In case you’re wondering, I just got back from an amazing Italian vacation. I enjoyed several different cities, shacked up in a Tuscan villa and ate/drank all of the wine, pasta and cheese my body could handle. One thing that I did notice was that there was NOT a very large metal presence during my trip despite Europe’s major love affair with our favorite genre and I couldn’t really figure out why that is. Sure, I saw some younger kids in Suicide Silence, Lamb of God and Children of Bodom t-shirts — even a Slash poster for an upcoming concert… but I didn’t even see any LACUNA COIL pride over there.
Then, I started thinking about how many Italian metal bands I knew and I realized that there is certainly something strange going on with Italians. There are a ton of amazing bands there and Europe is well known for accepting metal into the mainstream so where was the scene happening. Certainly not in Florence, not in Venice either, I saw exactly 0 metal in Milan and I saw a total of 3 kids in metal tees during my stay in Rome.
Do you know where the scene is really happening in Italy? Fill me in!
Now, let’s run through some Italian bands that you should know!
LACUNA COIL – obviously, this would be equal to saying American fans need to know who LAMB OF GOD is. They’re the biggest stars in the Italian metal scene for sure.
RHAPSODY OF FIRE – one of the most prolific and lauded bands in Power Metal. Nerds everywhere worship this band and with good reason! Never as cheesy as other bands in the genre, RHAPSODY OF FIRE are ultra-skilled and quite entertaining.
FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE – technical death metal and still brutal as fuck! These guys have become mainstays on the major death metal tours in the US over the past two years (even being included on this year’s Summer Slaughter lineup). FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE just inked a deal with Nuclear Blast so I imagine that their stock will continue to rise!
HOUR OF PENANCE – freshly signed with Prosthetic Records, HOP has been dominating brutal DM scene for more than 10 years. Ask any underground circle of fans and you’ll hear one thing, these guys are fucking awesome at what they do!
ABORYM – Combining black metal with industrial instrumentation, these guys went from being worshiped by some music circles to seemingly fading away after last year’s disappointing ‘Psychogrotesque’. This band also has a rich history, formerly the employer of Atilla Csihar and currently home to Faust’s drumming abilities (ex-Emperor, ex-Thorns).
NOVEMBRE – never reaching the status of LACUNA COIL, these gothic giants have quietly been churning out masterpiece after masterpiece for almost 20 years. If you like doom and/or gothic metal with a deathy-influence, check ‘em out!
THE SECRET – Southern Lord’s latest and greatest, this band quickly became one of my new favorites for 2010. Combining black metal with grind, they come across like the Italian TRAP THEM – only more visceral. If you’ve never heard ‘Solve et Coagula’, you need to change that!
That’s it for me! Did I miss anyone? Is there a band I should check out? It’s your turn to sound off!
I’d be lying if I said that the past half-decade cemented my faith in the hardcore scene. Yeah, labels such as Deathwish Inc. get it right more often than not, but the whole thing feels so watered down to me that, as much as I hate to admit this, I’ve largely been avoiding the genre as a whole. As for its downright drowned sub-genres? Not even worth discussing.
That’s a major reason why, when Southern Lord suddenly turned away from drone, doom and black metal and headed straight for the pits, it seemed an odd, maybe even misguided turn. Are there really enough worthwhile new bands to stage this one-label revival? Turns out there were, and I have doubted SL for the final time (plus, old-schooler Greg Anderson surely knows quality when he hears it). From the volcanic, nasty BLACK BREATH, to Italian blasphemers THE SECRET, to the quick EP release from TRAP THEM, to the mangling, blink-and-they’re-gone NAILS, hardcore is alive, well, and as vital as ever in the most unlikeliest of places. Now joining the fold come BAPTISTS, a Vancouver band putting out their first effort with the Lord, a four-cut, limited pressing that’ll please fans of the aforementioned bands as well as those who still find tasty bits in CONVERGE and COALESCE.
BAPTISTS are only about a year old as a band, and as far as finding info on the group online, it’s not an easy search. But whatever. The music is what matters, and this 7-inch kills. From the throaty, gut-wrenching assault on the opener “Good Parenting,” it’s clear this is a band with a future and should remind people why so many found solace in the hardcore scene to begin with. “Bachelor Degree Sun” grinds it out a little more, mixing in muddy riffing and raspy vocals, while “Life Poser” starts off with a riff that seems to tip its drawl toward Southern American rock. It’s a short, yet varied collection that seems to indicate this band is capable of more than just bludgeoning.
Keep in mind, we’ve only heard the digital cuts, and from what people are saying once receiving the vinyl, that only enhances the experience. You can get one of these bastards for a mere $5, so get your turntable needle ready, clear the furniture, and get ready to get leveled by true passion.
Everyone here already knows how much that I love BLACK BREATH! Both ‘Heavy Breathing’ and ‘Razor To Oblivion’ have been in my playlist for a long time. I want nothing more than to rock out to their sludgy take on hardcore everyday. Now, the Seattle crew has announced that they are heading into the studio with Kurt Ballou to craft another monstrous record. BUT, not before they do a tour across thec country to get there!
Check out the dates below and hopefully you get to see them on one of the dates with another favorite of mine: KEN Mode. The Canadian crushers will be joining these guys on the road for three dates — including NYC!
Rock!
3/5 Pomona, CA @ The Glass House (Scion Rock Fest)
3/16 Chicago, IL @ Albion House
3/17 Toledo, OH @ Revolution
3/18 Buffalo, NY @ Sugar City
3/19 Boston, MA @ PA’s Lounge
4/2 New York, NY @ The Studio At Webster Hall w/ Ken Mode
4/3 Warren, NJ @ Warren Legion Hall w/ Ken Mode
4/4 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter w/ Ken Mode
4/5 Louisville, KY @ Chestnut House
4/6 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar Lounge
4/7 Kansas City, MO @ Scion Lab
4/8 Denver, CO @ Blast O Mat
(I would like to welcome UK misanthropic metal assassins DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT to Metal Army. These guys will be visiting Metal Army once a month to spread their brand of hate across our blog. Hails! -Editor)
Top Five Slayer Drum Fills:
1. Angel of Death – 4:24 – 4:28 – Is this a drum fill or a drum solo? I’m not sure it matters. This percussion assault remains one of the best drum parts of all time. It’s just one big build up to Lombardos most memorable tub beating moment. This fill changed my understanding of extreme, only Lombardo is real.
2. Seasons in the Abyss – 1:00 – 1:15 – SITA is a very close second. This fill is the kind of drum fill that makes you want to break necks. If I dropped my sticks during this, I would definitely continue pounding with my bare fists. It’s just straight up Lombardo aggression delivered with uncompromising spine snapping power.
3. Dittohead – 0:02 – 0:04 – Short, knife sharp and to the point. This one teases the adrenaline gland.
4. Jesus Saves – 1:09 – 1:15 – Lombardo demonstrating signature power with a menacing build up that makes you want to take an angle grinder to the next crucifix you see.
5. Black Magic – 1:53 – 1:54 – This is exactly the kind of roll that made Lars Ulrich shit himself in 1983. The master delivers a lesson on the art of thrash. Specialist subject: kill.
This month we’ve been working on “Widowmaker”, the first 40 minute instalment of three is to be released on Mordgrimm records. It sounds like the reptile claw of Godzilla crushing a small civilization so far.
Lately Europe has been catching all of the cool tours. Granted, I still get to see AGALLOCH and they don’t, the latest trek to add to the “GET YOUR ASSES TO AMERICA” list is RWAKE and DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT. RWAKE has been a longtime favorite of mine, despite not having released a new record in four years. DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT has quickly become one of my favorite up-and-coming acts with their brand of misanthropic, sludgy black metal – check out the debut album ‘Hatred For Mankind’ to experience what I’m talking about.
If you are in Europe, you have no excuse for missing this tour so make sure you get there. If you are stateside, then I’ll see you at the upcoming AGALLOCH/WORM OUROBOROS tour!
AT OUR HEELS has definitely felt the love of Metal Army, we were huge fans of their debut ‘Misanthropy and Godlessness’. Now, the main man Alex Pulisci has sent us his favorites of 2010, check it out:
1. Propagandhi/Sacrifice – Split – Only about 10 minutes long, but 2 great songs great songs covered by 2 excellent bands. Can’t wait for the next Propagandhi full length.
2. Bad Religion – The Dissent of Man – Almost every track is a banger. These dudes are still cranking out hits well into there 40s with no end in sight. Excellent record.
3. Trap Them – Filth Rations EP – Another short but sweet release. Trap Them gives us a taste of their upcoming full length for Prosthetic and it is very, very good. I didn’t realize they could get crustier than their last few releases, but lo and behold…
4. Heartsounds – Until We Surrender – The best melodic punk band you’ll hear this year. Strung Out, Bad Religion, and Polar Bear Club, with just a dash of Testament. Get this now.
5. Seahaven – Ghost EP – This band manages to cover almost the entire emotional spectrum of the human experience in 6 songs.
6. Gypsyhawk – Patience and Perseverance – Listening to this record is like getting in a time machine and going back to the 70s to see Thin Lizzy in a dirty little club on the edge of town. Plus the art has a naked purple chick.
7. Murder by Death – Good Morning, Magpie – This band continues to put out quality records with songs about cowboys, old cars, shaving in the woods, drinking whiskey. I love every minute of it.
8. She & Him – Volume 2 – Because I wish I was alive in the 40s and married to Zooey Deschanel.
9. Hour of the Wolf – Decompostitions Vol. 1 – All my favorite songs, plus a rockin’ new one and a bunch of awesome covers. All FINALLY on vinyl!
10. The Secret – Solve et Coagula – Because Trap Them did not release a new LP this year.
Now THIS is a fucking metal band! They are dark, creepy, evil and talented. They are DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT from the UK and they are all the rage amongst Metal Army’s writers lately. They released ‘Hatred For Mankind’ last year but have now inked with Prosthetic Records and will be releasing the album on a much wider scale in January. I’ve been listening for a while now and I am blown away by this band. The band sounds like THE SECRET, GODFLESH and EYEHATEGOD had a bastard child with passion for nihilism.
Truthfully speaking, this is what metal should be! It should be raw, snarling and evil. I am beyond excited for this band to tour the states at some point – hopefully they don’t get creepy with any of my female blogger friends like a certain other masked band that I love! However, for now, I demand that you listen to DRAGGED INTO SUNLIGHT! Check out the video above, listen to songs on their MySpace and pre-order this fucking record! In the age of instant gratification, this band IS worth your time.
In case you haven’t seen my favorite band of 2o1o live yet, here is a FULL live set from their recent show in Essen, Germany. 45 minutes of raw, crusty blackened punk at it’s best! Seriously, check out ‘Heavy Breathing’ (out now on Southern Lord) – it’s a masterpiece!
BLACK BREATH are one of my favorite young bands. They are just raw, evil and unrelenting. I’ve been hooked since seeing the band play a mind-blowing set at Power of the Riff Festival – so much so that I went out to see them play an instore the very next night in Silverlake. Now the band has unveiled a fucking rad video for the song “Unholy Virgin”. Hmm, let’s see: hot chicks… CHECK! Actually cool performance footage from the band: CHECK! A groovy, dirty metal song: CHECK!
“Unholy Virgin” comes off of their debut album for Southern Lord, ‘Heavy Breathing’. Check it out and get that album if you haven’t already!
The Secret’sSolve et Coagula is one hell of a record.
Combining the dirtiest D-beat devastation with some of black metal’s most chaotic elements, the resulting sonic tsunami is something Britain’s Anaal Nathrakh might conjure up in their worst nightmares.
“We’re pretty happy with how the record turned out,” says guitarist Mike. “There are always so many random uncontrollable factors when making an album, and this time is probably the first I feel good when I listen to it or look at the artwork.”
He continues, “I think this time we pretty much tried to say the same things we said on our previous album [the Goodfellow-released Disintoxication], we just cut out all the unnecessary parts. Basically, we stopped caring about anything but the riffs and the songs;we kept everything as pure as possible. Touring, recording and playing shows made us understand this is what we do best. It took a long time to write the first songs for the new album, but then everything else came really naturally.”
Solve et Coagula is one incredibly harsh, aggressive whirlwind of an album; an intensity which Mike reveals is the modus operandi for everything The Secret does these days.
“You are totally right, this was exactly what we wanted to do with Solve et Coagula, trying to keep it intense for whole record. This band is an output for all our negativity and our music is the result. I grew up listening to a lot of early 90′s black metal, and then started to go to punk and hardcore shows when I was sixteen. I also like a lot of Scandinavian grindcore, d-beat, and crust bands, so both metal and hardcore have influenced our sound. I also have gone back to listening to a lot of early 90′s death and black metal i loved when i was thirteen.”
Though the band hails from Trieste, Italy, The Secret ended up going American for both the label and studio aspects of the deal, signing with Southern Lord Records and tracking Solve et Coagula with Kurt Ballou at God City Studios in Salem, Massachusetts.
“Italy is absolutely not famous for its rock and heavy metal history,” admits Mike, “but surprisingly this new record is going pretty well at home. We’re getting a much more positive response than in the past and we really couldn’t be happier about it. It is weird how most people here seem to pay more attention to what comes from the States or UK, and being on an American label probably helped us a bit. It might sound like a paradox but often Italian press needs an American ‘approval’ before giving Italian bands a chance.”
The guitarist continues, “It’s actually pretty hard to find a good recording studio here in Italy. Obviously, there are some good ones, but we felt working with Kurt would be a new, inspiring experience. We really love his style, and how all of his records don’t sound the same. He’s definitely one of the best in making raw, real, heavy music and we’ve been absolutely satisfied with the experience. Kurt is a very intelligent and talented musician and producer and someone who is easy to work with; I really hope to have a chance to work with him in the future.”
Finally, Solve et Coagula can be translated or defined as “to separate and join together.” Mike explains the significance of this title to the band, and how it fits into the lyrical concepts and musical inspiration.
“Solve et Coagula” means the necessity of destroying to ‘rebuild’. We really liked this concept, and we decided use it for the album title. We’re big fans of Alejandro Jodorowsky and his movie The Holy Mountain has definitely been an inspiration. Lyrics are all written by our singer Marco, and the lyrical theme of the record is the loss of faith in pretty much every organized institution. It’s a straight-forward attack against politics, religion and every way society tries to control us.”
