Thanks for checking out the latest installment in my ongoing series focused on covering the heaviest and most devastating of Bands and Artists within the Underground Music Community that travel through The Bay Area. This is a collection of footage that I’ve captured recently at shows on both sides of the bridges in Oakland & San Francisco.
(Artwork created by M.A.N.)
On 9/18/13, I went out to the Oakland Metro to catch a pre-Stella Natura show that featured some great bands. Stargazer, from Australia, were headlining. Their bassist also performs with Mournful Congregation. The seriously Heavy band Hell, from Salem (OR), also played. You can find footage of them on the Transylvanian Recordings feed along with many other bands.
Knelt Rote from Portland, Oregon, are a band that I’ve followed throughout the past few years. I saw them play a house show in Oakland in 2008 while they were on tour with Superbad and I thought they were awesome then. Over the last couple of years, they have shifted their pace and sound and are now playing a more Bestial style that fans of Incantation and Blasphemy will enjoy. Take into account that they still mix in their maniacal grindcore onslaught mentality and you have a really good pedigree for destruction. They’re killing right now. Everyone that I have spoken with that has seen them lately is positively buzzing about how crushing they are. Their Bassist/Vocalist is also involved in some other killer bands from the Pacific Northwest called Ritual Necromancy, & Weregoat.
Velnias is a Black Metal band from Boulder, Colorado. They’ve went through a few lineup changes so far, but right now it seems like they have really found their stride. I played a show with these guys at the Hazmat in Oakland in 2009 with Circle of Eyes. Since then, Woodsmoke Paul from Leech joined their band on second guitar and has really helped to develop their sound of the cosmic void. Paul is an incredibly talented musician. He has been in some of the Heaviest bands in recent history including, Merkstave, Ancestortooth, & Elu of the Nine. As a band, these guys have a very solid foundation and a great creative approach. Their drummer also plays in I Shalt Become.
I set up a few shows for my band’s record release weekend that kicked off on 9/21/13. We got to play with with Windhand from Virginia at a classic music venue located in the heart of Oakland called the Stork Club – there was a great turnout for the evening and all the bands ruled. CVLT Nation posted both of our band’s full sets that were captured by KILLTHATCAT and that you can check out by clicking here for Windhand and here for Swamp Witch. Since this was our record release weekend, I wanted to get some special artwork for the commemoration. I enlisted the help of one of my favorite Bay Area Artists to help us with amazing artwork for the festivities. You can find a lot more art created by M.A.N. on his official tumblr page M.A.N. Artwork.
Folivore is a Psychedelic Doom band from Santa Cruz, California. These folks are ruling the SC scene and operate one of the coolest venues in their town. I have supported this band since the first time I heard about them touring with Sutekh Hexen. Shortly after, I got in contact with them and set up shows together with Folivore and Swamp Witch which also included a show with Planning For Burial, Mortuous, Theories, Transient & Negative Standards at one of my favorite venues in Oakland in 2011. They recently completed the recording of their debut full length and are having Scott Miller from the noise art band Al Qaeda (&former Sutekh Hexen/Cattle Decap) handling the mixing and mastering for them. Here’s a preview of what’s going to be on that recording:
Monuments Collapse is a Post-Metal band from San Francisco, California. They have a new split coming out with Bréag Naofa that is going to be released on Halo of Flies records. This is a track from their upcoming split.
Dwell is a Heavy band from Oakland, California. Their sound is a mixture of Post-Metal and Doom. Drawing heavy influences from bands like Isis and Neurosis.
On 9/22/13, I put together a mixed bill show with some of my favorite friends in San Francisco. M.A.N. created the artwork for this poster as well.
Wreck And Reference is an experimental band from Sacramento/Davis, California. They are currently signed to the San Francisco based label Flenser Records. Their vocalist/master of sound plays a MPC pad while their drummer beats away creating a really distinct, emotionally charged sound. Here’s a look into their live sound.
Planning For Burial is a Gloom/Slowcore one man band from Matawan, New Jersey. PFB is currently signed to Enemies List Recordings as well as Music Ruins Lives. During 2011 on his first trip to the West Coast, our bands played together and Kevin Hobbs was there to capture the evening. You can check out footage from that show by clicking here. This weekend was exactly two years after the last show we played together. I have been a fan of this artist since I first heard a copy of “Leaving“. Planning For Burial creates incredibly emotional sonic soundscapes. True infinite sadness.
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