by Fred Pessaro

Bolt Thrower at MDF 2013

Maryland Deathfest 2013 kicked off yesterday (5/23) with a rare appearance from the legendary death metal band Bolt Thrower (on tour), along with Cobalt (also on tour, recently interviewed on IO on EVR), Japan's Abigail (part of a string of dates), Pallbearer, and local thrash favorites Noisem. The single stage event expands to four today, keep up with it all on the InvisibleOranges Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Pictures from the first day of Maryland Deathfest are also at InvisibleOranges.

Converge at Decibel, 2013 (more by Shaun Regan)

Converge will team with Meek Is Murder, Trenchfoot and Dead Serious at Saint Vitus on May 25 and tickets are on sale. The show is part of a weekend that will see the Massachusetts hardcore quartet also head toward an appearance at Maryland Deathfest, joining names like Bolt Thrower, Infest, and more. All dates are listed below.

Speaking of Maryland Deathfest, the festival recently announced the cancellation of Gehenna "due to pressing legal matters" and the addition of Ringworm. Tickets are still available for Maryland Deathfest.

Dates below...

Continue reading "Converge playing NYC before Maryland Deathfest"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Jeff and Bill of Carcass at Nokia Theater Sept 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

A new interview in Decibel spills the beans.... Carcass are officially back in action. The band, who reunited four years ago, have recorded new material and expects to release a new LP in 2013.

Please tell us the full recording lineup.

Jeff Walker: "Bill Steer (guitars), Jeff Walker (bass/vocals), Daniel Wilding (drums). For live we'll obviously add another guitarist--we have someone in mind but we are not interested in a 'name' player."

Why do this now over four years after the initial Carcass reunion?

"Good timing, eh? Twenty-five years we first recorded Reek of Putrefaction. The incentive was off Bill. I'd verbally expressed an interest in doing something but I needed Bill to have the desire and hunger again and that's exactly what has happened. He recalled watching Dan Wilding play on tour with us in 2008 and something about him struck a chord and he wanted to work with him. There was something about him that kind of reminded him of Ken, on a personal level as much as his playing. We've done this recording firstly for ourselves--there's no label backing even as you read this--in fact me and Bill have spent a small fortune out of our pocket to see this through--it's more of an artistic/personal statement than anything." - [Decibel]

Brujeria at Maryland Deathfest 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

Though many incarnations of their passes were sold-out before details were announced, Maryland Deathfest (May 23 - 26, 2013) have the daily line-ups ready to go now. Head below for a list of who you'll see on what day. Tickets are on sale.

Lineups by day are below. Get your tickets now, they'll most likely be gone soon.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest release daily line-ups, four-day and Soundstage passes sold out"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Not only has Maryland Deathfest (May 23-26, 2013) expanded with additions of Down (who recently played NYC), Melvins (them too), The Obsessed (!), Ufomammut, Deiphago (who is coming to NYC), Cobalt (as discussed), Evoken and more, they have also added a mostly-punk/grind/powerviolence stage too! The festival promises that set times will not overlap with the  Baltimore Soundstage, which will host an Infest reunion (!), along with appearances from Citizens Arrest, Converge (who is on tour this fall), Iron Lung, Full of Hell (who is on tour with Gaza), Sete Star Sept, Vitamin X, Magrudergrind, Kromosom, Ilsa, and many more. Updated MDF lineup, with the new punk/hardcore/metal stage, is below.

Infest split in 1996 after ten years of pioneering a style that would later be known as "powerviolence":

The band, while not coining the term powerviolence, were definitely pioneers of it. The Los Angeles quartet blended the ethos, speed and song structure of hardcore, along with the aggression and anger of bands like Negative Approach and Negative FX creating a style emulated by many and an energy captured by few. Joe Denunzio's vocals exhibited pure angst, with lyrical content about conformity, war, scene politics and socio-political issues, mostly delivered in an accusation assault. -[Last.FM]

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest adds punk stage, announces Infest reunion"

Morbid Angel at MDF 2012 (more by Fred Pessaro // BBG)

After all of the drama with Baltimore venue Sonar, looks as if Maryland Deathfest will return to the space after all... sort of. The scoop:

In a nutshell, we will be returning to the property formerly known as Sonar, and will be at least doubling the amount of outside space that we've been used to utilizing...The additional space outside will allow us to comfortably accommodate the crowd, and will allow more room for the MDF vendor village, food vendors/food trucks, places to sit, and other new additions like misting tents to escape the possibility of it being hotter than it should be that weekend. There will be two outside stages plus the stage inside. Due to the new configuration outside, the placement of the outside stages will likely be different.

As for the building itself, there are some renovations currently taking place, but the rooms will be used exactly how they have been in the past, and it will be air conditioned throughout.

We would also like to announce the addition of a second inside stage at Baltimore Soundstage, which is a 1/2 mile walk away from the former Sonar (at 124 Market Place), and will be used from Friday-Sunday. This will be a smaller show without a barricade that will feature mostly hardcore and punk bands, and it will be scheduled in a way that should not conflict with anything going on at the former Sonar compound.

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Repulsion at Brooklyn Masonic Temple in 2009 (more bu Justina Villanueva)

Maryland Deathfest 2013 expands with another round of additions, this time bringing exclusive performances from Pagan Altar & Vinterland, as well as performances from Pig Destroyer, Broken Hope, Weedeater (who hits the road with Saint Vitus, who played this year, this fall), Loss (who played NYC in May) and repeat offender Gride (who played Bushwick Bikes in addition to MDF in 2010). The additions come shortly after the news broke of the first round of bands, which included names like Venom, Antaeus, Righteous Pigs, Carcass and Midnight. Full 2013 lineup, as it stands, is below.

In related news, Repulsion will play NYC over Labor Day weekend as part of Power of The Riff East, joining names like sunn o))), Poison Idea, Pentagram, Agnostic Front, Double Negative, Coffinworm and more. Tickets are still available for each day separately (day 1 HERE, day 2 HERE) but two day passes are sold out.

Current MDF lineup and a few videos are below.

Continue reading "2013 Maryland Deathfest lineup expands with Pagan Altar, Repulsion, Pig Destroyer and more "

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Carcass in NYC in 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

Maryland Deathfest have announced their first batch of bands for their 2013 edition, including a veritable buttload of exclusive appearances. Among those scheduled to appear exclusively at the eleventh edition of the fest are Venom, Carcass, a Righteous Pigs reunion, Antaeus (who played Rites of Darkness), Convulse, Aosoth, !Tooh!, Ahumado Granujo, and Ingrowing.

Also on board will be Manilla Road, Pentagram (who play Power of The Riff next month), Integrity (who played A389), Pelican, Midnight (who played Acheron this year and Rites of Darkness), Morgion, and Kommandant (who played Martyrdoom). Now that the details on the "who" are starting to emerge, we just need some details on the "where" now that Sonar is officially kaput. More details forthwith.

In related news, MDF 2011 alums and over-the-top death metal purists Gravehill give fuck-zero about current trends, they just want to rip, drink frothy cold ones and scare the ever-living shit out of you. The California-based band will head to the East Coast this fall to play Saint Vitus on October 26th with Hour of 13, Master's Eve and Mutant Supremacy. Tickets are on sale. So far, no details on an actual tour yet, but we'll keep our eyes peeled (pardon the pun).

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

The Sonar compound during Maryland Deathfest 2012 (more by BBG)

Greetings, everyone. In case the rumor hasn't made it to your ears, we can let you know that Sonar (the home of MDF since 2006) is closing. Why? That's not important.

What is important is that we've known about this situation for months, and we were already searching for a new location only a few days after MDF X ended. Currently, we have THREE locations to choose from, all of which would be in Baltimore. Once some more logistical and financial planning takes place, we can make a decision on next year's location. With a little luck, we'll reveal that info before the end of July. Worst case scenario, we'll let you know sometime in August.

In the meantime, we will be announcing the first round of confirmed bands for MDF XI very soon, maybe even as early as next week.
[Maryland Deathfest]

by BBG

Saint Vitus

Arguably the centerpiece of the entire Maryland Deathfest lineup was the return of the UK doom juggernaut Electric Wizard (pictures HERE), so suffice it to say that a large portion of the Sunday (on 5/28) roster leaned in that direction. Doom legends Saint Vitus headlined the second stage that night, while the bluesy Church of Misery, glacially-paced Cough, zen-like Yob and eclectic Rwake all represented for the genre.

The rest of the day fell all over the map, from speedy straight-edge to grind, black metal to crust, and death metal of the technical and primitive sorts. The odd-experimentalism of Bethlehem caught my ear the most, but sets from the always entertaining Suffocation, Disma, Pentagram (black/thrash from Chile), Ulcerate, Mortuary Drape and Agents of Abhorrence were similarly fun. I unfortunately arrived too late to catch Backslider or Coke Bust. Demonical's old school Swedish death metal sounded excellent but didn't put on much of a live show and my flirtation with Morgoth was interrupted in favor of Rwake's full set.

More pictures from the final day at Maryland Deathfest is below. If you missed it, check out pictures from day 1 HERE (and Rorschach HERE), day 2 HERE and day 3 HERE.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest Day 4: Saint Vitus, Mortuary Drape, Bethlehem, Rwake, Church of Misery, Disma and more"

by BBG

Electric Wizard at Maryland Death Fest 5/27/12

Between Godflesh (who headlined Friday) and Electric Wizard who wrapped things up on Sunday (5/27), Maryland Deathfest was a must see event for fans of metal in the US. Though rain slowed the opening of Electric Wizard's approach to the outdoor stage on Sunday, they nonetheless made it on stage for their first US appearance in eleven years. The UK quartet, sporting an entirely new rhythm section, were definitely worthy of said top slot, playing material from across their catalog to legions of fist-raised fans.

Check out pictures, a partial setlist, an video of Deathfest set below. If you missed it, check out photos from day 1 HERE (and Rorschach HERE), day 2 HERE, day 3 HERE and day 4 HERE.

Continue reading "Electric Wizard played Maryland Deathfest (pictures, video, partial setlist)"

by BBG

Trey Azagthoth of Morbid Angel

May 26th was a day of firsts for me at the tenth annual Maryland Deathfest. It was the first time I saw Confessor, Deviated Instinct and Haemorrhage. The first time I heard "new" material from death-doom godsWinter. The first time I saw Noothgrush with new live vocalist Dino Sommese (Ghoul, Dystopia, etc). And maybe most memorably, the first time I witnessed a man whip out his junk out on stage, piss in his cupped hand and wipe his face with it.

The latter first came care of Horna, who's lead singer Spellgoth performed the "urine baptism" at center stage (pictures below, NSFW?) and was one of several notable black metal-influenced performances (Archgoat, Tsjuder, Black Witchery) on that brutally hot Saturday. The moment wasn't noticed by many, but the foul stench of old blood and human fluids left a trail throughout the indoor stage.

My mid-afternoon arrival at Sonar meant that I sadly missed sets by Infernal Stronghold, Bloody Phoenix, and Looking for an Answer, and not-so-sadly missed October 31 (members Deceased) and Anvil (the former being eons better than the latter). The remainder of the sweltering hot day was largely a string of successes with stellar sets from crusty thrashers Hellbastard, UK's Dragged into Sunlight, deliciously obnoxious goregrind from Haemorrhage, death-doom pioneers Winter (who played unearthed songs at MDF), thrash from Morbid Saint and an impressive set from the reunited technical-doom crew Confessor.

Reunited crust-death metal crew Deviated Instinct wins for my favorite of the daytime performances (they played at close to the same time as The Devil's Blood), and though bassist David Vincent gave me a bit of a Nikki Sixx douche-chill during Morbid Angel's headlining set, the band's performance of the early classics absolutely murdered. Brujeria, the supercrew made up of members of Napalm Death, Carcass and more, were great headliners for the opposing outdoor stage but I opted for Noothgrush.

More pictures from day three at Maryland Deathfest are below. If you missed them, check out day one pictures HERE, a set of Rorschach's pictures HERE, and day two pictures HERE.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest Day 3: Morbid Angel, Winter, Brujeria, Dragged Into Sunlight, Haemorrhage, Confessor and more"

by BBG

Godflesh at MDF

Hand in hand, the gasmask wielding pair strolled on to the stage to the sound of air raid sirens. Their arrival announced the coming of reunited grindcore greats Nasum, one of the headliners at Maryland Deathfest on May 25th playing their farewell round of shows. A rare appearance from Godflesh and related band Napalm Death (Godflesh's Justin Broadrick was an early member of ND) were the night's outdoor (read: true) headliners, playing the large stages and rounding out a lineup that included campy thrash, Swedish death metal, noisecore pioneers, Romanian black metal and many stops in between.

Brooklyn's Castevet opened the show at 3:30PM, sporting new bassist Nick McMaster (also of Krallice). I missed the next band Nashgul (and would later miss Setherial in the same room), but managed to catch the campy and fun Ghoul, who take cues from their ex-tourmates Gwar in the theatricality and dousing-the-audience-in-"blood" arenas. Finnish death metal crew Demigod, who were a highlight at Rites of Darkness, opened the outdoor stage and delivered a similarly inspired performance.

Today is The Day were next on the indoor stage, playing quite possibly my favorite performance from the band and definitely a highlight for the day. The band's new lineup featuring the rhythm section of Wetnurse is a perfect match for Steve Austin's madman antics, and I heard quite a few comments afterword to the tune of "I forgot how much I used to love Today is The Day". Their former labelmates on Amphetamine Reptile, Unsane, would also kill it later that evening.

Negura Bunget, or what left of them, followed on the indoor stage (the bulk of the original band was recently replaced), and seemed oddly placed and limp following Today is The Day. Meanwhile, thrashers Artillery riled up the thrashers on the outside stage but didnt do much for me.

Napalm Death headlined the first of the two outdoor stages, playing material from each of their prior albums to a circle-pitting, crowd-surfing audience. Besides being the originators of the genre, Napalm Death is also one of grind's tightest live crews; the term legend is more than well-deserved.

The crowd had lined up in front of the second stage a long time before Godflesh ripped into their first chord, so from the moment that the band kicked into "Like Rats" the pits and surfers had easily migrated to the other end of the parking lot. The duo (and requisite drum machine) played material from their legendary Streetcleaner and though they slightly overstayed their welcome, it was nonethless amazing to see them live.

The reactivated Nasum (who we recently interviewed) headlined the indoor stage at Sonar and similar to the Godflesh and Napalm Death, the crowd let loose by the time Rotten Sound's Keijo Niinimaa belted out the first vocal. The five piece will be missed, but they definitely went out with a bang.

More pictures from day two at Maryland Death Fest are below. If you missed it, check out day one pictures HERE and a set of Rorschach's pictures HERE.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest Day 2: Godflesh, Napalm Death, Nasum, Today is The Day, Unsane, Ghoul, Demigod and more "

by BBG

Eric Cutler of Autopsy

Bullet belts, flip flops, studded gauntlets, chicken suits... yep, its Maryland Deathfest time again. Though it was milder this week, in true MDF fashion the first of the four day Baltimore music festival (on 5/24) kicked off with high temperatures, humidity and unrelenting sun, making for a strong contrast to the pitch black indoor room at Sonar. Luckily, escape from the sun also meant catching some of the best heavy music out there.

The day started with sets by Extermination Angel and Die Pigeon Die, both of which I missed unfortunately, so the "opening" set by Needful Things was a fierce blast of grind that was a great perk-me-up for the rest of the day's activities. For the most part, a lot of the bands on Thursday I had seen in recent months: Eyehategod at A389 (dudes, please... we need new songs... the set is getting tired), Absu and Agalloch at Inferno, and Autopsy at Inferno and in Brooklyn. All delivered excellent, though familiar (to me) sets with the exception of Agalloch whose focus was on their earlier material (no Marrow of the Spirit here). Excellent way to cater to the crowd and make it special.

Of the remainder of the bands, Dying Fetus's death metal-slam style has never been my cup of tea but Rorschach... that's another story. Rorschach's unique noise/metal/hardcore sound was the clear winner for favorite set of the day for me, coming out with unmatched energy and playing their cover of King Crimson's "21st Century Schizoid Man" as well as material from their Protestant/Remain Sedate release (which was available in exclusive colors just for this show)(wow). I remember being floored when I saw them at Santos and The Charleston way back when, but this might have been their best set yet. I could watch them play forever, but I'm guessing there's a short window of time left for this band... don't miss them. Rorschach pictures are HERE.

More pictures from Day 1 at Maryland Deathfest including Autopsy's setlist are below.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest 2012 Day 1: Needful Things, Absu, Eyehategod, Agalloch, Autopsy, Rorschach and more"

photos by BBG, words by Sally Secret

"See you soon. MDF Thursday, I don't know how many shows in NYC on Saturday and Sunday in NJ." - Rorschach

Rorschach @ Maryland Deathfest - 5/24/2012

The Rorschach show at LPR this Saturday (5/26), that Converge was added to, is now sold out, but if you don't have a ticket, don't dispair. There are plenty of other ways to roar on Saturday courtesy of Black God who are now on an east coast tour. As previously mentioned, the Kentucky band that features members of Coliseum, Young Widows and By The Grace Of God, will play TWO NYC shows on Saturday, and both are sort of a mystery. The first, which was just finally listed on the venue's website with a "secret guest", is a matinee at ABC No Rio. The second is still just listed as "Sa 5/26 (night) - Brooklyn, NY @ Announced Day of Show!". Stay tuned!

Rorschach also play a show at Warehouse Motor Club in Middlesex, NJ on Sunday with Torchbearer, Too Many Voices, and Brain Slug (5pm, $10). They played Maryland Deathfest last night (Thursday). Review coming soon. That's one picture above. More below...

Continue reading "Rorschach played MDF (pics), playing a sold out LPR (and other shows); Black God on tour (2 NYC shows Saturday)"

by BBG

Kiss It Goodbye

As discussed, the recently reunited Kiss it Goodbye is now an active band, albeit missing some of their original personnel. The band recently announced the addition of Jim Winters (Starkweather, Turmoil, Earth Crisis, The Promise) to their lineup and with that intact, it was just a matter of time before KiG announced an NYC show. That day has come. Kiss it Goodbye will play Acheron on June 1st with Tiger Flowers and Fashion Week. Details on additional shows, if they exist, are still on the way.

Members of Rorschach (specifically Gormely and Huckins) will NOT participate in the reunion, but they will play NYC at LPR (with Converge, tickets) as well as Maryland Deathfest.

by BBG

Rorschach at The Charleston (more by Ryan Muir)

Rorschach is scheduled to play Maryland Deathfest this year, so it doesnt come as too much of a surprise that the legendary band will ALSO return to NYC for a show right around that timeframe! Rorschach play Le Poisson Rouge on May 26th (during MDF) with support still TBD. Tickets are $12 in advance/$13 at the door, and are on sale.

Rorschach joins names like Autopsy, Church of Misery/Rwake, Negura Bunget, Nasum, Ulcerate, and Ghoul who have all added NYC dates in addition to their MD festival appearance. More will surely come.

Rorschach's last NYC venture was in 2009 when they played a pair of NYC shows including The Charleston (pictures) and Santos (pictures). We interviewed Charles Maggio around the same time. Check out some video from their 2009 appearances below..

Continue reading "Rorschach schedules an NYC show at LPR"

by BBG

Mike of Yob playing solo at Empty Bottle in Chicago (more by Carmelo Espanola)

After a string of dates with Tool teased at an NYC return, Yob have officially announced their return to the five boroughs with a show at The Bell House on May 23rd. Tickets are on sale. No word on the support for the bill, which is a one-off prior to their appearance to Maryland Deathfest, but we'll keep you up to date.

Also no word on if Mike Sheidt of Yob will do a solo set before plugging in with the doom trio at Bell House. As discussed, Sheidt is welcoming his new LP Stay Awake via Thrill Jockey later this year. Detals are forthcoming, but in the meantime you can catch Mike Sheidt on Apr 19th in Portland, OR at Mississippi Studios.

All tour dates and some video below.

Continue reading "Yob adds NYC show before Maryland Deathfest"

by BBG

Nasum's Farewell lineup

As previously announced, Nasum are reforming to play a string of "farewell" dates including Chaos in Tejas, Maryland Deathfest, and what will be their final NYC performance at Europa on May 24th (the Thursday of MDF) with Brutal Truth, Dropdead, and Grudges . Tickets are on sale. Tickets are still available for both MDF and Chaos as well. All dates, including a European run, are listed below.

Speaking of Brutal Truth, Danny Lilker is currently on tour with Lock Up (playing bass instead of Shane Embury of Napalm Death!) and the band hits NYC Thursday at Europa (2/16). Tickets are still available.

All Nasum dates and some videos below.

Continue reading "Nasum schedule "farewell" NYC show w/ Brutal Truth before Maryland Deathfest & Chaos in Tejas (dates)"

by BBG

Sleep at Terminal 5 (more by BBG)

It was inevitable. Sleep will headline Roadburn 2012. Al Cisneros' other current project Om (with Robert Lowe) and the previously announced curators Voivod also ae on the bill of the European festival. More impressive additions are surely to follow.

Meanwhile, Maryland Deathfest's lineup has finally solidified with the final addition of Autopsy. The band will headline the first night of the jawdropping lineup, alongside other Thursday bands like Agalloch, Eyehategod, Rorschach, Dying Fetus, Desaster, Needful Needful Things, Die Pigeon Die, and Extermination Angel.

The show is one of two Baltimore festival appearances scheduled for Eyehategod, who will also play the A389 anniversary with Integrity, Gehenna and a cast of others.

Full MDF lineup and flyer is below.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest completes lineup, Roadburn adds Sleep"

by BBG

Rorschach at The Charleston (more by Ryan Muir)

While we wait for the Maryland Deathfest lineup to expand, one of those bands have slipped past the goalie! Rorschach will play Maryland Deathfest and will presumably be announced with their final batch of artists in the coming weeks. Final bands announced! and they are: AGALLOCH, ARCHGOAT (Finland), BRUJERIA (Mexico), YOB, BLACK WITCHERY, DYING FETUS, UNANIMATED (Sweden), MORGION, RORSCHACH, NEEDFUL THINGS (Czech Republic), DIE PIGEON DIE (Australia), and EXTERMINATION ANGEL.

Show No Mercy returns with an interview and a new song from Leviathan. The interview is short and Whitehead doesn't exactly delve deep, but it and the song are both definitely worth a listen.

Cannabis Corpse will support The Black Dahlia Murder and All Shall Perish at Knitting Factory on 10/11 as part of a larger tour together. Tickets are on sale, and their full tour schedule is below.

Vanishing Leper is Justin Detore (Mind Eraser/Rival Mob/Righteous Jams etc) and Jordan Darby (Dry-Rot), and the band is currently streaming a new EP and are preparing it for a limited release on Cold Vomit. Listen below.

The always fun Skeletonwitch are on the road with Arch Enemy, Devildriver, and Cthonic for a show at Best Buy Theater on 9/9. Tickets are still available

Kvelertak is coming.

Absu added more dates since we first posted. Original post updated.

Rise And Fall have a new 7" on the way entitled "Deceiver", alongside a reissue of Hellmouth. Look for both on Deathwish.

Portal are currently tracking their new LP.

Mastodon's Remission has been repressed on 2xLP.

We recently debuted new songs by Falloch, Rosetta, Battlefields, Bosse-de-Nage, and The Atlas Moth.

Have a fun weekend. More NYC shows listed below. What did I miss?

Continue reading "Evillive (Rorschach, Cannabis Corpse, Skeletonwitch, more)"

by BBG

Napalm Death at Gramercy (more by Justina Villanueva)

The tenth edition of Maryland Deathfest (May 24-27, 2012) has expanded further, adding names like Autopsy, Napalm Death, Noothgrush, Rwake, Deviated Instinct, Cough, Coke Bust, Infernal Stronghold, Backslider and Castevet to its already impressive lineup (Godflesh, Electric Wizard, Morbid Angel, Suffocation, etc). Full lineup is below. Tickets will go on sale in the coming months.

Cough and CT of Rwake will meanwhile appear at the Slow Southern Steel film premiere at Knitting Factory on August 13th with The Gates of Slumber and Earthling. Tickets are on sale.

Autopsy recently played Slaughter In The Water and Chaos in Tejas 2011.

Noothgrush plays several Power of The Riff shows in the second week of August. The band is preparing to re-release Erode the Person via Parasitic Records.

Full lineup and some video is below.

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest expands 2012 lineup again"

Justin Broadrick with Godflesh at Roadburn 2011 (more by Stefan Raduta)

Maryland Deathfest 2012 is looking insane with some killer additions! Names like Electric Wizard, Godflesh, Winter, Confessor, Tsjuder, Negura Bunget, Looking For An Answer, Haemorrage, and many others. Full lineup thus far is below.

Stream the new Thou EP, The Archer and The Owle, at Metalsucks. Members of Thou may or may not be in the band Barghest, who recently released their debut LP via Gilead. Order a copy via the label and stream it in its entirety below. Be on the look out for upcoming Thou dates on the east coast....

Gilead is also welcoming the new LP from False, a two song self-titled 12" of black-metal misanthropy. Furious stuff, check it out for yourself below.

Stream a new song by The Atlas Moth from their forthcoming An Ache For The Distance at Stereogum. Look for the Lp on Profound Lore in September, and look out for upcoming tour dates, including the East Coast!

If you missed it, From Ashes Rise will be in NYC on 8/15 with Full of Hell & Night Birds.

Tickets are on sale for the previously discussed Weedeater/Oxbow/Bison BC/Fight Amp show at Europa on 9/10. A reminder, tickets are still available for the previously discussed Toxic Holocaust/Holy Grail/Krum Bums show at Europa on 8/19.

Ampere will play Stolen Sleeves on Saturday (7/23) in celebration of their new LP Like Shadows due on No Idea. Stream four new tracks.

Rwake is streaming a new song at NPR from the LP Rest due on September 27th via Relapse. A reminder, CT will be in NYC for the Slow Southern Steel premiere at Knitting Factory on 8/13 with The Gates of Slumber, Cough, and Earthling.

More reccomended shows, updated Despise You/Magrudergrind dates and a video flyer, the MDF 2012 linuep, streams and more are below.

Continue reading "Evillive (MDF 2012, Thou, False, The Atlas Moth, Rwake, more)"

by BBG

Today Is The Day at Highline Ballroom (more by BBG)

And so it has begun. After a fun Maryland Deathfest 2011 (pictures of day 1, 2, 3, 4), the festival has announced confirmations for MDF 2012 including some amazing names (Bethlehem, Demigod, Ghoul, Church of Misery, The Devil's Blood, Dragged Into Sunlight, Ulcerate, others) and even a true a headscratcher (Anvil?). Full lineup thus far is below. Maryland Deathfest X kicks off on May 24th, 2012 at Sonar. No tickets yet

In related news, Today is The Day, whose rhythm section once was home to half of Mastodon and now features members of Wetnurse (Curran & Ryan), have completed their new LP Pain Is A Warning and are preparing its release for August 16 on Black Market Activites/Good Fight. Preorder it now, and check out the lead track "Expectations Exceed Reality" streaming below.

Anvil plays Bowery Ballroom on July 30th as part of a summer tour. Tickets are still available.

All MDF additions, that new Today is The Day, and some video is below.

Continue reading "initial Maryland Deathfest lineup, new Today is the Day song"

words & photo by BBG

Citizens Arrest

After a three days of mayhem (pictures from day 1 HERE, day 2 HERE, and day 3 HERE) featuring sets from Neurosis, Doom, Lack of Interest, Voivod, Extortion, Aura Noir, and tons of notable others, Maryland Deathfest came to a close on Sunday with another full of performances capped by a headlining outdoor set from the reactivated Coroner, their first US appearance in 20 years.

Later that night, the true close to MDF was led by Ghost, whose set was tight and fun visually, but did not impress me as much as the hype suggests (decide for yourself on June 1st at the Studio). The remainder of my day was filled with pretty much every other band on the bill, except for Visceral Disgorge and Doubled Over who I missed in favor of much needed meals. My favorites of the day go to the foul death metallers Dead Congregation and Repugnant, the always awesome Citizens Arrest (who play Europa with another MDF alum, Tragedy, tonight), the energetic Skinless and the over the top goregrind of Last Days of Humanity.

Coroner

Coroner's setlist and more pictures from the final day of Maryland Deathfest 2011, which includes pictures of Oak, Night Bringer, Bad Acid Trip, Gravehill, Malignant Tumour, Dead Congregation, Nokturnel, Repugnant, Orange Goblin, Citizens Arrest, Skinless, Bastard Noise, Nuclear Assault, Wormed, and Last Days of Humanity, are below...

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest 2011 - Day 4 pics & recap (Coroner, Ghost, Citizens Arrest, Dead Congregation, Doubled Over, more)"