Bow-down before the Lords of American Blackened Death Metal!
While metal bands are generally not treated with the utmost respect, there is proof Goatwhore should be. Their album Blood For The Master debuted on the Billboard Heatseeker chart at #4, not to mention ranking in at #19 on the iTunes Rock chart upon its first week of release. Named the Best Hard Rock/Metal Artist at The Big Easy Awards in 2010, and known as “the hardest-working band in metal,” Goatwhore keeps producing, keeps touring and keeps proving themselves to be a truly formidable force in music. We can only wait to see what Constricting Rage of the Merciless will be recognized for.
Goatwhore formed in 1997 in New Orleans, Louisiana with Sammy Duet, former singer/guitarist of Acid Bath, and Soilent Green singer L. Ben Falgoust II. There have been a few changes over the years for the group from labels to musicians, with Zack Simmons on drums and James Harvey on Bass establishing the current lineup.
The band debuted in 1998 with the demo LP Serenades to the Tides of Blood; The Eclipse of Ages into Black, followed in early 2000. Funeral Dirge for the Rotting Sun was released in 2003 before the band switched to record label Metal Blade for their 2006 release A Haunting Curse. In 2009, Goatwhore released their fourth album with new and current drummer Zack Simmons (ex-Nachtmystium), entitled Carving out the Eyes of God. Their fifth album, Blood for the Master, introduced Bassist James Harvey and thus completes the band as it is today with Constricting Rage of the Merciless – Goatwhore’s sixth and most recent album.
While many might consider metal “noise” music, especially extreme metal, Goatwhore makes what they do actual music. This time the group is more cerebral with their work, a fact evident in some of their songs. To be clear, Goatwhore isn’t a band who experiments with many new styles and sounds, though their songs are recognizably different from track to track. Their sound is neither unique nor unidentifiable; it is their skill and musical value that sets them apart from the rest. From the start, “Poisonous Existence In Reawakening” hammers the audience into order while “Barring Teeth for Revolt” aligns the throng of followers. Furious and unyielding does Goatwhore lead on with the raging tempos of “Unraveling Paradise,” all the while maintaining an ever present discontent of methods in common madness to the commonly cultured.
Unlike the album, there is no end to the reign of Goatwhore in sight. Align yourself with the dark horde.
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