Seventh Rule just released a super limited (94) repressing of ‘Furnace,’ this time on blue vinyl. Get it here or get it from us at an upcoming show or when we tour with Whitehorse in June.

Decibel Magazine presents …
…the art of Decibel’s head designer and chief illustrator Bruno Guerreiro with a special Kung Fu Necktie art show and musical showcase February 10th at 8pm.

Performing:
- Rosetta
- Restorations
- Batillus
- Sunburster (members of Snake Road/DeathBeds/Rogue House/Deceverion. First show!)

Showing:
- Collection of original metal and rock show posters
- Original illustrations featured in Decibel
- Other original Bruno Guerreiro works

Free Stuff:
- Decibel Magazine back issues
- Decibel Magazine coasters and stickers

Tickets ($10) Ages 21+
Click here to purchase.

In truth, I didn’t listen to that much heavy music in 2011. I guess I’m “getting older,” or whatever. There were a few rather excellent records released this past year which found themselves in heavy rotation for me, but I found myself listening to a variety of other and older things during the year.

Records released in 2011 that I enjoyed, in alphabetical order:

Indian – Guiltless
Violence, misanthropy, hatred. Oppressive guitars, banshee vocals, disorienting drums. This is the best heavy record of 2011, but it can be a bit exhausting to listen straight through in one sitting. It’s just that fucking relentless.

Junius – Reports from the Threshold of Death
Another expertly sculpted masterpiece from a band I’ve been a fan of since their first EP was released in 2004. Dark, haunting, and epic, Junius craft songs that recall the birth of stars and the formation of planets.

Low – C’mon
This is hands down my top record of 2011. Nearly every song is brilliant, and the few that aren’t are still quite excellent. Dark, mellow, infectious.

A Storm of Light – As the Valley of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade…
My only complaint with this record is the sound of the drums. Too rubbery, synthetic. But the drumming itself, as well as the other performances and the songwriting, are top-notch. Heavy and dark, without really being ‘metal.’ Think Pink Floyd through a Neurosis filter.

Yob – Atma
Some have complained that this is just “more of the same.” But with Yob, that’s precisely what I want.

2011, though, was the year of Levon Helm for me. I listened to his 2007 album ‘Dirt Farmer’ more than any other record, except perhaps the Low record mentioned above. As a drummer myself, I identify strongly with him as I get older and seek new ways to express myself musically. His voice is raspy, like corn husk, and his drumming is simultaneously understated and expressive.

There are several records which I missed, but feel obligated to check out at some point:

Atriarch – Forever the End
Blut Aus Nord – 777Sect(s) / Desanctification
Earth – Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light
Hull – Beyond the Lightless Sky
Leviathan – True Traitor, True Whore
US Christmas – The Valley Path
Wold – Freemasonry
Wolves in the Throne Room – Celestial Lineage

When the list of records you didn’t get around to hearing eclipses the list of records you did hear, you know you’re getting old. Or maybe jaded. Or maybe just lazy… Looks like I have some homework to do!

-gs

11.12 – Portland, OR @ East End w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Norska, Mongoloid Village
11.13 – Seattle, WA @ Highline w/ Mico de Noche, Kowloon Walled City, The Atlas Moth, Broxa
11.16 – San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room w/ Prizehog, Sutekh Hexen
11.17 – Capistrano Beach, CA @ Coconuts w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Pigeonwing
11.18 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Handbag Factory w/ -(16)-, The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City
11.19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Yayo Taco w/ Rituals, Demon Lung
11.20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth
11.21 – Denver, CO @ Moe’s w/ The Atlas Moth, Ghosts of Glaciers
11.22 – Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room w/ The Atlas Moth
11.23 – Chicago, IL @ SubT Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth, Yakuza, The Swan King

We’re heading out on the road again in November. We’re hitting a few places in the Midwest with The Atlas Moth on our way out to and back from our first ever trip to the West Coast.

11.7 – Indianapolis, IN @ The Jukebox w/ Late August, Chaniski
11.8 – Madison, WI @ Wisco
11.9 – Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue (7th Street Entry) w/ Battlefields (album release), The Atlas Moth, Blue Ox
11.10 – Fargo, ND @ The New Direction w/ The Atlas Moth, Loom, Sleeping in Gethsemane, Aemeth
11.12 – Portland, OR @ East End w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Norska, Mongoloid Village
11.13 – Seattle, WA @ Highline w/ Mico de Noche, Kowloon Walled City, The Atlas Moth, Broxa
11.16 – San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room w/ Prizehog, Sutekh Hexen
11.17 – Capistrano Beach, CA @ Coconuts w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Pigeonwing
11.18 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Handbag Factory w/ -(16)-, The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City
11.19 – Las Vegas, NV @ Yayo Taco w/ Rituals, Demon Lung
11.20 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth
11.21 – Denver, CO @ Moe’s w/ The Atlas Moth, Ghosts of Glaciers
11.22 – Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room w/ The Atlas Moth
11.23 – Chicago, IL @ SubT Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth, Yakuza, The Swan King

We returned this past Monday morning just after dawn from trudging around the east coast with Indian for four days. And during those four days we had the privilege of driving through Connecticut not once, not twice, but fully four times. Decidedly not our idea of a good time, although I will say that Connecticut traffic did cooperate somewhat better than usual.

Indian are off to Canada now to finish their tour (that is, if they can get across the border) and we’re back to our mundane ‘regular’ lives. A few words about Indian… Their music and their performance: pure hatred, violence, and misanthropy. It’s quite something to watch them play; I’m fairly certain (though this is merely my opinion and in no way has been corroborated by anyone actually in that band) that their primary goal is to make people feel uncomfortable. And I love it.

-gs

Sat 9/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ 40 Watt Sun
Thu 9/22 – Boston, MA @ O’Briens w/ Indian, The Proselyte
Fri 9/23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Public Assembly w/ Indian, Castevet, Alkahest
Sat 9/24 – Baltimore, MD @ Golden West w/ Indian, Melungeon
Sat 9/25 – Providence, RI @ Castlevania w/ Indian, Elder, Groke

If you can’t catch us with Yob and Dark Castle tomorrow at Le Poisson Rouge, we’ll be playing on July 23rd at St. Vitus in Greenpoint to celebrate the release of our split seven-inch with Mutilation Rites. Phantom Glue is also playing. More info here.