A Band of Orcs is a band of orcs who we discovered in October 2010 and included in a piece on “goblin metal”. They’re from that well-known congregating place for goblins, orcs, and assorted other vicious creatures bent on the subjugation of humankind — Santa Cruz, California. At the time of that previous post, A Band of Orcs had one release to their credit, 2007′s debut EP WarChiefs of the Apocalypse, which we described as “full of full-bore, superheated pummeling – big, thick riffs hammering away at high speed, shrouded in sulphurous fumes and throwing up images of fang and claw.”
The orc clan have been at work on a debut album, which is currently projected for release next summer by a label called Itchy Music. In the meantime, they’ve recently vomited up a 3-song “single” called Wyrd of the Winter Wolf. The physical package includes the title track plus another new song called “Hall of the Frozen Dead”. Both of those songs also appear on the digital version of the single, which is being offered on iTunes and Amazon mp3.
In CD form, the “single” also includes as the third track A Band of Orcs’ cover of a Type O Negative song called “Green Man”, which we previously featured when it appeared on a Peter Steele tribute album that was released in April. It’s a rank piece of flesh-eating evil and therefore a nice addition to this release.
As for the two new ABOO songs, they sound pretty much like what you’d expect if orcs turned their attention from plotting the decimation of humanity and decided to work on some death metal. (more after the jump . . .)
Imagine a black, cavernous pit, dimly lit by torches and shrouded in oily smoke, filled with a toiling horde of filthy, slope-browed, fanged brutes hammering away on some giant war engine while salivating with the taste for human flesh. Distorted guitars and bass grind away with a pummeling rhythm that you can’t help but bang your head to, while bestial chants ring out some undoubtedly horrific refrain. The drums are barely audible on the title track and only somewhat more present on “Hall of the Frozen Dead”, but the orcs blast away with plenty of groove regardless.
Skittering guitars accompany the martial stomp of the music here and there, and both tracks include a couple of diseased guitar solos, but for the most part this is an orcish version of old-school grinding, groaning death metal. It’s full of authentic filth and menace, and so of course I’m diggin’ it mightily.
Here’s “Wyrd of the Winter Wolf”:
[audio:https://www.nocleansinging.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/09/01-Wyrd-of-the-Winter-Wolf.mp3|titles=A Band of Orcs – Wyrd of the Winter Wolf]22 Responses to “A BAND OF ORCS: “WYRD OF THE WINTER WOLF””
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I come back from a week of liver abuse in Nashville to find out that Korpiklaani and Arkona are touring together and playing a date near me, AND that A Band of Orcs has released new shit? Am I still drunk? Is this some fairyland hallucination brought on by too much PBR in shitty dive bars?
No, it’s brain damage from being in Tennessee.
Alcohol is the only reason you still have brain cells left.
I HAS A MENTLE ILNUS
I’m pretty sure that’s just Tennessee residue.
Did you shower with hippie dust yet? It’s a bitch if you get it in your nose, but it does counteract the residue quite nicely.
Fight retarded fire with retarded fire, my grandpappy always used to say.
You best be more careful how you talk about Tennesseans. I got some good friends who are from Tennessee. Except for TheMadIsraeli, they all in rehab or comin up on parole violation charges, so they don’t need your kind a trash talk.
Let them come and find me!! Bwahahahahaha!
I’ll blend into the crowd and…crap.
Well, they’ll have a hell of time getting their shotguns through customs, so at least I can be fairly certain their unarmed.
And…I HAVE OVER 9000 PENISES!!!
I’m a Tennessean, goddamn it! I guess it only hurts ’cause it’s true 🙁
I’m trying to keep the focus on Tennessee because as soon as it shifts to Texas I’m in deep shit.
Oh, you poor bastard! 😉
I love you no matter where y’all come from…
But some of your neighbors are questionable.
I love you too, hot legs! For proof I’ll share my Peshmerga with you. http://deathmetalbaboon.com/peshmerga
Most of my neighbors are questionable….and family 😮
Dat Peshmerga is fuckin awzome. Cool album cover too.
I wunderd whut had happened to you. Don’t they have enuf shitty dive bars in Florida? I thought there was one on every block.
I didn’t go there for the shitty dive bars, that’s just where I ended up.
I have had many stories with the same ending.
I kinda expected orcs to lack the fine finger dexterity to play guitars and what not.
Clearly, my orc-bias has lead me to the wrong conclusions, and I owe the orcummunity a sincere, heartfelt apology.
Dear orc-playas,
My bad for being all racist and shit, but, seriously, y’all stink like a shit-covered shit-sundae in the middle of a shit-swamp on a particularly hot and humid day. Also, stop killing us. But whatev’s, that’s still no reason to judge you unfairly based on your nasty ass looks and fucked up faces. We cool?
Love (but not enough to touch you),
Phro
PS Keep making kick ass music and we might even high five some day. If you promise to use some hot water and a Brillo pad.
Is is just me, but is Itchy Music an awesome name for a record label or what?
I’m waiting for the merger between Itchy and Scratchy Music.
Well, if that ever happens, it’ll probably be a long cat and mouse game before we see any results.
Oh no you di’int.
I live in Santa Cruz (where these guys are from) and Ill tell you what, the metal scene here is impossible this city wants punk and punk only so its always great to see a great metal act from here get some attention.
Love the site glad to see you got around to these guys.
YEAAAAHH SANTA CRUZ!