words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

Amber of Jucifer is electric!

Jucifer's twitter bio describes their stage setup as "63 speakers + 6,000 watts can't be wrong." But it can be wrong; loud definitely doesn't always equal good. Fortunately in Jucifer's case, it does, and the band turned out Union Pool on June 26th as part of the Northside Fest (after Floor at Europa) with a molotov cocktail of doom, black metal, and general malady culled from their recent Throned in Blood.

Jucifer was supported by Reading PA's Gloominous Doom, who churned out an early potpourri of various styles of metal, venturing into punk and even ska. Unfortunately, no pics of Gloom Doom, but tons more pics of Jucifer are below, who are currently heading to the Great White North to test power grids with their bowel-shaking metal.

Continue reading "Jucifer & Gloominous Doom played Union Pool (pics) "

by BBG

Jucifer at Cake Shop (more by Justina Villanueva)

How do you follow up a band like FLOOR? BV & 1000 Knives are proud to present the Floor afterparty, AKA the return of 10,000 watt sludge duo Jucifer with the goofy fuck-ups in Gloominous Doom at Union Pool on 6/26 as part of the Northside Festival. Doors for Jucifer will open at 10PM, just a short time after Floor leaves the stage at Europa, leaving plenty of time scoot on over from Europa to Union Pool to continue the ROCK.

Both shows have a certain amount of tickets reserved for Northside Festival badge holders. Advanced tickets for Floor are also still available. Jucifer will be $10 for non-badges at the door.

Alternatively, 6/26 is also the BV Northside showcase at MHOW with Memory Tapes, Twin Sister, DOM and ZAZA. Tickets are still on same for that too if that's more your thing.

Jucifer recently dropped their new album Throned In Blood. Pick up a copy at The Omega Order.

Some videos, including the new Jucifer video for "Contempt", and current tour dates are below, with more to come.

Continue reading "Jucifer & Gloominous Doom playing 3rd BV Northside show & other dates "

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

Kat of Salome

After a massive afternoon, the party was just getting started when Gloominous Doom kicked off the BrooklynVegan-BBG/Relapse CMJ showcase at Fontana's on 10/23. Nebula, Ume, Goes Cube, Naam, and Crystal Antlers all played killer sets in the afternoon, but I was itching for sheer brutality. Fortunately, I had seven great preformances to keep my energy going on through the night.

The Gloominous Doom opened the show, and every metal bill could use a band like this. Metal is a very self-serious genre which is great in some respect, but laughable in others. It's always refreshing to see a band like this, Municipal Waste, or on a local level, Copremesis, come in an make people realize that metal can be fun/wacky too. GD plays what has been described as kitchen sink metal, a bit of death metal, grind, and even ska (!), playing songs with titles like "Urine Trouble". Good times, and by the way, NO ONE rocks a cowbell like Jeff GD (on his prosthetic leg!).

Howl followed GD, and obviously I have gone on record about how killer this band is on its EP and live, but in the basement of Fontana's, their sound seemed especially large. If you dig EARLY Mastodon, crust, and even (Stockholm) Swedish Death Metal (Entombed, etc) make sure and pick up their EP. Look out for an interview with vocalist/guitarist Vincent coming soon.

Complete Failure was after Howl, a band that I have been a fan of since seeing them with the great Antigama at Europa. Anchored by the killer fills of Mike Rosswog (ex-Circle Of Dead Children/Today is The Day) and featuring a thrashing wildman in Joey Mack on vox, Complete Failure do a great crusty grind hybrid that is absolutely fierce live. ComFail recently let me post their entire album for FREE DOWNLOAD, which thankfully has popped up all over the net. These guys rule.

Black Anvil followed, and hopefully you know by the amount of times I have seen them, that these ex-Kill Your Idols folk would tear Fontana's a new one, and they did. The band also previewed some new tracks from their upcoming LP.

Revocation was next up, dispelling the notion that technical death metal can't still be brutal. Tons of live energy from these youngn's, and you can expect to hear much more for them in the near future. Their new, and highly praised album, Existence is Futile is out NOW.

I have a soft spot for Salome, and this band was beyond destructive at this show. Bowel-shaking riffs and stunning vocals were only equaled by tense moments of feedback and silence before the world came crashing down again. A seriously epic performance from this band... I can't wait until their new album blasts off on Profound Lore! And to the wise-ass audience member, it is NOT pronounced "salami" (ha).

Misery Index capped off the night, opening with what could be one of my favorite intros this side of the "Imperial Theme" from Star Wars... "We Never Come in Peace" from Traitors. Brutal, intense and unbelievable set from this Baltimore crew who pulled mostly from their latest LP, Traitors. Misery Index is currently cranking out new jams for the follow up to Traitors, so look for that next year!

To conclude, thanks again to everyone who made it out to Fontana's during the day and/or night. I'd like to personally thank all bands that played, Fontana's, CMJ, Betsey and Relapse Records, and especially Dave Ehrlich from Relapse. Most impoortantly, I couldn't have done it without the support of you. Many thanks!

More pictures below...

Continue reading "BV-BBG official 2009 CMJ show - pics (Salome, Misery Index, Howl, Revocation, Black Anvil, Complete Failure & more)"

by Black Bubblegum

Trap Them played BV-CMJ in 2008 (more by Leia Jospe)

Besides the killer Coalesce show at Europa, and the upcoming Shrinebuilder @ Le Poisson Rouge, you can mark you calendar with ANOTHER important day before the year is up.

I am proud to announce my FIRST OFFICIAL CMJ SHOWCASE (BrooklynVegan - BBG) which we are co-presenting with the good folks at Relapse Records. It's scheduled to go down on Friday October 23rd as part of an all day extravaganza at Fontana's on the Lower East Side!

The "official" part of the party kicks off at 7:30pm. That's the part of the night that costs money and will be listed in the CMJ guide (and is open to a limited number of CMJ badgeholders for free). Earlier in the day we'll be hosting the "unofficial" part, a 100% free day party at the same venue.

The shows will feature guitar cabinets courtesy of our good friends at Main Drag Music, stiff drinks by Hornitos, as well as FREE Miller Lite and High Life and Vitamin Water while supplies last! (more sponsors TBA if we get them)

The daytime lineup (one of three BrooklynVegan day parties during CMJ this year) will be announced in full soon, but will focus on the heavy side of things (and is partly revealed below). The official show lineup (one of two BrooklynVegan official showcases this year) has a little bit of everything for the heavy music fan: thundering political deathgrind, rumbling doom, crusty grindcore, and even thrashy-ska performed by a man with a prosthetic leg! It goes like this....

Continue reading "Black Bubblegum & Relapse Records do CMJ - a 2nd BrooklynVegan official showcase & a day party"