Andy Nelson with Paint it Black at Fun Fun Fun Fest (more by BBG)

Mamiffer, Tombs, Locrian, Thou, Fuck The Facts, The Atlas Moth and many more contribute to the second part of our continuing series where we asked some of our favorite artists about their 2011 highlights. Part One HERE. Part Two below...

Continue reading "The Year in Heavy 2011 according to artists & friends (part 2)"

We previously discussed Phily's Riot Fest East that will feature an appearance from the mighty Descendents and The Suicide Machines who they also play with in NYC. Riot Fest East, an offshoot of the Chicago festival, happens on September 24th.

The Chicago version of the festival, October 5-9, previously announced that Weezer, Social Distortion, Descendents, 7 Seconds, ALL (two different eras!), Helmet, and X (playing Los Angeles) were all on the lineup, but left one big announcement for today...

On Friday October 7, 2011 Danzig will headline Riot Fest and perform a career spanning show featuring sets of Danzig, Samhain and Misfits songs with none other than Doyle joining on guitar the Misfits set. We've waited years for this and we can't wait to see the inside of the Congress Theater turn into a churning sea of humanity.

Tickets are now also on sale for the Descendents show at Roseland Ballroom that Suicide Machines and H20 are opening.

X are performing Los Angeles at both Riot Fests AND on two nights at Irving Plaza in NYC. Tickets are on sale for those shows too.

Riot Fest show flyers and some videos is below.

Continue reading "Riot Fest Chicago completes lineup with "Danzig Legacy"! Descendents East Coast shows on sale too"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Avichi "Under Satan's Sun" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Disma"Spectral Domination" (MP3)

Only in Japan will you find the unique combination of bratty punk rock, crust, doom, and drone all rolled into one. After releasing the well-received Ill Innocence in 2007, Gallhammer is back albeit without founding member Mika Penetrator. The now-duo hit the studio late last year to record their follow-up LP, The End, which will see its release via Peaceville on May 31st. Recorded by Maniac (Skitliv, Mayhem), the new LP (thats the art to the left) visits familiar blackened themes from their previous Fenriz-approved debut, like the riot-grrl inspired new song "Aberration". Stream that below and preorder a copy at Peaceville.

Reminder, Inter Arma will link up with Bastard Sapling, and Castevet on May 7th at Mother Pugs in Staten Island and at Acheron on May 8th with new addition SALO (Saturday & Sunday).

And you can make Sunday a day of heavy music, as Woe has added a last minute show in NYC, and its an early one. The show goes down at 3PM at Semi-Legit (6 Charles Place in Brooklyn) and will also feature appearances from Primitive Savagery, and MAD. $5 gets you in to the early 3PM show. Flyer below.

Bastard Sapling at BV-BBG CMJ (more by Keith Marlowe)

Check out some snippets from the upcoming Autopsy LP Macabre Eternal at their mini-site. We recently posted the first track, "Always About To Die".

Dark Castle is streaming a new song from their forthcoming Surrender to All Life Beyond Form at Invisible Oranges. The band will go on tour with YOB (with Rob Shaffer of DC on drums) and hit Le Poisson Rouge on July 12th (tickets). Invisible Oranges is also hosting a pair of interviews with Earth.

Stereogum is currently hosting a new track by Premonition 13 due on the forthcoming 13 via Summer Solstice/Volcom on 6/21.

Blake Judd admits that Nachtmystium's Addicts was inspired by his own battle with heroin, and that he is working on new Nachtmystium material with members of Avichi as well as Sanford Parker. Judd is also scheming new material with Von! Speaking of Avichi, look for their new LP, The Devil's Fractal, via Profound Lore on 7/19 (thats the art work). Check out "Under Satan's Sun" available for download above.

Last but not least, Disma will release their new LP Towards The Megalith via Profound Lore Records. Check out the new song "Spectral Domination" available for download above and look for the LP on 7/19. More brutal death from these long-time metal/hardcore vets.

That Gallhammer stream and some suggested NYC shows are below...

Continue reading "Evillive (Avichi, Gallhammer, Bastard Sapling, Woe, Disma...)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Nachtmystium - "A Seed For Suffering" (live) (MP3)

Nachtmystium at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Markus Shaffer)

While Nachtmystium may experiment with different directions from LP to LP, there is always one constant, an unstoppable live show. Now that punk ethos and those icy blasts are the focus of a new release, Nachtmystium Live at Roadburn due on Feb 17th via Roadburn Records (on 2LP) and currently available for pre-order in Europe and at select US distros.

Nachtmystium has been known to feature different configurations on the live stage. Their Roadburn appearance not only featured Ron van Herpen from The Devils Blood/Astrosoniq and Teun van der Velden from Astrosoniq on guitar/keys respectively, but it was the first time they played with them following the abrupt departure of Jeff Wilson mid-tour:

"For your information, ...these two guys had THREE HOURS of practice with us EVER, on the day of the show none the less. We had not met them in person previous to the day of the show. They'd been asked to help us out (due to some unfortunate circumstances with a member of Nachtmystium having to leave for home mid-tour) about nine days before our performance at Roadburn. Both of them learned the entire set from the album recordings of the songs we played in these nine days, and then had a three hour window in the afternoon on show-day to rehearse with us as a full band.

Nachtmystium will hit the road with Cradle of Filth, playing Best Buy Theater in NYC on March 3rd and Starland Ballroom in NJ on March 5th as part of the "Creatures From The Black Abyss Tour". Tickets are still available. All dates are reposted below.

The song stream and the tracklisting/art for the new release are down there too...

Continue reading "Nachtmystium releasing 'Live at Roadburn' -- MP3 & tour dates"

by BBG

Brian Gibson and Jason Kendall of Megasus at Acheron (more)

After releasing their punishing self-titled LP with 20 Buck Spin (and playing an equally punitive live show at Acheron), Megasus is back to release a new 5" mini-EP with Brutal Panda Records. The Menace of The Universe 5" features a pair of new tracks from the Providence beatdown artists including "Damned Hammer" and the title track, which is streaming below. Guitarist Ryan Lesser is responsible for the (impressive) artwork duties on the release, which will include die-cut six-panel packaging. You can see the art and pre-order the EP at Brutal Panda's site.

Megasus, the only band that has the distinction of having a record on Brutal Panda and 20 Buck Spin all while having a song in Rock Band 2, currently have no dates on their calendar. Neither does Lightning Bolt who share drummer/bassist Brian Gibson.

In between working on his fretwork and art for the upcoming release, Ryan Lesser also found time to tell us what his favorite things were in 2010. Check out that list while you listen to the song stream for "Menace Of The Universe" below.

Continue reading "Megasus releasing an EP (listen to a track), Ryan Lesser told us his 20 Favorite Music Things of the year (check it out)"

by BBG

Cough at CMJ (more by Keith Marlowe)

Did I book this show and not realize it? Cough will team up with Naam and Batillus to play The Charleston on 12/11. If you missed them at the BV-BBG show, this is an excellent chance to catch Cough in a small (and suuuper loud) environment. Must.

The previously discussed Incantation-plays-all-of-Onward to Golgotha show with Mortician, Funerus, and Fatalist has a new home :Europa on 11/20 (tickets) (a BrooklynVegan/1000Knives production). The show is the day before Gaza teams up with Tiger Flowers and Meek is Murder at Cake Shop.

Nachtmystium will hit Best Buy Theater on March 3rd, 2011 supporting Cradle of Filth, with Turisas and Daniel Lioneye as part of the "Creatures From The Black Abyss Tour" which also hits Starland Ballroom on March 5th . Tickets are on sale. All dates below.

Those looking to get away from their families after Christmas can scoot on down to Best Buy Theater to join Gwar with The Casualties, Infernaeon, and Mobile Deathcamp on 12/26. Tickets are on sale. Both Gwar and The Casualties will also play this weekend at Fun Fun Fun Fest (11/5 - 11/7, tickets). Gwar's new album, Bloody Pit of Horror hits store shelves next week via Metal Blade. They recently appeared on Fallon. Video of that with all dates below.

Speaking of FFFF, Suicidal Tendencies are on tour and will play the fest this weekend and are scheduled to play Terminal 5 on 11/14 with Cro-Mags, Underdog and Death Before Dishonor. Tickets are still available or you can try your luck at winning a pair! Details are at the bottom of this post with updated dates.

Dub Trio will play Mercury Lounge with CSC Funk Band on November 10th. Tickets are on sale.

Great day show at ABC No Rio on 11/13 with Cali killers Punch and Loma Prieta teaming up with the great Vaccine and Death First. Shows start early, and this is a pretty killer bill so get there!

Kayo Dot will support Newspeak at a record release party for the band's new album Sweet Light Crude. loadbang will support at the Littlefield shindig on November 14th. Tickets are on sale for $8 or you can buy entry with a CD for $15.

All tour dates, details on how to enter the Suicidal Tendencies contest, and some video is below.

Continue reading "Cough, Nachtmystium, Suicidal Tendencies, Gwar, Incantation, Kayo Dot, Punch & other upcoming shows & tours"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Nachtmystium, Zoroaster, The Atlas Moth, and Dark Castle played their second of two NYC dates at Knitting Factory on 9/19 (the first show was four days earlier at The Studio at Webster Hall). Now they're back on the road. You can catch them at Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia tonight.

More pictures from Knitting Factory, and some new videos from The Studio at Webster Hall show, below...

Continue reading "Nachtmystium, Zoroaster, The Atlas Moth & Dark Castle played Knitting Factory (pics & video) "

photos by Markus Shaffer, words by BBG

Blake Judd, saluting the horned one

Long Island Press: I've heard some traditionalists who deride Nachtmystium as populist black metal-does that mindset ever influence your artistic choices?

Blake Judd of Nachtmystium: I don't care what anyone says about my band. Nachtmystium is my life, it's all I do, and any f**king asshole black metal douche bag who wants to question me or my integrity can feel free to do so right to my face if he feels so inclined. I and the four people who travel with me six to seven months out of the year are total extremists in our lifestyles and there is nothing "fancy" or "glamorous" about our lifestyles as members of Nachtmystium, We just happen to get paid enough these days to keep gas in our van (note, VAN) and the wheels on it turning and maybe pay a month or two of rent each after a tour. If someone thinks that is like living some rock star lifestyle, think again.

In related news, the great Dark Castle have completed recording their new LP at Electric Audio in Chicago with Sanford Parker. The follow-up to Spirited Migration will be released by Profound Lore on CD, with At a Loss (their former home) doing the vinyl honors. Spirited Migration is FINALLY out now on vinyl and available on all of their tour stops. Look for it!

More pictures and video from the Studio are below...

Continue reading "Nachtmystium, Zoroaster, The Atlas Moth & Dark Castle played The Studio (pics & video) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Deathbeds - "Danny Husk" (MP3)

Nachtmystium at Europa (more by Samantha Marble)

Ask any two heavy music fans about some of the best metal releases of the year, and chances are you'll get responses that include bands that play NYC tonight (9/15) and Thursday (9/16). Tonight, Nachtmystium (who released the controversial Addicts: Black Meddle Part II earlier this year) will team up with Zoroaster (who released Matador), The Atlas Moth, and Dark Castle will play The Studio at Webster Hall. Tickets are still available to buy, OR you can try your hand at winning one of FOUR pairs.

Thursday NYC will get a piece of The Body, who released one of my favorite LPs, All The Waters Of The Earth Turned To Blood earlier this year. The Providence band will play The Acheron with Deathbeds and Bad Dream and though there are no advance tickets to this all ages show ($10 gets you in), I have THREE pairs available for giveaway. Details on how to win a pair of tickets to a show or both are below.

The Atlas Moth have a new covers EP, The One Amongst the Weed Fields, due at the end of this month via Candlelight. The digital only release features the Chi-city band revisiting classics by Pink Floyd, The Doors, and even "California Dreaming"!

Dark Castle recently began work on the follow-up to their breakthrough LP Spirited Migration for At A Loss Recordings. Sanford Parker is behind the boards, and though a release date is still forthcoming, expect an announcement soon.

Deathbeds will appear on the upcoming second installment of the Anthropic Records compilation, featuring some of Philly's heaviest. Alongside the brutality that is "Danny Husk" (downloads it above), bands like Ladder Devils and The Green Evening Requiem (mems Woe) will strut their stuff. The comp is free with any purchase on the label, and the tracklisting is below.

Details on how to win tickets and some videos are below too...

Continue reading "Nachtmystium tonight, The Body tomorrow (win tix) "

by BBG

Nachtmystium at Europa (more by Samantha Marble)

Nachtmystium, Zoroaster, The Atlas Moth, and Dark Castle are going to tour, and BrooklynVegan and 1000 Knives have teamed up to present the Manhattan show at The Studio at Webster Hall on September 15th! Tickets are on sale. It's one of two NYC shows on the trek. The foursome also play Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on September 19th. Tickets are on sale for that too. All dates are below.

In other news, Zoroaster and Dark Castle's recent tour mates, Black Tusk, are scheduled to play NYC on with Fu Manchu at Santos Party House on 9/4. Support will come from the great It's Casual, along with Vagina Panther. Tickets are on sale. The show is part of a larger set of dates for Fu Manchu and It's Casual; dig on those below too.

Continue reading "Nachtmystium touring w/ Zoroaster, the Atlas Moth & Dark Castle ++ Black Tusk touring w/ Fu Manchu (2010 dates) "

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

Brian of Eyehategod/Soilent Green

It'd be easy to mistake the Eyehategod/Brutal Truth/Nachtmystium/Black Anvil/Tombs throw down as a full on assault on the audience. And while in a sense it was, to the metal fans in attendance, it was a more of a big party. Songs like "Sister Fucker", "High on Hate", and "Filled With Secrets" don't outwardly point to a celebratory vibe, but in the context of that show, beers were hoisted and invisible oranges were raised.

Tombs kicked off the evening at a ridiculously early 6PM with a set that seemed to be filled with new tunes making full use of their new guitarist. It was my first experience with Tombs as a four piece, and the addition definitely adds a fuller sound.

Black Anvil followed with a set that also relied heavily on newer material from their upcoming Triumvirate. The band's relative cooling to the the live stage in 2010 (to write and record mostly) meant a heaping dose of brutality... of course then again, maybe it's the whole "don't know what you've got, til it's gone" factor. (I missed their set opening for Immortal, and only caught them briefly at Scion Rock Fest)

Nachtmystium was up next, and aside from brainchild Blake Judd, the band was sporting a wholly new lineup made up of members of Lord Mantis and a new guitar player (Jeff Wilson recently left the band). Their set contained little of the controversial elements from their new LP Addicts (meaning, no keyboards, overly-compressed snares, etc) and instead concentrated on the melodic black metal blasting. "High on Hate" from the new LP sound particularly impressive live.

Brutal Truth followed, pulling from across their groovy grind catalogue, as barefooted vocalist Kevin Sharp barked out vocals at the crowd. Their set was good, but I found my eyes glued to drummer Richard Hoek for almost the entire set. Hoek is infinitely watchable/listenable, as he alternates between precision blasting, goofy faces, and making ridiculous remarks at the crowd.

After all that lightning-quick pummel, it was nice to have Eyehategod on stage to take it nice and slow. The band pulled out all of the classics for their shortened set (a shade over an hour), and whipped the crowd into a fever pitch. Pit action, stage dives, and sing-alongs were a-plenty, and the band seemed genuinely more excited to be in Brooklyn than they were just seven months prior. Incredible set.

More Eyehategod dates HERE. Tons of pics, and some videos from the Brooklyn show, below...

Continue reading "Eyehategod, Brutal Truth, Nachtmystium, Black Anvil & Tombs played Europa in Brooklyn - pics & video"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Nachtmystium - "Every Last Drop" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nachtmystium - "Addicts" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nachtmystium - "No Funeral" (MP3)

Eyehategod at Europa (more by Samantha Marble)

Saturday (6/12) marks the massive Eyehategod / Brutal Truth / Nachtmystium / Black Anvil / Tombs show at Europa. The uber-stacked bill still has tickets available but if you are lucky, you can win one of FOUR sets for free! Details on how to win are at the bottom of this post.

Of all of the above touring bands, only Nachtmystium have a freshly minted album under their wings (Black Anvil's Triumvirate impacts on 9/28). The followup to the critical/fan smash Assassins: Black Meddle, the highly controversial LP Addicts: Black Meddle Part II, is out now via Century Media. Check out a few tracks from that LP available for download above.

In an recent interview that I did for Metalsucks, Blake Judd of Nachtmystium revealed that the Twilight project (featuring Aaron Turner of Isis, Sanford Parker of Minsk, N. Imperial of Kreig, Wrest of Leviathan, and Stavros Giannopolous of The Atlas Moth) was working on new material and might have a new member:

There are talks that somebody from Sonic Youth might be playing with us as well. Sanford's [Parker] partner is Jeremy Lemos. He's Sonic Youth's sound technician live. So we're pretty closely connected to them through him. Thurston Moore is a big black metal fan, so we've been in talks with him about getting him involved and doing something on the next record, which we're all really hoping will happen.

Some videos and contest details are below...

Continue reading "Nachtmystium play w/ Eyehategod Saturday (WIN TIX), Thurston Moore to play on Twilight album? (not that Twilight!)"

words by Kim Kelly, photos by Erik Luyten

Eyehategod

It's been a long few days for Kim Kelly, who is currently gallavanting around Europe with Mike Scheidt and YOB, but the metal maven filed the below Roadburn report to tie up the rest of her time at the 2010 edition of the epic festival that took place during an equally historic time. If you're just joining us, check out Kim Kelly's report from Day 1 before continuing below... - BBG

Continue reading "Roadburn Festival 2010 in review"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Altar of Plagues - "Atlantic Lights" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Breath - "Children Of The Horn" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Celeste - Morte Nee(s) (Zipped LP)
DOWNLOAD: Get Rad - "Life Without A Plan" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Get Rad - "Honest Man/Wild Man" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Inter Arma - "Epicenter" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ufomammut - Eve Snippets (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nachtmystium - "No Funeral" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Yakuza - "Stones And Bones" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sayyadina - "Razor Discipline" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Culted - "Spirituosa" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Year of No Light - "Hierophant" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Castevet - "Grey Matter" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Deathwish MMX Spring Sampler (Zipped MP3 files)

Twilight

Surprise! After a few CDs made their way into record stores accidentally (I am told) Twilight, the Blake Judd/Wrest project that now features N. Imperial (Kreig), Aaron Turner (Isis), Stavros Giannopoulos (The Atlas Moth) and Sanford Parker (Minsk) is out NOW on CD via Southern Lord! The record was engineered by Sanford Parker, who also contributed synths, and features eight tracks with Robert Lowe (Lichens) contributing vocals to three of them. No official word on a release date for the LP, but get out and order a copy... I think I may enjoy it more than the new Nachtmystium. Speaking of the new Nachtmystium, Stereogum recently premiered the keyboard heavy "No Funeral" from the forthcoming Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II. Dig on that above.

Call me obsessed, but the new Black Breath, Heavy Breathing, is on serious rotation lately- much like their previous EP Razors To Oblivion was last year. The new LP has Kurt Ballou's dirty little fingers all over it, bringing their rich early Swedish death metal meets hardcore sound to life, as exhibited in "Children of The Horn" available above. Get Heavy Breathing now via Southern Lord. Black Breath will open the BV/1000 Knives/AEG Live Converge extravaganza at Santos Party House on 5/6 along with Touche Amore and Lewd Acts. Make sure and get their early (their live show is worth it), and get your tickets in advance (it WILL sell out). Seriously brutal and fun stuff... you gotta love a band that screams "reject Christ, spit on the cross" at the top of their lungs. Or am I alone on that one?

Though it only lasts two tracks (but conversely- 35 minutes), the new EP from Altar of Plagues, Tides, is every bit as powerful as White Tomb, one of my favorite LPs of last year. AoP's new Tides EP is currently up for pre-order via Burning World Records (cop it), but until that package arrives, make sure and dig on "Atlantic Lights" from the EP (50% of the record!) , which makes it's world premiere here!

An LP from last year that was just too good to be free was Celeste's Misanthrope(s). With a potent mix of black metal, furious hardcore, and even melody, it was a seriously underrated record that deserved much more attention than it got. Even though Misanthrope(s) is barely in the rear view, the band has released their new LP, Morte Nee(s) for FREE download (get it above). Make sure and order a copy of the LP for yourself via Denovali as well though, it's one to keep for posterity.

Richmond's Inter Arma totally floored me at The Charleston with their furious mix of black metal, southern stoner style and Neurosis-style imperial riffage. Besides being a jawdropping live band, Inter Arma has also put together a pretty memorable record as well in the form of Sundown, out soon on Forcefield Records. Featuring members of another great Richmond band, Bastard Sapling, check out the band when they hit the road in July, but until then, check out Sundown!

A darkness has settled over the land... details on Watain's new album have been revealed! Entitled Lawless Darkness, the effort was recorded at Necromorbus Studio (Deathspell Omega, Funeral Mist, Ondskapt, Nominon, Unanimated et al) in Alvik, Sweden, and is due on June 7 with the below cover art and the tracklisting as listed down below. The release follows their picture disc EP Reaping Death which quickly disappeared, though the CD single is currently available.

That Watain cover, plus news on Blood Revolt (Primordial + Revenge), Loss, Man Is The Bastard, Hail of Bullets, Woe, a new Inquisition LP, and more as Short Wave Warfare continues....

Continue reading "Short Wave Warfare (04/20/10)"

Eyehategod at Europa (more by Samantha Marble)

Eyehategod don't do small. First it was Goatwhore, Pig Destroyer and Strong Intention on a boat. Then it was Tombs, Howl, Unearthly Trance, and Strong Intention.

Now, BrooklynVegan and Osiris are proud to announce another unmissable lineup: Eyehategod with Brutal Truth, Nachtmystium, Black Anvil, and Tombs at Europa on June 12th! Ticket info is forthcoming, as well as their full US tour sked. Meanwhile, EHG is also scheduled to play Emo's in Austin on May 7th to perform all of In The Name of Suffering and Take As Needed For Pain. Drool.

Both EHG and Tombs are also playing MDF 2010 (which recently added Nirvana 2002 and Krallice). Tombs recently played the Relapse showcase at SXSW along with Voivod, Kill The Client, and many others. We have pics from that coming soon.

Black Anvil can be seen much sooner. They play NYC on TUESDAY (3/30) with Immortal at Brooklyn Masonic Temple. Tickets are still available. The band recently finished tracking their new LP, Triumvirate. Want to win a pair of Immortal tickets? Details how are at the bottom of this post...

As previously discussed, Nachtmystium's Addicts: Black Meddle part II is on the way via Century Media. Look for it June 8th.

All currently announceed Eyehategod dates, some videos and the contest below...

Continue reading "Eyehategod playing NY w/ Brutal Truth, Nachtmystium, Tombs & Black Anvil (who play Brooklyn w/ Immortal - win tix) "

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

Snake of Voivod!

As Kreator took the stage to "Choir of the Dammed," you could feel the excitement and adrenaline building in the venue. The band played with dead on accuracy, flawlessly mixing favorites from all eras to celebrate their 25th year in existence. There was extensive headbanging and a barrage of devil horns being thrown by the masses all night long. During the night, Mille informed us that after this leg of the tour, Kreator are heading back to Europe to do some summer festivals and then Kreator will get working on a new album.
Kreator played roughly an hour and twenty minutes and as the night came to a close, Mille had every voice in the venue bellowing "HATE" to introduce 'Flag of Hate" because when in New York at a Kreator concert on a Saturday night, how else do you show appreciation for the German Thrash veterans? - [MetalMachine.net]

More pics and some video from the NYC show (including shots of Kreator and Voivod's setlists), flyers and dates below...

Continue reading "Kreator & Voivod played Nokia Theatre in NYC w/ Evile & Nachtmystium (pics), continue on tour (SXSW & other dates) "

words by BBG, photos by Paul Birman

Tis the season for corpsepaint? The coal-in-stocking crowd was on hand... to catch Marduk's first proper trek around the country since dropping off the Blackenedfest tour earlier this year. A good portion of the crowd appeared to have already spent their Christmas money on elaborate spiked armbands that could be classified as weapons.

Openers Merrimack played streamlined and fierce French black metal to a gathering crowd, bedecked in enough spikes to host a shish kabob dinner.

Marduk closed the evening... [and could have] been on edge; a fan at an earlier southern California show tried to torch a Bible and an overzealous security guard shot pepper spray, forcing the venue to clear for 10 minutes. In San Francisco, Marduk didn't withhold crowd pleasers from Panzer Division, Opus Nocturne and early tracks like "Still F-ing Dead." But the strongest moments were from recent albums including "Into Utter Madness," and "Phosphorous Redeemer" from Wormwood and "The Leveling Dust," from Rom 5:12. The more expansive Marduk tracks showed a side to the band neglected by fans who stick to earlier albums... Marduk's latest albums have showcased a rejuvenated band that is heading in more creative directions than at any point during their career. But on this night they might have been slightly bested by Nachtmystium, who buckled down and showed where black metal is headed as we enter the new decade. [About.com]

More pics from the show are below...

Continue reading "Marduk, Black Anvil, Merrimack, Manic Ritual & Nachtmistium @ Gramercy Theatre in NYC - pics"

by Black Bubblegum

Touring Division Marduk (more by Chris La Putt)


Marduk JUST destroyed NYC, but just in time for the birth of Christ, the unholy black metallers are back for more! Marduk will hit the road with Nachtmystium, Black Anvil, Mantic Ritual, and Merrimack to play a string of US dates which include Gramercy on 12/16. So far only Nachtmystium, Black Anvil, and Merrimack are confirmed for Gramercy, and ticket info is forthcoming.

In the meantime, Black Anvil is scheduled to play a few dates in the coming weeks, including FOUR NYC shows. One show is the previously discussed super-mega Burnt By The Sun / Tombs / Bloodhorse riffstravaganza at Cake Shop on 10/2. On September 3rd the band will play a FREE show at Fontana's as part of the Time Insults The Mind re-release celebration (stream that LP here). On 9/18, Black Anvil will join Cold Northern Vengeance, Whiplash, Enforcer and many others at Europa for September Slaughter Thrashfest. Tickets are on sale. Last, but certainly not least, Black Anvil is also scheduled to take on Urgehal, Spearhead, and *cough*Eyes of Noctum*cough* at Europa on 9/14, Urgehal's first US tour! Tickets are on sale.

Another killer band who recently played a free show at Fontana's, the mighty Howl, will join the thrashtastic (and fun) Toxic Holocaust, Atakke, and Battletorn at Europa on 9/6. Tickets are still available. The Toxic Holocaust date fits snugly between a Hatebreed and a Satyricon tour, but the band is also scheduled to hit the road with The Black Dahlia Murder, Skeletonwitch, and Trap Them (no NYC dates though).

Satyricon has scheduled a NYC date on that tour, though without Toxic Holocaust and with Bleeding Through & Chthonic at Irving Plaza on 10/25. Tickets are on sale.

Skeletonwitch has a new album on the way via Prosthetic on 10/13, Breathing The Fire. Pre-order that here.

Nachtmystium recently dropped their Doomsday Derelicts EP, via their Battle Kommand imprint.

Flyers for the Marduk & Urgehal tours, Breathing The Fire cover art, a few videos and all tour dates are below....

Continue reading "Marduk, Black Anvil, Nachtmystium, Merrimack & Mantic Ritual tour dates & other upcoming metal shows"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Justina Villanueva

DOWNLOAD: The Gates Of Slumber - "The Bringer of War" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zoroaster - "White Dwarf" featuring Brent Hinds of Mastodon (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Serpentcult - "The Weight Of Light" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zoroaster - "Brazen Bull" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Zoroaster - "Bullwhip" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Gates of Slumber - "Ice Worm" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Gates of Slumber - "Trapped In The Web" (MP3)

"North America is", or rather WAS, "Doomed" when the tour of the same name rolled on through NYC, hitting Studio at Webster Hall on August 9th. Packed with the mind-melting lineup of Zoroaster, The Gates of Slumber, and Serpentcult, the trio are closing up the final days of the campaign. Zoroaster and The Gates of Slumber will meet again in the very near future though, as part of the Planet Caravan Fstival in North Carolina along with a veritable all-star line up of doom heavyweights.

The Gates of Slumber's new LP, Hymns Of Blood & Thunder is due on 9/29/09 via the mighty Rise Above Records. Dig on the tracklisting below and the first taste of the LP, "The Bringer Of War", above!

Zoroaster are also scheduled to join Gojira and Burst for a few dates surrounding Gojira's appearance on the Metallica tour. Those dates include Music Hall of Williamsburg on 9/21 (tickets here). The tour is part of Burst's farewell tour (which is also their first US tour).

Following Zoroaster's US dates, the Atlanta band will hit Europe for a gang of dates with Absu, Nachtmystium, and Razor of Occam. To the outsider, this may seem like an odd match for Zoroaster (three bands of black metal descent, and Zoroaster, who are clearly more in the doom vein) unless you keep in mind that Black Judd of Nachtmystium issued Zoroaster's first LP and EP via his Battle Kommand imprint.

More pictures from the Studio show, and all dates, below...Pictures and dates below...

Continue reading "Gates of Slumber & Zoroaster - Studio pics, MP3s, tour dates"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Black Kites - "Advancement To Ruins" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grayceon - "It Begins, And So It Ends" (MP3)

Yob

The mighty YOB have revealed details on their upcoming new album for Profound Lore! In a blog post entitled "Tracking And Mixing Is Done", the band offered the following update:

The new album has been tracked and mixed. It will be mastered at the end of the month by Billy Barnett at Gung-Ho Studio in Eugene, Oregon. Sanford Parker did such a fantastic job and was so easy to work with. Truly professional and amazing at every turn. We are confident our friends worldwide are going to dig our new vibes channeled through Sanford's engineering wizardry.

The album will be titled The Great Cessation with 5 songs clocking in @ 62 minutes... The tentative release date is late July... The titles: Burning The Altar, The Lie That Is Sin. Silence Of Heaven, Breathing From The Shallows, The Great Cessation

DOOM!

As we mentioned before, 108 will be in NYC on April 25th, bringing along with them the mighty Pulling Teeth, who just dropped their new album Paranoid Delusions, Paradise Illusions. Tickets are still available, or you can win a FREE pair of tickets and a copy of Pulling Teeth's new CD! Details on how to win are below, before the tour dates.

Black Kites

Black Kites have dropped their new LP, Advancement To Ruins, and it is a manaical chunk of crust-laden hardcore that reminds me of Acme, Cursed, Disembodied, and a ton of other bands that I WISH the hardcore community would look up to. Comprised of ex-members of The Assistant, This Ship Will Sink, You and I, and current members of Zhenia Golov, check out the title track available for download above, and pick up the record at Ride The Fury Records. In the meantime, look for the NJ trio to play June 13th at ABC No Rio, as well as a few other shows around the tri-state. Full tour dates are below.

Pentagram will team up with Nachtmystium for a handful of dates on the west coast and in Blake's native Chicago. Nachtmystium's new EP Doomsday Derelicts drops on May 15th via Battle Kommand/Century Media. Pick it up before one of them gets killed in a drive-by. Pentagram played Webster Hall earlier this year.

Footage of Crom Live at Cake Shop, 1349, Anaal Nathrakh, Napalm Death live footage, and so much more as This Week In Metal continues...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (04/24/09)"

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)"

2/27/09 - Chicago, IL:
Nachtmystium has sad news today with a once-again recurring issue surfacing from the wake of our past. We've been forced, at the request of the promoters and the folks at Scion / Toyota, to pull out of the Scion Rock Festival, scheduled for Saturday, February 28th. This news came to us just this past Tuesday and was very disheartening to say the least. A troubling, and unjustly-applied notion that we are, or ever have been, in any way, a "Nazi" band or a political band on any level, is completely absurd and we are disgusted that there is someone out there who really believes we are of this ilk. It made it as far as the sponsors of this events desks, and now we are forced to pull out of it after some political threatening on the part of these ridiculously uneducated person/people who have caused this ruckus.

Continue reading "Nachtmystium deny racism charge. Regardless, Toyota kicked them off this weekend's Scion Rock Fest"

by Black Bubblebgum

sunn o))) @ Knitting Factory (more by Damien Neva)


Ya hear that rumble? Thats the sound of great records perched in the distance waiting to descend on 2009 (more on that later). While this year will bring about great music and another set of "next big things", let's take the time to be thankful for 2008 and all of it's memorable records and shows. Here are my favorite records of 2008:

Continue reading "the year in Metal (Best of 2008, what's coming in 2009)"

by Black Bubblegum

Kylesa @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg (More By Tim Griffin)

Do you enjoy the hard rockin sounds of southern metal but have an un-natural fear of crust punk legends? Want to see a certifiably badass band tear you a new one in a room the size of someone's basement? Well friends, you are in luck! It looks like Kylesa have scheduled a show at The Charleston (!!!) with Tombs (!!), Tournament, and Black Anvil(!) as part of Hardcore Night on Jan 28th, the day before they take the stage opening for Amebix (tickets for that show here). Charleston flyer and Kylesa's full tour schedule below. That includes the previously mentioned dates with The Haunted.

In other Kylesa news, the band recently announced their new album Static Tensions, due in March on Prosthetic with 20 Buck Spin doing the honors on the vinyl tip. Look for the vinyl to be released in two versions: a regular edition with a single LP with an eight-page LP-size booklet and a "deluxe", a limited-to-500 gatefold 2xLP on colored vinyl mastered at 45 RPM! Fellow Savannah madman John Dyer Baizley of Baroness will do the
artwork honors. That's it to the right.

Kylesa also announced they are on board for the holy shit fest, I mean, the Scion Rock Fest at The Masquerade in Atlanta, GA on Feb 28th with Mastodon, Neurosis, High on Fire, Boris, 1349, Cryptopsy, Torche, Nachtmystium, Wolves in the Throne Room, Baroness, Harvey Milk, Zoroaster, Withered, Krallice, Toxic Holocaust, Skeletonwitch, Rwake, A Storm of Light, Warbringer, Salome, Suidakra, Tyr, and Alestorm. That shit is FREE. More info forthcoming.

Kylesa, as well as Rwake, Zoroaster, and many other luminaries, will be featured in Slow Southern Steel, a documentary profiling the southern metal scene. Details about screenings up north are sketch, but we'll let you know if anything arises. Slow Southern Steel is directed by CT, aka the razorblade throat behind Rwake.

Tip o' the hat to Invisible Oranges, who recently spotted a flickr page belonging to Laura Pleasants of Kylesa.

Skeletonwitch will be here on Sunday 1/11 with Cannabis Corpse and Attake. Attake is also playing the Amebix/Kylesa show.

A Storm of Light will headline Europa on 2/15 with Amenra and Scion-ers Zoroaster. Tickets are still on sale.

Charleston flyer and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Kylesa playing the Charleston & Scion Rock Fest (so is Neurosis, Mastodon, High on Fire, Torche, Boris...)"

by Black Bubblegum

The Haunted (with the Bjorler twins of At The Gates) have announced their 2009 North American tour, in support of 2008's Versus, with unfuckwitable support from Nachtmystium, Kylesa, AND Intronaut (!!!) including one show at BB Kings in NYC on April 19th. Tickets are on sale today (@ 10AM).

Nachtmystium have one other show on the calendar, at The Masquerade in Atlanta on Feb 28th as part of the Atlanta Metal Festival. The psych-black metal "assassins" recently played Public Assembly with Velnias, Javelina, and Malkuth as part of the inaugural event of the Show No Mercy series. Skeletonwitch, Cannabis Corpse, and Atakke are lined up for round two on Jan 11th, 2009.

Kylesa will be in town even sooner - on January 29th to open for crust pioneers Amebixx. The band is also prepping their new album, due in 2009, and will tour Japan in Feb 2009 with Birushanah.

Intronaut released Prehistoricisms earlier this year and was last seen in NYC with Mouth Of the Architect.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "The Haunted, Nachtmystium, Kylesa & Intronaut - 2009 Tour Dates (tix on sale)"