uk

The connection between drum ‘n’ bass and metal is somewhat well-documented. Simon Reynolds and Ian Christe have both pointed out that the preeminent dnb label is named Metalheadz. In Sound of the Beast, Christe likened the No U-Turn label to Death, Voivod, and Celtic Frost (he also astutely observed that the cover of the 1997 […]

Up at Decibel, I have reviews of Blotted Science (new project of Ron Jarzombek), Devian (new project of Legion, ex-Marduk), and Rigor Sardonicous (slower-than-slow dooooom), as well as a feature on Portuguese black metallers Corpus Christii, whose recent record Rising is sick-sick-sick. The print version (#41, At the Gates cover) also has my live review […]

Found, on the MySpace blog of Emily, 27, from Knoxville, TN. The members of Carcass in order of beauty, from most beautiful to most gnarly: 1. Steer.

I highly recommend the recent film adaptation of Stephen King’s The Mist. It’s a monster movie, but its real monsters are humans. The film explores human psychology – specifically, the response in a confined space to an unknown threat. Interestingly, director Frank Darabont (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile) made the ending darker than King’s […]

Manchester’s Atavist recorded II: Ruined at Geoff Barrow’s studio. Yes, that Geoff Barrow, the mastermind behind Portishead. Evidently, he’s into sounds even heavier and more depressing than his day job. His label Invada put out Atavist’s two previous records, including an exquisite ambient collaboration this year with Nadja. Invada is handling II: Ruined in the […]

TenHornedBeast is the UK’s Christopher Walton, who reshapes an interest in doom metal into something much less formatted. Evidently, earlier work leaned towards guitar, bass, and drums. Now, however, TenHornedBeast exemplifies a world where black metal, doom metal, drone, and noise aren’t loci but merely reference points shading into each other. Our Lady of the […]

I often listen to dark ambient before I go to sleep. Sure, most dark ambient isn’t exactly relaxing, but usually anything sustained and drumless sends me off to never, neverland. However, the first time I heard Pulsefear’s Perichoresis (Profound Lore, 2007), I lay there not only awake, but stressed out, my heart racing, my body […]

The Red Chord I’m moving from Berlin to San Francisco at the end of this month. This, combined with excessive travel (five trans-Atlantic crossings in six weeks, with five destination airports and way too much sleeping while sitting), has severely hampered my recent productivity. The Red Chord – Tread on the Necks of KingsHalford – […]

Oddly, Adult Swim has posted a Jesu track in a free, downloadable mixtape called Warm & Scratchy. The track is the “Original Beats” version of “Silver” (originally available on the Silver EP’s Japanese release), which is a little hard to believe. With mid-’90s beats and messy keyboards and basslines that don’t gel with its melodies, […]

D.A.M.N.! G.O.T.T.A. L.O.V.E. T.H.R.A.S.H. A.C.R.O.N.Y.M.S.! “D.A.M.” stood for “Destruction and Mayhem,” which would make quite a musical combination. These British thrashers went two albums and out in the late ’80s/early ’90s. Although their debut, Human Wreckage, has more old-school appeal (acronym song titles, Andreas Marschall artwork), Inside Out (Noise, 1991) is a better record, with […]