BLACK TUSK @ MOE’S ORIGINAL BAR B QUE 4/02/12 ENGLEWOOD-CO

Black Tusk are a sludge metal band from Georgia, formed in the mid 00’s they have branded their style as “Swamp Metal” stoner rock mixed with dirty, low-fi punk. With relentless percussion, buzzing bass tones, violent heavy bottom-end riffs and screamed vocals they create raw, cathartic sludge with more of a punk rock attitude. All of their three albums are excellent “Passage Through Purgatory” “Taste Of Sin” and “Set The Dial” Pure abrasive Southern swamp boogie metal!

Also playing: East Of The Wall – progressive/technical metal from New Jersey, Ghost Of Glaciers – atmospheric metal from Littleton and Kitezh – punk/metal? Denver?

FU MANCHU @ THE BLUEBIRD THEATER 9/14/10 DENVER-CO

Fu Manchu is a stoner rock band from San Clemente, CA that incorporates surf punk and desert rock into their sound. They started back in the 80’s as  hardcore punk band Virulence, and then change their style in 1990 to a more rock oriented. They have a new album coming in October, “Signs Of Infinite Power” a record that delivers gigantic doses of punk energy, hardcore drive and psychedelic grind.

Also playing: Black Tusk – Swamp metal from Savannah that has the fury of punk, with the precision of thrash metal within a familiar southern fried landscape. Black Lamb – Simple, fat, low, pure rock n’ roll from the Mile Hi City.

“SUMMER SOUTHERN BURN TOUR” @ LARIMER LOUNGE 7/02/10 DENVER-CO

Zoroaster – Experimental/shoegaze/psychedelic metal from Atlanta, formed in 2003 out of  “the need for sedation by high volumes and low frequencies.” Their live shows have been described as “an obliteration of the senses,” and they are also known as “Atlanta’s loudest band.”   

Black Tusk – Sludge metal from the swamps of Savannah, so called “Swamp-metal.” Black Tusk main distinguishing feature is the fact that all 3 members contribute lead vocals. They combine sludge metal, post metal, post hardcore with good old-fashioned southern rock.

Dark Castle – Gloom-metal from St. Augustine, Florida. Led by two establish tattoo artists, Stevie (girl) on guitar/vocals and Rob (boy) drums/vocals. Foward-thinking psychedelic laced doom is how they describe their sound.

NEW MUSIC

NACHTMYSTIUM – “Addicts: Black Meddle PT. 2”  Chicago’s own Nachtmystium is back with one of the best and strangest metal albums of the year. Blake Judd (vocals, guitars and bass)  and Pat Clancy (guitars) have mixed together psychedelic rock, droning ambient sounds, dance floor industrial and ’70s rock with advance black metal without forgetting where it came from, calling it “Black Metal Disco.” Songs like “No Funeral,” “Addicts,” “Nightfall” and “Blood Trance Fusion” stand out as some of the best experimental metal songs I have heard in a while.

GOATVARGR – “Black Snow Epoch.” A harsh journey of sound structures from the deepest caverns of hell, presented by Nordvargr and Goat.

THE OTHER – “New Blood.” Germany’s most popular horrorpunks.

SETHERIAL – “Ekpyrosis.” Black metal from Sweden, great album cover.

MELVINS – “The Bride Screamed Murder.” The 18th album from this stoner/sludge metal pioneers. This time around they are using more progressive overtones an inspired experimentation to come up with one of their best in years.

BLACK BREATH – “Heavy Breathing.” Real good thrash/sludge metal from Seattle.

ROWLAND S. HOWARD – “Pop Crimes.” Legendary (R.I.P.) guitar player for The Birthday Party and These Immortal Souls last album.

SOULFLY – “Omen.” Max Cavalera is back with more tribal metal. Get the deluxe edition it has a great cover of Excel’s “My Life.” 

SECRET CHIEFS 3 – “Satellite Supersonic Vol. 1.” New songs and re-arrangements of songs of several 2007 ep’s. Trey Spruance’s (Mr. Bungle) avant-garde side project that mixes surf-rock, death metal, electronic and jazz.

AEON – “Path Of Fire.” Technical death metal from Sweden.

ROSETTA – “A Determinism Of Morality.” Experimental post-metal from Philly, so called “Metal for Astronauts.”

MARC ALMOND – Variete.” English cabaret goth-rock singer from Soft Cell.

LIGHTNING SWORDS OF DEATH – “Extra Dimensional Wounds.” Black/thrash metal from L.A.

DEW-SCENTED – “Invocation.” German thrash metal.

BLACK TUSK – “Taste The Sin.” Swamp/thrash metal from Savannah.

STARKWEATHER – “This Sheltering Night.” Death Metal from Philadelphia.

GRAILS – “Black Tar Prophecies Vol. 4.” Instrumental post-rock from Portland.

MONDO GENERATOR – “Dog Food.” Punk metal from L.A. featuring Nick Oliveri.

DIABULUS IN MUSICA – “Secrets.” Symphonic metal with gothic elements from Spain.

THE DEVILS BLOOD – “The Time Of No Time Evermore.” Occult Dutch rock.

HORDE OF HEL – “Bloodskam II.” Industrial black metal from Sweden, pretty fucked up beliefs.

SUICIDAL ROMANCE – “Shattered Heart Reflections.” Electronic/industrial from Estonia.

SHIV-R – “Hold My Hand.” Dark industrial/electronic music from the UK.

GODLESS RISING – “The Trumpet Of Triumph.” Satanic death metal from New England.

THE GATES OF SLUMBER @ THE LARIMER LOUNGE-DENVER,CO. 4/01/10

The Gates of Slumber are coming to Denver! They’ll be bringing their traditional style of Doom Metal to the Larimer Lounge. Formed in 1998 these road warriors from Indianapolis have been touring non-stop for years, playing all over the world. Better known in Germany & most of Europe, they are touring for their 2009 release “Hymns of Blood and Thunder.” In my opinion, one of the years best metal albums. These members of “The Circle of True Doom” make this is a show not to be missed.

Headlining that night is Weedeater, sludge/stoner metal from North Carolina. They are self descibed “weed metal” for fans of Melvins, Down, Eyehategod & Crowbar.

Also playing is Black Tusk, a good thrash metal band from Georgia & Struck by Lightning crustpunxs from Ohio.