 |
Photo by Jess |
Tonight Urgehal and Spearhead begin a US tour. (See dates below.) This is a big deal, as both bands rarely play the States. I have a soft spot for Urgehal’s Goatcraft Torment (Agonia, 2006), as it was the fifth album I reviewed for this site. The album itself has no soft spots. “Gathered Under the Horns” has a malevolence sorely lacking in much of black metal today. Its riffs are thickets of forked tongues. The band’s new album Ikonoklast comes out Nov. 16 in Europe, with US release date TBA.
Urgehal – Gathered Under the HornsSpearhead – When the Pillars Fall
Spearhead, meanwhile, are one of metal’s most underrated bands. Their last album, Decrowning the Irenarch (Invictus, 2007) was a masterpiece of blackened death metal. The songs were brutal, the solos were shredding, and the production was suitably punchy. Why isn’t this band huge??? Hopefully this tour will change that.
Finally, in a real head-scratcher, Eyes of Noctum accompany these bands. This is the band of Nicolas Cage’s son Weston. It plays symphonic black metal, polished to Hot Topic standards, with a drummer so incompetent that Snowy Shaw (of King Diamond/Mercyful Fate) had to do drums on the album (which also features a “guest appearance” by Hellhammer of Mayhem fame — see story here).
Hollywood black metal aside, I eagerly await the LA date of this tour — the Gathering of the Bestial Legion festival, which features Deströyer 666 and The Chasm, among others (see flyer here).
- – -
Endurance of Iron & Blasphemy Tour: September 2009
Urgehal, Spearhead, Eyes of Noctum
14 Brooklyn, NY @ Europa (w/Villains, Black Anvil)
15 Pittsburgh, PA @ 31st Street Pub
16 Detroit, MI @ Blondie’s
17 Chicago, IL @ White Star Bar
18 Lake Nebagamon, WI @ Wasko’s
19 St. Paul, MN @ Big V’s
21 Riverton, WY @ Bite Fest
23 Aurora, CO @ Iliff Park Saloon
24 Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Vegas
25 Las Vegas, NV @ Yayo’s
26 Los Angeles, CA @ The Iron Room (w/Deströyer 666, The Chasm)
27 San Jose, CA @ Voodoo Lounge
28 Oakland, CA @ The Metro
29 Sacramento, CA @ The Fire Escape
Shit…no dates in the south. I would love to see Urgehal. Oh, well…
Spearhead has a distinct disadvantage in becoming one of metal's more rated bands in that they share a band name with a long-established hippie rap band. Google that shit up.
Blackened death's soon-to-be answer to The London Suede.
This'll be awesome, but the friendly staff I asked at Iliff Park Saloon knew nothing about it when I talked to them earlier today. I will have to dig a little it looks like.
Bonus points for the Celtic Frost shirt.
Anon1 – I was a fan of the other Spearhead as a youth. Perhaps a comparison post is in order.
Anon2 – The London Suede? I don't understand the comparison.
Anon3 – (Does no one have a name today?) Keep us posted on the Denver date. Iliff Park Saloon is currently the venue listed on Urgehal's MySpace.
Ikonoklast comes out November 16th.
Terrible show last night. Weak weak weak.
Petya – Thanks for the info. I've updated the post accordingly.
Aaron – That's unfortunate to hear. Why was the show weak? I trust Villains and Black Anvil were strong as always?
Villains,Black Anvil,Celtic Frost, Have any of these bands had an original thought between themselves.
Yeah, Celtic Frost are hacks. Everything they know about metal they learned from Hellhammer.
Wait a minute.
I just can't wait for EoN's reception from the crowd. Should be highly amusing.
Just following up from my earlier comment. The Denver show is definitely at Iliff Park Saloon.
Doors at 6p, Show starts @ 8pm, $10 at the door.
http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g127/rlrodriguez/USBMS-6.jpg