Unleash The Serpents – An Interview With Skeletonwitch


skeletonwitch2013Blackened Thrash Metal act Skeletonwitch are back with a brand new album. Recorded with the prominent producer Kurt Ballou (Converge), Serpents Unleashed (Prosthetic Records) comes out in a special moment in Skeletonwitch’s career. The band is also celebrating the tenth anniversary. More than enough reasons to chat with the guitarist and founding member, Scott Hedrick.Continue reading


Full Speed Ahead – An Interview With Ramming Speed


Ramming Speed 1Ramming Speed has paid their dues in the very competitive Boston metal scene, going back to their humble beginnings as Despotic Robot. Perhaps cutting their teeth in shows in basements, VFW halls, and crack house hovels helps a band prepare for touring the world. Ghost Cult chatted with drummer Jonah Livingston, and he is one of the most real and down to earth guys you will ever meet. Ramming Speed’s new album is out on Prosthetic Records, and if you don’t already own Doomed To Destroy, Destined To Die; something is seriously wrong with you and your taste in metal is questionable.Continue reading


Skeletonwitch – Serpents Unleashed


skeletonwitch-serpents-unleashed-275x275Skeletonwitch is the kind of band that makes you feel good, no matter what. Many people can say the band does not bring anything new to the table and to be completely honest… It’s kind of true. From day one they had the good sense of doing their music always focussing on getting good songs, one thing that most extreme bands have lost. That ladies and gentleman, sets this band apart.Continue reading


Last Chance To Reason – Level 3


Last-Chance-to-Reason-Level-3Last Chance To Reason is essentially a dead band and Level 3 (Prosthetic Records) represents their final fling. For those new to the band this is the third interactive album that matches to a video game (which I haven’t played) and there’s plenty of game noises thrown in here and there to make sure you don’t forget. It’s progressive technical metal full of bass grooves and chugging, arpeggios and riffs from guitar, driving drums and rather quiet and highly-processed clean vocals sharing with a bit of harsh. There’s a large measure if synth building depth that contrasts with sparse moments and even some well-placed silence.Continue reading


Ramming Speed – Doomed To Destroy/Destined To Die


DTDDTD_Cover_WebRGBRamming  Speed are a relatively new-jack “neo”-thrash outfit from Massachusetts, but unlike their peers in Havok, Fueled By Fire, and Bonded By Blood, they prove that they’re doing more than reliving the (G)olden days of Exodus and pre-Black Album Metallica; they’ve got the nuance and the unadulterated energy to pull off more than the occasional stint in a dive bar or DIY venue in the middle of nowhere, Kansas. Area code need not be included because the pigs would eagerly eat it up.Continue reading


Dark Energy – An Interview With Darkane


Darkane-2013With five years elapsing between their last two records, and a notorious history of bad luck in the studio, Darkane are no strangers to overcoming obstacles for the love of their art. In spite of this, they’ve concocted a career spanning six highly-regarded albums. Their latest, The Sinister Supremacy, reunites the band with original vocalist Lawrence Mackrory, who left shortly after their debut release way back in 1998. Ghost Cult took time to chat with founder and drummer Peter Wildoer to find out where Darkane have been since we saw them last.Continue reading


Darkane – The Sinister Supremacy


Darkane - new album coverSwedish thrash metal ensemble Darkane are a band with a long history. Back when they started, they were seen as one of the most talented bands in Sweden, poised for greatness. For some reason, they never really broke through, despite a catalogue of high-quality releases like Rusted Angel (1999), Expanding Senses (2002) and Layers Of Lies (2005). Let’s see whether their fortunes will be reversed with The Sinister Supremacy, the latest Darkane album.Continue reading


Dew-Scented – Insurgent


Dew-Scented-InsurgentIt is hard to believe German modern thrashers Dew-Scented have been issuing music for over two decades, and have built quite the underground following over the years. Their latest release Insurgent is a collection of three new songs, seven live tracks and cover versions of various favorites of the band.Continue reading