music

Powerwolf Announces New Album

German power metal and werewolf enthusiast band Powerwolf made the announcement today that for the past six months, the band has secretly been writing new material for their followup to 2013’s Preachers of the Night. They plan to hit the studio in early January and work through March, with an expected release in summer of 2015.

Regarding the sound of the new album, Powerwolf has the following to say:

So, what can you expect? Without revealing too much at this early stage, you can expect an album that’s 100% uncompromising POWERWOLF-stuff.
There’s songs to go wild to, there’s epic and atmospheric stuff – and a lot of wolfish metal madness in between – and quite a bunch of songs that will be must-plays on any future POWERWOLF liveshow for damn sure. We can’t wait to get this album shaped! We’ll keep you posted!

For further updates, be sure to follow Powerwolf on Facebook or keep an eye on the news section of the band’s website.

Interview: GrimWolf

GrimWolf

I’d first heard about the band GrimWolf by pure coincidence a few years ago. I’d picked up a heavy metal podcast for a little while, as a result of a favorite band of mine being featured on it, and happened to find a GrimWolf song on the very next episode of said podcast. At the time, I’d taken a lengthy hiatus from the werewolf scene in all its various forms and fashions (roughly 4-5 years) and the song, which I believe was “Full Moon Draw,” got my attention again, and I picked back up on my werewolf fanaticism roughly where I’d left off. (And I started following the band’s activity closely.)

Hey—I’m a big fan of werewolves and a big fan of metal, and GrimWolf always delivers.

Nonetheless, as the band has a new EP coming out soon, I got in touch with lead vocalist/guitarist Brent Wisdom to ask him a few questions about how the band got started, about their upcoming release, and about cool werewolves in general.

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GrimWolf Reveal Title + Tracklist of Next Release

Per the update on their own site, the next release from California werewolf metallers GrimWolf will be an EP titled Order of the Lycan. The tracklist is as follows:

  1. Van Helsing
  2. Death Anthem
  3. Berserker
  4. Skinwalker
  5. Ripped in Two
  6. Respite

This announcement comes right on the heels of the notice that long-time rhythm guitarist Ehren Behringer has left the band, the second member to do so since the release of the debut full-length album Lycanthrope in 2011. GrimWolf has stated that in the meantime they will still be on the road and moving forward with the EP recording as a three-piece band, but they are looking into opening auditions for a new rhythm guitarist very soon. See the GrimWolf “Full Moon Update” below for more details:

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Delightfully Werewolfy Compilation from Graveyard Calling

If you’re a fan of werewolves, it’s probably a safe bet that you’re pretty into run-of-the-mill wolves as well. In that case, cassette/digital record company Graveyard Calling has a treat for you: Of Wolven Breed, a werewolfy compilation from the artists on the Graveyard Calling signed artists.

Of Wolven Breed

Look at that handsome wolfman.

The compilation will be available from the official Graveyard Calling website for only £2.50, a bargain for 22 tracks.

And those who like wolves will be pleased to hear the kicker: all proceeds from the sale are going to the International Wolf Center, which helps to raise awareness about wolves. It raises awarewolves.

The release will be 76 minutes long, and will feature an all-new exclusive track from our friend in Werewolves in Siberia.

The full track list, courtesy of Bloody Disgusting, is below the cut. (more…)

Seven Songs to Gently Nibble People to

My last “soundtrack” post was filled primarily with hard rock/metal, and I realize this. Those are usually the genres that I stick with, so by default, those are most of the types of songs I have in my playlists. But by no means are those the only songs I indulge myself in.

After all, you don’t always want to stick your snout into someone’s ribcage and gnaw on their internal organs while they scream. Sometimes you just want to dine on a quiet meal of long pig with some potatoes on the side.

Maybe with a nice merlot or something.

I digress. Here is the Lycanthropology 101 list of songs to gently nibble people to.

1. Werewolf—Tyler Lyle

Found by accident, actually, while flicking through werewolf-related songs on Bandcamp. After browsing the lyrics, I was expecting something a little more punk rock than what I actually got, but somehow it managed to work anyway.

And some days I am a mother fucking werewolf
I am a cannibal that eats himself alive
So if you see me tonight on the floor or the ceiling
It depends how I’m feeling, maybe you’ll take me home
and I’ll climb your mountains and build a castle around it
But bring your silver bullets just in case

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Werewolf Metal Resurgence: Pandemonic

Those who saw my Werewolf Band Roundup in February probably remember my short, bemused paragraph on the vanished werewolf metal band Pandemonic. Well, somehow or another, the lead singer of Pandemonic, Mikael Ullenius, stumbled upon the post.

And what do you know, he unearthed a lot of old Pandemonic material.

The first was, of course, putting some songs back online. Full-length album The Authors of Nightfear and the 2002 demo Ravenous have been posted in their entirety for free download from Last.fm, with an added comment from Ullenius that he’d post the 2004 demo The Art of Hunting as soon as he could find better bitrate versions of the songs.

Beyond that, he posted a pair of old videos to his YouTube channel as well: a live video of “Tower Bell,” and a video of “Changeling Eve,” as seen below:

Ullenius himself can be found on Twitter, which he appears to have joined only recently.

ICYMI: GrimWolf Enters Studio, Sockweb Drops Debut

California werewolf metallers GrimWolf have confirmed that they are entering the studio this weekend to begin recording drum tracks for a new album. This album will be the long-awaited follow-up to their 2011 debut full-length, Lycanthrope. GrimWolf have not revealed the title of their new album yet, merely hinting to keep an eye out for the next few weeks.

See the official announcement from their March 2014 full moon update here:

Check them out on Facebook here!

Father/daughter grindcore outfit Sockweb have released their debut full-length, a concept album named Werewolf. The album was funded through a successful Indiegogo campaign last year, though due to various complications was pushed back several months. But they are back now, and as of March 25, the album has finally dropped!

Buy the new album here:

Or, if you aren’t sure you want to drop $8/$15 on the full-length, check out the Bullies Are Mean EP—get a taste of four tracks from the full-length at the low price of $1!

Check Sockweb out on Facebook here!

Interview: Werewolves in Siberia

For those of you who follow my Twitter, you have probably heard that lately I’ve been enjoying the hell out of an 80s-inspired synth rock project called Werewolves in Siberia.

It’s dark, contemplative, and delightfully evocative. You can definitely hear the 80s inspiration in the music as well; if you close your eyes you can practically feel the VHS player humming in the background. Still, it has a modern touch, with a clean sound and rock/metal inspired drums. For me, it’s perfect music for things like driving and writing: when I need something to set the mood, but doesn’t have distracting lyrics either. (I like to sing, what can I say.) What’s more, the project has a new album coming soon, so I got in touch with Chris Cavoretto, the man behind it all, to talk about Werewolves in Siberia.

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This Day in Werewolf History: “Nattens madrigal” Released in 1997

Nattens madrigal

Nattens madrigal – Aatte hymne til ulven i manden (that is, in English, Madrigal of the Night – Eight Hymns to the Wolf in Man) turns 17 today. On the 2009 IGN list of ten great black metal albums, Nattens madrigal is often thought of as one of the defining concept albums regarding lycanthropy.

The album documents the transformation of a werewolf who, succumbing to the efforts of Satan, turns to evil, wandering the city in a feverish rage before finally murdering his lover, and waking to blood and wine on his hands.

The album’s recording is lo-fi and thus takes some getting used to for those who don’t enjoy the sound provided. It is, however, a significant album, and as such if you’ve never given it a listen (or given its lyrics a read-through), you should check out Nattens madrigal today.

Ten Songs to Chew on People to

I am a really big fan of music relating to werewolves. Like, a really really big fan of it. To an embarrassing degree. My iTunes werewolf playlist is over four hours long.

But I digress: to celebrate my birthday today, here is the unofficial Lycanthropology 101 list of songs to chew on people to.

1. The Animal—Disturbed

Loud and aggressive, just as any werewolf song from a metal band should be. The music video is a little bizarre but—what are ya gonna do.

Taking form in the glimmer of this tainted moonlight
Death approaches on this night
For the animal’s soul is mine
We will be completed right before your eyes
I have no control this time
And now, we both shall dine
In hell tonight

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