Fuzz Evil – Fuzz Evil


fuzz-evil-fuzz-evil-album-cover-ghostcultmag

Hailing from Sierra Vista, Arizona are Fuzz Evil, formed in 2014 by Wayne (guitar/vocals) and Joseph Rudell (bass/vocals) whose previous band was the wonderfully named Powdered Wig Machine, with Marlin Tuttle on drums rounding off the trio. This Fuzz Evil’s self titled début came out last month on Battleground Records and it is a loud blast of punk energy, with a wonderfully colourful and psychedelic front cover that the Blues Pills would be proud of.Continue reading


On The Road… with Voivod, Vektor, and Eight Bells


voivod vektor eight bells wreak fete RI poster

One of the top tours of the early going in 2016 brings us the mighty Voivod. The veteran prog metal masters from Canada almost improbably improve year over year. Two years since the release of their album Target Earth (Century Media) the band is still on the road. Better yet, they are releasing a new six song EP, Post Society on February 26th which promises two new songs and a cover. This EP is a stepping stone to a new album, due likely late in the year or early next year. Rather than adapt and conform as many of their peers have over the last 30 plus years, Voivod just rolls on, being Voivod. This excellent bill also boast two other exciting bands from the recesses of the prog metal underground. Vektor is definitely overt in their Voivod worship, but never falls to copying. Just an influence, but its there. If you have ever seen them live, you know they kill it every time. We’ll be looking forward to their new album Terminal Redux (Earache) coming this may. Eight Bells is also on the bill, adding their psychedelic angle to the prog proceedings. We have recently covered the bands’ sojourn across the country and given much praise to their new album Landless (Battleground Recordings) as one of 2016’s best efforts already. The three bands together make for a formidable and fun time. Tonight’s show was opened by local grind junkies Wreak who are solid and fit right in with this bill. Fete Music Hall is one of the many cool venues to pop up from the Providence, RI music scene, not content to be a mere satellite moon to nearby Boston’s Sun. Photographed for Ghost Cult by Hillarie Jason, you can see the spirit and artistry of the bands on display, and the passion reflected back by the crowd. .

Voivod, by Hillarie Jason

Voivod, by Hillarie Jason

Voivod, by Hillarie Jason

Voivod, by Hillarie Jason

 

Voivod, by Hillarie Jason

Voivod, by Hillarie Jason

 

Vektor, by Hillarie Jason

Vektor, by Hillarie Jason

 

Voivod, by Hillarie Jason Eight Bells, by Hillarie Jason

Eight Bells, by Hillarie Jason

 

Wreak, by Hillarie Jason

Wreak, by Hillarie Jason

 

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ALBUM REVIEW: Eight Bells- Landless


Eight Bells Landless album cover ghostcultmag

Eight Bells release their sophomore album Landless (Battleground Records/Tartarus Records) in time for Valentine’s Day and it is one that fans are sure to love. It is available in three different forms—vinyl, digital, and tape—to reach the maximum amount of music fans. As their nautical name alludes to, they are prepared to create great experimental metal no matter how stormy the seas.

Continue reading


On The Road… with Eight Bells


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In just a few short weeks this year is already proving to be full of tectonic level shifts in the musical and metaphysical landscape of our lives. We often start looking at the calendar for the next year of releases in late fall with a mix of anticipation and at times, bracing anxiety. Before we hear one note of new music, the questions start gnawing at us. What new alliances are formed? What new music to pick up first? What about my old favorite bands? Will anything challenge the status-quo of typical sub-genre doldrums. If your tastes are anything like ours, these questions can all be answered with two words: Eight Bells. Hailing mostly from Portland, OR and made up of members of SubArachnoid Space, Curezum, Immortal Bird, and Thrawsunblat; their musical make up is an uncommon mix of spacey psychedelic rock and brooding, otherworldly heaviness. Eight Bells kicked off 2016 with a string of shows to support their new album Landless out on February 12th from Battleground Records, one of the must hear underground releases 2016. Melynda Jackson and Haley Westeiner trade riffs and parts intermingle like a dank, earthy swamp. When they sing together, it’s outright majestic. Recent addition Rae Amitay brings in her considerable range behind the kit. In the run up of west coast dates before joining up with Voivod and Vektor across the rest of the country, we caught the trio at The Yucca Tap Room in Tempe, AZ. Their intimate show was captured here by Melina Dellamarggio of Melina D Photography for Ghost Cult.

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

 

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

 

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

 

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

 

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

 

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

Eight Bells, by Melina D Photography

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Vehemence Releasing Forward Without Motion On October 27th


vehemence Reactivated Phoenix melodic death metallers Vehemence will be releasing their fourth full length studio album Forward Without Motion, out October 27, 2015 via Battleground Records.

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Battleground Records on Facebook
Battleground Records on Twitter


Album Stream: One Ton Project – Gizzards & Hearts


one ton project 2

Las Vegas rockers One Ton Project is streaming their new album Gizzards & Hearts, out now via Battleground Records.

Jun 19: Backstage Bar and Billiards – Las Vegas, NV (w/ The Solid Suns, Dinner Music For The Gods)

One Ton Project on Facebook
One Ton Project on Big Cartel
Battleground Records on Facebook
Battleground Records on Twitter


Lament Cityscape Releasing The Torn On September 8th via Battleground Records


Photo Credit: Tara Spence

Photo Credit: Tara Spence

Oakland musical experimentalists Lament Cityscape will be releasing their debut album The Torn on September 8, 2015 via Battleground Records. Stream a trailer below.

The album is a piece of music that resonates with themes of duality, confusion, and contradiction as it crawls across fifty-two minutes of bleak soundscapes and thunderous percussion. The feel and atmosphere that Lament Cityscape captures on the album is reminiscent of the brooding and nebulous angst of early Godflesh, Ministry, and Swans. Each half of the group, Mike McClatchey and Sean McCullough, brings quite a different set of influences to the writing process and this clash of perspectives is evident in the music, resulting in an honest collaboration of immersive material that is urgent and compelling.

Lament Cityscape on Facebook
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Audio: One Ton Project – Protagonist


one ton project 2

Las Vegas rockers One Ton Project is streaming “Protagonist,” off of their debut album Gizzards & Hearts, out now via Battleground Records here. The band has an upcoming show:

Jun 19: Backstage Bar and Billiards – Las Vegas, NV (w/ The Solid Suns, Dinner Music For The Gods)

One Ton Project on Facebook
One Ton Project on Big Cartel
Battleground Records on Facebook
Battleground Records on Twitter


Godhunter and Destroyer Of Light Confirm Tour, Split Release


godhunter destroyer of light tour

Godhunter and Destroyer Of Light will be releasing a co-release titled Godhunter vs Destroyer Of Light: Endsville this summer via Battleground Records and Heavy Friends Records, and an East Coast US Tour is confirmed for both bands. The recording was handled at WaveLab Studios in Tucson by Dana Fehr (North, Juarez), while the other half was recorded at Orb Recording Studios in Austin, engineered and mixed by Matt Meli. The entire album was then mastered by James Plotkin.

Destroyer Of Light Journey To Psycho Land:
May 06: Mohawk – Austin, TX
May 11: The Grand – Austin, TX
May 12: Kamposi – Midland, TX
May 13: Sandbox- El Paso, TX
May 14: Rips – Phoenix, AZ
May 15: The Observatory – Santa Ana, CA
May 18: Sweet Springs Saloon – Los Osos, CA
May 19: San Jose Rock Shop – San Jose, CA
May 20: Bottom of the Hill – San Francisco, CA
May 21: Black Forest – Eugene, OR
May 22: Ray’s Golden Lion – Richland, WA
May 23: Victory Lounge – Seattle, WA
May 24: High Water Mark – Portland, OR
May 25: Crazy Horse – Boise, ID
May 26: TBA – Salt Lake City, UT
May 27: house show – Las Vegas, NV
May 28: Triple Nickel – Colorado Springs, CO
May 30: KC’s Too – Haysville, KS
May 31: The Crazy Horse Saloon – Texarkana, AR

Godhunter vs. Destroyer Of Light Endsville 2015 Tour:
Jul 29: Tucson, AZ
Jul 30: Tempe, AZ
Jul 31: El Paso, TX
Aug 01: Albuquerque, NM
Aug 02: Denver, CO
Aug 03: Omaha, NE
Aug 04: Minneapolis, MN
Aug 05: Chicago, IL
Aug 06: Kalamazoo, MI
Aug 07: Indianapolis, IN
Aug 08: Nashville, TN
Aug 09: Raleigh, NC
Aug 10: Charleston, WV
Aug 11: Pittsburgh, PA
Aug 12: Buffalo, NY
Aug 13: New York, NY
Aug 14: Boston, MA
Aug 15: Death To False Metal Fest – New Haven, CT
Aug 16: Philadelphia, PA
Aug 17: Baltimore, MD
Aug 18: Columbia, SC
Aug 19: Atlanta, GA
Aug 20: Little Rock, AR
Aug 21: New Orleans, LA
Aug 22: Austin, TX

Destroyer of Light on Facebook
Godhunter on Facebook


Lago Confirmed For Upcoming West Coast Tour


lago pic

Phoenix based blackened death metallers Lago is about to embark on The Tyranny Tour, supporting their debut album Tyranny, out now via Battleground Records. The record was produced by Ryan Butler at Arcane Digital Recording (Exhumed, Phobia, Landmine Marathon) and mastered by Dave Shirk at Sonorous Mastering (Incantation, Exhumed, Today is the Day).

Apr 24: The Hive – Flagstaff, AZ
Apr 25: Blacklight District Lounge – Long Beach, CA
Apr 26: Sweet Springs Saloon – Los Osos, CA
Apr 27: Rock Shop – San Jose, CA
Apr 28: Rotture – Portland, OR
Apr 29: El Corazon – Seattle, WA
Apr 30: The Shredder – Boise, ID
May 01: The Bridge – Salt Lake City, UT
May 02: The Marquis – Denver, CO

Lago on Facebook
Lago on Big Cartel
Battleground Records on Facebook

lago tour