MetalSucks

The first time I heard Tombs‘ Relapse Records debut Winterhours was on the New York subway with iPod earbuds, which are clearly not the ideal conditions for developing an accurate initial impression of a band. I wasn’t impressed and turned it off after a few songs, likely in favor of something more familiar such as The Jonas Brothers. Recently though, I’ve given the record some undivided attention at home, where the sound is hardly state-of-the-art but at least it isn’t subject to train noises and obnoxious interruptions by my fellow passengers. Much to my surprise and delight, I fucking love Winterhours.

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By all accounts Bison B.C. and Lazarus A.D. are kicking total ass on the MetalSucks-sponsored Baptized in Beer Tour. The bands wrap up the Canadian leg of the tour on July 16th, and from there kick off the U.S. leg in St. Paul, MN, after which they’ll hook up with Woe Of Tyrants a few days later in Raleigh, NC for the duration.

Bison vocalist/guitarists James Gnarwell had this to say: “We have truly been baptized in beer so far… All of our clothes, the van, and every stage thus far has been soaked in our most favorite beverage… Glorious beer. All kinds of beer: from the finest ales and lagers to the dingiest piss you can stomach and we love it all. Can’t wait to slay south of the border and continue our liver olympics. See you in the future.”

Check out the rippin’ footage of Bison B.C. performing “Medication” live at the sold out Vancouver date below, then take a look at the remaining tour dates after the jump so you can get your beer on. This live footage… I mean, like, woah; if this doesn’t make you wish you were at that show rockin’ out up front, might we suggest this?

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Canadian metalers Bison B.C. and Wisconsin thrashers Lazarus A.D. have teamed up for the MetalSucks and MetalInjection-sponsored 2009 “Baptized in Beer Tour,” which kicks off July 8th in Vancouver, British Columbia. Support on select dates will come from Barnburner and Woe of Tyrants. The coming together of B.C. and A.D. means one of two things will happen when this tour hits the pavement: 1) the birth of Jesus Christ, 2) a giant fucking party. We’re hoping for the latter!

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So I was thinking back to the CMJ Music Marathon here in NYC last fall, and how Bison B.C. seemed to be the “buzz” metal band on everyone’s tongue. If you were there to see them you witnessed something awesome, and if you weren’t there you heard about it from everyone else and felt like a dipshit because you missed it. At the Scion Rock Fest last month in Atlanta the buzz bands were Krallice and Salome, depending on who you asked (there were, after all, four stages running simultaneously). So who’s it gonna be at this year’s SXSW? My bets are on any one of the awesome bands on The End Records / MetalSucks showcase, but your guesses are as good as any.

Here’s a live video of Bison B.C. performing in their native Vancouver. What are the shows you absolutely must see at this year’s hoedown in Austin?

-VN

This coming Monday the entire MetalSucks staff will each release Top 10 lists for the entire year in metal of 2008. Get psyched! Things have been slowing down here at the MS Mansion as the holidays approach, but we still found ways to keep it fun this week:

• Axl Rose finally did some press to support Chinese Democracy… but as usual, there’s an asterisk.
• We debuted a new, exclusive Daath track — a medley of Cannibal Corpse, Morbid Angel and Dying Fetus covers.
• We interviewed members of Clutch, Bison B.C., Dir En Grey, and Fear Factory / Arkaea.
• Job For a Cowboy’s Jonny Davy blogged about urination and hotel trashing, while Darkest Hour’s Mike Schleibaum’s guest blog claimed that Entombed’s Uprising and Morning Star are two of the most underrated albums of all time. Oh, and The Haunted’s Peter Dolving blogged about sleep.
• Gojira’s Joe Duplantier orders you to stop the killing of baby seals but apparently has no problem with ripping New York City a new arsehole.
• Meshuggah + Cynic + The Faceless = The Erection Tour of 2009.
• The metal industry lost a kindred soul. R.I.P. Adrian Bromley.

The rest of the world might know them as Bison B.C., but here in British Columbia, we just call them “Bison.” After ceaseless touring and breaking through into new territory, Vancouver’s favorite stoner sons made a prodigal return to home turf delivering a spectacular live show as direct support to Priestess and 3 Inches of Blood at a sold out Commodore Ballroom last Saturday night. Just before this live trampling, I was able to corner guitarist/vocalist Dan And in the bathroom outside the Bison dressing room where he told me about being signed to a label, life on the road, and how real dog barks made it onto their sophomore release, Quiet Earth.

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If you like noise rock and you live in or near New York City, the next week-and-a-half will melt your genitals clean off. You read right.

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Like my e-comrade Vince, I too am planning to check out Canadian stoner/doom/mammal metallurgists Bison B.C. at tomorrow night’s CMJ Metal Blade/Relapse/Lifeforce showcase at Knitting Factory (Also playing: Psyopus, Tombs, This Or The Apocalypse, Left To Remain). Now if, like me, the very thought of CMJ causes you to break out in painful hives and cold sweats, the next chance for New Yorkers to see Bison B.C. will be as part of the all-day long (4pm – 4am, apparently) Beasts Of The East festival (tickets here) on November 2nd at Club Europa in Brooklyn.

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What do you think of Bison B.C.? There’s been some rumblings in the underground lately about these Canadian younguns’ sophomore album Quiet Earth (Metal Blade) but I’ve yet to really give it a fair shake. What I’ve heard from their MySpace page sounds like pretty good stoner metal to me, but I’m not entirely sold yet. More than a few folks I know have said I need to seriously check out this record, and I’ll be privy to their live show in only two days; so the verdict is out.

So… What do YOU think of Bison BC?

-VN