“The name comes from George R.R. Martin’s ‘A Song Of Ice And Fire’; it’s a region beyond the Wall, beyond the Frostfang Mountains,” Josh Zoerner of newjack Indiana black/crust stranglers Thenn explains of his band’s unusual moniker. “We tried to stray away from names that were overt subject matters because we didn’t want to pigeonhole ourselves with a name that resulted in an overarching ‘theme’. Thenn, while a reference, is fairly ambiguous, and the ambiguity leaves room for us to change and evolve without seeming like we’re betraying a genre.” So no Nuklear Wargoat or Dripping Entrails for this lot, then; they prefer to intrigue rather than bludgeon, and we’re entirely alright with that. Their innovative take on an already mangled sound sets them apart from the trendier “blackened crust” kiddos out there, and their earnestness and genuine passion is impossible to ignore. Thenn caught our battered ears earlier in 2012 with their first release, ‘Threshing The Golden Fields’. The EP’s five songs were offered for free download on Bandcamp, and Zoerner’s anti-capitalist reasoning behind the decision is a nice reminder of their crust roots. “We decided to give it away for free primarily because we felt as though charging money … Read More

“Speed metal rites!” Claims vocalist, Speed Metal Enforcer of upcoming, Canadian maniacs, Gatekrashör. One can only assume they formed by hanging out in a garage listening to Razor and Running Wild records. Speedeceiver (bass) informs us that, “Back in 2008, me and Speed Metal Enforcer got the idea of starting a heavy metal band, a fast one”. However an unstable lineup meant they weren’t in the position to release any material. It wasn’t until late 2012 when their killer debut EP ‘Fear Of Attack’ was unveiled online that a storm began to brew. The Jackhammer (drums) says that the two-tracks of insanity were “recorded on an 8-track recording machine in a basement”. Filthy as it sounds too, Mr. Hammer. Now in 2013, the band have performed at various local shows to support the EP and are soon to perform at the Ragnarökkr Metal Festival in Chicago on May 3. Speedeceiver hints; “We are almost done recording our full-length album, which will hopefully be out in time for our appearance at the festival”. Steel Avenger (guitars) has the final word; “The licks on the new album will kick your ass much harder than ‘Fear Of Attack’. So be ready.” You heard … Read More

Toledo Steel are a tasty new addition to the slowly rising gang of young, old school UK metal troupes. “I’m a fan of swashbuckling films, the age of swords and gunpowder and I used to fence, so whilst trying to think of a band name that packs a punch I remembered Toledo Steel, as swords made from it were strong and hard to break,” drummer Matt Dobson tells us. “Stainless Steel didn’t quite cut it!” The four piece formed in late 2011, in Southampton, after shared friends warned of mutual plans to form a band influenced by NWOBHM and ’80s metal, saying; “We wanted to create a sound that more or less keeps the flame burning for the people we look up to.” A solid demo won them some supports slots for the likes of Iron Knights, High Spirits and Cauldron around the UK. Matt offers that; “playing to a crowd that are really into old school metal and really like what you’re playing means you must be doing something right.” The Steel are indeed an effective live unit with tasty playing and a natural energy that is both genuine and fun. So what’s next for these keen newbies? “We have … Read More

Something wicked this way comes, billowing down from the decaying North on winds of plague…or of genocide, as the case may be. Visions of nuclear fallout and apocalyptic raids summon wrenching flashbacks for some, and provide lyrical fodder for others; Durham’s Winds Of Genocide have always fallen into the latter camp, but now, with death/doom project Uncoffined, two of its members have ventured further afield, beyond the outskirts of Chernobyl and down along the cemetery road.

 “The band formed officially in early 2011 after myself and Glynn [Alkohall, guitars] started jamming on doom riffs during breaks at Winds Of Genocide rehearsals, where I would jump behind the drumkit and we would start jamming on Vitus riffs,” Kat Shevil explains. “I personally have always loved the dark, evil, morbid vibe of a lot of the bands who blend such a mix of traditional doom and ancient death metal together, it has a certain atmosphere in it that other styles do not possess, plus the crushing heaviness of such music has always attracted me to it. We are definitely much more inspired by the old school doom metal stuff, old Black Sabbath etc, but there is some ancient death metal, death/doom, Hellhammer, old … Read More

Their second album quickly became eBay gold. Their first gig was sold out in minutes. They’ve been invited personally by Electric Wizard to play with them at Roadburn Festival. Who the fuck are UNCLE ACID AND THE DEADBEATS and what’s behind the hype? 

With songs like ’13 Candles’ and ‘Ritual Knife’, last year’s hot album, ‘Blood Lust’, by mysterious cult Uncle Acid & The Deadbeats perhaps came at the wrong time for a modest, shy musician from Cambridge who didn’t want any fuss made over his band. The man who we know only as KR didn’t set out to be an occult rock sensation, nor did he want to be the new Ghost, but in the mad scramble for anything resembling the nameless ghouls set in motion a frenzy that is unseen in today’s apathetic music world. Blame our coverstars if you want. No band, not in years, have warranted that much press hounding or label envy. But Ghost, like KR’s psychedelic hard rock mob, grew from the underground. They were both small, demo bands, making music only on their own whims, but they caught a zeitgeist and things went bat-shit crazy.

Ghost were first, in 2010, and then all those … Read More

If you’ve been paying any attention to the bludgeoning South American underground there is a fair chance you’ll be able to name one or two Chilean black or death metal bands such as Pentagram, Death Yell, Force Of Darkness or Unaussprechlichen Kulten. But heavy metal warriors? Okay, we’re stumped. “It’s true that the genre has always been under-represented over here,” agrees Metal Grave‘s bass player Christopher Falk. “In the ’80s there was only Tumulto, Feedback, Panzer or Vastator to speak of. Then later on Inquisicion, but that’s about it. But, even though there are few of us, each one is unique and very dedicated!”

Formed in 2010 by the two guitar players of local thrash heroes Sacrilegio and influenced by “Mercyful Fate, Iron Maiden and Running Wild”, but also more obscure doom outfits, after two demos in 2011 and 2012, they’re about to release their debut full-length ‘The Eternal Flame Of Deception’, a seven tracker that includes a re-recording of their nearly ten minute epic ‘Journey Into The Unknown’. A conceptual album inspired by Dante’s ‘Inferno’, it tells the story of “one crusader knight, led by Richard Lionheart, who dies on the battlefield. However, unlike all his beliefs, he wakes up … Read More

Inspired by classic heavy metal and thrash in equal measures, Dungeon Beast was conceived as a one-off project by Matt Preston, guitarist for the likes of Ghost Tower, Infectonator and Borrowed Time and the resulting sole offering, a sole demo entitled ‘Skeletal Assailants’ (that also featured Johan Skuldronus (ex-Funeral Dirge) and Dave Benson (Acephalix) was recorded in July 2005, shortly before Matt relocated from Olympia, Washington back to his home town in Pennsylvania and dissolving the band. Seven years later, Matt got the bug to bring Dungeon Beast back to life. “In late 2012 I had a few song ideas that I wanted to record and I did so with the drumming and vocal talents of friends where I now live in Lansing, Michigan,” says Matt. “I had thought about naming this project something different since nobody from the first incarnation of Dungeon Beast was involved besides me, but since it was mostly just planned as a project demo with no certain continuation as a band after recording, it seemed fitting to use Dungeon Beast for the band title once again.” Recruiting new members in the form of vocalist/bassist Matt Watrous (Harbinger) and drummer Reverend Ceckowski (Demon Bitch), Matt released a highly … Read More

Corsair are a rare treat: a classic hard rock sounding from the US (Charlottesville, Virginia to be precise) who proudly wear their influences on their sleeves – think Thin Lizzy, Iron Maiden and a hell of a lot of vintage progressive rock – yet they have never sounded like a tribute-in-disguise, but more like a richer and more interesting act that is just getting started. Since forming in 2008 after guitarists Marie Landragin and Paul Sebring met at a local Black Sabbath tribute show they have released two EPs and one self-titled full-length. The latter has just been reissued worldwide by Shadow Kingdom Records, just in time to coincide with Marie and bassist Jordan Brunk’s bass return from a six months stay in France. “Paul has always been into those instrumentals Metallica had on their earliest albums and Marie loved Thin Lizzy so Corsair spun from both,” suggests Jordan, who joined a bit later. “But after we put a lot of effort into being cohesive, we started to branch out and break apart from each other as well. We love getting our guitars to intertwine while playing totally different parts.”

If their name was suggested by Paul “because of his love … Read More

The Netherlands may be small, but this scenic, friendly country has more or less got the market cornered on soul-sucking doom, mind-bending psychedelia and toke-totin’ stoner rock, thanks to the mighty riff Mecca that is Roadburn. There’s plenty of homegrown evil lurking through the tidy streets of Tilburg, Eindhoven, et al, and Groningen collective Herder are a particularly ugly example. Their latest release, the ‘Horror Vacui’ EP, came out on Reflections Records just before the new year dawned and is a nasty chunk of lumbering, miasmal doom that could’ve just as easily clambered out of a Georgia swamp, and should serve them well when they hit the stage come this year’s edition of Roadburn. The understated Southern influence bleeds through in the riffs’ occasional bluesy swagger; the rest of the time, Herder stick to their guns and hit hard, all tense chords, hardcore barks, feedback whine and near-fatal slugs of sludge.

“We are attracted to hard and extreme music, with a fucked up atmosphere. Although most Herder members come from a different musical background whether that’s black metal, death metal or hardcore, we are all attracted to the darkness and what it has to offer,” bassist Blitzer told us of their … Read More

Kurt Brecht is man whose lungs have earned him his name firmly carved into the walls of crossover thrash history and as 2012 heralded DRI’s milestone 30th birthday, the band, fronted by Brecht toured the globe in celebration. However, as the band have decided against recording any new music the dirty rotten singer has gotten himself embroiled in a side project, Pasadena Napalm Division. Taking their name from their Texan hometown and not the Californian suburb, PND were founded back in 2008 when local Houston death thrashers Dead Horse split and were looking to form a new band. Guitarists Greg Martin, Scott Sevall and drummer Ronnie Guyote set about recruiting bassist Bubba Dennis who’d served time in Texan/SF hardcore punks Verbal Abuse and when they heard Kurt was back in Houston on downtime while DRI guitarist Spike recovered from cancer surgery he was the obvious guy to get on board.

Brecht’s spoke of his choice to join PND saying; “I listened to the songs they had and realised that it wouldn’t be too hard to write some lyrics for them. The guys in the band all seemed really nice too. I’d never jammed with anyone outside of DRI before, except … Read More