photos by Samantha Marble and Jason House, words by BBG

Cripple Bastards @ Public Assembly (by Sam Marble)

Before the shitstorm that was Maryland Deathfest (pictures of day 1 HERE, day two HERE, day three HERE, and day four HERE), another Shitstorm was brewing in Brooklyn. Shitstorm (the band) played an NYC MDF pre-party at Public Assembly with Italian grindcore band Cripple Bastards, Magrudergrind, The Kill, and Noisear on May 25th. Pictures from that show adorn this post.

All mentioned bands except Magrudergrind played MDF. Cripple Bastards, Shitstorm and the Kill also played secret MDF after-shows in Baltimore on Friday & Saturday, both of which eventually got shut down by the cops. Dropdead, Lack of Interest, DOC, Coke Bust, Triac, Mammoth Grinder, Extortionm and others were scheduled to play the after-shows.

More pictures from Public Assembly below....

Continue reading "Cripple Bastards, Magrudergrind, The Kill, Noisear & Shitstorm played Public Assembly before MDF (pics)"

words & photos by BBG

Tragedy @ MDF

There's four days of this?

Maryland Deathfest 2011 (May 26-29 at Club Sonar) kicked off at the early hour of 4:45PM Thursday with a set from Witchaven, an LA thrash four piece that is currently on the road with Nocturnal (who play the 2nd outdoor stage today, 5/27). The band was followed by the blasting grind of Shitstorm, a fantastic side project featuring 2/3 of Torche and Eric from Capsule. Noisear followed Shitstorm. The New Mexico quintet played pieces from their recent Subvert The Dominant Paradigm (out now on Relapse). Miasmal (who have a new LP) was next, and their throwback nod to Swedish Death Metal of yesteryear was a good palette cleansing after two sets of grind destruction.

One of my favorite sets of the day followed. LA's Lack of Interest killed the stage with their lightning fast hardcore. The show was the band's first on the East Coast, and the crowd responded appropriately with singalongs. Flesh Parade followed LOI with a set of brutal grindcore while the MDF Party Brigade tore up the pit with inflatable items and costumes (like Teletubbies, Ketchup outfits, a shack boy and more).

Next was Extortion's speedy hardcore which represented well live, though the band had some technical difficulties... though no where near as many as Buzzov-en. Buzzov-en fried a bass head before they could even start, and took a little while to set up. I don't know how K.Lloyd could function on stage (he seemed a bit, um, impaired) but regardless they ripped a killer set.

Tragedy, as usual, was amazing. The band's crusty d-beat incited pits and stage dives. Between them and LOI, I would have been content with an excellent day of shows. Cathedral's last-ever US show closed out the evening. I have always like Cathedral, but was never as mad about them as some.... but Sonar's soundsystem did them right last night. They sounded amazing.

Today is Neurosis! More pictures from Day 1 are below...

Continue reading "Maryland Deathfest 2011 -- Day 1 in pics & review (Cathedral, Tragedy, Lack of Interest, Flesh Parade, Buzzov-en & more)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Capsule - "Neuralize So Numb" (MP3)

After releasing the triumphant and impressive Blue on Robotic Empire (which was recently repressed), Capsule is back with No Ghost due on April 12th via Rorschach Records. Unmastered versions of the LP show promise; a band that has always impressed with over-the-top technicality piles hooks into their math-y post-hardcore to great effect. Dig on exhibit A from No Ghost, "Neuralize So Numb" which makes its first appearance here, downloadable above/streamable below.

Capsule is on the road in March, and will play Acheron on March 25th with two more bands TBA. Full dates are below. In addition, Eric Hernandez of Capsule and formerly of Kylesa, has another forthcoming show with his other project Shitstorm. You can catch Shitstorm in NYC when they team up with Cripple Bastards, The Kill, Noisear, and many others at Public Assembly on 5/25.

Continue reading "Capsule releasing 'No Ghost', touring (new MP3 & tour dates)"

by BBG

Rick Smith of Torche at MHOW (more by Justina Villanueva)

Torche closed out the room with an assist from a fill-in drummer in the absence of Rick Smith (who broke his hand while touring with his side project Shitstorm). Although Smith's theatrics were missed (you rarely ever see anyone standing and jumping down TOWARD the kit, save for Rob Shaffer of Dark Castle and a few others), the band played a well-executed set of bubblegum pop which contained one song from their upcoming split with Boris, and a ton of thundering but sugary classics. [BV at SXSW 2010]

When Torche played the BV show at SXSW (and again at Beerland) sans drummer Rick Smith, it was all because of his pummeling work in Shitstorm, a grind side project. Now said grind venture that once shared a split with Magrudergrind (who are playing NYC on August 7th) and who now also feature Jonathan from Torche and Eric of Capsule/ex-Kylesa fame, will hit the road for a string of east coast dates.

Look for the band to brutalize NYC at The Acheron on September 1st alongside the fantastical Pollution (also see them at Acheron with Megasus and The Love Below!), Syphilitic Lust (playing another show with Coffinworm and Unearthly Trance), Curandera (who just played with The Body), and Divorce Money.

Meanwhile, Rick Smith will be in NYC next week with Torche at Music Hall of Williamsburg on August 6th. Tickets are still available for the show which also includes Boris and Russian Circles.

Full Shitstorm dates, and some video is below...

Continue reading "Shitstorm touring, Torche coming even sooner (dates) "