Origin are set to hit the road with death metal legends Deicide and Jungle Rot with support from The Absence. This tour will promote the band’s new record, Abiogenesis- A Coming Into Existence, out May 3 via Agonia records.
Formed out of the infamous Exhorder, the legendary guitarist Marzi Montazeri and vocalist Kyle Thomas, have formed a whole new metal project Heavy As Texas. Their self-titled release is due out April 19 via Crunchy Western Records. The album is available for preorder via Itunes and the band’s website.
Doom three-piece Black Lung have returned with their new record, Ancients, via Ripple Music. Formed in Baltimore during the winter of 2014 by Adam Bufano and Elias Schutzman (founding members of The Flying Eyes) with multi-instrumentalist Dave Cavalier (Snakefeast). Creating a loud, effects-driven sound, they used their doom influences with touches of palatable melody. After the release of their self-titled album, they were named Best New Band by the Baltimore City Paper in 2015. In that same year, they went across the pond to Europe, playing Rockpalast Crossroads Festival (which was broadcast on German television), Freak Valley, and Desertfest Belgium. This is where they shared the stage with doomsters Graveyard, Dead Meadow, and All Them Witches. In 2016, they came back with a second full-release, See The Enemy, an album that put them on the map as a rising band. Now with more songs written, they went into the studio with Frank “The Punisher” Marchand (The Obsessed, Borracho) and came out with a sharper tuned-up sound.
Right off the bat, I am glad that they did not use distorted vocals on this album. Although I do enjoy distorted reverb vocals from stoner rock/metal and alternative artists occasionally, I think it can limit the songs. Dave Cavalier does great vocal work on this album, without making it sound like they are playing in a tin can. It feels cleaner, and it’s refreshing. That’s not to say I don’t love the guitar tone created by effects for this album. “Mother of the Sun” was an inviting first track with an intro that acts almost as an introductory track, without becoming too exhausting. The title track is really groovy and has a partnership between riff and chorus that will get in your head (in a good way, not a Bachman-Turner Overdrive kind of way). “Gone” is a fun track that has solos woven in and out of it, blended with another catchy riff. The album slows down with the heavier tone of “Badlands”, a song that radiates a Spaghetti Western aesthetic. Just when you think the track is ending, it pans out into an atmospheric jam. This album is a nice turn for Black Lung, making their sound a little more accessible without still being very heavy in the right places. I would recommend this to any hard rock fan who was looking for something heavier, as a stepping stone even heavier music.
Ancients will be released March 8 via Ripple Music (North America, Asia, and Australia) and March 22 on Noisolution (the UK and Europe). To preorder the album go here, and follow Black Lung on Facebook and Bandcamp.
Texas hard rockers Blacktop Mojo have released a video for “Prodigal”, off their 2017 LP, Burn The Ships. Blending elements of country and 70s hard rock, Blacktop Mojo has a timeless sound that pairs well with any drink you got in your hand. Formed in 2012 by frontman Matt James and drummer Natan Gillis, the band eventually became a 5-piece with Matt Curtis on bass and Ryan Kiefer and Chuck Wepfer on guitars. After releasing I Am in 2014, they hit the road sharing the stage with acts like Bon Jovi, Sammy Hagar, Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Black Stone Cherry, Drowning Pool, and many others.
With their sophomore album, Burn The Ships, they went into the studio with Muscle Shoals producer Jimmy Johnson. Released via their label Cuhmon Records the album received critical acclaim, hitting the Top 40 Billboard Active Rock Chart with singles “Where The Wind Blows” (#27) and the band’s cover of Aerosmith classic, “Dream On” (#31).
As for the video, according to frontman Matt James, the band had a good time with the video: “We had fun making the video with some of our good friends from our hometown acting out the main parts. We felt like the father-son dynamic in the video really reflected the song’s theme. The song is sort of autobiographical. It’s about the experience of growing up in a small town and always talking about ‘getting out’ one day. No matter where or how far you go, though, you always have a little bit of where you came from that you take with you.” This is the band’s second video from their successful sophomore release.
Blacktop Mojo spent most of their 2017/2018 touring, writing, and recording in “The Mojo Mansion” in their hometown of Palestine, Texas. While playing a show at Rock Allegiance 2018, frontman Matt James sat down with Metal Nexus to talk everything Blacktop Mojo. You can find that interview here. To keep up to date on Blacktop Mojo follow them on their website, Facebook, and Instagram.
It was a year of good metal, it was a year of fake metal. Each year metal becomes more and more diverse culturally, aesthetically, and sonically. Whether it is blending elements of black metal and crust punk to create something beautiful, or sticking to something that still sounds good, metal can go in so many directions. With the rise of streaming services, bands from across the world can literally release their music for all the world to hear. Even with the tape trading days long behind us, that thirst to find every great band is stronger than ever. With websites like Bandcamp, we have quick access to anything an artist has to offer be it mp3 downloads, LPs, or pins. Something that was recorded in a West Virginia basement can now be found in India thanks to the internet. Us at Metal Nexus even make it an effort with our State of The Art pieces that deep dive into bands from different states you might not have known about yesterday. I was able to discover so many fantastic bands this year because of streaming services. A lot of the bands on this list I discovered this year and their music became lodged in my brain so I had to add some of them to this year’s album list. The metal community’s driven passion for the music cannot be wasted on just talking about the new record. Listen to the record. Buy the record. Go to the show. Buy a t-shirt at the show. I am going to try my best and do the same in 2019. Continue reading
Italian stoner rockers Oreyeon are back with their psyched-out with the single “Trudging to Vacuity”. Since 2014, Oreyeon (formerly known as Orion) has brought their Sabbath-worship front and center. The release of 2016’s Builders of Cosmos showed promise of heavy riffs and strong rhythm. After 2 years of experimental sessions at their studio between the mountains and the sea, they bring us a new heavier sound.
The new single, “Trudging to Vacuity” is a colorful cosmic journey full of dark vocals that envelope a psychedelic rhythm section. A nihilistic space adventure awaits us full of monoliths and guys named Dave. “Trudging to Vacuity is the most nihilist song of the entire album. It’s about the existence’s paradoxical passing of time in an ephemeral period of time in which the process of the end begins. We are born from vacuity and we will end up in vacuity. Musically the song is built on old grindcore riffs that were reshaped into slow and doom atmospheres.” says the band. This is what stoner rock is supposed to sound like.
TRACKLISTING:
1. T.I.O.
2. Trudging to Vacuity
3. Ode to Oblivion
4. Big Surprise
5. The Ones
6. Starship Pusher
With Ode To Oblivion, the band’s sophomore release, Oreyeon try to stay away from the stoner rock clichés with a “more elaborate and melodic style”. With more complex vocal structures and harmonizations, the tracks will also find a heavier path. The album will be available in a multitude of formats including: 25 test press, 250 transparent background splatter red / pink fluo / blue / black vinyl, 500 green fluo vinyl, black vinyl, Digipak (6 panels), and digital. Ode to Oblivion is out March 15 via Heavy Psych Sounds. To preorder follow this link. To keep up to date on Oreyeon follow them on Facebook, Heavy Psych Sounds website, and bandcamp.
Transcontinental black/death metal band Hiss From The Moat have released a lyric video for their new track, “The Harrier”. This international powerhouse was founded by James Payne (Vital Remains, Hour of Penance) with Italian friends bassist/vocalist Carlo Cremascoli and guitarist Giacomo “Jack” Poli. In 2009 the three-piece released their debut EP The Carved Flesh Message. Sharing the stage with acts such as Psycroptic, Skeletonwitch and The Black Dahlia Murder they took their project to as many audiences as possible. Four years later they released their debut full-length Misanthropy via Lacerated Enemy/Nuclear Blast. During this period Payne left Italian death metal band Vital Remains to work full time on Hiss From The Moat. Taking their blended sound of black and death metal the band toured Europe and Asia with acts such as Behemoth, Belphegor and Rotting Christ. The band then brought on guitarist/vocalist Max Cirelli. Continue reading
Desert rock legend John Garcia is back with and he brought some sand-covered riffs for your ears. Garcia is a founding member and former vocalist of the now disbanded Kyuss. Since their split Garcia has not stopped working on project after project, often bringing on old bandmates like Scott Reeder and Brant Bjork. After forming Slo Burn, Unida, and Vista Chino Garcia released two solo albums. Some of these included original material or different takes on old Kyuss tunes. Since his last recording, The Coyote Who Spoke in Tongues, John Garcia and the band have found a new energy that is palpable from the first note.
John Garcia And The Band Of Gold begins with the introductory track, “Space Vato”. As tiring as introduction tracks have become, this ramped up an energy that prepared you for the coming tide of the album. Garcia’s identifiable and unique voice is as strong as ever. With the small bite-sized tracks the album does not exhaust or lose momentum; One track moves on to the next without one staying for too long. Tracks like “Chicken Delight” and “Popcorn (Hit Me When You Can)” are groovy tracks rooted in old acid rock with modern aggression and style to them. “Lilliana” is riff powered desert rock, something that can only be born from sand. My favorite track on the record “Apache Junction” is pure Sabbath-worship that channels the energy of a song like “Hand of Doom”. After spending a day in the desert, you sit and stare at the stars with “Softer Side”. This ends the album on a soft and euphoric note.
John Garcia And the Band Of Gold is out via Napalm Records January 4 with a European tour happening shortly after its release (dates below). To keep up with John Garcia and his band, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
Live:
JOHN GARCIA And The Band Of Gold
Special Show w/ Nick Oliveri, Luna Sol, Death in Pretty Wrapping
29.11.18 US – Las Vegas / Vinyl
w/ Dead Quiet
23.01.19 FR – Paris / Le Trabendo
24.01.19 FR – Bordeaux / Le Krakatoa
25.01.19 ES – Madrid / Caracol
26.01.19 ES – Barcelona / Razzamatazz 2
28.01.19 FR – Lyon / Le Kao
29.01.19 CH – Zurich / Bogen F.
30.01.19 IT – Milan / Santeria Club
31.01.19 DE – Munich / Backstage Halle
02.02.19 AT – Graz / Explosiv
03.02.19 HU – Budapest / A38
04.02.19 CZ – Prague / Rock Cafe
05.02.19 DE – Nürnberg / Hirsch
07.02.19 DE – Jena / F-Haus
08.02.19 DE – Berlin / SO36
09.02.19 DK – Copenhagen / Loppen
10.02.19 NO – Oslo / John Dee
12.02.19 FI – Helsinki / Tavastia
14.02.19 SE – Stockholm / Debaser Strand
15.02.19 SE – Gothenburg / Sticky Fingers
16.02.19 DE – Hamburg / Gruenspan
17.02.19 DE – Cologne / Helios 37
19.02.19 BE – Leuven / Het Depot
20.02.19 DE – Aschaffenburg / Colos-Saal
21.02.19 DE – Essen / Turock
22.02.19 NL – Tilburg / 013
23.02.19 UK – London / O2 Academy Islington
With the rise of smart cars, smart phones, and smart speakers we are quickly descending down into a world George Orwell feared when he was writing his dystopian classic, 1984. This inspired metalcore band Pathetic Fallacy for their music video “2018”. Formed in New Jersey late 2017, Pathetic Fallacy released their first EP The New Years Tapes December 30 2017. After picking up steam on Spotify, they played their first show at Debonair Music Hall May 2 2018. Since then they have played venues such as Dingbatz, Boontunes, Publik House, among others. Their upcoming EP titled, Regicide, is due out December 8. Continue reading
Blacktop Mojo
Blacktop Mojo have been riding on the successes of their sophomore release ‘Burn the Ships’ and they hit the stage at this year’s Rock Allegiance in Camden, New Jersey. 2018 has been a busy year for them between touring, their crowdfunding campaign, and recording. They are currently unsigned to a major label even with the success of crowd favorites like “Where the Wind Blows” and their cover of Aerosmith’s “Dream On”. Continue reading
