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New Black Metal Age
DECEMBER 2022 // No. 218
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upfront 8
metal muthas Mommies’ girl
10 exclusive:
decibel magazine metal & beer fest: denver 2022 preview But when are we announcing this year’s L.A. edition?
14 beyond the
gates 2022 review Black majesty
16 low culture If a tree grows in a building and nobody sees it…
56
The New Dark Ages COVER STORY COVER AND CONTENTS PHOTOS BY SHIMON KARMEL
18 the otolith SuperRosa 20 morbikon Drawn to evil 22 blackbraid That old time religion 24 riot city Thunderstruck 26 worm Paint it blue 28 r.a.m.b.o. Survival instincts 30 dream unending Living the dream
17 no corporate beer A numbers game
features
reviews
32 black anvil Getting their rusty hooks in you
69 lead review Pistol drawn and in a hat as black as their hearts, SpiritWorld ride again to conquer the West with their crushing sophomore release Deathwestern
34 -(16)Not all doom and gloom 36 candlemass Here comes the sun 38 exclusive
book excerpt: denim & leather: the rise and fall of the new wave of british heavy metal Keep on truckin’
70 album reviews Records from bands that aren’t Slipknot, including Mother of Graves, Ripped to Shreds and Queensrÿche 80 damage ink Fall from grace
42 q&a: tom g. warrior The Celtic Frost and Triptykon main man warns you to stay out of the lake 46 the decibel
hall of fame In order to make something truly heavy, virtuoso Devin Townsend recalibrates his volatile Strapping Young Lad to craft his monumental City
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 : DECEMBER 2022 : DECIBEL
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REFUSE/RESIST
December 2022 [T218] PUBLISHER
Alex Mulcahy
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
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Albert Mudrian albert@decibelmagazine.com
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you could flip through this month’s issue and chart nearly the entire history of black metal. It certainly wasn’t a conscious curation from your truly. In fact, between plotting a pair of Metal & Beer Fests, editing new books and finalizing new Decibel Records releases over the past month, there were moments when I wasn’t fully conscious while working on this issue. Anyway, where was I/where am I? Right. Let's start with Tom G Warrior. OK, maybe black metal starts with Venom, but black metal as we all know it today begins with Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, whose histories Tom discusses extensively in this month’s considerably-over-word-count Q&A. Then there's Chris Dick’s immersive live review of Bergen’s Beyond the Gates festival, at which Mayhem, Enslaved and Emperor turned the clock back to 1994 with performances inside Grieghallen, where the bands recorded second-wave landmarks nearly three decades earlier. Since your travel budget likely doesn’t include Norway, we suggest Denver, which is closer and will be just as grim and frostbitten in December when our Metal & Beer Fest drops Swedish second-wavers Dark Funeral as well as the Americana/folk-inspired Wayfarer in its line-up, previewed wonderfully by returning Decibel fave Cosmo Lee. Elsewhere in the issue, NYC vets Black Anvil (also performing in Denver) bring black metal out of the fjords and into city streets, Blackbraid embrace mainman Sgah’gahsowáh’s native American roots, Municipal Waste’s Phil “Land Phil” Hall reimagines the late ’90s melodic black/death explosion via his new Morbikon project, and Worm adopts the early ’90s black metal aesthetic while crafting epics more reminiscent of classic death/doom and funeral doom. Not even the Decibel Flexi Series is immune to high contrast shades of black and white. Solo goth-infused black metal phenom Lamp of Murmuur—who crashed Decibel Decibel’s ’s Top 40 Albums of the Year list in 2020 and 2021—contributes an exclusive new three-minute face-melter that’s way more Immortal’s Pure Holocaust than anything associated with “post-punk.” Which brings us to this month’s cover artist Hulder, who has quickly progressed from raw, solitary, bedroom black metal recordings to a project that takes influence from nearly style of black metal mentioned above. In fact, Hulder actually formed after our cover story author Daniel Lake started work on his book, USBM: A Revolution of Identity in American Black Metal, Metal, in 2017. So, yeah, maybe don’t squint, but instead keep your eyes open wide because black metal’s rapid evolution continues right in front of you. albert mudrian, Editor-in-Chief
aaron@decibelmagazine.com
Michael Wohlberg michael@decibelmagazine.com
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COPY EDITOR
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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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PHOTO BY SHIMON KARMEL
Without much squinting,
Aaron Salsbury
Emily Bellino Adrien Begrand J. Bennett Dean Brown Richard Christy Liz Ciavarella-Brenner Chris Dick Sean Frasier Nick Green Raoul Hernandez Addison Herron-Wheeler Jonathan Horsley Courtney Iseman Neill Jameson Kim Kelly Sarah Kitteringham Daniel Lake Cosmo Lee Shawn Macomber Shane Mehling Justin M. Norton Dutch Pearce Forrest Pitts Greg Pratt Jon Rosenthal Brad Sanders Joseph Schafer Matt Solis Kevin Stewart-Panko Eugene S. Robinson Adem Tepedelen Jeff Treppel J Andrew Zalucky
Symphonic metal legends EPICA release a unique project written and performed with 16 guest musicians. The result is a mind-bending release that even surpasses the usual broad scope of an EPICA record!
CD Digipak I Colored Vinyl I Digital OUT NOVEMBER 11!
SONATA ARCTICA in an acoustic disguise - «Acoustic Adventures - Volume Two»
ELEINE unplugs their gear to create a whole new musical experience and deliver a dark acoustic album
CD Jewelcase I Colored Vinyl I Digital OUT NOW!
CD Digipak I Digital OUT NOW!
ZEKE SKY reaches for the stars with stunning label debut!
INDUCTION return with 12 progressive symphonic metal anthems and catchy earworms
CD Jewelcase I Digital OUT 11.11!
CD Jewelcase I Colored Vinyl I Digital OUT 25.11! Exclusive editions and merchandise:
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READER OF THE
MONTH up strong. Ritual Mass play super tight and I’m really looking forward to their new material. Also, Pyrithe is incredible. They gave me an album credit for playing trash as an instrument along with members of Noltem. Excited to pick up that vinyl from Gilead Media.
Jason Cantu Pittsburgh, PA
You’ve been a Decibel subscriber for over a decade. Did that subscription prepare you in any way for your job at 20 Buck Spin?
I owe everything to Decibel magazine and some book called Choosing Death. Also, very thankful to Vicky from Pyre Press/Steel & Bone Productions. I was doing a similar job at Get Hip Recordings, a garage/ psych label, for the past decade and she was leaving 20 Buck Spin. I used to read Decibel and dream of being in its pages and working for my favorite label and now it’s a reality. Is manifestation a real thing? You also run the slowheavymetalmusicplaying Instagram “meme account.” How/why is this a thing?
It all started in a group chat when I posted a screenshot of Eugene from Hey Arnold. He
6 : DECEMBER 2022 : DECIBEL
was wearing a leather jacket and the audio caption said "(slow heavy metal music playing)." I started putting that on every picture and before I knew it, people were making bootleg merch. Only drawback is my submission inbox is usually full of mutilated animals and human corpses. Between Dream Death and Derkéta, Pittsburgh boasts an impressive doom legacy. Are there any young yinzers carrying that doom torch we should know about?
I’d love to see more doom but death and grind seem to be more popular. Liquified Guts was a favorite of mine. Justin Gizzi made me want to be a bass player. I own one of his previous basses and now he’s doing great stuff in Dream Death, playing guitar at live shows. A lot of friends doing great things. Clarissa [Badini] in Castrator is an inspiration. Narakah is coming
I used to read Decibel and dream of being in its pages and working for my favorite label and now it’s a reality. Is manifestation a real thing? Serendipitously, Hulder are on this cover of this issue. What 20 Buck Spin artist do you predict next to grace our front page?
That’s great! I’m shipping Hulder vinyl represses right now and about to start on the Daeva preorders. I would guess Worm or maybe Dream Unending! Although Ulthar, Civerous and Kommand are coming so… wait, should I be talking about this?
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
A deluxe discography box set collection; 1984 to 1987 This six album box set includes: MORBID TALES / TO MEGA THERION / INTO THE PANDEMONIUM Deluxe colour vinyl versions EMPEROR’S RETURN / TRAGIC SERENADES / I WON’T DANCE / THE COLLECTORS CELTIC FROST Back on vinyl for the first time in decades! Deluxe colour vinyl versions VISUAL AGGRESSION – new 7” single. Grey vinyl. GRAVE HILL BUNKER REHEARSALS, demo cassette. A MORBID TALE: 40 page book of brand new interviews and rare photos with founding member Tom G Warrior and drummer Reed St Mark. Plus a Heptagram USB drive, enamel badge, patch and double sided poster.
OUT 25th NOVEMBER 2022
Also available as a deluxe 5CD box set with 40 page book, poster, enamel badge and patch.
NOW SLAYING Wonder what Decibel world HQ has been rocking for the past month? Well, here are the records that we spun most when we were also informing you that this magazine can be used briefly as a boat.
Because not all of us were spawned in the darkest recesses of hell
This Month's Muthas: Marlene Kerr and Francine Lachiver Muthas of Kathryn Kerr of KEN mode
Tell us a little about yourself.
What are some of her hidden talents?
I am a mom to two daughters and grandmother to three grandkids. I am retired from a career in the healthcare field. I spend my time having fun with the grandkids, cooking and baking for the family, raising a new puppy, going to the cottage, gardening, reading and walking. FRANCINE: I am a mom of three and have loved watching each of them find their own path as they navigate adulthood. I am an accountant, and have worked in the field of wealth planning for 20-plus years, so Kathryn must get her love of numbers from me. In my spare time, I spend time at the gym, and enjoy the cottage, baking, puzzles and reading.
FRANCINE: Card games, chess, any sport (even ones she’s never tried before!). In addition to her musical talents, Kathryn also played soccer at a high level, and her competitive nature is evident in everything she takes on. She’s not scared to get her hands dirty, and can demo and reno as good as anyone. “Good enough” is not part of her vocabulary.
MARLENE:
In our recent cover story, Kathryn said she wasn’t exclusively involved in heavy music prior to joining the band. What were her musical interests growing up? MARLENE: Kathryn always liked to have music on in her vicinity (even as a baby, she wanted a wind-up musical carousel to be playing as she fell asleep). She took piano lessons as a young child, then saxophone from junior high on up. Kathryn never had to be nagged to practice instruments—she played for enjoyment. Her dad and I played a lot of music from the ’60s and ’70s, and then her sister exposed her to the music of the ’80s and ’90s. In senior high, Kathryn joined every jazz band available and became involved with vocal jazz as well. She also asked for private saxophone lessons with a renowned Winnipeg musician. In grade 12, Kathryn made the decision to pursue a degree in performing music at Brandon University.
Kathryn’s other areas of expertise include saxophone, synth, piano and bookkeeping.
What are your thoughts on KEN mode’s music? MARLENE: Once Kathryn became involved with KEN mode, I listened to some of their music. It would be an understatement for me to say that I really do not enjoy this genre.
What was it like seeing your daughter on the cover of a national magazine? FRANCINE: I was so impressed with the photos and the depth of the article. Sax in a metal band— who knew? But then again, Kathryn never backs down from a challenge. Our whole family is so proud of her wide range of accomplishments. MARLENE: I was so proud of Kathryn’s achievement. Members of our family that follow KEN mode and love heavy metal music reinforced that being on the cover of Decibel is extremely prestigious. The whole family is excited to find out what Kathryn is going to do next. Life with Kathryn is always interesting.
This column featured Jesse Matthewson’s mother years ago. Do you socialize with the other KEN mode Muthas?
Albert Mudrian : e d i t o r i n c h i e f Worm, Bluenothing Hulder, The Eternal Fanfare The Afghan Whigs, How Do You Burn? Def Leppard, On Through the Night Mother of Graves, Where the Shadows Adorn ---------------------------------Patty Moran : c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e Agression, Don’t Be Mistaken Dead Kennedys, Plastic Surgery Disasters D.I., Ancient Artifacts Misfits, Earth A.D. Golden Pelicans, Golden Pelicans ---------------------------------James Lewis : a d s a l e s Hulder, Godslastering: Hymns of a Forlorn Peasantry Strapping Young Lad, City Skinless, From Sacrifice to Survival Omnium Gatherum, Spirits and August Light Black September, The Forbidden Gates Beyond ---------------------------------Mike Wohlberg : a r t d i r e c t o r Darkest Hour, Undoing Ruin Worm, Bluenothing Mortuous, Upon Desolation The Acacia Strain, The Dead Walk Strapping Young Lad, City ---------------------------------Aaron Salsbury : m a r k e t i n g a n d s a l e s Pig Destroyer, Demo Tribal Gaze, Godless Voyage Reeking Cross/Escuela Grind, Split Danny Elfman, Bigger. Messier. Petbrick, Liminal
GUEST SLAYER
---------------------------------Alex Richichi : t h e o f f e r i n g Heilung, Drif Spectral Lore, Gnosis Raw Brigade, Aggressive City Goose, Dripfield Zeal & Ardor, Zeal & Ardor
Well, we haven’t had the opportunity yet! Maybe we should start a KEN mode Metal Muthas fan club. Kathryn is always saying the other members of the band are awesome; I’m sure the other Muthas are the same! —ANDREW BONAZELLI
FRANCINE:
PHOTO BY
8 : DECEMBER 2022 : DECIBEL
ROSETTI PHOTOGRAPHY