Month: August 2013

High on Fire – “Surrounded by Thieves”

August 30, 2013

Before High on Fire signed to Relapse, the Californians had plenty of buzz. The group’s debut, The Art of Self Defense, along with the cloyingly faddy label Man’s Ruin, sent waves of heshers yammering about the next big thing.

Tales From the Metalnomicon: Ian Christe of Bazillion Points

August 30, 2013

Welcome to Tales From the Metalnomicon, a column delving into the surprisingly vast world of heavy metal-tinged/inspired literature and metalhead authors… Bazillion Points Books boasts such an absurdly badass catalog it is difficult at times to believe the publishing house actually exists outside the fantasies of discerning connoisseurs and devotees of underground rock and metal….

Subscribe to Decibel for an exclusive GODFLESH flexi disc

August 30, 2013

Let’s just cut to the chase, people: Godflesh are back, and we’re bringing you their first new recording in 12 years! Justin Broadrick’s seminal progressive industrial outfit has chosen the Decibel Flexi Series to relaunch. And they do so in a big way with a corrosive, crushing cover of Slaughter’s “F.O.D. (Fuck of Death).” Don’t…

German Death Dealers Abyssous – Hear Here!

August 30, 2013

We got an earful of Abyssous recently when we browsed through some recent promos for a bit of quick, juicy entertainment. Admittedly, it was the band name that drew us in… but it was the gristly death metal within that kept our attention pinned.

BREWTAL TRUTH: Drink This Now!

August 30, 2013

Given the opportunity to write about craft beer every month in Decibel has been eye-opening. The idea that our “Brewtal Truth” column would have lasted more than four years (and counting) and even spawn a book—The Brewtal Truth Guide to Extreme Beers, out in November—is pretty amazing. Now it’s time to bring a little “Brewtal…

Coffinfeeder Distro. They Distro Stuff. And Release Stuff, Too.

August 29, 2013

I usually try to keep up with current events and what’s going on in the world, but admittedly, I have very little clue what the hell is going on in Turkey. Well, let me step back a bit; I know what’s going on in Turkey – it’s hard to ignore images of mass demonstrations, military/police…

Decibrity Playlist: Exhumed

August 29, 2013

Matt Harvey is a fan of the San Francisco Giants. He shares the name of the NL East’s pitcher of the future (for the record, I wrote this before his injury and really meant it) who happens to play for a certain NY-based franchise. He also really likes Metallica. Some of us here may hold…

Decibel Premiere: A Pale Horse Named Death video

August 28, 2013

Throughout the summer, we walked readers through the making of the new A Pale Horse Named Death video in the blog series “A Glimpse Behind The Horse.” Today, we’re premiering the video exclusively on the Deciblog. Watch the video for “DMSLT” below and then let us know what you think.

On the importance of “vintage stage antics” for a thriving metal subculture by Robin Staps (The Ocean)

August 28, 2013

As some of you may have noticed, there has recently been an explosive, blown-up debate about (the lack of) stage diving on this year’s Summer Slaughter tour between us, Summer Slaughter, and the fans. Apart from all the useless “you better book ‘baby corpse deep throat massacre’ next year, this tour is not metal anymore”…

EXCLUSIVE: Archive interview with Jeff Hanneman

August 27, 2013

Sometimes a little cleaning can unearth big finds. During my latest attempt at restoring some order to the house of CDs I live in, I came across a stack of old CDR’s that contained the archives of my old radio show, Hellraiser’s Ball, at USC’s student run radio station, KSCR (1560 AM!). One of those…

Cobalt’s Phil McSorley moves on to the hateful underworld of Recluse

August 27, 2013

by Kim Kelly Phil McSorley has no interest in talking about Cobalt, and would appreciate it if people would stop fucking asking him about their recording plans. His frustration is understandable, given that he’s just weeks away from the release of his pet project’s first demo and he’s still being bombarded by questions about his…

Shred Like A Werewolf: Sadgiqacea/Hivelords Tour Diary 3

August 27, 2013

We’ll make this intro concise as possible, so as to allow readers to break on through to the other side that much quicker: A) False Prism and Cavern Apothecary — presented by Sadgiqacea and Hivelords, respectively — are two of the best, most intriguing mindfuck metal releases of the year thus far. B) The bands…

STREAMING: COFFINS “Colossal Hole” EP

August 26, 2013

Courtesy of the good guys and ghouls from Horror Pain Gore Death Records, we’ve got a particularly fetid and rotten Monday afternoon treat for all you gore-obsessed Decibangers out there in the shape of Coffins Colossal Hole EP. Anyone with a penchant for sloppy-joe, old-school death metal will already be on first-name terms with the…

Malfeitor Fabban (Aborym) interviewed

August 26, 2013

** If you’ve ever visited a large city, it’s readily apparent between trash-strewn alleys, huge skyscrapers, and rush hour hustle ‘n’ bustle, decay is happening. Cities—from Aborym’s home in Rome, Italy and New York City to Oslo and Miami—are slowly rusting and dying from the inside out. Add humans to the equation and cities turn…

STREAMING: Scythe’s “Leather Aggressor”

August 23, 2013

In recent years, Chicago has been home to all sorts of experimental and off-the-path metal. Lest you forget it’s also the hometown of Paul Speckmann of Master, scads of restaurants that serve large racks of meat and tons of old-school goodness. On that note, Decibel is happy to provide an exclusive stream of Scythe’s “Leather…

Let Orbweaver Fuck Up Your Friday!

August 23, 2013

Florida’s Orbweaver just released one of those records that sounds just like its cover art.  Like, if Mastodon’s latest actually sounded like the roar of a multi-jawed bull with scales, or if mid-period Novembers Doom actually sounded good.  Copiously limbed, eye- and mouth-dominated monstrosities from space are climbing through razored tears in space-time to devour…

BREWTAL TRUTH: Drink This Now!

August 23, 2013

Given the opportunity to write about craft beer every month in Decibel has been eye-opening. The idea that our “Brewtal Truth” column would have lasted more than four years (and counting) and even spawn a book—The Brewtal Truth Guide to Extreme Beers, out in November—is pretty amazing. Now it’s time to bring a little “Brewtal…

Episode DB003 – Scott Hull

August 22, 2013

In our first on-location podcast, we infiltrate the sordid underworld of Scott Hull’s Visceral Sound studio to talk Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, the Decibel 100 show and much more. Featuring:Pig Destroyer “Rotten Yellow” (Live from Decibel’s 100th Issue Show)Pig Destroyer “The Bug”Agoraphobic Nosebleed “Merry Chrystmeth”Pig Destroyer “Junkyard God”

The Southern Ontario Metal Fest and the Shit Promoters Have to Deal With

August 22, 2013

Before you jump all down my throat and get up in my grill, understand that not all metal festivals are on the same level as Wacken, MDF, Roadburn, Chaos in Tejas, Bloodstock, one of the annual Scion-sponsored shin-digs or even Hopscotch or FunFunFunFest. Not every fest has the ability to draw thousands or can be…

Decibrity Playlist: Ulcerate

August 22, 2013

Given that Ulcerate is one of the more forward-thinking death metal bands around (as will again be evidenced on the trio’s upcoming album Vermis), it’s only fitting that drummer Jamie Saint Merat’s playlist fits his group’s modus operandi. As he explains, “Being a drummer, I figured it might be an idea to pick something that…

Let’s help Joe Wickstrom

August 21, 2013

A member of our extended family needs your help. Joe Wickstrom is the bassist of Atriarch and has played with numerous Portland bands. He was diagnosed with peripheral arterial disease in 2011 and has had a tough go. The disease narrows the arteries and makes it tough for blood to reach the limbs and extermities….

STREAMING: Mephistopheles “Silver Doors”

August 21, 2013

Formed by members of Spawn of Possession, Psycroptic and Space Raven, Mephistopheles comes out of the gate complicated. Actually, not that complicated, but perhaps different. The riffing of Ben Lawless squeaks, skronks, and pulls strange chords from the Netherverse. When he, drummer James “Blower” Excell, and bassist Sam Dowson lock, it’s like Dysrhythmia with a…

STREAMING: Mark Deutrom’s “Sky Full of Witches”

August 21, 2013

Today it is Decibel‘s pleasure to host this exclusive stream of “Sky Full of Witches,” a sublime slab of smoldering, cinematic fuzz-groove off ex-Melvins/Clown Alley guitarist Mark Deutrom’s upcoming third solo record Brief Sensuality and Western Violence. Here’s what Deutrom told us about the track: In 2012 the so called FAA Modernization and Reform act…

Wake up and Smell the Falseness: An Interview with Wake

August 20, 2013

Wake are from Canada. They play grindcore. They seem generally unhappy about things. Here’s a description of the film that Handshake Inc. owner David Hall is making based on the album that sums up the general vibe better than I ever could (a NSFW segment of which can be found below). “False” is a film…

The Corn Is Back On the Macabre

August 20, 2013

There has never been a shortage of bands in extreme music eager to wed horror cinema imagery to brutal riffage, but few have ever managed to do so with as much skill, class, or cleverness as avant grinders Corn on Macabre. A few months back the defunct band unleashed the towering, essential Discographic Violence retrospective…

INTERVIEW: Tommy Mezmercardo on being The Mezmerist

August 19, 2013

In 1985, a kid by the name of Tommy Memzercardo released “The Innocent, The Forsaken, The Guilty”, an off-kilter fantasy/epic metal EP featuring Bill Ward on drums. Back then, the former Black Sabbath drummer couldn’t be credited for legal reasons, while Memzercardo was a mystery all of his own, calling himself The Mezmerist and playing…

Andrew Markuszewski (Avichi) interviewed

August 19, 2013

** Originally slated for an early July release, Avichi’s new album, Catharsis Absolute, is now coming this October. If the stars align. Below is a conversation with Avichi mastermind Andrew ‘Aamonael’ Markuszewski about what separates Catharsis Absolute from its predecessor The Devil’s Fractal. We also explore the spiritual and personal concepts behind it. What is…

Tales From the Metalnomicon: 90s Island

August 16, 2013

Welcome to Tales From the Metalnomicon, a column delving into the surprisingly vast world of heavy metal-tinged/inspired literature and metalhead authors… In his latest antagonism 90s Island, reliably hilarious literary raconteur and self-described “luscious beacon of truth” Marty Beckerman (The Heming Way, Generation S.L.U.T.) spins a satirical yarn of two brothers fed up with a…

Quebec’s Catuvolcus Premiere New Track!

August 16, 2013

Catuvolcus, those purveyors of anthemic historical metal, have been waking ancient Gallic spirit from their home in Warwick for the past six years.  In that time, they’ve dropped an EP and two full-length records.  Decibel‘s only exposure to their sound has been through Gergovia, the band’s second album, and it’s a heavy-as-hell burner of a record….

STREAMING: Scion A/V interviews Municipal Waste

August 16, 2013

Municipal Waste are no strangers to Decibel-land. Having performed admirably at our 100th Issue show, appeared as chefs on the cover of issue #89 [available HERE] and earned an honorable place on Albert’s mancave mantle, the Virginia-based thrashers are, well, like family. When Scion A/V approached us to air an exclusive interview with the Wastoids—in…