Say what you will about Five Finger Death Punch (and many have), but each one of their three albums so far has gone gold, and they’re pretty much a core metal artist at this point in time. Perhaps that’s how they were able to entice Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford to appear on the first single from their new album, The Wrong Side of Heaven & The Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1.
Musically “Lift Me Up” has a pretty good riff, and even before Halford shows up in the second verse, the song sounds like his mid-90s band Fight. Lyrically, the song is typical FFDP, with lyrics like “back the fuck up,” and ”I’ll do what i want.” If you can get past the lyrics, this song is pretty solid commercial rock. Is it just us, or does the song vocally sound like the verse of Ozzy Osbourne’s “The Ultimate Sin?”
The Wrong Side of Heaven & The Righteous Side of Hell Vol. 1 is due out on July 23rd, while Vol. 2 will be out in the Fall.
Last month, Philip (H.) Anselmo revealed that his long awaited solo album Walk Through Exits Only would be released on July 16 on Housecore Records (via MRI/Megaforce). And while the Down/Pantera singer gave fans a taste of what was to come with his and Warbeast’s split EP, War Of The Gargantuas, Rolling Stone has premiered the first single off of Anselmo’s debut solo full-length.
Titled “Usurper’s Bastard Rant,” the song is brutal and heavy as fuck. In other words, Anselmo has kept his promise about the album (featuring his backing band The Illegals) being one of his most extreme musical outputs. You can head over to Rolling Stone now to hear the track, or listen to it in the player below. Read more »
If you’re a fan of The Dillinger Escape Plan, then you’ve already heard three songs from their new album, One of Us is the Killer. The frenetic one-two punch of album openers “Prancer” and “When I Lost My Bet” show that the band are far from mellowing with age, while “Nothing’s Funny” proves that they haven’t totally forsaken melody. We’ve been living with the album for a while now, and it’s definitely one of the most well-rounded Dillinger albums. Now you can find out for yourself. While the album is released tomorrow (14), you can listen to it today at Pitchfork, who are streaming the album online. Let us know what you think of it.
Many metal fans first learned about Anvil via the 2008 documentary Anvil! The Story of Anvil. However, guitarist/vocalist Steve “Lips” Kudlow and drummer Robb Reiner have been recording and touring together now for well over three decades now. And on May 28, the Canadian thrash legends will release their 15th studio album (also their first with bassist Sal Italiano) titled Hope In Hell via The End Records.
Before the album comes out, though, we have the exclusive premiere of the song “Mankind Machine.” Let’s just say that if you love Anvil, or metal in general for that matter, you’ll totally dig this song. Listen to “Mankind Machine” in the video below, and if you’re in New Jersey this weekend, catch Anvil at the Old Bridge Metal Militia’s benefit show for Hurricane Sandy victims on Saturday. Read more »
The first two songs you’ve heard from The Dillinger Escape Plan’s One of us is the Killer have showcased the more frenetic moments of the band. And while “Prancer” and “How I Lost My Bet” definitely appeal to fans of their Calculating Infinity mathcore-era, the third taste of the album, “Nothing’s Funny,” showcases the more melodic side of the band. If you liked “Black Bubblegum” or “Unretrofied,” or like it when Greg Puciato croons instead of screams, you’ll definitely like this one.
One of us is the Killer comes out next Tuesday (14) on Sumerian via the band’s Party Smasher Inc. imprint.
The month of May always brings with it a certain sense of heightened anticipation. It’s the deep breath before the spiraling descent into the madness of the summer months. The festival lineups are set, the release calendar is filled with exciting potential Albums of the Year, and the concert calendar is chock-full of incredible tours. Metalheads learn to revel in the month of May, because it’s the time of preparation for metal’s peak season. I know I’m ready, and I hope you all are too!
Keeping with that theme, today’s album list is lightly stocked with some high-quality material, acting as a primer for the rest of May and the summer months to come. With some of the biggest names in rock and metal preparing albums for release in May, June, and July, we’re slowly ramping up to a very strong period where metal could be the dominant genre on the radio waves. Keep your ears peeled and your eyes open, because you don’t want to miss out on what’s to come!
Sodom, Epitome of Torture (SPV/Steamhammer)
The German veterans are now on their 14th album, and if you can believe it, in 2011 they reached the thirty-year mark of existence. Not bad for one of the bands that was most influential to black metal’s formation and rise to prominence! Epitome of Torture marks the recording debut of new drummer Markus “Makka” Freiwald, who joined the band in 2010. Freiwald took over the drumkit after the departure of longtime skinsman Bobby Schottkowski, who had been with the band for thirteen years, but left following personal and private issues with Tom Angelripper. All indications are that Freiwald has filled the drum role very well, which makes sense for a former session musician for both Moonspell and Rotting Christ. In short, this is yet another top-notch release from the Teutonic thrashers!
Delain, Interlude (Napalm)
Much as this album’s name implies, this is not a release of actual new material. Instead, Delain is offering a “thank you” album of live tracks, covers, remixes, and other bonus material to their fans. This actually makes a lot of sense – Delain has garnered a respectable following in the past few years, following the releases of April Rain and We Are the Others, and part of the reason for that success is the band’s unfailing gratitude and appreciation for their fans, which only makes them look better to other potential new fans. Thus, offering Interlude as a grand gesture of thanks to all fans everywhere only serves to cement their reputation as one of the most grateful and appreciative bands in modern metal, truly valuing their fans in ways that few other bands do. Interlude also comes with a bonus DVD that has live footage, backstage clips, and four music videos for your enjoyment.
Also being released this week: Read more »
It’s a little less than a month until Queens of the Stone Age release their sixth studio album, Like Clockwork. And while we’ve already heard “My God is the Sun,” the band have unveiled a second song from the album via a very cool animated video. “I Appear Missing is an atmospheric, bluesy song that fits in with the imagery and past of the band. Given that Homme’s previous band Kyuss emerged from playing in deserts with generators hooked up, it’s fitting the video starts in a desert. As the unnamed protagonist in the video is pecked awake by a crow (not a crooked vulture?), his bloody and bandaged face and hands and the suit he’s wearing recall the black, red and white color scheme of Songs for the Deaf and the video for “Go With the Flow.” He eventually floats towards a city where he drops off a ledge, falling like the opening montage of Mad Men. According to Metal Sucks, this isn’t the full song, just a portion of it. We’re looking forward to hearing the rest of it, not to mention all of Like Clockwork, when it’s released on June 4th.
Today, one of the versions of Black Flag released a song for free download. The incarnation of the band featuring Greg Ginn and Ron Reyes released “Down in the Dirt” on the band’s website via SST Records. And as the band finalizes plans to release an album and tour, they also managed to take a shot at the Keith Morris incarnation of the band:
SST Records is proud to announce a free download of the first new BLACK FLAG song in many years. On the upcoming 22 song LP to be released this summer, “Down in the Dirt” features Ron Reyes on vocals, Greg Ginn on guitar/theramin, My War bassist Dale Nixon on bass, and Gregory AMoore on drums. The band will begin touring in May in both Europe and the U.S. ***note: not to be confused with the ‘fake’ Flag band currently covering the songs of BLACK FLAG in an embarrassingly weak “mailing it in” fashion*** We urge you to check out the real Black Flag when they hit your area.
The band’s tour dates are after the jump. Read more »
On May 21, San Francisco Bay Area band Zed will be releasing their sophomore abum, Desperation Blues. The band’s riffy stoner-ish rock brings to mind Clutch and early Soundgarden. We’re proud to bring you the premiere of “Killing Machine.” Here’s what bassist Mark Aceves had to say about the track:
When we came together as a band in 2007 there was a strong metal meets punk vibe right off the bat. We would screw around with heavy riffs – play them backwards, slow them down and eventually double time them. That is what Zed became based on. As time went by, the southern rock influence became a big part of our style as well. Just hard hitting riffs that are not smothered in effects.
“Killing Machine” lyrically is about people who pretend to like or care about you, but just eventually tear you down with their words, until you call them out on it. But ultimately it can be about whatever you want. Just know this … it will take you for a ride! With influences that range from Queens of the Stone Age and Clutch to AC/DC, you know the song is gonna drive you. This song is very dear to the band because its where we came from. Wide open Les Pauls, Gibson bass powered by Ampeg & thundering drums, the louder it gets the better it is, this is Killing Machine. Enjoy.”
You can pre-order Desperation Blues here, where you can also hear another song from the album. But first, listen to “Killing Machine” in the stream below.
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Posted by Bram Teitelman on Mon, May 13, 2013 at 5:44 pm
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