With a lengthy and excitable queue having already formed well before the 7 pm opening time, you can already tell heading to Birmingham on a typically drizzly September evening is going to be well worth the effort. After disappearing for a few words with Rivers of Nihil drummer Jared Klein, I arrive back into the previously empty venue to find it heaving with activity. The bar area is already packed, beer flows freely and merchandise is being handed over at an impressive rate. Continue reading
Danish Blackgaze experimentalists MØL have shared their new video for their track ‘Sundrowned’, taken from the recent re-release of their first two EPs I / II that dropped on 7th June 2019 via Holy Roar Records. The clip is a short montage of footage of MØL shot over the last three years. Continue reading
Acclaimed composer Mick Gordon shared today that he has assembled a who’s who of metal bands to contribute vocals to the newest and fifth edition in the Doom video game franchise, Doom Eternal. The game is coming soon from id software and Bethesda Software. Bands began to post today on social media sharing the news. Among the vocalists from bands included are Aborted, Frontierer, Immortal Bird, Vault Dweller Tengger Calvary, Wildspeaker, Black Crown Initiate, Sectioned, The Anchor, and many more we are still finding out about. We’ll bring you more updates on the game and the score as we get them. Continue reading
Pennsylvania’s progressive metallers Black Crown Initiate shared a video of them recording new music, teasing a new album expected later in 2018 via Metal Blade Records. The band is creating the follow-up to the acclaimed 2016 release Selves We Cannot Forgive. Continue reading
Bionatops, the new project from Joseph Spiller (ex-System Divide, Caricature, The Binary Code, Too Late The Hero), has dropped a teaser trailer ahead of their début album Voices due out from Nefarious Industries on September 22nd. You can see the trailer below. Continue reading
Black Crown Initiate, photo by Danielle Fedorshik
“Tool and Meshuggah on the Lateralus tour. For me, this was a perfect lineup. No filler; just two bands that I love.”
“Meshuggah and Strapping Young Lad. Strapping Young Lad was opening for Meshuggah and touring for the SYL album. A great crowd crush with lots of booze.”
“Steven Wilson on the Raven that Refused to Sing tour. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more dynamic band. Marco Minnemann expanded and contracted the entire band at will. Guthrie Govan is probably the best modern electric guitarist. It ruled.”
Steven Wilson, by Melina D Photography
Black Crown Initiate just wrapped up touring with Deicide and is still supporting their release from earlier in 2015, Wreckage of the Stars (eOne).
France’s Svart Crown announced today they will continue their U.S. trek with Deicide for the remaining show dates.
The tour, which was originally branded as the “Metal Alliance Tour,” featuring Deicide, Hate Eternal, Entombed A.D., Black Crown Initiate, Lorna Shore, and Svart Crown, quickly dissolved after myriad difficulties–both financial and logistical–with Entombed A.D. suddenly shipped back to Sweden post Spokane, WA gig, igniting rumors ranging from deportation to Deicide–related conspiracies.
But after an official statement from tour organizers, Continental Concerts and Metal Alliance, cited financial reasons for the rebranding, the remaining lineup, headliners Deicide and supporting acts Hate Eternal, Black Crown Initiate, and Lorna Shore, rages on, with tour openers Svart Crown still determined to conquer the States.
Svart Crown has issued a statement on the events leading to the tour:
“Unfortunately, our fellow and best tour bus companions Entombed A.D. had to fly back to Sweden, [and] we had then to decide either to do the same and return to France from Seattle, or to find a solution for ourselves (rent a van, driving, sleeping places, etc.) to keep going with the rest of the bands.”
After resolving transportation issues, the band has “decided to CONTINUE ON,” while calling for further fan support.
“[We] thank you for any way you can support us–blast the gigs, check out our merch at our stand […] we will be eternally thankful for any help you can afford, [such as] helping us with tips and PayPal, or even with a place to stay so we keep up!”
Deicide tour dates with Hate Eternal, Black Crown Initiate , Lorna Shore, Svart Crown
Jun 11: LVCS – Las Vegas, NV
Jun 12: Club Red – Mesa, AZ – CANCELED
Jun 13: Mesa Music Hall – El Paso, TX
Jun 14: Depot “O” Bar Live – Lubbock, TX
Jun 15: Empire Garage – Austin, TX
Jun 16: Gas Monkey Live! – Dallas, TX
Jun 18: Gramercy Theater – New York, NY
Jun 19: Ottobar – Baltimore, MD
Jun 20: Tremont Music Hall – Charlotte, NC
Svart Crown’s 2008 début album, Ages of Decay, was a tour de force full-length, which introduced the band’s inspired blackened Death Metal infused with bleak melodies and harrowing intensity. Their 2010, Witnessing the Fall, and 2013 Profane albums saw the band evolving their already crushing anthems with inventive songwriting and mature focus. Live excursions supporting the likes of Deicide, Cattle Decapitation, and Cephalic Carnage, in the States and Europe, earned the band both fans and well-deserved praise.
Listenable Records online
LINDSAY O’CONNOR
