CD Review: Order Of Ennead

Order Of Ennead is the resurrection of Council of the fallen, consisting of Kevin Quirion (ex-Council Of The Fallen) on Guitar and vocals, Scott Patrick (ex-Resurrection) on bass, John Li taking care of lead guitars and Steve Asheim (Deicide) on drums. Some will expect this to be as brutal as Deicide, as I did, but you will pleasently surprised.

If you can step aside from the Deicide link here you will find an album that can stand on its two feet. Okay most folk will pick it up due to the drum stool being filled by the legendary Steve Asheim. His brutal skills feature to some degree here, but he shows thats not all he can do.

Playing a perfectly crafted and modern take on Extreme metal (comprising elements of death metal, black metal and a splash of Thrash shredding), Order Of Ennead stand out from the crowd of new bands on the scene. For a start the guitar work would make most young thrash pretenders and old school fretmeisters sit up and pay attention. They also use lyrics that not many death metal bands would use. As they say on their myspace their lyrical content "explores existence, abolishment of negativity and that which makes up the self."; Not standard death metal lyrics. Lyrics which are delivered in a coherent, if a little Dani filth-esqu way.

Standout tracks for me are "Introspection And The Loss Of Denial"; Vocally lead with superb fret work by John Li. At the age of 19, he is showing fretwork here that could have easily been played by some of the guitar greats 20 years his senior. "As If A Rose I Wither" is a perfectly crafted guitar driven track which also showcases Asheims brutal drumming at its best (on this album).

If you are looking at Order Of Ennead as quick fix in between Deicide albums then you will be sadly dissapointed. The vocals are cleaner, the guitars are a lot more melodic and its not ALL brutal blast beats from start to finish.

For a debut this is great.(8/10)

The track Culling can be heard here. Another fine example of that these guys have on offer.

Due for release on Earache In Europe on October 13th and In the US on the 28th.

Order Of Ennead: http://www.myspace.com/orderofennead
Earache: http://www.earache.com/

Review: A Fragile Hope by Devil Sold His Soul

Artist: Devil Sold His Soul
Title: A Fragile Hope
Release Date: August 5, 2008

One of the more unique aspects of the metal genre is all of the subgenres therein. It never stops with just "metal." There's Black Metal, Death Metal, Power Metal, and of the myriad "-core's." It's also interesting to see the lines that sometimes get drawn in the sand between fans of the different genres, and it's not often you see many arms reaching across the aisles.

But sometimes, a band comes along and creates a sound that infuses all of the right elements at all of the right times while breaking boundaries and blurring lines and turns out something so unique and powerful that it will send chills up the spine of the most rabid of Anathema and Opeth's fans as it will devotees of Converge and Mouth of the Architect.

Devil Sold His Soul have done just that.

"A Fragile Hope" is a thick, heady, epic exercise in thoughtful ferocity that incites rage inasmuch as it tugs at our softer nature. At times, the sound can be harsh enough to start one's head banging in a frenzy, while at others it maintains its expressiveness without venturing too far into "emo" territory.

The dry-lung screams wrap themselves around a barrage of crashing guitars and thudding basslines while higher-end (but not too high....Iced Earth fans, I'm talking to you) clean vocal and softer guitar interludes move in and out amongst the organized chaos. The interplay of the two styles is so in-tune with the music and the emotions expressed that it's almost "too good."

"The Starting" is the album's most popular track (they have a video available for it, anyway) and perfectly encapsulates DSHS's overall sound, while "At The End of the Tunnel" probably has the sharpest teeth.

But the high point of the album is "Dawn of the First Day," a groovy, emotionally-charged, crushing song that basically eludes every adjective in my vocabulary. Let us just say that the song is best enjoyed at a volume just below "bleeding ears."

"A Fragile Hope" is an amazing album, and even as I listen to it now, I find myself wondering how I even managed to put into words my adulation of this achievement when I could have summed it all up in one word:

Incredible.

Country: United Kingdom

Label: Eyes of Sound Records

URL: www.myspace.com/devilsoldhissoul

Post number 100, oh yeah!

Slaughter In The Lewisham is tomorrow!! Heaps of bands will be playing including Heratik, Killrazer, Dred, Daemon Foetal Harvest and Antonomasia. Show goes from 2pm til late, and it's only only $12 to get in.
Support local!!
Details:

Aussie Update - 22/03/08

Tours 2008

Kataklysm
23rd March - Metalstock Festival, Sydney ALL AGES
25th March - Amplifier Bar, Perth 18+ - The Furor, Arterial Hemorrhage
27th March - Fowlers Live, Adelaide ALL AGES - Double Dragon, Grotesque
28th March - Club Phoenix, Brisbane 18+ - Dawn Of Azazel, Grotesque, The Dead
29th March - East Brunswick Club, Melbourne 18+ - Dawn Of Azazel, Grotesque, Aphotic Dawn

Porcupine Tree
25th April - The Metro, Melbourne
26th April - The Enmore, Sydney
27th April - The Tivoli, Brisbane
www.myspace.com/porcupinetree

Saxon 2008:
30th April - Japan, Tokyo at East
1st May - Japan, Nagoya at Club Quattro
2nd May - Japan, Osaka at Club Quattro
5th May - Australia, Brisbane at The Arena w/ LORD
6th May - Australia, Melbourne at Billboard w/ LORD
7th May - Australia, Sydney at The Forum w/ LORD

Soilwork Aussie tour:
13th May - Brisbane: The Arena
14th May - Sydney: The Manning Bar
15th May - Melbourne: Hi-Fi
17th May - Adelaide: Night Train
18th May - Perth: Metro Fremante

Mayhem Touring Australia Here are the OZ/NZ Tour Dates:
17th May - Auckland: The Transmission Room, supported by NAZXUL
20th May - Melbourne: Billboard The Venue, supported By NAZXUL
22nd May - Sydney: The Metro Theatre, (All ages) supported by NAZXUL & LYCANTHIA
23rd May - Brisbane: The Arena, supported by NAZXUL & PORTAL
24th May - Adelaide: Fowler's Live, (All ages) supported by Nazxul
25th May - Perth: The Amplifier Bar, supported by Nazxul

Children of Bodom Australia / New Zealand Tour
20th June - Brisbane - The Arena (all ages)
22nd June - Melbourne - The Palace Theatre
24th June - Sydney - The Enmore Theatre (all ages)
26th June - Auckland - The Transmission Room (all ages)
28th June - Adelaide - Fowler's Live (all ages)
30th June - Perth - Capitol Theatre

Cog Sharing Space Tour with Jakob
15th May 2008 - Palace Theatre (formally Metro) MELBOURNE, Victoria
16th May 2008 - Enmore Theatre (Licensed all ages) SYDNEY, New South Wales
17th May 2008 - The Tivoli Brisbane, Queensland
22nd May 2008 - Hotel Great Northern BYRON BAY, New South Wales
23rd May 2008 - Coolangatta Hotel COOLANGATTA, Queensland
24th May 2008 - Powerhouse TOOWOOMBA, Queensland
25th May 2008 - Sands Tavern MAROOCHYDORE, Queensland
28th May 2008 - Wollongong Uni Bar WOLLONGONG, New South Wales
29th May 2008 - Uni of Canberra CANBERRA, Australian Capital Territory
30th May 2008 - Newcastle Panthers NEWCASTLE WEST, New South Wales
31st May 2008 - Sawtell RSL SAWTELL, New South Wales
5th June 2008 - Wrest Point Showroom HOBART, Tasmania
6th June 2008 - Siroccos BURNIE, Tasmania
7th June 2008 - Batman Falkner LAUNCESTON, Tasmania
8th June 2008 - Batman Falkner (all ages) LAUNCESTON, Tasmania
11th June 2008 - The Pub BENDIGO, Victoria
12th June 2008 - The Gov (Licensed all ages) HINDMARSH, South Australia
13th June 2008 - The Gov (Over 18s only) HINDMARSH, South Australia
14th June 2008 - The Edge Hotel BURONGA, New South Wales
17th June 2008 - Bundy Sugarland BUNDABERG, Queensland
18th June 2008 - Great Western ROCKHAMPTON, Queensland
19th June 2008 - McGuires Hotel MACKAY, Queensland
20th June 2008 - Bombay Rock TOWNSVILLE, Queensland
21st June 2008 - Brothers Leagues MANUNDA, Queensland
www.myspace.com/cogrockmusic

Creech
March 29th - Musicland Fawkner, Victoria
June 13th - The Enigma Bar Adelaide, South Australia
June 20th - The Barwon Club Geelong, Victoria
June 27th - The Excelsior Hotel Sydney, New South Wales
June 5th - The Bandroom Bendigo, Victoria
July 19th - Federation Square Melbourne, Victoria
www.myspace.com/creechband

Local Gigs - New South Wales

Local metal band DRED will be playing their 1st show for 2008 at The Harp Hotel, 900 Princes Hwy, Tempe with Ironwood and Bane of Isildur this Saturday, the 29th of March 2008. Starts at 8:00 PM, Cost is $10.

Sabretung, Aeturnus Dominion, The Dark Gift and Indisperse.
10 April - Cambridge Hotel Newcastle West, New South Wales
$5 entry
www.myspace.com/aeturnusdominion
www.myspace.com/sabretung

SLAUGHTER IN THE LEWISHAM 2008
Saturday May 10th - 1PM. $12 entry
Featuring:

DRED
HERRATIK
KILLRAZOR
Sword Toward Self
Head Hammer
Intrepid
Mother Eel
Stimulust
Daemon Featol Harvest
Anotnomasia

794 Parramatta rd Lewisham 2049
Lewisham Hotel

www.myspace.com/rockfeastlewisham

Grim Demise, Sabretung, Black Asylum and Darker Half
31st May - Cambridge Hotel (2 Shows, one All Ages, one 18+) Newcastle, New South Wales
$10 entry

Local Gigs - Victoria

The Central Club
29 March - 283 Swan St., Richmond, Melbourne, Victoria
Cost : 15.00
Be'lakor
Nevetherym
Black Like Vengeance
Leicohtica
Darkest Dawn Kightmare

Mammal:
29th March - Calder Park Raceway/ Crusty Demons of Dirt Melbourne, Victoria
4th April -The Peninsula Lounge w/Sleep Parade Moorooduc, Victoria
5th April - Eastbank Centre - nleash The BeastShepparton, Victoria
10th April - The Evelyn Hotel Melbourne, Victoria
www.myspace.com/mammaltheband

Lord
26th April - The Corner Hotel Melbourne, Victoria with; Crimsonfire, Divine Ascension, and Vampora.
www.myspace.com/lordaus

Local Gigs - South Australia

Mammal
11th April - Electric Light Hotel w/BUSHIDO ADELAIDE, South Australia
12th April - Off the Tracks Festival (ALL AGES) Streaky Bay, South Australia

That's all for now, more to come soon!
Mat

Metal, Metal Metal!!!!

Greetings to all, hope everyone is doing well. Here's some news from a few bands from around the globe, that some of you out there may be interested in.

Unleashed

Unleashed have revealed some new info in light of their upcoming release Hammer Battalion. From their Myspace blog:

Warriors !!!

Unleashed are currently hard at work in the studio to record their 9th studio album, Hammer Battalion.

Check in here for some photos from one of the recording sessions.....

They also wanted to take this opportunity to reveal the song titles on Hammer Battalion....

1. The Greatest Of All Lies
2. Long Before Winter's Call
3. Your Children Will Burn
4. Hammer Battalion
5. This Day Belongs To Me
6. Marching Off To War
7. Entering The Hall Of The Slain
8. Black Horizon
9. Carved In Stone
10. Warriors Of Midgard
11. Midsummer Solstice
12. Home Of The Brave
13. I Want You Dead

Bloodbath

Taken from their official Myspace:

We now have t-shirts for our new CD "UNBLESSING THE PURITY" which are shipping immediately. Available in a variety of sizes. Order from Bloodbath.biz.

We also will have another big announcement on Friday at our official web site (bloodbath.biz), so stay tuned.. '

Photos of the shirts:

I'm excited to hear this big news. I'm sure one of us will post it when it's revealed.

Morbid Angel

I hear that Morbid Angel are auditioning guitarists to accompany them on their upcoming tour! worldentertainment@comcast.net is where to contact them if you feel you have what it takes.

The band is also currently working on material for a new release, the first since Heretic was released 5 years ago!! And the first to feature the vocals of the one and only David Vincent, who was on their 1995 release, and one of my favourite records, Domination.

Cryptopsy

The band is currently in the creative mood, working in a new album which should be out soon. To quote band vocalist Matt McGachy, "The studio process has been very fulfilling. We have just recently finished all of the vocal tracks and the samples are in the process of being completed. The songs are just as brutal as on the previous albums while being far more concise. We have even brought in Ex-Ion Dissonance vocalist Gabriel McCaughry to add some vocals to a track called 'Anoint the Dead'. Some of the other tracks on the album are called 'Worship Your Demons', 'The Headsmen' and 'Bemoan the Martyr'."

Cavalera Conspiracy

Those who already know some about these guys need not know more, other than they are touring Europe!

Here are the dates:

May 30 - Electric Weekend Festival - Madrid, Spain
Jun. 01 -Pinkpop Festival - Landgraf, Netherlands
Jun. 02 - Rockhal - Luxembourg, Luxembourg
Jun. 03 - Osnabrueck Hyde Park - Osnabrueck, Germany
Jun. 05 - Bataclan - Paris, France
Jun. 06 - Rock Am Ring - Nurburgring, Germany
Jun. 07 - Rock Im Park - Nurnberg, Germany
Jun. 09 - Stodola - Warsaw, Poland
Jun. 13 - Nova Rock - Austria
Jun. 18 - Paradiso - Amsterdam, Netherlands
Jun. 20 - Kobetasonik Festival - Bilboa, Spain
Jun. 21 - Hellfest - Nantes, France
Jun. 22 - Fields Of Rock - Biddinghuizen, Netherlands
Jun. 23 - Docks - Hamburg, Germany
Jun. 24 - Vega - Copenhagen, Denmark
Jun. 26 - Hove Festival - Norway
Jun. 27 - MetalTown Festival - Sweden
Jun. 28 - Graspop Metal Meeting - Belgium
Jul. 01 - Castle Fest - Belgrade, Serbia
Jul. 02 - Dom Sportova - Zagreb, Croatia
Jul. 03 - Lieberec Arena - Czech Republic
Jul. 04 - Hohenems Event Centre - Austria
Jul. 05 - Eurocké enness - Belfort, France
Jul. 06 - With Full Force Festival - Germany
Jul. 06 - Weisbaden Schlachtoe - Germany
Jul. 11 - Evolution Festival - Milan, Italy
Jul. 12 - Zurich Xtra Limmathaus – Switzerland

Black Asylum

Aussie Metallers Black Asylum have released a few new songs on their Myspace page. These guys are good, and after seeing them live myself I can say that someone out there will like them. They are also playing at Australia's Metalstock show. Checkout the Metalstock blog further down for more details on that.

Empyrean

Another local of Australia, has just released a video for their song Pleasure of Another's Pain. Check it out below and see More of the band at www.myspace.com/empyreanband.

Blatherskite

Sydney based Industrial Metal band, bloody amazing live act and awesome guys, are "getting ready to smash out the next album on 28th of April, set for a September release". I am personally really looking forward to this, since I got their mini album Three World, I've been hanging out for more! Check them out at www.myspace.com/blatherskite.

The band is also seeking a new bassist, so if you are Sydney based and can rock out, or know someone who can get in touch with them through myspace.

I could go on, but I'm sure that anything else I'd tell you you'd already know. Keep it heavy, and loud!

Menace Ruine: Black Metal band from Montreal

Menace Ruine is an Experimental/Black Metal band from Montreal in the vain of Xsathur, Leviathan, Nachtmystium, Burzum and other 'Depressive' Black Metal bands. What makes them interesting is, all the guitars and drums are done entirely on keyboards. They record them, and then play them through noisy effect pedals over keyboards while doing live vocals. They're new album 'Cult Of Ruins' was released yesterday through indie label Alien 8 Records. Check them out on their myspace here. The following was an article posted about them in the Mirror this week.

Ominous, chaotic, brooding, violent and punishing are all adjectives befitting the music of Montreal duo Menace Ruine. Their new record Cult of Ruins (out March 11 on Alien 8) smacks of the deep sinister sounds of Norway’s Burzum (Menace Ruine has covered Burzum’s “Dungeons of Darkness”) while the banshee shriek of S de la Moth recalls the demented hatred of California’s Xasthur.

Though her band inspires all the dark descriptors I can muster, nothing could be further from the mouse-like squeak of synth-player/co-vocalist Geneviève Beaulieu.

“I guess I’ve always been attracted to dark sounds, and it’s definitely the style that we feel most comfortable in,” she chirps. “I have also been interested in dark material as well as occult subjects and that just seems to serve the music we play.”

Although Menace Ruine have only been around for a year and a half, Beaulieu and de la Moth have been playing music together for over 12 years in numerous incarnations. Having dipped their toes in a lot of other genres, including pop, Menace Ruine has become their most rewarding project yet.

“This is easily the darkest band we have ever been in, and probably also the most challenging,” she says. “Because there are only two of us, we really have to give all of ourselves to the music to give it the impact it deserves. That’s what really keeps it interesting for us.”

Although Montreal has never had a shortage of bands that touch on darkness, Menace Ruine are definitely in a league of their own. Their thundering sound is usually too much for the corpse-paint crowd, while their blast beats and Nordic influences tend to confuse dyed-in-the-wool noise fans.

“I guess sometimes we feel a little bit lonely in the Montreal scene because there aren’t too many like-minded bands to play with,” says Beaulieu. “It kind of works for us though because we are not really social people anyway and being out on our own just feels natural to us.”

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