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by Cosmo Lee Pharmafabrik has been putting out challenging, interesting sounds. After an initial Fabriksampler, downloadable for free here, the Slovenian label returns with another compilation. V2 begins and ends with Napalm Death offshoots: Justin Broadrick and Mick Harris in their Final and Lull guises, respectively. Final’s “4am Internal” evokes Burzum’s ambient side with more […]

Inside gatefold, Japanese edition Do yourself a favor. Take out your CD/LP/cassette tape/MP3 folder of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. Listen to it. It turns 35 today. That’s older than me. Things older than oneself deserve respect. Especially if they’re still kicking their progeny’s ass 666 ways ’til Sunday. 95% of sludge/doom metal might as well give […]

“Virtual vinyl” screenshot Today Is the Day’s Steve Austin recently discussed the possibility of animated online artwork replacing physical album artwork, and I wondered why labels hadn’t explored that yet. Well, the day has come. For Cradle of Filth’s Godspeed on the Devil’s Thunder, Roadrunner has set up a website of “virtual vinyl.” It’s supposed […]

by Cosmo Lee Carcass’ Heartwork turns 15 today. It and Entombed’s Wolverine Blues, which came out the same month, were the main soundtracks to my college freshman year. (Earache’s licensing deal with Columbia, which exposed Carcass, Cathedral, Entombed, Fudge Tunnel, Godflesh, and Napalm Death to much wider audiences, was directly responsible for introducing me to […]

The Judgment of Solomonby Gustave Doré With 25% of the year remaining, Decibel writers must turn in year-end Top 20 lists today. Such is the curse of long lead times. As I’ve said before, I’m not into year-end lists. I do them out of obligation, but I frankly don’t care about other people’s tastes. Year-end […]

by Cosmo Lee Speaking of collaborations, Atavist‘s first one with Nadja, last year’s 12012291920/1414101, was copacetic, with spooked melodies yielding to menacing death rattles. But it begged the question: would two of the heaviest bands around get together to drop the hammer? II: Points at Infinity (Profound Lore/Invada, 2008) answers with a doomingly resounding yes. […]

by Cosmo Lee It’s rare that a voice comes along on MySpace that’s truly unique. Precedents exist for the UK’s Asbestoscape – the cinematic sweep of Mogwai, the hoover synths of drum ‘n’ bass, the glitchy drums of electronic music five years ago (Tipper comes to mind). But this one-man act is identifiable within seconds […]

This week is 20 Buck Spin week at Invisible Oranges. The Olympia-via-Bay Area label/distro is Dave Adelson, who has curated an impressive discography starting with SPIN001 in 2005, a reissue of Black Boned Angel’s debut EP, on up to the crushing new record from Coffins (SPIN020). From doom to black metal to flat-out weirdness, 20 […]

by Cosmo Lee The music at my gym is mostly horrible Hi-NRG dance fare. I have made multiple complaints, to little avail. As a result, I have probably been subjected to more dance versions of pop songs than any other human alive, including “Total Eclipse of the Heart,” Johnny Cash’s “Ring of Fire,” Skee-Lo’s “I […]

Few bands can transmit the occult like Moss. They douse their albums with thick, dark themes that ooze into bottomless pits of doom. Unlike their last full-length Cthonic Rites, Sub Templum tingles the nose unfamiliarly. This album doesn?t only bring genuine occult to life, it also smells more realistic. A cryptic cover of a coffin, […]