The Damned at Fun Fun Fun Fest 2011 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Chaos in Tejas has announced yet another round of bands, including  The Damned, Gehenna (who play next weekend in NYC with Catharsis), Tragedy, Rotten Sound, Rival Mob, New Zealand's The Bats, Andy Stott, Power Trip, Hoax (who play NYC this weekend), Iceage (who have a new song/tour coming), Anhedonist, Akitsa, Parquet Courts and many more. Full list of names are below, which join the previously announced names like Bolt Thrower, Infest, Abigail, Integrity, Iron Lung (who play DBA soon), Final Conflict, Manilla Road, Merchandise, Milk Music, Total Control, and many many more.

The announcement comes on the same day that passes for the Austin festival, which happens May 30 - June 2,  go on sale. Passes are on sale.

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas lineup expands again, adds The Damned, Tragedy, The Bats, Gehenna ++ more"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

One Tail One Head at Inferno Festival, April 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

2012 was a year of considerable personal growth for me, as a person, a photographer and a music fan. As I recounted in my favorite photos of 2012, I got to shoot some of my favorite bands of all time and travel the globe in search of new ones. The beginning of the year was spent dealing with personal drama, and if it werent for key records in my life I shudder to think at where I would be right now. To every band on this list and many who aren't, I cant thank you enough.

First order of business, my musical pallette is much much larger than just a series of metal records. This is NOT a list of my favorite records of the year, because that would surely include other entries from across many different genres. This is, however, a list of some of my favorite heavier records.

To me, the term "heavy" can be defined in many ways, from the elongated riff on a doom record to a noise squall to a particularly punishing punk-rock beatdown. While most of the following records are "heavy" in the traditional "distortion and loud guitars" sense, a few are not. You'll see metal, you'll see deathrock, you'll see raw punk, you'll see hardcore, and many spots in between in the numbered list below. And to answer your question, yes you'll see Swans... right beside D-Clone and Asphyx.

My favorite records of 2012 are below. Hopefully you'll see a connection in favorites or maybe discover something new. Regardless, I hope you found your own favorites of the year whether in this list or outside of it.

Continue reading "The Year in Heavy (Fred Pessaro // BBG's favorite metal, punk & other records of 2012)"

Hooded Menace at Union Pool (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

It's been more than a year since Hooded Menace sat atop a stacked bill of Negative Plane, Ilsa and Anhedonist at Union Pool, but I remember it like it was yesterday. It was just one of those shows that sticks with you. Hooded Menace's crawling death-doom was booming, larger-than-life and just plain stunning on that gorgeous June evening.

Hooded Menace's focus was on their then-recent LP Never Cross the Dead but now the Finnish band has a new one: the forthcoming Effigies of Evil LP out via Relapse on September 11. Check out two new tracks from the LP, including "Summoned into Euphoric Madness" which makes its debut here. Both are below.

Speaking of that show at Union Pool, don't miss Ilsa when they team with Gehenna, Young and In The Way, Psychic Limb and Skin Like Iron at Acheron on Friday 8/10.

So far no US dates scheduled for Hooded Menace, but hopefully that will change soon. Until then, stream the two new songs below.

Continue reading "Hooded Menace readies 'Effigies of Evil' (stream two tracks)"

by BBG

Anhedonist art for Netherwards

On the heels of the physical release of their impressive demo The Drear, Seattle death-doom crew Anhedonist have created a stunning statement with Netherwards, the band's first full-length and debut disc for Dark Descent Records (look for it on 4/10; vinyl is due via Parasitic/Nuclear Winter later this year). Beautiful and harrowing, introspective yet brimming with rage, soaring melodic doom and worm-ridden death metal, Netherwards is many things at once but undoubtedly a monolithic achievement, one that more-than-likely will be discussed at year-end. Stream "Estrangement" from Netherwards below.

Anhedonist were kind enough to answer a few questions regarding their formation, the LP, and the reverence of the demo within the underground scene. The answers, with the song stream, below...

Continue reading "an Interview with Anhedonist & new song stream from 'Netherwards' (premiere)"

by BBG

Impetuous Ritual

Rites of Darkness 2011 closed out on Sunday 12/11 with a somber and powerful set from melodic death-doomers Mournful Congregation (we premiered a song from their new LP) who toured the West Coast with the like-minded Aldebaran and Anhedonist. Compared to the other days, Sunday focused more on the slow-and-heavy side of things with Anatomia and Pallbearer (both bands of the doom ilk) also on the bill.

There were exceptions though. Mitochondrian, Vasaeleth, Ignivomous and Cruciamentum all focused on the death metal side of things while Ares Kingdom stayed true to blackened thrash (they also played the pre-fest). The clear standout on Sunday was Impetuous Ritual who, while doused in blood, played seemingly formless death metal with frightening accuracy and power. It was a ritual indeed, and one made for conjuring the dark spirits.

Despite the heavy drama, the rumors, the devastating cancellations, poor communication, the changes/lack of set times, the overall turnout, the garbage food and close to no options to the contrary (only nachos and hot dogs on site), and the bands that flew to the US without a flight home, Rites of Darkness III featured some of the most impressive performances of the year from bands across the globe. Favorite moments include the incendiary Antaeus, the thunderous slow-crawl of Anatomia, the stage-dives and moshing during the great Midnight, the charismatic and fantastic Adorior, the soothing melodicism of Mournful Congregation, evil incarnate from Impetuous Ritual, and Ignivomous's set closer of "World Eater" by Bolt Thrower. We'll see if it happens next year.

If you missed it, check out pictures and reviews from day 1 and day 2, and then check out more pictures from the final day at Rites of Darkness (I missed Vasaeleth unfortunately, though I did catch their set at the pre-fest), below...

Continue reading "Rites of Darkness 2011 -- Day 3 pics & review"

by BBG

Inquisition at MDF (more by BBG)

"This is Danny, the promoter for Rites of Darkness. I understand people have been getting frustrated with lack of news so I personally apologize for that. We have gone through a rash of cancellations which were beyond our control.. Paypal froze the Festival's account which caused delayed flights for months. By the time Paypal decided to release our account flights escalated beyond our set budget. So the show is NOT cancelled by any means but the following bands will not be performing: Root, Akitsa, Interment, Demonical, Valkyrja, Dead Congregation, Hour of 13, and Strid"

The festival has remained silent about the situation for close to two weeks, but finally updated festival-goers today. Their message, excerpted above and available in full below, explains the situation, but neglects to mention that Pagan Altar also cancelled (they were slated for a two hour set) and that Zemial cancelled too. Another band that is currently in flux, Stargazer, is reportedly without flights (the band is from Australia) at the moment. The listing is missing General Surgery, and no announcement has been made about the pre-fest which includes France's Hell Militia. Previously announced cancellations include Ondskapt, Urfaust, Behexen, and Sargeist. RoD has added new Profound Lore signees Pallbearer.

Reminder: two RoD bands, Inquisition and Disma, are scheduled to play The Studio at Webster Hall on 12/2 with Agrath. Tickets are still available.

UPDATE: Both Zemial and Pagan Altar are reconsidering their appearances. Statements from both are below.

UPDATED AGAIN: Disma, Funebrarum, Evoken, and Oak have all cancelled their appearances.

The most recent Rites of Darkness statement and the current lineup is below.

Continue reading "Rites of Darkness 2011 still on despite heavy cancellations UPDATED"

by BBG

Inquisition at Maryland Deathfest (more by BBG)

NYC's Studio at Webster Hall will soon host a trifecta of black metal greatness! Inquisition will headline the venue on December 2nd with a rare appearance from Mortuary Drape and Negative Plane. Tickets are on sale.

Italy's Mortuary Drape and Inquisition will then tour their way to Rites of Darkness 3 in San Antonio, Texas where they'll join the newly added Disma, but NOT Urfaust:

URFAUST vs RITES OF DARKNESS III

URFAUST is very sad to announce that we have to cancel our Intoxication Ritual at Rites of Darkness III in Texas, USA.
Our last Alcoholic Rites on US soil where splenditory, so this is just fucked up...
Nothing more to say about this, we hope to return to the USA and Rites of Darkness in 2012!
All hail the madness!
Cheers,
Ix & Vrdrbr on behalf of Urfaust

All known Inquisition dates, the full Rites of Darkness lineup, and some video is below.

Continue reading "Inquisition & Mortuary Drape playing NYC w/ Negative Plane before Rites of Darkness 3 (lineup & dates)"

by BBG, with photos by Diana Lee Zadlo

Its been around four years since Loss released their Life Without Hope...Death Without Reason demo, an impressive and slowing spreading monument to funeral doom that spawned vinyl pressings due to its popularity. Seek out that demo if you can. The three song EP lead to splits with Necros Christos and a four way with Otesanek, Mournful Congregation, and Orthodox.

Now, after a string of smaller releases Loss is back with their latest LP, Despond, which is out now via Profound Lore. Loss's Despond is a juggernaut that isn't all about barks and darkness; its a genuinely emotional and brooding slab of funeral doom that is genuinely melancholy and crushing. Despond's instrumentation is impressive here, but what is more impressive is the emotional intensity that bubbles beneath the surface.

Loss celebrated the release of Despond on May 20th at the Rutledge in their native Nashville with Pallbearer and Anhedonist (who played NYC with Hooded Menace). Pictures from that show are in this post.

We also sat down with Loss to ask them a few questions about the band and Despond. Read our chat, and check out more of this pictures, below...

Continue reading "interview w/ Loss (who released 'Despond', played Nashville)"

by BBG

Hooded Menace

While Tragedy was tearing down Europa with Citizens Arrest, Hooded Menace played a rare show Tuesday at Union Pool (5/31) as part of a short stint of dates that included Maryland Deathfest (pictures from their appearance) and tonight's show at Red 7 for Chaos in Tejas with Undergang, Acephalix, Bone Sickness, and Mammoth Grinder. Tuesday was Hooded Menace's first NYC date and one of four total (they played Philly the day before). Ilsa and Anhedonist, and Negative Plane also played the Brooklyn gig. Pictures from the show are in this post.

Ilsa's new LP (which we interviewed them about) was brought to life at the venue and sounded fantastic, but it was Anhedonist that truly knocked my socks off that night, as the Seattle band played all new material from a forthcoming LP. Negative Plane's reverb-drenched black metal was piercingly loud and blasting, and was quickly followed up with a conversely low-end Hooded Menace. Hooded Menace's doomy riffs sounded great on the Union Pool system; I can't wait to catch them again tonight.

More pictures from Union Pool and some video courtesy of UN:ART:IG, below...

Continue reading "Hooded Menace, Ilsa, Anhedonist & Negative Plane played Union Pool (pics & video)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Negative Plane - "Angels Of Veiled Bone"

Hooded Menace


BrooklynVegan & 1000 Knives are proud to present a four-band bill of darkness, headlined by the NYC debut of Finnish death/doom dealers Hooded Menace! The show, which will take place on 5/31 at Union Pool, will see the Roadburn-bound band team up with Negative Plane (!), Anhedonist, and Ilsa as part of a string of dates in between appearances at MDF and Chaos in Tejas 2011.

Hooded Menace released Never Cross the Dead in 2010, and are preparing to release a split 7" with the mighty Asphyx via Doomentia Records. The band is also heading to the studio in February to record two new tracks, though no word on where those will land. Full tour schedule is below.

Negative Plane needs no introduction, as the Brooklyn band's Et In Saecula Saeculorum was a fave among the blackened set. The band recently released the CD version of their new LP Stained Glass Revelations via The Ajna Offensive which features "Angels of Veiled Bone", downloadable for the first time here (it premiered at Invisible Oranges) and streaming below.

For the unfamiliar, Ilsa was named a band to watch by Darkthrone madman Fenriz. The band released their seriously ripping new LP of death/doom odes, Tutti Il Colori Del Buio, via Contagion Releasing. Order a copy, it's pretty great.

Anhedonist's The Drear demo was so well received, that Parasitic will be pressing the (surprisingly melodic!) death-doom release on vinyl for a late Feb/early Mar release.

All tour dates, the song stream and some video is below.

Continue reading "Hooded Menace playing Brooklyn w/ Negative Plane (whose LP is out now) -- MP3 & dates"