by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Joshua Grubman, Lisa Shelley, Billy Baumann, and Trevor de Brauw were Teith, a new noise-damaged indie-pop crew that draws upon metal, post-rock, glitch, post-hardcore and more. Sadly, the band is no more, but they've left us with parting gifts in the way of new long-player Humboldt Park, available digitally and in a limited-to-100 vinyl pressing tomorrow (Jan 29) via Migration Media. Think of the hopeful post-rock of Red Sparowes or Pelican (de Bruaw is a member) with waves of electronic touches. It's an interesting listen.

Stream it in its entirety below.

Continue reading "Teith releasing 'Humboldt Park' (stream it)"

by Fred Pessaro // BBG

Carcass in NYC in 2008 (more by Ryan Muir)

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

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

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

by Michael Hill

For over a decade, Pelican have been navigating the changing tides of a musical movement that they, along with one-time label mates Isis, helped to create. Where most bands tended toward hyperbole in their song structures, Pelican's music has a sense of immediacy that set them apart from the legion of carbon-copy bands that favored the "loud-soft-loud-crescendo" formula. Pelican added a more apocalyptic sensibility to the epic musings.

A few years ago, my band Tombs had the opportunity to tour with them. We unanimously thought this was a good thing because Pelican, aside from gaining a high standing with critics, had also garnered a very devoted following. It was one of the easiest tours I've ever done; everyone was cool, professional and totally about the music, but it was at a Denny's in San Antonio that we solidified our friendship. Or was it the white-knuckle drive across the Midwest during a freak snow storm that we did together that made us road-brothers. Either way, I feel honored to call them my friends.

Call it synchronicity, but Trevor de Brauw would be in Los Angeles on the same weekend that Tombs was scheduled to play with Exhumed as part of a Scion / Relapse showcase. I met up with Trevor and drummer Larry Herweg after our set to discuss the forthcoming EP Ataraxia / Taraxis (due via Southern Lord on 4/10), the creative process, working in a band with members living in two cities and the normal jack-assery that results when three friends get together on a warm Saturday afternoon...

Continue reading "An Interview with Pelican by Mike Hill of Tombs"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: ÆGES - "Wrong (MP3)

ÆGES at The Power of The Riff in San Francisco (more by Taylor Keahey)

Combine past and present members of Pelican, Shift, Undertow and 16 and you'll get LA's ÆGES, a crew preparing their new LP The Bridge for release via The Mylene Sheath on April 17th. The record mines metal and hardcore in many of the same ways that Quicksand or Betty-era Helmet did in the 90s and Cave In or its contemporaries have in latter years; melodic vocals top thundering guitar riffs on tracks like "Wrong" which makes its debut here today. Check out "Wrong" streaming below or downloadable above.

In related news, Pelican is preparing their new release the new Ataraxia​/​Taraxis EP via Southern Lord on April 12th. Stream a new track, "Lathe Biosas", below. In the meantime, you can catch up on previously released Pelican material via their 10xLP boxset available now (with domestic shipping!).

All streams are below, as well as a set of Pelican tour dates in the EU surrounding their appearance at Roadburn.

Continue reading "ÆGES prepping new LP (song debut); Pelican releasing an EP"

by BBG

Inquisition at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by BBG)

With the Dark Funeral dates officially off, Inquisition have announced a two night stay at Saint Vitus on April 26th and 27th. Ticketing info and support is forthcoming. Abigail Williams, who was also on the tour, have added a date at Saint Vitus on 1/30 with Woe in the wake of that cancellation.

Pitchfork is currently streaming the title track from the new Pilgrim LP, Misery Wizard, due via Metal Blade in February. Look for a new track on BrooklynVegan next week.

Inverloch, a new project featuring members of dISEMBOWELMENT (who, as dUSK, will play Roadburn this year) have signed to Relapse Records. Look for the band's new LP this Spring via the label. In related news, Huata have signed on for Roadburn as well. Stream their Atavist of Mann LP below. Download their new demo at Bandcamp, and stream it in full below.

Magic Circle, a new doom band that features personnel from Mind Eraser, The Rival Mob and The A-Team, will join Pilgrim, Windhand and Natur on March 1st as part of an incredible evening of (mostly) doom at Public Assembly. Its an unmissable night for doom fans, and tickets are on sale. Stream some Magic Circle material below.

Stream a new Pelican track from their forthcoming EP Ataraxia/Taraxis at Spin.

Check out a new Primitive Weapons song at Pitchfork, and look for their forthcoming LP, The Shadow Gallery, via Prosthetic this Spring.

Congrats to Code Orange Kids, who have signed to Deathwish. Stream their 7" below, and catch them on tour with Xerxes.

Tickets are now on sale for the Behemoth, Watain, The Devil's Blood, and In Solitude show at Irving Plaza.

I talked to Dave Smalley.

Last weekend I went down to Baltimore for the A389 Anniversary show. Pics and review HERE and HERE. A few of the bands also played Acheron one night earlier.

Suggested NYC shows and some streams are below.

Continue reading "Evillive (Inquisition, Pilgrim, Magic Circle & more)"

by BBG

Voivod at Maryland Death Fest (more by BBG)

We already knew that Voivod was in charge of curating part of the program, but the ante has been upped with the announcement that the influential Canadian band will play all of their seminal Dimension Hatross LP and that they've invited Yob to play the fest! What's more, Yob will play two complete albums in two different sets at Roadburn 2012, including all of Catharsis and all of The Unreal Never Lived.

The announcement comes with a new round of additions to the lineup including Black Breath, Celeste, Red Fang, Black Cobra, Pelican, Tombs (who just played CMJ), Saviours (who play Saint Vitus on 11/30), Necros Christos, Bongripper, Jesu, La Otracina (who just played Union Pool), Virus, Ulver, Final,Church of Misery, Ancestors, Horisont, Dragged Into Sunlight and Christian Mistress among many others. Current lineup is below alongside some vide, and tickets go on sale 11/26 at 4AM EST.

Continue reading "Voivod & Yob playing full albums at Roadburn 2012 (updated lineup & ticket info)"

photos by Taylor Keahey and Sarah Coulter, words by BBG

"Pentagram was very solid last night. Too bad the crowd was a bunch of hipsters with no respect." -graveyarns

"A lot of dudes with a Hipster Metal Parking Lot look at the Pentagram show. Might need to trip some of them." -Mr. Dave Hill

Pentagram @ Mezzanine (by Taylor Keahey)

"The headliners for the Power of the Riff fest were none other than doom legends Pentagram. I wasn't quite sure what to expect from them as Victor Griffin hasn't been in the band for a long long time and they've had a revolving door of musicians for quite some time now. Also, I wasn't very into their latest comeback album Last Rites, so I was a tad skeptical I would enjoy their performance. The one thing I did know was that I was more than ready for Victor to lay down some serious doom riffage. They opened with new song Treat Me Right off their latest and right away sounded fantastic. Bobby Liebling's voice has certainly held up over the years and he was belting out classics like Relentless, Forever My Queen and All Your Sins like they were going out of style. Victor's evil riffs rained down upon the crowd who eagerly lapped them up and were thirsting for more after each song. For the encore they came out with The Ghoul before finishing with two more before letting the audience catch their breath. As for my skepticism, it was smashed to bits and a serious appreciation for what they've meant to doom and metal in general was cemented in me with their performance. I hope Pentagram continues on down the dark path for a while more...." [ILSYDHT]

Pentagram is now touring the East Coast with Jeff The Brotherhood and Valient Thorr. That tour hit Le Poisson Rouge last night with ELKS. Pictures from that NYC show are on the way. Meanwhile check out Power of the Riff below...

Continue reading "Power of the Riff in San Francisco in pics (Pentagram, Pelican, Early Graves, Masakari & more)"

photos by Adam Murray, words by BBG

"The Power of The Riff" has completed three days of their five date West Coast tour, logging shows at Echo/Echoplex in Los Angeles on 8/13 (pics HERE), Elbo Room in San Francisco on 8/15, and last night (8/16) at Mezzanine in San Francisco.

Bands that played over the course of the three days include Pentagram, Winter, Noothgrush, Trap Them, Acephalix, Black Breath, Eyehategod, Pelican, All Pigs Must Die, Early Graves (with new vocalist John of The Funeral Pyre!), Seven Sisters of Sleep, Masakari and many more.

Pictures from Echo/Echoplex adorn this post. More of them below.

And for the curious, yes, you read right. The show was one of the first to feature the return of Early Graves after the untimely passing of vocalist Makh Daniels. Glad to see that they are back in action!

Pentagram with Jeff The Brotherhood, Valient Thorr are about to head out on tour. Get your tickets for the NYC show at Le Poisson Rouge with ELKS.
Win a pair at our Facebook.

More pics below...

Continue reading "Power of the Riff in LA in pics (Pentragram, Early Graves, Eyehategod, All Pigs Must Die, Winter, Pelican & more)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: JEFF The Brotherhood - "Shredder" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: JEFF The Brotherhood - "Diamond Way" (MP3)

Pentagram at Europa (more by Keith Marlowe)

As discussed, Pentagram will play a string of shows with JEFF The Brotherhood & Valient Thorr. That tour has now been announced and will include a NYC show at Le Poisson Rouge on August 21st. Ticketing info is forthcoming. All dates are listed below.

Another date on the Pentagram schedule goes down on August 13th at Echo Park in LA aka the 2011 Power Of The Riff festival. The current lineup also includes Winter, Pelican, Trap Them, Masakari, Alpinist, Acephalix, All Pigs Must Die, and more TBA. Unlike last year, the fest costs money this time. Tickets are on sale. Poster below.

In related news, the previously discussed Bobby Liebling documentary is hitting NYC on June 22nd, as Last Days Here will play BAM Rose Cinemas as part of BAMcinemaFest.

Discover the best in recent independent cinema with BAMcinématek's annual festival, collecting the most dynamic and innovative new work from festivals in the US and around the world and bringing them to New York City audiences. Now in its third year, BAMcinemaFest 2011 is our biggest festival yet, screening 26 feature films, including 20 New York premieres and one world premiere, as well as 24 short films, an outdoor screening, parties, live music, a photo exhibition, and more.

As previously mentioned, Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals) will be the focus of a film as well, as a screening of Seperado! on June 18th will chronicle his journey "from his native Cymru all the way to Patagonia to look for his long-lost Argentine uncle, the poncho-clad Welsh-Latin singer René Griffiths". Gruff Rhys returns to play NYC a few days before that, on June 15th at Mercury Lounge with Y Niwl and Brakes (Solo Acoustic). Tickets are still available.

In other news, JEFF The Brotherhood released a new video for "Hey Friend" from their forthcoming We Are The Champions. View that, and all tour dates below.

Continue reading "Pentagram, JEFF the Brotherhood, Valient Thorr dates announced, Power of the Riff 2011 & new JEFF video too"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Metal Swim Compilation (Zipped MP3s)

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

Adult Swim have posted an album of FREE downloadable tracks. The record, entitled Metal Swim features rare and unreleased tracks from some familiar names around these parts (Isis, Boris, Skeletonwitch, Ludicra, Zoroaster, Red Fang, etc) including new tracks from Withered's forthcoming LP Dualitas, Torche's Songs for Singles, AND Kylesa's Spiral Shadow among many many others. Download the album at the site or above, and dig on the tracklisting (and some video) below.

Continue reading "new tracks by Boris, Isis, Torche, Kylesa, others on free comp "

by BBG

There are always casualties. Scion Rock Fest 2010 was incredible (review part 1 and part two), but like any festival, there will always be bands that you miss due to travel/scheduling/food/any number of other reasons. One band I missed on that overcast day in March was Pelican, who rocked a set at Skully's culled from their latest LP What We All Come To Need. Luckily, some pro-shot video from that show was recorded; view a pair of songs from that show (as well as an interview) below.

Pelican is celebrating their ten year anniversary in the coming months with a pair of shows in LA (with Goatsnake!) and Chicago. In addition, the band will release a limited-to-500 box set that will package the bands four LPs and three EPs for a 10xLP (!) set due via Viva Hate Records (the label responsible for that jaw-dropping Agalloch box set). More details on that box set are on the way.

Continue reading "Pelican celebrating 10 years, releasing box set, Scion videos"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Chord - "EbMaj9 (descent)" (MP3)

Chord (photo by Michael Rhodes)

Trevor de Brauw of Pelican will be at Issue Project Room in Brooklyn on August 15th with Chord, his "powerambient" project devoted to dissection of the riff. It's their only current tour date and part of the killer Important Records showcase that the band is now playing in support of their upcoming LP Progression. The record, due on Important in early November, is the follow-up to Flora which hit via Neurot Recordings in 2009.

For the new album three single-chord compositions were charted out, one freeform and tone driven, one long-form piece with charts dictating the players' intensity of performance, and one grid-like chart where each players' note continually shifts, though the combination of voices continue to maintain the chord... Six chords were chosen and arranged in a progression that encompasses two separate performances of each of the three compositions. Though the CD and LP share a similar internal structure and can be listened on their own, they are intended to be played concurrently, forming the full six chord arc of the total piece.

Continue reading "Chord releasing 'Progression' (MP3), playing Important show"

Owl City fans (by Chris Lynch)

Absolute Punk: I also read online that when you are a fan of Botch, that seems a little different especially for the music that you make. What kind of role do you feel a heavy band like them play on your music? Do you think you will ever try out heavier music or are you going to stick to the softer stuff for now?

Adam "Owl City" Young: I used to play drums in a heavy band called Isle, largely influence by stuff like Botch, Pelican, Neurosis, Isis. Even though bands like that are generally on the opposite side of the spectrum from the music I put out, I think the thing that inspires me still comes though -- the idea of becoming completely lost in the sound. The idea that imagery can be merely suggestive but not so subjective as to tell you how or what to think. It's far more about what the music says to you rather than somebody telling you how to feel. That's really interesting to me...

...Absolute Punk: You also have listed Mogwai as a musical influence, which shows that you are into a wide array of musical tastes. Do you feel like people overlook that based on your music output?

Adam "Owl City" Young: It's funny how a lot of people might assume a given artist only listens to the kind of music he/she creates. That certainly may be the case for some, but for me, it's nearly the opposite. I have a hard time truly enjoying anything I hear on pop radio, or even pop music in general. It's always been tough for me to draw any kind of inspiration from "conventional" music so to speak. Blame it on the stuff I listened to in high school, but for some reason bands like Mogwai or Rachel's or Telefon Tel Aviv are just way more interesting. They payoff is greater. Their songs hold a mystique that three and a half minute radio singles, in my opinion, often tend to lack. Therein was an exciting challenge when I began creating music for Owl City. It was pop music. I'd never made pop music before, I didn't even listen to it, but I wanted to create it because it was new.

Absolute Punk: You also have a tour coming up with Maroon 5 in about a week, and then John Mayer after that. How excited are you for that?

Adam "Owl City" Young: It'll be new territory and I'm excited to see how touring works at that level. I don't know much about either band but I'm looking forward to the tour to say the least.

photos by Jessie Barber, Christopher Mumma

Matt Martinez of Landmine Marathon belts it out (by Jessie Barber)

While BBG and Kim Kelly were trolling about the blackened stage at Bernie's, getting southern-fried by the Louisiana frighteners Thou, and checking out the thundergods known as YOB, Chris and Jessie were on the case at the other Scion Rock Fest on 3/13 in Columbus, Ohio. Pictures from their travels which include some (more) shots of Landmine Marathon, as well as Shrinebuilder (right before they played NYU), Pelican, D.R.I., Black Tusk, Voivod (who then made their way to SXSW), Magrudergrind, Saviours, and so much more, below....

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest pics (part 2) - Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Black Tusk, Magrudergrind, Pelican, Shrinebuilder, Deadsea & more"

by BBG

Shrinebuilder at LPR (more here)

Atlanta no more! Scion Rock Fest 2010 will take place in Columbus, Ohio on March 13, 2010. The show will officially expand its reach from one to FOUR venues in Columbus: Circus, Newport Music Hall, Skully's, and Bernie's Distillery. 2010's lineup contains zero return bands from the 2009 festival but does contain sets from bands that released my favorite albums of last year (namely Magrudergrind, Yob, Absu) and played my favorite shows of last year (Lightning Swords of Death, Landmine Marathon, Trap Them, Black Tusk, Ludicra) in addition to sets from headliners Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Shrinebuilder, Brutal Truth.

The rest of the lineup, the show flyer, and RSVP info is below...

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest 2010 (March 13 in Ohio) - lineup announced"

Black Cobra @ The Charleston on November 18th (more by Chloe Rice)

tonight in NYC
* Hannibul Buress @ Pianos
* Whiplash @ UCB Theatre
* Darmstadt: In C @ Galapagos
* Sloan, Magenta Lane @ Maxwell's
* Rev. Vince Anderson @ Union Pool
* Diane Birch, Jaymay @ City Winery
* Nar, War Cubs, Hank & Cupcakes @ Zebulon
* Les Paul Guitar Tribute w/ Mike Stern @ Iridium
* Antibalas @ Winter's Eve Festival at Lincoln Square
* Father Figures, Jason Anderson, Partyface @ Cake Shop
* Pelican, Black Cobra, Disappearer @ Highline Ballroom
* Brian Setzer Orchestra, Imeida May @ Hammerstein Ballroom
* John Hollenbeck plays Hollenbeck + Meredith Monk @ (Le) Poisson Rouge
* Kidrockers w/ Right on Dynamite @ Winter's Eve Festival at Lincoln Square
* The Gay Blades, Fake Problems, The Weight, Gabriel The Marine @ Mercury Lounge
* Small Beast w/ Bee & Flower, And the Wireman, Paul Wallfisch, Pharmacy and Gardens @ The Delancey

Hopefully you had a good Thanksgiving weekend. This week is kind of slow (or maybe not), but there's still plenty to see.

The Pelican show happening at Highline Ballroom tonight was originally scheduled to take place on December 2nd.

Russian Circles and Young Widows is still happening at Bowery Ballroom on Tuesday (tickets).

Magneta Lane make a rare trip out of Canada to tour with Sloan. They visit Maxwell's tonight, and will be in Brooklyn in a few days.

Jaymay pops out of hiding to open a show for Diane Birch at City Winery tonight.

Antibalas play free shows tonight at the Winter's Eve Fest at Lincoln Center at 6:30pm and 7:45pm. There's also a free Kidrockers show tied into this event.

Antibalas also have other shows coming up and can be caught multiple nights a week in Fela! on Broadway

Opening at Cake Shop tonight will be Partyface, a guitar duo made up of Indigo Street and musical Shahzad Ismaily, the latter of which has collaborated recently with musicians from Doveman to Yoko Ono to Marc Ribot.

Percussionist John Hollenbeck will play with three diverse groups (a big band and two small ensembles) at (Le) Poisson Rouge to showcase his own compositions and those of Meredith Monk. Video is below.

Janeane Garofalo, Reggie Watts, Chris Gethard & Bob Powers are part of the free lineup of comedy at UCB tonight. It's the weekly 11pm Whiplash show. For free comedy much earlier in the evening, check out Pianos.

Reggie Watts returns to UCB on December 17th as part of Stripped Stories.

The NY Times recently saw Seth Meyers at UCB.

Singer Susan Boyle's new album makes UK chart history.

A video of Kria Brekkan working the accordion at Glasslands on Saturday (11/28) is below.

Some mean people superglued iPhones to sidewalks and videotaped people trying to pick them up. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Monday?"

DOWNLOAD: Eagle Twin - Live at KRCL (MP3)

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Greg Cristman

Pelican

It wasn't all costumes and dry ice at Brooklyn Masonic Temple on Tuesday 9/22. sunn O))) were joined that night by Earth, Pelican and Eagle Twin.

Much like their labelmates Black Cobra, the duo Eagle Twin make a lot of noise for a two piece. Gentry Densley's guitar tone recalls the low-end version of an elephant blowing his trunk, and it gets in your guts. Drummer Tyler Smith has the power to match that tone, as he bashed away at his kit breaking at least three drumsticks in the five minutes I stood near him. This band is much more impressive than The Kindness of Crows would lead you to believe.

Pelican followed, pulling mostly from their upcoming LP What We All Come To Need with a few nods to City of Echoes along the way. The new material seems a bit heavier, and we can look forawrd to hearing some of that again when the band comes back in December with Black Cobra and Disappearer.

Earth's clean tones and Morricone slant were the final band before the funeral dirge of sunn O))). The pensive nature of their material (which was focused on later releases, in particular, The Bee Made Honey in The Lion's Skull) was a sharp contrast to the two heavier acts that preceeded it.

"Led by Dylan Carlson, the quartet has perfected a playing style which derives its narcotic power from an almost impossible slowness, taking John Fahey-style melancholic guitar licks and dragging them out as if they're echoing across an infinite Texas plain in the dark.

Then something unpleasant happened: Earth stopped playing. Whoever the tenth-level puppetmaster is who runs things at the Masonic temple, he/she apparently is a set-time stickler, so despite all manner of enthusiastic applause and catcalls from the crowd, Carlson and crew did not return. Surprising and frustrating." [William]

Continue reading "Earth, Pelican & Eagle Twin @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple -pics"

by Klaus Kinski

As a young mullet-headed headbanger growing up in the pre-internet late 80's and early 90's Cape Cod, my only resource for expanding my metal horizons was Metal Maniacs. Sure, I enjoyed the titans of that era (Metallica, Slayer, Iron Maiden, etc) but what I craved was the most vile, lightning fast death metal in the world. Thanks to Metal Maniacs, I was exposed to the likes of Deicide, Napalm Death, Carcass, Entombed, Morbid Angel, Repulsion, Gorguts, Cathedral, Morgoth, and many many more. The one album from that era that immediately blew my mind, and has stayed an important part of my life, is Godflesh's Streetcleaner. To this day the bassy-death-rattle-feedback intro for the lead-off track "Like Rats" still gets me amped.

For the past 19 years I've been avidly following the brains behind Godflesh, Justin K. Broadrick, and his incredibly diverse career. Starting in 1982 with band called Final, a project that is still creating music to this day, Broadrick has released dozens of records and EPs under a variety of pseudonyms and monikers. He's remixed boat loads of tunes by other bands and has dabbled in many different genres including industrial, grindcore, and hip hop. With his latest project Greymachine (listen to a stream here) and many more projects on the horizon, it seemed like a great time for BV to catch up with Justin and discuss his past, present, and future.

Continue reading "an interview with Justin K. Broadrick"

by Black Bubblegum

Eagle Twin

As members of a secretive brotherhood, Freemasons are no strangers to conspiracy theories. They've heard it all before: that they're child-sacrificing cult members, or religious zealots plotting a New World Order with the Jews, or satanic anti-religious alien spies.

With Dan Brown's newest novel, "The Lost Symbol," hitting bookstores on Sept. 15--much of it rumored to center around Masonic myths--the Masons are in preemptive damage-control mode. [Religion News]

The Blackened Music series is also responsible for Nadja and Mick Barr, which takes place on Saturday at Union Pool (9/19). Tickets are on sale.

Continue reading "sunn O))) coming soon to the Masonic Temple -- win tix"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Black Cobra - "Negative Reversal" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Pelican - "Strung Up From The Sky" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Disappearer - "A Skull Full Of Bats" (MP3)

Black Cobra's therapist recommends meditation to cure their anger. We recommend full stacks.

A month after their appearance at an unofficial Southern Lord showcase (the sunn O)))/Earth/Eagle Twin show at Brooklyn Masonic - tix), Pelican will hit the road in support of their new LP, What We All Come To Need. Those fall & winter dates include a December 2nd NYC show at Highline Ballroom with Black Cobra and Disappearer. Tickets go on sale Friday, 9/4 at noon. All dates below.

Black Cobra is also gearing up to drop their debut for Southern Lord, Chronomega, due on 9/29. Chronomega was produced by the legendary Billy Anderson (Sleep, Neurosis, Buzzov*en, High On Fire, soo many others) and features nine tracks, the first of which, "Negative Reversal" is available for download above! Dig on the cover art below. For the unaware, Black Cobra is a (massive) guitar-drums duo consisting of ex-members of Cavity (which at one point featured Juan & Steve of Torche), -16- (who reunited and dropped an LP this year), and Acid King (fun fact: Dale Crover's ex-wife Lori is on vox/guit). Black Cobra is two weeks away from touring Japan and Australia - full tour sched is below.

Speaking of bands that contained Juan Montoya and Steve Brooks of Torche, Floor recently announced that they will release their discography via Robotic Empire.

Disappearer recently dropped their new LP The Clearing for FREE DOWNLOAD. You should probably download that mammajamma.

Jebb Riley's other undertaking, Doomriders, recently made an audioplayer for Darkness Come Alive available here. That album drops 9/29 on Deathwish. The band has only one date on their calendar thus far, 9/26 in Allston, MA supporting Rorschach.

All dates below...

Continue reading "Pelican, Black Cobra & Disappearer - tour dates, MP3's, stuff "

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

Pelican @ Irving Plaza in June (more by Paul Birman)

"Pelican are in the studio putting the finishing touches on their fourth studio album, entitled What We All Come To Need (out this fall on Southern Lord). What guitarist Laurent Lebec has dubbed "the most perfect synthesis of everything we've done to date, sonically", this new album is a giant step forward within the complex, intricate, beautiful and crushing sound Pelican is famous for. The album features more guests than have ever appeared on a Pelican album before: Greg Anderson of sunn O))), Aaron Turner of Isis, Ben Verellen of Harkonen and Helms Alee and Allen Epley from The Life & Times and Shiner. Content-wise, Lebec says "There is a current of inspiration that feels particular to each album's music and titles. Though we lack a singer, the song names are often conceptual. This new album speaks to a rapidly decaying world, the fulfillment we find in each other, as well as the resolve to move beyond disillusionment."

Repulsion, Pig Destroyer & Brutal Truth played Brooklyn Masonic Temple on July 31.

New Pelican album cover art, tracklist, and tour dates below...

Continue reading "Pelican - new Southern Lord album, added to sunn O))) shows"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Celeste - Misanthrope(s) LP (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ulcerate - "Caecus" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ulcerate - "Tyranny" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black September - "Purification" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bloody Panda - "Miserere" (Excerpt) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Oak & Bone - "Build Walls" (MP3)

Ulcerate

Back to bludgeon.... it's This Week in Metal! This week, we kick things off with a death metal record that is currently in high rotation, Ulcerate's searing new LP Everything is Fire. Out NOW via Willowtip, check out a pair of MP3s from that LP available above. This New Zealand band are able to hit that seemingly impossible sweet-spot where brutality meets technicality and melody meets dissonance. Highly recco'd!

Bloody Panda is back a new LP due on Profound Lore, Summon. Due August 11, the band will release a CD/DVD for Summon which will include seven tracks, one of which ("Miserere", an excerpt above) is interpreted visually on DVD. Yoshiko Ohara, their signature vocalist and a known visual artist, is responsible for the cover art. The DVD was shot, in Brooklyn and Indonesia, and edited by band members Bryan Camphire, Blake McDowell, and Josh Rothenberger. Josh also told us that...

the whole DVD project came about through our collaboration with Cave dance studio on Grand St. in Williamsburg. It was there that we met Berlin-based Butoh dancer Yuko Kaseki a few years ago. We Asked her to dance to one of our tunes last year, and then shot most of the DVD at Cave with her last August/Septemeber.

Fresh off of a triumphant set at Maryland Deathfest, Asphyx is back and will domestically release their new album, Death...The Brutal Way via Ibex Moon. Due September 1st, the record will also be released in a limited edition version with a live DVD, Live at Party.San Open Air Festival 2007. Asphyx recently welcomed Martin van Drunen (Pestilence, Hail of Bullets, Bolt Thrower) back into the fold after his departure 17 years ago.

Black September, who first came onto my radar via their work with Thou and Winters In Osaka, has a new 7" out NOW, The Sermon of Vengeance. Mastered at The Boiler Room by Collin Jordan (Nachtmystium, Minsk), check out "Purification", one of two new tracks by the black metal punks from The Sermon of Vengeance above and order that 7", as well as other releases here.

Pelican's new EP, the tour only CD Ephemeral, is out on 12" at Southern Lord packaged with a Seldon Hunt designed tee. In addition, Earth's previously rare Radio/Live LP is available via Southern Lord as well.

Filth-ridden hardcore is the order of business for Syracuse's Oak & Bone, a badge the band wears with pride on their debut 7" out NOW via Hex Records (one time home to Ed Gein, Engineer, Playing Enemy, and Cursed). Check out "Build Walls" from that 7" above. The crew recently played NYC with another fave of mine, crusty black-metal punks Infernal Stronghold, and are prepping to release a split 7" with Like Wolves on Barbarossa Records. Pick up their debut 7" and look for that split!

Anaal Nathrakh's Mick Kenney is back with his former bandmates in Mistress to resurrect Fukpig, who released their last LP Nuclear Apocalypse in 2003. Pick up Spewings From A Selfish Nation before it's gone (100 copies total!). Anaal Nathrakh's In The Constellation Of The Black Widow is out June 26th via Candellight. Preorder the vinyl at Mick/Shane Embury's FETO records.

A preview of that Fukpig, as well as news on Down touring with Melvins(!!!) Jucifer, Celeste, Mastodon, Clutch, and much more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (06/16/09)"

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)"

photos by Paul Birman, words by Klaus Kinski & Black Bubblegum

Aaron Turner of Isis

Isis, assisted by Chi-town's Pelican and local heroes Tombs, hit up Irving Plaza on June 2nd as part of a larger tour for the ex-Boston, now-LA band. The Irving Plaza show marks the home stretch for Pelican and Tombs who have basically been on tour since March, having hit up SXSW and joined forces with Wolves In The Throne Room (who recently played NYC).

Klaus Kinski was at the show Tuesday night, he writes...

Continue reading "Isis, Pelican & Tombs @ Irving Plaza in NYC - pics "