BATHORY´ZINE

Friday, July 16, 2021

Controller -Skyline

Controller was conceived and created in the ever-shifting chaos of the Midwest music scene in the winter of 2011. Each member, a long standing musician with accolades of their own musical experience, was handpicked for this task. Built around a singular idea, that no one person should lead, but instead allow the music to tell them what comes next.

The season that followed found them recording a demo at Temple Recording Studios, the mix was raw, but the vision was clear, so they set off to play in front of an audience. Beginning on a hot summer day on Jun 14th 2012 at The Rock N' Ride Fest, Controller took the stage for the first time. They would set their sights on playing enough shows, and selling enough merchandise, to be able to afford the cost of recording a full length album. Their endeavors would take them to venues as far as Indianapolis, IN. too, hosting “Day of Decay” a Halloween Festival in New Haven IN., with their friends in Moser Woods, before the end of the year.

In the Winter of 2013 they stepped into 1521 Studios for a weekend of recording. The “Undefined” LP was born under the watchful eye of Producer Austin Putt, as he helped Controller shape what would become their future sound. With some local radio play from 98.9 The Bear with Turner, write ups in Whatzup and Fort Wayne Reader magazines as well as a lot of street level promotion, Controller prepared for their first official CD release party. On Cinco de Mayo they, along with Thematic, Autovator, R.P.Wigs, and the Fort Wayne Bombshells, would set a record at Columbia Street West, hitting a building capacity of 1800 people and having to turn people away at the door.

The show cycle that followed found Controller staying fairly close to home, focusing again mainly on selling enough merchandise to afford another record. By the end of the year they would return to 1521 Studios to record the “Redefined” EP. In March of 2014 they stepped onto Piere's stage for the first time, a small milestone for the members. After a string of successful shows, they would find themselves back in the studio again to record the “Ascending Degrees” LP.

With their eyes set on growing, Controller hit the ground running in 2015. In addition to opening for Emperors and Elephants, with Avari in Battle Creek, MI at the Music Factory. Controller also played Piere's once again on the Musical Warfare series and made it to the final round alongside their friends Hell Came Home. Returning once more to the studio they recorded the songs that would be included in an extended edition of their last LP “Ascending Degrees''. Once again Controller hosted a Cinco de Mayo CD release party sponsored by Jose Cuervo, with Kerosec, and the Fort Wayne Bombshells, at Columbia Street West. This time it would also be a charity show for H.O.P.E. For Animals, but would again hit a building capacity of 1800 people before the night was through.

Through the rest of the year Controller played shows all over Indiana, Ohio, and Michigan. Gaining some college radio airtime on 88.1 WBGU-FM in Bowling Green, OH after playing Howard's Club H and appearing on 103.9 The Bear in South Bend with Kristy for an interview. They went on to play The Maidstone Theater in Ypsilanti, MI, and Cheers Pub in South Bend, IN. Making stops to play at home in between, and playing in Ohio once more before the year's end.

2016 began strong, continuing to reach for more growth. Playing at Duffy's in Syracuse, IN as part of the Jägermeister Concert Series, to playing the Penny Road Pub in Barrington Hills, IL. Controller would also open for We Are Harlot w/ Fighting Atrophy at Early Birds in Fort Wayne, IN, and would ultimately end a very active touring year of the Midwest in New Baltimore, MI at the Diesel Lounge for Michigan Metal Fest 2.
In 2017 the band opted for some down time as they began working on the “Watch it Burn” LP with Nick Meade. It was around this time the original drummer decided to part ways with Controller. During the down period, while looking for the proper person to fill the percussion position. The remaining members took to writing new material for what would eventually become their next EP.

Controller returned to 1521 Studio's in late 2019 to record the “Elements of Humanity '' EP. Working again with Producer Austin Putt, and this time also with Forrester Savell with plans on a release in early 2020, but were delayed by the global pandemic. At the beginning of 2021, Controller was featured on the Homegrown Spotlight on Alt 102.3. In addition to the Alt 102.3 feature, Controller was also invited to record and shot videos for two acoustic reimaging's of their songs “Numb” and “Skyline” at Sweetwater Sound in late February 2021. Controller plans to finish out 2021 with shows and the release of the “Elements of Humanity” EP.

Controller is...

Stephen Sedik - Guitars
Austin Rittner - Drums
Chad Arms – Bass
Jeffrey Saum - Keyboards/Vocals
Robert Pearson - Vocals

Germany's KNIFE premiere new track at "Deaf Forever" magazine's website, set release date for DYING VICTIMS debut

On October 22nd internationally, Dying Victims Productions will release the highly anticipated self-titled debut album of Germany’s Knife on CD and vinyl LP formats. And today, Deaf Forever magazine's website reveals the new track "The Hallowed Chamber of Storms." Hear Knife's "Hallowed Chamber of Storms" in its entirety exclusively HERE.

Formed in 2019, Germany’s Knife have been one of the hottest insider tips in the metalpunk underground. The quartet’s aim from the beginning has been to play fast and wild METAL, and they did exactly that with their two-song debut tape, Black Leather Hounds, in early 2020. Not long after, Knife released the four-song Locked In EP. Even more aptly titled than their first recording, Locked In saw the band bring all their influences together – from classic hard rock and heavy metal to first-wave black metal and punk, and more – into a throttling and nasty sound.

Now, forged in the hot winds, tempered by the shrieking sounds of Hades, a blade made of immortal steel rises from the depths to vindicate the souls of those who obey the true sound of METAL: Knife’s debut full-length, simply self-titled Knife. At once comfortingly familiar but exuding a charisma and star power which elevates it into the halls of greatness, Knife goes from the throat right from the opener “Behold the Horse of War” and doesn’t let go even after the last seconds of closer “Possession” ring out. Neither strictly straightforward heavy metal nor retro-minded metalpunk, spanning both speed metal surge and fist-banging hard rock alike, Knife keep it lawless and loose across their debut album, cumulatively conveying their past, present, and definitely future. You like Exciter, W.A.S.P., Thin Lizzy, Bathory, Manowar, Discharge, and Kreator? Then Knife have all the blades you need, and they’ve sharpened them into 11 life-invigorating anthems (plus interlude) that are all wrapped in a gleaming ‘n’ powerful production.

Ferocity, power, and speed. Metal like a hammer blow! Knife is unleashed!

Feel the first Knife cut with the brand-new track "Hallowed Chamber of Storms" exclusively HERE, courtesy of Deaf Forever, Germany's defenders of the true. Cover and tracklisting are as follows:

Tracklisting for Knife (Germany)'s Knife
1. Behold The Horse Of War
2. Inside The Electric Church
3. White Witch Black Death
4. Black Leather Hounds
5. K.N.I.F.E.
6. I Am The Priest
7. Furnace
8. Sword Loser
9. Demon Wind
10. The Hallowed Chamber Of Storms
11. 1989
12. Possessed

MORE INFO:
www.knifeofficial.de

www.dying-victims.de
www.facebook.com/dyingvictimsproductions

PRAY U PREY: Decibel Magazine Premieres “Living Library” Lyric Video From UK Crust/Metal Quartet; The Omega Kill Nears August Release Through Selfmadegod Records

Watch PRAY U PREY’S “Living Library” HERE.

British crust punk/death metal outfit PRAY U PREY – founded scene veterans from thrash outfit Suicide Watch, grind legends Prophecy Of Doom, noise-mongers Alehammer, and more – prepares for their second full-length, The Omega Kill, to see release through Selfmadegod Records in early August. Decibel Magazine is hosting the exclusive premiere of a lyric video the album’s lead single, “Living Library.”

Decibel writes, “The follow up to the band’s 2017 debut, Figure The 8, is set for release via the ever-reliable Selfmadegod label on August 6. But you don’t have to wait that long to hear a brand new brain-basher from sophomore slugger The Omega Kill, because Decibel has the premiere of the visualizer for ‘Living Library,’ along with some insightful context about the track from the legendary Shrew.”

Of the song, PRAY U PREY vocalist Shrew offers, "As adults most suffer from deep unconscious/unacknowledged trauma that first takes root in childhood. Via education/societal tradition/ignorance, this forced unwanted conditioning and unbalanced development in regards to our thoughts and feelings continues as we get older, and is manipulated by others in power for political/legal ends, by definition we are slaves asleep, negating our own potential creative expression, thus further perpetuating and expanding the gap between inner suffering (life entrapment) and the potential true life freedom of thought/feeling/action in a conscious way that actually create the change we seek externally by integration within ourselves. This gap can and does close when we acknowledge the confusion master within us all, our own original "heart mind" and finally end this total mind war not of our making..."

Watch PRAY U PREY’s “Living Library” lyric video first now through Decibel Magazine now at THIS LOCATION.

Selfmadegod Records will release The Omega Kill on CD and digital platforms on August 6th. Watch for preorders to post alongside new audio premieres and more over the weeks ahead.

Based in Cheltenham, England, PRAY U PREY was formed in the Autumn 2014 with the sole intention of laying down some of the most brutal death metal and grindcore the UK had ever produced. With over thirty years recording and touring experience between the various band members, it wasn't difficult to come up with an EP worth of songs. Within six months the band had the Black Light Of Time Demo demo MCD ready to go and an incendiary live set to boot! Their debut album Figure The 8 saw the band stepping up their aggression to even more intense levels, and the record saw release through Polish extreme label Selfmadegod Records in 2017.

Over the past few years, PRAY U PREY has been hard at work writing the successor to Figure The Eight, and in 2019 and 2020 they wrote and recorded twelve new songs for their second full-length, The Omega Kill. Returning to Studio 6 where they recorded its predecessor, The Omega Kill delivers top-tier brutal and blisteringly death metal/grindcore; a heady mix of brutal riffs, breakneck speed, and ravenous vocals.

Review copies of The Omega Kill are now available. For coverage of PRAY U PREY in The Americas contact dave@earsplitcompound.com and internationally contact karol@selfmadegod.com.

https://www.facebook.com/PrayUPrey

http://www.selfmadegod.com

http://www.facebook.com/selfmadegod

http://www.youtube.com/user/SelfmadegodRecords

https://selfmadegod.bandcamp.com

https://twitter.com/selfmadegodrec

View as Webpage

www.earsplitcompound.com

IMPERIAL SLAUGHTER sign to Horror Pain Gore Death Productions; "...Vile Slobs" set for release on August 13th

IMPERIAL SLAUGHTER make their Horror Pain Gore Death debut with the new album ...Vile Slobs!

Hailing from Dallas Texas, IMPERIAL SLAUGHTER perform direct, pissed off, politically charged Grindcore that seamlessly melds aspects of Hardcore Punk, Crust, Death Metal, Powerviolence and Noisecore. ...Vile Slobs showcases 17 filthy offerings of hope and hopelessness in 19 minutes, including a Disrupt cover and a special guest contribution from renowned Danish experimental saxophonist Mette Rasmussen.

IMPERIAL SLAUGHTER's line up includes Emma Joann Lytle of Vault Dweller, Stefan Gonzalez of Akkolyte, Tae Waters of Guerra Final/Knife Cult/ Monoxide and Brad Langton of Neuromania/Monoxide, and are part of a vibrant scene in the Dallas/Fort Worth area which includes Creeping Death, Devourment, Frozen Soul and Power Trip.

... Vile Slobs was recorded & mixed by Irving Lopez at Anomalous Mind Audio, and mastered by Jack Control (Darkthrone, Nails, Poison Idea) at Enormous Door Mastering. For fans of Agathocles, Anti-Cimex, Cognizant, Disrupt, Haemorrhage, Heresy, Infest, Mob 47, Napalm Death, P.L.F., Repulsion and Totalitar

Listen to the track "...Vile Slobs" at youtu.be/pgaaAgQuVpQ

Pre-order ...Vile Slobs at hpgd.bandcamp.com/album/vile-slobs

Pre-save this release on Spotify, Apple Music, etc. at ffm.to/imperialslaughter

TRACK LISTING:

1. Imperially Slaughtered

2. Human Pollution

3. Malformed

4. Gender: Non-Intrusive

5. Axe To See

6. ...Vile Slobs

7. Planetary Annihilation

8. Desires Indulged