Golden Blood - "Cum, Coke & Blasphemy" (Witching Hour Productions, 2020)

Band: Golden Blood

Title: Cum, Coke & Blasphemy

Genre: Black/Thrash Metal with some Heavy Metal influences

Release date: 30th March 2020

Time: 15.56 min

Vote: 75/100

Very interesting debut EP for Golden Blood, that I received in an awesome CD version by the Polish label Witching Hour Productions. Golden Blood is a one-man band from Austria guided with iron will by Erech Leleth, that recently released another EP, entitled "Rippin' the Wild". But, in this space, I'll talk you about "Cum, Coke & Blasphemy".

INTERVIEW TO HYBRIDIZED!!!

Hey brutal bangers,

in full lockdown I reviewed the long-held debut album of Hybridized, a Roman death/thrash/groove metal quintet that consists, among them, of the singer Marco Patarca, with which I worked together some years ago as an extreme metal DJ at a heavy metal club. So, it was a pleasure to review their work and, with the occasion, I saw also them on stage when they played at the Traffic Live Club in Rome on 25th September 2020, in a night where they were supported by a young prog metal band called Other Way Round, that replaced the original supporting act that was supposed to be the nu metallars Katana Banana.

As a coronation of all this, I thought well to interview Hybridized. The following is the chat, that I translated from Italian to English, that I had with them. Enjoy it!

Culto del Cargo - "Memorie in lingua morta" (Self-released, 2020)

Band: Culto del Cargo

Title: Memorie in lingua morta

Genre: Crust Punk/D-Beat

Time: 21.30 min

Release date: 5th September 2020

Vote: 95/100

Hey crust punkers,

after the strange Austrian blacksters Tristwood, Francesco Bazzurri has listened, in these days, to an album that has nothing to do with extreme metal: "Memorie in lingua morta". It is the self-released debut album of Culto del Cargo, a quartet from the Northern Italy born in 2010 that I knew many years ago through punk4free.org, when they released their first demo in 2011. Playing an hammering crust punk/d-beat that leaves no breath in any cases to the listeners, this album is very interesting. But now I suggest you to read the review by Francesco so to understand better why it's so interesting. Hence, enjoy his article!

--------------------------------------------------

Hi, extreme metal lovers!

Few days ago, I was reading an old book, printed in 70’s, titled “Near future Middle Age”, written by a visionary engineer who prophesise about global overshooting and damages caused by a global wicked politics. So, I was thinking about a possible soundtrack for this work and I choose the good old crust punk! The reason is simple: when you may say directly something, crust punk has no equals. See Doom or Tragedy. But, speaking about affinity between the book and this kind of music, most representative band are, without a doubt, the Italian Culto del Cargo with the album "Memorie in lingua morta".

D-Tox - "Splinter of Insane Lucidity" (Autoprodotto, 2020)

Gruppo: D-Tox

Titolo: Splinter of Insane Lucidity

Genere: Thrash Metal sperimentale misto a Metal moderno

Data di pubblicazione: 22 marzo 2020

Durata: 14.36 min

Voto: 74/100

In questi giorni, di solito la roba strana la recensisce Francesco ma stavolta tocca a me. Infatti, quest'oggi avete da leggere una recensione che parla di un gruppo formato da veterani della scena metal romana, con esperienze in gruppi come Helligators o Mindscape, che però suonano non solo in modo molto moderno ma anche terribilmente bizzarro ed eccentrico. Eccovi quindi i D-Tox, quartetto nato nel 2017 per volontà del chitarrista Paolo "Dr. Phibes" Caucci e del bassista Fabio "FX" Capulli, poi raggiunti da Emanuele "Mr. Hellvis" Galanti e Riccardo "Rick Rock" Macrì, rispettivamente cantante e batterista. Insieme, esattamente il 22 marzo 2020, quindi in pieno fottuto lockdown e due giorni prima del mio compleanno da semi-eremita, hanno pubblicato un interessante EP di tre pezzi intitolato "Splinter of Insane Lucidity", altrimenti conosciuto come "S.O.I.L.". Vi garantisco fin da subito che si tratta di un disco veramente folle!

Symbtomy - "Demo #1" (Self-released, 2020)

Band: Symbtomy

Title: Demo #1

Genre: Melodic Death Metal

Time: 15.08 min

Release date: 9th September 2020

Vote: 80/100

Hey death metal maniacs,

a nice review by Francesco Bazzurri about a death metal demo awaits you today!

In fact, this new article is about the debut demo of Symbtomy, an Anglo/Czech trio that, for their first work, was helped by other musicians that figure here as guests, especially on vocals. In this sense, I am talking about veterans of the Swedish death metal like Johan Jansson (Interment, Asocial) and Jonny Petterson (Wombbath), alongside with Ralf Hauber (Revel in Flesh, ex-Immortal Rites) from Germany.

In addition, it seems that this "Demo #1" was kissed by a good success in the underground, since it has recently been edited on cassette by two labels in different periods: the US Frozen Screams Imprint on November; and the Slovakian Immortal Souls Productions this December. I'm glad that Symbtomy, born only in 2019, reached this reception because, as you'll see soon, they deserve a lot.

Now, let's see Francesco said about the demo!

--------------------------------------------

Demo is a seed. You can follow the growth. You can see the potential, the inner creative energy.

Speaking about new seeds to keep an eye on, I have listened to the work of Symbtomy, an Anglo/Czech melodic death metal band. They offer us "Demo #1" , exactly a demo, that contains three very good tracks for a fifteen minutes very powerful ride. The global impression is that the band plays a music that remember glorious bands like Pestilence, but digging deep, their sound contains a personal style.

Citizen Rage - "Black EP" (Wasted Wax Records, 2020)

Band: Citizen Rage

Title: Black EP

Genre: Hardcore Punk with Thrash Metal influences

Time: 8.52 min

Release date: 25th September 2020

Vote: 74/100

After the extreme metal tinged with crust punk of the split Mácula/Extinction Remains, today there's the turn of a Canadian hardcore punk outfit named Citizen Rage. In particular, I'll talk you about their "Black EP", their 6th EP that belongs to a special series of EPs that, entitled after their colour (for example, the previous one is called "Pink EP"), the band is producing since their foundation in 2014. This one was released under the auspices of Wasted Wax Records, in an all-Canadian production. Now let's see what is this "Black EP"!

Mácula/Extinction Remains - "s/t" (Defense Records/Last World Records, 2020)

Bands: Mácula/Extinction Remains

Title: s/t

Genre: Crust Punk/Black Metal+Crusty Death/Doom Metal

Time: 33.33 min

Release date: 5th November 2019

Vote: 76/100

One year ago I cited an upcoming all-Brazilian split between Mácula and Extinction Remains, that I received from Mythrone at the early days of 2020, when (almost) no one thought that a nightmarish virus would strike the entire world. Well, after a lot of time, I am going to review this interesting split that, released during the end of 2019 in a co-production between Defense Records and Last World Records, shows two very different bands, both presenting a sound of their own.

Nuclear Holocaust - "The Book of Doom" (Mythrone Promotion/Defense Records, 2020)

Band: Nuclear Holocaust

Title: The Book of Doom

Genre: Punkish Death/Grindcore

Time: 23.17 min

Release date: 21st March 2020

Vote: 78/100

In March of 2020, when the entire world was in full lockdown due to this stupid pandemic, Mythrone sent me three albums in a digital format and, among them, there was "The Book of Doom" by Nuclear Holocaust, that it co-produced with the usual partner Defense Records. But, when the lockdown was finally ended, Mythrone thought well to sent me those album physically. So, after many months (maybe too many!), here you are the review of "The Book of Doom".

Tristwood - "Blackcrowned Majesty" (Self-released, 2020)

Band: Tristwood

Title: Blackcrowned Majesty

Genre: Industrial and Avantgarde Black Metal with various influences

Time: 38.04 min

Release date: 29th May 2020

Vote: 90/100

Hey freakin' bangers,

this time Francesco Bazzurri reviewed a band that probably will freak out you for their very strange sound. Their name is Tristwood, a quintet coming from Innsbruck, Austria and, if you remember well, I featured them in "Come on, burn my ears! # 8" with their song "Bone Cathedral". Their album here reviewed, the self-released "Blackcrowned Majesty", is their 5th album, another piece of a career devoted to the strangest musical landscapes since 2001. And also to the strangest lyrics that you will discover soon. For the moment, I am going to say only that "Blackcrowned Majesty" is a concept-album whose hallucinated story was included in a very deep press infos, written with a big conviction, that the band sent to Francesco and me.

What are you waiting for? Please read the article and enjoy it... and discover also this band if you didn't know them before now! 

------------------------------------------

Hi, extreme metal fucking lovers! What about this interesting work, "Blackcrowned Majesty" by Tristwood? First of all, I LOVE CONCEPT ALBUM. And I love so much when an alternative genre, like black metal, try to combine a strong storytelling with its as much strong sonority.

Sadistic Drive - "Anthropophagy" (Headsplit Rec/La Caverna Rec, 2020)

Band: Sadistic Drive

Title: Anthropophagy

Genre: Punkish Death Metal

Time: 27.59 min

Release date:  5th July 2020 (Headsplit Rec)

                       11th August 2020 (La Caverna Rec)

Vote: 83/100

Here comes the band that exactly one year ago I claimed to be "one of the sickest death metal bands that I ever listened in these times". So, I'm presenting you "Anthropophagy" by Sadistic Drive!

Benvenuti all'Inferno!: in uscita saggio sulla first wave of black metal!

Se ben vi ricordate, un anno fa pubblicai l'ebook "Nel Segno del Marchio Nero", saggio totalmente incentrato sulla cosiddetta "first wave of black metal", trattando così di gruppi come Mercyful Fate, Slayer, Sodom, Bathory e moltissimi altri anche poco conosciuti che durante i burrascosi anni '80 proposero un modo satanico e blasfemo di intendere l'heavy metal.

CRUCIFIXION - "DESERT OF SHATTERED HOPES"/"A COLD SEA OF HORROR" (LA CAVERNA RECORDS, 2020)

Band: Crucifixion

Title: Desert of Shattered Hopes/A Cold Sea of Horror

Genre: Death Metal

Time: 58.39 min

Release Date: 10th August 2020

Vote: 87/100

And so, the Colombian label La Caverna Records reissued this year also the outstanding debut album of Crucifixion, "Desert of Shattered Hopes". Released in 1993 by the historic Belgian label Mausoleum Rec (strange that it published a so extreme album!), "Desert..." shows a band already with a great self-confidence playing a death metal that is more ferocious and direct in comparison with "Paths Less Taken". But this without forgetting to spew forth a dark and cursed atmosphere , that is determined by various factors: the doom tempos here and there; the bestial but, at the same time, spectral vocals of Danny Martinez; and by the nice guitar solos.

THE FLAVIO'S HARDCORE PUNK TOP TEN OF ALL TIMES!

Some days ago I asked to Francesco to write his personal top ten of metal albums... and ultimately I asked the same thing to myself but with my favourite hardcore punk albums. Yes, as every top ten worthy of this name, also this one is a bit restrictive. But I featured mainly the bands that have had a strong impact on me, for a reason or another.

But why did I write a hardcore punk top ten and not a metal one also since I was born as a metalhead? Because in these times infested by the Covid-19 terror, hardcore punk has been particularly important for me, as you'll see soon, and not only for the compilation about the LazioHC that I did some months ago with the same Francesco.

Now, I discovered this genre something like 12 years ago when I bought "American Hardcore", a book by Steven Blush released in 2001 but published in Italy only 6 years later. Thanks to it, I knew the existence of bands like Dead Kennedys, Bad Brains, Minor Threat and many many others. Only reading the book, I liked already a lot the energy of these people, their courage to face everything also simply by their moniker (never heard an act naming MDC, acronym for Millions of Dead Cops?), talking about in their songs not only of State and society often in an anarchist way but also about their local musical scene, in a creative way to discuss themselves. In fact, I thought already that you had to have some pair of very big balls to be into the '80s hardcore punk! And so, it started my journey into this music that, in a more conscious way, still continues.

But, actually, hardcore isn't only a music. For me, it's a lot of things: it's fun, it's energy, a place where the different is accepted, a violent but healthy way of dancing... but also a struggle. It can be a struggle against the world, a struggle against the society, a struggle to have a better life and even a struggle against yourself. Yes, it's also a struggle to liberate you from your demons, your negativity, the toxic elements, in order to feel good about yourself.

But this introduction is maybe becoming too a (scant!) philosophical treatise, so let's start to discover this new top ten and enjoy it!

INTERVIEW TO MILKSNAKE!

Hey brutal bangers and punk rockers,

it's time to read this interview that I did to Milksnake after reviewing their "The Real Eye of God", an excellent debut album showing an energetic punk rock style mixed with some hardcore punk and rock'n'roll influences! The interview was answered by the entire band, even though their singer/bassist Giulia aka "Giuzu" answered to some questions for herself. Ha, speaking about the "entire band", now they are finally a quartet after a lot of time thanks to the addition of Alessandro, their new guitarist, and this is a very good news for a band living this absurd 2020!

Ok, the introduction is over, so let's start to read this fantastic interview!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #33: The Bastard Within/Stench of Profit/Thrasherwolf/Utilitarian/Orlando Furioso HC/The Passing/Kratzer/Beast Within the Sound

Hey brutal bangers,

welcome to a new episode of "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss", that this time is particularly rich because it contains even 8 different bands, with some of them that I received from the British press agency Imperative PR and another one from the Italian Anubi Press. It was since April of this year that I didn't publish a so long episode!

Between the aforementioned 8 bands, there is a connection: in some ways, they show an hardcore punk attitude, so to range from classic hc tunes to the grindcore massacre, to crust punk but without forgetting a bit of thrash metal mania.

And so, let's start to read this article and enjoy it!

THE FRANCESCO'S METAL (AND A BIT OF PUNK) TOP TEN OF ALL TIMES!

Metalheads, what an ugly breed! They’re ever being alternative to mainstream, ever seen like a bunch of madmen, ever seen like subversives, Satanists, antisocials, evil and so on. It’s all spite! Being metalhead is an attitude, a way of life, an example of coherence and it’s very cool! Why this introduction? Because it’s time for me to post my personal rank! Now you can say: “we don’t care about your fucking rank!”. You’re not right , because isn’t impossible living any personal experience without the right playlist!

Slain: Back from Hell (Steel Mantis, 2016)

Title: Slain: Back from Hell

Genre: Videogame

Release date: 25th March 2016

Vote: 76/100

3 months ago I finally opened the videogames section with Valfaris, and today I'm going to review its prequel: Slain: Back from Hell. It was originally released on 25th March 2016 but, after an amazing launch trailer, it disappointed everyone for some features programmed badly. For the truth, I never played this unripe version simply named "Slain!", so I have no clue on how it was bad but the fact is that the developers, Steel Mantis, rolled up their sleeves so to release, after some months, a better version of the game, aptly entitled "Slain: Back from Hell". The game, even though still not close to perfection, was a lot improved, and it isn't a case if the new reception was good. And today also Timpani allo Spiedo 'zine says its word about this sanguinary piece of (metal) art!

Galera - "Fai finta che mi ami" (Fresh Outbreak Records/Sedation Records, 2020)

Band: Galera

Title: Fai finta che mi ami

Genre: Hardcore Punk with Metal and Crust Punk influences

Time: 12.04 min

Release dates: 9th June 2020 (self-release)

                       18th September 2020 (Fresh Outbreak Records/Sedation Records)

Vote: 75/100

The story of the hardcore punk band Galera ("jail" in Italian) from Rome Caput Mundi is very tormented: born in 2012, they started their career with big enthusiasm and they had also the honour to support bands of the calibre of Napalm Death, Cripple Bastards, Anaal Nathrakh and Brujeria. But, throughout their parable, they released only 2 EPs before 2020: "Roma Isterica" in 2012 and "Sanguine" in 2015. After some years of total silence, Galera came back live in 2019 in a gig where I was present and so, took by a new energy to destroy the stages, they supported nothing else than Sick of It All. But after other time, the silence failed again on the band. Fortunately, Galera recovered their activities in 2020. In fact, they were reborn like a phoenix since they are now a one-man band directed by their guitarist Roberto, that recorded alone everything for their new EP "Fai finta che mi ami", initially self-released on CD in June 2020 and then edited on tape in September by the Italian labels Fresh Outbreak Records and Sedation Records. Do you know what I say? Fuck, Roberto did very well to roll up his sleeves because projects like Galera deserve to continue to annihilate ears, and soon I'll explain why!

Closed Speech - "Rookies" (Self-released, 2018)

Band: Closed Speech

Title: Rookies

Genre: Punk Rock with Melodic Hardcore Punk influences

Time: 31.40 min

Release date: 15th December 2018

Vote: 81/100

The first time that I saw on stage Closed Speech was a little strange: it was a grindcore night that they opened, even though they had absolutely nothing to do with the other bands! At that time they were working on their debut album, then self-released during the last remnants of 2018. Well, while Francesco and I were working on the "Se beccamo ner pit!" compilation focused on the LazioHC scene, I received directly from Closed Speech their debut album in order to put two tracks of in into the aforementioned compilation. After some months, I am finally going to review this debut album called "Rookies"... but, after Milksnake, also this time expect nothing belonging to the extreme metal!

Nulla+/Othismos - "Nulla+/Othismos" (Self-released, 2020)

Bands: Nulla+/Othismos

Title: Nulla+/Othismos

Genre: Black Metal/Hardcore/Sludge

Time: 11.43 min

Release date: 27th April 2020

Vote: 85/100

Hey manic brutal bangers,

after Rise of the Stateless Wolf, the good Francesco Bazzurri comes back today with another fantastic review, this time about a split album between two Italian bands: Nulla+ (already known on these pages thanks to their split "Impronte/Lacrime" that they shared with Nomura) and Othismos!

Both of them have a similar and alternative way to conceive the black metal genre contaminating it mainly with the hardcore punk. In addition, it's important to underline that this split was self-released in full quarantine time, so, as much music created and/or published during that damned period, also this release has a special meaning.

But now let's go to read this article and enjoy it! 

-----------------------------------------------

Welcome back, my wicked brood, fed with growls and killer guitars!

There was a time when double feature movie show was very popular and the viewers could watch two movies paying only one ticket and some of these movies have influenced the collective imagination. Shifting this idea in music, when you get a double feature or better, a split album, you’re sure to have on your hand something very interesting like this “joint venture” of extreme metal music, born from the dreadful marriage between two Italian bands, Nulla+ and Othismos, respectively from Perugia and Montepulciano.

Blair: "Cry for Revenge" single is out!

Hey (ultra-)brutal bangers,

after The Ammonoids, there is another very good news about the Roman punk front!

In fact, the five-piece beatdown band Blair, after setting a new line-up, have released just today their single "Cry for Revenge", a little but interesting taste of their debut EP to come.

Come on, burn my ears! #11

Hey brutal bangers,

it's incredible but "Come on, burn my ears!" celebrate just today its first anniversary! In fact, its first episode was exactly released on 7th October 2019. I remember that I was very excited when I opened this playlist not only because it was a totally new thing for the 'zine but also because, with it, I offered for the first time a "sonic" way to promote the bands reviewed, so to let the readers to listen to them in a row. And now "Come on, burn my ears!" has arrived at its 11th appointment, beyond every expectation of mine!

The Ammonoids: cover artwork of the debut album unveiled!

Hey brutal bangers,

very good news in the Roman punk front!

In fact, the punk rock band The Ammonoids have recently unveiled the cover artwork of their upcoming debut album "Survivors of the K-T Boundary", whose release date will be revealed soon.

Milksnake - "The Real Eye of God" (DIY co-production, 2020)

Band: Milksnake

Title: The Real Eye of God

Genre: Punk Rock with Hardcore Punk and Rock'n'Roll tunes

Time: 18.58 min

Release date: 13th June 2020

Vote: 82/100

If I were to use two adjectives to describe a band like Milksnake, well, I would use "unlucky" and "determined". "Unlucky" because Milksnake suffered many line-up changes since their foundation in 2010, and it seems that, between 2018 and 2019, they had 2 bassplayers and 3 guitarplayers but all of them left the band for the most absurd reasons, in according to the words of Giuzu and Hari, that, respectively vocals/bass and drums of Milksnake, represent their core since their early days. But "determined" because, to finally record their debut album "The Real Eye of God" after only an EP in 2011, they said a gigantic FUCK to all these issues by switching Giuzu from guitar to bass and finding a stable guitarist in the person of Davide, that, before recording the album in 2019, did only two rehearsals with the band! After many efforts, Milksnake released this "The Real Eye of God" in 2020 in a DIY co-production involving Italian labels like Rumagna Sgroza Records, Mastice Produzioni, Rumori in Cantina, 02 Records and True Believers Booking along with Pogohai Records from Germany. So, here you are this Italian three-piece called Milksnake and their long-held debut album!

Rise of the Stateless Wolf - "Born Dead/Year of the Rats" (Italian Extreme Underground, 2020)

Band: Rise of the Stateless Wolf

Title: Born Dead/Year of the Rats

Genre: Black Metal/Hardcore/Sludge

Time: 16.06 min

Release Date: 14th February 2020

Vote: 85/100

Hey brutal bangers,

this is a very particular article because it is the debut review of a new collaborator of Timpani allo Spiedo after many months that it was a one-man zine! His name is Francesco Bazzurri! He isn't only a longtime metalhead but also a theatre director with a strong passion for H.P. Lovecraft. In addition, he worked with me for the HC punk compilation that we published on 15th July 2020 under the title of "Se beccamo ner pit!". Needless to say, I'm very honored to work with Francesco also for the 'zine!

But what's about his first review? His first review is about "Born Dead/Year of the Rats", the debut EP, released by Italian Extreme Underground, of Rise of the Stateless Wolf, an Italian three-piece with members coming from other bands like Nurmur and Heathen/Lifecode. So, enjoy a very enthusiastic review about a release that, edited digitally and also in a tape limited to 50 copies, promises a good future for this band!

----------------------------------------------------

Experimentation is not an easy way!

A gloomy Ganesh lurks on the cover album like an omen of an aspiring and iconic first work: the path to perfection, a dangerous and halted road suspended in determining the Real from the Unreal.

Who are Rise of the Stateless Wolf? A group of explorers, because their musical trip goes across the purity of asceticism tainting it with an antithetical, obscure and brutal sound.

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #32: Defechate/Ad Vitam Infernal/Tzun Tzu

Hey brutal bangers,

in these last days there is an enormous dose of episodes of "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss" like never before, so welcome to the newer episode of this column, that this time is completely dedicated to the death metal genre.

What awaits you is a selection of death metal bands coming from Italy, to Australia, that usually conceive their genre of reference with a lot of violence but without forgetting to create some dark or somehow bizzarre atmospheres, as you'll see soon.

So, enjoy the following bands and listen to their sonic murders!

INTERVIEW TO SKULLD! (WITH TEO & PAM)

Hey brutal bangers,

2 months ago I reviewed "Reinventing Darkness" by Skulld and, already after the first listening session, I was really hit by the outstanding music played by these 5 death metal maniacs. In addition, I found also very interesting their lyrics, that deal with occultism and esoterism from a feminist point of view, surely not so common in metal music. So, I thought well to contact directly the band in order to ask them some questions. The final result of this chat is awesome, as you will see soon!

Prepare to read an interview that is very interesting and full of enthusiast answers by Teo and Pam (respectively drummer and singer of Skulld), ranging through various themes regarding the metal culture, the feminism, the squats, the veganism... and lady Ines, the old woman to whom their guitarist Enrico dedicated the Slayer's "Raining Blood"!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #31: Grid/Sanity Control/Antipathic/Diabolic Oath

Hey brutal bangers,

I received a lot of stuff in these last months and I am "forced" to talk about many releases in a fast way, so here you are another episode with "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss"!

I advise you that this new episode, as you will see soon, starts violently and closes even ultra-violently, so I suggest you to be very prepared this time!

Well, are you ready? Yes or not, LET'S GO!!!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #30: Intoxicated/Puro Odio/Barbaric Horde

Hey brutal bangers,

"Honorable Mentions from the Abyss", the column dedicated to talk about some stuff in a fast'n'furious way, is back with its 30th episode!

This time some very brutal and also sick stuff awaits you so to range from bestial black/death metal to a blackened crust punk chanting the collapse of this world, so you have been warned!

And now let's know the bands without uselessly extending this introduction!

Verano's Dogs+I Maiali+Voidwatcher (Rome, 19th September 2020)

Gruppi: Verano's Dogs+I Maiali+Voidwatcher

Data: 19 settembre 2020

Locale: Defrag, Roma

Ingresso: 5 €

Non mi ricordo qual è stata l'ultima volta che sono stato al Defrag prima che la cazzo di quarantena cambiasse tutto ma sta di fatto che il 19 settembre ci sono ritornato per una serata multigenere che, organizzata dal buon Marco MetalFabbro, ha visto alternarsi sul palco i Voidwatcher, I Maiali e i Verano's Dogs. Ultimamente MetalFabbro ha ripreso regolarmente a organizzare concerti al Defrag, anche se ha dovuto purtroppo annullare delle date con gruppi grossi come i Necrodeath e gli Extrema, rimandandole anzi fra parecchi mesi. Ma poco male visto che si riescono comunque a creare interessanti situazioni underground come questa. E chissenefrega se il Defrag si è attrezzato a tal punto da aver messo perfino i tavolini con le sedie davanti al palco, cosa un po' surreale vista la natura di questo tipo di concerti, ma l'importante è creare sia dei momenti di aggregazione per tutti noi, che delle occasioni per i gruppi di suonare dopo tanti mesi di pausa. Ed eccoci quindi a parlare del primo concerto metal al Defrag post-quarantena!

Roman thrash metal scene report (PART II)

Mi hanno detto che la serata thrash metal al Traffic del 18 settembre è andata veramente bene oltre ogni più rosea aspettativa. Io me la sono persa preferendo invece andare la sera dopo al Defrag per una serata multigenere giusto perché mi volevo vedere il primo concerto in assoluto di quei mattacchioni dei Voidwatcher. Fra l'altro, il primo episodio di questo report ha fatto un buon successo tanto che un certo gruppo viterbese (non i Tractors ma quasi!) mi ha mandato il suo nuovissimo materiale per parlarne qui. E' quindi con entusiasmo che mi accingo a scrivere questa seconda e ultima parte. Ergo, non perdiamo altro tempo e cominciamo a conoscere altri bei gruppazzi!

Roman thrash metal scene report (PART I)

In questi ultimi tempi Timpani allo Spiedo 'zine è stata invasa da gruppi thrash metal come mai prima d'ora, e quindi oggi ho pensato bene di pubblicare la prima parte di un articolo un po' insolito che parla della scena thrash metal della mia città, Roma. E questo anche perché proprio stasera c'è il primo concerto interamente thrash metal della stagione dopo la dannata quarantena; un concerto che vede in scaletta tre gruppi, cioè gli Asphaltator, i Krangs e gli Engine Driven Cultivators, il tutto nella cornice del Traffic.

Ora, la scena thrash metal romana non è particolarmente grossa ma può contare su gruppi spesso di qualità, uno dei quali rappresenta perfino un tassello importante del thrash metal italiano sin dagli albori della nostra scena nazionale. Fra l'altro, alcune formazioni hanno un look a volte (molto) particolare che li rende sicuramente ancor più interessanti.

Però la mia scena presenta qualche criticità, che comunque talvolta, come sapete in fondo anche voi, può riflettere anche la situazione attuale della scena metal nazionale. Vediamo quali.

Come prima cosa, bisogna notare che ai concerti thrash metal, almeno qui a Roma, è difficile che si poghi. Se si poga, anzi, se si mosha (e pure bene!), questo capita più che altro col gruppo che in scaletta è l'headliner oppure con i gruppi che hanno qualche collegamento con la scena hardcore punk locale, facendone magari parte, visto che i punk sono così entusiasti da avere la tendenza a moshare anche col gruppo d'apertura mentre i metallari, generalmente, no. Ma questa cosa di non moshare nei concerti thrash metal, soprattutto quando si ha a che fare con un gruppo bravo, è veramente un cazzo di paradosso date le origini comunque hardcore del thrash metal ma così è... anche se non vi pare (mezza cit.)!

Poi, c'è da dire che non c'è molto ricambio generazionale. Infatti, la maggior parte dei gruppi thrash romani, anche quelli fondati da poch(issim)o, sono in genere formati da "vecchietti" della scena dai 35 anni in su, che comunque suonano spesso con un'energia e con una passione veramente da ammirare. Però non siamo più negli anni '80, quando i membri dei vari gruppi erano spesso degli adolescenti incazzatissimi di 18 anni anche dopo aver pubblicato il loro secondo album. Quindi, qui a Roma esiste solo UN gruppo di adolescenti e, se già non lo conoscete, lo scoprirete ben presto.

Ma adesso basta con questa lunga introduzione, e basta anche con queste mie critiche da "vecchio" brontolone del cazzo, ergo passiamo a conoscere uno per uno tutti (o meglio, alcuni) dei gruppi thrash metal che stuprano con tanta gioia i timpani (e le ossa) dei metallari romani (e non solo)!

Come on, burn my ears! #10

Hey brutal bangers,

“Come on, burn my ears!”, the playlist of your favourite webzine (or I hope so haha!), is today at its tenth episode!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #29: Horrocious/Zifir/Fulci/Escuela Grind

Hey brutal bangers,

this is a short and sharp appointment with "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss"!

I have to admit that I've got an inferno of releases to talk about, and not always I have the time to write a proper review about them. In fact, today it's the turn of albums I have their digital promos since many months... if not even since one year!

So, I'll present you some nice bands ranging from the most brutal black metal to grindcore. I am fukken sure that each of them will be to your insatiable satisfaction!

ENJOY THE ARTICLE!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #28: From Hell/Kaw/Soul Collector/Reanimator

Hey brutal bangers,

after the first digital pack from VladPromotion, the following bands are other ones I received always from this Polish promoter. This time the selection is more various because, as you'll see soon, it ranges from punk rock'n'roll to horror metal... and to the usual thrash metal madness that's typical for Vlad.

No words are necessary, so go already to the action and enjoy this new appointment with "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss"!

Memories #2: la storica reunion dei The Difference!

Rieccoci finalmente su queste lercissime paginette con un nuovo episodio di "Memories", rubrica dal sapore un po' nostalgico inaugurata con grande entusiasmo in aprile, quindi in piena quarantena, ma poi abbandonata per 666 motivi diversi. E' ora giunto finalmente il momento di dare un seguito a quel primo episodio nel quale parlai dell'esordio nella scena HC romana del Till Death. E, siccome le serate organizzate da questo collettivo sono fra quelle che mi ricordo con più piacere vista la loro intensità e la loro reale capacità di unire la gente superando/abbattendo anche le barriere di genere, pure questa puntata si concentra su un concerto messo su dal Till Death, precisamente il 30 marzo 2019 al Communia. Quindi, si parla della serata intitolata "Break Down the Walls" (guardacaso...), come uno dei pezzi più amati degli Youth of Today, gruppo youth crew che in questi mesi mi sono letteralmente divorato. Tale concerto vide in scaletta cinque gruppi molto differenti fra di loro, fra cui i mitici The Difference, formazione romana che tornò per una storica reunion dopo ben 11 anni di assenza dalle scene, e questo era già un buon motivo per andarci. Motivo ancor più importante, il concerto fu un benefit per il Baobab Experience, cioè un'associazione di volontariato di assistenza ai migranti offrendo loro anche supporto medico e legale. Ah, e non scordiamoci che la splendida copertina dell'evento fu curata nientepopodimeno che da ZeroCalcare. Minkia, Till Death e ZeroCalcare che collaborano insieme? Daje!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #27: Rawfoil/Coyote Bad Trip/Xenos/Martial Law

Hey brutal bangers,

in these last days I have a lot of thrash metal to listen to like never before in the history of this 'zine! This is also due to promotion agencies like the Polish VladPRomotion, that sometime ago sent me tons of thrash metal holocaust.

So, this new episode of "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss" is totally focused on some bands I received from Vlad. I've got the "little" impression that you thrash maniacs, thanks to my precious suggestions, will have a lot of interesting stuff useful to destroy your own ears in the imminent future hehe!

But now stop with this annoying introduction and let's start to know the bands!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #26: Starbynary/Flat Earth Society/Morbid Death

Hey brutal bangers,

this new episode with "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss" (no reviews, no votes, just mentions) is a little bit particular because it sees three bands that, ranging from power metal (POWER METAL? Oooooh yes!) to metalcore, interpret their own genres with a progressive and experimental approach. In addition, I received their albums through their label, the Spanish Art Gates Records, as shown, for example, with "Metal in the Box #2".

Expect to be surprised in EVERY LINE of this article!

INTERVIEW TO SACRILEGE! (WITH PAUL MACNAMARA)

Hey brutal bangers,

after reviewing "The Court of the Insane" by Sacrilege in full quarantine period, I asked to their manager Valeria Campagnale if I could interview them. Her answer was positive but, for some reasons, I found the time to prepare the interview only the last month, in August. As the saying goes: "it's better late than never"! And, anyway, it was even since Cripple Bastards that no interviews were featured on these putrid pages!

So, enjoy this interview to an historic (but unlucky at that time) NWOBHM band, that is now living an explosion of creativity since their reunion happened in 2012!

Thanks to Valeria for sending me the beautiful band pics for this interview!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #25: Mastemey/Sandbreaker/Железный Поток

Hey brutal bangers,

welcome to a new episode of "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss", that is totally focused on some albums that I received many months ago by Mythrone Promotion. To say the entire truth, it sent me recently a new pack of albums that I initially received in digital format during the fuckin' quarantine. But, for the moment, discover the albums (and their bands) presented in this article. Ranging from death/doom metal to thrash metal, I am sure that they will not disappoint you!

Go! Fest: la decima edizione si farà!

Hey brutal bangers,

nonostante l'assurda situazione che stiamo vivendo, gli organizzatori del Go! Fest hanno voluto comunque salvare la nuova edizione del "festival più veloce d'Italia" mettendola su per il 3 ottobre presso il solito Spartaco, salvo nuove disposizioni per scongiurare una possibile seconda quarantena (ma speriamo proprio che non ci sia!).

Regressive - "Born in the Grave" (Defense Records/Mythrone Promotion, 2019)

Band: Regressive

Title: Born in the Grave

Genre: Black/Speed'n'Roll

Time: 33.39 min

Release date: 19th October 2019

Vote: 85/100

As the Cuban thrash metal sensation Infector, also the Regressive is a band that I featured in the "Metal in the Box #1". Now that I have the occasion to talk about them in a more specific way, they are a trio from Lithuania founded in 2008 but, after two splits and a curious release shared with the brutal deathsters Infestation covering an Exhumed's track, they published their debut full-lenght album "Born in the Grave" (Defense Records/Mythrone Promotion) only last year. Fortunately, the wait was not in vain because we are in presence of three guys that perfectly know what they are doing and... but it's still too soon for the conclusions, so let's see because they deserve your consideration!

Metal in the Box #5: Witching Hour Productions #2

Hey brutal bangers,

a new pack from the Polish label Witching Hour Productions has arrived just this morning!

Come on, burn my ears! #9

Hey brutal bangers,

welcome to the 9th episode of "Come on, burn my ears!", the Timpani allo Spiedo's playlist that, this time, is a bit particular, as you'll see soon.

I Maiali+Sleazy Bar (Rome, 31st July 2020)

  

Gruppi: I Maiali+Sleazy Bar

Data: 31 luglio 2020

Locale: Traffic Live Club

Ingresso: gratuito su prenotazione

Dopo un po' di tempo, riecco su queste lercissime pagine I Maiali! Infatti, oggi ne parlo di nuovo perché il 31 luglio 2020 sono ritornati su di un palco (quello del Traffic, per la precisione) per un bel concerto che ha visto all'opera anche gli Sleazy Bar, i quali invece stanno diventando una presenza fissa al Traffic perché ci hanno suonato pure il 20 giugno insieme a quei folli dei Cockroaches. In più, alla serata c'è stato un pacco di bella gente, segno c'è veramente fame di concerti dopo mesi e mesi di astinenza. Ma adesso vediamo che cos'hanno combinato I Maiali e gli Sleazy Bar!

Skulld - "Reinventing Darkness" (DIY co-production, 2020)

Band: Skulld

Title: Reinventing Darkness

Genre: Death Metal with Crust Punk influences

Time: 20.57 min

Release Date: 20th February 2020

Vote: 76/100

In March of 2020, so in full quarantine times, a video about an Italian metalhead covering the Slayer's "Raining Blood", that he dedicated to an old woman owning a famous kiosk in her small town (Bertinoro), became literally viral. I remember I had a lot of fun to watch that very short video! But only in these days I realized that that metalhead effectively plays the guitar in a death metal band. That band is called Skulld (after Skuld, a Norn in the Norse mythology that, along with other two Norns, has the power to decide the fate of the people), a quintet coming from two Italian regions, Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna, that published so far two releases since their foundation in 2018: a demo and the EP "Reinventing Darkness", both in 2019. Well, I received this last one from a friend of mine running the amazing webzine Blog Thrower (shame that it's on hold since June 2020!), that produced "Reinventing Darkness" in a DIY co-production with other 12 metal and punk labels. They are too much to be all listed but some of them were already featured on these pages such as Italian Extreme Underground, Hecatombe Records, Pirate Crew Records (I met his owner during the Marci su Roma 2 Fest) and SFA Records. This connection with the punk world isn't a case because every member of the Skulld comes just from hardcore punk since, for example, the aforementioned video star, Enrico, plays also in bands like NoWhiteRag, the drummer Teo in the Contrasto while the other guitarplayer, Rappo, is into even in a great black/death metal act of the calibre of Hierophant. And don't forget that we are in presence of a band with fantastic values such as antifascism and antisexism. All this is fukken awesome... but is also "fukken awesome" "Reinventing Darkness" in its entirety? FUCK YEAAAAH!

Cruentus - "Fake" (Triple A Events Records, 2019)

Band: Cruentus
Title: Fake
Genre: Death/Thrash Metal with some Technical tunes
Time: 37.54 min
Release date: 15th October 2019
Vote: 75/100










Fuck, I received this album in physical format in December 2019 from the Italian promotion agency Frantic Mule but only in these days I found the time to listen to it! So, I'm sorry with Frantic Mule for this enormous delay but, finally, here you are the review about "Fake"! This is the second album of a historic Italian band from Apulia called Cruentus, a quintet that was born in the very far 1989 and whose main core since its early times is composed of the guitarist and founder Antonello Maggi, the singer Nicola Bavaro (that had experiences also in acts of the calibre of Schizo and Glacial Fear) and the bassplayer Adriano Boghetich. But the story of Cruentus is a bit special because, in brief, they are so unprolific that their previous (and first) album, "In Myself", was published even in 1996, so they took all the time in the world to work on "Fake"! Now let's see how they took advantage from these 23 years!

Se beccamo ner pit!: the mega-compilation about the LazioHC is finally out!

Hey brutal bangers,
do you remember the compilation that, under the name of xUnitedx, I was assembling in these last times along with a friend of mine? Well, it was finally released on 15th July 2020 through BandCamp and you can download it for free!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #24: Iato/Gôr Mörgul

Hey brutal bangers,

I remember that, in the early days of the 'zine (I am talking about something like 10 years ago!), I was always in search of Sardinian bands because I literally fell in love with the extreme metal scene of this so fascinating region called Sardinia, that I unfortunately never visited so far, even though some of very far origins of mine come just from there. Though not on purpose, both the Italian bands of this episode of "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss" come from Sardinia, and they are named Iato and Gôr Mörgul.

I received their respective albums in physical format from Satanath Records, along with "Exaltatus Mechanism" of Abigorum (the black/doom metal band of Alexey Koryolov, the owner of the aforementioned label), whose I'll talk about soon in another article. I'm sorry with Alexey if I am talking about these albums only now after I received them one year ago but, as someone says, "it's better late than never"! And don't forget that I included all these bands in the last episode of "Come on, burn my ears!"!

So, enjoy this article and discover these great bands if you still don't know them!

Shockproof+Gigantomachia (Rome, 23th July 2020)

Gruppi: Shockproof+Gigantomachia
Data: 23 luglio 2020
Locale: Traffic Live Club
Ingresso: gratuito su prenotazione





Da quando lo scorso mese ho cominciato a prendere seriamente la macchina anche per fare serata (eh sì, perché prima ero "un po'" troppo dipendente dagli ormai odiati mezzi pubblici), ho cominciato pure a frequentare di più il Traffic che, in buona sostanza, è attualmente uno dei pochissimi locali romani di musica live che sta organizzando concerti degni di questo nome in questi tempi difficili di post-quarantena. Più nello specifico, si tratta di concerti gratuiti e all'aperto, con un numero massimo di spettatori, e devo dire che, nonostante tutto, questa formula sta funzionando a dovere e rappresenta un buon palliativo per tutti coloro che sono stati per mesi in astinenza da concerti. Ecco quindi che ieri si è tenuto un bel concerto con gli Shockproof come headliner e i frusinati Gigantomachia come gruppo di supporto. E, quindi, eccovi finalmente su queste lercissime pagine il primo live report dopo mesi!

Valfaris (Steel Mantis, 2019)

Title: Valfaris
Genre: Videogame
Release date: 10th October 2019
Vote: 90/100







It was a lot of time that I wanted to open a section entirely focused on the videogames... or better, METAL videogames! They are "metal" in the sense that they are characterized by heavy metal influences not only in their soundtrack but also in their imagery, in their look, in some references. They can be videogames of every kind of genre but, since the aggressiveness of their metal nature, they often belongs obviously to the action games, that are also my favourite ones. And I don't care if they are in 2D, in 3D or in any dimension you want because the important is that they are good and enjoyable. But now I think that this new section could be only opened with an action game released in 2019 whose soundtrack was made by nothing else than an ex-Celtic Frost member: Valfaris!

Infector - "Let the Infection Begin" (Defense Records, 2019)

Band: Infector
Title: Let the Infection Begin
Genre: Thrash Metal
Time: 35.05 min
Release date: 2019
Vote: 78/100













It seems a totally another life when I published the first episode of "Metal in the Box", in which I announced the arrival of a mega-pack from Mythrone Promotion. The fuckin' Coronavirus seemed so far for us and no one thought that the quarantine would strike the entire world. So, bands with names such as these Infector, that I am finally going to review today after many months, are very fit for these uncertain times, especially when we are in presence of an album entitled "Let the Infection Begin". What a prophetic title, don't you think?

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #23: The Noctambulant/Noctem

Hey brutal bangers,

ultimately I received many albums from Art Gates Records but, in the truth, I still had to talk about albums that they sent to me even in the last months of 2019. And, finally, only recently I found the time to talk about the two black metal albums that are the objects of this new episode of "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss".

No other words, and let's go straight to the action!

Motivate Us with Force! #2

Hey brutal bangers,
welcome to the new and second episode of "Motivate Us with Force!", the Timpani allo Spiedo's playlist that, entirely focused on hardcore punk with positive messages, I opened last month!

Come on, burn my ears! #8

Hey brutal bangers,
as I wrote in the last article, in these times I am very busy to do the compilation about the LazioHC (that now is entitled "Se beccamo ner pit!", that means "see you in the pit" in Roman dialect), so I found only a very little time to publish new articles for the 'zine. Fortunately, today I found some time to prepare the 8th episode of "Come on, burn my ears!", so this is the result!

Honorable Mentions from the Abyss #22: Blind Ride/Slow Jams

Hey brutal bangers,
sorry if the 'zine is very little active in these days but I am a lot busy to prepare a hardcore punk compilation-benefit to support financially the Trecentosessantagradi, the punk venue in Rome, in which I attended many live gigs, that today risks to be closed due to the effects of the fuckin' quarantine!
Anyway, today I found the time to write a new episode of "Honorable Mentions from the Abyss", that is about two interesting hardcore punk bands: Blind Ride and Slow Jams. Actually, I talked about them on "Timpani allo Spiedo on YouTube #2" (yes, if you still know nothing, the 'zine is now also on YouTube hehe!) but, for me, it will be a pleasure to talk again about these bands in this article.
So, let's start with...

Motivate Us with Force! #1

Hey brutal bangers,
this is the first episode of a new playlist called "Motivate Us with Force!", that's totally focused on hardcore punk with positive messages, so to fight this tough period with angry music but characterized by very good vibes.

Fuck Covid-19 Edition (streaming on YouTube, 30th May 2020)

Festival: Fuck Covid-19 Edition
Data: 30 maggio 2020
Locale: live in streaming su YouTube
Ingresso: vabbè... gratis ma con possibilità di donare qualcosa al 360.






Comunicazione di servizio:

prima di leggere questo lunghissimo live report, vi annuncio che in questi giorni sto assemblando una mega-compilation con tutti gruppi HC/grind/Oi!/punk di Roma e dintorni. All'iniziativa ci partecipano già xSenselessxPositivityx, I Maiali, Tumultum Hostilis, Verano's Dogs, Mind/Knot, Short Fuse, No Look City, Grigio Piombo, No More Lies, Causeffect, Sbocco Nichilista, e altri che verranno.
La compilation sarà pubblicata su BandCamp e sarà o in free download oppure sarà una compilation benefit (mi piacerebbe per il 360).
Se volete partecipare con il vostro gruppo, contattatemi a timpaniallospiedozine@hotmail.com e vedrò se inserirvi.

-----------------------------------------------------

Una cosa che mi piace molto dell'hardcore punk è che, al contrario del metal, esso è un genere crudo, realista, vero, che permette a chi lo suona di parlare anche di se stessi, delle proprie fragilità, della propria umanità sia nel bene che nel male, e a chi lo ascolta perfino di cambiare e migliorare come persona, attuando magari delle scelte di vita radicali. E questa quarantena, che è stata durissima per tante persone e purtroppo fatale per altre, mi ha fatto capire molto di me stesso, forse anche troppo, visto che sono passato attraverso varie fasi, andando così dalla più intensa positività alla più profonda tristezza, arrivando ad attuare anche scelte "sbagliate" che sono andate contro me stesso e perfino contro certe persone a me veramente care. Alla fine, forte anche del fatto di aver preso, a un certo punto, come inno personale "Watch Me Rise" degli Have Heart, ho concluso che bisogna ricordarsi dei propri errori, delle proprie sconfitte e dei propri fallimenti perché essi danno l'occasione di stravolgere in positivo noi stessi, di diventare persone migliori e più forti, adattandosi così meglio a quanto ci succede intorno a noi e dentro di noi (perché, in fondo, il vero nemico siamo noi stessi). Ma, in ogni caso, come dicevano i Terror, "I'm only stronger"!