stray far out of the general genre lines until the very cool and more experimental bridge. That isn’t always a bad thing. This song has a few dizzying guitar moments to boast of and roars down doors.
With this single and our upcoming album, we really want to take what made 2000’s era metalcore so great and evolve that into a modern sound. All the members of our band love that era of music and are constantly inspired by bands like Trivium, Killswitch Engage, and August Burns Red. Lyrically, the song is about the Aum Shinrikyo in Japan who conducted sarin gas attacks to cleanse the world of humanity. Our song was actually released on the day the leader of the cult was executed for his crimes completely by coincidence! – Eric Ferguson – Guitarist for Vela
Posted by longhairedpoet on Saturday, September 1, 2018 at 4:40 PM (PST)
Credit: Captured By Corinne
Each month seems to start off nice and slow and then by the time it’s over I wonder where it’s gone. The past three weeks I’ve been wrapped up in the whirlwind of starting my second year of grad school (stay out of school, kids).
Here are the four albums that got me through this month, while I was reading like my life depended on it.
Posted by longhairedpoet on Saturday, August 25, 2018 at 1:59 PM (PST)
We Came As Romans announced earlier today on their Twitter that their vocalist, Kyle Pavone, has passed away.
They write:
“Today music lost another great with the passing of Kyle Pavone of We Came as Romans. Kyle’s tragic loss came too early in his life and those of his bandmates. All are devastated by his passing. We will miss his smiles, his sincerity, his concern for others, and his impressive musical talent. In lieu of flowers, we will be providing information regarding charity donations this coming week. The family and the band wish to thank their fans and the music community for all their love and support as they navigate their grief.
Will I Be Remembered or Will I Be Lost in Loving Eyes?”
Ohio's Bes are a calamitous racket of alt-rock infused heavy sounds and have recently released the very worth your time Pieces Missing EP. Fans of Torche, Failure or even some KEN Mode will find stuff to latch on to here. I don't know how intentional it was but I hear a lot of late nineties influence in some of what this band is doing, but paired with an even more aggressive edge befitting our times.
Recommended Track: "Lost It All".
