"Tunguska" Video - a Blast from the Past

Our good friend James Spruill (a.k.a. Bitter Boxcar) made a video for an old song of ours called "Tunguska" using a lot of old found footage and clips from propaganda videos and what-not. It's pretty cool, check it out: "Tunguska" was recorded at the very first recording session Batillus ever did. This was before Fade was in the band, so there are no vocals, no samples, no synth-- just guitar, bass, and drums. Our buddy AJ Peters (who also plays in the band Summoner, formerly known as Riff Cannon) recorded, mixed, and mastered this track way back in 2008, and all for basically a case of beer and a couple sandwiches from Spiro's.

Thanks dudes!

Batillus / Whitehorse Split 12"

In May, Vendetta Records will be releasing a split 12" featuring two new Batillus songs on side A and a new song from Australia's Whitehorse on side B. That's the cover above, by Scott Irvine. Special thanks to Andrew Mittelman and Sound Generation for making this record happen, and to James Plotkin for his always-superb mastering skills.

We'll be touring with Whitehorse in June in support of this release. Dates, which span the eastern half of the US, will be announced shortly.

Batillus / Whitehorse Split 12" Tracklist:

Side A - Batillus 1. Silver Mortar 2. Feral

Side B - Whitehorse 1. Dark Age

Here's a preview of "Silver Mortar" from a recent show in Brooklyn (thanks to unARTigNYC):

Friday, March 23 at Acheron w/ Hull, Mutilation Rites, Trenchgrinder

Come to the Acheron this Friday, March 23 for our first New York show in five months. We'll be playing at least one-- possibly two-- new songs, which will be released in May on a split 12" with Australia's Whitehorse.

Limited Blue Vinyl

Seventh Rule just released a super limited (94) repressing of 'Furnace,' this time on blue vinyl. Get it here or get it from us at an upcoming show or when we tour with Whitehorse in June.

Philadelphia Show, February 10th with Rosetta, Restorations, Sunburster

Decibel Magazine presents the art of Decibel’s head designer and chief illustrator Bruno Guerreiro with a special Kung Fu Necktie art show and musical showcase February 10th at 8pm.

Performing: - Rosetta - Restorations - Batillus - Sunburster (members of Snake Road/DeathBeds/Rogue House/Deceverion. First show!)

Showing: - Collection of original metal and rock show posters - Original illustrations featured in Decibel - Other original Bruno Guerreiro works

Free Stuff: - Decibel Magazine back issues - Decibel Magazine coasters and stickers

Tickets ($10) Ages 21+ Click here to purchase.

It's That Time of Year Again...

In truth, I didn't listen to that much heavy music in 2011. I guess I'm "getting older," or whatever. There were a few rather excellent records released this past year which found themselves in heavy rotation for me, but I found myself listening to a variety of other and older things during the year.

Records released in 2011 that I enjoyed, in alphabetical order:

Indian - Guiltless Violence, misanthropy, hatred. Oppressive guitars, banshee vocals, disorienting drums. This is the best heavy record of 2011, but it can be a bit exhausting to listen straight through in one sitting. It's just that fucking relentless.

Junius - Reports from the Threshold of Death Another expertly sculpted masterpiece from a band I've been a fan of since their first EP was released in 2004. Dark, haunting, and epic, Junius craft songs that recall the birth of stars and the formation of planets.

Low - C'mon This is hands down my top record of 2011. Nearly every song is brilliant, and the few that aren't are still quite excellent. Dark, mellow, infectious.

A Storm of Light - As the Valley of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade... My only complaint with this record is the sound of the drums. Too rubbery, synthetic. But the drumming itself, as well as the other performances and the songwriting, are top-notch. Heavy and dark, without really being 'metal.' Think Pink Floyd through a Neurosis filter.

Yob - Atma Some have complained that this is just "more of the same." But with Yob, that's precisely what I want.

2011, though, was the year of Levon Helm for me. I listened to his 2007 album 'Dirt Farmer' more than any other record, except perhaps the Low record mentioned above. As a drummer myself, I identify strongly with him as I get older and seek new ways to express myself musically. His voice is raspy, like corn husk, and his drumming is simultaneously understated and expressive.

There are several records which I missed, but feel obligated to check out at some point:

Atriarch - Forever the End Blut Aus Nord - 777Sect(s) / Desanctification Earth - Angels of Darkness, Demons of Light Hull - Beyond the Lightless Sky Leviathan - True Traitor, True Whore US Christmas - The Valley Path Wold - Freemasonry Wolves in the Throne Room - Celestial Lineage

When the list of records you didn't get around to hearing eclipses the list of records you did hear, you know you're getting old. Or maybe jaded. Or maybe just lazy... Looks like I have some homework to do!

-gs

LA Venue Change

Attention: the venue for the LA show has changed from Bow and Sparrow to The Hangbag Factory. Take notice. Remaining dates are as follows:

11.12 - Portland, OR @ East End w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Norska, Mongoloid Village
11.13 - Seattle, WA @ Highline w/ Mico de Noche, Kowloon Walled City, The Atlas Moth, Broxa
11.16 - San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room w/ Prizehog, Sutekh Hexen
11.17 - Capistrano Beach, CA @ Coconuts w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Pigeonwing
11.18 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Handbag Factory w/ -(16)-, The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City
11.19 - Las Vegas, NV @ Yayo Taco w/ Rituals, Demon Lung
11.20 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth
11.21 - Denver, CO @ Moe's w/ The Atlas Moth, Ghosts of Glaciers
11.22 - Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room w/ The Atlas Moth
11.23 - Chicago, IL @ SubT Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth, Yakuza, The Swan King

November Tour Dates

We're heading out on the road again in November. We're hitting a few places in the Midwest with The Atlas Moth on our way out to and back from our first ever trip to the West Coast.

11.7 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Jukebox w/ Late August, Chaniski
11.8 - Madison, WI @ Wisco
11.9 - Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue (7th Street Entry) w/ Battlefields (album release), The Atlas Moth, Blue Ox
11.10 - Fargo, ND @ The New Direction w/ The Atlas Moth, Loom, Sleeping in Gethsemane, Aemeth
11.12 - Portland, OR @ East End w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Norska, Mongoloid Village
11.13 - Seattle, WA @ Highline w/ Mico de Noche, Kowloon Walled City, The Atlas Moth, Broxa
11.16 - San Francisco, CA @ Elbo Room w/ Prizehog, Sutekh Hexen
11.17 - Capistrano Beach, CA @ Coconuts w/ The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City, Pigeonwing
11.18 - Los Angeles, CA @ The Handbag Factory w/ -(16)-, The Atlas Moth, Kowloon Walled City
11.19 - Las Vegas, NV @ Yayo Taco w/ Rituals, Demon Lung
11.20 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth
11.21 - Denver, CO @ Moe's w/ The Atlas Moth, Ghosts of Glaciers
11.22 - Kansas City, MO @ Riot Room w/ The Atlas Moth
11.23 - Chicago, IL @ SubT Lounge w/ The Atlas Moth, Yakuza, The Swan King

Indian Tour Wrapup

[from L to R: Sean, Will, Ron, Geoff, Fade, Willi, Greg, Dylan, Billy]

We returned this past Monday morning just after dawn from trudging around the east coast with Indian for four days. And during those four days we had the privilege of driving through Connecticut not once, not twice, but fully four times. Decidedly not our idea of a good time, although I will say that Connecticut traffic did cooperate somewhat better than usual.

Indian are off to Canada now to finish their tour (that is, if they can get across the border) and we're back to our mundane 'regular' lives. A few words about Indian... Their music and their performance: pure hatred, violence, and misanthropy. It's quite something to watch them play; I'm fairly certain (though this is merely my opinion and in no way has been corroborated by anyone actually in that band) that their primary goal is to make people feel uncomfortable. And I love it.

-gs

September Shows

Sat 9/17 – Philadelphia, PA @ Kung Fu Necktie w/ 40 Watt Sun
Thu 9/22 – Boston, MA @ O'Briens w/ Indian, The Proselyte
Fri 9/23 – Brooklyn, NY @ Public Assembly w/ Indian, Castevet, Alkahest Sat
9/24 – Baltimore, MD @ Golden West w/ Indian, Melungeon
Sat 9/25 – Providence, RI @ Castlevania w/ Indian, Elder, Groke

July 23rd - Seven-Inch Release Party in Brooklyn

If you can't catch us with Yob and Dark Castle tomorrow at Le Poisson Rouge, we'll be playing on July 23rd at St. Vitus in Greenpoint to celebrate the release of our split seven-inch with Mutilation Rites. Phantom Glue is also playing. More info here.

Split 7" with Mutilation Rites

From Shinebox Recordings, limited to 500 copies on red vinyl.  We'll have some with us on the upcoming tour in July (dates are below), but in the meantime, you can listen to it here, and pre-order it here.


Batillus / Mutilation Rites 2011 Summer Tour
Fri 7/8 - Providence, RI @ Machines With Magnets
Sat 7/9 - Ithaca, NY @ The Haunt
Tue 7/12 - New York, NY @ Le Poisson Rouge w/ Yob, Dark Castle (no Mutilation Rites)
Thu 7/14 - Madison, WI @ Lothlórien Co-op
Fri 7/15 - Minneapolis, MN @ Medusa
Sat 7/16 - Fargo, ND @ The New Direction
Sun 7/17 - Appleton, WI @ Maritime TavernTue 7/19 - Chicago, IL @ The Empty Bottle w/ Nachtmystium, Sourvein Wed 7/20 - Indianapolis, IN @ Vibes Music w/ Racebannon Thu 7/21 - Cleveland, OH @ Now That's Class Fri 7/22 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Helter Shelter Sat 7/23 - Brooklyn, NY @ Saint Vitus

Acheron One Year Anniversary Party & BBQ

Hey, Bill, what's the deal with this?

"The festivities begin at 5pm. We'll have a pig roast, some assorted other meats and sides, and a veggie grill for those who forsake the pleasures of the flesh. Bands will start at 8:30."

Sounds pretty cool, and it's all-ages and FREE so you have no excuse not to be there. Thanks Bill!

'Furnace' is Officially Out Today

'Furnace' is officially out today via Seventh Rule, and we'd just like to take a moment to thank anyone who has ever been to a show, bought a t-shirt, booked us, written about us, listened to us, told a friend about us, let us crash at their place, bought us a beer, played a show with us, or otherwise helped us out. We're not gonna name names, because we'd inevitably forget someone and that would be a total dick move, but you know who you are. Thank you.

-batillus

Download 'Furnace' - Name Your Price

You can download our new record, 'Furnace,' for free from any number of illegal rapidshare / mediafire / megaupload torrent blogs and sites. We have no problem with this whatsoever. But, we suggest you download the record directly from the source, for a number of reasons. 1.) You know exactly what you're getting: no tinny 92k mp3s, no mislabeled tracks, etc. 2.) Options: you can choose mp3, FLAC, or other formats. 3.) Name your own price, and yes this includes 'free.'

Ultimately, any way you choose to get ahold of 'Furnace' mp3s is ok with us. We're just glad you're listening. And, should you choose to own the record in a physical format, order it from Seventh Rule or Vendetta, check your local record store (if they don't have it, ask them to order it), or get it from us at a show.

Official 'Furnace' Record Release Party

The official record release party for 'Furnace' will be held at Union Pool in Brooklyn on April 23rd. We will play 'Furnace' straight through and Kat (Agoraphobic Nosebleed, ex-Salome) will be making an appearance. Additionally, we'll be offering CD copies of 'Furnace' for only $5 and LP copies for only $10 at this show only. More details below... Brooklyn Vegan Presents...

Batillus Morne Belus

Saturday, April 23 9pm Union Pool 484 Union Ave Brooklyn, NY 11211 21+ $8

Pre-Order 'Furnace'

The first 30 pre-orders for 'Furnace' will come with a bonus test-pressing. At least half of those are already gone, so act fast. Pre-order 'Furnace' here.

Win 'Furnace' Tour LP

If you didn't have an opportunity to grab a copy of the super-limited tour-only hand-screened and numbered 'Furnace' LP, well, now's your chance to snag one. The Deciblog is giving one away and all you have to do is answer a silly trivia question. Here's a hint: drecksau.

Hometown Show

To all of our New York friends and fans: we'll reserve a quantity of the tour-only vinyl pressing for this show, so don't worry that we'll sell out of them while we're on tour.

What Has Nine Dudes, Four Guitars, Two Bass Guitars, Two Drumsets, Two Vans and a Trailer?

The Batillus / Hull March tour.