FOR THE LOVE OF METAL
With the twelfth annual Prog Power USA Festival about to kick off tonight in Atlanta, here are six reasons Sean Palmerston has come up with as to why this is a festival you do not want to miss this year.
“Pausing only to remind the crowd to not take flash photos and to thank people for coming out, the band tore their way through three other songs (including a particularly inspired rendition of “I Will Lay Down My Bones Among The Rocks and Roots”). One of the appeals of a Wolves in the Throne Room performance is their ability to put their music where their mouth is and concentrate solely on creating a wall of atmospheric, ambient noise as opposed to highlighting individual performances.”
Jonathan Smith reviews the September 6th Toronto performance by Wolves In The Throne Room, Thou and more.
“Even when it feels almost too packed for its own good, Celestial Lineage is a fantastic album that showcases Wolves In The Throne Room’s commitment to their core sound while slowly expanding the band’s boundaries.”
Album review by Jonathan Smith.
“Also hailing from Norway, black metal unit Vreid filled the headlining position and performed what was unquestionably the strongest set of the night. In contrast to the theatricality of the other bands’ appearances, Vreid adopted a simple, almost military look for their style and dress. They performed with much more energy than the other acts and were very much in control of the stage and the audience from the moment they stepped out.”
Natalie Zed reviews the August 25th Toronto performances by VREID, KAMPFAR and NECRONOMICON at the Annex Wreckroom
Paul Speckmann has been playing death metal longer than many fans of the genre have been walking the planet. The Chicago native started his long-running project Master in 1983. He’s also played with other bands including War Cry, Abominator and the Czech death metal band Krabathor. Dark Descent Records recently reissued his early band Death Strike’s demo Fuckin’ Death. Speckmann recently talked to Hellbound’s Justin M. Norton about the early days of Chicago death metal and his new life in Eastern Europe from his home in the Czech Republic.
“Predictably, Toxic Holocaust delivered on the challenge laid down by Inepsy. Their set was a riot — pure, dirty thrash glee. The band are touring to support new album Conjure and Command, an excellent full-length with no pretensions and profoundly catchy songs.”
Natalie Zed reviews the August 21st Toronto performance by TOXIC HOLOCAUST, INEPSY, HOLY GRAIL and KOMMANDO at the Annex Wreckroom. Live photos by Albert Mansour.
“We’ve accumulated a very dedicated hardcore fan-base. This kind of liberates you, because we kind of feel nowadays we can pretty much do anything we want, and we don’t have anything to lose because we are in the lucky position that we don’t have any pressure from the label. They never told us what to do from the beginning, and now we’re very established and, well, and we don’t wanna become the next big thing.”
Jay H. Gorania in conversation with Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy
Earlier this week Greyhaze Records released the new CDEP / 10″ vinyl release by Brazilian grind unit Desalmado. Hellbound is delighted to be able to present you their new sixteen minute slab of sheer brutality in its entirety for your listening pleasure.
“The attention Mares of Thrace have received has not only been deserved, but they’ve carried it with an incredible amount of grace. The doom-lady duo have taken their exposure and used it as motivation to become even better performers. Their sound, even at its most droning, is now more elegant, the explosions of energy more accurate and precise. They have retained an organic roar to the music, especially the immense “General Sherman,” which evokes blood pounding through a body.”
Live concert review by Natalie Zed, Photos by Adam Wills
“When rumours started to fly that the original Alice Cooper group was going to be inducted into the Rock N’ Roll Hall of Fame, Alice and his ‘team’ decided that it was time to put something out to commemorate that original period of time. It would have been easy for them to slap together another Alice Cooper compilation, maybe tag in a rare live track and leave it at that. Thankfully, Alice opted to not do that and put together one of the best box sets a fan of the original band could ever ask for! ”
Jason Wellwood reviews the massive four CD, DVD, LP, 7″ and book ALICE COOPER box set “Old School 1964-1974” released recently by Universal Music.