Funeral Rain Press Corps

When: May 29, 2011
Where: The Starlite Room, Edmonton, Alberta

This show has itself a bit of a long introduction. As far as I knew, Nevermore were the headliners; I had no idea Sepultura were coming. Then I found out that Sepultura were the headliner while Nevermore and Bonded by Blood were not going to be there, and the show was to be opened by a local band called Miskatonic. They didn’t show up either.
I was on the guest list for Hate, and I was going to interview ATF Sinner, their singer, before the show (which I did). That stuff worked out just fine, after Mrs. Blaspheme and I got to the venue. As it turned out, I was the only person with a photo pass, so that made me feel really cool.
So the show was going to be Neuraxis, Keep of Kalessin (my second time seeing them), Hate, then Sepultura. Kick ass.
Neuraxis hit the stage to a big amount of applause and moshing. Turns out they were in Edmonton a couple years ago with Cannibal Corpse, gaining them a ton of fans. They got a new one out of me last night. They play a fairly technical death metal with some really fucking awesome riffs. Their vocalist is insane, which the fact they are from Montreal kind of explains things.
Keep of Kalessin took over the stage (and Neuraxis’ drum kit) to a good applause. They were in town last with Dimmu Borgir as far as I know, so this was my second time seeing them. And just like the first time, they kicked ass. Blackened death metal with some really catchy tunes, I saw a couple people singing along. Unfortunately, due to timing crap, they had to get off the stage early.
Finally, Hate, who I was so stoked to see, got to play. With Neuraxis’ drum kit. Those poor skins were beaten really hard last night.
There was some technical issues with Destroyer’s rig, but when all that shit was shoveled away they got down to some good old fashioned evil Polish death metal with more than a heaping helping of blackened elements. They wowed the crowd for the second time in two months, and were given a huge chant of “Hate! Hate! Hate!” several times.
ATF Sinner is a killer frontman, while Destroyer really helps to get the crowd moving and moshing (despite moshing not being allowed). I can’t wait for this winter, when they’re supposed to come back to North America, hopefully stopping in Edmonton once again.
After they got off the stage, another round of “Hate!” was chanted. You’d think these guys were the headliner.
But, instead, we were treated to another band. Sepultura, legends of thrash and death metal since 1984 were gracing our city with their appearance. And I was very much bored with the whole affair. I closed my eyes several times, and instead of hearing that classic Sepultura sound, I heard some generic MySpace deaththrash. Open my eyes again, and there they are, seeming to go through the motions (except for singer Derrick Green, who seemed to truly be enjoying himself). Truth be told, I couldn’t continue to bear witness to a classic band play so horribly, so Mrs. Blaspheme and I left with all the Hate, Keep of Kalessin, and Neuraxis merch I bought, as well as the Sepultura shirt that I’m wishing I didn’t grab, and went to Denny’s to finish the night off.

The Big Win: Hate. Interviewed ATF Sinner, and got his and Hexen’s autograph, as well as a bunch of merch from them, as well as the other bands.
The Big Loss: Sepultura. Lackluster performance and generic sound really made me wish they were Jungle Rot, or a similar groove metal band that still have something to prove and won’t just rest on their laurels.

In support of their latest masterpiece, Erebos, Polish extremists Hate are set to take North America by storm with a massive tour that kicks off in two days (March 9th) at Jaxx in Springfield, VA. For the first leg of the tour, Hate will team up with Rotting Christ, Melechesh, Abigail Williams and Lecherous Nocturne for 30 shows. For the second tour, which begins on April 18th, Hate will support Sepultura, Belphegor and, on select shows Nevermore, during a 38-show run covering the US and Canada. The band has also been confirmed to play some extra concerts between the mentioned tours. The Hate North America invasion will contain altogether 76 shows in the period of three months! Bandleader ATF Sinner comments,

“We’ve been looking for such an opportunity for years. It’s going to be the biggest and most prestigious tour we’ve taken part in, and we just can’t wait to be there to spew Erebos songs on the crowds! I know such a long tour is a challenge, but I’m sure we’re well prepare for it. It’s gonna be our second tour in North America after last year’s raid with Hypocrisy which was a great experience for us.”

Hate North American Tour Dates

with Rotting Christ, Melechesh, Abigail Williams and Lecherous Nocturne:
March 9 @ Jaxx – W. Springfield, VA
March 10 @ Championship Bar & Grill – Trenton, NJ
March 11 @ Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
March 12 @ Rocko’s – Manchester, NH
March 13 @ The Webster Theater – Hartford, CT
March 14 @ Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale, NY
March 15 @ Petit Campus – Montreal, QC – CANADA
March 16 @ Mod Club – Toronto, ON – CANADA
March 17 @ Blondie’s – Detroit, MI
March 18 @ Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH
March 19 @ Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
March 20 @ Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
March 22 @ The Republik – Calgary, AB – CANADA
March 23 @ Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB – CANADA
March 25 @ El Corazon – Seattle, WA
March 26 @ Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
March 27 @ DNA Lounge – San Francisco, CA
March 28 @ Chain Reaction – Anaheim, CA
March 29 @ The Key Club – Hollywood, CA
March 30 @ Brick by Brick – San Diego, CA
March 31 @ UB’s Restaurant & Bar – Mesa, AZ
April 1 @ The Nat Ballroom – Amarillo, TX
April 2 @ The Marquee – Tulsa, OK
April 3 @ Rail Club – Ft. Worth, TX
April 4 @ Emo’s – Austin, TX
April 5 @ Walter’s – Houston, TX
April 7 @ Brass Mug – Tampa, FL
April 8 @ The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
April 9 @ Volume 11 – Raleigh, NC
April 10 @ The Casbah – Charlotte, NC

with Sepultura, Belphegor, Keep of Kalessin, Neuraxis and Bonded by Blood:
April 18 @ The Opera House – Toronto, ON
April 19 @ Imperial de Quebec – Quebec City, QC
April 20 @ Club Soda – Montreal, QC
April 22 @ The Palladium – Worcester, MA
April 23 @ Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
April 24 @ The Trocadero – Philadelphia, PA
April 25 @ The Gramercy Theatre – New York, NY
April 26 @ Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
April 27 @ The Club At Firestone – Orlando, FL
April 28 @ Culture Room – Ft. Lauderdale, FL
April 29 @ The Masquerade – Atlanta, GA
May 1 @ Clicks – Tyler, TX
May 2 @ Scout Bar – Houston, TX
May 3 @ Trees – Dallas, TX
May 5 @ Jake’s – Lubbock, TX
May 6 @ Sunshine Theater – Albuquerque, NM
May 7 @ The Clubhouse (feat. D.R.I.) – Tempe, AZ
May 8 @ Club DV8 (feat. D.R.I.) – Tucson, AZ
May 9 @ House Of Blues – San Diego, CA
May 10 @ The Knitting Factory – Reno, NV
May 11 @ The Grand Ballroom At Regency Center – San Francisco, CA
May 12 @ Hawthorne Theater – Portland, OR
May 13 @ El Corazon – Seattle, WA
May 14 @ The Knitting Factory – Spokane, WA
May 16 @ Gothic Theater – Englewood, CO
May 18 @ Station 4 – St. Paul, MN
May 19 @ Reggie’s Rock Club – Chicago, IL
May 20 @ Blondie’s – Detroit, MI
May 21 @ Montage Music Hall – Rochester, NY
May 22 @ Peabody’s – Cleveland, OH

w/ Nevermore, Keep of Kalessin, Neuraxis, and Bonded by Blood:
May 23 @ Expo Five – Louisville, KY
May 24 @ The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
May 26 @ The Zoo – Winnipeg, MB
May 27 @ The Exchange – Regina, SK
May 28 @ Dickens – Calgary, AB
May 29 @ Starlite Room – Edmonton, AB
May 31 @ Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, BC

Notice to the reader: there’s two shows in Edmonton, one in March, one in May. Expect two show reviews from myself, with tons of photos.

Genre: Blackened Death Metal
Label: Listenable Records

Polish masters of blackened death, Hate sound in some ways a lot like Behemoth. They’ve got a similar vocal style and music writing, but there seems to be less of a black metal atmosphere to Hate’s music, taking a more direct death metal approach.
And fuck is it great. Not a note is wasted, not a breath is in vain; Erebos goes for the throat of the religious and the weak with seemingly no regard for the safety of those that get in the way.
The production of the album lets you hear everything, each guitar, each bassline, each drum kick, snare, cymbal and tom, allowing for maximum air instruments. The vocals of ATF Sinner are deep and evil, and you’ll soon find yourself invisible-oranging to them without conscious thought.
Erebos is nearly a perfect album, and if you’re into Behemoth, Morbid Angel, or Death you should get it.
8.5 out of 10.

Hate on Facebook.
Hate on MySpace.

Candlelight Records today confirms September 28 as the North American release date for In the Absence of Light, the second full-length album from black metallers Abigail Williams. Recorded at Conquistador Studios in Cleveland, Ohio, the album was mixed by Peter Tagtgren (Dimmu Borgir, Immortal, Celtic Frost) and features artwork by Farron Kerzner (Nachtmystium, Lightning Swords of Death).

In The Absence of Light is true to the rules of black metal. The vocals are harsh and shrill, sounding like the product of a lacerated larynx. Guitars buzz, rip and roar alongside articulate, rapid licks and blazing solos. Drums slam and crash like exploding mortar shells, whether battering with blast beats, double-bass rolls or syncopated snare hits. And there is just the right amount of haunting keyboard washes, a noted difference to the band’s previous album In The Shadow of a Thousand Suns. Vocalist/guitarist Sorceron notes, “There is a lot less keyboards on the new songs. I like keyboards, but before we started this record we decided to get rid of a lot of them because we wanted to do something different.”

The album presents new band members, guitarist Ian Jekelis and drummer Ken Bedene. Joining Sorceron after Abigail Williams‘ final tour in support of In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns last fall, the trio quickly got to work writing material that would become In the Absence of Light. The album’s eight songs contain far more urgency then the band’s previous material; songs written exclusively by Sorceron.

“We let ourselves have much more room with writing this album, kind of a more open, free environment than any we have employed before,” reveals Sorceron. “We literally constructed the songs as we went. Ken would be in the drum room and Ian and I would be in the control room and we just played for hours. We would listen back and pick out what we thought was good and we put songs together. We recorded everything with much more ease and I think it has helped in capturing a very honest vibe.”

Formed in 2005, Abigail Williams have been called “a buzz band,” and “a band to watch.” They have endured more than their fair share of opposition, including revolving door member changes and in 2007 altogether disbanding. But through it all, the core of the band has kept a level head, a steady eye, and an unbridled passion for what they do. The band’s 2006 Legend EP and 2008 debut, In the Shadow of a Thousand Suns (produced by James Murphy and featuring Emperor drummer Trym Torson) have now sold a combined 35,000 in the US. The band has toured exhaustively including their most recent West Coast headlining dates.

Abigail Williams recently confirmed their first tour in support of In the Absence of Light. Kicking off September 29, the band will perform alongside headliners Immolation and Vader, as well as Lecherous Nocturne and Pathology, for four weeks. Tickets are on sale now.

Abigail Williams w/ Immolation, Vader, Lecherous Nocturne, Pathology
09/29/2010 Sonar – Baltimore MD
09/30/2010 Crazy Donkey – Farmingdale NY
10/01/2010 Club Hell – Providence RI
10/02/2010 Rocko’s – Manchester NH
10/03/2010 FouFounes – Montreal QC
10/04/2010 Mod Club – Toronto ON
10/05/2010 Peabody’s – Cleveland OH
10/06/2010 Blondie’s – Detroit MI
10/07/2010 Rave – Milwaukee WI
10/08/2010 Station 4 – St. Paul MN
10/10/2010 El Corazon – Seattle WA
10/11/2010 Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver BC
10/12/2010 Hawthorne Theatre – Portland OR
10/13/2010 DNA Lounge – San Francisco CA
10/14/2010 Whiskey A Go Go – W. Hollywood CA
10/15/2010 Galaxy Theatre – Santa Ana CA
10/16/2010 Ramona Mainstage – Ramona CA
10/17/2010 UB’s Bar – Mesa AZ
10/18/2010 The Rock – Tucson AZ
10/20/2010 Emo’s – Austin TX
10/21/2010 The Warsaw – Houston TX
10/22/2010 Marquee – Tulsa OK
10/23/2010 Uncle Pleasant’s – Louisville KY
10/24/2010 Volume 11 – Raleigh NC
10/25/2010 Jaxx – W. Springfield VA
10/26/2010 Montage Music Hall – Rochester NY
10/27/2010 Emerson Theater – Indianapolis IN
10/28/2010 Reggie Rock Club – Chicago IL

In the Absence of Light Track Listing:
1. Hope the Great Betrayal
2. Final Destiny of the Gods
3. The Mysteries that Bind the Flesh
4. Infernal Divide
5. In Death Comes the Great Silence
6. What Hells Await Me
7. An Echo in Our Legends
8. Malediction

This just in! INCANTATION bassist Chuck Sherwood has issued the following update from the band’s well received Vengeful Scapegoat Tour through Europe with DIVINE EVE, HATE, NOCTUM, and NERVE.

“INCANTATION returns to Europe one again! With all of the previous experiences John [McEntee] and Kyle [Severn] have had they were prepared for another hellish assault on the “old world.”  As for Alex [Bouks] and I, our journey into the unknown began on our arrival to London’s Heathrow Airport. With the sights and sounds of our first show Nottingham delivered at The Central! The fans and support there were great. Playing a mixture of older and newer material and utilizing a return of the dual guitar attack we plunged into battle with a more diversified set. The journey continued to Leeds where we were faced with a cancellation when we heard that the club’s roof had caved-in, although that was never confirmed because locals seemed just as surprised as we were to hear it. Off to a good start only to restart and build momentum yet again. Regardless of the setback, we made good of the situation. We visited local metal purveyors the Hellraiser shop in Leeds. Highly recommended! Then it was off to the pub to drown in the microbrews of England.

After a fresh start again the following day the fires had spread to Edinburgh. The Scots were nothing short of killer. Amongst four-story stone buildings and rolling cobblestone streets we found ourselves at the Bannerman’s.  And in the bowels of that club in a dank and dark room the fans crushed and thrashed their support. The owners and staff were equally considerate and helpful in many ways. Fuckin’ amazing first experience, personally speaking!

Our trip back to the origins of the tour led us south to London where were we played The Electrowerkz. The promotion team there was even helping set up and break down the stage in between bands. We’d be hard pressed to find that kind of local support in the States. Here in Europe it’s almost expected. London’s fans filled the Electrowerkz and made for an energetic and awesome show; powerful reactions in the form of fists and horns held high over the course of one of our alternating sets.  We reintroduced some songs that hadn’t crept from the darkness in years.

After no sleep – maybe 45 minutes in the past three days – and a short ferry ride from the UK into Belgium we played the Las Cenobites and saw some familiar faces for all of us.  John and Alex reunited with Laurent from Listenable after a 19-year gap and were laughing over old photos.  Sabathan, an old comrade, of John’s, and I showed up where he and I talked after nine years of lost contact.  The show was awesome with the likes of our personal friends shoulder to shoulder amongst the other warriors who came out that night and unleashed hell on earth. The other bands whom we’ve had the pleasure of sharing a stage with – DIVINE EVE, HATE, NOCTUM, and NERVE – have all been great and I know it will result in long lasting comradeship and future endeavors. Suffice to say, my experience in Europe thus far and to be within the ranks of such a legendary project as INCANTATION has been nothing short of killer.

In Holland we were amongst our comrades in ASPHYX and PENTACLE and a packed room of hellions that came out (on a Monday night, mind you) to the Little Devil in Tilburg and made the night immortal. The show and all who were participating made our stay memorable. It was everything from the sound to handling the tucked away stage and endless help in the form of plastic bags for merch and drink tickets for Holland’s own Grolsch, which I think everyone agreed is far better over here on tap. We followed up that night with an 18th century cottage at which we slept.  Everything was brilliant.  A final hails again to everyone involved!

Upon crossing over to the desolate village of Luynes, France, near Marseille, last night it was nothing like its appearance when the smoke filled room of the Le Korigan exploded with chaos once the bands hit the stage.  The reaction of these French psychos was something to behold! An amazing time was had by all, despite the shadow looming over some of us.  It’s very easy to get sick on the road and with that not stopping or holding us back, onward we charged into battle. With France left destroyed in our wake, it’s off to Spain!”