photos by Greg Cristman and Stephanie Crumley

Municipal Waste @ Metal Suckfest

After a pre-party on 11/3 with Mayhem, the inaugural Metal SuckFest kicked off on Friday (11/4) at Gramercy Theater with a headlining appearance from Richmond's own Municipal Waste, who were joined by Today is The Day, God Forbid, All Pigs Must Die, Magrudergrind, Black Tusk, Howl, This is Hell, Ramming Speed and Prime Evil. Pictures of all bands except Prime Evil (who we missed) adorn this post.

Hardcore supercrew All Pigs Must Die also played a last minute surprise show at Saint Vitus later that night. A video from that show, and more pictures from night one at Gramercy (night two is on the way), below...

Continue reading "Metal Suckfest @ Gramercy Theater (night one pics)"

by BBG

Magrudergrind at Music Hall of Williamsburg (more by BBG)

Metalsucks have announced most of their lineup slated for the Metal Suckfest 2011 at Gramercy Theater on November 4th and 5th. Joining the previously announced artists will be God Forbid, Howl, Black Tusk, Ramming Speed, Prime Evil, A Life Once Lost, Scale the Summit, Fight Amp, and Ultrageist across the two days. Tickets are on sale for both 11/4 and 11/5, or you can buy them packaged with tickets for Mayhem who play the day before (Metalsucks Pre-Game). Lineups by day and the show flyer is below.

Reminder: TWO of the artists slated to play the Metal Suckfest will play NYC this weekend. Fight Amp will support Weedeater/Oxbow/Bison BC at Europa on Saturday (9/10, tickets) and Despise You/Magrudergrind/Backslider/The Communion/Defeatist are at Shea Stadium (9/11).

Woe is also scheduled to play that Mayhem date at Gramercy, but will be in NYC next week as part of a show with 40 Watt Sun at Public Assembly on 9/16.

More shows happening this weekend are listed in Evillive.

The almost-full Suckfest lineup and the show flyer is below.

Continue reading "updated Suckfest lineup (tix on sale), Weedeater this weekend"

photos by Samantha Marble, words by BBG

Kirk Windstein of Crowbar

I'm no expert on non-alcoholic beer. So when I see Kirk Windstein of Crowbar (who recently left alcohol rehab) hit the stage with a half-dozen bottles of suds, the mind gets curious. Fortunately, Clausthaler is definitely N/A.

"Let me get some more of that fake shit," Windstein says between songs, gulping it down.

Not to be the fun police or anything, but we need that bear guitar tone around for a while. And we definitely needed it Sunday night at Santos Party House, but it wasn't there, though not for any alcohol-related reasons, but more on that in a second.

Opening acts A Life Once Lost and Primitive Weapons started the show, but I missed them. I arrived in time for a rendez-vous with Black Tusk for the umpteenth time this year. The hard-touring band gave it their all on stage (per usual) but there's no fighting city hall or, to be more precise, a soundman more interested in his laptop. Black Tusk sounds this tinny? Unequivocally, no. The atrocious sound continued on to Crowbar's set, who followed the Savannah trio.

New Orleans juggernauts Crowbar have always had one foot in Sabbath-ian territory, but with sandpaper-y vocals that recall hardcore. As such, NYHC pit bosses were in full effect at the venue, and the mosh pit spiked in intensity for songs like "High Rate Extinction" and the encore of "All I Had (I Gave)". It calmed for tracks from Sever The Wicked Hand, the band's new and six-years-in-the-making effort on E1 due in February 2011, though the new songs seem to have the same gruff melodicism and signature Windstein riff badass-ery; they sound promising.

But they didn't sound good! Despite a killer and exacting set from Kirk & crew, Crowbar was a victim of the tinny sound at the venue. Their trademark low-end thump was noticeably absent from the PA. I eventually moved directly in front of the stage to get more from the backline of "Dime" amps (yes, as in Dimebag Darrell of Pantera), which helped immensely.

With a set heavy on favorites, Crowbar delivered despite the noticable obstacles. Crowbar also filmed a video for "The Cemetary Angels" from the new LP while in NYC. Look for that soon. More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Crowbar & Black Tusk played Santos Party House (pics)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Metal Swim Compilation (Zipped MP3s)

Zoroaster at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Markus Shaffer)

Adult Swim have posted an album of FREE downloadable tracks. The record, entitled Metal Swim features rare and unreleased tracks from some familiar names around these parts (Isis, Boris, Skeletonwitch, Ludicra, Zoroaster, Red Fang, etc) including new tracks from Withered's forthcoming LP Dualitas, Torche's Songs for Singles, AND Kylesa's Spiral Shadow among many many others. Download the album at the site or above, and dig on the tracklisting (and some video) below.

Continue reading "new tracks by Boris, Isis, Torche, Kylesa, others on free comp "

by BBG

Buzzoven live in the 90s

Buzzov-en was a sludge metal band from North Carolina, formed in 1989 by the remaining members of Sewer Puppet. The band was known for being one of the founders of the sludge genre (after Eyehategod), and also for their out-of-control and violent live shows. The band in its early days toured heavily around the United States and built up a cult following leading up to the release of their debut album, To a Frown (1993), which caught the attention of Roadrunner Records, who released the band's second album Sore (1994). The band was dropped by Roadrunner, and from then on have gone through several periods of being split-up and reformed, with the only constant member having been Kirk Fisher.

The NYC show is just 26 days after Black Tusk plays NYC with Fu Manchu (tickets), and will mark their fourth NYC appearance in less than five months. Their LP, Taste The Sin, is out now via Relapse - the label responsible for Buzzoven's latest EP, Violence From The Vault.

Some video of Buzzov-en, and full tour dates are below....

Continue reading "Buzzoven playing shows including a boat in NY w/ Black Tusk"

by Kim Kelly w/ photos by Samantha Marble

Zoroaster at The Khyber

Writer Kim Kelly has completed her (epic) journey on the road with the Summer Southern Burn Tour aka the indomitable team of Zoroaster, Black Tusk, and Dark Castle. She kept a diary along the way, revealing the first part a few weeks ago, and now the conclusion! (below) - BBG

Continue reading "Tour Diary: Kim Kelly on the road w/ Zoroaster (part 2)"

by BBG

Nachtmystium at Europa (more by Samantha Marble)

Nachtmystium, Zoroaster, The Atlas Moth, and Dark Castle are going to tour, and BrooklynVegan and 1000 Knives have teamed up to present the Manhattan show at The Studio at Webster Hall on September 15th! Tickets are on sale. It's one of two NYC shows on the trek. The foursome also play Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on September 19th. Tickets are on sale for that too. All dates are below.

In other news, Zoroaster and Dark Castle's recent tour mates, Black Tusk, are scheduled to play NYC on with Fu Manchu at Santos Party House on 9/4. Support will come from the great It's Casual, along with Vagina Panther. Tickets are on sale. The show is part of a larger set of dates for Fu Manchu and It's Casual; dig on those below too.

Continue reading "Nachtmystium touring w/ Zoroaster, the Atlas Moth & Dark Castle ++ Black Tusk touring w/ Fu Manchu (2010 dates) "

words by BBG, photos by Markus Shaffer

"Watching Zoroaster. Their singer has terrible posture. #srsly -ReignInBlonde

"God damn last night was EPIC!! Dark Castle killed it!!" -s11bryant11d

"At Hull and Black Tusk at Webster. You should be too. Heavy as fuck" -goes cube

Black Tusk, the grimmest of the grim

Black Tusk, Zoroaster, Dark Castle, and Hull formed a fantastic quadruple bill at The Studio at Webster Hall on July 9th as part of a larger tour for the BV-sponsored trio of Zoro/BT/DC. Earth-shaking riffs abounded, fog-machines and lighting where on blast. Hull was the best I have ever seen them. We heard a new black metal influenced Dark Castle song. Chloe Puke (Atakke) guested vocals with Zoroaster. Zoroaster played mostly material from their upcoming Matador (it rules). Stevie Floyd (Dark Castle) guested vocals with Zoroaster. And Black Tusk could not contain the good times. I'd have to say it was a good night.

Tons of ragin' pics and some video from the show is below...

Continue reading "Black Tusk, Zoroaster, Dark Castle & Hull played The Studio (pics & video) "

by BBG

Dark Castle at Lovejoys (more here)

It's already way obvious that the next month is gonna be NUTS! Zoroaster are up there ruling as we speak -[GrimKim, Tuesday night in Birmingham, Alabama]

BV will have reports from Kim Kelly, aka Grim Kim, from the road on the Summer Southern Burn Tour.

As if the tour isn't grueling in itself, Dark Castle have added some solo dates on the off days. Updated tour dates for the trek, as well as Dark Castle's new dates and some video are below.

Continue reading "Zoroaster, Dark Castle, Black Tusk are on tour - updated dates"

by BBG

Zoroaster at Hoeks Death Metal Pizza (more by Diana Zadlo)

The Summer Southern Burn tour will team up three behemoths of the southern metal underground this summer: Black Tusk, Zoroaster, and Dark Castle! Featuring rotating headlining slots by Black Tusk and Zoroaster and support from one of my favorite young heavy bands (Dark Castle), this promises to be a serious set of shows and BrooklynVegan is proud to be on board as a sponsor.

We've also teamed up with with 1000 Knives to present the NYC show on July 9th at The Studio at Webster Hall. Black Tusk will headline the night and tickets are on sale.

Zoroaster have announced the release date of July 13th for their upcoming LP, Matador, due at their new home, E1 Records. The LP follows their self-released Voice Of Saturn which featured "White Dwarf" and it's accompanying video. Dig on the album art and the tracklisting below. The band recently decimated Hoeks Death Metal Pizza along with The Atlas Moth, The Funeral Pyre, Coffinworm, Trash Talk, and many notable others.

Black Tusk have a record of their own on the way, Taste The Sin, due on 5/25 via Relapse Records. The band directly supported Weedeater on their recent trek with The Gates of Slumber and Struck By Lightning, making quite an impression when they played The Studio at Webster Hall.

Despite parking issues and general SXSW malaise Dark Castle played the Emo's day show on 3/17 during SXSW, the BV-sponsored 20 Buck Spin/Profund Lore showcase, and a surprise show at Lovejoy's the following day. The band absolutely destroyed Union Pool with The Atlas Moth in November of last year.

Full tour dates, tour flyer, and Matador album art/tracklisting is below...

Continue reading "Zoroaster, Dark Castle & Black Tusk - 2010 tour dates"

words by Ilya Blokh, photos by Markus Shaffer

Maybe the photographer had some of that sizzurp too...

I had two options last Saturday - a picnic in the park with sunshine and puppies, or crowded basements full of feedback and filth as part of a big weekend of heavy music. Obviously I chose the latter, starting with Thou's suffocating mid-day performance at ABC No Rio (photos on the way, meanwhile check out Mike Hill's interv), then heading over to The Studio at Webster Hall for a monstrous nightcap.

Sadly I missed Struck By Lightning, who by all accounts ripped the place to shreds [BBG's note: I was a fan of their LP, but live is where they excel. Crusty, and killer charging metal/punk ala Motorhead meets His Hero is Gone]. I caught The Gates of Slumber's solid but reserved take on the classic/proto-doom sound, leaning heavily on material from last year's Hymns of Blood and Thunder. For me though, the show really kicked into high gear with Black Tusk. Mind-blowingly fun in that increasingly popular, old dirty metal way, their mix of punk beats, stoner riffs and metal bravado sent hair flying all over the place. Their new album, Taste The Sin, hits shelves in late May.

Weedeater took the stage in true, drunken form for a performance that blew their Charleston show out of the water. Between fellating the microphone, sipping Robitussin (evidence below) and puking in the trashcan (I think), 'Dixie' Dave's rasp, rumbling bass and cross-eyed stare basically define "sludge". Chugging doom riffs and rolling drums filled out the thick, muddled sound as the band banged out a good mix of old and new(er) material. They are finishing up a US tour, then spending the summer in Europe. Hopefully Dave can keep most his appendages intact (he shot off his toe earlier this year) and we'll see them back here soon.

Tons of pictures and video from the show continue below...

Continue reading "Weedeater, Black Tusk, the Gates of Slumber & Struck by Lightning played The Studio @ Webster Hall - pics & video"

photos by Jessie Barber, Christopher Mumma

Matt Martinez of Landmine Marathon belts it out (by Jessie Barber)

While BBG and Kim Kelly were trolling about the blackened stage at Bernie's, getting southern-fried by the Louisiana frighteners Thou, and checking out the thundergods known as YOB, Chris and Jessie were on the case at the other Scion Rock Fest on 3/13 in Columbus, Ohio. Pictures from their travels which include some (more) shots of Landmine Marathon, as well as Shrinebuilder (right before they played NYU), Pelican, D.R.I., Black Tusk, Voivod (who then made their way to SXSW), Magrudergrind, Saviours, and so much more, below....

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest pics (part 2) - Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Black Tusk, Magrudergrind, Pelican, Shrinebuilder, Deadsea & more"

by BBG

Dixie Dave of Weedeater and his lovely singing voice (more by Paul Birman)

"I would say the biggest underground band from here that deserves all the credit in the world is Weedeater. They are the godfathers of what we do." -[An interview with CT of Rwake]

The show is part of a string of dates for the North Carolinians (Weedeater). The first leg kicks off on 3/12 with ASG and US Christmas and continues on to SXSW where the trio will meet up with Rwake and Black Cobra at Encore for the Tone Deaf Showcase (3/20). From there, the fearsome foursome (Weedeater, The Gates of Slumber, Black Tusk, and Struck By Lightning) will depart Austin and scoot out west before heading back east for the NYC show.

Stay tuned for some big announcements regarding BV shows during SXSW, and also note that tickets are now on sale for the BV-presented Mayhem / Tombs / Krallice / Ludicra show coming to Irving Plaza two days before Weedeater get here.

Of all of the formidable bands mentioned above, two are playing the Scion Rock fest on 3/13 in Columbus, Ohio: Black Tusk and Struck By Lightning. Struck by Lightning, which features Gregory Lahm (ex-Mouth Of The Architect), is currently promoting their 2009 release Serpents (we previewed it here).

Lahm's old band Mouth of The Architect has a new EP due on Translation Loss this March. The EP will be "a little faster and a little more metal" than the MOTA we are used to. MOTA are currently gearing up to hit the road leading up their appearance at Roadburn 2010.

All tour dates with a bunch of videows below...

Continue reading "Weedeater touring w/ Black Tusk, Gates of Slumber, Struck By Lightning & others - NYC Studio show, Mayhem tix & more "

by BBG

Shrinebuilder at LPR (more here)

Atlanta no more! Scion Rock Fest 2010 will take place in Columbus, Ohio on March 13, 2010. The show will officially expand its reach from one to FOUR venues in Columbus: Circus, Newport Music Hall, Skully's, and Bernie's Distillery. 2010's lineup contains zero return bands from the 2009 festival but does contain sets from bands that released my favorite albums of last year (namely Magrudergrind, Yob, Absu) and played my favorite shows of last year (Lightning Swords of Death, Landmine Marathon, Trap Them, Black Tusk, Ludicra) in addition to sets from headliners Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Shrinebuilder, Brutal Truth.

The rest of the lineup, the show flyer, and RSVP info is below...

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest 2010 (March 13 in Ohio) - lineup announced"

words by BBG, photos by Chloe Rice

Savannah's Black Tusk, ruling

Special guest Black Cobra headlined with an all-star supporting cast of Black Tusk, Javelina, and Batillus as part of a BrooklynVegan/Chronic Youth Presentation at The Charleston on 11/18. The Batillus show was the first for the quartet in a month, as drummer Geoff Summers has been on the road with A Storm of Light (who also added Will Lindsay of Wolves In The Throne Room for the tour). Summers did double duty that night, leaving shortly after his performance with Batillus to hold down the kit for ASoL at their Record Release party at Ace of Clubs with Goes Cube and Biclops.

Batillus were on first, and this band has gone from good to reeeeaally good since my last experience with them. The addition of Fade (Inswarm, Jarboe's backing band with Eric of Cobalt and Man's Gin) changes this band from really great instrumental band to full-on juggernaut, and I am excited to see what their next move is. With a little luck and a few more tours under their belt, this band could be headed for great things.

Javelina is the perfect name for these Philadelphian sludgesters; the band is ferocious and violent, and tore through their set like a charging beast. It was another incredible showing from this foursome who opened with "You're Gonna Hate This" (I didn't) from their latest (and possible end of year favorite?) Beasts Among Sheep before barreling through other selections from that LP as well as their previous monster.

Black Tusk were the band that I was probably most excited to see. The Savannah crusty-thrashers, who recently signed to Relapse Records, mowed down the crowd with material from their recent LP Passage to Purgatory as well as material from recent splits with ASG and The Holy Mountain. Great band; fans of Kylesa, southern metal, and general badass-ery, take note.

San Francisco duo Black Cobra finished the day with serious downtuned High-On-Fire-y riffs and BIG drums. I have seen my share of bands, and with the exception of Jason Roeder (Neurosis) and a select few others, I have not seen a drummer hit quite as hard as Rafael Martinez. Seriously killer band that you can see again on 11/30 when they play with Pelican and Disappearer at Highline Ballroom. Tickets here.

More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Black Cobra, Black Tusk, Javelina & Batillus @ The Charleston in NYC - pics "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Quest For Fire - "Bison Eyes" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Quest For Fire - "Strange Waves" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Quest For Fire - "The Hawk That Hunts The Walking" (MP3)

Naam at a BV-CMJ Day Party (more by Paul Birman)

Toronto's Quest For Fire have announced a short stint of dates which include NYC with Weird Owl, Chyld and BV CMJ alums Naam at Pianos on 12/4. Full tour dates are below. Quest For Fire, which features former members of The Deadly Snakes & Cursed, recently dropped their self-titled full length on Tee Pee Records. Dig on some tracks above.

Word has it that another band on Tee Pee Records has scheduled a show in NYC on 11/20 with Tournament at The Charleston as part of the Chronic Youth series of shows. We have no confirmation on the "who", but the show will feature 20+ minute jams and will sound "out of this world".

Baroness kicks off their tour with Earthless in Washington DC on Wednesday. Tickets are still on sale for the NYC show at Bowery Ballroom on Friday (11/20).

Tournament is also scheduled to play NYC as part of the BV-Sponsored Coalesce + A Storm of Light + Coliseum show at Europa on 12/30. Tickets are still available. Coalesce recently played a show in Austin. Check out the pics and some free MP3s from their new EP.

Chronic Youth and BV have teamed up to present Javelina, Black Tusk, Batillus and a Special Guest at The Charleston on 11/18. The flyer for that show and a list of more killer shows this week, and all tour dates, below....

Continue reading "Quest for Fire tour dates, another secret show at The Charleston, Baroness & Earthless tour kicking off & more "