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Concert Photo Recap: Meshuggah, Cynic, and The Faceless @ Station 4

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags cynic, death metal, live, meshuggah, Metal, minnesota, obzen, progressive metal, st. paul, station 4, the faceless on Monday, February 16, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Wow! I don’t think I should be allowed to review this one beyond that one word, seeing as how all these bands place among my favorite active music groups (uh yeah, if you didn’t realize yet, I’ve got a very soft spot in my heart for progressive metal). Years of anticipation for both Meshuggah and Cynic to play again in Minnesota were met with great rewards on Friday, February 13th at Station 4 in St. Paul, MN, with both bands dishing out equal servings of old and new mind-boggling progressive metal. Though nearly half the age of the members of the other bands, The Faceless were right at home on the bill and seemed to turn quite a few heads.

It’s always very difficult getting any good photos at Station 4 when you don’t line up a photo pass. When Station 4 is packed with a metal hungry sold out crowd that is switched on into tornado-mode, thrashing to Meshuggah, it becomes nearly impossible. I did my best, and surprisingly got quite a few keepers. Here are the photos from the Meshuggah, Cynic, and The Faceless show at Station 4:

(Meshuggah)

(Cynic)

(The Faceless)

Keep viewing the gallery! There’s still many photos of Meshuggah, Cynic, and The Faceless left, so just hit read more to continue… Continue reading →

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Black metal storming into Minnesota in June 2009

Posted in Concert Dates with tags absu, averse sefira, black metal, cattle decapitation, cephalic carnage, death metal, glorior belli, grindcore, marduk, mayhem, minnesota, norway, sothis, st. paul, withered on Wednesday, February 11, 2009 by Ryan Buege

It’s not often that Satan blesses this state with prestigious black metal tours (despite many of our resident’s strong Norwegian ancestry), but it appears that someone downstairs has some particularly evil plans for the region in early June. Just this week, two massive underground metal tours were announced, both headlined by some of the most feared band’s BM has to offer.

The most noteworthy show announcement is the Mayhem, Marduk concert on June 9th at Station 4 that is being opened by Cattle Decapitation, Cephalic Carnage, and Withered. Honestly, there will be so much awesome packed into this night that I’m having a hard time getting my head around it. I have not had the chance to see Norway’s Mayhem yet, but the well published details surrounding their gruesome history and sickening live show has me really intrigued. Marduk is equally imposing, and are sure to satisfy the many in Mayhem’s legions. Of all the performances, Cattle Decapitation is the “must-see” band; they are always very impressive live, and this year they are going to be supporting what I believe to be the best release of their career. The hilarious dudes of Cephalic Carnage will most likely incite a great brutal tech mosh fest to get things going, and the Withered performance will surely be an eye-opening starter for those who have not yet caught wind of their incredible technical black metal meets grindcore on their recent Folie Circulaire.

Hopefully the Mayhem show won’t wear out the local black metal fans too much, because on June 15th, Station 4 will be home to the CIII tour featuring long-running and revered USBM band Absu, with support from their labelmates Glorior Belli, Averse Sefira, and Sothis. Right now Absu is only a few weeks from releasing their highly antipated new self-titled album, and by the time this show hits St. Paul I’m sure it’ll still be on my heavy rotation playlist. Even after nearly 20 years as a band, their profile is still clearly rising, and for good reason.

Keep reading for the full tour schedules… Continue reading →

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

Posted in Mind Inversion Exclusive, Sound Immersion with tags Audio, blacklisted, boards of canada, craig armstrong, cymarshall law & mr. joeker, cynic, DM stith, download, enslaved, february 2009, fieldtriqp, Grails, kaz james, lamb of god, lookbook, Mind Inversion Exclusive, minnesota, mp3, nick galea, nine inch nails, P.O.S., Playlist, samon kawamura, sampler, solid gold, soul position, the broken west, the decemberists, watussi on Tuesday, February 10, 2009 by Ryan Buege

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 →

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

Posted in Concert Dates with tags benefit, best friends forever, black blondie, bouncer fighter, minneapolis, minnesota, republican national convention, rnc, rnc8, st. paul 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.

“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.org – Concert link

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FREE Album Download: Iron Thrones, Visions of Light

Posted in Downloads, Music Reviews with tags death metal, free, iron thrones, minneapolis, minnesota, progressive metal, visions of light on Friday, February 6, 2009 by Ryan Buege

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.

Clearly 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 Site – Myspace

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Video: Minnesota-based local music internet TV show Northern Outpost airs third episode featuring The Yoleus

Posted in Video with tags andy elwell, bouncer fighter, kill to kill, local music, minnapolis, minnesota, northern outpost, owl recording, st. paul, the yoleus, uptown, windmills on Monday, February 2, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Recently the Minnesota music community gained a valuable addition when the Uptown Minneapolis-based internet TV show Northern Outpost launched at vimeo.com/northernoutpost. It’s a much needed visual outlet for local music artists that showcases the musicians with studio performances and interviews filmed at their coopted Owl Recording studio which air bi-weekly at Northern Outposts’ website. They’ve already gone through two episodes (that we unfortunately failed to mention here), and now they’re on to the third where they are featuring St. Paul avante-garde/mathrock group The Yoleus. In addition to a live performance of The Yoleus’s driving, bass-heavy rhythms and dissonant guitar theatrics at Owl Recording, the band gives a brief interview where they discuss topics ranging from the current local music scene to the nature of guitar-based instrumental music. It’s a really great show, and it looks like they’ll have an entire season of excellent local artists to come.

Stay tuned for more episodes; they’ve got 4 and 5 filmed already! And don’t hesitate to click the links below to visit all of their previous episodes.

Episode 1: Andy Elwell (01/02/2009)
Episode 2: Kill to Kill (01/16/2009)
Episode 3: The Yoleus (01/30/2009)

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Sunday Metal Minute: Irepress, “Cyette Phiur”

Posted in Sunday Metalhead Minute with tags boston, dark castle, fargo, irepress, live, Metal, minnesota, post-rock, progressive, shoegaze, sol eye sea i, SXSW, thresholds of imbalance, triple rock social club, vernal pool on Monday, February 2, 2009 by Ryan Buege

For these final minutes of your Sunday evening, I highly encourage you to light up, kick back, and enjoy this adventurous new track of polyrhythmic progressive/post metal from Boston, MA group Irepress. The group’s press sheet states that the band will “readily find appeal with fans of Battles, Cynic and Explosions in the Sky alike”, and I’m inclined to agree with it. While much of the song vibes off of Meshuggah-esque abstract brutality and dissonant hardcore, “Cyette Phiur” is a shoegaze/post-rock epic at its heart. I never thought I would be able to say that I really enjoyed a song integrates both gang vocals AND a string section, but when it works (as it does here) I’ll be the first to admit it. It’s rare that a progressive metal band sounds so at home in such foreign territory, and they’ve got me interested to see what other ideas they’ve pulled together. So far it sounds genius..

Listen: “Cyette Phiur” (from Sol Eye Sea I, in stores 2/17)

Also worthy of note is that Irepress and Fargo, ND (..almost MPLS..) post-metal prodigies Battlefields will soon be heading out on a massive U.S. tour to support the release of their new albums including a 4 day stint in Austin, TX for SXSW. They’ll be in the metro on March 11th for a show with Dark Castle and Vernal Pool. Keep reading for all the tour dates… Continue reading →

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Video: Soilwork, “20 More Miles”

Posted in Video with tags darkane, daylight dies, minnesota, soilwork, st. paul, swallow the sun, warbringer on Thursday, January 29, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Soilwork needs no introduction (am i right?).

These Swedish melodic death metallers will soon be joined for a tour in the U.S. by Darkane, Warbringer, Swallow the Sun will kick off on January 30 in Rochester, New York. They’ll be in MN at Station 4 on February 23rd. Keep reading for all the dates… Continue reading →

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10KLF adds Dave Matthews Band, Widespread Panic, and Wilco to lineup

Posted in Concert Dates with tags 10000 Lakes Festival, 10KLF, BoomBox, Cloud Cult, Dave Matthews Band, Enchanted Ape, Everyone Orchestra, Junior Brown, Kathleen Edwards, Kinetix, minnesota, Music Festival, My Dear Disco, Pretty Lights, Railroad Earth, Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings, Tea Leaf Green, The Macpodz, The Ragbirds, Trampled By Turtles, Umphrey's McGee, Widespread Panic, Wilco, William Elliott Whitmore, WookieFoot on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 by Ryan Buege

It’s not just for the hippies anymore! Minnesota premiere annual summer celebration of festival music has announced it’s return for 2009, and in the tradition of other “jam-festivals” like Bonaroo, their adding a bit more diversity to their lineup. In addition to yearly staples such as Trampled By Turtles, Umphrey’s McGee, and Wookiefoot, this years’ 10KLF will feature performances by big-name artists DMB, Widespread Panic, and alt-country heros Wilco. Even Minneapolis-based Cloud Cult will be performing. My personal favorite of the list is Mississippi river folk-punk William Elliot Whitmore. Who are you excited to see? The party’s worth it every year, and this year it seems like the organizers have finally put together a promising enough itinerary to ensure it’ll be packed. Keep reading for the full list.. Continue reading →

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Concert Photo Recap: Solid Gold, Lookbook, and DJ Gigamesh @ the Turf Club

Posted in Concert Reviews with tags dj gigamesh, live music, lookbook, minnesota, photographs, solid gold, st. paul, turf club on Monday, January 19, 2009 by Ryan Buege

Solid Gold played to a lively, capacity crowd at the Turf Club on January 16 in St. Paul. Lookbook opened up the night and DJ Gigamesh provided the music for the dancefloor before, in-between, and after the sets. Here are some photos:

Solid Gold
Solid Gold @ the Turf Club