8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Atomic Tom
28 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
event::about The story of Atomic Tom begins in Brooklyn. The record that is The Moment was recorded over four months in a tiny apartment with the band's close friend, Ben Romans as producer. Microphones were set up in the hallway, the bathtub and the kitchen; amps and empty guitar cases lined the walls, and the vocal booth was a repurposed utility closet. Despite noise complaints, one of them leading to a shutdown by “New York’s finest”, the LP left the studio dressed in larger-than-life sounds. Lead vocalist Luke White began writing demos in 2006 with Philip Galitzine on bass, adding guitarist Eric Espiritu in 2007. By early 2009, drummer Tobias Smith completed the circle. "We knew we had the green light," says Luke. After countless New York area shows, ATOMIC TOM started to hear their lyrics shouted back at them at shows, "We knew the time was right for a full-length record." From the exhilarating electronica-meets-arena-rock shuffle of “Let Let Go”, the epic romanticism of "We Were Never Meant To Be", and the hauntingly delicate "Play That Dirty Girl", ATOMIC TOM’S debut LP demonstrates remarkable musical ability and diversity, married with an innate sense of how to connect with an audience on a grand scale. "It’s possible to reach each and every individual in an eighty thousand seat stadium," claims Philip. "You can make an enormous, towering sound and still say something deeply meaningful and musical.” They plan to do just that. Nowhere is this philosophy more evident than on the title track. Says Eric, "whenever we play 'The Moment,' it feels like we somehow all stand up a little straighter. There’s something fresh about that particular tune, and yet it also connects to the music we loved growing up. There’s a lot of magic on that song.” Adds Philip, “'The Moment' took three entire days of pre-production, just kind of summoning the sounds we heard in our heads.” The band's first single, “Take Me Out”, neatly summarizes the theme of the record: “It’s a vulnerable song. It’s about letting people into your life, letting people rescue you,” explains Luke. “Admitting that you need that, and then asking for it…that’s a very difficult task, though it’s something everyone goes through at some point.
event::tags 21+
9:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Go Back To The Zoo
4 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Go Back To The Zoo
event::about Go Back to the Zoo is an Amsterdam-based band. Brothers Teun (guitar) and Cas (vocals) had been playing together since they were little kids, when one day they decided they needed a drummer. They called their friend Bram and told him the good news, and so Bram became the drummer. A while later they met a nice guy while standing in the waiting line for a Strokes concert. His name was Lars, and Cas, Teun and Bram decided that Lars should be the bass player. Lars, who had never touched a bass guitar in his life, liked the idea and started practicing like crazy. And so Go Back to the Zoo was born.
From that moment on they have been writing songs in a dusty old cellar (that also stored a collection of mounted animals). All across the Netherlands Go Back to the Zoo performed their songs, and all across the Netherlands the people liked it. In 2009 they released their first single Beam Me Up which was used by Nike for a worldwide campaign and after that, things went quick. Go Back to the Zoo got singed to Universal Music and ‘Beam me up’ was released officially. Their next singles 'Electric' and 'Hey Dj in 2010 became 'Megahit' on Hollands biggest pop/rock radiostation 3FM. On 13 august they released their debut-album 'Benny Blisto' and it entered the charts at number 3.
event::tags 21+
10:00 PM
to 11:00 PM
Battle Circus
5 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Battle Circus
event::about Dynamic and dark, Battle Circus pummels the senses with a dramatically stunning live show. The four-piece's reputation has led it to tour the world, opening for Amanda Palmer, Gary Numan, Karnivool and performing at numerous festivals. Battle Circus has recently completed its full-length, self-titled album after spending a year-and-a-half recording in a sea barn on the coast of New Zealand.
event::tags 21+
11:00 PM
to 12:00 AM
Hugo
17 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
event::about There’s an aura of late night heat and mystery in the music of Hugo. For him, Old Tyme Religion isn’t just another album title – it’s an apt summation of a certain conviction that continuously embeds itself in his story, and in his songs. His real life experiences have taken him from the Mekong River jungle to the booth of a favorite Thai restaurant in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood he has made home. His spiritual and musical sojourns have led to Old Tyme Religion, a lyrically provocative, tunefully hook-filled unconventional pop debut. "I'm trying to make rock & roll in the age of hip-hop," he affirms. "A complete thought in 3 minutes and 30 seconds, that's the challenge. A song is a planet with gravity and atmosphere and things living in it. An album is a solar system." Born in England and raised in Thailand, Hugo -- a seriously dedicated songwriter, musician and performer -- has already plowed through several aesthetic incarnations on the road to Old Tyme Religion. As a young teen in Thailand, he achieved nationwide success by cutting four studio albums with Siplor, "a hick band with a mission,” whose charge against ‘the man’ resulted in a couple of their records being banned on the radio. Reflecting on this experience, he realized how formative and insular his Thai musical experiences had been. "The records I was making in Thailand, in isolation from American culture, were made as if we were still in the 70s. Nothing after 1977, Elvis wasn't dead, punk never happened. Thailand has this hangover from the 60s and 70s. The juke boxes had Creedence Clearwater Revival, anything that had a bit of heat to it looked right and sounded right through the cicadas and the mosquitoes, heavy into that swampy dark ominous thing.” Committed to bringing his music to the rest of the world, Hugo cut through the heat and humidity and journeyed to London. He went on an extensive blues exploration, listening to Howling Wolf, Son House, Robert Johnson, Skip James. "The guys that sometimes when they were singing, they didn't sound like people," explains Hugo. He wasn't looking for beer commercial blues; he was hunting down "the Mississippi Delta stuff, the country blues, that whole atmosphere." He began working his way through pop sounds post-1977, citing Appetite For Destruction, Nirvana, Dr. Dre, Jeff Buckley, MGMT, Tame Impala, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, Devendra Banhart, The Big Pink and "anything Jack White touches" as exemplary for the period. To Hugo, the putative conflict between the mainstream and the underground dissolves when the quality of the music is high enough. "The Doors were a mainstream band," he states, "and no one would doubt their credibility or importance. I think the Doors are as 'arty' as anything more obscure; same with the Beatles, Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones.” This fine line between accessibility and intrigue is where Hugo’s music naturally falls. “That's the pop medium I'm trying to work in. I don't see myself as alternative or indie or anything like that at all. I consider myself to be making mainstream music. That's what I want to do, play for people that like the material." One of his songs, "Disappear," found its way on Beyoncé's international best-selling album, I AM... SASHA FIERCE, in the proverbial nick-of-time. Hugo's London prospects were dimming and he was contemplating a retreat to the jungles. "I was going to pack it in and go back to Thailand," he admits. "That song was a life saver as far as my career was concerned. London is frigging expensive." "Disappear" also tapped into one of Hugo's particular strengths as an artist. "I'm a collaborator. I like things to happen and things happen when you get people involved in them,” Hugo says. The song led to more collaborations and a deal with JAY-Z's Roc Nation, an intriguing home for Old Tyme Religion. When it comes to his craft, Hugo doesn't like writing in code or obscurities, preferring a direct, unambiguous approach. "I want people to know exactly what a song is about," he admits. "I'm not a poet. Lyrics are different from poetry...," he pauses before adding, "...unless you're Jim Morrison or Bob Dylan." Each of the songs on Old Tyme Religion has a different story to tell and a different mood to set. While the title track is a bluesy morality tale told from the POV of a murdered lover in a romantic triangle, "Bread & Butter," Hugo's "version of uncomplicated lust music," is both a sly send-up of machismo and an unabashed celebration of eros, wrapped in a party groove tailor-made for summertime all year long. It's that heat and humidity which drives the swampy pulse of "Mekong Delta," a steamy vision of love, and transcendence, by the banks of a richly symbolic river. With its spiritual kinship to the Mississippi Delta, the mysteries of the "Mekong Delta" are as universal and elemental as water. As a tip of the fedora to Roc Nation's founder, Hugo puts a twist on the classic "99 Problems," finding a new previously unforeseen nexus linking pop, rock, country, urban and hip-hop. Philosophic at heart, Hugo surmises that, “if reincarnation is for real, he'd like a couple more go-rounds on the great cosmic wheel.” For now, that wheel keeps spinning and we can all experience Old Tyme Religion.
event::tags 21+
12:00 AM
to 1:00 AM
The Black Box Revelation
12 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists The Black Box Revelation
event::about The Black Box Revelation, also known as the BBR, is a Belgian garage rock band from Belgium. Jan Paternoster and Dries Van Dijck, two friends, started playing together (with Jan's brother Tim Paternoster as vocalist and Marquez on second guitar) as “The Mighty Generators”, at the respective ages of 12 and 14 years old. It was during this period that the two of them started jamming together as well. These jam sessions would lay the foundation to their new group: The Black Box Revelation. In 2007 the duo released their debut EP. The EP was supported by a video clip for “Kill For Peace (And Peace Will Die)”. The Belgian press was unanimously enthusiastic and this resulted in lots of club-gigs. During the summer of 2007 the band played at the big open-air festivals Dour and Pukkelpop The Black Box Revelation started recording their album “Set Your Head On Fire” mid 2007. The album was produced by Triggerfinger drummer Mario Goossens, mixed in Los Angeles by Greg Gordon (who had previously worked with Wolfmother, Jet and Soulwax), and mastered in New York by Fred Kevorkian (Iggy Pop, U2, The White Stripes). Their single “I Think I Like You” rapidly rose to the top of the radio charts. Peter Afterman and the Major League Baseball club Pittsburgh Pirates later bought the rights to "I Think I Like You". In June 2008, the Black Box Revelation started their first tour in the United States. They did some gigs in San Diego, West Hollywood and New York. The Black Box Revelation is currently in the studio recording their third release with legendary produce Alain Johannes (11, Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures). The new album (unnamed for the moment) will be out in late April/early May.
event::tags 21+
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
The Daylights
17 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists The Daylights
event::about THE DAYLIGHTS are a commanding three-piece from Los Angeles making a huge impact on the alternative rock scene nationwide as well as on the L.A. scene with their passionate lyrics, giant melodies and cinematic sound. After recently touring with Katy Perry and OneRepublic and currently on tour with Civil Twilight, THE DAYLIGHTS are set to release their debut album on Tuesday, September 14, 2010. To record their international debut release, the band worked with an unbelievable all-star cast in London that included super producer, Youth (Paul McCartney, U2, The Verve’s “Bittersweet Symphony”) and mixers Michael Brauer (Coldplay, John Mayer), Dave Sardy (Oasis, Jet) and Tim Palmer (U2, Pearl Jam). The self-titled album, The Daylights features the first single “Rogue Machine,” which has already made its way into the Hot AC Top 50 chart. Other featured songs on the 15-song album include “Weapons” and “Outsider” and "Happy" which will be in the season premiere of the WB’s “One Tree Hill“ on the same date as the album release. Inviting comparisons to the likes of Radiohead and Kings of Leon, the close-knit group is made up of brothers Ran (guitars/vocals/keys) and Ricky Jackson (bass/vocals/guitars) and drummer Svend Lerche, of Denmark. Although they consider themselves an indie rock band, they don’t really seem like much of an indie rock band at all, since their opportunities have been nothing short of extraordinary. Securing a Top 50 record on Hot A/C without a label is a notoriously difficult format to crack. 21 stations have already added the record and more every week. Not only do they have an enormous fan base in their hometown, with the ability to pack rooms like Hollywood’s House of Blues, but they have also been touted as L.A.’s most underrated band by top selling artists such as Katy Perry, Switchfoot, and OneRepublic. OneRepublic personally asked them to join them on their massive Dreaming Out Loud tour for over four months, and recently they have been the direct support for Katy Perry’s sold-out American tour, after she was quoted as “wanting to bring one of her favorite bands on her first-ever headlining tour.” The band’s lyrical compositions and high-energy shows have also landed them an upcoming 40-city tour with NEEDTOBREATHE in September 2010 with dates being announced in mid-September. THE DAYLIGHTS appeared on “The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson” just days after Craig saw them play in Hollywood. This past year they’ve played for more than 10 million viewers on national television and in front of over 100,000 people live. Their songs are currently featured in a host of TV shows and movies including the theme song to ABC’s “The Big Day,” “One Tree Hill,” “Las Vegas,” “Providence,” and “Laguna Beach,” Sorority Row, and Grandma’s Boy, and have even been enshrined in the video game world with a cult following through The Sims. They also recently have been place in the upcoming Jim Carey movie preview for “I Love You Phillip Morris,” and the indie film “Rabbit Hole.” Their self-titled debut album will be available for purchase on September 14th, 2010 through iTunes, Amazon, CDBaby and at major retailers including BestBuy, Borders and Amoeba Music.
event::tags 21+
12:00 PM
to 12:45 PM
The Seedy Seeds
25 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
12:00 PM
to 6:00 PM
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
45 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Party
Speaker/Artist(s) Info
12:00 - The Seedy Seeds
12:45 - We Are Hex
1:30 - Family History
2:15 - Now, Now
3:00 - J Roddy Walston and the Business
3:45 - Colour Revolt
4:30 - Savoir Adore
5:15 - These United States
12:45 PM
to 1:30 PM
We Are Hex
10 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
1:30 PM
to 2:15 PM
Family History
Location Valhalla
Location Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
2:15 PM
to 3:00 PM
Now, Now
7 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
3:00 PM
to 3:45 PM
J Roddy Walston and the Business
39 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
3:45 PM
to 4:30 PM
Colour Revolt
29 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
4:30 PM
to 5:15 PM
Savoir Adore
16 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
5:15 PM
to 6:00 PM
These United States
24 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
Buzzgrinder's 10th Birthday Bash
8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Dagoba
Location Valhalla
Location Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Dagoba
event::about DAGOBA Poseidon Origin: France Release date August 30th, 2010 European release : September 3rd , 2010 POSEIDON DAGOBA is back with the fury of the Greek god Poseidon, through this album which is a journey aboard a pirate ship, each song is a devastating one-stop spot on the globe. This attack is a real coming back to their roots and main influences with a more primitive and more percussive music, but also in the sound approach. Back in the studio with Dave Chang, who had attended the first eponymous album. DAGOBA is going to conquer new horizons, new warfields with its evil trident. "Face the Colossus"! Behold this giant fighting machine. Hear the mighty humming of its powerful engines. Feel the ground shake which each new step this monster takes. Fear its massive armament. Delight in the glorious beauty of this marvellous titan. DAGOBA have excelled themselves with "Face the Colossus"! On their third album, the French come crushing down like a ten-ton hammer. DAGOBA unleash the full fury of their fast and furious riffing crossbred with a pounding groove and surprisingly emotional passages. Their new songs are full of feelings, but never fall down into the whiny attitude of fashionable Emocore. DAGOBA chose to combine the revolutionary spirit of their hometown Marseilles with the attitude of Modern Metal. They expand on the theme of sheer force, which DAGOBA had already adopted in their early songs that still revealed influences like Pantera, Machine Head and Fear Factory as well as Death and Black Metal. It took DAGOBA only six years to rise into the leading ranks of New French Metal. Their claim for the throne is now only contested in friendly competition by Gojira. When vocalist Shawter decided in September 2000 to revamp the line-up of his old band due to a lack of motivation from the others despite having gained an opening slot for Rammstein, he was looking for musicians with ambition, talent and dedication. Luckily it did not take him long to find hard-hitting drummer Franky, a miracle in precision. Pounding bass-man Werther joined as well as riff-machine Izakar on guitars. Bursting of creativity, the newly born DAGOBA released their first 6-track EP in November 2001 and quickly gained recognition by the media all over Europe. With the aim of "turning violence into energy and emotion", the French recorded their self-titled debut early in 2003. With the mixing done by Dave Chang (Stampin' Ground, Linea 77, Orange Goblin) at Philia Studios in Oxford "Dagoba" took the metal-world by storm. The fierce dynamics and stainless riffing of the quartet surprised fans and press alike with Rock Sound summing up the consensus in one phrase: "DAGOBA crushes everything and leaves no one alive!" Following up on their instant success, DAGOBA embarked on an extended tour that took them out on the road nonstop from August 2003 until December 2004. Of the many highlights on this journey, the opening slots for Machine Head in Brussels and Fear Factory in Amsterdam are standing out. Thousands of people gathered at the Dour Festival in Belgium (2004) to see DAGOBA perform with only one album released. Having met with fast success, the French were ready for the next big steps in their career. In 2005, DAGOBA signed a deal with Season of Mist just before opening for Korn in Southern France. With the intention to intensify and enlarge their sound, the band chose famed producer Tue Madsen (Mnemic, Hatesphere, The Haunted) for their next recording. The Dane immediately sensed DAGOBA's originality and regarded them as "special" and able to catch his "attention from the first moment with their very well played and very dramatic material". When "What Hell Is About" hit the shops early 2006, the album turned quickly into a bestseller. Press results were even more raving than for their previous release. Backed by fans and praise alike, DAGOBA were invited to perform at many major European festivals and to play before the legendary Metallica of whom the French are big fans themselves. "What Hell Is About" set the course for the band's future. They had honed their skills as musicians to perfection, developed a heavily organic sound of their own and proved to be brilliant songwriters. Not content with their enviable position in the fast growing new wave of French Metal the band decided to collaborate once again with renowned producer Tue Madsen for “Face the Colossus”. As a close-knit team, DAGOBA and Tue created an even more monstrously massive, but still clear and crisp sound that was adapted for each song individually. Line Up Shawter – vocals, machines, guitars Izakar – guitars Werther – bass Franky – drums DAGOBA "Release the Fury" EP 2001 DAGOBA "Dagoba" 2003 DAGOBA “What Hell is about” 2006 DAGOBA "Face the Colossus" 2008
event::tags 21+
8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Rwake
26 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Rwake
event::about “The way of the South" has resonated through southern music for generations and “the way”, it seems, for southern metal bands is often raw, to-the-point, unfiltered expression; unflinching delivery oozing with conviction. The southern bands just mean it a bit more. And in that tradition, like EYEHATEGOD and BUZZOV*EN before them, RWAKE f**king "mean it" and don’t care what you think. Just over ten years ago RWAKE started out as a four brothers jamming to kill time, 'cause in Arkansas that's all you have...time. And in time those brothers were joined by other brothers (and a sister) and recorded some tracks their first material in September of ’97. A “real” first demo, Xenoglossalgia: The Last Stage of Awareness, followed shortly as well as a slew of shows throughout the deep south, including their first ventures outside their home state of Arkansas. In December of ’99, RWAKE recorded their first full-length album with TODAY IS THE DAY’s Steve Austin. For reasons buried by the sands of time, the record never saw a proper release and was mostly distributed by the band while on tour via hand-scrawled CD-R’s. RWAKE spent the next few years stringing together shows throughout the Eastern US, developing their overwhelming, cathartic live performances in sweltering warehouses, stuffy basements, and any backwoods DIY show (indoors or out) that would have ‘em. By 2002, RWAKE recorded what would become their first properly released full-length, Hell Is The Door To The Sun. Hell Is The Door... was the sound of a band with a purpose. Less a record than an hour-long summoning of personal demons and primal fury, Hell Is the Door… put RWAKE firmly on the radar of heavy music connoisseurs. ALABAMA THUNDERPUSSY took the band on its first proper North American tour in support of Hell Is The Door… and gave RWAKE a platform to expose its ugliness for all to see. Two years of writing and touring culminate in 2004 with RWAKE entering Volume Studios (PELICAN, MINSK, UNEARTHLY TRANCE) with long-time friend Sanford Parker of MINSK to record the full-length album ‘If You Walk Before You Crawl You Crawl Before You Die’. ‘If You Walk…’ was released via At A Loss Records and full on bled the sonic hostility the band had become know for. The band hit the road extensively again; including a run with WEEDEATER and spots shows with the likes of MASTODON, HIGH ON FIRE, The HIDDEN HAND, MEATJACK, and many more over the years. In January ‘06, RWAKE signed with Relapse and that spring made their first appearance as a label artist at the heralded SXSW Music Festival. In one of the most talked-about sets of SXSW ‘06 RWAKE aired out a host of new material that left a trail of slack jaws and blown minds in its wake. Just a few short months later and the band was back in Parker’s Volume Studios to lay that material to tape in the shape of it’s new record Voices of Omens. Voices of Omens hits below the bible-belt with thick, tar-black riffing, vicious male/female howls and leads so sweet you'd think they're from Georgia. Instead thisArkansas band represents their dirty south with their intensely unique style of acid-drenched metal. Voices of Omens is a hostile explosion of hideously impure American metal which emanates an eerie and unsettling vibe; haunting in atmosphere and hallucinogenic in it's effect on the listener.
event::tags 21+
9:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Omens of Awe
3 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Omens, Omens of Awe
event::about Hailing from Oakland, the two piece Omens of Awe play music that's HEAVY. Not just in the traditional metal sense, but in a way that puts the listener face to face with messages from their highest selves. Come celebrate the joy of bathing in the future of your own possibility. Jeff Matz honed his bass skills in HIgh on Fire and Zeke. 'Âeijman plays in Secret Chiefs 3, The House of Honour, amongst others.
event::tags 21+
10:00 PM
to 11:00 PM
11:00 PM
to 12:00 AM
Christian Mistress
7 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Christian Mistress
event::about "In a cellar where anxiety and blind confidence collide, desperate sounds are set to flame. Marshall law screams out shallow skulls propulsed by human error. Walls of white wash marbled black. This is the freedom as a captive of sin. There's no future here so let it burn us clean."
event::tags 21+
12:00 AM
to 1:00 AM
True Widow
19 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists True Widow
event::about True Widow, the Dallas-based co-ed trio known for creating hauntingly beautiful heavy music, have signed to New York-based Kemado Records with an eye on a March 2011 release. The band, comprised of singer/guitar player D.H., singer/bass player Nikki Cage and drummer Slim TX, have described their music as “stonegaze” while numerous outlets have offered their take on True Widow’s slowcore-meets-rock hybrid. AOL Spinner described the band’s music as “morphine-induced melodies dripping with haunting, heartfelt lyrics…,” Punk News said True Widow does ”to Autolux what Black Sabbath did to metal” and hometown weekly, The Dallas Observer, described the band’s self-titled 2008 debut as simply “incredible.” Retail supporters, Aquarius Records, enthusiastically shared these words with their customers, “Every song here is practically perfect, and each one segues seamlessly into the next, the sort of record where you don’t just remember the melody or the lyrics, but which songs comes next, and how long the pause between songs is, the sound just so hypnotic and mesmerizing, a sort of lyseric doom pop, a druggy post rock, but the thing is, none of that really explains how addictive these songs seem to be. Literally, from the moment we first heard this record, we have not been able to stop listening to it.”
event::tags 21+
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
Zoroaster
24 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
event::about "Zoroaster, from Atlanta, has progressed over the last decade into a pretty wonderful band: on its forthcoming 'Matador' (eOne), over the repeating, ultra resonant riffs, Will Fiore sings or growls his slow, serene vocals bathed in echo, stretching your attention span. It's center-of-gravity music." - THE NEW YORK TIMES ZOROASTER's heady mix of mammoth metal and psychotropic shoegaze has seen the trio hailed as "one of the U.S.'s most promising metal bands" and it has receiving shining praise for its explosive power, intriguing mysticism and unique take on heavy music. Summoned by the mighty sludge of The Melvins, the mysticism of Celtic Frost and the nihilistic blues of Black Sabbath, ZOROASTER formed in 2003 out of 'the need for sedation by high volumes and low frequencies". The band immediately began creating devastating, dirge-ridden doom that erupted into heavyweight grooves and transcendental musical atmospheres. ZOROASTER's early sound was compared to "having 10,000 ton granite slabs dropped on your head from a height of several miles". ZOROASTER released its third full-length, 'Matador', on July 13, 2010 on eOne Music to critical acclaim. Hot on the heels of a U.S. jaunt supporting Kylesa, the band has announced U.S. tour dates with Weedeater for a month long run of live dates set to kick off on February 28 in Detroit, MI. Additionally, ZOROASTER have been confirmed as one of the featured acts for the 2011 Roadburn Festival, set to take place April 14-16 in Tilburg, Holland. This will be the band's debut appearance at the revered fest; ZOROASTER performs on April 14 alongside Godflesh, Pentagram, Quest for Fire, Ghost and many more. Now in its twelfth year, Roadburn has become the world's leading underground festival for psychedelic, avant-garde, doom "or any other variation of leftfield sonic pleasures that push the boundaries of music."
event::tags 21+
8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Herra Terra
1 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Herra Terra
event::about With enough electronics to overthrow Skynet, Herra Terra's form of synth rock is infectiously melodic, even avant-garde at times, but never quirky or different for the sake of being different. Underneath all the gadgets, an educated appreciation for the fundamentals of rock acts as the driving force behind their compositions. HERRA TERRA recorded their debut LP, "Quiet Geist" in 2010 (The Mylene Sheath). Guest Musicians on the record include members of Bad Rabbits and Irepress. Sound Engineers/Producers include Mike ”Mo” Lapierre (Death Cab for Cutie, Brand New) and Jayson Michael Dezuzio (Coheed & Cambria, Cobra Starship).
event::tags 21+
9:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Lavinia
Location Valhalla
Location Valhalla
eventtype Music
event::about In Roman mythology, Lavinia was the daughter of Latinus and Amata. She was the lone child of the king and was eventually courted by many men in Ausonia who hoped to become the next king of Latium. Turnus, ruler of the Rutuli, was promised Lavinia, having the favor of Queen Amata. However, King Latinus is later warned by the oracle Faunus that his daughter is not to marry a Latin, and eventually Lavinia weds Aeneas, son of Aphrodite and progenitor of the Romans. In Book 7 of the Aeneid, during the sacrifice at the altars of the gods, Lavinia's hair catches on fire, an omen promising glorious days to come for Lavinia and war for all Latins. It is within a shroud of this same mythological fire that Lavinia, a new band hailing from Boston, MA, introduces their debut ep "There Is Light Between Us". The band consists of current & former members of indie rock heavyweights such as Caspian, Eksi Ekso, The Burning Paris, On Fire, and the Fatal Flaw, but should never be confused as some sort of "side project". Bleak, dark, and unforgiving - Lavinia trudge through terrain that is much different than any of the members other projects. And while there is an underlying hope in each song - the album dwells in an unshakable depression. A feeling of isolation and loneliness further exposed by the heart-on-the-sleeve vocals of guitarist/vocalist Nate Shumaker (ex-Eksi Ekso, On Fire, The Burning Paris, Everdown), that brings to mind a combination of Red House Painter's Mark Kozelek and The Cure's Robert Smith. Pair that up with the commanding bass wielding of Philip Jaimeson (main axe man of Caspian), the towering drum fills of Alex Mihm (Eksi Ekso), and the slide guitar & banjo atmospherics of Josh Megyesy (ex-On Fire, The Burning Paris, The Fatal Flaw), and you've got the makings of a band who's sound shares more in common with roman mythology, than it does their own contemporaries and peers. Recorded in multiple locations throughout 2010, including New Alliance with Ethan Dussault and Verse Media with John Helmig, mastered by Jason Martin (Starflyer 59) at Jason Martin Recording in Riverside, CA, the album captures the sound of a band discovering new and exciting sonic territory with no rules in place. A band creating music that they want to create, for the sake of creating it to exist. Doesn't sound like a novel idea to you? Well, unfortunately it is in todays music industry and it's incredibly refreshing to hear how easily this sound of creative freedom can come across when a band effortlessly executes without paying mind to outside pressures or expectations. The band takes us through five tracks in just under 28 minutes which brings to mind the moodiness of bands such as Red House Painters, Mogwai, The Cure, early Crooked Fingers, Starflyer 59, and Scott Walker while incorporating the heaviness of behemoths such as Black Sabbath, My Bloody Valentine, Isis, Jesu, and The Twilight Sad. The combination of these elements seamlessly meld together to create a document of visionary proportions. Much like Turnus declaring war on Aeneas after losing the mythological Lavinia to him, our Lavinia comes forward with all the emotional intensity of such a war. Turnus was ultimately destroyed and his people captured by Aeneas, though Lavinia's father, Latinus, died in the war, teaching us progress cannot be made without sacrifice. The sound of Lavinia's debut ep "There Is Light Between Us" embodies this philosphy to it's very definition.
event::tags 21+
10:00 PM
to 11:00 PM
Eksi Ekso
9 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Eksi Ekso
event::about "a near-perfect synthesis of the band's ambitious statement of intent and secret love of pop. Eksi Ekso takes the every-song-is-a-huge-crescendo mentality of general post-rock and arc-welds it to great verse-chorus-bridge popcraft that belies the band's youth." - Consequence of Sound "Brown Shark, Red Lion is the most interesting and challenging pop album I've heard so far this year." - My Old Kentucky Blog "Eksi Ekso has caught my eye in delivering one of the most striking albums of the year... the sheer rush of clashing emotions conveyed is one of remarkable awe." - Obscure Sound "Eksi Ekso soars, slashes, and burns and chimes again on its sophomore full-length, Brown Shark, Red Lion,'' - Boston Globe _______________________________________________________ Boston's Eksi Ekso will release their second LP Brown Shark, Red Lion on March 15, 2011 via The Mylene Sheath (label home to Giants, Caspian, and more.) They will be touring out West to SXSW this March is support of the new record. Paired with a 28 page book of artwork, the album tells the story of a photographer and amateur astronomer who disappeared mysteriously in Eastern Turkey in the late 1800s. "Addition by subtraction" is a cliche often quoted by the unoriginal that nonetheless offers a fair assessment of Eksi Ekso-- a band that has gone from six to three full-time members and still somehow expanded its sound by refining it. When writing began for the follow-up to 2008's I Am Your Bastard Wings, the three current members of Eksi Ekso: Tom Korkidis (vocals, guitar, bass, keys), Alex Mihm (drums, loops, percussion), and Sean Will (keys, synths, trumpet, samples), found themselves constrained by the inertia of a large band doomed to stay within its post-rock tendencies. As the three spent more time working together, it became clear they had a very real momentum with myriad ideas that would never survive the democratic process of a six-piece group. The band's newest record, 2011's Brown Shark, Red Lion, shows a band comfortable exploring areas of orchestral pop(backed by a nine-piece chamber group), synth-soaked dance, and hard-hitting rock. The vocals are memorable and well-arranged, the melodic instruments make hooks out of refreshingly atypical chords and melodies, the rhythm section pummels with a deft blend of creativity and back-beat. The record was tracked with Scott Riebling (Fall Out Boy, Von Bondies), mixed by Scott Solter (John Vanderslice, Spoon, Pattern is Movement), and mastered by Dave McNair (Midlake, Los Lobos) of Sterling Sound in New York.
event::tags 21+
11:00 PM
to 12:00 AM
Gifts From Enola
10 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
12:00 AM
to 1:00 AM
Junius
14 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Junius
event::about After touring solidly across North America, the UK, and Europe for the last several years, the bearded men of Junius are currently working on the follow-up to their critically acclaimed The Martyrdom of a Catastrophist (on The Mylene Sheath worldwide and Make My Day Records in Europe). Junius has been electrifying rapt audiences with its spellbinding walls of reverb-drenched guitars, haunting vocals and self-made lights since 2003. The band's music is both cinematic and accessible, building to crescendos which echo some of Post Rock's most epic moments, but with vocals, hooks, and lyrics creating focus throughout. While Junius can be tough to categorize (they've been called a hybrid of Neurosis and The Smiths by Rolling Stone), band members have cited such artists as Bedhead (Junius singer/guitarist Joseph E. Martinez's uncle Trini was their drummer), Philip Glass, Hum, and M83 among a long list of inspirations.
event::tags 21+
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
Caspian
42 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Caspian
event::about Caspian is a rock band from Beverly, Massachusetts, a seaside town 20 minutes north of Boston. Nobody sings. Most of the time we play heavy, other times quite soft. We always try to play with heart. So far we have recorded three albums. The process is always evolving - Thanks for exploring it with us.
event::tags 21+
11:00 AM
to 11:30 AM
OK Sweetheart
6 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
11:00 AM
to 6:00 PM
Detox To Retox
30 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Party
Speaker/Artist(s) Info
Schedule:
11:00am - OK Sweetheart
11:30am - Sweet Jane
12:15pm - Operator Please
1:00 - Wolf & Cub
1:45 - The Vandelles
2:30 - Red Falcon
3:15 - The Pons
4:00 - Lelia Broussard
4:45 - Glasnost
5:30 - Blake Richardson
DJ CeePlus Bad Knives & DJ Czech One between sets
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
11:30 AM
to 12:15 PM
Sweet Jane
4 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
12:15 PM
to 1:00 PM
Operator Please
20 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
1:00 PM
to 1:45 PM
Wolf & Cub
11 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
1:45 PM
to 2:30 PM
The Vandelles
32 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
2:30 PM
to 3:15 PM
Red Falcon
1 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
3:15 PM
to 4:00 PM
The Pons
2 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
4:00 PM
to 4:45 PM
Lelia Broussard
12 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
4:45 PM
to 5:30 PM
Glasnost
7 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
5:30 PM
to 6:15 PM
Blake Richardson
Location Valhalla
Location Valhalla
eventtype Unofficial Music
event::about
DETOX TO RETOX
Saturday, March 19th: 11am - 6pm
Presented by The MuseBox, CouchProfessor, and Eric Ervin
Location: Valhalla - 710 Red River Street
Free drinks provided by Barefoot Wines
No RSVP Necessary
Facebook Event
event::tags free booze
7:00 PM
to 8:00 PM
ALTAAR
17 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists ALTAAR
event::about ALTAAR is the new band of Andreas Tylden and Sten Ove Toft. Tylden has been the single most important character within Norwegian hardcore the last decade through now disbanded JR Ewing, and Toft is Norway's king of noise. They've assembled an all-star team for ALTAAR, consisting of Espen Hangård (KILLL/Diskord/NoPlaceToHide), Didrik Telle (Obliteration), Kenneth Lamond (JR Ewing) and sometimes Jørgen Munkeby (Shining). Together they fuse inspiration ranging from Phillip Glass to Barthory, the result is a diabolic soundscape and soundwaves which transmit emotion and atmosphere. Defying the normal boundries of genres, their music is best described as droning doom-sludge with black metal aesthetics. The result is a jaw-dropping, fantasticly intense live-experience somewhere between SUNN0))), Isis and Wolves In The Throne Room. Here's a snippet to see for yourself: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS7ck_ggqWQ They are currently building a great buzz, and were one of the most acclaimed bands among foreign journalists at last year's by:larm and Øya festivals. Spinner, The Fader and CMJ Magazine were among media lauding them. Their debut cassette is due for re-release on vinyl this spring, and their debut album is due early this summer. One to watch as a coming stalwarts of Norwegian metal.
event::tags 21+
8:00 PM
to 9:00 PM
Bruce Lamont
3 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
9:00 PM
to 10:00 PM
Wolvhammer
17 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Wolvhammer
event::about Wolvhammer was formed in Minneapolis in 2008 by Heath Rave and Micah Leonetti. Spawned from an idea they had when recording with their doom band Vernal Pool, they wanted to create something fast, brutal and at the same time show their appreciation for black metal and sludge at it's core which is a true punk rock spirit. With the help of Ryan McKern of The Guilt Of... they churned out two demos of fast punk influenced blackened sludge within a few months and posted them on the internet for free. Within a short time the two short bursts of blackened filth made waves through the underground and caught the interest of indie label Init Records. In the winter of 2009, Andy Schoengrund was enlisted as 2nd guitar and inn April of 2010 they entered Semaphore Studios with the prolific Sanford Parker (Nachtmystium, US Christmas, Dawnbringer) to record their debut full length "Black Marketeers of WWW III". "Black Marketeers..." is a textural, monolithic display of modern black metal with styles ranging from three-minute punk infused thrash jams, to eight-minute lush, blackened opuses. In their short existence, they have toured with KEN Mode, HØST and have had the honor to share stages with Dark Castle, Elitist, Inquisition, Swan King, Hunters, Black Breath and a host of others. As 2011 hits, Wolvhammer are currently writing their follow up to the critically acclaimed Black Marketeers and plan to enter the studio again in June, while still committing live acts across the US. Notable Wolvhammer Press Quotes: "Wolvhammer's vicious collusion of feral black metal and scowling power-crust seethes with the kind of raw punk menace and true grit that Darkthrone would aspire to if they listened to Eyehategod and had anything left to prove" - J. Bennet, Decibel Magazine Up Front Sep. 2010 "Minneapolis's Wolvhammer can't decide what they are, and that's the best part. Black Metal? Post-metal? Crust? Sludge-doom? Wolvhammer chooses it all. Its that kitchen sink mentality - nothing is off limits, that makes the band's debut album Blackmarketeers Of World War III such a compelling listen. The LP's lead track, "Suicide Brigade", is a perfect example; beginning with a blasting black metal intro, the song evolves into a half speed Hellhammer style punk groove before slowing entirely to a doom piece by the halfway point. It rips, and more importantly underlines a key point: with barely two years in existence, Wolvhammer has an identity and a sound all their own." - Brooklynvegan.com "In most songs, when the tempo is controlled the vocals are the most extreme aspect of Wolvhammer. Phantasmagorical screams dissipate all doubt of blackness. They could have worked just as well in a very intense industrial band. But Wolvhammer is the opposite. It is black metal played by their own rules, on their own turf, a reinterpretation of the genre, of sorts." - Deafsparrow.com
event::tags 21+
10:00 PM
to 11:00 PM
Castevet
12 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Castevet
event::about Hailing from Brooklyn NY, the trio that comprise of CASTEVET have already gained quite a reputation within the underground scene within the NY area. Last year, the band released their “Stones/Salts” 7”, their only release prior to their debut album “Mounds Of Ash”, and just by said release alone, alongside the band getting as active as they can on the local live circuit, they have created quite a reputation that immediately put them alongside the likes of such bands in their local scene as KRALLICE, TOMBS, BLACK ANVIL, and LITURGY. With their debut album “Mounds Of Ash”, CASTEVET will surely rise to prominence nonetheless as one of the most potent bands within the extreme metal underground from the NY scene. Nonetheless, the “Stones/Salts” 7” sold out immediately and showcased the band’s virulent mix of vicious post/progressive hardcore and dissonant black metal. Their sound was referenced in a way where it would be compared to a mix of the virulent hardcore vibes of CONVERGE, and the dissonant progressive avant-black metal histrionics of DEATHSPELL OMEGA all filtered through a lens procured by VOIVOD. While the “Stones/Salts” EP gave people a glimpse of what the beast known as CASTEVET had to offer, it is with “Mounds Of Ash” (summoned within the Thousand Caves Studios by Colin Marston of Krallice, in which Marston himself hails “Mounds Of Ash” as one of the best sounding albums he’s ever recorded) that will truly define this band as its own enigma. By combining the progressive genius of the aforementioned VOIVOD, along with the post-hardcore of such bands as ANODYNE (a band in which CASTEVET bassist J. Scott was once a part of), UNSANE, RORSCHACH, and the avant-black metal dissonance of bands such as VED BUENS ENDE, and DEATHSPELL OMEGA, “Mounds Of Ash” is an apocalyptic conjuring through the fog and mire, a sonic journey through utter darkness and a soundtrack to signal the fall of man.
event::tags 21+
11:00 PM
to 12:00 AM
Grayceon
11 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Grayceon
event::about Grayceon is an atypical three-piece from San Francisco comprised of electric cello, guitar, drums, and vocals. Pulling together an extremely diverse range of musical influences and writing styles, Grayceon's sound defies the boundaries of the metal/rock/progressive genres. Screaming melodic lines over distinct guitar "chunk," doom riffs, jazz chord progressions, intricate folk-like delicacies, and just about everything in between can be found in a single Grayceon track. The cello proficiency and the guitar finger picking style alone are unprecedented in heavy music. And although the vocals are sparse and the drumming unconventional, all elements are intertwined effortlessly to give the arrangements a fluid feel that may not be present in less able hands. Alternate low tuning both on cello and guitar also contribute to their unique sound. Since 2006, Grayceon have been recording and performing nationally, and have received critics' praise for their self-titled debut CD (Vendlus), their 7" split (The End) with friends, Giant Squid, and their sophomore release, "This Grand Show" which was released November 2008 (Vendlus). In 2010 Grayceon completed their first European tour with friends, Jucifer, and will have just released their third full-length album "All We Destroy" on March 1, 2011 by Profound Lore Records. Grayceon lineup: Jackie Perez Gratz ' Electric Cello/Vocals Max Doyle ' Guitars/Vocals Zack Farwell - Drums
event::tags 21+
12:00 AM
to 1:00 AM
KEN Mode
10 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists KEN Mode
event::about Winnipeg, Canada's KEN mode are elitist-asshole metallic noise rock with touches of post metal, hardcore, sludge and doom (so they've been told); a product of long, hard winters culminating in a sound that whips, pummels and lacerates its end users like a wicked Manitoba wind. The power trio bares only the essential ingredients necessary to deliver maximum impact and is an exercise in efficiency and ferocity that convincingly illustrates this is the way it should be. The band has been aggressively smearing their filth since 1999 by touring all over Canada, the US and Europe with the likes of Pelican, Daughters, Buried Inside, The End, Gaza, Engineer, Taint, and done various regional dates with Mastodon, Burnt By The Sun, Cursed, Baroness, Bison BC, Propagandhi, These Arms Are Snakes, Despised Icon, etc. March 15, 2010 will see the band unleash its fourth and most devastating work to date; the Godcity/Kurt Ballou (Converge, Trap Them, Old Man Gloom) produced, West West Side/Alan Douches (Dillinger Escape Plan, Mastodon, High on Fire) mastered "Venerable" via Profound Lore Records. Here's what a few magazines and publications have said about KEN Mode: "This is how I know KEN Mode rule: I saw them play a virtually empty bar about five years ago and still remember that gig like it was yesterday. In this day and age, when half of what hits the stage when I decide to part with my precious time and leave the house doesn’t even register, this is a triumph-and-a-half. Not only do they sound like a raging beast wired on the up-tempo bits 'n' pieces of Unsane's discography, but in the case of much of the new material, KEN mode evoke the brutality of Unsane's Total Destruction and Unsane album covers brought to musical life." - Decibel Magazine "With their debut 'Mongrel' and the stellar follow-up 'Reprisal', Canada's best kept secret established a reputation for perfection jagged, chest-tightening riffs that not only demanded your attention but commanded it as well. Consequently, they have a lot to live up to. Luckily, they've done it again... They've eased up on the straightforward drive 'er home Keelhaul heaviosity, while maintaining the mid-'90's Black Cross punk meets Melvins undertone, and zoned in on the dissonant Kittens country quirks and Botch-flavoured guitar antics that had previously played second fiddle to the spirit of crushing riffage." - Terrorizer Magazine "Winnipeg's KEN Mode have run a tight ship since their inception, resulting in two previous provocative and unforgettable releases. Yet even with the musical muscle showcased on Mongrel and Reprisal, there was still room to grow, to become more comfortable in their warped, artistic anti-rock/metal hybrid, as opposed to being consumed by the youthful tendency to prove themselves. With Mennonite however, we celebrate the power trio's bar mitzvah; they're grown men. Still uncompromising and heavy yet feature a few more laidback — for them — grooves and tracks that grow into the focal point rather than rage from start to finish, Mennonite accomplishes more in one track than even KEN Mode probably thought possible. Incredibly well rounded and gripping, the album rages through thick, drawn-out battles of emotional torment, strikes fast and deadly with two-minute shots of rage, seizes with bastardized pop metal bravado and mesmerizes thanks to the band's relaxed attitude and comfort in their skin." - Exclaim Magazine "I’m not gonna try to demarcate what the hell these three Canucks are capable of in a song, but I’ll say this: (KEN mode) should be ground-zero for you disillusioned souls looking for granite-heavy, solid ‘heavy mental’ that’s as challenging as it is battering." - Metal Maniacs "The daily grind (pun intended) at a school where geometry, heavy metal history and chaos theory are the only courses offered." - Alternative Press "Although it shouldn’t, it always somewhat surprises me that KEN Mode is able to expand on what they’ve already done. However, the fact that they are able to speaks volumes as to just how good this band is. This is noise-rock at its finest, if you haven’t managed to check out KEN Mode yet then you are really missing out." - Built on a weak spot "There are drummers and there are drummers. Then, there are drummers. Ken Mode’s skin basher Shane Matthewson belongs to the latter kind; the ones that organize and gather the masses. The ones that make the difference and are, through skills and gusto, able to elevate the sound of a band from the above par to the outstanding. And kudos to the band too. Quite frankly I wasn’t expecting a three piece to come off as potent as Ken Mode. Guitarist vocalist Jesse Matthewson (is this one musical family or what?) bends his axe in quasi mathematical manners, the riffs are played in Forrest Gump ping-pong speed angularity, shooting off in all directions and...the result is an explosive encounter between post hardcore and noise rock. " Deaf Sparrow Zine
event::tags 21+
1:00 AM
to 2:00 AM
Slough Feg
12 schedule::attendees
Location
Valhalla
eventtype Music
Artists Slough Feg
event::about 'The Lord Weird Slough Feg', whose name is derived from a character in ancient Irish mythology, originates from Central Pennsylvania. The band relocated to San Francisco, California in 1990 in hopes of resurrecting the ailing 'true metal' scene in the United States. The band quickly gained a reputation as, 'The band San Francisco loved to hate' by taking a stand against the trends and incorporating stage savagery with strong visual imagery. Three demos were produced by the band in the early to mid nineties. These were followed up by a self produced, self titled debut CD released in 1996. Scoring points for originality in the European underground, they aroused the interest of Dragonheart Records in 1998 and 'Twilight of the Idols' was released in 1999. This was followed by, 'Down Among the Deadmen' released in the year 2000, and Sci-Fi epic, 'Traveller' in 2003. In 2005 the band moved to the Italian label Cruz Del Sur, releasing 3 albums. 2010 marked the move to Profound Lore Records, and a slight change of direction to a '70's NWOBHM sound with the release of Animal Spirits. Slough-Feg's style is an eclectic mix of Celtic Folk and Traditional Metal peppered with buckets of energy and lyrical depth.
event::tags 21+
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