The 1st Five

SPLIT CRANIUM Announce Debut Album; Stream New Track; Pre-order LP

Juan Diniz — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:51:36 +0000

The U.S.-Finland hardcore powerhouse that has taken shape in the form of SPLIT CRANIUM is readying their debut self-titled full-length album for March 20th via Hydra Head. The collaborative effort by Jussi Lehtisalo (Circle, Pharaoh Overlord), Jukka Kröger, Samae Koskinen (Steel Mammoth) and Aaron Turner (Mamiffer/ex-ISIS), has caught people’s attention since their “Scepters to Rust” 7″ dropped. It’s fast-paced hardcore in the vein of late 80’s Southern California HC/Punk. At least hardcore as interpreted by one guy from the Boston-area and some dudes from Finland.

SPLIT CRANIUM WANTS YOUR SKULL:

Live fast, die young and leave a good-looking corpse? How about play fast, die old and leave the next round of stiffs wondering what the shit their crusty old grandpop was up to back in the economically vibrant 20-teens, when liquid gold flowed down from Finland’s Kemi River and crisp American sawbucks grew on trees? If Split Cranium had a manifesto-which they don’t-they might at least consider endorsing that one, whatever it was, before giving us all the finger and getting on with it.

“It” being a highly satisfying blitzkrieg of Finnish/Amero punk perpetrated by Jussi Lehtisalo (Circle, Pharaoh Overlord), Jukka Kröger, Samae Koskinen (Steel Mammoth) and Aaron Turner (Mamiffer/ex-ISIS), a token American brought in to soften potential US resistance to the Finns’ brash mastery of almost every style of rock worth mastering. Of course, it’s no coincidence that Mr. Turner is also not exactly a fucking slouch in the vocal department, lending his patented monastic chants and feral roars to the band’s stomp n’ burn riffola and death-defying d-beats.

Birthed kicking, screaming and drenched in smelly amniotic slime, Split Cranium is the result of a recording session that promptly reversed course. Lehtisalo and Kröger had spent a few days unfurling some artsy-fartsy free-noise-rock improvisations before deciding to just get their fucking riff on. Circle had recently joined ISIS on the latter’s final European tour, during which Lehtisalo and Turner had discussed forming an unstoppable Scandi-American justice league of maximum musical proportions. Right after his improv session went punk, Lehtisalo heard that clicking sound that everyone always references when they say dumb shit like “It just clicked.” The token American was drafted, post-haste. Koskinen was simultaneously hauled in from NWOFHM killers Steel Mammoth. Left brains were promptly separated from right brains. Split Cranium were ready to, uh, split craniums.

First head on the list? YOURS.

You can head on over to Hydra Head’s webstore to pre-order the LP in three snazzy colors: Green & White Marble, Clear, or Black; the CD; and/or a nifty ski mask and also a t-shirt!

Here’s also a preview of another track: “Tiny Me”. If this doesn’t get you into SPLIT CRANIUM, you need to check your head.

Tiny Me by Split Cranium

Topshelf Records Turns Six Years Old, Celebrates With A Rad Contest

Ben Sailer — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:37:39 +0000

Topshelf Records, home to bands like Pianos Become The Teeth, A Great Big Pile Of Leaves, The Saddest Landscape, and more, are celebrating their sixth birthday by hosting a contest giveaway where one winner will receive a free subscription to every release the label puts out in 2012.

Here are all details straight from the Topshelf blog:

Hi. We’re six years old this week. ~Wyld~. We’re having a sale to celebrate. All Topshelf Records merchandise in our store is 20% off through March 6, 2012. We’re also hosting a fun contest. We’ve shipped out hundreds and hundreds of our logo shirts now and have seen you all posting them on instagram, tumblr, twitter, facebook, etc. We thought it’d be a cool idea to reward the person who has the best picture donning some Topshelf merch with a free subscribtion to our 2012 catalog (20+ records, mailed to you as they’re released, for free). We’ll also select five runner-ups who’ll get the record and shirt of their choosing from us for free. Seth and I will pick the winners based on a few basic criteria:

We like Star Fox and video games.
Dogs, cats and pets are encouraged to participate.
Exotic locations will be given extra consideration.
Celebrity cameos are cool too, especially B or C level celebs.
What else. Definitely get grandma and grandpa involved.
Basically, just get weird with it. We’ll post the winners in mid-March.

We realize not everyone has a tumblr, so there’s several ways to enter:
reblog this post with your picture entry (or just tag it #topshelfrecords in a separate post)
tweet your picture and tag it #topshelfrecords
Instagram your picture and tag it #topshelfrecords
Post your picture on Facebook and tag us in it.
Don’t have any of the above? Just email us.

Thanks, everyone! We’re excited about a really busy year with lots of awesome new stuff coming up!

The label is also throwing a 20% sale on everything in their e-store through March 6, which you can peruse here. Here’s to wishing Topshelf a happy birthday, and congratulations on hitting the six year mark.

Video: Every Time I Die – “Revival Mode”

Ben Sailer — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:56:15 +0000

Long running chaotic hardcore act Every Time I Die have released a new video for “Revival Mode” off their upcoming sixth LP, Ex Lives. You can check it out below, and if you like what you hear, the record hits stores on March 6 via Epitaph.

Tours: Thrice Announce Dates For Farewell Tour With Animals As Leaders

John-Michael — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:40:49 +0000

Thrice has announced the dates and details for their farewell tour. Animals As Leaders will provide support on all of the dates. Thrice announced recently that they would be be taking a hiatus following this Spring tour, so this isn’t one to miss.

05/04 – San Diego, CA @ House of Blues-San Diego
05/05 – Las Vegas, NV @ Hard Rock Café
05/06 – Tempe, AZ @ The Marquee
05/08 – Tulsa, OK @ Cain’s Ballroom
05/09 – Dallas, TX @ The Door

05/10 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s East
05/11 – Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
05/12 – New Orleans, LA @ Tipitina’s
05/13 – Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade
05/15 – Ft. Lauderdale, FL @ Revolution
05/16 – Lake Buena Vista, FL @ House of Blues
05/18 – Carrboro, NC @ Cat’s Cradle
05/19 – Charlotte, NC @ The Fillmore Charlotte
05/20 – Norfolk, VA @ The NorVa
05/22 – Lancaster, PA @ Chameleon
05/23 – Washington, DC @ The Howard Theatre
05/24 – New York, NY @ Best Buy Theatre Times Square
05/25 – Philadelphia, PA @ Electric Factory
05/26 – Boston, MA @ Royale Night Club
05/27 – Hartford, CT @ Webster Theatre
05/29 – Montreal, QC @ Metropolis
05/30 – Toronto, ONT @ Phoenix Concert Theatre
06/01 – Detroit, MI @ St. Andrews Hall
06/02 – Chicago, IL @ Metro
06/03 – Milwaukee, WI @ The Rave
06/05 – Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
06/06 – Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall
06/07 – Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue
06/09 – Seattle, WA @ The Showbox @ The Market
06/10 – Portland, OR @ Wonder Ballroom
06/12 – San Francisco, CA @ The Regency Ballroom
06/13 – Santa Cruz, CA @ The Catalyst
06/14 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
06/15 – Anaheim, CA @ House of Blues
06/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Club Nokia LA Live

DEAFHEAVEN Announce European Tour in Support of Russian Circles

Juan Diniz — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:47:06 +0000

DEAFHEAVEN do not let up. They are perpetually out on the road bringing their Shoegaze-infuced Black Metal to the people. Just announced, the band will be heading to Europe in April and May with Russian Circles.

Apr 05 – Prague, CZ @ Matrix w/ Russian Circles
Apr 06 – Vienna, AT @ Arena w/ Russian Circles
Apr 07 – Munich, DE @ Feierwerk w/ Russian Circles
Apr 08 – Dresden, DE @ Beatpol w/ Russian Circles
Apr 09 – Berlin, DE @ Festsaal Kreuzberg w/ Russian Circles
Apr 10 – Warsaw, PL @ Hydrozagadka w/ Russian Circles
Apr 11 – Vilnius, LT @ Propaganda w/ Russian Circles
Apr 12 – Riga, LV @ Gertrudes 101 w/ Russian Circles
Apr 13 – Tallinn, ES @ Electric Storm Festival at Tapper w/ Russian Circles
Apr 14 – Helsinki, FI @ Virgin Oil Company w/ Russian Circles
Apr 16 – Stockholm, SE @ Strand w/ Russian Circles
Apr 17 – Oslo, NO @ Revolver w/ Russian Circles
Apr 18 – Gothenberg, SE @ Truckstop Alaska w/ Russian Circles
Apr 19 – Copenhagen, DK @ KB 18 w/ Russian Circles
Apr 20 – Hamburg, DE @ Hafenklang w/ Russian Circles
Apr 21 – Utrecht, NI @ Tivoli w/ Russian Circles
Apr 22 – Brussels, BE @ Magasin 4 w/ Russian Circles
Apr 23 – Esch-Sur-Alzette, LU @ Rockhal w/ Russian Circles
Apr 25 – Glasgow, UK @ Stereo w/ Russian Circles
Apr 26 – Belfast, IE @ Speakeasy w/ Russian Circles
Apr 27 – Limerick, IE @ Dolan’s Warehouse w/ Russian Circles
Apr 28 – Dublin, IE @ Button Factory w/ Russian Circles
Apr 29 – Manchester, UK @ The Ruby Lounge w/ Russian Circles
Apr 30 – London, UK @ Scala Theater w/ Russian Circles
May 02 – Paris, FR @ Point Ephemere w/ Russian Circles
May 03 – Kortrijk, BE @ De Kreun w/ Russian Circles
May 04 – Koln, DE @ Gebaeude 9 w/ Russian Circles
May 05 – Karlsruhe, DE @ Die Stadtmitte w/ Russian Circles
May 06 – Zurich, CH @ Rote Fabrik w/ Russian Circles
May 07 – Geneva, CH @ Le Kab w/ Russian Circles
May 08 – Milan, IT @ Magnolia w/ Russian Circles
May 09 – Lyon, FR @ Le Clacson w/ Russian Circles
May 11 – Bilbao, ES @ Azkena w/ Russian Circles
May 12 – Porto, PT @ Hard Club w/ Russian Circles
May 13 – Lisbon, PT @ Musicbox w/ Russian Circles
May 14 – Madrid, ES @ Ritmo & Compas w/ Russian Circles
May 15 – Barcelona, ES @ Apolo 2 w/ Russian Circles

Odd Future Detail New OF Tape 2 Mixtape And Debut Insane Video For “Rella”

John-Michael — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 16:20:13 +0000

It’s been a quiet couple of months, relatively, for Odd Future but the collective is back with a new mixtape entitled OF Tape 2 out March 6th. The video for the first single, “Rella”, features Hodgy Beats, Tyler, The Creator, and Domo Genesis trading hysterical barbs and, shockingly, almost none of their trademark shock rap. It’s the strongest track released by the collective since Tyler‘s “Yonkers” and their lyrical growth is encouraging. Also props for making Tyler, the Creator a centaur in the video. Here’s the track listing. You can find the video below. Enjoy.

1. Hi.
2. Bitches (feat. Domo Genesis & Hodgy Beats)
3. NY (Ned Flander) [feat. Hodgy Beats & Tyler, The Creator]
4. Ya Know (feat. The Internet)
5. Forest Green (feat. Mike G)
6. Lean (feat. Hodgy Beats & Domo Genesis)
7. Analog 2 (feat. Tyler, The Creator, Frank Ocean & Syd)
8. 50 (feat. MellowHype)
9. Snow White (feat. Hodgy Beats & Frank Ocean)
10. Rella (feat. Hodgy Beats, Domo Genesis & Tyler, The Creator)
11. Real Bitch (feat. MellowHype & Taco)
12. P (feat. Hodgy Beats & Tyler, The Creator)
13. White (feat. Frank Ocean)
14. Hcapd (feat. Domo Genesis, Hodgy Beats & Tyler, The Creator)
15. Sam (Is Dead) [feat. Domo Genesis & Tyler, The Creator]
16. Doms (feat. Domo Genesis)
17. We Got Bitches (feat. Tyler, The Creator, Taco & Jasper Dolphin)
18. Oldie (feat. Odd Future)

WHIRR Preview “Home Is Where My Head Is” Off Upcoming New Album

Juan Diniz — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:46:35 +0000

The good folks at Pitchfork are hosting an exclusive stream previewing a new track off Whirr‘s upcoming new album, Pipe Dreams, due out March 13th on Tee Pee Records. The track, “Home Is Where My Head Is”, is described as “patient, spacious, loud, colorful” and drawing comparisons to bands like Velocity Girl and Slowdive.

Get psyched for this record as I am. To listen to the preview, click here.

How About A Peek Into The New CONVERGE Album?

Juan Diniz — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:04:29 +0000

Here’s a little peek into the recording of the new CONVERGE album slated to be out later this year via Epitaph/Deathwish. Oh, it’s just J. Bannon recording some vocals.

The Melvins Release ‘Freak Puke’ On June 5th

Juan Diniz — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 22:59:37 +0000

The Melvins are no stranger to churning out releases as often as possible. They are a bottom-heavy sludge post-everything machine. So with that in mind, the band is gearing up for a new release. Set for June 5th via Ipecac Recordings, they are releasing Freak Puke. The new record finds the band back down to a three-piece with Founding guitarist / singer Buzz Osbourne and his longtime drumming partner Dale Crover joined by bassist Trevor Dunn.

Going by the monicker of Melvins Lite, the three-piece is back to usual set-up and lacking the brawn brought in by Big Business members Jared Warren and Coady Willis. But that will not mean that the band is softening up. Oh no. This is only a new configuration of the powerhouse known as The Melvins and maximum rock is expected.

Cam And Luc To Release Mixtape in 2012

Patrick McEachnie — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 21:40:41 +0000

Canadian rappers Cam and Luc have announced their plans to release a free digital mixtape in summer 2012. The pair, who tout influences from Drake, Aesop Rock, Odd Future and MF DOOM, are in search of labels interested in backing the release. Cam and Luc have previous released a demo, which can be streamed here.

Keep up with Cam and Luc on Facebook.