Vocals and vocalists. They can be the secret weapon that elevates a piece of music into a higher realm, that gives a band a key component to their identity, that once heard you couldn’t imagine them without. They can be a deal breaker too — the ear sore that spoils the whole experience. Sometimes they’re just bland as a wet paper bag. But a voice is a voice. They all say something. They all have a message to convey (even when the message is “sha la la la la”).
It really is a renaissance time for heavy, melodic experimental doom fans with The Exuviae Of Gods series from Mournful Congregation, the cathartic Katatonia-indebted Mother of Graves making significant waves and now the first album from Portland’s beloved Usnea in over half a decade. A band rooted in care-for-others and awareness of their place in the cosmos making some of the most expansive and also acerbic doom around? What’s not to love?
Roadburn 2020 is nearly sold out, with just a few Sunday tickets left for the legendary music festival held annually in Tilburg April 16th to 19th, NL. New bands added to the bill Alexis Marshall, Darkher, Forndom, The Devil’s Trade, LSD and The Search For God, Doodswens, Kodian Trio, Jonah Parzen-Johnson, The Sweet Release Of Death, Motor!K, Of Blood And Mercury, and Vonnis. In addition, Ignition, The Roadburn Pre-show party will take place Wednesday night at 013 Club and features Early Graves, Splinter, and The Dead Cvlt. Already announced for Roadburn 2020 are legendary acts such as Emma Ruth Rundle and James Kent as curators, commissioned projects from James Kent & Johannes Persson, Jo Quail, and Vile Creature & Bismuth, the return of Julie Christmas, Red Sparowes, Russian Circles, Torche, Brutus, Dungen, 40 Watt Sun, Alcest, Inter Arma, David Eugene Edwards, Health, Hide, Lankum, She Past Away, and two Artists In Residence: Full of Hell and Lingua Ignota.Continue reading
Roadburn 2020 has made a slew of announcements of news bands! Added to both James Kent and Emma Ruth Rundle’s curated portions of the festival is Alcest, on the strength of their new album Spiritual Instinct (Nuclear Blast). Additional artists added to the fest include Okkultokrati, Inter Arma, Helms Alee, Algiers, Dynfari, Bad Breeding, White Ward, Dommengang, Kungens Män, Darsombra, Tau And The Drones Of Praise and more to come! Continue reading
Roadburn 2020 is shaping up to be a music fest of the ages, which is saying a lot, considering the deep history of greatness here. Oranssi Pazuzu, currently wowing American audiences on tour will premiere their entire new album as part of James Kent’s curation. Further bands added to James Kent and Emma Ruth Rundle’s curated events include Blanck Mass, Hangman’s Chair, Mizmor, Cloud Rat, Fvnerals, Srsq, as well as other new artists on the bill such as Big Brave & Jessica Moss, Jessica Moss solo, Crypt Sermon, Lana Del Rabies, Red Kite, and more. Previously announced were James Kent & Johannes Persson, Jo Quail, and Vile Creature & Bismuth, the return of Julie Christmas, Red Sparowes, Russian Circles, Torche, Brutus, Bada, Dool, Health, Hide, and She Past Away, Full of Hell and Lingua Ignota. Weekend tickets for Roadburn are on sale now (3-day tickets are sold out, 4-day tickets remain on sale). Tickets on sale below. Continue reading
The haunting Goddess that is Emma Ruth Rundle just doesn’t know when to stop. Since releasing an EP as a founder member of The Nocturnes in 2008, she has released a product every year with Post-Rockers Red Sparowes and under her own guises. Oft mentioned in glowing terms alongside such powerful performers as PJ Harvey, Tori Amos and Lana Del Rey, On Dark Horses (Sargent House) is the LA chanteuse’s fourth album under her own name, and is again filled with deep, shuddering emotion.Continue reading