Fresh off of a show at Music Hall of Williamsburg Tuesday night, Dr. Dog offer up a new video for Fate standout "The Ark." I'm starting to realize that they're very diligent about their explanations. When first we heard this track, the band shed some light on the lyrics:

Nine Inch Nails @ Izod Center, 8/27/2008
999,999 / 1,000,000 / Letting You / Discipline / March of the Pigs / Head Down / The Frail / Reptile / Closer (with a bit of The Only Time) / Gave Up / The Warning / Vessel / 5 Ghosts I / 17 Ghosts II / 19 Ghosts III / Piggy / The Greater Good / Pinion / Wish / Terrible Lie / Survivalism / The Big Come Down / 31 Ghosts IV / Only / The Hand That Feeds / Head Like A Hole // Echoplex / God Given / The Good Soldier / Hurt / In This Twilight (with Zero Sum outro)

This concert was astonishing. I went in expecting it to rock, and to look cool, but they went much further than that. The performance was a balance of precision and passion; the lighting design was sophisticated and, at times, unlike anything else I've ever seen. It's impossible to come away from this show without feeling this incredible awe for Trent Reznor and his level of craft. The band could've shown up and rocked out with standard lighting, and we'd all go home extremely happy, but he is compelled to go well beyond simple expectations, and likely bleed an enormous amount of his own money to stage an event that is itself a remarkable and complicated work of art. Reznor has nothing to prove; the motivation is entirely driven by his own pride and eagerness to blow the minds of his loyal fan base. I've seen a lot of incredible shows by great musicians, but I don't think I've ever seen anything where the artist seemed to care as much about every conceivable detail. It's enough to make me wonder why it seems that so few people work anywhere near as hard as this Reznor.

Nine Inch Nails "Discipline" - So, yes, "Discipline" is the keyword for this show. Ironically, the song itself is about craving some form of enforced control, but I suppose that's not at all removed from the psychology that yields this sort of perfectionist work ethic. Taken as a whole, the NIN discography is mainly concerned with a struggle between focus and control vs. decay and apathy, and that conflict is dramatized from without as much as within. In some cases, outside control is a fascist nightmare, but in the case of "Discipline," it's more about desiring the structure imposed by people who actually care about your well-being. It's a little vague -- it could be about work, or about staying sober, or it could just be sexual, but it's benign. It comes from the same place as "Closer," i.e. "I am a mess, but you make me better." The groove is sexy, with a taut disco beat and a lean yet muscular sound that neatly echoes the lyrical sentiment. It's an obvious hit; I can't help but imagine that everyone who worked with Reznor at Interscope over the past several years heard the song and wanted to punch him in the face for giving it away for free. (Click here to get The Slip for free from NIN's official site.)

Nine Inch Nails "God Given" - Though half of The Slip was played in this show, the emphasis was placed on material from Year Zero. I enjoy The Slip well enough, but I'm a Year Zero fan, in part because it is the record in which Reznor focuses on my favorite aspects of his music: groove and electronic texture. It's very impressive to watch his band nail these sounds in live performance; it's the sort of thing that makes me wonder why more bands aren't fully integrating these electronic elements without sacrificing the rawness of a standard guitar-centric rock performance. There's no either/or in NIN's live show -- the band are fully capable of nailing whatever arrangement and aesthetic demanded of them, whether it's a broken video game review, ersatz disco, metal, or the delicate acoustic textures of the Ghosts interlude midway through the concert. (I'm sure the roadies are thrilled to move around Trent's enormous vibraphone every night.) (Click here to buy Year Zero from Amazon.)

The Capstan Shafts @ Stannard Church, Stannard VT, 10/6/07 (tasrepus)

"On October 6th, Dean Wells (aka the Capstan Shafts) played his first-ever live show at a tiny church in Stannard, Vermont." [Matt LeMay, PitchforkMedia.com]

I think The Capstan Shafts then visited NYC soon after to play a small CMJ-related show. I have no idea what the Jandek-like Dean Wells has been doing since. Probably writing music...With over 17 releases since 1999 (self-released under his own Ladder The Xmas Monkey and through labels such as Asaurus and Yellow Mica), describing The Capstan Shafts as steadily prolific would be an understatement. However, until now, there has never been a properly distributed release, although word on Wells' deliriously prodigious recordings has been percolating in the indie pop underground and building momentum with each new release. The band has signed to Rainbow Quartz in 2007 to release a brand new 29-track LP, environ maiden. (Think early GBV meets Lou Barlow with a dash of the entire Elephant 6 collective.)
[from an October 2007 press release]I do know what The Captain Shafts is doing tonight (Aug 28, 2008) though. He's playing a show at the Knitting Factory in NYC with the great Charles Bissell of the Wrens and Get Him Eat Him, WHO, is fronted by Captain Shafts fan and Pitchfork writer Matt LeMay.

Some of my favorite online destinations have been raving about a sultry new disco-pop group called Fan Death. While the jams on their myspace are all pretty consistently sexy, "Veronica's Veil" is the obvious "hit" (12" coming soon): a string-laden after-hours gem with an authentic retro-disco feel, the song sounds like the most spellbinding Italians Do It Better single of the year. It's new(er), darker, vaguely Knife-like song "The Constellations," though, that's been on repeat all day, rendering me enamored with the mysterious duo. Hopefully we'll be hearing more from these two in the near future.

mp3:
fan death :: veronica's veil
fan death :: the constellations

************************************************

unrelated:

Looks like Radiohead may be planning some sort of webcast for later in the day. Stay tuned, if you care about that sort of thing.

************************************************

As mentioned previously, AC/DC's forthcoming Black Ice will only be available through Wal-Mart, Sam's Club, and the band's website. For now, you can hear the first single "Rock 'N Roll Train" at acdc.com, where you'll also learn the album's out 10/20 and the band's going on tour, their first since 2001, in late October. The song's not bad, actually -- which means we have to reserve that "Rock 'N Roll Train Wreck" pun for Metallica.

As we said on premature evaluation day: unexpectedly, the Walkmen are a band that matters in 2008, and You & Me is one for the year-end lists.
"In The New Year" came as the advance track, and gave the record's relationship-focused narrative some framing: Ham on about hopes and resolutions, turning inward through the snow and through the therapy sessions, while the band soundtracked the stroll masterfully -- woozy, fighting for balance, traipsing downhill. The video doesn't really tap the Walkmen's potential for awkardness or drunknness, though. Instead director Norman Coady sets Leithauser up against a backdrop of Nosferatu clips, keeping it black & white and spooky, Hamilton straining at the mic as he finds himself superimposed into things dark, and evil, and relatively ancient.

Janene Bushey, who is 53 and has seen Diamond 14 times, said, "I about fainted when he came out and said, 'Hello, Columbus,' because I knew something was wrong."

Neil Diamond @ MSG (more by Eric M. Townsend)
After a subpar performance Monday night in Value City Arena, Neil Diamond yesterday apologized and offered refunds to the 11,000 people who attended the concert.

"Dear Fans in Columbus," the singer said in a statement, "I haven't let you down before, and I won't let you down now. Until you hear from me again remember, You are the sun. I am the moon. You are the words. I am the tune. Forgive me. I love you. Neil."

Diamond, whose voice was extremely hoarse throughout the show, said yesterday that he is suffering from acute laryngitis. Ordered by doctors to rest his voice, he canceled his two other shows this week -- today in Green Bay, Wis., and Friday in St. Louis.

Some industry veterans said they'd never heard of a performer offering refunds because of the quality of the show.
[The Columbus Dispatch]Remaining tour dates below...

Neil Diamond - 2008 Tour Dates
Sep 10 - Reschedule-Scottrade Center St. Louis, Missouri
Sep 12 - Reschedule- Resch Center Green Bay, Wisconsin
Sep 14 - MTS Centre Winnipeg, Manitoba
Sep 16 - Rexall Place Edmonton, Alberta
Sep 18 - Pengrowth Saddledome Calgary, Alberta
Sep 20 - General Motors Place Vancouver, British Columbia
Sep 22 - Rose Garden Portland, Oregon
Sep 24 - Key Arena Seattle, Washington
Sep 26 - Arco Arena Sacramento, California
Sep 28 - HP Pavilion San Jose, California
Oct 1 - Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, California
Oct 2 - Hollywood Bowl Hollywood, California
Oct 4 - Staples Center Los Angeles, California
Oct 7 - San Diego Sports Arena San Diego, California
Oct 10 - Jobing.com Arena Glendale, Arizona
Oct 12 - AT&T Center San Antonio, Texas
Oct 14 - Toyota Center Houston, Texas
Oct 16 - American Airlines Center Dallas, Texas
Oct 19 - Ford Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Oct 21 - BOK Center Tulsa, Oklahoma
Oct 24 - St. Pete Times Forum Tampa, Florida
Oct 26 - BankAtlantic Center Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
Oct 28 - Amway Arena Orlando Orlando, Florida
Oct 30 - Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena Jacksonville, Florida

photos by Chris La Putt

Nada Surf

Frank Bango

(Dean and) Britta

Nada Surf (acoustic), Dean & Britta, Richard Buckner, Sam Champion, Scott Matthew, Tara Angell & David Poe, Simone White and Frank Bango himself performed at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC on Tuesday night in order to raise money for Frank Bango.Bango, who has just completed nearly two years of cancer treatments, is incredibly grateful for the generosity of The Bowery and his friends. The Bowery Ballroom has been Frank's home as a bartender, bar manager, musician and fan for almost ten years.The show started at 8 and ran until around 1 am, More pictures below....

Scott Matthew...

Richard Buckner...

Sam Champion...

Simone White...

Tara Angell & David Poe...

Victoria Williams...

Dean & Britta...

Frank Bango...

In other news, Frank Bango just released "The Sweet Songs of Decay", his latest full-length, which was recorded mostly in New York at Jack McKeever's Maid's Room Studio and in Frank's NYC apartment, as well as in Hoboken, New Jersey.

Bango produced the record with help from numerous friends and allies including Sean Eden (Luna), Steve Calhoon (Pretendo, Skeleton Key, Vic Chesnutt, Daniel Johnston), Jane Scarpantoni, Joan Wasser, Graham Maby (Joe Jackson), Jeremy Chatsky, and Bango's longtime band The Magic Fingers. The record was mixed by Pete Min and Ed Stasium (Talking Heads, The Ramones, The Smithereens, among countless others).Nada Surf....

Birdmonster's new Tom Schick-produced album From The Mountain To the Sea is out early next month. We posted its "Born To Be Your Man" at the beginning of July and here we have the video for another Mountain track "The Iditarod." We're told the clip uses SLAM (aka Slide, Animation, Movies), a visual technique invented/coined by Greg Crane. The explanation:

Not too different from your standard stop-motion animation, SLAM takes the aesthetics to a new arty level. 95% of the video was created using digital still photos from a professional/high-end camera. Approximately 1800 shots were painstakingly and meticulously pasted together to establish that "motion."

Kind of like the technique used by Polyphonic Spree and Kaki King, though their processes didn't sound like a Chuck Palahniuk novel. Off to the races:

No, not as a joke writer. But Adam Schlesinger does continue to write awesome songs for fun things. Adding to his resumé as Oscar, Golden Globe, Tony, and of course Grammy nominated songwriter, the Fountains Of Wayne singer-guitarist revealed to Paste he will pen tunes for The Colbert Report's Christmas Special. This is great news because Adam's songs got it going on ("Stacy's Mom" reference) and also because there will be a Colbert Report Christmas Special. More on why Adam wins at film and TV songwriting: this. (via Whit)

Fuck Buttons @ McCarren Pool (more by Kyle Dean Reinford)

ATP NY will run a bus from Manhattan and Brooklyn to Kutshers. More info and the weekend's set times and stage breakdown, below...

FRIDAY 19TH SEPT - DON'T LOOK BACK STAGE 1

BUILT TO SPILL - 11.20PM - 12.50AM
THURSTON MOORE - 9.15PM - 10.30PM
TORTOISE - 7.45PM - 8.45PM
MEAT PUPPETS - 6.00PM - 7.00PM
BARDO POND - 4.30PM - 5.30PM

STAGE 2

PATTON OSWALT - 10.30pm - 11.15pm
EUGENE MIRMAN - 10pm 10.25pm
MARIA BAMFORD - 9.30pm -9.55pm
JOE DeROSA - 9.00pm - 9.25pmSATURDAY 20TH SEPT - CURATED BY ATPSTAGE 1

LIGHTING BOLT - 12.45am - 1.30am
SHELLAC 11.30PM - 12.30AM
LES SAVY FAV 10PM - 11PM
POLVO 8.45PM - 9.30PM
AUTOLUX 7.30PM - 8.15PM
EDAN with Guest Dagha 6.05PM - 7PM
FUCK BUTTONS 4.45PM - 5.35PM
THE DRONES 3.30PM - 4.15PM
APSE 2.15PM - 3PM

STAGE 2

THEE SILVER MOUNT ZION 9.45PM - 11.15PM
LOW 8.15PM - 9.00PM
OM 6.45PM - 7.45PM
HARMONIA 5.30PM - 6.15PM
WOODEN SHJIPS 4.15PM - 5.00PM
GROWING 3.00PM - 3.45PM
ALEXANDER TUCKER 1.30PM - 2.15PMSUNDAY 21ST SEPT - CURATED BY MY BLOODY VALENTINESTAGE 1

MY BLOODY VALENTINE - 12am - 1.30am
DINOSAUR JR. - 10.00pm - 11.00pm
MOGWAI - 8.15pm - 9.15pm
YO LA TENGO - 6.45pm - 7.30pm
MERCURY REV - 5.30pm - 6.15pm
EPMD - 4.15pm - 5.00pm
ROBIN GUTHRIE - 3.00pm - 3.45pm

STAGE 2

BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE - 10.45pm - 11.45pm
BOB MOULD - 9.15pm - 10.00pm
TRAIL OF DEAD - 8.00pm - 8.45pm
SPECTRUM - 6.45pm - 7.30pm
LILYS - 5.15pm - 6.00pm
GEMMA HAYES - 4.00pm - 4.45pm
WOUNDED KNEES - 2.45pm - 3.30pm
LE VOLUME COURBE - 1.30pm - 2.15pmBUS TO ATP We will be running two coach's up to ATP New York for all of you who don't fancy driving. One bus will leave from Manhattan and one bus will leave from Brooklyn, both at 11:00am on Friday September 19th. Both buses will be making drops at Kutshers Country Club and The Raleigh. They will return to Manhattan and Brooklyn, leaving Kutshers and the Raleigh around 11:00am on Monday September 22nd. Return ticket costs $40 per person. Tickets must be purchased in advance.

If you are interested in reserving a place on the bus or finding out more, please email transport@atpfestival.com.

Before Be Your Own Pet made a video for the banned-in-the-USA tune "Becky," we told you the Tennessee punks were calling it quits after their UK tour. It's now after their UK tour. They are no longer. While drying your tears, you can watch footage of Jemina & Co. giving it their all this past Tuesday (8/26) at Dingwalls in London. The guys take off their shirts. The audience comes on stage. Jemina does that Karen O hand on the hip thing a lot. A good time was had. Any guesses what they played last?

Roisin Murphy

"CMJ Music Marathon & Film Festival, New York's largest music event and one of the world's most important showcases of new music artists, has announced its 2nd round of confirmed music performers." The entire list is below...

Violens @ South Street Seaport (more by Chris La Putt)
3OH!3, A Place to Bury Strangers, Aa, Adept Aggrolites, AIDS Wolf Albertans, Amazing Baby Ambulance Ltd, An Albatross, Andy From Denver, Ane Brun, Anna Ternheim, Annuals, Another Black Day, Anthony Green, Appolo Heights, Arbouretum, Ariel Pink and Geneva Jacuzzi, Au, Audrye Sessions, Autodrone, Averkiou, Awkward Stage, B.O.B., Bailiff, Beach House, Bearsuit, Bell, Benji Cossa, Bison B.C.,Black Hollies, Black Taxi, BM Linx, Bonne Aparte

Brighton, MA, Broken Social Scene, Bryan Scary, Bury Your Dead, Cadence, Canasta, Canon Logic, Caroline Weeks, Catcall, Cause Co-Motion!, Charles Burst, Charlie Louvin, Coathangers, Collections of Colonies of Bees, Cool Kids, Cotton Jones, Crystal Castles, Crystal Stilts, Cut Off Your Hands, Dallas Austin Experience, David Banner, Deanna Devore

Death Vessel, Deerhoof, Del McCoury Band, Delta Spirit, Die! Die! Die!, Dive Index, DMBQ, Donavon Frankenreiter, Donovan Quinn, Doug Paisley, Dungen, Eagle Seagull, Envy On The Coast, Eulogies, Eux Autres, Experimental Dental School, Fiasco, Fight Bite, Five Finger Death Punch, Florence and the Machine, Flying, Franki Chan, Friendly Fires, Fujiya & Miyagi, Gang Gang Dance, Gliss, Good Times Crisis Band, Growing, Hackman

HeartsRevolution, Hecuba, Hey Rosetta, Higgins, High Places, Ho-ag, Hollywood Holt, Hopewell, Hospital Bombers, Hot Panda, Ifwhen, Immaculate Machine, In This Moment, IRAN, Ironweed, James Jackson Toth, Japanese Motors

Jay Reatard, Joan Osborne, Joe Pug, Jukebox The Ghost, Juliana Hatfield, Jungle Brothers, Jupiter One, Karkwa, Kid Sister, King Khan & The BBQ Show, King Tuff, Lacona, Late of the Pier, Lee "Scratch" Perry, Left to Vanish, Let's Go To War, Lick Lick, Life and Times, Little Death, Looker, Lozen, Lukestar, Lykke Li, Magnetic Morning, Margot and the Nuclear So-and-Sos, Marissa Nadler, Marnie Stern, Matt Duke, Matthew Dear, Micachu, Midway State, Mike Bones

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson, Minus the Bear, Mirah, Monotonix, mother mother, Natalie Walker, Needers & Givers, Neon Neon, Night Horse, No Kids, Nouvellas, Novillero,Oakley Hall, Octopus Project, Other Lives, Oxford Collapse, Park Avenue Music, Parts and Labor, Peephole, Pegasuses-XL, People Under the Stairs, Pit er Pat, Plastic Little, Pontiak, Princeton, Psychic Ills, Psyopus, Rainbow Arabia, Real Ones, Rebecca Pidgeon, Restaurant, Rio en Medio, Roadsaw

Rocketship Park, Roisin Murphy, Ruby Suns, Rumspringa, Said the Whale, Savoir Adore, School of Seven Bells, Screens, Shad, Shame Club, Shellshag, Sian Alice Group, Silver Screen, Sky Cries Mary, So Many Dynamos, Sole and Skyrider Band, sBACH, Spirit of the Falcon XL, Stars Like Fleas, Stetasonic, Sundelles, Takka Takka, Talib Kweli, Talkdemonic, Terry Lynn, The Apes, The Blue Van, The Broken West, The Bronzed Chorus, The Brother Kite, The Brought Low, The Dears, The Duke Spirit, The Emeralds

The Homosexuals, The Lolligags, The Mae Shi, The Moin Non Plus, The Music Tapes, The Muslims, The New Number Two, The Octagon, The Pack AD, The Psychic Paramount, The Rosebuds, The Snake Trap, The Takeover UK, The Toxic Avenger, The Two Man Gentlemen Band, The Unsacred Hearts, The Virgins, The Weight, The Whip, Theresa Andersson, These United States, This or the Apocalypse, Throttlerod, Tigercity, Titan, TK Webb, Tobacco, Tombs, Tunnels To Holland, Two Spot Gobi, Uglysuit, Vancougar, VAZ, Velcro Stars, Violens, Vivian Girls, We Versus the Shark, Weird Owl, White Lies, Whomadewho, Wild Light, Wild Sweet Orange, Will Hoge, Woods, Wye Oak, XYZ Affair, Yip Yip, Yo Majesty, Zimbabwe Legit "CMJ, taking place October 21-25 across New York City, draws tens of thousands of professionals from all sectors of the music/film industry and over 100,000 music fans who converge on the Big Apple to catch the latest buzz band, cool indie film or learn more about the ever-changing music industry from key insiders and celebrities."

The National - official "Mr. November" Obama T Shirts

Tickets are now on sale (thx all) for NY Mag's National / Grizzly Bear / Stella 40th anniversary show at Hammerstein Ballroom in NYC on October 10th. All National dates below...

The National - (Obama Is) Mr. November (unofficial, Obama fan made videos)

The National - 2008 Tour Dates
19 SEP: SEATTLE, WA - CO-OPS ROCK! BENEFIT w/ MENOMENA
20 SEP: SAN DIEGO, CA - STREET SCENE
10 OCT: NEW YORK, NY - HAMMERSTEIN BALLROOM w/ GRIZZLY BEAR
24 OCT: RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL - TIM FESTIVAL
25 OCT: SAO PAULO, BRAZIL - TIM FESTIVAL
27 OCT: VITORIA, BRAZIL - UFES THEATRE
08 NOV: AUSTIN, TX - FUN FUN FUN FEST

by Black Bubblegum

DOWNLOAD: Sigh - "Black Metal" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Salome - "Black Tides" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Salome - "White Tides" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Crom - "The Black Ring" (M4A)
DOWNLOAD: Light Yourself On Fire - "Love And Death" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Monarch! - "Mer Morte" (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Tweak Bird - "Whorses" (MP3)

War is beautiful...... Torche (more by Jason Bergman)

Torche have teamed up with labelmates (and former tourmates) Clouds, for a string of freshly minted US tour dates with Coliseum and Black Cobra providing support. Torche is also currently gearing up for a European tour with another set of labelmates, Pelican, which concludes on October 11th. The first date on the Torche / Clouds tour is October 24th with Coliseum. CMJ is October 21st - 25th. Will we see Torche, Clouds or Coliseum at CMJ? No word yet (natch), but when we know, so will you. Full tour dates below.

Speaking of Pelican, the boys have issued a rather thorough update in which they detail their loooong awaited split with These Arms Are Snakes (due on Hydrahead, limited quantities), a split 7" with Young Widows (due in 2009), a collaborative split 7" with Suicide Note, and a Fire In Their Throats.... 2LP release in Viva Hate Records. But the band also dropped more interesting news..... including the fact that the band will tour the east coast in the fall, have a video for "Lost in the Headlights" in the works, and are working on their follow up to City Of Echoes. More details to come. Speaking of These Arms Are Snakes, the band recently posted "Red Line Season" to their myspace for streaming.

Coffins have contributed two songs, one new and another a cover of "The Day Man Lost" by swedish death metallers Carnage, to a split 7" with sludgy-grind enthusiasts Skullhog. Pick it up NOW at No Escape, it's limited to 500 copies (200 on red wax). Coffins also have the following releases lined up: the Warhead 7" EP (on Torture Garden); Split 7" EPs with Womb (on Necroharmonic), Lobotomized (on Plague Island), and Spun In Darkness (Battle Kommand); Split 12" LPs with The Arm And Sword Of A Bastard God (the vinyl release on Enucleation, originally on CD via 20 Buck Spin), Anatomia & Grudge (the three-way split vinyl release on Enucleation, originally dropped on Grindmind), and XXX Maniak (the vinyl release on Haunted Hotel, originally released on CD via Creeping Vine); a Singles collection from 2004-2008 (on Living Dead Society); a mini album (on Bones Brigade); a track on the Death Metal Power Compilation Vol.1 (on Final Punishment).
Engineer is currently working on their follow up to The Dregs, and have "close to five songs completed". Look for the band to line up a few new shows in the coming months.

Sigh drops their new record, A Tribute to Venom, on limited edition etched vinyl with CD via The End Records on Sept 2nd. A Tribute To Venom is just that, a set of Venom covers reimagined in way that only Sigh could. Check out the artwork below, download their cover of the Venom classic (and namesake for an entire genre) "Black Metal" above. Want a copy of A Tribute To Venom on vinyl/CD? Email BVCONTESTS@HOTMAIL.COM (subject: Sigh). Include your first and last name. One winner will be picked at random and contacted. Sigh will hit the road in September with Zimmer's Hole & Unexpect, hitting BB Kings in NYC on Sept 16th. Tickets are still available, full tour dates are below.

Salome, Lair Of The Minotaur, Behemoth, Napalm Death, Municipal Waste, and much more below.........

I love this picture of Virginians Salome. On looks alone, you may be able to tell that lead vocalist Kat can wail, but you won't be able to grasp the amount of vile putrudity and sheer unholiness that emenates from those vocal chords. Seriously. Of course, great vocals are only a small sliver of a fraction of what makes a great band, and Salome lay down some sickening doom riffage to rival Kat's pained delivery, making for a hell of a debut. Check out "Black Tides" and "White Tides" both from their recently released self-titled record (MP3s above). Pick it up at Robotic Empire. Kat is also a member of Agoraphobic Nosebleed, who have a new album on the way and a split with the mighty Crom. Download Crom's "The Black Ring" from that split 5" above (and stream ANB's "Home Invasion" at their myspace) and check out Crom when they play Cake Shop on Sept 5th and Rockstar Bar on Sept 13th.

Speaking of killer doom with female lead singers, Monarch! have announced the completion of Mer Morte, their new album and follow-up to the 2CD megablast Dead Men Tell No Tales from 2007. No word on a release date for the album, but check out the track "Mer Morte" available for download above, and look for Monarch! to hit our shores this fall for their first US appearance ever...

Mastodon - "Circle Of The Cysquatch" Live in Brostow, VA. Check out a recent interview with the band here.

Tweak Bird have announced the Reservations EP, a seven track monster produced by the Deaf Nephews (Dale Crover of the Melvins and Toshi Kasai of Big Business) and much like you would think, it sounds alot like it's pedigree. The band has been kind enough to drop a track off for download, "Whorses" which available for download above.

Striborg has announced a split 7" with Scurshahor. Who is Scurshahor, you say? "The actual identity of this project is shrouded in mystery". Anywho..... Striborg composed and recorded the tracks exclusively for this 7", which is said to be "inspired by the events that transpired between Sin-Nanna (Striborg) and sunn 0))) during their collaborative performance together in Australia, May 2007" (aka Pentemple). Limited to 1500 copies (1000 black//500 dirty grey), order it now at Southern Lord.

Final Warning circa 1984

80's hardcore punks Final Warning, who dropped a discography on Southern Lord in 2007 entitled PDX, have announced that they will reunite for a pair of shows in their native Northwest: Sep 6th at the Funhouse in Seattle and Sep 20th at Satyricon in Portland.

Metal Blade, Lifeforce, and Relapse have teamed up for a CMJ showcase on Oct 23rd at the Knitting Factory Tap Bar. The current lineup is the tech-y Psyopus, new Relapse signees Tombs, Left To Vanish, Bison B.C., and This Or The Apocalypse. We'll keep you posted with more CMJ news as it unfolds. Bison B.C. recently signed to Metal Blade and are readying their new album Quiet Earth. "Earthbound" from Quiet Earth is streaming at their myspace.

Only Living Witness performing "Deed's Pride" at a secret show in Clinton MA on 8/22 -

Lair of The Minotaur announced the WAR METAL BATTLE MASTER DVD due on Halloween! The DVD includes the uncensored version of the "War Metal Battle Master" video (the clean version of which is playing on MTV?) as well as a ton of live footage. Check out the trailer for the DVD, and the awesomely NSFW DVD cover here.

Sept 19th marks the next UNSOUND party at Fontana's (flyer below), but dig on the UNSOUND show happening after that, on Halloween. Dreamy droney headliner Nadja, Scots Black Sun, Steve Moore of the mighty Zombi, and Menace Ruine make up that bill.

Tickets for the previously mentioned In Flames / Gojira show at Terminal 5 go on sale friday Sept 5th at noon.

An Interview with Sean Reinert and Paul Masvidal of Cynic at Wacken 2008

Next year's Maryland Deathfest is looking better and better, with recent additions of Mayhem, Pestilence, and General Surgery. Atheist have already confirmed their involvement, as well as a ton of other bands.

Purveyors of the NWOFHM, Circle announced a new record, Triumph, a live recording taken from their September 25th, 2007 appearance at WFMU. Pick it up here when it drops in "late July/Early August" (still not out yet). Jussi Lehtisalo of Circle recently sat down with Pitchfork.

Testament have lined up a few dates with the mighty Soilent Green that will surround their one off date with Children of Bodom @ Hammerstein Ballroom (tickets are still available). Full tour dates below, including one date in Hartford, CT at Webster Theater on 10/10. Testament was recently interviewed by Metal Injection.

PUNISHMENT DUE:
Not much in the way of new releases this week (The Fantomas/Melvins DVD, that's really it) unless you are a fan of Dragonforce or Slipknot, in which case, you probably aren't reading this. In lieu of new releases, I'll suggest some other titles that are worth a look.....

The Fantomas Melvins Big Band - Live In London DVD: There is nothing better than seeing Mike Patton, Buzzo, Dale, and Dave Lombardo on the same stage together, except maybe an $8 price tag!!! Out now.
Jesu/Battle Of Mice - Split: It took me a few listens just to get past the unbelievably moving first song by Jesu, "Clear Stream", but when I did, I was treated to another great Jesu track, and two new burners (their last?) from Battle Of Mice. Out now.
Hey Colossus - Happy Birthday: Experimental, lumbering, and ungodly heavy sludgy doom from the UK. Highly recco'd for fans of Noothgrush, Melvins, or Corrupted. Out now.
Across Tundras - Western Sky Ride: Imagine Neurosis crawling through the Arizona desert. Heavy thundering riffs that are as influenced by Scott Kelly as they are Ennio Morricone. Out now.
Light Yourself On Fire - Intimacy: Applying Entombed's patented "Death N' Roll" style through a hardcore & punk lens, this is a fun though ridiculously short "long-player". Check out "Love And Death", downloadable above. Intimacy drops on Sept 16th.

NEWS BLAST (BEATS):
- Gojira is currently streaming "Vacuity" from the upcoming The Way Of All Flesh.
- Season of Mist has set Oct 13th as the release date for Eyehategod side project Outlaw Order.
- Napalm Death announced the title to their new record, Time Waits For No Slave, in a recent interview. Check out video of the band performing "Fatalist" at Bloodstock Open Air on Aug 16, 2008.
- Across Tundra's new record, Lonesome Wails From The Weeping Willow, is streaming here.
- Century Media has signed pedigreed black metallers Dead To This World (ex-Immortal & ex-Gorgoroth) and chainmail wearin' vikings Helheim.
- Children announced a show at Death By Audio supporting TK Webb & The Visions on Sept 19th.
- Zoroaster posted new pics of from their current studio sessions.
- An Albatross is currently streaming "Floodgates Released" from their upcoming record, The An Albatross Family Album.
- Danzig was recently interviewed on his website. Does that mean he interviewed himself? Tickets are still available for his show on 10/15 at Roseland.
- UK Doom legends Witchfinder General will drop their new album, Resurrected, on August 30th via Buried In Time And Dust. The lineup is Phil Cope, Rod Hawkes, and Dermot Redmond with new vocalist Gary Martin.
- Behemoth announced their first live album, At the Arena ov Aion - Live Apostasy, for release this October on Regain Records. More details, including a tracklisting, are available here.
- Blood Ceremony have completed their self-titled debut album, which is due on Sept 30th for Rise Above Records. The band is currently streaming "Return to Forever" and "Children of the Future".
- Vader is celebrating their 25th anniversary on August 30th by playing a show in Warsaw, Poland with Grave, Rotting Christ, Dismember, Gorefest, Marduk, Nile, Entombed and Samael. Vader also, no bullshit, have their own energy drink coming out.
- Suffocation have signed with Nuclear Blast. Look for their new album, Blood Oath, in 2009.
- Withered is filming a documentary at their Drunken Unicorn show in Atlanta on Aug 27th.
- Katatonia is currently working on new material.
- As announced previously, Giant Squid have a new album on the way, which is now complete.
- Nachtmystium has been added to the previously mentioned Nifelheim show. Frown.
- FETO Records have posted a new Burning The Prospect song to their myspace.
- Benediction have posted a previously unreleased track, "Dissembler", to their myspace.
- Members of Demiricous and The Gates of Slumber have formed the ludicrously named Christ Beheaded. The band have posted two tracks from their upcoming five song EP to their myspace.
- Metalinjection.net posted video of The Red Chord from the Mayhem Fest in Bristow, Va. Check it out the vids "Bone Needle" and "Nihilist". Also over at Metal Injection, video from Arsis performing "We Are The Nightmare", and "Sightless Wisdom" in Baltimore. Also at Metalinjection, on the road with Psyopus!
- Municipal Waste will share a few dates with punks The Casualties. Tour dates are below.
- Mikey Heppner (vocals/guitar) of Priestess was interviewed, download the audio here.
- Rob Halford: "I Don't Think A Straight Man Can Do My Job In Judas Priest". Check it out in an interview with the Dallas Morning News.
- Lemmy of Motorhead sat down with Metal Edge for a video interview. Lemmy also granted an audio interview to MTV.

TORCHE - 2008 TOUR DATES
August 31 2008 Backbooth, Orlando, Florida
September 6 2008 Churchills Hideaway, Miami, Florida
September 12 2008 Engine Room, Brighton^
September 13 2008 Corporation, Sheffield^
September 14 2008 Oran Mor, Glasgow^
September 15 2008 The Limelight, Belfast^
September 16 2008 Whelans, Dublin^
September 17 2008 Medicine Bar, Birmingham^
September 18 2008 Underworld, London^
September 19 2008 Croft, Bristol^
September 20 2008 Muziekodroom, Hasselt^
September 21 2008 ZXZW Fest, Tilburg^
September 22 2008 Gleis 22, Munster^
September 23 2008 Hafenklang, Hamburg^
September 24 2008 Loppen, Copenhagen^
September 25 2008 Cassiopeia, Berlin^
September 26 2008 Feierwerk, Munich^
September 27 2008 Nachtleben, Frankfurt^
September 28 2008 Beatpol, Dresden^
September 29 2008 Rock Cafe, Prague^
September 30 2008 A38, Budapest^
October 1 2008 Arena, Vienna^
October 3 2008 Init, Rome^
October 4 2008 Latte+, Brescia^
October 5 2008 Bad Bonn, Dudingen^
October 6 2008 Club Schocken, Stuttgart^
October 7 2008 Glazart, Paris^
October 8 2008 Le Grand Mix, Tourcoing^
October 9 2008 Orange Bleu, Vitri Le Francois^
October 10 2008 MTC, Koln^
October 11 2008 Ancienna Belgique, Brussels^
October 12 2008 Waterfront, Rotterdam^
October 24 2008 Athens,GA Caladonia*
October 25 2008 Memphis TN The Hi-Tone*
October 26 2008 St. Louis, MO The Bluebird*
October 27 2008 Lawrence, KS Jackpot*
October 28 2008 Denver, CO Larimer*
October 29 2008 Salt Lake City, UT Burt's Tiki*
October 30 2008 Boise, ID Neurolux*
October 31 2008 Seattle, WA El Corazon*
November 1 2008 Portland, OR Satricon*
November 3 2008 San Francisco, CA Slim's*
November 14 2008 San Diego, CA The Casbah**
November 15 2008 Los Angeles, CA Spaceland**
November 17 2008 Tucson, AZ The Rock**
November 19 2008 San Antonio,TX Rock Bottom**
November 20 2008 Austin, TX Red Seven**
November 21 2008 Dallas, TX The Lounge on Elm St**
November 22 2008 Houston,TX Walter's on Washington**
November 23 2008 New Orleans, LA Dragon's Den**
November 7 2008 Shin Okubo Earthdom, Tokyo^^
November 8 2008 Juso Fandango, Osaka^^
November 9 2008 Ikeshita club upset, Aichi^^
November 10 2008 Yokohama FAD, Kanagawa^^
November 11 2008 Shibuya O-Nest, Tokyo^^

^ w/ Pelican
^^ w/ Coliseum
* w/ Coliseum, Clouds
** w/ BLack Cobra, Clouds

TESTAMENT, SOILENT GREEN - 2008 TOUR DATES
10/1 Oklahoma City, OK @ Diamond Ballroom
10/3 Pittsburgh, PA @ Rex Theatre
10/4 Syracuse, NY @ Lost Horizon
10/5 State College, PA @ LuLu's Nighspot
10/7 Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon
10/8 Allentown, PA @ Crocodile Rock
10/9 New York, NY @ Hammerstein Ballroom (No Soilent Green)*
10/10 Hartford, CT @ Webster Theater
* w/ Children Of Bodom, The Black Dahlia Murder, Between The Buried & Me

MUNICIPAL WASTE, THE CASUALTIES - 2008 TOUR DATES
10/8 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
10/9 Philadelphia, PA @ JC Dobbs
10/10 Buffalo, NY @ Club Paradise
10/12 Chicago, IL @ Riot Fest

SIGH, ZIMMER'S HOLE, UNEXPECT - 20008 TOUR DATES
Sep. 06 - San Marcos, CA @ Jumping Turtle
Sep. 07 - Anaheim, CA @ Chain Reaction
Sep. 08 - Hollywood, CA @ Knitting Factory
Sep. 09 - Tempe, AZ @ The Clubhouse
Sep. 10 - Albuquerque, NM @ Launch Pad
Sep. 11 - Ft Worth, TX @ Lola's
Sep. 12 - San Antonio, TX @ White Rabbit
Sep. 13 - Houston, TX @ Meridian
Sep. 14 - Nashville, TN @ The Muse
Sep. 15 - West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx
Sep. 16 - New York City, NY @ B.B. King Blues Club & Grill
Sep. 17 - Montreal, QUE @ FouFounes
Sep. 18 - Sudbury, ONT @ Jubilee Centre
Sep. 19 - Toronto, ONT @ Wreck Room
Sep. 20 - Cleveland, OH @ Peabody's
Sep. 21 - Mokena, IL @ The Pearl Room
Sep. 22 - St Paul, MN @ Station 4

The guy the internet has to thank (blame?) for early listens of Chinese Democracy -- the very same one who had himself a little visit from the feds not so long ago -- has been arrested, charged, and released on bail over posting the songs to his site. The AP reports he "faces a maximum of three years in prison if convicted, and five years if it's found that he did it for commercial gain." This development was celebrated equally by the RIAA and all people who have actually heard the leak because it is pretty terrible and it's nice to have someone punished.

photos by Zach Dilgard

Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails isn't generally given to diverting any energy from his music by speaking much from the stage. But after playing the first of several encores at the Izod Center last night in East Rutherford, Reznor said he "felt suddenly possessed to talk." The singer pointed out how primed he and his band mates and crew felt backstage, talking about they couldn't wait to "blow these peoples' minds tonight." (Except that instead of "peoples," he used a word that rhymes with truckers.)

Reznor and company went on to do just that, with a two-hour audiovisual, senses-blurring assault that made most arena-rock shows seem lazy and locked in the past. The leading-edge, three-dimensional lighting effects were spectacularly attuned to the intensity of the music, which was a blend of the sophisticated and the visceral, the electronic and the organic, the angst-driven and the moodily atmospheric. [NJ.com]More pictures from last night's show and the setlist, and new tour dates below...

Setlist 8/27/08: (via)

999,999
1,000,000
letting you
discipline
march of the pigs
head down
the frail
reptile
closer
gave up
the warning
vessel
5 ghosts I
17 ghosts II
19 ghosts III
piggy [ghost]
the greater good
pinion
wish
terrible lie
survivalism
the big come down
31 ghosts IV
only
the hand that feeds
head like a hole

echoplex
god given
the good soldier
hurt
in this twilight

NIN - 2008 Tour Dates
08/27 - East Rutherford, NJ Izod Center w/ Does It Offend You, Yeah?
08/29 - Philadelphia, PA Wachovia Center w/ Out Does It Offend You, Yeah?
08/31 - Lexington, KY Rupp Arena w/ White Williams
09/02 - Morrison, CO Red Rocks Amphitheatre w/ Deerhunter
09/03 - Salt Lake City, UT The E Center w/ Deerhunter
09/05 - Oakland, CA Oracle Arenaw/ Deerhunter
09/06 - Inglewood, CA The Forum
10/23 - San Antonio TX [AT&T Center]
10/25 - New Orleans, LA [City Park - Voodoo Festival]
10/28 - Orlando, FL [UCF Arena]
10/29 - Jacksonville, FL [Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena]
11/1 - Greenville, SC [Bi-Lo Center]
11/3 - Greensboro, NC [Greensboro Coliseum Complex]
11/5 - Charlottesville, VA [John Paul Jones Arena]
11/8 - Manchester, NH [Verizon Wireless Arena]
11/9 - Worcester, MA [DCU Center]
11/11 - Ottawa, QUE [Scotiabank Place]
11/12 - Montreal, QUE [Bell Centre]
11/14 - Hamilton, ONT [Copps Coliseum]
11/15 - Grand Rapids, MI [Van Andel Arena]
11/17 - Columbus, OH [Schottenstein Center]
11/18 - Fort Wayne, IN [Memorial Coliseum]
11/20 - Cedar Rapids, IA [US Cellular Center]
11/21 - Columbia, MO [Mizzou Arena]
11/22 - Tulsa, OK [BOK Center]
11/25 - Minneapolis, MN [Target Center]
11/26 - Council Bluffs, IA [Mid-America Center]
11/28 - Rapid City, SD [Rushmore Plaza Civic Center Arena]
11/29 - Billings, MT [MetraPark Arena]
12/1 - Saskatoon, SASK [Credit Union Centre]
12/4 - Kelowna, BC [Prospera Place]
12/5 - Victoria, BC [Save On Foods Memorial Centre]
12/7 - Portland, OR [Rose Garden Arena]
12/8 - Nampa, ID [Idaho Center - Arena]
12/9 - Missoula, MT [Adams Center]
12/12 - Sacramento, CA [Arco Arena]

Tom Morello, Zach de la Rocha & Flobots MC Jamie Laurie, a.k.a. Jonny 5
Joined by like-minded anti-war rockers State Radio, The Coup, Flobots, Jello Biafra and Wayne Kramer from the MC5, Rage Against the Machine headlined an impassioned midday concert at the Denver Coliseum featuring the band's hits, political speeches and calls for nonviolence.

More than anything, the concert was a respectful nod to Iraq Veterans Against the War, which, along with Tent State, mounted the show to call attention to their agenda: Encouraging a hasty end to the war, providing veterans with comprehensive healthcare, and rebuilding Iraq.

After the headliners capped off a loud, amped up performance with the fan favorite "Killin in the name," Rage guitarist Tom Morello called on the roughly 8,000 concertgoers to join him and other entertainers in a march for peace to the Pepsi Center.

"We're going right now," he said. "We'll meet you outside." [Denver Post]Wayne Kramer & Rage Against the Machine @ Denver Coliseum (cause=time)
DENVER COLISEUM -- The Iraqi Veterans Against the War took the stage and read an open letter to Barack Obama demanding he solidify his commitment against the war as the crowd chanted "U.S.A! U.S.A!"

Then Rage Against the Machine came onstage, gave the vets a military salute and burst into the explosive set that has made their live shows legendary. Kicking off with "Guerrilla Radio," the band blasted through crowd-pleasers like "Bulls On Parade."

Wayne Kramer of the MC5 soon joined them for the anthem "Kick Out the Jams." Before they started, Kramer reminded everyone why they were here.

"Forty years ago we went to Chicago to protest an illegal war we were lied into. Today we're in Denver to protest an illegal war we were lied into," he told the crowd. [Rocky Mountain News]The show was free. Next up: Rage Against the Machine at the RNC

On ¡Forward, Russia!’s most recent release Life Processes the band takes a gigantic turn from their prior pulsating guitar attack of their debut Give Me a Wall. Defined by high octane angular guitars and lead singer Tom Woodward’s yelping delivery, which acted more as an instrument to fuel the high energy dance rock rather than being a focal point, Give Me a Wall was an album of young musicians fine-tuning their unique pummeling guitar slash of a sound.

This time around ¡Forward, Russia! showcases an epic, arena-rock sound that focuses more on Woodward’s lyrics and delivery, giving us a bag of mixed results. Still present is the heavy dance attack of the first album but the angularity that defined the first album have taken a back seat to soaring guitar melodies that work more as an emotional blanket of dissonance to accompany the lyrical content. Tom’s urgent yelp has taken on a more grandiose feel that at some points is a little too overwrought. Still, at others it's pinpoint perfect. “A Shadow is a Shadow is a Shadow” is an excellent example of ¡Forward, Russia! perfectly meshing the melodic intensity of his voice with the pounding guitar riffs that are both intricate and larger than life. This and “Don’t Reinvent What You Don’t Understand” hint at a truly titanic sized sound that could be exclusively ¡Forward, Russia!, while “Breaking Standing” shows us they can also give us a pretty catchy song intertwined in their spiraling guitar intensity. The turning point is in songs like “We Are Grey Matter” and “Gravity & Heat”, which tread too closely to a sound already being heavily used by bigger bands such as Bloc Party and Coldplay.

That being said, Life Processes is the perfect name for their sophomore album as it shows a band still testing out other musical techniques in an effort to figure out their true identity - both lyrically and musically. Even though it may not be a masterpiece, it exemplifies an ambitious step for a band that was taking chances and learning from them. Sadly, we may never get to hear this bands full potential come to fruition, so for now we will have to settle for the mixed platter that is Life Processes.

Forward Russia
MySpace
Mute

Day 3 – Complete redemption

Highlights: gorgeous weather (for San Francisco), lots of romantic guitar, Broken Social Scene still having 1,029 people in their band, and Jeff Tweedy being adorable

Somehow the weather gods smiled upon our little festival in the park on the last day of Outside Lands, and I arrived to Golden Gate Park with sun shining on my fire engine red hair and in a good mood – only 40 minutes door to door to witness people from Canada? Awesome!


[Entering the OSL grounds]

Broken Social Scene were visited on stage by one of the guys from Apostle of Hustle, a girl from Stars, and maybe some random Hippie Hill people as they shredded, danced, and waltzed their way through every nook of their catalogue to demonstrate why they're everyone's favorite mega-group from up North. Seriously, hearing "Capture the Flag" being performed flawlessly with the reverb and shoegaze piled on – all the while the bright California sunshine warming everyone's skin – was one of the best moments of the day. BSS was ending their national tour that afternoon in the park, and I was all too sad to see their set, as perfect as it was, end.


[The only way to get all of Broken Social Scene in frame]

One of my goals was to try and see acts that I'd never seen before live, so I hiked over to Rodrigo y Gabriela on the main stage after I got some Canadian goodness. And it wasn't until I witnessed this duo do things with their hands I'd never seen a human do that I was convinced that indeed there are really just two of them. The two former thrash metal musicians have moved onto bigger and better sounds in their folk-inspired, classical plucking of the guitar, and it was such a treat to see melodies interwoven on top of one another for all sections of a band, but produced by four hands instead. What a trip.


[Rodrigo y Gabriela]









I like things with waves in them (see: Longwave, 80s new wave, the Tidal Wave ride at Great America), so I bounced to Rogue Wave just in time to see new song "Bird On A Wire" be busted out with lead singer Zach standing above the crowd on the ledge of the stage giving his praise to the audience. Stellar vocals sold the SF band's set, and before I took off for Wilco, it made me so proud to see talent like Rogue Wave grace the presence of an Outside Lands stage, not only because they are local, but also because they are just plain good.


[Rogue Wave]

Jeff Tweedy and Co.'s performance can be summed up with this quote: "That was a great solo for a guy who has his zipper safety pinned together – can you imagine playing guitar and worrying about your schlong falling out?" The sea of hands clapping extended all the way to the main funnel path a good half-mile up, and I couldn't help but smile. Outside Lands and me had definitely kissed and made up with Wilco's sunset performance.


[Wilco]





After caving in and buying a $6 piece of pizza, I shamelessly sang along to Jack Johnson's "Maybe" before heading home while reminiscing. Maybe shit was fucked up pre, during, and post-show, but the music was the star, and for that, I bow down to Outside Lands for booking talent of quantity andquality. Could we just get a little transit love and organization up in this piece?



Outside Lands Music & Arts Festival