by BBG

Midnight at Rites of Darkness (more by BBG)

2011 was a year that I spent delving deep into record bins, in the pit at shows, and searching for the most brutal of the brutal at festivals across the country including Maryland Deathfest, Chaos in Tejas, Rites of Darkness, SXSW, the A389 Anniversary show, California Discord Fest, and many others. It was also a year when I revisited my hardcore roots, and went further down the rabbit hole with DIY shows and independent records.

2011's choices for best of the year were tougher than I could have imagined, as opposed to my clear cut 2010 choice for favorite album of the year. That said, favorite records are about playability, and these are the LPs that wore out my needle and earned the most plays on my digital device (note: I made sure to remove a record that I was directly involved in because that would clearly be near the top of the list). I hope you enjoyed these records as much as I did in 2011 and if not, please share what you enjoyed below. I already can't wait for 2012.

My favorite records and shows of 2011 are below.

Continue reading "The Year in Heavy (BBG's favorite records & shows of 2011)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Gridlink - "Dar Al-Harb" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Buzzov*en - "Lose" (MP3)

Buzzoven at Public Assembly (more by Samantha Marble)

Hydra Head has a helluva release schedule this week! Besides crucial represses of Neurosis's Sovereign, Discordance Axis's The Inalienable Dreamless, Oxbow's King Of The Jews, and new releases from Clouds (from the grave!) and Prurient, the label also released the long awaited LP from Buzzoven and the new Gridlink!

Now with 100% more Teddy Patterson, grindcore all-star team Gridlink's Orphan is out now. Download "Dar Al-Harb" from the new LP above, stream it below. Gridlink has also revisited their crushing (and BV fave) Amber Grey LP and added some serious low-end in the form of the Human Remains/Burnt By The Sun bass killer. Both Orphan and Amber Grey are packaged in a single slab of vicious vinyl, available now via the Hydra Head store. Helmet optional.

Sludge sickos Buzzoven's long shelved Revelation: Sick Again LP is FINALLY out on vinyl and CD. The release has been a decade in the making (!) and has been bootlegged countless times, but finally is here. Buzzoven fans, grab a fifth of Robo and rejoice... check out the "new" song "Lose" available for download above/streaming below and order a copy via Hydra Head.

In addition, Hydra Head has a new label sampler for FREE download featuring songs from Helms Alee, Jesu, Pyramids, and many others. Full tracklisting is below, along with some video and the song streams.

Continue reading "Buzzovern & Gridlink LPs out, Hydra Head sampler too (MP3s)"

by Black Bubblebgum

sunn o))) @ Knitting Factory (more by Damien Neva)


Ya hear that rumble? Thats the sound of great records perched in the distance waiting to descend on 2009 (more on that later). While this year will bring about great music and another set of "next big things", let's take the time to be thankful for 2008 and all of it's memorable records and shows. Here are my favorite records of 2008:

Continue reading "the year in Metal (Best of 2008, what's coming in 2009)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Hayaino Daisuki - "(Haiiro Ikotsu Gakidou)" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: GridLink - "Stake Knife" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: ASRA - "Payload" (MP3)

Gridlink

Some days you just have to get down on your knees and thank the dark lord below for blessing (damning?) you with shows like the one tonight, August 14 - the first night of a six day tour by GridLink, Hayaino Daisuki, and ASRA. The show is at The Wreck Room in Bushwick in Brooklyn. All dates (including a Jersey City show) below.

Adding to the mayhem, venerable powerviolence-ers Weekend Nachos (best name ever? especially in context) will headline the show, with The Communion also on hand for the festivities.

So if Weekend f'n Nachos are headlining (reason enough to risk life & limb), why would we highlight GridLink & Hayaino Daisuki? For two reasons.... first, because both GridLink & Hayaino Daisuki's new albums (Amber Grey and Headbanger's Karaoke Club Dangerous Fire respectively) slay, and second, because they both feature the honorable Jon Chang, formerly of the legendary Discordance Axis. Hayaino Daisuki is a full-on thrash-grind-stravaganza (think Slayer on fast-foward), while GridLink takes the "screw thrash, lets bludgeon" approach to grind. Check out tracks from both GridLink and Hayaino Daisuki's new albums above!

Black Box's own ASRA are also on the tour and they've been (un)kind enough to drop a "Payload" of their own for download above. They're also currently streaming a few other tracks at their myspace.

Continue reading "Gridlink & Hayaino Daisuki - 2008 Tour Dates"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Pulling Teeth - Live @ Sound & Fury 2K7 (ALBUM ZIP)
DOWNLOAD: Gnaw Their Tongues - Bubonic Burial Rites (ALBUM ZIP), ALBUM ART
DOWNLOAD: Gnaw Their Tongues - Vomiting Helplessly (ALBUM ZIP), ALBUM ART

Opeth!

Twenty six. Thats how many days we have left until the new Opeth record hits the streets. Mikael Akerfeldt & the boys have put in WORK when it comes to publicity for this record so check out a few interviews that they did here, here, here, here, here, and a seven-parter here. Whew! And here's a taste of their setlist from the Universal City, CA date (May 2nd) of the Progressive Nation Tour:

Master's Apprentices
Baying of the Hounds
In My Time of Need
Wreath
Heir Apparent
The Drapery Falls

Tickets are still on sale for Opeth's two shows at Terminal 5. We have a pair to giveaway too. Want them? Email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Opeth). Include your first and last name. One winner will be picked at random and contacted.

More dates have been added to the Cavalera Conspiracy tour.... check for the full tour dates below. Missed the presale? Don't worry, tickets are back on sale as of Friday morning @ 10am.

Speaking of the Cavaleras, check out the cover for the new Soulfly record Conquer here, as well as the tracklisting below. Conquer will feature guest appearances by David Vincent (Morbid Angel) and Dave Peters (Throwdown).

Speaking of two nights at the venue formerly known as Irving Plaza, tickets are still on sale for the first of two At the Gates reunion shows. The second night is sold out.

much, much more...............

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (05/09/08)"