Maryland Deathfest held their annual festival in the venerable city of Baltimore a few weeks back. The four-day is one of the best-run independent underground metal festivals in the world. As usual Ghost Cult was on hand for the festivities, with Hillarie Jason bringing you her spectacular eye on bands through photos. Continue reading
Check out all of today’s new releases in the music world!
Ace Frehley – Spaceman (Picture Disc) (eOne Music) (Buy)
A Day To Remember – Attack Of The Killer B-Sides – Newbury Comics Exclusive (Color) (Buy)
Alice Cooper – Dirty Diamonds (Vinyl) (New West Records)(Buy)
Alien Weaponry – Tu (Vinyl) (Napalm Records)(Buy)
American War Machine – Unholy War (Bridge Nine)(Buy)
Andy Black – The Ghost Of Ohio (Lava/Republic Records)(Buy)
Bad Religion – My Sanity (7″ & 3″) (Epitaph)(Buy)
Basement – Be Here Now (7″) (Fueled By Ramen)(Buy)
Beartooth – B-Sides (7″) (Red Bull Records)(Buy)
Big Business – The Beast You Are (Joyful Noise)(Buy)
Blackguard – Storm (Self-Released)(Buy)
Blind Guardian – The Forgotten Tales Re-Release (Nuclear Blast) (Buy)
Blind Guardian – Live Re-Release (Nuclear Blast) (Buy)
Blind Guardian – Tokyo Tales Re-Release (Nuclear Blast) (Buy)
Brant Bjork – Keep Your Cool Re-Release (Heavy Psych Sounds) (Buy)
BTS – Map Of The Soul: Persona (Buy)
The Chemical Brothers – No Geography(Buy)
Chad Smith & Josh Klinghoffer – Jeepster/Monolith (7″) (ORG Music)(Buy)
Chuck Mosley – Joe Haze Session #2 (7″) (blocGLOBAL)(Buy)
D’angelo – Voodoo – Newbury Comics Exclusive (Color) (Buy)
Death Therapy – Voices (Solid State Records)(Buy)
Def Leppard – The Story So Far Vol. 2/B-Sides (Vinyl) (UMC/Virgin)(Buy)
Diesear – Bloodred Inferno (eOne Music)(Buy)
Dio – Last In Line (Live) (Picture Disc) (BMG)(Buy)
Melissa Etheridge – The Medicine Show(Buy)
Bruce Hornsby – Absolute Zero (Buy)
Felix Martin – Caracas (N/A)(Buy)
Foo Fighters – Big Me (3″) (Roswell Records)(Buy)
Gabriel And The Apocalypse – Alpha Bionic (Pavement Entertainment)(Buy)
Graveyard – Live At Pustervik (Reaktor/Nuclear Blast)(Buy)
Green Jellÿ – Cereal Killer Sounds (Vinyl) (Say-10 Records)(Buy)
Greta Van Fleet – From The Fires (Vinyl) (Lava/Republic)(Buy)
Halestorm – Buzz/Chemical (7″) (Atlantic)()
Hatebreed – Satisfaction Is The Death Of Desire – Newbury Comics Exclusive (Color) (Buy)
Hath – Of Rot And Ruin (Willowtip)(Buy)
Hawkwind – The 1999 Party – Live At The Chicago Auditorium (Vinyl) (Rhino/Parlophone)(Buy)
High On Fire – Bat Salad (12″) (eOne Music)(Buy)
Iced Earth – Enter The Realm Re-Release (Red)(Buy)
Inferi – The End Of An Era | Rebirth (The Artisan Era)(Buy)
Inter Arma – Sulphur English (Relapse)(Buy)
Ketzer – Cloud Collider (Metal Blade)(Buy)
Etta James – Etta James Rocks The House – Newbury Comics Exclusive (Color) (Buy)
Norah Jones – Begin Again(Buy)
L7 – Burn Baby (7″) (Blackheart Records)(Buy)
Lake Street Dive – Bad Self Portraits – Newbury Comics Exclusive (Color) (Buy)
Aaron Lewis – State I’m In (Buy)
Mastodon – Stairway To Nick John (10″) (Reprise)(Buy)
Molases – Molases – (Van Records) (Buy)
Motörhead – Overkill/Bomber (7″) (BMG)(Buy)
Motörhead – Rockaway Beach (7″) (Motörhead Music)(Buy)
My Chemical Romance – The Black Parade Is Dead (Vinyl) (Reprise Records) (Buy)
Nekrasov – Lust Of Consciousness (Prosthetic Records)(Buy)
Nirvana – Live At The Paramount (Buy)
Nita Strauss – Controlled Chaos (Vinyl) (Sumerian Records)(Buy)
Numenorean – Adore (Season Of Mist)(Buy)
Pearl Jam – Live At East Street (Vinyl) (Monkeywrench)(Buy)
Pelican – Midnight & Mescaline (7″) (Southern Lord)(Buy)
Pete Rock – Don’t Smoke Rock Instrumentals (Buy)
Pink Floyd – A Saucerful Of Secrets (Mono) (Vinyl) (Legacy)(Buy)
Posthum – Like Wildfire (Indie Recordings)(Buy)
Rush – Hemispheres (Picture Disc) (UMe)(Buy)
Scream Blue Murder – Rock Bottom (Stay Sick Recordings)(Buy)
Serj Tankian – Harakiri (Vinyl) (Music On Vinyl)(Buy)
Silverstein – Redux: The First 10 Years (N/A)(Buy)
Suldusk – Lunar Falls (Northern Silence Productions)(Buy)
Sunn O))) – Life Metal (Vinyl/CD) (Southern Lord)(Buy)
Sworn Amongst – Reclamation EP (Famined Records)(Buy)
The Machinist – Confidimus In Morte (Prosthetic Records)(Buy)
The Used – The Used Live From Maida Vale (10″) (Hopeless Records)(Buy)
Theories – Vessel (Corpse Flower Records)(Buy)
Thrice – Deeper Wells (12″) (Epitaph)(Buy)
Various Artists – Dualism (Eclipse Records)(Buy)
Troll – Legend Master (Shadow Kingdom)(Buy)
Tronos – Celestial Mechanics (Century Media) (Buy)
Various Artists – House Of Wax Music From The Motion Picture (Vinyl) (Maverick)(Buy)
Various Artists – Howard Stern’s Private Parts (Vinyl) (Warner Bros. Records)(Buy)
Various Artists – The Crow (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Vinyl) (Atlantic Records)(Buy)
Various Artists – Transformers – Revenge Of The Fallen Soundtrack (Vinyl) (Reprise Records)(Buy)
Waldgefluster – Mondscheinsonaten (Nordvis)(Buy)
ZVI – Deer Pink (Nefarious Industries)(Buy)
I can’t help but wonder if Theories’ practice room is to be treated like a hard hat area. The bleak album art for Vessel (Corpse Flower Records) should’ve been enough to alert me of what awaited, but I had to hit that play button. After the initial pummeling of ‘Human Vessel Cell’ I clearly understood that everything Theories does is designed with lethal intentions in mind. If you’re looking for melody, clean guitars or strict adherence to speed limits you can show yourself the door right about now. What Theories is serving up is not for the fair-weather Hard Rock fan. Continue reading
Maryland Deathfest has announced their daily lineups for the 2019 festival. Last week they made their “round two” announcement, but “a handful of bands will be announced this week to wrap up the billing”. All ticket options are now on sale at the link below. Continue reading
Maryland Deathfest has added a plethora of new bands to the 2019 festival. Borknagar, Unleashed, and Benediction will all play Exclusive USA shows at the fest and joining them are Voivod, Anaal Nathrakh, Churchburn, Revenge, Primitive Man, Spectral Voice, Neckbeard Deathcamp and many more. Usually, round two is the “final announcement for MDF, but “a handful of bands will be announced next week to wrap up the billing”. All ticket options are now on sale at the link below. Continue reading
Writing this review on the heels of the news that Archeron will cease to be as a venue, I may get a bit misty-eyed for this place before too long. I headed down to the cool Brooklyn venue/bar/eatery to see some excellent metal bands on a Friday. As I walked around the up and coming Williamsburg neighborhood before the show, I reflected on how cool it is that New York once again has all these cool venues for live music, especially so for metal right now. Just ten years removed from when a shitty former mayor shuttered classic venue after venue and outcries the fans of live heavy music as a “nuisance”, it seems to be alive and kicking it at night in The Big Apple.
Getting to the bar early it was prime people watching from the bar. While I drank a smooth Pale Ale from Bronx Brewing Company and took note of the nice selection on tap, the food at the bar and restaurant was reflective of the bill tonight, excellent.
Brooklyn’s Anicon’s thick sound blew up the small rectangular space early with their instrumental black metal. Progressive, yet classic sounding USBM, Anicon performs with no pretense beyond their music. They want you to feel it as much as they do, so all their songs are more like a journey than a song. Little chatting to the crowd with very little moving around; they just showed up, played beautifully, acted like old pros, and bounced. The way it should be. Their new album drops in early July from Gilead Media, so please be sure to support them.
Chicagoans Immortal Bird returned to NYC will a bag of new jams from their Empress/Abscess long player and a reconstituted lineup. Having followed this group from its inception, to the stunning début EP Akrasia, to now, this is the tightest and best lineup of the band they have had to date. Led by vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Rae Amitay (Thrawsunblat), the band ran through tracks both recent and old. The entire room was feeling it and having many “holy shit” moments, as was I. Coming into their own now and gelling with the new players, it is exciting to see the growth of an up and coming band mirror that of the greats of the scene. Once they get off the road later in the year, they’ll be writing a new album with this lineup in tow. Big things are coming from this camp in the future, so don’t sleep!
False, man. False. I am tempted to just leave it at that, because words will likely fail to do justice to the six-piece crew from Minneapolis. OK, I will try to take you there with me after all. False is not a band, but a force. Seemingly put together by some cosmic chess-master selecting all the members exactly to compliment each other seamlessly, they hit your heart and mind simultaneously. Avant-garde, progressive or whathaveyou, False simply rules. One thing you notice right away about the band is their fantastic sonic mix live, perhaps better than on record. Even in a tiny room, they sounded immaculate from several vantage points I had. They wring every emotion out of their music and themselves, and ultimately you too. This was my second time seeing them, and honestly I am sad for that reason alone.
A photo posted by Ghost Cult Magazine (@ghostcultmag) on
Theories frontman Rick made a vow to the crowd about crushing your enemies and enjoying their downfall early in the night during their set. That pretty much sums up the tenor of their well-crafted, but savage grindcore anthems. If you want to slam, spill your beer, and exorcise your demons, Theories has the elixir for what ails your soul. Just in your face, well-played grind that has no fatty parts, just streamlined sickness. There were a few people right at the front of the pit, spilling their beers and exorcising said demons, but really the drama was all in the speakers to me. They were having a lot of fun on stage, which some bands in the scene seem to forget about these days. They were so powerful and provocative, that the fierceness is smarter than other bands in the genre. Theories is thinking people’s’ angry music, which is one of the best compliments I can give to a band.
KEITH CHACHKES
Polish technical death metallers Decapitated have announced an upcoming headline US tour with Black Breath and Theories as support prior to their run with At The Gates and the Haunted.
Founding guitarist Vogg comments:
“We’re very excited to announce that we will be returning to North America in January and February as a part of the At The Gates tour, along with our first headline dates in over 3 years. As you probably know due to unexpected problems with U.S.C.I.S. we were forced to cancel our tour with Soulfly in October this year. We can’t wait to get back and play for our loyal fans all over North America and we hope to see you there! Nothing will stop us this time!!!”
Vocalist Rasta adds:
“The beginning of 2016 is gonna be awesome. We are coming back to United States and Canada!!!. As we all perfectly know, North America is one of the best place to play hard music. This continent was simply built on a Rock and Roll music, and I feel it every time we play there. Amazing crowds, constant headbanging and of course unforgettable shows. North America are you ready?! We are coming! See you there!”
Blood Mantra Across North America, 2016
Decapitated, Black Breath, Theories
Jan 27: Marquis Theater – Denver, CO
Jan 28: Lefty’s – Des Moines, IA
Jan 29: Skyway Theatre – Minneapolis, MN
Jan 30: Reggie’s – Chicago, IL
Feb 01: Mod Club – Toronto, ON
Feb 02: Le Cercle – Quebec City, QC
Feb 03: Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
Feb 04: Marlin Room at Webster Hall – New York, NY
Feb 05: Voltage – Philadelphia, PA
Feb 06: Café 611 – Frederick, MD
Feb 07: Shaka’s – Virginia Beach, VA
At The Gates, Decapitated, The Haunted, Harms Way
Feb 09: Revolution – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Feb 10: State Theater – St. Petersburg, FL (Decapitated only)
Feb 11: Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
Feb 13: Gas Monkey – Dallas, TX
Feb 14: Mohawk – Austin, TX
Feb 16: Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Feb 17: Marquee – Phoenix, AZ
Feb 18: House Of Blues – Las Vegas, NV
Feb 19: House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
Feb 20: Glasshouse – Pomona, CA
Feb 21: Regency – San Francisco, CA
Feb 23: Whisky – Los Angeles, CA (Decapitated only)
On the day after Independence Day in the US, the fireworks were still being launched at the Brighton Music Hall in Alston, MA. Of course, the only explosions seen here were from heavy metal acts, Theories, Black Breath, Ringworm, and Goatwhore. Fans of all sorts came out early on a Sunday night to catch their favorite band on this stacked bill and left happy at the end of the night.
Theories, by Evil Robb Photography
First band of the evening was grindcore outfit, Theories. Having never listened to this band, I moved up to ensure I was in the best spot to see and hear them. Overall I was pretty impressed with what time they had and the selection of songs they were able to perform. Theories will certainly be researched and added into my daily playlist.
Black Breath, Evil Robb Photography
Next up were my most anticipated act of the night in Black Breath. Crust, hardcore, and thrash fans all shared the pit for these guys which proved to be one of the highlights of the night. Black Breath set consisted of staples from both albums such as ‘Feast of the Damned’ and ‘Home of the Grave’ off of ‘Sentenced to Life’ as well as ‘Escape from Death’ and ‘Black Sin (Spit on the Cross)’ from Heavy Breathing. The Alston crowd also got two brand new, unreleased songs that will be on Black Breath’s next release due out later this year. If these two tracks are a tale of things to come, then I am looking forward to what lies ahead.
Ringworm, Evil Robb Photography
Ringworm hit the stage next which saw the most active pits of the night. Ringworm has been one of those bands that always seemed to play other shows I would go to but could not get to on time to actually catch them. This time around, I was not going to miss out. For the most part I was into what the band had to offer and was glad I finally caught them live.
Goatwhore, by Evil Robb Photography
Finally, Goatwhore was due up to close the night. In the headlining spot, these Louisiana blackened thrashers played songs across their entire discography, which was a pleasant surprise. The early material got big pops from the fans which in turn brought about some fun pits to be a part of. The biggest pops for Goatwhore came from songs ‘FBS’ (Fucked By Satan) off of the latest masterpiece, Constricting Rage of the Merciless (Metal Blade) as well as closer, ‘Apocalyptic Havoc’ from the 2009 release Carving Out the Eyes of God. A fun fact for this Goatwhore tour was that typical bassist, James Harvey was not with the band. However, fill in for the tour on bass is bassist Trans Am from Ancient VVIsdom which was a treat to say the least.
Goatwhore, by Evil Robb Photography
This tour has certainly earned its place towards the top of my list of favorite shows thus far this year. There was truly something for everyone on this night which is hard to come by nowadays with some tour packages being put together.
Goatwhore, by Evil Robb Photography
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WORDS BY TIM LEDIN
PHOTOS BY EVIL ROBB PHOTOGRAPHY
Currently pillaging the countryside, Goatwhore has expanded its current tour by one date due to popular demand. The band is performing a sold-out show at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NY tonight and will play an addition show there tomorrow night, July 7th. Their tour partners in Ringworm, along with Black Breath, and Theories will also appear.
Goatwhore with Ringworm, Blackbreath and Theories remaining tour dates:
Ringworm, Black Breath, Theories [remaining dates]:
Jul 06: Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY
Jul 07: Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY [tickets] ** just added **
Jul 08: Underground Arts: Black Box – Philadelphia, PA
Jul 09: Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington, D.C.
Jul 10: The End – Nashville, TN
Jul 11: New Brookland Tavern – West Columbia, SC
Jul 12: The Earl – Atlanta, GA
End Tour:
Aug 14 – Aug 16: Gwar B-Q @ Hadad’s Lake – Richmond, VA
Oct 25 – Oct26: Knot Fest @ San Manuel Amphitheater & Festival Grounds – San Bernardino, CA
Goatwhore, Ringworm, Black Breath and Theories will be venturing across North America together on an upcoming tour. Goatwhore is supporting their latest album Constricting Rage Of The Merciless, out now via Metal Blade Records.
Jun 06: FreePress Summer Festival 2015 – Houston, TX:
Jun 07: Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX (w/ Ringworm, Theories)
w/ Ringworm, Black Breath, Theories:
Jun 08: Inside @ Red 7 – Austin, TX
Jun 09: Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX
Jun 10: Launchpad – Albuquerque, NM
Jun 11: Club Red – Mesa, AZ
Jun 12: Soda Bar – San Diego, CA
Jun 13: Stummer’s – Fresno, CA
Jun 14: The Roxy Theatre – West Hollywood, CA
Jun 15: The Catalyst Atrium – Santa Cruz, CA
Jun 16: Oakland Metro Operahouse – Oakland, CA
Jun 17: Duffy’s Hangar – Salem, OR
Jun 18: The Crocodile – Seattle, WA
Jun 19: The Rickshaw Theatre – Vancouver, BC
Jun 20: Level Upstairs – Kelowna, BC
Jun 21: Dickens Pub – Calgary, AB
Jun 22: The Starlite – Edmonton, AB
Jun 23: O’Brian’s Event Centre – Saskatoon, SK
Jun 24: The Exchange – Regina, SK
Jun 25: The Zoo Cabaret – Winnipeg, MB
Jun 26: Triple Rock Social Club – Minneapolis, MN
Jun 27: Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
Jun 28: Majestic Jr. – Detroit, MI
Jun 29: Now That’s Class – Cleveland, OH
Jun 30: The Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
Jul 01: The Lost Horizon – Syracuse, NY
Jul 02: Hard Luck Bar – Toronto, ON
Jul 03: Les Foufounes Electriques – Montreal, QC
Jul 04: Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
Jul 05: Brighton Music Hall – Allston, MA
Jul 06: Saint Vitus Bar – Brooklyn, NY
Jul 08: Underground Arts: Black Box – Philadelphia, PA
Jul 09: Rock & Roll Hotel – Washington, D.C.
Jul 11: New Brookland Tavern – West Columbia, SC
Jul 12: The Earl – Atlanta, GA
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