Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genres: Black Metal, Death Metal
Label: Ibex Moon

Ah… Ibex Moon. Your death metal releases are like comfortable pants. You put them on, and instantly everything is better. Gravehill’s Rites of the Pentagram is no different; granted it’s not pure death to most ears, which is why I’m including black metal as a genre above. It does at times sound like black metal played death, but that is if you’re not familiar with really deep underground old death metal (think Darkthrone’s Soulside Journey for a sometimes similar sound).
This whole album is good, no filler tracks or anything, and after reading some interviews with vocalist Mike Abominator I understand why: he won’t compromise for anything. He reminds me as the kind of guy who would throw a mountain out of his way if he had to.
This is an old school American death metal album, sounding like it could have been recorded in about 1986 to ’89, and I recommend it for fans of Blasphemous, Darkthrone, Death, Carcass, Cardiac Arrest, Lifeless, and well damn near anything that Ibex Moon has put out.
My favorite tracks are “Decibel Ritual”, “Bloodsoaked”, and “The Luciferian Mark”.
8 out of 10.

Gravehill on MySpace.

On July 10th at Belvedere’s in Pittsburgh, PA, the Campaign For Death Metal Purity 2010 Tour featuring HOD, Cardiac Arrest and Gravehill will join forces with death metal pioneers Incantation along with Western Pennsylvania’s low-end sewage death metal masters Funerus and Pittsburgh’s premier death metal juggernauts Abysme under the banner of the Ibex Moon Records Fest. Ibex Moon Records owner and Incantation frontman, John McEntee comments on the event:

“We are very proud to bring this killer death metal event to Western Pennsylvania. There are a lot of great bands from this area along with a huge fan base. This will be the first time Incantation has played Pittsburgh in at least two years. For Funerus it’s been even longer, something like five years or more. This show will also feature performances by some of the best live death metal bands to emerge on the scene in quite some time. Gravehll, HOD, & Cardiac Arrest have all proven themselves to be a force to be reckoned with. We hope with the success of this kick ass bill, we can bring more great death metal shows to the ‘Burgh. We look forward to a kick ass gig and hanging out with all our local friends.”

The first 25 people paid through the door will receive a free Fest T-shirt. Ibex Moon Records will be giving away additional prizes throughout the fest.

CAMPAIGN FOR DEATH METAL PURITY 2010 TOUR DATES

July 2nd @ Plan B – Portland, OR*
July 3rd @ The Parkside – San Fransisco, CA*
July 4th @ The Blvd – Los Angeles, CA*
July 5th @ The Drunken Lass – Prescott, AZ
July 7th @ Beerland – Austin, TX
July 8th @ The Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
July 9th @ Nightcap – Chicago, IL
July 10th @ Belvedere’s Lounge – Pittsburgh, PA**
July 11th @ Jimmy’s Place – Allentown, PA
July 12th @ Dingbatz – Clifton, NJ
July 13th @ Fontana’s – New York, NY
July 14th @ Melody Inn – Indianapolis, IN
July 15th @ TBA – Memphis, TN
July 16th @ Downtown Music – Little Rock, AR
July 17th @ Walters – Houston, TX
July 18th @ Ten Eleven – San Antonio, TX

* – w/ Fatalist
** w/ Incantation, Funerus and Abysme

Ibex Moon Record’s Estuary and Cardiac Arrest have been added to select dates on the upcoming Enthroned/Destroyer 666/Pathology tour. Marking the first time in nine years that Enthroned has invaded US soil, this promises to be one of the heaviest tours of the summer. Cardiac Arrest drummer, Jim “Grindhead” Deabenderfer issued the following statement:

“We are very proud to be a part of such a strong lineup for the Enthroned/Destroyer 666 tour. All the bands on the bill are outstanding, including the headliners, Pathology, and Estuary. We are in good company, and it’s always nice to share the stage with bands that challenge you to up your game every night. Being on the road with our old friends in Estuary is a dream come true, and people coming to the shows are in for a well-rounded, killer metal show!

We’d like to express our thanks to John at Ibex Moon and Dan at The Pantheon Agency for providing this opportunity. The Word of ROT is Spreading… internationally! You are next!”

Enthroned/Destroyer 666/Pathology Tour Dates
Aug 4 Brooklyn, NY @ Europa w/Black Anvil, Estuary
Aug 5 Springfield, VA @ Jaxx w/Black Anvil, Estuary
Aug 6 Raleigh, NC @ Volume 11 w/Estuary
Aug 7 Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
Aug 8 Tampa, FL @ The Brass Mug
Aug 10 Houston, TX @ Walter’s On Washington
Aug 11 Austin, TX @ Emo’s
Aug 12 El Paso, TX @ Club 101
Aug 13 Tempe, AZ @ Club Red w/Estuary
Aug 14 Los Angeles, CA @ Ultra Violet w/Estuary
Aug 15 Ramona, CA @ Ramona Mainstage w/Estuary
Aug 17 San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge w/Estuary
Aug 18 Portland, OR @ Satyricon w/Estuary
Aug 19 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven w/Estuary
Aug 20 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater w/Estuary
Aug 21 Boise, ID @ Red Room
Aug 22 Salt Lake City @ TBA
Aug 23 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
Aug 24 Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room
Aug 25 Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s Rock Club w Estuary, Cardiac Arrest
Aug 26 Detroit, MI @ Blondie’s w/ Estuary, Cardiac Arrest
Aug 27 Toronto, ON @ The Opera House w/Estuary, Cardiac Arrest
Aug 28 Montreal, QC @ Katacombes w/Estuary, Cardiac Arrest
Aug 29 Philadelphia, PA @ Club Polaris “Hostile City Deathfest”

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Ibex Moon

This is something I’ve been waiting for since I found out Lifeless signed onto Ibex Moon. And fuck me stupid is this great. Heavy-ass death metal the way it should be played. These songs are full of riffs, but they aren’t riff collections; they are actually SONGS, with minor melodies and harmonies hidden inside of brutal hooks, as well as blatant melodies that are still intense and in your face. The whole thing is Metalgasmic, from the first song to the end of the last.
Breakdowns that aren’t corny, solos that force your hands to play air guitar, a voice that makes you pay attention, and a breakneck pace throughout this album make it near perfect.
9.5 out of 10.

Lifeless on MySpace.

Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Label: Ibex Moon

It’s no wonder why Ibex Moon is one of my favourite labels to do reviews for. They’ve got some of the best metal bands in the underground doing releases with them.
Cardiac Arrest is no different from the rest of Ibex Moon’s roster in that regard. These four guys are making some of the most brutal death metal I’ve heard in a long time, and it’s the kind I’m really looking out for too. Kind of dirty in sound production; there’s an old school grit to it. Solos are fast and claustrophobic, vocals are gutteral as fuck but still understandable for the most part (reminding me a little of Chris Barnes and David Vincent), the drums are snappy and full of cymbals, while the bass ties down the low end, making your balls shake.
Yeah, I guess you can say I like Haven for the Insane. It reminds me of what I first came to love about death metal, and it’s helping me to find my way back into the genre.
8 out of 10.

Cardiac Arrest on MySpace.