photos by Dana (distortion) Yavin , words by Andrew Sacher

Metallica / A Place to Bury Strangers at Orion Music Fest 6/24/2012

Day 2 (6/24) of Orion Fest kicked off with sets by two different, but both very dark Brooklyn bands: Liturgy in the Frantic tent and A Place to Bury Strangers (whose new album, Worship, is out this week) on the Fuel stage. Unfortunately, I showed up a bit too late for Liturgy, but I was able to catch the tail end of APTBS' set, which saw Oliver Ackermann turning his monitors to face the audience and putting his vocal mic up to his guitar amp, creating even more noise than the trio already make. You can catch APTBS in their hometown on 7/27 at MHOW with Hunters.

Ghost

Then I headed over to the Orion stage for Sweden's Ghost, who were introduced by James Hetfield (who is openly a huge fan). James intro-ed the band saying, "It's never too early for scary," and despite the bright sun shining over their stage, he was right. The band, who always come decked out in white ghoul cloaks with singer Papa Emeritus in face paint, crown, and black cloak, were creepy as ever. Papa Emeritus lead the band with demonic priestlike conduction as he bellowed the vocals to a number of songs off their 2010 LP, Opus Eponymous. The only time he wasn't in the spotlight is when the band took an instrumental break and he stood in the back of the stage, hands pressed together and remaining completely still.

I left about halfway through Ghost for the second half of The Black Angels, who were playing the Frantic tent. They supplied a huge dose of droning psychedelia, and though singer Christian Bland's vocals are often delivered stoically, he's quite charismatic on stage. During their last song, which saw bassist (and Elephant Stone frontman) Rishi Dhir switch over to sitar, they went into an extended jam which eventually saw Rishi playing the sitar riff of The Beatles' "Norwegian Wood" (which the Black Angels recorded an exclusive performance of at Coachella) and was soon joined by the rest of the band who covered about half of the song. Slowly, the band exited the stage until only Rishi was left, sending waves of sitar over the head-nodding audience.

Best Coast

Around 4 PM, Best Coast began their set at the Orion stage. Diplo was probably wondering what the faces of Metallica fans would look like during Liturgy's set, though I was also pretty curious about what they'd look like for Best Coast, who played the same stage Metallica would later headline with many anxious fanatics already claiming their front row spots. I think I did actually see one guy sleeping (or maybe he was just really zoning out to the music?), but overall they actually got a pretty great reaction from the people who gathered to see them. The new album, The Only Place (which came out last month), is lacking compared to their debut (it's not bad, just too much of the same), but this was definitely the best I've ever seen Best Coast -- no doubt due to their decision to finally add a bassist. When mixed into a setlist, some of the new songs, like "Why I Cry," actually proved themselves to be standouts, and the songs from her debut sounded great as well. In response to a fan request, they played "When I'm With You" earlier than planned, and before going into it, frontwoman Bethany Cosentino promised a Fleetwood Mac cover too. That cover presumably would have been "Rhiannon," which the band are contributing to the upcoming Fleetwood Mac tribute LP, and premiered on NPR this morning... but they never got around to it.

Next band on my schedule was Titus Andronicus, who were playing the Frantic tent. Before they began, I heard a crowd member ask someone, "So are these guys metal, or is it regular music?" A few minutes later, they fired up their set of regular music, riling up everyone in the tent. The crowd was pretty small -- everyone else was waiting for Metallica or watching Avenged Sevenfold -- but the people who were there were loving it, singing along, pumping their fists, and starting push pits. When the band began fan favorite, "No Future Part Three: Escape From No Future," the crowd's singing was overpowering frontman Patrick Stickles and if anyone wasn't taking part, they joined in on the ending's repeated "you will always be a loser!"

Metallica

When Metallica took the stage a bit before 8:30, they started their set exactly the same as the night before. Everything including AC/DC's "It's a Long Way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n' Roll)" playing through the PA directly before the band walked out, the "Ecstasy of Gold" strings with accompanying video clip, followed by "Hit the Lights" and "Master of Puppets," was there, just like it had been the night before. I realize that Metallica have a routine for their shows, but at a festival where much of the crowd had shown up for both nights, it would have been an appropriate time to throw a few curveballs into the set. The only pre-Black Album songs included in Sunday's setlist that wasn't in Saturday's were ...And Justice for All's "Blackened" and "The Shortest Straw," which were great but it would've been nice to hear more/different tracks from Master of Puppets or Kill 'Em All.

That said, I had already been going into Black Album night with less anticipation than I had for the performance of their 1984 colossus Ride the Lightning the night before, and they did deliver well. The bigger Black Album tracks like "Enter Sandman," "Sad But True," and "Nothing Else Matters" were still tons of fun and the crowd goes nuts for them. One of the biggest highlights was "Through the Never," which of all the Black Album tracks is most similar to their thrash roots. Regardless of your thoughts on the album's material though, they performed it flawlessly and was a welcome dip into Black Album's deeper cuts that are less likely to see the light of day at other Metallica shows.

Pictures and review of Day 1 are HERE. More pics from Day 2 below...

Continue reading "Orion Music Fest day 2 in pics and review (Metallica, Titus Andronicus, Best Coast, APTBS, Ghost, Sepultura & more)"

As mentioned, Orion Music & More happens this weekend in Atlantic CIty's Bader Field from June 23-24 and is being headlined by Metallica both nights, who play Ride the Lightning in full on Saturday (6/23) and The Black Album in full on Sunday (6/24). Other bands playing include Arctic Monkeys, Modest Mouse, Hot Snakes, Fucked Up, The Gaslight Anthem, Titus Andronicus, Best Coast, Liturgy, A Place to Bury Strangers, and more, plus a heavy stage with Suicidal Tendencies, Sepultura, Torche, Red Fang, Kyng, Landmine Marathon, Black Tusk, Thy Will Be Done and others. The heavy stage (aka "Damage, Inc.") isn't the only place you can catch heavy bands though. The festival also includes Baroness on the Orion stage, The Sword on the Fuel stage, Liturgy on the Frantic stage, and Ghost on the Orion stage. You can check out the full schedule of both days and all four stages HERE.

Orion Music & More is the first NYC-area appearance for Hot Snakes since the reunited band played The Bell House and Maxwell's in December. They'll play another area show (also in NJ) at ATP I'll Be Your Mirror in September.

As mentioned, it's the first time in a while that Modest Mouse will be in the NYC area. They play Orion on Saturday (6/23) before heading to Randall's Island for Governors Ball, which also happens this weekend.

There's a ton of stuff going on at Orion other than live music too. You can pick up rock 'n' roll memorabilia at Ktulu's Rock 'N' Roll Emporium, check out film screenings hand-picked by Lars Ulrich at Hit The Lights Films, skate the Motorbreath Mini Ramp, have a glimpse into Kirk Hammett's creepy personal collection of horror film memorabilia at Kirk's Crypt, surf, nerd out at the ESP Guitar Experience, check out the Metallica Museum, show your support for a variety of charities, or check out the car show.

If you're heading out to Atlantic City for the fest this weekend, head here for directions. If you're driving, there's no on-site parking at the field, but there are a number of parking areas nearby and free shuttles that run from the lots to Bader Field. If you're taking the train, you can get there via the Amtrak or the NJ Transit Rail and there will be a free shuttle from the Atlantic City terminal to the festival. Once you're there, this map should help you get around. We're also told that it's about a 20-30 minute walk from the boardwalk.

Tickets for the festival are still available.

In related news," Kirk's Crypt" isn't the only place Mr. Hammett will be indulging in his love of all things creepy. He'll be publishing a book titled Too Much Horror Business - The Kirk Hammett Collection this October via Abrams Image with photographs of his personal collection of horror memorabilia. The book also includes Kirk's own handwritten captions for many of the photographs. He'll be putting out limited edition toys, like the ones he's been collecting his whole life, along with the book this October. You can pre-order the book at Kirk's online toy store. He'll be discussing the book at Kirk's Crypt at 4 PM each day.

Maybe his old friend Glenn Danzig will add it to his book collection...

Continue reading "Metallica's Orion Fest is in Atlantic City this weekend; Kirk Hammett releasing horror memorabilia book"

by BBG

Suicidal Tendencies at Terminal 5 (more by Meghan McInnis)

After an initial announcement featured bands from across the map, Metallica's Atlantic City summer festival Orion Music & More (June 23rd and 24th at Bader Field) has announced more bands and a "Damage Inc" stage. The new stage has a more metal focus while avoiding the standard "Summer Slaughter"/"Monster Energy Drink Mayhem Festival" type fare. Suicidal Tendencies will headine the stage, which will also feature Sepultura, Torche, Red Fang, Kyng, Landmine Marathon, Black Tusk, and Thy Will Be Done.

Eric Church, The Jim Breuer Heavy Metal Comedy Tour, Soul Rebels, and Wooden Shjips have also been added to the lineup.

The new bands are in addition to previously announced folk like Metallica, Modest Mouse, Titus Andronicus (who play the BV Official Showcase at SXSW), Arctic Monkeys, The Black Angels (who are also playing a BV SXSW event), and many others. Tickets are on sale. Full lineup below...

Continue reading "Metallica's NJ Orion Fest expands lineup with a heavy stage & more"

by BBG

Dillinger Escape Plan at The Studio at Webster Hall (more by Justina Villanueva)

Both Deftones and The Dillinger Escape Plan shows at Best Buy Theater (5/13 & 14) are completely sold out, but the technical hardcore band has added a headlining NYC date happening the same week. It's May 15th at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets go on sale Friday at noon (4/8). Updated tour dates below.

Meanwhile, DEP vocalist Greg Puciato has revealed that he is currently working on a project with Max Cavalera (Cavalera Conspiracy, ex-Sepultura):

Just came back from Phoenix. Max Cav and myself are both in possession of fifteen songs that nobody else has. Dark.

Continue reading "Dillinger Escape Plan add dates, Greg Puciato working w/ Max Cavalera (who has shows too)"

by BBG

UK Crust legends Doom

Doom were an English crust punk band from Birmingham, England, whose first, influental lineup were together from 1987 to 1990. Despite its short existence, the band is considered pivotal in the rise of crust punk, a style within the punk rock subgenre that fuses extreme metal with anarcho-punk. They recorded for Peaceville Records and are cited as an early precursor to the grindcore style of heavy metal music. Doom were also a favorite of BBC Radio DJ John Peel. -[Wiki]

In related Maryland Deathfest bands on the road news, a pair of great all ages metal shows have popped up at Shea Stadium recently. May 20th will see death metal from Deutchland as Defeated Sanity team up with the great Dysrhythmia and Andromorphus Rexalia. The show is one of two scheduled for Dysrhythmia in the near future. March 11th will see them at Union Pool.

The next day at Shea Stadium, May 21st, The Kill and Noisear have added a second show in addition to their previously discussed appearance with Cripple Bastards at Public Assembly on May 25th. "Interracial deathgrinders" Copremesis and The Communion will kickstart the show. Speaking of that Cripple Bastards show, the bill just got a little more impressive with the addition of Shitstorm (mems Torche, Capsule, ex-Kylesa).

They must love us! After playing Death By Audio last weekend, oddball doom faves The Body will play Union Pool on February 22nd with Braveyoung and one more TBA. The show is one of two NYC shows scheduled for the band, as they will also team up with Unearthly Trance and Whitehorse (!) to play the Acheron on 4/1 at the tail end trip back from SXSW.

Not quite metal, but Jarboe has scheduled an NYC show at Europa on March 24th with Vampilia. Tickets are on sale and the show is Jarboe's only current tour date. No word on who will join Jarboe on stage, as both Nick Palmirotto and Fade Kainer (members of her band, along with Erik Wunder) will be on tour with their respective bands (Hull & Batillus). Hull & Batillus play The Studio at Webster Hall two days later (3/26) with Caltrop, tickets are on sale.

In other metal related news, the facade know as Sepultura (Andreas Kisser is the lone original member) rolls into town and the band is hitting the road for a string of dates that include Gramercy Theater on 4/25. Tickets are still available. They'll be joined by Keep of Kalessin, Bonded in Blood, Neuraxis, and Hate. Full tour dates are below.

Atheist will play Santos Party House on March 3rd with A Life Once Lost, the great Revocation, and Last Chance To Reason. Ticket info is forthcoming. Atheist released the well-received Jupiter last year and A Life Once Lost, who recently lost their drummer, have signed on to Season Of Mist.

All tour dates and some video is below.

Continue reading "UK crust legends Doom touring ++ Defeated Sanity, The Kill, The Body, Jarboe & others add shows too (dates)"

Cavalera Conspiracy @ Irving Plaza (more by Lori Baily)

today in NYC
* FREE STUFF
* Ed Harcourt @ Rehab
* Black Kids @ Virgin store
* Bound Stems @ Union Hall
* Takka Takka & Peasant @ Pianos
* Jarvis Cocker is playing Terminal 5
* Naughty by Nature @ Queensbridge Park
* Joan of Arc & Ponytail @ Knitting Factory
* Laurie Anderson & Lou Reed at Rose Theater
* Kieran Hebden & Steve Reid @ World Financial Center

Dr. Dog is not playing Sound Fix tonight.

As promised, the new Conor Oberst album is streaming.

Dance to Weezer's 'Pork and Beans'. Win fame, glory and $500.

McCarren Pool body 'believed to be man in 50s'. Video below...

What else?

Continue reading "What's going on Tuesday?"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Lori Baily

true love

Cavalera Conspiracy @ Irving Plaza = a lovefest? Seems far fetched, I know, but Sunday night (July 20, 2008) was definitely family night as NYC welcomed the Cavaleras for the last of their two night stand as brothers united, or as Roadrunner calls it, Cavalera Conspiracy. The band tore through a good portion of their new record Inflikted ("Sanctuary", "Inflikted", "Ultra Violent", among others) but also took care to play some of the old Sepultura classics ("Refuse/Resist", "Territory", "Innerself") before they left the stage at the one hour mark. Max Cavalera, even with his angry razor-shredded voice, couldn't hide his smiles on stage and even Igor Jr (Igor's son) got in on the action, playing drums for two songs before Dad came on to play the closer, "Roots Bloody Roots".

the Dillinger Escape Plan


The Dillinger Escape Plan was, well, The Dillinger Escape Plan, an absolute picture-perfect example of controlled mayhem. They climbed speaker stacks to the top floor of Irving Plaza. They swung their guitars around by their straps like a lasso. They ran and jumped off of every imagineable surface. They played ridiculously technical jazz scales while thrashing around like madmen. They covered Van Halen's "Hot For Teacher"! They performed arguably one their best songs ("Sunshine The Werewolf") from the CENTER OF THE MOSH PIT. And most importantly, they didn't miss a single note. I have no idea how they do it.

More pictures below...

Continue reading "Cavalera Conspiracy & the Dillinger Escape Plan @ Fillmore/Irving Plaza, NYC - pics"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: F*ck The Facts - "The Storm" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: F*ck The Facts - "Absence & Despite" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Amenra - "Razoreater" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grand Magus - "Like The Oar Strikes The Water" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Grand Magus - "Silver Into Steel" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Soulfly - "Unleash" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Humanfly - "Shot Into Space" (EDIT) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Cavalera Conspiracy - LIVE in Arendal, Norway on June 26 2008 (PROFESSIONALLY SHOT WMV, Megaupload)

Welcome to This Week In Metal, Special Potty Mouth Edition! Fuck The Facts shall rage from sea to sea as they begin "Grinding Into Cataclysm" (their tour name) with Psyopus, War From A Harlot's Mouth, and Left To Vanish. FTF have a new record, Disgorge Mexico, due July 22nd on Relapse Records and have been kind enough to bless us with some tracks for download! Check out "The Storm" and "Absence And Despite" above and check 'em out at the Knitting Factory on August 18th (ticket info forthcoming). Full tour dates are below. Fuck The Facts also have an upcoming split LP with Leng Tch'e.

Opeth has announced two new dates as part of their previously mentioned North American tour. Here is the best part (as if THAT wasn't good enough): Word is that High On Fire & Baroness will open the shows! As more dates roll in, you'll have em, but so far all we have are Chicago on September 24th and San Fran on October 6th. Pics from their last NYC show at Terminal 5 HERE.

Doomriders have announced a show at Europa in Brooklyn on August 24th! Tickets are on sale.

Doom riff lords Grand Magus will drop Iron Will on July 9th in the US via Candlelight and recently sat down with Metal Hammer to go over Iron Will track by track. Check out "Like The Oar Strikes The Water" and "Silver Into Steel" downloadable above.

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (06/30/08)"

Tickets go on presale this morning (password = BAND) for the uccoming Cavalera Conspiracy shows.

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Cavalera Conspiracy - "Sanctuary" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gojira - "To Sirius" (MP3)

Max & Igor Cavalera, Joe Duplantier & Marc Rizzo aka Cavalera Conspiracy

The press had a field day with the triumphant reunion of long separated brothers (and former bandmates) Max & Igor Cavalera in Cavalera Conspiracy, their new project featuring Joe Duplantier of Gojira and Marc Rizzo of Soulfly. It's perfectly understandishable: Sepultura post-Max (with the possible exception of Dante XXI) & Soulfly never quite lived up to the previous greatness of Sepultura, but CC seems to be their bid to take back that legacy.

A big step in that direction is their return to the stage, which has been announced in the form of a few select East Coast dates (so far) with The Dillinger Escape Plan (yay!), Throwdown (meh!), Bury Your Dead (BOOOO!), and Incite. NYC gets two nights in a row at The Fillmore East @ Irving Plaza, July 19th and July 20th. Ticket info forthcoming.

Max Cavalera has also announced that a new Soulfly album called Conquer is on the way. It's scheduled to hit the streets on July 29th.

Igor Cavalera says he "is not interested" in a Sepultura reunion.

Sepultura, or what's left of 'em anyway, are working on a new album based on Anthony Burgess's classic novel "A Clockwork Orange".

All tour dates and a video below......

Continue reading "Cavalera Conspiracy (Sepultura)- 2008 Tour Dates, MP3/video"

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: The Sword - "Fire Lances Of The Ancient Hyperzephyrians" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Soilent Green - "Antioxidant" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Iron Maiden - "Intro", "Aces High", & "Two Minutes To Midnight", Live in Tokyo Feb 16th, 2008 (VIDEO, WMV)

Neurot Recordings have announced details for THREE Neurosis-related releases in the next two months! First up, a new solo album from the mighty Scott Kelly, who will release The Wake on May 5th, his first release in the seven years since his debut Spirit Bound Flesh. Two weeks later, the world's most intense elementary school teacher Steve Von Till drops A Grave is a Grim Horse, his first non-Harvestman release in six years (Harvestman recently collabo'd with Fear Falls Burning). More details on A Grave Is A Grim Horse can be found here. The third we knew about, but has now gone official: A Storm Of Light's debut And We Wept the Black Ocean Within will be released on June 2nd. Read our recent interview with Josh Graham here.

Tickets for the previously mentioned second At The Gates show go on sale Thursday April 3rd at 10 AM here. Tomas Lindberg's other band, the mighty Disfear, have announced a few more dates, including another show in Brooklyn at Europa on May 22nd with Trap Them and Bloodhorse! Ticket info for Disfear at Europa isn't available, but there are still tickets for their show at the Knitting Factory. New tour dates are down below.

MUCH MORE..............

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (04/02/08)"

playing tonight, Saturday, SXSW, etc...

DOWNLOAD: XLR8R Exclusive Mix: Mixhell (MP3)

Iggor Cavalera is recognized throughout the world as a master drummer and former member of none other than Brazilian heavy-metal band Sepultura. However, he is as much familiar with turntables and MPCs and he is with a drum kit, taking his credo of Hard Beat Beat and applying it to other projects. As Mixhell, he and his wife, Laima Leyton, combine dancefloor and hard rock sensibilities for DJ sets as unpredictable as Cavalera's musical career. Only scan the enormous tracklisting below for proof. [XLR8R]

Continue reading "MIXHELL = Iggor from Sepultura's DJ/hiphop/electro project"