Javelina are a Beast in Beast’s Clothing

Posted in Reviews on November 3rd, 2009 by JJ Koczan

All hail the zombie pope!Their team may be down in the World Series as of Nov. 3 (Cliff Lee can?t pitch ?em all), but Philadelphia?s finest purveyors of thickened thrash, Javelina, are just hitting their stride. On their second offering for Translation Loss, Beasts among Sheep, they rip, tear, growl, feedback and scream their way through eight tracks (nine if you count the bonus) of righteous workingman?s fury, with just enough doom awareness to keep away from being a basement version of Slayer or whichever modern Slayer clone you?d want to compare them to.

They?re like Thrash Sabbath.

Even on opener ?You?re Gonna Hate This? — probably named for the 30 seconds of abrasive feedback that starts the album — Javelina show a heightened awareness of melody as the guitars of Chubbrock and Mike B. come together to harmonize a riff at top speed. Both guitarists and bassist Herb handle vocals, leaving only drummer Erik mic-less, so there is no shortage of I'm not even from Philly and I think this is the best mascot in the world. I DARE YOU not to be happy looking at this guy. He rules.changes or variety in the approach, though all three singers handle screams. The tactic is most effective on tracks like middle cut ?Arcadia,? where the voices combine or run in and out of each other, making the most of the differences between everyone?s individual contributions.

If you heard Javelina?s self-titled debut, which came out last year, then you should have a basic idea of what to expect, but where the four-piece excels is in an even-tighter presentation of the material. Beasts among Sheep was recorded at Chicago?s Volume Studios by (none other than) Sanford Parker, so the clarity of the production should go without saying, but Javelina keep a ferociously aggressive live feel to victorious riffs like that around which ?A Little Paranoia Goes a Long Way? is based, and the groove resulting is all the more headbang-worthy for it.

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New Javelina Available for the Getting; Two New Songs Posted

Posted in Whathaveyou on September 29th, 2009 by JJ Koczan

A friendly note from the PR wire reminds that Philly mongrels Javelina release their full-length, Beasts among Sheep today, Sept. 29, on Translation Loss. Haven’t heard it yet, but if it’s anything like their self-titled was, should be a winner. Behold the press release and tour dates:

Javelina posted the new tracks ?You?re Going to Hate This? and ?Black Blizzard? from their Translation Loss Ay, everybody! Ima da popa!Records debut release titled Beasts among Sheep due out? September 29th, 2009, here.

Javelina?s new record Beasts among Sheep was recorded at Volume Studios in Chicago, IL, by Sanford Parker Parker (Minsk, Pelican, Nachtmystium), mastered by Collin Jordan at The Boiler Room, and features artwork by Philadelphia?s very own Old City Tattoo stalwart artist Jason Goldberg.

Beasts among Sheep is now available for with exclusive CD/T-shirt package deals only available on the Translation Loss Records webstore!

10/03/2009 Oade?s Hidden CamelLansing, MI w/ The Plague Years
10/04/2009 The Melody InnIndianapolis, IN
10/05/2009 Ronny’sChicago, IL w/ Lord Mantis
10/06/2009 Red RavenFargo, ND w/ Nux Vomica
10/07/2009 The BarMissoula, MT w/ Nux Vomica
10/08/2009 The MorgueGeorgetown, WA w/ Nux Vomica
10/09/2009 The RendezvousSeattle, WA w/ Nux Vomica, Slave Traitor
10/10/2009 Plan BPortland, OR w/ Nux Vomica
10/11/2009 *TBA
10/12/2009 Elbo RoomSan Francisco, CA
10/13/2009 Alterknit Lounge @ The Knitting FactoryLos Angeles, CA
10/14/2009 Jug Heads Phoenix, AZ w/ The Accused
10/16/2009 The Phoenix ProjectDallas, TX w/ Vorvadoss, Kill the Client, Maleveller
10/17/2009 Red 7Austin, TX w/ Pasadena Napalm Divison (members of DRI, Deadhorse)
10/18/2009 The Rats NestHouston, TX w/ Pretty Little Flower, Skruge, Termination Force
10/19/2009 Checkpoint Charlie’sNew Orleans, LA w/ Holy Dirt, Raum
10/20/2009 Transitions Arts Gallery @ Tampa Skate ParkTampa, FL w/ Six Dead Horses
10/21/2009 Will?s PubOrlando, FL w/ Six Dead Horses
10/22/2009 Drunken UnicornAtlanta, GA w/ Music Hates You, Sons of Tonatiuth, Fluff
10/23/2009 Slim?sRaleigh, NC w/ Man Will Destroy Himself
10/24/2009 Barclay HouseBaltimore, MD w/ Man Will Destroy Himself
11/11/2009 941 TheaterPhiladelphia, PA w/ The Atlas Moth, Wetnurse, Woe

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The Goods on Some New Javelina

Posted in Whathaveyou on August 11th, 2009 by JJ Koczan

The PR wire has an update from Philly doomthrash bastards Javelina. If you missed their self-titled on Translation Loss last year, now might be a good time to get caught up. These guys pretty much destroy.

Here they are. (Photo by Scott Kinkade. Scott Kinkade is the man.)Philadelphian behemoth Javelina shall unleash their sophomore album September 29th via Translation Loss Records. The aptly titled Beasts Among Sheep boasts eight tracks of the band’s ultra-brutal brew of sludge-inspired, streetfight gutter metal, as was witnessed on their 2008 debut self-titled release.

These rabid hymns were captured in March of this year at Volume Studios in Chicago by Sanford Parker, and mastered at the Boiler Room in Chicago by Collin Jordan. The cover art, as with the previous album, was handled by Jason Goldberg (Olde City Tattoo, The Bad Luck 13 Riot Extravaganza, etc.).

The track listing goes like this:
1. You’re Going to Hate This
2. A Little Paranoia
3. Towers of Silence
4. Stepchild
5. Arcadia
6. Black Blizzard
7. The Nuclear Option
8. Beware the Wrath of the Patient Man

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