XII Boar - Split Tongue, Cloven Hoof.

Every now and again, things slip under the radar; Obviously besides running this website we have hectic lives and so it came to pass that I was offered this for review before Xmas, missed it, and then found it, listened, and then got sidetracked before getting the review online.
Apologies from the bottom of my blackened heart.

XII Boar (that's pronounced 12 Bore, shotgun fans), come bursting out of the military town of Aldershot in England with a quite frankly storming four track EP here.

In a time when a lot of underground English Metal sees bands becoming ever more enshrouded in weed smoke, or writing ever more arcane and occult lyrics, it is a refreshing change to see bands like XII Boar (and countrymen Mage and Asomvel, for example) who hold no qualms about writing a tune or two for you to have a few beers with your mates and stamp your feet to, songs that you'll enjoy just as much blasting out of your stereo as you drive down the motorway in summer heading the festival of your choice.

There's a perfect balance struck between the old-sound and feel of uniquely British groups like early Almighty and the transatlantic swamp-groove of the mid nineties, all wrapped up in a Motörhead shirt and bullet belt, with a slight Southern-states feel, although they come across a lot more homegrown than any of that.
At times, they are reminiscent of Uprising-era Entombed, or even mid-career Cathedral, it's just a shame that there's only four tracks on offer here as I think a full length release must surely be imminent.

So, what do we have?
The first track, Smokin' Bones, rolls out of the speakers all studs and headbanging, like the aforementioned Asomvel do so well, Tommy Hardrock's vocals and guitar giving it the whole feeling of twenty regal and a few cans on payday before you head to the pool hall to meet the lads; sliding effortlessly into a mid paced singalong that reminds me of proper british rock/metal like early Wolfsbane, especially during the solo (check out David's drumming in the background during the solo).
When the three of them (rounded out by bassist Adam Bad-Dog) jam it out at the end, it's a total fist in the air moment, and we are only four minutes into the EP!
Hellspeed Viper (boss title) starts off frantically, and also has the whole mid-nineties groove thiing going on - I know I've only just said this about the previous track, but these lads must play together every night because they fit together like a jigsaw.
They slow down about five minutes into the track where you can hear Bad-Dog's bass a bit clearer, it's only when they slow down that I guess you'd really class them as being "stoner" in any sense of the world; I'm going to cringe if I ever see anyone describe them as such.
Moving into Slamhound,  another greasy mechanic of a track, it's lead breaks, rolling drums and headbangable basslines right through, overlaid with catchy sing-along stile lyrics.  I can't wait to see this band live.
The closing track, Triclops is the band's tour de force, Adam and Tommy taking a line each at the mic whilst the music chugs away behind them, this is their most doomy song on the EP, encompassing many moods and ands with another great solo and the band bashing it out to the finish.

I can't believe I let this slip under the radar, as I am under no illusion that it would have been in my best of 2012.  I love this, good time classic rock style British metal.

It seems to me that British Rock/Metal is about to be back at the position I've been waiting for siince the early-mid nineties, and groups like XII Boar, Mage, Orange Goblin, Asomvel, Arkham Witch, Age of Taurus, Ravens Creed and Black Magician are going to be up at the forefront of it, and it's a very exciting time.

You can find the band at:
XII Boar .com
and also at:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Twitter

DO IT!

Mage - Black Sands

There's only so much filth one can be immersed in before you want something...different, for want of a better word!

We recently received a promo copy of Mage's BLACK SANDS, and when we put it on, what a refreshing release this is!

Mage are rocking out, simple as that.
This is 10 tracks of Sabbath-infused good time Doom Metal.
It's nice to see bands with doom influences that are not bothering with the occult-shtick Scooby Doom nonsense that's so prevalent these days.

As soon as Cosmic Cruiser X blasts out of your speakers, it's time to crack open a cold one and enjoy.
The song grooves along, with the rhythm section of Andy and Mark working together to lay down some serious bedrock for the twin guitar attack of Ben and Woody to play across the top of.

Tom's vocals are classic heavy metal in the vein of Pepper Keenan or Ben Ward, and when it all comes together...well, I lost count of the amount of times I started playing air-bass or nodding along when I gave the disc it's first spin!
There are plenty of brilliant bluesy style moments in the tracks, alongside sections that really rock, such as the start of Rust.
In places the band have a feel of mid-period Cathedral or Kyuss, and I've found myself humming the basslines off a few of these tracks today!
Drowning Doom is a standout track for me, a straight up doom beginning leading into some excellent double bass drumming before the riff comes back in again, it also has an almost Alice in Chains feel to it, which is a good thing.
Witch of the Black Desert has a Sleep-esque start to it before it really kicks off, Sabbath style about two and a half minutes in.

All in all, this is a real stomper of an album, covering all kinds of ground, and Boulty's production really puts the band right in your face.
Brilliant.
The band are self releasing this as a digipack CD, and it will be distributed online by the hard working Witch Hunter Records, you can get it on Spotify, iTunes and Amazon, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

wwww.facebook.com/mageband
www.witchhunterrecords.com

Ilsa - Intoxicatations

Washington DC's ILSA return with the follow up to 2010's Tutti il Colori del Buio, with Intoxicantations; a true example of real crossover, merging metal, hardcore, sludge, you name it.

Foreign Lander starts with a squeal of feedack, and is into some serious riffing, with a tornado of drumming, moving forward at breakneck speed, with Orion growling atop it all.
Harking back to the days when death metal and hardcore mixed effortlessly, this is filthy, downtuned noise just the way Thee Claw likes it; brooding passages punctuated with bursts of feedback and death growls.

The cover art of a tiger downing a bad trip whilst lines of maggots are prepared should give you some idea of what's in store for you when you listen to the album.
The title track is a grinding juggernaut of a song, with stunning double-kick drumming from Joshy, there are even some black metal influences on show here, where Brendan and Garret hold the guitars back and Orion's voice reverberates over the rhythm section.

Deadbeat's Ballad is a punkier, more in your face track, where your head starts nodding along and your feet start to stamp, followed by Man-made Monsters, a more metallic track which brings to mind sweaty gigs in small clubs when you'd see a band you hadn't heard before and they'd blow you away whilst you tried to figure out where they were coming from, reminds me of dISEMBOWELMENT in places, and musically even the good old demo days of the unholy English trinity of Anathema, My Dying Bride and Paradise Lost.
Striding across all of it is some outstanding bass work from Sharad, real speaker-shaking bottom end.
Love it.

The album ends with a one two of Martyrs and Skin and Bone, the former is another stomping, crusty anthem with some metallic riffs that will send crowds mental, the latter being a doomy, crawling number at the start, that the drums join at around the two minute mark to create a nasty, lumbering beast of a track with a hauntingly atmospheric guitar solo, before becoming complete Whitehouse-style noise that cuts off suddenly and is replaced with the sound of an air raid siren.

Take heed, Ilsa mix together all aspects of the underground and may well be one of the bands of 2013.

Out now on a389 Recordings.

a389 Recordings
Ilsa (facebook)

Metalcore 0, Wiccan Wanderers 5

(long time coming, crazy situations - P)

Well, better late than never, the review of one of the UK's hardest working band's second CD, Ravens Creed's THE POWER.

From the moment the CD starts, with an air raid siren wailing and the staccatto, Hell Awaits style riffing comes on, you know that RC are about to serve a treat to your ears, a snap to your neck and a kick to your yarbles, if you have any yarbles that is.

Worshipping at the altar of 84-92 death/power/speed/thrash/whatever, all the adjectives that Cronos used to use to describe Venom in interviews, they pick up where they left off with 2011's Nestless and Wild EP, and pummel you into submission.

Younger readers maybe haven't ever heard a band like Ravens Creed before, and their blend of Venom/Kreator/Old Sepultura music would have you thinking you were listening to a South American tape on Cogulemo, with crystal clear production that really gets behind your eyes.
But don't kid yourself, this is no rose-tinted trip down memory lane, Ravens Creed are aggressive and hungry.
Vocalist Al Osta barks out commands like Patrick Mameli encased in Dalek armour, on Wiccan Wanderers sounding like a nastier version of Moonfog-era Darkthrone, with (as we have mentioned on previous occasions) outstanding drumming from Jay Graham who must surely be one of the greatest drummers in UK metal today.

There are traces of, dare we say it, groove in some of the tracks, such as on Raped by the Graveyard, which ploughs out of the speakers, with Fraser Craske's bass bubbling underneath Steve Watson's guitar, track after track of vicious, old-style, relevant metal.
None of the tracks are more than three minutes long, leaving you reeling from song to song, like going 16 rounds with David Price.

Standout tracks: Wiccan Wanderers, Rat King Rosary and Silence in Crow Court.

The album is out on Doomentia Records orange vinyl, black vinyl and Cd available and affordable.
Get over there, and Unleash the Rat Bashers.

Tree of Sores in wax release on ALERTA ANTIFASCISTA

Claw favourites TREE OF SORES are set to release their, well, basically their back catalogue on vinyl through Germany's ALERTA ANTIFASCISTA. This contains the recent full length "A Cry of Despair" and the debut on one 12".

PRE-ORDER! SHIPPING AT 15th DECEMBER!!! 
Starting out with crushing guitars and abrasive vocals a pounding rhythm soon is established leading to some haunting guitar work it sets the tone for more to follow. 
Tree of Sores must really be commended for the quality of this release. 
Every member excels to provide the listener with a stunning listening experience. 
 "A Cry Of Despair" takes a more subtle turn around the ten minute mark. 
A delicate riff builds with chiming momentum giving way to a brooding passage of density and euphoric greatness . Free of vocals, the music carries the song while maintaining the flow . 
It gives way to more atmospheric moments before gathering in pace again. Ending in brutal fashion with pummelling drums and layers of guitar, eventually fading out in drones of feedback and effects overall its an outstanding accomplishment Tree Of Sores can be proud of. 
This Release also contains almost the whole first EP (one song is missing) on the B-Side and a A2-Poster (size: 17x24inch)!!!

Corrupt Moral Altar to release CD on Baitin' The Trap

News via Baitin' The Trap Records:

So here we have it, Sludge/Grind new boys Corrupt Moral Altar blew me away with their demo 'Needle Drugs', so much so I had to work with them.
Their debut EP will now be the first release on Baitin' The Trap Records and will be limited to 150 copies on CD, with artwork coming from Chris of Iron Witch.
A digital download will also be available and pre-orders for this bad boy will be up within the next few weeks.

You can find the demo here - http://corruptmoralaltar.bandcamp.com/album/needle-drugs

You can also catch them on the following social networks -
http://www.facebook.com/CorruptMoralAltar
http://www.twitter.com/corruptmoralalt

You can also catch them live at the following gigs -
Birmingham, 2nd Dec. (Event page)
The Pilgrim Pub, Liverpool, 6th Dec.

http://www.facebook.com/baitinthetraprecords
http://www.twitter.com/baitinthetrap

Just How We Like It!

For those of you (like us) who grew up in the eighties/nineties loving us some good hardcore alongside our metal, you'll love Iron Reagan, who have just signed to A389 Records:

Richmond VA's IRON REAGAN are the latest band to join the A389 Records family.
 Featuring members of Municipal Waste and Darkest Hour, IRON REAGAN deliver raging 80's hardcore infused crossover thrash, influenced by the likes of D.R.I. Cro-Mags and Nuclear Assault with their own twists and turns thrown into the mix.
 The band has just wrapped up tracking their debut twenty-track LP ''Worse Than Dead', which will be seeing an early 2013 release on A389.
 In the meantime, Clearview Records has just released the band's 5-song demo as a 1-sided 12" EP.
 Stream the IRON REAGAN demo on their bandcamp page below:
http://ironreagan.bandcamp.com/

Enlightened, Inducted, Northern.

Arkham Witch - Legions of the Deep
Metal On Metal Records 2012

Legions of the Deep is Keighley quartet Arkham Witch's second album (following on from the demo and début full length On Crom's Mountain), a group of musicians who have paid their dues over the years in well known bands in the doom underground.

On the band's first release on Italy's Metal on Metal Records, and has a sound that whilst rooted in the doomier side of metal, transcends any such limitations to become, quite frankly, one big, bollocksy traditional Heavy metal album.

Starting with David Lund, a song about the leader of The Dew and the Light society in 1870s Keighley, over eight minutes, a complex tale of supposed slights between rival occultists*.
Backed up by an almost NWOBHM sounding riff, Simon Iff's unique vocal delivery plants you firmly amongst the mills and the lodge meetings of the upper class in Victorian Yorkshire, and the fact that there was a north/south divide even amongst upper class esoteric societies!
I love the little bit of spoken narration just before the solo in this track; it's the band setting out their table, inviting you into their parlour if you like, and setting the tone for the rest of the album to follow.
At The Mountains of Madness follows, and is built around some anthemic British Steel type riffing from Aldo and a thrash-like middle section showing that the band employ more traditional metal leanings than one might expect from a band considered by many to be "doom", this is also evident on the track Infernal Machine with it's chanted refrain of INFERNAL MACHINE-OI! which calls to mind the likes of Atrophy's Violent by Nature.  The way Simon gets his larynx around the lyrics to Kult of Kutulu is worth hearing! There is a great one-two of Kult of Kutulu and the title track with it's Manilla Road-esque chorus (featuring a guest appearance from Leo of the band Forsaken) following each other, can't wait to hear this track played live, Emily's drumming coupled with John's bass playing providing the driving force for Aldo's NWOBHM/Thrashy riffs over the top.
I was initially surprised to hear the sea shanty-style section in the middle of the track, but a grin soon spread across my face! A sea shanty strait into a doomy evil riff. Not many records that happens on!
Intensely proud of their Yorkshire heritage, the ablum closes with We're From Keighley, an Orgasmatron-tempo track that speaks quite vocally of being in England, but not of it.
Great Stuff.


*More here; this is something I am still learning about.  Not since the early days of hearing Iron Maiden for the first time have I felt compelled to go away and research the lyrical subject matter of songs as I have with this album.
That's got to be a compliment!

Limb - Demo CD

London four piece LIMB originally went into the studio in January to record their demo, just went in and did it live, and Witch Hunter Records have remixed the three tracks for release on this CD EP.
When I say remixed though, don't expect any kind of polished nonsense though, it's still a raw sounding document of a band laying down their tracks together in the studio, overdriven and tight as anything.

Opener Daemoness is a slow paced track with crushing riffs and bass lines reminiscent of Godflesh or Neurosis, with quieter passages also helping to set the mood.
Black Rat has a more bluesy, desert-y feel to it, with a more traditional rock vibe to the track if that's possible with such a fuzzed out monster, Sam Cooper's hands wandering along the frets like Geezer Butler getting the fuck out of Birmingham.
 Rob's vocals are quite low down in the mix, demanding attention but letting the music flow effortlessly around them, the whole mix stirred up by Jodie's drumming.
I love the way the closing track Dead Voice goes from a Witch-style stomper to Goatsnake-esque sludge easily, and then back again as they ride off into the sunset.

 Magic, can't wait for the full length.

Limited to 100 copies on CD, this comes with a folded card inlay and parchment insert, housed in a plastic wallet, with artwork by Chris Alliston and layout by Limb. It is also available through Bandcamp (pay what you want download), Spotify, Amazon and iTunes.

bandcamp online player - http://witchhunterrecords.bandcamp.com/album/limb-demo-cd 

bigcartel link - http://witchhunterrecords.bigcartel.com/product/limb-demo-cd

www.facebook.com/limbtheband

limbtheband@live.co.uk 

www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0VJGYrF_k0 - Video for 'Daemoness'

Not as far away as it seems...

...not far away at all...

Headless Kross - Demises

On the ol' Death Decks this morning: Demises from Glaswegian trio Headless Kross.
Punishing! It's punky doom metal, with the emphasis on the METAL! A two track EP, this sees the band knocking out some great riffing, with some intense Kevin Sharp style vocals from throatman/bassist Derek - who is no slouch on the fretboard either!
First track Army of Serpentine has a real headbanging riff running right through it, a slow middle section with an almost Floydian feel to it, which I like a lot.
The Great God Proteus (That's the Old Man of The Sea for those of you who didn't study Classics at school) starts with some funereal drumming and slide guitar. Why don't more doom bands use a bit of slide? I think Tommy Duffin of the Kross is onto something here! The track then morphing into foot tapping, head nodding territory, sounding huge. Love the drum/feedback outro too, Jonny!

The EP is available for just £5 (that's around €6.50 or $8, jet-setters) from their Bandcamp page (which also has a link to their album Bear on it too) and you get a free patch and immediate download in your choice of file format.


In a nutshell: If the band you're in starts playing different tunes, I'll see you on the dark side of the doom

For fans of: Charger, Amebix, Floyd, Black Sun.

Incoming: Full Moon Dog Festival 2012

Hail, droogies! SJW here... I just wanted to give a big shout out and give all of our best to Len and the boys in the mighty ASOMVEL for the 2012 edition of the Full Moon Dog festival, being held at The Cockpit in Leeds, UK. Both myself and Patchie are as sick as dogs (pun intended) not to be in attendance for this year's show but we are planning on holding our own tribute to Jay Jay over the weekend, summoning the awesome majestic spirit that he brought to the stage each and every time he got the chance. What a guy... What a fucking guy!!

This is what it's all about, kiddies!!

The 2012 FMD fest line-up is a cracker, and it is sure to be a great day. We look forward to seeing the DVD when it is unleashed on the great unwashed masses some time in early 2013!

Break a leg guys! Stare at death & SPIT!

R.I.P Jay Jay - And long live ASOMVEL!!

Living Monstrosity

Death’s landmark ‘Spiritual Healing’ record is nothing short of genre-defining. Originally released in 1990, Spiritual Healing marked a new turn in the Death discography, one which ushered in cleaner production, a new level of boundary pushing musicianship and songwriting skills that were previously unimaginable from a metal band. Spiritual Healing sets the standard for riffs, insane time changes and of course mainman Chuck Schuldiner’s masterful guitar solos. Now reissued as a double cd housed in super deluxe packaging featuring brand new liner notes from Death players James Murphy and Terry Butler, Chuck’s sister Beth Schuldiner and Michael Poulsen (Volbeat), disc 1 features a completely new remaster of the original album and disc 2 contains 16 previously unreleased rehearsal, outtakes and studio instrumentals. Limited edition (2000 machine numbered copies) triple cd digipak

Relapse really are pulling out all the plugs stops with their reissues of these classic Death albums!!

Keep Yer Dead Eyes Open

...probably about the tenth post on here we've had on here entitled that.
Anyway, Rick of Iron Witch has started up a label recently, Baitin' The Trap Records which looks to be bringing out some fine doom/sludge in the coming months, including the Lord Misery EP, a rough mix from which can be found by following the above link.

UPDATE! Just discovered that the second release will be a vinyl pressing of Iron Witch's SINGLE MALT EP. Which is great news because that EP is a belter.

Out there, out Now, in the name of Speckmann's beard!

We absolutely love Doomentia Records, and we also have an awful awful lot of time for a certain Mr Paul Speckmann, so we would urge you all to get over to their website and check out the reissue of "On the Seventh Day God Created... Master" (on CD and blue/black vinyl!) which comes in a cracking package containing a 7" EP too (the '91 Demo!) only €18!

And, proving that nostalgia is not the only thing on their minds, they have released the latest MASTER album "The New Elite" (only black vinyl left, collectors) the punky "new" sound of Master continues on this one.

Also over there they have the ABOMINATION demos from '88-'89 on vinyl (RED WAX!) which is has an altogether nastier more street feel than MASTER.

RIP My Mystikal Master

10/02/1962
27/09/1986

A true metal one-off. Thee Claw salutes Cliff Burton.

Worshipping at the Altar of Dale Crover

Saw MELVINS play at show in Manchester UK last night.
Totally transfixed by Dale Crover throughout the show... that man just doesn't stop!!

Vinyl Night

Listening to:

Randy Rhoads tribute, side 3

Wode - 2011 Demo

There's something happening in Manchester, something dark.

Joining the ranks of blistering Black Metal from a city that seems to be turning into England's answer to Bergen (cold, wet, dark) are a new name, WODE, who present a three track demo of grim BM.

Much like fellow citizens Pine Barrens, Wode as as far removed from the bloated pomp of late 00s theatrical black metal as is possible.
Opening track Trails of Smoke is all blastbeats and tremolo picking, bringing to mind Arckanum with an underlying veneer of urban filth.
The blistering pace continues through Earthwrath, the second track, which is, quite frankly a big, black, whirling maelstrom of a track that rattles along, Beherit-style with enough South American type recklessness that it feels it might fall apart at any time, before all coming together and shuddering to a halt just a little over three minutes later.
Glorious.
Final track, Last Days, starts with a doomy dreary intro before the chaos rears up again, beneath this track's frostiness you can pick up a punky feel to the riffing, not in an obvious way like Darkthrone do or Venom have done on occasion, but more in the sneery, cynical attitude you suspect is behind it.
In essence then, a fine fist in the face of all the pomposity that crept into black metal towards the end of the last decade, and along with Pine Barrens and Wynterfylleth, another powerful band coming from sprawl of Mancunia.
Ones to keep an eye out for on 2012.

The demo is available to buy/download from the band, but hurry, only 100 cassettes have been created!!

The band are at tumblr, for now here is a stream of the first track;

Incoming

To say we are excited about this would be an understatement.
Tickets available for the Liverpool date from http://whiplash4metal.com