by BBG

Rosetta at Gramercy Theater (more by Di Lynn Ring)

Rosetta will team with Kings Destroy, Hollow Leg and Clamfight for a one-off date at Saint Vitus on March 14th. Tickets are on sale.

The Brooklyn show is one of a few select dates coming up for Rosetta, including an interesting show with Batillus, Restorations, and Sunburster in Philadelphia on 2/10 as part of a celebration of the art of Bruno Guerriero

Decibel Magazine presents the art of Decibel's head designer and chief illustrator Bruno Guerreiro with a special Kung Fu Necktie art show and musical showcase February 10th at 8pm....

Showing:
- Collection of original metal and rock show posters
- Original illustrations featured in Decibel
- Other original Bruno Guerreiro works

In other news, King Destroy will welcome their new LP And The Rest will Surely Perish via The Maple Forum this year. In the meantime, if you can't make Saint Vitus, then head to Chaos in Tejas (which is officially on sale) to catch them, and check out their new video for "The Toe" below.

Continue reading "Rosetta playing an art show; Hull/Batillus add an NYC date; Kings Destroy prep new LP"

by BBG

Kevin Baker of All Pigs Must Die @ Power of The Riff (more by Taylor Keahey)

Here is our third and final installment in a series where we asked our favorite artists about their highlights of 2011. This batach includes contributions from members of All Pigs Must Die, Altar of Plagues, Hull, "Grim" Kim Kelly, J.Bennett, Chris Bruni (Profound Lore) and many others. Part 1 is HERE. Part 2 is HERE. Part 3 is below...

Continue reading "The Year in Heavy 2011 according to artists & friends (part 3)"

photos by Greg Cristman

While Coke Bust/Masakari/Sick Fix/Grudges was tearing down Acheron on 11/19, a much larger show was brewing at Terminal 5 featuring Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan and Red Fang as part of the trio's tour together. Mastodon's set covered their entire recorded output, including newer tracks like "Curl of The Burl" all the way to earlier favorites like "March of The Fire Ants" and, according to the set-list, "Iron Tush" (aka "Iron Tusk").

The sold-out show also featured an appearance from original DEP vocalist Dimitri Minkanakis (now a member of Argonauts) who joined the band on stage for performances of "Sunshine The Werewolf" and the classic "43% Burnt". Video of that is below.

While Argonauts have no upcoming dates, Brett of Argonauts will play Public Assembly on 12/14 with his other project East of The Wall. They'll be joined by Tournament (who play an Acheron benefit tonight with Hull/Naam), Family, and Fashion Week. The band is finishing up their US tour post-the release of their latest LP The Apologist.

Pictures, video and the Mastodon setlist from Terminal 5 is below...

Continue reading "Mastodon, Dillinger Escape Plan & Red Fang played Terminal 5 (pics, video & setlist) ------- East of The Wall playing Brooklyn"

by BBG

Hull at Red 7 (more by BBG)

Hull is scheduled to join Eyehategod and Doomriders at Europa on 12/4 (tickets), but they'll also play another show a bit sooner. Hull will join Naam, Tournament, and Sannhet for an Acheron benefit show on 11/22 as part of Hull's return back to Brooklyn post-touring with The Fucking Wrath. The show kicks off at 6:30PM with a BBQ (FREE with entry to the show) and the whole thing will only set you back $10. Support DIY and all-ages venues, and get out to Acheron on 11/22!

by BBG

I'm on a mission. A mission to see as many bands as I can this weekend as part of Fun Fun Fun Fest. The festival hasn't officially kicked off quite yet but will do so in a few hours, so last night (11/3) meant a gang of pre-parties as part of Fun Fun Fun Nites. Those included sets from bands like Ty Segall, Underground Railroad to Candyland, The Coathangers, Ramesh (ex-Voxtrot), and the show that I attended, Toxic Holocaust with Hull, The Fucking Wrath, and Pushmen at Red 7 (as part of the larger Hull/TFW tour).

I missed Pushmen (mems Made Out of Babies, Heartless Bastards, Ratking) and have obviously seen my share of Toxic Holocaust and Hull shows so I won't delve too deeply into my thoughts on either (both were great, and the crowd was especially nutty for the former), but The Fucking Wrath were pretty damn amazing. If Matt Pike forgoed his jaw-dropping finesse and concentrated only on his own punk/Motorhead roots, HoF would sound alot like TFW. Live, TFW definitely up the ante thrown in for their recent Valley Of The Serpent's Soul. More pictures from last night at Red 7 are below.

If you're in Austin, come check us out at Red 7 TONIGHT (11/4) for Doomriders, From Ashes Rise, Touche Amore, Phobia, and much much more as part of the Fun Fun Fun Nites series.

Flyer and more pics below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest kicks off --- pictures from Toxic Holocaust/Hull/The Fucking Wrath at Red 7 last night"

photos by Markus Shaffer, words by BBG

Hull @ Mercury Lounge

Hull is currently on the road with The Fucking Wrath, and is also scheduled to play a Fun Fun Fun Fest Nite show in Austin with Toxic Holocaust and Pushmen at Red 7 on 11/3.

Hull have also been added to the previously mentioned Doomriders / Eyehategod show on December 4th at Europa with Knight Terror.

Hull recently played Mercury Lounge with Rwake as part of their Record Release celebration, and Union Pool as part of the Tee Pee CMJ Showcase. Time Out reports on CMJ:

By my count, my CMJ 2011 consisted of 13 metal sets. Not every one was great, but what impressed me overall was the willingness many of the bands displayed to cut across the genre's constrictive sub-borders. Locals Raspberry Bulbs and Tombs--whom I caught, respectively, at Saint Vitus on Tuesday and on Rock Off's East River-faring Jewel on Saturday--each drew on black metal; but while the former spiked the style with grimy punk, the latter took a more expansive and emotive path. Likewise, Norway's Kvelertak (who also played the Jewel) juxtaposed dire metalcore breakdowns with primitive, almost Queens of the Stone Age-ish rock & roll. Best of all, though, was Hull, a local quintet that toggled gracefully between doom and thrash stylings. On Friday night at Union Pool, the band's riffs, ground out by a trio of heavy-bearded six-stringers, rolled forth from the stage like massive boulders, and its stage presence oozed conviction; these were players who had clearly pored over everything from Sabbath to Mastodon, synthesizing their research into epic treatises on the nature of heavy. --Hank Shteamer

Continue reading "Hull played CMJ, added to Eyehategod show (here's a second set of pics from Mercury Lounge)"

photos by Greg Cristman, additional Rwake photos & words by BBG

Rwake / Hull (by Greg Cristman)

"Hey man, I'm Gravy," he said as he shook my hand.

The man was guitarist Kris Graves of Rwake. I wondered whether that nickname came from his abilities as a guitarist and where he is from (the comfort-food lovin' South - specifically Little Rock, Arkansas), or if it was simply a play on his last name. I'd like to think the former, judging by the soulful and unique sludge-doom of Rwake at Mercury Lounge last night (10/10).

Rwake were in town to help celebrate the release of Hull's Beyond The Lightless Sky, out today via The End Records. Though performing as a five-piece due to the absence of keyboardist/vocalist Brittany Fugate (aka "B"), Rwake performed favorites like "Crooked Rivers" next to material from the new record Rest, out now via Relapse. The show, which ended past midnight, was the only current East Coast date for Rwake until a scheduled appearance at MDF.

Hull's focus was Beyond The Lightless Sky, performing the LP in its entirety with assists credited to Sarah of Bezoar, Joe Merolla (Death First), and Fade Kainer (Batillus). Their hour-long set featured tribal drums, synth/noise textures, and (quite clearly) a wall of loud rumbling 4x12s.

Primitive Weapons were the first band of the night after a DJ set from yours truly, bringing their sludge-influenced post-hardcore to a 2/3 packed room that filled significantly by the end of their last overdriven note. Pictures of them, Hull, and Rwake await below...

Continue reading "Rwake, Hull & Primitive Weapons played Merc (pics)"

by BBG

Rwake

BrooklynVegan is proud to announce that fresh off of the release of Rest, Little Rock sludge-doom titans Rwake have been added to our show at Mercury Lounge on 10/10, as part of Hull's previously discussed record release party! The show is a rare one-off for Rwake and a prelude to the band's upcoming appearance at MDF. Tickets for the Mercury Lounge show as well as MDF tickets, are on sale.

As mentioned, the suprise Rwake visit is part of a celebration of Hull's Beyond The Lightless Sky, the band's new LP due on The End on 10/11. Shortly after the release of the LP, HULL will hit the road for a string of US dates with The Fucking Wrath that will bring them into late November. Full tour schedule is below, along with a full album stream of Rwake's Rest.

Continue reading "Rwake coming to town to play w/ Hull before MDF, Hull touring w/ The Fucking Wrath (dates)"

photos by Devan Council, additional Iron Tides photos by Jonathan McPhail, words by BBG

ELKS @ Union Pool

While 40 Watt Sun was playing slower somber pieces at Public Assembly on Friday, Elks were headlining Union Pool with Heliotropes and Iron Tides as part of their record release for the Destined for the Sun EP. Pictures from the show are in this post.

Elks have a few tour dates in the coming weeks including a Pop Montreal showcase on 9/22 with Quest For Fire, NAAM, and Burning Love, and the Tee Pee CMJ showcase on 10/21 at Union Pool (which had Hull, who have since dropped off to be replaced with "TBA"). Hull WILL, however, play NYC at Mercury Lounge on 10/10 as part of their own Beyond the Lightless Sky release party presented by BrooklynVegan. Tickets are on sale.

All ELKS tour dates and more pictures below...

Continue reading "ELKS, Heliotropes & Iron Tides @ Union Pool (pics)"

by BBG

Hull at Union Pool on 9/10 (photo by Samantha Marble)

Hull played the final outdoor show of the summer at Union Pool on Saturday (9/10), a free affair with the new look Wizardry, Dead Sands and DJ Misery Creep. The band will lay low for exactly one month, hitting Mercury Lounge on 10/10 for their record release celebration for Beyond The Lightless Sky. More bands will be announced for this show ASAP, but for now, pick up your tickets when they go on sale at noon on Friday 9/16. The show is a BrooklynVegan presentation.

Meanwhile, the band recently wrapped up production on the video for the title track on the new LP. Check out a behind the scenes courtesy of MetalInjection below.

Continue reading "Hull played Union Pool, playing LP release show @ Mercury"

by BBG

Elks at Le Poisson Rouge (more by Greg Cristman)

The knowledge that they have signed to Tee Pee, recent shows with Pentagram, and some of the band member's decidedly 70s look would indicate that Elks is another retro-leaning band hell-bent on reliving the golden-age of guitar rock. But you'd be wrong, Elks mixes the big bang of early Mastodon-ian riffs with Iron Maiden's melodic gallop and a host of others on their new EP Destined for the Sun due via the label on 9/13. Stream "White Fang Learns to Hate" and "Two Moons of Mars" below. The latter makes its first appearance here. Learn more about the first track in a recent interview with Revolver Magazine.

Elks will play Union Pool on September 16th as part of their Record Release party for the new EP. The band will also play the upcoming Tee Pee CMJ showcase at Union Pool on 10/21 with Hull and The Fucking Wrath. Full tour schedule is below.

In other news, Hull has released a new track from their forthcoming Beyond The Lightless Sky. And Hull will play a FREE show at Union Pool on 9/10 as part of the venue's Summer Thunder series, teaming the Brooklyn five piece with Wizardry. Stream that alongside the new Elks tracks and all tour dates below...

Continue reading "Elks releasing EP (song premiere), playing Tee Pee CMJ show w/ Hull (who play a free show even sooner)"

by BBG

Hull @ Saint Vitus

Despite a climbing mercury outside, Hull headlined an icy Saint Vitus with A Generation of Vipers and Marching Teeth on Friday night (7/22). The show was a one-off for Hull, who are preparing to release their new and Billy-Anderson-mixed LP for The End Records in October. Details are forthcoming.

A Generation of Vipers (members US Christmas) recently released the new Kurt Ballou produced LP Howl and Filth and played entirely new material at the venue that night. Stream the new track "Slow Burn" below.

A Generation of Vipers' van broke down moments before the show, so the band spent an unexpected weekend in NYC, but their van is currently being worked on.

Marching Teeth were an excellent way to start the show with a booming set influenced by mid-period Melvins.

More pictures from Saint Vitus, and the stream of "Slow Burn" below.

Continue reading "Hull, A Generation of Vipers & Marching Teeth played Saint Vitus (pics)"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Batillus @ Le Poisson Rouge

It's a a triple threat of events at Saint Vitus this weekend. Things kicks off Friday (7/22) with Hull/A Generation of Vipers/Marching Teeth, continue with Batillus/Mutilation Rites/Phantom Glue on Saturday and end with Dreams Were Made for Mortals, a collective art show on Sunday (7/24).

The art show features the work of Karlynn Holland (responsible for art that has appeared on LPs by Krallice, Dysrhythmia, many others) among many others. Karlyn describes it like this:

"My dreams, frequently, are broadcast across neural pathways in vibrant color. They are so vivid, the dreams feel more real than my waking life. It haunts me. Life feels like the dream, a series of passing moments. As I rise from paralysis, they evaporate from memory. How could something so real fade so quickly? I often find myself asking this question. Exploring the dawn hours of your fervent mind, please choose or create work that exposes our perishable nature and echoes human frailness so often deified by gods of rock and roll."

Batillus is currently on tour with Mutilation Rites and will return back to NYC on Saturday. Their last show was at LPR with Yob & Dark Castle. The NY Times was there:

[Mike Scheidt of YOB] did several things at once, singing in grunts and high precise wails, working bits of melody and middle-register guitar cries into the music without breaking the flow of the chord riffs. But there was also a feeling of conscious restraint: he didn't actually solo, in the usual sense, until nearly the end of the show. His chord repetitions were composed, micro-arranged, and they pulled you down, down, down; Mr. Scheidt uses a baritone-guitar tuning on a standard guitar, a perfect fifth lower than usual. You feel this music a lot; it's body-centered, in its rhythm and its mass. -[New York Times]

Continue reading "more pics from Yob @ LPR, 3 reasons to head to Saint Vitus this weekend (Hull & Batillus included)"

by BBG

Hull at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Markus Shaffer)

Brooklyn band Hull will join Generation of Vipers and Marching Teeth at Greenpoint venue Saint Vitus on July 22nd, a one-off show for Hull and part of a string of dates for Generation of Vipers (which are still TBA).

Hull is currently hard at work on the follow-up to their Sole Lord LP featuring the great Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis, Buzzoven, Eyehategod) on the console. No word on completion/release date, but we'll keep you posted. Expect new songs at Saint Vitus.

Generation of Vipers features members of US Christmas, though the former definitely move in different directions than the latter. Check out the freshly released title track from Howl & Filth (produced by Kurt Ballou!) streaming below, and check out their other LPs at their bandcamp. Look for the new LP soon.

Song stream and some video below.

Continue reading "Hull playing a show w/ Generation of Vipers (both bands working on new albums)"

photos by Markus Shaffer & Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Kat (ex-Salome) joins Batillus on stage

With the upstairs packed to the gills (and a few of hardcore stragglers making their way downstairs), The Studio at Webster Hall had a party of their own on 3/26 with the convergence of the homecoming show of the Hull/Batillus tour (which previously hit SXSW) and the NYC debut of Horseback with NC breathren Caltrop. As usual, Hull & Batillus's pyrotechnics were impressive, with Batillus getting the extra-nod for inviting the awesome and now band-less Kat (ex-Salome) to guest on stage (awesome stuff). If you haven't seen either band, you are missing out on some of the finest metal bands that NYC has to offer.

Horseback was a revelation though... though their set only consisted of only three tracks - "Invokation", "The Invisible Mountain", and a cover of The Stooges' "TV Eye"- the songs traddled the lines between western, post-rock, stoner, and black metal. Caltrop, who shares members with Horseback, brought a technical, yet southern swing with touches of big riffs. Caltrop opened the show, but probably should be playing to much bigger crowds; these dudes smoke.

More pictures and video from the show, below...

Continue reading "Hull, Batillus (w/ Kat!), Horseback & Caltrop played the Studio (pics & video)"

photos by Samantha Marble & Jonathan McPhail, words by BBG

Yob @ Emo's

After a monster show at Emo's featuring Kylesa, Trash Talk, and many esteemed others, the second of four BV-BBG Austin shows took place in the same venue on the next day (3/17) as part of Full Metal Texas. The BrooklynVegan/1000Knives (Emo's Inside) stage featured a rare appearance from YOB (their first in five+ years), and appearances from current hardcore greats Trap Them, alongside faves Hull, Kvelertak, The Funeral Pyre, All Pigs Must Die, and Goes Cube.

Meanwhile, the main stage at Full Metal Texas featured an appearance from Massachusetts faves The Red Chord, with last minute addition Motionless in White, Upon A Burning Body, Letlive, Elysion Fields, Better Left Unsaid, and the contest winner from Roadrunner Records SignMeTo, (congrats guys!) Head Crusher.

Killer and packed show from start to finish.

Despite having the least enviable of time slots, Goes Cube gave it their all and by the time they were half way through their set were playing to a 2/3s full room. The focus of their early day set was In Tides and Drifts, the band's new/forthcoming LP due on The End. Excellent set from this trio as usual, who also killed it at The Studio at Webster Hall at the start of their tour.

New Southern Lord signees/crusty d-beat supergroup All Pigs Must Die was a freight train of down-tuned riffs. The band conjured thoughts of Feral Ward bands while destroying the now mostly full room. Kevin of HopeCon's vocals are delivered with a furious energy that matches the intensity of APMD's killer riffage, and Ben Koller (Converge) behind the kit takes this already awesome band from impressive to explosive.

And speaking of combustibles, holy shit..... Kvelertak! The Norwegian triple-guitar attack is just plain jaw-dropping live, matching their party riffs/atmosphere with maniacal intensity. Tons of swinging guitars, and gang-style choruses to get the crowd pumped. And pumped they were, I heard quite a few singalongs, despite the language barrier (the band sings in Norwegian!).

Due to a family emergency, Rwake was forced to drop out a day before the show, but we quickly replaced them with The Funeral Pyre. It's hard to follow Kvelertak, but the LA black-metal band (sporting Early Graves guitarist Chris Brock) brought the party-vibe down and the bum-out to 11 with their blasting power. Catch them on tour now with The Secret (they play Union Pool on 3/27).

Triple guitar doomers Hull followed with a set that spoke to the old fans ("Viking Funeral") but leaned on newer material as well. The band's doomy thunder sounded amazing on the Emo's system and in speaking with members of the Emo's staff later in the week, I was told that Hull was their "favorite new discovery". Hull ruled, as usual. Catch them in NYC with Batillus, Horseback, and Caltrop on 3/26 at The Studio at Webster Hall (tickets).

After a bit of a lull, Trap Them's van rolled up just as their set time was supposed to start. After getting their gear on stage, the band played close to a full set opening with "Dead Digs with Digital Collars" (viewable below) and hitting points from the new LP Darker Handcraft like their lead single "The Facts". Killer set. My only regret is that I didn't get to see them twice.

And finally, the main event, YOB headlining the indoor stage while The Red Chord headlined the out. Kicking off with a new song (!), the mostly rhythmic, mostly open string track was short by YOB standards (7ish minutes?) but decimated the crowd on the fantastic Emo's system. By the time the band were a minute into their second track, "Burning The Altar", I knew that this was easily one of my highlights at SXSW. So. Fucking. Amazing.

I'd like to thank everyone at Full Metal Texas, Yeah Management, 1000 Knives, Branch Marketing Collective, Fireball Whisky, SignMeTo, Wacken Open Air, Bands On A Budget, Harpoon Brewery, March Is Metal Month, Evil Bong 3D, Sin Cal Industries, Metal Injection, Metal Insider, MetalSucks, Record Store Day and Put In Mouth. But most importantly, I'd like to thank the incredible bands, and everyone who took time out on a Thursday afternoon to RAGE at Emo's.

More pictures from the BV/1000K Stage at Full Metal Texas below...

Continue reading "Full Metal Texas 2011 (BV stage pics - Yob, Trap Them, Hull, Kvelertak, The Funeral Pyre, All Pigs Must Die, Goes Cube)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Batillus - "Uncreator" (MP3)

Batillus at Cake Shop (more by Justin Tyler)

Not to get all annoyingly misty-eyed, but I remember the first time I heard the Batillus EP (download it for free). I've waded through my share of demos and from the opening note it was easy to see that there was a spark in the NYC band. Not long after, the then-trio added NY musician Fade Kainer and completed the quartet. Every moment since has served them well; Batillus is now one of the tightest and most impressive heavy bands in NYC.

Furnace is Batillus's new LP for the venerable Seventh Rule and it shows the relatively young band in growth mode, experimenting more with ambient darkness and black metal yet remembering the importance of a great doom riff. Their time with engineer Sanford Parker at the controls has done them well; individual instrumentation is discernible yet guitar/bass tones sync to bang like a thunderclap. This is one fantastic record, and we have the first look at "Uncreator" from the LP (download it above/stream below) along with another track, "...And The World Is As Night To Them", streaming below.

Batillus are hitting the road with another impressive NYC riff juggernaut, Hull (who was recently featured on Vol.2 of NYC Sucks, Batillus is on Vol.1). Make sure to get out and catch them both, whether on the road, at SXSW (Full Metal Texas, BV/Profound Lore day party, or around town) or at The Studio at Webster Hall on 3/26 with Horseback & Caltrop.

In related news, the vinyl for Hull's awesome Viking Funeral is on the way and looking pretty impressive.

All tour dates and those song streams are below...

Continue reading "Batillus releasing 'Furnace' (MP3 premiere), touring (dates)"

by BBG

Austin, get ready for some of this (more by Samantha Marble)

Full Metal Texas is entering its third year as one of the biggest metal events at SXSW. I had a great time catching faves like Kylesa & Skeletonwitch at Emo's Annex in 2009, and in 2010 they featured names like Dillinger Escape Plan, Howl, (the calling-it-quits?) Iron Age, Darkest Hour and others.

Now it is with great pleasure that I announce my involvement in Full Metal Texas 2011 alongside Yeah! Management, Branch Marketing Collective and 1000Knives! Much like last year, the free event will take place during the day on Thursday (3/17 from 12 - 6PM) in Austin across two stages at Emo's. But here's where it differs.... featuring 15 bands in total, roughly half of the bands will appear on the "BrooklynVegan Stage" which will include performances from:

Trap Them
Rwake
Hull
All Pigs Must Die
And more to be announced.

Better Left Unsaid
Drive A
Elysion Fields
(more TBA)

Some more details on the show are below and the full lineup is forthcoming! Also note that this one is one of FOUR BV-BBG related metal shows slated to happen in Austin during SXSW this year... so make sure and look out for more announcements soon

Continue reading "Full Metal Texas returns in 2011, now w/ BrooklynVegan stage"

by BBG

Hull at Europa (more by Keith Marlowe)

BrooklynVegan and 1000 Knives are proud to present Hull their SXSW-bound tourmates Batillus (all dates TBA), and Caltrop and one more very special guest TBA on March 26th at The Studio at Webster Hall at 7PM. Tickets are on sale.

Hull are working on a new full length, and was last seen in NYC at Europa supporting doom greats Pentagram. The band will release their epic Viking Funeral EP on vinyl via Science of Silence records this spring.

Caltrop are currently finishing up the recording of their second full-length with the help of Nick Peterson (Megafaun, Horseback). The band is scheduled to play the Bull City Metal Fest in Durham, NC on 2/4 & 2/5 alongside bands like U.S. Christmas, Royal Thunder, Sons of Tonatiuh, Colossus, Music Hates You, and many others. Tickets are on sale.

Batillus signed onto Seventh Rule for the release of their new LP, due out this year. We last saw the doom quartet in 2010 when they teamed up with Cough, Naam, and Sea of Bones at The Charleston. Batillus was recently contributed to the NYC Sucks compilation by MetalSucks which features new songs from faves like Tiger Flowers and previously released material from Made Out of Babies, Castevet, Naam and others.

A couple reminders while we're on the subject: Radiation Black Body (featuring Josh of Castevet), Vaz (2/3 of Hammerhead), Xaddax (Nick Sakes from Dazzling Killmen) and Fall of Another Day will play Bruar Falls TONIGHT (1/26) while Josh's other two projects (Castevet & Defeatist) will play Acheron on Friday (1/28) with Phantom Glue. Naam plays a FREE show on Thursday (1/27) at Union Pool with Liturgy, Your Youth and ARMS (the first show recommended in both an Evillive post and This Week In Indie).

Another reminder: Kylesa, Rosetta, Fight Amp, and East Of The Wall play Santos TONIGHT (1/26) and tickets are stil available. The show kicks off a shade after 7PM.

Some videos of the bands in action are below.

Continue reading "Hull, Batillus, Caltrop, Vaz & others are playing shows & stuff (Kylesa is playing Santos TONIGHT) "

photos by Keith Marlowe, words by BBG

It was the metal equivalent of the first day back at school on January 6th when Europa hosted the first killer show of the year featuring doom gods/recent Metal Blade signees Pentagram, the great-and-currently-working-on-a-new-record Hull, all-female Judas Priest cover band Judas Priestess (get it?) and Bezoar. Bursting at the seams, Europa was packed-solid with doom fanatics who were unashamed to start the pit by the time that Judas Priestess set it off. Killer show from all bands.

More pictures from Europa, including one of Pentagram's setlist, are below.

Continue reading "Pentagram played Europa w/ Hill, Bezoar & Judas Priestess (pics & setlist)"

by BBG

Pentagram at Webster Hall (by Keith Marlowe)

Pentagram is back in action and will play Europa in NYC tonight (1/6). It's one of a pair of dates scheduled for the legendary doom band who also play Club Hell in Providence, RI on 1/7. Hull, Judas Priestess, and Bezoar are also on the NYC bill, and Pentagram (Bobby Liebling, Victor Griffin, Greg Turley, and Tim Tomaselli) will play both their classic material, as well as new stuff from their forthcoming LP due via Metal Blade this year. Tickets are still available, and I have FOUR pairs available for giveaway! Details are at the bottom of this post.

In other news, Hull is playing the Europa show, but are otherwise taking some time off from shows to concentrate on new material. They report that "their sophomore full-length will be co-produced by Brett Romnes (who played drums on the band's Viking Funeral EP, initially self-released in 2007) and mixed by Bill Anderson (Sleep, High On Fire, Neurosis, EHG, Melvins et al). A July 2011 street date is expected. The band plans to start tracking as soon as they return from a two week stint to SXSW with Batillus from March 11th - 27th." Expect some new songs tonight, much like the band played at Public Assembly when they supported Kylesa.

Video of one of those new songs, along with other video and the contest details, below...

Continue reading "Pentagram is here (win tickets) "

by BBG

Pentagram at BB King's (more by Nathaniel Shannon)

"Long-running D.C. doom legends PENTAGRAM, with riff-meister Victor Griffin back in the fold, will record their new album, "Last Rites", between November 29 and December 21 for a late March/early April release via Metal Blade Records. The effort will be a double-disc set consisting of the new studio album and a DVD of the band's performance at this year's Maryland Deathfest, which was held on May 28-30, 2010 at Sonar in Baltimore." [Blabbermouth]

The Gates of Slumber will enter England's Orgone Studios with Jaime Gomez Arellano (Ghost, Angel Witch) to work on their follow-up to Hymns of Blood and Thunder. Look for that LP this spring via Rise Above Records, and look for Gates at Roadburn 2011 along with all of the other jaw-dropping artists who are playing.

All Gates of Slumber dates, and some videos, below...

Continue reading "Pentagram sign to Metal Blade, schedule a show"

photos by Markus Shaffer, words by BBG

Kylesa played Public Assembly on Monday, 10/25, with Hull, a one-off surprise show for the band during their current trek with High On Fire and Torche (Webster Hall pictures here, Torche pictures here).

Unofficially, the show marked the band's coronation of Spiral Shadow, their new LP out NOW on Season of Mist. Quite a few tracks from that LP were represented at the shindig, including my personal fave the crunch-y Built-To-Spill-esque "Don't Look Back". The band opened with the old fave "Hollow Severer" and closed with the Static Tensions burner "Scapegoat" complete with Philip Cope and Corey Barhorst on tribal drumming duties.

A big thank you go to all who attended and to the incredible Hull who came out of a live-show-slumber (they are currently writing their follow-up to Sole Lord) to debut some new material in their opening set.

More pictures, including shots of the very sweet merch, and some video courtesy of ((unartig)) and Chris La Putt (from both NYC shows), below...

Continue reading "Kylesa & Hull @ Public Assembly (pics & video) "

by BBG

Hull at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Markus Shaffer)

Now that they're finished beating down The Studio at Webster Hall with their 100db riffs, Hull will headline Ace of Clubs TONIGHT (7/20) as the band teams up with Iron Tongue (featuring CT and Reid of Rwake), The Dirty Streets and Flaming Tusk. Doors are at 7PM and $8 gets you in.

The Charleston will also host a deathgrind extravaganza tonight with the great Flourishing supporting Japan's Infernal Revulsion with Andromorphus Rexalia and Shiro-Ishii providing support. $8 gets you in that show as well.

Ace of Clubs will go two nights in a row with the brutality as well, as the venue will host another metal show Wednesday (7/21). As previously discussed, the great Apostle of Solitude will bring the doom to the venue alongside headliner Beauty Apes, Kings Destroy, Archon, and Alkahest. $8 gets you into the rage.

And last, but certainly not least, a reminder that the great Earthride and Valkyrie will play Ace of Clubs on August 7th as part of a larger tour for the duo. The Resurrection Sorrow will support.

Tour dates and some video is below...

Continue reading "Hull, Apostle of Solitude, Earthride, Iron Tongue, other shows "

words by BBG, photos by Markus Shaffer

"Watching Zoroaster. Their singer has terrible posture. #srsly -ReignInBlonde

"God damn last night was EPIC!! Dark Castle killed it!!" -s11bryant11d

"At Hull and Black Tusk at Webster. You should be too. Heavy as fuck" -goes cube

Black Tusk, the grimmest of the grim

Black Tusk, Zoroaster, Dark Castle, and Hull formed a fantastic quadruple bill at The Studio at Webster Hall on July 9th as part of a larger tour for the BV-sponsored trio of Zoro/BT/DC. Earth-shaking riffs abounded, fog-machines and lighting where on blast. Hull was the best I have ever seen them. We heard a new black metal influenced Dark Castle song. Chloe Puke (Atakke) guested vocals with Zoroaster. Zoroaster played mostly material from their upcoming Matador (it rules). Stevie Floyd (Dark Castle) guested vocals with Zoroaster. And Black Tusk could not contain the good times. I'd have to say it was a good night.

Tons of ragin' pics and some video from the show is below...

Continue reading "Black Tusk, Zoroaster, Dark Castle & Hull played The Studio (pics & video) "