Each month we bring you a handful of unsigned bands from all over the globe that deserve your attention. They run the gamut from death, black, thrash, hardcore, power and progressive metal all the way to hard rock. The metal community is only as strong as its underground scene, so support these and other unsigned bands.
Interested in having your unsigned metal band featured in this column?
Email your promo material to heavymetal@aboutguide.com with the subject line Unsigned Underground. You must send a link to your recording and a bio. We will personally check out all submissions, but only the month's best will be featured here.
Genre: Crusty Hardcore
If you’ve got a fever and the only prescription is supremely nasty hardcore, these mischievous Missourians will happily provide their cure. Side effects include deafness, neck stiffness and broken bones. Somewhere between the pummel of Nails, Ringworm’s greasy spoon hardcore, and the noisy discord of Cancer Bats rests the shadow of Cathedral Fever’s EP All Pit, No Pendulum.
It’s mean, loud, and doesn’t care how your day’s going. From the inebriated wobble of “Synthetic Echo” to the diesel-fueled bruiser “Oblivion Bed,” these delinquents fuse hardcore with outlaw rock’n’roll. Meet me in Saint Louis, Louis, and we can mix things up in the pit while Cathedral Fever spray us with their awesome.
Genre: Death Metal
Temperatures in the Phoenix/Tucson, AZ area – Gatecreeper’s prowling grounds – routinely reach 100 degrees in the summer. I hope there was an air conditioner running in whatever crypt their self-titled EP was recorded in, because things could get a little ripe in there.
Those craving the buzzsaw guitar assault of early Entombed and Bolt Thrower’s crusty charge will delight in “Void Below.” Those more interested in the putrid groove of Grave and their Swedeath brethren will over-indulge on “Force Fed” and “Overdose.” This release reinforces the idea that there’s no school like the old school. This is blue-collar death metal that’s definitely recommended if you like your meat raw and your taters rotten.
Genre: Blackened Grind
The black smoke these Australians are referencing is probably from the raging pyre engulfing their songs. On Follow the Black Smoke Earth Rot meld several genres together and scorch ‘em until what’s left are a bunch of blackened riffs sharp enough to be used as weaponry. There’s a bit of Dismember, Trap Them’s take-no-prisoners mutated grind, and enough dark melodicism that it could comfortably visit Gothenburg and not be called a tourist.
The whole album will delight those who like their music frenzied’n’feral, but it’s an adventurous release that delights in every moment – from the opening Watain stomp of “The Pact” to the harsh noise of “Witch Vomit.” This is one occasion where black smoke don’t mean it’s broke.
Genre: Doom Metal
Brighton, UK was once a health resort renowned for their therapeutic sea baths. From the 26 minutes of massively stoned, progressive doom on this three-song self-titled EP, I’m going to guess the members of King Goat prefer the medicinal advantages of a certain green herb, though.
With vocals that mutate from Matt Pike’s meat-gurgling croak to Lee Dorian’s theatrical croon, “The Final Decline” drifts from psychedelia to classic Cathedral with a mean streak. Gargantuan riffs, rich bass, and thundering rhythms march this British band into contention as a doom act to follow carefully. I don’t normally support the idea of a monarchy, but I’d proudly pledge fealty to King Goat.
Genre: Speed Metal
I just need you to take a moment and appreciate the pure metallic majesty of Built for Speed’s album cover: The lightning-struck skeletal guitarist triumphantly hoisting his Flying-V, the copious emptied beer cans, and the “666” license plate prepare you for what you expect from a band called Speedbreaker.
These German troublemakers blaze well past the speed limit in anthemic tracks that punch the air with leather-gloved fists and bark-along choruses. If you have a Destruction or Artillery back patch you owe it to yourself to check out the nimble-fingered “Night Patrol” and the NWOBHM-influenced thrash these guys have muscled into this ode to beer and speed. Drink (and drive) responsibly.
Interested in having your unsigned metal band featured in this column?
Email your promo material to heavymetal@aboutguide.com with the subject line Unsigned Underground. You must send a link to your recording and a bio. We will personally check out all submissions, but only the month's best will be featured here.
Cathedral Fever – 'All Pit, No Pendulum'
Genre: Crusty Hardcore
If you’ve got a fever and the only prescription is supremely nasty hardcore, these mischievous Missourians will happily provide their cure. Side effects include deafness, neck stiffness and broken bones. Somewhere between the pummel of Nails, Ringworm’s greasy spoon hardcore, and the noisy discord of Cancer Bats rests the shadow of Cathedral Fever’s EP All Pit, No Pendulum.
It’s mean, loud, and doesn’t care how your day’s going. From the inebriated wobble of “Synthetic Echo” to the diesel-fueled bruiser “Oblivion Bed,” these delinquents fuse hardcore with outlaw rock’n’roll. Meet me in Saint Louis, Louis, and we can mix things up in the pit while Cathedral Fever spray us with their awesome.
Gatecreeper – 'Gatecreeper'
Genre: Death Metal
Temperatures in the Phoenix/Tucson, AZ area – Gatecreeper’s prowling grounds – routinely reach 100 degrees in the summer. I hope there was an air conditioner running in whatever crypt their self-titled EP was recorded in, because things could get a little ripe in there.
Those craving the buzzsaw guitar assault of early Entombed and Bolt Thrower’s crusty charge will delight in “Void Below.” Those more interested in the putrid groove of Grave and their Swedeath brethren will over-indulge on “Force Fed” and “Overdose.” This release reinforces the idea that there’s no school like the old school. This is blue-collar death metal that’s definitely recommended if you like your meat raw and your taters rotten.
Earth Rot – 'Follow the Black Smoke'
Genre: Blackened Grind
The black smoke these Australians are referencing is probably from the raging pyre engulfing their songs. On Follow the Black Smoke Earth Rot meld several genres together and scorch ‘em until what’s left are a bunch of blackened riffs sharp enough to be used as weaponry. There’s a bit of Dismember, Trap Them’s take-no-prisoners mutated grind, and enough dark melodicism that it could comfortably visit Gothenburg and not be called a tourist.
The whole album will delight those who like their music frenzied’n’feral, but it’s an adventurous release that delights in every moment – from the opening Watain stomp of “The Pact” to the harsh noise of “Witch Vomit.” This is one occasion where black smoke don’t mean it’s broke.
King Goat – 'King Goat'
Genre: Doom Metal
Brighton, UK was once a health resort renowned for their therapeutic sea baths. From the 26 minutes of massively stoned, progressive doom on this three-song self-titled EP, I’m going to guess the members of King Goat prefer the medicinal advantages of a certain green herb, though.
With vocals that mutate from Matt Pike’s meat-gurgling croak to Lee Dorian’s theatrical croon, “The Final Decline” drifts from psychedelia to classic Cathedral with a mean streak. Gargantuan riffs, rich bass, and thundering rhythms march this British band into contention as a doom act to follow carefully. I don’t normally support the idea of a monarchy, but I’d proudly pledge fealty to King Goat.
Speedbreaker – 'Built for Speed'
Genre: Speed Metal
I just need you to take a moment and appreciate the pure metallic majesty of Built for Speed’s album cover: The lightning-struck skeletal guitarist triumphantly hoisting his Flying-V, the copious emptied beer cans, and the “666” license plate prepare you for what you expect from a band called Speedbreaker.
These German troublemakers blaze well past the speed limit in anthemic tracks that punch the air with leather-gloved fists and bark-along choruses. If you have a Destruction or Artillery back patch you owe it to yourself to check out the nimble-fingered “Night Patrol” and the NWOBHM-influenced thrash these guys have muscled into this ode to beer and speed. Drink (and drive) responsibly.
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