Huge Ripple Music Holiday Sale, Bandcamp and YouTube to Explore!

Some people wait for it all year . . .  so here it is!  The big annual Ripple Music Holiday Sale.  Everything, and I mean everything (even shipping!) is 30% off at the store. Simply type in the code: "Metalsanta" at checkout. Get it all, anything you've been waiting for. LP's, limited colored vinyl, merch.  All yours for 30% off.  Get it while supplies last.  Sale ends at end of December . . . . or sooner if supplies run low.   So hurry! www.ripplemusic.bigcartel.comproducts.

What's another way to follow Ripple, get exclusive video premieres, rare and exclusive live show content, meandering nonsense and more?   At our very own YouTube Channel.  Pop over to Ripple YouTube Channel, subscribe, and never miss out on full albums, singles, special videos and more.  And please share with your friends!  Let's get some waveriders over there. 

And finally, be sure to keep Ripple with you while your work, drive, . . .heck, whatever!  Ripple bandcamp gives you the entire catalog of albums available for free streaming whenever you'd like.  Also, get special bandcamp exclusive songs, compilations, singles and more, plus subscribers get a 15% discount on all Ripple product from the store.  Check it out at www.ripplemusic.bandcamp.com

Bandcamp Bonanza – 086

The days are getting shorter but the list of sick ass bands on bandcamp is getting longer. I can’t remember when the latter was not the case. I do hate the short days, but on a positive note having less daylight leaves more time to wither away listening to new music. With that I have another round of Bonanza picks for you to indulge in.

Zeal and Ardor – Stranger Fruit

Holy crap is this insane. Mixing little bits of black metal in with an overwhelming helping of heavy blues and avantgarde pop, Zeal and Ardor have defied modern music and immediately joined the ranks of my vinyl record collection with an instabuy of their vinyl online after only a few songs and reading others praise about them. Wow, I’m not going to begin to describe what this album sounds like as you need to just let it play.

Grandpa Jack – Grandpa Jack

Children hurry, gather round, Grandpa Jack have blazed a grizzled trail of grandeur fuzz on this self-titled magnum opus of heavy psych. Listen up, the elder has spoken in juvenile 3-piece form, hammering out bottom heavy tone, uphill both ways, with euphoric energy and sonic groove. Favorite track: Little White Lies.

Dalton Domino – Corners

Hot damn! This is done of the sexiest soulful blues I’ve heard all year. Imagine a cross between the Drive-By Truckers and The Wallflowers. Smoking!!

Timestone – Unspoken

Unspoken speaks to us, purveyors of the riff, with a sublime mix of instrumental psych and progressive sludge mastery resulting in a massive formation of stoner/doom sound.

Scott Hirch – Lost Time Behind the Moon

Pretty much obsessed with this discovery with its sultry blend of psych meets Americana. The steel guitar gives it a bit of a country feel, but I wouldn't really categorize this as country at all. Sounds like a blend of Dire Straits, The Grateful Dead and Tom Petty in different parts. Totally worth a vinyl purchase.

Ritual Earth – Demo

Well it took exactly 1 minute and 4 seconds for me to hit the buy now button. Part of that was the name your price point, the other part was the immediate recognition of solid groove, stoner-fried vocals, and tones stankier than a tall can of Mickeys.

Mammoth Grove – Slow Burn

Mammoth Grove slays us with a mammoth output of intoxicating groove. The hooks are fat, the solos are exciting, and the harmony is off-the-charts. Wow!

Pale Heart – Jungleland

This is a very upbeat modern blues album with pop as a backbone and a an almost jazz like undercurrent. The artwork is amazing and there is a LOT going on in terms of instrumentation, musicality and overall hook of the album. This is what pop music sounds like when you’re describing something that is rad, not pop in terms of sales and mainstream categorization.

The Soul Jacket – Plastic Jail

So, I’ve held off on purchasing this album so far as there is rumor of a vinyl edition coming out soon. I heard December 2018 and its officially December so I am sharing the album with you now before it gets lost in the shuffle and the vinyl promises are extended or lost as well. This band is exquisite, especially for those of you who are into a soulful take on heavy blues rock. I purchased their last full length on vinyl and they remain one of those prized bandcamp finds that I still revisit and respect very much. It’s got that deep southern Spanish twist with soulful vocals, horns, keys, and full on backing band that I very much appreciate in a sea of 3 and 4-piece standard rock bands. It’s nice to get a full orchestra adding that depth you can’t get in a similar genre with just bass, drum and guitar.

Shayk – 313

The Shayk boys kick out the jams again with a fresh set of funked up groove. Wildly psychedelic fuzz with infectious rhythm and vocals belting out Neil Fallon strength croons.

Center of the Earth – Tolkion

I’ll leave this one last for you only because you may not survive any longer after being crushed by the weight of these doomy riffs. Go out doing what you love, if enourmously fuzzy and slow riffs are what you are into.

The brutally heavy riffs drill through molten layers of Fuzz with scalding rhythm and oozing groove. Turns out the Center of the Earth doubles as the throne of psychedelic Doom

-The Huntsman

Blood Etchings – Blood Etchings

For centuries, maybe even millenia, and across numerous civilizations, the power of blood has been recognized as magical and mystical. It is, of course, a necessary ingredient for millions of life forms on this planet. Blood has been and is still today used in rituals to bless, to curse, to bind, and as a source of power, a source of connection to things and beings unseen, a conduit to realms and experiences that most of us might choose to ignore. Those who give themselves to the power of blood must surely have a band such as this to provide the soundtrack.

Blood Etchings provide us with, to quote their Bandcamp page, “infernal tones and incantations”. They play a brand of black metal that is wholly given over to the absolute refutation and denial of religion. Some of the original roots of black metal are based in this refusal of Christianity especially. Black metal was born in the Scandinavian countries where an acceptance of Christian faith meant that those practioners forget the pagan ways and beliefs of their ancestors. Black metal arose in part as a rejection of these Christian beliefs.

If you think for a moment that Blood Etchings does not fully believe what they espouse, one run through the song lyrics will prove otherwise. Lyrics such as “Rape and torture the holy crown, Destroy all religion, burn it to the ground” and “Christian lie, Christian spy, Burn in Satan's fire” are just two examples of what to expect. This is not a band of posers, this is a band that is completely committed to that which they preach. I have a copy of one of their previous demos, along with a poster, both adorned in human blood. This is not a band that casually uses the name of the Dark Lord because it’s the cool thing to do at the moment. They are in it for life, for blood.

Their music is black metal, as mentioned, a glorious cacophony of wickedness unleashed. Every note is played as though the fate of the world hangs in the balance. Drums pound out the rhythms for the countdown to Armageddon. There is power and danger and raw magick at work in these songs. The only other band I can think to compare them to is Watain. Both bands have the ability to bring forth their music in a way that leaves the listener with no doubt as to where they stand, what they believe, and how they hope to accomplish it. This is an amazing body of work and if it doesn't strike you as such you are not in tune with the worlds around you. I highly recommend that you head over to Bandcamp and get a copy of this one for yourself.

-ODIN

CANNIBAL CORPSE Announces North American Tour Dates With Slayer, Lamb Of God, And Amon Amarth

CANNIBAL CORPSE will play "Leg Five: North America" of Slayer's Final World Tour this spring. The journey begins May 2nd in Phoenix, Arizona and runs through sixteen cities, concluding on May 25th in Mansfield, Massachusetts. Additional support will be provided by Lamb Of God and labelmates Amon Amarth.

Comments the band, "We are extremely honored to be sharing the stage with Amon Amarth, Lamb Of God and of course Slayer this spring on their farewell tour! To be a part of this historic event will be something we will never forget!"

The journey with Slayer will follow CANNIBAL CORPSE's previously announced co-headlining run with Morbid Angel on this year's Decibel Magazine Tour in February/March. See all confirmed dates below.

CANNIBAL CORPSE On The Decibel Magazine Tour 2019 w/ Morbid Angel, Blood Incantation, Necrot:

2/17/2019 Alamo Music Hall - San Antonio, TX

2/19/2019 Club Xs - Tucson, AZ

2/20/2019 The Observatory - San Diego, CA

2/21/2019 The Fonda Theater - Los Angeles, CA

2/22/2019 The Observatory - Santa Ana, CA

2/23/2019 The Regency Ballroom - San Francisco, CA

2/25/2019 Roseland Ballroom - Portland, OR

2/26/2019 Showbox Market - Seattle, WA

3/01/2019 The Oriental Theater - Denver, CO

3/02/2019 The Truman - Kansas City, MO

3/03/2019 Skyway Theater - Minneapolis, MN

3/04/2019 The Concord - Chicago, IL

3/07/2019 Playstation Theater - New York, NY

On Slayer's "Leg Five: North America" Tour w/ Lamb Of God, Amon Amarth:

5/02/2019 Ak-Chin Amphitheatre - Phoenix, AZ

5/03/2019 Isleta Amphitheatre - Albuquerque, NM

5/05/2019 UTEP/Don Haskins Center - El Paso, TX

5/07/2019 Bert Ogden Arena - Edinburg, TX

5/08/2019 The Pavilion At Toyota Music Factory - Dallas, TX

5/10/2019 MidFlorida Credit Union Amphitheatre - Tampa, FL

5/11/2019 Coral Sky Amphitheatre - West Palm Beach, FL

5/13/2019 Big Sandy Superstore Arena - Huntington, WV

5/14/2019 Merriweasther Post Pavilion - Columbia, MD

5/16/2019 Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center - Noblesville, IN

5/17/2019 Providence Medical Center Amphitheatre - Bonner Springs, KS

5/19/2019 DTE Energy Music Center - Clarkston, MI

5/20/2019 Covel Centre - Youngstown, OH

5/22/2019 Canadian Tire Centre - Ottawa, ON

5/24/2019 BB&T Pavilion - Camden, NJ

5/25/2019 Xfinity Center - Mansfield, MA

CANNIBAL CORPSE will be touring in support of their acclaimed Red Before Black full-length released last year via Metal Blade Records. Many words come to mind when you hear the name CANNIBAL CORPSE, but only one truly defines the thirty-year death metal veterans: Unstoppable. Produced by Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal, Goatwhore), Red Before Black serves to not only reiterate this but to once more raise the stakes, making it abundantly clear who sets the standard when it comes to manifesting consistently compelling music that is as brutal as it is complex. "Throughout our career, we've tried to improve the precision of both our musical execution and our album production, while still maintaining full-on aggression. Red Before Black continues in that direction, but might go even further on the aggressive side of things. It's definitely precise, but it has a rawness to it that goes beyond anything we've done recently," asserts bassist Alex Webster. "We really worked super hard crafting these songs, practicing them, and getting them where we wanted to be more so than on any of our previous albums," adds drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz. "And as Alex said, musically I think it's the rawest sound we've had - and at the same time I think it's our most focused, tightest, and catchiest record."

To preview and purchase Red Before Black, visit: metalblade.com/cannibalcorpse

http://cannibalcorpse.net

http://www.facebook.com/cannibalcorpse

http://twitter.com/CorpseOfficial

http://www.youtube.com/user/cannibalcorpse

http://www.metalblade.com

http://www.facebook.com/metalbladerecords

The Xroadie Files

Craneium – The Narrow Line

Andreas Kajan – Vocals/Guitar, Martin Ahlo – Vocals/Guitar, Joel Kronqvist – Drums, Jonas Ridberg – Bass

Manifest heavy riffs that just plow along the road to madness with stoner rock vocals and a catchy rhythm.  I’m Your Demon just grab a brew kick back and watch the bar band play along to some music that will have drifting along. Beyond The Pale is a very Sabbath style of riff dark heavy and full of emotions that grabs your attention. The Soothsayer has a very bluesy song that will have you up and grooving along till the very last note. Redemption close your eyes and just rip down this musical highway of emotions. The Goat (Is In Command) stoner rock that will have you tripping away and you enjoy every note. Man’s Ruin sitting around with friends just having a few and enjoying the music as you groove and sing along.

Rifflord – 7 Cremation Ground/Meditation

Wyatt Bronc Bartlett – Guitar/Vocals, Paul Pinos – Guitar, Matthew Mcfarland – Bass, Tory Jean Stoddard – Keyboards, Tommy Middlen – Drums

Seven has a very back wood Cajun feel that just works its way into your very being. Dead Flower Child sitting in the woods smoking and drinking with friends and just watching the band jam along the getting up and slamming along as the band shred and the guitars rip. The Other Side church organ sounds deep and emotional along with some very powerful vocals the standup sway and groove to the rhythm as you sing along.  Coyote Fodder sounds of wild animals and a Sabbath style stoner riff that just seems to surround you as you move along. Holly Roller acoustic guitar swirling organ screaming leads pounding drum thumping bass take a trip back to the psychedelic 70s. BB Gun grab the air guitars and just jam and sing along to some excellent heartfelt stoner rock.

Transcendental Meditation chorus vocals a catchy riff that just gets you attention and a thundering beat get ready to rock out. Lucid Trip swirling organ/keyboards acoustic guitars a solid beat and great vocals just drift along as it takes you on a musical journey to inside your mind. Poison Mother heavy dark melancholic stoner rock with some great musicianship. Electric Grave keyboards and spoken words with a very eerie feel slow and steady as it moves toward you. The Riffman Cometh will have you standing fist pumping and head banging along till the last note. Hou Dou Vou Dou has a very back woods Cajun bluesy feel that just grabs your attention and takes ahold as you groove along. Thunder Rider Cremation G hold on for one hell of a stoner rock ride just enjoy.

Blood Of The Sun – Blood’s Thicker Than Love

Henry Vasquez – Drums/Vocals, Dave Gryder- Keyboards, Wyatt Burton – Guitar, Alex Johnson – Guitar/Vocals, Roger Yma – Bass, Sean Vargas – Vocals

Keep the Lemmy’s Coming has a Motorhead feel with southern rock influences just get ready to rock n roll. My Time has a very bluesy feel with some emotional leads and great rhythms to groove with and powerful vocals. Livin For The Night takes you back to the late 70s and has sort of a Ted Nugent feel a real rocker. Air Rises As You Drown slowly builds as it grabs you and takes you on one emotional musical journey. Stained Glass Window has a 70s hard rock meets blues meets a slight country flavor get up move groove and sing along. Blood of The Road hop on your bike or in your car crank up this tune and just jam on down the road.

Massimo Discepoli – The Right Place on the Wrong Map

Massimo Discepoli – Drums/Eletronics/Bass/Synths/Piano

Once In A Minute over seven minutes to just relax close your eyes and drift along to the musical tones and textures. Thin Border more melodies and tones to take you away on a trip thru your inner mind.      The Right Place On The Wrong Map take a trip back to the late 60s and the psychedelic rock of that era very trippy and spacey. Phase Transition has a very Tangerine Dream feel to the music. Water Sequences drifting thru time and space all alone with your thoughts. Both Sides Of The Line lost in the darkness of space just floating along with your thoughts. Shapes close your eyes and just imagine the things that the music brings to your mind.

https://soundcloud.com/massimo-discepoli/once-in-a-minute/s-MiDA4?in=massimo-discepoli/sets/the-right-place-on-the-wrong-map/s-xaFDH

Unearth – Extinction(s)

Trevor Phipps – Vocals, Ken Susi – Guitar, Buz McGrath – Guitar, Nick Pierce – Drums, Chris O’Toole – Bass

Incinerate heavy industrial hard music and yelling vocals to just hammer your very mind. Dust dual leads that just grab you as they grind away and take you down an interesting path of destruction. Survivalist dark heavy n music with growling vocals that just rip and tear at you. Cultivation Of Infection low bass strange sound grinding rhythm that just slam and beat you. The Hunt Begins disharmonic sounds that worm their way into you with chugging guitars and pounding rhythms. Hard Line Downfall hit the pit just slam against each other with sweat flying. King Of The Artic eerie guitars build chainsaw riff thundering bas pounding drums and rough growling vocals. Sidewinder another hit the pit with total aggression just slam and bounce around with anger. No Reprisal has more of an classic metal feel to the music but with growling vocals. One With The Sun just grabs you and pounds you into submission.

-Xroadie

SLOW to release new version of "Mythologiae"

Code666 is pleased to announce that they will release Mythologiae by Belgian doom duo SLOW on CD and vinyl on January 25th 2018. The album was previously released in 2015 in very small quantities and sold out quickly. Now, due to a data loss the album has now been completely re-recorded, remastered and remixed and includes a never before released bonus track "At The Break of Dawn", as well as new artwork.

www.facebook.com/slowdooom

Line-up:

Déhà – Guitars, Drums & Vocals

Lore B. – Bass, Lyrics, Concepts

TRACKLIST:

1. The Standing Giant

2. The Drowning Angel

3. The Suffering Rebel

4. The Dying God

5. Sorrow’s Shadow

6. The Break of Dawn

Lord Vapour - Semuta

The heavy three piece rock band Lord Vapour was formed in November of 2014 in Guernsey... For those of you who don't know, Guernsey is an island in the English Channel off the coast of Normandy... Consisting of Joe Le Long on Bass & Vocals, Henry Fears on Guitars and Christian Mariess on the drums, the band quickly released a self-titled demo of three superb tunes on Bandcamp... This was when they fell under my radar!!! I loved it and couldn't wait for more of their heavy riff rock!!!

Lord Vapour toured extensively on their home turf in 2015, and also found time to record their debut album "Mill Street Blues" at Tardis Studio in just 2 days time!!! About 7 months later, in May of 2016 they would finally release their debut album... It hit me like a freight train on the very first listen... It also surprised a few people in the hard & heavy rock world and took number 37 on the Doom Charts in their Best Of 2016 countdown!!!

Fast forward to 2018 and they now have dropped their sophomore set titled "Semuta" on December 1st.... It starts out hard and very heavy, never letting up!!! That's right, all six tracks are super with no sign of a sophomore jinx what so ever!!!

Opening up the album is the addictive Burning Planet, which is also the lead off single... Next up is The Spice starting out with a Sabbathy bass intro that just launches into guitar head heaven!!! The third track, Through The Doors Of Kukundu is a previously released track from January of 2017... Then on to the back half of the album for more heavy riffage on Semuta Music & The Mothership Connection (my two personal favorites) and then closing out this monster of an album with Nasubi!!!

This killer no holds barred guitar extravaganza of hard rock & heavy psych is a fine addition to their catalog!!! I know it's been blasted through MY Skullcandy several times the last couple of days!!!

-Rock Man & Mercy 12/18