KISS’s so-called End Of The Road tour is headed my way. I can’t be bothered. Sure, it would be nice to catch them once more. But I’ve already seen them a bazillion times — at least once a decade since the ’70s. As they say: I got the best. So watching septuagenarians trudge through the motions one last time with the help of hired hands (and shelling out hundreds of dollars for the privilege) doesn’t do anything for me. Plus, I don’t believe for a second they’re retiring. I’m willing to bet they announce a Vegas residency — at the Sphere, perhaps? — after the tour ends. Just you want and see. And while you do, enjoy the latest metal and hard rockin’ offerings to menace my inbox. No VIP laminate required:
Kapitur | Nature Morte
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “What began as an individual endeavor by Brazilian cellist and vocalist Bruna Wanderley, who now calls Montreal home, has now come to fruition as the band Kapitur, which features members from Spectral Wound, Cauchemar, Metalian, Ratpiss and Massive Scar Era. In July, they unshackled their debut EP Covered in Dust, a heavy, ethereal, and atmospheric record. Today they present a video for the EP’s opening track Nature Morte, a song inspired by artists like Jarboe and Myrkur, who influenced Bruna to compose, sing, and learn gutturals. “The main riff in the song came to fruition on the cello, while the other instruments were added to suit its atypical presence,” she says. “NM is about post-trauma disembodiment, the feeling of dissociating from your body and emotions in order to cope. Amidst an intangible turmoil, we tranquilize ourselves in the trivial only to become passive observers. Not seeing things for what they are, we give way to madness. Lost in our disembodiment, a distressed inner voice that had been shut calls for help, to the realization of our denial and numbness.”
Cryptosis | The Silent Call
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Dutch progressive death/thrash outfit Cryptosis continue to push boundaries with the new digital EP The Silent Call, out Dec. 1. The title track can be checked out now in a video created by the film production company F/53. “The Silent Call is a thought-provoking glimpse into a world where the lines between reality and artificial control blur, leaving individuals feeling lost and insignificant in the midst of sprawling, concrete jungles we call cities,” the band say. “A hauntingly introspective track that casts a shadow over our human existence. It’s a sonic journey that invites you to contemplate the complexities of modern life and the eerie silence of the unseen forces shaping our world.”
Foetal Juice | Ghoul Amongst The Mouldering Dead
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Brace yourselves, for the unrelenting onslaught of Foetal Juice is back — and more gruesome than ever on their ninth album Grotesque. They are known for devastating riffs and lyrical content that draws inspiration from the darkest corners of humanity, offering visceral commentary on the idiocy and cruelty of mankind. Ghoul Amongst The Mouldering Dead is the latest single and the one they enjoy playing the most. “Our guitarist has worked on the running riffs quite a lot to make them sound complex enough without turning it too melodic,” they say. “For the middle section, we wanted to make it really heavy for the headbangers at shows. Something for everyone in the crowd to enjoy, even the miserable cunt at the back with their arms crossed. Lyrically this is a lot more serious than the others. It’s about the soldiers in the First World War who were stuck in no man’s land, having to eat the flesh of the dead to survive.”
The Violent Youth | 20s
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “The Violent Youth are back today with another single from the forthcoming album Na Igle, coming Jan. 12. 20s is availble everywhere, along with an accompanying video that has thoughtfully included subtitles in English, German, and Spanish for fans across the globe. Arthur Tsymbal comments: “Na Igle means addicted or trapped in Russian. The song is about this crazy decade — the ’20s — that we live in. Wars, pandemics, catastrophes. This is our time. We are the 20s.” The song is hyper-relatable to anyone grieving the lost years of the pandemic, and those who have and are currently living through unspeakable things in their home countries.”
Morne | Memories Like Stone
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Boston post-metal quartet Morne unveiled a video for Memories Like Stone, from their devastating Engraved With Pain full-length. The video comes on the eve of the record’s release. Engraved With Pain is a moment of grim triumph, as rooted in Celtic Frost as in Ministry, somehow extrapolated from the gods Black Sabbath and characteristic of no one so much as themselves. Spacious, crushing, darkly thoughtful enough to be progressive but never so indulgent as to lose sight of its core message, the offering was recorded with legendary producer Kurt Ballou at GodCity Studio in Salem, Mass. The video was directed by Hillarie Jason. Offers guitarist/vocalist Miłosz Gassan, “This song particularly is heavily loaded with personal stuff. I don’t want to get too deep with it. It’s about a loss and the complicated feelings that come with it. We built it with simple riffs, heavy drums, and a lot of guitar feedback that (guitarist) Paul (Rajpal) added a very moving guitar solo to. People should play it through their headphones or however they want and take it as they will. I think music should be listened to and absorbed without any explanations or directions from the author.”
Chamelion | Hero’s Tale
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Creating epic symphonic fantasy power metal combined with classical music, including choir, renaissance, and baroque elements, Finland’s Chamelion will unveil their debut album Legends & Lores in December. Over the years they have released a few demos with various lineups. They now have a solid lineup that features founding keyboardist Marco Sneck, singer Tomi Viiltola, keyboardist Marco Sneck, guitarist Jari Satta, bassist Jukka Jokikokko and drummer Janne Kusmin. Fans can hit the play button, and close their eyes to dive into a fantasy world where might and magic rules. “It’s is pure fantasy metal,” Sneck says. “The album is meant to be heard from beginning to end, as all the tracks are lyrically entwined into a chronologically advancing story. There are heroes, elves, magical quests, and other fantasy elements to get listeners all inspired! It is 55 minutes of adventurous heavy metal.”
Strigampire | Liberty
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Created in 2001 in Quebec, Strigampire have been recognized over the years for their eloquence and frantic live performances. Over two decades of hard work culminated last year when they entered the studio with producer Christian Donaldson (Cryptopsy) to record their upcoming third album All To Dominate. The first look at the album is the single Liberty, which addresses the psychological and emotional consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Vocalist Steve DC explains: “This song kicks off the album, brilliantly capturing the variety of moods that unfold through our melodies. Although precise labeling of metal styles and subgenres isn’t my forte, I would say it starts with a fast and thrashy riff, subtly guiding us towards powerful and rock-oriented sections, an evolution we increasingly incorporate into our songs. Then, a guitar solo in Johnny Dead’s style emerges, followed by a bridge that quickly returns us to the initial atmosphere, concluding with a warrior-like riff that urges one to wreak havoc all around!”
Noprophecy | Broken
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Before they release their first full-length As The Bridges Collapses at the end of November, Noprophecy offer up the single Broken, an intense and aggressive song fueled with harsh vocals that spit and exorcise from start to finish. Established in 2013 by Alveria Sykes, Singapore’s Noprophecy have emerged as a formidable force in modern metal. Describing their sound in five words — aggressive, melodic, intense, groovy and dynamic — Noprophecy have consistently pushed boundaries, showcasing their signature blend of fierce intensity and melodic artistry. “There are so many variations the band incorporates into its songwriting with this album and we believe there is something for everyone,” they say. “We feel an album should always have a flow from start to finish and that is what we’re trying to achieve with this album. We definitely played around with the choruses more this time, keeping in mind to engage more crowd participation for this album cycle. We want to give the fans a refreshing experience, yet something that is relatable on a personal level.”
Vitriol | Flowers Of Sadism
THE EDITED PRESS RELEASE: “Death metal battalion Vitriol will release their sophomore full-length Suffer & Become on Jan. 26. Today, they unleash the emotionally charged, pummeling first single The Flowers of Sadism, along with a video. Guitarist and vocalist Kyle Rasmussen explains: “Flowers explores the topic of early developmental trauma and the resulting emotional alchemy that can lead to the development of sadistic impulses. While not being an ideal strategy in the presence of healthier alternatives, embracing my more vicious instincts was the key to my psychological and emotional survival at a time when my environment was both hostile and inescapable. It marks the beginning of a complicated journey of seduction by the necessary evils adopted in the pursuit of that survival.”
