Irish grindcore / death metal legends Abaddon Incarnate are releasing a brand new full length after a gap of eight years, with the last one coming out way back in 2014 on Candlelight Records. Since their inception in the early '90s, they've augmented their sound by adding elements to make it even more effective and varied without diminishing their intensity. This is possibly the best expression of the grindcore / death metal hybrid that they've achieved thus far. As the album is quite diverse, three songs are streaming on Bandcamp HERE and on the YouTube channel here. 

     Having been active since the '90s, Irish grindcore / death metal legends have only perfected their sound over the years, creating a quintessential blend of both the styles. They've come a long way from their explosive, highly caustic album 'Nadir' that put them on the map and have since then imbibed more death metal influences to improve upon their expression, adding better structure and nuance to their music. On their latest full length, their sixth, they've expanded upon their sound like never before, injecting myriad elements from thrash riffing to atmospheric passages and stringing them together using staggering transitions, and turning it into a fascinating beast of an album.

     Every song here offers something different, some even climaxing into a terrific breakdown or shapeshifting into something mind-blowing. The Wretched Sermon is easily their most diverse and expressive album yet, meticulously written to flesh out every nuance, while keeping things brisk and intense. Abaddon Incarnate are in top form here, crafting a potent and relevant album that's bound to go down as one of the best ones in this grindcore / death metal vein in recent years.

• Abaddon Incarnate Bandcamp
• Abaddon Incarnate Facebook

• Transcending Obscurity Site
• Transcending Obscurity Official YouTube Channel
• Transcending Obscurity Facebook
• Transcending Obscurity Instagram

• Transcending Obscurity US Store​
• Transcending Obscurity Europe Store

     So we now know who the winners of the GMA Awards 2021 were, but to wrap up the event in it's entirety and bid farewell to 2021 and usher in 2022, we must turn to the last bunch of awards - 'Metal Release By Country / Area'.

     Usually these would include the flag of the band's nation, but given the events in Afghanistan this year among other political turmoil, I felt it would be prudent to forgo any flags and just list the winners.... so without further ado here are the....

Irish doom metal band The Grief is proud to release their new digital EP “Descent” on Spotify, Apple Music, Bandcamp & all other common streaming platforms. The EP will be released this week on Thursday, Oct 22.  Lyric & guitar playthrough videos for the lead single  “To Hew In Wrath” can be found at the band’s YouTube channel (link below) & on all streaming platforms.

The Descent EP is the band’s second release in 2020 and follows on from the debut “Ascent” EP, released in March this year. Descent features 5 tracks of varied material, recorded during the same sessions as the Ascent EP & once again the 5 tracks were mastered by Dan Swano at Unisound. Artwork fo the EP was created by Slava Gerj.

Formed in early 2016, The Grief features members from Cork-based metal bands Corr Mhóna, For Ruin and Soothsayer some of whose members had originally played together in a Katatonia tribute band (Katatonik). The Grief plays a mixture of doom-tinged metal with influences from many of the classic British doom metal bands & made their initial live appearances in 2017 before recording an initial unreleased demo with the initial line up of the band: 

• Robert Farrow - Drums
• Kieran O'Leary - Bass
• Paul Quinn - Guitars
• Stephen Quinn - Vocals
• John Murphy – Guitars.

When the drum position was vacated by Farrow (who moved abroad), the band decided to focus on recording their first 9 songs during 2019 at Murphy’s home studio in North Cork. Recordings were completed in late 2019 with Murphy performing the drum parts until new drummer Con Doyle joined the band in March 2020.


Links:

Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/album/4lnH42S4uNvwBAYoKzn6LN?si=JbiIZkmZQv6YLtfBQazkJA
Bandcamp - https://thegrief1.bandcamp.com/releases
iTunes - https://music.apple.com/ie/artist/the-grief/1496996964
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/griefdoommetal/ 
YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_oU9fvolEB52i6IBskopTw

The age of Quadra is upon us as Sepultura release their new album today via Nuclear Blast. The Brazilian thrash metal masters mark the occasion with a stunning music video for their new single 'Means To An End'. Watch here: youtu.be/TMLed7lL5CU

Guitarist Andreas Kisser comments:-

     "Sepulnation around the world the wait is over! 'Quadra' is out now!! It feels great to be here today with such a strong album in our hands, I cannot wait to see you all on the 'Quadra' World Tour. Thank you all the fans around the world that keeps this band alive and motivated. Let’s celebrate 'Quadra' together, play it loud! I know I will!”

He adds on the new song/video:-

     “'Means To An End' is our third video/single taken form our new album 'Quadra'. Is the the second song on the album, it is a very powerful and complex theme that inspired director Otavio Juliano and Luciana Ferraz to make an amazing visual interpretation of the song. It shows the human greed with no limits, the arrogance and the ignorance of ourselves, we think we can do it all without knowledge, without respect. Judas and his treason, defying death in a chess game, saving money for who’s knows what and how much is enough?

     It was shot in the city of Jundiaí, in an old train station museum and in Sao Paulo as well, at an old bank safe, it was the biggest in Latin America from the 50’s till it got shut down in the late 80’s. We had a lot of fun working on it and I’m very happy with the final result, hope you like it! See you on the 'Quadra' World Tour.” 
 
Order your copy of Quadra here: nblast.de/Sepultura-Quadra

Quadra is available on Limited Edition 2 CD Digipak, 2 LP Vinyl, 2 LP Vinyl Picture Disk, Earbook, and CD.

Quadra is Sepultura's fifteenth studio album, which presents a thrilling and brutally honest concept around the Portuguese word quadra. Everyone grows up in a different quadra, shaped by rules and definitions. We are all determined by these concepts, our relationships, our careers. Our whole lives.

Sepultura will be playing at Sunstroke Festival Ireland in summer 2020, alongside the likes of Deftones, Faith No More, Mastodon etc.

13/14th June 2020  IE  Punchestown Racecourse - Sunstoke Festival

You can also catch the band at Download Festival 2020:- downloadfestival.co.uk/tickets

sepultura.com.br
facebook.com/sepultura
instagram.com/sepultura
nuclearblast.de/sepultura

With their roots in Dublin, Ireland, the folk metal band Cruachan have staggered their heavy Celtic inspired metal across world since 1992. The band are pioneers in the folk metal genre and are recognized as one of the founders of the music genre, the band has arguably gone the furthest of all in their attempts to expand this still largely unexplored subgenre. With a brutal but yet delicate mix of traditional Celtic music, pure metal and the use of Celtic mythology in their lyrics, the band has built a huge and dedicated fan-base all over the world.

     "We are delighted to have signed with Despotz Records and look forward to starting the next chapter of Cruachan's journey with them. We chose Despotz based on their proven track record and their professionalism. Here's to 2020! Sláinte!" // Cruachan 

     "We're happy and proud to finally announce that we'll be working with Cruachan and their upcoming material that will be released in 2020. The band are true pioneers in the folk metal genre and we're looking forward to collaborate with joined forces of experience, impact and our genuine passion of metal music to take part in Cruachan's journey." // Ömer Akay, Despotz Records

Back in 1992, three young Irishmen, Keith Fay, John Fay and John Clohessy, took their love of Celtic history and mythology, blended it with traditional Irish music and pure metal and created a whole new genre of music. The band has become known the world over as Cruachan and the genre has become Folk Metal.

Since the beginning of Cruachan, the band has released eight successful albums and with their unique sound from their Irish roots with traditional Celtic music, extreme metal and a pinch of raw energy, the band has become a cult band for the folk metal community. Such as the cult classic debut album 'Tuatha na Gael', 'Folklore' that was produced by, and featuring guest vocals from the legendary Shane Macgrowan of The Pouges, and the album 'Pagan' where the artwork was created by the well-known artist John Howe who is best known from his illustrations of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit".

Cruachan is known for their strikingly great live performances and stage presence and has been touring and headlined festivals all over the world, such as Europe, South America and Russia to name a few. In 2020, the band celebrate their 25 year anniversary and will release a brand new album via Despotz Records. 

Members: 

Keith Fay - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Banjo, Tin-whistle, Bodhran
Kieran Ball - Guitar
Rustam Shakirzianov - Bass
John Ryan - Violin, Mandocello, Bouzouki
Mauro Frison - Drums, Percussion
 
CRUACHAN ON THE WEB:

Website
Facebook
Spotify
Instagram

Masterful Norwegian storytellers Wardruna sign to Sony Music/Columbia Records for the world, and announce European tour dates for 2020. Dates below with tickets going on sale on 11th October at 10am BST, 11am CEST. Details of the upcoming album shall be revealed in due course.
 
Einar Selvik comments:

     “Wardruna has been a DIY to-the-bone kind of project since the very beginning. Slowly and patiently evolving. Working hard and always keeping the art itself as the primary decisive factor. This will never change for me, and so having people on our team that also embrace this way of working is paramount. Partnering up with Sony Music / Columbia Records is a new steppingstone for us and I am very confident that this new addition to the team will give us new opportunities to further develop our art and take it to the next level.”

2019 marks ten years since Wardruna’s first release. A series of sold out shows at prestigious concert venues around the world culminate in the highlight of the fall; Wardruna will perform in the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater in the United States, followed by sold out European tour. The group's critically acclaimed “Runaljod” trilogy based on the Nordic runes reached its conclusion and was followed by a stripped-down, fully acoustic album exploring the ancient poetic traditions of the Skalds. This spring, a new chapter for the band will start. New music is being worked on as well as further steps in the band´s concert production.
 
     “I don’t wish to reveal too much at this point but can say that we are now deep into the process of writing and recording a new album. When Wardruna gets up from the current studio-hibernation and initiate the concert-year of 2020, it is clearly allowed to hope for new music!" Says Einar Selvik.

WARDRUNA 2020 EUROPEAN TOUR DATES:

28 Mar - Oslo (NOR) - Sentrum Scene
2 Apr - Kristiansand (NOR) - Kilden Teater
3 Apr - Stavanger (NOR) - Konserthus
4 Apr- Bergen (NOR) - Grieghallen
30 Apr - Moscow (RUS) - Crocus City Hall
01 May - St. Petersburg (RUS) - Yubileyny Sports Palace
03 May - Poznan (POL) - Hala Ziemi

04 May - Krakow (POL) - ICE Congress Center
05 May - Bratislava (SVK) - Refinery Gallery
07 May - Belgrade (SRB) - Sava Centar
08 May - Bucharest (ROM) - Arena Romanele
04 Jun - Manchester (UK) - Albert Hall
05 Jun - Dublin (IRL) - Vicar St.
06 Jun - Birmingham (UK) - Symphony Hall

07 Jun - Glasgow (UK) - Royal Concert Hall
09 Jun - London (UK) - Royal Festival Hall
10 Jun - Cambridge (UK) - Cambridge Corn Exchange
01 Aug - Savonlinna (FIN) - Savonlinna Opera Festival
21 Sep - Reykjavik (ISL) - Harpa

Doom metal band The Crawling have just released a video for their song "Still No Sun". The song is from their album Wolves and the Hideous White which was released last year.

The band commented:-

     "The urge to belong can be overwhelming, and we often sacrifice parts of ourselves to be with others. Still No Sun explores the failing of relations through the eyes of one who knows it should end, despite the desperate urge to remain. The unearthing feelings of loneliness, and haunting images of a life in solitude can be blinding when it comes to logical thought. I often wonder if it is genuinely possible to deceive yourself completely, or is there always a part that knows, and is the relief of separation worth it?"

Watch the video here:   https://youtu.be/c7hKTRNo4uA

In addition the band is also pleased to announce some tour dates for this year.

TOUR DATES

12th Oct - Limerick, Dolans Warehouse
19th Oct - Belfast, The Limelight II

UK Tour w/ Tides of Sulfur

24th Oct - London, The Dev
25th Oct - Rotherham, Gizzardfest III
26th Oct - Swansea, The Bunkhouse

2nd Nov - Cork, An Spailpin Fanach
16th Nov - Dublin, Thomas House

Listen to the band's previous music here: https://thecrawlingband.bandcamp.com/

https://www.facebook.com/thecrawlingband

Irish doom band Slomatics have just released their song "Gears of Despair" over at Heavy Blog Is Heavy. The song is taken from their upcoming album "Canyons" which will be released on June 14th via Black Bow Records.
 
Listen to the song here: http://www.heavyblogisheavy.com/2019/05/30/exclusive-premiere-hear-slomatics-turn-the-gears-of-despair/
 
Formed in Belfast late 2004, Slomatics aim to reduce riffs to a primal state of heaviness, to produce music which whilst imploding under its own weight, creates a joyous and euphoric state of well-being which can only be obtained with a slew of vintage amplifiers, fuzz pedals, analogue synths and an alarming array of percussion instruments.

This has endured through UK tours, gigs in Europe, five albums and a mountain of split/vinyl/cassette releases. 2012’s “A Hocht” was released to widespread critical acclaim, gaining support from around the world which was capped off with a deafening performance at the Incubate Festival in Tilburg.

The band's fourth album Estron was released Feb 2014 and has been mentioned as one of the Quietus' Best Of 2014 and nominated for the Northern Ireland Music Prize 2014. Their album Future Echo Returns was unleashed in September 2016 and their collaboration with Mammoth Weed Wizard Bastard was released in 2018.

Slomatics are:

Chris-Guitars
David-Guitars
Marty-Drums/Vocals 

Pre-order Links:

Gatefold Vinyl (3 colour variants) - https://blackbowrecords.bigcartel.com/product/slomatics-canyons-vinyl

Cd Digipak - https://blackbowrecords.bigcartel.com/product/slomatics-canyons-cd

Tape Cassette (strictly limited edition) - https://blackbowrecords.bigcartel.com/product/slomatics-canyons-tape-cassette 

Alien Weaponry have released the music video for their new single, "Ahi Kā", which premiered last week over at Billboard. The song represents the first new material from the New Zealand based metal trio since releasing their 2018 debut album, Tū. Fans can check out the music video for "Ahi Kā" via the link below. The track is also featured on Adult Swim's new, streaming-only compilation record Metal Swim 2.

Alien Weaponry's singer-guitarist Lewis de Jong talks about "Ahi Ka" (Which, like many of the band's songs, is sung in New Zealand's indigenous language of Te Reo Māori):-

     "Ahi Kā was inspired by the Auckland city council's decision to burn down what was considered to be the unsightly indigenous Maori village of Okahu Bay in advance of Queen Elizabeth II's 1953 visit. The eviction sparked a 40-year battle for the native Ngati Whatua to reclaim their land, including protests and battles with the police. Amid worldwide criticism, a small portion of the original land was ultimately returned with an apology and some compensation."

Watch "Ahi Ka" HERE

"Ahi Kā" is available for streaming and purchase through Spotify and iTunes (respectively) over HERE!

Fans and music critics alike have applauded the band's approach to unifying Te Reo Māori (the native language of New Zealand) with thrash metal sensibilities; ultimately creating a sound that is driven by emotionally and politically charged conflict while boasting youthful, warrior-like resilience.

Both Lewis and Henry are of Ngati Pikiāo and Ngati Raukawa (Māori tribal) descent, and began their schooling at a kura kaupapa Māori (full immersion Māori language school) where singing waiata (songs) and performing haka were a daily routine. Also ingrained in their early education were stories of New Zealand history told to them by their father, who would also introduce them to the music of Metallica, Rage Against the Machine, Anthrax, Ministry, Red Hot Chili Peppers and many others.

Alien Weaponry was formed in 2010 by brothers Lewis (vocals & guitar) and Henry de Jong (drums), who were 8 and 10 years old at the time. The two would later move to the small town of Waipu in 2012, and went on to meet Ethan Trembath (bass) there in 2013. The de Jong brothers came up with the name Alien Weaponry after watching the film District 9.

Alien Weaponry have also been nominated for "Best International Breakthrough Band" at the 2019 Heavy Music Awards (UK). The event takes place on August 22nd at the O2 Forum Kentish Town in London. Fan voting is now open at https://vote.heavymusicawards.com/  until June 27th.

ALIEN WEAPONRY On Tour:

North American Headlining Tour

11.05.2019 US - Rockingham, NC / Epicenter*
12.05.2019 US - Washington, DC / DC9
13.05.2019 US - Boston, MA / Middle East
15.05.2019 US - New York, NY / Saint Vitus
16.05.2019 CA - Montreal, QC / L'Esco
17.05.2019 CA - Toronto, ON / Velvet Underground
19.05.2019 US - Chicago, IL / Chicago Open Air*

22.05.2019 US - Minneapolis, MN / 7th St Entry
24.05.2019 US - Pryor, OK / Rocklahoma*
26.05.2019 US - Denver, CO / Bluebird Theater
28.05.2019 US - San Francisco, CA / Bottom of the Hill
29.05.2019 US - Los Angeles, CA / The Roxy
 

TOUR DATES EU

07.06.2019 DE - Berlin / Musik & Frieden
08.06.2019 DE - Frankfurt / Batschkapp
10.06.2019 UK - Cardiff / Fuel Rock Club
11.06.2019 UK - Bristol / The Exchange
12.06.2019 UK - Dublin / Vodoo Lounge
13.06.2019 UK - Glasgow / Audio Glasgow
15.06.2019 UK - Donington / DE74 2RP Castle Donington

16.06.2019 UK - London / The Underground Camden
18.06.2019 LX - Belval / Rockhal 
19.06.2019 DE - Köln / Luxor
20.06.2019 DE - Hamburg / Uebel & Gefährlich
21.06.2019 DK - Kobenhavn / Copenhell Festival 2019
23.03.2019 FR - Clisson / Hellfest Open Air 2019
25.06.2019 DE - Saarbrücken / Garage

26.06.2019 DE - Hannover / Capitol
28.06.2019 FI - Helsinki / Tuska Festival 2019
03.07.2019 FR - Paris / Les Etoiles 61 rue du Chateau d´Eu
04.07.2019 FR - Toulouse / Rue Louis Bonin
06.07.2019 ES - Galicia / Resurrection Fest 2019
07.07.2019 PT - Lisbon / RCA Club
09.07.2019 ES - Sevilla / Sala Even

10.07.2019 ES - Madrid / Nasca Music Live
12.07.2019 ES - Barcelona / Sala Boveda
15.07.2019 IT - Milan / Circolo Magnolia
16.07.2019 IT - Padova / Parco Della Musica
20.07.2019 NL - Eindhoven / Dynamo Metalfest 2019
22.07.2019 SL - Tolmin / MetalDays Festival 2019
24.07.2019 HU - Budapest / Dürer Kert

27.07.2019 PL - Warsaw / klub Stodola Batorego
03.08.2019 DE - Stuttgart / Hanns-Matin-Schleyer-halle
06.08.2019 DE - München / Backstage Werk
07.08.2019 DE - Dresden / Alter Schlachthof
08.08.2019 CZ - Josefov / Brutal Assault 2019
10.08.2019 NL - Leewarden / Into The Grave Festival 2019
11.08.2019 BE - Kortrijk / Alcatraz 2019
16.08.2019 AT - Graz / Metal On The Hill Festival 2019
 
Official Website: www.alienweaponry.com    
Facebook: www.facebook.com/AlienWeaponry
Instagram: www.instagram.com/alienweaponry
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alienweaponry

Dublin's experimental metal combo Svet Kant are thrilled to present their new official video for the track "Sea of Planets".

"Sea of Planets" is a track taken from "The Visage Unbiased", due for release on 31/05/2019. The album can be already pre-ordered.

Check it out here:- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pI8ut1hah9g

The song, as well as the rest of the album, was composed by Santiago Kodela. Santiago Kodela holds a bachelors degree in music performance specialized in Classical guitar and decided it would be a good opportunity to present a different aspect of the band to the audience. For this piece, Santiago contacted Rebecca Rodgers, a good friend of him and colleague at the Institution where he studied classical music and composition (Royal Irish Academy of Music). The piece was inspired by Opeth's "Coil". Even though the aforementioned track doesn't combine male and female vocals singing together in harmonies, for "Sea of Planets", Santiago wanted to experiment with the idea of intertwining melodies carried by both singers. These melodies work independently, sometimes fusing together, and sometimes working in opposition.  

The song speaks about how will we depart onto the next world. Will we leave being a legacy of bitterness and sourness? or will we let go of all our resentment and material possessions and do what's right both for us and for the world we leave behind? It is a song that talks about facing the inevitability of death in the best way possible, bringing only positive thoughts and memories while leaving behind everything that troubles our minds.  

The track wraps-up the record and aims to close the crazy, experimental journey in a meditative and reflective state of mind.  Almost like a much-sought rest after going back and forth onto the realms of chaos and unpredictability.

The song was supervised and coached by Judith Mokk, an international coaching legend who has taught the likes of Mick Jagger, Tom Yorke, Eddie Vedder, and many more international stars.

https://www.facebook.com/svetkantmusic