VNV Nation/Holygram Tour

Dub Apocalypse At The Lucky Dog

From their Facebook: "Dub Apocalypse is an instrumental dub reggae band from Boston,MA.The lineup includes Tommy Benedetti(drums),Timo Shanko(Sax/Bass),Johnny Trama(gtr),Van Martin(gtr) and Aaron Bellamy(bass)."

Pictureplane releases a new album: DEGENERATE

The music of Travis Egedy, known as Pictureplane has been a fixture in this blogger's life since around 2009, when his album 'Dark Rift' really began making waves in the Indie scene. Songs like Goth Star, True Ruin, and 5th Sun were the equivalent of the perfect aesthetic planets aligning... UFOs, neon lust, chaos magic, punk attitudes and NYC club kids. What must it have been like, at Rhinoceropolis in '06, the Denver DIY epicentre where Travis also lived for a time, refining his art performing for intimate crowds? Each city has its mainstays, but few are as special a place as that which also hosted his excellent peers HEALTH, Dan Deacon, and Lightning Bolt. What an experience it must have been on both sides of the stage!  (continue reading after the jump)

DARQ: Salem's Own Goth Night

While nearby Boston and Maine have healthy goth scenes, Matt Richard, also known as VUDU:DJ is holding it down at home here in the North Shore, spinning danceable darkwave, EBM and hard industrial beats... DARQ is a monthly goth/industrial party which takes place at Koto on Washington St in downtown Salem, MA from 9:30-1. The action really starts to get going at 11, when all the area's lost boys (and girls) are feeling uninhibited and free to let their freak flags fly. It truly is a magickal night- inclusive and nonjudgmental for all of us. Often times there are vendors in attendance too, with goth subculture accessories, art and fashion for sale. (read on after the jump)

This is Boston... Not NJ

So, I moved to the Boston area. I'll be reviving the blog and shifting focus to the new area that's local to me. Really excited after attending Vein's record release show tonight in Billerica with a number of other local talents - Typecaste and Fuming Mouth! Some of my New York area favs were there as well - the incredibly talented group SANCTION and COLONY.

VEIN has been on a meteoric rise for some time now, and are set to garner even more fans as they will be playing the Dia De Los Deftones festival in San Diego at petco Park on November 3rd.

Here's some footage of the absolute carnage that ensued for these Boston natives, from the Some Heretic Sect Youtube Channel:

NJHC Makes the headlines

http://www.nj.com/entertainment/music/index.ssf/2015/01/blood_bruises_brotherhood_the_state_of_new_jersey_hardcore.html

NATEFEST

https://www.facebook.com/natefest2015

Natefest is a 2-day event of hardcore/punk bands, friends, and support for Nate Gluck of Ensign, to be held in New Jersey on March 21-22.

The Very Best Of 2014, According To SHS

No big to-do this year, just a list of great releases from my variety of tastes...

The 10 Best LPs of 2014 (In no particular order)

Swans - To Be Kind

iceage - Plowing Into The Field of Love

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart - Days of Abandon

Agalloch - The Serpent & The Sphere

Hollow Earth - Silent Graves

United Nations - The Next Four Years

Martyrdod - Elddop

Lockah - Yahoo or the Highway

Caribou - Our Love

The Raveonettes - Pe'Ahi

The 10 Best EPs of 2014 (In no particular order)

Primitive Man/Xaphan Split

Primitive Man/Hexis Split 

Old Wounds - Death Projection

Razorheads 7"

Young Widows/Helms Alee Split

Royksopp & Robyn - Do It Again

RVIVR - Bicker & Breathe 

Nader Sadek - The Malefic: Chapter III

Rosetta - Flies To Flame

New Lows - Abhorrent Endings

Honorable mentions: United Nations - 'The Next Four Years.' I slept on Impetuous Ritual - 'Congregation of Hypocritical Ambivalence.' I discovered this record due to the year-end lists others wrote, too late to make the cut for my own really. But it is a blindingly heavy and fresh-sounding take on utterly bleak death metal sounds. And finally, Thou - 'Heathen.' Fantastic stuff, just not sure this was something I listened to last year or not...

S.H.S. Record Review: Old Wounds - Death Projection EP

Photo by: http://jilliankeats.com/ via FB

OLD WOUNDS... is a band that needs no introduction in this cult, as I have uttered their praises numerous times before. I hope you've been paying attention. Their latest release is an EP called DEATH PROJECTION, their first on Good Fight Records. It's an admirable achievement in terms of the signing, and in and of itself - there's not one weak moment on it. [Read more after the jump]

S.H.S. Album Review: Agalloch - The Serpent And The Sphere