From tragedy to triumph, YOB’s incredible 8th full-length recording was conceived amidst dire circumstances that nearly left frontman Mike Scheidt dead. Suffering from an extremely painful and potentially fatal intestinal disease, Scheidt miraculously recovered and reinvigorated the Oregon trio with a new sense of purpose for Our Raw Heart, an album informed by the will to survive. More exposed than ever both physically and emotionally, YOB bleed out seven riveting tracks of enormous volume and pensive, transcendental beauty across 75 minutes of ultimate doom. A brilliant musical progression in the YOB continuum, Our Raw Heart is the band at their most aggressive, impassioned and eclectic. The riffs are massive, the vocals captivating and the songwriting sublime. Existing in its own organic universe, Our Raw Heart is truly the band’s finest work to date and the apex achievement of what heavy music can accomplish. Our Raw Heart was co-produced by the band and longtime collaborator Billy Barnett at Gung Ho Studio in Eugene, Ore., with mastering handled by Heba Kadry (The Mars Volta, Diamanda Galas, Slowdive).
On their fourth album, Swedish goth metallurgists Tribulation explore the underworld with their most thrilling and cohesive package yet. Picking up where 2015\'s *The Children of the Night* left off, songs like \"The Lament,\" \"Nightbound,\" and \"Lady Death\" combine soaring guitars, vintage horror-movie ambience, and frontman Johannes Andersson\'s ghostly death-metal growl with postmortem themes to create something truly awe-inspiring. Meanwhile, \"The World\" and epic closer \"Here Be Dragons\" deliver rich cinematic triumph via strings, darkly elegant guitars, and chilling glockenspiel melodies.
On their sophomore full-length, “Cult of a Dying Sun”, Uada expand their scope and range of hypnotic craft. Balancing sharp riffs with spectral melodies in a manifold of haunting yet distinctive black metal dirges. A sharp spear in the heart of the brightest star. Epic, atmospheric, deadly. "...an unstoppable torrent that gains in force as each song gives way to the next. Masterful." ZERO TOLERANCE "...worthy of adjectives as like "epic," "venomous" and "unrelenting," but more importantly also "refreshing" and "dramatic." REVOLVER "This album is a triumph of underground culture" VIA OMEGA "The Portland black metal naturalists have created a sonic eclipse worth staring into" KERRANG!
Known as one of the founding fathers of the American death/funeral doom metal scene, New Jersey’s EVOKEN have been a long-standing pillar over the band’s 25 year pillage. Their new full-length album “Hypnagogia” is the band’s sixth LP, their first in six years since their landmark “Atra Mors” album, and is a towering monolith that develops and redefines the band’s sound that will only strengthen their position within the death/doom metal hierarchy where EVOKEN have always reigned. “Hypnagogia” is an expression of doom metal artistry where the listener will bear witness how EVOKEN can create a new and even more daring expression with a monument that will be recognized as a landmark. This tends to happen regardless with every EVOKEN release, but “Hypnagogia” sees the band expand their musical dynamics even more through the meticulous care and discrimination of the band’s song writing process, “Hypnagogia” being a listening experience through a multitude of varying yet flourishing emotions. Pushing both their penchant for grandiose melodicism and their trademark aura of pulverizing supreme unparalleled heaviness even more, it is the base of this repercussion that makes “Hypnagogia” one of the most intense, compelling, and soul crushing EVOKEN listening experiences yet; one of euphoria, desperation, and hopelessness. As drummer/lyricist Vince Verkay says, “As we do on every record we definitely wanted to avoid repeating ourselves. We wanted to keep it EVOKEN of course, but go a little deeper with melody and arrangement and also try new things; to present the listener with an emotionally exhausting record.” “Hypnagogia” also sees EVOKEN delve into their first concept album. As Verkay describes the themes and lyrics “Hypnagogia” is, “Based around WWI and its physiological impact on those who fought. It’s used metaphorically about events that impacted me the past three years, which I will keep to myself. But the story behind this WW1 theme is based on a soldier who was so bitter about being lied to and is losing his life. He's wounded in battle and decides to write a journal of his final hours, describing what he sees and what he feels as his life is slipping away. Feeling cheated, he makes a pact with a sadistic god that he can leave a part of his soul, which contains all of his suffering, within this journal. To feel some sort of vengeance, anyone who reads this journal releases that part of his soul and it attaches itself to the reader like a host. Each emotion being experienced as if they too where there. As the reader descends into a deep despair, they cannot handle this suffering, deciding to take their own life. Once gone, that part of their soul, containing all the misery is taken by the writer’s misery-laden soul and attaches itself to this journal again, increasing its powerful grip onto the next reader and each time its read with its power increasing.”
Since they hit the scene in 2003, Athens, Ohio\'s Skeletonwitch have always been more than just a thrash band—whether they were snapping necks with their breakout 2007 album, *Beyond the Permafrost*, or branching out on 2013’s melodic *Serpents Unleashed*. Their sixth LP (and first without vocalist Adam Clemans after he joined the band), *Devouring Radiant Light* showcases a seasoned, adventurous version of Skeletonwitch—one that’s more interested in exploring gloomy, dark corners than crushing beer cans and kicking up circle pits. The record still shreds while embracing genre agnosticism: On songs like the magisterial title track or the icy closer, “Sacred Seal,” shards of gothic doom, death metal, and proggy bombast jab at the band\'s more familiar thrash template.
D.C. grindcore titans Pig Destroyer—like Agoraphobic Nosebleed, the enigmatic troupe with whom they’ve shared multiple members over the years—have always excelled at finding beauty in brutality. *Head Cage*, their multilayered, ambitious sixth album, keeps in that vein—J.R. Hayes’ dark lyrics, set against aggressive, off-kilter riffs and thunderous blast beats, use poetry as a weapon. This LP is also a more of a collaborative effort than usual: ANb bassist John Jarvis makes his recorded debut with the band (resulting in the first bass to feature on a Pig Destroyer album), and significantly thickens the overall sound. Additionally, ANb vocalists Richard Johnson and Kat Katz show up (on the pummeling hardcore anthem “Army of Cops” and the short, nasty blast “Terminal Itch,” respectively), while Jason Hodges (Suppression, Brown Piss, Bermuda Triangles) joins in on the thrashy, self-explanatory “The Adventures of Jason and Jr.”
After six long, harsh years of absence, the mighty PIG DESTROYER have reassembled to eradicate eardrums and split skulls with their highly anticipated sixth full-length opus, entitled Head Cage (named after a grisly medieval torture device). A visceral vortex of animalistic rage and extreme sonic brilliance, Head Cage is a true work of extreme metal art, that with the addition of a bass player, is hands down their most dynamic and heaviest recording to date. Across twelve tracks, PIG DESTROYER weave together harrowing tales of philosophical dualities, touching on mortality and depression, fear and violence, and the darkest complexities of the human condition, all told through the distorted lens of delightfully transgressive vocalist/lyricist JR Hayes. Musically, the band continues to push the boundaries of metal, grindcore, noise and punk, ramping up the intensity and leaving you bludgeoned in a state of utter shock, all in less than 33 minutes. Head Cage was recorded by guitarist Scott Hull at Visceral Sound Studios, mixed and mastered by Will Putney (Exhumed, Every Time I Die, Body Count) and features striking artwork by Mark McCoy (Full of Hell, Nothing) along with guest vocal appearances by Agoraphobic Nosebleed's Richard Johnson and Kat Katz plus Full Of Hell's Dylan Walker. PLAY AT MAXIMUM VOLUME!
The word tends to get abused, but the California metal innovators’ fourth album exists largely to make sure “epic” won’t lose its proper meaning—and not just because four of the seven tracks clock in at over 10 minutes, although that doesn’t hurt. It’s the familiar squall of guitars, rapid-fire drums, and George Clarke’s curdled screaming, combined with more mannered flourishes like piano, spoken word, and Chelsea Wolfe’s guest vocals (“Night People”) that feels huge and relentless and wholly unique, surpassing the scope of even 2013’s instant classic *Sunbather*.
After some silent months that have went over to silent years, German Metallers CHAPEL OF DISEASE now present their highly anticipated new album “...And As We Have Seen The Storm, We Have Embraced The Eye”! Starting in 2008 as a band dwelling in the raw death metal sounds from the late 80s, CHAPEL OF DISEASE released their debut “Summoning Black Gods” in 2012. Three years later it would soon become obvious that strictly following a certain genre would eventually lose its attraction to the band. With their 2015 full-length “The Mysterious Ways Of Repetitive Art” the band would find their way of mixing up sounds to create something unique. With “...And As We Have Seen The Storm, We Have Embraced The Eye” CHAPEL OF DISEASE follow that path, yet disregarding any genre specific expectations even more and putting all the effort in simply making diversified, enthralling heavy music. The outcome is a record somewhere between the atmosphere of black and death metal, including riffing from the golden days of the 70s and soundscapes of the synthie 80s. Tracklist: 1. Void Of Words 2. Oblivious - Obnoxious - Defiant 3. Song Of The Gods 4. Null 5. 1.000 Different Paths 6. The Sound Of Shallow Grey Line-up: Laurent T. - Vocals, Guitar Cedric T. - Guitar Christian K. - Bass David D. - Drums
Co-founded in 1988 by Stefan Necroabyssious, the band's vocalist and sole original member, VARATHRON has been on a steady release schedule since 2004's "Crowsreign". The latter album introduced Haris (drums) and Achilleas C. (guitars) to the band, who were later joined by Sotiris (guitars) and Stratos (bass), and who together established a new, well-bonded line-up of an already established Hellenic black metal act, considered as one of the forefathers of the genre, next to Rotting Christ and Necromantia. Having previously described "Patriarchs Of Evil" as "heavy, dark and full of melodies that will revive past memories", VARATHRON elaborates on the successor to "Untrodden Corridors Of Hades" (2014), now that the recordings have come to an end: "The time has come to deliver our new opus 'Patriarchs of Evil'. A sinful sip of this unholy communion will lure you into an astral journey of absurd dimensions - with an awakening smell of the old era. This album is one of the finest pieces Varathron has ever unleashed. We promise a true heavy, blasphemous and unique masterpiece with Necroabyssious delivering his best performance ever. With glorious riffs, profound melodies and a solid rhythm section, this dark testament is to delve into. The time of the rejuvenation has come!! WE ARE FOREVER IMMORTAL!!". "Varathron are proudly spreading the mediterranean plague since 1988! 30 years have passed and we continue to worship darkness and preach the unholy word! 'Patriarchs of Evil' is not just a new album, it is a celebration and one of our greatest creations. Behold the 8 hymns!". "Patriarchs Of Evil" was recorded, mixed and mastered over the course of 2017 by Achilleas Kalantzis (aka Achilleas C.) at Crown Audio Conspiracies, except for drums which were recorded at Infinite Loop Music Studios. Both studios are based in VARATHRON's hometown of Ioannina, Greece. The album's artwork and layout were designed by Juanjo Castellano. New band photos were taken by Evi Savva.
Conjured in the backwoods of Pennsylvania, Death Metal newcomers OUTER HEAVEN spew forth their long-awaited debut album Realms of Eternal Decay. Across 10 tracks and 30+ minutes of grotesque, groove-laden old-school Death Metal, OUTER HEAVEN immediately raise the bar for the new generation of extreme bands. Realms of Eternal Decay was produced by Kevin Bernsten (Skeletonwitch, Full of Hell, Integrity) at Developing Nations Studios mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Cavalera Conspiracy, Inquisition, Pissgrave). Features sickening cover artwork by Matthew Stikker (Power Trip).
Sleep’s *The Sciences* begins with a three-minute warm-up of the same name. As though revving a long-dormant engine of feedback and distortion, it’s a fitting start to the legendary doom trio’s first album in almost two decades (released on 4/20, no less). Unlike their hour-plus stoner meditation, *Dopesmoker*, *The Sciences* is divided into six colossal tracks, anchored by the comforting familiarity of sludgy riffs and rumbling percussion. Throughout, you’ll find some of their greatest guitar solos (“Marijuanaut’s Theme”) and lyrics (“Giza Butler,” an homage to Black Sabbath’s Geezer Butler), while stunning, reflective closer “The Botanist” is among the best songs in their genre-defining career.
With just six songs spread across 80 minutes, Aussie funeral-doom wizards Mournful Congregation have perfected their majestic sprawl on *The Incubus of Karma*. Slow-motion chord explosions teem with crystalline melodies and lurch toward despondent climaxes on towering epics “Whispering Spiritscapes” and “Scripture of Exaltation & Punishment,” while instrumentals “The Indwelling Ascent” and the acoustically driven title track—both bejeweled with weeping twin guitar harmonies—seem to exalt in some unseen bereavement. This is truly gorgeous and compelling stuff.
More than 6 years have passed since the release of ‘The Book Of Kings’, the regal 4th full length album from Australia’s stone pillar of funereal dirge, Mournful Congregation. Since that time the band made several trips to the U.S. and Europe, and released a mini-album ‘Concrescence Of The Sophia’, increasing their reputation as the pinnacle of Extreme / Funeral Doom and one of the most influential bands in the entire genre. Throughout these intervening years Mournful Congregation set to the task of meticulously crafting a new masterpiece, now presented in the form of the crown jewel titled ‘The Incubus Of Karma’. Everything that has made Mournful Congregation the unchallenged masters of this style since ‘The Monad Of Creation’, is here. The agonizing weight of Extreme Doom riffs, bitterly sombre dissonance, a painterly attention to detail and arrangement and the vocals summoned from the deepest hole. And as with each album before, the band expands upon their unique progressive tendencies, weaving beautifully constructed solos and lengthy virtuoso interludes into a bleak yet intricate tapestry of stately grandeur. An incredible 25 years into their existence, Mournful Congregation persist in refining and perfecting their immortal art on ‘The Incubus Of Karma’. Reaching innovative new heights, within the bounds they have created for themselves, the bounds in which a multitude of newer bands now draw from like a wellspring, Mournful Congregation cast a giant shadow, steadfastly towering over the landscape like a monolithic obelisk. | |--------------------------------------------------------| WANNA PAY CDs, LPs and all MERCH AT LOWER PRICE? BUY all the stuff from this artist ON OUR SHOP! |--------------------------------------------------------| | www.osmoseproductions.com/liste/index.cfm?what=artiste&lng=2&tete=mournful+congregation&exact_value=1&srt=2 | |--------------------------------------------------------| You could also check for merch, vinyls... from your favorite extreme metal bands!! |--------------------------------------------------------| |
San Jose Death Metal. Eight tracks of true Death and Doom in the vein of Paradise Lost, Incantation, and My Dying Bride. Features current and former members of Necrot and Exhumed. Split release with Tankcrimes.
Available on CD and LP from www.svartrecords.com/product/megalohydrothalassophobic-2/ "The old Abhorrence sound, reaching from death to doom to black and psychedelia, is all there on the EP. This time, the pioneers of death metal horror have dug their claws into the deep abyss of the ocean. True to their roots of nightmare and terror, Abhorrence brings you a vision of Lovecraftian horror in the age of the ecological catastrophe. The lyrics fuse together the deeply unsettling tales of H.P. Lovecraft with the thought-provoking philosophy of Timothy Morton, arguably the most important thinker of the anthropoce, the current catastrophical age of human existence." - Svart Records
HORRENDOUS explode out of the underground with their incredible new album 'Idol'. Drawing inspiration from both personal and national crises, 'Idol's' music is a methodical and unapologetic take on dynamic, progressive death metal. The highly anticipated new album sees HORRENDOUS at the highest echelon of their musical creativity to date. Thematically, the ambitious new album is an exploration of defeat, of the gods we build in our minds to escape the responsibility of action and change as we relinquish our agency. The music in 'Idol' mimics this act of deity building, with sprawling compositions that are imposing in scope and mirror the great turmoil of our times. Tracks such as "Soothsayer", "Golgothan Tongues" and the monumental "Obolus" position the band in a league of their own, as one of the death metal's leading new entities.
Long awaited second full-length from Norways Sepulcher. Released 14th of September 2018.
"Devouring Star has shown considerable evolution in its sound from their nascent demo release, and I urge everyone to check it out if you want to hear a fresh and disturbing new take on black metal." - No Clean Singing Finland's Devouring Star strike once again with their pitch-black sophomore album, "The Arteries of Heresy". A follow up to their acclaimed debut "Through Lung and Heart" (2015), "The Arteries of Heresy" see the Finnish band bolder than ever before, as they venture further into the depths to expand on their signature sound of crushing black metal. Each of the 5 tracks on "The Arteries of Heresy" see the band expertly command chaos and sonic violence: the cold and calculated opener "Consummation" threatens the listener with imminent dread, before "Sin Assimilation" unleashes an onslaught of unforgiving molten steel. "The Arteries of Heresy" is bound to be one of 2018's most unforgiving and uncompromising black metal records, and cements Devouring Star as on of Finland's best kept secrets in extreme music.
This is album is dedicated to the sacred ego, that wellspring of individuality and unique complexity. Sing the song of the Inner Voice. Recite the hymns to the Celestial Will. Rebuke all desire to succumb to corrosive idolatry—be it the militancy of extremity, the beneficence of untempered ideology, or the divinity of cherished relationships. Rebuke the impulse to capitulation, to hide beneath of hard shell of callous disregard and secede from the world. We surrender our power only to those worthy of wielding it. And we will not hesitate to strip authority from and war against all those that prove unworthy.
9/10 - Decibel Magazine 9/10- Exclaim! Magazine 9/10 - Scene Point Blank
MONSTER MAGNET put the pedal to the metal with “MINDFUCKER", their tenth record. In terms of power driven Stoner Rock these gentlemen from New Jersey belong to the measure of all things. But “MINDFUCKER" is different, a step forward and a step back at the same time to the almighty roots of beat music. Dave manipulates his guitar with rich virility and the drive of his shifty soul. Wyndorf seeks and finds: Timeless songs, kindled by the unpretentious Proto-punk era. “MINDFUCKER” pumps and scratches at every turn! Dave fires off piercing calls over neckbreaking guitar work and whirlwinds of psychedelic solos. All things are in constant motion with a sound of groovy straightforwardness, always heading for the essence of "the" song. "Why you gonna fuck with my head?", screams Wyndorf their credo in the title track. Up tempo, savage in both sound and spirit, MINDFUCKER is the real deal! © NAPALM RECORDS
CD out now. Order from: www.ahdistuksenaihio.com Final album. CD [2018] and vinyl [2019] by Kuunpalvelus. COSMIC CHURCH 2004-2017
