The UK's Most Dedicated Metal Blog
As much as there has been some absolutely pedigree Metal released in 2016, it was perhaps not the best of years. Trump is soon to be president, we lost a truly insane amount of celebrities amongst some were David Bowie, not to mention all the disasters that occurred every day and to cap it all off the horrendous news of Team Rock’s potential demise.
The king of gothic metal returns to speak to us again under the vise of a brand new Sirenia album. It seems like a quick turnover between the last one, but there is a significant difference to the new ‘Dim Days of Dolor‘, a difference that long time fans of the band would be all to familiar with – a new vocalist. We speak to Morten Veland about the new album, and the changes in the band.
Traditional values are something that have been revered as much as they have been questioned. With its bedrock being the emergence of the early nineties movement of Mayhem, Burzum, Black Metal is one of the most steadfast in the genres of Metal. However as the years have gone by there have been some chinks appear within its seemingly impenetrable armour. Enabling more experimentation, you could argue a new wave of Black Metal was initiated. Allowing for grander songs, far reaching soundscapes with sprawling melodies. Advocates of this new progression in Black Metal are one Black Anvil. Releasing their Relapse debut Hail Death in 2014, elements of the genre were not only expanded but questioned and now the band return with their latest flurry of questions for this most studious of masterminds with As Was.
At last they’re back.
Well I know I said I wouldn’t do it but here goes nothing, I’ll try and keep it short!
Can I get an “Ooh yeah-yeah?!” Day 21 sees us welcomed back into the Metallica familiyeah! With the brilliant Hardwired…To Self Destruct.
As they say if things were easy everybody would be doing it. Taking somewhat longer than previous records to finish up their new record, Deftones were in the studio for what seemed like an unfeasibly long time. At last breaking the silence with their single “Prayers / Triangles” it was clear that good things do come to those who wait. Finding it harder than usual to get his head around the record, Stephen Carpenter, the band’s thunderous riff machine slowly but surely cottoned on to the record. Delivering knockout classics the likes of “Doomed User” to the rather more arid “Hearts / Wires“.
A lot can happen in ten years. Celebrating their decennium this year, Whitechapel commemorate the moment with their brand new ripper Mark Of The Blade. With subject matter ranging from personal issues to the more inclusive fierce fan base the band have developed. Regardless of whatever genre you might be in, to be carrying on for ten years deserves a pat on the back. However Whitechapel are special kind of entity, one that has since grown with each release. Pushing their sound forward, whilst remaining the same. Getting flack for the incorporation of (shock horror) clean vocals on their latest album, it seems that these are just minor issues that fans will of course get their heads around. Catching the band on their Never Say Die headline run of shows we were able to speak to guitarist Ben Savage about just what Mark of The Blade means to the band and of course their fans.