Metal Music NEWS and interviews

Happy to introduce the first feature model for April 2013- Frankie Canibal                                                                         Photographer: Carlos Madrigal Alvarez                                                                       Edits: Reverend Havoc - Repent & Rebel 1-What inspired you to do modeling? Was there a point early in your life that sparked your interest? F.C. actually since I was sixteen, I always wanted to model but I thought that somebody like me won’t be able to do some modeling work, but like 5 and half years ago, I started to noticed about pin up, rockabilly, vintage and ps...

Thrash Death metal from Mirano (VE). Samael's Fall is a four piece band which got started in 2008. This is their first album "Till Now". The album starts with a clean acoustic piece entitled "Waiting For" its melodic and solid, this leads us into the first song "The Darkest Day", intense, brutal and grabs my attention. "Till Now" is the title track, loving the drums on here, solid precision double kicks and involved fills. I really dig the guitars in this song, both speed and triplet action make this song brutal as fuck. "Beyond The Violence" sweet sounding bass riff kicks this one off. The DM style comes through perfectly. Once the vocals come in it most definitely mosh inducing vibe. I have to say this is my favorite song on this album. "Hit me Bitch", experience a high level of dynamics on the drums, Marco Rizzo knows his stuff. Aggressive riffs and intense chorus will have you spinning this one for some time. "Nev...

No Gods, No masters is the brand new EP by Belfast's Sinocence a four piece Metal, Rock, Thrash band which got their start in the late nineties. "A Coda of Self Slaughter" is the first song and its a perfect introduction. Production is good, a well balance of sound, guitars are clear and strong. "Long Way Down" a heavy bass driven start, I get a good sense of headbanging to this track, arrangements of riffs are complex yet effective. "Occams Razors" guitar harmonies are a highlight for this song and memorable passages, especially in the chorus, features clean riffing in which the bass compliments very well. "West of Eden", at times feeling progressive but not to much to distract from the song, reminds me of early Dream Theater or early In Flames. The vocalist can reach some high overtures with great ease, fitting perfectly with the rest of the instruments. By far the best song on this new CD. "Cruelty In Silence" ends my trip into S...

Fate is your Muse is the new album by heavy Rock band Devil To Pay. The album covers a long history of events that have transpired in the bands existence. From close to tragedy event in the beginning which hospitalized singer/guitar player Steve Janiak to many other ups and downs. Much of which can be read about on the bands official site. Now for the album. A great start with the track Prepare to Die, nice hammer on/pull of style of riff with a raw and punchy sound sets the tone smoothly for this album. Ten Lizardmen & One pocketknife, great title and reminds me of the early Black Label Society music but with much better vocals. "Wearin' you Down" a clean strumming riff along with some great lyrical content make this one to spin several times. Already Dead, probably my favorite track, from the start I am already feeling a great groove and vibe. I like being able to understand all the vocals and can appreciate the story being told. There are also some memorable guitar...

Released on Pulverized Records. "Tunnel of No Light" is the latest release from the five piece Swedish doom metal band October Tide, this is their fourth album. I had a chance to listen to this album several times now and ready to give you the results. Starting of with the production, clear, solid, well balanced. The first track "Of Wounds To Come" sets the mood. open chords and dark overtones dominate from the beginning. the bands that come to mind as I listen are old Desultory, Novembers Doom, and Paradise Lost. Our Constellation, excellent drum intro and captivating guitar riff. Emptiness Fullfilled, reminds me of the very early Anathema days, setting a mood of solice and despair. Caught in Silence, the warm guitar sound is pleasing to the ears as the drum compliment by not being to harsh or blasting, its a great arrangement. This band is what came from the Katatonia break up in 1997. Coming from a long history musically the album is the evolved elements from the...

Walk Through Exits Only is the title of Phil Anselmo's new solo album due out July 16th on Housecore Records. Really interested in what it will sound like, here is what Phil had to say about it: "It wasn't about doing a paint-by-numbers thrash or heavy metal record," Anselmo explained about the project. "It's an angry album that only I could do. I don't see anybody else out there screaming about the same shit I'm screaming about. On this album, there isn't any wordplay, there isn't any hidden message, it's all right there in front of you."

Swedish melodic death metallers Deals Death made a public announcement that after three years together they will be parting ways with bass player Fredrik Ljung. The band comments, "There are times when everything is great, there are times when everything is bad. And there are times when different paths are chosen and you simply drift apart. Things like these are never easily decided and we thank our friend and bandmate for three awesome years and wish you a brilliant future." Fredrik made the following statement in response, "Dear friends and fans! As you now know, I have left the band. We saw it as the only way to go and I want to thank everyone who has gotten me and Deals Death to the point where we are at today. There are many reasons for my goodbye but I personally feel that Im not on the same wavelength as the present band. And when you play in a band such as Deals Death you have to be able to give it your all! My last contribution with Deals Death is recorded ...

01 intro 02 Explosia 03 Flying Whales 04 Backbone 05 The Heaviest Matter Of The Universe 06 L'Enfant Sauvage 07 The Art Of Dying 08 interlude 09 Toxic Garbage Island 10 Wisdom Comes 11 Mario's song 12 Oroborus 13 Mario's drum solo 14 The Axe 15 Vacuity 16 encore break 17 The Gift Of Guilt 18 outro Thanks out to MeddleEarth for taping sharing it with us in the Matrix of Bootlegs

A five piece band from Pyatigorsk, Russia. Atra Hora began in 2006. Album title Via Combusta (released on Daknagar records August 2012). An intriguing start to this record. The first song "Transmigrations" begins with almost tribal like drum rolls and a very nice bass composition grabs my attention immediately. Production quality is superb, this is apparent once every instrument comes in. Next up we have "Escape" guitars are doing great harmonies and remind me of early Paradise Lost but much faster paced, maybe even a dash of Catatonia in their influence. For being a young band these are extremely gifted musicians accomplishing some complex arrangements. Hronos, intriguing and captivating bass lines. This song has got to be my favorite from this album, spoken word as well as deep doom like vocalizing, there is much to be explored just in this single composition. Styx, mystical, like flying through the longest deserts of desolation. Mysterious and enchanting. Neo Aeo...

A four piece band from Milwaukee, WI. (Jerry Hauppa- guitars,  James Becker- bass guitars / vocals,  Adam Bujny- vocals,  Erik Stenglein- drums)  The Blessed Sleep is the debut E.P. by progressive tech-metal band Ara. The first track is "Entitled Ascension", a clean start then into some creative sliding type of riffs. Good production, drums are doing some involved playing which seem to be using uncommon time signatures, a complex style is evident. "Demise of Reason" the vocals remind me of old Gorefest at times but more guttural, on this track I hear some cool guitar licks taking place amidst the chaos. "The Blessed Sleep" is track three, sure does bring memories of early Meshugga, there is a bass line towards the end of this song that grabs my attention, very well composed, add in some pig squeal style vocalization and this one is a brutal track to be spinning. "Despair Personified" this song has some dual vocals happening, mid and high well exe...

Live footage from COBG 3 at the LiveWire Chicago, IL March 30, 2013