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By Andrew Bansal

Los Angeles-based stoner doom metal band Behold! The Monolith won the respect and admiration amongst supporters of LA’s local and underground scene with their 2009 self-titled debut full-length and the crushing 2012 sophomore effort ‘Defender, Redeemist’ to go with their sonically destructive live performances since starting out in 2007, but they suffered a massive setback in mid-2013 due to vocalist/bassist Kevin McDade’s sudden and extremely tragic passing as a result of a fatal car accident. But guitarist Matt Price and drummer Chase Manhattan wanted to keep the band intact, and have now successfully transcended Behold! The Monolith into its next chapter with the recruitment of two new members to fill the gaping void left by Kevin McDade. Bassist Jason Casanova of Sasquatch joined in late 2013, and vocalist Jordan Nalley of Fractalline (a band featured on Metal Assault earlier this week through this detailed interview) completed the last remaining piece of the puzzle, playing his first show with them at the Five Star Bar last July. On August 23rd, I had a chat with him about his joining the band, songwriting for the next album, his grasping of a scene and sub-genre entirely new to him, and the local metal community. Enjoy the conversation below and LA folks are highly encouraged to catch Behold! The Monolith live with Fractalline, Vampire Squid and others at Loaded Hollywood tomorrow, Wednesday 9/03. Continue reading “In Conversation With Behold! The Monolith Vocalist Jordan Nalley”

By Andrew Bansal

Over the past 25-plus years of their revered existence, Greek band Rotting Christ have succeeded in creating and nurturing their own unique signature brand of mystical black metal, and now, they themselves are about to embark on a journey that will bring them an experience they’ve never had before. Rotting Christ are all set for a short South-East Asia tour which will include their first ever gig in India at the Bangalore Open Air festival on September 13th alongside German thrashers Destruction, Italy’s Cadaver Mutilator and local support from The Down Troddence, Threinody, Armament and Girish & The Chronicles. Following this excursion, Rotting Christ will also do a North American run as main support to Belphegor, their first in more than three years. Last week I spoke to frontman Sakis Tolis to discuss Bangalore Open air, the North American tour, latest album and future plans. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Rotting Christ Frontman Talks Bangalore Open Air, North American Tour & More”

By Andrew Bansal

Los Angeles based technical death metal band Fractalline formed in 2010 and after an initial surge, the band went through a three-year period of lineup consolidation but are now back with a new album called ‘Polymath Theory’ and are playing shows in the LA area again. They’re set to take the stage at Loaded Hollywood next Wednesday September 3rd with Behold! The Monolith, Vampire Squid and others. A few days ago on August 23rd, I sat down with vocalist Jordan Nalley, guitarist KP Krishnamoorthy and bassist Vimal Ramesh for a detailed interview. Check out the conversation below along with some of their new music. Continue reading “In-depth Interview With LA Extreme Metal Band Fractalline”

Interview by Jason Williams

Over the past three years or so, Austrian blackened death metal horde Belphegor had been forced to put their activities on hold as a result of vocalist/guitarist Helmuth Lehner’s serious illness, but with his recovery they’re now back with their tenth studio album ‘Conjuring The Dead’ which came out on August 5th via Nuclear Blast Records, and are gearing up for a North American headline tour with support acts Rotting Christ, Beheaded and Svart Crown. Earlier this week, our extreme metal specialist Jason Williams conducted an insightful interview with Helmuth to discuss his recovery, the material on the new album, future plans and more. Enjoy the conversation below. Continue reading “Belphegor Frontman Talks About Recovery & New Album”

By Andrew Bansal

In an effort that has matched and superseded their stellar 2012 debut LP ‘Sorrow And Extinction’, Little Rock AR doom metal quartet Pallbearer released their sophomore full-length ‘Foundations Of Burden’ on August 19th via Profound Lore Records, an album decidedly more dynamic and powerful than its predecessor and an apt representation of the group’s heightened state of creativity, highlighted with conviction under the masterful ear of Billy Anderson. On August 21st, I spoke to vocalist/guitarist Brett Campbell to discuss the making of this album in detail, among other things including touring plans. Enjoy the insightful conversation below. Continue reading “In Conversation With Pallbearer Vocalist/Guitarist Brett Campbell”

By Aniruddh ‘Andrew’ Bansal

Even in their short career thus far, Bangalore, India’s stoner doom metal quintet Bevar Sea have already built a solid reputation for themselves in their home country as well as elsewhere, owing to their stellar 2012 self-titled debut album which boasts of righteous heavy music and spellbinding artwork, to go with their mesmerizing live performances whenever and wherever they’ve taken the stage. In my 2012-13 exile in India, I was fortunate to be introduced to the talents of this band and catch a few of their gigs, and even after returning to the States, Bevar Sea is one thing Indian I didn’t forget and their music kept recurring in my mind, particularly whenever I found myself in a cannabis-induced altered state of consciousness. Now, as they finish work on their next album, Bevar Sea have been confirmed as one of participating acts at next year’s edition of the prestigious Maryland Deathfest, set to take place May 21st to 24th 2015 in Baltimore MD with Bevar Sea slated to play on the opening day alongside the likes of Yob. Yesterday, I did a detailed interview with guitarist and principal songwriter Srikanth Panaman to get his thoughts on the MDF news, the next album, hindsight on the self-titled, future plans and more. Enjoy the conversation below and get ready for Bevar Sea to crush the US of A in 2015! Continue reading “Bevar Sea Guitarist Talks Maryland Deathfest, Next Album Plus More”