by Fred Pessaro

The Rival Mob at 285 Kent in Brooklyn, April 2013 (more by Tod Seelie)

Somebody get this guy a trophy. Whoever booked what is arguably the hardcore show of the year in Chicago, deserves some sort of kudos. I mean it's not everyday that a lineup like Cro-Mags with Breakdown (87 demo lineup), The Rival Mob, Damnation AD, Endpoint, No Tolerance, Spine and Assault USA is assembled. It's happening at Bottom Lounge on June 29 and tickets are on sale now.

Now all Chicago needs is a Judge reunion show. No word on that, but Breakdown is scheduled to play with Judge this weekend at Black & Blue Bowl in NYC with the great Kill Your Idols. Somebody find this Cro-Mags booker and give them the 3rd degree.

Deafheaven @ Public Assembly in March of 2012 (more by Greg Cristman)

Deafheaven are set to release their second album, Sunbather, on June 11 via Deathwish Inc.. So far, they've allowed the excellent "Dreamhouse" to slip out of the gates, which is equal parts punishing and atmospheric. You can stream the single at the bottom of this post. Preorder Sunbather via Deathwish's webstore.

In support of Sunbather, Deafheaven will embark on a summer U.S. tour with Marriages. That tour includes a performance at Subterranean on July 6. Tickets for the Chicago show go on sale this Saturday (5/18) at 10AM CST.

All known Deafheaven tour dates and a stream of "Dreamhouse" are below...

Continue reading "Deafheaven & Marriages playing Subterranean on summer tour"

KEN Mode @ the Invisible Oranges SXSW 2013 Showcase (more by Greg Cristman)

Winnipeg's KEN Mode aren't into staying off the road for too long. The trio will continue their never-ending lap of the U.S. by linking up with Torche in the beginning of May. That tour includes a performance at the Empty Bottle on May 31 with locals Tight Phantomz. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available. As discussed, Torche will also be playing at Do Division 2013 on May 31. And don't forget, KEN Mode will return to Chicago on July 20 to play the 2013 Pitchfork Music Festival (tickets).

All KEN Mode dates, a tour poster, a stream of this year's excellent Entrench, and their new video for "Counter Culture Complex" are below...

Continue reading "KEN Mode opening for Torche at the Empty Bottle"

Ringworm at NYC's Acheron (more by Keith Marlowe)

Cleveland hardcore/metal favorites Ringworm will embark on a string of dates in early June as the band readies its new material for release at new label home Relapse. Noisem, Mutilation Rites and Encrust will join the band on their quest for the most violent pit, hitting Cobra Lounge on June 8 (no MR, though). Ticketing info is on the way.

In other news, look for Ringworm to drop an old demo in vinyl form via A389 on Record Store Day. Stream that 1991 release below alongside all dates.

Continue reading "Ringworm playing Midwest shows, including one at Cobra Lounge with Noisem and Encrust (dates)"

Floor @ Brooklyn's Saint Vitus earlier on tour (more by Lukas Hodge)

As seen on BrooklynVegan, after reuniting in 2010, Floor can once again be considered an active project. They're currently on tour throughout the U.S. and will be tagging Chicago for a performance at Subterranean on April 8 with Thrones and Bongripper. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available. When their tour comes to a close, Thrones will be settling into the studio to record a new album for release via Season of Mist. We're looking forward to hearing some of their new material live next week.

All Floor dates and a video from their recent Brooklyn show are below...

Continue reading "Floor playing Subterranean next week, working on new LP"

Kylesa @ Maryland Deathfest 2011 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Savannah-based sludge metal outfit Kylesa are gearing up for the release of their sixth full-length album, Ultraviolet, which is due out on May 28 via Season of Mist. You've already heard the LP track "Unspoken," and they've just revealed another called "Quicksand." You can take a listen to both tracks at the bottom of this post. Ultraviolet is up for preorder in multiple formats via SoM's webstore.

Kylesa will be heading out on a North American tour in support of the LP next month with Blood Ceremony, White Hills, and Lazer/Wulf. That tour includes a performance at Bottom Lounge on June 5. Ticketing information for the Chicago show is forthcoming, but check Ticketweb for updates.

Kylesa's full tour schedule and those song streams are below...

Continue reading "Kylesa playing Bottom Lounge in June, prepping new LP -- (song streams)"

Intronaut at Rosleand, Feb 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

As discussed at BrooklynVegan, technical brutalizers Intronaut will share the stage with Scale the Summit on a set of dates in celebration of Habitual Levitations. The bulk of the dates will include shows with post-metal crew Mouth of the Architect and Castle, with the former converging at Double Door on June 12th. Tickets are on sale.

Pelican @ Lincoln Hall, June 2012 (more by Zach Pollack)

Chicago post-metal outfit Pelican, who now call The Swan King's Dallas Thomas a fulltime member, are currently working on a new album. It'll be their first full-length since 2009's What We All Come to Need, though last year's great Ataraxia/Taraxis EP shouldn't be overlooked. It'll be a while until we hear anything from the LP, but knowing it's coming puts a smile on my face. Meanwhile, Pelican will play a hometown show at Bottom Lounge on April 18 with The Life and Times and Sweet Cobra. Advance tickets are on sale now. They'll also be touring throughout Europe this summer.

All tour dates are listed below...

Continue reading "Pelican playing Bottom Lounge, working on new album"

Suffocation at Saint Vitus, Nov 2012 (more by Suren Karapetyan)

As discussed at BV, New York death metal greats Suffocation have a new video for "As Grace Descends" set to match their recent LP Pinnacle of Bedlam, out now via Nuclear Blast. Look for the tongue-waggers to hit the road with Exhumed, Jungle Rot, Rings of Saturn, Adimiron and Lord of War for a North American jaunt, hitting Reggie's on April 23. Tickets are on sale.

Arbogast prepping veggie chili on Brutally Delicious

Chicago thrash trio Arbogast recently appeared on the heavy metal cooking show Brutally Delicious. They prepared veggie chili and "blue cheese hot sauce wing burgers" as they drank and talked with host Bruce Moore. You can check out the full 13-minute episode at the bottom of this post (thx Hubert).

While the meal they cooked looked great (and you can check out their recipes HERE), let's get back to what Arbogast do best: pummeling metal. They've got a show at Ultra Lounge on March 14 with Behold... The Arctopus and Guzzlemug. Advance tickets for the Chicago show are still available.

Arbogast's episode of Brutally Delicious and a stream of their debut LP I are below...

Continue reading "watch Arbogast on a cooking show"