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)"

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

Andrew of Castevet

Though reportedly no champagne bottles were popped, nor was the gatorade dumped on anyone, Lit Lounge's bill on June 7th was a celebration on many levels. Castevet welcomed their new LP Mounds of Ash into this world via Profound Lore Records (cop it) and brought along with them an unstoppable bill to mark the occasion. Precious Metal recently celebrated four years in existence, and it was PM founder Curran Reynolds's birthday!

No matter what occasion it is, whenever you combine Castevet, Woe, Batillus, and Flourishing, its going to make for an unmissable night of punishing metal. Pics from the show continue below.

Castevet is hitting the road with Altar of Plagues and Velnias for a string of shows leading up to their NYC appearance at The Studio at Webster Hall on August 1st with Man's Gin. Tickets are on sale.

Continue reading "Castevet, Woe, Batillus & Flourishing @ Lit Lounge (pics) "

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 Black Bubblegum

Trap Them @ Knitting Factory (more by Zach Dilgard)

Three years of any kind of party in NYC is a milestone. TONIGHT (5/25), Swedish crusties Victims, BV faves Trap Them, upstart badasses Black Breath, and the recently added Black Anvil will be at Lit Lounge to help celebrate the third anniversary of Precious Metal. The show is part of a larger tour for Victims, Trap Them, and BB, that will conclude in Philadelphia on 6/12 and includes another date at The Charleston on 6/11.

Trap Them are coming off of a triumphant tour with Napalm Death (photos from NYC here) including one stop at Maryland Death Fest with the mighty Bolt Thrower.

Decibel Magazine recently ran a piece on Precious Metal's three year anniversary, and the man behind it, Curran Reynolds (who we interviewed last year).

All dates below...

Continue reading "Precious Metal turns 3 Monday night + other Trap Them dates "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Wetnurse - Not Your Choice (MP3)

The source argument of Malcolm Gladwell's bestseller The Tipping Point is that the smallest of sparks can set the world ablaze. Hailed as one of "the most vital music nights in town" by Time Out New York, Curran Reynolds is testing Gladwell's theory every Monday at Precious Metal, where the heavy underground can literally be found underground.... in the basement of Lit Lounge.

In addition to Precious Metal, Curran Reynolds has a few other balls in the air. He does PR for multiple heavy indie labels and beats the skins for his band, Wetnurse. This April Wetnurse signed with Seventh Rule (starter home for Akimbo, Sweet Cobra, Plague Bringer, among others). They'll drop Invisible City on September 30th (this Tuesday).

Invisible City is just that, an unseen metropolis of unpredictable left-turns and locals-only rights that only the most learned of metalheads should be able to traverse, yet catchiness grows like a weed through the cracked concrete. Stylistically, Invisible City reflects the diversity of Precious Metal, representing noise rock, metal, post-hardcore, and grind while never falling into the trappings of any single genre.

Wetnurse is prepping for an east coast tour in the month of October, kicking off with an Invisible City record release show at Precious Metal at Lit Lounge on Sept 29th (tonight) and concluding with an opening slot for the mighty Harvey f'n Milk at Europa on November 2nd (tickets are on sale)

We sat down with Curran earlier this month to discuss his party, Lansing-Dreiden, the influence of Steve Austin, and..... Tchaikovsky?

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BrooklynVegan: So let's start out with the origins of Precious Metal...

Continue reading "an interview w/ Curran Reynolds (Wetnurse, Precious Metal)"

DOWNLOAD: Ehnahre - "Part II" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wetnurse - "Not Your Choice" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Agenda Of Swine - "Amongst The Forgotten" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Early Graves - "Safety Net Acrobats" (M4A)
DOWNLOAD: Wrnlrd - "Breath Of Doors" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Behexen - "Born In The Serpent Of The Abyss" (MP3)

Enslaved's Vertebrae

Enslaved announced domestic details of their new album "Vertebrae"..... it's due October 28th at their new home, Nuclear Blast! As previously reported, the band is ready to pounce on Europe with Stonegard & Krakow in tow. In related Enslaved news, Herbrand Larsen of has been tapped to produce the new album by the Gaahl/King Ov Hell version of Gorgoroth. The band will enter the studio on August 25th to record eight new tracks written by King ov Hell with Frost of 1349/Satyricon/Keep Of Kalessin fame on drums. 1349 will be at Nokia on Sept 6th (stoked! tix still avail) with Carcass, Rotten Sound, Suffocation, and Necrophagist. Satyricon recently announced the title of their new album due on November 3rd, The Age of Nero.

Boston's Ehnahre, featuring former members of Kayo Dot, will drop The Man Closing Up on Sept 1st via Sound Devastation Records. The gloomy experimental death/doom band enlisted Nick Zampiello (ISIS, Old Man Gloom, Mare, etc) to master the record, Jonah Jenkins (Only Living Witness, Raw Radar War) on guest vocals, as well as appearances by ex-Kayo Dot-ers Forbes Graham & Greg Massi. Check out on "Part II" (downladable above) featuring vocals by Jonah Jenkins!

Early Graves (fka Apiary) dropped We: The Guillotine on August 19th. Featuring a guest shot by Eugene Robinson (Oxbow), Steve Austin (Today Is The Day) appears on (vocals and guitar) and produced the record for Ironclad (Trevor from Unearth's label) Check out "Safety Net Acrobats" above.

Nifelheim, Lamb Of God, Wetnurse, Kylesa, Integrity, Withered, Om and more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (08/20/08)"