German cheese-metal. Admit it. You’ve got a couple of guilty pleasures in there. Manowar commands respect with their brand of – bah, I can’t even write that with a straight face. Manowar is enjoyable enough chest-beating cheese that this Brother of Metal will gladly fist-pump along with, though I stop short of the Creatine and loin cloth.

That regrettable aesthetic came to mind when I sat down to review the new offerings from what I expected to be the worst of the ‘wurst: Big Ball (BIG BALL, if you ask them) and Kissin’ Dynamite. Perplexingly, what I got was a lot of AC/DC. Let me explain.

Click to read more…

Only 10 days ago I expressed my wish that The Haunted frontman Peter Dolving would resume writing his intellectually stimulating / Internet flame war-starting MySpace blogs; and lo and behold, this morning I awoke to a new blog entry in my RSS readers simply titled “On Religion.”

Dolving on religion… yup, I knew this was gonna be a good one before I even read it. And big shocker, Dolving thinks religion is bunk and suggests those who follow it be committed for mental illness. But ever the positive thinker, Dolving also offers reason, logic, and some theories of his own. Rarely have I ever read someone’s thoughts on religion that so closely resemble my own:

However I have a question and a thought; When Life in itself is so perfectly chaotic and out of our hands, why not just enjoy the ride?

The wondrous random glory and enchanting playful harmony; Improbable, yet most observable sweetness of this universe is astonishing beyond words. So why soil it with such trite gibberish as religious ritual, faith-based law or even the utterly ridiculous and pathological humbug that is religion. Any religion. At all.

I believe powerlessness, fear, and sorrow is the reason for man’s weird makebelieve psychosis.

Written by the hand of a skilled lyricist in prose that perfectly captures the issues at hand. Of course, if you disagree you could always just ask ICP what they think about scientists and magnets.

As if you needed an invitation… comment with your thoughts below. The Haunted’s Road Kill DVD is out now; we’re streaming a clip from it here and giving away a copy here.

-VN

The Deciblog unveiled the cover art for the new Decrepit Birth album, Polarity, this past Friday evening, and, y’know… it’s Dan Seagrave. He has a very distinct style, which you either dig or do not dig. Personally, I think it’s pretty cool, and it makes me that much more excited to hear the record.

Polarity comes out July 27 on Nuclear Blast. And don’t forget that Decrepit Birth will be part of the MetalSucks co-sponsored Summer Slaughter tour – a.k.a. “The only can’t-miss summer festival this year” – along with Decapitated, The Red Chord, The Faceless, All Shall Perish, Veil of Maya, Cephalic Carnage, Animals as Leaders, Vital Remains, and Carnifex. Get dates and details here.

-AR

WHOOPS! Turns out these clips are mad old. Still, maybe they’re new to you… they were to me! – AR

Wow, y’know what I just realized? Saturday will mark the fourth anniversary of the release of Anata’s excellent The Conductor’s Departure. And the band has been promising us a new album FOR-EV-ER (actually just since 2008, but it certainly feels like forever), but up ’til now, nothing. Zip, zero, zilch, bupkus. The always vague “label issues” chestnut has been the only explanation for the delay, but the album has allegedly been finished for quite some time. Meanwhile, we don’t even know what it’s called. We don’t even have a title to cling to and make us fantasize about how the album might sound!

Or do we? The band has posted two excerpts from the record, entitled simply “Greed Conquers All Excerpt 1″ and “Greed Conquers All Excerpt 2,” on their MySpace page. It’s ninety seconds of (instrumental) music total, and I’m not even clear if it’s two different sections of one song called “Greed Conquers All,” or if the band is revealing that the album is/would be called Greed Conquers All; these sound like two different songs, but taken out of context, it could be two different sections of one proggy tune.

In any case, it sounds promising. And at least we know that there is a new Anata album out there somewhere. Hopefully these lil’ teases are only the beginning of a promotional campaign which will end with us all enjoying some new Swedish technical death metal. ‘Cause four years is way too long for a band this good to be away.

-AR

Thanks to Dan Wolfson for the tip!

Ludicra’s “De-Cancellation Tour” — waged in the face of Mayhem dropping off the bill and guitarist John Cobbett’s hospitalization — may have ended, but Cobbett’s (also of Hammers of Misfortune) outrageous medical bills certainly haven’t been forgotten. Neither has Ludicra’s excellent release The Tenant. And since we know all too well how hospital stays can cost a small fortune here in America  – and since it’s the least we can do to help pay back Cobbett for giving us such great music — we’d like to draw attention to a fundraiser organized by Umlaut and Sensory Abuse.

Umlaut and Sensory Abuse are offering a limited edition Ludicra print with the proceeds going to help John Cobbett with his existing medical expenses. Sensory Abuse’s iconic live shot was taken at the final show of Ludicra’s U.S. Tour at Cafe du Nord in San Francisco on May 8th. This is a limited edition of 66 hand-numbered prints, each of which measures 19″x13″ and is printed on heavy, canvas-like paper stock. For delivery within the U.S. the print will cost $20 (shipping included). For International Orders please add an additional $5. The prints will be appropriately sent in a black mailing tube. Every little bit helps, and with only 66 copies available they’re sure to go fast; order here.

-VN

I’m filing this under the “Laugh At Others’ Misfortunes” category because it’s always funny to see people that aren’t you get hurt. But the truth is, the incidents in question aren’t nearly on par with, say, Bret Michaels getting whacked in the head at last year’s Tony Awards, mostly because they’re not really brought about by outrageous acts of stupidity, whereas Michaels’ injury was clearly, despite his claims, entirely of his own doing.

First, some dude managed to get up on stage during a Slash solo gig in Milan and tackle the frizzy haired guitarist. Note that Slash barely even stops his solo – apparently his guitar was broken after the incident, but he didn’t even notice at first. What a pro! (And don’t worry, my fellow guitar fetishists – the instrument was repaired and back in action two nights later.) Still, if the guy shouted “PARADISE CITY WITH FERGIE AND CYPRESS HILL SUCKS!” right before he tackled Slash, then he’s my hero.

Here it is at another angle; skip to 1:18:

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Okay, so back in October, The Acacia Strain had some new tracks on a five-way split CD with War From a Harlots Mouth, This or The Apocalypse, Aggressive Dogs and Fact. It’s called Pentagon.3, and it was only released in Japan. Two of the three songs TAS contributed to that split, “The Hills Have Eyes” and “Terminated,” will appear on the band’s forthcoming album, Wormwood. And reader Tom Frenette captured some live footage of the band performing one of those songs, “The Hills Have Eyes,” live this past Saturday night in Danbury, CT.

Sooo… this song should be new to anyone who doesn’t live in Japan and either didn’t pay for the import or illegally download the split. And, hey, even if it’s really old news to you, perhaps you’ll enjoy the footage.

Wormwood comes out July 20 on Prosthetic.

-AR

Is was goings to saves this fors the Daddys Days Editions of Blacks Metals Brunch, buts so manys of yous sents its ins thats Is just goings to posts its now. Alsos because this ways yous might remembers thats its Daddys Days on Sundays and buy your daddys a presents now, sos yous donts haves tos scramble on daddys days. Unless yours likes mes, and you killeds yours daddys. Buts fors the rests ofs yous…

-NC

Kirk Windstein is a poet. Of this, there can be no doubt. Since Kingdom of Sorrow took over our site on Tuesday, Vince and I have decided we really, really wanna take a trip to New Orleans and just go eat with the dude (well, probably get high and then go eat with the dude). But secretly, I have aspirations of someday being able to pay the man to teach my children how to speak good. I can dream, can’t I?

Here’s some other shit that went down in the Mansion this week:

• We debuted a clip from The Haunted’s new DVD, Road Kill.
• We also debuted new music by Early Graves.
• We spoke to Stephen Carpenter from Deftones.
• Ken Sorceron from Abigail Williams doesn’t wanna talk shit about Winds of Plague, so instead he just left a comment on our site saying “it its embarrassing to once again see our name next to theirs on another metal news site.” Way to not talk shit, Kenny!
• We checked out a new release by Black Pyramid.
• Sergeant D taught us about the history of metalcore and screamo.
• We engaged in debate about the new Maiden song, the new Maiden setlist, and the old Maiden album art.
• The new Methods of Mayhem song is the worst thing ever.
• Rose Funoral finally spoke out about the Uno Incident.
• Vince thinks the BP oil spill is Korny.

Next week will bring some more streams, interviews with Max Cavalera and Bobby Blotzer, and more self-righteous rage over fairly trivial topics. ‘Til then…

-AR

-VN

From The New Yorker, via MetalGF

I remember Iann Robinson used to talk about Fireball Ministry like they were the Second Coming, and while my passion for the band in no way rivals his, I do think they’re totally solid. Noisecreep just debuted their new video, for “Butcher, Faker, Policy Maker,” and the song is way mellower than the stuff I’ve heard FM do in the past – but I dig it.

Apparently the idea here, according to Noisecreep’s Matt Debenedictis, was “to make a performance video, but in a Raging Bull style.” That’s incredibly ambitious, and I say that director Brandon Trost pulled it off; but the video is really, really pretty to look at. Certainly way nicer than most performance videos these days.

“Butcher, Faker, Policy Maker” comes off of Fireball Ministry’s new, self-titled release. The band’s official website says that this will be “the group’s first release without a traditional label,” but doesn’t actually specify a release date.

-AR

I owe Rob at Metal Injection a bowl for finding this:

-AR

There remain some people who aren’t convinced that the Deftones are a special band, but if it’s possible to evaluate music subjectively, then few could argue that the post-alt metal quintet at least belongs on the ballot. For one thing, the Deftones Sound evolves (and occasionally just mutates), leading to a dynamic catalogue of resemblant but dissimilar albums. And like other rare, extra-interesting bands, Deftones elude classification and repeatedly outdo their, ahem, peers. Also, they have a killer drummer and an unobtrusive, artful guitarist (he’s so guitartful), a combo that ensures a ripping live show.

But what wows me about this band in 2010 is their handling of prolonged, agonizing tragedy. By shelving their near-completed sixth album, Eros, they seem to express a certainty of the day in the future where all of its authors will ably engage in its promotion and performance. For now, what guitarist Stephen Carpenter calls a whole “different Deftones” is enjoying a top-ten debut for the slim, slamming Diamond Eyes, a bonkers Fall tour with two other tweener juggernauts (Alice In Chains, Mastodon), and a healthy relationship with producer Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Coheed And Cambria). Carpenter called back to Los Angeles from New York and spoke to Metal Sucks about both Deftones, weird talk radio, and the steamy night we shared in Milwaukee.

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Nothing could ever be as fun as the DLR “Runnin’ With the Devil” isolated vocal track that hit the ‘net a couple of years ago, ’cause, ya know, David Fucking Lee Roth. But this isolated vocal track (with a few rhythm guitar parts curiously included) of Metallica’s “Fuel” posted by AfroJacks.com [via MS reader Kevin Boyce] is pretty entertaining too… ’cause, ya know, James Hetfield.

Let’s see some mash-up action with this one.

-VN

Protest the Hero’s 2008 release Fortress was full of all sorts of epic win — it made #2 on my year-end list (topped only by Gojira) and generally excited prog freaks and fans of good music the world over. It’s gonna be a hard one to top.

But the show must go on, and Protest the Hero are gonna do their damnedest to out-do the un-out-doable. With writing for the new record now complete, pre-production has commenced, and this morning Metal Insider posted a video of the band laying down their pre-pro tracks and goofing around (as always). We get to hear some bits and pieces of new music which should be very exciting for any PtH fan… and predictably, they sound fan-fucking-tastic. Looks like guitarist Tim Millar has re-grown his stellar beard, and with any luck and dedication he’ll be able to make another run at the World Beard and Mustache Championship, to be held in Trondheim, Norway (M E T A L) in 2011.

Can’t wait for this record. Hopefully it’ll be out before year’s end.

-VN

So Maynard James Keenan has said that Tool are working on their next album, and that “If it comes together” they may even play some new shit live this summer. I’m always totally down for some new Tool, so I won’t even say what we’re all thinking, which is “It might be nice to a get a new Tool album in under five years for a change.” I mean, we’d heard that Tool were in writing mode back in 2008, but whatever. It’s Tool. If they need that time to make the best possible record that they can, I’ll go along with it.

But a new Tool album was always a foregone conclusion; the band may very well break our hearts and throw in the towel one day, but we are (very luckily) not there yet.

So more interesting, in a way, is the news that writing has begun on a new album for A Perfect Circle. Not “more interesting” in a APC > Tool way, ’cause, come ON, that would just be a ridiculous argument to try and make. Interesting in the “Oh, cool, A Perfect Circle really aren’t done” kinda way.

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Describing Swedish melodeath supergroup Witchery back in May, Vince wrote that “their sound is decidedly thrashy; think faster Slayer-style with hints of death metal influence.” Maybe that explains why, as much as I admire these dudes’ day jobs, I’ve never gotten that into Witchery. I don’t think they’re bad; they just don’t do much for me. It’s telling that my favorite Witchery song is “Ashes,” a trick which is in no way indicative of their sound.

The band also plays up the melodeath aspects of the music on “From Dead to Worse,” the new song they’re streaming on MySpace, which must be why I like it. It’s not nearly as epic as “Ashes,” and I may very well forget how the chorus goes ten minutes after I finish writing this. But it’s definitely a good song.

Check it out for yourself. Witchery’s latest, Witchkrieg, is set for a June 29th North American release via Century.

-AR

From the ashes of early MS faves At All Cost rose Pack of Wolves, a ferocious metal outfit led by ex-AAC guitarist Trey Ramirez. Their 2009 release Betrayer was a beast of its own, but their new album Penance of Pestilence — slated for a Fall 2010 release — promises to be a completely different animal.

Pack of Wolves have two new members — Gabriel Bishop (bass) and Josh Holstein (drums) — and with those two new members comes an almost completely revamped sound. The Swedish-inspired harmony riffing that defined Betrayer (and Trey’s work with At All Cost) is left only in trace amount on the two new songs posted on Pack of Wolves’ MySpace page. In its place is a whole new palette of black metal-inspired grimness and dissonance, which when mixed with the aforementioned trademark sound makes for quite a unique sonic approach. Think Entombed (via At All Cost) meets Wolves in the Throne Room, and you might be close.

Check out Pack of Wolves on MySpace and be on the lookout for the new album this coming Fall.

-VN

Photo credit: Davis Ayer

MS photographic wiz Jacqueline Cheng was on hand to catch alt-progsters Circa Survive’s opening set for Coheed & Cambria and Torche at Central Park on May 26th. Check out her photos after the jump.

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It was smart of Rose Funoral to do that Metal Injection interview, because whether you think their actions were right or wrong, whether you think they’re full of shit or telling the truth, they showed they have some sense of humor about the whole thing – and that’s probably the only chance they have of ever making it go away and not letting that one incident define the rest of their career. If I were them, I’d take it a step further and make “Rose Funoral” shirts with the band’s name on an Uno card or something, or maybe even make a music video that references the entire debacle in some way – I mean, that strategy worked for Killswitch Engage (sort of).

But no. The band’s new video, for the song “God Demise,” is a standard, generic performance clip. Yawn. Oh well. Maybe for the next outing fellas? Fuck it, just call your next album UNO! or something.

-AR