New Woods of Ypres track streaming

Canada’s finest despondent metallers Woods of Ypres are streaming another new song from their forthcoming album, Woods 5: Grey Skies & Electric Light. Check out ‘Kiss My Ashes (Goodbye)’ below. I posted recently about the new album and this second taster merely enhances hopes for this new album and it’s looking like it will top 2009’s The Green Album, an expansive and heady record to its own credit. I’m very much looking forward to this new album now, it’s looking like it will be the first really impressive album of 2012. It is released January 30th on Earache.

ZOM track online

Yeah, we’ve been banging on about ZOM a lot, since summer, and it must surely have gotten to the point where, if you haven’t caught a gig, you didn’t believe the hype. Understandable really. But finally, there’s a salvo online of the track ‘The Chaos Dimension’, which is taken from their forthcoming demo tape that is being released by Invictus Productions. To have a listen to this slab of filthy, old school black/death you’ll have click on over to the Invictus site HERE for the stream and keep an eye and ear open for more details on the demo’s release.

While you're at it, here's a live video:

Ready for your vaccine?

Recently, Galway’s sludged-out, down-tempo hardcore band Trenches released their new split LP with Drainland, who offered up three new tracks of their brand of dissonant hardcore. However, it’s in Trenches’ one track, the 14-minute long, ‘Vaccine’ that steals the show. The band released their debut self-titled EP last year, and across its five tracks it revealed one of the most interesting bands to really emerge from this country in the last year or two.

Tracks like ‘Carrier’ and ‘Inferiority Fetish’ are sublime listens so needless to say I was waiting anxiously to hear more, especially after first catching them live late last year; the dreary sound is even more palpable in a live setting and finally, the LP has arrived and ‘Vaccine’ is just stunning.

The three guitar assault creates such a thick, imposing wall of harrowing sound and Kieran Griffin’s vocals just sound so pained and most importantly, blunt and candid, really exuding a dank and cold vibe. The band also features Bacchus guitarist/vocalist Jonathan Lynch, who delivers his equally scathing vocals too. Every so often in ‘Vaccine’ his vocals enter to combat Griffin’s and the dual vocals are pulled off superbly.

What Trenches do best though is create atmosphere – dejected atmosphere that you will become completely immersed in. At the six minute mark, the slow trudging barrage hits its one real moment of pace where everything is plunged into a reckless maelstrom, characterised by some brisk lead guitars. All then descends into more lethargic passages to close out.

The progress made from the EP to this sole track is incredible, and only leaves me wondering what will happen next. I sincerely hope that this band is planning on releasing a full-length album, or even just another EP, in the not too distant and misty future; next year if at all possible.

Listen to a sample of ‘Vaccine’ HERE.
Pick up a copy of the LP HERE, or in Into The Void Records.

Satanic Pop Metal?

Satanic Pop Metal? Yeah, I don’t know either. This video from Semargl (who?) is online now, supposedly from their forthcoming DVD with the song ‘Join In Fire’ accompanied by some sexy dancers, ridiculous movements from their frontman and a band that is essentially Attack! Attack! or Design The Skyline, or whatever other tripe, in corpsepaint. You’ve been warned.

Ihsahn woking on new album

This time last year when the end of year lists were being compiled, Ihsahn’s third album After was constantly being mentioned, and rightfully so, it’s a pristine piece of work. Now, this little bit news comes from Shining saxophonist Jorgen Munkeby, which was stated on the band’s Facebook: “There's an after coming after After. Munkeby just came home from recording for a new Ihsahn album.”

 

Munkeby played sax on After so it would appear his maniacal playing will grace the new Ihsahn record.

 

Ihsahn

 

Animals as Leaders - Weightless

The much anticipated follow-up to Animals as Leaders' self-titled 2009 debut is here. Click HERE for the full review of Weightless now.

Link & more... - The Lower Deck, 18/11/11

This hefty bill laid waste to the Lower Deck last Friday, headlined by Belgian crust trio Link alongside Drainland, Trenches, Bacchus, This Tongue Is Poison and Twisted Mass. Click HERE for the review.

Devin Townsend performs acoustic SYL tune

Here’s a new video of Devin Townsend that’s doing the rounds online today. What’s different about it you ask? Well, it’s an acoustic version of ‘Love?’, the renowned Strapping Young Lad tune from their highlight record Alien in 2005. Since Hevy Devy called it a day with SYL in 2007 he hasn’t performed any material from that band since. Check it out, it’s sounds strangely eerie:

Link and much much more in The Lower Deck this Friday

This weekend, Belgian dark, epic crust band Link play three Irish shows and will be in The Lower Deck on Friday with, simply put, a fucking hefty line-up – Drainland, Trenches, Bacchus, This Tongue Is Poison and Twisted Mass. Check out the Facebook page HERE for some more details. Link released their new album Chapter II this year on Alerta Antifascista, a label with some quality bands so you know the band are at least worth checking out.

This will also be Drainland and Trenches’ official launch gig for their recently released split LP. Unsurprisingly, it’s a filthy listen with three new tracks from Drainland and one new song from Trenches called ‘Vaccine’ clocking in at 14 minutes. Trenches in particular have blown me away with their side so there’ll be some more words on that soon.

Bacchus are back from their US tour and still basking in the glory of their LP which came out in July to much deserved praise. This Tongue Is Poison meanwhile have been quiet for a while, since they played Bacchus’ album launch. With their cracking demo released earlier this year, it’ll be great to hear those songs again, and especially some new ones. Finally, Twisted Mass. You never have to go too long without Twisted Mass playing a show so their brand of d-beat shouldn’t fail to impress.

Doors are at 8pm and it’s a paltry €7 in. Listen to some of the bands below.

Lantlôs - Agape

After last year's impressive .Neon album, Lantlôs are back with another new record, Agape, which unsurprisingly strikes you powerfully again. Click HERE for the full review now.

New issue of Molten out now

Yep, it’s that time again. There’s a new issue of Molten magazine out now and can be picked up in Eason’s, with Morbid Angel as this month’s cover stars. This issue features my interview with Primordial’s Alan Averill, which took place just before their storming 20th anniversary show. Also included is my live review of black metallers 1349 and the review of Vildhjarta’s debut record Masstaden. 

New Putrefaction tune

Dublin’s “death crust” outfit Putrefaction have posted a new song online from the forthcoming LP. The song is called ‘Drown Them In Their Wine’, and can be heard on their Tumblr HERE. Finally, the band will be releasing this album as the long awaited follow-up to the 2007’s demo tape Destroyers, which was a storming release. Speaking of which, that is available for free download now HERE.

Photo: Lyndsey

Blotted Science - The Animation of Entomology EP

Yep, Blotted Science are back at last with a new record, this short EP - The Animation of Entomology, which is out at the end of this month on Basick Records. Click HERE for the full review now.

New Drainland tune

Following on from yesterday’s Drainland teaser of a track from their split with Enabler, here’s a full new song, this time from their forthcoming split with Crows. Listen to ‘Solar Temple’ below, and be sure to check out the new Crows track too. As expected, ‘Solar Temple’ is a shorter, more rapid assault than before.


 

Very very brief Drainland teaser

Want to hear 11 seconds of a new Drainland song? Right so, here:

  Drainland - Coldest Ward teaser by shamelesscrimes

Taken from their forthcoming split with Enabler.

Hexis announce new 7”

Danish bruisers Hexis will release a new 7” EP on December 1st, featuring three new songs. The band released one new track from the record ‘Aspernatio’ recently, which you can check out below, as well as the EP’s artwork.

Sample of Burzum re-recordings

You can now listen to a preview of the new Burzum re-recordings album From The Depths of Darkness below. This latest venture from Varg Vikernes sees him delve into his older material and record a selection of tracks from the first two albums – Burzum and Det Som Engang Var. While re-recording classic material is always risky business, From The Depths of Darkness doesn’t sound too bad.

What made the first couple of Burzum records so unique was its recording quality. It was gloriously shit, everyone will agree to that, but it was that primitive nature that made them so eerie and atmospheric and it certainly wasn’t contrived either. This on the other hand utilises modern day recording technology on songs conceived in a meagre environment, so the possibility of neutering the material is a fear. But from these samples it feels like the songs have just been given a little facelift and Varg’s vocals (the little we do hear) sound more pronounced and even more caustic than on the originals.

Alcest reveal new artwork

French black metal/shoegaze hybrids Alcest have revealed the artwork for their new album Les Voyages De L'Âme, scheduled for release early in the new year. Check it out below.

Brief Cattle Decapitation teaser

Gore death metallers Cattle Decapitation have uploaded a brief teaser clip from the recording of their new album, the follow-up to 2009’s The Harvest Floor. Have a view of it below; it doesn’t reveal too much other than that the album shouldn’t be that far off. Early 2012 release seems likely. 

Ulcerate sign with Relapse Records

New Zealand death metal band Ulcerate have signed with Relapse Records and will begin recording a new album late next year. The band released their latest album, The Destroyers of All in January of this year on respected underground label Willowtip Records, and is likely to be death metal album of the year.

"Working with Relapse is a very logical next step for us, and we're really looking forward to the partnership. Their presence of quality releases regardless of genre, overarching aesthetic and attention to detail is something that we find very natural to align with, as well as being fans of the label's releases well before the band was even started,” commented drummer Jamie Saint-Merat. The band will begin a European tour in February, so exciting things ahead.

Momentum - Whetting Occam's Razor

This is a little later than promised, but here it is, the full review of Momentum's debut record Whetting Occam's Razor, featuring members of Fall of Efrafa and Light Bearer. Click HERE to check it out.

New Rites tunes online

Galway’s Rites are streaming two new track now, called ‘Barren’ and ‘Forest Altar’. The former is taken from their forthcoming split 7” with Dukatalon, and ‘Forest Altar’ is possibly going to appear on a different split release. Have a listen below, and check out the Dukatalon split’s artwork HERE. Theses doomed out sludge tracks sound even better than the EP they released in June, which was a solid, pummelling listen, or at least hints to future releases being only better.

  Barren by ritesgalway

  Forest Altar by ritesgalway

Suburban Mayhem podcast

Hardcore label Suburban Mayhem have uploaded a new podcast, their first in quite some time. It’s embedded below and can also be downloaded HERE. Most interestingly, this podcast includes a new song from Crows, taken from their forthcoming split with Drainland, called ‘Burning Eyelids’. Check out the podcast out for some good banter on all things hardcore, crust, sludge and lots in between, with songs from Absolutist, Heartless, Twisted Mass, Hexis and Alpinist, to name just a few. 

  SUBHEMPC3 by SubHemPodcasts 

Bloodbath reunite for a moment

For those of you that caught the last night of Opeth and Katatonia’s US tour this week in Baltimore, Maryland, you’re a lucky bunch because you witnessed the brief re-emergence of Bloodbath, the death metal band featuring Mikael Akerfeldt and Jonas Renkse and various other members of Opeth and Katatonia. The guys played two songs for the crowd on hand, which included ‘Eaten’. Check out the footage below.

Black Sabbath 11/11/11

Black Sabbath just posted this image on their Facebook page - is the reunion nigh?

Stream Fuck the Facts 'Misery' track

In case you missed it, Fuck the Facts released their cracking new album Die Miserable last month (Review HERE). And if you were unaware, the band also released the EP, Misery, which features various cuts that didn’t make the album. It’s bizarre because the EP is just as fucking ferocious with tracks likes ‘Running the Wolverine’s Gauntlet’ and ‘Unburden’, but it’s the title track that kills the most and that’s streaming right now. Check it out below and head over to their Bandcamp page to purchase it.

Lamb of God clip online

If you're a Lamb of God fan then this is sure to interest you. The band have posted a snippet of new music from their new album, Resolution, coming out in January. Watch the clip below and check out the artwork.

RESOLUTION 1.24.12 from Lamb of God on Vimeo.

 

 

Nooumena - Argument With Eagerness

French avant-garde prog rock band, Nooumena are about to release their debut full length record soo, called Argument With Eagerness, through Antithetic Records. Click HERE for the full lowdown on the album.

Uneven Structure - Februus

"Djent" has just got a serious boot up its arse, thanks to France's Uneven Structure with their debut full length - the ambitious Februus. Click HERE for the review now.

Wolves in the Throne Room - Whelan's, 27/10/11

Check out this live review HERE from last Thursday's Wolves in the Throne Room show, in Whelan's. Drone doom outfit, Wolvserpent were support.