The Shred Report – August 31st 2009
The Most Underground News in the Pit
In this report: (Click on a picture to go straight to news about that band)
Of all the bands that have broken up over the past few years, I probably miss Usurper the most. So when former guitarist Rick Scythe (currently fronting Nightshade Official) came forward with some news of upcoming activity, I was eager to read about.
While a reformation does not seem to be in the cards, there are a couple of things for us fans to look forward to . The first is a DVD release he is currently working on with former vocalist General Diabolical Slaughter covering his time with the band (from inception through 2002's Twilight Dominion and related touring activities) that will include live footage, extras, and commentary "from as many band members that want to do it." The plan is to release the DVD in conjunction with the 15th anniversary of the band's debut album Diabolosis.
Also on the table is a possible reunion show in 2010 with all four original members (Slaughter, Scythe, Apocalyptic Warlord (drums), and Jon Necromancer (bass)) to perform the entire Diabolosis album, as well as either Threshold of the Usurper or a "greatest hits" set. In addition, Threshold will be issued on cassette later this year (only the devil knows why) and some new merch may be made available.
Well, it looks like I may have to start looking into booking a flight to their hometown of Chicago, where this show would undoubtedly take place cialis.
http://www.myspace.com/usurpermetal
Arizona's own 69 Sins (not to be confused with Finland's The 69 Eyes) have announced the amicable departure of gutiarist "Stuky" - what, no drama viagra? How am I going to get my fix buy viagra? Maybe by saying that they sound like a stripped-down version of Slipknot with a bit more hardcore influence. Lots of bands don't like the S-word. But I digress cialis. New to the fold is guitarist "Malachi," whose style (based on samples posted at http://www.sickeyed.com) reminds me a lot of John 5's solo album (and of course Buckethead to a lesser degree cheap viagra.) His first show with the band will be on September 19th at Club Red in Tempe, AZ. The band also hopes to take things to the next level by joining up with Metalution Management. Be careful, guys, or they'll steal your shoes. Release-wise, the 6-track EP G.F.Y. is currently available through their website.
http://www.69sins.com
http://www.myspace.com/sixtyninesinsmusic
Canada’s Reverend Kill has signed with Painkiller Records for the release of their new album His Blood Our Victory, due to hit the streets on September 28th. According to the band, it will be "9 tracks of groovin' Western Canadian style Death Metal." Maybe I haven't heard enough Canadian death metal, but I'd be more likely to describe their sound as traditional metal with death vocals. It's a type of dichotomy that sometimes works and sometimes doesn't, but in their case, it's more of the former than the latter.
http://www.reverendkill.com
http://www.myspace.com/reverendkill
On November 10th, YOU can get your hands on a deluxe version of Unearth's latest album, The March. This package will come with a bonus DVD featuring a tour documentary entitled The Three Day March, shot during the band's recent tour of the northeastern US. The DVD will also feature footage from inside the studio during the album's recording sessions as well as party footage from the band's tour with Testament, entitled Gig Life. In addition to to all that, the DVD will include live footage from the 2008 Wacken Festival and three music videos from the album. I guess now that Roadrunner Records has taken to releasing regular and deluxe versions simultaneously, Metal Blade is picking up the torch of releasing them a year apart.
http://www.unearth.tv/
http://www.myspace.com/unearth
San Jose, CA's Taunted will release their brand new full-length Bleeding Black on September 15th via their official website and CDBaby.com.
Originally formed in 1992, they released a couple of demos and an EP before going on an extended hiatus. They resurfaced in 2005 with the album Zero, which garnered acclaim in international press and was supported by an impressive promotional run at college/specialty radio. The band even found themselves playing at the 2007 edition of the Headbanger's Open Air Festival in Germany. I expect to see more of the same with this new release.
A CD release party will be held on September 24th at Little Fox Theatre in Redwood City, CA alongside the legendary Vicious Rumors (in their only (last?) Bay Area appearance for 2009).
http://www.myspace.com/taunted
Sonic Syndicate have announced that British singer Nathan James Biggs (ex-The Hollow Earth Theory) will replace the departed Roland Johansson as the band's "clean" vocalist. I have to say that I don't really support the whole "two vocalists" band model. Unless it's a theatrical/male-and-female thing, I prefer to see a single vocalist with range that can handle both types of vocals. But, to be fair, last year's Love and Other Disasters was a solid album that went a long way in helping me forget the actual disaster that was In Flames's A Sense of Purpose. Biggs will make his recording debut on the Rebellion EP, which will be released as part of an expanded package of Love and Other Disasters in Europe on November 6th. A new full-length album will follow in Spring 2010.
http://www.sonicsyndicate.com
http://www.myspace.com/sonicsyndicate
Our old friends in Skumlove have come to us with a status report. Seems that they have parted ways with Misfortune Records, officially (as opposed to unofficially, which I assume would mean that they remained under contract, but only by word and not spirit.) They have also parted ways with guitarist Gina String and replaced him with "Garrison." The band will release their forthcoming Church of Sin album via their own Devil's Union Entertainment label, and is currently in the studio rerecording the guitar tracks for the album with their new axe-slinger. Thanks for keeping us posted, fellas!
http://www.skumlove.com/
http://www.myspace.com/skumlove
When Eluveitie dropped out of the second annual Paganfest tour, they stated that they were planning something big for later in the year. Those plans have now been revealed in the form of the first annual Heathenfest! Love the idea, hate the obvious name ripoff. Anyway, the fall trek will also feature the overhyped Belphegor, pirate metal kings Alestorm, folk/goth troupe Kivimetsan Druidi, and the more-or-less-unknown-to-me Vreid. Overall, it should be a good time. Eluveitie and Alestorm are a couple of the greatest live acts I've seen recently. Plus, Eluveitie's set will combine old material with tracks from the acoustic Evocation I: The Arcane Dominion and even some brand new songs that will appear on their next album, tentatively due in early 2010.
http://www.eluveitie.ch
http://www.myspace.com/eluveitie
The Gates of Slumber has completed work on their new album Hymns of Blood & Thunder, and have set a North American release date of September 29 via Rise Above Records. Friends and colleagues have been hyping this band to me for quite some time, so maybe it's time I get with the program. For those of you already there, you can check out the new song "The Bringer of War" at their MySpace page. I guess the rest of us can do that, too. I'm getting some major Cathedral flashbacks of true/doom metal here, making their presence on Rise Above Records all the more fitting.
http://www.myspace.com/thegatesofslumber
I've been hearing about this Shrinebuilder band with the same level of fervor reserved for metal's most respected acts. Since I keep company with some metal snobs, though, I often ignore whatever they're drooling over. Turns out that this band brings together drummer Dale Crover (Melvins), guitarist/vocalist Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus/The Obsessed/Spirit Caravan), guitarist Scott Kelly (Neurosis) and bassist Al Cisneros (Om/Sleep). Guess who feels like a fool now?
Although no audio samples have been made available, expect the sound to be a colossal combination all the listed bands. The group's debut self-titled album will contain five tracks and should be released in October via Neurot Recordings, with live dates to follow. Hopefully the venue owners will have their buildings retrofitted in time.
http://www.myspace.com/shrinebuildergroup
Lifeforce just keeps picking up new bands, and Germany's Dioramic are the latest addition to their roster. God bless their PR team for being able to write such a complex, intellectual description of the band, drawing parallels between scientific fact and musical artistry and enough hyperbole and symbolism to choke Dan Brown AND Robert Langdon. I prefer to zip past all that and go right to streaming audio, which in their case displays a mix of death, hardcore, art rock, emo-esque vocals, and the occasional off-time signature. This may or may not be the last time I lean my ear in their direction, but kudos to the kids for getting themselves signed. Their yet-untitled label debut is set to be released in early 2010.
http://www.dioramic.de/
http://www.myspace.com/dioramic
"Rodent obsessed, toilet-humored, ill-tongued masked wackos. Weed-fueled, grinding sludge, noise-damaged, broken oscillator junkyard trio. Demented cheese lovers with a beef against God. Yeah the White Mice from Providence, Rhode Island are all those things and more."
Sometimes, you just have to go with the words that the PR Man gives you. The band is gearing up to release their fourth album, Ganjaovahdose, on October 20th via 20 Buck Spin (their umpteenth label.) Ten tracks of seriously fucked-up heavy noise that one could argue isn't really music at all. Check out new song "Passsthefissst" as well as other cleverly titled tracks at their MySpace page and take a stance.
http://www.thewhitemice.com
http://www.myspace.com/whitemice
Gothenburg death metallers The Cold Existence have signed to Pulverised Records. According to the label, the band had approached them some time ago, but it was their latest album Sombre Gates (released this past March) that really blew them away and prompted the signing. It's easy to hear why. What little I've heard completely blows away several high-profile releases on much larger labels this year. Their first effort for the label is expected to street in early 2010. I'm gonna have to mark my calendar for this one.
http://www.myspace.com/theColdExistenceonline
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