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

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

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

by BBG

Sanford Parker is another contributor to the previously mentioned Bloody Panda remix LP, joining names like Matmos and Mick Barr (who recently posted his remix at Pitchfork) with his remix of "Pusher", which makes its debut here. Chicago-an Parker, go-to metal producer and member of many area bands, sat down with us to discuss his views on the remix, current studio projects and the current status of Minsk, Buried at Sea, Circle of Animals, The High Confessions, and Nachtmystium. The results, which include a discussion on his first frightening encounter with Bloody Panda and the new song stream, are below.

Continue reading "Sanford Parker remixed Bloody Panda (listen) ---- song debut & an interview w/ Sanford too)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Wolvhammer - "Suicide Brigade" (MP3)

Minneapolis's Wolvhammer can't decide what they are, and that's the best part. Black Metal? Post-metal? Crust? Sludge-doom? Wolvhammer chooses it all.

Its that kitchen sink mentality - nothing is off limits, that makes the band's debut album Blackmarketeers Of World War III such a compelling listen. The LP's lead track, "Suicide Brigade", is a perfect example; beginning with a blasting black metal intro, the song evolves into a half speed Hellhammer style punk groove before slowing entirely to a doom piece by the halfway point. It rips, and more importantly underlines a key point: with barely two years in existence, Wolvhammer has an identity and a sound all their own.

With Blackmarketeers Of World War III due via Init Records on July 13th (yet currently available via their mail order), we sat down with bassist Micah Leonetti to discuss the origins of the band, Minneapolis, and the new LP. Get the MP3 above. Read our chat below...

Continue reading "an new MP3 & an interview w/ Wolvhammer"

by BBG
DOWNLOAD: Batillus - "The Division" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hallowed Butchery - "Pantheon Enthroned" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Hallowed Butchery - "Back Asswards" (MP3)

Batillus (more by Chloe Rice)

Now that Fade Kainer (Inswarm, Batillus, Jarboe) is back in the country after the volcanic ash debacle that stranded him and the rest of the Jarboe band in Europe, the dreadlocked vocalist of Batillus is ready to belt it out. The downtuned destroyers have scheduled an NYC date at Party Expo TONIGHT (4/29) with Riff Cannon, Yorba Linda and Bad Dream, as part of a short tour on the way to Chicago:

Why are we going to Chicago, you ask? We're recording our debut full-length in May at Volume Studios with the much-lauded Sanford Parker (Yob, Rwake, Unearthly Trance, Nachtmystium, Pelican). We have seven songs written clocking in at nearly an hour, of which we expect probably five to make it to the final LP. After doing a pair of EPs on an extremely limited budget and a tight schedule, we're very much looking forward to taking our time this go-around and coming out of the studio with something that really represents us as a band; something that we can really be proud of. More details on the full-length will be announced in time.

The NYC band also have a split 12" due this summer via Vendetta with Hallowed Butchery, which will contain three tracks previously available on Batillus's rare and sold out Beard Destroyer Tour EP (a track from that EP is above). Hallowed Butchery released their (his?) EP Funeral Rites for the Living late last year. Stream the entire thing at HB's site, and/or download a pair of tracks above.

In addition to the bash at Party Expo, the quartet have also scheduled a date at Lit Lounge on 6/7 as part of a release party for Castevet's Mounds of Ash along with Woe and Flourishing. Full tour dates are below. Woe also play NYC TONIGHT (4/29) as part of a show with Alcest and Have a Nice Life at The Studio at Webster Hall (tix).

In related news, Jarboe has rescheduled the previously cancelled date at Union Pool. The new show is May 25th with Hull. Tickets are on sale.

Full Batillus dates and videos are below...

Continue reading "Batillus play tonight, recording & releasing stuff ++ a Jarboe show is rescheduled, other dates, MP3s & stuff"

by Black Bubblegum

Philly prog-jazz-doom trio Stinking Lizaveta have announced the release of Sacrifice & Bliss on Mar 31st via the mighty At A Loss (current home of Deadbird). Check out a trio of tracks streaming at their myspace.

Instead of turning to the maniacal Steve Albini for production duties (like they did on 2007's Scream of the Iron Iconoclast), the band employed Sanford Parker (Minsk, producer of the last Nachtmystium and a slew of other great releases) as head knob-twiddler on this album. Check out the LP cover and tracklisting below.

This is Stinking Lizaveta's fifth LP jawn (sorry, had to.. they're from Philly), having released their first three albums on Joe Lally's (Fugazi) fallen Tolotta Records, home to Wino's Spirit Caravan and The Obsessed, as well as Dead Meadow, Othrelm, and others. By the way, Wino's new album Punctuated Equilibrium drops Tuesday.

While we wait for Sacrifice & Bliss, sate your appetite with the two-song Rights For Bicyclists single available NOW at iTunes here or if you are in Philly or Lancaster, check them out before they shove off to tour Europe in late March. All tour dates below...

Continue reading "Stinking Lizaveta's announce new LP, 2009 Tour Dates"

photos by Tim Griffin, words by Black Bubblegum

Baroness headlined the Relapse triple bill at Bowery Ballroom on Saturday night (11/22) that also included Coliseum (who is also playing a surprise show Monday) and Minsk. One night earlier the tour hit First Unitarian in Philly which was one night after they played Maxwell's in Hoboken.

Baroness vocalist/guitarist John Baizley plays and looks like a maniac... think of a metal version of that wide-eyed muppet Animal, with Baizley screaming/wailing on the guitar with the same fervor that Animal played drums in Dr. Teeth & The Electric Mayhem. Bowery Ballroom also marked the first NYC appearance of new guitarist Peter Adams since he was brought in to replace the law school bound Brian Bickle.

Minsk opened the night and I managed to catch them for the first time, to my slight disappointment. They always struck me as a band teetering on the verge of something major. Lately, Sanford Parker has been highly visible as a producer, a live member and contributor to Nachtmystium, and as a member of Buried At Sea (Ghost is a great record), so behind those recent accomplishments, I had a feeling that their live show could somehow elevate the material from 2007's The Ritual Fires Of Abandonment in a live setting. I don't think it did, but I won't count them out fully.

Nachtmystium will be in NYC (with Sanford?) on Dec 7th at Public Assembly.

The Coliseum pictures are HERE. More pictures of Baroness below...

Continue reading "Baroness & Minsk @ Bowery Ballroom, NYC - pics "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Bloodbath - "Slaughter The Will To Live" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Samothrace - "Slaughter The Will To Live" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: North - "Eidolon" (MP3)

Attila Csihar of Mayhem, The Winterdemon (metalnorge)

Highly influential black metallers Mayhem have announced that they will tour the US in spring of 2009! The 21 date tour will be announced soon, but in the meantime, look for the band to announce a new guitarist to replace departing axe-slinger Blasphemer. Mayhem's Attila Csihar lent his unholy vokills to the new Jarboe record Mahakali due Oct 14th on The End. Skip on down for video of Thurston Moore discussing Mayhem.

Doomriders are currently grinding away at their new album due on Deathwish in 2009! In the meantime, look for the band to hit the Autobahn on a European tour with Disfear & SSS. SSS is currently streaming two new tracks from their upcoming record The Dividing Line. Doomriders recently played Europa.

Metallica is streaming six tracks from Death Magnetic. Check out my review for their new record below.

Guitarist Kris Norris has left Darkest Hour and is "actively pursing some producing routes and any band that might want a guitarist".

Corrupted LIVE (tawaraya)

The extremely elusive Japanese doomers (in fact, the above is one of the only pictures I have ever found of them), Corrupted announced a brief West Coast tour with Asunder, check out the flyer here. Asunder's Works Will Come Undone recently dropped on vinyl via Kreation Records, pick it up here. Corrupted's (current? these guys are elusive I tell ya!) bassist Lowell Isles's old band, YOB recently reformed.

Vikings Amon Amarth are streaming a new track, "Guardians of Asgaard", from their upcoming Twilight Of The Thunder God.

Bloodbath, the death metal supergroup featuring Mikael Åkerfeldt (Opeth), Anders "Blakkheim" Nyström (Katatonia), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Martin "Axe" Axenrot(ex-Witchery, Opeth), and Per "Sodomizer" Eriksson, will drop their new studio album The Fathomless Mystery on Oct 28th via Peaceville Records. Filled with ""nothing but hateful brutality", check out "Slaughtering The Will To Live" available for download above and stream another track, "Mock The Cross", at their myspace.

Bloodbath's cover art, plus news on Danzig, Celtic Frost, Landmine Marathon, sunn 0))), Necrophagist, Immortal and so much more....

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (09/15/08)"

by Black Bubblegum

Minsk, complete with Sanford Parker's Amazing Mutton Chops

OG Doomers Trouble have lined up a few dates throughout the northeast with Minsk (Sanford Parker's band) including one at Music Hall Of Williamsburg on Sept 14th and another the next day at Knitting Factory. Tickets for both are on sale (MHOW here and The Knitting Factory here).

Sanford Parker will also tour as part of Nachtmystium when they hit the road with Opeth and High On Fire. Tickets are still available for the show at Nokia.

Nachtmystium's collossal Assassins: Black Meddle Pt 1 is out now. All Trouble dates below...

Continue reading "Trouble & Minsk (Sanford Parker) - 2008 Tour Dates"