If you have files on mediafire or a similar download host, I highly suggest you log in and back them up. Today. If you want your stats, take a screenshot or copy and paste. It seems they're trying to avoid the fate of megaupload and filesonic by deleting whole collections of possibly illegal content, even if it isn't illegal or linked online for sharing.
In other news, Shiny Grey Monotone and Angry Chairs got royally fucked today, due to primarily using mediafire. There are probably other blogs as well, but those are the big ones I've been keeping up with for years.
I also got screwed; one of my blogs was based on megaupload, and half of my compilation mixes and backup files were there. My mediafire files remain intact, however... I have to wonder if it's because the blog most of them are connected to has been down for six months.
There's not really an alternative solution as of yet. Slsk and torrents still work, but they've been poorly used since download blogs became popular, and the former doesn't work on some computers. Perhaps it's time to change that.
Otherwise, can bands please utilize bandcamp more often?
I've talked about Tool on SeeingtheDark.com (and Sounds of Sagittarius and Song of the Day) before. In fact, it was only a few Christmases ago that I posted "Ticks and Leeches" as my song of the day. Maybe you haven't been around that long, and I've purged my archives since then, so perhaps this is "news": I'm a huge fan.
I don't like that word - it implies complete knowledge and compliance. As much as I like some bands, I'm never really 100% on them. I have spotty knowledge, a lot of lyrical themes irritate me, etc. I've played around a lot with the cognitive dissonance between what I experience of a band's music and what they are actually like as people or what their music might actually be saying. But, for the sake of simplicity, I've been a "fan" of Tool since 1998. I know their music very well, I've spent a fuckton of money on their music or concerts, I've gotten into heated arguments about their music, they're responsible for my favorite albums and some of my most overplayed songs, they've shaped my tastes and tolerances, they've had an unrivaled influence over what music I've listened to since discovering them, and so on.
Tool was my favorite band for a long time. I didn't question this much (didn't have reason to) until I got into Kyuss. But Tool has always been at the top of my list. Even when my interest in listening to them has faded, even when I've felt like I'd rather stab myself in the ears with a Phillips head screwdriver than hear "Sober" again, my respect has always maintained.
One of the ways I respect the band is through their ability to share other bands with the so-called mainstream (you can argue Tool isn't mainstream, and you could be right, but they're as mainstream as heavy rock/metal gets). I have newly discovered at least a dozen bands because of shows they've done with Tool, or covers that Tool has done, or from members of Tool going on to do other projects (we're really just talking about Maynard for me there). A few of those bands have led me even further down the rabbit hole.
In one case, I found Kyuss because of Tool's live cover of "Demon Cleaner". Kyuss resulted in quite a sequence of bands and has led me straight to where I am now. Would I be doing a stoner/doom-centric blog if I had not been so irritated early on in my Kyuss obsession that nobody I knew had heard or heard of them before? Probably not. I may have eventually heard Kyuss because of Queens of the Stone Age or Monster Magnet, but my interest would have taken on a different tone. Certainly I wouldn't have discovered Sheavy without liking Kyuss exactly when I did, and then where would I be?
Perhaps more importantly, Tool introduced me to Russian Circles. In 2007, they played some shows together. I looked Russian Circles up. I liked "Death Rides A Horse" and that was about it. Around that time I really, really wanted to go to more live shows and Russian Circles seemed like one of those bands I'd better interpret live. Sure enough, they were coming to Portland, opening one of the March Into Darkness festival dates. I bought a full pass to the fest. There, I was properly introduced to SubArachnoid Space, I met my once-favorite venue, I learned of the entity Nanotear, I was blown away by Red Fang (who led me to find Diesto, who is the main reason I saw Nether Regions early on, who is the number one cause of my name written in albums that come out in January), and, most importantly for the context of this post, I discovered the band Middian.
Now, I didn't see Middian live. They were playing too late and I didn't have a ride home so I had to catch my last bus. But I did look them up beforehand and listened to "Dreamless Eye" a lot. Middian's court dramas unfolding in internet discussion about them in 2008 led me to discover YOB.
My listening to YOB has, of course, paid off. In part, my interest in them eventually led to me joining up with Nanotear. Now I know what YOB's doing before any of you guys. It's lovely. For example, about four days before the rest of the world, four years into my history with YOB and fourteen into my history with Tool (the band that ultimately led me to discover YOB, in case you didn't follow all of that up there), I learned that YOB is opening for Tool on some shows on the East coast.
I find it strange and cyclical that I went down a musical path that basically looked like Tool > Russian Circles > Middian/Nanotear > YOB > Tool. It seems, despite the path I took, my initial respect for Tool would have led me to discover YOB anyway. Perhaps I'm being overly sentimental and not cynical enough about my fandom self-validating itself, but that's really cool. For having such a band open their show, I respect Tool all the more.
And also they need a good, relevant band to open for them when they haven't released a new album in going-on-six years and have no reason to tour right now.
Here's hoping that once the January/February leg is over, and Puscifer has finished their run, Tool comes through Portland and asks YOB to open the show. Cuz, you know, that might be pretty fucking fulfilling to see on our home turf.
Just in case you were wondering where my alliances stand... I officially fell in love with the new Black Cobra album last night. So far I'm not getting the "OMG!" impression I was with the last few releases, but I can't tell if it's just that I'm not in an "OMG!" state of mind lately or if the album needed a bit more/less somewhere. No complaints, though. I'm glad I found a band that releases music, tours, etc that's on my wavelength and has zero social impact for me. No fucking hate mail about these guys. And I don't have to "connect" with anyone about it. I suppose I do know a couple of proper fans, but yeah, what's to say? "Black Cobra, man..." End convo.
Actually, I did get some disapproving comments. They were more about my narrowness than about the band. I can be rather narrow-sighted. I can only handle a few things at a time and everything else will probably be dropped in favor. In a few years I'll be humping some other band's leg...
And in actuality that conversation would be me glaring at them telling me they saw them open for Awesome Band #42 and me trying to hold back tears. WHY, WHY, WHY CAN'T IT BE, CAN IT BE MINE?
Speaking of obsession, Red Fang is currently down at Dante's filming another video. ... My face and/or likeness does not need to be crystallized in the minds of others. Also, drunk people. I have had my fill of substance abusers and addicts for a while. I'll see them with children in the room next time. That said, I'll be sure to post the video Whitey makes as soon as I see it... If not here, then probably facebook.
Another band I've liked for a while that is doing shit right now: Russian Circles. They released Empros today. It's decent, per the norm. The last song on the album actually has words in it. They're also about to tour all over the States, likely bringing along their excellent merch collection.
Russian Circles has a great designer behind their shirts. Even better: their latest shirts are fitted and match up with current fashion while still being fairly universally acceptable. Occasionally I like to wear a band shirt that isn't a tent covered in shit that would offend grandma. Gotta spice things up.
I'm sure that's more common outside of the broke-ass metal bands I normally partake... That is, shirts that look cool that aren't printed on either large square guys' shirts or ladies' cheap as fuck fabric yet somehow more expensive shirts.
In thinking about how long I've known all three of these bands, and then my most recent former obsessions before them, I just looked up Tomahawk. Guess what? A NEW ALBUM IS IN THE WORKS. I hope that's not a lie. The impact the Anonymous album had on the time it came out was nearly unrivaled in experience for me. It's part of the reason I started writing. Tomahawk was one of the main bands that led me down my path to here, why I appreciated certain heavier bands when I did. To see that little blip of news, I have to say I'm rather excited.
The new Black Cobra album is streaming on Brooklyn Vegan. I'm hardly unbiased about this band. They're my most favorite band of the last four years. Naturally, I have the album pre-ordered and probably would have thought good things even if it only vaguely sounded like the Black Cobra I know. For that reason, I have to give it time to sink in to decide how I really feel underneath the premature "yay! new black cobra album!"... But, of course, it's a decent quality album and I like it so far. And hey, look at that, their songs are growing in size. Bonus Black Cobra?
The Hunter by Mastodon was recently released. I am still dealing with my initial disappointment with the album so I haven't given it another try yet. It's not bad if you approach it with a commercial mindset - they'll probably ascend a little further because of it. Being a fan of their more straightforward, less proggy metal albums, though, I feel like they're going in a similar direction as Metallica did between the 80s and 90s. Also, I wish mister emotional turmoil would stop singing. Regardless of my personal feelings, they have a show coming up here with Red Fang... Sure to be a fucking fun night for everyone.
Eight Bells, the band that formed in the ashes of SubArachnoid Space, just had their first show last night and now has music you can listen to online. Big surprise, it sounds like SubArachnoid Space. That's hardly a bad thing. Listen here: eightbells.bandcamp.com
One of my favorite pieces of news lately was hearing that Black Elk has reformed with two new members to work on new material. Well, it got better: they're doing a show here in January. Not only that, but it's with Nether Regions, Wizard Rifle, and Rabbits. I awkwardly remember missing one of Black Elk's last shows which happened to be with Nether Regions right after I learned of their greatness. Shortly after I learned that Black Elk split up, and I felt pretty stupid about missing that show with Nether Regions. It was at the East End, though, so... hard to feel too bad about it now that I know how hard it is to see in that room. Anyway, Branx should be a good spot.
The KARP documentary is now going to be screening... which means it's finished! and is available for purchase! Check the dates on the website if you want to see it before it ships out - otherwise, January 2nd!
Finally, by some chance one of my visitors in the next few days happens to live in California or southern Oregon, Witch Mountain just left on tour with Premonition 13 (Wino's new band - awesome as per usual!). If you have the time and the money, I suggest going out to see them. Dates & venues here!
SeeingtheDark.com has gradually evolved from a song-a-day blog since
its start in October 2007 to something a little more nebulous. With a heavy rock and
metal focus, I share music that I find interesting along with my personal
musical journey and experiences. While narcissistic, in the end I hope you make up
your own mind.
Send emails to cyberspaceship (at) gmail (dot) com. Questions & updates are
fine, sending me unrequested demos or putting me on your label spam list isn't.
I will not review your crap.
2/28 || CHRISTIAN MISTRESS - Possession
3/?? || WIGHT - Through The Woods...
3/13 || WIZARD RIFLE - Speak Loud Say Nothing
3/20 || WHITE HILLS - Frying on This Rock
3/27 || MESHUGGAH - Koloss
3/27 || BLACK BREATH - Sentenced To Life
3/30 || MINISTRY - Relapse
3/31 || ELECTRIC WIZARD - Legalize Drugs...
4/09 || UFOMAMMUT - Oro: Opus Primum
4/10 || ANCESTORS - In Dreams and Time
4/13 || SAINT VITUS - Lillie: F-65