Barghest/False art

Louisiana black metal crew Barghest (members of Thou) and Minneapolis crew False will team up for a split due on Gilead Media on September 17. The 12" LP will feature three tracks in total, two of which come courtesy of the former, with the third being a whopper/epic jam from False. Stream the entire thing (in two parts) below.

False, who's monster self-titled debut hit last year (also via Gilead Media), will spend the tail-end of August through September on the road, tagging dates from coast to coast. The shows include a Brooklyn stop on September 8th at Acheron with Mortals.

All tour dates (the tour is still in the works) are below, along streams of the first False record and the split.

Continue reading "False ready tour (dates), releasing split w/ Barghest (stream it)"

by BBG

Black Witchery at Rites of Darkness (more by BBG)

Hooded black metal miscreants Black Witchery will team with Burial Ritual, Agrath, and Winter Nights for a show at Saint Vitus on June 29th, the day before the inaugural Martyrdoom Festival hits NYC on June 30th. Tickets are on sale.

Cobalt's Gin is currently on preorder on 2LP!

Gilead Media Festival is going on this weekend. Bummed you can't make it? Pick up some of their great new releases, like the new Thou split with Hell at Gilead Media (order yours) or Barghest on vinyl! Stream all of that Barghest below.

Ruins Alone (aka Yoshida Tatsuya of Ruins, solo) will headline a show with Child Abuse, PAK and Behold... the Arctopus on Sunday at Death by Audio. Should be a good one! Colin's other band Dysrhythmia plays the same space on the night before.

Did you catch our pics of Young Widows & Pygmy Lush at Saint Vitus?

More suggested shows, that Barghest stream, a Grand Magus track, a remastered Coffinworm track from their forthcoming demo release on LP, TWO new Horseback songs, and a trailer for a new Slang 7" (!), below. What did I miss?

Continue reading "Evillive (Black Witchery, Slang, Horseback, Cobalt, Coffinworm & more)"

by BBG

Saint Vitus @ Irving Plaza in 2011 (more by BBG)

Chaos in Tejas (May 31-June 3 in Austin) have announced ANOTHER batch of bands to add to their ridiculous lineup including Saint Vitus, Church of Misery, No Statik, Toys That Kill, Pegasus, Martial Canterel, Anasazi, Bloodwing (mems of The Spits, who are on tour soon), Harm's Way, Hatred Surge, the Hex Dispensers, John Wesley Coleman, Joyce Manor, and many many others. The current full lineup and flyer is below and tickets are FINALLY going on sale TODAY (1/31).

Doom legends Saint Vitus are currently preparing their new LP Lillie: F-65 for Season of Mist. The record, their eighth and first in seventeen years (!), is tentatively set for release at the end of March. More details are forthcoming.

In related news, members of Mind Eraser also serve as personnel in Magic Circle, another Chaos in Tejas band. Look for Magic Circle to team with Pilgrim (who we recently interviewed), Windhand, and Natur at Public Assembly on March 1st.

The updated Chaos in Tejas lineup is below along with the flyer.

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas 2012 expands again; tickets on sale today"

by BBG

Dropdead at Europa (more by Keith Marlowe)

Chaos in Tejas have announced another round of bands for their 2012 shindig (first round here), including rare appearances from legendary post-hardcore band Moss Icon (a one-time only reunion), as well as Japan's Reality Crisis and Skizophrenia (their only US dates), and repeat offenders/favorites like Dropdead, Municipal Waste, Midnight, Ares Kingdom, Puerto Rico Flowers, Xeno & Oaklander, Thou, the Rival Mob, Boston Strangler, Crazy Spirit, Brain Killer, Power Trip, Wiccans (who just played one of the final shows at Emo's), and many many others. A full list of additions and the new flyer is below.

Since the original announcement, two previously announced bands have dropped off the original lineup: Mexican black metal band Nyogthaeblisz disappeared from the lineup after their anti-Islamic/Semitic/Abrahamic stance and involvement in known NSBM (National Socialist) label Satanic Skinhead was pointed out by a few blogs. That led to Antisect and The Mob even threatening to not play. Word then spread that Disma's Craig Pillard released nazi-glorifying records under the name Sturmfuhrer. Disma then dropped out as well due to "the drama" that ensued. Craig would not comment on the matter, but other members of Disma say he has changed.

In related news, Thou will hit the road for a string of dates with The Body this week on the West Coast. Both bands will also be at the inaugural Gilead Media festival (chaired by the Gilead Media label) in Oshkosh, Wi on 4/28 and 4/29 which will feature appearances from (in alphabetical order) Arms Aloft, Aseethe, Ash Borer, Baby Boy, Darger + Plague Mother, False, Fell Voices, Get Rad, Hell, Loss, Mutilation Rites, Northless, Protestant, A Scanner Darkly, and Sleepwalker. More details are available at the site.

All tour dates, new additions to Chaos in Tejas, and the show flyer is all below.

Continue reading "Chaos in Tejas adds bands & loses some due to controversy; Gilead Media launches festival"

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

Seven Sisters of Sleep at A389 2011 (more by BBG)

Seven Sisters of Sleep (mems Tafkata) are two for two with releases in 2011, dropping both their excellent debut and their similarly crushing split with Children of God this year. Get both at A389. Though no full East Coast trek has been planned, Seven Sisters of Sleep will join the great All Pigs Must Die, labelmates Low Places, and NYC's Grudges for an NYC date at Acheron on 1/20, just a few days after the always awesome A389 Anniversary show at Sonar in Baltimore with Eyehategod, Gehenna, and many others.

All Pigs Must Die was recently given an "honorable mention" in Pitchfork's top metal of 2011 list (though no shout out for Seven Sisters of Sleep). Check out the full list, along with some streaming APMD material and a few videos below...

Continue reading "Pitchfork lists the best metal of 2011, All Pigs Must Die & Seven Sisters of Sleep schedule a Brooklyn show"

by BBG

Thou @ ABC No Rio

DIY mainstay ABC No Rio erupted on Saturday afternoon (10/8) when Thou played a cover of Beastie Boys' "Sabotage" (video below), though by the time they launched into said cover the packed and sold out room was already knee deep in great riffs. Kicking off with an awesome set from Argonauts, the show also featured an appearance from Thou tourmates The Body and locals Alkahest. The show is one of a select few remaining afternoon matinees at the space, with the building being torn down and rebuilt in 2012.

Argonauts, on their way to a Philadelphia show that night, opened the show. The band, comprised of John & Dave of Burnt By The Sun, Brett of East of The Wall, and Dimitri of ex-Dillinger Escpae Plan fame, had many elements in common with Burnt By The Sun; groovy, noise-dotted metal-core riffs are central to the band's sound. Argonauts have no recorded material thus far, but when those records do hit, I'll be on the hunt for them.

Alkahest's doom followed Argonauts who were followed up with booming two-piece doom juggernaut The Body. In the close quarters of ABC No Rio, my friend remarked to me that this was the first time that he could hear the vocals so clearly and I agreed; Chip's no-microphone screams are usually buried amongst the wash of vibrating 10-inch speakers. Another fun set from the band, who promised me that they'd be back soon with their collaboration with Braveyoung.

Its been quite a treat to see favorites Thou in NYC lately, and the swaying crowd definitely agreed. Said Beasties cover closed out Thou's set at ABC No Rio, which saw the crowd erupting into moshpits and swinging back and forth. Thou will be on the road a lot more in the coming months, so if you missed them, look for them on the road soon, and live vicariously through the video below.

More pictures and video from the show below...

Continue reading "Thou, The Body, Alkahest and Argonauts played ABC No Rio (pics & video)"

photos by Suren Karapetyan, words by BBG

Mutilation Rites @ DbA, WITTR backdrop on the wall

"The most exciting music in American black metal today is being made by a collective of musicians who call themselves the Black Twilight Circle, and who combine for a dizzying array of line-ups under names like Arizmenda, Axeman, Kuxan Suum, the Haunting Presence, and Dolorvotre. Based in Los Angeles, the collective takes its inspiration from pre-hispanic cultures and, in solidarity with the Mexica movement, they reject terms like "latino" and "native American," and instead call themselves "Nican Tlaca," a Nahuatl phrase often translated to "we the people here," meant to refer to the indigenous population of the Western Hemisphere.

Black Twilight Circle's bloodthirsty music praises ritual sacrifice and the shamanistic exaltation of mind-altering drugs. The collective's vision of black metal combines traditional sounds and outré experiments, with Blue Hummingbird on the Left adding flutes and war drums to their instrumentation; others, like Arizmenda, churning out muscular, twisting 13-minute epics; and groups like Axeman hewing percussive BM anthems inflected with traces of '80s punk like GISM and Amebix. An intensely secretive group, the Circle's music appears in very limited editions, often on cassette; they favor off-the-beaten-path live performances..." [The Phoenix]

The BTC, which is primarily based on the West Coast, recently played a showcase at Chaos in Tejas. Click the link for pics and more about that.

Mutliation Rites played Death By Audio on Wednesday 9/14 as part of a pair of NYC dates for Wolves in The Throne Room & Thou. Pictures from the show are in this post (pictures from The Bell House are HERE). Thou returns in early October.

In related news, Wolves In The Throne Room spent Saturday night (9/17) at Strange Matter in Richmond, with support from Megaton Leviathan (who re-released their demo) and Richmond favorites Bastard Sapling. Richmond show-goers might have noticed that Bastard Sapling had a new item on their merch table, Dragged from our Restless Trance, a new collection of tunes on cassette. Check out "Cold Winds Howled Across The Desolation" from said cassette below, and look for copies of it at Forcefield Records.

That song stream, more pictures from Death By Audio, and the Black Twilight Circle dates are all below.

Continue reading "black metal crew Black Twilight Circle coming east (dates), WITTR & Thou & Mutilation Rites played Death By Audio (pics)"

by BBG

Todd (left) with Tragedy at Chaos in Tejas (more by Keith Marlowe)

Todd Burdette of Tragedy also serves as vocalist for Warcry, who will hit the east coast for a round of dates with Ripper in late October, including 10/29 at Acheron. Full tour schedule is below.

Gaza will team with Defeatist, Tiger Flowers and Don't Give a Fuck for a show on 11/12 at Acheron, for what must be a burgeoning East Coast tour. Details are forthcoming.

If you are like me, then even though Thou played TWICE in NYC in the past week, you are ready to see them again. Hold 10/8 in your calendar, as the boys will play ABC No Rio as part of a round of dates with The Body. Wow.

Reminder: The Boston Strangler hits Acheron tomorrow (9/17). If you can't make it on Saturday, catch members of that band playing with Rival Mob at Acheron on 11/3 with Young Offenders, Airfix Kids, and Give. Give played Acheron last weekend with Night Birds.

Tickets are now on sale for Hull at Mercury Lounge.

More suggested NYC shows, some video from the amazing Despise You show, the latest video from Brainoil, a stream of the new ACXDC EP Second Coming, and much more is below. What did I miss?

Continue reading "Evillive (Warcry, Thou, Boston Strangler, Gaza, ACXDC, more)"

photos by Greg Cristman, words by BBG

Thou @ The Bell House

As discussed, Wolves In The Throne Room played their first of two NYC dates with Thou on Monday night (9/12) at The Bell House. Pictures and video from the show are in this post, and the pair do it again TONIGHT (9/14) at Death By Audio with Mutilation Rites. Advance tickets are sold out, but additional tickets will be available at the door.

Krallice supported at The Bell House, and the band will play one of their final dates of the year at Union Pool on Saturday (9/17), when they join Urfaust/Black Anvil as part of a trio of dates.

URFAUST & BLACK ANVIL - 2011 TOUR DATES
9/16 @ Golden West in Baltimore w/ Krallice & Oak (!)
9/17 @ Union Pool in Brooklyn w/ Krallice & Ruin Lust
9/18 @ Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia w/ Endless Humiliation

The Urfaust show is one of two BrooklynVegan presented heavy shows taking place this weekend, with 40 Watt Sun hitting Public Assembly on 9/16 with the recently added Woe. In related news, 40 Watt Sun was added to Roadburn Fest 2012 with Agalloch and Sólstafir. The bands join the already confirmed appearances from d.USK (aka diSEMBOWELMENT), Voivod, Sleep, Saviours and Om.

More pictures and video from The Bell House below...

Continue reading "Wolves in the Throne Room, Thou & Krallice @ The Bell House (pics)"

by BBG

WiTTR last night @ the Bell House (photo by Greg Cristman)

Wolves in The Throne Room played to a packed (sold-out?) Bell House last night with the utterly devastating Thou and similarly impressive Krallice. WITTR and Thou do it again at Death By Audio tomorrow (9/14) with Mutilation Rites.Wolves In The Throne Room, who has welcomed their new LP Celestial Lineage, is reportedly bringing their own PA rig to add to Death By Audio's system. Wow. Tickets go on sale at 11PM TONIGHT (they were on sale briefly at 11am yesterday but taken off sale).

Not only is Death By Audio their last NYC show on this tour, sources say that their current trek may be WITTR's last US tour ever... Confirmation on that is still forthcoming, but stay tuned. Check out some video from last night at The Bell House below...

Continue reading "Wolves in the Throne Room, Thou & Krallice played The Bell House (videos), DBA tix on sale tonight"

by BBG

Wolves in The Throne Room (more by Paul Birman)

Wolves in The Throne Room are here, and will begin their campaign of NYC darkness with Thou TONIGHT (9/12) at The Bell House with Krallice. Tickets are still available. The fun continues Wednesday (9/14) at Death By Audio in Brooklyn with Mutilation Rites (who replaced Krallice when Krallice switched to the Bell House show). Tickets for Death by Audio, previously unavailable, go on sale at 11AM (UPDATE: either we're crazy or the ticket on-sale has changed to 9/13 at 11pm).

Those opting for the Wednesday show still have a great option for tonight if you still feel like hitting some black-metal induced madness. Prescious Metal will host Raspberry Bulbs (mem Bone Awl), FFH, and Endless Humilation at Lit Lounge, one of two shows scheduled thus far for Raspberry Bulbs before they take a timeout to work on new material. If you can't make it, head out to Raspberry Bulbs' CMJ appearance at Saint Vitus on 10/18 where they'll team with Villains, Occultation (mem Negative Plane) & Skull. Ticketing info for the CMJ show is still forthcoming.

Krallice will also play Union Pool on Saturday with Urfaust/Black Anvil/Ruin Lust. Tickets are still available. The show is one of two BrooklynVegan heavy events scheduled for this weekend, with a second taking place on 9/16 at Public Assembly with 40 Watt Sun and the recently added Woe.

Wolves in The Throne Room welcome Celestial Lineage this week via Southern Lord. Cop it.

All tour dates and some recent video, including a full Raspberry Bulbs set, is below.

Continue reading "Wolves in the Throne Room are here (DBA tix now available), Raspberry Bulbs playing shows too (dates)"

by Andrew Sacher

"Circle takes the square and pg 99 were a once in a lifetime experience, black cat wasn't ready" - Alec Simke

In 2004, the experimental post-hardcore quartet Circle Takes The Square released one of the decade's most interesting records, As the Roots Undo. Covering more ground in one song than many bands do in an entire career, they frantically tore through different genres as male/female vocals screamed, spoke, whispered, sang and did just about anything else you could think of. After seven years and a few lineup changes, the band are finally set to release the much-anticipated follow-up which started to seem like it would never see the light of day. Vocalist/guitarist Drew Speziale and vocalist/bassist Kathy Coppola are now joined by Caleb Collins of Mare and David Rabitor and plan to unveil their second LP, titled Decompositions Volume 1, this November on their own Gatepost Recordings. The album was produced by Anthony Stubelek who also produced As the Roots Undo.

The band released Chapter 1 of Decompositions Vol. 1, a four song EP titled Rites of Initiation, last week. You can stream the entire thing at their bandcamp and download it for $8. The tracklist and artwork are below. The EP isn't quite as schizophrenic as As the Roots Undo, but it sounds great and is getting me pretty excited for the full length.

CTTS played their first show in over three years at Black Cat in DC this past Saturday to a sold out crowd with the recently reunited pg.99, who they released a split 7" with in 2002, and Thou (who have two upcoming NYC shows with Wolves in the Throne Room). You can stream CTTS's entire set at NPR (and pg.99's set too!) (and Thou). No other dates have been announced yet, but hopefully more to come soon.

Album art, tracklist & DC show setlist below...

Continue reading "Circle Takes The Square are back w/ a new EP (listen), played Black Cat in DC w/ pg. 99 & Thou (listen!)"

by BBG

WITTR at NYU (more by Meghan McInnis)

As I said in July, "Thou's appearance at The Bell House comes as a bit of a surprise, considering the band's staunch stance at playing only all ages establishments." At the time Wolves in The Throne Room and Thou's only NYC show was scheduled to take place on 9/12 at the 21+ The Bell House. Well, now comes word that the pair have added a second show happening on 9/14 at the always all-ages Death By Audio!

No advance tickets for Death By Audio, but tickets for The Bell House are still on sale. Updated WITTR dates are below.

Continue reading "WITTR & Thou add all-ages 2nd NYC show (updated dates)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Naam - "Drain You" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Naam - "Pennyroyal Tea" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "Sifting" (MP3)

Nirvana's influence goes far and wide, not just to bands like Meat Puppets, Jeff The Brotherhood, or EMA who appear on the recent Spin compilation. Brooklyn's Naam has felt the burn of those riffs too, and are preparing to release their tribute in the form of a new and limited-to-300 7" via Tee Pee. The record features Nevermind's "Drain You" & In Utero's "Pennyroyal Tea". Download both covers above or stream them below. The rest of the colorful 7" art is also below.

The release will be celebrated this weekend, on July 30th at Union Pool where the Brooklyn band will be joined by Dead Stars and Unstoppable Death Machines . Show flyer below.

Thou also paid tribute to Nirvana in the recent past, recording "Sifting" from 1989's Bleach for the 2010 Baton Rouge, You Have Much to Answer For EP, and performing the "Smells Like Teen Spirit" B-side (which is also on Incesticide, rarity comps) "Aneurysm" on the road. Thou will play The Bell House on September 12 with Wolves In The Throne Room. Tickets are on sale.

Nevermind's iconic art was recently banned from Facebook in adherence to their "no nudity" policy. That has since changed. Nirvana (the real one) recently announced the tracklisting on the deluxe edition of Nevermind. Check that out below.

Continue reading "Naam pays tribute to Nirvana on new 7" (listen to & download both songs, party Saturday @ Union Pool)"

by BBG

Wolves in The Throne Room and Thou will team up for a show at The Bell House on September 12th as part of a larger tour for WITTR which will include a few dates with Thou. Tickets for the 21+ Blackened Music Series Brooklyn event are on sale now. All dates are listed below.

Wolves In The Throne Room are welcoming their new LP Celestial Lineage on the following day (9/13) via Southern Lord. The new LP will feature an appearance from Jessika Kenney and her choir (which blessed Two Hunters and Malevolent Grain EP) as well as Aaron Turner (Isis, Mamiffer). Check out all of the album art (by Aaron Turner) below.

Thou's appearance at The Bell House comes as a bit of a surprise, considering the band's staunch stance at playing only all ages establishments. Nevertheless, the band is confirmed and will most likely visit material from their The Archer & the Owle 12" EP. As discussed, you can stream that in its entirety via Metalsucks, and check out the new Barghest LP which may/not have members of Thou.

WITTR Album Art and all dates are below.

Continue reading "Wolves in the Throne Room releasing new LP, schedules dates with Thou (Bell House included)"

Justin Broadrick with Godflesh at Roadburn 2011 (more by Stefan Raduta)

Maryland Deathfest 2012 is looking insane with some killer additions! Names like Electric Wizard, Godflesh, Winter, Confessor, Tsjuder, Negura Bunget, Looking For An Answer, Haemorrage, and many others. Full lineup thus far is below.

Stream the new Thou EP, The Archer and The Owle, at Metalsucks. Members of Thou may or may not be in the band Barghest, who recently released their debut LP via Gilead. Order a copy via the label and stream it in its entirety below. Be on the look out for upcoming Thou dates on the east coast....

Gilead is also welcoming the new LP from False, a two song self-titled 12" of black-metal misanthropy. Furious stuff, check it out for yourself below.

Stream a new song by The Atlas Moth from their forthcoming An Ache For The Distance at Stereogum. Look for the Lp on Profound Lore in September, and look out for upcoming tour dates, including the East Coast!

If you missed it, From Ashes Rise will be in NYC on 8/15 with Full of Hell & Night Birds.

Tickets are on sale for the previously discussed Weedeater/Oxbow/Bison BC/Fight Amp show at Europa on 9/10. A reminder, tickets are still available for the previously discussed Toxic Holocaust/Holy Grail/Krum Bums show at Europa on 8/19.

Ampere will play Stolen Sleeves on Saturday (7/23) in celebration of their new LP Like Shadows due on No Idea. Stream four new tracks.

Rwake is streaming a new song at NPR from the LP Rest due on September 27th via Relapse. A reminder, CT will be in NYC for the Slow Southern Steel premiere at Knitting Factory on 8/13 with The Gates of Slumber, Cough, and Earthling.

More reccomended shows, updated Despise You/Magrudergrind dates and a video flyer, the MDF 2012 linuep, streams and more are below.

Continue reading "Evillive (MDF 2012, Thou, False, The Atlas Moth, Rwake, more)"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Thou - "By Endurance We Conquer" (MP3)

Sleep at Brooklyn Masonic Temple (more)

Lists are very subjective. A "best of" list is always an amalgam of personal experiences - that fateful moment when you press "Play" for the first time, in addition to a grade of excellent songwriting. The records I've listed below had a profound impact on me this year, as did many of the shows that I attended and put on in the past twelve months. I'd like to thank all the artists who made this list as well as the ones who didn't, in addition to people like 1000 Knives, Osiris, Bill Dozer, Ian Dickson and venues like Union Pool, The Studio at Webster Hall, Acheron, Santos Party House and a slew of others for keeping heavy music alive in NYC. But mostly, thank YOU, the reader and the listener!

Alright, enough with the sappy bulshit, let's RAGE...

Continue reading "the year 2010 in Metal (BBG's favorite records & live shows) "

words by BBG, pics by Jesse Lindmar

DOWNLOAD: Thou - "By Endurance We Conquer" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - Baton Rouge, You Have Much to Answer For EP (RAR MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - Dwell in the Darkness of Thought and Drink the Poison of Life Split EP (RAR MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - Tears That Soak a Callous Heart EP (RAR MP3)

Bryan Funck of Thou, in close quarters.

Always moving, always progressing... that's how I envision New Orleans doom killers Thou. After a slew of EPs, splits, tapes, and every other imaginable format, the band have finally delivered their follow-up to Peasant, the new album Summit. The LP sees the band expanding its scope, incorporating (tasteful!) keys, elements of black metal, and post-rock touches into their approach, and the result is devastating. Download one track from Summit above, and order a copy of the CD via Gilead Media, vinyl soon via Southern Lord, or tape via Broadcloak / Sacred Tapes.

Thou have dropped a ton of releases in recent months, including the Baton Rouge, You Have Much to Answer For EP on Robotic Empire, Dwell in the Darkness of Thought and Drink the Poison of Life split EP on Hyperrealist, and the Tears That Soak a Callous Heart split EP on Feast of Tentacles. Their contributions to all three of those records, much like all of Thou's recordings (except Summit, currently), are available for FREE download at their site.

On April 10th, before Weedeater had sipped an ounce of that sizzurp (well, that day, anyway), Thou was killing the kids at a packed-out ABC No Rio matinee show as part of a tour with From The Depths. The NOLA band played a bit on the early side and unfortunately had to skedaddle ASAP in order to make a night show in Providence.

More pics from ABC No Rio, and all tour dates are below...

Continue reading " new Thou MP3, live pics & dates"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Coffins - "Black Fog of Burning Flesh" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Coliseum - "Everything To Everyone" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Suma - "Headwound" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Dispirit - "Bitumen Amnii" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Dispirit - "Ixtab's Lure" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Leng Tch'e - "Wirehead Imbeciles" (MP3 Excerpt)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - tracks from Dwell in the Darkness of Thought and Drink the Poison of Life EP Split (rar)
DOWNLOAD: Moloch - "Dry Cough" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Ghast - "Crawl, Blighted and Afraid" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fistula - "The Ones That Got Away" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Aun - "Drainbow" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - tracks from Tears That Soak A Callous Heart Split (rar)
DOWNLOAD: Ramesses - "Khali Mist" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: The Endless Blockade - "Clean & Prone" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Masakari - "XVI Rapid Dominance" (MP3)

Thou at Scion Rock Fest (more by Christopher Mumma)

The grotesquely prolific Thou is forever on the move, and in addition to their out-now Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For EP and the upcoming studio LP Summit due in July on GIlead Media (CD) and Southern Lord (Vinyl), the band has a pair of splits on deck. First up is the band's split with The City Is The Tower entitled Dwell in the Darkness of Thought and Drink the Poison of Life. Thou contributes two songs of the five, both of which are available above. Preorder that record.

Last, but certainly not least, the band has split with fantastic UK sludge-doomers Moloch, due on Perpetual Motion Machine in 12" and cassette formats (preorder it). Download one Moloch track, "Dry Cough", and all of Thou's contribution to that split above. Moloch has a badass debut 10" on Feast of Tentacles and recently contributed a Rorschach cover to Clone Vol II (which also featured Thou, Shadow Of The Torturer, and many others)

Landmine Marathon have filled out the rest of their US tour dates which include two NYC shows, July 13th and Union Pool and July 15th at Cake Shop both with Salome. Meanwhile, Salome is currently working on their new LP, and debut for Profound Lore.

Profound Lore has signed Agalloch! The band is currently crafting their new LP in their lair in Portland through the end of July. More details are forthcoming. Aesop Dekker of another fantastic west coast black metal band, Ludicra, serves as their drummer. While we're on the subject of Ludicra's new LP The Tenant is out on 2LP courtesy Throne Records.

continued below....

Continue reading "Short Wave Warfare (6/18/10)"

interview by Mike Hill, intro by BBG

Thou at Scion Rock Fest 2010 (more by Christopher Mumma)

You may know Mike Hill from one of his many escapades as an axeslinger, or as head maniac at Black Box Recordings. The former Anodyne frontman is currently going full steam ahead with his latest project Tombs, who released their critically acclaimed Winter Hours early last year. I liked it. A lot. Since touring the US relentlessly and taking a stop down to SXSW to play the Relapse official showcase, Mike sat down to speak with the Louisiana juggernaut known as Thou on the eve of their tour to the east coast. That tour comes to NYC at ABC No Rio on 4/10 with From The Depths, Stockade, and Wulfkrieg (get there!). The results from his conversation are below...

Continue reading "an interview w/ Thou (by Mike Hill of Tombs) "

words by Kim Kelly, intro by BBG, photos by Christopher Mumma & BBG

Thou

SXSW was a blast, but days before that the Scion Rock Fest shook the college town of Columbus, Ohio (March 13th) with it's mix of metal gods of the past (DRI, Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Shrinebuilder, etc) and killers of today (Ludicra, Landmine Marathon, Yob, Thou, etc). The one-day fest was spread throughout four of the town's venue, meaning any one person could only see a limited amount of the full lineup. Luckily I went to Columbus with my own camera, two other photographers (Jessie Barber and Christopher Mumma), and crossed paths with writer Kim Kelly along the way. If there is a metal show worth a damn within hundreds (thousands?) of miles from Kim, she'll be there. Her version of the story along with half of the pictures from the day (the rest HERE), below...

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest in pics & review (part 1) - Ludicra, Liturgy, D.R.I., Yob, Thou, Lightning Swords of Death & more "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: The Howling Wind - "Teeth of Frost" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Palace of Worms - "Rite of Blood" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Unholy Grave - "Little Bastards" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Coffinworm - "Start Saving For Your Funeral" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Darkthrone - "Eyes Burst At Dawn" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wolvhammer - Dawn Of The 4th (Zipped MP3, Mediafire)
DOWNLOAD: Panopticon - "Beginning Of The End" featuring Rob "The Baron" Miller (MP3 Snippet)
DOWNLOAD: From Ashes Rise - "All In Due Time" (Live) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Alcest - "Percées De Lumière" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Wormrot - "Indonesia" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Jucifer - "Rifles" (MP3)

Ryan of The Howling Wind w/ Unearthly Trance (more by Samantha Marble)

Ryan Lipynsky probably best known for his role as doom-destroyer in Unearthly Trance, but he's been around the block with projects as varying as Motive, Pollution, Thralldom and The Howling Wind, who will release their latest LP Into The Cryosphere via Profound Lore in April. The Howling Wind, which includes Tim Call of Parasitic Records, Aldebaran, and others, toils in icy doom and black metal much like the ripping "Teeth of Frost" available above. The band also has the Mortuary Library 7" due out later this year via Parasitic.

In related news, NYC doomers Unearthly Trance have hit the studio to record their new album V with Sanford Parker. The band currently has one show on their calendar, April 21st at The Charleston with Lair of The Minotaur as part of a string of East Coast dates in celebration of Evil Power, their new album due out on their own The Grind-House Records imprint. Look for that LP in middle April.

Raw and punishing Japanese grind returns with Grind Killers, the new LP from Unholy Grave! Recorded live in a Dutch studio in September 2008, these 23 tracks were mastered last year and will see a release on Selfmadegod Records in March 2010. Check out "Little Bastards" available for download above. Meanwhile, Selfmadegod will also release a Peel Sessions disc with Agothocles recorded in 1997 and The Grind Years from Psycho.

Coliseum with new drummer Carter Wilson (far right)

Coliseum has signed with Temporary Residence Limited! The band has completed recording their new LP with J Robbins which will see the light of day this summer and will feature appearances from Will Oldham, members of Young Widows, Jason Noble, and many others. Congrats boys!

Harvey Milk will release their new album, A Small Turn of Human Kindness via Hydrahead on May 18th! Can't wait. The current tracklisting is below. Make sure and catch Harvey Milk with Coalesce and The Atlas Moth on tour and at Le Poisson Rouge on 3/8 (tix).

The "De-cancellation Tour" routing is almost complete! Make sure and catch Ludicra on the road this spring doing select dates with Krallice including Europa on 4/18 as part of a BV/Osiris presentation! Tickets are on sale. Full tour routing is below.

The dark forces of Coffinworm have revealed more details from their upcoming shadowy effort for Profound Lore, When All Became None. Sanford Parker has helmed the sludgy blackened doom LP, which features six tracks and is due for release in April. Dig on "Start Saving For Your Funeral" from the LP, downloadable above. Coffinworm will appear at the BV/CC/1000K Pizza Party alongside Zoroaster, Landmine Marathon, and many others. Album art is below.

That album art, and news on Corrupted, Triptykon, Autopsy, Black Shape of Nexus, Virus, Darkthrone, Rosetta, and so much more, as Short Wave Warfare continues...

Continue reading "Short Wave Warfare (03/3/10) "

by BBG

Shrinebuilder at LPR (more here)

Atlanta no more! Scion Rock Fest 2010 will take place in Columbus, Ohio on March 13, 2010. The show will officially expand its reach from one to FOUR venues in Columbus: Circus, Newport Music Hall, Skully's, and Bernie's Distillery. 2010's lineup contains zero return bands from the 2009 festival but does contain sets from bands that released my favorite albums of last year (namely Magrudergrind, Yob, Absu) and played my favorite shows of last year (Lightning Swords of Death, Landmine Marathon, Trap Them, Black Tusk, Ludicra) in addition to sets from headliners Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Shrinebuilder, Brutal Truth.

The rest of the lineup, the show flyer, and RSVP info is below...

Continue reading "Scion Rock Fest 2010 (March 13 in Ohio) - lineup announced"

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Shadow Of The Torturer - "The Walk" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fatalist - "Internal Misery" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mala Suerte - "Wine Like Clotted Blood" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Coffinworm - "High On The Reek Of Your Burning Remains" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Clone II Snippet Sampler (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Sleep - Demos 1990 (Mediafire Link, courtesy of Chunklet)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "Don't Vote" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Thou - "I am the Leviathan" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Nirvana 2002 - "Mourning (Projections of a Stained Mind)" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Mala Suerte - "Entrance/Black Art" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Brown Jenkins - "Ashes In Her Mouth" EDIT (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Brown Jenkins - "Lords Of Suicide" & "Lifetaker" (Mediafire Link)
DOWNLOAD: Witchmaster - "Two Point Suicide" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Witchmaster - "Total Annihilation" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Gravehill - "Rites Of The Pentagram" (MP3)

Consider this the "Swedish Death Metal" edition as we'll focus on a few bands that have taken cues from the great sounds of Entombed, Dismember, Grave, and so many others. As such, lets start off with Fatalist! Though they hail from the land of sun and surf (California), Fatalist have nailed the tone of early (Stockholm) Swedish Death Metal sound, putting their own spin in their songwriting. Featuring ex members of Exhumed, Fatalist's debut album The Depths of Inhumanity is out on 11/23 via Ibex Moon and for a taste of the killer riffs that the band has cooked up, dig on "Internal Misery" above.

Lets get it out of the way, Nirvana 2002 is not a boxset from a certain Seattle band. In fact, Nirvana 2002 is the name of a lost Swedish Death Metal band who will finally release their full recorded output via Relapse Records, Recordings 89 - 91. The band that featured vocalist/guitarist Orvar Säfström (ex-Entombed) have released the "Mourning (Projections of a Stained Mind)" MP3, available for download above after it recently premiered on Decibel. If you love the sickening Swedish Death Metal buzzsaw sound, these long lost tracks are a welcome surprise. Orvar Säfström recently discussed his top 6 favorite Swedish Death Metal albums.

Much like Fatalist, Gravehill is also a sickening early death metal worship act from California. Gravehill's Rites Of The Pentagram LP is out NOW via Enucleation and the title track is available for download above. The band recently played the NJ Death Fest along with Acheron, who are releasing their latest LP and first in six years, The Final Conflict: Last Days Of God, on Ibex Moon.

Mala Suerte doom away on their latest crusty, dimly lit LP, The Shadow Tradition, available via Hellride Music. Download a pair of tracks from that Austin band's LP above. Mala Suerte have been around since the 90s and released a few LPs of their filthy Grief-like psychotic doom as well as a split with Japan's Coffins.

A Mala Suerte video for "Non Servium", Coalesce, Ghast, Eyehategod, Fuck The Facts, Zoroaster, Graveyard, thoughts on the new Slayer, and more as TWIM continues...

Continue reading "This Week In METAL (11/03/09)"