by BBG

Russ of Alaric on stage with Noothgrush (more by Taylor Keahey)

Alaric, an Oakland based crew featuring members of Noothgrush and Cross-Stitched Eyes, deal in deathrock, the crossroads of goth and post-punk/punk with a horror aesthetic that spawned bands like Christian Death, Rudimentary Peni, The Birthday Party and Killing Joke. Alaric released their excellent self-titled LP last year, and this year they are teaming with Portland-based goth-doom crew Atriarch to release a new split LP out on 5/15 via the venerable 20 Buck Spin.

The release sees Alaric handle three tracks while Atriarch tackles two, both of which are a seismic shift in direction from that of the material on the band's recent favorite Forever The End LP (100% less doom, more deathrock with touches of black metal). Stream the entire Alaric/Atriarch split in full below and for the first time, and pick up your copy via the label.

Speaking of Cross-Stitched Eyes, the band welcomes their new LP Decomposition today via Alternative Tentacles. Stream two tracks below, and order your copy via the label.

All streams are below. No tour dates to speak of which of course means no NYC yet, but fingers are crossed.

Continue reading "Alaric and Atriarch share a split (stream it in full); Cross-Stitched Eyes welcome "Decomposition""

by BBG

Midnight at Rites of Darkness (more by BBG)

2011 was a year that I spent delving deep into record bins, in the pit at shows, and searching for the most brutal of the brutal at festivals across the country including Maryland Deathfest, Chaos in Tejas, Rites of Darkness, SXSW, the A389 Anniversary show, California Discord Fest, and many others. It was also a year when I revisited my hardcore roots, and went further down the rabbit hole with DIY shows and independent records.

2011's choices for best of the year were tougher than I could have imagined, as opposed to my clear cut 2010 choice for favorite album of the year. That said, favorite records are about playability, and these are the LPs that wore out my needle and earned the most plays on my digital device (note: I made sure to remove a record that I was directly involved in because that would clearly be near the top of the list). I hope you enjoyed these records as much as I did in 2011 and if not, please share what you enjoyed below. I already can't wait for 2012.

My favorite records and shows of 2011 are below.

Continue reading "The Year in Heavy (BBG's favorite records & shows of 2011)"

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"