CD Review: Futility

Futility

Futility
Unsigned
2009

Futility are one of Australia's premier Doom metal bands, and this year they released their debut self titled album, which includes a full listing of 6 reasonablylengthed songs. Futility hail from Canberra and are doing their best to mark their own section in the Australian metal community. In my opinion Futility are yet to meet their peak, but that doesn't mean that this album isn't good, infact it's quite the opposite. This album will likely be one of my most played Australian albums throughout 2009, and I can see this band being one of few I follow that keep getting better.

Futility released their album alongside Ironwood at the show in Canberra, which was a blast. Their live performance is pretty spot on, and the new album reflects that perfectly. What you hear on record is what you get live, which can be the aim of many bands, but also the downfall of many more. One of the most difficult objectives for a band.

Futility is full of solid riffing, flawless drumming and brutal vocals. The power behind some of these songs is just awesome, the intro to "My Sickness" makes me want to headbang like crazy, which, might I add, can be quite rare for me. They've got an original twist to their music which I can't put my finger on, butsome of their songs remind me of a few European bands, like Katatonia meets October Tide with a slice of In Mourning on the side. But since I hate comparing bands to others, I'll just say that as far as I can tell, Futility's sound is their own.

The production on this album is great. For another 2009 independent release from Australia's (often unappreciated) metal scene, these guys have done a great job on bringing the quality back to our metal! The performance on this album is absolutely flawless, it's not overdone with production, and as a result you get a nice raw sound. This really is how the band sounds live, which is a great accomplishment.

As many are probably aware, Katatonia's Brave Murder Day album has added a pretty decent influence to the community of decent doom metal bands we have around today, and Futility are no exception to that. Infact, this album even includes a cover of "Murder", from that very album of Katatonia's. Some may say this is a fatal mistake, to include another bands song on their own album, but I think it's awesome! It's always interesting to hear other bands interpretations of some of my favourite songs ever (which Murder fits into), and Futility have done a great job of recording this song.

Those who have no hope in the Australian metal scene, give this band a listen and see if you still feel the same after hearing it. And anyone else who is into decent metal, give Futility a go. This album has not disappointed me at all!

Futility - Futility
Track Listing
...Failed
Saline Oasis
My Sickness
Fallen
Nothing
Murder (Katatonia Cover)

Playing Time: 43:35

Check them out here:
www.myspace.com/futilitycanberra

Review of the Futility launch show:
Click Here

The Katatonia Season

Here is some Katatonia news that may have been over-looked by some of you!



THE KATATONIA SEASON

We can hear many question….

"Why is there no new Katatonia album out by now???"

And you might rightfully think so, our 8th album (and the last in the contract with Peaceville) should have been done and put out "ages ago" if things would've gone according to plan… It's crazy how fast time goes by these days and that doesn't help us much when inspiration runs dry. We've been meaning to enter the studio on many occassions already since two years back and I think we ended up cancelling booked sessions twice. Although it worked successfully every time in the past, it just got us stressed out and pushed us into a phase of writer's block. From this we learned we better not book anything in advance as it stands, but focus on completing 100% of the material, be perfectly happy with what we got and first then hit the studio.

It seems we might pull things together for maximum devotion this time as all current and previous distractions are now gone. The Summer festivals are over and the level of live gigs for the next months are put to a minimum and Bloodbath - our Death Metal sideproject's new album is done too (to be released on October 6th, check it out or all our hard work was for nothing hah!).

So what about the music? Bits and pieces have been collected ever since The Great Cold Distance came out. It's just that we've been trying too hard, been thinking too much about the sound and direction. How can we top this and how can we change that. We've been stumbling around offroad looking for the answers and it ended up being a long walk. We don't find it meaningful to trace your own footsteps back from where you came, but we rather find the first nearest exit to the same road up ahead where we're at to get back on the map again.

I wont give away any hints just yet about how it will sound, but we hope to give you more light on the progress of this untitled embryo as we get closer. What's certain is that we've found a good equation to work with now and that my friends is that it's all about the 8th studio album and the autumn. Here comes the Katatonia season…

Taken from katatonia.com/

Bloodbath - The Fathomless Mastery

NEW STUDIO ALBUM – OUT OCTOBER 6TH 2008 – NOW AVAILABLE TO PRE-ORDER
MINI-SITE NOW ONLINE FEATURING SAMPLES AND FREE MP3

‘Bloodbath have been responsible for some of the finest Swedish death metal of the last decade.’ Metal Hammer

Bloodbath are an extreme metal supergroup from Stockholm, Sweden. Formed in 1998 with a mutual fascination for the glory days of death metal, the band’s line up has changed and evolved throughout the years, featuring the elite of Swedish metal.

The next chapter of this brutal saga arrives on October 6th 2008 with the release of the new studio album, The Fathomless Mastery

The Fathomless Mastery mini-site is now online at www.peaceville.com/bloodbath/thefathomlessmastery . The site features audio samples of two of the tracks (these tracks may change so make sure to keep checking back), info on the album, downloads and more. In addition it also offers a free mp3 of the track ‘Mock The Cross’ to anyone who signs up to the mailing list and also gives you the chance to pre-order the album.

Hints of what The Fathomless Mastery may possess were provided by Unblessing The Purity, the mini-album released earlier this year on Peaceville Records. Described by Metal Hammer as ‘a near-flawless celebration of Swedish brutality’ and by Zero Tolerance as ‘a slab of storming, top-quality death metal’, the mini-album has set the bar high.

‘Unblessing The Purity’ also featured the return of Opeth’s Mikael Åkerfeldt on vocal duties and arrival of Per 'Sodomizer' Eriksson (ex-21 Lucifers, ex-Genocrush Ferox) on guitar, joining Katatonia’s Anders Nyström and Jonas Renkse and Martin “Axe” Axenrot, also from Opeth.

This line-up has once again reunited for The Fathomless Mastery which they have described as representing ‘nothing but hateful brutality.’ Promising their ‘most crushing production yet’ few would dare to argue with the band’s claim that...‘Bloodbath is here to slay, Bloodbath is here to stay!’

The Wacken Carnage, a CD + DVD set featuring the bands rare live performance at the 2005 Wacken Festival is also now available on Peaceville Records.

www.peaceville.com/bloodbath/thefathomlessmastery

Article taken from the Peaceville e-mail newsletter.

Bloodbath, Amon Amarth, My Dying Bride NEWS!

Bloodbath - The Fathomless Mastery

Swedish death metal band Bloodbath, featuring of members from Opeth and Katatonia, are certainly back in full force since the re-uniting of Mikael Åkerfeldt, releasing a new EP, Unblessing The Purity, and a live CD/DVD, called Wacken Carnage, which has their performace at Wacken 06 in it's entirety. Now news of a full length album is out, and the album is to be called "The Fathomless Mastery".

Like Unblessing The Purity, this album will feature;
Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) - Vocals
Martin "Axe" Axenrot (Opeth) - Drums
Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (Katatonia) - Guitar
Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) - Bass
Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson (ex-21 Lucifers, Genocrush Ferox) - Guitar

Mikael said on the issue of his return to Bloodbath, "I was slightly 'talked into' coming back but I certainly don't regret it now. Obviously I am busy all the time, both with my family and Opeth, so don't hold your breath for any massively extensive tours, BUT, I do believe we'll do the occasional gigs when the time is right. I was asked to sing on a four-track release the other guys been working with entitled 'Unblessing the Purity' and I have to say it's the best f!cking death metal I've heard since 'Domination', and I'm not even counting my own involvement. I just basically did what they wanted me to and it sounds really good! We might record another album as well sometime later..."

Source for quote: http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/bla...sitemID=100043

Amon Amarth

Also from Sweden, Amon Amarth have have finally set the title of their seventh full-length album. It is to be hailed as 'Twilight of the Thundergod". As their website states, it will be released on the 17th of September in Sweden, the 19th of September in D/A/CH/I and the 22nd of September in the rest of Europe. North American release date is September 30.

The final track listing is as follows:

1.) Twilight of the Thunder God
2.) Free Will Sacrifice
3.) Guardians of Asgaard
4.) Where is Your God?
5.) Varyags of Miklagaard
6.) Tattered Banners and Bloody Flags
7.) No Fear for the Setting Sun
8.) The Hero
9.) Live for the Kill
10.) Embrace of the Endless Ocean

"Twilight of the Thunder God" features several high-profile guest appearances including Entombed singer L.G. Petrov (on ‘Guardians of Asgaard’), Children of Bodom guitarist Roope Latvala (who shreds a fierce solo on the track 'Twilight of the Thunder God') and Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica (a guest appearance on ‘Live For The Kill’).

In Europe "Twilight of the Thunder God" will be released as a limited first edition 3-disc-set including a bonus CD and a bonus DVD. This deluxe collector's edition comes in highly valuable packaging featuring special layout and the Amon Amarth comic which is currently being published in several metal magazines all over Europe. The bonus CD and DVD will feature Amon amarth's performace Live at Summer Breeze 2007.

The comic can also be viewed online at THIS location.
The album will also be released as a limited edition gatefold 2-LP on 180g etched vinyl! Yum!

Amon Amarth tour dates:

North American Twilight of the Thunder God Tour (w/ support from Ensiferum, Belphegor and The Absence)

October 1 Anaheim, CA House of Blues (w/ Ensiferum only)
October 2 Los Angeles, CA The Avalon
October 3 San Francisco, CA Slim's
October 4 Portland, OR Hawthorne Theater
October 5 Seattle, WA El Corazon
October 6 Vancouver, BC Croatian Cultural Centre
October 8 Edmonton, AB The Starlite Room
October 9 Calgary, AB The Warehouse
October 10 Regina, SK Riddell Centre
October 11 Winnipeg, MB The Garrick Centre
October 12 St.

Paul, MN Station 4
October 13 Chicago, IL House Of Blues
October 15 Toronto, ON Phoenix Concert Theatre
October 16 Montreal, QC Le Medley
October 17 Quebec City, QC Theatre Imperial
October 18 Worcester, MA The Palladium
October 19 Philadelphia, PA Trocadero
October 20 New York, NY The Fillmore
October 21 West Springfield, VA Jaxx

'The Unholy Alliance: Chapter III' European Tour’ (w/ Slayer, Trivium, Amon Amarth, Mastodon)

October 27 Manchester, England Manchester Arena
October 28 Birmingham, England NEC
October 30 London, England Hammersmith Apollo
October 31 London, England Hammersmith Apollo
November 2 Cardiff, Wales CIA 7000
November 3 Glasgow, Scotland SECC Hall 3
November 5 Offenbach, Germany Stadthalle
November 6 Köln, Germany Palladium
November 7 Amsterdam, Holland Heineken Music Hall
November 9 Stuttgart, Germany Hanns-Martin-Schleyer-Halle
November 10 Winterthur, Switzerland Eishalle Deutweg
November 11 Paris, France Le Zenith
November 12 Antwerp, Belgium Sportpaleis/Lotto Arena
November 16 Wein, Austria Gasometer
November 18 München, Germany Zenith
November 19 Berlin, Germany Columbiahalle
November 22 Gothenburg, Sweden Lisebergshallen (Amon Amarth as direct support to Slayer)

Amon Amarth’s "Bloodshed Over Bochum"

December 28 "Once Sent From The Golden Hall" (1998) Bochum, Germany Zeche
December 29 "The Avenger" (1999) Bochum, Germany Zeche
December 30 "The Crusher" (2001) Bochum, Germany Zeche
December 31 "Versus The World" (2002) Bochum, Germany Zeche

Source: http://www.myspace.com/amonamarth

My Dying Bride

UK Doom Metal band My Dying Bride have enlisted a new recruit in the form of a keyboardist/violinist named Katie Stone, who is also involved in their new studio album.Their partnership with Peaceville records will also continue, as it has been throughout the entirity of their career.

Katatonia Live

One of the best bands to emerge from the growing talent of Sweden, Katatonia will be making appearances at a few festivals this summer.

Jun 20 - Hellfest, Clisson, France
Jun 28 - Hunterfest, Szczytno, Poland
Jul 12 - Hegyalja Festival, Tokaj, Hungary
Jul 26 - Kuopiorock, Kuopio, Finland

You'll be crazy to miss these guys live. If you have the chance, go see them!

Bloodstock Open Air (BOA) 2008

Bloodstock Open Air Festival (BOA) is now into its 3rd year out in the open, and 7th year as one of the best metal festivals in the UK. The first 4 years were indoor events, but as the festival has gained momentum, it has moved from the darkness into the light of day! The festival takes place on the 15th, 16th and 17th of August at Catton Hall, Derbyshire.

This is the metal festival to go to if you want to hear the more brutal and underground artists playing in the UK (if you want mainstream, get yourself to Download).

The line up has yet to be completed, but from the artists already announced, it looks like it will be one hell of an event! So far, the bands confirmed for BOA 2008 are:

COMMUNIC

EVILE
OPETH
SAINT DEAMON
ELUVEITIE
HELLOWEEN
PRIMAL FEAR
TYR
PRO-JEKT
AT THE GATES
DIMMU BORGIR
MOONSORROW
SWALLOW THE SUN
CLOUDSCAPE
MOB RULES
SOILWORK
KATAKLYSM
OVERKILL

I would kill to get along to this event (and trying my hardest to make sure I can)! I'm most excited about Opeth, Soilwork and Swallow The Sun, and can't wait to see what the full line up looks like!

Personally, I would love to see Bloodbath, Blinded Colony, Paradise Lost, Novembre and Sonic Syndicate playing this year. The last three I'd love on the bill are playing the German festival Summer Breeze in the same week, so I'm keeping my fingers, toes and eyes crossed that they all confirm for BOA too!

For more information, check out their website:

http://www.bloodstock.uk.com

Or their Myspace profile:

http://www.myspace.com/bloodstock

Melloboat 2008, 8th of March

Now this to me looks like the coolest thing ever! On a boat, with some of the most amazing acts entertaining you over 2 nights!

So who's going to be there? How does this sound?

OPETH
COMUS
KATATONIA
LEAF HOUND
ANEKDOTEN
TRETTIOÅRIGA KRIGET
BO HANSSON with Eric Malmberg & Niklas Korssell
MATS/MORGAN ALL STAR TEAM
THE COLINS OF PARADISE
PROMISE AND THE MONSTER
QOPH
PLANKTON
EMMA NORDENSTAM
CECILIA KLINGSPOR
EMIKA KLASDOTTER
PIU
MARTIN AXENROT and NATHALIE LORICHS

Yeah Opeth and Katatonia being on the same boat for 2 days sound good to me, haha!

For more information, please check out their website:

www.tallinksilja.com/sv/tab1/hobbyTrips/cruiseMelloBoat.htm

Or alternatively, their Myspace page:

http://www.myspace.com/melloboat

Bloodbath - Unblessing The Purity

The Swedish death metal supergroup, Bloodbath, are back! Hoorah! Yes, they have a brand new release due out through Peaceville on the 10th of March.

Unblessing The Purity sees one Mikael Åkerfeldt, of Opeth fame, return to the vocal helm, along with fellow bandmate Martin "Axe" Axenrot on the drums. The complete line up for this venture out are:

Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth) - Vocals
Martin "Axe" Axenrot (Opeth) - Drums
Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (Katatonia) - Guitars
Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) - Bass
Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson (ex-21 Lucifers) - Guitars

For a sneak preview of Unblessing The Purity, make sure you visit www.peaceville.com/bloodbath.

My initial reaction to the clips? Well it is certainly a release I am interested in hearing more of! As a huge fan of Opeth and Katatonia, this is a project which always keeps me watching and listening to see where it goes.

Bloodbath are not a combination of the two bands, but are a far more brutal offering of death metal which may not appeal to the fans of later Katatonia and Opeth albums. But even so, this is a project worth checking out, even if it's just out of curiosity.