Since their inception in 2011, Adelaide built thrash metal brutes Hidden Intent have been working harder than a meat mincer in an Aussie pie factory, tearing it up globally and refining their chops to a grade A standard that few have reached in Australia. Finally, the boys have finished their “Aussie as fark” new album, […]
Our HammerHeart friends are in transition right now. Brothers-in-law Nathaniel Chapman and Austin Lunn shut down their brewery’s taproom in late June 2021 and plan to transition into a contract brewing operation before opening a smaller, more tightly-focused operating elsewhere in Minnesota. Contract brewing could actually be a wonderful development for an operation like Hammerheart, especially if it leads to expanded visibility and availability. Decibel readers know that Lunn is pretty occupied with writing and recording, but some of these HammerHeart brews deserve to be scrutinized and celebrated like a Panopticon album.
Case in point: Stjørdal, a smoked farmhouse ale that encapsulates everything that HammerHeart is all about. Stjørdal is a representation of one an old-world beer style, Stjørdalsøl, that’s so rare that it’s only produced in rural communities in Norway. The key is the malt—in this case, barley—and the smoke imparted from the alderwood. It’s a mistake to assume that all smoked beers taste the same. The wood is what gives the smoked malt its character; alderwood is like a young pine, so it is radically different from a German style rauchbier.
How much of a difference does the wood make? I’d say it’s pretty substantial. The reason a lot of rauchbiers taste like bacon/sausages is that they incorporate applewood or hickory smoke. The alderwood is a softer wood, and the smoke is a little more subtle and sweeter. Stjørdal smells like a campfire, but there’s this beautiful undercurrent of spiciness and pine-y flavor from HammerHeart’s technique of passing the beer through juniper boughs. When you take a sip of Stjørdal, then breathe in through your nose and open your mouth, it’s an incredible experience. This is more than just a feast for all the senses, it’s elemental—HammerHeart is connecting Earth, air, fire and water to help us all ascend to a plane of higher existence.
For more info, check out HammerHeart here.
The post No Corporate Beer Reviews: Stjørdal appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10
Converge (performing Jane Doe in its entirety)
Sacred Reich
Repulsion
Early Graves (final show)
Night Demon
Ripped to Shreds
Saber
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11
Cave In (performing Until Your Heart Stops in its entirety)
Deadguy
Gatecreeper
Ghoul
Crypt Sermon
ACxDC
SpiritWorld
The post Metal & Beer Fest: L.A. Tickets Just $25 Now Through Cyber Monday! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
“‘Unholy Passages’ is the JAM,” says SpiritWorld mainman Stu Folsom.
I mean, we could pretty much stop there and just play you the new video from SpiritWorld’s relentless riff-maker Pagan Rhythms and that’s really all the context you’d need to enjoy it. But considering that today Decibel unveils our own exclusive version of Pagan Rhythms — pressed on “Ritual Human Sacrifice Bone” colored vinyl and packed with a limited edition 12” x 12” art print and limited to 250 copies worldwide — it seems like a good time to be thorough. So, where were you, Mr. Folsom?
“If I could pick one song off of Pagan Rhythms to show people, this is it. 270 BPM of hella nasty riff vomit! Just when you think, ‘Okay, this song fucks, I’m diggin’ it…,’ it drops another banger riff on you. It’s even got the Hellraiser, ‘Do I look like I care what God thinks?’ breakdown sprinkled with some field recordings of a monsoon season thunderstorm I recorded on my cell phone to top it off! When I made the visualizer for it, everything was still on lockdown, so a real video was out of the question. I knew I needed something striking to compliment the song, so I pivoted down the rabbit hole of archival footage sourcing old rodeo footage, go-go dancers, and occult rituals. Enjoy!”
Your next chance to a catch SpiritWorld live is just a few weeks away, as the band is a part of Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Los Angeles’ insane December 10-11 weekend where Converge will perform their seminal metallic hardcore classic, Jane Doe, in its entirety and Cave In will perform all of their landmark Until Your Heart Stops debut while Deadguy, Sacred Reich, Gatecreeper, Repulsion and more bring the world’s heaviest beer festival to the Belasco in downtown Los Angeles. All ticket options are below.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 10
Converge (performing Jane Doe in its entirety)
Sacred Reich
Repulsion
Early Graves (final show)
Night Demon
Ripped to Shreds
Saber
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11
Cave In (performing Until Your Heart Stops in its entirety)
Deadguy
Gatecreeper
Ghoul
Crypt Sermon
ACxDC
SpiritWorld
After that, SpiritWorld hits the road on select dates as the opener on the 2022 Decibel Magazine Tour along side Obituary, Municipal Waste, Gatecreeper and Enforced. The Decibel Magazine Tour 2022 dates and ticket links below.
February 21 • Richmond, VA • The Broadberry (no SpiritWorld)
The post Video Premiere: SpiritWorld – “Unholy Passages” appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
Christmas may yet still be a month away, but for the vinyl collectors out there, the holidays have come early. Decibel is proud to announce not one, not two, not even three, but four exclusive LPs are now available for pre-order only through our online store!
After signing to Century Media, gearing up for their upcoming appearance at Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Los Angeles 2021 and landing an opening spot on select dates of the forthcoming Decibel Magazine Tour 2022, Las Vegas death-western cultists SpiritWorld are on track for a massive 2022. To prepare you for what’s to come, Decibel is proud to announce our very own exclusive color variant of Pagan Rhythms, SpiritWorld’s debut LP! Pressed on “Ritual Human Sacrifice Bone” colored vinyl and packed with a limited edition 12” x 12” art print, this essential reissue is the most scarce edition, coming in at a scant 250 units.
Now Decibel may or may not have a total crush on Khemmis. With their most recent album Deceiver landing all the way at No. 2 on our Top 40 Albums of 2021 list, making their Decibel cover debut with our December 2021 issue and their sophomore effort being our No. 2 Album of the Decade (2010-2019), it’s safe to say that the modern day doom wizards have cast a spell over the dB staff. That is why we are beyond thrilled to announce the reissue of their stellar 20 Buck Spin catalog featuring the albums Absolution, Hunted and Desolation, all with Decibel-only exclusive colors and all pressed at an extremely limited amount of only 100 units each! Absolution comes pressed on “Red Inside of Beer” colored vinyl, Hunted sees new life on “White Inside Electric Blue” vinyl and Desolation appears on “Black Inside of Orange Crush.” Looking to nab all three at once? We’ll have only 25 bundles including all three releases for as long as supplies last. Do not wait on these, they will sell out fast!
It’s a vinyl collector’s dream, courtesy of your frenemies at North America’s only monthly metal mag. But don’t spoil the holidays, get your copies today!
NOTE: These are pre-order items due to ship around late February 2022 (Khemmis reissues) and April 22, 2022 (SpiritWorld reissue). All details, including release date, are subject to change.
The post Get Exclusive New Colored Vinyl from KHEMMIS and SPIRITWORLD Pre-Orders From Decibel appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
Monsters is the second single from Sydney hard rock outfit The Rentagades. It started with Tony coming up with a banging bassline which he had been working on for a while, so you could say that was the DNA for the track! Then Bleusy (lead guitar) and Scott (Vox, guitar) got in Bleusy’s studio, Studio Bleus, […]
It’s the most horrible time of the year! As you recover from your over indulgence of food and uncomfortable conversations with your deadbeat uncle, Black Friday has once again descended upon the consuming masses. Decibel is here to lean into our darkest timeline and hope to make your holidays black as pitch. Sign up for a 12-month or 24-month Decibel subscription (deluxe or basic) and we’ll include TWO additional issues for FREE. We’re here to help you save money on that special hesher in your life (let’s be honest, it’s probably you).
This special Blackest Friday offer ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on Monday, November 29. Don’t let this offer slip away into the darkness, click here and save!
The post BLACKEST FRIDAY DEAL: Get TWO FREE Issues of Decibel NOW! appeared first on Decibel Magazine.
VIEW HEAVY AUSTRALIAN ARTISTS DIGIMAG #55 HERE It’s been a bumper week in the Australian hard rock/metal world! After the recent release of their awesome EP Memoriam, Together in Tragedy have scored this week’s cover and featured interview. We also catch up with Veal ahead of their show this weekend, talk to The Butterfly Effect […]
Raised As Wolves are a rapidly growing indie punk band from NSW. The last few years have seen the release of a string of successful jangly, guitar driven singles, sold out shows and high-profile support slots. The new single, Get Used To It, is out now, and is taken from the debut album, that will […]
Metal Of Honor is at it again! Next Saturday, December 4, the guys are putting on Rodfest, A Rock And Metal Mega Party at the Back Room in Annerley, Brisbane. Headlined by Vulgar Display Of 90s tribute band, the line-up also includes Magnertron, Regular Gonzales, Blood Of The Lannisters and more. Presale tix $30 via […]