Interview with Matt Moss from Slugdge

The genre of metal contains a great variety of lyrical topics. Black metal tends to focus on darker stuff, such as death, Satan, winter, Satan, human sacrifice, and Satan. Death metal has lots of focus on gore, ripping people asunder, using their opened torsos as latrines and so on. But what do you do when you when you don’t want to write about any of that? What if every damn topic has been done before? Well, then you write about... slugs.  

At first look, you may think this is some sort of a fucking joke. “How the hell can anyone write music about slugs? This is going to be shit.” I know, because I was saying the same thing when I was first introduced to Slugdge, a blackened sludge metal band from Lancashire, England. But, Slugdge is anything but a gimmick. Conceived in 2012, Slugdge is the work of two guys, Kev Pearson (guitars) & Matt Moss (Vocals), who worked together in Tower of Wankers & Call to Arms prior to create the maniacal story of cosmic slugs invading the Earth and making all of mankind their collective bitches.

Yes, Slugdge makes it clear from the first notes of their debut album, ‘Born of Slime’, that these gastropods mean business. With a refreshing, thick and aggressive style of extreme metal, the invasion and twisted lore of Mollusca’s following slithers in your mind with the intention to linger. Characterized by complex riffs and pounding, poly rhythmic drumming, the band immediately showcase their own unique brand of extreme metal. Violent and ominous guitars impose with a wall of sonorous force, backed by heavy torrents of blast beats. They provide the perfect backdrop for the-Lovecraftian lyrics about slugs, conducted through Matt’s foreboding growls, screams and clean singing. Yes, the slugs are here, and here to stay.

Review: Sylvaine - Wistful

Have you ever felt Nostalgia? Of course, who doesn’t? But how about a feeling similar to nostalgia, a longing for something remote and far away that doesn't have to be in the past. A forlorn yearning to something you perhaps cannot even identify. The feeling something is amiss, and empty, that rears up in the depths of night and keeps you up until morning comes.

We refer to that feeling as wistfulness, and this appears to be premise of Norwegian artist Sylvaine’s second full length: Wistful. Released two years after her debut, ‘Silent Chamber, Noisy Heart’, the album continues where its predecessor left off; gentle atmospheric post-metal with emphasis on atmosphere, haunting melodies and mostly cleanly sung vocals. Lush layers of keyboards and shimmering guitars constantly weave a dense ambiance and serve as the perfect backdrop to showcase her angelic, often soothing voice in a familiar Alcestian way yet clearly distinct.

Opener ‘Delusions’ is a perfect example of the above and really sets the tone well for the remainder of the album. Soft vocals lure the listener in into a sonorous landscape that takes time to fully appreciate. At first, the instruments seem to blend together into one impenetrable entity, and multiple playthroughs are required to fully separate the individual instruments and marvel at their melodies. In fact, this album requests your undivided attention in a soft and polite way, quite alike a faded photograph of your youth that draws you in and takes you out of the here and now. Like with the photograph, this music invokes all sorts of memories, and not all them pleasant.

With that I lead into why I experienced difficulty listening to this all day, the music is outright sad. The lyrics, poetic and heartwrenching, dig into the mind of the listener and linger there, long after the final note fades away. After four consecutive listens I found my mood dropping quite far below median, and I simply had to do something else. No, this is not what I would listen to all day, but savour for when the time, setting and mood align into a perfect melancholy that can only be accentuated properly by Sylvaine’s haunting voice.

A detail that immediately sprung out to me in two of the tracks is the use of screams, again reminiscent of Alcest. They are good, well executed and in my opinion, that of a seasoned black metal veteran, only add to the mood. However, I could see that some listeners coming from a post-rock climate might find them distracting or overpowering.

Wistful isn't easy listening, neither emotionally nor musically, but it is something that must be experienced nonetheless. If you don’t mind melancholy and the occasional Myrkur-vibe, I highly recommend giving this a few spins. Sylvaine said she poured very personal moments into her music, and it’s conveyed well, exactly what art should be all about. When the times are calling for it, I shall definitely return to this throughout the year and beyond, and I hope you will too.   

'Wistful' was released through Season Of Mist on May 13th. 

Purchase link EU: http://shop.season-of-mist.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=sylvaine

Purchase link USA: http://shopusa.season-of-mist.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=sylvaine

Bandcamp: https://sylvainemusic.bandcamp.com

Youtube playlist: https://youtu.be/Lky6KocRb3Y…

  

Oak Pantheon - In Pieces -- Album Review

Oak Pantheon - In Pieces

If you’re like me, you use music as a soundtrack; an opportunity to express yourself in a poetic way. It’s a means to convey your feelings audibly without ever having to say a word. With the internet, you have the ultimate library of sentiment right in your home allowing you to demonstrate your inner-most passions and reflecting them unto the world.

Oak Pantheon, a post-black metal band from Minneapolis, MN paint a sense of bleak desolation with In Pieces, the band’s second full-length album and first recorded material since Elemental Nightmares - I -- a split with Kess'khtak, Wildernessking & Liber Necris in 2014. An emotionally encumbering album devoid of any sense of delight, In Pieces is the perfect album for a day filled with grey skies and a dreary heart.

“Dawn of a New Day” opens the album with a swift force. A captivating track that encompasses an anguish so fierce, you will contemplate it long after having heard it. Incorporating harsh vocal tones with black metal-esque riffs, this is a song that entrances you, formulating a chemistry inside of you that is inspiring, yet disheartening.

In Pieces is a lyrical masterpiece. It tugs at your emotions as you face an onslaught of melancholic tracks meant to inspire a sense of apathy towards the outer world. A philosophical maelstrom that faces themes of distress, heart-ache and loss, this album emanates an gloomy aura all around. 

Oak Pantheon will bring you on an exciting ride as you ascend the summit of In Pieces. A journey of malevolent dissonance awaits you, causing an everlasting high that ensnares you, inflicting you with an addiction that cannot be emulated. It permits dejection and grief to spiral in conjunction with one another, creating a vicious energy within you that you’ve been lusting for ages to obtain. A formidable contender in my already lengthy  list for year’s best record.

Oak Pantheon is:

Sami Sati (All Instruments)

Tanner Swenson (All instruments)

The album can be streamed below and purchased on the band’s Bandcamp page. In Pieces was released on May 16th, 2016 independently. 

Thräenenkind -- King Apathy -- Album Review

They say perfection is unattainable. But, Thräenenkind , a post-black metal band from Munich, Germany comes pretty fucking close to the threshold. Conceived in 2007, Thräenenkind, which can be translated from German as “child of tears,” quickly got to work recording original material for a demo that was released in 2008. In 2010, the quartet released a split-album with fellow German band, Heretoir, and followed that up with their first full length album on Lifeforce Records entitled The Elk in 2013. Incorporating an atmospheric sound that radiates melancholia, Thräenenkind bring every bit of woe they could garner to bring us King Apathy, also released via Lifeforce Records.

Even Gods Can Die West Coast Tour & Fort McMurry Benefit

Even Gods Can Die - Collapsing // Ascending

Californian Post-Metal band Even Gods Can Die have announced a set of West Coast touring dates beginning June 17th. The dates are set below:

6/17 - Redding, CA - The Dip
6/18 - Portland, OR - The Foggy Notion (aka) Anchor Inn
6/19 - Seattle, WA - Substation
6/20 - Vancouver, BC - Princeton Pub
6/22-6/26 - Calgary, AB - Sled Island Arts & Music Festival
7/1 - Reno, NV - Studio On 4th Club

Even cooler, they also announced that all proceeds from the purchase of the band's albums "Embrace the Static" and "Collapsing // Ascending" will benefit those who have lost everything in the wildfire raging in Fort McMurry, Alberta, Canada.  

 Their album "Collapsing // Ascending" can be heard below. Their album "Embrace the Static" is for sale on their Bandcamp page which can be found above.

Even Gods Can Die is comprised of:
Marston James - Bass Guitar
Craig Tally - Guitar
Scott Rufsvold - Guitar
Scott Thomas - Drums

The End of Agalloch?

Agalloch is the reason I fell in love with the ambient side of Black Metal. Sure, there's bands like Wolves in the Throne Room (Whom, I also adore. Please don't split up and allow me to see you live). But, Agalloch brought a sense of mixed serenity and sadness to the genre that many other bands just can't replicate. That's why their kind of melancholic euphoria was an addiction for me. 

So, you wouldn't be surprised to hear me say that a post to their Facebook page today made me quite upset:

John Haughm parted ways with the band? Or, vice versa? What does this mean? Is this he end of the 20-year old band from Portland, OR? The feeling of losing a best friend suddenly rushed over me like a speeding wave of emotions. I've missed their tours through New York in the recent years; I saw them play for the first time in Seattle last June, thinking to myself "man, I can't wait for this band to come through so I can see them again." What if that next concert never comes along?

For now, there is hope. Two hours later, another post on their official Facebook page appeared. This time signed by Haughm himself:

Hope... It is all we have in a world where Agalloch may no longer exist as a band, but a memory of a friend from so many years ago.

The Order of Israfel Release Track Off Upcoming Album "Red Robes."

The Order of Israfel 

The Order of Israfel, one of Sweden's most exquisite doom metal bands, have released a lyric video for a track off their upcoming album Red Robes; the album is set to release May 27th via Napalm Records.

Swords to the Sky can be heard below, courtesy of Metal Underground. Influenced by early bands such as Pentagram, Cathedral and Witchcraft, The Order of Israfel incorporates their unique style whilst staying true to the genre. The end result is a hard-hitting, monumental recording that accelerates doom metaly goodness into your ears on all cylinders.

Pre-orders can be purchased here through Napalm Records

Dopethrone/Fister - The Last Thing You'll Ever Hear -- Split

Dopethrone/Fister - The Last Thing You'll Ever Hear

Dopethrone and Fister have released a split album today, featuring one track from each band respectively. "The Last Thing You'll Ever Hear" can be heard below via Bandcamp or you can head to either band's Bandcamp page to check it out!



Dopethrone, a Blackened/Sludge band from Montréal, Québec, Canada, features Vincent Houde on Guitars/Vocals, Vyk on bass and Big Borman on Drums. Their track, Host, delivers a full-frontal assault of sludgy riffs determined to make your sub-woofer work overtime whilst Houde dispatches a vocal depth that cultivates an audible malevolence. Host, the bands first release since their LP "HOCHELAGA" dropped in April 2015, embarks on a muddy, gritty musical journey that is sure to napalm your eardrums into a concoction of liquefied ear gunk.

Fister's track, The Failure, is a part of a trio of split tracks that the St. Louis, MO blackened/doom band has released within the last two months. The Failure's opening riff seduces you into a feeling  sinister gloom, metamorphosing into a coarse, abrasive track determined to melt your fucking face off. Marcus Newstead, the band's guitarist and vocalist, inflicts chilling vocals upon you that puncture to your core.

"The Last Thing You'll Ever Hear" can be heard below. Dopethrone will be performing Thursday, May 26th, 2016 at Rams Head during Maryland Deathfest. Fister has stated on a Facebook post that more split albums will be coming out in the foreseeable future and that an LP is in the works for next year.



Written by Jesse Huminski

Lifelorn - The Sin of Want Album Review

Lifelorn - The Sin of Want

There are a multitude of words synonymous with "sad;" depressed, sorrowful, unhappy, mournful, melancholic... The list can go on. What Lifelorn does in The Sin of Want audibly unifies those words, creating the concoction of negativity you'd expect from a band classified as "Depressive Suicidal Black Metal." Lifelorn, a band from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, released The Sin of Want May 8th, 2016, the band's first release in over a year. Immediately, the music fuses with your feelings of despondency, bringing one to a place they could only hope to face in their nightmares.

The album opens up with Hilang, a sorrowful atmospheric track that plays a poignant symphony within your ears. Closing my eyes, a sense of grief encompassed me and I was forced to face my inner-most demons and cower before their overwhelming might. This album may allow one to feel submerged in a gloomy, murky cesspool of depression, causing an altercation with any positive thoughts that may attempt to struggle through.

The Sin of Want features six instrumental tracks, each one considerably melancholic than the next.

Captivating feelings forlorn, The Sin of Want allows one to feel bittersweet in the sense that, whilst things may not be okay in the present moment, it kinda feels good hear your feelings conveyed in a musical manner. This album is recommended to people who love the work of bands such as Xasthur, Make a Change... Kill Yourself & Lifelover.

You can check out Lifelorn below or head over to their Bandcamp page linked above. 

Undergang & Spectral Voice -- Melting Across America Tour

Undergang and Spectral Voice tour poster

Danish Death Metallers Undergang have announced a North American tour alongside Coloradan Doom Metal band Spectral Voice. The Melting Across America Tour kicks off on July 1st in Denver, CO.

Tour dates below:

July 1st - Denver, Co
July 2nd - Omaha, NE
July 3rd - Milwaukee, WI
July 4th - Indianapolis, IN
July 5th - Rochester, NY
July 6th - Somerville, MA
July 7th, New York City, NY
July 8th - Philadelphia, PA
July 9th - Baltimore, MD
July 10th - Pittsburgh, PA
July 11th - Cleveland, OH
July 12th - OPEN DATE (Contact signatureriff (a) yahoo.com to schedule)
July 13th - OPEN DATE (Contact signatureriff (a) yahoo.com to schedule)
July 14th - Day Off
July 15th - Chicago, IL
July 16th - St. Louis, MO
July 1th - Colorado Springs, CO
July 18th - Albuquerque, NM
July 19th - Phoenix, AZ
July 20th - Salt Lake City, UT
July 21st - Day Off
July 22nd - Seattle, WA
July 23rd - Portland, OR
July 24th - Sacramento, CA
July 25th - Los Angeles, CA
July 26th - Oakland, CA

Marduk, Rotting Christ, Carach Angren, Necronomicon North American Tour

In case you missed it, Swedish Black Metal band Marduk have announced a headlining North American tour with Rotting Christ, Carach Angren, & Necronomicon as support. The tour kicks off on September 2^nd  in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. Tour dates are as follows:

 09/02/16 Ft. Lauderdale, FL Culture Room
 09/03/16 Tampa, FL The Orpheum
 09/04/16 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
 09/05/16 Baltimore, MD Soundstage
 09/06/16 New York, NY Gramercy Theatre
 09/07/16 Boston, MA Brighton Music Hall
 09/08/16 Montreal, QC L'Astral
 09/09/16 Toronto, ON The Opera House
 09/10/16 Columbus, OH Al Rosa Villa
 09/11/16 Chicago, IL Reggie's
 09/12/16 Minneapolis, MN Triple Rock
 09/13/16 Kansas City, MO The Riot Room
 09/14/16 Denver, CO Marquis Theatre
 09/16/16 Vancouver, BC Rickshaw Theatre
 09/17/16 Seattle, WA Studio Seven
 09/18/16 Portland, OR Bossanova Ballroom
 09/19/16 Oakland, CA Metro Opera House
 09/20/16 Las Vegas, NV LVCS
 09/21/16 Los Angeles, CA Regent Theater
 09/22/16 Phoenix, AZ Joe's Grotto
 09/23/16 El Paso, TX Mesa Music Hall
 09/24/16 Dallas, TX Gas Monkey Bar & Grill
 09/25/16 Austin, TX Dirty Dog Bar

Laden - We Searched For New Worlds Album Review

Laden - We Searched For New Worlds

We have ignition... We have blastoff...


Curious to know what it's like to accelerate into outer space? Laden, the brainchild of Los Angeles musician Chuck Wilson, will take you on such a journey with We Searched for New Worlds. A post-metal band inspired by the likes of ISIS and The Ocean, Laden excels past the standard of what to expect from a band within the genre. Wilson, a game developer by day, musician by night, is the sole proprietor of the band, playing bass, guitar, and even doing all the mixing and production work.

We Searched for New Worlds immediately throws you into the cockpit of your own spacecraft with "Lift Off," a textured instrumental that permits you to visualize yourself shooting through the atmosphere and into the unknown infinite darkness that is the universe above. An ambient, hard-hitting theme, "Lift Off" captivates you with its tonal harmonies and eloquent movements. It is the perfect opening track to prepare you for your expedition.

We Searched for New Worlds is a mixture of passionate, stimulating tracks and atmospheric sounds to consign your imagination to the very deep reaches of our solar system. It is a journey that may enthrall and motivate you. An ingenuous experience which will keep you yearning for more long after the last note rings.

Permit yourself to accept the stimulation your thoughts will incur. Close your eyes and enjoy the excursion Laden will usher upon you.

Recommended tracks are "Lift Off" & "The Weight of the Sun's Rays Crushed the Earth"

Rating: 8/10

Laden is recommended to fans of bands such as Pelican, Rosetta and Alcest. Check the album out below or click the album art above to be sent over to Laden's Bandcamp page!

Relapse Records Announces Deluxe Reissues of Pentagram's 'First Daze Here’ & ‘First Daze Here Too’

Relapse Records announced today that they will be reissuing Pentagram's First Daze Here & First Daze Here Too, a compilation of the band's earliest work which has since been long out of print. Both albums will be released on June 17th and will be available on 2CD/LP/Digital and 2CD/2xLP/Digital respectively. Physical copies of the albums can be pre-ordered here. Digital pre-orders can be purchased on the band's Bandcamp page. Additionally, Pentagram have announced a West Coast tour with Wax Idols and King Woman kicking off May 17th at Studio Seven in Seattle. Tour dates are as follows:

May 17 Seattle, WA Studio Seven

May 18 Portland, OR Dante’s

May 19 Boise, ID Neurolux

May 20 Salt Lake City, UT The State Room

May 21 Denver, CO Marquis Theater

May 23 Phoenix, AZ Nile Theater

May 24 Los Angeles, CA The Echo

May 25 San Diego, CA Brick By Brick

May 26 Santa Ana, CA The Observatory

May 27 San Francisco, CA DNA Lounge

May 28 San Jose, CA The Ritz

Aug 27 Las Vegas, NV Psycho Las Vegas

First Daze Here Tracklisting:

Disc 1

1. Forever My Queen

2. When The Screams Come

3. Walk In The Blue Light

4. Starlady

5. Lazy Lady

6. Review Your Choices

7. Hurricane

8. Livin’ In A Ram’s Head

9. Earth Flight

10. 20 Buck Spin

11. Be Forewarned

12. Last Days Here

Disc 2

13. Be Forewarned (The Macabre 7″ – Original Mix)

14. Lazy Lady (The Macabre 7″ – Original Mix)

First Daze Here Too Tracklisting:

Disc 1

1. Wheel Of Fortune

2. When The Screams Come

3. Under My Thumb

4. Smokescreen

5. Teaser

6. Little Games

7. Much Too Young To Know

Disc 2 

8. Virgin Death

9. Yes I Do

10. Ask No More

11. Man

12. Be Forewarned

13. Catwalk

14. Die In Your Sleep

15. Frustration

16. Target

17. Everything’s Turning To Night

18. Take Me Away

19. Nightmare Gown

20. Cartwheel

21. Cat & Mouse

22. Show ‘em How

Kvelertak, Torche, Wild Throne @ El Corazon -- 5/1/2016

I came across this show sitting in a friend's room as he was watching TV. There wasn't even a doubt in my mind; I needed to see this. Kvelertak, supported by Torche?! Hell yes. I had no idea who Wild Throne was prior to that night. Did a little research and knew they'd fit the bill. The scene was set and the anticipation was capped. I couldn't wait for the night of this show. I had been hoping to see Torche for the longest time. I missed them play a couple of nights back when I lived in NYC. So seeing this show was basically top priority the moment I heard about it.

Wild Throne - Harvest of Darkness

The show opened with Wild Throne, a band based out of Bellingham, WA. Comprised of three members, Joshua Holland (guitar/vocals), Noah Burns (drums), Jeff Johnson (bass), Wild Throne had a sound that stunned me & rocked El Corazon. Immediately, I became involved in their set becoming captivated by Holland's vocals, which emanated that of Rody Walker from Protest the Hero. Never before have I seen someone play their pedal board as an instrument like Holland did. I became intrigued, wanting to hear more from these guys as the set went on. An electrifying band with a unique sound, if you have an opportunity to see Wild Throne live, I would highly recommend it.

Torche - Restarter

Torche was next in the lineup. A thundering powerhouse of a band made up of Steve Brooks  (guitars, vocals), Jonathan Nuñez (bass) Rick Smith (drums) Andrew Elstner (guitar, vocals), Torche lived up to my hype of them. Considering the fact that they were in a motor vehicle accident just a few nights prior, I was surprised by their performance. Hell, if I had been the one whose van hit a sheet of ice, I don't think I'd be able to play the next night, let alone continue and finish off the tour. I'm glad everyone in the van was safe and unharmed. And, I'm definitely grateful Torche were there to perform for us that night.

The atmosphere for Torche was climactic as the opening chords bellowed through the venue. My excitement was through the roof as the quartet performed. I had been anticipating seeing these guys since first hearing Harmonicraft back in 2012. And, much to my pleasure, the band opened up with "Kicking" off that album. Torche's performance was enticing and inspiring recognizing what had happened a few days prior. The fans were ecstatic, singing along and moshing throughout the set. All things considered, their performance was through the roof. 

Kvelertak - Nattesferd (Out May 13th, 2016)

Headliners Kvelertak, made up of Erlend Hjelvik (vocals), Bjarte Lund Rolland (guitar), Maciek Ofstad (guitar), Vidar Landa (guitar), Marvin Nygaard (bass), Kjetil Gjermundrød (Drums), took the stage with a dominating force.  I remember reading an article back in 2012 about how one of the band's performances in Singapore ended up spilling into the streets and I knew the venue was in for an electric performance that one would be unable to forget. Hjelvik came out with a light up owl mask (the band's mascot, if you will) on his head during their first song.  

Almost immediately, a pit erupted in front of the stage. The band made it feel like we were at a party instead of watching a concert. Hjelvik's stage presence was alive, getting the crowd involved in singing along to the songs and speaking with them in between as the other members tuned up their instruments. Watching these guys made me reel with anticipation over their new album coming out later this month.

It was unfortunate the night had to end. I wish I could relive this show over and over due to it being an astonishing experience. The tour hits Hawthorne Theater in Portland, OR tonight and ends at The Fonda Theatre in Los Angeles, CA on May 6th. If you're in the area for any of these shows, get to it and live it out for yourself.

Introduction

Hello, and welcome to The Grim Pacific North! First, I'd like to thank you for checking out the site, regardless of how you ended up here. What I plan on doing with this is writing reviews of albums and shows, doing interviews, and posting about up and coming bands from all over the world. If you are a band and want me to do a write up of your album, check out the contact page for details on that.

Hope you enjoy what I bring.