Lik

Dismember are one of my favourite death metal bands. I could not resist picking the brain of one of the bands inspired by them. Lik’s new album Carnage sounds awesome, find out more about it in my interview with the band.

Read my interview with the band on Moshpitnation

 

Kaoteon

Kaoteon are a extreme metal band from the Middle East. The band formed 20 years ago in Beirut, Lebanon and released their debut album Veni Vidi Vomui in 2011 via Osmose Productions. Last month, they self released their latest album, Damnatio Memoriae. The scathing release features Fredrik Widigs (Marduk) and Linus Klausenitzer (Obscura and Alkaloid) on on Drums and Bass respectively.

I spoke to the band about Damnatio Memoriae and being a metal band in the Middle East for the past two decades.

Read my interview on Moshpitnation

 

Now Playing – April 2018

The album technically was released in March but I have been listened to it a lot more in April. Illusive Golden Age is a stunning release from the band after a gap of 9 years. The album combines their trademark death metal sound with scientific and esoteric lyrics.

 

This album will be remembered by many as the one where Boss keloid transitioned to a psychedelic and progressive sound compared to the sludge one on their previous albums. The 6 jams on Melted on the Inch are all in excess of 5 minutes and will leave your grooving along after multiple listens.

Chepang released one of my favourite grindcore releases from last year and last month put out a split with Test from Brazil. The Brazilians kick off the release with 2 tracks of percussion led grind attack. Chepang continue the aural assault their immigrindcore sound. Just under 10 minutes of pure grind.

There has been a lot of buzz about this album in the months leading up to it’s release, one listen of Penumbra is all that is required to believe that is is true. Møl stand out among the Deafhaven clones. Jord will definitely feature as one of my favourites at the end of the year.

The third album from the veteran Bahraini band is a skull crushing release from start to end. The only respite comes in the form of some tasty guitar solos. Easily one of the best extreme metal releases from the Middle East this year.

 

Demonstealer

Sahil Makhija aka Demonstealer is a well known figure in Indian metal circles as the frontman for one of India’s oldest metal bands Demonic Resurrection. A couple years ago, he released a solo album under the moniker Demonstealer, This Burden Is Mine featuring George Kollias (Nile) on drums. This month, will see the release of a new album under the moniker, Last Reptilian Warrior. The album features guest appearances by some of the world’s best metal musicians.

I also spoke to Sahil about Last Reptilian Warrior, the stellar line up of guest musicians on the album and also the future plans of Demonic Resurrection. Check out the video premiere at the bottom of this interview.

Read my interview with Sahil on Unite Asia

 

Towards Atlantis Lights

Towards Atlantis Lights are an international doom metal band featuring members of Pantheist and Aphonic Threnody. The band released their debut album Dust Of Aeons via Transcending Obscurity Records last month. The album combines epic and atmospheric death/doom metal and is a must listen for all doom metal fans.

I spoke to guitarist Ivan Zara and vocalist Kostas Panagiotou about how the band formed, their debut album and more.

Read my interview on Moshpitnation

Killibrium

The Indian metal scene has grown by leaps in the past decade. The latest entrants are Mumbai based death metal act Killibrium. The band have made their mark with their first album Purge, released last month. The album is a potent mix of brutal and technical death metal.

I spoke to guitarist Keshav Kumar about the origins of the band, their debut release and their future plans.

Read the interview on The Independent Voice

Amorphia

Thrash metal is the most popular metal subgenre in India. 3 of the “Big 4” of thrash metal royalty (the exception being Anthrax) have performed in the country in the past decade. There are thrash metal bands across the country including smaller towns like Cherthala in Kerala where Amorphia(https://www.facebook.com/Amorphiathrash) hail from. The band formed in 2012 and have released 2 singles so far,  Master of Death and Lieber Code. The latter features on their debut album Arms to Death, which will be released on April 15

Find out more about Arms to Death, recording the album and also the Indian bands that have inspired them in my interview with the band below.

Read the interview on Unite Asia