DYING FETUS Releases Fall North American Tour Dates, Will Play St. Paul October 26

I'm embarrassed to admit that there are a number of posts in my publishing cue that I thought where scheduled to be published but in fact were not. Bear with me as I clear these out and publish them now despite the news being a couple weeks out.

Influential death metal band Dying Fetus will embark on a headlining North American tour in October with support from gore gods Exhumed, Devourment, Abiotic, and Waking The Cadaver or Rivers Of Nihil on select dates. The tour lands in St. Paul at Station 4 on Saturday, October 26. Tickets for the St. Paul show are on sale now through Ticketfly.

Exhumed performing August 11, 2000 at the Showcase Theater in Corona, California. Click on the photo to see more pictures from this show (14).

Dying Fetus w/Exhumed, Devourment, Abiotic, and Waking The Cadaver* or Rivers Of Nihil^†

October 4 – Wilmington, DE, Mojo 13*

October 5 – Wilmington, NC, The Soapbox*

October 6 – Orlando, FL, Back Booth*

October 7 – Tampa, FL, The Orpheum*

October 9 – Houston, TX, Fitzgerald’s*

October 10 – Austin, TX, Red 7*

October 11 – Dallas, TX, Trees*

October 12 – Oklahoma City, OK, Chameleon Room*

October 13 – Santa Fe, NM, Warehouse 21*

October 14 – Tempe, AZ, Rocky Point*

October 15 – Santa Ana, CA, The Observatory*

October 16 – West Hollywood, CA, Whisky*

October 17 – San Francisco, CA, DNA Lounge*

October 18 – Portland, OR, Branx*

October 19 – Seattle, WA, Studio Seven*

October 20 – Vancouver, BC, Rickshaw Theater

October 22 – Calgary, AB, Republik

October 23 – Edmonton, AB, Pawn Shop

October 24 – Regina, SK, Riddell Centre

October 25 – Winnipeg, MB, Park Theater

October 26 – St. Paul, MN, Station 4^†

October 27 – Chicago, IL, Reggie’s^†

October 29 – Cleveland, OH, Peabody’s^†

October 30 – Poughkeepsie, NY, Chance Theater^†

October 31 – Worcester, MA, Palladium^†

November 1 – New York, NY, Gramercy Theater^†

November 2 – Springfield, VA, Empire^†

Station 4 Concert Updates—Shows Moved Or Canceled

Since Station 4 in St. Paul closed abruptly for the summer on Friday, June 7, the status of the concerts already booked there is in doubt.

To quickly recap, the building's owner had been fighting an order from the city of St. Paul to upgrade the building's ventilation system. The building had remained open during two exemptions given by the city, and a third was denied. An updated article from Chris Riemenschneider at the Minneapolis Star Tribune provides some details:

"Steve Ledin, co-owner of Station 4, said the building's owner had been in negotiations with the city for more than a year — and up until last week — hoping to keep the club open while the new ventilation was built. The upgrades proved more costly than expected, given the structure's century-old construction — about $100,000, which required Alan Peterson, owner of the building and co-owner of the club, to refinance the property."

Ledin also confirmed that the light rail train construction that's been taking place right in front of the club for the last 2–3 years has hurt business (like most businesses in the path of the light rail line):

"Over the past two years, Ledin said, the club saw about a $1 million decrease in revenue that he attributes mostly to light-rail construction. On the upside, Ledin said the refinancing will permit other refurbishments to be made."

Here is a complete update on the current state of metal and hard rock shows that were scheduled. Refunds for canceled shows should be available at the point of purchase. I have left shows for which no information is yet available on the concert calendar for now, and they will be updated when appropriate.

The Abandon Kansas show tonight, June 13 has been moved to the Evangelical Free Church in Mankato. It’s only $5 at the door and starts at 7:00. Support now comes from Marah In The Mainsail and Dead Level Best.

Moved to the Evangelical Free Church in Mankato.

The album release show for Cold Colours with Avernus, Plague Of Stars, and Nuklear Frost on Saturday, June 15 has been cancelled.

Canceled.

There is no updated information about the Melechesh, Vreid, Lightning Swords Of Death, Reign Of Lies, and Pestifere concert on Monday, June 24.

No information available at this time.

Polkadot Cadaver, One-Eyed Doll, and Exotic Animal Petting Zoo has been moved to Pov’s 65 in Spring Lake Park.

Moved to POV's 65 in Spring Lake Park.

Florida’s Hot Graves cancelled their entire summer tour a couple days ago, which was supposed to hit Station 4 on Friday, June 28. Virginia thrashers Humungus are continuing on with the tour, but it’s unknown if the Station 4 show with Plagued Insanity, Failure Meets Fame, and Splimit will be moved to a different venue.

The Green Jellÿ show on Friday, July 19 has been moved to the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis. Still supporting are Impaler, Screaming Mechanical Brain, Iguana, and Rock And Roll Whores.

No information is available about what will happen to the Kommandant, Atrum Inritus, Burning Bethlehem, and Nuklear Frost show on Saturday, July 27.

No information available at this time.

The Summer Slaughter tour featuring Dillinger Escape Plan, Animals As Leaders, Periphery, Norma Jean, Cattle Decapitation, The Ocean, Revocation, Rings Of Saturn, Thy Art Is Murder, and Aeon will now take place at the Cabooze in Minneapolis on Wednesday, August 14.

Moved to the Cabooze in Minneapolis.

There’s also no information about the fate of Sikfuk, Ghosthook, Gorgatron, Frosthelm, and Sadistic Passage on Saturday, August 31.

Station 4 Closed For The Summer, Shows Cancelled

It's with a heavy heart to report that metal club Station 4 in St. Paul has abruptly shut down for the summer, forcing the cancellation or rescheduled of all shows scheduled until they reopen in September. The closure is due to city-imposed upgrades of the building's ventilation system. I'll have more detailed news and information about this later.

PAIN OF SALVATION Ends North American Tour Early, Tonight's St. Paul Concert Canceled

This crushing news was posted within the last hour on the Facebook page of SwordLord Productions, promoter for tonight's concert at Station 4 in St. Paul with Pain Of Salvation, Kingcrow, Imminent Sonic Destruction, Violent Fade, and Redshift. If you saw my review of the new album from Kingcrow, In Crescendo (10/10), you'll understand how deeply disappointing this news is. The SwordLord (Nathan Block) writes on his Facebook page:

"I found out early this morning that Daniel Gildenlöw, lead singer for Pain of Salvation, has developed pneumonia and will be flying home to recover. Obviously the band could no longer perform under such circumstances.

I then tried to negotiate a free show with KINGCROW, IMMINENT SONIC DESTRUCTION and my outstanding local acts in order to salvage the evening. Unfortunately, due to a breakdown in communication, the other bands on the tour package had already started heading home and were now not in a position to make the show on time.

This is the first time in my entire 10 year career of producing Minnesota concerts that I have completely lost a show. I am extremely sorry for the gross inconvenience. Unfortunately these circumstances were far beyond my control.

Advance ticket holders, please return your tickets to your place of purchase for a full refund."

This is the second show cancelled on this brief tour (Quebec City was the other) that only had about eight shows scheduled. In the case of Kingcrow it's curious that they would be "now not in a position to make the show on time." St. Paul was the last stop on the tour, and one would think their returning flight to Italy wouldn't be until at least tomorrow and would depart from Minneapolis. You'd think they would be spending tonight in the Twin Cities regardless of the status of the show, but I'm sure it must be more complicated than this. In any event, we can only hope that Pain Of Salvation and Kingcrow can make it back to the Twin Cities later this year.

Album Review - KINGCROW

Kingcrow – In Crescendo

Sensory, 2013

10/10

Kingcrow is a new band to me, so I’m overwhelmed with awe that In Crescendo from this low-profile Italian band is the best progressive rock album since Porcupine Tree stunned the rock world with In Absentia and Deadwing. In Crescendo will go down as a landmark album on par with other modern classics such as the aforementioned Porcupine Tree albums, Karnivool’s Sound Awake, Devin Townsend’s Ocean Machine (originally released as Biomech by Ocean Machine) and Opeth’s Blackwater Park. I wish I could claim that I had discovered Kingcrow earlier (this is their fifth album), so unfortunately I can’t place In Crescendo in the context of their earlier work.

Photo courtesy Kingcrow (www.kingcrow.it)

There’s everything you’d expect from a masterpiece – beautiful, thoughtful songs, impeccable musicianship, and innovative songcraft. During my first few listens I just couldn’t believe how good this album is. The rhythm section is tight, and picks up with driving force where appropriate, while the guitarwork typically shifts between solid, thick riffs and haunting acoustic melodies oftentimes layered together with electric guitar. Keyboards are ever-present throughout the album, from pulsing electronic rhythms to piano to difficult-to-characterize sounds. Then there’s the voice of Diego Marchesi – dynamic, soaring, majestic. Everything feels like it’s in its proper place. There’s not a whiff of pretention despite the depth of each song. Porcupine Tree is an obvious point of reference (the rhythm of “The Drowning Line” borrows some notes from “Arriving Somewhere But Not Here”), but more so in a stylistic sense. “The Hatch” has an eerie vibe similar to Queensrÿche’s version of “Gonna Get Close To You” before massive guitar chords blow the song wide open. Other high points are the slow-building melodies of “Morning Rain” and the measured grace of “The Glass Fortress”. The entire album is so compelling, so rich and captivating, that there’s no question in my mind that In Crescendo will stand as a monumental classic. So rare are the moments when a perfect, life-affirming album appears as if a gift from the heavens that one must simply bask in the glow and let the music infuse your soul. This is one such moment.

Kingcrow performs tonight, Saturday, May 11 at Station 4 in St. Paul as direct support to Pain Of Salvation with Imminent Sonic Destruction, Violent Fade, and Redshift.

Fall VICIOUS RUMORS, LEATHERWOLF, SEVEN WITCHES Tour Dates Announced, St. Paul September 23

Long-running Bay Area power metal band Vicious Rumors is teaming for a killer North American tour this Fall dubbed the "Metal Masters Tour" with Leatherwolf and Seven Witches that will run from September 18 to October 25. The first batch of these dates has been revealed, and thankfully it includes a stop in St. Paul at Station 4 on September 23. Confirmed dates for the tour are listed at the bottom of this post.

Vicious Rumors just released their eleventh studio album, Electric Punishment, through SPV/Steamhammer earlier this week - watch the video for "I Am The Gun" above. My favorite album from the band is 1988's Digital Dictator, an absolute monster of an album that's relentless from start to finish. To get fired up for this tour, watch this live version of "Digital Dictator" from 1994 in Aschaffenburg, Germany with original vocalist Carl Alberts who sadly died from a car accident in 1995.

Veteran metal band Leatherwolf will release a new live album, Unchained, later this year, and you can download a free mp3 version of "Spiter" from the forthcoming album by liking the band over on their Facebook page. Seven Witches will release their ninth studio album, The Rebirth, through eOne this summer. Founding guitarist Jack Frost has enlisted an entirely new band that includes vocalist Anthony Cross, bassist Ronnie Parkes, and former Type O Negative drummer Johnny Kelly.

Confirmed Metal Masters Tour dates with Vicious Rumors, Leatherwolf, and Seven Witches (more to be announced):
September 21 - Indianapolis, IN, Indianapolis Metal Fest
September 23 - St. Paul, MN, Station 4
September 24 - Detroit, MI, IROCK
September 27 - Akron, OH, Rippers Rock House
September 28 - Rochester, NY, The Montage
September 29 - Toronto, ON, MOD (Virgin Mobile Center)
September 30 - Poughkeepsie, NY, The Chance Theater
October 1 - New York, NY, Webster Hall
October 2 - New York, NY, Saint Vitus
October 3 - Philadelphia, PA, Voltage Lounge
October 4 - Frederick, MD, Bentz Street
October 5 - Spartanburg, SC, Ground Zero
October 10 - Dallas, TX, The Boiler Room
October 12 - Arvada, CO, Jammin' Joes
October 19 - North Platte, NE, Sculley's Shooters

I DECLARE WAR - April 9, 2013

Brutal deathcore band I Declare War played an intense show on April 9 at Station 4 in St. Paul while on tour with Within The Ruins, The Contortionist, Reflections, and City In The Sea. I previously posted the audio from Reflections, and now here is the complete audio of I Declare War. The concert was reviewed in two parts, here and here.

Click on the photo to see additional live pictures of I Declare War (22).

The download link is here. As always, please share, but share the link to this post rather than the direct Mediafire link. Enjoy!

I Declare War

Tonight We Lay Waste

April 9, 2013

St. Paul, MN, Station 4

mp3@192 kbps, 41.7 MB zip file (artwork included)

1. Human Waste (5:39)

2. Misery Cloud (3:40)

3. March On (4:01)

4. Weak Minds (4:09)

5. The Dot (4:36)

6. Putrification Of The Population (4:03)

7. Malevolence (2:20)

Total time: 28:28