Heavy Planet Updates

You may have noticed a few changes to the home page today, that is because I felt that the site just needed a little refreshed. Over the course of the next few weeks you will see some of these areas tweeked a bit more until I get it the way I feel it should be. In my discussions with Toby, we think that the "New Band To Burn One" needs to be given the most exposure because our primary goal is to give unsigned bands the opportunity for some free promotion. Because I get so many bands submitting, I pretty much have to post everyday and the band loses its top spot on the page. I have a rotating link for the past 10 days as a temporary fix until I can come up with something better.

On the sidebar you will notice areas for "Rad Reviews", "Free Downloads" and "Reverb Nation" widgets. I will try and rotate these out on a weekly basis to give other bands exposure.

We also have a few new features that will hopefully bring some excitement to the site. We will have a feature on Sunday called "Sunday Sludge", this feature will expose readers to influential bands in the genre as well as up and coming and unsigned bands. We will also be bringing back the "Heavy Rotation" feature and will run it every Wednesday. For those of you unfamiliar with that feature, I do a write-up of what catches my ear the most throughout the week. And finally, we will do a feature every Friday called "Flashback Friday" in which we search for influential and/or obscure bands from the 70's, 80's and 90's that defined the genre as we know it today.

We will continue to post reviews of CDs as well and if you need a news fix, check out the links along the side of the site. Like us on Facebook to get occasional tidbits not found on the blog, such as contests, videos, news, etc.

As always, thank you for dedication and continued support.

Heavy Planet Updates

As the year winds down, I would like to thank everyone for stopping by and reading. This has been the most successful year for Heavy Planet as we saw a new site design, tons of great "New Band To Burn One To" band submissions, a few new contributors, Heavy Planet is finally on Facebook, and a collaboration with The Soda Shop. I would like to finish off the year with my Top 20 albums of 2010 which will begin tomorrow and end on Friday. Five albums will be featured each day.

In 2011, we will continue to accept submissions for our extremely popular "New Band To Burn One To" feature. So if you want your band to be heard, submit it here now! Also in the works is a possible collaboration with The Soda Shop on a monthly podcast/radio show to feature unsigned bands. This may also be the year that a Heavy Planet compilation CD comes out. We shall see. Also, a blog I started called "Promote Your Band" is in it's infancy stage right now,  so hopefully you'll stop by and check it out for some great articles on how to promote and market your band.

Special thanks goes out to Toby, The Klepto, Zac, Bill and Jake (The Soda Shop)  and these fine websites Captain Beyond Zen, The Obelisk, Sludge Swamp, PlanetFuzz, Doommantia and any other Stoner/Doom related sites dedicated to keeping Stoner/Doom/Sludge/Psych music alive and well. Unfortunately, we saw the demise of StonerRock.com. But along with the above mentioned sites we will strive to bring you all the information that you need.

Here is to a successful 2011!

Doom on fellow \m/usic fans!

~Reg

Heavy Planet Updates

Sorry for the lack of updates as of late, I've been a little busy with some other projects. I am getting a little bit behind on some of the band requests. If you submit your band right now it usually takes about a month and a half to get posted. Please be patient as I will eventually post your band, unless it does not fit into the scope of the blog. A special thanks goes out to Toby aka Inspired , a one time reader of the blog to now a contributor. Toby provides CD reviews and Concert reviews to the blog every now and then and does a tremendous job. If anyone else is willing to contribute, don't be afraid to hit me up. It is a cool chance to get some free swag every once in a while. Thanks for all the kind comments that I receive in my e-mail, I really appreciate it. I kind of like where the format is at so I will not be making any changes at this time. One thing that I do ask is that you show your appreciation to the bands by purchasing their music/merch off of their MySpace/website. If the band offers a free download of their music please send them a simple thank you. Alright, peace!

Heavy "F'n" Planet Update

I have decided on a new format for the blog. Now that I have a more definite schedule, here is the way the weeks events will transpire starting this Monday.

Sunday-No posts
Monday-"Album Of The Week"
Tuesday-"New Releases"
Wednesday-"New Band To Burn One To"
Thursday- Feature a fellow blog to check out
Friday-No posts
Saturday-News from the past week

In the meantime, I will try to make an archive of all the "New Bands To Burn One To" just in case there are some that you may have missed along the way.

As usual, keep those requests for band promo coming. I will make sure to get to them some way some how.

If any of you have a great review about a show you attended and would like to have it posted here just send it to me.

Alright, have a great Saturday!

Doom on!!! \mm/

Sorry For The Lack Of Updates

Hey guys! I'm sorry for the lack of updates lately. I have had a lot of stuff going on and have not had much time to post. To all the bands that have e-mailed me with their info., I will post as soon as I can. I know that some of you have been waiting for a few months now, and I am very sorry. To the last two bands (Marbles and Flatbed Orange) that I named as "New Bands To Burn One To" a simple "thank you" would have been nice. To all that have stuck with me, thanks for your continued support. All right guys, take care and doom on!! You will be hearing from me again very soon.

Here is a very tentative schedule of what to expect.

Sunday/Monday-"Album Of The Week"
Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday-"New Band To Burn One To"
Saturday-Different other cool shit

Heavy Planet Updates

Hey guys, sorry about the lack of updates. I have been very busy and was away this weekend. I'll be back to my regular schedule this week. Just for future notice I will be on vacation from May 15th-May 23rd and probably will not have time to provide any posts.

\mm/

~Reg

Heavy Planet Followers Rule!

To all of those that follow Heavy Planet each and every day , I would like to extend my gratitude to you for your attention and dedication. I know that as of right now there are only 24 of you, but you are the 24 most important people to me and are the reason why I keep plugging away. Most blogs/websites have a staff of people to provide all of their posts while I do it all by my lonesome. I am a true music lover and know that many of you are also.

One of the features that I have on my blog is to promote new, exciting, original sounding upcoming bands. I cannot believe that any band would not want free promotion in these trying times. It is also baffling to me that many of these bands do not thank me nor duplicate my promotion on their Myspace pages or websites, I see that as being inconsiderate.

I do not write reviews of these submissions because frankly I do not have enough time to do so. I believe that just having the exposure to 300-600 people per day is worth a few hundred words. It only takes 1 person to suggest a band to a friend and then hope it spreads like wildfire. The internet is a very powerful tool so use it to your advantage.

I listen to each and every one of the bands that send CDs to me and have become a fan of many of them, bands that I would never have heard if it were not for this blog.

So going forward, keep the submissions coming and when I do post a feature on your band be kind enough to return the favor. Thanks!

\mm/

~Reg

p.s. The first Heavy Planet follower to send me their mailing address will receive a very cool grab bag.

Catacomb Records Updates

From Catacomb Records:

We said we wouldn’t do it again… but we have! The “Electric Kool Aid Acid Fest” will be held on Thursday, 9 April 2009 at The Old Wharf, Digbeth, Birmingham and will feature such stoner/doom and dirty rock ‘n’ roll bands as Alunah, Grifter, Trippy Wicked, and Gringo… and it’s totally FREE! Surely that’s enough to make you come out on a Thursday?


To view the poster, click here.


Alunah News
Alunah/Queen Elephantine Split
The Alunah and Queen Elephantine tracks are currently being mastered, which means the 7" limited edition split vinyl is out soon!


Alunah on Nasoni Records
Fall to Earth is being re-released on 10" vinyl by German psych label Nasoni Records with a bonus track included! The release will be out in the next couple of months!


Difficulties finding Alunah?
Alunah releases may still be found under the old name of “Aluna” on HMV.com, Amazon.com and Play.com. Please check both spellings. If items still cannot be found, please refer to the Alunah store within their website.


Alunah have various UK dates planned for 2009, these include:



Saturday, 28 February 2009: Birmingham, UK - Meltdown Records “Farewell” Fest at The Asylum, with Godsize, I Am Colossus, Slab, Hellfire and Rotunda
Thursday, 2 April 2009: Redditch, UK - The Tardbigge
Friday, 3 April 2009: Stourbridge, UK - Katie Fitzgeralds
Saturday, 4 April 2009: Burton, UK - The Appleby
Sunday, 5 April 2009: Coalville, UK - The Vic
Thursday, 9 April 2009: Birmingham, UK - “The Electric Kool Aid Acid Fest” at The Old Wharf, with Grifter, Trippy Wicked, Gringo and Fancy Nancy
Friday, 10 April 2009: Wolverhampton, UK - The Gifford Arms, with Grifter
Saturday, 11 April 2009: Camden, UK - The Unicorn, with Grifter, Trippy Wicked and Stone Turner
Sunday, 12 April 2009: Essex, UK - “The Cosmic Puffin Fest” at Mersea Island Holiday Camp, with Litmus and many more psych bands and artists
Thursday, 16 April 2009: Tamworth, UK - Club Vertigo
Friday, 17 April 2009: Nuneaton, UK - Queens Hall
Sunday, 19 April 2009: Nottingham, UK - The Old Angel, with Ten Days Later
Friday, 24 April 2009: Kettering, UK - Sawyers
Saturday, 25 April 2009: Coventry, UK - Golden Cross, with General
Thursday, 30 April 2009: Birmingham, UK - Eddies Rock Club
Saturday, 23 May 2009: Exeter, UK - Tiggas, with Grifter and Fatty Chan
Saturday, 11 July 2009: Suffolk, UK - "Music on The Green Fest"
Wednesday, 29 July 2009: Bilston, UK - Robin 2, with War Pigs (Sabbath tribute)
Thursday, 30 July 2009: Leamington, UK - Jam Jam Club
Friday, 31 July 2009: Birmingham, UK - Scruffy Murphys


www.alunah.co.uk
www.alunah-myspace.co.uk (Please note, this is NOT a new MySpace address, the new domain will forward to the old Aluna MySpace page)


Grifter News
The artwork for the Simplicity of the Riff Is Key EP is now complete, the tracks mastered and now the wait is on...


Grifter has various UK dates planned for 2009, these include:

Saturday, 28 Febuary 2009: Swindon, UK - 12 Bar
Friday, 6 March 2009: Bath, UK - James St Wine Vault
Thursday, 9 April 2009: Birmingham, UK - “The Electric Kool Aid Acid Fest” at The Old Wharf, with Alunah, Trippy Wicked, Gringo and Fancy Nancy
Friday, 10 April 2009: Wolverhampton, UK - The Gifford Arms, with Alunah
Saturday, 11 April 2009: Camden, UK - The Unicorn,with Alunah, Trippy Wicked and Stone Turner
Saturday, 23 May 2009: Exeter, UK - Tiggas, with Alunah and Fatty Chan

Small Stone Updates

From Small Stone Records:

So, a few folks have been asking about FHJ, so here is what we know (directly from the band I might add)... Five Horse Johnson is currently taking a break from touring and is busy working on material for its next full length album. The band will enter the studio sometime in 2009 when all of the jams are ready for the recording studio. There will also be a greatest hits album called Sweetwater Gasoline that is being released in Australia only and will consist of tracks from their following albums: Double Down, Fat Black Pussy Cat, The Last Men On Earth, and The Mystery Spot.


We are just about to send the new albums from Giant Brain and Sons of Otis to the plant. We should have them back late January, so save some of your holiday cash for those two recordings. Between the both of them, there is well over two hours of heavy music and arty jams to help cure your Winter doldrums. Giant Brain`s Thorn of Thrones is currently available on iTunes, and Sons of Otis` Exiled should be up on the iTunes Store next week (we hope).

Solace will be wrapping up the vocals and mixing on their forthcoming album A.D. sometime over the next month at Mad Oak Studios in Allston, MA. The band has a deadline to meet if they want to have copies of their new album at SXSW, where they will be headlining the Small Stone Showcase at the Room 710 on Friday, March 20, 2009. Not to mention, we have the majority of the finished artwork in our hands, so things are looking good. You can most likely plan on having A.D. ready for mass consumption by March!

Attention Los Natas, where is your new album? You guys have not checked in with us since your last trip to Europa. Anyway, we hope to be releasing the new album from Los Natas somtime during the first half of 2009. When we finally hear from them, we will let you know an exact release date.


Also on the horizon in 2009, new albums from The Brought Low, Sasquatch, Shame Club, Valis, Red Giant, Mos Generator, Tia Carrera, Throttlerod, and possibly a few acts that you have not even heard of yet. Hell, maybe we can get Dixie Witch to fire up their new one as well...


Happy Holidays!

Southern Lord Updates

It is with extreme honor that Southern Lord can now officially announce two new inductees to their eclectic, congregation of auditory purveyors. Coincidentally both bands are duos - each consisting of merely a guitarist and a drummer. The similarities don`t end there; they are both mammoth, monstrous, and completely slay! Welcome Black Cobra and Eagle Twin to the mix...

Black Cobra
Rafa Martinez and Jason Landrian have been coalescing Black Cobra`s sonic brew for nearly six years now, yet neither were strangers to heaving heavy riffage prior, with Rafa doing time with Acid King and 16, and Jason in Cavity. But the pair unleash a tone heavier than a trio of both guitar and drums. Their impenetrable hardcore doom chemistry evokes an intensity that sets them apart from the others, both live and recorded. The band have toured seemingly endlessly on both US and foreign soil ssince their 2002 inception, sharing the stage with The Sword, Weedeater, High on Fire, Torche, and countless other bands in the upper ranks of metal and doom, most times blowing the competition away completely. Black Cobra plans to record their first album for Southern Lord sometime in the first half of 2009, with more info and tour dates to be announced very shortly.

www.blackcobra.net
www.myspace.com/blackcobra


Eagle Twin
Hailing from Salt Lake City, the mighty Eagle Twin has mainly solidified into proper form over the course of this year. Guitarist Gentry Densley is a very old friend whose previous band Iceburn was one of the most interesting and incredible bands of the 90`s hardcore/post-hardcore movement. Gentry and Greg Anderson (Southern Lord, sunn 0))), Goatsnake) collaborated on the Ascend album Ample Fire Within record, released by Southern Lord earlier this year. The Eagle Twin sound is stained with early doom and blues-roots rock backing mythology of epic Old Testament proportions. Drummer Tyler "T-Top" Smith beats the living shit out of his drums and perfectly compliments the thunderous fire that bursts out of Gentry`s antique tube amplification! The band will be recording their debut album with Randall Dunn (Earth, sunn 0))), ) in Seattle this Winter and it should be released before summer of 2009.


www.myspace.com/eagletwin



www.southernlord.com
www.myspace.com/southernlordrecordings
blog.southernlord.com

Updates from At A Loss Recordings

From At A Loss Recordings:

At A Loss is pleased to announce it will be working with St. Augustine, Florida`s female/male duo Dark Castle, releasing their next full length album in 2009. Phillip Cope (Baroness/Kylesa/Withered) recently recorded the tracks for the upcoming release at the infamous Jam Room, capturing the band`s unique brand of metallic , psyche-doom. More album and tour info will definitely be announced shortly...


www.myspace.com/darkcastlemetal


The Black Cobraduo is on the road with Torcheand Cloudsnow, ripping their way through the middle and southern parts of the country on their way west, where a duo of shows with Dub Trioand a gig with Totimoshiawait. At A Loss Records will re-issue the band`s debut self-titled 7" before the end of the year.


12/01/2008: Seattle, WA - El Corazon, with Dub Trio
12/02/2008: Portland, OR - Doug Fir Lounge, with Dub Trio
12/06/2008: Oakland, CA – Stork Club, with Totimoshi, Who Rides The Tigers


www.myspace.com/blackcobra


How the hell does a vinyl release not happen until over three years later? We will just use the old "for reasons beyond our control" on this one. Some of that is actually true too! Anyway, after a huge wait, Minsk`s Out of a Center Which is Neither Dead nor Alivewill be available on double LP format. The double LP goodness will be wrapped up in a gatefold cover (new design too), with rad inner sleeves all by the one and only Tony Wyioming. We will also be including a free digital download card with every double LP so you can listen to it on your digital device.


www.myspace.com/minsk


Still supporting this year`s soul-dredging juggernaut Twilight Ritual, Arkansas` sludge-metal messiahs Deadbirdare teaming up with their doomster brethren Zoroasterfor a quick assault on the American South.


12/04/2008: Atlanta, GA - Lenny`s Bar
12/05/2008: Savannah, GA - The Jinx
12/06/2008: Gainesville, FL - The Atlantic
12/07/2008: Tallahassee, FL - The Engine Room
12/08/2008: TBA
12/09/2008: New Orleans, LA - Dragon`s Den


www.myspace.com/deadbird


www.myspace.com/atalossrecordings
www.atalossrecordings.com

Massive Roadburn Festival Updates

OM, Six Organs of Admittance, Skullflower, and A Storm of Light confirmed for Neurosis` Beyond the Pale
"The mission of Beyond the Pale is for us to honour the spirit and power of sound with people that we feel are kindred spirits"
- Steve Von Till.

OM, Six Organs of Admittance, Skullflower, A Storm of Light, The Young Gods, Akimbo, US Christmas, and Guapo, along with Neurosis, have been confirmed for the inaugural European version of Neurosis’ acclaimed Beyond The Pale festival, set to be held at Roadburn 2009 on Saturday, April 25 at the 013 venue, Tilburg, Holland.


Scott Kelly comments: "Om is such a rare bird in the vast landscape that is sound, music, art, and emotive expression that they absolutely defy description. The straightest line is the quickest path to the godhead, Om know this, it is the foundation of their mountain. The meditative nature of the patterns and rhythms found within the speaker flexing sonic blanket that they weave is unparalleled. Om is the heaviest band to ever walk the face of the earth."


"Josh Graham is a prolific individual, a man driven to create. In the years that we have spent together collaborating in Neurosis he has shown himself to be a visionary artist as well as a diligent worker. A Storm Of Light is born of this obsession; it is an ominous sound, a cloud of oppressive doomage. Equal parts heavy and hypnotic, A Storm Of Light is a band grown from truth."


"When you see Akimbo you see a band that has been hardened from the road, a band that has been focused on the sound and the sound alone, and a culmination of experience thrown at you on a lightning bolt."


"US Christmas will be the true revelation of Beyond the Pale at Roadburn `09. From deep in the Appalachians in North Carolina comes the sound of three guitars, two Theremins, and a rhythm section straight from the centre of the earth.”


Steve Von Till comments: "All must bow before the pagan wall of drone - I couldn`t agree more with the opening quote of Skullflower`s semi-official website. Hearing the tortured distorted and eerily shamanic drones emanate from the stereo for the first time in the early nineties was truly a revelation. IIIrd Gatekeeper and Obsidian Shaking Codex are two of my all time favourite albums and have been extremely influential on the way my brothers and I approach guitar-based heavy music: to grab an electric guitar, drive a loud amplifier to its physical limit, and ride the drone into oblivion is ecstasy, and Matthew Bower has been showing us all how it is done for 20-odd years. Finally after all these years we will all get to witness the power together at Beyond The Pale 2009."


"The words `psych folk,` although being a genre of music I feel a passion and affinity for, have begun to lose their meaning and significance over the last several years. A so-called `revival` has dredged up wave upon wave of shallow rehash. Ben Chasny and his Six Organs of Admittance, often tagged by that limiting genre, is a bright flower of inspiration to bring us all hope and remind us that as movements devolve, free spirits can rise above and remain vital among the pale imitators. Fearless and able to avoid the pitfalls and traps of classification he has constantly managed to play cathartic soul music. Not `soul` music, but music that accompanies transformation and the journey of one’s spirit. We are pleased to have this tonal psychonaut join us for this special event."


"Over the years we have continued to admire The Young Gods’ music and their contribution to original heavy music", says Steve Von Till, "One of my favourite daily rituals during our brutal touring schedule in the late ‘90s was hearing our soundman Dave Clark test the local PA systems with The Young Gods, pushing the speakers to their limits. We are proud to have The Young Gods appearing with us this year for Beyond the Pale at Roadburn 2009."


"Guapo`s albums have only become more intriguing, delving deeper into a strange space both claustrophobic and expansive, leaving most of their so called “prog” counterparts seeming to wander inertly with a lack of emotion. Guapo will absolutely bring a desired level of depth and complex harmonics to Beyond the Pale."


Saint Vitus to Headline Friday Roadburn Festival Date, Friday April 24, 2009
David Chandler comments: “We are extremely happy that were invited to Roadburn and we are excited to play. Those of you that saw us on the original reunion tour in 2003 are going to be extremely surprised at our set list. We are pulling stuff out of the hat that we haven’t played in a long long time. So I suggest that you all get up front and prepare for your DOOM!”


Legendary US doom metal pioneers Saint Vitus have been confirmed as the headliner for Friday`s April 24 date at the 2009 Roadburn Festival.


Saint Vitus is known as one of the very first doom metal bands, starting out in the late 1970`s, and have released many classic albums over the ensuing decades. Although Saint Vitus has been on hold for several years now, they will be reforming as the classic Born Too Late line-up (Dave Chandler, Scott "Wino" Weinrich, Mark Adams, Armando Acosta) headlining Friday night at Roadburn 2009.


Over the last two decades, Saint Vitus has become revered as one of the main architects of the modern doom scene, encompassing all that doom metal is all about: emotion, melody and epic songs stacked with enough behemoth riffs to light a week long bonfire. Every note the band has ever put to tape is a benchmark by which all other doom records have been judged. Saint Vitus classic phrase “Born too late” has become the war cry for generations of doom-aficionados.


Wino comments: "We will be playing a lot of everybody’s favourite stuff. Also, my project band Wino will be playing as well, playing tracks from my solo record, Punctuated Equilibrium, and some surprises too!"


Wino`s solo band is set for Roadburn 2009`s additional Afterburner event, scheduled for Sunday, April 26, alongside Solace, Dÿse, Bill Steer`s Firebird, and more.


Reactivated NWOBHM Legends Angel Witch, Baroness, and Minsk Confirmed for Roadburn Festival 2009
Reactivated NWOBHM legends <>Angel Witch (based in London, UK) have been confirmed for the Friday Roadburn date, April 24, alongside Cathedral and Saint Vitus and more.


Firmly rooted in the New Wave of British Heavy Metal, Angel Witch, comprised of guitarist and vocalist Kevin Heybourne, Chris Fullard (guitar), Will Palmer (bass), and Andy Prestidge (drums) will celebrate the genre`s 30th anniversary by playing songs from the band`s legendary self-titled debut album, and singles from that era.


Roadburn is also pleased to report that post-metal stalwarts Baroness and Minsk have been confirmed for the Thursday Roadburn date, April 23.


"Baroness` Red Album has pushed them to the forefront of underground metal. Combining thunderous riffs, roaring vocals and crashing drums, the band has created a monumental record that soars, thanks to its mainly instrumental focus. With their music created in the same vein as former label mates Mastodon, the Red Album is an epic math-metal and prog-infused masterwork that never slows down- save for when the acoustic rears its beautiful head at just the right moments”
- Sarah Kitteringham, Roadburn


In other related news, Terrorizer, the world`s leading extreme music magazine will be sponsoring Roadburn 2009.


"Yet again Terrorizer Magazine has been invited to be a part of Roadburn Festival, and yet again we are incredibly proud to align ourselves with such a gargantuan event in the extreme music calendar. I can think of few other festivals who so wholly mirror our magazine`s own passion for the riff, are as enthusiastic about those unique artists that push the boundaries of extreme music and are as obsessed with searching out the most exciting bands on the planet.


“Roadburn Festival is a truly special event that should be an essential ticket for any music devotee. Not only for its steadfast commitment to producing an unrivalled weekender in terms of its enviable line-up, but also because it`s a festival by fans for fans and ever since April 21, 2008 we have been waiting with bated breath for the announcement of its 2009 edition and are again so thrilled to be involved"
- Louise Brown, Editor, Terrorizer Magazine


Orange Goblin`s Roadburn Festival Performance to be Recorded for Live Album
“It has to be said that Orange Goblin shows are very predictable, in the sense that you know they are going to be brilliant before they even hit the stage”
- Terry Beezer (Kerrang!)


British doomsters Orange Goblin will record their performance at next year`s Roadburn Festival in Tilburg, Holland on Thursday, April 23, 2009 for a limited-edition, vinyl-only live album, due out on Roadburn Records.


Orange Goblin`s Ben Ward comments: “Orange Goblin are honoured to be invited back to take part in the Roadburn Festival 2009. It’s our seventh appearance at the festival that keeps going from strength to strength each year and we see the main stage at Roadburn as the perfect place to record our live album, which is what we’ll do! The atmosphere and the vibe at Roadburn is always better than anywhere else in the world so we look forward to rocking with old friends and new fans alike!”


Roadburn 2009 is set for Thursday, April 23 to Sunday, April 26 at the 013 venue in Tilburg, Holland.


14th Annual Roadburn Festival 2009



Thursday, April 23
Motorpsycho
Orange Goblin
Church of Misery
Wolves In the Throne Room
The Devil`s Blood
Ufomammut
Radio Moscow
Alexander Tucker
Black Sun
Farflung
White Hills
GomerPyle
Amon Düül II
Baroness
Minsk


Friday, April 24
Saint Vitus
Scott Kelly
Steve Von Till
Bohren und der Club of Gore
Cathedral
Colour Haze
Dragontears
Mono (Japan)
Negura Bunget
Omega Massif
The Outskirts of Infinity (headlining the Green Room)
Angel Witch
The Winchester Club


Saturday, April 25: Beyond the Pale
Neurosis
Om
Six Organs of Admittance
Skullflower
The Young Gods
Guapo
US Christmas
Akimbo
A Storm of Light



Sunday, April 26: Afterburner (only 350 tickets available)
Wino
Bill Steer`s Firebird
Dyse
Solace
One more band TBA


Tickets
Ticket pre-sales available from Saturday, December 13
Tickets for the main festival, including Beyond the Pale, will be priced from € 99 (excl. service costs) with no campsite accommodation. There will be separate tickets for the additional Afterburner event and Campsite.


All countries can order online through Ticketservice (credit card) or order your ticket through the 013 venue (www.013web.nl). People in the Netherlands can order via Ticket Service, the 150 bigger post offices, VVV`s, GWK`s, and the 013 venue. More info will follow soon.


For those who didn`t get to take part in previous Roadburn festivals, and for those who did, but want to relive it, we finally have put up the on-demand audio stream of Neurosis live at Roadburn 2007 for your listening pleasure here.


www.roadburn.com

Wantage Records Updates

Wantage USA, the most mispronounced label in existence (rhymes with "advantage") and known in HEAVY crowds for having thudded out the Whip`s only 7", and the debut Big Business recordings, has got limited vinyl copies of four new records on its hands:

Red Fang - Self Titled LP
First pressing of 200. Red Fang features four of western America`s premier heavy metal rock and roll players in a band that`s part Big Business plow, part Blue Cheer abandon, and several parts colossal metallic Portland spastic thunder. With exes ranging from Last of the Juanitas to Truman`s Water, you sort of start to get a sense of what`s going with these dudes. Heavy, but smart, weird heavy. This is what the Onion had to say: "In place of symmetry and precision, Red Fang smears roughhewn, ragged riffs that place the band much more in the camp of Big Business (or even The Sword minus the hobbit shtick). Out behind a new five-song tour EP, the band sports members from all over the place, including Last of the Juanitas, Facedowninshit, and even the legendary San Diego noise collective Truman`s Water."


This LP features both of their first CD-only (until now) EPs and one previously unreleased bonus track.


Street date: 10/28/2008


Japanther - Tut Tut, Now Shake Ya Butt LP
Japanther`s always been a band of contrasts. They exist halfway in the world of performance art, and halfway in that of DIY punk. They get called to compose and perform soundtracks to puppet rock operas and then do a tour comprising largely house shows. They curate huge video/dance/music shows for major New York museums, and then release their music only via DIY/independent labels.


Keeping that tradition of contrast alive the lads have teamed up with (Crass co-founder) Penny Rimbaud and released a record of punk songs and poetry. On the surface, that may sound like an odd combination, but this thing is truly a wild romp `round Africa, the Bronx, San Pedro and Brooklyn, complete with faeries, bicycles and a few cans of spray paint. Japanther`s infectious, free spirited trash hasn`t let up a teeny bit, it`s just gotten more focused and rad somehow. Rimbaud`s churning, clever, degenerate cadence is an oddly fitting balance for Japanther`s two-minute blasts.


These songs are consistent with the level of songwriting on their last Skuffed Up My Huffy LP. Tut Tut, Now Shake Ya Butt was recorded in late 2007, as the (band-curated and organized) Dinosaur Death Dance performance ran for three (sold out) nights at New York`s PS122. On a special note, this record features a sleeper cover of (ca. 1995) Portland`s New Bad Things` "The Dirge"!


Vinyl comes with digital download.


Street date: 10/28/2008


Miss Lana Rebel - All I Need LP/CD
Limited, hand-numbered run of 208, silk screened, artist-signed originals. Comes with song book with lyrics and music.


Real-deal American country music has its roots in the anti-government encampments of born-disaffected Scots Irish settlers in Appalachian America. Those dark hills and hollers are where folks immigrated in order to get away, to not participate in the sorts of activities that most folks thought they should as part of civilization. Specifically, to keep clear of the “revenuers” and others who wanted to get at their wallets in the name of a federal government. When these folks picked up instruments the stories and poems of loss, freedom, often death and once in a while hope began to flow like corn whiskey from an earthenware jug. In that way, I daresay real country’s more punk than punk. As the East grew increasingly crowded, we heard this music coming from places further west, like Texas, Arizona, and California. Miss Lana Rebel continues in that authentic tradition of Spartan, Appalachian/Western country, without the political endorsements (real county’s as apolitical as you can get), dumb hooks or the need to participate in a genre fronted by a qualifying adjective (“new,” “alt,” or otherwise). Get ready to have some stories told to you. All I Need will get tears in your Coors, and a lump in your throat.


Street date: 10/28/2008


Vile Blue Shades - John Thursday California Adventure LP
First pressing of 250. From deep in the heart of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young`s failed state of "Deseret" come the vile brothers and sister of Vile Blue Shades. Sort of like a loaded, swaggering outsider dance group, or maybe more accurately a 12-member collective with two drummers, two or three other percussionists, a keyboardist, three or four guitarists, a bassist, a dancer and a bespectacled, hulking, three-quarters talking, one-quarter singing front person.


Utah`s Mormon, mountain isolation occasionally kicks out some of the wildest underground stuff going (see Le Force, Red Bennies, Fuck the Informer, Agape, Wolfs, etc.) and Vile Blue Shades bring their unique type of bizarre, compelling music to a gape-jawed West. Reference points abound: VBS are a little bit Gibby Haynes, part James Chance, part Andy Gill, part lots of things, but as far as new bands go they are an unusual, visceral, sleazy spectacle. Read about VBS in September 2008`s Salt Lake UnderGround (SLUG) magazine. John Thursday California Adventure is the band`s self-described "sex record" and it features a range of vivid, pornographic lyrics whose inspiration came in large part from Henry Miller`s Under the Roofs of Paris work. Jud (Le Force) Powell engineered this and it`s the best recorded output they`ve done yet. This record captures the deliberate half-step calculated off-time echo of the band and has a weird and enveloping vibe.


Street date: 10/28/2008

Heavy Planet Updates

Sorry so late, but I've been busy as shit today. Don't have time for an Album Of The Day, but I just wanted to give yunz (Pittsburghese term) a heads up on what to look forward to for the upcoming week. I got some great new bands for you guys to check out. Here is the lineup:

Monday-Pegataur
Tuesday-Burnt Orange
Wednesday-Catboy And The Dogs Of Sin
Thursday-The Devil Rides Out
Saturday-Tombstones

In the meantime check out some of the bands on this cool label-Sulatron Records, MySpace they feature many psychedelic and experimental bands.

Sula Bassana

MySpace
Official Website

Zone Six

MySpace
Official Website

I will be pretty busy tomorrow as well. See ya Monday!

Rock on \mm/ ~Reg

Heavy Planet Updates

I am going away this weekend and will not have any internet access. I will catch you all on Monday. Look for some great new bands to check out next week, such as Fifty Foot Woman, Mary Shelley Overdrive, and more. Have a great weekend. As always, keep those band suggestions coming. Also, any general blog suggestions, etc. are very welcome. Thanks and Rock on!

\mm/~Reg

Heavy Planet Updates

Bear with me as my internet connection is really bad. I am having a problem with my lines and need a technician to come out. I will, as soon as my connection is back up to speed, post all the usual as well as keeping you guys up to date on all the most current news stories. Sorry again and thanks for your patience.

Heavy Planet Updates

I do not have time this morning to post an Album Of The Day. I was up late last night watching the Pittsburgh Steelers game. Check back tonight for tons of news and the Album Of The Day.

Catacomb Records Updates

From Catacomb Records:

Hi all,


Welcome to the September Catacomb Records news update, hope you`re all well


Aluna News
Aluna is supporting UK stoner legends Orange Goblin on the Nottingham date of their upcoming tour. They play The Old Angel on Friday, 10 October. Additional support comes in the form of Alabaster Suns and Ten Days Later. Doors open at 7 pm, tickets cost £10 and are available direct from Aluna. Click here for tickets.


Other dates for Aluna include:


Thursday, 9 October: Walsall, UK - The Rising Sun
Friday, 10 October: Nottingham, UK - The Old Angel, with Orange Goblin, Alabaster Suns and Ten Days Later
Sunday, 12 October: Bilston, UK - Robin 2, with War Pigs (Sabbath tribute)
Monday, 24 November: Birmingham, UK - Subside Bar


They are entering the studio on 15th and 16th of November to record both “Halo” and “Song of The Sun.” “Halo” will be appearing on the "Fall to Earth" limited edition 10". This release will be available on Nasoni Records, release date TBC. The CD version of "Fall To Earth" is available from www.alunaband.co.uk. “Song of The Sun” will feature on the split 7" release with Queen Elephantine.


Grifter News
Grifter is playing the following date:


Friday, 7 November: Camden, UK - Mantra at The Fiddlers Elbow


Sonic Lord News
Photos have now been added to the Sonic Lord website from The Shakespeare gig in Sheffield on Saturday, 16 August. Other bands playing were White Fang, Bastard of the Skies, and Berserkowitz. Click here to view the images.


Cheers for reading,
Catacomb Records
Stoner/Doom/70s/Psychedelia/Sludge


www.catacomb-records.co.uk
www.myspace.com/catacombrecords

Heavy Planet Updates

This week on Heavy Planet you can look forward to the daily features "The Album Of The Day", "Free MP3 Of The Day", and "News Updates", as well as features on some cool new bands such as Heavy Water Experiments on Tuesday, Sardonis on Wednesday, Mothercow on Thursday, and Madking Ludwig on Saturday. Coming soon be prepared for features on Lords Of Bastard and Masters Of Luxury. Don't forget, if you are in a band get me all of your current press info, MySpace page, etc. and I will give your band some free exposure. That's it for now. Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

No Updates This Weekend

Sorry dudes, I will not be updating the blog this weekend. I simply do not have enough time. To my U.S readers, have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend! See you Tuesday!