Peter
Dolving has left The Haunted. The vocalist stated on his Facebook page today: “I
am officially quitting The Haunted. After years of working with the band, I am
out. I have had it. I will NOT answer questions to why. It's no one else's
business. Thank you very much. I am looking forward to seeing you people at other
shows with other projects.”
The tone of
the message suggests that things just weren’t too rosy in The Haunted camp. The
Haunted’s last album, Unseen, from last year, was a highly criticised record
for stepping more and more away from the band’s melodic death metal roots and
toward a very radio friendly sound, a trend that had building for a while. That
said, the album wasn’t without its fans either. There are no other details on
this split yet and the band has yet to release a statement.
Technical instrumentalists, Loincloth have released their debut album, Iron Balls of Steel, now via Southern Lord. Check out the full review on Drop-d HERE.
Meshuggah
have posted a new album trailer for their forthcoming record, Koloss. The album
is an absolutely striking affair and will certainly quench the thirst of
hardened Meshuggah fans. As the video states, “The wait is over”. Indeed,
Koloss is nearly upon us. This isn’t one to be missed.
Downfall of
Gaia have postponed the release of their new album, which was scheduled for
release in May. Drummer, Hannes has been hospitalised with all shows in March
and studio time cancelled. No other details about his illness have been released.
The German post hardcore band was going to be recording the follow-up to 2010’s
Epos and last year’s split LP with In The Hearts of Emperors.
Last Sunday,
Alcest returned to Dublin as part of their European tour. I had the pleasure of
sitting down with Neige for a few minutes to discuss the new album, Les Voyages
de L’ame, touring and everything in between. Check it out HERE.
Another one
from the new Aaron Turner band. The last song released, ‘Sceptres to Rust’, was
average but any doubts about the forthcoming LP should be trounced now by this
new jam, ‘Tiny Me’. It’s a minute and a
half long spurt of furious hardcore. While Aaron Turner has been occupying
himself lately with the more ambient, spectral goings-on of Mamiffer and House
of Low Culture, he’s found time for the more abrasive end of things too.
Marriages is
a side project from esteemed post rock band Red Sparowes, featuring Dave
Clifford, Emma Ruth Rundle and Greg Burns. Pre Fix Mag are streaming the first
song from their first album Kitsune, called ‘Ten Tiny Fingers’. Marriages make
some misty ethereal rock with gorgeous vocals from Rundle reminiscent of Mazzy
Star, counteracted by dense droning guitars. Check it out below.
The first demo from Californian sludgy doom mongrels Bloom is online now over on Drop-d.ie. Click HERE to check out the full review. This is something impressive stuff to start with.
Toxicbreed
has released its first covers compilation, Casa de Diversion: Covers Vol. 1 for
free download on their blog now but you can also stream it below. The
compilation features some interesting takes on songs both predictable and from
a little more leftfield. Vestiges and Caulfield are prepping the release of
their split 7”, both doing a cover each and the two songs are included on the
comp. Vestiges take The Cranberries’ classic ‘Zombie’ and mould entirely into
their own doomed out crust child. Meanwhile Caulfield daringly tackle Nirvana’s
‘Dive’.
Ohio’s
blistering Masakari serve up a rendition of Discharge’s entire EP, Fight Back
and the mighty Heartless, fresh off the release of their impressive first
full-length Hell Is Other People, churn out a rather striking cover of His Hero
Is Gone’s ‘Anthem for the Undesirables’, proudly playing homage to an obvious
influence.
Spokane,
Washington newcomers Losing Skin have only released two demos thus far but
decide to have a go at Godflesh’s ‘Like Rats’, which we could probably have
done with being left untouched. There are covers of anything from Dismember to
Joy Division and Mayhem to At The Drive In. There are 34 tracks in total on
Casa de Diversion I, so there’s plenty to get through, from intriguing takes to
(sure to be thought) unforgivable abominations. Stream it below and click HERE
for the two-part download.
For your
Monday, NWOBHM stalwarts Angel Witch have a new song online, which is streaming
below. ‘Dead Sea Scrolls’ is taken from their new album As Above, So Below,
which is coming out on Rise Above on March 12th. This will be the band’s first
album in over 25 years. While the glories of yore will never be repeated, the
arrival of Carcass’ Bill Steer in the band should mark some interesting results
and the powerful twin guitars and vocals from Kevin Heybourne suggest so.
On Friday
evening, Meshuggah released another new song from Koloss, fresh off the buzz
surrounding ‘Break Those Bones Who Sinews Gave Them Motion’ a week prior. This
time it’s the slightly faster ‘Do Not Look Down’, complete with a somewhat unusual guitar
solo and even more emphasis on atmospherics. I really enjoyed ‘Break Those
Bones…’ but this tops it for sure and should dispel any doubt that Meshuggah
won’t meet expectations.
My interview
with Ravn, the vocalist from Norwegian black metal band 1349, is online now on
Molten’s site. Check it out HERE. This interview took place last October when
the band played in Dublin during their European tour.
Crusty doom metallers Vestiges announced
their European tour for this summer today, and includes the following
Irish dates, with "neo" crust band Downfall of Gaia:
13/07 Dublin, IE at The Pint
14/07 IE w/Downfall of Gaia
15/07 Galway, IE at TBA
The
unconfirmed date for the 14th is most likely to be Cork. The band completed a
successful US together late last year and were both touring on the backs of very
impressive releases – Vestiges’ The Descent of Man LP and Downfall of Gaia’s
Epos LP but more recently, their utterly stunning split with In The Hearts of
Emperors. This is going to be a good! Click HERE for the full tour dates from
Vestiges, which are still being ironed out and see if Downfall of Gaia are
playing near you.
Braveyoung
are busy dudes these days. Last year they released their stunning first
full-length record, We Are Lonely Animals and also released their collaborative
album with The Body. Now, after just finishing a tour of the east coast of the
US, the band has revealed that they recorded a new EP and mixing has begun. The
band posted some photos from the recording HERE, check them out.
This is a death metal triple headliner to write home about right here - Krisiun, Malevolent Creation and Vital Remains. Click HERE for the full live review of the tour's stop off in The Pint.
Anathema
have released a new song from their new album, Weather Systems. Hands down, one
of my all-time favourite bands, it’s difficult to contain my excitement for this
one. The song ‘The Beginning and the End’ was released tonight and such was the
enthusiasm for the download that Kscope’s site, the band’s label, crashed with
the traffic coming through. But keep trying HERE.
Unsurprisingly,
this song is simply jaw-dropping. I really put this band on a pedestal
sometimes but they always manage to blow me away. ‘The Beginning and the End’
has Vincent Cavanagh pushing himself even further vocally, the lead pianos are
nothing short of entrancing and that guitar solo at the end is just stunning.
Listen below:
The tragic
story of Decapitated’s bus accident in Russia in late 2007 is well known at
this stage by fans. Drummer Vitek was tragically killed and vocalist, Adrian ‘Covan’
Kowanek was severely injured leaving him in a coma. He has since woken but
requires round the clock care and still cannot walk, however his mind is
improving as he is aware of his surroundings at home and comprehends when
someone is talking to him. He still needs his treatment and rehabilitation every
day, which is hugely expensive to his family. Recently a Polish news station
ran a news report about Covan’s progress including interviews with his family.
Watch it below, it’s subtitled. If you’re interested in donating to Covan’s
rehabilitation, click HERE.
Yes, Torche
are back with a new album coming on April 24th called Harmonicraft. ‘Kicking’,
the first single, is streaming now on Pitchforck HERE with a free download to
boot. This is the first record since 2010’s EP Songs for Singles and the long awaited
album follow-up to 2008’s highly lauded Meanderthal. The unabashed poppy
melodies are all in tow on ‘Kicking’ with the semblances the members’ sludge
backgrounds still glimmering in the distance. Frankly, this tune is great. The
album was self-produced, and mixed by Converge’s Kurt Ballou, who really gets
around these days. Listen to the song NOW and check out the artwork below.
After the news
last week that Grey Waters had ceased to exist, Tim’s project Germ will release
their debut album, Wish, next month. In the meantime, he has uploaded an orchestral
version of Austere’s timeless track ‘Just For A Moment…’, which featured on the
band’s final album To Lay Like Old Ashes. ‘Just For A Moment’ is a beautiful
piece of work in Austere’s catalogue, listen to the song below for a whole
different experience with an orchestral arrangement with some acoustic guitars.
She Said
Destroy sort of dropped off the radar after 2008’s This City Speaks in Tongues,
so a couple years on, they’re back with this new EP and there’s a twist, click
HERE for the full review.
Normal posting shall resume tomorrow. And while I have your attention, did you see that The Grind That Annoys was featured on The Guardian yesterday? No? Well, check it out HERE.
Isis will release
their first posthumous record tomorrow, the sixth instalment of their live
album series. Live VI was recorded in November 2007 in Boston at the band’s
tenth anniversary show, and you can listen to a stream now of a track from the show.
‘Gentle Time’ is from their first album Celestial and is an appropriate preview
of the live album, which is being released digitally tomorrow with a vinyl
release in the works. Supposedly, Isis have another post-break up release
planned for November, presumably featuring demos, unreleased tracks and the
ambient pieces used in their live show. There’s no more news as of yet on that
but for now here’s ‘Gentle Time’ live from 2007.
The Grind
That Annoys is jumping on the bandwagon of regular posts on underrated records.
Hell, why not? Unsung will take a look at those albums, EPs, demos or whatever that
are largely overlooked, whether it’s a discarded gem in the catalogues of legends
or the finest hour of an underground band with a fan base countable on one
hand. This, the first instalment, looks at…
Vehementer
Nos - Vehementer Nos
In the last
few years, France has become quite a fertile ground for metal, and black metal
with a penchant for the avant-garde in particular. Deathspell Omega, early Alcest,
Blut Aus Nord should all give you an idea; three very different bands but all
with roots firmly in black metal and with Alcest most notably veering off in an
entirely different direction. Meanwhile, you have the likes of Peste Noire
keeping things raw and nasty and then there’s Celeste’s brand of blackened
hardcore.
However in
2007, Vehementer Nos released what still remains as their sole release, their
self-titled album, despite forming in 2000. Released on Osmose Productions, the
album never really got the recognition it so richly deserved. For just over 40
minutes this mysterious outfit unleashed a deathly cacophony characterised by
ungodly vocals and thick, unrelenting riffs as well as towering tremolo-picked
riffing.
It’s no
secret that black metal has evolved drastically since the turn of the century
and while there are many bands that epitomise the change, which is either loved
or maligned, Vehementer Nos crafted
their own gleaming showpiece. Listen to the song ‘Sevls’, HERE, to really
get a feel for this record. It’s utterly ferocious.
The album is
introduced, however, by the ceremonial vibes of ‘Dontre le Dyole’ with a
haunting choir-like chant only to erupt into a flurry of blastbeats glossed
over with symphonics. ‘Les Devastes’ then instigates with dissonant guitars and
Erik Danielsson-tinged vocals that truly usher in the greatness of this record.
There is
little or no information on the band over four years on from the release of
this album – no official announcement of disbanding or an assurance that
Vehementer Nos is an entity that even still exists. It means that unfortunately
any hopes of a second album seem fairly fruitless right now. Perhaps it’s a
good thing though, Vehementer Nos is one unparalleled listen that stands entirely
on its own.
Here’s some
rather dull news for your Saturday afternoon, Grey Waters have called it quits.
The reasons stated being that since 2010’s magnificent Below The Ever Setting
Sun EP, nothing has really been done to advance the release of the full-length.
Here’s the statement that D and Tim (Germ) released today:
"We regret to
announce today, that we have decided to lay Grey Waters to rest. Nothing has
happened with the band for over 18 months now, and we feel it is best to go our
separate ways. However, this is far from the end of the road for the material
that was to make up the debut full length album! Material intended for this
album will resurface from both D. and Tim, under a new name from D., and
through Germ from Tim.
"We wish to
sincerely thank everyone who supported Grey Waters, and hope you continue to do
so whatever paths we take in the not too distant future.
Regards,
D. & Tim
11/2/2012"
Only recently was I thinking about this band and
how they had been so quiet and that’s been addressed now, which is rather
unfortunate. However, D.’s main band, Woods of Desolation are working on a new
record to follow up last year’s wondrous Torn Beyond Reason.
Aeges, the
band featuring Pelican drummer Larry Herweg as well as members of Undertow and
16 will release their debut full-length album The Bridge on April 16th and are
streaming a new song, ‘Wrong’, now over on Brooklyn Vegan. The Bridge is the
follow-up to last year’s 7”, Roaches/ Dirt, two tracks that alluded to some
interesting things and if heavy alt. rock that’s melodic but still pretty edgy,
in the vein of Helmet, then this is definitely your thing.
I was
extremely impressed with the EP from last year, particularly the track ‘Dirt’
and browsing the tracklisting for The Bridge, I was alarmed to not see it
there, but to see only ‘Roaches’. On a second scan, there’s the track ‘Sent
From Heaven (Rest in Dirt)’, so perhaps the song has been renamed. It would be
tragic to see it omitted from the record, listen HERE, if you haven’t already,
and more importantly, listen to ‘Wrong’ below:
Atlanta prog
metallers The Universe Divide have begun work on their first full-length, to
follow up last year’s impressive Dust Settles on the Odontophobes EP. The band
will once again be working with producer Jamie King. Here are the full details.
"We
are currently in the process of writing/recording our first full length
album. We had the pleasure of recording drums for the single....Death
of the Sun with John Douglass at Atlanta's Doppler studios (hosted the
likes of Mastodon to Outkast). Check out some of the photos from the
session here on the site.
"All other instrumentation is being recorded at Crushing Productions. Guitars and Keys are
on schedule to be be complete this week. We plan to begin tracking bass
as soon as next week. The mix and mastering will be done by Jamie King
at the Basement Studios in NC.
"There will also be a video release
with this song put together by our own Jason Parker and Gael Pirlot.
This will be our first non-Studio diary type release. So expect
absolutely no talking and large amounts of rock!
"This is one piece
of a larger concept album. It is by far the darkest/heaviest track we
have put together for this group. Hopefully you guys will enjoy. Check
back for updates on our progress."
So,
apparently there’s a new Meshuggah song leaked online. A song, currently untitled,
is streaming on the site iamaleak.com, and Got-Djent are claiming that the band’s
management registered this domain and posted the song as a marketing ploy.
Whatever the case may be, the most important aspect is that a new Meshuggah
song is online.
The untitled
track, which you can listen to below, is Meshuggah at their finest. I’ve been
playing this on repeat for the last half hour, and it’s only heightened my expectations
for Koloss. Meshuggah are mostly credited for the guitar work that has spawned
a million copyists but Jens Kidman is the star of this track. Listen to those
vocals, and of course, the guitars are nothing to sniff at either.
Scotland, by
way of Northern lreland’s crust three-piece Absolutist will be releasing their
first LP, Ave in the coming months through Dublin label Suburban Mayhem. An
utterly storming record, this isn’t one you can risk missing out on. Click HERE
for the full review.
Members of
Dysrhythmia and Kayo Dot, including Kevin Hufnagel and Toby Driver, have teamed
for a new band called Vaura. Meshing the avant-garde black metal of Deathspell
Omega and Blut Aus Nord with eerie melodic clean vocals, Vaura, if anything
sounds fresh. The song ‘Obsidian Damascene Sun’ is streaming below and is taken
from their forthcoming debut record Selenelion, which was recorded mixed by
none other than Colin Marston and
is released February 28th. The album is a deeply philosophical one
exploring some complex themes and concepts from religion to demon mythology.
Listen the song below and also check out the album trailer HERE.
Steven
Wilson will release his first solo live album with online orders available now
through his webstore. Catalogue / Preserve / Amass features seven songs
clocking in at 70 minutes, but there are no details as to whether the CD is a
recording of one particular show or a collection of various live
recordings. The live album’s release is aimed at raising funds for his next
solo tour with a “more elaborate” live DVD currently in the works. HERE are
more details on Catalogue / Preserve / Amass.
In other,
and slightly more important, news, the release of Storm Corrosion’s album draws
nearer and nearer. In case you’ve been hiding in a cave on the moon with tissue
stuffed in your ears, Storm Corrosion is the long (very long) awaited
collaborative effort between Wilson and Opeth’s Mikael Akerfeldt. Click HERE
for the latest press release.
Kirk Hammett
rejoined his one-time band mates Exodus on stage at the band’s Oakland show,
Bonded by Baloff, last week, a tribute gig to deceased vocalist Paul Baloff,
marking the tenth anniversary of his death. Hammett and original bassist Jeff
Andrews emerged on stage with the band for a thundering version of ‘Whipping
Queen’. Check out the clip below:
An image
posted this morning on their website told the whole story – Jesse Leach is back
in Killswitch Engage. After weeks of rumour and speculation, Killswitch’s
original vocalist has returned to the band after nearly 10 years. The band
hasn’t released any statement yet but here’s the photo below. Interesting developments lie ahead!
Swedish post
rock band, pg.lost will release their first new album since 2009, entitled Key.
Currently, German magazine Visions is streaming the new song ‘Vultures’ HERE or
you can check it out below. Pg.lost have always crafted some beautiful
cathartic orchestrations over their past two full-length albums, and on ‘Vultures’,
they’ve done it again. Gorgeous guitar harmonies weave together effortlessly
while sublimely scaling to that all important crescendo, all creating another outstanding
listen. Check it out now, Key will be released on May 4th.
Last year,
Earth released the first instalment of their double concept album, Angels of
Darkness, Demons of Light. Part Two is scheduled for release later this month.
Click HERE for the full review.
At long
last, Split Cranium have a song online. Taken from their 7” EP, just out now on
Hydra Head, ‘Sceptres to Rust’ is the first taster of the new band featuring
Isis’ Aaron Turner and Circle’s Jussi Lehtisalo. Split Cranium are a hardcore band, to
define them in it in simpler terms, with Turner delivering some ripping vocals, not
heard since Isis’ final record, Wavering Radiant. Vocals also feature from
Lehtisalo. The band will release their first full-length next month, which was
mixed by Converge’s Kurt Ballou. Listen to the song below.
New Yorkers
Divider are streaming a new song from their split with Colony via Toxicbreed. You may recall
the band from last summer after their ferocious three-way split with Plebeian
Grandstand and Bone Dance. The band contributes one new song to this split 7”,
while Colony serves up three. Divider’s offering ‘Tide Lungs’ is a slow,
trudging slab of sludgy of hardcore. While you’re at it, check out the three
new Colony tunes.
South African black metallers, Wildernessking have just
released their first album, The Writing of Gods in the Sand. The album is a majorly
impressive effort that has seemingly come out of nowhere. Click HERE for the
full lowdown.
Scale The
Summit are readying the release of the vinyl edition of last year’s The
Collective record. The edition will feature the bonus track ‘Redwoods’, which
you can listen to now over at MetalSucks, who have been lucky enough to stream
it first. It’s one of those moments where you think, how could they leave this
off the record?
‘Redwoods’
is only four and a half minutes long but like all Scale the Summit tracks, it
musters up so much grandeur with dizzying lead guitars from Chris Letchford and
Travis LeVrier once again. Scale the Summit have just undertaken their first
headlining tour in the States, a European tour in the not too distant future is
a must. Click HERE to check out the song.
2011 saw The
Ocean tour heavily in support of their two 2010 stunning records Heliocentric
and Anthropocentric. With such an ambitious accomplishment under their belts,
it raised the question over the last few weeks, what will 2012 bring for them?
Well the band hinted at something tonight with posting this photo alongside the
message “... something new's on the way ...”. Have a
look at the photo; one could make the assumption that the vinyl record is a
test press for something that they may release soon. The two colours, for my
money, suggest (albeit loosely) that it’s a split release. Whatever it is, I simply cannot wait.
Personally, I’d prefer a new full-length but it’s unlikely that is it.
Mothlite
have released a track from their new album Dark Age. The man behind the
project, Daniel O’Sullivan, who is also a member of Ulver, released his first
album under the Mothlite banner in 2008 and Dark Age will mark his first
record with Kscope, coming in April. ‘Something in the Sky’ is a gorgeously
arranged piece of gothic imbued pop, taking much from the most recent Ulver
outings and wearing influences like Cocteau Twins quite proudly. Check it out
below:
The new
issue of One More Robot is out now. This features its 90s Hip-Hop special. I
haven’t written anything for this special though; it’s by no means my area of expertise.
You will however find my interview with Shawn Lee and AM on their collaborative
album Celestial Electric, as well as a feature review of the latest Leviathan
album, True Traitor, True Whore. Pick it up in Trout Records or The Rage in
Dublin, or online HERE.
Isis’s first
posthumous release, their sixth instalment of the Live series, is available for
digital pre-order now with the vinyl release coming at a later date. The
live album features a Boston show from 2007, where the band celebrated their
tenth anniversary. This
appears to be the release that drummer Aaron Harris mentioned some time ago,
which seems to squash hopes for the time being that Isis would release their
compilation of unreleased material and ambient pieces used in their live shows,
which still may come as supposedly some kind of Isis record is planned for a
November release, unless
that is the vinyl Live VI, which is just too far away.
Anathema
have confirmed the name of their new album as Weather Systems and released the
artwork. The album is slated for an April 16th release via Kscope. The album
will feature two guest vocal performances from Norwegian singer/songwriter
Petter Carlsen. No other details are confirmed yet.
