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Yes, that title does refer to the two styles of music and the trading card game. 

We were tempted to post a mid-’80s photo of German thrashers Exumer. But, alas, this would be a misrepresentation of the reality of time. Actually, that’s not entirely true. For the better part of two decades Exumer has parlayed Euro-centric thrash into solid gold. That’s right, from 1985 to 2016, the Germans have transcended time and trends to make what is arguably the best thrash album to hit the public since Exodus’ Force of Habit.

“Spain’s superb hardcore punk misfits clash with Finland’s finest grindcore deviants on this unforgivingly brutal split 7” that’s going to pummel you into submission from the very first notes.”

** After a late night driving session with a friend trying to trick me into falsely identifying Finnish melodic death/rock outfit Fall of the Leafe’s third album, Fermina, I figured the Deciblog could use some Finnish mastery. Though this piece would go nicely to complement my cover story on Finland (HERE), it’s really too hard to forget how great Fall of the Leafe were. Early on, they held the tenets of melodic death metal tight–with flair–but as they matured, so too did the music. OK, so albums from Fermina on were light on death metal, they were heavy on wicked riffs, oddball songwriting, crazy singing, and emotion. Check out my favorite Fall of Leafe tunes below!

In the second installment of DEMO:LISTEN we resurrect two 2015 demos worthy of attention from the discerning metalhead.

More readers than Antonio Cromartie and Mel Gibson’s kids combined! 

Featuring ex-members of Transistor Transistor, Trap Them, Landmine Marathon, and Abigail WIlliams, the immersive, affecting debut from True Cross, Pure Divorce, deftly imbues majestic layered soundscapes situated somewhere between My Bloody Valentine, Jesus and Mary Chain, Dinosaur Jr and Slowdive with the power and transfixing sway of its primal predecessors. 

It’s a legit Zelda Rubinstein-style multidimensional experience — which is to say even as you feel the warmth of the light and the strange, ethereal allure of the other side it is pure sturm und drang all along the path.

Change is good: Ketzer progress beyond the confines of black metal in a very Tribulation-esque movement. 

This is Eddie Gobbo, the million-dollar man with the billion-dollar plan.

Every week, Decibel will premiere a new demo by a band of heavy nature. There’s no boundaries here, either. Death, black, doom, sludge, progressive, stoner, retro, whatever! It’s all fair game. What’s this new section on the esteemed Deciblog called? DEMO:LITION, naturally.

This week we have Germany’s Anasarca on the DEMO:LITION chopping block.

Meshuggah. Gorguts. Nails. Pig Destroyer. Sure, these are some of the most anticipated metal releases of 2016, but what about the best nu-metal coming out in the nu-year?

We’re pretty sure you want to spend your time today hanging with family and friends, stocking up on all sorts of imbibables or preparing for a raging night out on the town, so in the interest of all that, we’ll keep today’s introduction to Kelowna, British Columbia’s Gomorrah short and sweet.

Case’s passion for the heavy stuff runneth over like crazy.

Eyes Alive, the sophomore offering from Texas’ premiere purveyors of “Alaskan Mountain Metal” Turbid North, is essentially a master class in how to meld the best of various extreme metal subgenres in clever and effective ways without sacrificing any of the primal potency that makes great metal great.

Best Underground Metal Tapes of the Year , pt. II, featuring Ghûllzaraën of Necromantic Worship, hidden messages, Eli W. of Spectral Voice, unpronounceable band names, Hansel of Caligari Records, quotes from the underground and so much more! 

On the two-year anniversary of his death, we look back on Lemmy’s in-depth Decibel cover story.

Every so often, we take a little time on Mondays to pay tribute to the Muthas! That is, reprinting the adorable metal/maternal Q&As that run in the magazine. Today, enjoy Justin Norton’s chat with Dorothy Pendleton, mutha of SubRosa’s Sarah Pendleton. 

The NFL’s Leading Airing of Grievances Vehicle.

There are two kinds of people in the world: Those who think Scorpions only really put out a couple hits and those who are shocked and appalled by the first people.

Our resident video game expert counts down the titles that bring the metal. 

It’s Star Wars week. Let’s get annoying.

Their story was too unreal — surreal — and insane to be true — but it was. — Philip H. Anselmo

We’ve pulled excerpts from some of our favorite interview subjects from the past calendar year, from old-school hardcore vets to legendary professional wrestlers. 

The metalhead’s guide to the NFL

The Color of Noise is an exhaustive and absolutely fascinating look at a label which is now synonymous with the genre, aesthetic and attitude. But it goes way beyond anecdotes about Helmet’s demo tape and the Dope, Guns, and Fucking in the Streets comps. 

Best Underground Metal Tapes of the Year, pt. I, featuring Jon Von Frost, Jake R. of Graceless Recordings, Jullian Rhea of Of Corpse & Cryptic Excision and much more!

Chris Dick’s five essential metal-on-metal covers, by At the Gates, Slayer, Sepultura, and more.

“This direction is Lower. It requires madness, by losing sanity key.”

Former Fangoria Editor in Chief/current Shock Till You Drop overlord and auteur Chris Alexander unleashes a completely remastered, expanded, vivified edition of his strange and beguiling way-the-fuck-down-the-rabbit-hole collection Music For Murder. 

Sera Timms of Ides Of Gemini talked to us about her path in an ancient art often derided as fortune telling and why there’s more to it than many expect.