Till Lindemann, vocalist of German industrial metal legends Rammstein, has issued his new solo single “Es Brennt…” (aka “It Burns…”). While the digital single is now streaming below along with an official NSFW music video for it filled with live footage and various backstage shenanigans, Lindemann has pulled out all the stops for the physical…
Electroclash will never die. We seem to be entering a new golden age of glamorous people in severe makeup reciting deadpan lyrics over bloopy drum-machine beats. Ideally, an entirely new generation will get to use tracks like those as soundtracks to their worst decisions. Erin Hoagg, the Baltimore-born and New York-based artist who records as…
Album Review: Antrisch – Expedition III: Renitenzpfad
Reviewed by Oli Gonzalez
Making their UK debut at Fortress Festival this June, many on the island may not be familiar with Germany’s Antrisch. Though a simple trip to YouTube will demonstrate why they’re earning a reputation on mainland Europe as one of the fastest rising in the black metal world, largely due to their flamboyant and captivating theatrical performances. These shows are often full album play throughs, albums that exist not as random conglomerates of songs but rather representing a carefully written and crafted concept. Every song is as important as the last in bringing the narrative to life, with stage props and attire to match. Take the second album for instance, “Expedition II: Die Passage”. Chronicling the ultimately failed expedition of Sir John Franklin to the final section of the North West passage, in which all members of the crew perished in the cold once they became trapped in the ice, and some even resorting to cannibalism in an ultimately futile attempt to avoid starvation! How metal is that?! More importantly, this gives insight into the creative mindsets of Antrisch and the level of detail they pour into their song writing.
So, what’s their upcoming album “Expedition III: Renitenzpfad” all about? Well, to be truthful, I went into the album (hereafter simply “Expedition III”) blind and not knowing the lyrical themes, and as such, I’ll temporarily hold back on these details. Instead, let’s talk about the music.
This definitely isn’t one designed to dip in and out, song by song. Sure, there’s some highs and more interesting parts though. Instead, “Expedition III” is one which demands to be consumed in it’s entirety from start to finish, back to front, in order to become fully immersed in what truly is a work of art! At times, it’s everything you’d expect from an atmospheric black metal album; leaning on the tried and tested formula of slower ambient segments to build tension and intrigue, before unleashing hell with wall after wall of crushing atmosphere that threatens to consume everything in it’s path! Antrisch do this time and time again, and are so good at it. Though this feels fresh and original when compared to others in the genre.
See, Otto (Bass) and Noel (drums) do a phenomenal job at holding down the thunderous rhythm section but not with the typical and almost cliché blast beats. Instead, they offer rhythmic patterns that are ferocious as they are groovy and hypnotic! This provides the perfect platform for Robert and Alexander’s dual guitar assault. Opulent and aesthetic whilst sharp and deadly in equal portions, they remain the melodic focal point for the majority of the album, making casual fans and seasoned musicians purr in equal amounts of admiration.
The canonical song-verse song structure is tossed aside and no segment is ever repeated. This is necessary for the intricate song writing they’re trying to achieve, allowing the album’s momentum to continuously ebb and flow with constant fresh stimulus keeping you engaged.
In the mid-point of the album, we’re introduced to the warm and soothing sounds of flamenco style acoustic guitars. As such, you’d be forgiven if you thought you were listening to a ‘Sounds of Andalusia’ style compilation album. Which leads us nicely onto the theme of this album and the rational for this inclusion. Here, Antrisch tell the narrative of conquistador Lope de Aguirre. Born into a wealthy aristocratic family but ventured to South America in search of fame and fortune, and adventure. He orchestrated a rebellion against the crown would ultimately fail and his lust for blood would become his downfall as he was surrounded by Spanish soldiers at his
final stand before being executed. Sounds like a pretty cool story right? Well, with the band being German this means the narrative is spoken in their native tongue which I sadly do not speak and cannot follow. This is very much a me problem though and it would be interesting to hear a German speaking person’s take on this.
With this being said, language barriers are no barriers to feeling the intensity and emotion behind the final song which serves as a thrilling crescendo such are the huge climaxes and the biblical levels of cathartic release this provides! The music is frantic and chaotic which raises your heart rate, before eventually tossing you into the blackened and desolate abyss reeling and processing what just transpired.
Perhaps understanding the story of Lope de Aguirre helps to understand the musical narrative being portrayed here, or at least provides a reference point for interpretation. Which could be used to summarise the experience of Antrisch – because it is an experience. It requires a bit more effort than other black metal bands and perhaps a bit more investment. This won’t appease the fast food society who want instant gratification and pleasure on demand. Antrisch don’t offer that. Instead they offer a rich and rewarding immersive experience into the deepest darkest chasms of the human psyche, venturing where others have never ventured before.
“‘The New Flesh’ is the pinnacle of their story so far, and an impressive raising of the stakes for anyone brave enough to follow in their wake.” Blabbermouth “Sylosis is one of the best modern metal bands in the scene right now… It’d certainly be best to catch one of their shows before the rest of the metal […]
At the beginning of the year, Boston post-hardcore band the Saddest Landscape announced their return with a new album Alone With Heaven, their first in over a decade. We’ve already heard a few from the project, which is out next month, including “From Home They Run,” “Hexes,” and “Forever, Undone.” Today they’ve shared another preview of…
When we last posted about death metal outfit Frozen Soul, they’d released a single featuring My Chemical Romance’s Gerard Way as a featured vocalist. This time around, they’re back with a new single and a new collab with Machine Head frontman Robb Flynn.
The new track in question — “Invoke War” — is a heavy hitter by any measure. Beefy riffs, thunderous rhythm, and the kind of dark and deep vocals you’d expect from Frozen Soul. According to frontman Chad Green, the track is all about perseverance.
“It’s about getting back up. It’s meant to be the anthem to your day, the background music to your story, the extra weapon you might need to help conquer whatever you’re struggling with. Robb’s lyrics add a whole new layer of power and emotion to the song. This is a follow up to ‘Arsenal of War,’ which was about remembering and carrying the light and memories of your lost loved one with you.”
“Invoke War” is the third single off their forthcoming album No Place Of Warmth, due out on May 8 via Century Media. You can preorder your copy today.
1 – No Place of Warmth (Feat. Gerard Way) 2 – Invoke War (Feat. Machine Head) 3 – Absolute Zero 4 – Dreadnought (Feat. Sanguisugabogg) 5 – Chaos Will Reign 6 – Eyes of Despair 7 – Ethereal Dreams 8 – Skinned by the Wind 9 – DEATHWEAVER 10 – Frost Forged 11 – Killin Time (Until its Time to Kill)
Frozen Soul US Tour Dates: w/ Avatar and Fleshgod Apocalypse
Apr 16: Sacramento, CA – Channel 24 Apr 17: Los Angeles, CA – Novo Apr 19: Tucson, AZ – Rialto Theater Apr 20: Albuquerque, NM – Revel Apr 22: San Antonio, TX – Aztec Apr 23: Oklahoma City, OK – Criterion Apr 25: Omaha, NE – Steelhouse Omaha Apr 26: Des Moines, IA – Val Air Apr 28: Lawrence, KS – Liberty Hall Apr 29: Moline, IL – The Rust Belt Apr 30: Grand Rapids, MI – GLC Live at 20 Monroe May 01: Milwaukee, WI – Eagles Club Stage May 02: Fort Wayne, IN – The Clyde May 04: Huntsville, AL – VBC Mars Music Hall May 05: Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle May 06: Knoxville, TN – Mill & Mine May 07: Myrtle Beach, SC – House of Blues May 10: Raleigh, NC – The Ritz May 12: Richmond, VA – The National May 13: Philadelphia, PA – Franklin Music Hall May 15: New York, NY – Palladium Times Square May 16: Buffalo, NY – Buffalo Riverworks May 19: Wallingford, CT – The Dome May 20: Hampton Beach, NH – Hampton Beach Casino
EP Review: Funelore – The Dissolution of Consciousness
Reviewed by Dan Barnes
Canadian doom death duo, Funelore, release their debut EP, The Dissolution of Consciousness, on vinyl via Me Saco un Ojo Records, after it having been available in digital formats since mid-January.
Comprised of bassist/ vocalist, and former KickxAssxViolence, Décryptal, Névrose and WhiteNails member, AE, with all Guitars, Synthesizers, Drum programming being handled by MB, The Dissolution of Consciousness is twenty-minutes of soul-suffocating devastation.
With just two tracks to shatter any hope you may have, the journey begins with Tides in Agony’s morose keys and ghostly voices, AE’s prominent basslines give musical form to the titular tides, as MB’s cymbal washes create the effect of waves breaking against the bases of cliffs. While not as slow as some of the other genre exponents, Funelore have an icier vibe, with huge drops seeming to shake the foundations of the world. At the mid-point we’re met with a moment of respite, a sole piano evoking an altogether Gothic feel. From here to the song’s climax, it’s a blend of bleak breaks and morbidly hypnotic guitars.
Tides in Agony feels like the upbeat warm-up for the ten-minute title track, which wastes no time dropping weighty slabs of musical misery. Fuzzy, doom-laden riffs lay a platform for stark, dreary guitars as every beat tolls like a death knell. It’s gloriously widescreen in its presentation, all-encompassing crushing anguish, taking us back the fall of man with some sibilant vocal pronouncements.
The second half of Dissolution… has the feel of tectonic plates moving against each other, and howls emitting from the comic void, all with a bowel-loosening low end and guitars stripped bare of any emotion other than submissive solitude. The track concludes with the possibility of light at the end of the tunnel, faint though the glimmer is, there is still hope.
It’s great to hear new voices in the genre, pushing their own spin on the material and not being afraid to experiment with styles. Crushingly heavy riffs and funereal atmospherics make this an interesting listen and, as someone who prefers his Doom with a big ol’ dose of Death, I’m imagining The Dissolution of Consciousness and I will be getting to know each other over the next few months.
INTERVIEW WITH ALEX BOUKS OF IMMOLATION The long-running Yonkers death metal band, Immolation, has released a new album, DESCENT – another masterpiece in their extensive […]
For the past few years, rap great Danny Brown has been collaborating heavily with underground hyperpop producers. He loves that stuff! Those collaborations built up to the release of Stardust, the album that Brown released last year, but they didn’t end there. Now, Brown’s got a new collaboration with an artist who I’d never heard…
