Longhouse/Earth From Water/Sunmask/2016 CD Review

  Longhouse  are  a  band  from  Ottawa,  Ontario,  Canada  that  plays  a mixture  of  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Earth  From  Water"  which  will  be  released  on  May  27th  by  Sunmask.

  Clean  playing  and  atmospheric  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  drums  a  few  seconds  later  and  after  a  minute  the  music  goes  into  a  heavier  direction  as  well  as  introducing  sludge  style  screams  and  death  metal  growls  onto  the  recording  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  melodies  into  some  parts  of  the  songs.

  All  of  the  musical  instruments  on the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to t hem  while  the  solos  and  leads  also  bring  in  a  touch  of  post  metal  while  also  mixing  in  some  70's  metal  elements  at  times  and  the  songs  also  bring  in  a  great  mixture  of  both  slow  and  mid  paced  parts  and  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  spoken  words  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length

  Longhouse  plays  a  musical style  that  takes sludge  and  doom  metal  and  mixes  them  with  with  a  very  heavy  vocal  approach  to  create  a  very  dark  sounding  recording,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  various  spiritual  and  occult  concepts.

  In  my  opinion  Longhouse  are  a  very  great  sounding  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  "Eternal  Forest"  and  "Earth  From  Water".  8  out  of  10. 

The Weir/Calmness Of Resolve/Sunmask/2016 Vinyl Review

  The  Weir  are  a  band  from  Calgary,  Alberta,  Canada  that  plays  an  atmospheric  mixture  of  ambient,  doom,  sludge  and post  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Calmness  Of  Resolve"  which  will  be  released  in  June  by  Sunmask.

  A  very  dark  and  heavy  sludge  sound  starts  off  the  album  along  with  some  growling  vocals  and after  awhile  melodic  guitar  leads  become  a  part  of  the  recording  while  the  slow  riffs  are  very  heavily  influenced  by  doom  metal  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  melody  while  clean  playing  can  also be  heard  at  times.

  Most  of  the  songs  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  riffs  also  bring  in  a  great  amount  of  post  metal  elements  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  they  are  also  able  to  mix  in  ambient  in  the  clean  guitar  parts  and  one  of  the  tracks  is  all  instrumental  while  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a  very  slow  musical  direction  from  beginning  to  ending  of  the  recording.

  The Weir  plays  a musical  style  that  takes  the  heaviness  of  doom  and sludge  metal  and mixes  it  with  post  rock  and  a  guitar  orientated  style  of  ambient  to  create  a  style  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  The  Weir  are  a  very  great  sounding  mixture  of  ambient,  post,  sludge  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Old  Country"  and  "Rust".  8  out  of  10.

Subterranean Disposition/Contagium And The Landscapes Of Failure/Hypnotic Dirge Records/2016 CD Review

  Subterranean  Disposition  are  a  solo  project  from  Australia  that  plays  an  avant  garde  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  his  2016  album  "Contagium  And  The  Landscapes  of  Failure"  which   will  be  released  in  June  by  Hypnotic  Dirge  Records.

  Nature  sounds  along  with  some  clean  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  and  after  a  minute  the  music  goes  into  more  of  a  heavier  doom  metal  direction  while  also  having  some  experimental  sounds  in  the  background  while  the  clean  guitars  are  also  used  on  the  later  tracks  as  well  and  all  oft he  musicla  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  Saxophones  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  along  with  some  elements  of  post  rock  and  after  awhile  death  metal  growls  also  make  their  presence  known  on  the  recording  along  with  a  small  amount  of  black  metal  screams  and  spoken  word  parts  can  also  be  heard  briefly  while  most  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  Melodic  vocals  can  also  be  heard  in  certain  sections  of  the  recording  and  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  an  avant  garde  edge  and  their  is  also  a  brief  use  of  female  vocals  which  are  done  in  more  of  an  operatic  style.  and  a  later  song  also  introduces  violins  onto  the  recording  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  a very  slow  musical  direction  from  beginning  to  ending  of  the  recording.

  Subterranean  Disposition  plays  a  musical  style  that  takes  doom/death  and  mixes  it  with  avant  garde  and  experimental  music  along  with  a  touch  of  black  metal  to  create a  style  of  his  own,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  dark  themes.

  In  my  opinion  Subterranean  Disposition  are  a  very  great  sounding  avant  garde  mixture  of  doom  and  death  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  solo  project.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Embittered"  and  "A  Life  Long  Slumber".  8  out  of  10.

 

(EchO)/Head First Into Shadows/BadMoonMan Records/Solitude Productions/2016 CD Review

  (EchO)  are a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  melodic  and  atmospheric  mixture  of  doom  and  death metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Head  First  Into  Shadows"  which  will  be  released  on  May  23rd  as  a joint  effort  between  BadMoodMan  Records  and  Solitude  Productions.

  Acoustic  guitar  playing  starts  off  the  album  and  after  a  minutes  atmospheric  synths  along  with  melodic  yet  depressive  guitar  leads  make  their  presence  known  in  the  music  and  all  of  the  instruments  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them  and  the  vocals  start  out  in  more  of  a  clean  singing  fashion.

  Slide  guitars  can  be  heard  in  the  music  briefly  and  the  music  also  alternates  between  both  clean  and  heavy  parts  quite  a  bit  throughout  the  recording  and  after  awhile  the  vocals  start  mixing  in  more  death  metal  growls  and  a  great  portion  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length  and  the  music  also  gets  very  progressive  at  times  and  there  is  also  a  slight  touch  of  black  metal  and  the  whole  album  also  sticks  to  mostly  a  very  slow  musical  direction  while  there  is  also  a  brief  use  of  fast  playing  and  blast  beats  and  when  synths  are  utilized  they  also  give  the  music  more  of  a  psychedelic  feeling  and  the  last  track  brings  in  a  small  amount  of  violins.

  (EchO)  plays  a  style  of  doom  and  death  metal  that  is  very  melodic,  progressive  and  atmospheric  sounding,  the  production  sounds  very  professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  death,  loneliness,  dreamlike,  sorrow  and  loss  themes.

  In  my  opinion  (EchO)  are a very  great  sounding melodic  and  atmospheric  doom/death  metal  band  and  if  you  are  a fan  of  this  musical  genre,  you  should  check  out  this  album.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "This  Place  We  Used  To  Call  Home"  and  "Order  Of  The  Nightshade".  8  out  of  10.

  

  

   

While Sun Ends/Terminus/WOOOAAARGH/2016 CD Review

  While  Sun  Ends  are  a  band  from  Italy  that  plays  a  progressive  form  of  post  death  metal  with  some  elements  of  doom  and  black  metal  and  this  is  a  review  of  their  2016  album  "Terminus"  which  will  be  released  in  August  by  WOOAAARGH.

  Ambient  sounds  start  off  the  album  along  with  some  classical  guitars  a  few  seconds  later  and after  a minute  female  vocals  are  added  onto  the  recording  before  going  into  a  heavier  prog  metal  direction  which  also  introduces  death  metal  growls  and  black  metal s creams  onto  the recording  and  all  of  the  musical  instruments  on  the  recording  have  a  very  powerful  sound  to  them.

  When  the  music  speeds  up  blast  beats  can  be  heard  and  the  riffs  also  use  a  great  amount  of  melody  and  the  solos  and  leads  also  stick  to  a  very  dark,  progressive  and  melodic  style  while  they  also  mix  female  vocals  in  with  the  heavier  parts  at  times  and  some  of  the  tracks  are  very  long  and  epic  in  length.

  At  times  the  music  brings  in  electronic  music  elements  while  the  songs  also  alternate  between  both  clean  and  heavy  parts  quite  a bit  throughout  the recording  and  one  track  also  brings  in  a  brief  use  of  blast  beats  while  the  songs  usually  stick  to  either  a  slow  or  mid  paced  musical  direction  and  the  cleaner  sections  also  bring  in  a  touch  of  post  rock.

  While  Sun  Ends  plays  a  musical  style  that  is  mostly  rooted  in  progressive  death  metal  but  also  adds  in  elements  of  black,  doom  and  post  metal  to  create  a  style  of  their  own,  the  production  sounds  very professional  while  the  lyrics  cover  humans,  society  and philosophical  themes.

  In  my  opinion  While  Sun  Ends  are  a  very  great  sounding  progressive,  post  death  metal  band  with  elements  of  black  and  doom  metal  and  if  you  are  a  fan  of  those  musical  genres,  you  should  check  out  this  band.  RECOMMENDED  TRACKS  INCLUDE  "Cycles"  "Seasaw"  and  "Elevation".  8  out  of 10.

Leather Glove Interview

1.For those that never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?

Leather Glove was created as a studio project.  Once Earhammer ramped up into a full time job (by '08), things got too busy to focus on being a musician myself.  After many years of this, I became afraid there would be a disconnect between myself and the artists tracking and mixing here.  Being an artist who understood extreme music kept me busy.  It was imperative that this remained the case.  Around that time, I was challenged with recording bands down tuned and the next layer deeper than the previous.  It was invigorating! 

This inspired me to do 3 things:
1) Create a recording project and use my studio for art again
2) Challenge myself with hard shit to work with
3) Still write my style but use talented drummers I respect in order to sculpt a different sound for each release 

The end result of each release is meant to sound disgusting and oppressive.

2.Recently you have released a demo, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?

For this demo, Leather Glove merged D Beat, Sludge, Doom, Noise rock all going through a Death Metal filter played on a very slow turn table.  The goal was to create a project that would place importance on the music over production.  The grosser and nastier, the better.  An antithesis to a majority of modern brutal and tech death metal productions where everything is clean and triggered sounding.  This was and is meant to be a very primitive, raw and visceral experience.  Thanks to Chad (Necrot, Atrament, Rude) for banging the skins on this release.

3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects you explore with your music?

If I extrapolated on the lyrics too much, I would have to kill you...  You seem like cool people.  For that, just know it usually covers very oppressive subject matters, which can take a turn to "so over the top its just plain ridiculous at times" like the title track "Skin on Glass".  "Rods of Steel" covers Classism.  "Conduit to Misery" covers the subject of being force fed pharmaceuticals.

4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Leather Glove'?

The project which I plan on always keeping a dark undertone will evolve its sound over time.  The need to find a name that is neutral to genres was important.  Leather Glove can paint both a brutal, comforting or a sexy mental image upon first sighting.  Leather Gloves have many associations from hiding fingerprints while making attempts to burglarize, murder and sabotage to keeping warm, protecting your hands to down right sleazy and sexual content.  Its weird how inanimate objects develop such associations.  In my head, someone could see the name "Leather Glove" and think "what the fuck kinda music is this going to be?"

5.With this project you record everything by yourself but have experience playing in other bands, how would you compare the 2?

Well, I borrow drummers for this as there is no desire to get good enough at them to pull it off.  But other than that I do everything.  The process is slightly different.  I have a very specific sound in mind while writing riffs / songs.  With Brainoil, Deathgrave and other previous bands there are tendencies, skill sets and interests that vary from member to member.  When riffs get thrown into a band environment, one has to be willing to see it soar in a different direction than intended.  When doing Leather Glove, there is only a drummer to bounce riffs off of.  So I write whatever I feel like knowing it can be layered exactly as intended once the beat is discovered.  The drummer has a lot of input due to their ability and desires on how to treat the riff.  But in the end, there is only 1 other person beyond myself to weigh in on song structure.  Believe it or not, it makes a big difference. 

6.You have played in plenty of bands for the past 20 years, what is it that motivates you to keeping going after 2 decades?

A desire to create and refine myself and music is what keeps me alive.  I received my first bass 25 years ago and knew so much could be done with it.  Real music is an organism that constantly evolves for those who pay attention.  It can't be mastered and should not be tamed.  Knowing this has signed me up for a life long journey of music.

7.You have also engineered plenty of albums over the years, can you tell us a little bit more about it?

Its my full time job.  Not only do I feel honored and lucky to have such a career, but it also keeps one humble and in check.  I've produced 100's of records at this point that involve many directions of extreme music.  I still live hand to mouth and see musicians whose talent is so superior to "professional" artists that its criminal they are working pizza joints and coffee shops.  A few bands I've worked with (other than my own) are Graves at Sea, Vastum, Noothgrush, Lecherous Gaze, Saviours, Badr Vogu, Amber Asylum, Iron Lung, Asunder, Necrot, Worm Ouroboros, Extra Action Marching Band, and Lycus.

8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your solo material by fans of extreme metal?

So far, so good.  Its cool to hear people enjoy the noise in my head.  No deaths or casualties in relation to listening to the stream, so my slate is clean.

9.What is going on with some of the other bands or musical projects these days that you are a part of?

Brainoil - writing our 3rd LP.  Really happy with the direction its going in and feel this will be our best effort to date.

Deathgrave - 2 songs short of our 1st LP.  Very excited about the music on this as well.  It will crush all our previous records in my opinion.  Split 7" with Endorphins Lost is at the pressing plant and probably won't be out in time for our SW tour in June (common story these days). 

10.Where do you see this project heading into musically during the future?

2nd release will be very similar but slower and noisier.  3rd release will be much faster.  After that, who knows?  But it will be messed up somehow as avoiding too much 4/4 is a hobby of mine.

11.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on the project and also what are you listening to nowadays?

As far as this release, Deep gross and terrifying sounds was the end goal.  Many elements created the underlying basis for this release. But a few notable ones were merging tempos akin to Coffins, Grossness of Undergang, Grooves of Brainoil, and repeating chromatic phrases with delayed guitars inspired by Zeni Geva and Swans.  I am on a new musical tangent every week it seems so a list would be futile.

12.What are some of your non musical interests?

I enjoy hanging out with my partner Fern, hiking, camping, reading and films (especially dissecting the foley and scores within them).

13.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thank you for the interview.  Special thanks to Mattia (co-releasing tape), Chad (drums), and Boo Boo Danger (artwork).  May 20th will be the release date where:

1)  The whole demo will stream on www.cvltnation.com

2)  Tapes and Digital Downloads will be available through both Sentient Ruin and Leather Glove's Bandcamp

3)  I will have digital downloads and/or streaming on itunes, spotify, youtube, soundcloud and many other digital domains.

Feel free to spread the word and thank you for reading this far!

AlgomA Interview

1.Can you give us an update on what has been going on with the band since the recording and release of the new split?


Well, since the recording and release of the new split, we have been recording our track for our next split with Hooded Menace. Which is coming out on Doomentia Records sometime later this year. We've been playing live shows both locally and out of town. We have been setting up a tour for June in Southern Ontario, which is shaping up to be really awesome! We love playing Southern Ontario, we have a lot of great friends down there and love playing with new bands too! We've also been doing some jamming and working on writing some new songs.


2.Recently you where a part of a split, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording and also how does it differ from the stuff you have released in the past?

I think the recordings on our recent split with Chronobot are a lot more raw and aggressive sounding, This isn't your pretty polished metal! haha This is really gritty stuff. Not for the masses at all. I think our previous recordings are also very raw, but on the split material we recorded live off the floor, which gives it a a very raw and abrasive sound. I think our tracks on the split are a lot more aggressive and I also think the vocals are a lot more angry and intense on these recordings. Overall, the new material compared to the old material, we are still writing the same slow sludge filled tracks. Very down-tuned, distorted, ugly stuff.


3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the band explores with the newer music?

Well, we have two songs on the recent split with Chronobot, one is about ancient Tuberculosis, called "Phthisis". It's the third song in our disease trilogy ( the other songs in our disease trilogy are on our first album "Reclaimed by the Forest", "Tertiary Syphilis" and Extinct Volcanoes"); and the other song is called "Electric Fence", about Camp 14, a labor camp in North Korea. All our lyrical topics and subject matter for all our music is definitely dark and depressing subjects. Songs about death, torture and rabid dogs. We like to choose unique topics and talk about things from a different perspective. Our upcoming song for the Hooded Menace split is about a stunt man having a very bad accident. It's a very depressing tale! We're a sludge band, we're noisy, heavy and abrasive, songs showing the darker side of life just fit for this kind of music.


4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'AlgomA'?

The steel mill in my city used to be called "Algoma Steel" before it was sold and changed it's name. We were inspired to name our band "AlgomA" because our music is heavy as an iron bar! Boyd and I were sitting in his basement after a jam, and we looked up at the steel support beams with the name AlgomA stamped in the side of them and we thought it was perfect! There is also something really dirty, gloomy and depressing about an old steel mill, it fits well for a sludge band!


5.What are some of the best shows that the band has played over the years and also how would you describe your stage performance?

We've played some awesome shows with other great Canadian bands like Chronobot, the Golers, Horse Lung, Biipiigwan, Black Tremor, and IRN. Some of the best shows were down in Toronto, It's always great getting down to play in the big city. Playing with our buddies in Shit Liver is always a great time too! It's too hard to pick just a few, it's always a great time!! We really enjoy playing live! Sludge is great music to experience live, it's loud and very intense! The crowds get fully immersed in the heavy down-tuned riffs. As far as our stage performance goes, it's 3 dudes on stage, lots of feedback and screaming at you! haha We like to rock and enjoy ourselves. It's a sonic wall of chaos and feedback!!! it's pretty standard rocking out, no choreographed dance sequences or anything! haha


6.Do you have any touring or show plans for the future?

This summer we have a tour planned for Southern Ontario. We'll be playing in Sudbury, Toronto, Windsor, London and a few more. We also have a few local shows to play as well. In July we are playing a show with Iskra, a cool blackened crust/grind band from British Columbia, so that should be a lot of fun too!


7.Recently you where a part of a split with 'Chronobot', what are your thoughts on the other band that had participated on the recording?

We love Chronobot!! Awesome guys, really easy going and fun dudes! They write some killer doom riffs and deadly tunes! We played live with those guys back in 2014, it was a ton of fun and we really hit it off! Gotta show some love for our fellow Canadian doomsters! It would be great to meet up again sometime for a show and smoke a bowl or two! Hopefully we do that sooner than later! Cheers to the Chronobot boys!


8.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your newer music by fans of sludge, doom metal and noise rock? 

We've gotten really great feedback from the doom/sludge fans. We are really proud and happy about that! Local fans who were never really exposed to sludge before are also really digging us too! We appreciate everyone who comes out to our shows! We received some great reviews for our first album "Reclaimed by the Forest". The new split with Chronobot has been really well received too, everyone seems to be digging it, so that's awesome!!


9.When can we expect another full length and also where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?

We are currently writing new songs for our next full length, so that's been a lot of fun! We're writing tons of slow stuff, but we might also have a few faster tracks as well. We're not exactly sure when the next full length will be out, sometime in 2017 most likely! Who knows what the future holds, but our music will always be noisy and heavy, I don't see us changing musical directions.


10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your newer music and also what are you listening to nowadays? 

Some of the bands that we have been influenced by are definitely the Melvins, Eyehategod, Boris, KIttens, Black Flag , Shallow North Dakota, and ton a more! We're basically influenced by a lot of different music genres, like sludge, noise rock, hardcore punk, etc. Lately I've been listening to Discharge, Scholastic Deth, 16, Pyramido, Melvins, Of Spire and Throne, Trees, Buzzoven. plus lots of death metal and other punk stuff! Everyone in the band has very eclectic taste in music.


11.What are some of your non musical interests?

We all have a bunch of different interests...watching movies, playing video games, cooking, photography, writing, hiking, among others. Myself, I collect a bunch of different things like dvds, cds, vinyl, video games, and books. I like to go searching through pawn shops and thrift stores for cool junk! haha



12 Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?

Thanks for the interview!! Cheers to all our fans and supporters!! Tune low, play slow.. Sluuudge!!


Bandcamp link - https://algoma62.bandcamp.com/album/split-w-chronobot
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