Like many other metal fans, I’m a longtime admirer of the crew at Banger Films, who in the past decade have raised the bar when it comes to documenting the metal scene with the seriousness of anthropologists and the artistry of filmmakers. From Metal: A Headbanger’s Journey, to Global Metal, to Iron Maiden: Flight 666,…

For most Americans, the earliest Scorpions song we remember is “The Zoo,” “No One Like You” or mega-hit “Rock You Like a Hurricane.” But the Hannover-based hard rockers had a storied history well before they were MTV and rock radio darlings.

Occasionally, it’s nice to listen to things that can’t be described as “brutal” or “crushing.” On the flipside, who the fuck wants to listen to Modest Mouse? That’s why it’s nice to have bands like Watter as palate cleansers. I’ve had This World on my stereo every night this past week as I went to…

For a trio of Brooklyn seventh graders the boys of hep-hep-hepped-up, see-you-in-the-place-where-Judas-Priest-and-In-Flames-meet melodic metallers Unlocking the Truth have compiled quite a list of accomplishments over the last year or so including — though hardly limited to! — head-turning sets at Coachella, SXSW, and last Sunday’s Barclays Center NBA halftime show; signing a deal with The…

Happy Monday. For your listening pleasure today please check out a full stream of Ifing’s debut folk/black metal album Against This Weald, available for preorder now from Blood Music and also available digitally soon via Bandcamp. The limited release (due May 6) will include 1,000 copies of a digipack CD and and a limited vinyl…

Rituals are a dime a dozen. Any greasy-haired jabroni with a couple half-baked tremolo riffs and a motheaten cloak can stage a ritual; extra points if he cops a wood-burning kit for Christmas and goes to town on some dirt from outside his grandma’s prayer meeting to accent the seven copies of his upteenth Garageband…

** Finnish death metal lords Corpsessed have come out of an unlikely grave. Formed in 2007 in the quaint town of Järvenpää from Tyranny and BeDimmed members, the Finns quickly set out to craft death based on their predecessors–no need to name names, really–but with a modern, individual touch. The group’s debut EP The Dagger…

You know, the hardest part of this column here is looking for clever things to write in my intro (ignore the fact that it’s pretty squawking hard to type with your beak). Dust the crust, the oh-so-filthy AUTOPSY are back at it again with Tourniquets, Hacksaws and Graves on Peaceville.  If you’re a fan, prepare…

About six months ago, a Salt Lake City, UT band called Gravecode Nebula heaved out its first album, Sempiternal Void, despite the fact that the band has been playing together in some form since 2006.  Fellow Salt Lake slowniks and Decibel faves SubRosa have mentioned GN a couple times when discussing local bands they enjoy,…

Prepare to be Brewtalized, Chicago! The first The Brewtal Truth Guide to Extreme Beers book signing event in your city happens today from 4 to 7 pm at Northdown Taproom & Cafe (3244 N Lincoln Ave). Apologies for the last-minute notice, but there were a few loose ends that needed to be tied up before…