by BBG

Seven Sisters of Sleep at A389 2011 (more by BBG)

Seven Sisters of Sleep (mems Tafkata) are two for two with releases in 2011, dropping both their excellent debut and their similarly crushing split with Children of God this year. Get both at A389. Though no full East Coast trek has been planned, Seven Sisters of Sleep will join the great All Pigs Must Die, labelmates Low Places, and NYC's Grudges for an NYC date at Acheron on 1/20, just a few days after the always awesome A389 Anniversary show at Sonar in Baltimore with Eyehategod, Gehenna, and many others.

All Pigs Must Die was recently given an "honorable mention" in Pitchfork's top metal of 2011 list (though no shout out for Seven Sisters of Sleep). Check out the full list, along with some streaming APMD material and a few videos below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork lists the best metal of 2011, All Pigs Must Die & Seven Sisters of Sleep schedule a Brooklyn show"

by BBG

Tombs at BV-Rocks Off Official CMJ Showcase 2011 (more by Jonathan McPhail)

Decibel released their list of the best LPs of 2011. The list features a few repeat offenders and not too many surprises. One record listed technically came out in 2010 (and made my list of favorites that year). You can check out the full thing below. What record do you think they left off?

Continue reading "Decibel Magazine's Top 40 of 2011"

by BBG

40 Watt Sun @ Public Assembly

40 Watt Sun played their US debut at Public Assembly on Friday (9/16), headlining a show with lightning fast black metal crew Woe and traditional doom upstarts Pilgrim. The show, part of a string of US dates for the UK crew of ex-Warning members, saw the band stick to the script with newer material from their current The Inside Room LP, and not venturing into any of the much beloved Warning songs during their set.

40 Watt Sun's sad and clean songs were in contrast to the direct support band, the lightning fast and fierce Woe featuring new drummer Ruston Grosse (ex-Master, Sil Veth). Woe's set was primarily focused on their recent recorded output, but they played a new song from a forthcoming TBD release. Pilgrim, who opened the night, was the biggest surprise for me of the night. Though all three members are barely into their 20s, this band has a sound that goes well beyond their years into classic doom metal.

More pictures from Public Assembly are below.

Continue reading "40 Watt Sun, Woe & Pilgrim played Public Assembly (pics)"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Thou @ The Bell House

As discussed, Wolves In The Throne Room played their first of two NYC dates with Thou on Monday night (9/12) at The Bell House. Pictures and video from the show are in this post, and the pair do it again TONIGHT (9/14) at Death By Audio with Mutilation Rites. Advance tickets are sold out, but additional tickets will be available at the door.

Krallice supported at The Bell House, and the band will play one of their final dates of the year at Union Pool on Saturday (9/17), when they join Urfaust/Black Anvil as part of a trio of dates.

URFAUST & BLACK ANVIL - 2011 TOUR DATES
9/16 @ Golden West in Baltimore w/ Krallice & Oak (!)
9/17 @ Union Pool in Brooklyn w/ Krallice & Ruin Lust
9/18 @ Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia w/ Endless Humiliation

The Urfaust show is one of two BrooklynVegan presented heavy shows taking place this weekend, with 40 Watt Sun hitting Public Assembly on 9/16 with the recently added Woe. In related news, 40 Watt Sun was added to Roadburn Fest 2012 with Agalloch and Sólstafir. The bands join the already confirmed appearances from d.USK (aka diSEMBOWELMENT), Voivod, Sleep, Saviours and Om.

More pictures and video from The Bell House below...

Continue reading "Wolves in the Throne Room, Thou & Krallice @ The Bell House (pics)"

by BBG

40 Watt Sun

It would be hard to argue that Warning's 2006 release Watching from a Distance is anything less than a doom metal masterwork for the band. But everything great eventually comes to pass, and Warning called it quits again in 2009. Now Warning's Patrick Walker is back with his new band 40 Watt Sun. The UK band's stunning debut LP, The Inside Room, dropped earlier this year across the pond and has washed ashore courtesy of Metal Blade.

The Inside Room features more of a front-seat role for the voice of Patrick Walker, who's soaring and somber pipes bless these pensive burners. The band avoids doom metal in any traditional sense, using the genre as a jumping off point for a gorgeous slowcore hybrid that resembles a harder edged Red House Painters or Jesu. Listen to three (of the five) tracks from the LP below. They are"Carry Me Home", "Between Times" and "This Alone". Look for The Inside Room on July 19th, and preorder it now.

In addition, 40 Watt Sun are embarking on a rare US stint of Northeast/Midwest dates that will include a stop at Public Assembly on September 16th, a BrooklynVegan/Order of The Serpent production. Ticketing information is forthcoming, as is details on the support. Hopefully the band will also dip into their Warning catalog as well, much like they have done in previous dates (video of "Footprints" is below). In the meantime, head below for the full slate of tour dates along with all song streams.

Continue reading "40 Watt Sun (ex-Warning) bring us 'The Inside Room', going on tour (dates & 3 song streams)"