paganizer

Initial Descent: October 27 – November 2, 2019

JoshLeave a comment

Nile
Nile

Alright folks, THIS IS IT: Halloween week. Do all the things associated and do them with vigor, we’ve been discussing this for weeks now so if you’re behind, GET CAUGHT UP. Moving on, bands are fighting for your attention this week — it’s the devil’s week so why not? — seeing as we’ve got the longest list in recent memory so let’s get to it.

Nile has always understood how to make some of the best death metal around and this week’s new album is no exception, expect more Egyptian tales and more vitriol. Score. November’s Doom officially usher in the gloominess of winter on their eleventh powerhouse, Paganizer keep Swedeath punchy and neck-breaking on their eleventh full length, and Wilderun make a strong case for uniquely different progressive metal that’s truly one for the ages AND it’s not another Opeth clone, finally. So much music to get to and so many Halloween things to do, it’ll be a busy week on so many levels. Go forth and destroy… Continue reading →

Initial Descent: July 30 – August 5, 2017

JoshLeave a comment
Bonehunter
Bonehunter

By the time this goes to print I’ll be on the way to a city I’ve never visited before to meet a good friend of mine to see a show full of bands that have been on my bucket list for years (more details on this to follow). Needless to say, I’m excited for all of it and in a great, party-time kind of mood. So, what better way to kick off Initial Descent than with the ass kicking metal/punk/thrash/crust offering, Sexual Panic Human Machine, from Finland’s Bonehunter — will be in my ears for the next several hours for sure. Next up is the deadly serious avantgarde black metal from MRTVI on Negative Atonal Dissonance (aptly titled). Third to bat is Gravesite with their second full length of old school and horror inspired death metal, Neverending Trail of Skulls. Last of the top spots but certainly not least is Paganizer with their tenth full length, Land of Weeping Souls — ten albums is a long time but these guys are more ferocious than they’ve ever been. As always though, this is just a taste of what lies ahead so cuddle up to your keyboard, duct tape those headphones to your ears and stay with us for a while.

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Initial Descent: August 5, 2016

DanLeave a comment
russian-circles-band
Chicago’s Russian Circles release their new album, Guidance, on August 5. (Photo by Nicholas Sayers)

Morning, kiddos. It’s a pretty cool Friday, all things considered. For one, it’s my last day at my job. For another, I just had my brain annihilated by Carcass, Ghoul and Night Demon last night at the Gramercy Theatre. (Also, Crowbar played.) You might say I’m kinda jacked on this week, and you’d be right. Factor in some new metal on top of that? Game on. So what’ve we got this week?

Well, we start with Guidance, the new, sixth album from Chicago instrumental trio Russian Circles. Beyond that? All manner of things: Vukari, Necromancing the Stone (which my colleague Manny-O-War is super high on), Bloody Hammers (with whom my other colleague Tenebrous Kate had an awesome interview)…you name it. Beginning this week, we’re also expanding our “Other New Releases of Note” section to cover even more new releases. Want your band featured in an upcoming edition? Send us your info! We’ve added a new submission form at the very end of the post to do just that.

Exciting stuff all around. But for now, let’s focus on this week — here’s what’s on tap:
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