Swedish death metallers Bastard Grave are preparing to release their newest album Diorama Of Human Suffering via Pulverised Records.
The album, which will be the band’s sophomore effort, is due out on August 16.
Diorama of Human Suffering was recorded, mixed and mastered by Ulf Blomberg (Crawl, Age Of Woe, Inevitable End, etc) and features an artwork by Australian artist Stewart Cole (Contaminated, Noisem, Scorched, etc).
Check out the title track, the track listing and the album art here.
UK metallers Venom Prison have announced a North American tour with Homewrecker. The tour will also feature Call of the Void, Joy, and Great American Ghost.
The tour runs from September 13th through October 13th.
Regarding the official tour announcement, Venom Prison commented: “We are pleased to announce our return to the USA and Canada this Autumn with the hellish union of Ohio’s Homewrecker & select dates with Joy, Call Of The Void & Great American Ghost. We will be visiting some new places and soon to be regular haunts – bring yourself to a date and show us how it’s done.”
Check out tour dates, including some European dates, here.
Hey friends. So, the “President” thinks the Moon is part of Mars. Congrats to the tech death scene for being more scientifically accurate on weird space album covers than the fucking President at this point. Anyway, let’s get some weekend metal news going for ya on this fine Saturday.
First, go see Dark Phoenix. It was not perfect but was better than like 4-5 other X films (I didn’t personally like Deadpool 2 much cuz of the egregious excessive prison rape jokes). Sophie T was friggin’ X-cellent as a younger more insecure Jean coming into hard truths. I am confused since she already had the Phoenix Force in the Apocalypse movie, so that was weird. That said (SPOILERS), it is character driven, female focused, Nightcrawler goes HAM, there’s a Dazzler cameo, friggin’ Magneto has an amazing dirt of your shoulder train crunching scene that is almost as good as Luke’s shoulder brush off moment in The Last Jedi, there’s a Dazzler cameo and we finally have a good X film not overly dependent on Wolverine. While the alien villains are underdeveloped, I thought the Prof X/Beast/Magneto dynamics and the backstory childhood Jean stuff was very well done, the action was amazing, the ending was a beautiful send off to these films and overall while obviously not the classic comic the TONE very much suited and fit great with this particular franchise and what it needed. Jean’s protective motivations near the finale and love and emotion as strength mantra was beautiful and well done, the trippy Phoenix effects at the climax were super cool on a huge screen and I actually would go see it again today if I had the cash.
And the big weekend news is…Despised Icon are going to kick some major ass on their upcoming tour with slammers Ingested plus the very heavy Kublai Khan, and no joke Shadow of Intent. As if that wasn’t enough fucking legends Suffocation and Devourment plus Angelmaker, I Am, and I Declare War will appear on select dates. That’s a lot of mosh for anyone.
Ingested drummer Lyn Jeffs commented, “We’re stoked to be touring with our buddies in Despised Icon. This is something we have talked about doing with each other for nearly 13 years and we can’t wait to smash it with the boys in Canada and the USA this Autumn. What an awesome line up too, we’ll be joined by Kublai Khan, Shadow of Intent and in selected cities with the boys in Suffocation, Devourment, Angelmaker, I Am & I Declare War.”
Dates below –
9/20 Saskatoon, SK @ Coors
9/21 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
9/22 Calgary, AB @ Dickens
9/24 Seattle, Wa @ El Corazon
9/25 Portland, Or @ Bossanova Ballroom
9/27 Sacramento, Ca @ Holy Diver
9/28 Anaheim, Ca @ Chain Reaction
9/29 Las Vega, Nv @ BBB
9/30 Salt Lake City, Ut @ In the Venue
10/1 Denver, Co @ Oriental Theatre
10/2 Albuquerque, Nm @ Launchpad
10/3 Dallas, Tx @ Gas Monkey Bar n’ Grill
10/4 Houston, Tx @ Warehouse Live
10/5 New Orleans, La @ Southport Hall
10/6 Atlanta, Ga @ Masquerade (Hell)
10/8 Philadelphia, Pa @ TLA
10/9 New York, Ny @ Grammercy Theater
10/10 Worcester, Ma @ The Palladium
Dallas, Texas metallers Baring Teeth have announced a tour with Cognizant. The band is continuing to tour in support of their 2018 release Transitive Savagery.
Baring Teeth frontman Andrew Hawkins said of the tour, “”We’ll be going through a few cities we’ve never been to before, so we’re really happy to bring Transitive Savagery to the masses!”
Head on over to Baring Teeth’s Bandcamp to experience the full crushing weight of Transitive Savagery.
Check out the full list of tour dates here.
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The Bloodletting North America Tour will be coming this September and October. Headlined by Disentomb, the tour will also feature Visceral Disgorge, Signs of the Swarm, Continuum, Organectomy, and Within Destruction.
The tour, in it’s thirteenth year, will cover the US and Eastern Canada.
Unique Leader Records commented,”We are beyond excited to unveil the lineup for the 13th Bloodletting North America tour! We are incredibly happy to have the mighty DISENTOMB headlining alongside so many of our artists. This is definitely one of the most insanely brutal lineups of the year so don’t miss out!”
Check out dates for the tour here.
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Malta’s own Beheaded have released a new lyric video for their song “The Charlatan’s Enunciation.”
“The Charlatan’s Enunciation” comes from the band’s upcoming album Only Death Can Save You due out on June 14 via Agonia Records.
The track, coming in at just under four and a half minutes, is a lyrically dense tomb laid over a driving instrumental.
Check out the lyric video for “The Charlatan’s Enunciation” here.
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We are pleased to announce “The Last Atonement Tour – North America 2019” this fall. Joining us as direct support is BLOOD INCANTATION!
Tickets on sale now at all fine ticketing outlets. Dates at https://t.co/oxjQhp867H pic.twitter.com/3FwbsfGkOR
— Immolation (@Immolation) May 21, 2019
Wow, death metal freakers. I think I can safely say we can all rejoice today at this fierce news! One of the all time greats and some fresh and important new blood, both combining innovation and tradition. This is not a tour any extreme metalhead should want to skip out on.
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On May 10th, Abnormality will release their third full-length, Sociopathic Constructs, via Metal Blade Records. For a preview of Sociopathic Constructs, the new single, “A Catastrophic and Catalyzing Event”, can be heard below.
Fans of Cannibal, Aeon, Despised Icon and more will eat up the latest tune from the wildly talented very brutal tech death band, by far one of the most talented acts in the death metal world. I would lose my shit to see them tour with Venom Prison and Rivers Of Nihil, so let’s make that happen – ok, world?!
“I think this record we felt free enough to just go where we wanted to within a song,” states guitarist Jeremy Henry. “We had no qualms with switching styles and approaches from riff to riff. To have a whole section grinding away and then just switch gears, hit the brakes and drop a slow, old school Morbid Angel warship groove in there. We felt free to follow our instincts, and just let our influences shine through.”
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This Friday (April 19th), Allegaeon will release their new album, Apoptosis, via Metal Blade Records. A near-perfect symbiosis of technical, progressive, and melodic death metal, Apoptosis is a record that is as crushingly heavy as it is inventive, lithe and intelligent, and marks a significant leap forward in the band’s songwriting. To hear the new single, “Exothermic Chemical Combustion”, please visit HERE.
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Italian orchestral-death metal giants Fleshgod Apocalypse have revealed the next single, “Carnivorous Lamb,” from the band’s forthcoming, highly-anticipated album, Veleno, that’s due on May 24th from Nuclear Blast Records. Fans can stream the new track via a lyric video below.
I am very excited for this release, as it seems the always ambitious band have really stepped things up in many departments.
Add to My RadarOur new album #VELENO is coming… May 24th! Pre-order it here: https://t.co/LYiAPWec9z pic.twitter.com/a5CeZct9by
— Fleshgod Apocalypse (@FApocalypse) March 8, 2019
For those who struggle with depression and mental baggage, it can be hard to look on the bright side sometimes. A chance to reflect and laugh at old memories or art that made you enjoy life more is an appreciated channel to allow better feelings. For that reason, I want to thank Inhale The Heavy for featuring me in their popular My Vinyl Offering series HERE. It was fun to talk about old memories growing up with my sister Cambria and talking about selections from my vinyl collection including Huggy Bear, Big Black, Van Hagar’s 5150 (we stan), Big Eyes and more. Hope some regular readers of this blog will check it out and maybe chuckle at a few of the stories.
Let’s get into some bad ass heavy music news for today.
Whitechapel have managed to combine being deathcore kings with a strain of Alt/Nu Metal influence in recent albums, and the new record The Valley finds them nuancing their sound to new highs and evil depths. It is already being called one of their all time best releases and is certainly intense. I would say it could certainly be up in their top 3 records. Their 7th full length, it releases March 29th and is arguably the biggest release of the month from a heavy band.
Mixed by David Castillo, mastered by Ted Jensen, and produced once again by Mark Lewis (Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder), The Valley is a reference to the part of Hardin Valley (west of Knoxville, Tennessee) where vocalist Phil Bozeman grew up. Set against this backdrop, he approaches his subject matter unflinchingly, building upon everything that came before, making it clear that he has survived that which he was forced to endure and is not afraid to confront it.
“Phil has been upfront in his lyrics in the past about hardships he endured in his life as a child, and I believe with this record we tried to paint a better picture of that,” says guitarist Alex Wade, who alongside his bandmates, stands 100% behind everything their vocalist has to say. “I feel our music is Phil’s release from his past, being able to get it out and speak about it, and hopefully anyone who hears it that may have gone through similar experiences can find some release in it as well.”
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French death metal and Unique Leader artists DYSMORPHIC have a new playthrough video out for brave souls who want to navigate the impressive guitar and bass parts for “Vow Of The Bees.” While there is plenty of technical flourish, the song also has some pretty impressive emotional feeling in the playing – particularly near the climax of the composition.
The group commented on the gear used, “Eric plays an Ibanez RGD UCS with a set of Bareknuckle Aftermaths through a Fractal Axe-FX II. Francois plays a Mermet Guitars Custom FLL7 with a set of Bareknuckle Juggernauts, also through an Axe-FX II. Johann plays an Ibanez SR1805NTF through an Ampeg.”
Watch the playthrough video HERE.
Beyond Creation, Origin, Decrepit Birth, Augury fans etc. will be stoked on this. These guys are really tight and into what they do. You don’t get this good without passion for it. I strongly recommend An Illusive Progress.
DYSMORPHIC will also be playing a series of shows in France this month.
Dates below –
3/15 Toulouse, FR @ Cave A Rock
3/16 Bordeaux, FR @ La Voute
3/23 Paris, FR @ Le Cirque Electrique
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Born Of Osiris are one of the ultimate progressive metalcore bands and have earned their position as leaders in the metallic sub-genre through constant work and dedication. It sucks to learn that some dangerous jerk robbed guitarist Lee McKinney and had a knife. We hope Lee and Jo get justice in this matter and are glad no one was harmed:
Hey guys. Lee McKinney here. Last night on Monday, March 12, our house was burglarized. The intruder(s) had a knife that was left on the scene and that makes us feel like the intent was to potentially do more than walk out with material items. Stolen items include a TV, 5 guitars, 1 audio interface, 4 guns, 1 camera, and 1 amplifier. Pictures of the stolen guitars are attached. We have notified the local police. A full investigation is underway. This robbery feels like it was targeted for the studio for exactly the time we were on tour or at work, as we were not home. We’re hoping that by bringing this to public attention that anyone who sees one of these items on sale in any way could help us track down the person who did this. Material items are one thing, but justice against the person who came into our home with a weapon is of the utmost importance. Thank you for your time.
Serial numbers for the missing instruments are:
Walnut LPM7 – 69540
Honey V6X – 132686
Monster O7X – 139438
Sea Foam VB5 – 139204
-Lee & Jo McKinney
Add to My RadarHey guys. Lee McKinney here. Last night on Monday, March 12, our house was burglarized. The intruder(s) had a knife and that makes us feel like the intent was to potentially do more than walk out with material… https://t.co/e2FADX9Di5
— Born of Osiris (@BOOOfficial) March 12, 2019
Gore/death metallers Exhumed are a legendary act known for lots of destroyed guts in their aesthetic. Who knew that included not only chainsaw mauling but also extended to cover guts destroyed by hot peppers?!! Who among us knew?!! The band have teamed with Hella Hot Sauce to create Forged In Fire Sauce and are taking it on the road on their latest tour.
I had the Bad Brains hot sauce once when Doc thoughtfully gave me some to try and I loved it. I think hot sauce is a neat merch item. Bands make a lot of beer these days but hot sauce seems a little more niche and inventive, honestly. Like, who really expects that? Anyway, it is kind of funny Exhumed are bringing their hot sauce on the road with them though cuz it reminds me vaguely of this kid I knew who once said he thought bands should have salad bars as opening acts. Random.
Frontman Matt Harvey talked a little about the tour and the “meet-and-eat” events that will be unique to each show:
“We’re excited to do something a little different this time. It’s gonna be fun to do something food-related every night and see people’s reactions first-hand to the hot sauce, and since it’s called Forged in Fire, we’re loading up the set with older stuff we haven’t played in years, so it should be a rager every night!”
Check your local show for more information about when to show up and face the heat. As well as featuring a setlist focused on their early material, the band will be selling limited quantities of “Forged in Fire” hot sauce and a special shirt design exclusive for this tour, so come out and get your face melted!
If I had $100 I would bet you that some hot sauce ends up covering someone in the mosh pit on more than one of these dates. I feel bad for any venue janitor who has to clean up hot sauce and beer shit bathrooms! Can we get a new song called The Gravemakers of Eatin’ Burgs? Ok, I am stopping now.
EXHUMED Tour Dates:
4/24 San Luis Obispo, CA – The Graduate
4/25 Mesa, AZ – Club Red (w/Lago)
4/26 Los Angeles, CA – 5 Star Bar
4/27 Oakland, CA – Eli’s Mile High Club (w/Necrot)
4/28 Portland, OR – Tonic Lounge
Icons of world thrash Sepultura are the un-killable underground dynasty that refuses naysayers and continues to evolve and make bonds with new fans year after year. 2020 finds the band -Andreas Kisser (Guitars), Derrick Green(Vocals), Eloy Casagrande (Drums) and Paulo Jr. (bass) releasing one of the most incredible statements of the group's storied legacy, Quadra. If you still only like the early eras you are willfully a stick in the mud or unable to hear greatness. "Isolation", the pain exuding "Last Time", the new class war anthem "Capital Enslavement" and the onslaught "Agony Of Defeat" are just a few examples of one of the most solid records in recent metal memory. Sepultura still have plenty of staying power!
“On ‘Quadra’, we felt the urge to revisit that old thrash feeling of ‘Beneath the Remains’ or ‘Arise’,’ only seen through the eyes of today,”Andreas Kisser utters the magic words. “Add to that the tribal percussion, the orchestral elements, the choirs, the melodies and the clean vocals and you get a thorough run-through of our entire career, backed by a very contemporary approach.”
