Posted in Whathaveyou on June 25th, 2026 by JJ Koczan
A strong lineup for Descendants of Crom VIII is nothing new. The annual Pittsburgh-based celebration of underground heavy returns this Sept. 11-12 with 14 acts playing at Thunderbird Music Hall, including Tombs and Novembers Doom headlining, a rare appearance from The Midnight Ghost Train and Gozu coming down from Boston to support their new album, among others.
I’m pretty sure this is the complete bill, as it’s basically in line with last year’s edition, but some shuffling may take place between now and September, you never know. I’ve never had the pleasure of hitting this one — Pittsburgh is like a six-hour drive, minimum, and that’s apparently just far enough to be really far — but it’s always cool to see who’s going to be there, and this looks like a cool mix of styles, geographies, and levels of intensity.
Behold:
Blackseed Services and Thunderbird presents: Descendants of Crom VII
Saturday, September 11 and 12th, 2026 Thunderbird Music Hall 4053 Butler Street, Pittsburgh, PA
For nearly a decade, Descendants of Crom has brought together fans and artists from across the heavy underground for a weekend dedicated to doom, sludge, psych, black metal, post-metal, and the darker edges of heavy music.
Founded out of a passion for discovering and supporting original heavy music, Descendants of Crom has continually sought to bring both revered underground artists and emerging voices to Pittsburgh while helping foster a thriving regional heavy music community.
FRIDAY – SEPTEMBER 11 TOMBS FRAYLE WITCHING BRIMSTONE COVEN SUNDRAS
SATURDAY – SEPTEMBER 12 NOVEMBERS DOOM THE MIDNIGHT GHOST TRAIN HUNTSMEN NIXIL GOZU MOTHERLESS IRONFLAME FALSE GODS THE LONG HUNT
Single Day Passes are also made available on Thunderbird’s Site.
Built through a DIY spirit and presented with a professional approach, Descendants of Crom has become a destination for those who value authenticity, atmosphere, and the shared experience of underground music.
Descendants of Crom VIII returns to Thunderbird Café & Music Hall on September 11 & 12, 2026 for two days of immersive atmosphere, crushing volume, and unforgettable performances.
Posted in Whathaveyou on December 12th, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Quite a metallic CV that Brooklyn’s Tombs have put together over the course of the last decade plus, having worked first with Relapse, then Metal Blade and now Season of Mist for their latest long-player, Monarchy of Shadows. The new record is out Feb. 28 and up for preorder now with the title-track streaming at the bottom of the post — that’s the crucial info here, though the artwork, below, is also pretty crucial as far as I’m concerned — and as Tombs have always resided between worlds stylistically in terms of their aggro roots — frontman Mike Hill‘s background in hardcore is well documented — and their thrust of raw black metal melded together with more spacious atmospheres than the genre’s if-it-doesn’t-sound-shitty-it-don’t-count nonsensical purist ethic might allow.
So maybe too much this for one crowd, too much that for another, but just right to actually be an interesting band, which I think is why the press has been all over them since their first album and why Relapse, Metal Blade and Season of Mist have all taken a shot at giving them a push. For Tombs‘ part, they’ve never stopped pushing themselves creatively and on the level of sheer intensity of their craft and output, and hell, if you don’t admire them for anything else, admire them for that, because it’s a pretty high standard to live up to at this point.
That’s my two cents. I haven’t heard the whole album yet, but I will, and though my general feeling is that Tombs needs coverage from me like they need a hole in the head, I’ll probably try to give a crack at a proper album review as well. Nothing like a challenge sometimes.
Anyway, here’s PR wire info on the record:
TOMBS Sign to Season of Mist, Reveal New Song and Details of Forthcoming Release
Season of Mist are proud to announce the signing of Brooklyn, NY metal formation TOMBS! The band will make their official debut to the label on February 28 with the release of their brand new EP, ‘Monarchy of Shadows.’ The eponymous first single from the offering can be heard at THIS LOCATION.
TOMBS mastermind Mike Hill comments: “I’ve been a huge fan of Season of Mist for years, so I feel honored for TOMBS to be joining the label. The rest of the guys share the same sentiments. ‘Monarchy of Shadows’ is a full on display of the new era of the band. Ferocious, brutal, but with an intense introspection. This is the best work that we’ve done to date.”
Studio: Frightbox Recording (Passaic, NJ, U.S.A.) Producer/Sound Engineer/Mixing Studio Engineer: Bobby Torres Mastering studio engineer: Alan Douches @ West West Side Music
The cover artwork for ‘Monarchy of Shadows,’ which was created by Valnoir, can be found here along with the tracklist.
Tracklist 1. Monarchy of Shadows (07:32) 2. Once Falls the Guillotine (04:44) 3. Necro Alchemy (05:47) 4. Man Behind the Sun (06:02) 5. The Dark Rift (05:58) 6. Path of Totality (Midnight Sun) (04:44) Total: 0:34:47
Line-Up: Mike Hill – guitar / vocals Justin Spaeth – drums /electronics Drew Murphy – bass / vocals Matt Medieiros – guitar / vocals
Guest Musicians: Mike Goncalves – guest vocals on “Path of Totality (Midnight Sun)” Ben Karas – strings on “The Dark Rift” Terence Hannum – synth on “Monarchy of Shadows”
Posted in Whathaveyou on February 1st, 2019 by JJ Koczan
Check out Electric Funeral FestIV continuing to up the game of the Denver-based event. Consistently, each lineup has been bigger than the one before it, and as we see acts like Tombs, Royal Thunder, Sourvein, Gozu and Destroyer of Light tossed into the fire this June with headliners still to be announced, it seems that the scale has once again broadened in terms of draw and style alike. I wouldn’t mind catching Toke again, and I’ve never seen Oryx, but their recorded stuff is ridiculous. And I hear Destroyer of Light have a new record in progress, so yeah, the vibe here sounds awesome. Spread across three venues, Electric Funeral Fest IV promises 40 bands over its two-day run, and early-bird tickets are on sale now for those feeling like they’re up for spending some time in a low oxygen atmosphere. Sign me up.
The PR wire has it like this and promises more to come. I believe it:
DUST PRESENTS: ELECTRIC FUNERAL FEST IV
We expect the fourth installment of Electric Funeral Fest to go beyond what we accomplished at last year’s monumental event. Headliners and full lineup to be released next month. Presale 2-day passes are now available, including just 25 discounted early-bird passes. 40 bands, 3 stages, 2-days… see you in Denver this summer.
Bands announced today: Tombs, Royal Thunder, Sourvein, Call of The Void, Toke, Against the Grain, Un, Teeth, Bummer, Gozu, Dead Now, Oryx, The Lion’s Daughter, Trapped Within Burning Machinery, Destroyer of Light
Posted in Whathaveyou on March 15th, 2018 by JJ Koczan
I don’t have any idea what Shadow Woods IV — the name trimmed down from the original Shadow Woods Metal Fest for reasons that will become clear as you continue to read — would possibly have to gain from any kind of endorsement on my part, official or not, but let me say anyway that if you can’t respect this idea, the fact that they’ve done it four years running, and the obvious blood-borne passion that goes into making each edition an event unlike anything else in the US when it comes to the mix of bands, the locale, the vibe and the very concept from which it’s working, you can basically fuck off. I may not be into every band on this list — it’s a really, really long list — but there are plenty here who would justify a trip to Harpers Ferry in September, and yeah, all this is is something special year after year.
The lineup this time around is completely over the top, as you can see first in the grim-grim-grim poster below, then in the running order for each for Shadow Woods IV‘s three nights, and then, finally, in alphabetical order, because they are thorough and that’s only one more reason to hold Shadow Woods in such high regard.
Behold:
Shadow Woods Productions LLC presents the fourth edition of Shadow Woods Metal Fest, now simply referred to as Shadow Woods IV.
What: Shadow Woods IV is a multi-day open air music and camping event in that includes bands from many subgenres of metal, rock, folk, experimental and noise. The fest will host more than 40 bands on two alternating stages with no overlapping sets so attendees can enjoy every set. There will also be delicious food, craft beer, a vendor marketplace with art, jewelry, home decor, music, and rock and metal merchandise.
Where: Our new fest venue is the Harpers Ferry Adventure Center (HFAC) located at 37410 Adventure Center Lane in Purcellville, VA 20132, situated in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains at the confluence of the Shenandoah and the Potomac rivers. HFAC features zip lines, ropes courses, tubing, white water rafting, cabins, campsites and an onsite craft brewery. It is located just a little more than a hour from Washington DC and Baltimore, MD near the intersection of the Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia state lines. Festival attendees receive a discount of HFAC activities as well as on the cost of campground and cabin rental with the Shadow Woods group rate.
When: Sept 20-22, 2018. Thursday night features primarily acoustic, folk and ritual noise from 6 p.m. until 11 pm. Friday and Saturday showcases rock and metal bands from noon until 11 pm each day.
How: Tickets are on sale now. A full weekend event pass is $130. Day passes for Thursday are $30; Friday and Saturday passes are $60 each. (Important note: Tent camping and cabin are not included in the tickets. Reservations must be made directly through the HFAC and you must request the Shadow Woods group rate. The venue is requesting that attendees hold off on reserving sites for the time being until a system can be put in place for managing this.)
Why: “It was pretty clear from the positive feedback I received after the 2017 fest that festival goers did not want to see Shadow Woods end, even though our property in Maryland had been sold,” said Mary Spiro, fest founder. So without a venue or a confirmed lineup, I started quietly raising the funds to do a new fest via the contributions of past attendees. In January 2018, I was able to find an fantastic site to host the fest that was even better than what we had before. The lineup came together very quickly and I am extremely proud and excited to present these past favorites and new discoveries.”
Here is lineup by day in roughly the reverse order of playing (so headliner at the top) subject to change of course. Then the lineup is in ABC order at the bottom. Brian Sheehan has done the poster.
At this time in terms of Vendors, you can say expect to see some of the ones seen last year plus many new ones.
Don’t have any food vendors or specific sponsors named yet. Beer is the Harpers Ferry Brewing Company which is part of the venue.
Thursday Xasthur – doomgrass, folk rock (Los Angeles, CA) On The Water – strange folk (Philadelphia) Goblin Hovel – metal folk (NY/PA) Skulsyr – occult noise (Doylestown, PA) Jerome Deppe and Miss Elizabeth’s All-Girl Band – folk ballads of the damned (Baltimore, MD) Bound For The Ground – the devil’s blues supergroup with members of Grave Gnosis, The Owls Are Not What They Seem, and Cultic (GA/FL/PA) Earendel – acoustic folk duo (Baltimore)
Friday Tombs – post metal (NYC) Rozamov – psyche-tinged grueling doom (Boston) Heavy Temple – Hard Fuzz, Psych and Doom (Philadelphia) Barishi – Gritty Progressive Metal (Brattleboro, VT) Aether Realm – Viking folk metal (Greenville, NC) Destroyer of Light – doom and roll (Austin, TX) Electropathic – doom hard rock with members from several foundational Maryland doom groups (Wheaton, MD) Husbandry – Fugazi meets Aaliyah (NYC) God Root – ritualistic sludge (Philadelphia) Dysfigure – modern heavy metal (Martinsburg, WV) Windfaerer – extreme aural entity (New Jersey) Witch Hazel – occult rock and roll/doom (York, PA) Forest of Legend – doom/stoner/sludge (Virginia Beach, VA) Hepatagua – sludge/doom/thrash (Boston) Flummox – nongenre specific doomy metal (Murfreesboro, TN) Ferus Din – black metal and flutes (Buffalo, NY) Haze Mage – stoner metal (Baltimore) Malphas – progressive blackened melodeath (Philadelphia)
Saturday Uada – black metal (Portland, OR) Cloak – black and roll (Atlanta, GA) Panzerfaust – black metal (Toronto, ON) Voarm – black metal (Richmond, VA) Imperial Triumphant – black metal (NYC) Athame – black metal (MD/WV) Hubris – black metal (Buffalo, NY) Enthauptung – atmospheric black metal (Rochester, NY) A Sound of Thunder – traditional/NWOBHM heavy metal (DC/VA) Bound By The Grave – death metal (Baltimore) Destroying Angel – dark folk rock (Philadelphia) All Hell – black and roll (Asheville, NC) Black Mass – death thrash (Boston) Hexxus – sludge metal (Birmingham, AL) Replicant – death metal (NJ) Tyrannis – death metal (Radford, VA) Sluagh – progressive metal (Martinsburg, WV) Sickdeer – death metal (DC)
Alphabetical Aether Realm All Hell A Sound of Thunder Athame Barishi Black Mass Bound By The Grave Bound For The Ground Cloak Jerome Deppe and Miss Elizabeth’s All-Girl Band Destroyer of Light Destroying Angel Dysfigure Earendel Electropathic Enthauptung Ferus Din Flummox Forest of Legend Goblin Hovel God Root Haze Mage Heavy Temple Hepatagua Hexxus Hubris Husbandry Imperial Triumphant Malphas On The Water Panzerfaust Replicant Rozamov Sickdeer Skulsyr Sluagh Tombs Tyrannis Uada Voarm Windfaerer Witch Hazel Xasthur
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 12th, 2017 by JJ Koczan
Brooklyn extremists Tombs have started work on their fourth album. Also their debut on Metal Blade after three outings for Relapse Records, the yet-untitled release is being tracked with Hate Eternal‘s Erik Rutan (who, because I’m from New Jersey, I’ll note was in Ripping Corpse) at Mana Recording in sunny St. Pete, Florida. The black ‘n’ roll ‘n’ more genremashers released their last full-length, Savage Gold (discussed here), in 2014, and have continued to support it steadily with shows and tours at home and abroad.
That thread, it seems, will continue despite the label jump. Tombs have announced what would seem to be a hey-we-just-finished-a-record tour for March alongside the very metal lineup of Darkest Hour, Ringworm and Rivers of Nihil, kicking off on the West Coast and making its way into the Midwest over two-plus weeks.
The PR wire had dates and more info to share:
Tombs enters studio to begin recording fourth full-length album; announces USA tour dates with Darkest Hour, Ringworm, Rivers of Nihil
Brooklyn-based experimental metal outfit Tombs has entered Mana Recording Studio (http://www.manarecording.com) in St. Petersburg, FL to begin recording their fourth full-length. Produced once again by Erik Rutan (Hate Eternal), this currently untitled album is set for a summer release via Metal Blade Records.
Guitarist/vocalist Mike Hill comments: “I’ve been gearing up for this moment for all of past year. Rutan is a master and I’m intending on us delivering the most punishing Tombs record to-date.”
After recording this upcoming album, Tombs will head back out on the road in March, joining Darkest Hour, Ringworm, and Rivers of Nihil for a USA tour. See below for all dates!
Tombs tour dates w/ Darkest Hour, Ringworm, Rivers of Nihil Mar. 5 – Portland, OR – Analog Theater Mar. 6 – Seattle, WA – Studio Seven Mar. 8 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge Mar. 9 – Sacramento, CA – Colonial Theater Mar. 10 – Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Mar. 11 – San Diego, CA – Brick By Brick Mar. 12 – Phoenix, AZ – Club Red Mar. 13 – Tucson, AZ – Club XS Mar. 14 – Albuquerque, NM – Blu Phoenix Venue Mar. 15 – Lubbock, TX – Backstage Lubbock Mar. 16 – Austin, TX – Grizzly Hall Mar. 17 – Houston, TX – White Oak Mar. 18 – San Antonio, TX – The Korova Mar. 19 – Dallas, TX – Gas Monkey Bar and Grill Mar. 21 – Cincinnati, OH – Northside Yacht Club
Tombs line-up: Mike Hill – Guitar/Vocals Charlie Schmid – Drums Ben Brand – Bass Evan Void – Guitar Fade Kainer – Synth / Vocals
Posted in Whathaveyou on August 17th, 2016 by JJ Koczan
Brooklyn’s Tombs will release their next full-length, as yet untitled and unrecorded, through Metal Blade Records. The semi-blackened genremashers released their last album, Savage Gold (discussed here), in 2014 via Relapse Records, and before they get to the studio for the next one, they’ll head out in November on a round of US tour dates that will take them to the West Coast and a goodly portion of the way back, accompanied by Wolvhammer. Just about everything Tombs touch is massively acclaimed, but Savage Gold was their third outing through Relapse, so it seems entirely likely their contract was simply up and they wound up with a deal from Metal Blade. Really any label would be lucky to have them.
The PR wire brings news, tour dates, and some new video:
Tombs signs worldwide deal with Metal Blade Records; announces USA headlining tour with Wolvhammer; launches official YouTube channel with director’s cut and behind-the-scenes videos for “V”
Metal Blade Records is proud to announce the worldwide signing of Brooklyn-based experimental metal outfit Tombs! Blending bleak, post-punk minimalism with the ferocious attack of sludge and traditional black metal, Tombs has established themselves as an act that’s as committed to consistency as it is to growth, developing smoothly (but never predictably) over the course of their career, and earning a multitude of accolades along the way. In addition to their acclaimed releases, Tombs has also become revered for their captivating live shows, touring extensively with an array of artists such as Eyehategod, Pelican, Isis, Wolves In The Throne Room, The Secret, Ulcerate, and 1349, plus appearing at renowned festivals: Roskilde Festival in Denmark, Roadburn in The Netherlands, and Psycho California and Maryland Deathfest in the USA. Now, having joined Metal Blade’s roster, the quintet is poised to continue the momentum that’s been building since their formation in 2007.
Mike Hill (guitar/vocals) comments: “Metal Blade is a legendary label that has put out legendary records by legendary bands. It’s an honor to be part of the organization.”
Tombs will begin writing their fourth full-length and Metal Blade Records debut after their USA headlining tour this fall. Kicking off November 7th, the trek also features Wolvhammer as support. See below for all upcoming dates!
Tombs tour dates w/ Wolvhammer Nov. 7 – Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506 Nov. 8 – Atlanta, GA – The Earl Nov. 9 – New Orleans, LA – Siberia Nov. 10 – Houston, TX – Rudyards Nov. 11 – Austin, TX – Barracuda Nov. 12 – Dallas, TX – Three Links Nov. 13 – San Antonio, TX – Korova – downstairs Nov. 15 – Albuquerque, NM – Launchpad Nov. 16 – Scottsdale, AZ – Pub Rock Nov. 17 – Los Angeles, CA – Complex Nov. 18 – San Diego, CA – The Merrow Nov. 20 – San Francisco, CA – DNA Lounge Nov. 22 – Salt Lake City, UT – Metro Bar – SLC Nov. 25 – Indianapolis, IN – Kumas Corner Nov. 26 – Dayton, OH – Rockstar Pro Arena
Tombs will be touring in support of their recently released All Empires Fall EP – a crushingly heavy record that confirms the band as one of the leaders of American – and international – black metal. For a preview of All Empires Fall, fans can visit the new Tombs official YouTube page, where director’s cut and behind-the-scenes videos for the album track, “V”, can be viewed: https://www.youtube.com/tombscult
Tombs line-up: Mike Hill – Guitar/Vocals Charlie Schmid – Drums Ben Brand – Bass Evan Void – Guitar Fade Kainer – Synth / Vocals
Posted in Whathaveyou on April 6th, 2016 by JJ Koczan
Set for Sept. 15-18 in White Hall, Maryland, Shadow Woods Metal Fest 2016 has completed its lineup. The fest runs a gamut of extremity from blackened noise to rolling stoner grooves and covers copious ground between in death metal, doom, drone and heavy rock, and the final nine acts announced only add to its breadth. This is the second year for Shadow Woods Metal Fest, and very clearly fest organizer Mary Spiro is staying true to the vision of a backwoods vibe, exploring the connection between a natural setting and various incarnations of heaviness. To be blunt, I don’t know all these bands and they’re not all really in my sphere so much as I have one, but I’d love to check this out anyway, just for the vibe of it.
Spiro works hard as hell on putting this together. Nothing but respect. Tickets are on sale now.
From the PR wire:
SHADOW WOODS METAL FEST: Complete 2016 Lineup For East Coast Open-Air Metal Fest Announced; Tickets Available + Trailers Posted
SHADOW WOODS METAL FEST, the Mid-Atlantic’s open-air camping metal party, is pleased to announce the complete lineup for the 2016 festival, which runs from Thursday, September 15th through Sunday, September 18th at Camp Hidden Valley, in White Hall, Maryland. This year, forty metal bands, representing diverse subgenres, will terrorize three stages in the woodlands of The Old Line State at the same summer camp where the fest was held last year.
Highlights of this year’s installment include a set by the mysterious GHOST BATH from North Dakota who have never performed live until this year, will be playing the event. The festival welcomes their first Canadian act to this year’s event with Calgary’s NUMENOREAN, and Baltimore’s trippy duo DARSOMBRA will headline Thursday night. Brooklyn’s post black metal pillagers TOMBS, Mongolian folk metal warriors TENGGER CAVALRY, Detroit’s horror-death conjurers ACID WITCH, and a special reunion performance from Philly’s blackened doom two-piece SADGIQACEA will ignite the fires Friday night. Black-thrash alchemists BLOOD STORM, Chicago’s mystic black metal kings EMPYREUS (featuring members of Kommandant) and the doom metal godfather SCOTT “WINO” WEINRICH and friends from Western Maryland’s FAITH IN JANE will headline Saturday night. The fest will close with the return of the black metal-blues shredders ZUD from Maine.
“We are honored and humbled that all these great acts have agreed to play our little gathering in the woods,” says festival founder Mary Spiro of Metallomusikum.com/Shadow Woods Productions LLC. “Our team has worked diligently to bring these groups to our unique performance environment, and we cannot wait to see how the weekend unfolds. This lineup stays true to the fest’s mission of showcasing the bands that metal fans ought to be seeing and hearing, not simply the bands that everyone has already seen somewhere else.”
This year’s lineup also boasts several acts that have never performed on the East Coast, such as the blackened space-rock pair LOTUS THIEF from San Francisco, which features Otrebor of Botanist on drums, and Colorado’s HELLEBORUS, powered by the Houseman brothers (Akhenaten; ex-Execration), who specialize in psychedelic black metal tinged with sexual mysticism. The complete lineup (listed below) surpasses the ferocity of the fest’s inaugural installment in both diversity and scope of metal styles.
Grimoire Records, the Baltimore-based hybrid recording and distribution label founded in February 2013, has become a co-producer with Shadow Woods Productions, LLC, and has several bands featured throughout the weekend, including CORPSE LIGHT, GENEVIEVE, MYOPIC, and TORRID HUSK.
Attendees will be able to munch of a plethora of food choices throughout the weekend including the return of the high octane Zeke’s Coffee and vegan selections from Headbangin’ Hotdogs, among several others. Jewelry, knitted-wear, art, CDs, vinyl, t-shirts and more will be on sale in the festival’s long hall. Yoga sessions will again be held each morning for those willing to brave a downward dog with a hangover. Other workshops are to be announced. The fest is BYOB and is 21 and up only. Those interested in vending, teaching a free workshop or who have specific questions should send an email with a description of your products and a website link to contact@shadowwoodsmetalfest.com
Weekend Passes for SHADOW WOODS METAL FEST are available for $130 at BrownPaperTickets.com. Tent camping is included with the weekend pass. People who want to reserve cabin beds can do so for an additional $20 for the duration of the fest. Only 400 weekend passes will be available and about one-third have sold so far. A limited number of day passes will go on sale in August.
SHADOW WOODS METAL FEST 2016 Complete Lineup: A SOUND OF THUNDER (DC) **traditional old-school heavy metal ATHAME (MD/WV) **black AT THE GRAVES (MD) **solo doom-sludge ACID WITCH (Detroit) **horror death BLOOD STORM (PA/TX) **black thrash BOUND BY THE GRAVE (Baltimore) *death CEMETERY FILTH (TN) ** death CEMETERY PISS (Baltimore) **black COFFIN DUST (Philadelphia) **death CORPSE LIGHT (Baltimore) *doom DARSOMBRA (MD) **psychedelic drone DESTROYER OF LIGHT (Austin, TX) **sludge EMPYREUS (Chicago) **black FAITH IN JANE FEATURING WINO (MD) ** doom trio joined by the godfather of the sound GENEVIEVE (MD) **experimental black GHOST BATH (ND) **suicidal depressive black GRAVE GNOSIS (St. Petersburg, FL) **black HAXEN (Rhode Island) **black HELGAMITE (VA) **doom/stoner/sludge HELLEBORUS (Manitou Springs, CO) **black HERON (NC) **black HORSESKULL (NC) **sludge/doom LOTUS THIEF (CA) **blackened space rock MYOPIC (DC) **death/doom NUMENOREAN (Calgary, AB) **post-black SACRIFICIAL BLOOD (NJ) **thrash death SADGIQACEA (Philadelphia) **doom/sludge/black SADISTIC VISION (PA/NC) **death SAPREMIA (New Jersey) **death SURGEON (Philadelphia) **progressive TELOCH VOVIN (NY) **black TEMPLE OF VOID (Detroit) **doom TENGGER CAVALRY (NY/CHINA) ** Mongolian folk T.O.M.B. (Philadelphia) **ritual noise TOMBS (Brooklyn) ** black/post-metal TORRID HUSK (WV) **depressive/melodic black VORATOR (Richmond) **death/thrash WIZARD EYE (PA) **doom XEUKATRE (Baltimore) **black ZUD (Maine) ** black
Posted in Whathaveyou on January 15th, 2015 by JJ Koczan
True to their word, it’s Jan. 15 and Psycho California 2015 has announced the headliners for what looks like the best American festival lineup I’ve seen since the days of Emissions from the Monolith. That’s not to take away from the hard work anyone else is doing, but just look at the list of bands. It’s unreal. You’d want to be everywhere at the same time to see all of it. Absolutely wild.
Sleep and Pentagram were pretty clear choices to headline. Not only for being legends in the heavy underground, but for also being just about two of the only bands left. Sweden’s Cult of Luna were something of a surprise, but for a festival already showing a European reach in bringing aboard the likes of Samsara Blues Experiment and Stoned Jesus, they make sense. Hell of a bill. Kudos to anyone who actually gets to go to the thing.
Announcement follows, courtesy of the PR wire:
PSYCHO CALIFORNIA ANNOUNCES HEADLINERS: SLEEP, PENTAGRAM AND CULT OF LUNA
WEST COAST METAL FESTIVAL HAPPENING MAY 15, 16 & 17 AT THE OBSERVATORY IN SANTA ANA
FIRST WAVE OF ARTISTS ANNOUNCED INCLUDED KYLESA, EARTH, OM AND RUSSIAN CIRCLES
Psycho California, the west coast’s first annual metal festival and a must see for fans of doom, heavy psych and sludge, has announced the headliners for this year’s event: Cult of Luna (May 15), Sleep (May 16) and Pentagram, who will perform First Daze Here in its entirety (May 17).
“2015 is going to be a slow year for Cult of Luna. However as much as we are musicians we are also fans,” said Cult of Luna’s Johannes Persson. “Evaluating if the offer to play Psycho California was worth dusting off our instruments was not hard after looking on the line-up. Being on the same bill as Pentagram, Sleep and a festival packed with the best bands around is a privilege in itself and we’ll try to live up to that honor.”
The lineup for Psycho California is: Sleep, Pentagram, Cult of Luna, Kylesa, OM, Earth, Russian Circles, Bedemon, Conan, Wrench, Eyehategod, Indian, Earthless, Pallbearer, Stoned Jesus, Old Man Gloom, Cave In, Acid Witch, Truckfighters, Tombs, Bang, Electric Citizen, Coffinworm, SubRosa, Eagle Twin, Mammatus, True Widow, Anciients, Bellwitch, Dead Meadow, Lord Dying, Death By Stereo, Radio Moscow, Ancient Altar, Samsara Blues Experiment, Atriarch, Elder, Mothership, The Well, Deathkings, Wo Fat, Rozamov, Destroyer of Light, Highlands, Bloodmoon, Slow Season, Goatsnake, Crypt Trip, Wrench, Lords of Beacon House, Tumbleweed Dealer, Sinister Haze, Blackout, Red Wizard, Banquet and Loom.
Festival interludes will be provided by Housecore Records’ artist Author & Punisher and vinyl DJ set from Bob Lugowe (Relapse Records) and Sean Pellet (Last Daze Here).
Previously announced early bird tickets sold out immediately. Tickets for the festival are on-sale this morning with both a 3-day pass ($149.50) and a 3-day VIP pass available ($256.66)
VIP packages include a 3-day festival pass, a signed screen print concert poster by David D’Andrea, express entry via artist check-in booth, access to artist VIP lounge, a limited edition Thief X Obey festival tee, a Psycho record bag and patch as well as access to a complimentary craft tequila bar, premium microbrews and artisan snacks.
