Events

Grind & Noise Over Victoria…
SIXBREWBANTHA Tour Kick-Off Show
Streams + Photos

Published

April 18, 2013

Well, the first stop on the tour technically is April 22nd in Minneapolis but this is their last local show for a bit; at least until their show in support of Ahna’s tour of Canada in May.

Anyway I was one of quite a few people sending off island grinders Six Brew Bantha this past Saturday night, they’re embarking on a “mid west/east coast (ish)” tour right now and hitting up a bunch of spots they missed last time, so they threw one last show on this side of the border, in a basement with friends supporting them: SHITLIVER, Griefer, and Bungus.

There were a few shows that Six Brew Bantha played (with a bunch of wicked local grind acts) when I got back to the west coast but I just wasn’t aware of them, so I was pretty stoked when I heard they were playing with some new grind locals and the resident death industrial titan Griefer not too far away. Plus Six Brew Bantha just recently laid down two new splits with New York’s Water Torture and Minneapolis’ Agitate and got some pressed in time for their tour, so I was able to witness them laying waste to a tiny basement with their latest designs and it was as brutal as you’d expect.

The ride down was uneventful except for the bouts of intense hail between sunshine, and I didn’t do much outside of hang out with my brother once we got down there so lets get to it!

SHITLIVER opened the night, a new four-piece project with Six Brew Bantha’s vocalist Bryan on guitar so I didn’t know much about them. However they impressed with some great grindcore that had a humorous bent (random comical lines) and some pretty odd-ball vocals at times, which definitely set them apart from everyone else there an other local grind/powerviolence acts. British Columbia has a decent amount of really good ones and it looks like SHITLIVER will be added to the local arsenal without hesitation.

Outside of some confusion in the beginning and near the end as to which tracks were which between the drummer and guitarist their set went off pretty smooth and very loud over the maybe ten minutes they were on, slaying the crowd with some pretty nice breakdowns and some comedy so you’re smirking while you’re headbanging. Loved the vocals myself even if they’re a little out of the norm in the genre.

You can check out their only release from which they probably played a good chunk that night over at bandcamp, and I highly recommend you do.

<a href="http://shitliverofficial.bandcamp.com/album/shit-liver">shit liver by shit liver</a>

GRIEFER is one guy that knows how to make disruptive and violent noise, tucked away in Victoria. If you haven’t heard his brand of death industrial then prepare yourself. I first saw him opening for Mitochondrion, Harrow and Hoopsnake at the Norway Hall in Victoria a few years back, and I picked up the two releases that were there. I don’t know if Deterrent Industries has anything new out from Griefer but if not the power electronics he unleashed during his fifteen minute set (three tracks in all I believe) was definitely new, so I assume it’ll find a home on some physical format in the future.

Just as in the prior time I witnessed Griefer it was a mesmerizing and heavy experience, the use of various tools to form his sound: metallic exercise equipment, a shaver, springs, rods, pedals, bodyblade, CB mic and a few other instruments. This what blends, whirring and scraping, screeching alarms from cold metal — an ever transforming cacophony of harsh, hypnotic, tyrannical death industrial laying waste to that small space.

Unlike Blue Sabbath Black Cheer (who has collaborated with Griefer before) Griefer works in smaller chunks and the jarring gaps between each session feel like a switch being flipped and it definitely adds something different; compared to the longer crawl of other noise acts. Distorted vocals dominate and echo like a beacon in an apocalyptic landscape handing down scorn in cryptocentric themes. It all gets very captivating.

Below you can view the whole frigid ceremony, and if you like what you hear then contact him at Deterrent Industries about how to get some physical copies of his previous material (if they aren’t sold out).

It was time for BUNGUS to make their return after apparently not having played a show since December, and of course I don’t know much about them except that a few members play in other bands. A four piece, two vocalists and no bassist makes for an interesting combo in my eyes what with the possible dynamic between the two screamers.

And it was. First the riffs were really fuckin creative straddling grind and powerviolence with a technical undercurrent outside of the speed. Second the vocalists did well working off one another and were distinct, one high screams/shrieks and the other some mad low gutturals and growls; both animated as all hell too. Wicked blasts and everything else combined to whip that room into a frenzy. In the middle of the set they broke out a Discordance Axis cover (check it out below) which was sick but I was definitely enjoying whatever material it was they were shredding.

Check out their two releases on bandcamp to get a taste of what they offered that evening for free.

<a href="http://bungusgrind.bandcamp.com/album/s-t-lp">S/T LP by Bungus</a>

And then SIX BREW BANTHA stepped up to close the night. Three friends making ferocious and technical grindcore, and they can put on quite a show especially while showing off the new tracks on their recent splits with Water Torture and Agitate. Bryan switched roles and is a powerful vocalist live, very active which was creating a feedback loop with the crowd; the place was packed and lively. Marks guitar tone through two different stacks was delicious, and with one of the tightest snare sounds on the planet blazing in the corner the sound was pretty amazing for totally DIY show.

They played the longest set but not by much and with a good mix of material, a lot of new or recent shit and maybe one or two older songs. Regardless of the material Six Brew Bantha bombed that basement to rubble and then ground that rubble to dust, at one point that severely tight snare skin busted apart and was quickly replaced. I really can’t get over the guitar tone too. By the end it was completely packed and I was glad I made it down, friendly vibes and good noise.

You can watch the little footage I could get in the chaos, two songs of which are from the new splits, and one an oldie but goodie. Their sides of the two new splits are up for name-your-price on bandcamp too.

Grifer wielding weapons of noise.

SHITLIVER

BUNGUS

SIXBREWBANTHA

Broken snare, not a good shot to be taken.

SIXBREWBANTHA

If you wanna get destroyed in under fifteen minutes and you live in one of the following places then I suggest you don’t miss these guys, and pick up a copy of their two recent splits with Water Torture and Agitate. They need the cash and you need the grind.

<a href="http://sixbrewbantha.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-w-agitate">Split 7'' w/ Agitate by Six Brew Bantha</a>

<a href="http://sixbrewbantha.bandcamp.com/album/split-7-w-water-torture">Split 7'' w/ Water Torture by Six Brew Bantha</a>

2013 USA TOUR DATES:

W/ Cokskar

April 22nd Minneapolis, MN
The Rathole
w/ Archagathus, Violent Gorge, Birth

April 23rd Madison, WI
The Wisco
w/ Archagathus, Violent Gorge, Mellow Harsher

April 24th Chicago, IL
Ranchos Huevos
w/ Violent Gorge, Archagathus, Gnarly Death, Hitokiri

April 25th Ft Wayne, IN
Harrison House
w/ Archagathus, Violent Gorge, Nak’ay, Psyopsis

April 26th Wapakoneta, OH
Moulton Gun Club (Shut Up Fest)
w/ Archagathus, Violent Gorge, Gowl, Misanthropic Noise, Lt. Dan, Powercup, Scaphe, Water Torture, Coke Bust

W/ PIZZAHIFIVE

April 27th Columbus, OH
Dude Locker (Forward Ohio 2013)
w/ Backslider, Sick//Tired, Water Torture, Coke Bust, Na’Kay, Altered Boys

April 28th Detroit, MI
The Painted Lady
w/ Lt. Dan, Reaper, Perversion