Saturday, March 27, 2010

Transilvanian Hunger

Romania was simply amazing. Thanks to my brothers in Agalloch, Alcest (Fursy, Neige, Pierre, and Winterhalter), Doru, Andrea, and Stefan of Kogainon. The amazing Sex Bear Leo and his hotel staff. The fans that travelled from at least 15 different countries to see these shows, and of course, the Romaniacs who showed us so much love and a most memorable time. Pictures of Romania here but you'll have to log in to Facebook. Off on another adventure this time with Ludicra. Blog resumes when that is finished. Complete Dates Here:

04/01 - Portland, OR @ Berbati's Pan (w/Jonny X and the Groadies, Transient, Dj Nate C)
04/02 - Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater (w/Pierced Arrows)
04/03 - Seattle, WA @ The Morgue (w/Anhedonist, Elksblood, Forest of Grey)
04/04 - Boise, ID @ Redroom
04/05 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt's Tiki Lounge (w/SubRosa, Ninth Zealot)
04/06 - Denver, CO @ Blast-o-mat
04/07 - Lincoln, NE @ Duffy's w/Ezra
04/08 - St Paul, MN @ Turf Club
04/09 - Milwaukee, WI @ Jackpot Gallery
04/10 - Chicago @ The Cave (w/Clad in Darkness)
04/11 - Indianapolis, IN @ Melody Inn
04/12 - Lansing, MI @ Mac's Bar (w/Wastelander, Sauron)
04/13 - Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar (w/Krallice, Crucifist)
04/14 - Toronto, ON @ Rancho Relaxo (w/Krallice)
04/15 - Montreal, QC @ Il Motore (w/Krallice)
04/16 - Portland, ME @ Geno's (w/Ocean, Krallice, Aok Suicide Forest)
04/17 - Allston, MA @ O'Brien's (w/Tombs, Krallice)
04/18 - Brooklyn, NY @ Europa (w/Krallice, Castevet, Attake)
04/19 - Philadelphia @ M Room (w/Lair of the Minotaur, Tombs, Krallice)
04/20 - Baltimore, MD @ Hexagon (w/Tombs, Krallice)
04/21 - Richmond, VA @ The Triple (w/Krallice)
04/22 - Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn (w/Music Hates You)
04/23 - Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
04/24 - Little Rock, AR @ Downtown Music
04/25 - Austin, TX @ Emo's
04/27 - Las Cruces, NM @ The Trainyard
04/28 - Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Basement
04/29 - San Diego, CA @ Radio Room
04/30 - Los Angeles, CA @ Sabor Lounge
05/01 - Santa Cruz, CA @ Coaster's (w/Dusted Angel)

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Sit Down, Son. We Need To Talk.

Look, son. Well, heck, this ain't easy so I'm just going to jump right in. Um, well first let me just say that me and this blog love you very much, and nothing's going to change that, champ, but sometimes things change, people change. You see what I'm getting at, son? No? Okay, well, it's like this. Me and the blog, see we need sometime away from one another. I'll still be your dad, and Cosmic Hearse will still be your blog, but...

I'm just fucking with you. However, I could use a break from The Hearse and I will be traveling quite a bit over the next month and a half, so the blog will be on hiatus for a bit. First I go to this...


then I have a couple a days and I head out to this...


Then I am home in San Francisco for a few days for this...


Then I am off on this...

Here are the dates for Ludicra's Tour...

04/01 – Portland, OR @ Berbati’s Pan with Transient
04/02 – Olympia, WA @ Capitol Theater
04/03 – Seattle, WA @ The Morgue with Anhedonist and Forest of Grey
04/04 – Boise, ID @ Redroom
04/05 – Salt Lake City, UT @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge with SubRosa and Ninth Zealot
04/06 – Denver, CO @ Blast-o-mat
04/07 – Lincoln, NE @ Duffy’s
04/08 – St Paul, MN @ Turf Club
04/09 – Milwaukee, WI @ Jackpot Gallery
04/10 – Chicago @ The Cave with Clad In Darkness
04/11 – Indianapolis, IN @ Melody Inn with Worldeater
04/12 – Lansing, MI @ Mac’s Bar
04/13 – Rochester, NY @ Bug Jar with Krallice and Crucifist
04/14 – Toronto, ON @ Rancho Relaxo with Krallice
04/15 – Montreal, QC @ TBA with Krallice
04/16 – Portland, ME @ Geno’s with Krallice and Ocean
04/17 – Boston, MA @ TBA
04/18 – Brooklyn, NY @ Europa with Krallice, Castavet and Atakke
04/19 – Philadelphia @ M Room with Krallice, Tombs, and Lair of the Minotaur
04/20 – Baltimore, MD @ Hexagon with Krallice
04/21 – Richmond, VA @ The Triple
04/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Drunken Unicorn
04/23 – Knoxville, TN @ Pilot Light
04/24 – Little Rock, Ar.@ Downtown Music
04/25 – Austin, TX @ Emo’s
04/27 – TBA
04/28 – Phoenix, AZ @ Nile Basement with Landmine Marathon
04/29 – San Diego, CA @ Radio Room
04/30 – Los Angeles, CA @ Sabor Lounge with Winterthrall
05/01 – Santa Cruz, CA @ Coaster’s
05/08 – San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord with Kowloon Walled City



Cosmic Hearse will be back the first week of May (I promise.) Hope to see some of you out in the world. Oh, and remember Cosmic Hearse and I will always love you, no matter what. Now go grab me a beer.



Saturday, March 6, 2010

Hunok

Despite the tag, Hunok are not a Black Metal band. Hunok does, however, operate within Black Metal circles, having released collaborative efforts with Marblebog and Bilskirnir. Hunok plays more droning ambient folk with allusions to the ancestral heathenry of their native Hungary. Hunok's work is subtle and reflective, even relaxing. This amazing cassette titled Gesta Hungarorum was the band's first release. The songs are instrumental but the tapes insert explains the songs ties to the linear story of Árpád, who was the second Magyar prince and the early Hungarians who settled in Carpathia. To enhance the listening experience I have included the text that accompany the songs. Enjoy.

Attila Király Halála (Death of God's Scourge)

Fate, in return for many misfortunes that were sent forth to mankind by his weapons, broke his fatal thread just when he felt the happiest. Attila passed away in the spring of the year 453 when they were celebrating their wedding with princely Ildikó. He was said to go in for insatiable drinking during the wedding-feast. The quaich, handled by his cup-bearer, was filling and emptying faster than usual and when Attila retired to his chambers inside his head was on the verge of intoxication and his eyes were closed down sleepily. Next morning he was not seen to come out moreover the greater part of the day passed without any rustles. At last the guardians of the palace got anxious, they were shouting but no answer came out of the room. They burst open the door of the bedroom and a horrific scene unfolded before them. Attila lay lifeless on his bed with his head in a pool of blood and next to the bed stood the beautiful Ildikó with her eyes swimming in tears. The guardians tried to wake him up in vain, he did not move and his body was cold as ice. A few moments later the dreadful sound of pain rumbled through the palace; the Huns were tearing their hair in despair, some were rendering their faces with daggers. The news spread like a bolt from the blue - Attila was dead.

Új Remény (Lord Álmos)

In 819 A.D. Ügyek, who was a very noble chieftain of Szcítia and was hailing from king Mágóg's clan, married the daughter of chief Onedbelia in Dentü-Mogyer, whose name was Emes. She bore a son, who got the name Álmos. This name comes from a divine, magic event since in a dream of his pregnant mother a divine vision appeared in the shape of a turul bird and by descending on her got Emes pregnant. At the same time, it seemed to her that a well was springing up from her womb and noble kings were hailing from her loins but they wouldn't proliferate on their own land. Thus, since the vision appearing during sleep is called álom in Hungarian and because his birth was also foreshadowed by a dream, he got the name Álmos. Álmos, after he'd come into the world, meant a great pleasure for Ügyek and his relatives, as well as for almost all the notables of Szcítia because Ügyek, his father, was hailing from king Mágóg's clan. Álmos, himself, was a nice but brown-cheeked man. His eyes were black but big, he was tall and slim, his hands were large and his fingers were bulky. At the same time he was a graceful, benevolent, generous, wise and straight soldier. He was happy and generous for the soldiers of Szcítia country at that time. And when he'd reached the mature age he was greater and wiser than all the other chieftains of Szcítia country, despite he was a pagan. At that time, all the affairs of the country were conducted according to his advice or with his help. When he'd reached manhood, Álmos married the daughter of a highly noble chieftain of that land. She bore a son who was named Árpád, whom he took with him to Pannónia.

Véreskü (Oath of the 7 Lords)

The first passage of the oath reads as follows: Till their lives and indeed till the lives of their descendants last, their chieftain always be of Álmos' offspring. The second passage of the oath reads as follows: All the stock and property they gathered through hard work should be distributed on equal terms. The third passage of the oath reads as follows: Neither those in the principality, who elected Álmos their own lord by their own will, nor their sons let ever fall out from the chieftain's council or from the functions of the country. The fourth passage of the oath reads as follows: If any of the descendants would be unfaithful to the chief or would stir up a conflict between the chieftain and their relatives, let the blood of the sinner flow as their own blood flew when swearing to Álmos. The fifth passage of the oath reads as follows: At any of the descendants of Álmos or those others in the principality would be to break the agreement sealed with an oath, be damned eternally. These seven men were:
Álmos, the father of Árpád; Elód, the father of Szabolcs from whom the clan Csák was hailing; Kend, the father of Korcán; Ond, the father of Ete from whom the clans Kalán and Kölcse were hailing; Tas, the father of Lél; Huba, from whom the clan Szemere was hailing; and the seventh was Tétény, the father of Horka, and the sons of Horka were Gyula and Zombor from whom the clan Maglód was hailing.

Árpád, Our Ancient Father

In 903 A.D: Árpád with his armies conquering the whole land between rivers Tisza and Bodrog, up to Ugocsa, with all of its inhabitants. He had laid siege to the fortress of Borsoba and took it with fight by the third day, destroyed its walls and had the soldiers of Sadán, whom he'd found there, led to the fortress of Hung in shackles. While they were staying there for a couple of days, the chief and his people saw the fertility of that land, the abundance of games of every kind and that how rich the rivers of Tisza and Bodrog were in fish, therefore they rode to it unspeakably. In the end, Salán, hearing from his people what had happened, didn't dare to fight back but according to Hungarian customs by sending messengers he began to threaten. He hailed Árpád shamefully as the chief of Hungária, and called his people "hungárus" and began to wonder who they were then and where they came from that they dare to do such things. At the same time he sent a message to them, that they'd make amends for their evil deeds and dare not cross the river Bodrog by any means otherwise he himself would set to avenge their evil deeds harshly with the help of the Greeks and Bulgarians and he'd hardly set any of Árpád's people free except one who could announce his delight upon returning home that he had escaped.

Salán's delegates crossed the river Bodrog making their way to the fortress of Zemplén and the next day they reached chief Árpád. On the third day they greeted Árpád in the name of their Lord and told him the message. Árpád, on hearing this said, not with arrogance but with honesty: "The land between the Danube and river Tisza was my forefather's, king Attila, who had great power. Yet I, not because I'm afraid I couldn't oppose the Greeks or the Bulgarians ut for the sake of friendship with you chief Salán, ask for a small part of my dues for my castles that is the land up to river Sajó. Besides, I ask your chief to send me two crates of the water of the Danube as well as a faggot of the grass of the sand of Alpár to experience if the grass of Alpár is sweeter than that of Scythia, that is Dentü-Mogyer and if the water of the Danube is better that the Don's." After he had told them the message, he presented them abundantly and thus, winning their good will, sent them home. Árpád then was conferring with his people and he also sent his delegates to chief Salán. He also sent Salán twelve white horses...

Honfoglalás (897 - End of the Great Migration)

With a joint stand, mutual understanding and free will, chieftain Árpád and all his main people withdrew from the island and set up a tent over Soroksár up the stream Kákos. And as they saw they had been safe from every side and no-one had been able to resist them, they crossed the Danube. The harbour, where they crossed the river, was named Magyar-harbour after the crossing of the seven princely people across the river Danube. Reaching the other side they set up a tent along the Danube up to the upper-waters. Hearing this, the Romans escaped to save their lives. Next day, however, Árpád and all his chief people together with all the valiant soldiers of Hungary, marched in the town of king Attila. There they saw the palaces - some were in ruins, some weren't - and were wondering at those buildings of stone above. They cheered up exceptionally since they'd become worthy of occupying king Attila's town - without fight, off whose offspring chief Árpád was also hailing. Every day they were feasting cheerfully in the palace of king Attila, sitting side by side. The meat and drink was served on golden plates to the noble and on silver plates to the middle ranks as peasants since all the goods of the surrounding countries had been given by God to their hands. They were living abundantly and magnificently together with all their guests visiting them. Chief Árpád presented the guests carousing them with him with large lands and estates. Hearing this even more guests were swarming to Árpád and rebelling with him. Árpád and his people stayed in the town of Attila for twenty days in joy. Meanwhile, all the valiant soldiers of Hungary were taking part in knight tournaments in front of their chief riding on their armoured battle-stallions while the young were performing archery according to pagan traditions. This made Árpád very happy and he presented all valiant men with various goods such as gold, silver and other possessions. In addition, at the same place he presented a land to Kend, the father of Korcán, extending from king Attila's town over hundredmands and Diód as well as a castle to Kend's son to defend his folk. Korcán named this town after his own name and this name has not fallen into oblivion since then.


Friday, March 5, 2010

Cuddly

Are you ready for some infectious glam pop electro rock from Ireland's Cuddly Toys? Fuck yeah you are. Guillotine Theater is one of those albums that will have you spellbound by it's neverending cavalcade of fantastic songs. Some will sound like Bowie, some will sound like The Damned, and some will sound like Gary Numan, all of them will stick in your brain like peanut butter in your pubes (don't ask me how it gets there.) All the pomp, excess, and pagaentry that made rock in the '70s so great, before everyone got all minimal and introspective. This came out in 1980. Essential.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

OGD 666

There really was no finer band in San Francisco in the '90s than Old Grandad. The band was comprised of Eric Moggridge (formerly of Epidemic,) Will Carroll (formerly of Machinehead,) and Max Barnett. These three wooly buddies joined forces at a time when playing crushing metal about smoking crack wasn't really in vogue. All three members shared the vocal duties each having a distinct voice and approach to singing about smoking crack. They were ultra-heavy but still retained a sense of humor and irony, but not the kind of irony that has you wearing a handlebar moustache and a Loverboy jersey, asstits. Throughout the decade, OGD (as they were sometimes called) played many a great local show and released two albums and an EP. Volume 666 was their first album and it is as delicious as that first hit of crack on a crisp Mission District morning. Eric is now in SubArachnoid Space and operates his own freak-folk/psych solo project Aerial Ruin, Max now plays bass for Hammers of Misfortune, and Will bashes buckets for the legendary Death Angel. Loved this band, love these dudes. Get this album, smoke some crack, worship Satan. It's pretty simple, really.

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

House Burning Down


I know that I am in the minority of people that love Beefeater. I spent a lot of time in the late '80s and early '90s trying, to no avail, to convince people of their merits. So I am not going to do that here, I am just going to say what they mean to me, and add that you will hate this record. When I listen to this I am reminded of so many so-called revolutionary and innovative bands that followed clearly heard them and borrowed from them. Universal Order of Armageddon comes to mind, as well as Alice Donut, Victim's Family, and fellow DCers, Nation of Ulysses, Fugazi and Girls Against Boys. Beefeater were risk takers, completely oblivious or indifferent to trends or what was "punk." The took the peckerwood post-funk of bands like The Big Boys and The Minutemen, added the visceral aggression of Black Flag and The Bad Brains, and topped it off with the sharp introspective intellect of many of the DC bands at the time. The result was something not immediately palatable, something a bit more challenging, but ultimately rewarding and original. Few punks could play as well as these men, and even fewer would dare to create something so adventurous. Again, you will hate this and you will say to yourself "I remember when Cosmic Hearse was the best blog on the interwebs, now the guy posts bullshit that nobody likes, I'm going to head on over to that generic lazy blog and see if they leaked that new Burzum album."

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Witch Metal

Black Queen were an amazing Black Metal band from San Francisco circa 1998 that had amongst it's ranks Pete Jay (Assuck, Wormwood, Cheap Dates) and Bill Bowman (Nigel Pepper Cock, Project:Annihilator) This demo, titled Witch Metal was inspired by Argento's Three Mothers trilogy (despite being released before the uninspiring third installment Mother of Tears). Some years ago, Pete moved to Seattle. Supposedly he is working on a new incarnation of Black Queen there and wanted to share this lost classic in order to spread the word. Another bit of trivial knowledge: both Black Queen and Ludicra (and The Gault) played their very first show together in San Francisco in 1998. I really miss seeing them perform, they were just better and better each time continually raising the bar. Thanks Pete for kicking this down, it's brilliant.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Proud

Proud were yet another sadly overlooked FWOSHM (First Wave of Swedish Heavy Metal) band that could hold their own against some Hearse faves like Torch, Gotham City, and Glory Bells (well maybe not Glory Bells, they were ridiculously awesome.) So you know the drill: great hooks and leads, influences taken from the greats of NWOBHM but executed with a bit more skill and class, that is how most of these Swedish bands operated and Proud were really no different, with the exception that there was something distinctly maudlin in their sound. Fire Breaks The Dawn, the band's only release, came out in 1984. It was released by EMI, leading me to believe that someone had high hopes for these lads, but alas this great album was forever relegated to the cut-out bins of history.