RAWR!
Last week, I had a really surreal experience. I spent the better part of Friday afternoon backstage with Opeth. I was supposed to be there to interview them about their gear, but got lost talking and smoking with Mikael Åkerfeldt under the red lights while techs cut the ends off guitar strings and Martin Axenrot’s flares grew with each passing second. It dawned on me that, throughout my modest career getting amongst the heavy, I’ve talked to this guy quite a lot. The barrier between interviewer and interviewee just fell over, and we bantered like old chums. That is until I totally fanboy’d out and asked him to sign my copy of Blackwater Park. “Got me through high school,” I told him. “Yeah? You make me feel old,” he said. “Not old, Mik,” I went. “Accomplished.”
~tobes
FREE: AUSGRIND HITS OF THE SUMMER COMPILATION
Grindcore is the business, and we ‘Strayans are just twisted and drunk enough to be really quite alarmingly good at it. The AusGrind Hits of the Summer compilation can be felch your ears for the total sum of no dollars over at ausgrind.bandcamp.com. It’s 21 tracks of short fast fuck, and even boasts a bizarre effort from Confession dude-bro Michael Crafter. Elsewhere you’ve got genre stalwarts Captain Cleanoff cutting sick and ARSEHOLOCAUST having a fantastic band name.
DYING FETUS ARE DOING IT
What? What are they doing? They’re crafting a new record of dripping malevolence, that’s what. Back in the studio with longtime producer guy Steve Wright (ye of Slipknot and Misery Index infamy), they’re going to put this one out through Relapse in the middle of next year and call it Reign Supreme. Chuck “DYING FETUS – New Album Trailer” into YouTube and you get a sweet horror film-esque trailer for it, too.
CORROSION OF CONFORMITY’S NEW DIGS
Corrosion Of Conformity are back, baby – and they’re getting set to unleash their first new record in about seven years. Jebus. This self-titled blinder’s due out on February 28, and will even be released on vinyl. Says Mike Dean, “We like the idea of pressing this music on vinyl because so much of our inspiration comes from music that precedes the digital era. It’s also cool to have that large format for the artwork and the lyrics and the credits. It’s such a tangible physical product you can hold in your hands. In Europe, the vinyl will include a CD so you can get the files into your digital realm.”
DEVOLVING DAMAGE
Really loving these cinematic trailers for new records that metal bands are coming up with. First Dying Fetus got their Hammer on, now Devolved are into it. Input you some “DEVOLVED – Collateral Damage (Demo Version) with Lyrics” into PooCube and you’ll get exactly that. It’s especially interesting ‘cos it stars the band’s new throat Mark Haggblad, and he goes alright. Collateral Damage is eyeing off next year for a frustratingly non-specific release date. Keep an eye on facebook.com/Devolvedmetal.
THE PSYCROPTIC PLAGUE
Let’s talk Psycroptic, right now. The Tassy over-achievers have got a new record in the works in the form of The Inherited Repression. Their fifth virulent baby is steamrolling for a February 10 release date, but in the meantime you can hear the first track off the thing over at facebook.com/psycroptic. Carriers Of The Plague‘s the one. Looks like these boys done all growed up, because this is the most refined I’ve ever heard ’em. Peaking, bro.
DRUDKH ARE WHEELY ODD
Those funny little Ukrainian men in Drudkh, they don’t know what’s going on with themselves. First, 2010’s Handful Of Stars flew the black metal coop, then a bunch of them did some serious time in Old Silver Key and came up with the grim post-rock of this year’s Tales Of Wanderings, and now they’ve decided they’ve had enough of that shit and gone back to their roots. Drudkh’s Eternal Turn Of The Wheel is due to hit on February 24 and is a much-ballyhooed “roots” album, which no doubt means it’ll be screaming black metal craziness. Bruddy marverrous.
STAMP YA HAND!
Giggidy
Here’s a mammoth local bill for trad-death fans. You know Adelaide misfits Stargazer? Shyeah, the last time they came down to Melbs for a spot of audial demolition was a looong time ago. On Friday January 20, 2012 at the Bendigo Hotel in Collingwood they’ll be returning. With them will be Demonreich, black metallers Order Of Orias, and a “VERY SPECIAL GUEST” to headline, apparently. Who could it be? Be hilarious if Varg Vikernes just happened by. Get your tix from directtouring.com. This’ll be deadly.
TRIPLE TOBES UNEARTHED
Ironhide do themselves a grave disservice by naming their debut LP so close to the Meshuggah classic Destroy Erase Improve, so it’s a good thing that the ripping tuneage to be heard within Create/Collapse/Repeat is so toothy and brill. It’s also free. Yep, go get it: ironhide.bandcamp.com.
FEEDBACK
For once, you lot have to shut up and I get to say something: Merry Christmas, you heathen bastards. This year has rocked, thanks for all your exploding dogshit and sexual perversity. Here’s an artist’s rendition of what I’m doing right now.
~tobes
