L-R – Corey Wharton (Bass), Bradley Trivett (Guitar), Daniel Beavington (Drums), Stephen Atkey (Vocals)
– Photographer Credit – Bradley Trivett
Canadian progressive grunge rockers HUNTING GIANTS are sharing their next video for the track “Kindred” off their latest album “Mythos” released this past November. “Mythos” is the new crowning achievement from Hunting Giants who have put in many years of musical work, writing, and recording while gigging and enduring quarantine as a band during the Covid pandemic. The album’s goal is to grab listeners and amaze them with intricate woven stories, energetic riffs, and distinctive vocals. The album is meant to be an adventure, with each track having its own flavour and setting; the songs are worlds unto themselves. All of the music on the release contribute to a listening experience that is much more than the sum of its parts. The material is an addictive encounter that will keep you coming back.
The band explains in further detail about “Kindred”:
“Opening up with the flight of guitars as they soar over a pounding bass riff, this song is about casting away the pain and trauma of the past and coming together as allies with those whom we once saw as enemies. The open chords of the chorus leave room for the bass and percussion to accent the coming riff as the vocal sing about the power of unification. The bridge drops into a monologue where our protagonist is faced with one final challenge. This gives way to a last verse where we as the listener are given the choice to decide what happens in our futures. The triumphant outro hints of Queens of the Stone Age as the vocal harmonies ease into a final harmonized note.”
Hunting Giants is recommended for those who enjoy 90s grunge, heavy rock, and prog, especially fans of Alice In Chains, I Mother Earth, Soundgarden, Tool, and Audioslave.
“Mythos” is available on CD and digital at the following links:
Indie rock band THE INTEMPERATE SONS released their new single “Unrealized” to all major platforms! The single is from their highly anticipated new album Game of Keep Away that will be released via FRAME|WORK in 2023.
“The first cut off the upcoming album, Game of Keep Away is called “Unrealized”. The Intemperate Sons once again teamed up with Amir Derakh at the producing and mixing helm to work on this track and the second album to be released in 2023. “Unrealized” is the story of being trapped within the walls of your mind and the self-destructive ways you end up keeping yourself there while everyone around you sees your potential. The Intemperate Sons will follow up the single release with a new video on 1/6/2023 that was filmed by Ardent Owl Media and Ryan Whitehead. The track was recorded at The Kitchen Recording Studios in Dallas, TX. All mastering is done by Mike Marsh Mastering in the U.K. ” says the band.
Formed in the summer of 2019 in Dallas, TX, The Intemperate Sons are an up-and-coming alternative rock band that are a cool concoction of hard rock mixed with folk and grunge. The band has earned a serious reputation of writing and performing tracks that scratch deep into the groove of the human experience. There is no shortage of darkness to their writing style. Their music has a total retro vibe with many guitar driven tracks stacked on top of a groovy rhythm section. Their heavier retro style sits perfectly under the two and three-part vocal harmonies that are a huge part of their sound. The Intemperate Sons are a family band with its members Keith Watson (drums), Jake Watson (guitars), and Max Watson (vocals, guitars, keys) all being related by blood. Mark Marks provides the groove at bass to tie it all together. It has been said that musicians that are related form unique sounds and communicate on a frequency only they can understand. This frequency has become engrained in their songwriting, arrangements, guitar melodies, and vocal harmonies. The band has been compared to Alice in Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, and REM.
The Intemperate Sons are: Max Watson (vocals, backing vocals, guitars, keys, bass) Jake Watson (guitars, bass and backing vocals) Keith Watson (drums, backing vocals) Mark Marks (bass)
The Intemperate Sons Show Dates: Sat Jan 14 @ Hanover’s Draught Haus in Pflugerville, TX Sat Jan 28 @ Rob’s Billiards Sports Bar w/Empire Cats in Euless, TX Sat Feb 11 @ O’Riley’s in Dallas, TX Sat Mar 18 @ Viper Room in West Hollywood, CA
Attention rock/metal music fans! Follow the yellow brick road to The Emerald Cities Tour, featuring NONPOINT with special guests Blacktop Mojo and Sumo Cyco. This all immersive “Twisted Wizard of Oz” themed tour will transport you from the second you walk in the venue with visuals and amazing live performances that are sure to have you pitting in the mynical streets of Munchkinland!
The tour will be traveling through their top cities, including Virginia Beach, Houston, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Atlanta, and Tampa (Ybor City). This is your chance to take a musical journey and witness the critically acclaimed live shows of Nonpoint, Blacktop Mojo, and Sumo Cyco firsthand. Don’t miss out on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rock out in the Land of Oz.. Get your tickets now before they’re all gone!
Additionally you’ll have the chance to gain access to watch them soundcheck, get autographs, early access to the venue and merchandise, snap some pics with the band in front of the stage, then make your way to THEIR TOUR BUS to listen to unreleased demos from 1997, demos they’re currently working on and be a part of the music making process as one of their VIPs, because after listening you get to vote on which songs Nonpoint should work on next to release to the public. Don’t miss out on this unforgettable experience!
March 2nd – Virginia Beach, VA @ Elevation 27 March 3rd – Fredericksburg, VA @ Hard Times Four Mile Park March 4th – Jacksonville, NC @ Hooligans March 5th – Greensboro, NC @ Hangar 1819 March 7th – Johnson City, TN @ Capones March 8th – Spartanburg, SC @ Ground Zero March 10th – Tampa, FL @ The Ritz Ybor March 11th – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Culture Room March 12th – Jacksonville, FL @ Underbelly March 14th – Chattanooga, TN @ Barrelhouse Ballroom March 15th – Nashville, TN @ Basement East March 17th – Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade (Hell) March 18th – Biloxi, MS @ Point Cadet Plaza March 19th – Little Rock, AR @ Rev Room March 21st – Lawrence, KS @ Bottleneck March 22nd – Tulsa, OK @ Vanguard March 24th – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live March 25th – Dallas, TX @ Trees March 26th – San Antonio, TX @ Rock Box
Nonpoint is: Elias Soriano (Lead Vocals) Robb Rivera (Drums) Rasheed Thomas (Guitar /Backing Vocals) Adam Woloszyn (Bass) Jason Zeilstra (Lead Guitar)
“The Birth,” featured on HYAENA‘s album “The Ground, The Light, The Sound,” was re-recorded this year for its 30th anniversary, giving it new life! The track was recorded at La Fucina Studio by the legendary Giacomo Jac Salani. On keyboards we have Andrea Zingoni, on bass Massimiliano Leggieri, Gabriele Bellini on guitar and Michel Agostini on drums.
Another re-recorded single “DANCE UNDER THE MOON” is ONLINE! A song originally released on “The Ground, The Light, The Sound” in 1992, it has been re-recorded by Gabriele Bellini, Massimiliano Leggieri and Andrea Zingoni! The track was recorded at La Fucina Studio by Giacomo Jac Salani. Drums played by Michel Agostini.
Dark Essence Records will kick off 2023 with the release of “Avstand”, the fourth full-length album from Norwegian Heavy Rockers SLEGEST, and, whilst fans are waiting for the 20th January so that they can get their hands on it, the label has today released a new single from the album, together with an accompanying video.
“Forløysning og Rus” is the track that has been chosen, and its title and content have a particular significance for the band, as they explain:
“Forløysning og Rus” means “redemption and intoxication”, two important components in SLEGEST. The song bursts with energy and nasty riffs, and can easily be played at maximum volume.
The single “Forløysning og Rus” can be streamed or downloaded from a number of services at this location.
Whilst the video, which was filmed by Håvard Nesbø and is shot at an abandoned farm and an old house of worship in the band’s hometown of Leikanger, can be seen on YouTube, below.
Formed in 2010 by guitarist and vocalist Ese, SLEGEST started life as a solo project and it wasn’t until 2013 that it evolved into a recording and live band. Aside from Ese, today’s lineup comprises Sør on guitars, Hövard on bass, and the newly announced drummer Chris. In fact, it is the arrival of Chris, whose previous experience playing live with the band has stood him in good stead, has proved to be significant for SLEGEST in that “Avstand” is the first album on which Ese does not play drums himself.
Known for their no-nonsense, head banging heavy rock, “Avstand” marks a change to SLEGEST’s hard-hitting heavy metal sound. It is still very much SLEGEST, with its trademark Black Metal and Classic 70’s and 80’s heavy rock overtones, but this time the band has chosen to freshen things up by upping the tempo a bit.
Inspired by Nietzsche’s The Birth of Tragedy, “Avstand” was mixed by Herbrand Larsen at the Conclave & Earshot Studio, and mastered by Iver Sandøy at the Duper/Solslottet Studio, both in Bergen. With artwork by Tom Korsvold, “Avstand” Tracklisting is as follows:
1. Innsikt 2. Evigheit på Evigheit 3. Forløysning og Rus 4. Vinterkristus 5. Gåte 6. Er det deg Livet? 7. Til det Største som Finst 8. Oh Baby (Status Quo cover)
SLEGEST are set to join KAMPFAR on a series of dates in Norway during January and February. Routing is as follows:
JANUARY Fri 20: Rockeeller / John Dee / Centrum Scene, Oslo Sat 21: Verkstedhallen & Lobbyen, Trondheim FEBRUARY Fri 03: Ovenpaa, Kopervik Sat 04: Hulen, Bergen
Blackened death doom outfit STRIGOI, the brainchild of Greg Mackintosh (PARADISE LOST, VALLENFYRE) and Chris Casket (VALLENFYRE), have teamed up with Decibel Magazine for the exclusive release of their brand new song, “The Construct of Misery,” via the Decibel flexi series!
The only way to ensure your copy is by signing up for a deluxe Decibel subscription by Monday, January 9 at noon ET. Doom may be eternal, but this offer is not. Sign up today HERE.
The band is supporting their brand new sophomore album, ‘Viscera,’ which was released in September 2022 via Season of Mist. The record can be streamed, downloaded, and ordered HERE.
The cover artwork for ‘Viscera,’ was created by Brian Sheehan of Legerdemain Art.
Track-list 1. United in Viscera (6:44) 2. King of All Terror (2:38) [LISTEN] 3. An Ocean of Blood (4:13) [WATCH] 4. Napalm Frost (2:26) 5. Hollow (6:20) [WATCH] 6. A Begotten Son (3:51) 7. Bathed in a Black Sun (4:19) 8. Byzantine Tragedy (5:28) 9. Redeemer (2:38) 10. Iron Lung (7:55) Total: 46:32
Unsettling: it’s a word which can be used to describe a good swathe of the music which has come from the mind of Greg Mackintosh over the years, but in the context of Strigoi, it feels particularly apt.
Formed immediately after previous side project Vallenfyre had run its course, Strigoi found Greg and Vallenfyre bassist Chris Casket reconfiguring the aesthetics of that band. Their 2019 debut, Abandon All Faith, was a notable transition, taking the crust punk, death metal and grind influences which had defined Vallenfyre and deriving from those an extreme music amalgam which was altogether more…well, unsettling.
But if Abandon All Faith was a record where the memory of Vallenfyre exerted an inevitable, but important, influence, then second album Viscera is where Strigoi define and express themselves on their own terms.
“It’s the second album and we’re pushing those limits,” says Chris Casket. “The longer songs are longer; the shorter songs are shorter. It’s fully realising the concept. When we did the first album, there were certain expectations as we were coming from Vallenfyre. I felt that it was a really good transition from one to the other. But I feel that with this record, it’s more of a fully fleshed out concept. It’s pushing the light and shade further out.”
“The first album was us giving it its own identity separate from Vallenfyre, even though it’s kind of an obvious continuation, in a way,” adds Greg. “But with Viscera, it’s a combination of pushing the envelope a little bit, making it a bit less raw. Because, we had done that to the Nth degree with Vallenfyre. I’d also say there’s a bit of sound design in there, too, to make it very creepy and, yes, unsettling, sound wise.”
With Covid thwarting Strigoi’s plans to do shows to promote Abandon All Faith, Greg and Chris used the down-time to work on what would eventually become Viscera.
“We have a strange way of working,” says Chris. “I will send words, prose, whatever it may be to Greg. He likes that process, because he reads what I’ve written and it inspires the music he comes up with. I’ve never worked that way before. But that and the added time we had, the space away from things, is what I think has made Viscera what it is.”
Greg adds, “If it’s a song where Chris’ lyrics sound angry, I’ll do a song that’s more, I guess, grounded in the essence of early grindcore. Something that expresses that mood. But if it’s something more sombre or unnerving, then I’ll start with a bit of sound design and work towards riffs. I’ve always thought of music in terms of visuals, and that might come from the lyrics. The last song on the album, ‘Iron Lung’, for example: I actually said to Chris that I had an idea for a song where it feels that you can’t breathe, that it feels like you’ve got a weight on your chest. And the result is probably the toughest going song on the record to get through. But I think it does get that across.”
Viscera, then, clearly defines the Strigoi sound and vision – as Chris says, it’s a “mix tape of misery” and points at ways in which the band may develop in the years ahead.
“I get bored easily,” Greg laughs. “I’ve got a very short attention span. I love doom metal, I love funeral doom, crust punk, grindcore…all these things. But usually after two songs of each I’m thinking, ‘Right, what’s next?’ And that’s my problem, but it does determine what this band and this music is like.”
“There’s not much light on this record at all. If there’s any, it’s there just to emphasise how dark the shade is, really. And what I loved about early death metal, which is when I got into it, is that everything had its own feel back then. That was at the back of my mind the whole time when making Viscera – that I wanted to give it its own feel. But the listeners are going to have to decide whether that was successful or not.”
Recording line-up: Greg Mackintosh: Vocals and Guitar Chris Casket: Bass Guido Zima: Drums Ben Ash: Guitar
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
Metal Shock Finland (World Assault ) 