posted Dec 3, 2013, 4:46 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Dec 3, 2013, 4:47 PM
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A TRIBUTE TO THE COOLEST GHOUL, SVENGOOLIE + REVIEW OF DYING FETUS & EXHUMED!
This week, all Worm-fiends should take off their hats and bow their heads as we pay tribute to one of the greatest horror hosts ever, the original SVENGOOLIE! As portrayed by the brilliant JERRY G. BISHOP, Sven was a true "horror hippie" who inspired dozens of imitators with his quick quips and sinister skits, not the least of which is the super-popular SON OF SVENGOOLIE who has followed directly in his footsteps. Sven was a Chicago original who sadly passed away this last year and it was the least that me and the rest of the Wormcrew could do to give him his due. You can check out the history of this mad genius HERE!
I also took time to make my way to Madtown's High Noon Saloon for a Monday evening full of mayhemic insanity featuring death metal titans DYING FETUS, EXHUMED and a whole heaping helping of extreme metal cohorts. How did the show go? Only one way to find out...read my review HERE. Featuring some pretty good pics!
This week, the rest of the Wormcrew is back in the Torture Chamber to help me out with reviews. Here is the rotten fruit of our labors:
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posted Nov 26, 2013, 8:17 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Nov 28, 2013, 7:16 PM
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JOURNEY INSIDE THE GABRIEL CONSTRUCT!
DARK STARR treats us this week to a very penetrating interview with a super talented young man named GABRIEL LUCAS RICCIO, who has put together quite an interesting musical endeavor known as THE GABRIEL CONSTRUCT. The latest album from this project, "Interior City", is being called a masterpiece of dark prog by many and features an intense, keyboard-oriented journey inside the mind. Mr. Riccio had no shortage of opinions on a lot of subjects, including his wildly diverse influences, his take on sustainable farming and what he thinks of how music is being dispensed these days. It's a really fascinating chat with a unique mind and you can get a look inside it right HERE!
2013 is winding to a close and we will try to finish the year with a bang. Expecting some major interviews soon and before long, you'll get the infamous Wormwood BEST OF...lists. Also got some big time concert reviews coming up, including a very special look at the annual ILDM Thanksgiving Bash at Rock Hollow.
Now for an ALL-MALITY edition of the Torture Chamber. Don't look for this to happen too often, sports fans, even though I know you adore me...
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posted Nov 20, 2013, 4:50 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Nov 20, 2013, 4:50 PM
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GO GHOST HUNTING AND SHOOT THE BREEZE WITH WINDHAND!
A double dose of dire delight from Wormwood is on tap this week! First off, we explore the haunted Bijou Theater in Knoxville, TN with our boy RUSTY COFFINNAILS! Sure enough, he manages to find GHOST...in fact, he gets a whole concert from the blasphemous Swedish ghouls, along with an appearance by SKELETONWITCH! Rusty brings up a live report of his ghost-hunting activities at the Bijou in this special concert report, featuring a guest appearance from none other than JESUS CHRIST!
Then I take a trip into the rural valleys and deep forests of Virginia to catch up with the red-hot doom metal masters WINDHAND! I get to speak a little with guitarist ASECHIAH BOGDAN about what makes the band so eerie, their connection with countryside and their unfortunate visit to a fan's house for dinner! It's a short but sharp chat with these up and comers HERE!
And as always, we've got more Torture Chamber reviews for you to chew on. Here are this week's meaty bones...
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posted Nov 12, 2013, 6:32 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Nov 12, 2013, 6:32 PM
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A TRIPLE DEADLY FEAST OF FEAR! WE INTERVIEW 3 VILE VISIONARIES OF HORROR! Worm-fiends, we have a real treat for you this week! Rise from your rotting tombs and head with the demented DERELIKT WAUGH into a crypt of artistic horrors as he interviews 3 titans of macabre art. And who are these 3 maniacs? How about ERIC ROT ENGELMAN, JEFF ZORNOW and PUTRID MATT CARR? These dudes have lent their disgusting skills to many an underground metal album's cover art, as well as all sorts of horror comics, T-shirts and other projects! This titanic feature, the first of its kind for Wormwood, provides insights into the twisted brains of some of the best artists in the horror realm. There's also some cool examples of their artwork within! So what are you ghouls waiting for? Dig into this extra sized helping of Worm-food HERE! This week also brings us another huge serving of Torture Chamber reviews! This bunch ranges from guttural goregrind to female fronted prog pop to a weird adaptation of theme music from "The Fearless Vampire Killers"! |
posted Nov 6, 2013, 5:25 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Nov 6, 2013, 5:26 PM
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FEEL THE SHARP EDGE OF RAZORMAZE! This week I head into a labyrinth of nasty pointy things to have a chat with Boston's lethal RAZORMAZE! This band is becoming one of the more notable thrash bands on the scene, with a complex, tuneful yet vicious sound reminiscent of the best of Megadeth and Forbidden, amongst others. I sit down with guitarist/vocalist ALEX CITRONE. Alex pulls no punches in his assessment of the current thrash scene and where Razormaze stands in it! How can the new school catch up with the old school? Find out Alex's answer and also get the dope on the band's stellar new album "Annihilatia". You can sample the slicing wit of Razormaze right HERE! Got an extra large and rather wide-ranging edition of the Torture Chamber for you this week! Many dark delights from all over the world for you to sample... |
posted Oct 29, 2013, 1:20 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Oct 29, 2013, 1:34 PM
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BURN, BABY, BURN! THE SINISTER SINEMA OF WILLIAM HELLFIRE! Rejoice, ye Wormsters! Long-lost SOLOMON G returns to Wormwood Chronicles this week and he's got a red-hot interview with one of the ultimate underground rebel film-makers, WILLIAM HELLFIRE! The creator of such classicks as "Orgasm Torture In Satan's Rape Clinic" and "Duck! The Carbine High Massacre", Mr. Hellfire has just wrapped up production on his latest triumph, "Upsidedown Cross", a twisted tale of exorcism starring none other than DAVID YOW from The Jesus Lizard! Sol enjoys a surprisingly personal and in-depth conversation with William, that covers the mentality that goes into his frankly revolting films. Dive into this scorching look at the cinema of transgression HERE! Not only has Solomon returned, but we now introduce a new member to the Wormcrew! Please welcome aboard DON S. MACCOBB, who this time around reviews the latest effort from THINNING THE HERD. We hope to hear much more from this doom-obsessed fiend in the future. There may be some more new names coming, too...time will tell! |
posted Oct 22, 2013, 8:30 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Oct 22, 2013, 8:31 PM
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IRON MAN CONQUERS WORMWOOD CHRONICLES + BIG NEWS! One of the unsung heroes of the American heavy rock scene is guitarist ALFRED MORRIS III of Maryland doom stalwarts IRON MAN. After years of grinding it out in the underbelly of the music world, Al and Iron Man are going to get some of the fame they truly deserve with their new release "South of the Earth". This one is being released by indy metal colossus Metal Blade Records. It was my privilege to speak to this soft-spoken gent who has created one of the heaviest guitar sounds in the known universe. We talked about the light at the end of the tunnel for Iron Man, their unique style of composing and many of Al's personal thoughts on the music business. We even cover his very first band, the mysterious FORCE from way back in the 70's! Even if you hate Robert Downey and Tony Stark, this is one Iron Man you'll want to check out....right HERE! Last week I dropped hints about a couple of new writers for Wormwood. Now I can confirm that these damned souls are indeed part of the Wormcrew! Welcome aboard DON S. MACCOBB and NECRO MONICON! Don is quite an experienced writer in the doom/stoner/retro metal scene while Necro is the first FEMALE contributor to this zine since the late 90's! I don't know what got into this girl's head but I hope it isn't spreading! Anyway, look for contributions from these two miscreants very soon! Now for an extra large shot of the ever-lovin' TORTURE CHAMBER: |
posted Oct 15, 2013, 8:16 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Oct 15, 2013, 8:17 PM
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CRY HAVOK AND LET SLIP THE DOGS OF METAL! With Shakespeare still on my lips and in my head, this week I invite you to check out my interview with Denver's #1 metal export, HAVOK! These guys are like the proverbial snowball rolling down one of the Rocky Mountains...they're getting bigger all the time! I got to talk to 3/4 of the band at a recent Wisconsin gig and we had a pretty eclectic conversation that covered subjects like the awfulness of reality TV, the selection of Ben Affleck as the next Batman and the gigantic spiders that were hanging from the nearby lights! We also covered the interesting subject of whether Havok still considers itself a thrash band, as well as how they have matured in recent months. It's good stuff and you can check it out HERE! Who remembers one-time Wormwood contributor SOLOMON G? Well, I can tell you Sol will be back in action soon with an intriguing interview with underground film-maker WILLIAM HELLFIRE, whose new movie "Upsidedown Cross" is gonna turn both heads and stomachs! Plus our buddy DERELIKT WAUGH is working on a cool article about current artists in the fields of both horror and metal, including names like JEFF ZORNOW and ERIC ROT! And also might be getting a couple of new contributors soon, so keep watching this space! And what about the Torture Chamber? Well, we haven't forgotten it...here are this week's entries! |
posted Oct 8, 2013, 6:46 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Oct 8, 2013, 6:46 PM
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A HIGH FLYING CHAT WITH PELICAN! Our good comrade LORD RANDALL got to be an ornithologist for a little while and talk to the birdies! His most interesting chat was with PELICAN, particularly the kind native to Chicago, Illinois. There are only four members of this species, which is known for their extensive mastery of instrumental post-metal, and Lord got to speak to one of them...TREVOR DE BRAUW! You will find the results of that investigation HERE, as Mr. DeBrauw lets us know the innermost secrets and habits of this rare bird. Lots of curious musical and zoological lore for you humanoids to discover! On the upcoming Wormwood front, I can confirm an interview with guitarist ALFRED MORRIS III of the underground doom legends IRON MAN! Coming soon will be interviews with HAVOK, WINDHAND, RAZORMAZE and prog darlings THE GABRIEL CONSTRUCT! Plus you're also gonna get my fond tribute to the recently deceased horror host SVENGOOLIE, a live concert review of an upcoming DYING FETUS/EXHUMED blowout and a new Wormwood Files all about the "Horrors of Headless Valley". Plus a few more goodies I'll be spilling the beans on soon...the debut of a new writer...and the return of a former contributor! Lots of things baking in the Wormwood oven! Now let's segue into our weekly look at the Wormwood Torture Chamber... |
posted Oct 1, 2013, 8:18 PM by Mike Korn
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updated Oct 1, 2013, 8:19 PM
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FEEL THE GRIP OF THE HAND OF DEATH! This week I dive deep into the vaults of forgotten film and surface with a real oddity from 1962..."Hand of Death"! This black and white monster flick sat unseen in the vaults for 40 years until surfacing briefly in the early 2000's. It is still virtually unknown today. But The Good Doctor is determined to correct this oversight! Check out my look at this freak fest, which features JOHN AGAR as a hapless scientist transformed into a cracked and bloated monstrosity that can kill with the merest touch! To add further interest, the movie features guest appearances by JOE BESSER of the 3 Stooges and BUTCH PATRICK, later to be Eddie Munster! Plus it has one of the coolest film scores you'll hear! Get the dope on this grisly gem HERE...but remember, don't touch the monster! Speaking of monsters, let's head to the Torture Chamber, where this week we've got a wide-ranging selection of abominations for you to gawk at and listen to... |
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