Suicide Silence: Do they suck?

Deathcore sucks for the most part. That is a fact. But does Suicide Silence suck? Many in the true metal crowd would say yes and from what I've heard of "No Time to Bleed" it is pretty bland music that basically pummels you into a deathcore coma.

However, this live performance actually got me to listen to three full songs in a row, a feat which I never thought would happen. Two lame things about the video: 1) It was recorded at the Hot Topic headquarters. 2) The singer acts like a tool at times and doesn't seem to give up trying to instruct the crowd to react.

However, the band does put on an energetic performance and is really tight live. You have to give them that and for what it's worth, they definitely do the breakdowns well.

Check it out and decide for yourself below.

Listen to Behemoth "Evangelion" Right Now!

Check out the new Behemoth album in its entirety at the band's MySpace.

Nergal is one crazy dude, but he plays a mean guitar and has lots of dedication to his music. The new album sounds like it could be the band's best yet. The first track "Daimonos" is currently my favorite as of now.

"Evangelion" hits stores on August 11.

Ace is Back from "Outer Space"!

Check out the new song "Outer Space" available for streaming now!

It's awesome old school rock 'n' roll in 2009 with some modern production of course. I am now 100% sold on this album (as if I needed to be). Ace's vocals sound better than ever due to some studio touch up, which is fine by me.

"Anomaly" will be available everywhere on September 15.

Update: Now you can also listen to the song below.

Will Immortal Fall on October 6?

Immortal's new studio album "All Shall Fall" is a little over two months away and people are wondering if the band can pull off a great album in 2009.

I always say Immortal is my favorite black metal band and I think the band will release some blistering music, even if it isn't as epic as "At the Heart of Winter".

Check out the new album cover below, which actually doesn't feature the band members on it (the only album to do this since "At the Heart of Winter"). It looks kind of cheesy, I mean for me seeing Immortal on the cover would be like seeing Kiss on the albums of its covers back in the day.



UPDATE: More details on the release including photos out today. Album will be available October 6 in the US in the following formats.

* Standard jewelcase CD
* Limited-edition digipack
* Limited-edition 180g vinyl
* Limited-edition picture disc
* Limited-edition box, only available through Nuclear Blast webshop.

I take back what I said about the album looking cheesy. The front opening like gates to Immortal pic is pretty rad!

Black Dahlia Murder "A Selection Unnatural" Rules (Bonus: "Deflorate" Album Art!)

I somehow missed the fact that a Black Dahlia Murder track "A Selection Unnatural" was streaming on Revolver Magazine's Web site. It can also be listened to directly below, via the YouTube.

It's short and sweet, and in my opinion sounds better than the new Slayer which is also lacking in length. Lots of energy and the new album cover which is currently released in eye-straining view on Blabbermouth will hopefully soon be available in full-size for all of us to enjoy. From what I see it's very colorful and seems like a unique approach for the band, seeing as the other covers are much darker and the last one was almost black metal in style.

UPDATE: Larger CD Art Now Available, I heard the idea was based off Iron Maiden's "Powerslave" album. So I threw it in below for comparison.

Devin Townsend "Coast" Video Released

Devin Townsend is an awesome guitar player and has a great voice as well, whether he is trying to be angry or mellow. "Coast" is definitely a mellow song and "Ki" is an all-around laid back album, which can be good for a change.

I think "Ki" is a little dull in parts, but this song and a few others are great additions to Townsend's catalog. I want to hear the album he claims as being the heaviest thing he's ever done, because it is hard to top Strapping Young Lad in terms of heaviness!



Speaking of alien cover-ups...

Megadeth "Endgame" Cover Art

Looks cool to me! "Endgame" comes out September 1.

UPDATE: In recent interview with AskMen.com, Dave Mustaine attempted to explain the concept behind the album cover:

AskMen.com: Can you interpret the cover of "Endgame" for us?

Mustaine: Yeah, in the middle of the nation we have this one locale where they've got a bunch of inexplicable black coffins that FEMA has holed up on somebody's property (I think it's in Indianapolis or Iowa or something in the Midwest). Nobody's really taking ownership for it — you know, there's no signs out there saying "coffin sale today" — so, it's kind of suspicious-looking.

[The cover] is just a kind of lumping of all different kinds of ideas together. What I feel when I see it, is us as sheep being prisoners to the new world order getting led off down this corridor of death with these FEMA-assisted suicide canisters, these "come on, free housing." It's like that 'Twilight Zone' episode where the book said "How to Serve Man," and they couldn't figure out what the rest of the book was. Then this girl comes screaming: "Don't get in the spaceship, don't get in the spaceship," and everybody on Earth is getting into the spaceship, and she goes: "The book, How to Serve Man, it's a cookbook." (laughs)

What???

Slayer Releases Another Track: "Hate Worldwide"

You can check out the new Slayer song "Hate Worldwide right here.

Is it just me or do the guitars sound a bit too "happy" for Slayer??? The tune is another short number in the vein of "Psychopathy Red". It's not bad, but "Seasons" part II this is not (I'm only saying that, because that's what the band compared it to). Plus the production feels a little weak.

"Hate Worldwide" will be available for purchase at Hot Topic stores tomorrow as a single, while "World Painted Blood" is due out later this year.

UPDATE: Song available below.

There's Blood on the Charts: Suffocation's "Blood Oath" Debuts at No. 135 on Billboard 200 Chart

Just wanted to take the time to say congrats to Suffocation for carrying the death metal torch after all these years and releasing a solid album with "Blood Oath".

Good to see the band get some chart recognition in this day and age of piracy and pop music in America.

What's Up Anthrax??? Part 2

As posted on Blabbermouth:

ANTHRAX's manager, Izvor Zivkovic of Split Media, has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

"As announced last week, thrash legends ANTHRAX regretfully cancelled the first three dates on the second leg of their European tour due to new vocalist Dan Nelson's unexpected illness. An additional seven European dates are also cancelled, those scheduled from July 22 to July 30.

"ANTHRAX is thrilled to announce that they will play the August 1 Sonisphere festival in Knebworth, England, with their good friend John Bush [ANTHRAX's singer from 1992 to 2005] joining them for a very special one-off performance.

"The members of ANTHRAX have confirmed the departure of vocalist Dan Nelson. In light of this development, ANTHRAX's slot on the U.S. SLIPKNOT dates set for August and September, has also been cancelled. ANTHRAX is already actively considering lead singer candidates, and looks forward to hitting the road before the end of the year."

So there you have it. For some reason (illness???) Nelson is out of Anthrax and John Bush is temporarily back in for a one-off show. Like I said, hopefully this isn't an instance of Nelson being seriously ill.

UPDATE: Nelson released a statement saying that he was willing to continue performing with Anthrax and was not ill. Apparently the band was having issues and decided to oust the singer before things got worse.

UPDATE 2: More info from Scott Ian.

Also, remember that CD "Worship Music" that was supposed to be released in October? Yeah, that's not going to happen.

It's a sad day for Anthrax and all the fans looking forward to this album. Now the search is back on for a new singer. Hopefully all goes well!

Where's Your Crown King Nothing?

Shadows Fall put up the new song King of Nothing on its MySpace page. The track features Lamb of God vocalist Randy Blythe doing some guest vocals and it sounds like the band is getting back into its heavy sound.

I tried to get into "Threads of Life", but it just seemed like generic metal for the most part with mediocre production. Which is hard for me to say because Shadows Fall have always been one of my favorite newer bands.

If this track is any indicator we will have something that will at least be on par with "The War Within" if not "The Art of Balance".

UPDATE: Song available below. Also download available here.

Sunday Night Acoustic Jam: Phil Anselmo Covers Alice In Chains' "Nutshell"

Phil Anselmo may not be in top shape vocally anymore due to the drugs and alcohol, but he still is one of the better frontmen in all of metal history.

"Nutshell" comes off Alice In Chains' "Jar of Flies" EP.

What's Up Anthrax???

Yesterday Anthrax released a press statement vaguely commenting on the band missing the first three shows of its European tour. The reason for the cancellation is due to Dan Nelson's mysterious illness.

Here is what Anthrax had to say:

The members of ANTHRAX regretfully announce that the first three shows of their European tour scheduled to begin tomorrow, Saturday, July 18th, are canceled. Yesterday, lead singer Dan Nelson unexpectedly informed the band that he was seriously ill and unable to travel or perform at this time. Options for the balance of ANTHRAX's European tour dates are being addressed posthaste. The members of ANTHRAX are devastated by this unfortunate turn of events and ask all of their fans to join them in wishing Dan the speediest of recoveries.

Nelson also wrote via Twitter:

July 16, 3:47 a.m.: "Funny, I don't feel so lucky...Wonder what everyone is talking about??"

July 16, 4:28 a.m.: "is done."

July 17, 7:54 p.m.: "loves his family and friends more than ANYTHING."

This all sounds like bad news to me, but it could just be the press blowing up Nelson getting some kind of minor illness.

Hopefully Nelson is OK and not seriously ill. He seems like a cool guy with a decent set of pipes. Also, hopefully nothing bad is going on with Anthrax as a whole, but we will find out soon enough I'm sure.

Who is your daddy and what does he do? Brutal Truth Release "Sugardaddy" Music Video

It seems like there are so many genres in the heavy metal world that it's almost impossible to keep track of them all. I've gotten into many, but grindcore is one genre that I have always had trouble grasping. Napalm Death seems pretty brilliant, but outside of that nothing really excites me.

Although I do kind of dig this new video for "Sugardaddy" from legendary grinders Brutal Truth. The song comes off "Evolution Through Revolution" which is in stores now.

Brutal Truth - Sugar Daddy

Caliban: "24 Years" Video

Caliban may be metalcore, but they have been around for awhile now and arguably are better at what they do than many of the bands that spawned from the scene.

The band comes from Germany and has been around since '97, so at least they are sticking to their guns and playing metal. Check out the video for "24 Years" from "Say Hello to Tragedy" which is coming out on August 24th.

Heaven and Hell Select "Follow the Tears" as New Single

Rock on! Good tune and great live clip of it below. The guys may not have the same energy they used to, but you have to admit Dio sounds damn good and the new tunes do too.

Heaven and Hell's latest is "The Devil You Know".

GWAR is Back

Check out the new GWAR tune "Let Us Slay" on the band's MySpace. Has an old-school GWAR vibe and kind of reminds me of something off "America Must Be Destroyed", which is a great album by the way.

MetalBlade took away the song samples on YouTube (I don't blame em', just doing their job), so I replaced the preview with a rad GWAR song called "Immortal Corrupter" off of "Violence Has Arrived".

Heavy Metal Rumor Mill: Ozzy Osbourne to replace Zakk Wylde???

According to an interview with Classic Rock magazine, Ozzy Osbourne is considering finding a new guitarist to replace Zakk Wylde on the next album/tour.

The craziest part of the new? Zakk Wylde knows nothing about this decision.

Either Ozzy was just foolin' around and this is some kind of album publicity stunt or Zakk Wylde is going to be one pissed off motorcycle-ridin', guitar-squealin', SDMF'er!

Who knows? Maybe it will motivate Wylde to write some rippin' new BLS tunes, because the last few albums have felt uninspired.

Friday Night at the Movies: Daath "Day of Endless Night" Music Video

I have never really been that into Daath, but I have to say the music video for the song "Day of Endless Night" is rad.

Check it out below. Gotta love the classical lick 3 minutes in. Doesn't go on too long, yet is sweet between the heavy riffage.

Crimson Glory Vocalist Midnight Passes Away

Yet another tragedy in the metal world happened shortly after Metal Church announced it was breaking up, Crimson Glory vocalist Midnight passed away early morning on July 8 from "total kidney and liver failure".

Midnight performed on the first three Crimson Glory albums "Crimson Glory" (1986), "Transcendence" (1988) and "Strange and Beautiful" (1991).

One of the most underrated power/prog metal bands in the game. Transcendence is every bit as rockin' as Queensryche's "Operation Mindcrime" and should be in everyone's CD player. Listen to tunes from the album below.

Metal Church RIP

I just decided to check Blabbermouth's headlines one more time for the night, only to find out that thrash legend Metal Church is calling it quits!

Here is the official press release from the band:

"To all of our fans and friends...

"We regretfully announce that METAL CHURCH is calling it quits.

"The performance at Rocklahoma will be our last show. We have had to cancel the shows scheduled for August and that, among other things, has led us to have to make this decision.

"There has been far too much frustration and disappointment in trying to keep moving forward. The collapse of our record company, SPV, has made it next to impossible for us to continue in any kind of professional manner due to lack of tour support. This decision was not made lightly.

"We do have unfinished business in the studio, and with any luck we will have something that will be of interest to METAL CHURCH fans in the near future.

"We would like to thank all the fans that have stuck with METAL CHURCH through all these years, the lineup changes and the ups and downs.

"We can't tell you how much your support has meant to us, we appreciate each and every one of you.

"It's been a great ride."

Indeed it has Metal Church, indeed it has. In honor of the band's legacy check out 3 clips of the band over the years.

Even if the band dies, the music will forever live on.

Job For a Cowboy: "Ruination" Album Review and "Unfurling A Darkened Gospel" Music Video

Here is the start of my review of Job for a Cowboy's album "Ruination":

Job for a Cowboy may seem like a strange name for a death-metal band, but it fits a group that formed under the hot sun in Glendale, Ariz., in 2003. With its second full-length studio release, Ruination, Job for a Cowboy continues to deliver extreme music that is loud, abrasive, and intense. Fans of intricate riffs and blast beats should find something to like in the album, but Job for A Cowboy isn’t breaking into uncharted death-metal territory either — Ruination plays it safe.

The group began its career playing a blend of death metal and hard-core punk that is now known as death-core. Job for a Cowboy’s EP Doom was the first and only album in the band’s career to feature vocalist Johnny Davy performing the “pig squeal” — a style of guttural death growling that sounds similar to a shrieking animal, which fans call “brees.” Since then, the band has tried to distance itself from the trendy genre by playing more straightforward death metal.

To read more about the album visit The Daily Iowan's Web site.



Job For A Cowboy "Unfurling A Darkened Gospel"

Megadeth Crush Heads In New Song: Download Now!

Megadeth just released the song "Headcrusher" for free download on Roadrunner Record's Official Web site. "Endgame" will be released on September 1. Lets hope Dave can conjure up some of that energy from the days of old.

UPDATE: Just finished listening to the track all the way through and I like it! I noticed some classic Megadeth sounds from the days of old, even in some of the lyrics from Dave Mustaine. Seems like it should at least surpass United Abominations!

Happy 4th of July!

Randy here, wishing you a rockin' Independence Day courtesy of The Metal Show on KRUI 89.7FM. Here is a patriotic slideshow I found on YouTube to the song "Declaration Day" by Iced Earth with Ripper on vocals.



Now go shoot off some Roman Candles!

3 Inches of Blood: "Here Waits Thy Doom" Cover Art)

Has a Black Sabbath feel I think. Or black metal. Not what I was expecting, but cool nonetheless. The new 3 Inches of Blood album "Here Waits Thy Doom" comes out on September 8. It will be interesting to see where 3 Inches of Blood goes next.

Heavy Metal Monk

I was reading Blabbermouth.net and I discovered an article about a 62-year-old Italian monk named Friar Cesare Bonizzi that plays heavy metal music in a band called Fratello Metallo (Metal Brother) and recently joined Down onstage.

Check out this video on him from Reuters news service.



Now go listen to his stuff on MySpace. Who says that heavy metal can't be holy?

In September We Go Broke

List of Albums Coming Out in September (if all goes to schedule):

September 1: Megadeth- "Endgame"
September 8: 3 Inches of Blood and Dethklok albums
September 15: Ace Frehley- "Anomaly", Shadows Fall- "Retribution" and Black Dahlia Murder- "Deflorate"
September 22: Vader- "Necropolis"
September 29: Alice In Chains- "Black Gives Way to Blue"

Also scheduled for release in September: New Kiss Album

Killswitch Engage: "Killswitch Engage" CD Review

I was able to review the new Killswitch Engage album for my job at The Daily Iowan. The first part of the review is below:

"Every band has that one album it will never be able to top. For Metallica, it was Master of Puppets. For Megadeth, it was Rust in Peace. Sadly, Killswitch Engage’s latest self-titled album is not its holy grail — that honor goes to the band’s major label début, Alive or Just Breathing.

Ever since vocalist Howard Jones joined Killswitch Engage, the band has taken a more commercial direction. Such albums as The End of Heartache and As Daylight Dies were catchy-yet-soon-forgotten examples of the metal-core genre that the group helped spawn. Killswitch Engage is a better album than the previous two in every way. Yet there is still something missing — the band’s balls."

For the rest of the review visit The Daily Iowan Web site.