GOATSNAKE RELEASES "BLACK AGE BLUES" + STREAM

Stoner doom metal band Goatsnake releases their new album "Black Age Blues". Here is the press release:

GOATSNAKE’s mighty first LP to see release in fifteen years, "Black Age Blues", is available now worldwide through Southern Lord Recordings! In stores now, the crushing album is also streaming in its entirety, as the band continues their European tour in support of their thunderous new works.

Amidst the waves of press that has been rolling in on Black Age Blues ahead of its release, A.V. says the album is, “an undeniable reminder that GOATSNAKE is doom royalty,” and in a review of the early single, “Elevated Man,” the Chicago Reader issues, “they make it clear that nothing has changed in their absence: heavy-as-hell, monster guitar riffs channel Tony Iommi’s best, and the bridge is topped off with a rough-around-the-edges harmonica solo… maximum volume is highly recommended.” The Obelisk brought a massive slab of praise to the album, offering in part, “on paper the patterns are simple, but what the band does with them is nothing short of breathtaking, even aside from the simple appeal the album carries with it for fans through the simple fact of its existence. Sounds like hyperbole, but the blessings Black Age Blues bestows are not to be undervalued either for their heaviness or the individual presence at work behind them, and five years after their first reunion set, 15 years after their last album, GOATSNAKE may be the most vital they’ve ever been.” LA Weekly, in an interview with guitarist Greg Anderson on the album, included, “Whether it’s because of the aforementioned life experiences or simply because their skills as musicians and songwriters are better honed, Black Age Blues is the most substantial release of GOATSNAKE’s career. Musically, there is more of an infectious blues edge to their take on the classic Sabbath blueprint… GOATSNAKE’s heavy rock is more palatable on Black Age Blues than on previous efforts.”

Black Age Blues on CD, 2xLP in a Stoughton gatefold jacket with two exclusive bonus tracks and more can be ordered at the new Goatsnake store, and the album is available digitally via BandCamp and iTunes.

GOATSNAKE’s Black Age Blues closes a fifteen-year gap between full-length albums from the revered act, without a doubt making it one of the most highly anticipated doom/metal releases of 2015. With nearly fifty minutes of their most soulful yet boisterous material to date, the quartet expands their already mammoth tones and pummeling rock riffs with a variety of additional influences and elements, and guest contributions from a variety of players including David Pajo (Slint, Aerial M, Papa M) and soul vocal trio Dem Preacher’s Daughters, comprised of Wendy Moten, Gale Mayes and Andrea Merrit. Black Age Blues is an instant classic, with each one of the nine songs an anthem, and each of the four members of GOATSNAKE in top form. Everything is magnified; the vocals of Pete Stahl (Scream) vocals have never sounded so powerful, the rhythm section comprised of Greg Rogers (The Obsessed) on drums and Scott Renner on bass is the driving force on each track, and the riffs of guitarist Greg Anderson (SunnO))), Southern Lord Recordings) are heavier than ever before. Recorded and mixed at Rock Falcon Franklin, Tennessee by Nick Raskulinecz (Queens Of The Stone Age, Foo Fighters, Alice In Chains, Mastodon, Rush) and mastered by Brian Big Bass Gardner (N.W.A., Stevie Wonder, Parliament), the production values of Black Age Blues back the top-notch musicianship, creating a seriously unstoppably entertaining album.

NOISEM RELEASES "BLOSSOMING DECAY" ON VINYL

Baltimore, Maryland death thrash metal band Noisem will release their latest album "Blossoming Decay" on vinyl on June 6th. The album is the band´s second album and was released on april tis year "Blossoming Decay" is the follow up to the band´s debut album "Agony Defined" released in 2013 and the "Consumed" EP released in 2014. The new album will be released through A 389 Recordings as the CD edition. "Blossoming Decay" features the folowing tracks:

1. Trail of Perturbation

2. Burning

3. 1132

4. Replant and Repress

5. Hostile End - Hollow Life

6. Cascade of Scars

7. Another Night Sleeping in the Cold

8. Graining Enamel

9. Blossoming of the Web

DYSTROPHY RELEASES "WRETCHED HOST"

New Brunswick, New Jersey technical death metal band Dystrophy will release their new album "Wretched Host" on June 6th. The new album is the second full length release in the band´s career and the follow up to their "Chains of Hypocrisy" debut album released in 2010 and the split with Dethroned Emperor released in 2012. The album was tracked and mixed at One Stone Recording Studio and Mastered at West West Side Music. "Wretched Host" will be released independently and will feature the following tracks:

1. Apex

2. Singularity

3. Within the Mind

4. Exoparasite

5. Wretched Host

6. Demise

7. Anhedonia

8. Nadir

VALLENDUSK RELEASES "HOMEWARD PATH"

Indonesian atmospheric black metal band Vallendusk will release their new album, entitled "Homeward Path" on June 5th. The new album is the second full length release in the band´s career and the follow up to their "Black Clouds Gathering" album released in 2013. "Homeward Path" will be released through Northern Silence Productions in a limited edition of 900 copies. "Homeward Path" will feature the following tracks:

1. Windswept Plain

2. Earth Serpent

3. The Anchors

4. The Wayfarers

5. Ring of Fire

6. Eyes of the Watcher 

7. Grains of Horizon

POSSESSION RELEASES "1585-1646" EP

Belgian black death metal band Possession will release a new EP entitled "1585-1646" on June 5th. The new EP is the band´s fourth release and the follow up to their "Anneliese" EP released in 2014 and their split with Swamp, Occult Burial, Beastiality, Spite and Throaat. The EP will be released through Iron Bonehead Productions on vinyl and through Invictus Productions on CD. "1585-1646" features the following tracklist:

1. Obscurity - Visitation 

2. Ceremony  

3. Guilty  

4. Ablaze

MANIAC RELEASES "VERMIN HELL"

Spanish thrash speed metal band Maniac will release their new album, entitled "Vermin Hell" on June 5th. "Vermin Hell" is the debut full length release by the band and the follow up to their "Black Legion" EP released in 2013. The album was recorded live at Bunker 13 and mixed and mastered by Gonzalo "Toxic Lord" Vivero at Hangar 18. "Vermin Hell" will be released through Blackseed Productions and will feature the following tracks:

1. Maniac  

2. High Speed Metal  

3. Sordid Deceiver  

4. Carrion Feast  

5. Sired by Cold  

6. Rising Hell  

7. Hellhound  

8. Howl Is the Sign  

9. Blood to Rot  

10. Horrid Grave

TEMPLE OF DAGON STREAMS TRACK FROM NEW ALBUM

Here is the promotion release for Temple of Dagon´s new album:

"With the official unveiling of their Revelations Of The Spirit EP now just one week away, today West Coast crust collective, TEMPLE OF DAGON, unleashes the final movement of their four-track journey with “Nexus Of Reality,” now playing at Cvlt Nation.

Based on the life and times of central character, the Horrid King, Revelations Of The Spirit is a cleansing of sorts – rich, scathing and continually illuminating. A soundtrack to self-loathing, self-reflection, self-acceptance and self-love. “The song is loosely based on the H.P. Lovecraft story, The Colour Out Of Space,” elaborates vocalist Dwane Burgess of the latest track teaser, “The location has been switched to a swamp. In my version of the story, the main character consumes the infected plant and wildlife. Then while floating in the river his mind begins to drift as the effects of the altered plants and meat take hold. While in a trance-like state, he realizes who he once was, and who he wants to be. It’s about self-reflection,” he continues. “There are moments in life when we are gifted with absolute clarity. This is one of those moments. As far as the music, we were shooting for a metal punk/crust feel, like Inepsy meets Stormcrow with a hint of Bolt Thrower.”

Adds Cvlt Nation, “TEMPLE OF DAGON’s basslines are mammoth and filled with caustic fury, and they get me hyped with each listen. I can’t forget the apocalyptic riffs dipped in the blood of our downpressors that offer the perfect backdrop for the off-the-chain vocals… In crust we trust…”

In conjunction with the release, TEMPLE OF DAGON will raze the stages of a dozen cities beginning with an official record release show on June 6th. 

Influenced by ’90s-era crust, stenchcore, death metal, thrash, and Lovecraftian lore, TEMPLE OF DAGON was forged in 2009 and quickly reaped an underground following with the release of their clobbering Book Of Azathoth EP. Following a glut of shows and various personnel changes, the band went on to record and self-release their 2010 debut, Rituals Of The Deep. Further blending their crust, punk, thrash, and death metal roots with a heavy dose of d-beat and blasts, the record earned further adulation from hordes in the know with Thrash Head commending the band’s, “pure fucking brutality,” further offering, “this is not only energetic and angry, but even aesthetically melodic with bridging riffs in all the right places! And the vocal dueling going down is heavy, aggressive protestation…This is truly sick!”

Revelations Of The Spirit was captured by Alex Estrada (Xibalba, Touche Amore, Silver Snakes et al) at Earth Capital Studios in Los Angeles, California and mastered by Dan Randall (Cannabis Corpse, Iron Reagan, Fucked Up et al) at Mammoth Sound in Alameda, California, and is a pure and menacing manifestation of audio punishment.

Revelations Of The Spirit will be unleashed on June 9th, 2015 digitally and on 10″ vinyl via Black Voodoo Records. "

MEGIDDO DELIVERS "THE HOLOCAUST MESSIAH"

Canadian black thrash metal band Megiddo will release their new album, entitled "The Holocaust Messiah" on June 3rd. The new album is the band´s third full length release and the follow up to their "The Atavism of Evil" album released in 2002. The band also released three split releases in 2003 and a compilation in 2014. "The Holocaust Messiah" will be released through Barbarian Wrath Records and will feature the following tracks:

1. Intro

2. Tombs

3. Onslaught Eternal  

4. Fourth Seal

5. Spawn Of Abel

6. Walpurgisnacht

7. Thrall

8. The Holocaust Messiah

9. Outro

LOCRIAN STREAMS TRACK FROM NEW ALBUM

Here is the promotion statement:

Chicago/Baltimore-based avant black/industrial experimental trio, LOCRIAN, has issued “An Index Of Air,” the first single from their impending Infinite Dissolution LP.

Amidst their nearly two-dozen releases over the past decade, "Infinite Dissolution" will mark LOCRIAN’s second album for the diverse Relapse roster as it hits the street in late July, amidst the band’s celebration of its tenth anniversary. One of the most determined tracks on Infinite Dissolution, the nearly eight-minute-long “An Index Of Air” is subdivided into three movements — i. Divinations, ii. Air Structures, iii. and Watcher Of The Clouds — the track encompassing the apex of the record. The track delivers a permeating vision of our planet in environmental peril, as does the rest of the album, which is inspired by the book, “The Sixth Extinction,” a futurist look at the current mass extinction of Earth which our generation attempts to thrive within every day. LOCRIAN is here joined by Dana Schechter of Insect Ark on slide guitar and Erica Burgner-Hannum of The Holy Circle on vocals, whose contributions help shape the segments of the song.

Issues LOCRIAN on the intense track, “’An Index Of Air’ was written as a three part suite with the first part, ‘Divinations,’ being the calling forth of the atmosphere and trying to read the future from it. ‘Air Structures’ takes its name from a Brian Eno/Robert Fripp live bootleg but is a narrative about the realization that the air being called forth will kill us and that we have brought this on ourselves. And ‘Watcher Of The Clouds’ is a play on the Genesis song ‘Watcher Of The Skies,’ but is also the shift in narrative voice where we predict a new atmosphere must be formed after humanity is extinct.”

The soundtrack to the planet’s ongoing collapse comes by way of LOCRIAN’s “An Index Of Air” playing through Relapse Records’ Soundcloud HERE and YouTube HERE.

Infinite Dissolution, another dark and cinematic work of exceptional aural artistry from LOCRIAN’s André Foisy, Terence Hannum and Steven Hess, presents nearly fifty minutes of material more epic and foreboding than anything in the trio’s extensive catalog. Recorded at Steve Albini-owned/operated Electrical Audio in Chicago, produced by Greg Norman (Pelican, Russian Circles), mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege, and with artwork based on a massive installation by sculptor David Altmejd, Infinite Dissolution is a multi-part concept album dealing with the struggle of human extinction; a seamless and harrowing blend of dark ambience, drone, black metal, post-rock, and power electronics, and the perfect manifestation of modern, forward-thinking experimental music.

Infinite Dissolution will see North American release on July 24th, 2015 on CD, vinyl and digital formats.

SKINLESS STREAMS "ONLY THE RUTHLESS REMAINS" ALBUM

Skinless are streaming their new album "Only the Ruthless Remains" in its entirety on Decibel Magazine. Below is the press release:

"On the eve of its official North American detonation, today the head-crushers at Decibel Magazine spew forth SKINLESS‘ "Only The Ruthless Remain" full-length in its debilitating entirety!

Featuring their iconic, late ’90s lineup of founding guitarist Noah Carpenter, vocalist Sherwood Webber, bassist Joe Keyser and drummer Bob Beaulac, with the recent addition of second guitarist, Dave Matthews, Only The Ruthless Remain marks the band’s first proper full-length offering in nearly a decade and has been reaping the adulation of critics both stateside and abroad.

Offers Decibel of the release: “The weak have been trampled, the dead hurdled, and now Glens Falls’ preeminent gorehound sickos are back where they should be: tearing open the pit and your face simultaneously.”

Sample "Only The Ruthless Remain" in all its sadistic glory, now playing at Decibel HERE.

Only The Ruthless Remain was captured by Tom Case at Edie Road Studio and Doomsday Bunker Studio, both in upstate New York, with vocals tracked by Dave Otero (Cephalic Carnage, Primitive Man etc.) at Flatline Audio in Denver, Colorado, and the entire slab of audio violence mastered by Brad Boatright (Obituary, Nails, Integrity etc.) at Audiosiege in Portland, Oregon. The record includes artwork by Ken Sarafin and will be unleashed on CD, LP and digitally via Relapse Records on June 2nd, 2015 in North America. Limited Relapse 25 Year Anniversary editions of the CD and LP will also be available. "