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Noctem - Exilium Review

Band: Noctem

Album: Exilium

Label: Art Gates Records

Genre: Blackened Death Metal

Country: Spain

Release Date: March 3rd, 2014

Bringing forth 10 tracks of Blackened Death Metal is the entity, NOCTEM. Known as Vhert(Drums), Ul(Bass), Exo & Nekros(Guitars) and Beleth(Vocals) - Here are five individuals hailing from SPAIN where a lot of great talent has been coming from as of late. For those music fans who aren’t well exposed to true underground, some might draw a comparison to that of BEHEMOTH. Definitely not a bad thing, since Poland’s top selling group has come a long way in their evolution. But NOCTEM gives you a sense of pride when you find a relatively new and awesome group in the Extreme Underground. And they’ve been at it for a while. With their follow-up to 2011’s OBLIVION, their 3^rd full-length in 5 years, this is EXILIUM(Art Gates Records).

Part NOCTEM’s sound that makes them a great band is their inclusion of Symphonic elements, such as the track “Enuma Elish”(aka “The Seven Tablets of Creation” according to Mesopotamian ideology), used to introduce the album. Two minutes later, you’re blasted into the abyss by Vhert’s drumming(which by-the-way, really drives this album) with the song “Apsu Dethroned”. There’s some crazy riffage going on in this album. The following tracks ”Decrepit Human Kingdom” and “Tiamat’s Crown” are early examples of the Thrash style which is part of NOCTEM’s sound. With hypnotic guitars which swing you back and forth, never really losing that Blackened element. Once again driven by some insane and tight drumming

Halfway into the abyss known as EXILIUM come the tracks “The Rising Horns” and “Halo of Repugnance” where you might think the fall from grace might lighten up and slow down, but it doesn’t. It’s the Symphonic elements which carry you further, or more like drag you down deeper, guiding you through the varied speed and changes in not only throughout the album, but within the songs as well. It has the right balance of Symphonic, Black, Thrash and Death so you never get tired or expect what’s to come. The only real gauge are instrumentals like “Egregor” that have you believing you’re nearing a climactic and catastrophic end, but sets up for a good climax.

The longest tracks on the record are “The Splint of Destinations” with a great intro, with a heavy bass and drum rhythm. And the track for which a video was excellently made(below) “Eidolon”, which in my opinion, feels like it should have be the final closing track. In closing you reach “The Adamantine Doors” which felt a bit abrupt and short, but I guess they wanted to leave the listener wanting more. It’s like your girlfriend that wants to go at it again after you’ve blown your load (on the previous track) and all you want to do is rollover and sleep or make a sandwich, but you have to go for it anyways.

My favorite tracks on this album are “Apsu Dethroned”, “Halo of Repugnance”, "The Splint of Destinations"  and Eidolon". This album contains the beautiful blackened element that should attract the cvlt Black-Metal following. The songs are nicely written with varied tempo and style changes so you never get bored, and not to the point where they’d become a Technical Death Metal group – which is totally fine. Noctem is a Blackened Death Metal group from Spain, with something to prove. Apart from what I felt was a soft finish, I had hoped for another track or 2, because once you take out the opening track and “Egregor”, you’re only left with 8 songs. It’s too early to tell if this one will make my “Best of 2014” list, but it’s strongly considered. I do recommend you listen to their previous work especially their debut full-length, “Divinity”.

Tracklist:

1. Enuma Elish

2. Apsu Dethroned

3. Decrepit Human Kingdom

4. Tiamat’s Crown

5. The Rising of Horns

6. Halo of Repugnance

7. Egregor

8. The Splint of Destinations

9. Eidolon

10. The Adamantine Doors

Total Playing Time: 46:19

Rating:

Hellyeah - Blood for Blood Review

Band: Hellyeah
Album: Blood for Blood
Label: Eleven Seven
Genre: Groove Metal / Heavy Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: June 10th, 2014

Hellyeah's " Blood For Blood" will make you bleed. Music is supposed to make you feel things and this expresses rage, disgust, and compassion. The compassion is what slayed me because it wasn't sappy, poor me shit. The lyrical themes revolve around the suffering we have all experienced from heart break to self destructive behaviors to an abusive childhood. The ills of society are the thread that connects them. Hell is a prominent theme , as well as fire and blood , and pain- lots of it.

Hellyeah comes off as brutal , lead-footed groove metal but with a classic heavy metal underpinning. The percussion pummels , the guitars are down - tuned and buzzed yet have a melodic sensibility that is connected to the drumming by the bass guitar. This is a slick production , creating a wall of thick sound that is evident in all the songs. I did not want to skip over any of the tracks.

" Sangre por Sangre ," the title track en Espanol , is a commentary on the state of the Union so to speak. Democracy is hypocrisy / a dictatorship is what we need / because really what's the fucking difference / so come on in and take a seat / listen to the lines they love to preach / because the truth we would see is fucking senseless. It's a no-lube , ear-fuck kind of song. Of similar note are the tracks " Demons in the Dirt , " "Soul Killer , " Gift , " and " Feast or Famine."

" Cross to Bier ( Cradle of Bones ) " and " DMF " ( Die Motherfucker ) are fist pumping , head banging anthems that I devoured. " Say When " has a fast , relentless pace that is hardcore down to it's roots. Throw in a sweet time change at the end of the verse and I had to lean back in a groove induced ecstasy and say " Fuck Yeah ! "

When it comes to slowing it down , Hellyeah surprised me a bit. I don't like slow , sappy songs or power ballads. They make me puke. That's a personal preference. That means if I hate it , a large part of the population will love it and push it right to the top of the charts. Not so with " Blood for Blood's " three slower tracks. They deal with sensitive issues in a confessional manner but with such finesse I was powerfully moved.

The most evocative song is " Hush . " The chorus is catchy with the drums mimicking the stomp of an angry man's feet and the jangle of the guitars bring to mind the metallic " chink " of a belt buckle. Gray's voice pushes a world of hurt and anger into the words: Hell's where I was born / Hell's where I was raised / This hell is where I am from / And this hell is where I will stay. This verse mixes the subtle with the obvious and is perhaps why the song is so powerful. There is an acoustic , stripped down version at the end that only amplifies the shivering rage and pain in Gray's voice. This song brought me to my knees and that's not easy to do.

" Blood for Blood " stripped away the delusions of brotherhood that Hellyeah tried to shove down our throats with " Band of Brothers." In retrospect , I see the last album's theme in the context of the band as a whole trying to kid themselves that things were working. With the departure of guitarist Greg Tribbett and bassist Bob " Zilla" due to headspace problems , and the addition of Kyle Sanders , formerly of Blood Simple , there is a stripped down focus to this new entity. The signature sound is still there , only thicker and richer but Gray's lyrics are no longer political. Passion infused each song as a unit. They were effectively able to plumb emotional depths with an honesty that catalyzes awareness.

Tracklist:
1. Sangre por Sangre (Blood for Blood)
2. Demons in the Dirt
3. Soul Killer
4. Moth
5. Cross to Bier (Cradle of Bones)
6. DMF
7. Gift
8. Hush
9. Say When
10. Black December

Total Playing Time: 39:25

Rating: 

R.A.B. 6-24-14

Allegaeon - Elements of the Infinite Video Review

Band: Allegaeon

Album: Elements of the Infinite

Label: Metal Blade

Genre: Melodic/Technical Death Metal

Country: USA

Release Date: 24/06/2014

Allegaeon made real waves back in 2012 when they released "Formshifter", an album that saw them take classic, thrashy melodic death metal leads and fuse them with the technical metal American's have been so good at. "Elements of the Infinite" offers up more of the same. Which is both good and bad.

Listen and order here: http://www.metalblade.com/allegaeon/

Tracklist: 

1. Threshold of Perception

2. Tyrants of the Terrestrial Exodus

3. Dyson Sphere

4. The Phylogenisis Stretch

5. 1.618

6. Gravimetric Time Dilation

7. Our Cosmic Casket

8. Biomech II

9. Through the Ages of Ice - Otzi's Curse

10. Genocide of Praise - Vals of the Vitruvian Man

Total Playing Time: 58:01

Rating: 

Mastodon - Once More 'Round the Sun Video Review

Band: Mastodon

Album: Once More 'Round the Sun

Label: Reprise Records

Genre: Progressive/Stoner Metal

Country: USA

Release Date: 24/06/2014

Arguably one of metal's biggest releases of the year, "Once More 'Round the Sun" see's Mastodon push their boat in a slightly different direction to the hunter. Bigger, better production and a mix up in songwriting and styles means this one will stay in rotation. Ultimately though? It does feel safe by Mastodon's standards. Enjoy the review!

Stream the album here (requires itunes): http://search.itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZContentLink.woa/wa/link?path=mastodon&at=10l6Xd&ct=1se6mbo3ehb86

Purchase Here: http://www.mastodonrocks.com

Tracklist:

1. Tread Lightly

2. The Motherload

3. High Road

4. Once More 'Round the Sun

5. Chimas at Midnight

6. Asleep in the Deep

7. Feast Your Eyes

8. Aunt Lisa (feat. The Coathangers)

9. Ember City

10. Halloween

11. Diamond in the Witch House (feat. Scott Kelly)

Total Playing Time: 54:08

Rating: 

1.

Arch Enemy - War Eternal Review

Band: Arch Enemy
Album: War Eternal
Label: Century Media
Genre: Melodic Death Metal
Country: Sweden
Release Date: June 4, 2014

The word " awesome" is often thrown about in our little world of metal and rock. So much so that I feel it has lost much of its impact. The word is defined, in the Oxford Dictionary (online) as " Extremely impressive or daunting; inspiring awe". So we have a double meaning, off the bat. Arch Enemy have, in their previous works, been as daunting as they have been awesome. Many of their albums are brilliant while others seem to fall well below the bar. With Arch Enemy's newest release, Eternal War, there is a great deal of trepidation. Not just because of some of their previous below par works but because they have undergone a big change with Gossow relinquishing the microphone to White-Gruz. As always a change in a front woman (or man) can have devastating impact. In this case it also means that Gossow is taking the role as band manager. Will this double change have an awe inspiring impact or will it leave us feeling daunted?

Normally my reviews are a track-by-track rundown but I feel this particular release lends itself to a different format. The reason being that so much hype has surrounded this album both pre and post release that I feel we need to get a feel for the album. After all, we pretty much know how Arch Enemy perform, we know that musically they perform well, at least when they want to. So what's different here, apart from the line-up changes?

The first thing you'll notice about this album, which is somewhat different, is its reliance on symphonic elements. It is book ended by two such tracks and they're great if sombre. The next thing you will notice is the raw, visceral vocals of Alissa White-Gluz. Seriously, I think she may have the edge on Gossow and she can actually sing when she is not growling like some lower dimensional being. Also, her vocals seem to fit nicely with Arch Enemy's new catchier melodies without actually becoming too fluffy. Indeed tracks such as "Never Forgive, Never Forget" have some great galloping riffs, almost as if the band have become some uber raw and heavy Maiden.
 Another new comer to the fold is guitarist Nick Cordle, formerly of Arsis. Cordle provides a stellar performance throughout with utterly catchy riffage and some scorching solos.
 The production through the album is incredibly polished. Too polished in places, especially for a band in this genre but it definitely doesn't detract from the death metal elements. Given that, as mentioned before, the album is classically tinged with a lot of catchy moments. This may rankle with death metal purists, even those who prefer the melodic side of things but it works nicely. One area I feel does detract from this are the moments of, dare I say, electronica, which set to confuse the whole mish-mash.
 That being said there are still plenty of moments of aggression, "Never Forget" being a case in point and what would any album be without a blast beat inducing master like Daniel Erlandsson on the tubs?
 Arch Enemy also enter a somewhat cinematic landscape with "Time Is Black", which feels unlike any other Arch Enemy track I can think of but certainly works well here. Perhaps a sign of pastures new, so to speak.
 As mentioned there are some weak moments on the album, the aforementioned electronica feel but standout moments are certainly present in tracks such as "War eternal", " As The Pages Burn" and "Stolen Life". The latter providing some classic riffage.

But, when it comes down to brass-tacks is this really an Arch Enemy album? Personally I feel that 'hell yeah!'. It's as familiar in parts as any of their best work but there are some new elements such as the more catchier riffs and melodies which only help to reinforce the sense of a new beginning. New guitarist and new vocalist both provide stellar moments, especially vocalist White-Gruz is. She can certainly stand up to Gossow's legacy and bring her own feel to the band and it's the latter which I feel will ensure Arch Enemies progress in the future and defend against stagnation, which, let's face it, has been a problem for them of late. This album is certainly not their best but it is a step in the right direction and maybe Gossow will breathe as much new life into the band as their manager as she did when she took over the microphone in the early 2000's.

My rating of this album reflects both the material and the promise I feel is present in their new direction

A cracking 9 out of 10


Tracklist:
1.Tempore Nihil Sanat (Prelude in F Minor)
2. Never Forgive, Never Forget
3.War Eternal
4. As The Pages Burn
5. No More Regrets
6. You Will Know My Name
7. Graveyard Of Dreams (Instrumental)
8. Stolen Life
9. Time Is Black
10. On And On
11. Avalanche
12. Down To Nothing
13. Not Long For This World (Instrumental)

Total Playing Time: 50:32

Rating:

Septicflesh - Titan Video Review

Band: Septicflesh
Album: Titan
Label: Prosthetic Records
Genre: Symphonic Death Metal
Country: Greece
Release Date: 20th June 2014

Greece's premier metal export Septicflesh return with their first new album in 3 years entitled "Titan". Following up three amazing albums in "Sumerian Demons", "Communion" and "The Great Mass" was always going to be hard, so does this one make the cut? Find out below!

Stream the album here: http://metalasfuck.net/zine/news/2014/septicflesh-listen-their-new-album-here-full
Purchase from Prosthetic: http://store.prostheticrecords.com/bands/septicflesh

Tracklist:
1. War in Heaven
2. Burn
3. Order of Dracul
4. Prototype
5. Dogma
6. Prometheus
7. Titan
8. Confessions of a Serial Killer
9. Ground Zero
10. The First Immortal

Total Playing Time: 45:26

Rating: 

Matt Roe

Sinbreed - Shadows Review

Band: Sinbreed
Album: Shadows
Label: AFM
Genre: Power Metal
Country: Germany
Release Date: March 28, 2014

Back in 2010, Sinbreed came out with a powerful debut album which was straight forward power metal that was heavy and fast and their second album is more of the same, but only better.

Before I get started on the actual album review, I should mention that Sinbreed does have Marcus Sepien and Frederik Ehmke, who were once one half of the legendary Blind Guardian.  Of course, I'm not going to get into the comparison between Sinbreed and Blind Guardian because they're totally different bands, even if they play the same genre of Metal. Also, many others have made the whole Sinbreed/Blind Guardian comparison and I would just be rehashing a lot of stuff.  And now, back to the album review.

The album starts out the gate strong with "Bleed", which sets the tone for the album and you pretty much know what you're going to be experiencing throughout the whole album, which is relentless, fantastic, no frills Power Metal that is played ferociously from beginning to the end.  On the technical side, nothing new is done but Sinbreed delivers fast, aggressive Metal that gets you pumped every time you listen to them.  The songs have incredibly catchy melodies and lyrics that keep you hooked.  It's hard to resist.

The Lead singer, Herbie Langhans (formerly of Christian Power Metal Band Seventh Avenue) has a raspy, gravely singing voice and it really goes well with the music being played and it really helps to put the music over.

Overall, "Shadows" is a good dose of straight forward Power Metal which is a pleasure to the ears from beginning to end.

Tracklist:

1. Bleed

2. Shadows

3. Call to Arms

4. Reborn

5. Leaving the Road

6. For Too Long

7. Black Death

8. Standing Tall

9. London Moon

10. Broken Wings

Total Playing Time: 50:06

Rating: 

Triptykon - Melana Chasmata Review

Band: Triptykon

Album: Melana Chasmata

Label: Prowling Death Records / Century Media

Country: Switzerland

Release Date: April 14th, 2014

Once again Tom G. Fischer has outdone himself. The second release from his project called Triptykon called "Melana Chasmata" blends Doom Metal, Death Metal, Gothic Metal, with smatterings of Thrash Metal. With all of these components at play, things could have easily gone awry if this was attempted by almost any other metal band. However, this isn't just any other band, this is another excellent project brought to us by the man who founded arguably two of the most well-known and influential extreme metal bands, Hellhammer and Celtic Frost.


With his latest band, Triptykon, Fischer takes elements that he created in his past projects and expands on them even more. Much like Celtic Frost, Fischer employs female backing vocals on the tracks "Boleskine House" and "Waiting" creating an interesting dynamic in these two slow paced and heavy songs. There is also a major Hellhammer and "To Mega Therion" era Celtic Frost death-thrash influence on the songs "Tree of Suffocating Souls" and "Breathing." The great thing about the latter tune is that the band was able to perfectly meld a slow and heavy doom / gothic opening and ending with a much faster main thrash arrangement. To mix such differing paces, and making them work, is damn near impossible. Somehow Fischer and his cohorts do it with the greatest of ease.
Having said all this, the album goes way beyond anything that Fischer has ever created in any of his past bands or albums. "Melana Chasmata" is something new and totally different that you have to dive into with your full attention. With the exception of "Tree of Suffocating Souls" and "Breathing", this is a slow paced death / doom, and gothic metal album. Many of the songs go far beyond the most downed tuned and sludgy songs that most of us have ever heard. You certainly need to go into this with an open mind. I for one am not a huge doom fan and when I began to hear just how slow the pacing was on these songs, I was concerned. However, I started to like the album after the first listen. If a band can sell me on a doom metal sound that quickly, they certainly have created something special. On the surface, many of the songs may remind you of Type O' Negative with more of a death metal drive to them. The album is so much more then that though. There are so many elements in every song that it would take you infinate listens to catch everything , especially the well placed and subtle aspects.
The front half of the album is certainly on the faster side with the two tracks I've mentioned above and the very heavy gothic and death / doom style tracks "Boleskine House" and "Altar of Deceit". The latter half of the album is where you really need to start expanding your mind. Things slow down immensely, almost to a crawl, on the songs "Aurorae" and "Demon Pact". Of the two, "Demon Pact" is the stronger offering with a slow bass arrangement courtesy of Vanja Slajh. "Aurorae" is good , but it is the album's only clean vocal track and it just lacks the substance that you will find on every other track.
"In The Sleep of Death" continues to slow the pace even more. Once again there are excellent atmospheric guitar licks from Fischer and V. Santura. The death metal vocals on the song are some of Fischer's best on the album. The clean verses sound a bit strained and whiny at times , but it doesn't matter because of all the songs strong elements over shadow this.
"Black Snow" is one of the best and most epic songs on the album. It clocks in at 12:25. This song is gothic metal through and through with the exception of Fischer's amazing death metal vocals through out the entire track. Because of it's length, this is a song you can really get lost in. The bridge section of "Black Snow" is chock full of all kinds of different sounds.
"Waiting" is the only song where Fischer and company truly lost me and it's unfortunate that it ended things. For the second time, the band uses female vocals with whispering from Fischer. To me the song came off way too slow. Yes Tom, you are good. We know you're good and you know you're good, but there are some things that even you can't make work, and this is one of them.
All in all, this is absolutely an original album. One of the biggest positives of the album is the writing and arrangements. Something that might get lost in all this is the drumming of Norman Lonhard. Yes it is tough to drum with lightening fast precision, but I would argue that being able to drum as slow and deliberate as Lonhard does is just as difficult. The length of the songs and of the entire album is just something you don't see that often anymore. The songs range in a little over 5 minutes to over 12 minutes. The whole album clocks in at a whopping 65 minutes and makes for one great musical odyssey. Those of you who "get" what Fischer is doing will love this album. Be prepared to totally immerse yourself in the music. If you are not willing to do that, this album will probably not be for you. What we get is a combination of Fischer's past musical strength's mixed with his penchant for always evolving his music. Triptykon's latest album is a goth / death / doom masterpiece, if that's what you're into. If you are someone who is willing to take risks in the type of metal you listen to, then don't miss this one.

Tracklist:
1. Tree of Suffocating Souls
2. Boleskine House
3. Altar of Deceit
4. Breathing
5. Aurorae
6. Demon Pact
7. In the Sleep of Death
8. Black Snow
9. Waiting

Total Playing Time: 65:32

Rating:

Your's truly, 
Robbie A. Brown \M/

Wretched - Cannibal Video Review

Band: Wretched
Album: Cannibal
Label: Victory Records
Genre: Melodic/Technical Death Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: June 10th, 2014

My first video review in collaboration with \m/etalbox, this time focusing upon the latest effort from the modern american technical death metal band Wretched entitled "Cannibal". If you like your brutality well produced, groove laden and technically adept, then this one is for you. Enjoy!

Stream the album here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLMx9IHnJeRpxj6CKitADdfLuIsmGZekc_
Purchase from Victory Records: http://www.victorymerch.com/store/wretched

Tracklist: 
1. Gold Above Me
2. Morsel
3. Calloused
4. Thin Skinned
5. L'appel Du Vide
6. Cranial Infestation
7. Salt Lick
8. Cannibal
9. Wetiko
10. To the Flies
11. Engulfed in Lethargy

Rating:                                            

Matt Roe

Septekh - Plan for World Domination Review

Band: Septekh
Album: Plan For World Domination
Label: Studio 508 Productions/ Abyss Records
Country: Sweden
Release Date: May 2nd, 2014

When you think of Swedish Death Metal, you might think of bands like Hypocrisy, At The Gates, Entombed, The Crown and numerous great bands. I don’t think there’s ever been a band out of Sweden that wasn’t simply awesome. SEPTEKH is a band that carries on those influences to a different level. With 13 tracks of their breed of Death-Thrash, comes their full-length debut nicely titled “Plan For World Domination” via the American Undergound label, Abyss Records.

Right off the bat, there’s no punches pulled with the opening track “Into the Void of My Mind” with some tasty soloing, blazing blast beats and giving you an idea of the style they produce on this album….or so you think. They throw a curve in “Going Down in Style” with that Death-n-Roll feel that’s evolved from the Swedish Death Metal Scene. Throughout the album David Wikstom demonstrates his guitar work, though at times feeling a bit over the top and losing you, but yet still very impressive with his progressive controlled style.

Bassist Patrik Strom introduces and sets the dirty tone with “Black Shores”. The stand out track here has the stench of a drunken whore dancing her sexy zombie dance, bringing a different vibe to the album and slowing down the pace. And I’m ok with that! They pick it right back up with “The Man Who Died A Million Times” & “Superheated Liquid Iron Core”, bringing the Thrash in Death-Thrash. I’ll even go as far as saying that they have a good Blackened-Thrash feel to them as well. The awesome element of just the right mix of thrash and blast beats (by Staffan Persson) really push the album through at such a rapid, but comfortable pace.

With some interesting song titles and lyrics, which feel a little rushed or squeezed in sometimes, are both brilliant and catchy. Sung by Nils Meseke, are real crowd-pumping and anthem-like songs such as “Saving Graces”, “Don Asshole” and final, title track “Plan for World Domination”. But you REALLY have to appreciate the lyrical content on tracks like “Neanderthal” and “Fuck Dollar” that paint eloquent pictures of lewd and carnal conduct. Probably my favorite tracks off the album.

This is what you expect a Metal band from Sweden to produce. A good album that might end up on people’s “Best of 2014” as the hidden gem. I think these guys have a promising career and look forward to what they bring us in the future.

Tracklist:
1. Into the Void of the Mind
2. Goin Down In Style
3. Saving Graces
4. Neanderthal
5. Don Asshole
6. Left Handed Man
7. Black Shores
8. The Man Who Died A Million Times
9. Superheated Liquid Iron Core
10. Eyes of the Grave
11. Fuck Dollar
12. Desdaemonia
13. Plan For World Domination

Total Playing Time: 60:00

Rating:

Interview with Venatic

First of all, thank you for the interview!
Thanks for having us!

Let’s get this started! Who am I “talking” with?
We are Venatic, an Alternative Metal combo from Hamburg, Germany.

How did you get together? Like, who started the band and how did it evolve?
Originally, Venatic was founded as a four-piece back in 2003/2004. We then had quite a productive time up until 2009, when our singer chose to leave Venatic as he wanted to go in a different musical direction. Shortly after him our bassist left as well as he needed to focus on his academic studies. So by the end of 2009 Venatic was very much dead! Mark, Peter and Torben therefore took a break from the band and focused on a side project for a while.
Finally, Jonas joined as the new bassist in 2010 and Maik became our singer in 2011. After that it has been pretty much full throttle: We recorded a live EP in 2011 (“Live 2011”) and another studio EP including our first music video, “Dead End”, in 2012. Right after that we’ve locked us into the studio for almost all of 2013 and exclusively worked on the new album, “Catalyst”, that was just released on May 16th this year. We are very glad that we even made it this far as we had quite some obstacles to overcome while recording: The studios we were recording in (Hammer Studios) were completely destroyed in a gigantic fire – just as Maik was in there, recording vocals with our producer, Eike Freese! So not only can we be happy that we have a record to present but we also still have Maik, alive and kicking, and Eike, who has also become a dear friend of us.

Who are the people behind “Venatic”?
Venatic is a classical five-piece band, consisting of Maik (Vocals), Mark & Peter (Guitars), Jonas (Bass) and Torben (Drums). On average the band should be about 28 years old.

What are your influences?
Metallica, Machine Head, Soilwork, Disturbed, Limp Bizkit, Avenged Sevenfold, Staind, dredg

Where does the band name come from?
“Venatic” is an old English adjective meaning something like “related to hunting”. Unfortunately the story of how we came up with it as our band name is very boring: We found it in a dictionary.

Blind Guardian or Kreator?
Kreator.

Scorpions or Rammstein?
RAMM!STEIN!

Do you earn enough money by just making music or do you have “real” jobs? Which ones?
All five of us have regular jobs: Maik just finished his studies in media technology, Torben is studying medicine, Peter works as an audio engineer, Mark works at a record label and Jonas at a marketing agency.
What was your best live experience?
We just played our release party for Catalyst in Hamburg and are still pretty stoked about it. We had our favorite club completely packed, the crowd went absolutely berserk and we had a very nice (and long!) aftershow party. It was a great feeling to play all the new songs live and get a huge reaction like that from the crowd  - I think we couldn’t have asked for a better night than that!

What are you guys listening to lately?
We really liked the new Killswitch Engage record. The new Mastodon single is great, too.

Have you any hobbies besides the music?
Torben likes to go fishing Apart from that it’s the usual stuff: Going out with friends, sports, concerts…we also have a band tradition to go to Rock am Ring (big ass rock festival in Germany) every year.

What is the metal scene looking like around Hamburg?
There’s a lot to be heard in and around Hamburg: From extreme metal like Negator, death/black like Todtgelichter, Alternative Metal like our friends from Dark Age, Pollywog Chieftain or us – there are a lot of talented heavy bands over here.

What are your plans for the future? Gigs, albums?
Since Catalyst was just released a few days ago we now want to get out there and play as much as we can. We already have a couple of gigs planned and hope there will be many more to come in the coming weeks and months.

Anything you would like to say to your fans or maybe your future fans ?
To all our fans, friends and families: THANK YOU SO MUCH! We a very grateful for the tireless support we have received over the years and especially in the process of making Catalyst. We couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you for the interview, good luck and keep it heavy \m/

If you wanna check out Venatic after this awesome interview, here ya go:
http://www.venatic.net/
https://www.facebook.com/bandvenatic
https://twitter.com/VenaticOfficial
https://plus.google.com/105635960896692588181/posts

Cowbar - Symmetry in Black Review

Band: Crowbar
Album: Symmetry in Black
Label: Century Media / E1 Music
Genre: Sludge Metal
Country: USA
Release Date: May 26, 2014

My first listening impression of Crowbar's "Symmetry In Black" was, "Wow." I did not expect to enjoy this album as much as I did.Imagine 1 part stoner and 1 part sludge with a slick of psychological doom. This album is dark, as if the sludge had putrefied into a thick,black smear of rot.


There is continuity to the songs. Each 1 is different, yet Crowbar has created a symphony with 12 movements.The tracks are loaded in an order that evokes the torment of Alice In Chains "Dirt",but this is the evolved version. There is no suicide watch.Instead, this is the album that reads the obituaries every morning to see which of it's peers they have outlived. It is a wise and devious album. Think of  "Sever The Wicked Hand" only deeper, jaded, and impossible to fool.
"Walk With Knowledge Wisely" sets the tone. Sludgy guitars introduce the album with a dark, minor scale set over a percussive groove. We're told to "walk with knowledge wisely / you don't have to die / put an end to what poison's you." Everything matches. The tone, the sound, and the lyrical theme. The percussion is technical yet catchy. There is no fussiness or pretensions in any of the songs: "A Wealth Of Empathy" , "The Taste Of Dying" , "Reflection Of Deceit" , and "Shaman Of Belief", Here we catch flavors of Motorhead and Black Label Society with interesting time-changes and dueling guitars peppered without.
Perhaps my favorite song is "Teach The Blind To See" and not because it's technically or artistically more appealing then the others, but because this is where self-awareness of Crowbar's artistic evolution is most evident to me. "Into freedom I lead you / know I'm not the enemy / I can teach the blind to see / just believe and follow me / this becomes a legacy."
Fortunately, there is a variety that pleases as Crowbar ventures into some trippier territory with "Symmetry In White", "Amaranthine", and "The Foreboding." These songs have a psychedelic tone without interrupting the flow of the album. The vocals are seething and atmospheric while each of the instruments contributes to the whole. This is a united front.
For those of you who enjoy a thrashier, faster sound, Crowbar provides 2 well placed tracks in "The Ageless Decay" and "Symbolic Suicide." These songs pick you up and throw you against the wall just to make sure you're still alive and that Crowbar hasn't lost their edge. The album wraps up with a instrumental dirge to tie up any thematic loose ends. In "The Piety of Self-Loathing" is found the perfect, mournful finish.
I commend Crowbar for this effort and for sharing their evolution as sludge metal veterans. There is alchemy to this album, as if some ancient art were blended into a sonic balance. The achievement of such an effect with music is a sign of mastery.

Tracklist:
1. Walk with Knowledge Wisely
2. Symmetry in White
3. The Taste of Dying
4. Reflection of Deceit
5. Ageless Decay
6. Amaranthine
7. The Foreboding
8. Shaman of Belief
9. Teach the Blind to See
10. A Wealth of Empathy
11. Symbolic Suicide
12. The Piety of Self-Loathing

Total Playing Time: 48:04

Rating:

Robbie A. Brown