Crib Notes

Atlanta/Miami-based not-so-doom-laden stoner metal act Torche released its debut video for “Across The Shields,” just in time to promote their forthcoming North American and European tours with Kylesa, Coalesce and Harvey Milk.

A statement from the band reads:

This would, literally, be our ‘hot’ new video for “Across The Shields,” filmed last August on a day off from summer tour with Boris. David “Mr. Ham ‘n Eggs” Kleiler (Pelican, Early Man, Yo La Tango, Helium) stood safely behind the camera and ‘directed’ us suffering in the scorching heat. We’re still convinced that we almost lost Steve from the temp in his Bear suit. This clip is one of two videos (the other is coming soon!) we did for tracks from our last full length, Meanderthal, and which are also found on the recent 12″+DVD. Both were shot in a single day on the grounds of some secluded compound in the mountains of the Angeles National Forest. Lynne Hassell killed it on the furry suits… they’re so good that we can’t stop trying to cuddle ourselves…. instead we’ve got ‘em safely stored now at Hydra Headquarters so that we’ll have something to donate when the Rock and Roll Hall Fame comes knocking.

“Across The Shields” mp3

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Mastodon brought the Scion Rock Fest to a crashing finale on Saturday night. Scott Kelley from Neurosis made a cameo at the end of their set tearing through “Aqua Dementia” from Leviathan, “Crack the Skye” from their forthcoming full-length and “Crystal Skull” from Blood Mountain; which was preceded by an announcement from guitarist Brent Hinds that the cops were there to shut everything down.

Indeed they played slightly beyond 11 o’clock, but the show ended without incident.

In Purgatory inside the club, Zoroaster brought their set to a close with a noisy cluster of feedback and chaos after technical difficulties inspired bass player /vocalist Brent Anderson to kick over his entire bass rig. At some point during the melee a drum cymbal stand was propelled upward like a rocket and stabbed drummer Dan Scanlan in the roof of his mouth (which was pretty hardcore).  Afterward he looked dazed, but appeared to be no worse for the wear as he smoked cigarettes and recalled the story. At a metal festival of such caliber there’s bound to be some carnage.

Speaking of carnage, Norwegian black metal band 1349 wrapped up their set across the hall in Hell, shortly after the Zoroaster incident. Rumor had it that they had adorned their stage with severed pig heads mounted on spikes. If they were there the crowd had devoured them before I made my way into the room. At the end, vocalist Ravn lurched at the crowd in full corpse paint and blood stained hands, slapping high fives and grunting a ghastly war cry.

This was the real deal on all fronts. After stellar performances from Neurosis, Wolves in the Throne Room, Boris, Kylesa, Torche and so many others there was a feeling of wasted annihilation in the air, as though Cloverfield had paid a visit to the Masquerade Music Park and left a massive footprint in the dark red mud that stained so many shoes and pant legs of concert goers who filed out with ringing ears and a touch of whiplash.

(Photo by Chad Radford)

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Apocalyptic Visions’ singer/guitarist Sam Cuadra, is one of the artists featured in CL’s cover story this week, Damn Hipsters:  The quest for validation may be Atlanta’s only vice.

With 30 of the world’s most formidable metal bands descending upon Atlanta this weekend, it’s worthy to note that several bands, including including Apocalyptic Visions are locals. Zoroaster, Withered, Apocalyptic Visions and Torche and Mastodon all call Atlanta home. Harvey Milk are Athens Natives and both Baroness and Kylesa hail from Savannah.

It’s needless to say that Georgia is well represented at The Scion Rock Fest. The following list offers just a taste of the sights and sounds to behold this weekend.

Apocalyptic Visions “Move and Appear”
Zoroaster “Spirit Molecule”
Zoroaster “White Dwarf”

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Criminal Records announced this week that they have added Savannah’s Kylesa to the line-up for their pre SCION Rock Fest in-store that’s taking place on Fri., Feb. 27, the night before the festival at the Masquerade. So for anyone who’s keeping a tab, the line-up for the Criminal in-store now includes Kylesa, Skeletonwitch and Atlanta’s very own Withered.

In other news, this week Zoroaster — who will also perform at the SCION Rock Fest — released another new song from their forthcoming new album, The Voice of Saturn, through Brooklyn Vegan. The song is called “White Dwarf” and it features a searing guitar solo from Mastodon guitarist Brent Hinds.

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Static Tensions, the new album from Savannah metal staple Kylesa, now has a face. This week the group unveiled the album’s cover art — created by Baroness’ John Dyer Baizley and produced by the band’s guitarist/vocalist Phillip Cope (Baroness, Withered).

The album is scheduled for a March 17 release via Prosthetic Records. In the meantime you can hear the song “Said and Done” from the new album at Kylesa’s Myspace page.

“’Said and Done’ was the first song we wrote for Static Tensions and has a little bit of everything that can be heard on the album,” explains guitarist/vocalist Laura Pleasants in a press release. “We think it is a good introduction.”

Kylesa plays the SCION Rock fest at the Masquerade on Sat. Feb. 28th and again at the Masquerade on Fri., April 24th with the Haunted, Nachtmystium.

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The flier don’t lie. The Scion Rock Fest at the Masquerade’s outdoor Music Park on Sat., Feb. 28th is going to be a free, ticketed show and the line-up is truly astounding.

There’s a lot of clamor clogging up the blog world right now from people who are wondering where they can get tickets. Criminal Records and Decatur CD both have them for sure. A more comprehensive list of where to get tickets will be made a available at LambGoat.com on Thurs., Jan. 22.

Earlier this afternoon I was waiting in line at Criminal Records when a couple of kids asked about tickets. The clerk said that they are limited to two per customer and the recipients had to leave their e-mail address on file with them…

The Masquerade is located at 695 North Ave. 404-577-8178. Doors open at noon and close at midnight.

***Update***

According to Criminal Records’ weekly newsletter:

Go to the Scion Rock Fest website and give them your e-mail address (yep, that’s the catch!). And then, Scion will send you a confirmation e-mail on 1/28 (or some date thereabouts). You print out that e-mail and bring it in for your tickets. For reals.

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Savannah’s punk-metal-hardcore ogres Kylesa have announced March 17th as the release date for their next record Static Tensions (Prosthetic Records).

The record’s release coincides with a full-fledged tour of the U.s. with the haunted and Glass House, which kicks-off Thurs., Apr. 2.

Kylesa guitarist/vocalist Phillip Cope produced Static Tensions, which was recorded at the Jam Room in Columbia, S.C.  Cope boldly claims that the songs on Static Tensions are the group’s “best work yet.”

The album’s artwork was created by by Baroness’ John Dyer Baizley, and the album will see will a vinyl release on the same day via 20 Buck Spin.

Kylesa “Where the Horizon Unfolds.”

(Tour dates and Static Tension track list below the jump).

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Savannah’s blackened metal masters Kyleasa recently finished recording their fourth full-length, due out on Prosthetic Records in ‘09, and are heading to Japan in Januray. The journey to the land of the rising sun is in support of the Japanese release of their 2006 album, Time Will Fuse Its Worth (Red Cobalt Industries).

Before they leave for Japan Kylesa will play three stateside shows with crust punk legends, Amebix.

Kylesa tour dates:
1/29-Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY (w/ Amebix)
1/30-AS220 – Providence, RI (w/ Amebix)
1/31-Starlite Theater – Philadelphia, PA (w/ Amebix)
2/6 -Huck Finn – Nagoya, Japan
2/7-Earthdom – Tokyo, Japan
2/8 -TBA – Tokyo, Japan
2/11-51 – Gifu, Japan
2/13-Graf – Fukuoka, Japan
2/14-Club Squad – Yamaguchi, Japan
2/15-Club Drop – Osaka, Japan

(Photo by Jan Schwarzkamp).

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