In a 2015 interview with Noisey, Propagandhi’s Chris Hannah ranked the six albums the hyper-political Canadian punks had made until that point. The vocalist/guitarist placed Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes in second-to-last place, blaming his decision wholly on the sonics of the record. “I just find it sonically not very listenable,” he explained in the piece. “I wish we could remix it, but nobody ever wants to hear a remixed 20 year-old record.” He was wrong.
Today, we’re thrilled to reveal that the record has finally been given the remix it deserves by the talented Jason Livermore from The Blasting Room. It has been remastered from the original reels and remixed along with FOUR bonus tracks. Today’s Empires, Tomorrow’s Ashes drops on November 12th, and is available for pre-order.
The US extreme metal band SAGEN is excited to announce that their new full-length is titled Mammoth and it will be released on October 29th in jewel case, streaming, and digital download formats. In order to pass the wait, there is nothing better than watching the video for the title-track, available on the band’s YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/3FGffr3
SAGEN seamlessly incorporates many of the stylistic differences between death, thrash, groove, technical, and progressive metal into a unique and foreboding wall of creative sounds. Their music centers on intriguing and crushing riffs, acrobatic and shredding guitar solos, punishing and intricate drum beats, and in-your-face and aggressive vocals. Each SAGEN album tells a captivating story that is sure to create a lasting impact on the listener.
The Jacksonville-based quartet revealed the tracklist of his new effort:
1. Hunted
2. Mammoth
3. Consequences
4. Appointed
5. Cracked
6. The Slaughter
7. Coward (instrumental)
8. Becoming the Alpha
9. Tusk
10. Atonement
Home recordings: Guitars, Vocals, and Bass. Mixing, mastering, and drums recorded at Exodian Studios by Zack Dufort.
Front album cover by Stephen Hegarty and Jordan Brown.
Promo pic by Hannu Perälä (Hannu Perälä Photography)
Wash the Spears is the second single from the upcoming debut album Ways of the Pack (Out on December 17th 2021 via Inverse Records) by Finnish melodic death metal band Wolftopia. From the catchy guitar chords of the intro, played by frontman Aleksander Okhotnikov, to the last majestic synthetic trumpets and French horns, programmed by Ossi Peltoniemi, this song oozes uncomplicated eighties power metal.
Okhotnikov, also the band’s main songwriter, says that the writing process of “Wash the Spears” started with the main riff. The catchy rhythm and the chord progression, using a large number of major chords, catch the ear and once lodged in the brain, are difficult to forget. But the song also displays Wolftopia’s bombastic side, with a fast-paced, epic chorus and a technical, rock-‘n’-roll-inspired whirlwind of a solo by lead guitarist Topi Karhunen.
The lyrics are inspired, like many of Wolftopia’s songs, by fantasy literature, in this case the Wheel of Time series by Robert Jordan. “Wash the Spears” narrates the lives of a nomadic people surviving, even thriving, in the harshest of desert environments. There are many hardships in life, the song suggests, but with cooperation, dedication and perseverance we can grow and find joy. This sense of strength in community and adversity is also present in the music. In the optimistic sound, full of major chords and memorable rhythms, of course, but also, significantly, in the shouted choirs during the pre-chorus. “Wash the Spears”, they shout: take action, together, and thrive. Sensible advice, certainly, in these trying times.
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 