Shred Report – April 2009
Georgia quartet Withered - who classify themselves under the somewhat pretentious subgenre of "tortured blackened doom" - are riding quite the wave these days. Their album Folie Circulaire was named one of Decibel Magazine's Top 40 albums of 2008. They completed a national tour with Watain and Book of Black Earth and they performed at the first ever Scion Rock Fest. Now the band is turning their attention to the 11th annual New England Metal and Hardcore Festival in April and the inaugural Blackenedfest tour, which kicks off in May and will see them share the stage with Mayhem, Marduk, Cattle Decapitation, and Cephalic Carnage. A number of my colleagues are into this band too, so maybe I shouldn't have neglected the aforementioned album in 2008. Then again, "tortured funeral doom" is worlds away from the high-octane thrash metal I usually get my rocks off to, so maybe I'm better off.
http://www.withered.net
http://www.myspace.com/withered
The Great Kat recently released her new DVD, Beethoven's Guitar Shred. The follow up to 2005's Extreme Guitar Shred includes seven videos that showcase the Julliard-trained virtuoso tearing through metal/shred renditions of famous classical pieces, including "Flight of the Bumblebee" and "Beethoven's 5th Symphony" and bonus content that puts her twisted psyche on display. After being named one of the "Top 10 Fastest Shredders of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine and one of the "50 Fastest Guitarists of All Time" by Guitar World Magazine, I was expecting more of an instructional video, but this should do fine, providing some mind-blowing guitar work and some genital-wrenching theatrics. You can check out clips at her official website.
HateFX has uploaded two new songs to their web site, "Negative Strain" and "Hide Off." Both tracks are taken from the group's new album, The Holy Frail, which is scheduled for a U.S. release this month and will be made available via iTunes, Amazon, and Napster in addition to the more traditional means. The album will feature 10 songs recorded at Green Bird Studios in Fresno, CA and guest appearances by musicians from Sweden and Chile, making it quite the international affair. Those two songs sound pretty promising, combining a nice groove-thrash vibe with some "modern" elements.
http://www.hatefx.com/
http://www.myspace.com/hatefx
I just want to thank Raginpit Magazine, for an awesome plug for our Band Zen Vendetta. It’s appreciated to the fullest, what kind words! We are lifetime fans of yours now and will tell everyone about Raginpit Magazine! If you would like to have any of your staff attend our CD release party, next Saturday, May the 2nd, at the Burnin’ Burro in Livermore, ca… we would be honored to have you. Please let us know and we will put you on the guest list!
Cheers to you!
Peace,
Zen Vendetta Street Team