Devourment

Recent Relapse signees and veteran brutal death metallers Devourment are one of the most well-known examples of the style, and have undoubtedly inspired countless others within the ranks of the slam nation. It's not much of a stretch to assume that many of the modern deathcore bands have taken some cues from their trademark ultra brutal approach.

Devourment spew out plenty of slow, grinding breakdowns and bass drops, but throw these Texas gorehounds on a stage and you'll watch 'em blow the heads off any stray Suicide Silence or Job for a Cowboy fans unlucky enough to wander in. Vocalist Mike Majewski weighed in, telling Noisecreep that, "It would be pretty arrogant to assume any band is influenced by us just because it's a similar style. We didn't invent that style, so who knows? I personally don't listen to much deathcore or whatever, but I have no problem with it; each his own. S---, I ripped off a Van Halen song on 'Anal Electrocution' [from 2005's 'Butcher the Weak' LP]."

You've got to wonder, though, what the death metalheads behind such top 40 hits as 'Babykiller,' 'Autoerotic Asphyxiation' and 'Anal Electrocution' make of the deathcore trend and its decidedly non-brutal hallmarks -- fitted hats, neon merch, uber-tight jeans, you know the type. Noisecreep inquired as to whether he sees deathcore/metalcore as gateway drugs to the real underground metal scene, or as something to be ignored/condemned/stamped out.

Majewski doesn't take the bait. "I honestly don't waste my time or energy giving a f--- what other people talk about or care about. I always have my 'Reign in Blood' CD close by. If it skips, that's when I get f---ing pissed."

Devourment are gearing up for an assault upon the European metal festival circuit this August, then they'll be returning to spread the plague across the U.S. with Cattle Decapitation and a host of young deathcore acts on the California Blood Tour. How does Majewski think Devourment's bloodthirsty fans will react to the other bands on the bill?

Diplomatically as always, he muses, "Hard to say really, as this will be our first U.S. tour so everything will be a very new experience for us. We have played in the U.S. before, but very few cities so it will be exciting to see how it goes. I'm sure all of the bands on the tour will do great and have a lot of fun."

Pretty positive fare from a dude that spends most of his time writing lyrics like "she twitches with an ounce of life still /I stomp her skull to further the kill/her brain destroyed spews viscous fluid/I stab her face for my amusement" (from 'Over Her Dead Body,' on 2009's 'Unleash the Carnivore'). You can catch Devourment on tour this summer, and get ready to unleash the gore.

Devourment tour dates
9/29 -- Tempe, AZ -- The Clubhouse
9/30 -- Albuquerque, NM -- Launchpad
10/4 -- Fort Worth, TX -- Ridglea Theatre
10/5 -- Tulsa, OK -- The Marquee
10/6 -- Little Rock, AR -- Downtown Music
10/7 -- San Antonio, TX -- White Rabbit
10/8 -- Metairie, LA -- The High Ground
10/9 -- Tampa, FL -- Brass Mug
10/10 -- Stuart, FL -- Cruisers
10/12 -- Orlando, FL -- Back Booth
10/13 -- Raleigh, NC -- Volume 11
10/14 -- Spartanburg, SC -- Ground Zero
10/15 -- Baltimore, MD -- Sonar
10/16 -- Wilmington, DE -- Mojo 13
10/17 -- Patchogue, NY -- Karma
10/18 -- New York, NY -- Santo's
10/19 -- Poughkeepsie, NY -- The Chance
10/20 -- Buffalo, NY -- Club Paradise
10/21 -- Cleveland, OH -- Peabody's
10/22 -- Detroit, MI -- Harpo's
10/23 -- Chicago, IL -- Reggies Rock Club
10/24 -- Omaha, NE -- Sokol Underground
10/25 -- Denver, CO -- Marquis Theatre
10/26 -- Salt Lake City, UT -- In The Venue
10/27 -- Boise, ID -- The Venue
10/28 -- Seattle, WA -- Studio 7
10/29 -- Portland, OR -- Satyricon
10/30 -- San Francisco, CA -- Thee Parkside
10/31 -- Las Vegas, NV -- The Farm
11/1 -- Hesperia, CA -- The Seen

Maiden Beat Tornado

Steve Harris has played some strange shows over the years, but one of the strangest in recent memory was at the Sonisphere festival in Pori, Finland on Aug. 8. Before the band went on, a mini-tornado touched down in the concert area and destroyed the second stage, damaging some of Iron Maiden's equipment.

"20 minutes before we got there, the wind was on the floor and trees were down, and when we got to the show the second stage was all messed up and all our monitors and lights were messed up," Harris told Noisecreep. "We were lucky, because our gear hadn't been put on yet. It was weird, because the wind veered in and out. Some parts were untouched and other parts of the place were just trashed. We still managed to do the gig, but we went on two hours late."

By the time Iron Maiden played, the storm had passed, but conditions on stage were dangerous. During the show, vocalist Bruce Dickinson fell flat on his back after he lept from the drum riser to the stage. "Fortunately, he didn't hurt himself," Harris said. "It was just very, very humid and the stage was all wet, so it was very slippery. The last half our of the show was completely fogged over, so we could hardly see most of the crowd. Fortunately they could see us because there was lighting, but it was a very weird gig."

Mötley Crüe, who were scheduled to headline the second stage, canceled their show because the stage was damaged beyond repair and posed a safety hazard. Alice Cooper performed a full set on the main stage, but had to borrow Slayer's drums. Iggy Pop also performed an acoustic four-song set on the main stage right after the storm.

Iron Maiden's new album, 'The Final Frontier,' is out now.

Eddie Sutton

Eddie Sutton is often hailed a legendary frontman when it comes to the pantheon of New York hardcore. All the accolades are well deserved, and right now he's getting more press for his newest band, Truth and Rights, than he's ever had in his career. "It's definitely a good thing, and I am enjoying it," Sutton told us during a late night phone call, adding that he felt blessed by the level of support and interest.

But much energy has been spent asking why Truth and Rights isn't continuing the hardcore thrash Sutton covered in his previous band Leeway. "I really feel, honestly, people are burning their hands and fingers holding a candle to the past," said Sutton, speaking of the scene today and the constant rewind many bands get trapped in. "I've wanted to move on and do other things for the past 20 years."

After Leeway's finale in 2006, Sutton began talking with Rey Fonseca and Zack Thorne of Agents of Man about starting a band. This of course became the inception of Truth and Rights, but the band was still a long way from hitting the stage. Finding the right drummer became a task. "A lot of people always say, 'Let's do this,' but they never follow through. Or they talk a good game and the next day they sober up and forget what the hell what they said. You gotta separate the men from the boys in a situation like that."

In came drummer Dimi Duvous (Crown of Thornz), and they recorded a handful of tracks to never release them. "We scrapped the whole thing. There wasn't enough heart there," says Sutton. "Obviously we weren't ready."

The time it has taken to get the melodic outfit running was never anything Sutton stressed about. "Everything happens for a reason," he said, pointing to past addictions as proof. "If Leeway would have blown up, I probably would be dead because I probably wouldn't have been able to handle -- it getting caught up in the drugs and the luxuries that come with success." But Sutton feels right now is the perfect time for Truth and Rights to be heard.

The stamp of Sutton, aside from the sportsman like energy on stage, has always been his voice, which for the devoted make note. It's changed, and he can really belt out notes. After recovering from a broken neck, he not only had to relearn how to sing, but he had the chance to continue his long goal of progress. "I always try to do more, grow and evolve. That whole process in over 25 years puts me in the position that I am now."

Without progress there can only be death, and Sutton holds a fear of hardcore going that way -- everyone rehashing their favorite bands and not stepping out on their own. "To me, hardcore is a lifestyle, but it's the music that bring us together. It's definitely not defined as a sound, and I think that's necessary.

"That's a lot of the reason I want to try to reach the youth of hardcore this time, because I don't want them to emulate who they look up to or who they want to sound and be like. When this music started over 30 years ago, it was all about individuality. I feel like because it has been tied down to such a similar state, we are going to become tired as doo wop. If there is not growth, there is not evolution, some sort of testing the boundaries. It's gonna get tired."

Truth and Rights are doing their part -- that much can't be denied. 'Green Light,' their first seven-inch, is out now on Six Feet Under Records.

Geezer Butler in Good Vibes about Sabb's

Geezer Butler keeps talking about how a Black Sabbath reunion is not out of the question. The bassist told our friends over at Hellbound.ca that he "wouldn't say no" to a reunion, adding, "You know it would be nice to finish the whole thing off with one last tour."

While words like "finish" and "one last tour" sound like the members are preparing for a victory lap, it's better to have one last hurrah with the godfathers of metal than none at all.

Butler acknowledged that the members are "getting a bit old now," so "time is running out." Geezer, drummer Bill Ward and singer Ozzy Osbourne have all expressed interest in reuniting, but Ozzy's dance card is incredibly full right now with his new album 'Scream,' and a global tour on the horizon. Nevertheless, the metal community would like to share Geezer's optimistic outlook. Black Sabbath needs to make a real record with John Osbourne to prove that after over 30 years, that they are able to tap into the dark elements which made them popular in the first place. Ozzy's new cd "Scream" is awful and auto tuned. Enough said. Lets cross our fingers

Hurley Cuomo

Traditionally, WEEZER albums are at their best when they have no title and are only identified by the color of the background present on the cover. The "Blue Album", the "Green Album," the "Red Album." Fact is, while those might be their best, Weezer have never made a bad album. Just stubborn sometimes.

Weezer in white? While their last album, RADITUDE was a bit of a disappointment, it wasn't really a bad record - it just wasn't up to Weezer standards. I have a theory that the album was actually intentionally crafted to irritate fans, critics, and more importantly - the label executives of the band's longtime home at Geffen/DGC. Their last album for the label, RADITUDE was possibly looked at as a "deal-breaker" for the band. There's a common practice in the business for bands to turn in a rushed album, an "experimental" album, or an album where they just simply don't put forth 100% effort, because it doesn't really matter since it's the end of the road at said label.

For a very long time there was a standard practice of ridiculous "seven album deals," even though the odds were stacked against a band ever actually making seven albums. Sixteen years after the release of the "blue album," RADITUDE marked lucky number seven for the Los Angeles-based band. Coincidence?

Now comes time for HURLEY, the eighth studio album from Weezer, and their first for indie powerhouse Epitaph Records.

HURLEY is a ten-track affair, clocking in at just over 33-minutes. To say that they album is a "return to form" would be an understatement. Bursting at the seams with the classic sounds one would expect from an earlier Weezer record, HURLEY brings back the feel-good, downstroked rock that listeners have been waiting for, along with a few welcome surprises.

As evident in the first single, "Memories," the wise-cracking, name-dropping Weezer is back, and if they were seeking a return to their glory days as the lyrics seem to indicate, they've accomplished their mission. "Ruling Me" is another up-tempo pop number with a riff on the verses that takes you right back to the sound of the band's first album. "Trainwrecks" has a little bit more of a "modern rock" sound, but that's not a bad thing, as it leads into "Unspoken" - one of the most surprising tracks on the album, and my personal favorite. With a PINKERTON-era acoustic intro that features a whimsical pan-flute in the background that becomes replaced by a full string section, listeners will be suprised to hear the sudden turn into Weezer at their electrified loudest, and possibly heaviest in the song's third act.

Despite some interesting tempo changes, "Where's My Sex" ("sex" = "socks") manages to squeeze in a nod to Bounce dryer sheets, while providing the low point of the album. "Run Away" has my money for the album's second single, while "Hang On" is pure pop gold. The orchestration that backs the band adds to a polished vibe that recalls 60's pop a la Brian Wilson or the Phil Spector "wall of sound." Then there's "Smart Girls," which just plain rocks.

"Brave New World" should have been the album closer, with it's epic feel and introspection into the next chapter of Weezer's nearly two-decade-long career. Instead, the acoustic "Time Flies" wraps things up, providing it's own version of closure. Hard to believe that the 20th Anniversary of Weezer's debut is less than four years away. Weezer's HURLEY is one of 2010's best albums. How did they manage to pull off writing, recording, and releasing the album a mere 10 months after their last? My theory is that this album was written before RADITUDE. Either way, if you hate them you will continue to do so, if not you will get horny. Rivers is hard again.

A Message From Nergal

I haven't intended to manifest myself in any way and, especially at this stage, to share my feelings or any other news with the world for obvious reasons. It is simply too early for it. But it was YOU who provoked me to say a few words. Regarding my personal low opinion of humankind, I'm shocked by the reaction to my illness. I actually expected NOTHING yet received feedback which surpassed all expectations. I want to ensure you I read EACH mail I receive, although I'm unable to reply to all of them. The power of your words is pure magic and I thank you all for it. You are a gigantic indestructible army that truly inspires me in this difficult time. The fact is that a fight with this illness is going to last for many months. Most of this time I will spend in hospital and I will go through various psycho-physical states. If you know the history of Behemoth you also know we achieved everything by hard work and a steely determination. The same goes for my private life. I happen to be a strong son of a bitch. I have no faith but rely on a 100% victory and I am sure I will get out of it stronger than ever. Sun Tzu in his 'Art of War' said that if you know your enemy and yourself the result of a thousand battles will not surprise you… I enter the ring with this Nietzschean attitude and I will leave it as a winner, as usual. Just watch and see!

I want to emphasize that Behemoth will by no means goes through any hibernation state. Obviously all concert plans must be postponed until some unknown point in the future, but things are happening! Lately our newest video for '…Alas, Lord is Upon Me' has premiered and stirred up quite a storm in mass media, which fills us with utter pride. Plus we've just finished the project of our new DVD; Evangelia Heretika is a three disc release, a real encyclopedia of Behemoth with nearly 5 hours of material and a bonus audio CD that will be out in November (Metal Blade US - Nuclear Blast Europe). Expect an experience of visual madness as we went to hell and back to make it! Our official Webstore has been functional for a couple of days and official merchandise and some very exclusive stuff can be bought there. At the beginning of 2011, Peaceville in Europe and Metal Blade in US will reissue the EPs with new artwork, bonuses, liner notes, and more. As you can see, despite a complicated situation and difficult circumstances we're remaining active wherever we can.

Finally, I want to comment on some opinions which, provoked by religious circles, lead to far-fetched and inaccurate interpretations. I was surprised to hear my illness became a pretext for some people to embark on their own crusade. Opinions suggesting I might come closer to God or abandon my ideals and grovel to the only correct world view in this country not only surprised but also frightened me. This is a typical example of supporting one's own views by preying on someone's misfortune. 'He fell ill so he will convert to Christianity, he will discover the religion he fought against is actually close to him.' Halt! Why should the illness change my point of view? It is true this is a difficult time for me and the thoughts of ultimate matters are hard to chase away. But the idea that I will change my opinions, priorities, and values as a consequence of my illness sounds as if someone regards my head, and not my body, ill. Suggesting I might convert are ridiculous. To what would I convert? After all, I know Christian mythology pretty well, not only in its literary version, and I find nothing good, creative or beautiful in it. I read books better and wiser than the Bible. War, blood, blackmail, rapes, incest, pedophilia, zoophilia, collaboration and treachery – each page emanates with evil. Some may say I don't understand the message of the Bible. I'd rather say the Christianity is nothing more than a rusty and archaic structure that is going to fall down any moment. It lasts only because of the gullible that follow the shepherd blindly; without any questions, without any consideration, not to any promised land, but to an intellectual slaughter. So, I say to those, who see some chances to break my rules, and myself because of the illness: over my dead body!"

Nergal's official view on benefit concerts, fund raisers, etc. is focused on marrow donations as a whole issue, not his specific situation. If you want to help Nergal the best thing you can do is set up a marrow drive or register to be a bone marrow donor. Every person that registers to be a donor increases the chances of survival for Nergal and every other person out there suffering from the same illness.

To learn more about how you can register to donate marrow check out:
http://www.marrow.org/

New Releases

# Antagonist - World In Decline
# The Burial - The Winepress
# Filter - The Trouble With Angels
# Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier
# King Of Asgard - Fi'mbulvintr
# Knights Of The Abyss - The Culling Of Wolves
# The Last Felony - Too Many Humans
# Miss May I - Monument
# Orbs - Asleep Next To Science
# Return To Earth - Automata
# Slayer - Live Intrusion (DVD) (Reissue)
# Slayer - Still Reigning (DVD) (Reissue)
# Slayer - War At The Warfield (DVD) (Reissue)

As you can see much of these will suck. About 90% of them i am sure. The Maiden will probably be a nostalgia trip that doesn't quite make it. I loved Maiden until 1986, sometime in the beginning of January they stopped being good Im sure. If one can pinpoint. I like The Last Felony and more Slayer reissues?

Sleep Expand Weed Tour

Sleep have expanded their upcoming “Marijuanaut’s Return” reunion tour plans with a number of shows. The updated schedule now runs as follows:

September 03rd Monticello, NY – All Tomorrow’s Parties
September 04th Los Angeles, CA – FYE Fest
September 05th Englewood, CO – Gothic Theatre
September 06th New York, NY – Brooklyn Masonic Temple (feat. Doomriders, Unearthly Trance)
September 07th Philadelphia, PA – Starlight Ballroom (feat. A Storm Of Light)
September 08th New York, NY – Brooklyn Masonic Temple (feat. A Storm Of Light, Lichens)
September 09th Chicago, IL – Logan Square Auditorium (feat. Lichens)
September 10th Austin, TX – Mohawk (feat. Sub Oslo)
September 11th Portland, OR – Roseland Theater (feat. Scott Kelly, YOB)
September 12th San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom (Feat. Thrones)
September 13th San Francisco, CA – Regency Ballroom

The shows will find the band performing their seminal album “Holy Mountain” in its entirety along with selections from “Dopesmoker” and more.

Frankie Banali Working On Quiet Riot DVD

Quiet Riot ended due to the tragic and untimely loss of frontman Kevin DuBrow in 2007, but since then drummer Frankie Banali found himself going through the band's extensive media archives. Most of it has never been seen. The footage is from the band's private reels of full concerts (shot from the side of the stage), interviews, backstage mayhem and even vacations. There's enough footage to make a couple hundred documentary films, but Banali only wants to make one. He's reaching out to fans to help make this happen, too.

"I had people come up to me that wanted to back the project," Banali told Noisecreep, describing the original people interested as representing corporate entities and record labels. "I opted not to do that because there were too many strings attached. They all wanted a documentary made the way they wanted it, because they felt they were funding it."

Banali opted to work with independent director Regina Russell, who recommended to use the website Kickstarter to help get support from the fans. A lot of rare and exclusive gifts go to those who pledge to shrink the funding problem. One fan is already going to have a one-on-one drum clinic with Banali.

"I'm still cataloging all the material, but I want the fans to be proactive and I want to know they want it. Because if they don't, I'll throw a party with 200 of my closest friends at the house and just play reel after reel after reel.

"Viewing all this material has been therapeutic in a way," Banali admitted, his tone and thoughts going to his friend. "Kevin and I knew each other for 28 years and played together for the better part of 27. Watching it has run the gamut of emotions, from hysterical laughing or amazed that something was even caught on film. It's has also been incredibly sad, because I've come to the realization that the only way I can see my friend Kevin now is in [film]. I can't see him or call him or have lunch together."

To those that have and will donate to the project, Banali has been uploading private videos to say thanks. The most recent unearthed clip was of Banali and DuBrow interviewing complete strangers while in a hotel bathroom.

One fan wondered if there was footage of a sole 1986 encore where Quiet Riot covered a Beatles song. Banali soon put it on the site. "I want the fans to feel as good about this as I do."

The Return of Black Army Jacket

Think of an elephant on propofol, now combine that with some fast grind sludgy punk and overall shitty attitude, and you'll come up with The Jacket. At a time in the mid 90's when there seemed to be a new genre brewing called power violence, Black Army Jacket seemed to be ahead of the game dropping numerous splits and surely leaving their mark. The Jacket is a highly regarded weaponized force that took a hiatus some years ago. I caught up with Carlos Ramirez and had a chat after some pizza and Cormega demos.


I think it's fantastic Black Army Jacket are doing some shows in 2010. It's been awhile since you guys have plugged in and played together. Why now?


Thank you! We’ve been wanting to do some reunion show stuff for the past couple of years, but logistically speaking, it was really a pain in the ass. I live in Los Angeles, Dave in Virginia, and the other 2 guys live in Queens and Long Island. Not to mention Dave’s constant touring with Municipal Waste. It’s not the easiest situation to try and practice and play shows.


So when we realized that the 4 of us could actually make it happen in late August and early September of this year, we jumped at the chance. We’ll be playing on August 19th as part of the Best Friends Day Festival in Richmond, VA. There are some cool acts playing including Negative Approach, Andrew WK, Off With Their Heads, Government Warning, and a lot of other ones. Dave’s also playing with Municipal Waste, and that is always a fantastic live show.

The mid-nineties seemed like an idyllic time for "Powerviolence". Why do you think that scene gained as much popularity as it did at the time? Not to say any band were selling Winger numbers..but you felt something happening i think..


That’s a good question. When Black Army Jacket started, I had only read the term powerviolence in some zine. I wasn’t even sure what it exactly meant. I came more from the metal and hardcore side of things. Once I started hanging more with Andrew from BAJ, he turned me on to bands like No Comment and Man is the Bastard. We came from the East Coast and I don’t remember the scene being that great for powerviolence labeled bands back then. Sure, you had places like Stalag 13 in Philadelphia and ABC No Rio in NYC, but it wasn’t like there was a great local scene of bands or anything.


Once we first started touring the West Coast,  realized how popular the sound was. There were so many groups playing the kind of style we were playing. Naturally, the shows were better attended and there was more of a sense of community. That hurts for me to admit since I am such a proud New Yorker. But it’s the truth.

Who are some of the bands BAJ got some of their mojo from would you say?


I would say bands like Infest, Napalm Death, SOB, Assuck, and No Comment, had a big impact on the kind of stuff we were writing. Andrew had a great way with riffs, and having Witte on drums for most of our span as a band helped. His blast beats are fucking nuts! My only gripe with Black Army Jacket was our graphics. I don’t think we had that much cool merch and our record covers weren’t that hot. The coolest thing we had was the official logo and flag, which Andrew did from some stencil he had. We’ll have some new merch for the reunion shows that will make up for all that. You gotta see this shit!


You guys toured a bunch when you were still active. What stands out in your mind? We can discuss the Iranian midgets later.


Wow! I don’t remember the Iranian midgets, but that could have been all the malt liquor I was downing on tour. We had some great times on tour. Being part of the Fiesta Grande at Gilman was fresh. We got to play with Slight Slappers and the vatos in Excruciating Terror, plus some other sick bands. I also remember Lino from Hemlock/Villains/Iaborher was at that show for some reason.


I’ve said it before, but my favorite Black Army Jacket show was 1998’s Milwaukee Metalfest. The folks at Relapse Records were nice enough to have us play their stage. I had gone there with my friends Rob, Omer, and Rick, back in 1992. So to go back as a performer 6 years later, was an honor for me. To make it even better, my pals Rob and Omer flew in with us for the festival. I remember Mercyful Fate played that year and I was on 2 hits of ecstasy… it was incredible.


When is your split with Suicide Silence dropping?


Right after our split 10” with Kool G. Rap hits stores.




What’s next for the Jacket?


Just these 2 shows for now. I would love to do a couple of West Coast shows at some point, but I am not holding my breath. Dave’s so busy with Municipal Waste and all of the other projects he plays in. Andrew has 2 kids that keep him busy. Plus there’s that other issue of geography. That said, if they want to do something again, I would be down.

Right now I’m trying to get something going with Nick Woj from Cold World. We’re both huge shoegaze and dream pop fans, so we might be doing something together. We’ll see. Andrew from Black Army Jacket and I also want to do a power violence project too, but we haven’t been able to find the right people to do it with yet. That would be a lot of fun to do!


Thanks for the pizza, if you guys get on that Kool G Rap / Half a Mil Tour let me know ..