Metal Music NEWS and interviews

A live performance of the song Necronomicon by Hypocrisy at The Paradise Garage in Lisbon Portugal September 30 2013                

Shadow Kingdom Records, Release: September 3 2013. This is a reissue of two EP's. One from 1983 featuring Tommy Mezmercardo - Vocals / Guitars, Roger Abercrombie - Bass, Bill Ward - Drums. The second from 1985 featuring Tommy Mezmercardo - Vocals / Guitars, Steve Conrad - Bass, JR - Drums. First will explore the songs from the 1983 EP. The opening song The Forsaken is unique in its delivery, while it is an intro of sorts in does paint a picture of disaster and conjuration, to be honest I was not sure what to expect and found myself captivated in its tentacles. "Dead Ones Cry No More",  high style vocalization like Mercyful Fate or very early Judas Priest is predominant. The production is extremely good considering this was captured in an era of analog recordings. "Arabian Nights", feeling all the nostalgia with every note, any metal psychedelia roots were surely planted by this band. This track transcends through time and you can still feel all its energy even...

Released on Deepsend Records September 3 2013. The Living Magisterium is an EP by DM/BM band from Milwaukee  WI, Emblazoned. Members are:  Jeff - Vocals, A.J. - Bass, Kevin - Guitars, Alex - Drums. The EP begins with the intro "Premonition", dark and ominous is the mood that it sets before attacking us with "Extinction of Creation", the early roots of death metal come screaming through with low guttural and high vocals style. Solid production, raw brutal guitar tones and devastating double kicks. Next up is "Bound By Eternal Penance", several bands come to my mind as I listen, Vader, Immolation, Suffocation and Cannibal Corpse to name a few. The music takes me back to my early years. Back to the nineties when DM was just emerging. The essence of that era is captured with pure intensity in each riff. "Refuge In Darkness", open chords, dismal sounds of haunting style and with a pure BM feel to it before building up into a fast paced slammer. The ...

To be released October 1 2013 through Cruz Del Sur Music. Beyond The Martyrs is the third full length album by Argus - Metal band hailing from Western PA. Members are Butch Balich - vocals,  Jason Mucio - guitar, Erik Johnson - guitar, Andy Ramage - bass, Kevin Latchaw - drums. The opening track "By Endurance We Conquer", sets a haunted and dismal atmosphere with catchy guitar licks and solid bass line. Metal roots are evident through out. Vocals are clear and it's easy to understand all the lyrical content. No super polished production, just straight forward raw power. "No Peace Beyond The Line" has a strong and memorable chorus. The Hands Of Time Are Bleeding some of the bands that come to my mind as I listen are Helloween, Savatage and Hammerfall. "Trinity" is song three, guitar tones are heavy and captivating. The main rhythms get my head moving. The early sounds of metal are etched in every song and good to hear bands still accomplishing to capt...

Carcass tour show in support of their latest album Surgical Steel. At Reggies Rock Club in Chicago IL with opening act Macabre. Photos plus short video of their new song "Unfit For Human Consumption"                              

The new album "Back To The Front" by Entombed on Century Media to be released October 29th 2013 in the US. Here is the album cover and track listing. 01 – “Kill To Live“ 02 – “Bedlam Strike“ 03 – “The Underminer“ 04 – “Second To None“ 05 – “Allegiance“ 06 – “Waiting For Death“ 07 – “Eternal Woe“ 08 – “Digitus Medius“ 09 – “Vulture And The Traitor“ 10 – “Pandemic Rage“ 11 – “Soldier Of No Fortune“

Released through Kaotoxin September 3, 2013. Hailing from Clermont Ferrand, France. Genre -Brutal Death. Nephren-Ka members include: Laurent Chambe (Vocals), Sébastien Briat (Guitars & Backing vocals), Alexandre Phalippon (Bass & Backing vocals), Thibaud Pialoux (Drums). This is the debut full length from the band. Nine tracks of constant devastation, exhibiting all the traits of pure death metal in all its glory. The first song is Butlerian Djihad, it does not waste any time and gets direct to the brutality. Production is top notch, no surprise since it was mixed and mastered by the legendary Hertz Studio (Vader, Behemoth). "Mastering The Voice", haunting start, open chords demonic vocals. Some of the bands that come to mind are, Decapitated, Nile, Sinister and Gorod. "Legend of Salim" (Part 1 The Seeds of Discord), pure aggression, a take no prisoners feeling, just insane arrangements that come crawling through the speakers like an untamed beast. "T...