Shane Mehling

Not Exclusive- Scourge Schematic: ‘Life Savings’

February 1, 2012

The name of Scourge Schematic’s debut is not exactly cryptic. Life Savings is what the four-piece cashed in to record this EP, hoping somebody out there would give a damn. Money well spent, dudes. Clearly influenced by the death and grind giants of the 90s, the band has soldered elements of thrash and punk rock…

We Like ‘Girls Don’t Like Metal’

January 25, 2012

As any old schooler can attest to, gender equality in metal has never been better. But that doesn’t mean there still isn’t a very vocal contingent of the ever expanding scene that thinks chicks are dumb sluts who only go to shows because they’re drawn by the arousing potpourri of dread, sweat and a beer…

Win the 12″ for Birds in Row: ‘Collected’

January 18, 2012

The overblown, furious, tarnished melodies of Birds in Row is the reason why Deathwish Inc. is going to be releasing the French trio’s debut full-length. But the always killer Vitriol Records was able to slip in first and release Collected, a vinyl compendium of everything the band has bruised folks with so far. Vitriol is…

Exclusive: Nails/Skin Like Iron Split 7″

January 11, 2012

Nails/Skin Like Iron: Split EP by Decibel Magazine On January 31st two unfuckwithable hardcore bands are co-self-releasing a four song 7″ that’s roughly a ten minute pillage of your every unshielded orifice. And while you should already feel compelled to pick up this split by Nails and Skin Like Iron, any skeptics can now hear…

Exclusive and a Vinyl Giveaway- Caspian: ‘Live at Old South Church’

January 4, 2012

Caspian – Live at Old South Church by The Mylene Sheath My initial New Year’s resolution was to listen to more Repulsion demos and as that has been surprisingly easy, I’ve also decided to be nicer to you people. So not only are you getting some free streaming music by instrumental post-rock veterans Caspian, but…

Did Zakk Wylde Tell Someone to Kill the President?

December 28, 2011

No, no he didn’t. But some nutcase swears he did. James Vernon McVay, who rocks my favorite kind of tattoos- all faded and shitty, slashed the throat of a 75-year-old hospice nurse as the first step in his foolproof plan of driving to Washington DC to assassinate President Obama. And now after being caught he’s…

Deck the Halls from the Bowels of Hell

December 21, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?&v=0E-U-s8lCcQ I won’t waste your time describing this video which is pretty self-explanatory and should definitely be watched… but also this is the closest I get to a Christmas vacation so I don’t want to break my back writing all these difficult words when I could spend it explaining to my parents why listening to…

On Metallica’s 30th Anniversary, a thank you

December 14, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5no7Ym1JSA June 4th, 1996 was the day Metallica officially called it quits. While the short hair, Woodstock appearance and looming mainstream acceptance were warning signs, sitting at home and hearing “Ain’t My Bitch” for the first time solidified it: Metallica was no longer what they once were. As someone born in 1981, Metallica has sucked…

When Black Metal Was Cool

December 7, 2011

Nowadays you can pick up an inverted cross stained with the blood from a virgin sacrifice in a mall kiosk, but back in 1994 people were still shitting their knickers over religious desecrations and swore Satan himself was tremolo picking a pawn shop Jackson reverse headstock. Via The Gauntlet: Everyone knows the stories of the…

Gods and Queens Seriously Need Your Help

November 30, 2011

Philadelphia Fuckrock band Gods and Queens had a serious mishap in Europe. Here’s Guitarist/Vocalist Jamie Getz: “I’m going to try and make this as short as I can. After all these years of touring in unsafe vans, and doing stupid things, I guess I was over due for this… We had a serious van accident…

Seriously Killer Giveaway: ‘Give Them Rope’ Test Press

November 23, 2011

There are many different kinds of giveaways but in my opinion it doesn’t get much better than this. In fact I’m hoping no one wins and I get this by default. The new remixed, remastered, definitely definitive way you are supposed to hear Coalesce’s masterpiece Give Them Rope is coming out one final time (probably)…

And We Have Our Skeletonwitch Winners

November 17, 2011

Alright, you sick fucks, your pile of brutal album titles has been logged and your posters will be sent out anytime between tomorrow and the rapture. Thanks for your participation and, just for kicks, keep sending in titles cause why not. Thanks. —————————– Okay, so we’re gonna make this quick and easy, folks. There are…

Exclusive- Beneath Oblivion: ‘From Man to Dust’

November 9, 2011

Beneath Oblivion: ‘From Man to Dust’ by Decibel Magazine Rarely do you hear a doom band so good at integrating other influences, from folk to death metal to experimental samples, while being so fucking good at also playing doom. But Beneath Oblivion has created a record that will satisfy those who crave a new spin…

Sort of Exclusive- The Sun Through a Telescope: “Darkyard”

November 2, 2011

The Sun Through a Telescope: “Darkyard” by Decibel Magazine The kind of music that comes from The Sun Through a Telescope can only be produced in a solo project. There is no way the kind of experimental, psychedelic insanity on EP Summer Darkyard (from our friends Handshake Inc.) could be filtered through another human being…

The Definitive ‘Lulu’ Review

October 26, 2011

I’m not usually someone to post a jokey video in place of a verbose, self-important rant against something inconsequential, but this is different. When some future civilization unearths the only iPod to ever contain the entire 90 minutes of Lulu, they will be as baffled and speechless as we are today. No one, I doubt…

Mournful Congregation Set to Pillage West Coast

October 19, 2011

This is still some weeks away, but now is the time to book your flight to the west coast or Texas to see one of the premier doom bands in the world sweep across the plains and possibly rattle California into the ocean. Australia’s Mournful Congregation is coming to America at the end of November…

For the Fat Metalhead in all of Us

October 12, 2011

If you met Riley online or at a show, you may talk about the new Wolves in the Throne Room or Primordial or Agalloch. What you’d probably skip is dietary restrictions and a jogging regimen at six in the morning. But this metalhead is trying to lose some fucking metal weight. “Being fat is dumb;…

Exclusive: Cover art for Bloody Panda’s ‘Summon: Invocation’

October 5, 2011

The haunting, evil, beautifully fucked music of Bloody Panda is the exact kind of experimental doom that lends itself to multiple interpretations. Do an orchestral version or piano jazz take on their debut, and if done well the same sort of tar black feelings will likely bubble up. That’s why the remix of Summon, titled…

Korn Shifts Gears, Explores New Territory

September 28, 2011

I was going to write what I hoped would be the definitive critique of the heart-stopping shit mountain known as Loutallica, but then I got this in my inbox: Korn announced today that they will release their tenth studio album, The Path of Totality on December 6. But this is unlike any Korn record. It’s…

Tom Neely Currently Scaring the Fuck Out of West Coast

September 21, 2011

If you don’t know what Tom Neely is all about, that drawing up above should be a pretty damn good indication. Band artist, Decibel artist and the proud papa of Henry and Glenn, the man can de-virginize with pen or brush. And now he’s on tour. To promote his “painted novel” The Wolf, he is…

Metal Fit for Extinction

September 14, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P6sHd7JRHCM Let’s not kid ourselves or spend too much time building up to what we’re discussing here. Hevisaurus (read that name out loud) is a Finnish power metal band for children with members dressed like dinosaurs. As they stare out into the elementary-aged audience with their cold, dead, prehistoric eyes, my once cherished vision of…

Not Exclusive- Rye Wolves: “Tearing at the Shapes”

September 7, 2011

Rye Wolves: “Tearing at the Shapes” by Decibel Magazine Eugene, OR is known mostly as the homebase of Yob, but amongst its sleepy streets and vegan breakfast nooks, another vicious trio has been around for years, creating small slabs of apocalypse. A combination of noise, drone, blackened doom and space rock, Rye Wolves have finished…

No Running to the Hills Today

August 31, 2011

Even though Iceland is bankrupt, cold and Bjork is printed on their money, 200 of its peoples are getting real tired of being in America, especially during the three dozen simultaneous natural disasters on the east coast. So what do you do when you need to get back to your homeland but regular planes are…

How to Market Your Band, the Bag of Dicks Way

August 24, 2011

What Is Moira’s Lake? from Envinity on Vimeo. “The Most Expensive Album You’ll Buy This Year” That is the first thing you read on the promo page for Envinity’s Moira’s Lake. Here’s the second thing: “Even Though It’s Brilliant, That Doesn’t Mean You’ll Like It.” And so begins our quest throughout the worst, most self-important…

Exclusive- Century: “Oak God”

August 17, 2011

Century: “Oak God” by Decibel Magazine If you had told me fifteen years ago I’d be in Seattle writing about a song featuring Kevin Martin from Candlebox I would’ve punched you right in your goddamn time-traveling face. But thanks to Pennsylvania’s Century, this is now a reality on the track “Oak God” from their new…

RIP Eric Stevenson

August 10, 2011

It will be a cold rest of the week in Boston as one of its sons is gone. Eric Stevenson, former drummer of the legendarily underrated band Only Living Witness, passed after a five-month battle with melanoma. He was 46. Stevenson was the father of a six-year old son and only three years ago had…

GREAT FALLS FUTURE TOUR DIARY

August 3, 2011

Tour diaries suck. Here’s one from the future from Great Falls bassist/Decibel tell-it-like-it-isser Shane Mehling (not pictured, thank god). They will cover Sponge songs on request, but only from Rotting Pinata or Wax Ecstatic. Shudder before the insightfulness. Great Falls Future Tour Diary Wed, Aug. 3 – Baltimore, MD Fly in late and get picked…

Celebrate Jared Southwick’s Life in Indy, Sept. 3rd

July 27, 2011

As with many artists, Jared Southwick’s passing has been a tragedy both emotionally and financially. His family are not only dealing with the loss of a loved one, but shouldering the burden of unpaid medical expenses. So Saturday, Sept. 3rd, Jared’s friends and fans have put together an amazing show to further pay tribute to…

Not Exclusive: “Dawn of the Horrible Gorilla”

July 20, 2011

Sean Yseult, White Zombie bassplayer, owner of a fun to say last name and the woman responsible for (something that’s supposed to be comical but comes off creepy and gross) in my youth, has released a one of a kind recording featuring herself, Phil Anselmo and Dime Motherfucking Bag Motherfucking Darrell.

The End is Nigh for Mark Rudolph’s Wicked Comic

July 13, 2011

When Decibel needs their Reviews illustration for every issue or the dopest drawing of Glenn Danzig ever wet-dreamed about, we go to Mark Rudolph. But there is more to Mr. Rudolph than Municipal Waste vomiting. In fact he is on his way to Kickstarting an amazing 70-page graphic novel. A reimagining of the short Lovecraft…