Underground metal needs a reset button

by Brett Stevens on January 23, 2013

reset_buttonWe know what the vast majority of the public have moved on to, which is the hipster/indie/emo hybrid of the -core genres, but it’s hard to blame them since underground metal is underproducing.

Underground metal is in stagnation. For the last 18 years, nothing new has come of it, although there have been standouts in the old style. We’ve been relegated to the “old school” category.

It isn’t that the talented musicians are gone. It’s that they got overwhelmed by untalented imitators interested in fame, money and socially popular topics. The good was marginalized by the mediocre.

Death metal is the ultimate evolution of metal. Black metal added melody to it. The next stages will have to do something substantially distinctive, or do it substantially better, in order to get noticed to the degree that musicians want. Three chords and the truth will not do it.

Perhaps all of metal should go back to Metallica’s “Orion” and try to re-innovate from there.

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Awareness Campaign …of Death

by Staff on January 21, 2013

People all across the globe are divided by race, color and creed. One thing we all have in common is death: All are equal in death.

There are many misconceptions about death. We will only have freedom when we can speak freely and openly of death. The Awareness Campaign of Death will educate people on such topics as:

  • “When is the right time to die?”
  • “How to die safely”
  • “The consequences of dying”
  • “What you should do if you are dead”

Everyone’s death is special and unique. Remember: someday your life will be taken. But no one can take your death!

The Awareness Campaign of Death is a non-profit organization and campaign to educate people and spread awareness of death.

Zero death becomes the leitmotiv for universal safety. — Jean Baudrillard

Many die too late, and some die too early. Yet strange soundeth the precept: “Die at the right time!” — Friedrich Nietzsche

‘Tis a vile thing to die, my gracious lord,
When men are unprepared and look not for it. — Shakespeare [Richard III]

You pray for death
Mourning does no good as you can only die once. — Morbid Angel

When I was young, I was extremely scared of dying. But now I think it a very, very wise arrangement. — Ingmar Bergman

I am become death, the destroyer of worlds. — Bhagavad Gita

No one can confidently say that he will still be living tomorrow. — Euripides

Tomorrow is a fine day to die. — Bathory

I didn’t attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it. — Mark Twain

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Last copies of death metal book ‘Glorious Times’ for sale

by Mike Arsenyev on January 19, 2013

Alan Moses from Glorious Times (A Pictorial of the Death Metal Scene 1984-1991) has announced that less than 40 copies of their book remain for purchase.

A collaboration between zine enthusiasts Alan Moses (Buttface zine) and Brian Pattison (Chainsaw Abortions zine), this relic features rare photographs and stories from the bands themselves. There are no outside influences to censor or alter what is displayed.

Bands featured:

gloriousphoto

Acheron – Autopsy – Baphomet – Brutality – Cannibal Corpse – Cryptic Slaughter – Dark Angel – Deceased – Deicide – Derketa – Disharmonic Orchestra – Exmortis – Groovy Aardvark – Hellwitch – Hideous Mangleus – Immolation – Impetigo – Incantation – Incubus – Insanity – Lethal Aggression – Malevolent Creation – Massacre – Massappeal – Master – Morbid Angel – Napalm Death – Nocturnus – Nuclear Death – Overthrow – Paineater – Possessed – Prime Evil – Revenant – Righteous Pigs – Ripping Corpse – Sacrifice – Sepultura – Slaughter – Soothsayer – Terrorain – Tirant Sin – Unseen Terror – Vomit – Wehrmacht – Where’s The Pope?

The rumor mill has been pirouetting around Glorious Times, and there was a leak that a new book “Glorious Times 2” is in the works.

Information for purchasing the remaining copies is located at their blogspot page.

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Man receives benefits for continued addiction to heavy metal

by Brett Stevens on January 17, 2013

roger_tullgren-heavy_metal_addictReminiscent of Zoyd Wheeler, a California stoner who dives through plate-glass windows in order to keep qualifying for government mental disability benefits in Thomas Pynchon’s Vineland, a 47-year-old man in Sweden is on the dole for his addiction to heavy metal.

“I’m still addicted,” said Hässleholm resident Roger Tullgren, according to The Local. His addiction, which is seen as a mental disability, allows him to receive benefits to supplement his income because he listens to too much metal to hold down a full-time job.

Since we all know that jobs are jails, and 75% of what goes on in offices is redundant and could be eliminated, it seems a positive trade. After all, he’s receiving only the equivalent of $150 per month, and spends much of his time with his band. The whole thing might just be a promotional stunt.

But this brings us the broader question: we are Hessians united by a culture and a vision. Our cultural belief includes the attitude that jobs should be done efficiently so people can go on to do more interesting things with their lives. Why are we still sending everyone to kill eight hours a day at jobs? One explanation is that people simply don’t know what to do with themselves otherwise.

Another view is that we could do this, but then people would need to find something compelling to fill that time slot. They’d need to find a purpose, or meaning in life. At least Roger Tullgren has found his, even if many people think he’s committing himself to Satan as a result. And what’s wrong with that?

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Abyssal releases 2nd Album “Novit enim Dominus qui sunt eius” (2013)

by Mike Arsenyev on January 12, 2013

On January 1st, England’s Abyssal released their second album of decomposing death metal via digital download.

Deriving influences from early Immolation, Incantation, and most noticeably Arkhon Infaustus; Abyssal executes their lust for decay and molds it into a good mixture of modern death/doom metal. If a rat gnawing at a corpse manifested into a soundtrack, this would be suiting.

“In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay.” – Ernst Fischer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFoxRK8f4fw

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Summoning “Old Morning’s Dawn” release date set

by Brett Stevens on January 11, 2013

summoning-old_mornings_dawnMiddle earth sweeping epic metal band Summoning are due to release their next full-length soon. Old Morning’s Dawn will follow after a lengthy gap the spectacular and critically-acclaimed Oath Bound released seven years ago.

After black metal fired off its initial salvo by 1995, Summoning rose from a melodic black metal band into their own style, which meshed longer melodies, lush keyboards and backgrounded guitars, Tolkien-derived imagery and softened but rasping vocals. Building on the work of other long-phrase black metal bands like Ancient, early Enslaved and Gorgoroth, but using its own sense of tempo and mood, Summoning quickly became a favorite for many who were searching for a new direction after the underground blazed out with a final peak of intensity in albums like Transilvanian Hunger and Hvis Lyset Tar Oss.

This weighty inheritance would be too much for any band to handle, but Summoning have refined it over the years, first adding more traditional folk elements and then dialing it back to a streamlined metal sound. During that time, they’ve also fought off accusations of political impropriety and overcome personnel changes and the mercurial black metal scene/market. With their audience primed with the release of the recent movie The Hobbit, Summoning are ready for conquest yet again.

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Master – North American Detonation Tour 2013

by Brett Stevens on January 11, 2013

Proto-death metal ear smashers Master launch an ambitious tour in 2013 in support of their newest album, which sounds the most like modern death metal since their popular On the Seventh Day… release. Catch them in your city or suffer ignominious sodomy!

master_tour_2013Fri. March 1st – Los Angeles, CA @ The Joint
Sat.March 2nd – Richmond, CA @ Burnt Ramen
Sun.March 3rd – Portland, OR @ The Branx
Mon.March 4th – Seattle, WA @ 2 Bit Saloon
Tue. March 5th – Boise, ID @ The Red Room
Wed.March 6th – Salt Lake City, UT – TBA
Thu. March 7th – Cheyenne, WY @ Forum619
Fri. March 8th – Topeka, KS @ The Boobie Trap
Sat.March 9th – St. Louis, MO @ Fubar
Sun.March 10th – Madison, WI @ The Frequency
Mon.March 11th – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club
Tue. March 12th – Warren, MI @ The Ritz
Wed. March 13th – Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar
Thu. March 14th – New England – TBA
Fri. March 15th – Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus Bar
Sat. March 16th – Philadelphia, PA @ Gunners Run
Sun. March 17th – Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Tue. March 19th – Chattanooga, TN – TBA
Wed.March 20th – New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
Thu. March 21st – Fort Worth, TX @ Tomcats West
Fri. March 22nd – Oklahoma City@Chameleon Room
Sat. March 23rd – Houston, TX @ BFE Rock Club
Sun. March 24th – Austin, TX @ Dirty Dog Bar
Mon. March 25th – Midland, TX @ Fast Freddy’s
Tue. March 26th – El paso, TX @ House of Rock
Wed.March 27th – Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
Fri. March 29th – Mexicali, MX @ Bar El Andariego
Sat. March 30th – Pomona, CA @ Characters
Sun. March 31st – CA – TBA
Mon.April 1st – Fullerton, CA @ Slidebar

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