Craving a fresh fix of gothic metal? Look no further than Mister Misery. This Swedishquartet conjures a hauntingly familiar and exhilaratingly new sound. Imagine Pierce theVeil channeling their inner darkness, laced with hints of the melancholic melodies ofHIM combined with the raw energy of CKY. They’ve opened for legends like the 69 Eyes, Nightwish, and […]
British nu-metal outfit InRetrospect is gearing up to unleash their latest sonic assault with their upcoming single, “MY.OWN.SKIN” slated for release on July 24th 2024. This powerhouse track marks the band’s fourth release under the freshly-established UK-based label, Passion Eight Records (Issues, Between You And Me) heralding a new chapter in their career. The band […]
Dig Mercyful Fate? If you are here, the chances are almost certainly yes. If that is the case, check out Demon Spell‘s new EP, Evil Nights. The band features several Italian metal veterans, among them Dario Casabona, who played with Italy’s legendary Schizo for 20 years, and guitarist Francesco Bauso, who was a founding member of Haunted. Vocalist Federico Fano and bassist Riccardo Liberti round out the lineup.
Falsettos are in short supply in metal these days, and Fano steals the show with his high-pitched hellfire. Some might argue the band leans too hard into early Fate, but why stop if you can nail such a good sound? This is the perfect soundtrack for playing Dungeons & Dragons in your parent’s basement or flipping through a paperback copy of the Necronomicon from Waldenbooks. Maybe Geraldo will feature this band on his next special on suburban Satanism. Listen below and bask in those early 80s Satanic panic vibes. Preorders are available – click the link below to get one.
The post EP Stream: Demon Spell – ‘Evil Nights’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
You’ll be in the grip of winter ale when Decibel—North America’s only monthly metal magazine—returns with the third edition of the west’s loudest, heaviest, most extreme craft beer festival! Decibel has once again tapped Denver, CO’s Summit to host Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver on Friday and Saturday, December 6-7, 2024.
Death metal legends Autopsy will make their Denver debut with a special headline performance of their 1989 classic Severed Survival (and other horrifying hits) on Friday night, while Oregon doom gods Yob will close out the weekend on Saturday night with only their fourth (and final) show of the year.
If that wasn’t enough, epic heavy metal icons Cirith Ungol will play their first—and last—Denver show, Forth Worth’s Frozen Soul will death metal and chill, Little Rock doom lords Pallbearer will bring big doom riffs, Danish death destructors Undergang will decimate all within earshot, Denver progressive metallers Dreadnought will wage battle against genre classification, Philly epic doom keepers Crypt Sermon will make their Denver debut, while Midwest deathgrind supergroup Earthburner will play one of their first live shows ever.
The already loaded bill is rounded out by the death/thrash of Denver sons Necropanther, Los Angeles melodic death metal upstarts Upon Stone, Denver blackened doom dealers Glacial Tomb, Philadelphia black thrash attack Daeva and local worship-worthy pagan metallers Oak, Ash & Thorn.
Not to be overshadowed by the onstage heaviness, America’s most metal breweries will descend upon the beer capital of the U.S. to provide the essential suds to the soundtrack of crushing metallic thuds! Presented by American craft brewing legends 3 Floyds Brewing (IN), the murderous brewers’ row also includes Featured Breweries—and Meaderies—Incantation Brewing (CO), Black Sky Brewery (CO), Nepenthe Brewing Co. (MD), Brimming Horn Meadery (DE), WarPigs Brewing (IN), Adroit Theory (VA), Smoldered Society Beer Company (NY), Thin Man Brewing (NY), Magnanimous Brewing (FL) plus pours from Attic Brewing (PA), Ratio Beerworks (CO) and local legends TRVE Brewing (CO). Expect the most extremely extreme—and extremely exclusive—beer and festival band collaborations anywhere on earth.
Denver Metal & Beer Fest famously sells out in advance, so avoid the impending dread of missing out! Get ready to purchase tickets this Friday, July 26—or save yourself the stress and secure your weekend pass via our limited Decibel presale, happening Thursday, July 25 with special code: ZOMBIEDUST. An extremely limited of number of three-day passes that include tickets to the official Metal & Beer PRE-Fest at Ratio Beerworks on December 5 with Green Druid, Abrams and Cloud Catcher are also available. Full daily lineups and ticket info are below.
DECEMBER 5 (Pre-fest at Ratio Beerworks)
Green Druid
Abrams
Cloud Catcher
DECEMBER 6 (at Summit)
Autopsy “Severed Survival” set
Frozen Soul
Undergang
Dreadnought
Necropanther
Upon Stone
Daeva
DECEMBER 7 (at Summit)
Yob
Cirith Ungol
Pallbearer
Crypt Sermon
Earthburner
Glacial Tomb
Oak, Ash & Thorn
Admittance to the day’s event, but as the name suggests, you just get to see the show—no beer samples (You can still buy select beers a la carte if you’re 21+).
Admittance to the day’s event plus unlimited* sampling from our diverse lineup of national breweries presented by 3 Floyds. Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2024 sampling cups provided. Limited tickets available per day.
*Please note: In extremely extreme cases, certain high-ABV pours will be ticketed, with attendees receiving a limited number of tickets available to redeem for each offering.
Nefarious Industries
Magnanimous Brewing
Adroit Theory Brewing
Century Media Records
Hella Hot Sauce
The post Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Denver 2024 Full Lineup & Breweries REVEALED! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
Los Angeles’ Iress is set to bring a beautiful touch of doom to this heavy summer with their second full-length album, Sleep Now In Reverse, out Friday on Dune Altar. Deepening their craft, blending shoegaze, doom, and post-rock, when asked to describe the album in five words or less, frontwoman Michelle Malley was considered in her response: “Seductive. Dynamic. Emotional. Melodic. Cathartic.” We couldn’t agree more. For fans of Faetooth and Chelsea Wolfe, you can preorder the record here. While you await its arrival, enjoy an exclusive full album stream below. As a special treat, we caught up with the “Adele of L.A. Doom” herself to discuss Iress’ evolution, creative process, and the themes that shape their music.
Sleep Now, In Reverse marks a decade of releasing records together as Iress. It’s a fun exercise to listen through your catalog, hearing the growth as artists while maintaining a through-line in your sound. From a fan’s perspective, the core emotion is still there, with a noticeable upward trend in everything from instrumental confidence to production dynamics. Does this ring true from the stage side of the auditorium? Better asked, are these conscious areas you discuss, or would you say this is just a natural evolution of working and performing together?
It has undoubtedly been a natural evolution and progression stemming from our long-standing friendships and years of creating music together. Our shared passion for music and Iress is evident in everything we do. As we have grown, so has our music.
I imagine 2020 was quite frustrating. You’re sitting there with an excellent record on your hands, yet limited in typical promotional abilities for Flaw. How—if at all—did those constricted activities influence your approach to Sleep Now, In Reverse?
As for many, 2020 proved to be a challenging time for our band. Each member faced personal struggles, and we also had to deal with the departure of a bandmate due to the trials brought on by the pandemic. Despite these obstacles, Flaw surpassed our expectations with its success. It opened up new opportunities and gained more attention than we had anticipated, which provided a glimmer of positivity during a tough period. During the pandemic, we also connected with Graham [Walker], our new guitarist and a longtime friend, which has been incredibly positive for us.
Many bands have talked about a tug-of-war between their pandemic and post-pandemic releases, almost as if they’re promoting two records simultaneously. Does that resonate with you? If so, how do you create the space for them to breathe in the world together as individual works and unified representations of Iress?
We didn’t have the opportunity to tour Flaw or have a traditional release show, but it still had a significant impact. Even though it wasn’t a standard release, we didn’t feel like we were simultaneously juggling the promotion of two records. Instead, we were all eager to progress, write new music, and embark on a fresh chapter for Iress.
It’s always interesting to hear the creative journey of a song—or collection of songs—from inception to final product. Did you enter the studio with the songs written, fleshed out as demos, and ready to capture; did the create and capture process happen in tandem, or a mix of both?
It was a true fusion of both elements. The songs were meticulously crafted, demoed, and structured, but we had only managed to rehearse a few of them a handful of times. Given the highly collaborative nature of this album, each of us had to instruct and absorb specific parts and engage in refining and altering certain aspects during our studio sessions with our producer, Alex Estrada (Silver Snakes). Coming together in the studio with Alex was a transformative experience, breathing new life into the music and allowing the songs to flourish right before our eyes.
Could you tell me about the production of Sleep Now, In Reverse? Did you take a familiar route, or did you try something new?
We worked with Alex to record both Solace and Sleep Now, In Reverse at The Pale Moon Ranch [a residential studio in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains east of Los Angeles], which was an unforgettable experience. We decided to incorporate some new and innovative elements [with the new album] while maintaining some similarities with the previous EP. For this project, we took a different approach by recording many of the tracks live, with drums, bass, and guitar all performed together. We also experimented with recording drums and vocals in separate rooms using different microphones and introduced synthesizers. Since this is the most collaborative album we’ve ever created, I had the most fun developing melodies because these songs are so different.
It’s reasonably well-documented that you like to leave lyrical meanings up to interpretation. Without asking for specifics of any song in particular, could you tell me about any personal or professional themes that informed the overall tone of Sleep Now, In Reverse?
The band knows I tend to wait until the last second to finish lyrics. This time, I had the basic framework and meanings of the lyrics, then Graham and I completed them together in the studio during the vocal recording phase – the desert setting of The Pale Moon Ranch brought us even closer to these songs. Though I do like to leave lyrics up to interpretation, I genuinely like to chat about the meanings of our songs. It’s just hard to do in just a few words. I will say that I really let go with these lyrics. I wasn’t in my head as much. I just put everything out there and was true to myself and my raw emotions.
Is there anything more meaningful or meaningfully different about this collection of songs than previous recorded outings?
It feels like the theme of Sleep Now, In Reverse is transformation. We have been through so much. I think we are finally where we need to be, and we know exactly where we want to go.
Is there anything you’d like your listeners to take away from Sleep Now, In Reverse? A thought, feeling, or contemplation?
As a listener, it’s important to see this album as a journey and let it carry you along. Alex joked that an intermission might be necessary because of the record’s emotional depth. When he played ‘Falling’ for his mother during a studio visit, she was moved to tears right before us! It was a powerful moment that made us realize these songs might deeply resonate with our fans.
As you prepare for your upcoming U.K. tour and dates beyond, are there any songs from Sleep Now, In Reverse that are surprising you energetically that you’re excited to perform for fans?
Oh absolutely! First of all, we are thoroughly excited to perform all of our new songs, but I know we have talked about potentially performing ‘Mercy’ at the Arctangent Festival. That would be an epic moment for us. ‘Falling’ and ‘The Remains’ are also super fun to play. I am personally eager to include some of our older songs in the setlist. This will be our inaugural performance of these songs for our UK fans, and it will feel like a fresh experience for all of us.
A DIY band, Iress hit their fundraising goal for their summer U.K. tour. Click here to learn more. For a full list of tour dates, click here.
Fri, Aug 2 – Los Angeles – The Echo (Record Release Show w/ SLUGS, Two Lips)
Sat, Aug 10 – Southampton, UK – Papillon
Tue, Aug 13 – Manchester, UK – Rebellion
Wed, Aug 14 – Brighton & Hove, UK – DUST
Thu, Aug 15 – Bristol, UK – ArcTanGent 2024 @ 11:00 a.m.
Thu, Aug 15 – Sheffield, UK – Corporation
Fri, Aug 16 – Bristol, UK – ArcTanGent 2024 @ 8:00 a.m.
Sat, Aug 17 – Nottingham, UK – Ye Olde Salutation Inn
Sun, Aug 18 – London, UK – The Black Heart
Tue, Aug 20 – Birmingham, UK – The Victoria
Wed, Aug 21 – Exeter, UK – Cavern
Thu, Aug 22 – Bournemouth, UK – The Anvil
Fri, Aug 23 – Leicester, UK – The Big Difference
Sun, Aug 25 – Newcastle Upon Tyne, UK – Zerox
The post Album Premiere & Interview: Iress – ‘Sleep Now, In Reverse’ appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
Punish are back with Dogma Leash, the first single taken from the band’s upcoming second album, The Measure, which will be released in December. “This track speaks to the ways in which we can be blinded by our dogmatic perceptions of things,” said Tome Fowler. “I wrote the song from a self-reflective standpoint. There has […]
Today, Tacoma, Washington’s-own Enumclaw shares new single Not Just Yet. The second offering from their forthcoming sophomore album ‘Home in Another Life‘, out August 30th via Run For Cover Records and Cooking Vinyl Australia, Not Just Yet juxtaposes grandiose musicality with a tenderly written and distressed ode to band members Aramis Johnson & Eli Edwards’ Uncle Mike. Recently diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers, Aramis clamors for more time […]
UK death metal trio INGESTED is pleased to unleash their new video for “Starve The Fire.” The track appears on the band’s The Tide Of Death And Fractured Dreams full-length, released in April on Metal Blade Records. Since their fifth album, 2020’s Where Only God May Tread, INGESTED has been on a creative tear […]
Iconic heavy metallers ARMORED SAINT will reissue their Revelation and La Raza full-lengths on vinyl August 16th via Metal Blade Records. Revelation is the fifth studio album from the band, originally released in 2000 on Metal Blade Records, now available for the first time on vinyl in the US. The song “The Pillar” was originally […]
“Hell Is Full Of Fire” is the new single from South Carolina hell bringers, DEMISER. The apocalyptic new hymn comes by way of the band’s Slave To The Scythe full-length, set for release on August 23 via Black Light Media/Metal Blade Records. The DEMISER collective features Demiser The Demiser (occult liturgic blasphemy), Gravepisser (six-stringed Satanic […]