Into The Pit

EP Review: Burdens- Blind World. Savage Death.

2012-01-05T15:33:00.000-08:00

What Hardcore has been missing (in my opinion) is the element of speed and simplicity. Remember when Minor Threat wrote one minute songs that were three chords and fast as all hell? I try to remember those days but when I hear hardcore it tends to be mid-tempo two steps, and breakdowns. That is why I’ve always liked Burdens; they are heavy as all hell and, for the most part, play fast music.

I was lucky enough to get an advance copy of the EP and though it is something different than 2011’s You Can’t Save Us All, Blind World. Savage Death is definitely the most well put together album yet. If you’re looking for songs with constant high tempo you’re looking in the wrong place. Each track blends together and it is without any major flaws.

“Silver Tongue” starts off fast and has a few weird guitar tones with some dissonant chords thrown into the mix but overall shows what you’re going to hear on the rest of the EP; slower breakdowns, more weird guitar tones, and more aggression than you can deal with. After two slower songs (“Tapeworm” and “Death Rattle”) we’re brought back into a fast circle pit with the song “Soothsayer” which isn’t a unique take on fast hardcore, but is by far the best song on the album.

I think that the overall lesson to Blind World. Savage Death is that heavy distortion makes songs with a slower tempo sound good. It gives the EP an almost southern vibe despite the fact that there aren’t any scales that would make it sound southern. It sounds nothing like something Pantera would ever release however that it the only way to describe it. Blind World. Savage Death. is nothing but pure energy and a great hardcore record that everyone should listen to. Over all, full of energy and back with a vengeance, Burdens is improving the hardcore scene one song at a time.

The album will be released free online from Burdens on Sunday, January 8 and it definitely worth the space on your computer.

Suggested song: Soothsayer
9/10

EP Review: Sacred Serenity : Cross Roads

2011-08-06T10:24:00.000-07:00

If you don’t know who Sacred Serenity is by now you probably should. I’ve been doing reviews of their last two E.P.’s and haven’t stopped listening to them since they came out. But for anyone who hasn’t been paying attention let’s take a second to review what they’ve been up to since their inception.

The Enemy in the clouds E.P. was pretty good but the production quality was a little less than fantastic. However for the entire album being self recorded, it’s good for what it is and the song writing on it is fantastic.

Divulgence was five out of six songs of in your face, fuck you metal and out of the three E.P.’s recorded definitely the most melodic. Although the band had a full line-up at this point in time and went to an actual studio, the production sounded like they were meant for a pop-punk band which is by no means the band’s fault; but the weird production took away from songs.

Now finally we have arrived at what I and many others will call the bands best effort yet. After spending a week living in Atrium Studios (August Burns Red, Texas In July, and This or The Apocalypse) the band has come out with a well written piece of metal that crosses between a mix of metalcore, melodic death metal and deathcore.

The album shows the bet work from the band yet with Pat Scanlon’s vocals being the clearest that they’ve ever been. He hits all ranges on the album and makes the music fit what his voice is doing rather than just screaming at whatever range he feels like.

My only issue with the album is that there are no memorable bass parts from Dave Jamison like Divulgence was built around. No one ever shows off too much on the album, all instruments blend well together but no one steps up to the plate to add the wow factor that a lot of people look forward to in a metal album.

Of the four songs I have to say that “A legend Remembered” is definitely the best of all of them. It is the fastest and throws a little bit of everything that anyone could want from a metal song. Breakdowns, blast beats, whispering, yelling and what most people associate with metal, shredding.

It is definitely the bands best effort but it is a little short. I’d like to see what they could do with a full length. So let’s get them to record one of those. However I realize that’s an expensive endeavor, so for now you’ll have to listen to Crossroads until you get sick of it, but you won’t get sick of it.

8/10

Interview: The Last Ten Seconds of Life

2011-06-27T13:14:00.001-07:00

Interview:
The Last Ten Seconds of Life

How did you guys form?

We formed because we were all a group of friends who listened to metal and were musicians. We decided one day we wanted to make the heaviest catchiest music we could and that was that. We initially were lighter than we are now, but with time we progressed into the style and sound we currently have.

How long have you guys been a band for?

We have been a band for a little over a year now.

Where are you guys from?

Our band is based out of Mansfield, PA. It's the middle of no where in North Central Pennsylvania. We formed there because we all attended college at Mansfield University.

How would you guys describe your sound to anyone who has never heard of you?

We commonly get described as Whitechapel sounding, but I would probably say more towards Suffokate as far as bands that people tend to think we sound like. We don't particularly think we sound close to any other band. I do realize that every band says that, but I think if you listen to our new single, A Face Amongst The Flames, you will see that we have our own sound and style.

Would you guy’s consider you take on deathcore more core or more death metal?

That's a good question. I would say we're a pretty even mix. We don't even like to say we're deathcore, we just say we're heavy as fuck. But we do understand where the deathcore genre title comes from, as we do have deathcore influenced vocals and breakdowns.

How do you manage to work with two bass players in one band? Do they play the same parts? Do you record two bass tracks?

We actually don't have two bass players anymore. We did it for about 6 months and liked it, but now due to responsibilities and certain things needing to be tended to our bassist, Josh, has left the band. He is still a great friend of ours and will possibly hop on a few shows here or there near our home town though. We are now officially a conventional band with a vocalist, two guitarists, a bassist, and a drummer.

How would you say your new music is different from the Justice EP?

Our new music in comparison to our Justice EP is much more matured and has it's own feel to it. The mastering on it is much better, the guitar tones have much more bite, and the songs are just better written songs. We loved and still do love the Justice EP, it's got some hits and Carson Slovak (Atrium Audio, Lancaster, PA) did an amazing job on the album for us, but the new material is going to blow the Justice EP out of the water. We were pleased with the quality Carson did on the Justice EP so we went back with him for the full length, this time with much more studio time booked and really worked hard on getting the right sound we wanted. We're so excited to release it!

When can we expect a new release from you guys?

How was the tour with Demolisher?

The tour with Demolisher was phenomenal! We had so much fun and they are really amazing guys and musicians. For the most part the tour went extremely smooth. We hit a road bump in the beginning leg of tour, which could have sent us all home early but we made it work out. We've had some amazing shows and met amazing people that we will certainly see again. We are in talks about figuring out another package with Demolisher in the next few months because we've become good buds and our music meshes together very well in a package. We want to head out again soon with them!

What was your favorite show on the tour?

All of the shows were amazing. I am answering this interview 1 1/2 hours before we head over to our final show in Binghamton, NY (Hometown Show) promoted on by Save Our Scene which always books great shows. Tonight may take the cake as far as favorite show of tour, but as of right now the best show would have had to be Mt. Airy, MD at promoted by Mike Raffiqi. We had hundreds of kids there, all of the local bands were amazing (Shoutouts to A Blood Bath in Boston and As The Kingdom Falls). All of the people who came out stuck around for our package to play, danced hard, hung out with us, and supported us like I've never seen before. It was a great show and the scene there is absolutely great.

How many tours have you been on?

This is our third tour. We had a 2 week tour down to Alabama in January, a mini tour this May to route to our week of studio time and then 3 days back, and this 3 week tour with Demolisher. We are full time now and will be touring as much as we can.

Are there any tours coming up?

We are planning a two week tour in August with a band called Existence from New Jersey. They are pretty heavy and we're excited. We are planning on doing a mostly North East Tour, (Upstate NY -> Western PA -> Central PA -> VA -> MD -> DE -> NJ -> PA-> CT -> NY). We are currently working on a tour with Demolisher again in late September, with one headliner above both of us who we can't announce yet.

Any bands you want to tour with that you haven’t had the chance to yet?

Hundreds! We want to tour with lots of bands that we haven't had the chance to yet. I'm assuming this question is more or less meant to mean are there any bands we haven't played with that we want to. We've had the opportunity to be the local for some big bands coming through the area numerous times, but we still have a few we haven't had the luck to play with. I know most of us would love to play with Whitechapel and Oceano again. As far as a band we have never played with I think we could all agree that playing with any of Suffokate, Carnifex, or Ingested would be pretty beast.

Did you guys play any cities where you were scared of your van being stolen?

Hah um, I mean there are a few places that are a little sketchy, but for the most part not really. We keep everything locked and double locked (we're paranoid and poor) so we don't stress that too much. We did have our Roland SPD-S pad stolen this tour which is pretty depressing, but Demolisher was kind enough to let us use their bass bombs for the remainder of tour.

Any weird tour stories?

Plenty! haha. We, as every band that spends time on the road, find ways to entertain ourselves. We are pretty goofy. Thomas bought a shake weight from a Wal-Mart a while back so we tend to stop at red lights and when there are girls next to us either the driver or the front seat passenger (depending on where the girl is) has to grab the shake weight, yell "YO LADIES!!!" and commence intensely shake weighting for the girl until the light turns green. It hasn't worked on getting a phone number yet, but it's probably because they are so intimidated by our muscles.

Any band’s you’ve played with in the past that you feel the world should know about?

Definitely! Lets see here. I would say A Call for Conquest from Long Island, A Bloodbath in Boston from Maryland, As The Kingdom Falls from Maryland, The Mortis Sermon from North Carolina, and In Reference to a Sinking Ship from Tampa area, FL.

Are you guys a party band?

No. We definitely aren't a party band. We love parties, we go to house parties and some of us do drink, but if you are asking if we get trashed and break stuff we definitely don't. We have lots of fun and don't mind when people get wild, but we usually are pretty chill. We're a chill band.

When and where did you record the new single “A Face amongst the flames?”

The new single, A Face Amongst the Flames, was recorded in May at Atrium Audio in Lancaster, PA. Grant McFarland (Drummer of This or the Apocalypse) and Carson Slovak (Century, Prosthetic Records) recorded and tracked our entire new album. It is still being mastered.

Are you looking for a label or do you guys plan on DIYing for the rest of your career?

We definitely want a label. We are already doing what most signed bands do, touring full time, being fully rigged, scraping enough money together to survive, etc., but we definitely do want to find a label that is ready to release our new album under their name. The whole album is already done and ready to go, we are just waiting for the correct offer to release it under.

Have you guys played with any big bands that you’d like to brag about?

Sure! We've played with some really awesome bands. We had the pleasure of playing with Whitechapel, Oceano, I Declare War, Impending Doom, Miss May I, After the Burial, Norma Jean, Cancer Bats, Texas in July, Destruction of a Rose, Like Moths to Flames, Demolisher, The World We Knew, King Conquer, Murder Death Kill, Bermuda, and too many more to list. We have played with some big bands this year.

Any final words for my readers?

Definitely! Thanks so much for reading this, obviously. First and foremost as a band we love meeting new people and hanging out and having a great time. The moment we don't want to talk to every single fan that we meet is the moment we will stop doing this. So check us out on Facebook, add us personally and chat with us, whatever you want! We just want to meet everyone because every single person that plays a single one of our songs is contributing to us with support and we couldn't ask for anything more than that. Thanks for letting us do this interview!

The Pit Push

2011-06-04T22:54:00.000-07:00

To begin; to all those who are reading this and to anyone who has ever read this blog, thank you. I haven’t been able to keep up with it for the past five or so months but I’ve been busier than I’d like to be with school and other such things.

Now that you’ve all accepted my apologies I’d like to take the chance to use this post to shed some light on a few of the lesser known bands who are coming out with new stuff that I think everyone should listen to on a daily basis.

I guess I’m a little bias when it comes to the first band, considering I’ve known ever member for over five years, however I can objectively say that they are one of the most original bands from the Philadelphia area. The guys in Embedded Within have been beating the hell out of themselves to deliver some of the most technical deathcore in the area. Their first EP Breeding and Screaming was great with the exception of the production quality (I blame the studio that mastered it, whose name will not be mentioned). They are currently in the process of recording a full length which will be called Adversary and will probably not be released until the end of the summer. However if you search their face book you can find three of the songs that are finished on there and be amazed. I say this with all of my heart; they have a very unique sound that other bands would be lucky to be able to copy.

The next band on my list is a band from King of Prussia/Philadelphia, Pennsylvania called, Garmonia. I saw this band for the first time a while back and among a band full of deathcore bands that for the most part all sounded exactly the same. The bands blend of technicality mixed with brutal riffs makes them stick out over many of their peers. The first time you listen to them, you think that their similar to Born of Osiris and Veil of Maya. I don’t mean they sound the same as either of these bands but they have something much different to offer a crowd that many of the bands you’ll see at local shows. Rather than focusing on brutality, they focus on song structure. If a part needs to be fast, it’s fast and it isn’t questioned. I don’t know enough about them to say if their coming out with anything anytime soon, but search their facebook and you’ll find two songs: “Fistful of Regret” and “Autonomy” and you’ll be impressed.

I can’t say too much about this next band considering I didn’t like them too much until a few hours ago after I heard their new song, but if Ecesis continues on the path their going now, they’ll only get better than their new single shows. The band recently took a trip to Ohio to record with former Attack Attack! Singer, Jhonny Franck and the end result is a wonderful song called “If you’re not first, you’re last.” The song is simply a metalcore song, but it’s done well. As I said before, when I first saw them three years ago at a show with a bunch of death metal bands, I wasn’t into their sound. But if they keep sounding like their latest single, I’ll keep listening.

Seraph in Travail has made a demo which has become one of my favorite things to listen to on a weekly basis. Taking a step away from the deathcore scene, their demo titled “Stem the flood” has been anticipated by circles of people in the area and did not disappoint. The melodic death metal is refreshing in a scene controlled by breakdowns. Each song has a mood to it and whether or not you interpret the lyrics correctly you can envision a story behind each song, even though the lyrics aren’t describing events (I think). Each member has a voice on the demo and if you personally know them you know where they come in. For instance if you know the guitar playing of Tim Otto, you know that his solo is the second solo in the song “Nightfall.” It is a great demo that they took long enough to put out, and I’m excited to see what the band does next.

Finally a band who’s second CD is better than their first but their first has a better production quality. Sacred Serenity has been playing more shows than they have energy for and are going to the famous atrium studios in a week to record a new EP. Their first EP “Death in solitude” was done completely by guitarist, Nate Parker and vocalist, Pat Scanlon and their efforts have paid off. Now with a complete band, Sacred Serenity is going to be releasing a third EP in less than two years and will no doubt be playing a countless number of shows to support the release. Ultimately a great band that works there nuts off to make great music.

All of these bands are on facebook and/or have some sort of online presence so you have absolutely no excuse to not look them up. I don’t give bands a bump or free promotion unless I actually like it so you should check it out.

Also I am starting this back up again, so bands send me your demos in an MP3 or RAR file to clark.dan4@gmail.com and if I like it I’ll give you what I’m going to being calling an into the pit push. So to end, Sacred Serenity, Embedded Within, Ecesis, Garmonia, and Seraph in Travail, you’ve all been pushed into the pit and I hope you all continue to make music even better than the stuff I already think is great.

This City Needs a Hero- Wasteland Review

2010-10-18T17:11:00.000-07:00

I hate to be the bearer of bad news but after giving a in depth listen into This City Needs a Hero’s new full length, Wasteland I can’t say there is anything particularly special about it. The record has its moments musically but much of the album sounds the same. The trend of the record seems to be clean vocals to rough scratchy vocals and an unnecessary synth being played over a breakdown. In fact the synth may be my biggest complaint with the whole record. It comes up in parts that by no means need any help from an electronic sound.

Another problem I have with the record is that it covers a couple of different genres that shouldn’t be placed together. When Linkin Park became irrelevant I thought that nu-metal had finally died out for good, however This City Needs a Hero have managed to bring back a dead genre that didn’t need to be resuscitated.

As far as guitar riffs go, it isn’t a bad record. Not to say they’re inspirational genre defining works on the guitar but it is definitely the highlight of the album. The bad thing about the guitar work is the placement of them within the music. For example the last song, Vindication goes from a break down to an acoustic guitar part that to be quite honest doesn’t sound like it was mixed that well.

Really it’s not a wonderful record; it has some cool riffs but was definitely made for those who are more into rap rock and nu-metal. I however was not entirely impressed with the record. However I encourage you to not listen to me and make your own decision. You can listen to a few of the tracks off of Wasteland at www.myspace.com/thiscityneedsahero.

Review: Vomit the Hate-"Premortem Rot"

2010-08-23T21:21:00.000-07:00

I was not made aware of, Vomit the hate until I was asked by the man himself, Mahdi Riahi to take a listen to his 2010 four song EP titled “Premortem Rot.” To be completely honest I had no idea what to expect and wasn’t sure at all whether or not I would like it. The name its self makes me think of grindcore which all instruments are recorded to a click track of 765 BPM and vocals are little more than guttural lows that cannot be understood at all. This vivid description that I have just painted is not at all what “Premortem Rot,” sounds like.

As far as technical death metal goes this is one of the best EP’s floating around in the underground scene that I’ve heard in a long time. While I love some melody, it has been a while since I’ve heard an unsigned band stick to the pure brutal beginnings of the genre. Listeners will hear elements of old Cannibal Corpse of and a few early Suffocation style breakdowns. If Necrophagist decide to break up (does anybody know what the hell they’re doing anyway?) Vomit the Hate will gladly take their place as the leading force of brutal technical metal.

My one complaint with the album is that the solos do not seem to fit the riffs. With low tone riffs played at blinding speed, I expected to hear fast aggressive sweeps throughout the entire record. However the solo’s consist of melodies which I would expect to hear on an In Flames album or even a Dahlia Album (Prior to Ryan Knight joinging). There are a few sweeps here and there however it mostly consists of slower melodic solos that fit more to a slower more melodic band. Keep in mind they are very well written solos; they just seem a little out of place.

Overall this is a great record that should be listened to by everyone. Fortunately you can download this EP for free on the, Vomit the Hate myspace (www.myspace.com/vomitthehate). There are a few more EP’s on the myspace which I’ve been meaning to download for quite a while. Make sure you head over and check it out, tell your friends about it who should tell their friends about it…and who knows with any luck, Vomit the Hate will get the attention of Brian Slagel and he will help Mahdi become known as a wonderful guitarist/songwriter.

Pariah

2010-08-23T21:09:00.000-07:00

Very rarely do we come across a piece of music that does not include breakdowns, techno beats, and horrible screams. Fortuantely I have found an EP that will bring many metal heads back to the thrash days with a hint of Children of Bodom and At the Gates. Well, ladies and gentlemen; I present to you, Pariah.

Originally hailing from Kodiak, Alaska; the boys in Pariah have found themselves on the east coast due to military living. Right around the corner from Sacred Serenity, Pariah have kept up with a modern style of death metal while staying within the roots of thrash bands such as Metallica and testament. Although I can’t stop there and say they sound exactly like the early thrash bands that helped create a new genre of music.

Their self titled, eight song EP which is currently under review by Earache Records, gives a unique take on what you’ll find in mist heavy underground scenes. For many young listeners metal is little more than breakdowns and pig squeals. Pariah’s EP will introduce the younger fans of extreme music to Children of Bodom style speed mixed with power/thrash metal vocals.

Their self titled EP shows that the band can shred and they shred quickly. Take for example “When Worlds Collide,” staying at a steady speed comparable to testament (which is by no means easy) Pariah drill a melodic trem pick riff backed by lighting quick double bass and some fancy cymbal work to make listeners get up and mosh with their dog (Side: Into the Pit Reviews does not endorse moshing with household pets…Try moshing with a bear than get back to me).

Although a great album it may be hard for some to get into just because of it’s old school metal feel. There are no sweeps that I could hear, hardly anyone does semi- power metal vocals and there are no blast beats and/or breakdowns. It is something that has to be listened to a couple of times before it is truly appreciated for the semi-masterpiece that it is.

You can hear more of Pariah at their myspace, www.myspace.com/pariahmetalband

Track Listing
1)Taking over the Land
2)Hero’s Live to Die
3)Struggle for Redemption
4)The Fire Wave
5)When Worlds Collide
6)Forever to Reign
7)Ghost of the Militia
8)Victory Remains

Alustrium

2010-08-23T20:53:00.000-07:00

Many bands put out EP’s like it’s just another thing to do on the way to creating a full length or inbetween tours. Alustrium knew they wouldn’t have another release until they had everything perfect. This being said, we can be glad they put 100 percent into this EP which will only excite us a little more for the debut full-length.

Beginning this fine example of underground metal mastery is the five minute twenty five second song, “Butterfly Wings”. Although it sounds like the HIM song (“Wings of a Butterfly”), do not the title deceive you. It is much heavier than the five-piece Finnish band’s 2005 single although not a melodic. I guess it really depends on what your into. If you’re looking for melody this may not be the song for you. However if you’re looking for hard hitting in your face chugging back by speedy double bass work, I can be certain you’ll like this.

Following “Butterfly Wings” will be a song titled Magnum which delievers a sound bigger than what magnums are used for (I had to go there sorry) an excellent bass/guitar trade off in the beginning leads to a heavy riff backed by great drums and searing vocals that rip thorough your head phones and melt destroy your brain. What I found to be the most impressive element of this song is how it seems to be a very bass driven song. With the bass intro and a bit of a bass solo about half way through the song lets us know that, Brett Leftwich is more than just providing low backing tones for the band.

Leading into the third track is a riff and double bass that will make you want to get up and mosh. I suggest you not do that however it may make you look mentally unstable. “The All Seeing Eye” may fair for those who enjoy black metal. It is a bit more of a trem picked riff with parts that have both high and low vocals at the same time for certain parts. My only complaint is that it becomes a little repetitive, but at eight minutes and fifty-six seconds long, it’s a little hard to come up with different riffs that fit within the song structure. My other complaint with this song is the whisper that comes in just under the four minute mark. They don’t really add anything to the song, but then again It may have something to do with the story within the lyrics; either way a decent song that only adds to the strength of the EP.

Finally is “Twilight’s Reprieve” which comes with the question; when’s the last time you heard a ten minute song that wasn’t by Between the Buried and Me? Why do I like this song the most? It’s a good thing you asked, “Twilight’s Repreive is definitely the most diverse in style with every element of the music. Even Jerry Martin’s vocals change in style throughout the song, while in the other songs he maintains a monotone growl which only changes once and a while. “Twilight’s Reprieve” seems to be a culmination of everything the band has tried to get across in the other three songs. Blast beats, breakdowns and melody. Even an 80’s hair metal solo comes through around the six minute mark. Where I would normally write unspeakable, horrible threats to a band that tried to do this, I can’t because it seems like the only kind of solo that fits the music and any other solo would seem out of place.

Are they this generation’s At the Gates? No, however with work and some future tours I can see Alustrium playing the three day European festivals that bands strive to become a part of. Be sure to pay attention to these guys at www.myspace.com/alustrium. For Fans of :Trivium and At the Gates.

Review: Cherished "Horizon Falls"

2010-07-07T19:37:00.001-07:00

Without any prior knowledge of the band itself; if I heard the name cherished as a band name, I would only assume that they played some form of 1980’s power pop. I was horribly mistaken; hailing from Germany, the five piece death-core band has recently signed to BRKNN MIRRR Records and is slowly taking the world by storm. Their debut album, titled “Horizon Falls” is a great start for a young band trying to make a name for themselves in an industry where so many bands sound the same.

The opening track simply titled “Intro” is nothing more than a few eerie notes and bone rattling snare hits prepping you for the storm that s about to ensue. With a simple breakdown, Cherished created a perfect opening to draw listeners in just as The Black Dahlia Murder did with their debut album “Unhallowed”. Although the two bands sound nothing alike, the same idea is used for the intro and the bands first single “Life of Suffering.”

Although the single its self is impressive, to get catch the band at their best you’ll have to listen eight tracks in before you find “The Forgotten.” Easily the best song on the CD with different rhythms and quick picking keeps “The Forgotten” as a song much more memorable than any other song on the CD. It crosses back and forth between the line of breakdown and melody keeping listeners interested and not stuck on one rhythm.
At the end of it, “Horizon Falls” is a great first effort by the newly signed five piece. It can at time be a little repetitive at times and sounds like they are trying to break out of the current groove but just haven’t found their own voice yet. I have high hopes for Cherished and based off of “Horizon Falls” their next album should be incredible.
Rating-7

Divulgence by Sacred Serenity

2010-06-26T15:33:00.000-07:00

In December of 2009, Sacred Serenity released their seven song debut to the underground metal scene in package titled, “Enemy in the Clouds.” Showing the perseverance of the band; vocalist Pat Scanlon and guitarist, Nate Parker found Kyle Peronteau to play drums and Dave Jamison to tear up the bass. May 22, 2010 the four musicians released, “Divulgence” creating a new standered for themselves
The opening song, “Homicidal Generation,” begins slowly with a few harmonic notes and distorted chords that make listeners unsure of what exactly is going to come. The tempo quickly turns up and the harmonics abruptly move into a melodic poppy-metal song that should remind metal-core fans of “Two Weeks” by All that Remains. Lyrically the song is by far the best on the album with the line “Kill or be killed that’s the choice I have to make in this world, I choose to kill.” this is by far one of the most badass lyrics I’ve ever had the pleasure of hearing. Just as the rest of the album, “Homicidal Generation” has the perfect mixture of breakdowns and melody to create a well balanced sound that fans of all metal sub-genres will appreciate.
Nate Parker’s guitar work on this EP is truly the driving force behind the songs. Whether quick or slow he hits the head on each riff leaving no mistake on this audio piece of art. Particularly the song, “Prisoner of Regret” has what to me sounds like the most technical guitar work seeing as it sounds most like something that I could hear, Between the buried and Me writing. The whole album is filled with riffs that will impress music critics everywhere.
The line up choices Pat and Nate made definitely had a positive effect in the song writing process. Dave Jamison adds clear distorted bass lines and some pretty epic bass sweeps over the breakdown in the song “Prisoner of Regret.” Kyle Peronteau keeps steady rhythms while adding his own flare to each song.
Heading towards a more progressive style of music, the CD ends with the slower song, “Divulgence.” Not my favorite song on the EP but it can definitely be appreciated for its musicianship and soothing rhythms. Six tracks which are all worth listening to come clocking in at 31 minutes and 40 seconds that will give you a new appreciation of what an unsigned band can do when they put their hearts in the music. This is for fans of Dream Theatre and Between the Buried and me. “Divulgence” can be found be purchased online and listened to on the bands myspace: www.myspace.com/sacredserenity.

Impending Doom's new sound

2010-06-20T12:27:00.000-07:00

I can probably say I was one of the last Impending Doom fans to hear the band’s new single, “The Great Fear,” the others being the three other people who were in the room with me listening to it. While my friends initially gave it bad reviews and complained about how they will never have an initial sound because the only consistent member of the band is, Brook Reeves who is the bands vocalist and only writes the lyrics, I found the music to be an improvement and still hold on to the sound they created with, “The Serpent Servant.”
While the band has sped up a little bit, once you get towards the end of the song you hear the same crushing breakdowns that gave them a name for themselves in the past year. The same minor notes are played over the breakdown just as they were in the bands previous album to give listeners an eerie vibe about the wrath of god.
When it comes down to it the new members seemed to feel that Impending Doom’s third effort should be a mix of their debut “Nailed. Dead. Risen,” and their sophomore effort, “The Serpent Servant.” My only complaint is Brook’s vocals in the beginning of the song but maybe it’s just because I’m not used to hearing death-core vocalists use a thrash vocalist’s vocal chords.
Impending Doom’s new album, “There Will be Violence,” hits stores July 20 and they are currently on tour throughout the United States.

Big Choclate Interview

2010-05-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

Photo taken from myspace.com/big.chocolate

One of the biggest names in metal is a 19 year old originally from the small town of Minden, Nevada and he isn’t even in a band that’s signed to a major label. In his years lived he has produced dozens of songs dabbled in electro, done vocals for Russian slam metal band, Abominable Putridity and more recently recorded the vocals on Mediaskare record’s very own Burning the Masses. He has recently finished a stint in Europe on the “Legacy of Blood Tour” with Burning the Masses, Nervecell, Annotations of an Autopsy and death metal legends, Suffocation. I’m of course talking about Cameron “Big Chocolate” Argon who has made himself famous throughout the metal community. He discusses Burning the Masses, Disfiguring the Goddess, Betty White as well as some future projects he’s getting into.

-Into the Pit: To begin, how did you get contacted to do the vocals for the new Burning the Masses album?
Big C: Hahaha, just a myspace message to start off then a few phone calls. Then we met up and further discussed it.

-Into the Pit: When did you know that you didn’t want to become an official member of BTM?
Big C: I knew I was uncertain before I joined and I told them how I felt about it. After the Legacy of Blood tour was over, I took a few weeks to decide on how I felt about my true status in the band. I knew it wasn't for me and that I wanted to pursue other projects in my life right now. They understood and respected that. I kept it upfront and real with those guys since day one about everything.
-Into the Pit: Since you’re not on their latest tour, what are you doing to fill your time now?
Big C: Right now: I'm working on a few more remixes, working on tracks for Commissioner (My new project with Mitch Lucker of Suicide Silence), getting ready to record the DTG full length in July, and film for Suicide Silence during Warped tour, working on my new electro release, and DJ’ing as much as I can, along with recording vocals for Abominable Putridity (Russian Slam Metal)

-Into the Pit: Do you ever expect to tour with Disfiguring the Goddess or is that solely a studio band?
Big C: As of now, I can't say for sure. I know sometime DTG will be doing somewhat of a tour, I just can't see a time frame.
-Into the Pit: Which bands or even vocalist are you most influenced by?
Big C: For metal? Hate Eternal, Defeated Sanity, Meshuggah... Metal bands that have been pushing the limits since day one and continue to evolve. Some of my greatest influences have mainly just been family and friends. Support goes a long way for me.
-Into the Pit: What is the writing process like for Disfiguring the Goddess?
Big C: I'll write full songs with my guitar, vocal chords, and a drum machine just like the Promo EP. But rather than just stopping at that, I send the music files to Joe (guitars) and he goes through and re-writes the guitar to be more 'colorful' as we've been calling it. I basicly draw a line drawing of a picture and Joe comes in and paints it. Phil (drums) gets the mp3s and click tracks to practice to. Phil, we'll take into a studio to track his drums and then we'll record guitars and vocals at home. Mixing will be done at home as well.
-Into the Pit: What bands are you listening to now?
Big C: Caspa and Rusko, Portal, The Bloody Beetroots, Borgore, Cannibal Corpse, Vomit The Soul, and Inherit Disease.
-Into the Pit: Who would you say is the next big name in metal that has not been nationally discovered yet?
Big C: Probably Betty White judging from that SNL skit.
-Into the Pit:How did you get into the electro genre of music and how long have you been doing that for?
Big C: I've been into electronic music just as long as I've been into metal, but I've never focused on JUST electro until about 6 months ago. Once I figured out how to successfully use side chaining, it was OVER for me.
-Into the Pit: How do you think the internet has played a role with your success as a musician/producer? And to follow that up; do you get calls from all over the country or even the world to be a part of certain projects?
Big C: Internet has been #1 in my 'success' as a musician/producer. I started making music while living in Minden, NV which is a very small town. If I didn't have the internet to obtain an audience for metal, I would have had probably 4 fans based on Minden’s musical and 'hip' make up. The internet has also allowed me to avoid working with indie labels and indie management, because I could easily promote, market, and distribute on my own through networks like youtube, myspace, and itunes. I also would have never gotten the opportunity to work with Russian slam giants, Abominable Putridity. The Internet is an amazing tool for any sort of goal or hobby.

THRODL, "No Honor in Exile" Review

2010-05-24T14:54:00.000-07:00

Just as quick as it came and made a name for itself, deathcore has become a dying genre and bands who once labeled themselves in such a manner are slowly gravitating towards either death metal or hardcore. Although labeled a deathcore act, THRODL’s latest 13 song album, “No Honor in Exile” leans a little more toward the hardcore side, with more breakdowns than speed within the songs.
Although there are a few blast parts, the CD seems to be saturated in breakdowns. This is coming from someone who likes nothing more than the mixture of blast beats and breakdowns. I wouldn’t be complaining if they had one song with only one breakdown, but you can’t escape the breakdown in this CD which may or may not be a good thing depending on your taste.
While my only complaint with “No Honor in Exile” is the amount of breakdowns, there are many things that as a musician myself I can appreciate about the album. To begin I should mention the time signatures particularly in the song “Gaz’r Delay” where the drummer, Justin Skipper seems to be keeping his own time opposite of the guitars making for a more interesting listen as opposed to hearing the same4/4 timing that many bands stick to just to be safe. I must also compliment Brad Roche on the vocals on this album. He keeps the lyrics with whatever rhythm is going and doesn’t stray from the pattern to confuse listeners. Although a hardcore album, there is no random shouting in between guitar and drum notes, which is something hardcore bands seem to enjoy doing.
All together not a bad album; there is definitely room for improvement but it all depends on what your into. If you like the traditional tough guy hardcore displayed by bands such as Kingdom of Sorrow and Hatebreed, than you’ll enjoy “No Honor in Exile,” if your less into breakdowns and more into quick melodies, you may still like this, however it’s not the selling point of this album. I give it a solid 4/5, the audio quality is amazing, and the guitar parts are technical and fun to listen to, my only complaint being the amount of breakdowns.

Taproot "Plead The Fifth"

2010-05-24T14:53:00.000-07:00

I can honestly say that it’s been a while since a hard rock record that I’ve liked has been presented to me. With their seventh studio album and the Victory Records debut, Taproot has done a wonderful job of mixing Linkin Park style rap-rock with the angst and emotion of Nirvana. “Plead the Fifth” is the first album that I’ve ever heard of Taproot and since listening to it through; I’ve been hooked ever since. With choruses that are catchy an memorable and verses that take a little more thought, Taproot has found a winning sound for the latest releases.
The opening song on the album, “Now Rise” does exactly what I think an opening song should do: describe the album. With “Now Rise” the band communicates exactly what listeners are going to get out of the album; melody, hard hitting riffs, experimental riffs and even some rap-rock needled within the tracks. Throughout the record, there are multiple radio friendly songs with complex verses and easily, memorable choruses that will let listeners sing along to every word.
For people who miss Linkin Park and Nirvana and for those who like the current sounds of Nickelback and Shinedown, “Plead the Fifth” has a sound for everyone. To those who rock with the hard symbol crash and those who prefer the slower, sadder songs, Taproot covers to almost every one’s musical taste while keeping their sense of originality. While some of the riffs take a while to grow on you, believe me, they will grow on you and before you know it, you’ll be listening to this band like it’s your job. I give it a solid 4/5, just because it does take a while to grow on you. They definitely took a risk with some of the songs they put on the album, but the risk was worth it. For any and all hard rock fans, this is an album that should be in your collection.

Interview with Metalhit.com

2010-05-09T12:02:00.000-07:00

I was recently shown a website that not only acted as a store but as a record label itself. With curiosity getting the best of me, I e-mailed the owner Mike Riddick to ask more about what he did for bands and about the music industry itself.

How did Metalhit.com get started?

Metalhit.com was born from an idea inspired by my wife, Beth, while I was operating my other, traditional (CD/Vinyl) label, The Fossil Dungeon. The Fossil Dungeon specializes in gothic/ethereal music. We’ve published many wonderful artists over the years but my affinity for music began with origins in metal. Metalhit allows me to reconnect with the extreme metal I grew up on and it also allows me to provide a service where I saw a need in the underground metal community.

What do you look for in artist, any particular sub-genres that you are more open to than others?

I look for artists that are serious about what they’re doing and want to take things to the next level. I work with both new talent, emerging and established bands. I also look for artists that carry some degree of originality or are simply good at what they do. As for sub-genres, I’d say most of my affinity rests with black, thrash and death metal…particularly with early 90’s influences. Though I’m open to work with all categories of metal and have the resources to support it.

What kinds of services do you provide other than selling digital music?

In addition to the Mp3 store we operate, we also manage the digital music catalogs of about 80 different metal labels. We deliver their digital content to more than 200 digital music vendors and ringtone outlets worldwide. We have recently launched our Music Services. Our Music Services provide the support and infrastructure of a traditional label but do not confine bands to the contracts typically offered by labels. The service is for bands who want to do things independently but also don’t have the resources one would need to launch a successful album. We have those resources, so we can offer this to bands. The end result is that the bands can make more money doing things themselves, through our services, than they could either doing it completely by themselves or through a label. Our services include everything from manufacturing, inventory management, and merchandising to worldwide physical and digital distribution and promotion.

Why do you think there aren’t more exclusively digital record labels around and what makes Metalhit.com the ideal label?

I don’t think there are many completely digital labels around simply because the revenues from digital sales aren’t strong enough to support most label operations. I believe a lot of metalheads also still prefer physical products and it will take some time for the value of a digital release to sit well with consumers as a viable product. We will be expanding our portfolio of releases to include physical products to meet this demand but we believe, in the long-term, everything will be digital and we will be in a good position to operate this way exclusively. What makes us an ideal label is that we aren’t really a label. We’re more of a distribution and promotional resource which are really the only two assets that make a traditional label valuable. As bands begin to realize that doing things independently is better than signing away their rights and music to labels, they will see what we offer is a better solution, and a more fiscally sound approach. We believe labels aren’t really needed quite as much as their resources are. So we opted to become the resource without all of the overhead and expense that most labels have to deal with. It allows us to provide a better option for bands overall.

Who was the first band you signed and how did you find them?

The first band we brought onto the Metalhit roster was HOD from Texas. I knew Carl, the guitarist, when he played in THORNSPAWN, as they took me under their wing when I lived in Texas for a brief while. Carl told me about his new band, and I thought I could help push their new band by making their demo an exclusively digital production while also helping to market their work. Sometime thereafter they signed to Ibex Moon Records, the label operated by John of INCANTATION. It was a great reward to work with HOD and observe their growth and signing with John’s label. I’m still able to work with, and support HOD indirectly, as I manage the digital catalog of Ibex Moon Records in the European digital market.

How would you say the internet and social networking such as Myspace and Facebook has done to the music industry?

It has undoubtedly had an affect. MySpace now provides the majority of artist websites online and has become the common conduit for bands and fans to interact. Facebook has accomplished the same, though has less of a musical slant. Collectively, both have leveled the playing field as far as music accessibility. Major and underground bands alike are now using the same platforms to reach fans and this has both propped up independent music as well as brought major label and band activity to a new level that forces it to compete in a more unique way.

As the owner of a record label, what would you say about the current state of Metal? Such as the crossing of genres where metal bands place techno music over blast beats or Vo-coders going over high pitched singing etc.

I think it’s great that bands continue to experiment. Sometimes it sticks, other times it fails. Either way, it’s always important to keep things fresh so the genre can grow. However, there’s also something to be said about traditional forms of metal. Sometimes a style is timeless or can last decades. Both are beneficial for a strong appeal.

What do you think will be the next “Craze” in metal? Example’s being deathcore became popular over the years and is slowly winding down.

I really don’t know. It seems thrash has been picking up lately but I don’t have any foresight on future trends. I mainly stick to the stuff I like and haven’t gotten into any of the recent trends.

Which bands do you think will be the next major leader in Metal?

That’s difficult to say as well. It really depends on who has the most talent, creativity and the proper marketing force behind them.

What’s next for the label, any new bands being signed any kind of expansion?

We hope to announce working with some new bands as we begin promoting our Music Services. This is a big expansion for us because we’ll be increasing our promotional power as well as adding physical distribution services to our portfolio. For the most part we’ve acted only a digital distributor, digital store and digital label. Time will tell what’s next. Thanks, Dan, for the opportunity to participate with Into the Pit!!! All my best to you…

www.metalhit.com

After Chidori

2010-04-24T11:00:00.000-07:00

Creating a whole new sub-genre of metalcore isn’t easy, however Long Island’s After Chidori have managed to take metal-core to a whole new level by mixing elements of traditional hardcore with death metal vocals and ending in melody. How many bands can say that their front person is a woman that can scream better than most guys in the music industry and at the drop of a hat put on clean almost angelic vocals to end their songs with. Driven forward by the guitar work of Nick Diaz and James Marshall, After Chidori gives the best of metal as well as soft melodies that are the calm after the storm. A strong rhythm section provided by Greg Bustamante (Bass) and Justin Demurias (Drums) keeps the music tight and heavy. The songs are well written and would push the limits of any musician trying to cover After Chidori. Heavy riffs and tight melodies seem to be the key to the success of After Chidori and it will ultimately be the reason that they become a house hold name in metal in the near future. This is truly a band that has done what they needed to get the attention of record labels. In fact if they aren’t signed by the end of 2010 I will have lost all faith in the music industry.

A band that is marketable as well as talented is a rare thing in today’s sea of music. After Chidori fills both of these shoes and will continue to wear them until the end of their career which we can only hope lasts longer than the ocean of poor quality bands that are out there.

Mendozza, Cabre Noche Review

2010-04-03T12:37:00.001-07:00

When looking back at bands such as Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, many wonder what happened to the days of heavy rock’n’roll. Saving this kind of music and bring it into today would be Vancouver Island’s Sludge/old school rock band, Mendozza. Their latest full length, Cabre Noche will remind listeners Black Sabbath and why they are considered the founders of metal. Cabre Noche takes listeners on a trip back to the 70’s where everyone was stoned, liked their music slow and evil and a band was considered a good band depending on how long they can drag a song out. Mendozza accomplishes all of these task with Cabre Noche with the shortest song (Witch Hunt) being three minutes long and longest (Injustice for All) playing up to seven minutes and 41 seconds long.

The CD gives a great name to the sludge genre and adds yet another band to add to my playlist of slower chilled out, yet heavy as all hell music. Cabre Noche will be for those who enjoy bands such as High on Fire, with a mixture of both The Melvins and Black Sabbath. With straight forward southern guitar riffs, crunching bass lines and hard hitting drums, Cabre Noche is a slow bulldozer, rolling over everything in its way and crunching forward one step at a time. Over all a great CD that should be in the collection of any sludge metal fan.

To find more from Mendozza, go to www.myspace.com/mendozza

Stay Brutal
Dan

Bastions, Kingdom of Dogs EP review

2010-03-26T09:24:00.000-07:00

Bastions

The UK is known for pumping out a new hardcore band every other week, but few manage to get the attention of small record labels in Pittsburgh PA and a small town college reviewer. However of these many hardcore bands that can be found in pubs all over the UK, Bastions managed to stick out with their latest EP Kingdom of Dogs.

Kingdom of Dogs will kick your ass, there is no polite way to put it, there is no avoiding it, just accept it and enjoy. I say it so bluntly because that is the best way to describe how fast and mind boggling this EP is. It starts off with the song, Crooked Hands, which does not hesitate to punch a hole in your face with a fast riff, loud vocals and a quick yet steady thrash beat. The band isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel, just make it move a little faster and able to run over things without the risk of breaking down.

Kingdom of Dogs sounds like the members of Every Time I Die, Impending Doom and Cancer Bats, got together to make an album of fast punk, slower hardcore without generic breakdowns or two-step riffs and the eerie minor notes being played over a break down (listen to Matriarch to hear these eerie undertones). The EP not only makes you go crazy but scares the hell out of you if you happen to pick –up on the eeriness of it all.

The album demonstrates that a hardcore band can be more than breakdowns and actually show some musicianship with interesting timings and riffs that aren’t typically heard in modern hardcore. For an EP, this is probably one of the best releases that I’ve heard this year and look forward to hearing even more of Bastions in the future.

Thoughts on the Current State of Metal

2010-03-17T08:20:00.001-07:00

The other day I was thinking about all the sub-genres of Metal and wondered which one will be the next to take the nation by storm. Death-core has lost it's mass effect (though still popular) it isn't as talked about as it was when JFAC came out with their Debut EP, Doom.
I worry about the way which music is going. There is always the possibility that bands like The Black Dahlia Murder and Obscura will be copied. But at the same time, the younger generation of metal heads seem to be listening to bands Such as Attack Attack and Asking Alexandria where the music consists of nothing more than repetitive breakdowns and a weird techno track being played over it.
As I write this, I know why I made this blog in the first place, to alert the people of new metal that displays talent and won't be forgotten in two years. I wonder which band is going to be the Cannibal Corpse (even though personally I don't like them, I have to respect them for staying popular in the industry for over 20 years). I have a few different bands in mind of who I'd like to see tour around the world (Embedded Within, Beyond Dishonor etc...).
Any way I have a few bands that will on here in the next couple of weeks. Starting with Bastions, Slaughter of Elysium and Bring me the Doom.
Stay brutal
Dan

Sacred Serentiy "Enemy In the Clouds"

2010-03-16T05:51:00.000-07:00

For some reason, Pennsylvania has a hard time producing a solid metal-core band with potential for more success than just being praised in the local scene. Nate Parker and Pat Scanlon are the brain children behind the new metal act, Sacred Serenity, coming out of Perkasie, Pennsylvania. The band’s seven song debut EP Enemy in the Clouds was recorded and mixed in completely do it yourself fashion. Enemy in the Clouds was recorded in Perkasie at Cancer Studios which vocalist, Pat Scanlon, describes as “an old friends studio that was literally in a barn”, then together Pat and Nate mixed the EP to create a much more solid sound. The combination of free recording and mixing adds up to a surprisingly well put together record, that should be on any metal heads playlist.
Enemy in the Clouds combines hard hitting breakdowns with soft well written melodies to create a sound unique to the underground scene. Nate Parker’s guitar work is exactly what every metal guitarist should be, fast, precise and technical. Fans of lots of melody and what is obviously quick finger work will love this EP. The bass can be a little harder to hear (which is probably due to the lower quality of the final mixes) but when heard, it matches the guitar note for note.
Pat Scanlon’s vocals are both intimidating and jaw dropping. The vocals on the EP range from high to low and have listeners feel the evil of his voice flow through their veins. Lyrically it is one of the most dominating and forceful EPs that can be heard today. For instance, in the song Death in Solitude, the second verse begins with the line “Fuck your infectious ways” making whoever is on the receiving end of that line, aware that they are scum.
My only complaint with the EP is the drumming, although not completely off, it is by no means as tight as the other elements of the EP. This could be because it was recorded by a substitute drummer or something in the mixing process didn’t fall through as it should have. Regardless this is still one of the best metal-core EPs that anyone will find in the scene today.
Enemy in the Clouds will attract all audiences and pulls influences from Whitechapel to All That Remains. It has the heavy breakdowns the hardcore scene, the quick melodies of any melodic death metal band today and even the soft sung choruses of popular metal-core acts such as As I Lay Dying and Trivium.
Sacred Serenity will be entering Lonely RD Recordings in Perkasie at the end of March to record a newer EP which will be titled Divulgence. The band will be playing shows during the summer to promote both EPs and I’ll be very surprised if it doesn’t turn heads. Enemy in the Clouds can be heard in its entirety on the bands myspace,www.myspace.com/sacredserenitypa, where listeners can find a link to download the entire EP.

Eryn Non Dae, Hydria Lernaia

2010-03-04T08:18:00.000-08:00

Starting in 2001, French death metal outfit, END. , has been annihilating the European death metal scene leaving no survivors as they showcase their brutality. After going through singer changes in 2004 the band recorded their Debut EP “Never ending Whirl of Confusion” which earned a lot of airtime on France’s premiere metal station LE MOUV. In 2006 the band hit the road and shared the stage with bands such as Gojira, High on Fire and Black Bomb A. Before going into the studio to record their first full length album, they played Hell Fest with Slayer, Neurosis and Machine head. Their Debut Album Hydra Lernaia was put out on Metal Blade Records in the summer of 2009.
The band’s debut full length consists of ambience, death-metal, thrash metal and hardcore all in one. The opening track, “When Time Elapses” provides a general summary of what you’re going to hear in the rest of the album. It opens with what almost sounds like an angelic choir and two seconds later, listeners are taken out of serenity and thrown into a fast thrash driven riff. The song continues into more thrash and death metal and even a little bit of a grind-core is thrown in. Listeners are taken back into the comfort of a melodic, down tempo riff that could best be described as the calm after the storm.
The album demonstrates the musician ship of each member, not one member outshines the other, leaving audiences to be amazed at what they’re hearing. Hydra Lernaia touches all forms of metal and does it so well that it’s almost hard to notice a genre change within the song.
Hydra Lernaia is probably one of the heaviest albums to come out in a very long time. With the scene being taken over by power chord driven screamo, END. , puts more than half of the music industry to shame with the musicianship and heaviness of Hydra Lernaia
There is nothing on the market right now that anyone can compare this band to. They mix a unique blend of hardcore, ambient and death and thrash metal to create a new wave of progressive metal. END. is currently in the pre-production stages of a new full length that will be put out on Metal Blade Records.
The top two songs on the album in my opinion are Blistering Hate and the final track, Pure. Blistering Hate has a much more hardcore feeling to it, with dissonant chords being played after heavy chugs; it will leave listeners with a bang over from listening to it.
The final track on the CD Pure has a much more doom/stoner metal feeling to it that leaves listeners wanting more after listening. It is the perfect cliff hanger and the perfect lead in to the next storm of brutality that, I, personally cannot wait to hear.
END. plays fast, hits hard and leaves absolutely no head staying still. This band will definitely be headed for bigger things than they already have done and have a bright future ahead of them.
END. is currently playing shows throughout France and working on the pre-production stages of their next album. For those interested in END. , their debut full length Hydra Lernaia can be found on itunes and various other online outlets.

How to find this Band
www.myspace.com/END.1freefr

Stay Brutal
Dan

Head Bang For Haiti

2010-02-21T08:42:00.000-08:00

So I've had a couple of bands tell me via myspace/facebook that they would be interested in playing the show. After the encouragement I'm deciding that I am going to try to book it. It will probably take place over the summer just because that will be when everyone is most available and when the most people can come out. I am still looking for two more bands ( I want to try to persuade ancestor to headline). So really I'm looking for one more band with the assumption that ancestor will hop on. I'm going to look into some places to where it could be held and I have a few in mind. I should also mention that I myself suck at making any sort of flyer and when all of the bands are on. Right now just about hearing bands that would want to play the current line up is Embedded Within, Slaughter of Elysium and Within the Black. If the members of any of these bands read this and do not want to be associated with the show just kindly tell me and I'll take the name off. I just heard from either some one in your band or someone close to your band that you guys would play.
Like I said summer, Brutality, Charity...It's gonna be sweet.
Stay Brutal
Dan

What Do Fall Out Boy, Anthrax and Every Time I Die have in common?

2010-02-05T19:48:00.001-08:00

The Damned Things is what. After what is expected to be an indefinite hiatus from Fall Out Boy, drummer Andy Hurley and Lead Guitarist Joe Trohman will be teaming up with Scott Ian and Rob Caggiano (guitars) as well as Keith Buckley (vocals) and bass player David Karon of Every Time I Die. according to sources the band was created in October of 2008 but kept secret for the past two year and a half.

The Band appprantly has 15 songs and will be going into a studio sometime in the near future to record a sound that I don't even know if I'm ready for.

I'm intrested to see what this band will bring to the stage. I have heard that Andy Hurley and Joe Trohman are metal heads and have played in some hardcore bands before settling into pop-punk. As far as the rest of the line up goes, Keith Buckley does have the thrash/hardcore voice that the two seasoned guitarist of Anthrax are use to playing behind.

For more on this band you can read rolling stone (this is where I got the bulk of what you're reading)
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2009/11/25/fall-out-boy-anthrax-members-unite-in-the-damned-things/

If you want you can look at the bands bleak and non informative myspace for absolutly no information
http://www.myspace.com/thedamnedthings

Thats all for now, as more information comes up I'll be sure to post it.
note the new art above which was done very well by Richie Pickwell of Embedded Within (www.myspace.com/embeddedwithinew)

Stay Brutal

From The Ashes

2010-01-30T21:54:00.000-08:00

From The Ashes Review

Born out of the rubble of many different bands Syracuse, New York, From The Ashes have built and rebuilt their sound from an almost strictly metalcore band to a much more mature sound that will have listeners creating circle pits in the privacy of their own homes. Starting from a series of metal jam bands, From The Ashes solidified their lineup after their debut tour in 2009. Since then they put out a six song EP titled “Perdition” and have another four song EP coming out in February which will be titled “In A Dead World”. The band’s latest project has attracted the attention of some major label bands such as Chimera. The band recorded this EP with guitarist Mike Hatalak of it dies today who has been showing it off to major labels. The band plans on changing their name as well as other things although we’ll have to wait until the end of January/beginning of February to see these changes. All I can say is that they will be for the better and add a much more professional air to the band.

“In a Dead World” shows a lot of growth in the band when comparing it to their first EP “Perdition” which sounds more like something that As I lay dying made with its clean vocal choruses. "In A Dead World"displays a much more aggressive sound than the bands debut effort. Starting off “In a Dead World” is the cleverly titled track “intro” which leads off the EP with hard hitting double bass (compliments to drummer Kory) and samples the two guitarists (Scott and Greg) working well together on a slower paced two part guitar harmony. The only problem with the song is that it is not long enough and will have listeners begging From The Ashes to create a full song out of this short yet catchy intro.

After the slower introduction to the EP comes the hard hitting thrash influenced song “Chasing Ghost” where bass, guitar, drums and vocals all come together to create a sound reminiscent of Unearth and As I Lay Dying. Vocalist Anthony combines lows and highs to make sure the faster parts of the song are emphasized and keeps a mid-range tone so that every word in the breakdowns are heard. The song goes back and forth between fast and slow, thrash and breakdown to satisfy ears to all genres.

Next up is the song “Means and Ends”, the first ten seconds of the song will remind As I lay Dying fans of a more palm muted version of the song “Within Destruction” off of their 2007 release “An Ocean Between Us”. The rest of the song plays to a faster two step riff that will please fans that enjoy an older style of hardcore. The song ends in a breakdown in the style of Hatebreed in which the words “You will be judged!” is screamed repeatedly pushing fear in the hearts of listeners and having them beg for more.

As all great things start, they must also come to an end. Fortunately From The Ashes put forth their best effort for the last song of the EP. “We Will not Surrender” begins with a complicated drum fill which leads into a guitar intro which goes a melodic two step riff. Epic, is the best word to describe this song. The listener will feel the energy of a general refusing to lose through bass, drums, and guitars alone. “We Will Not Surrender” shows that this band will not give up and continue to play with their hearts until they stop beating.

From The Ashes will release “In a Dead World” at their show with Reign Supreme, Mother Of Mercy, Unearth and many more at the tenth anniversary of Syracuse shows, in Syracuse, New York. The band has tickets that they are selling for 13 dollars if you message their myspace (listed below).

In an online interview with their drummer Kory, it was confessed that the band will be making some big changes including a new name which should be exposed within the next month. From The Ashes signed a distribution deal and the EP will eventually be available on Itunes, Amazon, Napster and Shockhound shortly.

From The Ashes put a breath of fresh air into a genre quickly being taken over by guitarist who can only play breakdowns and power chords and drummers who have only a double bass pedal and a china cymbal. Luckily for those of us who enjoy metalcore, we will have a band whose CD shows creativity and hard effort.

You can find this band at…
http://www.twitter.com/fromtheashes315
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#/pages/From-The-Ashes/126039263782
www.purevolume.com/fromtheashes315
http://www.youtube.com/user/FromTheAshesTV

Best two songs on the EP
We Will Not Surrender
Chasing Ghost

Stay Brutal
Dan

Spare Not The Villagers

2010-01-21T10:29:00.000-08:00

In a scene where few bands rise out of the pit and onto the stage, Spare Not the Villagers not only rises onto the stage but break it down with their brutality. Forming in 2009, Spare Not the Villagers came together through mutual friends and a classified ad on MySpace. Since then the band hit the ground running releasing a three song EP in August of 2009 titled “Our Perception Has Left You Disfigured” which showcases the bands unique style of deathcore mixed with trash and semi-progressive death metal. As with all deathcore bands you can expect to hear breakdowns but these break downs are not the typical two chugged open notes on the lower guitar strings Guitarist Warren Welch and drummer Clark Mitchell set the complex time signatures and unique beats to create so much more than the typical breakdown hardcore. Bassist Matthew Wiatrowski doesn’t miss a single note and uses his rough distorted bass tone to help the band avoid one more member but still keeping the rhythm section sounding as full as it would with two guitarists. The vocals range from lows to high to even talking in between that sounds like your listening to someone who is about to stick a knife in your heart.

Spare not the Villagers are set to release a six song EP later this month off of BRKEN MIRRR Records that will leave listeners wanting for more. Guitarist Warren Welch stated that the band “had enough songs for a full length, but decided we'd rather drop some of the weaker songs and put out a really solid EP instead of a spacey full length” so you know that this band only puts in the best of what they have. The EP starts off with an epic build up song titled “Tu Amor Es Muerte” (Your Death is my Love). The song builds up into one of the most epic battle breakdowns that have ever been recorded. The opening song best represents the EP although the songs vary in speed and technicality. The third song “Jesus Died in Vain” shows off how even speaking during a song can be one of the most brutal and scariest kinds of vocals that anyone will ever hear. This is by far one of the best independent label debuts of 2010 and is worth every cent paid. A little bit more hardcore than the big names in deathcore such as Whitechapel and Despised Icon, but Spare not the Villagers will have fans of both the death/thrash metal and the hardcore genres.

The top two songs on the EP in my opinion are “Tu Amor Es Muerte” and the title track “Present this at your wake”. Both songs build the listener up wanting to tear their hair out with anticipation. Both songs in my opinion show the true colors of this band which is a heavy slow deathcore band prepared to literally rip your heart out.

This is the first major release from Spare Not the Villagers and it most certainly will not be there last. Spare not the Villagers can be compared to the technical death metal riffs of Whitechapel and Darkest hour with the breakdowns of other deathcore veterans such as Oceano and Martyr AD. The band is a perfect example of the 21^st century of new wave deathcore. After being a band for only one year the band signed to newly founded Pittsburgh record label BRKEN MIRRR Records and plans on touring the east cost for a week this April. Already opening at the Thrash and Burn Festival over the summer, the band has raised heads opening for some big names that are not limited to but include Veil of Maya, Oceano, Despised Icon and Devil Driver. This band is going places without a doubt; it is all just a matter of time before they are headlining national tours. “Present This at Your Wake” is only a small taste of what the band has to offer; unfortunately we’ll have to wait for a full length to experience the full effect of their brutality. Even with the wait “Present this at your wake” will be sure to fly off shelves and have MP3 venues for music begging the band for more to sell.

You’ll like this band if you listen to…
Suicide Silence, Oceano, Martyr AD, Darkest Hour, Inflames, Whitechapel and A Different Breed of Killer.

Best Two Songs on the EP…
“Present This at your Wake” and “Tu Amor es Muerte”

You can find this band at…
www.myspace.com/sparenotthevillagers
www.myspace.com/brkenmirrrrecords

www.sparenotthevillagers.com

I truly had a wonderful time interviewing, listening and writing for this band and they are one of the few straight deathcore bands that rise above the others and will make a name for them in the near future. Make sure you listen to them and go to a show when they come within 20 miles of you.

Stay Brutal
Dan

Mayhem couldn't live up

2010-01-20T09:56:00.001-08:00

The Lineup to this years Rockstar energy drink mayhem festival is by far one of the biggest let downs of the year. Although the line up includes some big names in metal, it is not enough to come close to even top last years hot topic stage. The lineup goes as follows and the bands that are worth seeing will be put in bold.

MAIN STAGE
KORN (headlining)
Rob Zombie
Lamb of God
Five Finger Death Punch

MAYHEM FESTIVAL STAGE (No longer the hot topic stage)

Atreyu

Norma Jean
In this moment

3 inches of blood

JAGERMEISTER STAGE
Hatebreed
Chimara
Shadows Fall
Winds of Plague

Over all I'm disappointed but hell I've never been to Summer Slaughter, and they never disappoint, So Summer Slaughter 2010 here I come.

For more information on Mayhem festival visit www.mayhemfest.com

Stay brutal
Dan

Mayhem 2010

2010-01-17T23:34:00.000-08:00

Two days until we learn the fate of The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem festival lineup for the summer of 2010. Many don't think that last years lineup (with the exception of Marylin Manson) can be improved upon. I agree with them, by opening with a band like Whitechapel and adding death metal legends Cannibal Corpse to the stage, they almost set the limit to high to exceed. There are a lot of newer bands getting signed this year though none of them are big enough to garner the attention of the public. As far as I know the rumors that Korn and Rob Zombie will serve as the headlining acts is pretty much true. The rest of the bands are still up in the air. These are the results I'm hoping for without repeating any bands from last year.

Lazerus AD
Unearth
Lamb of God
The Absence
Trigger The Bloodshed
Veil of Maya
Born of Osiris

Thats really all I have for the moment, I guess we'll just have to wait two more days to find out. E-mail me if you want to discuss it, tell people about the site, lets talk about metal and maybe find some awesome bands in the meantime.
Remember Stay Brutal
Dan

T.A.N.K

2010-01-17T21:20:00.000-08:00

The arts, cheese and fine wine are the immediate thoughts when thinking of France, who knew that the country produced some of the most well written metal to come out in modern times. Few bands these days can be called just pure metal. Well French metal outfit Think of A New Kind (T.A.N.K for short) fit that description along with legends in the making such as Lamb of God and Pantera. T.A.N.K cannot be described by how fast their blast beats are or how slow or how many breakdowns they have in their songs. They are the definition of what it is to just be metal.

Forming in 2007 by guitar players Edd and Symheris after having a popular internet presence on the internet by playing Pachelbel’s “Canon in D”, Symheris and Edd went on to find vocalist Raf and bassist Oli D to form Think Of a New Kind. After two drummers the band found drummer of one way Mirror Clem to complete the lineup. T.A.N.K has been getting new fans ever since and playing shows throughout Europe. People who like Inflames and As I lay Dying thrown in with a little bit lamb of God and Pantera will love this band.

Although unsigned the band has played Metal Camp 2009 in Slovenia with international acts such as Nightwish, Hatebreed and Napalm Death. If you’re still not impressed T.A.N.K played the Wacken Open Air festival in 2009 just before Volbeat and Machine head. Not to mention the band is now sponsored by Schecter guitars. Although the band is still seeking a label, they will be hard to ignore with the release of their debut album in March of 2010 which will have thirteen songs one featuring the lead vocalist of current drummer Clem’s other band One Way Mirror, Guillaume Bideau. The album will be called “The Burden of Will” and will be a refreshing sound of technical listener friendly metal that will surely have heads banging all across the globe. The guitarists Edd and Symheris create melodic riffs that one can appreciate the complexity of it all while not having an aneurism from too many sweeps. The new drummer Clem seems to fit in rather well. He moves away from the stereotypical continuous blast beat throughout entire songs and experiments with unique fills that can be compared to those of Chris Adler of Lamb of God. Bassist Oli D creates a rough slightly distorted bass tone to back up the guitars on the tracks. Raf can scream in all sorts of ranges from low to high and in between, he even sings parts when it seems necessary. Overall T.A.N.K are following in the footsteps of French metal outfit Gojira and should be playing outside of France to the rest of Europe and the United States in only a matter of time.

Sounds Like
As I lay Dying
Lamb of God
Pantera
Inflames

Next Show
T.A.N.K + In Trails + Black Horizon @ Centre Culturel Dourdan (91)- Dourdan, Ile-de-France

Top Song
Destination

Website
www.myspace.com/tgmetal

Stay Brutal
-Dan

Some Bands that the whole world should look out for.

2010-01-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

Embedded Within
Started as a mixture between two different bands (remorseless slaughter and Maelstrom) Mat Cook, James Clark, Mike Berardi and Richie Pickwell combined their love of death metal and death core to create a sound that many of today's bands can only dream of having. After a year of playing, former remorseless slaughter/beneath the wreckage guitarist Tim Carey relieved Cook of his guitar Duties so that Mat could take over full time on vocals allowing him to truly incinerate the ears of listeners. Tim Carey adds a thrash influence to the band as well as a machine gun hand that strengthens the rhythm section. James Clark brings a mix of funk style playing death metal. After years of playing a mix between Incubus, Lamb of God, The Red Hot Chili Peppers and Iron Maiden he plays with the best of them and makes sure all songs have a smooth bass line that listeners can pick up on. Richie Pickwell, uses his knowledge of music theory and love for technical death metal to write the fastest and hard driven songs. Drummer Mike Berardi mixes his love for thrash, hardcore punk and death metal to play the blast beats when necessary. Mat Cook gets inside of the music to find the words brutal enough to scream over the fierce guitars.

This band is going places, after only a year of playing together Embedded Within (EW) has played numerous shows and signed to newly formed independet label BRKENMIRRR (Broken Mirror) records based out of Pittsburgh.

Embedded Within has recently released a five song EP titled "Breeding and Screaming" which can be heard on their myspace and bought at any shows you may see them at. Expect big things from this band, "Breeding and Screaming" was only the beginning, wait and see what they can come up with next.

Top 2 songs on the EP
Umbilical Noose
Subsurfaced

Upcoming EW shows
-Bordz Skate Park, South Hampton PA with Alustrium, The Sky is Falling and Ecesis. $8.00 to get in.

You can find this band at www.myspace.com/embeddedwithinew
You can also check out BRKENMIRRR Records at www.myspace.com/brkenmirrrrecords

Stay Brutal
-Dan

Introduction to the pit

2010-01-13T16:29:00.000-08:00

In a world filled with screamo bands, true metal often goes unrecognized and bands that deserve the money and respect are pushed to the side. I am here to try to change that. I'm Dan and I write about music, chances are if your band has a myspace, I'll listen to it and review it, if I like it I'll ask you for an interview. I just want the good bands to have some light shine down on them. If you're reading and you can think of any good bands tell me about it. My email is intothepit1212@gmx.com. Remember Stay Brutal.