SHORT LIST
REPRESSES
Holy Terror Total
Terror Box Set Dissonance Productions
Holy Terror Terror and
Submission Back On Black BOBV512LP
Out Now
Holy Terror was a Los Angeles band that savagely represented
thrash. Their two first albums are legendary. Submission (1987) and Mind
Wars (1988) are heralded in the cannon of US thrash, although mostly to the
passionate fans that dare to dig beyond the common names. But, that hunt just
became easier. Dissonance Productions presents Total Terror which will be available to North American headbangers
on February 9th, 2018. Holy Terror’s entire catalog is on 5 CDs. Terror And Submission (1987), Mind Wars (1988), El Revengo (2006), live album Live
Terror-Live In Dendermonde, plus a rare DVD featuring multiple live shows
and videos. MetalReview.com called the band, "faster than Slayer, heavier
than Exodus, and more melodic than Megadeth." Terror Submission comes on vinyl in white and red splatter.
The Ocean Precambrian
Pelagic Records
Late Feb 2018
Late Feb 2018
The Ocean's Precambrian
was released in November 2007. An impressive post-metal trek, a la Neurosis,
Converge, Gojira, and ISIS, The Ocean presented a challenging album packed with
tense riffs, looming heaviness and angular guitars played concise and sharp.
The schizophrenic dynamics of this milestone mock any attempt at classification
beyond ‘metal’. Strapped with vocal conviction over chunky bass lines, Precambrian relies on intellect as much
as grit. Seven albums deep, tours with peers like Mastodon, BTBAM, Opeth, and
Kylesa show The Ocrean’s growth and impact. The Ocean refer to themselves as a
“collective” leaning on a constant rotation of contributors and artists.
Precambrian
cherishes the metal tech wizardry as much as raw emotion and delivery of
hardcore. Precambrian itself embodies
variety with guest appearances by Caleb Scofield (Cave In, Old Man Gloom), Nate
Newton (Converge), Tomas Hallbom (Breach), Eric Kalsbeek (ex-Textures), and
musicians from the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. This tenth anniversary
edition of Precambrian (released on
March 16th, 2018) relishes in a re-recording of ten-minute "Rhyacian";
played by the current lineup of guitarist Robin Staps, vocalist Loic Rossetti,
drummer Paul Seidel and bassist Mattias Hägerstrand.
To celebrate, The Ocean will play the entire Precambrian with a headlining set at
Doom Over Leipzig Festival on April 21st, 2018.
Each of the three packages is limited to 250
LP1: ultraclear
w/black and orange smoke; LP2: beer
w/ dark red smoke; LP3: transparent
orange w/ black and dark red smoke.
LP1: silver and
clear, A-Side / B-Side w/ black splatter; LP2:
brass & beer, A-Side / B-Side w/ black and red splatter; LP3: gold and clear orange, A-Side /
B-Side w/ black & red splatter
LP1: beer in
ultraclear; LP2: transparent orange
in ultraclear; LP3: transparent red
in ultraclear
Unearth The Oncoming
Storm Metal Blade
Jan 26, 2018
Jan 26, 2018
Metal Blade Records will re-issue The Oncoming Storm. This was the album that propelled Unearth into
the forefront of the resurgence of American metal. As the band’s (and the
scene’s) writing was growing beyond the formulaic (but still loved!) metalcore.
This went beyond beatdown riffs to start a pit in a local venue. Metal was
shedding its dirty word status and embracing the dynamic song structures,
melodies, solos, and musicianship of the records the hardcore kids had back
home. Massachusetts sure spat a few out of note. Unearth have always kept it
humble and honest. On The Oncoming Storm
fans can revisit the classic sound that saw them transition into the revered
beast of later days.
VINYL: 180g black; orange-brown marbled, 300; "flame"
splattered, 200; pumpkin orange marbled, 300; root beer marbled vinyl; 300; gold
/ black split, 700.
ALESTORM Captain
Morgan`s Revenge – 10th Anniversary Edition Napalm Records
January 26, 2018
January 26, 2018
In 2008, Alestorm secured a large fan base with their mixing
of storytelling and catchy metal. Sharp guitars and clean production and rowdy
lyrics ensured waves of attention. Here, Captain
Morgan`s Revenge is resurrected with “a fresh remix and remastering by
original producer Lasse Lammert at his LSD studios plus rejuvenated artwork.”
The Live At Summer Breeze bonus disc
is included as well. Alestorm combine meaty riffs and raging rhythms with
folktale aesthetics and symphonic metal grandiosity. Their tales are alluring
when paired with punctuated production and mesmerizing guitar leads revisit the
beginning of Alestorm!
Nebula
Let it Burn
Jan 26, 2018
400 on yellow transparent w/ multicolor splatter; also, black vinyl/ Digipak CD/ Digital
Jan 26, 2018
400 on yellow transparent w/ multicolor splatter; also, black vinyl/ Digipak CD/ Digital
To The Center
Feb 16, 2018
400 on red transparent w/ multicolor splatter; also, black vinyl/ Digipak CD/ Digital
Feb 16, 2018
400 on red transparent w/ multicolor splatter; also, black vinyl/ Digipak CD/ Digital
Dos EPs
Mar 02, 2018
400 on transparent w/ multicolor splatter; also, black vinyl/ Digipak CD/ Digital
Mar 02, 2018
400 on transparent w/ multicolor splatter; also, black vinyl/ Digipak CD/ Digital
In 1997, Nebula was spawned in Los Angeles when guitarist,
Eddie Glass, and drummer, Ruben Romano, left Fu Manchu. Arguably, their final sound
would not be much of a departure. But, in fact, audiences can hear the rise of
the musicianship above just riffs. Romano and Glass revel in a freedom and
exuberance that, whether roiling or simmering, allow each to mark their
artistic territory. Capturing the essence of psych/stoner rock, this power trio
(after recruiting bassist, Mark Abshire) encapsulate the volume and songwriting
of Alice Cooper, Black Sabbath, and Hendrix; but also cite The MC5, The Stooges
(check the cool strut of “I Need Somebody” on To the Center) and bands like TAD, Skin Yard, and Mudhoney. The
unfettered expressionism resort in variety, such as laying back for seven
minutes (“Fly On” on Dos EPs) as well
as the reserved Hammond on “Smokin Woman” (Dos
EPs). Nebula lead you through expanding your third eye (“Fields of
Psilocybin” on To the Center) or trudging
heavy riffs on “Dragon Eye” and “Devil’s Liquid” (both scorchers on Let It Burn). Nebula’s three releases
here utilize the silky leads and fuzzy bass and raucous drums of stoner rock;
plus instruments like the sitar, piano, and organ. They expand the impact of
their songs with the usual psychedelic filtered effects; soaking in flange,
delay, panning, reverb and wah-wah to lead an audience’s mental and aural
attention. Each reissue presents the full album Dos EPs being the split and on
gatefold (or 6 panel digipak on CD) plus two unreleased tracks. This is a
gorgeous way to celebrate twenty years of Nebula.
SPLITS
Windhand/Satans Satyrs split
12” Relapse Records
Feb 16, 2018
Feb 16, 2018
Richmond, VA present two of their macabre darlings. Windhand
resurface after the glorious 2015 LP, Grief’s
Infernal Flower. Clayton Burgess’ brainchild, Satan’s Satyrs, have not
released anything since 2015 either. This 12” positions its balance on Satan’s Satyrs’
raw riffs and gusto with Windhand’s musicality and challenging of paradigms.
The five tracks demand a 12” format. Windhand, always prolonging their heavy psych-doom,
open with “Old Evil” at six minutes. Afterwards, the extensive, 14 minute
(ain’t nothing new for them) “Three Sisters” is unleashed. Dorthia Cottrell’s
vocals are pushed more forward than usual, above the swirling dense tones;
drenched in emotionally draining hooks, hammered slowly. The heavy droning
riffs are coupled with a haunting organ, riding slow waves of plodding drums.
If lulled by Windhand, Satan’s Satyrs side is a jolting
slap. While still sinister and ominous, Satan’s Satyrs uses rambunctious
rhythms and raucous ‘70s riffs. This is big volume contained under four
minutes. The closer, “Ain’t That Lovin’ You, Baby”, is a stripped down rocker,
echoing the opener “Alucard AD 2018”, with its glam-inspired strut, The mid
jam, “Succubus”, is darker depending on atmosphere and a gritty tension.
VINYL: 2500 on black; 400, metallic gold; 300, baby pink
with mustard; 300, bone white and purple splatter; 100, black and metallic gold
merge with white and gold splatter.
Endorphins Lost / Osk split
7" Rotten To The Core Records/ Delusions Of Terror Records/ Agromosh
Records/ You All Die Records/ New Age Pyrate Punks Records
Feb 1, 2018
Feb 1, 2018
Seattle’s Endorphins Lost captivated fans with their
punishing grindcore just over a year ago, in November 2016. A caustic debut, Choose Your Way, on Six Weeks Records, portrayed
Endorphins Lost’s version of old school crusty powerviolence. Done with
bombastic, crisp production, this fevered punk is served again with four new
tracks on this split 7” EP. Spanning from 12 to 90 seconds, Endorphins Lost
kill tracks in the vein of Napalm Death, Spazz, Despise You, and Phobia. “Mercy
for One” is a beast and its fits of rage into a slowed down thick groove
breakdown is explosive. This is grind or powerviolence whatever to perfection.
The sound and unrelenting power is one of the best of recent years.
Canadian grind/hardcore band, OSK, add three crushing
tracks. The vocals are more abrasive. OSK fly through minute and a half long
spurts with some contagious fervor. “Let’s Play A House Show” adds a slight
groove to its crunch. All three songs are handled with a pummeling low end,
emphasized by big punches from the bass drum. Tough as nails stuff here.
Fistula Splits with
–(16)- + Come To Grief Patac Records
Out now
Out now
Fistula / Come To Grief split: Ooof. Come To Grief’s “Take
Me in My Sleep” is six minutes of bludgeoning, low-tuned, sluggish despair. Jon
Hebert’s raspy growls relay the song title’s desperation. This is not a
frantic, sweaty desperation, but one profusely embedded in hopelessness and
defeat. “Take Me in My Sleep” is a brutally miserable onslaught of loathsome
attrition; chiseling at faith in restitution. Fistula follows CTG’s pace with
their track, dragging in at six minutes as well. “There is no hope, there is no
reason why – we should go on – we should not die” are the lyrics sung by
frontman, Dan Harrington. Fistula distinguish their imprint by sectioning their
duration. At two minutes, the riff changes slightly in tone and tempo but not
pace. The growls still spew vitriol at “fakes and liars, hypocrites”. Then at
3:25, a distinct crisp groove enters the picture; with a –(16)- or even Helmet
or Fudge Tunnel (Creep Diets) type
stomp. Heavy as hell and twisted and misanthropic. Bad ass song of fetid fury.
150 copies of silver metallic cassette; 100, Clear Vinyl;
150, Transparent Red/Black Smoke Vinyl (PATAC exclusive); 250, Black Vinyl
-(16)- / Fistula split: Here –(16)- grabs a classic Killing
Joke track from their debut LP and extracts the spirits but churns the track
with its own imprint. –(16)- utilizes their sludge stamp but highlights the
melodic guitar line for contrast against the driving, fuzzy bass “Complication”
becomes darker and more sinister than its parent song. Fistula hone in on
Devo’s punk pith for their cover of “Mongoloid” and nail it. “Mongoloid” fits
Fistula’s oeuvre all too well. And they conjure the inner spite while eschewing
any pop or electronic elements. Heavy reverb bass and down tuned riffs,
strengthened by Harrington’s screams shape the ugliest beauty. “Mongoloid”
becomes a tarnished, twisted track of rocking punk.
100x Clear Vinyl; 150x Aqua Vinyl (PATAC exclusive); 250x
Black Vinyl
“Fistula will unveil
four more splits with Hemdale, Bloodsick, Fister, and one final band to be
announced at a later date. Additionally, the band will issue a vinyl version of
2016’s Longing For Infection with a
bonus etched seven-inch from the recording session.”
https://www.patacrecords.com/
Iron Reagan / Gatecreeper split LP Relapse Records
March 2 2018
March 2 2018
Stomping into 2018, Relapse Records give the world two raging
bands on one slab of wax. Iron Reagan’s scalding crossover and Gatecreeper’s
punishing death metal have impressed fans globally. Relapse Records cemented
classic status by having the two bands attend the same studio, the lauded
GodCity with Kurt Ballou producing. Both bands are hitting the road with one
off shows and fests immediately in January 2018. Relapse posted a track from
each on YouTube: Iron Reagan’s two minute “Paper Shredder” is one of their five
tracks on side A; Gatecreeper’s “War Has Begun” is one of their three which
pummels eardrums for four minutes. Unique shirts with both bands logo and the
artwork are available in black or white. Available on CD and vinyl: 100 on bone
white and blood red merge with black splatter; 300 on bone white with blood red
+ black splatter; also, black vinyl.
EPs
Flytraps Outro Records
Out Now
Out Now
The Flytraps have been a quartet of all female, with a
surfier, reverb sound. Now, with three ladies and a dude, the band is darker
and faster and more straight-up garage punk. Whatever the formula and
combination, this new 7” captures their snarling swagger with three punchy
tracks. The L.A. quartet gives us “All Talk”; “He's Been Around” - a fast-paced,
jangly lo-fi classic- and “Doin' It Right”. The Flytraps play dense garage punk
rock with slithering female vocals and attitude that flaunts meandering bass,
tight guitar licks, and rugged drums. 100 on red vinyl; rest on black.
Hell Bent Demo EP (Cassette) Self-release
Jan 12, 2018
Jan 12, 2018
Rhode Island’s Hell Bent spews three-ish minute tracks that
combine searing elements of thrash, d-beat, crossover, and hardcore – if you
need a label beyond “whoah”. Hell Bent boasts the menacing vocals of long time
screamer, Aaron Badger, of Straight To Hell, Ulcer, and Paindriver. Other
members have spent time in Dropdead and Neon Bitches. This demo was released
last year on a very limited cassette version aside from digitally. Kicking off
the New Year proper, they are repressing with a more expanded run on cassette.
Hell Bent execute furious, dark metal. Six tracks here
exhibit speed-driven riffs with catchy time changes and powerful bass. The
brash guitars and pounding drums push and push behind the experienced lungs of
Badger. “Yeast” is a blistering opener. These are hardcore thrash songs with
taut riffs and more dynamic parts in the songwriting; blazing tracks anchored
by breakdowns for the pit. “Bastard Curse of Abraham” starts with a slower,
trudging pace which gains momentum, then ebbs into the mid-tempo, building the
anticipation. After 90 seconds the final minute, spazzes forward again with tight
thrash riffs. Rest of the demo has infectious, energizing tracks that move into
dark, down-tuned thrash. See these dudes live if you get the chance. Killer
honest metal/hardcore with a voracious hunger. And the bite to match
Silver print on black cassette, deluxe edition comes with an
embroidered patch and sticker.
Pissed Regardless Feed
the Birds Creator Destructor Records *(Earsplit PR)
February 16th, 2018
February 16th, 2018
San Diego-based thrash purveyors, Pissed Regardless, are
releasing their dark, negative take on hardcore based crossover. Feed The Birds is thick and powerful.
The condemning ferocity of the vocals match the brutal music. Incensed vocals
and frenzied drum patterns switch on dimes to bring pulsating respits and
breakdowns (bordering on grind at times). Heavy riffs accompany slick chops and
relentless double bass drums bellowing disdain for a rotten world. Pissed
Regardless call to influences like 90’s Earache and 80’s NYHC to currents like SSS,
Ramming Speed, and This Is Hell. Again, heavy.
Gnaw Bone Scorched
Earth Auris Apothecary
January 15th, 2018
January 15th, 2018
Indiana’s malevolent trio create treachery and devastation
with a new four track EP. Their names and duties are recorded simply as B,
Rhythm & Voice; R, Thunder & Voice; S, Noise & Voice; the
mysterious aspect adding to the chaotic atmosphere of their blackened doom
sludge. Enmity and sadism are instruments as much as any guitar. Four to six
minutes each, tracks like “The End” (which begins the EP) revel in noise and
sonic abstraction. Thick and pounding, the EP conjures spiteful snarling and
disdainful cynicism. Limited edition vinyl is on ultra-heavy 180 gram vinyl, on
crystal clear transparent vinyl, a double-sided insert, and a heavyweight 24pt
jacket. Deluxe edition includes crushed bones pressed into the wax. *Includes
digital download
COMPILATIONS
Americas Hardcore Vol
4 Triple B Records
Ships Jan 26, 2018
Continuing its beloved series, Triple B – who had a
spectacular 2017 – deliver Volume 4.
This installment visits us with upstarts, Brother (New Bedford, MA) – Negative
Approach-style female fronted hardcore with new bassist, George Radford (She
Rides, F.I., Dropdead); Krimewatch, old school, abrasive, punky hardcore with a
mix of NYC and Japanese members and lyrics (3/4 female as well); Line Of Sight,
DC SXE revival with mosh friendly two step rhythms and ferocious guitars;
Glory, infectious Boston Youth Crew Hardcore; Pure Disgust, punishing DC
thrash; the metallic frenzy of Primal Rite (LP coming on Revelation 2018);
Free, new track after their stellar 2017 7” of eclectic influences; and big
wigs like hardcore super group NYHC style, World Be Free and Baltimore’s
titans, Trapped Under Ice.
“Each band also designed and submitted their own pages
for a 20-page, 12" x 12" insert booklet included with each record. LP
includes digital download. These will ship in January. All copies come with a
free immediate download.”
Aqua Blue, 700; Purple with White Swirl, 500; Red
White Blue Tri-Stripe, 300.
