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) "

by BBG

Sourvein at BV-BBG 2009 (more by Jason Walker)

North Carolina's Sourvein will team up with Hull to take on The Acheron on August 27th. The all-ages jam will run you $10 and the festivities will kick off at 8PM. The show is one of a pair of shows lined up in the coming months for Hull; the band will also play THIS FRIDAY with Black Tusk, Zoroaster, and Dark Castle at The Studio at Webster Hall (tickets).

Florida's Khann will team up with Mockingbird, Before The Eyewall, and Divider for an all ages show at Acheron on August 24th. $10 gets you in the door. Khann are prepping their new LP, Erode, due on Black Market Activities later this year. The band recorded the LP with Chris Owens (Lords) during a recent East Coast tour that saw them appear at Lit Lounge with Tiger Flowers.

Canadian folk-black metal combo Woods of Ypres will hit the road for a short tour next week, tagging NYC on July at Bowery Electric with Vektor, Martyrd, and Fin'Amor. For the unaware, Woods of Ypres features the Madden brothers (bass, drums) of Woe amongst their ranks, and recently completed a tour diary for Decibel magazine.

Speaking of Bowery Electric, I have a pair of tickets available for giveaway for tonight's (7/6) Nominon / Evoken show. Details on how to win, as well as a gang of tour dates and some video, are at the bottom of this post...

Continue reading "Sourvein, Hull, Khann, Woods of Ypres, Nominon, Evoken & other upcoming metal shows"

by BBG

Zoroaster at Hoeks Death Metal Pizza (more by Diana Zadlo)

Though we aren't that far-removed from their monolithic 2009 release Voice of Saturn,
Zoroaster is on the prowl with a new LP, a new label, and a (slightly) new direction with Matador, the band's debut for E1 Music (current home to High on Fire). The release date of Matador falls on July 13th, falling two days after the band completes its latest batch of touring with the fantastic Black Tusk (who's new album Taste The Sin is out NOW on Relapse) and the equally rifftastic monsters in Dark Castle. That tour impacts The Studio at Webster Hall on July 9th (with new addition Hull - tickets are still available). While you wait for these badass Southerners (as in from south of heaven) to hit your town, the band has let loose a new track for us to gnaw on. Stream "Black Hole" below.

Some videos and full tour dates, also below...

Continue reading "new Zoroaster track & updated tour dates (Hull added to NYC)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Black Pyramid - "Visions of Gehenna" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hull - "Architect" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Resurrection Sorrow - "Soul Of The Soulless" (MP3)

Hull at Blender (more by Samantha Marble)

Feb 13th. One day before Valentine's day. I guess it makes sense that Ace of Clubs chose that day instead of the next to host a five band rage-a-thon featuring Hull, Black Pyramid, The Resurrection Sorrow, Archon, and Maegashira. The show is Black Pyramid's lone NYC date so far, but they have scheduled a few east coast dates in May in support of their self-titled LP for MetoerCity (more on that LP). Their full dates are below.

The Resurrection Sorrow released their debut album, Hour Of The Wolf late last year. Dig on "Soul of The Soulless" above. The band, which features ex-members of Murphy's Law, Tides Within, After Dark, and others is also scheduled to play Precious Metal on March 15th at Lit Lounge with their 2/13 Ace of Clubs breathren Maegashira & Archon.

Hull aren't scheduled to take on any additional NYC dates so far, but they are on board to scoot on down to Austin for SXSW. Their current tour itinerary is below with a flyer and some videos...

Continue reading "Hull adds show with Black Pyramid (2010 dates), The Resurrection Sorrow drop new LP (MP3)"

by BBG

Goes Cube at BV-BBG CMJ (more by Paul Birman)

Hull and Goes Cube will team up with Eyes of The Sun for a show in Brooklyn TONIGHT (1/8) at The Production Lounge in Greenpoint. Its one of of two shows on the calendar for Hull, as the band is scheduled to impact Ace of Clubs with Black Pyramid (originally profiled here), The Resurrection Sorrow, Archon, and Maegashira.

Goes Cube has another TWO shows on their calendar, as the band is scheduled to go acoustic (!) at Piano's with Nick Oliveri on 1/23 as well as team up with Rosetta, East of The Wall (formerly Biclops) and Restorations at The Charleston on 2/19. Rosetta will also be at Union Pool with Tombs, Battlefields, City of Ships on 1/22 as part of a BV sponsored show.

Full Goes Cube & Hull tour dates and tonight's flyer are below.

Continue reading "upcoming Hull, Goes Cube & Rosetta shows (NYC tonight)"

words by BBG, photos by Sam Marble

Hull, kickin ass

Hull played Gramercy Theater in NYC on 11/13, opening for their Japanese labelmates Dir En Grey (who played three nights in a row at the venue) (Goes Cube also opened one night). Playing the big stage must have been a high point for the Brooklyn band, especially after they were robbed at gunpoint in September:

Cincinnati. Robbed at gunpoint. Wallets stolen. Luckily no one got hurt. Week left of tour. If anyone could help us out and donate a little money via paypal to hullsounds@gmail.com, it would help us get home. Thank you kindly [Hull]

Continue reading "Hull robbed at gunpoint in Cincinnati in September, opened for Dir En Grey at Gramercy in November (pics)"

by BBG

Goes Cube (Kenny, David, Matt)

Goes Cube, are, to quote El-P circa Company Flow, "independent as fuck". Self-funded, self-booked, and self-taught, Goes Cube released their first LP, Another Day Has Passed via The End earlier this year after a string of three self-released EPs. Much like the rave reviews suggest, Goes Cube have delivered an excellent record that touches on post-hardcore and metal all while holding true to melody.

On the heels on that killer LP, we invited Goes Cube to play the Brooklyn Vegan Day Party at Fontana's on 10/23, and decided to throw a couple questions their way. The results...

====

Goes Cube is an NYC band, so I'm sure you have seen your share of great performances during CMJ. Any favorite CMJ memories?

David Obuchowski: The first year we were formally part of CMJ was 2006. That year, I set up a number of day parties, one of which was Goes Cube, Foreign Islands, Read Yellow, and Jake Brennan. Shout Out Out Out was supposed to play but they literally couldn't fit their gear down in the venue (Julep). Fun show, and it was a great opportunity for us to play with much bigger bands. The lesson learned is that bands of all sizes want to play a lot of shows during CMJ and SXSW. Book it yourself. Things are way different from when we were teenagers, but that aspect has never changed.

Kenny Appell: Hull in '07

continued below...

Continue reading "an interview with Goes Cube"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Doomriders - "Lions" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Portal - "Omenknow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Javelina - "Step Child" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Karma To Burn - Live at Lit Lounge 4/20/09 (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 20 Buck Spin Label Sampler (Mediafire, Zipped MP3 via)
DOWNLOAD: Kowloon Walled City - Gambling On The Richter Scale (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Converge - "Axe To Fall" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Power Pellut - "Black Molly" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Skies - "Smoke and Mirrors" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Yoga - "Seventh Wind" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sleep - Live at ATP 5/9/09 (MP3)

Javelina @ the Northside BV-BBG Showcase (more by Jason Walker)

Alright! I get it. Doomriders rules. Revocation is up there. There's a new Converge and Baroness on the way. But even with all of those great releases, it suprises me that Javelina isn't near some of the top of those lists. The band's filthy debut was a monster and their new one, Beasts Among Sheep, only adds to their considerable reputation. If you are a fan of the last LP, this one is a must have. Dig on "Stepchild" above and preorder the limited edition LP version of Javelina's Beasts Among Sheep via Brutal Panda Records and the CD version via Translation Loss.

Speaking of that Doomriders album, Darkness Come Alive is out NOW via Deathwish Records. Though the party vibe that permeated through Black Thunder is mostly gone, it has been replaced by a propulsive punk rock fury and, at times, a Misfits-era Danzig croon (see "Come Alive")! There are quite a few killer moments on this long-player, but we present to you the most "fuck you" of them all, the galloping "Lions" downloadable above!

In our last round up, we shined a light on into the deepest fathoms of Australia and the truly frightening Portal. The band's claustrophobic and positively frightening new death metal LP, Swarth, relies as much on freak-out atmosphere as it does killer discordant riffery. Swarth is due out on 10/20 via Profound Lore and we have a second taste in the form of "Omenknow" above.
Misery Index have completed four new songs and are looking to enter the studio in early 2010 to record their follow up to Traitors! Stoked.

Iron Age @ Cake Shop (more by Jason Walker)

I still remember that kick ass Cake Shop show with Iron Age, Mind Eraser, and Sex Vid, and walking out of that show wanting more. Thankfully, I can add to those great memories with a PAIR of Iron Age shows in the coming weeks! First up, the rowdy Texans will team up with the great Mother of Mercy (profiled here) for a show at Cake Shop (10/16). The next day (10/17), look for the band to pull a double header with a day show at Generation Records and a night show at The Charleston with Brain Killer, Naam & Descender. Speaking of Mind Eraser, the band will team up with the kick ass Iron Lung for a string of east coast dates which will include Cake Shop on 11/8! Full Iron Age and Iron Lung dates are below.

Black Skies will release the limited edition vinyl from their 2008 EP Hexagon on I'm Better Than Everyone Else Records. The Chapel Hill doom trio is currently on the hunt for drummer #5, but not before blessing us with some seriously killer riffage in the form of "Smoke & Mirrors" above. Preorder Hexagon here.

Power Pellut is also releasing their debut LP via I'm Better than Everyone Else Records. Preorder that here and dig on "Black Betty" from that LP above!

Church of Misery will release a live record culled from their recent set at Roadburn 2009! More details are to come, but look for Burning World to do the honors in November/December of this year. In the meantime, dig on this killer live video from Roadburn 2009!

That video, news on Kowloon Walled City, Boris, Asphyx, Struck By Lightning, Ringworm, Repulsion and more!

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/30/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Batillus - "The Division" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "The Song of Illuminate Darkness" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Salome - "With Hell For A Mouth" (MP3)

Batillus

Batillus have scheduled one final NYC show before the quartet hit the road to play a string of dates with the mighty Salome and locals Hull as part of the "Beard Destroyer Tour". That show takes place this weekend, 9/5 at Lucky 13 Saloon in Park Slope. The band was originally scheduled to play The Charleston with Overmars & Battlefields TONIGHT (9/3), but that show has since been cancelled (pics from Europa are here).

If you manage to catch the band in the coming weeks, make sure and hit up the merch tables for a copy of their limited-to-75 tour-only EP which includes "The Division" available for download above! The Tour EP was mastered by Josh Bonati and produced by Brendan Tobin of Made Out of Babies fame.

Salome who recently premiered a new track at MetalSucks as part of their split Our Enemy Civilization EP with Thou. Download that Thou as well as the Salome track above. Release details on that split EP are forthcoming.

Batillus, Salome, and Hull will also cross paths with the incred-amazing Planet Caravan Festival, which will feature (among countless other notables) Pentagram, Orange Goblin, Clutch, Tombs, The Gates Of Slumber, Kylesa, and YOB. Who wants to go? I have a pair of passes for the weekend as well as a custom screened poster (below) and t-shirt to give away! Details are at the bottom of this post.

Speaking of Brandon Tobin, I recently ran into Mr. Made Out of Babies who told me he is working on new MOOB material! So far the band has written two new songs and have the skeletons for an additional five. Described to him as "happy doomy", the tracks are still in infancy bu he promises that the new LP will signify a change in direction, similar to The Ruiner. In addition, word is that Julie Christmas's solo LP is inching closer toward completion, as all for Babies recently recorded the final track together. Bassist Cooper also plays with the Austin band Ratking.

Tobin moonlights in Red Sparowes (though not a permenant member), and they recently put their entire catalog on Bandcamp.com for free download! (Although it seems that the site is missing both a limited tour EP and their split with Grails)

Dates and more below...

Continue reading "Overmars show cancelled, Batillus playing Lucky 13, Salome & Hull tour dates, win Planet Caravan tix, new MOOB & more"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Asphyx - "Scorbutics" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gods & Queens - "Head To Wall" (Quicksand cover, MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Catalyst - "I Hate The Future" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Planks - S/T (Rapidshare, Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: They Are Cowards - Demo (Mediafire, Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Overmars - "Born Again" (MP3 Snippet)

Asphyx

Thanks all who came out Sunday night to Public Assembly. Full recap and pics coming soon HERE. In the meantime, pics from Friday's Repulsion show are HERE.

Asphyx's Death... The Brutal Way is due out in the US on August 18th, but it's shipping NOW at the Ibex Moon site. It's a sickening death/doom trip that's part down-tuned riff fest, part beastly conjuring, but 100% heavy heavy heavy. Recommended for fans of old school death metal, Entombed, Dismember, Autopsy, and the like. Check out one of the tracks, "Scorbutics", available for download above.

Gods & Queens currently have a new split 7" on the way via Hawthorne Street with the mighty Medusa, and have taken the time to drop off a killer cover of the Quicksand classic, "Head To Wall"! Download that above.

Weedeater have announced that Steve Albini will record their new album, which will be available in Spring 2010.

Swallow Your Teeth is the end of a long road for Richmond's The Catalyst, as the band has dropped multiple releases over their seven year history but THIS is their first LP! The noise-core merchants are currently streaming their Swallow Your Teeth at Scene Point Blank, but you can download the sick opening track, "I Hate The Future", above! The Catalyst have a few shows in the very near future, including The Glass Door on August 14th and a TBA show lined up for Aug 15th in Manhattan. Full tour dates are below. Pick up a copy of Swallow Your Teeth here.

Attention hardcore fans! Lambgoat is reporting that the legendary Disembodied will release Psalms of Sheol on Prime Directive in August, comprised of thirteen tracks of rare and unreleased material that includes the Existence In Suicide MCD and the Confession 7". Disembodied has reunited and sporadically played shows recently.

Baroness has a new album on the way, which we knew, but we now can attach a name to that effort Blue Record! The LP was recorded in Dallas, Texas with producer/engineer John Congleton (Explosions In The Sky, Black Mountain) and will hit the racks in October. Meanwhile, dig on the cover art (to the left) and the tracklisting below!

First of all, The Endless Blockade would like it be known that they "have not broken up". As a matter of fact, they finally released their split with Agoraphobic Nosebleed and have a split with The Bastard Noise out soon (stream the new BN track here). The boys in TEB "just figured another band would give us even less time in our lives to do anything else". That new band? Slaughter Strike.

Candlelight records has signed the mighty midwestern band The Atlas Moth, whose new album A Glorified Piece of Blue Sky will be released on Oct 6th. The band dropped their massive EP, Pray for Tide, on Witch Trial last year.

Planks have reissued their 2008 split with Tombs as the "European edition" featuring artwork by Mike Wohlberg. If you never got a hold of the Black Box Recordings version, it is highly recommended. Pick that up through the either of the bands on tour. Meanwhile, Planks recently made their massive S/T LP (where these two songs came from) available for free download! Pick that up above. Mike Hill of Tombs has posted all of the lyrics from the massive Winter Hours via his blog.

Crucial Blast is set to release Overmars's 2008 LP Born Again. The LP combines electronics, ambient soundscapes, Swans industrial dirge, and the thunder of Neurosis to create a different and powerful take on post-metal. The band is scheduled to hit the US with the mighty Battlefields, logging a pair of dates in NYC: Europa on August 16th and September 3rd at The Charleston. This will destroy.

Mastodon, High On Fire, Converge, and Dethklok announced dates (and a presale).

The premiere of the NEW Goes Cube video for "Saab Sonnet", more news on Black Sun, Absu, Trap Them, Kylesa, Anaal Nathrakh, and Darkthrone as This Week In Metal continues.....

Continue reading "this week in Metal (8/5/09) (includes new Goes Cube video)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Hull - "Architect" (MP3)

I have no idea if Hull read sheet music, but if you were planning on transposing their new LP Sole Lord, there would probably be alot of fortes and fortissimos. I guess that's what happens when you have three guitars churning out an earthshaking doom-riff call & response.

Don't get me wrong, Hull's debut LP, Sole Lord is no one-trick pony. While drawing from the thunder of Isis and early Mastodon, the band also creeps in soaring melodies that border on Torche territory. The self-produced effort featuring art by Josh Graham (who spent this weekend in Roadburn) drops on May 26th via The End Records (who are also putting out the new Lemonheads). One of those tracks, "Architect", is available for free download above!

Hull has a few dates laid out in the coming weeks, including May 4th at NYC's Lit Lounge with Rumplestiltskin Grinder, and a show at The Charleston on May 26th with Flaming Tusk and The Witches Tit. All dates and album art below...

Continue reading "Hull releasing new album - here's an MP3 & some NYC dates"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Iron Age - "The Way Is Narrow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mind Eraser - "Teenagers" (MP3, Meat Puppets cover)
DOWNLOAD: Altar of Plagues - "Gas In Veins/Amesoeurs" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Amesouers - "Earth" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Old Wainds - "Cold Twilight of the Worlds" (MP3)

Hull

Brooklyn's own Hull will release Sole Lord via The End Records on May 26th. Spanning ten tracks over 44 minutes, and boasting art work by Josh Graham, look for the the band to kill it TONIGHT (4/16) at Union Pool when they open for the mighty Withered joined by Book of Black Earth and Hallux.

Withered's OTHER touring partners, Marduk, will enter Endarker studios in early May to record the follow-up to Rom 5:12, or their eleventh studio album. Look for it to drop in September, followed by the Funeral Nation World Tour 2009 and into 2010. Marduk will be at Irving Plaza on May 21 with Withered and Mayhem. Tickets are still available.

It a stroke of awesome luck, KARMA TO f'n BURN will be in NYC next monday (4/20) at Lit Lounge along with the mighty Tiger Flowers. Clear your schedules.

Landmine Marathon who I to NYC tommorrow (4/17) to slay The Charleston, are currently taking a break from writing their new album for Prosthetic. No word on when that record will show its ugly face, but in the mean time, make sure to... get. Your ass. To. The. Charleston!

Ringworm are currently writing their new album, The Ninth Circle, hoping to hit the studio this summer for a fall release on Victory Records. Ringworm dropped The Venomous Grand Design on Victory in 2007.

Saint Vitus LIVE (more by Firebaugh)

Over the past weekend (April 11), Saint Vitus played a single US date in New Orleans, where they were joined on stage by Pepper Keenan (Down, COC), Jimmy Bower (Down, Eyehategod), and Phil Anselmo (Pantera, Down). Luckily there was a camera in attendance, and you can watch the entire show here. Saint Vitus will headline at Roadburn this weekend. Me jealous.

Municipal Waste have announced completion of Massive Aggressive, their new album recorded with Zeuss. Look for it August 24th on Earache. Meanwhile, you can face the Waste at Roseland with Lamb Of God, Children Of Bodom, and As I Lay Dying. Tickets are still available.

Victims have added Raging Speedhorn guitarist Gareth Smith, and will drop a new 7" entitled Lies Lies Lies on Deathwish. Meanwhile, make sure to catch the Swedish crew on tour with Trap Them and Black Breath!

The previously announced Buried Inside date as part of Show No Mercy (5/3), will serve as one date on a four stop New York state tour. Show No Mercy at Public Assembly is scheduled for 5/3 with headliners A Life Once Lost, Rosetta, and repeat offenders Wetnurse.

Week In Metal continued below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (04/16/09)"

words & photos by Black Bubblegum

Ancestors @ Room 710 in Austin - March 19, 2009

My SXSW adventure began Wednesday morning at the airport. Talk about starting things off on the wrong foot! A woman fell into a diabetic coma (she was ok later that morning) on my 6:30AM flight. That led to an unplanned stop in NOLA which was followed by a layover in a fogged up Houston Airport... to say I was a little late to our own day show at Emo's was an understatement. Unfortunately, Trash Talk were wheeling their amps out the door when I got there (which meant I also missed Garotas Suecas and Psychedelic Horseshit), but I managed to catch Trash Talk vocalist Lee cruising around, with a microphone grill imprinted on his forehead. His pain, our pleasure...

Continue reading "Black Bubblegum's SXSW-metal recap - part 1 "

by Black Bubblegum

Primitive North Art By Josh Graham

As originally discussed in July, A Storm of Light and Nadja have announced the release date for their sort-of split LP Primitive North due on the Robotic Empire on March 3rd, 2009. The record will feature two new tracks by A Storm of Light, a new one by Nadja, and remixes of each track by the other party. A Storm of Light's Josh Graham did the cover art for the album. That's it above.

In related news, Graham will provide the art for the new record by Brooklyn's own Hull who announced today that they have inked a deal with The End Records to release their LP Sole Lord. No release date yet. In the meantime, you can check the band out at one of two dates the band has lined up in the next two weeks... 12/12 at Union Pool with Apeshit & Ancient Sky, and 12/19 as part of Unsound with Zozobra (mems Cave-In), The Austerity Program, Heavy Winged, and Cowards. Flyer for Unsound below.

A Storm of Light released And We Wept The Black Ocean Within earlier this year... and we interviewed Josh Graham about it. The band will headline Europa on Feb 15, 2009 with faves Zoroaster, Amenra, and I, Parasite (tickets here). All dates below...

Continue reading "Hull signs with The End, A Storm of Light & Nadja's split LP, tour dates & stuff"