by theseseans (NYC)
Short and sweet! Two shows you need to see: Repulsion, Pig Destroyer and Brutal Truth tonight at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. If that isn't enough for you, this Sunday check out Keelhaul, Minsk, Defeatist (personal favorite!!), Unearthly Trance and STATS at Public Assembly. Both shows start at 8pm!
July 31, 2009
CRUSTCAKE PICKS - NYC SHOWS 07/31 - 8/5
CRUSTCAKE PICKS - LA SHOWS 7/31 - 8/5
by beatmasterspeech (LA)
There are only a couple shows on the radar for the next few days, but the ones that we do have in the neighborhood are quality!
First off, bust out the big cash for Judas Priest slaying at the Gibson Amphitheater this Sunday. Priest will be playing their legendary album, British Steel, in its entirety, to mark the 30th anniversary of the landmark record. You can bet your ass I'm busting out the denim vest and ass-less chaps ... er, I mean studded leather pants (wait, which is less disturbing?) for this gig. Of course, you'll have to brave the walk down Universal's City Walk which, in my eyes, is like the Vegas strip for preteens. As an added flashback bonus, Whitesnake will open.
And the big kicker is the free, repeat FREE, Torche & Big Business show at the Knitting Factory next Wednesday. This is one of those free Scion Metal Show deals so the only way in is to RSVP via their mailing list ... or try this link.
So come on out and let's see if Torche kick out some jams from that
upcoming split we mentioned earlier this week.
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: LA SHOWS 7/31 - 8/5Sunday, August 2nd - Gibson Ampitheater - Judas Priest, Whitesnake
Wednesday, August 5th - Knitting Factory - Torche, Big Business (Scion Metal Show, RSVP Required)
July 30, 2009
SKELETONWITCH'S BREATHING THE FIRE ARTWORK LEAKS
It's no secret we like Skeletonwitch around here. From the beards to the gauntlets, we think those Athens, OH, blackened thrashers are the cat's pajamas.
So of course we were stoked to see the album art for their upcoming Prosthetic full-length, Breathing the Fire, hit teh interwebs today.
It's no Baizley, but Andrei Bouzikov's pretty cool, too.
CRUSTCAKE INTERVIEWS: SUFFOCATION
by theseseans (NYC)
On the closing nights of the recent Summer Slaughter tour, I was treated to hours and hours of blastbeats, which, I believe, is the whole point. But I was really there to see Suffocation, one of my all-time favorite death metal bands. Their set focused on Effigy Of The Forgotten (which ruled) and their latest record, Blood Oath (which rules). Before the show I met with guitarist Terrance Hobbs at the band's merch table to do an interview. I waited patiently while he mingled with fans, took compliments, talked about weed, posed for pictures and listened politely as one dude went on and on about how Terrance should really listen to more Bach.
Theseseans: I wanted to talk about Blood Oath. The material seems a bit different from your other records. Was there any intent to do something else, or a difference in the writing process?
Terrance Hobbs: Yeah, we tried to incorporate the newer members of band Derek [Boyer] and Guy [Marchais] into the writing. We also gave Mike [Smith, drums] a lot of creative control. Our fans have heard me for the last 20 billion years writing riffs, and of course I still wrote a lot of the riffs for the records itself, but we definitely wanted to do something a little different and unique for us. Of course, we aren't reinventing the wheel either. It's still along the same lines as what Suffocation is and was, which is what we were trying to accomplish.
Theseseans: Can you touch on Mike having more creative control? It seems that, while very fittingly, he really plays down his usual drum attack. The song "Undeserving" sees him playing very minimally.
Hobbs: There are certain things that we didn't just want to rehash and with the drums, Mike always wants to put in his own style and flavor. He has complete creative control over stuff like that. Blood Oath still has the same elements of our other records, but this is how he wanted to do it.
Theseseans: So, 20 years! Congratulations!
Hobbs: [Laughter] Ahhhh, I'm fucking old! [Laughter]
Theseseans: So, this deep in your career, where are you guys drawing your influences from now? Is the older death metal still what fuels your motivation, or have any of the newer bands made a serious impression on you?
Hobbs: A lot of bands! I mean, there are so many good bands out there that we listen to: Origin, Psycroptic, Satyricon, Morbid Angel, Pestilence, to Slayer and Metallica. You name it! We listen to new stuff, old stuff, even the old Ozzy records and Iron Maiden. Those are people that I am still listening to. I am very much down with the old Black Sabbath records. After playing all these shows all these years, it's inspiring that metal is as big as it is. That is an inspiration in itself, you know? That really inspires us, our riffs, everything.
Theseseans: In my reading about the Summer Slaughter tour, I found that for the headliners, this tour can be a bit of a pay cut compared to going out on your own, yet it tends to bring in larger audiences. Even 20 years in, is Suffocation still putting growth as a number-one priority?
Hobbs: We just want to play as much as possible. The more you play, the more your name is out there, the bigger your fan-base grows. Unless some of our fans are dying, I don't see any reason why we should be losing any, so we are constantly trying grow. To keep going out there and chugging away.
Theseseans: So no signs of slowing down?
Hobbs: Uh...No! [Laughter]
Theseseans: Regarding the departure of your original bass player, he said the reason [he left] was that the band was looking for a bass player who played with his fingers. Band drama aside, I was curious what you had to say about bass players in death metal, and if you do prefer someone who plays with their fingers?
Hobbs: I think it was really more fitting for the style. It was what we wanted. We didn't want someone who was trying to play the guitar on bass, we wanted someone who really played the bass as a bass. It was really just something to that effect. We looked through a bunch of people but Derek just happened to fit the bill the best. We had met him before, he came over, and everything just worked.
Theseseans: This tour is so big, have you gotten a chance to really take in any of the other acts, and are there any that really stand out to you?
Hobbs: Actually, I really like a lot of the bands on this tour! None of them are bad bands, obviously. They wouldn't be here if they were. But in general I really like the Blackguard guys, Ensiferum we only had a couple of shows with but they are really unique and different, which is always cool. Necrophagist is one of my favorite bands, Origin! Forget it! There are just too many good bands on this tour. We are having a blast, too. Darkest Hour [are a] really fun bunch of guys. Forget it! We had a blast with those guys.
Theseseans: So the tour has been good to you!
Hobbs: Fuck yeah! Well, it's the last night of the tour, so you know we are going to party.
Theseseans: Blood Oath is coming out on vinyl. Was that the band's decision? What are your personal feelings toward vinyl?
Hobbs: I don't put anything above vinyl. I am a child of the vinyl era. Cassettes too. I've always been a person that likes to see album covers and have everything there. Picture discs, especially. I love 'em. I think that is one of the best visual representations of music. So I am really happy that Nuclear Blast is putting Blood Oath out on vinyl. [Ed. note: Right now the vinyl is only being put out in Europe, you can still get it in the US, but with a $30+ "import" price tag]
Theseseans: Okay man, that's about it, thanks so much for your time.
Hobbs: Hell yeah! Let's go catch Blackguard! Word up everyone!
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: CHICAGO SHOWS 7/30 - 8/4
by Clive Candy (CHI)
Sandwiched conventiently between this dude (good) and these winners (skip bad to ugly), there is metal. Perhaps not in festival form, but metal nonetheless. And I, being an indoor kid, appreciate that.
American symphonic black metallurgists Abigail Williams (dude from Emperor played drums on their first record!) crash the Pearl Room in Mokena on Thursday, and I'd be lying if I said I knew where the venue is. Or Mokena, for that matter. But Crustcake favorites Goatwhore provide support, so maybe it's worth a Mapquesting. I prefer Google Maps, but their name, as of yet, has not been successfully verbalized. I hereby issue you, loyal Readercakes, the requisite R.V.C., or retarded verbal challenge, for those of you who don't know obvs abrevs. Totes.
Chicago-born experimetalists (and Indian Bamboo Flute officionados) Yakuza will be your night's entertainment come Saturday at the Beat Kitchen (a solid venue that somewhat replaced the Bottom Lounge after the dang Pink Line shut it down for a few years). Those sturdy-metal stalwarts (can you not be a stalwart of sturdy metal, a genre I just invented that also includes Coliseum?) in Sweet Cobra were considerate enough to open.
And I implore you to savour Saviours on Monday night at Subterranean. The rest of Crustcake have known about them, like, for-EVER, but I just had the pleasure of finally settling down with Into Abaddon, their most recent record on Kemado. Dudes even have some new ones coming out soon! Equally remarkable (but scarier, I think?) openers in Sourvein.
A friend from college turned me onto Poison the Well when we were freshmen, and they're really the only metalcore band who've stood the test of time. Plus, Sean loves 'em, and he writes for a really cool metal blog. They'll be huffing, puffing, and blowing the house down on Tuesday at the Metro (absolutely one of my favorite venues).
As always, thanks to the Chicago Metal Factory for their invaluable schedule-craft.
Crustcake Picks - Chicago Shows 7/30 - 8/4Thursday 7/30/09 - Abigail Williams, Goatwhore, Daath,
Abysmal Dawn, S.W.W.A.A.T.S. @ the Pearl Room
Saturday 8/1/09 - Yakuza, Sweet Cobra, Years Of Cold, Deminer, Lynard's Innards @ the Beat Kitchen
Monday 8/3/09 - Saviours, Sourvien @ Subterranean
Tuesday 8/4/09 - Poison The Well, Bane, Terror, This Is Hell, War Of Ages @ the Metro
July 29, 2009
BARONESS RELEASE TITLE AND ALBUM ART FOR ... BLUE RECORD
Mmmmmm, there it is. Lookin' good.
The art for the next Baroness full length, titled Blue Record, has been released and boy is it gorgeous. Baizley has, once again, outdone even himself, this time including catfish, a rooster, broken eggs and some Rubenesque nereids. Dude's a master.
The album was initially detailed last week, but now we get the art, title and release date – October 13th.
Now we here at crustcake will take our positions, eagerly awaiting vinyl pre-order options.
WINO-FRONTED SAINT VITUS TO PLAY THREE SHOWS IN OCTOBER
According to our good friends at Southern Lord, a Wino-fronted Saint Vitus will play three east coast shows this October.
You read that right: Scott "Wino" Weinrich will reunite with Saint Vitus for three select shows this October.
And here you were, all excited about a Cave In reunion.
More info after the jump.
Though they hardly need any introduction, Saint Vitus emerged as one of the premier doom acts in the early '80s, fusing Black Sabbath and Black Flag into one extra-black, extra-heavy riff monster. Though Weinrich recorded just three studio albums, a live album and an EP before rejoining the Obsessed, students of metal history will agree the magic occurred on Wino's watch. Saint Vitus last toured the eastern U.S. in 1993. With Wino, it was 1987.
Here's where you need to be:
-Friday, October 16th @ Club Europa in Brooklyn, New York
-Saturday, October 17th @ Palladium in Worcester, MA w/ The Misfits & Type O Negative
-Sunday, October 18th @ Sonar in Baltimore, MD
NEW BORIS/TORCHE SPLIT
The artwork you see above is from a post on Aaron Turner's blog, in which he talks about a new split 10" between stoner/noise rock kings (and queen) Boris and down-tuned, doom-pop princes Torche. The artwork goes with the split, of course.
In the U.S., the record will be released on (who else?) Hydra Head, while in Japan it'll be released on Daymare Recordings.
According to user Undead in Jersey on the Decibel forum, Torche played a song from their new EP during a recent live set and it "sounded nothing like a Meanderthal song it was all 'bomb' notes and slow and menacing." Nice.
CRUSTY CLIP OF THE WEEK: REPULSION - 'MAGGOTS IN YOUR COFFIN'
Every single Wednesday without fail, your hosts post a suitably stale video clip that we think needs to be revisited. Click here for more Crusty Clips. Got a clip you think we should post? Send it to crustcake@gmail.com.
by The WZA'd (Philly)
This Friday, I'm making the pilgrimage to NYC to see Pig Destroyer, Brutal Truth and Repulsion play the Brooklyn Masonic Temple. While it'll be weird to see grindcore bands play such a big venue, I hardly even need to say that it's going to be awesome.
Just look at the video below, filmed in 1990. Repulsion didn't just put on a show - it was a party! I've never seen so much stage diving for an underground band.
Repulsion - "Maggots in Your Coffin":
Buy: Repulsion - Horrified [Amazon]
July 28, 2009
CRUSTCAKE REVIEWS: THE DEVIL AND THE SEA - MMVI
by The WZA'd (Philadelphia)
The spectrum of modern-day sludge/stoner/doom/post-metal is something like the following: super-tight Leviathan-era Mastodon on one end, continuing along with Baroness and Kylesa in the middle, then Rwake, while nearing the other end we have Isis and Pelican, and at the far other side we have straight-up drone, like Sunn 0))). The Devil and the Sea, on their demo, titled MMVI, are somewhere between Baroness and Pelican, exploring the sludgy wastes but not submerging themselves too fully.
On “Monolith,” the best song on the record, the band presents a thick, simple chug underneath howled vocals, broken in parts by brief, joyous moments that rise out of the simplicity. The bridge embodies the attitude of the band – it’s adventurous, foreboding and awesome.
If epic sludge is a genre, The Devil and the Sea are among bands like Baroness and High on Fire as practitioners, though at an apprentice level (in this demo at least). The songs on the record evolve with peaks and valleys, as if the band were providing the soundtrack to a journey from which they might not return.
In that evolution lies the only problem with these songs: The Devil and the Sea tend to meander. When a song is over, it starts again, then does that a few more times, save for “Monolith,” which is the most concise song presented (and was re-recorded for the band’s first LP – not a coincidence).
This four-song demo will be released by The Path Less Traveled Records, in a 10-inch, vinyl-only format, limited to 666 copies. TPLTR didn’t half-ass the packaging, though – the art is simple, with ornate designs surrounding a small version of the band logo. Inside, there’s a dropcard and an insert with thanks and information about the recording. The vinyl itself is yellow and each side has the band’s cross-with-wavy-lines logo. It’s a classy package that does everything it needs to and then some, just like the band, itself.
7.5/10 [Audible]
8/10 [Physical]
[Front Cover]
[Back Cover]
[Disk, Dropcard, and Insert]
GRAVES OF VALOR HIT THE ROAD THIS FALL
Graves of Valor have announced fall tour dates in support of their excellent debut record Salarian Gate. Yet to check Graves of Valor out? They have their entire record set up to stream here.
Graves of Valor will showcase their technical whirlwind of riff-heavy death metal throughout the US this fall with Salt the Wound, Knights of the Abyss and Within Ruins. The band features guitarist Rich Turbeville, bassist Jeff Springs and drummer Dayton Cantley (all of whom spent time in Through the Eyes of the Dead, a band that put out a very decent entry into what would eventually be the bloated genre "deathcore" with their 2005 record, Bloodlust). Reunited in Graves of Valor, the three see a more focused vision (with help from vocalist Damon Welch and guitarist Jeff Springs) setting an adventurous foot through the doorway of death metal's hall.
Read more for the dates.
Graves Of Valor Fall Tour 2009 September 18 Raleigh, NC The Brewery
% = no Within The Ruins
September 20 Holyoke, MA The Waterfront Tavern% (
September 21 Charleroi, PA Club Octane
September 22 Wheeling, WV Yesterday’s
September 23 Louisville, KY Bulldog Café
September 24 Cape Girardeau, MO The 4-H
September 25 Herrin, IL Hitts Café
September 26 Wichita, KS The Eagles Lodge
September 27 Tulsa, OK Side Stage
September 28 Arlington, TX TBA
September 29 McAllen, TX Smokin’ Aces
September 30 San Antonio, TX The White Rabbit
October 1 El Paso, TX Chic’s
October 2 Albuquerque, NM The Compound
October 3 Tempe, AZ The Sets
October 4 Pocatello, ID Studio 208*
October 5 Denver, CO TBA*
October 6 Riverton, WY F.O.E.*
October 7 Jefferson, SD Jefferson Community Center*
October 8 Buffalo, NY The Vault#
* = no Knights Of The Abyss
# = show w/ Hell Followed With and Within The Ruins
CRUSTCAKE REVIEWS: THE DEVIL AND THE SEA - MMVI
by The WZA'd (Philadelphia)
The spectrum of modern-day sludge/stoner/doom/post-metal is something like the following: super-tight Leviathan-era Mastodon on one end, continuing along with Baroness and Kylesa in the middle, then Rwake, while nearing the other end we have Isis and Pelican, and at the far other side we have straight-up drone, like Sunn 0))). The Devil and the Sea, on their demo, titled MMVI, are somewhere between Baroness and Pelican, exploring the sludgy wastes but not submerging themselves too fully.
On “Monolith,” the best song on the record, the band presents a thick, simple chug underneath howled vocals, broken in parts by brief, joyous moments that rise out of the simplicity. The bridge embodies the attitude of the band – it’s adventurous, foreboding and awesome.
If epic sludge is a genre, The Devil and the Sea are among bands like Baroness and High on Fire as practitioners, though at an apprentice level (in this demo at least). The songs on the record evolve with peaks and valleys, as if the band were providing the soundtrack to a journey from which they might not return.
In that evolution lies the only problem with these songs: The Devil and the Sea tend to meander. When a song is over, it starts again, then does that a few more times, save for “Monolith,” which is the most concise song presented (and was re-recorded for the band’s first LP – not a coincidence).
This four-song demo will be released by The Path Less Traveled Records, in a 10-inch, vinyl-only format, limited to 666 copies. TPLTR didn’t half-ass the packaging, though – the art is simple, with ornate designs surrounding a small version of the band logo. Inside, there’s a dropcard and an insert with thanks and information about the recording. The vinyl itself is yellow and each side has the band’s cross-with-wavy-lines logo. It’s a classy package that does everything it needs to and then some, just like the band, itself.
7.5/10 [Audible]
8/10 [Physical]
[Front Cover]
[Back Cover]
[Disk, Dropcard, and Insert]
July 27, 2009
FRESHLY BAKED: PACK OF WOLVES
In "Freshly Baked," we feature promising young bands or bands that are otherwise lacking the attention we think they deserve.
by Van Damned (ATX)
Austin's Red River prowlers, Pack of Wolves, got a recent 'cake mention not too long ago opening for Skeletonwitch, but they deserve all the attention they can get. Hot off a massive showing at South by Southwest this year debuting material off their brutal, vinyl-only LP, Betrayer (Arclight), Pack of Wolves are back at work writing material for the follow-up and I've got a pretty good feeling it'll be a winner. Listen to "The Here and Now," the opening track on Betrayer, for some serious, in-your-face Texas deathgroove.
Listen: Pack of Wolves - "The Here and Now" [MP3]
Pack of Wolves adeptly meld the aggro-chug of Venom, hardcore's dissonance and vitriol, Maiden-esque, dual-guitar histrionics, Pantera's groove and the occasional, well-placed D-beat or breakdown, displaying an extensive knowledge of all the best parts of extreme music. Vocalist/guitarist Trey Ramirez (ex-At All Cost) does a pretty good Tomas Lindberg: hoarse and throaty, with decent mid-to-low growls. Shred-factor is low, but Ramirez and guitarist Tyson Swindell (ex-Games and Theory) have an easy rapport with each other; their double-teamed riffs are both plentiful and memorable. Bassist Alex Padron and drummer Adrian Carrillo (ex-Games and Theory) hold down a crushing, lock-step rhythm section. These guys deserve national coverage, pronto!
Official video for "Concession" after the jump.
NEW SONGS FROM DOOMRIDERS!
Deathwish Inc. has posted two new audio players for Doomriders and recent acquisition Lewd Acts. You can check them both out right here.
Doomriders' new record, Darkness Come Alive, will hit stores September 29th. Check out that sweet album art! 
July 24, 2009
EMERGING FROM SUFFOCATING CLOUD OF DOOM, SUNN 0))) ANNOUNCE EAST AND SOUTHERN US AKTIONS TOUR
If there ever could be a poster child for willfully inscrutable drone doom metal, Sunn 0))) might be that horribly neglected youngster. Neglected insofar as few pay him any mind, and he's full of a dull kind of inconsolable rage.
Regardless, you've now got the opportunity to have your face melted, your eardrums blown, and your skull fucked by Messrs. O'Malley and Anderson themselves.
Dudes founded Southern Lord, so they've got the pick of the litter when it comes to opening acts. For this jaunt, they've chosen Eagle Twin, a new project from former Iceburn helmsman Gentry Densley. Haven't spent much time with The Unkindness of Crows, their newest record, but it sounds to me like well-executed drone doom with clearer production and the vocals pushed to the front of the mix. Perhaps a bit of a Southern drawl, as well?
SUNN O))) w/ EAGLE TWIN East and Southern 20099/17/2009 Mr Small's - Pittsburgh, PA
9/19/2009 AS220 Broad Street Studio - Providence, RI
9/20/2009 First Unitarian Church - Philadelphia, PA
9/22/2009 Brooklyn Masonic Temple - Brooklyn, NY w/ Pelican, Earth
9/23/2009 Sonar - Baltimore, MD
9/24/2009 Bijou Theatre - Knoxville, TN
9/25/2009 The Orange Peel - Asheville,NC w/ Faust
9/26/2009 Legends Banquet & Special Event Center - Atlanta, GA
9/27/2009 Seney-Stovall Chapel - Athens, GA
9/28/2009 Seney-Stovall Chapel - Athens, GA
9/30/2009 Mercy Lounge - Nashville, TN
PROSTHETIC RECORDS SIGNS TRAP THEM
Trap Them, one of Crustcake's favorite bands, have announced that they recently signed to Prosthetic Records. The band commented:
After a few months of very positive talks, we are proud to announce we have signed with Prosthetic Records. This is a step forward for the band and a move that opens up a lot of doors that we have not yet explored in the last three years of distortion. Prosthetic has been supportive of Trap Them's modus operandi for quite some time, just as we have a great respect for the high standards in which their label is run.Trap Them will see an EP released via Southern Lord before their Prosthetic debut. The band is currently touring in support of their last full length Seizures In Barren Praise, one of our favorite records of 2008. Continue Reading...
We would like to thank Tre, Jake and all the rest of the Deathwish Inc. family for working so hard the last few years, releasing our records and helping us stay on the road as much as we possibly could. We felt honored to have them invest as much time in this band as they did and we greatly appreciate the efforts they made to treat us as a band they believed in.
BARONESS DETAIL ... A STILL UNTITLED ALBUM
Baroness have released some info about their forthcoming, as-yet-untitled new record. The record will have 12 tracks and saw production from John Congleton (Explosions In The Sky, Black Mountain).
Is this really worthy of its own news post? Of course it is! Have you ever heard Baroness? For some sneak previews, catch the band on their current tour with Clutch.
Read more for details.
Baroness - 200901. Bullhead’s Psalm
02. The Sweetest Curse
03. Jake Leg
04. Steel That Sleeps the Eye
05. Swollen and Halo
06. Ogeechee Hymnal
07. A Horse Called Golgotha
08. O'er Hell And Hide
09. War, Wisdom and Rhyme
10. Blackpowder Orchard
11. The Gnashing
12. Bullhead's Lament
July 23, 2009
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: LA SHOWS 7/23 - 7/29
by beatmasterspeech (LA)
Being a participant in the metal community of the wonderful, smog-filled city of Los Angeles, I know that there are many fans, young and old, who appreciate, love and respect the 'old school' days of heavy metal. For proof, just pop in at any school yard (unless you're a pervert, in which case, stay far, far away) and witness the abundance of long-haired, fat-tongued Converse shoe-wearing, legit, mini-metal maniacs sporting their brother's Autopsy shirts.
For you old-schoolers described above, there's a must see show for you.
Make the jump for show info and more.
Master and Goreaphobia are making their LA stop of the Slaves to Society tour tonight at the Knitting Factory. Van Damned dropped some extra knowledge about these old-schoolers in last week's Austin Show Picks. Local shredders, Dreaming Dead, are on the bill as well, so show up early to support these LA rippers.
If that ain't your fancy, make your way down to bike-friendly, up-and-coming, hipster-haven Long Beach Friday night to catch LA pysch-doomsters, Ancestors. They're playing at Alex's Bar, which is the best venue for live shows in the LBC.
And please don't trip! LBC is only a 20-minute drive from downtown LA (without traffic). You can even catch the Blue Line down and cab it from Pine Ave. It will be heavy and I bet there will be some pretty fine ladies in the crowd, most likely cringing at the awesomeness of Ancestors' doom sticks and wishing MGMT was playing instead.
Alex's has a decent tap selection so I don't know why everyone drinks PBR the entire time. Oh wait, hipsters love it and it looks cool to pretend you're broke and that your weekend debauchery's not really being funded by your parents.
Either way, I'll see you out there!
Crustcake Picks: LA Shows 7/23 - 7/29Thursday, July 23 - Knitting Factory - Master, Goreaphobia, Dreaming Dead
Friday, July 24 - Alex's Bar - Ancestors
NORTH AMERICA AND EUROPE ARE DOOMED? ZOROASTER SEE TO IT
Zoroaster have three tours coming up, each one better than the last. Things start off with the North America Is DOOMED tour alongside The Gates Of Slumber and Serpentcult. Frenchmen Gojra cross the Atlantic to meet up with Zoroaster in September, after which it's Zoroaster's turn to brave the skies as they head to Europe with Nachtmystium and Absu.
Zoroaster are supporting their recent full length Voice of Saturn, one of our most anticipated records of 2009.
Read more for the dates.
Zoroaster w/ The Gates of Slumber and Serpentcult (North America is DOOMED tour)* July 30 - Nashville, TN - The Muse (ZOROASTER w/ Weedeater)
* = ZOROASTER pre-“NAID” Tour headlining date
* July 31 - Lexington, KY - The Boiler Room (ZOROASTER w/ tba)
August 1 Chicago, IL The Empty Bottle
August 2 Lansing, MI Mac’s Bar
August 3 Toronto, ON Wreck Room
August 4 Ottawa, ON Rainbow Bistro
August 5 Montreal, QC Katacombes
August 6 Providence, RI Club Jerky’s
August 7 Boston, MA O’Brien’s
August 8 Baltimore, MD Talking Head Club
August 9 New York, NY The Studio at Webster Hall
August 10 Philadelphia, PA The M Room
August 11 Pittsburgh, PA Howler’s Café
August 12 Cleveland, OH Peabody’s
August 13 Columbus, OH Ravari Room
August 14 Indianapolis, IN Emerson Theatre
U.S. tour with GojiraSeptember 21 Brooklyn, NY Music Hall of Williamsburg
European tour with Absu, Nachtmystium
September 22 Baltimore, MD Ottobar
September 24 Atlanta, GA The Masquerade
September 25 New Orleans, LA The Hangar
September 27 Houston, TX Warehouse Live
October 2 Orlando, FL The Social
October 5 Knoxville, TN Valarium
October 6 St. Louis, MO Pop's Nite Club (also w/ Goatwhore, The Berzerker, Warbringer)
October 7 Milwaukee, WI The Rave Bar
October 9 Mokena, IL The Pearl RoomOctober 16 Germany (Darmstadt) Steinbruch Theater
October 17 Germany (Essen) Turock
October 18 Germany (Hamburg) Markthalle
October 19 Denmark (Copenhagen) The Rock
October 20 Germany (Berlin) K17
October 21 Germany (Nürnberg) Z-Bau
October 22 Germany (Leipzig) Conne Island
October 23 Germany (Kassel) K19
October 24 Czech Rep (Prague) Exit Chmelnice
October 25 Hungary (Budapest) Durer Kert
October 26 Austria (Wien) Arena
October 27 Slovenia (Ljubljana) Gala Hala
October 28 Germany (München) Feierwerk
October 29 Italy (Turin) Spazio 211
October 30 Switzerland (Zürich) Dynamo Werk 21
October 31 France (Paris) Glazart
November 1 UK (Nottingham) Rock City
November 2 UK (Manchester) Moho Live
November 3 UK (London) Underworld
November 4 Ireland (Dublin) Academy 2
November 5 UK (Plymouth) White Rabbit
November 6 Belgium (Aarschot) JH De Klinker
November 7 Holland (Rotterdam) Watt
CRUSTCAKE INTERVIEWS: THE PATH LESS TRAVELED RECORDS
by The WZA'd (Philly)
We here at Crustcake are on a continuing mission to bring you interviews with people that are every bit as part of the metal world as the artists are. In that interest, we interviewed Sean Crook from The Path Less Traveled Records over a few e-mails about being a one-man metal label in the music industry today.
The Path Less Traveled Records (TPLTR), is a small label with a few really good bands, including Imbroglio, The Devil and the Sea, and Man Will Destroy Himself. I'll let Sean explain the rest to you.
How did you get started in the record business?
I read a lot about music and always heard bands knocking labels and wasn't sure why. I did about a year of research before I started the label and found that the majority of labels are in fact ripping bands off. I have a business degree so I thought 14 years later I might as well put it to good use and combine it with something I love which is music and maybe help change the perception of labels and their purpose.
To me the risk is equal between labels and bands if they're run on the 50/50 method. A band can spend the money to record a CD and a label can spend the money to press some CD's which is typically equal to the cost of the recording. Why should the label get their money back first? That makes no sense to me.
Was it a hard decision to start a new label, considering the state of the record industry today?
Getting involved in the industry wasn't a hard decision but was a risky one. A person I talked with a few times was Tommy Camaro from Hewhocorrupts Inc. He said it was actually a good and bad time to get into this business. The bad was obviously the popularity of the digital download. The good part is that there isn't one method for pulling this off and making it successful. We've seen everything from packaging vinyl, CD, and a t-shirt together to requesting donations instead of a set price. Also, I release primarily metal and in my experience of listening to all types of music over the years, metal fans are some of the most dedicated music fans out there. Even if they receive a free download, they want something physical to hold onto. There's a big personal connection there with metal and having something physical reinforces that feeling. I know very few metal fans that only want MP3's and nothing else, me included. I still have my old cassettes and look at them from time to time.
How many people run the label? Is it just you?
As far as ownership, it’s just me. Here in Illinois I do everything from the accounting side to taking trips to the post office. However, I like to think of the bands I work with as partners as well as people who run the label, not just a commodity I'm pushing out to the public. If they do well, the label does well and vica versa. Everything is split 50/50 and I don’t recoup any costs of mine before the bands gets paid. They pay for the recording and I pay to have the CD or vinyl assembled which is typically close to the same cost. If we sell a record on day one, they get half and I get half. This approach coupled with the type of music I put out is how I came up with the name The Path Less Traveled Records.
You mentioned how metal fans like having the physical product as opposed to digital downloads. Do you offer digital downloads anyway though? Does that affect the 50/50 deal you have with your bands?
I work with each band to determine how they want to handle their release. I will offer digital downloads if the band would like, but if they’re dead set against it, that’s cool too. Each deal I have is a little different so the payment for digital downloads is different. For example, Protest already had a CD put together before I got in touch with them. I just paid the wholesale price for a set amount of the CD’s up front. In a situation like that, it’s not a 50/50 deal. But for Imbroglio, I’ve been with them from the start and for digital downloads, I give them 100% of digital download sales. A digital download isn’t really a tangible object so I can’t really justify keeping 50% of a digital download. I’m not selling anything other than a digital version of the CD and I’m able to get the digital version out for pennies on the dollar.
I attended Dudefest this past weekend and purposely watched what people were buying. Vinyl is outselling CD’s 10 to 1. I didn’t hear anyone say they just wanted a digital copy of anything and didn’t want to purchase vinyl or CD’s which is refreshing.
Do you ever worry about piracy of the music on your label?
I don’t mind if anyone downloads music if they are checking it out first and will buy it if they like it. I’m all for that approach. You don’t just go out and buy a car without test driving it so why not let someone ‘test drive’ music? It’s only fair. I am against people downloading music and not giving any money back to the artist or label. If you’re not going to support the band or label at all, you’re only hurting their chances to make more music down the road. And regardless of what people think, many labels like mine and even the larger labels in metal don’t have that much money. And even if we did, it doesn’t justify not supporting the band or label. The bands we work with make music because they love it and often sacrifice having a good job, a place to sleep, food to eat, and leaving their families behind just to make music and tour. I guess the theme here is don’t be a fucksteak. If you can’t afford the CD or refuse to pay for it, float the band or label a donation or buy the band a meal while they’re on the road if you decide to not pay for the music.
You run your label out of Illinois, but your bands are all over the country. How do you manage them with such a small staff?
I keep an open line of communication with all the bands either by phone or e-mail. With the Internet, iPhones, smart phones, etc., it's very easy to keep in touch with everyone at all times. They book all their own shows/tours and all have been very good about keeping me up to date on what's going on. It all goes back to that partnership. If some guys are working crappy jobs only to save up money to record music and sacrifice other aspects of their lives, that's dedication and there's little I need to manage.
With the bands managing their own tours, what lengths do you go to to promote them?
I do what I can to get an ad or two out there and send out plenty of copies for reviews as well. Starting out it's hard getting reviews and it's hard coming up with the money for ads so you have to keep plugging away and hope for the best. I haven't been able to get many reviews and I think most of that is because not many have heard of the label. I'm just another one of the hundreds sending in music for a review saying how great it is.
What do you do when a band is losing stability? I know Imbroglio has had some problems.
I'd be lying if I said it doesn't make me nervous at times, but as long as the band is still together and making music that is of a high quality, that's what matters to me and hopefully to them as a band. [In a band] you're going to get on each others nerves, do things to piss each other off, and that just comes with the territory. Their particular incident was a little more involved than that, but I take it all in stride as it happens. Patience is the key to any working relationship. If I had any doubts about them as a band, I probably never would've agreed to work with them in the first place.
If a band I worked with broke up, I'd be upset more because I dig the band and wouldn't get to hear new music by them again, not so much that I might lose a little money.
Hydra Head definitely has a certain audience, and Southern Lord has a similar, yet distinguishably different sort of audience. What do you consider your label's niche?
When I chose the name The Path Less Traveled, I wanted that to be a sort of theme of my label. Labels like Hydra Head and Southern Lord are great, but I feel that if a band isn’t of a certain ilk, those labels won’t sign them. I’m a fan of everything from Hank III’s country music to grind like Pig Destroyer. I would never want to hear something I liked and have the band want to have me release their music but have to say, “Sorry, but we only release this or that and you don’t really fit into that”. There are two types of music to me; good and bad. If it’s good, I’ll release it. If it’s not my thing, I won’t release it but will encourage the band to keep at it and maybe contact another label. I’m certainly not the music authority on what’s good and bad, but I do know what gives me goose bumps and makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. If that’s a grind band or an old time country band, I’ll release it.
I’d prefer for people to think of me as a label that puts out solid music no matter the genre and also to keep fans of the label on their toes and think, “What will TPLTR put out next?!” as opposed to “Oh, those guys. They only release grind so I know what their next release is going to sound like.”
At this point in time, what are your aspirations for the label?
As far as I'm concerned, the sky's the limit. In my first year, I've accomplished much more than I thought I would and I am trying to keep that momentum going. I remember when I started the label I was thinking to myself how cool would it be if I signed a band and was able to get a good review in Decibel Magazine. Amazingly, that has happened twice now. Each time I'm able to get positive feedback or work with a band that I love, that is the reward to me and as long as that keeps happening, I don't ever plan to close shop. The goal is to keep signing bands and putting out quality music.
I'd also eventually liked to set up a distro of some sort and help out other labels/bands. I really admire labels like Relapse, Hydra Head, Crucial Blast, 20 Buck Spin, Profound Lore, and too many others to name. The main aspect of it all, no matter what happens, is to maintain the integrity of the label.
Check out The Path Less Traveled Records's website here and blog here. There's also a myspace that you can listen to music on from the label.
July 22, 2009
LIVE REVIEW: SKELETONWITCH, SAVIOURS, TRAP THEM
by Van Damned (ATX)
Skeletonwitch
When: Monday, July 20, 2009
Where: Emo's, Austin, TX
With: Saviours, Trap Them and Pack of Wolves
It's no secret Skeletonwitch play up their Asgaard-by-way-of-Athens (that's Ohio, folks) image. All members, save drummer Derrick "Mullet Chad" Nau, stand more than six feet tall, have long hair and magnificent facial hair. They head-bang in unison and beat their chests in triumph. They wear spiked gauntlets. They gallop like Hell-spawned Vikings, axes in hand, screaming for blood. It's terrifying and exhilirating every time. Their show Monday night at Emo's was no exception.
After touring nonstop since their 2007 blasterpiece Beyond the Permafrost, the 'Witch recently took a break to record their next full-length, Breathing the Fire, due on Prosthetic Records October 13. In preparation for the record's release, brothers Chance and Nate Garnette, Nau, "Scunty D" Hedrick and Evan "Loosh" Linger again picked up the reins of their galloping death-striers and hit the road with Oakland's Saviours and New Hampshire grinders Trap Them for this summer's Stone Dead for Summer tour.
Decibel-approved, local-openers Pack of Wolves do hardcore the way Entombed or Pantera would have done hardcore and are easily on par with Austin's other vicious animal pack, Lions of Tsavo. High praise, all, but well-earned. Look for Pack of Wolves on the 'cake in the upcoming months when the young quartet release their follow-up to this year's outstanding Betrayer.
Trap Them, who usually turn out bile-drenched, rapidfire, d-beaten grind ov thee highest order, spent their set wading through the sludge of earlier releases Seance Prime and Cunt Heir to the Throne. At one point vocalist Ryan McKenney launched himself 20 feet into the audience, stalking the floor, spitting in the faces of the less-animated or bored-looking. Blood dripped down his scowling forehead from a self-inflicted microphone wound. Lightspeed, as they were opening for Napalm Death in April, or molasses-slow, Trap Them are always gripping, gritty and raw.
Saviours continued to expand their take on the Saxon/Priest/Maiden brand of BHM, shredding with zealous fervor. Supported by massive sound – a luxury afforded to many bands who play inside Emo's – the Oakland quartet debuted most of the material from their new Kemado seven-inches. Thundering drums, lightning-fast riffs, howling vocals: Saviours are west coast storm bringers.
Finally, many, many beers in, Skeletonwitch, in all their hirstute, bullet-belted glory, took the stage and killed. I mean, they absolutely slayed everybody. Marketed early in their career as part of the recent American Thrash Revival, Skeletonwitch are heavy on the black-death and light on the thrash. Elements remain, however, as does an overwhelming sense of beer-soaked fun, which serve to inject genuine listenability into an otherwise stale formula.
Good to see these road dogs undeniably on top of their game, even during a unexpected broken-pedal break. What'd we do while we waited? Chugged more beer, of course. It's what all good mid-western Valhallans do.
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: CHICAGO SHOWS 7/24 - 7/26
Perfect weather seems ill-suited to metalheads. Thriving on extremes makes temperance seem ... uncomfortable.
There does seem to be some unrest for those weary of low humidity and mid-70s bliss, however. Chicago's homegrown crop of doomy veterans and grinding miscreants have got you covered. And if you can stomach a little corporate shilling, you can even get your thrash on with some all-time greats.
Trekking out to Schaumburg might be the best bet on Friday night. That way you can get a taste of former-next-big-things Trouble and their brand of Sabbath-inflected prog metal. Their invaluable Psalm 9 might appeal to those who enjoy their doom with a sprinkle of Maiden. Hit up Chicago City Limits for a taste of what could have been huge (and still is excellent).
A trip to Nite Cap on Saturday night could be vomitously enjoyable. The Shit that Makes You Regurgitate fest could be your one-stop shop for grindcore nirvana (also available on Friday night, if it's really your cup of tea). One-man wrecking crew Putrid Pile headlines on Saturday, with support from Reprobation and Necrogression.
But if you're a golden oldie (or just a fan), you're going to have to sell your soul to the Corporate Whore Sunday night to see Slayer at the Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival (no hyperlink for you) at the First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre in Tinley Park. This venue is, I might add, the most heinously shitty-sounding, DMB-baiting barn in the Chicagoland area. But Slayer is Slayer. Collateral bonus in the form of Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Trivium.
Crustcake Picks - Chicago Shows 7/24 - 7/28
Friday 7/24/09 - Trouble @ Chicago City Limits
Saturday 7/25/09 - The Shit that Makes You Regurgitate Festival (featuring Putrid Pile) @ Nite Cap
Tuesday 7/28/09 - The Rockstar Energy Drink Mayhem Festival (featuring Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, The Black Dahlia Murder, and Trivium) @ the First Midwest Bank Ampitheatre
CAVE IN STREAM PLANETS OF OLD
[Stream]: Cave In - Planets Of Old
Cave In are now streaming their new record, Planets of Old.
Do we need to say more? Go check it out already!
CRUSTY CLIP OF THE WEEK: ELECTRIC WIZARD - 'DOPETHRONE'
Every single Wednesday without fail, your hosts post a suitably stale video clip that we think needs to be revisited. Click here for more Crusty Clips. Got a clip you think we should post? Send it to crustcake@gmail.com.
by The WZA'd (Philadelphia)
When I read the Decibel Hall of Fame article for Electric Wizard's Dopethrone, I was surprised to learn that two of the members were fans of Linkin Park and wanted to add turntables to the stoner-doom act. While doing something like that wouldn't exactly be "keeping it real" within the boundaries of orthodox Sabbathian stoner-doom, it would be cool (IMHO) and Electric Wizard was good at cool.
On Dopethrone, Electric Wizard played a stylized form of doom: the low-buzz tone of the guitars and bass, the fuzz-filter on the voice and the dark atmosphere created a sound that only Electric Wizard could play.
That is, until Beck found it and regurgitated it so he could be cool too.
Electric Wizard - "Dopethrone":
Buy: Electric Wizard - Dopethrone [Amazon]
WIN FREE TICKETS TO SEE KEELHAUL, MINSK, UNEARTHLY TRANCE, DEFEATIST AND STATS!
Keelhaul? With Minsk? For free? Hell yeah.
We've got two pairs of tickets to go see Keelhaul, Minsk, Unearthly Trance, Defeatist and STATS August 2 at Public Assembly, Brooklyn, NY.
This show comes courtesy of Show No Mercy and Brooklyn Vegan's own Black Bubblegum.
To enter, just hit us up at crustcakecontests@gmail.com and tell us where Keelhaul call home!
Two winners chosen at random Wednesday, July 29th.
Good luck!
(Oh, check out that sweet Seldon Hunt poster. Oh yeah, that looks gooood.)
July 21, 2009
SHRINEBUILDER IS COMING
In the long and varied history of supergroups, only a few reflect a sum greater than their respective parts: Blind Faith, the Highwaymen and Fantômas are examples. Most are spectacularly underwhelming. The less said about VH1's Damnocracy, the better.
But then, once every generation or so, news of a nascent supergroup emerges and sets the rumor mills afire. Shrinebuilder, the Aughts' true clock-cleaner, is really real and come courtesy of Neurot. The lineup? How about Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus, Obsessed, Spirit Caravan), Neurosis' Scott Kelly, Al Cisneros (ex-Sleep, current-Om) and Melvins drummer Dale Crover. This is the stuff of legend, folks.
Seriously, we've been all over this since way back in 2007.
Info about their upcoming album and more after the jump.
As stated, Shrinebuilder's debut will be released by Neurot Recordings (Neurosis, Tribes of Neurot, Battle of Mice, Red Sparrowes, more) and while no official date has been set, Roadburn.com promises we'll see the record by autumn. A Storm of Light's Josh Graham has turned out some (typically) gorgeous artwork that can be viewed here.
Tracklisting for Shrinebuilder's eponymous debut:
1. Solar Benediction
2. Pyramid of the Moon
3. Blind For All to See
4. The Architect
5. Science of Anger
Consider us officially stoked.
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: PHILLY SHOWS 7/21 - 7/28
by The WZA'd (Philly)
Despite both Decibel and Relapse being located in Philly, the metal scene isn't very large. Hardcore and Metalcore bands sweep through the area like locusts, but actual metal bands stumble in only once in a while. Luckily, this week we have a show coming in. Fight Amp, who recently put out a split with Black Tusk, are having a special release show at Kung Fu Necktie. Hopefully the sound will be better than the last time I went there.
Crustcake Picks: Philly Shows 7/21 - 7/28
21+ Thursday, July 23 @ Kung Fu Necktie in Philly - Fight Amp, Engineer, TidesContinue Reading...
CRUSTCAKE REVIEWS: LITANY FOR THE WHALE - DOLORES [7/13/09; PERPETUAL MOTION MACHINE, MOLSOOK RECORDS]
by The WZA'd (Philadelphia)
When I first mentioned Litany for the Whale’s new EP Dolores, I said it was heavy and crusty, comparing the band to Kylesa. I still stand by that statement, but I want to clear something up: these guys aren’t sludge metal. If you were to take the blues out of Kylesa and add a lot more Sonic Youth, you might get something close to Litany. The band's sound is a blend of noise rock and crusty hardcore with a metallic bottom-end and Dolores displays their range in an impressive debut.
More spacious than most EPs, Dolores has an LP-like arc with an intro and a sense of finality to the last song. The intro, “A Sleep,” is a slow buildup of chaotic, banging pianos and white noise that suddenly stops before “A Wake” begins. "A Wake" will be a close contender with Kylesa’s “Scapegoat” for the “barnburner of the year” award. The bridge for the song strays away from the Kylesa comparison though and heads into Sonic Youth territory again, aimed in a more Goo-y direction.
There are quite a few instrumental sections on the record as well, from simple feedback to the gentle acoustic track “Philistines.” These sections are nice breathers between the heavier tracks on the album. On the last track, “Lonesome God,” a break in the middle of the song provides buildup.
Dolores is a statement of intent. Laid out on this record is the band’s vision and were it any longer they could easily make it an long-player. There aren’t any rough or loose ends on here and the band consistently fails to meander. When the band finally does come out with a full-length, I have a feeling it’ll be something to sink teeth into.
The packaging itself reflects the record inside. The cover art by Chris Taylor (Pig Destroyer) is bold but not flashy, reflecting the mood of the album. The lyric sheet provided is similarly utilitarian, with lyrics printed on one side and pictures of the band on the other. The experience of opening the record, taking the vinyl out and listening to it while reading the lyric sheet isn't a messy or disorganized one. There isn't too little here and there isn't too much
- it's a concise, professional package all the way through.
Here is a band to watch. If they’re this strong on their debut EP, in both musicianship and presentation, there’s a very good chance that these guys are going to get big. Judging by this record, that’s a good thing.
8/10 [Audible]
8/10 [Physical]
[Packaging. Different colors are available from Molsook and The Perpetual Motion Machine]
July 20, 2009
LANDMINE MARATHON SET WEST COAST TOUR DATES
Landmine Marathon have announced a run of west coast dates with Book of Black Earth. One of our favorite live bands, Landmine Marathon will hit the road in support of their last album, Rusted Eyes Awake, which is being reissued by Prosthetic Records. No definite word if it is going to see a vinyl release but we have good info that it is at least being considered.
Landmine Marathon are currently in the studio recording their Prosthetic debut. Read more for the dates.
Landmine Marathon & Book Of Black Earth 2009 West Coast Tour7/22 Modified Arts - Phoenix, AZ w/ The Funeral Pyre #
* Book of Black Earth and Landmine Marathon
8/7 House Show - Anaheim, CA*
8/8 The Jumping Turtle - San Marcos, CA*
8/9 Knitting Factory - Los Angeles, CA*
8/10 Reckless Haus - Thousand Oaks, CA*
8/11 Thee Parkside - San Francisco, CA*
8/12 Paradise Lost Video - Chico, CA*
8/13 The Grindzeebo - Portland, OR*
8/14 The Morgue - Georgetown, WA*
8/15 House Show - Reno, NV #
# Landmine Marathon only
FRESHLY BAKED: THE DEVIL AND THE SEA
In "Freshly Baked," we feature promising young bands or bands that are otherwise lacking the attention we think they deserve.
by The WZA'd (Philadelphia)
Of all the sludge metal bands to come out of Louisiana, The Devil and the Sea may be the most epic. They're not the most bass-heavy or the most experimental, and they shy away from the misanthropy of Eyehategod, the macho-ness of Crowbar, the morbidity of Acid Bath and the classic-rock tinge of Down, but they're definitely more monolithic than any of them.
In the Sludge/Doom/Stoner genre, there seems to be "Hall of Giants" that bands like Mastodon, High on Fire, Neurosis, ISIS, Kyuss, Sleep, and Baroness occupy. Everything outside the hall has either too much hardcore or pop in their music. The Devil and the Sea are reaching for that hall, and it sounds like they might just make it.
July 17, 2009
NEW VIDEO: BRUTAL TRUTH - 'SUGARDADDY'
Brutal Truth released a video for "Sugardaddy," from their latest grind masterpiece, Evolution Through Revolution. Yet to hear it? You can still stream the entire record right here.
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: LA SHOWS 7/18 - 7/23
by beatmasterspeech (LA)
Let me start off by saying I'm sorry.
I'm sorry for the lack of LA show postings. I'm sorry for accidentally ruining my neighbor's 4th of July by allowing my crackish friends to discuss, in a loud drunken manner, the benefits of non-triggered blastbeats five inches from her bedroom window. I'm sorry my toilet had to endure the hell of three dudes and six 12-packs of poop-brand beer.
That said, I'd like to offer up my weekend show pick for you Angelenos in an effort to make up for my wrong doings. Please, O Metal God, forgive me and buy my fellow Angelenos a beer at the below show or give them a sign towards free beer.
Thank you for your time.
Crustcake Picks: LA Shows 7/18 - 7/25Saturday, July 18th - Graveyard (SWE) & Night Horse @ Bootleg Theater
CRUSTCAKE INTERVIEWS: POISON THE WELL
by theseseans (NYC)
Poison The Well have long been one of my favorite bands in hardcore. With a career that spans over a decade the band has a history that always includes innovation. I got a chance to chat with guitarist Ryan Primack last weekend in regard to the band, their new record The Tropic Rot, our mutual vinyl obsessions and surf music.
theseseans: The Tropic Rot is a little bit of stylistic melting pot for Poison The Well, it has a little bit of all your previous work in it.
Ryan Primack: Yeah, that was kind of the idea.
theseseans: Was the writing process different for this record? With Versions being done as a three piece, I wanted to know if you stuck with that approach or if it was done as a five piece?
Ryan: We did it as a five piece, but it was really a normal process for us. Just get in a room and start making a bunch of noise, rocking out. Well not really rocking out, more sweating a lot. Florida in the summer, being in a room with no AC is quite the horrible situation.
theseseans: That sounds awful.
Ryan: Ehhhhhhhh, it has its upsides and its downsides.
theseseans: The record feels very strong; the heavy parts seem very confident, the melodic parts are strong. It seems sort of like you’ve taken the best parts of your previous records and really focused on them. Was their any sort of conscious plan going into writing or recording? Any focus?
Ryan: We really just got into a room and just jammed man! I think we all wanted to make a record that was little more focused than Versions, even though I love Versions. I love the fact that it is so difficult, not only sounding but in approach. I guess we wanted to simplify things on The Tropic Rot, maybe take a route of being more direct with things. I’m not sure that we succeeded, but that is what we tried to do.
theseseans: Jeff’s voice seems stronger on this record than on any of the others. His singing has gotten much more effectively adventurous, and his aggressive style just seems fuller. After all these years did he make any changes to his approach?
Ryan: I think a lot of that comes from the production. When we worked with the Swedes [Eskil Lövström and Pelle Henricsson] they had a very different approach with doing things with Jeff and it was mostly to get it to sound sort of unique. I think Jeff really enjoyed working with Steve [Evetts] on this one because Steve really played towards his strengths. Steve really made sure that Jeff was comfortable, as opposed to being purposely pushed out of his comfort zone.
theseseans: The Tropic Rot sees a pretty strong return of some surf guitar sounds, which you have played with before on previous albums. This record seems to have a lot more of it, in the riffs and in the leads. Is that a conscious decision and do you listen to a lot of surf?
Ryan: Yeah! Ventures are one of my favorite bands right now. Ventures, Laika and the Cosmonauts, Man…or Astro-man?, Jaime and The Pacemakers, any surf stuff I can get my hands on, Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet. I really like surf music, I like the very deliberate and very melodic chord changes that occur. Often within the chord changes themselves there is a second melody opposing what is going on with the vocals, which is something I have a lot of interest in.
theseseans: Awesome! I can definitely see that applying to Poison The Well, especially with the chord changes. What about album art? Poison The Well has always had some really interesting art. How involved with that process is the band. Also, crustcake is very focused on vinyl, is vinyl and packaging important to the band?
Ryan: Oh you are going to like the vinyl layout way more than the CD layout. I don’t really listen to music at home if it is not on vinyl. I have pretty big vinyl collection and I tend to troll around Goodwill and Salvation Armys picking up one dollar records of old records that I enjoy. That’s a great way to find surf records actually! Well, especially in Florida. But yeah, for this record, the whole layout is pictures of Jeffery’s family, from both Cuba and Florida and there is a lot more in the vinyl version. It is a double 12” gatefold, so we had a lot of room. I am really stoked because I think it is going to be 45 RPM, which is something that I was really pressing for, because 45 sounds better than 33 obviously. Well, it’s cool now, because the CD is sort of going the way of the cassette. I think it is really cool because there has been this resurgence, this build up of people listening to music on vinyl again. Everyone should have known to begin with that vinyl is the best sounding medium for music. It’s all down to science with that, you have the most frequency response and the greatest range when it comes to vinyl. Well…..maybe industrial music doesn’t sound that good on vinyl.
All: Laughs
theseseans: Yeah, I read somewhere that in the last five years vinyl is the only non-digital music to increase in sales.
Ryan: Yeah, I know that! It’s fucking amazing! Now people are really hearing shit the way it is intended. I like the commitment that is required with vinyl too. It’s a lot harder to just listen to one song. People should be buying albums for the entire thing being listenable, not just that one song they heard on BIG 106.
theseseans: One question that is a little left field, with all the surf talk, I definitely hear a little bit of California by Mr. Bungle on this record. Mostly I hear similarities in the melodic parts, some of the keys sounds and melodies. Do you like dig on that record?
Ryan: Wow, that is an immense compliment! I’ve never actually listened to that record, but a lot of my friends really like Mr. Bungle and constantly tell me that they have a lot of eclecticism within their records. That’s something I always shoot for in music is to have some sort of eclectic nature.
July 16, 2009
CRUSTCAKE PICKS: NYC SHOWS 7/16 -7/22
by theseseans (NYC)
Defeatist, Suffocation and Pulling Teeth all in the same week? Despite the fact that I am in total "old man status" after pulling something in my lower back playing the hula hoop game on Wii Fit (in all likely hood the least metal thing I've ever done), I am still going to try to make it to all three of these shows.
Pulling Teeth play tonight at 538 Johnson Ave in Brooklyn, which looks exactly like the type of DIY venue where I would want to catch a hardcore band.
Friday night, swing by the Charleston to catch Brooklyn's Defeatist kick out some superb oldschool grind. Defeatist are playing with Hatred Surge and Mammoth Grinder, neither of whom I know much about. I do, however, know that Defeatist only comes out to play when they feel the show is going to be special, so I'm willing to bet that Mammoth Grinder bring more to the table than just their incredible name.
Saturday you can swing by Union Pool (there are always hot girls there, just sayin') for Dysrhythmia's CD release party.
Sunday and Monday's got you death metal fix covered with Suffocation, Origin and Necrophagist at Irving Plaza.
See you out there.
Crustcake Picks: NYC Shows 7/16 - 7/22Thursday July 16th - 538 Johnson - Pulling Teeth
Friday, July 17th @ The Charleston - Hatred Surge, Mammoth Grinder, Defeatist
Saturday, July 18th @ Union Pool - Dysrhythmia
Sunday, July 19th @ Irving Plaza - Suffocation, Origin, Necrophagist
Monday, July 19th @ Irving Plaza - Suffocation, Origin, Necrophagist
ONE DAY LEFT! WIN FREE REPULSION/PIG DESTROYER/BRUTAL TRUTH TICKETS!!
Haven't already purchased your tickets to see Repulsion, Pig Destroyer and Brutal Truth in Brooklyn yet?
We've got two pairs of tickets to give away! All you've got to do is hit us up at crustcakecontests@gmail.com and tell us how many bass players Pig Destroyer have gone through in their career.
The show is July 31st at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple and brought to you by the Blackened Music Series.
Get that shit in! Two winners chosen at random tomorrow. Good luck!
July 15, 2009
SAVIOURS ALSO RELEASE A BUNCH OF RECORDS THIS SUMMER
While everyone else was busy lauding High on Fire as the next Motörhead, we here at the 'cake knew that distinction really belonged to those other Oakland raiders, Saviours. Their brand of four-on-the-floor, balls-to-the-wall gallop always struck us as a truer claim to the White Line Fever throne.
Saviours have kept a relatively low profile since early 2008's Into Abaddon, but that all changes with the release of three 7" EPs, out June 23 on Kemado.
Jump for release and tour info.
The EPs consist of four new songs and two covers taken from their demo sessions with Oakland's Scott Ecklein in April. All three come with cover art by Tim Lehi (AKA Hildof AKA Draugar) and nifty little gifts like patches, stickers and comic books. Bomber!
Saviours have also announced they are currently mixing their new album with Phil Manley at Lucky Cat in San Francisco. A release date has been set for October 13.
Finally, Saviours are touring with Skeletonwitch and Trap Them and are coming to your town this month:
7/16 Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory
7/17 San Diego, CA @ Che Cafe
7/18 Phoenix, AZ @ The Phix
7/19 OFF
7/20 Austin, TX @ Emo's
7/21 Denton, TX @ Rubber Gloves
7/22 Little Rock, AR @ Vino's
7/23 Kansas City, @ Mo Riot Room
7/24 St. Louis, MO @ Firebird
Saviours 7" EPs info:
Acid Hand 7” EP
1. Acid Hand
2. Slave to the Hex
Burnin’ Cross 7” EP
1. Burnin’ Cross
2. Fire in the Sky (SAXON cover)
F.G.T. 7” EP
1. F.G.T.
2. Running Wild (JUDAS PRIEST cover)
For what it's worth, we are willing to say that Matt Pike may be the next Lemmy. And we don't invoke His name lightly.
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