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Attention! An Announcement From the boys in Big Business:
Babies!
Where has the time gone? It seems like a year since the Biz have played any shows! That's because it HAS been a year since the Biz have played any shows. Why is that? Is it because they're lazy? High on the dope? Gout acting up again? Maybe all three, we'll never know.
What we do know is that sometime in that year (it was August) the men of the Biz gave birth to a BRAND NEW BAND MEMBER! His name is Scott Martin (400 Blows, Crom), he weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 170 pounds, LOVES his video games, and even plays a musical instrument. We don't know what instrument he plays, but we hope it's guitar as that's what he's playing in the Biz. We also hope he's not a crier. Coady, Jared, and Toshi could not be happier with their new baby. The Biz loves being a power quartet!
Come to Spaceland 10/29 (tonight!) in beautiful Los Angeles, California to see Scott strut his stuff with his new family. We reeeeeaally hope he doesn't disappoint us.
Gets Endorsed by Former Presidential Candidate and Governor Mike Huckabee on Fox News' Red Eye
New Album, Songs For Singles, Out Now on Hydra Head!
Watch Part 1 of Torche on Fox Red Eye here! // Watch Part 2 of Torche on Fox Red Eye here!
"It's Black Sabbath meets U2 mixed with a vat of delicious chocolate sauce... it's Jane's Addiction, only louder and scarier... it's Nirvana without the depression... it's the Foo Fighter with, you know, songs... it's heavy, thunderous, melodic, exhilarating, and most of all, huge. That's Torche." - Mike Huckabee on Fox News' Red Eye
Check out the video from Monday night's episode of Fox Red Eye featuring Torche's Steve Brooks and Jonathan Nunez above!
The first video includes an intro by Red Eye's resident doom metal expert, former presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee, who, extolling the many virtues of Torche, says they're "the world's greatest band" and "heavier than something really heavy like a tractor or something."
In the next video, Gutfeld interviews the band members, asking the openly gay Brooks "Do you get lots of groupies?" at one point and later adding, "I could smell David Lee Roth coming out of you." See how it's handled (above).
* Text courtesy of our friends at the
Songs For Singles Track List
1. U.F.O.
2. Lay Low
3. Hideaway
4. Arrowhead
5. Shine On My Old Ways
6. Cast Into Unknown
7. Face The Wall
8. Out Again
Torche Live!
10/27 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle w/ High on Fire and Kylesa
10/29 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds (FEST 9)
11/11 Vienna, AT @ Arena11/12 Bologna, IT @ Blogos
11/13 Mezzago, IT @ Bloom
11/14 Lyon, FR @ L'Epicerie Moderne
11/15 Barcelona, ES @ Sidecar
11/16 Madrid, ES @ La Boite
11/17 Lisbon, PT @ Santiago Alquimista
11/18 Porto, PT @ Plano B
11/20 Toulouse, FR @ Furia Antistatic
11/21 Paris, FR @ Nouveau Casino
11/22 London, UK @ The Garage
11/23 Leeds, UK @ Brudenell Social Club
11/24 Glasgow, UK @ Stereo
11/25 Birmingham, UK @ Hare & Hounds
11/27 Utrecht, NL @ Le Guess Who
11/28 Gent, BE @ Decadance
11/29 Koln, DE @ MTC
11/30 Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang
12/01 Lyngby, DK @ Templet
12/02 Berlin, DE @ Cassiopeia
12/03 Leipzig, DE @ Zoro
12/04 Innsbruck, AT @ Pmk
12/05 Prague, CZ @ Klub 007
10/23 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle (early show) w/ Jason Soliday
10/25 Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Café w/ Chicago Luzern Exchange
10/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ James Plotkin
10/27 Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool w/ Man’s Gin
10/28 Allston, MA @ O'Briens w/ Black Heliocopter
10/30 Portland, ME @ Geno's Rock Club w/ Hessian, Johnny Cremains
If you want to better prepare yourself, you can get the book here. You should also check out his audio book for FIGHT.
Jesu - Heart Ache & Dethroned
2xCD / 2xLP / Shirt now available for pre-order
Release Date: November 16th, 2010
There are few artists operative at the fringes of popular music today whose sound has not been in some way or another informed or shaped by the works of Justin K Broadrick. As a founding member or sole proprietor of seminal outfits such as Godflesh, Napalm Death, Techno Animal, and Final, Broadrick has managed to help change or even define the now widespread genres of industrial and death metal, abstracted hip hop and dub, grindcore, and ambient electronics. So is also the case with his work in Jesu, who in the course of a very productive seven year existence have taken the churning pummel of his former project Godflesh, augmented it with the textural melody of 90s shoegaze rock and spawned a new sub-genre and the inevitable legions of imitators. And while imitators may abound, as the originator of this relatively newfound musical territory Jesu is still the clearly visible leader.
For those who may only be vaguely familiar with the history and subsequent trajectory of Jesu the re-release of the debut EP, Heart Ache, may function as the most suitable starting place for the process of initial immersion and discovery. Over the span of two towering 20 minute tracks one can hear not only the smoldering remnants of Godflesh embedded in the aural tapestry, but also the foundational elements that would define the future of the Jesu lexicon - extended and hypnotic structures, overlapping multi-layered melodies, alternately harsh/beautiful sonic embellishments and a palpable sense of the human capacity to express feeling through the mode of song craft. While Heart Ache itself may be reason enough to warrant investigation by the uninitiated, the inclusion of the recently completed Dethroned EP as a part of this release gives further reason for new listeners and long time devotees to discover (or remember) why so many accolades lay heaped at the altar of Jesu. The 4 tracks from Dethroned were originally conceived and partially finished in 2004, but were only finally completed in 2010. Perhaps due to the length of time over which these tracks were created the full evolution of Jesu is apparent within their structures, fluctuating from suffocatingly heavy to delicately sparse and covering an emotional spectrum of considerable depth. While "full circle" might not be quite the appropriate term to describe the content of Dethroned there is a completeness to its statement, recalling the monuments of Jesu past while simultaneously pointing towards the ever widening path of its future.
TRACKLISTING
DISC ONE: heart ache
01 heart ache [19:42]
02 ruined [20:14]
DISC TWO: dethroned
01 dethroned [07:12]
02 annul [07:16]
03 aureated skin [06:46]
04 i can only disappoint you [07:09]
Also available from Jesu / Hydra Head
Jesu - Silver CD, MP3 | Jesu - Conqueror CD, MP3 | |
|---|---|---|
Jesu - Lifeline CD, 12", MP3 | Jesu - Why Are We Not Perfect CD, MP3 |  Jesu / Envy - split CD |
Here's the info from the press release:
Video creator and resident Hydra-Head Andrew Cox (www.andrewjamescox.com) knew the production for the pummeling new track had to be pretty awe-inspiring, and so he drew his inspiration from the classic and cult worshipped kaiju giant monster / robot movies of yester-year. "I watched Godzilla: Tokyo SOS on Netflix streaming a year or so ago and was kind of enamored with the kitschy effects. I didn't have that much experience with Adobe After Effects, so going into the project knowing I wanted it to look sloppy made things less daunting."
"I started the video on my own, without any solicitation, for an entirely different song by an entirely different band (Daughters' "The Theatre Goer"). But it was taking too long and that band broke up before the record dropped, so I switched it to the Torche song."
Cox created this beast entirely on his own, including drawing out all the designs and storyboards, on a shoe-string budget while listening to the song on an endless loop for days. "If we had done everything by the book as a real production, the budget would have exceeded ten grand easily, but I think I ended up spending about $140, including the wrap bbq."
Buy Torche - Songs for Singles on CD, LP, or MP3.
Torche on tour-
10/11 Bloomington, IN @ Bluebird w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/12 Columbus, OH @ The Summit w/ Lo Pan
10/13 Newport, KY @ Historic Southgate House w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/14 Detroit, MI @ Majestic Theatre w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/15 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/16 Rochester, NY @ Water Street Music Hall w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/17 Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/19 Halifax, NS @ The Paragon Theatre (Halifax Pop Explosion) w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/21 Portland, ME @ Port City Music Hall w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/22 Providence, RI @ Club Hell w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/23 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/24 New York, NY @ Webster Hall w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Starlght Ballroom w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/27 Carrboro, NC @ Cat's Cradle w/ High On Fire, Kylesa
10/29 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds (FEST 9)
But it IS for real! Starting today, Keelhaul head out on their first US tour in something like two decades. The band is an absolute behemoth, one that you must see live...and now you have many many chances to do just that. We are giddy as all get out to see them play LA for the first time in forever!
Kick Off US Dates w/ Corrosion of Conformity, Russian Circles and More
New Album, Keelhaul's Triumphant Return To Obscurity, Out Now on Hydra Head Records
Unlike so many lesser bands, the Cleveland quartet explores the extremes of heaviness and complexity without skimping on
either element. - Time Out NY
Keelhaul absolutely fucking killed it, their furious Coalesce-on-steroids onslaught leaving me wondering how this band had slipped
beneath my radar for so long. - MetalSucks
Keelhaul is like the one friend that you're actually looking forward to seeing when you fly home for the holidays... Still smoking weed in the parent's basement, but, try as you might, you can't fault him for doing it because ultimately you're fucking convinced he's got some shit figured out that you're still years away from. Basically, this guy Keelhaul is a solid dude and maybe part of you wants to be him, no shame in it... most people are susceptible to societal pressures... you wanted to be an adult and you thought you knew what that meant... trips to the wine store... you should kick your own ass.
Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity, is not just a clever name for an album title marking a band's return from obscurity, it's an album title for a band's release marking that same band's return from obscurity. init? Chris Smith, Aaron Dallison, Dana Embrose, and Will Scharf have been at it as Keelhaul for over ten years and it shows. This record picks up on the band's progression as if they were steadily releasing records throughout their six year hiatus. The pace is precise, the instrumentation is masterful and the guitar tones are absolutely appropriate. Look, your old pal Keelhaul knows what he's doing and he has no clue what a Williamsburg is, so he feels no need to overcompensate by adding strings, vibes, horns, boners (well maybe boners), harps and/or electric flutes... to his compositions... which is a damn good breath of fresh air if you ask us.
* Purchase "Triumphant Return" and other Keelhaul merchandise here!
Purchase "Triumphant Return" digitally here!
Stream "Triumphant Return" here!
Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity Track Listing:
1. Pass the Lampshade
2. Glorious Car Activities
3. Everything's a Napkin
4. High Seas Viking Eulogy
5. THC for one
6. The Subtle Sound of an Empty Milkshake
7. El Matador
8. Kirby Wurm
9. Bandolero de Perros De Maiz
10. Waiting for the Moon to Speak
11. Brady's Lament
12. KFB
Keelhaul Live!
10/08 Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest at Double Door w/ Corrosion of Conformity
10/09 Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn's Pub
10/10 New York, NY @Highline Ballroom w/ Corrosion of Conformity
10/16 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/17 Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/18 Albuquerque NM @ Sunshine Theater w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/19 Tucson, AZ @ Plush w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/20 Scottsdale, AZ @ Chasers Nightclub w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/21 San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/22 Las Vegas NV @ Meatheads w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/25 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/26 Portland, OR @ Rotture w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/27 Seattle, WA @ Neumos w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/29 Boise, ID @ The Venue w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/30 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/31 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/2 Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/03 Columbia, MO @ MOJOs w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/04 Indianapolis IN @ Locals Only w/ Russian Circles
11/05 Columbus, OH @ Ravari Room w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/06 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
Kick Off US Dates w/ Corrosion of Conformity, Russian Circles and More
New Album, Keelhaul's Triumphant Return To Obscurity, Out Now on Hydra Head Records
Unlike so many lesser bands, the Cleveland quartet explores the extremes of heaviness and complexity without skimping on
either element. - Time Out NY
Keelhaul absolutely fucking killed it, their furious Coalesce-on-steroids onslaught leaving me wondering how this band had slipped
beneath my radar for so long. - MetalSucks
Keelhaul is like the one friend that you're actually looking forward to seeing when you fly home for the holidays... Still smoking weed in the parent's basement, but, try as you might, you can't fault him for doing it because ultimately you're fucking convinced he's got some shit figured out that you're still years away from. Basically, this guy Keelhaul is a solid dude and maybe part of you wants to be him, no shame in it... most people are susceptible to societal pressures... you wanted to be an adult and you thought you knew what that meant... trips to the wine store... you should kick your own ass.
Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity, is not just a clever name for an album title marking a band's return from obscurity, it's an album title for a band's release marking that same band's return from obscurity. init? Chris Smith, Aaron Dallison, Dana Embrose, and Will Scharf have been at it as Keelhaul for over ten years and it shows. This record picks up on the band's progression as if they were steadily releasing records throughout their six year hiatus. The pace is precise, the instrumentation is masterful and the guitar tones are absolutely appropriate. Look, your old pal Keelhaul knows what he's doing and he has no clue what a Williamsburg is, so he feels no need to overcompensate by adding strings, vibes, horns, boners (well maybe boners), harps and/or electric flutes... to his compositions... which is a damn good breath of fresh air if you ask us.
* Purchase "Triumphant Return" and other Keelhaul merchandise here!
Purchase "Triumphant Return" digitally here!
Stream "Triumphant Return" here!
Keelhaul's Triumphant Return to Obscurity Track Listing:
1. Pass the Lampshade
2. Glorious Car Activities
3. Everything's a Napkin
4. High Seas Viking Eulogy
5. THC for one
6. The Subtle Sound of an Empty Milkshake
7. El Matador
8. Kirby Wurm
9. Bandolero de Perros De Maiz
10. Waiting for the Moon to Speak
11. Brady's Lament
12. KFB
Keelhaul Live!
10/08 Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest at Double Door w/ Corrosion of Conformity
10/09 Toledo, OH @ Mickey Finn's Pub
10/10 New York, NY @Highline Ballroom w/ Corrosion of Conformity
10/16 St. Louis, MO @ Off Broadway w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/17 Oklahoma City, OK @ Conservatory w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/18 Albuquerque NM @ Sunshine Theater w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/19 Tucson, AZ @ Plush w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/20 Scottsdale, AZ @ Chasers Nightclub w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/21 San Diego, CA @ Casbah w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/22 Las Vegas NV @ Meatheads w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/23 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/25 San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/26 Portland, OR @ Rotture w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/27 Seattle, WA @ Neumos w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/29 Boise, ID @ The Venue w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/30 Salt Lake City, UT @ Kilby Court w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
10/31 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theatre w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/2 Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/03 Columbia, MO @ MOJOs w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/04 Indianapolis IN @ Locals Only w/ Russian Circles
11/05 Columbus, OH @ Ravari Room w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
11/06 Ann Arbor, MI @ Blind Pig w/ Russian Circles, Call Me Lightning
17 new reasons just popped up for why we are considering a trip to Europe this month.
24 Oct. Coopérative de Mai, Clermont-Ferrand, FRANCE
25 Oct. La Maroquinerie, Paris, FRANCE
26 Oct. Confort Moderne, Poitiers, FRANCE
27 Oct. Grrrnd Zero, Lyon, FRANCE
28 Oct. Bitte, Milan, ITALY
29 Oct. Unwound, Padova, ITALY
30 Oct. Bunker, Bolzano, ITALY
31 Oct. Jubez, Karlsruhe, GERMANY
1 Nov. Matrix Club, Prague, CZECH REPUBLIC
2 Nov. Zoro, Leipzig, GERMANY
3 Nov. Cassiopeia, Berlin, GERMANY
4 Nov. Paradox, Tilburg, NETHERLANDS
5 Nov. Magasin 4, Brussels, BELGIUM
6 Nov. La Péniche, Chalon-sur-Saone, FRANCE
17 Nov. Le Romandie, Lausanne, SWITZERLAND
3 Dec. SAS, Delémont, SWITZERLAND
4 Dec. Sommercasino, SWITZERLAND
R. Loren is the main man behind PRYAMIDS (who we have new new new stuff coming from in 2011!), and also the main man behind a slew of new side projects...the first of which is released today on Angel Oven Records. Its called Sailors With Wax Wings and it's nice, really nice. So nice that if he doesn't send each of us a copy of this album immediately we will never plug it again. ;)
Release Debut Self-Titled Album Today on Angel Oven Records!
Stream Sailors With Wax Wings' debut self-titled album here!
...airy and upswinging even with all the weight of so many extra hands. - Stereogum
While the furious tremolo picked guitar lines that characterise Pyramids’s output are very much to the fore, the record touches upon everything from ambient doom and shoegaze to all out textural noise, without ever compromising its incredibly singular vision. Outstanding. - Rock Sound Magazine
He pulled in some serious fucking talent to transcend black metal, shoegaze, dark ambient, neo-classical, and the other genres of noisy goodness he deftly shoehorned into Sailors With Wax Wings. - Decibel
Do you like Prurient, Ted Parsons (Swans), Simon Scott (Slowdive), Aidan Baker (Nadja), Vern Rumsey (Unwound), Hildur Gudnnadottir (Fever Ray/Mum), Colin Marston (Krallice), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), and James Blackshaw (Current 93)? If so, then you'll be happy to know that R. Loren of Pyramids has assembled them all together for a project called Sailors With Wax Wings. - TinyMixTapes
Hallucinations in red rooms with white spaces on the wall. The specter of Stephen Crane haunts the spaces. And the room. And the mind of Pyramids creator R. Loren, who has given flight to yet another stereophonic masterpiece, this time under the moniker Sailors With Wax Wings. The tale of its genesis has at least a few details in common with the following:
A musical path is born anew under sheets of soft lightning and distant thunder, beneath the heat strobes of the thick Texas night. What hisses slowly behind creaking doors reveals itself after a season of deliberate recombination. The atmosphere boils and dilates; instruments and voices soar skyward toward transcendence. The clouds lapse and disintegrate like the frayed fabric of R. Loren’s nettled psyche.
Finally, the offspring is birthed whole. It breathes the air, then overtakes it. The lift force has both a vertical and forward component. Always onwards, always upwards. In fact, a certain tall, handsome genius at Decibel Magazine called Sailors With Wax Wings’ self-titled debut “a towering atmospheric triumph, a kaleidoscope of shimmering guitars and ethereal vocal incantations that cascades from dark and cavernous to sparkling and exultant - and back again.”
As usual, he was right. Sailors With Wax Wings flutters and oscillates seamlessly as one dazzlingly cohesive 53-minute suite. Inspired by the aforementioned hallucinations induced by the work of the late, great Mr. Crane, the timeless myth ofDaedalus and Icarus, and a fleeting phrase on a Vast Aire album, SWWW combines R. Loren’s penchant for palpable sonic textures and mood-altering musicality with his desire to explore more melancholy compositions and a male/female vocal dynamic.
An all-star cast of musicians joins Loren in the full realization of his objectives. Their names read like the dream team of a musical mastermind with one foot in the indie-rock firmament and the other in doom-dirge purgatory. Read ’em and, like, weep: Ted Parsons (Swans/Godflesh/Prong), Colin Marston (Krallice/Behold... The Arctopus), Aidan Baker (Nadja), Simon Scott (Slowdive), Dominick Fernow (Prurient/Cold Cave), Vern Rumsey (Unwound), Hildur Gudnadottir (Múm/Throbbing Gristle/The Knife), Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Marissa Nadler, J. Leah, James Blackshaw, [and artwork by] David Tibet (Current 93) and Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer/Pyramids).
But the proof that any of this ever happened - or that the results are any good - will not be found on a piece of paper or in a document posted on the Interweb. Least of all this one. Better now to stop reading and start listening.
Sailors With Wax Wings features contributions from:
R. Loren - vocals / textures
J. Leah - vocals
Ted Parsons (Swans, Jesu, Godflesh) - drums
Simon Scott (Slowdive) - electronics
Aidan Baker (Nadja) - guitar
Colin Marston (Krallice) - guitar
Vern Rumsey (Unwound) - bass
Prurient (Dominick Fernow of Hospital Productions, Cold Cave, etc) - noise / electronics
James Blackshaw (Young God Records solo artist, Current 93) - piano
Hildur Gudnadottir (Touch Records) - cello
Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride) - vocals
Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) - vocals
Marissa Nadler (Kemado Records solo artist, appears on Xasthur’s latest record) - vocals
David Tibet (Current 93) - cover art
Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer) - design, layout, painting, collage
* Sailors With Wax Wings' debut album is available through Revolver distribution and at all major online retailers.
Stream Sailors With Wax Wings' self-titled album here!
Sailors With Wax Wings Track List
1. Soft gardens near the sun, Keep your distant beauty
2. There came a drooping maid with violets
3. If I should cast off this tattered coat
4. And clash and clash of hoof and heel
5. Yes, I have a thousand tongues, And nine and ninety-nine lie
6. God fashioned the ship of the world carefully
7. There was one who sought a new road
8. Strange that I should have grown so suddenly blind
Listen to the new song "And Clash And Clash of Hoof And Heel" w/ accompanying video here / download it here!
Album Produced by R. Loren and Colin Marston
Mixed by Colin Marston at Menegroth
Engineers: Ashley Scott Jones (New York), Steve Fisk (Seattle), John Devoy (Phoenix), Austin Johnson (Dallas)
Mastered by James Plotkin
Cover Art by David Tibet
Collage, painting and design by Faith Turner Coloccia
Prurient appears through the courtesy of Hospital Productions.
Jonas Renkse appears courtesy of Peaceville Records.
Aaron Stainthorpe appears courtesy of Peaceville Records.
For more information, visit:
youtexasdarkstar.tumblr.com
Release Debut Self-Titled Album Today on Angel Oven Records!
Stream Sailors With Wax Wings' debut self-titled album here!
...airy and upswinging even with all the weight of so many extra hands. - Stereogum
While the furious tremolo picked guitar lines that characterise Pyramids’s output are very much to the fore, the record touches upon everything from ambient doom and shoegaze to all out textural noise, without ever compromising its incredibly singular vision. Outstanding. - Rock Sound Magazine
He pulled in some serious fucking talent to transcend black metal, shoegaze, dark ambient, neo-classical, and the other genres of noisy goodness he deftly shoehorned into Sailors With Wax Wings. - Decibel
Do you like Prurient, Ted Parsons (Swans), Simon Scott (Slowdive), Aidan Baker (Nadja), Vern Rumsey (Unwound), Hildur Gudnnadottir (Fever Ray/Mum), Colin Marston (Krallice), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), and James Blackshaw (Current 93)? If so, then you'll be happy to know that R. Loren of Pyramids has assembled them all together for a project called Sailors With Wax Wings. - TinyMixTapes
Hallucinations in red rooms with white spaces on the wall. The specter of Stephen Crane haunts the spaces. And the room. And the mind of Pyramids creator R. Loren, who has given flight to yet another stereophonic masterpiece, this time under the moniker Sailors With Wax Wings. The tale of its genesis has at least a few details in common with the following:
A musical path is born anew under sheets of soft lightning and distant thunder, beneath the heat strobes of the thick Texas night. What hisses slowly behind creaking doors reveals itself after a season of deliberate recombination. The atmosphere boils and dilates; instruments and voices soar skyward toward transcendence. The clouds lapse and disintegrate like the frayed fabric of R. Loren’s nettled psyche.
Finally, the offspring is birthed whole. It breathes the air, then overtakes it. The lift force has both a vertical and forward component. Always onwards, always upwards. In fact, a certain tall, handsome genius at Decibel Magazine called Sailors With Wax Wings’ self-titled debut “a towering atmospheric triumph, a kaleidoscope of shimmering guitars and ethereal vocal incantations that cascades from dark and cavernous to sparkling and exultant - and back again.”
As usual, he was right. Sailors With Wax Wings flutters and oscillates seamlessly as one dazzlingly cohesive 53-minute suite. Inspired by the aforementioned hallucinations induced by the work of the late, great Mr. Crane, the timeless myth ofDaedalus and Icarus, and a fleeting phrase on a Vast Aire album, SWWW combines R. Loren’s penchant for palpable sonic textures and mood-altering musicality with his desire to explore more melancholy compositions and a male/female vocal dynamic.
An all-star cast of musicians joins Loren in the full realization of his objectives. Their names read like the dream team of a musical mastermind with one foot in the indie-rock firmament and the other in doom-dirge purgatory. Read ’em and, like, weep: Ted Parsons (Swans/Godflesh/Prong), Colin Marston (Krallice/Behold... The Arctopus), Aidan Baker (Nadja), Simon Scott (Slowdive), Dominick Fernow (Prurient/Cold Cave), Vern Rumsey (Unwound), Hildur Gudnadottir (Múm/Throbbing Gristle/The Knife), Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride), Jonas Renkse (Katatonia), Marissa Nadler, J. Leah, James Blackshaw, [and artwork by] David Tibet (Current 93) and Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer/Pyramids).
But the proof that any of this ever happened - or that the results are any good - will not be found on a piece of paper or in a document posted on the Interweb. Least of all this one. Better now to stop reading and start listening.
Sailors With Wax Wings features contributions from:
R. Loren - vocals / textures
J. Leah - vocals
Ted Parsons (Swans, Jesu, Godflesh) - drums
Simon Scott (Slowdive) - electronics
Aidan Baker (Nadja) - guitar
Colin Marston (Krallice) - guitar
Vern Rumsey (Unwound) - bass
Prurient (Dominick Fernow of Hospital Productions, Cold Cave, etc) - noise / electronics
James Blackshaw (Young God Records solo artist, Current 93) - piano
Hildur Gudnadottir (Touch Records) - cello
Aaron Stainthorpe (My Dying Bride) - vocals
Jonas Renkse (Katatonia) - vocals
Marissa Nadler (Kemado Records solo artist, appears on Xasthur’s latest record) - vocals
David Tibet (Current 93) - cover art
Faith Coloccia (Mamiffer) - design, layout, painting, collage
* Sailors With Wax Wings' debut album is available through Revolver distribution and at all major online retailers.
Stream Sailors With Wax Wings' self-titled album here!
Sailors With Wax Wings Track List
1. Soft gardens near the sun, Keep your distant beauty
2. There came a drooping maid with violets
3. If I should cast off this tattered coat
4. And clash and clash of hoof and heel
5. Yes, I have a thousand tongues, And nine and ninety-nine lie
6. God fashioned the ship of the world carefully
7. There was one who sought a new road
8. Strange that I should have grown so suddenly blind
Listen to the new song "And Clash And Clash of Hoof And Heel" w/ accompanying video here / download it here!
Album Produced by R. Loren and Colin Marston
Mixed by Colin Marston at Menegroth
Engineers: Ashley Scott Jones (New York), Steve Fisk (Seattle), John Devoy (Phoenix), Austin Johnson (Dallas)
Mastered by James Plotkin
Cover Art by David Tibet
Collage, painting and design by Faith Turner Coloccia
Prurient appears through the courtesy of Hospital Productions.
Jonas Renkse appears courtesy of Peaceville Records.
Aaron Stainthorpe appears courtesy of Peaceville Records.
For more information, visit:
youtexasdarkstar.tumblr.com
Eugene S. Robinson
Readies Live Reading Appearances in Support of Debut Novel, "A Long Slow Screw,"
Out Now on Robotic Boot / Hydra Head Records,
Adds Backing Musicians James Plotkin, Scott Kelly, and More!
Eugene Robinson should have a phobia named after him: fear of hulking bodybuilders trained in mixed martial arts fighting with a thing for exhibitionism who front bands that play savage, jet engine-loud pummel-core and also dabble in porn and journalism. - SF WEEKLY
What is it about Oxbow that strikes fear into the hearts of men, women, and children of all ilk and denomination? The bands awe-inspiring predatory squall? Their lengthy history of confrontational live shows? Is it the fact that frontman Eugene Robinsonhas electrical tape over his ears and will stomp the tar out of you (gladly) if only youd ask (or get too close)? Only the members of a band with albums entitled Fuckfest, King of the Jews (featuring a picture of Sammy Davis, Jr. on the cover) and The Balls in the Great Meatgrinder Collection would know. - DECIBEL MAGAZINE
From Jack Kerouac's reading to Zoot Sims and/or Steve Allen to Eugene Robinson's past book, European tour backing from the likes of JAMIE STEWART [Xiu Xiu], BRUCE LAMONT [Yakuza], SCOTT KELLY [Neurosis] and more, the closing 2010 "readings" of his debut novel A LONG SLOW SCREW are anything BUT simple readings.
Picture an Oxbow show with subtitles, a SPAULDING GRAY set piece without the suicide, or a West Side Story with a lot more criminal sexual activity, and you might come close to what Robinson can do with one chair, one mic and a bottle of decent red wine. Characters come alive and with secret invitations to musical friends and fellow travelers in each town to join in, each show is a hard-ass ramble into the heart of a hard-boiled book non pareil.
Occasionally followed with an author's Q&A in which Robinson promises to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
So help him God.
Don't miss it.
About A Long Slow Screw
The first novel from OXBOW's EUGENE S. ROBINSON, and the second publication after the release of his 2007 book FIGHT: EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ASS KICKING BUT WERE AFRAID YOU'D GET YOUR ASS KICKED FOR ASKING [Harper Collins], A LONG SLOW SCREW is a two-fisted hardboiled crime saga set in 1970s New York that closely follows a diamond heist gone right and then murderously wrong. Featuring a passel of punks, tough broads, shysters and homicidal homos, A LONG SLOW SCREW draws heavily on Robinson's real life involvement with elements partially detailed in his best-selling FIGHT, weaving a fictional story of the chaotic pre-9/11 world of New York City. A native New Yorker himself, Robinson's novel reads like a travelogue to the business end of a bunch of very, very bad things.
Eugene S. Robinson reads from "A Long Slow Screw"
Eugene S. Robinson Live!
10/13 Los Angeles, CA @ Mountain Bar
10/14 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
10/15 Portland, OR @ The Woods w/ Scott Kelly
10/16 Seattle WA @ Comet Tavern (early)
10/16 Seattle WA @ Black Lodge (late) w/ Great Falls, Madraso, The Family Curse
10/23 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle (early show)
10/25 Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Café w/ Chicago Luzern Exchange
10/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ James Plotkin
10/28 Allston, MA @ O'Briens w/ Black Heliocopter
10/30 Portland, ME @ Geno's Rock Club w/ Hessian, Johnny Cremains
Buy "A Long Slow Screw" at Amazon.com or a signed copy direct from Robotic Boot!
For More Information, visit:
www.facebook.com/eugenerobinson
www.eugeneSrobinson.com
www.hydrahead.com
www.roboticboot.com
Readies Live Reading Appearances in Support of Debut Novel, "A Long Slow Screw,"
Out Now on Robotic Boot / Hydra Head Records,
Adds Backing Musicians James Plotkin, Scott Kelly, and More!
Eugene Robinson should have a phobia named after him: fear of hulking bodybuilders trained in mixed martial arts fighting with a thing for exhibitionism who front bands that play savage, jet engine-loud pummel-core and also dabble in porn and journalism. - SF WEEKLY
What is it about Oxbow that strikes fear into the hearts of men, women, and children of all ilk and denomination? The bands awe-inspiring predatory squall? Their lengthy history of confrontational live shows? Is it the fact that frontman Eugene Robinsonhas electrical tape over his ears and will stomp the tar out of you (gladly) if only youd ask (or get too close)? Only the members of a band with albums entitled Fuckfest, King of the Jews (featuring a picture of Sammy Davis, Jr. on the cover) and The Balls in the Great Meatgrinder Collection would know. - DECIBEL MAGAZINE
From Jack Kerouac's reading to Zoot Sims and/or Steve Allen to Eugene Robinson's past book, European tour backing from the likes of JAMIE STEWART [Xiu Xiu], BRUCE LAMONT [Yakuza], SCOTT KELLY [Neurosis] and more, the closing 2010 "readings" of his debut novel A LONG SLOW SCREW are anything BUT simple readings.
Picture an Oxbow show with subtitles, a SPAULDING GRAY set piece without the suicide, or a West Side Story with a lot more criminal sexual activity, and you might come close to what Robinson can do with one chair, one mic and a bottle of decent red wine. Characters come alive and with secret invitations to musical friends and fellow travelers in each town to join in, each show is a hard-ass ramble into the heart of a hard-boiled book non pareil.
Occasionally followed with an author's Q&A in which Robinson promises to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
So help him God.
Don't miss it.
About A Long Slow Screw
The first novel from OXBOW's EUGENE S. ROBINSON, and the second publication after the release of his 2007 book FIGHT: EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT ASS KICKING BUT WERE AFRAID YOU'D GET YOUR ASS KICKED FOR ASKING [Harper Collins], A LONG SLOW SCREW is a two-fisted hardboiled crime saga set in 1970s New York that closely follows a diamond heist gone right and then murderously wrong. Featuring a passel of punks, tough broads, shysters and homicidal homos, A LONG SLOW SCREW draws heavily on Robinson's real life involvement with elements partially detailed in his best-selling FIGHT, weaving a fictional story of the chaotic pre-9/11 world of New York City. A native New Yorker himself, Robinson's novel reads like a travelogue to the business end of a bunch of very, very bad things.
Eugene S. Robinson reads from "A Long Slow Screw"
Eugene S. Robinson Live!
10/13 Los Angeles, CA @ Mountain Bar
10/14 San Francisco, CA @ Hemlock Tavern
10/15 Portland, OR @ The Woods w/ Scott Kelly
10/16 Seattle WA @ Comet Tavern (early)
10/16 Seattle WA @ Black Lodge (late) w/ Great Falls, Madraso, The Family Curse
10/23 Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle (early show)
10/25 Pittsburgh, PA @ Thunderbird Café w/ Chicago Luzern Exchange
10/26 Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ James Plotkin
10/28 Allston, MA @ O'Briens w/ Black Heliocopter
10/30 Portland, ME @ Geno's Rock Club w/ Hessian, Johnny Cremains
Buy "A Long Slow Screw" at Amazon.com or a signed copy direct from Robotic Boot!
For More Information, visit:
www.facebook.com/eugenerobinson
www.eugeneSrobinson.com
www.hydrahead.com
www.roboticboot.com
Well, assuming that you like the band, the 12” is really the format we had in mind while making decisions about the record. Part of the reason that it’s taken so long to put the thing out is that we’ve been paying attention to a lot of details that go into delivering a really good sounding version of the release. We think the vinyl does the best job of this.
Why does it sound so good, then?
Mostly because we got John Golden to do the vinyl mastering, had the plating done by Mastercraft and then worked closely with the pressing plant to deal with manufacturing issues. John mastered it as faithfully as possible from our ½” master tape. Between his significant experience and the fact that it’s about 10 minutes per side cut into 45rpm vinyl, the sound quality of the finished product is a great reproduction of our analog mixdown tape.
Why’s it only available on black vinyl?
No one’s been able to point out the definite science on this, but we’ve heard enough stuff about colored vinyl not sounding as good and/or not lasting as long. Enough that we’d feel we’d be offering a lower quality product in the colored vinyl and we don’t want to do that. Black vinyl should be the best medium for the reasons that matter (sound, durability, reliability from the pressing plant) if not for the reasons that don’t matter (how pretty it looks on your turntable, your ability to resell it).
Oh, that’s also why we kept a plain white inner sleeve. Printed or special sleeves can get dirty and a dirty inner sleeve should be replaced. That’s a lot easier to do with a plain white one than with something that is an aesthetically integral part of the final product. Maybe you’re hyper and want to get one of those paper/plastic hybrid ones that are supposed to scratch the record less. Have at it.
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| Thad Calabrese's lower body, Justin Foley's hand. |
Is there cool stuff other than the record?
Of course. There’s a download card so that you can get a digital copy of the songs at no additional cost. There’s a nice insert with some liner notes. And there’s one or two other things.
Why’s it limited to 500?
Because it’s a record with a limited appeal and so we all had to figure out how many to make. Some people care about the size of a limited edition so, since it’s limited due to demand, there’s no harm in letting people know how limited. Of course, if there’s enough demand to warrant pressing more, we’ll do that. We’ve got zero interest in an artificial ‘specialness’ that comes from trying to make something deliberately collectible.
Why are you releasing the vinyl 1/2 a year after the CD? Are you trying to get people to buy this twice or something? That's gross.
Ha ha ha. No. In the past 25 years, vinyl has moved from the standard for music releases to a niche industry. This means the standards and scale of record production has moved from plants producing massive volume to smaller operators working on a job-order basis. If something goes wrong, you can either rush to overlook it or take the time and work to fix it. For this record, we did the latter. We appreciate the patience of anyone who's held off on buying the release for the 12" version and we hope they feel it was worth the wait.
Aaron Bradford Coloccia-Turner, Hydra Head Honcho (Mamiffer, Greymachine, Jodis, Old Man Gloom, House of Low Culture, Drawing Voices, Twilight, Lotus Eaters, Isis, Hollomen, Unionsuit)
BOHREN AND DER CLUB OF GORE - Dolores2xLP, CD
Midnight "doom-jazz" played at a crawl. Far and away one of the most beautiful records i've ever heard. This is one of those albums so perfect it's hard to believe it was created by human hands.
BERGRAVEN - DödsvisionerCD, Digital and Til Makabert VäsenCD, Digital
Criminally underrated blackened prog-metal from Sweden. On par with the works of Deathspell Omega,Virus, Lurker of Chalice, etc, possessing some of the same qualities as the aforementioned but with a very clearly defined persona of their own. Devote some time to these songs and you will be richly rewarded.
Nihill - KrachCD, Digital
A perfect alchemical blend of structured song form and scorched abstracted textures. Many have tried this approach and few have succeeded. Nihill have done so with clearly evident conviction and created a bleak masterpiece in the process. Yet another unsung gem.
Oxbow - The Narcotic StoryCD, Digital
This is a lesson in brutality, restraint, beauty and menace of endless suspense doled out in equal but unpredictable measure. While musical artists of all stripes regularly feign emotional energy through the mode of song craft, there are a slim few who have so purely channeled the human experience so tenderly and so forcefully as Oxbow have on The Narcotic Story. This is also the first and likely last hydra head release to be nominated for a Grammy. No shit.
Mare - s/t EPCD, Digital
The tragedy of Mare's short lived existence is amplified when experiencing the greatness of this debut and wondering what the hell might've come next had they stuck around. A mixture of beautifully orchestrated choral vocals, piercing shards of guitar and obtuse but memorable riffery. Truly unique and sorely missed.. Please come back guys. Please....
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