Ulthar
Ulthar is an unholy trio hailing from Oakland, California. The band consists of Steve Peacock (Spirit Possession , Black Curse), Shelby Lermo (Vastum) and Justin Ennis (Vale). Over the course of their first two albums, 2018’s Cosmovore and 2020’s Providence, Ulthar carved out a unique niche on the spectrum of underground metal, forging an unholy hybrid of technical death metal and ferocious black metal.
Ulthar’s dizzying ascent has turned heads in the extreme metal community, effortlessly combining the iciest and most sinister elements of black metal with the heaviness and technicality of death metal. 2020’s Providence was a step up, but it wasn’t until 2023’s twin releases Anthronomicon and Helionomicon that the band’s true depth of skill and madness was fully exposed.
Now touring again for the first time since 2019, Ulthar brings their unique and terrifying vision to hungry audiences worldwide, annihilating sonic barriers once thought unapproachable.
Succumb
San Francisco’s Succumb plumb the depths of modern death metal with primitive elegance, but what sets them apart from their peers is vocalist Cheri Musrasrik. The juxtaposition of death metal riffing and propulsive drums with Musrasrik’s cavernous howl and sophisticated lyrics make for a unique listening experience in today’s crowded landscape.
Succumb was formed in 2014 by a group of friends with diverse musical backgrounds, who share a common love for Canadian death metal, war metal, and 1990’s Napalm Death. That same year they released a demo under the name Cloak and played a handful of local shows, attracting the attention of The Flenser. The following year they were joined by Harry Cantwell (Bosse-de-Nage, ex-Slough Feg) on drums and got to work writing their self-titled debut album. Succumb was recorded by bay area luminary Jack Shirley (Deafheaven, Bosse-de-Nage, Botanist, Oathbreaker, etc.).
Musrasrik cites authors and poets like Yeats, Jean Genet and Emile Zola as her primary lyrical influences.
Throughout Succumb she tackles themes such as human experimentation, autoerotic asphyxiation, BDSM, prostitution, opium dens and dystopias with a literary flair.
Succumb have returned with their sophomore release XXI. One of the strongest up-and-coming metal bands in recent years, what sets Succumb apart from their peers is vocalist Cheri Musrasrik; the juxtaposition of death metal riffing and propulsive drums with Musrasrik’s cavernous howl and sophisticated lyrics make a unique listening experience in today’s crowded landscape.