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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A couple of weeks back we reported on the sudden glut of U.S. metal festivals this year, the latest of which is the MetalSucks-sponsored Planet Caravan 2-day metal festival being held in Asheville, NC this September. Quick refresher: Clutch, Pentagram, Kylesa, Burst (first and last U.S. tour ever!), Wino and many others. Today we’re thrilled to announce that the already strong bill has gotten that much stronger with a slew of heavyweight bands added: Tombs, The Gates of Slumber, Zoroaster, Bison B.C., Sourvein, doom kings/queen Salome, and friends of MetalSucks Hull and Battilus, the latter 3 of which will be touring the U.S. together around that time. All of the newly added acts will perform on the also-newly added second stage, right next door to the Orange Peel mainstage at Mo Daddy’s.

If you live anywhere close to North Carolina, how can you even consider not going to this event? It’s going to be a fucking rager. Tickets are on sale here or at the Orange Peel box office.

-VN

Our hetero life partners are Metal Injection have captured some typically testicle-tickling footage of Genghis Tron, Tombs, Wetnurse and Black Anvil at a recent “Show No Mercy” gig – the concert writer Brandon Stosuy puts on in Brooklyn one Sunday out of every month.

Here’s a sample – more specifically, Genghis Tron performing one of my most favoritist songs of theirs, “Ride the Steambolt.” Go here to check out more awesome clips of GT as well as Tombs, Wetnurse and Black Anvil!

-AR

You read right, blog patron. For the mere cost of a compact disc, you can secure for yourself MILLIONS in return. But don’t thank Barack Obama for this imminent stimulus opportunity. Instead, thank the folks at Seventh Rule, the impressive indie that brought us Wetnurse, Light Yourself On Fire and now: Millions.

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The infuriating thing about Tombs’ Relapse debut, Winter Hours, at least for a man in my profession, is that it’s hard to quantify why it’s so good. The band’s solid mishmash of genres begs for praise, but as a thick, layered listen, it’s hard to do said praising. Does one touch upon the aforementioned genre-bending mishmash, Winter Hours‘ compact yet haunting presentation, or not lapsing into the masturbatory reverb and feedback drone metal exercises like their hometown (Brooklyn) may imply? Perhaps the album’s greatness lies in that it can’t be pinned down, that it survives and flourishes on its own merits as opposed to thriving within a definite category. Not that it’s bad to thrive under a particular label, but sometimes the unquestioned triumph of the gut is just as resounding as, say, Blut aus Nord making an exceptional black metal record. Though in a time when metal comment boards are reducing every band to the greatest band ever or a total “shit band,” the most important thing you need to know about Winter Hours is that it’s really, really good.

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Also, I don’t really understand the appeal of Tombs. I know they’re the hot shit right now so I guess I’ll hafta file ‘em under the “bands I just don’t get” column.

ANYWAY, Pitchfork.TV debuted the band’s new video, and I can say this: I think it’s very well shot, especially since I’m assuming they had a very, very limited budget. I wish the editing were a little more rhythmic, but since I’m not a fan of the band, this video really isn’t for me, so all the Tombs fans/would-be Spielbergs can tell me why I’m wrong in the comments section below.

-AR

So. You may or may not recall that, a few weeks back, for the first time ever, five females won the Completely Unreadable Band Logo contest. Dubbing them “The Slipknot Five,” I wrote that “since I’ve never had a girlfriend who was actually into metal, I’m hoping at least one them e-mails me with a marriage proposal. Fingers crossed.”

Well, lo and behold, one of those ladies, Ms. Stacey Watrobski, did, in fact, e-mail me with a marriage proposal, and even included a link to her MySpace page so I could see that she didn’t, in her words, “look like one of those broads from Kittie.” Stacey then scolded me for never promoting shows outside the NYC area; I, in turn, promised to promote any show outside NYC that she asked me to, seeing as we’re now engaged n’ all.

Well, now Stacey has a show she wants to promote, so I’m here to help. But rather than try and write something about said show, I’m just going to let her tell you about it:

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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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