Probably not the same guy.
Reader Brian Twombly e-mailed us about “three bands you seriously need to hear,” and said it “pains me” that we’ve never talked about said bands before.
Okay, Brian. Your wish is our command. Bring it, sucka.
In case it isn’t readily apparent from the giant logo in the lower right hand corner, we “borrowed” this photo of the gig from Prefix.
I’ve never met anyone that outright hated Motorhead. There are people who are indifferent or don’t really like them, but full-on vitriol-spewing hate? Nuh-uh. Motorhead are amazing and wonderful and remind me why I love metal. I’m sure nay-sayers exist, and I pity them, for they have no joy in their cold, hard hearts. I, however, delight in gruff dirty rock n’ roll played really, really fast, and so I was psyched to see them live.
…I’m not telling you.
Sorry to be a tease! But our bestest friends over at Metal Injection deserve a pat on the back. They scooped the entire metal world this week when they got Suicide Silence guitarist Mark Heylmun to call into their Livecast, and not only tell them the name of the band’s new album, but also several track titles, and bunch of other juicy stuff, too.
And fair is fair. You’re gonna hafta head over to Metal Injection and listen to the interview if you wanna know what Heylmun said. My lips are sealed.
To hear the chat, you can click either on the links I just provided, or you can click on the graphic below.
-AR
With the April 15th release date of The Unseen Empire fast approaching, Scar Symmetry are giving us a taste of what the album has in store for us; and so far, so good. If you like Scar Symmetry, that is. At this point I don’t think Scar Symmetry are about to convert any nonbelievers, and likewise if you’re still an SS fan in the post-Alvestam era you’re not gonna jump ship now. These guys are pretty reliable… they’re like the Slayer of epic melodeath, so you know what you’re gonna get every time they release an album.
Stream the new song “Extinction Mantra” on Scar Symmetry’s Facebook page. It does have some “super heavy riffing” as the band promises, but I don’t think it’s necessarily one of the strongest tracks on the album. Let us know what you think.
-VN
MetalSucks is oh-so-very happy to be teaming up with RED Distribution to bring you, our most beloved readers, the MetalSucks Fan Pack, which will be available exclusively at all FYE stores starting this Tuesday, April 12. Not only does this limited edition box full o’ metal come with a CD featuring twenty brootal tunes by twenty brootal bands (including Kvelertak, Trap Them, Believer, Napalm Death, TesseracT, Thomas Giles, Deicide and a bunch more) but it also comes with that HOLY SHIT THAT IS SO KILLER t-shirt you see above, which was designed by our friend Rodney Githens from Vertebrae 33 (you might also recognize his work from this sexy t-shirt and this Louvre-worthy poster that he did for us).
How much would you expect to pay for this incredible package? Twenty bucks? Fifteen bucks? Try $9.99. That’s right, gang — twenty songs from twenty bands and that guaranteed-to-get-you-laid t-shirt for under ten bucks.
But wait! There’s more! If you act now and head over to the official MetalSucks Fan Pack web page, you can get a coupon for 30%, which brings the price down to a mere seven dollars. Holy crap, that’s a metsieh if ever there was one.
So go here to get a complete track list of all the bands on the comp, and to use the nifty store-finder to locate the f.y.e. nearest to you. And, oh yeah, you can also enter to win this custom guitar:
So, yeah, that’s pretty fuckin’ bad-assed.
-Axl & Vince
Did you know that it’s been almost a year since Peter Steele died? Crazy, but true; the Type O frontman passed away on April 14th, 2010 at the age of 48.
Our own resident Peter expert Anso DF is planning something special for April 14th, but in the meantime we figured we’d let you know about a tribute album our friends at MetalUnderground.com are organizing. In collaboration with Dan Mitchell of Beneath The Woods Studio, MetalUnderground.com has teamed up with a dozen underground bands from across the globe to release an exclusive tribute album entitled All For None, None For All: A Tribute to Peter Steele featuring twelve cover songs from many stages of Peter’s career in both Type O Negative and Carnivore. The tracklisting:
Today we got an e-mail from one of the members of Scare Don’t Fear (Worst band name ever?), who promised that the band “are a Metal/Hip Hop group like no other” who “have been often called ‘The Next Chapter of Rap/Rock.’” So I knew pretty much right away that I was not going to like this band. But I can’t resist a good laugh, and nothing seems funnier than the idea of band still trying to make rap metal cool in 2011, so I decided to check out the band.
Now, there’s been some debate around here as to which terrible band claims the title of “The New Limp Bizkit.” Sergeant D. has suggested that it’s Emmure, and I’ve suggested it’s Winds of Plague. But I think we’re both wrong — it’s probably Scare Don’t Fear. This band combines horrible rapping with the worst kind of nu-metal-disguised-as-death-metal riffs. There is nothing redeeming about this.
And that’s the better of two songs they sent us — the other one, which is basically a straight-up hip-hop track with very few metal elements, is even more unbearable.
And here I didn’t even know that 3 Inches of Blood have a new 7″ coming out. Did you know that? I didn’t know that.
But they do! It’s got a title – Anthems for the Victorious — but no release date just yet. You can, however, stream a new track, “Lords of Change,” by going to Facebook and telling everyone how much you like 3IOB.
As for the song, well… seriously, do any of you not know what 3IOB sound like at this point? I mean they’re not gonna put out a techno record. Get with the fucking program, slackers.
Headbang here. We’ll let you know when Century is releasing the 7″ as soon as we know ourselves.
-AR
When Tosin Abasi announced from the stage at the SXSW Sumerian Showcase that Animals as Leaders “aren’t on Sumerian Records… yet… undisclosed information,” we took that to mean the band’s next record would be released through Sumerian. Wouldn’t you? Not the case, says a press release that landed on the MS doorstep last night; the band’s next record will be released through Prosthetic, the label that put out their self-titled debut. And you know what? I’m kinda glad. That’s not a knock on Sumerian at all — but Prosthetic took a risk by releasing a wonky instrumental record by a band no one had heard of, and now that shit’s blowing up for AAL they deserve to reap the benefits for at least another album.
Speaking of said wonky instrumental record, the same press release tells us that Animals as Leaders will be released on vinyl in June! Bonertime. The 180-gram double-LP set, which includes the song “Wave of Babies” (previously an iTunes exclusive) as a bonus track, will feature a high-quality Stoughton gatefold jacket with enhanced album artwork that includes 3D imagery and custom AAL 3D glasses (!!!!!). The set is available in three different color combinations and is limited to 1,000 pieces total. There will also be a brand new, exclusive T-shirt available on its own or in a bundle with the LPs.
So, um, what are you waiting for? Pre-order yours here. I just did. The colored version, natch.
-VN
[The live rig rundown Veil of Maya's Marc Okubo did for us last year was so popular that we've decided to make it into a regular column! Welcome to Rigged. In this inaugural edition, Between the Buried and Me guitarists Paul Waggoner and Dustie Waring take you through their live setups piece by piece. Coming soon, BTBAM drummer Blake Richardson and The Ocean's Robin Staps. Between the Buried and Me and The Ocean begin their MS-sponsored tour with Job For A Cowboy (and on select dates Cephalic Carnage) next week. Get dates here.]
To all our fellow string pluckin’ heavy metal headbangers, howdy! This is Paul Waggoner and Dustie Waring, and together we are the guitar duo for Between the Buried and Me. It’s come to our attention that there are some folks out there speculatin’ on what sorts of gear we put to use in conjurin’ up all these rowdy sounds. Well, here we are, to do right by all who take up an interest in such matters.
If one thing is clear from last week’s photo caption contest, it’s that none of you give a shit about Within Temptation. Sorry! But a winner we must chose, and that winner is:
We’ll try and do a little better with this week’s prize, although I’m honestly not sure how it’ll go over: a signed copy of Volbeat’s new album Beyond Hell / Above Heaven. Can you guys get down with that? I was on the fence about Volbeat too until I saw them live. So: leave a comment with the funniest caption to the photo below (from longtime reader Jake Haras). Remember to use a real email address (or post it with your comment if you’re using FB Connect).
Before there were blogs there were these things called magazines, and the only metal magazine we still get excited about reading every month is Decibel. Here’s managing editor Andrew Bonazelli…
It took a little doing last month before anyone correctly guessed the great Bobby Liebling of Pentagram as the cover of the May Decibel. This one should be much easier (I am told it should be much easier) for a multitude of reasons (I am not allowed to reveal any of those reasons). I’d like to be of more help, but I’m also pretty hung over, so everyone will be better off if I don’t ramble. As always, winner gets a Decibot shirt. It says “baby-punting” on the back, and will look just fabulous at your favorite food court. Guess away.
-AB
You can buy the May 2011 issue of Decibel here, or be make your mama proud and just get a full subscription.
Welcome to the latest edition of “Freeloader” in which we review albums that you don’t have to feel like a douche for downloading for free. Today Satan Rosenbloom checks out Live to Get Rad by Pointbreakdown.
The 1991 action flick Point Break was built on incredulousness. The government does not normally infiltrate rings of criminals that rob banks to support their international surfing habits. Trained FBI agents do not jump out of airplanes without parachutes, and when they do, they die. A sassy Lori Petty would never, EVER fall for a zero-dimensional toolbag like Keanu Reeves, and as we all know from his many public battles with drug addiction, Anthony Kiedis can’t actually be killed.
Perhaps the viewing public that made Point Break a box office smash didn’t pick up the film’s inherent ridiculousness, but the millions of people that embrace it as a cult classic must have. Certainly the creators of Point Break Live, a theatrical version of the film that features a different Keanu drawn from the audience during each performance, get it. And Owen Thomas also gets it. He’s the man behind Pointbreakdown, a deathcore project whose every song is based around a dialogue sample from Point Break.
Fight Amp are one of my most favoritest bands to see live; truth to be told I haven’t ever gotten super-into any of their album, but HOLY FUCKTICLES, this band brings it live in every sense. Their rhythm section is just SO POWERFUL your balls can’t help but be rattled by the immense size of their colossal riffs. The whole band is basically one big fat rhythm section, matter of fact; these dudes are a goliath sized rhythm machine, no small feat for a three-piece.
Here they are earlier this year ripping Pittsburgh a new arsehole:
And here’s “Thankless” from their Lose/Lose/Lose 3-way split 12″ with Kowloon Walled City and Ladder Devils:
Tour dates after the crushed testicle:
Yes, this is TAP’s actual equipment, and yes, it is awesome.
Hopefully by now all MetalSucks readers are familiar with The Austerity Program, whose guitarist/vocalist, Justin Foley, has written some great articles and conducted some amazing interviews on our behalf over the past couple of years. He also introduced us to the idea of the Taco Riff, a concept that still seems really confusing to a lot of people, but resulted in some really fun articles nonetheless. (Go here to read everything Justin has ever written for us.)
You know what else is fun? Seeing The Austerity Program live. I actually think they’re like five times as heavy (and they’re definitely ten times as loud) in a concert setting, and Foley’s front mannerisms have a kind of Baptist preacher quality to them, which makes their shows a whole different experience from listening to their records. If you’ve seen them before you’re probably already stoked to see them again, and if you haven’t, well, you should get on that.
Here’s your shot — the band are doing some dates in New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island in April and May, including a bunch with the always-amazing Coliseum. This is “as close to a tour as we get this year, we think,” the band says, so do not squander this opportunity.
Also, to our fellow New Yorkers — apparently the setlist for the 4/22 show is gonna be completely different from the setlist for the 5/15 show, so you should go twice, ’cause it will be a completely different experience each time. Also ’cause I told you to.
Here are dates…
So Lambgoat tells me that Prosthetic Records’ latest sign is a band from Chicago, Black September. And trying to be a dutiful blogger, I’m listening this band for the first time now, and while their brand of black metal is nothing you haven’t heard before, it’s also pretty good stuff — nice riffage, appropriately vitriolic vocals, some songwriting chops… I could imagine this band being really fun live, too.
All of that being said, I really, really wish this band didn’t have the same moniker as the Palestinian terrorist group that kidnapped and murdered eleven Israeli athletes in addition to a West German police officer at the ’72 Munich Summer Olympics.
Rob Zombie is making a new movie, Lords of Salem, which is based around some descendants of witches who were killed during the 17th century Salem witch trials — because there’s nothing quite like suggesting that the crazy religious nutjobs of yesteryear made the right decision by killing nineteen people. I mean, SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN WITCHES!
Yeah. I know. I’m over-thinking this.
Anyways, they’ve released the first image from the film now, and, uh… it’s just a mask. Yeah it looks kinda cool and it’s definitely metal and I’m all for Zombie making anything that isn’t another Halloween movie, but it’s not like I look at this pic and go “MUST SEE.” Zombie says that “the scene that involves this face is very painful,” but the rest of that thought could be “to watch, because the movie sucks,” so who knows.
I have no idea when Lords of Salem is coming out, and I don’t think anyone else does yet, either.
-AR
[via /Film]
I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album. I will listen to the new Believer album.
Every song I’ve heard from the new Believer album Transhuman has rocked my balls off and completely shattered my expectations of what I thought this band was all about. Yet I still haven’t sat down with the full record yet. Why? I do not know. I hereby pledge to do so. Today’s subway iPod music is going to be Believer. I’ll even forego Angry Birds to focus on the music! That’s big, people, big.
In early March the band gave you “G.U.T.” and now they’re giving you two new Transhuman jams, the epic Faith No Morian “Mindsteps” and proggy thrashsterpiece “Ego Machine.” Jam with me:
Believer “Mindsteps” by Metal Blade Records
Believer “Ego Machine” by Metal Blade Records
I mean… right???
Transhuman drops April 12th on Metal Blade. Pre-order it here.
-VN
You know we’re huge Kvelertak fans here at MetalSucks. So I was stoked to interview their vocalist, Erlend Hjelvik, yesterday. And one of the cooler things to come out of that chat was the news that Hjelvik now has a second band — Djevel. (The name is Norwegian for — you guessed it — “Devil.”)
