Author: Blake Harrison

What’s up? It’s your old boy Waldo here to deliver you some bad news.

Unfortunately, after 15+ years, it’s time for me to fly the coop. It has given me great pleasure to deliver my opinion on the best, the worst and the in between.  It saddens this birdbrain very much that we have to part this way, but this beak is tired from typing so much. I’d like to thank all the fine people at Decibel; they are certainly the “nest.” To all followers, please keep the faith and follow your inner beak! And please check out my releases at Reptilian Records and Puppy Mill Recordings. Here’s a parting video for you to always remember me by…

Waldo out!

The post For Those About to Squawk: Waldo Flies the Coop appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up? It’s your old boy Waldo here, to inform you about some new and upcoming releases, good, bad, or otherwise. Remember, I’m not an elitist, you just have terrible taste.

First of all, I’d like to mention that I RARELY do reviews of releases that have already passed—mostly it’s about two weeks ahead—BUT I’d like to start out this week’s column with Purge from the almighty Godflesh. I have to admit, the predecessor, Post Self, was a killer record, and I would like to say that this birdbrain is a HUGE fan of the Birmingham duo and that includes the more dancey/dub stuff accomplished in their later years. Well, back to the release; EVERYTHING is here, thick, churning riffs, the rigidity of the drum machine, and the painful screams all over the top. This kind of picks up where 1992’s Pure left off, (there is even one letter difference in the names), but it ultimately fails in capturing the spirit of Pure. Hip hop beats, and industrial shoegaze are present here, but it’s not really enough to save the blandness of the whole thing. That’s not saying it sucks, there are about four (half of the track list) of standout songs here, not quite making up for the lackluster feel of the record, but all in all, the package just comes across as a little uninspired for me. I pecking LOVE Godflesh and this is a serviceable effort, but not their best. 6 Fucking Pecks.

What is with this recent spate of old as beak metal bands getting back together? I guess metal is big now, and SOME are even making a little bit of money. Seattle’s Fifth Angel releases their fourth (not fifth, get it?) and their second since the reunion in 2018. There’s not much to say about this, it doesn’t sound organic at all. Hell, even the videos are cheesy and over produced. For a virtually unknown power metal band whose heyday was in 1989, there are some surprises here. Singer Peter Oruliian (also a fantasy writer) has some pretty strong vokills for an old-ass dude, even if he joined the band in 2019. Melodic solos abound here, and in general they are pretty ripping, and the songs don’t really drag as much as you’d think from a bunch of geezers. All in all, I’m not really sure what audience they are trying to attract here. If you are into this AT ALL, go pick up 1989’s Time Will Tell, I got that through the “Columbia House Scam.” Let’s say 4.5 Fucking Pecks

Waldo Out!

The post For Those About Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Godflesh and Fifth Angel appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up? It’s your old boy Waldo here to inform you about some new and upcoming releases — good, bad or otherwise. Remember, I’m not an elitist, you just have terrible taste.

Canada’s Thantifaxath is releasing Hive Mind Narcosis on Dark Descent. This is not your average black metal record. There are aspects of black, doom, thrash, death or psychedelia. First impressions (aside from the cavernous drums) are the “trucker microphone vocals.” Equally disgusting and somewhat intelligible, the voice here is simply sick. The guitars are very prevalent in the mix giving this an aggressive sound. I know, I know, what about the music? The press release accurately describes this as such. “From its very first note, there is a feeling of transcendence beyond genre… beyond its scene and peers. Previously dubbed avant-garde black metal, Thantifaxath surpasses such mundane press tags, instead conjuring forth an expansive, discordant and mind-altering brew.” This is a solid metal record, and the press release is right, this is not a typical black metal record. 9 Fucking Pecks. Also, Decibel has exclusive gold copies of this on vinyl. This is limited—only 13 left—so get them quick.

Graveworm is releasing Killing Innocence. My first impressions here are not great. Even though this is a super tough sounding name, the band itself is pretty wimpy. Keyboard intros, melodic guitars, growled vocals… sound like something you’ve heard before? The lush, thick production here gives it a little depth, but don’t let that fool you. Even though some of the songs are written well, the whole thing comes across as middling. There is nothing that really sticks out of this record that would separate it from a ton of other better European melodeath bands. Apparently, this is supposed to be their comeback record, but it just falls flat to me. Reviews of this are pretty positive, but I 100% disagree… This is boring, so boring it sucks, or so uninspired that it sucks. Either way the end result is… it sucks. Not into it. 2 Fucking Pecks.

Waldo Out!

The post For Those About Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Thantifaxath and Graveworm appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up? It’s your old boy Waldo to inform you about some new and upcoming releases—good, bad or otherwise. Remember, I’m not an elitist, you just have terrible taste.

Sleep Token is releasing Take Me Back To Eden. I had never heard of these guys until the infamous “somebody ripping a big one during a quiet part of a song” incident. First of all, one review stated that this band is a “hype machine.” I don’t see it. This band is mostly super downtuned chug riffs, melodic solos and quiet parts. Songs about love abound here (look at their lyrics). And they wear masks. MASKS! There are a lot of clean vocals, and they do seem to be sung with some power and emotion. But all of this kind of comes across as wimpy. The guitars are really laid back in the mix, while the vocals are at the forefront. I’m not saying that he’s not a competent singer—he is—but the whole package comes across as weak. This is not really metal in the traditional sense. It’s really kinda like a weaker H.I.M. I dunno, maybe the need farts in all their songs. 3 Fucking Pecks.

One of my favorites from the old school is back, Metal Church is releasing Congregation of Annihilation. Say that three times fast. For those that are not in the know, Metal Church hails back to 1980, and their first couple of albums are classics. For me, I prefer their legendary David Wayne, but we lost him in 2005. Anyway, this isn’t either the singer after him—Mike Howe, who tragically passed away in 2021—this is a completely new guy, Mark Lopes. He’s certainly not their best singer, but probably the worst. Sounding like Udo Dirkschneider (on a bad day,) mixed with a pirate. The drums are triggered to all hell (contrary to the earlier organic sounding records.) The songs are long and uninspired. I just kinda don’t get it. Why taint your legacy just to make a buck? I was looking forward to reviewing this, but meh, just kinda flat and boring. 4 Fucking Pecks.

Waldo out!

The post For Those About Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Sleep Token and Metal Church appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up, guys? It’s your old boy Waldo here to spout off about some upcoming releases here. But first, a beak’s up that there is also a low-ticket alert for this September’s Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest in Philadelphia. Don’t blow it.

Now, on to business.

Super troubled by inner turmoil, Fear Factory are back with Aggression Continuum. First thing to note is how good now ex-vocalist Burton C Bell sounds here—pissed off and angry, like he knew he was going to get kicked out, or left, or whatever. Everything FF is known for is here, clean down-tuned riffs, tight-ass songs and production and the electronics blend seamlessly. What Isn’t really rocking me too much here, is the kinda “simpleness” of the riffage. It’s not bad, but there seems to be a really lack of anything super brutal, and maybe it’s because I miss the Demanufacture era, but almost all of this comes across as nu-metal or a Static X sorta jam. This is a tough one, as most are happy they are releasing new music (or is that nu music?) but aside from the production, this just kinda leaves me flat. 5 Fucking Pecks

Georgia blackened, uh, whateversters Withered are releasing Verloren on Season of Mist. Mainman Mike Thompson said this: “We want to compound new elements into every album, and we’re definitely a band for metal nerds. Our audience seems to be the old-schoolers who are absorbed by this stuff every day and jaded folks of a certain age. Industry types and peers tend to get it, but that’s about it.” This sums it up VERY nicely. There’s a lot going on here, especially vocally, there are screams, wails, gruff and clean vocals throughout, which really mixes things up a bit here. Sonically, meaning production wise, this birdbrain feels like there’s a big reference to Neurosis’s Times of Grace, which is a good thing. If you want brutal, dark and dissonant, this is your jam.

I love Helloween, well the old Helloween that is, and well… that line up is here, featured on the self-titled Helloween. Always one foot FIRMLY planted in the Iron Maiden camp, this marks the return of both Michael Kiske and Kai Hansen. So, don’t get too excited. This is good, this is cool, but to call this a return to form is a little out of touch. This has a lot of the hallmarks of the classic Keeper of the Seven Keys Parts I and II, but it also sounds much like a band that’s almost 40 years into their career. Soaring vocals and creepy subject matters abound here, but the one thing that really stands out are the solos! My god, that’s some ripping shit. The real rub is the songs are a little long, and, man, I wish they had a little more life. Seems like “one click too slow” is the general nature of the tracks here. Don’t get me wrong, this isn’t a bad record (if you want that check out 1993’s Chameleon), but this was not the return to form this fan was expecting. 6 Fucking Pecks.

Until next time… Waldo out!

The post For Those About Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Fear Factory, Withered and Helloween appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up, guys? It’s your old boy Waldo here to spout off about some upcoming releases here.

Go Ahead and Die are releasing their titular full length on Nuclear Blast. I guess this has been brewing quietly, but this is basically Sepultura  v 4.0. Featuring Max Cavalera, and his son Igor not to mention Khemmis’ Zach Coleman.  This really feels like it picks up where Sepultura left off 30 some years ago.  Gone are the flutes and tribal drums, (hence any nod to nu metal), and replaced with solid as peck thrash riffs. This is the thrash record from Max that fans have been waiting for. So, anymore about this?  This is for old school fans, more akin to Celtic Frost or early Sodom (albeit without the vibe that it was recorded in a tunnel.) The tempos change and shift and this never really gets boring at all, and there’s even some “blast beats” thrown in here. Max sounds killer here, and this really harkens back to the glory days of anyone with the last name Cavalera.  This has a “looser feel” here and the performances (according to the band anyway) are not perfect, but in this birdbrains opinion, all is good here. A press release from Max sums this up nicely: “one-of-a-kind father/son collaboration bringing the old school with a new attitude! Sick riffs and abrasive lyrics from Igor and brutal drumming from Coleman (also of Black Curse) inspired me,” he says. “Extreme times call for extreme music!” Very cool. 8 Fucking Pecks.

Red Fang are back with their highly anticipated new release Arrows on Relapse. Hard rockin’ and heavy hitting, this is step up from the last two releases with a feeling more similar to Murder the Mountains. Not that it sounds like that at all, it’s just has a tell that Red Fang will do/write whatever they want, and they do that here. There definitely is some stuff that sticks out here, some weirder ambient stuff and even a string section in one song, but this all blends seamlessly and doesn’t detract from the vibe of the record. Producer Chris Funk does an excellent job, making this feel heavy and thick, with a clarity to the instruments. I’m pecking digging it. 7 Fucking Pecks.

I typically give everything Willowtip does a fair shake, and I have to say am pleasantly surprised with the release of Septus’ Phantom Indigo. This is labeled as “black/death metal” and I guess it is. What it REALLY is, is an exercise in meanness. I certainly wasn’t expecting this. This is mind-bending, thick, dense and pummeling all at the same time. Of course, it has members of the beaked up Phyrron, because they never do anything “normal” either.  I like this a lot, I can’t say that this is black metal or death metal, at least in the traditional sense. What this is, is fucked up. The production here is KILLER for this, super layer laden and really contributes to the overall ear fuckery that this conveys. Wow. 8 Fucking Pecks.

Until next time… Waldo out!

The post For Those About Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Go Ahead and Die, Red Fang and Septus appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up, guys? It’s your old boy Waldo here to spout off about some upcoming releases here. So, stay tuned, see what the fellas get into… you might just learn something…

Wow, it’s really not too fair for me to review this. Denmark’s original thrash band, Artillery, are back with their 10th, aptly titled X (you know, for, like, the number 10.) So why is it unfair for me to review this? Although I love their earlier releases, I’m super hesitant going into this — a 40-year career doesn’t necessarily ensure a good record. A couple years ago, Artillery lost a member, and well it shows here. Although this hits all of the notes that they’ve been known for (riffs, thrash, and melody) this just kinda leaves me flat. It’s not a bad record, but it’s not stellar either. I mean how are you going to call your first single Turn Up the Rage and come across with absolutely ZERO teeth. Vocalist Michael Bastholm Dahl sounds just as good as ever and the production here is very well done, lending to the overall sound. But, if all of this is true, then why do I not seem to like it? The whole package here, comes across as a band trying to reclaim their former glories. The songwriting, although solid, just seems a little wimpy and not tough at all. Again, this isn’t bad, but it’ll certainly not light the world on fire. Fans of the band certainly will not hate this, but new fans should really check out the classic By Inheritance. 6 Fucking Pecks.

Ok, I’ve given a certain label a bit of a reprieve lately, and well… this one is not so good. Cvlt of the Svn is releasing We Are The Dragon on, you guessed it Napalm. I’m, uh, REALLY not sure what to make of this (except I KNOW I’m not digging it.) This is black metal? I mean, bro dog is wearing robes and corpse paint, but this doesn’t seem like black metal to me. This being a little more on the goth-y side doesn’t bother me, it’s the danceable “pop” music element that really gets my feathers in a bunch. I mean what the peck is that? “Spooky” vocals, and throwaway riffs abound here. Although the video has snakes and boobs, so that’s kind of cool. Not my scene. 3 Fucking Pecks.

Ok, since I’m on a pretty negative trip here… and, quarantine band releases were BOUND to start happening. Here’s a quick review of Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante’s Silver Linings coming out on Megaforce. Although Charlie is one of my FAVORITE metal drummers of all times, this should really be a digital only release. These songs, featuring Charlie and his friends, are covers. Ranging from Iron Maiden, to Run DMC, to Billie Eilish. I’m going to give this a couple more pecks, because I assume that this is a “fun” release. The players here are great, super talented names that come from all walks of life, but the real question is… why is this being released? I mean without the accompanying videos of these people covering these songs, they come across as a little goofy and don’t really translate. 4 Fucking Pecks.

In general, I feel I’ve been more positive, but this go ‘round, not so much. Until next time, Waldo out!

The post For Those About Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Artillery, Cvlt of the Svn and Charlie Benante appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up, guys? It’s your old boy Waldo here to spout off about some upcoming releases here. You know, “I’m not elitist, you just have terrible taste.” Stay tuned, see what the fellas get into—you might just learn something…

Never been a huge fan of Gojira, but never really hated them. (Is this where I make my Godzilla vs Kong joke?) but they’re back at it with Fortitude. One thing (not being a fan) I’ve always admitted about Gojira is their ability to constantly evolve, yet maintain a sound that is uniquely them. So… yeah, I know, what about this? There’s a lot to take in here, but it’s not so much that the average listener can’t wrap their head around it. Clean vocals, some excellent bass breaks, some more “nu metal” tendencies, and just some general ear-fuckery is going on. It seems that this band is headed into more progressive metal territory, and this proves it. Production wise, this is probably their best; crisp, clear and balanced is the name of the game. There seems a deliberate focus on songwriting and it shows. I gotta say, this won’t make my albums of the year list, but a solid, and different release than I expected. 7 Fucking Pecks.

HOLY CRACKERS! A Napalm release I don’t 100% hate?!?! Will wonders never cease? British thrashers Evile are releasing their first since 2013 in Hell Unleashed. Solidified by a new-ish lineup, this is one of the more solid records this band has released. According to the band themselves, regarding replacing their singer… “Evile needs to sound more evil and vile.” Indeed, this is true. Out the gate, this is standard thrash, but it’s pretty ripping, typically changing of members and so much time between records tends to change the personality of a band, but this is the exception. Thrashing rippers abound here and there really seems to be no slowing down of one of the forefathers of the new wave of thrash. If there was one exception, the production (note: NOT the performance) seems a little too clean, but all in all this is refreshing to see a thrash band not stagnate in slower type vibes. I’m into this, and pleasantly surprised. 8 Fucking Pecks.

If you call your band Insane, you’d better be prepared to back that bird shit up, and well, Sweden’s Insane does just that. Don’t get me wrong, in the era of overproduced, do it at home, tech metalosity, this is NOT insane. But in the world of crossover thrashy punk stuff that I loved as a hatchling, this indeed IS insane. I had to double check because this band sounds like they stepped out of 1985, but have only been around since ’09. Victims—on the Dying Victims label—is a speed metal, punk, thrash amalgam that sounds like it stepped out of… well… 1985. The band themselves simply calls themselves “thrash” and there’s more, like I said, punk, some hardcore and speed metal abound here. All of this is wrapped in a tight little neat package that neither comes across as pretentious, or struggling to find that sound. It’s clear these guys have one foot firmly planted in Weremacht and DRI and the like, never really seeming to be just an “ode” to the old school. For the second time this week, I’m pleasantly surprised! Excellent job… Note to metal scene: MORE OF THIS, PLEASE. 7 Fucking Pecks.

Until next time… Waldo out!

The post For Those About to Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Gojira, Evile and Insane appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

Happy April Fools’ Day, foos! It’s ya boi Waldo here spitting the FINEST reviews regarding some upcoming metal releases. As always, some are good, some are bad and some are “meh.” Read the peck on or pay the price…

Cannibal Corpse are back at it with their umpteenth release… Violence Unimagined. What can one say about Cannibal that hasn’t already been said? This time, they teamed up with producer extraordinaire Erik Rutan, and the result is well… killer. A LOT of death metal bands would be stagnant as beak at this point in their career, but Cannibal manage to keep their music brutal, extreme and fresh. The songs here are heavy and memorable, and really move without feeling scattered at all. Mana Studios did an EXCELLENT job on production, tight, aggressive, but not sterile at all. What sticks out to me is Corpsegrinder’s vocals on this. His rasp is ever present, but the delivery is great, not just sticking to the riff. It’s super refreshing to this birdbrain to see a band, this far along in their career still putting out SUPER relevant jams. Kudos. 9 Fucking Pecks!

Bewitcher comes at us a little out of left field with Cursed by Thy Kingdom. Known for a more traditional speed metal approach, Bewitcher changes things up a little on this one. Melodic and catchy, and with one foot planted firmly in the “blackened” territory, this is a NWOTHM record through and through. That’s not to say that it doesn’t sound like Bewitcher, because it does, just a lot of the “speed” here has been exchanged for melody and a lot of the thrasher aspects of the band have been switched for songwriting. Hold up… I’m not saying this is bad, because it isn’t at all. This is a SOLID heavy metal record with all the tracks being anthemic and bangers, but I do miss some of the speedier, Venom worshiping moments the band has been known for. All in all, this is a good record, but in my feathered opine, this would be a FANTASTIC record if the speed metal era and this current sound met. Then we’re talking. Still, a good record though. 7 Fucking Pecks.

This next one is so in my “birdhouse.” Your boy, Waldo here, I’m an original, but where there’s success, there’s bound to be biters (literally in this case.) The feline-fronted four-piece Cattera has released a track Hunger of the Beast and well… it’s cool. All proceeds from this track go to Whiskers-a-GoGo, a no profit cat rescue. So, what about this? This is cool, heavy riffs with a cat screeching, mewling and all but purring on this. Probably this isn’t for everyone, but hey, lighten up, have some, fun why dontcha? I like this sort of thing, and well, if you can’t take a joke, go shit in a litter box. This isn’t purrrfect (I know, I had too), but is definitely a fun way to raise some loot for a good cause. Check it out here: https://cattera.bandcamp.com/

And no April Fools’ jokes… until next time… Waldo out!

The post For Those About to Squawk: Waldo Pecks on Cannibal Corpse, Bewitcher and Cattera appeared first on Decibel Magazine.

What’s up, guys? It’s your old boy Waldo here to peck in with you guys about some new releases. You know, in case you were interested, and BOY HOWDY ARE YOU! I’ll bet you read my column all of the time.

Nearly 30 years ago the Crown started thrashing out and are now releasing Royal Destroyer. There’s a lot to be said about this band, semi-underground heroes that have suffered through MULTIPLE lineup changes. What we have here is their second in a row with the same lineup! I know, right? So, here’s the deal, with a healthy dose of doom, hardcore punk, but this is a death/thrash record, and not a bad one at all. There are some weird moments, but all in all it’s basically what the Crown are known for. The production is good here, a little polished, but hey, that’s them. 8 Fucking Pecks.

Metalcore is alive and well with London three-piece, Pupil Slicer and their full length Mirrors. This is no Salvador Dali movie here (although maybe it is a reference).  I have to start off by saying, metalcore isn’t really my thing (heard that one before have ya? Well, I’m a parrot and I’m prone repeating things.) This is frantic, but makes one hell of a racket for a three-piece. The general rule here is “glitch” I mean there are some ambient passages, some part that could be considered “normal” grindcore, but all in all this is an exercise in weirdness. When PS gets, fast—boy are they fas— but in general, this is a lot of mid-paced and slower stuff here, but it is all eccentric. I’m not really sure what to make of this, it definitely has moxie, as I haven’t heard anything this chaotic in quite a while. The one gripe I have is this comes across a little too “electronic” sounding at times. All in all, a promising debut. 6 Fucking Pecks.

Alright, guys, until next time… Waldo OUT!

The post For Those About to Squawk: Waldo Pecks on The Crown and Pupil Silcer appeared first on Decibel Magazine.