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Ludicra announced new LP, played NYC in August w/ Hammers of Misfortune & Villains (pics)

words and photos by BBG

Laurie & John of Ludicra!
Ludicra

This sounds like a highly appropriate tweet from guitar great John Cobbett:

just spent approx 12 hours working on one riff. It divided like a fractal into 4 riffs, an intro and a multi-part verse. fascinating eh?

Though I can’t guarantee it, there’s a good chance that Cobbett was referring to riffs written for Bay-Area black metal greats Ludicra, who have announced completion of their new LP The Tenant due in March 2010 via Profound Lore!

The Tenant will be the band’s first LP since 2006’s Fex Urbis Lex Orbus, a record that I still go back to from time to time. Highly recommended. In August, Ludicra descended upon NYC with Hammers of Misfortune, Ludicra, Villains, and Liturgy for their first EVER appearance in their ten+ year history. After hearing my west coast brethren rave on about their outstanding live show, it felt like a big sigh of relief to finally catch the Bay Area black metal band in action.

Ludicra vocalist Laurie is a very watchable front-woman with amazing vocal prowess; her powerful screeching bellows were just as impressive live as they are on LP. Searing/soaring solos by John Cobbett, killer fills from Aesop Dekker (Agalloch), and Ross Sewage (also of Impaled, Ghoul, ex-Wolves In The Throne Room, etc) laying down the low end added to the unbelievable performance from the Ludicra. Fantastic show, but eleven years from existence to NYC appearance is unacceptable! Here’s to hoping the band hits the road again in celebration of the new LP.

Guitarist John Cobbett of Ludicra is also one of the masterminds behind Hammers of Misfortune, a prog-power-folk metal band that released the double LP Fields / Church Of Broken Glass. “Prog-power-folk metal” is usually not my cup o’ tea unless it was timestamped 20+ years ago, but Hammers of Misfortune is one of those rare exceptions. Majestic, powerful, and plush with memorable twin guitar riffage from Cobbett and ex-Pansy Division-er Patrick Goodwin, melodic passages were just as compelling and anchored by vocalist/keyboardist/Amber Asylum contributor Sigrid Sheie (check out an AA MP3 here) and vocalist Jesse Quattro. The occasion marked Hammers of Misfortune’s second NYC appearance, and the performance was brief (30ish minutes?) but powerful nontheless.

Local faves Villains and Liturgy opened the night with a predictably awesome sets from both. Villains are currently gearing up to play the Nuclear War Now! Fest this weekend in Berlin along with faves like Bone Awl, Revenge, Dead Congregation, Abigail, and many esteemed others. For more on that fest, head to NWN.

Liturgy are scheduled to play two big shows this weekend: Union Pool this Friday (11/13) with Krallice, Malkuth and Orphan and the BV sponsored Shrinebuilder / Rwake on Sunday at LPR (11/15, tix). Both shows are part of a killer week of shows that includes TWO BV shows: Dark Castle / The Atlas Moth / Wetnurse / Tiger Flowers at Union Pool on 11/17 and a Special Guest (Southern Lord), Javelina, Black Tusk, and Batillus on 11/18 at The Charleston in conjunction with Chronic Youth.

More pictures of Ludicra guitarist Christy Cather’s mic/beer stand, as well as pics of her and her band, as well as Villains, and Hammers of Misfortune, below…

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Hammers of Misfortune…

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