Bookin' It with Simon Tuozzoli of Owl Maker

Based on what's been printed on these pages regarding New England based doom band, Owl Maker, our readers may think that it's a solo band led by one Jessie May.

But it's time to answer the full question.

Did you know there are in fact three people in Owl Maker?

Today we're going to hear from burly frontman Simon Tuozzoli about, of course, BOOKS!

1. I try to read at least two books per month, and mostly fail, what's your goal and reality? 

My goal is a book every quarter -- but in reality, depending on the size of the book, it’s surprising if I read three books in a year. I’m on my second book this year, got to get my ass in gear.

Stream: "Blind Scryer" by Blind Scryer

As a young lad, I remember thinking about the bands who've scored the heavy metal hat trick. Do you know what that is? It's the band, the debut, and the single all having the same name.

Black Sabbath Travail and of course... Heaven and Hell  Tony Iommi appears on this list twice, even if it's a sort of Hmm....I'm not even sure if that should count, but the Debut, the single, and eventually the band.... right?

Today, in that long tradition, we have Blind Scryer's single Blind Scryer from their debut record, Blind Scryer.

Head over to your local CBD Store and tie this one on.

Pizza Pie Do or Die with The Flaying

To our neighbors to the north, Canada, The Great White North, the hockey player incubator, let me say I love you from down here in the USA. My time spent within your borders both on business and for pleasure was wonderful.

Now, you hopefully have picked up on the fact that I'm from St. Louis, MO named after King Louis IX. Did you know that even under Spanish rule, St. Louis and the rest of Louisiana spoke French.

We basically told the Spaniards to piss off?

With that in mind, it reminds me that Quebec is awesome. Unlike us, they didn't switch to English. When the whole rest of the Canada switched to the dual languages of Your Home and Native Land, Quebec said PISS OFF, ENGLISH! 

With that said, let's check in on this brutal metal band from Quebec City, PQ, The Flaying who were kind enough to speak to us in English.

That's great, because I don't speak French yet, but I will. In the meantime, be a lamb and check out their latest record, Angry Undead would you? If that gets your pulse moving, LIKE THEM PUBLICLY!

LP Review: "Moonless Night Sacraments" by Deathwomb

Moonless Night Sacraments

When I was in high school, all those many years ago, a teacher told our class that the hardest thing about starting a band is naming it, because all the good ones are taken.

He's kind of right and now there are several names used by multiple names, but here's a new one on me: Deathwomb.

Honestly, I cannot figure out what a death womb even is, but ok. It's metal and dark. So that makes sense.

On their debut album these Spanish Black metallers are able to conjure up the legends of the genre without ever sounded like a xeroxed copy.

Is it right to call a throwback band authentic? Well, they're at least as authentic as American Chinese food I guess. The significant point here is that this band, starting out, has hit the ball out of the park or pulled down a golaso (as they're probably bigger fans of soccer rather than baseball).

Moonless Night Sacraments is appropriately evil, catchy, and it sounds like it was recorded inside of a metal lunchbox. That is to say, it's basically a perfect record.

RELEASE 4/19/19 BANDCAMP

Classic Spins with Mike Cummings of Backwoods Payback

Backwoods Payback

Awhile back we were introduced to Backwoods Payback.

It was one of those things where this band had been around forever, but the natives of West Chester, PA had just never crossed into my orbit.

That reminds me, Future Slum, was released on vinyl and it's probably about time I go and pick that stuff up.

Now because they've got so many records out, we're going to talk to them about the music everybody else has released.

Because that's how we do.

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

Oh man, would you believe it took me a while to figure this one out?! I think I narrowed it down to two. “Red Headed Stranger” by Willie Nelson and “Crack the Skye” by Mastodon. 

DLP Review: "Shem Ha Mephorash" by Mephorash

Shem Ha Mephorash

There was a time in the United States when being a metalhead marked you for death.

Perhaps I'm overselling it just a touch, but we were singled out and reviled. The PMRC was some lovely social conservatism that came out of the Satanic Panic.

And if there's one thing we love in the USA, it's a good panic.

This record here, our double record, takes many of the things we were told back in the day as pejoratives and mixes up in the blackness.

Sweden's Mephorash is third wave black metal personified for me. They've got this wonderful symphonic feeling to them as well.

It's especially pronounced by the epic long tracks. The finale clocks in past fifteen minutes. So all the metal is so dumb stereotypes and even the Black Metallers can't play stereotypes are all cast to the wayside. It's progressive. It's expansive.

It's the perfect example of why we shouldn't listen to anyone who doesn't listen to metal.

RELEASE 4/18/19 BANDCAMP FACEBOOK

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Lords of the Trident

Lords of the Trident

Look, there's absolutely no secret that I cannot get enough of Madison's own Lords of the Trident.

Apparently the feeling is mutual and they can't quite stop themselves from talking to me...at least via these ridiculous columns that I keep making.

As these Pagan/Power/MadHatter Metallers keep making with the answers, I'll keep pointing out to you that by now every reader should have SHADOWS OF THE PAST on vinyl by now.

However, in the meantime, let's find out how Lords of the Trident fills their belly when they're getting ready to raid a castle.

I bet it's 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.

Video: "Rapture" by SystemHouse33

Oh man is this too heavy or what?

Because today's the day their album drops, let's check in with a metal band that's heavily influenced, get this, by the Book of Revelations in the Bible.

Anybody who's read that book knows that it's showing some pretty damned metal stuff.

So, if you're up to it, LIKE them and ORDER their music.

Classic Spins with Mortanius

Mortanius

Philadelphia born and raised...on the playground is where Mortanius spent most of their days is probably a way that no one has ever introduced them.

If you've listened to their latest album, Till Death Do Us Part on Rockshots Records, you probably know that they spent most of their days learning how to play their instruments.

Now's a great time to check it out HERE.

Now, that we've got that established, what about their favorite recrods?

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?

Lucas: My favorite concept album is Abigail by King Diamond. Not only is the music among the best in the band's discography, but the story is also actually very clearly told and easy to follow through the lyrics. 

EP Review: "The Serpent and The Ladder" by False Gods

The Serpent and the Ladder

I was told once that you should never spring a trip to a Brazilian Steak House on anyone, but let them know days in advance so they can prepare.

Before arriving at the most metal of all eateries (The steak comes to you on a sword), one must appropriately appetize oneself.

So, that's kind of how I'm viewing the latest EP by New York Doom quintet, False Gods.

It also falls in line with their previous releases, all EPs.

This extended play is the pure cane sugar in the raw.

Like that brown colored sugar that's not brown sugar, this EP has to be consumed more than once. The listener should also focus all available internal RAM onto these two tracks. As those two tracks only chew up twelve minutes, I have faith that all of humanity can accomplish this not so herculean task.

The first time through, it doesn't feel special. It's seemingly basic, but the second go around, maybe the third, the ghosts come out of the walls. Give it the time it requires. You'll be glad you did.

RELEASE 4/19/19 BANDCAMP  FACEBOOK

Pizza Pie Do or Die with Forever Autumn

Forever Autumn

In case you didn't know, doom metal doesn't require an SG.

You can get it done with acoustic instruments. There's been how many different bands in the world that've made metal or doomed out songs without distortion. Honestly, consider The Fur Elise.

That thing is creepy and doomy innit? There's nary a Peavy 5150 Amp head near it.

While you're thinking about all that kind of great stuff in the world, set your mind to Massachusetts. Also I have no idea how to spell that state, so I did have to work hard to get that little red squiggly sent away.

Acoustic doom act Forever Autumn is riding the post release euphoria from Howls In The Forest At Dusk.

You should do yourself a solid and stream that over at BANDCAMP while you're reading about their pizza preferences.

Video: "Traverse" by Nowhere To Be Found

Let's get into the world of Nowhere To Be Found

Are you familiar with them? I'm wasn't and that's why I'm showing this to you. You might recognize notable ginger, Matty Mullins of the Nashville Metalcore band, Memphis May Fire.

In the mean time, don't be so star struck and check out their tracks on SPOTIFY.

Vinyl Review: "All Tree" by Hexvessel

I can't give credit where credit is due, but I didn't create what I'm about to say.... The best thing about being  a metal fan is that we never really stop being newbies.

In a genre that's so gloriously underground, it's impossible to know even all of the big bands, much less the smaller ones.

Case in point, last year, a friend of mine asked me if I'd heard of Volbeat, because he hadn't.

In that vein, it's time to announce that today's review is my first vinyl review from Prophecy. They're, supposedly, a goodly sized Black Metal label. Honestly, this is the first radio for your fiend and humble narrator here with Prophecy.

It's like in all those ebbs and flows of metal. Sometimes the right stuff gets to your ears and sometimes, you just get Y&T.

Now, let's get to this record by Hexvessel.

LP Review: "THE HORROR-Figure del Terrore" by Oltretomba

THE HORROR Figure del Terrore

As of this writing...last night I watched Lords of Chaos and color me disappointed.

That movie was an extra gory and extra salacious retelling of the times and crimes of several Black Metal musicians moreso than the telling of the story of Black Metal.

So, today, that leads me to want to hear some some really good black metal because, though there was a nice scene or two featuring Dead, Lords of Chaos left me unfulfilled.

So entre: Oltretomba.

The email that accompanied their upcoming album referred to them as retro grade black metal.

That sort of description certainly attracted my attention.The simplest way to describe their sophomore album would be highly influenced by Dead era Mayhem featuring a musical aptitude to match Dead's on stage enthusiasm.

This album isn't full of noisy riffs, but musical riffs that happen to be noisy. This record features some vocal stylings that are near black metal perfection.

Any disc that can call down the thunder and make your booty move is something to marvel. Oltretomba was able to capture brutality and musicality in the same bottle.

RELEASE 4/5/19 ORDER FACEBOOK

Classic Spins with Becoming the Lion

This is the first time that one of the bands has answered one of the questions in Classic Spins with, essentially, well we did it!

With that, meet Wisconson's native sons: Becoming The Lion.

What started off as a solo project morphed into a fully fleshed out trio. That's right. One man has reproduced asexually by cutting off fingers and those fingers then became a bass player and a drummer.

At least that's how it's happened in my head and NO ONE WILL CONVINCE ME OTHERWISE.

Check out their latest EP on BANDCAMP and be friends on FACEBOOK.

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?