October celebrates the return of cooler weather, overpriced pumpkin-flavored beverages, and everything spooky. This October is extra special as the Duke of Spook, Wednesday 13 returns to the land of the living with a brand new album, Horrifier (Napalm Records), just in time to set the mood for Halloween.
Petbrick are the brain-melting collaboration between metal legend Iggor Cavalera (Absent In Body / Cavalera Conspiracy / ex-Sepultura) and electronic noise maker Wayne Adams (Big Lad / Wasted Death). The unique collaboration has been perfected over the last few years in Adam’s London-based Bearbiteshorse Studio, so far yielding their debut album I in 2019, and a handful of EPs and split releases.
No Devotion – No Oblivion (Equal Vision)
With an understated class that is a prevalent trait that underpins the second album from No Devotion, a collective featuring Geoff Rickly (Thursday) and Lee Gaze and Stu Richardson (ex-lostprophets), ‘Starlings’ is the gentle breath of life that ushers the album in; lush swathes of synths underpinning an emotive and earnest chorus that could have been taken from the Deftones more reflective moments. Rickly sets a stall out espousing vulnerable confidence and exceptional quality from the outset, before second track ‘No Oblivion’ shows the other side of the bands arsenal with synth motifs dancing around guitars and quasi-industrial beats, and nods to Nine Inch Nails in one of the more abrasive tunes. Continue reading
The Goth tinged band The Nocturnal Affair opened the night. Armed with the deep and beautiful vocals of Brendan Shane, They are a really heavy gloomy doom band that’s kind of hopeful. A weird mix, I know. Thanks to strong as hell wireless mic, Shane took to the crowd , from up in the seats and to the pit and back again!
With very little in the way of recorded music released prior to this release but notably a swathe of well received and high profile support slots including recently with Rolo Tomassi; UK metallic hardcore outfit Heriot have forged a scintillating reputation in a short space of time. Now with the eagerly anticipated debut EP Profound Morality (Church Road Records), the band are showing that they are truly living up to expectation by delivering a short but sharp release which reveals surprising depth.
Something isn’t quite right here.
A Rammstein record a mere three years after the last one and preceded by no rumbling stories of friction between bandmates or nebulous warnings of permanent disbandment? The last time the Neue Deutsche Härte/industrial act had such a swift turnaround was when Reise Reise was followed by fun leftovers album Rosenrot a year later, so could this quick release (by their standards anyway) mean Rammstein are actually happy or could it be hinting at something more ominous?
The Wellmont Theater in Montclair NJ was burning inside when Ministry, Melvins and Corrosion Of Conformity took the stage on Saturday night.
The theater itself seats about 2000 people with general admission on the floor which is perfect for a swirling mosh pit. Built in 1922 as an old vaudeville house, it was enovated and reopened in 2008. Now under the Live Nation umbrella, it hosts some major acts and The Montclair Film Festival. It should be noted that if you are going to a show there, plan to arrive early as parking can be a challenge of Herculean proportions.
With steadfast ambition and faith in leaving their comfort zone, French Industrial and Groove Metal band Dagoba have made a bold return with their first album in five years, By Night (Napalm Records). While some songs share a familiar territory for the group, others reveal a whole new side to them. Chugging guitars and double-bass drums unveil a certain fierceness in the electronic hooks, while frontman Shawter adds his lionhearted approach to vocal dynamics.
Tristan Shone knows a thing or two about wacky, unorthodox percussion, thanks in large part to his expertise in mechanical engineering. With that kind of arsenal at his disposal, Shone ran with it on his latest effort for Author & Punisher, Krüller (Relapse Records), eight tracks packed with diversity, uniqueness, and precision. It’s also his ninth full-length release since 2005, and it superbly stands alone.
