stream of consciousness

artist of the month

Goatwhore

Ben Falgoust - vocals
Sammy Duet - guitar
Nathan Bergeron - bass
Zack Simmons - drums

Duet sums it up simply: “If you don't like it, kiss my ass.”

Emerging from the swamplands of New Orleans, Louisiana — a city rich with urban legends of voodoo curses, ghosts and murder — Goatwhore was formed in 1997 by guitarist Sammy Duet (Acid Bath, Crowbar, Ritual Killer etc.). Their history is a winding one marked by lineup shifts, temporary paralysis, haunted studios, and the survival of one of the five most destructive hurricanes in US history. Influenced by the raw savagery of bands like Venom and Celtic Frost, their unrefined, fuck-all approach to black metal first revealed on the Serenades To The Tides Of Blood demo and expanded upon on the now legendary Eclipse Of Ages Into Black debut nearly a decade ago earned the band instant underground credibility. Then comprised of Duet, vocalist Ben Falgoust and guitarist Ben Stout (both of Soilent Green), bassist Patrick Bruders and drummer Zak Nolan, Goatwhore toured relentlessly and by 2003 had garnered a loyal cult following of metal fans old and new. Second full-length Funeral Dirge for the Rotting Sun was a slower, more introverted affair that transcended well beyond the confines of traditional black metal. Impossibly heavy and lyrically dense, with Falgoust’s and Duet’s high-to-low vocal tradeoffs fusing its menacing atmosphere, the 12-tracks within were met with equal approval and the band quickly returned to the road. [Continue]

Official Site
Myspace
Metal Blade Records

War From A Harlots Mouth
War From A Harlot's Mouth is an excellent new contender in the metal scene. Almost every song on this Lifeforce debut packs a powerful punch, with only one or two tracks keeping In Shoals from landing a total knock-out.

Kylesa
All-in-all, this is a pretty successful 4th full-length release from Kylesa. Although every song on the album is not great, the album as a whole is quite pleasurable to listen to.

Devin Townsend
Intelligent, inquisitive, introspective… these attributes radiated from Canadian musician Devin Townsend of Strapping Young Lad fame as we spoke. Ki, the first in a series of four albums all to come out later this year, is a wonderful undertaking that Devin seemed most eager to discuss.

Nahemah
Nahemah has potential to make a great record, but will be hindered if their vocals continue to overpower the rest of the music.

Chimaira
It’s interesting to note the atmosphere when doing an in person interview on the opening day of a tour. Meeting with guitarist Matt DeVries on the Chimaira tour bus, I could feel freshness and excitement radiating.

in the dark no want no need no desire not anything not any of the things once deemed important only the thick curse of blackness swelling up like a dense mist hovering over a damp october evening in fall nothing but the cool calm feeling of metal on the temple scratching wildly as if to rub away the pressures and the punishments and the pains but they linger and hover more deeply than ever and there i sit waiting for the darkness to completely fall no respect no need no help just existing in this dim and gray place with these dim and gray people blankness expressions on each and i sit and contemplate the banging of the corpse in the moonlight underbrush i enjoy nothing and nothing enjoys me where am i when will i arrive i have tried and failed and completed one full circle still wandering and wondering what it is that has happened or will if i am to go tonight to the river with the pistol and the man on all fours dramatically and fast forwardly approaching as if anxiety has gotten the best now and forever i watch and wait and he approaches but he does not reach me he never reaches me for to feel is to touch and to have not i simply wait in this oblivion as the darkness prevails in the shadowy gloom where no one can help me no one admittedly and the good times a distant past as they happen once with each person only to never been seen again and i yearn for the continuation only to lay to waste in the muggy dew on the dim lit porch i try to think clearly but negativity is upon me as has always overridden and i can see no further through the depths of the power that i do not possess alone

stream of consciousness