by BBG

Villains at Europa (more by BBG)

Brooklyn street metal sleaze-oids Villains dropped Road to Ruin on the venerable Nuclear War Now last year, and now the band has unveiled a video for the album closer "Land Hag". Check that out below.

A reminder: Villains will support a mammoth lineup of Midnight (who released one of my favorite LPs of 2011), Parasytic, and Trenchgrinder at Acheron on April 7th. The band will also support Superchrist at Saint Vitus on 4/23, and ticketing info for that show is forthcoming.

All tour dates and that video, below...

Continue reading "Villains reveal 'Land Hag' video & April show with Superchrist"

by BBG

Midnight at Rites of Darkness (more by BBG)

Midnight will headline a killer bill at Acheron in Brooklyn on April 7th featuring an appearance from crusty thrash team Parasytic, over-the-top sleazoids Villains, and crust-death killers Trenchgrinder. The show is the band's only current US date, with a second show going down in Germany as part of Heavy Metal Mayhem. Don't miss it. Stream some Parasytic and Trenchgrinder material below, and download their demo for free at Bandcamp.

Midnight's Satanic Royalty was one of my favorite albums of the year, and I recently caught them live at Rites of Darkness.

Stream that Trenchgrinder and Parasytic's recent LP Poison Minds below, alongside the flyer.

Continue reading "Midnight schedule show w/ Parasytic, Villains & Trenchgrinder"

photos by Stephanie Crumley, Villains photos by BBG

Proscriptor McGovern of Absu by Stephanie

Absu headlined Europa on National Metal Day (11/11/11) as part of a string of dates with Infernal Stronghold. Absu played a 75 minute set of old and new material (like "Earth Ripper" in the video below), some from their latest Abzu out now via Candlelight, and some from their contribution to a tour-only split with tour-mates Infernal Stronghold (available at the show).

Local blackened-sleaze favorites Villains supported Absu/Infernal Stronghold, and pictures/video of them and all other bands are below..

Continue reading "Absu, Infernal Stronghold & Villains played Europa (pics/video)"

by BBG

Exclusive look at Absu/Infernal Stronghold flexi cover by Dilek

Absu is commemorating their string of dates with Infernal Stronghold in physical form.

For the upcoming tour, the bands have self-released a split flexi that will only be available at these few shows. It will not be available for sale through other mediums whatsoever. one new song from each band on clear vinyl and 4 different colored silk-screened covers. Limited to 250 copies.

Get your copy of the tour-only flexi at one of their six east coast dates which kick off TONIGHT at Strange Matter in Richmond, VA, including on Friday 11/11/11 at Europa with Villains. The NYC show is a BrooklynVegan/Order Of The Serpent production.

In January Absu heads to Australia for a string of dates with Portal. Check out our just-posted interview with Portal's Horror Illogium (and the accompanying remix he did for Bloody Panda).

All Absu tour dates, the show flyer, and some streams from Absu's latest LP Abzu (as well as other material) is below...

Continue reading "Absu to release tour-only split flexi with Infernal Stronghold, kick off East Coast dates 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 BBG

Black Witchery

As the clock ticked towards 2AM on Monday night (8/8), a five band bill of raw and dissonant black metal was entering its seventh hour. Plagued by equipment issues and over-long sets, the blackened school night in Greenpoint featured an early-Tuesday morning appearance from Spain's Proclamation, along with support from Black Witchery, a reunited Abazagorath, Deceiveron, and Villains.

Early support was a mixed bag, ranging from tongue-in-cheek and fun, to horrid, and not in an "ugly black metal" sort of way. Brooklyn's Villains match over-the-top and revolting in on-stage banter, with seriously great blackened street-punk. Deceiveron followed Villains, and were probably the low point of the evening. Besides being out of tune for the duration of their stage time, their set was long and uninteresting. Due to equipment issues, Abazagorath (who was next) took close to 45 minutes to set up and were relegated to a 13 minute set. Despite that considerable setback, the reunited New Jersey band's thrashy black metal was engaging. Make sure you catch them on an upcoming go-around.

Black Witchery had the largest crowd of the evening, possibly due to the hour that the band hit the stage (around 12:30). The trio's blackened blasts of war metal incited pits while the band kept it interesting with an animated and costumed live show. Black Witchery's theatrical and anti-melodic black metal was my favorite performance of the evening.

The audience had thinned considerably for Spain's Proclamation, and though they they delivered an excellent set of Blasphemy-style war metal, their late set-time and much-more-energetic direct support of similar-influence made it hard to stay enthralled.

More pictures and video from Europa are below.

Continue reading "a late & long night of black metal @ Europa in pics, video & review (Black Witchery, Proclamation, Abazagorath & more)"

by BBG

The previously discussed Proclamation show just went from awesome to bonkers with the addition of Black Witchery to the lineup. The pair will team with Abazagorath (mem Funebrarum, Evoken), Deceiveron, and Villains for the August 8th show at Europa. Tickets are still available.

Black Witchery released Inferno of Sacred Destruction in 2010 on CD via Hells Headbangers, and have released it on vinyl via Nuclear War Now. Villains new LP, Road to Ruin, is also out now via Nuclear War Now. Order them both at the NWN webstore.

Show flyer and some video is below.

Continue reading "Black Witchery added to Proclamation & Villains show"

Lower Dens @ Bowery Ballroom during CMJ (more by Amanda Hatfield)

Lower Dens headline Music Hall of Williamsburg tonight (2/25). Glory Girls and Ducktains both open. I have two pairs of tickets you can win. Details at the end of this post.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the Dears show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the Cake show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the Alexi Murdoch show at Music Hall of Williamsburg.

As previously discussed, Harvey Milk are in fact playing three shows at Union Pool and they've added support for each night. Tickets are now on sale and still available for all three: March 13th with Occultation (mem Negative Plane!), March 14th with Villains, and the newly-onsale March 15th with Luke Roberts.

Tickets go on sale at noon for the Yeasayer show at Terminal 5 (and for the Philly date at the Troc).

Downtown legend Joey Arias is headlining Town Hall on 4/21. Tickets go on presale at noon.

Tickets went on sale Thursday for a Justin Bond/Doveman show at Bowery Ballroom.

Balkan Beat Box are playing Webster Hall on 4/26. Tickets go on sale at noon.

The Airborne Toxic Event are playing Mercury Lounge, Bowery Ballroom and Webster Hall in three days. Tickets for all of them go on sale at noon.

Jukebox the Ghost and Wakey Wakey co-headline a show at Bowery Ballroom that same week. Tickets go on sale at noon.

The Boxer Rebellion have shows coming up at Bowery and Music Hall - both on sale.

Jeff Mangum tickets also went on sale at 11am and noon.

Strokes MSG tickets are also on sale.

Continue reading "Yeasayer, Harvey Milk, Joey Arias, Alexi Murdoch, Cake, Dears, Lower Dens & other tix "

by BBG

Christian Mistress

Thrones headlined Acheron on Wednesday (10/13) with an assist from the stunning NWOBHM-inspired Christian Mistress & the the blackened street-toughs in Villains as part of a joint BrooklynVegan/Todd P production. All three delivered impressive sets to a packed Acheron, but Christian Mistress was the only one of the three that got the crowd chanting "one more song" (to which they obliged).

More pictures from this fantastic show (thanks to all who attended) are below. A reminder Rosetta/Constants/Cleanteeth take on Union Pool (not Cake Shop) TONIGHT (10/15) and The Gates of Slumber/Hour of 13/Disma tear down Union Pool tomorrow (10/16) as part of BrooklynVegan/1000 Knives events this weekend.

More pictures from the Acheron below...

Continue reading "Thrones, Christian Mistress & Villains played Acheron (pics) "

by BBG

Venomous Concept

Grind supercrew Venomous Concept battered a small crowd at Europa, where the band blasted through 25+ songs with support from Cali killers Nails and blackened and badass Villains. The show was part of an overall tour for VC, who played a string of West Coast dates with BV SXSW alumni Kill The Client prior to the eastside mayhem. Nails supported on all east coast dates.

Locals Villains, who have laid low as of late, played new tracks from a forthcoming release due on the great Nuclear War Now. No official word on the release date for the LP, but the material sounds very promising live and I can't wait to see them again when the open for Thrones and Christian Mistress (on 10/13 at Acheron).

Nails, who will see their Unsilent Death re-released by Southern Lord on 10/5 (it originally surfaced on Six Feet Under), lived up to the hype that the band has been receiving as of late, delivering a blistering 20 minute set that would probably have gotten somer serious crowd movement if the turnout was larger. Cop Unsilent Death, it's a burner.

Venomous Concept finished out the night with an hour+ of d-beaty grind culled from the band's recent Poisoned Apple, as well as their prior work with Buzz Osbourne for Retroactive Abortion. Kevin Sharp was as jokey and unhinged as ever, and the core unit of Dan Lilker/Danny Herrera/Shane Embury were taught and blistering. Excellent set from this 1/2 Napalm Death, 1/2 Brutal Truth crew.

More pictures from the show are below...

Continue reading "Venomous Concept, Nails & Villains played Europa (pics) "

by BBG

DOWNLOAD: Christian Mistress - "Desert Rose" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Christian Mistress - "Home In The Sun" (MP3)

Thrones

After Grey Wolves, my journey into the Melvins past would continue with their ex-bassist Joe Preston and his solo project Thrones. With a looping pedal, drum machine, and some sort of vocal harmonizer, Joe churned out compelling and doomy rhythms, leads, and everything in between, making for a fascinating one man show. [review from No Fun Fest 2009]

BrooklynVegan and Todd P are proud to present a killer lineup of heavy music at Acheron on October 13th! Headlined by the one and only Joe Preston (Thrones) support will come from Christian Mistress, Villains, and one more TBA! $10 will get you in the door.

The show is one of many that Christian Mistress and Thrones will play together, starting in Portland in September, and ending back in the same state on Halloween. All dates below.

Christian Mistress are celebrating their new LP Agony & Opium out NOW via 20 Buck Spin. With classic 80s Euro riffs and a vocalist that brings to mind Geddy Lee, Agony & Opium feels like a lost relic from the NWOBHM. Dig on the killer retro goodness on "Desert Rose" and "Home In The Sun" available for download above.

Some videos, with all dates, below...

Continue reading "Christian Mistress & Thrones tour dates, Brooklyn w/ Villains"

words and photos by BBG

Laurie & John of Ludicra!

This sounds like a highly appropriate tweet from guitar great John Cobbett:

just spent approx 12 hours working on one riff. It divided like a fractal into 4 riffs, an intro and a multi-part verse. fascinating eh?

Though I can't guarantee it, there's a good chance that Cobbett was referring to riffs written for Bay-Area black metal greats Ludicra, who have announced completion of their new LP The Tenant due in March 2010 via Profound Lore!

The Tenant will be the band's first LP since 2006's Fex Urbis Lex Orbus, a record that I still go back to from time to time. Highly recommended. In August, Ludicra descended upon NYC with Hammers of Misfortune, Ludicra, Villains, and Liturgy for their first EVER appearance in their ten+ year history. After hearing my west coast brethren rave on about their outstanding live show, it felt like a big sigh of relief to finally catch the Bay Area black metal band in action.

Ludicra vocalist Laurie is a very watchable front-woman with amazing vocal prowess; her powerful screeching bellows were just as impressive live as they are on LP. Searing/soaring solos by John Cobbett, killer fills from Aesop Dekker (Agalloch), and Ross Sewage (also of Impaled, Ghoul, ex-Wolves In The Throne Room, etc) laying down the low end added to the unbelievable performance from the Ludicra. Fantastic show, but eleven years from existence to NYC appearance is unacceptable! Here's to hoping the band hits the road again in celebration of the new LP.

Guitarist John Cobbett of Ludicra is also one of the masterminds behind Hammers of Misfortune, a prog-power-folk metal band that released the double LP Fields / Church Of Broken Glass. "Prog-power-folk metal" is usually not my cup o' tea unless it was timestamped 20+ years ago, but Hammers of Misfortune is one of those rare exceptions. Majestic, powerful, and plush with memorable twin guitar riffage from Cobbett and ex-Pansy Division-er Patrick Goodwin, melodic passages were just as compelling and anchored by vocalist/keyboardist/Amber Asylum contributor Sigrid Sheie (check out an AA MP3 here) and vocalist Jesse Quattro. The occasion marked Hammers of Misfortune's second NYC appearance, and the performance was brief (30ish minutes?) but powerful nontheless.

Local faves Villains and Liturgy opened the night with a predictably awesome sets from both. Villains are currently gearing up to play the Nuclear War Now! Fest this weekend in Berlin along with faves like Bone Awl, Revenge, Dead Congregation, Abigail, and many esteemed others. For more on that fest, head to NWN.

Liturgy are scheduled to play two big shows this weekend: Union Pool this Friday (11/13) with Krallice, Malkuth and Orphan and the BV sponsored Shrinebuilder / Rwake on Sunday at LPR (11/15, tix). Both shows are part of a killer week of shows that includes TWO BV shows: Dark Castle / The Atlas Moth / Wetnurse / Tiger Flowers at Union Pool on 11/17 and a Special Guest (Southern Lord), Javelina, Black Tusk, and Batillus on 11/18 at The Charleston in conjunction with Chronic Youth.

More pictures of Ludicra guitarist Christy Cather's mic/beer stand, as well as pics of her and her band, as well as Villains, and Hammers of Misfortune, below...

Continue reading "Ludicra announced new LP, played NYC in August w/ Hammers of Misfortune & Villains (pics)"

by Black Bubblegum

The black metal star, with the star of classic cinema such as Ghost Rider, Next, Knowing, and Captain Corelli's Mandolin.

In 1987, actor Nicolas Cage was "Raising Arizona." Three years later, he began raising future underground black-metal singer Weston "Arcane" Cage....

Weston tells BostonHerald.com. "I have a dark maniacal side and sometimes I want to decimate every person in the room. But I also want to enlighten. We have a variety of different fans and get different reactions."

He adds... "I come from a lineage of great artists," he said. "I just want to contribute to my genre and honor my family."- [Boston Herald via Blabbermouth]

That "undergound black metal band" is Eyes of Noctum, whose debut album, Inceptum was recorded by Fredrik Nordström (Dimmu Borgir) and features Hellhammer (!?!?!?!) (Mayhem, Satyricon, Dimmu Borgir) and Snowy Shaw (King Diamond, Therion, Mercyful Fate). Eyes of Noctum play two nights in NYC starting tonight (7/17), and though I wouldn't necessarily recommend this band, they are playing with the mighty Malkuth at Studio @ Webster Hall and then again on July 20th (Mon) at Europa with the also awesome Villains and Bezoar. Advance tickets for tonight are here while tickets for Europa are here.

Snowy Shaw rwas recently interviewed by SickDrummer.com where he spoke on his current projects as well as his time with Eyes of Noctum:

SDM: Tell us about your relationship with Fredrik Nordstrom. Do you ever do studio sessions for him?

Snowy: Fredrik and I are great friends, and occasionally I do sessions for him or in his studio.

Most recently was last summer for a band I think is called Eyes of Noctum with Hollywood actor Nicolas Cage's son as the leader/singer. Fredrik just called me one night, asking me to attend in the studio as some sort of coach for this poor young LA drummer who simply couldn't get it down, so after having wasted several days, Fredrik as the producer just had to take charge of the procedure and get things moving. I got there the next morning thinking I'd be coaching the guy, then understand they expect me to do ghost drumming, then the next day I'd be listed as the drummer. I'm a very quick learner, and although I don't consider myself a very good black metal drummer (since I hit the drums very very hard, playing that ultra fast gets tricky), but I did my best to please them with all their wishes and requests, and I nailed it all in a few days time, and everybody was happy.

Tour dates below...

Continue reading "Nicolas Cage's son's black metal band (is in NYC) (tour dates)"

photos by Justina Villanueva, words by Black Bubblegum

Her name is "Grace" and she has it... when she isn't on stage I mean. On stage, Grace Perry of Landmine Marathon will unleash the most unholy bellow within two inches of your face. And she did at Lit last Monday night (4/13), one of Landmine Marathon's two NYC shows, supported by the dark sorcerors Wizardry, the filthy perverts in Villains, and the hyper-costumed Seizure Crypt.

I arrived moments before Villains, though by all accounts and judging by the photos, I truly missed out on Wizardry.

I've seen Villains (who we profiled here) many times, but Monday was undoubtedly my favorite set from the crew. Vocalist Desecrator spat at the crowd, pelvis-thrusted his way through "Crazy for Blowjobs", and proclaimed "only vinyl is real, fuck CDs and fuck blogs". Well fuck you too Desecrator! ...but I still think you guys rule, and so does Lifecode of Decadence.

I was not prepared for Landmine Marathon; vile and revolting riffage combined with crazed-mama Grace Perry on vocals will most likely slide easily onto my short list of best shows so far this year. If you like any of the following bands, Landmine Marathon is a MUST: Napalm Death, Bolt Thrower, Misery Index, Assuck, Carcass, early 90s death metal/grind and pretty much anything in the early Earache stable.

More pictures and a video from the show below...

Continue reading "Landmine Marathon, Villains & Wizardry @ Lit Lounge - pics "

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Villains - "Life Code Of Decadence" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Villains - "Scumbag Preacher" (MP3)

Villains Live At Santos Party House (more by Justina Villanueva)

As previously noted, Landmine Marathon will team up with Villains, Wizardry, and Seizure Crypt TONIGHT (4/13) at Lit Lounge as part of their "East of Arizona" tour which will conclude in an appearance at the New England Hardcore and Metal Fest. The show marks their first appearance in NYC in three years and the band has doubled up on NYC to compensate, adding a second show at The Charleston on April 17th with Kavorka and Mutant Supremacy.

Bullet belts and/or six-inch-nail-adorned wristbands aren't required for Villains, but maybe they should be. Those who kneel at the altar of Bathory, Hellhammer, and Slayer will dig the Brooklyn crew's nod to the early stages of black metal and thrash. Villains recently dropped their second LP, Life Code of Decadence, on Nuclear War Now! Productions (pick it up here) which includes the title track and "Scumbag Preacher" which are both available for download above.

Before tonight's live metal debauchery, Lit Lounge will also host a listening party for the new album by Karl Sanders of Nile. Get there early (7- 9PM) to hang with Sanders and check out his new album Saurian Exorcisms due on 4/14 via The End.

Landmine Marathon released their LP Rusted Eyes Awake in 2008. Pick up the track "Bile Towers" here. Full tour dates, including a 4/16 in Bloomfield, NJ with Wetnurse, below....

Continue reading "Landmine Marathon is here -2009 tour dates, Villains tonight"

words by Black Bubblegum, photos by Justina Villanueva

Bloody Panda

Bloody Panda headlined a night of NYC metal with Villains and Wetnurse at Santos Party House on Feb 26th... check out the bloodbath/aftermath adorned in the pictures below...

Continue reading "Bloody Panda, Wetnurse & Villains @ Santos, NYC - pics"