Premiere: CONCLAVE Shares Title Track Video Off ‘Dawn Of Days’
Article by: Leanne Ridgeway
A while back we shared news of the Western Massachusetts massive doom CONCLAVE partnering with Argonauta Records to release (more…)
CONCLAVE Shares ‘Dawn Of Days’ Album Details & First Single “Haggard”
Article by: Leanne Ridgeway
The Massachusetts heavy doom collective CONCLAVE announced a while back about its Continue reading
CAZADOR Share “Blindfold” Video Single & Announce New ‘Acceptance / Isolation’ Album
Article by: Leanne RidgewayBoston, Massachusetts’ bringers of sludgeoned post-metal, CAZADOR, are pleased to announce (more…)
Article by: Leanne RidgewayThe Gear Assembly interview series is especially for the music gear addicts, or simply the curious like myself. (more…)
Exclusive Premiere: CORTEZ Streams “Faulty Authors” Single From ‘Sell The Future’ [Album Review]
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/EditorThe Boston, Massachusetts heavily stoner rock / metal quintet CORTEZ recently announced their upcoming third album (more…)
LORD ALMIGHTY Stream New Track “Hour By Hour” From Upcoming ‘Wither’ Album
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/EditorHard-to-pigeonhole black metal-centered outfit LORD ALMIGHTY proudly announces their (more…)
CORTEZ New Album “Sell The Future” Due This Fall Via Ripple Music; Official Video
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/EditorBoston heavy rock and metal five piece CORTEZ announce the release of their upcoming third album ‘Sell The Future.‘ (more…)
GEAR ASSEMBLY Series #14: WARHORSE’s Mike Hubbard
(Feature photos: Hillarie Jason Photography)
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorThe “Gear Assembly” interview series is especially for the music gear addicts, or simply the curious like myself. (more…)
GEAR ASSEMBLY Series #10: WARHORSE/ CONCLAVE/ DESOLATE’s Jerry Orne
(Feature photo: RockNRoll Socialite)
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorThe “Gear Assembly” interview series is especially for the music gear addicts, or simply the curious like myself. (more…)
It was the start of the new millennium and, as it often does in cycles of every decade and a half or so, there were changes taking place in underground and mainstream music.
Grunge had begun to run its course and was on the way out, while in its place, nu-metal had a foothold established and each new day seemed to bring new bands with it. Another style was also becoming more prevalent, as bands like Shadows Fall, Killswitch Engage, Still Remains, or Every Time I Die were resonating with the more youthful metal fans.
Just an hour south of Boston, Massachusetts – the home state of Shadows Fall and Killswitch Engage – is the city of New Bedford. This is where, circa 2000, a group of musicians had assembled themselves beneath the banner of BEYOND THE EMBRACE. The band consisted of six members – Shawn Gallagher (vocals, keys), Mike Bresciani (drums), Adam Gonsalves (bass), and in a rather unusual dynamic, three guitarists with Jeff Saude, Oscar Gouveia, and Alex Botelho. Though the band will ultimately be tagged with the metalcore designation, the truth is they played melodic thrash with progressive metal elements and moments of death metal.
One can hear the clearly defined influence from the New Wave Of British Heavy Metal upon the band, too, especially in the trio of guitarists. In 2000 and 2001, BEYOND THE EMBRACE recorded and released two demos, one each year with the three-song ‘Demo 2000‘ and a 9-song eponymous effort the following year. One or both of these did its intended purpose, drawing interest in the band from a label, Metal Blade Records, who signed them in 2001.
In June that same year, BEYOND THE EMBRACE entered Euphoria Sound Studios, and with producer Aaron Clay, they recorded and co-produced their first official album. Titled ‘Against The Elements‘, the 10-song record is a powerhouse of capable, tight-knit playing and way above average technicality. The music is fluid and encompasses a variety of styles, ones wide in scope and covering a multitude of genres. The vocals possess a broad range, as well; at times aggressive to the point of guttural, while others are clean and easy to absorb. When taken in as a whole, the music on this introduction to BEYOND THE EMBRACE does not fail to astound… made more impressive by the fact the band were all in their early twenties.
[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:album:202k1oEJjUUzIBPtfKapeZ”/]
With a solid album in hand and the label backing them, BEYOND THE EMBRACE were soon supporting established bands like Opeth, Helloween, and Lacuna Coil. They did so with a new drummer, Kevin Camille, who replaced Mike Bresciani after the debut was released. The critical reception for ‘Against The Elements‘ was overwhelmingly positive, while the band was growing in popularity with fans. In late 2003, BEYOND THE EMBRACE entered System Recordings in Ipswich, Massachusetts with producer Ken Susi, the guitarist from another Boston band, Unearth.
This was not the same inexperienced young men from the previous record, no. They were now road tested, more mature, and confident. Ken Susi had a big hand in helping the band flesh out their new batch of songs, he gave suggestions and would drive them to find a sound and identity all their own. When BEYOND THE EMBRACE completed recording their sophomore album in February of 2004, they then recruited new bassist Chris Parlon into the fold. Three months later, they issued said album, the astounding ten track ‘Insect Song‘, once again through Metal Blade.
The album was a smash with critics, a remarkable evolutionary leap for BEYOND THE EMBRACE that lead to tours with Prong and Iced Earth. It was their tour with Prong that afforded me the shot to see them in Huntington, West Virginia and they were quite fantastic. In 2005, drummer Kevin Camille left and was replaced by Steve Bolognese, who in turn was replaced by Chris Haskell in 2007.
Despite the immense acclaim for BEYOND THE EMBRACE and their two studio albums, they never seemed to capitalize on it. Things gradually waned for the band and they never recorded any further material. They officially disbanded in 2011.
[spotifyplaybutton play=”spotify:album:3Gg7PThqnsxjPn0CDXoBnb”/]
Oldschool Sunday: BEYOND THE EMBRACE Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Editor It was the start of the new millennium and, as it often does in cycles of every decade and a half or so, there were changes taking place in underground and mainstream music.GEAR ASSEMBLY Series #2: CONCLAVE’s Chris Giguere
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorThe aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic on the music world is drastic. Many of us feel overwhelmed, yet some are asking “What can we do? Everyone is affected.” Extremely true and not everyone is able to donate money or spare time in these uncertain days. (more…)
PROBLEM WITH DRAGONS – Winter 2020 U.S. Tour Starts Feb. 1st To Support ‘Ascendant’ Album
Article By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/Chief EditorRooted from Easthampton, Massachusetts in 2007, PROBLEM WITH DRAGONS execute heavily fuzzed-out, unrestricted music. (more…)
GLACIER ‘No Light Ever’ Album Review & Stream; Live Performance Video
Article By: Pat ‘Riot’ Whitaker, Senior Writer/Journalist ‡ Edited By: Leanne Ridgeway, Owner/EditorIn July, Boston-based instrumental entity of post-metal mass and density GLACIER released a monstrous four-song offering, ‘No Light Ever‘, jointly via Wolves & Vibrancy Records (vinyl) and Post.Recordings (CD). (more…)
churchofsatannews
My friend Jim Forrester, affectionately known by the name Rev. Jim, was murdered by strangers while talking on the phone with his wife outside of his work at The Tattoo Museum in Baltimore City. Jim was former bassist for Sixty Watt Shaman, currently of Foghound and Serpents of Secrecy.
Video of the suspected killers has been released: http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2017/12/22/fells-point-murder-video/
He leaves behind a wife and two children. A GoFundMe was set up to help with the financial burden this loss brings: https://www.gofundme.com/funds-for-forrester
There is also a benefit show tonight at Cafe 611 & Guido’s Speakeasy, located on N Market St, Frederick, Maryland. This event will feature 13 bands on 2 separate stages. All proceeds go to his family.
Show time is 6pm-12:30 pm Friday Dec 29th.
https://www.facebook.com/events/180510659201090/
There is a significant and growing reward for information leading to the arrest of his killers. The Church of Satan’s philosophy advocates Lex Talionis, the law of retribution. Justice will be served when his killers are punished to the full extent of the law.
Magister Kevin I. Slaughter
