Hailing from Belgium, Oathbreaker are much like Deathwish label mates Deafheavan in that they take black metals signature elements and infuse it with another style of music to create something extraordinary.
In this case Hardcore (not the happy kind) adding weight and intensity to the black metal riffage drawing very minor parallels with Kvelertak. Continue reading
By the time you read this you will have no doubt seen this record feature in practically every “Best Of 2013” album list doing the rounds.
And with good reason it turns out. Continue reading
Festival: Bloodstock Open Air Metal Festival.
Date: Thursday until Sunday, 7th to 10th of August 2014.
Location: Catton Park, Walton-On-Trent, Derbyshire, England.
Post Code: DE12 8LN.
Official Travel: Big Green Coach.
Ticket Cost: £130.00 (Adult) & £39.00 (Child 4yo – 11yo) for Standard Camping.
The limited early bird price of £115.00 for Adults and £35.00 for Children are no longer available, they are on sale each year until the middle of December.
The TMA Collective will keep you up to date with all the announcements, deals and news for one of our favourite Festivals. Continue reading
London, UK:
Macabre tea enthusiasts TALANAS return from their nationwide tour with The Monolith Deathcult and answer fan demand for a physical product with a crowd sourcing bid, offering a 20+ page digibook version of their new album, ‘asylum’. Continue reading
Even with a genre as narrow as Progressive Death Metal, bands taking a step back and releasing an altogether more sedate collection of tracks is by no means unique. For example Opeth very successfully chanced their arm with “Damnation” and more recently Spires laid their souls bare with the incredible “Lucid Abstractions” EP, but this takes a different path still. Stripping back the electrics, distortion, extremity of vocal and drum, the aforementioned examples released works of beauty. Talanas did not… Continue reading
The much anticipated new Alcest release nestled in my post box and I knew immediately that the day was indeed a good day. Neige and Winterhalter have returned with another beautifully written album with a slight move back to the feel and sounds of the wonderful debut full length ‘Souvenirs d’Un Autre Monde’. The few harsh vocals evident on the previous release ‘Les Voyages De L’Ame’ have given way to a completely clean delivery and with a voice like Neige’s, why on earth not? Continue reading
Edinburgh’s Cancerous Womb have created a bit of a buzz on the underground UK death metal scene over the last few years. They’ve gigged extensively across the UK and Europe and some of my buddies in other death metal bands have raved about them to me but up ‘till now I’ve yet to have the pleasure of hearing them.
When I got the album through I have to admit that due to the band’s name I was expecting some pig squealing bullshit ‘brootal tech death’ bollocks to come blasting out of my speakers… Fuck me, was I in for a surprise! Continue reading
This has been incredibly difficult to compile for a number of reasons, but is going to press incomplete as Scott has not submitted his list in time. I am sure the bins of Malaysia do not know what has hit them…
Anyway, without further ado, here are the combined TMA Scribes’ Top Albums Of 2013:
1 New Model Army – “Between Dog And Wolf”
2 Atlantean Kodex – “The White Goddess”
In 2010 a very special EP was released by a gentle man called Tim Shaw under the moniker Fyrdsman (the name given to the local men who fought alongside the trained warriors in Anglo Saxon England during the ‘dark’ ages). So good was this release (available again here) the pressure to hear more from this melodic black metal musician was tangible. Whilst most of the songs were pretty much written, a combination of funds or lack of and a re-location has made those smitten by the EP endure a long wait for the album to see the light of day. Continue reading
A true DIY event born out the ashes of Northern Darkness Festival by local promoters ‘Kin Hell Fest, Bro(UK) Promotions and Omega Warfare Records. Essentially completely “Crowd Sourced” via Facebook, with even the name of the Festival itself being decided on from a whole manner of ridiculous suggestions referencing / taking the mick out of Newcastle, however eventual moniker Byker Grave was always a clear winner as soon as it was suggested.
Being a Northern Darkness refugee with Hotel & transport booked, fellow TMA scribe Alex and I decided to make the trek as neither of us have been to the Land Of Geordies and safe to say probably ended up having more fun than we would have had at the original event! Continue reading