If you like Napalm Death or Benediction, then this might be your cup of tea. ‘Cannibal Cook-out’ is especially crushing, I might add. Check’em out below.

Cool name,  I  think.   Even if it does remind me of an ex-gf.

The site itself has some stencils, flyers, wallpapers and other goodies with a nifty logo (kinda in the vein of Biohazard – but what do you expect considering the CD title?).  If you go to http://www.chimaira.com first, you can also pick up a code to HEAR some of the new shit. So yeah, go there first.

Either way, support some quality Midwestern metal while we all await the release of the new disc in April.

Met Mr. Greenway back when they were touring with Obituary a few years back.  Nice enough guy as was bassist Shane Embury (who sports some of the most unusual hair in all of rock).

Definitely not a show for people can’t handle extreme metal because let’s face it, they are pretty much the cat’s ass in the extreme stuff.

Here’s their video for ‘When All Is Said And Done’ off 2006’s ‘Smear Campaign’ disc

1. Priests of Sodom (very Venom-like, don’t ya’ think?)
2. Scalding Hail (Now THAT’s a Cannibal Corpse title)
3. To Decompose
4. A Cauldron of Hate
5. Beheading and Burning (I’m sensing a witch theme here)
6. Evidence in the Furnace
7. Carnivorous Swarm (Should be a band name)
8. Evisceration Plague
9. Shatter Their Bones
10. Carrion Sculpted Entity (Best name in the list, imho)
11. Unnatural
12. Skewered From Ear to Eye

Sounds like they haven’t drifted too far from their core subject matter, which is fine by me. They’re still on the list of ‘Awesome bands I’ve yet to see live’, so perhaps I can rectify that this time around.

Blabbermouth.net

I have to say I thought their version of ‘Sweet Dreams’ was just ok, but I kinda like ‘Bring Me to Life’.  But be warned purists, while the basic spirit of the original song is maintained The Wytch have put their own spin on it (with blood drenched talons, no less).  Think Cradle of Filth or perhaps a more brooding Arch Enemy.  Singer Ipek is truly one wicked gal as she creates unbelievable screams & gutteral growls, all the while supported by symphonic orchestrations and blasting drum beats that’ll pump your heart for you (if not reaching into your chest cavity & removing it).

Check out the link above as these folks are creating quite a buzz.  And if you’re regionally close to me, you should know that the The Wytch will be playing the Indianapolis Metalfest II (Sept 26 – 27) alongside Kittie, Green Jelly, Dew-scented & semi-local boys done good SKELETONWITCH !!  I doubt I can make that show. . .but I’m scheming.  Always scheming. . . .

My first impression is that at least half the band didn’t really want to change their image; for them, the ‘new’ masks look pretty much like the ‘old’ stuff. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t think there was anything wrong with them before, so this is a GOOD Thing. Of the guys who did make some major look changes, here’s my thoughts;

Sid (Turntables) – Looks like either a Borg or a Transformer. Can’t decide which.
Joey (Drums) – All that time with Satyricon must’ve worn off ’cause now he looks like an evil Jesus.
Shawn (Clown – Percussion) – I’d swear he’s on the cover of Sabbath’s “Never Say Die”. Kinda looks like Black Op Bozo now.
Corey (Vocals) – ok, I haven’t warmed up to his new look yet at all. Before, he was creepiness incarnate with the dread-like hair and the Texas Chainsaw mask. Now, he just reminds me of a tampon. Really, go look. He’s Tampax Man. Maybe I’ll like it more when the videos come out.

So there you have it. Not the revelation we were led to think it would be, but then – does hype EVER really live up?

Now if we could just get them to release the album sooner. . .

Actually, the whole discussion is a pretty honest appraisel of the band itself and Death Metal in general by what seems to be a grounded member of the scene. If you’ve ever seen JfaC live, you know they kill, I mean KILL, on stage. Very brutal, very heavy – even for Death Metal. But according to Davy, it’s not a well paying situation (which I figured) and doesn’t get too many chicks (now THAT surprises me).

I always figured EVERY musician got his share of groupie goodness, just the level improves as you become more famous. Hell, when I was in college our house band ‘The Elves From Hell’ even got groupies – scary, infected toothless varmits but we had’em. You know it’s bad when you can be stumbling drunk and STILL not be tempted by them. Although our bassist Chuck may have taken the plunge, not sure.

But I digress – check out the link for the interview with one of Death Metal’s rising acts before fame & drugs ruin them (hope not).

Never heard of ‘em? Me neither until I found their Myspace page completely by accident. Yeah yeah, they’re all the way over in Berlin – so I’m saving for airfare starting tomorrow.

Am I falling for their blatant attempt to use sexuality to sell their music – YES I AM!  Listen to the songs, watch the videos. You’ll see what I mean. It’s fairly standard screamcore but what eyecandy! Guitarist Ela wears thongs underneath her camo pants, while sporting that pouty “I won’t hurt you too badly” look in every pic. Corinna looks a bit more exotic and seems tall – climbing gear anyone? And Sabine looks like more of a girl-next-door type but also appears craziest of the three in the live pics. She’s a drummer, doesn’t ‘crazy’ pretty much come with the territory?

Ladies – you need to tour the States, and you need to tour Ohio. I have a living room. The wife will understand. So will the kids.

And if not, I’m out on the street and I’ll roadie for you guys. Sponge baths anyone (Gals only – sorry Devrim!).  Anyhow, that address again if you missed the link above is http://www.myspace.com/karrasberlin.

With songs like ‘Return of the Shredi’, ‘Shredisode V Teaser’ and a nifty cover of the ‘Imperial March’ on their Myspace page, you get an idea of what these guys are about.  It’s kinda like ’When Fanboys Go Bad’.  It is decently played metal, and probably fun to see live (lightsaber duels perhaps?), just not sure how more than an hour of this stuff would feel. 

Go check’em out before Lucasfilms sues them into oblivion at this LOCATION