Downfall of Gaia / Vestiges

Starting today Germany's Downfall of Gaia and Virginia / D.C's Vestiges are going to be touring the east coast. Later on next year both bands are going to be doing a tour of Europe and I heard they are supposed to be doing a split too. Fuck yes.

Downfall of Gaia is an amazing crust band. Super heavy, kind of dirty, kind of epic, 100% badass. They have a pretty unique sound because they can be really punk and heavy and then flip it and be all melodic and epic and shit. Overall they tend to stay more on the epic side of the spectrum. I can hear alot of post-rock influence in their tracks. I always love it when heavy bands get a little posty. It looks like their songs tend to be kind of long, which is cool.

Vestiges are just straight up heavy as fuck. Kind of doomy, really metal and melodic, Vestiges don't really seem to be too punk, musically, but instead are living comfortably on the melodic side of the whole heaviest thing you have heard spectrum. They have punk parts though. And a good bit of nice semi-atmospheric post-rock parts. This shit is kind of really evil at times. I havn't heard heavy stuff that was this good in a really long time. Very tastefully organized, and the recording quality is superb.

So yeah, seeing as both these bands are going to be hitting the road together I thought I would give them some much needed attention to attempt to assist in promoting their tour(s), not that they need it though. Both groups are fairly popular, and for good reason: they are amazing. I go to school with one of the Vestiges dudes and he is kind of the man. Obviously, that lil flier thing up there at the top are their dates, and for more specific locations you can check their respective websites and stuff. I know the dates are on facebook. Speeking of facebook, if you are around Maryland you should come to their show in Baltimore, it's going to be a good time. The info and stuff is here.

Below is everything both bands have put out, to the best of my knowledge. There might be a Vestiges demo or something, I don't really know, but homeboy just wanted me to throw their two most recent releases up. I'm pretty sure I have all of Downfall's available material. When both of these bands put new stuff out I will be sure to snag em and share em. Go try and catch this tour. Support these guys in any way you can. You can buy both band's material in a slew of places online, but I would suggest you get that shit on tour so they can get that gas money.

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----- VESTIGES -----




The Descent of Man


Vestiges / Ghaust


Casa de Diversion Compilation


Sonic Cathedrals Mixtape Series Volume X



----- DOWNFALL OF GAIA -----




Demo


Downfall of Gaia / In The Hearts of Emperors


Epos


Salvation in Darkness Tour CD-R



Downfall of Gaia / Kazan

Innards / Reptilian Split

Alright so check it, so many of my boys got together and did a lil split. Black With Sap are one of the labels who are putting this joint out, so go snag that fucking pre-order boyyyyy.

Two songs from each band. Both have been Chug'd already, so if you are not in the loop like a dumb motherfucker then you can check the old posts. Honestly, if you have never bumped both of these bands you are behind the fucking times. Real talk. Some of the realest in the game. G.A.M.E.

Also, Innards and The Reptilian are gonna be doin a lil west coast tour next week. I think The Reptrillian are already on the road? Maybe? Actually no they don't dip til after XXXMASXXX. The dates are here. After Innards get off the Reptiles are gonna be touring with a band from Milwaukee who I heard has some beef with your boy. Right?

Anyways, download this shit. Buy this shit. Love this shit. Go check out their bangin ass tour on the west coast. Support the Trillian when they are without Innards if you can go see em. Also, on the real, you can get 424/7 from Innards on tour, you know you know. $$$$$$. Any by the by, don't buy your friends shitty xmas gifts. Buy your boys and girl-boys a bottle, or a fat fuckin sack or a record. Everyone needs a new piece. Fuck all these gift cards and shit, get real.




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Reptilian / Innards

I Have Dreams

Oh shit, look at that. Its three days 'til Christmas. I Have Dreams were an oldschool emotional post-hardcore band from the '90s. I don't know where they were from. Last.Fm told me this:

I Have Dreams was a screamo/emo band born from the ashes of a band called New Ethic, when their guitar player Daniel died in a car accident. New Ethic played their last show in August, 1998 with Daniel’s best friend Mike Hanson in his place, and it was about a month or two later that I Have Dreams started playing. The band consisted of Allen Compton and Mike Peters on vocals, Mike Hanson on guitar, Ben Seals on bass and Clayton Rychlick on drums.

I Have Dreams were more than a band - in the words of Mike Peters: “It was an attempt to cope with the pain everyone was feeling after Daniel’s death.”

I Have Dreams were together for roughly six months, and they broke up in the Spring (around April/May) of 1999.

I don't know what the deal is with buying their stuff. I would imagine it is hard to find their one release. Below is their only album with a remastered version. Check out the dope live set. Oh yea:

"I don't imagine you and I walking in the sun or holding hands anymore, but I can see your name burning in the stars and in the same sky I once floated above in. Now I can't look at the picture any longer, so I gave it back to you with a note attached saying how I felt. Do you remember that day we cried on your floor? Well I haven't stopped crying since. So where are your promises now? Your promises of forever and everything else. Not quite a fairytale ending. You have caused me the most pain I have ever felt in my life." - I Don't Imagine You And I Anymore

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Three Days 'Til Christmas


Three Days 'Til Christmas Remaster

Todos Caerán

I joined a cult. One of these dudes is also a member. Mad respect is deserved due to the amount of splits Todos Caerán has out. Canadian Skrumz from Canada. Sounds pretty dope, doing the whole heavy melodic thing. Listen to their shit in chronological order because you can hear how they matured and stuff. I like their side of the split with Mahria alot. The split with Gumilinski fucking rules because Gumilinski are the shit. Heard of this band before the cult, but I never really listened to them a whole lot. Sleeping alot. Below is all of their stuff, so download it and check out all the bands they work with. Get some money and buy their stuff.




Also, uh, I have more time on my hands for the next few days so I want to pay more attention to Chug. Half the reason I havn't been doing much is because I havn't been that stoked on anything. I check out blogs sometimes but alot of the stuff I see is the same stuff that is in my inbox. Vain, maybe, but I don't want to post stuff thats on a shit ton of other blogs. I'd rather just bang Screw.


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After Dark


Todos Caerán / Gumilinski


Todos Caerán / Mahria


Todos Caerán / Bears


Self Titled Tape


¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!/ Lizards Have Personalities / Todos Caeran / Book of Caverns

¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!

¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! is a screamy band from Madrid, Spain. Homeboy says their influences are bands like Ampere and Tristan Tzara, which is aparent. I slept on this band for way too long, even though I guess they have only been around for a few months. Feel like I see their name everywhere.

I downloaded their demo around the time it came out after it was recommended to me, and I can't remember if I dug it or not. This band fell into my lap when I wasn't really kicking it on the computer so I never gave them a real good listen. They poped up again when they did that four way split with Lizards Have Personalities and again, glossed over it but had other shit going on at the time. Then they just put out a split on Bear Records, saw it and was interested but never followed up on it.

Shit is dope though. Their new split is pretty bangin, both sides actually. They are doing a good job with executing different dynamics and stuff in their songs, like the flow is good from part to part and the riffs are normally pretty good or interesting. Harsh vocals, which don't always work on lower quality recordings, sound real good on these. The chill parts are real chill. I enjoy these albums because they do spazzy and stuff well and they also do the whole driving/semi-melodic thing thing really well too, but the key is that they execute their songs in a way that is neither predictable or boring. Sometimes you can listen to a song and guess most of the parts that are coming up, you know, but I feel like SAS keeps it interesting in terms of overall structure. Perfect example = "Lamentos Pretéritos" off of the split with Descubriendo a Mr.Mime.

Solid band. Download all their stuff. Buy what you can (BEAR RECORDS) and support them/their affiliated labels and distros. Watch this video too.


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Demo


4 Way Split - ¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio!/ Lizards Have Personalities / Todos Caeran / Book of Caverns


¡Silencio, Ahora, Silencio! / Descubriendo a Mr.Mime

More Loma Prieta & Punch

Alot of buzz about Loma Prieta recently. They got signed to Deathwish, who are putting out their upcoming fully "I.V.", and are currently finishing up a tour of the states. Some of those new songs are floating around the internet and stuff. Pretty sure CMHWAK radio got like an exclusive track or something.

Since Loma has been so hot in the collective unconcious as of late I was checking up on them, gettin the haps, when I realized how much I have been slacking on my Loma game. First of all, found the Punch split which is pretty really dope. Secondly, realized that Life/Less wasn't even on here, so I felt obligated to correct that error. Also, Punch has an LP out which we haven't posted yet, so that is going down too. And another EP. I'm not as into Punch as Carlo is so I would have figured he would cover all the Punch stuff. Homeboy was slippin, but its okay because Daddys home now. Needless to say all this music is good, bro. Buy it after you try it, bro.

I'm kind of really bummed because Loma is playing Portland right now, and I'm just baking on my couch watching NOVA and eating my third and fourth can of Chef Boyardee of the day. I don't know if they are going to be in Seattle tomorrow but it doesn't even matter because I have school all night. Growing up sucks.



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Loma Prieta / Punch Split


Life/Less


Push Pull


Nothing Lasts

Pygmy Lush at Golden West Cafe 11/1/11 + MEGAPOST

Most of you are probably very familiar with Pygmy Lush by now. The project has grown to be the most popular of any post Pg. 99 project. In a career that now spans three full length albums and 4 years, as well as tours with groups like Des Ark and Ghastly City Sleep, Pygmy Lush's steady output and presence has made them a mainstay in the DIY scene which most of them have been a part of for over twenty years.

They are infamous for their "loud" and "quiet" sets, with fans often left wondering which band they will see that night - a loud, raucous rock and roll band, or a dynamic folk group. 2007's Bitter River, their debut record showcased both the band's distinctive, and very different, sounds. Lately, the band has embraced mainly their folky side. Their last two LP's contain no "loud" songs, but their excellent offering on their side of 2009's split with Turboslut showcases some of their best material, both loud and soft. Their newest offering, 2011's Old Friends was recorded with Des Ark's Aimee Argote serving as a back up singer/musician on a few of the songs (she is pictured in the photo of the group above), and may be their best recording yet.

Tuesday night's show in Baltimore at the Golden West Cafe on 36th St. came on the heels of an all day recording session with J. Robbins of Jawbox fame. The band was apparently recording a version of "Serve The Servants" for a Nirvana tribute compilation. I missed the first band, Big Mouth, so I can't really say anything about them. Bad Biology played next, a really great kind of grimy, rock and rolly hardcore band featuring members of a couple of other Baltimore bands. It was their first show in about 6 months.

Pygmy Lush headlined, and played mostly material from Old Friends, and opened with the album's excellent first song, "Yellow Hall", a kind of demented sea shanty that translates beautifully to the live stage. They also played "Asphalt", the most instantly recognizable Pygmy Lush song, as well as "Big Black River" from Bitter River upon request from the crowd as an encore.

It was by far the best set I've ever seen the band play, loud or soft. They seemed to be truly enjoying themselves; as they jammed away on the last two songs of their set you could see smiles breaking out on their faces. After the show, Chris Taylor said that they felt liberated by the freedom of playing live after being in the studio all day - they could embrace their mistakes and just have fun. It was certainly visible to everyone in attendance.

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Bitter River (2007)



Mount Hope (2008)



Pygmy Lush/Turboslut Split (2009)



Old Friends (2011)



Cold World/Guilt 7" (2011)

OTHER SHIT

Homegrown (B-sides and demos circa Mount Hope)

In A Hole (Live Set 10/24/09, Richmond, VA)

Original blog post from Robotic Empire containing In A Hole recording

Shikari

Legendary screamo band from The Netherlands. Heavy as fuck. Not to ever be confused with Enter Shikari. Shikari's full discography is below.



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Shikari 7" (Deadman)


Shikari / Acao Direta Split 7"


Shikari / Louise Cyphre Split 9"


Shikari / Phoenix Bodies Split 7"


Shikari / Seeinred Split 7"


Robot Wars


1999 - 2003

Pianos Become The Teeth - The Lack Long After

Hot off the fucking press. I think. This came out either today or yesterday. Probably yesterday. I saw a video they made (or someone made for them) for their song "I'll Be Damned", and figured this album would be pretty dope. I gotta bounce out in like 20 minutes so I'm listening for the first time while I'm writing this. Who does homework anyways?

So far this album is pretty much exactly what I expected from Pianos Become The Teeth. His vocals sound a little different to me. A little more angsty than they used to be. Thats cool. Still got that atmospheric kinda post rock influenced thing going on (in the vein of COC or ADIBAW) with some hardcore and the tiniest bit of punk. This album seems to be alot darker than their previous efforts. All of the instruments sound really good in these records, I don't know who did it, but it sounds real nice. My only qualm with this record thus far is that the vocals are super high up in the mix and I wish the guitars were a little bit louder. Thats just me. The songs are still epic and whatnot, buildups and all that everywhere, which has sort of become their thing right? Getting all epic. They do it well.

So talk about the wave as much as you want. Compare them to bands that are doing the wave thing. At the end of the day Pianos are a pretty cool band and pretty nice dudes. Topshelf is going to be pissed because I posted this, so just download it before they get me to take it down. Actually, just go buy it from Topshelf (a literal boat load of deals await). It just came out, already on second pressing (btw while listening to "Good Times" it sounded like homeboy said "three breasts")so go jump on it before you cant get a cool colored vinyl or something. I don't know the dates off the top of my head (check their bandpage on facebook, tour is all November and some December full US) but Pianos are going on tour soon with Touche Amore. Again, talk about the wave all you want. I don't want to talk about the wave.


Got that video I was talking about below, along with the download link. Pretty into the record as of half way through it. Give it a try. Give it a shot, kiddo. Support this band, support Maryland. OH YEAH, so I got this off a blog, no one gave this to me, so I mean its out on the internet already. Just saying. Word.





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The Lack Long After

Only For The Sake Of Aching

Only For The Sake Of Aching are a pretty dope German screamo band. Kinda punk, kinda just really good skramz. I posted their split with The Third Memory a while ago, hopefully some people snagged that. OFTSOA has mainly put out splits, which is fucking dope. All the bands they have worked with are really cool. There was a collections album released which compiled all of their splits and their EP, which is below. I also just went ahead and added the original releases so yall can get the tracks from the other bands, and because Robot Society has an Intro and Outro which is not on the collection album (unless it is called something different). I'm almost positive you can buy their stuff online so please go do so. Don't think this band is really active anymore but hopefully they will do some new stuff soon.


Heres a video of some of their set at Cry Me A River Fest in 2007.

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Only For The Sake Of Aching / The Third Memory


Only For The Sake Of Aching / Kias Fansuri


Only For The Sake Of Aching / Amalthea


Robotic Society


Thus Far 2005 - 2008