Following the news that former Entombed and current Entombed AD vocalist Lars-Goran Petrov was diagnosed with incurable cancer, Converge announced they would be donating 100% of the earnings from their 2013 guest-filled Entombed covers EP to Petrov’s GoFundMe. The EP includes five covers of Entombed’s “Wolverine Blues” with a different vocalist on each one. The covers were originally recorded to be spliced together as one track on Converge’s 2012 split with Napalm Death, but the following year, Converge released each vocalist’s take as its own track on this EP. In addition to Converge’s own Jacob Bannon, Nate Newton, and Kurt Ballou, the vocalists include Aaron Turner (Isis, Sumac, Old Man Gloom), Kevin Baker (All Pigs Must Die, The Hope Conspiracy), and Tomas “Tompa” Lindberg (At The Gates, Disfear).Continue reading
Tag Archives: Kurt Ballou
Converge Streams New Single – “Endless Arrow”
Converge has shared a brand new track to help us get through this dark time! ‘Endless Arrow’ is a a new, over 30-minute version of their song ‘Aimless Arrow’, from their 2012 album All We Love We Leave Behind (Epitaph Records). The song was shared as a “pay what you want” option on Bandcamp, so feel free to help this band, who have indicated they are working on new music for a future release.
The band commented:
To keep people entertained in these challenging times, Converge present “Endless Arrow”; A over 30 minute ambient/experimental version of our song “Aimless Arrow” created by Kurt Ballou. This ambient/experimental track is offered as a “Pay What You Want” download.
Crowhurst – III
I’ll let you in on a little secret when it comes to reviewing metal and hardcore. If Converge’s Kurt Ballou produced or recorded an album, chances are that the getting is going to be pretty good. Two songs into Crowhurst’s III (Prophecy Productions) I found myself wondering who manned the boards and – lo and behold – the aforementioned Ballou handled the affair at the now legendary GodCity Studios. Praise the maker.Continue reading
Zeal & Ardor – Live In London
For many people a live album is hardly worth bothering with. The performances can vary from being exact replicas of the studio recordings to blandly and barely played. However, a great live album is a thing of beauty, and any naysayers of the format are hard pressed to deny the electricity that jumps out of one’s speakers or headphones. Think of how enthralling Slipknot’s live material sounds, or how well crafted an Iron Maiden set-list can be and you’ll find the value in live recordings.Continue reading
High On Fire – Electric Messiah
I don’t know how Matt Pike does it. Six months since Sleep dropped The Sciences (which is still ace and you should totally buy if you haven’t already) seemingly out of nowhere, the man who has forgotten more brilliant riffs than most of us will ever know has effortlessly created another world-beater. I admit that might be a case of me showing my hand a bit too soon – saying a High On Fire record is great is about as predictable as the sun rising in the morning, but both are positive reminders that good things are always on the horizon.Continue reading
SUMAC – Love In Shadow
Big time artists do big-time things, at big times, to paraphrase my favorite sports analogy. 2018 is shaping up to be a crazier time in the world than ever, full of chaos, and special kind of hubris that fuels the mania. Art is typically a reflection of society, and for me personally, I have been clinging to art in a vain attempt to help save my own life in this tumultuous time. One of those artists giving me life has been underground supergroup SUMAC, with songs as big as the all caps in their name. Turning in yet another massive release with Love In Shadow (Thrill Jockey), the band peels back the curtain on this undercurrent running through all of us and shows us the glorious ugliness many choose not to see.Continue reading
Cult Leader Returns With A New Single “I Am Healed”, New Album Incoming
Cult Leader (ex-Gaza) has dropped a crushing new single, ‘I Am Healed’. The track comes from their forthcoming new album A Patient Man, due out on November 9th via Deathwish Inc. Jam this track out now and try not to break up every piece of furniture in the house! Continue reading
Stream Converge’s Cover Of Negative Approach’s ‘”Whatever I Do”
Converge has shared their cover of Negative Approach’s ‘Whatever I Do’, originally released as part of the Tomorrow Seems So Hopeless: A Tribute to Negative Approach compilation from 200. That album has been out of print and original label is out of business, according to Converge’s Bandcamp page. It was recorded at Kurt Ballou’s God City Studios in Salem, Massachusetts. Buy or stream the track right now!Continue reading
High On Fire Streams New Song, Full Album Details
As previously reported at Ghost Cult, High On Fire’s new album will be released on October 5, 2018, via Entertainment One (eOne). The legendary band has shared the first new music, the title track for you to rock out to over at NPR. It is a tribute to band hero and late Motorhead frontman Ian “Lemmy” Kilmister. Check it out!Continue reading
High On Fire Set To Release “Electric Messiah” Album This Fall
Stoner metal kings High On Fire have announced they are releasing their new album dubbed Electric Messiah via the eOne Label this October. Some details such as the track listing are available, with the first new music hopefully coming soon. Frontman Matt Pike recently gave an interview to the DC Heavy Metal Podcast in which he shared some of the details, including a headline tour soon with Municipal Waste. The follow-up to 2015’s Luminiferous, Electric Messiah was recorded at producer Kurt Ballou’s GodCity Studios where the last two HoF LPs were created. Additional tracking was done by Bryan Sours of Sour Sound.Continue reading