Author Archives: Rattlehead

About Rattlehead

Hi, Rattlehead here. I'm from India, and I'm obsessed with metal of all sub-genres but mostly into thrash and death. I also love other genres, like jazz, funk, rock, some punk, a bit of blues, some country, but well, metal is where I feel at home. I'm always on the run discovering new music. Fanboying Megadeth since I was 13. Love to talk about metal, sports and a little bit of everything here and there. I also love dissing your god, I love food, seeing metal gigs, traveling and also a metal merch and record collector. I hope you like what I write and the music I suggest you. Please do share if you like. Cheers and stay heavy \m/

An Interview With Indian Old School Death Metallers KILLCHAIN

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When a band cites legends like BOLT THROWER, OBITUARY & DEATH as inspiration, you know you’re in for an old school death metal ear splitting shred fest. Hailing from Mumbai, KILLCHAIN are slowly creating major ripples across the country’s domestic scene. Just three years into it’s formation, KILLCHAIN released their debut EP ‘Psychosis’ in 2015, and have garnered some fervid death metal fans under their belt. They have also performed for reputed fests in and around Mumbai, such as, ‘Domination: The Deathfest’, ‘Thunderstorm’ etc.

Their music reeks straight up, pure, unabashed, old school death metal. With the groove of BOLT THROWER, the heaviness and vocal prowess of OBITUARY, KILLCHAIN are proving yet again that old school death metal has not died and will never ever perish. Before the boys head out for a mini India tour, under the name of Durance Of Hate II Tour along with two other killer bands, we had the opportunity of interviewing the dudes from Mumbai. Take a look below, as we talk about their EP, the upcoming tour and tad bit of here and there. Also, don’t forget to check the band out HERE!
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An Interview With Indian Thrashers CARNAGE INC.

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Even after three decades of what spawned as thrash metal in the suburbs of Bay Area, by sweaty, long haired dudes with an unforgiving punk attitude, it is overwhelming that thrash metal has survived every obstacle in its way. Likewise, the seismic waves of thrash metal have ever since traveled far and beyond continents. Similarly, from the hustle and bustle of the city that never sleeps, emerges a thrash squad who are adamant on not putting their foot off the throttle. CARNAGE INC. from Mumbai, India are taking forward the baton of Bay Area thrash metal and spreading the “carnage”!

CARNAGE INC. came into existence back in 2011. Hailing from the city of Mumbai, they are adding a new flavour and aggression to what we all dearly call thrash metal. Having shared the same passion for METALLICA, front man Varun and ex-drummer Olav thought, why not materialize this passion into something even bigger. And thus CARNAGE INC. saw the light of the day. Into their sixth year of existence, the band has released an EP, titled, ‘Fury Incarnate‘ through Indian label Transcending Obscurity last year’s summer. The debut EP has received a lot of deserved attention and has put them on the board of country’s rising bands. Fast riffing, lightning speed drumming, groove that will knock your heads off and rashy, pissed off vocals are what CARNAGE INC. offers to the listener for an aural assault.

We recently had a chat with the boys and this is what went down. Take a look below for the interview. Oh and while you’re at it, since Christmas is coming soon, remember to add THIS to your festive melodies!

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Stream GODFLESH’s Title Track From Upcoming Album “Post Self”

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Industrial metal godfathers GODFLESH are premiering a brand new track from their upcoming new album to be released on 17th November, 2017. The track premiered is the album’s eponymous title track, “Post Self“. Following up 2014’s “A World Lit Only by Fire”, “Post Self” will be released on Justin K. Broadrick’s own label Avalanche Records and will be the eight studio album from the Birmingham outfit.

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Album Review: NE OBLIVISCARIS – ‘Urn’ [Official Video Streams]

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Two and a half years ago in the good wintry month of February, me and my cousin happened to witness one of the best prog extreme metal bands, who were pretty much new to my taste buds. A month before that gig, I started jamming their songs religiously and it instantly struck a chord in my heart. I remember my cousin weeping in all his happiness midway their set when Tim Charles started to move the bow to and fro on his violin strings, thus resulting in the harrowing yet beautiful ‘Painters Of The Tempest(Part I): Wyrmholes‘. I remember asking him “Dude, why the fuck would you cry in a metal concert?”. Yes I know, I was pretty stupid back then and probably didn’t understand the catharsis music leads you to. It actually lead me to some long time contemplation, how could someone be reduced to tears with such heavy and intense sonic atrocity.

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KOBRA AND THE LOTUS Unveil Brand New Lyric Video, “Prevail”!

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‘Prevail I‘, the latest offering by Canada’s hottest metal export KOBRA AND THE LOTUS, has been successfully released in May 2017 on Napalm Records. A true rock juggernaut full of blistering guitars, pounding rhythms and haunting vocal melodies that is taking the listener on a sonic journey leading them out from the darkness and into the light. Produced by Jacob Hansen (VOLBEAT, AMARANTHE, EPICA etc.) and mastered by Grammy award winning Ted Jensen, ‘Prevail I‘ has undoubtedly ushered the band to a much deserved elevated hard rock status. Continue reading →

Sal Costa Of SMASHING SATELLITES Announces Retirement!

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SMASHING SATELLITES guitarist Sal Costa who was earlier a part of fellow Canadian rockers MY DARKEST DAYS has just now announced that he will be retiring from the music industry and shall devote time to his personal life and family.

Costa penned down the note below and recollected many of his cherished memories while on road, and being a top notch, world famous musician. He also stated his reasons for retiring. Over the past year he said he “took off from music I spent time living “normal” life.” One of the main reasons he can be seen stating is as follows, “I have no regrets, just perspective. I have learned that 100000 more Platinum plaques won’t replace 30 minutes playing tag with my daughter, 100000 Juno Awards won’t replace a date night with my wife and 100000 #1 songs won’t replace a BBQ (a vegan one of course ) with a few good friends. That is the truth.” He also says that his year off music has made him aware “where true happiness lies” and that it’s somewhere far from life on road. He voiced his concern over the irksome nature of the industry where the industry “doesn’t care if you live or die” and that “It’s all fake. None of it is real.“

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An Interview With Indian Death Metal Outfit DARKRYPT

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From the western most corner of India, there spawns an unheralded force of dark, fast and intense death metal quartet that goes by the name of DARKRYPT, who are currently one among the rising forces when it comes to death metal in this part of the world. They formed back in 2013, with the vision of bassist Amey Bhole and Nachiket Bhave on guitars. After being around for a while with no output, Aumkar Lele and Rishabh Ravi joined in on drums and guitars respectively for the first complete and firm line up. Early 2014 saw Mihir Gaikwad joining the band on guitars but only for playing gigs. After a year in late 2015, Nachiket quit the band, and Mihir replaced the former axe-man’s boots as a permanent member from there on. 

DARKRYPT are a fairly new band but they are absolutely killing it already. With their debut LP ‘Delirious Excursion’ already out one year back via Indian label Transcending Obscurity, DARKRYPT are already making a statement despite being this young in the circuit. Check out their debut LP provided at the end of the interview. Pssht! They have robed in Rogga Johansson of PAGANIZER and thus successfully creating a track where he has lend his fierce vocals. That is the cherry on top of the cake for sure. You really know what to expect when the mixing has been done by Greg Chandler at Priory Recording Studios (CRUCIAMENTUM, CHTHE’ILIST, etc.) and mastering by the legend Dan Swano at Unisound Studios (ASPHYX, BLOODBATH, etc). Fast riffs, relentless and insane drumming, swift tempo changes and brutal gutturals straight from the bellowed depths of hell is what DARKRYPT stands for. We had the pleasure of having them for a short interview, as we talked about their new album, the upcoming Durance of Hate India Tour and a lot more. Check it out below,

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HOOBASTANK Sign w/ Napalm Records & Announce Upcoming Album Release In 2018

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Yaay, our teenage sensations are back with another new album! 2017 marks another chapter in the career of exceptional rock act, HOOBASTANK, by signing to the Austrian indie label NAPALM RECORDS and announcing their next album, scheduled for the first half of 2018.

HOOBASTANK comments on their future endeavors: “We’re extremely thrilled about signing with Napalm Records and honored to be joining their roster of talented artists. For our 6th full-length album we finally got to work with producer Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Maroon 5). We had been wanting to work with him for years and finally the timing was right. The writing and recording process was everything we could have hoped for. Matt challenged us and brought out different aspects of what we love about making music. We’re excited for our fans to hear it and to make some new fans along the way.”

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MEGADETH’s Dave Mustaine Will Lend His Voice To The Villain In An Upcoming Horror Film

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Remember when Dave Mustaine dressed up in a long black overcoat as Torchy Thompson, flung a series of ridiculous punches and kicks to Brent Huff back in 2001 on an episode for the Sci-Fi channel series called ‘Black Scorpion‘? Dave Mustaine is definitely a bad ass in the entire metal music industry, and he has a characteristic voice which any Mustaine fan can recognize, even if one’s two or three feet deep down underwater. Well, this bad ass combination of an antagonist like persona and his unique voice has brought him to some mainstream spotlight again. Turns out Dave Mustaine this time around will be lending his voice to the character who will be playing the villain in this recent new and upcoming horror movie called, ‘Halloween Pussy Trap Kill! Kill!‘. What more would you want if you’re a horror and metal fan!?

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Max Cavalera On Vegas Shooting “People Cannot Stop Going, Or Stop Playing Live From Fear Of That”

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There are some of the guys in this heavy metal music industry who are nothing short of mega massive walking encyclopaedias. They have so much knowledge when it comes to the music they love, the bands, the underground scene and everything that goes into this larger than life thing we all love called metal. Nope, we ain’t talking about the obvious talisman Fenriz here, we are in fact talking about one of the legends who has helped pioneer many genre defining bands, especially SEPULTURA. Yes, the spotlight is on our Brazilian brother, Max Cavalera.

This one man army has single handedly led the charge for the extreme metal genre way too many times now. Juggling three to four active bands all at the same time is something Max does without even the slightest sense of nervousness or failure. Max Cavalera after having departed from SEPULTURA in 1996, re-channelled his passion for heavy music in the form of bands like SOULFLY which is an incarnation as close to SEPULTURA it can be, KILLER BE KILLED is a super-group formed in 2011 with the members of THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and MASTODON, and lastly CAVALERA CONSPIRACY, which Max fronts along with his brother Igor. Cavalera was also involved in a short-lived side project called NAILBOMB. So there you can see, it’s evident that this Brazilian bad ass is surely a jack of all trades. Continue reading →