Album Review: TOBY KNAPPS’ AFFLIKTOR – ‘SELF-TITLED’ [Partial Album Stream]

Hold on to your horns because you’re about to be taken on the ride of your life from the furthest depths of space to the darkest pits of hell with the mighty Black/Thrash aficionado Affliktor. One of the most eagerly anticipated releases of the year from legendary guitar virtuoso Toby Knapp (Ex-Godless Rising, current Waxen/Where Evil Follows), who proves he is master of all with his brand new solo venture. Released this coming Friday 20th October via Transcending Obscurity, India’s dominating label for underground metal. Get your pre-order here!

Having been scouted in the early 90’s at just age eighteen by Shrapnel Records President Mike Varney, Wyoming-based Knapps has rightly become part of the underground elite and a pioneering force in the scene. Arguably one of the greatest guitarists of the present times and with an entire discography of solid releases across a multitude of genres, expectations were already high after 2016’s mind-blowing Heavy metal/Neo-classical infused instrumental venture “The Architect Of Paradox”, and recent guest appearance on Mark Riddick’s Fetid Zombie on 2016’s “Epicedia”. Fittingly Riddick has created the grotesquely eloquent artwork to grace Affliktors debut, which suits it down to the bone.

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Interview: Blothar Says “GWAR Is An Elemental Force”!

A few days ago we here at Metal Nexus had the opportunity to chat with Blothar, singer of the highly influential, seminal,  and (mildly) controversial rock group GWAR, a name so jam-packed with layers of history that even its mere utterance will bring tears of nostalgia to all sorts of metal devotees. Now, don’t be so quick to judge, – although they’ve been around for a long time this is no reason to cast notions of incorrigible antiquity upon the face of the group. In actual fact they’re promoting a new album titled The Blood of Gods via Metal Blade Records, which you can pre-order at Amazon, iTunes, Spotify and plenty other websites.  The album is scheduled for release on October 20 2017, – the best way to describe the record is that it is full of diversity, quirkiness, humour and spark. Songs like ‘War on GWAR’ offer unique doom-laden riffage to their new sound whereas songs like ‘El Presedente’ includes a dynamic and versatile array of instrumentation, notably brass. Continue reading

Album Review: THE WALKING DEAD ORCHESTRA – ‘Resurrect’

With a name like The Walking Dead Orchestra, you can’t help but conjure up depictions of a post-apocalyptic zombie wasteland where all life is obliterated and the outlook is bleak and demoralising… but fear not, for French Deathmetallers are absolutely annihilating the hoard with their sophomore album ‘Resurrect’! Soon to be released on Fri 13th October via Unique Leader Records (the pioneering label that have already brought you Arkaik – ‘Nemethia’, Decrepit Birth – ‘Diminishing Between Worlds’ and Inanimate Existence -‘Underneath A Melting Sky see review here). ‘Resurrect’ marks a new chapter for the band, having emerged victoriously from the entanglement of wretched spawning bodies, stronger, more determined and aggressive as hell! Pre-orders are live and bundles are available here. For digital click here.

Following in the footsteps of the Architect (the main character of the bands concept world), you are thrown violently into an onslaught of punishing fretwork in ‘Resurrect The Scourge’. With the worldwide epidemic surrounding us, the world we have entered is one of sheer ferocious pounding melody entertained by emotionally charged vocals from lead singer Florian Gatta (also of Rise Of Doom). The vocal dynamics add to intensity of the drama unfolding, from grunts and growls to an exasperated top-end, a familiar appraoch from their deathcore history. The aggression is paramount across the release with a ritualistic feel, almost like the band is willing the dead to join them in their rampage. This is carried upon in ‘Through The Realm Of Chaos’, a frenzy of duality in vocal range and the in-your-face fast tempo which only intensifies the impending Armageddon. It has a pummelling playfulness and incorporates more mid and gruntal vocals, offering a far more brutal old-school dynamic with an ability to combine primal influences to full effect!

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Review: All Pigs Must Die – ‘Hostage Animal’

Brooding hardcore-punk conglomerated with crushing stoner-esque displays of melody are now indefatigable qualities to what constitutes Southern Lord Records. One particular group to assist in laying down such foundations would have to be the incredibly influential, perennially pessimistic and harrowingly heavy act All Pigs Must Die. Their third studio LP, ‘Hostage Animal’ is scheduled for release on October 27 2017 and is musically their most foreboding attempt to date. The group is now a five-piece act consisting of Kevin Baker of The Hope Conspiracy on vocals, Ben Koller of Converge on Continue reading

Album Review: GUTSLIT – ‘Amputheatre’

India is in the bringst of a metal revolution and brutal death/grind legends Gutslit are at the forefront! Fresh from their second massive international tour “Brutal Grooves Grinding Moves” with Germany’s Stillbirth, American Splattered and Colombian Carnivore Diprosopus – Gutslit absolutely pulverised the masses across 15 shows in 8 countries to launch their highly awaited sophomore release “Amputheatre”. Set to be released on Oct 15th via new label Transcending Obscurity India – Asia’s largest label for extreme music, pre-orders are live and available here. 

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Album Review: KUBLAI KHAN – ‘Nomad’ [Album Stream]

After creating the EP ‘Youth War’ and the albums ‘Balancing Survival & Happiness’, ‘New Strength’ Kublai Khan got around the table to let us know why they are the best at what they are doing. First teasing us with the tracks ”Belligerent” & ”The Hammer” Kublai Khan and finally releasing their full album ‘Nomad’ today via RiseRecords! The official album stream is linked at the end of this article, take a deep breath and dive right in!

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Supergroup HOLLOW PROPHET Release Their Debut Single!

Hollow Prophet just released their debut single ”Conjuring Of Impurity” via SLAM WORLWIDE on the 26th of Semptember, get a good taste of this!

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MOTIONLESS IN WHITE Release ”Necessary Evil” Featuring Jonathan Davis!

Not long ago Motionless In White released a full album called ‘Graveyard Shift’, released via RoadRunner, which is well received by many fans of the band (including me). It may not be as heavy as their older albums but that is one of the best aspects of ‘Graveyard Shift’, it is unique, sick and as diverse as it can be. Get right in!

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KARABAS BARABAS Release Official Music Video for “Sexy Guy”

With Jacques Lemaire’s guidance & training KB was sent on a holy crusade to slay the sexy demon in the name of the Lord, who was born on isle 2 in 7-11.

Political statements are not new in the music industry and in the newest video from the psychedelic Brooklyn rockers Karabas Barabas, they bring a thought provoking query on the role of public figures in defining political responsibility. The song, “Sexy Guy,” which is off of their full length 2016 release ‘The Return of the Sexy Demon‘ which was produced by Steve Albini. It is unique to be sure, with echoes of such influences as Mr. Bungle and flashes of Foxy Shazam, but it’s infinitely catchy with an infectious, groovy chant like feel.

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Album Review: STONEBIRDS – ‘Time’

If one were to accurately describe the after-effects of the act of combining the iridescent romanticism of psychedelia and the intense brooding nature of doom-rock then they’d gain an awful lot of credibility upon mentioning Stonebirds, a project which was formed in 2008 and has since proved itself to be a noteworthy Continue reading