Rolling Metal Thread 2012

That's the thing with third wave bm skirts. You've gotta have the pins for them. They leave you nowhere to hide.

The Heritage Hunter tour was great, I had a lot of fun. Ghost was phenomenal and they come off a lot heavier on stage, which really adds some power. Nameless Dude is such a great showman, its one thing to dress up in the demonic pop outfit, but he absolutely sells it. Opeth were fantastic, and the Heritage stuff sounded really great mixed in with the older stuff on the setlist. "Demon of the Fall" brought the house down. Mastodon was great, much better than the last time I saw them when the Crack the Skye cycle seemed to be wearing on 'em a little. They just tore through their set and everyone seemed really on.

How was the Decibel show fastnbulbous?

Decibel show in Philly is the same day as The Body at another venue... That doesn't make a damn bit of sense!

Wonder how many Deci-dudes will be at the Philly show...

It was so great! Even though it was sold out, it was totally comfortable in there, plenty of good spots. The first few songs of In Solitude's set sounded a bit murky, and I was having trouble getting into it. But I was hanging in the back waiting to get a ticket to a friend who arrived late. Once I got a good spot in the middle of the room it was much better, and I got to enjoy the twin guitar action. Then we moved up to three guitars with Devil's Blood! F (the singer) was truly spooky. In between songs she'd just stay inert like a statue with her eyes rolled back into her head. They played most of my favorites with the catchiest melodies, and near the end had two extended jams. It was pretty hypnotic, and I didn't get bored with the solos at all, as there's all sorts of twists and subtle references to the likes of Wishbone Ash and all sorts of obscure 70s European prog and folk I've probably never heard. Would live a peek at their record collections. I couldn't stay for Behemoth, as I had to get up at 6 for a race this morning, so it's just as well Watain couldn't make it.

now listening to the new Jeff Loomis - first track is fucking knuckles-down thrash tempo! and then he starts soloing...this dude's tone, fucking A. He slays. So stoked for this record. Probably going to see him live on Wednesday, fuck yes

Thantifaxath/Aesahaettr/Eggs of Gomorrh coming to my town next week, US ilxors, is this worth seeing?

I got into a flamewar with a friend of James Murphy on Murphy's Facebook page about the Violence Against Women Act. It turns out that Murphy leans Democrat but I find this atypical of most American metalheads. Why oh why are metalheads so conservative politically, relative to others in their age group and interests? I never understood this.

Can one of you guys who writes for Decibel kindly write an amazing story that addresses this phenomenon?

I feel like you could armchair analyze the phenomenon pretty easily. It might only bear a passing resemblance to the 'truth,' tho.

Huh. All the metalheads I knew growing up and know now are left-leaning. Or at least socially liberal and fiscally conservative. One calls himself a "liberaltarian".

There is not a shortage of libby metalheads, to be sure, but I (possibly because I am biased) have been shocked at the sizable number who are not.

Yeah, all the metal dudes I know are firmly on the left. Of course, I live in Los Angeles, so might have more to do with that.

Are those real bands, Siegbran, or did you just smash your fingers on the keyboard to make weird band names to make fun of us?

I love that bands are not just making logos that are unreadable but have extended it to the names themselves.

THOSE ARE REAL BANDS

There's likely a good number of metal dudes who model their politics after the Nuge:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=06XVt6zEr9E

Really? American metalheads are so right-wing that even the liberal ones are economic conservatives? The metal/hardcore guys I knew growing up were like left-anarchist. Except for the ones who were just apathetic stoners, I guess.

I guess maybe I'm thinking more of guys who were into Neurosis and Union of Uranus than guys who were into Fear Factory and Cannibal Corpse.

i wonder what guys who listen to black label society and pantera are into. Here in the UK id be surprised if they were right wing tbh.

You need some new whipping horse bands. Have you considered Five Finger Death Punch?

I think there are more right-wing metal fans than left-leaning boohoos like yours truly.

I would think most are apolitical? to me this makes sense since the majority of metal lyrics don't tackle political issues and stick to fantasy and escapism.

most metalheads I know lean left fwiw.

Siegbran I don't know those bands & was gonna say something snarky about the New Wave of North American Black Metal (which I'd generally advise you to ignore) but a quick check reveals Thantifaxath is on Dark Descent - that's a good label - they put out Goreaphobia, who're just reliably great, and Father Befouled, who were pretty enjoyable HHB-friendly BM, and Grave Ritual, who aren't breaking down any doors but have an ear for atmosphere & some chops too. Thantifaxath does however have only 1 release, a tape, to their name...I have mixed feelings about new bm bands making tapes.

Eggs of Gomorrh look like decent enough warlike bm

Another 15 new metal albums reviewed, rounded up, and ordered (including only a handful that stretch the definition -- two of which were reviewed by other people):

http://www.rhapsody.com/blog/2012/04/metal

I refuse to listen to any band with the word egg in their band name.. lol

Eggbeard

UGH JEFF LOOMIS IS SHREDDING SO HAAAAAAAARD ON THIS NEW RECORD BUT MRS A IS SICK I MAY HAVE TO STAY HOME AND PLAY NURSE INSTEAD OF SEEING HIM TONIGHT but that's the breaks but anyway yeah this record kills

Anyone hear the new UFOMAMMUT yet?

Have y'all seen the Gojira album cover? I think it's gonna look excellent on a T-shirt.

I like Gojira but not that cover.

The UFOmammut is good. I think it's still streaming at Roadburn website if you want to hear it.

yeah thats actually one of my least favorite Gojira covers, looks like some second tier indie band cover.

I kinda dig it. There was an earlier cover design I liked a lot more, but this one's pretty good. Besides, it's not like we had veto power - it was designed by Mario Duplantier, the drummer.

I'd say the Ufomammut is more than just good!

I stumbled on this - sales info on metal albums:
http://www.metalinsider.net/metal-by-numbers

Notable debuts: first week sales after album debuts

Van Halen, A Different Kind of Truth (Interscope) #2, 187,500 sold
Shinedown, Amaryllis (Atlantic) #4, 105,770 sold
The Used, Vulnerable (Hopeless) #8, 31,520 sold
Halestorm, The Strange Case Of… (Atlantic) #15, 23,840 sold
The Mars Volta, Noctourniquet (Warner Bros.) #14, 20,900 sold
Meshuggah, Koloss (Nuclear Blast) #16, 18,340 sold
Every Time I Die, Ex-Lives (Epitaph) #20, 14,020 sold
Demon Hunter, True Defiance (Solid State) #34, 12,500 sold
Cannibal Corpse, Torture (Metal Blade) #38, 9,600 sold
Veil Of Maya, Eclipse (Sumerian) #62, 7,750 sold
High On Fire, De Vermis Mysteriis (eOne) #61, 7,400 sold
Emmure, Slave to the Game (Victory) #59, 7,040 sold
Overkill, The Electric Age (eOne) #73, 6,500 sold
Mark Lanegan Band, Blues Funeral (4AD) #89, 5,740 sold
Accept, Stalingrad (Nuclear Blast) #76, 5,383 sold
Job for a Cowboy, Demonocracy (Metal Blade) #80, 4,880 sold
Eluveitie, Helvetios (Nuclear Blast) #109, 4,240 sold
Corrosion Of Conformity, Corrosion Of Conformity (Candlelight) #120, 3,840 sold
Goatwhore, Blood for the Master (Metal Blade) #171, 3,110 sold
Ministry, Relapse (13th Planet/AFM) #154, 3,020 sold
The Pretty Reckless, Hit Me Like A Man EP (Interscope) #150, 2,900 sold
Jeff Loomis, Plains of Oblivion (Century Media) #139, 2,880 sold
Municipal Waste, The Fatal Feast (Nuclear Blast) #152, 2,680 soldd
3 Inches of Blood, Long Live Heavy Metal (Century Media) #198, 2,360 sold
Napalm Death, Utilitarian (Century Media) 2,180 sold
Pelican, Ataraxia/Taraxis (Southern Lord) 1,280 sold
Orange Goblin, A Eulogy for the Damned (Candlelight) 990 sold
Earth, Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light II (Southern Lord) 920 sold
Black Breath, Sentenced to Life (Southern Lord) 700 sold
Unsane, Wreck (Alternative Tentacle) 620 sold
Angel Witch, As Above So Below (Metal Blade) 530 sold
Death, Vivus! (Relapse) 520 sold
Christian Mistress, Possession (Relapse) 520 sold
Naglfar, Teras (Century Media) 450 sold
Terrorizer, Hordes of Zombies (Season of Mist) 380 sold

Ghost, Opus Eponymous (Rise Above) 400 sold
Quite possibly the biggest surprise of the week is seeing Ghost’s over a year old debut album experiencing an impressive 59% increase in sales. While the mysterious Swedish doom group have just been added to the Orion Music & More lineup, this sudden jump in sales is most likely due to their current opening stint on Mastodon and Opeth’s tour.

I guess Christian Mistress isn't exactly taking over the world yet.

caught the Loomis show. got there a little late. probably the best guitar playing I've seen outside of the classical world. fucking nuts and awesome. go see him if he comes to your town. it's a short set, he's on a package tour but fuckin A he is tremendous.

wouldn't surprise me that the Heritage Hunter is really helping Ghost out, i was impressed by how people got there early to see them and they converted a lot of skeptics around where i was standing.

but sadface at "400 sold". i mean, 2012 music industry and all, but goddamn thats a tiny number.

G4y witch abortion/wizard rifle/nightosaur show tonight! Should be awesome

helluva bill

cant remember who it was that pimped wizard rifle in the past (i think nate maybe) but let me just say HOLY SHIT.

super nice dudes too. great great show.

Anybody planning on seeing Negura Bunget? Their US tour kicks off tomorrow, and I can't go (show's in Brooklyn) but I really want a T-shirt. If someone's gonna be there (or at any of the dates) and can help me out, let me know.

Thinking of going to see Crowbar/Prong/Witchburn tomorrow at Cobra Lounge. A friend knows Witchburn, who I'm especially interested in, as I've been greatly expanding my Metal Sirens piece (update should be done this weekend, including Mares Of Thrace, Undersmile, Ides Of Gemini, Alunah, Worm Ouroboros, Shroud Eater & Dark Castle). I'm also enjoying the new ones by Royal Thunder, Castle and Witch Mountain immensely. Witchburn will be following up This Is How We Slay Our Demons (2010) with another Jack Endino produced album this summer. There's so much many good bands with female leads these days!

Yeah, I was just commenting to my buddy last night that this has been a really great year for female fronted metal, but ironically very little of the great stuff has been what I would define as "girly metal."

Anybody planning on seeing Negura Bunget? Their US tour kicks off tomorrow, and I can't go (show's in Brooklyn) but I really want a T-shirt. If someone's gonna be there (or at any of the dates) and can help me out, let me know.

was thinking of catching it but got sick, sorry. :-/

still curious... anybody know if they're good live? only one original member remaining, right?

I reviewed the new Pelican here: http://thumped.com/music-reviews/pelican-ataraxia-taraxis.html

Free download of the new album by awesome death metal act Dreaming Dead, today only. You have to give them your e-mail, but I'm sure you guys have junk folders.

http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/downloads/417574

I am indeed Wizard Rifle's pimp. They're hitting the full US now. Catch them if you can.

I enjoyed the hell out of Devil's Blood on the Decibel tour last night. In Solitude were kids having fun, but terrible sound. Devil's Blood really brought it. I'm sure Watain was good too but I had somewhere to be...

I heard the upcoming debut from Jess and the Ancient Ones, a Finnish band with some similarities to The Devil's Blood. I think I might like it even more than The Thousandfold Epicentre. They're included in my piece here - http://www.fastnbulbous.com/metal-sirens.htm, but I there aren't any links to stream via Bandcamp or Soundcloud yet. Hopefully they'll correct that soon. Writers who want to hear it can contact Tomi at Svartrecords.com. That makes seven new releases of heavy bands with female lead vocalists coming out in the next six weeks, and most of them are mindblowingly great!

By sheer chance, I learned last minute that another band that would fit my piece, Witchburn, were opening for Prong and Crowbar Friday night. A friend from work who went to hs with the drummer told me about it, and since it was sold out, got me on the list. I was so impressed, and bought the CD (This Is How We Slay Our Demons... (2010) and a t-shirt. The album was produced by Jack Endino, and they're heading to the studio next month to start on their next one with Endino. Also coming out later this summer is English band Alunah's second album, White Hoarhound, Purson's debut on Rise Above, and hopefully Spiders.

Saw Huntress and DragonForce last night. (Didn't see the middle band on the bill, Holy Grail, as I was in DragonForce's dressing room talking to them and their manager.) DragonForce are really good live - the new frontman, Marc Hudson, is about 6'5" and blond - he kinda looks (and carries himself) like a young, guileless Sebastian Bach. I mean that in a good way. He's totally excited about being up there, has already learned how to duck out of the way when the other members come forward for their solos or line up for guitar choreography (including the bassist and the keyboardist, who wields his keytar like a broadsword). They're playing four or five songs from the new album live, which considering that the new songs are on average two and a half minutes shorter than songs from previous albums, helps keep the set going that much faster than previous tours. Seriously, if they come through your town, check 'em out.

Huntress were pretty good, too. The band's instrumentalists dress in denim vests and jeans and with their long hair and beards they kinda looked like Valient Thorr, but they have approximately .0001% of Valient Thorr's showmanship and stage presence - they mostly stand in one spot, occasionally pointing a pointy guitar at the ceiling. Jill Janus is an excellent singer, but not much of a frontwoman - she wears more clothes on stage than she does in the band's promo photos, sporting a spandex catsuit rather than a tiny bathing suit on this particular occasion (and since she shouted out her younger sister in the audience, I was actually kinda glad about that, for her sake). But her voice is really solid. I recommend getting there early to hear them, if not necessarily to see them.

Funny thing about that show: It was all-ages, so when Janus came out to the Huntress merch table after their set, she was immediately besieged by, and spent close to half an hour taking pictures with, a small army of 16-year-old boys.

Hellbeard played with Behold! the Monolith on Saturday night in Reno, Nevada.. I talked to the bass player/singer for a minute, seemed like a cool guy. He invited us to L.A. whenever we get the notion to go down there, and he said they hook us up.. The rabid fans of about 25-30 that peppered Jub-Jub's thirst Parlor on this Day of the Loud Fest coaxed them into an encore, for which they granted.. Good, solid set of fist pounding metal in the HoF vein from those guys... And the 'Beard didn't play too bad either if anyone is asking..lol! especially for being 8 months since our last show...

Behold! The Monolith seem like really good people. And their album impressed me. Looking forward to seeing them live one day. Seems like they have aspirations to tour a fair amount.

what you say seems true, Nate.. Just booked Hellbeard to open up for them here in Oakland in June..

Twitter is buzzing about Roadrunner firing a lot of people...