Progressive death metal outfit REVOCATION will join Unearth for a North American co-headlining tour this Fall! The journey, which begins on September 29th in Brooklyn, New York, makes its way through nearly two dozen cities, coming to a close on October 20th in Ottawa, Ontario. Support will be provided by High Command and labelmates, Entheos. Tickets are on sale now. See all confirmed dates below.
REVOCATION w/ Unearth, Entheos, High Command:
9/29/2023 St. Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, NY
9/30/2023 Lovecraft's - Mechanicsburg, PA
10/01/2023 Frankie's - Toledo, OH
10/02/2023 Reggie's - Chicago, IL
10/03/2023 Pops - Sauget, IL
10/04/2023 Eastside Bowl - Nashville, TN
10/06/2023 Conduit - Orlando, FL
10/07/2023 Orpheum - Tampa, FL
10/08/2023 Respectables - West Palm, FL
10/09/2023 Music Farm - Charleston, SC
10/10/2023 Hangar 18 - Greensboro, NC
10/11/2023 Canal Club - Richmond, VA
10/12/2023 Soundstage - Baltimore, MD
10/13/2023 Preserving Upstairs - Pittsburgh, PA
10/14/2023 The Pit At The L - Horsehead, NE
10/15/2023 Wally's - Hampton Beach, NH
10/16/2023 La Source De la Martiner - Quebec City, QC
10/17/2023 Fairmount Theatre - Montreal, ON
10/18/2023 The Queen Barrie - Barrie, ON
10/19/2023 Velvet Underground - Toronto, ON
10/20/2023 The Brass Monkey - Ottawa, ON
REVOCATION released their latest full-length, Netherheaven, last September via Metal Blade Records. Four years in the making, the Billboard-charting trio – Dave Davidson (vocals/guitars), Ash Pearson (drums), and Brett Bamberger (bass) – meticulously explore the allegorical and literal aspects of Hell as they dig deeper into the darker, more diabolical side of death metal. In short, where the previous album, The Outer Ones (2018), jettisoned REVOCATION into the horrific maw of the cosmos, Netherheaven bores deftly through the nine rings of Hell to directly confront Lucifer and his multitudinous faces.
Preview and purchase Netherheaven at metalblade.com/revocation.
“In a genre where every band wants to tease their newest album as their ‘most heavy,’ Netherheaven finds REVOCATION doubling down on their most ferocious elements. The band achieved impressive levels of power after recording as a three-piece for the first time in thirteen years, while maintaining their tech-metal prestige.” – Metal Injection
“…the progressive death metal trio’s darkest and most sinister album yet. This thrilling effort pulls no punches and has no weak spots.” – MetalSucks
“Netherheaven is flawless in execution and doesn’t even come close to becoming remotely predictable. The Outer Ones ventured deeper into the realms of death metal but this release has undoubtedly perfected their approach.” – Distorted Sound
ALBUM ARRIVES MARCH 3 ON METAL BLADE RECORDS — PRE-ORDER HERE
BAND SHARES "I AM THE VOID" VIDEO
Pushing progressive death metal in ever more imaginative directions, Entheos continue to stand apart from the pack. Incorporating elements drawn from myriad genres - including death metal, groove, grunge, electronica, slam, gothic rock, jazz, prog and more — they have evolved with every release, and now they return with the follow up to 2017's landmark Dark Future, the diverse and exhilarating Time Will Take Us All. It arrives March 3 via Metal Blade Records. Pre-order it here.
Today, the band has shared the video for "I Am the Void." Watch it here.
"We're incredibly proud to announce our new album Time Will Take Us All," the band states. "The album's concept is one of growth and self-reflection that focuses on the true human commonality — that our time on Earth is fleeting and what we choose to do with that knowledge is up to each of us as individuals. This is beautifully reflected in Eliran Kantor's surreal cover art."
The band furthers, "We're excited to share a new single 'I Am the Void.' This song begins the second half of the album and represents the weight of feeling as though you cannot escape your own fears and anxieties. The video was shot by the incredible David Brodsky, Allison Woest and their team at My Good Eye Visuals
TIME WILL TAKE US ALL TRACK LISTING: "Absolute Zero" "In Purgatory" "The Interior Wilderness" "Oblivion" "I Am The Void" "Darkest Day" "Clarity in Waves" "The Sinking Sun" "Time Will Take Us All"
CREDIT: Eliran Kantor
"We knew when we started writing that we really wanted to make something darker and heavier that was still uniquely Entheos, and we knew that we wanted to make a record that really came from our hearts and captured where we want to take this band," explains vocalist Chaney Crabb.
"The new album also has a strong 'trippy' vibe, not in a generic sense but meaning when you are done listening to it you feel like you’ve gone on a journey," adds multi-instrumentalist Navene Koperweis. "I've always loved albums that gave me that feeling. I can't say we set out to have the experience, it just sort of happened and that's something I'm proud of." Having stripped down to a two-piece in 2020, this has helped to streamline the band and allow the core members to make the music they want to with no compromise, which is clearly to their betterment. Koperweis — who takes the role of drummer in the band's live lineup — has long written most of the guitar parts, so it was not a radically different writing process, but allowed him the freedom of complete control. "I tell people this album is more of everything that we do, except this time it’s deeper in all directions," says Koperweis. "We're no longer dipping our toe in the pool on certain aspects, when we decide to go somewhere, we fucking go there."
Relying less on synths and electronic production than on previous releases, a lot of the more atmospheric elements are contributed by guitar, and there is even an acoustic guitar for the first time on an Entheos record. Crabb has also pushed herself harder than ever before, interested in consistently practicing to find new pitches and timbres in her voice, and she has most certainly extended the range of her screaming. Using pitched screaming to add melodic lines in many places, this is also the first Entheos record on which she has sung. When it came to penning the lyrics, Crabb knew that she was going to write about her own "experience as a human" and approach the album based on the lingering awareness many people have, that there is so much world out there and there are so many different experiences to have — but there is so little time. However, this idea really hit home in August 2021 when she got into an accident on her electric scooter on the day she started tracking vocals.
"I do not remember how I fell, but when I woke up I was really badly hurt. Gravel was embedded in my lower lip and had severed the inside of my chin from my face, my upper lip was completely split open to the point that my teeth were visible, my nasal septum bone was split in two and my nose was completely bent to one side — I ended up with 100 stitches in my face and was unable to do vocals for three months. I lost all abilities to move my nose and lips for those months, and to this day I still haven't regained complete control."
Because of this accident she found herself in a strange place mentally, juggling between feeling truly happy and grateful for every second that she was alive and got to spend with the people who she loved, but also feeling completely depressed, because of all of the uncertainty surrounding her injuries. She shares, "The album took form as a journey from the depths of depression into gratitude, but ultimately as an examination of our time and how precious it is." With Koperweis handling production duties and Mark Lewis (Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder) mixing the record, all of the drums were tracked by Zack Ohren at Castle Ultimate, and Koperweis tracked guitars and vocals. They also recruited former member Evan Brewer to supply the bass. Though committed to their status as a two-piece, the band does have a live lineup with Brian James (ex-Fallujah) and Robert Brown (ex-Slaughter to Prevail) providing guitar, maintaining their reputation for being a killer live band. Having delivered the best record of their career they are also in a very good place mentally, but they do not get ahead of themselves.
The album will be available in the following formats:
Digital / Streaming
CD Jewelcase
Vinyl — Dark Gray & White Marble (US exclusive)
Vinyl — Clear with Gold Metallic & Black Marble (US exclusive)
Vinyl — Red / Gold Melt (A Side B side) (EU exclusive)
On April 6, 2019, Rivers of Nihil/ Entheos had a sold out and truly killer show at Saint Vitus in Brooklyn, NY, and I was on hand to bring you all the brutal details! Both bands played, in entirety, their last releases resulting in an absolute ass kicker of a night!
Entheos, the first band I got to catch on this night, is a progressive death metal act comprised of members of various other metal bands. I have been a huge fan of them since their excellent debut album The Infinite Nothing . Their second and latest release is the complex, yet groove laden Dark Future (2017). It is an album that gets better and better with every listening, and one which they played all of, on this night.
The band totally decimates live! They are fierce and superbly talented, playing music that is incredibly technical with true proficiency. Singer Chaney Crabb is one of the best vocalists in extreme metal, today. She has an awesome sounding variety of screams, which drive the musically brutality further (even more so live!). And, she has one hell of stage presence with a ton of energy to spare. The audience responded in spades with a brutal as fucking hell mosh pit!
Up next were the headliners, Rivers of Nihil. Finally the band that had been the opening acting for countless of other bands are headlining. This is thanks to the modern masterwork that is Where Owls Know My Name. This absolutely amazing and spectacular work of technical death metal made mine and many others lists of the best metal of last year. Like the Entheos album, it, too, was played in its entirety om this night (as it has been during this whole tour). They even bought their saxophone player which makes them sound and look so unique in the death metal world.
Rivers it is not hyper-boil when I say that Rivers is one of the very best live acts in metal, today. They also inspired one of the greatest pits that I have ever been in or seen, and perhaps the greatest ever in a small venue. It is very likely the best pit that Saint Vitus has ever had, in fact, every single person there that night was a part of it. There was even a fucking wall of death! Your intrepid reporter has bruises all over my right leg, and I can fucking tell that it was well worth them! Why? Because, I had an absolute motherfucking blast at the show.
And, that's the thing about Rivers. For despite how unquestionably heavy they are, they're also a lot of fun. And, it is clear that they, themselves are having a good time. Despite the complexity of their music, they never come off as pretentious. The fact is that everybody, from fan to band to press, had an awesome time.
This fan got onstage with both Entheos and Rivers of Nihil and sang with both band's respective signers.
In all, this ranks as one of my favorite live shows that I have ever attended. If you are a fan of either band or love extreme metal, you need to catch Rivers of Nihil and Entheos, the first chance that you get!
Another great year for heavy rock music draws to an end. This year marked a return of many thrash metal legends, including releases from the 3 of the big 4. The other band from The Big 4, Slayer, released an album last year, marking this the first time in many, many years since all four bands had released an album within a one year period. In fact in many ways, 2016 is the year of thrash metal.
As the music section of this site has grown exponentially, I have expanded my annual list from 10 to 20. This gives more bands and albums a chance to shine and considering how many I got my hands on, this year, it was the only right thing to do.
Anyway, let's not waste anymore time and get to it!
But, first let's start with some:
Honorable Mentions: Witchery- In His Infernal Majesty’s Service Vektor- Terminal Redux Brujeria- Pocho Aztlan Walls of Jericho- No One Can Save You from Yourself Metal Church- XI Epica- The Holographic Principle
20. Whitechapel- Mark of the Blade- While, I think this is definitely not as great an album as the one that proceeded it, Our Endless War, it's a very solid and crunching release, nonetheless. Pummeling with breakdowns and filled with anger, the album stands as a strong example of what deathcore done right sounds like. Songs like "The Elitist Ones" and the powerful "Bring Me Home", which showcases a new level of maturity and change for the band, rank among my favorite tracks of the year.
19. Death Angel- The Evil Divide- I've like Death Angel for many, many years, however, I never loved them. The Evil Divide, though, ranks not only as their best album in the last couple of years, but one of their best overall. It might, in fact, be their actual best album. The more I listen to it, the more I like it. Mark Osegueda is one of the best vocalists in all of thrash metal, and his vocals really shine this blistering ass kicker.
18. Aborted- Retrogore- This brutal and unrelenting release from Aborted serves as splatter worshiping death metal at it's most awesome. With songs like the title the track and "Whoremaggedon", it's really hard to stop listening to Retrogore. As the title implies the lyrics are filled with love for old-school gore flicks. This is accompanied by blastbeats and head smashing crunch, delivering a must own album for fans of blood drenched genre movies and extreme metal. Extra points for having one of my favorite album covers of the year!
17. Korn- The Serenity of Suffering- I haven't cared or particularly liked a Korn since probably See You on the Other Side. Enough so that I had mostly written the band off. So call me beyond pleasantly surprised when I heard this album. It really captures the classic Korn sound and reminds why I used to be obsessed with the band, and their music when I was in college. Filled with catchy hooks and the dark, introspective lyrics that define their best output, this album truly brings back the popular late 90s metal sound.
16. Periphery- III: Select Difficulty- Definitely one of the most talented mainstream metal bands out there, Periphery sum up the best elements of the more popular sounds in heavy rock today. The instruments are played to perfection, while their signer Spencer Sotelo ranks as one of my personal favorite vocalists in modern metal. III: Select Difficulty captures a lot of this with a variety of sounds including really heavy tunes, longer more progressive songs, and softer more emotional tracks. "Marigold" and "Catch Fire" ranks among my most listened to songs of the year.
15. Darkthrone- Arctic Thunder- Another band, I had long written off, black metal legends, Darkthrone returned with not only their finest release in many years, but one of their finest ever. It's a true return to old school black metal with lo-fi production and a distant, cold sound throughout. The title is perfect to describe the album as the feel right the right thing to listen to during these cold winter days. Here then is another album that really brings back the 90s, only in a more underground aspect and does it awesomely.
13. Dark Funeral- Where Shadows Forever Reign- Unholy fuck, what a fuckin' album!! One of my most played black metal releases of this year, this dark, heavy, and deliciously evil album is one of the finest and outright listenable recordings Dark Funeral have ever put out. My full review: http://themastergio.blogspot.com/2016/07/dark-funeral-where-shadows-forever.html
12. The Agonist- Five- I've been a fan of The Agonist since their debut album, however, as much I love their old signer, they have really hit their stride with their current signer, Vicky Psarakis, and the last two albums that they recorded with her. A great mix of the driving and pounding, with more melodic elements, and very catchy hooks, Five is an infinitely playable album that gets me pumped up each and every time that I listen to it.
11. Carnifex- Slow Death- Slow Death is unarguably THE best deathcore album of the year. It showcases a band, Carinfex, that is willing to grow and mature as time passes. Incorporating more death metal elements than many of their counterparts, as well as other influences, like black metal in the amazing track "Drown Me in Blood", this album is a heavy and pissed off blast of pure fury. Carnifex are truly leaving many of their peers in this style of metal in the dust.
Musician: Entheos Album Title: The Infinite Nothing Genre/ Subgenre: Progressive death metal Label: Artery Recordings Release Date: April 1, 2016
The Infinite Nothing is the debut album from progressive death metal band Entheos. Birthed from former members of various other bands, this is one of the most original and exciting death albums of the year.
The music is complex and full tempo changes, but it never comes off as boring or pretentious. Instead there is a feeling of a continuous attack of technically superior death metal. Everyone in this band just exceeds at being extremely proficient and talented in their respective roles. Frank Costa's soaring and ripping guitars give a deep and wondrous variety to their sound. While the pounding drum and bass, by Navene Koperweis and Evan Brewer, receptively, make for a driving and thundering force. They are accompanied by the brutal vocals of Chaney Crabb. She sounds vicious but still manages to keep a feel that goes perfectly with the accompanying music. To only say she is one of the best female vocalists in extreme metal would be an understatement. This all adds to give birth to music that goes from pounding, to fast, to crunching, to groove filled, to melodic, many times within the span of just one song. Thus the album is always exciting to listen to. It makes you want to hear songs again and again. And, each listen will reveal a new and exciting part of the music, one you may not have noticed before. While every song here is excellent; there are a couple that really standout. "New Light" (the first video off of the album) is filled with a driving and jazzy tempo, and is highlighted by one super-cool bass break that gives it a very fresh sound. The thundering title track pummels from the very beginning and only seams to gain more vicious strength. An almost industrial sounding opening to the killer "An Ever-Expanding Human" leads to a song that is sure to have you and the pit moving. While, the speedy "Mind Alone" will pummel you, as if someone took your head and smashed against concrete repeatedly. Unquestionably original and complex, this is a must have for fans of technically superior death metal or those looking for something fresh, heavy, and different.. The Infinite Nothing is, in actuality, everything! * * * * 1/2 out of * * * * *
I hope that you are all enjoying your Memorial Day Weekend. And, remember amidst all the barbecues, drinking, and fun to take time to remember those who have given their lives for our freedom. Also, this is my birthday today, and I am just taking it chill, for now. Take care and stay safe, my friends.
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