EXIS CIBOBJECELTIVEFL DETIVELY 20AN OBJEC REVIEW
QUEHEAVYENS RŸCHE METAL
CARCASS
EXCLUSIVE STUDIO UPDATE
IS THE LAW
REFUSE/RESIST
FLEXI DISC
INCLUDED
MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP ROTTING CHRIST
METAL CHURCH MISERY INDEX DEVIL MASTER PHLEBOTOMIZED
APRIL 2019 // No. 174
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EXTREMELY EXTREME
April 2019 [R 174] decibelmagazine.com
54 No More Tears COVER STORY COVER AND CONTENTS PHOTOS BY GENE SMIRNOV
features
upfront 8
metal muthas Drumming up support
12 low culture A blaze in the New Jersey sky 13 no corporate beer Flights of fancy 14 studio report:
carcass
Heartbacktowork
16 totaled Brutality in anonymity 18 east of the wall Hindsight is 20/20 20 devil master Spooky scary 22 elizabeth colour wheel A new flavour 24 phlebotomized They’ve returned for your braaains
26 call & response:
metal church
Don't hold your breath for an upcoming tour with Dying Fetus 28 special feature:
the top 20 flexi discs of all time (so far) You mean these things actually play music?
32 queensrÿche Guilty of first-degree heavy metal assault 34 rotting christ Fgmenth, thy gift that keeps on giving
reviews 36 misery index #Socialism 38 q&a: jeremy wagner The Broken Hope guitarist wants to tell you a tale of love and loss 42 the decibel
hall of fame Though we may have lost drummer Ted McKenna, his legacy endures with the induction of the Michael Schenker Group’s Assault Attack
63 lead review Noisem return after nearly living up to their new album’s title Cease to Exist 64 album reviews Records that think the polar vortex was way cooler in 1987, including Children of Bodom, In Flames and Pissgrave 80 double negative Mother superior
Decibel (ISSN 1557-2137) is published monthly by Red Flag Media, Inc., 1032 Arch Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Annual subscription price is $29.95. Periodical postage, paid at Philadelphia, PA, and other mailing offices. Submission of manuscripts, illustrations and/or photographs must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials. Postmaster send changes of address for Decibel to Red Flag Media, 1032 Arch Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia PA 19107. © 2019 by Red Flag Media, Inc. ISSN 1557-2137 | USPS 023142 All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. 4 : A P R I L 2 0 19 : D E C I B E L
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you’re likely just trying to find five minutes of peace in the bathroom, hoping to learn if the new In Flames album is any good (spoiler: it isn’t) and not searching for sobering thoughts. But as someone who is hurtling toward his mid-40s, it’s a reality that is increasingly difficult to ignore. And after curating the Decibel Hall of Fame series for the past 15 years, it’s an unfortunate reminder that presents itself on a monthly basis. As most of you are well aware, one of the stipulations for Decibel Hall of Fame induction is that we must interview every band member who played on the record we’re honoring. Decibel started in 2004, which means that some pretty significant records—Ride the Lightning, Scream Bloody Gore, Bonded by Blood, just to name a few—were already off the board. As previously noted, this isn’t because we don’t hold these albums in the highest regard, but because the primary function of the Hall of Fame is to provide the definitive accounts of these albums that explain who we are as metal fanatics. And without Cliff, Chuck or Paul available to discuss the records in question, that just ain’t happening. Of course, plenty of other events have dramatically altered the Hall of Fame landscape since its 2004 inception. Ronnie James Dio, Martin Eric Ain, Jeff Hanneman, Nick Menza, Peter Steele, the entire classic Motörhead lineup and many other inducted musicians have left this world behind. Their musical legacies were obviously long cemented before we interviewed them. But doing so allowed us to memorialize their work, forever preserving the genesis and stories behind timeless landmarks like Heaven and Hell, Morbid Tales, Reign in Blood, Rust in Peace, Bloody Kisses and Ace of Spades. Just two days after this issue’s Assault Attack Hall of Fame was filed, Michael Schenker Group drummer Ted McKenna unexpectedly passed away due to complications from routine surgery. It was shocking and heartbreaking. And as time marches mercilessly on, it’s inevitable that things like this will occur with more frequency. We are not here for very long. Don’t miss an opportunity to see a veteran band when they come through your town. I won’t wait the extra day to send that email to get a Hall of Fame story started. albert mudrian, Editor-in-Chief
REFUSE/RESIST
April 2019 [T174]
We are not here for very long. I realize
PUBLISHER
Alex Mulcahy alex@redflagmedia.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Albert Mudrian albert@decibelmagazine.com
AD SALES
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Alex Yarde alex.yarde@redflagmedia.com
Michael Wohlberg michael@redflagmedia.com
Patty Moran
CUSTOMER SERVICE
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COPY EDITOR
Andrew Bonazelli
EDITORIAL ASSISTANT
vince@decibelmagazine.com
BOOKKEEPER
Vince Bellino Tim Mulcahy tim@redflagmedia.com
CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Chuck BB, Ed Luce Mark Rudolph
Online DECIBEL WEB EDITOR
Albert Mudrian
DECIBEL WEB AD SALES
James Lewis
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Ester Segarra Hristo Shindov Josh Sisk Gene Smirnov Levan TK Hannah Verbeuren Frank White
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To order by phone: 1.215.625.9850 (10 a.m. – 5 p.m. EST) To order by fax: 1.215.625.9967 To order online: www.decibelmagazine.com Decibel (ISSN 1557-2137) is published monthly by Red Flag Media, Inc., 1032 Arch Street, 3rd Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Annual subscription price is $29.95. Periodical postage, paid at Philadelphia, PA, and other mailing offices. Submission of manuscripts, illustrations and/or photographs must be accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. The publisher assumes no responsibility for unsolicited materials.
TED McKENNA 1950–2019
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READER OF THE
MONTH
Ruben Moreno Gardena, CA
You’ve been a Decibel subscriber for over a decade, so let’s make you editor in chief for an issue. What’s the one band you’d put on the cover the Decibel has yet to run a cover story on?
Wow, I always thought to myself, what if I was editor in chief for one day. Since I’m from Los Angeles, I’m going to be biased and say the crossover band Excel. I simply loved this band from day one since I first heard them as a teenage kid. They came out of that whole Venice scene in the ’80s, which included bands like No Mercy and Suicidal Tendencies. Check out the Welcome to Venice compilation LP to know what I’m talking about. Excel’s story would shed interesting history on that
8 : A P R I L 2 0 19 : D E C I B E L
particular musical scene along with introducing the readers to some great lost bands (Neighborhood Watch, Against). They reformed back in 2013 and now play gigs frequently throughout the year. Perhaps a possible Hall of Fame nominee for their debut album Split Image? As an L.A.-area resident, please shatter one misconception about Los Angeles that metalheads in other parts of the U.S. and the world may have about the city.
Hopefully, I’m interpreting the question correctly. I would say that the urban myth of sunny Southern California, the place of Hollywood and Disneyland. We do have nice seasonal weather in the spring time but typically when the sun is out, the temperatures can get anywhere from 80100 degrees. When you add the smog and traffic on a mid-summer day with temperatures of 110, life in Los Angeles can be hell on earth. Clippers vs. Lakers: who you got?
Funny thing, I’m not much of sports fan. I
occasionally do go to some basketball games during the NBA season, but if I would have to choose, I’m going with the Clippers. Clippers tickets are much cheaper than Laker tickets! You attended Decibel Metal & Beer Fest: Los Angeles late last year. We’ll be doing it again in 2019, so here’s your chance to tell us what we should keep the same and what we should change about the event for Year 2.
I had a great time at the first inaugural Decibel Metal & Beer Fest here in Los Angeles. I loved the diversity of bands (YOB, Power Trip, to name a few) that played this two-day jubilee, including elder-statesmen bands like Testament and Triptykon. But the what made it so special is that both headliners played special sets and songs that I would never thought would be played in my lifetime. Keeping that “special” aspect to the fest is a definitely an added bonus. It looks like you guys are on your game at this year’s Decibel Metal & Beer in Philadelphia. I’m pretty satisfied with your choices of breweries. There no reason for anyone to complain about any craft beers at the fest since each brewery has about two to three selections of beer at each booth. I’m even surprised I got through two booths! I believe you guys a create a unique experience combining two great things I love: metal and beer. I wouldn’t change a thing.
Chuck BB is the illustrator of the graphic novels Black Metal, Vol. 1, 2 and 3 For more info and art, head over to chuckbb.com
NOW SLAYING Wonder what Decibel world HQ has been rocking for the past month? Well, here are the records that we spun most while resting easy knowing Metal & Beer Fest patrons will have a place to shit.
Because not all of us were spawned in the darkest recesses of hell
This Month's Mutha: Michele Thomas Mutha of Jared Klein of Rivers of Nihil
Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
I was the child of a chorus girl who danced her way from Chicago's Chez Paree to the opening of Wilbur Clark's Desert Inn in Las Vegas. Jared was born in Reno, Nevada. Jared's dad was on tour with Engelbert Humperdinck at that time and I enjoyed taking a break, staying at home baking. After two years, I jumped back into the game. I am singing and living in Las Vegas. Did Jared ever get into trouble?
Do I tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but? Between the age of 13 to 17, Jared became possessed by the teenage years. All that changed, and he started practicing for hours every day and became in demand with local and national bands.
sparkle in his eyes. He was hooked. He was in a concert band at Pine Middle School for two years and marching band for four years at Galena High School. Did Jared's musical tastes ever worry you?
Jared's older brother, Toby, paved the way so I knew what I was in for regarding Jared's musical direction. I can't deny the first time I was introduced to this genre I was like "what the hell?” I didn't understand why the music I was hearing had screaming through the whole song instead of singing. What is something most people don't know about your son?
Jared is an open book. If there are any secrets, please let me know!
How did Jared start playing drums? Did he pick them up quickly?
What about Jared makes you the proudest?
At two years old, he climbed on the throne behind his dad's drum set, picked up the sticks on the snare and proceeded to play and it all made sense! His dad and I sat there, looked at each other and said "uh-oh.” Jared had that
The human being he has become. Through all our happiness, struggles, dysfunction and anger, our family has a very strong love. Jared is such a good man. Each day I am so grateful. I am so very proud to be his mother. —JUSTIN M. NORTON
1 0 : A P R I L 2 0 19 : D E C I B E L
Albert Mudrian : e d i t o r i n c h i e f Devil Master, Satan Spits on Children of Light Full of Hell, Weeping Choir Varathron, His Majesty at the Swap Rotting Christ, Thy Mighty Contract Misery Index, Rituals of Power ---------------------------------Patty Moran : c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e Viagra Boys, Street Worms Godflesh, Godflesh The Lamps, The Lamps Misfits, Static Age Helmet, Meantime ---------------------------------James Lewis : a d s a l e s Third Eye Blind, Third Eye Blind Blazon Stone, No Sign of Glory Voices, From the Human Forest Create a Fugue of Imaginary Rain ACxDC, Antichrist Demoncore Immolation, Majesty and Decay ---------------------------------Mike Wohlberg : a r t d i r e c t o r Misery Index, Rituals of Power Full of Hell, Weeping Choir Graf Orlock, Examination of Violent Cinema Vol. 1 Devil Master, Satan Spits on Children of Light Insect Warfare, World Extermination ---------------------------------Alex Yarde : d i r e c t o r o f m a r k e t i n g Odd Future, The OF Tape Vol. 2 Rosalía, El Mal Querer Cattle Decapitation, Monolith of Inhumanity King Princess, Make My Bed Panopticon, The Crescendo of Dusk ---------------------------------Vince Bellino : e d i t o r i a l a s s i s ta n t All Hell, The Grave Alchemist Endorphins Lost, Seclusions Zorn, Zorn Midnight, Shox of Violence Cape of Bats, Violent Occultism
GUEST SLAYER
---------------------------------Jay Gambit : c r o w h u r s t Burial Rites, Workers Circle demo Corubo, Ãngy Mbya Kueíry Hachypáma, Opa Mba'e Achy Avei Tropical Fuck Storm, A Laughing Death in Meatspace This Mortal Mountain, Ophidian KARP, KARP