Relapse Records probably more dedicatedly than any other label in the scene release an annual free sampler. I, personally, thought it had to have been more frequent then annually, but, the press release says annually.
The sampler this year features 33 tracks “With genres ranging from death metal, black metal, doom, sludge, and grindcore to hard rock, electronic, synth, industrial, darkwave, experimental, and more,” according to the press release.
Check out the sampler here.
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What a year! Calendar years for me, since I still live by a U.S. academic calendar, starts and ends on a “break.” This time last year I hadn’t really ever seen any of the Star Wars movies before, and over winter break last year I watched them all. This time last year I was finishing up my first semester of grad school and this year I’m finishing up my fourth. This time last year I didn’t believe in the idea of Georgia as a purple state, after Stacy Abrams performance in the midterm, I’m more intrigued than I’ve ever been before. I’m hoping to graduate with my Master’s in American Studies in May. When I write this piece next year, I could be writing it as a PhD student (or an adjunct professor). I’ve made a conscious effort to listen to more new music in general, inside and outside of metal, this year, and it’s been a good experience. You can check out some of my finds and favorites over at my Medium.
My album of the year: Catharsis by Machine Head
Catharsis has been a necessary album for getting through this year. From the opening decree of “Volatile,” “Awww, fuck the world!” to the folk-punk inspired “Bastards” to the 8 minute “Heavy Lies The Crown” to the closing track, “Eulogy,” this mix of personal and political helped me process and work through my own anger and angst at the socio-political realities we find ourselves in.
Check out the rest of my list here.
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Another month has passed us by. The time has just fallen back, meaning shorter and darker days are upon us. The situations we’re in seem to get darker, too, with each passing day. If you’re here reading this then you, like me, probably turn to music to deal with the shit going on in the world. The sun continues to rise and set, and for those of us who see it rise and see it set, we have an obligation, a duty, to do our best to make the world suck a little fucking less each and every day. Hopefully these four albums can be your soundtrack for that.
Check out the four albums I enjoy the most this month here.
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Richmond doom metallers Windhand are gearing up to head out on tour this fall.
The tour will be in support of the band’s latest forthcoming album Eternal Return which is due out on October 5 via Relapse Records.
Windhand have joined forces with producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden) with vivid artwork by Arik Roper (Sleep, High on Fire) to make Eternal Return.
Windhand will be joined on the tour by Satan’s Satyrs.
You can check out Windhand’s entire discography over at their Bandcamp.
Check out the full list of tour dates and a teaser of Eternal Return here.
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Richmond, Virginia doom metallers Windhand dropped their newest song “Three Sisters” today.
The band is also preparing to release a split LP with Satan’s Satyrs on February 16 via Relapse Records.
You can check out the track listing for the split and Windhand and Satan Satyr tour dates here.
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Grief’s Infernal Flower, the upcoming third full-length from Virginia stoner/doom visionaries WINDHAND, is now streaming in full ahead of its September 18th release date. Listen to the 71-minute-long opus exclusively via NPR Music HERE.The band also recently announced a poster design contest for its upcoming Halloween-themed music video for the single “Two Urns,” off Grief’s Infernal Flower. Fans are encouraged to submit their original poster designs for a chance to win cash and prizes. Get the full details HERE.
WINDHAND will be hitting the road for a run of US dates with Danava and Monolord this coming October and November that will also include an appearance at the first-ever Night of the Shred in San Diego. You can find a full list of dates below.
Sophisticated heathens Windhand have released the album trailer for the follow up to the much hyped Soma, and it seems like we are in for another treat. Pre order the coolest silver vinyl option HERE.
Watch the teaser BELOW.
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Richmond, VA psychedelic satan loving doom troupe WINDHAND have entered the studio with Jack Endino (Nirvana, Soundgarden, High on Fire). If it is half as good as Soma I’ll buy it! There’s a good likelihood that it might be even better though. Windhand have grown a lot in popularity and have probably been working hard to keep themselves there.
The band is recording their highly anticipated third full-length album at Soundhouse Recording in Seattle, WA. The currently untitled album will see a fall release via Relapse Records.
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Windhand‘s mighty doom brew will quench (or most likely increase) your thirst for blood. The band have just announced new tour dates surrounding their SXSW appearance as well as some Euro dates. Their album Soma for Relapse is still a turntable favorite and you need to let them rattle your brains live. Fave pick of the dates is their Feb 10th show with the womb warbling chums in Dead Meadow. Fuzz-tastic!
Dates viewable HERE.
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Richmond, Virginia’s Windhand present a clear love of plodding doom in the very best sense on Relapse debut Soma, one of the coolest late in 2013 releases in a year that was killer for all things metal. From out the gate with the rolling, oceanic fuzz of “Orchard” the group chart a course for the dim lights on a dying horizon. That is not to imply the tried and true doom the group slings has scant relevance left, but rather that while they aren’t the most pioneering group, Soma shows Windhand know you can still squeeze a very potent blood brew from the metaphorical philosopher’s stone of the doom genre.
What they are doing they do right, with walls of distortion and the nerve melting, echo drenched coo of vocalist Dorthis Cottrell adding a real sense of mystique to killer tracks like the 13+ minute “Cassock” and the commanding album standout “Woodbine”. “Evergreen” breaks up things nicely with acoustic guitars resting like raindrops across billowing clouds and dreamy vocals. ‘s cool. It kind of reminds me of an Appalachian “Silent Night”. It isn’t as breathtaking as, say, the more experimentally minded and overall more affecting Salt Lake City outfit SubRosa’s accapella “House Carpenter” from their 2011 Profound Lore release No Help For The Mighty Ones, but Windhand are pointed in the right direction. I am totaly digging the shit out of this record and the few online critics who say it fell a bit short come off sounding more like they had lofty expectations of “the next” Black Sabbath Vol. 4 or something, rather than the band being at fault. I am listening to this as a thundersnow storm rages outside but this baby named Soma is keeping me warm through the cold night.
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Virginian metallers Windhand have announced that they will be releasing their sophomore effort Soma on September 17 via Relapse Records.
Check out the Soma album trailer and track-listing here.
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Southern sludge upstarts Windhand from Virginia have signed to Relapse Records. This move comes on anticipation of their newest, as-of-yet untitled, album.
The album is expected to have a Fall 2013 release date.
Meanwhile Windhand plans on releasing Reflection of the Negative, a split album with the band Cough in mid-April.
Read a statement from Windhand here.
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The best thing I have heard yet in 2019 is "ICE watch", a completely rugged face buster from Arkansas hardcore band Terminal Nation which premiered at No Echo HERE. It will give you the insane over the top feels of a lot of heavy stuff without wondering if the band members have become weird conservative farts or are suddenly gonna cape for YAITW. The song even manages to out mosh the band's recent tune "Pulse Of The Dead" from Absolute Control.
Good news is, TN have a split out with the homies in Neckbeard Deathcamp in February (it is sure to be a big year for both bands this year) and the gossip is we might get a TN full length this year as well. If you want to feel socially responsible while still doing reprehensible shit in the pit (I mean watch out for your peeps if someone falls down...but you know what I mean), this band will be entirely your shit. Bellowed vocals, powerviolence glory and a firm anti-xenophobia message.
