by BBG

Ryan of Volture/Municipal Waste at Fun Fun Fun (more here)

When he isn't bashing our skulls in with nitro-injected thrash riffs, Municipal Waste's resident guitar nutjob Ryan Waste might be found manning the four string for his other project Volture. The Richmond band takes cues from NWOBHM greats like Angel Witch and Iron Maiden on their new mini-LP, Shocking It's Prey, due on January 25th via Heavy Artillery Records. Check out "Heavy Metal Machine" streaming below.

Volture will play a few dates wiith Cauldron surrounding the release of the LP with, including their official record release show at Union Pool in Brooklyn on January 30th with thrash killers Natur. Full tour dates are below. Cauldron are welcoming their new LP as well; look for Burning Fortune on Earache on 2/15/11.

Natur recently played the Live Evil Fest in the UK. They were handpicked to play the festival by Fenriz of Darkthrone. The weekend also featured appearances from Ghost (not the Japanese psych band, the one who made the Decibel top 40), Ramesses, Hooded Menace, Angel Witch, Obliteration, and many more. Video of Natur at Live Evil is below, along with dates and the Volture song stream.

Continue reading "Volture releasing a mini-LP, playing shows w/ Cauldron"

by BBG

Snapcase

It's 1PM in Texas and I just tied a bandana around my face before its time to get down to business. I'm not some outlaw out to rob a bank and hop on a speeding stagecoach; With the dry dirt and the hordes of kids in full-on circle-pit/floorpunch mode, a bandana or a surgical mask is a key tool in dealing with the clouds of dust that form around the chaos.

Chaos it was, off-stage that is, as the crowd popped for the likes of Suicidal Tendencies, Snapcase, Dwarves, Municipal Waste, Gwar, Mastodon and others on Fun Fun Fun Fest's Black Stage (where I spent a good bit of my time). Though I wandered to the Orange Stage to catch amazing performances from Cap'n Jazz, The Hold Steady & Descendents (among many others) and the Blue Stage to catch scorching shows from Big Freedia, Pharoahe Monch, Dam-Funk, and A-Trak, but it was the Black Stage where I caught pretty much every single band in action.

And that's a lot! One of the great things about the Black and Orange stages is that they are actually TWO stages each. A band will finish their set, and then on a stage right next to it, another band will line check and play. Times between bands varied (due to set time length and on occasion, technical difficulties), but there were moments when it was as low as 5 minutes between sets. More music and less downtime.

I started out my Saturday (11/6) with Black Congress, whose powerful post-hardcore impressed the early crowd. Hatred Surge followed, and even with a new singer in tow, the brutality has stayed a constant. Power Trip was next, and they do crossover-thrash that is less DRI/ Municipal Waste, and more serious/furious. Bands this good shouldn't play this early.

I'm very picky about sung vocals and punk rock, so it's sort of no surprise that I didn't care for either Bad Religion (who had no guitar in the mix for the first three songs), The Briggs or The Vandals, but I did enjoy what I saw of Strike Anywhere's live set (even though I am not into their recorded output). Dreadlocked singer Thomas Barnett is as energetic a frontman as I would see on the Black Stage all weekend, and really added tremendous power to the band's melodic hardcore.

Muncipal Waste (more here)

Strike Anywhere is from Richmond, and the band got a "Richmond represent" shout out from the great Municipal Waste that day. The band thrashed their way through one of my favorite sets of the afternoon, complete with thrown trash cans, a wall of death, stage diving, and an "execution" courtesy of fellow Richmond band Gwar. Gwar was fun in a kitschy way and delivered a great set later in the day, but the crowd energy and the precision of MW's live show was the most memorable.

Also on the Black stage were Valient Thorr and The Casualties who both delivered energetic sets, with the latter giving a crusty spin on the Ramones classic "Blitzkrieg Bop". The mohawk-ed kids went ape, and a wall of death, which was later faux-mocked by Municipal Waste when they initiated their own wall of death, was called upon by vocalist Jorge Herrera.

On the Orange stage, I managed to catch Woven Bones, The Appleseed Cast, and Jeff The Brotherhood. Jeff The Brotherhood is a staple of the small stage in NYC, so it was a bit odd to hear that guitar tone blaring out of 50 feet of PA speakers. Odd, but no less fun/impressive.

Along with Municipal Waste, Big Freedia was another one of my favorite sets of the day. Her nonsense odes to ass, ass, and ass-clapping were a pure sugar-rush and left 90% of the crowd in hilarious amazement and the other 10% with a big old "WTF" look. The Freedia set was tamer than her usual appearances, but no matter, it was still much fun and much booty-shakin. Dam-Funk would also get the crowd moving on that same stage hours later.

Seeing Big Freedia meant missing a good portion of Cap'n Jazz, who announced on stage that Fun Fun Fun would be their last show. Unbelieveably kinetic and powerful, Cap'n Jazz reminds me that emo is short for "emotional" and not just a psuedonym for pop-crossover. Mesmerizing and awesome.

Peelander-Z

Sunday (11/7) was a late start for me, so I got to the venue to see the tail end of Junius (who played 2nd, after Eagle Claw on the Black Stage). They're a band I'm very familiar with for their latter-Isis crunch-and-clean vocals steelo. It was surprisingly the next band that really got me going: Peelander-Z. With a large crowd looking on, Peelander-Z delivered an incredible mix of energy, stage presence, audience participation, fun and simple song-craft, and plain old good times. They played from the crowd. They stage dove. They led the audience in a giant game of limbo. They had a footrace. Totally fun.

I have a lot of recent experience seeing OFF!, High on Fire, Kylesa, Floor, Mastodon, and The Bronx, who all played the Black Stage that day. All gave predictably excellent shows though Kylesa in particular seemed a bit more energetic that usual (lots of Laura pogoing). It might have been the fact that FFF marked the end of their US tour with Torche and High on Fire, but they were particularly good on that sweltering Sunday afternoon. Floor was great as usual, though I enjoyed them more at Red 7 later that night... possibly because their music felt like a bookend to a great weekend. Both High on Fire and Mastodon's setlist delved into all of their recorded efforts which, as a long time fan, was comforting.

I'm not particularly scared of anyone, but Human Furnace of Ringworm gives me the shakes. His gravelly voice propels the rest of the Clevo-hardcore band forward and blew my mind that afternoon. They were one of my highlights of the day, and if I had only seen them and Snapcase on Sunday, I would have been content.

If my dad listened to modern music anymore, he would go apeshit for The Hold Steady. The band cranked out a crunchy Springsteen-esque set and sounded better than I have ever heard them before. Though they were killing on the Orange stage, I made the hard decision to bounce to catch the rest of Suicidal Tendencies' set.

Nothing against Mike Muir, but he isn't in the same shape that John Joseph of the Cro-Mags is (Muir and the rest of the known universe). No matter, it doesn't stop him from zigging and zagging back and forth on stage as the rest of Suicidal Tendencies runs through hits like "You Can't Bring Me Down" and "I Saw Your Mommy". High energy stuff; I can't imagine running in circles while trying to recite the words to "Institutionalized". Catch Suicidal and Cro-Mags together at Terminal 5 on November 14th.

If I was to pick two of my favorite sets from Sunday, the winners easily go to Snapcase and Descendents. Snapcase was brutal, technical, confrontational, and totally fun; the crowd gave back every ounce of energy that the band put in. From the opening notes of their third song, "Zombie Transmission" from Progress Through Unlearning, I knew that this was going to be a highlight. We need more shows from Snapcase.

Descendents, who we also need more shows from, are one of the few bands that pass my "no clean vocals in punk rock" test. Their songs are funny without being goofy, melodic without being overtly pop, and driving/hard when they want to be. Classics like "Suburban Home", "Bikeage" and a good portion of Somery, "Everything Sucks" and many of the highlights from that LP, and tons of others all made their way onto the setlist that night. And yes, the band made sure to fit in "All" and "Weinerschnitzel". Too fun, and though I left Mastodon early to catch them, I have no regrets.

As far as pictures go, we already split the fest up into ten other posts, my pictures from Saturday included. This post is number 11 and it includes all my pictures from Sunday (and it is our final set of Fun Fun Fun pics from this year) which continue, below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest in review w/ more Day 3 pics (part 4) - Snapcase, Floor Suicidal Tendencies, Kylesa, Ringworm & more"

by BBG

Digital Retribution: When I last interviewed you, you said of the Dead Kennedys reunion, "I thought it was fucking pathetic, though, when The Dead Kennedys went out without Jello as their singer." What I meant to say instead of whatever monosyllabic witticism I spouted is: What's the difference between DK and the reformed Misfits, who GWAR toured with?

Dave Brockie (aka Oderus): I think there is a big difference, but don't expect the original product in either. I like Jerry and I would rather have him out touring and having fun than have him working in his machine shop. You can't blame him for wanting to cash in on how great The Misfits were, and enjoy himself in the process, plus give all of his pals jobs in his crew, and show his kids the time of their lives! So in that aspect, I think Jerry and what's left of The Misfits is cool, as long as you don't go in there expecting to see Glenn Danzig! I feel Jerry has earned the right to do whatever the fuck he wants through 30+ years of dedication to this music. Jerry never lets up, he is always gigging. Whereas the Dead Kennedys thing was just a one-shot money grab. They knew they could get away with it, do a year or two, cash in, and bail...and also, The Misfits actually got away with replacing their singer, with Mike Graves, and did a couple of great records! That was when we toured with them, and that was great! American Psycho is a great fucking album!

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Day Two in pics (part 4) - Gwar, Jeff the Brotherhood, Municipal Waste, Dam-Funk & more"

Tim's complete set of pictures from FFF Fest Saturday are split into two posts: HERE and HERE. A third set, that I took with far inferior skills and camera, but that fills in some blanks and includes stuff like a dude being thrown into a pool filled with thumbtacks, a member of Gwar storming the stage during Municipal Waste's set, and people waiting in line to get Wavves' autograph, continues below...

Continue reading "Fun Fun Fun Fest 2010 - Day Two in pics (part 3) - Jacob Calle, Butcher Bear and Charlie, Gwar vs Municipal Waste & more"

by BBG

Kylesa at Irving Plaza (more by Chris LaPutt)

Call it the "holy shit" tour. High On Fire will team up with Kylesa for a US tour that will include alternating support from Municipal Waste and Torche. NYC gets the look on October 24th at Webster Hall with the killer trifecta of High On Fire, Kylesa AND Torche. Ticket info is forthcoming. Get stoked.

Full tour dates for the trek are below, which include the previously announced date at Fun Fun Fun Fest as well as an appearance at The Fest 9 in Gainesville between Oct 29 - 31. Full The Fest 9 lineup is below. Tickets are on sale.

High on Fire played NYC at the end of July, while Torche played NYC last week with Boris. Kylesa last played NYC in May of 2009, supporting Mastodon.

Full tour dates, The Fest Lineup, and some videos are below...

Continue reading "High On Fire, Kylesa, Municipal Waste & Torche touring (dates), playing The Fest 9 (lineup)"

words by BBG, photos by Kris Arnold

Arab on Radar

Indianapolis was ablaze this weekend (July 9th & 10th), as Arab on Radar and Municipal Waste headlined Dudefest in Indianapolis, Indiana as part of a two day event in that city. The event also featured many other luminaries from the hardcore/underground metal scenes which also featured Voetsek (coming to NYC), Capsule, Get Rad (profiled here), Coffinworm (coming to NYC), Failures & Vaccine (who played NYC last night, pics coming soon), Landmine Marathon (who play NYC TWICE this week, with Salome), Trap Them (their new EP is out now), Phoenix Bodies, Pollution (who have a new 12"), and many others. Our photographer sent in his notes...

Dudefest, Day 1: The evening started off fairly sparse with a few crowding to the front to watch the bands and the occasional minipit. The hall was packed densely with merch booths and the bathroom supplying the Emerson Theater classic carnival game, piss on the cockroach in the urinal until he drowns. The crowd seemed to pick up by the time Landmine Marathon took stage, but it was the full force rage of Municipal Waste that really brought things into a fury.

Day 2: Irony-a-plenty at the ES Jungle. For those that don't know its a church and you can only chuckle when bands like Black Arrows of Filth and Impurity are on the bill and you're staring down a line of people wearing t-shirts depicting bloodied carcasses atop a pentagram. This day was a bit more rough and by the end of the night it turned into a photography war zone, just replace bombs with people, feet, and elbows.

Videos from both Arab on Radar shows and more pictures from Dudefest (Capsule, Failures, Municipal Waste, Landmine Marathon, Phoenix Bodies, and more... WARNING: don't look on an empty stomach), below...

Continue reading "DudeFest 2010 in pics & video (Arab on Radar, Municipal Waste, Landmine Marathon, Phoenix Bodies, Failures & more) "

by BBG

Black Army Jacket Demo Tape cover

Black Army Jacket was an American grindcore / power violence band... Their ex-members can now be found in bands like Hope Collapse, Municipal Waste, Matt Pond PA, Burnt By The Sun and Birds of Prey.

The band was started by Andrew Orlando (ex-guitarist of Milhouse and owner of Reservoir Records) and Carlos Ramirez... both fans of bands like Terrorizer, Assück and Napalm Death and wanted to create a band in those styles. ...Queens, NY-based Chainsaw Safety Records would go on to release the band's The Path of Two Swords As One 7" and the band started to tour regionally shortly after... [Soon after] Dave Witte joined the band on drums. Now a four piece, they toured with California's Benumb and Noothgrush.

In 1998, BAJ... wrote throughout the year and entered the studio with Dean Rispler (Killing Time, 25 Ta Life) in the producer chair. The resulting album, 222, saw the musicians incorporating hints of death and black metal along with some more traditional elements of hardcore to their sound. They toured extensively to support their debut.

... Rob Lawi and the band parted ways shortly afterwards. Bassist Carlos Ramirez then became their vocalist and New Jersey native Tom Hayden joined in to fill the bass slot. Another native Jersey musician, John Adubato, was also asked to join to make Black Army Jacket a two guitar unit.

They came home from tour in mid 1999 and began to write newer, more technical material... [but] after a tough show in Worcester, MA the band decided to break up. Adubato and Witte then formed Burnt by the Sun, whilst Ramirez started melodic rockers Lakota a few years later. Andrew Orlando went on to join Anodyne and then Disnihil in the early 2000s. - [Wiki]

The show is one of two lined up for the great Black Army Jacket with the second being Best Friends Day in Richmond, VA on Aug 19 - 22:

Continue reading "Black Army Jacket reuniting to play Cake Shop & Best Friends Day in Virginia (lineup) "

by BBG

Municipal Waste at Gramercy (more by Paul Birman)

World War III anyone? May 22nd at Fontana's will be absolutely INSANE as Revolver magazine will host a screening party for their Revolver Golden Gods Awards show featuring a whopping triple bill of Municipal Waste, Ramming Speed, and Atakke(!). Doors are at 7PM and the show is 100% FREE.

Meanwhile, MW side project Cannabis Corpse has scheduled an NYC show of their own at Party Expo with Mutant Supremacy and Mutilation Rites on May 25. Full CC dates are below.

Municipal Waste are currently on their first tour of Japan. Full MW and Cannabis Corpse dates, and a couple of videos are below...

Continue reading "Municpal Waste & others playing Revolver Golden Gods party in a small NYC venue ++ Cannabis Corpse shows, other dates "

by BBG

Arab on Radar

Arab on Radar are a Providence, Rhode Island based noise rock band founded in the mid-1990s. They went on hiatus in 2002. Members of the band went on to form or join the bands The Chinese Stars, Athletic Automaton, Made in Mexico... Arab on Radar's early sound was typified by thickly distorted, repeated bass grooves, 4/4 drum beats, and two deafening guitars that employed contrasting melodies and near-unison chords that drew comparisons to the Contortions.

It's one of two notable shows recently announced for the Midwest this summer, with the incredible 25th anniversary of Amphetamine Reptile being the second! That show goes down in Minneapolis at Grumpy's on 8/28, and features a plethora of the label's greats including Melvins, Boss Hog, Today Is The Day, God Bullies, a Hammerhead reunion, and many others. For those considering the trek to Minnesota, the label has set up group rates for a hotel. Show flyer is below. Somewhere I hope that Unsane and pre-Betty Helmet's phone is ringing....

The Melvins are touring and playing NYC with Isis. Tickets for Webster Hall are still on sale. The Melvins will welcome their new LP, The Bride Screamed Murder via Ipecac on June 1st.

Weekend Nachos have a new EP on the way, while Get Rad was recently profiled in the latest edition of Short Wave Warfare.

Full dudefest lineup and AmRep flyer/more detals are below.

Continue reading "Arab on Radar playing Dudefest 2010 in Indiana, Amphetamine Reptile celebrating 25 years in Minneapolis (both lineups)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: No Friends - Traditional Failures EP (Link)
DOWNLOAD: No Friends - "Never Ending Fight"(MP3)

No Friends

Municipal Waste don't get to NYC until the end of April (4/22 at Knit with Toxic Holocaust, tix), but at least part of them will be here in the next week as hardcore side project No Friends (featuring Tony of MW along with members of the fallen New Mexican Diaster Squad) will support Swede punks The Bombettes at Bruar Falls on 4/8 along with Deep Sleep and Night Birds. The show is the intersection of separate tours for both The Bombettes and No Friends, with No Friends kicking off their adventure tonight (4/2) in Raleigh. They're celebrating by releasing the NEW six song Traditional Failures EP for free via Kiss of Death.

The Bombettes

The Bombettes, who played a show in Asbury Park last night (4/1), have a new album on the way, but recently dropped the "You Have No Chance, Lance" 7" via Swedish imprint Ny Vag Records. Pick that up via the label. Ny Vag is also the European home (Feral Ward does the US) of the new LP by Masshysteri, who recently cancelled their US tour.

Meanwhile, Ryan Waste of MW has a new project of his own, Volture who are working on a six song mini LP Shocking It's Prey of thrashy 80-style riffage and falsettos:

Starting in early '09 in between a rigorous MUNICIPAL WASTE touring schedule, Ryan Waste began working on a new project entitled VOLTURE. As a long time fan of bands like MERCYFUL FATE, HEAVY LOAD, and JUDAS PRIEST he thought it would only be suiting to do a proper band in that vein....
"Ever since I was a young headbanger, I dreamed of doing a real heavy metal band. Growing up on JUDAS PRIEST and eventually delving into more obscure NWOBHM bands, I yearned to have one of my own... It's been a long time coming, but I am proud to say we have arrived in full force to shock the world with VOLTURE! In this heavy metal ensemble, I returned to my musical roots as a bass player along side the phenomenal shredder Nick Poulos on guitar..." - Ryan Waste

Continue reading "The Bombettes are here from Sweden, No Friends touring & another Municipal Waste side project too - MP3s, dates, more"

by BBG

Municipal Waste lead a singalong (more by Paul Birman)

Municipal Waste will be in South America wasting the crowds through middle March. Their schedule is then blank until the band teams up with Toxic Holocaust on 4/22 for a show at Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. Tickets are on sale

The NYC show is one of a few Municipal Waste have scheduled with TH. MW also has some Texas shows with the great Cro-Mags in June. All dates & some video below...

Continue reading "Municipal Waste & Toxic Holocaust - 2010 Tour Dates"

photos by Justina Villanueva

Happy Holidays! I take on more than I can handle. That results in a lot of unposted content. In the name of catching up, while also taking it easy during this final week of the year, here's some of that lost material.

A set of pictures from Muncipal Waste shared a bill with As I Lay Dying, Children of Bodom and Lamb of God at Roseland in May. More pictures from that show below...

Continue reading "Municipal Waste, Lamb of God & friends @ Roseland Ballroom in NYC - pics"

by Justina Villanueva

Eyehategod on a Rocks Off Boat (more by Chloe Rice)

Before I dive into quotes and explanations, I would like to thank twitter and my cellphone for allowing me to take notes at the most inconvenient of times -- like being smushed in between a bunch of big and way-too-stoked hardcore dudes at the Burnt By the Sun show. Because I was a stupid stoner as a teenager, its pretty hard to remember all the stuff I see at shows...

Continue reading "Justina lists the Top 10 greatest things she's heard metal bands (and 1 non-metal band) say on stage in 2009"

words by BBG, photos by Paul Birman

Phobia. RULING.

NYC faced the Waste on 12/9, and the animals were let loose when Municipal Waste, Brutal Truth, Phobia and Cauldron teamed up at Gramercy. Tons of pics below.

Municipal Waste ends their tour in their hometown of Richmond on Friday (12/11), and after a month away from the road, hop on a flight to Europe to continue the madness. Brutal Truth also has exotic locales in their sights; after Richmond, the triumphant and reunited band hits Japan for a set of dates starting on 12/15, but will be back in time for Dan Lilker to join up with Crucifist for some January dates on the east coast. Phobia carries on from Richmond into the south before ending the tour in Texas.

Full tour dates for all bands, as well as some videos with the rest of the pictures (and some setlists), below...

Continue reading "Municipal Waste, Phobia, Brutal Truth & Cauldron @ Gramercy Theater in NYC - pics, video & setlist"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Municipal Waste - "Wrong Answer" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Brutal Truth - "Evolution Through Revolution" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phobia - "Protest/Solution" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Phobia - "Savannah's Assault" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cauldron - "Conjure The Mass" (MP3)

Dave Witte on stage with Burnt By The Sun at cake shop (more by Paul Birman)

T-minus thirty hours and counting until Municipal Waste, Brutal Truth, Phobia, and Cauldron crash lands at The Gramercy (on 12/9). Tickets are still available if you havent partaken thus far.

Municipal Waste are currently burning through the US on the strength of critical fave Massive Aggressive which includes "Wrong Answer", downloadable above with a video for it below. Meanwhile Brutal Truth are celebrating their reunion and return to the stage with a critically lauded LP Evolution Through Revolution, while Phobia are still doing dastardly deeds with 22 Counts of Violence.

Cauldron recently dropped their debut album, Chained To The Nite, on Earache. Dig on "Conjuring The Mass" above. The band is on board for a select set of dates with MW. This past Sunday's Toronto show (12/6) served as the setting for an upcoming live DVD for the Canucks. More on that DVD soon.

On a semi-related note, Dave Witte shared the stage with Black Anvil at the BV sponsored Burnt By The Sun show at Cake Shop recently. Black Anvil has been added to the already STACKED bill of The Hope Conspiracy, Blacklisted, Mother of Mercy, United Nations show at Cake Shop on 1/15. It's one of two (known) shows coming up on the BV roster, the second being Magrudergrind at Cake Shop one week later.

Blacklisted recently surprised us all by releasing No One Deserves To Be Here More Than Me on ZERO notice, a digital and vinyl only release via Deathwish Inc. The album follows their monumental Heavier Than Heaven, Lonelier Than God which dropped in 2008 on the label. Pick the new record up here.

For more on Dave Witte of Municipal Waste and Burnt By The Sun, check out an interview we did with him here.

Remaining MW tour dates and a few videos are below....

Continue reading "Municpal Waste are on the road w/ Brutal Truth, Phobia & Cauldron (NYC Wednesday) - dates ++ MP3s"

Baroness @ Bowery Ballroom - 11/20/2009 (more by Tim Griffin)

BBG will publish his own list of the best metal albums of 2009, but in the meantime here's what Decibel Magazine had to say:

Continue reading "Decibel's Top 40 Metal Albums of 2009 "

by Black Bubblegum

They say that the clothes make the man, but in the music world, the drummer makes the band. That's the only way to explain the string of successes that have followed Dave Witte since he first sat behind the kit as a member of the influential yet under-appreciated Human Remains. Since then, Witte has played with some of the greatest bands in the heavy underground, laying the back beat to names as powerful as Municipal Waste, Discordance Axis, Anodyne, Black Army Jacket, Melt Banana, and we can't forget about Burnt By The Sun.

Burnt By The Sun recently released their swansong, Heart of Darkness, via Relapse Records. In celebration of this last LP, the band will embark on final tour of Europe in October with only one US date scheduled: October 2nd at Cake Shop with Tombs, Black Anvil, Bloodhorse, and Torchbearer. Considering the band members' current undertakings, it isn't out the question to say that this could be their last show for a very very long time.

With that as a primer, I fired some questions at Dave Witte about Municipal Waste, the end of Burnt By The Sun, and the possiblity of him returning to the kit for Human Remains, Discordance Axis or Black Army Jacket. The conversation is below....

Continue reading "an interview w/ Dave Witte (of Burnt by the Sun, Municipal Waste, Human Remains, Black Army Jacket...)"

by Black Bubblegum

Municipal Waste and the mighty Phobia are going on tour and teaming up with Brutal Truth and Cauldron for a string of dates along the way. Those include a NYC show at Gramercy Theatre on 12/9. Tickets are on sale.

Phobia, who dropped 22 Random Acts Of Violence via Willowtip last year, are currently working on a video for "Rise Up". Look for that soon.

Meanwhile, Municipal Waste drummer Dave Witte will be in NYC this Friday (10/4) at Cake Shop when he will join Burnt By The Sun in their only scheduled US show brought to you by 1000 Knives and Brooklyn Vegan! Support will come from none other than Tombs, Black Anvil, Bloodhorse, and the recently added Torchbearer. There are no advance tickets... you can only get 'em at the door... unless, of course, you were to win one of TWO FREE PAIRS. For more on how to win those tickets, look at the bottom of this post.

The show is one of two BV sponsored shows for the weekend, the second being Woe, Aluk Todolo, Malkuth, and Castevet at Union Pool on 10/4. Tickets are $8 at the door.

Dave Witte has also been known to join the live incarnation of Melt Banana, though his schedule dictates that he won't be playing with them during their upcoming North American tour.

Full Municipal Waste tour dates, and their "Gore Version" of the video for "Wrong Answer", below...

Continue reading "Municipal Waste & Phobia touring (some dates w/ Brutal Truth), Burnt by the Sun @ Cake Shop Friday (win tix)"

by Black Bubblegum

Charles Maggio of Rorschach

June 1993 at ABC No Rio with Assuck & Scrog.

That's the last time that the mighty Rorschach blessed NYC. The band called it quits shortly after, splintering into projects like Gern Blandsten Records, Beautiful Skin, Deadguy, Kiss It Goodbye, and tons more, but those great successes only highlighted an undeniable fact: Rorschach were innovative and before their time.

After deciding to reunite earlier this year in honor of the 20th anniversary of the Remain Sedate LP, Rorschach announced a short east coast tour. The band is currently in the midst of that tour, which impacts Asbury Park in their native New Jersey tonight (9/24) and Santos Party House TOMORROW (9/25, tix here).

We spoke with the mighty Charles Maggio (Vocals, owner Gern Blandsten Records) to get to the bottom of the reunion and what we can expect going forward....

Continue reading "an interview w/ Charles Maggio of Rorschach (who are in the middle of their short run of reunion dates)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Portal - "Larvae" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pelican - "Strung Up From The Sky" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Heims - "W.O.F." (Edit) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Heims - "Heims" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Merrimack - "In The Halls Of White Death" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gnaw Their Tongues - "Rife With Teeth" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mammoth Grinder - "Frozen" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mammoth Grinder - "Total Extinction" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Converge - "Dark Horse" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Kowloon Walled City - "Clockwork" (MP3)

Yes, that is a clock on his head.

Portal is currently prepping their new album, Swarth, for release via Profound Lore on 10/20. For the unaware, Portal is definitely an odd duck (in the best way possible!), as the Aussies employ discordant chord patterns ala French BM masterminds Deathspell Omega, and a generally discomforting atmosphere abounds. Dig on the extremely promising "Larvae" from Swarth available above! The abstract blackened death metal band from Australia is also one of a few bands that have already been announced for Maryland Deathfest 2010 along with additions like Gorguts, Asphyx, Wolfbrigade, Gridlink, Impaled, and many many noteable others! Full MDF list is below.

Mammoth Grinder has released their new LP, Extinction of Humanity, which is available via Cyclopean Records. The band, which (as we know) shares members with Hatred Surge & Iron Age, combines an old school death metal approach of Entombed / Dismember with the charge of hardcore. Their new LP delivers on the promises made on No Results. Check out a pair of MP3s from Extinction of Humanity available for download above!

As previously discussed, Gnaw Their Tongues are releasing All The Dread Magnificence Of Perversity on 9/8 via Crucial Blast. Check out a song from the LP above, "Rife With Teeth".

In case you somehow missed it, the new Converge track, "Dark Horse" premiered on Stereogum last week. Axe To Fall has been in heavy rotation since I received a copy of this bad boy a few weeks ago, and I think that this could be their best record since Jane Doe. Check out the MP3 above and judge for yourself.

Pelican

Their show with sunn O))) / Earth / Eagle Twin is little more than three weeks away (tix), and now Pelican has dropped a new MP3 for download from their LP, What We All Come To Need. Dig on "Strung Up From The Sky" above. Helmed by Chris Common (These Arms Are Snakes) in July and featuring appearances from Greg Anderson (sunn O))), Goatsnake, etc), Aaron Turner (Isis), Ben Verellen (Harkonen, Helms Alee), and Alan Epley (Life And Times), the new album is set to blast off at their new home, Southern Lord. Look for Pelican to hit the road with Black Cobra and Disappearer for a fall tour. Black Cobra also recently signed to Southern Lord.

As previously discussed, Kowloon Walled City, is currently prepping their new LP Gambling On The Richter Scale for release 9/29 on The Perpetual Motion Machine. Preorders for the new Kowloon Walled City are up here, but meanwhile, dig on one of the tracks from the LP, "Clockwork", above.

More on Teitanblood, Heims, Slow Southern Steel, Rise & Fall, Municipal Waste, Circle Of Dead Children, and many more as This Week in Metal continues...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/01/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Burnt By The Sun - "Inner Station" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tombs - "Gossamer" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Anvil - "Ten Talons Deep" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bloodhorse - "Paranoiac" (MP3)

Burnt by The Sun!

It's gonna be a great fall! In addition to the previously announced awesomeness that is The Blackened Music Series/BrooklynVegan present Shrinebuilder at Le Poisson Rouge on November 15th (tickets), we now present ANOTHER reason to hide your children and check off a date on your calendar...

1000 Knives and BrooklynVegan are proud to present Burnt By The Sun with Bloodhorse, Tombs and Black Anvil at Cake Shop on Oct 2nd! The show is the ONLY US date scheduled for Burnt By The Sun, and considering Dave Witte's commitments with the Massive-ly Aggressive Municipal Waste, it could be their last for a very long time. Shortly after Cake Shop, BBTS will embark on a European tour to promote their final album, Heart of Darkness. Download "Inner Station" off of Heart of Darkness above.

This show won't be the first time Black Anvil and Tombs share a bill. Most recently both bands played with Marduk and Withered at Gramercy Thetre.

Before Tombs dropped their essential 2009 LP, Winter Hours, we interviewed vocalist/guitarist Mike Hill. Black Anvil recently signed with Relapse Records, who reissued their awesome Time Insults The Mind.

More details on the Cake Shop show and full BBTS dates are below...

Continue reading "Burnt By The Sun playing one US show @ Cake Shop w/ Tombs, Black Anvil & Bloodhorse (BV-BBG presents)"

by Black Bubblegum

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

Asphyx

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: YOB - "Burning The Altar" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Burnt By The Sun - "Inner Station" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Weekend Nachos - "A Few Blocks South" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nadja & Black Boned Angel - "II" Edit (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Greymachine - "Vultures Descend" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Burning Love - 2009 Demo (Sendspace MP3 link)

YOB Live (hevisto)

Out this week, the return of the mighty YOB with their absolutely colossal new album The Great Cessation. If you were a fan of masterful, thundering, sickening doom or the previous material by YOB or Middian/Age Eternal, this album is HIGHLY recommended... possibly their best LP yet? The Great Cessation is currently on sale at the Profound Lore, and the band recently was interviewed by Hellbound.

The brutal band with the awesome name, Weekend Nachos, are hitting the road at the end of August and into September bludgeoning the Northeast with dates including Rockstar Bar on Sept 4th! The band is currently supporting their new LP Unforgivable out now at your favorite distro or via the band. Check out "A Few Blocks South" from Unforgivable and make sure and get out to Rockstar Bar on 9/4, if you ain't chicken.

Cave In is BACK officially with the release of the Planets of Old 12", and the song "Retina Sees Rewind" available now on iTunes! The ultra-limited 12" is available July 28th, and in much larger numbers at their comeback show on July 19th in Allston, MA.

Maryland Deathfest has announced the inital 2010 lineup and.... whoooa nelly!
ENTOMBED, OBITUARY, EYEHATEGOD, PENTAGRAM, SINISTER, INCANTATION, PORTAL, HAEMORRHAGE, IMPALED, GRIDLINK, INGROWING (Czech Republic), GRIDE (Czech Republic), 16, BIRDS OF PREY, MASSGRAVE (Canada), FUCK THE FACTS (Canada), TOMBS, HOWL

Out now via 20 Buck Spin, the collaborative LP between Nadja & Black Boned Angel. Black Boned Angel is probably best known as the alter-ego of Campbell Kneale of Birchville Cat Motel, who collaborated with Nadja over 2+ years to create the three tracks which formed this LP, as well as the Christ Send Light EP. The graphic artwork is very indicative of the collaborative spirit of the LP as well, as it is also a collaboration between revered artists Stephen Kasner and David D'Andrea. Check out a snippet of one of the tracks on the LP above. Also out now, BBA's new LP Verdun available via Riot Season.

Union Pool has gone metal! Besides the previously mentioned Dysrhythmia show and the Hull / Giant Squid / Grayceon shindig, the venue has also lined up a few other notable shows in the coming months including the mighty Atomic Bitchwax on August 1, f'n Cable on August 15th (3 days before the release of The Failed Convict), and finally Neurot signees It's Casual on August 23rd. Full Cable tour dates are below. Stream the new Dysrhythmia album, Psychic Maps, here.

Baroness have completed work on their new album due in October via Relapse Records!

Burnt By the Sun are preparing their FINAL album for release, Heart Of Darkness due on August 18th via Relapse Records. Check out "Inner Station" available for download above, which is also on the Relapse Contamination 2009 comp available for $5.99 on iTunes. The band has scheduled a gang of Euro-dates, but none in the US so far... although with Dave Witte gearing up to release Municipal Waste's Massive Aggressive, I'm guessing it might be a while.

Check out a video interview with Municipal Waste, live video of Saint Vitus, as well as a new project featuring Chris Colohan of Cursed, Pentagram, Burzum, 3 Inches Of Blood, Kayo Dot, and much more as This Week In Metal Continues...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (07/13/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Minsk - "Three Moons" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Magrudergrind - "Excommunicated" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Magrudergrind - "Lyrical Ammunition For Scene Warfare" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Afgrund - "Klinisk Digital Kyla" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Afgrund - "Borja Fran Noll" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "Into The Void" (Black Sabbath cover, MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "Sweet Leaf" (Black Sabbath cover, MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "Lord Of This World" (Black Sabbath cover, MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "Black Sabbath" (Black Sabbath cover, MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Pyramid - "Visions of Gehenna" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gnaw Their Tongues - "Rife with Deep Teeth Marks" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Complete Failure - Heal No Evil (ZIPPED MP3 Album)

Lots of ground to cover, since we missed ya last week, so lets get right to it with the mighty Minsk! The Chicagoan's new album With Echoes In The Movement Of Stone is out now, and it definitely delivers on the promises of The Ritual Fires of Abandonment. Highly recommended, as evidenced by the monstrosity "Three Moons" available for download above!

At The Charleston on 5/29, I managed to catch the pummeling Magrudergrind along with the equally awesome powerviolence of The Endless Blockade. The pair are touring surrounding their MDF appearance, and while TEB doesn't have a new album out, Magrudergrind DOES; a self-titled LP available now via Willowtip! Cop that here, and cop a pair of songs from the record above!

Also up at Willowtip, the new LPs by Defeatist and Afgrund! The new Defeatist LP, Sharp Blade Sinks Deep Into Dull Minds, is actually a compilation of previous EPs and other releases, but definitely provides a good preview as to what these grinders are about before their new LP drops (soon). Meanwhile Afgrund's new LP, Vid Helvetets Grindar, is also on preorder. Check out the band's deathgrind-y groove on tracks like "Klinisk Digital Kyla", "Borja Fran Noll", both downloadable above.

Check out two noteworthy streams... Khanate's Clean Hands Go Foul and Xasthur's All Reflections Drained. Both albums are out NOW via Hydra Head Records. In the meantime, check out an awesome interview with James Plotkin of Khanate and make sure and buy that Khanate hunting knife too!

Goes Cube are finally home from their tour promoting the massive Another Day Has Passed. Their "homecoming show" is scheduled for tonight (6/5) at Union Hall with The Detachment Kit amd The Thin Man. Tickets are still available.

Ancestors have completed recording their follow-up to last year's Neptune With Fire. Featuring four songs, and three interludes, I had a chance to preview a few tracks which are definitely as epic as their previous material, and just as compelling. Look for Sera Timms from Black Math Horseman and David Scott Stone to make an apperance on the as-yet untitled LP, and look for more news very soon!

A member of Pelican and a member of Tombs have agreed to a "bro tat" commemorating their current tour together. So what you say? YOU can decide what it is! Pictures from their recent show together at Irving Plaza are HERE in case you missed them.

Iron Age and Sex Vid are in town this weekend. More info, dates, and an MP3 from Iron Age's Tee Pee Records debut, HERE.

Liturgy have been added to our Northside Festival showcase. Howl have been added to the roster of Relapse Records, and we just got word that so were Black Anvil!

Black Pyramid has released their new self-titled LP on the doom stable Meteor City Records. While vocalist Andy Beresky comes off sounding like J.D. Cronise at times (NOT a bad thing), these Massachusetts boys definitely are in a whole different category than The Sword. With an ability to balance their bombastic blues riffs with stylistic touches of the greats (ie Electric Wizard, Sleep, Pentagram, etc) without sounding derivative, check out a video for Black Pyramid's "And The Gods Made War/Visions of Gehenna" below and download "Visions of Gehenna" above! Full BP tour dates are below, including their appearance at the Stoner Hands Of Doom Festival.

That video and Thou, Indian, Ulver, Brutal Truth, Wolves In The Throne Room, Municipal Waste, and Narrows as This Week In Metal Continues...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (06/05/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

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

Hull

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

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

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

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

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

Saint Vitus LIVE (more by Firebaugh)

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

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

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

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

Week In Metal continued below...

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