OUR FAVOURITE FLORIDA NATIVES 'POISON THE WELL' GET ALL ROTTEN

Poison the Well. Think for a second about just what those three words imply, and you’ll have a good idea of how these South Florida-based post-hardcore titans have approached music since their 1998 debut. With their fifth studio album, The Tropic Rot, Poison the Well reach the apex of the idea behind their name, rolling out a wide-angle take on heavy music that’s so fully realized in its boundary-pushing, it makes it impossible to imagine the genre in any other way.

Like 2007’s Versions and the 2008 7” vinyl EP series I/III, II/III and III/III that sprang from that album’s sessions, The Tropic Rot is more post-hardcore than hardcore proper. Recorded in California with legendary producer Steve Evetts (Every Time I Die, Dillinger Escape Plan, The Cure, Story of the Year), the album finds PTW working with non-traditional instrumentation, cinematic influences, and bigger-than-ever guitar and vocal melodies.

The Tropic Rot also marks the first time since in year's that the band has stayed so close to home to work on a record. (Both Versions and 2003’s lone major-label release You Come before You were cut in Sweden.) This experience had a profound impact on The Tropic Rot’s outcome.  Since 1999’s The Opposite of December (widely considered one of the greatest hardcore albums of the past decade), Poison the Well have cut a deep path outside of their home base, selling over 300,000 albums in the U.S. while refining a massively influential sound that’s as heavy sonically as it is emotionally. Extensive international touring – with a cast of tour partners ranging from Deftones, Hatebreed and Shadows Fall to Thursday, Glassjaw and the (International) Noise Conspiracy – has kept the band in front of progressively bigger audiences as much as it has expanded PTW’s influence into worlds both in and outside of heavy music’s usual boundaries.

With a solid lineup locked and relentless touring planned for The Tropic Rot’s wake, Poison the Well are ready to keep moving forward in other ways as well. But no matter where the journey takes them, Primack says, the spirit that’s always driven these five guys to get out there and make some noise remains the same.

Listen to ‘Cinema’ taken from The Tropic Rot on Stomp Radio

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

HANDSOME FURS COMING TO AUSTRALIA THIS AUGUST!

Handsome Furs, the husband and wife duo from Montreal, ain't no Partridge family – its the dynamic side project for Dan Boeckner of Wolf Parade with his partner poet Alexi Perry.Together they deliver a seductive mix of ramshackled synths, dissonant guitar and achy passionate vocals that leave you feeling hopeless, passionate, angry, lustful and utterly human.

Rising from the culturally heady broth of Montreal the Handsome Furs began in 2006 between Dan’s other projects Wolf Parade and Atlas Strategic. In 2008 they begun work on their second album Face Control, released on seminal label Sub Pop home of Fleet Foxes, Band Of Horses, CSS and The Shins. Face Control followed the pair’s trip to Russia and that Soviet milieu injected itself into the album’s often bleak appraisal of the modern condition as the Handsome Furs launch into stirring protests songs of the heart - the rousing cry of the scorned and heartbroken.

Casting off the orchestration of Wolf Parade has allowed Boeckner to create an intimate live experience with audiences from US to Serbia. By stripping back the sound he hasn’t removed any of its fervour; if anything it has strengthened its passion. Drawing on Boeckner’s own cathartic purge, Handsome Furs create a conversation with the audience as these two lone figures chant the chorus of deconstruction. These are the songs that couldn’t wait for another Wolf Parade album, they are the stories he had to tell now. Themes of lust, love and mournful heartbreak paint the picture of the common man at the bottom of the 21st century, part desperate romantic, part enemy of the state, far from a hero.

The Handsome Furs bring their energizing performances to Australia in August with shows in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, this is Australia’s chance to see the what the rest of the world has been salivating over.

Face Control and Plague Park out now. 

Debut Australian Tour August 2009 Dates

MELBOURNE – Thursday 27th
The Corner Hotel proudly supported by Beat

SYDNEY - Saturday 28th
Oxford Art Factory proudly supported by FBI

PERTH - Sunday 30th
Amplifier

Tickets on sale Friday June 19th from Civilsociety.com.au, Corner Hotel, and Moshtix.com.au

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

EMERY RELEASE THEIR 4TH ALBUM VIA LONG TIME PARTNERS TOOTH & NAIL AND STOMP

Emery, the ever-evolving rock quintet originally from South Carolina that has been making its mark since 2000, have just released its fourth full-length album, “…In Shallow Seas We Sail”, via longtime home Tooth & Nail Records/Stomp Entertainment.

“…In Shallow Seas We Sail” picks up right where Emery’s last release, the EP “While Broken Hearts Prevail” (2008) left off, both thematically and stylistically. This fourth album continues the tradition of Emery’s dual front-man format, with Toby Morell and Devin Shelton once again sharing lead vocal and bass guitar duties. Emery’s fourth album combines the band’s trademark screams and breakdowns, and balances these heavy sounds with catchy hooks and melodies. “…In Shallow Seas We Sail” was recorded on and off between September 2008 and February 2009, and was co-produced by guitarist Matt Carter and Aaron Sprinkle, who also helmed the boards for Emery’s 2005 album “The Question.”

“I think this record is the best representation of Emery,” said Morrell. “If you like Emery, this will be the record you love the most. This is our most complete album. You can listen to each individually and not get burnt out. At the same time, you will love the overall story of the record and the journey it takes you on.” Since forming in 2000, Emery has embarked upon at least three national tours per year, sharing the stage with such artists as Chiodos, The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, Silverstein, Alexisonfire and Hawthorne Heights. Originally formed near Greenville, S.C., Emery is now spread throughout the U.S., with members in South Carolina, Illinois, Indiana, and Washington.

Recently toured as part of Soundwave 2009!!

Check out the track ‘Piggy Bank Lies’ on Stomp Radio here

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

SUBPOP LABEL MATE TINY VIPERS IS BACK WITH NEW ALBUM 'LIFE ON EARTH'.

Tiny Vipers is Jesy Fortino, a musician living in Seattle. Since her last and first album, 2007’s Hands Across the Void, she has been back and forth across Europe, on tours into and through the United States, transfixing audiences into a solemn hush.
 
Transcending the mere folk tag (“She’s not telling stories; she’s after incantation and trance”—New York Times), Fortino leaves behind her contemporaries. Life On Earth has been deconstructed into an aether that floats beside the poignant lyrics. Drawing from disparate inspirational sources, from the avant-garde or country musician Townes Van Zandt, Fortino’s playing is no imitation. It stands as its own, giving a musical life to those themes that inhabit her lyricisms: love found and lost, places come and gone. The persona of this album stands like a mountain watching the world go by, changing so fast. The future annihilates the past, consuming it like a fire.
 
Yet this is no bleak dirge. There are triumphs hidden behind the sorrows. A shining hope permeates the threat of doom here. Desperation fades and leaves you free in the end.

Life on Earth is out Now.

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

DJ GREGORY & JULIEN JABRE COMPILE THE NEXT INSTALLMENT IN THE 'HOUSE MASTERS' SERIES

House music as we know it has been unarguably shaped by the French contingent, and nowhere is this more apparent than in the percussive diversity of DJ Gregory and the sublime sounds of Julien Jabre. Long term friends and creative partners, between them they have produced some of the most evocative and timeless records that dancefloors around the world have had the pleasure of absorbing.

From Gregory’s ‘Elle’ to Julien’s ‘Swimming Places’, it’s hard to imagine a House culture with out their influence. Here is 20 of their productions, unmixed, across 2 CD's. A feast for the ears and for the soul.

House Masters drops on the 3rd of July. Pre-order now.

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

NEW ALEKS & THE RAMPS VIDEO FOR 'ANTIQUE LIMB' ONLINE NOW

Aleks And The Ramps have gone and made themselves a music video for 'Antique Limb'!

WATCH IT HERE

Daggy dad dancing, bad lip synching, exploding sharks, rocket boots, animal heads attached to naked bodies, cats with laser beam eyes - it's all here and created entirely by Aleks himself.

Don't forget that the mess+noise presented Midnight Believer tour is happening now!

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

THE WAIT IS OVER FOR METAL FANS AS THE DARKEST HOUR RELEASE 'THE ETERNAL RETURN'

This is the DARKEST HOUR record that metal fans have been waiting for; the record that they have had bottled up inside them since they started 14 years ago.  Let’s face it; this band damn near defined the entire New Wave of American Metal sound. The very style blended the raw, hardcore punk of the 80s with the Scandinavian death metal of the 90s and forged a sound that is now the model for modern metal. To close off the decade in style, DARKEST HOUR has crafted a record that will make heads spin and inspire metal fans world-wide. Faster, heavier, and deeper than anything they have ever recorded, The Eternal Return is the defining record of this proud American metal institution. 

The Eternal Return is epic and furious metal written by metal-heads for metal-heads. Quite simply, this is a record created by musicians who have dedicated half their lives to aggressive and unrelenting music. The Eternal Return is the reinvention of the finest elements of DARKEST HOUR’S celebrated history, making it the absolute modern thrash metal masterpiece that may very well be the next all blueprint for bands to follow.

Check out the first single ’No God’ on Radio Stomp

And studio updates from Darkest Hour on Stomp TV 

The Eternal Return is out now.

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

CICADA RELEASE 'ROULETTE' NEXT WEEK

Cicada came to exist originally as the remix and production duo of Alex and Aaron, and in no time released a series of acclaimed remixes of artists as diverse as Depeche Mode, New Order, Chelonis Jones, Electric Six, 13 Senses and even lad-rock heroes The Enemy. They soon started working on their own material and after a series of singles released their debut album through Payne’s own indie label Critical Mass. Mixmag declared it ‘a gorgeous selection of songs’, while DJ mag gave it the seal of approval, stating that the record,  ‘excels with its retro vs modern feel’.

The follow up to their self-titled debut album of 2006, ‘Roulette’ effortlessly ranges in styles; from the best moments of vintage electro-pop on the euphoric lead single ‘Metropolis’ (already receiving support from BBC Radio 1), to the darkest recesses of electronic-indie on ‘Executive’, featuring Tom Smith of Editors on vocals.

Dance fans will hear echoes of William Orbit’s finest moments and Daft Punk’s seminal debut on the gloriously percussive ‘P-Star’.  Indie fans will latch onto Technique-era New Order. Pop fans will simply hear great melodies and concise song-writing reminiscent of Blondie at their peak. Throughout, ‘Roulette’ is underpinned by consistently big and intelligent beats, washes of glorious synths, and the haunting, hugely melodic vocals of Icelandic siren Heidrun Bjornsdottir.

"All in all it's just great. Bringing the good parts of Daft Punk, New Order and modern indie styled dance, Cicada have struck gold. 'Metropolis' and 'Psycho Thrills' stands head and shoulders above the rest but that is due to their sheer brilliance. The rest of the tracks will have you mesmerised throughout. An instant classic."
-Allgigs.co.uk

“We played this fantastic festival called Good Vibes in Australia. We thought we’d be stuffed in a tent in the corner but the promoters said, ‘We absolutely adore the album, do you mind going on the main stage before The Beastie Boys and Snoop Dogg’.” - Alex Payne(Cicada)

Watch the video here

Roulette is out on the 26th of June. Order the album now

Posted: Friday, 19 June 2009

ALEKS & THE RAMPS GET SET FOR THE 'MIDNIGHT BELIEVER' NATIONAL TOUR.

From the desk of aleks & the ramps: 

After a whirlwind micro-tour supporting our single Antique Limb, we've put the final layer of shininess to the tour plans for our new album Midnight Believer which is out through Stomp and now we're ready to let ya'll know when and where we'll be kicking out these jams in the flesh.

TOUR DATES
Thursday 18th June - Newcastle - The Lass O'Gowrie
Saturday 20th June - Sydney - The Hopetoun Hotel
Saturday 27th June - Brisbane - Top Floor
Friday 3rd July - Hobart - The Brisbane Hotel
Sunday 5th July - Belgrave - Ruby's Lounge
Thursday 9th July - Adelaide - The Jade Monkey
Friday 10th July - Melbourne - Roxanne Parlour
All shows will be supported by MIXYLODIAN (Montreal)
     
Hopefully at least one of these shows is near you (sorry Perth!) and you've got nothing else on that you really need to attend to. Should you choose to stay at home, we've provided many options for the web-savvy stalker: (our blog, twitter, myspace, flickr)

This tour is extra exciting for us, as the support act we're bringing along with us is our buddy Mike, fresh off the plane from his hometown, Montreal. The band he fronts, Mixylodian, is an electro/indie project consisting of himself and a revolving cast of humans, gameboys, samplers and backing tracks. On this particular tour, he'll be playing some songs solo, and some with a backing band, which is us!. We're just learning his songs now, très excitement!

The album has been receiving some nice press, and maybe you've heard bits of it on the radio or the information superhighway, but you don't really get the full experience without being the same room as extreme wheeze's glimmering cod-piece.

Do come!

Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009

NEW MAYLENE & THE SONS OF DISASTER TRACK ONLINE NOW.

 In addition to the news of the new album and constant touring schedule, Maylene and The Sons of Disaster has leaked the first song from the band's upcoming album. You can listen to the song, "Just A Shock" streaming now on Stomp Radio here!

Birmingham, Alabama's Maylene and The Sons of Disaster are a wild bunch. The band plays a swampy form of hugely humongous chaotic rock, almost certainly influenced by the likes of ZZ Top, Guns N' Roses, or AC/DC (or more recently, Every Time I Die or Underoath), and have quite possibly just finished recording their breakout record.

Entitled III, the band will release the new album on JUNE 19th courtesy of Ferret Music/Stomp Entertainment. To kick off the festivities they've just embarked on a full US tour with friends and monstrous rockers Clutch (as well as more tour dates keeping the band on the road through the end of Summer).

LISTEN HERE

Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009

MICHAEL GIRA RECKONS 'FIRE ON FIRE' SOUND LIKE A CRAZED VENGEFUL GOSPEL BAND! NEW ALBUM - OUT 26 JUNE.

Fire On Fire used to be the art-punk-prog-chaos collective Cerberus Shoal, but they ditched their electric instruments, went into hiding for a while, and now play acoustic—stand-up bass, mandolin, banjo, harmonium, accordion, acoustic guitar, dobro, etc.—and all sing and harmonize on the songs. Live, they do it “old school” and just use two mics placed in front of them on the stage, like a bluegrass band. They all live in the same house up in Maine, across from rusting green oil tanks, apparently.

The Orchard is out on the 26th of June.

They sound like a backwoods, fierce, psychedelic Mamas and the Papas or a crazed and joyously vengeful gospel string band. They feed off each and propel other as musicians with a powerful and joyous energy. It’s all acoustic, but it’s not in the least folky. More old-timey incantations—American music with excellent words, performed with the honed violence of intent that truly great music requires.
—Michael Gira (Swans, Angels Of Light) / Young God Records

Click here to listen to the first single 'Sirocco'

Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009

'SONG OF SHAME' BY WOODS COMES OUT THIS JULY

The fourth full-length by Woods, Songs of Shame, veers away from the lo-fi guerrillas-in-the-mist sound of their previous long-player, At Rear House, and presents both 90-second and ten-minute forays into skeletal psychedelia. The idiosyncratic songwriting style and vocalizing of Jeremy Earl is still present in spades on the album.

Woods have toured incessantly as a trio over the last 12 months, and the songs on Shame have had their mettle tested. Check out the straight-ahead pop of “To Clean” or the “Neil Jung” push/pull of “Rain On.” Elsewhere, an expansive side of the band hinted at on their Woods Family Creeps LP finds full flight on the subtle ten-minute stretch “September With Pete” (that features Peter Nolan of Magik Markers guesting).

Woods are currently touring the US with label mates Crystal Stilts and Blank Dogs.

“Songs of Shame has that almost subliminal ability to make one want to move in to listen more closely. And once you've been drawn in for a good listen, it becomes difficult not to want to come back for many more.”  Pitchfork – 8.5 (http://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/12837-songs-of-shame/)

Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009

HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR TO RELEASE MIX ALBUM 'SIDETRACKED' THROUGH RENAISSANCE/STOMP - OUT 13 JULY

Hercules, aka Andy Butler, self-titled album on DFA wowed critics and music fans across the board in 2008 with tracks such as ‘Blind’ and ‘You Belong’. Their soulful blend of disco-inspired songs provided the perfect soundtrack to summer. A year on, ‘Sidetracked’ arrives just in time for those demanding a similar musical fix.

Andy honed his craft DJing at various underground parties in New York, so returning to the decks was a very natural step for him. He’s used the comp to showcase a broad sweep of classic house and disco, plus a brand new Hercules’ exclusive. Says Andy, “I am excited by this compilation to realize two ends: it’s a slamming mix with tracks that have historically made me freak out in the club, along with new productions - including my Hercules & Love Affair exclusive.”

"Sidetracked has been developed to show the other side of bands from the electronic genre who can, and do, DJ,” says Renaissance Geoff Oakes, ”It's an opportunity to offer a diverse, unique series, which makes Hercules & Love Affair the more than perfect choice to kick-start matters."

Click here to listen to the promo

The compilation will come as a 2-disc set: mixed and specially re-mastered unmixed format

Tracklisting

CD ONE – MIXED
1. WestBam - And Party
2. Sax – No Pares (Don’t Stop)
3. Hercules & Love Affair – I Can’t Wait
4. In Flagranti – I Never Screwed Around Before
5. Dubwise – Hold me Real Tight
6. Fax Yourself – Sunshine
7. Todd Terry Project – Weekend
8. Daniel Wang – Zola Has Landed
9. Rhythm Masters – Oh Oh Why
10. Los Kings Del Mambo – Studio X
11. Dr. Buzzards Original Savannah Band – I’ll Play The Fool
12. Ray Martinez Jnr – Lady of the Night
13. Gino Soccio – Dream On
14. Rainbow Team – Dreaming

CD TWO – UNMIXED & RE-MASTERED
1. Westbam – And Party
2. In Flagranti – I Never Screwed Around Before
3. Dubwise – Hold me Real Tight
4. Fax Yourself – Sunshine
5. Todd Terry Project – Weekend
6. Daniel Wang – Zola Has Landed
7. Los Kings Del Mambo – Studio X
8. Dr. Buzzards Original Savannah Band – I’ll Play The Fool
9. Ray Martinez Jnr – Lady of the Night
10. Gino Soccio – Dream On
11. Rainbow Team – Dreaming

Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009

EARTH CRISIS TOUR KICKS OFF NEXT WEEK! LOCAL SUPPORTS ANNOUNCED.

One of the most anticipated and talked about reunions of 2008 was without a doubt the reformation of Syracuse NY-based quintet EARTH CRISIS. The pioneers of the hardcore, straight edge movement have now officially made the decision to carry on with the band fulltime and are proud to announce a new worldwide deal with Century Media Records. The band’s most devastating offering to date, “To The Death”, is going to serve as a much needed wake up call to the masses!

EARTH CRISIS’ chugging riffs and barked declarations served as the mouthpiece of America's militant vegan, straight-edge movement throughout the '90s, detailing the ideas of animal and human liberation, drug-free living, and personal empowerment through hardcore song.

Now, for the first time in Australia, new and old fans alike can witness the reformation of a legend – EARTH CRISIS live, this June.

Joining EARTH CRISIS is Australia’s own hardcore legends, DAY OF CONTEMPT. The first band to bring hardcore to the masses in this country, DAY OF CONTEMPT disbanded in 2005, leaving hoards of fans in their wake. Rumours of a reunion tour have abounded since then, and the calls from fans have finally been answered – DAY OF CONTEMPT reuniting in June for 5 shows only! And to complete this amazing line up, the cream of the New Zealand crop – ANTAGONIST A.D.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Wednesday 17th June  - Princess Theatre, Brisbane (All Ages)
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS xTHE WARx
8 Annerley Rd, Woolloongabba. Doors @ 6:00pm.
Tickets on sale now @ http://www.stomp.com.au/, Oztix Outlets (Rocking Horse Records, Kill the Music, Butter Beats, Gooble Warming, Moshpit Music Maroochydore, Sunflower MusicPacific Fair, Disasterpiece Southport) http://www.oztix.com.au/ or 1300 762 545

Thursday 18th June – The Hi Fi, Brisbane (18+)
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS AGAINST
125 Boundary St, West End. Doors @ 8:00pm.
Tickets on sale now @ http://www.stomp.com.au/, http://www.thehifi.com.au/, 1300-THEHIFI (1300-8434434) & Oztix Outlets (Rocking Horse Records, Kill the Music, Butter Beats, Gooble Warming, Moshpit Music Maroochydore, Sunflower MusicPacific Fair, Disasterpiece Southport)

Friday 19th June – Manning Bar, Sydney (Licensed All Ages)
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS RELENTLESS
Level 2 Manning House: Manning Rd, Sydney University. Doors @ 7:00pm.
Tickets on sale now @ http://www.stomp.com.au/, Moshtix Outlets, http://www.moshtix.com.au/, 1300 438 849, Manning Bar http://www.manningbar.com/ or 1300 762 545 & Oztix Outlets, http://www.oztix.com.au/ 1300 762 545

Saturday 20th June – The Corner Hotel, Melbourne (18+)
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS IRON MIND
57 Swan St, Richmond. Doors @ 8:30pm.
Tickets on sale now @ http://www.stomp.com.au/, the Corner Box Office (03) 9427 9198, http://www.cornerhotel.com/ & Missing Link (03) 9670 8208

Sunday 21st June – The Gov, Adelaide (Licensed All Ages)
WITH SPECIAL GUESTS CRY MURDER
59 Port Rd, Hindmarsh. Doors @ 7:00pm.
Tickets on sale now @ http://www.stomp.com.au/, Moshtix Outlets, http://www.moshtix.com.au/, 1300 438 849 & Venuetix Outlets, http://www.venuetix.com.au/ or (08) 8225 8888

Posted: Tuesday, 9 June 2009