ANAAL NATHRAKH Reveal Details For New Album A New Kind of Horror, MONTE PITTMAN Reveals details for two new albums ‘Better Or Worse’ and ‘Between The Space’, WHIPLASH American thrash metal legends sign to Metal Blade Records with new album in the making.
On September 28th, Anaal Nathrakh will release their 10th full-length, A New Kind Of Horror, via Metal Blade Records.
For a preview of the album, the new single, “Forward!”, can be streamed HERE.
When writing about A New Kind Of Horror in the record’s liner notes, Anaal Nathrakh vocalist Dave Hunt is succinct in his description: “This is not a happy album, it is bitter, vengeful, sarcastic, sardonic, violent, terrified and horrified, terrifying and horrifying in equal measure. Above all, it is human, and all that that entails. It’s as sincere as we could make it.”
Those exposed to the ten tracks comprising the band’s tenth full-length will be unable to deny the truth to these words, for lyrically, musically and sonically it is a punishing listen mired in darkness and seething with raw emotion. With multi-instrumentalist Mick Kenney pushing their distinctive hybrid of symphonic black metal, death metal, industrial and grindcore ever forward, Hunt draws lyrical inspiration primarily from the horrors of the First World War, contemporary politics, and the letters of D.H. Lawrence, creating one of the most powerful, timely and unique releases of 2018.
“There’s a lot that goes into our albums, of course, but it all comes about as a natural result of who we are, and for ‘A New Kind of Horror’ we felt early on that it was clearly its own thing. It doesn’t have to stand in comparison with anything, because to us it’s in a class of its own.”
A New Kind of Horror track-listing
1. The Road To…
2. Obscene as Cancer
3. The Reek of Fear
4. Forward!
5. New Bethlehem/Mass Death Futures
6. The Apocalypse Is About You!
7. Vi Coactus
8. Mother of Satan
9. The Horrid Strife
10. Are We Fit for Glory Yet? (The War to End Nothing)
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There are great guitarists, great vocalists and great songwriters, but Monte Pittman is one of the elite few who can truly lay claim to all three titles – and on August 31st, he once again raises the stakes with two new solo albums: Better Or Worse and Between The Space.
Monte comments: “The album ‘Between The Space’ is a heavy album that gets straight to the point as soon as it starts. The theme is about connection, alignment, and what divides those things. As always when I write, my goal is coming up with the material that fits in my live show. I did everything on these albums. I wrote it all, I played every instrument, I recorded it, and I mixed it. The only thing I didn’t do was the artwork (by Aaron Lea) and mastering (by Alan Douches). It was a challenge having so many tasks. It was a luxury being able to take the time and get everything just how I wanted it. It was a learning experience, and it was a lot of fun making it.
The album ‘Better Or Worse’ is an acoustic album but it feels like a heavy album. The theme is about being attached to something or being unattached. It could be an idea or a thought process. The softest part of the album has the heaviest lyrics. It builds instrumentally as the album progresses. I wanted the tone of each track to be a little different from each other. ‘Better Or Worse’ and ‘Between The Space’ both mirror each other and they are polar opposites. The idea is to have something there for the people who like my heavy music, something for the people who like my acoustic music, and something for the people who like the variety of both.”
For a preview of both albums, please visit: metalblade.com/montepittman
where the new singles “Depth Perception” (from Better Or Worse) and “Evidence” (from Between The Space) can be streamed, and the records can be pre-ordered on CD.
“‘Evidence’ is the opening track off ‘Between The Space,'” Monte adds. “This is a great introduction to the album. It has a little bit of everything I’ve done up until now and taken it a few steps further.
‘Depth Perception’ is also the opening track off ‘Better Or Worse’. I wanted this album, and especially this song in particular, to be acoustic but feel like a heavy album.”
Between The Space track-listing
1. Evidence
2. Ominous / Hope
3. Changing of the Guard
4. Between the Space
5. Once Upon a Time
6. Equal Temperament
7. Reverse Magnetism
8. Beguiling
Better Or Worse track-listing
1. Depth Perception
2. Have Faith
3. Turning Retrograde
4. Better or Worse
5. The Right Words
6. Whose Side Are You On?
7. Torchbearer
8. Witch Trials
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Metal Blade Records is proud to welcome East Coast thrashing legends Whiplash to its ranks! Whiplash is an original thrash metal band, and Tony Portaro delivers over 30 years of power thrashing death. Comments Whiplash’s very own Tony Portaro on the signing: “My main influences were the West Coast thrash bands that Brian Slagel brought into the limelight in the early 80’s. Without them attracting my attention in the first place, I never would have written ‘Power and Pain.’ And the fact that Metal Blade is still promoting old school thrash and believing in me, gives me the inspiration to continue creating my East Coast style of metal.”
Known for his lightning speed riffs and leads, Portaro heads a power-trio lineup delivering metal, old-school style. Whiplash exploded onto the USA metal scene in 1984, branding the East Coast with its original thrash sound. Debuting their Roadrunner release Power And Pain at Ruthie’s Inn, Berkeley, CA., they followed it with two additional releases: Ticket To Mayhem and Insult To Injury. From its East Coast thrash beginnings, Whiplash claimed its place in the metal archives.
As a New Jersey native, Tony Portaro made his chops at NY clubs, including CBGBs and L’Amour. Always attracting talent, Portaro led band members through various incarnations of Whiplash, always trying to realize the musical vision he heard in his head. Producing four more Whiplash records through 2009, Whiplash stamped their way around the globe, gaining thrash followers whose ranks still grow to this day.
Whiplash has recorded a full new album, and in order to get a more old-school sound, Portaro opted to record to 2″ tape. Also, with the advice of renowned mastering engineer, Maor Appelbaum (Faith No More, Halford, Armored Saint, Sepultura, Candlemass, Anvil, Goatwhore), he chose to have the mix done by Phil Anderson, a long-time collaborator of Maor. Phil mixes on an analog board which should further benefit the project and push it in the direction Portaro is looking to reach.
Besides Tony Portaro, Whiplash consists of bassist Dank Delong, who had been recruited by Portaro in 2010. Dank Delong’s presence onstage is undeniable. Dank’s energetic and animated stage performance continues to be electrifying, as he wields his formidable bass missile-like and over his head! He is a long-standing member and VP of the worldwide metal support club, NYDM – Rockland.
Ron Lipnicki’s thrash injection to Whiplash in 2018 would begin a new era for the band on Metal Blade Records. Hailing from New Jersey, Ron’s drum skills need no introduction, coming off a 12 year run with Overkill, and before that, hitting it with Hades. With his precision guns firing, Lipnicki obliterates the kit while setting rapid-fire pace! This is thrash – this is Whiplash thrash!
Whiplash continues to bring old school thrash to a new generation of metal heads.
THRASH ‘TIL DEATH! Stay tuned for more updates on the new album, which will drop in early 2019!
