Trading singers and covering industrial pioneers, Kowloon Walled City and Batillus have united in a bi-coastal split 7″ that will be the third in a series put out by Brutal Panda Records. Fade Kainer of Batillus joins Kowloon Walled City for a rendition of “Anthem” by Godflesh — no word on whether it will synch up with Jesus Christ Superstar as well as the original, but one can hope — and Scott Evans will join Batillus to take on Ministry‘s “Lava.” Sound like a neat idea? It is.

The PR wire has more info, band links and the goods on where a pre-order for the 7″, due out on Dec. 10, can be placed, so get up if you wanna get down:

KOWLOON WALLED CITY / BATILLUS Announce Split 7″

San Francisco’s KOWLOON WALLED CITY and Brooklyn’s BATILLUS have teamed up for a split 7″ of cover songs as part of the the third release in Brutal Panda Records’ split 7″ series.  Recorded at Sharkbite Studios in Oakland, CA and mixed by Scott Evans at Antisleep, the split features KWC playing a cover of the Godflesh classic “Anthem” with Fade Kainer of BATILLUS on vocals.  Side B features BATILLUS covering Ministry’s “Lava” with Scott Evans of KWC on vocals.

The split will be officially released on December 10th and is available for pre-order here.  Also released in the 7″ series were splits from BLACK TUSK / FIGHT AMP and HELMS ALEE / LADDER DEVILS.  The fourth and final release will be a split between WHORES and RABBITS with details to emerge soon.

Kowloon Walled City on Facebook
Kowloon Walled City on Bandcamp

Batillus on Facebook
Batillus on Bandcamp

Kowloon Walled City, Container Ships (2012)

Meeting at the intersection of punishing modern doom and industrial experimentation, Brooklyn’s Batillus seem destined to always be an oddball musically. Their 2011 Seventh Rule debut full-length, Furnace (review here), reveled in its bleak weirdness, and I’d expect no less of the follow-up, Concrete Sustain, which is due out March 19 through the same label.

Also sprach the PR wire:

BATILLUS: Avant-Industrial Doom Conjurors To Unleash Concrete Sustain Via Seventh Rule Recordings Next Month

Artwork + Track Listing Revealed

Brooklyn, New York avant-industrial doom conjurors BATILLUS (buh-TILL-us) today confirm March 19, 2013 as the official North American release date of their forthcoming new full-length. Titled Concrete Sustain, the follow-up to 2011’s critically-lauded Furnace long player, was recorded and mixed by Sanford Parker and BATILLUS at Sound Generation in Manhattan and Hypercube in Chicago and mastered by Collin Jordan at the Boiler Room.

With songs that range from relentless mid-tempo churns to subterranean crawls, BATILLUS cohere the extremes of heavy music into a surge of massive riffing, rolling over and descending on the listener with the force and intensity of a sudden storm. Concrete Sustain delivers six unforgettable tracks of chilling industrial doom.

Concrete Sustain Track Listing:
1. Concrete
2. Cast
3. Beset
4. Mirrors
5. Rust
6. Thorns

Originally conceived in 2007 as an instrumental trio, the BATILLUS lineup expanded in 2009 to add vocals, synthesizer, and samples to the dynamic range of their music. The tight and focused songs on Concrete Sustain reflect this expanded palette, which has had a profound effect on the band’s writing process.

Concrete Sustain will be released via Seventh Rule Recordings. Stay tuned for further info on BATILLUS, including a stretch of live rituals, in the coming weeks.

…Sort of. They’re not exactly sharing a van — or, if they are, it has escape pods out the sides or something (which would rule). What seems to be the case for this run of shows is that The Atlas Moth have two-weeks booked across the US and Kowloon Walled City and Batillus are meeting up with them along the way. It’s a killer package if you have to live somewhere where you can catch all three, but even if not, any of the above makes for some pretty solid destruction.

This came in on the PR wire:

The Atlas Moth have released the album of their careers with An Ache for the Distance, their Profound Lore debut, and Batillus kicked off the year in rare form with their visceral effort Furnace. These bands are undoubtedly some of the most ferocious in today’s metal scene and now they have joined forces for a tour that is sure to leave your city devastated this fall. Joined by Kowloon Walled City, the trek will be one of the most impressive live attacks of the year and you will not want to miss the epic performances of this trio.

The Atlas Moth, Batillus & Kowloon Walled City:
11/09 Minneapolis, MN 7th Street Entry NO KWC
11/10 Fargo, ND The New Direction NO KWC
11/12 Portland, OR East End No Batillus
11/13 Seattle, WA Highline No Batillus
11/14 Boise, ID The Shredder No Batillus
11/15 Las Vegas, NV Yayo Tacos No Batillus
11/16 Phoenix, AZ Yucca Tap Room No Batillus
11/17 Capistrano Beach, CA Coconuts 
11/18 Los Angeles, CA Bow & Sparrow 
11/19 San Francisco, CA Hemlock Tavern No Batillus
11/20 Salt Lake City, UT Burt’s Tiki Lounge NO KWC
11/21 Denver, CO Moe’s NO KWC
11/22 Kansas City, MO Riot Room NO KWC
11/23 Chicago, IL Subterranean NO KWC

Batillus Off Dates:
10/26 Brooklyn, NY Acheron w/ Inter Arma, Belus
11/07 Indianapolis, IN The Vollrath w/ Late August, Chinaski
11/08 Madison, WI Wisco
11/12 Seattle, WA Highline w/ Natür
11/13 Portland, OR The Know w/ Diesto, Natür
11/15 Eugene, OR or Chico, CA TBA
11/16 San Francisco, CA Elbo Room w/ Prizehog
11/19 Las Vegas, NV Yayo Taco

Big on atmosphere, big on time and big on tone, the first album from Brooklyn doomers Batillus is a bleak, oppressive six-song outing that’s bound to ring their name out among the underground converted. Doom heads, be aware. The band, which formed as an instrumental trio and later added be-dreadlocked vocalist Fade Kainer (Inswarm, Jarboe, occasionally Man’s Gin), have unleashed a monster in Furnace, their Seventh Rule Recordings debut. With one guitar, one bass, one set of drums, one vocalist and a host of effects and synths, they set up posts along a range of heavy-footed doomscapes — which, contrary to the album’s title, actually sound quite cold — managing to incorporate some of post-metal’s progressive ideology while almost completely avoiding the now-clichéd traps of that genre. Fans of Suma, Unearthly Trance, Ufomammut and other drone-conscious neo-doomers will want to take note of the four-piece’s methodology, impressive and punishing in equal measure as it is.

Guitarist Greg Peterson establishes dominance almost immediately with the beginnings of opener “…And the World is as Night to Them,” while Kainer’s tortured vocals – far off, screamed, caked in reverb – slowly unfurl a sort of wretched lyrical poetry. Drummer Geoff Summers and bassist Will Stabenau keep the song grounded through an ambient section, the latter especially and rightly present in the mix throughout most of Furnace. When the song breaks to Summers alone keeping the slow beat, you know it won’t be long before the rest of the band kicks back in, but it’s no less satisfying when they do so, and though “…And the World is as Night to Them” is among the lengthier tracks at 8:53 (only the closer is longer), it nonetheless manages to set the darkened, depressed tone of Furnace well, moving into and out of its heaviest moments with graceful transitions and brutal sonics. “Deadweight,” which follows, begins with synth and the bassline from Stabenau, moving quickly into one of Furnace’s most memorable riffs. At no point is the album really accessible in the sense of being an easy listen or wanting to make friends, but the somewhat quicker pacing of “Deadweight” and the groove Batillus elicit are undeniable.

Another drop out, this time to just Peterson’s guitar and Summers’ drums, is a high point of the record, and Kainer’s repetition of the line “Fall on your knees/Crushed by your soul/Poisoned your mind/That serves you no more” (and variants thereupon) is as close as Furnace gets to a genuine chorus. Of all the songs to stick in the mind after a few preliminary listens to the album, “Deadweight” is the most likely. Batillus follow it with the faster, shorter “Uncreator,” which finds Summers touching on some d-beat drumming in the black-metal-styled intro and Peterson making the most of his inhuman tone as the tempo scales back. That tone is again what allows the feedback-soaked hugeness of “The Division” to carry over at any volume. Kainer’s synth noises are most present here, and there’s plenty of room for them amidst the spaces between riff cycles and general languid movement of the song. Blah blah blah oceans, blah blah blah place tectonics – point is, the thing sounds fucking massive, and though Stabenau’s contribution isn’t to be discounted, for a large part of the affair, it’s Peterson carrying that across.

Read more »

Oppressive Brooklyn doomers Batillus have set an April 19 release date for their Seventh Rule Recordings debut, Furnace. The destructive, tortured six-track full-length is massive by nearly any standard you want to use to measure, and though I’ll have a full review in the coming weeks, the label was kind enough to allow me permission to premiere album opener “…And the World is as Night to Them” and and blistering third cut “Uncreator” now.

You can stream the two new songs using the player below:

[mp3player width=460 height=120 config=fmp_jw_widget_config.xml playlist=batillus.xml]

Fucking heavy.

Tonight in Philadelphia, Batillus kick off a tour with fellow Brooklynites Hull that will take them south to SXSW — where they’ll play with the likes of Dark Castle and Grayceon — and back. Here are the dates:

Batillus / Hull 2011 Spring Tour
03/11 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie w/ Ominous Black
03/12 Richmond, VA Strange Matter w/ U.S. Christmas, Balaclava
03/13 Johnson City, TN Hideaway w/ U.S. Christmas
03/14 Little Rock, AR Downtown Music w/ The Body
03/18 SXSW Austin, TX Triple Crown Tattoo w/ Pack of Wolves, Mutilation Rites
03/19 SXSW Austin, TX Lovejoy’s Brooklyn Vegan/Profound Lore Showcase w/ Tombs, Dark Castle, The Body, Castevet, Deafheaven, Grayceon, Wolvhammer, Altaar*
03/19 SXSW Austin, TX Shiner Bar w/ Pack of Wolves
03/21 New Orleans, LA Siberia w/ The Body, Mutilation Rites
03/22 Nashville, TN Little Hamilton Collective w/ Mose Giganticus, Sacaea
03/23 Chapel Hill, NC Reservoir Bar w/ Caltrop
03/24 Baltimore, MD Sidebar w/ Caltrop, Billows
03/25 Montclair, NJ The Meatlocker w/ Caltrop
03/26 New York, NY The Studio at Webster Hall w/ Caltrop
* no Hull

Next Friday, Batillus kicks off a tour with fellow Brooklynites Hull that takes both bands down to SXSW in Austin, Texas. These dates were announced before, but there were a couple changes, so if you were planning to head out to one of the shows (and well you should), make sure you take note.

The PR wire’s gory details follow:

New York doom quartet Batillus and Seventh Rule have announced the first tour in support of the upcoming release of Furnace, the band’s debut full-length effort. In March, Batillus will tour alongside Brooklyn‘s Hull to Austin, Texas for SXSW and back.

Batillus / Hull 2011 Spring Tour
03/11 Philadelphia, PA Kung Fu Necktie w/ Ominous Black
03/12 Richmond, VA Strange Matter w/ U.S. Christmas, Balaclava
03/13 Johnson City, TN Hideaway w/ U.S. Christmas
03/14 Little Rock, AR Downtown Music w/ The Body
03/18 SXSW Austin, TX Triple Crown Tattoo w/ Pack of Wolves, Mutilation Rites
03/19 SXSW Austin, TX Lovejoy’s Brooklyn Vegan/Profound Lore Showcase w/ Tombs, Dark Castle, The Body, Castevet, Deafheaven, Grayceon, Wolvehammer, Altaar*
03/19 SXSW Austin, TX Shiner Bar w/ Pack of Wolves
03/21 New Orleans, LA Siberia w/ The Body, Mutilation Rites
03/22 Nashville, TN Little Hamilton Collective w/ Mose Giganticus, Sacaea
03/23 Chapel Hill, NC Reservoir Bar w/ Caltrop
03/24 Baltimore, MD Sidebar w/ Caltrop, Billows
03/25 Montclair, NJ The Meatlocker w/ Caltrop
03/26 New York, NY The Studio at Webster Hall w/ Caltrop
* no Hull

Brooklyn heavy-hitters Batillus are set to issue their debut full-length, Furnace, on Seventh Rule Recordings on April 19. Seventh Rule has also opened up a webstore through Bandcamp where, awesomely, you can name your own price for downloads of their releases. Check that out here, and dig the Batillus news from the PR wire:

New York doom quartet Batillus and Seventh Rule Recordings have finalized details for the release of band’s debut full-length record, Furnace. The album, which was recorded at Semaphore Recording with engineer Sanford Parker (YOB, Unearthly Trance, Nachtmystium, Pelican) and mastered by Collin Jordan (Ministry, Ohgr / Skinny Puppy) at the Boiler Room, will be released on April 19 in North America, with the LP version available for Record Store Day.

Furnace will however, be available as a special tour-pressing LP from the band directly at shows prior to its official release. This tour pressing will feature art silk-screened by hand and will be limited to only 55 copies.

Furnace tracklisting:
1. …And the World is as Night to Them
2. Deadweight
3. Uncreator
4. The Division
5. What Heart
6. Mautaam

Congratulations are in order for Brooklyn doom bashers Batillus, whom it was announced this week have signed with the ultra-awesome Chicago imprint, Seventh Rule Recordings. Good for them. I’ll always be able to tell people I was at their first show. Or maybe it was their second. Or maybe I’m thinking of another band entirely. In any case, way to go, dudes. Best of luck.

I’ll be seeing those guys, along with Man’s Gin, Moth Eater, Evoken and some band nobody’s ever heard of, at the Bowery Electric on Sunday. It’s an early show, and I’ll be getting there even earlier, so if you’re free, in New York and want to check it out, the flier is below.

Hope you all had a great week. This is probably the first weekend in the last six that I’m not going to spend the entire thing doing homework. Long story that involves a jumbled schedule and it’s actually the reason the last five days were so hellishly short on posts (three per day? What is this crap?), but at least I don’t have to spend tomorrow and Sunday trying to get caught up. Off the hook. I plan to sleep late tomorrow.

But until then, I hope the Batillus clip helps you kick off your weekend right if you haven’t already. Stick around for next week, when one way or another, we’re going to discuss the new Electric Wizard, and I’ll be posting an interviews with Spiritual Beggars, High Watt Electrocutions, and if I have time, The Roller. That’s right, we’re going deluxe. And so help me Robot Jesus, I’m going to change the header. You won’t want to miss that.

Stay safe the next couple days, and we’ll see you back here on Monday. Here’s that flier for the Sunday show. Some band nobody’s ever heard of is on before Moth Eater. They got the shaft as far as having their logo included goes.