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'The Animation Of Entomology' is an EP by American supergroup Blotted Science, originally released in 2011. Like on their 2007 debut album 'The Machinations Of Dementia', these instrumental songs are a product of the union of Watchtower guitarist Ray Jarzombek and
Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster's imaginations, this time with former Obscura and current Triptykon drummer Hannes Grossmann behind the kit. Once again, the trio embark on unusual and unpredictable compositions, as crazy as their titles seem to indicate.
Virtuosity goes hand in hand with extremity and experimentation for an unforgettable, unrepeatable experience.

"All seven tracks on this EP are beautifully written and could be praised for hours" - No Clean Singing
"a real progressive metal tour-de-force" - Sea Of Tranquillity

'The Animation Of Entomology' is an EP by American supergroup Blotted Science, originally released in 2011. Like on their 2007 debut album 'The Machinations Of Dementia', these instrumental songs are a product of the union of Watchtower guitarist Ray Jarzombek and
Cannibal Corpse bassist Alex Webster's imaginations, this time with former Obscura and current Triptykon drummer Hannes Grossmann behind the kit. Once again, the trio embark on unusual and unpredictable compositions, as crazy as their titles seem to indicate.
Virtuosity goes hand in hand with extremity and experimentation for an unforgettable, unrepeatable experience.

"All seven tracks on this EP are beautifully written and could be praised for hours" - No Clean Singing
"a real progressive metal tour-de-force" - Sea Of Tranquillity

Deluxe vinyl edition. The 2006 release from one-man black metal cult star Xasthur. Xasthur is the project of American musician Scott "Malefic" Conner. Conner formed Xasthur in 1995 and released eight studio albums until 2010, when he announced the end of the project.

We're old and familiar friends. These compositions represent the thing that happens when we get together. They aren't representative of one individual, one moment in time, or one chain of decisions. Some are ancient refrains, beginning life as habits and warm-ups, in-jokes; others are distilled jams; more still are refined from MIDI sketches and ideas whistled into voice notes. On whatever terms these elements become something we're happy to stand in front of you and play, to put on record, so be it.” So ANTA describe the process behind 2024's Organesson. Characteristic of the Bristolian Sci-Prog quartet, the record weaves together mesmerising, muscular riffs in insanely loud compositions that extend well into excess. Less typical is the polarisation at play, where granular polymeters will yield in an instant to passages of one or two-note simplicity. The record strides from one raging refrain to the next, lurching between devastation, joy, chaos, and stirring the themes accumulated along the way in exposition. “It comes down to those precious sweaty hours” the group suggest, “in which we get to vibrate these sounds into your face and chest, and you can dance and laugh with us. This is the stuff we remember and plan for, the moments we talk about the most when writing these songs.” ANTA's live shows, ceaseless onslaughts of deafening riffs, have been notable for maintaining the same intense energy among festival crowds or to three people in a basement. Walls of amps going full-pelt. Pounding, ornate drums and metals, wherein drummer James King is relentless in discovering strange and mighty rhythms. Full-drawbar organs, electric pianos, piercing synths from keys-man Alex Bertram-Powell. Joe Garcia's growling bass that strides rather than walks. Ben Harris' all-encompassing, dizzying guitars. Hypnotic, communal, compelling, indefinite energy. Organesson is the latest effort to put this feeling on record.

Los Angeles April 18, 2024The origin of this record is a weird one. In 2019, we had just returned from two long European tours when we decided to take a “little break” from the road. You all know what happened next. That “little break” turned into a couple of years and during that time Dane, our drummer, decided to quit the band and music in general (no hard feelings).. Sean and I had a discussion and thought about ending the band as a whole, but I knew I had to go out on my own terms. I had an ace in the hole, though. Jeff Murray, drummer from LA rippers The Shrine. I had been friends with Jeff and The Shrine’s founder, Josh Landau since our “Scavenger” 7” came out, around 2012. We had run into them in Berlin a few months back and I knew they weren't playing anymore. I called Josh first, ‘cause asking a dude if you can take his drummer, is like asking your girlfriend's Dad if you can marry her. And Josh said “go for it”. And Jeff was in. Honestly if he had said no, that would have been the end. I had written a ton of stuff since our last album but I had shelved most of it. I was trying too hard - basically. Eventually Sean, Jeff and I said, ‘Fuck it, let’s make a “Fake Live” record’ - like Kiss or Slayer did. John Dwyer from Osees was opening his new studio, Discount Mirrors and it seemed like the perfect place to record it. We settled on re-recording a bunch of old stuff while simultaneously demoing our new material, as the three of us were now starting to really get in the groove. The result is Strange Masters Vol. 1. These are not new songs. These are Zig Zags classics re-recorded with a ripping-ass band that’s old and angry and just wants to get on with it. We are already on to recording the next album of new songs. That one is coming soon, but in the meantime, enjoy this one…while you still can!-Jed Maheu-Guitars-Vocals-Zig Zags

As the winds of music blow, a wise heart navigates the spiral, finding wisdom in each of its twists and turns.

As the releases of DUBBLACK’s catalogue pile up, the novelty and exploration for new music keeps on thriving.


A brand-new record is approaching, as always available both on a 12” vinyl – limited to 300 copies – and in digital format, featuring the presence of two Masters from the Electronic Music scene: A2 Abd El Monim and Tocchitek.


The two-track EP baptised “Dark Side” includes the gems “Euriale” and “Steno”; two expansive compositions that, also due to their length, masterly observe the task of narrating two complementary stories, each with its distinct moments, yet marked by a strong rhythmic temper. Both tracks are planned to share similar sonic elements: a pulsating 160 bpm kick drum, ghostly pads serving as an inevitable backdrop, and indispensable rhythmic details enriching the whole structure and arrangement.


A2 Abd El Monim, born Alan Abd El Monim, is an Italian-Egyptian artist/composer. He expresses himself through the creation of music ranging from electronic to purely instrumental, and through the interaction between the arts. His poetics opens in a “dark” dimension that considers and interprets the facts through the notion of shadows and darkness but also through penombre. His “dark” vision stands as a filter through which he reads the world and its interactions, therefore using also the notion of light. His music has been performed in Festivals including Musica d’arte (Riccione – Italy), Luci d’Artista (Salerno – Italy), GAMO (Firenze – Italy), Spazio Musica (Cagliari – Italy), On Air – On site (Den Haag -Netherlands), Sound Spaces (Malmö – Sweden), etc.


He composed songs for the solo exhibition “La pelle degli oggetti” and for works Lui&Lei by the artist Giovanni Oberti. In 2020 he undertook a collaboration with the poet Milo De Angelis , putting to music the lyric “A volte , sull’orlo della notte, si rimane sospesi”. He wrote music for several theatre performances by director Emily Tartamelli and has written music for several directors films including Reto Gelshorn, Enea Francia, Paola Piscitelli and Fabio Corbellini. He collaborated with the London based fashion brand B DODI and was invited as an artist to participate in the collective exhibition “Instructions to Light-Keepers” (Milano – Italy). In March 2023, “Periodo Nero”, its interactive and generative installation music and video, was selected for the tribute to Picasso in the city of Florence, will be presented at the Certosa of Florence in September of the same year. In 2017 he won the International Competition of Composizione Silenzio Musica, in 2020 the diploma from President and Artistic Director of Winterreise International Composition Competition Moscow, in 2021 the Call For Scores banned by the Cultural Association Esecutori di Metallo su Carta. A2 Abd El Monim is signed to international label F.M.T Records and Dubblack Records, with which he regularly publishes his electronic music.


Tocchitek is an underground Tekno producer and performer born in Milan, Italy. He started playing live in 2007 as part of the “Approdo Caronte” sound system based in Milan. His first significant appearance as a live performer was at a “Mayday Parade” in 2008 in Milan. In 2009, he joined the “R909 Records” chapters crew based in Milan, bringing his live set to many local club dance floors. Meanwhile, he collaborated and played with many crews around Europe, spreading his music in the free Underground Tekno movement. In 2021, in Milan, he launched “F.M.T Records”.


Simplicity is often the hardest thing to achieve when producing this type of music, primarily designed for uncompromising dance-floors, but the duo successfully channels their message with purity and truthfulness.


The visual aspects of layout and design are once again entrusted to Vittorio Valigi, who puts a greyscale spiral at the center of the cover. A spiral within which one an eye can be glimpsed – the eye of the musical soul of DUBBLACK harmoniously fused with that of A2 Abd El Monim and Tocchitek, who become worthy ambassadors of the Dubblack’s sonic mission.

Barcelona's Oscar Escapa returns to DCLTD to collaborate with Linear Phase on a 3-tracker ‘Recoded’. ‘Recoded’ is a steaming cut made for the peak-time, propelled by crunchy drums, a head scrambling vocal and plenty of eerie effects to ensure impact. ‘Irrupción Beligerante’ is a rugged, barrelling dancefloor weapon that hits with terrific energy. ‘Controlled Damage’ takes on a different shade, metallic, bass-driven, a headier roller made for building atmosphere and shifting moods.

Pitch Dark is a new VA series brought to you by Berlins Pure Hate Trax. For this the 1st in the series they invite 3 new Artists to the label but by no means new to the scene in Codex Empire, Maedon & 7CIRCLE. Also making a welcome return after his debut on VHXX1 is STRISC. Codex Empire – Since 2014, British born, Vienna based Codex Empire has built an international reputation for dark and intense techno productions and live shows. Combining this background in dark electronic music with heavy rhythmic elements makes Codex Empire an intense and simultaneously danceable experience both live and on record. Codex Empire has performed over 100 live shows across Europe, Japan, Korea and Canada, as well as numerous appearances in Berlin at Berghain, Tresor, Arena Club, Suicide Circus and BoilerRoom. Maedon – A native of notoriously grimy Baltimore who spent some seasons in filthy Philadelphia learning the craft, her arrival in New York City circa 2018 signalled a shift in development, one confirmed by the emergence of her Maedon moniker and her partnership with Brooklyn/Berlin techno powerhouse Sonic Groove and its head Adam X. Fast forward three years to Berlin, two albums, a residency at Tresor and an entire world later, Maedon forges ahead to the next phase of a rapidly building career. Assuring her future as the world falls apart, Maedon’s bracing sound and undeniable skills are a story now unfolding, with its beginnings already written in grit.
7CIRCLE – At the helm of Destroy to Rebuild, 7CIRCLE is a musical project without boundaries. Drawing from post punk and metal roots, 7CIRCLE navigates across all genres including Techno and Industrial without compromise or frills. The journey through the discography of 7CIRCLE is a fascinating path filled with darkness and aggressive sounds which are sometimes embellished with a melancholy touch to satisfy lovers of strong emotions. STRISC. – Hailing from the East Midlands, UK and residing in Berlin for the last 8 years, STRISC. is an Artist, DJ & Label Owner who has been making waves due to a relentless output of no-compromise productions that have garnered him the respect and attention of Techno aficionados and peers alike.

Obscure Formats is a sonic strike of moving body electronics. This modern metal machine music is directed, goaded and prodded into reaction by Robert Galbraith, Component Recordings founder and one half (with of the monster modular outfit that is Snowbeasts. Under the Obscure Formats moniker, he forges a tight, earthbound sound from synths, modular racks and drum machines to pound a path through your ears right into your mind. Tracks like pound and pulse with unrelenting beats, percussion and arpeggiating pulses. Within each Obscure Formats track is a harsh soundscape of angles, jagged edges and eerie drones. Obscure Formats - Agitations consists of 4 tracks of alluring body music with special remixes by AXKAN & Years of Denial.
Written + Produced by: Robert Galbraith Except Haunted & Blood Moon - Robert Galbraith & Elizabeth Virosa

Anlässlich des 50-jährigen Bestehens der berühmtesten Vier aus Birmingham werden die "Erfinder" des Heavy Metal von dem prominent besetzten Tribute-Trio um Gitarrist und Sänger Zakk Wylde mit dem Doppelalbum "Doomed Forever Forever Doomed" erneut geehrt. Mit dieser liebevolle Hommage liefern die Amerikaner brillante Interpretationen von BLACK SABBATHs zweitem und drittem Album ab, also die klassischen Heavy Metal-Meisterwerken "Paranoid" (1970) und "Master of Reality" (1971).

ZAKK SABBATH wurden von BLACK LABEL SOCIETY-Gitarrist und Sänger Zakk Wylde gegründet, der auch als langjähriger Lead-Gitarrist von OZZY OSBOURNE und inzwischen auch noch von PANTERA bekannt ist. Nachdem ZAKK SABBATH anfangs mit wechselnden Mitgliedern nur live auftraten, fand die Band schließlich mit dem OZZY OSBOURNE- und ROB ZOMBIE-Bassisten Blasko und Joey Castillo am Schlagzeug (DANZIG, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE) eine stabile Besetzung. Inspiriert durch das 50-jährige Jubiläum von BLACK SABBATHs selbstbetitelten Debütalbum, veröffentlichte ZAKK SABBATH im Jahr 2020 eine Hommage an diesen monumentalen Heavy Metal-Meilenstein unter dem Titel "Vertigo". Das Album wurde von Kritikern und Fans gleichermaßen mit Lob überhäuft. Das Trio feierte einen weltweiten Erfolg, der sich in beeindruckenden Platzierungen in diversen Charts widerspiegelt: Das Album stieg auf Platz 5 in den US Hard Music Charts, Platz 7 in den Current Rock Albums Charts und Platz 27 in den Billboard Top Album Charts ein. In Frankreich gelang sogar ein Platz 1 in den Metal Album Charts und neben einem Platz 3 in den deutschen Album Charts sowie Platz 9 in den UK Top 40 Rock/Metal Charts finden sich weitere Einträge in anderen Ländern.

Die glühende Leidenschaft für Heavy Metal hat ZAKK SABBATH dazu getrieben, BLACK SABBATH mit dem Doppelalbum "Doomed Forever Forever Doomed" ein noch monolithischeres Denkmal zu errichten. Nicht allein Headbanger dürfen sich über fantastische Interpretationen dieser klassischen Songs freuen, die sicherlich zu den einflussreichsten und folgenreichsten zählen, die je von Menschenhand komponiert wurden!

"Ghosts" ist eine Schatztruhe voller fesselnder Melodien. Diese sind so eingängig, dass man sich nach mehrmaligem Hören vielleicht in einen Piraten verwandelt. Die Songs sind mit der meisterhaften Mischung von Edel-Power-Metal mit Piraten-, Fantasy-, Symphonie- und Fantasy-Elementen entstanden. Die wunderschönen Gitarrenmelodien und der bezaubernde Gesang Ihrer Majestät Maria Aurea bieten Explosionen von Noten und Harmonien mit einer gewaltigen Produktion, die dieses Album zu einem Piraten-Metal-Meisterwerk machen. Von eiskalten arktischen Gitarrenparts über geheimnisvolle Gesangsharmonien und eine gespenstische Meeresatmosphäre bis hin zu warmer Tropical-Adventure-Metal-Orchestrierung schweben Sie in einer wunderschönen, magischen Welt. Pirate Queen ist mehr als eine gewöhnliche Heavy-Metal-Band. Es sind fünf neue talentierte Musikerinnen, deren wahre Identität ein Rätsel zu sein scheint.

In 2002, the American heavy metal band Mudvayne released their sophomore album The End Of All Things To Come, which expanded their sound with a more versatile range of sounds, dynamic, moods and vocalization. The band wrote the album's songs in less than a month, drawing inspiration from their self-imposed isolation during the songwriting process, and crafted a more mature sound which drew from jazz and progressive rock influences, as well as elements of death metal and thrash metal. For the production, Mudvayne worked with three-time Grammy Award winner David Bottrill. The album spawned two singles: “Not Falling” and “World So Cold”, which were both a commercial success and charted well. The End Of All Things To Come is available as a limited edition of 1500 individually numbered copies on purple marbled vinyl. The 2LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve and includes a 4-page booklet.

Nach der Veröffentlichung der letzten EP "Version 4.5: The Dark Chapter" setzt die Scifi-Metal-Band auf ihrem neuen Album "Make Me Real" auf einen härteren, sakralen und dunkleren Sound. Es markiert eine neue Ära für CYPECORE, eine der aufregendsten Bands der Szene mit einem modernen Sound, der in einem fiktiven Setting einer dystopischen Zukunft wurzelt.

Die 2008 gegründete Band hat sich mit ihren vier Konzeptalben und ihrer extrem aufwändigen Bühnenshow auf großen Metal-Festivals wie dem Summer Breeze Open Air, dem Reload Festival, dem Wacken Open Air, dem Hellfest Open Air (FR) und vielen anderen einen respektablen Status erarbeitet. Nachdem CYPECORE mit ihren aufwändigen Musikvideos beeindruckten, gewannen sie auch Newcomerpreise wie den Metal Hammer Award und erreichten die Top 20 der Albumcharts.

Nach der Veröffentlichung der letzten EP "Version 4.5: The Dark Chapter" setzt die Scifi-Metal-Band auf ihrem neuen Album "Make Me Real" auf einen härteren, sakralen und dunkleren Sound. Es markiert eine neue Ära für CYPECORE, eine der aufregendsten Bands der Szene mit einem modernen Sound, der in einem fiktiven Setting einer dystopischen Zukunft wurzelt.

Die 2008 gegründete Band hat sich mit ihren vier Konzeptalben und ihrer extrem aufwändigen Bühnenshow auf großen Metal-Festivals wie dem Summer Breeze Open Air, dem Reload Festival, dem Wacken Open Air, dem Hellfest Open Air (FR) und vielen anderen einen respektablen Status erarbeitet. Nachdem CYPECORE mit ihren aufwändigen Musikvideos beeindruckten, gewannen sie auch Newcomerpreise wie den Metal Hammer Award und erreichten die Top 20 der Albumcharts.

L.D. 50 is the debut studio album by Mudvayne, the American heavy metal band that is known for their sonic experimentation and horror-styled appearances. The album was co-produced by none other than Garth Richardson and Shawn ""Clown"" Crahan of Slipnot. For the album, they experimented with a ragged, dissonant sound; a sound collage prepared specially for the album that was used as a series of interludes. It spawned three singles, ""Death Blooms"", ""Nothing To Gein"", and one of their biggest hits to date: ""Dig"". In the year of its release, the album peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top Heatseekers chart and #85 on the Billboard 200. It gained more critical praise over time and was named one of the twenty best metal albums of 2000 by Metal Hammer magazine. L.D. 50 is available as a limited edition of 3000 individually numbered copies on yellow and black marbled vinyl. This 2LP is housed in a gatefold sleeve and includes a 4-page booklet.

Arizona newcomers GATECREEPER deliver 9 monstrous songs of low-end, old-school death metal on their savage debut album 'Sonoran Depravation'. Having devastated the underground since their formation less than three years ago, GATECREEPER now unleash their first full-length, produced by Ryan Bram at Homewrecker Studios and mixed by Kurt Ballou (Converge, Nails, Black Breath) at God City Studios. 'Sonoran Depravation' tears and chugs through 30+ minutes of crusty, doom-soaked death metal at its most infectious and uncompromising with a massive sound that calls to mind the classic Swedish buzz-saw attack of Dismember and Grave mixed with the impeccable groove of Obituary and Bolt Thrower. GATECREEPER are here to carry the death metal torch for a new generation and will shake your foundation to its core.

Amen Corner, eine der Underground-Legenden Brasiliens, ist zurück! Die brasilianischen Black-Metal-Legenden Amen Corner treten mit ihrem
neuesten Werk "Written by the Devil" aus dem Schatten hervor. In einer Welt, in der sich die Zeit biegt und die Ewigkeit droht, dient dieses Album als
abschreckende Erinnerung: Der Tod ist ein allgegenwärtiges Gespenst, das unsere Existenz verfolgt. Mit ihrem über drei Jahrzehnte andauernden
Vermächtnis sind Amen Corner eine feste Säule der brasilianischen Black Metal-Szene.

Seit mehr als drei Jahrzehnten kreieren EVERGREY Songs, die mit einer Symbiose aus Härte und Melancholie direkt ins Herz gehen und ziehen damit Fans weltweit in ihren Bann. Mit ihrem 14. Album Theories Of Emptiness schreiben die Poeten aus Schweden um Bandgründer, Sänger und Gitarrist Tom S. Englund ihre Erfolgsgeschichte weiter und beweisen, warum sie zu Recht unangefochten an der Spitze des Genres stehen.

Das Album Theories Of Emptiness wurde von Tom S. Englund und Jonas Ekdahl produziert und von Adam „Nolly“ Getgood (Ex-Periphery) gemischt, mit dem EVERGREY während des gesamten Entstehungsprozesses eng zusammengearbeitet haben, um das klangliche Profil bestmöglich zu entfalten.

Gemastert wurde Theories Of Emptiness von Thomas „Plec” Johansson, der durch seine Arbeit mit Soilwork, The Night Flight Orchestra, Onslaught, The Gems, Eleine und vielen weiteren Bands bekannt ist.

Seit ihrem Debüt The Dark Discover (1998) haben EVERGREY 13 Alben veröffentlicht und bewegen sich in einem Spektrum zwischen hartem Progressive und düsterem Melodic Metal. Theories Of Emptiness ist der Nachfolger des 2022 erschienenen A Heartless Portrait (The Orphean Testament), mit dem EVERGREY weltweit Charterfolge verbuchen konnten (#3 in Schweden Metal, #5 der Top New Artist Albums USA, #7 in Finnland und #12 in Deutschland).

The three howler monkeys of NAG strike back with their new album “Boys Of Europe”. They debuted in 2016 as an exciting breath of basement-smelling air. Their moderately original alternative cement mix of the filthiest of punk, the truest of hardcore, and the evilest of metal was very well received. Then came gigs and tours around Europe before the second album was released in 2018, to raving reviews too, ofcourse. But then there was dead silence. For a long time. Now they’ve finally returned from obscurity with ten perfected and mighty NAG-tunes. Indeed, their hair has become greyer, and their backs hurt more, but there’s no way you can tell. They still sound like raging Norwegian teenagers. NAG has stayed true to their original ‘crust punk black metal’ formula, and the new album is as hard, fast and straightforward as anything they’ve done before.

GATECREEPER return with their highly anticipated new album Deserted. The new album, a furious mix of snarling guitars and driving, rhythmic pummeling takes death metal from its 80's Floridian roots and 90's Swedish expansion straight into the here and now. In fact, the vanguard of death metal in 2019 can be found under Arizona’s searing sun. That’s where GATECREEPER members—Chase Mason, guitarist Eric Wagner, bassist Sean Mears, drummer Matt Arrebollo and guitarist Nate Garrett—make their homes. Of course, the band nodded to their scorching home state with the title of their 2016 full-length debut, Sonoran Depravation. The theme continues on Deserted, which boasts songs like “Sweltering Madness,” “Boiled Over” and the double-meaning title track. You can hear the results on “From The Ashes,” a crushing cut primed for the European festival circuit. Over on side two, “Boiled Over” fuses classic BOLT THROWER with the pulverizing power grooves of sludge titans CROWBAR. Album closer “Absence Of Light” upholds GATECREEPER's tradition of finishing their records with a deathly doom dirge. Deserted was recorded at Homewrecker Studios in Tucson, where GATECREEPER co-produced the album with engineer Ryan Bram. CONVERGE guitarist Kurt Ballou handled the mix at Godcity in Salem, MA, and Brad Boatright mastered the album at Audiosiege in Portland, OR. Deserted’s hallucinatory cover art was created by Brad Moore (TOMB MOLD, MORPHEUS DESCENDS, and more.)

HOLY MOTHER präsentieren den Nachfolger von "Face This Burn" und ihr insgesamt siebtes Studioalbum: "Rise"!
In einer Karriere, die sich von den 1990er Jahren bis heute erstreckt, haben HOLY MOTHER einige der mitreißendsten Songs ihres Genres abgeliefert und ihr neues, bis dato härtestes und kraftvollstes Album bildet keine Ausnahme.
Hymnen wie "Rise", "Power", "Fire", "Rain", "Jeremiah" und "Hex" gehen ordentlich ins Ohr, und der Klassiker "Live To Die" vom hochgelobten "Toxic Rain" Album, wurde von HOLY MOTHER zu neuem Leben erweckt und lässt den Geist des verstorbenen HOLY MOTHER-Mitbegründers Randy Coven auferleben.
Mit Mike Tirellis an Ronnie James Dio erinnernde Vocals, den passionierten Shreds des Gitarristen Mickey Lyxx, den treibenden Drums von James Harris und Wayne Banks' flinken Fingern am Bass, werden HOLY MOTHER alle Hard Rock- und Metalfans begeistern!

When Man Man released its last album, "Dream Hunting in the Valley of the In Between," frontman Honus Honus (née Ryan Kattner) was in a state of unrest, oscillating between hope and cynicism. Perhaps fittingly, the album dropped during the pandemic, a time at which we could all relate. But, much like that bizarre turn of events, the ennui now seems so distant to Man Man. A revived sense of purpose washes through Man Man's new album, Carrot on Strings, radiating a mix of calm and confidence. Kattner always embodied a wild-man pied-piper vibe: his melodic, unhinged art-rock was at once intriguing and angsty. He was so alluringly creative that you went along with it, even if you were never sure where Man Man would take you. Carrot on Strings is no less inventive, but its ethos is radical in context of the band's two-decade career. "When I was younger, I would feed off of chaos. I would, you know, be upset and get drunk and smash chairs," Kattner explains. "Now those chairs are in my head: It's less of an outward projection, more of an interior monologue." The name "Carrot on Strings" came to Kattner while experimenting with the sound of someone munching on the vegetable, which you can hear in the cacophonous, similarly named song. It alludes to how success always seemed to dangle uncertainly before him, often just out of reach. But listen intently and you'll hear a more content Kattner finding an uneasy peace: "Life, as far as I've known it, has always been side hustles. Would it be great if I could go into a studio and record for a year without figuring out how to finance it? Yeah, it would be," he says. "But ultimately, I need to keep making music because art is an extension of my psyche. It's how I have learned to translate the palpitations of my heart. Simply put, I'd go insane without it." Growing up as a multiracial Hapa kid (half Filipino, half white) with a father in the U.S. Air Force, Kattner lived an itinerant childhood that included a few pivotal years in Germany, where he honed in on an appreciation for out there German cinema and art. His film obsessions and screenwriting background were crucial to Carrot on Strings. The album nods to the films of Werner Herzog and Rainer Werner Fassbinder as much as Italo-disco, Randy Newman, goth rock, and avant pop. (Kattner continues to work in the film industry with an acting role in the upcoming horror-comedy movie Destroy All Neighbors, for which he also served as composer; music supervising season 1 & 2 of the Interview With The Vampire AMC TV series; and shopping around, with director Matthew Goodhue, a script he wrote that he describes as a Wim Wenders road movie on acid.) In a bid to not overthink anything - his last album took seven years to make - he recorded the bulk of Carrot On Strings in five days in Mant Sounds studio in Glassell Park, Los Angeles with "very chill" producer Matt Schuessler, who had worked on Man Man's cover of Neu!'s "Super" for the seminal Krautrock band's box set. The resulting album represents a newfound sense of self for Kattner, who finds himself inspired and at peace both personally and artistically in ways that eluded him for most of his first 15 years playing music. When, on Carrot On Strings, you hear Kattner croon humbly, or sing of the tension between his outsize stage persona and the thoughtful, soulful guy he actually is, you're hearing Kattner liberate himself. "I first got into music to escape from myself," he says. "And now, it sounds so corny, but I have zero doubt that music ended up saving my life."

Jetzt auch als Neuauflage in Ltd. Edition Rotem Vinyl erhältlich!

"Songs are like tattoos" - die berühmte erste Zeile von Joni Mitchells "Blue" - ist ein Gefühl, das für die kanadische Rockerin Lee Aaron schon immer eine große Rolle gespielt hat.
Im Laufe ihrer 18 Alben umfassenden Karriere hat Aaron Musik geschrieben, aufgenommen und produziert, die mit Gold und Mehrfach-Platin ausgezeichnet wurde. Sie gilt als eine der besten Rocksängerinnen Kanadas und hat auch Ausflüge in den Jazz, Blues und sogar in die Oper unternommen. Dafür erhielt sie zahlreiche Preise und Auszeichnungen und wurde 2023 in Kanadas Walk of Fame aufgenommen.

"Das Einzige, was ich noch nie gemacht habe, war ein komplettes Cover-Album", sagt Aaron. "Es schien mir ein wirklich cooles und superlustiges Projekt zu sein, das ich zu diesem Zeitpunkt in Angriff nehmen wollte..."

"Tattoo Me" ist eine klangliche Zeitkapsel, die die Jahrzehnte überbrückt. Einmal mehr zementiert Aaron ihren Status als Rock'n'Roll-Chamäleon, indem sie Altes mit Neuem verbindet und damit nicht nur beweist, dass die transzendente Kraft der Musik niemals aufhört, sondern dass auch sie selbst nicht bereit ist, dies in absehbarer Zeit zu tun.

"Leave Of Absence" beginnt mit einer schaurigen Geigenschwellung, bevor es in den Gitarrenwahnsinn ausbricht, der von Sean Martin (Twitching
Tongues, ex-Hatebreed) und Mike McKenzie (The Red Chord) im Duett gespielt wird. Umbra Vitae bleiben mit "Belief Is Obsolete" und "Clear Cutter"
im roten Bereich und stellen die elektrisierende Rhythmusgruppe von Jon Rice (Uncle Acid, Tsjuder) und Greg Weeks (The Red Chord) vor. Das
Hook-geladene "Anti-Spirit Machine" steht dann im Mittelpunkt, ein Kriegsschrei für die Unterdrückten. Von hier aus fahren Umbra Vitae fort, alles zu
zertrümmern, was sich ihnen in den Weg stellt. Das disharmonische "Reality In Retrograde" rast mit knirschender Unschärfe in das schwerfällige "Past
Tense" und das düster-verführerische "Velvet Black". Zwei Songs, die metallische Heaviness in Reinkultur sind. "Twenty-Twenty Vision", "Algorithm Of
Fear" und "Empty Vessel" steigern die Intensität, angetrieben von den ergreifenden lyrischen Themen und den unmenschlichen Gesangseinlagen von
Jacob Bannon (Converge). Die Dreifaltigkeit aus dem langsamen "Cause & Effect", dem ultra-gewalttätigen "Deep End" und dem wirbelnden "Nature
vs. Nurture" prügeln weiter auf die Hörer ein und leiten das miteinander verbundene "Fatal Flaw" und "Light Of Death" als bösartiges Finale dieses
modernen Metal-Meisterwerks ein.

With their fourth album, Seas of Static, the French band Dead Horse One establishes itself as one of the heaviest bands of modern shoegaze, propelling the genre to new heights of power and emotion. In this album, Dead Horse One skillfully merges the incisive alternative metal of Deftones with the enveloping and ethereal sound of My Bloody Valentine. The result is a captivating whirlwind, where walls of guitars collide in a surge of creativity, raw emotion, and energy. Far from recycling, Seas of Static is a deep exploration of the grungegaze fusion, thus creating a unique and powerful sound, far from being conventional. Assisted by a massive production by Brendan Williams (Soul Blind, Francis Lung, GoGo Penguin), Dead Horse One creates a unique sonic texture with raw energy that evokes both grunge riffs and shoegaze atmospheres while injecting a new and contemporary energy. With this album, Dead Horse One pushes the boundaries of the genre, offering listeners an immersive and uncompromising musical experience.

A1 - Polaris
Going all in to open the EP with a truly stand out 2-step roller, ASC crafts a distinctly energetic vibe with Polaris, featuring an intricate old school break seldom heard in drum & bass - packed with high-end detail and a glorious raw energy. With long radiant pad work, a classic jumpy 808 bassline and a stunning, reverberating female vocal sample whooshing and panning across the mix, Polaris will instantly become a favourite in your setlist.
A2 - Things Left Unsaid
Opening with an intriguing fusion of suspenseful keys and deliciously crisp bongos that each play a key role throughout, Things Left Unsaid asks the listener questions of yesteryear in a varied odyssey filled with a myriad of echoed vocal samples, horns and effects, set to a break-laden beat pattern that hops along with kicks and snares each snatching the attention. A calmer vibe from ASC that still packs a punch.
AA1 - Temple Bell
A thumping, spirited beat pattern with rapid kicks and metallic snares provide a visceral aural onslaught as the aptly-named Temple Bell blends our imperious breaks with darkly, epic tolls radiating through a vast ornate hall of resonance -suitably reverberating alongside a backdrop of synchronic atmospherics. Heavily EQ'd vocal samples colour the mix to complete a weighty musical collage.
AA2 - Contrast
Beginning with a flurry of cow bells in a vibrant, expertly edited take on the classic Circles break, ASC serves up a delightfully laid back yet danceable piece with Contrast. Space FX, swirling pads and a mellow, memorable key melody overlay a beautiful mosaic of calm as the continued thrust of the break drives a constant energy to the track, perfectly capturing the ethos of Spatial and closing another immense EP

Words by Chris Hayes Spatial/Red Mist

Cher and Christina Aguilera, together? On the same soundtrack? Who cares that the Burlesque film garnered mixed reviews at best (though a lot of folks now regard the 2010 feature as a camp classic)? The soundtrack had no such difficulties; the album release went Top 20 on the charts, won a Grammy nomination, and Cher’s performance of “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” won a Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song. Aguilera’s star turn was something of a coming-out party, too; not only did she enjoy critical acclaim for her first leading role in a film, but her musical contributions—featuring a couple of Etta James songs and a cover of Marlene Dietrich’s “A Guy What Takes His Time’’—were sassy, jazzy, and brassy, not unlike her work on her #1 album from 2006, Back to Basics. In short, this one’s a must for fans of either artist, and for this pressing, we at Real Gone Music have created a bling-y metallic gold vinyl edition housed inside a gatefold cover boasting some sensational production stills!

"Leave Of Absence" beginnt mit einer schaurigen Geigenschwellung, bevor es in den Gitarrenwahnsinn ausbricht, der von Sean Martin (Twitching
Tongues, ex-Hatebreed) und Mike McKenzie (The Red Chord) im Duett gespielt wird. Umbra Vitae bleiben mit "Belief Is Obsolete" und "Clear Cutter"
im roten Bereich und stellen die elektrisierende Rhythmusgruppe von Jon Rice (Uncle Acid, Tsjuder) und Greg Weeks (The Red Chord) vor. Das
Hook-geladene "Anti-Spirit Machine" steht dann im Mittelpunkt, ein Kriegsschrei für die Unterdrückten. Von hier aus fahren Umbra Vitae fort, alles zu
zertrümmern, was sich ihnen in den Weg stellt. Das disharmonische "Reality In Retrograde" rast mit knirschender Unschärfe in das schwerfällige "Past
Tense" und das düster-verführerische "Velvet Black". Zwei Songs, die metallische Heaviness in Reinkultur sind. "Twenty-Twenty Vision", "Algorithm Of
Fear" und "Empty Vessel" steigern die Intensität, angetrieben von den ergreifenden lyrischen Themen und den unmenschlichen Gesangseinlagen von
Jacob Bannon (Converge). Die Dreifaltigkeit aus dem langsamen "Cause & Effect", dem ultra-gewalttätigen "Deep End" und dem wirbelnden "Nature
vs. Nurture" prügeln weiter auf die Hörer ein und leiten das miteinander verbundene "Fatal Flaw" und "Light Of Death" als bösartiges Finale dieses
modernen Metal-Meisterwerks ein.

Exit Plan" ist das 6. Studioalbum von Withering Surface nach dem Erfolg des 2020er-Comeback-Albums "Meet You Maker". Der Prozess des "Exit Plan"-Albums war lang und herausfordernd mit verschiedenen Aufnahmesessions, Besetzungswechseln, Produzenten und obendrein all den Hindernissen mit Covid und Post-Covid. Die Tatsache, dass die Engagements der Band bei Copenhell und verschiedenen anderen Festivals im Jahr 2020 um zwei Jahre auf 2022 verschoben wurden, hätte Withering Surface, die nach 15 Jahren im Dornröschenschlaf ein Comeback feierten, leicht das Leben kosten können. Stattdessen wurden alle Anstrengungen in die Entwicklung von "Exit Plan" gesteckt. Ein Album, auf dem sowohl das Songwriting als auch das lyrische Konzept der Band stärker denn je erscheinen. Hinzu kommt die Produktion von Soren Andersen (Medley Studio), der
in Rock- und Hardrockkreisen vor allem durch seine Arbeit mit Künstlern wie Thundermother, Tygers Of Pan Tang und Glenn Hughes bekannt ist.

Soren Andersen war nicht die offensichtliche Wahl als Produzent für eine Melodic-Death-Metal-Band, aber am Ende war er die perfekte Ergänzung für Withering Surface anno 2024 und lieferte einen gewaltigen Over-the-Top-Sound. Das lyrische Konzept: "Exit Plan" handelt davon, Grenzen und Normen, die einem gesetzt wurden, zu durchbrechen. Einen mentalen Schlussstrich ziehen und neu anfangen. Völlige Klarheit darüber zu bekommen, wo man ist und hingeht und enden will = "Exit Plan". Songtitel wie "Where
Dreamers Die", "Mindreader", "You Hurt This Child" und "I Finally Lost (All Faith In Humanity)" haben alle eine lyrische Grundlage in der oben genannten Lebenseinstellung, Sex, Scham, Religion und einem schwindenden Menschenbild.

a a1. [Enter]

Marking one year following Phase Fatale’s (aka Hayden Payne’s) last EP on his label BITE, ‘Love Is Destructive’ is a clear shift into true techno territories, integrated with his distinct curation of narrative and sonic framework, imprinted with a musical diet of sleek, synthesised storytelling.The 4-Track EP reflects the turbulent ebb-and-flow found with emotional conclusion - a genesis soundtracked by raw energy and driving undercurrents. The Berlin-based DJ, Producer and Label-owner’s propensity for creating a symbiotic harmony by blending seemingly divisive elements from his genre defying repertoire, demonstrates his masterful understanding and control of the listener’s borderless, auditory journey. Exemplified by his marathon closing sets at Berghain, as well as techno arenas such as Khidi in Tbilisi (both of which he is a resident), Phase Fatale’s recent DJ performances and production endeavours reflect his fresh approach to pure techno sensibilities. The title track sets the tone with imperative grooves, energetic vigour and intrepid attitude. Following a progression of techno propulsion in ‘Magma Driver’, infused metallic textures and trippy, headier elements add depth, whilst the body of work’s cutting edge sound design echoes spacey vivacity and purification in equal measures. Dichotomy comes forward with tracks ‘Ambivalence’ and ‘Introjection’, processed vocal samples with dub techno leanings and hints towards broken rhythms are sculpted by Payne’s focused approach, resonating a feeling of hopeful resolution akin to resurgence. These romantic sensibilities offset by cold mechanical nuances are reflected in the EP’s artwork, depicting roses against the backdrop of engine-like machinery. ‘Love Is Destructive’ is dedicated to Juan, Simone and Luis. Featuring artwork by Silent Editions.

‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ takes place toward the
end of the Ninth Century, a time when Norse tribes
were leaving their homes in Scandinavia and
sailing to the collection of fractured kingdoms
known as Anglo-Saxon England. It’s here, during
this age of transition, that you’ll take on the role of
Eivor and lead your people to a new land in the
search for a new home. As you embark on
Valhalla’s epic Viking journey you’ll lead deadly
raiding parties, fight in massive battles and build
up a prosperous settlement, all within the historical
backdrop of Ninth Century England.
‘Assassin’s Creed Valhalla’ went Gold weeks
before the launch.
Songs by Norwegian black metal drummer Einar
Selvik (Vikings, Gorgoroth, Wardruna), also known
by his stage name Kvitrafn (white raven).
Lyrics are sung in Old Norse and they mainly
consist of excerpts and edited Old Norse Skaldic
and Eddic poetry, except for the song ‘When Horns
Resound’, which was written by Einar.
Pressed on opaque white vinyl with printed inner
sleeve.

Die italienische Symphonic-Power-Metal-Institution RHAPSODY OF FIRE kehrt mit einem ihrer bisher besten Werke zurück, einem weiteren Teil ihrer epischen Nephilim-Saga, die 2019 mit "The Eighth Mountain" ihren Anfang nahm. Ihr neues Epos heißt: "Challenge The Wind"!
Fragt man einen Power Metal-Fan, so wird er feststellen, dass RHAPSODY OF FIRE in 30 Jahren nicht nur ein Genre geprägt, sondern sich auch als Band weiterentwickelt und ein Vermächtnis als die unangefochtenen Könige des Symphonic Power Metal geschaffen haben.
Nach Klassikern wie Legendary Tales (1997), Symphony Of Enchanted Lands (1998) oder Dawn Of Victory (2000) zeigen RHAPSODY OF FIRE einmal mehr, was sie am besten können: Epische Orchesterarrangements, bombastische Chöre, schnelle und melodische Gitarren und eine packende Story, die dieses Werk an Symphonic-Power-Finesse zusammenhält. Für den letzten Schliff haben sich RHAPSDOY OF FIRE einmal mehr an einen der renommiertesten Tontechniker der Metal-Szene gewandt: Sebastian "Seeb" Levermann von Orden Ogan.
Mach dich bereit für "Challenge the Wind"!

Citadel of Stars" ist ein bahnbrechendes Album. Eine einzigartige Mischung aus epischem Pagan Metal und traditionellem Blackened Metal. "Citadel of Stars" ist sowohl ein wehmütiges Klagelied für ein sterbendes Zeitalter als auch ein hoffnungsvoller Blick auf eine Wiedergeburt zwischen den Sternen. Der kanadische Ein-Mann-Act SIG:AR:TYR ist mit "Citadel of Stars" zurück. Das erste neue Album seit dem 2016 erschienenen "Northen"

kehrt zu den dunklen Atmosphären früherer Werke zurück und verwebt Vergangenheit, Gegenwart und Zukunft zu einer bahnbrechenden Veröffentlichung, die die epischen Themen von 20 Jahren SIG:AR:TYRs musikalischem Erbe widerspiegelt. Von den frühen Jahren mit Akustikgitarren und Ambient-Klängen bis hin zu einer Reihe von Alben, die epischen Pagan Metal mit introspektiven Instrumentalstücken nahtlos verbinden, ist "Citadel of Stars" der Höhepunkt von zwei Jahrzehnten musikalischer Entwicklung, die den Hörer auf eine spirituelle Reise zu den Sternen und wieder zurück mitnimmt - eine Erfahrung, die man so noch nie gehört hat und die man nicht so schnell vergessen wird. Es ist schwer, einzelne Songs herauszugreifen oder hervorzuheben, denn "Citadel of Stars" schwebt, nimmt einen mit auf eine Reise und bevor man sich versieht, merkt man, dass man wieder auf "Play" drücken muss: Das ist die Stärke dieses großartigen Albums.

COBRA THE IMPALER is now a well-oiled killing machine, ready to take on anything that comes on its path. Taking strong cues from the New Wave of American Heavy Metal, COBRA THE IMPALER forges together larger-than-life grooves and spirited guitar leads with enchanting clean vocal harmonies and razor-sharp screams. Effortlessly flowing from breakneck riffs to tasteful melodic breaks, the band makes strong use of stylistic elements from groove, thrash, and classic heavy metal. Like many legendary metal acts from the 90s, COBRA THE IMPALER marries brute force with meticulous attention to detail, amounting to an unstoppable advance and an enticing experience diverse in punishment. 'Karma Collision' is an exercise in empowerment as well as a show of subtle restraint. Defiant to the end, COBRA THE IMPALER deliver a blatantly guitar-powered album full of huge riffs and equally huge choruses that instantly nestle themselves in your mind. Proving themselves as masters of melody as well as destruction, COBRA THE IMPALER hits hard while forcing an inescapable headlock, delivering salvation to those who worship, but certain punishment for those who dare to stray. For fans of Mastodon, Gojira, Baroness, Megadeth

Wormwood is undoubtedly one of the leading bands on the Swedish metal scene right now. The band now returns straight into the hot air to follow up the highly praised predecessors "Nattarvet" and "Arkivet". Albums that made the band soar on the national charts and led to numerous nominations for prestigious awards.

The release of "The Star", concludes the magnificent trilogy about death (NATTRAVET, ARKIVET, THE STAR). "NATTARVET" was about the grim famine that plagued the people in the 19th-century Nordic region. "THE ARCHIVE" focused on the inevitable downfall of mankind and "THE STAR" tells the story of the end of the universe.

There is no doubt that Wormwood musically has taken another big step forward, both in terms of songwriting and performance. Nothing is left to chance, and everything is refined down to the smallest detail, and this without sacrificing the bands unmistakable raw sound.

The album was mixed and mastered the renowned metal producer Sverker Widgren from Wing Studios in Stockholm, Sweden

Wormwood is undoubtedly one of the leading bands on the Swedish metal scene right now. The band now returns straight into the hot air to follow up the highly praised predecessors "Nattarvet" and "Arkivet". Albums that made the band soar on the national charts and led to numerous nominations for prestigious awards.

The release of "The Star", concludes the magnificent trilogy about death (NATTRAVET, ARKIVET, THE STAR). "NATTARVET" was about the grim famine that plagued the people in the 19th-century Nordic region. "THE ARCHIVE" focused on the inevitable downfall of mankind and "THE STAR" tells the story of the end of the universe.

There is no doubt that Wormwood musically has taken another big step forward, both in terms of songwriting and performance. Nothing is left to chance, and everything is refined down to the smallest detail, and this without sacrificing the bands unmistakable raw sound.

The album was mixed and mastered the renowned metal producer Sverker Widgren from Wing Studios in Stockholm, Sweden