words by BBG, photos by Greg Cristman

Javelina @ Saint Vitus

Javelina, Tiger Flowers, and Psychic Teens hopped on for the Brooklyn date of noise-rock team Whores' East Coast tour at Saint Vitus on Wednesday (1/4). Pictures from the show are in this post.

Whores recently released their new EP on vinyl via Brutal Panda and you can get your copy via the label, as well as copies of Javelina's last LP too.

Tiger Flowers, who also played ABC No Rio on Saturday, play again at Lit Lounge with Enabler and Brickeater on Monday (1/9).

More pictures from Saint Vitus and a few album streams below...

Continue reading "Javelina teamed w/ Whores, Tiger Flowers & Psychic Teens at Saint Vitus (pics)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Whores - "Fake Life" (MP3)

Whores

The new Whores LP is another in a long string of wins for Brutal Panda, who will release the band's sludgy noise-core debut Ruiner on December 20th. Stream two songs by Whores below including the new track "Fake Life" (which makes its debut here) and check out other tracks that recently surfaced on Decibel and Metalsucks. Pre-order your copy at the Brutal Panda site - for fans of Unsane, Today is The Day, and latter favorites like Fight Amp.

The trio will follow-up the release with a string of dates that will include New Year's Eve at The Earl with Kylesa and Royal Thunder in their hometown of Atlanta, as well as Saint Vitus in Brooklyn on January 4th with sludge-monsters Javelina (!), the always amazing Tiger Flowers and recent gothic punk favorites Psychic Teens. Ticketing info is forthcoming, but $10 gets you in the door for this 8PM show.

All streams, the tour poster and dates are below.

Continue reading "Whores releasing album Ruiner, touring --- (dates, song debut, a Brooklyn show w/ Javelina & Tiger Flowers)"

photos by Samantha Marble, words by BBG

Threats of hurricane, cancellations (the boat, not to mention Javelina bowed out due to illness), and a dozen years away from NYC could not stop the return of Buzzov*en to NYC, who played Public Assembly on 9/30 as part of a short string of dates.

Ramming Speed and Black Tusk supported the southern sludge lords, BT's second show in NYC in as many months (they supported Fu Manchu at Santos in September). Ramming Speed opened the show and the band's thrashy blackened riffs were impressive and way too fun; this band is too good to be opening shows for much longer.

Catch Ramming Speed and Black Tusk on the road; tour dates, with more pictures from Public Assembly, below...

Continue reading "Buzzov*en, Black Tusk & Ramming Speed (but not Javelina) played Public Assembly (pics) "

by BBG

Dixie Dave of Buzzov•en on stage with Weedeater (more by Markus Shaffer)

Yesterday, ticketholders for the previously discussed return of southern sludge-core legends Buzzov•en received an email giving them a refund for their ticket purchase. No, the show is NOT off. That said, it has been moved to Public Assembly on the same night (9/30) AND not only will feature support from Black Tusk, but two more bands were added to the bill. You'll also get sets by Philadelphian sludge destroyers Javelina and Mass-thrashers Ramming Speed! To add insult to injury, we're going to do the entire BrooklynVegan-presented, 18+ show for $15 (it was $35 on the boat). A link for advanced tickets is on the way (we'll update this post). You might also be able to pick one up at the doors which open at 7PM. Get there!

All Buzzoven dates below...

Continue reading "Buzzov•en show moved to Public Assembly, price reduced"

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

"Just drove three hours to get to Brooklyn in time to watch a forty minute set. Now were driving back. Floor was amazing #worthit" - MarkFMichael

Floor at Europa

Though a shade under a sell-out crowd, Europa was packed with grins on June 26th for one of only two East Coast reunion shows for stoner/doom greats Floor. There was a good bit of people who came into town specifically for the show, as Steve Brooks remarked on stage and in between bouts of crowd-surfing. ("I see a lot of friendly faces from far far away").

Support for Floor came from a trio of misanthropes: the incredible Unearthly Trance, Javelina and Hot Graves. Florida's Hot Graves specialize in a particularly playful (due to great on-stage banter) blackened thrash with heavy nods to Celtic Frost and Bathory. Meanwhile, Javelina killed the crowd with their sludge-punk sprinkled with killer dual-leads. I cornered one of the band members after the show, who said that they are three songs into a new LP. More on that soon.

Unearthly Trance directly supported Floor, which was somewhat appropro considering that bassist Jay Newman booked their last NYC show many years ago. Their set was peppered with tracks from the forthcoming V, and killed the crowd with spot-on stops and massive riffs. V is currently on pre-order via Relapse, but the band recently dropped a new split with The Endless Blockade on Chrome Peeler. Order a copy.

Unearthly Trance was recently added (along with Natur) as support for High On Fire at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets are still available for the July 27th show.

Currently, Floor has only one tour date on the calendar. They will re-emerge on August 3rd of this year to play Gainesville for the second time in a year.

Tons of pics and a video from Europa are below...

Continue reading "Floor, Unearthly Trance, Javelina & Hot Graves played the BV-BBG Northside show @ Europe - pics & video "

by BBG

Javelina (more by Meghan McInnis)

How do you make a big show bigger? We are happy to confirm the additions of Javelina and Hot Graves to the previously announced Floor + Unearthly Trance lineup at Europa on June 26th! Tickets are still available. The EARLY SHOW (begins promptly at 6!) will be Javelina's second Northside appearance, having played the BV-BBG Northside show last year at Europa.

Speaking of Unearthly Trance, Ryan of UT serves as bassist/vocalist for Pollution, who will be at Acheron TONIGHT (6/18) alongside Vancouver's White Lung, the conclusion of an east coast tour for the pair (that kicked off at 538 Johnson on 6/10). White Lung has a west coast leg of a US tour scheduled for early July, which kicks off at Sled Island on July 3rd alongside Fucked Up, Built To Spill, Dinosaur Jr, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, The Melvins (who play NYC tonight also), and so much more. White Lung are touring off of their freshly minted Atlanta 7", out now via Deranged.

For Pollution, this is currently the only NYC date on their calendar, but the band will also play the incredible Dudefest 2010 in Indianapolis this year alongside Arab On Radar, Trap Them, Voetsek, and many others.

Uneathly Trance is also scheduled to appear on July 30th at the Lee Altomare benefit in Amityville, NY alongside the reunited Deathcycle, as well as Altomare's band The Communion, Sick of Talk, Thought & Memory, and Blood of A Zombie. All proceeds will go towards, St. Jude's Children's Hospital and Research Center. Deathcycle will play NYC the next night (7/31) SANS UT, but with rest of the set of that bill (and another TBA) at 538 Johnson.

Tour dates and some video is below....

Continue reading "Javelina & Hot Graves playing with Floor (Northside), Pollution playing the Acheron (tonight) + other dates"

by BBG

Floor at The Earl (more by Rich Gaccione)

South Florida's FLOOR were around for roughly 10 years and recorded well over a dozen times during their on-and-off existence... and only in the wake of their demise did underground audio followers finally take note...

From the living rooms and basements of 1992 to the studios of 2001/2002, FLOOR had an incredible evolution from the GODFLESH and early-MELVINS-inspired sludge worship, to the unrivaled sugary doom/pop amalgamation which would eventually pave the way for TORCHE, HOUSE OF LIGHTNING and others. The changes in sound from recording-to-recording... against what would eventually follow, it becomes crystal clear that FLOOR were consistently operating on that fabled "next level". [Robotic Empire]

It's one of two shows the reunited Floor are going to play during their visit North. The first will take place one day earlier, 6/25 at First Unitarian Church in Philly with two great openers, Gods & Queens and Javelina.

And it's one of two shows that the great Unearthly Trance has in store for NYC, including June 3rd as part of the Tones of Death monthly shindig (which includes Gnaw, Bubonic Bear and Sin of Angels this week, May 6th). For more on that show, head to the Facebook invite.

Floor's Steve Brooks plays Rumsey Playield in NYC on May 26th with Torche as part of their tour with Coheed & Cambria and Circa Survive. Tickets are still available.

Floor at Eruopa is an earlier show, so you should be able to make it across town to catch at least part of BV's other show that same night at MHOW, with Memory Tapes, Twin Sister, DOM and ZAZA. Tickets are up, or try to use your Northside badges.

Floor are supporting their recent mega-boxset, out NOW on Robotic Empire.

Show flyer for Europa and some video from their show at The Earl on 4/3, below...

Continue reading "Floor playing Philly & a BV Northside show in NYC! (dates)"

words by BBG, photos by Meghan McInnis

Flourishing is frightened!

Howl and Javelina were almost home by the time they hit Cake Shop on 3/25 with Sea of Bones and Flourishing. The pair of bands had burned through tons of dates on the way to and fro SXSW 2010 where Javelina played Emo's on 3/17 and both played Red 7 on 3/20. Check out the tour diary for Decibel Javelina did along the way.

The night was a special one for the great Flourishing, who celebrated the release of their new EP A Momentary Sense of the Immediate World on The Path Less Traveled Records. The absolutely mammoth Sea of Bones also were on board, with their two guitars, two basses, and four (usually six!) full stacks behind them, rumbling through doom riff after thundering doom riff.

More pics and video from the show are below...

Continue reading "Howl, Javelina, Sea of Bones & Flourishing @ Cake Shop (pics & video) "

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

Andrea of Howl will destroy you

Howl and Javelina are here, and ready to wreck NYC with Sea of Bones and Flourishing as part of a BV/1000 Knives production that kicks off TONIGHT (3/25) at Cake Shop. It's an early show, so doors are at 7 and the show begins PROMPTLY at 7:30. Want to go? I have two pairs of tickets up for grabs, details at the bottom of this post.

The show will serve as a record release party for the incredible Flourishing (featuring Garett of Wetnurse), who drop their new EP A Momentary Sense of the Immediate World on The Path Less Traveled Records next week. Cop it.

Howl is also prepping to release their new album Full of Hell on Relapse Records, pre-order that now. They played many of those new songs at their appearance at the BrooklynVegan, Converse, Tee Pee Records & Chronic Youth co-hosted Attitude Adjustment show at Red 7 in Austin, Texas on 3/20. Javelina (who filled in for Nebula) was also on board, playing the metal stage (with The Gates of Slumber, Priestess, Naam, and Liturgy) with the other stage featuring raging hardcore (Alpha & Omega, Touche Amore, Iron Age, Trash Talk) and some of the greatest names in underground hip hop (Black Milk, Buckshot of Black Moon with special unannounced guest Smif N Wessun!) for a killer mix...

"Black Milk (March 20, Red 7): After Detroit superproducer/MC Black Milk's set, someone behind me compared Milk's band to The Roots. But even Philly's finest have never been as dynamic as hard-hitting drummer Daru Jones, keyboardist AB and Milk himself during their set. With a driving rendition of posse cut "The Matrix," Milk proved that he's as dope on the mic as he is behind the boards for stars like GZA. If the forthcoming Album Of The Year consists of this trio live in the studio, you'll hear no complaints" [Eye Weekly]

Continue reading "Howl & Javelina in NY tonight (win tix), played BV party @ Red 7 w/ Black Milk, Buckshot, Priestess, Trash Talk,more (pics)"

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble, Tim Griffin, Brian Reilly

"Emo's Jr. is way too tiny to handle [Torche and] their enormous sludge, enormous hooks, enormous energy, enormous crowd." - Rolling Stone.com

Landmine Marathon (by Tim Griffin)

While Fucked Up and six other bands were causing a ruckus on the bigger stage at Emo's (3/17), the BrooklynVegan day party began early and STRONG with a hot blast of Kill The Client at noon on the indoor stage. The newly Relapse-d and semi-local (partial Austin/Dallas) grinding four piece was a metallic triple-espresso to kick start the day.

Trophy for busiest metal band goes to The Atlas Moth, who booked a whopping seven shows in Austin during SxSW. Their trek began with Emo's and a killer set from their new album A Glorified Piece Of New Sky. Jovial singer Steve was all smiles at the show, and the band's epic sound echoed throughout Emo's.

Philadelphia's Javelina followed The Atlas Moth with their positively pummeling sludge filth, keeping momentum going. Bands like Buzzoven, Eyehategod, and others come to mind when listening to this quartet, but their driving sound is decidedly more punk rock in it's gallop but just as "fuck you" in it's 'tude. A big thank you goes out to the band, who also went on to fill in for the broken Nebula at Red 7 on Saturday (3/20). They rule, and can't wait to see them again on Wednesday (3/25) at Cake Shop with Howl, Sea of Bones, and Flourishing.

Though the band spent a good hour circling Emo's, Dark Castle did manage to squeak into the venue and be only a touch late for their designated set time. Again the Florida duo impressed. Dark Castle's sound is positively mammoth, and through the large PA at Emo's they sounded bigger than ever.

Salome was similarly massive, and I felt fortunate to have the band booked for their only unofficial appearance at SXSW. With the band having issues unloading gear due to street closures and general parking malaise, it seemed like vehicular frustration bred more stage-side fury. The trio's sludge doom caused numerous screams of joy and lots of recitations of the word "amazing". Agreed, and I truly believe that Salome was one of the best bands at SXSW this year.

Grace Perry may have been given the dubious ranking of one of the "hottest chicks in metal" according to Revolver (even though I agree), but don't think that Landmine Marathon's success is attributable to anything but hard touring. This band's strength is in the live show, which was firing on all cylinders at Emo's and leading to circle pits, including one with Perry on vocals! Video of that is below.

Withered's icy blasts were the antithesis of Torche's pop bliss, but the band were as sinister and powerful. I caught them again at Mohawk later that night (pics coming). I was honestly worried about Withered and Dark Castle's lighting rigs, and their ability to translate on stage during the day time, but I forgot about the most important part of those bands: both have intense and kinetic live shows, whether with or without a fancy stage setup.

Torche closed out the room with an assist from a fill-in drummer in the absence of Rick Smith (who broke his hand while touring with his side project Shitstorm). Although Smith's theatrics were missed (you rarely ever see anyone standing and jumping down TOWARD the kit, save for Rob Shaffer of Dark Castle and a few others), the band played a well-executed set of bubblegum pop which contained one song from their upcoming split with Boris, and a ton of thundering but sugary classics. The band closed with my favorite Torche track ever, the sickeningly heavy "Tarpit Carnivore" from their killer In Return EP.

More pics and some videos from the show are below...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan Emo's day party pics (SXSW 2010 - Torche, Withered, Salome, Dark Castle, Landmine Marathon, more) "

As previously mentioned, we've lost our minds and are doing seven shows in Austin during SXSW this year. The first of those parties kicks off at Emo's at noon on Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 (doors @ 11:30am) on two 100% FREE stages:

Outside/Main Stage
12:00 YellowFever
12:45 The Rural Alberta Advantage
01:30 The Morning Benders
02:15 Japandroids
03:00 Titus Andronicus
03:45 The Black Angels
04:30 GZA
05:15 Fucked Up

DJs: Finger on the Pulse

Inside/Metal Stage (Emo's Jr)
12:00 - Kill The Client
12:35 - The Atlas Moth
01:20 - Javelina
02:05 - Dark Castle
02:50 - Salome
03:35 - Landmine Marathon
04:20 - Withered
05:05 - Torche

FREE DRINKS COURTESY OF: Magic Hat & Firefly Vodka & Vitamin Water (while supplies last)
FREE VEGAN BREAKFAST TACOS COURTESY OF: Mr. Natural
(starting @ noon. while supplies last)
MORE FREE FOOD COURTESY OF: Daily Juice (catering from 2-5)
MORE FREE FOOD COURTESY OF: Raw Revolution Bars
MORE FREE FOOD COURTESY OF: Hail Merry

Thanks Zach Jaeger for the sweet flyer.

The Morning Benders, The Rural Alberta Advantage, Austin's own YellowFever, AND GZA are all being announced for the first time in this post. Those following along already knew about Fucked Up, The Black Angels, Titus Andronicus, and Japandroids.

It should be a wild first day in Austin and needless to say, we're very excited for this one. And did we mention this was all free? No RSVP. No Badges. Just stop by. Get there early if you want a free vegan breakfast taco. Stay around if you want even more catering by Daily Juice. Drink for free from our 10 kegs of Magic Hat beer and the many bottles of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka that we'll be pouring. Then after the show, if you're still hungry (and standing), get dinner quickly and head over to the official BrooklynVegan SXSW showcase at Club DeVille right down the block (Dawes go on at 8, Serena Maneesh finish things off at 1am). Then get some rest because you've got 19 more bands to catch on Thursday afternoon at Spider House.

And for those in NYC, don't forget that we're also hosting a free Morning Benders show, TONIGHT (3/8).

We also just announced the full lineup of our Saturday day party at Red 7 which is happening at the same time as our Saturday day party at Galaxy Room.

GZA's "Liquid Swords" video below...

Continue reading "BrooklynVegan presents a day party @ Emo's (Fucked Up, GZA, Black Angels, Torche, TRAA, Withered & much more) "

by BBG

Withered with Mayhem at Irving (more by Paul Birman)

Enough of the onesy-twosy crap! We've already let it slip that the BrooklynVegan Day Party at Emo's on 3/17 will feature some heavy hitters like Torche, Fucked Up, The Atlas Moth, Dark Castle, and Salome. But now we are proud to announce more details! Kicking off at noon, the first (of a few) free BV Day Parties will be held across the two stages at Emo's (not the Annex). The "outdoor stage" will feature a headlining set from the hardcore hooligans in Fucked Up with a jawdropping lineup to fill out the rest of the bill (including Titus Andronicus, The Black Angels and Japandroids). The "indoor stage" will be where the darkness happens, and will feature the following lineup:

Wednesday, March 17, 2010 @ Emo's Indoor Stage - daytime lineup::
Torche
Withered
Landmine Marathon
Salome
Dark Castle
The Atlas Moth
Javelina

We will announce a third heavy music leaning show at Red 7 on 3/20 in the coming days Stay tuned for that along with more information on our seven shows in Austin this year, and don't forget to follow @bvSXSW on Twitter for lots more SXSW coverage!

Continue reading "BV Wednesday day party @ Emo's - full metal stage lineup "

by BBG

Javelina at The Charleston (more by Chloe Rice)

Are we gluttons for punishment? That is the only way to account for the fact that Javelina will beat us down at TWO BrooklynVegan events in the coming weeks.

We are pleased to announce that Javelina will play one of the two stages at the BrooklynVegan Day Party at Emo's in Austin on 3/17 along with the previously announced Fucked Up and the incredible Torche.

Then, just a shade over one week after we destroy Austin as part of SXSW, BrooklynVegan and 1000 Knives will team up to present Javelina again, this time with another SXSW-er, Howl, as well as Sea of Bones and Flourishing at Cake Shop in NYC on 3/25.

More upcoming shows, flyers and videos, below...

Continue reading "Javelina playing BV shows (in NYC & Austin), 'Full Metal Texas' announces lineup, Your Demise & more "

by BBG

Javelina at The Charleston (more by Chloe Rice)

If you aren't a total a-hole nerd like me, eagerly awaiting the new episode of Lost... then a band you should NOT miss is the great Javelina (not to be confused with Javelin), who will barrel their way through Fontana's on Feb 2 (Tuesday) as part of the monthly FREE Tones of Death Party. Along for the ride on the support tip are The Hixon and The Judas Syndrome as part of a CD release party for Charred Walls of The Damned, a new project featuring Richard Christy (Death, Iced Earth), Steve DiGiorgio (Death, Autopsy, Sadus, many others), Tim "Ripper" Owens (Judas Priest, Iced Earth), and Jason Suecof.

Javelina released one of my favorite LPs of 2009. Bassist/vocalist Herb Jowett also talked about HIS favorite LPs with us.

Shortly after the band headlines Fontana's, the Phily crew will begin them jawns down south to tag Austin for SXSW. More details on that are on the way, meanwhile dig on full tour dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Javelina - a free NYC show & March dates including SXSW "

by BBG

Laura of Kylesa (more by Paul Birman)

Earlier I discussed my favorite LPs of the year, but why leave the fun to just one? I asked some of my favorite artists and promoters for their 2009 highlights. The responses were great. You already saw some of them. Justina listed some quotes, Liam Wilson talked about Philly, and Josh Graham listed good things about 2009. They continue below. You'll find lists of favorite songs and albums of the year, not to mention answers to crucial questions like:

• What are Coalesce's favorite pizza toppings?
• Which one of my top 20 artists of the year tried to get in a cab with Kirsten Dunst?
• What is the #1 sauce/condiment of 2009?

Continue reading "The Year in Metal continued (BBG asked countless others to make lists... and here they all are)"

by BBG

Dave Verellen of Narrows (more by Samantha Marble)

Another year gone, but not without lasting memories! Eyehategod (x2). Akitsa. Rorschach (x2). BV-BBG @ CMJ. Ludicra. BV @ Northside. Keelhaul... Not to mention the tons of memories jogged by my turntable and iPod. Estimates place the number of albums released in 2008 at 115,000, and while similar data for 2009 is scarce, I think that number seems on the low side. With so many to choose from, you can imagine that it was tough to sift through 20 (22 actually) that represented my year...

Continue reading "The Year in Metal (BBG's best of 2009)"

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 "

words by BBG, photos by Chloe Rice

Savannah's Black Tusk, ruling

Special guest Black Cobra headlined with an all-star supporting cast of Black Tusk, Javelina, and Batillus as part of a BrooklynVegan/Chronic Youth Presentation at The Charleston on 11/18. The Batillus show was the first for the quartet in a month, as drummer Geoff Summers has been on the road with A Storm of Light (who also added Will Lindsay of Wolves In The Throne Room for the tour). Summers did double duty that night, leaving shortly after his performance with Batillus to hold down the kit for ASoL at their Record Release party at Ace of Clubs with Goes Cube and Biclops.

Batillus were on first, and this band has gone from good to reeeeaally good since my last experience with them. The addition of Fade (Inswarm, Jarboe's backing band with Eric of Cobalt and Man's Gin) changes this band from really great instrumental band to full-on juggernaut, and I am excited to see what their next move is. With a little luck and a few more tours under their belt, this band could be headed for great things.

Javelina is the perfect name for these Philadelphian sludgesters; the band is ferocious and violent, and tore through their set like a charging beast. It was another incredible showing from this foursome who opened with "You're Gonna Hate This" (I didn't) from their latest (and possible end of year favorite?) Beasts Among Sheep before barreling through other selections from that LP as well as their previous monster.

Black Tusk were the band that I was probably most excited to see. The Savannah crusty-thrashers, who recently signed to Relapse Records, mowed down the crowd with material from their recent LP Passage to Purgatory as well as material from recent splits with ASG and The Holy Mountain. Great band; fans of Kylesa, southern metal, and general badass-ery, take note.

San Francisco duo Black Cobra finished the day with serious downtuned High-On-Fire-y riffs and BIG drums. I have seen my share of bands, and with the exception of Jason Roeder (Neurosis) and a select few others, I have not seen a drummer hit quite as hard as Rafael Martinez. Seriously killer band that you can see again on 11/30 when they play with Pelican and Disappearer at Highline Ballroom. Tickets here.

More pictures from the show below...

Continue reading "Black Cobra, Black Tusk, Javelina & Batillus @ The Charleston in NYC - pics "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Quest For Fire - "Bison Eyes" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Quest For Fire - "Strange Waves" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Quest For Fire - "The Hawk That Hunts The Walking" (MP3)

Naam at a BV-CMJ Day Party (more by Paul Birman)

Toronto's Quest For Fire have announced a short stint of dates which include NYC with Weird Owl, Chyld and BV CMJ alums Naam at Pianos on 12/4. Full tour dates are below. Quest For Fire, which features former members of The Deadly Snakes & Cursed, recently dropped their self-titled full length on Tee Pee Records. Dig on some tracks above.

Word has it that another band on Tee Pee Records has scheduled a show in NYC on 11/20 with Tournament at The Charleston as part of the Chronic Youth series of shows. We have no confirmation on the "who", but the show will feature 20+ minute jams and will sound "out of this world".

Baroness kicks off their tour with Earthless in Washington DC on Wednesday. Tickets are still on sale for the NYC show at Bowery Ballroom on Friday (11/20).

Tournament is also scheduled to play NYC as part of the BV-Sponsored Coalesce + A Storm of Light + Coliseum show at Europa on 12/30. Tickets are still available. Coalesce recently played a show in Austin. Check out the pics and some free MP3s from their new EP.

Chronic Youth and BV have teamed up to present Javelina, Black Tusk, Batillus and a Special Guest at The Charleston on 11/18. The flyer for that show and a list of more killer shows this week, and all tour dates, below....

Continue reading "Quest for Fire tour dates, another secret show at The Charleston, Baroness & Earthless tour kicking off & more "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Javelina - "Step Child" (MP3)

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

As if that week wasn't insane enough... BrooklynVegan, in association with Chronic Youth, present Javelina + Blacktusk + Batillus + a secret guest headliner (*coughsouthernlordcough*) at The Charleston on 11/18. No tickets, but the door will only cost you $10.

Javelina recently dropped the must hear Beasts Among Sheep, and it's definitely one of my favorite records of 2009 (much like in 2008). The band recently replaced their drummer and returned from a larger tour to promote the smashing new LP.

Blacktusk hails from Savannah, and their swampridden take on crusty thrash was heavily apparent on their great Passage Through Purgatory LP as well as their recent splits with the great Fight Amp, ASG, and Holy Mountain (one of their last recordings). The ASG and Holy Mountain splits are available through Ebullition, and you can pick up that Fight Amp split via Brutal Panda.

Batillus are cooling off after a killer tour with Salome and Hull, but the band's drummer Geoff Summers is currently touring Europe with A Storm of Light along with Will Lindsay of Wolves In The Throne Room who joins on as a second guitarist. A Storm of Light plays it's album release party on 11/18 at Ace of Clubs with Goes Cube (who we just interviewed) & Biclops.

The Javelina/Blacktusk/Batillus show caps an unreal week of great metal in NYC:

Continue reading "Blacktusk touring (dates), playing Brooklyn w/ Javelina, Batillus & special guest (during a crazy week)"

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: 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)"

photos by Jason Walker, words by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Pollution - "Tiny Black Burns" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Unearthly Trance - "Diseased" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Defeatist - "Isolation Tactics" (MP3)

Unearthly Trance

Call me greedy, but when I recently posted the Show No Mercy/BV-BBG lineup of Keelhaul, Minsk, and STATS, followed by that lonely "+1 TBA"... I got a little sad. Why just one? Luckily, Brandon Stosuy & I (we came up with the lineup together) were on the same page, so that +1 TBA is now +2, AND we are proud to announce the addition of Unearthly Trance and Defeatist to the August 2nd lineup at Public Assembly!

Defeatist, which contains members of the much lamented Anodyne (with Mike Hill of Tombs), recently dropped Sharp Blade Sinks Deep Into Dull Minds on Willowtip. The LP is actually a compilation of previously released EPs and splits that will have to sate us while we await the arrival of Sixth Extinction, featuring 19 new tracks recorded by Colin Marston. The band is scheduled to take on the destructive Texas duo of Mammoth Grinder (who we profiled here) and Hatred Surge (who I loved at SXSW) on July 17th at The Charleston.

Unearthly Trance recently played the BV-BBG bash at Europa, and are scheduled to take on Lit Lounge on Monday (7/13) with the mighty Harpoon, one of two dates for Harpoon (they headline The Charleston on 7/14). Full Unearthly Trance & Harpoon dates are below.

In possibly related news, Pollution, a band that may or may not contain members of Unearthly Trance and/or Villains, has been added to the kick-ass Harvey Milk/Torche shindig at Music Hall of Williamsburg on July 26. Tickets are still available. The band is also scheduled to play Don Pedro's on Saturday (7/11) with The Choke and Bukkake Boys. Pollution dropped the nasty.DNA cassette, which will reportedly surface on LP via Feast of Tentacles. Check out "Tiny Black Burns" from that release above. Feast of Tentacles is responsible for the recent 2LP of another fave, Cough.

More pics and some thoughts on Unearthly Trance, Cough, Howl, Javelina, Doomriders, Sourvein, and Clouds at the BV-BBG at Europa on 6/14, as well as tour dates for Pollution and Harpoon are below....

Continue reading "bands added to BBG Show No Mercy show (@ Pub Assembly), more pics from the BBG show @ Europa (Northside Fest)"

photos by Zach Dilgard, words by Black Bubblegum

Wetnurse

The first half of the BV-BBG showcase at Europa on 6/14 featured some excellent performances by the always dependable Wetnurse, "white-metallers" Liturgy, the intense weed-doom of Cough, galloping crusty-thunder of Howl, and sludgy-punk of Philly's Javelina. Though some equipment issues on the 2nd floor stage caused timing issues which ultimately led to both floors playing at virtually the same time, I managed to catch at least half of every set at Europa. Of what I saw, a few highlights come to mind:

Continue reading "Wetnurse, Cough, Howl & Liturgy @ Europa (BBG show)-pics "

by Black Bubblegum

Wetnurse in front of the downstairs bar @ Europa last night (Sunday, June 14, 2009)

A sincere thanks goes out to all that attended, supported, or otherwise big-upped last night's (6/14) BV-BBG Showcase at Europa (part of the first-ever Northside Festival). Special shouts go to the out-of-towners (Doomriders, Clouds, Javelina, Howl, Cough, Sourvein) and the mighty Unearthly Trance for filling in for the fallen Zoroaster at the last minute. More pics will be up soon, but until then, here are a few videos from the show of Doomriders performing three new songs, as well as the classic "Black Thunder" courtesy of our peeps at MetalInjection...

Continue reading "BV-BBG took over Europa last night - live Doomriders videos & thanks to all"