Ghost

Ghost

A Pale Tour Named Death

Photos by blogger. Bass Concert Hall, Austin, Texas, November 20, 2018.

Whoever the current 2nd guitarist is, he's a fantastic bit of fun.

If you'll be in Finland, holy crap don't miss this.

Especially the pre-party with Havukruunu. Kelle Surut Soi was one of the best black metal albums of 2017.

Elegiac

Pagan Storm

The newest release from this Portland, Oregon based solo black metal project follows last year's superb release Black Clouds of War, and continues the merging of classic black metal and hints of folk and pagan metal elements. Raw and unapologetic, but still well-produced and fantastically mixed, this album never sacrifices melody or enjoyment while being a raging assault on the senses in the vein of Satanic Warmaster or Darkthrone.

While the title itself indicates the pagan black metal stylistic leanings, it is not overdone, and the album remains firmly rooted in the traditional black metal sound. Rather, the pagan stylings are used to grow the songs, turning typical roaring riffs into hypnotic passages that allow the pagan longings to flourish. This generates a mixture of somber, mournful, yet celebratory emotions, an apt devotional to old ways, expressed with beautiful melody and stout heart. The songs tend towards a longer run time, permitting the soundscape to expand organically and meld the various little parts into a mesmerizing whole. As with the rest of this project's discography, it is worth listening, keeping the ancient spirit of black metal alive and kicking.

CDs can be obtained from ATMF Recordings.

Released September 28, 2018

NEW DEVIN TOWNSEND IS COMING!!

Black Jackal- Rock N Roll Nightmare

The debut album from San Antonio black thrash n roll speeding death train Black Jackal is probably in my top 5 albums of the year. This album slays. It rocks. Its absolutely awesome. If you like Venom, Weaponizer, Bastardizer, Destroyer 666, etc., you absolutely must try this album. If you want rock n roll, you must try this album. If you love heavy metal, you must try this album.

The riffs are some of the best you will hear, from a master guitarist and his virtuoso nerdtastic rythym- man ripping the heavens asunder. The basslines roar, a groovy undertow pulling everything together, especially on Skeletonize. Top notch drumming keeps you banging your head at breakneck speeds throughout. The vocals are some of my favorite, a raspy growl tearing through the rock and roll din, gruff but discernible in a manner I tend to find rare in many metal releases, towing a perfect line between harsh and clean.

There is a somber aspect to this release, as the rock and roll nightmare himself is no longer with us. The stunning last track is a reminder of what was lost, and a beautiful way to close the album. The band continues to forge ahead, each step forward in honor of a metal maniac, and I await what the future brings with excitement.

Lay down your soul for the God's rock and roll!

You can currently pick up digital copies from Flesh Vessel Records on Bandcamp, and physical copies are coming in the near future.

Ulthar and Scorched are going on tour through North America this year.

Ulthar killed it at Red River Family Fest III, so it'll be awesome to see them again.

Support for the Austin, Texas date are Crawl and Haunter, so if you're in that area it is a show that shouldn't be missed.