HOTH RELEASES CASSETTE EDITION OF EPIC "OATHBREAKER" WITH AWESOME BONUS TRACK!

(press release from Blackout PR)

Blackened extreme metallers HOTH have reissued their highly-acclaimed sophomore album "Oathbreaker" on cassette format via Portland-based Death Culture Tapes.  It is available to order here.

The limited run of 100 cassettes will include a free sticker and an exclusive bonus track (a Chiptune version of "Serpentine Whispers", which you can check out here).     

"Oathbreaker" is an 8-song, 55-minute opus that "follows the story of an individual from his conception and follows him down a path that grows darker and darker. We wanted to create something that sounded mighty and hopeful in the beginning but spiraled into dreary, black despair by the end."

The Seattle-based duo, consisting of David Dees and Eric Peters, formed in 2011 and released their debut album "Infinite Darkness", the following year. More than just a follow-up to it's precursor, "Oathbreaker" is the work of a matured band possessing the rare ability to fully realize an artistic vision.

 Tracklist:

1. The Unholy Conception (7:22)
2. A Blighted Hope (5:26)
3. Cryptic Nightmares (6:27)
4. Serpentine Whispers (5:24)
5. Acolyte of the Tenebrous Night (7:11)
6. Unending Power (8:11)
7. Oblivion (6:20)
8. Despair (8:56)
9. Bonus: Serpentine Whispers [Chiptune Version] (4:54)

For more info and latest news, visit Hoth on facebook or check out their sitehttp://hothmetal.com.

I have to admit, I really like this a lot...

XVO: POPULATION ZERO/FIFTEEN DEAD SPLIT EP REVIEWED

Philly hardcore crust punks Population Zero and Scottish black metal powerhouse Fifteen Dead have teamed up for sick split album on Suburban White Trash Records. Fifteen Dead's two tracks, Will To Power and Wealth Of Nations, are as good as any black metal I've ever heard. Population Zero have the next four tracks, Lies, Blast Effects, Preemptive Action, and Threatening Skies, all are blazing. No filler here.
Musically both bands are exciting and talented, every track is tight and brutal. I've never been a big fan of either band's vocal styles (death metal growl, scream/screech), mostly because I like to know what the singer is saying. I have learned to appreciate more extreme vocal styles by accepting them as another instrument (think John Zorn's sax on Naked City tracks), so it's a minor, personal gripe for me. I have to admit though, the vocals on Will To Power and Threatening Skies are pretty infectious. Otherwise, for punk and metal fans XVO is a damn fine addition to anyone's album collection.  
If you have a chance to catch these bands live, don't pass on it and get XVO (there's also a cassette edition for us weirdos who still like tapes). You can sample/buy the album here from Chaos Records Distro.
And since proof is in the pudding...

POPULATION ZERO...SPP

FIFTEEN DEAD