Who’s Back More Intensely?
Iced Earth drummer Brent Smedley reports, “We are back with a vengeance,” whereas Vinnie Labella (guitarist) of the reunited Exhorder says, “Buckle up, muthafuckas... we’re back!”
Move Over Mel
A movie spanning the life and career of Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister is being celebrated in a new documentary tentatively titled Lemmy and is slated for release in 2009. Harder Beat’s Extremities column recommends Passion of Lemmy as the movie’s title…
Releases
Roadrunner Records has reportedly set a November 3 European release date for the as-yet-untitled seventh album from the Norway’s Satyricon… Cannibal Corpse will release its first-ever career retrospective, a three-disc DVD titled Centuries of Torment The First 20 Years. It’s scheduled for July 8 through Metal Blade Records… Metal Mind Productions will reissue two re-mastered albums by Polish death metal pioneers Dragon — Fallen Angel from 1990 and 1991’s Scream Of Death — on May 19 in Europe and July 8 in America… Exhorder’s legendary Slaughter in the Vatican and The Law were released on May 19 in Europe and will see a street date of July 8 in America through Metal Mind Productions...
Britian’s crossover thrash outfit Short Sharp Shock (SSS) or GFS for (Good F’ing Sh*t) are currently in the studio recording their sophomore effort…. Necrophagia vocalist Frank “Killjoy” Pucci has co-written and contributed guest vocals to “Rituals of Bloodshed,” which appears on the forthcoming debut album from Insidious… Finnish dark metal band Goatron will release its debut album, The House of the Goat on May 16….
Los Angeles thrashers Bonded by Blood will treat fans to two exclusive bonus tracks on their eagerly-anticipated debut, Feed The Beast, due June 9 in Europe and June 10 in the USA… Florida’s Kult Ov Azael will enter Mana Recording in St. Petersburg, Florida, in August to begin recording their fourth album, Destroying the Sacred. The CD will consist of ten new songs plus a Possessed cover with vocals by Possessed’s Jeff Becerra… Montreal’s Necronomicon recently finished recording their third album, Return of the Witch.
DVD
Poland’s Metal Mind Productions will release the first DVD from Danish thrashers Artillery, One Foot in the Grave, The Other One in the Trash, on June 16 in Europe and August 5 in the USA…
Label Contest
Nuclear Blast Records has teamed up with myspace.com for a band contest. For more information and details visit www.myspace.com/nuclearblastmyspacebandcontest
Got (soccer) balls
Gotthard’s “Lift U Up” has been tapped as the official song of Switzerland’s national soccer team for the upcoming European championship..
Cool stuff
Two Testament songs, “Souls of Black” and “Electric Crown” will be featured in the next Rock Band video game according to vocalist Chuck Billy. No other information is available. The band’s first release in nine years, The Formation of Damnation, moved 11,400 copies in the United States in its first week of sales, debuting at the No. 59 position on The Billboard 200 chart…
Ink
Sothis, America’s answer to symphonic black metal, has landed a deal with Candlelight Records. The group’s full-length debut, De Oppresso Liber, will be released later this year. Sothis is also seeking a bass player. Visit sothis.us for more information… Swedish dark, melodic metal act Evergrey has inked a deal with Steamhammer/SPV. The agreement covers both the group’s brand-new studio album, Torn, which will arrive at the stores at the beginning of September and their complete back catalogue… Athens, Greece-based death/thrash metal band Descending has inked a deal with Massacre Records. The group’s new album, Enter Annihilation, is scheduled for release this summer… Germany’s Callejon has a worldwide deal with Nuclear Blast …
Hog Wash or Pig Sue-y
University of Arkansas now has licensing control over Razorback electric guitars, commemorating Dimebag Darrell Abbott. Two Florida companies created the line and began selling the guitars after the 2004 death of Abbott. In 2007, the university sued, claiming the Razorback guitar brand infringed on the school’s copyright. The Arkansas athletic teams bear the Razorback name. A settlement filed on May 6 gives the university licensing control over the guitars, but the two companies get to keep selling them.
And dance / techno artist Moby was quoted as saying the lyrics of “War Nerve” from Pantera’s GSTK album are “the most unrelentingly evil lyrics you can imagine. They make church-burning Norwegian Satanists sound like Sunday school teachers…”
God Forbid — Ridglea Theater, 5/17/08
New Jersey’s God Forbid rolled into Fort Worth as part of the “In Thrash We Trust Tour” and delivered a crushing set. With songs like “Anti Hero” and “Broken Promise,” it took no time for the pit to explode into a whirling cyclone. “The Lonely Dead” and “Chains Of Humanity” were extraordinary as was “To The Fallen Heroes,” which the band dedicated to the U.S. Military. The real treat was hearing an “Untitled” new song, which fit perfectly into the set.
God Forbid knows how to get the fists pumping and the pit moving. Byron Davis (vocals) was in the face of those in the front of the stage, while the Coyle brothers (Doc and Dallas) delivered plenty of riffs and guitar pyrotechnics. Beeker (bass) and Corey Pierce (drums) kept the rhythm in check and the floor rumbling. Don’t miss the brutality when they come back through with a new album in tow. (Travis Tutwiler)
Johnny B of X’s Red
Photo: Linda Hollar
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Johnny B. Benefit — Rob’s Billiards, 5/31/08
It was like a family reunion Saturday night at Rob’s, as bands from across the metroplex and their fans came out to raise money for X’s Red front man Johnny B., who had a horrific motorcycle accident.
F.T.L. (Four Texans Live), Bad Fun, My Last Nerve, Seventh From Adam and Lapse of Sanity all put on energetic, fun sets for the big crowd. X’s Red founder Jerry Flores (who added some great drumming of his own) and his wife, Rosa, kept things exciting with a raffle that featured donations from Rob’s, the HB, several bands and others. Sprinkled throughout the crowd were members of Sin Serum, Pride Of Texas, Phantom X, EKG, Little Green Men and many other local musicians.
The event raised a tidy sum for Johnny B. Everyone had a great time, as well, which is certainly what Johnny wants to hear. It was a great sight to see so many of the local family of metal musicians come together to help a fallen brother. (Kevin White)
I Shalt Become — Requiem, Moribund Records
This is not your typical death metal, but instead a dark epic journey that almost relaxes you — yet the eerie compositions give a feeling of despair and hopelessness. There are no true vocals, only growls and vocal noises that almost seem buried behind the music. The 10 tracks flow together and almost meld into one long song. The guitar tone has nice fuzz to it, and the drums are very subtle and not overpowering. There’s not much variation as most of the songs sound alike, but it makes for just slipping the into the player, grabbing a nice beverage and letting your mind wander.
(Travis Tutwiler)
Resistant Culture — Welcome To Reality, SOS Records
Welcome To Reality mixes punk and grindcore, utilizing fast, spit-fire guitar riffs and out-of-control drums, as well as some tribal beats and jungle sounds. At times the guitar tones are reminiscent of Obituary. The drums, on the other hand, sound flat throughout the disc and have no real depth. This may be a recording issue that could be fixed with better production. The vocals are what really ruin this cd. They’re a poor combination of roaring and growling, but then there’s this awful yodeling thing that appears on “Land Keeper” and “It’s Not Too Late.” It may pop up on other tracks but hearing it on those was enough. Resistant Culture should stick with the strengths of their music and can the yodeling because they may find their cd’s serving as drink coasters instead of spinning in someone’s CD player. (Travis Tutwiler)
Transcending Bizarre? — The Serpent’s Manifolds, DissonArt Productions
Upon hearing The Serpent’s Manifolds I heard a similarity to Daath in the vocals. There are plenty of pummeling songs, shredding guitar and, unfortunately, out of place keyboards. The title track really stands out with its bludgeoning drumbeats, killer guitar licks and vocals ranging from guttural screaming to a deep clean voice. What hurts this song, as well as most of the others, are the keyboards. It just doesn’t fit and takes some of the intensity of the songs away. “Dimension Hell” almost sounds like a more brutal Symphony X tune with wimpier keyboards. As for “Cell” it just plain sounds like a song that should be in a Disney movie. Despite the poor use of keyboards on this disc, songs like “Writhing Coils Of Construction” and “The Naveless One” really deliver stellar guitar and drum work, as well as some much needed brutality.
(Travis Tutwiler)
Sevendust — Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow, 7Bros Records
Atlanta homeboys, Sevendust, have returned with another stellar release. Combining the things you’ve come to expect, such as powerful rhythms, tight drumming, Lajon’s soulful voice and drummer Mogan Rose’s complimenting shouts. “Contradiction” grabs you with the bounce and brutality of their debut cd and may just be the strongest track. “Scapegoat” finds a hint of NIN before finding a signature Sevendust groove and shouts from Morgan. Chris Daughtry, American Idol winner and friend of the band, shares vocal duties on the gripping “The Past.” Mark Tremonti (Alter Bridge) adds a nice guitar solo on “Hope” while Alter Bridge vocalist, Myles Kennedy lends his pipes on “Sorrow.” Chapter VII finds Sevendust progressing while still keeping true to what fans expect. Another nice surprise is the addition of some guitar solos. Make sure you pick up this disc and catch the band at the ‘Texas Only’ Ozzfest on August 9 at Pizza Hut Park in Frisco.
(Travis Tutwiler)
Cavalera Conspiracy — Inflikted, Roadrunner Records
Muther F*ckin’ Brutal! That’s what the Cavalera brothers — Igor and Max — have put together as their first project in over 12 years. After forming the metal juggernaut Sepultura, a rift separated the brothers, and Max went on to form Soulfly. After burying the hatchet, the two incorporated the help of guitarist Marc Rizzo (Soulfly) and Gojira singer/guitarist Joe Duplantier to handle bass duties. This cd is brutal with tracks like “Inflikted,” “Sanctuary” and “Bloodbrawl.” Marc Rizzo’s guitar playing is unreal, as he serves up the blazing solos. Max’s voice is in your face, as are Igor’s drums. Duplantier plays guitar on two tracks, as evident on the Gojira sounding “Ultra-Violent.” One of metal’s most anticipated reunions has truly lived up to expectations. If you don’t own this disc yet, then get off your ass and pick it up. Better yet, iTunes has two bonus tracks. So get moving!
(Travis Tutwiler)
