Pop & Rock Vinyl New Releases - News

Their second album for Listenable Records and their fourth overall, Black Wizards will release their new long-player, Livin' Oblivion, sometime in Feb. 2018. The Vancouver-based outfit — who are not to be confused with The Black Wizards, from Portugal — made their debut on Listenable with Feb. 2016's New Waste (review here), so they would seem to be right on schedule for somewhere in the middle of the month. Punctuality in heavy rock and roll is vastly underrated. I consider myself a reasonably responsible person and it's a total crapshoot if I can show up anywhere on time. Hit or miss, completely

Voivod's classic 1984 debut album "War And Pain" will be reissued on vinyl and CD, with a new remastering job done by Patrick W. Engl. Various pressing options are available, including: digipak CD 180g black vinyl and blue/grey marbled vinyl.

Voivod's classic 1984 debut album "War And Pain" will be reissued on vinyl and CD, with a new remastering job done by Patrick W. Engl. Various pressing options are available, including: digipak CD 180g black vinyl and blue/grey marbled vinyl.

Formed in 1982 in Houston, TX, original hardcore skate punkers DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES debuted with a S/T single, fitting 22 songs into 18 minutes on a 7" EP. Often mentioned as one of the inventors of the 'crossover' sound between punk and thrash metal, along with such acts as Suicidal Tendencies, Crumbsuckers, Corrosion Of Conformity, but also Slayer or Metallica, DRI's first lp Dealing With It is a pure milestone of extreme metal, and their follow up from 1987, simply titled Crossover, defined the last details for the creation of a whole subgenre of heavy, inspiring young kids who would later form bands like Biohazard or Rage Against The Machine. This early days' retrospective includes hits and rarities spanning from their hardcore days to the more contaminated, including all time classics such as Couch Clouch', I Don't Need society' or Commuter Man'. RELEASED IN A LIMITED EDITION OF 500 COPIES.

Metallica became huge stars following the August 1988 release of 'And Justice For All'. The following month they embarked on the mammoth Damaged Justice world tour. This remarkable show captures them in ferocious form, performing many of their best-loved songs, a perfect heavy metal live show from the band's creative peak! Killer live broadcast on beautiful 2LP in glorious remastered sound quality.

NEW PROTO-DOOM VINYL RELEASE

Rare mid 70s downer-rock by south London based godless degenerates Warlord, featuring the tortured vocals of wildman singer Richard Roffey and eerie organ of leader Ivan Coutts. Soaked in a maelstrom of dark imagery this underground band's drug-crazed ravings are propelled by the hard-riffing guitar of pre Stallion axeman John Alexander.

From the Sabbath style head-banger 'Face Of The Sun' to the concluding witch burning ceremony of 'The Ring', echoing early Black Widow, Warlord's frantic sound is both gripping and unnerving.

Also included is a pre Warlord track 'To The Devil A Daughter' by the Coutts led outfit The Blacksmiths plus detailed band history.

Standing at a crossroads of light and dark, Chrch create epic songs of great depth,  layering intricate melodies, thunderous rhythms, gargantuan riffs, and a powerful, supernatural vocal presence. There is no image or gimmick to uphold, only the humble glorification of their fundamental musical elements. Chrch perform with a striking purity and honesty, their long-form songs build and deconstruct as the band reach sonic highs, and at times, beautiful plateaus.
 
Their second full length, Light Will Consume Us All, carries with it the same quality of songwriting that caught the attention of fans worldwide on their debut, Unanswered Hymns (Battleground Records, 2015). Building upon this foundation, Light Will Consume Us All also continues Chrch's narrative, traversing life's journey of loss, reclamation and, ultimately, finding hope within the darkness. 
 
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Patrick Hills (King Woman, Bog Oak, VRTRA) at Earthtone Studios in Rocklin, California, the album exudes a warm, organic tone, with a sound influenced by traditional doom, psych rock, drone, and ambient music.

Chrch summon the listener to inhabit their sonic space, allowing enough room for its transmutation into anything one desires of it.

Salt Lake City-based duo Eagle Twin will release their long-awaited third album, The Thundering Heard (Songs Of Hoof And Horn) on March 30th via Southern Lord.  
Eagle Twin's commanding sound delivers like a tectonic force, where doom and blues collide. Gentry Densley's dominating low-end vocal tone is like an instrument in itself, rumbling alongside towering riffs, and Tyler Smith's powerful rhythmic propulsion. It is a compelling combination, particularly when you add melodious bluesy romp to the equation.  
Equally prevailing are the stories that shape Eagle Twin's musical output, drawing upon folklore, and also strongly informed by recent happenings in the world. Observing our relationship to nature, and the band's own surroundings in the dead salt seas of Utah are themes that feature frequently across their musical canon. The Thundering Heard continues where the previous album, The Feather Tipped The Serpent's Scale ended. In the band's own words... 
'As the great snake grew giant fractal antlers of snakes and turned in upon itself creating a new world, the mountains rise, and the antlers stab through like trees across the landscape. The record begins with the hoofed and horned animals of our world running from mountains and forests on fire. Eerily harkening to the recent events in California and the massive devastation by fire across the land.'

- 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
- INCLUDES 4 PAGE BOOKLET
- FIRST TIME ON VINYL
- LIMITED EDITION OF 2500 NUMBERED COPIES ON BLUE & WHITE MIXED VINYL

A Change of Seasons is an EP by progressive metal band Dream Theater, originally released in September 1995. It comprises the 23-minute title track and a collection of live cover songs performed at a fan club concert at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London, England in January 1995. A Change of Seasons was the first Dream Theater release featuring Derek Sherinian on keyboards.

The song A Change of Seasons' was originally written in 1989 and was intended to be a part of Images and Words, but at almost 17 minutes, it was deemed too long for studio placement. It had nevertheless been performed live by the band, who continued to revise it through the years. Fans around the world put pressure on the band to officially release the song. The petition was successful, and the group entered BearTracks Studios in New York in May 1995 to rewrite and record the now 23-minute-long song.

Although the song includes audio samples from the 1989 film Dead Poets Society (as well as quotes from the 1648 Robert Herrick poem To the Virgins, to Make Much of Time'), the lyrics were not inspired by the film.

Although the record is labeled as an EP, its running time of 57:30 makes it significantly longer than a standard EP, and even many LPs, including Dream Theater's first two albums. As it was important for the band and label for it not to be perceived as the latest studio record, they tagged it an EP.

Music On Vinyl proudly presents A Change of Seasons on vinyl for the very first time. The first 2500 individually numbered copies are pressed on coloured (Blue & White mixed) vinyl. Strictly limited!

Motörhead's first live album, recorded in early 1978 at The Roundhouse, less than a year after the release of their groundbreaking, self-titled debut. This is vintage, 'take-no-prisoners' Motörhead, and the band (playing a mix of originals and a few speedfreak versions of early R&B, country and British blues songs) is a fast and furious machine. Punk rock step aside...this is Motörhead!

Motörhead's first live album, recorded in early 1978 at The Roundhouse, less than a year after the release of their groundbreaking, self-titled debut. This is vintage, 'take-no-prisoners' Motörhead, and the band (playing a mix of originals and a few speedfreak versions of early R&B, country and British blues songs) is a fast and furious machine. Punk rock step aside...this is Motörhead!

Dissections All-Time-Klassiker "Somberlain" als Deluxe Vinyl Edition, streng limitiert inkl. Embossed Cover!

The Somberlain" ist (wie auch die Zeit gezeigt hat) noch nicht das Album, das zu schreiben Dissection in der Lage waren - in mancherlei Hinsicht sind einige der Songs einfach noch nicht ganz rund. Dennoch ist die CD nichts weniger als ein Meilenstein der Black-Metal-Historie, der keinem Genre-Fan in der Sammlung fehlen sollte. Nicht zuletzt, weil DISSECTION bereits auf diesem frühen Werk so manches Riff abgeliefert haben, das bis heute Seinesgleichen sucht.

8 x LPs in original sleeves on 180g splatter-coloured vinyl. Re-mastered by Andy Pearce from the original tapes.


2 x 7'' singles - reproduced in their original sleeves.


A crucifix-shaped USB stick which can be worn around the neck and contains MQA high definition audio of the first eight Black Sabbath Albums.


Ten Year War brochure

Hardback book

10th Anniversary 1978 Official Programme

1972 Seattle Centre Arena Tour Poster

Black Sabbath are one of the world's most popular and enduring heavy metal bands and are constantly credited with inventing and defining the genre. With a career spanning 50 years, Black Sabbath have proven time and time again that their musical heritage is unrivalled. Having sold tens of millions of records, sold out global arena tours and bewitched millions of dedicated fans, the band have built a catalogue envied by all. The Ten Year War box set brings together the first eight Sabbath studio albums in one place, plus a swathe of other rarities, and celebrates the band's achievements on the stage, in the studio and in the public eye. 

Including 8 vinyl LPs reproduced in their original sleeves, remastered by renowned mastering engineer Andy Pearce from the original tape and pressed on 180 gram splatter-coloured vinyl. It also include two 7'' singles, all reproduced in their original sleeves. A crucifix-shaped USB stick is included which can be worn around the neck and contains MQA high definition audio of the first eight Black Sabbath Albums.

Along with the audio, the box set includes The Ten Year War brochure, reproduced from the original publication, a hardback book, featuring accolades from the cream of rock royalty, coupled with photography of the band during their 1970s tours, recording sessions and photoshoots, as well as the reproduced Tenth Anniversary World Tour 1978 Official Programme and the tour poster from the 1972 Seattle Centre Arena show.

The birth of Pirate Metal, remixed & remastered - A true gem for all collectors, new fans and nostalgics alike!
At sunrise we'll all dance the hempen jig / So raise up your pint of rum and take another swig / The curse of Captain Morgan has led us to this fate / So have no fear, and don't look back, the afterlife awaits Unforgettable words echoed by thousands of thirsty pirates for a whole decade now! Back in 2008, Alestorm were mere newcomers and beginners - and yet they created a modern metal classic and a completely new subgenre. Captain Morgan`s Revenge marks the birth of Pirate Metal as we know it today and turned a couple of young Scotsmen into the hottest band of the moment. Ten years later their boozy debut gets its well-deserved anniversary treatment: Captain Morgan`s Revenge - 10th Anniversary Edition has received a fresh remix and remastering by original producer Lasse Lammert at his LSD studios plus rejuvenated artwork. The - Live At Summer Breeze bonus disc is a true gem for all collectors, new fans and nostalgics alike.

Prosthetic Records proudly presents HOWLING SYCAMORE, the innovative new extreme metal / progressive metal exploration from masterminds Jason McMaster (WatchTower), Davide Tiso (Ephel Duath) and Hannes Grossmann (Necrophagist, Obscura). Special guests Bruce Lamont (Yakuza, Corrections House) and Kevin Hufnagel (Gorguts, Dysrhythmia) add to this already stellar cast.
Multi-talented guitarist and producer, Davide Tiso (Ephel Duath, Gospel of the Witches), was always fascinated by the symbolism of the sycamore tree, which has special significance in Egyptian religion and which bridged the world of the dead and the living' in David Lynch's cult TV series. Visually the sycamore is particularly striking in winter when it gains a ghost like appeal: the bark turns white and it reflects the moonlight in otherworldly ways, bearing not only mystery but also a certain component of solitude and pain. These were the inspirations for Tiso as he assembled his extreme, progressive ensemble, HOWLING SYCAMORE. Tiso elaborates, Howling Sycamore was born from the stubborn idea of melting together different styles of heavy music into something powerful, sincere and with a strong identity. I wanted to mix extreme metal drumming, layered down-tuned guitars and old school prog metal singing. Add to the equation also baritone sax freak outs plus mid-era Death guitar solos. I can proudly say that our debut album sounds like exactly the idea I was chasing in my head. I'm so grateful that these amazing musicians helped shape the album into the beautiful weirdness that it became.' It took approximately a year to put everything together. During this time some very special guest musicians had the chance to contribute to the songs: Bruce Lamont (Yakuza, Brain Tentacles) on baritone saxophone, Kevin Hufnagel (Dysrhythmia, Gorguts) on guitars, Fester (Burials, Humorous) on guitars. Finally, in August 2017 Howling Sycamore's debut album was mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege Studios in Portland, OR. The self-titled album that Tiso set to create, an extreme metal drumming, layered, down-tuned guitars and old school prog metal singing,, will be released on January 26th on all digital platforms, compact disc and a limited edition, silver vinyl LP on Prosthetic Records.

One of the most revolutionary bands in the history of heavy music, Orphaned Land are an unstoppable force. Formed in Israel in 1991, these self-proclaimed 'Oriental metal' artisans have spent the last 26 years working tirelessly to use their creative endeavours as a means to spread a positive and peaceful message. Over the course of five conceptually deep and musically ingenious albums, the band have been true to their word, uniting fans across the Middle East and beyond, regardless of nation, face or faith. As dark political shadows loom over the world and bloody conflict erupts with enervating regularity, Orphaned Land's music and message have never been more vital than they are today. Unsung Prophets & Dead Messiahs promises to be one of 2018's most celebrated albums, but this is one band that does not measure their success in record sales. Instead, the lost art of making the world a better place remains their primary concern.

As with the previous album, 'The Children of the Night', so too with 'Down Below'. Tribulation has succumbed to change and momentum, but the Swedes didn't let it become them. They've evolved (or are evolving) on 'Down Below'. The evocative vibe of places frightful and things malign remains strong, as does Tribulation's roots as an inspired death metal act. What's changed is the approach and the inspirations affecting the approach. It's the type of record that will be remembered for decades.

Awaken arrives ten years since the release of their first album, and Agrimonia have evolved notably over that period of time. Their sound has always been dense, immersive, ambitious even, and on Awaken, Agrimonia have evolved their prog-infused form of expansive metal into something energetic, dynamic and powerful. 

On Awaken, Agrimonia are digging deep into their subconscious, trying to get an elevated state of mind, to connect the mind with sound and to find the combination of notes and melodies that evolves into a feeling or mood. Agrimonia channel the bittersweetness of life, and breathe air into thoughts, that cannot easily be put into words.
 
About Awaken the band comment "We are thrilled to see the release of our fourth album "Awaken". We are very proud of the outcome and feel that the album is our most dynamic and vital yet, and contains more of everything that is Agrimonia.'...they continue...'Awaken is the soundtrack to our existence, and I hope other people can feel that way too'.
 
Awaken was produced by the band then mixed and mastered by Henrik Udd, who also worked on the previous recording Rites of Separation, then under the Studio Fredman banner but now under his own name, Henrik Udd Recording Studios.

'Post Self'is simultaneously inventive and classic Godflesh.
The blue and icy atmosphere of 'Post Self' can reach levels touched on in the happenings of early 90's Norway innovations. From the opening track it's clear that the vocal performance is Justin Broadrick's best in ages, utilizing new approaches ranging from higher tortured screams to truly brutal and barbaric low roars not heard since 'Street Cleaner'.
Within those extremes, mystically effected vocals coming from an industrial corner support the classic 'post punk' style voice that became a hallmark dating all the way back to 'Head of David' as well as the bonus tracks heard on the 'Street Cleaner' cd version and the ultimate hypnotic Godflesh track 'Flowers'.
Throughout the whole of the record is a pervasive cold that settles into the atmosphere of 'Post Self' under which nasty and vile machine rhythms create an 80's nighttime rainy streets groove.
Dark, hard, heartbreaking and beautiful, 'Post Self' feels like the culmination of all of Broadrick's various musical interests and achievements in his 30 years of dedication to subcultural music: industrial, noise, post punk, ambient, extreme metal, bass music, and much much more... but it is also quintessential Godflesh in its monumental and timeless feeling of existentialism and the human condition.
'A World Lit Only By Fire' was Godflesh's mortal return - but 'Post Self' feels like Godflesh's immortal SOUL.

* Godlike Snake is the first album of Ufomammut, originally out in 1999.

After 18 years the band decided it was time to release a new version of the album.

Urlo remixed (from the original tapes) and remastered the entire album to make it sound like it was supposed to, years ago.

While Friendship's identity remains an enigma, those who have encountered their antagonistic, loud, and murky sonic world, can testify to the sheer power of the auditory torture the band creates. Friendship has previously self-released two CD EPs which sold out in a month, since reissued as I & II vinyl and cassette versions through Sentient Ruin. For their Hatred LP, the band delivers twelve caustic tracks in just over twenty-five minutes, the album recorded in their home city of Tokyo, mastered by Brad Boatright at Audiosiege.
 
Originally released by Daymare Recordings on CD and digital formats back in June, Southern Lord release Friendship's Hatred on vinyl today. Blackened, dark, loud, fast, and intense, fans of prior Southern Lord releases by Nails, Heartless, Dead In The Dirt, Gust, and other brutal, grinding devastation should take heed.
 

Having shared the stage with the likes of Full Of Hell, Sumac, Endon, and more, and having gained a reputation for extremely loud live shows, Friendship will fittingly open for the mighty Sleep in Tokyo in January. Find more info here and watch for international tour dates from Friendship to be announced in the months ahead.

MOTÖRHEAD - BASTARDS (25th Anniversary Edition) - Limited box set. BASTARDS was the eleventh album by the legendary band with their singer Lemmy Kilmister who passed away in 2015. On the occasion of the quarter-century jubilee of the album, we proudly present the strictly limited 25th Anniversary Edition!

North American straight edge/vegan hardcore/crust group SECT  have shared  Open Grave,' the devastating lead track from their second album, No Cure For Death

Comprised of an international cast of scene veterans, who cut their teeth in that formative moment of political, cynical, antagonistic extremes, uniting vocalist Chris Colohan (Cursed, Burning Love, Left For Dead), guitarists James Chang (Catharsis, Undying) and Scott Crouse (Earth Crisis, The Path Of Resistance), bassist Steve Hart (Day Of Suffering), and drummer Andy Hurley (Racetraitor, The Damned Things). The result of these musicians' alignment is a caustic, riotous, belligerent style of vile hardcore fed by a boundless well of socio-political vitriol.

SECT gets right down to the blast beats and breakdowns that fight it out in their chaotic jams. They cut the shit and go for the throat with no time to waste "because the Orwellian police states and irreparable social and ecological disasters we once saw off on the horizon are now on our front doorsteps, in full swing. And in just such a volatile, precarious moment as this for civilization, there is more reason than ever to keep lashing out at a world more suicidally bent on its own destruction and the exploitation of people, species and the ecosystem itself, than perhaps ever before in history."

For SECT, this is the purpose of hardcore as they know it, conveying an urgency that transcends age, credentials or scene politics, to convert desperation into real talk and action.

No Cure For Death was recorded with Kurt Ballou at God City studios, mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music. Footage of the recording sessions was recently shared, and can be viewed here. 

- 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL
- GATEFOLD
- INCLUDES 4 PAGE INSERT
- INCLUDING ANTHEM (WE ARE THE FIRE)', THE RISING' AND DETONATION'
- LIMITED EDITION OF 1000 NUMBERED COPIES ON BLUE, WHITE & BLACK MIXED COLOURED VINYL

The Crusade is the third album by heavy metal band Trivium. The album was produced by Jason Suecof and mixed by Colin Richardson. Before the album was released, three songs from the album were released on the band's MySpace: "Detonation", "Anthem (We Are the Fire)", and "Entrance of the Conflagration". Music videos for "Entrance of the Conflagration", "Anthem (We Are the Fire)", "The Rising", "To the Rats", and "Becoming the Dragon" were produced and released.

The Crusade was certified silver in the U.K. for sales in excess of 60,000 copies. The album peaked at number 7 in the UK. In the United States, the album debuted at No. 25 on the Billboard 200 albums chart on its release.

The track "Detonation" is available on the Xbox 360 release of the video game Guitar Hero II as downloadable content while the track "Anthem (We Are the Fire)" is featured on Burnout Dominator, Sleeping Dogs and Saints Row 2.

The band supported the album by touring with Iron Maiden and Metallica, appearing on the Black Crusade tour with Machine Head, Arch Enemy, DragonForce and Shadows Fall, as well as headlining a European tour with supporting acts Annihilator and Sanctity and acquiring an opening slot on the Family Values Tour with Korn. Trivium was named the best live band of 2006 at the Metal Hammer Golden Gods Awards.

Ustalost is the solo work of Will Skarstad (guitarist of Brooklyn based black metal band Yellow Eyes).  The Spoor Of Vipers is a shimmering album of towering lo-fi black metal, not terribly far from the stylistic realm where Yellow Eyes dwells, although Ustalost is distinctly its own creature.This debut LP is a grand document of splendor and magnificence, as songs transition from dense tremolo parts into gorgeous fanfares and complex, atmospheric riffage. But the underlying power of this music is that through both cacophonous and synth drenched passages the songs manage to emit a profoundly sad tone that also feels fundamentally incurable.
'Gloomy and atmospheric black metal that sounds archaic in the best possible way. Instead of the mysticism and brisk weather of the northern woodlands, think of the decay and humidity of the cellars and catacombs of Gothic cathedrals' - Consequence of Sound'The production on this album, while bearing the expected rawness of black metal, is still carefully crafted so that no instrument is lost in the mix and there is just enough fuzz and murk to enhance the atmosphere.' - Nine Circles

The influences of Cavernlight are numerous and run deeply into different genres, but ultimately all of them have one thing in common... pain and suffering prevail. Whether they be doom, black metal, noise, dark post-rock or even inspiration from beloved singer-songwriters that have since been put to rest and whose sadness lives on eternally, each source of inspiration deals with a fundamental hurt. On this debut full length Cavernlight have finally found a comfortable, mature balance between their influences, inspiration, and intended narrative. Using these elements they have crafted an album of miserable doom laced with harsh tones and heart-piercing melodies.

The blackness of Cavernlight's debut is a passionate, soul-rending, difficult listen." - Invisible Oranges

"Pessimists, nihilists, misanthropes and deadborns: the history of Celeste is just as it sounds: negative, gloomy and destructive. A sevenfold, life-denying deluxe noise-theatre." This is Metal Hammer's conclusion on CELESTE's last album "ANIMALE(S)". Four years later, after more than ten years of existence and more than 300 shows all around the globe, CELESTE releases the highly anticipated follow-up, their sixth album "INFIDÈLE(S)".

CELESTE, along with Blut Aus Nord and Deathspell Omega, may be considered as one of the most important bands of the worldwide famous French avant-garde black metal scene. However CELESTE's influences are so wide that this label does not do them justice. The spectrum of their sound is hard to define but at the same time easy to recognise by its uniqueness. As Metal.de puts it: "CELESTE are gargantuan and obscure, mysteriously black. No ray of light can penetrate the darkness surrounding them. Yet, if you need a picture you should imagine 'ANIMALE(S)' as a faceless, gloomy monstrosity which uses its countless arms to pick elements from various musical pidgeon-holes without giving a shit whether it is black or doom metal, post-hardcore or sludge. The only thing which matters is that CELESTE successfully managed to follow their agenda with many more facets than on their first albums."

Not yet satisfied with the level of detail on "ANIMALE(S)", CELESTE have doubled their efforts in writing and producing "INFIDÈLE(S)". Thus their new album is by far their most diversified to date, showcasing ever richer melodies. While "ANIMALE(S)" was rather a cohesive concept album, on "INFIDÈLE(S)" each song is different and stands on its own. CELESTE have gone a long way from their relentless first albums where you could barely notice when a song finished and the next one started. Here we are facing 10 different absolute entities, each with its own character and emotion.

As usual vocalist Johan worked closely with a photographer in order to create an artwork which matches the artistic vision of the band. The worldwide renowned artist Marta Bevacqua accepted the challenge and the massive production with ten female models was certainly worth the effort. The resulting artwork of "INFIDÈLE(S)" is simply iconic.

CELESTE still are, and will always be the masters of black. Like no others they understand its various shades, its warmth and its coldness, its exclusiveness and immersiveness, its monstrosity and its beauty.

"Hopefully, their status as one of the most under-recognized hardcore/metal hybrids will soon come to an end." Pitchfork

New full length album by Endon, Japan's primary propietors of catastrophic noise metal.

Despite over a decade of existence, Japan's self-described catastrophic noise-metal' outfit ENDON has largely eluded the attention of the broader Western underground music community. This began to change in 2016 with the stateside release of their 2014 album MAMA and tours along the East and West Coasts. Given the West's fascination with Japan's permutations of punk, metal, and noise, it's unlikely that any band that has been frequently bestowed with the designation of the most extreme act in Tokyo' would remain under the radar for long. After all, Japan gave us the unmitigated sonic abrasions of Masonna, the nihilistic fury of GISM, and the cataclysmic lurch of Corrupted, so any band that can somehow further push the envelope is destined for notoriety.

And notoriety was certainly a factor in ENDON's early years, when singer Taichi Nagura terrorized local audiences with stage behavior so violent and menacing that people began actively avoiding their shows out of fear for their safety. Nagura insists that the outbursts were not intended to be against the audience at all,' but admits, during the early days of ENDON, there was a lot of fighting between the audience and me.' ENDON no longer takes out their aggression on bystanders, but their caustic blend of power electronics, harsh noise, gale force hardcore, and dissonant metal implies a kind of violence even more foreboding than a stray punch or a whipped microphone. With their most recent album Through The Mirror, ENDON galvanizes their arsenal of ballistic sounds into a streamlined assault on the senses. Captured by Kurt Ballou at God City Studios, Through The Mirror fuses Taro Aiko and Etsuo Nagura's dual noise barrages, Koki Miyabe's alternately harrowing guitar work, Shin Yokota's pummeling drums, and Taichi's animalistic howls and shrieks into eight songs that vacillate between molten blocks of viciously constructed metal and chaotic bouts of unbridled auditory hostility.

Through The Mirror opens with Nerve Rain', an exercise in punishment through repetition, with a series of sustained guitar chords being ruthlessly battered beneath blizzard squalls of contact-mic distortion, piercing modular synth drones, and thundering toms. It's a powerful build-up to the explosive fury of Your Ghost Is Dead', wherein the band distills the chaotic energy of '90s cult hardcore bands like One Eyed God Prophecy or Honeywell and supplements it with added layers of misanthropic scuzz and grit. Born In Limbo' pits Andy Ortmann-esque sound collages and inhuman vocal manipulations against a backdrop of gothic twang and kinetic drumming. Side one closes with the double punch of Pensum' and Postsex' where truncated hybrids of hardcore rage and black metal velocity serve as a springboard for Taichi's lyric-less communication of the album's Anti Bildungsroman (anti-building romance)' concept through guttural bellows and horrific screams. If side one serves as an exercise in propulsive unrestrained attacks, side two is a study in sustained, strategic warfare. The spacious crawl of Perversion Till Death' allows the flanking noise artists to saturate the mix like a hail of fire and stone. Title track Through The Mirror' builds off bedrock of primitive punk and gradually opens the scope of the song with melodic electronics and Nagura's funeral wails. Sublime desert drones open the finale Torch Your House' and guide the band through a nine-minute journey of exotic melodicism and triumphant stomp-and-crush riffage.

The new EP shows the band expanding their skills by forcing themselves to write two new songs suitable for a 7-inch release, and as any avid listener knows, this stands in stark contrast to their usual style of long, winding movements. Each of the pieces contained on this EP (Anhedonia, and Hunger) are both under five minutes in length, but contain all the relentless fury expected of False.

Recorded, mixed, and mastered by Adam Tucker at Signaturetone Recording in Minneapolis. Artwork by Stephen Wilson.

"It may be less than 10 minutes long but Hunger packs in as much nihilistic yet triumphant black metal as you need." - Metal Bandcamp

Many of your are already familiar with the caustic sludge / doom crafted by Fórn, and the new song they contribute to this split will clearly prove that their debut album, The Departure of Consciousness, was just the beginning. This serves as an exciting glimpse into the future work from Fórn.

Yautja are a new addition to the Gilead Media family, although they share a drummer with Alraune, so they're not complete strangers. If you haven't checked out their debut LP, Songs of Descent, released by Forcefield Records in 2014, you are doing yourself a great disservice. Yautja have made a huge mark on the heavy music world for their seamless, brilliant blend of intricate metal, grind, and riff-heavy noise-rock. It's truly something to behold.

2 LP im Gatefold! Im Zuge ihres 25-jährigen Band-Jubiläums begab sich die Band auf die "Tragic Illusion"-Tour und spielte 2013 im Londoner Roundhouse ein Set

180g vinyl / Melodic Death Metal