ELEVEN IS ONE LOUDER: London-based death metallers ABHORRENT DECIMATION choose their top picks for Bloodstock 2017

UK-based death metal titans ABHORRENT DECIMATION released their new album “The Pardoner” on July 28th via Prosthetic Records to rapturous applause.  Conceptually, the new album is an in-depth exploration into "The Pardoner", English poet Geoffrey Chaucer's most depraved and deceitful character from The Canterbury Tales. "The Pardoner" is a religious fraud and hypocrite who preaches against the love of greed, yet whose own love of wealth enabled him to profit off the sins of others. He claimed to work on behalf of the clergy, selling spiritual forgiveness for one's sins in the form of his pardons, which included forged "official letters" from high ranking church officials absolving one of their sins and bones and crystals blessed with healing powers. In Chaucer's story, "The Pardoner" tells a harrowing tale of three men whose materialism becomes the death of them.

It is the bands most inspired, charismatic and dominating material to date and with band set to hit the stage at Bloodstock Open Air Festival this weekend, we invited the band to talk about their top picks for festival and bands to look out for.  So come with us as we take our weekly trip into the extreme and turn the volume all the way up to eleven. 

THURSDAY

The Infernal Sea

If you are going to watch any band on Thursday, watch The Infernal Sea.  We have toured with the guys a few times and there is just something so visceral and eerie about this lot, it a real package band. The sounds, the look, the vibe. Go and find out for yourself. PLUS they are unveiling a new look at the festival. Go and check them out.

FRIDAY

Decapitated

This band is hugely influential to us and one we look at with great respect. I have only seen them live once myself, a few years ago – maybe 2011. So I would be very interested in seeing the guys again, playing some of the killer new album ‘Anticult’. But for me, you can’t beat ‘The Negation’/‘Organic Hallucinosis’ era.  

Soilwork

Back in the day, I loved this band dearly. So purely for nostalgic bliss, I will go and check them out. Unlikely they will play any of the stuff I know as its 10+ years old now but still, well worth checking out.

Whitechapel

Another band that has made an impression on us over the years. Not so much a fan of the newer stuff but they still slay and hold it down very well. In fact, we are playing a Bloodstock warm up show with them Thursday 10^thAugust at The Underworld in London.

Inquisition

I’ve seen Inquisition once before and it blew my bloody socks off. Just super moody and a great atmosphere. If you like your Black Metal a little on the primitive side, go and check em out.

Ashen Crown

These guys did a great job of winning Metal To The Masses for a slot on the New Blood Stage. As far as new blood goes, we look forward to seeing how they handle themselves on the sacred NB stage. We know what it means to play that stage and how it feels before you head out. So we wish them the best of luck and hope they have a great crowd for when they go on.

SATURDAY

Hatebreed

Again, another act that sparks off pure nostalgia for some us. I stopped keeping up with them after ‘The Rise of Brutality’ but I know they are a great live act and Jamey really brings the good vibes when he’s on form. I look forward to feeling 15/16 for half an hour.

Fallujah

I know Cooke really loves these guys. So we will all no doubt head over and watch them when they hit the Main Stage on Saturday. We played on the same bill as them last year and they were unlucky with the sound quality. So I look forward to seeing them in the BOA set-up, which in the main, has always been pretty good for sound for an open air.  

Abhorrent Decimation

You’ve got to come and see us. BOA 2014, was such a great show for us on the New Blood Stage. Now we have been invited back onto the next stage up, The S.O.P.H.I.E. We can’t wait to come and smash some heads in with a set exclusively full of material from our new album ‘The Pardoner’. We’ve been quiet on the show front for a little while and with our best line-up ever, we are ready to return with a big performance at the festival.

SUNDAY

Obituary

I’ve seen Obituary a bunch of times and every time, I bloody love them a little more. The anticipation of waiting for Tardy to come out, with his luscious golden mane and release the almighty “bee-ki-uuuugh

Courtesans

Goth Pop? Whatever it is, it’s done well. Truly sultry. Great vibe and well formulated songs. I think it will make a nice break for most ears over the long weekend.

Band info: Facebook || Twitter || Website || Bandcamp 

Goat Torment - ‘Sermons To Death’ (Album Review)

By: Chris Bull

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 20/06/2015

Label: Amor Fati Productions

The sound of the opening guitar riff on the imaginatively titled 'Defloration Of The Holy Cunt' is like a chainsaw wrapped in barb wire and dipped in broken glass and overall this is a really good effort from the band on their 2nd full album. Looking forward to seeing what they can conjure up in the future!

‘Sermons To Death’ CD//DD track listing:

1. Opening the Gates

2. Bones Aligned

3. Rising Dominion

4. Hierarchy of Negligence 

5. Within the Realm of Darkness

6. Defloration of the Holy Cunt

7. Death is Crowned

8. The Domineering Profane

9. Of Fire and Brimstone

Goat Torment is:

Kwel | Guitars, bass, vocals

Torturer | Drums

The Review:

If scathing blackened death metal is your thing then I suggest you give Goat Torment a listen. While not exactly reinventing the wheel it still packs a mighty punch and will definitely please a lot of people.

'Opening The Gates' is an intro track and sounds like a rumble below the surface of the earth, forcing itself through asphalt and concrete. 'Bones Aligned' is the resulting hellish disaster following on from this. Incantations and Satanic chants are aplenty and The Old Gods are being summoned. It sounds similar to Colombia/US's Inquisition in parts but with the vocals leaning more towards the death metal side of the fence and more menace. Personal highlight 'Heirarchy Of Negligence' has an almost doomy intro passage but with a steady blast beat that all breaks out into complete satanic mayhem.

The sound of the opening guitar riff on the imaginatively titled 'Defloration Of The Holy Cunt' is like a chainsaw wrapped in barb wire and dipped in broken glass. 'Death Is Crowned' is another great track and reminds me of Towers Of Flesh (that's most definitely a compliment). While there are an infinite number of blasts, it's not constant and allows the song to benefit from moments of suspense. The last 2 songs 'The Domineering Profane' and 'Of Fire And Brimstone' continue with the blistering blackened death, the latter standing out a bit more than the former with it's momentary slow passage and the hellish noise, the sound of flesh burning, trailing off at the end.

Really good effort from the band on their 2nd full album. Looking forward to seeing what they can conjure up in the future!

‘Sermons To Death’ is available here

FFO: Inquisition, Towers of Flesh

Band info: facebook

Inquisition - ‘Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer’ (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length (Reissue)

Date Released: 23 March 2015

Label: Season of Mist

‘Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer’ CD//DD//LP track listing

01 Baptized in Black Goat Blood
02 Crush the Jewish Prophet
03 Under the Black Inverted Pentagram
04 Of Blood and Darkness We Are Born
05 Dark Mutilation Rites
06 Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer
07 Impaled by the Cryptic Horns of Baphomet
08 We Summon the Binds of Fire (For the Burning of All Holiness)
09 Eternal Loyalty to Our Lord Satan
10 Within the Red Hellfire We Burn (bonus track)
11 May the Rays of a Fullmoon Shine upon Us (bonus track)
12 Outro

Inquisition is:

Dagon | guitars, vocals
Incubus | drums

Review:

A reissue of their 2004 record, this Colombian two piece had dispensed with bass several albums prior to this slice of unpleasantness. It is black metal- fuzzed guitar, blast beats (the drums don't sound triggered or in any way polished but they use the death metal “all together” style as opposed to the rolling black metal version) and either spoken or croaked vocals. The likes of ‘Baptized in Goat Blood’ let you know what you are in for; left field black metal of misanthropic approach (see also ‘Crush The Jewish Prophet’).

The deadly duo really know how to unleash hell when they want to; they create a kind of impenetrable wall of noise at times and keep the feel necro ALL the time. There are discernable riffs, too- ‘Of Blood and Darkness We Are Born’, for example, has an almost Maiden-esque approach, while ‘Dark Mutiliation Rites’ is not flat out speed, either. The title track is impressively cold. 

‘Impaled By The Cryptic Horns of Baphomet’ has a ludicrous vocal delivery but is no less enjoyable for it. Later album tracks such as ‘We Summon The Binds of Fire’ continue to keep the quality high and the style unique and along with instrumental ‘Within The Red Hellfire We Burn’, the band make a convincing claim to the crown for South American Black Metal (albeit, my knowledge does not go much beyond Brazil's Mystifier).  ‘May The Rays of Fullmoon Shine’ is melancholic and melodic in sound and scope and throws in a bit of a different sound to an album of  already unusual black metal.

Overall, then, this is unique black metal of South American Extraction (by way of Seattle) originally released a decade ago by two musicians still going today. A blaze in the Colombian sky? No doubt.

Words by: Richard Maw

‘Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer’ is available here

For more information:

www.facebook.com/inquisition.official

The Sludgelord News: Inquisition unveil new artwork and start pre-sale

INQUISITION have unveiled their new artwork for the reissue of their 2004 classic 'Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer', which has been scheduled for release on the 23rd of March 2015.

All re-releases come with new artwork by the renowned artist Paolo Girardi, who already created the cover art for INQUISITION's latest album 'Obscure Verses For The Multiverse' (2013). The original artwork will be each time included as well. Girardi's covers are part of an overarching concept and should be seen in conjunction. More details about his mysterious work will be revealed with the final reissue.

'Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer' is available for pre-order at the Season of Mist shop in various formats including strictly limited leather sleeves. This reissue furthermore comes with two rare tracks as bonus: "Within The Red Hellfire We Burn" and "May The Rays Of A Fullmoon Shine Upon Us"!

The new artwork of 'Magnificent Glorification of Lucifer' can be viewed below

INQUISITION are about to finish the Western European leg of their black headlining campaign through Europe. The American black metal duo are joined for their black celebration by Finland's ARCHGOAT, the Swedes ONDSKAPT and BLACKDEATH from Russia - except for the last four eastern dates..

05/02/2015   CH    Zürich           Alte Kaserne           

06/02/2015   BE    Huy               Atelier Rock           
07/02/2015   DE    Weinheim      Cafe Zentral

11/02/2015   LV   Riga                 Nabaklab
12/02/2015   EE   Tallinn               Tapper
13/02/2015   RU   Saint Petersburg  Phoenix
14/02/2015   RU   Moscow               Seven

Source: Season of Mist

The Sludgelord News: Daily Digest

Your rundown of the top sludge news stories of the day …

EYEHATEGOD - There’s a real possibility that without EYEHATEGOD there wouldn’t be a Sludgelord website. The Sludge pioneers, along with friends Crowbar helped to create and define the distinctive style of metal that Beavis & Butthead once described as “slow and fat”. In the early 1990s, it was as far away from the norm as you could get in metal music. Today they are legends, having been through the toughest battles imaginable and persevered, now Eyehategod is soon to embark on a tour that will take them from California to Maryland.

The tour will find the band playing five California cities in late January, then double back across the continent to Boston in early February, then moving south through New York and ending back in the south with a show in Baltimore alongside doom legends Saint Vitus. That will be a show that fans will want to hang on to their ticket stubs for years to come.

Here are the tour dates:

1/22/2015 Jerry's Pizza & Pub - Bakersfield, CA
1/23/2015 Moose Lodge - Lancaster, CA
1/24/2015 Alex's Bar - Long Beach, CA
1/25/2015 Sweet Springs Saloon - San Luis Obispo, CA
1/26/2015 Strummers - Fresno, CA
2/04/2015 Brighton Music Hall - Boston MA
2/05/2015 The Clash Bar - Clifton, NJ
2/06/2015 Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY
2/07/2015 Saint Vitus - Brooklyn, NY
2/08/2015 Ottobar - Baltimore, MD w/ Cro Mags, Saint Vitus, Misery Index

http://www.eyehategod.ee
http://www.facebook.com/OfficialEyeHateGod
http://www.thehousecorerecords.com

Source:

Earsplit PR

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INQUISITION - American black metal band INQUISITION will also be on the road this January and February, albeit in Europe. The tour, which starts today in Berlin (see list of dates below), will concentrate on the country of Germany and finish up in Russia, February 14. They’ll be joined on stage by Archgoat, Ondskapt and Blackdeath, except for the final four stops.

The band is touring in support of their latest, ‘Obscure Verses for the Multiverse’, out on Season of Mist Records. You can stream and download the album in its entirety at this location and buy a physical copy of the record at this location.

Here’s the full list of tour dates:

20/01/2015 DE Berlin K17 21/01/2015 PL Kraków Fabryka Club
22/01/2015 CZ Prague Nová Chmelnice
23/01/2015 DE Erfurt From Hell
24/01/2015 DE München Backstage
25/01/2015 CH Lausanne Le Romandie
26/01/2015 IT Brescia Circolo Colony
27/01/2015 LU Luxemburg KulturFabrik
28/01/2015 FR Paris Divan du Monde
29/01/2015 UK London Underworld
30/01/2015 NL Nijmegen Doornroosje
31/01/2015 DE Essen Turock
01/02/2015 DK Odense Posten
02/02/2015 DE Flensburg Roxy
03/02/2015 DE Kassel Rostlaube
04/02/2015 AU Wien Escape Club
05/02/2015 CH Zürich Alte Kaserne
06/02/2015 BE Huy Atelier Rock
07/02/2015 DE Weinheim Cafe Zentral

11/02/2015 LV Riga Nabaklab
12/02/2015 EE Tallinn Tapper
13/02/2015 RU Saint Petersburg Phoenix
14/02/2015 RU Moscow Seven

Source:

Season of Mist Records

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MONOMYTH - Staying with the tour circuit for a moment … Dutch heavy psych / stoner/ drone band MONOMYTH’s most recent album ‘Further’ is about traveling and movement. The band moves through great distances of sound on the 4-song, 45-minute opus, reaching from the ordinary to the surreal with kaleidoscopic vision. So, what better way to take their sound ‘further’ than to pack it up and tour it around the UK?

Well, that’s the plan as it was revealed today. The band will hit British shores this February, taking a peculiar route, ping-ponging across the land along the way.  The band plays their first show of the tour in Cardiff on Thursday the 19^th, then will zip up to Glasgow for a Friday show, then back down to Bournemouth for a Saturday engagement, after which point the band will work their way back up to Edinburgh.

In a way, the tour itinerary artfully recreates the kind of sonic journey concertgoers should expect to witness at the shows. This is the first chance fans in the UK will have had to catch the band live.

Here’s the full schedule:

Thu 19th Cardiff The Moon Club
Fri 20th Glasgow Audio
Sat 21st Bournemouth The Anvil
Sun 22nd Milton Keynes The Crauford Arms
Mon 23rd London The Macbeth
Tue 24th Chester The Compass
Wed 25th Birmingham Alfie Birds
Thu 26th Edinburgh Bannermans

Tickets are available through all usual outlets. 

https://www.facebook.com/monomyththeband

http://www.monomyththeband.com/

Source:

Duff Press

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POMBAGIRA - And speaking of winding musical journeys, London duo POMBAGIRA released details of their upcoming sixth album ‘FLESH THRONE PRESS’. The album will be released on March 23 through Svart Records, and it will feature over 80 minutes of new music on double-CD and double vinyl.

Throughout the course of their 8 year existence, Pombagira has undertaken many musical explorations with this latest album being their most psychedelic yet. The subject matter involves necromancy and communication with the dead. The title track is streaming right now on Soundcloud and is arguably their heaviest song to date. More audio previews have been promised in the coming weeks, so stay tuned for more.

For now, listen to “Flesh Throne Press” at this location.

http://www.pombagira.org.uk
http://www.pombagira.bigcartel.com/
http://www.svartrecords.com/

Source:

Rarely Unable PR

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TIMEKILLER - Portland, Oregon has become a mecca for emerging musicians and artists in the early years of the 21^st century. One of the leaders in exporting the local underground scene’s endeavors is EOLIAN EMPIRE RECORDS, who you may recall released a compilation of local musicians in 2013 called ‘(We’ve Gotta) Keep Our Heads: Heavy Vibes from Portland, Oregon’. Well, the label is releasing a new compilation soon, but this time they’re focusing their gaze outward at bands from around the globe who share that heavy aesthetic that Portland is becoming known for. One of those bands is Brazilian trio TIMEKILLER.

Their song “Sick of Myself” has been added to the tracklist of Eolian Empire Records upcoming ‘(We’ve Got) Fiends in Low Places’ compilation. It’s the third such song to be streamed and you’ll find it on the Cvlt Nation website. The compilation will be released on February 3 as 333 cassettes with a download ticket included. You can pre-order a copy at this location.

You can take a listen to Timekiller’s effort “Sick of Myself” at this location.

http://timekillerpunx.bandcamp.com
http://eolianempire.com http://facebook.com/eolianempire
http://twitter.com/eolianempire

Source:

Earsplit PR

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GRIZZLOR / BARREN WOMB - In other release news, an intercontinental treaty was announced today as American noise rock band GRIZZLOR will team up with Dutch Noise Punks BARREN WOMB for a split 7 inch record. The vinyl will feature two songs from each band and will be out March 17 on Righteous Outburst Records. The single can be pre-ordered at this location right now. For a sneak preview, check out this video.

And for more info, visit these links:

http://www.facebook.com/grizzlordestroys
http://www.grizzlordestroys.com
http://www.twitter.com/grizzlorrrrrrrr
http://www.facebook.com/barrenwomb
http://www.barrenwomb.org/
http://twitter.com/barren_womb
http://www.facebook.com/riotousoutburst
http://riotousoutburst.bandcamp.com

Source:

The Perfect Hoax

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BLACK STAR RIDERS - Another band with a new album looming on the horizon is BLACK STAR RIDERS. It’s the follow up to 2013’s ‘All Hell Breaks Loose’ and it will be coming to you through Nuclear Blast Records. The album will be released in a number of editions, including CD and vinyl and limited edition double-CD with a bonus disc and clear vinyl records. The album, titled ‘The Killer Instinct’ will be released on February 23.

Recently, Damon Johnson and Scott Gorham of the band sat down to talk about working with new producer Nick Raskulinecz, whose credits include albums by Rush, Foo Fighters, Alice in Chains and Mastodon. The band members described him as the “sixth member of the band”. You can watch that video at this location.

If you’re in and around the UK or will be in March and you’d like a more up-close-and-personal experience of the band, you can catch them at the following dates:

March 2: Olympia Theatre, Dublin
March 3: Ulster Hall, Belfast
March 5: o2 ABC, Glasgow
March 6: o2 ABC, Glasgow
March 7: o2 Academy, Newcastle
March 8: o2 Academy, Leeds
March 10: Rock City, Nottingham
March 11: Corn Exchange, Cambridge
March 13: Academy, Manchester
March 14: Civic Hall, Wolverhampton
March 15: University, Exeter
March 16: o2 Academy, Bristol
March 18: o2 Academy, Bournemouth
March 19: UEA, Norwich
March 20: o2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London
March 21: o2 Shepherd’s Bush Empire, London

Buy tickets: http://bit.ly/BSRTour

THE AMORETTES are support on all dates except Glasgow March 5th and London March 20th – support on these shows is TBA.

NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS UK
Web: nuclearblast.de
Facebook: facebook.com/nuclearblasteurope 
Twitter: @nuclearblasteu
Instagram: @nuclearblasteurope
YouTube: youtube.com/user/NuclearBlastEurope

Source:

Nuclear Blast Records

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FALLUJAH - In other NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS news, progressive death metal band FALLUJAH has signed with the label, it was announced. Last year’s ‘The Flesh Prevails’ album won the band praise across the death metal and progressive metal communities, including topping several year-end lists. Well, the German based label didn’t fail to notice.

"We're extremely excited to be part of a roster alongside not just great bands, but great people who are dedicated to the craft and enthusiastic about our vision of where we see FALLUJAH going,” comments the band. “FALLUJAH is all about pushing the envelope, taking risks, and keeping an open mind; with that mentality we felt Nuclear Blast was the most obvious and logical step for a band such as ours. With our team behind us, we can’t wait to see FALLUJAH grow."

There were no immediate plans for the band to record a follow-up, when the album does surface, it will do so under the Nuclear Blast banner.

facebook.com/fallujahofficial 

twitter.com/fallujahbayarea

Source:

Nuclear Blast Records

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RIFFLORD -  And finally, it was announced yesterday that up-and-coming stoner doom label STB Records has signed a new band to its growing roster. Austin, Texas quartet RIFFLORD has joined the ranks alongside bands like Goya, Doctor Doom and Red Wizard. The news comes just days after the label revealed that it had signed Minnesota trio Let It Breathe to a record deal. Further details were not released.

https://www.facebook.com/pages/STB-Records/471228012921184

https://www.facebook.com/pages/RIFFLORD/234755513342

Source:

STB Records

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And now you’re all caught up in the world of sludge.