Category — Music News

I’m still bummed about Cursed going tits up. However, I’m pretty psyched about Burning Love, the new band fronted by former Cursed singer Chris Colohan.

Word is they laid down the tacks for their first album with Ian Blurton in early January. Can’t wait to hear the results of that. In the meantime, check out their April 2009 demo below.

1. Intro/Lives of the Saints
2. Alien vs. Creditor
3. Money Shots
4. I Don’t Like You (Battalion of Saints)
5. Burning Love

Burning Love - 2009 Demo

Around the end of December I always hear the odd complaint about the lack of good music released over the past twelve months. But as each year passes, that thought never seems to enter my head. Sure, there were a couple of clunkers in 2009 – the Dead Weather and Yeah Yeah Yeahs, I’m looking at you. But overall I’ve been more than impressed by what my ears have digested, sometimes even pleasantly surprised. Hello Goatwhore!

However it was rather hard to commit to my favorite album of the year. When Baroness’ Blue Record was released mid-October, I was pretty confident that we had a winner. Each subtle flourish hinted at on 2007’s Red Album paired up with something new, humped it and gave birth to something even more exciting. Pretty much everything I was hoping for. But there was one problem. A week later Converge released Axe to Fall.

As Baroness did on Blue Record, Converge also explored new sonic territory. But experimentation wasn’t what sold me. Simply put, Converge are a fine tuned killing machine on Axe to Fall. Track after track they destroy everything, burn it and feed the ashes to your children. Well, maybe not. But it sure as hell feels like something must be getting fucked up somewhere when these songs are pounding out of my speakers.

Converge made a perfect album. It’s as simple as that and when something is that obvious, you give credit where credit is due.

1. Converge – Axe to Fall
2. Baroness – Blue Record
3. Goes Cube – Another Day Has Passed
4. Ancestors – Of Sound Mind
5. Goatwhore – Carving Out the Eyes of God
6. Mastodon – Crack the Skye
7. Wolfmother – Cosmic Egg
8. The_Network - Bishop Kent Manning
9. Buried Inside – Spoils of Failure
10. Cobalt – Gin
11. Coalesce – OX
12. Javelina – Beasts Among Sheep
13. Doomriders – Darkness Come Alive
14. Obscura – Cosmogenesis
15. Them Crooked Vultures – Self Titled
16. Isis – Wavering Radiant
17. Naam – Self Titled
18. Pissed Jeans – King of Jeans
19. Iron Age – The Sleeping Eye
20. Culted - Below the Thunders of the Upper Deep

I love it when one of my favourite bands sneaks up on me with a new album. It doesn’t seem that long ago that I was playing Baroness’ Red Album nonstop. However I just found out that on October 13th they will unleash the Blue Record.

As usual John Baizley’s stunning artwork will grace the cover (see above). The new track “Bullhead’s Psalm/The Sweetest Curse” is streaming on their MySpace profile now.

As if their upcoming collaboration with A Storm of Light wasn’t enough, I just found out that Nadja are about to crush us a little more. On April 28th the Toronto duo will release an album of covers titled When I See the Sun Always Shines on TV.

Here is the full track listing for When I See the Sun Always Shines on TV:

1. Only Shallow (My Bloody Valentine)
2. Pea (Codeine)
3. No Cure For The Lonely (Swans)
4. Dead Skin Mask (Slayer)
5. The Sun Always Shines On TV (A-Ha)
6. Needle In The Hay (Elliott Smith)
7. Long Dark Twenties (Kids in the Hall)
8. Faith (The Cure)

Nadja - “Dead Skin Mask” (Slayer)

You might have heard already, but Faith No More are getting back together for some shows. Your excitement level regarding this will obviously vary depending on your latitude and longitude, or willingness to travel. Personally I think it’s very cool, but don’t see myself having an opportunity to see them. As of right now it is just European dates, but there has been some talk of doing shows in the states.

If you want to keep informed on exactly what is going on, bassist Billy Gould has been rocking things over on Twitter. Apparently they aren’t doing any press – just straight to the fans communications. What else that will involve other than Twitter remains to be seen.

Faith No More - “Midlife Crisis” (Edit)

So did anyone out there actually make it to the very end of my first podcast? Those who did were treated to some next level shit courtesy of Cult of Luna. If you happen to be one of those lucky people and liked what you heard, then you should know about their new DVD Fire Was Born.

It will be available for visual digestion March 23rd and features a full live show recorded in London, along with interviews and music videos for “The Watchtower”, “Leave Me Here” and “Back to Chapel Town”.

Also, good news if you haven’t picked up a copy of their latest full length Eternal Kingdom. Fire Was Born will be included in the next pressing of it as a bonus disk.

Did you know Buried Inside have a new album coming out? Well now you do. Spoils of Failure drops on March 3rd in the North Americas.

So far things are looking good. Our comrades over at Decibel have given the album a solid 9 out of 10 in this month’s issue. Check out a new track on their MySpace page or head over to Relapse to find out about pre-ordering the CD or double vinyl.

Oh, and did I mention it was produced by Kurt Ballou?

Just in case you didn’t already know, the Eagles of Death Metal have a new album out. You better go gets it now. Shaking of the ass is optional.

Also, does anyone else remember when they sounded like this?

Eagles of Death Metal - “The Gosso King of Crater Lake”

Many within the underground doom scene have praised Eugene Oregon’s YOB for their unique take on the genre. In their world, molten riffs spiral into epic psychedelic tinged soundscapes that simultaneously crush skulls and warp minds.

The past couple of years have been full of ups and downs for YOB founder and guitarist/vocalist Mike Scheidt. First after the departure of bassist Isamu Sato and drummer Travis Foster, Mike officially disbanded YOB. He then went on to form a new trio under the name Middian. Their Metal Blade debut Age Eternal was released in March of 2007 and things were going well. Or so it seemed.

Late last year a band from Milwaukee who go by the name Midian, filed a federal law suit claiming ownership of the name Middian. During this ordeal the band were dropped by Metal Blade and after looking into their options, they decided the costs involved in fighting the law suit weren’t worth it. So in hopes of resolving things, they offered to stop using the name Middian. Unfortunately the other band refused to settle the matter out of court and demanded tens of thousands of dollars.

Eventually their legal troubles were resolved. However only after a very rough year for the band members. After briefly re-surfacing as Age Eternal, they decided to go their separate ways.

But now the good news. Mike has decided to reform YOB. Joined by former drummer Travis Foster and new bass player Aaron Reiseberg, the band will be releasing their next release via Canada’s Profound Lore Records.

Unfortunately because of the above mentioned legal problems, Middian’s one and only release has virtually dropped off the face of the earth. So while we await the return of YOB, enjoy a track off the now mystical Age Eternal.

Middian “The Blood of Icons” From the Album Age Eternal

I heard the rumor of its existence over half a year ago. I looked for it each month since then and nothing. Finally it has arrived. An eight page feature in Decibel Magazine detailing the making of Welcome to Sky Valley by Kyuss.

For those not in the know, each issue of Decibel contains a feature called the Decibel Hall of Fame, which details the making of landmark metal albums. No matter who the band or album is, the features are always a great read.

For an album to be inducted, everyone who was in the band when it was recorded must be interviewed. So the making of Welcome to Sky Valley article includes conversations with Brant Bjork, Josh Homme, John Garcia and Scott Reeder.

Go pick up a copy of the November 2008 issue of Decibel or order a copy online. If you’re a fan of Kyuss, you won’t regret it.