Gridlink: Enter Studio To Begin Recording New Album, "Orphan," for Hydra Head!

Gridlink, (if not) everyone's favorite active grindcore outfit (then it should be), are currently planted firmly at Technical Ecstasy Studios in New Jersey to record their second full-length for Hydra Head Records!!! And that's pretty much the best great news for people who like their grind skimmed exclusively from the cream of the crop. Right? I know... tell me about it... Gridlink's debut certified their position at the top of a field most bands need years to climb...but then, lets not forget that their pedigree all but demanded that they take that position... Jon Chang fronted the much name checked Discordance Axis, guitarist Takafumi Matsubara honed his technique in Japan's Mortalized, (together Chang and Matsubara also make up half of Hayaino Daisuki) and drummer Bryan Fajardo was hand picked for his years behind the kit in Phobia and Kill The Client. And now, with album numero two, the band one-ups themselves by adding... get this... half of Human Remans to the batter...Ted Patterson (also of Burnt By The Sun) picks up the bass for this tour of duty, and guitarist Steve Procopio (also Discordance Axis' touring guitarist) rounds out the now 5 piece Gridlink in a way that we can only expect this new album to be every single bit of absolutely fucking awesome that we think its going to be.

Never one to mince words, Chang kept the details close... what we can confirm, though, is this.... the album is called "Orphan" and the band has "12 songs in the can." When we get our hands on that can, we'll let you know...

Currently Gridlink Lineup:

Jon Chang . Vocals

Takafumi Matsubara . Guitar 1

Bryan Fajardo . Drums

Ted Patterson . Bass

Steve Procopio . Guitar 2

Gridlink Live!

Sunday, May 30th @ Sonar (Maryland Death Fest)

Isis/Melvins & Torche/Boris Split Vinyl Releases Available From Hydra Head On 7/14!!

Isis / Melvins Descriptive Text:

The long running and the longer running. The finite and the perpetual. Two of the last studio tracks from a band now in their final days, and two songs from a band who will potentially outlive us all. ISIS. The Melvins. If you enjoy music of the heavier variety and haven't heard either of these aural entities you are also probably unaware of other modern developments such as disposable contacts, the internet, and Snuggies.

As mentioned above the two ISIS songs featured on this split are amongst the last recorded output to be released by the band, and are (relatively) exclusive to this 12". The first, "Way Through Woven Branches" has previously only been available as a bonus track on the Japanese edition of their most recent full length "Wavering Radiant". The second track "Pliable Foe", has never been released anywhere, and believe or not (at the time of this writing anyway), has managed to escape being sucked into the shadowy vortex of illegal internet file sharing. Both tracks were recorded during the sessions of the aforementioned "Wavering Radiant" album and continue along the trajectory established therein - in other words, long and winding strands of melody wrapped around jagged blocks of shuddering distortion. A fitting close to a continually evolving but coherently developed cannon of recorded works, and appropriately paired with one of their early and admitted influences, that being The Melvins.

The Melvins tracks featured on the flipside of this platter are culled from their latest full length album "The Bride Screamed Murder", albeit in highly altered forms from what appears there and are exclusive to this release. Remixed and reworked by the band themselves along with the help of ever nimble and able engineer and ally Toshi Kasai, these tracks are prime examples of The Melvins persona as we've come to know it - alternately jarring, tuneful, heavy, and bizarre. While the album versions of these tracks may fall further on the side of the "heavy" and "rocking", on display as presented here is the dadaist/trickster tendencies of the band which has frustrated and delighted fans in equal measure since (very nearly) the beginning of their existence. Never content to let the listener settle into a comfortable groove, the will to disrupt and dismay may prove satisfying for some and confounding for others. In any case, if you know and love The Melvins (like we do) these songs will be another must have addition to their ever growing library of aural curios.

Side Melvins: 1. Pig House (Alt. Version) (5:53) 2. I'll Finish You Off (Alt. Version) (4:44)
Side Isis: 1. Way Through Woven Branches (6:27) 2. The Pliable Foe (7:43)

Torche/Boris "Chapter Ahead Being Fake" Split 10" Descriptive Text:

Torche and Boris... what can I say about these two outfits that everyone reading this doesn't already know... I suppose the news here is in the union, init? Torche, the burgeoning stoner/sludge/doom pop three piece hailing from Miami, and Boris, the japanese super-group known for their ability to approach and interpret any musical genre, toured North America together in the summer of 2008. During the aforementioned tour, plans to write/record a split release formed... and I hear say that the catalyst for the split stems from the idea that Torche and Boris represent, "proof of Melvins' Children," or at least that's what our good friend Tadashi of Daymare Recordings (with whom we are jointly releasing this title) tells us. "King Beef," the first new material from Torche since 2008's critically acclaimed Meanderthal, possesses the qualities of any track on Meanderthal combined with multiple tone clusters suggesting perhaps a movement towards a shoegaze sound. It is also the first song Torche has recorded as a three piece. The Boris track, "Luna," is the first new material from the band since 2008's also critically acclaimed, Smile. The unique characteristics that make up this twelve minute track might be described as noise/space rock integrating an impulsive metal-like tinge and some mighty wicked drumming that I still can't quite wrap my brain around. Ok, if you've come this far, consider yourself informed... proceed to post/tweet... its high time, I bid thee fair well.

Side Torche: King Beef (5:53)
Side Boris: Luna (12:12)

ISIS Live
5/26 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah w/ Jakob & Tombs
5/29 Eugene, OR @ Wow Hall w/ Jakob & Tombs
5/31 Vancouver, BC @ Rickshaw Theatre w/ Jakob & Tombs
6/1 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s w/ Jakob & Tombs
6/2 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge w/ Jakob & Tombs
6/4 San Francisco, CA @ Great American Music Hall w/ Jakob & Tombs
6/5 Los Angeles, CA @ The Troubadour w/ Jakob & Tombs
6/12 Manchester, TN @ Bonnaroo Festival w/ Clutch, Melvins, Flaming Lips
6/14 Athens, GA @ 40 Watt Club w/ Melvins
6/16 Washington DC @ 9:30 Club w/ Melvins
6/17 Philadelphia, PA @ Theater Of Living Arts (TLA) w/ Melvins
6/18 New York, NY @ Webster Hall w/ Melvins
6/19 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg w/ Melvins
6/20 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club w/ Melvins
6/21 Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club w/ Melvins
6/22 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall w/ Cave In
6/23 Montreal, QC @ Club Soda w/ Cave In

TORCHE Live
5/26 New York, NY @ Rumsey Playfield w/ Coheed And Cambria & Circa Survive
5/27 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/ Coheed And Cambria & Circa Survive
5/28 Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club w/ Coheed And Cambria & Circa Survive
5/29 Atlantic City, NJ @ House of Blues w/ Coheed And Cambria & Circa Survive
7/28 Nashville, TN @ Exit/In w/ Beings
7/29 Louisville, KY @ Skull Alley w/ Beings
7/30 Indianapolis, IN @ Vollrath Tavern w/ Beings
7/31 Chicago, IL @ Subterranean w/ Baroness
8/01 Chicago, IL @ Wicker Park Festival
8/03 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar w/ Beings
8/05 Birmingham, AL @ The Bottletree w/ Beings
8/06 Tallahassee, FL @ Big Daddy's w/ Beings
8/07 Tampa, FL @ Orpheum w/ Beings
8/08 Miami, FL @ Churchill's w/ Beings

Helms Alee: Announce West Coast Tour Dates w/ Boris & Red Sparrowes

If you reside anywhere near a major West Coast metropolis and you fancy yourself an authority on either Boris and / or Red Sparowes, then obviously you are already planning on attending one of these fun-filled wingdings... That being said, aforementioned aficionados from the Pacific Northwest to the greater Los Angeles area are in for a treat because this West Coast Boris / Red Sparowes tour will be supported by Hydra Head's very own Helms Alee, an unrelenting up and coming outfit with a genuine and unique presence that is not to be missed. So do yourself a service and don't show up simply to see the headliner, because anyone in the know wouldn't hesitate to let you know that that'd be a fool's errand!

Helms Alee Live!

w/ Boris and Red Sparowes
August 23rd Neumo’s Seattle, WA
August 24th Hawthorne Theatre Portland, OR
August 26th Great American Music Hall San Francisco, CA
August 27th El Rey Theater Los Angeles, CA
August 28th The Glass House Pomona, CA

Buy Merch HERE

Solid PR: Benefit Show For Gulf Oil Spill

Derek Meier (of solid PR), a very good friend and associate of Hydra Head Records has, because he is a stand-up dude, put together a benefit show to help aid the environmental issues caused by the Gulf Oil Spill... The event is taking place on June 2nd @ Shea Stadium in Brooklyn, NY. Lineup is listed on the flyer below:

Cave In "Until Your Heart Stops" 10th Anniversary t-shirt from Search & Destroy.

We are having a hell of a time wrapping our head around the idea that its already been a full decade since "Until Your Heart Stops" first knocked the wind out of us. If you were there 10 years ago, then you no doubt feel the same...and just like us, you no doubt consider this record a cornerstone of your collection...if you were just a young pup in '99 you might not yet have come to realize this record for the template creating work of underground metallic hardcore genius that it is. In either case, whether yr reminiscing or discovering, you'll now be able to do so while sporting this revisioned classic t-shirt from Cave In and the folks at Search & Destroy!

Torche "Meanderthal Demos" Limited 10" Available Now!

Even if you purchased the cassette version of the Torche "Meanderthal Demos" this a must have!!! The pressing is limited to 1000 copies. Torche will, more than likely, have stock with them on tour, but if you were (or plan to be) dead, jailed or lame on the day(s) they perform in your neck of the woods.. then I strongly suggest you navigate to the Hydra Head Store and purchase a copy for your collection ASAP!!!

Have a good one..

Harvey Milk: New Album "A Small Turn Of Human Kindness" In Stores Today!!!

The moment you've all been waiting for is upon us! Harvey Milk's follow up to Life... is finally available to the you and yours... Well at least on CD and or digitally. All you dedicated listeners who have wholly adopted vinyl as your format of choice are going to have to hold your horses for a short while, though I assure you the ball is in motion!

So, This time around, instead of blabbing about how awesome the record is myself, I thought I would simply post some excerpts from/links to some recent reviews, check em out:

Small Turn airs its grievances to the tune of near-funereal doom metal; tempos crawl, chords hang in the air like stink, riffs unfurl over many minutes, and frontman Creston Spiers' yowl reaches untold heights of lowness. - Pitchfork

The band's seventh album, A Small Turn of Human Kindness, plays like one long metallic dirge, which chronicles a broken man, his broken relationship and the doubt of grace... A Small Turn of Human Kindness marks somewhat of a return to Harvey Milk's weirdest and challenging music, but with every release, Harvey Milk has brought its disparate sonic worlds closer together. - NPR

Singular and Absorbing - Dusted Magazine

Purchase "A Small Turn of Human Kindness" HERE!

Stream "A Small Turn of Human Kindness" exclusively @ NPR!

Tracklisting:

1. *

2. I Just Want To Go Home

3. I Am Sick of All This Too

4. I Know This Is No Place For You

5. I Alone Got Up and Left

6. I Know This Is All My Fault

7. I Did Not Call Out

Torche: More Information Regarding Robbery

After our Chicago show at the Congress Theater on May 14 between 1:30AM and 4:00AM our van was broken into while parked in front of Goethe Elementary and a bunch of equipment was stolen. Items taken include music equipment, personal items/luggage, band/personal checkbook, cameras, laptop, and passports.

The following items were taken:

Custom Electrical Guitar Company bass w/hardcase #220

First Act custom bass w/hardcase serial number # JN-0901002

Black Gibson Custom Les Paul w/SKB hardcase (has chip on the top L side of headstock, visible neck repair on top side of the neck, may have missing paint opposite vol and tone knobs if sticker was removed). Custom woodfinish guitar w/hardcase

Acoustic 370 Bass Head
2 x SKB PS25 pedal boards
2 x Boss tuning pedals
MXR Phase 90
Boss DD5 pedal
Boss guitar EQ pedal
Custom 3 way amp selector (metallic blue)
Fulltone OCD pedal
Aguilar Tone Hammer pedal
Boss Bass EQ pedal
Shure Beta 57
Misc Mogami, Monster, and George L's cable
Suitcase style 7 space guitar stand
Black iPod Touch
Black Compaq Presario laptop
Nikon Blue Coolpix camera
Sony CyberShot camera
Garmin 205W GPS
Black Luggage containing: tubes, guitar strings, instrument cables, speaker cables, tuning pegs, surge protectors.

If you know anyone in the Chicago area we'd appreciate any help in spreading the word.

Thanks,
Torche

And again, donations can be paypal'd to TLCforTorche@gmail.com

Torche Robbed in Chicago. Update on shows and how you can help.

When we woke up this morning there was a frowny face text from Stevo saying Torche's van was broken into overnight while in Chicago, and piles of shit was stolen....needless to say, it hasn't been a good day for them. We're getting a full listing from them of what was stolen, but the quick rundown is that equipment, guitars, laptops, passports, personal belongings and, sadly, more was taken. They are out with Coheed and Cambria this month, and unfortunately had to cancel tonights show in Detroit, and are also forced to cancel the Canadian dates as well due to passports having been stolen. While C 'n C is in Canada Torche is already sorting out potential DIY gigs in the states...tentatively for Vermont, Providence, and Wilkes-Barre, PA. We will have updates on these (presumably) basement shows the second we get them from the band...(which pretty much means we'll have an update for you an hour before they play the shows;)

Many of you have emailed us and the band about donating to help the band through this stretch. You guys are all sweet and thoughtful, THANK YOU. The band ain't livin' large, and although this Coheed tour is a chance to play in front of a shitload of potential new fans, its still a very hand to mouth touring commitment for them. That's the round about way of saying that these boys could use any love right about now. And also, Ricky could clearly use a shirt.

Donations can be paypal'd to TLCforTorche@gmail.com

Thanks all.

Harvey Milk: Stream New Record @ NPR!!!

Harvey Milk is a band that does not take itself seriously. Formed in a college town that had little interest in sludgy noise-rock — and named, of course, for the San Francisco gay-rights leader — the Athens, Ga., group spent the '90s laying down gnarled railwork, picking up obsessed drifters along the way. But the members of Harvey Milk never cared in any case (no, seriously); if a sledgehammer or an out-of-tune piano got the job done, then you either saddled up like a smart guy or buzzed off. The band's seventh album, A Small Turn of Human Kindness, plays like one long metallic dirge, which chronicles a broken man, his broken relationship and the doubt of grace....

Read more of the article and stream the record HERE

Jodis "Secret House" 2xLP Available Now!

Jodis' somber and mesmerizing debut, "Secret House" was a criminally overlooked release from the end of 2009, when it was released on CD and Digital. As the band prepares their second effort for later this year, we present to you the deluxe 2xLP version of "Secret House". Available with a bonus track, and on three vinyl color configurations, this project from the minds of James Plotkin, Tim Wyskida, and Aaron Turner is certainly not to be ignored....now is your (second) chance to enjoy this album out on the format is was made for...order here

Lustmord: Shares Some New Material!

Our good friend Lustmord posted this new material on his blog the other day and we simply wanted to make sure that it reached the ears of every Hydra Head blog reader... The track is still in progress as noted on Lustmord's blog, but its sounding pretty polished.. and awesome. Give it a whirl... I know it's a bit of a tease, but look at it this way... Everyone needs something to look forward to and now you, like me, have that something to look forward to, the release of the next Lustmord full length! init?

Chorazin (Extract) by Lustmord

Purchase Physical Lustmord Goodies Here! Or the MP3s below!

The Austerity Program: "Backsliders & Apostates Will Burn" CDep/DataDVD Out Now!!!

We thought we would allow you to listen to the record in its entirety on our site for a while.. So you could like... see what it tastes like!

Purchase the CD and or the Data DVD-R here!