Pizza Pie Do or Die with Lamassu

When is the last time you thought about the wonderful world down under?

Does anyone still say down under or have we all just switched to calling it Oz?

Either way, there's a mystical, magical land that's back and too the left of the USA and it's called Australia.

It's best known in the States for their number one and two exports of lethal animals that will you as soon as look at you and people who like to go find those animals and just really piss them off whilst being filmed on TV.

And for the record, god rest the Croc Hunter. Watching him play with deadly snakes was must see TV for me.

But anyway, we're not talking about spiders the size of apples or bats as big as a Toyota Prius, but Lamassu. 

Check out their debut LP at BANDCAMP. And now, it's time for an Australian perspective on pizza.

1. Pizza is the world's most perfect food. This is not up for debate. Please define pizza as based on your geographical location.

Beam Me Up Scotty with Pepe of BornBroken

It's a good time to get in a little Star Trek Talk is it not?

It's been a bit too long if you ask me.

Today we're talking to Montreal's BornBroken.

Should you be interested, and you are, stream their latest record, The Years of Harsh Truths and Little Lies on their BANDCAMP.

Rub your Loonies together and get a copy.

But for now...

Energize.

1. Star Trek is the world's most perfect universe. In what show (era) would you be the happiest? Why's that?

BB: The Next Generation era cause I would love to hangout with Data and Captain Picard haha!!

Review Round Up 9/27/19

Unus by Necronomicon (Season of Mist) 10/18/19

Remember Chicken Soup For The Soul? It would seem improbable that they had a tome for the metal fan, but many times that's precisely how it feels to me.

Today, we have a new record by Necronomicon.

They remind me of bands like Kiss. Because in being honest, there's nothing here that's awe inspiring, wow inducing, and they never kick anything out that makes me stare at my speakers.

That's fine and dandy. These Canadians don't need to tread a new path in order to make awesome music. Their fierce brand of Traditional Second Wave Canadian Blackened Death Metal was the perfect antidote to my morning and that's enough to make me put this one on my to buy vinyl list.

Rating A Bandcamp Facebook

Classic Spins with Slush

Slush

How many times have you heard that protopunk blues doom swagger?

Well, if you're anything like me, you're wondering right now what in the holy name of Lucifer that means.

Well, I've got good news for you, as you can get all that flavor in your ear at BANDCAMP.

But for now, let's take some time for Classic Spins.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?

Tour Dates: Cell Kicks Off North American Tour

Winnipeg, MB cosmic black metal trio CELL are preparing to hit the road across the USA and Canada in support of their upcoming album "Ancient Incantations Of Xarbos."

The tour will kick off in Fargo, ND on September 27th and end in their hometown of Winnipeg, MB on October 19th opening for Immolation.

CELL's new album "Ancient Incantations Of Xarbos" continues their dramatic and theatrical storytelling in their conceptual science fiction universe. Following up their debut 2016 album "The Frozen Moon Of Erebath", the next chapter will be available on October 4, 2019.
Taking place on a planet called Xarbos, two races collide over different ways of life. 

The listener can expect to be pummelled with blast beats and speed and put into a hypnotic doomy trance while floating through an atmospheric and cosmic cleans. CELL goes into the details of the story the album follows:

“Each track has its own story in the album that leads to one big ending which is the decimation of the Xarbonite hierarchy. In the story, there are two races of beings on this planet: one race chose to rise with power, tech, money and the lower race is actually the oldest of Xarbos and know the ways of the land and its magic. There are a few side stories within the album that trail off but still, stay within the main story.”

Are You Ready To Rock with Chris Osterman of Iron Kingdom

Iron Kingdom is readying their latest record, On The Hunt, which you can pick up via Bandcamp, in Canadian Dollars on digital, or you can get the CD at their Online MERCH store.

But for now, let's talk about delicious live records.

1. Every major band worth its salt has released a live album. 

Tell me about your favorite A list band's live record and your favorite underground live album.

I’d have to go with Scorpions - World Wide Live,  that record got me hooked on the band, all the leads and the way Klaus worked the crowd, the energy, the song selections, really the whole package made me dream of seeing them live.  

As for an underground act, I’d probably have to choose Crystal Viper - Defenders Of The Magic Circle (Live in Germany)

Cold Claw Shares New Video Teaser

Bay Area Blackened Crust band ColdClaw will release their sophomore album Anti-Martyr: Decades to Suffer via Ritual Sound Records on September 27th.

The band has just dropped a teaser for the video to their current single “The Deafening”, which you can see HERE.

To celebrate the release of the album, the band is hosting their record release party at their hometown venue, The Ritz in San Jose, CA, with support from other amazing bands such as Abstracter (Sentient Ruin) and Deathgrave (Tankcrimes) along with locals Slege and Cult Graves.

See poster and ticket link attached below.Area, ColdClaw is one of the hardest working, most prolific bands in the underground right now.

Following their fierce 2017 ColdClaw Demo, the band released the unforgiving and brutal Punish The Blind in 2018. With their raw, uncompromising sound enmeshing Blackened Crust with a hint of their Hardcore roots seamlessly, the band has whittled their sound and aesthetic down to their core elements on their new full-length Anti-Martyr: Decades to Suffer.

The sound of their dystopian vibe will earn them fans from those loyal to the soil for Goatwhore, Necrophobic, Naglfar, Hate, Wolvhammer, FukPig and more!

The band is releasing their new album on CD, limited edition cassettes and digitally at select DSPs at this link BANDCAMP.

Taco Tuesday with Widow's Peak

When you're the kind of person that listens to all the doom metal and stoner rock you can find, technical death metal often times has a relentless assault that's just the right kind of jalapeno in the nacho sauce.

With that said, let's find out how Widow's Peak are eating their tacos!

Should you need a soundtrack for this column though, check out their debut EP on Bandcamp and you can even buy it with loonies and twonies.

2 Loonies and 1 Twonie, or 2 Twonies and one Loonie will get the job done.

1. Everybody loves Taco Tuesday, but what's the best time to eat tacos for you and how many tacos do you put back in a standard sitting?

Tour Dates: Necronomicon Announce "A Relentless Onslaught US Tour" w/ Suffocation, Belphegor, Abiotic

NECRONOMICON announce they will be hitting the road for "A Relentless Onslaught US Tour" with Belphegor, Suffocation, and Abiotic. The 26 date tour kicks off on October 24th in Sauget, IL and will end on November 23rd in Reading, PA. 

The Canadian premier blackened death metallers are back this year with their upcoming album "UNUS" due out October 18th via Season of Mist to follow their crushing and cinematic 2016’s "Advent of the Human God". With each record NECRONOMICON has created in the span of their 31-year career, the band has steadily evolved in both sound and power; ‘UNUS’ is no exception to this.

Rob The Witch adds:
"Necronomicon is proud to go on the road with long-time friends Suffocation and of course cult german dark band Belphegor. We shared the stage with both of these bands in the past but only on a 1 off or festivals, so very excited to do all these American dates with them. See you all in October/November US fans."

NECRONOMICON's new album 'UNUS' is a searing cacophony of blistering riffs, machine-like drums, and a symphonic ambiance, culminating in a sound that calls to various metal icons such as DIMMU BORGIR, SEPTICFLESH, BEHEMOTH, and DEICIDE. 

The record combines the furious elements of death metal with the orchestral prowess of black metal, creating the perfect synthesis of both genres. Standout tracks like 'Paradise Lost' and 'Singularis Dominus' only solidify NECRONOMICON’s ability to continuously produce high-quality metal that’s just as dark and brutal as it is elegant.

Vinyloscpy with Aphrodite's Jo

It's time to plug in your iPhone, Tesla, and Weed Whacker.

Because, right now, you're going to need all the power you can get so you can understand, vilify, and withstand the full on frontal assault of power metal that Aphrodite is going to give you.

Full on chugging, their Lust and War LP has recently been released via Fighter Records.

Check it out on BANDCAMP but for now, let's talk about records!

1. Listening to Black Sabbath's eponymous debut the night I got it blew me away. 

What's the album that sounds the best on vinyl compared to digital sources?

Jo: My introduction to Sabbath's first album was from a brand new tape I bought from now out of business chain store Music World. 

I listened to the tape on my walkman in high school on constant repeat as I spent my days alone.

Classic Spins with Jacob from Majestic Downfall

Last year, Majestic Downfall put out their latest record, Waters of Fate.

You should probably check that stuff out at Bandcamp, and in the meantime, let's talk about some kick ass much that Jacob digs.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?

Definitely, if I had to choose a favorite concept album it would be Quënsryche´s Operation: Mindcrime. 

Lyric-wise and musically it doesn´t get any better than that. They were at their top in those days and that can only be heard! 

2. My very first album was Live Evil by Black Sabbath. Since then I've had a strong affinity for the live record, even if they're a bit fake. KISS set the bar with Alive!. Surely, it was fake, but it's got the best concert feel of anyone.

Tell me about your favorite live record?

Review Round Up 9/20/19

Incident Report

Incident Report by  Stormland DIY 10/11/19

Based somewhere in the great state..er prefecture..? No, province of British Columbia is a band that's peopled by a single human, Justin Pierrot. This just proves there are French people all over Canada.

Stormland has been busy doing what I've been pining for...extreme metal songs about nerdy things. Lately, he's been on about Gundam...A Lot.

What's important though is that when you write a song that's a "reference salad" (TM MC Lars) it has to be a good song that can be enjoyed without even getting those references.

Here we have a thunderous death metal EP about god only knows what sort of stuff that I've never watched...

Nice solos, good usage of arpeggios, and semi-intelligible vocals. Stormland is headed in the right direction.

Tour Dates: Enforced Announces North American Tour

Following the WAR Records summer release of their debut LP, At The Walls, Virginia crossover quintet ENFORCED announces a run of Eastern North American fall tour dates with High Command.

At The Walls features a remixed and remastered version of ENFORCED's2017 demo and their "Retaliation" promo, and introduces two brand new songs. 

All tracks were recorded by Bob Quirk and mixed and mastered by Arthur Rizk (Power Trip, Cavalera Conspiracy, Candy), and the album's cover art was created by Dwid Hellion (Integrity, Psywarfare) who makes a guest appearance on the track "Skinned Alive."

Following their East Coast tour with Sacred Reich, Iron Reagan, and Leeway in May, ENFORCED has shared the stage with Accused AD, Red Death, Ekulu, and others on local one-off shows throughout the summer. 

Now, the band announces their next widespread live excursion in support of At The Walls, this time with Massachusetts-based High Command. 

Beginning October 18th in ENFORCED's hometown of Richmond, the At The Walls Of Desolation Tour 2019 will bulldoze northward through the Northeast US and into Canada before coming to a smoldering finale in High Command's hometown of Worcester on November 2nd.

At The Walls is out now through WAR Records on vinyl and digital formats through the label webshop HERE and Bandcamp HERE.

Vinyl Review: "Beauty School" by The Crack Pipes

Beauty School

In the gilded days of rock'n'roll, as Jim Morrison was declaring the art form dead, they released an album and a song of the same name.

The Soft Parade was a departure from previous Doors releases, even including some lead vocals from Robbie Krieger.

The change in direction could largely be attributed to Morrison's ever increasing drug habit, his lack of focus on the Doors, and the desire to put his degree to good use.

He was making movies... Movies that no one ever saw, but he made them.

The title track of this record is probably the Alpha and the Omega of prog rock. It features about 27 different genres of music in the course of about 8 minutes. It really is the standout track of the album, shockingly right? It's one of the few Morrison had anything to do with.

A casual listen and it might not be easily discernible that this epic poem was a singular band.

Monte Luna Announce Euro tour

MONTE LUNA ANNOUNCE EUROPEAN TOUR

Austin doom metal band MONTE LUNA  are pleased to announce that they will be embarking on a European tour next month.

The band commented "We are very excited to be heading over to Europe! We are thankful for such an amazing opportunity and we are currently planning a 2020 U.S. tour in support of Drowners' Wives as well. 

It is really a dream come true to do this, this is the reason we play music, to spread the love and to have the opportunity to show people who we are live. Our live experience is really our heart and soul, once you see that, we know you will want more. 

We will lay waste to Europe and have them looking forward to having us back. Our brothers Destroyer of Light and Duel paved the way for our Austin Community and we are proud to be joining the ranks. We are nothing with out the people that believe in us and for that we are thankful. 

We hope to meet plenty of new friends overseas and cant wait to meet our Argonauta Records family in person after all this time!!"

1Up with Marc of Cruickshank

Cruickshank

For the first time, on record, Glacially Musical is speaking to someone even more northern than The Northwest Territory of Canada...

Iqaluit, Nunavut.

If you're unfamiliar with the city or the territory, check out the Wikipedia Article.

To me, in a city with only 15 thousand residents, it must be kismet to find like minded musicians.

But we didn't do this for a geography lesson...let's talk about video games, but if you don't mind...

Check them on the Bandcamp first.

Video: "Saviour" by Lindsay Schooldcraft

“When Rocky sent me the demo of this song, before I had even started writing the lyrics and vocals, I just knew this was going to be “the song” used as the first single and music video. 

At the time I was dealing with the pressure of feeling like I had to save the lives of everyone around me and I lost a lot of my happiness and sanity in doing so. A lot of the lyrics where taken directly from what I actually said in text message conversations. 

Every time I sing this song it is such a powerful reminder that I can’t be everything to everyone and that other people need to choose to fix themselves and I can’t make that decision for them.”
Listen to the track here."

Review Round Up 9/13/19

LET'S GET FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH STARTED!

Thrice As Strong by Ogre (Cruz Del Sur) 10/25/19

As the lard's honest truth, this album was picked because it has the word thrice in the title. So many people point out to me that no one else says thrice anymore.

Well, everybody else, Ogre does.

Thrice Is Strong could've been some super bland black metal, or techo-prog-death-melo-apple-core for all I knew, but they're a throwback metal band. Their sound falls somewhere between Black Sabbath and Manilla Road.

There's not a single new trail blazed on this record, but who cares? Getting Metal 1.2 in 2019 is pretty awesome.

Great production and engineering creates an instant classic.

Rating: A Preorder Facebook

Video: "Trauma" by Tommy Concrete

A hardened stalwart of the UK's metal and punk scenes, Edinburgh multi-instrumentalist Tommy Concrete seeks to promote recovery and positive mental attitude through his latest EP, Trauma.  

Released in May 2019, the three-track offering explores mental health, addiction, and altered states through an unconventional blend of heavy subgenres akin to Devin Townsend and Killing Joke.  

Concrete, who has been a member of The Exploited, Man of the Hour, and many more, looks forward to following up Trauma with the full-length Unrelaxed 2 in early 2020.

FACEBOOK BANDCAMP

Taco Tuesday with Lindsay Schoolcraft

Lindsay Schoolcraft

From Cradle of Filth into her own spotlight, Lindsay Schoolcraft is releasing her own solo album.

You can check out the first single over at her BANDCAMP page.

She's taken the unusual tact of not putting up a preorder for her solo record. As she put it, there are no record label execs that she's trying to impress with her presales.

So she didn't do it.

Not putting up pre-orders is totally metal. We'll go with that. Schoolcraft has been a member of the English black metal collective, the aforementioned Cradle of Filth since 2014. She's come a long way from her home in Ottawa, ON.

So, it only makes sense to get her taco takes.

Beam Me Up Scotty with Gramma Vedetta

Gramma VEdetta

By now, someone has to be asking a simple question about this, the most ridiculous column thusfar, on Glacially Musical.

What does metal have to do with Star Trek?

Well, deep down, or maybe on their sleeves, all metalheads are indeed nerds. You can't learn how to play sweep picked arpeggios is you're cool like Ace Frehley.

And you're not going to be sucked into the worlds Robert Plant, Ronnie James Dio, Bruce Dickinson, and David Vincent sing about if you're not into fantasy. 

Metallica, Iron Maiden, Manilla Road, Led Zeppelin etc have all written songs about nerdy authors like Frank Herbert, H.P. Lovecraft, Edgar Allen Poe, and J.R.R. Tolkien. 

No one, to my knowledge, has gotten into Trek, but I feel like more metallers out there are into it than say they are.

Now, Gramma Vedetta!

Go to their BANDCAMP.

Classic Spins with Dizzy Mystics

Dizzy Mystics

Every so often, the St. Louis Blues (CURRENT STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS!) sometimes take on this hockey team from the middle of Canada.

Winnipeg.

Whenever I hear the name of that fair city, I'm reminded of the tunnels below the streets because the place is so damned cold.

Yet people still live there, but hey, St. Louis is so damned hot and we still live here right?

If you don't like my waxing poetic about their home, check out their latest album on BANDCAMP. 

While, we're on the topic though, let's get down with their classic spins.

1. My favorite kind of album is the concept album. The Wall is my absolute favorite. Beyond the amazing songs, it has spectacular nostalgia for me. What's your favorite one and why?

Vinyl Review: "Paws of a Bear" by Sofia Talvik

Paws of a Bear

Presently, on twitter, I'm describing every single thing that I'm doing as totally metal.

Cases in point:

Burning yourself whilst cooking breakfast is totally metal.

Watching your daughter's hockey team play Sharks and Minnows is totally metal.

So, naturally, reviewing Swedish/Americana singer/songwriters is totally metal.

This is one of the things that still routinely confuses me about what I do and the vinyl column. Glacially Musical is 95% totally metal, or more, but for some reason, my vinyl submissions are not metal more often than not.

What's nice about that is my readers get to see a bigger peak inside what I enjoy and other musical items that might not flow down their streams.

Ape Shifter Announces Tour Dates

German-based progressive-stoner rock trio APE SHIFTER will debut on North American shores this fall, featuring the extraordinary lineup of APE SHIFTER leader/guitarist Jeff Aug, legendary bassist Stu Hamm and drummer Jeremy Colson.

Stu Hamm, whose resume includes performing with Joe Satriani, Steve Vai and Caifanes, says, "I have known Jeff and his music for years, and Jeremy and I are going to KICK THE SHIT out of this music on the APE SHIFTER tour!"

APE SHIFTER's second album, Ape Shifter II, was released earlier this year to critical acclaim. Fusing a classic heavy rock sound that arcs in the stoner rock direction with technical musical prowess, APE SHIFTER is dissimilar from any other progressive instrumental band.

"It is instrumental music without sounding like nerd rock," says Jeremy Colson, who also currently drums for Steve Vai and has worked with Billy Idol and Marty Friedman. "It is punk rock mentality with heavy grooves!!!"

1UP with John from Alluvion

Riding high on their latest album is the Psych-Noise-Post-Toasties-Metal band, Alluvion.

You should really check out their latest album on BANDCAMP.

Apparently, the secret is out.

(Dad jokes)

When you think about a band that has all of these vastly different elements, obviously, you ask them about video games.

Get our your NES Max and let's do this.

Glacially Musical: My first system was a pong clone, the yellow and black Odessey 300. What was your first Console?

John: My first experience with a console was my father’s old Atari 2600.  I was very young, but I have clear memories of playing games like Joust, Asteroids, Pitfall and Qbert for hours.  

This peaked my interest for video games.  Then for my fourth birthday, my parents got me the original NES Mario and Duck Hunt bundle and at the time I was obsessed with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, so they got me the original TMNT game as well.  

From that day forward, I’ve been an avid gamer.

Video and Tour Dates: Secret Shame

It's time get a little bit dark and perhaps a bit melancholy. Sometimes that sort of feeling is better than the nonstop anger of all the metal.

Secret Shame has released a video for their track Calm.

See right here.

They're also hitting the road. Check them out if they hit your town.

Upcoming Secret Shame Tour Dates:

9/07 - Raleigh, NC @ Hopscotch Music Festival

9/08 - Richmond, VA @ Hypercube

9/09 - Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar

9/10 - Montclair, NJ @ The Meat Locker

9/11 - York, PA @ Skid Row Garage

9/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ The Broadway

9/14 - Fredericksburg, VA - Rec Center FXBG

9/15 - Greensboro, NC @ New York Pizza 

9/16 - Asheville, NC @ The Mothlight

Review Round Up 09/06/19

Anorexia Obscura by Tenebrae In Perpetuum 8/30/19

Let's start off with something a bit off of the beaten path, but the first track wouldn't let you in on that little secret.

We have a black metal band from Italy, or as it's better known...the depths of Hell... right? So, Anorexia Obscura is their fourth album, but they've been silent for the past ten years. So, this duo has been on hiatus for the entirety of my personal black metal fandom.

Their first track really didn't do much for me and this record was quickly careening towards a negative review, which is a thing I do now.

But, I slowed my roll and let the band play on. Now, here's where it gets a little strange. I can't rightly give this album a score. It's anywhere between an A+ and a C- for me. It's definitely a grower and it's uncertain as to how tall this will go...

Rating: ? Order Facebook

Are You Ready To Rock with Chron Goblin's Devin "Darty" Purdy

Chron Goblin

About 15 years ago now, my best friend and piled into my beat down AF Toyota Celica to go to Moline, IL from St. Louis, MO in order to see our favorite hockey team...the Missouri River Otters taking on their arch rivals...

The Quad City Mallards.

Well, in 2019, both of those teams are dead and buried so forget about them, but what happened on that particular trip is a big deal. I had this idea, let's listen to ONLY live records during the 11+ hours were going to be in the car.

Seriously, who doesn't friggin' love live albums so this was going to be the best god damned road trip we had ever taken..and we've gone on a fair few....right?

WRONG!

Vinyl Review: Carmelo Torres Y Los Toscos Eponymous

Carmello Torres Y Los Toscos

If there's something you'd like me to listen to, the best way to  get it in my ear holes is to send it to me on vinyl.

So, today we are taking a break from underground metal, but still kind of heading south...

San Jacinto, Colombia or thereabouts anyway.

In the northern reaches of Colombia..a man created a legacy.

Obviously, that's James Rodriguez...

But being as this isn't a blog about the glorious game of soccer, we're talking about a musician who became a legendary in the Cumbia Music scene and that's Carmelo Torres.

This would be a great time to tell you what an expert I am in the field and how Cumbia music speaks to me ever so strongly, that I have a large collection of Cumbia records and tapes, but that would be a lie.

Apart from the Very Be Careful, there's no experience with Cumbia in my life.