John Baizley of Baroness at Union Transfer, Jan 2013 (more by Maclyn Bean)

The driver of a coach that plunged 30ft (9m) from a viaduct near Bath is to be charged with dangerous driving.

Norman Markus was driving the band Baroness in the coach after a Bristol gig at the time of the crash in August.

...German national Mr Markus, 39, also faces charges of using a vehicle with defective brakes and breaching a 7.5 tonne weight limit.
...Mr Markus is also facing charges of insufficient daily and weekly rest periods and using a vehicle in a condition likely to cause danger of injury.

He has also been charged with not having the correct licence entitlement to drive the coach involved in the crash.

He is due to appear before Bath Magistrates' Court on 5 April. -[BBC]

In the months since the accident, John Baizley and the Baroness crew have recovered slowly but surely, and Baizley along with guitarist Pete Adams have ventured out to play some live gigs. Check out photos from their Philadelphia date with Neurosis at Invisible Oranges and a couple photos of John Baizley at the Decibel show.

Napalm Death at Gramercy, Oct 2012 (more by Greg Cristman)

The Decibel Tour, announced at the heavy mag's 100th issue show, has been confirmed and dates have emerged for the North American trek featuring Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death and Immolation. Look for supporting slots from Cretin, Beyond Creation, and Magrudergrind along the way and the NYC date at Music Hall of Williamsburg at June 5 is with Magrudergrind. Tickets to that show go on AmEx presale on Wednesday (1/23) at noon and regular sale on Friday (1/25) at noon.

All tour dates and the tour flyer, below.

Continue reading "2013 Decibel Tour (Napalm Death, Cannibal Corpse, Immolation) announces dates and openers"

by BBG

Tombs at BV-Rocks Off Official CMJ Showcase 2011 (more by Jonathan McPhail)

Decibel released their list of the best LPs of 2011. The list features a few repeat offenders and not too many surprises. One record listed technically came out in 2010 (and made my list of favorites that year). You can check out the full thing below. What record do you think they left off?

Continue reading "Decibel Magazine's Top 40 of 2011"

DOWNLOAD: Agalloch - "The Watcher's Monolith" (MP3)

Decibel has released their top 40 metal albums of the year, abd Agalloch's Marrow of The Spirit landed at #1. That's the art above. Order a copy now (it is great) and check out a song from that LP above. We followed Agalloch through Eastern Europe earlier this year and interviewed both John Haughm and Aesop Dekker (who also plays drums in another Top 40 band, Ludicra). - BBG

Dig on the full Decibel list below...

Continue reading "Decibel's Top 40 of 2010"

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

Witch

Witch and Earthless will team up for a short tour in February 2009. That includes a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on the 25th. Tickets go on sale 12/23 at noon.

Witch dropped Paralyzed in March, and it was recently named as one of the best heavy albums of the year by Decibel.... check out that full list below. Look for a few of those to repeat on my own top metal list, coming very soon.

We knew that Witch counts J. Mascis as a member, but the band also contains (or, rather attempts to contain) Kyle Thomas, AKA King Tuff. King Tuff recently dropped his debut Was Dead on October 7th via Tee Pee which is also Witch's label.

J Mascis also recently released an album of his own, and on his own label... Baked Goods. Out now, J + Friends Sing + Chant for Amma is a "collection of devotional songs dedicated to the living Indian Saint, Sri Mata Amritanandamayi Devi (Amma)" with all of the proceeds going towards "a vast range of humanitarian projects, including orphanages, charitable hospitals and free homes for the homeless". For more on Amma, head here.

Earthless (mem of Rocket From The Crypt, Hot Snakes, Black Heart Procession) recently dropped their live album Live at Roadburn, captured at the ridiculawesome festival that will include Saint Vitus, Amon Duul II, Neurosis, and many other greats in 2009.

All lists and dates below...

Continue reading "Witch & Earthless tour dates, a new J Mascis charity album, Decibel's top 2008 albums"