Church of Metal

Never Cross The Dead is the second full length album from the Finnish death/doom metal band Hooded Menace.

“2010 release from the Finnish Death Metal monsters. Never Cross The Dead takes the Hooded Menace sound of their Fulfill The Curse debut into heavier and doomier terrain. And of course further into the depths of plodding brutal Death Metal terror. A bludgeoning and sprawling mix of old-school Death Metal and heaving glacial Sludge Doom, Never Cross The Dead is a horror-filled journey through the eyes of Hooded Menace mastermind Lasse Pyykko, one of the most notorious, productive and prolific musicians in the underground Death Metal scene.”

Hooded Menace - Never Cross The Dead

Hooded Menace – Never Cross The Dead (2010)

1. Never Cross The Dead
2. Terror Castle
3. Night Of The Deathcult
4. The House Of Hammer
5. Rituals Of Mortal Cremation
6. As The Creatures Ascend
7. From Their Confined Slumber
8. Theme From Return Of The Evil Dead

“The Divinity of Oceans is the second album by the German funeral doom metal band Ahab. This album was also released through Napalm Records in 2009.”

Slow drone funeral doom.

“Not unlike a baleful Leviathan, AHAB’s latest album, “The Divinity of Oceans”, emerges from the obscure ocean depths to provide an impressive account of the Essex and its condemned crew.

Ahab – The Divinity Of Oceans (2009)

Offering a kaleidoscope of human emotions that find tragic conclusion within deep despair and cannibalism, the terrible events are told within the perfect, though dark and disturbing confines of slow doom metal, brutal vocals, and melodic interludes. Markus Stock (Empyrium, The Vision Bleak) of Klangschmiede Studio E gives “The Divinity of Oceans” its finishing touch. With this latest offering, AHAB have managed to more than outdo their debut release, delivering a masterpiece of Nautic Funeral Doom Metal.”

Ahab The Divinity Of Oceans

download Ahab – The Divinity Of Oceans mp3s

1. “Yet Another Raft of the Medusa (Pollard’s Weakness)” – 12:40
2. “The Divinity of Oceans” – 11:03
3. “O Father Sea” – 7:07
4. “Redemption Lost” – 10:25
5. “Tombstone Carousal” – 7:27
6. “Gnawing Bones (Coffin’s Lot)” – 10:48
7. “Nickerson’s Theme” – 8:06

Feel the slumber of awakening ancient doom.

New Amon Amarth for 2011 is finally released.

Surtur’s Rising is the 8th studio album released by the melodic death metal band Amon Amarth.

Amon Amarth Surtur Rising

download Amon Amarth – Surtur’s Rising mp3s

Here is the track listing for Amon Amarth – Surtur Rising

1. War of the Gods
2. Tock’s Taunt – Loke’s Treachery Part II
3. Destroyer of the Universe
4. Slaves of Fear
5. Live Without Regrets
6. The Last Stand of Frej
7. For Victory or Death
8. Wrath of the Norsemen
9. A Beast Am I
10. Doom Over Dead Man

Amon Amarth – Surtur’s Rising 2011

“Astronomy is the fourth studio album by Swedish power metal band Dragonland, released in Europe on November 13, 2006 and in North America on November 28, 2006.

Hail! Hope you ready for some power metal this morning?

While their third album Starfall focused heavily on keyboards and had a more upbeat lyrical tone, according to guitarist Olof Mörck, Astronomy is “gloomier, more stygian and packed with crunching guitars; both furiously fast and bone-grindingly heavy.”

Dragonland - Astronomy (2006)

1. “Supernova” – 5:09 (Featuring Elize Ryd of Amaranthe)
2. “Cassiopeia” – 4:06 (Featuring Elize Ryd of Amaranthe)(Solo by Marios Ilipoulos of Nightrage)
3. “Contact” – 4:25
4. “Astronomy” – 3:20 (Featuring Jake E of Dreamland/Amaranthe)
5. “Antimatter” – 3:00 (Featuring Jimmie Strimmel of Nightrage/Dead by April)
6. “The Book of Shadows Part IV: The Scrolls of Geometria Divina” – 4:04
7. “Beethoven’s Nightmare” – 6:11
8. “Too Late for Sorrow” – 3:36 (Featuring Elize Ryd of Amaranthe & Jake E of Dreamland/Amaranthe)
9. “Direction: Perfection” – 4:29 (Featuring Jimmie Strimmel of Nightrage/Dead by April)
10. “The Old House on the Hill Chapter I: A Death in the Family” – 4:30
11. “The Old House on the Hill Chapter II: The Thing in the Cellar” – 3:08
12. “The Old House on the Hill Chapter III: The Ring of Edward Waldon” – 6:18

download Dragonland – Astronomy (2006) mp3s

Japanese Bonus Tracks:

13. “Intuition” (TNT Cover) – 4:15
14. “The Last Word” – 4:12

Inspiring power metal to get the day going from Dragonland.

In an effort to complete the current 3 Inches of Blood discography I am posting these “3IOB” albums back to back, enjoy.

“Here Waits Thy Doom is the fourth studio album from the Canadian heavy metal band 3 Inches of Blood. It is the first 3 Inches of Blood album not to feature vocalist Jamie Hooper and thus the first to feature no founding members of the band. This is also the first 3 Inches of Blood album released through Century Media.” according to wikipedia.

3 Inches of Blood - Here Waits Thy Doom

3 Inches of Blood – Here Waits Thy Doom (2009)

1. Battles And Brotherhood 4:46
2. Rock In Hell 4:56
3. Silent Killer 4:12
4. Fierce Defender 5:15
5. Preacher’s Daughter 6:47
6. Call Of The Hammer 2:58
7. Snake Fighter 3:18
8. At The Foot Of The Great Glacier 3:17
9. All Of Them Witches 6:42
10. 12:34 1:45
11. Execution Tank 7:33

“Raised in hell, forged by fire and harder than Krupp Steel, 3 INCHES OF BLOOD are about to triumphantly return as one of the biggest defenders of traditional heavy metal with their stunning new album, “Here Waits Thy Doom”! The new opus was tracked in Seattle’s Sound House Recordings with renowned producer Jack Endino (Soundgarden, High on Fire, Zeke) and is soon to be hailed as the gospel of all that is metal.”

Battlecry Under A Wintersun is the first studio album by Canadian power metal band 3 Inches of Blood. It was released in 2002 by Megarock Records.

3 Inches of Blood – Battlecry Under a Wintersun is the last release by the band to feature original bassist and drummer Rich Trawick and Geoff Trawick.

The reissue also includes 4 bonus tracks, taken from the “Sect of the White Worm” EP.

3 Inches of Blood - Battlecry Under A Wintersun

3 Inches of Blood – Battlecry Under a Wintersun

1. “Ride Darkhorse, Ride” 3:26
2. “Destroy the Orcs” 2:13
3. “Headwaters of the River of Blood” 3:03
4. “Heir to the Chaos Throne” 3:42
5. “Skeletal Onslaught” 3:48
6. “Journey to the Promiseland” 2:26
7. “Lady Deathwish” 3:44
8. “Curse of the Lighthouse Keeper” 3:12
9. “Blazing Fires of Evermore” 3:16
10. “Hall of Heroes” 4:21
11. “Balls of Ice” 3:44

Debut album from Canada’s 3 Inches of Blood.

“With Oden on Our Side” is the sixth full-length studio album by the Swedish death metal band Amon Amarth.

With Oden On Our Side was recorded in May and June 2006 and was released in Europe on 22 September 2006 by Metal Blade Records. A limited edition digipak was also released with a second disc that includes live songs, demos, and unreleased recordings. With Oden on Our Side was also released on a limited red LP. The songs “Runes to My Memory” and “Cry of the Black Birds” were both made into music videos.

With Oden on Our Side takes on a heavier approach compared to their previous album Fate of Norns; according to vocalist Johan Hegg, in an interview with Dutch metal magazine Aardschok, the album would go back to their roots such as their debut, Once Sent from the Golden Hall.

When asked about the meaning of the album’s title, Hegg remarked:

“Well, it kind of has several meanings to it. Oden is of course the highest god in Scandinavian mythology, and he’s the god of warfare, wisdom, poetry and artistry. The reason we chose the title is that it suited the lyrical concepts of the album and signified the feeling we had during the writing and recording of the album. We literally felt as if we had the Gods on our side.”

Amon Amarth With Oden On Our Side

Amon Amarth – With Oden On Our Side (2006)

Disc: 1

1. Valhall Awaits Me
2. Runes To My Memory
3. Asator
4. Hermod’s Ride To Hel-Lokes Treachery Part 1
5. Gods Of War Arise
6. With Oden On Our Side
7. Cry Of The Black Birds
8. Under The Northern Star
9. Prediction Of Warfare

Disc: 2

1. Where Silent Gods Stand Guard (Live)
2. Death In Fire (Live)
3. With Oden On Our Side (Demo)
4. Hermod’s Ride To Hel-Lokes Treachery Part 1 (Demo)
5. Once Sent From A Golden Hall (Sunlight Recording)
6. Return Of The Gods (Sunlight Recording)

The album cover art features the Norse God Odin riding on his fabled octopedel horse Sleipnir. The background depicts the Valknut, a symbol whose meaning is uncertain, though archeological evidence clearly shows it to be associated with Odin. Letters of the Runic alphabet can be seen on the edges of the triangles forming the Valknut. The Runes on top spell out “With Oden on our Side”, whereas the bottom right runes spell “Amon Amarth” using characters from the Elder Futhark.

“Versus The World” is the fourth full length studio album released by the Swedish melodic death metal band Amon Amarth, it was released in 2002.

When asked to comment on the album Versus The World, Amon Amarth vocalist Johan Hegg stated:

“This is the darkest, heaviest and most melancholic album we’ve ever done and the atmosphere can be felt through the whole album. I would say it’s the most even album we’ve done so far and that the concept can be recognized in every song.”

Amon Amarth Versus The World

Below is the track listing for Amon Amarth – Versus The World

1. “Death in Fire” – 4:54
2. “For the Stabwounds in Our Backs” – 4:56
3. “Where Silent Gods Stand Guard” – 5:46
4. “Versus the World” – 5:22
5. “Across the Rainbow Bridge” – 4:51
6. “Down the Slopes of Death” – 4:09
7. “Thousand Years of Oppression” – 5:42
8. “Bloodshed” – 5:13
9. “…And Soon the World Will Cease to Be” – 6:57

A very heavy and melodic album from Swedish metal gods Amon Amarth.

Zoroaster is a sludge metal band from Atlanta, Georgia.

Matador is the fourth studio album released from the sludge metal band Zoroaster.

Called “truly magical” by Revolver and “Epic” by Popmatters, Atlanta’s Zoroaster has delivered their most genre bending release to date.

Featuring a live set that features vintage amps piled to the ceilings, tons of smoke and ear punishing volume the band’s fan base has grown rapidly over the past year as they toured the US with Gojira, shot their first two videos and firmly positioned themselves to explode from the underground.

Zoroaster Matador

Download Zoroaster – Matador mp3s

1. D.N.R. 6:25
2. Ancient Ones 3:34
3. Odyssey 5:37
4. Trident 3:38
5. Firewater 4:13
6. Old World 7:03
7. Black Hole 3:48
8. Odyssey II 3:00
9. Matador 7:33

This is sludge metal with a mystic almost trance like feel… somewhat psychedelic but still stoner sludge metal. The vocals are almost chants but not really, you have to hear for yourself.

Revocation is an American extreme metal band from Boston, Massachusetts.

The band was founded by guitarist and vocalist David Davidson, bassist and vocalist Anthony Buda and drummer Phil Dubois-Coyne in 2000.

The band was originally known as Cryptic Warning, but it changed its name to Revocation in 2006.

Empire of The Obscene is the debut album from American extreme metal band Revocation.

Revocation Empire of the Obscene

1. Unattained 3:41
2. Tail From The Crypt 4:40
3. Exhumed Identity 6:52
4. Fields Of Predation 5:59
5. Alliance In Tyranny 4:59
6. Suffer These Wounds 6:11
7. Summon The Spawn 5:39
8. None Shall Be Spared (All Shall Be Speared) 5:44
9. Stillness 2:04
10. Age Of Iniquity 4:59
11. Empire Of The Obscene 4:59

Empire of The Obscene (2008) combines elements of thrash metal, metal core and other forms of metal to produce an energetic album of songs.