In just a few short hours, this year’s Doom in June fest gets its start, and Doom in June Vol. 4 is definitely the most varied and farthest reaching yet, bringing in the deathly likes of Satan’s Host and Novembers Doom for ultra-dark headlining slots, while Acid Witch, Pale Divine, Ides of Gemini, Godhunter, Whores of Tijuana and many others hold down a two-day trudge through various styles and takes on the heavy. It’s an admirable grouping of acts, and The Cheyenne Saloon is a killer room in which to see a show, so no doubt in my mind it’ll be an excellent time for those fortunate enough to make it out.

If that’s you, well, you already know the deal. For everyone else, let me just say one more time how thrilled I was to be included among the sponsors for this year’s event, and how much I’m looking forward to seeing videos and hearing reports of how it all went down.

One more time, here’s the full lineup and ticket links:

DOOM IN JUNE VOL. 4

Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th, 2014 at The Cheyenne Saloon

Las Vegas, NV, Friday, June 6, 2014 — Salem Rose Music is excited to present the full line-up for Doom in June Vol. 4 Music Festival in Las Vegas. Festival kicks off Friday night (June 6th). In keeping with festival tradition, Saturday (June 7th) will feature music all day and well into the night. Event takes place at The Cheyenne Saloon (3103 N Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130). Tickets are on sale now and also available at the door until they sell out:

2- day ticket discount price $40
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/533967

Friday only ticket $20
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/672659

Saturday only ticket $30
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/672673

Friday June 6
(first band hits the stage just after 5:00 pm and show ends just after midnight)
Lotus
Spiritual Shepherd
Whores of Tijuana
Wounded Giant
Night Demon
Spiralarms
Big Elf
Satan’s Host

Saturday June 7
Black Prism
Trapped within Burning Machinery
Deathkings
Secrets of the Sky
Godhunter
Spun in Darkness
Demon Lung
Ides of Gemini
Pale Divine
November’s Doom
Acid Witch
Irony Man

— Festival Ends —

Updates can be found at:
https://www.facebook.com/doominjune

Pale Divine, Painted Windows Black (2012)

If you’re the type to look at sponsor lists for music festivals, you might notice an Obelisk logo at the bottom of the poster below for Doom in June Vol. 4. I’m thrilled and honored to be on board for spreading the word on this year’s Doom in June fest, with Novembers Doom, Ides of Gemini, Godhunter, Satan’s Host, BigElf, Acid Witch and Pale Divine on the bill at the Cheyenne Saloon in the ultra-doomy climes of Las Vegas, June 6 and 7. As you can see, I’m in good company, and the fourth installment of the annual fest promises to be the grimmest yet. Did I mention Satan’s Host were playing?

Tickets are available now for either or both of the two days ofDoom in June Vol. 4, and the links are included below with the now-final lineup, fresh off the PR wire.

Dig it:

DOOM IN JUNE VOL. 4 – LAS VEGAS MUSIC FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES FINAL LINE-UP

Friday, June 6th and Saturday, June 7th, 2014 at The Cheyenne Saloon

Salem Rose Music announces final line-up for Doom in June Vol. 4 Music Festival in Las Vegas. This year the festival kicks off on Friday night (June 6th). In keeping with festival tradition, Saturday (June 7th) will feature music all day and well into the night. Doom in June expanded the format to accommodate more bands this year. Event takes place at The Cheyenne Saloon (3103 N Rancho Drive, Las Vegas, Nevada 89130). Tickets are on sale now:

2- day ticket discount price $40
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/533967

Friday only ticket $20
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/672659

Saturday only ticket $30
http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/672673

“I’m proud I could put together a heavier than heavy line-up for Doom in June Vol. 4” explains festival founder Marco Barbieri, “We’ve expanded to a two-day format in order to add more bands. There is a greater diversity of talent and we’ve listened to the fans and made it darker and doomier this year.”

Event sponsors include Fly PR, Vegas Star Bookings, The Obelisk, Heavy Planet and All That Is Heavy. To become a sponsor or to find out about vendor opportunities please contact Salem Rose Music.

Friday June 6
(first band hits the stage just after 5:00 pm and show ends just after midnight)
Spiritual Shepherd
Lotus
Whores of Tijuana
Wounded Giant
Night Demon
Spiral Arms
Big Elf
Satan’s Host

Saturday June 7
(first band hits the stage just after 2:00 pm and show ends around 1:00 am)
Spun in Darkness
Funerary
Black Prism
Deathkings
Trapped Within Burning Machinery
Secrets of the Sky
Godhunter
Demon Lung
Ides of Gemini
My Ruin
Pale Divine
Acid Witch
November’s Doom

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/533967
https://facebook.com/doominjune

Spiritual Shepherd, “The Flock” Live at Doom in June 3

While I’m not sure I’d position Los Angeles-based rockers Bigelf as progressive — at least in the modern rock sense — I’m not sure I can come up with anywhere they’d fit better, and certainly having former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy in the lineup isn’t about to hurt their cred in that regard. Founded by oft-chapeaued frontman Damon Fox a long, long time ago, Bigelf‘s last album was 2008’s Cheat the Gallows, and to herald the March 4 arrival of Into the Maelstrom as their first LP in half a decade, they’ll be taking part in the Progressive Nation at Sea cruise/fest in February, which will see them perform alongside the likes of Devin Townsend and Adrian Belew. So, you know, very proggy there as well.

Interested to hear how all this proggy-prog-prog manifests on Into the Maelstrom and if Bigelf keep some of the classic psychedelia of their past efforts intact, but I guess we’ll have to wait until the New Year.

Till then, the PR wire has this:

Bigelf announce release of new studio album ‘Into The Maelstrom’ for March 2014

It’s been a long time coming, but Bigelf are at long last pleased to announce that they will release their brand new fourth studio album entitled ‘Into The Maelstrom’ on the 4th of March 2014 throughout North America. Frontman and mastermind Damon Fox had this to say:
“I think ITM is the best Bigelf record yet and I believe it is a real game changer for the band. It’s gonna put us over the top! Psychedelic cinematic landscapes and melodic prog-doom set the stage for the new album, I cannot wait for fans (old and new) to experience all of its apocalyptic color.”

‘Into The Maelstrom’ marks the recording debut of Mike Portnoy (Transatlantic, The Winery Dogs) with Bigelf, whose Progressive Nation At Sea Cruise the band will perform on from the 18th – 22nd February 2014, playing alongside bands such as Transatlantic, Devin Townsend Project, Riverside & Adrian Belew Power Trio. Tickets are available now from www.progressivenationatsea.com

Look out for more information in the coming weeks!

BIGELF online:
http://www.bigelf.com
http://www.facebook.com/bigelfmusic
http://www.twitter.com/bigelf

Bigelf, “Superstar” official video

Not heard from since the 2009 re-release of 2008’s Cheat the Gallows, L.A.-based heavy prog weirdos Bigelf have come back to earth. Bechapeaued frontman Damon Fox has announced that he has joined forces with none other than former Dream Theater drummer Mike Portnoy in a new lineup of the band and that they’ve signed to Century Media‘s prog-minded subsidiary, InsideOut Music.

If that seems like pretty wild news, kind of an unexpected pairing and it leaves you not quite knowing what to think about it, that’s precisely the arena in which Bigelf have always preferred to operate. Look for more on the album to come, but meanwhile, here are the details of the signing and a bit of a catch-’em-up from Damon Fox about this new era of the band:

BIGELF returns and signs new deal with InsideOut Music; Mike Portnoy to play drums on forthcoming new album

InsideOut Music is immensely pleased to announce the signing of progressive-rock powerhouse BIGELF for the release of their forthcoming new album later this year. Label-head Thomas Waber says about the signing: “We have been talking to BIGELF for quite some time now and I am really pleased that we finally managed to make this happen! BIGELF are an excellent addition to the InsideOut Music roster!”

It’s been a few years since we’ve heard any activity from the BIGELF camp, so who better to explain to us what’s been going on than the band’s mastermind Damon Fox himself:

“Finally! BIGELF lands on a planet whose atmosphere is synonymous with progressive rock and heavy metal. One of my all-time favourite quotes is, ‘Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid…’

I’m ecstatic that InsideOut/Century Media and Mike Portnoy have joined ‘forces’ with BIGELF.

First, I want to elaborate on what has been happening ‘inside’ the band since 2010, there have been numerous rumours on the internet that I fired everyone in BIGELF, this is completely untrue.

After the juggernaut of ‘Cheat The Gallows’ came to a halt, the business and personal infrastructure of BIGELF imploded and an unexpected hiatus occurred leaving the band in complete disarray. A myriad of personal, financial and domestic matters had enveloped myself as well as certain members of the group. There also comes a time when deep down inside it just doesn’t feel right anymore, and one has to face the music that the end is near. Transparency no longer exists and with that, clarity and perspective are lost. I’m speaking for myself now but clearly this was a mutual feeling and I believe it was obvious amongst the band. Subsequently, Ace Mark decided to move on and left BIGELF in the summer of 2011, and a request by the remaining members for a dissolution of business followed. To put it simply, we went our separate ways without malice.

I had been keeping in close touch with Mike Portnoy after his very public and difficult departure from DREAM THEATER. At this time, my musical future seemed quite bleak and I was very vocal to Mike about not being able to sustain the band any longer on my own. He implored me to carry on and to not let BIGELF slip away, his encouragement and enthusiasm meant the world to me. Recognizing that I needed some new allies, I asked him if he would help fight the good fight and lend his extraordinary drum majesty to the new BIGELF record and he readily agreed. Also…sharing a passion for all things rock & roll, my good friend Duffy Snowhill climbed aboard the Viking ship for another round of thundering bass guitar and for that too I am grateful.

I also want to acknowledge our amazing and dedicated fans that send emails all the time saying how they feel about BIGELF. These emails inspire me greatly and they’re the reason that I continue to play this kind of music, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I can’t wait for everyone to hear the new wondrous landscapes we’ve been sculpting, there are lots of surprises around the corner, stay tuned.”

–Damon Fox

Bigelf, “The Evils of Rock and Roll”