SUNN O))) PRESENTS THEIR FIRST BANDS TO ROADBURN

Finally the first batch of bands for the Sunn O))) curated day at Roadburn 2011 are here, and it was worth the wait. We get the Southern Lord related bands, like the mighty Earth, The Secret and Atilla Csihar's Void Ov Voices. The biggest thrill though is the legendary Winter! There's been rumours floating around for quite some time that they would play, and now it's finally confirmed. We'll also get to see Scorn, Beaver, Menace Ruine, Aluk Todolo and Hooded Menace.

As previously announced, Sunn O))) themselves will also perform, and there's more bands to be confirmed.

The following is from Roadburn.com

As curator, Sunn O))) (Greg Anderson and Stephen O’Malley) are personally selecting the bands that will play during their special event, as well as performing a headlining show. Sunn O))) is Roadburn’s fourth curator, following David Tibet in 2008, Neurosis in 2009 and Triptykon’s Tom Gabriel Warrior at this year’s festival in April.

Sunn O))) comments: “Sunn O))) is honoured to present the first part of our guests for the curated day at Roadburn, April 15th 2011. They represent a broad range of bands we are fans of, and in many cases some of our closest friends and collaborators. We hope you appreciate the selection, and look forward to announcing more of our selection and allies… we will follow up soon with some words on each band specifically, so watch this space.”

TODAY IS THE DAY TO ROADBURN

The following is from Roadburn.com

Some bands like to present the façade that they are evil because it  makes them seem more exciting, more counter-culture, more metal. Today is the Day mastermind Steve Austin has no such need. Despite
traversing a wide musical territory (much of it not easily describable as metal) over the course of 19 years and 8 full length albums, Today is the Day stands as one of the most truly evil, misanthropic and disturbing bands of our time.

Today is the Day make “cerebral” metal bands like Tool and Mastodon seem like knuckle-dragging mouth breathers with shear scope of their musical vocabulary and their relentless exploration of the weirdest, bleakest, darkest corners of  the metal universe. The Today is the Day catalog includes at least three masterpieces,  Temple of the Morning Star,  Today is the Day, and  Willpower which run a dizzying gamut of musical styles from Slint-ish indie-rock to experimental soundscapes to kraut-metal and do  it all in a way that seems completely logical and consistent even if  it is infused with evil purpose and darkest intent. One of the most consistently challenging and interesting bands of our time and someone  that we are truly overjoyed to welcome to the Roadburn line-up.

BLACK MATH HORSEMAN Wyllt

Album. Tee Pee 2009
"Wyllt" is the debut album from this American act fronted by bassist/vocalist Sera Timms and produced by one time bassist of Kyuss and The Obsessed, Scott Reeder. We're talking post rock here I guess, but before you start yawning and complaining about yet another band trying to be Pelican, here me out for a minute. Sure, the resemblance is there, but Sera's vocals add another layer to the outcome. She sounds like a mix between Jarboe, Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins, Lisa Gerrard of Dead Can Dance, and throw in a bit of Nico as well. If these four ladies could have a child, maybe they can, I’m no scientist, her name would be Sera Timms.
    
The music then? I mentioned Pelican, maybe a bit hastily, on the other hand I was only trying to figure out what you were thinking. Black Math Horseman is a lot doomier and mellower than said band, sometimes too mellow though. Towards the end of the rather short album, just when I'm starting to think; "oh come on, do something", they do something. In the middle of the eleven minute closing track "Bird Of All Faiths And None\Bell From Madrone" it sounds as if the roof fell in and the band reach a potential I wish to hear more off. Hopefully on the next album.
    
And to the gear heads out there; yes, guitarist Ian Barry is the same Ian Barry as the custom motorcycle builder. Now you know.

www.myspace.com/blackmathhorseman

BLACK MATH HORSEMAN TO ROADBURN

Yet another band that had to cancel Roadburn 2010 due to the much talked about volcano has been confirmed for the 2011 fest. Black Math Horseman is a very welcomed addition to the line-up. Now, I'm basically only missing Jesu. On the other hand, we get Godflesh, and maybe Justin doesn't wanna be all over the place.

The following is from Roadburn.com

As you all may have noticed, the line-up for Roadburn Festival 2011 has been shaping up nicely.  In addition to the bands previously announced, we are very happy to report that Black Math Horseman will be part of the 2011 festival line-up. Originally scheduled to perform at this years Roadburn Festival in April 2010, Black Math Horseman ended up stuck in LA due to logistic complications arising from the volcanic eruption in Iceland.  Black Math Horseman is now scheduled to play on Saturday, April 16 at the 013 venue, Tilburg, Holland.

LA’s Black Math Horseman live somewhere between the psychedelic world of 70's stoner and contemporary shoegazers which they adorn with touches of goth and post rock to create their mind altering sound.

SECOND TRAILER FOR SLOW SOUTHERN STEEL

A second trailer for the upcoming movie Slow Southern Steel has been posted online. We've been waiting a long time for this documentary to be released, and now it seems as it's finally coming together. The goal is that the editing will be done by January 2011 to have it ready for the summer film festivals etc. In case you've missed the background, Slow Southern Steel is a documentary directed by CT of Rwake, about southern metal. We get bands like Weedeater, Eyehategod, Torche, Kylesa, Zoroaster and many more. CT has this to say about the film:

"The film is about underground heavy bands south of the Mason Dixon. It will have intense live performances from some of the crustiest, doomiest, and most progressive of heavy bands from the south. As will include interviews from the dirtiest and smelliest musicians, promoters, and fans from this genre about living and growing up in the bible belt, and other beautiful shit hole christian ran towns, as well as drugged out road stories, and other uncouth happenings."

Here's the latest trailer:



And here's the first one in case you missed it:

SHRINEBUILDER Shrinebuilder

Album. Neurot 2009
It finally came; the album we've all been waiting for since this band was just a sparkle in Wino's eyes. Shrinebuilder is the super group of super groups. Throw in Scott "Wino" Weinrich (Saint Vitus, The Obsessed), Al Cisneros (Sleep, Om), Scott Kelly (Neurosis) and Dale Crover (Melvins, Porn) in the same room, and what do you get? One of the best album of 2009, all categories, that's what. Since the anticipations for this album was high to say the least, it was kind of scary to listen to it at first. Thoughts like "will I like this just because of who's in the band" used to keep me awake at night. Well, kinda. When the band gave us "Pyramid of the Moon", the second track via their MySpace, I wasn't too worried any more. It can only go downhill from here, I thought. It didn't.
  
Scott, Al and Wino all sing on the album which is a stroke of genius. They're all great singers and it gives the album a variety that is very welcomed in the genre we call doom metal. Also, because when Scott Kelly sings it sometimes becomes too much of Neurosis. And if he'd sung on the entire album it wouldn't be the same. On the other hand, I'm not the kind of person who thinks anything can be too much Neurosis, but you probably know what I mean. It's the same with Al of course; the mind automatically wanders to Sleep and Om. Wino sounds better than ever and it would have been great if he'd sung more on the album. That's probably my only complaint.
  
As it seems, Shrinebuilder is not just a one-off project. The band has said that this is a real group, from whom we can expect a lot more in the future. I for one can't wait.

www.myspace.com/shrinebuildergroup

YOB The Great Cessation

Album. Profound Lore 2009
Things were looking bleak for Mike Scheidt. I mean, imagine breaking up a band and wanting to start fresh with a new act. An act that were very promising and their only album showed extreme potential. Then imagine some mediocre band filing a lawsuit over name similarities. I'm of course talking about Middian and their debut album "Age Eternal" (Metal Blade). Life is really shitty sometimes. This time though, it all has a happy ending and Scheidt has the last laugh. He reforms Yob and they release "The Great Cessation", probably their best album.
    
When the first track, "Burning the Altar" begins I think I'm in for some black metal in the vein of Wolves in the Throne Room. But things turn for another direction and I'm hit with very, very heavy doom metal. Twist and turns seems to be the key here. Yob can go from sounding what I imagine Sir Lord Baltimore would sound like if they would have released their debut album in the 21st century, to an early incarnation of the Melvins. And that's just within one song.
    
The album clocks in at about an hour, and within that time we are given five epic tracks, which works together very well. Even though I said that the music takes many different directions it still follows a red line, so it's not like you think "where are they going with this?" Mike Scheidt's vocals have to get a mention as well, since he sounds better than ever. This is proven in "The Lie That is Sin" which is the strongest track on the album. Hopefully Yob doesn't call it quits again. We need them to hold the flag high in this doomed world.

www.myspace.com/yobdoom