OWLnight, OWLright

Hey Ya'll remember that band Owl I posted about a ways back? Well, as I usually do, I invited myself to be a part of that band, and now we are venturing out of our Owl's nest and into the night. Here's a little refresher-the first and original Owl DEMO. Of course, we've been in the studio a whole lot this year and have a 7" and a full OWLbum in the works. Starting off on Sunday it's yours truly dirty thirty. I can now graduate from P.I.T. (Puma in training) to official Puma, I believe. Yay for me.


If you did not catch Lord Dying OR Nether Regions on tour you really, really should.

Then next week we embark on adventures in the Northwest Regions of our great country. Observe:

SAT - JULY 30 - Eli's Mile High Club, Oakland, CA
w/ Ghetto Blaster, Funeral Stain

SUN - JULY 31 - The HQ, Reno, NV
w/ P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S.(pdx), Sptting Image, The Z-28s

MON - AUG 1 - The Alibi, Arcata, CA

TUE - AUG 2 - Camping, Devil's Lake. With whomever dares to spend the night in the woods with Owl.

WED - AUG 3 - The Know Portland, OR
w/ Drunk Dad, Lord Dying (DUDE)

THUR - AUG 4 - Fort Drunkenfall, Seattle, WA

FRI - AUG 5 - Olympia, WA - TBA

SAT AUG 6 - Portland, OR - The Alleyway
w/ The Guild

SUN AUG 7 -Musichead, Medford, OR
w/ Landmine Marathon, Enshadowed Empire


http://www.facebook.com/pages/OWL/185806301446575
http://www.myspace.com/owldeathlife.


I'm sorry for all the self promotion people, but guilt is the only way I can get you to come.

BLACK BREATH

I used to go to a lot of Hardcore shows. It's amazing what people will call hardcore these days. And they are pretty uptight about it too. What's with all the "cores" anyways? It's like, deathcore, trashcore, grindcore...when are they going to start a CORE CORE genre? (PS-sweet knuckle tat). Well, this is quintessential hardcore. But then throw in a little doom, gloom and hair and you have Black Breath. My neck still hurts, and it was two days ago that I saw them. Of course, it was the second night in a row.Highly recommended. Please enjoy.

Heavy Breathing-HERE:

Dear Robitussin:

I have consumed you more than solid food in the last four days. Yet I am endlessly coughing. I keep drinking you. I think you are opening my third eye.



I keep waking up in cold sweats, having hallucinated that I was wandering endlessly in a sunless forest. My clothing was replaced by a wolf's bane, I was surrounded by savage women, baring carnivorous teeth and bloody bosoms.

I was being dragged to a ceremony. It was a Ceremony of the most Bloody kind, being offered to the Great God Pan. Flutes and fires and fables. Oh my.


Blood Ceremony

(Based on actual robitussin hallucinations: take heed, stick to weed, and happy 4:20 ya'll)

ANTONIUS REX

An Italian prog classic and favorite of mine, I present Antonius Rex. Antonio, who comprised this band I believe (I don't do wiki or research before I post, I'm just assuming that this was his prog-ject:Antonio=Antonius DUUUUH) was briefly in Black Widow, an excellent band if I do say so myself, as well as contributing to the occult prog soundscapes of Jacula.


(Antonio Bartoccetti-Satan's right hand man)



I'm into witchy shit with lots of organs and ladies singing chants and violins and flutes and shit. Here's their album from 1977, ZORA. Rather proggy and classical, with a satanic twist. My favorite song on the album? Morte al Potere- It's the soundtrack to your first bong hit of the night.


Stonin' and Bonin'.

Dorito dust in your hair farm?

Hello people. This is Danava. Why have we skipped over Danava? What gives man? Is it that you're too busy wrecking necks to sit back on your bean bag chair in your sweatpants and take a few bong rips? Lady is on your ass about doing laundry and taking her to spatula city? Fuck dude. That sucks. Life is hard man. Let's take a break from these 1st world problems and go on a demon ride.

Danava literally means "demon" or enemies of God. Yet they hail from Portland. Yes, another great fucking band from Portland STOP MAKING ME WANT TO MOVE THERE GOD DAMN IT.

They rule. 'Nuff said. Well, I'll say something-fuck it. They combine elements of jazz, psych, rock, doom, and at times glam and I love them. Hair Farmers. Why isn't there a Hair Farmer or Dorito dust tag on this blog? Why you gotta be shunning the stoners dude?

Hair Orgy

Hmm, oh well here's there first album from 2006. Pretty Cockwind (Hawkwind with a lot more dick in it) kinda like these guys from my first post.



HERE:


Or the 2008 epic follow up UnonoU:

HERE:








They also put out a split with homies Lecherous Gaze and Earthless-BUY IT- you bum. And stop stealing all my quarters I know it was you. Get a job.

Mutilation Rites-Demo 2011

Yeah, so Shelbro already told you that your nuts would probably explode and your head would fall off your neck and you'd probably want to bone the whole band if you ever saw these guys. I'll atest (testies) to this wholeheartedly. Any lesser known band that comes in from out of town and puts Dispirit to shame is A-1 sauce in my book. The sauce to my steak. Not to mention they have the baddest ass female bass player EVER. (Nooooo, it's not me.) Anyways, they came, they destroyed my apartment,my liver and self respect but left me this demo. It's pretty much the only thing I have left in this life. Please enjoy, and yes you are fucktarded for not seeing them on tour. Woops.

DESTROY YOUR LIVER, IT IS EVIL

Profile of an Artist: BEN VENOM

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to introduce supreme bro and inspired individual,
BEN VENOM.

(Evil Muahahhahahaha)

You know all those shirts you've been hoarding since you were in your tweens? They've got holes in them huh? Holes that expose your nipples, holes that your bullet belt gets stuck on, holes that you keep your drumsticks in, holes holes holes. Well, Ben has been collecting these shirts for almost two decades. What he did with his ding dang ol' shirts turned into works of brutality that I'd probably saw my left leg off for.

(Truly, a masterpiece)

I caught up with Ben the other night over a few bro-brews to get a glimpse into what inspires him to give up those precious precious shirts. (Dude, it would take hell or high water for me to give up original shirts like TESTAMENT and METALLICA and MAIDEN. Geez) He's got big things on the horizon and needs our help (I'll explain later).

Satan's Little Helper's Station

Ben-vacuuming on the Lord's day at a church in a Slayer shirt. He probably threw up in a trash can at said church too, huh Ben?

He says that creating these quilts is like creating a song...creating drafts, putting the pieces together as you gain inspiration, using recycled material...er...that last part shouldn't be for song writing, although sometimes it's cool if your ripping of Black Sabbath for the umpteenth time.

Ben's got some big shows coming up on the horizon people- first off a Metal-Themed art show in Birmingham, England; (where the greatest of English Heavy Metal hail from) THEN a huge show at the Yerba Buena Museum here in San Francisco. Why is this of importance to you, you ask? Well, Ben needs our help. I know a LOT of you are in shitty metal bands out there, and he needs your shirts, patches, chonies, WHATEVER to make a GIANT metal quilt of the most Satanic breed. Send him your shirts that are stretching over your ever expanding beer belly. Send him your lame band shirt, so that your band will live on in infamy. Send him that Manowar patch that's holding the crotch of your favorite pair of Jorts together. Support him, so that he may go forth in Evil.

I want to see this at every Museum from now til forever

And I want one of these pillows. Don't you?

"When Hell freezes over, you can use my quilt to keep warm"
-Ben Venom

Here's his website. Give it up already. HAIL.

GRANDMA'S COOKIES (pssst....they're WEED cookies)

May I present Nona Leveroni. Grandmother to my best friend and a friend of mine indeed. Now Nona LOVES to bake, and if you've ever met her she will send you the BEST italian cookies year round. You can't not get fat when Nona's around. But today Nona wants to show you how to make something special. WEED BUTTER.

NOW REMEMBER THIS ISN'T FOR FUN. IF YOU WANT TO HAVE FUN GRAB A STREET CAR, GO DOWN TO THE BEACH AND ROMP IN THE WATER.

I love you Nona. Send me some cookies.

FUCK 4 LOKO! MALT LIQUOR...

We interupt our normally scheduled posting with a very important message for you.

4 LOKO is whack, Malt Liquor is where it's at.

(Did you hear that Seanford? From 6:20 to 8:30 this guy is talking to YOU!)

Happy whatever day it is. Don't drink 4 Loko. MALT LIQUOR!!!!

BLACK ICE-COMIN' STRAIGHT FROM OAKTOWN BBIIIATCH!!!

(Red Wine+ Cereal= Spooky)

The day after I walked off of a pungent 12 hour Greyhound bus ride from San Fernando Valley to Oakland, exactly 10 years ago today, I was informed that I was to be moving there, renting a closet and joining a band; a dark and brooding neo-classical, experimental, wailing 3 piece called Strawberry Tripmonster. (Soon to be called Black Ice).
(Phantom Limbs at Great American Music Hall)

I had seen that synth punk/circus/black wave band The Phantom Limbs in L.A. a couple times before moving up, and knew they were getting all big and stuff, going on tours, (at 19 years old going on tour is pretty much the biggest thing EVER) and seeing as two of the 3 members of Black Ice were from PL, I thought, cool. I'm in a band. We recorded, put out albums, went on some tours, Riverdanced on stage, played with some douchey semi-famous death rockers, wore sombreros, pissed off the politically correct and ate more burritos than any other band in existence, ever. It was good times. I quit a few years ago because I'm a loser and would rather be a long hair metal rager and party in Central America than go to practice 4 times a week. WHAT A LOSER. I don't care though, as long as I'm still famous in Europe.

Black Ice is more Death Rock than Hard Rock, more gloom than doom, more art metal than fancy metal. However, we had a following even with the metal scene. It never ceased to amaze me how many hair farmers would turn up to our shows; headbanging along to epic synth builds and dark bass breakdowns.

Last year I reunited with them to play some shows to support an EP they recorded BLOCK ICE, and this year they are doing the same (sans yours truly) to support their newest album "Before the First Light", and you can bet I'll be climbing up on stage to flail legs around as if seperate from my body-in fact its been requested that I open their shows with my acoustic set "Boner Farm", so maybe if you're lucky enough to attend one of these shows you'll see never before performed Manslaughter originals.

EVE EP-Buy it HERE

TERRIBLE BIRDS DL:HERE

MYOPIA:DL HERE:

BUY ALL OF THESE AND MORE ON HUNGRY EYE RECORDS: HERE

SHOWS-West Coast shows starting Oct 2nd

"Before the First Light" is coming out in October, buy it on Hungry Eye Records-also responsible for putting out Saros' first full length "Five Pointed Tongue", (thanks to Dan CEO of Hungry Eye for turning me on to them) as well as a virtual army of underground Bay Area bands. Thanks Dan and Asim, you are bro amongst bros.

If you have ever done the shadow dance to Christian Death, Coil, Bauhaus, Virgin Prunes, Alien Sex Fiend (I think you get the idea) you will LOVE this band.

(R.I.P. BEAN BEAN-best goth mascot)

M.S. ON B.A.-ROUND TWO T.K.O.

MANSLAUGHTER SHARKWATER ON BAY AREA:

I'M BACK. AND I'M BLACK! Comin' straight from the underground, cuz that's where I roll fool. I'm like you're pesky pest showing up in dark corners with beady Patrick Swayze eyes feasting on pure mess. It's round two of M.S. on B.A. There's too much good shit to fit into one post, we're gonna have to spread this love around like Nutella on french toast-bitch!

Did you like my freestyle?
So check it, I forgot some bands (dude, yeah yeah-"you smoke too much weed" GET OFF MY BACK DUDE DANG!) and finally got my hands on some killer tunes to present ya'll with a first-hand look at some fine ass metal.

PINS OF LIGHT:

How the fuck did I pass these guys up the first time anyways? Shane from Night After Night, Jake from Hightower, and some other stony dudes. Here's there Demo from 2009, it kicks dick. At some points it reminds me of PDX post punkers THE WIPERS, although heavier. Nice catchy repetitive riffage. Shane sings and plays bass in this band, and he rules at it. My favorite song is "Empire", the second song on the demo. I feel like I'm conquering the world every time I hear it. It's like riding your bike down Golden Gate St (shelbs you know what I'm talking about) early in the morning as the sun rises over SF, making it glimmer like a golden landscape of potholes and crackheads; flipping off yuppies on their way to their stupid office job in their Prius. That's what it's like.

PINS OF LIGHT DEMO 2009: HERE

BÅDR VOGU:

So with all the talk about Hazzard's Cure we should really mention Clint and Leo's old band HOTBLACK DESIATO. Who were they? Oh, just one of the best stoner metal bands in the Bay Area EVER! (Did anyone else go to Sleep last night? FUUUUCCKKK) My good bro and awesome artist Bryce was also in that band, and has now moved on to forming this outfit of brutality. Interesting name, huh? I wonder what language it is. If you guess the meaning of the name or it's origin I'll give you some candy. Or not.

(Hotblack Sushiato)

In fact, they are recording at Earhammer Studios as we speak, which really stokes me out because those dudes produce some of the most heavy, bass driven, bowel cleansing metal. Ever. Period. But BADR VOGU recorded a couple demo songs, which Bryce was awesome enough to upload and send me for this post. Do you hear that people? You are hearing shit here that NO ONE has ever heard before EVER. I think you owe me dinner after this one. Seriously.

HERE:

OWL:

(The Brothers Wizzard)

Speaking of Clint (dude, we're all up on your jock these days, you like that?) Cobras mentioned a band that Clint and his brothers are in together called OWL. The first time I saw Owl was at a bbq in Oakland. The air in the living room smelled like 8 year old boy sweat and brick weed. I thought: oh shit. This is awesome. Of course, there was Clint, where he usually should be, behind his drums. But there were these two other dudes. "His brothers!!", Shane screamed in my ear as a guitar started wailing some crazy ass heavy metal leads and I turned my head to see a little guy with long hair and the biggest smile on his face. Of course, by now I was shrouded and clouded; standing amazed at what was going on before me.

(This is typical stance on top his Marshall-let's call it..."Pensive Wizzard")

Ok, hopefully I have this straight. One lil bro is 26, the other is 16. And they are both SHREDDERS. Axell- 16 years old, is obsessed with DIO and dragons, and that's not all. He was shredding so hard he climbed up on top of his Marshall stack and rocked like a fucking pro. He has a record label called Magick Hermit, where you can buy these tapes (and I totally think you should) that he has been so kind as to upload and share with us. Axell was also in this other guitar duo project called Sonic Tower (formerly known as Darck Sabbath) which is a gem of a most-likely bedroom recording he has with his friend Darien (son of Ron Emory of T.S.O.L., no shit). Um, he is also in Molloko Vellocet, Stone Elk, Blind Pig, Yawi and Myth Machine... "fuck, he's busier than me!" - Clint (nice 5 minute drum solo btw-not many bands can get away with that)

Here is where you can converse with this awesome dude and get their tapes. This band gives me hope for our future.

AXELL:
MAGICK HERMIT RECORDS
16378 BUTTE MOUNTAIN ROAD
JACKSON CA 95642 USA
roaxellb@gmail.com

OWL: DEMO-HERE
MYSPACE: HERE

SONIC TOWER: HERE
DARCK SABBATH MYSPACE: HERE

Alex, 26- is seriously the young, whiter Tommy Chong. Big glasses and a bandana, like all the time. He may be a little more subdued, but he will surprise you. His licks are clean, his chugs are a'plenty, and his technique is up the wing wang-OFF THE HOOK! He is currently recording an instrumental album. Dude-send it in!

Um, so yeah, you guys need a bassist right? I'm in your band, buddy! They too, are recording and here are 5 twin-lead heavy fucking wizard songs for you.

As soon as I downloaded and starting headbanging along to these tapes today I dropped everything to finish this. I just want you to know. It's important.

I just want to give a special thanks to Bryce, Clint and Axell for providing most righteous tunage to pump your nads to. THANKS.

VAN MAN

Here's your hangover cure for a Sunday.

1970's- A futuristic solar powered van shoots laser beams at cops. HELL YEAH.




I'm sorry, sweet ass vans, wet t-shirt contests, mustache rides and CHARLES BUKOWSKI?!?!

I hope your rolling a sweet doob of brick-seeds and all,relaxing in your short shorts and cracking a fresh Hamm's ahhhhhh SUNDAY.

Death and Mashes

You know what the best part of death is? Reincarnation.
This is the best possible reincarnation of these two.

HERE

M.S. on B.A.

Manslaughter Sharkwater on Bay Area:

Ok, so first there was this dude that was like, "I was born in San Francisco- I'm "S.F. on S.F!" And then there was this other dude that was like, "Nuh uh!!! I know what's up". But truth be told they are total complete poseurs. I mean, what's the world coming to when two straight edgers who are totally not straight suggest music for the wasted masses? Don't get your manties in a bunch boys, I'm not saying, I'm just saying...

(Cobras: front and center. Seanford: front and left)

Just fucking with you guys, you know you're two of my faves.


Let's get some coverage from Oakland to SF, Manslaughter style, shall we? These are all bands I've been seeing around a lot lately, and am totally digging in one way or another. I really think there's something here for everyone. It's like a bag of tropical skittles...pick out those green ones you like, or try one of those crazy yellow ones, who knows...you might like it.


FIRST UP:

ELK:

I feel like I've seen these guys grow their first pubic hair, you know? They were all little satan spawned metal babies at first, and now they have hit puberty and their balls are probably dropping and full blown MANTLERS are growing out of their chests or something who knows. Whatever is going on, its working.(I guess when you chug your own pee and are in a band named Elk you grow Mantlers out of your chest)

A BM outfit from Oakland, these dudes are crushing. They have these really cool slower stony parts and then blasted out epic parts. The first few times I saw them the transition between the two major parts weren't quite melding together easily...I think whoever wasn't toking the reef previously must have given in to peer pressure and blazed, because now that shit is tight AND stony.They have an album coming out sometime in the fall I think, and I'm totally there.



Elk at Tidal Wave July 25th, 2010

Here's a split they did with Carrion in 2008 featured on Hell Crust, he knows what's up. I'm not too into Carrion, unless you want to fall asleep faster than if you took two valium's and...took two valium's and...

Elk on Hell Crust: HERE

FLOOD:

Flood was mentioned by IC bro Gooniestorm, and I'm so fucking stoked you mentioned them, dude. I saw these guys with the next two bands.
Named after the Boris epic, this is their debut album, "Native". Dang. I'm listening to "Water" right now. It's like some evil bongzilla god rose up from the boiling magma of the earth's center to join forces with water to create a wall of fog that will encompass your mind for the full duration of this 45 minute ride. It's deep, it's heavy, it's riff laden, it's everything doom and sludge and stoner.Sure, there might be only 4 songs, but even the super long ones pushing 20 minutes still hold my attentio.......what was I saying?

FLOOD: Native-HERE

Vastum

Vastum is the newest band to acquire the lovely Leila Abdul-Rauf formerly of Saros and more recently of Hammers of Misfortune. (Man, is she a busy chick.) So you already know it's gonna be good, right? Well, so far all Vastum has recorded is a 3 song demo on bandcamp, but I highly recommend giving up your precious 4 LOKO money for the day to support these guys so they can put out that album they started recording in April.

Their sound is somewhat similar to that "Oakland" death/crust/punk that'll make you feel like an angst ridden, pit thrashing, mean ass, pimply-faced son of a bitch; however Vastum is totally chugging and blindingly BRUTAL.


Vastum Corpus EP on Bandcamp: HERE

Vastum at Tidal Wave July 25th, 2010

PIGS:

Do you think they are....Furries???

Another Oakland band, Pigs features a member or two of the Fleshies. They describe themselves as "hyphy-thrash-doom-boogie". Nice. I don't have anything free here for you guys, as the drummer Brian constructed his own studio in his live/work warehouse, recorded and mastered every song, and he and the band hand printed every single LP sleeve. That's a lot of love, and love like that doesn't come cheap. I mean, look at this fucking LP.

JUST LOOK AT IT

BUY IT

This is what Razorcake said about this band, I know I couldn't have said it any better.

..."You've heard of magic carpet rides? Well imagine a magic bulldozer ride for you and your friends through the post-apocalyptic Bay Area while the sky glows red and there's pieces of miscellaneous bridges floating around everywhere. It tingled corners of my mind that are very rarely reached. Now Pigs is definitely heavy. And the metal was in full effect for their entire set. But before I throw out some heavy metal references, I want to make clear that this band has been put through the purest, most high-grade DIY punk rock filter imaginable. East Bay warehouse livin', beer vending machine drinkin', duct tape for everything, generator shows under freeway overpasses, listening to the Germs like nothing else, all that good stuff."

EXTRA BONER FEATURE:

PIGS on myspace: HERE

Well, boys and girls, that's it for this edition of M.S. on B.A. Stay tuned for more of your Bay Area metal fix, and feel free to make suggestions. And I will feel free to completely ignore them.

Of Fog Mind...

There's been a thick blanket of fog over the bay for quite some days now. It's cold, it's windy, it bleak and gray and I'm staring out the window in a melancholy quarantine. Perfect weather for being sick, contemplating the future and reflecting on the past.

Here's an album that encompasses all things reflective, quiet, gray, and foggy.

Ancestors are a great band that released this great album on Tee Pee records (think Witch, Earthless) last year. Modern psych meets doomy blackness.

If you're sitting around wondering what the hell you're doing with your life, this is for you.


Of Sound Mind: HERE

LATE NIGHT SNACK...

So you got home from a loooonng day about an hour and half ago. Oh man, that was a fucking brutal day. You know what you need? A fresh bong load and a cold beer.

(unless you have one of these puppies in which case you can just bypass all of the instructions outlined below and just feel free to blast some GRAVEDIGGAZ for the next 45 minutes)

Ok, drop all your shit on the floor, walk right passed the shower which is where you should be by now, and head over to that sink with said bong in hand. Change that shit, put an ice cube or two in there-why the hell not. Crack that beer, have a seat, and I’m pretty sure you know how to do the rest...

...it’s now an hour later, you’ve probably got the munchies, huh?

Shit, Manslaughter has you covered,

I MADE YOU A FUCKING SANDWICH…

FOOD PORN

AN ELECTRIC SANDWICH.

Not just any electric sandwich, a Kraut sandwich. Bonifide German, heavy on the mustard.

and if I actually post this within a week it will be a miracle.

Also, HOURS OF ENTERTAINMENT