Getting back to why we created this cast in the first place: We're great friends who love metal and digressions about books and other things on our minds! We zoom, drink a beer, and chat it up. Always enjoyable! This chat was in anticipation of the Decibel Magazine Tour 2024 with HULDER, DEVIL MASTER, WORM and NECROFIER on March 8 at Underground Arts in Philly. The picture for this episode is of Ben and Jeff at the venue in full metal pose. We'll talk about that show and the recent Decibel Metal and Beer Festival on future casts! Music for this episode is "Serpent Drug Cult Mythology" from the album "Death Rituals" by Swamp Witch.

With few exceptions most short lived metal bands make forgettable comeback albums. One very recent and clear exception to this rule is the stunning death doom record "Death of Sorrow" by Sorrow (Extreme Records, 2023). "Death of Sorrow" is equal parts catchy crushing riffs and and deeply personal ferocity--killer vocals and lyrics that are brutal commentaries on political corruption, religious hypocrisy, and the dark side of the human condition. If you've listened to earlier episodes, you know Jeff and Ben are huge fans of hardcore punk legends Black Flag, Minor Threat, and many others. We appreciate hardcore's brutally honest lyrics, DIY ethos, and take no prisoners delivery. To that end, Sorrow is a rare gem. While they play slow crushing death metal, songs like "Doom the World" and "Judicial Falsity" are heavy smack downs on America's broken social systems and suffocating hypocrisy. Most importantly, this deeply personal record is characterized by a seething ferocity that acts as a pressure valve for decades of pent up aggression (fear, hatred and disgust too). Not surprisingly "Death of Sorrow" was #15 on the Endless Metal top 30 of 2023. And it may even be higher now, as we continue to listen to this record over and over into 2024. It was thus an honor to interview Sorrow's original and now reformed lineup: Andy Marchione (Vocals and Bass), Bill Rogan (Guitars), Brett Clarin (Guitars), and Mike Hymson (Drums).

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While it may be a point of debate, Sorrow put "death metal" and "doom" on a flier in 1990 and are thus one of the first band's to integrate two of our favorite metal genres. We revisit their (mostly bleak) past, although they played some killer shows in the early 90s with fellow death doom legends Winter and, as the accompanying visual shows, Sorrow headlined a show with another incredibly influential doom band, Grief (now Come to Grief).

Prior to becoming Sorrow, the band in the late 1980s cut their teeth as Apparition in Long Island's (New York's) burgeoning extreme death metal scene. A scene where their friends from the obscure (wink, wink) death metal band Suffocation were tearing up now defunct local clubs like Sundance. We learn about the band's early struggles as perpetual outsiders to the scene as well as some classic and harrowing stories from the road. Classic tales are told of Sorrow's ill fated signing to the infamous Roadrunner Records in the early 1990s--the label that released the band's first EP "Forgotten Sunrise" and first proper full length "Hatred and Disgust" (1992)--and then summarily dropped Sorrow barely two years later. Fortunately, the band's last rehearsals of new material were captured on video. Although they considered a reunion circa 2010, it took eleven more years for Sorrow to reunite, re-learn, and properly record a new record. Some 30 years later, thanks to the miracle of home digital recording by Andy (mixing) and Brett (mastering) "Death of Sorrow" was finally given its proper release. While it is highly unlikely that Sorrow will ever play a live show again, there is a possibility we may hear some new music in the future (Sorrow from the Grave?).

So turn off the latest news of our corrupt, war ridden world and, indeed, enjoy the gift of Sorrow!

Music included in this episode appears in the following order:

"Doom the World" by Sorrow

"At Dawn They Sleep" by Slayer

"Infinite Universe Infinite Death" by Journey into Darkness

"Eternal Frost" by Winter

"Hidden Fear" by Sorrow

"Judicial Falsity" by Sorrow

"Leave Me in Hell" by Venom

"Flight of the Bumble-bee" by The Great Kat

"A Wasted Cry for Hope" by Sorrow

"Small Man, Big Fan" by Minor Threat

"Dumb and Dumber: So you're telling me there's a chance"

"Fracture" by Spacedive

"Remembered Eternally" (Complete Track) by Sorrow

He’s back! We’re back! After a crappy start to the new year for Ben, we are joined by our buddy Markisan Naso of the Metalheads podcast. It’s an epic beer guzzling hang and recap of best live shows, and metal albums from 2023 that continue to grow on us, including “Foreordained” by the mega monsters of doom Phobocosm and post metal-hardcore mind-blower of a record “Vanta” by Bear (as a special treat, this cast ends with the killer title track of that album released by @pelagic_records in 2023). And then we talk about new records we are looking forward to in 2024, including Glassing, LLNN, Judas Priest, High on Fire and more, including bands not scheduled to release this year but really should (Are you listening, Evoken!?!). A lot of laughs and great time was had by all! So crack open a Third Rye Blind Double Dry-Hopped Rye Double IPA w/ Hallertau Blanc, Simcoe and Citra hops by Mikerphoner Brewing and enjoy! **The first 1:32 intro to the show is the extended saxophone solo from the killer song “Until the Sun Illuminates” from the album “It all Began with Loneliness” by The Anchoret —Markisan’s #1 record of 2023 and a huge grower for Ben!

On this special, end of the year episode, Ben welcomes Ian Gillings of the West Midlands (UK) band Rannoch. After another banner year for metal, Ben selected Rannoch's incomparable epic "Conflagrations" * as his number one album of 2023. The interview was thus an opportunity for Ben to both gush and deep dive into this stunning and, indeed, timeless prog death metal album. In a three hour-plus dialogue, Ben and Ian dig deep into the album's artwork, lyrics, and Ian's process as the band's lead song writer, among other topics.

So sit back, crack open your favorite beverage, and enjoy this special interview to cap off 2023!

*From Rannoch's Bandcamp page:

Accompanied by Australian drumming legend, Dan Presland (Ne Obliviscaris, Black Lava) the seven tracks contained within open up new levels of musicality, punishing aggression, melancholic refrains and winding aural avenues of dark depths and complexity. Produced by Ian Gillings and mixed by James Stephenson (Cradle of Filth, Onslaught, Ghosts of Atlantis) “Conflagrations” represents a new hybrid of progressive death metal.

credits

released July 21, 2023

Ian Gillings - Guitars, vocals, synths and electronics

Richard Page - Guitars

Paul Lloyd - Bass

Dan Presland - Drums

Music included:

Episode introduction: "Conflagrations" (sample)

Post-Interview: "Threnody to a Dying Star"