Static Altars, Upwell, KLAW, Greenriver Thrillers @ The Funhouse -- 06/04/2016

Photos & Article By Jesse Huminski

The best part about being a fan of any sort of musical genre is a live concert. Concerts are a place to mingle with fellow fans who share your passion for a band as well as permit you to experience musical emotion in real time. Whilst I do thoroughly appreciate shows from big name bands, it's the smaller local shows that I enjoy a little more. Large venues don't give off an intimate vibe and usually, after a band is done, you won't often see them roaming around the venue drinking a beer, chatting up with fans, and enjoying the music of other local artists in the scene. These are the types of shows that keep our beloved genres alive. Without them, the bands of today won't be able to become the big names of tomorrow.

I'm new to the Pacific Northwest. Having barely been here for two years, I had no idea where to look for shows such as the one that occurred on June 4th at The Funhouse in Seattle. To be quite honest, I'm not even sure where I saw the tour poster above. I checked out the a few bands on the bill and immediately felt as if I needed to be there. I've been following the Doomed & Stoned blog for quite sometime and felt compelled to finally become apart of the local scene here in Washington. I grabbed my camera (well, my girlfriend's anyway) and headed down to Seattle, knowing very well that the next day I would probably regret staying up so late as I had to be up for work early in the morning.

But, the lack of sleep and ensuing grouchiness of having to be at work was well worth it.

Album Review: Engraved Darkness- Diabolical Scriptures

by Sam Werts

     When Engraved Darkness isn't beating you down with their crunchy riffs, they're, well... Beating you down with more crunchy riffs! This 4-piece death/black metal band is from Dayton, Ohio and sure show what Dayton metal is all about. Whether it's singer/guitarist Johnnie Wallace's nasty vocals, Colin Glover's beefy bass tone, Jimmy Rose's crazy guitar solos or Andy Hall's tasty drum fills, this band is a treat for those who love bands such as Belphegor or Morbid Angel.

     Diabolical Scriptures is their first release to date, and it's nothing short of brutal. The album opens with a beautiful piano intro, then starts right off with "Darkened Grave." Guitarist Rose really shines here with his epic solo, which only makes an awesome beginning track all the better! The next track, "Fate Divine," features an amazing call and response from Wallace and Glover, whose vocals fit very well together. A few more tracks in, you get to a personal favorite of mine, "The Purity of Evil." Its just shy of 8 minutes long, and it's worth every second. The album runs about 40 minutes long, and is 9 tracks of destructive metal.

     Fans of old school death metal will no doubt love this album, as well as any other release this band puts out. Links to listen and for the band's pages are below.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EngravedDarkness/
Bandcamp: http://engraveddarkness.bandcamp.com/album/diabolical-scriptures

Fear The KLAW

By Kaila Alford

“Hero 2 Zero” the first track off last year’s self-titled debut from KLAW  quickly gives off the impression that the band is about nothing and everything all at the same time. Throughout the album they try on a Tool-esque ambiance that admittedly threw me for a loop. Well consider it fuel for the sonic assault they deliver on “Lost Cosmonaut”. Guitarist  Justin Williams speed  and intensity make mince meat out of you until he kicks back into a stoner rock groove on “Parole” to take us out with.   Dominant drums and punk tinged rage from vocalist Casey Cunningham establish KLAW as a group difficult to categorize.  Well your fucking metal shouldn’t resemble a floral arrangement in terms of orderly cohesiveness.  KLAW cannot be simply classified by a your average rock or metal fan which is okay because formality and fury will never go hand in hand. Fury is all I felt when they  tore through a fierce set (That was as amazing as it was short due to a set time debacle.) on Saturday at Funhouse. Cunningham’s truly impressive vocal range is something to behold and the band’s dynamic energy really did  liven up the place. They struck me as the type who’d probably bring all the beer to a party but then end up breaking every single piece of patio furniture you own, the sorta party most Doom and Black metal fans could use.  They’ve been teasing live crowds with some new material, so you best go familiarize yourself with their awesome debut now.  They have a show coming up on the 23rd at Substation and another in July.  Go out, support local music and most importantly know what it means to fear the fucking KLAW.

KLAW Bandcamp: https://klawseattle.bandcamp.com/releases
KLAW Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/feartheklaw/

Clouds Taste Satanic - Your Doom Has Come album review

Clouds Taste Satanic - Your Doom Has Come

We've been told never to judge a book by its cover since we were children. But, with album art like that, how can one not insinuate that Brooklyn, NY based doom-metal band Clouds Taste Satanic's Your Doom Has Come isn't going to be anything less than spec-fucking-tacular? Let's all be real here, you first see this album cover and expect it to be a great fucking album; I know I sure did the moment I saw it on Bandcamp. And, even more so as I ripped open the packaging of the vinyl the band sent to me last week. And, allow me to inform you with the utmost confidence that your implication of greatness would be right on the money.

Your Doom Has Come released on September 1st 2015 and follows up their lengthy two-track 2014 debut, To Sleep Beyond the Earth. It features six instrumental tracks that incorporate fuzzy, sludgy filled guitar riffs, bass lines that make you groove and drumming that pummels your eardrums into oblivion. This quartet's approach on the genre is one for the record books, setting the bar well out of reach of imitators. A thunderous album that rears its head at its listeners, forcing multiple spins in order to fully comprehend the silent story taking place within its grooves.

Clouds Taste Satanic immediately toss you to the demons with the opening chord to the first track, "Ten Kings," an eight-and-a-half minute expedition that traverses the nine planes of Hell. Merging hazy guitar tones with some mild-mannered, thunderous drumming, "Ten Kings" is all one can ask for in a Doom Metal track. The ambient, almost atmospheric lead guitar places you in a state of hypnosis, allowing your body to sway and move with every beat. An amazing opener, it puts you in the mood for how the rest of the album is going to unfold within your ears.

Your Doom Has Come is a fantastic record for those interested in exploring a genre where vocals and lyrics seem to reign supreme. Considering the fact that it is entirely instrumental, you need to piece together the story in your own words and imagination. Clouds Taste Satanic have done an exceptional job laying the groundwork for their extremely promising musical future with this album. Don't allow the lack of lyrics to hinder your enjoyment of what is an extraordinarily captivating musical venture. Imagination is needed for this album, close your eyes and allow Clouds Taste Satanic to overtake your mind's eye, spitting you deep into a world where angels battle demons, countries inflict war upon each other, or Autobots battle Decepticons.

With Your Doom Has Come, the story is entirely up to you. This album just provides a captivating soundtrack for the backdrop.

Clouds Taste Satanic have been booked on the first annual Doomed & Stoned Festival occurring November 18th & 19th at the 5th Quarter Lounge in Indianapolis, IN.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CloudsTasteSatanic/
Bandcamp: https://cloudstastesatanic.bandcamp.com/