News

Memory Lane

August 15, 2011

When I heard Jani Lane of Warrant passed away last Thursday night, I immediately texted my attorney Juan Perez and recent Decibel cover artist Tom Neely, both of whom—like myself—are avid cock rock enthusiasts. Neely’s cogent response? “Too much cherry pie!” The details of Lane’s death hadn’t been revealed yet, but Tom was right, of…

Best. Bathing Suit. Ever.

August 1, 2011

Thanks to MTV, the words Jersey Shore have become synonymous with glistening douchetards, making plenty of us Jersey natives extremely upset at the portrayal of our seaside haven. So it was a sight for sore eyes when I saw this most excellent of men’s swimsuits while strolling the Asbury Park boardwalk this past weekend. It…

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.

Lament of Bruno Ganz: Heavy Metal Edition

July 19, 2011

In a just world Swiss actor Bruno Ganz would be better known for his work in Wim Wenders’ Wings of Desire, Herzog’s Nosferatu or, yes, his chillingly-authentic turn in Downfall than he is for a four-minute-performance-cum-fodder for a seemingly endless series of YouTube parodies — “The Hitler Meme,” as the New York Times dubbed it…

A Tat Tribute to The King

July 14, 2011

If you’re like me, then you see these images all the time because you google the words “king diamond tattoo” everyday. For the rest of y’all, here is a crucial collection of the evilest ink out there.

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…

Video Premiere: Immolation, “A Glorious Epoch”

July 13, 2011

The fifth installment of Scion A/V‘s video series is now upon us and, per usual, the company has not skimped on the heavy, producing this tasteful, high quality short for Immolation, which we at Decibel are very happy to exclusively premiere below: We last profiled these American Death Metal stalwarts last year in issue 67….

Exclusive Free Downloads: Hank3 Has a Cow

July 11, 2011

Ladies and gentlemen, it’s not every day that the Deciblog introduces you to a whole new genre of extreme music. But today is special. Today, we bring you a new breed of ferocity.

MyMetalClub.com – It’s Like Google for Extreme Record Stores

July 4, 2011

The boom in metal’s popularity may have irritated some tr00ly tr00 fans, but by and large, I’ve embraced it, if only because it means I have easier access to the music. Listen up, children, there used to be a time where pop-punk was the most extreme music the record store would carry. Maybe, just maybe,…

Lordi: Fakest Metal Band Ever

June 30, 2011

Finnish “heavy metallers” Lordi have gone 3-times Platinum (90,000 copies sold) in their native Finland, Gold (30,000 copies sold) in Sweden, Gold in Germany (100,000 copies sold) and have probably earned sales medals throughout Europe. Pretty neat considering Lordi are nothing but a bunch of fakers. Check out this clip from 2006. The horror-masked Finns…

Would If I Could

June 27, 2011

If you’re in Los Angeles this coming Friday and Saturday, make your way down to the Nomad Gallery for the two days of the second New Weird America Festival. If on Friday you’re choosing to not embark upon a sympathetic celebration of the socialist welfare state to the north known as Canada (July 1st is Canada Day,…

Eric Swenson R.I.P.

June 23, 2011

After the untimely passing of Jared Southwick, another icon is no longer with us. Eric Swenson, one of the most visionary figures in the history of skateboarding, committed grisly suicide in front of a police station in San Francisco. The 64-year old Swenson, who co-founded both Independent Trucking Co and Thrasher magazine, put a gun…

Studio Report: YOB

June 20, 2011

Artist: YOB Title: ATMA Producer: Mike Scheidt Studio: Dogwood Recording, Eugene, OR Recording Dates: May 3 to 24 Release Date: Aug. 16, 2011 Label: Profound Lore YOB frontman Mike Scheidt has spent the past 10 minutes describing the new gear he’s rounded up for the band’s sixth album, titled ATMA. Having about as much expertise…

Don’t Kill Yourself Quite Yet

June 14, 2011

Okay, so maybe the (free!) Suffer Mental Decay demo isn’t quite as showy as a mass rock plateau suicide, but, good goddamn, the not-overly-modern-death-metal-with-a-twist of Masada sure is an awesome breath of fresh air in these deathcore-laden days. Featuring ex-members of Immolation and Goreaphobia and fronted by Crucifier’s “Black Lourde of Crucifixion” Cazz Grant, this…

What Happens When Shredders Fail to Shred

June 6, 2011

Flipping through the latest issue of the New Yorker this weekend I happened upon something you don’t frequently see in the pages of that august publication: A portrait of a guy in a Trivium T-shirt.

Zippy’s = Seattle’s Metal Burger Joint

June 6, 2011

You’re probably familiar with the Grill ‘Em All food truck and Kuma’s Corner, two notorious heavy metal-themed beef huts. But a Decibel writer tipped me to an overlooked den of blazin’ beefitude known as Zippy’s Giant Burgers, and it is arguably the most metal of them all, thanks to the guy above and to the…

The Ocean Tour Vlog, Part 2

June 3, 2011

German forward-thinking metallers The Ocean give us Part 2 of their recent trouble-filled trek through the U.S. and Canada. What to expect? A pro-filmed video, a few different accents (British, German, Australian), quick shots of front row boobage, the realization that the Job for A Cowboy dudes pump iron like Stallone, the group’s driver disappearing…

Are Those Pitchers Moving?

June 2, 2011

The Rev. Aaron Pepelis is a veritable heavy metal institution in the Northeast. His long-running radio show Return to the Pit — transmitted from WUNH in Durham, New Hampshire and streamed here — is about as solid as tru blackened grind industrial death rock radio gets. He is a consummate and tireless photographer whose work,…

Sometimes Selling Out is Waking Up… and Sometimes Not

June 1, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wy_mXuEsP0 Brent Hinds has twirled his Mastodong around by starring in a surprisingly well done commercial for Atlanta bar and restaurant Elmyr. We can only assume that Hinds truly enjoys their food and was happy to do it as I doubt a place that sells two kinds of PBR is flush with marketing cash. But…

Sound of a Judas Priest on a Playground Fading

May 31, 2011

In an typically astute review of the new In Flames disc Sounds of a Playground Fading penned for the issue of Decibel hitting stands right about now, Adrien Begrand argues — correctly, in my negligible opinion — that despite the Gothenburg quintet’s obvious (and occasionally egregious) missteps, far too much of the band’s post-Clayman output…

Plop Culture Dump O The Day: Happy Birthday Cee Lo Green

May 30, 2011

Photo: Cee Lo Green, working out his Immortal aspirations. Perhaps our most high-profile Closet Metalhead to date, Cee Lo Green turns 37 today. I had the honor of interviewing him for Decibel #76, and in case you missed it (order it here), here’s an excerpt: When I was a kid, we would go out to…

Away in the Sea of Red: Isis Remembers Isis Part 2

May 26, 2011

Our second eulogy for dearly departed Metalgazers Isis includes more reminiscing from the band, more photos (again thanks to Mark Dawursk) and an old school live clip from one of our favorite songs. Let’s get to it: Bryant Clifford Meyer (Electronics, Keyboards, Guitar, Vocals) For some reason my memory has become slightly out of whack…

The Beast of the Apocalypse — “Henosis”

May 24, 2011

There’s a whole lot of scary to live up to when one christens a band The Beast of the Apocalypse, but on Henosis these down and dirty Dutch black metallers give the Dark One a run for his money. The Dictionary of Spiritual Terms defines henosis as “the soul’s purification, accomplished primarily through philosophy, culminates…

Plop Culture Dump O the Day: Lady Gaga’s “Heavy Metal Lover”

May 23, 2011

Photo: Redferns “I want your whiskey mouth all over my blonde south.” YES. Any song that starts out with a reference to a little ra-ra-ooh-la-la has our backing. Lady Gaga’s Born This Way has been leaking faster than Rush Limbaugh’s diaper, and one of the latest tracks to show up is “Heavy Metal Lover.” Typical…

Vocal Covers? OK, What’s The Point?

May 20, 2011

Tell me, kids. What’s with the vocal covers? I can understand bands doing covers of their favorite tunes. Been happening since the dawn of music, in fact. But dudes (and the occasional dudette) hanging out in their bedrooms—with mic in hand and webcam turned on—attempting to best their favorite growler for the world to see,…

Fucked Up Turns the Light Back On

May 18, 2011

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dYWof3QZbQ I don’t particularly like Fucked Up but I do respect them. Their move from hardcore punk to anthemic art rock has never seem strained and gimmicks like their twelve-hour show asked more of them than anyone else in attendance. And furthermore on the topic of live shows, they always come through, much to the…

Happy Tuesday, Goregrinders!

May 17, 2011

Eligiendo Muerte, online clearinghouse for the Spanish translation of our fearless Editor-in-Chief’s landmark Choosing Death, is now hosting — in conjunction with Relapse Records and Bazillion Points — a stream of the nasty upcoming Haemorrhage full-length Hospital Carnage. Tumor donors, traumageddons, growls, blastbeats, breakdowns, flesh-devouring pandemia, splatter nurses — what are you waiting for?! And…

The Ocean Tour Vlog, Part I

May 16, 2011

For aspiring young bands touring the U.S. isn’t a walk in the park. Now, bring those aspiring young bands over from Europe, where from what I can tell things are far more convenient and distances between points shorter, and nightly on-stage antics become not just a job but an ordeal. The Ocean evidently found out…

Plop Culture Dump O the Day: Hesher Likes It Dirty

May 16, 2011

Hesher is a movie about Hesher (Joseph Gordon-Levitt, looking like a young, malnourished Phil Anselmo) who helps prepubescent T.J. endure the abject misery that is his life. Hesher does so by burning houses, walking around in his tighty-whiteys, and basically being a slovenly turd. “Cliff Burton was a big, big inspiration for my character,” Gordon-Levitt…

Plop Culture Dump O the Day: Thor Fans Reprazent

May 10, 2011

Photo: Tony Swatton Thor reigned supreme this weekend, earning $65.7 million with his bulbous hammer. No one was more amped than a sector of humanity known as the Norse Hollywood Dining Vikings. These Viking enthusiasts showed up for the movie at a theater in Glendale, California—a hotbed of Norse activity if ever there was one….