Scene Point Blank spoke at length with vocalist Jacob Bannon about all things Converge, his various side-projects, and Deathwish Inc. happenings.
We spoke with Thursday vocalist Geoff Rickly on the band's Fall headlining tour discussing the band's evolution of sound, his literary and musical influences, and the joys of being a musician in this economic climate.
Scene Point Blank spoke with the band about their most recent album, their ever transitioning sound, and other band-related projects.
Scene Point Blank spoke with guitarist, drummer, and vocalist Jason Reece on their most recent headlining tour and the band's vision of art and music.
Scene Point Blank presents you with an exclusive photo diary of this year's concert, courtesy of staff photographer Edson.
It's a new look and of course, this means new features. Just one of these new features is the staff blog, where SPB writers can share their thoughts, rants, photos, ideas, and general internet miscellany. With new blogs posted frequently, it's always worth a click to see what SPB has on its collective mind.
Posted by Jon E. on Wednesday 1st September, 2010Rotting Out and Soul Search will be touring together in September and October. The following dates have been announced thus far:
Posted by Jon E. on Wednesday 1st September, 2010Official press release:
Willowtip Records is extremely pleased to announce the signing of the psychedelic extreme metal band GIGAN. GIGAN is set to enter the studio this fall to record their second full-length album entitled Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes. The recording will once again take place in Chicago, IL at Semaphore studios with engineer Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, Minsk, Buried at Sea). Some early song titles include “Mountains Perched Like Beasts Awaiting the Attack," "Suspended In Cubes of Torment" and "In the Tentacled Grasp of a Buried Behemoth." The album will be available on both vinyl LP and CD, allowing the listener to fully appreciate the subtle nuances of the GIGAN Universe. Featuring the same boundary-pushing extremity but also some new elements, instruments and approaches to delivery, Quasi-Hallucinogenic Sonic Landscapes will surprise and delight both new and original GIGAN devotees.
Main songwriter/lyricist Eric Hersemann offers his comments: "Signing with Willowtip marks a new era within the GIGAN Universe! Willowtip has the right idea when it comes to Metal and they understand and support the lofty creative goals I have with GIGAN. With all the hard work and touring the band has done over the past two years in support of The Order of the False Eye, GIGAN is definitely ready to overtake the mortal universe with our next offering! I have taken extra time to craft a mesmerizing work that pushes the boundaries of extreme music, songwriting and imagination. This is my best work to date and all of us in GIGAN look forward to another run of tours to showcase this new vision!"
GIGAN will be hitting the road again in late Winter/early Spring 2011. Tour dates as well as the official street date and cover art will be released in the coming months.
www.myspace.com/giganmusic
Posted by Jon E. on Wednesday 1st September, 2010UK hardcore/punk outfit Your Demise has joined the Rise Records roster. Rise will release the group's new full-length "The Kids We Used To Be..." on October 12th in North America.
Posted by Jon E. on Wednesday 1st September, 2010We've been sent the unfortunate news that there will be no Harvest of Hope Fest in 2011. Here's an excerpt from the statement from the festival's organizers:
"Sadly, we are announcing that the 2011 Harvest of Hope Fest in St. Augustine, Florida has been officially canceled. Organizing the 2009 and 2010 Fests were enormous undertakings and at this time the Harvest of Hope Foundation and St. Johns County do not have the resources and time to put together a 2011 Fest.
On the positive side, as a result of the 2009 and 2010 Fests, the Foundation and other promoters have organized and continue to organize smaller musical benefits to raise needed funds for migrant farmworkers and their families. To all of you, our deep appreciation for sticking by the Harvest of Hope Foundation, attending our events, dedicating your musical craftmanship and talent, and staying true to those who harvest and produce our food.
Thank you for recognizing that Migrant Farmworkers earn our support!"
The festival, which was held near St. Augustine, FL in 2009 and 2010, was organized to raise funds and awareness for migrant farmworkers via the Harvest of Hope Foundation.
Posted by Jon E. on Wednesday 1st September, 2010Social Distortion have announced a rare acoustic performance on September 11, 2010 for Animal Acres, a animal sanctuary and compassionate living center just north of Los Angeles in Acton. The organization helps rescued cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, and other "country critters and the event itself will be chaired by political humourist Bill Maher and also feature a number of famous faces. All proceeds from the Gala will benefit the organization's emergency rescue and shelter programs to provide feed, housing, and veterinary care for suffering farmed animals.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010In an interesting turn of events, Savannah, GA progressive metal act Baroness will soon release a limited 7" with a cover of the Descendents classic "Bikeage" as the B-side. The A-side will feature "A Horse Called Golgotha," a track from the group's 2009 full-length Blue Record.
More information is available here.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010Propagandhi have announced plans to release a split 7" with Canadian thrash legends Sacrifice. Each band will contribute one cover song to the record; Propagandhi will be covering Corrosion of Conformity's "Technocracy" while Sacrifice will offer their take on Rush's "Anthem."
The 7" will be released via Winnipeg-based metal label War on Music. More details are expected soon.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010Touch and Go Records will be reissuing the long out-of-print debut 7-inch from the legendary Negative Approach. The 10 song EP was newly remastered for the release by John Golden and had originally been issued as a limited pressing of 3000 in 1982. The reissue is due out October 12, 2010.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010We are working on a documentary film that includes a short section highlighting the old Wetlands club in NYC. We're hoping to fill some footage gaps in this sequence and are looking for the following:
1) Video footage of bands who played Wetlands during the late 90s. In particular, we're looking for recordings of Avail and/ or Chocking Victim, but we are open to other (ideally environmental or political) punk bands. But please note: since we are a PBS film, the music cannot be overly dissonant or aggressive - so we're excluding hardcore and classic '77 punk oriented acts.
2) Video footage or photographs of Wetlands atmosphere -bouncers/ door folks ripping tickets, lines out front, the bar in action, crowds, beer flowing from the tap, etc.
We do have an archival budget - so we are prepared to license the material and arrange for proper compensation and accreditation. Thanks in advance for your help!
If you're interested, contact Sam Cullman via email.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010Dark Funeral bass player B-Force has amicably left the Swedish black metal group.
Guitarist Lord Ahriman explained: "Since parting ways with [frontman] E.M. Caligula, it come as no surprise to the rest of us that B-Force would follow the same path and throw in his towel too. So I wish to thank him for the six fantastic years he'd been with us on bass. It's been a pleasure indeed working together... We have already found a new and totally amazing bassist; a bassist who lives and breathes Dark Funeral in its purest form. And we couldn't be more honored to have him onboard. We will however wait until everything is settled before we present him to all of you, so please be patient."
B-Force commented on his decision: "After six awesome and crazy years with Dark Funeral, I have decided to leave the band. It's my own decision to leave one of the best bands/friends in the world, but I feel that I need to move forward in life and do something else music-wise. There are absolutely NO hard feelings between Dark Funeral and myself. We are and will continue to be good friends! I want to thank the band and all the fans all over the world. You kick ass everywhere I've been playing with the band. I thank you all. May the dark forces be with you."
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010The Mongoloids will be touring next month in the East. Dates are as follows:
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010The Acacia Strain has announced a fall headline tour, dubbed "To Catch A Predatour." The East Coast trek will also feature The Red Chord, Terror, Gaza, and The Contortionist. Here's the latest schedule:
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010It would appear that the partnership between Queens Of The Stone Age frontman Joshua Homme’s label Rekords Rekords‘ and Dangerbird Records didn’t make it off the ground. Instead a new affiliation with Ipecac Recordings has been announced with the following press release available:
“LOS ANGELES, Aug. 30 — Joshua Homme’s Rekords Rekords, through a partnership with Ipecac Recordings, will release three albums this fall: Alain Johannes‘ Spark (Oct. 5), Mini Mansions self-titled debut (Nov. 2) and a reissue of Queens of The Stone Age’s self-titled debut with three additional songs (Nov. 26).
An artist-driven label, Rekords Rekords‘ newly formed affiliation with Ipecac Recordings actually dates back to 2003 when Homme’s ongoing Desert Sessions series released an installment on Ipecac, re-connecting Homme with longtime friends and Ipecac co-owners Mike Patton and Greg Werckman.
“Reports on the death of the record label have been greatly exaggerated,” said Werckman. “Record labels like Rekords Rekords and artists like Joshua Homme continue to wage an assault on mediocrity and complacency in the music industry. We, at Ipecac, are stoked to work side by side with unique talents like Alain, Mini Mansions and el jefe Homme. Keep art in the artists hands.”
Rekords Rekords releases slated for 2010:* Alain Johannes Spark (Oct. 5) – Johannes, co-founder of Eleven and collaborator with Queens of The Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, Chris Cornell, Mark Lanegan and Spinnerette, penned this heartfelt album in dedication to his late wife and Eleven partner Natasha Shneider. Spark showcases Johannes‘ impressive musical dexterity moving seamlessly from coveted rock guitarist to soulful songwriter. “Alain’s record is the total embodiment of what the label stands for,” explains Homme. “The war against endorsing mediocrity and the uncensored attempt to take a leap off the musical cliff. Spark is a stunning examination of figuring out what you do when someone’s gone, and it’s utterly breathtaking.”
http://www.myspace.com/alainjohannes* Mini Mansions Mini Mansions (Nov. 2) – The Los Angeles based trio of Michael Shuman (Queens of The Stone Age), Zach Dawes and Tyler Parkford have spent the past eighteen months touring with a number of bands including The Dead Weather, Autolux, Them Crooked Vultures and Grizzly Bear, have released a limited edition EP and collectible 7″ all while writing and recording their full-length debut. Recorded at Homme’s Pink Duck Studios (and with Homme lending a hand on mixing several songs), The LA Weekly described the band’s first single (“Monk“) as “a mercurial slice of vintage-sounding psych-pop.” The Seattle Weekly said of the band, “Mini Mansions is the side project of Queens of The Stone Age bassist Michael Schuman, and as far as offshoots go, it ranks up there with Jack White’s The Dead Weather.”
www.myspace.com/minimansionsmusic* Queens of The Stone Age Queens of The Stone Age (Nov. 26) – A highly sought after, out of print album, the debut release from Queens of The Stone Age has been recreated by Homme as it was initially envisioned, with three tracks that were initially cut from the record reinstated. Queens of The Stone Age will be reissued on Black Friday as a 180 gram double-gatefold, colored vinyl release packaged with a CD version. The straight CD release arrives in-stores on Dec. 7.
www.qotsa.com“
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010Voyager have inked a deal with Creator-Destructor Records and will begin recording their new album for the label in late October at Planet Z Studios with producer Zeuss (Shadows Fall, The Acacia Strain). An early 2011 release date is being planned.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010A Storm Of Light have lined up the following European/UK dates for later this year:
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010Cough have made their new track “Crooked Spine” available for streaming online over at their Myspace. The song is taken form their Relapse debut “Ritual Abuse“, which is on course for an October 26th release date.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010Irons‘ (Converge, Integrity, etc,) upcoming split with Pulling Teeth is currently in the mixing stages with a release to follow in the coming months.
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010Full Blown Chaos have inked a deal with Ironclad Recordings and will release their new album through the label in early 2011. The following press release was issued regarding their signing:
“Ironclad Recordings is proud to announce the addition of heavy hardcore powerhouse Full Blown Chaos from Queens, New York to the roster. The band is currently in the studio putting the finishing touches on their follow up to 2007’s bone-crushing “Heavy Lies the Crown” (Ferret Music). The as of yet to be titled album will likely be released sometime in January 2011.
“We have reinforced our style of writing with a more prevalent sound while keeping to our roots of audible mayhem.”, vocalist Ray Mazzola said of the bands new material. “We are a 5 piece now so we are capable of doing so much more.”
Over the years FBC have scoured the World playing over 1000 shows pummeling crowds with their breakdown laden heavy hardcore. Mazzola and company have appeared on such North American tours as Ozzfest, Sounds of the Underground, the Jagermeister tour, countless club tours and five appearances at the New England Metal and Hardcore Festival. FBC have also toured overseas more than a half dozen times playing European Summer festivals, the Persistence Tour and a handful of club tours.
Touring non-stop has been a creed that Full Blown Chaos deems necessary, “Touring as much as we have in the past is an absolute necessity in this era of music and genre,” Mazzola added. “You need to be in everyones face and make them remember you wether they like it or not. There are so many heavy bands out there its hard to distinguish ones self by music alone sometimes. Our band and music stands out because you can feel and hear the struggle and time we have invested. That alone will set us apart from the impetuous herd of todays groups.”
Full Blown Chaos is:
Ray Mazzola – vocals
Mike Facci – guitar
Jeff Facci – drums
Mark Gumbrecht – guitar
Dustin Jennings – bass”
Posted by Jon E. on Tuesday 31st August, 2010The Pantera camp have cleared up the confusion surrounding their newly released track “The Will To Survive“. Speaking via the bands Facebook page, the following insight was offered:
“Lots of you seem to be confused about “The Will to Survive“. Just to clarify, this is a demo track from the Cowboys From Hell Demos. It was recorded in 1989 & was not included on the original release of Cowboys From Hell. It is going to be included on the 20th Anniversary 3cd deluxe set (instore 9/14) as well as the Ultimate box set (Instores 11/22). And yes, that is Philip singing.”
Richmond has always had an impressive hardcore scene, so it’s no surprise to hear good things from the city in Radio War. The Rising of the Talentless is the band’s first label release and the second for upstart Copper Lung Records. This 7” comes packed with four tracks of gritty an... Continue reading
