The clip was directed by Sam Scott-Hunter and the song is taken from the groups latest tome of horror and romance, Hammer of the Witches. The director commented: “There’s dark madness in this video. ‘Blackest Magick In Practice’ is a deeply tragic tale of lost love. It’s the grief stricken insanity of trying to bring…
Steve Dickson, the creator of the Brighton festival Mammothfest catch up with HMA to tell us more about the history of this growing festival at their 5th edition and the plans for the future. HMA: Mammothfest, how did it start and what’s the reason of this name? Steve Dickson: Mammothfest started when I recognised a…
Commissioned by Chioreanu Costin who has worked with Roadburn Festival, as well as Ivar Bjornson and Enslaved on various projects, the pieces perfectly capture the essence and imagery of the periods they represent. What’s more, Costin’s involvement could not be more appropriate considering Ivar’s involvement as a curator at Roadburn Festival earlier this year. March…
Hard Rock for Thirsty Dogs Tracer, formed in Adelaide South Australia, has just released new album Water For Thirsty Dogs. ‘Water…’ is the third Tracer album and the first to feature new bassist Jett Heysen-Hicks alongside frontman/guitarist Michael Brown and drummer Dre Wise. The album was recorded at Echo Bar Studios in North Hollywood, LA…
Back and uglier than they used to be Ugly Kid Joe have risen again from the Californian sunshine! They are back bringing you good vibes with their brand new album “Uglier than they used to be”, coming out on the 16th of October (via Metalville/UKJ Records). This is their first record in 19 years, containing…
Italian symphonic-death metal masters FLESHGOD APOCALYPSE, have revealed the cover artwork to their upcoming album ‘King’. This stunning visualization was created by acclaimed contemporary artist Eliran Kantor (TESTAMENT, ICED EARTH, KATAKLYSM, HATEBREED). Comments the band:“This work of art is nothing more than the picture of an old world coming to an end.The author, Eliran Kantor,…
The Gondoliers of Doom Fresh from winning Metal Hammer’s Best Album of the Year and embarking on their European Tour of that Album “The Plague Within”, HMA talk gothic mystery and new sounds avoiding a mid-life crisis with Aaron Aedy, rhythm guitarist of long-standing doom and metal merchants Paradise Lost. HMA: Welcome to HMA Aaron,…
The Rules of Grindcore Napalm Death is a band that doesn’t need much introduction, they are without question the ruler of grindcore and they have been for more than 30 years. Their 16th album released this year (by Century Media) ‘Apex Predator – Easy Meat’ is loaded with brutal and extreme sounds and in your…
Incendiary rock’n’roll fury to ignite the rebel heart Danko Jones is a Toronto trio of hotter-than-hell rockin’ rollers led by the shaven-headed Danko Jones, a man with so much stage presence and attitude you half expect him to run up to Ozzy during a performance and bite the Prince of Darkness’ head off. The band…
I can’t begin to tell you how much I enjoy watching it over and over again. The creative consistency of both music and visuals are impressively strong. How was the concept approached and at what level was the band involved? Zev Deans: I was approached by Ghost around late July. They had a loose idea…
Ireland Thrash Untouchables Thrashers Gama Bomb formed in Newry, Northern Ireland in 2002 and set out their agenda immediately; NO ballads! NO clean sounding guitars! NO synths! They cut their teeth playing backroom shows on the UK punk and hardcore circuit and self-released their debut album (Survival Of The Fastest) in 2005. The band; Philly…
The hatred continues Brujeria is a Death Metal/Grindcore band hailing from Mexico. Their name comes from the Spanish language, meaning ‘Witchcraft’. Their extreme attitude involves the permanent use of urban militia masks, an old custom of refusing to perform live, and performing under pseudonyms to portray themselves as a band of Latino drug lords, and…
Brief, directions and guidelines I had the opportunity to discuss with Niklas Kvarforth about what the band imagined as cover. He was interested in using my style to create an artwork that did not include either the group name on the cover, just the painting. The guidelines were the themes of the album: DESPAIR and…
Pre show chat with Tatsu Mikami Church of Misery is a Japanese doom metal band with a specific extra-groovy sound that is often described as “stoner doom” but the band tends to snub this term saying “We hate trend. We hate corporate attitude. We hate the word ‘stoner’. Death to false stoners!! Let there be…
Brief, directions and guidelines For every release that I have done for Torche, it starts with a phone call to Steve to hash out ideas. Since we’ve been working together I’ve noticed that I don’t need much direction to understand and execute exactly what they’re is looking for. This time around he just wanted something…
Black Moth is a frantic musical force from Leeds, the UK formed in 2010. Filth, dirt and doom descend from its onyx wings. The recent arrival “Condemned to Hope” was produced by Jim Sclavunos (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Grinderman, The Cramps) takes their kaleidoscopic heaviosity and sepulchral style to a whole new plateau…
Brief, directions and guidelines The overall concept for the cover, including the scene of the little girl with a bloody mouth came from I, Omega vocalist Clay Nevels. He wanted to illustrate the idea that any one of us can be “The Ravenous”. Passion for music, art, life etc can make someone ravenous, but so…
Gore is just the beginning Desecration is a brutal death metal band from Wales. The band have been causing controversy since 1995 when their “Gore & Perversion” album was infamously seized and incinerated by the police due to its offensive content. The band was told to “tone right down”, but the band continued. Now, with…
Brief, directions and guidelines The third album in the series of this band from Romania. Darkgrove the previous two designs too, so the concept was familiar. The band sends in a detailed description and a drawing for the guidance and inspiration. Also several Museum / collection photos of ancient Dacian weaponry are included. First reaction…
The Art of Partying Everybody likes a party. There are all kinds of them and they’re happening all the time. Some parties are formed of thousands of people in a field on drugs, some are based around food and intelligent conversation; what you might call a ‘dinner party’. Other parties aren’t quite so fun, for…