Video Premier of Destroyer of Light's "Forbidden Zombi Ritual" with an Interview Thrown in For Good Measure

Since their appearance on the original Bong Hits From the Astral Basement, Austin's Destroyer of Light have slowly and steadily, in true zombie fashion, overrun the underground metal scene. Blending Candlemass wail with well placed death growls, Destroyer of Light bridge the gap between traditional metal and the more extreme sub genres, while wisely never going full cookie monster. I spoke with Steve (guitar/vox/mastermind) about the lineup changes, touring plans, and their new video, which makes its world premier at the bottom of this page.  

Justin- Can you tell me about the lineup change? Have you found a new bassist?

Steve- Well, the line-up changed happened because we didn't see eye to eye in what it is to be a touring musician. This is a business to us as we want to get to the point that we can make money on tour and invest a lot into this band. Nothing against Mark, he is a great bassist and hope he continues to play music in other projects, we are still his friends. However, we are entering our second year as a band, and want to take things further than we did since our inception in 2012. As far as a new bassist, we have tried out a couple of guys, and while we haven't made any confirmation on a new bass player, the search has been going well. And I expect that we will be back playing shows by February.

J- Tell me about the new EP. How do you compare it to the previous release?

S- Bizarre Tales Vol. 2 was recorded at the same studio as the Self-Titled, Yellow Dog Studios in Austin, TX. The engineer, Matt Meli, really liked working with us on the first EP, and he wanted to record us again. This time though, we were able to take more time to make sure that we got everything to sound the way we wanted. Some of these songs we wrote way back when we first started, and then a couple of the songs were written right before we decided to record in the studio. On this album too, it features more material that was written more so by Keegan, and then there is a song that was also written by Mark. Where on the first record, I wrote most of the material. So, it's cool because this EP shows how diverse we can be as a band, and presents a different side to us than the S/T. Most of the lyrics are still the same, as they are fictional tales of horror, sci-fi, and the Greeks.

J- The video is cool as hell, who did the animation and put it all together?

S- Thanks! Well, the guy who made the video is Erik Bredthauer, and we posted on our Facebook page looking for someone to do animation for us to promote our new single. He contacted me, and said that he had never done this for a band, but does these kind of projects for work. And as a fan of the band, he wanted to help us out and have fun with the project. So, it was really cool that he wanted to take time out of his day to help us get a pretty cool animation to go along with this song. What we were looking for was a Tales From the Crypt comic style kind of animation. As most of my lyrics delve into horror, and this song is about Zombies, we thought it would be perfect to do that kind of match. I am really happy with it, and can't wait to premiere "Forbidden Zombi Ritual" to the world. The record has been done since October; so, it'll be great to get this out.

J- What are your touring plans and how soon before you get on the road?

S- As of right now, we are discussing when we will be back on the road, but we are going to shoot for early April. First, we need to solidify our new line-up, practice through our new setlist, and another thing we are really looking to do before we tour is release our new EP on vinyl. So, we will be trying to find ways to put out this vinyl because the artwork is fantastic and it would look really good. Plus, the more mercy we can sell on the road, the better.

J- Anything else you want to add?

S- Lastly, I would like to thank everybody for the support so far, we don't plan on stopping anytime soon. If anything, we plan on coming through your town more and more, and have plans for more releases, etc. I hope you enjoy the new song, "Forbidden Zombi Ritual." You can find us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/destroyeroflight), Twitter (dolaustindoom), Instagram, and band camp (www.destroyeroflight.bandcamp.com). Thank you again, and we will see you soon in your town! Cheers!

And now that you are up to speed on the happenings in the Destroyer of Light camp, please enjoy the premier of their new video, "Forbidden Zombi Ritual". Duuuude.

New Band To Burn One To: GOLD LEATHER

HEAVY PLANET presents...GOLD LEATHER!

BAND BIO:

Gold Leather is the noisy sweat factory constructed by former Missoulians Wes Williamson (vocals, guitar, keyboard), Jared Sayre (drums, vocals), and original Austinite Zane Andrews (guitar, vocals). Starting with just Sayre and Williamson playing in the garage of their North Austin home, the trio has matured into a full-frontal exposure of Danzig-esque high notes with a grimy aftertaste of sludge. Gold Leather sounds like your back feels after peeling it off of the seat of an El Camino on a hot July day in Central Texas.

THOUGHTS:
"This Austin-based band states interests such as switch blades, danger babes and hand grenades...sounds like one hell of a party to me. So in honor of yesterday's Cinco de Mayo celebration, get ready to suck down a pitcher of margaritas and woof down a fistful of fish tacos while listening to these mighty noise blasters known as Gold Leather. The music contained on Gold Leather's new EP "Illuminasti"  melds an eclectic mix of pulsating rhythms, Deep Purple-like keyboard pounding (at times) and a crazy southern groove. The eerie sounding keyboard lends to the intergalactic "sound" of these sludgy and twisted space-demons from the big ol' state of Texas. The variety and intensity on this EP is both devastating and hugely interesting. Very cool stuff you have here."
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EP Review: Destroyer of Light by Destroyer of Light

When I lived in Toledo, Ohio, I rested my head fewer than fifty paces from a vinyl shop- RamaLama Records. I could wake up, roll out of bed, and get into that  record store before my hangover kicked in. It was glorious. I was spoiled. Then I moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, and my vinyl connection melted into the proverbial sunset.

But, before I escaped from the Buckeye State I scoured apartments in the Zoo, looking for a shack close to a record store. I couldn't  find any places as close as I'd become accustomed to, but I did find a decent shop, and when I walked in and bought Trouble's Run to the Light the manager talked to me for thirty minutes. I'd found my home away from home. My third place.

That store is Greenlight Records, and the manger is Chris, and during one of our frequent conversations he suggested I give a listen to a band of Kalamazoo expats who now dwell in Austin. Destroyer of Light.
Destroyer of Light play heavy doom with a hint of death. They boast mostly clean vocals with a smattering of bowel shaking death growls that are used to season the tunes. These extreme vocals work amazingly well when paired with the at times Messiah Marcolin like clean vocals that are the norm on the album .

The album kicks off with the "single", or at least the tune a video was made for, Greet Death and it is a great summation of what this band is all about- heavy doom riffing, creepy clean vocals, and scare your dog death growls. A helluva way to kick things off. Next up is The Virgin, a Rosemary's Baby tale about giving birth to Satan. The tune starts out with feedback and builds and builds to a funeral stomp with cough syrup vocals that drip slow and clean. A chorus works its way between the riffs, then more of those codeine calls before the death growls pop up to remind you how evil this ditty is, least you'd forgotten. The tune ends with the whole coven coming down to the studio to sing back up on the chorus. Cool. So Divided could start a whole new genre: protest doom. Current and eternal evils are discussed and I'm reminded of all those great message songs Sabbath put out so many years ago. Coffin Hunter rises next, and you can guess what this tune is all about. There is a solo buried in the mix around three minutes and forty seconds in that's worth checking out, it tries and tries to rise above the sludgy dirge but is soon silenced by death growls. The album ends with Asteroid and I've included a live clip here so I'll spare you my stuttering description. Destroyer of Light are collecting funds to put out some vinyl, so visit their Bandcamp page- if you're so inclined.

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NUCLEAR DOG'S ATOMIC SPLIT: WO FAT / NIGHTSTALKER

Today Heavy Planet introduces a new feature, Nuclear Dog's Atomic Split, a feature in the same vein as Zac's Double Dose, bringing you more of the new, ass kickin' music HP provides for discovery and enjoyment. Today's debut features albums from one of Rock's premier labels, Small Stone Records. Both bands featured come to Small Stone after having released previous recordings on other labels. Both bands bring a world of experience and know how to a style of rock that leans toward the genius that permeated seventies rock. One band is an old favorite, well known in the world of stoner/doom/psych rock, the other band perhaps relatively unknown until hopefully now. Old or new, known or unknown, the bands represented by Small Stone Records always deliver the goods, in rock n roll spades, and today is no exception. So, please enjoy this debut presentation of Nuclear Dog's Atomic Split, featuring Wo Fat and Nightstalker.

Wo Fat - The Black Code

Wo Fat have delivered a new album, "The Black Code" on their new label, Small Stone Records, that demonstrates a rare ability to produce a musical collection that is both familiar and fresh, an accomplishment that occurs seldomly when bands and artists begin to issue music beyond their first few releases. Wo Fat have now released 4 superb albums, all of them maintaining the loud and low seventies sound characterized by their favorite influences, Black Sabbath, ZZ Top, and Jimi Hendrix. The accomplished threesome from Austin, Texas loudly demonstrate their own special brand of stoner/doom/psych rock while generating tons of low fuzz distortion, combining for as great an experience as you can ask for on a heavy stoner/doom/psych offering. Check out the opening track "Lost Highway", which opens with a jeet kune do jab of stoner riffage right between the eyes and only builds from there. Or enjoy the psychedelic journey of "Sleep of the Black Lotus", which burns slowly, hotly, consistently down the mile long trek of its tightly packed fuse.

You will recognize the brilliance of Wo Fat on "The Black Code" while enjoying the fresh set of songs they have conjured up through the haze and smoke of their Hill Country hoodoo. The CD release is scheduled for November 13. The digital version is available now.

Band Members:
Kent Stump - Guitar, Vox, Fender Rhodes
Tim Wilson - Bass
Michael Walter - Baterie Mastodonica, Vox

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NightStalker - Dead Rock Commando

Nightstalker are a great addition to the Small Stone selection of simply great rock and roll. The rock they deliver is a consummation of their many years playing, the skill levels they’ve developed during that time in both instrument execution and song construction, and the apparent joy they continue to experience in creating some of the coolest rock music available on the planet. The CD has just become available, releasing on August 28th.


One of Small Stone Record’s newest signings is Nightstalker, but this band has been around for a long time, since 1989 in fact. Hailing from Greece these guys have played with numerous rock bands, both known and perhaps not so well known. They are veterans of 6 album releases, including the latest on Small Stone Records, “Dead Rock Commandos”, which can be classified as a flat out masterpiece of cleverly crafted rock that explodes at the same time with re-entry intensity. Lots of loud and heavy guitar laid down on tnt laden bass and drums, all wrapped in melodies that lend themselves perfectly to guitar heavy  rock. Each song is capped off by the brilliant and gifted vocals of Argy, the lead singer, who clearly relishes his ability and the opportunity to belt out the finely crafted songs on this album. The title track displays the adept, aggressive, and athletic style of Nightstalker, delivering a near perfect execution of what rock should be: enjoying and exhilarating. The opening track, “Go Get Some” is an all out guitar offensive with melodic underpinnings, while “The Boogieman Plan” delivers perhaps the most energetic track on the album, a relentless jab, cross, jab assault that comes close to providing a knock out punch of guitar force and fury.





Band Members:
Argy: Vocals
Andreas Lagios: Bass
Tolis Motsios: Guitars
Dinos Roulos: Drums

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In one fell swoop Small Stone Records have managed to deliver two candidates for album of the year with Wo Fat’s “The Black Code” and Nightstalker’s “Dead Rock Commandos”, two albums that will likely be enjoyed by those of us that love the good kind of rock n’ roll for years to come.

New Band To Burn One To: BAD LUCIFER

Heavy Planet presents...BAD LUCIFER!

Today's "New Band To Burn One To" comes to you from Austin, Texas.

Band Bio:

We are a stoner rock band from Austin, Texas. We are newly formed since October of 2011. Our band consists of 3 members, Tiffany Barron on vocals and guitar, Rebecca Hubinsky on drums and Steven Kerner on bass. We are all veterans of the Austin music scene. Tiffany Barron was the bass player for the black metal band Cuss Pig, Rebecca Hubinsky was the drummer for local band One Good Lung and Steven Kerner was the drummer for the touring band Knife in the Water, guitar player for Bluegrass Drive By with Scott Byram and guitar player for the Royal Butchers. Our influences include Jex Thoth, Sleep, Acid King, and Wolves in the Throne Room.



Thoughts:

"With powerful yet sexy and angelic vocals leading the way, Austin's Bad Lucifer is about to turn the Earth to dust with their orgasmic blend of psychedelic-tinged doom and fuzz. The warm tone from the guitar wallows through the steady and slow tempo provided by the tight rhythm section. The mesmerizing tonality launches you into a self-induced coma of kaleidoscopic brilliance and blissful inebriation, a dream you don't ever want to leave. Shame on you..Bad Lucifer!"

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