Tag Archives: Metal

Events, News, Releases, Videos

FACES OF THE BOG: Chicagoland’s psychedelic sludge masters to officially release debut album Ego Death on DHU Records

Initially conceived in a dingy rehearsal space in Humboldt Park during the fall of 2011, Faces of the Bog have fast become one of the underground’s most celebrated secrets following the self-release of their debut album Ego Death late last year.

For the Chicagoland quartet, their own unique interpretation of sludge has never run neatly alongside preconceived notions of how this kind of music should be played. Choosing to ignore convention and instead, power brutal riffs headfirst into psychedelically heightened grooves, relying on atmosphere and mood to create melodic textures they are a band constantly pushing the envelope. “Ego Death is a revelation. I’ve been longing for a band to step up and challenge the existing music scene and the way Faces of the Bog do it is so exciting.” (OUTLAWS OF THE SUN)

Produced and engineered by the band and Sanford Parker (Voivod, Yob, Wreckmeister Harmonies, Bloodiest) at Electrical Audio and Decade Music Studios, Ego Death hit pretty damn hard for an “independently put-out” album. Released digitally and on CD in October 2016, Metal Injection was quick to praise its, “existential ride of psychedelic waves and auras [and] collection of bangin’ sludge jams,” all of which journeyed the same sonic highways shared by the likes of Pink Floyd, Tool and Neurosis. Going one further, they described it as a record packed with, “a fascinating range of psychedelic sludge and hints of doom and acid tones.”

“It’s truly amazing these days when an underground band from a US city like Chicago can release an album completely on their own,” explains guitarist/vocalist Trey Wedgeworth. “We’ve been amazed and humbled by the feedback we’ve received all over the world. Fans from places like Germany, Norway, Portugal, Brazil, Australia, and Russia have all reached out to us to give their kind words to what we’re doing.”

It was while playing a handful of shows last year with pacific north-westerners Mother Crone that the band were introduced (in a roundabout way) to the good work of Nederland-based record label, DHU Records.

“Mother Crone ran into some transportation issues while out on tour and we were fortunate enough to be able to help some good dudes in need,” says Wedgeworth. “They more than repaid the favour by putting us in touch with Robert Black at DHU Records. DHU is a DIY label that releases limited edition vinyl packages for some of the heaviest bands in underground music today, so we quickly forged a great relationship and are completely ecstatic that he’s now rereleasing Ego Death on vinyl.”

Ego Death will get an official vinyl release on 22nd September through DHU Records but can be streamed and purchased digitally through Face of the Bog’s Bandcamp page here.

Watch and share The Making of Ego Death video here and preorder here.

Live:

5th Aug – Cold Shot – Appleton, Wisconsin (w. Atalla and Black Road)
11th Aug – Reggies – Chicago, Illinois (w. Castle)
4th Oct – Liars Club – Chicago, Illinois  (w. Disenchanter and Swamp Ritual)
2nd Sept – Beard Metal Fest – Custer Park, Illinois (w. Pale Horseman, Starless and DeepSpacePilots)

News, Releases

Sweden’s FIREBREATHER to release debut | Share ‘The Ice Lord’ with Decibel

There’s no escaping the fact that Sweden is an incomparable breeding ground for some of the heaviest and most crushing metal bands in the world right now. Amon Amarth, Grand Magus, Candlemass, Vokonis, Monolord… all have crossed the water and duly conquered in recent years. In fact, even those yet to arrive can more often than not be found waiting in the wings, battle horn in hand heralding trepidation, Scandinavian-promise and riffs the size of long ships.

One such band waiting to scorch the earth upon which they land is Gothenburg trio FIREBREATHER who will release their self-titled debut album on Suicide Records this coming October. Relatively new to the fold having formed in the spring of 2016 from the ashes of underground doom heavyweights Galvano, FIREBREATHER is a devastatingly weighty statement of intent. Taking in four tracks that swallow time behind tooth shattering riffs from guitarist/vocalist Mattias Nööjd and crunching rhythms via bassist Kyle Pitcher and Tommy Hanning (newly replaced by drummer Fredrik Käll), FIREBREATHER are a jaw-breaking triptych of sludge and doom rock.

Mastered by Brad Boatright (Sleep, Corrosion of Conformity, Beastmilk, Obituary) at his Audioseige Studio in Portland, OR and featuring artwork by legendary underground artist Adam Burke, FIREBREATHER are out to make 2017 their own. With a European tour announcement on the horizon, in the meantime head on over to Decibel Magazine now for an exclusive look at their brand-new video for ‘The Ice Lord’ – https://www.decibelmagazine.com/2017/08/01/video-premiere-firebreather-ice-lord/

FIREBREATHER is released on 13th October 2017 on Suicide Records.

Emerald jpeg copy

Events

MOTHERSHIP: Texan rockers return for UK/EU tour this summer | New LP out this month on Ripple Music

Texan psych rockers Mothership are set to cross the Atlantic this summer and crash onto European shores with a tour in support of their brand new studio album, High Strangeness.

Formed in 2010 by brothers Kyle and Kelley Juett and later joined by Judge Smith on drums, the trio have gained a solid reputation as non-stop road warriors, sharing stages with the likes of Slayer, Alice In Chains, Ghost and Baroness in the last twelve months alone. With a tireless work ethic that has seen them play countless festivals, nightclubs, bars and motorcycle parties across the USA, Canada and Europe, the band were rewarded for their efforts last year winning Dallas’ Best Metal Act at the 2016 Dallas Observer Music Awards.

Released on 17th March, High Strangeness is the third studio album and highly anticipated follow-up to their 2014 Ripple Music-released LP, Mothership II. Recorded by Ryan Lee (Crypt Trip) and mastered by Tony Reed (Mos Generator/Stone Axe) it delivers eight songs of “supersonic intergalactic heavy rock” in an amped-up take on ’70s rock and roll fury, laced with everything, from electrifying psychedelics to progressive space rock elements.

Returning to Europe later this summer the band kick off their journey with an appearance at Freak Valley Festival in Germany on 17th June before arriving in the UK for a string of dates with rising rockers Poseidon in support.

For the full list of dates (UK dates in bold) and a fierce poster by Robin Gnista, see below:

17th June – Siegen, DE – Freak Valley Festival
18th June – Berlin, DE – Badehaus*
19th June – Hamburg, DE – Hafenklang*
21st June – Landgraaf, NL – Oefenbunker
22nd June – Utrecht, NL – dB’s
23rd June – Brussels, BE – Magasin 4
24th June – Bourlon, FR – Rock In Bourlon
25th June – Milton Keynes, UK – Craufurd Arms**
26th June – Coventry, UK – The Phoenix**
27th June – Manchester, UK – Factory**
28th June – Edinburgh, UK – Bannermans**
29th June – Cardiff, UK – Fuel**
30th June – Bournemouth, UK – The Anvil**
1st July – London, UK- The Black Heart**
3rd July – Paris, FR – Le Glazart***
4th July – Nantes, FR – Le Scene Michelet***
6th July – Barcelona, ES – Rocksound
7th July – Turin, IT – Blah Blah
8th July – Povegliano Veronese, IT – Art Pollution Festival
9th July – Parma, IT – App Colombofili
10th July – Zerobranco, IT – Altroquando
11th July – Vienna, AUT- Arena
12th July – Nuremberg, DE – MUZclub
13th July – Munich, DE – Feierwerk
14th July – Erfurt, DE – Stoned From The Underground Festival

* W/ Yawning Man
** W/ Poseidon
***W/ Egypt

uk-tour-dates-with-poseidon

News, Releases

Australian noise rock/power duo DEAD return with new album

DEAD’s new album is predictably not what everyone expected it to be.

Hailing from the Australian city of Castlemaine the noise rock duo return in 2017 with the third instalment in their five LP series The Trilogy and an album that heads in an entirely different direction to last year’s Untitle.

We Won’t Let You Sleep.

But have DEAD finally made a radio friendly record? It’s as if fans are being rewarded for sticking with the band’s musical detours thus far. Although it’s also become increasingly clear that these detours are an essential part of the DEAD story and what is “normal” is difficult to pinpoint.

The potent energy the band is known for on stage is present here, followers of the band’s live shows will recognise much of the material. Kevin Rutmanis (Cows/Melvins/Hepa.Titus) guests on a third of the record adding slide bass parts delivered in a style that is unmistakably his. The band chose to collaborate with Kevin due mainly to his 100% Aussie first name, making it easy to add him into the mix.

Working for the third time with engineer Toshi Kasai (Melvins, Helmet, Big Business) on the dials, We Won’t Let You Sleep was recorded and produced at Sound of Sirens Studios in LA either side of a recent US tour. Toshi also guested on guitar, keys and vocals across the album – completing most of his parts while yelling at baseball coverage on the telly.

Previously released and sold out as a limited edition cassette toward the end of last year through Brisbane-based Haemorrehage Records, We Won’t Let You Sleep will be available on all remaining formats on 28th April 2017 through the band’s own imprint, We Empty Rooms. The first taste of the album can be sampled via the track ‘Chartreuse Blew’, which is homage to cult Minneapolis band and sometimes-touring buddies Vaz: