Cattle Decapitation Release In-Studio Video for "Monolith of Inhumanity" (Out May 8th on Metal Blade) / Show April 24th at Club Europa

California progressive grind conquerors Cattle Decapitation reveal the first of three in-studio video segments from their Monolith Of Inhumanity recording sessions. Set for North American release on May 8, 2012, the record was produced by Dave Otero of Denver's Flatline Audio and sees the band exploring innovative new techniques in song writing without abandoning their signature formula of confrontational audio wreckage and self-loathing lyrical...

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Cannibal Corpse: "Torture" Interview with Guitarist Rob Barrett, March 29, 2012

DOWNLOAD: BrooklynRocks Interview with Cannibal Corpse Guitarist Rob BarrettLong-running band Cannibal Corpse is back with their twelfth disc, Torture (released March 13th on Metal Blade). This new twelve track disc combines the raw thrash of the band’s early works with the technical precision of the band’s later works and complements this with clear production from (Hate Eternal/x-Morbid Angel) Erik Rutan. This new disc is the band’s third with...

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Cursive Plays Headlining Shows at Bowery Ballroom on Apr. 3 & 4

STREAM: Cursive Live on Minneapolis Radio 3/23/12On Cursive's seventh disc, I Am Gemini (Saddle Creek), the band tells the story of Cassius and Pollock, twin brothers who had been separated at birth. “One good and one evil, their unexpected reunion in a house that is not a home ignites a classic struggle for the soul, played out with a cast of supporting characters that includes a chorus of angels and devils, and twin sisters conjoined at the head.”Cursive kicked off their US tour in February and the band is playing two nights at Bowery Ballroom...

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Crocodiles Play Glasslands on April 11th / New Album "Endless Flowers" out June 5th (Frenchkiss)

DOWNLOAD: Crocodiles - "Sunday (Psychic Conversation #9)"San Diego, CA's Crocodiles are confirmed to support The Temper Trap on a set of North American tour dates in June. Beginning on the 10th at the House of Blues in Dallas, TX, the run will continue up the west coast before wrapping up on the 19th at the Malkin Bowl at Stanley Park in Vancouver, BC. The band is also performing twice in New York this month: on April 11th at Glasslands in Brooklyn...

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Across Tundras: Nashville Americana-Doom Band Plays Union Pool on April 20th (Neurot Recordings)

METATOTEM by Across TundrasNashville, Tennessee's panoramic country crushers Across Tundras' Neurot Recordings debut, Sage, was released in May 2011, capturing the band's heritage perfectly, through an amalgam of haunting doom-tinged Americana, melding echoes of traditional country blues and psychedelic sludge. Their organic sound is well-honed, marking it as their most fully realized album to date with all of their influences and elements flowing...

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Cannibal Corpse - "Torture" CD Review (Metal Blade)

Long-running band Cannibal Corpse is back with their twelfth disc, Torture (released March 13th on Metal Blade). This new twelve track disc combines the raw thrash of the band’s early works with the technical precision of the band’s later works and complements this with clear production from (Hate Eternal/x-Morbid Angel) Erik Rutan. This new disc is the band’s third with Rutan and it follows in a similar musical vein as Kill (2006) and Evisceration...

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John Cale & Band: "Live" (Rockpalast 1983/84) CD Review

Rock “stadium” shows are always a bit of a dicey proposition as rarely will a promoter select a cohesive lineup of bands whose music gels together. This two disc set of John Cale’s 1983/84 performances at Rockpalast start with his 1984 appearance and the other bands on the bill that night were Huey Lewis & the News, Chalice and Level 42. While both Huey Lewis and Level 42 were huge acts at the time, it seems like a very odd pairing with John...

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Tu Fawning - Download "Anchor" from Upcoming Sophomore CD "A Moment" (City Slang)

Tu Fawning return this May with their sophomore release, A Monument. While the band retain their trademark sound in Corrina Repp’s formidable voice, the swampy blues-guitar howls are now replaced by a newfound love for vibrant percussive mania. A more ample use of keyboards have steered the band past the morbidly dark vaudevillian vibes of their 2010 debut album Hearts On Hold, and these new songs are even more focused and pointed than ever. A Monument...

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The Skabbs - "Idle Threat" CD Review (Jackpot Records)

You have to love a band that formed around the goal of making music that sounded “less gross than Foreigner”. The Skabbs were a “Class of ’77” West Coast punk band that was making jagged “disaffected with the world” punk right around the same time that similar-minded (though not necessarily similar sounding) bands like Black Flag were first starting out. Adding to the comparison, The Skabbs went into the studio to record with producer Spot right...

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First Aid Kit Start US Tour @ Webster Hall on March 28th / US TV Debut on Conan on April 16th

Stockholm, Sweden's First Aid Kit are confirmed to make their U.S. television debut April 16th on Conan, in support of their acclaimed sophomore album The Lion's Roar, which was released January 24th via Wichita Recordings. Leading up to the performance, First Aid Kit will travel cross-country on their North American headlining tour, which begins on March 28th at Webster Hall in New York, NY and wraps up on April 18th at Slim's in San Francisco,...

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Rooftop Runners - "We Are Here" CD EP Review

Canada-to-Germany transplants Rooftop Runners are releasing their debut EP “We Are Here” – a disc of dark and melancholy torch songs with a slow-burning dance club beat - on April 3th. Rooftop Runners is composed of brothers Benedikit and Tobias MacIsaac, who are no strangers to the performing arts as they are respectively an internationally acclaimed choreographer and dancer. The band describes their music as trip-pop…while this label makes me...

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Public Image Limited - "Live at Rockpalast 1983" DVD Review

I just finished a review of Michael Schenker Group’s Rockpalast show and what MSG has in common with PiL is that both bands are led by mercurial leaders who change lineups as often as they change shoes. This particular Public Image Limited show was filmed Halloween night in 1983 with the short-lived “cabaret band” lineup. To put some context around this, bassist Pete Jones had left the band in early 1983 and guitarist Keith Levine had left (or...

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Huntress: Win a Pair of Tickets to Paganfest 2012 @ Gramercy Theatre on March 31st

Win a pair of tickets to see Huntress at Gramercy Theatre on March 31st. The band is playing on the Paganfest America 2012 tour, which features Turisas, Alestorm, Arkona and Huntress. Drop me an email at Mike.BrooklynRocks at Gmail Dot Com with the subject "Huntress Tickets" and a winner will be chosen at random. Be sure to include your first and last name in the email as tickets will be at will-call.Huntress was birthed in the underground of...

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Jonquil Plays Glasslands on April 2nd with Keep Shelly In Athens

Last month, Oxford quartet Jonquil released their full-length debut Point Of Go and, more recently, the band just finished a series of high-profile shows at SXSW. Following SXSW, Jonquil is kicking off a short US tour starting in Chapel Hill, NC on March 21st and the local tour stop is at Glasslands Gallery in Brooklyn on April 2nd. At Glasslands, Jonquil is playing alongside Keep Shelly in Athens and New Moods. Tickets are $15 and doors are at...

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Dead Fame - "Frontiers" CD EP Review / Shows at Lit Lounge & Pianos in March/April

Richmond post-punk band Dead Fame released their debut EP “Frontiers” early this year which shows the band’s sound firmly rooted in the darkly melodic melancholia of bands like Joy Division and The Chameleons. Dead Fame started in 2009 when synthesizer player Christopher DeNitto reunited with former band mate, guitarist KC Byrnes and duo slowly found additional players to give the group a “live band” sound. The group is fleshed out by bassist Sadie...

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King's X Offer 1991 Concert Recording to Fans Who Donate To Help Jerry Gaskill's Medical Bills

As Jerry Gaskill continues his recovery from a heart attack suffered late last month, King's X are offering a download of a previously unreleased 1991 concert to fans who donate money to help offset the drummer's medical and personal bills. Available for download via the Molten Music website ( click on the poster), Burning Down Boston: Live at The Channel is a 90-minute, 13-song concert recorded at the height of the band's 1990 tour in support of...

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Michael Schenker Group - "Hard Rock Legends Vol. 2" (Live at Rockpalast 01/24/81)

The opening of the Rockpalast vaults is exciting as this German TV program has been broadcasting full-length live performances from an eclectic range of artists since 1974. One of the first releases out of the vault is a concert from Michael Schenker Group (MSG) which was recorded in Hamburg on January 24, 1981.This 60 minute live disc captures MSG during their peak early years and the timing of this concert catches the band squarely between 1980’s...

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Deathamphetamine - "The Lost Album" CD Review / Show at Saint Vitus on May 17th

The Lost Album by DeathamphetamineBoston’s Deathamphetamine is one of the more unique bands that I’ve heard in a while as their music blends grindcore and death metal with a bit of thrash thrown on top. Adding to the band’s sonic attack is remarkable clean production which highlights solid guitar riffs and solos along with hints of melody beneath the grime and grind.The Lost Album is the band's first full length cassette release, a concept album...

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Iron Claw: Scotland's "Lost Pioneers of Heavy Metal" Releases New Single 'Final Hours'

Final Hours by Iron ClawCapping off a year that found Scotland's Iron Claw being hailed as the Rock n’ Roll comeback story of the Decade, Iron Claw has roared back to build upon the momentum and notoriety gained in 2011. From 1969 to 1974 Scottish Heavy Rock band Iron Claw plowed across theUK, blasting out relentlessly heavy doom-laden, heavy blues rock. In and out of the recording studios, the band never officially released an album, but the bulk...

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Fear Report - "Pandemic" CD Review (Soul on Loan Records)

You can generally tell a lot about a band by the company they keep. Brooklyn hard-rockers Fear Report just played a show at the Trash Bar, opening for Crooked Man (which is the new project from Candiria’s John LaMacchias and the band now includes Fran Mark on drums). I also saw vocalist Dan O’Berry’s previous band, Maniacal Plan, who sounded similar to Fear Report perform at L’Amour a few years back.Fear Report’s debut full length, Pandemic, dropped...

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School of Seven Bells Post Remix from REWARDS (aka Aaron Pfenning) / Cover of Siouxsie's "Kiss Them For Me" out Apr. 20th

Vagrant Records just posted free download of a new School of Seven Bells remix on Soundcloud. This one comes from REWARDS, NYC producer and former Chairlift member Aaron Pfenning, and is a great take on SVIIB's "The Night." The original version of "The Night" (also posted above) is the lead track on SVIIB's new album Ghostory which just debuted last week and is available through iTunes, Amazon and all the traditional outlets.To celebrate the release...

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The Hounds Below: Post "For You and I" from Forthcoming Full Length / Show at Music Hall of Williamsburg with The Cribs

DOWNLOAD: The Hounds Below - "For You and I" The Hounds Below EP by The Hounds BelowThe Hounds Below have announced multiple performances at next week’s SXSW (South By Southwest Festival) in Austin, TX. Made up of Midwestern music notables, the band includes Jason Stollsteimer (who launched his former band The Von Bondies to global recognition) as well as Jesse Shepherd-Bates (bass), Griffin Bastian (drums) and Skye Thrasher (guitar). The Hounds...

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Margot & The Nuclear So and So's: "Rot Gut, Domestic" CD Review / Show at Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 11th

PREMIERE: Margot & The Nuclear So And So's - Shannon - RCRD LBL Prozac Rock by MargotCloud Margot & The Nuclear So and So’s are releasing their fifth disc, Rot Gut, Domestic, on March 20th via the band’s Mariel Recording Company label. Rot Gut, Domestic is the Nukes' rawest take on their evocative, soaring brand of guitar-centric pop. Singer/songwriter Richard Edwards wrote Rot Gut, Domestic over 26 days in Pismo Beach, CA last spring....

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WATERS Plays Sold-Out Show at Webster Hall on March 29th / Live HearYa Session Tracks Posted as Free Download

DOWNLOAD: WATERS - "Take Me Out to the Coast"DOWNLOAD: WATERS - "For the One" (Live HearYa Session) On the heels of a European tour supporting Nada Surf, WATERS has announced their 2012 SxSW schedule. The band will perform eight times over four days at the Austin festival next week; a full schedule is below that offers ample opportunity to catch WATERS' blistering live show. Today, HearYa blog posted their live session with WATERS, recorded in Chicago...

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Butchers & Bakers Play Union Pool on March 29th - Last Show Before Heading into the Studio for New EP

Victory March by Butchers & BakersButchers & Bakers used to be four guys, all of whom sang (sort of) and many of whom played guitar, often at the exact same time, very loudly. They are now four people, based in Brooklyn, only one of whom sings. Rebecca Keith’s voice sounds kind of like Grace Slick and kind of like Glenn Danzig; sometimes she plays keyboards too. Founding members Chris Asta and Mike Morini play guitar and drums, and newest...

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Spiritual Beggars - "Mantra III" CD Review (The End Records)

Spiritual Beggars’ third disc Mantra III (1998) is a well-crafted halfway point between the psychedelia of Another Way to Shine (1996) and the hard rock/grunge of Ad Astra (2000). For this release, I think the closest point of comparison is The Battle Rages On- era Deep Purple as the addition of prominent organ / mellotron from newcomer Per Wiberg adds a “Jon Lord” feel to the songs. Adding to the Deep Purple comparison, vocalist Spice utilized...

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