Converge at House of Vans
Converge at House of Vans in 2016 (more by Amanda Hatfield)

metal roundup: new Converge, Orion fest rumors, UFO/Saxon tour, Thou, & more

2016 was a great year for metal, and 2017 is already kicking off with some exciting stuff. Here’s a rundown of some recent news and recently-announced tours/NYC shows.

Neo-thrashers Havok are hitting the road with Exmortus and Extinction AD, including a Brooklyn show on February 14 at Saint Vitus. Tickets for Vitus are on sale.

Buzzy US black metal band Astronoid are touring with the John Darnielle-loved Moon Tooth, including Saint Vitus on February 1 (tickets). Astronoid also appear on the new Perturbator album, and Perturbator makes his NYC debut this month.

Classic hard rockers UFO and NWOBHM vets Saxon are touring together, including two nights at BB King’s, March 29 and 30. Tickets for both shows are available.

The Every Time I Die, Knocked Loose, Harm’s Way, Eternal Sleep tour hits NYC on February 4 at Music Hall of Williamsburg. Tickets are available.

MetalSucks is celebrating its 10th anniversary with a show on February 9 at Saint Vitus featuring So Hideous, Tiger Flowers, Meek Is Murder and Black Table. Tickets are on sale.

Florida black/death metal band Caveman Cult (whose lineup includes Rick Smith of of Cavity, Field, Torche, and Shitstorm) are playing a CLRVYNT-presented show on January 21 at Saint Vitus with Genocide Pact and Lucid Terror (tickets). You can stream their 2016 LP Savage War Is Destiny:

As for some other exciting news, we’re getting a new Converge album this year. Also, Metallica are hoping to bring back their Orion Festival.

Darkest Hour have shared a second single from their upcoming Kurt Ballou-produced album Godless Prophets and the Migrant Flora (due 3/10 via Southern Lord). It’s called “Timeless Hour” and you can listen right here. Darkest Hour’s tour includes a Vitus show with Ringworm, Rotten Sound, Withered, and Immortal Bird.

In some interesting, kinda unexpected news, Touche Amore frontman Jeremy Bolm interviewed Korn frontman Jonathan Davis for the new issue of AltPress. You have to purchase the issue to read it, but here’s a little preview and a message from Jeremy:

A couple months ago I got to interview Jonathan Davis of Korn for Alternative Press. It was a very cool experience.. he'…

Posted by Touche Amore on Wednesday, January 4, 2017

In other news, the first Upcoming Metal Releases of 2017 is up over at Invisible Oranges. IO’s also got a new Black Anvil song, news of a new At The Gates/Disfear/The Great Deceiver spinoff The Lurking Fear, and more.

Other metal shows happening in NYC this year include Life of Agony, Planning for Burial, SubRosa, Sunn O))), Cavelera brothers playing Sepultura’s Roots, Pallbearer, Anthrax / Killswitch Engage, YOB, Power Trip / Iron Reagan, Whitechapel / Cattle Decapitation / Goatwhore, Nails / Toxic Holocaust / Gatecreeper, Gojira / Opeth, Kreator / Obituary / Horrendous / Midnight, Testament / Sepultura / Prong, Stardust fest (with Blood Incantation, Aluk Todolo, Absu, and more), Katatonia / Caspian, Deafheaven / This Will Destroy You / Emma Ruth Rundle, Alcest / The Body / Creepers, and Mayhem / Inquisition / Black Anvil.

Thou begin a three-show run in NYC tonight (1/6).

Lastly, NYC music festival Governors Ball‘s one metal band this year is headliners Tool. Tickets for the fest are on sale now. Zero metal or punk bands on Coachella in 2017.

Listen to Tool’s classic Lateralus:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCDjP4JnpGU