Rocka Rollas- Promo 2011

Rocka Rollas play a powerful brand of balls out heavy metal. It is obvious to see where the band draws influence from the instant the music hits and while in many situations this may be a con it works in this bands favor. Rocka Rollas play a style that nearly everyone is familiar with and they incorporate just enough fun into their music that it really isn't important whether what they are doing is groundbreaking or not.

First things first for a promo this has a very crisp, fitting sound. It is clear when listening (Especially when the first solo on "Heavy Metal Kings" hits) that the band has chops and the writing ability to back it up. Not a single riff used seems like filler or just a last minute slap on to beef up the playtime. This is a straightforward, no fat release. The lyrics read like a love letter to heavy metal. Many will find this aspect very cheesy but it suits the music being played quite well. The catchiness spreads like wildfire and during the first listen you will find yourself chanting along with the vocalist. The vocalist is excellent just like everything else featured here. Expect some nice sounding falsettos and lots of chorus gang chants.

In many ways the band reminds me of Judas Priest and a slightly less vicious Overkill. The fretwork here is immaculate. They definitely know the perfect time to shred the listeners face up while not taking it too far and taking away from the track. The riffs are ridiculously infectious and in many ways this is a guitar driven release. The playing is extremely tight throughout and the speeds stay at a consistently fast pace.

Overall Rocka Rollas sound exactly like one would expect. They play their style in an excellent manner and are definitely show enough potential that it is more than obvious that they can hold their own with the big names of the genre. This is one of those simple heavy metal releases that just makes you want to bang your head and have a good time. Highly recommended to fans of heavy metal. Just be warned that if you face does happen to melt while this is playing the band is in no way responsible and you must pay all of your own hospital bills. That is all.

DRAIN- Nation At War Demo

DRAIN is a two piece metallic crust band from Maine. When thinking of Maine metal may not be the first thing that comes to mind but this duo churns out plenty of raw and grating tunes. Essentially the demo plays like a big, menacing melting pot of metal and punk subgenres. If anything here sounds even remotely appealing you will most likely be enjoying yourself for the next thirteen minutes.

The production on this release is very low quality in the same sense as something like, say, Darkthrone's "Transylvanian Hunger". It gives a very filthy vibe and adds a great deal of atmosphere to the overall sound. The playing is very simple but somehow still manages to forcefully grab hold of the listeners attention. If the demo did have an extremely polished sound it might not be as effective as it is. The lofi quality really gives it that extra push that it needs to stay interesting.

Tracks like "Created Equal" have a very standard main riff but it really captures that "epic" feel in such a way that is hard to describe. Hard to describe is something that may be frequently associated with Nation At War because at first glance it may seem fairly cookie cutter but upon further listening the melodies begin to sink in and it all comes together in a big way. Another strange thing about the demo is that even with the all of the rawness and the overwhelming distortion it comes out with an upbeat sound for the most part.

The vocals used here are typical for the style but they get the job done. The quality of them came out suprisingly well considering the fact that they were recorded on a phone. With that being said don't let the recording quality of this material detour you from giving this a chance. The only complaint that could really be given against the release is that just when the music begins to sink in it ends very abruptly. Obviously a first release isn't going to be an hour long epic piece, but hearing DRAIN play for a little over a half hour would be ideal.

Overall for a first effort DRAIN shows a ton of potential. This project is definitely one that metalheads and punks alike should keep an eye on. The gut is telling me that with a little polishing in a few departments these guys could come up with something amazing. Check this one out.

Link (Band Sanctioned): NATION AT WAR

Absconder- Demo 2011

Absconder is a four piece death metal band from Illinois. The band formed in 2009 and this is their first release. One of the first things that is noticeable about the band is that it features the legendary Brad Buldak (from death metal gods Morgue) on bass and vocals. Luckily for Absconder this isn't the only good thing about the band, they also happen to play some badass death metal.

The first thing that will attract attention is the booming sound. The guitar tone is very thick and the bass is high in the mix, making this a very heavy unrelenting listen. The tone fits like a glove with the grim sound that is dealt and creates an atmosphere so raw that you can almost smell the stench of flesh when listening. The fretwork featured here is fairly simple. The focus remains on heavy rhythm and a great riffs throughout. The one thing that could make the band a bit more appealing in this department is cranking up the volume a little during the solos. It seems at times during a solo the playing gets drowned out by all of the other sounds.

Absconder definitely doesn't allow the listener a chance to breathe throughout the demo. Whether they are pounding you with a groove or shredding you face off there is always something to keep you interested. Not a dull moment occurs and just when it seems like the quality might be waning the track "Opportunistic Infection" hits. The track features that balls out "death n' roll" sound that so many bands fail horribly attempting to create, but in Absconder's case it works, and proves to be one of the highlights of the release. Another key factor on this demo is the length. It clocks in at just under twenty minutes. This gives the listener just enough time to process what the band is all about. After all is said and done it definitely leaves a nice string of drool dangling off the listeners lip. Until then you'll just have to wait and play this over and over until Absconder decides to churn out another release.

Overall this demo will slay everyone that crosses it's path, plain and simple. If there is one thing you can get out of this release it is the knowledge that Absconder will prove to be a force to be reckoned with in the future. Don't go into this expecting Morgue, because this is a much more straightforward project. Fans of being beaten to the point at which their recognizable features turn to mush should enjoy this demo.

Sledgehammer Autopsy- The Art Of Bludgeoning Demo

Sledgehammer Autopsy is a two piece death metal band from Denver, Colorado. The band formed in 2007 and shortly after released their first demo entitled Mortician's Apprentice which received some decent reviews. The band was praised for the raw brutality they churned out on the demo but there was an obvious room for improvement. With The Art Of Bludgeoning Sledgehammer Autopsy has officially found their sound. Prepare yourself for a gory ride to hell and back.

The demo opens with a slow, doomy riff. It seems fairly simple but is a good way to open the face blasting that is about to occur. If someone were to listen to this demo having no info on when it was released there is no way they would guess 2010. The production makes this sound like an early 90's demo at the latest which, of course means this release is extremely raw and dirty sounding. The vocals on the album have a very barbaric quality. The range is pretty small and only two styles are really used, you have tons of animal like growls and the occasional vomit inducing scream. The animal like performance really adds to the brutality this demo pumps out at an alarming rate.

The guitar playing here is simple for the most part but there are plenty of memorable riffs. The tone used could use quite a bit more on the deep end because it doesn't really pack the punch that it should. Aside from that little issue there isn't much here that can be complained about. The playing is raw and filthy just like everything else on the release. There are many memorable moments spread throughout the demo but the most noticeable would have to be the slow down, build up section right before the two minute mark on "Smell Of Fear". Moments like this create an intense atmosphere and cause on of those "so good you can't help but smile" moments (as un-metal as that may sound).

Overall this demo should be a mandatory listen for those who are attempting to get that old school death metal sound. Sledgehammer Autopsy manages to capture that sound perfectly without sounding dull or uninspired. This has all the elements it needs to be a classic demo it just needs the audience to make it one. Those of you who can't handle raw demos such as this should probably steer clear but be warned that you are missing out. Highly recommended to all fans of death metal, just be aware that after listening you should make sure there is a shower near by, because after this filthy outing you're going to need one.

Interview with Tobias Karlsson of Eructation!

It shouldn't be a big surprise that I was excited when I got the chance to interview Tobias. When looking at the name of the site (which is named after one of the three tracks on their 92' demo) or even if you've had a discussion about death metal with me (Eructation is almost always the first name I bring up) it is obvious that this band is one of my personal favorites. Recently Eructation posted four unreleased songs on their myspace page (link at the bottom of article) and though it might seem like a huge gap the quality of the tracks certainly makes up for it. Here we discuss the story of the band splitting, what the members have done since, and Tobias's excitement over the At the Gates tour among other things.


Foul Feast: So, first things first have you guys officially reformed?

Tobias Karlsson: No, we've not reformed. Me and Matti just met after many years recently and we've been talking about playing together again, I'm not sure it would be as Eructation.

FF: What made you decide to get the project going again after all these years?

TK: We noticed that during the period of 2008-2010 there was some "new" attention to the demo, it got some really good reviews on some sites and very good feedback on LastFM and so on. And it was Matti who called me up and asked me if we shouldn't try to "release" the other songs that never got released, so we decided to make a Myspace-page. It would have been a shame if other songs that were recorded never got released, even if it's rather late.

FF: Are you writing any new material at the moment?

TK: I know Matti have some new ideas for songs that would fit perfectly for Eructation, I've had the opportunity to listen to it and it sounds really good. Hopefully we get the chance to evolve this into something, Eructation or not.

FF: Did you ever get out and play any shows around the time you released the demo?

TK: We did get the chance to play some shows during that period, mainly locally around Gothenburg, which had a extremely good metal scene at that time with At the Gates, In Flames, Dark Tranquility and Ceremonial Oath etc. And we also got the chance to play support to At the Gates in 1993. Those guys are awesome, looking forward to their tour this summer!!

FF: How old were all the members when the band formed?

TK: The band formed way back in the late 80's, they were around 13-14 years old. And at that time they had a bass player named Daniel, and they mainly focused on playing Slayer and Metallica covers. I met them in 1990 when Daniel wanted to quit and they looked for a replacement. And by that time they had started to make their own music rather than playing covers and it was exactly my type of music.

FF: What caused the band to split?

TK: The main cause I guess was a disagreement in how or if the sound of the band should change or not. There were of course other personal reasons as well, but I guess this one mattered most.

FF: Have any of the members of the band taken part in any other musical projects?

TK: We all have been in other small musical projects, nothing which resulted in any releases or worth mentioning i guess.

FF: What had prevented you from releasing these new tracks you've posted? Why wait over a decade to have them released?

TK: At the time they were supposed to be released as an EP, we had discussions with a small recordlabel that were supposed to release it but they somehow changed their mind in the last minute. I've thought about releasing these tracks in some way later on, but didn't follow through. I don't think that we ever realized that the demo really did any "impact" until we read the new reviews. And maybe people appreciate the sound of the demo even more today than back then.

FF: The demo was released over 18 years ago and it still has quite a cult following, is it surprising to you how well those 3 songs have held up?

TK: Yeah..! I knew back then that we've done a short, but good demo. But that it would be mentioned with these positive words 18 years later..? Totally surprising. The feedback that we've received for the demo the last years have been unbelievable. And that's also the reason that we decided to release the additional songs as well.

FF: One of the things that makes the demo standout is the big role the bass plays in the sound. Is this something you worked to achieve or is it something that just came about during the recording?

TK: I would always pump up my amplifier to max, or put distortion on it and so on during rehearsal and gigs, so I guess this was "our sound", even if we didn't chase that extra carefully when we did the recording. And I guess that this was also one of the reasons that gave me the chance to play with Eructation in the first place.

FF: It wouldn't be far off to say that your music was ahead of it's time. How did you guys go about writing the demo? Was it a group effort of did each member write their own parts?

TK: Matti was writing the main parts of the songs, either by himself or together with Tobias on the drums. Then we would collaborate with the songs as a band, but Matti was the main song writer.And I always liked the fact that we didn't sound so much as the other bands around that time, but maybe that also held us back at the time being.

FF: With this resurgence of sorts with the old school death metal sound many of the unsung classics have been getting re-released and reissued. Have you ever considered releasing a compilation of old Eructation material?

TK: No not really. I think that we are satisfied with the MySpace-page for now. Maybe we should make it possible for people to download the "new" songs together with the demo in some way.

FF: How do you feel about the metal scene when comparing it to the early 90's?

TK: Well, you could never beat the feeling of the early 90's, especially when, as we were, you are in the middle of these extremely good bands that formed the "Gothenburg Sound" and the Stockholm based bands, Entombed, Dismember etc. etc. I'm constantly thrilled about all the new bands and genres that has evolved from the (death) metal scene, and has been ever since. But then again, nothing gets me more thrilled than a reunion tour with At the Gates at the moment. It will kick some ass

FF: What do you find yourself listening to these days?

TK: Of course the old stuff from the 90's and forward. Morbid Angel, Slayer, Death, At the Gates, Entombed etc. but I also love bands like Bleeding Through, All That Remains, The Black Dahlia Murder. I've always said that as long as it has heart and aggression, I'll buy it!

FF: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

TK: First of all I would like to thank you for the interview and the fact that you've embraced the music we've done. And it's awesome that your webpage is named after our song!! If you get the chance to catch At the Gates tour this summer, don't miss it! Thanks!
/Tobias K - Eructation
Eructation's Myspace Page

Interview with King Fowley of Deceased!!!

We were lucky enough to score an interview with drummer/vocalist of Deceased. Deceased have been slaying metalheads for well over 20 years and are without a doubt one of the most consistent bands in the scene today. We discuss the bands first full-length release since 2005 which will be released on the bands personal label Shrieks From the Hearse Records.


Foul Feast: The upcoming Surreal Overdose will mark your first full-length release
since 2005. How did the album come together?

King Fowley: We've been writing and arranging/deranging songs since about 2006 now. 5 years in the making. Things have changed for the better. One good thing about taking alot
of time on a record is you learn the parts and build off them. After
many issues and setbacks here we are stronger than ever!!!

FF: You've been in the scene now for well over two decades now. Are there
any tips you can give to some of the newer bands on how to stay
relevant for such a long amount of time?

KF: Be yourself. Do what fits you. Don't follow trends. Create music from the heart!!!!

FF: How would you say this album differs from past releases?

KF: It's got all of our hearts in it as always. Musically it's very wide ranged and the
songs all stand on their own. The production is strong and the bands
playing is very good on this. It's not far removed from past stuff.
it's deceased 2001~

FF: The new album has some of the most intriging artwork I've seen in
quite some time. Explain a little about how this ties into the overall
theme of the album.

KF: It really just shows how lots of things of both good and bad can be going on around you all the time. Death and insanity are as close to you as life and happiness.

FF: With this release you are bringing longtime live member Shane Fuegel
into the mix. Did he contribute at all to the writing process?

KF: He really kicked ass putting in his personality in the songs. He along
with Mike and I really fine tuned it all for the past half decade. His
playing is damn good and he's really been a good force for the
band!!!!

FF: When did you begin writing Surreal Overdose?

KF: 2006ish. But as I mentioned it's gone through so many changes and reworkings.

FF: Hell's Headbangers will be releasing a vinyl edition of the album. Is
it important to you to get all of your releases out on wax? Are you a
collector of vinyl yourself?

KF: Vinyl is something we all love. Good sound, bigger art, nice overall package. Yes indeed I've got a hell of a vinyl collection.

FF: Obviously you are a fan of horror, are there any horror writers or
film directors that you enjoy in particular?

KF: I love Pete Walker from the U.K, his films always have a quirk to 'em that stick with me!!! He's from the 70's and mid 80's!

FF: The CD will be put out on your own label Shrieks From the Hearse
Records, is this the first time a Deceased album has been released
through the label?

KF: We did the 'fearless undead machines' double cd as our debut with our label. This is the first 'new' cd we've done. It's all about moving at our pace!!

FF: You did a couple of splits back in 2008, are there any plans for
future splits?

KF: You never know. Alot were done to keep the name out there and keep us moving forward.

FF: How do you feel about the metal scene these days? Are there any bands
you find yourself listening to often?

KF: The scene is what it is. I still love the heavy metal old timers most but alot of cool bands out there doing their own thing. Keep an eye out for them all!

FF: Is there anything else you'd like to add?

KF: Thanks for the support! Look for the new record in May. upthetombstones.net is our website! kingdoomstone@yahoo.com is my email if anyone needs anything! Cheers and stay wild!!!!

Intervision Gives Sledgehammer the DVD Treatment!

Sledgehammer is scheduled to have a dvd release on May 10, 2011. This is the first shot on video slasher and it is great to see that it won't be fading into obscurity. Spread the word! Let's get this classic flick some exposure!

Description taken from amazon.com.

"Have you ever stuffed an entire sandwich into your mouth? Have you ever poured a bottle of alcohol over your head? Furthermore, have you ever been stalked by an unending evil in the claustrophobic confines of a righteously depressing haunted condo? In slow motion? No? Then welcome to SLEDGEHAMMER! Heralding the revolutionary roar of shot on video (SOV) horror at the dawn of the 1980s, SLEDGEHAMMER is the gore-soaked saga of seven party animals, their trip to a haunted house, and their ensuing battle with an ultra-creepy, flannel-wearing, sledgehammer-wielding behemoth. In other words, it's everything you want out of a SOV slashercomplete with Bill Murray impersonations! Helmed by writer-director David A. Prior (KILLER WORKOUT, DEADLY PREY) and starring Ted Prior, David's iconic trash-superstar sibling, SLEDGEHAMMER is SOV nirvana, a paradoxical wonderland of outrageous hilarity, cool sweatpants, and genuinely unsettling chills. Appropriately staking its claim as the very first SOV horror film produced implicitly for the home video market, SLEDGEHAMMER joins BOARDINGHOUSE, BLACK DEVIL DOLL FROM HELL, and VIDEO VIOLENCE 2 as a bona fide cornerstone in grungy, homemade horror. The synths are thick. The sex is weird. The food fight is superb. So what are you waiting for? Get PRIOR-itized! NOW! Bonus Features Include: Audio commentary with Bleeding Skull.com creators Dan Budnik and Joseph Ziemba, Audio commentary with Director David A. Prior, Interview with Director David Prior, Sledgehammerland: Featurette with Cinefamily programmers Hadrian Belove and Tom Fitzgerald, Hammertime!: Featurette with Alamo Drafthouse programmer Zack Carlson, Intervision Trailers."