Manchester’s COLD FELL Offer Up Full Length Debut [Album Review] [Album Stream]

Manchester, England, a city that exploded around the turn of the Industrial Revolution, has served as a backdrop and inspiration of metal musicians of all ranges.  No small wonder, either, given the social issues created once the trappings of the industrial exploitation machinations were set into play. Workers were often forced into inhumane working conditions and eventually, periods of civil unrest between the working poor and the bourgeois erupted, leaving behind inauspiciousness in it’s wake. From these circumstances, and similar in cities such as Birmingham, the bubblings of metal sprung forth to unleash upon the world an especially dreadful perspective.  The natives Cold Fell (so named for a mountain in the North Pennines, a spine, if you will, that weaves throughout northwestern English countryside) have finally gotten the opportunity to add their own voice to the offerings, four years after the release of their first EP. Comprised of Laurence Taylor (of Caina) on vox, Karl Sveinsson and Giovanni Infantino on lead and rhythm guitar, Callum Cox pounding on the drums, and Oliver Edward Turner on bass, Cold Fell evidently put the gap time after their initial EP to good use as 2017 has been gifted with one smoking full length debut. 

“Irwell” is both the name that christens their Argento Records release and a river valley nestled in (you guessed it) northwestern England.  Coming in with eight tracks, “Irwell” is a solid monster of a proper debut which bares it’s teeth from the opening, snapping fierce jaws within instrumental passages so you, the listener, do not escape it’s mighty grasp.  The band members here have an excellent chemistry which is evident in the ways in which each track has been composed.  There’s not a superfluous time change, solo or angry vocal howl throughout the album that I could find; these guys were on a mission of craft and on “Irwell” they absolutely bring the pain.  Peppered throughout each of the songs, one can easily see the influence that classic black metal and contemporary bands of the same genre have had on the members, and rather than setting out to exploit those genres or relying on a more avant garde/experimental approach, CF pay homage to those before and current in black metal by efficiently utilizing the core sounds, topped with their own personal flavor. Take, for instance, ‘Folly (Health & the Glory)’  which opens with a nicely fat bass thrum underlying the assault unleashed by the typical frontrunners of guitar and drums.  Densely atmospheric in the right places, the track pummels along, punctuated with howling guitar shrieks that eerily mimic a female’s screams in places, while ‘Bone Ceiling’ bites and snarls in its own right, featuring a nice addition of fist pump worthy chants that will surely be as appreciated during a live performance as it is on record. My overall album pick, though (and it’s surely a close call to make), is narrowly the doom and gloom served up by ‘The Whip (Armed to the Teeth): furious skin work where appropriate with some nicely bitter slower tempo drops, some skillful lead guitar that helps pull the beat back from the mire and cohesive and spot on instrumental passages.  The album closer, ‘Dream of Seppuku’, is a wholly appropriate one that fits like a glove.  Seppuku refers to the Japanese act of suicide by disembowelment, and this track moves in thematically appropriate ways until it fades into a more somber tone sprinkled with some piano keys.  While not necessarily a game changer (and not that it had such ambitions in the first place), “Irwell” delivers a solid album sure to catch the attentions of the black metal scene, and gives just enough to keep us wanting more.

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Review: POWER TRIP – ‘Nightmare Logic’; Full Album Stream

POWER TRIP; Hailing from Dallas, the band has toured the world relentlessly for years. Their musical proficiency, perfect song structure, rich tones, fierce riffs, delivery, and collective attitude has seeded them as one of today’s most prolific acts in any astute or heavy genre. POWER TRIP executes music with raw energy, and it’s easily heard on their previous material as well as this new release. They are the up and coming thrash band that everyone should keep their eyes on. These thrashers have 2 full length albums ‘Manifest Decimation’ and their most recent release ‘Nightmare Logic’ out and both are impressive feats. With 5 other releases in their discography that include EP’s, a split and a demo, it shows that nothing can hold this band back from success.  Continue reading

Review: XIBALBA – ‘Diablo, Con Amor.. Adios’ [Full Stream]

XIBALBA is one of the most violent and fierce acts I have ever witnessed in person. The band formed in 2007 in Pomona, California. The band’s sophomore release and Southern Lord Records debut ‘Hasta la Muerte’ (2012) is still one of the most influential hardcore albums released in the last decade. It was during their tour in support of that album that I was able to see them in what used to be a United States Post Office in the small town of Whitesburg, Kentucky. The city has a population of less than 2,500 people, and it just goes to show the band is willing to play anywhere that their music is wanted. They followed up ‘Hasta la Muerte’ with their 2015 release ‘Tierra y Libertad’. On that album XIBALBA demonstrated their ability to progress their aggressive sound from one album to the next. It’s been one year since the release of ‘Tierra Y Libertad’, XIBALBA now returns with three vicious new tracks of hard hitting hardcore on ‘Diablo, Con Amor.. Adios’ via Closed Casket Activities. The EP is a continuation of the bands gritty, raw, downtuned, metallic grooves. As with their prior titles, ‘Diablo, Con Amor.. Adios’ was recorded at The Pit Recording Studio with longtime cohort Taylor Young (Nails, Twitching Tongues, Disgrace) and mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege (Integrity, Nails, Harm’s Way), XIBABLA also once again secured artwork from Dan Seagrave (Dismember, Entombed, Suffocation) to visually depict the wrath of these three relentless tracks. XIBALBA has climbed their way to the top in regards to hardcore bands and the new EP is the proof that they have earned their rightful place at the top. Continue reading

Review: OOLUU ‘Ophus’ [Stream]

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OOLUU was forged from the remains of the band Oompalunatiks. Eric Davindra and Asa Holloh were members of the band and Wychdoktor later joined the band during a lineup change. The three had an unbreakable chemistry that remained standing even after Oompalunatiks ceased to exist. In 2013 they rechristened themselves Ooluu and in December of that same year the band truly found their sound and released their first single and video for “Powder-White”. Since that first single the band’s sound has evolved and progressed exponentially. A few months later in February of 2014 the band released their debut EP ‘Mannequin’. The band continued to compose music for future releases but took a hiatus from live performances to further hone their craft. Ooluu has elements of industrial and alternative metal within their sound. The band recently emerged once again and released their latest album ‘Ophus’ on January 23rd, 2016. Continue reading

Review: DEATH TRIP ‘Professional Asshole’ [Stream]

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I hope this isn’t the first you’ve heard of Death Trip. If it is, let me tell you now I’m highly disappointed in you. Death Trip is from the Big Stone Gap, Virginia area of the Appalachian Mountains and while the area may be rural their music certainly echos outside of the hills of Southeastern Virginia. Their first release was 2013’s ‘Distracted’, followed by the sophomore effort ‘So Far, No Good’ in 2015. The band of course wastes no time and now have released their new record, ‘Professional Asshole’, on October 29th. The album is 13 delicious tracks of brutal punk with a side order of hardcore. They meld these styles so well that it is hard to decipher where one ends and the other begins. The style in which they play music seems a bit chaotic at times but that chaos has developed into a finally wrapped gift when it’s fully unveiled to their fans. Continue reading

Review: DOOMED ‘Anna’ [Stream]

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Doomed is a one man army conjuring up amazing doom from Germany. Pierre Laube is the man that does it all. Instruments, concepts, vocals, artwork and production he is fully in charge of his art and it knows no boundaries. The band was formed in 2011 and have 4 albums released thus far. The most recent album marks their 5th album which released September 26, 2016 titled ‘Anna’via Solitude Productions. The new release ‘Anna’ is a concept album about the repercussions of war and the album is full of those haunting, emotive moments without straying away from the solid death/doom music that they’re known for. The album features guest appearances from members of Hail Of Bullets, The 11th Hour, Camel Of Doom and others. Continue reading

Audiotopsy Release Album Art, Track Listing & Debut Song [Streaming]

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The band comprised of several hard hitting late 90’s early 2000’s bands known as Audiotopsy has released the first taste of what we can expect from their forthcoming album entitled “Natural Causes”. The album will be released via Napalm Records on August 28th. The members of the band are guitarist Greg Tribbet formerly of Mudvayne and Hellyeah, ex-Skrape vocalist Billy Keeton, Matt McDonough former drummer of Mudvayne and bassist Perry Stern. The album was self-produced by the band at The Porch Studio in Orlando. The band is planning an extensive debut tour which should coincide with the album release. Below you can hear the new track “Headshot”, go ahead get our ears full…

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Natural Causes Track Listing:
1. Headshot
2. All We Know
3. LYLAB
4. The Calling
5. H2O (Interlude)
6. Swim
7. Disguise Your Devils
8. Burn the Sky
9. Distorted
10. Darken the Rainbow
11. Frozen Scars
12. Natural Causes (Outro)

Follow Audiotopsy:

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You can pre-order the album here.

The Sword Release Upcoming Album Cover & New Song [Streaming]

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Prepare yourself, Austin, Texas’s own The Sword is releasing 15 new tracks for your listening pleasure. The new album “High Country” will be released via Razor & Tie on August 21st. This will mark their 5th studio album, and it will be an uphill battle to compete with their previous releases like 2012’s “Apocryphon” and “Warp Riders” released in 2010. The album is produced by Adrian Quesada. It’s said that he pushes the boundaries where analog meets digital and retro meets progressive. The Sword already have a retro’ish sound, so whatever comes out of this pairing I’m certain will be to the fans liking.

You can hear the new track here!

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“High Country” track listing:

01. Unicorn Farm
02. Empty Temples
03. High Country
04. Tears Like Diamonds
05. Mist And Shadow
06. Agartha
07. Seriously Mysterious
08. Suffer No Fools
09. Early Snow
10. The Dreamthieves
11. Buzzards
12. Silver Petals
13. Ghost Eye
14. Turned To Dust
15. The Bees Of Spring

 

Anytime a band has the word “country” in it’s album title it scares us in a way. But after seeing these new pre-order bundles for “High Country” we assume they speak of something entirely different than the “high country” we imagined.

You can purchase the “LIMITED EDITION High Country Collectors Bundle” through our favorite merch store IndieMerch. 

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BUNDLE INCLUDES:
-Custom stained and hand numbered latching stash box measuring 9″ x 6″ x 3″ with inside lid album art and an engraved top
-Custom wood grain dugout with right hand grip and included metal cig
-One pack of 40 count 1 1/4″ unbleached rolling papers in custom album art packaging
-Custom grinder card with brushed metal inset surrounded by album art
-CD copy of High Country in digipak packaging
-2xLP copy of High Country on limited edition “Earth & Sky” colored vinyl

 

You can follow The Sword at the following locations:

Facebook

Instagram

Twitter

http://www.theswordofficial.com/

Razor & Tie

Battlecross: New Song “Spoiled” Now Available For Streaming!

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New Battlecross song, “Spoiled” is now available for streaming (Below). The song is the first released from the upcoming album entitled “Rise To Power” which is due out on August 21st via Metal Blade. The new song starts out with this throwback 80’s style guitar riff and then jumps to a more modern thrash sound. It is the Battlecross we have all grown to love since the debut release on Metal Blade “Pursuit of Honor”. They are currently wrapping up a tour with Crowbar, and Lord Dying which will end on July 3rd in Baton Rouge. After that they will have some time off before hitting the road on Gwar’s 30 Years of Total World Domination tour with Butcher Babies.

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8/25 — Millvale, Pa. — Mr. Small’s Theater
8/27 — Des Moines, Iowa — Wooly’s
8/28 — Lincoln, Neb. — Bourbon Theater
8/30 — Lawrence, Kan. — Granada
8/31 — Tulsa, Okla. — Cain’s Ballroom
9/1 — San Antonio, Texas — Kapone’s
9/2 — Baton Rouge, La. — Varsity Theater
9/3 — Mobile, Ala. — Soul Kitchen
9/4 — Birmingham, Ala. — Iron City
9/5 — New Albany, Ind. — Rustic Frog / Befuddled Fest
9/6 — Winston-Salem, N.C. — Ziggy’s
9/8 — Wilmington, N.C. — Ziggy’s By the Sea
9/9 — Jacksonville, Fla. — Freebird Live
9/10 — Chattanooga, Tenn. — Track 29
9/11 — Sauget, Ill. — Pop’s
9/14 — Poughkeepsie, N.Y. — The Chance
9/15 — S. Burlington, Vt. — Higher Ground
9/16 — Reading, Pa. — Reverb
9/17 — Huntington, N.Y. — Paramount
9/18 — Rochester, N.Y. — Water Street Music Hall

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Cover art was completed by Hungarian artist Péter Sallai