Friday 4 November 2016

Pulley Celebrates 20th Anniversary with No Change in the Weather


SoCal melodic punk rock staple PULLEY has returned with its first new material in over five years. This release also marks the band’s 20th Anniversary. No Change in the Weather is set for a November 18th release via Cyber Tracks. Limited edition vinyl (electric blue, milky clear, smoke) is now available for pre-order through the label’s website.

“We’ve written new music over the years that we were sitting on,” explains vocalist and Los Angeles Angels' bullpen coach Scott Radinsky. “The lack of a label and having to put it out ourselves had slowed things down the past few years, but the desire to get into the studio has always been there,” he adds.

Pulley wrote and arranged the music themself before laying it down with Matt Hyde (Deftones, Slayer, Strung Out) behind the console and Ryan Greene (Megadeth, NOFX, Bad Religion) behind the mixing console. From the anthemic “No “I” in Team” to the stellar harmonies in “Different” to the throbbing drums and guitar solos in “Farewell” to the dueling guitars in “The Other Side of Silence” – Pulley has picked up where they left off with their classic SoCal punk rock formula.

Pulley formed after Scott Radinsky departed from Ten Foot Pole. Their initial lineup included Jordan Burns (Strung Out) on drums, Jim Cherry (formerly of Strung Out) on guitar, Matt Riddle (formerly of Face to Face and No Use For A Name) on bass, and guitarist Mike Harder. Epitaph Records released their debut album Esteem Driven Engine in 1996.

Pulley is Scott Radinsky (vocals), Jim Blowers (guitar), Mike Harder (guitar), Tyler Rebbe (bass), and Chris Dalley (drums). Their 20th Anniversary release No Change in the Weather will be released on November 18th.

TOUR DATES: Nov 04 Maui Sugar Hill Saloon - Tarzana, CA Dec 02 Alex's Bar - Long Beach, CA Dec 10 Brick by Brick - San Diego, CA Dec 17 The Karman Bar - San Clemente, CA

Tuesday 1 November 2016

SKOLD Announces North American Fall Tour



Following the release of his critically-hailed new album THE UNDOING earlier this year on Metropolis Records, SKOLD is returning to the road with a U.S. tour that brings him to Chicago's Cobra Lounge on Nov. 9th, Providence's Alchemy on Nov. 13th, NYC's The Delancey on Nov. 19th, and NOLA's Siberia on Nov. 28th among other dates (itinerary below).

A multi-instrumentalist whose historical footprints include stints with Shotgun Messiah, KMFDM, MDFMK, OhGr and Marilyn Manson plus numerous remixes, Tim Sköld as SKOLD released his legendary self-titled debut in 1996 and his long-awaited follow-up Anomie in 2011. In addition, he added his production credits to Motionless in White's albums Infamous and Reincarnate (as well as adding his guest vocals to the song "Final Dictvm"). The Undoing - his third full-length that came out in April 2016 - continued to shock fans and critics alike such as Intravenous Magazine who said this album "mixes the classic heavy beats of Sköld's career with searing rock guitars and enviable electronic experimentalism... the result is brilliant." Original Rock called The Undoing, "a truly unique, brilliant album by a once in a lifetime artist."

Since his first solo album in 1996, Tim Skold production and composition fingerprints have been impressed in accomplishments like Marilyn Manson's #1 Billboard charting album The Golden Age of Grotesque (featuring the Grammy-nominated song "mOBSCENE"for Best Metal Performance) and the critically acclaimed Eat Me, Drink Me. In 2009, SKOLD collaborated with KMFDM on the appropriately titled album SKOLD vs. KMFDM.

TOUR DATES: Thu, Nov 3 - Fullerton CA @ Slide Bar Tue, Nov 8 - Omaha NE @ Lookout Lounge Wed, Nov 9 - Chicago IL @ Cobra Lounge Thu, Nov 10 - Detroit MI @ Smalls Fri, Nov 11 - Cleveland OH @ Phantasy Concert Club Sat, Nov 12 - Toronto ON @ The Cave at Lee’s Palace Sun, Nov 13 - Providence RI @ Alchemy Wed, Nov 16 - Wilkes Barre PA @ The Other Side Thu, Nov 17 - Wilmington DE @ Asylum 13 Fri, Nov 18 - Clifton NJ @ Dingbatz Sat, Nov 19 - New York NY @ The Delancey Sun, Nov 20 - Virginia Beach VA @ Shaka’s Tue, Nov 22 - Atlanta GA @ 10 High Sat, Nov 26 - Miami FL @ Churchills Mon, Nov 28 - New Orleans LA @ Siberia Wed, Nov 30 - Houston TX @ Satellite Bar Fri, Dec 2 - San Antonio TX @ Korova Sun, Dec 4 - Scottsdale AZ @ Rogue Bar

JOANovARC - 'Ride Of Your Life', Released November 11th, 2016 via Red Vixen Records - ALBUM REVIEW


JOANovARC - 'Ride Of Your Life'
Released November 11th, 2016 via Red Vixen Records

What a nice surprise that is JoanOVarc! The girl’s quartet from the UK is landing an inspired and very well crafted album produced by Gil Norton (Foo Fighters).

Guitars, voice, sleek production and a very attractive sound form a perfect alchemy that is producing a rather interesting cocktail influenced by anything from Joan Jett to Queens of The Stone Age. The album is cohesive but every song has its own cachet.

With Ride of Your Life you understand almost immediately that this is no Barbie music and you better drop your Ken chat up lines if you still want to be around for the second track. No rest for the wicked with the second title Dragon in the Sky and its bass intro and already this "cool" voice from Sam Walker that effortlessly drive the band thru the whole album.

The singles and most songs composing this LP are stylish. People will obviously refer to Girl School or Rock Goddess but I really think the girls in JoanOVarc are without any doubt a cut above their predecessors both musically and technically.

Going Down has a feline intro, Work is Strokes is like sounded while 5 Years is introspectively black 'n' blue. I was dreading to listen to the obligatory ballad and I must say I was taken aback by Peace of Mind, not only because it is skillfully crafted but also because it is one of those songs that speak directly to you.

There are a lot of potential radio hits. Live Rock 'N' Roll, one of the singles, is full of rock wit... the entire album in fact is fuelled by it, so fill up the music tank and hit the road!

Overall: Discreetly Awesome!
If I was to pick 3 only: Live Rock N Roll, Ride of Your Life, Peace of Mind
Live Test: Not me saying it :) He is: "Best live band that I have seen in a long time!" - Stuart Epps (Record producer for Led Zeppelin, Oasis, Elton John...)

Review by Pascal Derrien

Sunday 30 October 2016

Mortiis @ Voodoo Lounge Dublin. 23 October 2016. Video Interview


Mortiis @ Voodoo Lounge Dublin. 23 October 2016
A Ministry of Agröculture Promotions Show

DOPE - ‘BLOOD MONEY Pt. 1’, RELEASED OCTOBER 28TH ON STEAMHAMMER / SPV - ALBUM REVIEW


DOPE - ‘BLOOD MONEY Pt. 1’
RELEASED OCTOBER 28TH ON STEAMHAMMER / SPV

Do you remember Mercyful Fate back in the day? Do you remember how apprehensive and addicted about their music you once were? Well, that is the only way I can best describe my feelings about Dope. I know Edsel Dope is not King Diamond but both share this persona, aura and intriguing and fascinating personality that only a few have in the music industry.

Nu, Alternative or Industrial Metal are the standards labels attached to Dope when it comes to position their music. I think it is more than that. I think it’s urban and abrasive, it’s energy and raw poetry, it’s modern and enthralling. I would even say that their ambivalence has no equivalence.

Blood Money is the fragment one of a two-parts album. The material is lyric, epic, energetic, industrial and viscerally human. Your feelings won’t be left intact. Imagine an open wound being actively worked on with a screwdriver. You will either love or hate their music. I don’t think you can be neutral.

Drug Music, the single and teaser, is full of breaks and deliver a song which you can listen to on multiple levels. There are so many aspects of the song you can choose to follow, it is destabilizing. 15 tracks including a bonus track called Violet alongside A New Low, the excellent Selfish and Numb with its hypnotic intro are maybe not constituting a master piece or a tipping moment in the music industry but it is fair to say that Blood Money is shifting some heavy metal parameters.

Lexapro intro is introducing some gravitas in the overall atmosphere of the album, a welcomed pause almost before hoping to more traditional speed "metallized" tracks Hold On & 1999. Lyrics are obscene, it’s dirty, with raw and full in your face unapologetic statements: "we all say fuck it", "I never thought I would be alive".

Dope is unique and provocative but don’t get them wrong: Edsel and the gang have not chosen the easiest route but they are loyal to their own roots.

Go follow them if you like integrity it is in short supply at the moment.

Overall: Attractively scary!
If I was to pick three only: Drug Music, Lexapro, Selfish
Live Test: I am almost sure it is monstrously good

Review by Pascal Derrin