Sunday, November 21, 2010

GLORIOUS TIMES Revised Edition Now in Print!

After MUCH tenuous effort, we are extremely proud to announce that our revised and extended edition of 'Glorious Times' is currently finished, and now in the hands of our new printer. It will be ready to ship from us at the end of November. This is not a history book, not a book like any other music book. These are the memories from those involved in the early days of the scene in their own words. The memories THEY chose to tell.

Bigger and better than before! 160 pages of massively rare and mostly unseen photographs, tied together with sentiment and reflections from the very people who lived the era - the GLORIOUS TIMES. We refused to conform to the publishers who wanted every band's story (written in THEIR words) rewritten by a third party. We refused to take out our rare pics and insert promo line-up shots as the publishers wanted. Instead we sought out other photographers from the old days and found even more never before seen pictures. At the same time we also sought out a few more bands to make this version even better. We now have added 11 bands with stories from such legends as Ron Sumers (Slaughter), Scott Peterson (Cryptic Slaughter), Eric Meyer and Jim Durkin (Dark Angel), Joe Caper (Righteous Pigs), Brian Lehfeldt and Shann Mortimer (Wehrmacht), Ross Dolan (Immolation) and also Rob Urbinati and Scott Watts (Sacrifice) among others. Included too are pictures from the personal collections of Ron Sumners, Scott Peterson, Brian Lehfeldt, Ross Dolan and a bunch of others.

In addition to the new bands every old layout has been redone using industry standard software and formats so this time there are no skewed pics, no typos, etc. Many of the original layouts that were redone also include additional never before seen pictures. The Hellwitch section also includes a new story from Jim Nickles and the Unseen Terror section includes a new story from Mick Harris.

Bands featured : Acheron, Autopsy, Baphomet, Brutality, Cannibal Corpse, Cryptic Slaughter, Dark Angel, Death, Deceased, Deicide, Derketa, Disharmonic Orchestra, Exmortis, Groovy Aardvark, Hellwitch, Hideous Mangleus, Immolation, Impetigo, Incantation, Incubus, Insanity, Lethal Aggression, Malevolent Creation, Massacre,Massappeal, Master, Morbid Angel, Napalm Death, Nocturnus, Nokturnel,Nuclear Death, Overthrow, Paineater, Possessed, Prime Evil, Revenant, Righteous Pigs, Ripping Corpse, Sacrifice, Slaughter, Soothsayer,Terrorain, Tirant Sin, Unseen Terror, Vomit, Wehrmacht and Where's ThePope?

Glorious Times can be purchased directly through us, for ordering info send an email to glorioustimesdeathbook@gmail.com and/or check out any of our sites:
www.myspace.com/glorioustimesdeathbook
www.facebook.com/pages/Glorious-Times/280760555286
www.pioneeringglorioustimes.blogspot.com

Glorious Times can also be purchased through any of these fine distributors:
CM distro www.cmdistro.com
F.O.A.D. records (Italy) www.foadrecords.it
Horror Records (Denmark) http://www.horrorrecords.com/

Friday, November 19, 2010

DIABOLIC Seeking Bassist / Vocalist

DIABOLIC have issued the following statement, following their appearance at Goregrowler's
Ball IV:

"DIABOLIC original member, Bassist/Vocalist Paul Ouellette has been ousted from the band, due to his drunken and unprofessional behavior, and walking offstage mid-song during the band's recent performance Fri, Nov 12 at Goregrowler's Ball IV in San Antonio, TX. Many of our friends and fans know that this is not our first episode dealing with Paul's drunken, often violent, destructive, and unprofessional behavior at shows. For DIABOLIC's frontman to behave in this way is inexcusable and after several warnings, we have no choice; Paul has been removed permanently from the lineup, and is no longer a member of DIABOLIC.

DIABOLIC continued to play our next several songs and finished our set without vocals, and we would like to thank all of our friends and fans who stayed to show your support, during and after our set! Many of you have said how much you enjoyed our set even without vocals, and that you respect us for finishing our set, in spite of what happened. For that we say THANK YOU!! And thank you to Goregrowler's Ball promoter, Aaron Mendiola (also vocalist of ENGAGED IN MUTILATING) for having us, and we look forward to the day when we can return to San Antonio, TX and bring you all DIABOLIC the way it was meant to be!!

Effective immediately, DIABOLIC are seeking a replacement Bassist/Vocalist. We are looking for pro gear, stage presence, and most importantly sick vocals and bass skills. We have a European Tour offer for 2011, so ability to tour is a must! Qualified applicants will live in or near the Tampa, FL area or willing to relocate. If you are interested and have what it takes, email
aantar@diabolic-deathmetal.com

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

DARK DESCENT Records to Release GRAVE RITUAL Debut LP + New Releases from the Label

Nine new heinous hymns from Alabama's resident death metal maniacs, Euphoric Hymns from the Altar of Death is Grave Ritual's full-potential realized on this murky and oppressive debut album. The long player is limited to 500 copies (100 on maroon vinyl, 100 fire orange & black, and 300 black). The LPs come with reverse board printed jackets, an 18" x 24" poster, and double-sided insert.

Dark Descent Records has set a December 15th release date and pre-orders are being taken now at http://www.darkdescent.net/
Unconsecrated 7"s are shipping.- The green vinyl is dwindling in numbers.

Three cassette tapes are now at press. Anguish - Dawn of Doom demo pro tape. Swedish doom metal featuring members of Veternus and Graveless
www.myspace.com/anguishdoommetal

Morbo - Eternal City of the Dead demo pro tape. Autopsy-ish death metal from Italy.
www.myspace.com/morbodeathmetal


Mandatory - In Torment demo comp tape. Two early demos compiled onto one new tape!
www.myspace.com/mandatory1989


Decrepitaph/Eternal Solstice 7". - New material from purveyors of old school cavernous death metal Decrepitaph and first Eternal Solstice recording in 13 years!
www.myspace.com/decrepitaph


Skeleton Plague Records Stock Absorption. With Skeleton Plague Records closing its virtual doors Dark Descent Records has absorbed its stock of over 300 titles.

Visit http://www.darkdescent.net/

Thursday, November 11, 2010

THE GATES OF SLUMBER Recording New Album + Tour Dates

Celebrated “True Heavy Metal band” THE GATES OF SLUMBER will enter England’s Orgone Studios with producer Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Angel Witch) later this month to lay down tracks for its forthcoming new album. The follow up to the Indianapolis trio’s critically acclaimed LP Hymns of Blood and Thunder will see a spring, 2011 release via Rise Above Records.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER recently announced the addition of new drummer, “Cool Clyde” Paradis into its ranks. A New Orleans native and Hurricane Katrina survivor, Paradis joins THE GATES OF SLUMBER hot off stints in Sourvein, Substance Abuse and the New Orleans blues act T-bone and The Rhythm Makers.

"The new music is taking on a more troglodyte doom metal feel," exclaimed THE GATES OF SLUMBER front man / guitarist Karl Simon. "With Clyde now in the band, the feel of things was bound to change; he's not only a different drummer, but from a totally different school of thought with regards to the drums. It's no secret that Saint Vitus' shuddering doom crawl was the root that inspired this band and we'd both felt that over three albums we'd taken the raw epic feel as far as we could. Now, it’s time to get back to basics, shed some of the bulk and get ugly again. No warriors this time, no acoustic guitars, no keyboards, no lofty Nietzschean ideals. Just black bile and a bit of the old “white magic; black magic."

THE GATES OF SLUMBER is currently in the midst of a European tour as hand-picked support for legendary doom rock band Cathedral. The trek will run through November 20 in Paris, France. Additionally, THE GATES OF SLUMBER has been confirmed as one of the featured acts for the 2011 Roadburn Festival, set to take place April 14-16 in Tilburg, Holland.

Weaned on Black Sabbath, St. Vitus, the melodic might of Iron Maiden and a host of classic bands from Thin Lizzy to Rainbow to Mercyful Fate, THE GATES OF SLUMBER draws deep from heavy metal's most powerful blood and delivers doom metal in its purest form. The band has been called “a breath of fresh air within the doom / true metal underground.” The trio’s powerful songwriting and instrumental skull-crushing is heavy and chillingly bleak in an almost unrelenting way that hasn't been heard since Judas Priest's heyday (Sad Wings of Destiny, Sin After Sin, etc.). Displaying a powerful focus and direction, THE GATES OF SLUMBER is at once powerfully compelling, tight in its grooves and unrivaled in its sheer power.

In addition to Simon and Paradis, THE GATES OF SLUMBER features bassist Jason McCash.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER tour dates:
 November 11 Pratteln, Switzerland Z7
November 12 München, Germany Backstage
November 13 Pinarella di Cervia, Italy Rock Planet
November 14 Rome, Italy Init Club
November 17 Madrid, Spain Heinekin
November 18 Barcelona, Spain Razzmatazz 2
November 19 Belfort, France La Pouderie
November 20 Paris, France La Nouveau Casino

Did Paul Speckman join The Gates of Slumber?

POOBAH Supports Let Me In Re-Issue By Pounding the Pavement‏

Jim Gustafson will be leading Poobah down the rock n’ roll highway in support of the re-issue of Let Me In (Ripple Music) throughout the rest of 2010 and well into 2011. With the first pressing of the album almost sold out, Gustafson is doing what all musicians should be doing to generate greater support for the record by working the only way that he knows how . . . playing the stuff live!

“It is deep in my blood to keep doing what I love, and after decades of playing in bands, it still excites me to perform,” explains Gustafson when asked what keeps him going after all this time, “I have a passionate love for playing guitar, singing, and writing songs. That’s what has driven me on. I am still inspired to be the best I can be.”

It’s remarkable that in an industry notorious for chewing up and spitting out the weak that this musician, without the commercial success of his peers, is still going after forty years. With ten albums, thousands of live performances, and countless boxes of unreleased material under his belt, Jim Gustafson is celebrating a life-long career with Poobah by bringing the party to as many who’ll take the time to listen. Over the course of four decades, Poobah has shared stages and hobnobbed with the likes of The Who, Canned Heat, Judas Priest, and ZZ Top to name but a few, and Gustafson has the unlikely distinction of performing at the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame more than any other artist.

11/13/2010 Wilbert’s – Cleveland, OH  w/ Euporia
11/20/2010 YSU U-PIE – Youngstown, OH  w/ special guests
11/26/2010 Greenville Moose – Greenville, PA
12/11/2010 Nicolozakes Café – Fairpoint, OH
12/17/2010 Eagle’s Nest – St. Marys, WV
01/14/2011 Grandview Tavern – New Matamoras, OH
01/21/2011 Wrangler Tavern – Whipple, OH
01/29/2011 Marrieta Brewing Co. – Marietta, OH

More dates to be added soon!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

ENFORCER Involved in Bus Crash in Sweden


Swedish heavy metallers Enforcer have been involved in a serious bus crash while on tour in their homeland.

The band, who are on tour in Europe supporting Australian hard rockers Airbourne, were travelling from Oslo to Stockholm in a snowstorm at around 3:00am on the morning of 10th November and were near their hometown of Arvika when their vehicle skidded on ice, crossed over to the other side of the road and experienced a head-on collision with a snow-plough.

Enforcer guitarists Adam Zaars and Joseph Tholl, bassist Tobias Lindqvist and the band's driver were battered and bruised, but miraculously all survived the crash with only minor injuries. A county police officer at the scene said, "They had a guardian angel".

The band's vehicle was destroyed in the accident, but their equipment, which was in a trailer attached to the vehicle, was luckily unscathed. Enforcer Olof Wikstrand and drummer Jonas Wikstrand were travelling in a separate car at the time and were not involved in the crash.

The band have regretfully been forced to cancel their appearances tonight in Sweden and on the 12th and 13th November in Finland and will be using the time to recuperate and recover from the nerve-wracking incident. They will resume the tour on 16th November in Berlin, Germany.

Enforcer have posted the following comment:

"We're all alive and well but we're really sorry to cancel the gigs in Stockholm, Tampere and Helsinki. We're working really hard to get back on the road again soon!"

CAULDRON Reveals BURNING FORTUNE Album Cover

Toronto bashers Cauldron recently finished recording their upcoming new album, titled Burning Fortune, in the band's hometown.

Cauldron recorded Burning Fortune, the follow-up to their critically acclaimed 2009 debut album, Chained To The Nite, at Rogue Studios in Toronto, Canada. The album is due to be released by Earache Records on February 14th, 2011.

The album cover for Burning Fortune features British model Lora Leigh, who also appeared on the Chained To The Nite artwork.
Check out a new video with Cauldron frontman Jason Decay talking about the concept of Burning Fortune, along with a clip of a brand new song, at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lko47_Gzwo

Catch CAULDRON live:
03 Dec 2010 - Toronto, Canada - Poor Alex Theater

Once again Cauldron lower the bar as far as awful artwork is concerned.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

THRILL JOCKEY Welcomes LITURGY!

New Record Coming In April 2011.

Launch Fall Tour.

Thrill Jockey is very pleased to announce that Brooklyn's transcendental black metal band Liturgy, have signed to Thrill Jockey. Liturgy's music is an ecstatic affirmation of becoming. It is an assault on the floating malaise of contemporary information-age life. The ebb and flow of their churning, swarming rhythms and melodies both models and fosters the eternal flux. Their Thrill Jockey debut is slated for release in Spring of 2011.

Tour Dates

11/10 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie
11/11 Richmond, VA Gallery 5
11/12 Charlotte, NC Snug Harbor
11/13 Asheville, NC Broadways
11/14 Athens, GA Farm 255
11/15 Atlanta, GA The Earl
11/16 Nashville, TN The End
11/17 Knoxville, TN Pilot Light
11/18 Raleigh, NC Kings Barcade
11/19 Washington, DC Comet Ping Pong
11/20 Baltimore, MD Golden West Café
12/03 Brooklyn, NY Acheron
12/09 Brooklyn, NY Glasslands

Their debut album Renihilation topped many 2009 year-end lists including those of Stereogum, Pop Matters, Impose, and the Village Voice.

Expect the next Burzum record via Sub Pop Records.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

HYPNOTIC DIRGE RECORDS - Free Compilation 2010

To celebrate two-years of activity for Hypnotic Dirge Records we are releasing an extensive compilation album on November 7th, 2010 which will include audio, video, text, and visual components. The entire album has been created with a strong attention to detail and a working theme throughout. Within the compilation comes audio tracks exclusive to the compilation by some high-profile guests, some previously released HDR material, some upcoming stuff from future releases, as well as three music video premieres, some essays and short stories, and complete album artwork with a full theme, and notes from the artists and contributors. An extensive piece of work comprising many hours of work from many dedicated artists in multi-disciplinary fields. Make sure you are here to download to album for FREE on November 7th, 2010.


I - The Foetal Mind - Big Crunch
II - Funereal - Of That Which Lies Beneath...
III - Funeral Fornication - Stargates Eternal Beheld My Nightmares
IV - Exiled From Light - We Writhe As Worms
V - netra - Outside...Alone
VI - Ancient Tundra - The Shimmering Radiance of a Thousands Stars
VII - Njiqahdda - Nji taaevaasti vortaa est flaami
VIII - Neige et Noirceur - Croix de Feu, Croix de Fer
IX - Funeral in Heaven - Bhandhana
X - Autaric - Cremation Divine
XI - Old Forgotten Lands - Hour of the Wolf

XII - netra - La Page (Music Video)
XIII - Njiqahdda - Nji taaevaasti vortaa est flaami (Music Video)
XIV - Old Forgotten Lands - Hour of the Wolf (Music Video)
XV - The Foetal Mind - La Corde Rouge (Music Video)
XVI - Exiled From light - There is no beauty left here...(Promo Video)
XVII - The Foetal Mind - The Grand Contraction (Promo Video)
Text
XVIII -'The Origin of Values' Essay by: N. Skog
XIX -'The Bleak House' Short story by: Vultyrous
XX -'Nji taaevaasti vortaa est flaami' by: Njiqahdda

A note about the album:The 2010 edition of the annual Hypnotic Dirge Records compilation series is being released to commemorate two years of activity as a record label. Once again we are offering this album as a free download to showcase a unique and diverse group of black metal artists from a variety of different sub-genres. This year's edition has been named "Melancholic Epiphony (The Trance Formation is Shattered) Within the album, you will find a total of 11 tracks - 8 of which are from Hypnotic Dirge Records roster artists, offering a glimpse into past HDR releases, as well as a look towards some future HDR material. Asides from that, we are also featuring three diverse and respected guest artists on this compilation album - Funeral in Heaven, Njiqahdda, and Autaric. Also as a bonus on this year's compilation, we are also including some music videos as well, including the premiere of netra's first-ever music video for the track 'La Page' , the premiere of Old Forgotten Lands' 'Hour of the Wolf' video, and an exclusive video premiere from the mighty Njiqahdda.

As an addendum to the audio and video portions of this release, there is also three essays/short stories to accompany the album focusing on a variety of different topics both fiction, and non-fiction, as well as a complete 8 page booklet focusing on the larger theme of this compilation. Our desire was to release a compilation album that truly covered 4 different aspects of art: Audio, Video, Text, and Visual and we are pleased to showcase the works of a variety of different artists!

Over the past year, Hypnotic Dirge Records has evolved to become a more metal-based record label with less ambient artists on its roster, and more metal-based releases on the way. (see: netra, The Foetal Mind, Funeral Fornication, Neige et Noirceur, etc.) and this compilation is also an indication on the evolution of HDR. Of course, we will still be releasing ambient music as well, and most of our artists have an ambient edge to their music, but this compilation is a good example of the balance we strive to meet musically.
I would like to thank all of the contributors to this year's compilation for their dedication to this project, Marc Hoyland for his many hours of work on this compilation's artwork, and being able to transform my ideas for the theme of this record into perfectly constructed artwork. Asides from that, I'd also like to thank labels, promoters, reviewers, and fans for obvious reasons.

Eleven tracks from a diverse group of black metal artists - some of which are exclusive to the compilation, and some of which provide a preview towards future releases. Three brand new video premieres among a collection of videos, three unique and distinct text pieces/essays and a complete 8 page digital booklet featuring notes and insight into the songs from most of the artists themselves. And it's free!

Download this compilation, tell your friends, post the link on your myspace, facebook or twitter, upload the songs onto youtube. Post the download link on forums, post the album on your blogspot, burn a copy of it and give it to friends, review the album for your webzine/magazine, and play it on your radio show!

~Skog
HDR

Say thanks you Bastards!!!!!

SHE IS A DELICATE FLOWER

CANNIBAL CORPSE Release Guitar Tab Book; Kick-Off East Coast US Tour

Fans have been asking Cannibal Corpse how they play their songs for years. Finally, musicians and fans alike will now be able to see exactly how some of the most intense death metal is played in a new tab book from Cannibal Corpse! The new tab book, published by Hal Leonard, transcribes thirteen Cannibal Corpse fan favorites, including: Devoured by Vermin, Frantic Disembowelment, I Will Kill You, Make Them Suffer, Pit of Zombies, Staring Through the Eyes of the Dead, Vomit the Soul, The Wretched Spawn, and more. The 128-page book is available now at these links: halleonard.com, amazon.com, musicdispatch.com, and at your local music retailer. If your local music store carries tab books and doesn't have this in stock – make sure to ask for it!

Don't miss Cannibal Corpse on tour starting November 5th with Dying Fetus, Vital Remains and Devourment!


CANNIBAL CORPSE Tour brought to you by BC Rich, Metal Blade Records, Good Fight Entertainment, and Relapse Records
With Dying Fetus, Vital Remains, and Devourment

11/05 Wilmington, NC The Soapbox Laundrolounge
11/06 Charleston, SC Charleston Oasis
11/07 Birmingham, AL Zydeco
11/08 Memphis, TN New Daisy Theater
11/09 Nashville, TN Exit In
11/10 Lexington, KY Buster's
11/11 East St. Louis, MO Pop's
11/12 Des Moines, IA People's Court
11/13 Grand Rapids, MI The Intersection
11/14 Madison, WI The Annex
11/16 Columbus, OH Skully's
11/17 Williamsville, NY Infinity
11/18 Cleveland, OH Peabody's
11/19 New York, NY Santos Party House
11/20 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
11/21 Washington DC Rock & Roll Hotel
11/22 Asheville, NC The Orange Peel

Monday, November 1, 2010

MINDFLEX Sucks, Don't Fall for It

Allow me to take this short minute to bitch. I recently was told to watch a commercial concerning a toy that, well, is going to fucking suck. It's apparently been around for almost a year, but I can see them getting ready to pounce on the public with this trash for Christmas. DON'T FALL FOR THIS SHIT:

Really, do you think we're going to go for this? I don't even have to purchase this dreck to know it's ineffective. Mindflex is being touted as the "next big thing", and it's only one big thing and that's a big pile of shit. The picture here shows you the basic idea. By using "mind control", you can move a ball through a variety of obstacles like tubes, hoops, and so forth. By concentrating, you move the ball, or so they say. Check out a video on the official site by clicking here

If you watch, you'll notice they're quite slippery about how they approach the advertisement. First you're given popping text that suggests you're going to be "using your mind" to operate the device. KEWL. Then you'll see all this shit about how you're going to be AMAZED (text twitching) with people looking absolutely psyched to use it. But wait a minute, hmmm, what the fuck are their hands doing? Look closely around 42 seconds in that video. HAHAHAHAHAHA!

Really, come on you assholes! The only flexing going on here is with your fingers. Granted, the machine actually is reading your concentration according to what I've read, but THAT'S FUCKING IT. In fact, several reviews online are suggesting this thing is just measuring contractions on your forehead or something just as stupid. By "concentrating", you can cause the ball to rise or fall, but that's all you're capable of doing. To get it to move throughout the course, you turn a small nob on the front that causes the FUCKING AIR VENTS under the ball to rotate so the ball "moves" around the various obstacles. What a fucking joke, and apparently people have been complaining it comes with no instructions and requires fucking C batteries to work. The bulk of the video revolves around "testimonials" of people using it and saying how awesome it is, but about 3/4 through you'll witness the actual explanation of how it works for a very abrupt moment. This is a joke, DON'T FALL FOR IT. Don't give them money! MAKE SURE MIND FLEX FAILS THIS CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!

Gimmicks like this are a dime a dozen, but this one is a bit disengenuous. No, that's being nice, it's a plain fucking rip off. The TV commercial is even worse because it barely explains the actual function, so it's clear they're banking on kids being like GIVE ME BUY GIVE BUY ME GIVE, and parents responding YES WILL BUY CHRISTMAS BUY COOL SOUNDS BUY. It sucks, don't give it a second, and save your kids from it before they learn too soon how disappointing life is. Watch the video and get a clue, Atari was thinking about doing something similar years ago but gave up the venture for a reason. Don't believe me? Read about it all by clicking here. Do yourself and everyone else a favor, spread the hate.