No, a fairy in a green dress is not a part of the contest.

“Monday Is Here is about something that happened in my childhood that effects how I still perceive things,” says lead dreamweaver Mike VanPortfleet.

It’s almost Independence Day, so let’s celebrate with a rousing cover from a German power metal band!

The five-piece is finally gearing up for a new album, but in the interim, self-releasing a 7-inch/digital single called “Xenophobe”/”Fear Itself” and we’re proud to unleash the former track first.

If you’re ever in Canada, say the name ‘Golers’ at any downtrodden watering hole and watch dudes fired up on discount cases of Old Vienna hold their brewski aloft in celebratory salute (after which you can guarantee you’ve just made a sketchy, greasy friend for life). On the other hand…

“Serpents,” the leadoff track from forthcoming second full-length Natron, is all about That Riff. We’re talking Isis Celestial-level slow-bang, people.

As Superjoint Ritual prepares to tour for the first time in ten years, Decibel caught up with legendary frontman Philip H. Anselmo — a top five extreme metal vocalist, by our estimation — for a chat about resurrecting dormant bands, the bittersweet upcoming third Housecore Horror Film Festival, the late, great Corey Mitchell, and the state of that long gestating autobiography.

In the event you are enjoying summer too thoroughly, Orchestrated Misery is giving away five copies of Crushed by the Wheels of Progress, the second full-length by Indiana sludge trio Yellowtooth, in order to remind you why everything is terrible. 

The proverbial long way to the top has definitely been a long one for Byzantine, which started in a part of rural West Virginia with minimal access to heavy metal and widespread economic problems. Many of the band’s best songs since their formation have touched on the problems of Appalachia, particularly rampant prescription drug abuse. Decibel  talked to frontman Chris “OJ” Ojeda about his long metal apprenticeship and one of the world’s most dangerous jobs: prescription pharmacy delivery driver in rural America. 

Danish death squad Undergang are set to release their third full-length, Døden Læger Alle Sår, on Dark Descent July 10. Take a listen to the whole thing right here.