by BBG

Man's Gin

Man's Gin will make their first NYC appearance (and first public outing, to my knowledge) TONIGHT (5/21) at Trash Bar in Brooklyn starting at 11PM. For the unfamiliar, Man's Gin features Erik Wunder of the great Cobalt. He's also a member of Jarboe's band (Jarboe is playing Union Pool next Tuesday).

In related news, another member of Jarboe's band, Fade Kainer, plays in Batillus who will play Union Pool on July 13th alongside Salome and Landmine Marathon. Batillus is currently recording their new LP with Sanford Parker and have a studio diary at MetalSucks.

by BBG

Laura of Kylesa (more by Paul Birman)

Earlier I discussed my favorite LPs of the year, but why leave the fun to just one? I asked some of my favorite artists and promoters for their 2009 highlights. The responses were great. You already saw some of them. Justina listed some quotes, Liam Wilson talked about Philly, and Josh Graham listed good things about 2009. They continue below. You'll find lists of favorite songs and albums of the year, not to mention answers to crucial questions like:

• What are Coalesce's favorite pizza toppings?
• Which one of my top 20 artists of the year tried to get in a cab with Kirsten Dunst?
• What is the #1 sauce/condiment of 2009?

Continue reading "The Year in Metal continued (BBG asked countless others to make lists... and here they all are)"

by BBG

Dave Verellen of Narrows (more by Samantha Marble)

Another year gone, but not without lasting memories! Eyehategod (x2). Akitsa. Rorschach (x2). BV-BBG @ CMJ. Ludicra. BV @ Northside. Keelhaul... Not to mention the tons of memories jogged by my turntable and iPod. Estimates place the number of albums released in 2008 at 115,000, and while similar data for 2009 is scarce, I think that number seems on the low side. With so many to choose from, you can imagine that it was tough to sift through 20 (22 actually) that represented my year...

Continue reading "The Year in Metal (BBG's best of 2009)"

Baroness @ Bowery Ballroom - 11/20/2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

BBG will publish his own list of the best metal albums of 2009, but in the meantime here's what Decibel Magazine had to say:

Continue reading "Decibel's Top 40 Metal Albums of 2009 "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Jarboe - "House Of Void" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Batillus - S/T EP (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Batillus - "Tunguska" (MP3)

Ex-Swans dark goddess Jarboe is currently touring Europe until the end of June, but has scheduled a lone date in the US, June 27th at Santos Party House with IUD (mems-Gang Gang Dance), Bloody Panda, and Cult of Youth! Tickets are on sale.

Jarboe is currently touring with members of NYC's own Inswarm as well as Erik Wunder, half of the amazing Cobalt, on her current trek through Europe (and in NYC). So where is the other half of Cobalt? Serving in Iraq, according to Decibel:

The last time I talked to Erik, about a year ago, he mentioned that you had about a year left in your time with the Army. Are you indeed close to being finished, or will you be serving for longer?

I reenlisted for 5 more years. I fucking love the Army and I am an excellent Soldier. This is where I belong, in another country with a gun in my hand.

Just how dangerous has it been for you over there?

I will put it this way, 90% of people in Iraq are on huge camps called FOB's with huge intertwined security systems and people there don't have a thing in the world to be worried about. I, on the other hand, have spent 3 days on a FOB in the last few months and am living IN the population and gunfire and explosions are heard every day where I sleep. The threat is very real but we are prepared.

Fade Kainer of Inswarm, in addition to playing with Jarboe, recently joined local faves Batillus, contributing his shredded vox and fx. Batillus has only played one show in this configuration thus far, and will revert back to trio formation on June 27th (while Kainer is playing Santos Party House) and play a previously unreleased and comparatively minimalistic piece "Tunguska" (downloadable above) in Providence, RI. The June 27th show is part of a handful of Northeast dates that the band has scheduled with Elder and Riff Cannon.

Full Jarboe and Batillus tour dates, and a few vids are below...

Continue reading "Jarboe playing NYC after European tour, 1/2 of Cobalt in Iraq"

DOWNLOAD: Napalm Death - "The Silence Is Deafening" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Napalm Death - "Low Life"(MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Napalm Death- "When All Is Said And Done" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Amesoeurs- "Gas In Veins / Amesouers" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Cobalt- "Arsonry" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hellmouth- "Praying For Plague" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Big Business- "Gold & Final" (MP3)

Absu

With Absu's new self-titled LP due only a few weeks away (Feb 24th), the band have announced their participation in CIII along with French black metallers Glorior Belli, Austin's Averse Sefira, and Sothis, including a date at BB Kings on June 21st! Tickets are currently on presale here and go on sale to the general public on March 5th. Glorior Belli recently dropped a preview of their upcoming album.

Funeral Mist, the black metal crew featuring Mortuus of Marduk, have announced their NEW album, Maranatha due on Norma Evangelium Diaboli (link NSFW) on Feb 23rd! Funeral Mist's last album, Salvation, was released in 2006. In related/as exciting news, Marduk have announced more dates for their previously reported US trek with Mayhem, Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, and Withered including Irving Plaza on May 21! No ticket details as of yet, but we'll let you know when they surface. Full tour schedule below.

Javelina have announced the more details about their previously announced Sanford Parker-produced LP coming soon on Translation Loss. Their sophomore effort will include nine original tunes, as well as a Buzzov*en cover ("Whisky Fit") that will be featured on a upcoming tribute record (which will also feature contributions from Sourvein, Deadbird, Fistula, Kylesa, Zoroaster and many more). Look for the new record in late summer or early fall with song titles like "You're Going to Hate This", "Towers of Silence", "The Black Blizzard" and "Stepchild".

Grace of Landmine Marathon

Landmine Marathon have scheduled an East Coast tour including TWO nights in NYC! On April 13th, Grace and the boys will descend upon Lit Lounge (Precious Metal) backed by Wizardry and Seizure Crypt. Three days later (4/16), the band have set aside the day to play an additional show in Brooklyn... details are forthcoming. Landmine Marathon are also on board to play both the New England Hardcore & Metal Fest, as well as the Los Angeles Murderfest. Full tour schedule below. Speaking of Wizardry, the band will record their entire live show at Union Pool on Feb 25th for later release.

Pelican have signed with Southern Lord! The band is currently recording material at Red Room studios in Seattle for what will be their debut EP for the label. Look for the new material to be "heavier, darker and very riff-oriented," according to guitarist Trevor De Brauw. Pelican also announced a slew of tour dates with Tombs (none in NYC), including a stint with Wolves In The Throne Room that will bring the trio to SXSW as part of the Southern Lord showcase. WITTR have a new EP AND LP on the way, and recently dropped a live LP, Live at Roadburn.

Deathspell Omega's Veritas Diaboli Manet in Aeternum - Chaining the Katechon EP, culled from their split with S.V.E.S.T. is out NOW at Southern Lord, and if you were a fan of their last LP, I highly reccommend it. Also of note at Southern Lord: Wolves in The Throne Room's previously mentioned Malevolent Grain EP, the new and mega-rare Boris/Michio Kurihara Cloud Chamber LP (1500 total copies) as well as the Boris Vs. Choukoku - More Echoes, Touching Air Landscape reissue. WITTR's new album Black Cascade is due on Mar 31st.

Speaking of WITTR, Scion Rock Fest is a little more than two weeks away, and we have 10 PAIRS of tickets and 10 Josh Graham designed posters for giveaway. In the meantime, dig on the recently posted set times below (thx anon)!

As we originally reported in September, sunn o))) has a new album on the way that we THOUGHT was called Dimensions. Turns out, according to an interview with The Quietus, the new album is due in May, will be entitled Monoliths & Dimensions, and will feature Jessika Kenney, Eyvind Kang, as well as frequent contributors Oren Ambarchi, Attila Csihar (Mayhem) and Dylan Carlson (Earth). Check out the tracklisting below. Speaking of Stephen O'Malley, the previously discussed Aethenor record, Faking Gold & Murder is out NOW.

Napalm Death, Malkuth, Hellmouth, Cynic, Reverend Bizarre and more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (02/10/09)"