Artist
When I first learned that Nadja's Bliss Torn From Emptiness was a three-song CD that clocked in at fifty-three minutes and eleven seconds, I was intrigued. Since Nadja's 2003 formation, the Toronto-based ambient/shoegaze metal duo, made up of multi-instrumentalist Aiden Baker and bassist Leah Buckareff, has been creating increasingly heady, epic and swirling dirges, and I was ready to check out this latest installment—which was originally available several years ago as an extremely limited one-track CDR and recently received a lavish eight-panel digipak re-release by Profound Lore Records.
If you're planning to listen to Bliss be sure to set aside at least an hour for the experience. My first attempt at it came while driving my car on the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. But the mounting tension of being stuck in traffic quickly proved to me that this wasn't the proper theater in which to listen to this record. Bliss is not the kind of record that you give a casual listen to. In fact, "listening" is not even the correct term for what you must do with a Nadja record. In fact, it's much closer to "absorbing."
My second attempt at Bliss happened after I got home from my drive on the BQE. I put in the CD, pumped the stereo's volume, turned out the lights and then positioned myself on my back in the middle of my floor. Just as I began contemplating the ceiling, the myriad molecules that comprise concrete and steel, and all the infinitesimal space between matter... Just then, as inline with some perfect cosmic cue,
the opening synth of "Part 1" began to emerge.
|
Leah Buckareff & Aiden Baker get blurry.
|
|
The room was dark except for the amber streetlights, and the throbbing keyboard swells led me through caverns of feedback as mechanical drum programs steadily kept the cadence. It was the music of the spheres; music to witness worlds collide only to give birth to stranger, more beautiful landscapes.
The experience of listening to Bliss is like being packed away in a sensory deprivation tank: your mind slowly begins to form its own interpretations of this record's strange, stunning emanations. You can practically feel the weight of the atmosphere closing around you. Amidst all of this wooly noise and drum machine intensity, the core of Bliss Torn From Emptiness emerges: an intangible beauty, existing just out of focus and barely detectable.
Buy this and give it to someone you love. Expand their mind. — Mike Hill
Check out the new uncensored video for Lair of the Minotaur's "War Metal Battle Master," replete with blood-soaked, topless necro chicks!
Go HERE to view this carnage.
On January 24 and 25, 2008, Mastodon converged on Brooklyn's Masonic Temple to play two nights in support of experimental doom legends, Neurosis. Because this was the first time Neurosis played New York in over four years—and we're always down for a good Masto adventure—we had to tag along.
In our four-part documentary, we not only captured some killer live footage of rarely played Mastodon songs, we also cornered the four Mastodudes—guitarist Brent Hinds, drummer Brann Dailor, guitarist Bill Kelliher and bassist/singer Troy Sanders—in the depths of this historic building to see what they've been doing since dropping 2006's Blood Mountain, and to discuss their plans for their as-yet-untitled follow-up.
Check out Episode 3, in which the guys rip through "Hand of Stone"—a song they rarely play live—from their 2006 album Blood Mountain.
[playlist:mk-livekult-mastodon]
Photo by Jimmy Hubbard.
This past January, MetalKult had the opportunity to catch up with Children of Bodom singer/guitarist Alexi Laiho at the winter NAMM convention in Anaheim, California.
Check out the following interview, in which Laiho describes his latest injuries, the inspiration behind Blooddrunk and how he planned to destroy George Lynch at the NAMM ESP shred-off.
Photo by Jimmy Hubbard.
[playlist:mk-qa-cob]
San Francisco Bay Area metal veterans, DEATH ANGEL, are pleased to announce their first full US tour since their initial split 18 years ago! The band will embark on a co-headlining tour this May/June with GOD FORBID that will include SOILENT GREEN and LIGHT THIS CITY. Dubbed the "In Thrash We Trust" tour, this will mark the bands first tour in support of their critically acclaimed "Killing Season" record. A visibly excited founding guitarist, Rob Cavestany, eagerly offered a few words about the event:
"DEATH ANGEL is teaming up with GOD FORBID to hit the road and we couldn't be more stoked! 'In Thrash We Trust' will be the first full blown tour of the states that DEATH ANGEL has done since the 'ACT III tour' in 1990 and we are gonna bring it! Also on the bill are SOILENT GREEN and LIGHT THIS CITY so you better prepare to get thrashed all night long! Can't wait to see you all very soon! 'Killing Season' has begun!!!"
Confirmed Dates:
5/01-Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop w/ TESTAMENT
5/02-Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's w/ TESTAMENT
5/03-Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
5/04-Long Island, NY @ Crazy Donkey
5/07-Baltimore, MD @ Sonar
5/08-Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
5/09-Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11
5/10-Virginia Beach, VA @ Steppin Out
5/13-Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
5/14-Seminole, FL @ Boomerz
5/16-Houston, TX @ TBA
5/17-Ft. Worth, TX @ Ridglea Theatre
5/18-San Antonio, TX @ Rock Bottom
5/19-El Paso, TX @ Chic's
5/21-Farmington, NM @ Gator's
5/23-Las Vegas, NV @ Jillian's
5/24-Los Angeles, CA @ House of Blues
5/25-San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
5/26-Bakersfield, CA @ The Dome
5/27-Modesto, CA @ Fat Cats
5/28-Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
5/30-Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
5/31-Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
6/02-Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre
6/05-Columbus, OH @ Alrosa Villa
6/06-Mokena (Chicago), IL @ The Pearl Room
6/07-Detroit, MI @ Harpo's
6/08-Toronto, ON @ Opera House
6/11-New York, NY @ BB Kings
DEATH ANGEL recently filmed a video for the track "Dethroned" with director Robert Sexton (THE DWARVES, AMEN, MONDO GENERATOR) in Santa Paula, California. Check out photos from the video shoot at this location.
Released on February 26, 2008 via Nuclear Blast Records, "Killing Season" sold approximately 2,300 copies in the United States in its first week of release according to Nielsen SoundScan. The album was recorded at Studio 606 in Northridge, California with producer Nick Raskulinecz, who has previously worked with FOO FIGHTERS, RUSH, VELVET REVOLVER, SHADOWS FALL and STONE SOUR, among other acts.
Photo by Thomas Mellenthin
Swiss dark metal band Samael have announced their first US tour in nearly five years in support of their latest Solar Soul release. The band will be making the trek with headliners/labelmates Amorphis as well as Leaves Eyes and Virgin Black. Co-founder, Xy, had this to say about Samael's return to US shores:
"We haven't played in the US since our last tour for Eternal back in 2003. It has been far too long and the wait is over! We are happy to announce we'll be back in September to present material from not one but two albums, namely Reign Of Light and Solar Soul, as well as songs off our other records. We're excited about this tour and are looking forward to connecting with our American audience once again!"
The complete schedule is as follows:
Sep. 27 - Charlotte, NC @ Tremont Music Hall
Sep. 28 - West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Sep. 29 - New York City, NY @ BB Kings
Sep. 30 - Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero Theater
Oct. 01 - Poughkeepsie, NY @ The Chance Theater
Oct. 02 - Worcester, MA @ Palladium
Oct. 03 - Montreal, QC @ Foufounes Electriques
Oct. 04 - Toronto, ON @ Opera House
Oct. 05 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
Oct. 06 - Mokena, IL @ The Pearl Room
Oct. 07 - St Paul, MN @ Station 4
Oct. 09 - Spokane, WA @ Big Easy Concert House
Oct. 10 - Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
Oct. 11 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theater
Oct. 12 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
Oct. 13 - West Hollywood, Ca @ House of Blues
Oct. 14 - Phoenix, AZ @ Brickhouse
Oct. 16 - Ft Worth, TX @ Ridglea Theater
Oct. 17 - San Antonio, TX @ Scout Bar
Oct. 18 - Houston, TX @ Scout Bar
Tickets will go on sale today exclusively through EnterTheVault.com
Samael's eighth album, Solar Soul, was released in June 2007 via Nuclear Blast Records.
Denver avant-grinders Cephalic Carnage has announced a number of upcoming festival appearances as well as a Spring European tour.
Cephalic Carnage will first take part in the Dawn of Destruction Festival this weekend in Calgary, AB alongside Watain, Averse Sefira, Divinity, and more. Following, Cephalic Carnage will perform an exclusive 'doom' set as part of the annual Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Netherlands on April 17th.
Cephalic Carnage will then embark on a month-long European tour in May with Hate Eternal and Skeletonwitch. A complete listing of Cephalic Carnage tour dates can be found below with more to be announced soon.
Cephalic Carnage Tour Dates:
March 22 Calgary, AB MacEwan Hall (as part of the Dawn of Destruction Festival)
April 17 Tilburg, Netherlands 013 (as part of the Roadburn Festival, performing an exclusive DOOM set)
***All Dates from May 9 thru 30 w/ HATE ETERNAL, SKELETONWITCH, DEADBORN***
May 9 Wurzburg, Germany B-Hof
May 10 Leipzig, Germany Conne Island
May 11 Hamburg, Germany Markthalle
May 13 Prague, Czech Rep. Exit Chmelnice
May 14 Vienna, Austria Arena
May 15 Ljubljana, Slovenia Gala Hala
May 16 Muchen, Germany Feierwerk
May 17 Verona, Italy Lucille Club
May 18 Rome, Italy Alphaeus
May 20 Martigny, Switzerland Les Caves De Manoir
May 21 Nantes, France Le Ferailleur
May 22 Irun, Spain Tunk
May 23 Braga, Portugal Junta de Freguesia
May 24 Madrid, Spain Ritmo Y Compass
May 25 Barcelona, Spain Apolo 2
May 26 Marseille, France Le Korigan
May 28 Karlsruhe, Germany Substage
May 29 Bochum, Germany Matrix
May 30 Trier, Germany Exhaus
May 31 Tilburg, Netherlands 013 (as part of the Neurotic Deathfest)
***All Dates from June 1 thru 7 w/ HATE ETERNAL, SKELETONWITCH, MAN MUST DIE***
June 1 Cardiff, U.K. Barfly
June 2 Glasgow, U.K. Barfly
June 4 Dublin, Ireland Whelans
June 5 Sheffield, U.K. The Corporation
June 6 London, U.K. Underworld
June 7 Aarschot, Belgium JC De Klinker
Photo by J. Narcy.
Dendura, the Egyptian-inspired, female-fronted progressive band, will join co-headliners Unexpect (Canada) and Shadowside (Brazil) for the second-annual Flight of the Valkyries festival at Station 4 in St. Paul, MN, on Saturday, June 28. Flight of the Valkyries is the only festival in the USA to feature a complete lineup of female-fronted metal bands.
"I am really pumped about the festival," says Dendura drummer Justin Lee Dixon. "Exposing your sound and style to a whole new group of people is always exciting and, being that all the bands are female-fronted, we are all happy to be a part of an event that is bringing together this ever-growing genre of music. But what I anticipate the most is sharing the stage with many talented musicians."
Belly dancer Abida Blaze, who is known for her exotic, mysterious
moves, will join Dendura onstage at the festival. This year, the festival headliners bring a big dose of metal from Canada and Brazil. Unexpect recently toured with Epica, Echoes of Eternity and Trail of Tears. Shadowside is a rising star in the Brazilian metal scene. Benedictum, Vistdeon, Earthen, Something to Fear and Aria Sharp are also on the bill.
Flight of the Valkyries is the only music festival of its kind in the USA that is devoted to metal bands with female lead vocalists. The festival showcases all metal sub-genres. The festival debuted in 2007 and showcased a variety of female-fronted metal bands including Doro, Vainglory, The Ottoman Empire, Spiritual Decay and Sirens of Titan.
Meanwhile, 2008 is already turning into a big year for Dendura. The band recently signed with KillZone Records, scored distribution with Nightmare Records and the band is discussing their next album with a Grammy-winning producer. In addition, they played high-profile concerts including a show with Edguy (who did some 2007 dates in Germany with Aerosmith) and they have a track on the US ProgPower 2007 compilation given to everyone who attended the sold-out, national festival in Atlanta starring After Forever and Sonata Arctica. For more information about Dendura, and to listen to songs, visit www.myspace.com/denduraband. For ticket information and details about Flight of the Valkyries, visit www.femalemetalfest.com.
Legendary Florida Death Metallers Deicide have announced a unique and exciting competition for fans to create and upload their own video clip for a new Deicide track called "In The Eyes Of God" taken from their upcoming album Till Death Do Us Part, which will be released on May 13 in the U.S.
Using the track "In The Eyes Of God," fans are invited to make their own video for the song, using whatever means at their disposal. The clip can be filmed, animated, drawn or compiled from already existing images or footage. Anything goes so get as creative as you like.
The winner will be judged the clip with the most views on YouTube by the closing date of April 28, 2008, and will win the Grand Prize: an Ibanez bass guitar fully signed by the band.
Fans can download "In the Eyes of God" and get full details on how to enter the competition at earache.com/deicidevideo.
All submissions must feature the song in its entirety, and must be uploaded via YouTube stating 'DEICIDE IN THE EYES OF GOD COMPETITION' in the title and description.
Please submit the YouTube video URL link of your entry to deicidevideo@earache.com
Deicide release 'Till Death Do Us Part' on April 28 in Europe and May 13 in the US.
Texas-based mythological occult metal outfit ABSU has announced the addition of guitarist/keyboardist Zawicizuz (ex-Rape, Pillage & Burn/Infernal Oak) to the group's ranks. He replaces Vastator who recently quit the band due to musical and personal differences. Drummer/vocalist Proscriptor says of the replacement, "We are very proud to welcome Zawicizuz as the newest musician of ABSU! He is one of the best-kept secrets in the extreme Texas music environment and we are delighted to convey our next chapter of mythological occult metal with him."
ABSU will enter Nomad Recording Studio in April 2008 to begin recording the self-titled CD for a tentative autumn release on Candlelight Records. The album will be engineered/produced by none other than Sterling Winfield (King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Solitude Aeternus, Usurper, Blood of the Sun, Etc.) and mastered by Proscriptor at his studio Tarot Productions.
"Absu" projected track listing: (in no particular order)
01. 13 Globes
02. In The Name of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee
03. Between the Absu of Eridu & Erech
04. Night Fire Canonization
05. Those of the Void Will Re-Enter
06. Nunbarshegunu
07. Girra's Temple
08. Magick Square Cipher
09. Ye Uttuku Spells
10. Amy
11. …Of the Dead Who Never Rest In Their Tombs Are the Attendance Of Familiar Spirits…Including:
a.) Diversified Signs Inscribed
b.) Voor
c.) Sceptre Command
d.) Twix Yesterday, the Day & the Morrow
e.) Our Earth of Black
Proscriptor adds: "Lyrically, I am concentrating more on Sumerian-based occult themes of magick and mythology versus the Celtic aspect of my previous writings, which was heavily expressed on the last few ABSU studio albums. Musically speaking, the material will be quite similar to 'Tara', but with more of a '70s progressive/psychedelic texture within it. You will not be disappointed — trust me. I will be utilizing the first logo created by Equitant and Belgian artist Kris Verwimp will handle the cover illustration once again. In other news, I am also pleased to announce the following guest musicians that will appear on the album:
Ashmedi (Melechesh)
Jex Thoth (Jex Thoth/ex-Totem)
Mindwalker (The Firstborn)
Nornagest (Enthroned)
Sataniac (Desaster)
Vorskaath (Zemial)
www.absu.us
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com