jesu s/t picture disc

For those of you (unlike me - ha!) who weren't lucky enough to pick up a copy of jesu's double picture disc version of their self titled debut full length, you may be surprised when you finally hear it.
It was purposely made to sound cleaner; and JKB has some remastered the original version to the one now available on their bandcamp page (http://jesu.bandcamp.com) now, and also as a digital download for $7.
The most stunning difference is on the track "We All Faulter" which, on it's state on this new remix is an almost ghost-like dub version of what you are probably used to.
Outstanding.
The whole thing is stripped down and bare; making an already rather introspective recording seem even more inwardly focused than before.

Tree of Sores - A Cry of Despair

England is a country where in the space of fifteen minutes you can travel from the green, verdant countryside much beloved of poets and artists into the depths of tortured inner cities where children live in poverty and there is seemingly no escape for anyone save a life of thankless toil and Friday nights down at the club.

England is also home to Tree of Sores.

Their second album, A Cry of Despair landed on my doormat a few weeks ago courtesy of Witch Hunter Records, and it would be no exaggeration to say that I have listened to it almost daily since.
I wanted to know it inside out, to listen to every part if it before I wrote about it, because I had been literally gushing about their debut album when I reviewed it on here and I was desperately hoping that it wasn't a one off.
Almost half an hour long, the one track on it travels from sparse sound-shapes, travelling up tracing the outline of huge sonic monoliths against a black sky. This is true Psycho-delia. I know that you know that I think that TOS are one of the best bands to come out if the UK in the past ten years, and their sophomore album just reinforces that opinion.
Almost hypnotic drumming and repetition through the middle section of the album, the whole thing being equal parts crushing and pummelling but also has that uplifting, hopeful feeling that JKB generally imbues his musical projects with.
I honestly can't say enough good things about this record.
It's available as a pay-what-you-like download with no minimum donation, and quite frankly I think you'd be a fucking idiot NOT to get a copy.

FOR: fans of Amebix, Kylesa, Godflesh. People with decent stereos.
NOT FOR: people who aren't prepared to sit still for half an hour.

http://treeofsores.bandcamp.com/
http://witchhunterrecords.bigcartel.com/

Iron Witch - Post Vegas Blues 7"

Local sludgemonsters Iron Witch are back with a new 7" on Thirty Days of Night records, entitled Post-Vegas Blues.

Starting off with a wall of feedback,
Gunshot Residue is a lolloping riff that kicks in before slowing down and locking into into a groove that only serves to soften you up for a punky thrash towards the middle of the track, fading out as it does with the ghost of the feedback that opened the track.
Then…riff.
Riff.
Rising from the mudflats at the mouth of the Mersey, Exceed the Dose crawls along full of bile, before the thrash kicks back in and it's a dirty storming head shaker, feet apart, shoulders hunched, drums going ten to the dozen in the background.
Side B's track, Post Vegas Blues, is a track that I assume is about the dreariness of returning to your shitty job after a week in party central.
That's certainly what it sounds like.

Iron Witch do what they do so well that every time I listen to them, it takes me back to the first time I saw them live, the height of summer in a packed Star and Garter on Manchester, absolutely roasting hot, drenched in sweat and full of cider;
Except that didn't actually happen.
I've not had the chance to see them live yet, but I feel as if I have, THAT'S HOW GOOD THEY ARE.

Get yourself over to
http://thirtydaysofnightrecords.bigcartel.com/
and order yourself some riffs.
It's ok, thank me later.

Bark at the Full Moon

Well, well well droogies (as Krusher may have once said). It's that time of year again, time for us to clue you up on a little shindig that's taking place in the fair Yorkshire city of Leeds on October 13th that you should all get off your fat arses and get along to, the Full Moon Dog festival. Taking place under the arches in the Cockpit club at Swinegate (excellently positioned by the train station), this year's edition of the festival in honour of Jay-Jay Winter of Asomvel, a friend to headbangers everywhere who died tragically on October 18th 2010, features such heavy metal luminaries as Orange Goblin, a treat with a set from Solstice, Asomvel themselves, Dark Forest, Stuka Squadron, Eliminator, Stilletto Farm and Mercanary, with a headliner still to be announced! You're looking at a good nine and a half hours of metal and socialising, without any of the false bullshit normally associated with scenes, just people getting together to celebrate the life of a guy who loved Heavy Metal as much as we do. What's more, the entire show will be filmed for DVD which you can pre-order here for the price of a round of beer (£15 fucking bargain). SO a recap; day full of metal in memory or Jay-Jay, top company, filmed for DVD, well cheap (£15 in advance), right by the station. All being well, see you at the front! Facebook Event Page Website Buy Tickets Preorder DVD

The Mayhems - Surfin' Moon

Vinyl Night

Listening to:

Randy Rhoads tribute, side 3

Battle of the Mascots

Awesome lineup, awesome flyer.

We can't wait to get our claws on this!

"Bård "Faust" Eithun (EMPEROR, BLOOD TSUNAMI, MONGO NINJA) and Tore Bratseth (a.k.a. Stud Bronson of THE BATALLION, OLD FUNERAL) have joined forces in a new project called STUDFAUST. They entered the studio in late November 2011 and the result was two dirty, firesparking tracks in the spirit of the old school of metal/punk. Music like this is rarely made nowadays with such authenticity and passion, and these veterans in the metal scene now show their musical muscles with a "piss-off" attitude.

Due on March 16 via Soulseller Records , this seven-inch single will most likely become a cult collector's item, with only 500 copies to be pressed."

Wode - 2011 Demo

There's something happening in Manchester, something dark.

Joining the ranks of blistering Black Metal from a city that seems to be turning into England's answer to Bergen (cold, wet, dark) are a new name, WODE, who present a three track demo of grim BM.

Much like fellow citizens Pine Barrens, Wode as as far removed from the bloated pomp of late 00s theatrical black metal as is possible.
Opening track Trails of Smoke is all blastbeats and tremolo picking, bringing to mind Arckanum with an underlying veneer of urban filth.
The blistering pace continues through Earthwrath, the second track, which is, quite frankly a big, black, whirling maelstrom of a track that rattles along, Beherit-style with enough South American type recklessness that it feels it might fall apart at any time, before all coming together and shuddering to a halt just a little over three minutes later.
Glorious.
Final track, Last Days, starts with a doomy dreary intro before the chaos rears up again, beneath this track's frostiness you can pick up a punky feel to the riffing, not in an obvious way like Darkthrone do or Venom have done on occasion, but more in the sneery, cynical attitude you suspect is behind it.
In essence then, a fine fist in the face of all the pomposity that crept into black metal towards the end of the last decade, and along with Pine Barrens and Wynterfylleth, another powerful band coming from sprawl of Mancunia.
Ones to keep an eye out for on 2012.

The demo is available to buy/download from the band, but hurry, only 100 cassettes have been created!!

The band are at tumblr, for now here is a stream of the first track;

Blood Cult Reborn

Long time Claw Faves Grimpen Mire have a new track available for streaming, Blood Cult Reborn.

It really is the shit.

Eyes and ears open for a new release soon!

Desertfest

What a lineup!!

UK People!

Thee Claw's top-tip-two thousand-twelve, Purson, are in session in BBC Radio tonight (Jan 9th)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b0198j3c

Cheers gang!

Still waiting to hear back from Iron Maiden!!

2011 - Patchie

There were an awful, awful lot of top releases, of which I know I have missed many, but here are a few highlights for me.

Ravens Creed - Nestless and Wild
-total thrash/death madness, true heavy metal!
Tree of Sores
-Unique future-crust, psychedelic crushing doom.
Anathema - Falling Deeper
-re imaginings of some of my favourite songs ever written, transcending genre.
Sigiriya - Return to Earth
- eclectic and unique, riding a wave of fuzz on a surfboard made of your favourite records.
Lifer - Cursing them Out
-good old 90s style head stomping metal. A breath of fresh air.
Arkham Witch - On Crom's Mountain
- British Steel. Lovecraft bangs his head and worships these riffs.
Lifelover - Sjukdom
- even more poignant after the death of B.
Peste Noire - L'Ordure à l'état
- utter headfuck of a black metal masterpiece.
Hateful Abandon - Move
- post-punk influenced urban blight
Rawhide - Branded for Life
- Sleazy rock n roll, like Entombed doing Motörhead.

Gig of the year has to go to Iron Maiden at the Belfast Odyssey Arena, not just for the show but the entire experience of a wonderful city in some beautiful surroundings.
Special mention to Ravens Creed, Arkham Witch and Sigiriya for the Devil's Church gig, which again was an awesome day out!

Now…off to await the big announcement Iron Maiden have planned for 9pm tonight…

Patchie

1989

Still holds up pretty well 22 years later…I dread to think what it would be like if the same magazine did it now though.

How many do YOU own?


Kerrang! 100 Greatest Heavy Metal Albums Of All Time poll from 1989

1. Led Zeppelin - Physical Graffiti
2. Van Halen - Van Halen
3. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin IV
4. Montrose - Montrose
5. Guns n'Roses - Appetite For Destruction
6. Def Leppard - Hysteria
7. Metallica - Master Of Puppets
8. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
9. Aerosmith - Rocks
10. AC/DC - Back In Black
11. Aerosmith - Permanent Vacation
12. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin II
13. Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks Here's The Sex Pistols
14. Rainbow - Rising
15. Deep Purple - In Rock
16. Metallica - Ride The Lightning
17. Judas Priest - Sad Wings Of Destiny
18. Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
19. Def Leppard - Pyromania
20. Aerosmith - Live Bootleg
21. Kiss - Alive
22. Blue Öyster Cult - Secret Treaties
23. Motörhead - No Sleep 'Til Hammersmith
24. Rush - 2112
25. New York Dolls - New York Dolls
26. AC/DC - Powerage
27. Slayer - Reign In Blood
28. UFO - Lights Out
29. Metallica - Kill 'Em All
30. Van Halen - Women And Children First
31. Black Sabbath - Black Sabbath
32. Journey - Escape
33. Legs Diamond - Legs Diamond
34. Queensryche - Operation: Mindcrime
35. Deep Purple - Machine Head
36. Kiss - Destroyer
37. Aerosmith - Draw The Line
38. Meat Loaf - Bat Out Of Hell
39. Black Sabbath - Paranoid
40. Bad Company - Bad Company
41. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?
42. Metallica - ... And Justice For All
43. Rush - Moving Pictures
44. Bon Jovi - Slippery When Wet
45. Motörhead - Overkill
46. Judas Priest - Screaming For Vengeance
47. UFO - Strangers In The Night
48. Black Sabbath - Vol 4
49. Bryan Adams - Reckless
50. Thin Lizzy - Live And Dangerous
51. Moot The Hoople - Live
52. Aerosmith - Toys In The Attic
53. Black Sabbath - Master Of Reality
54. Bon Jovi - Bon Jovi
55. The Stooges - Funhouse
56. UFO - Obsession
57. Black Sabbath - Sabotage
58. Motörhead - Ace Of Spades
59. Ted Nugent - Ted Nugent
60. Iggy And The Stooges - Raw Power
61. MC5 - Kick Out The Jams
62. Blue Öyster Cult - Agents Of Fortune
63. Angel - Angel
64. Judas Priest - Unleashed In The East
65. Iron Maiden - The Number Of The Beast
66. Def Leppard - High 'n' Dry
67. Van Halen - 1984
68. Magnum - Chase The Dragon
69. Iggy Pop - Instinct
70. David Lee Roth - Eat'em And Smile
71. Thin Lizzy - Thunder And Lightning
72. Blue Öyster Cult - Some Enchanted Evening
73. Judas Priest - Stained Class
74. Alice Cooper - Billion Dollar Babies
75. Deep Purple - Made In Japan
76. Van Halen - Van Halen II
77. Magnum - On A Storyteller's Night
78. Michael Bolton - Everybody's Crazy
79. Black Sabbath - Mob Rules
80. ZZ Top - Eliminator
81. Whitesnake - Ready An' Willing
82. Iron Maiden - Live After Death
83. Boston - Boston
84. Starz - Violation
85. Rush - Rush
86. Anthrax - Spreading The Disease
87. Foghat - Foghat Live
88. Queensryche - Rage For Order
89. David Lee Roth - Skyscraper
90. Mother's Finest - Iron Age
91. Iron Maiden - Iron Maiden
92. Blue Öyster Cult - On Your Feet Or On Your Knees
93. Jimi Hendrix Experience - Smash Hits
94. Starz - Starz
95.Saxon - Wheels Of Steel
96. AC/DC - If You Want Blood - You Got It
97. Uriah Heep - Look At Yourself
98. Queen - A Night At The Opera
99. Iron Maiden - Killers
100. Vinnie Vincent Invasion - Vinnie Vincent Invasion

Playlist of the Week (SJW Edition)

Listening:

BASTIONS "Hospital Corners"
BOSSE-DE-NAGE "II"
BRUTAL TRUTH "Walking Corpse 2112"
THE HEAVY EYES "Heavy Eyes"
LOW "C'mon"
METALLICA "2011.12.07 San Francisco (Night #2)"
ORANSSI PAZUZU "Kosmonument"
U.S. CHRISTMAS "Run Thick In The Night"

Watching:

A Charlie Brown Christmas
Black Mirror (Episode 3 "The Entire History of You")
Louis C.K. - Live at the Beacon Theatre

Suicide Rex

Our favourite Northerners (real Northerns that is) BLACK SUN are back with a new track! Suicide Rex is the name of their new demo and here it is for you to check out. Thee Claw has been in love with the twisted sounds of the BS vibe since forever now, we wish for the same feeling of delight to be instilled within each and every one of our readers. And now it can, just click on the following link!

X

Ten years since "Evil Chuck" Schuldiner passed away...ten years.
That's a whole generation that didn't get to see him play live, a whole generation who didn't get to feel the anticipation of waiting for a new Death/Control Denied album.
Imagine the progression extreme metal guitar may have experienced had he been with us a decade longer.

We miss you, Chuck.

Exclusive: BLACK MAGICIAN

Thee Claw presents an entire set (over 30 minutes in total) from Liverpool-based doom merchants Black Magician.

Recorded in near darkness at a gig in their home town on 3rd Dec 2011.

Vocals - Liam Yates
Guitar - Kyle Nesbitt
Bass - Kabir D'silva
Keyboards - Matt Ford
Drums - Jay Plested

http://www.facebook.com/Blackmagiciandoom

Enjoy.







Trivia: This show took place at the exact same time and date as doom legends Cathedral played their final show in London.