Author Archive

Mind Inversion’s Sound Immersion 02/09 (Vol. 1)

Posted in Mind Inversion Exclusive, Sound Immersion with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 by Ryan Buege

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The time has finally come for us at Mind Inversion to come together to release our very first of what promises to be a very long line of monthly playlists to rock your body and soothe your weary eardrums. After some friendly prodding from our trusted pals over at PerfSpot (wink), each of our current contributors crept out from the shadows to put in their two cents about what they’re listening to this month. As any consistent reader of our site might hope, this sampler presents you with the kind of unbelievable variety that I don’t think you can find anywhere else. When listening, keep this in mind.

It is also important to remember that most of the people contributing to this list have been stranded in the subzero temperatures of Minnesota for more than a few weeks. Clearly, there is an heavy air of reflection throughout this simultaneously uplifting and introspective wintery mix. Meanwhile, a couple of our contributors are transplanted out West right now, displaced from their familiar Midwestern surroundings; Eddie for school, and Dan on an extended journey of self discovery. Dan’s camera captured the magnificent image you see as the album cover above during his ongoing trip through California and Oregon.

Without further ado, here is the tracklist for Mind Inversion’s February 2009 Sound Immersion playlist:

01. Solid Gold – “Get Over It” (contributed by Ryan)
02. P.O.S. – “Goodbye” (contributed by Tim)
03. The Broken West – “Perfect Games” (contributed by Nick B.)
04. Enslaved – “To the Coast” (contributed by Ryan)
05. DM Stith – “Just Once” (contributed by Erik)
06. The Decemberists – “The Legionnaire’s Lament” (contributed by Nick H.)
07. Soul Position – “Priceless” (contributed by Dan)
08. Kaz James – “Breathe (Nick Galea Remix)” (contributed by Nick B.)
09. Lamb of God – “In Your Words” (contributed by Ryan)
10. Lookbook – “Believe the Hype” (contributed by Ryan)
11. Fieldtriqp – “Inflight” (contributed by Eddie)
12. Craig Armstrong – “Weather Storm” (contributed by Nick H.)
13. Blacklisted – “Canonized” (contributed by Ryan)
14. Samon Kawamura – “Right Here (feat. Oh No)” (contributed by Tim)
15. Watussi – “Purple Moon” (contributed by Erik)
16. Grails – “Acid Rain” (contributed by Dan)
17. Cynic – “Adam’s Murmur” (contributed by Dan)
18. Nine Inch Nails – “The Four of Us are Dying” (contributed by Eddie)
19. Cymarshall Law & Mr. Joeker – “The Takeoff (Getting It)” (contributed by Tim)
20. Boards of Canada – “Dayvan Cowboy” (contributed by Nick B.)

You’re almost there! Click “Read More” for the exclusive download link of our first playlist, Sound Immersion 02/09 (Vol. 1)!

Continue reading

RecycleMania spotlights University of Minnesota’s recycling obstacles

Posted in Culture with tags , , , , , , , on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 by Ryan Buege

RecycleManiaAfter more than 25 years in operation, the University of Minnesota’s Recycling program was proven to be slightly ineffective during a demonstration that kicked off the national RecycleMania competition. For the event, a fully loaded garbage unloaded its days collection in the middle of the University’s Coffman Memorial Union for sorting to draw attention the large recyclable waste stream that makes it into the trash everyday.

In total, 6 tons of waste were released onto the sidewalk, a mere 17% of the U’s total daily output. However, the most interesting statistic related to this awareness demonstration was not simply how much total waste the campus generates, but about how much of the stuff that is thrown away could actually be reused. According to program employee and U of M student John Weissert, after sorting all of the garbage from that days events, it was found that only 38% was actually garbage! In fact, nearly 38% of the waste stream also consisted of recyclables and another 24% was compostable organics. While the University has actively promoted their recycling program for many years, numbers like this can be a bit disconcerting to those who are involved in programs such as these. Especially in a time of economic stress, the money saved from diverting these valuable materials such as aluminum and paper to a recycler could be enormous, and yet the percentage of total waste recycled for the University continues to fall. To Weissert, these numbers were a clear indication that the custodial staff needs to be trained more adequately to improve access to recycling, and old programs need to be reviewed and updated to improve problem areas.

In either case, the Recycling Program sponsored trash dump at Coffman was  a pretty eye opening site to see; one thing I came away with: our trash is really a very personal thing, and it is our responsibility to guarantee that it will leave our hands in the most beneficial way possible. Recycling(/composting) begins with you!

(photo courtesy of Conor Shine)

Audio Mix: MIXHELL, Mishka presents Keep Watch Vol. 5

Posted in Downloads with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Iggor Cavalera  and Laima Leyton have a very busy life even when he’s not out on the road with his brother Max in the Cavalera Conspiracy. Ever since he left Sepultura in 2006, he and his wife have been working as the brilliantly creative Brazillian electro-duo MIXHELL, touring the world and gaining much praise within underground beat circles for their MPC/turntable/drum-driven beat heavy ruckus. Oh yeah, and they’ve got FIVE young children (who just so happen to operate MIXHELL’s blog – cute!). It’s a very hard task to make a serious leap from the metal community to the djing world, but with some good friendships (such as their association’s with James Murphy or Justice) and some awesome music, anything can happen. …Even while raising a family.

Last week, our favorite overseas electronic connection posted a superb mix that MIXHELL completed for Mishka‘s Keep Watch! series, and it deserves a mention here. Just listen to the opening Metallica “For Whom The Bells Tolls” Intro! How are these guys NOT playing sold out shows in big American clubs? They need to get on a good tour sometime soon, because something tells me that if American electro/dance fans got wind of MIXHELL, they’d storm the scene.

DOWNLOAD: Mishka presents: Keep Watch Vol. 5 – MIXHELL

Besides having a remix on From Monument to Masses new EP, MIXHELL are preparing their release of their remix album entitled Boomda, which will be available on March 11th through New Judas. Check out their MySpace now for a brand new megamix from the release!

Video: Skeletonwitch takes over this weeks’ edition of Metal Injection’s The FiX

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 by Ryan Buege

One of the best band’s to emerge from the new wave of thrash renaissance that began a few years ago is Skeletonwitch. Their riffage is some of the grittiest and most addictive thrash that I’ve heard put to file, their trademark blackened, snarled vocal style is extremely refreshing, and not to forget that they just plain fucking rock! In this edition of the weekly videocast from our favorite online metal TV station, Metal Injection, Rob’s set is taken over by the jokesters from Skeletonwitch as they play their favorite music videos of all time, play some videos from their recent NYC show, and just perform a variety of other shenanigans. Watch the whole video from some great interviews, a super thashtastic live video of Skeletonwitch’s “Beneath the Permafrost”, and killer live videos from Pantera, Danzig, Immortal, Emperor, and more.

VIEW: Metal Injection, The FiX (episode 13; featuring Skeletonwitch)

Keep reading for direct links to 3 more stellar live videos that Metal Injection filmed and edited from their NY show! Continue reading

Sunday (Industrial) Minute: Throbbing Gristle, “Discipline”

Posted in Sunday Metalhead Minute with tags , , , , , , on Sunday, February 8, 2009 by Ryan Buege

I’m not too sure this music really even qualifies as metal, which you may have noticed from the slight title change on this week’s post. Nonetheless, I feel confident saying that Throbbing Gristle‘s noisy industrial pioneering in the late 70s and early 80s has been more influential on modern metal (as well as music in general) than anything else that was being produced at that time. Not only were these British cats the precursors to all things industrial such as Ministry or Godflesh, they have also had enormous influence on other corners of the music world. For example, bands as varied as Sonic Youth and Aphex Twin (and the millions of other bands they helped to inspire) might not exist had  they not been influenced by what Throbbing Gristle created in some way. This week, the recently reunited band announced a small tour of their first U.S. tour dates since 1981 that includes their first stop in the Midwest ever and a performance at Coachella festival. To celebrate, I’m including their classic live performance of “Discipline” as this installments Sunday Metalhead Minute; it might be uncomfortable for a beginner, but watch to the end to enjoy the full effect of TG.

Keep reading for all of Throbbing Gristle’s planned tour dates (including a Chi town show)… Continue reading

ISIS post Wavering Radiant artwork and tracklisting

Posted in Music News with tags , , , on Friday, February 6, 2009 by Ryan Buege

ISIS have revealed some more info about their new album, Wavering Radiant, namely the Aaron Turner cover artwork and a full album tracklisting! Speaking about the album Isis frontman Turner said, that this album “feels more like Isis than any other album else has.” If you’ve ever been to an Isis live show, you know what he’s talking about. This is one to look forward to; already put it on the must buy list!

The track listing for Wavering Radiant is:

Hall Of The Dead
Ghost Key
Hand Of The Host
Wavering Radiant
Stone To Wake A Serpent
20 Minutes / 40 Years
Threshold of Transformation

(via MetalKult)

MPLS show recommendation: RNC 8 Benefit Show @ Bedlam Theatre tonight

Posted in Concert Dates with tags , , , , , , , , , on Friday, February 6, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Don’t have any solid plans for the evening yet? As always, there is plenty to do this weekend, but my personal suggestion is to get out to the Bedlam tonight. Support a worthy cause, and see some amazing uplifting local music from Black Blondie, Bouncer Fighter, and Best Friends Forever.

RNC 8 Benefit

“The RNC 8 are organizers against the 2008 Twin Cities Republican National Convention who have been falsely charged in response to their political organizing: Luce Guillen-Givins, Max Specktor, Nathanael Secor, Eryn Trimmer, Monica Bicking, Erik Oseland, Robert Czernik and Garrett Fitzgerald.”

Show starts at 10pm tonight, Feb. 6, @ Bedlam Theatre (on UofM’s West Bank in MPLS)

DIG DEEPER: RNC8.orgConcert link

FREE Album Download: Iron Thrones, Visions of Light

Posted in Downloads, Music Reviews with tags , , , , , , on Friday, February 6, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Iron Thrones
Iron Thrones is a band that truly embodies their name in several aspects. Not to be too corny, but the band hails from our own iron-rich state of Minnesota, and (despite their relatively short time playing together) you can easily consider them to be one of several crown jewels that the currently burgeoning and heavily varied Minneapolis metal scene has to offer. This is an epic progressive death metal quartet (though, on the lookout for another guitarist) that could easily find resonance with fans of Opeth, Death, Between the Buried and Me, Converge or even maybe post-rock like Mogwai. That’s not to say that Iron Thrones really follows in any of these bands footsteps though, as they have begun to perfect their own unique focused sound. Even on this debut, Visions of Light, the band achieve a rare and organic balance of naturalistic melodies and brutal shred. The album is the embodiment of yin-and-yang, a dense atmospheric album to one man and a nuanced progressive headbanger to another. Right now, it’s doing wonders for my ears.

Iron Thrones, Visions of LightClearly the band knows how to treat its fans, as well. As such, these guys have posted their entire new album, Visions of Light, online for download. The cool thing is that they’ve gone the Radiohead way of things and made it available for free, “donation” through Amazon, Itunes, etc., or as a hard copy purchase. I’ve never heard how this model has worked out for a local underground metal band (as opposed to juggernauts like RH and Rez), and there’s no word when their $500 quadruple gatefold limited pressing with an optional commentary becomes available, but I really don’t see how it could hurt. There’ll still be many opportunities to support them and purchase hard copies when you’re seeing Iron Thrones in the live setting. They’ve got these area shows lined up, including a performance in Burnsville tomorrow:

Feb 6 @ The Garage w/ Rawhyde in Burnsville, Minnesota
Feb 11 @ The Rafters @ UMD w/ Empires in Duluth, Minnesota
Feb 27 @ Electric Earth in Madison, Wisconsin
Feb 28 @ The Uptown Bar w/ Zebulon Pike in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Apr 3 @ Station 4 w/ The Body Beneath, in St. Paul, Minnesota
May 15 @ TBA w/ The Body Beneath & Rhynoceraptor in Minneapolis, Minnesota
May 16 @ TBA w/ The Body Beneath & Rhynoceraptor in St. Cloud, Minnesota

DIG DEEPER: Download Visions of Light!Official SiteMyspace

Audio: Big Business premiere “Gold and Final”

Posted in Downloads with tags , , on Friday, February 6, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Big Business got back from their tour with the Melvins not so long ago, and in the meantime they’ve finished up recording sessions for their latest album, Mind the Drift. The ever-reliable Hydrahead Records will be putting out this third full-length of lumbering, cerebral, retro-stoner metal in April 2008. It’s notable that it’s the band’s first release to feature their new guitarist and third member Toshi Kasai; the mix on this one sounds stronger than any I’ve heard from them yet. Listen in!

DOWNLOAD: “Gold and Final” (from Mind the Drift)

(mp3 courtesy of Spin)

Video: Bad Brains documentary preview & progress update

Posted in Video with tags , , , , , , , , , , , , on Thursday, February 5, 2009 by Ryan Buege

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The legendary (and, from both a personal & public point of view, extremely influential) American hardcore-punk group Bad Brains have posted an update on a forthcoming as-of-yet untitled documentary they are planning for future release. The band is now in post-production for the film which is being directed by Mandy Stein and Ben Logan and traces the history of the band from their formation in Washington, D.C. in 1979 to the present day. However, they’re not done yet; in the rare case that you actually footage of the band from throughout their career, please contact the directors by emailing them to let them know. So far, the film is guaranteed to featured interviews with all four founding members, as well as  from Henry Rollins, Minor Threat/Fugazi vocalist Ian MacKaye, ex-Minor Threat guitarist Lyle Preslar, ex-Cro-Mags vocalist Jon Joseph and guitarist Harley Flanagan, Murphy’s Law guitarist Jimmy Gestapo and Beastie Boys’ Adam Yauch, who produced the  Bad Brain’s 2007 album, Build a Nation.

I wasn’t around for the hardcore renaissance that these guys propelled, but they have been as important to me as any band in contributing to my rejection of authority and my embrace of self-motivation. During my late teenage years, thee Bad Brains were my soundtrack, whether I was tooling with friends, jamming at a party, or chilling for a late night session; Bad Brains is music for an inspired life. This should be an amazing documentary and is very well deserved this late in their career. Anyone else excited for this? Anyone not know this band?.. well if not, shame, shame, shame on you! Keep a lookout here for a final release announcement.