by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Gluttons - "Point Break" (MP3)

Yes, the above pic is of the scratchy throat behind clevo-hardcore badasses Ringworm, Human Furnace. But why is he playing guitar? Thats because in addition to the considerable firepower that HF has behind the mic, he also lends his fretwork to another other project Gluttons. The Clevo wildman is joined by Chris Dora (Integrity/Ringworm) as the band charges through a mish-mosh of galloping Motorhead and hardcore riffage with a punch-up that can only be achieved by the vocal stylings of Senor Furnace.

Gluttons new debut EP is out NOW via A389, and one of those tracks. "Point Break" is available for free download above. I dare any fan of Motorhead, Ringworm, or Iron Age to not raise a beer to this one. Pick up a copy, it kinda smokes.

words by BBG, photos by Chris Bavaria

Dwid of Integrity

Billed as "The Show That Ends The World", heavy music label A389 Records celebrated six years of existence (and it's owner Dom of Pulling Teeth celebrated his 33rd birthday) at Sonar in Baltimore on Jan 8th & 9th, 2009. It marked the second year in a row that Integrity and Pulling Teeth graced the Sonar during one of the first weekends of the year. Integrity (featuring Dom on guitar) teamed up with Oak, Pala, and War Priest last year.

Dwid, PT & the gang were on board for the second night at the venue (along with Ringworm, Seraphim, Gray Ghost, and Gehenna), but Pulling Teeth also made an appearance the night before as the backing band for Jon Mikl Thor of Canadian metal greats Thor:

Jon Mikl THOR is an enduring icon of glam rock/metal, and one of the true originators of rock theatre. THOR's enviable career got off the ground with his appearance on the Merv Griffin Show in 1973 and he has maintained a steady pace ever since, selling hundreds of thousands of records. Over the last three decades, THOR has explored the tongue-in-cheek Sweet/Mott the Hoople/Bowie stylings, hard hitting metal moves of the 80Õs, and flirting briefly with Nu-Rock/Metal in the late 90Õs. - [Thor bio]

Slumlords (which also features Dom of PT), Deathammer (mems of Oak), and No Redeeming Social Value were also on board for the festivities, though the previously billed Starkweather were forced to cancel their appearance. No offense Starkweather, but from the looks of the near riot below, Baltimore did just fine.

More pics and a shit ton of videos from the melee are below...

Continue reading "A389 celebrated a birthday in Baltimore - pics (Integrity, Ringworm, Thor, Pulling Teeth, NRSV & more) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Gray Ghost - Deep In The Shallow End (Mediafire Link)
DOWNLOAD: Chainsaw Safety Records/ A389 Records Sampler (Sendspace Link)
DOWNLOAD: Integrity - Those Who Fear Tomorrow (Zipped MP3s)

Iron Age at The Charleston in Oct '09 (more by Chloe Rice)

If you've ever raised a can of suds to the sound of blackened-thrash, then most likely the soundtrack was Skeletonwitch. The Ohio party animals are hitting the road in February, tagging the great Iron Age, Howl, Black Tusk, Doomriders, and even Ringworm for select dates in (continued) support of their thrash-terpiece, Breathing The Fire.

While the 'witch isn't scheduled to crash land in NYC, Iron Age IS, having nailed down a date at The Charleston on Feb 16. Here's to hoping it goes better than the last time they played The Charleston. All dates below.

Also a reminder: Mammoth Grinder, which features Alex from Iron Age (on occasion), will be at The Charleston on Jan 12th.

Meanwhile, Ringworm is preparing to reissue The Promise on wax via A389 and record their new album, Scars, this spring. The Cleveland band is one of many greats scheduled for a show in Baltimore in celebration of the sixth anniversary of A389 Records and the owner's (Dom from Pulling Teeth) birthday. The two day event (Jan 8th & 9th, 2010) will feature appearances from Canadian badasses Thor (backed by Pulling Teeth), Integrity, Gehenna, Pulling Teeth, Slumlords, No Redeeming Social Value, Deathammer (members of Oak), Seraphim, and many others. Holy Terror fans are officially stoked. Tickets are still available for both the first and second nights, in addition to a two day pass. Starkweather was originally scheduled to play the show, but were forced to drop out:

If you look at your hand and feel the tender center of your palm...well a few days ago, the drummer tore that at his day job. We waited a few days to find out what's going on before making an official announcement, and unfortunately it's going to put him out of commission for a while. [Vocalist] Rennie said his hand looked like a catcher's mitt. So regrettably to their disappointment, mine, and yours they had to bail out of the show.

Gray Ghost has been added as Starkweather's not-to-shabby replacement. The band released their Deep In The Shallow End on Chainsaw Safety Records and are offering a taste of said release for download above.

Integrity and Seraphim have a combo pack due this week on A389 which includes the To Die For 10" (first time on wax), as well as a Seraphim 7". The pre-order is currently sold out. Though To Die For isn't available, you can download virtually all of Integrity's other releases for FREE, including Those Who Fear Tomorrow available above.

dates below...

Continue reading "upcoming Iron Age, Skeletonwitch & Ringworm dates, an A389 Records anniversary party, MP3s & more"

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: YOB - "Burning The Altar" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Caïna - "To Pluck The Night Up By Its Skin" (MP3)

sunn 0)))

According to ancient Mayan prophecy, The Age Of The Fifth Sun draws to a close in 2012 when armageddon will fall upon the land. Considering this is only 2009, it is entirely possible that sunn 0)))'s soundtrack to the end of days/new album, Monoliths & Dimensions, may have been delivered a bit prematurely (out NOW). Not that a moment on Monoliths resembles anything less than meticulous detail; Attila Csihar's Bela Lugosi-like vocals, heavenly choirs, harp, trumpet, and orchestra all add to the nauseating rumble, and at times, shimmering beauty emanating from their full stacks. Pick it up at Southern Lord on CD. Vinyl is due this summer. The boys have also announced a rough sketch idea of their upcoming tour plans:

We are preparing tours as a 4 and 5 piece in support of this opus. Attila Csihar and Steve Moore (Zombi) will be in the ranks as well as a yet undecided 5th member for some shows. Randall Dunn will be on the big guns.

SUNN O))) "Monoliths & Dimensions" tours 2009

Midwest USA July 2-12
West coast USA August 5-11
East coast/Southeast USA September 18-30
Middle & East Europe/Scandinavia October 17 - Nov 1st

There should also be UK and Japan jaunts following those pieces. We are working on it, more to come.

We are also considering and contemplating a few special event concerts with an expanded acoustic ensemble lineup. This is a whole different ballgame but may be in the cards and we have a few loyal partners in Europe on board to help manifest if/when the time is correct.

Lots of mini-CDs to report on, as Hail of Bullets will release the limited-to-2000 five song Warsaw Rising this summer on Metal Blade and Caïna will release a self-titled MCD via Universal Tongue/Bubonic Productions. Check out a track from that Caïna, "To Pluck The Night Up By Its Skin", available above. Nachtmystium has a MCD, Doomsday Derelicts, out via Battle Kommand, and will release a new split 7" with Cyanide.

ATP's Fans Strike Back festival took place last week, two nights of Sleep included. Check out our pre-ATP interview with Matt Pike HERE. Video and setlist from the ATP shows below.

YOB's new album for Profound Lore, The Great Cessation, now has an official release date, July 14th! The new effort by the reformed Eugene, OR doom colossus will span five tracks over it's 60+ minutes including "Burning The Altar" which is downloadable above! Look for US dates to follow, and once we have news on NYC, you know you will too.

YOB's album art, plus videos of Sleep, news on The Dillinger Escape Plan, Clutch and Baroness, Opeth, Converge, Ringworm and much more as This Week In Metal continues....

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (05/17/09)"

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)"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: U.S. Christmas - "The Scalphunters" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Lions Of Tsavo - "The Hooven Swarm" (M4A)
DOWNLOAD: Lions Of Tsavo - "Body Drift" (MP3)

Intronaut

Intronaut is about to get prehistoric on dat azz, when the new LP Prehistoricisms (full tracklisting below) hits the shelves on September 16th via their new label Century Media. Metalkult has a preview in the form of "Australopithecus" which is downloadable at their site. .Tickets are still on sale for their show at Knitting Factory on August 8th with Behold The Arctopus, Mouth Of The Architect, Deadsea, and Wetnurse (one helluva bill). Mouth Of The Architect drops Quietly this week and Wetnurse drops Invisible City on September 30th. Deadsea's S/T record is out now, catch it at their myspace. "Prehistoricisms" album art there to the right.

I have heard from a very credible source that the mighty sunn 0))) will return to NYC to play a special show in celebration of the ten year anniversary of The Grimmrobe Demos. Um, yowsers. As details come in, you'll get em.

Sweden's Burst have posted two new tracks from and announced a release date for (September 16th in the US) their new record Lazarus Bird. Dig on "Cripple God" and "(We Watched) The Silver Rain" streaming at their myspace. The band has commented "Expect an album that will NOT be Origo Part 2, but something new", and if this is any indication, should be a good 'un.

Speaking of good 'uns, the Bowery Ballroom show on July 25th featuring Early Man, Valient Thorr, and the mighty Monotonix should be a grand ole time. Wanna get in gratis? Email us at BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Denim Vests) with your first & last name, and we'll randomly pick two winners and drop 'em a pair of tickets each.

Lions Of Tsavo, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Akimbo, Obituary and more below...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (07/24/08)"

by Black Bubblegum

Sean Penn & Dennis Kucinich introducing Ringworm

I am convinced that Sean Penn is everywhere: Alaska to shoot an amazing film, Iran, New Orleans during Katrina, Venezuela to meet Hugo Chavez, Cleveland with Dennis Kucinich to see Ringworm... wait, what? Next up, Susan Sarandon will visit Dwid Hellion (Integrity) to check up on his new project with Jacob Bannon (Converge).

Continue reading "Sean Penn & Dennis Kucinich are metal"