Ghost Cult caught up with our old pal Matt Harvey of Exhumed to discuss the new album from the band, “To The Dead” – out now from Relapse Records. In addition to catching up on his life and the band and Bay Area Death Metal, Matt treated us to a track-by-track breakdown of the new album. In addition, he discussed the many contributions from members of the band, current, and past who made an impact on the new album!
As shitty as the political climate can be, the one silver lining you can rely on is that it’s going to inspire artists and musicians young and old to create some remarkable work. After a long slumber the boys in R.A.M.B.O. woke up to a world of alternative facts, conspiracy theories run amok, Boris Johnson and tales of “rigged” elections. All that kind of nonsense is the stuff that stimulates folks to create albums like Defy Extinction (Relapse Records).
Besides writing reviews and attending shows, I have both full time and part time jobs, a family and too many cats. It’s safe to say that I like to stay busy but I have nothing on Exhumed founder and frontman, Matt Harvey. In this year alone he toured with both Gruesome and Death tribute band Left To Die (performing Leprosy in its entirety!) If that’s not enough, he somehow conjured up more hours in a day to write and record Exhumed’s latest batch of gore soaked madness, To The Dead (Relapse Records).
It’s been over 25 years since Canadian thrashers Razor’s last album. Since then the band has reformed and played a string of shows here and there. In recent years Relapse Records reissued some of the band’s earlier material, Violent Restitution, Shotgun Justice and Open Hospitality. A new generation seemed to discover or rediscover Razor and they were hungry for new material. This was just the push those old thrashers needed.
Something gigantic and terrible is looming over the dark horizon, and it’s reaching its mighty hand to drag you down below the earth. That’s the feeling anyway on Summoning the Slayer (Relapse Records) — the fourth full-length record by Michigan’s death/doom quintet Temple of Void.
Released some twenty-five years into a career that saw them burst out of the east-coast hardcore scene in the mid nineties, Heavy Pendulum (Relapse Records) is Cave In’s seventh album, and is a landmark release for the band who sadly lost their bass player Caleb Schofield to a car accident in 2018. Schofield also provided many of Cave In’s heavier vocals, and his role in the band is assumed by close friend Nate Newton (Converge, Deathriders), and who also has a mean voice himself.
Ghost Cult caught up with Mike Scheidt of YOB recently, while the band was on their mini-headline tour. Mike talked about the return to touring, his approach to playing live, the longevity of the band, the new deluxe re-issue of their classic album Atma (Relapse Records) – what Mike is reading these days, and the progress of the next YOB album! Also, check out this EXCLUSIVE photo set from YOB live in New York by Dante Torrieri of Useless Rebel Imaging! In addition to our recent live review of the current tour from the band, Ghost Cult scribe Michael Miller shared his thoughts upon seeing the band recently sharing the common awe we all feel experiencing the band, as well, which serve as a nice warm up to our chat with Mike.
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.
Amorphis is one of those bands that marches to the beat of their own drum. They are a major-league act that has elegantly evolved over the years and is known for their ever-developing style. They are beloved because they master innovation while remaining tried and true to their uncommon sound. For over three decades, this six-piece has accomplished the reputation of being one of the main contributors to establishing the Scandinavian Melodic Death Metal genre. Looking through their delightfully diverse discography, it’s a small wonder as to why they have gained such acclaim.
Post-Metal supergroup Absent In Body, featuring members of Amenra, Neurosis, and Sepultura have announced their debut album, Plague God, out March 25th, 2022 via Relapse Records. Recorded and produced by Tim De Gieter, Much luv studio Belgium, the album was mastered by Jack Shirley at Atomic Garden in the US. The band also shared a new single and music video for their debut single “The Acres/The Ache” which you can see below. “The Acres/The Ache” music video was filmed and edited by guitarist Mathieu Vandekerckhove.