Track Premiere: Alpha Tiger, “Scripted Reality”

January 14, 2015

Every once in a while a young metal band will come along with a sound, a look, and an attitude that will just make any fan over the age of 35 beam. Despite boasting a band name that makes you think they’re a Steel Panther knock-off, German quintet Alpha Tiger has steadily become a very…

KILLING IS MY BUSINESS: 4 Music Biz Stories to Watch in 2015

January 14, 2015

2014 was a year of major tumult for the music biz. CD and download sales took a beating as streaming continued to skyrocket; at the same time, streaming services took a beating from many quarters of the industry, and not a single one of them has proven profitable. U2 apologized for the biggest album release in history, and…

SARPANITUM FOR THE SARPANITUMMY: Sarpanitum’s “Glorification Upon The Powdered Bones Of The Sundered Dead”

January 13, 2015

In the mood for a serious blastbeating? Sarpanitum have some serious black and death metal for your blasphemous enjoyment. Taking aim at the joys of religious warfare, this Birmingham-based trio brings long song titles and brutality to their death metal game. You can enjoy the beatdown below. ***Blessed Be My Brothers hits on February 17…

“Wanderlust” Unchained: Exclusive Zex Video Premiere!

January 13, 2015

As Ottawa’s trad metal-tinged punk rock underground-superstars-in-the-making ZEX continue to build an increasingly strong head of fist-pumping, sneering, anthemic steam with the upcoming Magic Bullet re-release of the band’s barnburner debut Fight For Yourself, it is Decibel‘s pleasure to bring you the exclusive premiere of the uncensored “Wanderlust” video. Photo credit here. (I think!) Tour…

Season Of The Witch: The Ideas Behind Metal’s Occult Revival

January 12, 2015

Any astute follower of metal in the past five years has likely noticed a huge uptick in the number of bands with a proto-70s sound and occult themes: The Devil’s Blood, Sabbath Assembly, Blood Ceremony and The Oath. A few of these bands have been on Decibel’s cover: In Solitude and Ghost B.C. (twice). While…

Top 5 Dissection Clones

January 12, 2015

5. BaneOriginally from Serbia but now located in Canada, death/black metallers Bane (possible connection to album title Storm of the Light’s Bane, but none to the Massachusetts-based hardcore band of the same name) take only the fastest, brutalist, sickest moments in Dissection’s oeuvre for the The Acausal Fire album. Actually, that’s not true, Bane are…

Encrotchment With Eddie Gobbo From Jar’d Loose: Divisional Weekend

January 9, 2015

Rage Against the Machine, Arizona Concert Watch, 2015 New Millennium Homes Our first game of the weekend takes place in the House of Pain of Football (hold the Everlast), Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. New England is the serious favorite to win it all. No one is taking Batlimore seriously this year except the cast of…

VIDEO PREMIERE: Incantation “Impalement of Divinity”

January 9, 2015

“We have unleashed our new video upon humanity,” says Incantation frontman/death metal legend John McEntee. “Brought to you by the tireless efforts of Black Arts Media and filmed at the Vermillion Haunted School House in Ohio. Many thanks for allowing us the use of your establishment. For it’s notable aggression and speed, amidst the albums…

Devin Townsend Interview: Part 1

January 9, 2015

Last month, Devin Townsend and his madcap Project went out on tour with Animals As Leaders and Monuments.  Decibel made sure to catch the show when it came to Baltimore, and we were not disappointed.  Long-lived set favorites like “Bad Devil” and “Regulator” stormed over the crowd, while much of the rest of the evening…

Playing Catch Up (Again) with Rottenness

January 8, 2015

“Mexican-American death/grind bands, like to answer telephones and say hello to Decibel hacks on the other end…” It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Mexico’s Rottenness. Breaking up for a short spell during 2012 didn’t help their cause, but the band is back with a new line-up and album in the wings. Gone are…