Sludge Metal
King Woman Share Video for New Song “Psychic Wound”: Stream
King Woman have shared the music video for new song “Psychic Wound”, taken from their upcoming sophomore album, Celestial Blues, out July 30th. The new single the second album cut we’ve heard from singer Kris Esfandiari and company, following “Morning Star”. The songs have seen the atmospheric doom act shift toward even more expansive sonic territories. Ethereal vocals are backed by sludgy post-metal soundscapes, and the striking video emphasizes the macabre forewarning depicted in the lyrics. “‘Psychic Wound’ is about paying the price for eating forbidden fruit,” Esfandiari explained in a press release. “When desire turns into obsession, it can keep you longer than you intended to stay and nearly destroy your sanity.” Related Video King Woman will support the release of Celestial Blues wi...
High on Fire’s Matt Pike Announces Head on a Pike Illustrated Lyrics Book
High on Fire frontman Matt Pike has announced a new illustrated lyrics book, Head on a Pike: The Illustrated Lyrics of Matt Pike. It arrives in bookstores November 9th. The tome collects lyrics and poetry spanning Pike’s years as a member of Sleep and as the principal songwriter in High on Fire. “When I started singing, it changed the way I had to write music,” Pike told the Chicago Tribune’s Steve Knopper via the book’s press release. “I started realizing I was a natural at it. I was always a good creative writer, but words started coming to me immediately — when I get one line, fast, I start getting (full songs) down…lots of them will be metaphoric. I get really complicated when I start writing — my brain goes two different ways.” Related Video Accompanying Pike’s words are brand ne...
Red Fang Announce Fall 2021 US Tour
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-06-02T22:37:57+00:00“>June 2, 2021 | 6:37pm ET Portland heavy rockers Red Fang have announced a 2021 U.S. fall tour in support of their forthcoming new album, Arrows, out this Friday (June 4th). Starcrawler, Here Lies Man, and Warish (fronted by Tony Hawk’s son Riley), will open select dates of the tour. The trek kicks off October 15th in Tacoma, Washington, and runs through November 20th, ending with a show in Anchorage, Alaska. The tour will take Red Fang across most of the country, including notable dates at Warsaw in Brooklyn (November 4th); The Metro in Chicago (November 11th); and the Bluebird Theatre in Denver (November 15th). Related Video “It’ll be two years in the waiting,...
Psycho Las Vegas 2021 Lineup: Danzig, Emperor, Down, Cannibal Corpse, GZA, Flaming Lips, and more
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-05-22T15:30:15+00:00“>May 22, 2021 | 11:30am ET An updated lineup for Psycho Las Vegas 2021 has been revealed, offering significant changes from the one that was announced last year in the wake of the festival’s postponement due the pandemic. Danzig and Emperor are still on board as headliners, but Mercyful Fate have dropped off the bill, with Down moving up into the vacant headlining slot. Back in June 2020, after it was announced that last year’s edition of the fest wouldn’t be taking place, organizers revealed that most of the planned 2020 lineup would return in 2021. However, a number of those acts are no longer on the bill, including Mercyful Fate, Boris, At the Gates, Katatoni...
Red Fang Unveil “Funeral Coach” as Latest Single from Upcoming Album Arrows: Stream
<span class="localtime" data-ltformat="F j, Y | g:ia" data-lttime="2021-04-26T18:29:49+00:00“>April 26, 2021 | 2:29pm ET Red Fang have released the track “Funeral Coach” as the second single from their forthcoming album, Arrows. The song comes in advance of the LP’s June 4th release date. “Funeral Coach” follows the album’s title track, which arrived earlier this month upon the announcement of the new album. The new song delivers Red Fang’s heavy brand of stoner rock, settling into a driving riff around the 35-second mark. As for the song’s intriguing title, singer-bassist Aaron Beam revealed the inspiration in a press release. Related Video “I was driving around and I saw a hearse that said, ‘funeral coach services’ on the back,” said Beam. “So the fir...
Eyehategod’s A History of Nomadic Behavior Delivers a Fresh Batch of Potent Sludge: Review
The Lowdown: Few myths have been beaten into the ground as badly as the adage that rock ‘n’ roll is supposed to represent danger. Within metal specifically, cultivating a dark aura is so par for the course that it’s actually one of the safest routes artists can take. Nevertheless, when the New Orleans sludgecore outfit Eyehategod roared their way to prominence in the ‘90s with albums like In the Name of Suffering and Dopesick, the woefulness that pervaded their music came from a genuine place. Where the majority of their peers tended toward exaggerated expressions of anger, Eyehategod’s forays into addiction, mental illness, and despair didn’t come across as an affectation, but as a raw glimpse into the human condition that cut all the way to the bone. Eyehategod didn’t need to draw from t...
Melvins Celebrate 1983 Lineup on Noisy Riff Fest Working with God: Review
The Lowdown: At this point in their lengthy career, the Melvins are out to entertain themselves as much as their audience. This has included fruitful solo projects from founding members Buzz Osborne and drummer Dale Crover, as well as alternate versions of the band itself such as Melvins Lite and Melvins 1983 — the latter being a modern take on an early Melvins lineup. The “Melvins 1983” lineup is featured on the new album Working with God, with Osborne on vocals and guitar, Crover on bass, and original drummer Mike Dillard back in the fold. The LP is the trio’s second album in this format, and like the first, it sees the Melvins reveling in copious riffage and lowbrow humor. After all, they were teenagers when they formed the band. The Good: Technically, the band’s 1983 lineup includ...
Eyehategod Unleash New Song “Built Beneath the Lies”: Stream
Eyehategod have shared a new single, “Built Beneath the Lies”, from their highly anticipated album, A History of Nomadic Behavior, out March 12th. With each new single, the NOLA vets have offered another catchy slice of grooving sludge metal. “Built Beneath the Lies” is driven by a fuzzy riff and has a more hectic punk approach — the aural backdrop for some seriously filthy vocals from Mike IX Williams. “’Built Beneath the Lies’ is another acidic Eyehategod song playing in the background while the back alleys burn with nervous alcoholic tension and people all over cancel their summer plans to stare at the wall,” Williams said of the track in his typically sardonic manner. Williams’ vocals are placed high in the mix, giving added emphasis to the lyrics. Once again, the words and title ...
Melvins Share New Song “The Great Good Place”, Announce Valentine’s Day Livestream
The Melvins’ re-formed 1983 lineup is set to drop the new album Working with God on February 26th. As another preview of the impending release, they’ve shared “The Great Good Place”. They’ve also announced their second livestream event, “Divine Monkeyshines: Valentine’s Day Special”. Another massive slab of heavy rock, “The Great Good Place” is built on chunky riffs and a twisted pop sensibility that’s pure Melvins. Having now heard almost a third of the album, Working with God is primed to be one of 2021’s heaviest records thus far. Driving home the 1983 concept behind the project, the lyrics and music for Working with God closely mirror the vibe of the Melvins’ formative years — proof that the band was writing irreverently brilliant songs from the start. The Melvins’ antics don’t st...
Eyehategod Unleash New Song “Fake What’s Yours” Ahead of Upcoming Album: Stream
Sludge metal vets Eyehategod have offered up “Fake What’s Yours”, the second single from the band’s forthcoming album, A History of Nomadic Behavior (out March 12th). The song proceeds lead single “High Risk Trigger”, following a similar thread of swinging doom riffs and the inimitable snarls of vocalist Mike IX Williams. Frankly, Williams described it best in his own words: “It’s a pure uncut chunk of anti-authoritarian preach-speak set to a condescending guitar riff that could only be born from the dirty streets of New Orleans,” Williams remarked in a press release. “We can’t wait for everyone to hear the full record, but for now, put on your gas masks, lock your doors, stay home and LISTEN!” As the singer revealed when the album was announced, given the current state of affairs, there’s...
Melvins Unveil New Song “Caddy Daddy’: Stream
The Melvins have shared the riff-filled “Caddy Daddy” from their upcoming album Working with God, out February 26th. The album sees the re-formation of the band’s 1983 lineup featuring Buzz Osborne, Dale Crover, and original drummer Mike Dillard. Given the young ages of the band members when they formed the Melvins, some teenage sense of humor in the new track is inevitable. These aren’t archival recordings, but new music from the 1983 lineup, in the vein of their previous full-length album, 2013’s Tres Cabrones. Like lead single “I F**k Around”, which crudely debauches The Beach Boys’ “I Get Around”, the new single, “Caddy Daddy”, boasts a similar irreverence both lyrically and musically. If it’s any indication of what to expect from the rest of Working with God, fans can look forward to ...
Melvins Announce “New Year’s Evil” Livestream Event
The Melvins have announced “Melvins TV: Volume 1, New Year’s Evil”, a livestream event to ring in 2021. The virtual show will feature a five-song performance by the Melvins, interviews, extras, and an opening set by Void Manes. The stream goes live on December 31st at 3:00 p.m. ET / noon PT, and tickets cost $5 each. “‘Melvins TV, New Year’s Evil’ is as close to a live show as we can get during this hideous pandemic,” Buzz Osborne said in a press announcement. “We’ll be doing more of these so tune in and enjoy! Happy New Year!” The Melvins lineup for the stream will consist of the band’s core trio of Osborne, Dale Crover, and Steven McDonald (of Redd Kross fame). A commemorative limited-edition poster and T-shirt designed by Junko Mizuno and Mackie Osborne will be available exclusively to ...
