Nero Di Marte - 'Derivae' CD Review (Prosthetic Records) [Post-Rock/Atmospheric Metal]

Even though I’ve got a large stack of releases that I’m hoping to get through before the end of the year, Italian post-rock/atmospheric metal band Nero Di Marte’s sophomore release, Derivae (released Oct. 28th – Prosthetic), has already earned a spot on my ‘best of’ list for this year.

Nero Di Marte’s sound falls somewhere between The Ocean, Isis and early Pink Floyd. Derivae was recorded 100% in analog which allows the band sonic space to build their epic soundscapes – most of which clock in around the eight minute mark. The band chose to record in analog so “we could develop and commit to atmospheres and sounds while recording instead of thinking about how this guitar effect or that part should sound while mixing. It makes it a little bit more true to how we are when we actually play as a band, without the challenges of doing a live recording”. (from interview with Invisible Oranges).

The disc starts with “L’Eclisse”, which starts with crashing dark and ominous guitar chords which build up to a claustrophobic wave of sound over which drummer Marco Bolognini adds powerful drum fills. Guitarist/vocalist Sean Worrell utilizes a range of vocals across this disc and, on this song, his Italian baritone sounds a bit like Moonspell vocalist Fernando Ribeiro. The band shifts gears with the third track, “Pulsar”, where Worrell’s whaling vocals are featured up-front in the mix and Bolognini’s drumming takes on a tribal beat. There are a number of rises and falls in the music, including one where Worrell’s vocals are whispered over this tribal beat and the song closes with a moody, “Pink Floydish” outro.

Some of the other highlights on the disc are “Il Diluvio” and the 10+ minute final track “Those Who Leave”. “Il Diluvio” is a dark, almost doom number with a big post-rock sound. This song features big, crashing guitar chords and vocals beneath the wall of sound. This sonic swirl slows down toward the end to get more atmospheric. “Il Diluvio” is very “Pink Floydish” with its electronic burble of sounds. The guitar is slowly added in and vocals are a chant below the instrumentation. A major portion of this song is instrumental and this number ends where it started, with an instrumental outro.



Links:
Nero Di Marte

Skeletonwitch Release 'Serpents Unleashed' on Oct. 29th / Show at Knitting Factory with The Black Dahlia Murder on Oct. 26th (Prosthetic Records)

On Octover 29th, Skeletonwitch will release their fifth disc, Serpents Unleashed. Recorded with Kurt Ballou (Converge, Isis, High On Fire) earlier this year, and featuring artwork by John Baizley (Kvelertak, Kylesa, Baroness), Serpents Unleashed — the follow-up to 2011’s Billboard-charting Forever Abomination, and a record Decibel has hailed as the band’s “best effort to date” — sees Skeletonwitch at their most punishing. The album — which is available for preorder at Skeletonwitch.com in CD, LP, cassette, digital download and limited edition 7-inch collector’s box formats — will be unleashed in North America on October 29th, in Australia, Germany, Austria and Switzerland on October 25th and in the UK and the rest of Europe on October 28th. In addition, you can now pre-order the album digitally at iTunes and Bandcamp and receive an instant download of “I Am Of Death (Hell Has Arrived).”

Also next month, Skeletonwitch will initiate the massive Serpents Unleashed touring cycle by playing a handful of shows with Swedish occult rockers Ghost B.C., after which they’ll embark on a full North American takeover with The Black Dahlia Murder. The band will kick off 2014 with a stateside journey alongside Amon Amarth and Enslaved. A full list of the group’s upcoming live assaults are included below.

SKELETONWITCH FALL 2013 TOUR DATES
10/04/2013 Majestic Theatre – Madison, WI w/ Ghost B.C.
10/05/2013 Frank’s Power Plant – Milwaukee, WI (Skeletonwitch only)
10/06/2013 Smith’s Downtown – Mishawaka, IN (Skeletonwitch only)
10/07/2013 Newport Music Hall – Columbus, OH w/ Ghost B.C.
10/14/2013 Bijou Theatre – Knoxville, TN w/ Ghost B.C.

w/ The Black Dahlia Murder, Fallujah, Noisem
10/24/2013 Peabody’s Concert Club – Cleveland, OH
10/25/2013 Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA

10/26/2013 Knitting Factory – Brooklyn, NY
 (Tickets are $20 and doors are at 7PM)

10/27/2013 The Met – Pawtucket, RI
10/28/2013 Higher Ground – Burlington, VT
10/29/2013 Le Cercle – Quebec City, QC
10/30/2013 La Tulipe – Montreal, QC
10/31/2013 Ritual – Ottawa, ON
11/01/2013 Rum Runners – London, ON
11/02/2013 Mod Club – Toronto, ON
11/04/2013 Crocks – Thunder Bay, ON
11/06/2013 West End Cultural Centre – Winnipeg, MB
11/07/2013 Louis’ Pub – Saskatoon, SK
11/08/2013 Avenue Theatre – Edmonton, AB
11/09/2013 The Den – Calgary, AB
11/11/2013 The Biltmore Cabaret – Vancouver, BC
11/12/2013 The Center – Spokane, WA
11/13/2013 WOW Hall – Eugene, OR
11/14/2013 Whiskey Dick’s Saloon – South Lake Tahoe, CA
11/15/2013 Strummer’s – Fresno, CA
11/16/2013 Glasshouse – Pomona, CA
11/17/2013 The Rock – Tucson, AZ
11/18/2013 Tricky Falls – El Paso, TX *newly added
11/19/2013 Club Patron – Odessa, TX



Since signing with Prosthetic seven years ago, a new Skeletonwitch album has materialized like clockwork every other October. First, there was the group’s sophomore breakthrough, Beyond The Permafrost. Produced by late GWAR guitarist Cory Smoot and featuring iconic artwork by John Baizley (Baroness, Kylesa, Kvelertak), the album — and subsequent tours with the likes of Danzig, Dimmu Borgir and Amon Amarth — told the world what the rest of Ohio already knew: That Skeletonwitch was a metal force with which to be reckoned. That album’s “Soul Thrashing Black Sorcery” would eventually be featured in the video game Brutal Legend, placing the band in excellent company with digitized versions of Rob Halford, Ozzy and Lemmy.

Then came 2009’s Breathing The Fire, produced by the legendary Jack Endino (Nirvana, High On Fire, 3 Inches of Blood). Supported by tours with Cannibal Corpse, Children of Bodom and Ozzfest, the album — the band’s first featuring bassist Evan Linger, and also their first to crack the Billboard Top 200 — caught the attention of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim, who invited the group to film a zombie-themed video for the song “Bringers of Death” that the band members still haven’t stopped hearing about.

In 2011, Forever Abomination — produced by Grammy-winner Matt Hyde (Slayer, Deftones) — saw the arrival of drummer Dustin Boltjes (ex-Demiricous), as well as a return visit to the Billboard Top 200. On the road, the group toured alongside Arch Enemy, Kvelertak, The Black Dahlia Murder and Nile before embarking on their most ambitious trek to date: A 63-shows-in-65-days test of endurance they passed with flying colors.

Links:
Skeletonwitch

Marty Friedman - "Bad D.N.A." CD Review (Prosthetic Records)

Going back to my college radio days – at one time it was really ‘cool’ to be into Brian Eno. Trying to go with the flow, I picked up one of Eno’s ambient CDs and it seemed like background music…pleasant background music but none of it stuck with me. Unfortunately, most instrumental/soundscape albums leave me with a similar feeling as the ones that I have listed to recently have either been “boring background music” or highlight a musician’s technical prowess – which again is pretty boring, once you get past the first few minutes.

Getting back on track with this review, last week Prosthetic Records reissued former Megadeth guitar-shredder Marty Friedman’s 2010 all-instrumental solo disc, Bad D.N.A. This eleven-track disc was previously released only in Japan (on Avex Trax) and there was apparently a bonus track that was part of an early pressing that is included on this reissue. As I hadn’t kept up with what Friedman had been doing post-Megadeth, Megadeth fans should be “warned” that the majority of songs on this disc are of a prog-metal bent that is similar in sound to, but a bit more AOR-oriented than, Dream Theater.

The disc’s first five tracks are all of a similar bent – Friedman shows off his technical prowess and he shreds and takes flying runs better than most guitarists out there. Unfortunately, as a “three-chord” guitarist, these tracks all start to sound the same after a while and the only one that stood out was “Glorious Accident” as the riffs got a bit thrashy. Friedman shifts gears completely on “Random Star”, which starts with some slow jazz leads and electronic burbles before kicking into a mid-tempo prog-rock number. Moving on from there, “Picture” is a rock power-ballad with some soaring Eric Clapton style leads. Friedman jumps back into the shredding prog-rock that started out the disc on the next two tracks – “Battle Scars” is the standout of these two tracks as it combines grinding riffs with soaring, memorable melodies. “Exorcism Parade” is both the best and most striking cut on the disc as Friedman combines thrash riffs and soaring leads with some off-kilter noodling. “Time To Say Goodbye”, which is a Andrea Bocelli cover, has similar soaring lead but the instrumentation around these leads just isn’t as striking.

While this disc isn’t my cup of tea – it is probably a (serious) guitar player’s wet dream. Check out the videos below and see for yourself.





Links:
Marty Friedman

Holy Grail - "Seasons Bleedings" EP Review (Prosthetic Records)

The two best metal Christmas releases this year came from Holy Grail and Austrian Death Machine.

Los Angeles thrashers Holy Grail released a two song, limited edition colored vinyl 7” (“Holy shades of Sub*Pop Batman”), "Seasons Bleedings", and these two songs are also included on a four-track digital EP which was issued under the same name. The vinyl single contains covers of King Diamond’s first solo single “No Presents for Christmas” and Rainbow’s “Kill the King” and the digital EP adds covers of Judas Priest’s “Exciter” and Accept’s “Fast as a Shark.” These later two cuts are from the original pressing of the band's " Improper Burial" EP





This release marks the recording debut of guitarist Alex Lee (x-Bonded By Blood) and he and guitarist Eli Santana give “No Presents for Christmas” a heavier feel than the King’s original. The band has some fun with this track, substituting a selection from the Nutcracker Suite in place of the original’s “Jingle Bells” and some music from Charlie Brown’s Christmas for the original’s snippet from “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer”. The second track, “Kill the King”, is a heavier, thrashed-out rendition of Rainbow’s classic song where the original’s keyboards have been substituted for Holy Grail’s dual guitar attack.



The vinyl version of "Seasons Bleedings" is limited to 500 copies (250 on Red and 250 on Green) and is still available through Prosthetic Records’ web shop for $6.66.

Links:
Holy Grail

Holy Grail: Crisis in Utopia CD Review // Show at Gramercy Theater on Feb. 2nd

Holy Grail formed from the ashes of the original lineup of White Wizzard (Earache) and created a buzz with their non-stop touring (with bands like Exodus, Saviours and 3 Inches of Blood) and their 2009 EP “Improper Burial”. While the two originals on the EP provided an initial view into the band’s thrash-infused power metal sound, Holy Grail firmly established their sound with the release of their debut full-length disc Crisis in Utopia this past October (Prosthetic). Breaking from their White Wizzard / NWOBHM-revival roots, Crisis in Utopia incorporates significant elements from thrash and speed metal which pushes them closer in sound to bands like Armored Saint and Accept.

Across the disc’s ten tracks, the band combines a strong sense of melody with an equal level of aggression. The band leads this charge with a combined attack of dual-lead guitars and James Paul Luna’s vocals. Luna sings in a rawer, raspier voice than he did on White Wizzard’s debut CD which he can take up to a falsetto scream. Backing vocals range from clean vocals harmonies to the (expected) melodic “wow-oh-oh” to a death metal growl. Lyrically, the band’s focus is on sword and sorcery imagery but, while some of the songs are shout-along fist pumpers, the lyrics seem to take a backseat to the raw sonic power of the music.

Guitarists James LaRue and Eli Santana skip the NWOBHM power-metal leads and play fast-paced, technical, speed metal riffs (check out the dueling leads on the disc opener “My Last Attack” and “Fight to Kill”, which is an aggressive hold-over from the 2009 EP) and the drumming stops just short of death metal blast beats. The only exception to this is “Nocturne in D Minor” which breaks up the disc mid-way with an atmospheric instrumental which highlights a flute and acoustic guitar.

Holy Grail were in town with Exodus and Bonded by Blood this past August (video from the show is below).



The band is coming back to the Gramercy Theater with 3 Inches of Blood, Eluveitie and System Divide on Feb. 2nd. Tickets are $18 (+$9 LiveNation surcharge if you buy tickets using LiveNation.com) and doors are at 7PM.

Links:
Holy Grail

Holy Grail Tapped to Open Blind Guardian Tour // Full-Length Disc out Oct. 26th

Formed from the ashes of the original line-up of White Wizzard, Los Angeles traditional metal band Holy Grail have been generating a buzz after last year’s release of their debut EP “Improper Burial”. The band has been confirmed as direct support for Blind Guardian's fall North American At The Edge of Time tour, which kicks off on November 19th in Philadelphia, PA at the Trocadero. The tour stops at the Best Buy (aka Nokia) Theater on the 20th. Seven Kingdoms is also on the bill for the NYC show and tickets are $30 (in advance and $33 DOS).

Holy Grail frontman James Paul Luna commented, "The Holy Grail guys and I are really pumped to go out with Blind Guardian. Their new album is amazing and our new album, Crises in Utopia, will drop right before the tour begins. Blind Guardian and Holy Grail will be a killer bill!"

Crises in Utopia, Holy Grail's debut full-length album will be released on October 26th via Prosthetic Records. The new disc is produced by acclaimed producer/remixer/musician Danny Lohner (Nine Inch Nails, A Perfect Circle) and features cover artwork by Andrei Bouzikov (Skeletonwitch, Municipal Waste). Prosthetic Records is currently taking pre-orders for Crises in Utopia.

Holy Grail supporting Blind Guardian:

NOVEMBER
19 - Philadelphia, PA, Trocadero
20 - New York, NY, Nokia Theater
21 - Worcester, MA, The Palladium
23 - Montreal, QC, Metropolis
25 - Quebec City, QC, Theatre Capitole
26 - Toronto, ON, Kool Haus
27 - Royal Oak, MI, Royal Oak Theatre
29 - Chicago, IL, The Bottom Lounge
30 - Minneapolis, MN, The Cabooze

DECEMBER
01 - Winnipeg, MB, The Garrick Centre
03 - Calgary, AB, McEwan Hall
04 - Edmonton, AB, The Starlite Room
06 - Seattle, WA, Showbox At The Market
08 - San Francisco, CA, The Regency Ballroom
09 - Los Angeles, CA, Music Box @ Fonda
10 - Tempe, AZ, The Marquee Theatre
11 - Albuquerque, NM, Sunshine Theater
12 - Denver, CO, Bluebird Theater
14 - Dallas, TX, Trees
15 - Houston, TX, Scout Bar
17 - Asheville, NC, The Orange Peel
18 - St. Petersburg, FL, State Theatre St. Petersburg
19 - Atlanta, GA, Masquerade
21 - Raleigh, NC, Lincoln Theatre
22 - Springfield, VA, Jaxx

Links:
Holy Grail

Testament to Perform 'The Legacy' in Full on Upcoming American Carnage Tour

Earlier this week, Chuck Billy announced on KNAC that Testament will be playing the entirety of their 1987 debut LP The Legacy on the upcoming American Carnage Tour.

"We decided last night that instead of putting — because we only have a 40-minute set to pick — instead of playing a medley of songs, we decided we're going to do the entire "The Legacy" record, start to finish, in its entirety for the show. We did it last year, over in Holland, and then we did a show in London. And that show we did "The Legacy" and "The New Order" back to back, just like on the records, song after song." - Chuck Billy

For anyone who wants an early listen as to how Testament's set will sound, Testament's latest disc, Live at Eindhoven '87 (Prosthetic Records), is a great place to start. This is a live set from the band's European debut at the Dynamo Open Air Festival where the band tears through the majority of The Legacy LP.

Testament released 5 tracks from this show on a European EP (which was later issued in the US) in 1987 but this is the first time that the band's full 10-song set has been released. In addition to the longer set, the sound has been remastered and sounds significantly better than the original EP.

Here is the complete track list for the disc:

1. Disciples of the Watch
2. The Haunting
3. Apocalyptic City
4. First Strike Is Deadly
5. Burnt Offerings
6. Alex Skolnick guitar solo
7. Over The Wall
8. Do Or Die
9. Curse of the Legion of Death (C.O.T.L.O.D.)
10. Reign of Terror

For whatever reason, the American Carnage Tour is skipping NYC and the closest the tour is coming is the Izod Center in New Jersey.

Here are the complete tour dates:
1/18 WaMu Theatre, Seattle, WA
1/19 Memorial Coliseum, Portland, OR
1/21 Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA
1/22 Long Beach Arena, Long Beach, CA
1/23 Dodge Theatre, Phoenix, AZ
1/25 Magness Arena, Denver, CO
1/26 Tingley Coliseum, Albuquerque, NM
1/27 El Paso Coliseum, El Paso, TX
1/29 Verizon Wireless, Houston, TX
1/31 Municipal Auditorium, Nashville, TN
2/1 Gwinnett Arena, Duluth, GA
2/2 Broadbent Arena, Louisville, KY
2/4 Roy Wilkins Auditorium, Minneapolis, MN
2/5 UIC Pavilion, Chicago, IL
2/6 Cobo Arena, Detroit, MI
2/9 Chevrolet Theatre, Wallingford, CT
2/11 Izod Center, East Rutherford, NJ
2/13 Susquehanna Center, Camden, NJ
2/14 Tsongas Arena, Lowell, MA
2/16 Pavillon de La Jeunesse, Quebec City, QC
2/18 John Labatt Centre, London, ON
2/19 Air Canada Centre, Toronto, ON
2/20 Bell Centre, Montreal, QC
2/22 Moncton Coliseum, Moncton, NB
2/23 Metro Centre, Halifax, NS



Links:
Testament's MySpace Profile