Essential Sounds: 29.3.19
March 29, 2019
Roadburn 2019 is creeping ever closer, and whilst the work reaches fever pitch a slew of new music reaches us every single day. It would be remiss to take our eye off what’s happening with new releases, and it’s always a pleasure to catch up on things we may have missed the first time around.
We’ll squeeze in one more playlist next week before the festival consumes us, so enjoy this week’s whilst we still have some semblance of normality!
If you’d like to seek out these tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:
Full of Hell – Burning Myrrh (Relapse Records)
Sinmara – Apparitions (Ván Records)
Ritual Howls – The Offering (felte)
East of the Wall – Clapping on the Ones and Threes (Translation Loss)
Sermon – The Descend (Prosthetic Records)
Louise Lemón – Montaña (Icons Creating Evil Art)
GOLD – Taken By Storm (Artoffact)
Brutus – Techno (Sargent House)
Elizabeth Colour Wheel – Hide Behind (Emmett’s Song) (The Flenser)
Dekathlon, Faith Coloccia, Aaron Turner – Blood Rise (Ektro)
Dana Dentata – BITCHCRAFT (Danavi$ion)
Alice Glass – Mine (Loma Vista)
Live at Roadburn - 2019 festival exclusive releases
Each year at Roadburn, Roadburn Records releases exclusive ‘Live at Roadburn’ records and this year’s offerings don’t disappoint.
Heading towards your turntable this year is:
– Fu Manchu Live At Roadburn 2003 (500 copies)
– The Body / Thou – Everyday, Things Get Worse Live At Roadburn 2018 (500 copies)
First up is Fu Manchu’s blistering set from Roadburn 2003. Warmed up by the likes of Dutch psychonauts 35007 and Astrosoniq and Bill Steer‘s blues rock power trio Firebird, Fu Manchu cruised through classics like Hell On Wheels, Boogie Van and King Of The Road.
Scott Hill from Fu Manchu comments:
“Playing Roadburn back in 2003 was a blast! It was a year before we put out our “Start The Machine” release and we played a couple of songs from it live for the first time on that tour. One of the songs that’s on this live record, “I Wanna Be,” is a different arrangement than what ended up on the final studio release. We’re stoked that the show was recorded and that people will get to hear it. Always a good time playing at Roadburn!”
The album will be a one time pressing of 500 on blue vinyl. Later this year, the band will release the set worldwide on their own At The Dojo label later in the year. The album is available to pre-order online now – but will be available first at Roadburn 2019.
Line up:
Scott Hill – vocals guitar
Bob Balch – Lead guitar / backing vocals
Brad Davis – Bass – Backing vocals
Scott Reeder – Drums / Backing Vocals
Track List:
1. Squash That Fly
2. Hell On Wheels
3. Eatin’ Dust
4. Laserbl’ast!
5. I Wanna Be
6. Boogie Van
7. King Of The Road
8. Written In Stone
9. Saturn III
Artwork and layout by Ernie Parada / Hellgate Industries
Live sound by Brian ‘Curly’ Engel
Mastered by Carl Saff
Under the title Everyday, Things Are Getting Worse the special collaborative set the bands played at the Koepelhal at Roadburn 2018 will be released at Roadburn 2019.
Jacon Bannon from Converge introduced this collaboration in these words for his curated day:
“Since their inception I’ve been following Thou. Their restlessness and drive for experimentation has been inspiring to follow. The same goes for The Body. They’ve been such an incredible band to watch evolve from release to release. When they joined together on their Released From Love and You Whom I Have Always Hated collaborations I was floored. Together, they amplify the best parts of each band’s individual output. Making some of the heaviest and most intense music of the last few years. This collaboration is a must listen and perfect fit for Roadburn Festival”
The Body and Thou are bands that have been pushing the boundaries of metal music for over a decade. Both have maintained relentless touring schedules, a dedication to DIY ethics & aesthetics, and a complete commitment to push their respective brands of extreme music into previously unexplored territories like no other bands in the genre.
Pressing info: 500 copies on white and red vinyl
Track list:
1. He Returns To The Place Of His Inequity
2. Her Strongholds Unvanquishable
3. Beyond The Realms Of Dream, That Fleeting Shade Under The Circus Of Vanity
4. Diaphonous Shift
5. Well Fed Fuck
6. Skinwalker
7. A Prayer To God
8. The Devils Of Trust Steal The Should Of The Free
9. In Meeting Hearts Beat Closer
10.I Apologize
Mix: Marcel van de Vondervoort
Mastering: James Plotkin
Roadburn Side Programme announced & new venue & reusable cups!
March 25, 2019
With Roadburn now just around the corner, we are delighted to present the Roadburn 2019 side programme, as well as exhibitions and more.
Roadburn’s side programme coordinator, Becky Laverty, comments:
“I’m really happy to announce the Roadburn side programme – something I’ve worked on for months behind the scenes. Over the years it’s been great to see people responding so enthusiastically to the Q&As and panels we’ve put together and this year I think we’ve got an excellent line up – worth making some time in your schedule for. Personally, I’m so thrilled to have two special exhibitions by two fantastic artists on display; they’ve been a dream to work with and I can’t wait to see this brought to life.”
NEW VENUE: The Pit Stop
For 2019, Roadburn is introducing a new venue – but this one is not for watching bands! The Pit Stop is located between the Koepelhal and the Hall of Fame, and will provide a weather-proof spot to – literally and figuratively – recharge your batteries between bands. It will be home to a craft beer bar, food trucks, exhibitions (more on that in a sec!) and much more. You can also check out the incredibly cool photo exhibition by Home of Metal starring… you (if you’re lucky!). It will be open from 1pm for you to eat, drink, and maybe even pick up a copy of our daily zine, The Weirdo Canyon Dispatch. Consider this spot a place to have…well, a pit stop between bands.
SIDE PROGRAMME: PANELS, DISCUSSIONS, Q&AS
As ever, we’ve jammed in as much excellent stuff as possible into our side programming. All side programme sessions will take place at the V39 (opposite the 013) and there will be event pages added for each on our Facebook. A perfect change of pace when you need a sit down and a chance to absorb some wisdom…
In Conversation: Tom G Warrior
The Celtic Frost and Triptykon mastermind will join Deaf Forever’s Götz Kühnemund on the couch to discuss the composition and performance of his ground breaking Requiem… and much more! Read more here.
In Conversation: Heilung
As they prepare to release their latest album, Heilung will join Metal Hammer’s Jonathan Selzer to talk about their path to world domination, and how the past is very much a part of their future. Read more here.
In Conversation: Tomas Lindberg & Walter Hoeijmakers
Our 2019 curator and our Artistic Director sit down with José Carlos Santos to reflect on many months of working together to bring this year’s Roadburn line up to life. The blood, the sweat, the tears… and the records they’ve listened to along the way. Read more here.
Panel: Doing It Yourself
In our industry-focussed panel this year we will discuss the different avenues for releasing music – whether you want to buddy up with a label or go it alone – and help you navigate the pitfalls and opportunities that both options present. We’ll have Meredith Graves (Kickstarter), Cathy Pellow (Sargent House) and more available to impart their wisdom and allow you to pick their brains. Read more here.
Panel: Aesthetic Immersion
Ex-magazine editor, Louise Brown sits down with Behemoth’s Adam ‘Nergal’ Darski, and photographers Ester Segarra and Teddie Taylor to delve into the visual representation of some of our favourite musicians – and how their aesthetic impacts their music, and vice versa. Read more here.
Q&A: Vinyl Veda Vault
Andreas Kohl returns to bring us all up to speed on the latest in vinyl manufacturing and distribution. In what has become a regular feature on the Roadburn side programme, the Vinyl Veda Vault gives a tantalising glimpse behind the scenes. Read more here.
EXHIBITIONS
The Art of Maarten Donders: The Hidden Forest
Roadburn’s 2019 poster artist, Maarten Donders, has a long and varied history with the festival – having taken on responsibility for everything from stage backdrops to band announcement posters. Things come full circle with this extraordinary exhibition of Maarten’s work, titled The Hidden Forest; a stroll through the wonderful world of Maarten’s mind, taking in friendly giants, nymphs and all manner of strange forest creatures. Read more here.
Full Bleed III
For a third year running, BRLSQ of North America will return to Roadburn to present the Full Bleed exhibition. Housed in the new-to-Roadburn Pit Stop, Full Bleed is back – bigger and better than ever. There will be some familiar faces in the form of Jacob Bannon, Richey Beckett, Thomas Hooper etc, but there will also be an injection of new artists such as Douwe Dijkstra and Gemma Berenguer. Read more here.
The Art of Emma Ruth Rundle
Best known to us – and no doubt to you – as the mighty force that pens heart-wrenching anthems of love, loss and everything in between, Emma Ruth Rundle has another outlet for her creativity, and we’re thrilled to present it at Roadburn this year with the assistance of our friends at Kickstarter Music. Inspired by her own On Dark Horses album, Emma has created huge pieces of visual art that you will see replicated in the Pit Stop in their full glory. Eerie and otherworldly in equal measures, the equine-themed images are truly something to behold. Read more here.
The Art Of Marissa Nadler
As well as bringing a touch of class to the audio element of Roadburn, Marissa Nadler also has a knack for bringing that class to the canvas. Thanks to our friends at Kickstarter Music, we will be exhibiting replicas of pieces from Marissa’s fine art collection, originally created with predominantly oil and charcoal. Regardless of the medium, the ethereal quality of Marissa’s deft craftswomanship shines through.The eight pieces will be on display in the Pit Stop, and we highly recommend taking some time out from the hubbub to sink into the folds of the transcendental landscapes she has created. Read more here.
The Photography of Teddie Taylor
So enamoured were we with Teddie’s photography that we asked her to exhibit at the 013 this year. You’ll find her work in the frames in Roadburn’s main venue – and we’re sure that you’ll agree that she captures a certain rawness in her subjects. Among the Roadburn-friendly artists that she has shot in her time is Chelsea Wolfe, Daughters, Thou – and countless others. Keep your eyes peeled. Read more here.
Captain Huh
As well as possessing guitar chops that would put many a fellow musician to shame, Peter Van Elderen has also turned his hand to visual art. We don’t want to give too much away about the sculptures that Peter produces, but we’re pretty sure they’re going to give you a warm welcome at The Pit Stop.
KICKSTARTER GAMES
When we pondered aloud if there was an interest in table top gaming amongst Roadburners, we weren’t prepared for such an overwhelming response. Our friends at Kickstarter Games have the inside track to the hottest new tabletop activities and they’ll have their own area in The Pit Stop for you to drop in and play to your heart’s content! There will be a big organised gaming session at 1pm on the Saturday – bring your deck or pick up something new – but you’re welcome to pull up a chair and play at any time during the festival. Look for the very metal Kickstarter banners (with logo designed by Christophe Szpajdel).Read more here.
REUSABLE CUPS
Last but most definitely not least, we’re happy to bring you the news that this year there will be Roadburn-branded reusable cups available to purchase at the bar. Using the non-refundable Roadburn cups is not compulsory; you will still be able to buy your beer in a regular, disposable cup. Don’t say we don’t ever give you anything now…
Essential Sounds: 22.3.19
March 22, 2019
While we’re working really hard behind the scenes on the upcoming festival, and attending the inaugural edition of the World Metal Congress as well, it’s time for another weekly playlist that keeps us going. This week we are reintroducing some of the Roadburn 2019 bands that may have flown under your radar.
If you want to seek out the tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:
Uran GBG – Voice of Uran (Self-Release)
GlerAkur – Augun Opin (Prophecy Productions)
Territoire – Exil (Humo)
MJ Guider – Tripple Black (Kranky)
Gösta Berlings Saga – Square 5 (InsideOut Music)
Lucy In Blue – Matricide (Karisma Records)
Mythic Sunship – Way Ahead (El Paraiso Records)
Sherpa – Abscent of the Mother of Language (Sulatron Records)
Stuck in Motion – Are You Ready To Fly? (Self-Release)
Crypt Trip – Wordshot (Heavy Psych Sounds)
Henrik Palm – Missoula (Fetish Records)
Grey Aura – De Drenkeling (Tartarus Records)
Nusquama – Vuurslag (Eisenwald)
Witte Wieven – Met Beide Benen In Het Niets (Self-Release)
Mord’A’Stigmata – Hope (Pagan Records)
Wrong – Pustule (Relapse Records)
Secret Cutter – Bended Knee (Holy Roar Records)
Great Grief – Troubled Canvas (No Sleep Records)
Noisepicker – So You’re Sick (Exile On Mainstream)
Rakta – Filhas Do Fogo (Iron Lung Records)
Deafkids – Mente Bicameral (Neurot Recordings)
Petbrick – Heaven’s Gate (Closed Casket Activities)
Essential Sounds: 15.3.19
March 15, 2019
Crazy to think that this time next month we’ll be revelling in a post-Roadburn glow! Before we get there, we have a lot more work to do behind the scenes and a whole feast of wonders for you to get stuck into at the festival itself. In amongst all the plotting and planning we’ve still found time to put together a list of the tunes that have caught our ear over the past seven days.
Forgive our brevity with the intro – it’s just that we have a festival to plan!
Onwards!
If you want to seek out the tracks elsewhere, here’s the info you’ll need:
Baroness- Borderlines (Abraxan Hymns)
Deafheaven – Black Brick (Anti)
Tronos – Birth Womb (Century Media)
Funereal Presence – Wherein Achatius Is Awakened and Called Upon (Sepulchral Voice Records)
Fär – Throw Them Out (Self Release)
Cold Cave – Promised Land (Heartworm Press)
Louise Lemón – Almond Milk (Icons Creating Evil Art)
Droneflower (Marissa Nadler, Stephen Brodsky) – For The Sun (Sacred Bones)
Elizabeth Colour Wheel – Somnambulist (The Flenser)
Nothing – Heavy Water/I’d Rather Be Sleeping (Relapse)
Holly Herndon – Eternal (4AD)
Roadburn 2019 - Running Order
March 9, 2019
At last – the day schedules are here! Highlighter pens at the ready…
There’s a few things to draw your eye to when you’re planning your Roadburn stay this year:
You will be able to collect your wristband on Wednesday evening (and then head to Ignition the Roadburn pre-party if you want to join us!) – if you’re in the area, we strongly advise you do this to reduce the liklihood of queues on Thursday afternoon.
Note the start times on Thursday and Sunday in particular. We know many people don’t arrive until the Thursday, so please allow plenty of time to collect your wristband and get your bearings! On Sunday we kick off a little earlier – but who wouldn’t want a Sunday sermon with Have A Nice Life?!
Note the start time for Tom Warrior‘s / Triptykon‘s Requiem too – it will be early in the day to allow for the full production requirements to be met. We know this is going to be a spectacular event – one for the history books – so it’s worth moving things around for!
You may notice that one of Thou‘s sets does not appear on the schedule. The ‘covers’ set will take place on Saturday at a to-be-announced location; keep your eyes peeled on the day and all will be revealed.
Essential Sounds: 8.3.19
March 8, 2019
Today’s playlist celebrates International Women’s Day; it features many inspirational and creatively electrifying female artists from the Roadburn world. Some have played the festival already, some may do so in the future, one or two are probably a little out of our reach (we can but dream). Every week our playlist features women like this, but today they dominate it.
The theme of this year’s IWD is balance (you can read more about it here). It’s a topic that comes up fairly often in relation to music festivals; surely you’ve seen those posters with all the non-male acts removed from the line up? All of a sudden, a jam-packed line up is reduced to a scattering of names – and rarely are they the headliners.
There are campaigns and pledges to redress the balance on festival bills, which is surely a step in the right direction. But is it practical to view it in this way? One of the most common counter arguments from bookers is that there just isn’t the same number of artists that are non-male, or that they won’t book a band just because they’re female if they’re not up to the standard of the male bands – hence the imbalance. And whilst it is then possible to provide them with a list of acts that do feature a woman that they could have booked but didn’t… what they’re saying is – sadly – often true.
To set straight the lopsided, male-heavy line ups, we have to start much further away than the festival main stage. The reasons that more men pursue a career in music than women are complex and often studied, but there are plenty of signs to indicate that it’s an arena that is simply not as welcoming to women as it is to men. Women are frequently held to a higher standard than men in terms of their presentation, their ability and their commitment.
Here in the UK, recent membership figures from the PRS Foundation for music indicate that only 17% of their members are women. Is that an accurate reflection of the make up of creatives making music? Or are there other barriers (confidence, lack of female-led information, self belief?) to women becoming members and being recognised in this way? What is encouraging, however, is that the same report indicates that 40% of their new members under the age of 20 identify as female. So, perhaps change is coming after all…
And when it does, we need to be ready. We need to be prepared to dispense with archaic views about what women ‘should’ do and allow them the same freedom, space, money and opportunities afforded to their male counterparts. If you’re reading this and shrugging your shoulders, bewildered, and thinking that you do that anyway – then good! Plenty of little girls are told that certain sports or instruments are ‘for boys’ and that’s where it starts.
When I took part in a roundtable discussion for Metal Hammer magazine last year, there were a few things that we were all pretty much in agreement with: women don’t need a leg up, we just need equality; and that strong female role models played an important part in us having belief in our capabilities. Which brings us back round to the visibility of women on festival bills – now, today, inspiring the next generation of young girls and women.
Roadburn is proud to have many female-identifying and non-male musicians and artists involve in the festival. They are welcomed as equals here, and their contributions provide a necessary and illuminating narrative that is an essential part of the make up of Roadburn – and in our opinion, the wider world. Listen to the message in their music, absorb the inspiration from their art, and play a part in redressing the balance.
-Becky Laverty
Hether Fortune photo credit: Joseph Jagos.
If you’d like to seek out these tracks elsewhere, here’s the information you’ll need:
Hether Fortune – Sister (Etruscan Gold)
GOLD – Why Aren’t You Laughing? (Artoffact)
Brutus – Cemetery (Sargent House)
The Savage Rose – Romano (Target Records)
Royal Thunder – Tied (Spinefarm)
Chelsea Wolfe – Feral Love (Sargent House)
Zola Jesus – Soak (Sacred Bones)
Moor Mother – Deadbeat Protest (Don Giovanni Records)
Lingua Ignota – All Bitches Die (all Bitches Die Here) (Profound Lore)
Pharmakon – Crawling on Bruised Knees (Sacred Bones)
Insect Ark – Skin Walker (Profound Lore)
Foie Gras – Sisyphus (Yellow Year)
Miserable – Gasoline (Sargent House)
Emma Ruth Rundle – Real Big Sky (Sargent House)
Marissa Nadler – If We Make It Through the Summer (KRO)
Helms Alee – Pleasure Centre (Sargent House)
Pharlee – Darkest Hour (Tee Pee)
Made Out of Babies – Cooker (The End Records)
Sky Ferreira – Kristine (Capitol)
Nicole Dollanganger – Heart Shaped Bed (Crystal Math)
Oathbreaker – Immortals (Deathwish)
Svalbard – Revenge Porn (Holy Roar/Translation Loss)
Sólveig Matthildur – Dystopian Boy (Artoffact)
SubRosa – Troubled Cells (Profound Lore)
EXCLUSIVE PREMIERE: 'Darkest Hour' by San Diego's PHARLEE
March 7, 2019
So enthused were we by the sounds coming out of San Diego, that last year we shipped over 30 or so of their best musicians to create the San Diego Takeover. Leading the charge was undoubtedly scene forefathers, Earthless, who were our artist in residence for the 2018 edition – a band who have deeply influenced so many other bands from their hometown.
One of the newest bands participating in the madness – a band, in fact, that is yet to release an album – was Pharlee. They are cut from the same cloth as their San Diego cohorts, but arguably that cloth is just of a slightly darker, bluesier hue. The energy and spark of their live show prompted us to invite them for an impromptu second set on the Sunday afternoon at the Ladybird Skatepark.
Dylan: “Roadburn was insane! I think we were the very first band of the Festival so that was kind of an honor. I’m just stoked we got to play – definitely a once in a lifetime experience.”
Macarena: “We had tons of people show up to a band that doesn’t even have an album out! It was awesome to see everyone’s reaction to the set, no one really knew what to expect. I hope we have the opportunity to come back to such a fantastically curated festival with the nicest hosts, and true music loving fans!”
Overlapping with some of the other San Diego bands project – Zach also played in Joy and Volcano, Figgy also played in Harsh Toke and Arctic, Dylan played with Sacri Monti – meant that Pharlee were somewhat familiar to Roadburners. But with the pipes of Macarena Rivera up front, there was a distinctively soulful vibe to Pharlee’s abundant charm.
Thankfully they’ve seen fit to capture some of that charm and commit it to record; their eponymous debut will see a release via Tee Pee this April. Pre-order here. We’re thrilled to bring you an exclusive premiere of a track from said album. Dive in to Pharlee’s Darkest Hour.
Essential Sounds: 1.3.19
March 1, 2019
As Roadburn creeps ever closer, we’ll continue to hand over the reigns to the playlists to some familiar faces (whilst we toil away behind the scenes!). This week, Crowhurst’s Jay Gambit is in charge and showing us exactly what is floating his boat at the moment.
Of his playlist, he comments: “Roadburn symbolizes to me, a celebration of new sounds and ideas. This playlist is my attempt to do the same. Weird dub, industrial metal, country covers of Cher songs and space exotica – it’s all here. Some of these are songs I grew up with and others are more recent but are finding themselves just as impactful.”
As ever, if you’d like to seek out these tracks elsewhere, here’s the information you’ll need:
Genghis Tron – Board Up The House (Relapse Records)
Jack Off Jill – Rabbiteen (Self-Release)
All You Know Is Hell – Blonde (949170 Records DK)
Controlled Bleeding – Words of Dying (Soleilmoon Recordings)
Country Death – Sail (845935 Records DK)
JS Aurelius – Whims Of The Stars (Alter)
IVVVO – Repetition (Danse Noir)
Russ Garcia – Red Sands Of Mars (Capitol Records)
Lucianblomkamp – Catskill Mountain Resort (Self-Release)
Lingua Ignota – All Bitches Die (Profound Lore)
Good Willsmith – We are 100% commited to you and are willing to do everything in our power (Hausu Mountain)
Varg – Arrival: Stroboscopic Observations On Ecstacy (Posh Isolation)
Samael – Last Benediction (Century Media)
CBN – You Ain’t Down (868707 Records DK)
Sex Church – Growing Over (Load records)
Scud Mountain Boys – Gypsies, Tramps and Thieves (Ashmont Records)
Roadburn exclusive: Maalstroom beer to be available during the festival
February 26, 2019
You may have noticed that we like to make Roadburn as special as possible, regardless of where your interests outside of music lie. One thing that we picked up on amongst our attendees in recent years is a real passion for beer. Not just the idea of getting drunk with friends, or knocking back some local beers but a real deep enthusiasm and curiosity about this most beautiful beverage.
Well, for all those beer enthusiasts out there, we have something special to share with you for Roadburn 2019! Here’s what you need to know…
Dutch black metal collective Maalstroom are amplifying their performance at Roadburn with an exclusive Maalstroom beer that will be available on Saturday only. Together with Dutch brewery Nevel they created a 15-month-old barrel-aged wild ale infused with the intensely bitter herb absinthe wormwood.
Like the performance, the Maalstroom beer is an exploration beyond what we know and understand. Its flavours evoke a sense of unease that you may relish or reject, but it will not leave you indifferent. We invite you to take part in the full Maalstroom experience and let the wild current drag you along.
Maalstroom and Nevel are both pioneers in their own way, dedicated to exploring what lies beyond the boundaries of style and genre. Drawn to their quiet determination and celebration of local nature, Maalstroom asked Nevel to collaborate on a beer that would reflect the intensity of the Maalstroom performance.
Wild yeasts (Norwegian kveik) and locally grown absinthe wormwood are the key ingredients of this beer. It was aged on oak barrels for 15 months to create sour, fruity notes that underline the massively bitter wave of absinthe. Aromas of orange and grapefruit peel, camphor, hay and barnyard funk make its fascinating, complex character complete. Maalstroom has an ABV of 5.6%.
The beer is available on Saturday only. It will be on draft all day at a specially designated bar (more on that later!) and 50 of bottles are available at Bierbrigadier Tilburg on a first come, first served basis.
