Thursday 30 July 2009

Scorn 0)))

There was an interesting point in the Friday night schedule at this year's Supersonic Festival (Birmingham, UK) when SUNN 0))) and SCORN both played separate sets in different rooms, at the exact same time. I personally took the plunge and watched SUNN 0))) (my 8th time I think). But I really wish that I had taken the opportunity to check out SCORN... even if only for a few minutes... after all, anything involving Mick Harris has got to be worth checking out. Ah well, I made my choice and I will stick with it. SOMA & THEE LORD rarely fail to deliver and they didn't on this occassion either.

But.

I am hearing that there was a chance to experience a totally unique performance, by BOTH bands at once, at the same time, in one go. What?? Rumour has it that Birmingham was treated to a weird-yet-huge humming sound, across a half-mile radius of the inner city. However I imagine that there was also a small pocket of space in the Custard Factory complex, located somewhere between the 2 sets being played where, if you chose your positioning carefully, you had an opportunity to centre yourself on a patch of ground where the sounds of the 2 artists combined together to create a one-off, unrepeatable band - SCORN 0))).

The source of the legend is none other than Sir Walter Of Roadburn, who described hearing the event from afar as follows:
Another highlight was definitely Scorn 0))). It was incredible to hear Sunn 0)))'s low end assault and Scorn's industrial dub step on top of it. It was like seeing this imaginary band at the bar near stage 2. I went back early on Friday night, and while staying at the Paragon hotel (which was like a mile away) I could hear Sunn 0))) perfectly at my hotel room. What do you expect from 131 db's???? It was also utterly surreal when walking back, accompanied by Sunn 0))) and seeing some industrial wasteland in Birmingham by night. This had a profound impact on me.

What chance luck this man has! This is as rare as a solar eclipse landing on your doorstep. No wait, rarer still. At least you can predict solar eclipses, for Christ's sake.

The only thing that can possibly make me feel better (for being present but not witnessing this enormous yet unnoticed occurrence) is that I was at the THORR'S HAMMER / CORRUPTED show in London 2 days later to watch Runhild from TH crowd surfing during CORRUPTED'S set. But then, again, that also meant I wasn't back at the Custard Factory to see GOBLIN doing their thing.

Scheduling can be both the bane and the elixir of life. Your choice which way you see it folks!

Sunday 26 July 2009

Supersonic 2009

Hello from Birmingham!

Well, not Birmingham really - more like a motorway services just outside Brum. We're here on the road again, on our way from Superonic to London for tonight's show at Scala with The Accused, Thorr's Hammer and Corrupted. Right now everyone in our group is pretty hung over and needing more sleep. Rock and fucking Roll or what!

We've already been through 2 days of Supersonic, Fri & Sat, and it was a good event for sure. Lots of top bands played, and we were there to check em out on your behalf. That's what we're here for, after all. The first night (Friday) included performances from ATOMIZED, KYLIE MONOISE, SUNN 0))), VENTIAN SNARES and more. Yesterday (Saturday) we checked out ROSE KEMP, IRON LUNG, THE ACCUSED, THORR'S HAMMER, CORRUPTED and a whole host of other good shit that I can't recall right now (or can't spell even haha).

Really enjoyed catching up with all of of friends from around the UK, including the boys from BLACK SUN (Russell is a legend), THEY ARE COWARDS (all of them!), plus others.

We checked out a couple of Q&A sessions that were held in the Supersonic cinema space (perfomance space even), including one about the state of the independant music scene in the digital age. later on there was a great half-hour interview with the guys from Sunn 0))) and Nick Bullen (he of NAPALM DEATH and Grindcore renoun). A great excuse to sit down in a darkened room for 30 minutes and get an education about the roots of the music that we know and love, all being told in the home of metal, Brumingham.

Okay, time to get back on the road. Only 150 miles (or so) to London now, and guess what, I'm the damn chauffeur. Haha, big mistake! Once we get to the hotel down the The Smoke then I'm hoping they will have some in-room internet access. If so, photos to follow.

One last note - if you are a fan of cider, see if you can track down agreat brand called Hogans. Fucking lovely stuff.

Saturday 25 July 2009

Our Man On The Spot

SJW is living it up at Birmingham's Supersonic Festival, before heading off to London tomorrow for Corrupted and Thorr's Hammer.
Expect muchos photos when he gets back, and maybe some words too.
For now though, you can get regular updates on our Twitter Page.

Wednesday 22 July 2009

Tom Gabriel Warrior Named As Curator For Roadburn 2010

Roadburn is very pleased to announce that Tom Gabriel Warrior, founder of the illustrious Hellhammer and Celtic Frost, has agreed to act as the curator for our festival on Friday, April 16th 2010, and host a special event at Roadburn, called Only Death Is Real.

Tom's duties as curator include personally selecting the bands that will play on Only Death Is Real, as well as to perform the first major headlining set with his latest incarnation, Triptykon. Tom will be Roadburn’s third curator, following up on David Tibet in 2008 and Neurosis earlier this year, and we would call his election a perfectly natural progression.



We are overjoyed to have secured Tom's involvement in Roadburn this year, as he stands as a truly groundbreaking artist, with his previous bands having been extremely divisive, as is often the case with truly unique and original works of art. Ultimately his canon of work would prove not only legendary but hugely inspirational for an entire generation of musicians in the metal, doom and dark psychedelic scenes.

Tom has always enjoyed pushing the envelope musically and challenging boundaries, and it was entirely that mindset that made him a perfect fit to act as our curator. It has been a constant goal of ours to keep Roadburn a festival that not only celebrates the established but charts new territory, and we could think of no better spirit guide than Tom Gabriel Warrior. We are looking forward to the new ideas that he will bring to our festival, as we feel that we are truly kindred spirits.

Tom Gabriel Warrior: "It is a surprise and an honor to be asked by Roadburn to act as a curator, and I am accepting this extraordinary opportunity with much gratitude and due humility. In my eyes, Roadburn is one of the most courageous and artistic festivals in existence, and its history is, in essence, a list of concerts by groups I deeply admire. It is quite a challenge to follow such footsteps, both as a curator and as a musician. I will try my very best to ensure that the groups I intend to propose to the organizers of Roadburn will be as ravishingly dark, unique, and exciting to the festival's visitors as they are to me."

Holland’s very own Roadburn Festival has become Europe’s leading underground festival for psychedelic, avant-garde, doom or any other variation of leftfield sonic pleasure at pushing the boundaries of music.

In addition to the music, Roadburn has earned a reputation as having a unique camaraderie between the festivalgoers, bands, organizers and staff, and ranks as one of the best and most laid-back festivals to be experienced.

Roadburn 2010, including Tom Gabriel Warrior's Only Death Is Real, will run for three days from Thursday, April 15 to Saturday, April 17 at the 013 venue and Midi Theatre in Tilburg, Holland. There will be an additional afterburner event on Sunday, April 18, 2010.

Saturday 18 July 2009

Next week...

 
Stay tuned for photos and reviews from the jewel in Birmingham's crown.

Thursday 16 July 2009

This week

LIFELOVER - Konkurs/Pulver MSG - The Micheal Schenker Group/MSG Darkthrone - Panzerfaust AC/DC - If You Want Blood You've Got It Mayhem - Life Eternal / Deathcrush jesu - Heart Ache Witch Cross - Fit For Fight

Lazy Youtube Post



Classic European heavy metal band from Denmark. Their only album was recorded by the same engineer of cult HM gems such as Mercyful Fate's "Melissa" and "Don't Break The Oath", Henrik Lund at Easy Sound Recordings, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Singer Alex Nyborg Madsen and Mike Wlad later turned up in Danish act Harlot, who released one album in 1989. Alex also became the singer of Led Zeppelin Jam. In 1993, the first album with his new band, Savage Affair, was released. He is also a well-known radio host and hosted a TV show in the late 90's.

Fuck



W O R S H I P

 
This week has seen lots of MSG, UFO and Scorpions worship at Claw Towers. I'd like to recommend it to all of you.

Out Now: Ravens Creed CD


Get ye some CREED! Albion Thunder is now available to purchase from Doomentia Records - THEE CLAW's album of the month!

We saw these guys in concert last year, a great show and a top gang of guys. I can hardly wait for this CD to drop through my door.

Friday 10 July 2009

Listening To: New Judas Priest


Excellent live recording by THE METAL GODS! Go seek this bad boy and get yerself a copy!

Monday 6 July 2009

For Thee True Few...



Must give a shout out to my mate and long time metal connesuir Thee Mighty Paul Shaw who brought this site to our attention, he has also contributed to it, so click the link and support Temple Of Snakes and listen to some excellent podcasts and also some great metal tunes old and new!!!
Cheers paul fella!!!!