Blasphemosity: 2011 Smoldering Embers First Wave

There is actually a Blasphemosity I recorded in March or April sitting in the can right now, and at some point I'll probably release it.  The main reason I bring this up is the opening track of this cast is the opening track of that cast.  Even more importantly, the opening track Aurora Borealis' "Crucible of Creation" is the opening track on Ron Vento and company's first full length since re-forming, and its free.  Of course, since then Mr. Vento has made the entire Aurora Borealis catalog free and you should go here and check it all out.  Great stuff available there, I highly recommend doing so.

Anyhow, its a good year for blackened Metal.  There really isn't much to say about this cast except its what you should expect, 1 hour of face ripping blackened metal.  It includes some of the final recordings of the Helmkamp/Read project Kerasphorus, a track from Enslaved's newest completely free EP, and I'll introduce you to a Progressive Black/Death troupe from Rochester, MI called Einheuser.  All 2011 tunes, all from albums worth checking out.   Listen today, suffer bangover tomorrow.

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Blasphemosity: 2011 Smoldering Embers First Wave

Part I:

Aurora Borealis (US-MD) - Crucible of Creation - The Beginning and End of Everything - 2011

(Aurora Borealis Official Free Discography)

Kerasphorus (US-CA) - Through the Spiral Void - Necronaut (EP) - 2011

Spearhead (UK) - Autocrater - Theomachia - 2011

Ravencult (Grc) - Morbid Blood - Morbid Blood - 2011

Part II:

Marduk (Swe) - Wacht Am Rhein: Drumbeats of Death - Iron Dawn (EP) - 2011

Sacrilegious Impalement (Fin) - Wolves of the Black Moon - II - Exalted Spectres - 2011

Anaal Nathrakh (UK) - Drug-Fucking Abomination - Passion - 2011

Part III:

Enslaved (Nor) - Alu Mysirki - The Sleeping Gods (EP) - 2011 - FREE!

Torchbearer (Swe) - Coffin-Shaped Heart - Death Meditations - 2011

Einheuser (US-MI) - Whispering Insanity - Einheuser - 2011

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Sucking the 70's: July 2011

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A very special "Sucking the 70's" this month, at least for the Marquette area, as last week there was a big Rock/Metal announcement by the real only local music venue not located in a house ;-), my employer Upfront & Company in Marquette, that the national tour of Weedeater (Southern Lord), Saviours (Kemado) Bison BC (Metal Blade), Fight Amp (Translation Loss) would be making it a stop.  Its a special ALL AGES show on September 18th (Sunday), tickets are $10 in advance (here - (906)228-5200) or $12 at the door.  I've driven farther and paid more for a lesser show.  You can preview all the bands on this tour in the first set.

Really this is bigger news for Marquette than some people may realize.  When I was a teen I heard all these stories about Ozzy, Kiss, etc coming and playing Lakeview Arena in the 80's.  Well, I personally remember Def Leppard played there about 15ish years ago.  However, since then, other than a few shows by NAE (who I has fallen victim to playing to the hip-hop monoculture way too often) and First Aid Productions (which has some good people helping out, but I still wonder if they haven't lost the vision of the founders), Marquette has been fairly devoid of any touring Rock/Metal band not travelling completely under the radar (the Upfront does get some very interesting acts including many who have releases on major labels).  There are two big reasons for this, one being the advent of the casino shows in the U.P. (which other than not being in Marquette I can only see as a good thing), and the simple fact that in general entertainer fees have gone up over the last 20 years, but our wages have not.  So Marquette isn't going to be booking Nickelback or Colplay very soon (not going to rule out NAE, but I still guess they don't travel the road of Rock), and that's fine.   Odds are you aren't going to see too many washed up rockers in Marquette either.

However, I know a town that still eats up live music when it can.  Small groups that you can't target every week, but spaced out over time and with many niche groups it can be very profitable.  The advent of the internet has given niche fans more exposure to their music than ever, and that gives those that book shows an opportunity to look at more up and coming artists, and artists that don't have the benefit of RIAA promotional/radio backing (even Sirius Liquid Metal hardly steps outside the RIAA umbrella).   A successful Weedeater show will allow more tours of all genres to come to Marquette, this is an opportunity to remind the Rock World that Marquette still rocks and that bands should want to come here.

Enough of that though, lots of good stuff this month outside of the Weedeater Tour Preview.  New music from Wino's newest project Premonition 13, some early 70's Swedish (or German Rock no I'm not kidding, I have conflicting reports) from a band that (once again) has almost no information available, I'll introduce some more great Michigan Stoner/doom, and of course, its July so the most appropriate tune from Bongzilla in the 4:20 Smokedown.   So get your utensil packed and ready to go, its time for July's Sucking the 70's.

Sucking the 70’s July 2011

Part I

The Grand Astoria (Rus) - Doomsday Party - Omnipresence - 2011

Weedeater Tour Preview!!!

Saviours (US-CA) - Slave to the Hex - Accelerated Living - 2009
Fight Amp (US-MA) - Faith in Man - Manners and Praise - 2009
Bison BC (Can) - Two Day Booze - Dark Ages - 2010 (Only $8)
Weedeater (US-NC) - Mancoon - Jason... the Dragon - 2011

Part II

Sucking the 70’s: 4:20 Smokedown

Bongzilla (US-WI) - Amerijuanican - Amerijuanican - 2005
PSA from Dr. Nophun Anslinger
Acid Bath (US-LA) - Tranquilized - When the Kite String Pops - 1994

Part III

Sucking the 70’s: Flashback Tracks

Propeller (Swe or Ger?) - Let it Rock, Let if Roll - Let Us Live Together - 1971
Orange Goblin (UK) - Just Got Paid (ZZ Top) - Thieving From The House Of God - 2004

Part IV

Sucking the 70's: Devil's Harvest

Buffalo Witch (US-MI) - Titan Death - Buffalo Witch - 2011
Enoch (US-NC) - The Fickle Whims of the Almighty - The Hierophant - 2011
Premonition 13 (US-MD) - Deranged Rock n' Roller - 13 - 2011

Viking Skull (UK) - Crazy Truckers - Heavy Metal Thunder - 2010

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From the Depths: Independence Day - The Metal of Anti-War

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Well, I started with the idea of making a podcast full of "protest" Metal, and well, I succeeded, but it ended up being a far more narrow focus than initially intended.  It's funny that a genre of music that contains music referred to as "War Metal" could be so very much anti-war, but from the earliest days of heavy music the angst of war has played an important role.  Some of you may be thinking, why would you highlight war protest around the celebration of U.S. independence?  The answer is simple.  I view Independence Day as  a time to absolutely celebrate the historical accomplishments of our nation, but also a time to reflect on our shortcomings.  Unnecessary war is definitely one of those shortcomings (and I'm not innocent in my support for what I now view as unnecessary war).  You will hear a lot from Paul Speckmann in this hour, which really shouldn't surprise you.  Speckmann has always been very anti-Corporo-fascist/anti-war and very critical of our nation, so much so that legendary U.S. Death Metal troupe Master is now based out of the Czech Republic.  I respect Speckmann's music and I respect his actions even more.

This show is going to be a lot more diverse than most "From the Depths," as there are definitely some tunes better fitted for "The Mercyful Metal Onslaught" or "Sucking the 70's," however, it was necessary to cover the bases in (anti-) war themed heavy music.

From the Depths: Independence Day - The Metal of Anti-War
Click Band Name for Homepage/Facebook/Myspace - Click Album Title for Recommended Place to Purchase

Part I:

Master (US-IL) - America the Pitiful - On the 7th Day God Created Master - 1991

Suck (S.A.) - War Pigs (Black Sabbath) - Time to Suck - 1971
Sodom (Ger) - Ausgebombt - Agent Orange - 1989
Armor Column (US-NY) - Where There's a War, There's a Way - Maximum Collateral Damage - 2011
Sample from Uncle Sam dir. William Lustig (Isaac Hayes)
Abomination (US-IL) - Blood for Oil - Tragedy Strikes - 1991

Part II:

Master (US-IL) - Pledge of Allegiance - Master - 1990
Death (US-FL) - Altering the Future - Spiritual Healing - 1990
Napalm Death (U.K.) - Suffer the Children - Harmony Corruption - 1990
Death (US-FL) - Lack of Comprehension (PWP Apocalypse Re-mix)*
Sinister (Hol) - Men Down - Afterburner - 2006

Ghoul (US-CA) - What a Wonderful World - Maniaxe - 2003

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Credits:

*This track is Perpetual Winter Productions re-mix taken from the 2011 Relapse Records re-issue of Human.  The base is the instrumental tracks from "Lack of Comprehension" re-mixed (and shortened) with samples from the 1983 Post-Nuclear Apocalyptic scare flick "The Day After."  I'm actually pretty surprised some of these samples aren't more widely used.

Cover:
Public Domain use posters provided by Northwestern University Library

Title: Wanted! for murder: her careless talk costs lives
Call Number: W3. 46/1: T14/ 19
Url: http://digital.library.northwestern.edu/wwii-posters/img/ww0207-80.jpg

Title: The United States army : then--now--forever
Call Number: 355.22309 W884u
Url:  http://digital.library.northwestern.edu/wwii-posters/img/ww0207-10.jpg