With that said, let me introduce Hemoptysis out of Tempe, Arizona. Formed in 2007 by frontman and guitarist Masaki Murashita and drummer Travis Thune, Hemoptysis (the medical term for coughing up blood) mixes a sound of old school thrash and death metal with a modern feel to it. Hemoptysis self produced Ep, Who Needs A Shepherd?, was recorded by Steve Conley from F5.

Hemoptysis’ EP Who needs a Shepherd opens with Shadow of Death, which kind of runs with a Megadeth like sound and a descending/ascending chord progression. Masaki’s almost Jeff Walker sounding vocals bark out what seems to be politically driven lyrics and I can’t help but note that the track title “Shadow Of Death” is similar to Megadeth’s track of the same name but different spelling from The System Has Failed, along with one line “They Can’t Die Dead Enough”, which if you recall “Die Dead Enough” is also a song title from the same album. I’m not saying that they are copying but rather show Megadeth as a great influence. Masaki stated Megadeth as one of their many influences, so it’s not too surprising. The song closes with a few great solo’s alternating between Masaki and former lead guitarist Brian Bieganski.

Who Needs A Shepherd?, the second track on the EP also opens with a Megadeth-esque sound but then rolls in to an early Metallica sounding riff and slightly exploding solo before the vocals kick in. The title of the song can pretty much tell you that it’s and anti-religious song, talking of some of the hypocritical thinking that sometimes goes on with Christianity.

Throughout the rest of the album you hear a lot of Megadeth influence in the guitar work and song structure and maybe that’s what I really dig about it. I wouldn’t call them a Megadeth clone as a lot of people call Trivium, Metallica clones, but you can definitely hear it in there, which isn’t a bad thing. What I dig about Who Needs A Shepard? is the traditional metal sound that’s not over the top and redundant. The band is currently rounded out with guitarist Jack Fliegler and bass player Sunao Arai.

The rhythms and solos throughout the album are tight and for being a self produce EP, it sounds really good and everything is mixed well. Hemoptysis is currently writing new material for a full length album and will be opening for Warbringer on June 6th at UB’s in Mesa, Arizona. I’m looking forward to hear what else the band has to offer. Here is a live video of the band performing at UB’s on February 26th, 2009.

You can find Hemoptysis Who Needs A Shepard Ep on Amazon and CDBaby and iTunes, where you can sample the track before you buy.

(Image: Amazon.com)

Post from: Metal Martyr

Necroticism: Descanting The Insalubrious: Dual Disc w/ Tools Of The Trade 3 track bonus track EP and DVD Part 3 of “The Pathologist’s Report” (released May 27th, 2008) Although this was the first album recorded with Mike Amott in the ranks, Bill Steer still handled the rhythm with mike only contributing to leads during recording.

Heartwork: Dual Disc with original Heartwork Demos and DVD Part 4 of “The Pathologist’s Report: Epidemic” (released June 24th, 2008). A Carcass classic. If you’re not sure if you will like Carcass or not, this is a great place to start. It’s got great production, killer riffs and hooks and is often hailed as their best work.

Swansong: W/ bonus track and DVD Part 5 of “The Pathologist’s Report: Decomposition” (Released September 2nd, 2008). To me, this CD is highly under-rated and was a good follow up to Heartwork. It probably would have been a lot different if Mike Amott were involved. It has more of a hard rock feel to it…but with Jeff Walker on vocals.

Reek Of Putrefaction: Digipak with extra artwork and unreleased bonus tracks of “Flesh Ripping Sonic Torment” demo. Contains the dvd  Part 1 of “The Pathologist’s Report: Incubation” and will come in a special “medical bag” to shield sensitive eyes from the gory cover art. (Released October 28th, 2008)

Symphonies Of Sickness: Digipak with extra artwork and 6 unreleased bonus tracks and DVD Part 2 of “The Pathologist’s Report:Propagation“. (This has been released in Europe as of October 27th. US release soon to come)

All Images sources from Earachestore.com

Post from: Metal Martyr

IGN.Com

• Frank Mullen – Suffocation
• Lars Göran Petrov – Entombed
• Paul Pavlovich – Assük
• David Vincent – Morbid Angel
• Mikael Akerfeldt – Opeth/ Bloodbath
• Antti Boman – Demilich
• John Tardy – Obituary
• Martin Van Duren – Hail Of Bullets
• Chuck Schuldiner – Death
• Thomas Lindburg – At The Gates

Check out my picks after the fold…

• Frank Mullen of Suffocation – Suffocation are one of the earlier pioneers of NYC Death Metal. While I haven’t heard much of the earlier stuff I really dig their last self titled effort on Relapse Records and I think the modern generation would probably dig this one as well. The production is much better and vocals have more clarity to them. This band kills live too!
• Lars Göran Petrov Of Entombed – Another very more clarified death metal voice, I’d have to pick Wolverine Blues as my Favorite, and the Hollowman EP comes in a close second. With all the other “deathcore” and death metal out there these days, this is one of the staple bands out of the overlooked death metal scene.
• David Vincent of Morbid Angel – I was fan as soon as I heard the doom ridden, creepiness of God Of Emptiness. The entire Covenant album is awesome as well as Blessed Are The Sick, Alters Of Madness and Domination. Domination doesn’t get as much credit as it should.
• Mikael Akerfeldt of Opeth/Bloodbath – Even though I have only come to really know Opeth and Bloodbath in the past 6 or 8 months, I can’t get past the sound the Mikael’s voice. First you wouldn’t expect such a vicious sound to come from the same pipes that sing the beautiful melodies that you hear in the softer Opeth songs. I only have 2 Opeth CDs, but Blackwater Park is an amazing album and Bloodbath’s Resurrection Through Carnage and the recent Unblessing The Purity EP are about as brutal as they come. I need to get the new Fathomless Mastery CD. Maybe the merch table at tonight’s Opeth show will have it.
• John Tardy of Obituary – John Tardy had a different sound to his voice than most of the death metal vocalists when they came in to the scene. A unique range with clarity and the more they progressed the better he sounded…to me anyway. It wasn’t a low guttural voice that had to be done with mic directly to mouth in an inaudible tone. He has a voice that stands out and makes it look and sound effortless. Ever tried to imitate his voice? The End Complete is my pick as well but World Demise is a great album too.
• Chuck Schuldiner of Death – Chuck was another unique voice like John Tardy. Not only could Chuck sing with a different range of most Death Metal vocalists, he could rip on guitar as well. My album pick would be Symbolic but if you want a good mix check out Fate: The Best Of Death. Death had a melodic yet brutal sound to them with speed and breakdowns that were hard to top.
• Jeff Walker of Carcass – Once more a unique voice…at the time. Now every other deathcore band tried to sound like Jeff, but they have no friggin’ clue who he is or the legacy of Carcass. As you can see, clarity in vocals is a big thing for me. I like to understand what they are saying. It makes it much easier to sing along when you know the words. Carcass’s Heartwork is a great metal album as well as the slightly slower and often under-rated Swansong.
• Chris Barnes Of Six Feet Under/ ex-Cannibal Corspe – Okay, this is the exception to the clarity thing. Some songs you can catch a lot of the words from Chris Barnes and some not so much. Chris just has that deep guttural voice that sounds grim and evil. Six Feet Under’s Debut album, Haunted is a great example of Chris’s voice as it most Cannibal Corpse’s early albums but mostly The Bleeding in my opinion.
• Maurizio Iacono of Kataklysm – Maurizio has a great death metal voice. Deep, clear and powerful. Their latest release, Prevail, is a great example of Maurizio’s voice. If I said that all the others sounded as good I would be lying because I have yet to explore much more of Kataklysm’s work.

Honorable Mentions

• Jörgen Santöm formerly of Grave
• Tim King Formerly Of Oppressor
• Johnny Hedlund of Unleashed

Check out IGN.Com list here.

Image ©MetalMartyr.Com 2008

Post from: Metal Martyr

As recently leaked, UK Death/Grind/Melo-death metal legends, CARCASS, will be performing at the Nokia Theatre in New York City on September 6, 2008. The show will also include 3 soon to be announced special guests in addition to NECROPHAGIST and ABORTED. Always a cut up and never afraid not to mince his words, vocalist/bassist Jeff Walker commented on what will be the first of many more U.S. performances:

“Well we waited and waited (just to make you sweat), but it doesn’t look like Bush and Blair’s phony war has any end in sight. The dollar ain’t gonna get any stronger, gas ain’t gonna get any cheaper, so it’s now or never! I guess you ex-colonists need cheering up and the only thing we can think of is some old school grind and death metal (laughs)! Joking aside, we KNOW damn well we HAVE to play the U.S. if only to either shut you all up or completely disappoint you and shatter your illusions about this band! Either way it’s gonna be a ‘blast’ as you say out there. We’re looking to recreate the road trip of the Summer of ‘90 with DEATH which was one of the best times of our lives (Christ I sound old)!  To quote Herchell Gordon Lewis as on Necroticism ‘PREPARE TO DIE’!”

Tickets go on sale on Friday, July 11 at Noon (http://www.nokiatheatrenyc.com/showdetail.php?id=5965).
More U.S. shows will be announced shortly.

In February of 1999, CARCASS drummer Ken Owen suffered a near-fatal brain hemorrhage, leaving him in a coma for over 10 months. As a result, he is not taking part in CARCASS’ current reunion run (ARCH ENEMY skinsman Daniel Erlandsson is filling in), but will reportedly be traveling with the band whenever possible and making brief appearances at select shows.

CARCASS‘ reunion lineup:
Bill Steer (FIREBIRD) – Vocals, Guitar
Jeff Walker (BRUJERIA) – Vocals, Bass
Michael Amott (ARCH ENEMY) – Guitar
Daniel Erlandsson (ARCH ENEMY) – Drums

Carcass MySpace Page

Post from: Metal Martyr