Inter Arma recording new album at Dark Art Studios

Inter Arma announced yesterday that they are back in the studio with Mikey Allred at Dark Art Studios in Tennessee. Allred recorded Sky Burial, which has been my favorite release of the year so far. They have two upcoming shows: Hopscotch here in Raleigh on Sept. 7 at Lincoln Theatre, and Boomslang, Sept. 20-22, in Lexington, Ky. Here's the press release:

With accolades from media outlets and fans alike still surging in on their sophomore LP, Sky Burial, following its release via Relapse in March, Richmond’s genre-destroying INTER ARMA is already back to work in the studio. For the next ten days, the band will be bunkered down in Madison, Tennessee-based Dark Art Studios with producer Mikey Allred -- the same surroundings and setup that captured the monolithic Sky Burial LP -- once again unifying their talents on a massive track, to also see release via Relapse.

“There’s no title yet, but it’s a forty-plus minute piece that was originally written during the summer of 2009 and only played out a few times” stated guitarist Trey Dalton on the track. “We'll have some different people doing guest appearances (noise, synth, strings, vox, and more) as well. We’re trying to make the most completely off the wall shit yet.”

Further details on the recording will be released in the coming weeks upon completion. In the meantime, INTER ARMA has been confirmed to perform at a pair of late Summer stateside music festivals, including a set alongside Pig Destroyer, ASG, Sleep, Kurt Vile and more at this year’s massive Hopscotch Fest in Raleigh, North Carolina on September 5th, followed by a spot on Boomslang Festival in Lexington, Kentucky the weekend of September 20th with Blonde Redhead, Marnie Stern, Locrian, Grails, Chelsea Wolfe and a ton of others. They’ve also been confirmed to storm Holland in 2014 as part of the annual Roadburn Festival. Expect further tour actions to be announced shortly.

Photos of KEN Mode, Inter Arma and Hog

(Inter Arma)

This one's going to be quick. KEN Mode, Inter Arma and Hog played Local 506 this past Saturday night (Aug. 3). All three bands were great, most especially Inter Arma, who put on the best show I've seen by them this year. I know I saw that every time I see them, but each show really is better than the last. I had been on the fence about going to Hopscotch, but now I might get a ticket just to see them on Saturday at the Lincoln Theatre. 

I hadn't seen Hog in quite some time. Their set seemed completely new to me. Their guitarist, Alec Ferrell, told me they have a record done, and are now just figuring out how to release it. I'm looking forward to hearing it. See more photos. 

Stevie Floyd/Aerial Ruin split now available

Here's something both heavy and mystical to start off your day. Check out this 12-track collaboration between Stevie Floyd (Dark Castle, Taurus) and Aerial Ruin (solo project by Erik Moggridge of Old Granddad, Drift of a Curse, Epidemic). Stream or download it here. 

Windhand release first single, tour dates

Windhand today released the first single off their upcoming Relapse full-length, and announced dates for a full US tour. No NC dates, unfortunately, but that Oct. 3 show in Richmond might be worth the drive for me. Listen to "Woodbine" here. Order your copy of "Soma," which will be out Sept. 17,  here. 

9/5: The Side Bar – Baltimore, MD %

9/6: St. Vitus – Brooklyn, NY
9/7: Golden Tea House – Philadelphia, PA %
9/8: Belvidere’s – Pittsburgh, PA
9/9: Shrunken Head – Columbus, OH
9/10: The Melody Inn – Indianapolis, IN
9/11: The Cobra Lounge – Chicago, IL
9/12: The Cactus Club – Milwaukee, MN
9/15: Shooter’s – Billings, MT
9/16: VFW Hall – Missoula, MT
9/17: The Highline – Seattle, WA $
 9/18: Ash St. Saloon – Portland, OR $
9/19: Monstros Pizza – Chico, CA *
9/20: The Hemlock – San Francisco, CA
9/21: The Stork Club – Oakland, CA
9/22: The Complex – Los Angeles, CA
9/23: Burt’s Tiki Lounge – Salt Lake City, UT
9/24: 3 Kings Tavern – Denver, CO
9/25: The Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NB ^
9/26: The Record Bar – Kansas City, MO
9/27: Doublewide – Dallas, TX #
9/28: The Grotto – Ft. Worth, TX #
9/29: The Mohawk – Austin, TX
9/30: White Water Tavern – Little Rock, AR
10/1: The Owl Farm – Nashville, TN
10/2: The Hideaway – Johnson City, TN &
10/3: Strange Matter – Richmond, VA
4/12/14: Roadburn Festival – Tilburg, The Netherlands
 % - w/ Ilsa
$ - w/ Bell Witch
* - w/ Amarok
^ - w/ Call of the Void
# - w/ Solomon & Pinkish Black
& - w/ Generation of Vipers

New music Tuesday: Trouble and Zodiac,

The latest from classic Chicago doom outfit Trouble has been getting mostly good reviews, with the general consensus being that new vocalist Kyle Thomas (Exhorder, Alabama Thunderpussy) was a fitting addition. Invisible Oranges is streaming three tracks, all of which I love. Check it out here. The album is out now on FRW Records.

German blues-rockers Zodiac are currently recording their second album and preparing to go on tour with Monster Magnet this fall (note the Dec. 7 stop in Charlotte). Here's a very short teaser video for the upcoming album.  If you like Kadavar, Graveyard or Witchcraft, you should be into this band.

11/14 Grand Rapids, MI - Intersection 
11/15 Detroit, MI - St. Andrews 
11/16 Chicago, IL - Bottom Lounge 
11/17 Minneapolis, MN - Mill City Nights 
11/19 Denver, CO - Marquis Theatre 
11/20 Salt Lake City, UT - Urban Lounge 
11/22 Seattle, WA - Neumos 
11/23 Vancouver, BC - Rickshaw 
11/24 Portland, OR - Hawthorne Theater 
11/26 San Francisco, CA - The Independent 
11/27 Los Angeles, CA - House of Blues 
11/29 Tempe, AZ - Club Red 
11/30 Albuquerque, NM - Launch Pad 
12/2 Austin, TX - Red 7 
12/3 Houston, TX - Fitzgeralds 
12/4 Dallas, TX - Trees 
12/6 Atlanta, GA - Masquerade 
12/7 Charlotte, NC - Amos Southend 
12/8 Baltimore, MD - Baltimore Sound Stage 
12/10 Toronto, ON - Lee’s Palace 
12/12 Boston, MA - Sinclair 
12/13 West Chester, PA - The Note 
12/14 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom