Funeral Rain Press Corps

The following was issued by California-based death horde Gravehill in regards to their forthcoming album, When All Roads Lead to Hell, and the band’s new label situation.

“Gravehill has spent the past several months in seclusion finishing our new album When all Roads Lead to Hell. We had several songs already written before we undertook the “Campaign Tour” last summer. When we invited Hellfiend (aka Matt Harvey of Exhumed) to join the band full time, we spent the time necessary to either “re-evaluate” or completely ditch what we had. Thankfully most of the music was used and with Hellfiend’s input we felt we had eight songs worthy of recording.
We entered Trench Studios in March 2011 with John Haddad and laid down all drums, guitars, bass and vocals… most of the tracking was pretty effortless and relaxed, we either had an idea of what we wanted or we’re just really good at convincing each other we knew what we were doing? The most common question asked regarding this record is “How does it compare to Rites of the Pentagram?” All bands always respond with “This is the best record we’ve ever done, the last album pales in comparison and blah blah blah…” The best way to respond to that is simply “Ryan Butler!” When we left Trench Studios making the RotP record we were happy with the result, obviously some things could have been better or even worse if you think about it? But the song writing and over all rawness of the band did shine through! However by 86′ing Zyklon-A out of the band last summer and bringing in Hellfiend just offered a wealth of alternatives, one of them being the new Exhumed record All Guts, No Glory! Ryan Butler of Arcane Digital did all the guitar, bass and vocal tracking for that record. Hearing the wall of guitars really made an easy decision to provide the WARLTH record to Ryan to mix and master. We also laid down four guitar rhythm tracks unlike the two we used on RotP! The end result is this heavy as fuck, pissed off, intense, faster and dare I say “mature” record? Considering all the trials and tribulations we had with RotP as well as a less than stellar line-up; up to this point anyway, When All Roads Lead to Hell might as well be our first record! We are that proud of this record, love it or hate it, we have made the best fucking Death Metal record we ever wanted to hear!
When it came to deciding on who would be releasing this album we had an easy decision with Dark Descent Records. Matt Calvert came highly recommended and after a few short discussions we made accordance for a May 20th CD release; right in time for our appearance at The Maryland Death Fest!”

Drummer Thorgrimm had this to say about Dark Descent Records:
“We are very lucky to find one of the hardest working labels out there right now! They may be a small upstart label but Matt’s work ethic and care in his bands and his label is impeccable! We are very confident that this release will reach far beyond our previous work and are very glad that Dark Descent Records is leading the way! HAIL HELL!”

Matt Calvert of Dark Descent Records had this to say:
“I was extremely intrigued to hear the new songs the band had come up with when I was approached by them to release the new album. What I heard was dedication to not only produce great songs but the ability to capture the true spirit of metal. Dark Descent Records is very excited to be a part of When All Roads Lead to Hell.

Mike Abominator continues: Gravehill are also very happy to announce that When All Roads Lead to Hell will also see a 12″ vinyl release with Chaos Records! Our friend Victor Hernandez Gil made us an offer we couldn’t refuse, and seeing this release on vinyl is very important to Gravehill! Look for its release in early July 2011!”

Mike on Chaos Records: “We needed a connection that could help us outside the U.S. So the plan was to build a strong team of death that could help us spread our plague worldwide. Victor and Chaos Records were our first choice to attack down in Mexico. We have the utmost respect for the Mexican metal fans and look forward to infecting even more down there! It was a great surprise that Victor also had connections set up in Europe as well, so we killed 2 posers with one stone so to speak! Europa will also be infected now! Hail Victor and Chaos Records for being a part of our Horde of Death!”

Victor Hernandez Gil of Chaos Records states:
“It’s great to welcome Gravehill to the Chaos Records Familia, we cannot wait to release the vinyl version of When All Roads Lead to Hell. Gravehill have developed themselves over the past few years as one of the most exciting live acts in the American Metal scene. Many thanks to Gravehill for their trust in Chaos Records! Horns up!!”

When All Roads Lead to Hell will be out on May 20th (with the vinyl treatment coming in July).

Genres: Progressive Death Metal, Technical Death Metal
Label: Willowtip

In the span of forty-five minutes and forty-one seconds Gigan not only push their own envelope, but the envelopes of pretty much all of technical and progressive death metal bands.
A mindblowing (fuck bending, it’s outright gone) adventure through the cosmos as only these Chicago natives can do, Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes is perfect for many reasons, most notably that you can hear it in the background, driving, or you can listen to it, with headphones and a darkened room. It’s not a one-way road with Gigan, it’s a multi-lane highway of listening choices.
It’s also perfect because it’s just a solid fucking album. Sure, it’s prog and tech, but it’s also got songs in it, which is what ultimately makes or breaks an album. If you have no songs, just a bunch of wankery, that’s all you have. If you, like Gigan, have songs, you have albums, fans, and the thing that keeps you in the music business, sales.
Which brings me to my final point. This is gonna be on colored vinyl, as well as CD. So don’t be an ass, and buy this album. I ordered the vinyl before I even heard the promo tracks.
10 out of 10.

Gigan on Facebook.
Gigan on Myspace.

Genre: Death Metal
Label: Chaos Records

Zombiefication’s Midnight Stench LP is some seriously awesome death metal that’s based in the old school thrash. It’s more of a mid-paced to fast death that reminds me of a mix of Slayer and The Wakedead Gathering.
In other words, nothing very technical, but played with true feeling, people that understand the aesthetics of good old fashioned thrashy death metal, and probably have a few black metal albums in their collection.
As an added bonus, it’s on vinyl, with a silver record in the die-hard edition.
Favorite tracks are “Last Resting Place”, “Cryptic Broadcast”, and “Necroambulatory”.
8 out of 10.

Finnish death metal outfit Corpsessed has signed with Dark Descent Records for the CD release of their self-titled debut EP. Scheduled for an early 2011 release, the EP features six tracks of bludgeoning old-school death in the vein of Entombed, Incantation, Deicide, Immolation and Grave. Select tracks from the EP have been posted on the band’s official MySpace site, while more information on Corpsessed can be found on their Facebook page.

Corpsessed was spawned from putrescent slime in 2007, after the dissolution of an earlier project Skullfucker. Vocalist Niko Matilainen (Skullfucker), guitarist Matti Mäkelä (Tyranny, Wormphlegm) and drummer Jussi-Pekka Manner (Skullfucker, Pohjoinen Kuri) were joined by guitarist Jyri Lustig (Cardinals Folly) and the (de)composing of morbid death metal tunes began at the rotting houses of the Järvenpää delta-area.

The group’s original bass player Mikko Mäkelä disappeared in unknown circumstances, but was replaced in 2009 by Mikko Pöllä (Azure).

Look for Corpsessed‘s debut EP out soon on Dark Decent Records (CD only), with vinyl treatment coming courtesy of French label Ostra Records.

A pact borne in the bleakest hell of obscurity. Chile’s Demonic Rage and the United States’ Father Befouled partner under the banner of Dark Descent Records to vomit forth pure unholy death metal of the most blasphemous order. Featuring new, exclusive tracks from both bands, this union will lay desecration upon the new years with a furious lash! The split will be available on colored and black 7″ vinyl in early 2011 and features artwork by Paul Ledney.

www.darkdescent.net
www.fatherbefouled.com