At The Gates – Converge- Pallbearer – Vallenfyre: Live at Royale, Boston

Posted on April 15, 2015 by News Team

Out of all of the annual big name tours that hit North America, none have been as consistent as The Decibel Magazine Tour. On April 10th at the Royale in Boston, Decibel provided a diverse, yet exciting lineup of newcomers, Vallenfyre, one of rising stars in doom, Pallbearer, metalcore titans Converge, and the legends in the flesh, At The Gates.

Vallenfyre, by Hillarie Jason Photography.

Kicking off the night was Vallenfyre who, even with an early set time starting at 5:30 in the early-evening, was greeted by a generous and excited crowd. With the Royale having a strict cut off time at 9:30 on a Friday night (I know, I know) the supergroup out of the UK only had time for a few quick songs. Having said that, they got in three songs from each of their albums with favorites such as: ‘Bereft’, ‘Cathedrals of Dread’, ‘The Grim Irony’, and ‘Splinters’. I will certainly be looking forward to seeing these guys again and so should you!

Pallbearer, by Hillarie Jason Photography.

Pallbearer hit the stage next to destroy the crowd’s ears and emotions with a wall of sound via doom metal. Obviously in the doom world, songs tend to run a bit longer than your typical song to truly hold atmosphere and provide a mood. Due to this, we only got three songs from the foursome from Little Rock, Arkansas. Boston got to hear ‘Worlds Apart’ and ‘The Ghost I Use to Be’ from the latest release as well as ‘Foreigner’ from Pallbearer’s debut album. Get on the bandwagon for this band as space is limited!

Converge, by Hillarie Jason Photography.

Next up to try and tear down the venue were local heroes, Converge. I will be honest and mention I have never truly been a big fan of these guys, but after seeing them live I think I like the taste of their brand of kool-aid. The adrenaline from the four men on stage had trickled down to the floor as fans started surfing right up and over the barricade to sing their favorite lyrics. The set list was very well constructed to allow for four tracks each from the two latest releases (All We Love We Leave Behind, Axe to Fall) and two tracks each from You Fail Me as well as the classic, Jane Doe. A few favorites heard were: ‘Dark Horse’, ‘Trespasses’, ‘Reap What You Sow’, and the closer, ‘Jane Doe’. I may not have known a single word to any of the songs played, but the sheer energy of this live set by Converge is enough to get me to come back for more.

At The Gates, by Hillarie Jason Photography.

Lastly, the gods themselves, At The Gates, took to the stage. Even given the time constraints, the Swedish legends were able to punch out a set list of 19 tracks! Obviously with a new album out (At War With Reality from Century Media) I expected quite a bit of new tracks. In total, the Boston fans got seven from the new album, 7 from Slaughter of the Soul and a few others sprinkled in. Some favorites/sing-a-longs played were: ‘Death and the Labyrinth’, ‘Terminal Spirit Disease’, ‘Raped by the Light of Christ’, ‘Suicide Nation’, and of course, ‘Blinded by Fear’. Even after being apart for all of those years, At The Gates can still bring it and boy do they bring it all. Easily one of the better shows that will hit the Boston market in 2015!

At The Gates, by Hillarie Jason Photography.

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WORDS BY TIM LEDIN

PHOTOS BY HILLARIE JASON PHOTOGRAPHY

Vallenfyre Playing Free After Party In New York on April 12th

Posted on March 22, 2015 by newsteam

Vallenfyre will be performing at the Official Decibel Magazine Tour after party at Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn, NY, following the sold out Webster Hall show stop on April 12, 2015 of the At The Gates, Converge and Pallbearer North American Tour. The event will be free, with entry given on a first come, first serve basis, so be sure to get there early.

Currently gracing the April 2015 issue of Decibel Magazine, Vallenfyre will release a new 7″ single, entitled The Last Of Our Kind, just in time for the Decibel Magazine Tour: 100 copies in red vinyl only available at shows, 400 black copies available through www.cmdistro.com and select metal stores starting April 6th in Europe and April 7th in North America. Last year, the band released their sophomore effort, Splinters, which featured 11 tracks of their signature crusty-death-doom. For a preview of Splinters, check out the tracks below.

Decibel Magazine Tour dates with At The Gates, Converge, Pallbearer, Vallenfyre
Mar 27: The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
Mar 28: The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
Mar 29: Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
Mar 30: Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Mar 31: Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
Apr 02: The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 03: Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
Apr 04: Bourbon Street – Lincoln, NE
Apr 05: Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
Apr 06: House of Blues – Chicago, IL
Apr 08: The Phoenix – Toronto, ON
Apr 09: Metropolis – Montreal, QC
Apr 10: Royale – Boston, MA
Apr 11: Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Apr 12: Webster Hall – New York, NY
May 22: Maryland Deathfest – Baltimore, MD
May 31: Temples Festival – Bristol (UK)
Jun 19: Hellfest – Clisson (FR)
Jun 20: Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel (BE)

Vallenfyre on Facebook

Theories Streaming “Burnt Concrete” Lyric Video

Posted on March 15, 2015 by newsteam

Seattle death grinders Theories is streaming a lyric video for “Burnt Concrete,” off of their new full length release Regression, out March 24, 2015 via Metal Blade Records here.

Regression was tracked at The Red Room and The Boiler Room with producer/engineer Derek Moree (The Sword, Pelican, Minus The Bear et al) with mixing and mastering conducted by Visceral Sound‘s Scott Hull (Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed).

Stream “Shame” below.

Stream “Cycle of Decay” below.

In related news, Theories will be making an in-studio performance on KEXP 90.3 in Seattle on Sunday, March 15, 2015 at 12:00 am PST as part of KEXP’s Seek And Destroy segment. That following weekend, on Saturday March 21st, 2015, the band will be hosting KISW 99.9 Metal Shop. Stream it live here from 10:00pm – 2:00am PST. Then on Tuesday, March 24th, the day Regression drops, Axler and bassist Kush Karimi will be hosting a DJ night at Linda’s Tavern 9:00pm till 2:00am PST in Seattle where they’ll be spinning the record in its entirety as well as other metal and non metal tunes.

Additionally, Theories is honored to level the stage of the Showbox in Seattle March 31st as area openers for the mighty Decibel Tour. Featuring At The Gates, Converge, Pallbearer and Vallenfyre, the performance will serve as the band’s CD release show.

THEORIES:
Mar 24: Linda’s Tavern – Seattle, WA (Regression Listening Party)
Mar 31: The Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA (Decibel Tour w/ At The Gates, Converge, Pallbearer, Vallenfyre)
Apr 18: Silver Platters – Seattle, WA (in-store performance)
May 29: Seven One Grind Fest – Colorado Springs, CO (w/ Capitalist Casualties, Weekend Nachos, Samothrace more)

Theories on Facebook

At The Gates Releasing Seven Inch Split EP With Voivod

Posted on March 10, 2015 by newsteam

Swedish melodic death metal pioneers At The Gates will be releasing a split seven inch EP with Voivod on April 6, 2015 via Century Media Records to coincide with their upcoming North American tour with Converge, Pallbearer and Vallenfyre. The Double A Sided EP features the At The Gates bonus track “Language Of The Dead” (from the At War With Reality sessions), while Voivod contributes the new song “We Are Connected,” with artwork created for both bands by Voivod drummer Michel “Away” Langevin.

The 7″ EP will be available in the following limited worldwide editions:
–1,000x copies black vinyl
–500x copies white vinyl
–500x copies transparent red vinyl

AT THE GATES – live 2015
Decibel Tour with North American Tour With Converge, Pallbearer and Vallenfyre
Mar 27: The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
Mar 28: The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
Mar 29: Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
Mar 30: Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Mar 31: Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
Apr 02: The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 03: Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
Apr 04: Bourbon Street – Lincoln, NE
Apr 05: Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
Apr 06: House of Blues – Chicago, IL
Apr 08: The Phoenix – Toronto, ON
Apr 09: Metropolis – Montreal, QC
Apr 10: Royale – Boston, MA
Apr 11: Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Apr 12: Webster Hall – New York, NY
May 01: Ritz – Örebro (SW) (With Tribulation)
May 02: Pipeline – Sundsvall (SW) (With Tribulation)
May 22: Progresja – Warszawa (PL)
May 23: Studio – Kraków (PL)
May 29: The Mercury Live – Cape Town (South Africa)
May 30: Carfax Club – Johannesburg (South Africa)
Jun. 16: Ippodromo Capannelle – Rome (IT) (with Slipknot)
Jun. 19: Copenhell Festival – Copenhagen (DK)
Jun 20: Graspop Metal Meeting – Dessel (BE)
Jun 21: Hellfest – Clisson (France)
Jul 03: Siestafestivalen – Hassleholm (Sweden)
Jul 16: Kingdom of Hegyalja Festival – Tokaj (HU)
Jul 18: G! Festival – Syðrugøta, Faroe Islands
Jul 31: Wacken Open Air – Wacken (DE)
Aug 06: Getaway Rock Festival – Gävle (SW)
Aug 08: Brutal Assault Festival – Jaromer (CZ)
Aug 15: Rockstadt Extreme Fest – Cetatea Rasnov (RO)
Sept. 04: Teatro Metropol – Bogotá (COL)
Sept. 18: Liseberg – Gothenburg (SW)
Nov. 07: Damnation Festival – Leeds (UK)

At The Gates on Facebook
At The Gates on Twitter
At The Gates on YouTube

Paradise Lost go back to their roots on new album

Posted on February 3, 2015 by Steve Tovey

That’s right… legendary British metallers Paradise Lost who, along with Anathema and My Dying Bride were known as the “Peaceville 3” who effectively launched the entire Gothic Metal sub-genre, will be returning to their deathly hallows on new album The Plague Within on Century Media.

The bands’ fourteenth studio album was produced by sound maestro Jaimie Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Ulver, Cathedral) at Orgone Studios in London has a planned release date of 1st June (UK & Europe) and 2nd June (US/Rest of World).

Nick Holmes comments: “We wanted to approach the new album differently this time by embracing the band’s VERY early days. We have written a very dark, yet melodic album, but this time many songs definitely have a death metal edge, which is something we haven’t done for a long long time in Paradise Lost.”

In a move that follows Gregor Mackintosh rediscovering the vile in his side-project Vallenfyre and Nick Holmes seizing the Bloodbath cowl and mic stand, the band have been progressively returning to their traditional sound following their late 90’s/early 00’s dalliance with electronic music and minimal guitars, with 2012’s Tragic Idol reclaiming the hearts and minds of many of their old fans, while introducing the band to a newer audience.

Pallbearer Added To Decibel Tour

Posted on December 20, 2014 by newsteam

Pallbearer was added as the special guest on the Decibel Tour featuring At The Gates, Converge and Vallenfyre. Confirmed dates are below:

Mar 27: The Wiltern – Los Angeles, CA
Mar 28:– The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA
Mar 29:– Roseland Theater – Portland, OR
Mar 30:– Commodore Ballroom – Vancouver, BC
Mar 31:– Showbox at the Market – Seattle, WA
Apr 02:– The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 03:– Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
Apr 04:– Bourbon Street – Lincoln, NE
Apr 05:– Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
Apr 06:– House of Blues – Chicago, IL
Apr 08:– The Phoenix – Toronto, ON
Apr 09:– Metropolis – Montreal, QC
Apr 10:– Royale – Boston, MA
Apr 11:– Union Transfer – Philadelphia, PA
Apr 12:– Webster Hall – New York, NY

Watain, At The Gates, Satyricon Confirmed For Blastfest 2015

Posted on December 17, 2014 by newsteam

Blastfest will be held 18-21st February 2015 in Bergen, Norway and in case you missed this lineup announcement, here it is again:

Alfahanne
Aspherium
Asphyx
At The Gates
Baptism
Blood Red Throne
Bolzer
Bömbers
Borknagar
Byfrost
Craft
Crib45
Cryptopsy
Dark Funeral
Dark Tranquility
Dead To This World
Decapitated
Demilich
Den Saakaldte
Djevelkult
Destroyer 666
Destruction
Endstille
Esoteric
Falloch
Finntroll
Gehenna
Hecate Enthroned
Impaled Nazarene
Kall
Melechesh
Moonsorrow
Morgoth
Naer Mataron
Orange Goblin
Paradise Lost
Primordial
Purple Hill Witch
Rotting Christ
Samael
Sarke
Sarkom
Satan
Saturnus
Satyricon
The Sickening
The 3rd Attempt
Tortorum
Tsjuder
Vallenfyre
Winterfylleth
Wyruz
+ more yet to be announced.

Blastfest on Facebook
Blastfest on Twitter

The Official Ghost Cult Writers Albums of the Year Top 50: 30-21

Posted on December 4, 2014 by Steve Tovey

The countdown to the Official Ghost Cult Magazine Album of the Year for 2014 continues. Please consume and enjoy the results of our 2014 Writers’ Poll. We hope it will introduce you to some of the incredible works of art you may have missed that we have had the immense pleasure of listening to and writing about this year.

In our third installment we bring you albums 30 through to 21

30. CASUALTIES OF COOL – Casualties Of Cool (Pledge/HevyDevy)

“Casualties of Cool is an intriguing experiment from a man who excels in making left-field music. Go in expecting massive a prog-metal exercise will only lead to disappointment, but having an open mind will result in a rewarding experience” DAN SWINHOE 8/10 Full review here

29. ANATHEMA – Distant Satellites (KScope)

“One of our world’s most understated bands, despite the plaudits they get, Anathema have once again showcased their knack for penning both forward thinking and emotionally driven music which oozes real human character and sentimentality”. CHRIS TIPPELL 9/10 Full review here

28. DOWN – IV (Part II) (Down Records)

“When we look back on this part of their career, we will likely understand that these are less like regular EPs that other bands release, and much more like a mini-opus, in pieces. Down clearly realizes their collective vision, no matter who is in the lineup, every time”. KEITH ‘KEEFY’ CHACHKES 9.5/10 Full review here

27. VALLENFYRE – Splinters (Century Media)

“Sadistic and aggressive with endless moments of bleak reflection Splinters is a leviathan unleashed upon unsuspecting listeners and a release surely destined to grace many year end lists” ROSS BAKER 9/10 Full review here

26. AGALLOCH – “The Serpent and the Sphere” (Profound Lore)

Like a massive-antlered stag glimpsed amidst a wintry landscape, breathtaking, elusive and hard to pin down, The Serpent and the Sphere looks set to continue their elegant and ever-evolving legacy JAMES CONWAY 9/10 Full review here

25. THOU – Heathen (Gilead Media)

“A storm manifest as a piece of music, as devastating as it is awe-inspiring, Heathen is varied and compelling for the entire runtime”. TOM SAUNDERS 9/10 Full review here

24. septicflesh – Titan (Season of Mist)

“Sharp, buzzing riffs and symphonic keys, strength and brutality amongst moments of pomp and beauty, bloody entertaining and another show of form” PAUL QUINN 8.5/10 Full review here

23. PYRRHON – The Mother of Virtues (Relapse)

“The Mother Of Virtues doesn’t just challenge what is “extreme”, but calls into question whether some of what is produced is actually even music. Completely and utterly impenetrable, and exceptional with it”. STEVE TOVEY 9.5/10 Full review here

22. EYEHATEGOD – EyeHateGod (Housecore/Century Media)

“Eyehategod continue to age like a good whiskey, seeming to improve as time goes by, but by no means losing their sting”. CHRIS TIPPELL 9/10 Full review here

21. ALCEST – Shelter (Prophecy)

“Shedding the last vestiges of metal, let-alone any lingering black metal leanings, a captivating and stunning piece of music poured straight from the heart”. JAMES CONWAY 9/10 Full review here

Ghost Cult Magazine Albums of the Year: 50-41

Ghost Cult Magazine Albums of the Year: 40-31

Graspop Metal Meeting 2015 Adds More Acts

Posted on December 2, 2014 by newsteam

Graspop Metal Meeting 2015 have added Airbourne, A Day To Remember, Asking Alexandra, COUNTERPARTS, Der Weg einer Freiheit, FM, Hollywood Undead, Life of Agony, Marduk, Morgoth and Vallenfyre to their ever growing list of participants to their lineup. The event is held in Dessel, Belgium on June 19, 20 and 21, 2015

Blastfest 2015 Adds Four more Bands

Posted on October 13, 2014 by News Team

Norways Blastfest is expanding to a four-day festival with over 60 bands due to perform. The festival, located in Bergen will run from the 18th to the 21st February and will feature performances from the likes of At The Gates, Paradise Lost and Primordial.

Press Release:
Blastfest Is Expanding!

Blastfest has accepted the challenge and has delivered! It is official, Blastfest will be even bigger! With very positive results and excitement of a recent poll, the Bergen, Norway festival have decided 3 days of metal madness wasn’t enough and have expanded the festival into a 4 day event with a total of 60 bands! That’s 4 days, 4 venues, and 60 bands! Yes. 60 BANDS! The festival is now running from Wednesday February 18th to Saturday February 21st.

And that’s not just the only announcement the festival will make today because just like the recent state of updates the festival are keeping form and have just confirmed another 4 bands to the already exploding poster! So without further adieu, we are pleased to report the addition of true Norwegian black metal veterans Gehenna, British symphonic black metallers Hecate Enthroned, Norwegian death metal titans Blood Red Throne and death thrashers Wyruz!

Gehenna

All of our grenade prayers have been answered; the word became flesh! It’s with a shivering voice of the utmost excitement that Blastfest welcome Norwegian black metallersGehenna to the lineup of 2015! These purveyors of the dark arts have long been regarded as one of the most important acts to come out of the Norwegian black metal scene in the 90’s. It’s therefore with great delight that the festival welcome them back to Bergen for their first ever Blastfest performance.

Hecate Enthroned

Back in the 90’s a band made its way to the forefront of the symphonic black metal scene alongside bands like Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir, receiving praise for their ability to be both extreme in their expression as well as incorporating symphonic elements. We are of course talking about UK act Hecate Enthroned. As of today the band is still going strong, if not turning towards an ever heavier expression with their now death metal-infused take on the black arts. Blastfest are very pleased to have them cross the North Sea to perform live in Bergen for the very first time ever, as part of the festival!

Blood Red Throne

If you were asked to name a Norwegian death metal band, chances are that the first name to enter into your mind would be that of Blood Red Throne. Ever since the release of their first four-track demo back in 2000, they have been a household name in death metal circles. It’s therefore with great pride that Blastfest welcome the ravenous war machine, the primitive killing machine that is Blood Red Throne into the fold. Be prepared for blood spatter and arterial lust!

Wyruz

Some say Blastfest needed to add more thrash metal to the lineup, so they have decided to include prime death/thrash act Wyruz! These guys have been going strong for over a decade now, and are dead set on destroying everything at Blastfest 2015.

Blastfest will be held 18-21st February 2015 in Bergen, Norway.

Tickets on sale now: http://blastfest.no/?page_id=60

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