Help Sangre Make Their Way Across the Country this Summer!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Good afternoon!  It’s been a little while since we checked in with our friends in Sangre… most recently when this review of their latest album was published back in February. Well, they’ve been keeping themselves busy — it seems like they’re constantly playing shows all over the southern California area.

But recently they’ve been gearing up to make their way across the rest of the country, with extensive touring all over the west coast, east coast, and everywhere in between! There are still a few dates that haven’t been nailed down yet, and I’d love to see these guys make their way to the western PA area, just as I’m sure you’ll be glad to have them in whatever city you live in.

Of course, there’s a lot of cost associated with that much traveling, and without the backing of a major label, the band will end up bearing that entire cost themselves. On top of that, it turns out the van they have been using is pretty old and beat-up, and quite frankly it might not make it that far! So they are looking at the option of renting something newer and more road-worthy. And that’s where you come in…

Continue reading →

The Reticent’s Chris Hathcock – Not Very Reticent About NC Gay Marriage Ban!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

image

Apologies for the lame joke in the title of this post, but I just couldn’t pass it up! Thanks to Clawhammer PR for bringing this story to my attention.

 

The Reticent‘s Chris Hathcock recently denounced the May 8th passage of Amendment One, North Carolina’s constitutional amendment prohibiting the legal recognition of domestic unions, including same-sex marriages. The amendment, which has made North Carolina a national focal point for the issue, defines marriage as solely a union between a man and a woman, and expands an existing North Carolina law banning gay marriage.

 

Said denunciation primarily came last week in the form of re-posting an image (which I’d already seen multiple times on Facebook) depicting various types of marriage, as described throughout the bible and in the laws of biblical times. However, in this particular context, Hathcock directed his message specifically at the Reverend Billy Graham:

 

The Reticent is collectively disappointed in North Carolina’s passage of an exclusivist, misguided, and ill-informed piece of legislature today. The mind reels. It is all too clear what really fueled those voters that checked “For” which is terribly disheartening. Billy Graham took out an ad in 14 NC newspapers proclaiming his support and we quote him: “The Bible is clear…”. Alright, then we would like to posit the following as other examples of marriage found in that text.

 

Mr. Graham has already displayed — on far too many occasions to count — his sick and twisted version of Christianity which has nothing to do with loving thy neighbor or any sort of a golden rule. Therefore, his direct support of a law which serves no positive or helpful purpose whatsoever, and exists only for the sake of excluding rights and liberties from a specific group of citizens, comes as no real surprise.

The reasoning in this case, though, seems to be the source of Mr. Hathcock’s frustration: there’s plenty of outdated (and just plain wrong) information written in the bible, so it makes little sense for anyone to base their entire lives on something that was written thousands of years ago. But even disregarding that, it certainly makes less sense for any law in this country to be based solely on a religious text (without any other grounds for that law’s existence), when (according to Black’s Law Dictionary) the First Amendment to the United States Constitution includes a provision “that prohibits the federal and state governments from establishing an official religion, or from favoring or disfavoring one view of religion over another.”

Anyway, apparently if you make a public statement that is contrary to a decision made by majority vote in certain places — California, for example — it just gets dismissed as another case of Hollywood liberals and most people barely even notice. However if you do the same thing in a place like North Carolina, I guess it’s a much bigger deal. Following that post, it seems a great deal of argument erupted (both for and against the legislation), prompting a second post a day later:

 

The anger and vitriol on all sides of the current debate in our home state and country is troubling to us. And further we do not want to entertain any further debate on our page because all we want to do is make music. The thing that is most staggering and regretful in all of this is that it seems we as a people cannot have an earnest discussion about this. Are we only capable of venom and hostility? I’m not about to tell you what to think, there are enough people doing that in all our lives already. But regardless of your stance, if we can’t all sit down and have a reasoned, honest, and legitimate discussion of this issue – we will only tear further apart. Once more, we do not wish to use this page to play host to any debate or soapboxing. Yet since we made a statement (which we thought was mild and humorous) we have found it clearly necessary to bring closure to this can of worms. Here ends our political ranting.

 

Very well, we can let the discussion end here and talk about music instead.

Continue reading →

Hey Look: One Inch Giant Unleashed a Gigantic Black Sabbath Tribute Medley

Posted by valleyofsteel on

So, back in January, when the news came out about Tony Iommi‘s health condition, kind words and well-wishes came pouring in from all directions (this blog included). Right around that same time, Gothenburg stoner/sludge/doom metal titans One Inch Giant mentioned on Facebook that they planned on recording a Black Sabbath cover song in tribute to the legendary guitarist. They sought suggestions from their fans as to which song they should attack.

Well, that tribute has taken four months for the band to arrange and record, but when you listen to it you’ll hear why! Instead of choosing one of the suggestions, it seems they decided to go with all of them — with a couple extra thrown in for good measure! I only heard it once through, streamed on my phone, so I can’t guarantee the accuracy of this list, but I believe I picked out a few lines or phrases from each of the following:

  • Black Sabbath
  • Children of the Grave
  • Wheel of Confusion
  • Snowblind
  • Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
  • Under the Sun
  • Paranoid
  • Lord of this World
  • Supernaut
  • War Pigs

Continue reading →

The “Signmeto” Unsigned Band of the Week: L.A. Cobra

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Well, shit. Another weekend flew by way too quickly, and now it’s Monday again. Aren’t Mondays pretty much the worst thing ever? I can’t think of many things that are worse. I don’t know if it’s too early to start looking forward to next weekend already, but that’s kind of how I’m feeling. Perhaps some fun party music will help to pass the time? Maybe, who knows.

Today (just like every Monday) I’ve gone to the “Sign Me to Roadrunner Records” website to find some new music, and I saw that I’d received a message from a band called L.A. Cobra, who play glam/hair metal. Based on everything you know about this band so far, I’ll give you three guesses where they come from.

Did you say South Africa? I bet you didn’t, but that’s the correct answer. Pretoria, to be specific. If you’ve never heard an African band that recreates that 80’s Sunset Strip vibe, then come right this way, because you’re in for a real treat.

Continue reading →

Get ’em While They’re Hot: Download Some FREE Music from Black Sleep of Kali!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Feeling kind of lazy on a Saturday afternoon, the perfect sort of day to chill out with some sludgey doomy slow jams.

Well, as luck would have it, Denver’s always-awesome Black Sleep of Kali have just announced that they’re giving away some new songs for free this weekend!

This band was another one that I discovered through one the Sludge Swamp‘s Swamp Comp collections. The song “Chorus of Flies,” which was taken from the band’s 2009 EP, was included in that compilation, and when I heard it I thought it was such a perfect composition of fuzzed-out sludginess that I just had to seek out more information about the band. So I was wrote myself a note to look them up the next time I was at my computer — but later when I looked at the note, it looked like I had written “Black Sheep” instead of “Black Sleep” and I (understandably) had a hell of a time searching for anything.

But luckily I eventually got that straightened out, and found them on Facebook. I also got myself a copy of that EP, and the rest of it is just as good as the first song that I heard. Anyway, fast forward to today, and like I was saying, I’ve learned that they’ve got four new songs to give away! Apparently back in March they put together a split LP with Union of Sleep (four songs from each band), which is currently available on 12″ vinyl through This Charming Man and Per Koro. And, BSOK were kind enough to announce that throughout this weekend, you can download their half of the record for free (or for whatever price you choose)! You won’t want to miss this deal…

Continue reading →

Two Reviews for the Price of One: Ritalin Attack – James Doesn’t Exist Split + Gutter Bombin’

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Ritalin Attack / James Doesn’t Exist – Split (13 April 2012, Torn Flesh Records)

 

——————————–

 
image

Ritalin Attack – Gutter Bombin’ (07 May 2012, Torn Flesh Records)

 

——————————–

 
Hey there. I thought it’d never get here, but it’s finally Friday!! And there was much rejoicing. Yay.

So, remember last week when I was talking about music journalists who somehow find the time to also be musicians?

Well, at that time I also started writing this review of the recent split release between Ritalin Attack (the brainchild of Ross Gnarly, of American Aftermath fame) and fellow one-man grind band James Doesn’t Exist, which was intended to be published that same day as kind of a companion piece. But then, as it often does, life got in the way and I didn’t get it finished on-time.

Then, ironically, on Monday I learned that Torn Flesh Records had issued another Ritalin attack release, called Gutter Bombin’. I said ironically, because here I sit, unable to complete one article written on-schedule, and meanwhile an entire album of music (well, more of a mini-EP, to be fair) had been written and recorded AND released.

It’s no wonder Ross manages to write and publish nearly 4,000 articles a week (approximately), and it’s also completely fitting that this artist’s name should refer to Ritalin. Also known as Methylphenidate, Ritalin is a drug often prescribed to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) — probably a condition with a high rate of occurrence among performers and fans alike in the grindcore scene — despite the fact that the medication itself is a stimulant, and from a chemical standpoint is basically a milder form of cocaine. Of course I’m not a doctor or a scientist or whatever, but I have absolutely no idea why that would help.

Anyway, the point of all this is, I’ve now edited and amended what I originally had begun writing, so that now it covers both releases — including how to download each of them 100% free, from the nice people at Torn Flesh.

Continue reading →

Out Last Month: Author & Punisher – Ursus Americanus

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Author & Punisher – Ursus Americanus (24 April 2012, Seventh Rule Recordings)

Good afternoon, readers. You might remember about two months ago, when I told you about a couple preview tracks from the new Author & Punisher album, Ursus Americanus (as well as an interview with the mechanical engineer Tristan Shone who is the architect of these technological soundscapes).

Well, in case you forgot or you haven’t been paying attention, that album has since been released by Seventh Rule, and is now available for streaming, or to purchase the album download or CD, whichever is your preferred method for experiencing post-apocalyptic harsh industrial nightmares…

 
Do you remember the basic idea behind The Matrix movies? At some point in the future, humans have built machines that developed higher and higher levels of intelligence, until eventually they became self-aware and rebelled against the people who had created them. “The Matrix,” or the reality that we all perceive, is actually just an artificial virtual environment created by those machines to occupy the minds of the human slaves who are kept as sources of energy; meanwhile, the “real world,” or the actual reality outside of the Matrix, is a war-torn, post-apocalyptic hellscape as the result of generations of battles between men and machines.

In that reality, where the machines are the dominant ‘species’ and nearly all of mankind is reduced to the role of subserviant ‘batteries,’ so to speak, one would imagine that there would be plenty of leisure time for those advanced technological creations. Perhaps they get together for parties or go out to a night club. And when they do, this is their soundtrack.
 
Continue reading →

Out Last Month: Dreaming Dead – Midnightmares

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Dreaming Dead – Midnightmares (Self-released, 20 April 2012)

So it’s been about three weeks since Midnightmares, the new Dreaming Dead album was made available. As you may recall, I told you they were giving it away for free on the day it was released. Did you see that post, and did you take advantage of that offer? If you did, feel free to share your opinion in the comments below — I’d love to hear from you. If you missed it, though, I’m sorry — but you should totally consider taking advantage of subscribing to the Valley News email updates or RSS feed (see the relevant links somewhere on this page), or heading over to Facebook and “liking” the Valley of Steel page, because I’m always sharing information about freebies like that when I hear about them, and maybe next time you can be better informed!

In any case, if you haven’t had a chance to check out this lovely slice of progressive death-thrash yet, don’t worry — it might not be available to download for free any more, but you can still catch a stream of the album at the band’s website, and they’re also selling it in download, CD, and LP formats!

Continue reading →

Get ’em While They’re Hot: Grab a Song from Vesperia’s New Demo for Free!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

STOP! You should totally check out THIS POST instead. Vesperia‘s entire The Swordsman demo is now available to download for free; the full details are included there.

Continue reading →

Out Last Month: Pigs – You Ruin Everything

Posted by valleyofsteel on

image

Pigs – You Ruin Everything (Solar Flare Records, 11 April 2012)

Well, good morning. Another new day, another day closer to the weekend. The real shitty part is, though, I spent about half of yesterday convinced that it was actually Wednesday, which made me real depressed when I realized it wasn’t. Things were looking up as quitting time was approaching, but then when a departing coworker announced “See you all tomorrow – hey, tomorrow’s Wednesday already!” in a way-too-cheerful voice, well that made it about a hundred times worse. I was feeling pretty pissed off, and decided I needed something to listen to that’s equally pissed off, or who knows, I might have ended up breaking something.

So how has your week been so far? If it’s anything like mine has been, maybe you need some angry music too. Here’s what worked for me, I hope this will help you as well.

I’m going to start out by assuming you’re already familiar with Unsane, that groundbreaking blend of classic NYHC and noise rock, which is still going strong after nearly a quarter-century? If you aren’t, I’d suggest you correct that oversight real quick!

If you do know the band, you’ll be glad to hear that not only did they put out a new album earlier this year, but bassist Dave Curran (who’s been with the band since 1994) has a new side-project called Pigs, who also just released a new album. And, you’ll be even gladder to know that it sounds awesome!

Continue reading →