Posted in Whathaveyou on December 17th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
Reunited Wisconsin sludgers Bongzilla will look to bring their reunion to another level in 2016. After already hitting the road hard this year, the trio are set to go coast-to-coast beginning at the end of February. In the support slots are Black Cobra, who’ll have a new record out by then (info here), and Lo-Pan, as well as Kings Destroy and Against the Grain, who will tradeoff circa SXSW.
It’s a formidable run in any case, and its finish right at the start of April makes me wonder if Bongzilla might have eyes toward Europe for shortly after, but either way, look for much more to come about what’s sure to be one of early 2016’s heaviest tours. Bongzilla will be out supporting a slew of reissues between Relapse Records and Hydro-Phonic Records, and while I’m interested to see if their reunion takes them back into the studio — you’d think it would almost have to, sooner or later — for now they seem to be keeping themselves plenty busy.
Poster and dates follow:
BONGZILLA, with support from Black Cobra, Lo-Pan, Kings Destroy and Against The Grain
2/26/2016, Madison WI, High Noon Saloon & 2/27/2016, Iowa City IA, Oasis & 2/28/2016, Fargo ND, Aquarium & 3/1/2016, Missoula MT, The Palace & 3/2/2016, Spokane WA, The Pin & 3/3/2016, Seattle WA, Highline & 3/4/2016, Vancouver BC, Rickshaw Theater & 3/5/2016, Bellingham WA, Shakedown & 3/6/2016, Portland OR, Star Theater & 3/7/2016, Sacramento CA, Starlite & 3/8/2016, San Francisco CA, Milk Bar & 3/9/2016, Santa Cruz CA, Catalyst & 3/10/2016, Los Angeles CA, Viper Room & 3/11/2016, San Diego CA, Brick By Brick & 3/12/2016, Mesa AZ, Club Red & 3/13/2016, Albuquerque NM, Sister Bar & 3/15/2016, Denver CO, Marquis Theatre & 3/16/2016, Kansas City MO, Riot Room & 3/17/2016, Ft. Worth TX, The Rail Club & 3/18/2016, Austin TX, SXSW, 3/19/2016, Austin TX, SXSW # 3/20/2016, Houston TX, Fitzgeralds # 3/22/2016, New Orleans LA, Siberia # 3/23/2016, Tampa FL, Orpheum # 3/24/2016, Miami FL, Churchills # 3/25/2016, Orlando FL, Wills Pub # 3/26/2016, Atlanta GA, The Earl # 3/27/2016, Asheville NC, Mothlight # 3/28/2016, Richmond VA, Strange Matter # 3/29/2016, Philadelphia PA, Kung Fu Necktie # 3/30/2016, Pittsburgh PA, Altar Bar # 3/31/2016, Hamden CT, Outer Space Ballroom # 4/1/2016, Brooklyn NY, Saint Vitus # 4/2/2016, Somerville MA, ONCE Ballroom # 4/3/2016, Pawtucket RI, The Met # 4/4/2016, Montreal QC, Foufounes Electriques # 4/5/2016, Toronto ON, Mod Club # 4/6/2016, Detroit MI, Loving Touch # 4/7/2016, Cleveland OH, Grog Shop # 4/8/2016, Chicago IL, Reggies #
Black Cobra and Lo-Pan on all dates &= Against The Grain 2/26-3/7 #= Kings Destroy 3/19-4/8
Posted in Reviews on September 28th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
Truth be told, I’ve been looking forward to this Quarterly Review since the last one ended. Not necessarily since it clears the deck on reviews to be done — it doesn’t — but just because I feel like in any given week there’s so much more that I want to get to than I’m usually able to fit into posting that it’s been good to be able to say, “Well I’ll do another Quarterly Review and include it there.” Accordingly, there are some sizable releases here, today and over the next four days as well.
If you’re unfamiliar with the project, the idea is over the course of this week, I’ll be reviewing 50 different releases — full albums, EPs, demos, comps, splits, vinyl, tape, CD, digital, etc. Most of them have come out since the last Quarterly Review, which went up early in July, but some are still slated for Oct. or Nov. issue dates. Best to mix it up. My hope is that within this barrage of info, art and music, you’re able to find something that stands out to you and that you enjoy deeply. I know I’ll find a few by the time we’re done on Friday.
Fall 2015 Quarterly Review #1-10:
Steve Von Till, A Life unto Itself
A new Steve Von Till solo outing isn’t a minor happening in any circumstances, but A Life unto Itself reads more like a life event than an album. As ever, the Neurosis guitarist/vocalist puts a full emotional breadth into his material, and as it’s his first record in seven years since 2008’s A Grave is a Grim Horse, there’s plenty to say. Sometimes minimal, sometimes arranged, sometimes both, the seven tracks feature little of the psychedelic influence Von Till brought to his Harvestman project, but use lap steel, strings, electrics, acoustics, keys and of course his meditative, gravelly voice to convey a broad spectrum nonetheless, and cuts like “Chasing Ghosts,” “In Your Wings” and the centerpiece “Night of the Moon” (which actually does veer into the ethereal, in its way) are all the more memorable for it. The richness of “A Language of Blood” and the spaciousness of the drone-meets-sea-shanty closer “Known but Not Named” only underscore how far Von Till is able to range, and how satisfying the results can be when he does.
Bizarro vibes pervade Devil Worshipper’s debut LP, Devil Worshipper, what may or may not be a one-man project from Jeff Kahn (ex-Hideous Corpse, Skeleton of God; spelled here as Jevf Kon), mixed by Tad Doyle and released on Holy Mountain. Based in Seattle (that we do know), the project wields molten tones and slow groove to classic underground metal, heavy psych and bleary moods to hit into oddly cinematic moodiness on “Ash Brume” and even nod at Celtic Frost from a long ways away on closer “Lurker (Death).” Most of the drums are programmed, save for “New Spirit World Order,” “Ash Brume” and “Lurker,” but either way, they only add to the weirdness of the chanting layered vocals of “New Spirit World Order,” and just when it seems like eight-minute second track “Chemrails” will have been as far out as Devil Worshipper gets, side B’s “Desert Grave” takes hold for a five-minute dirge that turns out to be one of the record’s most satisfying rolls, reminiscent of something Rob Crow might’ve done with Goblin Cock on downers. Unexpected and living well in its own space, the album manages to be anchored by its lead guitar work without seeming anchored at all.
So, how many guitars on London trio Dr. Crazy’s 13-minute/four-song EP, 1,000 Guitars? Two, I think. The side-project of Groan vocalist Andreas “Mazzereth” Maslen and Chris West, formerly the drummer of Trippy Wicked and Stubb who here plays guitar and bass while Groan’s former guitarist Mike Pilat handles drums, make a bid for the possibility of playing live in bringing in Pilat to fill the role formerly occupied remotely by Tony Reed of Mos Generator on their 2014 debut EP, Demon Lady. Whether that happens will remain to be seen, but they affirm their ‘80s glam leanings on “Bikini Woman” and keep the message simple on opener “Hands off My Rock and Roll” while “1,000 Guitars” makes the most of guest lead work from Stubb’s Jack Dickinson – he’s the second guitar, alongside West – and yet another infectious Mazzereth-led hook, and well, “Mistress of Business” starts out by asking the titular lady to pull down her pants, so, you know, genius-level satire ensues.
An aggressive core lies beneath the progressivism of German five-piece Linie (actually written as ?inie) on their debut full-length, What We Make Our Demons Do, but the material holds a sense of atmosphere as well. Vocalist/guitarist Jörn is very much at the fore of post-intro opener “Blood on Your Arms,” but as the crux of the album plays out on the chug-happy “Lake of Fire” and “No Ideal,” Linie showcase a wider breadth and bring together elements of post-hardcore à la Fugazi, darker heavy rock and purposefully brooding metal. Comprised of Jörn, guitarist/vocalist Alex, bassist/vocalist Ralph, drummer/vocalist Alex and keyboardist Iggi, the band impress on their first offering with not only how assured they seem of their aesthetic, but the expansive manner in which they present it. Their songwriting is varied in approach but unified in mood and while I don’t know what has them so pissed off on a cut like “Inability,” there’s no question whether they’re putting that anger to good use.
Austrian trio The Heavy Minds make their full-length debut on Stone Free with Treasure Coast, a seven-cut LP that fuzzes up ‘70s swing without going the full-Graveyard in retro vibe. “You’ve Seen it Coming” seems to nod at Radio Moscow, but a more overarching vibe seems to share ideology with Baltimore three-piece The Flying Eyes, the classic rock sensibilities given natural presentation through a nonetheless modern feel in the tracks. The bass tone of Tobias (who also plays guitar at points) alone makes Treasure Coast worth hunting down, but doesn’t prove to be the limit of what the young outfit have to offer, drummer Christoph swinging fluidly throughout “Diamonds of Love” in a manner that foreshadows the emergent roll of “Seven Remains.” That song is part of a closing duo with “Fire in My Veins,” which boasts a satisfying bluesy howl from guitarist Lukas, rounding out Treasure Coast with an organic openness that suits the band well.
Momentum is key when it comes to Road Warriors, the new full-length from Detroit four-piece Against the Grain. They amass plenty of it as they thrust into the 12-track/38-minute rager of an outing, but there are changes to be had in tempo if not necessarily intent. Comprised of bassist/vocalist Chris Nowak, guitarist/vocalist Kyle Davis, guitarist Nick Bellomo and drummer Rob Nowak, the band actually seems more comfortable on fifth-gear cuts like “’Til We Die,” “What Happened,” the first half of “Afraid of Nothing” or the furious “Run for Your Life” than they do in the middle-ground of “Guillotine” and “Night Time,” but slowing down on “Sirens” and “Eyes” allows them to flex a more melodic muscle, and that winds up enriching the album in subtle and interesting ways. If you want a clue as to the perspective from which they’re working, they start with “Here to Stay” and end with “Nothing Left to Lose.” Everything between feels suitably driven by that mission statement.
Angel Eyes, Things Have Learnt to Walk that Ought to Crawl
With the ‘t’ and the ‘ought’ in its title, Angel Eyes’ posthumous third full-length, Things Have Learnt to Walk that Ought to Crawl, brims with oddly rural threat. Like the things are people. The Chicago outfit unfold two gargantuan cascades of atmosludge on “Part I” (15:54) and “Part II” (19:18), pushing their final recording to toward and beyond recommended minimums and maximums as regards intensity. They called it quits in 2011, so to have the record surface four years later and be as blindsidingly cohesive as it is actually makes it kind of a bummer, since it won’t have a follow-up, but the work Angel Eyes are doing across these two tracks – “Part I” getting fully blown-out before shifting into the quiet opening of “Part II” – justifies the time it’s taken for it to be released. They were signed to The Mylene Sheath, but Things is an independent, digital-only outing for the time being, though its structure and cover feel ripe for vinyl. Who knows what the future might bring.
Textured, hypnotic and downright gorgeous in its psychedelic melancholy, Baron’s Torpor is a record that a select few will treasure deeply and fail to understand the problem as to why the rest of the planet isn’t just as hooked. A thoroughly British eight-track full-length – their second, I believe, but first for Svart – Torpor creates and captures spaces simultaneously on organ-infused pieces like “Mark Maker,” executing complex transitions fluidly and feeding into an overarching ambience that, by the time they get around to the eight-minute “Stry,” is genuinely affecting in mood and beautifully engrossing. The Brighton/Nottingham four-piece fuzz out a bit on “Deeper Align,” but the truth is that Torpor has much more to offer than a single genre encapsulates and those that miss it do so to their own detriment. I mean that. Its patience, its poise and its scope make Torpor an utter joy of progressive flourish and atmosphere with a feel that is entirely its own. I could go on.
So get this. For their first EP, Swedish trio Creedsmen Arise – guitarist Emil, drummer Simon and bassist Gustaf (since replaced by Jonte) – have taken it upon themselves to pen a sequel to Sleep’s Dopesmoker that, “tells the story about what happened centuries after the Dopesmoker Caravan and it’s [sic] Weedians reached their destination.” Admirably ballsy terrain for the three-piece to tread their first time out. It’s like, “Oh hey, here’s my first novel – it’s Moby Dick from the whale’s perspective.” The three tracks of the Temple EP are fittingly schooled in Iommic studies, but the band almost undercuts itself because they don’t just sound like Sleep. They have their own style. Yeah, it’s riffy stoner metal, but it’s not like they’re doing an Al Cisneros impression on vocals, so while the concept is derived directly, the sound doesn’t necessarily completely follow suit. Between the 10-minute opening title- and longest-track (immediate points), “Herbal Burial” and “Circle of Clergymen,” Creedsmen Arise make perhaps a more individualized statement than they intended, but it’s one that bodes well.
Nola’s cool and all, but when it comes to the nastiest, most misanthropic, fucked-up sludge, choosy moms choose Ohio, and Deadly Sin (Sloth) are a potent example of why. Their Demo Discography tape revels in its disconcerting extremity and seems to grind regardless of whether the Xenia, OH, trio are actually playing fast. Comprised of Jay Snyder, Wilhelm Princeton and Kyle Hughes, Deadly Sin (Sloth) cake themselves in mud that will be familiar to anyone who’s witnessed Fistula on a bender or Sloth at their most pill-popping, but do so with sub-lo-fi threat on the tape and are so clearly intentional in their effort to put the listener off that one could hardly call their demos anything but a victory. Will not be for everyone, but of course that’s the idea. This kind of viciousness is a litmus test that would do justice to any basement show, maddening in its nod and mean well beyond the point of reason.
Posted in Whathaveyou on June 18th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
It’s been a minute, but there was a time when Underdogma Records proliferated a brand of heavy rock that stood right in line with their contemporaries in the likes of Small Stone and Tee Pee. Between about 2000 and 2009, Underdogma belted out killer offerings from bands like Sunnshine, The Rubes, Ironboss, Gate 9, Crom, Throttlerod and We’re all Gonna Die, spanning a genre range of heaviness that had its underlying identity in a running theme of grit and aggression. Tee Pee went psych, Small Stone got fuzzier, but Underdogma‘s trade was generally in dirtier, meaner fare.
Their Judge Not compilation from 2000 is still worth tracking down if you can find it, boasting cuts from Solace, Solarized, Calamus, The Quill, Satellite Circle, Raging Slab, Pale Divine and many, many others, and knowing that is part of why the announcement of Underdogma‘s return with the Go Down Fighting heavy rock tribute to Nazareth caught my attention. No release date has been named yet — and I wouldn’t want to try to pin something like that down — but a partial tracklisting has been posted, and with the likes of Abrahma, Against the Grain, Shatner and Argus involved, among many others of course, and more to come, it seems like they could come back with plenty of wallop.
That tracklisting follows here. Note the prospect of Solace recording a new track for the tribute. Makes one wonder just how much of a return to activity theirs might be:
Underdogma, brain step-child of Grant Williams and Carlton Duff, started out as a high school science project and has remained that way ever since…
Coming soon “Go Down Fighting” a riff rock tribute to Nazareth!
Limited Edition Colored Vinyl. Track List: “Miss Misery” – The Rubes “Sunshine” – Calamus “Razamataz” – The Humanoids “Changing Times” – The Heave-Ho “Love Hurts” – Easy Jesus Coe “Please Don’t Judas Me” – Argus “Whiskey Drinking Woman” – Shatner “Witchdoctor Woman” – Abrahma “Expect No Mercy” – Against The Grain “The Ballad Of Hollis Brown” – Lifetime Shitlist
Also possible contributions from RAGING SLAB, Left Lane Cruiser, Solace, Daniel Davies, Gideon Smith, Contra, Mothership, Magic Jove, and surprise special guests!
Posted in Whathaveyou on June 12th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
Some shows are a no-brainer, and if NJ riff-winders The Atomic Bitchwax are coming through your town with Mos Generator and/or Against the Grain on the bill, that’s pretty much a night you can mark off on your calendar. They’re out supporting their 2015 LP, Gravitron (review here), on Tee Pee Records, and this will be their most extensive run through the US in some time, after celebrating the new album’s release overseas in Europe.
Mos Generator will be on the tour from Sept. 1-18, and Against the Grain seem to be on the whole run. Dates follow as hoisted from the Bitchwax‘s Thee Facebooks page:
ITS ON!!!!!! THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX w/ MOS GENERATOR AGAINST THE GRAIN
NORTH AMERICAN SUMMER TOUR 2015
New Jersey’s legendary, riff-centric power trio THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX (aka TAB) returns with gargantuan riffs and jaw-dropping psych sonics on its sixth full length LP,Gravitron. Now featuring TWO members of MONSTER MAGNET – bassist/vocalist Chris Kosnik and drummer Bob Pantella – alongside shred-tastic gunslinger Finn Ryan, the band has perfected its unique style of NYC hard rock that High Times appropriately tabbed, “thunder-boogie.”
On Gravitron, THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX’s Rush-like riff mazes and carpal-tunnel-inducing riffs are on full display; every note bleeds with urgency. There’s far too much exuberant energy on the record to lazily tag this as “Stoner Rock”; this is high-octane, ’70s-based hard rock infused with stabs of psychedelia and landslides of Tommy Bolin-inspired guitar heroics ! Gravitron is an A-level masterclass in bad ass Rock’N’ Roll and cements the THE ATOMIC BITCHWAX as an undeniable force in today’s heavy music landscape.
8/13/2015 Brooklyn NY The Shop 8/14/2015 Philadelphia PA Kung Fu Necktie 8/15/2015 Cambridge MA Middle East 8/16/2015 Montreal QC Foufounes Electriques 8/17/2015 Ottawa ON Mavericks 8/18/2015 Sudbury ON Townhouse 8/19/2015 Toronto ON Bovine 8/20/2015 Rochester NY Montage 8/21/2015 Pittsburgh PA 31st St pub 8/22/2015 Dayton OH Rock Star Arena 8/23/2015 Detroit MI Smalls 8/24/2015 Chicago IL Double Door 8/25/2015 Milwaukee WI Metal Grill 8/26/2015 Kansas City MO Riot Room 8/27/2015 Denver CO Larimer Lounge 8/29/2015 Boise ID Neurolux 9/1/2015 Seattle WA Studio Seven 9/2/2015 Vancouver BC Rickshaw 9/3/2015 Portland OR Panic Room 9/4/2015 Oakland CA Leos 9/5/2015 Los Angeles CA Loaded 9/6/2015 Phoenix AZ Club Red 9/8/2015 Albuquerque NM Launchpad 9/9/2015 Dallas TX Three Links 9/10/2015 Austin TX Red 7 9/11/2015 Houston TX Rudyards 9/12/2015 New Orleans LA Siberia 9/13/2015 Atlanta GA Masquerade 9/16/2015 Richmond VA Strange Matter 9/17/2015 Baltimore MD Metro Gallery 9/18/2015 New York NY Bowery Electric
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 9th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
Before they split out for Europe in April and, presumably once reaching its shores decide never to return, Ohio fuzz rockers Lo-Pan will hit the road like they do with Detroit speedfreaks Against the Grain. The tour will be in the north and northeast, which should be almost thinking about thawing out by then, and is set to start March 12 and run until March 22. For Lo-Pan, they’re out supporting last year’s Colossus (review here), while the oft-touring Against the Grain will have by that time recorded their fourth album, which is set to release later in 2015.
Like I said, after this, Lo-Pan are off to Europe alongside Black Pyramid, but it’s worth noting that this will be their first tour with guitarist Adrian Zambrano, so it should be a chance for them to further solidify before they go. They’ve given themselves a high-energy companion in Against the Grain, who will no doubt keep them on their toes for the duration.
The PR wire brings details and dates, and we all like details and dates, right? Okay then:
Lo Pan & Against The Grain to tour Northeast in March
Columbus riff titans Lo Pan will be pairing up with Detroit neck breakers Against The Grain for a ten date Northeast tour in the month of March in what will be a travelling showcase of two of the heaviest bands going from the Midwest.
Both bands coming off a successful campaigns in 2014 with Against The Grain seeing the release of Motor City Speed Rock on vinyl and nonstop touring throughout the year with dates that included runs with Guttermouth, Koffin Kats and Nashville Pussy and Valient Thorr to close out the year.
Against The Grain start the year doing a two shows with Detroit’s own Koffin Kats in Chicago (Reggie’s) and in Westland, MI (Token Lounge) and a local show with notable punk/metal band Gang Green in the Detroit area (Corktown Tavern). From there, the four will be spending the month of February recording the follow up to 2012’s “Surrounded By Snakes” at Train – A Comin’ Studios in Mt. Clemens, Michigan which will be slated for a summer release.
Dates: March 12 – The Loving Touch (Ferndale, MI) March 13 – Grog Shop (Cleveland, OH) March 14 – The Lost Horizon (Syracuse, NY) March 15 – TT the Bears (Boston, MA) March 16 – TBA March 17 – TBA March 18 – Saint Vitus Bar (Brooklyn, NY) March 19 – Kung Fu Necktie (Philadelphia, PA) March 20 – The Pinch (Washington D.C.) March 21 – 31st St. Pub (Pittsburgh, PA) March 22 – Spacebar (Columbus, OH)
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 1st, 2014 by JJ Koczan
Just a couple weeks out from losing gear in the same Detroit-area floods that took out the Small Stone Records offices, heavy rock troublemakers Against the Grain have announced they’ll hit the road in October alongside long-running punk outfits Guttermouth and Voodoo Glowskulls. To be perfectly honest, neither is really my thing, but I have no doubt that Against the Grain‘s high-energy thrust will do well on tour with them, and it’s yet another in the four-piece’s continuing series of runs that seems to be geared toward their perfecting their craft, rugged and dirty as that craft might be. I’m glad they’ve gotten their gear back and I’m glad they’re getting out again.
The PR wire puts it like this:
Against The Grain announce West Coast tour with Guttermouth/Voodoo Glow Skulls
Detroit’s speed rock machine Against The Grain are hitting the road with punk rock veterans Guttermouth and Voodoo Glow Skulls in October for month long west coast scheduled to start in Fresno, CA and end in Corona, CA. It will be the third 20+ date haul they’ve done this year and first packaged tour they have been a part of since their run with long time running Japanese doom/stoner band Church Of Misery in Fall 2013.
Dates include:
Sun Oct 5 – Fresno, CA – Strummers* Mon Oct 6 -San Jose, CA – Blank Club* Tues Oct 7 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge* Wed Oct 8 – Sacramento, CA – Assembly Hall of Music* Thurs Oct 9 – Sparks, NV – The Alley* Fri Oct 10 – Bend, OR – Domino Room* Sat Oct 11 – Tacoma, WA – Jazzbones* Sun Oct 12 – Seattle, WA – El Corazon** Mon Oct 13 – Missoula, MT – The Top Hat Lounge** Tues Oct 14 – Boise, ID – Crazy Horse** Thurs Oct 16 – Laramie, WY – Cowboy Saloon ** Fri Oct 17 – Salt lake City, UT – The Loading Dock** Sat Oct 18 – Grand junction, CO – Mesa Theatre** Sun Oct 19 – Denver, CO – The Marquis** Mon Oct 20 – Colorado Springs, CO – The Black Sheep** Tues Oct 21 – Kansas City, MO – The Scene Rock Bar** Wed Oct 22 – Fort Worth, TX – Lola’s Saloon** Thurs Oct 23 – Midland, TX – Blue Max** Fri Oct 24 – Rio Rancho, NM – The Damn Bar** Sat Oct 25 – El Paso, TX – Lowbrow Palace** Sun Oct 26 – Flagstaff, AZ – The Museum Club** Tues Oct 28 – San Diego, CA – Brick by Brick* Wed Oct 29 – Long Beach, CA – Alex’s Bar* Thurs Oct 30 – Corona, CA – M15* * = w/ Voodoo Glow Skulls ** = w/ In The Whale
Against The Grain suffered a major blow as a band when their gear was destroyed by flooding in their practice space due to freaks thunderstorms occurring in Detroit in early August but due to support from all over (including a message of assistance from the Valient Thorr/Revolving Beast camp), they managed to successfully raise the money needed to assist them in getting new gear to get back on the road. On September 12th, they will be a part of a benefit show being held at The Corktown Tavern in Detroit with Axe Ripper, Rawdogs and Mud Falcon playing as support to Against The Grain. Tesco Vee has signed on to be MC’ing for the night and to host a silent auction of vintage Meatmen/Touch and Go items.
In what has been an extremely active year of 2014 A.D. for the band, Against The Grain has toured all over the states in support of their re-release of Motor City Speed Rock that Self Destructo Records put out on 10” vinyl. They’re in the middle of writing new songs for their upcoming record that will see the light of day in mid 2015 with touring plans already solidified for January 2015 with a Detroit favorite of the underground scene, more of that plus other news in development in the following weeks.
Motor City Speed Rock and Surrounded By Snakes vinyl are available athttp://www.shopturbojugend.comand all digital streaming/download services (i.e. Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, Amazon Mp3 and more) worldwide.
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 21st, 2014 by JJ Koczan
If I’ve learned one thing in this still-pretty-new New Year, it’s that there’s going to be a ton of shit going on all the time, and on that level, kudos to Detroit four-piece Against the Grain for putting their hats and beards in the ring. The dudely duders who released their third full-length Surrounded by Snakeslast year (review here) and subsequently hit the road alongside Church of Misery will once more take it to the people starting next month, hitting the Midwest and the East Coast before heading back for a hometown release show for the forthcoming Self-Destructo Records 10″ vinyl issue of their 2012 Motor City Speed Rockrelease.
That EP is available to preorder now, and the link for that and tour dates follow here, courtesy of the PR wire:
Against The Grain announce tour – Re-release of “Motor City Speed Rock” 10″
Against The Grain announce three week tour across Mid West/East Coast.
10” re-release of Motor City Speed Rock out this February via Self Destructo Records. Pre-order activated right now through the link below. Limited quantity of 500 pressed on both coke clear and black vinyl, each one hand numbered and hand stamped by Self Destructo Records.
Pre-order up and running right now, all are hand numbered and stamped. Comes in coke clear and regular black 10” and all pre-orders through www.shopturbojugend.com come with an exclusive patch designed for this release.
Detroit’s own Motor City Madmen – Against The Grain start off 2014 with a two month trek across Middle America and the Eastern Seaboard in support of their vinyl re-release of Motor City Speed Rock. Originally released in 2012, it was the album that laid the foundation for their presence in the heavy music community in their city of Detroit and neighboring states alike and opened doors for them to play alongside the likes of The Dwarves, Valient Thorr, Zeke, Holley 750, Riverboat Gamblers and The Meatmen.
Self Destructo Records released their third LP entitled “Surrounded By Snakes” in 2013, which catapulted the band full on into the world of stoner rock/doom. Following the release of Surrounded By Snakes, opening slots in Detroit for Saint Vitus, Orange Goblin and a tour with Japanese doom veterans Church of Misery ensued.
Posted in Whathaveyou on September 9th, 2013 by JJ Koczan
Supporting their earlier 2013 release, Thy Kingdom Scum (review here), Japan’s resident serial-killer-obsessed lords of Sabbathian stonerized doom madness Church of Misery will return to US shores next month. They’ll arrive fresh off a stint in Australia that ends on Oct. 6 and includes a performance at the Doomsday Festival in Sydney.
Joining them for the North American run will be a rotating cast of characters including Saviours, Wizard Rifle, The Gates of Slumber and Against the Grain. The first two will cover the West Coast portion of the tour and the latter will pick up in the Midwest and carry on east before Church of Misery head back west to finish out in Arizona and Los Angeles, as if just to make sure they’ve utterly destroyed the appropriate amount of major urban centers before leaving. No doubt they will.
Church of Misery are also set to release a new DVD on Emetic Records by the title of Terror in Tokyothat captures them in December of last year and also includes the entirety of their Maryland Deathfest performance as bonus footage. The tracklisting and a clip from that follow the tour poster below:
Church of Misery returns to the U.S.!
with Saviours, The Gates of Slumber, Wizard Rifle, Against The Grain
OCTOBER 18 Oakland CA @ Oakland Opera House 19 San Francisco CA @ Thee Parkside 20 Portland OR @ Rotture 21 Seattle WA @ The Crocodile 22 Bellingham WA @ The Shakedown 23 Vancouver BC @ Rickshaw Theater 24 Edmonton AB @ Pawn Shop 25 Calgary AB @ Palomino 30 Fargo ND @ The Aquarium 31 Saint Paul MN @ Turf Club
NOVEMBER 01 Chicago IL @ Ultra Lounge 02 Rock Island IL @ Rock Island Brewing Co. 03 Grand Rapids MI @ Pyramid Scheme 06 Pittsburgh PA @ 31st Street Pub 07 Syracuse NY @ Lost Horizon 08 Toronto ON @ Hard Luck 09 Ottawa ON @ Mavericks 10 Montreal QC @ Il Motore 11 Providence RI @ AS220 12 Brooklyn NY @ Saint Vitus Bar 13 Richmond VA @ Kingdom 14 Baltimore MD @ Ottobar 16 Atlanta GA @ The Earl 17 New Orleans LA @ One Eyed Jacks 18 Austin TX @ Mohawk 19 Dallas TX @ Club Dada 22 Tempe AZ @ Yucca Tap Room 23 Los Angeles CA @ The Satellite
Church Of Misery – Terror In Tokyo
Terror in Tokyo is Church Of Misery’s 4th dvd and first to ever be available outside of Europe or Japan and 1st since since 2007’s Live In Red – Eurotour 2005. Along with the main feature the entire set from the 2012 Maryland Death Fest has been added as bonus material.
Track Listing – Main feature at 20000 VOLT, Kouenji, Tokyo 29th December 2012. Run time 2.5 hours
1. B.T.K 0 2. Lambs to the slaughter 3. Brother Bishop 4. Candy Man 5. Born to raise hell 6. Taste the pain 7. Killfornia 8. Red ripper blues 9. El Padrino 10. Shotgun boogie 11. Sick of living 12. Badlands 13. I,Motherfucker 14. Blood sucking freaks 15. Where evil dwells ~ jamming 16. For mad men only 17 Filth bitch boogie
Church of Misery, “Blood Sucking Freaks” from Terror in Tokyo
