Eric Cutler of Autopsy at Maryland Deathfest (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

In 2008 I was diagnosed with Avascular Necrisis. This disease interrupts blood flow to bone causing it to die. I have had my left hip replaced twice since then and have had complications and great difficulties after both surgeries. Simple things like walking have been hard and a sneeze or cough can cause me to buckle over in pain. Doctors had me taking 20 pills a day and I needed a cane most of the time to walk. Flying to locations to play shows have been brutal and I have had to limit my activites. In November 2012 I have had a breakthrough and no longer take pills or use a cane! I am now doing physical therapy and improving each day. Medicals have piled high and I am in the process of paying them off. Due to these bills I have been selling off my personal music collection but I am getting by and that is most important. To everyone concerned I say : Thank you and don't worry about me, for I am not going anywhere and look forward to laying down the brutality!

Cheers and Beers,

Eric Cutler

Autopsy is currently working on a new LP, though no word as to when that may surface. Until then, you can get some older material via the band.

sign at Death by Audio via @andrewstclair

Following 285 Kent's lead, as of October 1, 2012, five-year-old Williamsburg DIY spot Death by Audio is now a NO SMOKING venue. Our clothes thank you.

Speaking of, Great Design says S. 2nd & Kent is "Where Sound is Born." No show at DbA tonight, btw.

Death Grips finally announced a tour! It doesn't include any NYC dates at the moment, but they tweeted, "more tour dates to be announced! (pretty much all the missing spots being mentioned).'

You can also make money off the new Death Grips album.

Willis Earl Beal, who is on tour now, released a "free digital Principles Of A Protagonist soundtrack EP of 5 re-recorded songs from Acousmatic Sorcery" via BitTorrent.

Speaking of BitTorrent and Death Grips, the rap-noise crew are the most downloaded artist on BitTorrent for the first half of 2012, with over 34 million downloads, beating Counting Crows, DJ Shadow, and Pretty Lights.

Generation Records will give you a free ticket to one of the Rev25 shows at Irving Plaza with purchase of a Chain of Strength t-shirt.

Happy Birthday to Talib Kweli (37), Gwen Stefani (43), Tommy Lee (50) and Lindsey Buckingham (61).

We premiered a new Riverboat Gamblers video on BV Austin.

You can stream the new Converge record in full.

Touche Amore do a great cover of The Replacements' "Unsatisfied" for their new split with The Casket Lottery (out now on No Sleep Records). Meanwhile, The Casket Lottery offer their take on Beach House's "Myth." Stream the entire release (both bands offer an original song as well) at the No Sleep Bandcamp.

Legendary black metal crew Von, widely considered to be the first US black metal band, have released a new song (!) in "Jesus Stain" from their upcoming Satanic Blood due on Oct 31. Stream that track below courtesy of Decibel Magazine.

Public Assembly is hosting a hummus cook-off and raffle on October 14 to help raise money for the NYC Coalition Against Hunger in memory of Craig Murphey.

Meanwhile you can catch Silver Apples at Public Assembly.

Then you can catch Silver Apples at 92YTribeca.

Help save the Historic Slave Theater in Bed-Stuy.

More stuff below...

Continue reading "ALSO: Death by Audio goes no-smoking; Death Grips are most-torrented; Mark E Smith, Von, Smashing Pumpkins & more"

photos by Taylor Keahey

Autopsy at Slaughter by the Water, 8/25/2012

Slaughter by The Water went down over the weekend in San Francisco, packing a festival lineup aboard the USS Hornet in the Bay on Saturday (8/25). The show featured appearances from Exodus, Autopsy, Impaled, Absu, Scott Kelly, Witchaven, Philm (featuring Dave Lombardo of Slayer) and many more during the day long event.

Check out more pictures from that sunny day in the Bay Area below.

Continue reading "Slaughter by The Water in pics (Autopsy, Exodus, Impaled, Scott Kelly, Absu, more)"

by BBG

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.

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

Mouth of The Architect is back from self-imposed exile to record a new LP and do a string of East Coast dates! The shows include stops in the Midwest and the East Coast, including on June 16th at Saint Vitus. Ticketing info is forthcoming.

With the reissue of Warrior Kids's Les Enfant De L'Espoir in the open (download it for free, buy it via Katorga Works), the band will hit the road for a string of US dates leading up to an appearance at Chaos in Tejas. The dates include two NYC stops at Acheron on May 22nd with Crazy Spirit, Creem and Goosebumps and Tommy's Tavern on May 24th with 45 Adapters and Offensive Weapon. Full tour schedule is below.

Fight Amp are currently working on their new LP Birth Control for Translation Loss. Reminder, Fight Amp will appear with Harkonen, The Atlas Moth and Whores for a show at Union Pool on June 16th. Tickets are still available, or get into this BV/Brutal Panda event with your Northside Badge.

Philadelphia punks Leather are working on a new long-player and will play a string of East Coast dates including a stop at Acheron on June 9th with Shoxx (ex-Pollution). Full tour schedule is below.

More suggested NYC shows, video from Autopsy last week (pictures are here), a new Ulver video, and more are below. What did I miss?

Continue reading "Evillive (Mouth of the Architect, Autopsy, Leather, Warrior Kids, Ulver & more)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin, words by BBG

May 15th, 1993. That was the last time that death metal legends Autopsy played NYC (at The Tilt with Incantation and Vital Remains), so Friday's appearance at the Bell House (5/4) was a long-time coming. The show was one of a pair of dates for the band, who continued on to play Reggie's in Chicago with Cianide the next evening before heading back to California to prepare for Maryland Deathfest. Support came from NJ death metallers Funebrarum (their first NYC show in 6 years), gods of Brooklyn doom Unearthly Trance and crusty DM killers Undergang, the latter of which came all the way from Denmark just to play The Bell House show. Pictures, video and setlists are in this post.

In other news, Unearthly Trance have added another NYC date, this time supporting Whitehorse (!) at their upcoming date at Acheron on June 12th with Batillus. Batillus recently released a new song from their split with Whitehorse, look for Whitehorse's contribution later this week.

More Autopsy below...

Continue reading "Autopsy played Bell House with Funebrarum, Unearthly Trance & Undergang (pics, video & setlist); UT add a show"

by BBG

Autopsy at Inferno Festival (more by BBG)

Autopsy are on their way to NYC for their first show in 19 years, and it all goes down TONIGHT at The Bell House! Featuring appearances from Funebrarum (their first NYC show in six years), Unearthly Trance, and Denmark's Undergang, the show is the lone date for Autopsy on the East Coast outside of an already-sold-out appearance at Maryland Deathfest. Tickets are still available for this BV-BBG production.... OR you can try your hand at winning one of THREE pairs I have for giveaway. Details are at the bottom of this post.

Undergang are heading across the Atlantic from Denmark to play the show, and the band have added another date happening Saturday night at Saint Vitus (5/5) with Kalopsia (members of Funebrarum) and Tribune. The show goes down at 9PM and is FREE with donation. Nothing beats a free show, so get there and give at the door if you can!

UPDATE: I was just told that this show has been cancelled.

Stream some Kalopsia and Undergang below, along with details on that contest...

Continue reading "Autopsy play Bell House tonight (win tickets); UPDATE: Undergang/Kalopsia cancel show at Saint Vitus"

BBG is back in Oslo, this time for Inferno. Here's what he's catching at the Norwegian metal festival...

by BBG

Autopsy @ Inferno

It's true. Everything in Europe is a little bit different than the states. Case in point, the classic European mosh pit. In the USA, there's always a few knuckleheads walking in circles and trying to assert their pit supremacy with flailing arms, swing kicks, picking-up-change, and skanking. Kudos to an American band, Autopsy for showing me that European moshing is basically a mass of ear-to-ear smiles, pogoing, and kids bouncing off of each other like pinballs.

Agalloch had just started their set at Inferno by the time I got to the venue on the festival's third night, so I missed sets by Merah, Necronomicon and Aeon Throne. I have seen Agalloch a few times and am used to seeing them in a much smaller space; the Portland band on the gigantic Rockefeller stage was nothing less than epic, probably aided by the amazing knob-twiddling skills of the one and only Billy Anderson (who is touring with them as their soundman). Songs from their recent Marrow Of The Spirit and Ashes Against the Grain never sounded so good.

Agalloch's touring partners, the great Velnias, held down the John Dee in the set directly following, and their grand statements of black metal majesty have never sounded so big. The last time I saw the band was at the DIY space Acheron in NYC, so this was decidedly different.

No offense to either Agalloch or Velnias, but after two sets of multi-part epic black metal, catching Tsjuder on the main stage was a welcome change. Tsjuder were everything I wanted at that moment from a "true Norwegian black metal band" (self described, of course); simple in approach, nihilstic, relentless, hooky but without the corny, and with breakdowns straight from the Celtic Frost playbook. The crowd ate it up like it was a coconut curry (one of the only things to eat at the venue), and so did I. Side note: Tsjuder wins the prize for band with the most fans with a tattoo of their logo at Inferno.

Dead Trooper was next on the John Dee stage, and their thrash hybrid contained elements of black metal and many other different influences mixed in. While that in itself isn't a deal breaker, the alternating growls and clean singing in Hetfield style (sorrow becomes sorroooooo-wah) truly put this band over the "not interested" hump for me. Sorry homies.

I washed my hands clean of Dead Trooper with the always amazing Absu. The lightning fast Texas crew played favorites like the new album opener "Earth Ripper", "Four Crossed Wands", "Thirteen Blows" and my personal favorite Absu track, "Pillars of Mercy." The last time I saw Absu (at Europa), I was told that the song was arranged for two guitars so I am happy that the trio figured out a way to take that Tara classic on the road. Such a unique band, one of the few that can get away with campy song introductions and still rip as hard as the best of them.

Clad in cowboy attire, hair braided, and opening with riffs that sounded like more metallic versions of Morricone soundtracks, I thought I had Solstafir pegged as a progressive metal band with a southwestern slant. Though they started a bit shaky, the band tightened up by the end of the first song and played an interesting set of psychedelic metal with black metal parts that had some great moments. The crowd were nuts for the band, and I was surprised and definitely impressed.

Autopsy was the main attraction of the night, and rightfully so. The primitive death metal legends got the crow riled up and brought the first mosh pit of the evening with songs like "Severed Survival", "Gasping for Air", and later fare like "Maggot Holes" and "Hand of Darkness". So animated. So brutal. So amazing. I can't wait for the Bell House show.

Pictures from day three of Inferno are below.

Continue reading "Inferno Festival 2012 -- night 3 pics & review (Autopsy, Agalloch, Absu, Solstafir & more)"

by BBG

Autopsy in LA (more by Adam Murray)

I am beyond proud to present the return of AUTOPSY for their first show in NYC in 19 years! The band will do a pair of east coast dates that will include a stop in NYC on May 4th and another in Chicago on May 5. Look for the band at The Bell House on May 4th, joined by support from Funebrarum (their first NYC show in six years), Unearthly Trance and Undergang. Tickets are on sale for this BV/Order of The Serpent event. The show will be the band's ONLY NYC date, and their last for who knows how long....

Autopsy also plays a sold-out night at Maryland Deathfest and will also head overseas to play the Inferno Festival in Norway over Easter weekend along with Bolt Fest, a UK festival featuring Bolt Thrower, Discharge, Benediction and Vallenfyre.

Crusty-death metal crew Undergang, who recently impressed at a string of dates that included Chaos in Tejas and just returned from a successful European tour with Funebrarum, will make the trek from Denmark (!) for the Brooklyn show. No word on if that will translate into additional shows though... we'll keep you up to date.

All tour dates and a video for the title track from their recent All Tomorrow's Funerals is below...

Continue reading "Autopsy schedules an NYC show at The Bell House"

photos by Adam Murray, words by BBG

Autopsy @ the Gathering of The Beastial Legion

Death metal greats Autopsy have released the title track, which you can listen to below, from their forthcoming All Tomorrow's Funerals LP due via Peaceville on February 28. The record collects previous EPs and includes re-recorded tracks. Check out the tracklisting and album art below too.

Autopsy spent January 14th in Los Angeles performing at The Gathering of The Beastial Legion V at Echo/Echoplex, where they teamed with Incantation, Acheron, Sanguis Imperium, HOD, Crypt Infection, and many more. Pictures from that day-long festival are below. Chicago-ans can look for Autopsy to play their fair city on May 5th, while Maryland Death Fest participants can expect them soon as well.

That song stream, tracklisting, album art, and more pictures from The Gathering of The Beastial Legion, including one of Autopsy's setlist, are below.

Continue reading "Autopsy preps "All Tomorrow's Funerals", played Gathering of The Beastial Legion with Incantation & more (pics)"

by BBG

Jeff Wilson on stage with Doomsday,
his project with Bob Fouts (more by Carmelo Espanola)

You may not have heard of them yet, but Chrome Waves is on the move. Featuring Jeff Wilson (Wolvhammer, Nachtmystium), Bob Fouts (The Gates of Slumber, Apostle of Solitude), and Stavros Giannopoulos (The Atlas Moth, Twilight), the trio are set to release a six song EP that features the tracks "Blackbird", "Height of The Rifles", and "Light Behind a Shadow", Listen to all three below. The latter makes its debut here today. Look for the band's self released, self titled, six song EP on January 31st on limited hand printed/hand numbered CD with "an exclusive shirt, patch and sticker". Vinyl info still forthcoming.

Fresh on the heels of Macabre Eternal, Autopsy will welcome their new LP All Tomorrow's Funerals via Peaceville on February 20th. The record contains new tracks, as well as Autopsy's past EP's & rarities and is up for preorder now via Peaceville. Speaking of Autopsy, checkout a Morbus Chron cover of Autopsy's "Mauled to Death", along with a few tour dates, below.

Wormrot were recently arrested in Malaysia by religious authorities.

Check out some new tracks from Pick Your Side at Facebook. Pick Your Side features members of Fuck The Facts, Haymaker and Left for Dead.

Check out a new To Live a Lie sampler featuring new tracks from Unholy Grave & Backslider, a clip from the Hooded Menace/Horse Lattitudes split, and a new song by Tripmines below along with this week's list of suggested NYC shows...

Continue reading "Evillive (Chrome Waves, Autopsy, Pick Your Side, Morbus Chron & more)"

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"

by BBG

Sleep at Terminal 5 (more by BBG)

It was inevitable. Sleep will headline Roadburn 2012. Al Cisneros' other current project Om (with Robert Lowe) and the previously announced curators Voivod also ae on the bill of the European festival. More impressive additions are surely to follow.

Meanwhile, Maryland Deathfest's lineup has finally solidified with the final addition of Autopsy. The band will headline the first night of the jawdropping lineup, alongside other Thursday bands like Agalloch, Eyehategod, Rorschach, Dying Fetus, Desaster, Needful Needful Things, Die Pigeon Die, and Extermination Angel.

The show is one of two Baltimore festival appearances scheduled for Eyehategod, who will also play the A389 anniversary with Integrity, Gehenna and a cast of others.

Full MDF lineup and flyer is below.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest completes lineup, Roadburn adds Sleep"

by BBG

Napalm Death at Gramercy (more by Justina Villanueva)

The tenth edition of Maryland Deathfest (May 24-27, 2012) has expanded further, adding names like Autopsy, Napalm Death, Noothgrush, Rwake, Deviated Instinct, Cough, Coke Bust, Infernal Stronghold, Backslider and Castevet to its already impressive lineup (Godflesh, Electric Wizard, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, etc). Full lineup is below. Tickets will go on sale in the coming months.

Cough and CT of Rwake will meanwhile appear at the Slow Southern Steel film premiere at Knitting Factory on August 13th with The Gates of Slumber and Earthling. Tickets are on sale.

Autopsy recently played Slaughter In The Water and Chaos in Tejas 2011.

Noothgrush plays several Power of The Riff shows in the second week of August. The band is preparing to re-release Erode the Person via Parasitic Records.

Full lineup and some video is below.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest expands 2012 lineup again"

photos by Taylor Keahey, words by BBG

Here's a scary thought. 1,226 thrash metal fans met up to catch Autopsy and Nuclear Assault headline a festival of high-octane metal that also featured appearances from Cattle Decapitation, Exmortus, Hatchet, Skinlab, Undivided, Vindicator, Warbringer, Whiplash, Witchaven and Zombie Holocaust. Needless to say, a lot of pitting and stage diving went down at Craneway Pavilion in Richmond, CA on Saturday June 25th for the second annual Slaughter by The Water. Pictures from the festival adorn this post.

For headliner Autopsy, the show was one of only two US dates scheduled for this year, with the second going down a few weeks prior at Chaos in Tejas. Nuclear Assault also recently played a festival date as well at Maryland Deathfest, which Witchaven played as part of their tour with Nocturnal that hit NYC.

Slaughter By The Water III is already in the works. More pictures from Slaughter By The Water II below...

Continue reading "Slaughter by the Water II in pics (Autopsy, Nuclear Assault, Cattle Decapitation & more)"

photos by Tim Griffin & BBG, words by BBG

Autopsy

An uber-late Thursday night with Tragedy and Origin of M ruined me for Friday day shows (and daylight, for that matter), but I was not going to miss one of my favorite two-pieces, Iron Lung at Emo's outdoors on the 2nd day of Chaos in Tejas 2011 (June 3rd). The band was third on the bill that hot and sticky night. They played after Hatred Surge and Cider, and were followed by an amazing lineup of fast/brutal featuring Innumerable Forms, Extortion, Citizens Arrest, and the piece de resistance, a headlining set from none other than Autopsy. The show was a stark contrast to what was happeing on the inside state: Lower Dens, Milk Music, The Young, and Unholy Two. Allo Darlin' were supposed to play too, but they cancelled (their NYC shows seem to still be happenning though).

My "day" started with a mix of witty banter and powerviolence brutality from Iron Lung, the first of what would be several pits of the evening. The duo are bulldozer-strength despite their numbers, and incited stage dives & pits despite the early hour. After a set from the dependably great Innumerable Forms (though we need some new mat'l gentlemen!), which featured Justin of Mind Eraser backed by Mammoth Grinder, Extortion took the stage to play a fastball of a set to a highly responsive (and stagedive-y) crowd. The band's clean tone fast-core was great, and the band delivered a more powerful set than at Maryland Deathfest... possibly due to the lack of barrier?

Citizens Arrest followed Extortion. It was the NYC hardcore greats' last set in the foreseeable future, and the fans at Chaos in Tejas were definitely more receptive than the MDF bunch (also, barrier?). The show resembled the band's showing at Knitting Factory in December with plenty of stage dives, dancing, and general mayhem. Many of the dancing few were from band's themselves, so it was awesome to see members of great bands going apeshit just like the rest of us. Awesome set.

Citizens Arrest

Autopsy headlined the evening, sitting comfortably in the middle ground between wide-eyed maniac and perfectly executed death metal veterans. The band played material from their latest Macabre Eternal, as well as earlier material during their hour+ set. From the moment that the band's intro music came on, the crowd was pressed up against each other in the front rows, with the audience swaying from side to side and front to back in the humidity. It was hot, but not hot enough for me to take my eyes off of Autopsy. Awesome set.

During Autopsy I poked my head into the Emo's indoor room where a sparsely populated crowd were enjoying Lower Dens (catch them on tour with Cass McCombs). I enjoyed the air-conditioning.

Chaos in Tejas Day One pictures are HERE and HERE. Our first set from Day Two (all from Emo's) continue below...

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas 2011 in pics & review (part 3)"

by BBG

Tragedy fan at Europa (more by Konstantin Sergeyev)

No rest for the wicked. After a grueling weekend of heavy music at Maryland Deathfest (pictures of day 1 HERE, day two HERE, day three HERE, and day four HERE), I am looking forward to a mix of punk, hardcore, metal, crust, d-beat, and indie at Chaos in Tejas in Austin this week! Kicking off on Thursday (June 2nd) the four day festival features appearances from tons notables, day shows, after parties, and in-stores, some for free. Swing down for a blow by blow breakdown of what you should look for every day at the multi-venue music fest.

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Thursday, June 2

Ah the start of the festival.... fresh legs and feet, and a hunger for tons of good bands. Thursday will sate your hunger too, as there are tons of great hardcore/metal shows to choose from. Shows tonight happen on both stages at Emo's, both stages at Red 7, at the Mohawk, Beauty Bar, Beerland and the Broken Neck.

Despite the high profile cancellation of Killing Joke at Emo's outdoor, CIT bounced back and added Cro-Mags to an already awesome lineup of rare appearances from strong>Asta Kask (Swedish d-beat), D-Clone (a rare show from these Japanese hardcore monsters), Veins (featuring Mark McCoy from Charles Bronson/Das Oath as well as Ian from Copremesis/Castevet), Double Negative (North Carolinian hardcore greats who released the awesome Daydreamnation last year), Vile Gash (brutal hardcore on Youth Attack), Japan'sThe Slowmotions, and NYC's Cult of Youth (dark folk with a great new LP on Sacred Bones) and Crazy Spirit (excellent hardcore with members of Perdition).

Thankfully, I can use my wristband from Emo's to hit up Red 7, right around the corner, where an awesome metal show will clash with an awesome garage show on the two stages. Finnish doomers Hooded Menace will headline on stage with Denmark's Undergang, crusty death metallers Acephalix (mems of the amazing Vastum), more death metal from Bone Sickness, and local death and rollers Mammoth Grinder. Meanwhile, the second stage will feature The Spits, the Arrivals, Shellshag, TV Ghost, and others. All of this means that I'll probably miss Converge/Title Fight/Touche Amore/Trap Them/Burning Love/the Menzingers at Mohawk and How I Quit Crack/The Indicator Dogs at Beauty Bar. At least I can end the night right with Tragedy and Origin of M at Broken Neck as part of an after-party. Yikes!

the rest of Thursday's schedule and what to do on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, below...

Continue reading "BBG's Guide to Chaos in Tejas 2011"

by BBG

Autopsy 2011: Chris Reifert, Danny Coralles, Eric Cutler, Joe Trevisano

Talk about a rollercoaster! After issuing the putrid slab of depravity known as Dawn Of Inhumanity last year, Chris Reifert of Abscess announced two things in one fell swoop: first that he was dissolving Abscess in the wake of guitarist Clint Bower's departure, and second that he was reforming the legendary Autopsy as his main endeavor. The influential death metal band played multiple European festival appearances following a return performance at Maryland Death Fest, and with the solidification of the lineup (original members Reifert, Coralles & Cutler with Joe Trevisano of Abscess/Von), it is now clear: Autopsy is not fucking around.

After a warning shot was fired across the bow in the form of the sublimely grotesque 2010 EP The Tomb Within, Autopsy hit the studio again in January to fiendishly plot their follow-up and first LP in 16 years, Macabre Eternal. The new LP is now officially up for preorder via Peaceville, and sees Autopsy return to their blood-crusted throne as one of the godfathers of Death Metal (along with a few select others, including Reifert's previous band Death). With Macabre Eternal on deck (5/16 on vinyl, 5/20 on CD), Autopsy has released a track from the LP to stream, and it makes its world premiere here. I dare you to not shake your fist in excitement at "Always About To Die", available below for the first time.

Autopsy has a few US shows planned for this year, and all are festival dates. The first goes down as part of Chaos In Tejas in Austin in June (tickets) alongside names like Kriegshog, Youth Of Today, Larm, Killing Joke, FYP and others, while the other two go down in the band's homebase of sunny California. Autopsy will headline both the Slaughter By The Water II in Richmond, CA on June 25th (with Nuclear Assault, Ludicra, Whiplash and others) as well as Gathering of the Bestial Legion V in Los Angeles on August 27th. The band plays Neurotic Deathfest in Tilburg this weekend with At The Gates.

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

Continue reading "Autopsy releasing new LP 'Macabre Eternal' (song premiere)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Morne - "My Return" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Caulfield - "Set Fire to the Heavens" (MP3)

With their epic show with Batillus fast approaching, Morne has released a new song from their upcoming LP for Profound Lore, Asylum (due 6/14). Check out "My Return" downloadable above/streaming below and check out the band on 4/23 at Union Pool with Batillus/Belus!

Sacramento's Caulfield stand at the crossroads of Neurosis and Integrity, and their impressive new LP available now via A389. The band is currently touring the East Coast and will hit Tommy's Tavern with Pharaoh, Grudges, Bear Trap, Ruin Lust on 4/20. Check out "Set Fire to the Heavens" from the band's self-titled LP above.

Danava are embarking on the previously discussed Down/Haarp trek, but have also added a show at Glasslands on 5/1 with La Otracina.

The Austerity Program will team with The Netherlands and Passive Aggressor to play The Charleston on 4/22. The show is one of two dates (and two completely different sets) scheduled for the band, as they'll also play Union Pool on 5/15 with Coliseum

Download a comp from MetalHit.com that has new tracks from Necros Christos, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, and Blut Aus Nord among many others.

Check out the new Haemmorage video for "Flesh-Devouring Pandemia" at Metalsucks. The band will release their new album Hospital Carnage on May 24th via Relapse.

Head below for more suggested upcoming NYC shows, a new Autopsy video (!), audio from a new Krieg-related project, and more.

Continue reading "Evillive (Morne, Caulfield, Danava, Autopsy & more)"

by BBG

Tragedy fan at Chaos in Tejas 2008 (photo by joecurry666)

After an initial lineup was announced earlier this year, Chaos in Tejas is back for more with another set of bands confirmed for the June 2nd - 5th Austin festival. Get to booking your ticket if you're interested in seeing Kriegshog (from Japan, their last show ever), a Youth of Today reunion (Ray Cappo, Porcell, Ken Olden + a drummer who isn't Sammy), Low Threat Profile, Omar Souleyman, Hooded Menace, Lower Dens, Double Negative, FYP, Oneohtrix Point Never, Veins (their only show ever), Universal Order of Armageddon, and many many others. Oh, and by the way, the previously discussed Autopsy appearance will be their only US show of the year. Full list of bands playing the multi-venue party is below.

In related news, Low Threat Profile (members of Lack Of Interest/Infest/No Comment) released their debut LP via Deep Six Records before the new year. Pick it up at your favorite distro/webstore, like Tankcrimes or Phantom City.

Universal Order of Armageddon play NYC TWICE soon; on 1/21 at Cake Shop with Trophy Wife (and more TBA) and 1/22 at Death By Audio with The Body, Orphan, and (according to Youth Attack) Salvation. Take note, the lineups have changed since we first posted, and differ from what Kill Rock Stars has posted (click the link for Baltimore and Philly date info too).

Current Chaos in Tejas lineup (more announcements are due soon), below...

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas 2011 lineup expands (Kriegshog & Youth of Today included), Universal Order of Armageddon coming soon"

by BBG

Autopsy at MDF (by Justina Villanueva)

One of the worst things about Maryland DeathFest this year was that it fell on the same weekend as Chaos in Tejas in Austin. Thankfully, you won't have to make a choice next year as Chaos in Tejas 2011 will take place on 6/2 - 6/5 (MDF is in May). What's more, the Austin festival has announced its first round of as-many-as-100 bands including Autopsy (their second US show in 20 years), D-Clone (Japan, U.S. exclusive), Extortion (Australia), Isterismo (Japan, U.S. exclusive), Miasmal (Sweden), Ceremony, Xibalba (Mexico), The Slowmotions (Japan, U.S. exclusive), Perdition, Crazy Spirit, Vile Gash, Origin of [m] (Japan), Bone Sickness, Innumerable Forms, Reigning Sound, and Unbroken. That's an impressive cross-section of metal/crust/punk/hardcore so far, with a slate of indie and hip hop artists to be announced across the festival's seven venues. Stay tuned for updates.

Meanwhile a few of the Chaos in Tejas bands have been announced for Maryland Deathfest 2010 too, which has been finalized with the addition of Tragedy to the lineup. Full MDF lineup is below and tickets are on sale.

Current Chaos in Tejas and the full MDF lineups and some video is below too...

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas (June 2-5) announce intial 2011 lineup, Maryland Deathfest (May 26-29) announces their final "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: The Howling Wind - "Teeth of Frost" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Palace of Worms - "Rite of Blood" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Unholy Grave - "Little Bastards" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Coffinworm - "Start Saving For Your Funeral" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Darkthrone - "Eyes Burst At Dawn" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wolvhammer - Dawn Of The 4th (Zipped MP3, Mediafire)
DOWNLOAD: Panopticon - "Beginning Of The End" featuring Rob "The Baron" Miller (MP3 Snippet)
DOWNLOAD: From Ashes Rise - "All In Due Time" (Live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Alcest - "Percées De Lumière" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wormrot - "Indonesia" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jucifer - "Rifles" (MP3)

Ryan of The Howling Wind w/ Unearthly Trance (more by Samantha Marble)

Ryan Lipynsky probably best known for his role as doom-destroyer in Unearthly Trance, but he's been around the block with projects as varying as Motive, Pollution, Thralldom and The Howling Wind, who will release their latest LP Into The Cryosphere via Profound Lore in April. The Howling Wind, which includes Tim Call of Parasitic Records, Aldebaran, and others, toils in icy doom and black metal much like the ripping "Teeth of Frost" available above. The band also has the Mortuary Library 7" due out later this year via Parasitic.

In related news, NYC doomers Unearthly Trance have hit the studio to record their new album V with Sanford Parker. The band currently has one show on their calendar, April 21st at The Charleston with Lair of The Minotaur as part of a string of East Coast dates in celebration of Evil Power, their new album due out on their own The Grind-House Records imprint. Look for that LP in middle April.

Raw and punishing Japanese grind returns with Grind Killers, the new LP from Unholy Grave! Recorded live in a Dutch studio in September 2008, these 23 tracks were mastered last year and will see a release on Selfmadegod Records in March 2010. Check out "Little Bastards" available for download above. Meanwhile, Selfmadegod will also release a Peel Sessions disc with Agothocles recorded in 1997 and The Grind Years from Psycho.

Coliseum with new drummer Carter Wilson (far right)

Coliseum has signed with Temporary Residence Limited! The band has completed recording their new LP with J Robbins which will see the light of day this summer and will feature appearances from Will Oldham, members of Young Widows, Jason Noble, and many others. Congrats boys!

Harvey Milk will release their new album, A Small Turn of Human Kindness via Hydrahead on May 18th! Can't wait. The current tracklisting is below. Make sure and catch Harvey Milk with Coalesce and The Atlas Moth on tour and at Le Poisson Rouge on 3/8 (tix).

The "De-cancellation Tour" routing is almost complete! Make sure and catch Ludicra on the road this spring doing select dates with Krallice including Europa on 4/18 as part of a BV/Osiris presentation! Tickets are on sale. Full tour routing is below.

The dark forces of Coffinworm have revealed more details from their upcoming shadowy effort for Profound Lore, When All Became None. Sanford Parker has helmed the sludgy blackened doom LP, which features six tracks and is due for release in April. Dig on "Start Saving For Your Funeral" from the LP, downloadable above. Coffinworm will appear at the BV/CC/1000K Pizza Party alongside Zoroaster, Landmine Marathon, and many others. Album art is below.

That album art, and news on Corrupted, Triptykon, Autopsy, Black Shape of Nexus, Virus, Darkthrone, Rosetta, and so much more, as Short Wave Warfare continues...

Continue reading "Short Wave Warfare (03/3/10) "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Doomriders - "Lions" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Portal - "Omenknow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Javelina - "Step Child" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Karma To Burn - Live at Lit Lounge 4/20/09 (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 20 Buck Spin Label Sampler (Mediafire, Zipped MP3 via)
DOWNLOAD: Kowloon Walled City - Gambling On The Richter Scale (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Converge - "Axe To Fall" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Power Pellut - "Black Molly" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Skies - "Smoke and Mirrors" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Yoga - "Seventh Wind" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sleep - Live at ATP 5/9/09 (MP3)

Javelina @ the Northside BV-BBG Showcase (more by Jason Walker)

Alright! I get it. Doomriders rules. Revocation is up there. There's a new Converge and Baroness on the way. But even with all of those great releases, it suprises me that Javelina isn't near some of the top of those lists. The band's filthy debut was a monster and their new one, Beasts Among Sheep, only adds to their considerable reputation. If you are a fan of the last LP, this one is a must have. Dig on "Stepchild" above and preorder the limited edition LP version of Javelina's Beasts Among Sheep via Brutal Panda Records and the CD version via Translation Loss.

Speaking of that Doomriders album, Darkness Come Alive is out NOW via Deathwish Records. Though the party vibe that permeated through Black Thunder is mostly gone, it has been replaced by a propulsive punk rock fury and, at times, a Misfits-era Danzig croon (see "Come Alive")! There are quite a few killer moments on this long-player, but we present to you the most "fuck you" of them all, the galloping "Lions" downloadable above!

In our last round up, we shined a light on into the deepest fathoms of Australia and the truly frightening Portal. The band's claustrophobic and positively frightening new death metal LP, Swarth, relies as much on freak-out atmosphere as it does killer discordant riffery. Swarth is due out on 10/20 via Profound Lore and we have a second taste in the form of "Omenknow" above.
Misery Index have completed four new songs and are looking to enter the studio in early 2010 to record their follow up to Traitors! Stoked.

Iron Age @ Cake Shop (more by Jason Walker)

I still remember that kick ass Cake Shop show with Iron Age, Mind Eraser, and Sex Vid, and walking out of that show wanting more. Thankfully, I can add to those great memories with a PAIR of Iron Age shows in the coming weeks! First up, the rowdy Texans will team up with the great Mother of Mercy (profiled here) for a show at Cake Shop (10/16). The next day (10/17), look for the band to pull a double header with a day show at Generation Records and a night show at The Charleston with Brain Killer, Naam & Descender. Speaking of Mind Eraser, the band will team up with the kick ass Iron Lung for a string of east coast dates which will include Cake Shop on 11/8! Full Iron Age and Iron Lung dates are below.

Black Skies will release the limited edition vinyl from their 2008 EP Hexagon on I'm Better Than Everyone Else Records. The Chapel Hill doom trio is currently on the hunt for drummer #5, but not before blessing us with some seriously killer riffage in the form of "Smoke & Mirrors" above. Preorder Hexagon here.

Power Pellut is also releasing their debut LP via I'm Better than Everyone Else Records. Preorder that here and dig on "Black Betty" from that LP above!

Church of Misery will release a live record culled from their recent set at Roadburn 2009! More details are to come, but look for Burning World to do the honors in November/December of this year. In the meantime, dig on this killer live video from Roadburn 2009!

That video, news on Kowloon Walled City, Boris, Asphyx, Struck By Lightning, Ringworm, Repulsion and more!

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/30/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Crucifist - "Honor" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Flood - "Aphelion" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Culted - "Social Control" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fall Of Efrafa - INLÉ (Zipped MP3 Album)

Fall of Efrafa

Though the rain is mostly gone, it's still a doomy gloomy day here at Week In Metal, where we kick things off with Fall of Efrafa, who have dropped their FINAL album of thundering post-hardcore sludge on Denovali. It's called INLÉ and takes inspiration from an extremely unlikely source, the book Watership Down. The final in a trilogy of LPs that also included OWSLA and ELIL, INLÉ is available for FREE download above of for purchase via Denovali or Sound Devastation.

More details on Shrinebuilder have surfaced, including the FULL album art, as well as the tracklisting for the upcoming self-titled LP. Dig on that art here and the tracklisting below. Speaking of Al Cisneros, Vice blog recently interviewed Sleep and Om are on their way to NYC.

Roadburn has announced that 2010's Roadburn event will be partly curated by none other than Tom Warrior of Celtic Frost/Hellhammer/Triptykon fame! His new band Triptykon will headline Only Death Is Real, the Friday 4/16/10 event, and Tom will choose an additional 16 bands for the festival! Stokeage. More info is to come.

San Francisco's Flood, who take a line or two from the great Khanate with their low & slow doomy funeral marches, recently dropped their new LP Native on the esteemed MeteorCity (get that here). Check out a track from that massive LP, "Aphelion", which is downloadable above. Flood currently has no plans to head out east, but here's for hoping!

Kirk Lloyd is currently shopping an EP of unreleased material by legendary southern dirge merchants Buzzov*en!

It was recorded in Brooklyn by Shane and mixed by Mike Davidson and Brian Hill. Its 4 songs including "Nod" which was previously released on a split with Sourvein. The 3 other tunes are "Paintake","Breed" and "Mainline". "Mainline" got redone by the At A Loss lineup, but is actually a good bit different... with the original lineup of Brian Hill on bass, Ash Lee on drums, ...and this is the only recording with Johhny Brito on gtr. [Also look for] ...Pat Vigil now in Watch Them Die doing 2nd vocal on "Breed"!!

The legendary Autopsy will reunite at Maryland Deathfest 2010 bringing along with them Coffins, Melechesh, and Jesus Crost! Chris Reifert's current home, Abcess, recently released a split with Population Reduction.

More on Brutal Truth, Culted, Salome, Napalm Death, Torche, a new grind-fiesta in Williamsburg, and so much more, below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (07/22/09)"