Posted in Whathaveyou on September 10th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
At the end of last month, it was announced that DHU Records had picked up Pittsburgh post-sludgers Horehound for the release of their new EP, Weight, as an 8″ record that’s bound to screw up somebody or other’s vinyl shelf organization in a delightful fashion. The A-side of the two-tracker is called “Unbind” — why my brain keeps typing that as “unblind,” I have no idea, but it does — and it’s streaming now thanks to a new sampler that DHU has put up as a free download that also includes cuts from Doomstress, Astral Witch, Black Road, The Red Widows and a slew of others that only emphasize the good company Horehound are keeping on the label.
The band had some comment about the release come down the PR wire, so hell yeah I’ll post that with the stream of the track. The EP? Yeah, there are a whopping 66 copies being made, so yes, if you want one, you should not hesitate to place your orders promptly.
Info:
HOREHOUND RELEASE NEW EP SEPT. 27
Post-Doom authors Horehound have recorded their third release: a short, sweet, and intentional teaser of things to come. The two songs set-up on 8″ lathes for a special limited press will also be available on their Bandcamp page on September 27th. The group has kept with its ritual of recording and mixing with Matt Schor at The War Room, and mastering with James Plotkin.
DHU is including the first-side single, Unbind, from this record in their DHU SAMPLER MMXIX VOL. IV, which is set for 9/6/19, so you can get a peek at it now!
“The songs are the most personally connected I’ve felt to anything we’ve written as a band and I hope that connection is something people feel when listening but, more than anything, I hope people just rock it the fuck out.” — Vocalist, Shy Kennedy
“DHU Records understands the Heavy Underground better than most and works hard to find and market the bands in its roster. We are certain this will be a strong partnership to build on.” — Guitarist, Brendan Parrish
Weight will be available for purchase on vinyl through DHU Records website, as well as a limited amount on the Horehound site, and while copies last, at live shows. It will also be available digitally on Bandcamp (https://pro-sludge.com) and through streaming services beginning September 27th, 2019.
HOREHOUND | WEIGHT EP Side One: Unbind Side Two: The Heavy
Posted in Whathaveyou on August 29th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Before this entire post devolves into dick jokes — which, let’s just say, could happen — an eight-inch EP is just like a seven-inch EP, only, guess what?, one inch bigger. I can only think of one other heavy band in recent years who’ve put one out, so good for Pittsburgh’s Horehound and DHU Records teaming up to do something special together. As the band follows up late-2018’s full-length, Holocene (review here), they will release Weight, as a two-songer on eight-inch vinyl through the Netherlands-based imprint. That’s cool. Good fit, all that. The thing is, they’re only pressing 66 of them. That’s like nothing. Less than. That’s gone-on-preorders edition. The official release date is Sept. 27, and yeah, unless preorders open on Sept. 26, I can’t imagine there could possibly be any left by the time the official arrival gets here.
Horehound announced earlier this month that bassist Nick Kopco was leaving the band on amicable terms and that Louis Snyder (also Riparian) would fill in on for the time being until they get somebody to take the role permanently. I would assume it’s still Kopco on the EP, so Weight would also serve as, again presumably, his final recorded output with the band.
The following showed up on social medias:
!! LISTEN UP !!!
DHU Records is damn excited to sign Pittsburgh Heavies Horehound to join the DHU Family and release their upcoming 2 song EP Weight on an Exclusive and Limited 8″ Clear Lathe Cut Vinyl!
That’s right, you read that correct, an 8″ vinyl record!
Pressed once again by our vinyl brothers at Royal Mint Records and mastered for vinyl by the one and only James Plotkin
DHU is honored to be releasing new music by one of my favorite Doom bands!
Posted in Whathaveyou on July 30th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
I’ve had the good fortune of flying to Reykjavik a few times over the years, and from the air, Iceland is stark and gorgeous and like nothing else I’ve ever seen. I’ve never, however, had enough time there to actually leave the airport. It’s always fly-in-fly-out. Pittsburgh’s ZOM, on the other hand, will shoot over for a three-date run of Iceland at the end of August, hitting Reykjavik, Hafnarfjörður and Dalvik, a trip that will let them drive up the western coast of the country for a time before cutting inland a bit as they make their way north. Looks like an awesome way to do a weekender, and hey, if you could get three shows together in Iceland, wouldn’t you do it? Absolutely you would. It’s frickin’ Iceland. You go if you can go.
ZOM released their Argonauta Records debut, Nebulos, last year, and have been playing shows steadily since. This trip marks the first time they’ll leave the States for a show, though somehow one doubts it will be the last. An initial incursion, then.
Their announcement and the show details follow here. Because if you could go see a band from Pittsburgh in Icleand, wouldn’t you do it? Absolutely you would.
You get the idea:
ZOM to tour Iceland this August!
Pittsburgh, USA Stoner/Groove Heavy Rockers, ZOM (Argonauta Records) will embark on a tour of Iceland in late August, 2019.
It’s the band’s first trip overseas as a group in what they hope will be the first of many.
ZOM started as a recording project between Gero von Dehn (Von Dane/Monolith Wielder) and Andrew D’Cagna (Brimstone Coven/Ironflame) but morphed into a full fledged band after the recording of their debut release, Nebulos.
ZOM now features von Dehn (v/g), Ben Zerbe (Monolith Wielder-d), Matt Tuite (Penance/Blackfinger-g) and Sam Pesce (Del Rios-b).
Joining them on all three dates will be Icelandic heavy rockers, Alchemia. Southern flavored, stoner rockers, Volcanova (Iceland) will be perform on select shows.
ICELAND DATES:
Thur Aug 29th Gaukurinn Reykjavik With Alchemia and Volcanova
Friday Aug 30th R6013 or íslenski rokkbarinn Hafnarfjörður. With Alchemia and Volcanova
Sat Aug 31st – Dalvik Theatre Leikfelag Dalvikur Dalvik With Alchemia
Posted in Whathaveyou on July 16th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
First, I’d like to point out that the Thee Facebooks address for Pittsburgh’s Urns is ‘booUrns,’ which is about as choice as Simpsons references get without actually shooting Mr. Burns. Second, there’s a new song streaming now called “Curse” that leads off their upcoming self-titled debut that will see release on Aug. 10, one day after the release party at Howler’s in the band’s hometown. I’m getting a doom rock vibe from the first half of the track and some distinctly sludgier vibes from the second, but all that really tells me is they’re looking to throw a few curves here and there, and that’ll do nicely. One might recognize bassist/backing vocalist Justin Gizzi from Monolith Wielder and Molasses Barge as well, just in case you needed more proof of doomly bona fides.
Pedigree goes far, but riffs go further, so dig into the track and see what you think. Here’s some background:
Crying out like the last gasp of a man on fire, punctuated by overdriven guitars growling and biting through shifting moods, Urns take their time to get where they are going, exploring the smoke-filled soundscape along the way. Droning guitars give way to aureate vocal harmonies at times, just as soon as sludgy riffs desperately trudge forward behind blood-throated shrieks. Vocalist/guitarist Mike Myzak recruited bassist Justin Gizzi and drummer Rick Fontanese in 2014, with Mitchell Cochran joining in 2017 to form the line-up for Urns’ debut self-titled record (engineered by Jason Jouver of Plus/Minus Recording, mastered by Jack Endino of Soundhouse Recording) to be released 8/9 at Howler’s in Pittsburgh.
Has played with: Weedeater, Bell Witch, Full of Hell, Yob, Heavy Temple, Stinking Lizaveta, Witch Mountain
Posted in Whathaveyou on May 10th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Now a four-piece, Pittsburgh melodic doom metallers Deathwhite have announced they’ve begun recording their second album, to be titled Grave Image and released through Season of Mist. The same imprint stood behind their early-2018 debut, For a Black Tomorrow (review here), which offered an American interpretation of the kind of emotive doom proffered by the likes of Katatonia or Alternative 4-era Anathema. It was a full-length that I think flew under a lot of people’s radar, but as a fan of the style was something that hit a chord with me, and I’ll look forward to hearing what they come out with having returned to Cerebral Audio Productions to lay down the instrumental tracks while vocals will be done at Mana Recording in Tampa, Florida. Nice vacation, and I wonder if that means Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal) will be at the helm. Could be interesting.
The band made the announcement of work being done in short and sweet fashion via a social media post. I’ve also included the stream of the first LP below in case you’d like a refresher.
Have at it:
DEATHWHITE Enters Studio To Record New Album, ‘Grave Image’
It is with great pleasure to share we are currently in the throes of recording our second full-length album, “Grave Image.” The album will be released in the not-terribly-distant future via Season of Mist.
Cerebral Audio Productions’ Shane Mayer is once again overseeing the sessions; vocals will be tracked at Mana Recording in Tampa, Florida. And, much to our delight, the esteemed Dan Swano will handle mastering.
We are now a quartet, having added a second guitar player. Such an addition, along with new twists and turns in the songwriting process, make “Grave Image” an effort we are imminently proud of. We look forward to sharing more details as matters unfold. Until then…
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 4th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
The first lineup announcement from Pittsburgh-based Descendants of Crom III is a doozy. The headliners are apparently still to be announced — though would anyone complain if Solace or Valkyrie headlined a night? — but between them and the likes of Irata, Argus, Backwoods Payback and Foghound, it’s already shaping up to be a killer three-dayer this September. Awesome to see Sun Voyager on this bill and the likes of Void King and Fox 45 getting a look. Pale Grey Lore might even have their new record out by then — Solace too, for that matter — but either way, there’s a lot here to dig immediately, and of course for this kind of announcement that’s the whole point.
They’re selling early-bird tickets this month, so you know, get out that calendar and add another one to your already-absolutely-slammed festival schedule. It’s madness, but, you know, the good kind of madness. Here’s hoping the universe doesn’t collapse between now and then.
Thus-far confirmations follow, as per social media:
DESCENDANTS OF CROM III – Announces 2019 Event For Sept. 20-22; Bands Incl. VALKYRIE, BACKWOODS PAYBACK + More!
– A GATHERING OF THE HEAVY UNDERGROUND – – SEPTEMBER 20-22, 2019 – – STEEL CITY, USA –
The third annual DESCENDANTS OF CROM will be held once again in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, spanning the weekend of September 20th. The PGH underground scene of heavy rock and metal is healthy and thriving and the location is perfect. Feeding great regional bands to a hungry crowd and serving up internationally legendary fan-favorites to entice music lovers in the door to experience these amazing local artists.
Descendants of Crom came out of the gates running with the first event in 2017, becoming a strong contender among other established regional music festivals. The 2019 events begin on Friday, September 20th, with a Pre-Gala evening at Howlers, followed by two full-day events on Saturday and Sunday at Cattivo.
Shy Kennedy has once again hand-picked and curated a beautiful mixture of acts for Descendants Of Crom III. While a few more updates will complete the lineup for the full schedule of events over the weekend, a most incredible roster of bands is included today. All are invited to become part of the experience at the 2019 Pre-Gala and Weekend Events!
Lineup so far: Solace Valkyrie Argus Irata Backwoods Payback Enhailer Icarus Witch Brimstone Coven Foghound Kingsnake Sun Voyager Witchkiss Leather Lung Frayle Tines Spacelord Pillärs PALE GREY LORE Lightning Born NIGHT VAPOR Pyrithe Riparian Fox 45 Void King Official: COMA Action Camp White Alice Old Dream Motometer
Posted in Reviews on December 26th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
Pittsburgh four-piece Horehound worked quickly after forming to turn around their impressive 2016 self-titled debut (review here), which was first released through Blackseed Records and picked up shortly thereafter by Hellmistress Records. In the intervening two years, they’ve worked toward becoming forerunners of Pittsburgh heavy, and their second long-player, Holocene, would seem to do nothing to slow their momentum in that regard. Fronted by the multifaceted vocals of Shy Kennedy — also of Blackseed Records and Pittsburgh’s Descendants of Crom fest — with Brendan Parrish on guitar, Nick Kopco on bass and JD Dauer on drums, Horehound undertake significant development in the six-track (well, six and a quick hidden bonus cut, anyway) and 45-minute long-player, and aligned with Doom Stew Records, they seem to signal their embarking on a different level of their approach even with the Brian Mercer album art.
Their songcraft is in the process of becoming no less textured, and while influences blend from the likes of Paradise Lost, Year of the Cobra, Candlemass (looking at you, “Sloth”) and traditionalist American doom, there is a grit to the production that keep the album earthbound no matter how far it might reach in terms of melody or atmosphere. It’s worth noting that at this point, Horehound have been a band for about three years, and Holocene is their second full-length in less time than than it takes some bands to get together a debut EP, so the fact of their motivation is writ large in their growing body of output, but it’s in their songwriting as well. One can hear a more dynamic presence taking shape in “Dier’s Dirge,” with its hook, “What we’ve become, can’t be undone/What we’ve destroyed, can’t be undone,” delivered patiently by Kennedy atop Parrish‘s severe riffing. That grim outlook is manifest in leadoff and longest track (immediate points) “The Kind,” which begins with a wistful minute-plus stretch of acoustic guitar and seems to work in movements to introduce various elements from the album, be it the somber mood, the melo-sludge push, Kennedy‘s play between growls and clean-sung lines, or the song’s what-if-Electric–Wizard-got-clean capstone solo.
“The Kind” is very much a closer made opener, with the acoustic intro serving largely as the difference in runtime between it and subsequent pieces, and as its feedback ending fades out into the starting crashes of “Dier’s Dirge” — which, as it happens is the second-longest cut at 7:50 — Holocene clearly enters another phase. If we’re picking highlights, I’ll take “Dier’s Dirge” for the already-noted chorus, which is a standout in the departure of the vocals from the melodic patterning of the guitar, but neither is the accomplishment of “The Kind” to be undersold as a standout work. But there’s clearly a shift in momentum with “Dier’s Dirge” picks up and leads into the rest of the album, and as the faster, shorter-at-6:17 “L’Appel du Vide” completes side A, that momentum only gets more fervent as pushed by the ultra-solid rhythm section of Dauer and Kopco, the latter of whom brings a tonal weight to the rolling crash of the drums that proves crucial in conveying the sludgier aspects of what Horehound do.
Those too are prefaced in “The Kind,” of course, but as Holocene pans out, it builds on the parameters set forth in the opener, such that the spacious moments in the beginning of “L’Appel du Vide” set up what follows as a surge of energy, and the compression effects on the vocals add a monstrous feel to the track that the also-sub-seven-minutes “Sloth” picks up as it starts side B. That kind of multi-level structure to the album is further emblematic of the progression they’ve made overall, but also of the changing in their thinking of how an LP should function. Whether you’re listening on a linear format — CD/DL — or one requiring a side switch — LP/CS — there are considerations made such that a flow is maintained front-to-back as well as in individual parts. As the melancholy apex of “Sloth” carries over to the long-held notes of the guitar at the end, giving way to feedback, there’s not interruption of what the band has thus far worked hard to build. And yet the personality of the album is changing.
A bluesy edge makes its way into the beginning verses of “Anastatica,” and trades of volume are effectively made as the track rolls into its chorus of “ooh”s and fluid, languid chorus. But the song, which takes its name from the Rose of Jericho, or the “resurrection plant,” follows suit in a subtle shift from “Sloth” before it in eschewing harsher vocals and so, while it benefits from the tension that at any moment it might become more aggressive, it ultimately shows a willingness on the part of Horehound to do what best serves the whims of their craft — an impulse that will only help them as they continue to move forward, no matter what those whims might dictate as regards screams or anything else. “Sloth” hints at harmonies in its midsection, and closer “Highball” follows suit in terms of casting off the more abrasive growling as it finds Parrish leading the way into the song’s second half with a guitar meander topped with layers of vocal melody for an effect somewhere between Sabbath and Type O Negative that nonetheless carries an air as well of heavy post-rock while building smoothly to a bigger finish.
Dauer tosses in choice cymbal work like it’s nothing as Kopco holds steady on low end and Kennedy brings an ethereality to the final moments on vocals, having said just about all there is to say in the last lines: “You can’t see me/You don’t know me/Yet I know you/You are weak, untrue.” “Highball” caps at just under seven minutes, which is right about standard for Horehound, and a hidden bonus track reverses the screamed portion of the chorus to “Dier’s Dirge” to close out. So technically, there are screams on side B one way or the other. Fair enough. There are those who decry the use of harsh vocal styles outright. I’m not one of them. But it’s interesting that Holocene would divide its sides along such lines, and given the obvious thought put into songwriting and the album’s presentation overall, that doesn’t seem like an accident. As to what it might say about the direction and creative development under way, I wouldn’t guess. The fact of the matter is that as fast as Horehound have worked, they’re still a relatively new band. Holocene is a crucial moment for them in establishing who they want to be in terms of sound and form.
Posted in Bootleg Theater on October 23rd, 2018 by JJ Koczan
There’s a special kind of magic that happens when everything clicks in the rehearsal space. Some songs a band agonizes over, endlessly revising part after part, transition after transition. The smallest tempo change can take a month to iron out. Then some other songs take about as long to write as they take to play for a first time through. I don’t know what goes into releasing your two first albums in the same year, but as Jakethehawk approach the Nov. 10 release date for their second outing, To Build a Fire, through Blackseed Records, it doesn’t seem like the kind of effort a band would put in if they weren’t actually working from a spark of inspiration. It’s not like this is 1965 and they’re signed to a label that has them touring 200 shows a year and releasing a new single every two months. If they didn’t have the utmost conviction behind them, there wouldn’t be a point to it.
And if you didn’t hear earlier-2018’s apparently-aptly-titled debut, Year of the Hawk, don’t be put off by their name-the-noun moniker. They’re a heavy rock band, and as the first audio to come from To Build a Fire, the new video for “The Silk Road” finds guitarists Jake Ferranti (so is he the hawk? and why do I feel old asking that question?) and John Huxley sharing vocals effectively as bassist Justin Lober and drummer Jordan Lober (relation assumed) hold together a classically fluid rhythm that remains modern thanks to its party vibe and a sleek groove that seems tense in the oh-man-we’re-about-to-play-really-fast-you-better-watch-out kind of way, but manages to restrain that impulse, instead jamming through the midsection and ending back on the hook for an energetic finish. Again, it’s just an initial glimpse of what might come on To Build a Fire, and you’ll note it’s separate from the four-part, side-A-consuming title-track, but even so, its swing and its nod bode well for the rest of the release to come. It’ll be November before you know it.
Like next week, apparently. Jeez.
Release show for To Build a Fire is in Pittsburgh on Nov. 10 with Sun Voyager, Zom and Vulcanite. Jakethehawk have a couple other dates booked that you can see below, along with some more PR wire background on the record.
That’s all, of course, after the video for “The Silk Road” itself, which is premiering here hopefully to your enjoyment:
Jakethehawk, “The Silk Road” official video premiere
Blackseed Records artists, JAKETHEHAWK have created their first music video premiering, ‘The Silk Road’, of their upcoming record, ‘To Build a Fire’. Video was filmed, edited and directed by Joe Stammerjohn / Eyes to the Sky Films (Pittsburgh, PA).https://www.facebook.com/eyestotheskyfilms/
Coming out this November 2018!
The band shared some insight into creating the new album:
“The bones of this album were mostly written on acoustic guitar with the idea that it would give the music a more ‘song focused’ feel. The title track songs were rewarding, because they contain cohesive musical and thematic journey. To Build a Fire’ is a representation both of where we are as a band and where we want to go musically and texturally.”
To Build A Fire’ – Track List: 1. To Build A Fire pt. 1: First, We Kill All the Lawyers 2. To Build A Fire pt. 2: Parting Glass 3. To Build A Fire pt. 3: Recluse 4. To Build A Fire pt. 4: Geotaxis 5. Carcosa 6. Holy Water 7. The Silk Road 8. Strand
