CD Review: MARILYN MANSON The Pale Emperor

MARILYN MANSON

The Pale Emperor

Hell, etc.

Release Date: January 15, 2015

Deluxe version includes:

Day 3 (acoustic version of Third Day Of A Seven Binge)

Fated, Faithful, Fatal (acoustic of The Mephistopheles Of Los Angeles)

Fall Of The House Of Death (acoustic of “Odds or Even”)

It is definitely a very different style from what we used to see and in my opinion, the total opposite of his first album, this one is a bit blues-ish with some rock-ish moments.

It has the melancholy in Manson’s voice and it’s quite palpable, one can actually feel it, the lyrics also are quite interesting like the reference to Lazarus for example. The instrumentation is quite different from aggressive drums and screams, features a calmer more relaxed and concise style in my opinion.

My favorite tracks of this album were Killing Strangers, Day 3, Fated, Faithful, Fatal, The Devil Beneath My Feet, Birds Of Hell Awaiting and Odds or Even.

Reasons for the picks are: first one because of the clear blues-ish influence second and third for being acoustic versions that are easy to play and with deep lyrics, the fourth because of the upbeat drum that isn’t aggressive but isn’t boring either, fifth because of the instrumentation with some psychedelic-ish moments along a play on words on the lyrics and the sixth because of lyrics and the fact it kind of speaks of “the ugly truth” of not being able to escape one’s self regardless of how many defenses, how many masks and all that we put daily along. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Track List:
1. Killing Strangers
2. Deep Six
3. Third Day Of A Seven Day Binge
4. The Mephistopheles Of Los Angeles
5. Warship My Wreck
6. Slave Only Dreams To Be King
7. The Devil Beneath My Feet
8. Birds Of Hell Awaiting
9. Cupid Carries A Gun
10. Odds Of Even

CD Review: WEAPONS OF ANEW The Collision of Love and Hate

WEAPONS OF ANEW

The Collision of Love and Hate

OK Good Records

“Blood From The Stone” “Awake” “Sundown” “Brave” and “This Moment” along with “Undone” were my favorites, due to the instrumentation especially the drums and the guitar. Vocals weren’t bad and were heartfelt but I’m not really a big fan of screaming/gutturals and such while singing. The album itself is quite solidly put together as the music flows smoothly while the songs are playing; you don’t feel “trapped” musically speaking nor it gets old. I really liked it and actually hearing it for the second time as I write. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Track List:
1. Killshot
2. Speed
3. Blood from Stone
4. Awake
5. Sundown
6. Brave
7. This Moment
8. Undone

CD Review: DEMON HUNTER Outlive

DEMON HUNTER

Outlive

Solid State Records

Powerful drums, great vocals and impressive guitar along quite interesting lyrics that I feel flow smoothly seem to be solid and doesn’t feel repetitive.

My favorite tracks will be explained below and also why I picked them.

“Died In My Sleep” since it reminds me of classical music in a part with a guitar, “Half As Dead” for the awesome lead guitar, loved the intro on “Cold Blood” even if the singer screams/growls a bit on that one at first as much as that whole song.

“One Step Behind” was also an interesting song, I liked it very much because the singing felt more natural and the instrumentation (more specifically the lead guitar) along the lyrics were quite like a puzzle with all pieces together.

“The End” one song that starts with tons of energy personally I love that one for the general energetic vibe of it.

“Patience” piano intro on this one evokes nostalgia, melancholy and then a blast of energy it just combines really well with the more rock-side that comes after

“Slight The Odds” another classical-ish intro, this time with strings and then powerful heart-felt vocals and a masterful classical ending to “close the book” that is the album.

All in all, is an album I highly recommend to anyone that enjoys metal. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Track List:

1. Trying Times

2. Jesus Wept

3. Cold Winter Sun

4. Died In My Sleep

5. Half As Dead

6. Cold Blood

7. One Step Behind

8. Raining Down

9. The End

10. One Less

11. Patience

12. Slight The Odds

CD Review: AVI ROSENFELD Very Heepy Very Purple VII

AVI ROSENFELD

Very Heepy Very Purple VII

Independent

I wanted to give the band a chance to really shake me to the ground having traveled back in the day with Uriah Heep. The vocalist does not have command of his falsetto and goes flat quite often, too often to be able to sit back and allow the music to thoroughly penetrate your realm. That said, I do want to mention that there were also moments when he shines with that falsetto, just not enough to override the bad.

The musicians play cohesively as a unit and it sounds magnificent. I do not know where the comparison to Deep Purple comes in, but forgetting that reference and focusing on the band as they are and not having those comparisons, I would say they executed a magnificent play of musical quality the likes of those older well-loved bands of yore. I want to give kudos to the organist in particular.

I would highly recommend that this band NOT use comparisons to introduce themselves and practice those higher notes from the vocalist. Then when you have that whipped to perfection, you can say who you are and everyone will know and there will be no one to compare you to - play on. -Teresa Clayton

Track list:
1. Walls Of Castle Black
2. Somebody Alone
3. Caesars
4. Castle Knights From Edinburgh
5. Evil Clown
6. City Gates
7. Rock In Heaven
8. Took The Morning Train
9. Laylas Lover
10. Tail Gunner

Film Review: Tusk by Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Tusk

Comedy, Drama, Horror

Release date: September 6, 2014

Company: SModcast Pictures

Director: Kevin Smith

Starring: Justin Long, Michael Parks, Haley Joel Osment, Genesis Rodriguez, Johnny Depp

Plot: When podcaster Wallace Bryton travels to Canada to interview someone, he winds up meeting a strange man named Howard Howe who has many stories to tell about his past life during his interview. Wallace wakes up the next day finding out Howe isn't the person he thought he was.

Review: Sometimes cruelty has a funny way to come bite people’s ass when they least expect it and I believe that karma has its very own way, mostly ironic sometimes, to prove that.

The movie starts slow, a bit too slow for my taste.

The acting is decent to an extent, the fact that you can relate to the characters now and then is a good sign.

However, sometimes the movie falls short and loses focus. I felt the story was a bit over-extended with too much yapping and some-if not all-of the jokes really weren’t funny, for example, the scene of the airport which honestly didn’t make me laugh at all, more like go meh actually.

The character development is decent enough to keep you interested for a few but even then it feels not enough at times.

The music is one of the only things I can consider really fitting for the scene-setting the other being Mr. Howe’s story-telling of how we met Ernest Hemingway and other tales he shared with Wallace.

One of my favorite scenes was what I call “Walrus Noises Contest”; even if it was brief it’s kind of memorable to an extent; the other being the revelation on Wallace’s new form.

Johnny Depp's character Guy Lapointe was the one I disliked the most between his broken English and the fact he’s really too odd.

Honestly, I got a mixed feeling regarding the movie. I wouldn’t say it’s awful but it is a bit too twisted at times. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Film Review: Robocop by Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Robocop

Action

Release date: July 17, 1987

Movie Company: Orion Pictures

Director: Paul Verhoeven

Produced by: Jon Davison as executive producer, Stephen Lim as associate producer, Edward Neumeier as co-producer, Arne Schmidt as producer, Phil Tippett as associate producer

Starring: Peter Weller, Nancy Allen & Dan O’Herlihy

Plot: A police officer, Alex J. Murphy, arrives at his new precinct following an OCP-directed transfer where he is introduced to his partner Anne Lewis. On their first patrol, they chase down a gang led by the ruthless criminal Clarence Boddicker not knowing it’d change Murphy’s fate forever.

Review: One of the many jewels of the movie industry back in “the old days”, this one is pre-90’s era. It’s one of the most classic movies like Terminator -which wasn’t released much before this one- and is also a revered cult movie.

The acting is impressive; especially Peter Weller’s both as in old Murphy –human one- and Robocop.

The struggle between being a man, and then becoming a machine with the consequences of it, it is heart-breaking.

The fact that back in the 80s, while not having as much technology as we do today, making a great movie definitely is a fact worth mentioning.

Sometimes it just takes full commitment, to put the soul, the flesh, and blood to make a great character as Murphy come alive, and not many actors can do it to that extent.

It is a movie that I highly recommend to anyone that wants a great time proving that “old school movies” that become classic transcend time and technology.

Personally, while I love the movie and the sequel, Robocop 2, I hated the reboot; honestly, I think that some movies are worth a visit now and then sure but not a “revival” that really doesn’t cut it to the original. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Film Review: Phantasm by Roberta J. Downing

Phantasm (1979)

Horror, Sci-Fi

Release date: June 1, 1979

Director and written by: Don Coscarelli

Starring: A. Michael Baldwin, Bill Thornbury, Reggie Bannister and Angus Scrimm

A boy and his adult brother along with a guitar-playing ice cream man must protect themselves from a mortician who is only known as the “Tall Man.” This mortician not only has minions but he has the most terrifying weapons anyone has ever seen.

Mike’s curiosity has gotten the best of him when he sees something he shouldn’t have seen. He can’t help himself but go nosing around the funeral home after hours. The poor boy becomes terrified after seeing what I can only describe as demonic Ewoks that try to keep in locked in and moreover, tries to harm him. He makes it back home to inform his big brother Jody who chalks it up to just a teenager’s imagination.

Jody takes his date to the local graveyard where the young lady is murdered. Jody scurries back home avoiding getting into trouble.

Later that night, the real trouble begins. Oh yes, the “Tall Man” (Angus Scrimm) in all his creepiness makes his reflection is seen through the mirror. The tall thin man udders his most famous word; “Boy” and the way in which he says it isn’t like a father. Oh no. His voice is most menacing and threatening.

The next night, Mike, Jody, and Reggie head off to the funeral parlor only to find that the Tall Man had been expecting them and in fact, pulled out the most evil of weapons, that quite honestly when I saw this as a child scared the holy hell out of me, to unleash. A silver ball. Oh, this is not just any silver ball. This ball flies through the air and has two metal spikes that come out of it. I not going to give away all of the ball’s little secrets!

This film won both the Saturn Film Award and the Special Jury Award. If you have not seen this film yet, this is a must! This is a true classic and the first of its kind in the type of horror it represents. The Tall Man will leave you wanting more, you’ll be rooting for Mike and grow to love Reggie. Be prepared for lots of jumps and some really awesome gore! Also as a warning, don’t be shocked and shaken if you end up with nightmares. And whatever you do, try not to laugh at the evil ewoks!

The chase is on but, who is chasing who? This single movie spawned several sequels that are just as good as the first. Truly brilliant! -Roberta J. Downing

Lyric Video Review: LOSTAIR The Bible Code by Jaime Regadas

LOSTAIR

The Bible Code

Track from their forthcoming full length Ad Jubilaeum to be released October 20 (Revalve Records)

Hailing from Italy, Lostair's brand of metal is a unique one at that. Their single 'The Bible Code' is taken from their upcoming album 'Ad Jubilaeum' which is set for release on 20 October 2017. The song is three-minutes in length and features traditional heavy metal stylings in the nature of the guitar riffs. Lyrically it is a tad frivolous as a stand-alone piece but it is purported to be part of a larger concept dealing with the power and oppression of the Christian church. They're an accessible and easy-listening group and they're definitely on the lighter end of the metal spectrum but I think this is something that will get a lot of heads bopping, even if it isn't musically or thematically astonishing. One looks forward to hearing more because they're good at combining accessible songwriting with aesthetic connotations of the macabre, a touch similar to MERCYFUL FATE / KING DIAMOND, SATAN, HELL, IRON MAIDEN and DEMON. They're a solid working unit by the sounds of it and it will be interesting to see where they manage to take their craft over the next few months. -Jaime Regadas

CD Review: DRAWN INTO DESCENT Drawn Into Descent

DRAWN INTO DESCENT

Drawn Into Descent

Immortal Frost Productions

Drawn Into Descent began in Belgium in 2013; their self-titled debut was released by Immortal Frost in two years’ time. Listening to this I could readily draw comparisons between them and My Dying Bride and I wouldn’t be completely off. Nor would it be a limiting or restrictive call, as My Dying Bride broke the mold of death metal and allowed for elements of doom metal to creep in. The impact this created was felt for years afterward, as much as those created by ambient side projects of Mortiis (Emperor) and other black metal musicians. Drawn Into Descent are opening similar doors into those depressive realms and showing us there’s much more to see. While this band comes from the school of black metal, a broad perception will lead you to see what they have in common with their U.K. counterparts (who are still active today. I might add). There is something about the presentation of the songs and the track chosen as the first that communicated with me as dawn was making its appearance outside my window. The mysterious spirits who were likely here with me may have left at first light, but their accounts from beyond were left behind for me to read and study. Their world may be limitless nightfall, but there is something there offering respite and comfort from daily existence on earth as these songs determine. The introduction, simply named Prelude, is a grey image akin to looking through a window at rain falling across the countryside, as if divine tears from that dark place are washing clean the world’s ugliness and corruption in the hope of starting over for humanity. The somber guitar line and bass signature entering into the introduction provide a semblance of overcast allure and a feeling the sun will eventually rise over a countryside purified of greed and hate. Once again this reminds me of a quote I remember in Omen 3: The Final Conflict, spoken by Damien Thorn himself: “Most people confuse evil with their own trivial lusts and perversions; true evil is as pure as innocence.” No matter how much humanity deceives itself, nature will always get the last word. The theme of Prelude has a way of reappearing in Solitude (which I’d say is a personal favorite), Pariah and Gallows. The lyrics are every bit as profound, describing those dark places as places of introspection and soul searching where you can remain in touch with yourself and be what you are, accepting your anguish as much as your joy. Drawn Into Descent first release from 2015 has reportedly sold out. IFP's first reissue is available in 1000 CD copies, 250 twelve inch vinyl copies and digital format. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Prelude
2. Elude
3. Solitude
4. The Realm of Unbecoming
5. Pariah
6. Gallows

Video Review: BREATHE (featuring Sky Claudette Soto) by Dave Wolff

Breathe

A short film starring Sky Claudette Soto

Visual scenes filmed by Sky Claudette Soto

Footage of Sky Claudette Soto filmed by Vlad Marco

“Carnale” by Clock Heart Symphony

SVProductions13

It’s been long since I reviewed a video by Sky Claudette and Vlad Marco, also known as Eros Fyre. Earlier I followed their activities attending their fire dance performances whenever they appeared in NYC, interviewed them a couple times and published Sky’s poems (Artist Winston Blakely also based a piece on their likenesses while this zine was still published in print). I haven’t gotten to see them since they relocated to Pennsylvania and most of their performances are private, but I’ve kept in touch with them as much as possible. So when I heard about this independently produced short from Sky the other day I wanted to watch it to see what Eros Fyre are up to nowadays and capture my thoughts and impressions about it. In comparison to older shorts, Breathe is far more surrealistic than I remember. In its own way it’s more expressive and provokes a lot more thought than you would have expected. Many bands have written about the end of the world, or at least the end of civilization, but few explore the long term effects in a way this short hints at. Here you see fleeting images suggesting some recent apocalyptic event (whether it was a war, a series of natural disasters or a global catastrophe) after which only vast wastelands exist as far as the eye can see. There are few human and animal survivors here and there, but not nearly as many as the insects that remain to inherit what is left of the earth after this unnamed apocalyptic event. What happened to the world? How extensive was the cost to humanity? Can it ever be recovered from? These questions aren’t answered but the answers are rather left to your imagination. From the shots in color to those in black and white, most are appropriately grainy and appear captured by amateur equipment. These shots add to the intended effect, being unfiltered products of what Sky and Vlad had in mind when filming them. The quick cuts, the closeups and the camera angles present the illusion of seeing these images in a prophetic dream of the future. Clock Heart Symphony’s Carnale is an apt soundtrack for the images presented in the video; it may be too cutting edge for MTV and VH1 but I imagine it would work for IFC, going by film shorts I’ve seen aired there. Other short films by Sky and Vlad, and clips from various fire dance shows, can be viewed at Sky’s Youtube channel. -Dave Wolff

Live Video Review: WARBRINGER Remain Violent by Dave Wolff

WARBRINGER

Remain Violent

Performed live at The Forge, Joliet, Illinois USA September 20, 2017

Filmed by Frank “Artemorbid” Garcia

Warbringer is accompanying Dark Tranquillity on their Septermber/October North American tour and samples of a recent Illinois appearance are uploaded at Frank Garcia’s Youtube channel. Garcia filmed a song from Warbringer, Dark Tranquillity and Withering Soul at a Joliet club called The Forge last September 20 (the Canadian band Striker is said to be sharing the bill, but there is no video of theirs if they took part in this show). Garcia is still consistently posting fan’s eye views of visiting bands playing in his home state, and there are many more recent clips to peruse at his channel. My first impression of Warbringer when they started playing Remain Violent, a selection from their latest full length CD Woe To The Vanquished, was that they must be Slayer fans. The opening strains with their drum accents and lead passages called Hell Awaits to mind, and to a certain point those impressions carried throughout. I heard some elements of old Exodus and D.R.I. too but fortunately the similarities don’t’ dominate their musicianship too much. They bring enough of them in to incite their audience to get into the spirit of things, and the strongest tactility they display is the common eagerness and devotion to thrash metal that bands with the most longevity exposed at their hungriest. Mind you, this one song is my first exposure to Warbringer and it would be best to listen to their new album in its entirety before forming an opinion. For fans of old school thrash it’s a suitable introduction to this band since their capacity of compelling the listener to become enthusiastic about what they’re hearing is quite palpable. Remain Violent is reportedly about Trump America, again a sensitive topic Americans are firmly divided on. But as we know thrash bands have long chosen their positions about such topics, something that was inspired by punk and hardcore when the first crossover bands appeared around 1985 and ’86. Garcia captures the band’s live essence to where you feel you’re present for their set. All this has generated an interest in hearing the song as it was recorded in the studio as well as the rest of the album. -Dave Wolff

CD Review: EVIL SEX PARTY E.S.P.

EVIL SEX PARTY

E.S.P.

Independent

The simplest way to begin this review is by stating this musical project applies to those who can appreciate something so left-field that categories aren't enough to describe how contradictory their qualities are. The project is EVIL SEX PARTY and they're an ambient group than anything else, though this isn't a project one can passively listen to as muzak. If one attempts doing that they'll dislike it and lose concentration. This one has to voluntarily, actively absorb. It doesn't sound awfully fun but the benefits are rewarding. They fuse sounds together to create one unified whole. The key is not to focus on the whole but the pieces the whole is composed of. The album is titled 'E.S.P.' and consists of seven pieces. First track 'Commencement' is the lengthiest track and admittedly it took me long to comprehend the group. For the first two minutes I was listening to this conglomeration of odd machinery samples and waiting for something to actually kick in (Spoiler alert. It doesn't.). Indeed, one has to use their imagination to a degree to put themselves into the zone. Once you get past the fact that it's "noise" and sounds the same to unaccustomed ears you can disassociate from the experience by focusing on one sphere of the sonic field. In doing so it becomes a great deal more interesting. 'Tangle of Flesh' is, on passive-listening, another uneventful short interlude. On a vigilant scale it is full of activity and you can hear the first real introduction of an instrument. In the distance you can faintly hear electric-guitars but it is advised not to focus on it for too long because you'll find you have missed other happenings. One begins to encounter the most "musical" piece. In 'Liturgy' you can hear something not too short of a melody. It is electronically-driven, arpeggiated (or square-wave if you want to be fancy) synthesizer tones. 'The Body and the Blood' features the most diverse array of sounds though I couldn't quite recall it after listening to the record. 'Transmogrification' is a pretty number whereas 'Communion' is utterly terrifying and the peak of the album. I'm 99% sure this piece is based upon the group's name as the human moaning that penetrate one's eardrums are redolent of an "evil sex party". Respite and its sacred offerings have never been more appreciated upon hearing 'Retreat to Light', a track to alleviate the tension the listener experiences. It is indeed an experience I'd recommend. Seemingly minimalistic, but maybe not quite so in reality. All the layers unfold and it becomes apparent EVIL SEX PARTY is something, to quote the group, to "listen at your own peril." -Jaime Regadas

Track list:
1. Commencement
2. Tangle Of Flesh
3. Liturgy
4. The Body And The Blood
5. Transmogrification
6. Communion
7. Retreat To Light

Film Review: 28 Days Later by Sophia Cynthia Cabral

28 Days Later

Drama, Horror

Release date: November 1, 2002

Director: Danny Boyle

Companies involved: DNA Films, UK Film Council

Produced by: Robert How as line producer, Andrew Macdonald as producer

Starring: Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston, Megan Burns, Brendan Gleeson, Ricci Harnett, Stuart McQuarrie, Noah Huntley

Plot: A group of animal rights activists break into a lab and release monkeys from their cages to rescue them, despite warnings from a scientist that the monkeys are contagious.

As a result of the animal rights activists' actions, a virus that the monkeys had contained rapidly spread across Great Britain and infects numerous people. Jim, who fell into a coma following a bicycle accident shortly before the virus was released, emerges from his coma and finds that London is deserted. He realizes that he is not alone, as within the city there are those that have been infected and those that have not. Jim manages to find more survivors and they head out to Manchester, where a group of British military personnel offer protection of any survivors from the infected. However, Jim and his colleagues have no idea what they're in for.

Review: The movie shows us that any unhealthy fanaticism towards whatever cause it is isn’t good. The foolishness of breaking free the monkeys and the infection afterwards is the proof.

In the movie you can appreciate the struggle of survival in a very hostile situation, the rage virus isn’t forgiving. It’s what I could call a perfect virus because it DOES NOT kill the host really but takes over, filling them with an out-of-this-world anger.

It’s a different take on zombies actually yes they eat your flesh but unlike others they don’t eat your brain nor are really zombies since technically they still are alive.

Hope, desperation, anger, loneliness and lack of mercy towards others.

Those feelings are explored on the film; some characters even represent them in my opinion.

It is a movie I liked watching and could actually relate to the characters, the acting is quite good, the suspense is done just right and the disgusting truth about the soldiers is well built-up, it’s a shame people resort to such measures regardless of circumstances.

There is a sequel for this movie, called 28 Months Later which is also quite good, a good movie that will keep you in suspense and eager to see what happens.

Sometimes the hope is indeed the last thing to be lost. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Film Review: Cloud Atlas by Roberta J. Downing

Cloud Atlas

Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery

Release date: October 2012

Written and Directed by: Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski

Produced by: Stefan Arndt, Grant Hill, Tom Tykwer, Lana and Lily Wachowski and many others.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Zhu Zhu, Keith David, and Susan Sarandon

A multifaceted web of how the actions and deeds of just one person can impact other people in the past, present and even the future. Ebbing and flowing from a single act of love and kindness can inspire others centuries later to start a uprising or how a man so full of greed can in another life time become one who gives all he has.

I have to say that I’m not often a fan of the flashing forward and backward in a movie however, in order to be able to tie the past to present and future this was necessary-ish. I honestly believe that the movements could have been done much smoothly than they were yet I did find myself drawn into the web of many lives the movie spanned.

This movie not only covers many lives but also many different issues such as slavery, racism and the proverbial evil being an ever constant battle. It goes to show that love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, death and rebirth are just different sides of the same coin. It also has aliens beings that seem to be stranded and viewed as different, almost God like with their technologies.

It was interesting, to say the least, watching how each actor played their parts for each era. There were times it was akin to watching Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde with the different transformations each character would undergo on another life time.

I do have to say that this film was especially long and there were times when I actually kept thinking that this is a good place to end the movie. Yes, there are some lulls in the film and I think most of that had to do with the flashing forward and back a multitude of times.

Lastly, I think all in all this was a very good movie but I do think that it might have been better perhaps a part one and part two. -Roberta J. Downing

Single Review: THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Matriarch

THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER

Matriarch

From their new full length Nightbringers to be released on Metal Blade October 6

Detroit, Michigan’s own The Black Dahlia Murder, named after the 1947 unsolved murder of Hollywood waitress Elizabeth Short, have gained unforeseen popularity since their debut full length Unhallowed was released in 2003. Like Cannibal Corpse, they have fans in their camp who assert their inability to release a disappointing album. Nightbringers is their latest effort which is due to come out next month, and things are reportedly shaping up in anticipation. Pre-orders for the album are being said to have sold the highest number of copies in the history of Metal Blade records. It appears the label has worked particularly hard to push the band, and from that alone those efforts are beginning to pay off. The band is likewise channeling huge amounts of energy to promote Matriarch before its release on several social media and streaming sites. There has also been web activity including an interview with vocalist Trevor Strnad on Metal Sucks where he demonstrates his vocal technique. This is a comedic interview and not exactly intended to teach vocalists about the discipline of extreme metal vocals like other instructors, but it’s good for levity if your day hasn’t gone well. Matriarch is the second preview from Nightbringers; the first was a promotional video for the title track released last August. That video was filmed at a show the band had recently played and demonstrated the tight heavy groove they perfected through the 2000s and 2010s. The lighting the video captured from that show was fitting for the lyrics that assailed the misuse of religion as a ‘convert through fear’ mechanism. The lyrics of Matriarch is a graphic description of a serial killer and the fate of his pregnant girlfriend. This is delivered in full on slasher film mode, utterly intended to shock and horrify. The less hardened listener will have to keep reminding themselves it’s only a song but if you’re attuned to gory lyrics this song is ideal for entertainment value. The breakneck pace, blast beats, time changes, meticulous guitars and lead solos sound of the natural progression the band is said to develop by. The musicianship continues to reach new heights and sounds close to impossible to play, but there is no evidence of the band attempting to showboat their abilities or become too grandiloquent in their accomplishments. Metal Blade pre-orders are available in several vinyl and CD formats you can choose from. October sees the band touring to promote Nightbringers with guests Suffocation, Decrepit Birth, Necrot, and Wormwitch. -Dave Wolff

EP Review: ANTZAAT The Black Hand Of The Father

ANTZAAT

The Black Hand Of The Father

Immortal Frost Productions

To be released September 25, 2017

I recently heard of Antzaat when Surtur of Immortal Frost mailed me an advance copy of their debut EP. By now I can count on this label for quality extreme metal, as past promo packages from them have included Doedsvangr, Oath, From The Vastland and Astral Winter. These bands and the others on IFP will convince many it’s a label worth taking heed of. The label’s latest promo package with Antzaat’s CD and another CD from Drawn Into Descent arrived unexpectedly, and I figured there wasn’t much to lose by checking it out. This is not the first time I’ve made this observation, but The Black Hand Of The Father instantly brought me to when black metal began to mature and grow around 1996 to 1998, and began to realize the potential of the early Norwegian and Swedish bands. More elaborate progressions, selective addition of atmosphere and the earliest inklings of the ‘epic’ exposition writers topically associate with the genre. I listened to The Black Hand Of The Father several times and each time it grew on me a little more. The EP is limited to five hundred copies on compact disc so I’d suggest ordering a copy as soon as it’s made available. It’s also being released in digital download format if you prefer listening on your computer. Either way there should be a demand for it once the favorable reviews start circulating. The Belgian band takes all the archetypal fundamentals of late 90s black metal, magnifying them to a magnificent potency. Atmospheric presence, sunless and clouded, is imbued into their musicianship with a meticulous process so The Black Hand Of The Father has enough of an ethereal ambience without making it sound too oversaturated. The band knows what they are doing in this department as they hint at the immenseness of the universe they create, giving you enough to use your imagination and showing how much potential they have to progress. Equally stunning is how they ride roughshod through their songs, striking without warning from the start. The fuzzy guitar, distorted bass and hammering drums equalize ambient black metal, symphonic black metal, war metal and depressive suicidal black metal. Fans of everyone from Bal Sagoth to Maniac Butcher will be conscious of Antzaat’s drawing power. I should mention the time changes written into these songs which are executed in a steady, unforced manner. Circle Of Leeches is a fine example of this and one point from which the band should continue to sharpen their skills. Visit the band on Facebook for updates on shows and events they will be participating in. -Dave Wolff

Track list:
1. Disciples Of The Concrete Temple
2. Rite Of The New Dawn
3. Circle Of Leeches
4. Hierachy Of The Battered
5. The Black Hand Of The Father

CD Review: SINICLE Angels & Demons

SINICLE

Angels & Demons

Independent

The long-awaited anticipation of SINICLE's new album, titled 'Angels & Demons' has finally reached its zenith as it has been officially released as of today. It is a real rollercoaster of dynamics and versatility as they strive to showcase the soft tones of melodic pop which is neatly embroidered in swarms of crushing heavy-rock passages. My first real introduction to the group was the song 'Damnation', the second song of this album. It featured an animated music video I distinctly remember being fascinated by due to its strange context. The notion I can take away from listening to the entire record is that they're a very unconventional group; forever coalescing harsh and raw musical offerings with polished bursts of neo-psychedelia. The real highlight for me is the title-track and its video; which is gripping both sonically and visually. It is a dark and brooding song in nature which evokes the feeling of a struggle with the self. It's one of the most professional videos I've ever seen by a group such as themselves who aren't getting nearly enough the attention they rightly deserve - and if you're on the off-chance hoping to see a fully-grown man drenched in black ink then you won't be disappointed. 'Death Coast' is definitely one of my favourites due to its reliance upon grooves. It features a mid-point section that wouldn't seem out of place in a COCTEAU TWINS record but primarily the song seems to showcase a death 'n roll inspired feel. 'Rabbit Hole' is a fast-paced ditty which I can only imagine to be a representation of the woodland creature protagonist on a sprint. 'Baltimore' is probably one of the album's focal point numbers due to how angst-ridden and aggressive it is. The group do have an experimental facet as they are keen to shock listeners with short instrumentals. To be even more precise they'd probably be considered "moments" above anything else due to how short and minimalistic in style these passages are. 'Esoteric' is fourteen-seconds long and consists solely of choppy guitar voicings which occur in rapid succession intermittently. 'DEER XING' is noise accompanied by phased harmonics whereas 'Miller Time' is a track I have a feeling is actually based upon an extended theme they originally wrote but had to shorten. It's an interesting piece but quickly disintegrates into the unknown. The final three numbers, 'Broken Silence', 'Free Like Me' and 'Operations Activate' are where the group seem at their most relaxed and focused. I think it's a strong record and would recommend anybody to give it a try because thereare moments that could virtually appeal to any type of listener. I'll be surprised if this isn't their breakthrough album. -Jaime Regadas

Track list:
1. DEER XING
2. Damnation
3. Death Coast
4. Angels & Demons
5. Miller Time
6. Rabbit Hole
7. Baltimore
8. Esoteric
9. Broken Silence
10. Free Like Me
11. Operations Activate

Film Review: The Terminator by Sophia Cynthia Cabral

The Terminator

Action, Sci-Fi

Release date: October 26, 1984

Movie Company: Hemdale, Pacific Western, Euro Film Funding, Cinema ‘84/Greenberg Brothers partnership

Director: James Cameron

Produced by: John Daly as executive producer, Derek Gibson as executive producer, Gale Anne Hurd as producer/co-writer

Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Biehn and Linda Hamilton

Plot: A machine sent from 2029 to 1984 to prevent humanity to raise up in the future so it can win the war of Humanity vs Machines. His main target? Sarah Connor, the mother of the Resistance leader. Humanity sent a lone hero, Kyle Reese to protect Sarah, can they defeat… The Terminator?

Review: A classic, a cult film that started a franchise that expanded along the years with a masterfully crafted lore and a stable development. The movie’s pace is quite enjoyable the characters are well-built. The best part is how it’s clear it’s an old-school style of film, more specifically for using the method of stop motion & animatronics, today mostly it’s just CGI. Personally, I think this is one of the films that you must have in your films-to-see list, it’s epic and shows us old school ain’t bad always. A must-see for any sci-fi fan, it has a sequel, Terminator 2 which is also highly recommendable. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Single Review: CANNIBAL CORPSE Code Of The Slashers

CANNIBAL CORPSE

Code Of The Slashers

From their upcoming album Red Before Black to be released on Metal Blade November 3, 2017

There seems to be a consensus among death metal fans that Cannibal Corpse is incapable of making a bad album. Twenty-nine years and fourteen studio efforts (including the monumental Eaten Back To Life, Vile, Gallery Of Suicide, Gore Obsessed and Kill) have gotten the band tremendous amounts of respect underground and aboveground. They have done so simply by sticking to their guns, touring ceaselessly and consistently setting new guidelines in the far-reaching world of extreme metal. Releasing the debut single from their next full length Red Before Black, they prove yet again a band can refine and better themselves while not losing sight of the brutality they want to infuse in their material and what their fans want to hear. Code Of The Slashers is guaranteed to please gore-soaked devotees of the band who expect nothing less than what they have routinely delivered since day one. Need I say more about this? The band also hope to share a bill with Slayer in the near future and I won’t be the least bit surprised if and when it happens. Again the band worked with noted producer Erik Rutan who helmed Kill, Evisceration Plague and Torture and his experience with them pays off here. The band made a promotional video for Code Of The Slashers that plays like a horror short, much like those independently produced and uploaded on Youtube channels. Those horror fans who like seeking out indie producers active on Youtube and those of you who saw Soylent Green will appreciate the imagination that went into the video, even if we instinctively know the turnout before it appears. It involves something of a dystopian future and a question of how to feed the brainwashed masses. The video was directed by Zev Deans of Panorama Programming, Christopher Raymond was director of photography and Beatrice Sniper did makeup and special effects. The band themselves intended the clip to be a tribute to Tobe Hooper (The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Salem’s Lot, Poltergeist, Freddy’s Nightmares, Tales From The Crypt) who passed away last August. Starting in the end of October Cannibal Corpse will be touring Mexico, the U.S. and Europe. You can order tickets for some of their tour dates through Metal Blade. -Dave Wolff

Single Review: UPON SHADOWS Fatal Stigma Of The Realist (feat. Matti Torro on drums) by Dave Wolff

UPON SHADOWS

Fatal Stigma Of The Realist (feat. Matti Torro on drums)

To be released independently October 18

Natalia Arocena and Tamara Picardo return again with a single due for release next month. I have covered this band extensively and can’t think of a single instance when I was let down. I’m pleased to report there is no compromise to be found in their new song Fatal Stigma Of The Realist; in fact their vision appears to be growing more horrific and nightmarish as they continue composing material. The production here is flawless and brings out the atmosphere and subtle nuances they intended for this piece. Mika Pohjola was in charge of mixing and mastering this single when it was recorded at Oulu, Finland’s Soundmix recording studio. His work on it was the first thing to make an impression on me, though it goes without saying Upon Shadows and the term “beauty in darkness” are inseparable by now. The guitars and keyboards work incredibly well together, going far beyond simply complementing one another. On this song they really send a cold frost up your spine traveling straight to your brain and transforming your sense of self-awareness into an endless plain of ice. The piano, atmospheric guitars and backing vocals supporting the musicianship add multiple layers of this penetrating frigidity in a way that the band hadn’t previously accomplished. The vocals are much creepier than I remember from their older compositions. If you thought the demonic voices in The Exorcist and The Exorcism Of Emily Rose were perturbing you really should listen to Tamara Picardo’s vocals. It sounds like centuries decayed fingernails tearing pieces out of your brain matter, one clump at a time. Picardo is backed by bassist Arocena and drummer Matti Torro who both contribute greatly to the single’s depth and atmosphere. The band’s approach to playing this song fits subject matter that results from an equally intensive process of thought. The lyrics explore their concept of what they call “the inevitability of foreboding” which can be loosely explained as experiencing disconsolateness as well as bliss. Knowing one can’t exist without the other and knowing how finite mortality is, you can be sure this song makes its point. Ricardo Arocena’s artwork designed for the cover and the presentation of the video made for the song is compared to Oscar Wilde's The Portrait of Dorian Gray, something for readers of philosophical horror literature. Besides this I would recommend checking out Picardo’s beautifully executed dark ambient EP Hidden Terror Of All Dreams which was released in 2016. -Dave Wolff

CD Review: POKERFACE Game On

POKERFACE

Game On

Molot Records

Pokerface are a band from Russia that has been featured before in this zine and plays a mixture of death and thrash metal and this is a review of their 2017 album "Game On" which was released by Molot Records.

A very heavy and melodic musical sound starts off the album and you can also hear all of the musical instruments that are present on the recording and after awhile death metal growls and screams start to make their presence known along with the faster sections also bringing in a great amount of blast beats.

A great amount of thrash influences can be heard in the guitar riffing and melodic singing can also be heard at times which also adds in a touch of power metal along with the songs also bringing in a great mixture of slow, mid paced and fast parts and when guitar solos and leads are utilized they stick to a very old school extreme metal style and while the music has a lot of 80's and 80's influences it still sounds very modern at the same time and clean playing can also be heard briefly.

Pokerface creates another recording that remains true to the death and thrash metal mixture of their previous release, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover Satanism, Anti Religion, Aggression and Blood themes.

In my opinion this is another great sounding recording from Pokerface and if you are a fan of death and thrash metal, you should check out this album. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "The Bone Ripper" "Blackjack (Demonic21)" "Bow! Run! Scream" and "Game On'. 8 out of 10. -Loki Astaroth

Track list:
1. The Bone Reaper
2. The Fatal Scythe
3. Play or Die
4. Blackjack (Demonic 21)
5. Straight Flush
6. Cry. Pray. Die.
7. Creepy Guests
8. Bow! Run! Scream!
9. Jackpot
10. Game On



This review can also be read at The True Bringer Of Death Zine. -DW

CD Review: BELDAM Still The Wretched Linger

BELDAM

Still The Wretched Linger

Horror Pain Gore Death Productions

Beldam are a band from Virginia that plays a blackened mixture of doom and sludge metal and this is a review of their 2016 album "Still The Wretched Linger" which was released in June by Horror Pain Gore Death Productions.

A very heavy sludge metal sound starts off the album along with some grim black metal screams and the music also mixes in a great amount of doom metal elements and all of the musical instruments have a very powerful sound to them while death metal growls are also added into some parts of the songs.

Melodies can be heard in some of the guitar riffing and some songs also bring in a small amount of clean playing and some of the tracks are very long and epic in length and the solos and leads bring in elements of stoner metal and all of the songs stick to a very slow musical direction from beginning to ending of the recording.

Beldam plays a musical style that is mostly rooted in sludge and doom metal while also having more of a black metal vocal approach and a touch of death metal, the production sounds very professional while the lyrics cover death, despair, and decadence themes.

In my opinion Beldam are a very great sounding blackened mixture of sludge and doom metal and if you are a fan of those musical genres, you should check out this band. RECOMMENDED TRACKS INCLUDE "Needles" "From Cradle To Grave" and "Beauty's martyr". 8 out of 10. -Loki Astaroth

Track list:
1. Needles
2. Blackened Violet
3. The Foundling
4. From Grave To Cradle
5. Salamander
6. Her Unbearing Abyss
7. Beauty's Martyr



This review can also be read at A Different Shade Of Black Metal Zine. -DW

EP Review: DUST ANGEL Lunar Mach V

DUST ANGEL

Lunar Mach V

Independent

When Circus Of Power released their first album in 1989 I thought they were New York’s answer to Guns N Roses, with the tattoos, the street chic, the unlovely depictions of struggling for recognition among less than savory characters and most of all, the conviction in their music. Both bands introduced this reality to middle America and changed many a perception in the process. Between them, Iggy Pop, Velvet Underground and the New York Dolls there were many instances in which the Brady Bunch view of real life was encroached upon in stage presence, lyrics and attitude but there is something about Dust Angel that intimates these accounts with increased impenitent intrusion on perceptions of punk rock as a small gathering of embittered suburban kids who assume a rebellious role. Released back in April of 2014, Lunar Mach V is the stuff of pirate radio, a statement that is legitimately precarious. You get a feeling of unease just listening to it, as if one of those unsavory characters is lurking down the street from your home, or perhaps right outside your front door. The closest I’ve heard someone come to this effect was Lydia Lunch on albums like Uncensored/Oral Fixation which revealed the ugly side of humanity in a way that lingered with you long afterward. Lunch said striking out on your own is no pretty picture, and Dust Angel will relate the same message to you. Whether the soundtrack is punk, punk/rock and roll, hardcore punk, pop or metal there is no distinction between the songs in terms of the unwholesome squalor communicated through the guitars and the tight bass/drum ensemble behind them. The vocals assumed a semblance of someone who left home at an early age and saw a lot of things. Hustling, drug addiction, violence, lust, and other things seemingly too horrible to discuss at social gatherings. A line from Lucky 7 would likely sum up the theme this EP personifies: “I’ll wind up in heaven or hell, you never can tell.” But you really should listen to it for yourself to comprehend the reproduction of life on the street. The songs here are intended to be part of an upcoming conceptual album set to be titled The Life & Times of Stig Rotsky Revisited. Be forewarned this is in no way typical college radio pop-punk. -Dave Wolff

Track list
1. Love Is Between My Legs
2. Lucky 7
3. In The Thirsty Hour
4. Temptress
5. Necrophilia

Single Review: GWAR El Presidente

GWAR

El Presidente

From their upcoming full length The Blood Of Gods out on Metal Blade October 20

This single from The Blood of Gods is nothing less than what we come to expect from the powerhouse known as GWAR. Once again we get the loud, hardwired, in your face metal we love. They say what we all think and, feel and they are definitely not afraid to do it. This song is the same words a large majority of all of us, what we think and how we feel. The Berserker Blothar- lead howler, Beefcake the Mighty- bass guitar,vocals, Pustulus the Maximus- lead guitar, vocals, Balsac the Jaws 'o Death- rhythm guitar,vocals, JizMak da Gusha- drums, Bonesnapper- bodyguard, crappy vocals, Sawborg Destructo- annoying nemisis, annoying vocals. The Blood of Gods is the first album released by GWAR since the passing of former frontman Oderus Urungus in 2014. And I am sure he is smiling upon them with pride for this badass masterpiece. -Deanna Revis

Film Review: Cloud Atlas by Roberta J. Downing

Cloud Atlas

Drama, Sci-Fi, Mystery

Released: October 2012

Written and Directed by: Tom Tykwer, Lana Wachowski

Produced by: Stefan Arndt, Grant Hill, Tom Tykwer, Lana and Lily Wachowski and many others.

Starring: Tom Hanks, Halle Berry, Hugh Grant, Zhu Zhu, Keith David, and Susan Sarandon

A multifaceted web of how the actions and deeds of just one person can impact other people in the past, present and even the future. Ebbing and flowing from a single act of love and kindness can inspire others centuries later to start a uprising or how a man so full of greed can in another life time become one who gives all he has.

I have to say that I’m not often a fan of the flashing forward and backward in a movie however, in order to be able to tie the past to present and future this was necessary-ish. I honestly believe that the movements could have been done much smoothly than they were yet I did find myself drawn into the web of many lives the movie spanned.

This movie not only covers many lives but also many different issues such as slavery, racism and the proverbial evil being an ever constant battle. It goes to show that love and hate, loyalty and betrayal, death and rebirth are just different sides of the same coin. It also has aliens beings that seem to be stranded and viewed as different, almost God like with their technologies.

It was interesting, to say the least, watching how each actor played their parts for each era. There were times it was akin to watching Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde with the different transformations each character would undergo on another life time.

I do have to say that this film was especially long and there were times when I actually kept thinking that this is a good place to end the movie. Yes, there are some lulls in the film and I think most of that had to do with the flashing forward and back a multitude of times.

Lastly, I think all in all this was a very good movie but I do think that it might have been better perhaps a part one and part two. -Roberta J. Downing

Film Review: The Exorcism Of Emily Rose by Sophia Cynthia Cabral

The Exorcism Of Emily Rose

Drama, Horror, Thriller

Release date: September 9, 2005

Movie Companies involved: Firm Films, Lakeshore Entertainment, and Screen Gems

Director: Scott Derrickson

Starring: Laura Linney, Tom Wilkinson, Jennifer Carpenter

Plot: A lawyer takes on a negligent homicide case involving a priest who performed an exorcism on a young girl that was possessed and ended up on her death, her name was Emily Rose.

Review: Well it’s one of those “jewels” where you can find excellent acting, especially the possession & college paranoia scenes. Jennifer really nailed it if you ask me. The gradual possession is the best part since it starts as a little thing slowly escalating into a full-blown situation. It’s also based on a real story, Anneliese Michel’s. If you got free time and like paranormal/horror-themed movies, this is an enjoyable one, for a time that is. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

CD Review: PERIHELION Örvény

PERIHELION

Örvény

Apathia Records

To be released November 10, 2017

An oneiric voyage through the galaxy is an apposite description for the dazed tones of PERIHELION'S third studio album, titled 'Örvény', which is set to be released on 10 November 2017 via Lyon-based record label Apathia Records. Their unique conglomeration of wistful cosmic psychedelia and aggressive post-rock is akin to one's pleasant voyage through space being interrupted momentarily by an asteroid strike. Which would of course come as a surprise though it doesn't take long until the initial impact of the collision is cushioned by the serenity of the traveller's later experiences. This, although obscure, is the only way I can figuratively describe the sound they express. It is soft and atmospheric, rarely "metal" by the standards the genre sets. It is in fact more inspired by a conceptual theme which gives the seven tracks a conjoined aspect. All of the lyrics are in Hungarian though critics shouldn't be put off by this; once you begin listening to it you become entranced into a hypnotizing haze and become a shimmer of rotting energy, a gradual form of decay as the fading light flickers in one's stream of consciousness. It begins with 'Kihalt égi Folyosók', which is probably one of the heavier numbers. You've got emphatic snare 'n drum interplay the permeating substance held through the ordeal are raindrops upon raindrops of ambient guitar swells, cushioning the congealed material underneath until you realize it's the equivalent of shrouding a stone with a blanket. 'Bolyongó' is more "dynamic" in comparison due to its more intricate percussion. It's a rock song but it's around this point that you begin to realize you gradually sink into a pit of tranquility and the rock music stylizations become less pronounced. 'Fényt!' is probably the one I enjoyed the most. It has an intro that is a little too long for my liking but it quickly finds its soul in the form of good chord progressions. The title track is long and sprawling yet it does evoke interesting thoughts. For me they're a group that rely more on atmosphere than anything else; - and admittedly I'm not the biggest lover of that. A lot of it does feel like "jam sessions" and it can feel meandering but I like that there's a strong resilience in the group's desire to play the way they wish to. 'Romokon' is nice enough but doesn't truly interest me from a structural point of view. 'Ébredő Táj' is a better track for me personally because there's a lot more highs-and-lows in the dynamics and versatility. I think they're a group that are kind of on the fence between being a 'rock' band and an 'ambient' group. I feel in many ways they're too ambient for a rock fanbase and too "rocky" for an ambient fanbase. Perhaps it is the intention of the group to combine the sonic qualities of both but you don't get an awful lot to work with. It is important to give them a listen though because they ARE diverse and I can imagine one's opinion will differ from the next. -Jaime Regadas

Track list:

1. Kihalt égi Folyosók

2. Bolyongó

3. Fényt!

4. Örvény

5. Romokon

6. Ébredő Táj

7. Bardó

Film Review: Dark Song by Roberta J. Downing

Dark Song

Drama, Horror

Release date: April 2016

Directed and Written by: Liam Gavin

Produced by: Rory Gilmartin, Eoin O’Faolain, Hannah Thomas, Kimberly Warner

Starring: Mark Huberman, Susan Loughnane, Steve Oram

A young lady and a broken occult practitioner put everything on the line including their souls to do a ritual that will give them whatever they desire. Based on a real ritual that Alistair Crowley did at Loch Ness he called The Dark Song.

I didn’t find the film particularly scary although it did have a little suspense scattered here and there. The film mostly focuses on the relationship of Sophia who isn’t handling the grief very well and Solomon who is suffering from the DTs from lack of alcohol consumption.

Mr. Solomon suspects that Sophia is not being totally honest with him about her son and gives the impression that the murder was maybe not as it seemed. Sophia seems to not care for Solomon at all as he comes off as brash, bullying and quite abusive as we see him time and again degrade her in ways even she didn’t think were possible.

The ritual is quite intense with drinking human blood, water torture, sex and that’s just the middle of it. Of course we have the white chalk with symbols on the floor, magical books, lots of bubbly potions going on so it does give us a much better view on Crowley and perhaps what his real intentions were when he created the spell. -Roberta J. Downing

Single Review: GWAR El Presidente

GWAR

El Presidente

From their upcoming full length The Blood Of Gods out on Metal Blade October 20

As long time fans probably know, Gwar is a band that has survived a lot since releasing Hell-O in 1988. It goes without saying that the untimely passing of founding member Dave Brockie aka Oderus Urungus left a void in the worlds of shock rock and underground metal that is felt to this day. As much as the body of work he left behind, the Dave Brockie Foundation was created to keep his memory alive. And the fifth annual Gwar-B-Q in Brockie’s Richmond, Virginia hometown held a Viking funeral for the Oderus character. The band decided to continue and three years after Brockie’s passing they are preparing to release their first album since 2013’s Battle Maximus. Fuck This Place was the first video made to promote The Blood Of Gods, and was released in Brockie’s memory. This song and the performance where the video was filmed (most likely during the Vans Warped Tour) shows what Gwar have always excelled at: critiquing popular entertainment and the goings on we see in the news with their own brand of blood and gore soaked black humor. Wherever he is, I would think Brockie would be proud to know the band is persevering as musical and visual innovators. According to Metal Blade records, The Blood Of Gods represents a “massive battle between Gwar and the forces of all that is uptight and wrong with the world… from politics, pollution and organized religion to fast food and factory farming.” After three decades their vision remains of addressing the ills and corruption of the world around them, conveying their message through the metaphor of human beings as a parasitic infection. A minute sample of what Gwar slaves can expect from their new recording, their second preview of their new album El Presidente contemplates the political climate of Trump America and the public division prevalent among Americans since Trump’s election. In the tradition of America Must Be Destroyed and War Party, they pull no punches and leave no stone unturned when it comes to offering scathing and sardonic social commentary. In the age of media spin and the “fake news” controversy in which it’s progressively harder to decide what the truth is, it’s satisfying there are still musicians out there who are unafraid to air their viewpoints without the pop music escapism dominating the airwaves. Gwar is touring from September to December in support of The Blood Of Gods, and Metal Blade is updating news on their activities regularly. -Dave Wolff

Film Review: Iron Man by Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Iron Man

Action, Sci-Fi

Release date: April 14, 2008 (premiere)

Companies involved: Marvel Enterprises, Marvel Studios, Paramount Pictures, Legion Entertainment, Dark Blades Films, and Fairview Entertainment

Director: Jon Favre

Starring: Robert Downey Jr, Terrence Howard, Gwyneth Paltrow

Plot: A rich man, Tony Stark is kidnapped by a terrorist organization, after getting a mortal shrapnel wound to his heart he’s saved by a man named Ho Yinsen, who creates a device to keep Tony alive.

Tony refines it and eventually escapes, creating the first Iron Man suit also known as Mark 0. When he returns to civilization, he refines the suit into Mark 1, and the Iron Man odyssey starts, the road to shredding the ghosts of the past away and what it entails begins.
Review:

It’s a very interesting take on the comics, the fact that RJD is the one chosen as Tony to me it’s quite a good thing, personally speaking, and I can’t imagine the Iron Man franchise without him as Tony.

The acting is quite impressive, most specifically in the struggle scene for a heart or the hate in Stark eyes when he found out of the terrorist’s further work using his weapons.

The visual effects like the HUD on the helmet and the fighting scenes are also remarkable.

However, I didn’t like Terrence Howard’s work as Rhodey didn’t felt connected unlike his successor on IM 2 & 3.

All in all it’s a must-see film if you’re new to Marvel and their work, even so since it’s the start point for the MCU (Marvel Cinematic Universe) which then expands into many other films that are related to each other. -Sophia Cynthia Cabral

Audio Drama Review: H.P. Lovecraft’s The Picture In The House (Cadabra Records) by Dave Wolff

H.P. Lovecraft’s The Picture In The House

Read by Andrew Leman

Score by Fabio Frizzi

Cadabra Records

To be released October 13, 2017

I have been meaning to read more of H.P. Lovecraft for some time, and after hearing about this release from Cadabra Records now would be a fitting time to start. Likewise I have been raving about this independent label for the contributions it has made to classic horror literature in recent years. My latest review on Cadabra Records’ behalf was for their adaptation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s The Hound Of The Baskervilles last July. Andrew Leman’s reading of The Picture In The House will fuel the interest I’ve taken in Lovecraft after The Shadow Over Innsmouth. Lovecraft wrote The Picture In The House on December 12 of 1920; its first publication was the July 1919 edition of The National Amateur, which came out in the summer of 1921. In my research I found the short story adapted at several Youtube channels including Free Ebooks, Ghastly Tales and Chilling Tales For Dark Nights. Some film versions of the piece were even made; one by Gary Lobstein Day 304 Productions was the official selection of the 2009 H.P. Lovecraft Film Festival. Cadabra’s adaptation is particularly special since stage/screen/audio actor Andrew Leman is the founder of the H.P. Lovecraft Historical Society and was involved in film versions of Lovecraft’s writings: The Call Of Cthulhu, The Whsperer In Darkness and The Testimony Of Randolph Carter to name a few. Here he is joined by Fabio Frizzi, a renowned Italian composer who has written the soundtracks for the indie milestones Zombi 2, City Of The Living Dead, The Beyond, Manhattan Baby and most recently House Of Forbidden Secrets. This historical meeting of these two horror industry icons feels like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to catch, like a solar eclipse or the appearance of a comet. Leman and Frizzi collaborate on a reworking of a classic about cannibalism in an isolated New England backwood home that predates Tobe Hooper’s original Texas Chainsaw Massacre by half a century. The tale depicts a trip through Lovecraft’s Miskatonic Valley in New England, seeking shelter from a coming storm the protagonist meets an old, ragged man speaking in a very old Yankee dialect. There he finds a rare book that was in the old man’s possession for many years, more than he would have expected to live. If you haven’t read this story, you should acquire this release to see what happens. My infatuation with cannibal fiction has remained through the years from when I watched the indie films of Umberto Lenzi and Ruggero Deodato to when I started reading Lovecraft and Shirley Jackson (The Summer People). As I’ve said the efforts of Cadabra Records are exemplary for fans of splatter flicks and extreme metal fans. The grim foretoken at the beginning (“The haunted wood and the desolate mountain are their shrines, and they linger around the sinister monoliths on uninhabited islands”) is given funereal ebullience on this release. It is available in a deluxe LP edition with art by Jeremy Hush, an eight page booklet, liner notes by S.T. Joshi, notes by Fabio Frizzi and much more. A limited “blood”-filled edition will also be made available from Cadabra. -Dave Wolff

Track list:

1. The Picture in the House read by Andrew Leman

2. The Score by Fabio Frizzi