Brazilian death metal unit REBAELLIUN unveils guitar playthrough video for the recently released single “In heresy We Trust”. Watch guitarist Evandro Passos roam through the song, taken from “Under The Sign Of Rebellion”. The album is set to be released September 22nd on Agonia Records.
“Under The Sign Of Rebellion” is a death metal manifest of anger and defiance, rage and resistance, sparked by the falsehood and corruption that have plagued Brazil in recent years. The album’s intense cannonade of brutal riffing, battering drumming and hard-charging rhythms mirrors the many adversities the three-piece was forced to overcome en route to its completion.
Commented by REBAELLIUN: “When we started the compositions for the next album, we didn’t imagine that we would go through a global pandemic, along with it, a retrograde and conservative uprising here in Brazil; in addition to, over time, a government that proved to be spurious and corrupt. When we started recording, we didn’t have lyrics, because the pandemic had messed up and delayed everyone’s lives, so, in a moment of pure anger for everything that was happening around us, we decided to start recording even without rehearsals. The indignation was so big, that we wanted to vent everything we were feeling. The lyrics were written in opposition to what we here call ‘cidadão de bem’ or ‘good people’, exposing the fallacy that is the life of these abject beings. Under The Sign Of Rebellion is an album that tries to demonstrate – through death metal – the insanities of life.”
“Under The Sign Of Rebellion” is the last album of REBAELLIUN to feature the late bassist/vocalist Lohy Fabiano (1978-2022), who played on all of the band’s albums except for the debut, “Burn The Promised Land”, from 1999.
Until REBAELLIUN‘s dissolution in 2002, the trio celebrated its most potent period, having released two studio albums via Hammerheart Records. They also played several tours – most of which took place in Europe – and shared the stage with Cannibal Corpse, Deicide, Vader and Behemoth. In 2015 the original line-up decided to reunite and released its third installment “The Hell’s Decrees”(2016). The record was followed by a European co-headlining tour with Pestilence, alongside festival shows at Party San Open Air and Brutal Assault Open Air. In 2022, Bruno Añaña has been announced as the band’s new vocalist and bassist.
“Under The Sign Of Rebellion” was recorded during summer 2021 at RR44 Studio by Rafael Siqueira and mastered by Jander Antunes. The cover artwork was created by Sebastian Suarez and the layout and booklet by Alcides Burn (Nervosa).
Tracklisting: 1. Intro 2. All Hail The Regicide 3. The Gods Manace 4. Fear The Infidel 5. Insurgent Fire 6. Light Eater 7. The Decimating Opposition 8. In Heresy We Trust 9. Hostile Presence 10. Antagonize 11. The Ultimate War
Tour dates: 03.11 Winter Rising Fest – Paris, FR 04.11 Music On – Den Haag, NL 05.11 Elpee Cafe – Deinze, BEL 07.11 TBA – GER 08.11 Klub Muz L – Wroclaw, PL 09.11 Hells Bells – Prague, CZ 10.11 Gustaf K – Maribor, Słowenia 11.11 D.O.G. Fest – Milan, IT
St. Louis horror metal outfit THE LION’S DAUGHTER will be releasing its brand new full-length, ‘Bath House,’ on October 13, 2023 as an independent entity! The band has teamed up with Knotfest to premiere their viscous new single, “Maximize Terror,” which can be found at THIS LOCATION.
“The intention of ‘Maximize Terror’ is just what the title suggests… it’s a violent panic attack nightmare. It’s the past two years of my dealing with a terrible anxiety disorder condensed into 3 and half minutes.”
In addition, The Lion’s Daughter will be performing live later this year! On October 13, the band will have a special Friday the 13th album release party in its hometown of St. Louis, MO. Then, the band will hit Black Circle Brewing in Indianapolis, IN on 11/11 for another rager! The full itinerary can be found below with more dates TBA!
The artwork for ‘Bath House’ was created by UK artist Daniel Peacock.
‘Bath House’ Tracklist: Bath House (4:10) [WATCH] Maximize Terror (3:24) Your Pets Died on TV (4:19) Liminal Blue (4:11) Rerouted (4:22) 12-31-89 (4:47) Crawler Night (5:12) She Does Not Exist (3:40) End Credits (5:19)
The Lion’s Daughter Live Dates (U.S.): 10/13: St. Louis, MO @ Red Flag (Album Release Show) 11/11: Indianapolis, IN @ Black Circle Brewing
“What we did see… was something altogether different, and immeasurably more hideous and detestable. It was the utter, objective embodiment of the fantastic novelist’s ‘thing that should not be.’” – H.P. Lovecraft, “At The Mountains of Madness”
Some creations are designed to elicit nightmares, evoking unspeakable terrors that are meant to shock, terrify, and mesmerize the masses. Since the release of its first full-length in 2012, The Lion’s Daughter has consistently put forth music that is just as disturbing as it is enticing, making a name for itself as a dark force among its musical contemporaries. And much like an eldritch horror, the band is constantly shape shifting like a Shoggoth, capable of fitting into many different musical spaces, while at the same time, fitting into no earthly dimensions just as an ancient alien rising up from centuries of arctic slumber with a mission to destroy and conquer.
And much like the Shoggoth, The Lion’s Daughter have defied all gods and masters, releasing its latest opus as an independent entity, breaking away from the corporate confines of a label. ‘Bath House’ is another generically unclassified masterpiece from the St. Louis horror quartet, pulling elements from everything from Faith No More to Godflesh to Samhain, creating a sound that’s way ahead of its time and yet certain to grab the listener by the throat.
“Saying that this album was influenced by everything-that-I’ve-ever-liked-ever isn’t a very good answer, but it’s an accurate one,” explains frontman Rick Giordano on the band’s unique sound. “I turned the left side of my brain off completely and let a lifetime of soaking up great art just come to the surface naturally. There are bits of all the things I love in there… from old Metallica to film scores to industrial and whatever else, but I think these things have melded together in a way that is cohesive and not just nonsensical genre-hopping. There are clean vocals and guitar solos, a lot of things that we’ve never tried before. It really feels like you uploaded my entire record collection to a hard drive and had an AI create an album based on that.”
As the music itself on ‘Bath House’ is a representation of Giordano’s musical palette, the lyrics are perhaps the darkest and most vulnerable of his career. The band strays away from fantasy on this record and instead, gets raw and relatable. “It’s all really ugly shit,” he says of the new album’s themes. “Which, for our band, is not shocking at all. But this time around, it’s all much more personal to me, which makes it a bit difficult and uncomfortable to talk about. I wasn’t in a great place while writing this record. Grief, fear, jealousy, and general devastation can be found all over this thing. That wasn’t my intention exactly, but like the music, I let the lyrics kind of write themselves without letting logic or reason interfere.”
To further illustrate the darkness that dwells within ‘Bath House,’ The Lion’s Daughter commissioned a perverse and unnerving image from UK artist Daniel Peacock for the album cover. The image not only works well in cohesion with the record, but also symbolizes that while ‘Bath House’ still very much carries the band’s signature sound, it still isn’t exactly what fans might expect. Giordano explains, “Our previous two album covers featured masked characters. I wanted to see what happens when you take the mask off. This record isn’t shrouded in mystery the same way the previous couple have been. It’s much more of an in your face kind of attack, and I felt the artwork should represent that. This horrible creature looks dangerous and frightening, but is also clearly in pain and also afraid. It’s the perfect image to represent whatever the fuck ugly thing lives in my head. On this record it is no longer hiding behind a mask… it is loose and it’s right outside your fucking house.”
As the St. Louis horror masters set forth on a new trajectory, the former trio has also added Black Fast guitarist Aaron Akin to the lineup, creating a sound that’s more intense and grand. “Aaron was the guitarist and vocalist of a band called Black Fast. They were hands down the best metal band to come out of St. Louis in decades. Once they disbanded, it was a no-brainer to try and get the guy who fronted my favorite local band to be in my band. Why wouldn’t I? Plus, as anyone who knows Aaron will tell you, he’s an all around great guy,” explains Giordano on how this new union came about.
And as a new union has been formed, former binds have been severed as The Lion’s Daughter is no longer tied to a label, doing this record fully independently for the first time in its career and taking full and total control. “It’s just nice to have 100% control over everything again,” Giordano says of the band’s new freedom. “That was the whole intention when we started this band years ago. We lost sight of that for a while. No disrespect intended towards anyone, but this band has always been pretty anti-music industry and anti-bullshit.”
Despite so many changes, The Lion’s Daughter is still the same band that cult followers have come to worship, but with everything cranked up to 11. With heavier music, a fuller sound, and darker themes, the band is maximizing terror with its monstrous brand of debauchery and unspeakable perversions. Unpleasant dreams…
Recording Lineup: Rick Giordano – vocals, guitars, bass, synths Erik Ramsier – drums Scott Fogelbach – additional vocals on tracks 2, 7, 8
Live Lineup: Rick Giordano – guitar and vocals Scott Fogelbach – bass and vocals Aaron Akin – guitar Erik Ramsier – drums
Guest Musicians: Sarah Vie – violin and vocals on tracks 2, 4, 7, 9
Just in time for the release of their highly anticipated upcoming album, Ýdalir, Viking metal icons SKÁLMÖLD unleash their infectious title track, “Ýdalir”, together with a gripping official performance video. Through a collection of awe-inspiring songs, guided by the threads of fate spun by Urður, Verðandi, and Skuld, experience a captivating narrative that blurs the boundaries of reality and myth on the band’s upcoming full-length album, Ýdalir, out this Friday, August 18, 2023 via Napalm Records.
Immerse yourself in the breathtaking beauty of “Ýdalir”, a haven nestled amidst lush valleys filled with yew trees. A galloping rhythm and melodic riffs dominate the title track while a fight of growls and screams represent the darkness of Níðhöggur, threatening to destroy the tranquil existence.
Releasing their first record in five years, SKÁLMÖLD have returned with furious sets – such as their performance at Wacken Open Air (which even the President of Iceland himself made a point of attending) and their upcoming show at Summer Breeze.
Björgvin Sigurðsson on “Ýdalir”: “The third single we present to you from our upcoming album is the title track, ‘ÝDALIR’. Here we get to know a little about ULLUR and his home in ÝDALIR, and are introduced to the horrors he and his folk must face.
Two things I would like to mention regarding this song are, first, the majority of the song was written by our drummer, Jón Geir. He has written riffs and melodies before, but this is the first time he presents to us what became the backbone of a song. The opening riff and verse are very straight forward and menacing and you can sense the danger ULLUR and his folk are facing. And then comes the melody in the chorus. Such a strong melody which could have easily been written in 1988 and recorded for Seventh Son, if you ask me.
Second, we have to talk about the guitar solo. Þráinn is such a monster when it comes to guitar solos and has done some fantastic solos for us in the past. But here he gives us what might be his best guitar solo to date. Good stuff.
So, ÝDALIR is a song that we are very proud to present to you and I can see this song becoming a constant in our live set for years to come. And now we just have to wait a few more days until you can enjoy the album as a whole. It´s gonna be a blast. Cheers!”
Starting off with soothing opener “Ýr“, gentle acoustic guitar and organs are the calm before the storm. Catapulted to a dwelling owned by the god Ullur, the unsettled “Ýdalir“ builds with its hypnotizing guitar rhythms and galloping drum sounds, building a solid ground for ominous and dark growls. Based on Norse mythology, the sister “Skuld” makes up a trio of Norns, responsible for deciding the fate of people. Remarkable clean tenor vocals guide through the mystic mood, breaking up the heavy horizon with a fast-paced guitar solo and underlined by eerie bass lines. Closing the album, the stunning ten-minute track “Ullur” invites the listener into a colorful journey of melodic folk metal. Accompanied by roaring fire, the lyrics conform to some of the Old Norse poetic forms and create a magnificent interaction of oboe and keyboard elements, while the catchy guitar riff rises dramatically with the more eerie-like harmonies, providing a cinematic, epic ending. With Ýdalir, SKÁLMÖLD showcases a blend of both ancient and modernized cultural heritage, and connects precious sagas with thrilling black metal elements while folk metal melodies give them an enigmatic touch.
Festival Shows: 17.08.23 CZ – Moravsky Krumlov / Rock Castle 18.08.23 DE – Dinkelsbühl / Summer Breeze 22.-24.09.23 NO – Oslo / DE – Kiel / Full Metal Cruise
Iceland Shows: 15.09.23 IS – Reykjavík, Háskólabíó 16.09.23 IS – Akureyri, Hof
Ýdalir European Tour 2023: w/ Metsatöll & Atavistia
13.10.23 DK – Copenhagen / Lille Vega 14.10.23 DE – Hamburg / Headcrash 15.10.23 DE – Trier / Mergener Hof 16.10.23 DE – Cologne / Gebäude 9 17.10.23 FR – Paris / Backstage O’Sullivan 18.10.23 CH – Monthey / Pont Rouge 19.10.23 CH – Solothurn / Kofmehl Raumbar 20.10.23 FR – Sélestat / Rock Your Brain Festival 21.10.23 DE – Mannheim / MS Connexion 22.10.23 DE – Munich / Backstage 23.10.23 AT – Vienna / Szene 24.10.23 AT – Graz / Explosiv 25.10.23 HU – Budapest / Analog Music Hall 26.10.23 SK – Kosice / Collosseum 27.10.23 PL – Bielsko-Biala / Rude Boy 28.10.23 PL – Lublin / Studio
SKÁLMÖLD are: Baldur Ragnarsson – Guitar, vocals Björgvin Sigurðsson – Lead vocals, guitar Gunnar Ben – Keyboard, vocals, oboe Jón Geir Jóhannsson – Drums, vocals Snæbjörn Ragnarsson – Bass, vocals Þráinn Árni Baldvinsson – Lead guitar, vocals
Neue Deutsche Härte legends OOMPH! have released the captivating title track of their upcoming 14th album, Richter und Henker, out on September 8, 2023 via Napalm Records! Having charted at #1 on the Official German Album Charts with their successful previous album, Ritual (2019), and reaching over 25 million streams on their biggest hit “Augen Auf!” on Spotify, it is safe to say that both fans and critics are anxiously awaiting the new album, once again recorded entirely by the band themselves. The upcoming full-length kicks off a new era as it marks the first album with a new lineup, as CR4P and FLUX are joined by new vocalist DER SCHULZ.
Accompanied by an official music video, “Richter und Henker” captivates the listener with a mixture of hooky guitars and chanting vocals, while criticizing ignorant social movements. Countless massive international tours and festival appearances have paved the massively successful band’s way, and this November fans get the chance to catch OOMPH!’s new lineup live on tour.
OOMPH! on “Richter und Henker”: “Richter und Henker” deals with communication and behavior, especially on social media these days, where dissenters get defamed: ‘If you don’t support my opinion, you’re against me. Then you are stupid and I hate and insult you and won’t listen to you anymore’. This can easily lead to a loss of objective discussions, which are crucial in a democracy. Irresponsible populists sow hatred and discontent in order to make political and monetary profit from it. Germany, the so-called land of poets and thinkers, is in danger of becoming the land of judges and executioners [ger: Richter und Henker] – and we’ve been through that before… In the video for the song, we perform in an old, run-down mansion, which symbolizes the impending decay of society. In the calm interlude, reason – personified by our young performer – is put up against the wall by an execution squad.”
OOMPH! on the new album: “Working together in this new constellation has spurred our creativity in the studio to the extreme. There will be some nice musical developments and surprises on the new album, Richter und Henker, without neglecting our typical OOMPH! constants. Even our usual “test listeners” say the album sounds unmistakably like OOMPH! We can’t wait to finally present the songs to you and play them live on tour!”
Richter und Henker Tracklisting: 1 Wem die Stunde schlägt 2 Richter und Henker 3 Soll das Liebe sein? 4 Nur ein Mensch 5 Schrei nur schrei 6 Nichts wird mehr gut 7 Sag jetzt einfach nichts 8 Es ist nichts, wie es scheint 9 Wo die Angst gewinnt 10 All die Jahre 11 Wut feat. Joachim Witt 12 Ein kleines bisschen Glück
Richter und Henker clearly proves that OOMPH! are back stronger than before with their new line up, charging straight forward! Album opener “Wem Die Stunde Schlägt” (en: For Whom The Bell Tolls) makes an immediate statement, propelled by a hefty dose of industrial metal. New wave influences are present on heavy and groovy anti-war anthem “Nur Ein Mensch” (en: Only A Human) – a future hit and strong sign against warmongering and empty slogans that force hatred and war. On “Wut” (Anger), OOMPH! is supported by none other than genre idol Joachim Witt.
Since their formation in 1989, OOMPH! has emerged as a highly influential band that has even inspired later Neue Deutsche Härte giants. With Richter und Henker, the Neue Deutsche Härte masters prove that they remain a leading force in the scene!
OOMPH! Live 2023: w/ Böse Fuchs 02.11.23 DE – Hanover / Capitol 03.11.23 DE – Hamburg / Markthalle 04.11.23 DE – Dresden / Tante Ju 05.11.23 DE – Berlin / Huxley’s Neue Welt 07.11.23 PL – Poznan / Tama 08.11.23 CZ – Prague / Meet Factory 09.11.23 AT – Vienna / Simm City 10.11.23 DE – Munich / Backstage Werk 12.11.23 DE – Bochum / Zeche 13.11.23 DE – Frankfurt / Batschkapp 14.11.23 DE – Ludwigsburg / Scala 16.11.23 FR – Paris / La Trabendo 17.11.23 FR – Lyon / Marché Gare 18.11.23 FR – Strasbourg / La Laiterie 19.11.23 CH – Solothurn / Kofmehl 21.11.23 DE – Cologne / Live Music Hall 22.11.23 NL – Arnhem / Luxor 23.11.23 DE – Onsabrück / Hydepark 24.11.23 DE – Rostock / Mau Club
Hard rock band THE LONELY ONES have released a brand new single “One More Time Around” along with the official music video!
Check out HERE The Lonely One’s New Single “One More Time Around”.
“What if David Bowie, Oliver Tree, and Guns N’ Roses got together to write a modern/alt rock ballad about heartbreak and second chances? It would probably sound like our new single ‘One More Time Around’. We recorded it at Sonic Lounge studios by legendary producer Joe Viers (KISS TwentyOne Pilots Starset).”
The Lonely Ones Tour Dates:
8/17 @ Chrome Horse Saloon in Cedar Rapids, IA 8/18 @ Cavalier Theater in La Crosse, WI 8/19@ North Woods Rock Rally in Glen Flora, WI 9/2 @ Echo Room in Lebanon, IN 9/3 @ Taste of Madison in Madison, WI 10/21 @ The Music Factory in Battle Creek, MI 10/22 @ Top Fuel Saloon in Braidwood, IL 11/9 @ Rookies RocHaus in West Dundee, IL 11/10 @ Crystal Grand Music Theatre in Wisconsin Dells, WI w/ Slaughter 11/11 @ The Back Bar in Janesville, WI
Formed in the summer of 2019, The Lonely Ones are a four piece, vocal-oriented hard rock band with an ear for melody and a taste for success. The group features Marty McCoy on guitar / vocals, Tommy Johnson on drums, Jymmy Tolland on guitar / vocals and Tru Roberts on bass / vocals. Being no strangers to the hardships of the music industry, The Lonely Ones consist of former members of Bobaflex. Together, they knew what they wanted and knew how to get it; by combining their knowledge and experiences to achieve a common goal. With determined perseverance and an energized drive to triumph, they were ready to release their first two singles independently in March of 2020; with the titles “Eternal Sadness” and “The Lonely One.”
A few months after their initial introduction to the world of rock, the band decided to take a major leap of faith and release their re-imagined version of Queen’s classic song “Flash.” There’s always the risk of scrutiny and criticism when it comes to covering classic songs, especially ones that are still regarded with high praise from the still thriving fan base, but the band was confident their rendition would not only honor the original but also garner renewed attention for the hit theme. Any doubts were squashed when the song and video were met with rave reviews, including those of Brian May from Queen and Sam J. Jones, Flash Gordon himself.
Brian May was quoted as saying,“What a fantastic cover! I didn’t realize they were going to go into The Hero and the whole reprise … magnificent!”
Sam J Jones adds,“This is one of the best covers I have ever heard and seen. What a gifted group – The Lonely Ones are for every one of us, from the 1980’s to right now!”
Humbled by the response from fans, listeners and legends in the entertainment industry, the band was spurred on in their pursuit to create groundbreaking original music. In September of 2020, The Lonely Ones released another brand new single titled “Real Big Trouble.” What started out as a fun and creative session quickly turned out to be one of their most rewarding. This is one of the heaviest songs the band has ever written, but it also gives a look into what sounds inspire them, such as Thin Lizzy and Beartooth.
By February of 2021, the band had signed on with Imagen Records and released another single called “Change the Station.” This release had 9 active rock stations add the single in the first week and they were a feature artist on Spotify’s Rock Hard editorial playlist as well as over 100 other playlists in the first week as well.
The next release through Imagen was “Dyin’ All Night Long” in June of 2021. A song about an abusive relationship and how often times excuses are made over and over for that person. The lyrics come from the perspective of a victim having had enough of it.
The band released two more singles titled “Gettin’ High” (2021) and “The Way Out” (2022) via Imagen Records before ultimately going independent. The band spent the summer of 2022 getting back to the grind and writing new songs. The Lonely Ones’ latest release “Bedroom Door” in October of 2022, is one of many to be debuted in the year 2023.
The Lonely Ones have played shows with Sevendust, Nonpoint, Fozzy, Royal Bliss, Seven Year Witch, Black Top Mojo, September Mourning and many more.
In addition, the band is endorsed by: Orange Amps, Westone Audio, Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, Evan’s Heads, Vater Sticks, Ibanez, Frog Amplification, Tech 21 Amplification, Michael Kelly Guitars, SIT Strings, Rare Buzz Effects and Strüng, which is guitar string jewelry that raises money for music education.
The time is finally here! HORRENDOUS is now streaming their entire new album ‘Ontological Mysterium‘ in advance of the release date! The new offering will drop worldwide on the 18th of August, but can already be listened to in full HERE.
When Horrendous started writing their fifth album, Philly’s filthiest and finest death metal band wanted to channel the bombast of classic late ’80s and early ’90s heavy metal. They were awfully successful, too. But with ‘Ontological Mysterium’ these guys made a classic of their own.
HORRENDOUS comments: “We can’t believe the time has come to unveil Ontological Mysterium! An indescribable amount of determination, suffering, joy, and love went into this record, from the first seeds of writing in early 2019, through periods of extreme rethinking and revision over the pandemic lockdown, to the adrenaline-fueled, highly experimental, and at times circus-like recording sessions. We feel that this is the most “Horrendous” album yet – the one that best distills who we are and celebrates how far we’ve come on this continuing journey. We hope that you enjoy OM, and that it breathes some wonder into your life during these trying times.”
In celebration of this great news, HORRENDOUS are hosting a listening party for their new album on Bandcamp tomorrow at 9 pm EST. Fans can listen to the album while chatting with members of the band. RSVP for the listening party HERE.
Order “Ontological Mysterium + Limited Vinyl Frankenstein edition with Daniel Warren Johnson poster HERE and Download/stream the albumHERE
The cover artwork for “Ontological Mysterium” was designed by Brian Smith.
Tracklist: 1. The Blaze (02:00) 2. Chrysopoeia (The Archaeology of Dawn) (07:16) 3. Neon Leviathan (03:30) 4. Aurora Neoterica (01:56) 5. Preterition Hymn (03:58) [LISTEN HERE] 6. Cult of Shaad’oah (05:24) 7. Exeg(en)esis, (03:38) 8. Ontological Mysterium (04:44) [WATCH HERE] 9. The Death Knell Ringeth (05:20) Total run time: 37:44
“Surprises always come up during writing — spontaneous ideas pull you into new territory and enable the realization of novel possibilities that previously were inaccessible.”
Such are the words from HORRENDOUS drummer Jamie Knox when discussing the creation of the band’s fifth full-length, the highly anticipated Ontological Mysterium. Knox’s quote also encapsulates HORRENDOUS’s approach to extreme metal. Since 2009, the band has capably tapped into the inaccessible by providing a fresh, unconventional take on death metal that harnesses technical brilliance with elaborate, mind-melding melodies, frothy, spewing vocals and labyrinthine song structures. This combination has made each HORRENDOUS long player a clinic in the gratifyingly unorthodox. The trend continues on Ontological Mysterium.
The follow-up to 2018’s Idol was recorded, mixed and mastered at Subterranean Watchtower Studios in Virginia, which doubles as the homestead of guitarist/vocalist Damian Herring. While the band (completed by guitarist/vocalist Matt Knox and bassist Alex Kulick) finished much of the songwriting for Ontological Mysterium in 2019, its recording was delayed by the 2020 global pandemic and various life events. HORRENDOUS eventually finished recording in early 2022 and mastered the album before the start of 2023.
The album upholds HORRENDOUS’s position as one of the underground’s best outside-of-the-box extreme metal bands. Having long abandoned concern whether people would appreciate their “uniqueness,” HORRENDOUS has embraced its role as a band willing to veer far from death metal conventions, intentionally stretching and breaking norms. To wit, the band primarily views its music as filtered through a death metal lens. This may be HORRENDOUS’s defining trait: By not accepting parameters, nothing is off-limits.
In comparison to the complex, off-kilter vibe of Idol, Ontological Mysterium emerges as a more direct, if not confident, album, at times, recalling HORRENDOUS’s critically acclaimed 2015 opus, Anareta. The vocals of Matt Knox and Herring serve up an array of asphyxiating, phlegm-filled volleys that remain the ideal counterpoint to the band’s jarring, multifaceted material. Moreover, HORRENDOUS remains unafraid to adorn their songs with lavish guitar melodies to offset frequently strenuous riffing. But the members of HORRENDOUS have long cited their affinity for metal’s glory years. It ended up being one of the defining traits of their new album.
“Ontological Mysterium is partly our love letter to the bombastic spirit of heavy metal from the ’80s and early ’90s,” says Matt Knox.
“Yet, even as it looks back on this legacy, it also gazes ahead to the future — an aural head of Janus encompassing our love of the genre while also forging a new vision for its future,” continues Jamie Knox. “We set out to expand the technicality from Idol and to continue to challenge ourselves musically while leaning more heavily into the ‘anthemic’ heavy metal feeling that better permeated some of our pre-Idol material — that larger-than-life vibe that makes all the greats like Judas Priest great. We wanted to make this record more immediately fun. As always, we try to surprise ourselves with new ideas for structures and rhythms so that the material feels fresh. Our sphere of influences is ever expanding as we evolve as music listeners.”
Jamie Knox notes HORRENDOUS’s penchant for spontaneous jams at the start of band practice as the catalyst for several Ontological Mysterium cuts, notably “Exeg(en)ensis,” one of their most unpredictable songs to date. “We just hit record on someone’s iPhone during the jam and realized that we had ‘composed’ something that felt like a song, but with a very specific, lively energy,” he says. “Something that still feels like HORRENDOUS, but almost from a different vantage point. We crafted the song’s basic structure from the jam’s ideas, filled in a few gaps, and made an effort to inject some of that spontaneity during the recording process.”
The Ontological Mysterium title translates to the “mystery of being.” HORRENDOUS has previously tackled a wide range of topics dealing with the human psyche and matters of the existential. According to Jamie Knox, HORRENDOUS opted to deal with broad themes of growth and evolution — with a more positive bent.
“This wasn’t something preconceived,” he says. “I think it just reflects what was on our mind over these last hectic years. I wouldn’t say the lyrics were a direct reaction to Idol, but I think one could view them as stepping beyond that negativity and moving forward into a different and necessary future — one in which you step up as the protagonist. Perhaps these lyrics do serve as a sequel to some of the Idol material.” The release of Ontological Mysterium will carry HORRENDOUS into 2024 — the band’s 15th anniversary. The members of HORRENDOUS have long walked the delicate tightrope between their passion for the band and their responsibilities back home. The period surrounding Idol prompted soul-searching amongst the band (Jamie Knox calls them “comparatively bleak times”), but it appears HORRENDOUS is ready to hit the ground running to support their newest creation.
“At this point, we want to wave the HORRENDOUS banner high in a way that we perhaps didn’t around Idol and continue on this path that we’ve forged,” says Jamie Knox. “We are very proud of Ontological Mysterium and what our band has become — it’s almost like we’ve figured out how to make this band work amidst the wildness of adult life. This entity feels worth celebrating and feeding to see where it might take us next. “We didn’t give Idol its fair due on the road,” he closes. “We plan to play much more this time around and in new places like Europe. The first round of shows to support the album is in the works now, and more will follow with time. Also, Ontological Mysterium definitely will not be our last album. While it has become more difficult to meet, we have an abundance of new material and ideas and are eager to begin shaping what will ultimately become our sixth album. I’m sure we’ll start the process soon.”
Recording Studio: Subterranean Watchtower Studio Mixing + Mastering: Damian Herring
Line-up: Matthew Knox Jamie Knox Damian Herring Alex Kulick
THE ROCK ALCHEMIST – Italian Rock Band from Turin with a strong sonic identity that blends modern rock with progressive, hard, alternative, and pop elements!
Kimmo Kuusniemi’s SARCOFAGUS return with a Historic 2010 Concert Video Premiere on YouTube! Click image to watch the video
