…hose who have been following the band will no doubt be thrilled by the ‘all-in-one’ package that hits so many different notes, and does it with extra style points. Musically all over the map without sounding like a mess, they continue to show that they are a unique force that hits a fresh sweet spot many newcomers won’t know they needed. Unfortunately, two of the four vocalists are set to ‘graduate’ (leave the band) in November of this year (origi…
…ur with almost 40 shows. Also, we will have some new songs, new music videos, and a new album coming out early next year. So yeah, I’ve been keeping busy [laughs]! Photo Credit: Jeremy Saffer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=10EctxNmJsY&pp=ygUSZGVhdGggZGVhbGVyIHVuaW9u https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NhdfsR9z-KY&pp=ygUSZGVhdGggZGVhbGVyIHVuaW9u Death Dealer Union on Facebook…
…r Billy S. dazzle in some progressive shifts, the double kick / snare plus low-end hits sure to take your breath away. Tremolo picking insanity and d-beat/blasting shuffles allow “Mass Production Dream” to go down rather smoothly, the mid-tempo transition only a tease into the next snarling vocal bark emanating from Jim ‘Mitch’ E, who has a similar savage delivery as the great Barney Greenway of Napalm Death. Onward you go throughout this 25-minut…
…that helps set apart the best in this subgenre from those that simply play low, slow, and heavily distorted. This duo nails those subtleties, coupled with memorable compositional quality that gives the Brazilians a formidable mixture of grit and sophistication. Bands such as 71TonMan and Lurk have been especially proficient in these areas in 2023, and Fossilization certainly have put their best grime-ridden foot forward. Truth be told, Fossilizati…
…ourself professionally as a musician? Were there times that you had to overcome self-doubt or defeat that you would be able to develop a full-time career in the rock/metal world? Romero: Not really. I was lucky on that also. In my short career, it’s a continual episode to me of being lucky and also hard work. You need to work really hard to get the things that I was able to do. Also, I was lucky enough to be at the right place on some moments in t…
…assages or shifting time signature parts – it’s hard to deny the chugging, low-tuned riffs or circular patterns from guitarists Kalle Niininen and Antti Lauri for “To the Sun”, the momentum rises and falls a la classic Evergrey meets latter day Symphony X. Drummer Jarkko Lunnas is a mastermind through his lyrical, production, and cover art duties – as well as his stellar mastery of thoughtful tempo control, knowing when to propel his kit skills to…
…echild that proper positioning and resonance, a full sound that isn’t too pristine yet jumps out of your speakers as progressive rock meets doom next to heavy metal should. Blossom & Plague has that universal appeal to gather a cult-like following (and hopefully beyond) based on the talent, songwriting acumen, and natural affinity for the music they deliver. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2L4yEpM5YyA https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJKNC_ajvzw Ti…
…19 pandemic slowed down productivity. The Unknown Path is the sophomore follow-up, a ten-track outing that showcases a quartet intent on executing a mixture of death to groove metal influences to illustrate dynamic diversity at play. Getting right down to business in a low-toned, mid-tempo groove-like fashion through opener “March of Truth”, it’s self-evident that these gentlemen lean on a potent rhythm guitar assault against solid bass/drum found…
…nderground hordes desire when it comes to this style. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqIi1C10s_o https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1O-fgYZ-nw Heads For the Dead on Facebook…
…rists Morten Formeseyn and Jens Dürholt, who reek the most twisted and hard-hitting string work on what are the are finest compositions on the record. Orphalis have put together their most seasoned and demonstrative work yet on As the Ashes Settle. For death metal fans of all styles and proclivities, there’s a lot to savor, especially to the discerning audience that are typically attracted to the style. If there are any minor criticisms, there are…
…de. Going off to the depths of darkness “Necrosanctum” revels in crushing, low-tuned rhythms as well as groove to double kick pounding measures from drummer Daniel Liljekvist that manages to raise fists as easily as hurtle bodies in pit-swirling madness. The piano touches around the 2:54 mark end up building this monstrous, electric momentum for a fitting conclusion to the record. Favorites change daily – the straight ahead buzzsaw-oriented “The F…
…he case of taking some of those chord progressions that are used a lot in J-pop, J-rock. Some of their music ideas and packaging it up into a power metal sound, basically. Dead Rhetoric: What did you want to get across with the cover art for Starbound Stories? Hudson: The cover art – I’m a big fan of RPG video games from the 1990’s, the Final Fantasy series, Nintendo games, stuff like that. I wanted to it look like a video game that you’ve never p…
…many tours we can do for this album. We will find time to write the next album as well, keep things going, keep the machine going. That’s pretty much it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuauI3zWGjU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVMCEUENTO4 Exmortus on Facebook…
…a completely different style. The studio work, I like it a lot. I want to have some time off my schedule to be focused on producing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=da2XYJdTMTA The Unity on Facebook…
…e way that Killswitch Engage hits Periphery or Parkway Drive textures, the low-tuned switch-ups intriguing. At other times the push/pull between guitars and drums sets up circular groove combinations that allow the vocals to pogo between metal, hardcore and alternative/modern rock avenues – “Self-Destruction” and the title track the two best examples of the multi-layered approach. Even if you know when specific melodic passages are going to hit yo…
…ay because you’ll make good art. Having this podcast, opening myself to one-on-one feedback, has just been incredible. I’m fortunate to be able to make music that resonates with people – that’s the whole point. It’s a game changer for me. People from the outside will think – oh they played Download, they played Hellfest. A lot of that stuff, it’s just gradual steps and seems like another day. Being able to talk to fans one on one and hear how this…
…m – huge for metal. It’s the first time I bet a lot of people have heard a low-tuned, eight string guitar and death metal drums. That lends itself to our music being able to expand and do different things. Maybe five years ago we would never make a record like this record. It wouldn’t have felt right. We can branch out, do different things, and do what we want. Especially deathcore is a genre now where you can go wherever you want with it. Heavy i…
…alist Madeleine Liljestam and guitarist/vocalist Rikard Ekberg in this free-flowing conversation. It was fun to banter about the discography, their recent North American tour, thoughts on merch cuts by venues which hurt touring bands income streams, how social media and sites like Patreon and Twitch have helped their community engage and grow – plus so much more. Dead Rhetoric: We Shall Remain is the fourth studio album for Eleine. Where do you se…
…. Dead Rhetoric: Shades of Sorrow is the second Crypta album – a strong follow-up to your debut from 2021 Echoes of the Soul. How do you see the evolution of the band in terms of the songwriting and performances between the two records? Luana Dametto: Well, I think on the first record we were very much breaking the ice amongst each other. Fernanda and I of course had played together before in Nervosa, but we didn’t really know Taina and Sonia at t…
…with monolithic doom-inspired riffs that saturate the psyche. Moody and uncompromising, these fellows lure the listener into their grasp and hold on tight. Death metal rhythm guitars combine with searing tremolos and foggy atmospheres in “Unsaturated Hunger and Esoteric Lust,” propelled by the monstrous drumming of Kerem Kaan – an immense talent and master of his craft whose signature fills are a standout element of Ensemble Under the Dark Sun. L…
…zer over the next twelve months as far as promotion, live shows, etc.? Radtleff: We are going on tour with Artillery. We will start writing the next album. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sh1Iuece5ow https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEPz2QVgV6Q Demolizer on Facebook…
…lbum WTFortyfive features the quartet ripping through twelve tracks of down-to-earth heaviness, primal with the right melodic sensibilities. We reached out to guitarist Jackie Chambers to catch us up on the new record, how she got the Girlschool gig replacing Kelly Johnson, animation video work, favorite memories from festivals to meeting Alice Cooper, her newfound appreciation for meditation, and lots of touring plans. Dead Rhetoric: WTFortyfive?…
…you approach the art of producing, do you try to think of things on a case-by-case basis depending on the skill levels of the artists on hand? Mary: As a producer, I will take on projects for various reasons. One time I had a band that was really not good, and I took it on just to see how much I could improve upon the marker and make them sound better. You can do quite a bit with Pro Tools these days, if you are skilled, you can do a tremendous a…
…hrough VI – Molten Rainbow. It gets the job done adequately with a few highlights but won’t exactly win originality points for most. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbxEpm8AUKY Antioch on Facebook…
…t album I was a huge fan of the band. The reception from the start was mind-blowing for me because I was totally accepted from the fans in the beginning. There were a few people who thought it wasn’t as good as with Urban, but I was overall very accepted and totally relieved. Now I’ve been in the band for twelve to thirteen years, I’ve done seven albums with them, Urban did two albums with them, Michael only did one album, so I can say that I am t…
…musical/production chair schedules to carve out future records and possible festival/touring sessions, as there’s gold in the creative output present here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wJ_kASF1K90 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-hYOZzKfZs Blackscape on Facebook…
…se we might do some more regional stuff. But we are going to continue to write. I have already started playing around with new material here and there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-u_Zlya-t8&pp=ygUNcm95YWwgdGh1bmRlcg%3D%3D https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nkzaVZxH4K0&pp=ygUNcm95YWwgdGh1bmRlcg%3D%3D Royal Thunder on Facebook…
…with some North American attitude / groove thrown in for good measure. The low-tuned guitar work and pounding rhythm section foundation allows the distant growls to possess more earth-shattering force – all working in unison for that pummeling, penetrating atmosphere that brings to mind aspects of early Entombed, Cianide, and classic Bolt Thrower. Tremolo runs give chase to a straight-forward d-beat groove to make “Crucifixion Shrine” an immediate…
…the other problems with that particular studio is it had a very strong non-compete. I couldn’t work on any side projects outside of the video games I was working on. Fast forward to 2015- I took this job outside of Austin, Texas. Very much they encourage side projects and other artistic endeavors, I got the bug to start making metal again. Metal is life. I contacted Chris, computers had gotten more powerful, the internet had gotten much faster, w…
…approach is really interesting. Obviously, Michael Whelan is amazing, mind-blowing, epic, and fantasy. Eliran, I really wanted to work with him because I met with him in Liverpool, and I talked about this. I had the concept about fatherhood, or the anxiety of becoming a father, and it turns out he’s a similar age as me and going through the same thing having kids. A while later he sent a few drafts over, and the one that you see on the cover is t…
