Tag Archives: USA

Incantation Reveals: a New Album is Coming Soon!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

 
After more than two decades, American death metal pioneers Incantation just keep going and going, showing neither any signs of slowing down nor any inclination to follow the latest fad or change their style… despite the fact that sole original member John McEntee is now working with (if my counting abilities are accurate) the three-hundred-eighty-seventh different line-up of the band since its inception in 1989.

In the years since then, Incantation has made its mark as one of the very first bands signed to Relapse Records (growing alongside that label during their decade-long relationship), and as one of the originators of the New York Death Militia sound (remaining very close to former labelmates Mortician, and even sharing bandmembers with their NYDM brethren from time to time). In addition to having an ever-shifting cast of characters, the band has also called various locations its home — New York, Ohio, and Johnstown, PA.

Throughout this history, Incantation has put out numerous demos and EPs, participated in countless splits and compilations, and released a total of eight LPs. After a trek through Brazil earlier this year and several stops at European festivals during the summer, the guys have returned home to the States and announced that album number nine would be arriving sometime next month via the label that has handled their past few releases, Listenable Records.

 
Continue reading →

VOS Interview: Dethlehem!!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

 
Good evening, readers! As I mentioned earlier today, local RPG-nerd-metal band Dethlehem are headlining The Pittsburgh Scene‘s second birthday extravaganza at Stage AE tomorrow evening.

Preparations have been underway for this show for quite some time — the Dethlehem guys have been sharpening their swords and patching their chain mail, as well as rehearsing their music. But during a recent practice, they were kind enough to allow me exclusive access to their underground lair to sit down and chat, and to find out what’s been happening with the band.

 
Continue reading →

What To Do In Pittsburgh This Week: Part 2 (26-27 September 2012)

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Hello again, readers. As promised yesterday, here’s your to-do list for the remainder of this week (covering Wednesday the 26th and Thursday the 27th). Read on, and then party on. Or something like that.

Continue reading →

What To Do In Pittsburgh This Week: Part 1 (24-25 September 2012)

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Wow, sometimes it feels like all I ever do anymore is write these “What To Do In Pittsburgh” posts. It might look that way, but don’t worry — there’s some cool stuff brewing behind the scenes around here, some big changes and announcements will be coming shortly. In the meantime…

Usually I end up covering a weekend’s worth of events with these things, but it seems like this week there’s an extraordinary amount of stuff going on in between the weekends. So that’s why I’m throwing together this special two-part weekday edition — there’s some stuff to keep you busy each evening from Monday through Thursday this week! This post will cover tonight and tomorrow night (Monday the 24th and Tuesday the 25th) and stay tuned for the rest to be posted tomorrow…

 

Continue reading →

What To Do In Pittsburgh This Weekend (22-23 September 2012)

Posted by valleyofsteel on

Happy Friday everyone!

Isn’t it so weird how time works? Or, our perception of time, anyway…

I mean, it feels like this week has been dragging on forever — like it seemed that the weekend would never get here (and now it’s just a few hours away!) But then, looking at the bigger picture, it feels like this year has been flying by. Like, it doesn’t seem like it should be September already, and here we are approaching the END of September!

And as of tomorrow, it’ll officially turn from summer to fall — which is fine with me, because I’m so sick of hot weather anyway, but my point is, time just seems to keep slipping away so fast… unless you’re stuck at work, that is.

Anyway, since summer’s basically over now, the schedule of local shows seems to have gotten a little bit lighter — but there’s still plenty of chances to get out there and rock out! (Or, to thieve the slogan from local printers Commonwealth Press on their new NHL-related tees, “Rock aht with your lock aht”!)

 
Continue reading →

Drones for Queens Hitting the Road This Weekend / Free EP Download!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

 
When I heard the name Drones for Queens, my immediate thought was that there are two different directions this band might be taking. On one hand, they could specialize in slow, drawn-out, ambient, meditative music that’s specifically targeted to homosexuals. The other possibility is that the name refers to worker bees who devote their entire lives to serving those at the top of the social hierarchy — perhaps using this concept as a metaphor for the conflict between the proletariat and bourgeoisie classes in human society.

Then, a quick peek at the cover art from their recent EP Health (see above) led me to believe that perhaps the second case was more likely.

But you can hear for yourself — in person, if you happen to live near the spots in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Virginia where the band will be making appearances over the next few days (starting with a hometown show in Philadelphia tonight) — or if it turns out you aren’t able to make it to any of these, you can still download your very own copy of Health for any amount you choose to pay!

 
First, here’s some more information on these guys, courtesy of Catharsis PR:

The two-man outfit is comprised of brothers Shane and Evan Madden (also of Rifflifter Touring) who spent years exploring the realms of doom and black metal in bands like Woods of Ypres, Woe, and The Green Evening Requiem before succumbing to a mutual desire to make raw, real, pissed off music. The result? Four tracks of virulent, noisy, thrashy grindcore, spat out with DIY fury but backed by label-hardened savvy; Health is fast, furious, and fucking intense. Recorded and mixed by Brian McKay at Audiolux in Philadelphia and Audiolab in Millville, New Jersey and mastered by Dan O’Hare, Health is a shotgun blast echoing out into a stale scene.

 
Continue reading →

Now Available: Low Man – Self-Titled EP

Posted by valleyofsteel on

 

Low Man – Low Man EP (self-released, 14 August 2012)

 
Hey there, friends and comrades, how are you all doing?! Feel free to imagine all the typical witty “oh man it’s Monday, I really hate Mondays” rhetoric here. Honestly, though, I’m not really feeling that terrible so far.

It could just be that I’m still not quite awake enough to really feel it yet, or maybe it could be a lingering positive feeling from watching (my local football team) the Steelers utterly demolish the visiting New York Jets yesterday. (By the way, if anyone reading this is a Jets fan, I’m sorry — for many reasons…)

But anyway, whatever the explanation, I think I’ll take advantage of this ultra-rare pleasant mood (relatively speaking, of course), and do something productive. The first thing I want to do is talk to you about Low Man.

Now I’ve mentioned these guys a time or two in the past, when they’ve had various shows scheduled, but I’ve never really taken the time to discuss the band at length before. And since they’ve recently released their self-titled debut EP (which has been online for the past few weeks, but will also be available on CD starting today), it seems like a good time to start!

 
Continue reading →

What To Do In Pittsburgh Tonight (17 September 2012)

Posted by valleyofsteel on

 

Pile, Old Accusers, Low Man

 

at the Mr. Roboto Project

5106 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Bloomfield)

 

Monday 17 September 2012 | 7:00 pm | $5 | All ages

 
The following description was lifted directly from Low Man‘s official Facebook event page:

Oh shit yes. Pile, our favorite proggy hardcore sons of the revolution are trekking out on tour from their beautiful city of Boston and stopping here in Pittsburgh just to have a good time with you.

How could that possibly get better? How about the fact that we invited local crushers Old Accusers to play as well? They’ve got a brand new album out, just like we do, and they’re going to rip your face off and use it as a frisbee.

As for your friendly neighborhood stoner punks, we’ll hopefully have a wonderful surprise in store, along with some new and old jams for your most devious pleasures. We’ll keep you in the loop on that shit, don’t you worry.

This is an all ages joint, right across from Spak Bros, so get a killer slice and a cream soda, and then cross the street to get your earholes blown out with your best friends in the world.

 
You can check out more information about all three bands (and hear previews of what you might expect at tonight’s show) at the following links: Pile, Low Man, Old Accusers

 
In addition, regarding that “wonderful surprise” that the band hinted at above, well the cat’s been let out of the bag now:

This is now the Official Low Man CD Release Party Thing, so if you want our new EP in a tangible form, bring your five dollar bills and you can have one!

 
Yeah, the band’s brand new self-titled EP is now available on CD as well — read my review of the album here, then head to Roboto tonight to grab your very own copy!

RSVP here.

What To Do In Pittsburgh This Weekend (14-15 September 2012)

Posted by valleyofsteel on

 

Solarburn CD Release Show

with special guests Sistered and Embers to Ashes

 

at Howler’s Coyote Cafe

4509 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh (Bloomfield)

 

Friday 14 September 2012 | doors 9:00 pm | $5 | 21+ only

 
Yes, folks, it’s finally here: the instrumental metal machine that is Solarburn is unleashing its brand-new debut album 13 (pictured below)! Come on out to Howlers to party with the band, and pick up a CD or one of their newly-designed t-shirts! Also joining in the festivities are local metalheads Sistered (hear ’em here) and Embers to Ashes.
 

This show also comes with a 100% face melt guarantee. If for any reason your face is not completely melted by the end of the show, simply approach any of the bands involved so we can promptly tell you to go fuck yourself….guaranteed!

 

 
RSVP here.

 
——————————————————-
 

 

 

Motorpsychos, VⒺⒼA, Black Plastic Caskets

 

at the 31st Street Pub

3101 Penn Avenue, Pittsburgh (Strip District at the 31st St. Bridge)

 

Saturday 15 September 2012 | 10:00 pm | $5 | 21+ only

 
If you head down to the Pub Saturday night, you’ll be in for a rip-roaring, hard-rocking, beer-guzzling good time. Or something like that. Join local bands Motorpsychos and VⒺⒼA in giving a warm welcome to our Ohio neighbors Black Plastic Caskets in their first-ever Pittsburgh performance!

You can RSVP and get more details on the show here and here.

 
——————————————————-
 

 

Click image to make more bigger

 

Concert Chaos Entertainment and Metalsucks Present:

Skeletonwitch, Havok, Early Graves, Horrid Ordeal

 

at The Smiling Moose (upstairs)

1306 E Carson Street, Pittsburgh (South Side)

 

Saturday 15 September 2012 | doors at 5:00pm | $12 advance, $15 at door | ALL AGES

 
Please note the venue and time change for this show! The poster says Ironworks but the show has been moved to The Smiling Moose! And the doors will be opening at five rather than six as previously reported. Also, Dethlehem was originally scheduled to perform, but due to the changes and the time constraints, they opted to drop off the billing for the evening. (Don’t worry, there will be some Dethlehem news coming your way in the very near future…)

Anyway, the show is being held upstairs, and it is an ALL AGES event, although there is a full-service bar in the lower level of the Moose. Check out some big (and semi-big) names, as they swarm their way through Pittsburgh!

You can get your tickets here, and then RSVP here.

Some Awesome News: New Bell Witch Album On Its Way Soon!!

Posted by valleyofsteel on

 
Ladies and Gentlemen and whoever else may be out there reading this: I just have two words for you. FUCK YEAH, NEW BELL WITCH!

And following that, a few more words: SHUT UP, I KNOW IT WAS FIVE WORDS, I CAN COUNT, HONESTLY!

Anyway, believe it or not, it’s been almost a year since the official release of the band’s demo EP (see it reviewed described in excruciating detail here.) And now reports are starting to come in about their upcoming full-length debut album, so it’s definitely time to start getting excited…

 
Late last night I stumbled across this little gem from Profound Lore Records, revealing the title and release date, and a sneak peek at one of the tracks! Well, half of a track anyway — only about the first eleven minutes’ worth. But still.

 

BELL WITCH – Album/Tour Announcement, New MP3 Posted

Published September 11, 2012 | By Profound Lore Records

 
Seattle extreme doom metal duo Bell Witch, comprised of bassist/vocalist Dylan Desmond (also of Samothrace fame) and drummer/vocalist Adrian Guerra, have completed their soul crushing debut album Longing along with announcing a U.S. tour to coincide with the release of Longing respectively.

By creating massive, epic, and crushing soundscapes of doom, all this merely with just bass, drums, and a dual vocal pummel, Longing expands on the promise Bell Witch laid down with their 2011 demo, which was seen as one of the best doom metal demos of last year. Longing (which features guest vocals by Erik Moggridge of Aerial Ruin on the track “Rows”) is a slow, time-stretching trodden journey through sounds of darkness, pain, and suffering and serves as one of the saddest, morose, and most despondent, stripped down, doom metal releases of the year.
 
Continue reading →