ALBUM REVIEW: Ghoul - "Dungeon Bastards"

By: Rick Ahmed

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 29/07/2016

Label: Tankcrimes 

So many bands try to do what Ghoul is doing and just can't fucking get it right. This is a perfect storm. Superior song writing, technical prowess, and an awesome aesthetic.

“Dungeon Bastards” CD//DD//LP track listing:

01. Ghetto Blasters
02. Bringer of War
03. Shred the Dead
04. Dungeon Bastards
05. Ghoulunatics
06. Blood and Guts
07. Word is Law
08. Death Campaign
09. Guitarmageddon
10. Abominox

The Review:

My introduction to Ghoul was 2007's “Splatterthrash”. I instantly fell in love with their take on thrash. Everything about it was perfect; the guitar tone, the riffs, the melodies, and especially lyrics. It was glorious. I kept my eye on them throughout the next few years; none of their other releases really caught my ear though. When the pre-order for “Dungeon Bastards” came up in my facebook feed with the bad ass Mark Richards' illustrated cover, green splatter vinyl, and fold out drinking game, I said fuck it. Even if this album sucks it's worth the cool ass packaging.

This album does not suck. This is probably the best metal album of 2016. No bullshit. It blows my mind how few bands can't make an album with 2 good songs, but these freaks managed to come up with 10 rippers. This is actually better than “Splatterthrash”.

The first song “Ghetto Blasters" begans with a sample from what I'm assuming is an old sci-fi movie. The Last line being, "The people blindly followed a man who would become a tyrant." which is creepy as fuck considering the outcome of our last election. The sample fades out and the thrash fucking metal begins. The urge to bang ones head is quite strong on this first track, which is basically one riff on repeat with a tasteful lead over a few measures. Which is perfect, think Exodus type thrash if you must.

Song two "Bringer of War" opens with a solid blast and a riff that wouldn't be out of place on Carcass' “Heartwork”. The higher pitched vocals also bear a resemblance to Jeff Walker, which I'm not complaining about. The thing is, it never gets old with Ghoul, as they have a second guttural vocalist, as well as gang vocals, and a cast of characters they introduce throughout the album.

Like I mentioned earlier, every song rules. "Shred the Dead" is a solid thrasher. "Dungeon Bastards" starts with more Carcass feels. My personal favorite song "Ghoulunatics" has an awesome guitar melody, as well as a sick thrash breakdown at about 2:41. A bonus is that it seems to be about idiots like me, "an army of losers, the worst of the worst, to march to our orders and buy all our merch". As for the rest of the album, the hits keep coming. Just listen to the damn thing already!

So many bands try to do what Ghoul is doing and just can't fucking get it right. This is a perfect storm. Superior song writing, technical prowess, and an awesome aesthetic. My only fear is that people won't care to look past the masks and theatrics. These guys should NOT be written off as another gimmick band. That's what everybody did with Gwar, who also made amazing albums, but were under appreciated as anything more than a spectacle. That would be a damn shame as these dudes have the ability to churn out quality thrash!! LONG LIVE GHOUL!!

“Dungeon Bastards” is available here

Band info: bandcamp || facebook

FFO: Impaled, Carcass, Exhumed, Gwar

The Sludgelord News: EXHUMED: Gore Metal Tacticians Stream "New" Requiem Of Repugnance At Revolver; North American Live Takeover With Napalm Death + Voivod Draws Near

With the re-unveiling of EXHUMED's now-iconic full-length, Gore Metal: A Necrospective: 1998 - 2015, now just one month away, today the gatekeepers at Revolver Magazine are delighted to decimate ear holes with a renovated version of longtime live favorite, "Limb From Limb."  

Expounds vocalist/guitarist Matt Harvey: "So... for the second 'single' from our hubris-laden rerecording of Gore Metal, here's live staple 'Limb From Limb.' This one has been rerecorded pretty much exactly how we've played it live for years now; faster and a bit punchier than the original - not to mention infinitely more audible - and with the lovely chainsaw solo in the bridge. Now that's what I call musical development! Anyway, it's a great tune to piss off some neighbors with and will hopefully inspire you to find new and atrocious uses for your motorized home and garden appliances. Cheers, and enjoy!"

Get carving to the violent resonance of "Limb From Limb," now stenching-up the airwaves of Revolver at THIS LOCATION.

And if you missed it, you can still delight in the carnage of "Open The Abscess," streaming HERE.

Crowned, "a classic piece of blazing gore metal with death on its mind from start to finish," by MetalSucks, Gore Metal was initially released in 1998. A boundary-defying audio manifestation of vile, grinding, over-the-top death metal, Gore Metal beams with charming repugnance, its raging riff subversions, foul-themed, slasher-film-inspired prose and putrid cover art still repulsively alluring nearly two decades since its release. 

Not content to let the album rot away, EXHUMED returned to the studio to rerecord the underground classic. The resulting Gore Metal: A Necrospective 1998 - 2015, slated for release next month via Relapse Records, maintains the bone raw aggression of the original recordings while adding depth to the sonic devourment thanks in no small part to years of touring and a vastly improved-sounding recording quality.

As a precursor to the release, EXHUMED will be goring stages throughout North America with co-headliners Napalm Death and Voivod later this month. Set to commence on January 27th in Miami, the band will raze nearly three-dozen municipalities, with the trek coming to a close on February 28th in Houston. Additional support will be provided by Iron Reagan and Black Crown Initiate with Ringworm, Dayglo Abortions, Theories and Phobia to appear on select performances throughout the journey.

 

EXHUMED:

1/24/2015 The Rock - Tucson, AZ
1/25/2015 Red 7 - Austin, TX

w/ Napalm Death, Voivod, Iron Reagan, Black Crown Initiate:

1/27/2015 Grand Central - Miami, FL w/ Ringworm
1/28/2015 State Theater - St. Petersburg, FL w/ Ringworm
1/29/2015 The Masquerade - Atlanta, GA w/ Ringworm
1/30/2015 Ziggy's - Winston-Salem, NC w/ Ringworm
1/31/2015 Soundstage - Baltimore, MD w/ Ringworm
2/02/2015 Gramercy Theater - New York, NY w/ Ringworm
2/03/2015 Union Transfer - Philadelphia, PA w/ Ringworm
2/04/2015 Opera House - Toronto, ON
2/05/2015 Maverick's - Ottawa, ON
2/06/2015 Club Soda - Montreal, QC
2/07/2015 Palladium - Worcester, MA w/ Ringworm
2/08/2015 The Chance - Poughkeepsie, NY w/ Ringworm
2/09/2015 Agora Ballroom - Cleveland, OH w/ Ringworm
2/10/2015 Reggie's - Chicago, IL w/ Ringworm
2/11/2015 Amsterdam - Minneapolis, MN w/ Ringworm
2/12/2015 The Zoo - Winnipeg, MB
2/13/2015 The Exchange - Regina, SK
2/14/2015 Republik - Calgary, AB
2/15/2015 Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB
2/17/2015 Rickshaw Theater - Vancouver, BC w/ Dayglo Abortions
2/18/2015 Studio Seven - Seattle, WA w/ Theories
2/19/2015 Hawthorne Theater - Portland, OR
2/20/2015 Metro - Oakland, CA w/ Phobia
2/21/2015 Strummers - Fresno, CA w/ Phobia
2/22/2015 House of Blues - Los Angeles, CA
2/23/2015 Club Red - Tempe, AZ w/ Phobia
2/24/2015 Sunshine Theater - Albuquerque, NM w/ Phobia
2/25/2015 Summit Music Hall - Denver, CO w/ Phobia
2/26/2015 Granada Theater - Lawrence, KS w/ Phobia
2/27/2015 Gas Monkey - Dallas, TX w/ Phobia
2/28/2015 Fitzgerald's - Houston, TX w/ Phobia

Presented with completely new artwork and a gaggle of detailed liner notes, Gore Metal: A Necrospective 1998 - 2015 will be unleashed via Relapse Records February 10th, 2015 digitally, as a limited edition LP, and as a deluxe two-CD set which comes packaged with the original version of the album for the price of a single CD. Relish the gorific bargains! Preorder your copy today at THIS LOCATION. Desirers of the digitals can point their browsers HERE.

Source: Earsplit PR

For more information:

http://www.gorefuckingmetal.blogspot.com
http://www.facebook.com/ExhumedOfficial
http://www.relapse.com