Spike of DRI at Emo's (more by Tim Griffin)

Founding member and guitarist Spike Cassidy of hardcore/metal crossover pioneers D.R.I. (DIRTY ROTTEN IMBECILES) is in the hospital recovering from complications -- including infection -- that arose after he underwent total colectomy surgery (having his entire colon removed) earlier this month. Doctors have pinpointed the infection and he is expected to be released from the hospital within the next few days.

Spike's rehabilitation will likely have some effect on the band's touring schedule in early 2012. -[Blabbermouth]

So far no word on how his recovery will affect upcoming dates including Starland Ballroom on 3/24 and Best Buy on 5/12 (supporting Overkill), but we'll keep you informed. Tickets for both shows are still available.

All current tour dates are below, along with some video.

Continue reading "Spike Cassidy of D.R.I. in hospital recovering from surgery & complications (all 2012 tour dates on for now)"

photos by Tim Griffin, words by BBG

Nearing 30 years in the industry, D.R.I. took the stage shortly before midnight and played till 1:37 a.m., setting off a flurry of bodysurfing from the pent-up teenage-and 20-somethings in the crowd seconds before the first song even began... No matter the viewing point, songs such as "The Application" and "Slumlord" were enjoyed by the youngsters with a fury of moshing angst, and by the older crowd with relaxed appreciation. After original singer Kurt Brecht pointed out that D.R.I. played its first show in 1982, he and original guitarist Spike Cassidy, longtime drummer Rob Rampy and bassist Harald Oimoen also delivered the goods on "Suit and Tie Guy" and closers "The Five-Year Plan" and "Violent Pacification" -[Examiner]

Austin & San Antonio were rare dates that converged two tours, D.R.I. and Death Angel/Lazarus A.D./Bonded By Blood. The D.R.I. tour continues on and the band will play Starland Ballroom on 2/27 with Mucky Pup before looping back afer European and South American tours to play Gramercy on 5/13 with Apathy & Horrifier. Death Angel's tour does not include an NYC date, but it does include a show at Scion Rock Fest (no BbB or LAD).

All tour dates and more pictures from Austin are below.

Continue reading "D.R.I., Death Angel, Lazarus A.D., Bonded By Blood, Before Dishonor & Southern Front played Emo's, touring (pics & dates)"

D.R.I. @ Scion Rock Fest (more by BBG)

D.R.I. plan on spending a bunch of time on the road in 2011, stopping back in the NYC-area twice along the way. NJ's Starland Ballroom gets the look on 2/27 with Mucky Pup, Dept. of Coreuption, Strychnia, Razorblade Handgrenade, The Dirty Stayouts, and Mirrors and Wires (tickets are on sale), and Gramercy Theatre does on 5/13 (tickets go on sale 12/30 at noon). All dates below...

All dates below...

Continue reading "D.R.I. touring more in 2011 (dates)"

words by BBG, photos by Keith Marlowe

Capitalist Casualties

The trail to Maryland Deathfest is blazed by a ton of bands, four of which populated the Europa show on Saturday night (5/22). Fang headlined Europa with an assist from hardcore old schoolers Verbal Abuse, powerviolencers Capitalist Casualties, the killer Magrudergrind, and Strong Intention part of an overall campaign that will see the bands (not SI) crash land at MDF 2010.

Speaking of MDF bands in NYC, Europa will ALSO host MDF'er DRI on Sunday 5/30. Tickets are still on sale, or you can try you hand at winning one of TWO pairs. Details on how are at the bottom of this post.

Sunday at Europa was the Inquisition & Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult show. More pics from Saturday's show are below...

Continue reading "Fang, Verbal Abuse, Capitalist Casualties, Magrudergrind & Strong Intention played Europa (pics) (+ win tix to D.R.I.) "

photos by Jessie Barber, Christopher Mumma

Matt Martinez of Landmine Marathon belts it out (by Jessie Barber)

While BBG and Kim Kelly were trolling about the blackened stage at Bernie's, getting southern-fried by the Louisiana frighteners Thou, and checking out the thundergods known as YOB, Chris and Jessie were on the case at the other Scion Rock Fest on 3/13 in Columbus, Ohio. Pictures from their travels which include some (more) shots of Landmine Marathon, as well as Shrinebuilder (right before they played NYU), Pelican, D.R.I., Black Tusk, Voivod (who then made their way to SXSW), Magrudergrind, Saviours, and so much more, below....

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest pics (part 2) - Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Black Tusk, Magrudergrind, Pelican, Shrinebuilder, Deadsea & more"

words by Kim Kelly, intro by BBG, photos by Christopher Mumma & BBG

Thou

SXSW was a blast, but days before that the Scion Rock Fest shook the college town of Columbus, Ohio (March 13th) with it's mix of metal gods of the past (DRI, Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Shrinebuilder, etc) and killers of today (Ludicra, Landmine Marathon, Yob, Thou, etc). The one-day fest was spread throughout four of the town's venue, meaning any one person could only see a limited amount of the full lineup. Luckily I went to Columbus with my own camera, two other photographers (Jessie Barber and Christopher Mumma), and crossed paths with writer Kim Kelly along the way. If there is a metal show worth a damn within hundreds (thousands?) of miles from Kim, she'll be there. Her version of the story along with half of the pictures from the day (the rest HERE), below...

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest in pics & review (part 1) - Ludicra, Liturgy, D.R.I., Yob, Thou, Lightning Swords of Death & more "

photos by Chloe Rice, words by BBG

They sped through an hour and change long set that featured journeys into most of their familiar terrain. It was nice to see them after all these years.
They bespoke of a simpler pre-Guiliani time, one of scuzz and sleaze. The Taxi Driver New York. -[Trashman Reader]

Rumplestiltskin Grinder is reporting two MAJOR upcoming shows in NYC in the coming months, including 5/30 at Europa with DRI and 5/28 at Gramercy with German thrash metal greats Sodom! Tickets for Europa are on sale, and Sodom goes on sale 2/7. Both DRI and Sodom are scheduled to play MDF 2010, and DRI will be at Scion Rock Fest in March.

Across town, Pentagram was getting down at BB King's on the same night.

More pics from the show and complete Rumplestiltskin Grinder dates are below....

Continue reading "D.R.I. played Gramercy w/ Rumplestiltskin Grinder (pics, setlist) - both bands add show @ Europa ++ Sodom is coming!"

by BBG

Shrinebuilder at LPR (more here)

Atlanta no more! Scion Rock Fest 2010 will take place in Columbus, Ohio on March 13, 2010. The show will officially expand its reach from one to FOUR venues in Columbus: Circus, Newport Music Hall, Skully's, and Bernie's Distillery. 2010's lineup contains zero return bands from the 2009 festival but does contain sets from bands that released my favorite albums of last year (namely Magrudergrind, Yob, Absu) and played my favorite shows of last year (Lightning Swords of Death, Landmine Marathon, Trap Them, Black Tusk, Ludicra) in addition to sets from headliners Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Shrinebuilder, Brutal Truth.

The rest of the lineup, the show flyer, and RSVP info is below...

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest 2010 (March 13 in Ohio) - lineup announced"

by BBG

Sourvein at BV-BBG/Northside (more by Jason Walker)

Sourvein has scheduled a new NYC show for 2/6 at The Charleston with Bezoar. The band is currently working on new material, and recently announced a new split 7" with Japanese greats Coffins on Forcefield Records.

Coffins are one of many who are signed up for Maryland Deathfest 2010, a lineup which was recently finalized (D.R.I. were the final band added on December 15th). Dig on the flyer below, and make sure to get your tickets for MDF.

Continue reading "Sourvein schedules a show, announces a split w/ Coffins ++ Maryland Deathfest's final lineup (dates)"

by BBG

Priestess in NYC. Sigh. (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Alas, twas not meant to be.... Priestess were pummeled by the recent snows in the midwest, and as a result, will not be able to make it to Brooklyn on Saturday (12/12). Early Man and Naam, however, WILL be battling the elements to hit The Charleston with a night of psychedelia, and full-on thrashin' fury, bringing along La Otracina for the ride.

Early Man, Priestess, and all of the aforementioned rockers seem like they are some of the few who haven't collabo'd with GZA, but maybe that will change (or maybe not) by the time GZA plays Gramercy Theatre on Jan 9th. Tickets go on sale Saturday (12/12) at noon here. For some Wu sooner, check out Raekwon who is on tour now.

In barely related news, DRI's mysteriously gone-missing NYC show at Gramercy Theatre on 1/17 has re-appeared. Tickets go (back) on sale Saturday at noon. More dates HERE.

We already posted these tour dates in more than one Week in Metal post, but after seeing D.R.I. over the weekend at Fun Fun Fun Fest in Austin I wanted to make sure they got full attention.

The thrash band formed all the way back in 1982, and though I never actually saw them live back in the day (or even in 2004), they were just as brutal at FFF Fest as I imagine they were in their youth. The very large crowd responded appropriately, circle pits and all.

It has been a while since Texas' own Dirty Rotten Imbeciles have appeared live. Guitarist Spike Cassidy was diagnosed with cancer in 2006, but thankfully he has since recovered and the band is back in action. This show was the first since their reactivation, and anticipation was high amongst the scrappy ensemble of punkers, hipsters, and handful of errant metalheads. Once the band hit the stage the crowd erupted into a gigantic tangle of bodies crushed towards the front barricade by the force of a large mosh pit. It seems like people haven't forgotten what crossover thrash is all about, but DRI was here to remind everyone just in case. They commenced appropriately with "Who Am I?", and then followed with a scorching selection of favorites primarily from the essential Dealing With It, along with choice cuts from Crossover, Four of a Kind and Thrashzone. [Examiner]

Continue reading "D.R.I. - 2009 Tour Dates (NYC cancelled??) & FFF Fest pics "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Shadow Of The Torturer - "The Walk" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fatalist - "Internal Misery" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mala Suerte - "Wine Like Clotted Blood" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Coffinworm - "High On The Reek Of Your Burning Remains" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Clone II Snippet Sampler (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sleep - Demos 1990 (Mediafire Link, courtesy of Chunklet)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "Don't Vote" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "I am the Leviathan" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nirvana 2002 - "Mourning (Projections of a Stained Mind)" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mala Suerte - "Entrance/Black Art" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Brown Jenkins - "Ashes In Her Mouth" EDIT (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Brown Jenkins - "Lords Of Suicide" & "Lifetaker" (Mediafire Link)
DOWNLOAD: Witchmaster - "Two Point Suicide" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Witchmaster - "Total Annihilation" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gravehill - "Rites Of The Pentagram" (MP3)

Consider this the "Swedish Death Metal" edition as we'll focus on a few bands that have taken cues from the great sounds of Entombed, Dismember, Grave, and so many others. As such, lets start off with Fatalist! Though they hail from the land of sun and surf (California), Fatalist have nailed the tone of early (Stockholm) Swedish Death Metal sound, putting their own spin in their songwriting. Featuring ex members of Exhumed, Fatalist's debut album The Depths of Inhumanity is out on 11/23 via Ibex Moon and for a taste of the killer riffs that the band has cooked up, dig on "Internal Misery" above.

Lets get it out of the way, Nirvana 2002 is not a boxset from a certain Seattle band. In fact, Nirvana 2002 is the name of a lost Swedish Death Metal band who will finally release their full recorded output via Relapse Records, Recordings 89 - 91. The band that featured vocalist/guitarist Orvar Säfström (ex-Entombed) have released the "Mourning (Projections of a Stained Mind)" MP3, available for download above after it recently premiered on Decibel. If you love the sickening Swedish Death Metal buzzsaw sound, these long lost tracks are a welcome surprise. Orvar Säfström recently discussed his top 6 favorite Swedish Death Metal albums.

Much like Fatalist, Gravehill is also a sickening early death metal worship act from California. Gravehill's Rites Of The Pentagram LP is out NOW via Enucleation and the title track is available for download above. The band recently played the NJ Death Fest along with Acheron, who are releasing their latest LP and first in six years, The Final Conflict: Last Days Of God, on Ibex Moon.

Mala Suerte doom away on their latest crusty, dimly lit LP, The Shadow Tradition, available via Hellride Music. Download a pair of tracks from that Austin band's LP above. Mala Suerte have been around since the 90s and released a few LPs of their filthy Grief-like psychotic doom as well as a split with Japan's Coffins.

A Mala Suerte video for "Non Servium", Coalesce, Ghast, Eyehategod, Fuck The Facts, Zoroaster, Graveyard, thoughts on the new Slayer, and more as TWIM continues...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (11/03/09)"

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)"

August 25th, 2009 (Austin, TX) - Transmission Entertainment is pleased to announce the lineup for the 2009 Fun Fun Fun Fest, taking place on November 7th and 8th at Waterloo Park in Austin. Fun Fun Fun Fest made its first appearance on a cold Friday evening in 2006, offering a unique approach to festival booking, filling stages with talent bubbling from the underground: what sounded great, and what was making an impact, regardless of what mainstream media said was cool. What started out as a show for a few touring acts and local favorites has become a movement -- a festival that fans and bands alike realize needs to be experienced year after year.

Now in its fourth year, Fun Fun Fun Fest has made a significant impact on the country's winter calendar, successfully combining the vast worlds of indie, punk, rap, electronica and comedy while showcasing some of the city's most unique local businesses.

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2009 lineup (Jesus Lizard, Of Montreal, Gorilla Biscuits, LSF, 7 Seconds, D.R.I. & DANZIG!! & more)"

DOWNLOAD: TRAA - Don't Haunt This Place (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Orenda Fink - Bloodline (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Orenda Fink - No Evolution (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Old Canes - Taxi On Vermont (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: UUVVWWZ - Shark Suit (MP3)

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson @ Union Hall 10/1 (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson's Summer of Fear, the follow-up to his 2008 self-titled debut, is set for an October 20th release on Saddle Creek. The label, which recently signed the songwriter, tells the TVotR/Grizzly Bear-littered story of the new record...

TV on the Radio's Kyp Malone--a close friend since the pair met en route to a Grizzly Bear show in 2005--helped bottle Robinson's bruised hymns last winter, ramping up the tension in such standout tracks as "Death by Dust," "Summer of Fear pt. 2," "The Sound," and the 11-and-a-half draining minutes of "More Than a Mess," a haunting epic that deserves its own short film. (Or more than half of Side D; Summer of Fear is spread across two LPs like one of Robinson's favorite records, Tusk.) Since they both "have a tendency toward a generally and hilariously doom stricken worldview," Malone also understood what Robinson was going for with his redemption songs. After all, he was there that summer. He saw it all go down, and now that he's heard the whole thing told through Summer of Fear's relentless and raw tone poems, he can't wait to see what Robinson comes up with next. (Robinson is desperate to record his third record--yes, already. Written last year in the midst of touring to support his unexpected self-titled debut, he describes the disc as containing,"actual songs...as opposed to vaguely melodic litanies of grievance.")

October 20th will be a big day for Saddle Creek (home of Tokyo Police Club, Cursive and Land of Talk). It's also the release date for the latest by new signees Old Canes. The record, Feral Harmonic, is the Lawrence, KS band's second.

Old Canes architect Chris Crisci (also known as half of Appleseed Cast) constructed Feral Harmonic largely alone in his basement studio. He played the majority of the instrumentation himself with additional help from a cast of musician friends contributing various parts, including trumpet, harmophone, cello, and hammer dulcimer, among other instruments. As recording was regularly interrupted by touring, work, other projects, and life in general, production on the album took nearly three and a half years to complete.

The label will also be dropping a new album from Orenda Fink (Azure Ray, Art In Manila, O+S), titled Ask The Night, on October 6th.

Ask The Night was primarily recorded live to 8-track by Stephen Bartolomei (Mal Madrigal) in Orenda's former Omaha, NE, basement (she is now based in Los Angeles, CA), as well as by Andy LeMaster (Now It's Overhead; production on Bright Eyes, Conor Oberst and the Mystic Valley Band, Azure Ray) in his Athens, GA, living room.

The album features a wide variety of players and singers, including producers Stephen Bartolomei and Andy LeMaster, Isaac Brock (Modest Mouse), Dan McCarthy (McCarthy Trenching), and Adrianne Verhoeven (Dri, The Anniversary, Art In Manila), among others. Four songs on Ask The Night are collaborations with Birmingham, AL-based artist and poet Chris Lawson...

The Rural Alberta Advantage's previously-self-released debut came out on Saddle Creek on July 7th. The band was featured on ABC's Amplified on August 17th, and they have shows coming up. Those include the Positive Jam with the Hold Steady in Ithaca on September 6th, and a show at the Bowery Ballroom on October 7th. Tickets for that go on sale Friday, August 21st at noon.

UUVVWWZ also released an album on Saddle Creek on July 7th, and they'll also be in NYC in October (for CMJ). In fact, they'll be playing what looks like an extremely sick bill at Union Pool on October 24th with An Albatross, Dark Meat, Lovvers, Flexions, ZzZ, and JEFF The Brotherhood.

For a taste of what Saddle Creek has been up to over the past year (before any of the new bands mentioned above), check out the free sampler they're giving away on Amazon. All upcoming TRAA and UUVVWWZ tour dates, and above-mentioned things, are below...

Continue reading "Saddle Creek: Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Old Canes & Orenda Fink ++ Rural Alberta Advantage & UUVVWWZ dates"

photos by Alex Reside

"the show was AMAZING! i think from my posts on this board it's apparent that i am of the krug persuasion (what can i say, i dig accordions and marimba) but dan may be my new hero, and alexei my heroine. so much energy and audience dance parties galore.

the best part though, the two of them are just so HUMBLE and seemed genuinely honored that so many folks came out to see them. alexei kept putting her hands to her heart as if she couldn't believe where she was...it's just so great to see bands that truly appreciate what they've achieved, and to see audiences having such a good time...everybody wins.

and they are just so fricking CUTE and lovely together. at one point they touched foreheads and gave each other big happy excited faces - it was such an "awwww" moment (who knew dan boeckner was capable of soliciting an "aw?")" [stuntgirl]

As stuntgirl pointed out, it was a great show. I completely agree with the humble/appreciation thing. Dan is also so funny and still talking about how NYC, and especially Bowery Ballroom, makes him nervous because of the time in 2005(!) that Wolf Parade played there and the Internet talked about how drunk he was the next day (sorry Dan!). More pictures from last night's show below...

Continue reading "Handsome Furs, Dri & the Cinnamon Band @ Bowery Ballroom - pics "

Handsome Furs @ Mercury Lounge (more by Dominick Mastrangelo)

Handsome Furs have added a 2nd NYC show to their previously announced touring schedule. Tickets are still on sale for their July 7th show at Bowery Ballroom. Tickets go on sale at noon for the new show on July 8th at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Dri (not to be confused with D.R.I.) and The Cinnamon Band open both NYC shows.

Handsome Furs' new video for "I'm Confused", below...

Continue reading "Handsome Furs add Brooklyn show w/ Dri & Cinnamon Band"