Bloodiest @ Saint Vitus in Nov. (more by BBG)

When music documentarian (((unartig))) was first asked about a year end contribution, his initial reflex was: "Sausage - Hummus - Hitler!", the first two clearly being worse than the third. But then a performance enhancing Hewlett-Packard printer got in the way and spat out the list of 10 bands, video shot (((unartig))) included, that is below...

Continue reading "(((unartig)))'s top 10 music discoveries of 2011 (videos he shot included)"

by BBG

Aaron with Defeatist at their last show (more by BBG)

I previously posted my highlights of 2011 but my opinion is obviously just one of many. To try and get a better feel for the year, we cornered some of our favorite artists and heavy music industry friends to ask them about 2011 in music, art, and memories. We have so many responses that we needed to split it into three posts. Here is the first. Head below to hear from members of Noisear, Monarch!, Mammoth Grinder, Pulling Teeth, Sulaco, Bloodiest, and many more...

Continue reading "The Year in Heavy 2011 according to artists & friends (part 1)"

photos by Stephanie Crumley, additional photos & words by BBG

Black Anvil @ Saint Vitus (by BBG)

With Turbonegro/Andrew WK at Santos and Judas Priest at Izod Center, Friday night in the NYC area was heavy on metal/punk outings. A third choice that night was at Saint Vitus, where Black Anvil headlined a show with Bloodiest, Mutilation Rites & Grudges. Here are some pictures from that one.

The Brooklyn show was a true one-off for Bloodiest, who came in to NYC to specifically play the Saint Vitus date, and one of two over the weekend for Grudges, who also opened a show at Acheron the next night with Coke Bust, Masakari and Sick Fix. Check Grudges's demo below.

In related news, Black Anvil have announced that they will hit ABC No Rio on December 3rd with Inhuman and Tombs. The show is one of the last at the ABC No Rio space before renovation.

More pictures and video from Saint Vitus, as well as some song streams, are below.

Continue reading "Black Anvil, Bloodiest, Mutilation Rites and Grudges played Saint Vitus (pics/video/streams)"

by BBG

Defeatist at Shea Stadium (more by BBG)

Defeatist have announced that "this turd has been circling the bowl long enough, so we have decided to flush it for good." The trio have a pair of NYC dates left on the calendar before they call it quits. on Saturday, 11/12 they play Acheron with Gaza, Tiger Flowers, & Don't Give A Fuck, and then their final date is on 12/17 at Death By Audio with the great Triac, Psychic Limb, Disciples Of Christ (mems of Magrudergrind), and Backslider. Advance tickets are not available, so make sure you get to the Acheron early to send-off NYC's best grind band right.

Defeatist recently released their final LP Tyranny of Decay. Stream it below in full and order your copy before they (the band and the LP) disappear for good.

Reminder: a pair of bands featuring members of Magrudergrind, Coke Bust & Sick Fix, will hit NYC on 11/19 at Acheron with Masakari and Grudges. Grudges will ALSO play Saint Vitus the night before (11/18) as part of a show with Black Anvil, Bloodiest and Mutilation Rites. Tickets are on sale for the BA show.

Stream that Defeatist, as well as other material from Masakari, Bloodiest and others below.

Continue reading "Defeatist call it quits, announce final shows"

words & photos by BBG, more photos by Greg Cristman

Indian

Indian headlined two shows in NYC over the weekend. The second took place during and near the epicenter of the Pride celebration (at Generation Records on 6/26). The first was a proper nighttime gig featuring the NYC debut of seven-piece Chicagoans Bloodiest (featuring Bruce Lamont on vox), and the return of Hallux. Saturday's Union Pool show started a bit late due to the free K-Holes gig outside, but ran past curfew with all bands getting their full (booming) sets.

Hallux, who shares a drummer with D. Charles Speer, opened the Brooklyn show at 9:45, playing a ripping set of sludgy pummel. It had been a while since I last saw Hallux's awesome early-Melvins riffs... definitely way too long.

The seven-piece (all fitting on Union Pool's stage!) Bloodiest followed, and the Relapse-signed band played a post-rock influenced set with touches of later Earth and Morricone, punctuated by Neurosis style riffing on three guitars. Passages from the 40 minute set were dressed up with keyboards and the unique vocal stylings of Bruce Lamont, taking it from more standard post-metal fare to something more interesting. Following their set, Bloodiest quickly loaded out of the venue to return to Chicago for a double-header of shows with Califone the next day.

The Relapse-signed Indian headlined the night, playing uber-evil sludgy doom with members of favorites like Wolves in The Throne Room and Lord Mantis. The band's booming full stacks bellowed tracks from their latest monster Guiltless, which has recieved some significant rotation over here at casa del BBG.

More pictures and some video from Union Pool, below...

Continue reading "Indian, Bloodiest & Hallux played Union Pool (pics & video)"

by BBG

Indian

Chicago metal bands Indian and Bloodiest both released killer albums on Relapse in the past year, and the two bands will team up to play a Brooklyn show together at Union Pool on June 25th. Hallux is also on the bill. $10 gets you in the door. Flyer below.

Indian and Hallux will also team up for a free show at Generation Records at 2PM the next day (6/26). More info is available at the Facebook invite.

Indian returned to the studio and released their latest LP Guiltless in April via Relapse. The sludge/doom release is their first in three years, as the band has been occupied in other projects like Lord Mantis, Wolves In The Throne Room, and A Storm of Light.

A Storm of Light kicks off their tour with Tombs at The Studio at Webster Hall in NYC WEDNESDAY with Bastard Sapling (Panzerbastard has sadly cancelled their appearance). Tickets for the NYC show are still available. Flyer below.

Bloodiest, which features the great Bruce Lamont (of solo/Yakuza fame), also recently released their LP for Relapse, Descent. Stream that LP in full, with all dates and flyers, below....

Continue reading "Relapse labelmates Indian & Bloodiest playing a show, A Storm of Light kicking off tour w/ Tombs"