Review: A chance to catch the 1989 iteration of Black Sabbath in action in Japan on their Headless Cross, in support of their 14th fourteenth studio album (of the same name), the second with Tony Martin on vocals. This nine track selection from the show is fairly evenly spread across their already almost two decade long career, with that album's title track nestling alongside older triumphs such as 'Iron Man', 'Paranoid' and 'Black Sabbath' and Ronnie James Dio-period faves like 'Mob Rules' and 'Heaven & Hell'. The recent addition of the legendary Cozy Powell on drums just makes it an even tastier prospect.
Distortion(limited gatefold clear blue yellow blue white purple & green splattered vinyl LP box set + patch + splipmat + autographed photo card + stickers)
Review: Gone Dark, the sophomore album from Human Impact, pushes the boundaries of noise-rock with a fiercer, more streamlined approach. The band, composed of Unsane's Chris Spencer, Cop Shoot Cop's Jim Coleman, Made Out of Babies' Eric Cooper, and Daughters' Jon Syverson, delivers a potent blend of taut grooves, jagged guitar riffs, and raw vocal intensity. This release is not merely a cry from the void but a powerful declaration of defiance against a world teetering on the brink. Following their self-titled debut, Gone Dark represents a significant evolution, capturing the visceral energy of their live performances. Spencer emphasises the band's intent to create something rawer and more aggressive, which is evident throughout the album's tightly interwoven tracks and interstitial pieces, mirroring the flow of a live show. Recorded with co-producer Andrew Schneider at Austin's Cedar Creek Studio, the album benefits from the newly solidified rhythm section, with Cooper and Syverson's contributions adding heft and precision. The result is a cohesive, relentless sonic assault that showcases the band's full understanding of their identity. Gone Dark is a potent, focused statement from a group that continues to refine its craft, delivering an album that is enduring, resilience and aggressive.
Review: While not officially released until 2004, as the title suggests The 1996 DEP Sessions were originally recorded in 1996 by Black Sabbath guitar wizard Tony Iommi and mid-80s frontman for the band Glenn Hughes in the DEP International Studios in Digbeth, Birmingham. Leaked and bootlegged that same year under the title Eighth Star by eager fans (a nod to the previous collab between the pair known as Seventh Star although it was attempted to be passed off as a Sabbath release), that version missed two final cuts and included a random Jethro Tull cover of 'To Cry You A Song' that didn't feature Iommi. Now as 2005's Fused LP receives a long overdue remastered repress, The 1996 DEP Sessions receive the same treatment, having been lovingly restored and remastered one lush limited translucent black ice vinyl.
The Czar: Usurper/Escape/Martyr/Spiral (instrumental) (9:25)
Ghost Of Karelia (instrumental) (5:35)
Crack The Skye (instrumental) (5:51)
The Last Baron (instrumental) (12:47)
Crack The Skye (Blu-ray)
Review: .Originally released in 2009, Crack The Skye would serve as the fourth full-length and creative rebirth of sludge-indebted alternative metal behemoths Mastodon. Inspired by the suicide of drummer Brann Dailor's sister in their youth, the album takes cues from prog classics such as Pink Floyd's Animals and King Crimson's In The Court Of The Crimson King to craft a monolithic sonic journey spread across seven tracks. With their later material taking on a more instantaneous approach to composition, whilst coming off the back of the harsh dynamics of 2004's Leviathan and 2006's Blood Mountain, the mercurial middle point the band found themselves on this LP emboldened them to add Dailor as a third lead vocalist, providing a melodious fulcrum between the snarl of bassist Troy Sanders and nasal croon of guitarist Brent Hinds. A hallucinogenic, astral projecting prog epic in the search for peace accumulated through unprocessed grief, the project has been held near and dear to the hearts of the band and their fanbase in the fifteen years since initial release and now celebrates such a milestone with this definitive boxset. Spread across gold vinyl 2xLP with a bonus blu-ray, poster, magnet sheet and 12-page booklet.
The Mystic Tide - "Running Through The Nigh" (2:30)
The Reactions - "In My Grave" (2:46)
The Inmates - "Crystal Ball" (2:26)
Cemetery (10:21)
Medusa - "Unknown Fear" (10:21)
Eugene Viscione - " Turned Killer" (3:10)
Slim Martin - "Haunted After Midnight" (2:49)
Zen Fuller - "Doomsday" (1:55)
Tony & The Monstrosities - "Igor's Party" (2:21)
The A'Kies - "Haunted Piano" (2:18)
Jerry White - "Mummy Drag" (2:49)
The Comics Books - "Black Magic & Witchcraft" (1:51)
Helene Smith - "Thrills & Chills" (2:28)
Angela Alexander & JD. Saddler - "Don't Make Me Kill You" (2:02)
Nat Fross - "Too Many Skeletons In The Closet" (2:29)
JC & The Soul Angels - "Nightmare Strut" (3:51)
Soul Superbs - "Cannibals" (4:28)
Review: Just in time for the spooky season, the wonderful Numero has put together another of their famously good compilations. This one, Haunted Presence (which comes on lovely 'ghost power' silver vinyl) is packed with Halloween treats from across the label's vast span. It takes in ghoulish garage rock like Slim Martin's 'Haunted After Midnight', skeleton-rattling soul like Bambi Fodera's 'The Moon Turned To Blood' and some proto-metal mutations like Medusa's 'Unknown Fear' as well as haunting 60s rock like Angela Alexander & JD. Saddler's 'Don't Make Me Kill You' across 20 tracks that will enliven any seasonal get-together.
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