SOUTHERN LORD OFFERS 2010 VINYL SUBSCRIPTION SERIES

Southern Lord Records are offering a subscription series for their 2010 vinyl releases (YOB, Trap Them, Pelican, Twilight, Black Cobra and Ascend). The website has this to say:

With the apocalyptic death grunt of the compact disc bellowing in the distance we are proud to offer a epic vinyl assault upon the altar of your circular wax transmission apparatus...Our packaging is second to none and is merely a humble sacrifice to attempt to compliment the brilliant audio that the gods have allowed us to release.

Great records? Great packaging? Discounted price? Sounds right up our alley. Take a look for yourself right here.

There are a couple of art items worth noting for these releases. First, the Trap Them art, by one of our favorite satanic host artists, Justin Bartlett has been released, check it out on the subscription page.

Secondly, we thought it was interesting that the art to the Twilight record is not up on Southern Lord's site, even though we reported that it leaked earlier this week. But last night Ryan Kasparian tipped us off in our comments that the art is still forth coming...so we wait!

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PELICAN RELEASE DOUBLE-VINYL LP, COFFEE BLEND

Chicago's celebrated (and derided) instru-metal heavies Pelican are commemorating the Feb. 23 double-vinyl issuance of last year's What We All Come to Need with a one-off show in March in their home town and (wait for it) a limited-edition coffee blend.

Yes, you read that right. Pelican's "Ephemeral Bean Blend," produced in conjunction with Chi-town's Intelligentsia Coffee, will only be available at that March 12 show.

More information, including a note from the band, select tour dates and vinyl specs, after the jump.

Vinyl info:
What We All Come to Need was Pelican's Southern Lord debut. Originally released on CD in October 2009, the new, deluxe double-vinyl version will be housed in a heavyweight, gatefold jacket. Sides A, B and C will contain the album's eight original tracks; Side D will feature three bonus tracks not available on the CD version.

Record/coffee blend release info:
PELICAN
When: Friday, March 12, 2010
Where: TBA
With: Pinebender, Follows (ex-Russian Circles)

Statement from Pelican re: Ephemeral Bean Blend:

"The richest, most complex flavors take patience and skill to craft and are over far too quickly. In that spirit we are proud to present this blend of coffee beans, who have known artisan care from their moment of inception at the farms at which they were grown to the roastery where their delicate nuances were honed to perfection by the skilled craftsmen at Intelligentsia. Enjoy the moment while it lasts."

Pelican will also appear at the recently-announced Scion Rock Fest in Columbus, Ohio on March 13. The free event features more than 20 bands including Shrinebuilder, Yob, Absu, D.R.I., Cannibal Corpse, Voivod, Trap Them and more.

Pelican - "Final Breath"

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ATTENTION VINYL LOVERS: REMISSION REPRESSED, SNAKES FOR THE DIVINE PRE-ORDER

You are here, reading this site. That probably means you like Mastodon, High on Fire and vinyl. Well hot damn! Relapse Records just repressed Mastodon's classic Remission (available for pre-order here) and High on Fire's upcoming E1 release, Snakes For The Divine, is available for pre-order here.

Stoked.

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LIVE REVIEW: NILE, IMMOLATION, KRISIUN, AND DREAMING DEAD

by Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)

Nile
When: Thursday January 21, 2010
Where: Metro, Chicago, IL
With: Immolation, Krisuin, Dreaming Dead

In the winter time, Wrigleyville is not a microcosm of America - shitty drunks watching Kafkaesque baseball and eating thrice-microwaved buffalo wings - and is simply an area of town with too many fucking sports bars. The Metro is the only hope for any semblance of culture once you take the Red Line to Addison. Even then, a gin and tonic costs six bucks.

Who the fuck am I kidding, I saw Nile AND Immolation! Geez, I'm an ungrateful bastard.

You're not gonna believe me, folks, but all the events I'm about to describe happened before 9:45. A show that ended when an Austin show begins. Pass me my Metamucil.

LA's Dreaming Dead were the first band up, and given that the band has two female guitar players, I was expecting a chorus of cat calls. Shit, two chicks and a bunch of horny dudes? Not much different from any other metal show. Musically, DD were excellent - melodic death without the pop fluff that so many bands fall prey too. BUT, they had an apparent bout of the first band jitters. It took a few songs for vocalist/lead shredder Elizabeth Schall to get comfortable in speaking to the crowd. In trading off solos with Laura Christine, the notes were right but the appearance looked a little cold. If they came off as good for this performance, perhaps they'll be a real force when they're in their element at a headlining show.

I've never been a huge Krisiun fan, to be honest. They've come off as one-dimensional in their recorded output, so I figure I would head upstairs and let a more dedicated headbanger take my place on the floor. That didn't work out - all I could hear in the balcony was drums. Going back down, I could hear guitars, but the drums were still at the forefront of the mix. Krisiun's music didn't move me, but vocalist/bassist Alex Camargo's stage banter was an odd fusion of Ronnie James Dio's classiness and your usual "LET'S FUCKIN MOSH" demeanor. He repeatedly, and gruffly thanked the crowd for coming to the show and acknowledged that without the crowd, there would be no show.

If Krisuin had the banter of a professional, Immolation had the chops. Bookending their set by pieces from Shadows in the Light - "Passion Kill" and "World Agony" - all of the dudes were in fine form that night, but it's guitarist Bob Vigna who brings everything together. He is not a showboater, but he is one of the few players in metal who I feel have complete control of their instrument. Vigna is a warlock on stage, jerking his guitar around as if he's exorcising a specter and picking close to the neck should he feel a song needs it. Oddly, he's the more restrained one compared to Bill Taylor, whose tenure in Angelcorpse leads to a more chaotic style. The contrast is in sync with not only each other, but Steve Shalaty's battery and Ross Dolan's growl, giving songs like "Father, You're Not A Father" and "Burial Ground" the gravity they needed. Immolation should have been co-headliners - their short set did not do their world-class musicianship and lasting impact on death metal justice.

But it is Nile who are on the top of the posters, and as such, commanded the most attention. While the band was setting up, bombastic film music played over the PA, much like how Nile themselves approach metal (and ESPECIALLY how vocalist/guitarist Karl Sanders handles his solo work). While the band's albums are usually plagued with a filler track or two, Nile made judicious and smart choices in their setlist. They focused on short songs with a great impact to length ratio - "Sacrifice Unto Sebek," "Extraction Text," and "Papyrus Containing the Spell to Preserve..." were the best examples of this. Nile also know how to work in slamming (no, not THAT slamming) slow mosh parts. The blasts are that much heavier when you've got a harsh groove like the one in "Sarcophagus." And fuck can George Kollias work his way around a kit! I wish I could bestow the same praise for guitarist/vocalist Dallas Toler-Wade's stage banter though. He had an annoying tic of asking the crowd "Would you like to heeeaar it?" before playing a song. Of course, they fucking pay you to perform, do you need to ask?

After the show, a bro called me a saint for retrieving his wallet he dropped. Death metal ain't saintly, but I'll take the compliment.

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NEW TWILIGHT ALBUM TITLE LEAKS

[Left to right: Sanford Parker, Jef "Wrest" Whitehead, Stavros Giannopoulos, Aaron Turner, Neil Imperial, Blake Judd]

An inadvertent blog post by vector-mad graphic terrorist (and t-shirt aficionado) Ryan Kasparian (Pig Destroyer, The Atlas Moth) tipped us off to what may be is the title of black metal supergroup Twilight's new album: Monument to Time End. The record will be out in April via Southern Lord.

This time around, Nachtmystium's Blake Judd, Imperial (Krieg) and Wrest (Leviathan) are teaming up with producer-about-town (and proud owner of the raddest mutton chops this side of Scottish railway engineer Robert Fairlie) Sanford Parker, Isis' Aaron Turner and the Atlas Moth's Stavros "Steve" Giannopoulos. Judd told us last summer the new Twilight record would be a departure from 2005's self-titled release, featuring a more riff-oriented, stoner-groove sound.

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CRUSTY CLIP OF THE WEEK: LUDICRA 'TOMORROW HELD IN SCORN' LIVE IN OAKLAND 12/16/06

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 Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)

This could be Ludicra's year. A tour with Mayhem, an appearance at the Scion Rock Fest, a new record coming in March on Profound Lore ... most bands couldn't ask for more.

The band used to be on Jello Biafra's Alternative Tentacles label, and judging by the video clip of "Tomorrow Held in Scorn," off of their 2002 debut Hollow Psalms, that's no surprise. Did they fall into a World Burns to Death show on accident? There's nary a longhair to be seen, save for the band themselves! Ludicra isn't going to find that in between Attila Csihar changing outfits.

But pig heads give off a more pleasant aroma than crust punks. Trust me, I've seen Watain.

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HYPOCRISY FINALLY OVERCOMES VISA TROUBLES, OVERTAKES U.S. ON 'LONG TIME, NO DEATH ... 2010' TOUR

[Updated: January 26, 2010, 2 p.m.]

Remember when we told you about Hypocrisy's Visa troubles? Remember how bad it sucked when they had to cancel their tour?

Well never you mind, chirren', because Peter Tägtgren and his (un)merry band of Swedish death stars have pulled it together and will be storming our fair shores this May, with Hate, Blackguard and Swashbuckle in tow for their recently-named "Long Time, No Death ... 2010" tour.

Make the jump for tour dates, the video for "Elastic Inverted Visions," (teh rulingest Hypocrisy song, evar) and five-and-a-half minute trailer for the upcoming tour.

(PS - We know we told you last time around, but we STILL can't get over the fact that Tägtgren owns his own freakin' village. Srsly, how cool is this dude?)

Long Time, No Death ... 2010 Tour Trailer:


"Elastic Inverted Visions":


Hypocrisy "Long Time, No Death ... 2010" Tour w/ Hate, Blackguard & Swashbuckle

May 11 – Tucson, AZ @ The Rock
May 12 – Mesa, AZ @ UB’s
May 13 – West Hollywood, CA @ House of Blues
May 14 – Santa Ana, CA @ Galaxy Theatre
May 15 – Ramona, CA @ Ramona Mainstage
May 16 – San Francisco, CA @ DNA Lounge
May 17 – Portland, OR @ Peter’s Room
May 18 – Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theater
May 19 – Seattle, WA @ El Corazon
May 22 – Chicago, IL @ Reggie’s
May 23 – St Paul, MN @ Station 4
May 24 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
May 25 – Louisville, KY @ Uncle Pleasants
May 26 – Detroit, MI @ Blondie’s
May 27 – Cleveland, OH @ Peabody’s
May 28 – Worcester, MA @ Palladium
May 29 – Toronto, ON @ Wreck Room
May 30 – Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Électriques
May 31 – Quebec City, QC @ Imperial
Jun. 01 – Farmingdale, NY @ Crazy Donkey

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MAYHEM ANNOUNCE TOUR WITH KRALLICE, TOMBS AND LUDICRA

Ever wish there was a tour rife with Brooklyn badassery, outrageous outfits, and brutal bloggery? Well, your (unholy) prayers have been answered.

The infamous Mayhem will embark on a spring tour of the States, and they're bringing Crustcake favs Tombs, Bay Area behemoths Ludicra, and, on select dates, blackened shredders Krallice. What's interesting about the support acts is while they all owe artistic debt to Mayhem, all have incorporated black metal's dark esotericism by razing forest sprawl with urban sprawl. Sure, Cosmic Hearse, Ludicra drummer Aesop Dekker's amazing blog, will be on hold then, but we'll be here for you in the meantime.

Tour of the year? Just may be. Dates after the jump.


4/7 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club*
4/8 New York, NY Fillmore @ Irving Plaza*
4/9 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs*
4/10 Montreal, QC @ Les Foufounes Electriques*
4/11 Toronto, ON @ The Opera House*
4/13 Chicago, IL @ Bottom Lounge
4/14 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
4/15 Winnipeg, MB @ Royal Albert Arms
4/16 Regina, SK @ The Exchange
4/17 Edmonton, AB @ Starlite Room
4/18 Calgary, AB @ Republik
4/20 Vancouver, BC @ The Commodore Ballroom
4/21 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
4/22 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
4/24 San Francisco, @ CA Slim's
4/25 Los Angeles, CA @ Henry Fonda Theater

* - w/ Krallice

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LITURGY TO EMBARK ON SPRING TOUR

Brooklyn's Liturgy provoke more questions than just about any other band. Such as, "What the fuck is a 'burst beat?'" "These dudes look like American Apparel employees. Are they for real?" and "Will these bros stop talking about transcendence and primordial collective joy and all that new-age bullshit...and play some fuckin' METAL?"

Well, the quartet is heading down to Ohio, Chicago, St. Louis and Texas to answer all your questions. They'll be in festival mode for a good part of the trip, hitting up the pants-creaming Scion Rock Fest, South by Southwest, and Bro Fest (formerly known as South by South Flesh). Joining them on most dates are noise mutants and 20 Buck Spin label-mates White Mice, along with Rhode Island abstract rockers Tinsel Teeth. Massive brain re-wirings to be expected.

(Pure transcendental black) metal up your ass!

Full dates after the jump.

Liturgy Spring 2010 Tour

3/13/10 - Scion Rock Fest, Columbus, Ohio (w/ Cannibal Corpse, Shrinebuilder, Voivod, Absu, Ludicra, Brutal Truth, and many more)
3/14/10 - Now That's Class, Cleveland, Ohio (w/ White Mice, Tinsel Teeth)
3/15/10 - The Mopery, Chicago, Illinois (w/ White Mice, Tinsel Teeth)
3/16/10 - Camp Concentration, St. Louis, Missouri (w/ White Mice, Tinsel Teeth)
3/18/10 - House of Tinnitus, Denton, Texas (w/ White Mice, Tinsel Teeth)
3/19/10 - SXSW, Austin, Texas
3/20/10 - SXSW, Austin, Texas
03/21/10 - Bro Fest 2010, Dallas, Texas (w/ White Mice, Tinsel Teeth, Rwake, ASG, Withered, U.S. Christmas, and more)

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CANDLELIGHT SIGNS KRIEG, WOE, YAOTL MICTLAN

Candlelight Records has signed Krieg (above), Woe and Yaotl Mictlan, the label announced. A while back, the longstanding UK label opened up an American arm as part of a "concerted effort" to add to their expanding American roster. Candlelight made waves early on with seminal releases from such European heavyweights as Emperor and Opeth, but has steadily added U.S.-based black and death metal artists.

All three of Candlelight's newest signees do black metal, but in ways as varied as the respective climes they hail from.

Make the jump for more info on Krieg, Woe and Yaotl Mictlan.

New Jersey's Krieg looks to release The Isolationist, their sixth full-length, in July. Main man Imperial (Twilight, N.I.L.) said Isolationist will be "more experimental, uglier, and yet more beautiful than previous Krieg records." Production is expected to begin in early February at Volume Studios in Chicago. We have it on good authority that Nachtmystium's Blake Judd will contribute guitar to the record.

Philadelphia-based Woe joined Candlelight after the underground success of their debut, A Spell for the Death of Man, in 2008. Woe creator Chris Grigg, along with members of Absu, Rumpelstiltskin Grinder, Green Evening Requiem and Woods of Ypres, will tentatively release Quietly, Undramatically in the late summer.

Finally, Yaotl Mictlan, of Salt Lake City, have completed recording of their second album, currently planned for release in April. Dentro del Mantro Gris de Chaae will showcase the band's Mexican and Mayan culture. Interesting note: "Yaotl Mictlan," in the indigenous Nahuatl language of Mexico, means "Warriors from the Land of the Dead." Sounds pretty rad.

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SCION ROCK FEST 2010

Well, it's officially official. The 100 percent free Scion Rock Fest is back (in all black) following 2009's stellar debut. This time around, the event has been moved to smack-dab in the middle of the Rust Belt - Columbus, Ohio, specifically. See you Saturday, March 13!

Lineup, date, details and free ticket RSVP after the jump.

Official ticket RSVP form - Reservations end Feb. 27, so hurry up, dummy!

Scion Rock Fest 2010 Lineup:

Cannibal Corpse
Shrinebuilder
Voivod
D.R.I.
Brutal Truth
Hate Eternal
Yob
Pelican
3 Inches of Blood
Absu
Ludicra
Acrassicauda
Trap Them
Magrudergrind
Landmine Marathon
Thou
Saviours
Liturgy
Struck by Lightning
Black Tusk
Deadsea
Lightning Swords of Death
Lullabye Arkestra

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THEY WIN, WE WIN: D.R.I. ANNOUNCE CROSSOVER REISSUE, 2010 TOUR

Houston crossover-thrash legends D.R.I. will see a reissue of their stone-cold classic 1987 album Crossover via Beer City Records on April 13. Good news for those of us whose hand-me-down tapes and LPs are literally worn out from constant rotation (and all the skateboarding and beer bonging.)

The reissue will come in a variety of formats (vinyl, compact disc and digital download) and, according to the always trustworthy Blabbermouth.net, was remastered by Bill Metoyer, who was the original album's engineer.

Both the CD and digital versions will include all original 13 songs plus 11 bonus tracks.

Read more for track details and upcoming tour dates.

Crossover reissue track listing:

01. The Five Year Plan
02. Tear It Down
03. A Coffin
04. Probation
05. I.D.K.Y.
06. Decisions
07. Hooked
08. Go Die
09. Redline
10. No Religion
11. Fun And Games
12. Oblivion
13. Outro
14. The Five Year Plan (Live At the Ritz)
15. Redline (Live At the Ritz)
16. Fun And Games (Live At the Ritz)
17. Tear It Down (Live At the Ritz)
18. Probation (Live At the Ritz)
19. Go Die (Live At the Ritz)
20. The Five Year Plan (Demo)
21. Fun And Games (Demo)
22. Kurt (Interview)
23. Spike (Interview)
24. Josh and Felix (Interview)

D.R.I. 2010 Tour Dates:

1/22 - Marquee, 222 N. Main St, Tulsa OK
1/23 - The Conservatory, 8911 N. Western, Oklahoma City OK
2/5 - Station 4, 201 East 4th Street, St. Paul MN
2/6 - The Rave 2401, West Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee Wis
2/7 - Reggie's Rock Club, 2105 S State St, Chicago Il
2/17 - The War Legion Underground, 519 SE 10th Ave, Amarillo TX
2/18 - Trees, 2709 Elm St., Dallas TX
2/19 - Meridian, 1503 Chartres, Houston TX
2/20 - Zombie's, 12285 Nacogdoches Road, San Antonio Tx
2/21 - Emo's, 603 Red River Rd., Austin TX
2/22 - House of Rock, 511 Starr St., Corpus Christi TX
2/26 - Penny Arcade, 4785 Lake Ave., Rochester NY
2/27 - Crazy Donkey, 1058 Route 110, Farmingdale NY
2/28 - Club Hell, 73 RIchmond St, Providence RI
3/4 - Oasis, 778 Folly Road, Charleston SC
3/5 - Hooligans, 2620 Onslow Dr, Jacksonville NC
3/6 - Volume 11, 658 Maywood Ave, Raleigh NC
3/7 - Amos' SouthEnd, 1423 S. Tryon St, Charlotte NC
3/19 - Akebono Theater, Highway 130 in Pahoa, Big Island HI
3/20 - Oceans Beach Bar and Grill, 1819 S. Kihei Road, Kihei HI
3/21 - Alter Solum, 186 North King St, Honolulu HI
3/25 - Phoenix Hill Tavern, 644 Baxter Ave, Louisville Ky
3/26 - The Masquerade, 695 North Ave NE, Atlanta GA
3/27 - The Muse, 835 4th Ave South, Nashville TN
3/28 - Hi-Tone Cafe, 1913 Poplar Ave, Memphis TN

*Note: 'Cake bakers The WZA'd and Van Damned caught D.R.I. at Austin's FunFunFunFest in November and they totally ripped everyone's face off. Not like any of y'all are real surprised to hear that or anything, but it's always nice to know that, even at 40+ and after colon cancer surgery, homeboys have still got it.

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CRUSTCAKE PICKS - NYC SHOWS 1/21 - 1/27

by theseseans (NYC)

Short and sweet! Friday night Brooklyn Vegan bring Tombs to Union Pool with Rosetta, Battlefields and City Of Ships. I'm excited to see Tombs (I haven't really seen them since they opened for ISIS) and to check out Battlefields and City Of Ships, neither of which I am familiar with.

Get your grind on this Saturday with a Matinee at Cake Shop (5PM) with Magrudergrind, Defeatist, Ramps and Black Kites. This show is a must see.

See you out there.




CRUSTCAKE PICKS - NYC SHOWS 1/21 - 1/27

Friday the 22nd - Tombs, Rosetta, Battlefields and City Of Ships @ Union Pool

Saturday the 23rd - Magrudergrind, Defeastist, Ramps and Black Kites @ The Cake Shop

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CRUSTCAKE INTERVIEWS: PORTAL

by Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)

Talk about metal long enough, and eventually the phrase "It's not for everybody" becomes second nature. Australia's Portal are not for everybody, but they're not not for everybody the same way Cannibal Corpse or Mayhem are not for everybody. Portal are technical, but showboating ain't the name of their game, transporting you to another dimension or six is. The band doesn't so much perform songs as they open chasms of descending atonal riffs and obscure chanting, essentially the cover of Decrepit Birth's ...And Time Begins set to music. Structure is there, if you use that term liberally. The overall sound is as if Demilich moved to a warmer climate and hallucinated from the heat.

It's not for everybody, but it is amazing.

In the midst of moving, Portal guitarist Horror Illogium took the time to give us insight into the band's influences, their place amongst other Australian bands, and the ritualistic nature of their music.

Crustcake: According to Metal Archives, Portal formed in 1994. Assuming that is true, how come the band has really only been active in the 21st century?

Horror Illogium: Horror Illogium and The Curator first joined forces and starting searching for a unique soundscape in the form of Portal, of course sketches of songs were completed, scrapped and re-written in a process that took until 1998 to record the first demo, as no other members were as yet discovered, we were forced to use a drum machine on that demo tape.

Crustcake: The first thing that people tend to notice about Portal is the image. What is the inspiration behind the image and the stage show? How do you feel that it augments or complements the music? Any odd occurrences at your shows?

Horror Illogium: We are very inspired by the aesthetics and atmosphere of the Olde Worlde, it compliments the music because our lyrical themes are also inspired by the same atmosphere and feeling to a large degree, nothing odd in the live realm that I can account for.

Crustcake: Watching live clips of Portal, I get the sense that performances are very ritual-like in nature. I have noticed that metal, despite its heavy criticism of religion, attracts rabid devotion from its fans and concerts often take the place of ceremonies. What are your feelings on this?

Horror Illogium: I completely agree that it is a spiritual ritual, however the difference between Metal and other forms of Music ritual is the freedom of expression and individuality that is embraced, not to mention all emotions of hate, lust and power are fully acknowledged and embraced.

Crustcake: Swarth feels more jagged and angular than your previous works. What led to this direction?

Horror Illogium: Nothing led to it, it's an unconscious evolution.

Crustcake: In addition to being fast and chaotic, the music of Portal is also quite dominating - it takes up so much space it can't be considered background music at all. How do you think this is achieved?

Horror Illogium: It is the result of very much aggression channeled, as well as tapping into the special dreamlike tones.

Crustcake: What drives your compositional style? I pick up a lot of Trey Azagthoth and Krzysztof Penderecki.

Horror Illogium: In our formative years especially speaking for myself Trey Azagthoth and in fact Morbid Angel were indeed a major influence, the likes of Penderecki may not have influenced us as forthright but along the way film scores and symphonic collections have indeed left inspiration. Being that the use of these instruments and well learned musicians in the multitude can achieve our desired result with ease, it's our challenge to portray as much of this impact and mastery into what we do on our so called rock format.

Crustcake: While Portal is definitely influenced by old-school death metal, it is by no means a rehash of its influences. However, there is an increase in bands aping the old-school sound, and reformed bands such as Asphyx and Pestilence are drawing crowds again. What is your take on this?

Horror Illogium: This discussion always comes down to how cyclic Metal is, of course for the lifestyle to continue there must be the traditional and essential styles of all Metal to be maintained just like Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

Crustcake: In your sound, chaos reigns. Is this informed by any circumstances in real life?

Horror Illogium: Of course, all of our emotions, hatred and pain are syphoned into our music as a way of therapy on a personal level.

Crustcake: Australia has an unofficial tradition of subversive metal, from Bon Scott's hedonism to Sadistik Execution and Bestial Warlust going totally out-of-fucking-control with their sound to the extreme un-PC nature of Blood Duster. How does Portal fit amongst other Australian bands, past and present?

Horror Illogium: The violent, raw and ugly aspect is the common binder here, I dont think that we fit with these bands as much as they fit with each other, apart from being Australian and somewhat tyrannical in attitude?

Crustcake: Going along that tangent, while metal has always been global, location still had a large influence in the outcome of sounds. The internet makes that not so much anymore. How do you feel about this?

Horror Illogium: This could be an accurate assumption, however we were buying records from all over the World way before the internet age and influence was taking hold then too.

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HARVEY MILK'S 'DEBUT' ALBUM TO BE RELEASED NEXT WEEK, SHOWS WITH COALESCE IN MARCH

This coming Tuesday, Jan. 26th, Hydrahead will release what should have been Harvey Milk's debut record. Originally known as Bob Weston Sessions, the self-titled record will be the first proper release of these recordings, which have been fully re-mastered for the package. Hydrahead swears that their copy sounds way better, hence why you should buy it.

Also awesome, Harvey Milk will be playing two handfuls of shows with Coalesce in March. Dates, art, and track listing after the jump.




Harvey Milk s/t Tracklist

1. Blueberry Dookie
2. Plastic Eggs
3. Merlin Is Magic
4. Dating Pressures
5. My Father's Life's Work
6. Probölkoc
7. Smile
8. Jim's Polish
9. F.S.T.P.
10. Anthem

Harvey Milk w/ Coalesce 2010

Fri Mar-05 Pittsburgh, PA Rex Theatre
Mon Mar-08 NYC, NY Le Poisson Rouge
Tue Mar-09 Boston, MA Middle East Downstairs
Wed Mar-10 Montreal, QC Il Motore
Thu Mar-11 Toronto, ON Wreckroom
Fri Mar-12 Hamtramck, MI Smalls Bar
Sat Mar-13 Chicago, IL Subterranean

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LIVE VIDEO FROM HOPE CON/BLACKLISTED CAKE SHOP SHOW

Last Friday at the Cake Shop in Manhattan, The Hope Conspiracy put on one of those shows that follows a band. You know, the kind that engenders had-to-be-there buzz and creates (or cements) legit status. Managing to bring incredible live energy to a rabidly receptive audience, shows like this birth legends in basement culture.

Luckily, Hate5six.com was there to document. Enjoy Hope Con's set, and check their website for move videos.

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MAGRUDERGRIND SUPPORT MISERY INDEX FOR WINER TOUR

D.C. grinders Magrudergrind have announced winter tour dates in support of Bodymore, Murderland's deathgrind decimators, Misery Index. In case you missed it, Magrudergrind's self-titled LP was one of our favorite records last year.

In addition to this tour, Magrudergrind are playing New York's Cake Shop this Saturday with another one of our grind fav's, New York City's Defeatist.

Dates after the jump.



Magrudergrind, Misery Index 2010

February 19 Poughkeepsie, NY Popeye’s
February 20 Brooklyn, NY Union Pool
February 21 Boston, MA Unit 11
February 22 Waterford, CT Cherry Street Station
February 23 Wilmington, DE Mojo 13
February 24 Pittsburgh, PA Belvadiers
February 25 Indianapolis, IN Melody Inn
February 26 Lansing, MI Mac’s
February 27 South Bend, IN Elva’s
February 28 Chicago, IL Reggies
March 1 Des Moines, IA Vaudeville
March 2 St. Louis, MO Fubar
March 3 Kansas City, MO Riot Room
March 5 Oklahoma City, OK Conservatory
March 6 Amarillo, TX War Legion
March 7 Dallas, TX Reno’s Chop Shop
March 8 Austin, TX Red Seven
March 9 San Antonio, TX Sam’s
March 10 McAllen, TX Smokin’ Aces
March 11 Corpus Christi, TX Zero’s
March 12 Houston, TX Walter’s

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CRUSTY CLIP OF THE WEEK: TYPE O NEGATIVE - 'LOVE YOU TO DEATH'

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 Van Damned (ATX)

Recently, the indomitable Cosmo Lee (Invisible Oranges) asked his readers which bands got them into metal. Unsurprisingly, the results were as varied as his readership. Also unsurprisingly, Lee's post got me thinking.

Like many, I was first exposed to metal thanks to my older brother. Industrial-leaning groups like Nine Inch Nails and White Zombie rose to popularity in the mid-'90s, when my brother was in high school and I was but a pup barely out grade school. Those bands lay the initial groundwork for what's become a life-long obsession.

Then, in 8th grade, I switched schools. Suddenly I was thrust into a peer group who didn't share my affinity for the extreme. Naturally, I gravitated towards the few outsiders who did. One was a sophomore named Aaron. Aaron, all long hair and black fingernail polish and fish nets, spoke my language. In those pre-Columbine years, we filled the goth quotient at our white-bread private school. We smoked behind the gym. We sat during pep rallies when others stood. We were dark and scary and we loved it. Then those two dickheads in trench coats and Marilyn Manson shirts went and ruined it for everybody and things changed forever.

Until that point, however, Aaron had turned me on to everything; through him, I had my first tastes of The Real: Morbid Angel, Pantera, Cannibal Corpse, Emperor, Fear Factory, Opeth, Dream Theater, Ministry among many, many others. Most of these bands I still listen to. But for better or worse, the band that Aaron introduced me to that paved the way to my death grip on heavy metal was Type O Negative. The Drab Four had a peculiar blend of florid, romantic goth heavily laden with traditional (though I didn't know it at the time) doom and thrash elements, dark, bone-dry humor and stadium-sized riffs that appealed to my adolescent palate. They were funny. They were heavy. They had two chicks making out on an album cover. Eighth-grade Van thought they ruled. Their 1996 album, October Rust, dominated my CD player during much of middle school.

To be fair, they haven't held up well. Latter releases have been, well, rather drab. Maybe the shtick's getting old. Maybe I am. Regardless, those "Four Dicks From Brooklyn" put me on this road, and there's a blood debt (hah!) to be paid. So here's "Love You to Death," the first real song on Rust, and one of the main reasons you're reading this.

"They say the beast inside of me is gonna get you." Oh yes, they do.

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CHAOS IN TEJAS LINEUP ANNOUNCED

Toxic Holocaust at Emo's, Austin, TX October 30, 2007
Photo credit: HeadovMetal

Fun fact about Austin's Chaos in Tejas fest: Crustcake bros Andrew Wilhelm, freshly graduated from UT, and Van Damned met each other at the last day of the fest before getting pummeled by Eyehategod and Harvey Milk. True story.

If it makes the Crustcake family grow, you know this shit is gonna be too tight to miss. This year, Chaos in Tejas is once again spread out at Emo's, Mohawk, Red 7, and Beerland May 27-30. Yeah, it's the same weekend as Maryland Death Fest, but Baltimore doesn't have Casino el Camino, Lone Star, and fine ass Texas honeys. Ain't no party like an Austin party cause an Austin party don't quit.

Highlights for this year's fest include forever-on-tour thrashers Toxic Holocaust, Austin headfuckers Iron Age and Mammoth Grinder, noise-drenched metal-punks Bone Awl, and Seattle black wizards Inquisition. Full line up after the jump.

Chaos In Tejas 2010 Line Up:

Acephalix
A-Frames
Arctic Flowers
Axeman
Bastard (Japan..one time reunion)
Bastard Noise (Wood, Connell and Nelson)
Bone Awl
Brilliant Colors
Crow (Japan)
Dead to Me
Deskonocidos
Fungi Girls
Gehenna
Grass Widow
the Hex Dispensers
Inquisition (Columbia)
Iron Age
Iron Lung
Jeff the Brotherhood
Kim Phuc
Kyklooppein Sukupuutto (Finland)
La Urss (Spain)
Leatherface (England)
Mammoth Grinder
Masshysteri
The Marked Men (only show of 2010)
Mind Eraser
Morne
Mother of Mercy
Nerveskade
Ninja Gun
The Pist
Poison Idea
the Ponys
Psychedelic Horseshit
Rival Mob
Rorschach
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
Ratas Del Vaticano (Mexico)
Shanghai River
the Spits
Slang (Japan)
Subhumans (England)
Tim Kerr and Friends
Toxic Holocaust
Ty Segall
Underground Railroad to Candyland
Vaaska
Volahn
Walls
Wasted Time
Waste Management
Wild Thing
World Burns to Death
Woven Bones
X (Australia)
Yellow Tears
Young Offenders

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CRUSTCAKE PICKS: ATX SHOWS 1/15 - 1/19

by The WZAd (ATX)

Better late than never, I like to say. I say this in reference to my absurdly late show picks post, as well as a trip I made into Snake Eyes Vinyl to see Weekend Nachos not too long ago.

The show was awesome, but what wasn't awesome was what Snake Eyes' owner told me: that she was shutting down the store because business just wasn't there. Ladies and gentlemen, you will not find a better record store for underground extreme music in the city of Austin. Perhaps ever again. Tomorrow is the last show ever at Snake Eyes Vinyl, starring locals The Roller, P.L.F. and Strider. So come to Snake Eyes' swansong show. Everybody will be there (and it will probably be very, very cheap)! And buy something!

Also of note is the Metalsucks-sponsored "Metal as Art" tour coming down to Red 7 the day after. Technical death-thrash band Revocation, who we love, along with Hypno5e and The Binary Code will be playing.

When I interviewed Dave from Revocation, I told him I would buy them all beers if they came down to Austin. Me being under 21, does somebody want to help me out with that? Thanks.

Full show dates below.

Two shows for y'all:

Saturday, January 16th

The Roller, P.L.F., Strider @ Snake Eyes @ 7pm

Sunday, January 17th

Revocation, Hypno5se, The Binary Code @ Red 7

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CRUSTCAKE PICKS - LA SHOWS 1/15 - 1/20

by beatmasterspeech (LA)

My new year's resolution is to post more LA show picks rather than attempting for my first choice of trying to receive oral exploration on each ride at Disneyland... in one day. So with that said, let's hop right to it.

NAMM* has rolled into town this week, which is a good and bad thing. Tons of shows BUT tons of industry type crowds floating around. We all know the type: the -insert popular guitar brand here- A&R rep in his late 40's at the show sporting their very best hot topic short sleeve button up with flames running vertical, the "i'm hip" hoop earings, jack and coke (and I'm not talking 'bout soda folks) armed with enough backstage passes to try his hand at multiple "Girls Gone Whorish" groupies hovering around.

Nonetheless, metal is always a must see and the schmoozing skills of some of these reps is something to behold in itself. This weekend, Landmine Marathon and some personal hometown favs, The Funeral Pyre are both playing. Both bands are well worth your Friday night so check 'em out at The Blvd - the forecast for industry dudes is low for this show. Also on Friday, free show at Spaceland with some more local homies, Night Horse. The forecast has yet to come in for this show but it's fucking free people! Back on the strip we got some action happening at the House of Blues. Saturday is Behemoth and Lightning Swords of Death followed on Sunday with Cynic. The forecast for cloudy with a touch of energy drink sponsors is high anywhere, anytime on the Strip so stay strong.

See you out there.

1/15 - Landmine Marathon, The Funeral Pyre @ The Blvd
1/15 - Night Horse, Dusted Angel @ Spaceland
1/16 - Behemoth, Septic Flesh, Lightning Swords of Death @ HoB Sunset Strip
1/17 - Between The Buried and Me, Cynic, The Devin Townsend Project

*Bonus explanation of NAAM by beatmasterspeech:

National Association of Music Merchandisers Convention -
It's a huge yearly convention when instrument manufacturers show off the latest and greatest gear and have 'artists' come in and demo them. People like Kerry king, Zakk Wylde and the like. It's not open to the public, only label folks, industry folks, groupies, schmoozers, liquor rep like Jagermiester and shit.... it's a mix of gear heads, buyers, and affliction shirted Gibson reps the convention is usually surrounded by shows/parties put on by fender and shit like that with free sponsored booze like Absolute vodka - it's super corporate rock type shit.

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A STORM OF LIGHT ARE LOOKING FOR A PERMANENT DRUMMER

Attention all doom loving drummers. A Storm Of Light are looking for a permanent drummer. Our very own crustcake gerf (A.K.A Geoff Summers) has been playing with them for a few months, and will continue throughout the spring, but the band is looking for someone who can commit to the band as a full time member.

A Storm Of Light are looking for someone preferably in the Brooklyn area. Read more for their official statement, contact them at storm@astormoflight.com.

A Storm Of Light Official Statement

What:
In just over two years since the band's inception, A Storm of Light has had the honor and privilege of playing with many great drummers: Vinny Signorelli, Jason Roeder, Pete Angevine, Andy Rice, and our current man, Geoff Summers. While this band is built around revolving members both in touring and recording, we have decided that a central three-peice will make us sonically/rhythmically stronger. That said, we have decided to look for a permanent drummer, one that will make Storm their primary focus, and be part of the band for the long haul.

When:
Geoff will be playing with us through the Feb/March US tour dates, before returning to his full time duties with his band, Batillus. We'd like to fill the spot, if possible, by mid february, and then begin working together in late March. We leave for a European tour May 5, and will most likely record the third full-length in late summer/early fall.

Where:
Ideally we want someone in Brooklyn/NYC, or damn close. While we are willing to consider people outside of the area (New Jersey/Philadelphia/Upstate NY/ etc), we are constantly writing, recording, practicing, touring, so you will have to been in brooklyn very regularly.

Experience:
We are preferably looking for people with previous recording/touring experience, and who can tour regularly both nationally and internationally. (nice, fun, dedicated, motivated, relaxed, on time, honest, etc, etc, etc.)

Contact:
ASAP. Please include links to your drumming/musical projects, and email us at: storm@astormoflight.com

Thank you.
A Storm of Light

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CRUSTCAKE PICKS - NEW CAKE IN THE OVEN: THEM CROOKED VULTURES' - THEM CROOKED VULTURES

by The WZAd (ATX)

Despite months of passive-aggressive apathy, I find myself liking Them Crooked Vultures. I can't deny their catchiness, or the irresistible lure of Joshua Homme. It's the same pull that compelled me to buy the last Eagles of Death Metal album and to even consider the newest Arctic Monkeys output.

When I first really got into music, he became for me a symbol of the notion that rock isn't dead, but it's been hiding in the palm desert this whole time, sex and drugs included. I know I'm not alone in thinking this.

Some of us Homme fans are having a hard time transitioning into Them Crooked Vultures. Hell, some people still have a hard time transitioning into a post-Oliveri Queens of the Stone Age.

Homme's last record with QOTSA, Era Vulgaris, was a weird album for both him and the band. Before that, Lullabies and R sounded like albums that should be played at parties, while Songs for the Deaf was the big, arguably best, hard rock album of the decade. But Vulgaris sounded lonely. Perhaps that's because it lacked the guests from all the previous albums. Mark Lanegan made a barely-audible appearance on "River in the Road," I think the guy from The Strokes had a guitar solo or something on one of the songs, and Nick Oliveri never felt more absent. "Make it Wit Chu," a slow jam which made its first appearance as a song from the last Desert Sessions, lost its soul as it lost the original personnel.

Era Vulgaris was just another episode of the Homme show. Not to insult Joey Castillo or Troy Van Leeuwen, but they simply don't bring the energy that Homme obviously has so much of. The album was an interesting slice of his dark personality and humor, as well as a case study on how close to the line between sexy and creepy you can get without actually crossing over (though I'll leave it to you to decide which side it started on).

Them Crooked Vultures finds a better outlet for Homme's quirkier aspirations. Yeah, I know people are calling this a "supergroup." But when was the last time you brought up John Paul Jones in a conversation about great bass players? And how many songs do you think Grohl wrote for the album? Their contributions seem to be most focused in the areas of texture and vibe, and I bet you anything that most of the songs were written on the guitar. Not to say that their contributions weren't necessary. Grohl and Jones make the project as unique as it is and give Homme a fresher pallet than Castillo or Leeuwen could have. I'm also probably understating their importance in the songwriting process. Don't be fooled though - this project reeks of Homme. But it's a good thing.

I'd make the case that Them Crooked Vultures is the new QOTSA album that we've all been waiting for. Notice that on the new album, the classic "QOTSA Epic" ("Better Living Through Chemistry," "A Song for the Deaf," "The Blood is Love"), so sorely missed on their last album, has made a remarkable return in both "Warsaw or the First Breath You Take After You Give Up" and "Spinning in Daffodils." Hell, the latter song even sounds like "Better Living..." around the 4:50 mark.

If QOTSA never reunite (although rumors say they will), die-hards, don't worry about it. Those records aren't going anywhere, and hopefully neither are Them Crooked Vultures.

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CRUSTY CLIP OF THE WEEK: DOWN - 'STONE THE CROW'

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 WZAd (ATX)

School's starting again, and for the new semester I moved into a new dorm room. Let me tell you, it is hot in here. I understand that it's a little chilly outside, especially for the average Texan, but it doesn't need to be eighty degrees in here. When I'm sleeping without the sheets on, that's a problem, you know?

There's only one band that makes me think of soldiering on through unforgiving heat (and humidity): Down. When I was working on the farm last summer, Down was the music I would play in my car with the windows down on the way home every day. In particular, "Stone the Crow" seemed like the right music to play when confronted with the heat of a day out in the fields. It also reminded me of home, me being from New Orleans. Enjoy the video for "Stone the Crow."

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CRUSTCAKE PICKS - CHICAGO SHOWS 1/14 - 1/20

by Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)

Achtung, Chi-town heshers! Two shows of merit to mention in the coming week - one you probably didn't know about, and one you've probably been anticipating for the last month or so.

First, to delve into the unknown. Stonecutters will be hitting up the White Star Bar on Friday. Anthemic, hard-charging metal that can't be pinned down into a subgenre...the way anthemic, hard-charging metal should be. While they remained unsigned, they got a lot of love from our homie Cosmo Lee over at Invisible Oranges. A band to watch for sure, and when the day comes where they're headlining arenas, you can brag you saw them in a tiny club back in the day. An immensely satisfying feeling, and best of all, "back in the day" nostalgia waxing never goes out of style!

And now, the show you've probably asked your manager for the night off. Devildriver, that guy from Coal Chamber's new band, will headline the House of Blues Wednesday night. Lucky for you, Suffocation and Goatwhore are providing support. Both bands are Crustcake favorites, as These Seans interviewed the former and The WZA'd got torn to shreds by the latter. Add Frank Mullen's "death metal spirit fingers," and you'll be amped up enough to have the audacity to request "Loco" and "Shock the Monkey" when Devildriver comes on.

Or you could be a pussy and go to Theory of a Deadman. Your choice.

Crustcake Picks - Chicago Shows 1/14 - 1/20

Friday January 15 - Stonecutters, Blood of the Tyrant, Arbogast, Blackbeard @ White Star

Wednesday January 20 - Devildriver, Suffocation, Goatwhore, Thy Will Be Done @ House of Blues

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HIGH ON FIRE RELEASE NEW TRACK - "FROST HAMMER"

Well, that was fast. So soon after releasing Arik Roper's mighty artwork from the new album Snakes for the Divine, High on Fire have released a track exclusively through Stereogum. And it's awesome. What a surprise! Complete track-listing below

1.) “Snakes for the Divine”
2.) “Frost Hammer”
3.) “Bastard Samurai”
4.) “Ghost Neck”
5.) “Fire, Flood & Plague”
6.) “How Dark We Pray”
7.) “Holy Flames of the Fire Spitter”

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CRUSTCAKE PICKS - NYC SHOWS 1/12 - 1/18

by theseseans (NYC)

This week, some of Austin's finest are swinging through the boroughs. Tonight Mammoth Grinder play The Charleston, while this Saturday Iron Age also play The Charleston. Whole lot'a rock goin' down there. [Correction: Iron Age is playing The Charleston 2/16, not 1/16]

Friday night at the Cake Shop is the Brooklyn Vegan sponsored hardcore show of the year. The Hope Conspiracy are probably my favorite active straight ahead hardcore band, and as I've said before they are the audible embodiment of anger. The support is top notch too: Blacklisted, United Nations and Mother Of Mercy.

Also this week: Nile, Pentagram & The Gates Of Slumber, D.R.I.

See you out there.



CRUSTCAKE PICKS - NYC SHOWS 1/12 - 1/18

Tuesday the 12th - Mammoth Grinder @ The Charleston

Friday the 15th - The Hope Conspiracy, Blacklisted, United Nations, Mother Of Mercy - @ The Cake Shop

Saturday the 16th - Iron Age @ The Charleston [Correction: Iron Age is playing The Charleston 2/16, not 1/16]

Sunday the 17th - Pentagram, The Gates of Slumber @ B.B. Kings

- D.R.I. @ Gramercy Theater

Monday the 18th - Nile, Immolation, Krisiun @ Gramercy Theater

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THESE ARMS ARE SNAKES CALL IT A DAY

by theseseans (NYC)

These Arms Are Snakes have, much to my disappointment, broken up. While I didn't love everything the band did, I thought Easter was one of the best rock records of the 2000's (Tail Swallower and Dove was pretty good too). Perhaps one good thing will come from the break up though, could Narrows see a little more touring and material??

Good-bye These Arms Are Snakes, thanks for the internet nickname. I am forever in your debt.

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NACHTMYSTIUM JOINED BY WREST AND WILL LINDSAY ON NEW ALBUM

[Left to right: Sanford Parker, Blake Judd, Wrest, Jeff Wilson, Will Lindsay]

Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. II, the upcoming album from Chicago "blackadelica" ensemble Nachtmystium, has to be one of the most anticipated albums of the year, especially after the immense critical praise heaped on 2008's Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. I. We reported earlier that the new record is set for a July release on Century Media, and that it will reflect main-man Blake Judd's profound influence from industrial and post-punk. And now, there's two more reasons to get excited about Addicts.

Brandon Stosuy's excellent Haunting The Chapel tipped us off that Jef Whitehead aka Wrest of Leviathan/Lurker of Chalice/Gift Horse fame will bang on the skins for the new Nacht' record. If you're familiar with his output under any moniker, he does not fuck around when it comes to drumming and hellish atmospheres. But that's not all: Will Lindsay, current six-stringer for Wolves in the Throne Room, will contribute to the record on bass. It'll be interesting to see Wrest play in a band format again and Lindsay never disappoints in any form. What direction Nachtmystium will take - that's the most intriguing part. No one expected Assassins after Instinct:Decay, and sure as hell following Reign of the Malicious

The record is also rumored to feature a cover of Pink Floyd's "High Hopes," from 1994's The Division Bell. No surprise, as Judd is a known Floyd fanatic and has a long history of covering everybody from Ildjarn and Judas Iscariot to G.G. Allin, Goatsnake and Motörhead.

Though it's been said plenty of times already already, we can't wait for this record.

In related news, Nachtmystium side project Twilight has recently been bolstered by the presence of noted producer and Minsk bassist Sanford Parker on guitars, synths, and production, and Stavros Giannopoulos of The Atlas Moth on guitar. Twilight added Aaron Turner of Isis to their lineup in 2007, and also features Judd, Wrest, and Imperial of Krieg. No date has been set for the release of a follow-up to the 2005 self-titled debut.

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CRUSTCAKE PICKS - CHICAGO SHOWS 1/7 - 1/14

by Andrew Wilhelm (CHI)

Chicago, it's time for some bad romance.

The big event this weekend is, without a doubt, Lady Gaga's three-night run at the Rosemont Theatre. Now, why the fuck am I mentioning Miss GaGa on a metal blog? Because Jonas Akerlund, the director of her "Paparazzi" video, once drummed for Bathory. Yes, THAT Bathory. And our buddies at Metalsucks posted that she even has a little black metal in her. "Bad Romance" in and of itself does carry some Motely-Crue style bravado, so perhaps she's a little more metal than we think she is.

But if you couldn't get tickets to The Monster Ball, fear not.

Until the Light Takes Us begins its Chicago run on Friday and continues through Thursday. Enlightening documentary or hipster fodder? You be the judge. If that's not enough metal cinema for you, The Anvil Experience will roll through town on Sunday, featuring a screening of Anvil! The Story of Anvil followed by a performance from the band. And while that movie shows that good things will eventually come if you work hard, the best things in life really are free, as the next day tech-thrashers Revocation are doing a no-cover show at the Empty Bottle. The WZA'd discussed their latest record, Existence is Futile, quite a bit back in October. How does the Korpiklaani show the following day fit into all this? Because drinking nourishes the metalhead. The show is out in Lemont, though, so make sure you've got a designated driver with you.

Crustcake Picks - Chicago Shows 1/7 - 1/14

Friday January 8 through Thursday January 14 - Until the Light Takes Us @ Gene Siskel Film Center
Sunday January 10 - Anvil @ House of Blues
Monday January 11 - Revocation, Hypno5e, The Binary Code @ Empty Bottle (FREE!)
Tuesday January 12 - Korpiklaani, Swashbuckle, White Wizzard @ Jaguar Club (Lemont, Il)

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BLACK TUSK ANNOUNCE MORE TOUR DATES

Savannah, GA's Black Tusk have added some additional tour dates while they are out supporting Skeletonwitch, Iron Age and Howl.

Black Tusk recently signed to Relapse and have several releases out now including splits with Holy Mountain, ASG and Fight Amp (most of which we detailed).

Confirmed tour dates after the jump, more to be announced soon.

BLACK TUSK 2010 TOUR DATES

February 23 Atlanta, GA Lenny’s Bar
February 24 Knoxville, TN The Cider House*
February 25 Chattanooga, TN JJ Bohemia’s
February 26 Birmingham, AL The Nick*
February 27 Memphis, TN Hi Tone*
February 28 Athens, GA Kingpins Bowl & Brew

* = w/ SKELETONWITCH, IRON AGE, HOWL

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HIGH ON FIRE REVEAL ARTWORK FOR SNAKES FOR THE DIVINE

First off, happy new year! Secondly, HOLY SHIT HIGH ON FIRE JUST RELEASED ARTWORK FOR THEIR NEW ALBUM AND IT KICKS ASS.

Snakes For The Divine will come out on February 23rd from E1 music. The album was produced by Greg Fidelman, who also produced Slayer's World Painted Blood.

According to our source, the album also features "blackened lyrical tales of ancient wars, frozen planets and doomed societies." Pretty cool!

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