2013!

Here's a peek at what's ahead.

January 8 - Comadre - Comadre - Vitriol Records

The mighty self-titled album by this long-running Bay Area band, rooted in the early emo sounds of Rites of Spring yet evolving into a dynamic rock machine. Described by BrooklynVegan as a mix of "post-punk, Murder City Devils-style punk-n-roll, and all manner of rocking"! On Vitriol Records, the label founded by Graf Orlock/Ghostlimb main man Justin Smith.

February 26 - Old Wounds - From Where We Came Is Where We'll Rest - Glory Kid Ltd.

Metallic hardcore masterpiece by some young bucks from New Jersey - this is the next generation and they're breathing new life into the crushing, exhilarating vibe wielded by Indecision, Turmoil, and Buried Alive in the 90s.

March 19 - Globe & Beast - Grandfather's Axe - Melotov Records

The first release marking my new alliance with Melotov Records, the LA label that teamed up with Vitriol Records earlier this year to co-release Ghostlimb's Confluence album. Melotov's roster includes bands like The Banner, Vices, and Bone Dance. Good stuff ahead from these guys.

And coming up soon, so much more, including new noise from Black Market Activities, the label owned by Guy Kozowyk of The Red Chord, whose 2012 run included the year-end list-topping new album by Gaza, among others. I'm especially excited about the Stomach Earth debut on BMA - massive, creeping drum machine doom from Guy's bandmate Mike "Gunface" McKenzie!

!!!!!!

And on tour:

Ghostlimb - US, Dec 29-Jan 12

Graf Orlock guitarist and Vitriol Records boss Justin Smith takes his other band on the road for a two-week tear across the USA. Bruising, vise-tight LA hardcore drenched in emotional realness and littered with esoteric historical references. Newest album Confluence is out now on Vitriol and Melotov Records.

Jar'd Loose - US, Jan 8-Jan 19

Thrashing, noise-rockin' Chicago upstarts bring their unhinged show on the road. Names like The Jesus Lizard, Motorhead and Entombed have been thrown around in reviews of the debut album, Goes to Purgatory; Terrorizer called it "one of the most exciting debuts of the year".

!!!!!!

January 2013 also sees the end of Precious Metal, the live music series I have been running in New York since 2006. We have three shows to go! See you there, NYC.

And please look out for new actions from all three of my own musical projects: Today Is the Day, Wetnurse, and Body Stuff. There are new recordings in the works from all three. Today Is the Day headlines a big tour of the US and Canada in March and April.

Thanks to you all! Happy holidays!

TODAY IS THE DAY 2013 tour

It's official! Steve, Ryan and I will hit the road in March for a big tour of the US and Canada, including SXSW. Black Tusk, KEN Mode, and Fight Amp support.

Pitchfork's Top 40 Metal Albums of 2012

GAZA at #12! "A twisting, warping spin on hardcore-infused grind n' roll with songs that hit like grenades..."

PRECIOUS METAL 6.66

Friends, I am proud to announce the Grand Finale of Precious Metal. After 6.66 years and over 300 events, the series I started in May of 2006 will come to an end on January 21, 2013.

We had a good run! Monday after Monday, we brought all sorts of heaviness from across the city and around the globe (Iceland, Italy, Australia...) into the den of Downtown grime and glamour that is Lit. These forces combined and added up to something special. I like to think we played a part in the resurgence of a New York City metal scene, one which now looks stronger than ever.

Thanks to:

• The owners and staff of Lit who made this all possible over the years: Erik Foss, Max Brennan, David Schwartz, Matt Kepler, Jeanette Converse, Ryan Jones, Dorian Wolff, James Jameson, David Blackshire, Lori Murphy, Renee Armstrong, Nikki Sneakers, Kyle Krueger, Brian Shapiro, Ryan Piccirillo, Jason Tormos, Rob Walters, Quincy Cummings, and many more.

• Every band that played. Every DJ. For a full list of every lineup, May 2006 through January 2013, please enjoy my complete calendar of events.

• You. The people of NYC and beyond who came to the shows and supported this thing.

Now:

We have four Precious Metal shows remaining! The first is this coming Monday, December 17, with longtime Precious Metal favorites Tiger Flowers and Meek Is Murder. January 7, we have Ghostlimb, from LA, followed by Chicago's Jar'd Loose on January 14. Our Grand Finale is January 21 -- a celebration of 6.66 years and a benefit for The South Sound, a Brooklyn music space destroyed by Hurricane Sandy.

Please come and take part in the final four shows. Spread the word. Let's end this with a bang.

Monday, December 17:
TIGER FLOWERS
MEEK IS MURDER
I AM HERESY
BLACK TABLE

Monday, January 7:
GHOSTLIMB
OLD WOUNDS
DJ Fred Pessaro / BBG

Monday, January 14:
JAR'D LOOSE
GENTLEMEN
END IT
DJ Mike SOS

Monday, January 21:
Precious Metal 6.66 - The Grand Finale
A Benefit for The South Sound
HIVESMASHER
FASHION WEEK
FLAMING TUSK
SOS
DJ Zeena Koda

CR on MetalSucks

My top 10 of 2012.

1) Anasazi - s/t 7″
2) TV Baby - Wild Joy 7″
3) Abominable Putridity - The Anomalies of Artificial Origin
4) Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind
5) Napalm Death - Utilitarian
6) Swans - The Seer
7) School of Seven Bells - Ghostory
8) Violens - True
9) Lord Mantis - Pervertor
10) Pyrrhon - 2012 Demo

CR on CVLT Nation

I made a mixtape.

1) Ike & Tina Turner "River Deep Mountain High"
2) Company B "Fascinated"
3) Ghostface Killah "Be Easy"
4) Ministry "Revenge"
5) School of Seven Bells "Low Times"
6) M/A/R/R/S "Pump Up the Volume"
7) The Damned "In Dulce Decorum"
8) Call of the Wild "Autobahn"
9) Birds In Row "A Kid Called Dreamer"
10) Like Rats "Fire"
11) Jar'd Loose "Last Living Roach"
12) Gaza "Winter in Her Blood"
13) The Year Is One "Ungodly Behavior"
14) Pyrrhon "Implant Fever"
15) Flourishing "By Which We're Cemented"
16) Devourment "Fed to the Pigs"
17) Human Rejection "Abandoned"
18) Abominable Putridity "Blindfold Surgery"
19) Bloody Panda "Grey" (Mick Barr remix)
20) TV Baby "Powering"