New Cattle Decapitation Video- "We Eat Their Young" & Full Length Album "Terrasite" to See Release on May 12th Via Metal Blade Records/ Pre-Orders Now Available!

Photo by Nick Van Vidler

Watch CATTLE DECAPITATION’s “We Eat Our Young” video HERE.

Long-running San Diego, California-based deathgrind summoners CATTLE DECAPITATION will release their tenth studio album, Terrasite, May 12th via Metal Blade Records, today unveiling the record’s first single, “We Eat Our Young.” Though many bands have tried, no one articulates the real apocalypse humanity is facing as vividly and succinctly as CATTLE DECAPITATION. With 2019’s Death Atlas, they reached the apex of this, perhaps leading some to believe they had no place left to go beyond such an achievement, but alas, they return with Terrasite, which is as bold a statement as they have ever made. “After a record like Death Atlas, you have to make a turn,” notes guitarist Josh Elmore. “Everything about that album - the concept, artwork, music, etc. - was a final statement. The only way to move forward is rebirth. In approaching the newest record, it was not only necessary to keep the musical trajectory the band has been aiming towards since the beginning, but also to further explore the ambient/textural elements that were part of Death Atlas.” As such, Terrasite pushes their sound further into more epic and varied territory, and in the hands of vocalist Travis Ryan the governing concept takes a new and disturbing direction. “I wanted to do the 180° opposite of Death Atlas. I already had the concept idea from years back and since Death Atlas was so dark and brooding, I wanted a completely opposite effect - I wanted this to take place in the daylight. I’ve always found daytime horror to be really unsettling so I wanted to make sure what was going on on the cover took place in the light of day, which also finds its place within the lyrics.”  The title is a word invented by Ryan that brings together “Terra-“ meaning “earth” and “-site” derived from the Greek word “-sitos” which means “food.” “The combination of the two means ‘earth-eater.’ It’s a metaphor for humanity’s role in the destruction of the planet and is a play-on-words of the very fitting word ‘parasite.’” This is vividly brought to life in the artwork by longtime collaborator Wes Benscoter (Vader, Kreator, Bloodbath, Hypocrisy). “We see the nymph stage of this human/cockroach hybrid that is more of a fully grown being that has just molted from its ootheca stage, startled, confused, frightened but also pissed off. The band once again worked with producer Dave Otero (Cephalic Carnage, Allegaeon), who knows the members’ individual styles and how to coax the best out of them, bringing in Tony Parker of Midnight Odyssey to handle piano and synths. In advance of the record’s release, CATTLE DECAPITATION unveils the first video and single from the record with “We Eat Our Young."

Watch “We Eat Our Young,” created by David Brodsky and Allison Woest of MyGoodEye, at THIS LOCATION. 

Terrasite will be available as a jewel case CD, digitally, and on vinyl in the following color variants:

-- “The Fleshy Architect” Orange/Peach Marble vinyl (US exclusive)

-- “Hadean Eon” Orange Blend vinyl (US exclusive)

-- “Gomorrah’s Flora” Green Blend vinyl (US exclusive)

-- “Winds Of Solastalgia” Purple Blend vinyl (US exclusive)

-- 180g Black vinyl (EU exclusive)

-- "Pupa To A Nymph" LP1: Black Ash Smoke vinyl - LP2: Transp. Skin Marble vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 700 copies)

-- “Irradiated Alight” Sunset Marble vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 500 copies)

-- “Living Death Spirituality” White w/ Purple Splatter vinyl (EMP exclusive – limited to 300 copies)

-- “Terrasitic Jizzplosion” Clear w/ Gold Splatter vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)

-- “Life Finds A Way” Clear w/ Green + Purple Splatter vinyl (EU exclusive – limited to 300 copies)

Find preordering options at: metalblade.com/cattledecapitation.

Terrasite Track Listing:

1. Terrasitic Adaptation

2. We Eat Our Young

3. Scourge Of The Offspring

4. The Insignificants

5. The Storm Upstairs

6. …And The World Will Go On Without You

7. A Photic Doom

8. Dead End Residents

9. Solastalgia

10. Just Another Body

 

In conjunction with the release of Terrasite, CATTLE DECAPITATION will support Dark Funeral on this year’s edition of the Decibel Magazine Tour. The journey begins on the eve of the record’s release, Thursday, May 11th in Santa Ana, California and runs through Saturday, June 10th in Los Angeles, California. Additional support will be provided by 200 Stab Wounds and Blackbraid. See all confirmed dates below.

 

CATTLE DECAPITATION w/ Dark Funeral, 200 Stab Wounds, Blackbraid:

5/11/2023 The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA

5/12/2023 The Nile Theater – Mesa, AZ

5/13/2023 El Rey – Albuquerque, NM

5/15/2023 Granada Theater – Dallas, TX

5/16/2023 Empire Control Room – Austin, TX

5/17/2023 The Warehouse – Houston, TX

5/19/2023 The Orpheum – Tampa, FL

5/20/2023 Variety Playhouse – Atlanta, GA

5/21/2023 The Underground – Charlotte, NC

5/23/2023 Baltimore Soundstage – Baltimore, MD

5/24/2023 Irving Plaza – New York, NY * No Blackbraid

5/26/2023 Club Soda – Montreal, QC

5/27/2023 Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, ON

5/28/2023 Crofoot Ballroom – Pontiac, MI

5/30/2023 The Metro – Chicago, IL

5/31/2023 First Avenue – Minneapolis, MN

6/02/2023 The Summit – Denver, CO

6/03/2023 The Complex – Salt Lake City, UT

6/05/2023 El Corazon – Seattle, WA

6/06/2023 The Vogue Theater – Vancouver, BC

6/07/2023 The Roseland Ballroom – Portland, OR

6/09/2023 The Regency Ballroom – San Francisco, CA

6/10/2023 Regent Theater – Los Angeles, CA

For CATTLE DECAPITATION coverage contact liz@earsplitcompound.com.

 

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Cattle Decapitation to Play on Decibel Magazine Tour 2023 with Dark Funeral, 200 Stabwounds, & Blackbraid & Tickets Go on Sale this Friday!

Photo by Nick Van Vidler

San Diego, California deathgrind outfit CATTLE DECAPITATION will support Dark Funeral on the tenth annual Decibel Magazine Tour! The journey will commence on May 11th in Santa Ana, California and run through June 10th in Los Angeles, California. Additional support will be provided by 200 Stab Wounds and Blackbraid.

Comments CATTLE DECAPITATION vocalist Travis Ryan, “​Excited to be hitting the USA again and playing more than just one new song this time! Dark Funeral are great guys and we look forward to jamming alongside them and Metal Blade Records told us many good things about labelmates 200 Stab Wounds so it will be good to finally meet and see them! What Blackbraid is doing is super sick and we do love our black metal so all in all it's looking to be quite an awesome run!”

Tickets go on sale this Friday, February 3rd at 10:00am local time. See all confirmed dates below. 

CATTLE DECAPITATION w/ Dark Funeral, 200 Stab Wounds, Blackbraid:

5/11/2023 The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA

5/12/2023 The Nile Theater - Mesa, AZ

5/13/2023 El Rey - Albuquerque, NM

5/15/2023 Granada Theater - Dallas, TX

5/16/2023 Empire Control Room - Austin, TX

5/17/2023 The Warehouse - Houston, TX

5/19/2023 The Orpheum - Tampa, FL

5/20/2023 Variety Playhouse - Atlanta, GA

5/21/2023 The Underground - Charlotte, NC

5/23/2023 Baltimore Soundstage - Baltimore, MD

5/24/2023 Irving Plaza - New York, NY * No Blackbraid

5/26/2023 Club Soda - Montreal, QC

5/27/2023 Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, ON

5/28/2023 Crofoot Ballroom - Pontiac, MI

5/30/2023 The Metro - Chicago, IL

5/31/2023 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN

6/02/2023 The Summit - Denver, CO

6/03/2023 The Complex - Salt Lake City, UT

6/05/2023 El Corazon - Seattle, WA

6/06/2023 The Vogue Theater - Vancouver, BC

6/07/2023 The Roseland Ballroom - Portland, OR

6/09/2023 The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA

6/10/2023 Regent Theater - Los Angeles, CA

The Decibel Magazine Tour begins on the eve of the official release of CATTLE DECAPITATION’s tenth studio album, Terrasite. The band’s follow-up to 2019’s critically adored Death Atlas full-length was again produced by Dave Otero (Allegaeon, Khemmis, Archspire) with startling new artwork by longtime collaborator Wes Benscoter (Vader, Kreator, Bloodbath, Hypocrisy) and will see release on May 12th via Metal Blade Records. Stand by for additional album details to be unveiled in the coming weeks.

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The 20 Best Hard Rock & Metal Albums of 2019

Sorry, for the bit of the delay, on this list, but regular work had kept me very busy. Regardless, 2019 proved to be another great year for heavy music. Many big name veterans put out some great music, but there are some young, up and comers who kicked major ass, as well. The year proved to be really good for thrash and death metal, in particular, I feel. Making this list wasn't easy and involved a lot of continuous, to the last minute, changes. Anyway, here we go! On a side note, man was black and grey a popular choice for artists as their cover color schemes last year!

Honorable Mentions:
Amon Amarth- Berserker
Korn- The Nothing
Lindsey Schoolcraft- Martyr 
Belzebubs- Pantheon of the Nightside Gods
Flotsam and Jetsam- The End of Chaos 

20. Entombed A.D.- Bowels of the Earth- The mighty Entombed A.D. are back motherfuckers! My full review: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/08/entombed-ad-bowels-of-earth-album-review.html

19. Darkthrone- Old Star- Majestically dark and cold, Darkthrone's latest release is an all engulfing and encompassing assault of old school Norwegian black metal. It combines with an epicness, and even bits of catchieness in songs like "The Hardships of the Scots", that helps to cement it as one the best black metal releases of last year. 

18. Traveler- Traveler- Canadian band Traveler makes their debut and give us what is the best music from a new group playing old school style heavy metal. My full review: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/02/traveler-traveler-album-review.html

17. Chelsea Wolfe- Birth of Violence- Chelsea Wolfe, one of the most original musicians of recent memory, gives us a haunting, powerful, and beautiful acoustic album with her latest release. It is the perfect album to heal and soothe my dark soul.  

16. Fit For An Autopsy- The Sea of Tragic Beasts- One of the best acts in all of deathcore, Fit For An Autopsy have delivered a monster of an album. One of their finest recordings ever, The Sea of Tragic Beasts is heavy, groove-filled, and sure to get mosh pits a blaze. For proof just listen to bangers like "No Man Is Without Fear" and the title track.

15. Possessed- Revelations of Oblivion- Possessed are back to kick your fucking ass straight to hell! Revelations of Oblivion is their absolute finest work since their rightfully heralded classic Seven Churches. This album is a wonderfully satanic mix of pounding death metal and unrelenting thrash. In all, one of the most killer genre benders in many a moon.  

14. Creeping Death- Wretched Illusions- 2019's best debut album came from this old school death metal styled Texas act. My full review: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/09/creeping-death-wretched-illusions-album.html

13. Toxic Holocaust- Primal Future: 2019- The best Toxic Holocaust album yet, and here is my review of it: https://www.themastergio.com/2019/10/toxic-holocaust-primal-future-2019.html

12. Mayhem- Daemon- It feels like forever since I last really enjoyed a Mayhem album. But, unholy fuck is it ever great to have that change. This is an awesome and dark blast of old school and righteously evil Norwegian sounds. From the cold feeling production to the raspy, demonic vocals to the blast-beat assaults this is everything we black metal fans fucking want and need!

11. Rammstein- Rammstein- All these years later Rammstein remain one of the kings of industrial. And, this self-titled rocker proves it. Hard hitting, fun, and catchy it really ranks among their best albums. The excellent production is among the best that you were likely to hear last year. And, the single "Deutschland" is one of my favorite singles that was released in 2019.

 10. Carnifex- World War X- Carnifex continue to grow outside of the confines of deathcore, while remaining entrenched in it. They do this by continuing to expand on the use of taking influences from other sub-genres, like black metal, as they have been doing for the last couple of releases. Tracks like "Visions of the End" are among some of the songs that got my adrenaline most pumped up. In short, World War X is brutal, angry, dark, merciless, and absolutely fucking kills! . 

9. Periphery- Periphery IV: Hail Stan- Periphery continue to be one of the best bands in their style of metal, being head and shoulders above many of the others like them. Their epic, complex, and diverse fourth album continues to prove that. On a side note, it has one of the most fun sounding titles of 2019!

8. Whitechapel- The Valley- This is a dark, powerful, and honest release from one of the kings of deathcore. It is perhaps their most mature album, yet despite some moments where it slows down, the band never loses any of its ferocity. The Valley is a haunting work and one among their finest recordings.

7. Death Angel- Humanicide- One of the great classic thrash bands, Death Angel have put out 2019's absolute best thrash album in Humanicide. As fucking good as their preceding album, The Evil Divide, was this album is even better. As a matter of fact, it is their best work since their classic heyday.

6. Jinjer- Macro- Jinjer is the metal success story of the year. The hardworking band achieved their biggest success yet, and I honestly believe that they are only going to get bigger. Their latest LP Macro is a killer bit of progressive/ d'jent metal. Killer groove, complex song structures, and varied influences (including reggae!) and sounds make this a record that, I feel, will be looked upon as a classic in the future. For now, it is their best yet and one of the coolest of 2019. 

5. Slipknot- We Are Not Your Kind- One of the biggest bands in all of metal, Slipknot put out their latest last year. And, honestly it ranks among the very best the band has ever done. It takes the best elements of their finest work mixes it all in a great and varied sounding disc. Heavy, catchy, and featuring excellent production proves that they are worthy of all the continued popularity and success that they continue to have.

4. The Agonist- Orphans- It is a crying shame that The Agonist are so underrated. They remain a fucking killer group, one that not only continues to make spectacular music, but in fact, with this album, have made their best one, yet! I absolute adore them and this album, is one of my most listened to of all of last year. 

3. Killswitch Engage- Atonement- The masters and gods of metalcore gave us another masterwork this time in the form of the amazing Atonement. It is an album that early on looked like it could take the top place. And, even though it didn't, it did come close. But, then featuring team-ups with former signer and current Light The Torch frontman Howard Jones ("The Signal Fire") and Testament frontman Chuck Billy ("The Crownless King") and more truly fucking ass kicking songs, how could it not?

2. Cattle Decapitation- Death Atlas- Fuck is this album ever brutal!! Cattle Decapitation is always a band that I am excited to hear their latest, and despite one or two reviews I heard/ read giving it a lower rating, I fucking LOVED this one!! It is yet another great release from one of the best extreme metal bands around. I spent a lot of time debating whether this should be number one or two. This may have taken the silver medal, but it came ever so fucking close to gold!

1. Abbath- Outstrider- From the moment I heard this album it felt like it would take the top spot. While, it wasn't easy to choose over the KsE or especially over Cattle Decapitation, it ultimately won. Now, while I absolutely adored the self-titled debut, this one is even better. Which in my book is saying a lot! Abbath's brand of fun, but still unquestionably ass kicking black metal is completely up my alley. With it's musicianship and awesome track list, Oustrtider makes it to the very top of this super competitive list, and in my eyes is the best metal album of 2019!

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The 10 Best Hard Rock/ Metal Albums of 2015

There was a lot of great hard and heavy music made this year, so whittling this list down to just ten and then ranking them wasn't an easy task. Regardless, there were some definite gems, in particular when it comes to more extreme metal. A couple of the albums on here  even stand as the best work these bands have done, as of yet.

10. Lamb of God- VII: Sturm Und Drang- After all the legal troubles that their singer Randy Blythe unjustly went through, LoG got back together and released a killer album. It shows a band that is willing to grow and mature, embracing even cleaning signing and collaborations with others. The result is a heavy and thundering release that perfectly sums up one of the greatest American metal bands of the last few decades.

9. Halestorm- Into the Wild Life- Showing an ever growing and changing in sound, Halestorm's latest has some great rocking tracks, but it also slows it down for some moving and powerful ballads. A great and hook filled hard rock album, Into the Wild Life has some the catchiest songs that I have heard all year. It might be the album that I listened to the most amount of times this year, as a matter of fact! The beautiful Lzzy Hale continues to be one of the best signers in all of heavy music.

 
8. Disturbed- Immortalized- Just when it looked like one of the most popular bands in rock and metal were done, they come back. And, man do they ever come back! A crushing and chugging masterwork, this is one of their very best albums. But, it really should come as no surprise, as they have consistently ranked in my yearly best albums. On a side note, their beautiful cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound of Silence" has become another huge hit for them. And, it's really one of the most beautiful songs that I have heard this year.

7. Bring Me the Horizon- That's the Spirit- In a bold move, this British metalcore band continued to move towards a more mainstream sound. But, I think they really succeeded with an accessible, but still hard rocking and dark hard rock/ metal ass kicker. It's one of their very best albums, and where I would usually be damning a band for this type of change, I can only sign their praises. Sometimes change is good, and sometimes it's fucking awesome!

6. Iwrestledabearonce- Hail Mary- One of the most abrasive and out-right heavy albums released this year, Hail Mary rarely slows down. It feels like your head is getting pummeled with a sledgehammer over and over again. Filled with piss and vinegar, but sprinkled with moments of serenity this is their best work to date. Signer the lovely Courtney Laplante has really breathed new life into one of the most original extreme acts out there.





5. Myrkur- M- Who would have thought that the best black metal album would come from pretty, Danish, former. pop signer, Amalie Bruun, but so is the case with M. It is a haunting, beautiful, heavy, and atmospheric work that takes all of the best things in black metal makes a fresh and powerful album with it. Considering she is a one woman show, this is immensely impressive. Exceptional musicianship and an all encompassing sound make this a future classic of the subgenre.

5. Cattle Decapitation- The Anthorpocene Extinction- This band just keeps getting better and better and that is saying a lot. Quite frankly, I did not think they could top their last album, the masterful Monolith of Inhumanity, but holy fuck did they ever! This is death/ grindcore at it's very best and most brutal. Machine gun drums and crunching brutality combine with various screams of lead signer Travis Ryan, for a full speed assault on the senses. This is blistering and utterly eviscerating metal that cuts your guts open then fucks you in the cut that it leaves. Utterly killer!  

3. The Agonist- Eye of Providence- It's always a gambit when a band gets a new signer. Especially when the band is so closely associated with that signer. It comes as a great accomplishment when said band does that and then ends up making the best album of their entire career (thus far, anyways). And, so is the case with The Agonist's Eye of Providence. Gorgeous Vicky Psarakis has more than taken the reigns. Her joining the band has breathed new and fresh life into band, giving them a great mix of the melodic and catchy with the fast and crunchingly heavy. Quite possibly the metal album that has the best grooves released this year.

 
2. Periphery- Juggernaut: Alpha and Omega- Releasing a double album is always a gamble and one that doesn't really pay off. But, Periphery have given us one of the very best double albums in the history pf metal. It also stands as one of the most technical albums I have heard all year. Complex and ever changing, yet always flowing with energy, the songs are completely captivating and enveloping. As a whole, it's a sonic feat, and as separate it's hard to pick which is the better half. But, it doesn't matter, cause either way it ranks as the year's second best album (and certainly the best of the ever more crowded djent subgenre).
 

1. The Black Dahlia Murder- Abysmal- TBDM has long been one of my very favorite death metal bands. And, that's cause they keep releasing amazing albums that capture the very best of melodic death metal. Abysmal is no different, in fact it is very well their best work since their classic Nocturnal. Considering how high in regards I hold the last couple of albums, this is saying a lot. Blast beats, melodic, soaring guitars, and head smashing sounds combine with Trevor Strnad's screeching and roaring vocals for pure death metal ecstasy. This albums pummels you from it's vicious opener, "Receipt", all the way to it's final track the savage "That Cannot Die Which Eternally Is Dead". Even the awesome cover is pure and classic death metal. What an album!
 

Honorable Mentions:

Chelsea Wolfe- Abyss
New Years Day- Malevolence
One-Eyed Doll- Witches
Trivium- Silence in the Snow
Nachtlieder- Female of the Species
Bullet for My Valentine- Venom
Cradle of Filth- Hammer of the Witches
Iron Maiden- The Book of Souls

So, now I would love to hear from you. What where your favorite metal/ hard rock albums of 2015?

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