Reviews

CD Review: CANDLEMASS Psalms for the Dead

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The PR cycle for Psalms of the Dead comes front loaded with some unfortunate news: after five years of fronting Candlemass, singer Robert Lowe has either been fired or split of his own volition (apparently there was a rift over his not being up to snuff on his live performances). I never got to see the band live, despite Lowe being from my home state of Texas, but on record I found Lowe to be a natural fit, his bluesier yet still epic voice affording the rest of the group a chance to expand their musical palette a bit. (more…)

Upcoming Releases

THE WEEKLY INJECTION: New Releases Out Today – 6/5

Candlemass - Psalms For The Dead

I was a bit overwhelmed by the staggering amount of big releases out this week; but it's true, the metal gods are just, and where there was a void of empty space last week there must now be a huge slab of metallic mayhem. I've pushed my review quota up from five to nine in hopes of covering them all, but I've still barely scratched the surface. Spanning all genres and more than a few countries; from both legendary vets and up and coming hopefuls, this week we'll take a look at solid releases from Be'lakor, Candlemass, Kreator, Marduk, Ulver, Fear Factory, and more. Here are the new releases for 6/5: (more…)

Attention, Stoners: Revelations of Doom

ARISE DESPAIR: UZALA

Welcome to Revelations of Doom, Metal Injection's portal into the seedy underworld of extreme metal. Your tour guide is, as always, Grim Kim, and this time around, I've got something for you that's colored a little lighter than the usual sludge fiends and black metal tyrants that populate this column. Imagine the unholy union of Blood Ceremony, Mourn, Jex Thoth, and Dead Meadow- all fuzzy guitars, psychedelic meanderings, hints of '70s sexiness, haunting female vocals, and just enough doomed resolve to keep things firmly on the heavy side of the spectrum. Meet Uzala.

Boise, Idaho isn't exactly the most happenin' city around. The Midwest is a fertile breeding ground for sweet metal bands (see: the Chicago scene as a whole, plus the Indianapolis-bred Coffinworm, Black Arrows of Filth & Impurity, and The Gates of Slumber to start) but I can't think of a single notable band that's come out of Boise (correct me if I'm missing someone obvious). Either way, cheers to Uzala for leading the charge! I discovered this doomed quartet on accident. I reconnected with my friends Chad and Darcy (who are also both killer tattoo artists) at this year's Roadburn fest, and they happened to mention that their band had just finished recording a demo. Of course my interest was piqued, and a few days later, Uzala's maiden voyage into the unknown showed up in my mailbox. My first thought was, "Whoa! Four songs in nineteen minutes? Slow down there, speed racer! Isn't this supposed to be doom?" (more…)

Interviews Latest News

YOB: The Metal Injection Interview

YOB

As September 18th draws ever closer, the riff-hungry troops of doom are stocking up on earplugs and rolling papers, preparing to follow the sign of the Southern cross down towards their own uber-resinated version of Mecca. Past the Mason-Dixon line and just shy of Hell itself lies their destination -  Asheville, North Carolina, which, thanks to a bevy of bands and some seriously ambitious promoters, is in turn gearing up to bear witness to the heaviest gig of the year. With the Metal Injection-sponsored (you're welcome) Planet Caravan Festival right around the corner and excitement running higher than Bobby Liebling on a day that ends in "y," we here at Metal Injection figured it was high time we gave y'all a peek behind the wall of sleep and unveiled a brand-new interview with those freshly resurrected, impossibly heavy and inescapably vital purveyors of cosmic, mind-altering "doom with a capital D and six extra O's," YOB.

Resident feedback worshipper Grim Kim caught up with YOB's Mike Scheidt for some gnarly Q&A action about stellar new record The Great Cessation, Planet Caravan, and the neverending triumph of DOOM (in all-Caps, of course). (more…)