New Track from The Ocean's upcoming Pelagial Record

Thanks to blabbermouth.net for posting these. I cannot wait for Pelagial - The Ocean (sometimes known as The Ocean Collective) became one of my favorite bands a couple of years ago when I discovered 2004's Fluxion. After chewing on that record for about a year I dove in and bought everything else the band had done. I loved all of it and constantly marveled at the versatility with which Robin Straps and crew turned any conventions associated with heavy music on their ear without ever sacrificing the 'raging slab' factor of the art. Then in 2010 the group put out two records - Heliocentric and Anthropocentric. They are an examination of religion, but not in the typical metal fashion. Both of those records - which saw the group with a new vocalist - are absolute masterpieces that transcend any genre trappings even more than the group already had. I can't say this enough, they are amazing. Fans of Mike Patton and Faith No More may especially want to look into them (they even had the amazing packaging for both records designed by long-time Patton art designer Martin Kvamme).

New Alice in Chains - Stone

New album God Put Dinosaurs Here out May 28th!

New Empire of the Sun - Alive

Not really where my head is at right now, but I dig the little I've heard from these guys. Saturday night with friends and cocktails music.

Cloud Nothings live @ that place in the desert

My friend Jacob turned me onto the Cloud Nothings back in October of last year via their Steve Albini-helmed record Attack On Memory. It made my top ten records of 2012.

SNL - Rubbish for Thatcher

I haven't watched SNL since before Phil Hartmen died. I see an occasional skit here or there though, if word of mouth is good. During a recent text conversation with Mr. Brown he suggested I'd like this one, and I do, quite a bit.

RIP Chi Cheng, Bassist for the Deftones

image courtesy of love4chicheng.tumblr.com

How to Destroy Angels out in the Desert

While HTDA's first full-length release Welcome Oblivion disappointed me a bit when I purchased it and found most of the contents of their previous EP on it, I still really like the band. I love pretty much everything Mr. Reznor has ever done and Atticus Ross is just a freakin' genius, has been since I learned to spell his name back when Barry Adamson's MASTERPIECE As Above, So Below came out and I rabidly memorized the liner notes as it left its first of many deep, invigorating impressions on my soul.

Anyway...

Every image I've seen of HTDA live has been a thing of beauty - their stage lighting/set-up is nothing short of amazing and looks as though it would fit their music perfectly. Thanks to Pitchfork for linking this, hopefully more will surface.

And despite the disappointment, Welcome Oblivion is still a great piece of music.