Although I’m obviously somewhat biased, it is my firm belief that Meek is Murder’s Algorithms is one of the best albums of the year, and it’s stayed in my regular rotation pretty much since the band first let me hear this past winter. It is also my firm belief that Meek is Murder live is an INCREDIBLE experience. I’ve seen them… sheesh… I dunno now. I’ve lost count. But I’ve never had anything less than a 110% awesome time. And I still get excited every time I have a chance to se them.

The band is kicking off a six-date tour tonight in Brooklyn; then they’ll head down south this weekend. Three of these shows are with East of the Wall, who are also an INCREDIBLE live band — like “Holy shit I can’t believe this” incredible — so if you have a chance to go one of these gigs and you miss it, you should commit sepuku, for you have shamed your ancestors.

Dates are after the jump!

Click to read more…

Regular MetalSucks readers already know Empyreon; featuring Meek is Murder drummer Frank Godla (although it’s worth noting that they sound nothing like Meek is Murder), they’re one of NYC’s finest melodic death metal acts, and were on our free NYC Sucks comp earlier this year. And while we eagerly await their new full-length next year, the band has blessed us with a little taste in the form of a demo of “No Peace No Light,” which you can check out here.

Even in such rough demo song, it’s a prime example of why we love this band so much, and why we’re so stoked for their new full-length. It’s heavy, it’s fast, it’s catchy, and it’s fucking EPIC. Seriously, make sure you check that shit out.

While we continue to wait impatiently for the band’s new album, they’ll be opening next week’s New York stop of the currently-in-progress Firewind/Arsis/White Wizzard/Nightrage tour. We’re giving away two free pairs of tickets here; you can also buy a special ticket package from the band, which includes a copy of the new single and some sweet swag, right here.

-AR

I was listening to an interview with Sarah Vowell last weekend, in which she proclaimed that, as a writing exercise, she did not allow herself to use any F-bombs in her new book, Unfamiliar Fishes. I decided to do her one better this week — I did not swear at all. Unless you count “crap,” “drek,” or “sucks” as swear words, which I do not.

So that was fun.

ANYWAY, here’s some stuff we did this week:

• We debuted new music from All Shall Perish and Thou.
• We debuted new videos from Valient Thorr and Meek is Murder.
• Unearth’s Buz McGrath, Hatebreed’s Wayne Lozinak, and In Flames’ Peter Iwers told us about their live rigs.
• We spoke to Aaron Turner from Isis and Helms Alee.
• We checked out new releases from The Bronx Casket Co. and Bedlam of Cacophony.
• Even though Dime would never approve, we made fun of some poor kid.
• We continued to sing Spotify’s praises.
• We voted on our favorite album from The Devin Townsend Project.
• We were sexually aroused by the prospect of Disturbed breaking-up.
• We wondered whether or not the return of Megadeth’s Gigantour is a good thing or not.

Alright, we’re out. Have a nice weekend, gang!

-AR

That’s right, kids: experimental grind maniacs Meek is Murder are hitting the road today for back-to-back with tours, first with the awesome Fuck the Facts, and then with the equally awesome Tiger Flowers. And to celebrate, the band has handed us a new music video, for the track “Recursions,” off their most recent album, Algorithms. The clip — which marks the directorial debut of drummer Frank Godla — is by dirty, lo-fi, evil, and tongue-in-cheek… in other words, a perfect representation of Meek is Murder’s music.

Check out the clip below; you can also watch a behind-the-scenes video, which discusses both the song and the narrative of the video, here. After the jump, get all upcoming Meek is Murder tour dates, with both Fuck the Facts and Tiger Flowers. And don’t forget that Algorithms is now available for download via both iTunes and Amazon!

Here are those tour dates…

Click to read more…

A rip-roaring good time was had at our inaugural South by South Death show in Austin, TX this past March; Kvelertak, Havok, Red Fang, Wormot and Meek is Murder packed Headhunters on Red River St. and kept the energy level high throughout the afternoon. We posted Roxwel.com-filmed video footage of Red Fang, Havok and Wormrot’s sets here, and now, for your viewing pleasure, we give you Kvelertak and Meek is Murder. You can also check out an interview segment with all five bands here.

Meek Is Murder at South By South Death 2011
Watch Music Videos at www.roxwel.com

Kvelertak, after the jump. And HOLY SHIT did they kill it, getting that entire room into a frenzied mosh:

Click to read more…

They came, they rocked, they conquered: Kvelertak, Havok, Red Fang, Wormrot and Meek is Murder played our inaugural South by South Death show at this year’s SXSW and a jolly old time was had. On Tuesday we showed you a wrap video featuring clips of performances and interviews with all five bands, and today we give you several songs each of the performances by Red Fang, Havok and Wormrot (tomorrow: Kvelertak and Meek is Murder). All of this fine multi-camera /soundboard footage was provided by sponsor Roxwel.com, consistent purveyors of excellent live metal videos; thanks dudes!

Havok at South By South Death 2011
Watch Music Videos at www.roxwel.com

Red Fang and Wormrot after the taco.

Click to read more…

No longer do you have to take our written word for it; thanks to South By South Death 2011 sponsors Roxwel.com you can now see first-hand just how much fun we had at our inaugural SXSW showcase with Kvelertak, Red Fang, Havok, Wormrot and Meek is Murder. Roxwel did an incredible job capturing all the madness with multiple cameras, soundboard audio and interviews with all the bands, and now we relay said madness to you, oh faithful MetalSucks reader.

The first installment is a wrap-up video featuring clips of performances and interviews with every band on the bill; it sets the stage nicely for all the full songs Roxwel filmed from each band, which we’ll post in the coming days.

South By South Death 2011 Recap
Watch Music Videos at www.roxwel.com

Were you at Meek is Murder’s album release party last Thursday in Brooklyn with East of the Wall? No? You shoulda been… place was packed to the gills and the dudes fucking brought it. Kip W. was moshing and even body-slammed some poor kid into the floor. Axl was moshing, too… in his head.

The 50 super-sweet limited edition, hand-painted CDs Meek is Murder put together for Algorithms — which came out last Tuesday — sold out quickly, but that doesn’t mean you still can’t buy a high-quality 320kbps digital download for just $5. Who sells albums for $5? MetalSucks does, that’s who, because we love you. There are also t-shirt + download packages for just $15 if you’re feeling like being fashionable in the coming weeks, months and years. Order here.

In case $5 is a tough pill to swallow, we offer you a “try before you buy” policy in the form of a free stream of the entire record, below! But only for the next 24 hours. So get to listening before it’s too late.

[sorry, this streaming promo is over. buy the album for just $5!]

So as it turns out, Periphery have a rather sizable online following. Hm. Who knew?

ANYWAY, here’s how we amused ourselves this week:

• We debuted new music by the aforementioned Periphery, as well as Meek is Murder.
• Gwar’s Oderus Urungus answered some more reader questions, and we spoke to Fredrik Andersson from Amon Amarth.
• We checked out the latest releases from Drugs of Faith and Throatruiner Records.
• We reported on all the awesome metalocity at SXSW.
• We wondered if metalheads support gay marriage.
• We offered a retort to Sumerian Records head honcho Ash Avilldsen’s anti-piracy argument.
• We started the “Best of 2011″ argumentswwwaaaaayyyy early.
• We watched the best school assembly ever.
• We wondered why good musicians join terrible bands.
• We steeled ourselves for the release of the worst album of the year.

Alright, have a good frakin’ weekend everyone! See ya Monday.

-AR

[Read my recaps of Day One and Day Two. -Ed.]

The always-wise Antonin Skullia Esq. said to me on Friday that there’s no such thing as a “first annual,” just a “first ever.” Indeed. So please don’t think I’m gloating when I say that the first ever MetalSucks SXSW event South by South Death was a big success and surely worthy of creating a “second annual.” Meek is Murder, Wormrot, Red Fang, Havok and Kvelertak teamed up for for an excellent day of headbanging, beer-swilling, and sweaty, dirty metal in the cramped punk-rock confines of Headhunters.

And for the night-cap, the definitive most metal of non-metal bands: Chrome-E-Oh. Ohhhhh ohhh!

Click to read more…

[Read my Day One recap here. -Ed.]

If Kvelertak aren’t rich men by the time they release their next album they’ll have seriously blown it. Based solely on the power of their incredible live performances at SXSW, the first of which took place Thursday afternoon inside Emo’s at the annual MS-sponsored Full Metal Texas event, these six Norwegians had major U.S. record labels drooling, kissing the ground they walk on, drinking their piss, shoveling poop down their own throats and throwing gobs of money at them. Expect a major bidding war to erupt over Kvelertak; it’ll be interesting to see where their next album lands. But the truth is, it’s all deserved; Kvelertak RIPPED. Video after the jump!

Day 2 of SXSW also featured the live debut of T.R.A.M., an improvizational jazz/metal supergroup featuring Animals as Leaders’ Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes, Suicidal Tendencies drummer Eric Moore, and former Mars Volta saxophone player Adrian Terrazas at the WSOU showcase (along with Ultrageist and Meek is Murder). We also caught performances by Goes Cube, Yob and The Red Chord at Full Metal Texas.

Click to read more…

AT LAST!!! We first offered to play a part in the distribution of Meek is Murder’s Algorithms last summer, before we’d heard a single note of a single demo — such was our faith that this incredible band would make something truly memorable. And they haven’t disappointed. With the aide of the masterful Kurt Ballou as their producer/mixer, Meek is Murder have now delivered what Decoy Music recently called “a banger” that is “packed with energy and charisma.”

And now you can hear for yourself — ’cause Algorithms is out today! We’re streaming the entire thing below, so you know we’re not full of shit when we tell you that this album rules. And once you hear that we’re not full of shit, you can order the album here. The limited edition CDs are all sold out, but you can still get a high-quality digital download for just $5, or a download and t-shirt combo for just $15!

And now, with any further ado, we present to you Meek is Murder’s Algorithms. TURN THAT SHIT UP LOUD!

[sorry, this streaming promo is over. buy the album for just $5!]

It’s almost here! Meek is Murder’s Algorithms is almost here! We’re SO FUCKING EXCITED for you all to finally get to hear it… it is going to rip your face off, eat your face, poop out your face, make you eat the poop made from your face, eat the poop you make from eating the poop the album made from eating your face, and then poop it out one more time. It’s that fucking good.

Don’t believe us? Here’s what the critics are saying about the Algorithms:

“Manic, unpredictable, and even a little bit jovial, they’re a colorful headfuck, but they certainly don’t sacrifice brutality in the name of fun.”
-The Village Voice

“This new Brooklyn-based metal band… may have just put out the best metal album of 2011.”
-City’s Best

That’s high praise indeed… but they ain’t lying. And you don’t even have to take their word for it: you can download another new song, “Hope Springs Eternal (Spaghetti Code),” AND read an interview with guitarist/vocalist Mike Keller, right here. Take your socks off before you listen, or you might lose ‘em.

There’s still time to pre-order Meek is Murder’s Algorithms before we release it this coming Tuesday, March 22. It was produced and mixed by the legenary Kurt Ballou! We’ve only got a few copies left of the super-limited-edition CDs that the band personally made, put their actual fingerprints on, and sprayed with drummer Frank Godla’s cologne, so order one of those immediately if you want it, ’cause once it’s gone, it’s gone. But you can always get the digital download or the digital download and t-shirt package.

And the band is still on tour! Get dates after the jump… or just download their free app for your iPhone, iPod touch, and/or iPad.

Click to read more…

I was not aware of the existence of Singlish until just now, when I watched the below video interview that Invisible Oranges‘ Cosmo Lee conducted recently with Wormrot — but I’m not at all surprised that it exists. Are the band’s lyrics in Singlish? I’ve honestly never really paid attention to what front man Arif was screeching, and, kind of unbelievably, I can’t seem to find any of the band’s lyrics online. One way or the other, though, this is pretty interesting stuff.

While we’re on the topic of Wormrot: if you’re at SXSW this week don’t forget that they’re playing MetalSucks’ ABSOLUTELY FREE South by Southdeath party at Headhunters, at 720 Red River, from 2-6pm this Friday, March 18th. Kvelertak, Havok, Red Fang, and Meek is Murder are also on the bill, and Full Blown Chaos’ Ray Mazzola is MCing. It’s gonna be a killer time so be there. And bring some weed for Vince — he does so much for you!

Wormort’s new album, Dirge, will be out May 3 on Earache. I’ve heard it. It will not disappoint you.

-AR

After seeing that Red Fang are streaming a new song, “Dirt Wizard,” over at AP, I Googled the phrase “dirt wizard” to see if it has any special meaning of which I was unaware. But Google assumed I meant “dirty wizard,” which, according to the Urban Dictionary, is actually a sexual act I personally have yet to try:

“When one waves their dick around while saying ‘abracadabra’ and then cums on the girl’s face.”

It can also mean a dude with long, greasy hair. Red Fang probably meant that. That would make more sense for a metal band.

ANYWAY, the song rocks, and you should check it out. It comes off of Red Fang’s new album, Murder the Mountains, which Relapse will release on April 12.

And don’t forget that Red Fang are playing at our absolutey FREE SXSW party, South by Southdeath, from 2-6pm this Friday, March 18th at Headhunters, 720 Red River Street. Kvelertak, Wormrot, and Meek is Murder are also on the bill, and Full Blown Chaos’ Ray Mazzola is MCing. There are probably other SXSW  shows you could go do at this same time, but only if you’re lame. You’re not lame, are you?

-AR

Alright! We’re less than two weeks away from the release of Meek is Murder’s Algorithms. And the band is out on tour now! City’s Best recently encouraged readers to “Catch this upstart new combat unit so you can brag about it when they are taking the metal world by storm a year from now.” That’s obviously high praise, but it’s not B.S. — the band absolutely impales aardvark babies live.

There are tour dates after the jump. Of course, what you could also do instead is just download Meek is Murder’s new FREE app for your iPhone, iPod touch, and/or iPad. It was designed by MiM guitarist/vocalist Mike Keller, whose Clark Kentian persona as a maker of apps disguises his Supermanly prowess as a creator of what Brooklyn Vegan calls “off-kilter hardcore-influenced math-terpieces.” It comes with all the usual goodies (tour schedule with links to buy tickets and the ability to add your show to your calendar and maps, exclusive photos, videos, etc.), but it also comes with a new free song from Algorithms.

Yep. You could be listening to new Meek is Murder music right now!

Download the app here.

Don’t forget that MetalSucks is releasing the  Algorithms on March 22. It was produced and mixed by the legenary Kurt Ballou! We’re already accepting pre-orders here; you can get a digital download, a t-shirt package, or one of the few remaining super-limited-edition CDs that the band personally made, put their actual fingerprints on, and sprayed with drummer Frank Godla’s cologne. No, we are not making this up.

And here are those tour dates again:

Click to read more…

Havok, the neo-thrash band that makes all other neo-thrash bands look bad, have a new album coming out on Candlelight on March 29. It’s called Time is Up. Yes, it’s terrific — if you dug Havok’s 2009 debut, Burn, you will dig this, and if you didn’t hear Burn, you should hear this, and if you didn’t like Burn, go jump in a fire.

I mention this because Metal Injection have a behind-the-scenes video of Havok in the studio making Time is Up. And you should watch it! Here, I’ll make it easy for you:

If you’re going to SXSW next week, don’t forget that Havok are playing MetalSucks’ ABSOLUTELY FREE South by Southdeath party at Headhunters, at 720 Red River, from 2-6pm on Friday, March 18th. Kvelertak, Red Fang, Wormrot, and Meek is Murder are also on the bill, and Full Blown Chaos’ Ray Mazzola, a.k.a. “One of the Funniest Motherfuckers in Metal,” is MCing. Be there.

-AR

Yep, you read that right — Sumerian has signed T.R.A.M., a new supergroup consisting of Animals as Leaders guitarists Tosin Abasi and Javier Reyes, Suicidal Tendencies drummer Eric Moore, and Adrian Terrazas (who used to go by “Adrian Terrazas-González” but whatever), who played flute/sax/bass clarinet/percussions on three albums by The Mars Volta (Frances the Mute, Amputechture, and The Bedlam in Goliath). The band’s moniker, in case you haven’t put it together, is an amalgamation of the last initial of each musicians’ name (For the cheap seats: Terrazas, Reyes, Abasi, Moore).

Click to read more…

When we first started to discuss doing the release for Meek is Murder’s upcoming Algorithms with the band, we suggested they get creative and come up with some kind of cool limited edition compact disc to do in conjunction with the mostly-digital offering.

Well, we had no idea how much creativity and work they’d put into it.

The cover art for each CD is handmade. Instead of signing each disc, each member of the band is putting his actual fingerprint on it. And, oh yeah, drummer Frank Godla is spraying them all with his own personal cologne. Nope, I’m not kidding. Here, check out this video about the making of the CDs:

There’s only 50 of these bad boys being made, so if you want one, get on that ASAP. You can pre-order the CDs, a digital download, or some combination thereof with one of two awesome t-shirt designs, right here. We’re releasing Algorithms on March 22; if you order the CD or a t-shirt, please be aware that it will take 7-14 days after the release date to arrive.

But wait, there’s more! You already know that Meek is Murder (along with Kvelertak, Havok, Red Fang, and Wormrot!!!) are playing South by South Death, the 100% free SXSW day party we’re doing with NARM and Roxwel in association with Metal Insider, right? Well did you know that they’re actually doing a full tour in the days leading up to that show? It’s true! Check out a tour poster and complete itinerary, after the jump. You really, really do not wanna miss these dudes live.

Click to read more…

I don’t have a problem with nerd metal — I mean, to some extent, ALL metal is nerd metal, but what I really mean is, I don’t have a problem with the idea of nerds making metal about computers or other such dorkery. Hell, Meek is Murder’s Algorithms, which we’re very, very happily releasing next month (pre-order it here), deals by and large with computer code. So obviously, I have no problem with metal that draws on such a geeky topic for inspiration.

But it’s only Monday, and I still have to imagine that The Unhandled Exceptions‘ “Random Access Memory” is the worst thing I, you, or anyone either of us knows will hear all week. I mean, I suppose it’s possible that Johnny Plague and Frankie Palmeri could release a new duet cover of “Close My Eyes Forever,” but it would still be a million times better than this. (Actually, come to think of it, I really, really hope that Plague and Palmeri do just that. I know for a fact that people who work with the band read this website; fellas, please make that happen.)

If I thought the band was in on the joke, I might not have any problem with this; but it feels completely, and painfully, sincere. Maybe that just means that they are kidding and they’re more clever than I am, but, uh, no I don’t think so.

You should really check out their website, too, ’cause it provides plenty of additional lulz.

-AR

Thanks to Kurt Hansen for the tip. Kurt promises “to make it up with an excellent suggestion in the future.”