3/4 of Kyuss (no Josh Homme) announced the creation of Kyuss Lives! last year. Original Kyuss members Brant Bjork, John Garcia, and Nick Oliveri, along with guitarist Bruno Fevery, have live dates scheduled this year in Australia, New Zealand, Europe, South America and now North America too. So far it's just two U.S. shows, but more will be announced. One of those is at The Fox Theater in Pomona, CA on October 8th, and the other is at NYC's Terminal 5 on September 23rd (the same venue Queens of the Stone Age recently played). Both Kyuss shows are with The Sword, and tickets for both go on sale this week (Terminal 5 goes on sale Friday).

In semi-related news, stoner-blueshounds Clutch will hit the road with Corrosion of Conformity (Animosity lineup) to play a string of dates together that will include Brooklyn Bowl on 7/20 (tickets go on sale Friday). The following day, Clutch play a solo show aboard the Temptress on 7/21 (a Rocks Off Concert Cruise). Tickets for that show are not yet listed.

All tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading ""Kyuss Lives!" announces shows w/ the Sword +++ Clutch touring w/ Corrosion of Conformity (and playing a boat)"

photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin

"I'm watching Motorhead in Atlantic City.
Nothing else needs to be said. #Lemmy" - Mike Conroy

Not long after passing through both Starland Ballroom in NJ and Best Buy Theater in Times Square, the Motorhead / Clutch / Valient Thorr tour hit House of Blues in the gambling capital of NJ. No Valient Thorr, but pictures from the rest of the 3/4 House of Blues show continue below...

Continue reading "Motorhead & Clutch played Atlantic City (pics) "

photos by Greg Cristman

Doro Pesch & Lemmy in Times Square

"When you're at a Motorhead show there is only one thing to do, get yourself lost in the music and follow the rhythm of the crowd. The vibrations of the amplifiers, the feedback, the music, and your aggression guide your body. All body functions like hunger, sweat, fatigue, your bladder, don't exist at a Motorhead show. It's only when the music ends you realize you have to drain, which is how a good old fashioned rock show is supposed to be.

Other highlights of the night was the New York return of Mikkey Dee, who absent the last time they came around due to a comittment to the Swedish version of "I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here," Lemmy's shout out to 1983 (the year I was born), and last but certainly not least, Doro Pesch (of Warlock fame) joining the band for "Killed by Death."" [Examiner]

Continue reading "Motorhead (and Doro Pesch), Clutch & Valient Thorr played Best Buy Theater (pics & setlist)"

photos by Taylor Keahey, words by BBG

Motorhead @ the Warfield

If you missed it during its brief theatrical run, Lemmy, 49% Motherfucker, 51% Son Of A Bitch is out TODAY (2/15) on DVD and Blu-ray. The release paints the Motorhead/Hawkwind badass as a simple man who loves his trivia, Jack Daniels, and Marshall stacks turned to 11, but more importantly is an excellent portrait of a rock n roll icon. If you are a fan of metal, punk, Motorhead, or sleazy rock n'roll, it's worth a look. Pick up a copy today, or try your luck at winning one! Details are below.

Lemmy and Motorhead are currently on the road with Clutch & Valient Thorr. The tour hits Best Buy Theater in NYC on 2/28 (tickets), Starland Ballroom in NJ on 3/3 (tickets), and the House of Blues in Atlantic City on 3/4 for those who like to gamble (tickets).

Until those dates hit, you can gear up for the show by checking out pictures from the San Francisco stop at the Warfield on Feb 2nd, which are with the contest details and all tour dates, below...

Continue reading "Motorhead, Clutch & Valient Thorr tour continues (pics), Lemmy DVD out now (win one)"

by BBG

Lemmy of Motorhead at Roseland (more by Chris La Putt)

Motorhead will hit the road for "The Wörld is Yours 2011", a tour with Clutch scheduled in the new year, tagging Best Buy Theater in NYC on February 28th and Starland Ballroom in Sayreville, NJ on March 3rd. Ticketing info for both shows is forthcoming.

The start of the tour coincides with the opening of the new film LEMMY: 49% Motherf**ker, 51% Son Of A Bitch:

Over four decades, Motorhead frontman Lemmy Kilmister has registered an immeasurable impact on music history. Nearly 65, he remains the living embodiment of the rock and roll lifestyle, and this feature-length documentary tells his story, one of a hard-living rock icon who continues to enjoy the life of a man half his age.

Shot on a combination of High Definition and Super 16mm film, "Lemmy" includes interviews with friends, family, bandmates past and present and such admirers/peers as Metallica, Slash, Dave Grohl (Nirvana/Foo Fighters), Ozzy Osbourne, Peter Hook (Joy Division/New Order), actor Billy Bob Thornton, wrestling superstar Triple H, Alice Cooper, Mick Jones of The Clash, and many more.

Continue reading "Motorhead announce 2011 tour dates & movie screenings"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Neil Fallon of Clutch

Craveonline: Not to get overly personal right off, but will your new baby put a kabosh on how much touring Clutch does?

Neil Fallon of Clutch: We hadn't planned any touring regardless, baby or not. We've pulled back on our touring just because the older you get; it becomes a drag to just go on touring forever and ever. This two-month tour we're about do [with Black Label Society & Children Of Bodom] is about as long of a tour as we're willing to do... We'd actually only like to tour four weeks at a time. This one is an exception to the rule because it's a support slot and you can't really pick and choose how long you're gonna play. We also knew that after this one we were really going to focus on writing the next record so they're wouldn't be a lot of touring.

The sold-out BV-BBG Saturday night showcase at Union Pool was also one of those events. Pictures from that show are forthcoming, but more from Clutch and the rest of the gang at Hammerstein (some setlists included), with all remaining dates, below...

Continue reading "Clutch played Hammerstein Ballroom w/ Black Label Society & Children of Bodom (pics & setlists) "

After a hectic day of updating the constantly updating Bonnaroo lineup page, the entire thing has been announced. Gwar, Norah Jones, and the rest of the lineup below...

Continue reading "the complete 2010 Bonnaroo lineup (Stevie Wonder, The Melvins, Kings of Leon, Isis, Local Natives & many more) "

by BBG

"In the course of talking about the reissue I brought up the idea of playing some shows because I was like well look, if we were ever going to do this, if we were ever going to play again, you know, now would be the time to do it." - J Robbins

Jawbox was one of a few who defined the sound of the 90's underground. After releasing records on respected uber-indie Dischord, the band dropped their masterpiece For Your Own Special Sweetheart as their major label debut for Atlantic. Razor sharp post-hardcore riffage collided with tense emotional songwriting to create one of the greatest, yet most unsung LPs of the era. The band followed up Sweetheart with a self-titled LP before calling it quits in 1997.

Recently Jawbox celebrated reissued Sweetheart and celebrated with a performance on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. We cornered vocalist/guitarist J Robbins before that performance to talk about the band, their future, his production work, and the Baltimore/DC music scene...

Continue reading "an interview with J. Robbins of Jawbox"

NJ's Starland Ballroom is running a sale of 50% off all December shows (password = TTS09). That includes the December 5th Sharon Jones show, the December 26th Danzig show, the December 30th Dilinger Escape Plan/Thursday show, and the Clutch show happening on New Years Eve.

Life of Agony play Starland Ballroom on Saturday night.

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

High caliber, consecrated.

Clutch and Wino are opening for Shadows Fall (grody) on July 3rd in Atlantic City. That's bad news for those with a fear of New Jersey, crap metalcore (that's me), or crumbling casinos from the 80s. As tempting as it still is to go to that show just for the openers, there is now much less of a reason to. Clutch and Wino will team up for a US tour in September with Revolution Mother. That tour, which kicks off one month after Clutch's tour with Baroness and Lionize, includes NYC shows at Irving Plaza on Oct 9th and 10th. Ticket info is forthcoming.

Clutch is preparing to release their new album, Strange Cousins From The West on July 14th via their own Weathermaker imprint. Stream "50,000 Unstoppable Watts" from that LP at their myspace.

Wino, who recently found a new bass player after the passing of Jon Blank, is touring off of Punctuated Equilibrium which was released earlier this year. Jean-Paul Gaster of Clutch plays drums in the Wino band.

Revolution Mother's new LP, Rollin' With Tha Mutha is due on Ferret Music on July 7th. Pre-order that record here.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Clutch & Wino - 2009 Tour Dates"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Celeste - Misanthrope(s) LP (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ulcerate - "Caecus" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ulcerate - "Tyranny" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black September - "Purification" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bloody Panda - "Miserere" (Excerpt) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Oak & Bone - "Build Walls" (MP3)

Ulcerate

Back to bludgeon.... it's This Week in Metal! This week, we kick things off with a death metal record that is currently in high rotation, Ulcerate's searing new LP Everything is Fire. Out NOW via Willowtip, check out a pair of MP3s from that LP available above. This New Zealand band are able to hit that seemingly impossible sweet-spot where brutality meets technicality and melody meets dissonance. Highly recco'd!

Bloody Panda is back a new LP due on Profound Lore, Summon. Due August 11, the band will release a CD/DVD for Summon which will include seven tracks, one of which ("Miserere", an excerpt above) is interpreted visually on DVD. Yoshiko Ohara, their signature vocalist and a known visual artist, is responsible for the cover art. The DVD was shot, in Brooklyn and Indonesia, and edited by band members Bryan Camphire, Blake McDowell, and Josh Rothenberger. Josh also told us that...

the whole DVD project came about through our collaboration with Cave dance studio on Grand St. in Williamsburg. It was there that we met Berlin-based Butoh dancer Yuko Kaseki a few years ago. We Asked her to dance to one of our tunes last year, and then shot most of the DVD at Cave with her last August/Septemeber.

Fresh off of a triumphant set at Maryland Deathfest, Asphyx is back and will domestically release their new album, Death...The Brutal Way via Ibex Moon. Due September 1st, the record will also be released in a limited edition version with a live DVD, Live at Party.San Open Air Festival 2007. Asphyx recently welcomed Martin van Drunen (Pestilence, Hail of Bullets, Bolt Thrower) back into the fold after his departure 17 years ago.

Black September, who first came onto my radar via their work with Thou and Winters In Osaka, has a new 7" out NOW, The Sermon of Vengeance. Mastered at The Boiler Room by Collin Jordan (Nachtmystium, Minsk), check out "Purification", one of two new tracks by the black metal punks from The Sermon of Vengeance above and order that 7", as well as other releases here.

Pelican's new EP, the tour only CD Ephemeral, is out on 12" at Southern Lord packaged with a Seldon Hunt designed tee. In addition, Earth's previously rare Radio/Live LP is available via Southern Lord as well.

Filth-ridden hardcore is the order of business for Syracuse's Oak & Bone, a badge the band wears with pride on their debut 7" out NOW via Hex Records (one time home to Ed Gein, Engineer, Playing Enemy, and Cursed). Check out "Build Walls" from that 7" above. The crew recently played NYC with another fave of mine, crusty black-metal punks Infernal Stronghold, and are prepping to release a split 7" with Like Wolves on Barbarossa Records. Pick up their debut 7" and look for that split!

Anaal Nathrakh's Mick Kenney is back with his former bandmates in Mistress to resurrect Fukpig, who released their last LP Nuclear Apocalypse in 2003. Pick up Spewings From A Selfish Nation before it's gone (100 copies total!). Anaal Nathrakh's In The Constellation Of The Black Widow is out June 26th via Candellight. Preorder the vinyl at Mick/Shane Embury's FETO records.

A preview of that Fukpig, as well as news on Down touring with Melvins(!!!) Jucifer, Celeste, Mastodon, Clutch, and much more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (06/16/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: YOB - "Burning The Altar" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Caïna - "To Pluck The Night Up By Its Skin" (MP3)

sunn 0)))

According to ancient Mayan prophecy, The Age Of The Fifth Sun draws to a close in 2012 when armageddon will fall upon the land. Considering this is only 2009, it is entirely possible that sunn 0)))'s soundtrack to the end of days/new album, Monoliths & Dimensions, may have been delivered a bit prematurely (out NOW). Not that a moment on Monoliths resembles anything less than meticulous detail; Attila Csihar's Bela Lugosi-like vocals, heavenly choirs, harp, trumpet, and orchestra all add to the nauseating rumble, and at times, shimmering beauty emanating from their full stacks. Pick it up at Southern Lord on CD. Vinyl is due this summer. The boys have also announced a rough sketch idea of their upcoming tour plans:

We are preparing tours as a 4 and 5 piece in support of this opus. Attila Csihar and Steve Moore (Zombi) will be in the ranks as well as a yet undecided 5th member for some shows. Randall Dunn will be on the big guns.

SUNN O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions" tours 2009

Midwest USA July 2-12
West coast USA August 5-11
East coast/Southeast USA September 18-30
Middle & East Europe/Scandinavia October 17 - Nov 1st

There should also be UK and Japan jaunts following those pieces. We are working on it, more to come.

We are also considering and contemplating a few special event concerts with an expanded acoustic ensemble lineup. This is a whole different ballgame but may be in the cards and we have a few loyal partners in Europe on board to help manifest if/when the time is correct.

ATP's Fans Strike Back festival took place last week, two nights of Sleep included. Check out our pre-ATP interview with Matt Pike HERE. Video and setlist from the ATP shows below.

YOB's new album for Profound Lore, The Great Cessation, now has an official release date, July 14th! The new effort by the reformed Eugene, OR doom colossus will span five tracks over it's 60+ minutes including "Burning The Altar" which is downloadable above! Look for US dates to follow, and once we have news on NYC, you know you will too.

YOB's album art, plus videos of Sleep, news on The Dillinger Escape Plan, Clutch and Baroness, Opeth, Converge, Ringworm and much more as This Week In Metal continues....

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (05/17/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Nebula - "The Dagger" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dark Castle - "Awake In Sleep" (MP3)

Dark Castle

DIY is the name of the game for Florida's Dark Castle, as the duo has garnered a ton of buzz on the southern metal scene as of late due to their self-released EP and incessant touring. The northeastern touring love is on the way (this summer?), but in the meantime, Dark Castle's new LP, Spirited Migration is out NOW in digital formats (iTunes, amazon) with one of those amazing tracks, "Awake In Sleep" available for download above! Spirited Migration is due on May 26th in hard formats (CD, Vinyl) via the mighty At A Loss Records, so y'all wax lovers betta recognize!

Nebula will illustrate truth in advertising on July 7th when the trio drops their new album, Heavy Psych. Tee Pee Records will plead guilty to releasing the follow-up to 2006's Apollo, which includes "The Dagger" downloadable above. For the unaware, Nebula features former members of Fu Manchu, Mondo Generator, and Karma To Burn (who recently played Lit).

Australia's dark kings of blackened thrash, Destroyer 666, will release their NEW album on July 14th via Season of Mist! Defiance will be D666's first release in six years and first LP in seven, and will have artwork that'll look a little somethin' like this:

Another set of Aussies, black metallers Nazxul, will release their first new material in more than ten years via Moribund! Look for more details on the new album, Iconoclast, in the months ahead as well as some US dates.

Show No Mercy on June 7th at Public Assembly is SET with the recent additions of the the ungodly Woe, Black Anvil, and Snake Sustaine (mems-ALOL) to the previously announced Salome. While we wait for the show, you can check out some recent interviews that the guys in Woe did here, here and here. Flyer is below.

Obscura has pulled out of the previously mentioned Relapse Contamination tour due to sickness, rendering all dates after May 11th cancelled. That includes NYC's date at Fontana's.

News and videos from Clutch, Ocean, Swarm Of The Lotus, Torche, Cripple Bastards, Orange Goblin and More, as This Week In Metal continues!

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (05/08/09)"

!!! is playing ACL 2009 (more by Chris Graham)

"The 2009 Austin City Limits Music Festival will showcase a diverse blend of acts both fresh and familiar at the eighth edition of the event in Zilker Park October 2-4. Pearl Jam, Dave Matthews Band, and Beastie Boys are performing for the first time at the Festival, with Kings of Leon, Ben Harper and Relentless7, and Thievery Corporation returning to Zilker Park once again. John Legend, The Dead Weather, and The Levon Helm Band will also make their ACL Festival debut, while Austin's own Ghostland Observatory will no doubt deliver another memorable set for festival goers.

With over 130 artists on this year's bill, the list of acts awes at each note with the likes of Sonic Youth, Mos Def, Toadies, Flogging Molly, The B-52s, Lily Allen, Citizen Cope, Arctic Monkeys, The Decemberists, Coheed and Cambria, Andrew Bird, Girl Talk, and many more.

In the tradition of the TV show from which it was born, the Festival has always aimed to offer musical discovery for the fans. The 2009 lineup is rich with pop, country, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, indie rock, hip-hop, and gospel, to name a few, spanning cultures and countries from New Orleans to Venezuela to France."

Continue reading "ACL (Austin City Limits) - 2009 festival lineup announcement"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Harpoon - "Frogs, Boils, Locusts..." (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Complete Failure - "Like Rainbows in Gasoline" Demo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Complete Failure - "Brown Acid Brainwound" Demo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Complete Failure - "Subliminal Force of Suggestive Notion" Demo (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Super Happy Fun Slide - "Fast One" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Super Happy Fun Slide - "Bohemian" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Elder - "White Walls" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Serpentcult - "The Weight Of Light" (MP3)

Welcome to this week in Metal! This week we'll start with the pedal to the floor with Harpoon of Chicago, who will release their new LP Double Gnarly / Triple Suicide on Interloper Records. Featuring members of 7000 Dying Rats, the band recorded the LP in August 2008 with Andy Nelson (Weekend Nachos), sending it off to metal-mastering go-to Scott Hull (Pig Destroyer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed) for the finishing touches. The trio takes advantage of the drum machine gun to create a relentless grind assault reminiscent of Plague Bringer, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, or Genghis Tron (sans keys). Check out "Frogs, Boils, Locusts..." available for download above, and cop it on limited LP (400 in black, 100 in white & blue marbled vinyl) when it drops on Feb 10th! Harpoon recently added bassist DJ Baracca (ex-Lair of The Minotaur) to their ranks and have added a few live dates in and around the Chi (dates below).

Absu have announced a new self-titled album, posting the ripping new track "Girra's Temple" to their myspace. Due on Feb 24th on Candlelight Records, the band have also lined up a few dates including SXSW on Mar 20th at Spiros and at... you guessed it... Maryland Deathfest. Meanwhile, Absu is garnering alot of media attention lately... check out features in Metal Maniacs, Terrorizer, and Zero Tolerance.

Hot off of the release of his first solo album Punctuated Equilibrium, Wino will play his first show with his solo band (featuring skinsman extraordinaire Jean-Paul Gaster of Clutch) at the 9:30 club in Washington, DC on Sat Feb 7th! Wino will be joined by King Giant and the mighty Salome, who will be in NYC with Ocean on Feb 15th. In related news, Clutch have released their first digital single "King Of Arizona" (iTunes users, buy it here), from the upcoming remastered Slow Hole to China, Rare & Unreleased. The band have lined up a few dates with their alter ego (most of 'em anyway), The Bakerton Group including Feb 27 at The Chance in Poughkeepsie and Feb 28 at The Crazy Donkey in Farmingdale. Full tour dates below.

As much theorized and finally realized, The Auditory Assault Festival will take place at Club Europa on May 16 & 17.

Complete Failure announced a short tour of the east coast and the midwest with Polish grinders Antigama including an NYC date at Europa on May 20th. Details are forthcoming, full tour dates are below. The Pittsburghers (CF) have posted a trio of demo tracks at their website, check them out above. Antigama is prepping for March 3rd, when Relapse will drop their new album Warning.

Mastodon's Crack The Skye artwork

Mastodon is currently streaming "Divinations" from the upcoming Crack The Skye. Check it out kids... it's a burner! The single is also available for sale with a limited edition tee. Mastodon and Genghis Tron are playing the Coachella festival this year.

Eyehategod, Rotten Sound, Cripple Bastards, Malignancy, Resistant Culture, and Voetsek have been added to the Los Angeles Murderfest!

Napalm fucking Death will be in NYC in April!

Rise Above dropped the new album by Belgians Serpentcult, a doomy hybrid of Electric Wizard and High on Fire fronted by Michelle Nocon, a female with some SERIOUS pipes. The Weight of Light was produced by Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis, Melvins) and the band is streaming three of those tracks at their myspace, with the title track available for download above. So far the band haven't added any North American dates, but if they do, we'll let you know (european tour dates below). Meanwhile, dig on an interview that Serpentcult did with Hellride Music here.

Coliseum have announced a slew of tourdates (below) as well as a new seven-inch entitled "True Quiet / Last Wave" on Deathwish! Full tour dates are below. Coliseum with join Converge, Genghis Tron (who was recently added), Ceremony, Pulling Teeth, and Rise & Fall at Europa on March 27th.

Blut Aus Nord have posted "The Formless Sphere (Beyond The Reason)" to their myspace page, the first new song from the upcoming Memoria Vetusta II - Dialogue With The Stars. Look for in Feb 23rd on Candlelight.

Valient Thorr have added a February 6th show at The Shank in Greenpoint (98 Bayard @ Leonard) with Acid Tiger, Golden Error, with Tournament. This show makes it TWO NYC dates.... don't forget about their upcoming show with Anthrax and a half pipe.

Minsk, Slayer, Battlefields, Devourment, Obituary, and more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (02/02/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

Pentagram circa 1981

Ask any doom metal fan about the true pioneers of the genre and two bands will be mentioned: Black Sabbath and Pentagram. One of those bands is to take the stage on March 6, 2009 for a rare show at Webster Hall. It's the legendary Pentagram and tickets go on sale Friday at noon!

Pentagram... was quite prolific in the underground scene of the 1970s, producing many demos and rehearsal tapes, but did not release a full-length album until reforming in the early 1980s with an almost completely new lineup. Throughout the band's history the only constant member has been vocalist Bobby Liebling. The revolving lineup of Pentagram has featured many well respected musicians in the local doom metal scene... -[Wikipedia]

Pentagram, and specifically Bobby Liebling will be the focus of a documentary via 914 films entitled "Last Rites: The Fall and Rise of Bobby Liebling". Here's a synopsis of the movie:

Cult rock legend Bobby Liebling has been churning out genre defining and highly admired hard rock / doom metal for over 36 yrs. Drug addiction, band break ups, bad record deals, jail terms, chronic illness, Satanic blood sacrifices and various acts of self destruction haven't haulted him as he continues to claw his way to the top. This film in progress will highlight the triumphs and downfalls of the life of an underground icon. Experience his daily struggle as he attempts to not only succeed but to survive.

Check out the documentary trailer featuring appearances by Hank III and Witchcraft, and a whole bunch of other videos, below...

Continue reading "Pentagram - subject of a documentary, playing Webster Hall"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Wino - "Release Me" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Bakerton Group - "Peruvian Airspace" (MP3 Snippet)
DOWNLOAD: The Bakerton Group - "Bait & Switch" (MP3, from Space Guitars EP)
DOWNLOAD: The Bakerton Group - "Mainstream" (MP3, from Space Guitars EP)
DOWNLOAD: The Bakerton Group - "The Mack" (MP3, from Space Guitars EP)

Recognize those dudes? That's the original members of Clutch.... but it's also The Bakerton Group, aka "the psychedelic instrumental jazz-laden alter ego" of Maryland's finest. The Bakerton Group have recruited Per Wiberg (Opeth) for their third release, the J.Robbins (Jawbox) produced LP El Rojo!. The album will be released, on their own Weathermaker imprint, on Feb 17th, 2009. Check out the MP3 snippet of "Peruvian Airspace" above.

The Bakerton Group & The Bakerto-, er-, I mean Clutch, will tour (together?) in February around the release of El Rojo!, so look for those dates as the come up. In the meantime Clutch have some shows scheduled this month in Jersey, CT and elsewhere (dates below). In the Spring, Clutch will hit the studio to record their follow-up to From Beale Street to Oblivion. Full Fathom Five, a live CD (and separately, a DVD) dropped on Nov 11th.

Clutch/TBG skinsman extraordinaire Jean-Paul Gaster is also manning the kit on the new album by doom legend Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Punctuated Equilibrium. We previewed the record recently (and also way before that). Look for it in January 2009 on Southern Lord and check out the first track "Release Me", downloadable above.

Neil Fallon of Clutch is also frontman for The Company Band featuring members of Fireball Ministry, Fu Manchu, CKY, and Puny Human. The Company Band released their debut EP in early 2008, Sign Here, Here, & Here, with plans of a follow-up LP in 2009.

Per Wiberg's band members in Opeth have a masterful side project as well, Bloodbath.

Clutch dates below...

Continue reading "new album by The Bakerton Group, Clutch tour dates, MP3s"

by Ryan Barkan

Gogol Bordello @ Irving Plaza (more by Jefferson)

The second edition of this controversial new feature is back. "It's Not Selling Out Anymore" (or is it?)...

Aggressive racing game, Motorstorm, was one of the most successful titles for the Playstation 3 in 2007 (selling over three million copies world wide). It was only natural then, that Sony Computer Entertainment would get a sequel out in 2008. Enter Motorstorm: Pacific Rift. The game recently hit shelves in the US at end of October and in the UK this past week. The TV spot announcing the new game brilliantly matched Motorstorm's crazy, edgy style of racing on tracks in exotic locations with the "authentic energy" of Gogol Bordello's "Wonderlust King." Watch the video of the commercial below. Gogol Bordello tour dates are HERE.

While Gogol did not make the in-game soundrack, David Bowie, Clutch, Megadeth, The Hives, Simian Mobile Disco, Death From Above 1979, and more all made the cut. Eight of the forty-five songs are exclusive to the game including a remix by Diplo of Nirvana's "Swap Meet" *.

Speaking of exclusives, The Ramones' classic jam "Sheena Is A Punk Rocker" was covered by Sonic Youth's Thurston Moore and singer Jemina Pearl (from the now defunct Be Your Own Pet). Their version exclusively premiered in this past week's episode of Gossip Girl. Love & Rockets made the episode too...though not as an exclusive.

Other Notable Licensing News:

On the tube, One Tree Hill had songs by Ra Ra Riot and Margot & the Nuclear So-So's; 90210 had Florence & The Machine, The Raconteurs, and The Bravery; Grey's Anatomy had The Bird And The Bee, Whitest Boy Alive, and Brett Dennon.

M83's "You, Appearing" provides a solemn background to a French commercial for Douleurs' "Pain Without Borders" commercial. Watch the video below. M83 is currently on a tour of the US (and in NYC this week).

Cadbury's new "Favourites" commercial features the song "Stars and Sons" by Canadian supergroup Broken Social Scene. Watch the video below. Pics from the band's recent show at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple can be seen HERE.

Supreme continues its love for musical collaborations with the announcement of a Bad Brains x Supreme collection. The line consists of a couple hoodies, a t-shirt, and two different styles of Vans shoes. Bad Brains have been busy lately playing shows in Austin, NYC and elsewhere.

Vans recently released its fourth Iron Maiden tribute shoe, this time featuring the artwork from the Powerslave album. The Sk8-Hi and slip on models are available at the vans online store as well as local distributors.

Videos below...

Continue reading "It's Not Selling Out Anymore -- This Week in Music Licensing"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Khanate - "Wings From Spine" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Grey Machine - Vultures Descend (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Outlaw Order - Siege Mentality (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Millions - "Lest the Professor Catches Fire"(MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Orphan - "Bogman"(MP3)

Hmm.... who's guitar rig could this be?

In his own special way, Stephen O'Malley dropped a bunch of news on his upcoming projects via a detailed discography. SOMA posted the following unreleased, unannounced records:

SUNN O)))
Che (SUNN O))) & Pan Sonic do a Suicide cover, pic 10" 2009)
Dimensions (TBA) (2xCD & 2xLP 2009)

Æthenor
Faking Gold & Murder (CD & LP 2008)

Khanate
Clean Hands Go Foul (LP & Picture Disc 2008, CD & CD Japan 2009)

David Tibet sings and contributes lyrics on the forthcoming Æthenor album; other guests are Kristoffer Rygg (Ulver) and long time Æthenor collaborator Alexander Tucker [who just played ATP].

Tentatively titled 'Faking Gold and Murder' from a line in the text, Æthenor is the project of Sunn O)))'s Stephen O'Malley, Vincent de Roguin (Shora) and Daniel O'Sullivan (Guapo)

The long lost 4th KHANATE album Clean Hands Go Foul will finally emerge later this year. This was recorded directly after the Capture & Release album at Bisi Studio Brooklyn February 2005.

Mastodon's Brent Hinds had a little run-in with King Khan over the weekend, and while we have heard King Khan's side of the story, ridiculous pictures included, we haven't heard a peep from Brent Hinds. My thoughts echo that of one astute Blabbermouth reader: "The real victim here is the beer". Brann Dailor of Mastodon was recently interviewed by Metal Injection.

Justin Broadrick (Jesu, ex-Godflesh) dropped a bombshell of sorts.... a new project, Grey Machine, featuring Aaron Turner (Isis), Diarmuid Dalton (Jesu), and Dave Cochrane (Transitional)! From the upcoming album Disconnected, the band posted "Vultures Rise" available for download above!

Crom is back on the west coast, but evidence from their east coast killing spree is popping up all over the net. Check out pics from their show in Worcester, MA at Return To The Pit, an interview with a shirtless Crom at Vice magazine, as well as audio (and video below) from their appearance at WFMU.

Crom Live at WFMU, Mayhem, Amon Amarth, Baroness, Tweak Bird, Bison BC and more below.....

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/30/08)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Intronaut - "The Literal Black Cloud" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: KEN mode - "The Romanticist" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Discordance Axis - ENTIRE Live Set from CBGB, 6/3/00 (Mediafire Link, setlist/credit)
DOWNLOAD: Noothgrush - Live at KZSU 5/01/96 (Mediafire Link, setlist/credit)
DOWNLOAD: Wolves In The Throne Room - Live at Slim's 10/2/07 (Mediafire Link, setlist/credit)

Gojira's The Way Of All Flesh

Gojira has finally announced news on it's latest punch to the gut, The Way of All Flesh! The much anticipated follow-up to From Mars to Sirius will drop on October 13th on Prosthetic, and look for the band to hit Europe with In Flames in late Sept/Oct (tour dates below). Joe Duplantier played on the Cavalera Conspiracy album, who recently played Irving Plaza with The Dillinger Escape Plan.

As we discussed before, Intronaut are on tour with Behold The Arctopus and Mouth Of The Architect (Deadsea and Wetnurse are also on the colossal NYC bill), packin heat from the forthcoming Prehistoricisms on Sept 16th. Check out "The Literal Black Cloud", available for download above!

KEN mode dropped their new record, Mennonite on their own label, Arctodus Records. Pick it up here. The follow-up to their 2006 release on Escape Artist, Reprisal, KEN mode draws from the glory days of Am-Rep and noise punk, adding a brute force Mastodon-type approach. We have "The Romanticist" from Mennonite available for download above, but be careful, it's mean & nasty.

much, much more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (07/29/08)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: F*ck The Facts - "The Storm" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: F*ck The Facts - "Absence & Despite" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Amenra - "Razoreater" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grand Magus - "Like The Oar Strikes The Water" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grand Magus - "Silver Into Steel" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Soulfly - "Unleash" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Humanfly - "Shot Into Space" (EDIT) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cavalera Conspiracy - LIVE in Arendal, Norway on June 26 2008 (PROFESSIONALLY SHOT WMV, Megaupload)

Welcome to This Week In Metal, Special Potty Mouth Edition! Fuck The Facts shall rage from sea to sea as they begin "Grinding Into Cataclysm" (their tour name) with Psyopus, War From A Harlot's Mouth, and Left To Vanish. FTF have a new record, Disgorge Mexico, due July 22nd on Relapse Records and have been kind enough to bless us with some tracks for download! Check out "The Storm" and "Absence And Despite" above and check 'em out at the Knitting Factory on August 18th (ticket info forthcoming). Full tour dates are below. Fuck The Facts also have an upcoming split LP with Leng Tch'e.

Opeth has announced two new dates as part of their previously mentioned North American tour. Here is the best part (as if THAT wasn't good enough): Word is that High On Fire & Baroness will open the shows! As more dates roll in, you'll have em, but so far all we have are Chicago on September 24th and San Fran on October 6th. Pics from their last NYC show at Terminal 5 HERE.

Doomriders have announced a show at Europa in Brooklyn on August 24th! Tickets are on sale.

Doom riff lords Grand Magus will drop Iron Will on July 9th in the US via Candlelight and recently sat down with Metal Hammer to go over Iron Will track by track. Check out "Like The Oar Strikes The Water" and "Silver Into Steel" downloadable above.

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (06/30/08)"

MURDER BY DEATH today announce the first leg of a national headlining tour that begins in their hometown of Bloomington, IN on March 27th. The quartet hits the road next week opening for Clutch and will be releasing their Vagrant full-length, Red of Tooth and Claw on March 4, 2008.

Continue reading "Murder By Death, O'Death & Clutch - 2008 Tour Dates"

Like I said, Andrew Fischler made the trip to Bonnaroo...

I should probably preface this by saying I'm a multi-year vet of Bonnaroo. Since 2003 I've been making a trip to Manchester, TN a part of my summer. That includes the 17-hour, 900-mile trip from my Weehawken, NJ home. I'm part of that sick breed of people who like road trips, driving, and find camping a joy. The life of the festival outside the stages is just as much a part of the experience as what you'll find inside the gates.

Now while the drive down was nothing of major consequence (unless you're a big fan of trees, hills, mountains, cows and 18-wheelers - then, oh boy was it a big thing!), this was actually the first time in years that I actually hit any semblance of traffic getting in. Maybe it was because this was the first year the festival was officially 4-days long (though they've been having Thursday night acts for years), or maybe it speaks to the sold-out attendance of 80,000 which made this the 6th largest city in Tennessee for the duration (with the highest unemployment rate in the state, I might add ^_^).

The National

The National @ That Tent: First band on the to-see list was one I had never heard until the trip down when my friend started playing them through his iPod. What sounded so sullen and morose on my car stereo had so much more pop to it live - not as lively as their fans though. Hell, I almost lost my hearing on the first night, and not from any amp, but from some guy flipping out and screaming his head off when they played "Secret Meeting". Unfortunately, consideration for the proximity of someone's ear is usually the last thing on a festival-goer's mind.

Clutch

Clutch @ This Tent: To say the crowd was amped for this show would be a mild understatement. So eager was everyone that the sound tech testing the mics had no problem getting the crowd to respond in sing-song fashion to everything he said. This was also the first time I can ever remember seeing mass crowd surfing at Bonnaroo -- a first time for everything I guess. The band has grown since the last time I saw them - that includes the number of members (organist Mick Schauer joining the core of Neil Fallon, Tim Sult, Dan Maines and Jean-Paul Gaster), and the size of their catalog (with their new release "From Beale Street To Oblivion").

The highlights of their set were the classics like "Big News" and "Pure Rock Fury", but the new stuff - especially "Electric Worry - not only held up, it was as strong as the old stuff. "Beale Street" could be one of the best, yet most underrated, albums of '07.

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CLUTCH tour dates HERE. Andrew took the Clutch picture. His pictures of the Decemberists are HERE. Woxy took the National picture, and someone else took the pic at top. Even more Bonnaroo pics HERE and HERE. Stay tuned for day two.

As previously reported in post & comments, Clutch are playing a Rocks Off Cruise and Bowery Ballroom in August, AND there's a presale. Their latest video and tour dates below....

Continue reading "CLUTCH - 2007 Tour Dates, presale & VIDEO"