ALBUM REVIEW: Autopsy – Morbidity Triumphant


 

Artificial intelligence is a concept seemingly ever-present in the modern day. But nobody talks about when musical instruments become sentient and develop their own mannerisms and consciousness.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Bloodbath – Survival Of The Sickest


 

Survival Of The Sickest (Napalm Records) sees the return of Bloodbath, European death metal’s number one super-group, a band created in homage to the old school masters of the grisly art in 1998, by Jonas Renkse and Anders Nystrom of Katatonia, Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth and Dan Swano (Edge Of Sanity).

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ALBUM REVIEW: Molder – Engrossed in Decay


 

Molder ticks off a lot of my sonic checkmarks, but something isn’t quite right here. If Engrossed in Decay (Prosthetic Records) were a dish in its ingredients section you’d read that it contains Autopsy, early Death, Slayer, and a hint of vintage Carcass. Seems like a pretty appetizing meal, right? And there are several moments to sink your teeth into, but overall, I was left unsatisfied. I’ll still recommend the eatery, no doubt, but here’s to hoping that the next entre hits the spot.

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FESTIVAL REVIEW: Oblivion Access – Various Venues – Austin, Texas


 

After a two year postponement, Oblivion Access Festival finally happened! Although I couldn’t attend all four days of festivities, I drove up to Austin, TX on Saturday to catch the legendary hardcore Youth of Today! It only took over three decades to finally see them lol. The festival was quite an undertaking, involving a lot of local Austin venues on 5th, 6th, and 7th Street. After 3 /12 hours of driving I was ready to stretch my legs, get some blood moving and stay cool in the humid Texas heat. Picking up my passes was a breeze as there were signs posted at Native Hostel directing you to the kind staff who greeted people with friendly smiles and words of encouragement to enjoy themselves.

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FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Oblivion Access Brings a Unique Experience to Music Festivals in Texas This Weekend


Oblivion Access, the eclectic music festival metal, hardcore, hip-hop, electronic, avant-garde, and punk music takes palce this weekend around Austin, Texas. The multi-venue music festival returns to downtown Austin on May 12-15. Tickets are on sale now! Over 100+ artists are now set to perform including Blonde Redhead, Carcass, The Body, Windhand, Deaf Club, Xiu Xiu, Autopsy, Converge, Full of Hell, Zola Jesus, Youth of Today, Danny, Coven, Grouper, Andy Morin (of Death Grips), The Microphones, HO99O9, Massacre, Cities Aviv, King Woman, Billy Woods, and KTRK, and many others. There is also a plethora of other experiences, vendors villages, merch, food, and other experiences on tap. Check out our day by day guide of the can’t miss artists, set times, and other happenings at Oblivion Access.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Undeath – It’s Time To Rise… From The Grave


Leaning on everything from horror movies to medical science and general human nastiness, New York death metallers Undeath return with the much anticipated follow-up to their 2020 debut Lesions of a Different Kind. Using the lockdown period during the pandemic to (de)compose new material, the band pays homage to the past as well as mining from the present on murderous second full-length release It’s Time… To Rise From The Grave (Prosthetic Records).

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Danny Brown, Grouper, Andy Morin (Death Grips), The Microphones, HO99O9, Massacre, Cities Aviv, King Woman, and More Booked for Oblivion Access


Oblivion Access, the eclectic music festival highlighting hip-hop, electronic, avant-garde, and punk has added tremendous new names to the ever expanding bill. The multi-venue music festival returns to downtown Austin on May 12-15. Tickets to each of the newly announced festival concerts will go on sale tomorrow, Friday, February 11th, 2022 at 10 a.m. CT via the link below, in addition to a limited amount of full festival badges at the link below. Joining the lineup are Danny Brown to help headline the expanded four-day fest in addition to other new performers like Grouper, Andy Morin (of Death Grips), The Microphones, HO99O9, Massacre, Cities Aviv, King Woman, Billy Woods, and KTRK, among others. Over 100+ artists are now set to perform including previously announced acts Blonde Redhead, Carcass, The Body, Windhand, Deaf Club, The Locust, Xiu Xiu, Autopsy, Converge, Full of Hell, Zola Jesus, and Youth of Today.

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ALBUM REVIEW: The Lurking Fear – Death Madness Horror Decay


Consistency and identity – albeit a distorted, perturbed sense of being – are the cornerstones of the second album of The Lurking Fear – the “ugly step-child” (according to Tomas Lindberg Redant) of Swedish melodeath rejuvenants At The Gates. There has been a conscious effort to double down and to make clear what was originally “just” a side-project is, why it exists, and just what it’s purpose is. Indeed, as the parent group have taken further strides to redefine and push themselves since their return, particularly this year, so too the offspring has engaged in a campaign of scent-marking; defining their own identity on Death, Madness, Horror, Decay’(Century Media).

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California Deathfest Announces Complete 2022 Lineup


 

From the makers of Maryland Deathfest, California Deathfest 2022 (aka CDF VI) has confirmed its final bands for the fest to complete its killer bill. The event takes place January 28-30 at 1720 E 16th St in Los Angeles, CA and features Autopsy, Pentagram (Chile) Onslaught, Mortician, Skinless, Vile, Sacramentum, Decrepit Birth, and more!Continue reading


Crowdfunding Campaign Launched for Peaceville Records Founder Paul “Hammy” Halmshaw who is Terminally Ill


According to reports from Decibel and Metal Sucks, Peaceville Records founder Paul “Hammy” Halmshaw is terminally ill with a heart condition and needs help to cope with his condition from fans, and peers. There is a crowdfunding campaign launched via JustGiving. Peaceville has given the world albums by such legendary musical acts as Katatonia, Autopsy, Darkthrone, Paradise Lost, and My Dying Bride. Hammy, who is now 56 years old, was recently diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy, a hereditary, terminal condition in which the heart muscle becomes weakened and enlarged. “As a result, the heart cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body,” according to MedlinePlug.gov.

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