Considering that the band members’ roots lay in the Chicago industrial scene, with the now-defunct band Acumen Nation, Czar surprised listeners with 2011′s excellent Vertical Mass Burial, an album of angular alt metal that suggests bands like Mastodon and Helmet more than it did, say, Ministry and Nine Inch Nails. Still, despite the stylistic shift, Czar maintain a love of industrial music, a passion they will get to indulge when they hit the road with Killing Joke this spring. Here, Czar guitarist Brian Elza picks his Top Five Industrial Songs by Metal Bands.
1. Nachtmystium, “No Funeral”
“I remember a lot of people hating on this song when it debuted, but it’s probably my favorite on Addicts, amidst all the blast beats, trem-picking, and post-punk. With synths up front, drums so distorted they might as well be programmed, and monotone barking, this song sounds closer to dance goth like Electric Hellfire Club or even The Faint than USBM. And at the risk of sounding totally un-kvlt, ‘No Funeral’ is also the most memorable song on Addicts, boasting the album’s catchiest riff–played on a synth! Good luck finding a live clip of this one.”
2. Torche, “King Beef”
“Yes, this is one of those lava-slow Torche jams, but it’s the inclusion of what sounds like a 16-bit steel drum from a Dr. Rhythm that really makes Torche’s debt to Godflesh stand out. Instead of ‘doom pop,’ you get some seriously repetitive and unwelcoming shit, with minimalist drum patterns, zero guitar heroics, and a plodding second half that devolves into downtuned sludge. If you like this, check out the noisier, more organic industrial of Pigface, Young Gods, and, of course, Godflesh.”
3. Gojira, “A Sight to Behold”
“A synth, vocoder, and basic rock beat set ‘Sight to Behold’ off from the rest of The Way of All Flesh. It might sound like the least industrial song on this list, but given Gojira’s penchant for precise, tactical, mechanized chops, they have arguably learned the most from industrial. The verse starts with a slinky Sister Machine Gun-style groove before giving way to the guitar hammer-ons, punishing double kicks, and syncopated curveballs that are Gojira’s trademarks.”
4. The Dillinger Escape Plan, “Phone Home”
“After DEP’s EP with Mike Patton, there were signs that new singer Greg Puciato would continue putting spazzy vocals over the band’s spazzy mathcore. Cool. But for fans who were 43% burnt out on mosh jazz, he didn’t just bring Patton’s vocal range. He brought some mainstream tendencies, like good-cop choruses and Nine Inch Nails worship. This started on Miss Machine, especially with ‘Phone Home,’ a glitchy, sinister tune with a trip-hop beat, lurching choruses, and more dynamics than any other track on this list. It also kills live. Later songs like ‘Parasitic Twins’ and ‘Widower’ could’ve come right off The Fragile.”
5. Blut Aus Nord, “Epitome XVII”
“This is a hard band to pin down, literally and musically. Over 10 albums, Blut Aus Nord have mixed black metal, industrial, darkwave, and more into something very ‘other.’ Which is why Cosmosophy took me by surprise, adding shoegaze to their minor chords, programmed drums, and howls. ‘Epitome XVII,’ the fourth song, takes the French band into shimmering, epic territory, sounding something like an uptempo Jesu or Bathory covering Tears for Fears. If this showed up on a Cleopatra Records comp in the early 90s, a lot of black eye makeup would’ve run for the chins.”
Honorable Mention: Harm’s Way, “Becoming”
“They might come from Chicago’s hardcore scene, but the production on Isolation is metal as fuck. ‘Becoming’ takes Harm’s Way to another extreme, adding industrial flourishes to an already slammed mix of kick, snare, dirty bass, and buzzsaw guitars. Now throw some echo on the vocals? Delay on a couple drums? Gain and gates on the others? “Special hi-hat programming”? Is that a synth towards the end? You could put this song on Filth Pig and no one would notice. Sold.”
Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Nate Derby (pictured left), guitarist of the melodic-hardcore band Such Gold, selects his faves.
5. Title Fight, Floral Green
“I was never an enormous fan of this band but still enjoyed their releases. With that said, Floral Green is right up my alley. Their angsty vocals finally work perfectly for me against the huge wall of sound they were able to create on this recording.”
4. Pinback, Information Retrieved
“I haven’t had this one on constant repeat yet, but Pinback has remained one of my favorite bands for years and any new Pinback record is going to make my Top Five pretty much no matter what. I love the crystal clear tones and clockwork rhythms so tight you can set your watch to them.”
3. Propagandhi, Failed States
“This goddamn band continues to rip so very hard after all these years and continues to top themselves with each release. Not much more that I can say that hasn’t already been said by someone more qualified than myself. If you don’t have this record then you’ve fucked up.”
2. Converge, All We Love We Leave Behind
“Converge return with a bang and a stern reminder that they are still here, still relevant, and still on top of their game. This band and album are untouchable.”
1. Torche, Harmonicraft
“Easily my favorite band of the last couple years. They continue to release incredible music with each full-length being better than their last. Crushingly heavy tones juxtaposed with perfectly honed rock sensibility. Buy this record and fall in love with this band as I have.”
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Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Jacob Bannon (pictured left), vocalist of the hardcore band Converge, selects his faves.
5. Sun Kil Moon, Among The Leaves
“Another brilliant record from one of the best musicians out there today.”
4. Neurosis, Honor Found In Decay
“A potent and evolved new album from one of my all-time favorite bands in heavy music.”
3. Pig Destroyer, Book Burner
“Every Pig Destroyer album raises the bar for technical and intense music. They do it again here.”
2. Code Orange Kids, Love is Love // Return to Dust
“A frantic debut album, and just the beginning from this great young band.”
1. Torche, Harmonicraft
“Melodic yet intensely heavy music from some great friends. Recommended.”
Leading up to the end of the year, Revolver has asked some of our favorite artists to pick their Top Albums of 2012 and tell us why each record rules. Here, Anders Fridén (pictured left), vocalist of the metal band In Flames, selects his faves.
5. Torche, Harmonicraft
“I guess I’ll never see a new Handsome album but, this is a awesome and great substitute.”
4. Baroness, Yellow & Green
“Been a fan since I heard Red album. This is a hard, heavy, sludgy, melodic piece of art.”
3. While She Sleeps, This Is the Six
“Heavy, melodic, and smart.”
2. Deftones, Koi No Yokan
“The best album from the Sacramento boys since the fantastic White Pony album.”
1. Witchcraft, Legend
“Fantastic!!! The best thing coming from Sweden–well, since us.”
Stallone are streaming their new EP, American Baby, on Revolvermag.com today.
The EP, which was released today, October 30, via Limited Fanfare Records, was produced by Stallone, engineered by Craig Carlson, mixed by C.J. Ridings and mastered by Alan Douches. The album artwork (See it below) was created by Juan Montoya, based on a photo by Tim Song.
Stallone started when former Torche guitarist Juan Montoya met drummer Evan Diprima in 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia. The duo recorded a handful of songs with Craig Carlson in October 2010 and later added Thomas Gonzalez and C.J. Ridings in 2011. Their music focuses on riff-oriented, drop-tuned melodies. The instrumental aspect of Stallone is a thrashing, thunderous, sludgy, metallic throwback to the golden days of metal with a feel good outer lining.
Stallone: Juan Montoya (guitars), Evan Diprima (drums), C.J. Ridings (bass) and Thomas Gonzalez (guitars).
Catch Stallone on tour November 7 at Club 529 in Atlanta, Georgia, with Red Fang, Lord Dying and Black Tusk.
Keep up with Stallone at their official Facebook page, at Bandcamp and at Limited Fanfare Records’ artist page.
Photo: Tim Song
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Metallica have announced the full details of the lineup for their Orion Music + More Festival, which will take place the weekend of June 23 and 24 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. This includes the addition of a punk and thrash stage, dubbed Damage Inc.
Artists who will perform on the Damage Inc. stage include Suicidal Tendencies, Sepultura, Torche, Red Fang, Kyng, Landmine Marathon, Black Tusk, and Thy Will Be Done.
As previously announced, Metallica will perform two headlining sets. One night, they will play their landmark “Black Album” from start to finish, and the other night they will play Ride the Lightning in its entirety for the first time ever.
Not yet announced is the lifestyle portion of the fest, which will reflect the different members of Metallica’s interests.
Check out a video trailer for the show below, see the full lineup below, and click here for more info.
Full Orion Music + More Festival Lineup
• Metallica
• Arctic Monkeys
• Avenged Sevenfold
• Modest Mouse
• The Gaslight Anthem
• Eric Church
• Cage the Elephant
• Fucked Up
• The Jim Breuer Heavy Metal Comedy Tour
• Best Coast
• Hot Snakes
• Titus Andronicus
• Gary Clark Jr.
• Lucero
• Roky Erickson
• The Black Angels
• The Sword
• Wooden Shjips
• A Place to Bury Strangers
• Liturgy
• Soul Rebels
Damage Inc. Stage
• Suicidal Tendencies
• Sepultura
• Torche
• Red Fang
• Kyng
• Landmine Marathon
• Black Tusk
• Thy Will Be Done
Click here for more info about the Orion Music + More Festival.
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Corrosion of Conformity will be heading out on tour this March, accompanied by Torche, Valient Thorr, and A Storm of Light. The Revolver-sponsored run begins on March 1 in New York City. C.O.C. will be touring in support of their upcoming self-titled record, which will be released on February 28.
C.O.C., Torche, and Valient Thorr tour dates:
03/01 Gramercy Theatre, New York, NY
03/02 Sonar, Baltimore, MD
03/03 Lincoln Theatre, Raleigh, NC
03/05 Grog Shop, Cleveland, OH
03/06 Pyramid Scheme, Grand Rapids, MI
03/07 Double Door, Chicago, IL
03/08 Triple Rock, Minneapolis, MN
03/09 Beaumont Club, Kansas City, MO
03/10 Downtown Music Hall, Little Rock, AR
03/11 Hi-Tone Café, Memphis, TN
03/12 Trees, Dallas, TX
03/14 SXSW, Austin, TX ! #
03/15 SXSW, Austin, TX ! #
03/17 One Eyed Jacks, New Orleans, LA #
03/18 Zydeco, Birmingham, AL #^
# = No Valient Thorr
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MonstrO isn’t flawless. Some slower sections—particularly “Elizabeth” and parts of the huge closer “April”—come off flat in comparison to the vibrant energy surrounding them. A couple tracks seem to go on for longer than they should. But these issues are minor, and only a fool expects perfection from a debut album. What MonstrO have shown here is that they can play smart, catchy music with brawn to spare. CLARKE READ
]]>Number of beards present at Webster Hall: 4,237.
Number of flannel shirts present: 1,482.
Number of dudes wearing the same bootleg Slayer shirt as me: Four. One of us is going to have to change.
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Chris Krovatin is the author of the young-adult novels Heavy Metal & You and Venomous, as well as Revolvermag.com's “Final Six” blog. The latter book was the inspiration for Deadlocke, a one-shot published by Dark Horse Comics.
On Sunday, I went to see High On Fire, who played with Torche and Kylesa in New York. Here's what happened:
General aroma of Webster Hall: Resin-soaked beard.
Number of beards present at Webster Hall: 4,237.
Number of flannel shirts present: 1,482.
Number of dudes wearing the same bootleg Slayer shirt as me: Four. One of us is going to have to change.
Favorite piece of merch available: High On Fire’s ashtrays. The bottom features the logo and a skull-faced Indian chief.
First on the docket: Kylesa from Savannah, Georgia.
Chosen genre: Melodic and melancholy stoner metal.
Actual genre: The sound of Edgar Allen Poe being beaten down with a plank of wood.
Song of the set: “Unknown Awareness.”
Coolest effect of the night: Kylesa’s Spiral Shadow cover art projected into a whirling spiral behind them.
Best thing about “hipster” metal kids: The chicks are all…wow, the chicks are all hot as balls.
Even the reporters: Especially the reporters! Damn!
Best part about being a reporter: Getting to go upstairs to the balcony area and take a load off between sets.
Worst part about going to the balcony and taking a load off between sets: It reminds you how much of an old fuck you are.
Favorite T-shirt in attendance: The skinny kid in the Those Poor Bastards shirt.
Favorite thing about Webster Hall: It looks like an old bombed-out theater. Other venues could learn a lesson from this place.
Next, we have: Torche from Miami, Florida.
Wait a second: Torche are from Florida? Huh!
Sounds like: Super-happy smash rock. Southern sludge meets weird Japanese shoegaze with a touch of T. Rex. The band calls it “thunder pop.”
Favorite member of Torche: Bassist Jon Nuñez, who looks like he’s about to take four shits and die the entire set.
Claim to fame: Torche’s Meanderthal was hailed by critics everywhere when it came out in 2008.
Least favorite mosher type: The chick—it’s usually a chick—who writhes around with her arms clasped over her face, then barrels blindly into one side of the pit, expecting people to hold her up in her reverie. Also used by totally wasted dudes as well.
Fuck those people: I’m all for acting as a buffer for the occasional thrasher, but the whole run-from-one-edge-to-another-slumping-on-people thing is just obnoxious. Fuck off, die slow.
Notable line-up fact: The set is three solid bands, no hidden list of local openers and performance acts.
And finally: High On Fire from Oakland, CA.
Sounds like: Stone clubs, hard liquor, weed smoke, and the Devil.
Hammers: Arise.
Matt Pike in a few words: A leering demon, forcing his guitar to puke gravel, inviting listeners into a crashing abyss of hard-edged decadence, with his plumber’s crack showing.
Notable difference: Matt Pike acts so much scarier in High on Fire than he did when I saw him in Sleep a few weeks back. Guess this band just gets the fire going in him.
Number of bowls, joints, and one-hitters lit: Huh? Sorry, dude, I’m just so fucking hungry all of a sudden…
Best track of the night: “Turk” was just insane.
Weird track of the night: “Blessed Black Wings,” which appeared to be plagued by technical difficulties.
Listen up, sound guys: There’s no reason for a band like High on Fire to be getting this many feedback problems during their set. There was some of this when I saw Black Label Society the other night. Come on.
Scariest bastard of the night: High on Fire drummer Des Kensel. Jesus, look at him go.
Favorite way to end the night: Warm molten chocolate cake from the dessert truck on 4th Ave.
High On Fire and chocolate cake: In some countries, they’d probably arrest you for this combination.
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