Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011

January 2, 2012

Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011

P.O.I. (Rot In Hell)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2011? (in order 1-5)
  1. I, Partridge: We need to talk about Alan,
  2. Integrity -  The DestroyORR,
  3. My Dying Bride -  The Barghest O' Whitby (not an album, but I don’t care),
  4. Leviathan -  True Traitor., True Whore,
  5. Altar Of Plagues -  Mammal.
What band did you discover in 2011 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

Dispirit from SF. I was bereft when I discovered that Asunder had split (John Gossard later informed me they haven't split, they are just on hiatus), but Dispirit have filled an utterly miserable blackened hole in my soul this year. I also got really into Antony & the Johnsons this year; real soul music, so inspirational, in terms of my own song writing that is, rather than with regards aspirations for gender reassignment.

How will you remember 2011 (in terms of music)?

It's definitely oscillated wildly; the amazing sleepless Baltimore experience with Integ, and the Unbroken gig/backstage furnace in London were surreal and incredible. Nate and Boardy leaving RIH was a shocker, but the recruitment of Hans and James has been “a real fillip”, as they say in sports writing. RIH is now thrumming with vigour, vitality and the COS.

What can we look forward to from you in 2012?

Our very first tour and our first record with the new line up; we have around 10 dates lined up with INTEG in mainland Europe in February. I seriously would follow Dwid over the top, across the Somme and into oblivion, no questions asked. The new record will be released by the resurrected Dark Empire Recording Company of Cleveland; I'd say it's a mix of Integ (duh), Confront, My Dying Bride and Slayer. Hans is laying down the vocals at Chez Hellion any day now. We also have one or two other exciting things on forever's horizon, including a teenage dream realised, but they are, of course, under wraps for now.

What records are you looking forward to most in 2012?

I heard talk of a new FAUNA record; I really hope that's true.

What did you expect to be huge in 2011 which never made it?

I have low expectations of every aspect of existence and I’m invariably proved correct.

Skip to page View as a single page

— words by the SPB team • January 2, 2012

Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2011

Pages in this feature

  1. Opening page
  2. Aidan Baker (Nadja)
  3. Alex Hughes (Hatred Surge)
  4. Amy Oden (formerly of Hot Mess, producer/director of From the Back of the Room)
  5. Andre (Locrian & Land of Decay)
  6. Andrew Nolan (Column of Heaven)
  7. Andy Nelson (Paint It Black / Ceremony / Puerto Rico Flowers / TV Casualty)
  8. Andy Wounds (Abraxis / Clorox Bong)
  9. Aquatic Son (Midwest Konnect / Sway Heavy Records)
  10. BJ (Ancient Shores)
  11. Bobby Hussy (The Hussy / Kind Turkey Records / Bad Omens)
  12. Brendan Kelly (Lawrence Arms / The Falcon / Brendan Kelly and the Wandering Birds)
  13. Brian Elza (Czar)
  14. Chris (Caulfield)
  15. Chris Brock (Early Graves / The Funeral Pyre)
  16. Chris Matulich (Nothington)
  17. Colin H van Eeckhout (AMENRA / KINGDOM / BLINDTOFAITH / SEMBLERDEAH / CAAN)
  18. Curtis Grimstead (Rorschach Records / Best Friends Day)
  19. Daniel (Vestiges)
  20. Dave Drobach (Grabass Charlestons / No Idea Records Production Manager)
  21. Domenic Romeo (A389 Recordings / Pulling Teeth / Hatewaves)
  22. Eric Solomon (O Pioneers!!! / Black Clouds)
  23. Ethan McCarthy (Clinging to the Trees of a Forest Fire (CTTTOAFF))
  24. Franz Nicolay
  25. G. Thérèse Lanz (Mares of Thrace)
  26. Give Up (Artist / Horders / Sisster Sounds Records)
  27. Jacob Parmentier (Abernathy Designs)
  28. Jamie (Fist In The Air Records)
  29. Jamie Grimes (Drainland / stressball in chief at Suburban Mayhem Records)
  30. Johannes, Ole and Jonas (Heksed)
  31. Jonathan and Kimmi Ashwell (Flannel Gurl Records)
  32. Josh (Expire)
  33. Justin Smith (Vitriol Records / Graf Orlock / Dangers Ghostlimb)
  34. Kevin Beacham (Social Media Manager / Music Buyer / Rhymesayers / Fifth Element / DJ)
  35. Lasse (Dead Section Records)
  36. Matt Fox (Shai Hulud)
  37. Michael Britten, Music Ruins Lives
  38. Mike (Gehenna / The Lesser Key / Devil / Sangraal / Mother Fucking Titty Suckers, etc)
  39. Mike Riley (Pulling Teeth / Firestarter Records / Toxic Pop Records)
  40. Mustafa Daka (The Brokedowns / Vicelords / Los Muchachos Dos Hombres)
  41. Nate Gangelhoff (Banner Pilot / Gateway District)
  42. Nick Johnson (Banner Pilot)
  43. P.O.I. (Rot In Hell)
  44. Patrick Eaton (Old Problems)
  45. Paul Sunderland (Give Praise Records)
  46. Rennie Resmini (Starkweather)
  47. Roo Pescod (Bangers)
  48. Taylor Young (Twitching Tongues / Nails / Young Bros Recordings)
  49. The Dwarves (Greedy Media)
  50. Thom Wasluck / Planning For Burial / Music Ruins Lives
  51. Tim Browne (Elway)
  52. Tobias Jeg (Red Scare Industries)
  53. Todd Congelliere (Recess Records / Toys That Kill / Underground Railroad to Candyland / Stoned At Heart)
  54. Topon Das (Fuck The Facts)
  55. Vince Conriquez & William Cutts (Low Places)
  56. Vinnie Fiorello (Less Than Jake / Paper + Plastick Records)

Related features

Sell The Heart Records – History 101

Music / History 101 • August 3, 2025

Like most independent labels, Sell The Heart started to document a scene without really asking themselves “Where do you see yourself in 15 years?” In 2010, founder Andy Pohl was barely even thinking about vinyl. In “History 101” tradition, Scene Point Blank picked out some of the label's notable releases … Read more

The Planet Smashers

One Question Interviews • July 23, 2025

Matt Smasher (The Planet Smashers) SPB: How did the collabs on the new album come to be? Did you reach out to the artist with a specific idea, or just ask “hey is there something you want to do here?” Matt: It started out super simple, just a “would you … Read more

Fortitude Valley

One Question Interviews • July 22, 2025

Laura (Fortitude Valley) SPB: What do you remember, or alternately what stands out the most, about playing the first live show with Fortitude Valley? Laura: It was January 2020, and I remember being very nervous about having to talk to the crowd and being the front person -- something that … Read more

City Speak

One Question Interviews • July 21, 2025

Cornelius (City Speak – bass / Keep it a Secret Records) SPB What is the longest (in terms of time) tour that you have ever been on? Would you do it again? Cornelius: We in City Speak don't do long tours -- work, pets, life, the usual. The longest we've … Read more

God Bullies

One Question Interviews • July 16, 2025

Mike Hard (God Bullies) SPB: Have you played any familiar locations that survived since your last tour and, if so, what struck you on revising them? If not, is there a city or highway that gave similar "flashbacks" or surprises? Hard: The first city that comes to mind is Dubuque … Read more

More from this section

Sell The Heart Records – History 101

Music / History 101 • August 3, 2025

Like most independent labels, Sell The Heart started to document a scene without really asking themselves “Where do you see yourself in 15 years?” In 2010, founder Andy Pohl was barely even thinking about vinyl. In “History 101” tradition, Scene Point Blank picked out some of the label's notable releases … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: The Year So Far (July 2025)

Music • July 6, 2025

We're halfway through the year: when did that happen?! Luckily for you, SPB is on hand to share the music we've enjoyed most in 2025 thus far. Read on to hear about the records that have made our top list for this year as it stands, and also some bonus … Read more

Shane Herrell: A Tribute

Music • July 6, 2025

Shane Herrell: Rest In Power(pop) (1980-2025) The Rocker I try to live my life with as few regrets as possible. Sadly I never got the chance to hear my friend Shane Herrell karaoke Thin Lizzy’s "The Rocker." As a singing bass player we don’t have enough heroes. It might just … Read more