Dive Bombs and Dive Bars # 5 – Ramming Speed’s Guide to America’s Rock n’ Roll Venues

December 19, 2012

Name: Saint Vitus Category: Venue Location: Brooklyn, NY Behind an unmarked black door on Manhattan Ave in Greenpoint lies America’s kvltest watering hole. “None More Black” doesn’t even begin to describe the interior of Saint Vitus; everything from the walls to the toilet seats are a bleak absence of light, the only respite being the…

Merry Xmas, Here’s Some Free Crap

December 18, 2012

It’s the holiday season, which means it’s time to celebrate the thinly veiled pagan tradition of your choosing! In the spirit of giving without having to actually give anything ourselves (other than some links on the Internet), here are some of the finest recent metal albums available for free download on Bandcamp (a few of…

Soundtrack to Your Insomnia

December 18, 2012

“I’ve got a problem with bands that come from an area but don’t reflect where they’re from,” While She Sleeps vocalist Lawrence Taylor says toward the end of the press release accompanying This is the Six, the UK band’s latest hypercharged slab of frenetic metalcore. “I know a lot of bands that will sing with…

SCOTT IAN’S TV PARTY 2012: Anthrax’s riffer-in-chief on the year in television

December 17, 2012

First thing’s first: Before reading further, anyone who’s got their TiVo box or whatever all loaded up in preparation for some marathon catch-up TV over the holiday season, be warned that this is a spoiler-heavy review of TV drama in 2012. OK, so with the disclaimers out of the way, let’s get down to business…

Decibel’s “Under the Tree, Under the Wire” subscription offer is back!

December 17, 2012

If you’re as lazy and contemptuous of friends and family as we are, you probably still have some holiday shopping to do. Luckily, Decibel is here to offer you an escape from empty-handed embarrassment. Yes, it’s time for our annual Under the Tree, Under the Wire subscription special. All you have to do is subscribe…

Limited Edition EVOKEN Flexi Disc Available

December 14, 2012

Ever wonder what Jersey extreme doom crew Evoken covering death/doom progenitors Paradise Lost might sound like? We did! So, we asked them to rework the old-school PL classic “Rotting Misery” for our vaunted flexi series. The stunning results can be heard below and—for a limited time—ordered via our webstore here.

Throw Me a Frickin’ Label Hack: Town Portal

December 14, 2012

Because every day another band records another song.  Because 83% of those songs are unlistenable and you can’t be bothered to sift through the dreck.  Because metal is about not giving a shit and waking your own personal storm.  Because music is universal, expression is boundless, and even indie labels (whatever that means these days)…

EXCLUSIVE STREAM: ILSA’S INTOXICANTATIONS

December 13, 2012

If you’re like me, chances are if the name “Ilsa” somehow comes up in conversation, thoughts immediately turn to the triptych of ridiculous 70s Nazi exploitation films Ilsa: She-Wolf of the SS, Ilsa: Harem Keeper of the Oil Sheiks and Ilsa: the Tigress of Siberia. If you’re really down with your B-movie trivia and haven’t…

Decibrity Playlist: Kowloon Walled City (Part 2)

December 13, 2012

In honor of the recent release of Kowloon Walled City’s Container Ships, last week we presented Side A of the band’s tour van mixtape. Chock full of A.M. gold, it was the perfect driving music for vocalist/guitarist Scott Evans and bassist Ian Miller (not to mention, they clearly know their shit about it). Guitarist Jon…

STREAMING: Bloody Hammers — “Black Magic”

December 12, 2012

It looks like “occult rock” (i.e. heavier music with discernible song structures and radio potential) isn’t going away in 2013. We’re not sure if we were swayed by necromancy or the fact that there’s a naked lady on the cover (likely the latter) but we’re streaming an exclusive premiere of the track “Black Magic” by…