RAGINPIT MAGAZINE

The Most Underground News in the Pit

In this report:
- Job for a Cowboy
- Bloodhorse
- 3 Inches of Blood
- Fear Factory

One of the more befuddling news stories recently is the announcement of the relaunch of Fear Factory, which sees vocalist Burton C. Bell rejoined by original guitarist Dino Cazares. Stop and let that sink in for a moment. In 2002, Bell quit the band which eventually led to their disbandment. Later, they (Bell, bassist-turned-guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers and drummer Raymond Herrera) reformed without Cazares, which set off a bitter war of words between the two parties. Bell went too far as to include the lyrics "the inection has been removed/the soul of this machine has improved" on the Archetype album, a none-too veiled illusion to Cazares by way of referencing the band's first album. In return, Cazares was extremely critical of the band's new releases while doing press for both Asesino and Divine Heresy (and to be fair, Transgression was pretty crappy).

Well, I suppose time has healed whatever those wounds were, but it may create new ones. Out of this new incarnation are Olde Wolbers and Herrera (who have a new project, Arkaea, ready to release their debut album) replaced by returning bassist Byron Stroud and new drummer Gene Hoglan. I guess one can't complain about that. This lineup plans to play a number of live dates this summer and eventually hit the studio to record a new Fear Factory album. Before then, Cazares's Divine Heresy will release their sophomore effort, Bringer of Plagues, on July 28th.

http://www.fearfactory.com/
http://www.myspace.com/fearfactoryofficial

Every now and then in this line of work, something comes along that catches you completely off-guard. The Kerosene Man, a one-man band helmed by Belgium's Steve Gillespie, is one of those things. The debut album Wuss was completely written and recorded in his living room, although mixing and mastering was handled at The Buzzy Studio. The music is where it gets interesting, a hard rock/metal hybrid with just a hint of outlaw country and gravelly vocals. Actually, it sounds like a less-cheesy version of rock warrior THOR. The self-released effort will come in a simple cardboard sleeve with a matching low price tag. He's got about half of the album's 13 tracks streaming on his MySpace page and it's worth checking out - and if you like it, you can buy the whole thing right there. Then check out his rants on "Battle of the Bands" events and hack DJs at his home page.

http://www.myspace.com/thekeroseneman
http://thekerosenestation.blogspot.com/

They're baaaaaaaaaaack - together. After several years apart, GWAR has again joined forces with Metal Blade Records. After basically spending their entire career there, the band parted ways with the label and released two studio albums (2004's War Party and 2006's Beyond Hell), the live album Live From Mt. Fuji, and the Blood Bath and Beyond DVD through DRT Records. Now one of the most dangerous partnerships in heavy metal history has been reborn and let's face it - the world just isn't right without GWAR being part of the Metal Blade roster. Furthermore, their upcoming studio album Lust in Space will mark the band's 25th anniversary, which will be commemorated with a two-year celebration. Only in the Slave Pit does that logic make sense.

http://www.gwar.net/
http://www.myspace.com/gwarofficial

3 Inches of Blood have signed a new worldwide deal with Century Media Records. You can all stop worrying about them now. They have been spending time in the studio lately with producer Jack Endino to record their debut effort for the label and their fourth overall. You know, I've seen the band live and I've heard their albums, and I still don't understand the fanaticism. Maybe it's the name, or the imagery, or the over-the-top metalness of songs like "Deadly Sinners," or a combination of all of the above. To me, 3 Inches of Blood sounds like metal played by guys who think they know what metal is all about, but they seem to have Nike convinced, as they have introduced the band-inspired Blood Oncore High shoe, which is "constructed with premium distressed battle-worn leather... mixed with sanguine accents and the muted greens of rot and pestilence [and] metallic side panels [which] simulate blades of battle-axes [with] blood-red outsole and tongue." I'll stick with my Iron Maiden Converse high-tops.

http://www.myspace.com/3iob

We recently received a transmission from Space Angel 7, informing us that their MP3 album Helmet Of Pain is now available through iTunes and Amazon.com. If I'm reading correctly, this is a one-man project formed in 1996 when mastermind Steven M. Cassity left his previous band Purple Palace. Sounds like a real DIY affair between the low-fi recordings and the self-managed record label (Palace Records). With influences ranging from The Beatles to Prince to Black Sabbath, you never know what you'll get from Space Angel 7.

http://www.spaceangel7.com
http://www.myspace.com/spaceangel96

East Coast noise-meisters Bloodhorse have posted the song "Paranoiac" to their MySpace player. The track is taken from their album Horizoner, due out May 26th through Translation Loss Records. This marks their first full-length release and second overall for the label. The band has a heavy sound in the stoner/sludge realm that is a bit like getting exquisitely fucked in the ear. I mean that in a good way. Plus, I'll throw my support behind any band whose MySpace page states that they sound like Psycho Dad. If you get the reference, you probably will, too.

http://www.wearebloodhorse.com/
http://www.myspace.com/bloodhorse

7 Arcos Recordings wants you all to know about Sweet Life, the new album from award-winning singer/songwriter Karen Sotomayor's band Sotosoundz. Although Sotomayor herself has love for a wide variety of styles, Sotosoundz is heavily influenced by the rock sounds of the 70s and 80s. Over the band's decade-long, existence they have received a number of accolades both commercially and critically, and hope that you'll check them out. Sweet Life is avaialble through Amazon.com and the major digital distribution outlets.

http://www.sotosoundz.com/
http://www.myspace.com/sotosoundz

Singapore-based Pulverised Records has announced the signing of death metal pioneers Master. It's amazing that this band has been around in some way, shape, or form for over 25 years and are still going strong. Very few bands can make that claim and even fewer in the metal genre, so horns up to Paul Speckmann for being a goddamn warhorse. He and the rest of the band will start work on their next studio album in August for a 2010 release. Before that, they will embark on a 21-date U.S. tour starting July 8th.

http://www.master-speckmetal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/masterspeckmann

Job For a Cowboy has completed work on their highly-anticipated new album, entitled Ruination. It marks the recording debut of drummer Jon Rice, who joined the band after the release of their debut album Genesis. Ruination is slated for a July release which will put it in stores either just before or during the band's run as part of the second annual Rockstar Energy Mayhem Festival. Here is another band I don't understand the mass appeal of. It's got to have something to do with the viral video of Spongebob Squarepants rocking out to one of their tunes. Amazing how the smallest novelty can attract such a following. At least they're garnering the attention without playing limp-wristed radio rock.

http://www.jfacmetal.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jobforacowboy