THE IHSAHN SYMPHONY UNTO OTHERS INSTUDIO OF ONE
REFUSE/RESIST
Breadwinner
T
HE
BURNE
R
BEST REVIEWED COLD
FLEXI DISC
INCLUDED
ALSO THE OBSESSED DARKEST HOUR BLOOD RED THRONE VITRIOL JARHEAD FERTILIZER METH.
MARCH 2024 // No. 233
Don’t see it? Then subscribe!
$10.00US $10.00CAN
E XT RE M ELY EXTREME
March 2024 [R 233] decibelmagazine.com
upfront 8
metal muthas Eyelovemom
10 exclusive:
decibel magazine metal & beer fest: denver 2023 review Chilled to perfection
16 low culture We’re coming for your stapler 17 no corporate beer Last round on us 18 in the studio:
unto others
Crossing over
20 eternal evil Young, not dumb 22 meth. Pink is the new black 24 stygian crown Here there be monsters 26 vitriol The mirror stares back 28 jarhead fertilizer Fresh hell 30 slift Earthbound 32 blood red
throne
Old-school tenure
features
reviews
34 the obsessed The age of doom
67 lead review Hulder’s devotion to darkness pays off on sophomore release Verses in Oath
36 darkest hour Death in perpetuity 38 q&a: ihsahn The black metal legend has a score to settle 42 the decibel
hall of fame Having burnt out long before they could fade away, math rock progenitors Breadwinner see the sum total of their triumphant work compiled in The Burner
68 album reviews Records from bands that decided to put off oblivion for a bit longer, including Darkspace, Dusk and Vincent Crowley 72 damage ink Am I evil?
Sweet Oblivion COVER STORY COVER AND CONTENTS PHOTOS BY BRENDAN MACLEOD
Decibel (ISSN 1557-2137) is published monthly by Red Flag Media, Inc., P.O. Box 36818, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Annual subscription price is $34.95. 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. © 2024 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 : MARCH 2024 : DECIBEL
www.decibelmagazine.com
REFUSE/RESIST
March 2024 [T233] PUBLISHER
Alex Mulcahy
alex@redflagmedia.com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Albert Mudrian
albert@decibelmagazine.com AD SALES
James Lewis
james@decibelmagazine.com DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND SALES ART DIRECTOR
Aaron Salsbury
aaron@decibelmagazine.com
Michael Wohlberg
michael@decibelmagazine.com CUSTOMER SERVICE
Patty Moran
COPY EDITOR
Andrew Bonazelli
BOOKCREEPER
Tim Mulcahy
patty@decibelmagazine.com
tim@redflagmedia.com CONTRIBUTING ARTISTS
Chuck BB, Ed Luce Mark Rudolph
Online On January 15, 2015, Spectral Voice
delivered their now-legendary Necrotic Doom demo to a largely unsuspecting world. I specifically use the “largely” qualifier because, by February 25, Dutch Pearce posted an even-then rare interview with elusive drummer/ vocalist Eli Wendler on the Decibel site. It’s how I first heard Spectral Voice. If you’re even a semi-regular Decibel reader, you’ve seen Dutch’s byline. He’s one of the contributors who has been here for well over a decade, but I couldn’t tell you if his tenure is closer to 15 years or the magazine’s full lifespan, because I honestly can’t remember Decibel without him. Be it his online Demo:listen column or in print with Through a Speaker Rumbly, he’s consistently been the magazine’s most vocal champion of the underground. Dude wrote about the debut Tomb Mold demo for Demo:listen less than a month after the tape was released. Same goes for Undeath’s 2019 demo debut. Over the last 14 issues, Tomb Mold, Undeath and now Spectral Voice have been featured on the magazine’s cover, with Dutch handling this month’s story on the latter’s new death/doom masterpiece Sparagmos. That is, to put it bluntly, the kind of A&R work any record label would kill for. Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find Neill Jameson’s monthly Airing of Grievances (a.k.a. Low Culture), where he cynically questions some people’s motivation for discovering new artists and the alleged clout that comes with being an early advocate of a band. But if there’s one contributor who just wants to share in the excitement of fellow metalheads hearing new artists, it’s Dutch. Stay enthused. Stay death. albert mudrian, Editor-in-Chief
DECIBEL WEB EDITOR
Albert Mudrian
DECIBEL WEB AD SALES
James Lewis
albert@decibelmagazine.com james@decibelmagazine.com
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Emily Bellino Adrien Begrand J. Bennett Dean Brown Nathan Carson Liz Ciavarella-Brenner Dillon Collins 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 Jamie Ludwig Shane Mehling Justin M. Norton Dutch Pearce Forrest Pitts Greg Pratt Jon Rosenthal Brad Sanders José Carlos Santos Joseph Schafer Kevin Stewart-Panko Eugene S. Robinson Adem Tepedelen Jeff Treppel J Andrew Zalucky CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
MAIN OFFICE
P.O. Box 36818 Philadelphia, PA 19107 Tel: 215.625.9850 / Fax: 215.625.9967 www.decibelmagazine.com RECORD STORES
To carry Decibel, call 1.215.625.9850 x105
Jason Blake Shane Gardner Hillarie Jason Shimon Karmel Scott Kinkade Brendan MacLeod Katja Ogrin Ester Segarra Hristo Shindov Gene Smirnov Hannah Verbeuren Frank White
DECIBEL SUBSCRIPTIONS
Decibel subscriber service/change of address: 215.625.9850 x105 or contact@decibelmagazine.com To order by mail: Consult the subscription card To order by phone: 215.625.9850 x105 To order by fax: 1.215.625.9967 To order online: www.decibelmagazine.com VISA/MASTERCARD/DISCOVER accepted Subscribers: please alert us of any change of address 6-8 weeks before the date of your move. Decibel is not responsible or obligated to re-ship issues missed because of a move we were not informed of 6-8 weeks before the move took place. DECIBEL BACK ISSUES/MERCHANDISE
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 $34.95. 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 ©2024 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
ISSN 1557-2137
| USPS 023142
FULL OF HELL AND NOTHING
JARHEAD FERTILIZER
XIBALBA
SKINHEAD
WHEN NO BIRDS SANG
AZTLÁN
CARCERAL WARFARE
EVERYTHING WAS BEAUTIFUL, AND NOTHING HURT
Pete DeLuycker Aurora, IL
You’re a lifelong Chicagoland resident. How does the current metal scene there compare with the one you grew up with?
The current metal scene in the Chicagoland area is actually pretty comparable to the scene back in the ’80s and ’90s. Many of the legendary bands, such as Broken Hope, Trouble, Ministry, Macabre and Master are still together, and are releasing killer new music. Some of the venues I would see shows at, like the Thirsty Whale and Medusa’s are gone, but Reggies and the Forge (in Joliet) are still bringing in lots of great bands.
6 : MARCH 2024 : DECIBEL
Most 58-year-old metalheads aren’t excited about new releases from death, black and doom bands like you are. How have you managed to stay so enthusiastic and not get jaded like most fans of your vintage?
on your 20th anniversary. That’s quite the accomplishment! Many publications like Metal Maniacs and Terrorizer are no longer around. I have so many favorite albums of 2004, so I’ll just list the Top 5.
I’ve always been very passionate and obsessed with metal, so it’s easy for me to remain enthusiastic. I’ll be a lifelong metalhead. Besides, there are a lot of amazing new bands, like Tomb Mold, Frozen Soul, Necrot, Blood Incantation and Cerebral Rot coming out to hold my interest.
Suffocation, Souls to Deny Deicide, Scars of the Crucifix Incantation, Decimate Christendom Cannibal Corpse, The Wretched Spawn Malevolent Creation, Warkult
I hate KISS. But your unbridled love of them makes me want to reconsider the band. Where do I start?
KISS is the band that started me on my path to becoming a metalhead. I suggest starting with their first live album, KISS Alive!, as this album rocks hard from start to finish. Then check out the studio album Hotter Than Hell, which has a raw and gritty production that makes it sound very dark and heavy. You can’t go wrong with Creatures of the Night either, where they intentionally went in a heavier direction. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Decibel. What were your favorite albums from back in 2004 and do you think they still hold up?
First off, let me congratulate Decibel magazine
I’ve always been very passionate and obsessed with metal, so it’s easy for me to remain enthusiastic. I’ll be a lifelong metalhead. I think they all hold up really well, with Deicide’s Scars of the Crucifix being a standout release, as this was the last album to feature the Hoffman brothers.
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 eagerly awaiting Pearl Jam’s new powerviolence album.
Because not all of us were spawned in the darkest recesses of hell
This Month’s Mutha: Linda Armentor Mutha of Jimmy Bower of Eyehategod
Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Linda and I’m retired at 77 years old. I love hanging out with my grandkids and watching my favorite game shows on TV. I’m not as mobile as I used to be, so I’m limited as to what I can do. What was Jimmy like growing up?
He was very active. He loved his Big Wheel and grew up around a bunch of kids, so he always had someone to play with. He also played in the school band and sang in the choir. He also sang in two operas! The operas were Carmen and Le papillon, and he would rehearse for that in the evening. He was even paid $5 per performance. He also loved fishing, and we would go out on the boat pretty much every weekend. We’ve heard great things about your biscuits. Care to share the recipe?
Crawfish ettouffee I would understand, but biscuits? My favorite dish to make is rice and gravy made with a grease gravy! It has to cook down for hours and will have your house smelling good. We have to ask since Jimmy is a founding member of Eyehategod: Did you raise him religious?
He’s a Catholic, but not practicing. He went to Catholic schools and was an altar boy. 8 : MARCH 2024 : DECIBEL
Did you have any influence on Jimmy getting into heavy music? What kind of music are you a fan of?
When Jimmy was 10 years old, I got him KISS Alive! and KISS Alive II for Easter along with his Easter basket. I would always give him a present with his basket. He loved KISS so much that he and his friends would have concerts with brooms and entertain the neighborhood kids. Me personally, I enjoy country music and rock ‘n’ roll. Your son is a renowned multi-instrumentalist. Do you prefer his work as a guitarist or drummer?
I like them both, but think he’s better on drums than guitar. According to Encyclopaedia Metallum, your son has played in no less than 20 bands. What’s your favorite?
I guess it would have to be Eyehategod. Tell us something that most of Jimmy’s fans would never suspect about him.
I’m sure they already know, but he likes country music, like the old stuff! Country music was always played at family gatherings when he was growing up. I guess another thing would be he loves to cook and does good meals. I enjoy his potato salad very much. —ANDREW BONAZELLI
Albert Mudrian : e d i t o r i n c h i e f Spectral Voice, Sparagmos Chapel of Disease, Echoes of Light Darkest Hour, Perpetual | Terminal Negative Prayer, Self // Wound Cathedral, Forest of Equilibrium ---------------------------------Patty Moran : c u s t o m e r s e r v i c e Die Kreuzen, Die Kreuzen Negative Approach, Tied Down Necros, Conquest for Death Minor Threat, Complete Discography S.O.A., No Policy ---------------------------------James Lewis : a d s a l e s Spectral Voice, Sparagmos Hulder, Verses in Oath Jarhead Fertilizer, Carceral Warfare Blood Red Throne, Nonagon Morbid Saint, Swallowed by Hell ---------------------------------Mike Wohlberg : a r t d i r e c t o r Various Artists, Katamari Damacy Original Soundtrack Ghoul, Noxious Concoctions Esselfortium, “memory=entryrrrr/////” Spectral Voice, Sparagmos Devil Master, Ecstasies of Never Ending Night ---------------------------------Aaron Salsbury : m a r k e t i n g a n d s a l e s Strigampire, All to Dominate L.O.T.I.O.N., [Declassified Audio Document 2018:] The Dillinger Escape Plan, Calculating Infinity Death, Individual Thought Patterns (2023 remaster) Orchid, Chaos Is Me
GUEST SLAYER
---------------------------------Hasan Ali : r i p p i n g h e a d a c h e s p r o m o t i o n s Malokarpatan, Vertumnus Caesar Lycia, The Burning Circle and Then Dust Ilsa, Preyer Oz, Fire in the Brain Blue Öyster Cult, Secret Treaties