Exciter, High Spirits Highlight Defenders of the Old Festival III

December 10, 2014

Brooklyn might be known for its rather healthy underground metal scene that revolves around more cutting-edge, extreme sounds, but it’s heartening to know that some folks in the borough are flying the old school, “true” heavy metal flag high and proud. The Defenders of the Old Fest has been kicking around the Eastern seaboard for…

WOLFHEART IN A WOLF WORLD: “Routa Pt. 2” Video Premiere

December 9, 2014

Finland and fire are the cheapest special-effects for a metal video. Wolfheart have both! Started as a solo project by Tuomas Saukkonen (ex-Before the Dawn, Black Sun Aeon, a whole bunch of others), it’s since morphed into a full band effort. The video below comes from the upcoming reissue of his debut, Winterborn, so most…

This “Atlas” Doesn’t Shrug: Hear Alekhine’s Gun Slay Kings!

December 9, 2014

They say to know the heart of a man first you must walk a mile in his shoesWhat I am learning from your footsteps…One day in my life would destroy you I remain firm where you falter I swim in the tears of your daughter So roars Alekhine’s Gun’s singular force of nature frontwoman Jessica…

NSFW: Couch Slut’s Cover Conundrum

December 8, 2014

We’re not at all shocked that a band called Couch Slut had trouble printing the artwork to their new album My Life As A Woman. And that’s before we even saw the image — a nothing-is-hidden illustration of felicitous fellatio too racy for ribald 70s tome The Joy Of Sex (check it out on their…

Krallice Vs. Keith Law: A Q&A With ESPN’s Metal-Loving Baseball Writer

December 8, 2014

Lev Weinstein, Krallice drummer and extremely extreme baseball aficionado, asked us for a chance to nerd out on metal and MLB with ESPN senior baseball writer/bastion of sensibility Keith Law (whom we interviewed in the 2014 baseball preview). We’re not surprised that both of them stepped up to the plate with the following insightful and…

Horrendous interviewed

December 8, 2014

** 2014, the Year of the Horse. 2014, the Year of Horrendous. While Horrendous’ previous full-length, The Chills, sent death metallers back to the grave (whatever that means), new album Ecdysis made the stateside trio a household name (admittedly small number) and a contender for top spots on Year End lists. Trust us, the word…

For Those About to Squawk: Waldo’s Pecks of the Year

December 5, 2014

Ok, ok, ok, it’s getting to be the end of the year, so the releases REALLY slow down here. I’m going to just go ahead and get my end of the year list out of the way now, in case you want to get your Xmas shopping on.  If you have a curiosity or have…

Stream “Bound In Stone” By Dimesland

December 5, 2014

Two years ago, we tried to wrap our punk-savvy tech-death brains around Dimesland’s debut EP, Creepmoon.  The task proved too difficult to complete, but we sure enjoyed trying.  Complex frustration/anger/love is one of the perks of freaking out on heavy music. Next week, the Dimesland crazies will release their full-length, Psychogenic Atrophy, which features this gem we’re…

Downfall of Gaia Tour Announced!

December 5, 2014

German/Yank quartet Downfall of Gaia have returned with their latest attack on the status quo with Aeon Unveils the Thrones of Decay, the band’s third complete full-length.  This is a late-in-the-year offering you’ll want to pay some attention, as it gathers all shades of darkness, then both pets and pummels you with it.  It’s occasionally sludgy,…

Your Daily Dose of Confusion: Activator’s “Sexy for Breakfast”

December 4, 2014

Some time ago, I introduced you to a new face on the NYC crossover scene, Activator (refresher course, here). At the time, they were on the eve of the release of their self-titled debut album. Since then, they have been relatively quiet, especially considering bands these days post every aspect of their musical and non-musical…