Go see Cemetery Urn

. . .

I always wonder what foreign bands think when they tour the US. The huge distances, the greasy food, the lack of hospitality from venues – do bands find these appalling? How do our fans compare to those from their country? Every American band wants to tour Europe, but I don’t hear of European bands clamoring to tour America.

So I also wonder what makes foreign bands tour the US in the first place. Do they do it only because [insert name of multi-national metal label based in Europe] says, “You have to go because the US is a big market”? Does that word “market” doom otherwise happy European metallers to months of crappy pizza and endless drives? Or do foreign bands actually want to see our sights – which, according to Wormrot, are our Wal-Marts and Denny’s-es? Europe: home of magnificent culture and history! America: home of Cracker Barrel!

Thus, I wonder what could possibly make Cemetery Urn, an unsigned Australian band, tour the US. They’re getting no tour support, they’re probably losing money hand over fist, and 100 is probably an epic turnout for them. I can only think of two reasons: (1) being Australian, they’re already used to driving long distances, and (2) being Australian, their dollar is monstrously strong right now. Maybe they’re eating gourmet pizza on this tour.

But Cemetery Urn are only sort-of-unsigned. They’ve had dealings with Relapse (an officially licensed shirt, possibly a split 7″ to come), and Hells Headbangers will put out the vinyl of their new album The Conquered Are Burned. (See also Chris Reifert’s praise of them in the latest issue of Decibel.)

So being unsigned might be voluntary for Cemetery Urn. They blend old-school Swedish and American death metal, with Incantation-esque vocals. (The band has ties to Aussie warhorses Bestial Warlust and Abominator.) The sound is dark and dirty, and I bet it goes down a treat live. Hear samples below, see the tour itinerary above, and see individual flyer/venue info here. (If you can’t make it to a show, pick up a CD at the links below.) Let’s show these Aussies a good time!

Relapse (CD, shirt)
The End (CD, shirts)

. . .

. . .