Music Video: Gift Giver – Trendkill


gift giver trendkill

Detroit extreme metallers Gift Giver is streaming their music video for “Trendkill,” off their soon to be released Century Media Records debut SHITLIFE. Watch it below.

Gift Giver on tour
w/Sworn In, The Plot In You

Apr 17: Bogies – Albany, NY (w/ Sworn In, the Plot In You)
Apr 18: Heirloom Arts Theatre – Danbury, CT (w/ Sworn In, the Plot In You)
Apr 19: New England Metal and Hardcore Festival – Worcester, MA
Apr 22: Game Changer World – Howell, NJ (w/ the Plot In You)
Apr 23: Planet Trog – Whitehall, PA (w/ Sworn In, the Plot In You)
Apr 24: Double Happiness – Columbus, OH (w/ Sworn In, the Plot In You)
Apr 25: House Cafe – Dekalb, IL (w/ Sworn In, The Plot In You & I Declare War)
Apr 26: Mac’s Bar – Lansing, MI HEADLINING CD RELEASE SHOW


Turnstile, Eternal Sleep and Jagged Visions Added To New England Metal and Hardcore Festival


new england metal and hardcore april 2 2015

The New England Metal and Hardcore Festival has added Baltimore hardcore outfit Turnstile for the Saturday lineup, and Eternal Sleep and Jagged Visions for the Sunday lineup. The event will be at The Palladium in Worcester, MA on April 17, 18 and 19, 2015.

The updated lineup is:

Friday April 17th
Between The Buried And Me
The Red Chord
Cavalera Conspiracy
Corrosion of Conformity
Jasta
Code Orange
Overcast
On Broken Wings
Within The Ruins
Fit For An Autopsy
The Atlas Moth
The Banner
Black Mask
Homewrecker
Discourse
Phinehas
Downpour
Boris The Blade

Saturday April 18th
Testament
Exodus
Nuclear Assault
Nails
Turnstile
Indecision
Incendiary
Suburban Scum
Incantation
Vital Remains
Allegaeon
Rivers of Nihil
The Agonist
Wisdom In Chains
Disgrace
Gods Hate
Thy Will Be Done
No Zodiac
Extinction AD
Vice
Absolute Suffering
Shattered Sun

Sunday April 19th
Motionless In White
For Today
The Color Morale
Vanna
Death Before Dishonor
Cruel Hand
Sworn In
Lionheart
The Plot In You
I Declare War
These Streets
My Ticket Home
Rude Awakening
Lorna Shore
The Last Ten Seconds of Life
World of Pain
Shark Ethic
GhostXShip
Living Laser
Brick By Brick
Nasty
Gift Giver
Oath
Exalt
Unity
Eternal Sleep
Jagged Visions

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Worcester, MA. – Worcester, Massachusetts-based concert promotions company, MassConcerts, is pleased to announce…

Posted by New England Metal Fest on Thursday, April 2, 2015


Sworn In Streaming “I Don’t Really Love You”


sworn in

Sworn In is streaming “I Don’t Really Love You,” off their second studio album The Lovers/The Devil, out April 7, 2015 via Razor & Tie, here.

Stream their previously released song “Sunshine here.

The third IG track, “Oliolioxinfree,” will be made available on March 17, while “Lay With Me,” the fourth and final IG track, will be available on March 31.

The album is the follow up to 2013’s The Death Card and it is a provocative concept piece produced by Will Putney (Amity Affliction, For Today, Miss May I). It chronicles a destructive relationship and is split into two halves.

The first half is “The Lovers,” which tells the story of the man feeling obsessed, psychotic, depressed, and drowning in unrequited love. It tells the story of the desperate romantic who lives inside his own head because the real world has become too unbearable. But such is life and this character reaches a breaking point. And with that comes the split of the record.

The second half is “The Devil,” which charts the course of the role reversal, where the man snaps and becomes the cold, bitter and numb person that drove him mad, while the female occupies the position the male just went through.

Despite the dark and difficult subject matter, the record does not glorify self-destructive love; rather, it details the scenario and can be interpreted any way that feels personal to the one listening. The album cycles through extreme highs and lows, taking the listener along for a sonic thrill ride.

Sworn In – The Lovers/The Devil
1. Sweetheart
2. Sugar Lips
3. I Don’t Really Love You
4. Oliolioxinfree
5. Waltz
6. Pins and Needles
7. Lay With Me
8. Weeping Willow
9. Pocket Full Of Posies
10. Sunshine
11. Scissors
12. Sour
13. Love Drunk

Sworn In Tour Dates
w/ Chelsea Grin, Carnifex, Black Tongue, The Family Run

Mar 06: Murray Theater – Murray, UT
Mar 07: The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
Mar 08: The Granada Theatre – Lawrence, KS
Mar 09: Blue Moose Tap House – Iowa City, IA
Mar 10: The Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
Mar 11: St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
Mar 12: Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Mar 13: The Palladium – Worcester, MA
Mar 14: The Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
Mar 15: Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
Mar 16: Emerson Theater – Indianapolis, IN
Mar 17: Fubar – St. Louis, MO
Mar 20: Kapone’s – San Antonio, TX
Mar 21: South By So What? – Grand Prairie, TX
Mar 24: Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Mar 25: Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ
Mar 26: The Glass House – Pomona, CA
Mar 27: Soma – San Diego, CA
Mar 28: Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA

W/ The Plot In You, I Declare War, Gift Giver
Mar 29: Eagle Aerie Hall – Henderson, NV
Mar 30: 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
Apr 01: Dirty Dog – Austin, TX
Apr 02: Walter’s – Houston, TX
Apr 03: The Conservatory – Oklahoma City, OK
Apr 04: The Outland Ballroom – Springfield, MO
Apr 07: Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
Apr 08: The Metal Grill – Cudahy, WI
Apr 10: Mohawk Place – Buffalo, NY
Apr 11: Rum Runners – London, ON (Canada)
Apr 12: Hard Luck Bar – Toronto, ON (Canada)
Apr 14: Ritual – Ottawa, ON (Canada)
Apr 15: Foufounes – Montreal, QC (Canada)
Apr 16: Saint Clair Theater – Syracuse, NY
Apr 17: Bogies – Albany, NY
Apr 18: Heirloom Arts Theatre – Danbury, CT
Apr 22: Game Changer World – Howell, NJ
Apr 23: Planet Trog – Whitehall, PA
Apr 24: Double Happiness – Columbus, OH

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Sworn In Releasing The Lover/The Devil April 7th


sworn in

Sworn In is releasing their new studio album The Lover/The Devil on April 7, 2015 via Razor & Tie. The album was produced by Will Putney (Amity Affliction, For Today, Miss May I). Stream the first single “Sunshine” here.

Sworn In is Tyler Dennen (Vocals), Chris George (Drums), Zakary Gibson (Guitar) and Eugene Kamlyuk (Guitar).

Sworn In: The Lovers/The Devil Track Listing:

1. Sweetheart
2. Sugar Lips
3. I Don’t Really Love You
4. Oliolioxinfree
5. Waltz
6. Pins and Needles
7. Lay With Me
8. Weeping Willow
9. Pocket Full of Posies
10. Sunshine
11. Scissors
12. Sour
13. Love Drunk

The band recently announced their first headlining tour this spring with special guests The Plot In You, I Declare War, and Gift Giver. Prior to the headlining tour, Sworn In will hit the road as direct support to Chelsea Grin on The Ashes to Ashes Tour, presented by Substream. The tour also features special guests Carnifex, Black Tongue, and The Family Run.

sworn in the plot in you i declare war gift giver

Sworn In Tour Dates:

w/ Chelsea Grin, Carnifex, Black Tongue, The Family Run
Mar 06: Murray Theater – Murray, UT
Mar 07: The Summit Music Hall – Denver, CO
Mar 08: The Granada Theatre – Lawrence, KS
Mar 09: Blue Moose Tap House – Iowa City, IA
Mar 10: The Bottom Lounge – Chicago, IL
Mar 11: St. Andrews Hall – Detroit, MI
Mar 12: Theatre of Living Arts – Philadelphia, PA
Mar 13: The Palladium – Worcester, MA
Mar 14: The Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
Mar 15: Agora Ballroom – Cleveland, OH
Mar 16: Emerson Theater – Indianapolis, IN
Mar 17: Fubar – St. Louis, MO
Mar 20: Kapone’s – San Antonio, TX
Mar 21: South By So What? – Grand Prairie, TX
Mar 24: Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
Mar 25: Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ
Mar 26: The Glass House – Pomona, CA
Mar 27: Soma – San Diego, CA
Mar 28: Ace of Spades – Sacramento, CA

W/ The Plot In You, I Declare War, Gift Giver
Mar 29: Eagle Aerie Hall – Henderson, NV
Mar 30: 191 Toole – Tucson, AZ
Apr 01: Dirty Dog – Austin, TX
Apr 02: Walter’s – Houston, TX
Apr 03: The Conservatory – Oklahoma City, OK
Apr 04: The Outland Ballroom – Springfield, MO
Apr 07: Vaudeville Mews – Des Moines, IA
Apr 08: The Metal Grill – Cudahy, WI
Apr 10: Mohawk Place – Buffalo, NY
Apr 11: Rum Runners – London, ON (Canada)
Apr 12: Hard Luck Bar – Toronto, ON (Canada)
Apr 14: Ritual – Ottawa, ON (Canada)
Apr 15: Foufounes – Montreal, QC (Canada)
Apr 16: Saint Clair Theater – Syracuse, NY
Apr 17: Bogies – Albany, NY
Apr 18: Heirloom Arts Theatre – Danbury, CT
Apr 22: Game Changer World – Howell, NJ
Apr 23: Planet Trog – Whitehall, PA
Apr 24: Double Happiness – Columbus, OH

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Fit For An Autopsy, I Declare War, etc Added To New England Metal and Hardcore Festival


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The New England Metal & Hardcore Festival 2015 has announced new additions to the 2015 edition lineup. They are posted below in bold.

Friday April 17th
Between The Buried And Me
The Red Chord
Code Orange
Overcast
On Broken Wings
Fit For An Autopsy
The Atlas Moth
The Banner
Black Mask
Homewrecker
Discourse
Phinehas
Downpour
Boris The Blade

Saturday April 18th
Testament
Exodus
Nuclear Assault
Nails
Indecision
Incendiary
Suburban Scum
Vital Remains
Allegaeon
Rivers of Nihil
The Agonist
Wisdom In Chains
Disgrace
Gods Hate
Thy Will Be Done
No Zodiac
Extinction AD
Vice
Absolute Suffering

Sunday April 19th
Motionless In White
For Today
The Color Morale
Rotting Out
Death Before Dishonor
Cruel Hand
Lionheart
The Plot In You
I Declare War
These Streets
My Ticket Home
Rude Awakening
Lorna Shore
The Last Ten Seconds of Life
World of Pain
Shark Ethic
GhostXShip
Living Laser
Oath


Interview: Mike Milford of Artery Recordings


artery foundation logo

One of the fastest rising new recording labels is Artery Recordings, a Sacramento, CA based record label and management company that began in 2010 with band manager Eric Rushing and Scars of Tomorrow vocalist Mike Milford.

The company has launched the careers of high profile acts such as Attila, Chelsea Grin, Capture The Crown, and I Declare War. Much like many independent metal labels launching with its own respective mission, Artery Foundation has slowly built up their bands from the ground up and groomed them into what they are today.

Attilla

Attilla

“They’re doing good man. It’s been a good time for sure. We’ve got Attila, Chelsea Grin, and I Declare War. We just signed some new bands. We’ve got some up and comers – Upon This Dawning, Slaves, Kublai Khan. Kublai Khan is so awesome. It reminds me of early Bury Your Dead.”

Matt Honeycutt of Kublai Khan. Photo By Keith Chachkes.

Matt Honeycutt of Kublai Khan. Photo By Keith Chachkes.

“It’s cool to hear a new heavy sound come out again. Deathcore was the big thing there for a while. It seemed like every heavy band sounded deathcore. Kublai Khan came back and brought back that Bury Your Dead, mosh n’ roll, early Eulogy/early Victory days. This reminds me of some older stuff but kids are taken to that again,” he said.

Now Milford is based out of Portland, OR, and he is getting an opportunity to explore musical acts in an area where the region has been producing a number of quality acts that are also gaining a lot of attention.

“A lot of the bands are popping up out of that area. There’s a lot of style of bands than what we work with normally. I do a couple different type of bands. We aren’t genre specific. There isn’t anything specific that needs to be on our label,” he said.

“There’s a band out there I like called Standing On Satellites – they’re pretty good. They’re friends of mine. They helped me out this summer with the Artery tent on Warped Tour. They’re out there selling their own CDs on the tour every day. They did a good job.”

“There’s a lot of metalcore, metal or hardcore up there. It’s kind of died out there. There are a couple new Seattle bands that are popping up. I do have one band from up there – I Declare War. Jamie [Hanks, vocals] lives in Portland. The rest of the guys live in Seattle.

I Declare War

I Declare War

He used his experience from his band to mentor his bands, and giving them advice on what is best for them. But he admits there are obstacles towards a band making decisions, and does his best to guiding them in the best way.

“Here’s the thing that sucks about a lot of touring bands,” said Milford, about the dilemmas of being a touring band in modern times. “They got a giant head start and so therefore a lot of them are able to straight into these massive tours and they never had to pay their dues. The one thing I try to teach all of these bands I start off with is to appreciate every level of growing as a band. If the band comes up too fast, they’re gonna go away just as quickly. They’re not going to get the same benefits and experiences out of it.”

Mike Milford of Artery Recordings

Mike Milford of Artery Recordings

For over a decade, Scars of Tomorrow built their name from the ground up from their early moments in Orange County, CA, playing to small crowds and working their way up to playing festivals across Europe in front of 30,000+ people.
Milford tries to install a certain work ethic into each of his bands so they are prepared for the rigors of the road through his past experiences.

“A lot of them look up to what I did in my career. I think that’s really cool. ‘We see what you did. We see what you built from the ground up and you weren’t given anything. You had to work hard for it. I’ve had to instill that into a lot of newer bands. Don’t be ashamed to go play a city that’s six hours away from you coming up when there’s only 30 kids there. Go do it because those 30 kids will tell 30 more. A lot of bands will go ‘fuck that. We don’t wanna play that. There’s not gonna be 500 kids there. We’re not gonna go. Blah blah blah.’ “

“You have to go pay your dues. Bands like Bleeding Through – us and them used to play this place called Koos Café together to 50 to 100 people when the scene here first started. Bands today never had to build a scene. It was already built for them. I think finding a way to have a building point for a band, they have to build it correctly. Don’t expect everything to be handed everything right away. A career doesn’t work out that way.”

Interview By Rei Nishimoto

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New England Metal & Hardcore Festival Day 2, Live at The Palladium, Worcester MA


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Nursing a wicked bangover from the first night, I was already in scramble mode when I got to the venue for day two. We got there in time to hear the last strains of Carnivora, a top local death metal prospect. These guys definitely deserve your attention. Next up on the main stage was Black Crown Initiate, who are on their stint on the Metal Alliance Tour, opening for Behemoth. It’s too bad the festival environment had them playing this early because they are amazing. Their blend of Meshuggah tech riffs and Opeth-ian prog is going to take them very, very far. Taking a short break to run around and do some other Ghost Cult business, the next band I saw was Reflections. They were slightly better stage presence-wise than the flat showing I saw earlier this year, but their music still puts me to sleep.

inquisition (2 of 2)

The shame of alternating stages is the overlap of certain bands. While I really wanted to see Warhound, Lifeless, and especially Born Low upstairs, they were playing opposite better bands on the main stage. Inquisition was highly anticipated by the crowd that had filled up considerably by now. It was almost a nighttime atmosphere for the show as Dagon and Incubus took the stage in a cloud of red lights and smoke. People were literally losing their shit, and it was a great thing to see a lot of people I chatted with seeing this band for the first time. A lot of people donned the corpse paint in tribute to this band and others we saw on this day, which was pretty funny in an un-ironic way. Their best song and my personal favorite song they played was ‘Command of the Black Crown’. A true mix of true kvlt black metal influences, modern sensibility and sonics. For a change of pace, the maulers in Fit For An Autopsy took the main stage next and slayed. Immediately noticeable is the change over from former front man Nate Johnson to the new guy Greg Wilburn (The Devastated). Greg is a beast of vocalist and has far better stage presence than Johnson, giving this already good band a real shot in the arm. They are a fan favorite at the Palladium so the pit was very active for them. I Declare War had to follow them and it was an embarrassment by comparison to FFAO.

fitforanautopsy (5 of 27)

Staying in the big room for 1349, I don’t think fans were prepared for the mind-blowing performance we were about to see. It’s always the bands that don’t tour a lot that surprise you at these things. Positively evil and putting forth a great set, 1349 were one of the standouts of the weekend. Not to be out done in the showmanship, Goatwhore does what they usually do when they come to town, audio live carnage. Rev. Ben Falgoust might prefer the intimacy of the smaller stage, such as when they played the fest last year on the upstairs stage, with all the people raging in his face, but they belong on the more worthy platform. They flat out owned the main stage. Playing their hits like “Alchemy of the Black Sun Cult” and ‘Apocalyptic Havoc’ as well as a new song, that, also crushed; they ruled all. It’s gonna be a good summer when that new album drops from Metal Blade.

goatwhore (3 of 11)

With more running around to do and needing to get a primo spot to see Slapshot close the main stage, I only caught a glimpse of Within The Ruins, Carnifex, and Thy Art is Murder each, with the latter getting the best response from the crowd. With the fest in full swing- it was cool to see some of the metal band people just hanging out at fest, even if they were not playing. Among those I ran into: Dave Davidson and the Revocation guys, Tony from Vital Remains, Adam from Mongrel, and Jayson Keyser of Origin. I also chatted with actor Brian O’Halloran of Clerks fame who was participating in the Rock And Shock Festival sponsored signings along with horror writer Joe “Zombie Bukkake” Knepper. Brian told me he loves to people watch at metal shows, much more than the bands.

As we were grinding toward the end of the second day I steadied myself for the last few hours with some communal drinking at the bar, which I rarely do at shows anymore. After catching the last half of an excellent set by Cruel Hand, it was time for Slapshot. Slapshot put on a show that put bands half their age to shame. It’s not just about the classic tracks that gets everyone excited, it’s the true spirit of hardcore they embody. There were some pit dancers having fun, and surely some violence going down, but none of the nonsense that pervades the scene at times. No gang BS, even though I suppose there were those types around. From my vantage point in the balcony, keeping my old ass safe and sound, I watched one of my buddies, Anderson Moura, right up at the front, just going nuts the entire time. The Slapshot set was a thing of beauty to behold.

acaciastrain (10 of 12)

Finally done with the second stage I cooled my heels a bit and chilled out as I watched The Acacia Strain and Whitechapel as the penultimate acts of the day. Their respective fans went bonkers. I have seen each band, together and co-headline this venue cause total chaos with the whole floor as a non-stop violent pit of death. Both bands have their respective fans who love each bands take on meat and potatoes death core. The Acacia Strain is literally from “down the block” as Vincent Bennett likes to say, just a few towns over. They often feel like a headliner, even when they are not last on the bill. Whitechapel on the strength of their brand new album, Our Endless War (Metal Blade) played their “hits” and a few new cuts. With a bigger set and staging than ever before, they are definitely trying to step up into a bigger realm. They are knocking on the door of something really big, so I hope more than just casual fans pick up on it.

behemoth (3 of 10)

Finally it was time for the most anticipated band of the weekend to play. Behemoth had already made a grand return to this venue a few years ago, but this was a lot different. On the strength of The Satanist (Metal Blade), the band has never been more popular. Although some fans gripe about the bands new-found “it band” status, the quality of The Satanist attests to the fact that they are are not going any softer. They seem to be a band everyone likes universally, sort of a modern Slayer, without the drama. This can be further proved by the impressive performance they put down.

behemoth (10 of 10)

And what a show it was! Behemoth always had a flair for the dramatic, be it their make-up, masks or cool lighting, but they have reached a new zenith of quality now. They have achieved the perfect blend of theatricality and their black metal influenced -death metal (however commercially acceptable). Their set list was an impeccable blend of old-school classics and new material. Each song was acted out, as much as it was performed, with calculated introductions and interludes. Nergal spoke little to the crowd, other than some pleasantries, and it added to the drama and mood. This was a ground breaking, avant-garde inspired moment for this band, and this genre as a whole. Nothing will ever be the same again. Every band will have to be compared against what Behemoth is doing now and it won’t be fair. They were already a great band, but now they are all-time greats.

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Behemoth Set List:

Blow Your Trumpets Gabriel
Ora Pro Nobis Lucifer

Conquer All

As Above

So Below

Slaves Shall Serve

Christians to the Lions

The Satanist

Ov Fire and the Void

Furor Divinus

Alas, Lord Is Upon Me

At the Left Hand ov God

Chant for Ezkaton 2000

Encore:

O Father O Satan O Sun!

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WORDS: KEITH CHACHKES

PHOTOS: MEG LOYAL PHOTOGRAPHY