by BBG

Krallice at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Greg Cristman)

Though Krallice plays with Converge and Touche Amore tonight (8/24) at House of Vans, Mick Barr won't take a moment to bask in the post-show glow before heading out the door. Directly following House of Vans, Mick Barr will head to Zebulon to play a show as part of Barr/Shea/Dahl (Kevin Shea from Talibam and Tim Dahl of Child Abuse), supporting Little Women with Stern.

The show is one of two for the frenetic guitarist, as he'll also hit Zebulon on 8/29 with Kevin Hufnagel (Dysrhthmia, Gorguts) and Andrew Hock (Castevet) just 5 days later (8/29).

Andrew Hock also plays as part of the Anthony Coleman/Andrew Hock Duo with Ches Smith and others at Cafe Orwell (Varet street) on Friday (8/26). For more info, head to the Facebook invite.

Krallice also play Union Pool on 9/17.

Mick Barr is currently prepping his new solo LP Coiled Malescence via Safety Meeting Records. Preorder it now and stream one track, "Vohvar", with the cover art and tracklist below. Stream the whole thing at Decibel.

Continue reading "Mick Barr playing a show after Krallice tonight, releasing 'Coiled Malescence' (listen)"

Krallice at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Greg Cristman)

After a ton of lineup shuffles, the final House of Vans lineup for 8/24 has been solidified with the addition of Krallice! The addition follows the loss of All Pigs Must Die, the loss of Cold Cave, and the addition of Touche Amore. RSVP is still open.

The show is one of two NYC dates scheduled for Krallice, as they'll also join Dutch band Urfaust, Black Anvil and Ruin Lust for a show at Union Pool on 9/17 (tickets) as part of their weekend outing with Urfaust and Black Anvil. Additional dates include 9/16 at Golden West in Baltimore with Oak and 9/18 at Kung Fu Necktie with Endless Humiliation (no Krallice).

The last House of Vans show featured sets by Big Freedia, and Tokyo Police Club, and Against Me, Japanther, and Team Robespierre.

by BBG

Urfaust

The sound of the Netherlands' Urfaust is completely unmistakable; atmospheric black metal riffs colide with an operatic vocal that is tuneful yet powerful, and completely harrowing. We are proud to announce that Urfaust will hop the pond to bring their darkness on a set of dates with Black Anvil and Krallice, as part of a short BV-sponsored East Coast stint. After beginning on 9/16 at Golden West in Baltimore, NYC gets their date at Union Pool on September 17th. Brooklyn war metal destroyers Ruin Lust (mem Fell Voices) are also on that bill. Tickets are on sale. The trip ends in Philly, but without Krallice on the bill.

The three shows (Baltimore, Brooklyn, and Philadelphia) will be the band's only east coast dates for the forseeable future, and only US shows until they make the trek down to the Alamo to play Rites of Darkness in middle December.

All four bands on the Union Pool bill have recent releases under their belts. Urfaust released Der freiwillige Bettler via Van Records last year to much acclaim, despite its limited availability in the US. Black Anvil released Triumvirate via Relapse last year. Ruin Lust has a new demo that is currently available on CD-R (available at live shows). Krallice's Diotima was released earlier this year and is already garnering tons of year-end buzz. The band also recently released a Orphan covers EP.

All tour dates, the tour flyer, and some video/audio is below.

Continue reading "Urfaust is coming, playing shows w/ Krallice & Black Anvil"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Krallice - Orphan of Sickness EP (ZIP)

Krallice at Union Pool for the Brendan tribute show (more by BBG)

One of the most alternately sad/uplifting/awesome shows this year was the Brendan Majewski Tribute show at Union Pool. That night, Krallice, Obits, Mira Bilotte, Brian Majewski, and Dope Body played sets that included material from Brendan's band Orphan. I remarked at how impressive said covers were live, and now Krallice has made those covers available in recorded form. Download a zipped MP3 version above, stream it below, or download a super high-quality (and substantially larger size file version) at Mediafire. Watch video from their entire set at Union Pool below.

In related news, Dope Body's noisy spazz-jams were similarly awesome at Union Pool, and you can catch them again next Saturday (7/30) when they ravage Death By Audio with Hume, The Dreebs, and Cloud Becomes Your Hand as part of a larger East Coast tour with Hume. Full dates are below.

Continue reading "Krallice giving away Orphan covers EP (MP3s), Dope Body touring w/ Hume (dates)"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Black Sabbath's seventh LP and one of their last with the original lineup was called Technical Ecstacy, a thought that echoed through my brain during Krallice's incredible set on Monday (5/2) at The Studio at Webster Hall. Brooklyn's technical black metal crew, supporting their new LP Diotima, decimated the Studio space at the final date of their East Coast tour with Withered who were touring around an appearance at New England Metal and Hardcore Fest in April.

Atlanta's Withered were similarly impressive on Monday night, though it was their slower, sludgier moments that were the most powerful; their icy precision blast-beats were always well executed and on cue, but the slower riffs were the most resonating on the system.

Ipsissimus opned the show, like they did the previous night in New Haven, CT. The band is preparing to release their Metal Blade debut later this year.

Krallice recently performed a mostly Orphan set at Union Pool in support of Brendan Majewski.

More pictures and some video from from The Studio (where Peelander-Z played 5 days later), below...

Continue reading "Krallice, Withered & Ipsissimus played the Studio (pics, video) "

by BBG

Brian Majewski honors his brother @ Union Pool

The life and legacy of Brendan Majewski was celebrated last night (4/20) at Union Pool, as Krallice, Obits, Mira Bilotte, and Dope Body banded together to play a show in his honor. Though a somber tone permeated through the night, there were flashes of sheer beauty, the most powerful of which was when Brendan's little brother Brian "Bri Guy" stepped to the stage to perform a song he had written for his fallen brother. Emotion dripped through Brian's fingers and though the somber-yet-uplifting piano ballad was breathtaking on its own, with the added subtext it made for the most heart-wrenching moment of the evening.

Dope Body's spazzy post-hardcore stomp (the band shared a split with Brendan's band Orphan) started the evening with tons of on-stage energy. Following Brian Majewski's gorgeous piano composition, Mira Bilotte delivered eastern-influenced vocal/piano and vocal/percussion pieces that were delicate, emotional and gorgeous. Obits and Krallice's sets touched upon material by Orphan, with the latter devoting the majority of their stage time to blackened covers of the material before closing with the incendiary "Forgiveness in Rot" from their first LP.

Quite the lineup at the small stage of Union Pool, and all in tribute of one man who will definitely be missed. I didn't know Brendan personally, mostly just through his catchy LPs. But all of the love in the room last night made me wish I did.

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

Continue reading "Krallice, Obits, Mira Bilotte, Dope Body & friends paid tribute to Brendan Majewski @ Union Pool (pics)"

The second annual Hopscotch Festival will go down in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, across 12 different venues with over 135 bands, from September 8th through 10th. The lineup this year runs the gamut of independent music... from traditional indie staples (The Flaming Lips, Guided By Voices, Superchunk) to southern-inflected rock (Drive-By Truckers) to noise (Prurient) to hip hop (Beans) to garage (Jeff The Brotherhood) to funk (Budos Band) to metal (Krallice), and everywhere in between (Swans, Rhys Chatham, etc etc). Tickets are currently on sale. Full lineup is below.

Hopscotch happens almost three months after Guided By Voices play a Brooklyn Northside Festival show in McCarren Park (tickets) which is one day after Beirut plays a Northside Festival show on the same McCarren Park stage with... Sharon Van Etten (though she may have been accidentally announced at one point, they officially kept her placement on the bill under wraps until after Saturday's Music Hall of Williamsburg show). Tickets for Beirut/SVE are still on sale, and another opener will be added too.

Guided by Voices (whose Brooklyn show also has more openers coming) are also playing Pitchfork in July with Animal Collective whose Prospect Park show is now on AmEx presale.

Swans' upcoming NYC show is now on AmEx presale too.

Hopscotch lineup below...

Continue reading "Hopscotch Fest returns to Raleigh (2011 lineup announced), Sharon Van Etten officially added to Northside Fest"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Krallice - "Litany of Regrets" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Krallice - "The Clearing" (MP3)

Krallice (photo by Justina Villanueva)

Tickets are on sale for the Sleep show coming to Terminal 5 on June 22nd. Openers still haven't been announced, though Magrudergrind was added as support for the Floor show coming to Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 13th. Tickets are still available for that too.

Tickets are now on sale for the Converge, Trap Them & Dropdead show at Santos Party House on May 25th.

Tickets are also now on sale for the previously discussed Krallice/ Withered/Ipsissimus/ Cleric May 2nd show at The Studio at Webster Hall. It's one of two NYC dates on the calendar for Krallice (who play Union Pool on 4/20 in honor of Brendan of Orphan).

Ipsissimus killed it at Union Pool on 3/27 with The Funeral Pyre & The Secret.

The Krallice tour with Withered is in preparation for Krallice's newest marvel/LP, Diotima, which drops via Profound Lore on 4/26. Diotima is more of the dizzying, well-crafted, intelligent and complex black-metal that marked their previous two releases with Profound Lore. The Brooklyn now-veterans (three albums in three years? the Jay-Z of USBM, anyone?) have perfected the art of brutal technicality as you can hear in "The Clearing" and in the punky/powerful second track to be released, "Litany of Regrets" which premieres in this post. Download above. Stream below.

All Krallice tour dates and the song stream is below.

Continue reading "a new Krallice song (MP3 premiere) ++ Withered tix on sale (Converge, Trap Them, Sleep & Floor too)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Krallice - "The Clearing" (MP3)

Krallice at Knitting Factory (more by Greg Cristman)

Krallice are hitting the road with Atlanta black metal faves/BV SXSW alums Withered for a string of East Coast dates, and will tag NYC at The Studio at Webster Hall on May 2 with Ipsissimus (who played Union Pool last night with The Funeral Pyre/The Secret) & Cleric. Ticketing info is forthcoming. The show goes down less than two weeks after Krallice appear at the Brendan Majewski tribute happening at Union Pool on 4/20 with Mira Bilotte (of White Magic & Quix*o*tic), Dope Body and new addition Obits (who just played a BV SXSW day party). All bands on the bill have played with Brendan's band Orphan in the past, and both Krallice and Obits will be performing Orphan songs at the show. It's $10 to get in with all proceeds going to Brendan's family.

Obits play a regular set at the Bell House on April 2nd. Tickets are still available.

Krallice's new LP Diotima is due via Profound Lore on 4/26. Check out "The Clearing" above and the Diotima album art below, along with all tour dates and some video...

Continue reading "Krallice touring w/ Withered + Obits added to Brendan tribute"

DOWNLOAD: Krallice - "The Clearing" (MP3)

Brendan Majewski, R.I.P.

A memorial show has been organized at Union Pool on April 20th in memory of Brendan Majewski of Orphan/Quix*o*tic who tragically took his own life in January. Come out and pay tribute to Brendan by enjoying perfromances by Krallice, Mira Bilotte (of White Magic & Quix*o*tic), Dope Body & "other special guests" with DJ sets by Bob Nickas & Jacob Kassay. All money raised at the show will go to Brendan's family to assist in expenses, so get out and see this great bill.

One thing that will ensure that 4/20 at Union Pool is a special celebration is that Krallice will perform "adaptations of Orphan songs" in honor of Majewski. You'll have to catch Krallice on their next go around in order to hear material from their new LP Diotima, due 4/26 via Profound Lore. Check out "The Clearing" from that just-announced LP above, and the tracklisting/art below...

Continue reading "Krallice playing Brendan Majewski memorial show w/ Mira Bilotte, announce new album (new MP3 included)"

by BBG

Dysrhythmia at The Charleston in 2009 (more by Samantha Marble)

One of the world's most easily misspelled bands, Dysrhythmia, will play Union Pool on 3/11 as part of a show with Zevious (featuring Jeff Eber of Dysrhythmia), Smother Party, and A Fucking Elephant. The party jumps off at 9PM and will set you back $8. Kevin Hufnagel recently posted an update on the band that drops tons of incredible news about his and the rest of Dysrhythmia's projects:

Dysrhythmia is about half way through writing the next record. We'll start demoing stuff in the Spring and perhaps share a track or two online... Otherwise, a new record won't be likely until 2012. The wait will be worth it, promise... One of the reasons for that is simply due to the number of other musical ventures we have happening.

Gorguts will be recording the new album in February, with a scheduled Summer release. Touring will follow.

Krallice will have a new record out in April.

Zevious will be doing their first full US tour in March/April.

I'll have a new solo record called Transparencies out in March/April.

They'll be a record coming Summer/Fall tentatively titled 'Night Sessions' which is a collaboration between myself and vocalist/multi-instrumentalist Costanza Francavilla...

I recently guested on a 20 minute track for long running Philadelphia-based experimental progressive metal/hardcore band Starkweather. This should be out sometime next year as part of a split release. It was an honor for me to play on this track. They've been one of my favorite bands for years.

Gorillaz @ Coachella 2010 (more by Rachel Carr)

Slayer @ the Izod Center in August (more by Samantha Marble)

today in NYC
* NY Comic Con
* Iron Dog @ The Stone
* moe. @ Beacon Theatre
* The Subdudes @ BB King's
* James Hunter @ Joe's Pub
* Louie Belogenis @ The Stone
* Kraft @ Avery Fisher Hall
* Yann Tiersen @ The Concert Hall
* Bleu Edmondson @ Mercury Lounge
* Semi Precious Weapons @ Irving Plaza
* Lord of the Rings @ Radio City Music Hall
* Steve Wynn & the Miracle 3 @ Living Room
* Ratatat, DOM, Bobby Birdman @ Terminal 5
* Gorillaz, N.E.R.D. @ Madison Square Garden
* Slayer, Megadeth, Anthrax @ Nassau Coliseum
* Pierced Arrows, Tunnel of Love @ Mercury Lounge
* Kimya Dawson, Your Heart Breaks @ Knitting Factory
* Swans, Baby Dee, Ben Frost @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
* Red Baraat, Javelin, Chances With Wolves DJs @ Southpaw
* A Frames, Pop. 1280, Nice Face, Imaginary Icons @ Cake Shop
* Teen Inc, SFV Acid, Blood Orange @ Monster Island Basement
* Revival Times, Teen Face Control, DJ Chris Anderson @ Zebulon
* Nick Zinner of Yeah Yeah Yeahs (DJ set) @ The Insound Design Store
* Wanda Jackson, The Lustre Kings, Jonny Corndawg @ Knitting Factory
* Bells (ex-Jawbox), The Caribbean, Video Daughters, Y/Y @ Bruar Falls
* Sharon Van Etten, Julianna Barwick, She Keeps Bees @ The Rock Shop
* I Love Lightning Bugs, Me You Us Them, The Prids, Grandfather @ Spike Hill
* Starfucker, The Octopus Project, Philip Seymour Hoffman @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
* Necro plus Q-Unique, Slaine of La Coka Nostra, NEMS, Skam Dust @ The Studio at Webster Hall
* Barbara Lynn, Vernon Garrett, Don Gardner, Eli Paperboy Reed (Brooklyn Soul Festival) @ The Bell House
* Kronos Quartet (music of Michael Gordon, Maria Schneider, Bryce Dessner, Missy Mazzoli, and Aleksandra Vrebalov) @ Le Poisson Rouge

An (((unartig))) video from last night's Krallice show at Shea Stadium, below...

New Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings video for "If You Call", below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Friday?"

by BBG

Krallice (more by Greg Cristman)

A reminder, Krallice play Shea Stadium tonight, 10/7, with fantastic support from Infernal Stronghold (a must see) and Concussion. The show will be a prelude to the band's headlining appearance at the Fall Into Darkness Festival which kicks off on the same day in Portland, Oregon. Featuring headlining sets from Black Cobra, Fauna, and Earthless in addition to the previously mentioned Krallice, the festival will also feature appearances from Fell Voices, Worm Ouroboros, Wildildlife, Deadsea, and many many notable others. If you are fan of heavy music and will be anywhere in the Pacific Northwest next weekend, this is the festival to go to. Full sked is below, including ticketing info by day. A four-day pass is also available.

Meanwhile, Fall Into Darkness 2009 has made it's way onto DVD. The video, which contains footage of 2009 participating bands Earth, YOB, Agalloch, Ludicra, Saviours, Amber Asylum, Witch Mountain, and many others, is currently up for sale at the FOD site. Pick one up.

Festival sked and the trailer from the 2009 edition is below.

Continue reading "Fall Into Darkness starts in Portland, Krallice in NYC tonight"

Nick and Lev of Krallice / Bloody Panda (more by Greg Cristman)

Krallice have spent some time away from the live stage as of late, but will return on October 7th for a show with incredible blackened blasters Infernal Stronghold and Concussion at Shea Stadium in Brooklyn. The band has been working their follow-up to Dimensional Bleedthrough for Profound Lore Records, though no word on a date or the current state of the release. - BBG

In related news, Nick McMaster of Krallice appears on Nader Sadek's new In the Flesh.

And speaking of Shea Stadium, Pygmy Shrews, Unnatural Helpers, and the Babies play there tonight (8/30). It will be the Unnatural Helpers' 2nd of four NYC-area shows. On Saturday they played Dead Herring because that's where their show scheduled for Bruar Falls was moved to. Tuesday, 9/1, they're at Maxwell's and Wednesday is Cake Shop. More info in This Week in Indie.

words by BBG, photos by Greg Cristman, additional pics by Samantha Marble

Luc LeMay of Gorguts

Gorguts. Portal. Krallice. Bloody Panda. On one show! Knitting Factory on Wednesday (5/26) was a bit much to comprehend, what with a stellar four band bill like that, and as expected the sold-out Blackened Music/BV show was a jawdropper.

Bloody Panda started the evening out sans their usual executioner hoods, blasting out a powerful set of ominous darkness that was a perfect opposite to the tremolo-picking/riff-tastic bill that would follow. Starting with a shriek from vocalist Yoshiko that sent a shiver up my spine (imagine the middle ground between a high-pitched squeal and a door hinge creaking), I realized that it had been quite sometime since I last saw the band (members are now scattered around the globe) and had forgotten how compelling they were live. The band seems as though they have moved past shock & awe in the riff department and on to moody, powerful soundscapes with riffy passages (ala Swans). Either way, incredible set from this sextet.

Krallice swapped slots with Portal before the show started, and followed BP. As usual, the fearsome foursome played a rousing set of technical yet tuneful black metal which, much like at Europa, featured a decent amount of new songs. No word on what that material will hit the shelves, but expected it to be as brutal, complex, and powerful as their previous two releases. Incredible band.

Portal

The atonal and costumed beast Portal was next, and the room was buzzing with anticipation. How would Portal's music translate in a live setting? What would they look like? Would the band come off as schticky or theatrical? Around 10PM, the band sauntered on stage, each clad in all black with hoods, one wearing a hangman's noose around his neck. Once the down-tuned and discordant riffs began, in came The Curator, the band's theatrical vocalist. Dressing in a black pope outfit, The Curator summoned some of the most unholy of bellows, gesturing in ways not unlike the pontiff himself. Extremely theatrical and totally fun, Portal are fascinating live, and hopefully we won't have to wait to see them again.

After a bill like that, I would have more than content with calling it a night... but Gorguts was next! The reunited Canadian DM gods (now featuring Colin Marston & Kevin Hufnagel) delivered a powerful set of brutal, eclectic tunes, with a good portion of those coming from the bands FORTHCOMING album (in 2011!). Classics from Obscura and beyond were all well represented, and the band were balanced, tight and badass in the live setting.

The thing that I enjoyed most about Gorguts' performance was the focus on something that I find lacking in tech-death in 2010; too many bands think that technically impressive riffs always equals brutality. Some of the simplest riffs ever are also the most brutal... it's more about feel and power behind those riffs and not that really rad seven-fret stretch you can do. Hey, it is called technical DEATH metal after all, amirite?

More pics, some setlists, and some must-see video is below....

Continue reading "Gorguts, Portal, Krallice & Bloody Panda played Knitting Factory - pics, video, setlists"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Bloody Panda - "Art Galleries" (MP3)

Colin Marston of Gorguts, playing Europa with his other band Krallice (more here)

The Gorguts / Krallice / Bloody Panda / Portal extravaganza is WEDNESDAY (5/26) at Knitting Factory. Some tickets are still available, but they are going fast and the show WILL sell out. Pick up a pair, or try your luck at winning our MEGA-prizepack featuring a pair of tickets, a copy of Krallice's new album Dimensional Bleedthrough on clear 2xLP gatefold vinyl AND Portal's Lurker at the Threshold limited run picture disc 7"! Details on how to win are at the bottom of this post.

Speaking of Bloody Panda, the band recently sent a demo track into the wild, "Art Galleries", which is available for download above. The clip, culled from a 2004 mini-disc recording, features BP in one of their earliest forms and is less the lumbering 10-ton 10MPH riffbeast that you may already know; it's a fascinating track. For more details on the genesis of the recording, head to Stereogum. A video for Bloody Panda's "Miserere" is embedded below.

Krallice's Dimensional Bleedthrough, one of my favorite albums of last year, is out NOW on CD via Profound Lore and vinyl via Gilead Media. Cop it.

Portal's Lurker At The Threshold EP is also out NOW via Chrome Leaf. This limited edition picture disc is currently not on sale via the label's site (until after MDF), but is up for sale at Aquarius Records, Nuclear War Now, and other fine institutions of misanthropic commerce.

Some videos and full Bloody Panda dates are below...

Continue reading "Bloody Panda on tour w/ Gorguts, Krallice & Portal (win NYC tix & some LPs), giving away a new old track (MP3) "

words by Stefan Raduta, photos by BBG

Laurie and John of Ludicra

He is risen. By he, I mean John Cobbett. And by risen, I mean up from the hospital bed after being treated for a burst appendix and ensuing abcess. Cobbett is on the mend (though he still needs your help) and he joined his mates in Ludicra when they headlined the BV/Osiris show at Europa on 4/18 with a little help from Krallice, Castevet, and Atakke. Stefan filed the following review from the show.... -BBG

====

I've been hearing good things about Brooklyn's Atakke, but seeing them for the first time convinced me this really is a band to keep a close eye on. Hands down, they have it all: intense, neck-breaking riffs, great drumming and to top it all, a very charismatic (and quite pretty) bullet-belted female singer that seriously raises some pulses on stage. I mean, this girl can scream her lungs out, she's not fooling around. Just awesome! Great set, super catchy breakdowns, I was really impressed with them. They sort of remind me of a thrashier Benediction, and I'm willing to bet they're all into early Sepultura. Thumbs up.

continued below w/ more pictures, videos & setlists...

Continue reading "Ludicra, Krallice, Castevet & Atakke played Europa (pics) "

by BBG

Colin on stage with Krallice (more by Paul Birman)

It's with the utmost pride that I am proud to announce that BrooklynVegan will team up with The Blackened Music Fest and Knitting Factory on May 26th for the return of the legendary Gorguts (!) with Brooklyn black metal greats Krallice, the NYC debut of the darkness that is Portal, and the return of Bloody Panda! Tickets are on sale.

FYI, Gorguts is now made up of half of the current members of Dysrhythmia (Colin and Kevin), along with John Longstreth (Dim Mak, Origin, The Red Chord) and Luc LeMay (original Gorguts). Colin of Dysrhythymia will do double duty that night, as he also plays guitar with Krallice.

Krallice ss also confirmed for another NYC show on April 18th, this time with Ludicra, Castevet, and Attake. Tickets are on sale for the BV/Osiris production.

Continue reading "Gorguts return (NYC show w/ Krallice, Portal, Bloody Panda)"

by BBG

Krallice at Union Pool (more by Lori Baily)

Who needs Mayhem with a lineup like this? BrooklynVegan and Osiris are proud to present that the great Ludicra will team up with Krallice, Castevet, and Atakke for a killer show at Europa on 4/18. Tickets on sale soon. A few more announced Ludicra dates are below.

Ludicra is prepping for an appearance at Scion Rock Fest, but more imminently, have their new record The Tenant due in March. Order that record via Profound Lore.

BrooklynVegan is also on board as the official sponsor for the Profound Lore/20 Buck Spin Official Showcase at Headhunters on 3/19 during SxSW. Ludicra won't be on that show, but the killer trio of Salome (who is also playing a BV Day Party), Coffinworm, and Yakuza will be reppin' the label.

The Ludicra show is one of three BV-presented metal shows scheduled for April. The other two are Weedeater on 4/10 (tix, a BV/Osiris show) and Narrows on 4/24 (tix, a 1000 Knives/BV show).

Some live Krallice and Ludicra videos below...

Continue reading "not touring w/ Mayhem, Krallice & Ludicra add NYC show"

intro by BBG, interview by Kogaionon, English translation of that interview & the rest of the story by Stefan Raduta

Dordeduh with guest percussionist Thelemnar

Stefan Raduta is no stranger to the darkness. As a writer with Metal Maniacs, Imhotep, and many other outlets, the Romanian born scribe has profiled and reviewed some of the biggest and most influential names in the blackened depths of extreme music. In the following piece Stefan examines black metal and its current move toward transcendentalism and then focuses on his Romanian countrymen, black metal band Negura Bunget, and their fracture into Dordeduh. He concludes with an interview with Dordeduh (ex-NB) member Hupogrammos. The interview was originally conducted by another writer in his native tongue and translated for us by Stefan. Check it all out below...

Continue reading "The Current State of Black Metal, Trancendental Black Metal, Negura Bunget & an interview w/ Dordeduh's Hupogrammos"

by BBG

Ludicra @ Santos (more here)

I guess dreams don't come true? Mayhem has cancelled all North American dates with Ludicra and Tombs, including the previously discussed show at Irving with Krallice. A statement from the band is forthcoming.

Ludicra is set to appear at Scion Rock Fest, and their new LP The Tenant will impact Profound Lore in March.

Tombs is scheduled to hit the road in March, tagging SXSW at Relapse's official showcase on 3/17 with Voivod, Howl, Graves of Valor, Kill The Client, Mammoth Grinder, and Brian Posehn. Flyer below...

Continue reading "Mayhem cancels entire upcoming North American tour"

by BBG

* Toby Driver photo by Gemma Fleming

Toby Driver is an "other". Not like Benjamin Linus or one of the Dharma Initiative, but in that his artistic endeavors Kayo Dot and Maudlin of The Well exist in the in-between, and outside. Driver's current project, Kayo Dot, is prepping to release their fourth album Coyote via Hydra Head on April 6th. On Coyote, elements of goth, avant-jazz, prog, ambient, and the kitchen sink meld with the avant-garde, making for an intensely fascinating and eclectic listen.

Driver was recently asked to curate the month of February at The Stone, John Zorn's non-profit club in the East Village. We sat down to ask Driver about some of the bands he chose which include solo sets from members of Krallice, Dysrhythmia, Extra Life, and Bloody Panda in addition to Baby Dee, Oxbow, Gnaw, and a full performance by his own band doing Coyote from start to finish, and the recent resurrection of Maudlin of The Well.

Full interview and Stone schedule, below....

Continue reading "Toby Driver curated Feb @ The Stone - interview & schedule"

by BBG

Mayhem at Irving Plaza (more by Paul Birman)

Mayhem. Krallice. Tombs. Ludicra. Each one of these four bands have delivered some of my favorite records and performances of the past few years. And now, all FOUR bands will team up for a tour and a NYC show TOGETHER! BrooklynVegan is beyond proud to present the return of Norwegian black metal legends Mayhem with Ludicra, Krallice, and Tombs at Irving Plaza on April 8th, one show of an overall US campaign to level the musical landscape of all suckas. NYC tickets will be on sale soon. Must.... calm... down..... excitement.... overtaking.....

In addition, we are happy to announce that Tombs honcho Mike Hill will pen a tour diary for BV along the way. You can see his prior dispatches from the road on his website or on Decibel's blog.

Of the participating bands, Ludicra is the only one with a new album imminent; make sure and pick up The Tenant via Profound Lore on 3/2 and dig on an interview that drummer Aesop Dekker did with Brandon Stosuy. Mayhem's last release was 2007's Ordo Ad Chao and both Krallice and Tombs released great LPs in 2009.

Many show going New Yorkers can attest to the greatness of this lineup, as all of these bands have played shows recently. Tombs played Union Pool on 1/22 with Rosetta, City of Ships and Battlefields (pics are on the way). Krallice just decimated the Knit with Crucifist. Ludicra beatdown Santos with John Cobbett's other project, Hammers of Misfortune. And of course Mayhem famously toured sans Marduk, but with Withered, Cephalic Carnage and others. That NYC show was also at Irving Plaza.

Ludicra is one of many bands on board for Scion Rock Fest 2010 in Columbus Ohio. Look for Tombs at SXSW this year.

Some videos of all bands, including a Tombs video from Union Pool, and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading "Krallice, Ludicra & Tombs touring w/ Mayhem - 2010 dates (BV Presents the NYC show at Irving Plaza) "

words by Ilya Blokh

Mick Barr of Krallice at The Knitting Factory (photo by Justina Villanueva)

Humanity Falls, Ancient Wound and Crucifist opened for Krallice at the Knitting Factory on Sunday, January 7th, 2010. Crucifist were closing up a short east coast tour in support of the recently released Demon Haunted World, while Krallice dropped Dimensional Bleedthrough a few months ago (one of BBG's faves); both records are out on Profound Lore.

A review of Sunday's show continues below...

Continue reading "Krallice, Crucifist & friends played Knitting Factory "

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)"