We’ll be going out on the road with Whitehorse (the heavy one from Australia, not the folksy Canadian duo) in June in support of a split 12″ record we’re releasing together. Dates below. Stay tuned to BrooklynVegan, which will be premiering audio from the split soon.

June 2012 US Tour with Whitehorse:
Wed 5/30/12 – Raleigh, NC @ Slim’s (no Whitehorse)
Thu 5/31/12 – Atlanta, GA @ Wonderroot w/ TBD (no Whitehorse)
Fri 6/1/12 – New Orleans, LA @ Siberia w/ Dragged Into Sunlight, Cough (no Whitehorse)
Sat 6/2/12 – Lafayette, LA @ The Wild Salmon w/ Haarp, Red Shield (no Whitehorse)
Sun 6/3/12 – Austin, TX – Chaos in Tejas @ Hotel Vegas w/ Dragged Into Sunlight, Cough, Cross, Theories
Mon 6/4/12 – Little Rock, AK @ White Water Tavern w/ As Dogs, Firing Order
Tue 6/5/12 – Columbia, MO @ Cafe Berlin w/ Battlement
Wed 6/6/12 – Lincoln, NE @ Duffy’s Tavern w/ Ezra
Thu 6/7/12 – Minneapolis, MN @ Medusa w/ Svoboda, Lungs
Fri 6/8/12 – Milwaukee, WI @ Quarters w/ Northless
Sat 6/9/12 – Appleton, WI @ Maritime Tavern
Sun 6/10/12 – Chicago, IL @ Double Door w/ Making Ghost, Alma Negra, Lost Dog
Mon 6/11/12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Kopec’s w/ Slices
Tue 6/12/12 – Brooklyn, NY @ The Acheron w/ Unearthly Trance
Wed 6/13/12 – Providence, RI @ Machines With Magnets
Thu 6/14/12 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie
Fri 6/15/12 – Baltimore, MD @ Golden West w/ Mind as Prison

“Tunguska” was recorded at the very first recording session Batillus ever did. This was before Fade was in the band, so there are no vocals, no samples, no synth– just guitar, bass, and drums. Our buddy AJ Peters (who also plays in the band Summoner, formerly known as Riff Cannon) recorded, mixed, and mastered this track way back in 2008, and all for basically a case of beer and a couple sandwiches from Spiro’s.

Thanks dudes!

In May, Vendetta Records will be releasing a split 12″ featuring two new Batillus songs on side A and a new song from Australia’s Whitehorse on side B. That’s the cover above, by Scott Irvine. Special thanks to Andrew Mittelman and Sound Generation for making this record happen, and to James Plotkin for his always-superb mastering skills.

We’ll be touring with Whitehorse in June in support of this release. Dates, which span the eastern half of the US, will be announced shortly.

Batillus / Whitehorse Split 12″ Tracklist:

Side A – Batillus
1. Silver Mortar
2. Feral

Side B – Whitehorse
1. Dark Age

Here’s a preview of “Silver Mortar” from a recent show in Brooklyn (thanks to unARTigNYC):

Come to the Acheron this Friday, March 23 for our first New York show in five months. We’ll be playing at least one– possibly two– new songs, which will be released in May on a split 12″ with Australia’s Whitehorse.

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