Absu/Sylvus/Empyrean Plague @ Annex Wreckroom, Toronto, ON, April 15, 2013
On April 15th, Absu visited Toronto once more with local guests Sylvus and Empyrean Plague. Here is a recap of the evening; photos and words by Danielle Griscti
black metal
Chicken Dinner with Quorthon
In 1996, Hellbound’s Sean Palmerston was offered the chance to do the first ever in-person North American radio interview with Quorthon, leader and visionary behind legendary Swedish black metal act Bathory. They also went out for dinner together beforehand, and here are Sean’s memories of that fateful night some seventeen years ago, shared in public for the first time since.
Sannhet – Known Flood
The end result: despite some notable moments, the album is not as powerful or as interesting as early previews suggested it might be.
Atriarch – Ritual Of Passing
Ritual of Passing is dirty, atmospheric, unsettling and cerebral. Turn down the lights, light some candles and really listen.
Hellbound.ca’s Top 10 Albums of 2012
As promised last week, here are the Top 10 metal albums of 2012 according to the writers of Hellbound.ca. You will notice that, in comparison to our previously published Top 10 Canadian albums of 2012 list, a few Canadian artists actually ended up charting higher here than on the Canuck top 10. The reason for this is simply because we had more writers submit top 10 lists here than did for the Canadian list.
Collected, compiled and edited by Sean Palmerston
Barge To Hell Cruise Recap Part 3
Earlier this month the inaugural BARGE TO HELL cruise sailed from Miami, FL to Nassau, Bahamas and back and featured live performances by forty-two metal bands. Hellbound.ca was lucky enough to have been able to send some of its contributors on the cruise and here is what they had to say about the performances that took place on Day number three.
Live reviews by Adrien Begrand and Sean Palmerston. All photography by Albert Mansour unless listed otherwise.
Finsterforst – Rastlos
I can’t say that Finsterforst are totally original, but they make up for any lack of creativity by bringing a contagious passion to a style of metal that has rarely resonated with me in recent years. They make a powerful case for the sheer grandeur of their music, which is pretty significant considering that the band sings mostly about the forest and the abuse of nature.
Nihill – Verdonkermaan
Broken, beaten, scarred and bloody, Verdonkermaan is the aural equivalent of the worst Hostel/Saw environment imaginable. It’s bleak and cold, devoid of sustaining life and terrifying to its core. For all that, it’s a stunning and unforgettable album.
Enslaved – RIITIIR
Enslaved’s unique, progressive, black metal style is the root of the voyage you take on this album. It’s arguably the band’s most uniform element, and they hit all the right notes this time.
God Seed – I Begin
I Begin is an apt title for what is a new beginning of sorts, and like many beginnings it is not perfect. However, its lesser moments can be overlooked in favour of the enjoyable whole.