214 – Content With The Content

Noyan
Podcast
Heavy Pod Is Heavy Cast! This week, we discuss some new content. Content from Dark Tranquillity, Killer Be Killed, Venom Prison, Devin Townsend, Soilwork, Archspire, Trivium, Within the Ruins, Beaten to Death ... Read More...

Grind My Gears – 2018 In Review

Matt MacLennan
Best of 2018, Grind My Gears
Another wild year is coming to an end so it's about time all you grinders scrubbed down your manky gears and made them all pretty looking for Satan Claus. This list won't be exhaustive in the slightest, as there are hundreds of grind and grind-adjacent records that I just didn't have the time to check out --- there were just as many that I gave a cursory fifteen seconds listen and decided 'NOPE'. This 'year in review 'will be focused almost entirely on bands that I've thrown into the scabby battle pit of Grind My Gears over the last twelve months, with the snarky titles and blunt force imagery used rearing their charming, cultured head yet again. If you didn't enjoy any of it so far, you can go right ahead and browse Pitchfork's Top 50 instead, you fucking wet blanket.

EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: Delve Into Grant the Sun’s “Økologisk Rave”

Eden Kupermintz
Premieres
Another day, another progressive stoner band! But these guys aren't your run of the mill, space obsessed occult weirdos. No, instead, these guys (Grant the Sun, that is) are members of bands like Insense and the grindcore act Beaten to Death and their less than standard pedigree shines through and the newest track from their upcoming debut EP, "Økologisk Rave". The track is a weird jaunt between stoner tinged riffs, Meshuggah like chugging and soloing and an overall sense of technicality melded with aggression. Over all of that plays an ecological theme that's hard to deny, lending the track a message and purpose. Head on over below for the new track and let's meet up later to discuss.

What Heavy Blog Is Really Listening To – 3/3/17

Scott Murphy
What We're Really Listening To
For those who missed our last installment, We post biweekly updates covering what the staff at Heavy Blog have been spinning. Given the amount of time we spend on the site telling you about music that does not fall neatly into the confines of conventional “metal,” it should come as no surprise that many of us on staff have pretty eclectic tastes that range far outside of metal and heavy things. We can’t post about all of them at length here, but we can at least let you know what we’re actually listening to. For those that would like to participate as well (and please do) can drop a 3X3 in the comments, which can be made with tapmusic.net through your last.fm account, or create it manually with topsters.net. Also, consider these posts open threads to talk about pretty much anything music-related. We love hearing all of your thoughts on this stuff and love being able to nerd out along with all of you.

Festival Primer 2017

Heavy Blog
News
How to navigate the sheer number of festivals now available for the metal fan? With the aim of helping you sort through this vast variety, we've compiled the following primer. It's by no means extensive; it's simply impossible to write about all of the festivals we would have liked to mention. We focused on those we'll be attending and on those who have the most attractive setlists in our eyes. That being said, do feel free to share more great festivals with us in the comments and please enjoy this, our selection of festivals for 2017.