new Mutilation Rites track streaming from I Am Legion 12''

Art for I Am Legion 12''

One of the hardest touring USBM bands, Mutilation Rites are going to release the new 12" I am Legion on Gilead Media which is an already established label known for working with different dimensional yet innovating black metal acts (see here ). While Mutilation Rites demo album which was released last year never left my heavy rotation playlist, I got understandably excited when I read about this upcoming release on Gilead Media's official blog. Now yesterday Cvlt Nation premiered the opening track Cloaca Maxima from the new 12". Take a listen here. Check back for pre- orders with some shirts in the next week.

Mutilation Rites have announced a string of tour dates with Ryan Jones (Today Is the Day, Wetnurse) on bass. Get the dates after jump.

Anatomia, GoatPenis/ Nyogthaeblisz split samples and more

Anatomia@Rites Of Darkness 2011 [courtesy of BV]

Japanese death/ doom band Anatomia has released Cadaveric Dissection from the upcoming album Decaying In Obscurity. The album will be out on Nuclear War Now! Productions.

In related news, NWN Productions clarified on the delaying of new Wrathprayer album The Son of Moloch, "There is no pressing issue. We are still working on the layout."





GoatPenis/ Nyogthaeblisz split EP Terroristic Onslaught Of Humanicidal Chaos is available for pre- order now on Satanic Skinhead Propaganda.

Pagan Altar: studio pics and more

Recording Studio Build (Never Quite Dead) [photos courtesy of facebook page]

Pagan Altar, one of the most under- achieved bands announced at the end of last year that they are going to release a full LP Never Quite Dead come this year. A new song titled Dance Of The Vampires was released at the time taking inspiration from a cult classic movie under the same name. Portrait Of Dorian Gray appearing in Pagan Altar vs Mirror Of Deception split also to be included on the new album.





Pagan Altar Official Page

Is Atriarch lacking in direction?

Atriarch's debut Forever The End was shockingly one of the best debuts or the best in last year. The atmosphere was so grim and hollow that it was like a ritual performance at the back of a churchyard where the priest had been buried. The sound was filthy yet enriched with a lot of emotions. But that came out on  Seventh Rule Recordings. Now Atriarch has decided to release a split album with Alaric on 20 Buck Spin which contains two songs by them, Oblivion and Offerings, to my knowledge.

In Feb 26th, Oblivion was released on 20 Buck Spin Youtube channel and after hearing the song, I got confused about the overall sound. I wasn't sure if this is the Atriarch from last year that we are dealing here or some emo death rock band. I double checked, triple checked and came to the conclusion that it is the Atriarch. I know death rock is one inspiration on Atriarch but after listening Forever The End for so many times, I thought tagging Atriarch as more blackened doom would be the most proper. I can't stretch the dirty and obscene sound on Forever The End more. I loved that sound. I can't help saying it. Ok, let's roll back to the latest release Oblivion now.

Many bands change their sound and it's very appropriate. But when that change dissolves into a mediocre sound, that's when the problem starts. Oblivion is still a good song for a couple of streams but it lacks character nevertheless. I know it's still too early to pass a judgement but I'm disappointed with the direction that Atriarch is taking. Where is that rotten sound of Atriarch that we are accustomed to? Atriarch might write hundereds of great death rock songs and be popular in no time and I don't have a problem with that either but the affection that I grew on Forever The End would remain buried forever then. The good news is they are working with Profound Lore for the next LP, hopefully we will see cruddy Atriarch again.

I might be totally wrong on the judgement or assumptions here. What do you guys think? Did you like the new song and Atriarch sound?

lots happening in Oshkosh in the coming months: Dead Weight Movie Premiere, Gilead Media Music Festival and more

Adam Lee Bartlett is a busy man indeed. Not only did he manage to establish an independent record label Gilead Media and consistently put out good records of bands whose music he gratifies heartfully but also now arranged one of the most astounding underground music shows : Gilead Media Music Festival. The show spans around two days featuring likes of Loss, Thou, Ash Borer, Fell Voices, False, Lycus and more. But that starts in the last week of April. In between Adam L. Bartlett along with fellow producer/ director John Pata under the moniker Head Trauma Productions will be premiering the latest effort Dead Weight, a low- cost thriller on big screen.

Dead Weight is a horror and suspense movie filmed last year which focuses on the lassitude yet fanatical journey of Charlie Russell, travelling through the wilderness in the wake of an apocalyptic viral outbreak to reunite with his girlfriend, Samantha, in Wausau. I watched the trailer last year and instantly got excited over the whole thing. So I started to keep track of the movie although there were limited updates posted on the web, nevertheless it was growing in stature. It's a sigh of relief that the movie is finally going to see the day of light although there was no doubt seeing the hard work and extreme dedication of the whole crew. On March 30 and 31st, public primiering will take place at Time Community Theatre, Oshkosh starting from 8 p.m.; the deluxe 2xDVD package will come out in April. The trailer for Dead Weight and some of the wicked performance by the bands featuring on Gilead Media Music Festival are posted below.

Dead Weight Trailer

[Update: Barghest has been recently added to the line up]

Loss @ Nashville


Thou covering Black Sabbath's Into the Void


Ash Borer full set @ Acheron

Gilead Media

Dead Weight blog

Proclamation's Nether Tombs Of Abaddon

In early 80s, Venom and Bathory set a legacy with albums like Black Metal and Bathory respectively although Venom's Welcome To Hell contained the transition hints that were on the cards with the infusion of occultism and blasphemy in music esp metal. One thing I always restrain myself from which is arguing about the starters of certain genre. So let's not get into that at all. The reason for mentioning Venom/ Bathory is that the exact trend they set is only followed by a few number of bands these days and Proclamation is one of them. Even Quorthon strayed away from all out black attack after Under The Sign Of The Black Mark. The point I want to make is that when there are so few bands around accomplishing the trend effectively, they need to be kept sacred. Where Proclamation's new offering stands out is in execution factor surpassing their previous effort and reaching to a new height.

Proclamation has put out an album which needs to be heard by a soldier stepping into battlefield with a sword and black flag in other hand; take the power of salvation and descend upon the spiritual forces in  heavenly places. Nether Tombs of Abaddon provides that shield of faith with which one can conquer and stand firm. It's fascinating how thirty minutes of pure blasphemy can bring such inspirations. One way or the other, the sense of righteousness has to come eventually. Let it be through the numbers entitled like Regurgitated Bibles or Christ Death Ceremony; who cares?

Through out  the entire length, Proclamation maintains the lo- fi production and sound quality although not totally degrading into early Venom/Bathory but enough to possess the cult underground sound. The substratal drumming roars the declaration of war with harsh and excruciating vocational. The grinding riffs with occassional shrieking solos are continuous diabolical assault reminiscent of Quorthon.The overall sound is a relentless execution of abhorrent battle giving rise to bestial eagerness and provoking unearthly aggression. The prolonged onslaught might not win your heart at first but once you lend your ears and mind into it, the sheer spiritual aptitude will grab you with its morbid power. Recommended.

Proclamation will embark on an European Tour starting from April with likes of Bestial Raids, Truppensturm and more. Get the dates here. 

Grave Dig Mixtape Vol I

Grave Dig marks the release of its first mixtape Vol I. Here is the tracklist:

1. Gyibaaw/ Mitochondrion- Rituals of Transcendence (1:48)
2. Celeste- De Sorte Que/ Jamais Un Instant Ne Soit Magique (13:00)
3. Hidden Track (2:39)
4. Swans- Ligeti's Breath/ Hilflos Kind (22:17)
5. Brainoil- Dark Eyes of My Past (3:51)
6. Thrones- Wage War (5:15)
7. Sol Invictus- Old Londinium Weeps (4:49)
8. Ruin Lust- Untitled III (4:38)
9. Ruin Lust- Untitled IV (5:17)

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Total Playing Time- 1:03:27
Download

videos roundup: Autopsy, Deicide, Orange Goblin and more

ÅRABROT - SOLARANUS from Fysisk Format on Vimeo.

freedigger: Witchstone EP

Witchstone (another band with the word "Witch") falls into one of those classic stoner doom category infused with blues and psychedelic rock influences. This EP is not exactly original material but it's a lot of fun to listen. Witchstone is a relatively young band made up of three members who noted "Sabbath" as their influence (you know what you going to get). With the kind of sound they managed to produce on the EP, let's hope they come up with a lot more in near future. Download the EP for free from bandcamp page or listen to it below.

new Asphyx and Napalm Death streaming in full

Two albums, Napalm Death's Utilitarian and Asphyx's Deathhammer, which are streaming today regularly came up in discussion topics among the metal nerds. While some of 'em literally dismissed Napalm Death and I can't blame them as it was a let down for me too but Asphyx was received happily and created the general hype. I heard the title track Deathhammer before and it was crushing. Now after exploding the album in full, I need to restore the blood flow back in order. It's a sinister of an album molding 10 doom soaked death- blows straight out of the old dark valleys in Dutchland. Bathe in the glory of Asphyx at Decibel and if you have time, also check out Napalm Death's Utilitarian at its own store.

Both the albums will be coming out Feb 28.