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)"

bu BBG

Dispirit at Rites of Darkness (more by BBG)

As discussed, I am currently in San Antonio, TX at Rites of Darkness preparing to see the likes of Zemial, Mournful Congregation, Midnight, Inquisition, Weapon, Demigod, and many more. Stay tuned to BV for pictures and daily reports from the festival. I will ALSO be live-tweeting the festival at my twitter as well.

After almost 30 years in existence, Onslaught have announced their first ever US tour, including a stop at Saint Vitus on April 7th. Support will come from M-Pire of Evil (mems Venom). Full tour schedule is below. THe band will reportedly be performing "an exclusive set list spanning through all their studio albums such as: Power From Hell, The Force, In Search Of Sanity, Killing Peace and their latest release Sounds Of Violence."

As we wind down for the year-end, Natur will present a holday gift to NYCers. Look for the recently-Earache-signed band to play a FREE show on 12/10 (Saturday) at Saint Vitus with La Otracina, Syphilitic Lust, and Ain't Rights. You must be 21+ to get in.

More suggested shows and some live video of Brainoil and Spazz (not together), below....

Continue reading "Evillive (Onslaught, Natur FREE show & more) "

by BBG

Todd (left) with Tragedy at Chaos in Tejas (more by Keith Marlowe)

Todd Burdette of Tragedy also serves as vocalist for Warcry, who will hit the east coast for a round of dates with Ripper in late October, including 10/29 at Acheron. Full tour schedule is below.

Gaza will team with Defeatist, Tiger Flowers and Don't Give a Fuck for a show on 11/12 at Acheron, for what must be a burgeoning East Coast tour. Details are forthcoming.

If you are like me, then even though Thou played TWICE in NYC in the past week, you are ready to see them again. Hold 10/8 in your calendar, as the boys will play ABC No Rio as part of a round of dates with The Body. Wow.

Reminder: The Boston Strangler hits Acheron tomorrow (9/17). If you can't make it on Saturday, catch members of that band playing with Rival Mob at Acheron on 11/3 with Young Offenders, Airfix Kids, and Give. Give played Acheron last weekend with Night Birds.

Tickets are now on sale for Hull at Mercury Lounge.

More suggested NYC shows, some video from the amazing Despise You show, the latest video from Brainoil, a stream of the new ACXDC EP Second Coming, and much more is below. What did I miss?

Continue reading "Evillive (Warcry, Thou, Boston Strangler, Gaza, ACXDC, more)"

by BBG

Woe @ Acheron in May

Get ready for the ONSLAUGHT of tours this fall! Woe have been added to next week's 40 Watt Sun show at Public Assembly (on 9/16) with one more still TBA. The Philadelphia black-metal crew will also support Mayhem on their upcoming tour. An unpublished set of pictures from their surprise appearance at Acheron in May with Bastard Sapling and Inter Arma is in this post.

Disma is playing the 9/17 at Cake Shop with Drawn & Quartered who play a pair of shows in NYC next weekend. Mausoleum, Death Sick, and Mutant Supremacy are scheduled to play both, the second being at Saint Vitus on 9/16.

A few big shows this weekend... Weedeater/Oxbow/Bison BC/Fight Amp at Europa and Despise You/Magrudergrind/Backslider/Defeatist at Shea Stadium.

Also going down this weekend, and FREE is the Hull/Wizardry/Dead Sands show at Union Pool on Saturday (9/10). Wizardry recently parted ways with long-time guitarist Matt Klickstein. The band's statement on his departure is below.

As previously mentionned, Anthrax are playing a private show at Best Buy Theater in NYC on 9/12 ahead of their "Big Four" appearance at Yankee Stadium. Tou can win tickets on our facebook page. Anthrax also just played Fallon and announed an October tour with Testament and Death Angel.

Stream a new Rwake track from their upcoming Rest at Pitchfork.

Some excellent album streams also also below, including Death Of This Dry Season by Brainoil (previewed here), and the Mournful Congregation collection The Unspoken Hymns. Also, don't miss out on the new track from Fuck The Facts' upcoming Die Miserable, "A Coward's Existence"

Serpentine Path (aka Unearthly Trance plus Tim from Ramesses/Electric Wizard) will release a new 7" on Parasitic Records.

Lo-Pan & Suplecs are on the road, and playing Union Pool on 9/20.

Roadburn adds Sleep, Maryland Deathfest solidifies its lineup with Autopsy.

The Body, Bruce Lamont, Man's Gin & Iron Tides played Saint Vitus on Monday.

Have a great weekend, and head out to the shows! More belated Woe pictures, the album streams, the Urfaust after-party details, some classic video and more suggested NYC shows for the coming weeks below.... What did I miss?

Continue reading "Evillive (Woe, Disma, Rwake, Brainoil, Wizardry, Anthrax & more)"

by BBG

Its been eight long years since the Bay Area's Brainoil released their self-titled debut on Life is Abuse, and oh how I've missed them. The band's self-titled LP is a gem of underappreciated misanthropy, mixing bits of Buzzoven-y sludge-thrash with melodic-crust to create burners that just won't leave your head. In the time since the release of their LP, members of Brainoil have kept busy in projects with names like Laudanum, Stormcrow, Watch Them Die, Grimple, Pig Heart Transplant and Dead Language (who recently released their new LP), among many esteemed others.

But now the time has come for a new Brainoil LP! The Oakland band will welcome their new LP of chunky-riffed crust-sludge via 20 Buck Spin on August 2nd. Featuring seven new tracks of their signature hostile melodies, Death Of This Dry Season features "Gravity Is A Relic", which is available for stream below for the first time. Fans of early High on Fire, Eyehategod, Buzzov*en, Grief and even Tragedy (before those d-beats kick-in) take note, this is the record for you. Look for Death... to hit the racks of the 20 Buck Spin store in mid/late July with art courtesy of FEEDING (which includes Jon of Iron Lung).

Stream the new song "Gravity is a Relic", alongside more material from Brainoil below.

Continue reading "Brainoil returning with new LP (song premiere)"