'Cut Up' to Release Debut Album

Featuring two members of the now disbanded Swedish death metal legends Vomitory, Cut Up is a relatively new band set to release their debut album. According to the band’s bio on the Metal Blade site, fans should be able to expect “violent, catchy, groovy and grinding death metal”. Upon watching the video for “Burial Time”, this is a pretty accurate description. This album holds promises of being loaded with beautifully horrific death metal, perfect for those who enjoy the genre. 

June 30th is the worldwide release date, with ‘Forensic Nightmares’ being available a few days earlier in some countries. 

The track listing:

1. Enter Hell
2. Burial Time
3. Remember The Flesh
4. A Butchery Improved
5. Brain Cell Holocaust
6. Forensic Nightmare
7. Camouflesh
8. Order Of The Chainsaw
9. Stab And Stab Again
10. Bunker Z16
11. Dead And Impaled

For more info and preorders:

http://www.metalblade.com/cutup/

https://www.facebook.com/cutupofficial

Entrails - "Midnight Coffin"

In anticipation of the release of Entrails' upcoming album, they have released another track for consumption. The writers at Metal Blade and Bloody Disgusting have summed up 'Midnight Coffin' pretty succinctly, and much better than I can. I'm beyond excited for 'Obliteration' to be released!

From the Metal Blade newsletter:

As a precursor to its official release, today popular gore portal, Bloody Disgusting, delivers the flesh-eating rumble of seventh track, "Midnight Coffin" for communal ingestion. Elaborates guitarist Jimmy Lundqvist, "It's about time to unleash some ENTRAILS madness! The sick melodies and d-beat will have your head fall off and roll into the midnight coffin. Join the hordes and let death and darkness embrace you. Welcome to the cemetery!"

Adds Bloody Disgusting, "'Midnight Coffin' is a rasping, forceful lump of oldschool Swedish death that pulls no punches. It reeks of cemetery miasma and exudes horrific images. It's 100% absolutely meant for the horror metal fan and you should pay heed."

 Listen to 'Midnight Coffin' on Bloody Disgusting's site:
http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3341028/entrails-midnight-coffin-song-premiere-exclusive/

Wacken Metal Battle: Alberta Finals

Wacken Metal Battle Alberta Finals

BLEED, Dethgod, AfterEarth, Arrival of Autumn 

April 18th, 2015

Edmonton’s Pawnshop played host to the Alberta finals of the Wacken Metal Battle on this windy, dusty, Saturday night. The battle to win a spot at Wacken Open Air takes place in several Canadian cities, culminating in the finals in Toronto, scheduled for June 6th, 2015. Four bands played on this particular night, representing some of the best metal in this province. Each band was allowed a set of roughly half and hour to showcase what they’re made of. 

Arrival of Autumn made the trek from Grande Prairie to compete, dodging a highway accident on the way and still managing to arrive ready to play. While metalcore is not typically a style I personally enjoy, Arrival of Autumn played a great set, showcasing some tight musicianship. Along with their fans, they injected energy into the venue right from the start.

AfterEarth, from Calgary, took the stage second. Most closely fitting with melodic death metal, they also played a fantastic set. This four piece shredded from the moment they took the stage, building on the energy already in the room. They seemed to have several eager fans in the audience who could be seen moshing, headbanging and shouting along to the lyrics. 

Switching from melodic death metal to a more brutal, traditional style of death metal, Dethgod was up next. Hailing from Morley, this was apparently the first time they have played in Edmonton. They absolutely nailed the brutal death style, creating a slightly ominous atmosphere fit for the genre. 

BLEED was the last band to take the stage, opening with a thunderous rendition of ‘Murder Baby’. With several in the audience covered in BLEED blood for the band’s set, they brought enough energy to cause any metal lover to head bang with ferocity. Taking full advantage of custom stage props, this is a band that demonstrates exactly what a live show should be. Full of gore, backed by great musicianship, and engaging the audience, they never fail to deliver. 

Once the music had wrapped up for the evening, the anticipation of waiting for the winner to be announced could be felt. I would have hated to judge this competition as every band brought something slightly different with the commonality of representing some of the best in Alberta in their respective sub-genres. When the announcement came, it was revealed that BLEED had prevailed. With that result, they will be representing Alberta metal in the finals, hoping to win a coveted spot at Wacken Open Air later this year.

With that, congratulations to all of the bands who put on a fantastic show. A huge congratulations to BLEED! Best of luck in the finals, keep doing what you’ve been doing, and put Alberta metal on the map! 

Edmonton Extermination Review

Mortillery, Eye of Horus, Mongol, Ironstorm, Black Pestilence, Tales of the Tomb

Saturday April 11th

The Pawnshop

With six heavy hitting metal bands in the lineup, this was the perfect show to kick those dreary Edmonton winter blues down a flight of stairs and out the door. Tales of the Tomb started the evening off, apparently a little early for most metal heads, but despite having a small audience they managed to pique interest in their brand of death metal. With songs like ‘The Pig Farmer’, about Robert Pickton, the tags of murder metal and psychological death metal certainly fit this band. 

Black Pestilence made the trip from Calgary for this show, showcasing an interesting melding of different styles, described as ‘black punk noise metal’. Ironstorm played next, unveiling their new lineup for those who had missed their show supporting Anvil. From what I caught of the set, they sounded solid.

Switching gears, Mongol took the stage, providing the folk metal element of this particular evening. As always, they brought an undeniable amount of energy. Songs such as ‘Storming The Wall’ provided the perfect blend of high and low tempo breaks to draw the audience in. Eye of Horus was up next. They played a solid set of death metal, including a cover of Cannibal Corpse’s ‘Evisceration Plague’, which was evidently very appreciated by the death metal fans in the audience. Promising new material in the near future, Eye of Horus’ set did not disappoint. 

Mortillery has seen an impressive level of success lately. Supporting their ‘Origin of Extinction’ album, they have opened for both 3 Inches of Blood and Destruction in Edmonton, as well as embarking on a European tour last year supporting Sepultura. Watching them live, it’s easy to see why Mortillery has become one of the most successful bands to come out of this city in recent times.

For a great review of Mortillery’s set, and accompanying photos, check out Dana Zuk’s piece here: http://ampsandgreenscreens.com/2015/04/14/mortillery-massacres-the-pawn-shop-during-edmonton-extermination-concert-april-11-2015/

Vampire - "The Night It Came Out Of The Grave"

       
       Originally released on the demo in 2012; it's too bad this song didn't make the self titled debut released last year. Raw, old-school feeling, with an undeniable horror aesthetic, this is what I like about death metal. On a different note, the style of Vampire honestly reminds me a little bit of Possessed. Which is certainly not a detriment.

The Night It Came Out Of The Grave
Lyrics: (from Encyclopedia Metallum)

 The night it came out of the grave was a night I shall never forget.
From my window with view I could see a horrible shadow draw near.
The night it came out of the grave the altar was slippery wet with 
the blood of a bold sacrifice which made powers unheard of arise.

Open grave - howling gate.
On my way down to hell.

The nights it comes out of the grave there's a pungent smell in the air
and the promise of bittersweet gloom as this figure is returning home.
The nights it comes out of the grave the moon sends a faltering glare 
over vales where the horror roams free and no living soul is to be seen.

At night I come out to the grave to remember and never forget.
Among the stones and the hight tufts of grass I kneel down to atone for the past.
At night I come out to the grave to make peace with the doom of regret,
and this feeling flows forth like a wave when at night it comes out of the grave.

Vampire - "The Fen" Video

      

          “The Fen” is a track from Vampire’s self titled album released in March 2014. The entire album proved capable of creating a strong atmosphere that supports the horror-themed leanings of this death metal band from Sweden. “The Fen” is exemplary in doing so. 

        Vocalist Hand of Doom has stated that the video “does a good job at accentuating the moods of the music”, and this writer readily agrees. “The Fen” was easily one of the most emotionally evocative songs on ‘Vampire’, bolstered by a very atmospheric and moody opening. Video director Daniel Garptoft can be quoted as saying that “the video for ‘The Fen’ is where old school horror goes hand in hand with an evil soundtrack of old school death metal”. 

Perhaps the perfect melding of old-school death metal and horror aesthetic, wrapped in a refreshing underground package, is what attracted me to Vampire in the first place. The self-titled album was easily one of my favorite releases last year, and this video is nothing short of an excellently disturbing take on an already resonant song. 

Link: http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3333513/vampire-fen-music-video-premiere-exclusive/

Heidevolk - 'Vinland' Lyric Video

In anticipation of the North American release of "Velua", Heidevolk just released the lyric video for the track titled 'Vinland'. The video itself is pretty well done, with more effort put forth than most other lyric videos.

As for the track itself, I like it. It is quite interesting to hear Heidevolk's vocals in english. It worked well for Månegarm on "Legions of the North", so I am intrigued if it will work as well for Heidevolk on "Velua". While I was already excited for my pre-order package to show up, this makes it even more difficult to wait.