It’s Friday, which means two things: giving the week the finger and new music! Tune in every Friday for The Pit’s round-up of new releases, from singalong hard rock to pus-drenched underground death metal. Keep those ears bleeding!
Cannibal Corpse, Violence Unimagined (Metal Blade)
For fans of: Good death metal
Standout track: “Follow the Blood”
Violence Unimagined is living, dying proof that age is nothing but a number. While other bands are chilling out or getting more simplistic in their latter years, Cannibal Corpse have chosen to release one of their most exciting, enthralling, technically-proficient records to date. Maybe this is due to the inclusion of Erik Rutan on guitar, or the fact that Cannibal are coming off of a few more nuanced releases — in the end, it doesn’t matter. This is death metal perfection, a flawless illustration of why Cannibal Corpse is the world’s favorite death metal band. This, this is why we’re all here.
Bewitcher, Cursed Be Thy Kingdom (Century Media Records)
For fans of: Toxic Holocaust, Midnight, Witchtrap
Standout track: “Satanic Magick Attack”
Man, it seems like there’s a real strain of kickass black thrash coming out lately — Demiser, Hellripper, and now Portland’s Bewitcher. The band play a slightly more old-school, speed-not-thrash version of the genre than those previous bands, but they still bring the serrated riffs and harsh bellows about the Devil. Thankfully, there’s also just a tinge of tongue-in-cheek sneer to the album, so that even in its most diehard moments it doesn’t feel ponderously serious. Fans who wish Motörhead sounded a little more like Venom will love the shit out of this.
Chain Gang Grave, Cement Mind (self-released)
For fans of: Mantar, Eyehategod, Today Is The Day
Standout track: “Touch of Evil”
Yikes. If you’ve ever wondered how would Eyehategod sound if they switched their downers to uppers, Chain Gang Grave are here to show you. The Brooklyn duo play fuzzy, nasty sludge with the momentum and attitude of modern thrash and old-school hardcore. While Cement Mind isn’t for every mood, it’s definitely the perfect cure for that venereal itch one gets when they’re in a bad mood in New York City and all that cold, unfeeling concrete seems to be bearing down on you. Some real blood-spitting music.
The Vintage Caravan, Monuments (Napalm Records)
For fans of: Uncle Acid and The Deadbeats, Ghost, Clutch
Standout track: “Can’t Get You Off My Mind”
Does most modern-day doom bum you out? Do you like to get high and drive around, but don’t want to hear about Satan jerking off in a tomb? The Vintage Caravan are here for you. The Icelandic trio’s music is certainly heavy, with big, buoyant riffs that carry the listeners along with them, but even their shadowiest moments are bombastic entertainment. Hell, they have a song on this album called “Dark Times” that sounds like drag-racing with a pound of good weed in the trunk. This one’s fun as hell, no matter which way you slice it.
Other crushers:
- Escape the Fate, Chemical Warfare (Better Noise Music)
- Endseeker, Mount Carcass (Metal Blade)
- Spectral Wound, A Diabolic Thirst (Profound Lore)
***
Words by Chris Krovatin
