Eric Cutler of Autopsy

Bullet belts, flip flops, studded gauntlets, chicken suits... yep, its Maryland Deathfest time again. Though it was milder this week, in true MDF fashion the first of the four day Baltimore music festival (on 5/24) kicked off with high temperatures, humidity and unrelenting sun, making for a strong contrast to the pitch black indoor room at Sonar. Luckily, escape from the sun also meant catching some of the best heavy music out there.

The day started with sets by Extermination Angel and Die Pigeon Die, both of which I missed unfortunately, so the "opening" set by Needful Things was a fierce blast of grind that was a great perk-me-up for the rest of the day's activities. For the most part, a lot of the bands on Thursday I had seen in recent months: Eyehategod at A389 (dudes, please... we need new songs... the set is getting tired), Absu and Agalloch at Inferno, and Autopsy at Inferno and in Brooklyn. All delivered excellent, though familiar (to me) sets with the exception of Agalloch whose focus was on their earlier material (no Marrow of the Spirit here). Excellent way to cater to the crowd and make it special.

Of the remainder of the bands, Dying Fetus's death metal-slam style has never been my cup of tea but Rorschach... that's another story. Rorschach's unique noise/metal/hardcore sound was the clear winner for favorite set of the day for me, coming out with unmatched energy and playing their cover of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" as well as material from their Protestant/Remain Sedate release (which was available in exclusive colors just for this show)(wow). I remember being floored when I saw them at Santos and The Charleston way back when, but this might have been their best set yet. I could watch them play forever, but I'm guessing there's a short window of time left for this band... don't miss them. Rorschach pictures are HERE.

More pictures from Day 1 at Maryland Deathfest including Autopsy's setlist are below. Look for ongoing coverage from the festival everyday here at BrooklynVegan.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest 2012 Day 1: Needful Things, Absu, Eyehategod, Agalloch, Autopsy, Rorschach and more"

by BBG

Merzbow at Le Poisson Rouge (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Greetings from Maryland Deathfest! I'll be reporting from the festival all weeked, catching some of the greatest metal bands today in downtown Baltimore over the four day weekend, so I'll keep it brief this week. If you aren't at MDF, there is still a multitude of great shows going on in NYC. Make sure to tune in to BrooklynVegan for the latest coverage from the festival, and enjoy yourself at the shows below!

If you didn't get tickets for the previously discussed Merzbow/Wold show at Saint Vitus on 6/4, you are in luck. Though the first performance is now sold out, they have added a second on that same night, doors at 10:30 and tickets are on sale.

More suggested shows and Rorschach live video are below.

Continue reading "Evillive (Merzbow, BBG's at Maryland Deathfest)"

photos by BBG, words by Sally Secret

"See you soon. MDF Thursday, I don't know how many shows in NYC on Saturday and Sunday in NJ." - Rorschach

Rorschach @ Maryland Deathfest - 5/24/2012

The Rorschach show at LPR this Saturday (5/26), that Converge was added to, is now sold out, but if you don't have a ticket, don't dispair. There are plenty of other ways to roar on Saturday courtesy of Black God who are now on an east coast tour. As previously mentioned, the Kentucky band that features members of Coliseum, Young Widows and By The Grace Of God, will play TWO NYC shows on Saturday, and both are sort of a mystery. The first, which was just finally listed on the venue's website with a "secret guest", is a matinee at ABC No Rio. The second is still just listed as "Sa 5/26 (night) - Brooklyn, NY @ Announced Day of Show!". Stay tuned!

Rorschach also play a show at Warehouse Motor Club in Middlesex, NJ on Sunday with Torchbearer, Too Many Voices, and Brain Slug (5pm, $10). They played Maryland Deathfest last night (Thursday). Review coming soon. That's one picture above. More below...

Continue reading "Rorschach played MDF (pics), playing a sold out LPR (and other shows); Black God on tour (2 NYC shows Saturday)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Moss Icon - "I'm Back Sleeping, Or Fucking, Or Something" (MP3)

If you can only see one band at Chaos in Tejas year, bets are that you'll probably try and catch Moss Icon. The semi-reunited emotional post-hardcore heroes (dont say emo!) will play a single show at the annual Austin, Texas festival in conjunction with their recently released discography out now via Temporary Residence Limited. This triple LP (or CD, if you so prefer) features an etching on side F and out now via the label. Stream all of that discography below. and order yours, or try your luck at winning a copy of the test pressing (one of only twelve in existence)! Details on how to win are below.

In honor of Moss Icon's upcoming show and their current discography, I asked member Tonie Joy (also of Universal Order of Armageddon and The Convocation) about the reunion, UOoA, new material (!), and more. Tonie also mentioned that Moss Icon "may play NYC." Let's hope they do. The results of that discussion are below along with details on how you can win that uber-rare test press.

Continue reading "an interview w/ Tonie Joy of Moss Icon, on the reunion and discography release (win a TEST PRESSING)"

by BBG

Goes Cube at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by BBG)

We've heard of cars. We've heard of skateboards. We've heard of clothes, drinks and instruments. But congratulations to Goes Cube for landing that next-level endorsement, bowling balls.

"Goes Cube is a great fit for DV8," says Brian Graham, director of sales and marketing for DV8. "These guys are bowlers, and they reinforce the fun and outrageous personality of the DV8 brand. We are very excited about adding some Ballers that will help us to bring DV8 and bowling to a new audience."

Yes, Goes Cube are officially "Ballers" (not in the Jim Jones sense), diplomats of the lanes so to speak.

No word on if Goes Cube will have a signature set of balls at the merch table when they hit the road for a string of dates with Exotic Animal Petting Zoo. The dates kick off on Friday in Colorado, making their way East for a final show at The Studio at Webster Hall on June 2nd with The Giraffes and Fashion Week. Tickets are still available.

EAPZ are releasing their new LP Tree of Tongues on June 19th. Stream some material at their Facebook page to get familiar.

A list of all dates and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Goes Cube love bowling; touring w/ Exotic Animal Petting Zoo"

A Generation of Vipers at Saint Vitus (more by BBG)

Sure the words "crusty hardcore" and North Carolinian psychedelic metal crew US Christmas don't exactly go hand in hand, but some of its members -- the ones in Generation of Vipers -- have branched out. Generation of Vipers' Howl and Filth was self-released last year and will now get a larger treatment with a re-release via Translation Loss on June 5th. Stream all of that Kurt-Ballou produced effort below.

In related news, US Christmas's Bad Heart Bull was released for the firt time on vinyl via Neurot. Order yours via the label.

Continue reading "Generation of Vipers re-release 'Howl and Filth' (stream it)"

by BBG

Gojira in the Studio

Gojira returns with their new LP L'Enfant Sauvage, the French band's debut for Roadrunner Records (order yours). Close to four years in the making and due on June 26th, the title track is one of the first tastes of the record to slip past the goalie after recently surfacing at Pitchfork. Now "L'Enfant Sauvage" has been given the video treatment, and is available to watch for the first time below.

Gojira is currently touring the EU but after a month off of the road, they'll embark on a US tour supporting Dethklok and Lamb of God. That tour swings through NYC for a date with Roseland Ballroom on August 29th. Tickets are on sale. The band is also on board to play the Mayhem Festival Cruise on Dec 7 - 10 along with their tourmates Lamb of God, as well as Machine Head, Anthrax, Hatebreed, Kingdom of Sorrow and many more. Full tour dates are below.

The video for "L'Enfant Sauvage" is below, alongside a listing of all tour dates.

Continue reading "Gojira preparing 'L'Enfant Sauvage', release video for title track"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Dayton City Paper: How would you describe Mares of Thrace to a stranger?

Frontwoman Therese Lanz: I would describe Mares of Thrace as an armada of angry drag queens riding nuclear warhead-equipped rabid rhinoceroses in a kamikaze mission of destruction into an Alabama Pentecostal megachurch service.

While I can't say that the above description provided by Therese of Mares of Thrace is entirely accurate, the band was hellbent on destruction when they played Saint Vitus on May 15th. The band, who is currently touring on the strength of their new LP The Pilgrimage (out now via Sonic Unyon), was joined by Brooklyn doom favorites Batillus (who played new tracks, some from their upcoming split with Whitehorse), Nashville post-metal quartet Sky Burial, and Brooklyn sludge-trio Mortals. Lots more pics from the show are below.

Sky Burial were on a tour of their own in support of a new record Where Four Rivers Flow which is out now via Replenish.

In related news, Batillus is scheduled to play with Whitehorse and Unearthly Trance at Acheron on June 12th. New band Skullshitter, which features a member of Mutant Supremacy, will open the show. Skullshitter is also scheduled to play on June 9th at Saint Vitus with Phobia, Strong Intention, Ramming Speed, and Full of Hell. Tickets are still available. Stream the Skullshitter demo along with the pictures below.

Continue reading "Mares of Thrace played Saint Vitus with Batillus, Sky Burial and Mortals (pics)"

by BBG

No Statik Live (photo by Robert Hanna

Bay Area punks No Statik will release their debut LP, Everywhere You Aren't Looking, next week (5/29) via the venerable Prank Records -- the same label who put out the band's No Hospice 7" and We All Die in the End 12", both from last year. You can stream "Earnest" and the album's title track below, and order yours now via the label (who also have the 7" in stock, the 12" is sold out).

The band -- whose lineup includes ex-members of Look Back & Laugh, Artimus Pyle, Scrotum Grinder and more -- are hitting the road for a West Coast tour that includes Chaos in Tejas where they'll play three times in four days. All listed tour dates -- and those track streams -- are below

Continue reading "No Statik releasing 'Everywhere You Aren't Looking' (stream two tracks), playing Chaos in Tejas and West Coast"

Cold Cave at Guggenheim (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Cold Cave, whose last NYC show was at the Guggenheim, will return to the club circuit for their next NYC show which is at Europa on June 14th as part of the Northside Festival. Tickets for that show go on sale Thursday (5/24) at noon or you can try to get in with your Northside badge. Details on support are still TBA.

In related news, Dominick Fernow (Cold Cave, Prurient) has launched his own label, Bed of Nails, which is an imprint of Boomkat. The inaugural release for the label will September Cell (out June 18), the new EP from Fernow's industrial project Vatican Shadow. Dominick Fernow is also the owner of Hospital Productions, which closed up its NYC store late last year.

Stream Vatican Shadow's Kneel Before Religious Icons, which was recently reissued by Type Records, below.

Continue reading "Cold Cave playing Northside at Europa; Dominick Fernow starts a new label"