The video was created by the band’s guitarist and backing vocalist Mitch Harris. It’s a politically charged animation interspersed with news clips of protests, and it’s a head-trip and a half to watch. A comment I saw on YouTube pretty much sums up the message: “Fuck the System, Fuck Governments, Fuck Aliens!”

And the music goes really fuckin hard, too. The riffs crush without remorse, and Barney Greenway sounds raw and pissed off. I’m also liking the use of clean vocals (I know, that’s heresy, but I’m just being honest). This is grindcore done right.

Watch that after the jump if you haven’t see it yet . . . and then we’ll move on to the new video from Comeback Kid.

COMEBACK KID

Once upon a time, long ago, I listened to a lot more hardcore than I do today. That was before I drifted into various flavors of death metal, and more recently black metal. But I’ve still got a taste for it, maybe more of a taste for it than I realized.

Winnipeg, Canada’s Comeback Kid was a band whose music I used to like, though it’s been a while since I got one of their albums. The most recent release was their 2010 album on Victory Records,  Symptoms + Cures. Yesterday, the band unveiled a music video for a song from the album called “Do Yourself A Favor”. It’s a live performance video with good photography and effective editing, but what I really liked was the song itself.

It includes some seriously neck-breaking riffs, one pile-driving breakdown, and sweetly jugular-rupturing vocals. It’s also catchy as conjunctivitis.

If I were to dip my toes more deeply into hardcore waters, what new releases would you recommend?
 

At the moment, I’m not able to stream the new Napalm Death song that just premiered. I’m currently moving stealthily among the many secret locations I use to avoid detection by paparazzi who are hoping for something like a candid shot of me sunbathing in a thong.

Actually, I’m just commuting right now and my internet connection is too slow for streaming. I have more sympathy for the tender sensibilities of the human race than to be caught dead in a thong. Plus, it seems like it would impair my already impaired ability to concentrate to have a line of fabric up my butt crack. I’m afraid the next time the cops pull me over and ask if I know how fast I was going, I’d blurt out: “Fuck no! All I can think about is what’s trying to cut through my butt crack like razor wire!” I don’t know how chicks do it, wearing thongs, not that I’m complaining about that, mind you.

Where was I?  Oh yeah — there’s a new Napalm Death song streaming from their next album, Utilitarian, which will be released on February 27 in Europe and February 28 in North America via Century Media Records. I can’t stream it right now, but when I got an e-mail from TheMadIsraeli alerting me to the stream, he added this pithy message: “All I can say is fuck me with a buzz saw.” That seemed like a positive review, so I’m posting this alert.

The song isn’t called “Fuck Me With A Buzz Saw”. It’s called “Leper Colony”, and it premiered earlier today at Brooklyn Vegan. So go over there and give it a listen, and then please come back here and let me know if it fucked you like a buzz saw. Thank you in advance.

December and 2011 are both over, and with the end of the last month, it’s time to round up what we saw over the last 30 days about forthcoming albums.

We usually try to post these updates on the first of the month, but the first of this month was New year’s Day, and I was moving kinda slowly that day. Plus, I’ve been focusing on year-end lists from a variety of sources, and, well, I’m late with this. I have more excuses, if you’d like to hear them.  No?  Okay, I understand.  I’ll just shut up and get going with this list.

So, here’s the deal:  In these METAL IN THE FORGE posts, I collect news blurbs and press releases I’ve seen over the last month about forthcoming new albums from bands we know and like at NCS (including occasional updates about releases we’ve included in previous installments of this series), or from bands that look interesting, even though we don’t know their music yet. In this series, we cut and paste those announcements and compile them in alphabetical order.

Remember — THIS ISN’T A CUMULATIVE LIST. If we found out about a new forthcoming album before December, we wrote about it in previous installments of this series. So, be sure to check the Category link called “Forthcoming Albums” on the right side of this page to see forecasted releases we reported earlier.

This month’s list begins right after the jump. It includes some real eye-openers. In fact, it’s not too soon to say that 2012 is already looking like yet another royally skull-fucking year for metal. But as usual, this list is half-assed rather than comprehensive. I confess that in December I was even more half-assed than usual in keeping my eyes open for news about new albums. So, feel free to leave Comments and tell all of us what I missed when I put this list together. Let us know about albums on the way that  you’re stoked about, even if you don’t see them here!

ABORTED: “”The Origin Of Disease”, a brand new song from Belgian death metalers ABORTED, can be streamed at NO CLEAN SINGING. The track comes off the band’s seventh studio album, “Global Flatline”, which will be released on January 24, 2012 (one day earlier internationally) via Century Media Records.”

THE AMENTA: “Australia’s extreme metal unit THE AMENTA is working on material for their third album for a 2012 release. Vocalist Cain Cressal states, “All arrangements and lyrics are 90% complete. I’ll be flying over to Sydney soon to finetune vocal patterns/lyrics after much demoing over the last few months. We intend to start tracking the album in January.” Tentatively titled “Flesh Is Heir”, the follow-up to 2008′s “n0n” is a crystallization of THE AMENTA‘s methods.”

ASPHYX: “Deathhammer is the title track of ASPHYX‘s new studio album, which will be released on February 27, 2012 in Europe and February 28, 2012 in North America via Century Media Records.”

BLOODSHOT DAWN: “First formed in 2003, Bloodshot Dawn have evolved from a straight forward, groove orientated death metal band into an unrelenting, hyper speed, extreme-metal machine. Hailed by Terrorizer as a band that delivers “blistering live shows”, Bloodshot Dawn have become a household name in the UK underground.  In September 2011, Bloodshot Dawn entered the studio again, this time at 11th Cellar Studios in Rome (Fleshgod Apocalypse, Hour Of Penance, Inherit Disease), to record their debut full-length release. The album was finished in December 2011 and is set for a limited release on 26 January 2012.”

BORKNAGAR: “Norway’s BORKNAGAR has entered Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden to begin mixing its new album with Jens Bogren, who has previously worked with such acts as KATATONIA, OPETH, PARADISE LOST and AMON AMARTH. The CD is tentatively due in February 2012 via Century Media Records. ”

CANCER BATS: “‘Old Blood‘, a brand new song from Canadian metallers CANCER BATS, was premiered on tonight’s (Monday, January 2) edition of BBC Radio 1‘s “Rock Show With Daniel P Carter”. You can now stream the track in a YouTube clip here. “Old Blood” comes off CANCER BATS‘ fourth album, “Dead Set On Living”, which is due in April via Distort Inc. ”

THE CONTORTIONIST: “Indianapolis, Indiana’s prog-metal prodigies THE CONTORTIONIST will enter AudioHammer Studios in Sanford, Florida in February with producers Jason Suecof (TRIVIUM, CHIMAIRA, DEVILDRIVER) and Eyal Levi (AUGUST BURNS RED, THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER) to begin recording their sophomore album for a late spring/early summer 2012 release via Good Fight Music.”

CONVERGE: “Terrorizer have heard on the hardcore grapevine that the mighty Converge are set to start recording their eighth album, the follow up to 2009′s smasher, Axe To Fall. This is to be titled ‘All We Love We Leave Behind’ and it’s due out in the late spring/early summer through Epitaph.”

DRUDKH: “Unconventional, dramatic and mysterious, Ukrainian black metal outfit Drudkh are announcing a new album called Eternal Turn of the Wheel out February 24. The new album “marks a return to the band’s roots and early sound,” according to Season of Mist, the French label that has been releasing Drudkh‘s albums since 2009.”

DYING FETUS:  ”John Gallagher, guitarist and vocalist of Dying Fetus, has announced that the group has entered the studio to record a new full-length album. The band will once again be working with long-time producer Steve Wright (Slipknot, Misery Index) at Wrightway Studios in Baltimore, MD. Set to be released in mid 2012 through Relapse Records, the album will feature nine tracks and is a “return to roots” with production focused slightly more on slam than in the band’s last few works.

DYSRHYTHMIA: From the band’s facebook page: “Happy new year, all. We are excited to announce we will be working with Profound Lore Records, for the release of our next album! Recording will commence this Spring with Colin Marston, with a projected late Summer/ Fall release date. We’re gonna do our most to make this the best Dysrhythmia yet.”

ELUVEITIE: “ELUVEITIE’S fifth studio album, Helvetios, will be released on February 10 (Europe) and February 28 (North America) 2012 via Nuclear Blast.”

ENOCHIAN THEORY: Life . . . And All It Entails, the new album by UK progressive metallers Enochian Theory will be released on Feb 12, 2012 by Mascot Records and is available for pre-order here, where the album art is also on display.

ENTHRONED: “Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have inked a two-album deal with Agonia Records. The band’s new album, “Obsidium”, will be released in early 2012.”

GOATWHORE: “New Orleans’ GOATWHORE has set “Blood For The Master” as the title of its new album, due on February 14 in North America via Metal Blade Records. The follow-up to 2009′s “Carving Out The Eyes Of God” was recorded at Mana Recording Studios in St. Petersburg, Florida with producer with Erik Rutan.”

HEIDEVOLK: “Dutch folk/viking band Heidevolk announced that it will release the band’s fourth LP entitled “Batavi” on March 2, 2012 through Napalm Records. The album is the follow up to the 2012 release “Uit Oude Grond.” More details on the album are expected shortly.”

HIGH ON FIRE: “Oakland, CA hard rock band HIGH ON FIRE has entered Salem, Massachusetts’ GodCity Studios to begin tracking their as-yet-untitled new album. The world renowned group featuring drummer Des Kensel, bassist Jeff Matz and guitarist / vocalist Matt Pike (also of legendary stoner metal trio SLEEP) is collaborating with producer and Converge guitarist Kurt Ballou on the new effort; the band’s sixth studio recording and follow up to 2010′s Snakes for the Divine which debuted at #62 on the Billboard Top 200 and has been called “wonderful” by The New York Times and “an exhilarating rush” by The Chicago Tribune. A mid-2012 release date is expected via eOne Music.”

MAGENTA HARVEST: “MAGENTA HARVEST, the Finnish death metal band featuring current and former members of FINNTROLL, CHTHONIAN, MYGRAIN and …AND OCEANS, will enter the studio later this month [December] to begin recording its second demo. According to a press release, the new effort will see the group widening its soundscape with the help of Aleksi Virta of FINNTROLL, who “will create some epic keyboard stuff” to go along with the material. An early 2012 release is expected.”

MESHUGGAH: “Swedish experimental extreme metallers MESHUGGAH have issued the following update: ”After a long time of deep soul searching and intense wrecking of the psyches, the new album is finally done. Soon you will meet this colossus that will pulverize your being. Welcome to the other side on March 27.”"

MORBID ANGEL: “On February 24, 2012 (February 28 in North America), Season of Mist will release a compilation of remixed tracks from MORBID ANGEL’s latest album, “Illud Divinum Insanus”. Far from being just revamped versions of the seminal extreme metal band’s newest songs, this collection will present the work of 39 artists from the electro / industrial, techno and club scene.”

MUNICIPAL WASTE: “Virginia crossover thrash metal band MUNICIPAL WASTE has completed work on its fifth studio album, “The Fatal Feast”, for a spring 2012 release via Nuclear Blast Records.”

MURDER CONSTRUCT: “MURDER CONSTRUCT, the Los Angeles, California-based band featuring Travis Ryan (CATTLE DECAPITATION) on vocals, Leon del Muerte (EXHUMED, PHOBIA, IMPALED) on guitar and vocals, Kevin Fetus (FETUS EATERS, WATCH ME BURN) on guitar, Danny Walker (INTRONAUT, EXHUMED, UPHILL BATTLE) on drums, and Caleb Schneider (BAD ACID TRIP) on bass, has entered the studio to begin work on its full-length debut full-length for a mid-2012 release via Relapse Records.”

NAGLFAR: “Swedish black metallers NAGLFAR have completed work on their sixth album, “Téras”, for a March 2012 release via Century Media Records. The drum tracks on the CD were laid down by Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK).”

NAPALM DEATH: “NAPALM DEATH will release its 14th studio album (excluding the cover album “Leaders Not Followers”), “Utilitarian”, on February 27 in Europe and February 28 in North America via the band’s longtime partner, Century Media Records. ”

PALLBEARER: “Little Rock, Arkansas doom metal disciples PALLBEARER have completed work on their debut album, “Sorrow And Extinction”, for a February 21, 2012 release via Profound Lore Records.”

PSYCROPTIC: “Pre-orders are now available for Tasmanian technical death metal outfit PSYCROPTIC’s upcoming fifth studio album, The Inherited Repression. The Inherited Repression will be released in Europe on February 7th in North America and on February 10th in Europe on Nuclear Blast Records.”

SEAR BLISS:  ”Eternal Recurrence, the 7th album from Sear Bliss, is set to be released in February, 2012 through Candlelight Records. The songs are dramatic and unsettling, dark and painful.”

SHINING: “Sweden’s SHINING the, extreme metal band founded by controversial front man Niklas Kvarforth, has today [Jan 2] entered the Sonic Train Studios in Varberg, Sweden, with producer Andy La Rocque to begin recording the band’s eighth full-length album, which, as is usual with SHINING, currently only bears the working title VIII.”

SIGH: “Japan’s SIGH will release its ninth album, “In Somniphobia”, in March 2012 via Candlelight Records. According to a press release, the CD is “by far more musically varied” compared to the [band's] last two albums. Put heavy metal, classical music, jazz, Indian traditional music, Stockhausen, and Xenakis into a cauldron of hell and stir it, you’ll get ‘In Somniphobia’. It is a pure sonic nightmare that lasts more than an hour.”

SOILWORK: “After a highly successful run of European festivals and select club shows, Swedish melodic metal maestros SOILWORK have started writing music for the follow-up to The Panic Broadcast, which debuted the US Billboard charts at #88 upon its release in July 2010.”

SOREPTION: “Soreption will enter the studio in February to begin the recording of the next album. The release is not set yet, but we´re aming for fall next year.”

SPAWN OF POSSESSION: Swedish tech-death assassins SPAWN OF POSSESSION have completed work on their third full-length album, “Incurso”, for a March 13, 2012 release via Relapse Records. The CD, which will contain nine tracks plus an instrumental intro, was recorded at Pama Studios in Kristianopel, Sweden with engineer Magnus “Mankan” Sedenberg.

SWALLOW THE SUN: “SWALLOW THE SUN’S fifth full-length album, “Emerald Forest And The Blackbird”, will be released on February 1 via Spinefarm Records. The CD was recorded during September and October 2011 by Mikko Karmila (NIGHTWISH, AMORPHIS, CHILDREN OF BODOM) at Drumforest Studios in Viitasaari and Sonic Pump 2 in Helsinki, and by Hannu Honkonen at Noisework Studios in Helsinki. The effort was mixed by Hiili Hiilesmaa (HIM, APOCALYPTICA, AMORPHIS, MOONSPELL) and will be mastered by Mika Jussila (NIGHTWISH, AMORPHIS, SENTENCED) at Finnvox Studios.”

TESTAMENT: “TESTAMENT‘s new album, “The Dark Roots Of Earth”, is tentatively due in late April/early May 2012 via Nuclear Blast Records. Due to a “serious injury,” TESTAMENT drummer Paul Bostaph was unable to take part in the recording sessions for the CD and was replaced by Gene “The Atomic Clock” Hoglan (DARK ANGEL, STRAPPING YOUNG LAD, FEAR FACTORY, DETHKLOK). Bostaph has since announced his departure from the group.”

November is done, and the countdown begins to the end of 2011 and he beginning of the New Year. We’ve been so focused this week on the year behind us, since 2011 Listmania is now in full swing, that we almost forgot that there is a future, and it will be filled with metal.

So, here’s the deal:  In these METAL IN THE FORGE posts, we collect news blurbs and press releases we’ve seen over the last month (November) about forthcoming new albums from bands we know and like (including occasional updates about releases we’ve included in previous installments of this series), or from bands that look interesting, even though we don’t know their music yet. In this series, we cut and paste those announcements and compile them in alphabetical order.

Remember — THIS ISN’T A CUMULATIVE LIST. If we found out about a new forthcoming album before November, we wrote about it in previous installments of this series. So, be sure to check the Category link called “Forthcoming Albums” on the right side of this page to see forecasted releases we reported earlier.

This month’s list begins right after the jump. As usual, this list is half-assed rather than comprehensive. So, feel free to leave Comments and tell all of us what we missed when we put this list together. Let us know about albums on the way that  you’re stoked about!

A BAND OF ORCS: “A BAND OF ORCS, the fantasy-themed heavy metal band from Santa Cruz, California, has entered Trident Studios in Pacheco, California with producer Juan Urteaga (MACHINE HEAD) to begin recording their new concept album about killing giants. The artwork is being created by Chuck Lukacs.”

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS: “American black metal outfit ABIGAIL WILLIAMS has put the finishing touches on its new album, “Becoming”, for a January 24, 2012 release via Candlelight Records. Mixed by vocalist/guitarist Ken Sorceron with Michael Keene (The Faceless), “Becoming” contains over 60 minutes of new material and features art by Metastazis (Morbid Angel, Watain, Ulver).”

AUTOPSY: “Legendary San Francisco Bay Area gore grind act AUTOPSY has completed work on its new collection, “All Tomorrow’s Funerals”, for a February 28 release via Peaceville Records. This monstrous 22-track effort will contain all of AUTOPSY‘s EPs remastered by the bandmembers themselves, as well as new cuts.”

BLEEDING THROUGH: “Bleeding Through is currently wrapping up the recording process for their next album, now titled “The Great Fire.” The effort is expected to hit stores in early-2012 via Rise Records.”

BONE5: “Drummer Pasi Pasanen (ex-SWALLOW THE SUN, PLUTONIUM ORANGE) has joined the Jyväskylä, Finland-based rock/metal band BONE5. The group’s new album, “From The Ashes”, will be released on December 7.”

CALIBAN: “German modern metal force Caliban is proud to announce the release of their eighth studio album, I Am Nemesis on February 28, 2012 via Century Media Records. After spending 10 months writing new material, the band is very excited to get the record out to fans. ‘It was important to us to have an elaborate album without any fillers,’ says lead guitarist Marc Görtz. ‘Additionally, the sound of the album is the best we’ve ever had by far: it is heavy and brutal without being chaotic.’”

CATTLE DECAPITATION: “In November 2010, Cattle Decapitation returned home from headlining The California Blood Tour and decided to take the next year off and immediately began writing the follow up to their critically-acclaimed 2009 release The Harvest Floor.The band has been holed up in the confines of their rehearsal studio in National City, California ever since and are preparing to unleash a new slab of human-dissecting carnage for a Spring 2012 release via Metal Blade Records. The band will be recording in January/February in Denver, Colorado”

DEATH: “The next chapter in Relapse Records’s Death reissue campaign is Vivus!, a deluxe 2CD collection compiling two separate Death concerts. Each recorded in 1998, Disc One features the band at the height of their prowess tearing the roof off of the infamous Whisky A Go-Go in Los Angeles while Disc Two is a brilliant recording of the band on the festival stage at Dynamo Open Air.
Vivus! is set for a February 28th North American release date, March 2nd in the Benelux / Germany, and March 5th in the UK and rest of Europe.”

EMMURE: “Emmure has spent a good portion of November in New York City writing material for their next album. The band will enter the studio in January with producer/engineer Joey Sturgis (We Came As Romans, The Devil Wears Prada) to begin tracking the effort. Sturgis also recorded the band’s last release, Speaker of the Dead.”

EPHEL DUATH: “Formerly Italian, currently US based band EPHEL DUATH, known as a modern mixture of avant-garde metal and progressive rock with jazz-fusion and hardcore punk elements, has inked a worldwide deal with Agonia Records for the release of an EP and two full-length albums. Under the leading role of talented guitarist and songwriter Davide Tiso, the machine of EPHEL DUATH is ready to send out a new musical impulse, with the artistic contribution of a new line-up of well-known special session musicians, soon to be announced. The upcoming spring release EP is going to be recorded in January 2012 at Sharkbyte Studios (Machine Head, Exodus, High On Fire) in Oakland, California. Erik Rutan will do the mixing at his Mana Recording Studio (Cannibal Corpse, Hate Eternal, Goatwhore, Agnostic Front) in San Petersburg, Florida. Alan Douches will master the material at West West Side Music (Death, Swans, Mastodon, Converge, Baroness, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Clutch) in New York.”

GOD OF ATHEISTS: “Former DIMMU BORGIR and current BORKNAGAR member ICS Vortex(real name: Simen Hestnæs) will handle the lead vocals on the upcoming debut album from GOD OF ATHEISTS, the Norwegian extreme metal project led by Asgeir Mickelson (SARKE, SPIRAL ARCHITECT, BORKNAGAR, TESTAMENT). Drums on the CD were recorded by Trym (EMPEROR, ZYKLON, ENSLAVED), while the rhythm guitars were laid down by Mickelson.”

KING GIANT: “Taking the dark tales of their Appalachian folk forefathers to contemporary Southern doom territory, Northern Virgina-based quintet KING GIANT have wrapped up the final details on their sophomore full-length release, Dismal Hollow, and are preparing to self-release it just after the kickoff of the new year. Dismal Hollow will be available worldwide on January 31, 2012 — a split release between KING GIANT’s band-operated imprint Graveyard Hill Records and The Path Less Traveled Records, part of the MRI Group, with distribution by RED, Code 7 and Plastichead — and will be available in CD, LP and digital download formats.”

LIBERTEER: “Relapse Records is extremely proud to announce the signing of California anarcho-grinders Liberteer. The creation of Matthew Widener (Cretin, Citizen), Liberteer is a manifestation of total anarchy, driven by an incendiary lyrical message designed to burn the system down! The band’s debut album, entitled Better To Die on Your Feet Than Live On Your Knees, will see it’s release on January 31st of 2012.”

LIFELESS: “German traditional death metal machine LIFELESS has signed with FDA Rekotz for the release of the band’s as-yet-untitled follow-up to 2010′s“Beyond The Threshold Of Death” (Ibex Moon Records). The new album is currently slated for a spring 2012 release.”

MISERY SIGNALS: “Fans of Misery Signals know that the group hasn’t released a new album in several years. Said fans shouldn’t have to wait too much longer though, as the group is currently working on material for their next full-length. Misery Signals tentatively plans to enter the studio in early-2012 to commence tracking, though neither a studio nor producer have been selected thus far. Notably, this will be the band’s final album under their current contract with Ferret Music.”

NAGLFAR: “Fans of Swedish black metal take heed: five years have passed since the release of mighty Naglfar’s last album Harvest, but now the band is back in the studio again, finishing-up their sixth album, Téras! Expect nothing less than another prime example of infernal, melodic black metal from the vanguards of the scene. Diehard Naglfar fans will also be pleased to hear that prior to the release of Téras, the band will release a very limited-edition 7″ EP featuring one track from the upcoming album and an exclusive second track that will only be available on this vinyl. Téras will ascend from hell’s blackest voids in spring/summer 2012.”

NAPALM DEATH: “As leaders of extreme music and one of the hardest working bands around, the legendary Napalm Death is currently putting the final touches on their 14th studio album (excluding the cover album Leaders Not Followers). This new piece of brutality is entitled Utilitarian, and it will hit stores on February 27th in Europe and February 28th in North America via the band’s long time partner, Century Media Records.”

NORMA JEAN: “Following their just-announced “Pizza Riot 2011″ Tour, Norma Jean will be hitting the studio to record their sixth full-length album. The band is currently writing material for the effort and will head into the studio with producer Jeremy Griffith in January 2012.”

NOTHNEGAL: “Maldives-based death/black metallers NOTHNEGAL will release their full-length debut, “Decadence”, on January 20, 2012 (January 24 in the U.S.) via Season Of Mist. The CD was mixed by Greg Reely (FEAR FACTORY, MACHINE HEAD, DEVIN TOWNSEND) and Ahti Kortelainen (SENTENCED, SONATA ARCTICA).”

NUFUTIC: “Drummer Romain Goulon (NECROPHAGIST) and vocalist Trevor Sadist (SADIST) have joined NUFUTIC, the fusion-metal project founded by Dutch bassist Jeroen Paul Thesseling (PESTILENCE, ex-OBSCURA) and Italian guitarist/keyboardist Tommy Talamanca (SADIST).”

OBITUARY: “OBITUARY is currently writing material for the follow-up to the “Darkest Day” full-length CD, released in 2009 via Candlelight Records. “Our goal is to be in the studio by January or February and to release the album in May or June of 2012,” said guitarist Trevor Peres.”

OBSCURA: “The wildly-progressive German metal quartet OBSCURA has announced their first ever demo collection, entitled ‘Illegimitation‘ and set to be released independently by the band this March.  The collection will include ten never-before-heard tracks, including the band’s earliest recordings from 2003, unreleased songs from the Cosmogenesis sessions of 2006, and brand new cover songs with the newest line-up from 2011.”

OPERA IX: ““Strix Maledictae In Aeternum”, the new album from the Italian symphonic black metal band OPERA IX, will be released on January 24, 2012 in Europe and February 28, 2012 in North America via Agonia Records.”

PARADISE LOST: “British gothic metal pioneers PARADISE LOST have entered The Chapel studios in Lincolnshire, England to begin recording their new album,“Tragic Idol”, for an April 24, 2012 release via Century Media Records. Commented Gregor Mackintosh: “The [new CD] will again be produced by Jens Bogren and is influenced by classic doom metal and classic metal. I would say it is more melodic than the last record whilst retaining the heaviness.”

PERIPHERY: “Maryland progressive metal outfit Periphery enters the studio today to begin tracking a new full-length. Recording will take place with engineer Taylor Larson (I The Breather) and a spring release via Sumerian Records is expected.”

PRIMER 55: “Atlanta-based band PRIMER 55 — featuring Bobby Burns (guitar, bass, vocals), The DRP (vocals), Heath Shaw (drums), and Mattytime (bass) — has signed a worldwide distribution deal with THC:Music/Rocket Science Ventures. The group’s's self-titled LP will be released on March 13. The effort will be preceded on February 14 by “The Big F.U.”, a retrospective B-sides and rarities collection, featuring nearly 20 tracks from PRIMER 55‘s classic lineup.”

PSYCROPTIC: “Aussie technical death metal outfit, Psycroptic, has announced that its fifth studio album, The Inherited Repression, will hit stores on February 7 in North America and February 10 in Europe. The upcoming nine-track full-length will mark the band’s second release on Nuclear Blast Records. Commented Psycroptic guitarist, Joe Haley, “The Inherited Repression is far and away my favorite Psycroptic album thus far – all of us in the band think this. It’s the age-old cliché from bands when they talk about their current album as being the best of their career, blah, blah, but I have to say it because it’s true.”

SLAYER: “Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo has revealed that the band is currently writing material for a new album. Details are sparse, with Lombardo offering only the following: “Slayer is writing a new record.”

SPAWN OF POSSESSION: “Swedish tech-death assassins SPAWN OF POSSESSION have completed their highly anticipated third full-length album, Incurso, and are preparing it for release upon the helpless masses this Spring (on Relapse records).”

3 INCHES OF BLOOD: “Metal veterans 3 Inches Of Blood will soon be entering the studio to begin tracking their fifth full-length album, planned for release in 2012 via Century Media Records. The band will be working out of Vogville Studios and Profile Studios in Vancouver with engineer and producer Terry Sho Murray, who also worked on the band’s last 7″.

UNLEASHED: “The legendary Swedish Viking Death Metal outfit UNLEASHED have started the recordings of their 11th studio album. The album name is still a secret – but you’d better get ready for another classic album. With their blend of melody and brutality UNLEASHED includes to the founder of the Viking death metal. Their riffs are pure shrapnel, but their choruses are epic, melting uncompromising brutality with anthemic odes to the Odin. The new album will be released in spring 2012 via Nuclear Blast.”

WORMED: “Willowtip Records is excited to announce the official signing of Madrid, Spain’s “Sci-Fi Death Metal” band Wormed. The group is currently in the writing stage of a new full-length album that will be released in the spring of 2012. Prior to the new album, Willowtip will be reissuing Wormed’s previous two releases: 2010′s Quasineutrality EP and 2003′s Planisphaerium CD. Both reissues will be released in early 2012.”

Many death metal and grindcore bands have got great names, the kind of names that are fun to trot out when a non-metalhead asks you what kind of music you listen to, just to see the resulting facial expressions. Dying Fetus and Napalm Death are among the names I like to use. Of course, it helps that I actually really like both bands.

Death metal and grindcore song names are good for this purpose, too — like “Unchallenged Hate”. Now, if a non-metalhead asks you what you’ve been listening to today, you can tell them: Dying Fetus’s cover of Napalm Death’s “Unchallenged Hate” — because that’s what we’ve got for you in this post. It was just put up for streaming by Metal Hammer, via Muzu.tv, and because the player is embeddable, we’ve got it for you after the jump.

This is the second Dying Fetus cover we’ve featured, the first one being their cover of “Unleashed Upon Mankind” by Bolt Thrower (here). Both songs are from Dying Fetus’ cover album, History Repeats…, which will be released by Relapse on July 19 in NorthAm and internationally on July 25.

And in other news, the re-issue of Death’s Human album (which we covered here) is now streaming in full — all 49 tracks. The link for that is also after the jump.

First, here’s the Dying Fetus take on “Unchallenged Hate”, which appeared on Napalm Death’s 1988 album, From Enslavement to Obliteration. The original is a fucking brutal, grisly song — with a heavy-ass slab of old-school death metal sandwiched around a raw slice of vein-bursting grind. The Dying Fetus cover doesn’t work any significant changes in the original — which is A-OK with me. I do wonder who’s doing the batshit-crazy vocals that Lee Dorrian contributed to the original.

Metal Hammer – Dying Fetus – Unchallenged Hate (Napalm Death cover) on MUZU.TV

RE-ISSUE OF DEATH’S HUMAN

To hear any or all of the songs on the Death re-issue, which is extremely good, btw, visit the Death Bandcamp page here. You can also buy the album at that page as a digital download. 

It’s interesting that even labels like Relapse are starting to use Bandcamp as a digital distribution platform.

Damn, I’m finally able to go outside without shivering and being beaten about the head and shoulders with high winds and rain blowing sideways. That must mean it’s June in Seattle!  And so it is. A largely dismal May is behind us, the Seattle Mariners are astonishingly only a game and a half out of first place in their division (that’s baseball for you outlanders), and the summer lies ahead.

What else lies ahead? A bunch of new metal, of course. And because it’s the beginning of a new month, we’re bringing you another installment of METAL IN THE FORGE, in which we collect news blurbs and press releases we’ve seen over the last month about forthcoming new albums from bands we know and like (including occasional updates about releases we’ve included in previous installments of this series), or from bands that look interesting, even though we don’t know their music yet. In this series, we cut and paste those announcements and compile them in alphabetical order.

Remember — this isn’t a cumulative list. If we found out about a new album during April or preceding months, we wrote about them in previous installments of this series. So, be sure to check the Category link called “Forthcoming Albums” on the right side of this page to see forecasted releases we reported earlier. This month’s list begins right after the jump. Look for your favorite bands, or get intrigued about some new ones.

THE ACACIA STRAIN: “Massachusetts metallers THE ACACIA STRAIN will release their first live album on June 21 via Prosthetic Records. The Most Known Unknown is a double-disc set, limited to 5,000 copies, and coming out just in time for the band’s first appearance on the long-running Vans Warped Tour. The music on the album comes from two separate shows — a sold-out concert at the Worcester Palladium in December 2008 and a gig at the much smaller and more intimate Waterfront on the band’s home turf of Holyoke, Massachusetts — which were documented on 2009′s The Most Known Unknown DVD.”

ALL SHALL PERISH: “Audio samples of all the tracks that appear on This Is Where It Ends, the fourth full-length album from ALL SHALL PERISH, can be streamed in a YouTube clip. The CD will be released on July 26 (North America) and July 29 (Europe) via Nuclear Blast Records.”

ALMAH: “Brazilian progressive power metal band ALMAH — the side project of ANGRA members Edu Falaschi (vocals) and Felipe Andreoli (bass) — will enter Norcal Studio in São Paulo, Brazil today (Monday, May 2) to begin recording its third album for a September release. 10 songs are being tracked for the effort, which was composed by the entire band and is described in a press release as ‘really heavy and up-to-date with less influences of typical melodic metal.’”

BARREN EARTH: “Finland’s progressive death/doom maestros BARREN EARTH have entered Helsinki’s Sonic Pump Studios to record the follow-up to last year’s highly acclaimed debut album, Curse Of The Red River. The band has written 12 new songs, and is currently laying them down with engineer/co-producer Jukka Varmo. Dan Swanö (KATATONIA, OPETH) will once again be at the mixing helm. The album is due for release in autumn 2011 on Peaceville Records, and the artwork will be made by Paul Romano (MASTODON).”

BATHORY: “Black Mark has set a July 18 U.K. release date for a limited-edition BATHORY vinyl box set. The collection, which is being released in honor of the band’s late mastermind Quorthon, contains the following:  Three double gatefold LPs ; 48-page booklet; BATHORY “Goat” poster (70x100cm); Picture-disc recreation of the original BATHORY “yellow goat” 1984 pressing of the band’s debut album.”

BURY YOUR DEAD: “Slaughterhouse Five, a brand new song from BURY YOUR DEAD, can be streamed at YouTube. The track comes off the band’s new album, Mosh & Roll, which is scheduled for release on August 2 via Mediaskare Records.”

DECAPITATED: “Polish technical death metal band DECAPITATED have set Carnival Is Forever as the title of their fifth studio album, due later in the year via Nuclear Blast Records.”

ENTHRONED: “Belgian black metallers ENTHRONED have inked a new deal with Regain Records. The band is currently writing material for its new album for a late 2011 release. Commented the group: ‘We’ve been working on the successor to ‘Pentagrammaton’ for the last months and even if there’s still some parts of the book to be written, the overall idea looks very promising.’”

EVILE: “British thrashers EVILE will release their third album, Five Serpents’ Teeth, on August 29 via Earache Records. The CD was recorded at Parlour Studios in Kettering, U.K., with producer Russ Russell (NAPALM DEATH, DIMMU BORGIR), who also worked on the band’s previous CD, 2009′s Infected Nations.”

GLORIOR BELLI: “Metal Blade Records has announced the signing of France’s GLORIOR BELLI. The band’s new album, The Great Southern Darkness, will be released in the fall.”

GORGOROTH: “Under The Sign Of Hell 2011, the re-recording of GORGOROTH‘s third album, will be released by Regain Records on June 20. On the LP, Pest and Infernus repeat their roles as vocalist and guitarist/bassist, respectively, from the original 1996 recording, while Tomas Asklund handles the drums. As for the still-untitled next GORGOROTH album consisting of new material, the band states that ’66,6 % of the material has now been written, and work on the album is continuing at a steady pace. If all goes according to plan, the album will be recorded later this year.’”

GRIEF OF EMERALD: “Swedish death/black metal band GRIEF OF EMERALD will release its fourth album, The Devils Deep, on June 3 through Non Serviam Records. The first CD to feature the group’s current lineup sees GRIEF OF EMERALD ‘increase[ing] the power by adding some new intricate songs, boosting harmonies with haunting keyboards, tight double-bass drumming, backed by a massive guitar sound and haunting vocals, plus superb packaging,” according to a press release.’”

ICS VORTEX: “Norway’s ICS VORTEX, the project led by the former DIMMU BORGIR and current BORKNAGAR member, has signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records for the release of its debut album, Storm Seeker. Due on August 22 in Europe and August 23 in North America, the CD ‘takes the musical elements from [ICS Vortex's] 10-plus years of experience withDIMMU BORGIR as well as the legacy of the classic bands with whom he is still active (BORKNAGAR, ARCTURUS and LAMENTED SOULS), topping things off with his signature clean vocals in order to make Storm Seeker become a perfectly balanced axe, whether a song is cutting fast, or dicing slow.’”

ISIS: “ISIS, who disbanded in May of last year, is set to release a series of five live albums that span the Los Angeles-by-way-of-Boston band’s thirteen year career.  The digital releases begin with Live I 9.23.03, a four-song, forty-minute recording from a performance at The Fillmore in San Francisco, which will be available on May 31. Each subsequent recording will be released at two week intervals.”

THE KONSORTIUM: “”Lik Ulven”, a brand new song from Norway’s THE KONSORTIUM, is available for streaming. The track comes off the band’s self-titled debut album, which is scheduled for release on June 24 via Agonia Records. The effort will be available as a limited heavy vinyl, digipack CD and a limited fan metal pack CD. The Konsortium was recorded over a one-year period at SOS Studio in Stavanger and Crystal Canyon Studio in Oslo and it features Teloch from MAYHEM and NIDINGR on guitar, and guest vocals by Erlend Hjelvik from KVELERTAK.”

LOCK UP: “Extreme metal supergroup LOCK UP will release its new album, Necropolis Transparent, on July 1 in Europe and July 12 in North America via Nuclear Blast Records. Necropolis Transparent will feature guest appearances by HYPOCRISY/PAIN mainman (and one-time LOCK UP vocalist) Peter Tägtgren along with Jeff Walker (CARCASS, BRUJERIA).”

MALEFICE: “U.K. modern metallers MALEFICE will release their third full-length album, Awaken The Tides, in the U.K. on July 18, in the rest of Europe on July 15, and in North America on August 2 via Metal Blade Records. The 10-song effort was recorded at The Face studios in Reading with drums laid down at Fortress Studios in London. All tracks were mixed and mastered by Justin Hill.”

MEGADETH: “MEGADETH has tapped Johnny K (full name: John Karkazis; DISTURBED, SEVENDUST, MACHINE HEAD, STAIND) to produce the band’s new album, tentatively due this fall via Roadrunner Records. The drum tracking for the CD began earlier this month, with the entire recording process expected to be completed by the time the group hits the road this summer as part of the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival with DISTURBED and GODSMACK.”

MORS SUBITA: “Finnish metal quintet MORS SUBITA will release its debut album, Human Waste Compression, this summer via an as-yet-undetermined record label. According to a press release, the CD will contain ’11 tracks of aggressive, melodic and groovy metal.’”

NAPALM DEATH: “Grindcore progenitors NAPALM DEATH have entered Parlour Studio in Kettering, U.K. with longtime producer Russ Russell to begin recording their 14th album for a tentative October release via Century Media Records.”

OPETH: “Swedish progressive metallers OPETH have set Heritage as the title of their tenth album, due in September via Roadrunner Records. The CD was recorded earlier this year at Atlantis studios (formerly Metronome studios) in Stockholm. Mixing duties were handled by OPETH vocalist/guitarist Mikael Åkerfeldt and Steven Wilson (PORCUPINE TREE). The new material has been described by the band as ‘good.’”

PATHOLOGY: “San Diego’s PATHOLOGY will enter Lambesis Studios in the band’s hometown this summer with producer Daniel Castleman (IMPENDING DOOM, AS I LAY DYING, WINDS OF PLAGUE) to begin recording its new album for a fall release.”

SOULDRAINER: “Swedish death metallers SOULDRAINER have inked a deal withViciSolum Productions. The band’s second full-length album will be released in the fall.”

SUICIDE SILENCE: “California deathcore masters SUICIDE SILENCE will release their new album, The Black Crown, on July 12 via Century Media Records. The CD was recorded with heavyweight producer Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, EVERY TIME I DIE, HATEBREED) and features the following songtitles, among others: “Human Violence”, “Cancerous Skies” and “Fuck Everything”.”

TEXTURES: “Dutch progressive metallers TEXTURES recently entered Split Second Sound studios in Amsterdam to begin recording their fourth album for a fall release via Nuclear Blast Records. The as-yet-untitled CD is being produced by TEXTURES guitar player Jochem Jacobs, who helmed all of the band’s previous albums.”

UNEARTH: “Massachusetts metallers UNEARTH will release their new album,Darkness In The Light, in Europe on July 4 via Metal Blade Records. The CD was recorded at Zing Studios in Westfield, Massachusetts with producer (and KILLSWITCH ENGAGE guitarist) Adam Dutkiewicz. Sitting in on drums during the sessions was Justin Foley of KILLSWITCH ENGAGE/BLOOD HAS BEEN SHED.”

VEIL OF MAYA: “Prior to their appearance at this year’s edition of The Bamboozle festival, which was held April 29 – May 1 at the New Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey, Chicago’s VEIL OF MAYA was busy in the nation’s capital demoing new material with their great friend and Sumerian labelmate Misha Mansoor (PERIPHERY) for their as-yet-untitled new record that will be dropping in the fall.”

WARBRINGER: “Los Angeles thrashers WARBRINGER entered the studio on April 18 with producer Steve Evetts (THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, SYMPHONY X, SEPULTURA, HATEBREED) to begin recording their third album for a late 2011 release via Century Media Records.”

YOUR CHANCE TO DIE: “Red Cord Records has announced the signing of the South Carolina-based female-fronted melodic death metal band YOUR CHANCE TO DIE. The group’s second album, Suscitatio Somnus, will be released on August 16. The CD was recorded with renowned producer Jamie King (THROUGH THE EYES OF THE DEAD, THE HUMAN ABSTRACT, BETWEEN THE BURIED AND ME).”

We’ve been waiting for the seed of Insidious Disease to blossom forth from the fertilized earth. Will it be a putrescent mass of unearthly purplish life, writhing with hungry tentacles and awesome in its otherworldly magnificence? Or will it be just another pumpkin?

Why do we wonder? Because of who’s in the band:

Marc “Groo” Grewe (ex-MORGOTH) – Vocals
Sven Atle Kopperud (a.k.a. Silenoz) (DIMMU BORGIR) – Guitar
Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH) – Bass
Tony Laureano (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, NILE, ANGELCORPSE) – Drums
Jon Øyvind Andersen (a.k.a. Jardar) (OLD MAN’S CHILD) – Guitar

We got so stoked when we first heard about this line-up that we wrote about it two months ago, and we’ve been waiting not-so-patiently for more news ever since.

Now we know that Insidious Disease will release their debut album, Shadowcast, on July 12 in Europe and July 27 in the U.S. via Century Media Records. And now we have a video of the band performing a track from that album called “Rituals of Bloodshed”. Watch it after the jump, and decide for yourself: Awesome putrescent mass or just another pumpkin? And while you’re deciding, be stunned and amazed by the infernally amazing special effects.

OK, we weren’t serious about the special effects. What did you think about the music?

Insidious Disease is an international super-group.  What does that mean?  It means that the members come from bands that extreme metal geeks like us hold in high esteem, and they’re spread among many countries.  To be specific, the members of Insidious Disease are:

Marc “Groo” Grewe (ex-MORGOTH) – Vocals
Sven Atle Kopperud (a.k.a. Silenoz) (DIMMU BORGIR) – Guitar
Shane Embury (NAPALM DEATH, BRUJERIA, LOCK UP) – Bass
Tony Laureano (ex-DIMMU BORGIR, NILE, ANGELCORPSE) – Drums
Jon Øyvind Andersen (a.k.a. Jardar) (OLD MAN’S CHILD) – Guitar

Seriously — gaze upon those names, and be honest: You’re interested, aren’t you? We sure as hell were. And we weren’t the only ones, because this band has just signed a worldwide deal with Century Media Records. They’ve recorded 12 songs for a debut CD to be called Shadowcast, and from what we’ve heard, it’s going to be a fucking killer.  (more after the jump, including a song . . .)

Three songs are available for listening on the band’s MySpace page, and each of them is a top-shelf offering of death metal with plenty of groove and a few other modern twists.

Take “Boundless” for example. It’s a fast-paced assault with infectious riffs and melodic guitar leads, nasty death-metal howls and shrieks courtesy of “Groo” Grewe from the old cult band Morgoth, and the kind of all-pro drumming you would expect from Tony Laureano.  It definitely hits us in the sweet spot, as do the other two songs.

Super-groups are perfectly capably of sucking ass, but this one doesn’t. In fact, this one sounds like the real deal. Our only frustration is that we haven’t found any reports about when Shadowcast will hit the streets. We’re just going to have to keep our pointed ears to the ground and be alert to new developments — which we will of course share immediately with all of our wolfish readers.

In the meantime, sate your bloodlust with this pre-mix offering of “Boundless”:

INSIDIOUS DISEASE: “BOUNDLESS”

I try to stay grymm. This is an extreme metal blog, after all. Brooding and scowling are the order of the day, except when we take a break for attempts at humor — which necessarily have to be tasteless or sarcastic. Problem is, I have a weakness for cats. I have a cat — or to be more accurate, I share a cat. He’s about 17 years old and a big part of my day. That makes me a little insecure, because as pets go, I have this nagging worry that cats aren’t considered metal, not like a Doberman or a pit bull or a wolfhound.

I got a little bit of an ego boost when I read Issue #62 (Dec 2009) of Decibel. It included an article called “The Cutest Kitties in Metal.” The article consisted of seven pages of dudes from metal bands with their cats, with photos and affectionate commentary from the dudes about their cats. That made me feel a little more metal about my own cat thing.

But that was a couple months ago, and I’ve started feeling insecure again about my metalness. Like when I saw the photo above and started laughing. I don’t even know why I’m making that confession.  Lolcats are not metal. I know that. I don’t even know why I’m putting this post together. Trying to justify my cat weakness I guess, at the risk that you readers will think this post is a complete, bullshit waste of space and time.

But fuck it, the die is cast. In for a dime, in for a dollar. Tomorrow we’ll have a post ready on some divergently awesome new music, but today, I’m afraid it’s all catz.

So, the cat above isn’t metal.  But what about this?  (after the jump . . .)

That one’s more metal, don’t you think? How’d you like to wake up every morning with this monster sitting on your chest, giving you that look? On the bright side, you probably wouldn’t feel like falling back asleep. You’d probably jump out of the rack like you were shot from a gun.

Still not convinced that cats can be metal?  How about this one:

Shit! That one makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. I like cats and all, but the owners of this one must have found a pet store in Hell. Not sure I could come home to that every day. Pretty fucking metal, though.

What about this next one?

Yeah, now that’s more like it! Definitely a metal cat, right? I can guess what happened here. Cat was sleeping, like they do about 90% of the day and night. And then the human in the room decided it would be a good time to crank up some Napalm Death at full blast.

Let’s not stop now.  Check out this one:

Also metal, right?  I’m starting to feel more masculine about my cat weakness already. But I’m still not quite where I need to be. I got an idea! Let’s shift gears. Stay with cats, but think about bigger cats — cats that prey on more than mice, birds, and canned tuna.

What about this?

Yeah, you’re right.  It’s definitely a bigger cat, and it’s regally beautiful. But the photo is not really metal.

But what about this?

Yeah, that’s more like it! That’s a br00tal creature right there. Definitely metal. Regally beautiful AND scary as shit.

While we’re on the subject of scary-as-shit tigers, how about this:

Fuck! And I had this delusional idea that if I were ever being chased by a tiger, all I’d have to do is head for deep water. Not that I really spend a lot of time thinking about what I’d do if I were ever being chased by a tiger.  I’m just sayin’.  Heading for deep water is out.

Best plan is probably what’s suggested by the punchline to the old joke about the two missionaries running from a charging lion. One says to the other, “We’ll never outrun it!” The other says, “I don’t have to outrun it.  I just have to outrun you.”

Now that we’re on the subject of lions, is this metal?

Nah, you’re right. Not metal. The regally beautiful thing again.

But what about this?

Nope. That’s not the kind of headbanging I was looking for. Not metal.

But you and I know that lions can definitely be metal, especially if you’re a gazelle and it’s dinner time on the savannah.

Now that’s what I’m talkin’ about!! Somebody at the zoo just cranked up some Behemoth! You can imagine what he’s thinking: “Where’s the fuckin’ mosh pit?!? And are there any scenesters trying to hardcore dance? I could use me a nice soft scenester appetizer!”

Lions and tigers are good feline metal candidates for sure. But let’s not stop there.  What about this?

Yeah, not so much. This one, you’d almost want to pet.

Until you realize that he’s probably just dozing off a big meal of fat tourist sashimi. And then you think what he probably looked like just before chowing down.

Uh-huh. Black metal. If that’s not TRVE and KVLT, what is?  Or how about the other obvious choice (wait for it) — Pantera!

One more member of the big feline family awaits.  Check out this spotted specimen:

Not metal, you say? Well, maybe not right at this moment.  He or she is probably just sleeping off a sweaty, beer-soaked night in the pit at an Exodus show.

But leopards can definitely be metal.  Voila:

Slash and burn, baby! That’s some brutal death metal right there, am I right?

SO, I think I’m startin’ to make my case that cats can be metal. I’m feeling better about my feline affinity. I may be ready to move out of the animal kingdom and consider people. Not people who like cats, but people who pretend they are cats. How would that make me feel?

Shit.  What was Heidi Klum on when she decided this would be a good idea? Definitely the non-metal side of feline couture. But not even the sex-kitten side. Just cringingly, embarrassingly absurd.

Come on Heidi, get into it! Channel your internal vicious cat! Show us that cat people can be metal, even when they’re wearing ridiculous, Andrew Lloyd Weber-ish costumes.

Uh, no. Not what I had in mind. Even the black fingernails don’t help. You’re really lettin’ me down here. I’m trying to convince myself that cats are metal, and this is the best you can do?

Let’s give this one more shot. One more person who looks like a cat, but in a metal sort of way. Who would that be?

Shit! Not what I had in mind either, though it’s plenty fuckin’ scary. This broad needs to feed her plastic surgeon to one of those big cats higher up the page. In small pieces.

Oh man, I wish I’d never seen this. It’s put me completely off my train of thought. I think it’s a sign I need to just wrap this up and find another way to deal with my cat/metal issues.

Maybe this music will help. It’s not about cats, but I like to think of it as big-cat metal. And it’s a shitload better than more pictures like that last one. Listen to Pantera.  I’m outta here.  Gotta feed the cat.

Pantera: Walk

Are you having one of those days when it seems like the whole world is made out of sharp edges? Where all the people you encounter just seem pointed and cutting? Where even the light feels like daggers in your eyes? Where you begin to think your skull itself is filled with razor blades? Well, my friends, what you need is a little industrial strength grind action.

No, no, no, we don’t mean that kind of grind action.  Get your nasty minds out of the gutter! We’re talking about something that will grind all those sharp edges down to a nice smooth finish that you can slide right over. We’re talking about the kind of grind that Brutal Truth delivers. (More after the jump.)

We’re way behind in taking official notice of the legendary band’s April 2009 full-length comeback, Evolution Through Revolution. We forgive ourselves, because Brutal Truth was way behind in giving it to us: it’s their first studio album since 1997.  Let me say that again: 1997.

This has been an awesome year for grindcore. We’ve seen absolutely killer new releases from Napalm Death, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Insect Warfare (OK, it’ a re-release, but WTF) just to name a few. But as much as we liked those albums, Evolution Through Revolution leads the pack. We can’t lie — some of the appeal is undoubtedly rooted in the fact that this band was one of the godfathers of grind but has been missing in acton for so very long — and we’re just so fucking psyched to have them back!

But don’t be misled: Evolution Through Revolution isn’t some half-assed re-tread designed to capitalize on fan nostalgia. Brutal Truth is not just back, they’re back in full cataclysmic force and pushing the envelope again. This is 20 songs in about 40 minutes of absolute blast-furnace, no-bullshit, grindcore violence. The addition of shredtastic guitarist Eric Burke is part of the new life this band breathes into grindcore, but only part of the story. There is so much going on in this album, so many interesting variations on the classic grindcore template. Far from 20 copies of basically the same sound, the songs on Evolution Through Revolution are varied, often experimental, but always furiously scorching.

If we’re lyin’, we’re dyin’: Put this sonic grinder to good use on all those sharp edges in your life. You’ll be glad you did!

And if you’ve somehow missed the band’s out-of-the-ordinary video of “Sugar Daddy” (complete with ragtime piano to begin and end), check it out: