Guest review of Death by RAM written by The Left Hand Creation bassist Rob Holden

This is a guest review by Rob Holden, bassist of band Left Hand Creation. This is his second review he has done, get used to seeing these well written reviews! Don't forget to check out his band and like their Facebook page here!

1. Death

2. ...Comes from the Mouth Beyond

3. I Am the End

4. Release Me

5. Defiant

6. Frozen

7. Under the Scythe

8. Hypnos

9. Flame of the Tyrants

10. 1771

Death is the third full length album by Swedish based metal band RAM. Back in the early 80’s before the cumbersome metal sub-genres became known by all, Metal was simply called Metal and only Metal. Bands like Judas Priest, Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Mercyful Fate reigned supreme. In 2012, RAM`s Death gives testament to the classics not only by reminding us of the sound, but rejuvenating it. I suggest skipping the first track of the album as it is a drawn out instrumental; one that doesn’t offer anything musically and fails to introduce the sound of the rest of the album. The second track hits you like a punch in the dick with a classic heavy metal riff and sets the tone brilliantly for the rest of the album. The first half of the album is a pure heavy metal headbanger`s paradise with catchy guitar rhythms and gallops, and high vocal sirens seemingly straight out of Rob Halford or Bruce Dickinson`s repertoire. Each song gets you even more excited for the next. The second half of the album creates a different atmosphere and the artists really show you what they are capable of. With lightning fast scale runs during defiant; the slower paced and extremely epic frozen; and the classic ending hook of the song Release Me. These three tracks were my favorite, but by no means take away any appreciation from the rest of the album. Each track on this album is unique, but never strays from the original theme or sound.

Death is not a blast from the past, but a terrific and classic heavy metal album; staying true to the love and virtues of heavy metal fans everywhere. Listening to it will undoubtedly make you cut off the sleeves of your favorite shirt, drive 30 miles over the speed limit, stop shaving and washing your hair, headbang in mall parking lots, or do whatever it is that heavy metal does to you. I personally loved this album, and I would recommend it to anyone who has ever felt the need to live their life just a little bit faster and harder, even if it is just for 50 minutes or so.

Review of Death by RAM

1. Death

2. ...Comes from the Mouth Beyond

3. I Am the End

4. Release Me

5. Defiant

6. Frozen

7. Under the Scythe

8. Hypnos

9. Flame of the Tyrants

10. 1771

RAM is back with a new album after three years and have signed with Metal Blade Records to bring you their 2012 release entitled Death. Before I jump into the new album, I wanted to give you a little background of RAM. The band was created by Harry Granroth in 1999, a musician who believed that metal from the past was misinterpreted and needed a rebirth. He began finding talented musicians to aid him in his journey and found Daniel Jhannson for guitars, Oscar Carlquis for vocals, and Morgan Pettersson for drums. Over the course of their tour life they have played with the likes of Sebastian Bach, Dark Tranquility, Gamma Ray, and most recently Watain, as well as playing many festivals and tours of their own. This album, Death, is their third full length album and are back in full force with more true metal for the world to hear.

I haven’t listened to any good old school metal since I reviewed Circle of 8 from Martyr. RAM’s new album definitely made me love the genre again. The intro of the album was very progressive rock sounding, despite the rest of the album not having any keyboard in it. I think that the intro is catchy and it made me set to listen to what was in store. The guitar in this has two way of coming at your face. They are either fast past and thrashy or calm and progressive and either way, this band is perfect. The solos are that of a great sounding 80s band. Speaking of the 80s, the vocal style sounds like someone who is stuck in that time period and this is not a bad thing one bit. Three songs that I enjoyed the most off this album were I Am The End, Defiant, and Hypnos. RAM has done two things with this album, they proved that this style of metal is not dead and they also give hope to the future of it as well. I am honoured to have listened to such an amazing album and hopefully one day I will be graced with the privilege of seeing them perform!

Decibel Magazine Tour Dates + Pre-Sale Packages Announced - Behemoth, Watain, The Devil's Blood and In Solitude To Terrorize North America This Spring!

The inaugural Decibel Magazine Tour, announced late last week, will feature the long-awaited stateside return of Polish blackened death metal overlords Behemoth, as well as support from Swedish black metal provocateurs Watain, Dutch prog mystics The Devil's Blood and Swedish old-school occultists In Solitude. And now, the dates are in!

The near month-long run, presented by Metal Blade Records, IndieMerchStore.com, FYE, ESP Guitars and Good Fight Entertainment, will commence on April 11 in Columbus, Ohio and level 23 cities before coming to a ceremonial close on May 12 in New York City.

Presale tickets and package deals are on sale NOW through Decibel Magazine. A limited number of premium packages are available in each city and include:
- one (1) ticket to the show
- one (1) tour t-shirt
- one (1) tour poster
- one (1) "Skip The Line" pass to get you in the doors first.

Aside from the premium packages, every general admission ticket has lower service fees than you'll find elsewhere, and comes with a commemorative laminate. In addition, every ticket purchased through the Decibel Magazine page will be entered to win an ESP Guitar!

Decibel Magazine Tour 2012
Behemoth, Watain, The Devil's Blood and In Solitude 4/11/2012 The Bluestone - Columbus, OH
4/12/2012 Mr. Smalls - Pittsburgh, PA
4/13/2012 Bottom Lounge - Chicago, IL
4/14/2012 Station Four - St. Paul, MN
4/16/2012 Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS
4/17/2012 Summit Theatre - Denver, CO
4/18/2012 The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT
4/20/2012 Studio Seven - Seattle, WA
4/21/2012 Rickshaw - Vancouver, BC
4/22/2012 Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
4/23/2012 Slim’s - San Francisco, CA
4/25/2012 House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
4/26/2012 Nile Theater - Phoenix, AZ
4/27/2012 Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM
4/29/2012 White Rabbit - San Antonio, TX
5/01/2012 Orpheum - Tampa, FL
5/02/2012 Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
5/04/2012 Amos Southend - Charlotte, NC
5/05/2012 Ram’s Head - Baltimore, MD
5/06/2012 Trocadero Theatre - Philadelphia, PA
5/08/2012 Opera House - Toronto, ON
5/09/2012 Club Soda - Montreal, QC
5/10/2012 Imperial - Quebec City, QC
5/11/2012 Palladium - Worcester, MA
5/12/2012 Irving Plaza – New York, NY

http://www.metalblade.com/news/01-24-12-03.html

http://decibelmagazinetickets.com/
http://www.MetalBlade.com
http://www.IndieMerchStore.com
http://www.FYE.com
http://www.goodfightentertainment.com
http://www.ESPGuitars.com

Behemoth, Watain, The Devil's Blood and In Solitide take part in premier heavy metal magazine's inaugural tour starting in April

Blackened clouds are gathering overhead, and it's all our fault. North America's premier heavy metal magazine is launching the maiden edition of its annual earth-scorching tour this April. The inaugural Decibel Magazine Tour will feature not just the long-awaited stateside return of Polish blackened death metal overlords Behemoth, but support from Swedish black metal provocateurs Watain, Dutch prog mystics the Devil's Blood and Swedish old-school occultists In Solitude.

Beginning in April and laying waste through a gargantuan 26-date run, the Decibel Magazine Tour (presented by Metal Blade Records, IndieMerchStore.com, FYE, ESP Guitars and Good Fight Entertainment) not only offers four diverse European artists hand-picked by the magazine, but doubles as Behemoth's first U.S. tour since vocalist/guitarist Adam "Nergal" Darski's well-documented battle with—and triumph over—leukemia.

Gruesome visual evidence of this tour package is forthcoming: We went all the way to Sweden to capture the frontmen and women of all four bands for our special Decibel Magazine Tour cover story, streeting in April. "Considering the fact that we'll be sharing the stage with the most evil and uncompromising bands around—Watain, the Devil's Blood and In Solitude—this already makes it a legendary bill that you can't miss out on!" promises Nergal. "Watch out. We won't show up—we will ARRIVE with all the strength and might!"
"Part of Decibel's mission is to push the boundaries of what a metal publication is capable of doing," adds Decibel editor-in-chief Albert Mudrian, the tour's principal curator. "By bringing bands like Watain, the Devil's Blood and In Solitude to larger stages in the U.S, we create an additional vehicle to help raise their profiles. It's another way to infect the mainstream with the power of the underground."

It only makes sense that Decibel would present a tour package with a sense of integrity, purpose and history. "It is a joint force of artistic adversity and sinister creativity," assures Watain frontman Erik Danielsson, "which makes me think of the glorious days when bands like Venom, Metallica, Exodus and Slayer toured together like a great middle finger raised towards their sheep-minded contemporaries."

Excited yet? Well, here's an early opportunity to score a great deal AND avoid standing in line. Fifteen premium packages are available in each market that include your ticket to the show, a tour T-shirt, a tour poster and a super-exclusive "Skip the Line" pass to move you to the front when doors open. The price of this package is less than you would spend on a ticket and a tour shirt at the show! More details, including tour dates, venues and ticket info will be announced at www.decibelmagazinetour.com on January 24th. Every ticket purchased through Top Spin will come with a commemorative laminate, and all fans that purchase their ticket through Top Spin will be entered to win an ESP Guitar.

Hails to our partners!
www.MetalBlade.com
www.IndieMerchStore.com
www.FYE.com
www.goodfightentertainment.com 
www.ESPGuitars.com 

Steve Hogarth, Richard Barbieri to release debut album, "Not The Weapon But The Hand"‏

Kscope is pleased to announce the release of Not The Weapon But The Hand, the debut album from Steve Hogarth (Marillion) and Richard Barbieri (Porcupine Tree, Japan), due out February 28^th in North America. 

Not The Weapon But The Hand was completed in late 2011 and features occasional appearances from Danny Thompson on double bass, Arran Ahmun (John Martyn) and Chris Maitland (ex-Porcupine Tree, No-Man, Blackfield) on drums and guitar, as well as string arrangement contributions from Dave Gregory (XTC).

A sampler of the forthcoming album can be heard on the official Steve Hogarth / Richard Barbieri mini-site at: http://www.kscopemusic.com/hogarthbarbieri/nottheweaponbutthehand/.

The track list for Not The Weapon But The Hand is…
1. Red Kite
2. A Cat With Seven Souls
3. Naked
4. Crack
5. Your Beautiful Face
6. Only Love Will Make You Free
7. Intergalactic
8. Lifting The Lid
9. Not The Weapon But The Hand

Hogarth is best known as the frontman of Marillion, the progressive rock legend that he joined in 1989, following spells in The Europeans and How We Live. In addition to the 12 albums Marillion has released in this time, he has also recorded and toured as a solo artist under the name, H.

In recent years Richard Barbieri has been a core member of Porcupine Tree, playing keyboards on all the band's albums since 1993, as well as releasing two solo albums, Things Buried and Stranger Inside. Prior to this, it was in the new-wave pioneers Japan that he originally came to prominence, helping to create the groundbreaking synthesizer sound that defined the band and influenced the likes of The Human League, Duran Duran, Gary Numan, Talk Talk, Kate Bush and a whole raft of artists to follow.

The band also influenced Hogarth, who was playing keyboards in The Europeans. “When I was in my mid-twenties, Japan's, Tin Drum, album was a firm favorite and truly a groundbreaking work. Japan were one of those rare bands where each musician seemed to have reinvented his instrument overnight. Central to this sound was the unmistakable synthesizer programming/playing of my now chum, Mr. B.”

Many years later Porcupine Tree played some shows with Marillion, and Hogarth invited Richard to be part of The H band on his Ice Cream Genius album and subsequent tour.

“I asked him, ‘Can you make me a sound which starts off like a gong and turns into a jet engine?’ - it took him roughly 2 minutes,” said Hogarth.

This association developed into what Hogarth describes as, “an easy working relationship which rapidly became an understanding beyond music.”

It wasn't surprising that the duo decided to collaborate on a joint project, a venture initiated by Barbieri.

As Hogarth recalls, “I remember where I was when the email from Richard arrived airing the possibility of a collaboration. I was in Starbucks in Leeds on tour a few years back. From that day forward it was on my mind fairly constantly. The only problem was finding the time to collaborate in between my Marillion schedule and his Porcupine Tree schedule. This year - a week here and a week there - we have managed to do it. Richard has sent me a number of beautiful and unusual instrumentals and I have found lyric ideas to create sometimes songs, sometimes narratives against his musical landscapes.

“It also goes beyond what you might expect from the two of us... The album consists of music which is at times moving, complex, multilayered (both instrumentally and vocally) spooky, goofy and of course, very personal to me.

“I am now as excited about this album as I was at the prospect of the collaboration in the first-place. Ain't it great when a plan comes together?!”

Stay tuned for more information on Steve Hogarth and Richard Barbieri’s, Not The Weapon But The Hand.

Cannibal Corpse: Reigning Kings Of Death Metal Set To Release Twelfth Studio Album

America's reigning kings of brutality, Cannibal Corpse, will unleash their twelfth studio offering this March via Metal Blade Records. Aptly titled Torture, the follow-up to 2009's Evisceration Plagueoffers up 12 tracks of maniacally precise, soul-searing death metal. Torture was again produced by Hate Eternal's Erik Rutan at his own Mana Recording Studio in St. Petersburg, Florida as well as Sonic Ranch in Tornillo, Texas, and features the maniacal cover art by longtime Cannibal Corpse artist, Vincent Locke, viewable http://www.metalblade.com/cannibalcorpse/

While Torture marks the latest progression in the band's sound, it also witnesses a return to what drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz accurately terms "the frenzied attack of Butchered At Birth (1991) or Tomb Of The Mutilated (1992)," infusing the band's advanced musicianship with the raw savagery that haunted their earlier releases, and in the process conceiving the definitive  Cannibal Corpse  record. Adds bassist Alex Webster on the outcome of the record: "We're extremely happy with how Torture turned out. Erik Rutan did an amazing job with the production, and the songwriting and performances may be our strongest yet. We can't wait until our fans get to hear the whole thing!"

Witness the gutting sounds of "Demented Aggression," the band's first single, as well as studio footage, at the official  Cannibal Corpse  landing page, at http://www.metalblade.com/cannibalcorpse/

Torture Track Listing:

01. Demented Aggression
02. Sarcophagic Frenzy
03. Scourge of Iron
04. Encased in Concrete
05. As Deep As the Knife Will Go
06. Intestinal Crank
07. Followed Home Then Killed
08. The Strangulation Chair
09. Caged…Contorted
10. Crucifier Avenged
11. Rabid
12. Torn Through

As a precursor to the release,  Cannibal Corpse will perform a special one-off show at the Culture Room in West Palm Beach, Florida on January 22nd then head to the seas to take part in this year's edition of the 70,000 Tons Of Metal Cruise. The band will get a short break before a near month-long march through Europe on the Full Of Hate 2012 tour with labelmates Behemoth. Torture will be released in North America on March 13, 2012.

Cannibal Corpse  is:
Alex Webster - Bass
Paul Mazurkiewicz - Drums
Rob Barrett - Guitar
Patrick O'Brien - Guitar
George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher - Vocals

https://www.facebook.com/cannibalcorpse
http://www.metalblade.com/cannibalcorpse 

Guest review of The Thousandfold Epicentre by The Devil's Blood written by The Left Hand Creation bassist Rob Holden

I would just like to take the time to introduce a new guest reviewer that is helping me out by bringing you a more in depth look at some of the albums I will be reviewing. Rob Holden is the bassist of Oshawa, Ontario based metal band Left Hand Creation. They combine all types of metal and make it their own with brutal riffs and gut wrenching vocals. You can like their page here and you should show some support for local bands!

1. Unending Singularity

2. On the Wings of Gloria

3. Die the Death

4. Within the Charnel House of Love

5. Cruel Lover

6. She

7. The Thousandfold Epicentre

8. Fire Burning

9. Everlasting Saturnalia

10. The Madness of Serpents

11. Feverdance

Having never listened to or heard of The Devil’s Blood prior to this album, I went into it with an open mind; and this is how I would suggest most listeners approach the album. The first track is an ambient-trance intro with dark undertones similar to Mercyful Fate, the track lasts for 2:18 and is (By FAR) the shortest track on the album. Leading almost seamlessly into the second track, It became clear that this work was heavily influenced by the hard rock of the 1970’s and early 80’s, drawing influence musically from King Diamond and Thin Lizzy, and lyrically from the early satanic hard-rock bands. The music is set from the beginning at a mid-tempo and never strays from the beat. Guitar work is simple and ambient (repetitive), but occasionally shows some flair. The talent in this band is not in the technical musicianship, but the song writing. Setting myself in the right mood for this music, I tried to enjoy it as best I could, but found that each song that surpassed eight minutes could have easily been cut in half. The female vocal styling saved the album for me; Properly placed, beautiful tone, and dark (evil) lyrics kept the flow of this long, drawn out album. 

This album is not for me. However, for anyone looking for a reinvention of the old and true rock and roll element of the golden era. An album that’s musically derived from early fire and brimstone metal, and subject matter akin to the war on God and/or organized religion; A true rock album, this is for you!

Review of The Thousandfold Epicentre by The Devil's Blood

1. Unending Singularity

2. On the Wings of Gloria

3. Die the Death

4. Within the Charnel House of Love

5. Cruel Lover

6. She

7. The Thousandfold Epicentre

8. Fire Burning

9. Everlasting Saturnalia

10. The Madness of Serpents

11. Feverdance

The Devil’s Blood is a two person group with members SL/TDB/A-O and F/TDB/MOS. I don’t exactly understand the acronyms but I am assuming that TDB is the name of the band. The band has been able to play many large concert venues and festivals such as The Webster Hall in New York City, the K17 in Berlin, Wacken Open Air, Hole In The Sky and Hellfest. The Thousandfold Epicentre is The Devil’s Blood’s second full length album. Since I don’t know exactly what to write about this album I will just give you a quote of what member SL/TDB/A-O, the founding member said about it.

“The Devil’s Blood are pleased to announce the conception of a new Litter to be cast upon the sacrificial flames of the bull-headed God that resides on the plane of Gehenna. Eleven new children shall pass through His flames to become reborn in Chaos when the eleventh of November comes to pass in this foul year of their lord, two thousand and eleven. We have taken 11 months to write and two months to record these monsters and to prepare, attach and inscribe the appropriate sigils, ornaments, chimes and bells upon these young-lings before releasing their serpentine malignity upon the world…”

The first two times I listened to this band, I feel I was too harsh on my opinions against them. The third time I gave this album a listen, I finally dug deeper into the individual parts of the band. I’m very picky with the female vocalists in metal bands I like, but The Devil’s Blood is okay in my books. I am not a huge fan of the cult rock scene but after few listens, it grew on me. The riffs are very catchy and the guitar solos fit in nicely along with the music as a whole. The Devil’s Blood gives off a great cult rock vibe which is relaxing but at the same time keeping it heavy. This album is worth listening to if you like the cult rock genre, but if you don’t  it may take you a few listens for it to grow on you. If I had to pick my favourite songs it would definitely be “On the Wings of Gloria”, “Die the Death”, and “Within the Charnel House of Love.”

Standby Records launches new website‏ - The “Second Coming Of Rock N’ Roll” begins now

Emerging independent record label, Standby Records, has launched a brand new website: http://www.standbyrecords.net to kick off 2012, complete with streaming media, a web-store, social media and more, as the label looks to jump start its “Rock N’ Roll 2.0” movement. With new releases on the way from rising acts such as Hopes Die Last and Modern Day Escape, the “Second Coming Of Rock N’ Roll” is officially upon us!

Commented Standby owner, Neil Sheehan, “The first decade of the 21^st Century was a time when rock music seemingly stood still. It didn't progress and it didn't grow. At Standby Records, we decided to give Rock N' Roll a full reboot to restore the passion and power that people used to feel when they heard a great song! Standby Records has now built a website to meet that passion; a place where fans can hear the latest and the greatest bands who've decided to be a part of Rock N' Roll's rebirth. Rock N' Roll 2.0 - the rebirth of the anarchy lost for the last decade.”

Formed in 2007, Standby Records has made its name developing passionate, young artists by providing an unparalleled enthusiasm for spreading quality music to the masses.

High profile acts like Black Veil Brides and Modern Day Escape call Standby home, while budding superstars like Hopes Die Last, Freshman 15, Star City Meltdown, In Alcatraz 1962 and Picture Me Broken look to add to Standby’s already impressive catalogue.

Stay tuned to the all-new StandbyRecords.net and the Standby Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/standbyrecords for the latest Standby news.

Desaster launch pre-order for "The Arts Of Destruction" and post first new song, reveal front art

German Black/Thrash commando Desaster has finished the recordings for their upcoming new album The Arts Of Destruction to be released February, 24th in G/A/S, 27th in the rest of Europe and the UK, and 28th in North America!

Metal Blade has now launched a landing page that includes pre-order links as well as the brand new song Queens Of Sodomy! Surf over to http://www.metalblade.com/desaster/ to check it out!

Comments the band: "'The Arts Of Destruction' … 100% Desaster 100% Metal 100% Hell 100% Non-commercial! We still spit on trends, hail the cult of Metal and send a big FUCK YOU to all who don't believe In Metal music! We don't want to say so much about the album… only… pure Metal, full of Darkness and Blasphemy, no compromise, no innovation… In our eyes our best sounding and most brutal album so far! Check it out and create your own view. Bang or be banged!"
 
Track listing The Arts Of Destruction:
1. Intro
2. The Arts Of Destruction
3. Lacerate With Hands OfDoom
4. Splendour Of The Idols
5. Phantom Funeral
6. Queens Of Sodomy
7. At Hell's Horizon
8. Troops Of Heathens – Graves OfSaints
8. Possessed And Defiled
9. Beyond Your Grace
10. Outro

There will be a limited first edition available including a bonus-DVD. More details on the bonus-DVD will be revealed shortly!

23 years going and still strong, Desaster have released six studio albums by now. The Arts Of Destruction is the follow-up to 2007's Satan's Soldiers Syndicate that received critical acclaim and was supported with club shows and festival gigs all over the planet.

Desaster live battles:
14/01/12 – GR – Athens – AN Club
18/02/12 – ES – Granada – 4 The Metal Festival
11/05/12 – AT – Schärding – Fireflash Festival
08/09/12 – DE – t.b.a. – Death Doomed The Age Festival
13/10/12 – IT – Rome – Closer Club

http://www.total-desaster.com

http://www.facebook.com/666Desaster666
http://www.myspace.com/desaster

Goatwhore: Blood for the Master - first single, tracklisting, and studio footage now live

Blood for the Master: the brand new studio album from New Orleans Louisiana's sons of American no-frills black metal meets death & roll, Goatwhore, is set for release in North America on February 14th 2012 via Metal Blade Records. Recorded in St. Petersburg, FL atMana Studios, Goatwhore once again joined forces with producer Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Cannibal Corpse, Agnostic Front, The Mountain Goats) to lay down the ten blistering tracks for the band's 5th full-length release, which Decibel Magazine claims "reeks of blasphemy, brimstone, Jägermeister and fire." 

The first single off the album, Collapse in Eternal Worth, along with 'In the Studio' video footage is now live at http://www.metalblade.com/goatwhore/. Fans can stream or download the single as well as check out the lyric video for the track that incorporates the artwork from both the CD and vinyl versions of the release, each which features different artwork.  

Tracklisting for Goatwhore – Blood for the Master 

1. Collapse in Eternal Worth

2. When Steel and Bone Meet

3. Parasitic Scriptures of the Sacred Word

4. In Deathless Tradition

5. Judgement of the Bleeding Crown

6. Embodiment of this Bitter Chaos

7. Beyond the Spell of Discontent

8. Death to the Architects of Heaven

9. An End to Nothing

10. My Name is Frightful Among the Believers 

Blood for the Master will be available on CD, vinyl, and digitally. Fans of vinyl should note that there will be three different versions of the LP; red with black splatter, half red/half black, and standard black. Also available will be a limited amount of special preorder bundles containing merch items exclusive to these bundles. For details and images please go to http://www.metalblade.com/goatwhore/.

In other news, Goatwhore is currently featured on the cover of Decibel Magazine's February 2012 issue, on newstands now. In the cover story feature guitarist Sammy Duet and vocalist Louis Benjamin Falgoust II discuss the new album, the band's numerous career hurdles, and their recent successes.  

Upcoming tour dates in support of Blood for the Master: 

02/03 - New Orleans, LA - The Hanger – Scott "Morpheen" Rousell Benefit Show 

w/ Lock Up, Strong Intention 

02/08 - Buffalo, NY - Club Infinity 

02/09 - Albany, NY - Bogies

02/10 - Revere, MA - Club Lido

02/11 - Montreal, QC - Katacombes 

02/12 - Toronto, ON - Wreck Room

02/13 - Chicago, IL - Reggie's Rock Club

02/14 - Columbus, OH - Al Rosa Villa

02/15 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar

02/16 - Brooklyn, NY - Club Europa  

Goatwhore is:

Louis B. Falgoust II - Vocals

Sammy Duet - Guitars/Vocals

Zack Simmons - Drums

James Harvey - Bass

Barren Earth announces release date for sophomore full-length, "The Devil's Resolve"‏

Finland’s finest progressive death metal band, Barren Earth, has announced that its highly anticipated sophomore full-length, The Devil’s Resolve, will hit stores in North America on March 13^th via Peaceville Records. The Devil’s Resolve will be released on CD and vinyl, with artwork provided by notable US-based artist Paul Romano (Mastodon).

Mixed by Dan Swanö (Opeth/Katatonia) at Unisound, The Devil’s Resolve continues with all the trademarks one has come to associate with Barren Earth: brutal riffs, gloomy growls, majestic melodies, as well as acoustic and progressive passages. But this time the band has delved even deeper, taking this sophomore effort to the extremes through musical landscapes encompassing brutal death metal, doomy vocals, trippy 70’s prog lunacy, pastoral passages and even bagpipes.

Barren Earth is back!

Barren Earth originally appeared in 2009 with the ‘Our Twilight’ EP, followed quickly by the debut album, The Curse Of The Red River (2010). Both releases met with a rapturous reception from fans and critics alike, including awards for best new band and best album. However, as all members of Barren Earth were previously known from other notable bands, there was also the inevitable labeling as a ‘supergroup,’ and the accompanying doubts of ‘it will never last’ and ‘it’ll be a short-lived thing.’

But the skeptics have now been proven wrong!

Following the release of The Curse Of The Red River, Barren Earth has played several shows, not only in its native country of Finland, but in continental Europe, and most importantly, in North America, where as a part of the Finnish Metal Tour 2, the group played 28 shows alongside countrymen Ensiferum and Finntroll. This has naturally spurred the band’s creativity further, and the results of this can be heard on Barren Earth’s second album, The Devil’s Resolve.

The Devil’s Resolve is one album that is not to be missed; this is as good as Finnish metal gets.

Stay tuned to the official Barren Earth Facebook page at: http://www.facebook.com/BarrenEarth for more information on Barren Earth and The Devil's Resolve. And keep your eyes peeled for the new music video for the track, “The Rains Begin.”

Barren Earth is…
Mikko Kotamäki – Vocals (Swallow The Sun)

Olli-Pekka Laine – Bass (Ex-Amorphis, Mannhai) 

Kasper Mårtenson –Keyboards (Ex-Amorphis, Ben Granfelt Band)

Janne Perttilä – Guitar (Rytmihäiriö)

Marko Tarvonen – Drums (Moonsorrow)

Sami Ylisirniö – Guitar (Kreator, Waltari)

For more information on Barren Earth…
www.facebook.com/BarrenEarth
www.myspace.com/officialbarrenearth
www.barrenearth.com
www.peaceville.com

Modern Day Escape reveals Under The Gun tracklist and gives tour update

Florida hard rock outfit, Modern Day Escape, has revealed the track list for the band’s sophomore record, Under The Gun, which is set to release on March 27^th via Standby Records.

1.  City of Thieves
2.  Don't Hold It Against Me
3.  Life's a Bitch
4.  Tiger's Blood
5.  Angels Up Above
6.  The Syndicate
7.  Voiceless
8.  Feeds On The Darkside
9.  Playing Victim
10. Under The Gun
11. Demons Down Below
12. HaHa

Under The Gun is the highly anticipated follow-up to the band’s acclaimed 2009 debut, House Of Rats.
Modern Day Escape has already hit the road in anticipation of the impending release as part of the “Something Wicked This Way Comes Tour” with Wednesday 13 and Aiden. The West Coast run kicked off last night in Pomona, CA.

“This tour is a killer start for what we plan to accomplish with Under The Gun,” said frontman, James Vegas, following the band’s performance at The Glass House. “We've made a record that we're incredibly proud of. The shows are already at a whole different level than where we were at before. We’re are also touring with our new drummer, Sandra, who we met when we toured with Black Veil Brides, and she's already making a big difference. If you've never heard or seen Modern Day Escape before, you're now seeing the band we've always wanted to be.”

After wrapping up the January dates, Modern Day Escape will head home to film a music video for the new track, “Under The Gun,” with director, Robby Starbuck (Smashing Pumpkins, Escape The Fate, Asking Alexandria).

Stay tuned to the official Modern Day Escape Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/moderndayescape for more information on Under The Gun.


“Something Wicked This Way Comes Tour” dates…
Jan. 06 – San Diego, CA @ Soma
Jan. 07 – Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
Jan. 08 – Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
Jan. 10 – El Paso, TX @ Lowbrow Palace
Jan. 12 – Tulsa, OK @ The Marquee
Jan. 13 – Wichita, KS @ The Scenery
Jan. 14 – Englewood, CO @ Gothic Theatre
Jan. 15 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Killby Court
Jan. 16 – Idaho Falls, ID @ Shilo Convention
Jan. 17 – Spokane, WA @ The A Club
Jan. 18 – Seattle @ Studio Seven
Jan. 19 – Portland, OR @ Branx
Jan. 21 – Oakland, CA @ The Pound
Jan. 22 – West Hollywood, CA @ Key Club

Modern Day Escape is…
James Vegas – Vocals
Sandra Alva – Drums
Marti Rubels – Guitar
Mark Burn – Guitar
Shep – Bass

Modern Day Escape online…
www.Facebook.com/ModernDayEscape
www.ModernDayEscape.com
www.Youtube.com/OfficialMDE
www.Twitter.com/OfficialMDE
www.Stickam.com/ModernDayEscape
www.Myspace.com/ModernDayEscape
www.SoundCloud.com/ModernDayEscape
www.Last.FM/Music/Modern+Day+Escape
www.Broadtexter.com/ModernDayEscape

2 in 1 Metal News: Enter Shikari and The Used debut new songs

Enter Shikari have debuted another new song, "Arguing With Thermometers" off of their upcoming album "A Flash Flood Of Colour" out January 17th (US).

A music video for the song will premiere soon!

To listen to "Arguing With Thermometers" watch the video above!

You can pre order "A Flash Flood Of Colour" now on iTunes at http://itunes.apple.com/ca/preorder/a-flash-flood-of-colour-deluxe/id488075518 

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The wait is over! The Used have debuted their brand new single "I Come Alive" from their new album Vulnerable out March 27th!

To listen to the full song over at KROQ go to http://kroq.radio.com/2012/01/05/premiere-the-used-i-come-alive-first-single-from-forthcoming-album-vulnerable/ 

"I Come Alive" will be available for purchase on iTunes January 17th!

The band will be performing at Soundwave Festival in Australia next month. For dates and more information on The Used, check out: www.TheUsed.net

Goatwhore featured on the cover of Decibel Magazine's February 2012 issue

Goatwhore is preparing to announce the details of their new album, however Decibel Magazine readers will get a sneak preview in the February 2012 issue, on newsstands now. Goatwhore is featured on the cover in a story that discusses the new album, Goatwhore's numerous career hurdles and their recent successes. The article features conversations with both guitarist Sammy Duet and vocalist Louis Benjamin Falgoust II. If you aren't a Decibel Magazine subscriber, you can place your order over at DecibelMagazine.com.

Goatwhore will be supporting Lock Up (feat. Members of Napalm Death, Dimmu Borgir, At the Gates, etc.). Following that tour, Goatwhore will be co-headlining select US dates with label mates Hate Eternal.

GOATWHORE
w/ Lock Up, Strong Intention
02/08 - Buffalo, NY - Club Infinity
02/09 - Albany, NY - Bogies
02/10 - Revere, MA - Club Lido
02/11 - Montreal, QC - Katacombes
02/12 - Toronto, ON - Wreck Room
02/13 - Chicago, IL - Reggie’s Rock Club
02/14 - Columbus, OH - Al Rosa Villa
02/15 - Baltimore, MD - Sonar
02/16 - Brooklyn, NY - Club Europa

http://www.facebook.com/thegoat666
http://twitter.com/goatwhorenola

Autumn stream "Truth Be Told (Exhale)" on mxdwn.com!

If you are interested you can click here to see the review I did on this album.

Today, online music destination mxdwn.com will be hosting the premiere of Truth Be Told (Exhale) from Autumn's new album, Cold Comfort. The song is the 8th track on the record and contains some of the albums most poignant and moving melodies. The track can be heard now here at http://www.mxdwn.com/2012/01/04/news/exclusive-stream-truth-be-told-exhale-from-autumn-cold-comfort.

Terrorizer Magazine describes Cold Comfort as "Haunting, lush gothic metal the Netherlands that drips with melody." This is one that fans of Katatonia, The Gathering, etc. will not want to miss!

The title track, as well as the video for The Scarecrow, can be seen now at www.metalblade.com/autumn.

Cold Comfort is the band's fifth full-length effort and their third for Metal Blade Records. It offers a collection of striking songs blended into a diverse and yet surprisingly compact album, one that Autumn considers to be their most personal and meaningful to date.

Autumn needed not look far for a man to put at the helm with the right pioneering philosophy for the band to begin taking leaps: Erik-Jan Dodd, Autumn's live sound engineer since the My New Time era, envisioned a more vintage approach for Cold Comfort. An experiment the band was all too eager to embrace, explains guitarist Mats van der Valk. "If there's anyone who knows what we're all about and more importantly: what we could potentially be all about, it's E-J."

Autumn guitarist Mats van der Valk comments on the band's upcoming shows in Germany: “We're well pleased that we'll be setting foot on German soil again this February, bringing Cold Comfort to Berlin, Köln and Hamburg. We've grown fond of these cities during previous tours, have always been welcomed with heartfelt smiles by awesome audiences. We're very much looking forward to meeting up with fans and friends, old and new, as we hit the stage for the first German shows of the Cold Comfort campaign!”

Tour dates:

01/27 - Groningen, NL - Vera

02/07 - Berlin, DE - K17

02/08 - Koln, DE - Luxor

02/09 - Hamburg, DE - Headcrash

02/10 - Tilburg, NL - 013

03/03 - Aalten, NL - Rock of Ages Festival

05/12 - Emmen, NL - Emmen Metal Festival

06/16 - Oss, NL - Groene Engel

http://www.autumn-band.com

http://www.myspace.com/autumnband

http://www.facebook.com/AutumnBand

Germaphobe Attacks Coughing Woman On Plane, Guy Tries To Use $1M Bill At Walmart, Republician Presidential Candidate Would Go As Far As Invalidating Legally Married Same Sex Couples, Rick Perry's Anti-Gay Campaign Video

Hello everyone, I hope you had a nice New Year and hang over recuperation day! Today is the start of me making this blog better! If all goes well, three posts will be up before I go to bed. So lets not waste time and get into some odd and insane news!

Germaphobe Attacks Coughing Woman On Plane

http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/12/obnoxious_germaphobe_patrick_w.php

Patrick White was at the Jacksonville International Airport and did not want to get sick because he is a big germaphobe. While his plane was deboarding a nineteen year old woman coughed. Instead getting away from the germs, White started insulting the woman and ranted about how she had infected all the other passengers. In the terminal, White is quoted to have “yelled and charged toward her, striking her chest with his right shoulder and arm, driving her back and slamming her into the wall.” White was arrested and got a battery charge for the minor injury he caused to the young woman. In my opinion, if this is how far germaphobe go out in public, they should be on house arrest. They also, should definitely not be travelling by plane. Maybe by car with the windows up, that might do.

Guy Tries To Use $1M Bill At Walmart

http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2011/12/31/offbeat-us-million-dollar-bill.html

I don’t know if this man is extremely stupid or thinks people are really gullible. A man, by the name of Michael Fuller who is fifty three years old and from North Carolina was trying to buy $476 worth of items at a Walmart and insisted to the cashier that it was a real million-dollar note. Fuller was apparently didn’t realize that the highest quantity of bill every made was the ten thousand dollar note, but even that was discontinued in 1969. Police arrested the man and he was charged with attempting to obtain property by false pretense and uttering a forged instrument. It is not sure as to whether Fuller has an attorney and he is was put in jail with a bond of $17 500.

Republician Presidential Candidate Would Go As Far As Invalidating Legally Married Same Sex Couples

http://freakoutnation.com/2012/01/01/rick-santorum-claims-he-would-invalidate-legally-married-same-sex-couples/

Rick Santorum seems to not be on the good side when it comes to any same-sex couples ever voting for him, it doesn’t help he is Republican. Chuck Todd, from MSNBC, interviews the republican and stated that he would do more than support the amendment that would put a ban on same-sex marriage. Santorum says he would go as far as to also support the invalidation of all the legally same-sex married couples. He also claims that except for government benefits, “same-sex couples can contract for everything.” Even going as far as comparing the loving marriages of many of these couples, to having a friend or an aunt. There is also this excerpt from their interview I’d like to share:

Todd: What would you do with same-sex couples who got married? Would you make them get divorced?

Santorum: Well, their marriage would be invalid. I think if the constitution says “marriage is this,” then people whose marriage is not consistent with the constitution… I’d love to think there’s another way of doing it.

In a study that was recently finished, it was found that heterosexual men with homophobic attitude said they were not aroused by male on male porn, but their penises had their own opinions not so similar. It is being said that apparently homophobia is associated with the homosexual arousal of the homophobic person is unaware or fully denies it. Thus making Santorum a self-despising gay man in the political closet.

I am unsure what to think of that study but if they were tested down there as well, there is no arguing. On the topic of Santorum, I think he is crazy, just as crazy as the rest of the republicans. They have been saying some crazy things these days. I will leave you with Rick Perry’s campaign video, it is just as homophobic as Santorum!