Supporting their NoSlip Records and DHU Records EP, The Second Rite (discussed here), Houston doom rockers Doomstress are once again hitting the road in June. The occasion is an appearance at Maryland Doom Fest in Frederick, MD, where they’ll play alongside Castle, Earthride (who rumor has it have a new bassist), Switchblade Jesus and headliners Windhand, and a host of others, but they’re also playing with a bunch of killer bands — who are both on and off the MDDF bill in their travels, including Josefus, in whose lineup Doomstress frontwoman Doomstress Alexis also plays, so check out the dates below and if they’re coming through, you know, buy some merch and whatnot.

Dates and details follow:

Doomstress announce ‘They Came from Texas! Tour in June to play Maryland Doom Fest and 2 shows w/Texas heavy rock pioneers Josefus!

Doomstress will have just wrapped up a tour in May but will be hitting the road again in June on the ‘They came from Texas! Tour’ to play Maryland Doom Fest 4. (Doomstress Alexis & Brandon played Maryland Doom Fest 1 w/Project Armageddon).

This tour will also include two direct support dates for late 60s heavy rock/proto-metal pioneers Josefus on their 1st ever shows outside of Texas!

Doomstress Alexis (bass & vox), Brandon Johnson (lead guitar) & Matt Taylor (lead guitar) will be joined by fellow Texan, Buddy Hachar of Greenbeard, pounding the skins for this tour!
Tour poster art by TriStarr (http://tristarr.art)

June Tour dates:
6/18 Mobile, AL @ Blind Mule
6/19 Chattanooga, TN @ Ziggy’s
6/20 Atlanta, GA @ 529 w/Tommy Stewart’s Dyerwulf
6/21 Raleigh, NC @ Local Band, Local Beer w/Demon Eye & Disenchanter
6/22 Charlottesville, VA @ Magnolia House
6/23 Frederick, MD @ Cafe 611 – Maryland Doom Fest IV w/Windhand, Castle, Earthride & The Watchers
6/24 Norfolk, VA @ Pourhouse of Norfolk w/Shadow Witch & Witchkiss
6/25 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/Goat Wizard
6/26 Canton, OH @ Buzzbin Bar w/Duel & Sparrowmilk
6/27 Ferndale, MI @ Zeke’s Rock N Roll BBQ
6/28 Kalamazoo, MI @ Shakespeare’s Lower Level
6/29 Chicago, IL @ The Hideout w/Josefus & PCW Syndicate
6/30 Milwaukee, WI @ Cactus Club w/Josefus & PCW Syndicate

Cheers- Doomstress Alexis & all at DOOMSTRESS

www.doomstress.com
www.doomstress.bandcamp.com
www.doomstress.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DoomstressBand/
instagram.com/Doomstress_band
twitter.com/Doomstress
www.darkhedonisticunion.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DHURecords/
https://twitter.com/dhu_records

Doomstress, “Bitter Plea” official video

Doomstress ride again. Actually, that’s pretty much been the story of the band since the first time they rode. They’ve toured steadily since the release of their first EP 2016’s Supernatural Kvlt Sounds (video premiere here), which got a follow-up in last year’s The Second Rite (discussed here), issued via NoSlip Records and DHU Records.

Appropriately enough, the run starts and ends in Texas, heading up to Wisconsin and back between May 18 and May 26, and as they go out again, I still can’t help but wonder when we might see a full-length from them. Two EPs and numerous runs later, I don’t think anyone would say they aren’t ready or sounding like they’re not up to the task. Hell, they started out up to the task, even before all the touring. Maybe I’m just impatient. Scratch that. I’m definitely just impatient. Point stands.

Nonetheless, off they go:

Texas heavy metal doomers, DOOMSTRESS, will be rolling back out on the US highways for their 3rd tour in 2018 to support their “Supernatural Kvlt Sounds-The Second Rite” ep (released on cd via NoSlip Records and 12″ vinyl split w/Sparrowmilk via DHU Records)

The tour kicks off at the 11th annual Loud!Fest in Bryan/College Station, TX on Friday, May 18th, travelling as far north as Madison, WI and covering much of the central US region before it wraps up back in Alington,TX at Division Brewing.

DOOMSTRESS – May tour dates:

5/18-Bryan, TX at Loud!Fest @ Revolution Cafe
5/19-Oklahoma City, OK @ Blue Note
5/20-Albuquerque, NM @ Moonlight Lounge
5/21-Denver, CO @ Streets of London Pub
5/22-Omaha, NB @ Lookout Lounge
5/23- Madison, WI @ The Wisco
5/24-Lawrence,KS @ Replay Lounge
5/25-Little Rock, AR @ Vino’s
5/26-Arlington,TX @ Division Brewing

Doomstress is out supporting their latest release, Supernatural Kvlt Sounds: The Second Rite. The EP contains remixed versions from the original, very limited self release and 7″ DHU single, as well as new song “Bitter Plea” recorded at the end of the Wicked Summer tour and featuring additional rhythm guitar by guitarist Joe Fortunato (Sparrowmilk/Venomin James/ex-Ancient VVisdom). The artwork that will appear on both the CD & vinyl is by renowned psychedelic artist, Goatess Doomwych.

www.doomstress.com
www.doomstress.bandcamp.com
www.doomstress.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DoomstressBand/
instagram.com/Doomstress_band
twitter.com/Doomstress
www.darkhedonisticunion.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DHURecords/
https://twitter.com/dhu_records

Doomstress, “Bitter Plea” official video

Next month, Texas now-four-piece Doomstress will head out on tour in the company of Florida’s Beerwolf for a run through the Southern states. Normally here I’d write something about heading south for the winter, blah blah blah avoiding snow, but that doesn’t seem to be the way the universe works anymore. Nonetheless, Doomstress go in support of their new EP, The Second Rite (discussed here), which is out on DHU Records as the follow-up to 2016’s Supernatural Kvlt Sounds (video premiere here).

Doomstress have undertaken numerous tours since getting together about two years ago now, and one can’t help but wonder how much that process may or may not be playing toward progress on a debut full-length. With members coming from outfits like Venomin James, Project Armageddon and Well of Souls, there’s no lack of experience or pedigree behind them. Could be they’ve chosen to find their sound in front of an audience rather than in the rehearsal space, which is an admirable ethic, to be sure. I guess maybe I’m just anxious to hear how an LP from them might come across when they get there. Due time.

Tour dates came in from the PR wire:

Doomstress to Embark on Co-Headlining North American Tour with Beerwolf!

Houston, TX doom metal masters (and mistress) Doomstress will be hitting the road for an extensive North American tour starting in February. Joining Doomstress as co-headliners starting February 17th will be Florida’s Beerwolf. Here’s what Doomstress Alexis had to say about the upcoming tour:

“After playing with Beerwolf in Tampa, FL during our 2nd tour back in November 2016 and really hitting it off with these dudes, we are super stoked to have them touring across the southern US with DOOMSTRESS this February!”

Doomstress/Beerwolf North American Tour 2018
February 15 – Lafayette, LA – Freetown Boom Room (Doomstress Only)
February 16 – Hattiesburg, MS – The Tavern (Doomstress Only)
February 16 – Gainesville, FL – Loosey’s (Beerwolf Only)
February 17 – Mobile, AL – The Blind Mule
February 18 – Birmingham, AL – The Nick
February 19 – Memphis, TN – Growlers
February 20 – Oklahoma City, OK – Your Mom’s Place
February 21 – Arlington, TX – Division
February 22 – Austin TX – The Lost Well
February 23 – San Angelo, TX – The Dead Horse
February 24 – Houston, TX – Dan Electros
February 25 – New Orleans, LA – Santo’s Bar

Doomstress is out supporting their latest release, Supernatural Kvlt Sounds: The Second Rite. The EP contains remixed versions from the original, very limited self release and 7″ DHU single, as well as new song “Bitter Plea” recorded at the end of the Wicked Summer tour and featuring additional rhythm guitar by guitarist Joe Fortunato (Sparrowmilk/Venomin James/ex-Ancient VVisdom). The artwork that will appear on both the CD & vinyl is by renowned psychedelic artist, Goatess Doomwych.

www.doomstress.com
www.doomstress.bandcamp.com
www.doomstress.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DoomstressBand/
instagram.com/Doomstress_band
twitter.com/Doomstress
www.darkhedonisticunion.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DHURecords/
https://twitter.com/dhu_records

Doomstress, “Bitter Plea” official video

There are still headliners to be announced and others to come as well, and no doubt between now and then there will be one or two shakeups to what’s listed here between bands being added and bands dropping off as will invariably happen, but kudos all the same to organizer Shy Kennedy for the super-early unveiling of what’s probably the bulk of the lineup for Descendants of Crom 2018, the second installment of the Pittsburgh-based heavy fest. In addition to her own band, Horehound, Kennedy has already assembled a killer roster of acts, from Heavy Temple to Come to Grief to a slew of Steel City reserves in OutsideInside, Molasses Barge and others, and even if this was going to be the ultimate shape the festival would take — that is, if no one else was going to be added, which, again, they are — you’d still have to call it a good time in the making.

If you’ve got a 2018 calendar yet, mark it. Earlybird tickets are linked below. Here’s the announcement as posted by the fest, along with a quote graciously provided by Kennedy herself:

Blackseed Records Presents: Descendants of Crom 2018

The Descendants of Crom 2018 will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, USA in September 2018.

Pre Gala at Howlers in the evening on Thursday, September 27th.

Full days on September 28th and 29th at Cattivo.

“Descendants of Crom has been one of the most incredibly rewarding endeavors I’ve ever been involved with,” says fest organizer Shy Kennedy. “Having so many great people working and coming together for their underground music community the way they did that day was inspiring enough to erase any doubt that it has to grow. It has to be an annual event. Next year’s event may seem far away but it lends the time to really build it and get more people aware of it. As you know, a lot of work goes into a musical festival and if you take your time, it becomes a very enjoyable task. Descendants of Crom 2018 will be here all too soon and I, for one, cannot wait!”

Once upon a time there were 17 bands who joined forces to create one killer day of live, riff-ripping performances to celebrate the great community of our heavy, underground music here in the Northeast of the United States. That time was just a couple months back in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The all day event was a great collaboration in effort by local organization, bands from the region as well as a few touring and some very generous scene contributors. It was called the Descendants of Crom. Let’s do it again!

The second annual Descendants of Crom will be held on the last weekend of September of 2018 in Pittsburgh again. This time span three days in length as we are including a Thursday evening pre gala and all day events happening Friday and Saturday. There will be over 30 bands in total coming from all over the United States with a strong regional focus.

Tickets will be offered for single day to day events or in combinations. An Early Crow ticket sale will be held for the weekend combo for a 3 month period, limited to 125. These will be live soon today.

Stay tuned to find out the bands who will be rounding out the evenings of each night as well as the completed schedule.

Today, we announce the “meat” of the Descendants of Crom. These bands are the ones supporting this scene locally, regionally and or nationally. They are strong, beautiful creators of the jam, the breakdown, the beat, and the undeniable riff… they are the Descendants of Crom:

Descendants of Crom 2018 lineup:
The Long Hunt (PGH)
JaketheHawk (PGH)
Mires (PGH)
Solarburn (PGH)
Doctor Smoke (PGH)
Fist Fight In The Parking Lot (PGH)
Thunderbird Divine
Cloud
Curse the Son
Disenchanter
Molasses Barge (PGH)
OutsideInside
Wolftooth
Sierra
Horehound (PGH)
Cavern
Doomstress
Heavy Temple
Devil to Pay
Serpents of Secrecy
Eternal Black
Demon Eye
Geezer
Kind
Freedom Hawk
Duel
Come to Grief

Headliners and sub-headliners to be announced soon.
Early Crow tickets available for all event and 2 day passes for 3 months (11/23 – 2/23).

https://www.facebook.com/DescendantsOfCrom/
https://www.facebook.com/events/177536592803763
https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3186333
http://descendantsofcrom.com

Solace, Live at Descendants of Crom 2017

Invariably there will be some change between now and next June, and there’s the tradition of the pre-show to consider the night before, but right out of the gate, Maryland Doom Fest 2018 impresses with its scope of heavy rock and doom, cross-country reach and loyalty to its core mission. With The Obsessed, Windhand and Weedeater set to headline, the fourth edition of the fest curated by JB Matson and Mark Cruikshank will welcome return appearances from the likes of Castle, Earthride, Thousand Vision Mist and Foghound, while reaching out to bring first-timers from afar like Texas’ Doomstress and Duel and Switchblade Jesus, Kansas rockers The Midnight Ghost Train, Connecticut’s Curse the Son, New York’s Geezer, and — I believe traveling the farthest — Disenchanter, from Portland, Oregon.

It’s a killer assemblage, and I think the three headliners do a lot in summarizing the whole idea behind the fest in the first place: The Obsessed are among the founders of what we think of as “Maryland doom.” Windhand are the forerunners of the modern scene. And Weedeater bring a riotous sludge party like no one else on the planet. What more could you possibly ask of three bands in terms of expressing what Maryland Doom Fest 2018 is all about?

I’ll have updates as I see them, but in the meantime, mark your calendars for June 22, 23, and 24 at Cafe 611 in Frederick, MD, and I’ll do the same, because this looks absolutely awesome.

Dig it:

Maryand Doom Fest 2018

A 3 day weekend of Doom in its purest form.

June 22, 23, and 24

Cafe 611 Restaurant
611 North Market Street
Frederick, MD 21701

Full lineup:
The Obsessed, Windhand, Weedeater, Castle, Unorthodox, Duel, The Watchers, Zed, Switchblade Jesus, The Midnight Ghost Train, Lightning Born, Earthride, Geezer, Disenchanter, Bedowyn, Cavern, Doomstress, Caustic Casanova, Hawkeyes, Curse the Son, Las Cruces, Horseburner, Shadow Witch, Foghound, Witchhelm, Book of Wyrms, Thousand Vision Mist, Molasses Barge, Backwoods Payback, Bailjack, Electropathic, Gateway to Hell

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-maryland-doom-fest-2018-tickets-39468562533
https://www.facebook.com/MdDoomFest/
https://www.themarylanddoomfest.com/

The Obsessed, Live at Maryland Doom Fest 2016

Texas heavy doom rockers Doomstress filmed their new video on one of the several cleverly-named tours they undertook in 2016, playing as the four-piece of bassist/vocalist Doomstress Alexis, guitarists Brandon Johnson (lead) and Joe Fortunato (rhythm) and drummer Tomasz Scull. Fortunato, whose pedigree includes tenure alongside Scull in Sparrowmilk and Venomin James, also directed and edited the clip for “Bitter Plea,” and the song represents the newest work to come from the Houston-based outfit, featured on their new EP, Supernatural Kvlt Sounds: The Second Rite, a follow-up and apparent sequel to their 2016 debut, Supernatural Kvlt Sounds (video premiere here).

Aside from new mixes of “Way of the Mountain” and “Sleep Among the Dead” from the original EP, The Second Rite boasts the Uriah Heep cover “Rainbow Demon” (premiered here) and “Bitter Plea,” and indeed, it’s the latter that shows where the band is truly at in their development. I’m not sure if Fortunato is a permanent member or not at this point, but either way, the 4:26 track swings with a sense of classic metal coming through its dual guitars and finds a balance in its mix that outshines even the redux versions of the original EP cuts, as well as a confidence in presentation obviously born of the band’s significant time on the road. Even with an underlying darkness in the lyrics, Alexis and company keep a firm sense of momentum moving forward in the track as well as across the entirety of the 22-minute offering from which it comes, and though they seem to be taking their time crafting songs rather than working to try to bang out a first album simply for the sake of doing so, the results that come through on “Bitter Plea” are hard to argue with in terms of their sense of being fully realized and engaging. Proof? The hook and guitar solo. The arrangement of vocals. The return to the central riff at the end. It’s all there, waiting to be heard in “Bitter Plea.”

Also, as it happens, seen. Captured live on stage and on the shores of Lake Erie, the video gives an unpretentious representation of the song while adding in its style a sense of drama befitting to the lyrics. The underlying message is Doomstress are continuing to take shape as a band, progressing in their songwriting processes and becoming all the more capable of manifesting a style that resides someplace between doom, metal and heavy rock and makes its mark in memorable choruses and choice grooves.

Supernatural Kvlt Sounds: The Second Rite is out on CD now via NoSlip Records and will be released as a split with Sparrowmilk in November via DHU Records. More info at the links following the video below.

Please enjoy:

Doomstress, “Bitter Plea” official video premiere

Doomstress – “Bitter Plea” official video ©2017
From the ep “Supernatural Kvlt Sounds-The Second Rite”
CD on NoSlip Records (USA) available late September 2017
12″ vinyl split w/Sparrowmilk on DHU Records (Netherlands) available November 2017

Live footage filmed @ The Foundry in Cleveland, OH on the Wicked Summer Tour in August 2016.

Scenic footage filmed at the sand dunes of Lake Erie in Ohio in late August or early September 2016.

Video concept by Doomstress Alexis

Directed & edited by Joe Fortunato

Band members on this tour:
Doomstress Alexis – bass & vox
Brandon Johnson – lead guitar
Tomasz Scull – drums
Joe Fortunato – rhythm guitar

Doomstress website

Doomstress on Bandcamp

Doomstress webstore

Doomstress on Thee Facebooks

Doomstress on Instagram

Doomstress on Twitter

DHU Records webstore

NoSlip Records webstore

Click play below to hear a newly-remixed version of Doomstress‘ take on Uriah Heep‘s ‘Rainbow Demon.’ Originally included on the UK band’s 1972 classic, Demons and Wizards, it gets a kick in heft and groove from the Texas-based outfit, who’ll include the track on their aptly-titled NoSlip Records sophomore EP, The Second Rite, which is due out this Fall. The Second Rite will also be issued as a split with the post-Venomin James outfit Sparrowmilk in November, so keep an eye out for that, and Doomstress continue to play live shows — including End Hip End It next month — as they move past their 2016 debut, Supernatural Kvlt Sounds (video premiere here), inexorably toward a first full-length.

If you heard that outing or the subsequent Wicked Woman 7″ (discussed here), you’ll no doubt find the new versions of those tracks somewhat refreshed-sounding, but the EP also portends good things to come in the new track “Bitter Plea,” blending classic metal and doomly groove to solid effect behind a performance that shows marked growth well earned by time Doomstress has spent on the road over the last year, touring with Disenchanter and others along the way.

The PR wire has more about the EP, and again, you can hear that cover at the bottom of the post. Enjoy:

Texas Doom Metallers Doomstress to Release New EP, The Second Rite via CD and 12” Split This Fall!

Texas doom metallers Doomstress are set to release their new EP, The Second Rite on No Slip Records. The EP contains remixed versions from the original, very limited self release and 7″ DHU single, as well as new song “Bitter Plea” recorded at the end of the Wicked Summer tour and featuring additional rhythm guitar by guitarist Joe Fortunato (Sparrowmilk/Venomin James/ex-Ancient VVisdom). The artwork that will appear on both the CD & vinyl is by renown psychedelic artist, Goatess Doomwych.

Doomstress will also release The Second Rite vinyl as a 12″ split (minus the “Wicked Woman” Coven cover) with Cleveland instrumental powerhouse Sparrowmilk via DHU Records (Netherlands) this fall! As with the EP CD release of The Second Rite, this 12″ vinyl split was mastered by Kent Stump, of Wo Fat, at Crystal Clear Sound in Dallas, TX. The release of the 12” split is expected to be sometime in late November. More details will be released sometime in October so stay tuned.

Song List for The Second Rite EP CD via No Slip Records:
1- Way of the Mountain
2- Bitter Plea
3- Rainbow Demon*
4- Sleep Among the Dead
5- Wicked Woman** (7″ version: CD only bonus)

*Uriah Heep cover 1972
**Coven cover 1969

Doomstress is:
Doomstress Alexis – bass & vocals
Brandon Johnson – lead guitar & backing vocals

Tomasz Scull – recording/touring drummer

Matt Taylor – touring lead/rhythm guitar
Andy Kaos Vehnekamp – touring /session drummer
Alex Erhardt – touring drummer
Joe Fortunato – touring/session rhythm guitar

Doomstress live:
Thur 9/28 OKC, OK @ Your Mom’s Place
Fri 9/29 tba
Sat 9/30 @ Stoned Meadow of Doom Fest in Sioux Falls, SD @ Bigs Bar

www.doomstress.com
www.doomstress.bandcamp.com
www.doomstress.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DoomstressBand/
instagram.com/Doomstress_band
twitter.com/Doomstress
www.darkhedonisticunion.bigcartel.com

Certainly if you live in the US, you’ve probably heard plenty about this point about the royal ass kicking recently received by the city of Houston from Hurricane Harvey. They say the storm may have permanently changed the shape of the fourth largest urban area in the country, and while we can sit here all day and talk about how all these “500-year” floods keep happening — or we could just say the words “climate change” and accept how much we’ve truly fucked our planet and thus ourselves as a species — the bottom line is that people’s lives will never be the same.

This weekend, Houston’s own Doomstress play a benefit for Harvey flood victims in their hometown, and it’s one of several choice gigs they have coming up before the month is out. Also noteworthy of course is the fact that in October they’ll be at the End Hip End It fest (info here) in Spring, TX, but as you can see, they’re keeping well busy even besides that. Note the TBA date on Sept. 29 after they play Oklahoma City at Your Mom’s Place — joke’s on you; my mom lives in New Jersey — and as always, if you can help out with a show, you should make that happen. Plenty of land there between Oklahoma City and Sioux Falls, South Dakota, for a gig to take place in.

Shows are presented by Heavy Friends Booking. Here’s info as posted on the social medias:

Doomstress – Scorched September Tour

Doomstress hits the road again this September!

Sat 9/9 Houston, TX @ Brash brewing company F**K Harvey Flood Victims Benefit **starts at Noon**
https://www.facebook.com/events/1482307511861580/

Fri 9/15 Austin, TX @ The Electric Church w/Crypt Trip

Sat 9/16 San Angelo, TX @ The Deadhorse Live w/The Guillotines
https://www.facebook.com/events/1342549785844088/

Thur 9/28 OKC, OK @ Your Mom’s Place
https://www.facebook.com/events/1927447954134117/

Fri 9/29 tba

Sat 9/30 @ Stoned Meadow of Doom Fest in Sioux Falls, SD @ Bigs Bar
https://www.facebook.com/events/167660890394733/

Thanx to Heavy Friends Booking, DHU Records, NoSlip Records, Zombie Dust Pickups Poster art by Goatess Doomwych layout Doomstress Alexis.

www.doomstress.com
www.doomstress.bandcamp.com
www.doomstress.bigcartel.com
https://www.facebook.com/DoomstressBand/
instagram.com/Doomstress_band
twitter.com/Doomstress
www.darkhedonisticunion.bigcartel.com

Doomstress, “Apathetic Existence” Live at the Foundry