ALBUM REVIEW: Lord Dying, "Mysterium Tremendum”

By: Richard Maw

Album Type: Full Length

Date Released: 26/04/2019

Label: eOne Heavy

Not many bands would attempt something so daring and varied. Of course, not many bands are anywhere near as good as Lord Dying, so try this one out and expand your taste. Excellent.

“Mysterium Tremendum” CD//DD//LP track listing:

1. Envy The End
2. Tearing At The Fabric Of Consciousness
3. Nearing The End Of The Curling Worm
4. The End Of Experience
5. Exploring Inward
6. Severed Forever
7. Even The Darkness Went Away
8. Freed From The Pressures Of Time
9. Lacerated Psyche
10. Split From A World Within/Devoid Of Dreams/Death The Final Loneliness
11. Saying Goodbye To Physical Form

The Review:

Lord Dying are back and Portland's finest have not run out of riffs and hunger just yet! The first thing that hit me when I pressed play was the sound- thick, muscular, meaty and absolutely spot on for this sludge/metal mash up. Sitting somewhere between Mastodon, High On Fire, Death Angel and Jethro Tull (!?) this record has a surprising amount of variation, not to mention light and shade. “Envy The End” will get your head banging at any volume, mind, and after that opening the album has more twists and turns than a sidewinder.

The Doors-esque “Tearing at the Fabric of Consciousness” is just one of the curve-balls here; it's dark and quiet and pretty different to what you might find on the average sludge release. As the record progresses, the band runs the gamut from quieter almost folky moments to thrash riffage and the heaviest of sludge metal. The vocals are just as changeable- clean singing, more metal type singing and screams/growls.

The eleven tracks on offer clip by, being as the song lengths are pretty varied- no formulaic writing here, so instead there is a real mixture of light and heavy. The quiet loud dynamic has worked for the greatest metal bands you can name, so Lord Dying are onto something here. The life/death concept is a good one for the band to explore and gives them latitude with the arrangements; lots of instrumental sections and some pretty psychedelic sections throughout the album are welcome additions to the Lord Dying's approach here.

As a concept album, a track by track is a little pointless and would perhaps spoil the experience for the listener as this is an album to be experienced as a whole or at the very least in track list order. Suffice it to say that most heavy music fans will find something they like here; it covers a lot of ground and approaches (often even in one song) and ranges from the very pretty (“Freed From The Pressures of Time”) to the whimsical to the more extreme metal you might have expected.

“Mysterium Tremendum” is a vast work and is not what I really expected at all- and is all the better for it. Not many bands would attempt something so daring and varied. Of course, not many bands are anywhere near as good as Lord Dying, so try this one out and expand your taste. Excellent.

“Mysterium Tremendum” is available HERE

Band info: facebook || bandcamp

The Sludgelord News: Daily Digest

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

ACID KING

It’s been ten years since the last new ACID KING recordings were released. Now, the San Francisco trio is ready to roll out their latest effort. The new album is called ‘Middle of Nowhere, Center of Everywhere’ and it will be out April 14, 2015 on Svart Records. The big news of the day came when the band revealed the cover artwork for the new album, which you can see to the side here.

Guitarist/vocalist Lori S spoke about the new record.

“We had several songs in the works over the years that we spent most of our time touring Europe but in between working our day jobs, we didn’t put the effort into recording. I really wanted to accelerate the process and get new music out. It’s time. This music that we’ve been playing for so long, that was initially obscure and underground, seemed to grow over these past 10 years and the timing was right to release this now!”

The artwork was created by veteran tattoo artist Tim Lehi and features a wizard riding an Asian-style tiger in space.

The band will be at Desertfest in the UK from April 24-26. Details of an upcoming U.S. tour should be announced soon.

www.facebook.com/AcidkingSF

www.acidking.com

Source:

Speakeasy PR

*********************************************************

ROYAL THUNDER

In other upcoming release news, Atlanta’s stoner doom darlings ROYAL THUNDER will return this April 7 with a follow-up to their hit 2012 record, ‘CVI’. The 11-song album, ‘Crooked Doors’ will be released by Relapse Records on that date.

The band was quoted in a press release and spoke directly to fans.

“It’s been too long,” the press release stated. “Thanks for being patient with us in delivering this album! We hope you are fond of it. Looking forward to revisiting familiar places and faces.”

Further details are expected to follow between now and the album’s release date.

www.facebook.com/royalthundermusic
www.twitter.com/royalthunderatl
royalthunder.bandcamp.com

Source:

Speakeasy PR

**********************************************************

LORD DYING
Staying with Relapse Records for the moment, LORD DYING are giving fans a glimpse of their entire upcoming ‘Poisoned Altars’ record. The album is set for worldwide release on January 27 before the band embarks on a massive U.S. tour throughout all of February and most of March which will culminate with an appearance at the Psycho California Festival in May. But fans won’t have to wait another week to hear the new album, it’s being streamed in its entirety on Loudwire, right now. The album features 8 new songs.

The tour will kick off on January 31 in the band’s hometown of Portland, Oregon, you can find a link to the event at this location. The album can be pre-ordered on iTunes and physical copies can be pre-ordered at this location.

If you want to listen to the full album, it’s being streamed at this location.

For More Info Visit:
https://twitter.com/Lorddying
https://www.facebook.com/LordDying
http://lorddying.bandcamp.com
http://instagram.com/lorddying

Source:

Freeman Promotions

*****************************************************

BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH
In other free stream news, the opening track to Seattle-based trio BROTHERS OF THE SONIC CLOTH is up-and-streaming on the Decibel website. The song is called “Lava” and band leader Tad Doyle spoke about the meaning behind the song.

"'Lava' was originally inspired by a Native American folklore story that talks about Mount St. Helens and Mount Rainier, both active volcanoes in the Cascade Mountain range spanning Washington State and Oregon. The story in short; 'Where little sister goes, big sister follows,' with 'little sister' being Mt. St. Helens and 'big sister' being Mt. Rainier. Native culture and geology records have mentioned that these eruptions happen every four-hundred or so years. Rainier is well overdue. This song is basically a tribute to the force and natural powers that lay within the region and what an eruption would look like through the eyes of the life that surrounds the region."

The full album will be released by Neurot Records on February 17 and pre-orders are available at this location. You can hear “Lava” right now at this location.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Brothers-of-the-Sonic-Cloth/63586406187?fref=ts
http://www.taddoyle.com/botsc
http://www.neurotrecordings.com
http://www.facebook.com/neurotrecordings

Source:

Earsplit PR

**********************************************************

RILEY HAWK: NORTHWEST BLOW OUT 
You may have heard the new Kadavar song “Into the Night” by now (just maybe you heard it on this podcast?), it’s been available as a free download for a couple weeks. The Black Angels’s “Waterloo Waltz” has been available as a free download for a number of days. Both songs are from the RILEY HAWK: NORTHWEST BLOW OUT compilation released through Scion A/V. Now all four songs from the EP are available, the other two by LOOM and Hot Lunch are titled “Midnight Sol” and “Uprooted”, respectively.

Each of the songs on the EP will be featured in the upcoming video series Scion x Riley Hawk Driven, about Riley Hawk and the Sheep Dogs at their favorite skate parks in the Northwest. The artists on the EP were hand-picked by Hawk and he had this to say about the project:

“Music is an important part of skateboarding, I think the two worlds have often been tied to each other. So, when Scion came to me with an opportunity to create a collection of music from my favorite bands, I jumped at the chance to get involved.”

You can jump at the chance to download this EP for FREE at this location.

Source:

Speakeasy PR

********************************************************

CHAINS
Slovenian doom / drone band CHAINS have quietly built a name for themselves in darker quarters over the last few years. Part of what has kept the band ‘quiet’ has been their lack of live shows. Well Chains is ready to take the stage for the first time to perform musical rituals under the name The Chains Experience. The first show is set to take place this Saturday, January 24 in Banja Luka (Republic of Srpska) at DKC Incel. You can find more information about the performance at this location. The band promises that each live ritual will be unique and will offer a visual as well as musical experience for concertgoers.

To note the band’s coming out party, Doom Cult Records will also be re-releasing Chains’s first EP from 2012 titled ‘Of Death’ with an all-new bonus track. The song’s title is “Samhain MMXV” and you can hear it at this location. Originally the work of one man, this bonus track is the first Chains recording to feature new member Knjaz on “ritual drums and chorus chants”. According to the band’s facebook page Doom Cult will be releasing the album as a FREE download.

The original edition ‘Of Death’ album was available as an extremely limited digipack of only 10 copies. The new edition of the CD will be released on January 26 and it will come in a DVD case. For now, you can find a free stream of the album at this location.

https://www.facebook.com/ChainsOfficial

https://www.facebook.com/DoomCultRecords

Source:

Doom Cult Records

*******************************************************

SHINING
Season of Mist Records revealed yesterday the details of suicidal black metal pioneers SHINING’s new album. Band leader Niklas Kvarforth comments:

"SHINING, the ninth, has been given the name of 'IX - Everyone, Everything, Everywhere, Ends'. For once I am extremely pleased with how this album turned out. I believe that the fevered presence of filth and uncompromising darkness is more prominent than ever before. Not only will our more recent fan-base 'enjoy' the oppression contained therein, but I am also certain that those who stopped listening toSHINING after our fifth album will find the new one plague-ridden with what some might have felt was lacking on the more recent efforts… that atmosphere of old."

The album will be released by Season of Mist on April 20 with pre-sales beginning February 3. Shining have also unveiled a new website which you can find at this location.

https://www.facebook.com/shiningofficial

Source:

Season of Mist Records

*********************************************************

TREEDEON
Exile on Mainstream Records has released details of Berlin-based sludge trio TREEDEON’s new album and a free stream has been made available for the closing track. The album, titled ‘Lowest Level Reincarnation’ will feature 8 new songs and over 50 minutes of sludge. It will be released on March 9. If the closing track is any indication, sludge-fiends will want to mark the date on their calendars.

“Definitely the most powerful album I’ve ever been part of,” drummer Christian "Boomer" Böhm said. “We combined aggression and melody, had a great time writing and recording these songs. I can’t wait to play them live, which is exhausting, but very satisfying.”

Once again, you can hear closing track “Terracide”, at this location.

http://www.facebook.com/Treedeon
http://www.treedeon.com
http://www.mainstreamrecords.de

Source:

Rarely Unable PR

*********************************************************

ZU
It was also revealed yesterday that Ipecac Recordings artists Zu have a new album on the horizon. The band broke a three year silence with their ‘Goodnight Civilization’ EP in 2014.  ‘Cortar Todo’ will be their 16^th record, but will be the first full-length featuring newest member, Gabe Serbian on drums.

The band has played over 2000 shows in its 15 year existence, so expect an extensive touring schedule to manifest at some point. The tracklist for the new album was also revealed which you can see below.

TRACK LIST:
1. The Unseen War
2. Rudra Dances Over Burning Rome
3. Cortar Todo
4. A Sky Burial
5. Orbital Equilibria
6. Serpens Cauda
7. No Pasa Nada
8. Conflict Acceleration
9. Vantablack Vomitorium
10. Pantokrator

The album will be released on March 23, and you can hear the first single, “Rudra Dances Over Burning Rome” streaming right now at this location.

Source:

Rarely Unable PR

*********************************************************

SECRET CUTTER
And finally, Bethlehem, PA-based hardcore trio SECRET CUTTER have announced two shows this week. The first will be at the famed Saint Vitus Bar in Brooklyn on January 22. They’ll be appearing with Godmaker, Huldra, RHIN and Pink Mass. You can find info about the show at this location.

The second show will be held in Providence, Rhode Island on the 30^th with Good Lord, Sire, Lyra and Extinction Machine. Information about the show can be found at this location.

The band recently recorded a cover of Dead Kennedys’s “Your Emotions” which will be included on an upcoming Cvlt Nation compilation.

http://www.secretcutter.com

http://www.facebook.com/SecretCutter
http://secretcutter.bandcamp.com
http://twitter.com/cutter_secret

Source: 
Earsplit PR

*******************************************************

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

Lord Dying - Poisoned Altars (Album Review)

Album Type: Full-Length

Date Released: 27/1/2015

Label: Relapse Records

‘Poisoned Altars’ CD//LP//DD track listing:

1). "Poisoned Altars"
2). "The Clearing At The End Of The Path"
3). "A Wound Outside Of Time"
4). "An Open Sore"
5). "Offering Pain (And An Open Minded Center)"
6). "Suckling At The Teat Of A Shebeast"
7). "(All Hopes Of A New Day)...Extinguished"
8. "Darkness Remains"

Lord Dying:

Erik Olson | Guitar/Vocals
Don Capuano | Bass
Rob Shaffer | Drums
Chris Evans | Guitar

Review:

Let's start with the basics. A band called Lord Dying were always going to be good, right? Of course. 2013's rumbling debut 'Summon the Faithless' quickly launched the Portland quartet to the forefront of the ever growing sludge/doom scene. We come now to the potentially awkward second album phase of the bands career. A time that comes to define most bands, so have they come out the other end stronger? The answer to that is an infallible yes.

The opening title track sets the tone for the entire album. A relentless assault you're quite happy to endure. The message is clear, these guys aren't out of riffs and the next 40 minutes are going to leave you out of breath but desperate for more. "The Clearing at the End of The Path" Hammers along before slipping into a twisting, shifting, progressive sidetrack. This detour is short lived however as the band turn the gravity back on with considerable force. Things move forward in an almost unstoppable fashion with a seemingly endless barrage of riffs, breakdowns and vocals Scott Kelly would be proud of. "Offering Pain (And an Open Minded Crater)" exudes a sense of sinister despair with a guitar solo filled with menace and drums played with a deadly intent. If all this isn't enough, if you're not already on your hands and knees searching for your teeth, the band get serious with the utterly crushing "(All Hopes of a New Day)....Extinguished" the albums heaviest track and one that seals your fate. Album closer "Darkness Remains" marches along before ending in a sea of pure noise. It leaves you feeling dizzy, slightly confused and ready to return to the beginning.

"Poisoned Altars" is everything you want from a bands second album. Heavier, braver, angrier and above all else, a clear evolution without losing what made them great to begin with. I'm reminded of other great bands in this field and it makes me all the more excited for this bands future. However, for now, this album will be absolutely essential listening. Expect to be crushed.

Words by: Rhys Miles

You can pick up a CD/LP copy here.

For more information:

Facebook | Twitter | Bandcamp

The Sludgelord News: LORD DYING Premiere New Song "Offering Pain (and An Open Minded Center)" via Wondering Sound

Portland, Oregon's LORD DYING will release their new album entitledPoisoned Altars, January 27, 2015 (1/26 for UK/World and 1/24 for Germany/Benelux/Finland) via Relapse Records.  Poisoned Altars is available in CD/LP/Digital and a Special Silver Colored LP for Relapse Records 25^thAnniversary.  Pre-order Poisoned Altars HERE.  The iTunes pre-order is available HERE. The album was recorded with Toxic Holocaust's Joel Grind (Black Tusk) at Audiosiege Studios in Portland, OR.  Poisoned Altars is direct result of the relentless work the band put in the past 18 months grinding it out on the road touring non-stop with the likes of Red Fang, Black Tusk, Corrosion of Conformity, Valient Thorr and more. 

Today LORD DYING releases the third single from Poisoned Altars.  Wondering Sound is hosting an exclusive premiere of the song "Offering Pain (and An Open Minded Center)".  Check out the stream HERE.

The first song from Poisoned Altars "A Wound Outside Time" can be streamed HERE. 

The second song that was released from the album is entitled "An Open Sore" and features guests vocals from Red Fang's Aaron Beam.  Check it out HERE.

A video trailer for Poisoned Altars can be viewed HERE.

LORD DYING has confirmed a hometown album release show for January 31^st in Portland, OR at Mississippi Studios with special guests Sons of Huns, more info on the show can be viewed HERE. 

The band will also hit the road with Anvil this winter beginning February 5^th in Brooklyn and wraps up March 20^th in Seattle, WA. LORD DYING will be playing at Psycho California Fest in Santa Ana, CA on May 15^th - May 17^th. 

LORD DYING's video for the song "Dreams of Mercy", directed by Whitey McConnaughy (Red Fang, ZZ Top) can be seen HERE.

Poisoned Altars Track Listing:

1. Poisoned Altars

2. The Clearing at the End of the Path

3. A Wound Outside of Time

4. An Open Sore

5. Offering Pain (and An Open Minded Center)

6. Suckling at the Teat of a Shebeast

7. (All Hopes of a New Day)...Extinguished

8. Darkness Remains

LORD DYING Headlining dates

1/31- Portland, OR @ Mississippi Studios                            

2/3- Crest Hill, IL @ Bada Brew      

2/4- Lakewood, OH @ The Foundry

LORD DYING w/ Anvil

2/5- Brooklyn, NY @ The Shop

2/6- Frederick, MD @ Cafe 611

2/7- Secaucus, NJ @ The Blue Room

2/8- Fayetteville, NC @ Drunk Horse Pub

2/11- Ashville, NC @ New Mountain Theater

2/12- Jacksonville, FL @ Freebird Live

2/13- Sanford, FL @ West End Trading Co

2/14- St. Petersburg, FL @ The State Theater

2/16- Kansas City, MO @ The Riot Room

2/17- Indianapolis, IN @ The Fifth Quarter Lounge

2/18- Chicago, IL @ Red Line Tap

2/19- St. Louis, MO @ Fubar

2/20- Ft. Smith, AR @ Holiday Inn Event Ctr

2/21- Houston, TX @ BFE Rock Club

2/22- New Orleans,@  LA Siberia

2/24- Shreveport, LA @ The Brass Monkey

2/25- Austin, TX @ The Dirty Dog

2/26- Ft. Worth, TX @ The Rail Club

2/27- Midland, TX @ The Blue Max

2/28- McAllen, TX @ Aces North

3/1- San Antonio, TX @ Kapones

3/4- Phoenix, AZ @ Joes Grotto

3/5- Tucson, AZ @ Flycatcher

3/6- Albuquerque, NM @ Blu Phoenix

3/7- Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

3/8- Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater

3/9- Grand Junction, CO @ Mesa Theatre

3/11- Salt Lake City, UT @ Metro Bar

3/12- Idaho Falls, ID @ DB's

3/13- South Lake Tahoe, CA @ Whisky Dicks Saloon

3/15- Las Vegas, NV @ Adrenaline

3/17- W Hollywood, CA @ The Whisky

3/18- Morgan Hill, CA @ The Granada

3/19- Portland, OR @ Tonic Lounge

3/20- Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven

Psycho California Fest:

5/15 - 5/17: Santa Ana, CA @ Psych California Fest

For More Info Visit:

https://twitter.com/Lorddying

https://www.facebook.com/LordDying

http://lorddying.bandcamp.com

http://instagram.com/lorddying

Source: Freeman Promotions

Live Review : Red Fang, The Corporation, Sheffield, UK, March 17th 2014

I only got to see 10 to 15 minutes of opening act – Lord Dying – as I was busy interviewing the main band. I am huge fan of their music and what I did see, impressed the hell out of me. Thick and brutal Sludge Metal riffs that went down a storm with the crowd in attendance tonight. You can tell why Lord Dying are considered one of the best upcoming Sludge Metal Bands on the Relapse Record Label. I think they may have won a few fans from tonight’s performance alone.

Up next is Californian self proclaimed - Psychedelic Violence Rock and Roll Upstarts – The Shrine – who put in a blistering 35 minute performance showcasing tracks off their two records Primitive Blast and Bless Off to an audience which took time to warm to these hard as nails stoner-thrash rockers.  Initially, some people weren't really convinced at the start including my brother who I was in attendance with. But by the end The Shrine had converted a huge number of people into rocking out with their insane blast of hard-rocking riffs including my brother.  He even bought a T-Shirt from the band at the end.

The Shrine are a highly energetic band, backed up with a powerful whirlwind of thrash based Stoner Metal riffs that left the audience in a daze at times. They left the stage to great applause and they definitely got the audience warmed up for the main act – RED FANG!!!

Red Fang came blistering on stage and played a stunning hour set packed full of classics from their last 3 albums. Opening up with HANK IS DEAD. Red Fang got straight down to business of rocking the fuck out and showing the world why they are one of the hottest Stoner Metal bands around.

The dual vocals of Aaron and Bryan instantly tore a hole in the universe as they showed the audience who was in charge. The audience were loving this right from the start, including myself.  I was rocking out, to a whole range of Red Fang tracks that almost everyone sang along to.

Voices Of The Dead, DOEN, Throw Up and No Hope proving that Red Fang are a band not to be messed with, as they laid down some impressive riffs. John's drumming was fantastic throughout and he never missed a beat.

Red Fang showed they had a wicked sense of humour during the show, joking along with members of the drunken audience, with Bryan telling drunken hecklers who is the boss with some damn fine witty comebacks of his own.  The audience found it highly amusing.

The music is what we came to see and Red Fang delivered on all counts during the course of the show. The biggest cheers of the night came when Red Fang played tracks such as 15:16, Crows in Swine and Blood Like Cream before exiting the stage to a rapturous reception.

We only waited about a minute or so before Red Fang unleashed into a one-song encore with their classic track – Prehistoric Dog – which was worth the admission price alone.  The entire audience sang along to all of the lyrics while Red Fang played some epic riffs which only added to the wonderful atmosphere they had created for the past 65 mins or so.

They left the stage to a brilliant reception and proved once again why they are one of the worlds best Hard Rock/Stoner Metal bands currently out there today.

My fave gig of 2014 so far. I hope other gigs I see this year match the fun and excitement that Red Fang created tonight.

Written by Steve Howe

Lord Dying - "Summon the Faithless" (Album Review)

By: Matt Fitton

Album Type : Full Length

Date Released : 9/7/2013

Label : Relapse Records

"Summon the Faithless" CD//DD//LP album track listing:

1. In a Frightful State of Gnawed Dismemberment
2. Summoning The Faithless
3. Greed Is Your Horse
4. Descend Into External
5. Dreams of Mercy
6. Perverse Osmosis
7. Water Under a Burning Bridge
8. What Is Not…Is

The Review

Portland and Relapse combined forces and gave us one amazing band already, the mighty Red Fang. So now they're teaming up again to deliver another uppercut of awesomeness in the form of the equally mighty Lord Dying. Their new album and Relapse debut is called 'Summon the Faithless', and it's a heady brew of Sludge, Doom and just some good old fashioned heavy metal. How could this be anything less than killer?

Opener 'Summoning the Faithless' is bursting at the seams with hearty riffs. Real long haired, moustache sporting traditional shit. Soaked in beer from head to toe and offering a good time. Really great solid drums roll and bang, and the vocals are coarse and deep, the way any music played this way should be accompanied. Also, it should be played really fucking LOUD.

'Greed Is Your Horse' ups the tempo and the pace a bit for a more active head banging experience. A bit darker in tone, maybe influenced by that lack of sun I keep hearing about in the American North-West (I want to go to there). Frenetic guitar playing keeps an element of groove, but only just. The riffs on this bad boy are soooooo tasty; you'll need to wipe away the saliva from your ears. It's a record full of attitude and the pure need to rock out, balls to the wall style.

'Dreams of Mercy' is like a herd of buffalo covered in denim and leather trampling your skull. It's unconditionally heavy in a classic sense. I DARE you not to play air guitar at various points throughout this album. The only way to successfully avoid it would be to have a friend or loved one cut your arms off in advance preparation. Even then, you should get them to bury them at an undisclosed location so as to avoid 'zombie-air-guitar-arm ritual' temptation.

Side note: it's quite obvious that we love the whole package here at the 'Lord, so special mention should go to the outstanding artwork that is displayed on the cover of this album. Full of purple, and crazy demonic hallucination shit. I bet this is the sex on some wax. I know what Fitton is probably spending his hard earned cheddar on soon...

'Summon The Faithless' is a banger, stuffed to the gills with the kind of noise that kids dream about playing when they are rebellious teens. It's great stuff throughout, well played on all levels. I'm pretty sure that Lord Dying have a bright future ahead of them, or a dark one, whichever they see fit to pursue. Whatever you the reader choose to do, go grab a copy of this and rage, ASAP.

 You can buy this release here in a variety of formats. 

facebook