Crystal Antlers Stream New Album: Two Way Mirror

Long Beach California band Crystal Antlers have released a new album entitled Two Way Mirror, tracked on their own and mixed by producer Jack Endino (Nirvana, Mudhoney). The Cover art was done by Raymond Pettibon (Black Flag). The album can be heard in entirety for free on music streaming site Grooveshark  (link.)

For those unfamiliar with the band, they are a hard rock band that combines elements of garage rock, psychedelic, metal and punk. They sound almost as if their music could have been recorded in the late 60's early 70's, but is just a little too hard. In my opinion they sound as if The Doors were really really pissed off and recorded and album. Here is a cut off of their last album.

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CORE Artist Introduction: The Nightmares

CORE would proudly like to introduce one of the first Toronto bands to join the CORE collective: The Nightmares, an explosive, high energy 4-piece rock band formed during the early months of 2009. I would describe the band's style as hyper-melodic, hook-laden garage punk anthems on steroids/too much redbull. The band's sound is consistent with very distinct imagery and visuals that give off a 'classic horror film' vibe with an equal dose of comic book graphics and a whole lot of aggressive energy. Their most recent video for Static State directed by Peter J Arvidsson and the ELEKTRIK PLAYGROUND is a prime example of their sound and image. The video has the band performing in a forest, a mansion and a graveyard. All seeming to be hellish, demonic and haunted. The video itself follows in a style similar to Zack Snyder (300) or Spartacus Blood and Sand, mixing animation and live action with hyperreal violence and pacing.  Recently, The Nightmares released their self-titled debut EP recorded at the Flat Soda Studio with Matt Pomade of the Creepshow and have released it independently through Black Coffin Records.

The EP - produced by Peter Arvidsson (Dumper, Robin Black) - hopes to garner the band some attention from both the local and global music community and set the band apart from others by establishing themselves as a talented and determined young band with the potential to do big things. The band is currently promoting their debut self-titled EP which has been released worldwide on iTunes.

The Nightmares will be performing live at the CORE Toronto Showcase this coming fall, check back for details!



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On the Local Front: Indian Handcrafts

Last night I went to Toronto's Horseshoe Tavern to see a free show for a band from Barrie I had never heard of called Indian Handcrafts. The band is a two piece comprised of Brandyn James Aikins and Daniel Brandon Allen, but by their sound you would think there were at least 5 people on stage. Indian Handcrafts play loud. Really fucking loud. My head is still ringing, but that is okay, because they also play well. On their myspace page they have labelled themselves as a metal/psychedelic/shoegaze act which I think discredits or downplays the cohesion their sound has. Indian Handcraft mixes hardcore, punk, garage, blues and metal without sounding as if they are necessarily mixing all these genres. It just comes across as their brand of loud, energetic, aggressive, shit-kicking rock n' roll.Their sound is contemporary without being too modern and there isn't an abuse of effects (aside from a gain that is cranked way up).

As for the stage presence and personality, the two play with agression and passion 'getting into it' without seeming as though they are dancing around 'for' the audience. There was significant banter ie. "don't you have jobs in the morning" but it was kept light and brief and by the time the feedback was done ringing out from the last song the guitarist had already switched guitars and dove into the next track. Professional. Another thing is the band feels distinctively Canadian, perharps it is their rugged yet familiar sound, or maybe it is just that the two look like they stepped off the set of a Molson Canadian commercial, but Canadiana is a presence that is definitely felt. Highlights of the set include a track about "a guy in Barrie who lost his mind and just hangs around Sobey's pushing shopping carts" and a cut about an impending zombie apocalypse.

Here is a minute of footage I caught on my Iphone mid set.

Keep your eyes/ears out for Indian Handcrafts, because they have their shit together.



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Cry Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

Cry Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
By Ian Rose

Every couple of years a topic seems to rise to the top that concerns any and every one who considers themselves a metal head…the Black Sabbath reunion. Recent success with the Dio fronted ‘Heaven and Hell’ line-up which toured the world and graced us with a kick ass album (The Devil You Know) of new material (something the Ozzy line-up has never been able to achieve) has shown that it can be done, and done right. But it has been over a year since the world lost the giant that is Ronnie James Dio, and although not forgotten, the eye has definitely turned on Ozzy as everyone awaits to see if the original fab four will hit the stage once again...

Well looks like tough luck for anyone hoping to see the godfathers of heavy metal share the same stage again. Never say never, but there has been a lot of public dispute coming from both sides of the Sabbath scale. It all began with Ozzy saying that it is very likely that Sabbath will get back together eventually(as if it’s only up to him) but for now he is busy touring and promoting his solo material, although he was ‘in talks’ with the other members. The tough pill to swallow came when he said that Geezer(Butler, bass) should stop moaning if anything is to be done at all. The response came quickly when Geezer made a statement on his website in what he titled ‘Black Sabbath Statement’: ‘I would like to make it clear, because of mounting speculation and rumours, that there will be definitely NO reunion of all four original members of Black Sabbath, whether to record an album or to tour.’ Harsh words for the fans to hear, but clearly the rumors got to him and he wanted to clear the air. Perhaps having done the reunion with Dio, and accomplished so much and so little time, going back to Ozzy would seem like a step backwards at this point. Now Ozzy has gone on to make a statement in response to the possibility of a Sabbath reunion saying: ‘I haven't got a clue. If they want to call me, they can call me. I never say never. If it works, fine. If it don't, I'll move on. It ain't the end of the world. I ain't gonna get a box of Kleenex and cry my eyes out for the rest of my life.’ Certainly it doesn’t look like it will happen anytime soon, but as we all know time is the healer. I think it’s for the best, if they can’t get along then no sense in pretending and doing it for the money. Yes, we want a Black Sabbath, but at what cost? I got a strange hunch that when the time is right, even if it’s a one off event, we will see the original four on stage together again, even if it is for just one last time. Tell us what you think, would you like to hear a new Ozzy-Sabbath Album? Do you think they can pull it off? Do you think they will ever tour again and put all these scandals in the past?


-Posted by CORE Member Ian Rose

 

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