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Stone Sour, a major player in the mainstream Metal scene the band are arguably one of the biggest in the scene. With it being four years since the release of their double album extraordinaire that was The House of Gold And Bones, lots has changed in the Stone Sour camp. Resolving to return in 2017, the band would set to work on their brand new album and first without long time guitarist and fellow Slipknot pal, James Root.
Recording live is hardly somewhat of a novelty but in recent years it seems to have made a real resurgence among the most unlikely of bands. Last year, for example the technical behemoth’s that are Meshuggah released their new album recorded entirely live! Proof that regardless of how technical the material might be, it is possible to record live. Following up their 2012 effort Constricting Rage of The Merciless, Goatwhore resolved to change their recording habits of working with esteemed Metal producer Erik Rutan and instead bring a whole new idea to the table.
Known for its laid back attitude, California is the stoner of the western world. Known for being both the sides those who are so relaxed you think they might fall over and the out and out disgustingly rich, its a state that has a lot going on. Wanting to soak up the former type of vibe, musical virtuosos Chon holed themselves up at a beach house and recorded one of the most chilled out records you’ll hear and a perfect anthem for those who might not be digging the summer top forty on radio.
The art of story telling is hardly something new. A huge part of culture, entire civilisations have been built on the art of telling a story, be it factual or fictional. Giving birth to the idea of literature and film but how can it be incorporated in music? The concept album is an art form that has been around since its seventies hey day. Forming a bridge between the Horror medium and the concept album Carach Angren have had their finger on the (deceased) pulse of the story. Previously releasing 2015’s This Is No Fairytale, now the band return for their most ambitious haunting yet, Dance and Laugh Amongst The Rotten.
Closure. An idea that we as humans have created, we crave the idea that something will be resolute. The idea that something can finish being open ended can often terrify most people. Acting as a foreword for their story, the band took 2001’s A Fine Day To Exit to pick up exactly where they had left off. Using the artwork from the record and the coordinates of the photograph taken in Silver Strand Beach where their faceless “man” was last seen and sixteen years later we come to The Optimist.
Instrumental in the perfection of what was the nineties death Metal scene, Suffocation have long been heralded as the godfathers of this, most bloodthirsty of genres. Having continued since their nineties hey day, the band have continually upped the ante with each release. Following the release of 2012’s Pinnacle of Bedlam, the band embarked on a hectic touring schedule the world over. Returning to the studio at the tail end of 2016, the band resolved to revitalise their sound, the end result was Of The Dark Light.
The union of both Horror and the genre of Metal is a phenomenon that many don’t quite understand. Taking from each other both genres creatively bounce off one another and even in some cases sees work bred together. A fine example being Rob Zombie, known for his horrific films just as much as his music. However there is another master of the macabre in the form of Wednesday 13.
Created as homage to the nineties Death ’n’ Roll movement, Vallenfyre bring a potent mixture of grit munching, obsidian style riffs to the table that put simply flatten the listener. Helmed by one Greg Macintosh, you may now the man from his fame in Paradise Lost, Vallenfyre is a vehicle to the darker side of the melodic mourner. With much of the Old School sound of Swedish descent there are some bands that have slipped through the cracks in the UK. Returning with their sophomore effort following the chipped Splinter, Vallenfyre have at long last returned to seize the Swedish Death Metal throne once again.