by Bill Pearis w/ photos by Alexandre Bédard

DOWNLOAD: Jesuslesfilles - Fous Le Camp (MP3)

Les Surveillantes

The final day of M for Montreal had two showcases, both of which seemed programmed more to locals more than the "international delegates" like myself. Mainly because much of it was en Français.

First up was an all-Francophone afternoon. This might sound like drag to some, but I see it as a window to a world most Americans don't really know exists. And while a lot of it is heavy on the fromage, there's always a discovery to be made here. The only band that seems likely to make a dent below the border was Jesuslesfilles, who make a racket somewhere between the Pixies and early Dandy Warhols. Garagey, but not the blown-out levels kind, and the songs are very catchy even with the language barrier. Check out "Fous Le Camp" at the top of this post. It's from their excellent self-released album, Une Belle Table, which you can download in its entirety for free at their Bandcamp page. There's also video of them performing at the bottom of this post.

I also really, really liked Les Surveillantes, an incredibly charming, nerdy folk quartet from Saint-Boniface, Manitoba. Huddled around two microphones, and looking like French-Canadian Quakers, they sang about girls, apathy and science. "La Racine Carree du Couer" ("The Square Root of the Heart") was kind of about all three. Though all their songs were in French, their very funny between-song banter filled in the blanks for Anglo-monolingual folk in the audience. One of my favorite performances all week.

The rest of the Francophile showcase was a little more glitzy. Damien Robataille worked his inner Tom Jones for a crowd of excited ladies, one of whom threw a bra onstage. Tongue-in-cheek, yes, but sorta not at the same time. Montreal seems to like a little panache in their rock. We also got Yann Perreau, whose 2009 album was nominated for a Juno and epitomizes Francophile rock: indebted to Leonard Cohen, with a little Vegas and a little analogue electronic edge. And in his case, a little dub too. He was good.

Alex Nevsky seemed like a younger, blander version of Perreau, which I guess makes sense as Yann produced his new album. Nevsky and his band's flowered shirts were the most memorable thing about them. Monogrenade made anthemic, somewhat pompous rock that reminded me a bit of Parisian talent Benjamin Biolay but not as good. They had a cellist. And Geneviève Toupin crafted airy, ethereal pop not unlike Beth Orton.

Later that night was the big M for Metropolis show at the Metropolis theater, one of the nicest bigger (around 2500 capacity) venues I've ever been to. Great sightlines, sound, and lots of bars. It puts Hammerstein, Roseland and Terminal 5 to shame. The line-up here is of bands who are genuinely popular in Montreal, but it's equally schizophrenic as the other bills this week, a little something for everyone.

La Patere Rose, who also played last year's M, opens the show. She's very French, from the striped shirt to the accordion. There's also a little dance music vibe thrown into the chanson mix, as well as choreography. Very cute.

Up next was Pascale Picard Band who was so bland and forgettable I have to look up their name every time I try and reference them. If they ever made a French-Canadian remake of Dawson's Creek, Pascale Picard Band would likely be on the soundtrack.

Waking us up after that was Priestess, who -- unlike Dance Laury Dance earlier in the week -- brought some serious hard rock to M for Montreal. Though I was hoping for more mayhem. No pit, just some mild thrashing from the crowd. The band were tight and giving it their all though.

Next were The Dears whose sound is clearly designed for a big venue like Metropolis. They sounded properly epic, but played a set that was heavy on the new album, Degeneration Street, which no one has actually heard yet. (Not out till February). Maybe I don't understand how these things work, but I think if you're playing a big show like this, a festival crowd, cram your set with hits and play the best song from the new album. (That would be "Omega Dog" in this case.) Instead we only got the great "Lost in the Plot." Lost opportunity if you ask me.

Then we got the real entertainment of the night: Misteur Valaire, who I saw two years previously at M, and have become Montreal megastars. They're kind of the city's Hot Chip, in that they look like members of a high school AV club but make serious club music. Jazz trained, these guys are great musicians and have the crowd going mental the whole time. There's also costume changes and boy band style choreography.

What they don't have, however, are very many catchy songs which is where the Hot Chip comparison kind of falls apart. But in the moment, they are a one-stop dance party. But they'll need more hooks if they want to really translate to American audiences. That said, if you want to get a head start -- I think they'll be at SXSW 2011 -- you can download their album for free at their website.

The crowd kept dancing for Poirer, one of the hottest DJ/Producers in Montreal but at that point I was entirely wiped from four days of French-Canadian hospitality, music and general excess.

Videos of Jesuslesfilles and Les Surveillantes, plus some more pics, après le saut:

Continue reading "M For Montreal 2010 - night 4 in pics & review (The Dears, Les Surveillantes, Jesuslesfilles, Misteur Valaire & more)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Gay For Johnny Depp - "Suckcess" (MP3)

It's a hard road to tread when press refers to you as "the band that taste forgot", but depending on what you're going for, that could be a complement (and in this case, I think it is). Bringing to mind the post-hardcore nuttiness associated with bands like Refused, The Blood Brothers and Daughters (RIP?), Brooklyn wildmen Gay For Johnny Depp are prepping to release a new six track EP entitled Sex Vid Singles Club. The band, which features members of Mind Over Matter and Errortype 11 in their ranks, will release the EP on October 12 via Shinebox Recordings (A new label). The EP will serve as a primer for the band's full length which is due in February 2011. Dig on "Suckcess" above and a video for literally every other song below.

GFJD currently has one date on its calendar,10/21 at Matchless Death by Audio with Strife, Cruel Hand, Batillus (who just played Cake Shop), and Primitive Weapons (lineup seems to be up in the air) as part of CMJ (it's the Shinebox Recordings showcase).

The show is part of a short east coast tour one of two in NYC that the ex-straight-edge kingpins Strife are scheduled to play that week, They also play Mercury Lounge on 10/20 as part of the Converse-presented "True Til Def" show with the decidedly non-straight-edge crew of Priestess, Earthless, Disembodied, Iron Age, and Naam. Smoke 'em if you got 'em and head to the site to RSVP to the free CMJ show.

Tracklisting and tons of videos are below....

Continue reading "Gay For Johnny Depp releasing EP (MP3), playing CMJ show w/ Strife who plays free 'True Til Def' show during CMJ too"

by BBG

Saviours at Union Pool (more by Paul Birman)

Saviours will team up with Priestess, Hamsoken (black metal featuring Nick Forte of Rorschach), and new Relapse signees Titan for a show at play Santos Party House NYC on August 22nd. Ticket info is forthcoming. The show will be the first for Saviours since supporting Saint Vitus in October of last year, and will take place a day after appearing at Ozzfest in Camden (tickets still available). Priestess last played NYC in April supporting High On Fire at Gramercy.

Titan have recently completed their new album Sweet Dreams for their new label Relapse Records. Recorded with Brendan Tobin (of Made of Babies, etc) at Translator Audio in Brooklyn, the LP will hit shelves on October 12th.

Saviours are currently touring Europe with Weedeater and Black Cobra. Black Cobra will be back in NYC on July 30th with the great Howl, Struck By Lightning, and East of The Wall at The Studio at Webster Hall. Tickets are on sale. It's not the only great metal show coming to that venue; Zoroaster, Black Tusk, Dark Castle, and Hull play there this Friday (July 9th). Tickets are on sale.

All Saviours dates, and some videos are below...

Continue reading "Saviours, now on tour w/ Weedeater & Black Cobra, add a NYC show w/ Priestess & Titan between Ozzfest dates "

photos by Chris La Putt, words by BBG

With the Snakes For The Divine infiltration on full steam, High on Fire played to an uber-packed Gramercy Theater on Friday (3/9). Part of a greater US tour, serious firepower came from the riff battalions of Priestess, Black Cobra, and Bison BC. The sold-out crowd were treated to recent material from all performers (three of the four have albums that have been released in the recent past), with Bison BC expecting their punisher Dark Ages on 4/13 (Tuesday). Much like 2008's Quiet Earth, the new Bison LP is a burner, skillfully meshing moments of stoner rock, thrash, and even crust punk to create a record to raise a beer to, if only you can stop headbanging. Bangover indeed.

Though all bands pride themselves on huge riffs delivered at exceptional volume, it seems that for a short time, that was muzzled:

Mr. Pike's guitar sounded as if it were coming from someone's living-room stereo. Suddenly High on Fire seemed small and delicate. This wasn't how it was supposed to go down. It took half the set to get the mix right, through to the new 'Fire, Flood & Plague,' whose four-bar chordal riff includes a couple of half-step waverings, like the cracks in a devotional singer's wail, and whose guitar solo was sprayed and gestural and fantastic, ignoring the moving harmony. -[New York Times]

Continue reading "High on Fire, Priestess, Black Cobra & Bison BC played Gramercy Theatre in NYC - pics"

words by BBG, photos by Samantha Marble

Andrea of Howl will destroy you

Howl and Javelina are here, and ready to wreck NYC with Sea of Bones and Flourishing as part of a BV/1000 Knives production that kicks off TONIGHT (3/25) at Cake Shop. It's an early show, so doors are at 7 and the show begins PROMPTLY at 7:30. Want to go? I have two pairs of tickets up for grabs, details at the bottom of this post.

The show will serve as a record release party for the incredible Flourishing (featuring Garett of Wetnurse), who drop their new EP A Momentary Sense of the Immediate World on The Path Less Traveled Records next week. Cop it.

Howl is also prepping to release their new album Full of Hell on Relapse Records, pre-order that now. They played many of those new songs at their appearance at the BrooklynVegan, Converse, Tee Pee Records & Chronic Youth co-hosted Attitude Adjustment show at Red 7 in Austin, Texas on 3/20. Javelina (who filled in for Nebula) was also on board, playing the metal stage (with The Gates of Slumber, Priestess, Naam, and Liturgy) with the other stage featuring raging hardcore (Alpha & Omega, Touche Amore, Iron Age, Trash Talk) and some of the greatest names in underground hip hop (Black Milk, Buckshot of Black Moon with special unannounced guest Smif N Wessun!) for a killer mix...

"Black Milk (March 20, Red 7): After Detroit superproducer/MC Black Milk's set, someone behind me compared Milk's band to The Roots. But even Philly's finest have never been as dynamic as hard-hitting drummer Daru Jones, keyboardist AB and Milk himself during their set. With a driving rendition of posse cut "The Matrix," Milk proved that he's as dope on the mic as he is behind the boards for stars like GZA. If the forthcoming Album Of The Year consists of this trio live in the studio, you'll hear no complaints" [Eye Weekly]

Continue reading "Howl & Javelina in NY tonight (win tix), played BV party @ Red 7 w/ Black Milk, Buckshot, Priestess, Trash Talk,more (pics)"

words & photos by BBG

Matt Pike of High on Fire @ the Mohawk

Want to make my life simple? Put two killer showcases in the same venue. Well, unfortunately it wasn't three showcases in the same venue (Relapse was going on over at Red 7 - pics coming soon). Following the big bang of the BrooklynVegan day party at Emo's, I hightailed it over to the Mohawk on 3/17 (right next door to our quieter official BrooklynVegan showcase going on at Club DeVille...) (editor's note: ...that was often drowned out by the metal sounds blaring over the wall while bands like the The Middle East were playing soft sets...) for a double bill of mayhem with the Action PR Showcase on the outdoor stage and the Prosthetic Records showcase on the indoor. The night at the Mohawk show was marked by competing headlining sets: the great Landmine Marathon (who played the BV day party that day) and none other than High On Fire (one of their only appearances at the fest).

Also along for the ride were such notable greats as The Gates of Slumber, Withered (who also played Emo's), Zoroaster, Naam, Priestess, The Funeral Pyre, and many others. Not a single bad apple in the bunch. Of those, I had never seen The Funeral Pyre or Clinging To The Trees of A Forest Fire - both were impressive. TFP did blackened death with such intensity, it was hard to not be compelled to head nod. Clinging did abstract and atonal grindcore in the best way.

Although I missed Landmine Marathon (who would probably be in the running), best performance of the night goes to High On Fire who blazed through new material and old including the epic "Baghdad" (!) from their debut The Art of Self Defense. As their set progressed, it seemed that the band got looser on their instruments, and as a result, much tighter and more cohesive.

In related news, High On Fire recently dropped the new video for "Frost Hammer". View it, as well as other vids and some pics from the epic show, below...

Continue reading "new High on Fire video, pics from the Action PR & Prosthetic Records SXSW showcases, more "

by BBG

Buckshot (more by Tim Griffin)

I know we are a bunch of teasers, in between all of the (not so subtle) hints we have dropped lately. But now BrooklynVegan, in association with Tee Pee Records, Chronic Youth and Converse, is proud to announce 'Attitude Adjustment' at Red 7 in Austin on Saturday, March 20th from Noon to 6PM! The free show will pair some of the greats in hip hop with brutal hardcore, all while a riff-stravaganza destroys the other stage. You've been warned. Here's the lineup:

Indoor Stage
5:30 PM Black Milk
4:30 PM Buckshot
3:45 PM Trash Talk
3:00 PM Iron Age
2:15 PM Touche Amore
1:30 PM Torae
12:45 PM Alpha & Omega

Outdoor Stage
5:00 PM The Gates of Slumber
4:15 PM Nebula
3:30 PM Priestess
2:45 PM Bison BC
2:00 PM Howl
1:15 PM Liturgy
12:45 PM Naam

The Red 7 show is one of MANY BrooklynVegan shows during the festival this year, and one of four that involves metal. The other three are the two stage Emo's shindig with Torche and Fucked Up on 3/17, the Profound Lore/20 Buck Spin Official showcase on 3/19, and the BV/100Knives/Crustcake Pizza Party on 3/18. Actually it's five if you count the M for Montreal show on 3/20 with VOIVOD.

Other non-metal BV shows include our official showcase on 3/17 with Califone, Serena Maneesh and more, and the BV/Anso party on 3/18 with Tyvek, Cheeseburger, and many more, and our day party at Club DeVille on 3/19 with Lucero, The Antlers and others. Half of this stuff is still not fully announced. Stay tuned.

The Red 7 show will also be one of two hip hop events we are involved with at SXSW this year. We're also happy to report that we're media sponsoring the official Audible Treats showcase on 3/20. More details to come! Pictures from their most recent CMJ show HERE.

Buckshot tells a story in the video, along with the flyer, below...

Continue reading "announcing 'Attitude Adjustment' - a Saturday party @ Red 7"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: High On Fire - "Frost Hammer" (MP3)

High On Fire at Hammerstein (more by Paul Birman)

The number one complaint I heard when High On Fire played Hammerstein over two nights was how early they came on (pics from night one, and two). Problem solved.

High On Fire have announced a headlining tour in support of Snakes Of The Divine kicking off in Minneapolis on March 31st with a killer triple threat of support from Priestess, Black Cobra, and Bison BC. The tour includes an NYC date on 4/9 at Gramercy Theater which go on sale on 2/12 at noon. Full dates are below.

That jawdropper of a tour isn't the only set of dates on the calendar for High On Fire. The Oakland boys are on board to play the Harvest of Hope fest and the Action PR SXSW showcase at The Mohawk in Austin on 3/17. Priestess will be in Austin for SXSW as well, to play the Tee Pee showcase on March 18th at Habana Calle 6 (and a TBA day party on March 20th). Before SXSW Priestess will be in NYC to play MHOW on March 13th. Tickets are still available.

High on Fire's new album Snakes Of The Divine hits store shelves on 2/23 via E1. Download the first track, "Frost Hammer" above. The band is also streaming the title track from their new LP at Spin.com.

April 9th (High On Fire's Gramercy date) is one day before the BV-presents Weedeater / The Gates of Slumber / Black Tusk / Struck By Lightning melee at Studio At Webster Hall. Those tickets are on sale NOW.

Two of High On Fire's recent tourmates are on the road in April.

Full High On Fire and Priestess dates, and some vids are below including the Priestess video for "Ladykiller".

Continue reading "High on Fire - new album (MP3) & 2010 tour dates w/ Priestess, Black Cobra & Bison B.C "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Nebula - "The Perfect Rapture" (MP3)

Nebula at BV-BBG Day Party during CMJ (more by Paul Birman)

After passing through customs on their return from a European trek, Nebula will take a few weeks away from the road before heading back out in middle March for a string of dates that'll take the band through SXSW, on to Pianos in NYC on 3/27, and out to the West Coast by the middle of April. The Pianos date is just one of a few that the band have lined up with their Tee Pee compadres Quest for Fire after SXSW. Then in Chicago on April 1st they team up with The Willowz and Clutch side project Lionize for the remainder of the west-heading tour. All dates below.

The Willowz meanwhile are in the midst of a tour with Delta Spirit that brings them to Pianos in NYC TONIGHT (2/4) (and to Union Hall Friday, 2/5) (and then to the same two venues a week after that).

Nebula's tour dates include the Tee Pee showcase at SXSW on Thursday, March 18th at Habana Calle 6. The two stage affair will feature appearances from Priestess, Iron Age, Nebula, Naam, Quest For Fire, Kreisor, The Atomic Bitchwax, Sweet Apple (featuring J Mascis), Imaad Wasif, Spindrift, Hopewell, Jason Simon (of Dead Meadow), and The Main Street Gospel.

Sweet Apple will play their first NYC show on April 20th.

Nebula and tourmates Quest for Fire are on the verge of going half on a 7". The release, due March 23rd, will feature artwork by Andre Ethier (The Deadly Snakes) and be limited to 1000 copies. Download Nebula's contribution to that split, "The Perfect Rapture", above.

All dates and some videos below...

Continue reading "Nebula touring w/ Quest for Fire, Willowz & Lionize - 2010 tour dates (include Tee Pee showcase @ SXSW) ++ new MP3"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Priestess - "Raccoon Eyes" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Priestess - "Ladykiller" (MP3)

Jack Frost opened up the heavens and caused Priestess to call off their appearance at The Charleston with Early Man last month (Early Man played anyway with Naam), but the band has been determined to make it up. And make it up they shall on March 13th, though in a venue a liiiittle bit bigger than that basement.... Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets go on AMEX presale at noon (1/20), and regular sale at noon on Fri (1/22). The band is currently gearing up to play Europe with Bigelf through the bulk of February. Full tour dates are below.

After rockin' our world with the first taste of Prior To The Fire late last year, the "Ladykiller"s are back to show us their "Raccoon Eyes". The new track shows the band in a more melodic light, with the oodles of thrashy riffage replaced by dual leads ala Iron Maiden. But please, don't get it twisted, dudes have riffs. Dig on the new track above, and pick up Prior To The Fire on Tee Pee rekkids and compact disques on Feb 2nd.

Full tour dates and tons of videos including live representations of both new Prior To The Fire tracks, are below....

Continue reading "new Priestess MP3 & Brooklyn show "

photos by Chloe Rice

Early Man

Priestess couldn't make it, but Early Man, Naam and La Otracina still played sets at The Charleston on December 12th. More pictures from that show below...

Continue reading "Early Man, Naam & La Otracina (but not Priestess) @ the Charleston in Brooklyn - pics "

by BBG

Priestess in NYC. Sigh. (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Alas, twas not meant to be.... Priestess were pummeled by the recent snows in the midwest, and as a result, will not be able to make it to Brooklyn on Saturday (12/12). Early Man and Naam, however, WILL be battling the elements to hit The Charleston with a night of psychedelia, and full-on thrashin' fury, bringing along La Otracina for the ride.

Early Man, Priestess, and all of the aforementioned rockers seem like they are some of the few who haven't collabo'd with GZA, but maybe that will change (or maybe not) by the time GZA plays Gramercy Theatre on Jan 9th. Tickets go on sale Saturday (12/12) at noon here. For some Wu sooner, check out Raekwon who is on tour now.

In barely related news, DRI's mysteriously gone-missing NYC show at Gramercy Theatre on 1/17 has re-appeared. Tickets go (back) on sale Saturday at noon. More dates HERE.

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Priestess - "Ladykiller" (MP3)

Priestess at Webster Hall, opening for Pentagram (more by Toby Tenenbaum)

Priestess are prior to, um, Prior to The Fire, their NEW LP for their new home, Tee Pee Records. The band released Hello Master in 2005, and are prepping the new joint for a 2/2/10 release, though the record was completed more than a year ago:

The record was completed in the fall of 2008... and we were extremely proud, everyone involved, of what we've done and checked it in the label and it was the same story again. 'Well look guys, we can see that you love this and it's a great new direction and you guys have matured, but we still don't hear a song that we want that we can use as a single. Can you guys continue to write more songs?'

And we were basically like, 'Uhh... No. This is it. We've got a good record here and we don't want to do anything forced.'

You can't force write a single, it's impossible to do that. At least it's impossible for us. We're not Tin Pan Ally songwriters; we're a rock band.

Priestess and RCA Records decided to go their separate ways. But unlike the long and nasty splits between band and label you always here about, the break between Priestess and RCA was actually peaceful.

Priestess will join Early Man and Naam at The Charleston on Saturday, 12/12. It's one of a few remaining dates before the end of the year.

Naam recently posted part one of their ongoing tour diary from the road with Priestess and Early Man. Dig on that here. Remaining Priestess dates and the show flyer are below...

Continue reading "Priestess leave RCA for Tee Pee - album set for 2010 release (MP3), on tour now w/ Naam & Early Man (NYC Saturday)"

words by BBG, photos by Chloe Rice

Om @ Europa

On the eternal quest towards enlightenment, Om played Europa on 10/11 as part of a four band bill that included Ben Chasny solo project Six Organs of Admittance, Lichens, and Naam. Though Om is traditionally a duo, the new (and in my estimation, interesting) direction on God is Good sees the band going outside of their traditional roles, and as such Robert Lowe of Lichens joined them on stage to embellish with percussion, guitar, keys, and tons of effects. NYCTaper was on the scene, and recorded the entire show for your enjoyment. Get that here.

If you happened to miss Europa, then you have a few chances to catch all of the bands in the coming weeks. First up, Om, Six Organs of Admittance, and Lichens plays NYC again (Bowery Ballroom) tonight (10/13). Tickets are still on sale.

The remaining band from the Europa bill, Naam is playing a ton of shows in the coming weeks including the BrooklynVegan-BBG Day Party at Fontana's on 10/23! Full dates for Naam are below, which include Iron Age at The Charleston on 10/17, the Tee Pee/Chronic Youth Day Party on 10/22 at Cake Shop with Priestess, Nebula, Hull, and others, as well as their official showcase at Union Pool on 10/23 with Priestess, Weird Owl, Nebula, Quest For Fire, and many more.

Outside of Om, the duo are staying plenty busy. Al Cisneros will be at Le Poisson Rouge on 11/15 with Shrinebuilder (who recently added Rwake and Liturgy to the bill) while Emil Amos will be back for CMJ to play with Holy Sons.

More pics and video from the Om show, and Naam tour dates (that also include some December Priestess and Early Man dates), below....

Continue reading "Om, Naam, Lichens & Six Organs of Admittance @ Europa in Brooklyn - pics, video, live recording ++ (*Bowery tonight*)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Doomriders - "Lions" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Portal - "Omenknow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Javelina - "Step Child" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Karma To Burn - Live at Lit Lounge 4/20/09 (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: 20 Buck Spin Label Sampler (Mediafire, Zipped MP3 via)
DOWNLOAD: Kowloon Walled City - Gambling On The Richter Scale (Zipped MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Converge - "Axe To Fall" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Power Pellut - "Black Molly" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Black Skies - "Smoke and Mirrors" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Yoga - "Seventh Wind" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sleep - Live at ATP 5/9/09 (MP3)

Javelina @ the Northside BV-BBG Showcase (more by Jason Walker)

Alright! I get it. Doomriders rules. Revocation is up there. There's a new Converge and Baroness on the way. But even with all of those great releases, it suprises me that Javelina isn't near some of the top of those lists. The band's filthy debut was a monster and their new one, Beasts Among Sheep, only adds to their considerable reputation. If you are a fan of the last LP, this one is a must have. Dig on "Stepchild" above and preorder the limited edition LP version of Javelina's Beasts Among Sheep via Brutal Panda Records and the CD version via Translation Loss.

Speaking of that Doomriders album, Darkness Come Alive is out NOW via Deathwish Records. Though the party vibe that permeated through Black Thunder is mostly gone, it has been replaced by a propulsive punk rock fury and, at times, a Misfits-era Danzig croon (see "Come Alive")! There are quite a few killer moments on this long-player, but we present to you the most "fuck you" of them all, the galloping "Lions" downloadable above!

In our last round up, we shined a light on into the deepest fathoms of Australia and the truly frightening Portal. The band's claustrophobic and positively frightening new death metal LP, Swarth, relies as much on freak-out atmosphere as it does killer discordant riffery. Swarth is due out on 10/20 via Profound Lore and we have a second taste in the form of "Omenknow" above.
Misery Index have completed four new songs and are looking to enter the studio in early 2010 to record their follow up to Traitors! Stoked.

Iron Age @ Cake Shop (more by Jason Walker)

I still remember that kick ass Cake Shop show with Iron Age, Mind Eraser, and Sex Vid, and walking out of that show wanting more. Thankfully, I can add to those great memories with a PAIR of Iron Age shows in the coming weeks! First up, the rowdy Texans will team up with the great Mother of Mercy (profiled here) for a show at Cake Shop (10/16). The next day (10/17), look for the band to pull a double header with a day show at Generation Records and a night show at The Charleston with Brain Killer, Naam & Descender. Speaking of Mind Eraser, the band will team up with the kick ass Iron Lung for a string of east coast dates which will include Cake Shop on 11/8! Full Iron Age and Iron Lung dates are below.

Black Skies will release the limited edition vinyl from their 2008 EP Hexagon on I'm Better Than Everyone Else Records. The Chapel Hill doom trio is currently on the hunt for drummer #5, but not before blessing us with some seriously killer riffage in the form of "Smoke & Mirrors" above. Preorder Hexagon here.

Power Pellut is also releasing their debut LP via I'm Better than Everyone Else Records. Preorder that here and dig on "Black Betty" from that LP above!

Church of Misery will release a live record culled from their recent set at Roadburn 2009! More details are to come, but look for Burning World to do the honors in November/December of this year. In the meantime, dig on this killer live video from Roadburn 2009!

That video, news on Kowloon Walled City, Boris, Asphyx, Struck By Lightning, Ringworm, Repulsion and more!

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/30/09)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: 3 Inches Of Blood - "Battles and Brotherhood" (MP3)

3 Inches of Blood. Wait, don't they use the metric system in Canada?

If you do vocals in a band called 3 Inches of Blood and your (legal?) name is Cam Pipes, you better f'n deliver! Fortunately, Canadians 3 Inches of Blood do. Mr Pipes' powerful falsetto lays waste, and I expect the band will bring the thunder while supporting their new LP, Here Waits Thy Doom (out 9/8 via Century Media), while on tour this fall. That tour includes a show at the new Knitting Factory in Brooklyn on 10/9! Tickets are on sale and support for the show will come from Brooklyn's own Children and Pittsburghian thrashers Mantic Ritual.

The 3 Inches of Blood tour also includes a bunch of dates with In Flames including a NJ show at Starland Ballroom on 10/2 with Between The Buried & Me as well as The Faceless. Tickets are on sale.

Dig on the first track off of the new LP, "Battles and Brotherhood", downloadable above!

Mantic Ritual (playing KF w/ 3IoB) is also scheduled to play NYC in December with Marduk, Nachmystium, Merrimack, and Black Anvil. Tickets are on sale now. Check out a Merrimack track (as well as new ones from Portal, Converge, Pelican, and Mammoth Grinder) in the most recent edition of The Week In Metal.

Meanwhile, Children (also on that KF show) has another more imminent date scheduled. They will meet up with Priestess to play the 1st Annual Brooklyn Invitational Bike Show at Autumn Bowl in Greenpoint (73 West St, Brooklyn New York) on 9/19.

All tour dates below...

Continue reading "3 Inches of Blood tour dates --- Knitting Factory w/ Children who are playing Autumn Bowl w/ Priestess "

words by Black Bubblegum (and Dave Hill), photos by Toby Tenenbaum

Doom legends Pentagram played Webster Hall on March 6th flanked by Canadian big rig Priestess and the blood-soaked Dutch known as The Devil's Blood. A Pentagram show is a true rarity, and Webster Hall was one of only two US shows lined up for the band with the other taking place the next day in their neck of the woods, Baltimore.

Our esteemed friend Dave Hill was at the NYC show:

[Pentagram] took the stage as "Sub Intro" from their awesome "Sub-Basement" album played over the house P.A. Pentagram mainman and lead singer Bobby Liebling is the only original and/or old school member in the current lineup, though the guys playing with him brought the heat. My only complaints would be that the bass player should loose the doo-rag and just embrace his baldness (or whatever is going on under there) so he doesn't look like some dude in a cover band playing on wing night somewhere. You'd think Bobby would have taken a sidebar with him on that one, but whatever. Also, the guitar player, while really great and all, was not bringing it hard enough in the shredding department. I would much rather have seen Pentagram alum Joe Hasselvander up there. To be fair though, I was kind of hammered by the time Pentagram went on so maybe it was just some weird mood I was in that made be start complaining in my brain about the guitar player. Don't get me wrong- he could shred, just not enough for my taste. I am a man who demands full-on shredding. It's just how I live my life. I mean, is there another way?

Despite my alcohol-induced complaints, Pentagram were awesome, especially Bobby Liebling, who seemed really coherent compared to what I was expecting and he sang great. I'd heard all sorts of stories about him not showing up for gigs or just passing out before he could hit the stage, so it was nice to actually see him out there tearing it up. He's got a lot of party miles on him, but he sure can sing. He and the band played a bunch of the classics plus one or two new songs that were rocking my head big time.

Priestess are playing SXSW in the coming week including dates with Valient Thorr and another Chesapeake doom legend, Wino. Priestess will be back in the NYC area on May 6th to play The Chance in Poughkeepsie with Gwar & Cattle Decapitation (tickets here). All dates are below.

The Devil's Blood are one of many bands that will grace the stages of the soldout Roadburn Festival, along with Wino's band Saint Vitus who they are also playing a not-Roadburn date with.

All tour dates and more pictures below...

Continue reading "Pentagram, Priestess & the Devil's Blood brought it to Webster Hall in NYC - pics"

Chromeo crowd @ Bowery Ballroom, January 2008 (more by Bao)

"When Chromeo played, their crowd drank house vodka and Budweiser. Didn't tip. Some of them did what I'll call the slide-backs. They put a dollar down on the bar, wait until you turn your back, then palm their buck and walk away. Classy. When your night starts out with "What's your cheapest drink?" that's also not good."

I felt like my line of questioning was making things worse, so I asked who was most likely to tip.

"Hard rockers, the bourbon drinkers. Priestess and Bogmen fans are in a league of their own. The Priestess crowd are here to see the show, not to hook up. They go hard on bourbon and Irish whiskey, usually Jameson, Jack, and Maker's Mark with beer. I won't get stiffed and will often get two dollars a drink.
[Sasha Frere Jones / New Yorker]