Recorded at Mana Studios, the long awaited follow-up release to 2007's They Rise, Horror Holocaust, is scheduled for a US release date of August 2nd, 2011 on Ibex Moon Records. The current line-up of the band features drummer Rob Rampy (DRI, The Spears), vocalist Blaine Cook (the Accused, The Fartz), bassist Terry Butler (Death, Six Feet Under, Massacre, Obituary) & guitarist Sam Williams (Down By Law, The Spears). Horror Holocaust also features guest appearances from Steve Swanson (Six Feet Under), Ralph Santolla (Deicide, Obituary) and James Murphy (Obituary, Testament). Denial Fiend has posted a video preview featuring a clip of the first song on Horror Holocaust called "Corrupted Flesh." Visit this location or their Facebook page to check out the video. Additionally, the band is currently streaming several tracks from the album on their ReverbNation page, located at www.reverbnation.com/denialfiend. Bassist Terry Butler comments on the album. "Horror Holocaust is quite simply one of the best records I've played on. It's an perfect mix of thrash, punk and death metal. The songs are aggressive, tight and heavy. I'm very proud of this one." To celebrate the release of Horror Holocaust, Denial Fiend has teamed up with HorrorMerch.com, Plan 916 Guitars, Ibex Moon Records and the makers of Afterparty Massacre to give away a Sam Williams custom guitar featuring artwork from the album. Also available in the giveaway is an autographed copy of the Afterparty Massacre movie, CD soundtrack, 7 inch and also a weapon prop of your choice from the movie! Plus 10 runners up will be getting a copy of the new Denial Fiend - Horror Holocaust CD (In Stores Aug 2) and a pack of CDs from Ibex Moon Records!
Track list
Corrupted Flesh
Stuck Pig/Bleeding Out
Flesh Coffin
After Party Massacre
Horror Holocaust
Fiend Without A Face
Dunsmoor
Hell Asylum
USA's Denial Fiend finally returns this year, after a 4 year break and a slight shift in lineup with their second full length album, Horror Holocaust. Having already released a sneak preview of what to expect in the form of the Ibex Moon Records After Party Massacre Soundtrack compilation CD with the track After Party Massacre, Horror Holocaust brings to listeners more music in the style already presented on that track.
ВідповістиВидалитиThe first thing that one notices is the change in vocal stylings. While 2007's They Rise album featured Kam Lee on vocals, Horror Holocaust sees vocalist Blaine Cook's debut studio performance with the band and the difference is immediately noticeable, right from the opening track Corrupted Flesh. While the music with Kam Lee featured a more traditional death growl, Blaine Cook, with his thrash metal/crossover background certainly brings a breath of fresh air into the music, with his high pitch thrash metal/punk-ish shouting vocal styles, at times bordering on screams and shrieks, and this might put off fans who are already used to Kam Lee's deep growls.
If you were like myself, with After Party Massacre being the first of Denial Fiend that you encounter, fret not as that is probably one of the weakest tracks on the album, as the rest of the album are fun-filled, energetic death/thrash metal. While the music on Horror Holocaust sees the music become less heavy and brutal than on They Rise, this was certainly made up with this through the sheer energy that is bursting out of the band, focussing instead on the speed of the music to ensure that the album is one wild and crazy ride for anyone who manages to sit through the whole album.
The guitars are of course, another highlight on the album as guitarist Sam Williams lets it rip on his guitar with at times soaring and guitar solos, and at times simply pure face-ripping shredding, on top of the brilliant riffs beneath. Solos such as those on Stuck Pig/Bleeding Out are melodic and well thought out, with the less-distorted-than-usual lead tone adding a unique taste to the song. the The palm-muted, heavily chugged riffs ensure that the death metal roots of the band are not forgotten, yet the increased pace that the band has travelled at (courtesy in part of drummer Rob who maintains the pace of the music throughout) displays the increasing thrash metal influences that the band has injected into the music this time.
The background shouting and spoken vocals that were utilised on the previous album have also remained, retaining the punk edge in the music as well, such as on title track Horror Holocaust. The band also keeps up the haunting mood through the instrumental interlude Dunsmoor, which also happens to be a track that is bass-heavy, and while it does not exactly display the technical talent and prowess that bassist Terry has, it displays the ability for the band to make use of every instrument in the band to keep up the intended mood and atmosphere throughout the album.
The only track throughout the record that caused the album to suffer slightly is After Party Massacre with the awkward riffing and tempo of the band, especially on the opening lines of the song, though this is more than made up as the song progresses, with the inclusion of the quirky and softer segments in the middle of the track.
Horror Holocaust is an alienating record, especially for longtime fans of Denial Fiend. The vocalist tends to end up becoming the sound and the face of the band, and this is also the case of Denial Fiend as the introduction of Blaine and his impact on the band's sound has proven. However, when listened to with an open mind, Horror Holocaust certainly deserves to be classified as a masterpiece in its own rights.
http://heavymetaltribune.blogspot.com/2011/08/album-review-denial-fiend-horror.html
Like a swift kick to the frank N’ beans, the new release by this death metal “super group” is shocking and very painful. I really loved Denial Fiend‘s quirky 2007 debut They Rise. It merged nasty, old school American death metal and punk rock with a party atmosphere and although very tongue in cheek, it rocked and raged convincingly. To this day it remains in regular rotation at stately Steel Druhm manor. That debut featured some grizzled veterans of the old school scene like bassist Terry Butler (Death, Massacre, Six Feet Under, Obituary) and mega Cookie Monster Kam Lee (Death, Massacre) on vocals. What made They Rise work was the strong similarity to the classic Massacre sound (their From Beyond album is one of the all time best American death metal albums). The songs were savage and raw but also catchy and fun. Basically, it was a damn fine treat for death metal fans. When I heard a new Denial Fiend album was pending, I got giddy like a school girl. When I heard Kam Lee had taken his immense vocal talent elsewhere, I was sad but still hopeful. Well, hope is officially dead. Horror Holocaust features the “vocals” of Blaine Cook (The Accused) and he destroys everything as surely as cops destroy fun and work destroys free time. While there are some decent musical moments, he renders the bulk of the album unlistenable and there’s no denying that it sucks, bigtime.
ВідповістиВидалитиThe basic musical style is the same as on They Rise. It’s mid to fast paced thrashy death with lots of big, crunchy riffings and wild solos. Its not unlike the first three Death albums or any of the classic Massacre material. Unfortunately, Blaine is unleashed behind the mic and on most of the songs he never stops his weird, insane screaming and cartoon voices, thereby making it nearly impossible to pay attention to what the music is doing. On tracks like “Corrupted Flesh” and “Stuck Pig/Bleeding Out” there are some solid riffs and deathly moments but Blaine caterwauls over the top of most of them and I simply couldn’t take it. When Blaine “The Pain” actually gives the music a little space and tries less idiotic voices as on “Flesh Coffin” and “Fiends Without a Face” the songs almost rise to the level of tolerable. Musically speaking, the coolest moments come during the title track which has a Black Sabbath styled riff underpinning things. Also notable is the nifty solo at 3:27.
I’m not going into how solid the riffing or drumming is. There’s no point because the vocals render all that null and void. Blaine’s vocals manage to accurately convey the feeling of being trapped on an airplane for hours next to a shrieking baby. It doesn’t matter what else may be going on, all you hear is WAAAAAAAHH! Its an absolute record killer in every way and the coroner’s report will list ”death by cartoonish screaming” as the cause of Denial Fiend‘s untimely demise. The man needs to learn the difference between extreme vocals and fucking annoying vocals. It’s a bit too late now since this thing is dead to me and I will never listen to it again, ever.
I would like to take a moment to personally apologize to Patrick Mameli of Pestilence for bashing his vocals on the Doctrine album. In hindsight they weren’t so bad. If you want to hear what bad really sounds like, here it is. Avoid this except as a gag gift for people you don’t like very much. WAAAAAAAH!
http://www.angrymetalguy.com/denial-fiend-horror-holocaust-review/
Florida’s Denial Fiend has offered up their second full length for the metal masses to hopefully (in their minds) consume. Highlighted by member Terry Butler (Obituary, ex-Massacre, ex-Death, Six Feet Under), Horror Holocaust is an album that takes a few spins to truly soak in. At first, the overall package is nothing truly spectacular though it’s not exactly lousy. However, it’s the vocals department that surely will crook the necks of most who will give it a listen.
ВідповістиВидалитиMusically, it’s rather typical in the flavor of death metal, thrash and crossover. The riffs and songs structures are usually catchy, though nothing original has been laid to tape. Somewhat similar in delivery to old DRI (funny, considering that drummer Rob Rampy resides in said band) and at times Johnny Vomit, Denial Fiend’s newest release is punishing, full of attitude and at times fairly comical.
Vocalist Blaine “Fart” Cooke’s style takes quite a while with which to become accustomed. His wild delivery ranges from bizarre to humorous to demented to annoying, usually all together in each song. Cooke, who also fronts The Accused and Toe Tag, is a colorful mix of Jello Biafra, Paul Baloff, Steve Souza and even Simon Forrest (Cerebral Fix) in spots. His growls, rambles, shouts and chants definitely give each song its own unique personality, but his style is one that will polarize whoever listens; they’ll either love him or hate him.
In the end, Horror Holocaust is an entertaining listen, though it’s not something that will be routinely placed within my stereo. Like previously mentioned, the music isn’t bad; some of the songs are rather catchy. But it’s Cooke’s singing that, in my opinion, bring the record down a peg or two. No doubt that the way he sings is original and I’ll understand those who like his style; it’s just not my cup of tea.
By: Mike Sloan
http://www.blistering.com/fastpage/fpengine.php/templateid/23280/menuid/2/tempidx/4/link/1