Funereal Presence

I swear.  Lately, not one day goes by...not one, that i don't hear another black metal band that just shakes me to my core at what the genre is capable of when it embraces an eclectic aesthetic of sounds and influences, and breaks its own rigid rules every once in awhile.  New York's Funereal Presence is the latest to creep up on me, a brutal mix of screaming guitars, organ, church bells, and reverb, all the while tipping the hat to what came before them.  Listen to "The Tower Falls" below and get "The Archer Takes Aim" from The Ajna Offensive.

Pinkish Black

Opening for Goblin last night was Fort Worth's Pinkish Black, a heavy metal band i heard a couple of years ago, but kind of forgot about.  The duo put out their second album, "Razed to the Ground," last year on Century Media, and going on that album, and the band's performance last night, they were the perfect fit for a Goblin tour.  Sinister prog rock for the masses.  Listen to "Ashtray Eyes" below.

Some Goblin pics

Last night's Goblin performance at Mohawk was pretty damn great.  A bunch of old Italian prog rockers (and Steve Moore from Zombi) laying waste to a horde of horror nerds.  Well done.  Here's a few pics.

Goblin!!!

I get to go see the legendary Goblin tonight (with Zombi's Steve Moore sitting in on keyboards)!  I am beyond ecstatic.  In celebration, listen to the band's theme for "Profondo Rosso" below.

Lowercase Noises

Lowercase Noises is the music project of Albuquerque's Andy Othling.  New album "This Is for Our Sins" is a sprawling mix of post rock, ambience, and classical music.  It's sprawling, and breathtaking, and beautiful, and cinematic in scope.  "Famine and the Death of a Mother" is somber and quiet, but hints at grandiosity just over the horizon.  Listen below and pre-order the album here.

Slasher Dave

Halloween is still a long way off, but that doesn't mean that spooky, horror movie inspired music has to wait til Autumn to blast into my ear holes.  Slasher Dave's 2013 album "Spookhouse" is perfect blend of Carpenter and Goblin, and an excellent soundtrack to whatever nefarious goings-on you may have planned for your day...and night.  Listen to album opener "Dusk" below, and then grab the album digitally here, or on vinyl over at Bellyache Records.

Zig Zags

As it starts to get hotter here in central Texas, it's nice to have some stoned, blistering rock and roll to fall back on.  It goes wonderfully with the heat.  LA's Zig Zags latest "Brainded Warrior" finds the group of trouble makers working with Ty Segall on the boards, and the result is noisy, stoner bliss.  Listen below and look for the 7" on In the Red.

Cluster Buster

Our longing for a return to simpler times, a return to when things were exciting and new, a return to childhood manifests itself in strange...and sometimes wonderful ways.  In the case of throwback synth band Cluster Buster and their complete and utter admiration for all things 80's horror sci-fi, that longing comes in the form of "Maniac 1980," a pretend soundtrack to an awesome movie that never existed.  There seem to be more and more of these creeping up on us every other day, and that just makes me giddy.  I love it.  Check out Future 80's Records, and then go and grab a digital copy of the album here and listen to "OCP Crime Prevention Unit 001" below.

Gonga and Beth Gibbons cover Black Sabbath

UK metal band Gonga just offered up a pretty terrific and faithful cover to Black Sabbath's "Black Sabbath," featuring amazing vocals from Portishead's Beth Gibbons.  The track has been dubbed "Black Sabbeth," and the video below is full of scenes from Mario Bava's 1963 film..."Black Sabbath."  Watch it below.

Thou - Milk It

I know i just posted a blistering Nirvana cover by Baton Rouge sludge metal band Thou the other day, but they supplied another for the "In Utero" tribute that came out on Record Store Day...and it's just cave-your-head-in awesome.  Listen to "Milk It" below and quiver.  You should be able to order a standard edition from Robotic Empire Records.