TREVOR STRNAD
1981 2022
CATTLE DECAPITATION THE HARVEST FLOOR HALL OF FAME
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A visual journey and time capsule of punk, hardcore, and metal, METRO CHICAGO
all dominating the
stage over a span of 40 years
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C O MI N G J ULY 12, 20 22
P R E O R D E R S AVA I L A B L E o n o u r w e b s i t e
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August 2022 [R 218] decibelmagazine.com
Brain Teasers COVER STORY COVER AND CONTENTS PHOTOS BY HRISTO SHINDOV
upfront 8
obituary: trevor strnad On losing a death metal champion
10 metal muthas The wo-mantle 12 low culture Passion project 13 no corporate beer A good year for pale ales 14 in the studio:
autopsy
The dead don’t progress
features 18 chat pile Breathe grease 20 intoxicated New heavy brew 22 mantar Not quite the end
32 satanic tea co. He likes his tea like he likes his metal 34 vegan & vegetarian
extreme music
Making bleeding hearts even bloodier
24 candy Heaven can wait
36 extremely extreme
26 party dozen Sowing the seed
Heavier than your grandmother’s cooking
28 inexorum Lucky No. 7 30 axioma Doomscreamers
restaurants
40 extremely extreme
chefs
Serving food to die for
reviews 44 q&a: cauchemar Vocalist Annick Giroux knows the best way to prepare proper doom metal is slow and low 48 the decibel
hall of fame Cattle Decapitation refine their death metal palates to serve up a bloody great album on The Harvest Floor
73 lead review Wake cook up a brand new approach while still feeding us delicious blasts on Metal Blade debut Thought Form Descent 74 album reviews Records from bands that know all the best gas station food in your area, including Arch Enemy, Haunt and Tombs 80 damage ink A hairy situation
Decibel (ISSN 1557-2137) is published monthly by Red Flag Media, Inc., P.O. Box 36818, 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, P.O. Box 36818, Philadelphia, PA 19107. © 2022 by Red Flag Media, Inc. All rights reserved. ISSN 1557-2137 | USPS 023142 Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. 2 : AUGUST 2022 : DECIBEL
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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., P.O. Box 36818, 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, P.O. Box 36818, Philadelphia PA 19107. Copyright ©2022 by Red Flag Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publisher is strictly prohibited. PRINTED IN USA
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longtime friends as well as co-workers. But tattooing is a service for sure. I’ve been lucky in that I’ve gotten to tattoo a bunch of stuff that I enjoy, but the real goal is to make the client happy. With illustration, too, but most of that comes straight out of my head with much less direction, so the two mediums are super different. The gratification is instant with tattooing; not so much with drawing, although drawing can be more of a release. Plus, I’m a total recluse when I’m not at work or at shows, so being at home drawing is my comfort zone.
Jeffrey Kopp Denver, CO
You’re an artist in the Denver area who does both tattoo art and illustrations. Do you prefer one medium to another, and do you approach each differently (besides lightly, repeatedly stabbing someone for one and not the other)?
I love tattooing and drawing. Probably not one more than the other, and I definitely approach them differently. Tattooing gets me up and out of the house in the morning and pays the bills. The shop, Little Black Church, is a place I love being because of the great people I work with, two of which have been really
6 : AUGUST 2022 : DECIBEL
You’ve been a subscriber since issue No. 54, which included a Cattle Decapitation story on their then-latest record The Harvest Floor. That record is this month’s Hall of Fame inductee. Do you feel old like me now?
Cattle Decap is great, musically and lyrically! Humans are pretty disgusting and disappointing as a species, and it’s always good to hear a band saying the things you’re feeling. Honestly, I still feel like a kid most of the time, even though I am decidedly an old fart at this point. It’s all dookie discussion and debating the precise nature of the sandwich, etc., at the shop every day, so we generally avoid grown-up talk and things that make us feel old. Let’s just say—theoretically—we decided to move our West Coast edition of Metal & Beer
Fest out of Los Angeles and we’re looking for a new home. Give us the hard sell on Denver as a potential location for the event.
Denver’s music scene is stellar! Especially the metal scene. Blood Incantation, In the Company of Serpents, Of Feather and Bone, Khemmis, Glacial Tomb, and on and on. There are SO many great bands here, and venues. The level of appreciation here is huge, so turnout would also be huge. As evidence, the success of Denver Black Sky in years past, the show Sherwood Webber from Skinless put together, and Electric Funeral Fest, which was also awesome. Not to mention TRVE Brewing is here. And Denver is in pretty much every way superior to L.A. I’m biased, but seriously, it’s a no-brainer. This is a special food-themed issue of Decibel, so please tell us your top three establishments to grab a bite in Denver.
Speaking of Denver being a tight scene, Dave [Grant] from Of Feather and Bone has a restaurant called Gladys that truly rules. Before he opened Gladys, he was at a spot called City O’ City, which I still really like. Somebody People is really amazing, and their whole minimizing waste mission is so important. You asked for three, but I’m giving you four. Because Somebody People is kinda fancy, I have to mention Pie Hole. It’s right down the street from TRVE and does slices and vegan pizza. And they’re open late. Perfect for a go-to after the Metal & Beer Festival shows!
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
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PHOTOS: Chad Lee (King), Dirk Behlau (Amott), Stephanie Cabral (Peterson), Dylan Duncan (Barrett), Martin Wicker (Vincent)
OBITUARIES
TREVOR
I
first met Trevor Strnad more than 15 years ago during the tour cycle for the Black
Dahlia Murder’s third studio album Nocturnal. The band was on the ascent at that point and backing Cannibal Corpse on Metal Blade’s 25th anniversary tour. What struck me the most about Strnad, then just in his mid-20s, was how different in temperament he was from so many of the artists I’ve met and talked to over the years. While it’s fashionable to say someone is different after they pass, no one would deny that Strnad was unlike any death metal frontman—or any frontman in the metal genre, period. He was part ferocious frontman and part court jester, with a peerless passion for and knowledge of heavy metal. ¶ Strnad’s dedication to performing death metal, preserving the scene’s landmarks and elevating little-known bands was one of a kind. If Strnad never fronted a band, he still would have made timeless contributions to the scene. With his passing, we haven’t just lost an integral part of a band and a charismatic frontman, but one of the most informed and passionate advocates for underground music of any generation. Offstage, Strnad reminded you of the smartest guy who worked in the record store (which he was). Onstage he was a force: proudly rubbing his belly while shirtless and working crowds in a way few performers ever muster. Strnad was quick to laugh and never seemed to take anything seriously. At the same time, his attention to the smallest details was that of a completist who cared for what mattered most to them with abiding love. 8 : AUGUST 2022 : DECIBEL
That Strnad would take his own life at 41 seems almost impossible to anyone who has interviewed him, seen him perform or knew him in real life. His life force was so strong that you can’t see him not existing. For starters, Strnad was a peerless lyricist who clearly drew on the best elements of Carcass and Jeff Walker while taking the storytelling in a completely different direction. Second, he was a consummate
performer who turned TBDM shows into moving parties, death metal’s version of the late Hank von Hell of Turbonegro. Finally, he was a death metal fan, historian and archivist of the highest order. Even if you count the Decibel staff, few people on the planet loved death metal as much as Trevor Strnad. Strnad was so funny that I can still remember portions of conversations we had for stories years ago. When I interviewed him in 2013, a question about how many writers asked him “how the tour was going” turned into a hilarious monologue. On another occasion, he talked about the inadvisability of drinking Jäger through a beer bong. Strnad lived large and indulged his passions—for life, music and partying—and invited others to join him for the ride. Despite the darkness of TBDM’s lyrics, I never saw kids have more fun or party harder than I did at their shows. Laughter, however, can be terribly deceptive. While it’s surprising, it’s not entirely unexpected when someone like Strnad takes this path. Depression and darkness can be all-consuming, and sometimes those who burn the brightest carry the heaviest burdens. Rest well, Trevor. You will be deeply missed. —JUSTIN M. NORTON
PHOTO BY KAREN JERZYK
STRNAD 1 9 81 - 2 0 2 2
NOW SLAYING Wonder what Decibel world HQ has been rocking for the past month? Well, here are the records that we spun most while screaming into the fucking void.
Because not all of us were spawned in the darkest recesses of hell
This Month's Mutha: Jeri Widmer Mutha of Jason William Walton (ex-Agalloch)
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am retired and spend a lot of time close to Jason and his family. I also spend time in Florida, where I own a motorhome in a camp on a lake. Jason tells us that you and his father bought his first two bass guitars, as well as lessons. How did you feel about all of that study manifesting in such extreme music?
We were happy as long as he was happy. I did joke with him that I envisioned him being in a country music group, but that just wasn’t Jason. From the beginning, he was interested in all music, especially harder types of rock ‘n’ roll. He started collecting T-shirts before he was 10. One of his earliest was Ozzy Osbourne. On the other hand, Jason’s discography is boldly experimental. Did he inherit any of that curiosity from you?
No, not really. As a family, we love music; however, Jason takes it another step or two and created his own music! Your son has openly written music about his struggles with sleep paralysis. As a parent, what was that like to hear?
Horrifying! As a mom, you want to take that fear from your child, but it is not possible. 10 : AUGUST 2022 : DECIBEL
You drove from Bozeman, MT to Portland, OR for Agalloch’s Ashes Against the Grain release show. What are your impressions of Jason onstage?
He is amazing onstage. I was brought to tears a few times remembering the boy with his bass. He looks like he belongs onstage. I love his music! In addition to Decibel Hall of Fame artist Agalloch, Jason has countless solo endeavors and side projects. Do you have a particular favorite?
I can’t pick a favorite, but I have narrowed it down to two: Sculptured and Snares of Sixes. Despite its title, Jason’s I Hate Music podcast offers quite the opposite: thoughtful deep dives with a variety of musicians. Was he talkative and inquisitive as a child?
As an only child, Jason was talkative, inquisitive and imaginative! He wrote stories and made-up games for the family. At a young age, he was used to talking with adults and discussing music with them. So, I Hate Music was a natural for him. What’s something most people wouldn’t suspect about your son?
He is an amazing father to his girls. He lets them paint his toenails all the time and does not rush to take it off, even if it is pink or red. —ANDREW BONAZELLI
Albert Mudrian : e d i t o r i n c h i e f Hulder, The Eternal Fanfare Phobophilic, Enveloping Absurdity Paradise Lost, Icon Skinless, Savagery Inexorum, Equinox Vigil ---------------------------------Patty Moran : c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e Temple of Void, Summoning the Slayer Various Artists, Flex Your Head Excel, Split Image Black Flag, Damaged Power Trip, Nightmare Logic ---------------------------------James Lewis : a d s a l e s Municipal Waste, Electrified Brain Bog Body, Cryonic Crevasse Cult Haserot, Throne of Malice Deliriant Nerve, Uncontrollable Ascension Soilwork, Stabbing the Drama ---------------------------------Mike Wohlberg : a r t d i r e c t o r The Black Dahlia Murder, Nocturnal Undeath, It’s Time... To Rise From the Grave Left for Dead, Devoid of Everything Absence of Mine, Smile! Aren’t You Happy? Sect, Blood of the Beasts ---------------------------------Aaron Salsbury : m a r k e t i n g a n d s a l e s Model Prisoner, Compulsion Analysis Cave In, Heavy Pendulum Some Girls, The Blues Temple of Void, Summoning the Slayer Drowningman, Later Day Saints
GUEST SLAYER
---------------------------------Terry Savastano : come to grief/warhorse Sacrilege BC, Party With God Brume, Rabbits Tommy Bolin, Teaser Helms Alee, Keep This Be the Way Raw Power, Screams from the Gutter
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