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 16, 2008
Monday Metal Update 6/16
Judas Priest's Nostradamus is streaming in full over at MTV's The Leak. Nostradamus, the legendary band's 16th studio LP, will be released tomorrow.
Halford and Co. are currently on tour in Europe, and they'll be joining Testament, Motörhead, and Heaven and Hell in August for the Metal Masters tour.
The Melvins and Big Business have added some Southwest dates to their previously announced Nude With Boots summer tour. Big Bidness also have a few left coast dates scheduled beforehand:
July 5, 2008 El Corazon - Seattle, WashingtonThe Melvins, Big Business - Nude With Boots Tour:
July 6, 2008 Berbati’s Pan - Portland, Oregon
July 8, 2008 12 Galaxies - San Francisco, CA
Jul. 16, 2008 Santa Barbara,CA @ Velvet JonesThe Melvins release Nude With Boots on July 8th.
Jul. 17, Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
Jul. 18, San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
Jul. 19, Reno, NV @ Club Underground
Jul. 21, Modesto, CA @ Fat Cat
Jul. 26, Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market *
Jul. 29, Teton Village,WY @ Mangy Moose
Jul. 31, Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
Aug. 3, Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Aug. 4, Chicago, IL @ Double Door
Aug. 5, Detroit, MI @ Small's
Aug. 6, Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Aug. 7, Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Aug. 9, Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
Aug. 10, Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
Aug. 12, New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
Aug. 13, Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Aug. 14, New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Aug. 15, Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Aug. 16, Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
Aug. 17, Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
Aug. 18, Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
Aug. 20, New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
Aug. 21, Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
Aug. 22, Austin, TX @ Emo's
Aug. 23, Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
Aug. 25, Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad
Aug. 26, Tucson, AZ @ Plush
Aug. 27, Phoenix, AZ @ The Brickhouse Theater
Aug. 28, San Diego, CA @ Canes
Aug. 29, Pomona, CA @ Glass House
* No Big Business
New Hampshire post-hardcore dudes Transistor Transistor have a few dates scheduled surrounding their appearance at the Indianapolis Dude Fest this coming weekend (if you live in or near Indianapolis, you really ought to go to this-- check out the lineup here). Transistor Transistor's tour starts tonight in New York, where they'll be appearing with Killing the Dream, Ruiner, The Carrier, Grave Maker, and Reclaim the Crown. Transistor Transistor recently released Ruined Lives.
Transistor Transistor - 2008 Dates:
JuneTee Pee's resident crust punkers Annihilation Time have just announced a handful of northeast dates:
16 New York, NY @ The Knitting Factory
17 Syracuse, NY @ Castle Rockmoore w/ The_Network
18 Bowling Green, OH @ Howard's w/ The_Network
19 Champaign, IL @ Error House w/ The_Network
20 Indianapolis, IN @ The Emerson Theater (DUDE FEST w/ Pig Destroyer,
The Red Chord, Nachtmystium)
21 Baltimore, MD @ Charm City Art Space
22 Washington DC @ The Black Cat
23 Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar w/ The_Network
24 Brooklyn, NY @ Death By Audio w/ The_Network
25 Dover, NH @ The Brick House w/ The_Network
6/19 - Rock Room - Pittsburgh,PAToronto's Fucked Up have signed to Matador, who will be re-releasing the band's Year of the Pig EP later this year along with a series of 7" remixes. We just reviewed Year of the Pig.
6/20 - Talking Head Club - Baltimore, MD
6/21 - No Way Fest - Richmond, VA
6/22 - Venue TBA - Philadelphia, PA
6/23 - The Cakeshop 6pm All Ages - New York, NY
6/23 - The Charleston 9pm - Brooklyn, NY
Pioneering post-hardcore band Circle Takes the Square are in the studio. Superfans can keep tabs on their progress in the studio here.
That's it for us, happy Monday!
Continue Reading...
June 4, 2008
Tour - The Melvins, Big Business
The Melvins will be touring the US with Big Business throughout July and August in support of their upcoming LP, Nude With Boots (July 8th, Ipecac). Will this be the Melvins/BB format we've come to know and love of late, with both bands incorporating into each other? We certainly hope so.
We really wanted to post a video of The Melvins and Big Business playing together so you could get a taste of the awesomeness, but we couldn't find one that didn't sound like SHIT to save our lives. If you have a suggestion, send it to crustcake@gmail.com.
Either way, this tour is not to be missed. We've heard from a lot of people who don't 'get' Big Business-- all we can say is you'll get them the minute you see them in the flesh. Fuck yeah bitches!
Tour dates after the jump.
The Melvins, Big Business - 2008 Dates:Jul. 16, 2008 Santa Barbara,CA @ Velvet Jones
Jul. 17, Sacramento, CA @ The Boardwalk
Jul. 18, San Francisco, CA @ Slim's
Jul. 19, Reno, NV @ Club Underground
Jul. 21, Modesto, CA @ Fat Cat
Jul. 26, Seattle, WA @ Showbox at the Market *
Jul. 29, Teton Village,WY @ Mangy Moose
Jul. 31, Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre
Aug. 3, Madison, WI @ High Noon Saloon
Aug. 4, Chicago, IL @ Double Door
Aug. 5, Detroit, MI @ Small's
Aug. 6, Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop
Aug. 7, Buffalo, NY @ Town Ballroom
Aug. 9, Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
Aug. 10, Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street
Aug. 12, New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
Aug. 13, Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
Aug. 14, New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom
Aug. 15, Baltimore, MD @ Ottobar
Aug. 16, Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle
Aug. 17, Atlanta, GA @ The Drunken Unicorn
Aug. 18, Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club
Aug. 20, New Orleans, LA @ One Eyed Jacks
* No Big Business
April 21, 2008
Monday Metal Update 4/21
Remember that time we slagged Grails' drummer Emil Amos? Well, Mr. Amos (not the famous one) has been officially announced as Chris Hakius' replacement in Om. Hopefully Al Cisneros will teach the guy a thing or two about 'less is more.' Om will be releasing a 7" featuring the song "Gebel Barkal" later this year via Sub Pop.
Om - 2008 Tour Dates:
May 17 - Festival International de Musique Actuelle Victoriaville, Quebec, CanadaChris Hakius has also been replaced in the highly-anticipated Shrinbuilder project, here by Melvins' drummer Dale Crover. Speaking of the Melvins, they'll be touring this summer, again with Big Business, who've added a third member-- guitarist/keyboardist Toshi Kasai (Altamont)-- and announced a new album to be released by Hydra Head.
May 29 - De Kreun / Theater Antigone, Kortrijk, Belgium
May 30 - Parc del Forum, Barcelona, Spain (Primavera Festival)
June 4 - Shibuya O Nest, Tokyo, Japan
June 5 - Huck Finn, Nagoya, Japan
June 6 - Fandango, Osaka, Japan
June 8 - Z-1, Niigata, Japan
June 10 - Shibuya O Nest, Tokyo, Japan
The insan-o-tour featuring Judas Priest, Motörhead, Heaven and Hell, and Testament has gone from rumor to fact.
'Metal Masters' Tour 2008:
Aug. 06 - Susquehanna Bank Center - Camden, NJHalford and Co. will be releasing Nostradamus, their sixteenth album, on June 17 (US) and 16 (everywhere else). Hear the album's title track at Blabbermouth.
Aug. 07 - Nissan Pavilion - Bristow, VA
Aug. 09 - PNC Bank Arts Center - Holmdel, NJ
Aug. 10 - Nikon at Jones Beach - Wantagh, NY
Aug. 13 - Molson Amphitheatre - Toronto, ON
Aug. 15 - Mohegan Sun Arena - Uncasville, CT *
Aug. 16 - Post Gazette Pavilion - Pittsburgh, PA
Aug. 18 - DTE Energy Music Theatre - Detroit, MI
Aug. 19 - First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre - Chicago, IL
Aug. 22 - Superpages.com Amphitheatre - Dallas, TX
Aug. 23 - Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion - Houston, TX
Aug. 24 - Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre - San Antonio, TX
Aug. 27 - Journal Pavilion - Albuquerque, NM
Aug. 28 - Cricket Pavilion - Phoenix, AZ
Aug. 30 - Glen Helen Pavilion - San Bernardino, CA
Aug. 31 - Shoreline Amphitheatre - Mountain View, CA
Sep. 01 - Pearl Concert Theater at Palms Casino Resort - Las Vegas, NV
Black Cobra's kick-ass Feather and Stone will finally be available in vinyl format on May 27 via At A Loss Recordings. Black Cobra hit the road in Europe next month with Saviours.
Saviours, Black Cobra - 2008 Euro Dates:
05/15/2008 Magasin 4 - Brussels, BelgiumIn other news from At A Loss, the label will be releasing Arkansas-based metallers Deadbird's second full-length, Twilight Ritual on June 24 in North America. John Baizley (Baroness) did the cover art, which resembles-- wouldn't you know it-- a dead bird at twilight:
05/16/2008 013 - Tilburg, Holland
05/17/2008 Muziek O Droom - Hasselt, Belgium
05/18/2008 Het Podium - Hoogeveen, Holland
05/19/2008 La Zone - Luik, Belgium
05/20/2008 Hafenklang - Hamburg, Germany
05/21/2008 Pirate Cove - Berlin, Germany
05/22/2008 Rosenkeller - Jena, Germany
05/23/2008 Arena - Vienna, Austria
05/24/2008 PMK - Innsbruck, Austria
05/25/2008 Circolo Magnolia - Milano, Italy
05/26/2008 Le Sonic - Lyon, France
05/27/2008 Mojomatic - Montpelliers, France
05/28/2008 Le Férallieurs - Nantes, France
05/29/2008 Epicentre - Cherbourg, France
05/30/2008 La Mécanique Onlulatoire - Paris, France
And speaking of Baroness, the fast-rising Georgian quartet has some dates scheduled with emo-prog-sometimes-guilty-pleasures (but don't tell anyone, especially our girlfriends) Coheed and Cambria as well as a few European Festival appearances.
Baroness - 2008 Dates:
May 19 - Roseland - Portland, Oregon *Signings:
May 20 - Showbox - Seattle, Washington *
May 21 - Commodore Ballroom - Vancouver, British Columbia *
May 23 - Edmonton Events Center - Edmonton, Alberta *
May 24 - MacEwan Hall - Calgary, Alberta *
May 25 - Odeon Event Center - Saskatoon, Saskatchewan *
May 26 - Burton Cummings - Winnipeg, Manitoba *
May 28 - First Ave - Minneapolis, Minnesota *
May 29 - Orbit Room - Grand Rapids, Michigan *
May 30 - Gravity Nightclub At Ches Arena - Cheswick, Pennsylvania *
May 31 - The Sound Academy - Toronto, Ontario *
Jun 18 - Melkweg - Amsterdam
Jun 19 - Vk - Brussels
Jun 20 - HELLFEST - Clisson
Jun 21 - SUMMER BLAST Festival - Trier
Jun 23 - HOVE Festival - Arendal
* w/ Coheed and Cambria
• Prosthetic has signed Seattle blackened death metallers Book of Black Earth. The band's Prosthetic debut, Horoskopus, "a concept album about the hidden astrological elements of the Christian church," will be recorded at The Red Room Studios in Seattle with Chris Common (Mouth of the Architect, These Arms Are Snakes).
• Black Market Activities signed The Indomitable Iron Sloth. Formerly known as The Abominable Iron Sloth, the band plays what can be most efficiently described as 'fast doom.'
• Seventh Rule Recordings has added Brooklyn's Wetnurse to their ranks.
That's it for us today, happy Monday!
Continue Reading...
April 8, 2008
Bullets with Bitterboxcar - Big Business Family Tree
by Bitterboxcar
I guess I'm on a Seattle kick. A bit of a 'family tree,' if you will, about the origins of Big Business. If I knew any more I would write it. I'm kinda hung over. At work. My legs hurt cause I'm dehydrated. It's windy and I got blown... over on my bike. Wah-wah.
Karp - Live (1996):
Download: Karp - "Bacon Industry" [MP3]
Tight Bros From Way Back When - Live (2001):
The Whip - Live (2002):
Big Business - "Focus Pocus" (live 2006):
Download: Big Business - "Grounds for Divorce" [MP3]
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!
March 6, 2008
Crustcake Picks - LA Shows 3/6 - 3/12
by beatmasterspeech (LA)
The theme for this week is "Less Is More." There aren't many shows but the ones that are happening are definitely "get your but into traffic and go"-worthy. This Friday come get hip to the up-and-coming apocalyptic sounds of Black Math Horseman-- you expect to hear more from these guys (and girl) in the near future. Or scratch crustcake gerf’s nuts by going to check out one of his personal faves, Delta Spirit, at the Troubadour this Viernes.
Fans and folks just finding out about influential so-cal hardcore act Taken will have one more chance to witness the greatness live. They’ve reunited to show folks how it was (and should still be) done and will take the stage with Graf Orlock this Saturday night at Chain Reaction. Better get your tickets now, as this is sure to sell out. And a word to the wise, if a special gal (or guy for that matter) catches your eye, be sure to check their ID as this place is all ages and usually has a line of Soccer Moms in oversized SUVs waiting to pick up their kids from the rock 'n roll show.
Crustcake favorites Big Business are playing Spaceland on Sunday-- you would be destroying your inner chi if you do not go to this show.
Get a (non toxic and animal friendly) whiff of Earth Crisis at the Knitting Factory next Wednesday. A personal fave, Shai Hulud, will be sharing the stage with them as well...
Now I will relieve myself on this computer...
LA show picks 3/6 - 3/12:Friday 3/7 - Black Math Horsemen, The Copperthief @ Relax Bar
Friday 3/7 - Delta Spirit, The Virgins, Port O Brien @ The Troubadour [tix]
Saturday 3/8 - Taken, Graf Orlock, It Prevails, The Ghost Inside @ Chain Reaction [tix]
Sunday 3/9 - Big Business, Red Fang, The Cops @ Spaceland [tix]
Wednesday 3/12 - Earth Crisis, Sworn Enemy, Shai Hulud, Down to Nothing, Recon @ Knitting Factory [tix]
Download: Big Business - "Just as the Day was Dawning" [MP3]
Download: Earth Crisis - "End Begins" [MP3]
Listen: Taken [Reunion MySpace]
December 20, 2007
Beatmasterspeech's Best of 2007
First let me start off by saying there was a ton of quality shit this year. Second, I feel as if 2007 has come and gone too quickly for music and me. I’m pretty geeky and obsessive when it comes to collecting catalog albums, and so I feel as if I still haven’t gotten to a few great records out there in ’07 land. However, the albums below definitely defined this year for me. Read on and feel free to yell at me!
10~
Anaal Nathrakh
Hell is Empty, and all the Devils are Here [Amazon] [iTunes]
Pure and disgusting power, this album is unrelenting. The vocals will make you shit yourself!
Crucial Cut: "Shatter the Empyrean" [MP3]
9~
Sweet Cobra
Forever [Amazon]
Rock n' roll spirit is still alive. 333 parts skate punk + 333 parts sludge = Forever.
Crucial Cut: "Jackals and Arabs" [MP3]
8~
Despised Icon
The Ills of Modern Man [Amazon] [iTunes]
A successful marriage of hardcore and death metal. Thick, brutal, and punishing.
Crucial Cut: "Sheltered Reminiscence" [MP3]
7~
Rwake
Voices of Omens [Amazon]
If you’ve ever wondered what the bastard child of Pink Floyd and YOB would sound like, this is the album for you.
Crucial Cut: "Inverted Overtures" [MP3]
6~
Jesu
Conqueror [Amazon]
Broadrick displays his genius once again. Beautifully uplifting and apocalyptic at the same time.
Crucial Cut: "Conqueror" [MP3]
5~
Neurosis
Given to the Rising [Amazon] [iTunes]
The masters that defined an entire movement have made another impressive statement with Given to the Rising. It’s a definite audio experience.
Crucial Cut: "Water Is Not Enough" [MP3]
4~
Earth
Hibernaculum [Amazon]
I ended many a night lying in bed listening to this record. Each song is a movement within a perfect dark spaghetti western soundtrack.
Crucial Cut: "Ouroboros Is Broken" [MP3]
3~
Baroness
Red Album [Amazon]
A perfect evolutionary step for an already amazing band. This record really brought them into the ‘indieground’ spotlight.
Crucial Cut: "The Birthing" [MP3]
2~
High on Fire
Death is this Communion [Amazon]
Fist pumpin’, iron horse ridin', whiskey chuggin’, head banging heavy fucking metal!
Crucial Cut: "Rumours of War" [MP3]
1~
Big Business
Here Come The Waterworks [Amazon]
Let’s just say this was my cup of coffee of sorts on the way into work each day since its release early this year. I guarantee you’ll catch yourself humming these tunes by the water cooler on bagel day.
Crucial Cut: "Hands Up" [MP3]
December 7, 2007
ISIS - Live at The Troubadour with Big Business, 27 [11/20/07]
It was November 20 2007, and I was preparing to leave my 'Joe vs the Volcano' office space and head out to the Troubadour for a show that I’d been psyched about for some time. As I headed up surface streets through the plastic landscape known as Beverly Hills, I began to think about all the times I’d seen ISIS perform from Boston to LA. I tried to rate which one was my favorite (the free outdoor show at MOCA in downtown LA quickly came to mind) however it was too hard to pick just one.
I refrained myself from searching the net before the show to see what the set list may be in an attempt to maintain an element of surprise. 27 and Big Business were the fluffers for the evening. Initially I was more pumped to catch Big Business live since I had only seen them once before. I thought I knew what to expect when it came to an ISIS show: mostly tunes from the most recent album peppered with two or three from an older one here and there. Little did I know that the my hopes for a career spanning setlist would soon be a reality!
The night seemed to be going smoothly as I arrived early enough to find a free parking spot directly across from the venue, avoiding the annoying $7-or-so parking fee normally associated with West Hollywood shows. I made it through the doors during the first song of of 27’s set. The sound I walked in to instantly made me feel as if I was in some dark spaghetti western.
I was digging what I was hearing. It was an overall dark melodic minimalist sound that created space and beauty at the same time. Vocalist Maria Christopher’s voice was so familiar to me but I couldn’t quite place it, and she had this calm image when singing that kept my attention.
Towards the end of their set, the members of 27 revealed a special tribute to the headliners. Each of the four members where wearing shirts that displayed an 'I' or an 'S', and soon you could hear the crowd chuckle slightly as the word 'ISIS' was clearly displayed. After they finished, I felt very fortunate to have seen them-- it's always nice when you come with no expectations and leave pleasantly surprised.
Big Business popped up on stage as the place was beginning to fill up and my armpits were beginning to sweat (but not stink!). The last time I had caught Big Business, I was blown away by their ability to feel the vibe of the crowd and, in return, give one hell of a show.
This time I was ready to throw down: I had been jamming their latest LP, Here Come The Water Works, since its release earlier this year, as well as always throwing a few Head for the Shallow tracks on my recent “Amazing Road Trip Jam Mixes.”
As soon as I heard the cable connect to the amp and the pleasant hum of a distorted bass about to blow up in my face, I almost shat myself. Within seconds, the catchiest bass riffs and the fury of the drums busted out of the speakers and into my fist, which was straight up in the air (alright, that was a little cheesy but Big Business puts a twinkle in my eye).
I won’t name drop all the tunes they did, but let’s just say the new album was well-covered and the only older tune that was graced upon was "Easter Romantic." I couldn’t help but notice an annoying, overdriven feedback between songs, which also annoyed the band but didn’t damper their mood a bit. In fact, it became unlikely inspiration for the improv part during the middle of "Easter Romantic."
Needless to say I laughed, I cried, I pissed my pants. Never miss this band if you have a chance to see them live. NEVER!
[ISIS - photo credit]
After Big Business, I managed to get access to the tiny upper balcony over the Troubadour’s entrance, which was lucky because by this time the place was packed. Now I could see the entire band, audience, and other balcony and at this point regretted not having a camera. As the lights dimmed, I got that slightly chill-bump feeling across my skin. ISIS at last!
They dropped into the first crushing note and suddenly the packed crowd became a single moving head-bang. I love this shit!, I thought, grinning from ear to ear.
As it was ISIS' 10th Anniversary show, I was hoping for some oldies-but-goodies. Recently, most of their tours have featured setlists laden with tunes from the relevant latest album, followed by maybe a handful of older tracks. Needless to say, my main hopes for this show were for ISIS to give me a tour-- so to speak-- of their impressive repertoire.
[ISIS - photo credit]
They started off from the brutal, sludgy beginnings and ended with the trademark epic onslaught that they have come to develop. They touched on each album/EP from the archives of awesomeness. The sound was amazing, the crowd was into it (which is a rare thing in jaded Hollywood), and the band was feeding off their energy.
They broke into "Carry" and, as Maria Christopher of 27 returned to the stage, I quickly realized why her voice sounded so familiar. Maria, as well as 27 guitarist Ayal Naor, collaborated with ISIS on their Oceanic LP.
As ISIS ended their set I could clearly tell this crowd wasn’t going anywhere. Quickly beckoned back by popular demand, ISIS returned to perform “Red Sea” and, joined once again by Maria and Ayal, they finished out with “Weight”.
It was by far the best ISIS show I’d seen in the past two or three years. As I returned to my perfect free parking space, I had a smile on my face and ringing in my ears. I could only hope that future ISIS setlists would contain as many pleasant surprises as that night's.[MP3] ISIS - "From Sinking"
[MP3] [via] Big Business - "Just as the Day was Dawning"
[MP3] [via] 27 - "Brighter Days"
ISIS [MySpace] [MP3]
In the Absence of Truth [Amazon] [iTunes]
November 15, 2007
Crustcake Picks - LA Shows 11/15 - 11/21
Welcome to the inaugural left coast crustcake show picks!
Shows below.
Bye.
Thursday 11/15 - All Shall Perish, From A Second Story Window, Emmure, Grayest Days @ Knitting Factory[MP3] From A Second Story Window - "I Tried Voodoo Once"
Sunday 11/18 - Lair of the Minotaur, It's Casual, 16, Crom, A D @ Relax Bar
Tuesday 11/20 - ISIS, Big Business, 27 @ Troubadour
Wednesday 11/21 - Suicidal Tendencies, Municipal Waste, Black President @ House of Blues, Hollywood
[MP3] Lair of the Minotaur - "Cannibal Massacre"
