An extremely welcome surprise in 2011 was Reports From The Threshold Of Death, a throbbing, gauzy dream-rock record from Boston’s Junius (read here). One shitty major magazine described Reports as the intersection of Neurosis and The Smiths, but a sharper listen reveals Deftones-sized hooks and melancholic majesty more akin to Loveless by My Bloody Valentine and Cave-In epics like “Seafrost” and “Paranormal.” I love! U love!

Junius embarks on a busy US tour next month (with O’Brother, dates below), and then heads to Europe in April, so fans have not long to wait for a consciousness-muddying headline set. But in the meantime, Click to read more…

At this point, is there really anything we need to tell you about the Mastodon/Opeth/Ghost tour other than “It’s happening?” We know you’re gonna go; you know you’re gonna go; you’re going.

Dates are after the jump. You’re welcome.

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Axl wore his most vile death metal shirt in an attempt to avoid being selected as a juror in this great City of New York, but lo and behold, his plan backfired and he was chosen anyway. So it’s been the Vince party over here since Wednesday with plenty of help from all of our most excellent contributors — special big ups to Anso DF for pitching in extra! Here’s what went down:

• We lost Riot guitarist Mark Reale. R.I.P.
• We premiered a new track by Pyscroptic, one by Exotic Animal Petting Zoo and all of Primal Fear’s new album Unbreakable.
• The Rockstar Mayhem Festival announced the first slate of bands on its 2012 lineup. Slipknot later spilled the beans that High on Fire are confirmed too.
• Ihsahn is guesting on the new Jeff Loomis solo joint and Jeff Loomis is guesting on the new Ihsahn solo joint. Will those two get a room already?
• The Dillinger Escape Plan’s Ben Weinman went all anti-drug on our asses.
• Tours and rumours of tours: The Mastodon / Opeth / Ghost tour is really gonna happen, Meshuggah, Decapitated and Baroness will hit the U.S. together (no dates yet), dates were announced for the Decibel Magazine Tour featuring Behemoth, Watain, The Devil’s Blood and In Solitude, while All Shall Perish, Fleshgod Apocalypse and other cool bands announced a tour too.
• Sammy O’Hagar reviewed Lamb of God‘s new album while Gary took a look at new hardcore 7-inches by Daylight, Unholy Majesty and Wrong Answer.
• We realized that Maynard James Keenan poops and pees and eats just like the rest of us.

We’ll be back next week for Axl’s triumphant return to the blogosphere. See you then.

-VN

Last week, rumors started swirling that there was gonna be a North American tour with Mastodon, Opeth, and Ghost, and, oh hey, wouldn’t cha know it, on Thursday, Mastodon’s Troy “Everyone in This Band’s Name Starts with the Letter ‘B’ Except for Me” Sanders confirmed it during an interview with a Belgian radio station, telling them –

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Welcome to “Question of the Week,” a (not really at all) weekly debate amongst the MetalSucks staff regarding a recent hot button issue.

Following the not-necessarily-logical-but-certainly-MetalSucksian conclusion that we need to counteract our recent Albums That Will Fuck Your Face Off in 2012 series, in which we preview some albums coming out this year about which we are totally stoked, this week we asked our writers:

WHAT ALBUM WILL HIT YOU IN THE FACE WITH A LIMP DICK IN 2012?

Which is just a silly way of asking:

WHAT IS YOUR LEAST ANTICIPATED ALBUM OF 2012?

The MS staff’s answers after the jump!

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Last week Vince posted the above totally epic picture of Trivium playing foosball against Ghost, and while we all had a good chuckle at the time, what we didn’t realize was that the stakes of the game were actually incredibly high. See, the winners got to go open for Mastodon and Opeth, while the losers had to open for.. Asking Alexandria. Brutal, right?

A source tells us that Trivium were incredibly confident in their foosball skills, but, alas, it may have been hubris: they lost, and do, indeed, now need to go be on a tour where they are not only going to be playing support for Asking Alexandria, but will find Dir En Grey, I See Stars, The Amity Afflication, and “Shitstain on the Ass of the Universe” alums Motionless in White as their tourmates. You know things are bad when the band you’re most stoked to be on tour with are Dir En Grey, for the simple reason that at least they don’t speak English, and will therefore most likely not bother you.

I’m not going to post dates for this wretched hellspawn of a trek, but you can get ‘em here if you really need to. Meanwhile, that awesome sounding Mastodon/Opeth/Ghost tour is still technically just a rumor, but we’ll post more details as we get ‘em.

-AR

This would’ve made a great entry for yesterday Photo Caption Contest, but hey, let’s have some fun with it anyway! Enter your comments below and I’ll send the winner one of my very own farts in a jar, vacuum-packed and sealed just for you.

There’s more where this one came from on the Facebook page of photographer Tim Tronckoe. Bizarre? Absolutely. Completely awesome? Definitely. I can’t imagine the circumstances that led to the specifics of this photoshoot during these two bands’ UK tour together in December (with In Flames), but I can only imagine it went something like this:

Tronckoe: Hey guys, so we’re gonna do a photoshoot. Any ideas?
Papa Emeritus:
Matt Heafy: Let’s play foosball!
Tronckoe: Uhh…
Nameless Ghouls:
Heafy: Foosball!
Papa Emeritus:

-VN

[via Heavy Blog]

My struggle lately is to not be super-foamy about The Devil’s Blood, the Dutch occult hard rock devil clan. Their new record The Thousandfold Epicentre is coming to America January 17 via Metal Blade, with all the accompanying tours and merch and press that implies. Yep, Metal Blade has saved us hassle (imports) and agony (lack of nearby shows). Pre-order bundle, here I come.

But for now, I’ll be driving up the play count on this complete album stream. You can think of The Devil’s Blood as a Black Sabbath, a pioneer whose path was cleared by great acts like Mountain (i.e., Ghost) and Blue Cheer (Blood Ceremony). My first listen was on headphones late Saturday night, aided by lit candles and perception-enhancing drugz; I recommend the same for yours. Though that night I was interrupted mid-jam by a hilarious two-car drunk driving accident just outside my window; you can skip that part.

-ADF

The Devil’s Blood releases The Thousandfold Epicentre on January 17. Pre-order here. Disclaimer: Neither MetalSucks nor its parent company endorses the use of drugz or candles.

Ghost live is truly a thing of beauty. And so we wept openly when the band had to cancel their U.S. tour with Enslaved and Alcest earlier this year due to visa issues, and then we sacrificed a small child and prayed to the Dark Lord that they return to these shores soon.

And now our prayers have been answered! The band will do a thirteen-date U.S. trek starting in January; support will come from Blood Ceremony and Ancient VVisdom. So, yeah, that should rule pretty freakin’ hard.

Dates are after the jump, courtesy of Metal Injection:

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Since Dutch occult-rockers The Devil’s Blood took over my music life this summer, I’ve been fighting a nagging tug at my heart caused by the fear that, without a US label deal, TD’sB would not land in America for awesome live shows (and interviews and um make-out sessions). But as of this moment, I’m allowed to report that this shadow over my soul has been sunblasted away: Metal Blade Records is bringing The Devil’s Blood to America. Oh, sweet relief!

Behold fancy MetalSucks Exclusive details: Upcoming second album The Thousandfold Epicentre is slated for US release on January 17 and, boner of all bonerz, there’s already an awesome stateside tour in the works. Hoping for a vinyl release — perfect for classic metal acts with killer artwork like TD’sB (below) and labelmates Ghost — I was told that a 12″ edition will follow the CD release but that no date has been set. I was also told that Metal Blade chief Brian Slagel was behind the deal, so he should get ready for a huge fucking cookie bouquet from me. Slagel comments:

Reminiscent of the classic metal and psychedelic rock bands of the 60′s and 70′s, The Devil’s Blood has created a dark and haunting world made up of intriguing music, strong vocals and musicianship, reflective artwork, and a theatrical stage show that is not to be missed.

Pre-order The Thousandfold Epicentre and crank exclusive new track “She” here!

-ADF

Yes, it’s true: our interview with Enslaved’s brilliant bassist/vocalist, Grutle Kjellson, came at the end of a very long and stressful day involving behind-the-curtains technical issues here at MetalSucks, and another devastating loss by Vince’s beloved New York Mets. So, yeah, we may have had a few to loosen up before heading into Kjellson’s dressing room to chat. And, yeah, Vince’s can of Bud Light and Kjellson’s can of Corona were both the same color. So, yep yep, at one point, Vince did indeed pick up Kjellson’s beer and take a swig, and, yes, Kjellson did notice immediately. Lucky for us, he was cool about it.

Also lucky for us: the man is a great goddamn interview, and, it should go without saying, a great goddamn performer — later that night, Enslaved absolutely obliterated us, and their stellar performance more than made up for our otherwise crappy day, the embarrassing imbibing of the wrong drink included.

And so, after the jump, get Kjellson’s thoughts on the band’s latest North American headlining tour, their recent collaboration with Scion A/V, plans for their next album, the upcoming celebration party for their twentieth anniversary (!!!), and more.

Click to read more…

Junius are one of those bands whose albums I feel kinda lukewarm on, but who I think are totally fantastic live. And so while I’m still pretty bummed that Ghost had to drop off of Enslaved’s upcoming North American headlining tour with Alcest, I am really happy that Junius are now taking their spot. Like I said yesterday, even Enslaved/Alcest alone would be pretty much unmissable — hell, I’d happily go see either one of those bands just on their own — but now with Junius… well, just think of it as yet another awesome, awesome bonus.

Tour dates remain the same, and you can get those here. Our friends at Brooklyn Vegan are also streaming a new Junius track, “All Shall Float,” and you should give that a listen to, ’cause I may be crazy about that whole “Junius are great live and not great in the studio” thing and I’m curious to hear your opinions. The tune will appear on the band’s new offering, Reports From the Threshold of Death, which comes out October 25 on Prosthetic.

-AR

If you live in the U.S. and you didn’t get to see one of Ghost’s first two North American shows this past May/June (like the one I reviewed), now would be a good time to start weeping. ‘Cause the band has been forced to pull the plug on their previously announced stint touring with Enslaved and Alcest later this month.

The culprit, according to a press release, is “last minute complications with the Ghouls’ visas.” Sigh. Ghost may be able to rise above the metal pack, but they can’t rise above red tape. Bummer bummer bummer.

The band is hoping to come back and do a full U.S. tour soon, and we will definitely let you know when/if those hopes become realities. In the meantime, take solace knowing that an Enslaved/Alcest tour is still totally worth your time, even if having Ghost on the bill would have made it that much more awesome. You can get tour dates here.

-AR

(Ghost photo by Maija Lahtinen.)

I’m aware that this story has been out for some time and isn’t exactly “new,” but for whatever reason it’s barely been covered in the metal media until today. And so:

What a crazy day today is turning out to be for metal vocalists.

The members of Ghost go to great lengths to keep their true identities a secret — they perform in masks and disquise their voices in intevriews, and the members of the band other than the lead singer are simply called “Nameless Ghouls” — but it appears that the identity of frontman Papa Emeritus has been uncovered. From Metal Insider:

Click to read more…

Love ‘em or hate ‘em, you gotta admit — the nameless, by and large faceless dudes in Ghost are some pretty interesting characters. And that web of mystery that surrounds them definitely adds to their appeal; I mean, if you really wanna know, it’s not hard to find their real identities on the internet, but it’s more fun not to know, isn’t it?

Metal Injection‘s new video interview with two members of Ghost — the first video interview the band has ever given — only adds to the mystique. You’ll learn a lot about the group, and really nothing at all, if that makes sense. Just think of it as an episode of Lost.

-AR

A few weeks ago, I saw Ghost live for the first time. And towards the end of the show, the band covered “Here Comes the Sun,” and I sent out this tweet, in which I declare their version of the song superior to that of The Beatles. I fucking love The Beatles, I’m not knocking them, but I have really never liked that song. It will surprise no one to learn that I have a hard time relating to the lyrics.

What I didn’t realize at the time was that Ghost have actually recorded and released the cover, as a bonus track for Opus Eponymous. So now everyone can hear it! It’s a great example of how to do a cover correctly, and that Replicants cover of The Cars’ “Just What I Needed,” the changes to the music completely change the entire mood of the piece and seem to give the lyrics new meaning.

Check it out:

Ghost’s Opus Eponymous is out now, and despite what Grim Kim believes, no, I do not think that they are the new Liturgy.

-AR

Thanks: Clint Kaio

Ghost are a band with a gimmick, and it’s a very,  very effective gimmick: they write incredibly catchy hard rock songs, the kind of Second Coming of Sabbath-type shit that lots and lots of bands are trying, and failing miserably, to produce even as I type this. Listen to “Elizabeth” and try not to move your body; crank “Con Clavi Con Dio” and do everything you can not to get it stuck in your head for days after. These tasks are near-impossible.

And I’m only too happy to report that, in a live setting, the aforementioned side-effects of those songs (complete inability to stop rocking, singing to oneself at all hours of the day and night, whatever the opposite of erectile dysfunction is, etc.) are only amplified; music this infectious is meant to be experienced in a communal setting, and the band’s perfect recreation of pretty much the entirety of their eponymous opus, Opus Eponymous, ensures that only one with the most rigid of sticks up his ass won’t be singing along from start to finish. Boiled down to its simplest element, Ghost’s success is based upon a really, really simple fact: they are excellent songwriters.

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Last week I saw Ghost live for the first time (at the Studio at Webster Hall, which, if you’ve never been there, is a very, very small venue — I’d be surprised if I ever get to see the band play someplace that intimate ever again). I’m gonna have a live review of the show at some point this week, but for now, I will sum up the concert with but a single word: YES.

The band was here for Maryland Deathfest (where, I’m told, they also dominated) and then they did that one gig here in New York and then, sad for you, they flew home. But now it’s been announced that not only are they coming back to the U.S. this fall, but they’re coming back to the U.S. this fall to play support for Enslaved (featuring Ivar Bjørnson, #22 on our list of The Top 25 Modern Metal Guitarists), and that further support will come from France’s Alcest. I mean, WHAT A FUCKING BILL, right? This is going to be one of the most exciting tours of the fall, and you absolutely cannot miss it.

Here are dates, via Lambgoat:

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Velvet Revolver guitarist Slash tells a funny story about his first listens to Aerosmith’s Rocks album. That day, he’d planned some afternoon doobage/canoodling with a comely young lady only to have his attention devoured by that then-new and always awesome Aerosmith record. I imagine him on her bed, shushing her and batting away her caresses — all because Rocks was totally rocking his world for the first of a billion times. I get that. Horny hotties come and go; an instant connection to timeless music is bigger.

And the very same thing happened to me Saturday night! Just replace Slash with hunky me (mental image note: I play lefty), his sexy chick with this chatty mess from my neighborhood, and Aerosmith’s Rocks with The Time Of No Time Evermore by Dutch occult rockers The Devil’s Blood.

Click to read more…