Artist Interview

The following is a preview of what's in the June/July 2015 issue of Revolver. You can pick up the new issue on newsstands May 26 or at the Revolver Online Store.

FEATURES
TERROR
Stitch in time saves nine

ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK MAYHEM FESTIVAL
Meet this summer's villains: Slayer, King Diamond and more

HIGH ON FIRE
De mysteriis

COAL CHAMBER
Goin' loco with their first new album in 13 years

SLIPKNOT AND LAMB OF GOD
The frontmen sound off on their Summer's Last Stand tour

BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME
Science fiction musical theatre

HINDER
Bringing a new life to the party

DEPARTMENTS
IN THE NEWS
Five Finger Death Punch and Soulfly hit the studio
Plus: Transmission: punk rock, getting high six feet under, Vinnie Paul and Lzzy Hale dish out advice, and more!

PROFILES
THE BRUTAL TRUTH: Tough questions for Lindemann, Hollywood Undead and Byzantine!
BANDS TO WATCH: Wilson, Bad Seed Rising, and more!

IN THE REAR
We review Armored Saint, Kamelot, Mutoid Man, Silverstein, Tremonti, and more!
The Final Word: Fucked Up's Damian Abraham shares a tale from the pit

All photos by Azara Golston.

• Parking set-up at Red Rocks: Labyrinthine.
• Press entry stages for Red Rocks: Box office, trading post, climbing van, and then waiting at the bottom of some stairs for a guy.
• Size of hassle: Very little. It's hard to be bothered when there are huge jutting red rock formations everywhere, and anyway, climbing that hill myself would've been murdered.
• Percentage of vitality lost to altitude: 12 percent. Man, it is…it is high around here.
• Percentage of audience bearded: 71 percent.
• Favorite Red Rocks employee: Gonzo, who insisted I come see Primus Thursday night.
• Venue layout: A huge outdoor Greek-style amphitheater face a huge stage with a giant rock formation behind it. Awesome.
• Sad state of merch: $35 T-shirts. What a bummer.
• Problem to look forward to: Having kids. Shirts will be $50 a pop by the time they're concert age, and I won't be able to say no to them.
• First up: Graveyard from Gothenburg, Sweden.
• Sounds like: Creedence went metal, but then took a lot of tranquilizers.
• Not to be confused with: Mausoleum from Pennsylvania. I always do that.
• Separated at birth: Drummer Axel Sjöberg and Opeth's Mikeal Åkerfeldt.
• Audience response: A lot of the people up front seem to be going apeshit, but everyone up here is sitting around.
• Timing issue: Graveyard seem like they'd be a lot better after dark, when everything is spooky out here and everyone is more stoned.
• Night's consumption method of choice: Vape pens. You can just smell that healthy seared weed rather than the dank burnt stuff.
• Security presence: Tight and hard. I've seen multiple different people get tapped on the shoulder by security guards.
• Notable fact: Red Rocks is also a state park, and they're pretty hardcore about the whole "No Weed on Federal Land" thing.
• Moon phase: Full and huge over the horizon.
• Tip for visitors: If you get a chance, go to the top of the Red Rocks amphitheater. The view is fucking breathtaking.
• Up next: Clutch from Maryland.
• Sounds like: A voodoo possession ceremony at a Texas biker bar. Where everyone's a cryptid.
• Neil Fallon quote of the night: "Well…isn't this fantastic."
• Favorite classic tracks played: "Pure Rock Fury," "Cypress Grove," "Cyborg Bette," "Texan Book of the Dead."
• Songs missed: "The Face," "Animal Farm."
• Favorite new track: "X-Ray Vision," a kickass new song about psychic warfare in everyday America.
• Chances this reporter would win a psychic battle with Neil Fallon: 42/1.
• First awesome guest appearance of the night: Mastodon's Brent Hinds playing standing guitar on "DC Sound Attack."
• Intense memory during Clutch's set: I say Clutch two years ago to yesterday, in New York at Terminal 5.
• How I remember this: It was the night that Jeff Hanneman died (R.I.P., Jeff).
• Number of audience members who drunkenly yell "SLAYER" at this reporter: 3. It's my hoodie.
• Urge to have a beer: Rising.
• Urge to navigate Red Rocks while tipsy: Entirely absent. I'll stay on the wagon.
• Number of beers it would take to feel drunk at this altitude: 0.6.
• Number of audience members thrown out before Mastodon: Two. At least they aren't "That Guy"—fighting a dude twice his size with a bloody nose.
• Last bloody nose had at a concert: Cavalera Conspiracy Wednesday night, but that was just me moshing.
• Number of concerts this reporter has been thrown out of: Two.
• Number of concerts Brent Hinds of Mastodon has probably been thrown out of: At least 75.
• Finally: Mastodon from Atlanta, Georgia.
• Sound like: Your metalhead friend when he gets back from his first semester at college.
• Separated at birth: Mastodon guitarist Bill Kelliher and South African rapper Jack Parow.
• Amount this reporter would pay for a ticket to see Mastodon play with Jack Parow: $150. Well, maybe more. Who's opening?
• Awesome image of the night: Mastodon playing with a strobe light behind them illuminating the huge slab of raw natural stone that serves as their backdrop.
• Stage set-up advice: Mastodon should forget banners and projections and just travel with a huge rock formation that they put behind themselves. Like Spinal Tap's Stonhenge.
• Favorite tracks played: "Oblivion," "Aqua Dementia," "Halloween".
• Second awesome guest appearance of the night: Clutch frontman Neil Fallon singing "Blood and Thunder" with the band.
• Way out of Red Rocks: Shadowy, winding, convoluted.
• Thank God moment: Being sober as I try to drive out of this insane place. Even tipsiness would do me in out here.
• Sight for sore eyes: Denver appearing around me. Ah, civilization!

Revolver's own Stephanie Cabral was on hand to catch all the action for Cavalera Conspiracy, Death Angel, and COC Blind's stop on May 4 at the House of Blues in Hollywood. Check out the photos she captured for us below–you can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Nekrogoblikon will release their new album, 'Heavy Meta,' on June 2 via Mystery Box Records. In anticipation, the band has teamed up with Revolver to premiere Their new song, "We've Had Enough." Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

To get 'Heavy Meta,' visit their webstore or iTunes. For more on Nekrogoblikon, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.
 

Metalcore act Texas in July have recently announced they have called it a day and will be embarking on a final European tour (see dates below) and a yet-to-be announced U.S. tour to say goodbye to fans. Today, the band has teamed up with Revolver to premiere their final music video, "Nooses." Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

For more on Texas in July, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

TOUR DATES
Gideon w/Texas In July, Kublai Kahn, and Silent Planet
May 08 Nashville, TN @ The End
May 09 Birmingham, AL @ Zydeco
May 10 Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
May 12 Springfield, MO @ The Outland Ballroom
May 13 Columbus, OH @ Double Happiness
May 14 Erie, PA @ Basement Transmissions
May 15 West Springfield, VA @ Empire
May 16 Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Asylum*
May 17 Allentown PA @ Planet Trog*
May 19 Albany, NY @ Bogies
May 20 Montreal, QC @ Le Ritz PDB
May 21 Ottawa, ON @ Ritual
May 22 Toronto, ON @ Sneaky Dee's
May 23 Howell, MI @ Hartland Performing Arts

* Texas In July only

Texas In July: European Farewell tour
Jun 19 Ysselsteyn, NL @ Jera On Air
Jun 20 Köln, DE @ Morecore Fest
Jun 21 Dessel, BE @ Graspop
Jun 22 Oldenburg, DE @ Amadeus +
Jun 24 Hannover, DE @ Musikzentrum +
Jun 25 Ostrava, CZ @ Barrak +
Jun 26 Piestany, SK @ Topfest
Jun 27 Budapest, HU @ KVLT *
Jun 28 Milan, IT @ Circolo Svolta, Dissonance Fest *
Jun 29 Zurich, CH @ Dynamo Werk 21 *
Jun 30 München, DE @ Backstage *
Jul 01 Wien, AT @ Arena *
Jul 02 Tel Aviv, IL @ Reading 3 Club ^
Jul 03 Wiesbaden, DE @ Schlachthof+
Jul 04 Roitzschjora, DE @ With Full Force Festival

+ Texas In July w/Chelsea Grin and Walking With Strangers
^ Texas In July w/Chelsea Grin only
* Texas In July w/Walking With Strangers only

Cavalera Conspiracy with Death Angel and Corrosion of Conformity Blind
Wednesday, April 29 at Summit Music Hall

• Number of times this reporter has seen Max Cavalera live: 0. This is a first.
• Surprising discovery of 2014: Wow, the new Cavalera Conspiracy album is actually really fucking awesome! It has this grimy tone and everything.
• Sad question this raises: Is this what Sepultura would have sounded like, had things not gone sour?
• Answer: Nah. Those guys needed to go through Soulfly and whatnot to sound anywhere near this good.
• Last Sepultura album this reporter loved: Look, we're trying to have a good time. Let's not pick that scab.
• Crowd make-up: A weird mix. You have your older meatheads who you can tell were deep into Roots­-era Sep, you've got your younger fans who are just getting into second-wave Death Angel, you have outlying goth and nu-metal characters in between.
• Notable contingent present: The Latino metalheads are out in full-force. Lots of Mexican and Brazilian dudes.
• Often-forgotten fact: Death Angel have always been a Latino band, Cali-thrashers that they are.
• First up: Corrosion of Conformity Blind, featuring vocalist Karl Agell and drummer Reed Mullin playing the Blind album.
• Sounds like: Big Southern groove metal with an intense hardcore edge.
• Important fact about history: It repeats itself.
• Questionable move: Naming yourselves after your old band name and album. Why not name it a song reference, like Heaven & Hell?
• Possible name alternatives: These Shrouded Times, Damned for All Time, Echoes in the Well.
• Notable stage moves: Karl Agell's flappity hand motions and head swinging. Look at him go!
• Notable absence: Weed. No one's smoking during CoC? Maybe they just brought out too much of the hardcore crowd.
• Perpetual question of Summit Music Hall: Who's going to be the first guy to piss in the Men's Room sink?
• Number of dudes seen eyeing said sink and considering: Three.
• Best shirt of the night: White Zombie "Get Up And Kill!" shirt on the big Jamey Jasta-looking dude. No one gives White Zombie their due anymore.
• Up next: Death Angel from the Bay Area.
• Sounds like: Late '80s thrash that joined the Marines and came back with arms the size of your thighs.
• Crowd reaction: Wonderfully enthusiastic.
• Wonderful sight of the night: A good old mosh pit to some good old thrash metal.
• Less welcome sight: The single girl in the spiked leather bra trying to mosh with evvvvveryone.
• Public service announcement: Revolver and its reporter fully endorse female metalheads and women who want to get in the pit and thrash, but maybe don't wear a spike leather bra to do so.
• Jarring memory of the night: Getting thrown out of L'Amours in Brooklyn because I was wearing a spiked leather cuff under my shirt. A massive hardcore dude looked the pit grabbing wrists until he found mine and dragged me to the door by my hood.
• Favorite tracks of the set: "Thrown To The Wolves," "Claws In So Deep," "Succubus."
• Tracks missed: "No," "Sonic Beatdown," "Soulless." Aw man, especially "Soulless."
• Tension waiting for Cavalera Conspiracy: Palpable.
• Unexpected appreciation of the night: I'm not a big fan of that double-C logo of Cavalera Conspiracy's, but it looks awesome when printed in huge letters on a backdrop.
• Odds that Gloria Cavalera drove someone Summit Music Hall crazy today: 4/1.
• Finally: Cavalera Conspiracy, from Brazil and Arizona respectively.
• Sounds like: Early-to-mid '90s groove thrash run through a filter of crushing doom metal.
• Crowd response: Massive, excited.
• Number of creatures living in Max Cavalera's hair and beard: 26.
• Instinctive response: My pulse jacking up as the opening drums to "Refuse/Resist" come on over the PA.
• Mental age: 15.
• Foolhardy decision: Fuck this, I have to mosh for "Refuse/Resist." My teenage self would never forgive me.
• Time spent in mosh pit before colliding with someone's shoulder: Three seconds.
• Vision: White.
• Nose: Bleeding furiously.
• Immediately state of Men's Room sink: Slaughterhouse. Drinking plus headbutt equals blood fucking everywhere.
• Comforting thought: I hope no one's peed in here yet.
• Ridiculous situation of the night: Running back and forth between the door and sink of the bathroom, alternating between stuffing my nose with toilet paper and seeing the band.
• Other Sepultura classics played: "Roots Bloody Roots," "We Who Are Not As Others."
• Time it takes for me to stop bleeding furiously: One hour.
• Faces of fellow passengers on the bus home: Aghast.
• Tonight's lesson: Don't mosh when you're drunk and 30.

Revolver's own Stephanie Cabral was on hand to catch all the action for Nightwish, Sabaton, and Delain's stop on May 1 at The Greek Theatre in Los Angeles. Check out the photos she captured for us below–you can also follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

Thrash metal act Indestructible Noise Command (I.N.C.) recently released their  album, 'Black Hearse Serenade,' via Ferocious Records. Today, the band has teamed up with Revolver to premiere their new music video, "Love Like Napalm." Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

Guitarist Erik Barath said, "We wanted to make a really cool video on the cheap, but directors are expensive and rarely can they get inside my head and recreate what I see. So I figure, what the fuck, let's buy some mud, contacts, and make fake blood and roll the dice on it all. As we got into the shooting, we realized we can do this with a little creativity and planning. It's not going to win any awards, but it should show a lot of bands working with just a few bucks in the pocket that they can D.I.Y. with solid results."

To get 'Black Hearse Serenade,' visit iTunes or Ferocious' webstore. For more on Indestructible Noise Command, visit their website and follow them on Facebook.

Grindcore act Maruta will release their new album, 'Remain Dystopian,' on June 2 via Relapse. In anticipation, the band has teamed up with Revolver to premiere their new song, "Stride Endlessly Through Scorched Earth,' which features At the Gates' Tomas Lindberg on guest vocals. Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

To get 'Remain Dystopian,' visit Relapse's webstore or Bandcamp.  For more on Maruta, follow them on Facebook and Twitter.

Ensiferum recently released their album, 'One Man Army,' via Metal Blade Records. Today, in anticipation of their upcoming tour with Korpiklaani (see dates below), the band has given us a track by track break down of the record. Check it out below and let us know what you think in the comments!

"March Of War"
Markus Toivonen: These folk themes and sounds bring a great atmosphere for the marching battalion.

"Axe of Judgement"
Markus Toivonen: It's a very aggressive song with thrash/death-metal elements. It has some dramatic orchestrations and choirs and a great sing-along moment.
Sami Hinkka: It is said that, "revenge is a dangerous motive" but for some, it's the only reason to go on.

"Heathen Horde"
Markus Toivonen: This is a mid-tempo song fulfilled with folkish and catchy melodies and a sing-along chorus. Heri Joensen from Tyr is doing the ancient Norwegian speech on the bridge part.
Sami Hinkka: Sometimes we all need our brothers to fulfill what needs to be done...

"One Man Army"
Markus Toivonen: This is the most thrash-metal oriented song on this album with great guitar riffs. There's also music video available
Sami Hinkka: ...but it's also crucial for every man to be able to stand on their own feet.

"Burden of the Fallen / Warrior Without a War"
Markus Toivonen: It's a pretty simple and not too long, but still epic and bombastic with great "Viking" style tunes. Personally, I think it has one of the best melodies we've ever made.
Sami Hinkka: To grow is to learn how to let go.

"Cry for the Earth Bounds"
Markus Toivonen: It's one of the most artistic and appropriately different songs on this album. There are some familiar moments and a strong guitar riff, but there are also some experimental parts included. It has also great orchestrations and choirs.
Sami Hinkka: Even the last man standing will perish…

"Two of Spades"
Markus Toivonen: Every good album has a beer drinking song. This one has huge drive and it's punk/rock/disco/crazy/folk influenced one! No orchestrations or choirs, just pure rock 'n' roll!
Sami Hinkka: Rock 'n' roll lifestyle to the max!

"My Ancestors' Blood"
Markus Toivonen: This is the first part for the two-piece song, which is the third part for the Heathen Throne saga. It's a great "starter" for this epic madness.
Sami Hinkka: Respect your roots...

"Descendants, Defiance, Domination"
Markus Toivonen: Once you go epic, you cannot stop. This second part of two-piece song Heathen Throne Part III is one of the most epic songs during the history of ENSIFERUM. It has the most bombastic chorus and all other things what you need when listening to melodic heavy-metal with some progressive touch!
Sami Hinkka: ...and do your best for generations to come

"Neito Pohjolan"
Markus Toivonen: "Neito Pohjolan" is a Finnish-style "schlager" ("Finnish country") song. We were lucky to have Netta Skog (ex-Turisas) for vocals and for accordion. She did a super great job! If you don't like it, go home!
Sami Hinkka: Even the toughest wanderer can feel homesick every now and then.

ENSIFERUM w/ Korpiklaani, Trollfest:
5/06/2015 House of Blues – Los Angeles, CA
5/07/2015 Slim's – San Francisco, CA
5/08/2015 Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
5/09/2015 El Corazon – Seattle, WA
5/10/2015 Rickshaw Theatre Vancouver, BC
5/12/2015 Republik – Calgary, AB
5/13/2015 Union Hall – Edmonton, AB
5/15/2015 Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
5/16/2015 Bourbon Theater – Lincoln, NE
5/17/2015 Mill City Nights – Minneapolis, MN
5/18/2015 Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
5/19/2015 Agora Theater – Cleveland, OH
5/20/2015 Opera House – Toronto, ON
5/21/2015 Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
5/22/2015 Club Soda – Montreal, QC
5/23/2015 Imperial de Quebec – Quebec City, QC
5/24/2015 Brighton Music Hall – Boston, MA
5/26/2015 Mr. Small's Theater – Pittsburgh, PA
5/27/2015 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD
5/28/2015 Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
5/29/2015 Irving Plaza – New York, NY