Minnesota metallers Ashbringer have posted the title track for their upcoming album Absolution.
Absolution is due out June 28 via Prosthetic Records. The album was mixed by Kris Hilbert (All Hell, Between The Buried and Me) and mastered by Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Portrayal of Guilt).
Check out “Absolution,” as well as Ashbringer tour dates and the Absolution tracklist and album art here.
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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.
San Francisco metallers Howling Sycamore have today released their album Seven Pathways to Annihilation via Prosthetic Records.
Seven Pathways to Annihilation is the band’s second album.
Howling Sycamore features Davide Tiso (Ephel Duath), Jason McMaster (Watchtower) and Hannes Grossmann (Necrophagist / Obscura).
Seven Pathways to Annihilation was mixed and mastered by Jamie King (Between the Buried and Me, The Contortionist). The new album features the recurring contributions of Kevin Hufnagel (Dysrhythmia, Gorguts) on lead guitars, Bruce Lamont (Yakuza, Brain Tentacles) on baritone saxophone and Fabian Vestod (Skinlab, Gospel Of The Witches, Red Serpi) on additional drums plus the guest appearances of Marty Friedman and Matt Baldwinson (Tangaroa, Dream Tröll, II II II) on lead guitars.
Stream the album in full over at the Howling Sycamore‘s Bandcamp.
Check out “Initiation,” “Mastering Fire,” plus the tracklist and album art for Seven Pathways to Annihilation here.
Ashbringer have announced an Absolution tour which is set to kick off in July.
The tour will be in support of the band’s newest album Absolution, due out on June 28, 2019 via Prosthetic Records.
Check out the first song released from the upcoming album “Dreamscape” as well as Ashbringer tour dates here.
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EXMORTUS have officially announced more tour dates in the wake of their upcoming trek with VENOM INC., and HOMEWRECKER! Immediately following their aforementioned run; EXMORTUS will continue crushing cities across North America headlining tour dates and making their extremely anticipated appearance at Modified Ghost Fest supporting Voivod and Exciter on May 26th in Vancouver, BC.
“After touring with Venom Inc. and Homewrecker we’re stoked to continue our trek across the US with some headlining shows home. Then later in the month we have some shows up and down the west coast around our appearance at Modified Ghost fest in Vancouver, including some with good friends and fellow shredders in Silver Talon and Cultural Warfare. See you on the road!” states Conan of EXMORTUS on the upcoming tours.
EXMORTUS live on the North America Spring 2019 Tour:
5/06 Indianapolis, IN Black Circle
5/08 Oklahoma City, OK 89th Street Collective
5/09 Odessa, TX The Club
5/10 El Paso, TX Rockhouse Bar & Grill
5/11 Mesa, AZ Club Red
5/23 Oakland, CA Oakland Metro+
5/24 Eugene, OR Old Nick’s Pub*
5/25 Bend, OR The Third Street Pub*
5/26 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theater
5/27 Seattle, WA Club Sur*
5/28 Portland, OR Bossanova Ballroom*
5/29 Fresno, CA Strummer’s+
*with Silver Talon
Well, the headline doesn’t lie! Rabble rousers and hater arousers Neckbeard Deathcamp, the band you love or love to hate (the secone one if you are a fash loser), are hitting the road. Even though Kriegmaster from the band writes for us sometimes I just noticed they still don’t have a band profile on our system, haha. How ungrateful are we?! Sorry dudes, I will build that soon but in the meantime I will publish you under the Neck Deep In Filth band module so we don’t have a lot of html nonsense going haywire on this article post, hahaha. You could team up and be The Filthy Neckbeards, a more rustic sounding down to earth name? But I also listed this as a Power Metal article. Just because. Where was I? Where am I?
Oh yeah, a real tour to promote and not just inane commentary! Yes, we are stoked Neckbeard Deathcamp are hitting the road to rock your face and defy their foes, and all the bands on the tour are siiiiick:
Jørgen Munkeby of Shining is a road warrior and so perhaps his range of experiences has allowed him to learn how to see the humor in the following crappy situation you’ll read about in a second. I had hit him up as part of our preliminary year end coverage to see if he had a
“road story” worth sharing that was funny from this year, considering his band has been tearing it up live in support of awesome new hard rock album Animal. Turns out he had plenty to say but it wasn’t anything a band would usually laugh about. This guy has a good attitude, even when complaining, hahaha.
I’m currently midway on a 6-week release headline tour for Shining’s new album
Animal in Europe. All shows have been great, and it’s been absolutely awesome to see
how well the new songs go down with the audience. We usually open our set with the
songs “Animal” and “My Church”, and from right from the start we see more people singing
along than we’ve ever had in our shows before, which is amazing! But the funniest thing that has happened -or maybe craziest is a more correct word? – is what happened after I broke the neck off my guitar in a show in Marseille, France, last week!
All of the instruments I use, except my saxophone, are pretty new and cheap standard
stuff, because I want to be able to get the same stuff quickly from any store or backline
rental company in case it is delayed by an airline or breaks down on tour. My two guitars
on tour has been a Gibson SG Standard and an Edwards SG guitar, which is basically a
cheap but great Japanese copy of the Gibson SG. The neck of the Edwards guitar
actually broke on the last brutal and physical note on a song during a show in
Netherlands two years ago, but was later repaired.
On the last note of our song “The Madness And The Damage Done” during our Marseille
show last week, I felt that I had been a bit controlled during the whole show because of
a bruised rib I got during a show in Paris a week before. I was missing a little bit of action and physicality,so I decided to make the last note of the song a big and aggressive one, and I raised my guitar high before the note and signaled to the band that we were going to play a heavy ending when I brought the guitar down. But during that heavy downward motion my guitar snapped in two pieces just like it had done two years ago.
Read More BELOW.
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Hey friends. As a non binary trans person who struggles with PTSD and even keel mood regulation, the news is getting to me and I am taking a break for a few days to decompress and focus on working my day jobs, not despairing and spending time with my girlfriend (the singer Globelamp ) and our cat, Lil Puff. We played Albany last night (no cat involved) sharing a bill at Pauly’s Hotel with this upbeat melodic punk band Lame Brains from Germany (I know that name is kinda ableist but they were a fun kind of goofy punk band from Berlin and very cool guys) and I am still sleepy. I also might catch up on Man In The High Castle Season 3 but that also seems a little fatiguing with all the god damn Nazis out there right now in real life.
From the transphobic Absu news to Mina from Life Of Agony telling the depressing reasons Sal is really out of the band (I remember sadly defriending the guy after he complained on Facebook months back about anti-Trump protesters. Think I defriended Ross The Boss for pro Trump posts in the same god damn week, bummer) to Kat leaving Agoraphobic Nosebleed to these press attacks from the crook “president”, I am feeling wiped out but trying to hold fast. Sending so much love to you all who fight the good fight.
October came and flew by faster than a bat fleeing Ozzy or Dracula late to dinner. Yeah, I know those are both pretty candy, corny statements. Oh man, haha. I am so cool. Just kidding. Anyway, my top 4 of October are all major bangers. Before I list my top 4 I want to say PLEASE purchase the inspiring WOMAN 2 comp (love that Ghoul opener!!!), which only doesn’t make the list as I am listing top full length original albums for October, not compilations.
1.Super Unison – Stella was by far my favorite album this month. “I wanna be as strong as you, wind in your hair/free…” Phenomenal post hardcore record featuring Meghan O’Neil (formerly of PUNCH) on bass and vocals, Kevin DeFranco on guitar, and Justin Renninger (formerly of Snowing) on drums.I will be covering this to a more in depth degree in the coming days. It is exceptional, raw and cathartic but very skilled. Steve Albini tracked it and it makes me feel about fifteen years younger, in a good way. This is so inspiring to hear a band play with so much heart and conviction in a time when it is so easy to want to go numb instead.
2. Glacial Tomb S/T: A complete monster. So much excitement in one album and perhaps the strongest debut of 2018 for metal. Interview with the band HERE.
3. Daughters – You Won’t Get What You Want – A dynamic and poetic carnival, frenzied and insightful in the same breath. “The Flammable Man” and “Long Road, No Turns” zoom out from the speakers like hidden bee swarms while “The Reason They Hate Me” is lurching and menacing in a busy way that evokes chaotic times. This album is an incredible experience and one of the most unique of the year in terms of calamitous cacophony that doesn’t over clutter somehow, but you wouldn’t expect anything less. Comeback is an understatement. “Satan In The Wait” is one of the best songs this group of malcontents have ever conjured from their unlimited well of contradictions, a sad siren dirge for 2018.
4. Shining – Animal : I was chatting online with J. Munkeby from Shining the other day (disclaimer- we are friendly and he was on my last album Brave Hours on the opening cut) and he said how he feels like the new Shining album is kind of the most provocative thing they could do right now after so much time doing weird music. “It’s pretty much upside-down, and a bit surrealistic that making simpler or more commercial music is the best way to provoke,” he said. I am sure he won’t mind me including that here. Shining have managed to make a complex party rock record that doesn’t suck.
I always liked the sort of European piss taking element of even early Shining like the experimental stuff that was borderline Mr. Bungle at times, but this album kind of reminds me of how Boris subverts rock cliché on some of their most popular records (Pink comes to mind). While this sounds way more like mainstream industrial rock than the chaotic rock clamor of Boris, Shining are smart and cheeky and also the album tackles serious elements as well. It is always better in my opinion when a band with real underground ties like these guys, Audioslave, Monster Magnet or the aforementioned Life Of Agony can have a big rock crossover moment and flirt or conquer with the mainstream or any charts, because it can only help to hopefully make the bigger world out there a fraction smarter (always worth it). Some American critics are probably to “cool” to get some of this but it is their loss.
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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.
— Trevor Phipps (@TrevorPhipps) October 17, 2018
A kind, gentle guy. RIP Oli. https://t.co/ShiaiRHOBJ
— Mark Holcomb (@MarkPeriphery) October 17, 2018
We did our second tour ever in 2004 with Oli Herbert. He was an amazing person and guitarist. Rest In Peace Oli. pic.twitter.com/tS7hOtKj39
— Matthew kiichichaos Heafy (@matthewkheafy) October 18, 2018
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
— MetalRiot.com (@MetalRiot) October 18, 2018
In WONDERFUL news, the WOMAN 2 Anti-Nazi comp had a super big first day:
WOMAN II raised /£1300/ on day one. That's 1400 euros, $1700 USD, $2222 CAD.
I am exceedingly proud of this community. Your generosity has brought medical aid to those who really need it.
Stay tuned, post-day one sales will be tallied and donated at the end of the month. pic.twitter.com/tAfKRzDatZ
— Blackened Death Richard (@PopeRichard) October 18, 2018
With album sales these days, that’s practically making the Billboard charts. https://t.co/XqiwS4plEO
— Ghoul (@GhoulOfficial) October 18, 2018
CASTLE by Matt Haines
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
Photo credit: Maria Debiassi
MARTY FRIEDMAN‘s presence in the world of music, the world of guitar, and Japanese pop culture is mystifying, bizarre, and nothing short of inspiring. His 14th solo album, ONE BAD M.F. Live!!--set for release October 19 on Prosthetic Records–is an all-out celebration of his music in its rawest form. Recorded live during his 2018 “Wall of Sound” tour on its final show in Mexico City at Centro Cultural on April 14, 2018, ONE BAD M.F. Live!! is chock full of his own brand of “feelgood aggression.”
He’ll celebrate the release of ONE BAD M.F. Live!! in Los Angeles, CA at the Viper Room on October 21. It’s the only U.S. show he will do in 2018, but at this show, he will officially announce the details of a full scale 2019 U.S. and Europe tour. Tickets are now on sale here.
As seen in the first live music video which premiered today on GuitarWorld.com, “Whiteworm,” FRIEDMAN and his band–Kiyoshi (bass), Jordan Ziff (guitar), Chargeeee (drums)–are all smiles and are in constant interaction with the audience, pouncing on the rhythms and playing such addictive melodies that one doesn`t miss a vocalist for a moment.
Read more below.
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Hi readers. Since 2018 started Jessica and I have been doing monthly recap lists of whatever four records got our attention the most. This could be a matter of personal taste or something about a work that struck a chord or matched a moment well, but it is less a critical rejection of other works not featured than an embrace of albums that proved themselves the most compelling to me during this July. So take it as one of those “staff recommends this cd” sections you used to see at Rhino Records only much cooler, duh. Very happy to say that everything on this list features performers playing their hearts out.
1. Twilight Fauna’s Where Birds Sing My Name takes the top spot for me this month. The latest from Paul Ravenwood and drummer Josh Thieler of mighty Slaves BC is a beautiful and soul baring effort, dynamic and stouthearted. From straight up banjo songs to arrow sharp black metal that feels like blood is flowing through it rather than pretension and cold-pose, this is a fitting companion to The Year the Stars Fell. The Green and yellow splatter vinyl is too dope to comprehend with my mortal mind. We are lucky to have this project in our metal midst to remind people that records handled with personal reverence can still move mountains and bring oxygen to fatigued forms.
2. Berlin’s Maggot Heart are honestly so fucking cool I can’t take it. The new record Dusk To Dusk was almost my number one pick of the month but my heart succumbed to my East Coast loyalty that Twilight Fauna instilled. But yeah, Linnéa Olsson is so talented and chill and her latest record with her post The Oath + Grave Pleasures outfit is perfect anarchic post punk with a low key metallic sting that should make most American rock bands feel fucking hella embarrassed in comparison for the weak crap they are putting out. The songwriting on this is unreal, especially the manic “Medication” and galloping “Blood Envy” coming to mind as just phenomenal tunes. Recorded in Stockholm in 2017, it cements the potent creative bond with drummer Uno Bruniusson (mainly of the much missed In Solitude fame). I can’t recommend enough surrendering to this record and letting the modern world’s stresses seem like they can be relieved and defeated by the spooky and catchy but semi-detached vocals, rolling and thundering but kind of punk drums and absolutely alive guitar and bass performances. I bought this faster than anything that came out all year. Please please please support them cuz I need them to stick around.
3. With all due respect to Ordinary Corrupt Human Love and some of the other moving or ambitious records out this month that did not make my July list, Mutilation Rites going more death metal was a no brainer for me. And I mean no brainer in a zombies ate all the brains but still want more cuz they are in a death metal frenzy type of no brainer. Chasm from Gilead Media and the NYC scuz rebels of Mutilation Rites continues the bands feedback and buzzsaw /slow burn attempt to become Hades’ official house band. “Pierced Larynx” gives me intense feels of glorious dread and death dirge. It has a more punk rooted crusty underbelly amidst the slower Exhumed and blackened talons in your throat vibes. The monumentally metal drums that pound through the intro to “Post Mortem Obsession” that set up the roaring chaos to follow had me in awe. 6 songs but all fairly lengthy and they all slap. Like Hooded Menace or Black Cobra, the band keep the core elements of what makes them work but tweak their approach slightly with each outing just enough to keep it fresh but familiar. It is intense but not to the point of being silly, just vital and brilliant. This was my fave DM album of the month, all very due respect to Coffin Birth .
4. Birds In Row’s We Already Lost The World takes my fourth and final spot on the list for July. I feel like it is an important record people will remember in years to come. It has a post hardcore infused edgy and kinetic insistence that many albums fail to manufacture, cuz you can’t fake that shit. This French band, currently already supporting fucking Neurosis and Converge, have long term potential and most importantly great songs. “Love Is Political” is just a great song name and the song tears at scabs. “We vs. Us” reminds me of some of what I love most about Cave In and Modern Life Is War in one unexpected fell swoop. Personal War made a buzz but this is gonna take them to the next level. I don’t know how to sum up adequately the mixture of transcending pain the music and artwork stirs up, but this is well worth checking out and surrendering to the barely hopeful cacophony of.
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US blackened thrash metallers SKELETONWITCH and German black/doom/punk chimera MANTAR are stoked to announce that they will be hitting the UK and Europe this winter for a co-headline run.
Support will come from Belgium thrash outfit EVIL INVADERS and German deathers DEATHRITE.
Tickets will go on sale Friday July 6th at 10am BST via the link below: https://www.facebook.com/MantarBand/events
It’s been sunshine and metal time this June. If you haven’t had a chance to hear the four albums that make my list this month, you’re going to want to go and check them out!
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Californian metallers Exmortus‘s latest tome The Sound of Steel is out today via Prosthetic Records.
Exmortus are preparing to hit the road at the end of the month in support of the new album.
Special guests The Absence and Hatchet will join the tour, dubbed the Summer of Steel tour, as well as regional favorites – Novareign, Immortal Guardian, Black Fast and label mates MICAWBER on select dates.
The Sound of Steel was produced by Zack Ohren (Machine Head, Fallujah, Suffocation).
Check out a full list of tour dates here.
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Exmortus tour and album news! Rejoice ye thrash addicted maniacs! Some very cool news to share!
But first, well…today has been pretty cool so far. Florence and the Machine announced a North American Tour, Roseanne got her racist tweeting ass dropped by ABC, the very vindicated Ms. Taylor Swift is about to play Chicago and kick major ass right as KimYe put their feet in their mouths so hard they are being dragged by the whole damn city and Donda’s House dropped TrumpYe’s mom’s name since he is so fake (maybe Taylor can donate when she visits town and save the day. That would be fitting tea).
I just got a copy of Rational Mysticism by John Horgan and despite being out of herbs I can’t complain too much on this sunny day. Seems a perfect time to help share the news about some caustic, face ripping metal to all you loyal hordes who don’t care about my forays into politics and pop culture. You know I never forget the headbangers and reanimated denim wearing skeletons over here at Metal Riot, right? Even though my gf has ensorcelled me into listening to Red everyday and now I think it rules. Whatever, y’know what? I love Taylor and she never agreed to be called a bitch and have her likeness used in “Famous” distastefully or have a braggart take credit for her hard earned career.
But yes, even though I am now a fully indoctrinated Swiftie, I still love the charred ruin of thrash blasted skulls and thus am pleased as punch to share this Exmortus news!
EXMORTUS will hit the road this summer headlining The Summer of Steel Tour! Featuring support from The Absence and Hatchet alongside Immortal Guardian, Black Fast and label mates Micawber (who fucking destroy and who I have been bumping loudly to scare my neighbors into thinking I am a complete serial killer who switches back and forth between Taylor and death metal between bong rips) on select shows; EXMORTUS will embark on tour dates across North America beginning June 28th in San Diego.
FUCK YEAH!!!
“We are stoked to unleash The Sound of Steel upon North America this Summer! This is our first headlining tour and we’re honored to have within our ranks: The Absence and Hatchet, as well as special regional guests — Novareign, Immortal Guardian, Black Fast and Micawber. So, come and have your minds melted by the new tunes as well as old favorites! See you soon!” says EXMORTUS founder, vocalist & guitarist Conan.
More info BELOW.
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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".
