Tag Archives: Opeth

Vale of Pnath – Accursed

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In the last decade or so, the state of Colorado has gifted the world with uncommonly exceptional, heavy bands. The Denver based act, Vale of Pnath is one of these young groups that have brought a fantastically particular Death Metal sound to the scene. With two full-length albums under their belt, the band is going back to the EP format for their newest release, Accursed (Willowtip Records). It’s been three years since their last record and this genre-dodging ensemble is finally bringing more of their innovative work to light.

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Mayhem, The Vintage Caravan, Gaahl’s Wyrd, Inter Arma, Gost and more Added to Damnation Festival 2019

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A major announcement of lineup additions arrives today as Damnation Festival has added sick bands such as Mayhem, playing on the main stage with Opeth on November 2nd. They are joined by a cadre of awesome bands such as The Vintage Caravan, Gaahl’s Wyrd, Inter Arma, Gost, and Carnation. They joined the aforementioned Opeth, Primordial, Venom Prison, Blood Red Throne, Birds In Row, Jo Quail and Imperial Triumphant. More bands to be announced. Damnation takes place Saturday, November 2, at Leeds University Union and tickets are on sale now at the value price of £49 at the link below. Continue reading →


Cellar Darling – The Spell

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Metal and Folk go back decades. From the inception of the genre in the 1960s, folk literature and myths became a staple across a variety of Metal genres with their fantastical themes and imaginative escapism. However, the sonic and musical marriage of Folk and Metal is very different from those lyrical thematics both genres now share. Some amongst the Metal community would argue that the inclusion of ancient instruments such as panpipes, fiddles, and flutes makes the music sound corny and cliché and thus diminishes the aggressive nature of the metallic component of Folk Metal.Continue reading →


Mike Portnoy Would Still Like to Work with Devin Townsend and Mikael Åkerfeldt Someday

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Mike Portnoy, by Evil Robb Photography

As music fans, we are getting spoiled these days with supergroups and guest collaborations. One rumor of a collaboration from the last decade that didn’t happen was Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, Sons of Apollo, The Winery Dogs, Neal Morse Band, Flying Colors) Devin Townsend and Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt . In a series of tweets between Portnoy and Townsend the last few days, Portnoy expressed interest that we would still ike to work with them in some capacity someday. Townsend answered back about his admiration for Portnoy, and offered some insights as to why this never happened. Åkerfeldt is not on Twitter and hasn’t commented. This is obviously just speculation and playful musing by Mike. We are not trying to fan the flames of it, except to say we’d love to hear some music from this group, if it ever happens. Remember that music is a gift and these artists don’t owe the fans much of anything. Thanks for sharing Mike, don’t kill us! Continue reading →


Contrarian – Their Worm Never Dies

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Progressive Death Metal is all the rage in Metal at the moment. It seems to have exploded in the past decade with bands like Opeth, Gojira and Between The Buried And Me being the crème de la crème. However, with today’s focus on spotless production and mechanical quantization, some of the primal energy from the genre’s roots in the nineties has been lost in the pursuit of sonic ear candy.Continue reading →


Opeth, Birds In Row, Lord Dying, Wheel, Imperial Triumphant and More Booked For Damnation Festival 2019

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Long-running UK Metal festival Damnation has announced their first headliner for later this year, along with other bands. Opeth will headline the fest, hopefully supporting their as yet unannounced new album. Also added to the fest are Birds In Row, Lord Dying, Wheel, Imperial Triumphant, Jo Quail, Alunah, Dawn Ray’d and Godeater. Eighteen more bands are yet to be revealed, so we will bring you that news as it happens. The fest takes place on the 19th of November, at Leeds University Union. Tickets are on sale at the link below. Continue reading →


SAOR – Forgotten Paths

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Folk Metal is a curious genre. Oftentimes it can be undeservingly treated with ridicule; when a pair of violins and a flute appear onstage alongside a BC Rich plenty of jeers can come the way of the performers. Sometimes the ridicule is fully deserved as the folk influence can become painfully twee affair: see Eluveitie or Turisas at times. On rare occasions, however, a traditional sway can produce truly beautiful results; see, in this case, SAOR.Continue reading →


Soen – Lotus

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Featuring, at various times past and present, former members of Opeth, Testament, Death, Willowtree, and Sadus, Swedish Progressive Metallers Soen are one of that rare breed of ‘supergroup’ that actually makes good music and isn’t just a disappointing ego trip. Soen have spent their career balancing Tool atmospherics and Opeth’s staccato shredding and clean moments to create a style all of their own that is full of light and shade and a back catalogue filled with quality. With their fourth album, Lotus (Silver Lining) the band have crafted their most enjoyable record yet.Continue reading →


Swallow The Sun – When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light

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In a sense, this review finds itself in an onerous position. Recorded in the wake of Finnish singer Aleah Stanbridge’s death, its subject marks the return to the music of her partner, Juha Raivio, and his Epic Goth Metal band, Swallow The Sun. In fact, the press release goes so far as to describe the new album, When A Shadow Is Forced Into The Light (Century Media), as being “fuelled by personal loss and powered by the will to continue.”Continue reading →


Former Opeth Keyboard Player Per Wiberg To Release Debut Solo Album In 2019

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Per Wiberg (Opeth, Spiritual Beggars, Kamchatka) has announced his signing to famed metal label Despotz Records, for the release of his debut solo album in 2019. Per released a statement about launching his solo career and what to expect from the album. Continue reading →