Record Store Day has become an audiophile’s Christmas. The now annual event has spread worldwide to become a day where bands and record labels put out special vinyl releases including colored vinyl, exclusives, and picture discs. This year’s Record Store Day will be held on April 20.
One notable release is Earache Records’ The World’s Shortest Album, which features 13 songs in 83 seconds. Of course, bands like Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Anal Cunt and more are included.
A list of metal and hard-rock releases are below:
- All That Remains – Fall Of Ideals 12”
- Avenged Sevenfold – Live In The LBC & Diamonds In The Rough 12”
- Avenged Sevenfold – Carry On Picture Disc
- Between The Buried And Me – Parallax 1 & 2 Vinyl Boxset
- Between The Buried And Me – The Anatomy Of 12”
- Botch – American Nervoso (deluxe 2xLP)
- Coheed And Cambria – The Afterman: Descension (Big Beige Demos) 12”
- Deep Purple/Type-O Negative – Side by Side: Highway Star 7”
- Deftones – Live: Volume 1 – Selections from Adrenaline 12”
- Dio – Magica Picture Disc
- Dio/Killswitch Engage – Side by Side: Holy Diver 7”
- Katatonia – Buildings 7”
- Lamb Of God – New American Gospel (Grey Marble Edition) 12”
- Linkin Park – Hybrid Theory 12”
- Misfits/The Lemonheads – Side By Side: Skulls Picture Disc
- Puscifer – V is for Vagina 12”
- Soundgarden – King Animal Demos 10”
- Testament – Dark Roots Covers Picture Disc 7″
- Touche Amore/Title Fight – Split 7″
- Rob Zombie – Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown/ Teenage Nosferatu Pussy (Explicit Only) 10”
You can find more information about Record Store Day here.
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Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Sean Parkinson (pictured left), guitarist of the heavy-metal band West of Hell, selects his faves.
5. 3 Inches of Blood, Long Live Heavy Metal
“These guys are awesome. Tight sound on this record. They have a ‘good times’ vibe throughout, with classic riffing. Nods to their heroes like Dio, Thin Lizzy, and Maiden are cool. Manowar couldn’t have come up with a better title themselves.”
4. Testament, Dark Roots of Earth
“Testament are thrash-metal legends. This album is an inspiring piece of work. If you’re a Testament fan, you love this. If you’re a thrash fan, you love this. If you don’t love this, go away.”
3. West of Hell, Spiral Empire
“Well, I gotta pick this one! Not just because it’s my album, but OK, mainly because it’s my album! I’m stoked this is out and that we are working on the next one now. This album is great because it represents years of hard work and determination from a band that shifted to the other side of the planet just to be able to complete the lineup.”
2. Sinate, To the Death
“OK, again, not just picking this one because I used to be in this band. I was stoked when I got my hands on this record. The usual heavy/catchy brand of thrash/death metal from the Sheppard brothers, but with a more mature feel. Awesome.”
1, Cannibal Corpse, Torture
“Same high production levels as the last couple of records with Erik Rutan at the helm. Same relentless, bludgeoning, classic death-metal songs. Same gory artwork. There’s just something about keeping things consistent. Love Cannibal Corpse. Love this album.”
Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Cristiano Trionfera (pictured left), guitarist of the symphonic death-metal band Fleshgod Apocalypse, selects his faves.
5. Aborted, Global Flatline
“This is a powerful album and it goes back to what Aborted sounded like some records before. Love it.”
4. Testament, Dark Roots of Earth
“They made it again. It is amazing how you have the chance to listen to Testament new stuff and enjoy it as much as the great old ones. They will always stay among the big ones and this album still sounds fresh.”
3. Enslaved, RIITIIR
“Love the way they create their atmosphere. I enjoyed their previous album very much and so I do for this one.”
2. Cannibal Corpse, Torture
“Cannibal Corpse are one of those bands you could never get bored with. The point is, they write pretty much always the same music and it is always awesome.”
1. Moonspell, Alpha Noir/Omega White
“It has taken a few Moonspell albums to make my attention go back on them. This is a great album, and they are really good live, which adds a lot nowadays to the process of enjoying the music.”
Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Heri Joensen (pictured left), vocalist-guitarist of the pagan-metal band Týr, selects his faves.
5. Jürghinn, The Proof Is Evidence
“Because they have so much attitude.”
4. Orden Ogan, To the End
“A very good development for this band. Strong melodies, good sound, and good songwriting.”
3. Rage, 21
“Very impressive musicianship and songwriting!”
2. Testament, Dark Roots of Earth
“Even better than its predecessor, and that’s saying a lot.”
1. Wintersun, Time I
“It’s probably the best release ever in any genre. This sort of music has never been done before. Here, it’s done over the top in almost all ways thinkable.”
At Revolver, we are bringing this year to a close and making lists like we’re starring in a metal version of High Fidelity. Our January issue of Revolver (on newsstands now) features our Top 20 Albums of the Year. Online, we have posts and polls (like Best Music Videos), as well as a tribute to some musical heroes we lost this year.
In the meantime, we’re asking you to choose 2012′s Song of the Year. We’ve put together a list of the biggest and baddest songs in hard rock and heavy metal below; all you have to do is pick the best. And feel free to vote as many times as you want–until the poll ends on January 1.
UPDATE: The poll is closed. For the results, click right here.
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Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Richard Christy (pictured left), drummer of Charred Walls of the Damned, selects his faves.
5. Death, Vivus
“This album brings back so many great memories for me. Some of the best times in my life were touring with Chuck and the guys in Death, and I’m soooo proud of our performance on this album!”
4. Lamb of God, Resolution
“I’ve been friends with these guys for many years and even got to jam with them at a soundcheck in Canada in 2004. Great guys and an equally great album.”
3. Testament, Dark Roots of Earth
“I had the pleasure of jamming with Alex Skolnick at the Death to All show in NYC this year and it was truly an honor. I’ve been a fan of Testament since the mid ’80s and their new album is amazing!”
2. Cannibal Corpse, Torture
“I’ve been a Cannibal Corpse fan since I lived in Kansas in the early 90s, and they’re like the AC/DC of heavy metal–they stay true to their sound and their albums always rule.”
1. Coheed and Cambria, The Afterman: Ascension
“Pretty much my favorite band ever. This album is a masterpiece and I’ve listened to it at least once every day since it came out!”
Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, vocalist JR Hayes (pictured far right) and guitarist Scott Hull (pictured second from left) of the grindcore band Pig Destroyer, select their faves.
JR Hayes:
5. Haarp, Husks
“More subtle and moody than their ultra brutal debut. This one took a while to grow on me, but now I’m hooked. Shaun Emmons has one of the most intense roars in all of extreme music.”
4. Testament, Dark Roots of Earth
“A powerful and triumphant statement from these thrash metal lifers. The riffs, the leads, the drumming, the production, even the artwork–this record kills it all the way around.”
3. Author & Punisher, Ursus Americanus
“Just when I thought I’d heard it all, here comes Author & Punisher to blow mind into a thousand pieces. If an evil super computer started a metal band, it would probably sound like this.”
2. NON, Back to Mono
“This was my most anticipated record of the year, and it did not disappoint. Mr. Rice even throws in a couple raw live performances from the ’70s just to show off.”
1. Killing Joke, MMXII
“The Joke have been on a roll for quite a while now, but this album is as good or better than anything they’ve ever done, and they have a list of classic albums as long as your arm.”
Scott Hull:
5. Converge, All We Love We Leave Behind
“Had I gotten this a little sooner, it probably would be the first on my list. I’ve only listened to it once and it is amazing. It’s inspiring to see a band that’s been around continue to improve on themselves and move forward.”
4. Serpentine Path, Serpentine Path
“This CD is super dense. Also kinda like old school. Heavy, loud. This one goes to 11.”
3. Hooded Menace, Effigies of Evil
“Gnarly cross between Celtic Frost and Iron Maiden. I like when old school becomes the new school again.”
2. The Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza, Danza 4: The Alpha–The Omega
“I suppose this leans more towards the metalcore end of the spectrum, and I hate to use labels. Let’s call them neighborhoods. Tony Danza Tapdance Extravaganza are close to that neighborhood and I’m not generally there much, but this CD is as catchy as it is heavy. Wasn’t expecting it. Very pleasantly surprised.”
1. Gaza, No Absolutes in Human Suffering
“Everything I had hoped for in a new CD from these guys. Absolutely ripping. Absolutely dark. Gaza doesn’t give a fuck what you think.”
Gene Hoglan (pictured left) is certainly one of the busiest drummers in metal. With Death, Dark Angel, Strapping Young Lad, Opeth, and more already on his résumé, he most recently laid tracks for Testament’s Dark Roots of Earth and Dethklok’s Dethalbum III. But amidst all of this, there is a Meldrum record that was never released until earlier this year. Lifer was an album planned by Hoglan and guitarist Michelle Meldrum back in 2008. However, not long after finishing the record, Meldrum fell into a coma and died a few days later from complications of a cystic growth on her brain. We asked him to look back and pick his favorite Meldrum tracks.
1. “A Toast to Romance” “First of all, it starts off with the word ‘cunt’ in the intro, which happens to be one of Michelle Meldrum’s favorite words. Hell, we still refer to ‘Walking Point’ by its working title of ‘Cuntface.’ It then charges right into some pretty aggro metal–especially for those familiar with Meldrum’s earlier material. Michele Madden’s psychotically brutal death growl comes bellowing forth, leaving neophytes scratching their heads in disbelief that that is a woman singing. The chorus is catchy as hell, which leads into an absolute face-melter of a solo by Laura Christine. The haunting wails in the post-lead section are amazing, and then it’s topped off with another destructive solo by Laura Christine, all while sub-bombs are exploding all over the place. A pummeling opener indeed.”
2. “Paid” “Kicks right into a chunky down-picker of a riff with a killer chorus to boot. Great lyrics, too.”
3. “’68 Blonde” “Michelle wrote these killer riffs, and then Madden wrote an incredible paean to our fallen sister. The vocals and lyrics are breathtaking.”
4. “Walking Point” “A real trippy but very metal song. Some crazy bass lines. Then Laura Christine pulls off probably my favorite guitar solo of all time. I seriously can’t get over how amazing this solo is. Everything I’ve ever wanted to hear in a memorable lead is fully present. Then the tune ends in full-chaos, blast beats included.”
5. “Blackened Blue” “Punches you right in the face with a monster riff, then never lets up. Woo hoooo!”
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Bay Area thrash legends Testament have just unveiled the official music video for their song “Native Blood.” Check out the Mike Sloat-directed clip below.
The video was filmed on Hopland Indian Reservation in Hopland, California, as the song’s lyrics deal with singer Chuck Billy’s Native American heritage.
“Native Blood” is taken from the band’s upcoming tenth studio album, Dark Roots of Earth, which is out tomorrow on Nuclear Blast Records.
Testament will once again hit the road with Anthrax and Death Angel this September, and you can find the full run of tour dates below the video.
Testament, Anthrax, Death Angel Tour Dates
9/14 – Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades
9/15 – Portland, OR @ Roseland Theatre
9/16 – Kennewick, WA @ Toyota Center (Kennewick)
9/17 – Spokane, WA @ Knitting Factory
9/19 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox at The Market
9/20 – Vancouver, BC – CANADA @ Vogue Theater
9/21 – Calgary, AB – CANADA @ MacEwan Hall
9/22 – Edmonton, AB – CANADA @ Edmonton Event Centre
9/24 – Saskatoon, SK – CANADA @ Odeon Event Center
9/25 – Winnipeg, MB – CANADA @ Burton Cummings Theatre
9/29 – Toronto, ON – CANADA @ Danforth Music Hall
9/30 – Quebec City, QC – CANADA @ Capitole du Quebec
10/02 – Montreal, QC – CANADA @ Metropolis
10/03 – Portland, ME @ State Theater
10/05 – Montclair, NJ@ Wellmont Theatre