Incidentally, my favorite memory to-date of going to a local show since I moved to the Boston area was when Mike Cummings of Backwoods Payback — who operates these days under the somewhat more formal Michael Rudolph Cummings banner, sometimes with the backing band The Souvenirs — played with Jim Healey at Radio in Somerville (review here). The show itself was really cool, downstairs at the venue which like so many others is defunct at this point, but afterwards a few people stayed and sat around a table and all just kind of chatted and hung out and while that kind of thing is usually terrifying to me, I actually really, really enjoyed it.

While we’re free-associating, I tried very hard to buy Radio when I first moved north from New Jersey. Was back and forth with the woman who owned it and everything. Things were moving forward and next I knew, she sold it out to someone else and skipped town, never to be heard from again. Since then, living here has more or less been a succession of, “Hey this place is for sale” and nothing coming of it. I’ve been dying to get in somewhere but unable to make it happen. Mostly because I don’t have money, I suppose. If I could roll up with a wad of cash, I expect the reception would be different. In the meantime, venues close, those that don’t just suck and put no effort into running shows, and I’ve gotten a job, cut my hair, struggled to find time for things that matter to me, like music, my relationship with my wife, my family, and so on. Normal existence, near as I can tell.

Sorry. I got off track. Cummings, with his band, released the More Barn EP earlier this year and will tour — solo, I believe — in Nov. headed south from his homebase in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Dates, links and the EP stream from Bandcamp follow here:

michael Rudolph cummings Fall Tour 2015

hitting the road this fall

traveling with some friends and meeting up with some from across the way…

NOVEMBER
3 – Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia PA wAmigo The Devil, Kermit Lÿman III, Patrick Shannon (hold down the ocean)
4 – The Hook Up, Virginia Beach VA w/Amigo The Devil
5 – A Tasting Room, Wilmington NC w/Amigo The Devil
6 – Bone Lick BBQ, Atlanta GA w/Amigo The Devil
7 – TBA, Nashville TN w/ Rob Snyder
8 – The Cave, Chapel Hill NC w/Brian McGee (Plow United)
27 – Ortliebs, Philadelphia PA w/Thee Nosebleeds

https://www.facebook.com/events/731131717031097/
https://www.facebook.com/backwoodspayback
http://michaelrudolphcummings.bandcamp.com/

Michael Rudolph Cummings and the Souvenirs, More Barn EP (2015)

Italian heavy rockers Isaak will release their new album, Sermonize, in November. Their third outing overall, it will be issued in international collusion with Heavy Psych Sounds and Small Stone. The former, countryman imprint is set for the vinyl release, whereas the Detroit label will look to have a CD out come early 2016. The band mark it as their first release under the Isaak moniker, which is fair enough, though their 2012 sophomore outing, The Longer the Beard the Harder the Sound (streamed here), also got issued as Isaak‘s Small Stone debut in 2013.

Either way, the art for the new one looks righteous, and the four-piece announced its arrival by unveiling that and the tracklisting. Isaak toured earlier this year in Spain and Portugal, and they’ll look to head out again come Feb. 2016. They also released a split with Mos Generator way back in January through Heavy Psych Sounds that I’ve pretty much been meaning to pick up since then. One of these days.

Album info follows:

Our new album SERMONIZE, the very first full length as Isaak, will be released later in November thanks to the amazing collaboration between the Italian HEAVY PSYCH SOUNDS Records (for the vinyl release with a limited coloured version and a black one) and the american Small Stone Records (which will follow the CD release, expected in the very early 2016), a collaboration that will bring also several other tasty news!

Here below you can admire the cover painting by Richey Beckett (yes, THAT Richey Beckett! www.richeybeckett.com).

As always, our brother from another mother Luca SoloMacello contributed to this radness looking after the design layout.

Isaak will start an European Tour to promote Sermonize from February 2016.

There’s nothing more to say, this record will be your summer obsession even if we’re gonna release it in November, hands down!

ISAAK – SERMONIZE Official Tracklist
1 – Whore Horse
2 – The Peak
3 – Fountainhead
4 – Almonds & Glasses
5 – Soar
6 – Showdown
7 – Yeah (Kyuss)
8 – Lucifer’s Road (White Ash)
9 – Lesson n.1
10 – The Frown Reloaded
11 – The Phil’s Theorem
12 – Sermonize

Vinyl version :
Recorded and Mixed at Greenfog Genova by Mattia Cominotto
Mastered at JD Studio by Pino Santamaria

ARTWORK:
Cover Painting by Richey Beckett
Design/Layout by Luca SoloMacello

www.isaakband.com
www.heavypsychsounds.com
www.smallstone.com
www.richeybeckett.com
www.cargocollective.com/solomacello

Isaak, Live at Riviera Summerfest 2015

Italian outfit Void of Sleep will release their new album, New World Order, on Oct. 19 through Aural Music. It’s their second full-length behind 2013’s Tales Between Reality and Madness and arrives anchored in the rather bleak theme of a hopeless future, not so much telling about a character’s struggle against it as reveling in the futility of that struggle to start with across seven tracks/44 minutes that only become more expansive as they go. The four-piece — guitarist/vocalist Andrea “Burdo” Burdisso, guitarist/backing vocalist Marco “Gale” Galeotti, bassist Riccardo “Paso” Pasini and drummer Andrea “Allo” Allodoli — cast a broad stylistic net, varying in poise and aggression throughout, but ultimately land in a comfortable space that blends the impact of sludge riffing with the purposefulness of prog.

Split into two sides, New World Order presents its atmosphere through its theme and through the sound of the material itself — precise but not too clean. Early on, with the opening duo of “The Devil’s Conjuration” and “Hidden Revelations,” Void of Sleep show themselves to be capable of melding complex structures with resonant hooks, the melodies and shouts banding together in order to make an individual impression as “Slaves Shall Serve” takes hold leading into the side A closer “Ordo ab Chao,” which slows down and spreads out earlier intensity as a precursor to some of the second half of the album’s more grandiose sensibilities. Those manifest quickly in the side B intro “Lords of Conspiracy” — one may recognize the same from which this record derives its title from Ministry‘s use of it in “N.W.O.” circa 1992 — but only get more expansive as Void of Sleep push through the title-track and into the 14-minute closer “Ending Theme.”

Compared to what follows, the first half of New World Order is more straightforward. Its choruses are hooks and it feels put together on the basis of its individual songs. Side B, on the other hand, is meant to feed right from its intro into “New World Order” and into “Ending Theme,” which also breaks into three component parts over its extended runtime. Accordingly, Void of Sleep come across as more theatrical and narrative, though many of the elements they’re using to give that vibe are similar to what they presented earlier on — tight rhythms, crisp melodies, a generally progressive ambience around what they’re touring and why they’re doing it, and so on. As such, though it doesn’t quite account for a complete summary of what New World Order has to offer, I’m thrilled today to be able to host the premiere of “Hidden Revelations” ahead of the album’s release next month.

The longest cut on side A at 6:36, it boasts a particularly engaging interplay from the two — that’s not to say “dueling” — vocalists and an aggro mood resulting that only develops and grows richer as the rest of New World Order plays out.

Please find “Hidden Revelations” on the player below, followed by info off the PR wire, and enjoy:

Italian progressive occult metal visionaries, VOID OF SLEEP, will release their sophomore full-length next month via Aural Music. Titled, New World Order, the seven track concept album and follow-up to 2013’s acclaimed Tales Between Reality And Madness long player was captured by bassist Riccardo Pasini (Ephel Duath, The Secret) at Studio73 in Ravenna, Italy and mastered by Collin Jordan (Eyehategod, Indian, Wovenhand, Voivod etc.) at The Boiler Room in Chicago, Illinois.

“New World Orderrepresents to us a new culmination of our sound,” issues of the band of their latest compositions. “Now more than ever you can call it visionary, sludgy and progressive. It’s an occult, esoteric and wicked metaphor to the modern society as we consider it: with no positive expectations of the future of this world. This album embraces the concept of evil in its purest form. Since the beginning, man has been doomed to consume and enslave and destroy his own kind in an absurd discord to the final extinction.”

New World Order comes shrouded in the arcane cover creation of Simone Bertozzi who relays of the work, “while doing it I experienced the breath of Lucifer on my back, the Illuminati around the corner and reptilians getting ready for my abduction. Coincidence? I think not.”

New World Order Track Listing:
1. The Devil’s Conjuration
2. Hidden Revelations
3. Slaves Shall Serve
4. Ordo Ab Chao
5. Lords Of Conspiracy
6. New World Order
7. Ending Theme (l. Mourn ll. Triumphant lll. Void)

Void of Sleep on Thee Facebooks

New World Order preorders through Aural Music

By way of a confession, Monolord were announced a bit ago as the first band for Freak Valley 2016, the festival set to take place next May 26-28 in Netphen, Germany, so I’m combining that word with the news that Berlin’s Rotor have also joined the lineup. Rotor, now past the 15-year mark as a band, will be supporting their fifth album, Fünf, which was released last week on Noisolution. They’ll also be touring in Nov. on a self-booked run to herald Fünf‘s arrival.

Monolord, meanwhile, are fast working their way toward veteran status. Already they’ve done Roadburn, and next month they play Desertfest Belgium as the latest in a slew of appearances of increasing profile, and almost directly after their Desertfest slot, they’ll make their way over for their first US tour (dates here), supporting no less than Windhand on what’s sure to be one of fall 2015’s heaviest runs.

Both are great pickups for Freak Valley 2016, and I’m sure they’re just the start of more to come.

Announcements follow:

For fifteen years RoToR have been crafting their dry as a bone instrumental sound merging 90s Stoner Rock and 70s Space Rock. From Berlin, founded 1998. First as a trio, now a quartet. Four studio albums and a live album. The fifth chapter now: “Fünf” (English: “Five”) is the title of the new album.

Those who have seen the band live know about the crushing heavyness, the ultra-tight rhythmic changes and the melancholic space trips. The intoxicating energy and radiation is the real quintessence of the band.

Contrasts meet: Stoner and Psychedelic, Kraut and Progressive make encounters and collapse. RoToR’s music has become more sophisticated, more transparent, more diverse, before suddenly the ton-weighing head-shaking part kicks in to take the listener to far away sound-worlds…

Here we go!! Please welcome Swedens doom metal starsailors MONOLORD

Formed in 2013, Monolord are made up of Swedish rockers Thomas Jäger, Esben Willems, and Mika Häkki. Both Jäger and Willems were in the Swedish boogie rock band Marulk and started Monolord as a side project as a way to play some more heavier tunes, they quickly added Häkki (from The Don Darlings, ex Rotten Sound) and realized that they had something very special between the 3 of them. Monolord is for more than just doom-metal fanatics and will satisfy all fans of guitar driven rock, stoner and monolithic riffs.

With all the flavours of an iconic doom classic Empress Rising follows in the footsteps of Sleep’s Holy Mountain, Pallbearer’s Sorrow and Extinction and Electric Wizard’s Witchcult Today with melodic vocals and harmonies that are as mind bending as they are anthemic.

Did we mention that Monolord are heavy? Fuck are they HEAVY!

Freak Valley Festival – 26th-27th-28th May 2016
www.freakvalley.de – www.rockfreaks.de

FVF 3-day tickets – only 69€ incl. camping!!
FREAK VALLEY FESTIVAL: No Fillers – Just Killers
Line-up 2016:
Monolord [RidingEasy Records] – Doom/Sludge
Rotor [Noisolution] – Instrumental StonerRock/Psychedelic

www.freakvalley.de
https://www.facebook.com/freakvalley
https://twitter.com/FreakValley
https://shop.ticketscript.com/channel/web2/start-order/rid/LYSQRABJ/language/en

Rotor, “Volllast”

Monolord, Vænir (2015)

Anyone who tells you they know what a Boris release is going to sound like before they’ve actually heard the thing is a liar, and as such, I’m not even gonna guess what the reignited Boris with Merzbow collaboration might be up to on Gensho, the two-disc full-length it will offer up via Relapse Records in Feb. 2016. With over 150 minutes of music — or, you know, something; these definitions get pretty fluid — spread across the two discs meant to be played at the same time, it seems fair to say it’s going to be an experience one way or another, but probably best to leave it at that for the time being.

The last Boris with Merzbow release was 2011’s Klatter, which was recorded in 2004. If you want to feel old, it’s been a decade since they released Sun Baked Snow Cave on Hydra Head.

To the PR wire:

BORIS WITH MERZBOW: COMPLETE NEW COLLABORATIVE FULL-LENGTH GENSHO; ANNOUNCE EXCLUSIVE ONE-OFF SHOW IN JAPAN

Renowned Japanese innovative team BORIS WITH MERZBOW has completed recording a new collaborative full-length LP entitled Gensho, which is Japanese for “phenomenon”. Gensho is a unique release featuring over 150 minutes of new music spread across two discs. The BORIS tracks are new reinventions of the band’s classic songs, while the MERZBOW songs are new compositions. BORIS and MERZBOW have each contributed exactly the same amount of music, with the two discs intended to be played at the same time on physical speakers at varying volumes so that the listener can experience their own “gensho/phenomenon” every time. The artists also commented, “Of course you can enjoy both albums separately, as a separate work.” Gensho is slated for a February 2016 release via Relapse Records.

Though the artists have an extensive history of collaborating with one another, this latest effort was born out of a one-off show in 2014 for Boiler Room TV, when the two acts decided that their set from that day was worthy enough to perform in the context of a proper studio recording. As with every BORIS and MERZBOW release, the only thing to expect is the unexpected. Each artist’s individual contribution to Gensho weaves through countless disparate textures with a varied sonic palette, to say nothing of the effect when both records are played simultaneously. The unique presentation of the album lends it near-infinite potential for aural discovery, and encourages direct interactivity with the listener rarely found in such unconventional music.

BORIS WITH MERZBOW have also announced an exclusive one-off show in Tokyo in support of Gensho this November. More details about Gensho including album art, tracklisting and song samples will be revealed shortly.

BORIS WITH MERZBOW Live:
Nov 27 Tokyo, JP Fever

BORIS is:
Takeshi (Vocals, Guitar & Bass)
Wata (Vocals, Guitar & Echo)
Atsuo (Vocal, Percussion & Electronics)

MERZBOW is:
Masami Akita – electronics

http://www.facebook.com/borisheavyrocks
http://www.borisheavyrocks.com/
https://twitter.com/borisheavyrocks
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialMerzbow
http://merzbow.net
https://twitter.com/MerzbowOfficial
http://relapse.com/

Boris with Merzbow, Live at the Boiler Room, Tokyo, 2014

Arbouretum guitarist/vocalist Dave Heumann has announced a round of European dates to support his debut solo offering, Here in the Deep, set for release Oct. 16 via Thrill Jockey. He’ll be bringing a band along with him that includes Arbouretum keyboardist/percussionist Matt Pierce, and will play support slots for the formidable likes of Chelsea Wolfe and Om. Shows are set for the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK, and the whole thing kicks off in Prague on Nov. 13.

The heavy folk blend of Heumann‘s main outfit, who are on a hiatus of sorts, is a secret kept only too well, so I’m looking forward to hearing what elements he brings to a solo album and how much it does or doesn’t coincide with Arbouretum‘s approach. Side note, I recently picked up Arbouretum‘s 2007 sophomore full-length, Rites of Uncovering, kind of on a lark, and it has likewise owned a portion of my consciousness since.

Dates and background follow:

Great news for Europe! Arbouretum’s Dave Heumann has announced his first ever Euro tour as a solo artist later this year, including dates with Chelsea Wolfe and Om.

He’ll be bringing a fantastic live band with him on this tour featuring Matt Pierce (Arbouretum), and Alex Neilson and Alasdair Mitchell from Glasgow folk-rockers Trembling Bells.

Fri Nov 13th Prague, Czech Republic – Divadlo Dobeška *
Sun Nov 15th Leipzig, Germany – UT Connewitz ^
Mon Nov 16th Berlin, Germany – Magnet Club
Tue Nov 17th Cologne, Germany – King Georg
Thu Nov 19th Schorndorf, Germany – Club Manufaktur
Fri Nov 20th Utrecht, Netherlands – Le Guess Who? ^^
Sat Nov 21st Oxford, UK – Audioscope Festival
Sun Nov 22nd London, UK – MOTH CLUB **
* w/ Chelsea Wolfe
^ w/ OM
** w/ David Morris & Red River Dialect
^^ Protomartyr

Dave Heumann, leader of the beloved Arbouretum, branches out with his debut solo record, Here in the Deep. While Arbouretum was on a year-long hiatus, Heumann continued writing, finding himself with a collection of material that displayed a different style of songwriting than in his past efforts. The recording of these songs gave Heumann a chance to play with a talented group of friends, including Walker Teret of Lower Dens, drummer/percussionist Mike Kuhl, Wye Oak’s Jenn Wasner, and accomplished pianist Hans Chew, among others. The songs on Here in the Deep were arranged with a mind to explore textures outside of what Arbouretum typically embodies. Significantly, Here in the Deep was mixed by John Parish (PJ Harvey, Tracy Chapman, Giant Sand) whose sense for the deep, warm spaces the songs occupy allowed him to give the album a distinct clarity not found on any Arbouretum album. Here in the Deep is a lush showcase of the considerable lyrical, vocal and guitar talents of Dave Heumann and, for the listener, a rich escape.

In many ways, Heumann’s venture out on his own has brought him back to what’s closest to him in life and music while at the same time blazing forth into a brave new frontier as an artist. “I went out to look for tinder, and found myself on fire,” sings Heumann— a simple metaphor for the flames of inspiration burning throughout Here in the Deep. Sometimes it takes a jump off the cliff to discover you can soar.

https://www.facebook.com/daveheumannmusic
https://www.facebook.com/ThrillJockey
http://thrilljockey.com/thrill/Dave-Heumann/Here-In-The-Deep

Dave Heumann, “Ides of Summer”

Not much word from Italian post-sludgers NAGA since the 2014 release of their Hen (review here) debut full-length, but the Naples three-piece come roaring — actually screaming — back with a new video covering Fang‘s “The Money Will Roll Right In.” The cut originally appeared on 1983’s Landshark!, and since the band also notes that they’re looking for a new label for their next release, it seems fair to think there may have been some business drama unfolded at some point in the last year-plus. Still, they’ve done local shows and have a yet-untold amount of new stuff recorded, so we may hear from them again soon.

As for “The Money Will Roll Right In,” it was tracked with Alessandro Pascolo at Sulfur City Studio, and Pascolo also adds some backing shouts to the chorus. Compared to the material from the debut, it’s rawer and less geared toward atmospherics, but with the punker roots of the track, that’s to be expected. NAGA‘s version, slowed down, pissed off, is pretty true to how sludge emerged from hardcore punk in the first place, so while I doubt giving a history lesson was really their intent going into the studio, they kind of do anyhow, topping it off with the simple and misanthropic credo, “Life’s shit.”

Fair enough. The clip for the track, which seems to have been recorded either in their rehearsal space or the studio itself, is suitably sans-frill. It’s below for the digging:

NAGA, “The Money Will Roll Right In” official video

Hello everyone, it’s been a while… We have recently finished to record something new with our brother Alessandro Pascolo at Sulfur City Studio. At the moment, our work has to find its own way to emerge from the abyss. If you are a label, or if you have something interesting to tell us you can write us (nagadoomATgmailDOTcom). In the meantime you can watch our ugly and bored faces in our rehearsal room… this song is a tribute to a lot of people, things and stories, all hail to the Fang!

Life’s shit!

Recorded and Mixed in September 2015 by Alessandro Pascolo at Sulfur City Studio (Italy). Additional chorus vocals by Alessandro Pascolo.

“The Money Will Roll Right In” was originally written by Tom Flynn, Chris Wilson/Fang in 1983

NAGA on Thee Facebooks

NAGA on Bandcamp

One can hear a bit of electric guitar tucked in at the end of “Easy Evil,” but no question it’s a different listen than has come to be expected from the Tony Reed-led Port Orchard, Washington, riff specialists, who’ve probably spent more time on the road in 2015 than in the decade and a half preceding. They’ll look to keep their rather considerable momentum going into the New Year with the release of the first unplugged-style offering in the band’s history. Comprised at this point of Reed (guitar, vocals, keys, recording, studio drums) and bassist Sean Booth, Mos Generator have always had their foundation in memorable songwriting, and as it’s impossible to sustain an unplugged offering without that, it makes sense that sooner or later they’d wind up working in the form. As Reed notes in his comments on making the record, which will be out early 2016 on H42 Records, the project was inspired by a few acoustic shows he did earlier this year.

The album, still waiting to reveal its title and artwork, will feature material old and new. “Easy Evil” doesn’t come across so differently in structure from a lot of what Mos Generator have done across their two full-lengths — last year’s Electric Mountain Majesty (review here) and 2012’s Nomads (review here) — and sundry shorter releases, splits, etc., since returning to activity following several years’ absence. Its structure is straightforward and the guitar leads the way. Reed‘s penchant for classic rock raucousness that shows itself live is given a back seat, however, to the central melody, and that winds up being how the track makes such a memorable impression. As a first taste of a larger work yet to be revealed, it teases flourishes of arrangement in its vocal layering and the already-noted electric guitar line in the back half, but winds up in a subdued place without sounding like it’s pandering to some forced idea of moodiness. Not an easy tightrope to walk for a band on their first acoustic outing, but as ever, it’s the songwriting that stands out.

Mos Generator will release their unplugged debut on H42 Records early next year. Please find the official announcement, including Reed‘s comments, after the stream of “Easy Evil” on the player below, and enjoy:

MOS GENERATOR’s FIRST ACOUSTIC ALBUM COMING EARLY 2016

The plugs are pulled! The very first Mos Generator acoustic album is in the works!

End of August 2015 Mos Generator went for a short first stop into the studio to records old songs as well as new songs and packed them into an acoustic garb. After their ongoing US tour with The Atomic Bitchwax they will stop for a second time in the studio to record the remaining songs for their first acoustic album.

The album appears as a limited edition Vinyl only on H42 Records early 2016!

Artwork is still in work and will be realized by the amazing Frank Popp from Germany, Berlin.

Comments Tony Reed:

This acoustic album will have some drastically different versions of songs from our back catalog and also a few new songs. I never considered doing an acoustic album for MG until I was forced to do some shows acoustically earlier this year and I realized how much different the songs were when played with open chords and sang with a mellow delivery. It’s been fun to rework the material for this style.

Album Title: TBA
Album Art: TBA by Frank Popp
Release: Early 2016
Tracklist: TBA
Label: H42 Records

Mos Generator:
https://www.facebook.com/MosGenerator
https://mosgenerator.bandcamp.com/

H42 Records:
http://www.h42records.com/
https://www.facebook.com/H42Records
https://h42records.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/H42Records