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)"

words & photo by BBG

Inquisition

After Cathedral and Neurosis on days one and two respectively, Voivod headlined the large outdoor stage at Maryland Deathfest on Saturday (5/28), with Inquisition heading up the indoor stage at Sonar.

Though there are no pictures of Masakari, Mammoth Grinder, Creative Waste, Cretin, & Blood Freak, I did catch sets from the headliners as well as Avulsed, The Kill, Drop Dead, Doom, Defeated Sanity, Acid Witch, Hooded Menace, Cyanide, In Solitude, Impaled Nazarene, Hail of Bullets, Nunslaughter, and Exhorder.

Voivod

A crusty and furious set from Doom, an awesome and energetic set from Voivod, blackened doom destruction from Hooded Menace, Austrailian grinders The Kill and Detroit doomers Acid Witch were definitely my favorites, but I also thoroughly enjoyed what I saw of Hail of Bullets (around half of their set) as well as the political and furious Drop Dead.

Hooded Menace play Union Pool TONIGHT (5/31) with Negative Plane, Anhedonist, and Ilsa (who we interviewed) as part of a BrooklynVegan event. Online ticketing is not available, but there are tickets at the door for $13. Doors are at 8PM and the show starts at 8:30.

Tragedy, who played MDF Day One, also plays a show in Brooklyn tonight.

More pictures from the third day at Maryland Deathfest are below...

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest 2011 -- Day 3 in pics & review (Voivod, Inquisition, Hooded Menace, The Kill, Acid Witch, more)"

words & photos by BBG

Neurosis

After a day of heavy music that culminated in the last US set from Cathedral, the second day of Maryland Deathfest was marked by sets from Neurosis, Aura Noir, Corrosion of Conformity, Funebrarum, Marduk, Exhumed, Kylesa, Machetazo, Cripple Bastards, Pulling Teeth, Nocturnal, The Impalers & Nails. Save for the latter two (and COC), I was able to catch all of them... with my favorite sets of the day going to Neurosis, Cripple Bastards, Funebrarum, and Exhumed.

Neurosis's set touched on songs from their latest Given To The Rising and reached back as far as Souls at Zero for "The Web". The band closed with "Through Silver In Blood" which, considering I had met the album's producer Billy Anderson earlier in the day, had a special meaning and power on top of the band's already considerable weight. Favorites like "Locust Star" and "A Sun That Never Sets" also made an appearance during the band's incredible set. The full setlist is listed below. A picture of Exhumed's is down there too.

Marduk

Marduk, Aura Noir, Black Anvil, and Panzerfaust are on a tour that hits Music Hall of Williamsburg on June 3rd. Tickets are still available. Their full list of dates is below.

A ton more pictures from Friday, below...

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest 2011 -- Day 2 in pics & review (Neurosis, Cripple Bastards, Funebrarum, Exhumed, Marduk, more)"

words & photos by BBG

Tragedy @ MDF

There's four days of this?

Maryland Deathfest 2011 (May 26-29 at Club Sonar) kicked off at the early hour of 4:45PM Thursday with a set from Witchaven, an LA thrash four piece that is currently on the road with Nocturnal (who play the 2nd outdoor stage today, 5/27). The band was followed by the blasting grind of Shitstorm, a fantastic side project featuring 2/3 of Torche and Eric from Capsule. Noisear followed Shitstorm. The New Mexico quintet played pieces from their recent Subvert The Dominant Paradigm (out now on Relapse). Miasmal (who have a new LP) was next, and their throwback nod to Swedish Death Metal of yesteryear was a good palette cleansing after two sets of grind destruction.

One of my favorite sets of the day followed. LA's Lack of Interest killed the stage with their lightning fast hardcore. The show was the band's first on the East Coast, and the crowd responded appropriately with singalongs. Flesh Parade followed LOI with a set of brutal grindcore while the MDF Party Brigade tore up the pit with inflatable items and costumes (like Teletubbies, Ketchup outfits, a shack boy and more).

Next was Extortion's speedy hardcore which represented well live, though the band had some technical difficulties... though no where near as many as Buzzov-en. Buzzov-en fried a bass head before they could even start, and took a little while to set up. I don't know how K.Lloyd could function on stage (he seemed a bit, um, impaired) but regardless they ripped a killer set.

Tragedy, as usual, was amazing. The band's crusty d-beat incited pits and stage dives. Between them and LOI, I would have been content with an excellent day of shows. Cathedral's last-ever US show closed out the evening. I have always like Cathedral, but was never as mad about them as some.... but Sonar's soundsystem did them right last night. They sounded amazing.

Today is Neurosis! More pictures from Day 1 are below...

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest 2011 -- Day 1 in pics & review (Cathedral, Tragedy, Lack of Interest, Flesh Parade, Buzzov-en & more)"

photos by Samantha Marble, words by BBG

Defeated Sanity @ Silent Barn

Germans deathmetallers Defeated Sanity belched forth a set at Silent Barn on Friday, 5/20 with help from local greats Dysrhythmia and Andomorphous Rexalia. Pictures from the Queens show (though none of Andmorphous Rexalia) adorn this post.

Defeated Sanity plays the M Room in Philly tonight (5/25), their second-to-last stop before the band plays their 9:55 PM set at Maryland DeathFest on Saturday 5/28. All of their tour dates and all of the MDF set times are below.

Learn more about MDF via Invisible Oranges comprehensive (and awesome) show program up for sale. And stay tuned for my own reports from the ground.

All pictures, some video, and the MDF set times are below.

Continue reading "Defeated Sanity played Silent Barn w/ Dysrhythmia (pics & video), on way to Maryland Deathfest (set times posted)"

by BBG

Coliseum at Bowery Ballroom (more by Tim Griffin)

Tonight, 5/13, marks the first of a series of brutally good times this weekend. Multiple metal & hardcore shows will go down to warm you up for the upcoming pre/post-Maryland Deathfest onslaught!

First up is tonight's Goes Cube/Descender/Primitive Weapons/Iron Thrones shindig at Saint Vitus in Greenpoint, which caps off a string of dates for Goes Cube. Show starts at 8PM. Across town, the one and only D.R.I. will bless Gramercy Theater (tickets are still on sale).

Coliseum kicks off a pair of NYC shows on Saturday (5/14), teaming with the awesome Rise & Fall, Masakari, Gods & Queens and Psychic Limb at Public Assembly at 8. Then Coliseum will hit Union Pool the next night (5/15), this time with a different but nonetheless awesome lineup of The Austerity Program and The Year is One. Both Psychic Limb AND Masakari are playing a pair of shows this weekend, with Masakari hitting ABC No Rio with Black Kites & Grudges for the matinee earlier on Saturday. Both Coliseum shows are BV/1000 Knives productions.

Going down at the EXACT same time at Acheron is the venue's 1st anniversary party! Headlined by Batillus and featuring appearances from Beer & Cable, Trenchgrinder, Mortals, Mutant Supremacy, Defeatist, Tournament, and Bad Dream, this FREE show (!) will also feature a BBQ (with veggie options) that kicks off at 5PM, three hours before doors hit. Decisions, decisions. Flyer below.

Meanwhile, New Jersey gets a visit from Glenn Danzig at Starland Ballroom on Saturday night. Tickets are still available.

Besides Coliseum, Sunday also as a few other great options. Suffocation & Misery Index will team with Mutant Supremacy and Humanity Falls at Santos for a day show. While ANS (who have a new split with Ramming Speed) will team with Seasick, Sickoids and Long Pigs at Acheron.

The well for both of the Deftones/Dillinger Escape Plan tickets at Best Buy Theater have run dry (shows are on Friday and Saturday), but you can still catch DEP at Music Hall of Williamsburg on Sunday night. Tickets are still available and support will come from The Psychic Paramount (who have a new LP) and Psychic Limb (them too). You can also try to win a pair on the BrooklynVegan Facebook.

What did I miss? The latest MDF flyer and others below...

Continue reading "it's a busy heavy weekend in NYC (Coliseum, Goes Cube, the Acheron's 1st birthday, Danzig, D.R.I., DEP & much more)"

by BBG

Gehenna at Sonar (more by Chris Bavaria)

"Sonar has been reopened! We are working hard at getting our liquor license back in place, this should be resolved very quickly!

We will have announcements about ALL upcoming shows but most should be going on as planned with all tickets honored!

There were some shows that got canceled and refunds have not been offered, we will be giving refunds for these shows as soon as we can, please bear with us!" -[Sonar]

In related news, two bands I was looking forward to seeing at MDF 2011, Hatred Surge and Death Breath, have sadly both dropped off the fest. The former will also not be on board for a previously discussed tour with Miasmal/Innumerable Forms that hits Acheron on May 24th, but instead will be replaced by The Impalers, which contains members of Hatred Surge/Mammoth Grinder. Stream The Imaplers's demo and a forthcoming 7" below, it rips.

And don't forget that The Dillinger Escape Plan play Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 15th (tickets), a one off solo show for the band whose tour with the Deftones also bring them to Best Buy Theater for sold out shows on 5/13 and 5/14. The Psychic Paramount & Psychic Limb support at MHoW.

Odd Future play NYC at the sold-out Highline Ballroom on May 13th. Tyler the Creator's new album Goblin is out NOW via XL.

Stream those tracks by The Impalers, with updaed Miasmal dates, below...

Continue reading "Sonar reopened, MDF back @ the Baltimore venue (but sans Hatred Surge & Death Breath), Impalers fill in on Miasmal tour"

by BBG

Haymaker at Sonar (more by BBG)

"We here at Sonar regret to inform you that we are no longer able to operate as a venue. Mr. Lonnie Fisher, corporate owner of Sonar, has shut the building down. He has refused to renew the liquor license and the corporate charter for 407 Saratoga Inc. All of the money in our account went into paying our taxes with the promise of the license being renewed and transferred to the new owners."-[Sonar's Facebook]

The venue is also supposed to house the upcoming Maryland Death Fest. MDF issued the following statement:

"Yes, we know about Sonar. It was just brought to our attention. Please DO NOT panic. The festival will still go on as planned. If Sonar does not end up working, we already have a alternative site in the same area that would have a similar set up, so you do not need to worry, and you do not need to consider changing plans. More info about this is expected to be posted on Friday."

"In just a few hours, we've managed to get some positive news regarding a new fest location. Everything should be wrapped up in the next couple of days. If the plan stays as is, you will not need to change your hotel plans, etc."

by BBG

Matmos with Kronos Quartet last year

The Chiara String Quartet and NOW Ensemble come together Friday, May 6 at (Le) Poisson Rouge for a joint album release concert, celebrating two fresh albums from New Amsterdam Records with some of the foremost performers and composers of this emerging self-reliant generation: NOW Ensemble's sophomore statement, Awake (with compositions by ensemble members Judd Greenstein, Mark Dancigers, Patrick Burke, and commissioned work by Missy Mazzoli, Sean Friar, and David Crowell), and Jefferson Friedman: Quartets, performed by the Chiara String Quartet and special guest, electronic duo, Matmos.

Matmos is also scheduled to head out to the Manchester International Festival in July to join Marina Abramovic, Antony Hagerty, Willem Defoe (yes, Green Goblin from Spider Man) and more as part of the stage production of The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic:

Manchester International Festival and Teatro Real Madrid present the world premiere of a startling new piece for the stage: The Life and Death of Marina Abramovic, a biography of the godmother of performance art, re-imagined by visionary director Robert Wilson.

The show features scenes from Abramovic's life and career, from her Serbian childhood to her work as a performance artist. Featuring original and traditional music, including songs written and performed by the incomparable Antony (Antony & The Johnsons), this ground-breaking show brings together the worlds of theatre, art and music to thrilling effect.

In semi-related news, the ever-collaborative Matmos has worked with members of The Princeton Laptop Orchestra (PLOrk) in the past and the collective will play 92YTribeca TONIGHT. PLOrk will bring an "evening of wildly innovative electronic music, live 3D video and hacked video game hardware." Tickets are still available.

Matmos is hitting the road in Europe in May much to the semi-disappointment of Matmos member Drew Daniel:

"Drew is very sad that he will be missing Maryland DeathFest this year, but touring Europe with Jay Lesser and John Wiese will make up for missing Corrosion of Conformity's reformation of the Animosity lineup." - Matmos

Tour dates for that Matmos trek, the Plan of The City Teaser video and more, below...

Continue reading "PLOrk is here, Chiara String Quartet & NOW released LPs, Matmos playing with them, won't be at Maryland Deathfest"

by BBG

Look out for men dressed in evil pope/executioner outfits in the East Village area, as the avalanche of post-MDF shows continues with Sweden's Ghost! The band will play a rare show at The Studio At Webster Hall on June 1st, days after their MDF appearance, in support of their new album Opus Eponymous (out now via Metalblade). Tickets for the NYC show are on sale. No word on whether the band will add more North American dates, or who if anyone will open the NYC show.

Ghost joins names like Hooded Menace, Tragedy/Citizens Arrest, Doom, Cripple Bastards, Noisear/The Kill, Innumerable Forms/Hatred Surge/Miasmal/Mammoth Grinder, and many others who have all added shows surrounding their MDF appearance.

Speaking of MDF, we recently interviewed MDF: The Movie director David Hall. Check that out.

All Ghost dates and some live video, below...

Continue reading "Ghost playing NYC after Maryland DeathFest"

by BBG

David Hall might need therapy. The film & music video director's eerie cine-scapes have provided the backdrop for some metal underground favorites like Today Is The Day, Fuck The Facts, and Jucifer. Hall and his Handshake Inc production company are also responsible for Maryland Deathfest The Movie, the 2010 feature-length documentary that follows the mayhem that is the annual festival. The first film was released last year on DVD and now with volume two currently up for preorder, I sat down with Hall to discuss his experiences at MDF, his inspiration, and his wishlist of miscreant collaborators.

Read the full interview, and an exclusive clip of From Ashes Rise from MDF 2010, as featured in Maryland Deathfest The Movie II, below...

Continue reading "an interview w/ David Hall (director of Maryland Deathfest: The Movie, and the new sequel)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Mammoth Grinder - "Surveilled" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hatred Surge - "Invega" (MP3)

Innumerable Forms @ Acheron (more)

Yet ANOTHER MDF-related tour to get excited about, as Hatred Surge, Mammoth Grinder, and Innumerable Forms (who all toured together last year) will hit the road with Miasmal (mem Martyrdöd) for a string of US dates that will include shows at Maryland Deathfest and Chaos in Tejas. Those dates kick off in Austin and include a Brooklyn show at Acheron on May 24th.

Meanwhile, Mammoth Grinder and Hatred Surge (who now have Rahi of Insect Warfare on vocals) have a split LP on the way via Cyclopean Records. The split is currently on preorder via the label, and features three songs from Mammoth Grinder and four from Hatred Surge. Download a pair of tracks from that record above and stream the entire thing below. Both Mammoth Grinder & Hatred Surge, as well as Scapegoat & Iron Lung will be featured on the upcoming Brutal Supremacy double 7" compilation due via Painkiller Records.

In related news, Cyclopean will also release the final (?) recordings by Iron Age:

The last Iron Age release will be available on March 1st. It will be a 2 song demo tape, and limited to 300 copies. The "Saga Demos" are essentially excerpts taken from our unfinished album "Fate in the Shadow of Eluvimal". They were recorded in our practice space last October and will finally see the light of day before we play our last couple of shows this Spring/Summer. Stay tuned for more info.

Continue reading "new tracks from Hatred Surge/Mammoth Grinder split, tour dates with Innumerable Forms & Miasmal"

by BBG

UK Crust legends Doom

Doom were an English crust punk band from Birmingham, England, whose first, influental lineup were together from 1987 to 1990. Despite its short existence, the band is considered pivotal in the rise of crust punk, a style within the punk rock subgenre that fuses extreme metal with anarcho-punk. They recorded for Peaceville Records and are cited as an early precursor to the grindcore style of heavy metal music. Doom were also a favorite of BBC Radio DJ John Peel. -[Wiki]

In related Maryland Deathfest bands on the road news, a pair of great all ages metal shows have popped up at Shea Stadium recently. May 20th will see death metal from Deutchland as Defeated Sanity team up with the great Dysrhythmia and Andromorphus Rexalia. The show is one of two scheduled for Dysrhythmia in the near future. March 11th will see them at Union Pool.

The next day at Shea Stadium, May 21st, The Kill and Noisear have added a second show in addition to their previously discussed appearance with Cripple Bastards at Public Assembly on May 25th. "Interracial deathgrinders" Copremesis and The Communion will kickstart the show. Speaking of that Cripple Bastards show, the bill just got a little more impressive with the addition of Shitstorm (mems Torche, Capsule, ex-Kylesa).

They must love us! After playing Death By Audio last weekend, oddball doom faves The Body will play Union Pool on February 22nd with Braveyoung and one more TBA. The show is one of two NYC shows scheduled for the band, as they will also team up with Unearthly Trance and Whitehorse (!) to play the Acheron on 4/1 at the tail end trip back from SXSW.

Not quite metal, but Jarboe has scheduled an NYC show at Europa on March 24th with Vampilia. Tickets are on sale and the show is Jarboe's only current tour date. No word on who will join Jarboe on stage, as both Nick Palmirotto and Fade Kainer (members of her band, along with Erik Wunder) will be on tour with their respective bands (Hull & Batillus). Hull & Batillus play The Studio at Webster Hall two days later (3/26) with Caltrop, tickets are on sale.

In other metal related news, the facade know as Sepultura (Andreas Kisser is the lone original member) rolls into town and the band is hitting the road for a string of dates that include Gramercy Theater on 4/25. Tickets are still available. They'll be joined by Keep of Kalessin, Bonded in Blood, Neuraxis, and Hate. Full tour dates are below.

Atheist will play Santos Party House on March 3rd with A Life Once Lost, the great Revocation, and Last Chance To Reason. Ticket info is forthcoming. Atheist released the well-received Jupiter last year and A Life Once Lost, who recently lost their drummer, have signed on to Season Of Mist.

All tour dates and some video is below.

Continue reading "UK crust legends Doom touring ++ Defeated Sanity, The Kill, The Body, Jarboe & others add shows too (dates)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Noisear - "Global Warning" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Relapse Label Sampler (Zipped MP3s)
DOWNLOAD: Cripple Bastards - "Sangue Chiama" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Regurgitate - "Excrementality" (MP3)

Cripple Bastards

And the onslaught begins! The weeks around Maryland Death Fest (lineup) mean tons of great shows from touring bands heading to the fest. One of the most exciting will take place on May 25th at Public Assembly when long-standing Italian grinders Cripple Bastards will team up with an unstoppable lineup featuring Swedish grinders Regurgitate, Australians The Kill, and New Mexico's Noisear (featuring Bryan Fajardo of Kill The Client/Phobia)! $15 gets you in the door (if you're 18+).

Noisear will welcome their new LP Subvert The Dominant Paradigm on February 1st via Relapse. The first track to surface from the LP, "Global Warning", recently surfaced on a label sampler and is available for download alone or in their sampler above.

Cripple Bastards recently dropped their 4xCD Age Of Vandalism boxset, which includes all of their previous tapes, demos, 7"s, and unreleased material from 1986 - 1993. That's 1,036 tracks of grindcore, so order it if you dare via Selfmadegod Records.

German thrashers Destruction will link up with Destroyer 666 to play BB King's on May 11th. Tickets go on sale January 5th at noon. The show is one of an ongoing tour, which will include a D666 date at Maryland Death Fest. Destroyer 666 is currently working on their new LP Siege.

Look for more MDF-related shows to be announced in the coming weeks.

Other non-MDF notable shows have also recently appeared. The Acheron will host The Osedax (mem-Psyopus), Misanthropic Noise, Backslider, and Curandera on February 5th. Two days later, Vilipend will team up with Pristina to play Precious Metal at Lit Lounge (on 2/7).

Destruction tour dates, Noisear song stream and some video is below.

Continue reading "Cripple Bastards, Noisear, Destruction, Destroyer 666 & other upcoming metal shows & tours (and MP3s)"

by BBG

Autopsy at MDF (by Justina Villanueva)

One of the worst things about Maryland DeathFest this year was that it fell on the same weekend as Chaos in Tejas in Austin. Thankfully, you won't have to make a choice next year as Chaos in Tejas 2011 will take place on 6/2 - 6/5 (MDF is in May). What's more, the Austin festival has announced its first round of as-many-as-100 bands including Autopsy (their second US show in 20 years), D-Clone (Japan, U.S. exclusive), Extortion (Australia), Isterismo (Japan, U.S. exclusive), Miasmal (Sweden), Ceremony, Xibalba (Mexico), The Slowmotions (Japan, U.S. exclusive), Perdition, Crazy Spirit, Vile Gash, Origin of [m] (Japan), Bone Sickness, Innumerable Forms, Reigning Sound, and Unbroken. That's an impressive cross-section of metal/crust/punk/hardcore so far, with a slate of indie and hip hop artists to be announced across the festival's seven venues. Stay tuned for updates.

Meanwhile a few of the Chaos in Tejas bands have been announced for Maryland Deathfest 2010 too, which has been finalized with the addition of Tragedy to the lineup. Full MDF lineup is below and tickets are on sale.

Current Chaos in Tejas and the full MDF lineups and some video is below too...

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas (June 2-5) announce intial 2011 lineup, Maryland Deathfest (May 26-29) announces their final "

by BBG

Coroner, 1991

The Swiss thrash trio Coroner were originally road crew for Celtic Frost. They eventually formed their own group, recording their demo Death Cult in 1986 with Tom G. Warrior of Celtic Frost on vocals. Their first full-length album R.I.P., released in 1987, featured bass player Ron Broder on vocals and he assumed the role for the rest of the group's existence.

The group released several albums through to 1993, ending with a greatest hits collection, Coroner, in 1995. Lack of media exposure brought this band to disbanding in 1995 -- and to their farewell tour consequent to their self-titled album in January and February 1996. -[Wiki]

In other notable festival news, Roadburn 2011 is shaping up to be pretty impressive with recent additions of The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble, Zoroaster, Wardruna, Acid King, Naam, The Atomic Bitchwax, Quest for Fire, and...

Swedish doom metal legends Candlemass have been confirmed for Roadburn Festival 2011. Originally scheduled to celebrate 25 years of doom at this year's Roadburn in April, Candlemass ended up stuck in Stockholm due to logistic complications arising from the volcanic eruption in Iceland. Candlemass is now scheduled to play on Saturday, April 16, 2011 at the 013 venue, Tilburg, Holland. Starting at 15.45, Candlemass will perform a very special 2-hour set, which will include "Epicus Doomicus Metallicus" in its entirety; featuring original vocalist Johan Längquist.

Naam will play Bruar Falls in Brooklyn on 10/29 with Mutant Supremacy, Total Social Suicide, Pilgrim Concussion, Bezoar, and So Hideous My Love.

In related news, Neurosis, Bong, and Wino have all released "Live at Roadburn" LPs in the recent past. You can pick up Neurosis's Live At Roadburn 2007 via Neurot. Wino's Live at Roadburn 2009 is out now, while Bong's Live at Roadburn 2010 is due by the end of the year.

Current Roadburn & MDF IX lineups, as well as some video of some of those bands, are below.

Continue reading "Coroner playing MDF, Candlemass playing Roadburn (lineups) "

by BBG

Hail of Bullets (photo by Caroline Traitler)

After pummeling us with ...Of Frost and War and the equally crushing Warsaw Rising EP, Hail of Bullets have returned with a new LP called On Divine Winds. Due on Metal Blade on 10/12, the record sees the band continuing their obsession with war, and in particular WWII, with the focus now shifted onto the Japenese Empire. It's complete with the crusty and sickening riffs that you'd come to expect from ex-members of elite euro-death soul-shatterers like Asphyx, Bolt Thrower, and Pestilence. Dig on the severity known as "Strategy of Attrition", streamable below. On Divine Winds is currently up for preorder.

Hail of Bullets currently have a few dates in store for the EU, and only one for the US; the band will appear at Maryland Deathfest alongside recent new additions Kylesa, Citizen's Arrest (who are playing NYC with Mind Eraser and Asshole Parade), Dead Congregation, Dropdead (who just played NYC), Funebrarum (featuring Daryl of Disma and Citizen's Arrest), Hatred Surge, Masakari, Regurgitate, Nocturnal, and many many others.

All tour dates, the MDF lineup, some video and the song stream are below.

Continue reading "Hail of Bullets releasing 'On Divine Winds' (new track stream), playing Maryland Deathfest (updated lineup)"

by BBG

Scott Kelly of Neurosis (more here)

Every spring, every metalhead asks every other metalhead the same question:

"Are you going to Maryland Deathfest?"

For some, the answer to that question is about to get a little bit easier. Neurosis will headline one night of the 2011 festival alongside a killer, and previously announced lineup of Cripple Bastards, the recently reunited Exhumed, Exhorder, Hooded Menace, Machetazo, Impaled Nazarene, and many more. The show is one of only two confirmed Neurosis dates currently scheduled, with the second being the previously discussed Godspeed You Black Emperor-curated ATP show in Minehead.

Nightbringer is also confirmed to play MDF 2011, and the Colorado band (who recently dropped a four-way split and Apocalypse Sun on Ajna) is also scheduled to appear at Dingbatz in Clifton, NJ on September 4th alongside Profanatica, Krieg, and Wehwalt.

Neurosis are releasing two albums on August 30th in celebration of the band's 25th anniversary: Live At Roadburn 2007 and a reissued and redesigned Enemy Of The Sun with new artwork by Josh Graham (whose band A Storm of Light is opening one of the TWO Sleep shows happening at Masonic Temple in Brooklyn). Neurosis drummer Jason Roeder is also part of Sleep's new live lineup.

MDF 2011 takes place from May 27th to the 30th at Sonar in Baltimore. Full MDF lineup, Neurosis live album art and tracklist, updated Sleep tour dates, and some video below....

Continue reading "Neurosis added to MDF 2011 (lineup), releasing live album"

words and photos by Stefan Raduta, additional live photos by Steven Brown

Watain LIVE in Chicago during Black Metal Magic 2008

I've said it before and I'll say it again, Sweden's mighty Watain cannot be touched. In a class of their own, they embody the quintessence spirit of what true black metal was always meant to be; I'm talking about what Darkthrone started with A Blaze In The Northern Sky and ended with Panzerfaust.

Beginning with their venomous Rabid Dead Curse exactly ten years ago, this pack of hungry wolves from Uppsala has put a fist in every mouth that took this genre lightly. Casus Luciferi stands as one of the most insanely beautiful black metal pieces of all time, and without a doubt, their Sworn To The Dark can be considered a cornerstone of black metal as magnificent as Mayhem's De Misteriis. Each more crushing and devastating than the other, their recorded output is a volcanic eruption of pure black magic, a magnetic affiliation with the dark, and a spit of contempt against all and everything. This all says nothing of the otherworldly energy they intense rituals created on stage.

On July 8th 2010 they unleash their fourth opus, Lawless Darkness, via Season Of Mist and once more aim to devour every soul standing in their way. It's everything you'd expect it to be; I personally see it as their most epic and heartfelt work so far. Whether the LP is their masterwork is for you to decide, but one thing is sure: it's an impressive and beautiful piece of work.

With Lawless Darkness on the way and Watain's MDF live conjuring this weekend, front man Erik Danielsson, wild child of today's black metal scene, answered a few questions from his Stockholm stronghold. Danielsson's thoughts on the album, satanism, black metal in 2010, and his thoughts on his own death are below...

Continue reading "an interview with Watain (who play Maryland Death Fest)"

words by BBG, photos by Keith Marlowe

Capitalist Casualties

The trail to Maryland Deathfest is blazed by a ton of bands, four of which populated the Europa show on Saturday night (5/22). Fang headlined Europa with an assist from hardcore old schoolers Verbal Abuse, powerviolencers Capitalist Casualties, the killer Magrudergrind, and Strong Intention part of an overall campaign that will see the bands (not SI) crash land at MDF 2010.

Speaking of MDF bands in NYC, Europa will ALSO host MDF'er DRI on Sunday 5/30. Tickets are still on sale, or you can try you hand at winning one of TWO pairs. Details on how are at the bottom of this post.

Sunday at Europa was the Inquisition & Darkened Nocturn Slaughtercult show. More pics from Saturday's show are below...

Continue reading "Fang, Verbal Abuse, Capitalist Casualties, Magrudergrind & Strong Intention played Europa (pics) (+ win tix to D.R.I.) "