HeadbangHere.net: Best of 2011!!

Hey guys, I’d like to start off and say sorry for the lack of posts lately.  As you may or may not know, we all have full-time day jobs, which give us all a very limited time to sit there and dip our digital pens in the ink.

Anyways, making lists of any kind is fun, right?  Whether it’s a grocery list, holiday shopping list, or of course, a top albums of the year list – fun, fun, fun, right?  This year we’re only doing a Top 5, but do read below and see what the HeadbangHere.net staff has to say.  I’ll also take this opportunity to say Happy Holidays, Happy New Year, and see ya in 2012!!

*p.s. - Quick shameless promo plug for the BEST basketball player ever repping the BEST basketball team ever.  Of course, that is Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers!!



*double p.s. - Shout outs to the other bestest sports teams: Detroit Lions (oh yeah, they are back!), Detroit Tigers (Verlander dominates all!), USC Trojans (best college football team, pure dominance!), MSU Spartans (college football and basketball, you just can't fuck with Sparty as they're always a big time contender!), San Fran 49ers (my other fav NFL team!), Detroit Red Wings (there's a reason why "The D" is called Hockey Town!), San Fran Giants (my other MLB team.  fuck this beardcore metal, Brian Wilson's got you beat!).

Ralph Pinsker’s Top 5
5. Fleshgod Apocalypse- Agony (Nuclear Blast)
Where do I begin? The epic orchestrations, the technical riffage, the amazing drum work? This album is fucking intense and such a great listen! In one word "Agony" is brutaful... or would it be brutiful?

4. Protest the Hero- Scurrilous (Vagrant)
I gave Scurrilous a lot of love this year. I love everything about the album; the soaring guitar harmonies, the technical riffs, and the catchy songs. Easily one of my favorites of the year.

3. TesseracT- One (Century Media)
Oh TesseracT, you had potential to be number one but you had to release a full length which consisted of most of the songs from the EP. Don't get me wrong I love "Concealing Fate",  it was my favorite record of last year, but you couldn't have written a couple more new songs? Ohwell enough of that. This record had to make my top three. Concealing Fate is still one of my favorite albums and the new stuff TesseracT wrote is amazing. If you need more reasons as to why this record is on my list, read my top 10
of 2010.

2. Obscura- Omnivium (Relapse Records)
From the moment I heard Omnivium I knew it would be a top record of 2011. I actually had this album at number 1 for many months and I swore it would stay there, sadly I had to bump it. Regardless, Obscura wrote a great technical death metal record - I like to call the style cosmic tech death because the music takes you on an intergalactic voyage - filled with awesome songs! Also, kudos to Obscura for consistently releasing records... *cough cough* Muhammed.

[editor’s note: lol, I think he said something similar last year.  But to the real point, will we ever get a new Necrophagist album?...]

1. Decapitated- Carnival Is Forever (Nuclear Blast)
Over the year I saw many people refer to this record as a comeback record. I always thought "how can it be a comeback record if Decapitated never went any where". This was the first record following the tragic death of drummer Vitek and like every fan I was nervous about what it would sound like. The first couple listens scared me because I wasn't sure how I felt but eventually the record grew on me. Next thing I knew I was listening to this record everyday on repeat and I had made myself a "Carnival Is Forever" ringtone (which I still use). Decapitated wrote a fantastic record that is just as good as their back catalog. It's chaotic, technical, heavy, and angry... The way I love my death metal. That's why this is my number one record of 2011.

Alex Gilbert’s Top 5
5. Decapitated - Carnival Is Forever (Nuclear Blast)
I was instantly turned off by the album name/cover for some odd reason, but once I listened to the album, Decapitated just does not disapoint.  Vogg is a riff machine!  New Decapitated does sound a lot like old Decapitated, which is a-okay in my book.  I own their entire discography, and I’m even wearing my The Negation t-shirt as I type this.

4. Born Of Osiris - The Discovery (Sumerian Records)
Ohhhh BOO, you could be the most undeniable band out there for me.  So catchy, and their musicianship has never sounded better.  With these guys being pioneers of Sumeriancore (alongside The Faceless), BOO is already becoming an influential band for many young up-and-comers, though BOO will never be able to be matched.

3. Neuraxis - Asylum (Prosthetic Records)
Neuraxis are another fine example of an innovative death metal band, and each song on Asylum in my eyes is excellent.  How Rob Milley comes up with some of these crazy riffs I just dunno...  Neuraxis has a brand name of their own, so pick up Asylum asap and dive into their full discography if you have not yet.  These guys have always been ahead of their time.

2. Hate Eternal - Phoenix Amongst The Ashes (Metal Blade)
Erik Rutan is the most innovative death metal guitarist alive, and HATE ETERNAL continues to expand their already insane sound, as well as expand the death metal genre as a whole.  You should not miss out on Phoenix Amongst The Ashes

1. Devin Townsend Project - Deconstruction (Inside Out)
Devin Townsend for president?  Yeah, let’s make that happen.  Dude is a genius who has no limitations, and Deconstruction is some of the finest material I’ve heard the man write.  Buy it!

Matt Haines’ Top 5
1. Mac Miller - Blue Slide Park

2. The Black Dahlia Murder – Ritual (Metal Blade)

3. Tyler The Creator - Goblin

4. Blink-182 - Neighborhoods

5. Jay-Z & Kanye West - Watch The Throne

Devin Walsh’s Top 5
5. Revocation - Chaos of Forms (Relapse Records)
Sick, sick, sick guitars.  I don't know what else to say.  Listen to these guys - and when the solo sections come up - good luck!  This is an innovative new take on lead guitar work.  &*$%ing sick!

4. Amon Amarth - Sutur Rising (Metal Blade)
Continuing on their past success, this brutal album offers exactly what an Amon Amarth fan would want - heavy ass guitars, thick drums, and killer vocals.  What more can I say?

3. Symphony X - Iconoclast (Nuclear Blast)
I'm excited every time I hear one of their new songs on the radio - especially because of how heavy they are.  What I consider to be one of their heaviest and most solid albums all around, Iconoclast turned out to be one of 2011's best.

2. Deadlock - Bizarro World (Lifeforce Records)
Another solid effort by a band that marches to their own beat.  As with their previous two releases, this album is packed with killer vocal hooks by female singer Sabine Weniger, and some off the wall song structures and sounds by guitarist/songwriter Sebastian Reichl.

1. In Flames - Sounds of a Playground Fading (Century Media)
A big test for In Flames as it was their first album written without founding member Jesper Stromblad.  The album picked up right where they left off and even took steps in a new direction.  While it disappointed many fans for not returning to the "classic" In Flames sound, this album still has great modern riffs, melodies, and the most expansive performance by singer Anders Friden.  Every time I spun this album, it grew more and more on me.

THIS IS HELL Bring It Once Again!

THIS IS HELL – Black Mass (2011)
Rise Records
Written by: Matt Haines ©

It’s tough to say that THIS IS HELL’s fourth coming release of Black Mass wasn’t debated as being one of the most anticipated hardcore releases this year. THIS IS HELL brings out more of the intense song writing from them with the release of Black Mass because it focuses on more of the thrash sound that they are influenced by. Don’t worry fans, if you’re scared that they are not hardcore anymore you are wrong!  They have a comfortable mix between thrash and hardcore styles and really bring the album together as a whole. The style change really brings a fresh taste to what THIS IS HELL has to offer since the switch from Trustkill to Rise Records.

Like I stated earlier, THIS IS HELL has really brought out their true musical talent by adding a lot more thrash and metal to their style from earlier releases. About each song is comfortable over three minutes long which is untypical length from their previous releases. This offers more material to be incorporated into their songs that really bring the attitude out with fierce guitars, more intense drumming, and a slew of vocals that range from screaming to yelling. THIS IS HELL brings guitar improvised guitar solos that have come to be known on Weight of the World to a whole new dimension with Black Mass with surprisingly cohesiveness. They mix a good variety of thrash and hardcore into each song so it sounds like Madball had a baby with Anthrax.

Since Weight of the World, fans have been wondering if they were going to go back to their hardcore side. Don’t let old fans be pushed off of this though. The old THIS IS HELL still rages out with songs like “Mi Nombre” “Demons” and “The Last Outlaw.” Coming out aggressive, plenty of mosh, and sing-a-longs bring a smile to the aged THIS IS HELL fan’s faces though. The ring outs companied with steady drum fills provide that old spark of destroying everything in the pit and venue when you see THIS IS HELL live. Still not as hectic and bash-worthy as Sundowning but still quite an epic piece of music revival from a dying scene that has seen its clutter of cliché.

In a sense not much has changed from Weight of the World to Black Mass, but in a gut feeling you can tell exactly what it is, minus the style revamp.  They bring more musical influence into the mix, a new label to explode for, and a fine tune for the hardcore scene. THIS IS HELL has reached a new limit that can only be surpassed with future efforts from the band; I don’t see this happening anytime soon. Is this the wake up call for hardcore? Are bands going to go back to their roots to help revive music? This would be a nice change up and would probably help the music industry revival. Rise defiantly made a good pick up when they signed THIS IS HELL and the release of Black Mass will (hopefully) surely impress and beat the industry norms.



((( Headbang Here: http://www.facebook.com/thisishellny ))) 

Thank You from HeadbangHere.net. FREE STICKERS!!

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Wow, Awesome, Take A Look At The MOON!

MOON - Caduceus Chalice (2011)
Moribund Records

Written by: Alex Gilbert © 

Black metal is a very diverse genre if you think about it.  I’m not going to go into all of these sub genre categories because that could take days, debates will always arise, but if there are two truths that can always be agreed upon, it’d be a) the Australian black metal scene does have some of the darkest, most sinister black metal I’ve ever heard (Nazxul, Portal, Ruins, etc.), and b) Sometimes those one man projects are spot on, because it’s that one driving force of creativity that makes for a true masterpiece - of course it’s a case by case basis.  My newest discovery is Australia’s black metal / one man project called MOON, who recently released Caduceus Chalice via our good friends at Moribund Records, a record label who specializes in underground black metal, and trust me, they know their shit.  So what can this one particular man do?  He will mercilessly drown you in his rich, deep, and absolutely sinister atmosphere, and when you try and come up for breath, your terror stricken eyes can’t help but look again in both fear and fascination.  Dark ambiance, a mysterious feeling, satanic black metal guitar tones, and slow to mid paced tempos that slay any type of metallic brain - MOON has a great formula in hand.  I was blown away by Caduceus Chalice as a whole, so I figured I’d do a quick writeup of each track.  So without further ado.

1. The intro track “In Shadow” starts off very stealthily, the volume is quiet but loud enough for your eyes to widen, as you wait knowingly that the super scary part in the horror movie is coming.  The guitar work is delicate, and is somehow strangely compelling.  “In Shadow” should get you interested to hear what else MOON is about to unleash on Caduceus Chalice...

2. “Forest Samhain” almost made me shit myself.  The song is so intriguing, and it’s almost as if MOON is orchestrating something from the abyss below.  The samples hold their note very effectively, the guitar work is precise with delivering nothing but evil, and MOON’s hellish rasps make me wonder if this guy is even human.  “Forest Samhain” is very haunting, and this song should surely be a new kvlt favorite for those of you who truly appreciate this form of black metal. 

3. “Beneath” surely feels like you could be beneath the ground in hell.  Pun intended, cheesy as fuck to say I understand, but holy shit is the overall tone and mucky production of “Beneath” outstanding!  Eccentric guitar riffs weave in and out of the cracks where air barely escapes, and the composition here is demented, torturous, and at the end of the day, bloody fucking brilliant.  MOON is a natural artist in his own respective way, there’s no denying that.

4. “Monastary” is another standout track.  Ambiant in the beginning, and uniquely spaced out until the finish.  The song is very organic, its true beauty isn’t meant to be seen by the naked eye, but you can sort of feel the vibrations of each note, making for an interesting experience.

5. “Caduceus” has got to be the most obscure song on Caduceus Chalice.  There’s an extremely dark layer of ambiance on top of a slow guitar rhythm that mirrors the ambiance’s every move.  You almost feel as if you’re trapped within the music, and the disharmonious nature is pretty freaky.   

6. Closing the album is “Chalice”, which begins with a clean guitar riff, and is a nice breather from all of the evil musicality exposed earlier.  This particular song that clocks in at 19:29 takes many dark twists and turns, and how organic of a process it must have been to create “Chalice”.  The tempo is slow and stays at this pace for the whole song, but adds this everlasting effect, and before you even know it, all 19 minutes and 29 seconds of “Chalice” is complete.  You may pause for a second after the song and say to yourself, “holy shit!”.  It’s that good. 

You’re not going to get any breakneck speeds on Caduceus Chalice, but after listening from start to finish, this release doesn’t pause once, and the mid paced tremolo picking is far more superior for the black metal that MOON is trying to portray.  I hope all of you black metal junkies give MOON a chance, because this is the stuff that surely makes my jaw drop.

Check out MOON’s song “Forest Samhain” immediately!  The song is off of their 2011 Moribund Records release, Caduceus Chalice.


((( Headbang Here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Moon-AUS/148584661829834?v=wall&viewas=0 )))

HeadbangHere.net Debate: IRON MAIDEN vs. TWISTED SISTER? DIMMU BORGIR vs. CRADLE OF FILTH?

Written by: Alex Gilbert (c)


While obviously this is old, old news, this is a pretty cool comparison nonetheless.  2 of black metal’s most popular, yet most controversial acts (obviously because of their popularity) being DIMMU BORGIR and CRADLE OF FILTH, have covered 2 of metal’s most legendary bands, IRON MAIDEN and TWISTED SISTER. 





Sooooo . . . who’s better? 

1. IRON MAIDEN or TWISTED SISTER? 

2. DIMMU BORGIR or CRADLE OF FILTH?   

3. Who’s cover is better?  DIMMU BORGIR – Burn In Hell (Twisted Sister) or CRADLE OF FILTH – Hallowed Be Thy Name (Iron Maiden)?

The verdict: My vote(s) go for 1. IRON MAIDEN, 2. DIMMU BORGIR, 3. CRADLE OF FILTH – Hallowed Be Thy Name.  Am I right or wrong?  Comment your thoughts below (lengthy responses are +1), as this can turn into quite the debate.

WINDS OF PLAGUE Are Still Badass - Haters Can Fight Me!

WINDS OF PLAGUE - Against The World (2011)

Century Media

Written by: Alex Gilbert © 

I’m one of those guys to completely bash deathcore to its generic death, but just like any scene crap genre out there, I will admit that there are those FEW bands that I actually really, really enjoy.  With that being said, I’ve always been a pretty big WINDS OF PLAGUE fan ever since hearing their epic as fuck song “Angels Of Debauchery” for the first time off of Decimate The Weak.  That whole album actually was killer with its synth meets technical deathcore onslaught, and it was quite fresh in its time, and I still think it is.  The band’s next album, The Great Stone Age, I dug as well in the same sense, but what about the band’s latest, Against The World?  I dig this one, too.  Against The World isn’t WINDS OF PLAGUE’s best release, but it keeps up the consistency of their brutal as hell musical direction.  You could surely label Against The World as WINDS OF PLAGUE's most brutal album, though a good part of the melodic metal sensibility is gone.  Johnny Plague is a beast like always on the vox - he’s commanding, relentless, and a fearless leader when heading into battle.  The instrumentals are also solid for the most part, and even though WINDS OF PLAGUE is now more deathcore than ever, that doesn’t stop the band from laying down the law of brutality.

WINDS OF PLAGUE’s first single, “Drop The Match”, captures a very theatric, suspensful, and of course, brutal mood.  Strong guitar riffs meet that tough guy attitude, and while Mr. Johnny Plague does use some of the most simple lyrics in WINDS OF PLAGUE’s songs, the simplicity works because at the end of the day, 99% of the room is singing along.  “Drop The Match” is in your face, epic, and WINDS OF PLAGUE fans will have no problem getting into this track.  While the music video did spark some controversy leading to plenty of mixed reactions, I think it’s pretty cool.  See below vid.



Another choice cut off of Against The World for me is “Built For War”.  The song knows how to capture an audience at large, and if the darker side of Danny Elfman is in the house or not, “Built For War” is a big tune, and has enough brute force to part a sea.  Alana Potocnik’s compositions in “Built For War” are at their most entrancing, and from the rest of the band’s monstrous tritone breakdowns, catchy selection of guitar chords, sing-a-long gang chants, "Built For War" is an ace song.  Drummer Art Cruz finally gets his chance to unleash hell with an array of drum fills and blast beats, and unleash hell he does.  Great stuff here!

The title track “Against The World” has one of the heaviest intros I’ve ever heard out of WINDS OF PLAGUE.  Tritone breakdown madness meets that signature WINDS OF PLAGUE brutality/atmosphere.  The closing breakdown when Johnny Plague urges everyone to shout “Me and you against the world” is the highlight of this song, and surely closes “Against The World” with a bang.  Filled with a ton of swag, “Against The World” is easily one of the better songs off of Against The World.

The band’s distinctive guitar work is on point with “Strength To Dominate”, and reminds me of the good ol’ WINDS OF PLAGUE in the Decimate The Weak-era.  “Strength To Dominate” is easily my favorite song off of Against The World, the guitar riffs have a metallic/tribal feel, the breakdowns are massively heavy, and the craftsmanship in “Strength To Dominate” is some of the best I’ve heard out of WINDS OF PLAGUE.  You're going to want to memorize the lyrics for this song - it is quite catchy, and the song structure here is absolutely unbreakable.  


WINDS OF PLAGUE has always been a band to make big tunes, and Against The World does contain some of the band’s finest work.  Like I’ve said before, WINDS OF PLAGUE are badass, and haters can fight me.  Most WINDS OF PLAGUE fans should be able to get into Against The World, and I’m sure in a live setting some of these songs will instantly become fan favorites.  These guys still prove why they are one of metal’s biggest acts of today, and still manage to do it the WINDS OF PLAGUE way.

Check out WINDS OF PLAGUE’s latest music video for their song “California”, off of their 2011 Century Media release, Against The World.  The song is like a super heavy version of Madball.  Having lived in California before (Irvine, CA) and loved it, I like how this video strikes a sense of home to me.  I Gotta Get Back!


((( Headbang Here: http://www.facebook.com/windsofplague )))

SERIANNA Inherit a Solid Metalcore Onslaught on Latest Album, Inheritors!

SERIANNA - Inheritors (2011)

Bullet Tooth

Written by: Alex Gilbert ©  

SERIANNA are a young metalcore band from the state of Wisconsin.  If you constantly spin The Word Alive, August Burns Red, All That Remains, and As I Lay Dying, chances are you will get into SERIANNA.  These guys are very entertaining, and with their song structures, it’s almost as if a story unfolds with many forks in the road.  SERIANNA have just released a great album called Inheritors which is out today via our friends at Bullet Tooth, so grab your moshing shoes, and see what us HeadbangHere.netter’s have to say about the album...

The first track “Fragments” is a good way to kick things off in style.  Metalcore riffing meets a very anxious vocalist named Chris Nutting to let loose, and “Fragments” has just the right pinch of melody.  You’ll hear just like with The Word Alive, SERIANNA’s razor sharp riffing comes from all angles of the fretboard, the production has a hi techy sort of feel to them, and when the brutality thunders down, these Wisconsin lads show that they can play ball in that field, too.  One song down, and not bad at all. 

The fourth track “Virtues” is the jam!  I had to have raped the repeat button to this track because it’s super catchy!  Mr. Chris Nutting is at his most entertaining on Inheritors, as he guides you through the “Virtues” storyline.  The clean singing starting at the 2:36 mark is an easy sing-a-long with its perfect balance of melody and emotion - the band makes it sound so good, I had to rewind a few times to listen to that specific hook again.  "Virtues" marks SERIANNA’s big anthem, and Nutting is surely paving himself to becoming one of the better frontmen of today.  If that band can take “Virtues” on virally, shoot a music video, get some radio, this song is so well composed that I think people will catch on quick.  “Virtues” is excellent song writing, and this is where I see SERIANNA at their best. 

What appears to be SERIANNA’s first single is the next song and title track, “Inheritors”.  Kicking in gear like something you’d hear from All That Remains or As I Lay Dying, “Inheritors” is a very lyric driven song, but don’t forget about the instrumentals that mirror As I Lay Dying's metalcore sound, mostly the fret 4 to fret 7 riffing.  “Inheritors” also has a great lyric video out right now to accompany the song (see below).  Get into it!



Other tracks like “Deep Sleeper” and “Redeemer” also stood out to me because of their excellent metalcore craftsmanship, and for the simple fact that they are easily some of the heaviest songs SERIANNA has ever written.  “Deep Sleeper” is a brutal one that also has plenty of necessary melody.  This is drummer Chris Ferraro’s strongest track in point of view of a musician.  His double bass drum accents are good, he gets his chance to shine with some drum fills, and these could be early signs of a juggernaut to come if SERIANNA takes a heavier direction next time around.  “Redeemer” could be the most entertaining song on Inheritors.  There are hints of progression, intriguing guitar riffs, and a whole lot of energy for your metal ass.  The band is obviously talented, a metalcore onslaught seems to be a natural thing for these Wisconsin lads, and SERIANNA’s hooks got me hooked. 

SERIANNA is a band who can eventually turn some heads, and their Bullet Tooth debut Inheritors is a great start!  I did pick up SERIANNA’s previous self released/self-titled album for 2 bucks the other day (why not?) because I randomly found it at a used CD/Movie/Video Game store (DISC TRADERS fucking rules, fyi!), and I can say the band has greatly improved with Inheritors.  The one slight criticism I do have is that when I listen to SERIANNA, I can’t help but think that these guys sound EXACTLY like the new The Word Alive release.  They just need to step outside of their comfort zone, and bring things up a notch.  Setting this aside though, the big thing that caught me after listening to Inheritors is that the band adds a little bit more epic than most of the others in their class.  Hopefully a release or two down the road we’ll see Bullet Tooth and SERIANNA take over the world together.  The band did just land on the upcoming Alesana, Memphis May Fire, Sleeping With Sirens, Attila, A Skylit Drive tour, and while there are only 2 bands on there that I enjoy (Memphis May Fire and Alesana), all of these bands are huge in scene land, and this tour may boost SERIANNA to the next level.

Check out my favorite song on this release called “Virtues”, off of their 2011 Bullet Tooth release, Inheritors. 


((( Headbang Here: www.facebook.com/seriannamusic )))

Exclusive Interview with DODSFERD a.k.a. Wrath

Any loyal HeadbangHere.net readers know that I love DODSFERD.  Suicide And The Rest Of Your Kind Will Follow is still one of my favourite black metal albums to date, and DODSFERD’s split with Mortovasis called Until Your World Go Down (which also has DODSFERD in it!) was quite good, too.  Now, DODSFERD’s latest Moribund Records release Spitting With Hatred the Insignificance Of Life is out, and I finally got the chance to speak with DODSFERD a.k.a. Wrath, and while the man didn’t have the most to say in the world, there is still some substance to ponder after the jump…

Alex Gilbert (HEADBANGHERE.NET): First off, you’ve got a great album out right now called Spitting With Hatred the Insignificance Of Life out now via our friends at Moribund Records.  I love how you’ve stuck to your guns of true underground metal.  You do speed things up on this release, and a fine example is the raw and primitive album opener, “The Hate Goes On”.  Each song has its own voice in a sense, and I love all of the detail put into this album - it really keeps one coming back for more!  What are some of your favorite songs off of Spitting With Hatred the Insignificance Of Life?

Wrath (DODSFERD): Thanks for your great words! I cannot separate any song form my new album as a favorite one! They are 6 different songs with a common feeling for this fucked up world and its leftovers!

Alex: You are a man on a mission.  You’ve got your solo project DODSFERD, Nadiwrath, Mortovatis, among some other projects.  It’s great to see you’re keeping busy and active in the underground.  What's up next for you?

Wrath: A mini tour in US with Killgasm, Rotten funeral and other great underground bands. A split 7” ep with Necronoclast, a split cd with Nadiwrath, my new album with Dodsferd and Nadiwrath and other things with my other projects.

Alex: Suicide And The Rest Of Your Kind Will Follow is still one of my favorite black metal albums to date.  It’s totally unique, the atmosphere is perfect, and I thoroughly enjoy DODSFERD songs of a longer length.  I reviewed your album awhile back here:http://www.headbanghere.net/2009/05/dodsferd-suicide-and-rest-of-your-kind.html.  What’s the creation process like for some of theseDODSFERD songs of a longer length?

Wrath: The sense of loss! Pain and sorrow!

Alex: You have a very unique musical vision, and I see your influences seem to range very wide.  Musically, what are some of your biggest influences for creating the music that you do?

Wrath: Darkthrone, Judas Iscariot, Motorhead, Iron Monkey, Sons of Otis and many other great bands.

 

Alex: “A Pile of Shit; The Only Hope of Your World” is quite an epic album closer for Spitting With Hatred the Insignificance Of Life!  I love the mood swings, the tempo changes, and the whole atmosphere that is sewn together is very infectious.  You must be very proud of this album?

Wrath: I am damn proud for this album, but the next one will be better!



Alex: Music is meant to speak to the listener, and DODSFERD has always proposed a message within that the listener can interpret in however they choose to.  Those who like DODSFERD and understand this art form are the ones most rewarded from your music.  For both old and new fans alike, how has the response been so far towards your latest work?    

Wrath: I really don’t know. I have stopped reading reviews dew to the fact that most of them have been made by retarded ones that have no clue from black metal and generally music.

Alex: So when we come visit Greece, where are some good places you recommend to catch a show, grab a bite to eat, hangout, etc.?  

Wrath: I rarely go out.  

Alex: The US would love to see DODSFERD live sometime soon.  Any plans to come overseas?

Wrath: In the middle of September I am going to make a mini tour in US. Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento.
Alex: Here’s a fun and tricky question.  If you were to organize a dream tour, who would be on it?  Feel free to go all out with this one if you wish.

Wrath: Judas Iscariot!!!!

Alex: Thanks for your time, man.  Any last words?

Wrath: Thanks for your great words and interview! I guess I‘ll see you in one of the live Dodsferd performances in US.

With respect

Wrath from Dodsferd!


((( Headbang Here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAQOlNZsIYU )))

Underground Unsigned: MASADA! MASADA!

MASADA - Suffer Mental Decay (demo)
Unsigned 

Written by: Alex Gilbert

MASADA carries the flag of an old school death metal band.  If done right, old school death metal is easily one of my favorite genres as its been a part of my life growing up as a young-en, and MASADA to simply put it, does it right.  MASADA features renowned drummer Craig Smilowski (ex-Immolation, ex-Goreaphobia), and the band has a 2 song demo CD out now called Suffer Mental Decay, which you can download for FREE!  They say the human eyes can only stay focused on a new website for an average of 3 seconds before they become bored and head back to YouTube, Lambgoat, HeadbangHere.net, and other great sites on the web.  My friends, MASADA are definitely worth the mouse click, and are also worth re-tweeting to your fellow death metal buddies who sport their Incantation and Nile t-shirts.  Both songs are raw, grimy, and as primitive as they come.  Here’s a run through of both.

The demonic-esque album opener and title track “Suffer Mental Decay” sounds like a chapter from old school Incantation.  The vocal work from Mr. Cazz “The Black Lourde of Crucifixion - they call him” Grant contains some of the gnarliest guttural growls I’ve heard in quite some time, guitarist Chris Milewski steps in with a metal mind staying true to the old school death metal formula, and Smilowski [Craig] hits the nails in the coffins behind the drum kit, making sure everything is tight to precision.  While the tempo changes are predictable, it’s exactly how you’d want the song to flow.  One song in, and I’m definitely hooked.

The second and last track “Toxic Unreality” sounds like Athiest meets early Suffocation.  You’ll surely be able to tell that there is also a unique side to this band.  The disjunct grooves to extreme brutality transitions are what make this song a winner.  Matt Dwyer makes his bass stand out as a lead in many parts of “Toxic Unreality”, and as the song progresses, it almost feels like the mood keeps getting darker and darker.  Maybe it’s some kind of MASADA mind trick, but whether intended or not, the band does keep the listener sucked in until the very end of “Toxic Unreality”.  So with these 2 songs covered with much love, Suffer Mental Decay is really a slam dunk.



The whole vibe of this demo almost makes me feel like I’m in the underground tape trading scene back in the 80s.  I can’t believe these guys are unsigned!  I hope at least a specialty underground death metal label like Hells Headbangers or Dark Descent picks these cats up.  I feel like if MASADA keeps up this work ethic of theirs and stays active, these guys can form a brand name of their own, and be around for a long time.  I can picture them perfectly on all the underground death metal fests right now as we speak...

FREE DOWNLOAD: MASADA - Suffer Mental Decay (demo)
http://masada.bandcamp.com/album/suffer-mental-decay 

“Like” them on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/masadadasam  

LIONHEART's A Beast, Pun Absolutely Intended!

LIONHEART - Built On Struggle (2011)

Mediaskare Records

Written by: Alex Gilbert © 

LIONHEART are fucking sick, and on a side note, I absolutely love their band name.  While I’m definitely a manly man, I happen to have the softest spot in my heart for cats, and this includes the entire cat family - from lions and tigers to cute house cats and kittens!  So right away, anything cat related, I’m thinking, “hmmmm...”. 

But enough of the silly talk.  I like LIONHEART moreso for their raw, aggressive, and straight up  maximum hardcore sound and ethics.  Think Hatebreed meets Terror, and they go out and party hardcore with All Out War and Madball, or in other words, picture an exceptionally heavy, lyric driven, hardcore band with some metallic flares.  Every instrument is utilized loudly, giving LIONHEART one of the loudest releases of 2011 with their Mediaskare release, Built On Struggle.  Don’t underestimate these “cats”.

Built On Struggle opens up heavy as shit with “Relentless”, and I see the crowd close in on the band, and a mosh pit forms like frenzied sharks circling their prey.  The guitarists lay down mammoth sized riffs, setting this anthem's tempo perfectly.  The chorus is probably the band’s catchiest moment on Built On Struggle, but this whole album is meant to scream-a-long with.  LIONHEART vocalist Rob Watson surely has his game on lock.  “Relentless” shows no remorse.  Moving forward...



Other aggressive tracks like “Pure Fucking Anger” and “What I’ve Become” are meant to wipe out innocent bystanders (musically)!  That guitar tone from LIONHEART guitarists Earl Pitts and Rob McCarthy is so ferocious, you’d wonder if there are actual lions inside of their amps?  Of course there aren’t, but the band’s hearts are as strong as lions, with lyrics like “You weren’t there, you don’t know me, walk a day in my life, then judge me” in the personally/politically driven “Pure Fucking Anger”.  So many people mistake hardcore, metal, and almost any type of underground musical movement as being angry, a bad influence, or close minded bullshit along those lines.  I laugh at that, because isn’t the real reason this music is made is so we don’t become like the close minded dipshits who can’t comprehend 2 sides of a story??  “Pure Fucking Anger” is a great anthem for that in my eyes, though I know everyone can interpret the music the way they see it.  Songs like “Through Hell And Back” show LIONHEART in beatdown mode, and while the pace has slowed down a bit, the band is still heavy as balls, making me want to pound my chest like King Kong or something like that.  Already, these guys have proven to me that they can hold their ground.  But LIONHEART ain’t done yet, son!

LIONHEART does have some songs off of Built To Struggle that have more of a metal edge to them, as now the metalheads start to glance over in surprise.  “Don’t Speak My Name” and “The Hand That Feeds” gallop wildly as if Slayer and Bleeding Through were in the house (yes, it does sound like that mixture).  And if Pitts and McCarthy occasionally wants to shred a quick solo or play around with the whammy bar, I am all ears!



Why I really love this album so much: To hear such a true hardcore record from a “newer” band like LIONHEART in 2011 really put a smile on my face.  I almost feel like this album could have came out in the early 90s.  Not that it’s outdated by any means, but that it sounds so authentic I picture it right next to the Snapcase and Madball CDs at the local record store.  Built On Struggle is out now via our friends at Mediaskare, and for fans of hardcore old and new alike, I do recommend you pick this album out and catch an upcoming show.  LIONHEART’s a BEAST, pun absolutely intended, and has a killer brand that just cannot be denied.  A true diamond in the rough here.  

Check out LIONHEART’s official music video for “Brother’s Keeper”, off of their 2011 Mediaskare release, Built On Struggle.

((( Headbang Here: http://www.facebook.com/lionheartca )))

Don't Be Silent. Pick Up FIRST BLOOD's Latest, Silence Is Betrayal, and Sing-A-Long!!

FIRST BLOOD – Silence Is Betrayal (2010)

Bullet Tooth

Written by: Alex Gilbert ©

FIRST BLOOD is back, baby.  Fans have been waiting for quite a while after their 2006 critically acclaimed Trustkill debut, Killafornia, and let me shoot you straight - FIRST BLOOD has made such an explosive entrance back into the scene, and their latest release, Silence Is Betrayal, which is out via our good friends at Bullet Tooth, is easily one of the finest hardcore releases of 2010 or in other words, it’s one of the best hardcore releases in a long, long time.  It’s not any of that “I’m gonna fuck you up” tough guy hardcore that gets annoying as shit, this is real hardcore with a real meaningful message.  FIRST BLOOD makes the music that they want to,  and they’re not trying to please anybody musically but themselves, so if this type of music isn’t your forte, at least hear out the message that FIRST BLOOD unleashes on Silence Is Betrayal, because THAT’S what the band really wants to inform you of.  This album is brutal, honest, authentic, catchy, and just about everything you’d want in a solid hardcore album. Vocalist Carl Schwartz is a vocal and politically driven beast, and when he screams into the mic, you automatically pay attention.  That’s what a great vocalist does.  The man commands you to scream-a-long and the instrumentals throughout Silence Is Betrayal are harder than a brick wall in front of another brick wall!

Silence Is Betrayal fuels its fire with topics of politics, general awareness of this world, and humanity’s stupidity.  The album intro, entitled “Intro” gives spoken word behind some heavy riffage, and while your excitement rises to tenfold, hold tight because this is just the warm up.  The second track titled “Silence” you could call the first proper track, though it only clocks in at 0:53.  I look at it as the second intro track, and “Silence” brings quite the ruckus.  Think old Hatebreed meets Discharge, and as the song gallops along ferociously, all of a sudden you are bombarded into the real first proper track, “Preamble”.  Plenty of attitude, punishing breakdowns, and catchy hooks meant to pump you the fuck up.  I worked out to “Preamble” the other day, and it did the trick.  Get big!

“Detach” is beast, and is my favorite song off of Silence Is Betrayal!  The intro grabs your attention instantly with its epic sample, and lyrically the song is about the corruption of 9/11 and this nation.  FIRST BLOOD guitarist Kyle Dixon is an absolute beast, and with his aggressive approach, he shows how he is easily one of the better guitarists in hardcore.  He’s not aimlessly firing millions of riffs around, he’s shooting bulls-eyes with each one.  Sometimes less is more.  Mr. Schwartz is at the top of his game, and this song is so catchy, listening to “Detach” just could be against the law!  This song off first impression seriously gave me the chills.    



The next song “Enslaved” could be the heaviest song on Silence Is Betrayal, but it’s hard to say because each song on this album is a natural contender.  The intro riff itself makes me want to jump out of my office chair and sprint around for a bit!  Adrenaline!  It seems like every second of “Enslaved” keeps getting louder and louder.  That chugging kickstarts my heart.

The band closes with “Armageddon II”, and this song is easily another favorite of mine.  The way FIRST BLOOD places their spoken political word acts as an additional instrument in FIRST BLOOD's arsenal - it truly feels that way.  The last minute of “Armageddon II” is as epic as can be.  This is FIRST BLOOD at their most metal on Silence Is Betrayal, and surely when beatdown mode comes into play, these guys leave everyone else in the dust.  The repeated screams of “Time is running out” at the end of “Armageddon II” makes sure to close Silence Is Betrayal on an epic and unforgettable note.



Before you even know it, the album is over :(  Well, press play again, my friend.  Silence Is Betrayal is one of the best hardcore albums I’ve heard in a while, and quite the explosive entrance back into scene for the almighty FIRST BLOOD.  From start to finish, Silence Is Betrayal is a beast of an authentic hardcore release with a positive message, each song is easy and mandatory to sing-a-long to, musically each song is filled with infinite strength, and this is a release you can truly feel the spirit of the mosh pit within.  They drew FIRST BLOOD!

Check out FIRST BLOOD play both “Enemy”, off of their 2010 Bullet Tooth release, Silence Is Betrayal.


((( Headbang Here: http://www.facebook.com/FirstBloodRules )))