The announced initial lineup for MFNW includes:

• Neurosis
• YOB
• Akimbo
• Nether Regions
• Wizard Rifle
• Kylesa
• Grails
• White Hills
• Thrones
• Rabbits
• Diesto
• Witch Mountain

Tickets go on sale this week for Neurosis (w/Grails, YOB, Akimbo on September 10th) and Butthole Surfers (w/Thrones on September 8th). If you want to attend either, it's highly recommended to buy advance tickets ASAP. Otherwise, if you plan to attend more than a couple of shows and aren't an early bird, MFNW will also be selling wristbands which guarantee entry for the no-advance-tickets shows.

The schedule for the entire fest usually takes a while to be fully confirmed and announced, but as far as the listed lineup I can tell you this: if you like what I like, you'll be busy that entire weekend.

You may have already notice if you're a fan of the band, but Stereogum posted a new Big Business track to the internet today. It's called "Always Never Know When To Quit" and will be available on the upcoming Quadruple Single EP on their July/August tour.

Speaking of tours that take place in July/August, today the YOB/Dark Castle tour was announced. July 1st through August 8th, hitting just about every place in the States that makes sen$e. There are a couple of dates up in the air still, but nothing unpredictable based on the given dates.

That said, YOB also has a new album coming up. August 16th is the word. Brag time: I had a chance to hear a rough version and declined on the basis of poisoning my first impression. Was that dumb? I guess I'll find out in a month when they play here.

Finally, the reworked Monster Magnet tracks from Studio 13 made me really happy the other day. I <3 "Superjudge" and the more psychedelic, relaxed rework of the song isn't bad, either. I'm glad Dave and co are still churning out music. For the record, you can find the songs on Sludge Swamp. Also check out the Capricorn stuff!

35 or less copies of Blackwolfgoat's new album, Dronolith, left from The Maple Forum. It came out yesterday so maybe you should get on that.

You can also listen to or buy the mp3s at blackwolfgoat.bandcamp.com.

Here's the first track:

It's six in the morning and Olympos.

For the record, this album (Future Retro Spasm by Seven That Spells) came out a year ago this month. If you don't have it yet, you are cheated in life.

Song: "What The Misanthrope Said / Smee"
Artist: Omotai
Album: Peace Through Fear (2010)

Suddenly there lies a gem...

This sounds like all the best parts of Mastodon combined with a bit of Black Cobra and given a slightly more math-metal vibe. For my history and present taste, it sounds fucking great. If you were ever into either band mentioned or their similar counterparts, you should check them out.

[115] Archons, Lightning Swords of Death, Saviours, Midnight (2011)

I went to this for Saviours and maybe it wasn't the best decision. Certainly I'd rather be stuck in a room with metal sorts than the people who go to Drunktes, but after Saviours got going I found myself wondering what the hell Jeff The Brotherhood sounded like live. They were playing in town at that very moment, and I thought about seeing them this time since I've seen Saviours several times already, but... metal or garage? Metal.

Saviours played all new stuff aside from their last song, "Slave To The Hex" (I did recognize another - Metal Swim comp?). All new sets are really tough and I wouldn't suggest bands with a history do this. It was okay - I like Saviours overall - but the bulk of their material is too familiar for me to give a crap about the meat of their albums. I like the "singles" and the presentation. And the drummer!

I've seen Lightning Swords of Death's name a lot in recent times but I blanked out who they were. They were black metal (and looked it despite the fact that their singer looked like a mini-Steve Brooks) so it's no wonder. They had their passing moments for me; overall I don't care for that pure black metal sound.

Archons was a nice surprise. I was expecting the worst from my total ignorance. They were a thrashy doom/sludge band, right up my alley. The first song they did made me think they should open for Nether Regions next time they're in town, but the rest was more like Lord Dying - minus the prog element of either band. Still, I've heard this shit a thousand times now and I'm getting kind of bored of watching it.

I didn't stay for Midnight. Don't know 'em, don't care, too fucking tired.

Great turn-out for this show. Someone from every metal-ish local band I could think of was in the room - besides Red Fang, who are on tour. I ended up meeting a punchline for a "___ is my anti-drug" ad, talked with some familiars, properly met the guitar half of Norska, and still managed to escape without a bestial encounter. Motherfuckin' yay.

Next time, Jeff. Next time.

Song: "The Clearing"
Artist: Krallice
Album: Diotima (2011)

I finally started to listen to this album earlier today. I thought it was going to be one of those I might keep on my hard drive six months, never listen to once, get frustrated with and finally delete. Guess I have to listen to it once, now.

No, it hasn't happened yet. I was distracted by this song. It's 12 minutes long and takes a particular mood for me to be receptive of, and I was in the mood for exactly and only two goes of it earlier. I think if I hadn't been distracted for the first few minutes I would have shut it off but there seemed to be gifts hidden within the track. I'm late on the news, but hey.

Song: "Circle of Hair"
Artist: Akimbo
Album: City of the Stars (2004)

I have too much music. Even music I own (or "own") by artists I love is fully skipped over for all of the other songs that get in the way. While I've had this album in my collection for a long while, I only "heard" this song a few months ago.

The lyrics at the end of the song probably helped me to pay attention. Funny, because I don't mind The White Stripes. I find over-saturation of any band off-putting, but they're alright. For a while I even thought they were great - 2002, when I was moving away from radio metal and over to more classic, raw/real sounding music (and also, total garbage). They're simple and easy for the most part and fit my mood (by contrast) for a time. I could see why they were growing popular... But I can also see why they annoy people and result in lyrics like "gonna take your white stripes, gonna paint 'em black".

I heard Akimbo about three years ago. They were doing a show with Big Business in Seattle in the same slot that Red Fang had in Portland, so I had to look them up. Pretty easy transition from Head For The Shallow to Navigating The Bronze. I saw Akimbo myself for the first time that September, and again playing Jersey Shores entirely in December. The second was so good, one of my favorite concert experiences yet.

I haven't seen 'em since, but luck may have it that they open for Neurosis this September. It might not be the most appropriate mood for the rest of the bands lined up to play that same evening, but here's hoping they break out "Circle of Hair".

PS. SANDRIDER.

Here you go. Apparently the thing does not embed, which is sad. It'll be on youtube soon enough, though.

I don't know if I blinked or what, but there seems to be a lack of deer in this video.

Anyway, Red Fang - awesome as they are - are about to travel forth to Europe. There are a bunch of US dates coming, too. Maybe you should check them out if they wander nearby.

Lord Dying has a demo. It is now online. You should give it a listen if you like metal. Any old metal will do but doom and/or sludge is probably your best background sub-genre to know beforehand.

It takes about two minutes to really get going so stick with it.

This came out a few days ago - May 6th.

While not exactly hitting on stoner rock due wider musical influences, the idea is definitely there with this band and album. Ill is bluesy hard rock with a great deal of fuzz in a few of their heavier songs. Would you believe that there's no bass in the band (below video is proof)? The vocals also aren't typical for the kind of sound - nice because I get sick of the yelling.

I've been listening to the video version of "A" for a while, and I think you should give it a sampling:

Here's another random song from the same album, Gotten Gains, "Castration":

Buy if you like what you hear - they're awesome.

The Battles / 1939 Ensemble show the other day went about as well as could be expected. It sold out and felt like it. Stuffy air, nowhere to stand and see, every aisle/stairway blocked making me hate going to Doug Fir more than I already do. The sound was good, though, and the band played seemingly all-new material. Seeing the drummer from Mongoloid Village doing something - from my own perspective - "new" was interesting in itself even though I can't say 1939 falls under my radar. The show was also out just a little after midnight, something I appreciate a lot with my tight schedule.

Apparently members of Mogwai were in the audience, or so I overheard when one of them asked if they were on the list under "Mogwai" in a Scottish accent. I've never listened to them but I'm guessing they're not of my demographic. Just an interesting fact. They had a show here the next day.

I think I liked the song with the lady vocalist best ("Sweetie & Shag") but I need to hear the album to say for sure where I stand with the new stuff. The absence of T was felt despite the addition of the video vocalists. He seemed to balance them out a bit just by performing the so-called "frontman" role. As much as I like John, it's hard for a drummer to do that.

All the same, my day didn't get better after my afternoon of being told I was "da shit". I also thought the show did not live up to my May 4th or 5th in musical history (Mastodon, Opeth, High On Fire), but I've also changed a lot since the last time I was regularly listening to Battles (2007). I still like them but not to the same extent. Oh well.

Time to go listen to their album... It's out June 7th but, as you may be able to tell, it's swimming the internet already.

Edit: Apparently lady vocalist is from Blonde Redhead. Why didn't I immediately know that?

Someone from an overseas doom band told me that I was "da shit" today.

It doesn't get old.

Now if only I can get my idols to stroke my ego, that'd be great.

Wait, I don't have idols. :'(

NO FALSE IDOLS. Unless they're me, then that's cool.

Too bad I don't get paid more / at all for being a dumb asshole in "public".

Did I ever say that I sort of gave in on Them Crooked Vultures? Not as an entire project, but a few songs eventually wore off on me. It's about the same odds with any band that is over-hyped. Or any band that is sort of interesting, period. My favorite of the lot has somehow become "Mind Eraser, No Chaser".

Speaking of those topics, the first two tracks on Pentagram's new album (Last Rites) are alright. It doesn't sound like a 60 year old trying to keep up with the kids (results may vary)! Granted, after the second song I get bored. That's how I approach all of Pentagram, so, well, I guess that's okay. At least they know how to end a song.

I haven't listened to much music this last month. There's a paper hanging on my desk that I put there in early March with all the bands I wanted to talk about and I'm just, like... why? What the hell was I going to say? "This is good"?

Dark Castle - Seeing Through Time
Weedeater - Homecoming
Gatekeeper
Akimbo - Circle of Hair
Rabbits
Nether Regions
Sloths
new Red Fang songs
Strokes - Heart in a Cage
She Wants Revenge
Titan - Highlands of Orick
Witch Mountain SXSW
Lo-Pan
Cower
Earthless - Demon Lady
Wizards of Kaos
Foo Fighters - White Limo
Buffalo - I'm Coming On
Screaming Jay Hawkins - I Am The Cool
Lord Dying @ Branx

When did my blog become family time? House of Incest. This one time at band camp... Still, before I was talking about Queens of the Stone Age and Monster Magnet and Tool all of the time - there's only so much of that you can take. And now I'm a bigger elitist asshole. Yay!

Suddenly I'm on "I Stay Away" by AIC like I haven't heard this song on a regular basis for at least half of my life. 900 spins of shit I can't get away from myself (har har) and only one of poor little Cower. Priorities are a bitch. So is getting sick and moving the hell on.

Yeah, it's been a while. What's it to ya?