I was planning on only reviewing this band’s photo, but the image came with the rest of that nonsense on the side, and I can’t just move on without saying a little about the moniker Cry Excess. 

Doom legends Cathedral called it a career in 2013, but we all get to enjoy a nice, nostalgic death spasm with the CD/DVD reissue of 1990 cassette demo In Memorium (now spelled In Memoriam).

Gabriele Gramaglia incorporates a love of Converge-heightened, spastic hardcore heaviness into his anguished odes to the great outdoors.  The percussion and vocal rhythms here really set Gramaglia’s solo project apart from the pack.  The music retains black metal’s otherworldly quality without losing the attention of mere mortals like us.

Bassist Jason W. Walton recently completed two-song 7-inch, Mara, consisting of field recordings and largely focused on his struggles with sleep paralysis.

Lucifer I
New partner, same dance, better result
dB Rating: 9/10

In life, that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Back in 2013, Blaze of Perdition were traveling through Austria and were involved in a major car accident that left members severely injured and bassist Wojciech “Ikaroz” Janus dead. Uncertain whether to carry on, Blaze of Perdition invoked the power of the Elder Gods—both benign and malign—and asked them one question: should Blaze of Perdition continue to sing the praises of “Luciferian Illumination”? The weak-minded would’ve come away from the confrontation confused and bereft. Not Blaze of Perdition. They respectfully mourned the loss of Janus and vowed, with ensorcelled swords and overflowing blood chalices held high, to return to the lands of the blackest metal, spiritually and physically rejuvenated.

Seventeen years after they foretold The Shape of Punk to Come, Refused have delivered just that in the form of Freedom. The Swedish post-hardcore legends are back with a vengeance, and Decibel has the inside story on their unlikely reformation.

 Today we bring you not only a stream of this bad boy, but some helpful exposition courtesy of frontman Travis Ryan.

Last week the world lost Sir Christopher Lee, a ridiculous badass on and off screen, who also had a late-late career legit heavy metal detour which Fangoria Editor-in-Chief Chris Alexander aptly describes as “one of the most fascinating 11th hour career turns in pop culture history.” To honor our fallen fellow metal militiaman Decibel convened an all-star horror-metal panel to discuss Lee’s ascent from untouchable horror icon to extreme music frontman…

The dog days of summer don’t have to bite, thanks to your friends at Decibel. If you subscribe right now, we’ll send you five classic flexi discs for FREE.