Since 2008, the art of outstanding Icelandic/German pagan metallers, ARSTIDIR LIFSINS — Icelandic for “the seasons of life” – has always radiated the spirit of Old Norse history. Boasting members of Helrunar, Kerbenok, and Carpe Noctem, the curious collective’s latest long player – the stunning Aldafǫðr Ok Munka Dróttinn (“Óðinn and the God of the Monks“) – takes an in-depth look Scandinavian history and myth over its dramatic eighty-one-minute runtime.
Oakland-based eclectic doom unit and recent Metal Blade signees, SECRETS OF THE SKY, will support UK extreme metal duo/labelmates, Anaal Nathrakh, on their North American live takeover next month. Beginning May 11th in Sacramento, California and concluding on May 22 in Trenton, New Jersey, the trek will crush twelve cities with additional support from special guests, Incite. From there, SECRETS OF THE SKY will conquer seventeen more locales through eleven states alongside Tucson sludge ensemble, North, on select dates, with additional onstage endeavors in the plotting stages.
Sweden has been a fertile ground for metal of all varieties for multiple decades, and there appears to be no sign that this will change anytime soon. The variety and quality of bands is staggering, and Metal Blade Records is prepared to help add The Great Discord to the list of one of Sweden’s finest new groups.
Progressive metal band Between the Buried and Me have released a brand new song from their upcoming highly anticipated, seventh full-length album Coma Ecliptic. Fans can listen to “Memory Palace” now! The upcoming album is also now available for pre-order with special bundles and packages offered, including: CD, LP, two pre-order exclusive t-shirts, an exclusive hour long behind the scenes making-of DVD, and a “Coma Ecliptic” limited edition 27″x40″ movie poster. Coma Ecliptic will be officially released worldwide on July 7th, 2015. Grandiose, dynamic, heavy, melodic, technically challenging and more, this album delivers.
Death Metal has a long and storied past, with some of the most iconic bands of metal belonging to this old school, brutal genre: Cannibal Corpse, Possessed, Morbid Angel, Mortician, Autopsy, Obituary, Entombed… and the almighty father, DEATH. From the ashes of Chuck Schuldiner’s genre forming playing and vision comes today’s review: Savage Land by Gruesome.
After all the hubbub of a long day, I love to throw on instrumental albums. No one is going to ask me how the hell I can listen to that noise, or how I can understand that guy yelling at me, or why is he saying FUCK so much?! Instrumental albums and bands allow for an open conversation about metal, and can really help people understand it’s all about a lot more than just defenestrating people or Satan being awesome. Today’s selection is the new S/T album from NY in 64 (or NY64, if you see that), so read further if you’re interested.
