Cinematic instrumental post-rockers Red Sparowes are back with a new EP, Aphorisms, due out via Neurot digitally on August 1st and physically (CD, vinyl) later this fall. The EP was engineered by Toshi Kasai, who recently turned Big Business from a duo into a trio.
Aphorisms will include only three tracks, but for Red Sparowes that's likely to top 30 minutes. The first of the three cuts, "We left the apes to rot, but find the fang 
still grows within" (actually one of the band's shorter song titles), is streaming at Red Sparowes' MySpace page.
We listened, and the song is good, but to be honest we prefer old Red Sparowes-- 2005's At the Soundless Dawn is such a fantastic record, and 2006's Every Red Heart Shines Toward the Red Sun has its moments as well, particularly its lead 'single' "Like the Howling Glory of the Darkest Winds, This Voice Was Thunderous and the Words Holy, Tangling Their Way Around Our Hearts and Clutching Our Innocent Awe"-- what an incredible composition that song is...
Red Sparowes are certainly still one of the best bands doing the cinematic post-rock thing, even sans Josh Graham (Neurosis [visuals], Battle of Mice, A Storm of Light), and Aphorisms will surely be worth checking out.
Tour dates after the jump.
Red Sparowes - 2008 Dates:July 05 08 Eurockeennes Festival - Belfort, FR
July 07 08 The Engine Room - Brighton, UK
July 08 08 ULU - London, UK
July 09 08 Barfly - Liverpool, UK
July 10 08 Stereo - Glasgow, Scotland UK
July 11 08 Fibbers/Barfly - York, UK
July 12 08 The Corporation - Sheffield, UK
July 13 08 SuperSonic Festival - Custard Factory - Birmingham, UK
July 14 08 The Croft - Bristol, UK
July 16 08 La Maroquinerie - Paris, FR w/ Oxbow & Harvey Milk
July 17 08 Shocken - Stuttgart, DE
July 18 08 Garage Kleiner Club - Saarbrucken, DE
July 19 08 Rock Herk - Herk de Stad, BE w/ Battles
July 27 08 WICKERPARK FEST - Chicago, IL w/ ISIS, Maps & Atlases and more
July 2, 2008
Red Sparowes - New EP Soon, Tour
June 19, 2008
Crustcake Picks - NYC Shows 6/19 - 6/25
by theseseans (NYC)
Hey crustcakers. We are continuing with our initiative to have these posts focus more on their respective city's local music scene. We think these posts will be more valuable that way, and we want to support local music. If you live somewhere with a healthy local underground music scene and you want to write a weekly update on shows in your area, please get in touch with us. Let us know where you live and tell us a little bit about the local scene there. If you live in NYC or LA please feel free to contact us with info about local acts we aren't covering.
This week in NYC we have got a healthy amount shows, lucky for us they are accessibly spread out. This week's highlight is without a doubt two chances to see Harvey Milk, Friday night at The Knitting Factory and Monday at Europa.
Saturday, go see My Skull Your Closet at Fat Baby; the band features members of both Small Brown Bike and Thoughts of Ionesco. Monday you've got your second chance to see Harvey Milk, this time playing with (attention Neurosis fans) A Storm of Light, or you can go to the always excellent Precious Metal at Lit Lounge (feat. Ehnahre, Archon, Orphan, and Batillus.) And finally if we don't see you on Tuesday at Made Out Of Babies' album release party at Union Pool, we will hunt you down and make you look like the kid on their debut's cover. Ya' Heard?
NYC show picks 6/19 - 6/25:Friday 6/20 - Harvey Milk, Bloody Panda, Ocean, Deadbird @ Knitting Factory
See you out there!
Saturday 6/21 - My Skull Your Closet (featuring members of Small Brown Bike and Thoughts of Ionesco) @ Fat Baby
Monday 6/23 - Harvey Milk, Growing, A Storm of Light, PIGS @ Europa
Monday 6/23 - Orphan, Ehnahre, Archon, Batillus
Tuesday 6/24 - Made Out Of Babies, Dianogah, The Austerity Program @ Union Pool
June 9, 2008
Crustcake Picks - New Music 6/10
by cruscake gerf (NYC)
So, lemme tell ya what just happened. I was perusing my usual resources to see what new music is coming out tomorrow in an attempt to put together this post. I saw that Disturbed's new album will be out tomorrow, and do you know what happened then? I found myself unconsciously clicking over to iTunes and throwing on Ire Works.
I guess Weinman and Co.'s little PR plan worked, eh?
On the real though, tomorrow sees the release of Nachtmystium's Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1, and it's a must-have. Check out "Assassins" and "Your True Enemy" at the band's MySpace page and then check out the whole fucking record tomorrow. Unclassifiable.
I'm a bit torn on A Storm of Light's debut, And We Wept the Black Ocean Within. It's either a second-rate Neurosis knock-off or a fantastic record, and I can't decide which. I've been listening to it quite a bit lately though, so I'm leaning towards the latter. And even if Mr. Graham and his co-conspirators are drawing an excessive amount of influence from Neurosis, they're doing it exceptionally well. And We Wept excels at creating a dark, dismal nautical mood: creaking, groaning ship sounds and an actual fog horn compliment desolate guitars and anguished vocals in a stew of epic seafaring proportions. It's out tomorrow, but personally I'm holding out hopes for a vinyl release. Just look at this artwork.
Also out tomorrow, Pentemple O))) Presents:In May of 2007 thee mighty SUNN 0))) embarked on a Pacific Rim tour. The lineup for this tour included the core sunn 0))) duo: Greg Anderson and Stephen O'Malley plus T.O.S. (Moog), Oren Ambarchi (analog effects and supplemental guitar) and vokillist Attila Csihar. Upon arrival in Melbourne, Australia, sunn 0))) invited one of their favorite black metal artists: Striborg over from Tasmania (!!!) to collaborate with them during their show. This unholy meeting went over very well and the inaugural ritual was a warm up gig at the Toft in Town club one evening before the larger gig at the Hi-Fi Bar (w/ brethren: Boris).
The results of this collaboration was a completely improvisational, vicious audio and visual assault. Striborg really blew all of us way with not only his wicked vocal invocations but also his incredibly skillful drumming! This was among the first time that sunn 0))) had worked with live drums and the outcome was completely unprecedented. The whole event was recorded live to 24-track/multi-track. Afterwards Oren Ambarchi edited, sequenced and overhauled the EQ to make it as brutal as possible. This blackened low-end psychedelic war is not for the faint of heart!
This cd release is strictly limited to 3,000 machine numbered copies. It's available from Southern Lord.
Our picks:
Listen: A Storm of Light [MySpace]
Buy: A Storm of Light - And We Wept the Black Ocean Within (Century Media) [Amazon]
Listen: Keep of Kalessin [MySpace]
Buy: Keep of Kalessin - Kolossus (Nuclear Blast) [Amazon]
Listen: Nachtmystium [MySpace]
Buy: Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Pt. 1 (Century Media) [Amazon]
Buy: Pentemple - O))) Presents (Southern Lord) [Amazon]
Listen: Verse [MySpace]
Buy: Verse - Aggression (Bridge 9) [Amazon]
May 28, 2008
A Storm Of Light - Tour Dates
Josh Graham's (Battle of Mice, ex-Red Sparowes) latest project, A Storm of Light, will be on the road soon for some east coast dates with Harvey Milk and a tour of Europe with Neurosis. We originally reported that A Storm of Light's debut, was scheduled for a June 2nd release (via Neurot), but that's been pushed back a week to the 10th. Check out the hauntingly beautiful track "Mass" from the album at the band's MySpace.
Besides playing in A Storm Of Light, Graham is well known for creating the visuals for Neurosis' live show. Black Bubblegum recently spoke with Graham about that and more.
And speaking of visuals, check out the incredible image-- along with the tour dates-- after the jump.
A Storm Of Light - Seven Color (2 metallic) Silk-Screen Poster:
You can snag one of the above posters if you pre-order the album here.
A Storm of Light - 2008 Dates:Jun 14 2008 The 4th Annual Shaun Luu Horror Fest at The Palace Theater Syracuse, New York w/ The Red Chord
w/ Harvey Milk
Jun 21 Great Scott Boston, MA
Jun 23 Europa Bar Brooklyn, NY
Jun 24 Johnny Brenda's Philadelphia, PA
Jun 25 Ottobar Baltimore, MD
Europe w/ Neurosis!
Aug 14 2008 Klub Stodoła Warsaw, Poland, Masovia
Aug 15 2008 Brutal Assault Fesitval at Army Fortress JOSEFOV Jaromer, Czech Republic
Aug 18 2008 UT Connewitz Leipzig
Aug 19 2008 UT Connewitz Leipzig
Aug 20 2008 TBA Duisburg
Aug 21 2008 Metropolis München
Aug 22 2008 VNV Rock Altitude Festival Le Locle
Aug 23 2008 Mamamia Club Senigallia
Sep 3 2008 013 Tilburg
March 31, 2008
Monday Metal Update 3/31
by crustcake gerf (NYC)
I have good news, better news and even betterer news. The good news? The Sword's monumental second offering Gods of the Earth is currently streaming in its entirety over at the band's MySpace. The better news? The Sword have added east coast dates to their previously-announced west coast stint. Hurrah.
And the betterer news? Said east coast dates are with Torche, who's Meanderthal is currently rocking my face right off. Gods of the Earth is out tomorrow, and Meanderthal is out next Tuesday.
[Torche]
The Sword & Torche - East Coast Tour:5/9 Ft Worth TX @ Lola's
Type O Negative will be touring the US starting in May with a mighty diverse set of supporting acts.
5/10 Memphis TN @ Hi Tone
5/11 Nashville TN @ Exit / In
5/12 Covington KY @ The Mad Hatter
5/13 Detroit MI @ The Magic Stick
5/14 Columbus OH @ Ravari Room
5/15 Washington DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
5/16 Philadelphia PA @ First Unitarian Church
5/17 Brooklyn NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
5/18 Cambridge MA @ Middle East Downstairs
5/20 Raleigh NC @ Lincoln Theater
5/21 Savannah GA @ The Jinx
5/22 Tallahassee FL @ The Beta Bar
5/23 St. Petersburg FL @ State Theatre
5/24 Orlando FL @ The Social
5/25 Gainesville FL @ Common Grounds
5/26 Atlanta GA @ Lenny's
5/27 @ Birmingham AL @ Bottle Tree
5/28 Baton Rouge LA @ Spanish Moon
5/29 Houston TX @ Rudyard's
* all dates also w/ Stinking Lizaveta
[Type O Negative]
Via Brooklyn Vegan:Black nail polish, camo shorts, AND denim vests? Dark lords Type O Negative will hit the road in May with kings-of-the-breakdown Hatebreed and goat-horders 3 Inches Of Blood.
We're not the biggest Hatebreed fans (you don't start the damn song with a breakdown, guys!), but we certainly wouldn't mind hearing a Crowbar cover or two courtesy of Kingdom of Sorrow.
Type O Negative - 2008 Tour Dates:5/9 - Worcester, MA @ The Palladium *
Nine Inch Nails announced a summer tour.
5/10 - Sayreville, NJ @ Starland Ballroom *
5/11 - Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa *
5/13 - Cleveland, OH @ House of Blues *
5/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ The Trocadero *
5/16 - Providence, RI @ Lupos #
5/17 - Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock #
5/18 - Baltimore, MD @ Rams Head Live #
5/20 - Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution #
5/21 - Orlando, FL @ House of Blues #
5/23 - Atlanta, GA @ Tabernacle #
5/24 - New Orleans, LA @ House of Blues #
5/25 - Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless #
5/27 - Dallas, TX @ Palladium #
5/28 - San Antonio, TX @ Sunset Station #
5/30 - Phoenix, AZ @ Marquee Theater #
5/31 - Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues #
6/01 - Los Angeles, CA @ Avalon #
6/03 - Anaheim, CA @ The Grove #
6/04 - San Francisco, CA @ Grand Ballroom #
6/06 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater #
6/07 - Spokane, WA @ Big Easy #
6/08 - Billings, MT @ Shrine Auditorium #
6/09 - Rapid City, SD @ Rushmore Hall #
6/10 - Denver, CO @ Ogden Theater #
6/12 - Kansas City, KS @ Beaumont #
6/13 - St. Louis, MO @ Pops #
6/14 - Milwaukee, WI @ Rave #
6/16 - Minneapolis, MN @ 1st Avenue #
6/17 - Fargo, ND @ The Venue #
6/19 - Grand Rapids, MI @ Orbit Room #
6/20 - Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom #
6/23 - Toledo, OH @ Headliners #
6/24 - Chicago, IL @ House of Blues #
6/25 - Cincinatti, OH @ Bogarts #
6/27 - Columbus, OH @ Newport Music Hall #
6/28 - New York City, NY @ Terminal 5 #
6/29 - Johnson City, NY @ Magic City #
* w/ Kingdom of Sorrow & Soil
# w/ Hatebreed, 3 Inches of Blood
Nine Inch Nails - North American Tour 2008:Jul. 25 - Pemberton BC @ Pemberton Festival
Jul. 26 - Seattle WA @ Key Arena at Seattle Center
Jul. 28 - Edmonton ALB @ Rexall Place
Jul. 29 - Calgary ALB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
Jul. 31 - Winnipeg MAN @ MTS Centre
Aug. 02 - Minneapolis MN @ Target Center
Aug. 05 - Toronto ONT @ Air Canada Centre
Aug. 07 - Uncasville CT @ Mohegan Sun Arena
Aug. 08 - Worcester MA @ DCU Center
Aug. 12 - Knoxville TN @ Knoxville Civic Coliseum
Aug. 13 - Duluth GA @ Gwinnett Arena
Aug. 15 - Oklahoma City OK @ Ford Center
Aug. 16 - Houston TX @ Toyota Center
Aug. 18 - Dallas TX @ American Airlines Center
Aug. 20 - Saint Louis MO @ Scottrade Center
Aug. 22 - Cleveland OH @ Quicken Loans Arena
Aug. 23 - Auburn Hills MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
Aug. 27 - East Rutherford NJ @ Izod Center
Aug. 29 - Philadelphia PA @ Wachovia Center
Aug. 31 - Lexington KY @ Rupp Arena
Sep. 02 - Morrison CO @ Red Rocks Amphitheater
Sep. 03 - Salt Lake City UT @ The E Center Of West Valley
Sep. 05 - Oakland CA @ Oracle Arena (formerly Oakland Arena)
Sep. 06 - Inglewood CA @ The Forum
[The Melvins]
The Melvins will be releasing their followup to 2006's (A) Senile Animal on July 8 via Mike Patton's Ipecac label. The album will be called Nude With Boots. Jared and Coady of Big Business are on board. More to come.
Interviews! Brooklyn Vegan metal correspondent Black Bubblegum spoke with Josh Graham, a name you might not immediately recognize, but should. Graham is the man behind Neurosis' visuals, has played guitar with Red Sparowes, and recently started a new project, A Storm of Light, whose debut, And We Wept the Black Ocean Within, is due out June 2nd via Neurot.
Pitchfork's Brandon Stosuy had a chat with Tomas Lindberg of Disfear/At The Gates and indispensable Meshuggah skinsman Tomas Haake.
Headbanger's Blog shot the shit with The Sword's JD Cronise.
Remember that Obituary tour? Well, yeah, it's canceled.
Lastly, At The Gates have added a second NYC date. Presale here now, regular sale here Tuesday.
That's it for today, happy Monday!
January 28, 2008
Neurosis & Mastodon Played Brooklyn Masonic Temple [1/25/08]
It seems like everyone was at at least one of last week's two Neurosis/Mastodon shows at the Brooklyn Masonic Temple (pictured above). Brooklyn Vegan, this guy, and even the New York Times were there on Thursday. I went Friday, running into the MetalSucks dudes within five minutes of getting there and later witnessing Doomriders bass slinger Jebb Riley giving Neurosis a standing ovation. Ear Farm was also there Friday.
Were you?
I missed A Storm of Light, but crustcake lensman Jesse Angelo did not:
[A Storm of Light]
I really wanted to check them out too, how were they?
[Mastodon]
Mastodon were tight as ever, despite a slightly muddy sound (which apparently was the case on Thursday as well) and Neurosis were mind-blowing, as expected. I'll just leave it at that-- if you missed the show, you can read about it all over the internet (see above) or hope that Neurosis and/or Mastodon announce some dates soon. (for all of our Northwest-based readers-- all two of you-- Neurosis will be in Seattle with Converge next month. Get tickets here)
[Neurosis]
More photos here.[MP3] Mastodon - "Crystal Skull"
[MP3] Neurosis - "Water is not Enough"
January 24, 2008
Crustcake Picks - NYC Shows 1/24 - 1/30
Well, I pretty much have tunnel vision for one show and one show only this week.... Yup, you guessed it-- Neurosis and Mastodon at Brooklyn Masonic Temple. I'm a big fan of both bands, and seeing the elusive Neurosis is an opportunity not to be missed.
It's a two-night stint-- tonight's show is with U.S. Christmas and tomorrow's is with A Storm of Light. A Storm of Light, led by Josh Graham (formerly of Red Sparowes), are heavily Neurosis-influenced, judging by the lone unmastered track on their MySpace (which is fairly unsurprising given that Graham also apparently does visuals for Neurosis).
Appropriately, Neurosis-owned Neurot Recordings will be releasing their debut album. The album, called And We Wept the Black Ocean Within will be out in April.
Check out the stunning cover art (click to enlarge):
Unfortunately, if you weren't paying attention before, you're up shit creek-- both shows are now sold out.
NYC Shows 1/24 - 1/30:Thursday 1/24 - Neurosis, Mastodon, U.S. Christmas @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
In case you missed it before, here is the epic show flyer, which they had better have available for purchase at the shows:
Friday 1/25 - Neurosis, Mastodon, A Storm of Light @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple
[MP3] Mastodon - "Crystal Skull"
[MP3] Neurosis - "Water is not Enough"
