by BBG

Haymaker

It started with me, G.I.S.M., and Cracker Barrel. On my way to Sonar in Baltimore on 1/22, a democratic vote in the Honda Accord led to a late lunch at the most American of all pit-stops, Cracker Barrel. Lined with rocking chairs (for sale!) and a menu with items like "Chicken Fried Chicken", I could feel the burning stinkeye as I walked through the "homey" restaurant and "country store", surrounded by a crew of tattooed hooligans, wearing my G.I.S.M. sweatshirt that reads "Die, You Bastards!!!" (replete with an anarchy symbol fashioned from an AK-47).

This un-American theme would continue later that night with the US debut of UK band Rot in Hell who openly discussed their disdain for the US ("I don't give a fuck"). Dropdead would add to that sentiment by (predictably) pointing out that the government was lying to us all, while the band that would follow had printed their manifesto on a 7": Fuck America. This negative, anti-authoritarian, and anti-social tone is how I like my hardcore, and what I got at the A389 anniversary.

The US may not have been king on stage, but its currency was king at the merch tables (save for Dropdead's that is) where phrases like "limited to 65", "ultra-rare", "test pressing", and "band only copies" reigned supreme. As we arrived at the venue, the merch tables were swarmed, as the show was an eBay fiend's dream with "show only" items like an Integrity flexi-disc and a 10" commemorating the 2010 edition of the show. The kids ate it up, as expected, so look for those items in a secondary market near you.

Pharoah's post-metallic hardcore kicked off the 2011 show at the stroke of 7PM, followed by blasting and punishing Californians The Love Below shortly thereafter. Seven Sisters of Sleep followed the pair, and the former members of Tafkata, Spring Break!, and Arm & Sword of a Bastard God ripped out crusty-sludgy post-metal that impressed. My first visit with SSoS was a great one.

Following SSoS was Pale Creation, and though their live show left something to be desired, the highly energetic Rot in Hell brought back the fun and energy. The rare US appearance doubled as the band's As Pearls Before Swine record release party, and in line with their negative imagery and blackened sound, RiH were not so much in a celebratory mood as they were antagonizing. Terms like "Fuck America" and "shite" (in reference to America/its products) were peppered throughout the on-stage banter. RiH got the pit started for the next band, Providence's Dropdead.

Dropdead made sure to point out their longetivity at A389 ('doing this for 20 years"), and broke-up their set of crusty and break-neck grind/hardcore with political and animal rights testimony. Fast, bludgeoning and beyond powerful, the Rhode Island band's performance was my first indication of the pit mayhem that would follow. But there was no way I could have predicted Haymaker.

Haymaker's reputation precedes them; tales of agression and live show violence coupled with their well-regarded recordings made their rare US appearance all the more exciting. Dressed like a clan of Western Virginia hillbillies, the band took to the stage while the clearly-inebriated vocalist took to the pit, performing the entire set while shoving off zealous fans. Trash cans were thrown, pizza boxes became weapons, and the kids went nuts. Pit antics aside, the two guitars/bass/drums, which featured Johnny Ibay of Fuck The Facts, were booming, unrelenting, and technically proficient. Haymaker was as good as they were fun, which says a lot.

It's tough to follow a band like Haymaker, but I can't imagine a better way to start an Integrity set than with the Humanity Is The Devil opener "Vocal Test". Apparently vocalist/mastermind Dwid agrees. Backed by a dual guitar attack played by a band half his age, Dwid's version of Integrity in 2011 were great, and delivered classics like "Incarnate 365", "Systems Overload", and newer material. Awesome set from Dwid & co, but Haymaker was the king of the stage (and the floor) that night.

More pictures from A389 are below.

Continue reading "A389 2011 in pics & review (Integrity, Haymaker & more)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Rot In Hell - "Behavioral Resistance MMIX" (MP3)

The UK's Rot In Hell are not to be fucked with. The band takes crusty hardcore and adds a blackened-metallic spin much like the Clevo-core "Holy Terror" crew and its disciples (Ringworm, Gehenna, Pulling Teeth, etc) have done to such great/furious effect. The band's previous releases like Hallways of The Always have indicated the brutality to come, but now comes word of Rot in Hell's first LP!

As Pearls Before Swine is the band's first full-length of new and unreleased material, and will be released on February 1st via Deathwish Inc (album art above). Check out "Behavioral Resistance MMX" which is downloadable above/streamable below for the first time, as well as an additional two songs, "Traitor's Gate" and "Coyotenia", that are currently streaming in a Deathwish player. Preorder details are on the way.

Rot In Hell have one show on their calendar in the US, that is supporting Integrity, Haymaker, Dropdead, Pale Creation, and a slew of others at Sonar on January 22nd as part of the A389 Anniversary show in Baltimore. If you're in the area (or even if you aren't) then make sure and get there. Tickets are on sale.

If you go to the show, make sure and hit the merch table:

This year we will have a limited edition show only release: (A389-058) V/A 'The Show That Ends The World' 10? for sale at this show. Featuring a song by each of the bands that played last year (INTEGRITY, RINGWORM, GEHENNA, PULLING TEETH, SERAPHIM, GRAY GHOST) recorded live with a mobile studio and mixed by Keven Bernsten @ Developing Nations. There will only be 200 for sale ever (with an additional 100 split up between the 6 bands) and they will be available at this show only.

Song stream, A389 flyer and some video is below.

Continue reading "Rot in Hell releasing As Pearls Before Swine (MP3), playing A389 Anniversary (tix on sale) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Oak - "Cowards And Undeserving" (MP3 Excerpt)

Oak II album art

Oak owes a debt of gratitude to the dimly-lit and woofer-rattling corners of doom inhabited by the likes of Burning Witch, Khanate, sunn o))), and funeral doom of the most frightening kind. Light-hearted it is not, but unrelenting and merciless it is. The band's self-titled debut, released on A389 Records, was a sleeper hit for some (like Kim Kelly) and now the band is preparing it's new LP for release, II. The LP, which features "Cowards And Undeserving" excerpted above, is currently available for preorder on 210-gram vinyl in white (100 of em) and black (566).

Also due on A389 is the new LP from NJ's Pharoah, a post-metal/doom/hardcore band who posted their demo for free download earlier this year. The strong, two track demo reappears in 7" form via the label and is currently up for preorder. Check out the cover art below. Maybe you caught the band when they played The Charleston on Saturday with Dutchguts and High Priest.

The label also has a soundboard recording from of a recent Rot In Hell live show entitled Niu (preorder it). The label will also has new records in the works from Integrity, Creepout, Roses Never Fade, Weekend Nachos, Gehenna, The Love Below, Seraphim and others, not to mention a new LP from Pulling Teeth!

In other A389 news, the label confirmed it's annual bash for January 22nd, 2011. No word on the lineup thus far (last year included Ringworm and Integrity among many others) or where it'll go down, but be prepared.

The Pharoah cover art and current Oak tour dates with Anhedonist are below...

Continue reading "Oak releasing "II" (MP3), touring; A389 2011 date announced"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Final - "Wrong Signal (alt. mix)" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Laudanum - "Invoke" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Infernal Stronghold - "Destruction of Life...Unworthy of Life!" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Infernal Stronghold - "Curb The Trend" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Rot In Hell - "Black Omega" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tournament - "Something Temporary" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jesu - "Deflated" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mother Of Mercy - "Back To The Agony" (MP3)

Laudanum cover art

Laudanum, who released the stunning Sacred Death split with Stormcrow earlier in the year, has released The Coronation on 20 Buck Spin. Featuring members of the much revered Graves At Sea as well as Pig Heart Transplant, The Coronation is a downtuned massive slab of doom interrupted by ominous dark ambient passages. Pick up The Coronation NOW at 20 Buck Spin and dig on one of those tracks, "Invoke", above.

Speaking of Stormcrow, that band along with Converge, Malevolent Creation, Naglfar, Wolbrigade, Deceased, Rompeprop, Gorod, and Nazxul have all been added to the Maryland Deathfest 2010 lineup!

A BIG FAT congratulations goes out to Salome who have signed to Profound Lore! If you missed it, Salome are hitting the road with Batillus and Hull.

French shoegazey black-metaller Alcest is preparing a new album which will contain six tracks, four new and two of which will be re-recorded from the Le Secret EP. Alcest, aka Neige also of Amesouers and Pest Noire fame, will employ Winterhalter (also Peste Noire, et al) to handle drum duties on the release, which should appear in January of 2010. Alcest's last LP was the critically acclaimed Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde

Who likes Dio? Who likes Black Sabbath? Who likes 'em both TOGETHER? I have one pair of tickets to see Heaven & Hell with Coheed & Cambria at the WaMu Theater @ MSG on August 25th! Details on how to win are at the bottom of this post.

In case you missed it, Shrinebuilder are coming to NYC!

Pennsylvania band Mother of Mercy, who features members of the great Blacklisted, recently dropped their killer album III via Six Feet Under Records. This is one seriously pissed off hardcore record... highly recommended! One track, "Divide", is streaming here but you can also download "Back To The Agony" above!

Rot In Hell's 2006-2008 discography, Hallways of The Always, is out NOW via A389 Recordings (vinyl) and Grot Records (CD). The UK band follows a similar path as Integrity and Ringworm... a sick/bleak metallic hardcore, and this LP is a must have for Holy Terror fans before they drop their debut LP on Deathwish! Download a song from Hallways of The Always, "Black Omega", above.

Prepare for another Aaron Turner (Isis) supergroup... Jodis featuring James Plotkin and Tim Wyskida of Khanate! Their debut LP, Secret House, will be released via Hydra Head on 10/27.

Lately, I have been giving the new Infernal Stronghold LP alot of burn. The project, which shares a drummer with the black metal monsters in Woe, treads an old school black metal-punk aesthetic and is one of those bands that can usually be seen at an ABC No Rio matinee. And that's where you can see them on October 3, when the band lands in NYC supporting Cannabis Corpse at one of two shows that day, at the Charleston and ABC No Rio (matinee). Infernal Stronghold's new LP Godless Noise is out NOW via Forcefield Records. Check out a pair of tracks, "Curb the Trend" and "Destruction of Life...Unworthy of Life!", available for download above!

Javelina is currently streaming "Black Blizzard" from their upcoming monster Beasts Among Us, the tracklisting of which is below!

If you have been to a single underground metal or punk show in NYC, chances are you have seen Tournament (though I missed their set at Union Pool on Sunday night). The band's Swordswallower EP was a fave, but now they have a NEW baby, Years Old, out NOW via Forcefield Records. Check out "Something Temporary" available for download above and check out the band at either the Chronic Youth Launch party with Cannabis Corpse on 8/21 or at the recently added Dark Castle show on 9/13 at The Charleston. Flyer is below.

A video from Fuck The Facts, news on Jesu/Final, Goes Cube, Pig Destroyer, Weekend Nachos, and much more as This Week In Metal continues...

Continue reading "this week in Metal (08/20/09)"