by Black Bubblegum

They say that the clothes make the man, but in the music world, the drummer makes the band. That's the only way to explain the string of successes that have followed Dave Witte since he first sat behind the kit as a member of the influential yet under-appreciated Human Remains. Since then, Witte has played with some of the greatest bands in the heavy underground, laying the back beat to names as powerful as Municipal Waste, Discordance Axis, Anodyne, Black Army Jacket, Melt Banana, and we can't forget about Burnt By The Sun.

Burnt By The Sun recently released their swansong, Heart of Darkness, via Relapse Records. In celebration of this last LP, the band will embark on final tour of Europe in October with only one US date scheduled: October 2nd at Cake Shop with Tombs, Black Anvil, Bloodhorse, and Torchbearer. Considering the band members' current undertakings, it isn't out the question to say that this could be their last show for a very very long time.

With that as a primer, I fired some questions at Dave Witte about Municipal Waste, the end of Burnt By The Sun, and the possiblity of him returning to the kit for Human Remains, Discordance Axis or Black Army Jacket. The conversation is below....

Continue reading "an interview w/ Dave Witte (of Burnt by the Sun, Municipal Waste, Human Remains, Black Army Jacket...)"

by Klaus Kinski

As a young mullet-headed headbanger growing up in the pre-internet late 80's and early 90's Cape Cod, my only resource for expanding my metal horizons was Metal Maniacs. Sure, I enjoyed the titans of that era (Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, etc) but what I craved was the most vile, lightning fast death metal in the world. Thanks to Metal Maniacs, I was exposed to the likes of Deicide, Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed, Morbid Angel, Repulsion, Gorguts, Cathedral, Morgoth, and many many more. The one album from that era that immediately blew my mind, and has stayed an important part of my life, is Godflesh's Streetcleaner. To this day the bassy-death-rattle-feedback intro for the lead-off track "Like Rats" still gets me amped.

For the past 19 years I've been avidly following the brains behind Godflesh, Justin K. Broadrick, and his incredibly diverse career. Starting in 1982 with band called Final, a project that is still creating music to this day, Broadrick has released dozens of records and EPs under a variety of pseudonyms and monikers. He's remixed boat loads of tunes by other bands and has dabbled in many different genres including industrial, grindcore, and hip hop. With his latest project Greymachine (listen to a stream here) and many more projects on the horizon, it seemed like a great time for BV to catch up with Justin and discuss his past, present, and future.

Continue reading "an interview with Justin K. Broadrick"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Dälek - "2012 (The Pillage)" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Oddateee - "Ricans" (MP3)

Shadowy New Jersey (anti) hip hop crew Dälek, have released Gutter Tactics on Ipecac Records. The track "2012 (The Pillage)" is downloadable above; check it out in all of it's RZA's-Ghost-Dog-on-barbiturates glory. Recorded in their Union City studio, Gutter Tactics features the instrumental embellishments of Destructo Swarmbots from Dalek's Deadverse roster.

Here's a fascinating quote from MC dälek on their brand of menacing hip hop:

"...it's the philosophy of diggin' through crates to find sounds you make your own regardless of genre. Afrika Bambaataa sampled Kraftwerk, while we draw on the essence of Faust, or My Bloody Valentine..."

How many hip hop crews claim Faust and My Bloody Valentine as an influence? Producer Oktopus goes further:

"Gutter Tactics is more about us continually doing some early hip-hop sh*t but with the attitude of the Melvins or Black Sabbath."

Schweet. The band is currently gearing up for a European tour with Deadverse's Oddateee which includes the Dälek-curated De Kreun Sonic City Festival with Earth, Guapo, Joshua Booth, and Destructo Swarmbots! How many hip hop crews would curate a show with Earth & Guapo?!?

Oddateee released Halfway Homeless on Nov 4th, 2008 via Deadverse.. check out "Ricans" from that record above. Full Dalek/Oddateee and Earth tour dates below.

In other Destructo Swarmbots news, Mike Mare of DS has teamed up with MGR, aka Mike Gallagher of Isis fame to release Amigos de la Guitarra out NOW on Neurot Recordings. Recorded at Deadverse studios by Oktopus, Amigos consists of a single 42-minute song, "Amor en el Aire" and... well, let's let the amazing must-read press release do the talking....

Continue reading "new Dälek album (MP3), 2009 European tour w/ Oddateee ++ Earth dates too"

by Black Bubblegum

Both Coliseum and Baroness have announced separate tours with before they hit the road with Converge/The Red Chord/Genghis Tron. Baroness will be joined by Young Widows (who recently signed to Temporary Residence) for their new Kurt Ballou-produced LP (does he produce everything?) and will be in NYC to open the Dalek/Russian Circles show @ Mercury Lounge. Now if we can only convice Evan Patterson to persuade his brother Ryan to play a Coliseum date in NYC soon..... All dates below...

Continue reading "Converge, Red Chord, Genghis Tron, Coliseum, Baroness, Young Widows, Russian Circles... - updated 2008 Tour Dates"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Unearthly Trance - Permanent Ice (MP3)

That's it. I'm calling Mayor "Doomberg" (as El-P calls him)! We need to get one of those keys-to-the-city and have the week of the 21st designated as official Neurosis & pals week.

First, you have the two killer Neurosis shows back to back at a Masonic temple (Jan 24th & 25th... and possibly with Mastodon in tow). Then on the 26th Scott Kelly (of Neurosis & now Shrinebuilder fame) and Jarboe (Swans) play a solo show at the Pussycat Lounge! Make sure to stay and check out NYC mainstays Unearthly Trance lay waste (flyer).

Speaking of the guys from Unearthly Trance..... check for them as they embark on a tour with the always great Pelican and Black Cobra (mems Acid King, and recently off tour with The Sword). Dates at the end of this post.

More below......

Continue reading "this week in METAL (01-04-07)"