Mario Quintero of NY’s Spotlights is our latest proud addition to Metal Riot’s interviews. The alternative rock influenced band have been making waves for several releases now, but their newest Ipecac opus Love & Decay is next level phenomenal. This is a big scopealbum with numerous standout tracks (the chill slow burn build of closer “The Beauty Of Forgetting” comes to mind right away), but which can easily consume your full attention all the way through. It sparks a deep dive into your imagination and often feels like it could soundtrack a space exploration video of massive bodies floating in the void. Certainly on the short list of best musical releases of 2019 for me thus far, I know I am going to spend a lot of time with this pensive, personal and powerfully moving album probably for many years. It has that special energy in the performances, vibes, melody and songwriting that makes you circle back to it…and did I mention big ass juicy riffs as well?!
Isis continue their stellar run of live post-break up releases with Live VII, a fantastic document of a set focusing mainly on the Wavering Radiant-era. Panopticon favorite “Wills Dissolve” again makes an appearance (as it did on Live III) as do a few other older songs- including a massive set closing version of signature post-metal chug anthem “Celestial” that can’t help but make you feel nostalgically recall just how big this outfit could sound and what a hole they left behind. Still, the majority of the songs here are the lengthy and more progressive and melodic forays found on the band’s final opus. This nine-song set was recorded on Feb. 25, 2010, at The Corner hotel in Melbourne, Australia during the band’s Soundwave Festival appearabce. Mr. Aaron Harris mixed the album.
Hearing these live documents in the series, which some Lambgoat comments section type trolls who have never done shit with their lives have called unessential, is really awesome for real fans. I personally love that, say, Ian Mackaye did his extensive Fugazi Live series through Dischord, as it allows for cool versions and the development of the band over time to literally be heard in an organic, non studio setting. Some live albums fall flat, but with bands as exciting as Fugazi or Isis, that is not the case. You are always going to be hearing something special each time. Personally, the one time I saw them I was pretty trashed so it is great to have at least a second audio chance, or third or fourth or SEVENTH in this case.
I am in the minority among most post-metal snobs who personally liked Wavering Radiant perhaps even more than some of their earlier classics. Post chumming with Tool in, I think it was 2006 or 2007, the band really started to stretch their material out even more and expand their vocabulary as players. I for one found it exciting, though some people just don’t have the patience for that. It was kind of a precursor to some of the Palms stuff, but there was still a fair measure of harsh vocals as well.
The Wavering Radiant stuff sounds positively alive on this release, the band’s excitement from this era palpable. The watery grandeur of the hypnotic opening to “Ghost Key” is breathtaking and the rhythmic guitar parts really cut through on this version as the song progresses. The brief post-huge crescendo quiet ending of “Threshold Of Transformation” is another stunning section, almost befitting a calm yet cosmic spaghetti western.
All in all this gets very high marks because it is not only so cool to hear more organic versions of “Hall of the Dead” and a fit to exploding “Holy Tears”, but the simple breadth of what the band accomplishes and the ground covered here is far beyond the reach of most groups.
Temples Festival have announced grunge godfathers The Melvins as the Saturday night headliner. The fest line up this year is pretty damn forceable, featuring Jucifer, Acid King, All Pigs Must Die and many more great bands.
Statement:
Patrons of Temples Festival,
First and foremost, thank you all for the patience you’ve kindly extended of late.
Without further ado, it’s with great pride with which we finally announce our first Temples 2016 headliner, following on from the likes of Neurosis and Sunn0))) as our Saturday night headliner, please welcome (the) Melvins to Temples Festival 2016.
The Melvins will headline Saturday, June 4th alongside a diverse and tasteful selection of artists – for what’s set to be one of the heaviest & most memorable days in the history of Temples Festival. With over forty bands now announced and many more (including two headliners) still to be unveiled, we’re firmly on course for another monumental weekend.
As ever, we’ll be under-selling the overall capacity of Motion to minimise the strain on each room and ensure we can offer the most comfortable experience possible for each of our Patrons. We have secured a number of tasteful caterers for 2016 which includes an array of vegan and vegetarian options, and once again we’ll be offering a fairly priced Ale and Cider bar for the drinking contingency among us – this time, featuring a bespoke Temples Festival ale.
The best song on the new Faith No More record is now 100% more geriatric in a good way. this reminds me of when the little old ladies and old dudes sang Sonic Youth and Ramones in that old folks home. “Rainbows will bend for me” is still the best metal lyric of the year. Plus I am from Woodstock, NY so I appreciate that half the dudes in the band in this clip look like Levon Helm, who we miss a lot around here. Win.
Posted by Metal Riot on Monday, March 9, 2015 at 11:58 AM (PST)
There is a really solid looking Melvins documentary in the works. The kickstarter launched and is HERE.
The film, which is currently under production with an anticipated early 2016 release, is the creation of Bob Hannam and Ryan Sutherby. The pair, who met through a mutual affection for the Melvins, began work on the officially authorized documentary in late 2014.
“We kept asking ourselves why no one had ever made a film about the Melvins,” explained Hannam. “What an incredible story and twisted tale both Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover have taken. There aren’t many bands who can say they’ve influenced some of the most popular artists of our generation and done it in every instance according to their own rules, still as important, if not more so, some 32 years after forming.”
You can catch some footage from the trailer (featuring Mark Arm, David Yow, Matt Pike, Chris Cornell and more) BELOW.
What a salad of 1,000 delights. Listening to the boogie blues of Voodelic’s Conjure LP and then this sludgy news item lands in my ear.
The Melvins are streaming their forthcoming album, Hold It In (Oct. 14, Ipecac Recordings), in its entirety via Pandora right herez.
Joining Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover for the 12-song album are Butthole Surfers’ guitar player Paul Leary and bass player JD Pinkus. Hold It In was recorded in both Los Angeles and Austin earlier this year.
Digital pre-orders for Hold It In are available now via iTunes with the album lead-off, “Bride of Crankenstein,” offered as an immediate download upon order here. Rolling Stone previously premiered “Brass Cupcake,” saying the new record “sounds like the Cars and Devo plugging into Blue Cheer’s amp stacks.”
The Melvins kick off a round of U.S. tour dates on Oct. 15 in Sacramento at Assembly, with label mates Le Butcherettes opening through Oct. 30. Osborne, Crover and Pinkus will be the touring line-up for this run of dates.
While we are all bummed out about Malcolm Young retiring, let’s be thankful that we at least know the Melvins will probably never, ever hang it up.
The Quietus has premiered a new Butthole/Melvins jaunt entitled “Sesame Street Meat”. I don’t know if that is a nod to the whole “please don’t tickle me, Elmo” controversy awhile ago but it is a solid jam full of heavy ass Eggnog-worthy low end and some of the quirky textural detours their major label years or even under-appreciated gem Hostile Ambient Takeover afforded listeners. But all in all it is more early grunge sounding than most of what they have done between now and, say, A Senile Animal. Great stuff. Click HERE to get blessened.
Paul Leary and JD Pinkus join the band on new album Hold It In, out October 14th. Pre-order HERE.
The Melvins return with Hold It In, their first studio album as a quartet since 2010’s The Bride Screams Murder, on Oct. 14.
Joining Buzz Osborne and Dale Crover for the 12-song outing are Butthole Surfers’ guitar player Paul Leary and bass player JD Pinkus. Hold It In was recorded in both Los Angeles and Austin earlier this year.
“Hold It In is a refreshing piece of fiction in a boring world of fact and bullsh*t,” said Osborne. “Paul is one of the best guitar players I have ever heard and Pinkus has an outside the box type of approach to both guitar and bass that you just have to let it ride. I can’t believe this actually happened. I’m thrilled.”
“It’s very rare you get a chance to work with three folks from the ‘Break A Wish’ foundation, all at the same time,” said Pinkus. “I believe they’ll remember their experience with me forever (or until they finally all lose their fight with S.I.D.S).”
June 25, 2014, Los Angeles – Palms, the Los Angeles-based band featuring three former members of the post-metal band ISIS with Deftones’ frontman Chino Moreno, return to the road for a southwestern tour in September.
The band released their self-titled debut album in 2013 with Spin describing Palms as “the slow-orbiting-rocket float of Oceanic-era ISIS painted in soft colors, now with the gushing, soaring melodies that would work on an older sibling’s mixtape next to Cure, Echo & the Bunnymen, US, or Depeche Mode” and Revolver proclaiming the album a “dreamy, swooning… masterpiece.”
I just thought it was wicked dope and put it on my end of year top 5 last year.
May 14, 2014, Torrance, Calif. – Scion Audio Visual is offering a free download of a new Buzz Osborne song titled “The Hesitation Twist” via Scion AV’s Soundcloud page HERE.
Osborne, the legendary Melvins‘ front man, played his debut solo, acoustic show at Scion AV’s February Rock Show and will also perform this Saturday at Scion AV’s annual Scion Rock Fest. The 2014 installment of Scion Rock Fest features twenty-six of the biggest names in hard rock and metal including Machine Head, High on Fire, Red Fang and Orchid. The festival, which has been held in Atlanta, Columbus, Tampa and Memphis, returns to Southern California with four stages spread across The Glasshouse and The Fox Theatre in Pomona, Calif.
The Scion Rock Show, a free monthly concert series at The Satellite in Los Angeles, debuted last summer. The monthly outings offers music fans the chance to see both the next wave of bands in hard rock and metal as well as the rare opportunity to see more established artists in an intimate setting. Past participants include Weedeater, ASG, Fu Manchu and Indian Handcrafts. A limited edition 7-inch featuring music from past performers is available at each installment of the Scion Rock Show.
About Scion Audio Visual:
Scion Audio Visual (AV for short) is a creative enterprise of Scion devoted to the discovery, nurture, funding and distribution of compelling music and arts programming. Scion AV has created and championed projects for over 100 underground musical artists, supported tours and special events, created film documentaries, curated art installations, and produced a collection of ‘zines. In addition, Scion AV executes the annual Scion Music(less) Music Conference and operates 7 broadband radio stations via Scion Streaming Radio. For more information, visit ScionAV.com
Melvins chieftan Chief Buzz…er, King Buzzo is prepared to hit the road in support of This Machine Kills Artists, the solo acoustic record from the Grunge Godfather out June 3rd on the mighty Ipecac. There are pretty much no words for how cool the acoustic song “Dark Brown Teeth” that Buzzo already released is, so go check it out HERE for yourself. Any of you cry babies who say acoustic aint sludgy enough need to go sit on a road cone. …Machine is sure to be full of cool twists and turns. Anybody remember how doom’s other ruler Wino made Adrift, one of the best records of his career, a few years ago? ‘Nuff saidskeez.
Click HERE for the tour dates. Photo by Mackie Osbourne
Following last year’s reissue of ISIS’ debut album, Celestial, a re-mastered version of the seminal band’s third album, Panopticon, is slated for an April 29 release via Ipecac Recordings (CD/digital).
“After some years away from the material, Panopticon now feels like the most optimistic of all the ISIS albums, dark as the subject mater may be,” explained singer/guitar player Aaron Turner. “Giving voice to my concerns about the loss of privacy and the deterioration of personal freedom through the lyrics on the album made those subjects weigh less heavily on my mind. Something about the sound of the songs feels open and bright to me as well – post-millennial depression and pre-apocalyptic paranoia hadn’t yet taken hold I suppose. Panopticon also feels like a turning point to me in the trajectory of ISIS, and serves as a personal place-marker for me in terms of how the world of music and music consumption was shifting radically around that time. Things have certainly become cloudier since then and more uncertain – in that way the subject matter of Panopticon also now seems a bit premonitory.”
The reissue of the 2004 release, which Pitchfork said “evokes a sense of creeping voyeurism” and Mojo described as “a breathtaking balance of instrumental maelstrom with devastating, near elemental power,” also includes new packaging, featuring a 12-page booklet created by Turner.
“I got the check disk from the manufacturer the other day and listened to Panopticon all the way through to make sure things were good to go. It was like taking a journey back in time,” added drummer Aaron Harris. “When ISIS was playing these songs regularly I wasn’t able to enjoy them as a listener. Now that I haven’t played these songs in years they’ve taken on a whole new identity for me. Mika Jussila did an amazing job with the re-master. The record has more detail and dynamics now. I feel that re-masters sometime ruin the integrity of records, but I feel that fans will really appreciate this re-master, and maybe find a new appreciation for Panopticon, as I have.”
Buzz Osborne, songwriter, guitar player and vocalist for the Melvins, has unveiled his first solo, acoustic song, “Dark Brown Teeth,” via Rolling Stone right HERE. The song is really cool. It sounds kind of like it could have been from the Stoner Witch-era, had it been electric.
The iconic front man has also confirmed he will release an as-of-yet untitled, solo, acoustic full-length via IpecacRecordings in June.Osborne previously announced a thirteen-date tour kicking off March 2 at Grumpy’s in Minneapolis, which also includes a performance at the Record Label Rummage Sale on Mar. 13. A commemorative 10” titled This Machine Kills Artists, which features “Dark Brown Teeth,” will be available via Amphetamine Reptile and sold on the upcoming tour dates.
“I’m looking forward to taking this show on the road!” Osborne added, “Solo acoustic is something I’d never thought I’d be doing. Maybe that’s why this will work!”
Osborne also recently confirmed his participation in the James Williamson Interview: From Riffs to Bits session at SXSW on March 14 at 12:30 pm in the Austin Convention Center.
Buzz Osborne, songwriter, guitar player and vocalist for the Melvins, performs his first solo, acoustic shows in his thirty plus year career this February and March.
The thirteen dates include an Austin performance at the Record Label Rummage Sale on Mar. 13 as well as a free Scion AV Rock Show on Feb. 25 in Los Angeles.
“I’m looking forward to taking this show on the road!” Osborne added, “Solo acoustic is something I’d never thought I’d be doing. Maybe that’s why this will work!”
In conjunction with the March dates, a commemorative 10” titled This Machine Kills Artists will be released via Amphetamine Reptile Records. The question begs, what is he going to play?
California thrash upstarts Warbringer have returned to settle the score and cement their long term legacy fully with sixth album Weapons of Tomorrow. "Firepower Kills" probably ought to open all their future shows, just a complete stage setter for chaos. "Crushed Beneath The Tracks" and "Power Unsurpassed" in particular show this band would have ruled 1988 with ease and contain maximum neck injuring/ fist pumping potential (along with notable Slayer-worthy wraith shrieking). I am not 100% on the semi-thin snare sound but it hardly distracts the band's performances are all monstrous on this bad boy. Exodus, Annihilator fans or of course fans of more new school speed thrash bands should get all over this one. \m/
