Don’t worry, they put extra stank on it to help the cause. “Stinkface” (premiering below) is the lead single from the 10th Stinking Lizaveta album, Cassandra, Prophet of Doom, which is set to release in less than a month, on Sept. 16 in continued collaboration with SRA Records. To celebrate the outing and maybe just inject some fun into a grim, cold universe, the band are asking fans send a clip of themselves making a stinkface to the label’s email address (SRArecords@gmail.com to be part of a forthcoming music video. More info below in the blue text below, under “Goals.”

The arrival of Cassandra, Prophet of Doom follows a successful summer tour in Europe that saw the Philadelphia trio — as ever, Cheshire Agusta on drums and brothers Yanni Papadopoulos on guitar and Alexi Papadopoulos on bass — playing festivals and winning hearts and minds to the righteousness of their instrumentalist cause. Last year, the band released Live 2023 (discussed here) and numerous reissues through SRA, including a demo recorded with Steve Albini before the turn of the century. With the eight songs/27 minutes of Cassandra, Prophet of Doom, they seem to tighten and brighten the impulses of their last studio outing, 2023’s Anthems and Phantoms (review here).

Songs are shorter on average on this LP, and some of the resulting punker feel harkens back to earlier days, before a phrase like “doom jazz” existed as a catchall for what they do. Like its predecessor, Cassandra, Prophet of Doom was tracked with Steve Roche, and though instrumental, it feels aware of the era of its creation, particularly in pieces like “Champion of My Mind” and “Sherman’s March,” where the physical urging in Agusta‘s drums, the vibrancy of the bass and the ever-reliable twists of guitar sound like a call to action, especially in the latter.

Of course, with “Stinkface,” the action they’re calling you toward is taking video of yourself scrunching up your chin at the dag-nastiness of the riff, and fair enough, but even in the way movement becomes so central in “Please Start Now” or that initial shove after the guitar counts in on “Champion of My Mind,” Stinking Lizaveta‘s focus seems to be on energy, on the live performance aspect of what they do, and while one can’t really call their chemistry a surprise 10 records and more than three decades into their tenure, the resonant joy that bleeds through these pieces is a salve for dark times. The “Lindsay Wagner Intro” — she was The Bionic Woman — feels like it’s in playful conversation with The Who, and the subsequent “Lindsay Wagner,” slower but still plenty active on all levels, is duly tinged toward the heroic in atmosphere.

It makes a fitting complement to the vague Americana in “Sherman’s March,” but the two are divided by the title-track, which is one of only two pieces on Cassandra, Prophet of Doom over five minutes long. It begins with a mellow exploration, winding but headed someplace, and follows the guitar into a harder push of distortion, cycling through a midtempo riff before crashing out as it moves into its second half and gradually realigning on a decline then surging forward again with the lead guitar, well, leading, and finishing with a return to the progression that set them out in the first place. Closer “Never to Be Believed,” which follows “Sherman’s March,” is the other ‘extended’ cut, and it maintains the more open, less taut than the shorter tracks, feel of its own intro, answering “Cassandra, Prophet of Doom” with a more melancholic scorch, rolling steady in the drums and bass while the guitar lets loose with a bit of blues.

I can’t pretend not to be a Stinking Lizaveta fan, and I won’t try. Take a look at the universe around you and count on one hand the number of instrumentalist heavy rock bands in the history of ever who’ve made it to 10 albums while still refining what they do, still pushing themselves as artists, and you’ll get a sense of how singular an entity they are. I don’t know that the evocations of Cassandra, Prophet of Doom are me reading into the titles or if they’re consciously woven into the material, but the trio stand astride generations of heavy rock with the confidence of masters, and in under a half-hour, they once again demonstrate that when they lock in, there are few in that same history of ever who can match them at what they do. In the moments of intensity and the more spacious reaches of Cassandra, Prophet of Doom, they revel in the creative process and the execution of the songs, and invite you as the listener to do the same. They are, and have for a long time been, the kind of band who can make you believe. Precious and rare.

So get yer stinkface ready, and please enjoy:

Stinking Lizaveta, “Stinkface” track premiere

Goals:

1. people to buy that shit at: #1 https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/stinking-lizaveta-cassandra-prophet-of-doom/, #2 the bandcamp link, https://srarecords.bandcamp.com/album/cassandra-prophet-of-doom.

2. people to send us “Stinkface” videos to SRArecords@gmail.com.

—

Furious rhythms, staccato attacks, and wiry guitar heroics bring Cassandra to sprawling life, ranging from the dark, doomed epic of the title track to the anthemic, punky roar and folk touches of “Sherman’s March”. Stinking Lizaveta are back and as iconoclastic as ever.

Tracklist:
1. Champion of My Mind (2:31)
2. Stinkface (3:08)
3. Please Start Now (3:36)
4. Lindsay Wagner Intro (1:07)
5. Lindsay Wagner (3:35)
6. Cassandra, Prophet of Doom (5:05)
7. Sherman’s March (3:44)
8. Never to Be Believed (5:09)

Stinking Lizaveta is Yanni Papadopoulos on guitar, Alexi Papadopoulos on upright electric bass, and Cheshire Agusta on drums.

Stinking Lizaveta website

Stinking Lizaveta on Bandcamp

Stinking Lizaveta on Instagram

Stinking Lizaveta on Facebook

SRA Records website

SRA Records on Bandcamp

SRA Records on Instagram

SRA Records on Facebook

New Stinking Lizaveta coming. Heads up that Philly’s primo doom-jazz practicioners are following up the summer tour that took them throughout Europe and included a stop at Bear Stone Festival in Croatia will follow their October excursion to Emissions From the Monolith with another round of touring in November, heading south along the Eastern Seaboard and playing with the likes of Arbouretum and Spickle, among others. That ethic isn’t new from the instrumentalist three-piece, and new material is for sure enough of an occasion to head out. Their release show is Sept. 26 in Philly at Johnny Brenda’s. If you can be there, it’ll be a party.

Same could be said of the tour, of course. This is the band’s 10th album and they long since know who they are musically and what they want to do onstage. Rest assured that if you show up you’ll be in good hands. Deathbird Earth join for the tour, as the PR wire affirms:

Philly doom-jazz legends Stinking Lizaveta return with 10th album “Cassandra, Prophet of Doom” out September 16th on SRA Records

Bursting forth in doom-jazz glory from the punk underground, Stinking Lizaveta was forged in the 90s in the basements of West Philly.

Yanni Papadopoulos, guitar, Alexi Papadopoulos, upright electric bass and Cheshire Agusta, drums have produced ten full length albums and are road dogs of rock in the US, UK and EU. For over 30 years they have been playing every show like its their first and last.

Having just returned from yet another tour of Europe, including festival highlights Stoned From The Underground and Bear Stone, the band is ready to unleash their new album Cassandra, Prophet of Doom and set forth on a tour with Philadelphia’s science fiction noise rock / metal hybrid Deathbird Earth in November.

Across eight tracks of adventurous, winding, raucous rock that can only be Stinking Liz, the trio chart a grand, unpredictable course.

Furious rhythms, staccato attacks, and wiry guitar heroics bring Cassandra to sprawling life, ranging from the dark, doomed epic of the title track to the anthemic, punky roar and folk touches of “Sherman’s March”. Stinking Lizaveta are back and as iconoclastic as ever.

Tracklist:
1. Champion of My Mind (2:31)
2. Stinkface (3:08)
3. Please Start Now (3:36)
4. Lindsay Wagner Intro (1:07)
5. Lindsay Wagner (3:35)
6. Cassandra, Prophet of Doom (5:05)
7. Sherman’s March (3:44)
8. Never to Be Believed (5:09)

Stinking Lizaveta dates Fall 2026:

8/29 – BAD CATT FEST
9/26 – RECORD RELEASE SHOW JOHNNY BRENDA’S PHILADELPHIA
10/10 – EMISSIONS FROM THE MONOLITH

US November 2026 tour with Deathbird Earth:

FRIDAY 6TH – BALTIMORE, MD – OTTOBAR w/ Arbouretum & Darsombra Sol
SATURDAY 7TH – RICHMOND, VA – NORTHSIDE GRILLE
SUNDAY 8TH – KNOXVILLE, TN – PILOT LIGHT
MONDAY 9TH – RALEIGH, NC – KINGS
TUESDAY 10TH – CHARLOTTE, NC – THE MILESTONE
WEDNESDAY 11TH – BIRMINGHAM, AL – THE FIREHOUSE
THURSDAY 12TH – LAFAYETTE, LA – THE FREETOWN BOOM BOOM ROOM w/ Spickle
FRIDAY 13TH – NEW ORLEANS, LA – POOR BOYS
SATURDAY 14TH – AUSTIN, TX – THE LOST WELL
SUNDAY 15TH – SAN ANTONIO, TX – THE LONESOME ROSE (matinee)
MONDAY 16TH – MEMPHIS, TN – HAVENHUAS
TUESDAY 17TH – CINCINNATI, OH – NORTHSIDE TAVERN
WEDNESDAY 18TH – MILLERSVILLE, PA – PHANTOM POWER

Recorded and mixed at Permanent Hearing Damage by Steve Roche
Mastered by James Plotkin
Artwork by Stathis Panou

Stinking Lizaveta is:
Yanni Papadopoulos – Guitar
Alexi Papadopoulos – Upright electric bass
Cheshire Agusta – Drums

http://www.stinkinglizaveta.com/
https://stinkinglizaveta.bandcamp.com
https://www.instagram.com/stinking_lizaveta/
https://www.facebook.com/Stinking-Lizaveta-175571942466657/

https://srarecords.com/
https://srarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/srarecords/
https://www.facebook.com/SRArecords

Stinking Lizaveta, 1994 Steve Albini Demo (2025)

Stinking Lizaveta, Live 2023 (2025)

Here’s the deal as best as I understand it. Philadelphia two-piece Deathbird Earth are releasing their debut album, Objective Consciousness, on April 3 through SRA Records. Pretty straightforward, right? Yeah, until you get to the fact that before they put out that record, they’ve got two separate collaborative LPs coming out this Friday, March 12, working with guitarist Nick Millevoi and Planet Y, which is the two-piece of Pete Wilder and Yanni Papadopoulos (the latter of instrumentalist legends Stinking Lizaveta). Got all that? Good. Because then you get into the music, and the picture isn’t going to get any less complex or willfully weird from there.

The two collaborative albums are self-titled, so it’s Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi and Deathbird Earth + Planet Y both out this week ahead of Deathbird Earth‘s standalone debut next month. The first of the collabs, alphabetically, Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi is comprised of six songs and runs 39 minutes, opening with the longest track (immediate points) with “Four” checking in at 11:42 of big nod, keyboard flourish, hypnotic guitar and rolling drums. It’s definitely psychedelic, and it’s definitely heavy, but it’s more Xiu Xiu than Earthless in terms of the feeling that anything might happen at any given point. The improv gets a little angular in the second half, but it may be that the beginning had a plan and they departed from it — the ‘main riff’ comes back with more synthy texture to close in “Five” — and the spontaneity becomes part of the persona, extending to the willingness of the band to think beyond their own configuration.

Which I think is how we got here, and just to be clear, by “weird” I mean deeply creative, forward-thinking, and well enough outside even the heavy underground’s genre-worshiping mainstream to wear its oddball presentation on the sleeve of its aural wizard robe. Even down to presenting the songs as numbers out of order — which they do on both releases — feels purposeful to disorient or knock the listener out of some comfort zone and thus put them in better position to appreciate the John–Carpenter-meets-Twin–Peaks drumless drone and wandering guitar of “One” or the subsequent wash that permeates “Three,” all the more satisfying because the synth and drum beat kind of make it sound like the music over a montage in an ’80s action movie. Like you’re watching Over the Top and here comes the psychblast you didn’t know you needed but very much did. Also one hundred percent willing to believe they made it up on the spot.

Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi‘s side B starts with the likewise extended “Two,” which brings lower distortion to its 9:40 run for a more melancholy mood, and just like on side A — see there is a plan, even if happens after the fact — the following cut, “Six,” holds back on drums (there are still cymbals) in order to let the guitar and synth texture out for five minutes before “Five” caps with the already-noted, somewhat-sneaky bit of semi-recognizable symmetry. Glitchier in its keyboardery but also pushing more toward an organic cosmic techno than the partially-guitar-based Millevoi collaboration (yes there’s guitar here too, it’s a question of balance between the elements), Deathbird Earth + Planet Y is shorter at four tracks (two per side) and 38 minutes, but it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s the more ‘out there’ of the two. Bookended by “One” (12:04) and “Four” (15:00), the latter of which closes with perhaps the most straightforward riff on either of the two outings, like its companion, it is not an undertaking for the square of heart.

Maybe it’s the keyboardier-sounding layers, or the drum-machine peeking through to enhance the repetition later in “Four,” or the way “Three” explores itself into a jam, but Deathbird Earth + Planet Y feels distinct in its spaciousness, and is its own kind of entrancing. “Two,” preceding “Four” at the start of side B, brings a harpsichordy central figure and builds up around that, indicative somewhat of process in its jump-in-and-go mentality but also unfolding as a thought-out arrangement might, one synthesizer establishing the line, another joining, the drums coming in a little while later as the the first notes on guitar arrive and the keyboard sweeps back into the forward position of the mix. Maybe a bit of Grails influence? There’s a cinematic aspect, but soon enough “Four” takes hold with its two-movement grandeur, spending its first seven-plus minutes subtly building around its initial keyboard line (there’s theremin in there around the halfway point; it’s real) before the fuzz takes over, a shaking tambourine joins the fray, and they finish minded for movement before it devolves into residual noise.

And the fact that they kept that noise, that they let it go and finish with a wisp-out instead of just fading when the riff was done, is further indicative of the purpose here, extending to Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi as well as Deathbird Earth + Planet Y in its drive toward presenting the material as it happened. That’s not to say there’s no editing being done — these processions have been carved out of longer explorations, but there isn’t so much cut and paste as to take away from the improvisational vibe — but musical ideology comes through more than post-production, and the commonalities and divergences between the two albums speak to each other without feeling like a series or a schtick. As Deathbird Earth make ready to unfurl Objective Consciousness, they’ve already found a way to be inspiring in their experimentation and far-out-of-the-box approach.

Let’s say — hypothetically — you’ve read all of the above and you’re like, “you know, I feel prepared to take on one or maybe even both of these records.” Great. Here’s what to know before you go. Keep your mind active and open. Take bliss as it comes because it won’t always be there. Know that even if there isn’t intended direction, procession happens from one place to another in each piece, so don’t be surprise if and when you end up someplace other than where you started. All of this applies to life in general as much as listening to weirdo experimental psych, so if you want to write any of that down or whatnot, feel free.

That said, there’s copious info and preorder links under the players for both records below. And if you do dive into one or both of these LPs, happy trails, I hope you enjoy:

Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi, Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi album premiere

Deathbird Earth + Planet Y, Deathbird Earth + Planet Y album premiere

Deathbird Earth – Collaborations w/ Planet-Y & Nick Millevoi

Collaboration LPs out March 12th: “Deathbird Earth + Planet-Y” & “Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi”

Debut album “Objective Consciousness” out April 3rd on SRA Records pre-order: https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/deathbird-earth-objective-consciousness/

Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi:

Says BJ, “I have known Nick for a long time. Our old bands played together often and whenever we needed someone to fill in at a show or on tour Nick was always there. He’s a phenomenal guitarist known for his ability to improvise. I saw him play a set last year at PhilaMOCA with Steve Montenegro and a glitchy drum machine where he built up this big sound from a very small thing and it was impressive. I wanted to take some of that idea and bring it to our album. Of course once we got going we kept going with parts flowing out of us quickly. The closest we got to planning something out was saying “let’s do that again but shorter” (ONE vs SIX) and “we should do something like Hawkwind” (THREE). I had a great time working with Nick and was very happy that we had so much extra material that we could make a full album out of it on its own.”

Dave adds, “Unlike BJ, I had never met Nick before the session where we recorded these tracks. Similarly, improvising an entire album’s worth of material and having it be good enough to release it into the world was a new experience for me. I’m always excited to do something different than things I have done in a past life and as a result this album was a very rewarding personal experience.”

Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi
Out March 12th, 2026
LP & cassette
SRA Records pre-order: https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/deathbird-earth-nick-millevoi-collaborative-album/
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by BJ at Red Planet
Recorded October 29th, 2025
Artwork by Alex Smith

Nick Millevoi – Guitar
BJ – Bass, drone flute, synthesizers
Dave – Drums, synthesizers

Deathbird Earth + Planet-Y:

On the collaboration with Planet-Y, Pete Wilder (EDO) explains, “When Planet Y agreed to collaborate with Deathbird Earth, I was not sure how it would go. It was all going to be improv, with no net and no advance directive. As soon as the session began, it was clear that Deathbird Earth’s driving, heavy grooves and vintage keyboards were going to mesh with Planet-Y’s vintage deep space, sonic exploration.

“But as the session progressed, and the mutual musical footing took hold, some gold began to form. Dave’s heavy anchor of drums combined with Bruce’s pile-driving, overdriven bass was like witnessing an asteroid bursting through the Earth’s atmosphere, unleashing volcanic eruptions and thunder. With Deathbird Earth bringing the ground-shaking rumbling of a cataclysm, and Planet-Y bearing witness from deep space, it somehow all works – creating some fascinating surprises, and a great deep listening experience.”

Deathbird Earth + Planet-Y
Out March 12th, 2026
LP & cassette
SRA Records pre-order: https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/deathbird-earth-planet-y-collaborative-album/
Recorded, mixed, and mastered by BJ at Red Planet
Recorded November 1st, 2025
Artwork by Alex Smith

Planet-Y:
Pete Wilder – Guitar, theremin
Yanni Papadopoulos – Drum machine, Casio DG-20

Deathbird Earth:
BJ – Bass, synthesizers
Dave – Drums, synthesizers

Deathbird Earth on Bandcamp

Deathbird Earth on Instagram

Deathbird Earth on Facebook

SRA Records website

SRA Records on Bandcamp

SRA Records on Instagram

SRA Records on Facebook

I was fortunate enough to catch wind of Philly duo Deathbird Earth‘s Mission demo (review here) last year, and was glad I did for the weirdoblast anti-genre take on offer. The band’s debut album, Objective Consciousness, feels likely to be a brainmelter, and the first single from it, “Take My Blood,” bears that out with post-yourface wash and a powerful sprawl.

What’s in store for the rest, I don’t know, but even the whole album is just part of the story as in a truly avant garde decision as regards running the business end of your band, the two-piece’s first LP is just part of the story of their releases coming out this Spring. Detailed below are also two collaborative session offerings, one of which includes Yanni Papadopoulos of Philly instrumentalist legends (yes, this is the second time in the last weekd I’m calling them legends; will do every time from here on out; this is actually a decision I made a while back) Stinking Lizaveta in the mix, and that surely will be a thing to look out for. And if it seems like they’re running a risk of undercutting themselves — which they are — I don’t think ‘maximizing audience share’ is the top priority here. More creativity, less internalized capitalistic mindset in expectations. I dig that.

Shows are lined up and listed below, and if you get turned around in all the PR wire info, confusion is part of the intent. Go safely:

Philadelphia heavy space & noise rock duo Deathbird Earth announce debut album “Objective Consciousness” on SRA Records; lead single “Take My Blood” out now!

Debut album “Objective Consciousness” out April 3rd on SRA Records; Lead single “Take My Blood” released February 12th

Preorder: https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/deathbird-earth-objective-consciousness/

Collaboration session LPs out March 12th:
“Deathbird Earth + Planet-Y”
“Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi”

“Objective Consciousness” is the debut album from Deathbird Earth, a 2 piece band based in the city of Philadelphia on the planet of Earth, consisting of BJ (Hulk Smash, Dialer, Dangerbird) and Dave (Psychic Teens, Gholas, Exmaid). Deathbird Earth’s sound tends to eschew typical genre classification but is made from a mix of heavy drums and distorted bass layered with keyboard sounds that may or may not be lifted from your favorite classic science fiction films. The album is available from SRA Records (Soul Glo, Stinking Lizaveta, HIRS) on translucent “black ice” vinyl, CD and tape.

The album was recorded at Red Planet and features more collaborators than actual band members. On Side A, two tracks were born out of full-blown collaborative sessions. “Mission: Planet-Y” was recorded with experimental duo Planet-Y which features Yanni Papadopoulos (Stinking Lizaveta) & Pete Wilder (EDO), and “Mission: Nick Millevoi” was laid down with guitar virtuoso extraordinaire Nick Millevoi (Basic, Many Arms, Desertion Trio). Both sessions yielded a full 40 minutes worth of improved music and will each be released on limited LPs and cassettes (available via SRA Records!) March 12th.

In the band’s own words:

BJ:
“It was important to us that this record be raw and represent what we do live. To that end we didn’t use a click track, drum replacements or auto tuning. But we decided to take it a step farther and also did no drum edits at all, instead opting for doing multiple takes until we got it ‘close enough’. We are firmly against the use of AI in art and used none of it in our creative process.

Dave:
“The group of songs that make up ‘Objective Consciousness’ feels very immediate to me. BJ and I wrote them together in our practice space in just one year from first practice to the start of recording. I think it allows them to still feel fresh and not ‘overworked’ which is important in keeping the energy and original intent behind the songs intact.”

Upcoming releases:

Armed with an abundance of material born out of album recording sessions and late night collaborations, Deathbird Earth lead their descent upon Terra with:

Deathbird Earth Winter 2026 shows:

3/12: Two longform collaborations, with Nick Millevoi and Planet-Y

4/3: Album “Objective Consciousness”

More music video and single dates coming soon!

Fri Feb 13 @ 1901 House, Huntington WV

Sat Feb 14 @ UCRP, 2 Piece Fest Chiacgo IL

Sun Feb 15 @ Harmony Gym, Bloomington IN

Fri Feb 20 @ Flemington DIY, Flemington NJ

Sat Feb 21 @ Ukie Club, 2 Piece Fest Philadelphia PA

Sat Feb 28 @ Mobtown Ballroom, 2 Piece Fest Baltimore MD

Physical pre-orders on SRA Records:

Objective Consciousness (Vinyl, CD cassette): https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/deathbird-earth-objective-consciousness/

Deathbird Earth + Nick Millevoi (Vinyl, cassette): https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/deathbird-earth-nick-millevoi-collaborative-album/

Deathbird Earth + Planet Y (Vinyl, cassette): https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/deathbird-earth-planet-y-collaborative-album/

—

All songs written by Deathbird Earth except Christchurch 281 written by Deathbird Earth and Eleni Kostiopoulos. Mission: Planet-Y improvised by Deathbird Earth and Planet-Y. Mission: Nick Millevoi improvised by Deathbird Earth and Nick Millevoi

Deathbird Earth is:
BJ – Bass, Synthesizers, Vocals
Dave – Drums, Percussion, Synthesizer

[Photo by Dan Cohoon.]

https://deathbirdearth.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/deathbirdearth/
https://www.facebook.com/deathbirdearth

https://srarecords.com/
https://srarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://www.instagram.com/srarecords/
https://www.facebook.com/SRArecords

Deathbird Earth, Objective Consciousness (2026)

It happens maybe once, maybe twice a year that a video will come along and some switch will flip in my sillybrain and I’ll put it on the tv to enjoy in its entirety. You see where this is going, of course. It’s been a crappy morning, and you should note that I say “morning” at like 1:30 in the afternoon. Yeah, I’ve done some laundry and wrote a review, got the kid out to school and this and that, but productivity on all fronts has been like pulling teeth and I’ve got way more to do at this point than I have time to do it. Sad to say the difference is today I answered email.

Anyhow, the point. With overwhelm looming, a full 40-minute Stinking Lizaveta concert set — captured at Milkboy in the long-running instrumentalist trio’s Philadelphia hometown and set to release on SRA Records as a live album on March 7 along with a host of catalog reissues — is a welcome excuse for escape. I’m not gonna pretend this is a review of the live album or anything more than me sitting in front of my tv enjoying Stinking Lizaveta instead of being stressed out about not getting shit done I was hoping to. Cheshire getting on mic after “The Heart” tells me I was right.

And as regards heart, there’s plenty of it there and in the subsequent “Sherman’s March,” which Yanni shouts out in the memory of Dave Sherman — a labelmate to Stinking Lizaveta when Spirit Caravan released their first album through Tolotta Records — to go along with the charm and chicanery that begins the set in “Serpent Underfoot” and “Electric Future,” a joy no less resonant than the wistful soloing of “Sherman’s March,” with Alexei’s bass locked in step with the drums for the sans-vocal chorus that follows.

Oh man, that sounds an awful lot like a review.

I’ll allow for the fact that if Stinking Lizaveta are inspiring, it’s not the first time. This clip landed in my email (also my DMs, also my social timelines, etc.) at a particularly welcome moment. I’ll get the laundry changed over. I’ll get the rest of the day done. And maybe tomorrow will be easier for the time I took to share the obvious delight Stinking Lizaveta bring to the breakdown in “L.B.J.” — Yanni laughing before they start about how it’s the “extended version” — with Alexei free-jazzing it on the electric standup; a definition of cool that didn’t exist until he made it — and a bit of freakout to boot before they charge, stop, goof off for a minute and then make a rocking return. Fucking hell this is a great band.

The latest-I’ve-seen confirmations for Stinking Lizaveta‘s upcoming European tour with Darsombra are included with the video info and live-album/reissues preorder link below, and if that all seems like a lot and you just want to put on the video and chill out for a little bit with it, I can tell you it definitely worked for making my day better.

Please enjoy:

Stinking Lizaveta, Live 2023 concert video

Stinking Lizaveta “Live 2023” full concert movie streaming now

Limited vinyl available in the pre-order packages for the Stinking Lizaveta reissues

Preorder the super limited SRArecords.com exclusive vinyl here at SRA Records: https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/stinking-lizaveta-reissues1/

Tracklisting:
1. Serpent Underfoot
2. Electric Future
3. Daily Madness
4. Nomen Est Omen
5. Shock
6. The Heart
7. Sherman’s March
8. L.B.J.
9. Let Live

Recorded August 31st 2023 at Milkboy in Philadelphia
Live sound by Mike Moffitt
Recording by Joe Smiley
Mixed and Mastered at Red Planet by Joe Smiley
Video by Mark ‪@trimungus8653‬
Thanks Dysrythmia and Countdown From Ten

STINKING LIZAVETA / DARSOMBRA SUMMER EU TOUR 2025
updates here: DARSOMBRA.COM
23 – 24 May – GERMANY/CZECH REPUBLIC/POLAND
25 May – Berlin GERMANY @ Desertfest Berlin CONFIRMED
*26 – 27 May – CZECH REPUBLIC/POLAND/GERMANY
28 May – Warsaw POLAND @ Mlodsza Siostra CONFIRMED
29 May – Wroclaw POLAND @ Kalambur CONFIRMED
30 May – Krakow POLAND CONFIRMED
31 May – Kosice SLOVAKIA @ Collosseum CONFIRMED
1 June – Budapest HUNGARY @ Auróra CONFIRMED
*2 June – SLOVAKIA/HUNGARY
3 June – Vienna AUSTRIA @ Arena CONFIRMED
4 June – Linz AUSTRIA @ Kapu CONFIRMED
5 June – Nuremberg GERMANY @ Kunstverein Hintere Cramergasse e.V. CONFIRMED
6 June – Potsdam GERMANY @ Archiv CONFIRMED
7 June – Dresden GERMANY @ Veränderbar CONFIRMED
*8 June – CZECH REPUBLIC/GERMANY
9 June – Prague CZECH REPUBLIC @ Eternia CONFIRMED
*10 June – CZECH REPUBLIC
11 June – Brno CZECH REPUBLIC @ Kabinet Muz CONFIRMED
12 June – Berlin GERMANY @ Schokoladen CONFIRMED
13 June – Brandenburg GERMANY CONFIRMED
*14 – 19 June – WEST GERMANY/BELGIUM/NETHERLANDS
20 June – Herzberg GERMANY CONFIRMED
*21- 24 June – GERMANY/DENMARK/BELGIUM/NETHERLANDS
25-29 June – Lärz GERMANY CONFIRMED
*to be confirmed

Stinking Lizaveta is Yanni Papadopoulos on guitar, Alexi Papadopoulos on upright electric bass, and Cheshire Agusta on drums.

Stinking Lizaveta, Live 2023 (2025)

Stinking Lizaveta on Facebook

Stinking Lizaveta on Instagram

Stinking Lizaveta website

Stinking Lizaveta on Bandcamp

SRA Records on Facebook

SRA Records on Instagram

SRA Records on Bandcamp

SRA Records website

In troubling times, Stinking Lizaveta are a reminder of the good humans can do. As they close in on the 30th anniversary of their first album, 1996’s Hopelessness and Shame, the venerable Philadelphia-based instrumental doomjazz innovators will undertake an even more massive European tour in 2025 than they did in 2024, again keeping company with Maryland-based experimentalists Darsombra — a damn good pairing — and embark on a no less sprawling reissue campaign with SRA Records, the same label that put out their latest album, Anthems and Phantoms (review here), in 2023.

To commence said campaign, SRA will stand behind new editions of the aforementioned Hopelessness and Shame and its 1997 follow-up, Slaughterhouse, as well as two new outings, a live record, Live 2023, captured at Milkboy in their hometown fresh off tour, and 1994 Steve Albini Demo, which was cut prior to recording the first record, also with the legendary producer at the helm. That’s not new music, being 31 years old, but it’s apparently never been released. Oh, and the second record was tracked by Steve Austin from Today is the Day. What is it with artsy noise dudes named Steve?

Anyhow, there’s a ton of information here, but since it’s Stinking Lizaveta, I expect all details to be fully memorized, preorders to be deployed, and so on and so forth. Stinking Lizaveta remain a band to tell your friends about, so here’s me telling you. The PR wire backs me up:

On March 7th, Philadelphia Legends Stinking Lizaveta & SRA Records Kick Off Massive Reissue Project With Debut, Sophomore Album, & More

Legendary Philadelphia Instrumental Rock Trio Stinking Lizaveta Kicks Off Massive Reissue Project with Steve Albini–Recorded Debut, Hopelessness and Shame, Second Record, Slaughterhouse, Recorded with Steve Austin (Today Is the Day), Plus Early Albini Demo and 2023 Live Record — All Available on Vinyl for the First Time

• Albini recorded debut and demo is an essential document for Stinking Lizaveta fans and Albini enthusiasts

• Massive 2025 European Tour

• Pre-orders available now at http://srarecords.com

Three decades ago, a thunderous roar emerged from the West Philadelphia punk underground. Stinking Lizaveta assembled, a rock ‘n’ roll powerhouse fronted by the ferocious screaming of guitarist Yanni Papadopoulos’ black Les Paul and propelled by the growling electric upright bass of his brother, Alexi, and the pummeling assault of drummer Cheshire Agusta. Rocking with extreme abandon, they were iconoclasts, delivering instrumental music that matched the intensity of their hardcore forebears.

The band followed the template provided by Greg Ginn’s Gone—as well as the guitarist’s vocal-less explorations within Black Flag (The Process of Weeding Out and Family Man)—a rare precedent for instrumental guitar-driven rock in the heavy music scene. “We were just trying to find our place on the shoulders of giants,” recalls Yanni. “I was copying the previous generation, as was Greg—he was copying Mahavishnu Orchestra and other stuff from the ’70s that he dug.” The guitarist cites other influences, notably stoner-rock stalwarts The Obsessed and the Bad Brains’ I Against I. “That’s stuff you can’t escape that influenced the whole generation,” the guitarist says. “Anyone who started playing guitar in the ’80s, you just hear [Bad Brains guitarist] Dr. Know in there. Is it metal? Is it punk?” The same questions would apply to Stinking Liz.

“We had two identities as a band at the time,” says Papadopoulos, recalling Stinking Lizaveta’s early days. “We had this overdriven guitar identity and this cleaner guitar identity. We used all the overdriven stuff for the first record and put the cleaner stuff on the shelf.” While on tour supporting their debut, they spent a night at Steve Austin’s house, who invited them to take advantage of his home studio. “We just recorded a bunch of stuff, and he’s such a creative person, he was able to capture this vibe in one night of unexpected recording.”

Austin’s recordings make more than half of their sophomore release, Slaughterhouse. These moody, bluesy excursions capture the late-night atmosphere. Effectively pre-dating the prevalent doomy jazz of Bohren & Der Club of Gore, or the proliferation of the slow-as-an-aesthetic guitar riffage in the hands of Earth, Slaugherhouse adds a new dimension to the band’s sound and reputation. On the record, the Austin recordings are mixed and matched with material recorded along the way at other sessions, which show the band’s rock focus was still firmly intact.

Newly remastered by Dave Eck, this reissue reconstitutes these tracks into a more cohesive-sounding form than ever before, delivering this necessary document in its highest fidelity. Along with Slaughterhouse—which will be pressed on gold vinyl—the first 100 copies purchased directly from SRA Records will include a copy of Live 2023, an all-new exclusive live recording of the trio performing a set of material culled from 2023’s Anthems and Phantoms at the height of their powers, fresh off a tour with Telekinetic Yeti, where they shared a bill with fellow instrumental underground rock legends and longtime compatriots Dysrhythmia at Philadelphia’s Milkboy.

Stinking Lizaveta’s trajectory is notably long and varied, but Live 2023 offers somewhat of a full-circle experience. Papadopoulos points out that much of the formula remains the same: Not only are they the same lineup, but they’re essentially all using the same tools—the guitarist has burned through a trio of Les Pauls but has not ventured from the model, and his brother continues on with the same electric upright. Yanni has gone through phases of heavier pedal exploration in his guitar sound but is back once again to using an elemental direct-into-the-amp approach as is heard on the first two records.

Following the band’s earliest demo recordings, capturing their sound in its infancy, to the big bang of their debut, through the sonic explorations of Slaughterhouse, hearing Live 2023 continues to deliver the same vitality and thrill that Stinking Lizaveta have become known for.

STINKING LIZAVETA / DARSOMBRA SUMMER EU TOUR 2025
updates here: DARSOMBRA.COM
23 – 24 May – GERMANY/CZECH REPUBLIC/POLAND
25 May – Berlin GERMANY @ Desertfest Berlin CONFIRMED
*26 – 27 May – CZECH REPUBLIC/POLAND/GERMANY
28 May – Warsaw POLAND @ Mlodsza Siostra CONFIRMED
29 May – Wroclaw POLAND @ Kalambur CONFIRMED
30 May – Krakow POLAND CONFIRMED
31 May – Kosice SLOVAKIA @ Collosseum CONFIRMED
1 June – Budapest HUNGARY @ Auróra CONFIRMED
*2 June – SLOVAKIA/HUNGARY
3 June – Vienna AUSTRIA @ Arena CONFIRMED
4 June – Linz AUSTRIA @ Kapu CONFIRMED
5 June – Nuremberg GERMANY @ Kunstverein Hintere Cramergasse e.V. CONFIRMED
6 June – Potsdam GERMANY @ Archiv CONFIRMED
7 June – Dresden GERMANY @ Veränderbar CONFIRMED
*8 June – CZECH REPUBLIC/GERMANY
9 June – Prague CZECH REPUBLIC @ Eternia CONFIRMED
*10 June – CZECH REPUBLIC
11 June – Brno CZECH REPUBLIC @ Kabinet Muz CONFIRMED
12 June – Berlin GERMANY @ Schokoladen CONFIRMED
13 June – Brandenburg GERMANY CONFIRMED
*14 – 19 June – WEST GERMANY/BELGIUM/NETHERLANDS
20 June – Herzberg GERMANY CONFIRMED
*21- 24 June – GERMANY/DENMARK/BELGIUM/NETHERLANDS
25-29 June – Lärz GERMANY CONFIRMED
*to be confirmed

HOPELESSNESS AND SHAME
Stinking Lizaveta’s 1996 debut album
First time on vinyl
Recorded by Steve Albini
Mastered from original analog master reels by James Plotkin
Red vinyl
Yellow vinyl

SLAUGHTERHOUSE
Stinking Lizaveta’s 1997 second album
First time on vinyl
Recorded by Steve Austin, Les Lentz and Aaron Levinson
Remastered by Dave Eck at Lucky Mastering
Gold vinyl

1994 STEVE ALBINI DEMO
SRA Records Exclusive – only available here!
First time available
Recorded by Steve Albini
Limited to 100 copies
Remastered from the master reels
Black vinyl

LIVE 2023
SRA Records Exclusive – only available here!
Stinking Lizaveta’s first live album
Recorded live in Philadelphia after returning from a US tour
Multitrack recording done by Joe Smiley
Mixed at Red Planet
Limited to 100 copies
Black vinyl

Stinking Lizaveta is Yanni Papadopoulos on guitar, Alexi Papadopoulos on upright electric bass, and Cheshire Agusta on drums.

https://www.facebook.com/Stinking-Lizaveta-175571942466657/
https://www.instagram.com/stinking_lizaveta/
http://www.stinkinglizaveta.com/
https://stinkinglizaveta.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/SRArecords
https://www.instagram.com/srarecords/
https://srarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://srarecords.com/

Stinking Lizaveta, Hopelessness and Shame (1996)

Stinking Lizaveta, Slaughterhouse (1997)

Stinking Lizaveta, 1994 Steve Albini Demo (2025)

Stinking Lizaveta, Live 2023 (2025)

What’re you gonna do, not take fewer than three minutes out of your busy day to watch Stinking Lizaveta‘s new video for “Serpent Underfoot?” Would be highly inadvisable. The Philly doomjazz-forebear instrumentalists and perennial weirdoheroes head abroad next week to begin a stint of UK shows in the likewise-expanded-of-mind two-piece Darsombra, and after that, they’ll hit the continent-proper for a handful of German stops, including — wait for it — Freak Valley Festival, where I’m pleased the trio’s path and my own will cross again. In addition to that, though, they’ve got a date in Jena, a stop at Sankt Pieschen in Dresden and two shows in Berlin, the second of which will put them in the company of Acid Mothers Temple. If you’re gonna go, make it count.

Video info and live dates (which I know were also posted here) follow, along with the stream of Stinking Lizaveta‘s 2023 LP, Anthems and Phantoms (review here), which you’re probably going to want after that “Serpent Underfoot” clip. Enjoy:

STINKING LIZAVETA – SERPENT UNDERFOOT – From our album ANTHEMS AND PHANTOMS.

The audio is from the album, the video was taken from several live performances during the 2023 tour. Don’t forget to like, comment and subscribe to stay up-to-date on new releases.

“Serpent Underfoot” on all streaming services:

• Stinking Lizaveta – Serpent Underfoot

Order “Anthems and Phantoms”:
https://srarecords.com/shop/sra/stinking-lizaveta-anthems-and-phantoms/

Music by: Stinking Lizaveta
Video compilation by: Peter Wilder
Footage is from the Stinking Lizaveta 2023 Summer tour

Stinking Lizaveta live:
14 MAY – Bristol ENGLAND @ The Gryphon *
16 MAY – Sowerby Bridge ENGLAND @ Puzzle Hall Inn *
17 MAY – Cardigan WALES @ The Cellar *
19 MAY – London ENGLAND @ Desertfest London *
22 MAY – Newcastle ENGLAND @ The Lubber Fiend *
23 MAY – Glasgow SCOTLAND @ Bloc *
24 MAY – Edinburgh SCOTLAND @ St. Vincent’s Chapel *
25 MAY – Inverness SCOTLAND @ Tooth & Claw *
27 MAY – Jena GERMANY @ Cafe Wagner
28 MAY – Berlin GERMANY @ Schokoladen
31 MAY – Netphen GERMANY @ Freak Valley Festival
1 JUNE – Dresden GERMANY @ Sankt Pieschen Festival
4 JUNE – Berlin GERMANY @ Neue Zukunft w/ Acid Mothers Temple
* w/ Darsombra

Stinking Lizaveta is Yanni Papadopoulos on guitar, Alexi Papadopoulos on upright electric bass, and Cheshire Agusta on drums.

https://www.facebook.com/Stinking-Lizaveta-175571942466657/
http://www.stinkinglizaveta.com/
https://stinkinglizaveta.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/SRArecords
https://www.instagram.com/srarecords/
https://srarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://srarecords.com/

Stinking Lizaveta, “Serpent Underfoot” official video

Stinking Lizaveta, Anthems and Phantoms (2023)

One-of-a-kind heavy-jazz weirdo insurgents Stinking Lizaveta were announced for Desertfest London 2024 back in November, and they’ll do dates around that appearance in the UK before crossing over into continental Europe for a five-date German stint that includes a stop at Freak Valley — where, barring disaster between now and then, I’ll see them — as well as the Dresden-based Sankt Piechen Festival before wrapping with a second night in Berlin alongside Acid Mothers Temple. The Philadelphia-based trio go in herald of 2023’s Anthems and Phantoms (review here), and whether you’re seeing them at a fest or a club show or anywhere you possibly can, I urge you to do what it takes to put your body in front of wherever they’re standing as they play. Some creativity is just inspiring.

For the UK shows — England, Scotland, Wales, as you can see below — they’ll be hooked up with no less than Maryland audio/visual drone experimentalists Darsombra, and if that doesn’t result in some kind of Stinksombra Big Band collaboration, well, it’ll be the universe’s loss as usual.

There wasn’t really so much an announcement as a posted poster on social media, but between the dates and a few words below, you get the point anyhow, and for a refresher, Anthems and Phantoms streams at the bottom. Go see Stinking Lizaveta:

Stinking Lizaveta – UK & Germany Tour

Stinking Lizaveta hitting the road in the old country!

14 May Bristol ENG The Gryphon w/ Darsombra
16 May Sowerby Bridge ENG Puzzle Hall Inn w/ Darsombra
17 May Cardigan WAL The Cellar w/ Darsombra
19 May London ENG Desertfest London w/ Darsombra (and many more)
22 May Newcastle ENG The Lubber Fiend w/ Darsombra
23 May Glasgow SCO Bloc w/ Darsombra
24 May Edinburgh SCO St. Vincent’s Chapel w/ Darsombra
25 May Inverness SCO Tooth & Claw w/ Darsombra
27 May Jena DE Cafe Wagner
28 May Berlin DE Schokoladen
31 May Netphen DE Freak Valley Festival
1 June Dresden DE Sankt Piechen Festival
4 Berlin DE Neue Zukunft w/ Acid Mothers Temple

Stinking Lizaveta is Yanni Papadopoulos on guitar, Alexi Papadopoulos on upright electric bass, and Cheshire Agusta on drums.

https://www.facebook.com/Stinking-Lizaveta-175571942466657/
http://www.stinkinglizaveta.com/
https://stinkinglizaveta.bandcamp.com

https://www.facebook.com/SRArecords
https://www.instagram.com/srarecords/
https://srarecords.bandcamp.com/
https://srarecords.com/

Stinking Lizaveta, Anthems and Phantoms (2023)