Norwegian art rockers White Willow have always incorporated elements of progressive rock into their music, and on their seventh disc, Future Hopes, they continue to explore that path.
Future Hopes is nothing if not diverse; each song on the album sounds different, from the soundscapes of “Where There Was Sea There Is Abyss” to the guitar heavy sounds of “Animal Magnetism.” The album also experiments with electronic and acoustic sounds, making it an unpredictable listen.
Stream the entirety of Future Hopes below. White Willow release the album through Lasers Edge on March 31. Get it here.
The recording of our new album begins and once again we are working with Jaime Gomez Arellano at the freshly revamped ...
Posted by Paradise Lost on Tuesday, March 28, 2017
New Zealand sludge outfit Beastwars wade through thick, heavy riffs in their new music video for “Some Sell Their Souls.”
The band, who released their full-length The Death of All Things in 2016, are shown performing in a lightly crowded room to a barely interested audience.
“The video for ‘Some Sell Their Souls’ was inspired by a set of studio videos we did called The Sundae Sessions, where the audience was sitting around us on chairs,” the band notes. Some of the YouTube comments are hilarious with complaints about how sedate the crowd look, why isn't there a mosh pit etc. With this video we took the audience response to a Beastwars experience to its extreme.”
You can get all three of Beastwars’ albums for “Name Your Price” until April 20.
Never mind its conspicuously vague provenance, its b-sides comp. status and the stigmata therein, Cripta Oculta is a full length album of never-before-heard Cripta Oculta. And for a band as prolific as that Portuguese duo had once reigned, they sat on some incredible material. [For immediate reference, skip straight to the eleven minute penultimate slayer.]
Though they slumber now, Cripta Oculta’s draughty presence is potent as ever on this six track collection. While for some it may merely assuage the void they left behind, Cripta Oculta is more than an indication that the world needs more Cripta Oculta. It is more Cripta Oculta. Mandatory for fans. Perfect for initiates.
Check it out.
Get Cripta Oculta this Friday from Signal Rex.
Since Issue #75, Decibel has brought you left-of-center b-sides, rarities, live recordings and new songs from top-tier metal bands via the outstanding Flexi Series. Want to hear the stories behind these recordings? Read on.
Everyone 'round these parts gets semenal about Mayhem's seminal debut full-length album. That's no surprise. We have also erected arms and other appendages for the muscular, height-scaling doom of Philly upstarts Crypt Sermon. Their 2015 release Out of the Garden was a highlight of the slow and gritty, and we are happy to support their doomed trip through the closing opus on one of black metal's most essential entries. Crypt Sermon's contribution to the Decibel Flexi Series was released with the Metal & Beer Fest issue (#151, May 2017), and can be heard below.
We asked guitarist Steve Jansson and drummer Enrique Sagarnaga about their intriguing choice, so while you bang out most unrighteously, be sure to glance at the screen a few times to read their thoughts on "De Mysteriis Doom Sathanas."
When were you approached to contribute to the Flexi Series?
Steve Jansson: Albert has always been very supportive of us and approached us about the idea doing a flexi about a year ago. It was a busy year for all of us, so it took us a while to finally commit and lock down a recording date. We eventually pulled ourselves together and made it happen. We're incredibly grateful for the opportunity!
How did you choose "De Mysteriis"?
Jansson: This completely ridiculous idea (a doomed out interpretation of Mayhem's "De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas", which will be appropriately re-named "De Mysteriis Doom Sathanas") came about when Enrique was talking with Thomas Tannenberger (of Abigor fame) and mentioned that we were debating on recording a cover track. Thomas made the suggestion try this out. Initially I wasn't certain how serious he actually was about it; I sort of laughed it off at first, but then got to thinking about it and sort of took it as a challenge. Everyone else seemed keen on the idea. We all agreed that if it completely sucked (which it had so much potential to do just that) we would back out and do something else, but we gave it a shot and are extremely proud of the end result.
Enrique Sagarnaga: With just a few exceptions in mind, I've always thought straightforward cover songs fall pale in comparison to the source material. With that in mind, I will say that I have always wanted to take a recording from an album that is near and dear to me, and re-work it as something new with its own identity. Covering this Mayhem classic presented a unique opportunity to experiment with this idea.
When and where did you record the song? How much time and work did it take?
Jansson: We recorded everything in early October and used various locations in Philadelphia. We worked with Arthur Rizk again, who recorded and mixed our full-length. Thomas jumped on board to master the track, as well as contribute some vocals/vocal arranging. It was a pretty incredible experience working with him and I think he really pushed us all to the next level, especially Brooks. Those two make a killer team. We look forward to work with him again in the future.
Sagarnaga: Arthur has been incredibly supportive of the band since we first worked with him, so having him return to the fold was and no-brainer. Having Thomas contribute vocals exceeded all expectations and really set the bar for what's to come with our next album. This recording also sees our vocalist Brooks experimenting with synths here and there, and proved to be a much-needed element for this recording.
Do you know yet what color your flexi is? Any thoughts about what the color choice is or should be? (This question was asked well before the flexi disc was available.)
Jansson: I'm not sure what color it will be but if we have any say in this it should be purple and black. I think the reasons are pretty obvious.
Have you listened to other songs in the Flexi Series? What is your favorite Flexi so far?
Jansson: I have, but can't think of a favorite off of the top of my head.
Sagarnaga: In Solitude covering Samhain's "Mother of Mercy".
Check out all of the Decibel flexis here.
Label Report is a new weekly column shedding light on underground labels releasing extreme metal, whether it's death, black, thrash, heavy, speed, doom or something else! This week is Witches Brew.
Hailing from Germany, Witches Brew have spent the last fifteen years releasing a multitude of thrash, death and heavy metal albums, EPs and splits. While they’ve released albums from heavyweights like Toxic Holocaust in the past, Witches Brew haven’t slacked off in recent years.
Bands from around the globe call Witches Brew home, releasing new recordings as well as reissuing rare or out-of-print gems. For the first edition of The Label Report, sink your teeth into a few of the label’s recent choice cuts.
Fyrecross - Burn Them to the Ground
Technically a CD reissue of the Greek heavy/speed metal crew’s debut EP, Burn Them to the Ground is heavy on shredding, galloping riffs and soaring vocals. Album opener “Fyrecross” begins with a guitar solo. Elsewhere, technical leads intertwine with the songs’ driving riffs to attack from both sides.
Hellfire - Goat Revenge
The goat’s revenge is evil, whatever it is. Hellfire deliver an incinerating death/black metal fusion, combining meaty death metal riffs with tremolo picking and blast beats. Guitarist/vocalist Karargh howls like a man possessed, blending throat-shredding black metal shrieks and death metal growls.
Calamity - Imminent Disaster
Calamity play technical thrash that strikes with an unusual amount of aggression. Furious guitar playing and energetic vocals take the lead on Imminent Disaster, seamless transitioning from furious six string assaults to air guitar-worthy solos and back. Another reissue, Calamity have included a bonus track on this version of their album.
You can find Witches Brew on their website, on Facebook and on Bandcamp.
In case you missed last week’s post about Berserker IV, we here at Decibel would like to get you caught up on this all-out-rager of a show. The two-day event takes place on April 14 and 15 at the Crofoot in Pontiac, Michigan and features a great lineup including GWAR, Eyehategod and the return of Mike IX, OFF! and a slew of other killer bands.
The whole event has been organized by Child Bite (who are also performing that weekend) frontman Shawn Knight and his wife Veronica. Berkserker IV is hosting over 25 bands, and the kind people behind the festival are giving you a chance to go FOR FREE.
To win a pair of tickets to the fest, enter in one of two ways:
- Email us at db_contest@redflagmedia.com with the subject line “Berserker IV” and the band you’re most stoked to see in the body of the email
OR
- Share our post on Facebook and comment the band you’re most excited about. Be sure to like the page too!
The winner will be contacted next Tuesday (April 4).
If you’re not the betting type, you can also buy tickets here and listen to the bands playing Berserker here. Don't delay on this, because it's a weekend of full-force music that isn't to be missed.
Sammy Hagar and James Hetfield announced the date and lineup for the Acoustic-4-a-Cure IV annual benefit concert. It returns to the Fillmore...
