The Trials of Nov. 24, 2017

Honorable Mention: The Adicts Show Us A Different Side In Latest 

ANOTHER record that slipped our buttery fingers! GAH! And a high profile one too! How could we neglect our favorite jokers?! That’s okay, we make mistakes or 10 but we are only human, humans that couldn’t wait for this record. The Adicts debut their latest  And It Was So! on Nov.17 under the the Nuclear Blast Records. That’s right, you’d know if you kept up with the interwebs. How was that so? Well not even Nuclear Blast could resist these jolly fellows.

The Adicts start this newest festivity with their hit “Picture The Scene,” which never gets old and show you their classic cheery selves. The super catchy “If You Want It” will give you the dancing bug while “Fucked Up World,” and “Gimme Something To Do” crank up the subtle punky angst they’re so great at!

These seasoned eccentric punkers take a different turn in the lovelorn wild child “Love Sick Baby” and “Deja Vu” because they possess a slow burning sensual 80’s Iggy Pop vibe. Keith “Monkey” Warren switches his upbeat vocals to a devious baritone who is just waiting to wow you a different way. It was a very pleasant surprise, more of this!   And It Was So! is more brazen than their previous albums which gives me more reasons to be exciting…especially because they use naughty words! Tee hee! Listen to the whole album on Spotify and get your copy here!

6 Out 6, And it was whoa!

**NOW BACK TO YOUR REGULAR PRE-GAMING!..I mean programming**

Taake Reigns With ‘Kong Vinter’

Winter is finally here! And she has brought to us Taake’s highly anticipated album Kong Vinter which was released via Dark Essence Records. Just ‘cause us ‘Mericans didn’t have the chance to see the legendary Taake this year, it doesn’t mean they were sitting around doing nothing. Aside from hitting up the rest of the world, they were hard at work producing this jewel. But does this jewel shine brightly? Buckle up, ‘cause here we go!

Taake will induce nostalgia to trves with that raw intro riff in “Sverdets Vei” which is followed by their first single “Inntrenger,” which is still exciting to hear and will make you dive head first in to the rest of this album. “Huset I Havet” will give you all the right chills and thrills not just because of the atmospheric howling and growling but because Hoest creates a barrage of instrumentals that blend in so great, they’ll blow you away.

The predominantly instrumental “Maanebrent” treads carefully allowing Hoest’s musical prowess to shine brighter than the metaphorical sunlit snow. If you are still itching for the best of all worlds, the final 10 minute track “Fra Bjoergegrend Mot Glemselen” is the cure. It has everything you see, black metal magick, snow, Hoest’s signature vocals and an amazing musical ensemble.

Taake’s latest gets in touch with a magick much stronger than Santa and Merlin’s. Kong Vinter reaches out for an ancient spirituality and it achieves this transcendence that includes the listener. Am I being too extra? You be the judge and listen to the album on Spotify and you if you decide to pledge your sword for Taake, get your copy here.

6 out of 6, Long live the ‘Kong’!

Wulfband Start A Dance Revolution With Latest

Wulfband are back to rescue you from perpetual boredom with their sophomore album Revolter released via Progress Productions. Wulfband will release die hunden and get your blood pumping with “Lass Die Hunden Los” and their hit “Full Frontal Sabotage.” Theses naughty lil rascals will make you wanna join this dance party AND liven up your dance party.

Wha? You can’t be tired already! This dancy revolution is just getting started and I guarantee you that “Kaos MF” will not only make you want to chant the awesome chorus but it will also keep you in a dance trance. BUT WAIT! There’s more! There’s another anthem in this album that is also an EBM ode called “Das Ist Musik” which is a track that will perfectly compliment your black light body paint. If you haven’t got any go ahead and buy some, I’ll wait.

While you were gone soothing your body paint needs, the Swedish duo made sure the party didn’t end just there and dropped a bomb ass track called “Kpt. Kaboom.” This Captain is far more powerful than any bombs and farts combined and will blow listeners away. “Total” is playful as hell, its bursting with a calculated rhythm while “Basta” and “Platzmachen” have off the chart energy, they can power up a whole city! AND definitely beats our hellhound Brydoh in this category of steady momentum!

Revolter is not only a party animal but it is also the life of the party, and is guaranteed to show you a great time. Like most wild childs, this light hearted album is the cool cyber goth friend you know you’re gonna have a fun and crazy night with. Wild rave stories, here I come! You can binge on this album on Spotify and snag the album here to compliment your glow sticks and cyber goth mask.

6 out of 6, DANCE PUPPETS DANCE! *Does the cabbage patch dance with glow sticks*

Anguis Dei Will Open Many Doors With Debut EP

The elusive Ur Èmdr Oervn, the mastermind of the AAAA collective (Arkha Sva, Avsolutized, Ahpdegma), debuts the EP titled Ad Portas Serpentium for his fourth project in this invasion of A’s called Anguis Dei. The four track EP slammed open that Porta via Svart Records and it’s on a campaign to convert new fans.

Anguis Dei start off with the cinematic black metal hymn “Maythorns over Uroboros” which might have some casual metalheads feel as if they are listening to a more extreme Cradle of Filth song but with thicker vocals from Oervn. This first track will lure you deeper in to this gateway where you will find the right balance between theatrics and aggression. Staying on the COF-esque role is “Angela Krudeliis Ambitiosa Nokturniis” which continues to sound like a rougher rendition of Filth, you bet we’re still lapping this EP up!

Anguis Dei adds a touch of elegance with the piano dominated instrumental piece “Origin.” This track is fit for any gothic horror story and slowly snowballs before flinging you in to “The Lionel.” Though there is no “smooth” transition per se, but the sudden and brutal commencement of this track works so well AND Oervn bellows out a high pitch battle cry Filth would be proud of. There is no in between here!

In this new project, Ur Èmdr Oervn offers a dramatic and structured new saga that not only balances his black metal roots with extreme gothic metal but is also bursting with a hunger to explore musically. Are you excited yet? The J-Ohster sure is if it wasn’t too obvi by now! You can listen to EP on Spotify and get your copy here.

6 Out of 6, HODOR!

Hatchet Job: Sept. 25- 29, 2017

Editor’s Note: That’s right, it’s back from yet again another retreat! Hatchet Job is a troubled little segment with lots of issues and who is a bit of a high maintenance attention whore. But don’t worry, HJ find its identity and has a bright future ahead of it but till then we will…type type, type  my darling!

Honorable Mention:

After Dusk Brings The Heat With Lyric Video

After Dusk will not only make your head turn with that opening riff for “Pyroclastic Flow (Honeydoom)” but it will make you feel a strange kind of groovy warmth. The visuals from these Greek  metallers will certainly open up your mind and your wallet because you’re gonna wanna get their latest album  The Character of Physical Law which is available now! Get your copy here and check out lyric video below and don’t tell me that psychedelic keyboard won’t make your knees weak!

Sept. 25

Be A Misfit at Sin City

Missed your chance to snag tickets to the big Misfits reunion show? You’re in luck! Due to the high demand, another show was added on Dec. 28 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The original Misfits will help fans pre-game for 2018 with Alkaline Trio and Fear, giving Misfits fans to catch them.

According to the poster, the LA Forum show sold out in one minute, and it might be possible that Glenn Danzig’s cats snagged MOST of the tickets, now don’t miss your chance and get yours here and tickets go on sale on Friday Sept. 29 at 10 AM… so like right now! GO GO GO!! GET THEM HERE!!!!!!

Sept. 26

Nuclear Blast Snags My Unkle’s Band

I guess my Unkle Al’s band Ministry is going somewhere after all. Jk! I always believed in my kooky Unkle Al and so did Nuclear Blast Records! According to Ministry’s Facebook page, the legendary industrial band is determined to create a “New World Order” and inked a worldwide deal with the famous label.

According to Unkle Al Jourgensen their highly anticipated album AmeriKKKant will “provide FEMA type relief for the devastation ‘Hurricane Cheeto’ has brought upon us.”

Oh Unkle Al, someone had to and while you wait for 2018 to roll by with this new album check out what we thought about Minisry’s big Comic Con show this summer here! Missed the Comic Con show? Luckily they’re hitting the road this October with Death Grips, check out the tour dates here. Don’t forget a lot of sweet bundle deals with your pre order here!

Unkle Al Jourgensen, bassist Jason Christopher and guitarist Cesar Soto waiting for us to succumb after “Just One Fix.”

Sept. 27

The ‘Kong Vinter’ Is Coming

Taake may not have been able to pillage North America this year but the black metallers have kept busy with touring other places and working on their 7^th studio album. What? You haven’t heard about their upcoming album this year? You came to the right place! Taake announced that the wait will be over on Nov.24 where their latest album Kong Vinter (King Winter) will be release via Dark Essence Records.

According to the statement, Hoest has been crafting this baby for three years and plays all the instruments in this album himself. Like you needed anymore cool points, Hoest! The album promises to retain the classic black metal sound Taake is known for but will be “unpredictable as it winds its way sinuously through a soundscape that only a mother could love.”

Our nipps are hard and we can’t wait to hear this album. Pre-order your copy here via their bandcamp and while you wait check out what we thought about Taake’s first San Diego appearance last year in this link!

Sept. 28

Noctem Release Gruesome Video For Single

If you were still hungry for more Noctem, then you’re in luck! Just a year after they released their album Haeresis, these Spanish extreme black metallers are back. Noctem is here to feed you more of their extreme brand of metal and to slap you silly with their video for “A Cruce Salus.”

The video showcases the quintet’s showmanship and will make you envy the concert goers in the video. The music video was filmed in three different rock metal festivals in Spain this past summer…why can’t we have nice things like these?! Anyway, nuff about my bitching and moaning and if you’re diggin Noctem as much as we are, you can get their albums and purchase single in their bandcamp.

Sept. 29

SINSAENUM Have Us Taste ‘Ashes’

The super group with members of Mayhem, Dragonforce, and Joey Jordison (just to name a few members in this sextet) gave us another whiff of what’s to come in their Nov.10 EP  Ashes via earMUSIC. The music video is for the title track and needless to say, it will have you at the edge of your seat!

Yours truly is a sucker for the black and white, artsy videography and after you watch this you’ll be too. And there is a high probability this killer song will peak your interest of the rest of the goods coming our way. If you like what you hear, don’t forget to snag you copy of their 2016 debut album Echoes of the Tortured  and pre-order Ashes here and check out the video below!

 

The Trials of Sept.8, 2017 (Part 1)

Editor’s Note: Uh Oh! Another split?! That’s right! Though this is not another BIG ass split as seen in Team Klown’s Dead Kennedy show and Team ASSasIN’s Ministry gig, there was a minor crack in last week’s trials! Read Jenny Oh’s Team ASSasIN’s take on…

Monarch Are Set To ‘Go Forth…Slaughter’

These local thrashers have released their debut LP Go Forth…Slaughter independently. Like the title mentions Monarch has every intention to slaughter your ears and dare I say have you “Beheaded.” Okay not literally, but the brutal song will and it will do it with a bloody delicacy much like “Bloody Assault.” This “…Assault” is not like any other, this one will slowly stalk and reel in its opponent where vocalist/guitarist Matt Smith hits that high note to the T!

Not interested in high notes? Okay well “Dawn to Night” and “Memories of War” will be a good one to crank up. “Kill or Die,” “Entropy” and the title track “Go Forth…Slaughter” wastes no time in sinking its jaws in you and will induce a serious case of headbanging!

Monarch’s debut full length album will appease thrashers and casual metalheads alike. Casey Trask’s memorable riffs in this album along with the vigorous drumming from Adam West, and the bass foundation from Alex Pickard lays in this album will also seal the deal for you. And this is just the album, see what we thought about them live! Nuff of yours truly yammering on and on, now go forth my child and get your copy here and experience the power of this Monarch.

5 out 6, Successful invasion

Arch Enemy Shows A Tamer Side of Their ‘Power’

Where there’s a will there’s a way no? Well the will was very much there for Arch Enemy’s latest album Will to Power which was released via Century Media Records. You know something big is coming when you hear the instrumental “Set Flame to the Night,” this beautiful intro will have you wonder what’s gonna happen next with their epic riffs before launching you in to the fast paced “The Race” and “The World Is Yours.”

“The Eagle Flies Alone,” the empowering “A Fight I Must Win” (which yours truly really enjoyed), and “Blood in the Water” tone down their tempo allowing you to let the instrumentals simmer a little better in your worn out ear drums. “Reason to Believe” made us believe we have feelings especially when Alissa White-Gluz shows off her clean vocals along with her thick growls which are complimented by the splendid solo in between.

Arch Enemy slightly sanded their rough surface in this album and works well for them and added a tiny drop of orchestra (I’m looking at you, “A Fight…”). Arch Enemy also do a great cover of Charged GBH’s “City Baby Attacked by Rats.” It’s clear Arch Enemy are ready to play around to confuzzle their foes and can be quite a treat if you open your mind. Get your copy of Will to Power right here and see what this is all about!

4 Out 6, They’re finding their way.

‘Monocle’ Is 1 In A Million

Meanwhile in Norway, a ghastly wonder is being crafted by the experimental Atrox. Atrox is not like the other experimental bands. They have a knack for blending a lot of different musical elements which can be heard in their latest Monocle which was released via Dark Essence Records. The quintet bust out their unique blend of industrial that’s laced with a whiff of prog and metalcore. I told you they were special especially when they bring THE “Heat.”

Atrox add a little more of the gothic element, especially in the lyrical aspect, in the pained “Finger” which transitions into a deeper level of anguish in the predominantly industrial “Suicide Days” and “Target.” “For We Are Many” mischievously slithers out of this foreboding train ride and shows off its proggy scales before it flashes its vicious little fangs towards the end before swallowing you whole with “Movie.” *Catches breath*

Atrox continue to shine in the vast sea of metal and refuse to conform, you go boys! Rune Folgerø’s melodic and passionate vocals along with the rest of Atrox will carry you to a dark land in a galaxy far, far away. Monocle promises a great time with a refreshing and new sense of wonder for those that are willing to drink this baby in. Open your mind and be the best and unique nugget you can be and get your copy here.

6 Out 6, There can only be one!  

Stay tuned for Part 2 by Chuggo’s Team Klown!