Join us as we carry on a revived Hellbound tradition – our monthly staff picks/playlists. Every few weeks we ask our regular and longtime contributors to weigh in on what they’re listening to, watching, going to see… Expect a few quirks and idiosyncrasies now and then, but these are our standard staff pick categories:
Listening to – an album, ep or song from the library shelves (something that isn’t new)
New release – a worthy album, ep or song released within the past couple of months
Live – a recently enjoyed or highly anticipated live recording or gig
Non-metal – an album, ep or song of choice from the non-metal world
Wild card – a recommendation outside of or beyond the above picks
HELLBOUND RECOMMENDS
Bianca Bobescu
Listening to: Carcass – “Black Star” (Swansong, 1995)
New release: Lethvm – This Fall Shall Cease — Great doom dose :))
Live: Jinjer live in Frankfurt, 18 May
Steve Earles
Listening to: Deep Purple’s Stormbringer — Glenn Hughes and David Coverdale on vocals; we are not worthy!
New release: Shadygrove – In The Heart of the Sacred Wood — really beautiful folk metal, with the emphasis on the folk aspect, just sublime.
Non-metal: Pink Floyd – Animals. This tends to be overlooked in favour of Dark Side of the Moon, unfairly so; while Gilmour’s guitar playing is sublime, Waters hadn’t yet totally succumbed to self-pity and over-analysis, and the songs are really strong.
Wild card: The Exorcist – The Version You Haven’t Seen — like discovering parts of an old master were covered over and suddenly being able to see them. Moreover, with its acceptance of evil as a tangible physical force rather than as a metaphor or something that can be explained away and compartmentalized by science and psychology, The Exorcist will always be a very important film.
Gene Gaona
Listening to: Danzig III – “How the Gods Kill”, probably his best work on any album he has ever made.
New release: Exmortus – The Sword of Steel, releasing June 8th via Prosthetic Records. A bit of a “new” direction for this band, a ton more thrashing riffs along with the typical shredding. Such a good album.
Live: Obituary, DNA Lounge San Francisco 05/25. Not that I needed any confirmation of why Obituary has always been my favorite Death Metal band, but to see them live in a small club was un-fucking-believable. That sound, that sweet sweet low end tone. We got an interview with Trevor that should be up soon. It only made the night more special getting on that bus and backstage with them boys from Tampa. Living the dream!
Non-metal: Prince and the Revolution – Purple Rain soundtrack
Wild card: Just saw Pink for the second time live in concert. She sings, dances, does aerial acrobatics; the woman is supremely talented and easy on the eyes, great performer.
Danielle Griscti
Listening to: SIGH – “Hail Horror Hell” sigh.bandcamp.com
Live: SATANIC GENOCIDE at the Bovine Sex Club, May 18th satanicgenocide.bandcamp.com/releases
Non-metal: London Grammar, www.youtube.com/user/LondonGrammar
Wild card: Documentary flick Accidental Parkland accidentalparkland.tv — trailer at https://vimeo.com/130369056
Accidental Parkland from Dan Berman on Vimeo.
Gruesome Greg
Listening to = Angel Witch – self-titled
New release = Orange Goblin – The Wolf Bites Back
Live = SLAYER.
Non-metal = Tyler Childers – “Whitehouse Road”
Wild card = Eating lots of Nashville hot chicken. Great new place called Chica’s Chicken at Keele and Dundas…
Matt Hinch
Listening to: Blood Duster – Str8 Outta Northcote
New release: Cancer Bats – The Spark That Moves https://open.spotify.com/album/66b5FaIWWI2zN4XPPu7K5p?si=Qe3coMVWQQ-Q0k52wpiaQA
Live: Testament, Anthrax, Behemoth, Lamb of God, and SLAYERRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!! in Toronto.
Wild card: It’s not out yet but the new Yob album, Our Raw Heart is so, so amazing.
Rob Hughes
Listening to = Be Bop Deluxe – Modern Music (1976)
New release = The Fierce and the Dead – The Euphoric (Bad Elephant Music)
Live = David Byrne, May 23 at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre
Wild card = Silicon Valley (HBO)
Laura Wiebe
Listening to: Devin Townsend Band – Accelerated Evolution (HevyDevy, 2003)
New release: Amorphis – Queen of Time (Nuclear Blast, 2018)
Live: Overkill – Live In Overhausen (Nuclear Blast, 2018)
Non-metal: Rockwell – “Somebody’s Watching Me” (1984)
Wildcard: Sure, it’s NBA and NHL finals time, but the WNBA season tipped off May 18, and the New York Liberty drafted Hamilton hometown hero Kia Nurse.
Adam Wills
Listening to: Ahab – The Boats of the Glen Carrig
New release: Amorphis – Queen of Time
Non-metal: Melt Banana – Fetch
Wildcard: The Wire
