Ouroboros

I don’t know much about him, but Mitchell sounds like a total douche. The other day, he went on a rant about Ouroboros, the death metal band that received a $20,000 government grant to fund part of their next release.

Mitchell is no Howard Stern, I can tell you this much. The worst he did was ask why Australian tax dollars were supporting this “awful stuff.”

And he did what every ignorant fuck does when he first hears death metal: Compared the vocals to Cookie Monster.

The grant will help Ouroboros write new songs for its next album, which will include a symphony orchestra.

“This is amazing for us,” drummer David Horgan told The Australian. “We couldn’t consider hiring an orchestra to do this without this kind of support.”

Responding to Mitchell’s criticism Horgan posted a comment on his band’s Facebook page thanking the shock-jock for “promoting Ouroboros and stimulating an important and passionate debate about the great value of public funding for the arts in Australia and heavy metal music in general.”

Reports claim he also was a guest on Mitchell’s show the next morning, and explained the differences between the various kinds of metal to this koala-fucker.

Get it

It’s gratis, baby.

Head here, and just download the song, which is called “Subjected To A Beating.”

I know a few people who should be subjected to a good beating. I know a few people who could use a good killing, too. But that’s neither here nor there.

Also at this location, you can basically hear the band’s entire new record, from front to back.

The song appears on the band’s forthcoming new album, Reign Supreme, which is due out June 19 through Relapse.

Six Feet Under

Six Feet Under’s excellent new album Undead lands in stores today. What a great time for them to announce a new guitarist?

Ola Englund has joined the band, and will make his first official appearance with the band on the 18 Nights Of Blood Tour next month.

Dude replaces Rob Arnold, who has retired from the road. No more touring for him.

“Ola is an amazing guitarist and was chosen for his superlative technique and style of playing,” says vocalist Chris Barnes.

“We believe he will be the perfect complement to Steve Swanson, and the devastating rhythm section that is Talley/Hughell. Steve, Kevin, Jeff and myself are so looking forward to Ola’s entrance into the band upon the release of Undead and the commencement of our first tour next month with Dying Fetus and Revocation. We can’t wait for you to witness the new killing machine that is Six Feet Under!

“Ola takes over duties for our good friend and death metal warrior Rob Arnold who will be retiring from touring but will remain a central writing partner and fellow collaborator on future SFU releases. We are all sad to not have Rob on the road with us, but are confidant and 110% psyched that Ola is now within the ranks of the Undead and will be ready to lay waste to every stop along the way! Hails!”

Be sure to keep an eye out for our interview with Barnes, coming later in the week. It’s a good one.

Evocation

Amon Amarth’s Johan Hegg has tracked guest vocals for the forthcoming fourth album from Swedish death metal band Evocation.

The as-yet-untitled CD is being recorded in part at IF Studios, the In Flames-owned facility in Gothenburg, Sweden, with producer Roberto Laghi.

A late 2012 release is expected through the band’s new label home, Century Media Records.

“Do we need to say that [Johan] did an amazing job?,” the band asks.

Is that a rhetorical question? If not, no.

“As always when Johan is around, it’s easy to think that the thunder is roaring outside, when, in fact, it’s just his mighty voice which makes you think so! Thanx, Johan, for an amazing job!”

This should be rather phat. I love Johan’s voice, and Evocation are cool. Let’s do this thing, motherfucker.

Enemy Reign

At the end of this post, you will find an exclusive song stream from Enemy Reign, the Denver death metal band who have a new full-length out called Between Hell And Oblivion.

The song is called “Forged From Suffering,” and fuck me if it doesn’t own. If you love death metal, go listen to the track, and marvel at those vocals.

Enemy Reign’s new one was recorded at Flatline Audio by Dave Otero (Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, Martriden, Cobalt) and offers up 11 tracks of mile-high deathgrind brutality as well as the debut of vocalist, Stevie Boiser; he replaced former throat, Sherwood Webber (Skinless), last summer.
 
“Between Hell And Oblivion is a huge milestone for Enemy Reign both as a band and for us individually,” the band says.

“It means we didn’t give up even when we were written off, and accomplishing that feels great,” they add. “Musically, we set out to refine what we feel our style of death metal is. We aren’t pretentious people, and this is not a pretentious album. It’s a no nonsense death metal album that pays homage to all the bands we grew up with and love, while keeping an eye on how we can add our own artistic license and create something we could listen to everyday. And we do…so enjoy the reign.”

I’m telling you, this song is disgusting. That’s a good thing. A very good thing. It’s nasty, and I am a fan.

Rise To Remain

“Heartless,” a new song from Rise to Remain (the English metalcore band featuring Iron Maiden frontman Bruce Dickinson’s son, Austin), can be downloaded for free right here.

That would be kind of cool…to have Bruce Dickinson for a dad. At the same time, I would never want a different father than the one I have. He’s fucking rad as hell. Ask anyone.

“Heartless” is one of four tracks the band has recorded for inclusion as bonus tracks with the U.S. version of their debut release, City Of Vultures, which hits stores on June 5.

In related news, the band has announced the full time additions of bassist Connor O’Keefe and drummer Adam Lewin on drums.

The brand new lineup hits the road with a set of British shows before festival performances in Spain (Sonisphere) and Germany (Rock Am Ring).

Volbeat

I feel like the initial lineup was rather weak, and someone in the Metallica camp took notice and decided to enlist the likes of Charred Walls of the Damned, Black Dahlia Murder, and Ghost to beef that shit up a bit…make it worth the money.

Now, the Orion Music + More festival has added Baroness and Volbeat.

These are allegedly the last two additions to the bill.

Of course, Orion Music + More is a festival featuring and organized — in part — by Metallica.

The fest is set for Bader Field in Atlantic City on June 23 and June 24.

The bill also boasts the likes of Sepultura, Red Fang, Torche, Suicidal Tendencies, Thy Will Be Done, Liturgy and The Sword.

Monuments

I have never heard of these dudes, but they seem psyched to be part of the label’s roster.

“We’re looking forward to working with Century Media and getting our music to every corner of the world,” says Monuments in a statement.

“Expect to have your ears and minds destroyed before the end of 2012. Get ready planet Earth, we’re coming to fuck you!”

Monuments is also pleased to announce that singer Matt Rose has joined as the new frontman after they went through a long, grinding, and global search.

“We have found the perfect guy right here in our own back yard, we couldn’t be happier with the work Matt has done so far,” says the band’s John Browne.

For the past seven months, Rose has been working with the band. Rose will enter Fortress Studios for final vocal production and recording with Dan Weller (SikTh) later this month.

Here’s what Monuments sounds like.

Adler Chatter with Chris Adler

Last month, the winners of Revolver’s Golden Gods Awards were announced and for the most part, I was totally befuddled by the eventual honorees.

I questioned how two dudes from Black Veil Brides could win “Best Guitarists” over the likes of Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine and Chris Broderick, Machine Head’s Robb Flynn and Phil Demmel, and Lamb of God’s Willie Adler and Mark Morton.

I also wondered how the drummer from Five Finger Death Punch could win “Best Drummer” over Brann Dailor of Mastodon, Meshuggah’s Tomas Haake, AND my boy Chris Adler. I knew something was up there.

So when I recently spoke with Chris, I had to ask him how this could be — how the dude from Five Finger Death Punch could be considered a better drummer than Lamb of God’s kitman.

When I bring up the subject, Adler laughs.

“I don’t want to in any way discredit any of these awards shows,” Adler says. “They did reach out to us to see if we could attend, but our schedule was conflicting with our tours and family obligations. I’m sure they would prefer winners to be present.”

Hmmm. Very interesting. So, basically, I guess whoever could show up got the award. That’s Revolver for you.

“There have been things we have turned down because of the general nature of it,” Adler continues.

“It’s nice that there is something like that for metal, and who am I to say I am more or less talented than the guy from Five Finger Death Punch?,” asked Chris.

“But that kind of thing, we look at the same way we look at the Grammys — its not why we do this,” Adler adds. “I don’t really need awards or organizations to tell me I’m doing it right.”

Nope, just Gun Shy Assassin. And yes, Chris and Lamb of God are doing something right.

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Chris Adler is the drummer for Grammy-nominated metal band Lamb of God and the author of the book “The Making of Lamb of God’s New American Gospel,” a comprehensive behind-the-scenes narrative book detailing the early days of Lamb of God and the writing and recording of their ‘New American Gospel’ LP. He has also released a new book that addresses the recording of ‘As The Palaces Burn.’ Anything else you need to know about Chris Adler, you can find at his web site, Chris-Adler.com.

Black September

OK, that’s a humungous assumption on my part. I shouldn’t say they are working hard. In fact, I have no idea how hard they are working. They could just be sitting around, smoking weed and comparing dick sizes, for all I know.

But yes, Black September have begun recording.

Producer Andy Nelson is working with the guys on the new material.

Called Into The Darkness Into The Void, the new album will be released before year’s end through Prosthetic Records.

“This record enters the depths of our past while retaining the fire from The Forbidden Gates Beyond,” says guitarist C.M. “One step beyond our previous efforts into a realm of untamed energy. Ravenous and pure.”