Mount Pleasant, Michigan's Cloud Rat play grind and they play it really well. They have a new album in the holster and on the ready entitled Moksha, courtesy the fine folks at Halo of Flies. What follows is an interview with guitarist Rorik Brooks and some vids and crap I lifted from their website. Check 'em out, they rule. For those not in the know, can you give the history of Cloud Rat? We ...

It’s only been a year since Graveyard last came to New York City, and coupled with last week’s sub-freezing temperatures and a second show in Brooklyn two nights later, I was curious to see just how many people would show up to Friday night’s performance. By the time I arrived at the Bowery Ballroom a little before 9pm, the downstairs bar was pretty crowded but upstairs where the bands ...

As Decibel friend Brian Lew (aka Umlaut) says: the metal Gods work in mysterious ways. So there's no need to tell you how we heard about Jason Statts, a Decibel reader and metal fan confined to a wheelchair after he was robbed and shot leaving his first ever gig about five years ago. The attack -- which required an extensive hospitalization and spinal rehabilitation -- still leaves him coping ...

There's a time when two Dicks are better than one. But we're not talking about porn here. Or, some swinger party in Urals. No, sirs. When the universe conspires to bring Chris Dick (me) and Chris Dyck (Anciient guitarist/vocalist) together, it means something. What exactly? Let's leave it up to the cast of Ancient Aliens to determine the cosmological significance, but one thing is certain: ...

With the throes of winter usually comes a dearth of new releases. So after perusing the innumerable year-end lists, there's no better time to catch up on all of the records you missed, not to mention your back catalog. If you're in a band, it's also a good time to put out something new given that you'll have little to compete for attention against, which is exactly what Misery Index will do on ...

In case you have been on a spiritual pilgrimage or without an Internet connection in recent months a quick reminder that we had a big party last weekend to celebrate our 100th issue. A bunch of bands that have graced the cover, best of lists or Hall Of Fame (some of them multiple honorees) played. The lineup delivered and then some: Evoken, Tombs, Municipal Waste, Repulsion, Pig Destroyer and ...

Back in the old days---1988-1991---you didn't need to sound "retro" to be cool. Even if you sucked you were cool because you were death metal. Black and white band photo, a group of scowling dudes, the obligatory cemetery backdrop (or rubble heap), and a kick-ass logo were all you needed to convince worldwide throngs you belonged with the rest of the pack. In the new days---i.e., now---the ...

Man, it gets fucking crazy in the Lightning Swords of Death practice space if this video for "Baphometic Chaosium" -- the title track of the new record available now -- is any indication. There are what appears to be grown-up versions of the Phantasm munchkins, a rather busty-sassy ram-headed demoness, and several trim dudes in shades churning out the sort of blackened death metal that keeps the ...

I have a pet hamster. His name is Ozzy. He is adorable but terrified of everything. However, over the course of his cohabitation with me, he’s become acclimated to the sounds of heavy metal, probably due to the fact that I play it for 16 hours a day. I’ve discovered that he actually has quite discerning taste, and reacts differently to the different things I play. So, in this column, I’m ...

After a bloody successful maiden voyage in 2012, Decibel Magazine is doubling down on veteran star power for our second annual national tour. This spring, the plague spreads as we bring you three living legends of death metal and grindcore: preeminent gore institution Cannibal Corpse; rabble-rousing U.K. grind icons Napalm Death, and NYDM stalwarts Immolation. While occultism permeated ...