Things up to now have been quiet for San Francisco’s Pale Chalice. The band released their debut EP Afflicting the Dichotomy of Trepid Creation via The Flenser back in 2011, and I think we can all agree that in today’s metal climate four years is a freakin’ eternity between releases. But give just one listen to Negate the Infinite and Miraculous, the quintet’s inaugural full-length for new label home Gilead Media, and it will become readily apparent that Pale Chalice favors quality over quantity.
Since 2010, Minneapolis, Minnesota’s False has been quietly making some of the best USBM in the game. Their split with the equally excellent Barghest, as well as their untitled 2012 EP were both great slabs of atmospheric black metal that remain largely unnoticed, or at the very least woefully underrated by the metal community at large. With the release of their untitled debut full length on the ever-reliable Gilead Media however, False is poised to bid farewell to their under-the-the-radar status once and for all.
Baton Rouge’s Barghest have been spreading their swampy, miasmic brand of black metal since 2006, but I didn’t come across them until their 2012 split LP with False. It was definitely a case of better late than never, because the band managed to impress the heck out of me with a pair of songs that were as bulldozing as they were atmospheric, taking the doomy heft of classic death metal bands such as Autopsy and Incantation and applying it to a raw black metal framework. We haven’t heard much from the band since that crushing release, but as it turns out they’ve had their hands full with secretly building a monster in the form of The Virtuous Purge, their second album for the mighty Gilead Media.
Geryon is a duo consisting of bassist/vocalist Nicholas McMaster and drummer Lev Weinstein, whom you may recognize as the rhythm section behind USBM heavyweights Krallice. But while their main gig sees them creating the backbone for guitarists Colin Marston and Mick Barr’s crystalline caverns of black metal riffage, Geryon is crushing death metal of a most mind-bending variety with nary a guitar in sight. With only a bare-bones setup of bass, drums and vocals, McMaster and Weinstein craft oldschool DM so compelling that you won’t miss the ol’ six-string in the slightest. Continue reading “Geryon – s/t (Gilead Media, 2014)”
2013 is a pretty strange time to be a metal blogger. Big-time labels won’t send me CDs that probably cost all of a dollar to manufacture, but small labels that probably struggle just to break even don’t hesitate to send me the cassette and vinyl releases they’ve obviously put a great deal of time and effort into, effort that goes far beyond the pressing plant cranking out “product” like so many widgets out of a factory. With these releases comes a far more intimate relationship; personalized e-mails rather than e-mail blasts from publicists, and a genuine sense that these labels and artists actually care about what I have to say and genuinely appreciate my support. It’s been an absolute joy to work with the likes of Gilead Media, Sygil Records and Caligari Records, but to be honest when people are so gracious, kind and above all patient, I’m pretty darn hesitant to call my interactions with them “work.”
For some time now, Gilead Media has been working to establish itself as the go-to label for interesting and innovative US black metal. Now, having decimated the competition in that particular niche, the label makes its maiden voyage outside the confines of USBM in the form of Lychgate, a UK-based band featuring current and former members of such luminaries as Esoteric, Lunar Aurora and The One. This would typically be the part where we throw around the term “supergroup” and debate its questionable merits, but I’ve got a better idea. How ’bout we skip all that rubbish and you just trust me when I say that Lychgate’s self-titled debut album is pretty fucking super? Sound good? Ok then, let us proceed…
Hot on the heels of last year’s excellent Cold of Ages (review HERE), California black metallers Ash Borer are back with Bloodlands, an EP set to be released by everyone’s favorite vinyl porn purveyors, Gilead Media. The quintet have already proven themselves to be among the finest of the current crop of young upstart USBM bands, and Bloodlands not only cements their position but continues to build upon the impressive foundation they’ve assembled for themselves across a handful of splits, demos and full lengths. Continue reading “Ash Borer – Bloodlands (Gilead Media, 2013)”
Backlit / 1
Early 2013
Now available at http://backlitzine.com/
Cover Art by Christian Edler
Articles, Columns & Interviews:
Frayed Threads of Vanity / Kyle Harcott
Worship Black Twilight / Jordan Campbell
Interview With Wreck & Reference / Josh Haun
Interview With Voivoid / Josh Haun
Midnight Ride of the Graveyard Mule / Jordan Campbell
Doomsday Device #2 / Josh Haun
Raping Angels in America #2 / Josh Haun
Libations in the Labyrinth Vol. 2 / Danhammer Obstkrieg
Beneath The Grime #1 / Jon Rosenthal
Progressive Regression / Jordan Campbell
Art & Fiction:
Perfume Virus / Jordan Krall
Interview with Christian Edler / Brandon Duncan & Philip Tyson
Staff:
Overlords:
Joshua Haun
Brandon Duncan
Contributing Writers:
Joshua Haun
Jordan Campbell
Dan Obstkrieg
Kyle Harcott
Jon Rosenthal
Copy Editor:
Dan Obstkrieg
Design:
Brandon Duncan
Philip Tyson
Spencer Walker
Over the past few years, NYC has developed a reputation for spitting out black metal that falls squarely on the arty side of things, thanks largely to the misadventures of Hunter Hunt-Hendrix and his ego-vehicle Liturgy (burst beats! manifestos! oh, jeez!), as well as the epic-length Weakling-isms (now with a gazillion more notes!) of Krallice. I know full well that it isn’t exactly fair, especially for an outsider such as myself, to judge the Big Apple’s black metal output based on the exploits of just two bands, but that doesn’t stop Mutilation Rites’ Empyrean from coming off like the pulverizing, nuclear-powered alternative to the somewhat pretentious NYCBM that ignited a hipster hunt throughout the internet metal ghetto. Continue reading “Mutilation Rites – Empyrean (Gilead Media/Prosthetic, 2012)”
I always imagine splits as the musical equivalent of a pro wrestling cage match. Two bands locked in combat, duking it out for supremacy in an all-out slugfest; there is no escape, there must be a winner. No matter how great both bands may be, it is inevitable that the listener will find one more appealing than the other, essentially making him or her the “special guest referee.” Continue reading “Barghest / False – split (Gilead Media, 2012)”
It’s probably a bit silly to be all ridiculously excited about a band based on the strength of one song, but I’m pretty psyched for Christian Mistress‘ debut album Agony & Opium, which comes out later this month on 20 Buck Spin. Ever since I heard “Home in the Sun”, I’ve been looking forward to hearing what else this young band can do. My initial reaction to the song was “Bjork fronting a classic NWOBHM band”, and I still think that is as good a descriptor as any for their rough ‘n’ ready trad-metal sound. I haven’t heard the band’s demo, but if “Home in the Sun” is any indicator, Christian Mistress are going to have one hell of a debut on their hands.
Although, they’re going to have some pretty hefty competition in the traditional metal sweepstakes from Sweden’s Enforcer. The band’s second album Diamonds has more hooks than Orlando Wilson‘s tackle box, just check “Midnight Vice”, “Katana” and my personal favorite and candidate for song of the year, “Running in Menace”. I’ve seen some reviews and such questioning this band’s “trueness”, but give this album a few spins and try to tell me these dudes aren’t as sincere as it gets. Besides, they’ve got the Fenriz seal of approval and that motherfucker is like a true metal bloodhound. Heavy Artillery Records actually offered up Diamonds as a free download for one day only late last month, but if you missed out on that the record is definitely worth a purchase; pure oldschool heavy metal bliss for diehards of the likes of Mercyful Fate and Judas Priest!
On to deathlier things, have you fucking heard Disma yet?! The Jersey-based quintet are OSDM to the bone, a blast of macabre filth straight from the crypt. The band features former Incantation throat Craig Pillard, but that detail only partially betrays Disma’s sound and influences. Sure, they do bear some minor resemblance to John McEntee’s legendary doomed-out death squad, but Disma are their own band. Their three track demo cassette The Vault of Membros displays a knack for varied and catchy songwriting with some ridiculously thick, bulldozing grooves that will rattle your skull into next week. If you don’t have a cassette player, do whatever it takes to dig one up and give this demo a listen. If you’re not inclined to track down a tape deck, all three songs from the demo can be streamed on Disma’s official myspace page (see link above).
Indeed, part of what makes Disma so great is their overall approach. More than likely the band could have landed a record deal based strictly on its member’s extensive death metal resumes. However Disma chose to do things the right way, throwing down with an extremely competent demo to get themselves noticed. The band will also reportedly be releasing a two-song 7-inch prior to their Profound Lore debut. In the digital age there is something refreshing about seeing a band that has actually paid their dues and worked their asses off succeed, instead of getting a record deal based on how many friends they’ve racked up on Myspace.
In an unexpectedly awesome turn of events, NPR is streaming Summit, the new album from Louisiana sludge metallers Thou. Summit is easily the band’s most accomplished album to date, aided by a production scheme that makes the band sound heavy and powerful rather than clattering and somewhat toothless, which was how they sounded to me on their last full length, 2008’s Peasant. According to the band’s label Gilead Media, the stream will only be available until the album’s August 11 street date, so if you want to get a sneak-peak of what is arguably the year’s finest doom/sludge album, get to it now! Expect a full review of Summit coming sooner than later.
Lastly, Earache Records is having a pretty cool Summer sale at their webstore. They’re clearancing out a ton of stuff for ridiculously low prices, some great, some crap, some shit I’ve never heard of. Anyway, the sale allowed me to fill two glaring holes in my collection, as I was able to pick up Left Hand Path and Sleep’s Holy Mountain for a mere $6.66 a pop. I’m not sure how long the sale goes on for, so you might want to head over there asap if you’ve got the ducats to spare.
That’s all I’ve got for this installment of Blitzkrieg. If you’ve got any recommendations of your own or suggestions for things you’d like to see me weigh in on in future installments, leave a comment.
Things up to now have been quiet for San Francisco’s Pale Chalice. The band released their debut EP Afflicting the Dichotomy of Trepid Creation via The Flenser back in 2011, and I think we can all agree that in today’s metal climate four years is a freakin’ eternity between releases. But give just one listen to Negate the Infinite and Miraculous, the quintet’s inaugural full-length for new label home Gilead Media, and it will become readily apparent that Pale Chalice favors quality over quantity.
THKD 