The reader known as “gr Sam” tipped us off that Dodecahedron, the new experimental black metal project featuring Exivious guitarist Michel Nienhuis, is now streaming their new, self-titled album, in full — and, duh, I’m posting it because you need to check this shit out. You may recall that Vince praised the band last month, calling the band’s music “a doozy, real forward-thinking, un-traditional black metal, kinda like black metal gone Gorguts.” Well put, Vince! I’ve been rocking this shit all morning, and it is absolutely kicking my ass.

Check out the full album stream below; the release is out now on Season of Mist.

DODECAHEDRON – ‘Dodecahedron’ Debut Album by ddchdrn

-AR

Today is seemingly “news about albums that are coming out in early 2012″ day. To that end:

• Soilwork are writing a new album called The Living Infinite. Generic quote time: Speed Strid says that “people can expect a continuation of the intensity and presence of The Panic Broadcast, only taken to a higher level” and wishes us all a merry Christmas and Happy New Year. Gee, thanks, Speed!
• Gojira have issued their third studio update video, this one showing bassist Jean-Michel Labadie laying down his tracks. Labadie is the member of Gojira I feel like I know the least about; I’d love to get to know that guy! Gojira are presumably all done or close to done recording their album by now… very exciting.
• Lamb of God released a new trailer for their new album Resolution (January 24th, Epic Records), and it features a good chunk of a previously unheard song. Check it out above, and listen to the first single “Ghost Walking” here if you haven’t yet.

UPDATE, 12:08 P.M.: The band’s new single, “Carbon-Based Anatomy,” is now avail for free download here!!! Thanks to The PRP for gettin’ the scoop!!!

Ever since we announced Cynic would headline Night 2 of The Metal Suckfest we’ve been seing a bunch of emails and comments wondering just who exactly would be playing bass and second guitar in the band’s live lineup since bassist Robin Zielhorst and guitarist Tymon Kruidenier (both of Dutch fusion metal outfit Exivious) parted ways with Cynic in December 2010. Truth is we didn’t even know ourselves, but we figured Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert would find suitable replacements in time; and, of course, they have.

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We all remember that lost era of yesteryear.  Stolen glances.  Hushed whispers.  Fleeting touches that left us longing for more.  Makes you just wanna reach out and lolz where the sun don’t shine.  Alas, let’s have a moment of silence for that one super-special ex in our lives…

I’m speaking, of course, about the prog metal supergroup Exivious (featuring members of Textures and Cynic), who supposedly threw in the towel last May.

I say supposedly because when our very own Axl Shmosenshmerg reported this past December that Cynic’s guitarist and bassist were leaving the band, he mentioned a tasty morsel of info about said players now talking about working on another Exivious release.

This is good news for those proggateers among us who have been patiently awaiting some new jamz from the almighty Textures; bad news for your ex’s new beau.

Bring it on…

Let Exivious warm your earholes on TheirSpace and go see them LIVE on April 30th in Switzerland!!!!!

-KW

So yesterday, Cynic posted a message on their Facebook page in which they announced the departure of bassist Robin Zielhorst and guitarist Tymon Kruidenier from the band. The reasons are not typical, which is to say, there were no so-called “creative differences” or “disagreements about the direction of the band,” no one is suing anyone or fucked someone’s girlfriend or anything like that. The reason is simple and logistical: Zielhort and Kruidenier live in The Netherlands, while Paul Masvidal and Sean Reinert live in California. So there’s no drama here whatsoever.

And not only is there no drama here, but this isn’t even really bad news. Here’s why:

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We’ve talked a fair amount as of late about the side projects/comings & goings of the riconkulonk Dutch band Textures and its offshoots.

First we got sexually excited about the proggalicious side project Exivious featuring members of Textures and Cynic…..then we lamented the demise of said side project.

Said side project.

Said side project.

Said side project.

Then we got saddy-poos about Textures’ stellar vocalist Eric Kalsbeek leaving the band…..then we rejoiced in the news of a new vocal stylist entering the fold.

Then we empathized over the trials & tribulations of CiliCe, whose vocalist Daniël De Jongh left the band to join Textures.  Some time passed, and then they found a new frontman.

But where does all of our love for this extended musical family come from, you ask?

Right here:

-KW

I know I’m a bit late here, but I just couldn’t come up with the words to express the disappointment that fusion/prog metal supergroup Exivious have decided to call it quits. When a group featuring members of Cynic and Textures decides to break up after releasing just one masterful album… what is their really to say other than “bummer”?

Guitarist Tymon cited “we’re busy with our other projects” as the reason for the breakup in a publicly released statement, but what I don’t understand is why being busy with other projects necessitates calling it quits forever. Couldn’t these guys come together to make music whenever their schedules all align again — whether it be a month from now or 5 years from now — the way, say, Bloodbath do? I don’t think anyone would complain if he’d simply said “We’re way too busy to make new music right now, but maybe in a few years we’ll be able to get back to it.” I just don’t get the finality of it.

Oh well. Here’s the song “Waves of Thought” from their self-titled debut, released last year.

-VN

Finally… we have a capable, intelligent, forward-thinking new U.S. president. No, it’s not Dave Mustaine. Here’s what else happened this week:

• We wondered aloud and speculated about Slayer’s co-headline tour, New England Metal & Hardcore Fest, Scion Rock Fest (aka Atlanta Metalfest), and The Faceless’ headline tour. This spring just got awesome.
• We ran to the hills to avoid a shitty classic metal cover. Meanwhile, we found Iron Maiden in Iran and on the big screen.
• We got sexi(vious) with members of Cynic and Textures.
• We looked at new releases from Satyricon, Cattle Decapitation, 16 and Rumpelstiltskin Grinder.
• Maynard got all Jiu-Jitsu on our asses and Carcass played a wedding.

Axl, myself and our girlfriends (we have girlfriends… whowouldathunkit???) are going to see The Dark Knight on the IMAX tonight. Hopefully weed will be involved. Later, suckaz!!

Prog-metal fans ’round the world yesterday sported massive boners following the announcement of Exivious, the new jazzy-fusiony-metaly band featuring two non-Paul Masvidal members of Cynic and Textures drummer Stef Broks (sample press release copy: “With a jazz fusion backbone, Exivious uses freaky metal riffs to decorate their organic eruption of free improvisations and complex rhythms.”). Yowza!

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