Maryland Deathfest to Return in 2024


Gorguts at MDF 2014, photo by Hillarie Jason Photography

In a statement posted on social media, Maryland Deathfest has announced they will return! After a hiatus for 2023 the fest will return from May 23rd to May 26th, 2024. In a message to fans the co-founders of MDF discussed the hiatus and the the return as well as new dates for 2024. MDF 2024 will be their 20th fest in Baltimore. They did announce that aftert the upcoming London Desertfest, they are discontinuing all other festivals they have put on, Netherlands Deathfest, California Deathfest, and more will be no more. You can read a statement from the co-founders Ryan and Evan, below. MDF has operated for almost 20 years, put on 19 fests, and expanded to a global footprint, all while giving a greater voice to Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Stoner Doom, and more genres, perhaps as much or more than any fest in the world. Continue reading


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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Maryland Deathfest and Their Related Metalfests to Go On Hiatus in 2023


Gorguts at MDF 2014, photo by Hillarie Jason Photography

In a statement posted on social media, Maryland Deathfest is going on hiatus after the next MDF event in May 2022. That means in 2023 all of their related festivals are going on hiatus, including MDF, Netherlands Deathfest, California Deathfest, and more. You can read a statement from the co-founders Ryan and Evan, below. MDF has operated for almost 20 years, put on 19 fests, and expanded to a global footprint, all while giving a greater voice to Death Metal, Avant-Garde Metal, Stoner Doom, and more genres, perhaps as much or more than any fest in the world. Continue reading


CONCERT REVIEW: Wardruna – Jo Quail: Live at Manchester Albert Hall


It’s a sight to behold the lengthy queue of hairy Viking looking metalheads snaking around Manchester Albert Hall, assuming of course the snake in question was quite hairy and dressed like a Viking, which I feel is probably stretching the metaphor a bit too far. You’d assume that said hairy, mead quaffing snake (alright, I’ll stop now) was going to be finding its way inside to some sort of very loud and very metal sort of gig. You’d be wrong, as indeed despite the roots of the headliners in Black Metal group Gorgoroth the queue is in fact for the mesmerizing solo cellist Jo Quail, and Nordic Folk legends Wardruna.

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NEW MUSIC FRIDAY: February 25th New Music Releases


 

Purchase and Stream all the New Music released today

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ALBUM REVIEW: Blood Incantation – Timewave Zero


Timewave Zero (Century Media) is, to say the least, not what you’d expect from the band picture of the Blood Incantation. The almost archetypal group of hirsute metalheads, adorned with bullet belts and indecipherable long sleeves trying to look hard in a graveyard. Even by their own standards of innovative recordings though this is a pretty-radical departure from their previous albums.

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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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Napalm Death, Converge, Pig Destroyer, Municipal Waste, Deadguy and More Confirmed for Decibel Metal and Beer Festival 2021



The fest you have been waiting for is finally happening! The full line-up of Decibel Magazine Metal & Beer Fest: Philly – sponsored in part by Metal Blade Records – has rebooked for this fall, 2021! The previously announced headliners Napalm Death, Converge, Pig Destroyer will all appear and play special full-album sets. Joining the bill, Deadguy will reunite their Fixation on a Coworker lineup to perform their first show in nearly 25 years. Also joining the long-awaited party on September 25-26, 2021 are Municipal Waste, Midnight, Imperial Triumphant, Blood Incantation, Warhorse, Eternal Champion, Crypt Sermon, Die Choking, and Teeth.

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ALBUM REVIEW: Gatecreeper – An Unexpected Reality


Not content with being hailed as one of the leaders of a New Wave of Death Metal bruisers (NWODMb anyone?) taking inspiration from the founding fathers of three decades past along with Blood Incantation and Tomb Mold – a pack that looks likely to be joined by impressive newcomers Frozen Soul and their glacial Bolt Throwerisms – Arizonian quintet Gatecreeper have taken it upon themselves to mix things up and show some gnarly dexterity in style and idea, and try and shake things up a little in response to the current COVID landscape and restrictions.

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