Old school Norwegian death metal band, CADAVER, have unleashed their new EP, D.G.A.F., via their new label, Nuclear Blast. The band features founding member, Anders Odden (vocals/guitar/bass), and Dirk Verbeuren (drums).
D.G.A.F. can be streamed on various platforms. Check out the title track, which features CARCASS‘ Jeff Walker on guest vocals:
In upcoming events, the band will be hosting a live Q&A with fans on Instagram on Thursday, April 23rd at 11 am PST/8 pm CET.
The kings of Polish death metal, VADER, are set to release their 16th album, Solitude in Madness, on May 1, 2020 via Nuclear Blast. Their view for the song, “Into Oblivion,” has just been released and clearly shows that the band are as sharp as they ever were. Enjoy this short, but sweet number.
The first song to be released from MAYHEM‘s Daemon, entitled “Worthless Abominations Destroyed ” has been posted online:
The song carries the mystique, mystery, and feel of the band’s early work, specifically, De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas. Daemon should be another masterpiece.
The world is always a better place when THE master blaster, Pete Sandoval, is actively playing music. After overcoming the arduous journey back from back surgery, he teamed up with multi-instrumentalist Lee Harrison (MONSTROSITY) and vocalist Sam Molina (ex-MONSTROSITY) to revive TERRORIZER.
The long and short of it is that Caustic Attack is the band’s best album since their infallible landmark debut, World Downfall. In fact, Caustic Attack is one of the top albums of 2018. All apologies to Lee but shit, we didn’t know he could bust out out such good riffs as he’s built his reputation as a drummer.
Getting back to the Commando, the beauty of Caustic Attack is that it can be thoroughly enjoyed in different ways. You can enjoy the exciting, heart pumping songs themselves or you can just focus in on Pete‘s drumming and just marvel at how he crushes all.
Caustic Attack starts off with songs that are geared towards being album openers with lots of immediate blasting and catchy, simple riffs that carry more of a punk/grind feel. Half way through the album with “Trench of Corruption,” things get more ominous and darker. There is this tangible feeling of urgency and momentum that are undeniable. And this is where TERRORIZER truly shine and separates itself from the pack.
Don’t deny yourself one of the best extreme metal albums in recent memory. A new beginning is here for one of the godfathers. Bow down. (The End Records)
The criminally underrated gods of Norwegian avant garde black metal, VED BUENS ENDE, recently reunited to play a live show this past Saturday, January 26, 2019. Check out this short clip.
Hopefully, this signals more to come from the band. Last December, Soulseller Records reissued the long out-of-print masterpiece, Written in Waters, with the original artwork. Check out the details here.
In glorious news the original line-up of Swedish legends, DISMEMBER, have announced their reunion in order to play the Scandinavian Deathfest this October. According to their Facebook post, it sounds like there will be, at least, more shows to follow.
Line-up:
Matti Kärki – Vocals
David Blomqvist – Guitar
Robert Sennebäck – Guitar
Richard Cabeza – Bass
Fred Estby – Drums
The band were last active with the release of Dismember in 2008 before calling it quits in 2011.
What a glorious year in metal we just experienced. After the sheer amount of quality albums that were released in 2018, there is no question that the genre is as healthy and full of life as ever. Thus, making our top albums lists harder than usual.
For the APESHIT goons, 2018 was the year where the legends all shined. JUDAS PRIEST led the charge with their best album since 1990’s Painkiller. DIMMU BORGIR finally emerged from a long slumber and did not disappoint. VOIVOD remain the gods that the mass metal media won’t acknowledge as such. We can’t really think of any letdowns. Can you?
Last year Max and Igorr Cavalera celebrated the release of SEPULTURA‘s Roots by playing the album in its entirety on tour. Currently, they are tour celebrating the two albums that put the band on the map, Beneath the Remains and Arise. Check out their performance from the Re:public Club in Minsk, Belarus on October 5, 2018.
This is probably the most and best live guitar playing that Max has performed in a long time. A very welcome return.
While THE SPIRIT hail from Saarbrücken, Germany, they sound like they were born in the metal Mecca of Gothenburg, Sweden. It’s abundantly clear that DISSECTION are, by far, their main influence. However, a closer ear can hear influences from other Swedish black/death metal bands such as UNANIMATED and SACRAMENTUM.
A handful of bands have tried to carry the torch left by the legendary DISSECTION, such as THULCANDRA, but none of them have come as close as THE SPIRIT. On their debut album, Sounds from the Vortex, they essentially wrote the album that could’ve followed Storm of the Light’s Bane, and I do not make that statement haphazardly.
Sounds from the Vortex has the perfect balance of pure ferocity, melody, and, most importantly, that mysterious atmosphere of the classic albums that came out of Sweden in the mid to late 90’s.
Having said all of that, THE SPIRIT should also be praised for the endless prime riffing, instrumental prowess, and tight songwriting. Check out the barrage of ice that hits on the 4:09 mark on “The Clouds of Damnation.” “Cross the Bridge to Eternity” has unique riffing patterns reminiscent of something off of DARK TRANQUILLITY‘s The Mind’s I.
The album’s finishes out as strongly a possible in its final three songs. Powerful and confident, these songs close out what is one of the best debuts in years. If THE SPIRIT can replicate this level of excellence on album number two, their ascension is guaranteed. (Nuclear Blast Records)
Tokyo gods, MONO, have announced album number 10, Nowhere Now Here. The album sees the band add electronics to their repertoire – perhaps inspired by guitarist/composer Takaakira “Taka” Goto’s recent collaboration with John McEntire, the beguiling BEHIND THE SHADOW DROPS.
Nowhere Now Here also sees MONO’s first-ever lineup change, adding new drummer Dahm Majuri Cipolla (THE PHANTOM FAMILY HALO) to the core trio of Goto, Tamaki, and Yoda. Tamaki also makes her vocal debut here on the poetically hazy “Breathe.”
The new album is scheduled to be released on January 25, 2019 via Temporary Residence Ltd. (North America) and Pelagic Records (Europe).
Check out the first single, “After You Comes the Flood.”
The band have also released the short film, After You Comes the Flood, directed by French director Julien Levy. It was inspired by the band’s single of the same name.