Editorial
Cammie Gilbert (Oceans of Slumber) Offers Empathy & Unity In Uncertain Times
October 5, 2020 Chris Dick
Oceans of Slumber frontwoman Cammie Gilbert offers wise words of empathy and unity as a woman of color in a white, male-dominated scene. She is a metalhead like all of us.
Darker Than Darker Than Black: U.S. Black Metal Artist Galdr Rages Against Fascism
August 13, 2020 Decibel Magazine
Draugr, the multi-instrumentalist of the U.S. black metal bands Galdr, Ancalagon and Obscurum, pens an op-ed on his anti-racist political awakening in underground black metal.
Andrew Lee of Ripped to Shreds on Ending Racist Stereotypes Against Asians in Metal
June 29, 2020 Decibel Magazine
Ripped to Shreds frontman Andrew Lee addresses the work that needs to be done in fighting dangerous stereotypes against Asians and Asian-Americans in underground metal.
An Asshole’s Guide to Surviving the Musical Apocalypse
March 16, 2020 Neill Jameson
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic is reshaping the global economy by the hour. There are few certainties, but Krieg’s Neill Jameson offers some ways to help your favorite artists in the metal scene.
Bullshit on Parade: Why Are You Really Angry About Rage Against the Machine Ticket Prices?
February 19, 2020 Neill Jameson
Krieg’s Neill Jameson gathers some facts on the recent public backlash against Rage Against the Machine‘s high-priced concert tickets
Mainstream Metal is F*cking Dead
December 27, 2019 Shawn Macomber
As we close out the decade, Decibel has an infernal correspondence on the demise of relevant major-label metal
Fallow Heart: Transmissions From a World of Paine
September 13, 2019 Forrest Pitts
“Progress is born of doubt and inquiry. The Church never doubts, never inquires. To doubt is heresy, to inquire is to admit that you do not know—the Church does neither.” —Robert G. Ingersoll
Five Things Every Band Booking Their Own Tour Should Know, by Ben Ward of Orange Goblin
August 14, 2019 Decibel Magazine
On the eve of his own U.S. tour, Orange Goblin frontman Ben Ward provides five pro tips that every band who is booking their own tour should practice.
Game of Moans: Neill Jameson Defends the Final Season of ‘Game of Thrones’
May 22, 2019 Neill Jameson
Decibel columnist and Krieg vocalist Neill Jameson encourages you to maybe enjoy something good, like the end of Game of Thrones, for once in your life.
Fallow Heart: The Mechanics and Ethics of Album Reviews
May 17, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Sizing up a review’s target relates far more to spirit than to ethics.
Fallow Heart: Metal Without Christianity
May 10, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Decibel contributor Forrest Pitts takes us to metal church.
Fallow Heart: Conquer Divide
May 3, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Forrest Pitts offers a little friendly and philosophical advice for a struggling metalcore band,
Fallow Heart: Inner Self (Part II)
April 19, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Decibel contributor Forrest Pitts continues to ruminate on the inner self.
Fallow Heart: Inner Self (Part I)
April 12, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Analyzing Sepultura through a Buddhist lens.
Fallow Heart: I Think, Therefore I Ectovoid
April 5, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Taking a deeper look at the process of writing a review.
Fallow Heart: The Male Gaze for Daze and Days
March 29, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Considering the topic of the male gaze in heavy metal.
Fallow Heart: Everyone’s a Critic
March 22, 2019 Forrest Pitts
It’s a long way to the top if you wanna… write about extreme metal?
Eulogy: The Trocadero – A Philadelphia Music Institution Closes
March 18, 2019 Chris Dick
Eulogy time: The Trocadero, a Philadelphia music institution, to close permanently.
Fallow Heart: Opeth and a Meditation on Hero Worship
March 8, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Decibel contributor Forrest Pitts reflects on Opeth‘s farsightedness and ability to manipulate our collective imagination.
Fallow Heart: Hardcore (Sur)Realities
March 1, 2019 Forrest Pitts
Decibel contributor Forrest Pitts considers the lessons he learned from hardcore.
Fallow Heart: Approaching Metal From an ‘Armchair-Buddhist’ Perspective
February 22, 2019 Forrest Pitts
In his new column, Decibel contributor Forrest Pitts presents a capsized field guide for anyone taking life one step at time.
Phoenix In Flames: Melotov Records Founder on Her Struggle with Prescription Narcotics
August 9, 2018 Justin Norton
Melotov Records’ Melanie Voltz shares the story of her struggle with prescription narcotics.
Svalbard’s Serena Cherry on Underground Metal’s Enduring Gender Bias
May 17, 2018 Serena Cherry
The guitarist/vocalist of English metal band Svalbard pens a guest editorial about her experiences as a woman in the underground metal scene.
Caleb Scofield Will Always Be Here
April 11, 2018 J. Bennett
J. Bennett remembers his friend and former Cave In/Old Man Gloom/Zozobra bassist Caleb Scofield.
Krieg’s Neill Jameson on Inquisition and Doing Better as a Scene
March 27, 2018 Neill Jameson
Stay vigilant and speak up, especially for those who can’t speak for themselves. We can all do better at this.
An Extremely Extreme Voice For Common Sense
March 23, 2018 Justin Norton
Let’s imagine a world where kids can get lost in records and find themselves again. Let’s imagine a world where the bridge to adulthood doesn’t include fearing for your life.
The Economics of Art and Culture and Why You Should Help Devout Rcrds
March 19, 2018 Neill Jameson
As a small Leviathan-affiliated record store and screenprinter are being forced out of Portland due to rising rent. Jef Whitehead and Stevie Floyd explain the importance of record stores in 2018.
Led Astray in the Forest Dark: Metal and the Familiarity Principle
March 16, 2018 J. Andrew
When people tell you they don’t like metal, they might mean they’re not familiar with it. Here’s a way to think about getting people into music that’s new to them.
A History of When Black Metal was “Over,” Part II
March 5, 2018 Neill Jameson
Krieg’s Neill Jameson recounts another round of instances in which black metal was falsely pronounced dead.
Retirepower: The End of Judas Priest’s Dual Guitar Assault
March 1, 2018 Greg Karlowitsch
Judas Priest will hit the road without guitarist Glenn Tipton, but the band remains great in his absence.