Sweet Cobra – Earth


Sweet Cobra Earth Album Review

With their long awaited follow up to 2010’s Mercy (Good Fight Music), Earth (Magic Bullet Records) puts Sweet Cobra back in the spotlight and in front of me for the first time. The internet told me they were “post-hardcore.” What does that mean? I don’t speak English so I have no idea, let’s find out!

‘Future Ghosts’ wound up catching my attention more than the opening track, ‘Far Too Temp.’ This song is more consistently upbeat and easy to start headbanging and stomping around to. It’s there to grab you and make you listen and move. I anticipate this track being included in their set list specifically for this purpose.

‘Complaints’ is on the shorter side and reminds me of 80’s pop/rock songs with its keyboards. Even Botchy Vasquez’s voice sounds like a slightly rougher, more masculine Robert Smith in this piece. Maybe this is what The Cure would sound like if they were a touch heavier. Compared to the rest of the album, it’s a bit odd which makes it stand out and is exactly why I enjoy it.

The opening drums for ‘Jealous of Drugs’ remind me of a far less intense version of Mastodon’s ‘Crystal Skull’. This track starts off slow and starts to pick up a bit about two minutes in where it turns into some catchy rock and roll. While it never comes close to reaching the heaviness referenced previously, there is still something beautiful about it.

Earth is a fun album overall although I would have liked it to be a bit more cohesive. Things are kind of all over the place in the sense that you could pick out almost any track and have it stand on its own. That says a lot about the quality of the music, however, I always look for some kind of flow as an album plays, save for the intro to nearly every song being very similar, and that didn’t seem as strong as it could have been in this release.

7/10

ALEIDA LA LLAVE


Ides Of Gemini Announce Upcoming West Coast Tour


ides of gemini summer tour 2015

Ides of Gemini have announced an upcoming West Coast tour with Clay Rendering. They are supporting their current album Old World New Wave, released last September via Neurot Recordings, as well as a special, limited Carthage/Strange Fruit seven-inch via Magic Bullet Records last month in honor of Record Store Day. They will employ the services of drummer Sash Popovic (Black Math Horseman), who will be filling in for Kelly Johnston-Gibson, who was injured on their last tour.

Guitarist J. Bennett stated:

“After the disappointment of having to drop off the Mountain Goats tour last month, we’re looking forward to getting out on the road again. Unfortunately, Kelly’s injury is still healing so she won’t be able to join us for the June shows with Oxbow and Demon Lung or our appearance at Cruficalfest in Salt Lake. The good news is that our friend Sash Popovic, formerly of [singer/bassist] Sera’s [Timms] old band, Black Math Horseman, will be filling in for those. He’s a killer drummer and a great guy, so we’re very thankful that he’s agreed to help us out. If all goes according to plan, Kelly should be back in action for the July run with Clay Rendering.”

Jun 05: Brick & Mortar – San Francisco, CA (w/ Oxbow)
Jun 07: The Echo – Los Angeles, CA (w/ Oxbow)
Jun 19: Crucialfest – Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 20: Dive Bar – Las Vegas, NV (Demon Lung Record Release Show)

w/ Clay Rendering:
Jul 14: Golden Bull – Oakland, CA
Jul 15: Club 66 – Ashland, OR
Jul 16: Wandering Goat – Eugene, OR
Jul 17: Ash St Saloon – Portland, OR (w/ Jex Thoth, Atriarch, Barrowlands (no Clay Rendering)
Jul 18: Media Club – Vancouver, BC
Jul 19: Highline – Seattle, WA
Jul 21: Press Club – Sacramento, CA
Jul 22: Elbo Room – San Francisco, CA
Jul 23: Sweet Springs – Los Osos, CA
Jul 24: Complex – Glendale, CA

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Music Video: Ancient Vvisdom – We Are Damnation


solsfair ancient wisdom north america tour

Occult death rock/folk metallers Ancient Vvisdom is streaming the music video for “We Are Damnation,” off of their new album Sacrificial, out now via Magic Bullet Records. Watch it below.

Catch them on their North American tour with Sólstafir.

Apr 22: The Shop – Brooklyn, NY
Apr 23: L’ail’ze – Montreal, QC
Apr 24: Mavericks – Ottawa, ON
Apr 25: Garrison – Toronto, ON
Apr 26: Bug Jar – Rochester, NY
Apr 27: 31st St Pub – Pittsburgh, PA
Apr 28: Ace Of Cups – Columbus, OH
Apr 29: Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, MI
Apr 30: TBA – Milwaukee, WI
May 01: Nether Bar – Minneapolis, MN
May 03: Reggies – Chicago, IL
May 04: Riot Room – Kansas City, MO
May 05: Larimer – Denver, CO
May 06: Bar Deluxe – Salt Lake City, UT
May 08: The Pin – Spokane, WA
May 09: Rickshaw – Vancouver, BC
May 10: El Corazon – Seattle, WA
May 12: Oakland Opera – San Francisco, CA
May 13: Los Globos – Los Angeles, CA
May 14: Pub Rock Live – Scottsdale, AZ
May 15: Sister – Albuquerque, NM
May 16: Sons Of Hermann – Fort Worth, TX
May 17: Red 7 – Austin, TX
May 18: One Eyed Jacks – New Orleans, LA
May 20: Strange Matter – Richmond, VA

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Zex Confirm Upcoming US Tour Dates


zex 3

Ottawa punkers Zex have confirmed the first wave of US tour dates in support of their debut album Fight For Yourself, out now via Magic Bullet Records. Stream their heartfelt tribute to their longtime touring drummer for the Wanderlust tour, Vassil Mester below.

May 05: Low Beat – Albany, NY
May 06: Hotel Vernon, Worcester, MA
May 07: Kung Fu Necktie – Philadelphia, PA
May 08: Barclay House – Baltimore, MD
May 09: TBA – Virginia Beach, VA
May 10: New Price Books – Raleigh, NC
May 12: Uncle Lou’s – Orlando, FL
May 13: A-Space – Gainesville, FL
May 14: 529 – Atlanta, GA
May 15: Betty’s Grill – Nashville, TN
May 16: Mono – Birmingham, AL
May 17: Sluggo’s – Pensacola, FL
May 18: Spitfire – New Orleans, LA
May 19: Black Barbie – Houston, TX
May 20: Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX
May 21: TBA – Austin, TX
May 22: Padaneria Chitchen-Itza – Dallas, TX
May 23: Sound Pony – Tulsa, OK
May 24: TBA – Oklahoma City, OK
May 26: Gary’s Place – Tucson, AZ
May 27: Time Out Lounge – Phoenix, AZ
May 28: Mods – Tijuana, MX
May 29: TBA – San Diego, CA
May 30: Blacklight District – Long Beach, CA

May 31: TBA – Riverside, CA
Jun 01: East Side Joes – Las Vegas, NV
Jun 02: Music Garage – Salt Lake City, UT
Jun 04: TBA – Kansas City, MO
Jun 05: Hideout – Omaha, NE
Jun 06: TBA – Minneapolis, MN
Jun 07: Wisco – Madison, WI
Jun 08: Frank’s Power Plant – Milwaukee, WI
Jun 09: 2040 – Chicago, IL
Jun 10: Last House On The Left – Cincinnati, OH
Jun 11: Rock Room – Pittsburgh, PA
Jun 12: Now That’s Class – Cleveland, OH
Jun 13: Genesse Park – Rochester, NY

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Boss Kong Releasing The Humans Sound Volume II For Record Store Day


boss kong the humans soundtrack volume ii

Boss Kong is releasing The Humans Soundtrack Volume II seven inch for Record Store Day on April 18, 2015 via Magic Bullet Records. The piece’s exclusive cover art and insert art were created by creator Tom Neely (Henry and Glenn Forever).

The Humans Soundtrack Volume II
A. Ride To Die
B. Viet Kong

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