This story about Swiss metal band KNUT releasing a new album will not contain a single genitalia-related pun
By Max Sebela on Apr 21 2010
It’s been five years since KNUT released their 2005 album, Terraformer (TMT Review). In that five years, a lot has changed. For one, an internet user can no longer Google search KNUT without confronting pictures of a German polar bear celebrity. Also, Micheline Calmy-Rey became the second female Swiss president in 2007. Then there was that whole global financial meltdown a few months ago.
Still, I don’t think those things matter much for KNUT. The band has released only three proper albums since their 1998 debut Basterdizer, and on each of those albums not a whole lot changed. They played some sludgy thrash metal, melted a lot of European faces, and kept the progressive sound that made their debut so refreshing. Now, KNUT is back to grab and twist at your two swollen… ears… for a fourth time.
On June 26, KNUT will release Wonder on Hydra Head. The band claims the full-length “stands as a testament to our will for survival and defiance in times of adversity and crippling doubt.” But even if it doesn’t fulfill that promise, Wonder is at least going to smash a few KNUTs (damn, I almost made it).
Wonder tracklist:
01. Leet
02. Damned Extroverts
03. Suckers
04. Calamity
05. Ultralight Backpacking
06. Segue 1
07. Fast Forward Bastard
08. Lemmings
09. If We Can’t Fly There, We’ll Take the Boat
10. Segue 2
11. Wonder/Daily Grind
• KNUT: http://www.myspace.com/unknut
• Hydra Head: http://www.hydrahead.com
[Photo: Juan-Carlos Hernández]
Cold Cave tour Europe, likely to increase continent-wide suicide rate
By Harold Shueberg on Apr 21 2010
The dance of the dead is a term that comes to mind when I try to physically picture the musical aesthetic of Cold Cave. Danceable obviously, yet utterly consumed and inescapable from the morbid. Its exactly this dance that the New York dark-wave mega cluster — featuring the current lineup of Wesley Eisold (Some Girls), Dominick Fernow (Prurient), and Jennifer Clavin (Mika Miko) — will be personally delivering to Europe throughout the month of May.
After initial runs on Hospital, What’s Your Rupture?, and Heartworm Press, their debut album Love Comes Close was re-released by Matador late last year.
What you actually want:
05.07.10 - Minehead, UK - All Tomorrow’s Parties
05.08.10 - Leeds, UK - Nation of Shopkeepers
05.09.10 - Glasgow, UK - Captain’s Rest
05.10.10 - Manchester, UK - Deaf Institute
05.12.10 - London, UK - Cargo
05.13.10 - Brighton, UK - Great Escape Festival
05.14.10 - Amsterdam, Netherlands - Paradiso
05.15.10 - Brussells, Belgium - Rotonde
05.16.10 - Hamburg, Germany - Ubel & Gefarlich
05.18.10 - Stockholm, Sweden - Svenska
05.19.10 - Copenhagen, Denmark - Rust
05.20.10 - Berlin, Germany - Bang Bang Club
05.21.10 - Berlin, Germany - Offenbach
05.22.10 - St. Gallen, Switzerland - Theater Palace
05.23.10 - Fribourg, Switzerland - FRI-SON
05.24.10 - Bologna, Italy - Rocker Festival
05.25.10 - Turin, Italy - Spazio 211
05.27.10 - Paris, France - Point Emphere
05.29.10 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Club
• Cold Cave: http://www.myspace.com/coldcave
• Matador: http://www.matadorrecords.com
Tender Forever turns a new leaf with new album, No Snare, in June
By Jon Lorenz on Apr 21 2010
Tender Forever’s Melanie Valera has made some of the funnest, tender-ist, dancey-ist keyboard pop songs to ever come out of Pacific Northwest. But times change. People change. That said, Melanie can’t stay “Tender” forever. With her new record, No Snare, due in stores June 8 on K Records, she doesn’t seem so tender anymore, as she reportedly “moves away from some of the more exuberant dance oriented songs of past years into a darker and more melancholy direction. Maybe it’s her current residence in the damp and dirty Pacific Northwest, maybe its a little adulthood.” Times change, readers. Forever maybe isn’t forever?
No Snare tracklisting
01. Got To Let Go
02. Like the Snare That’s Gone
03. Only the Sounds That You Made
04. Nothing At All
05. Day Number
06. But The Shape Is Wide
07. Nowhere Good Enough
08. Unfortunate Friends
09. When I’m in the Dark and You Take the Light
• Tender Forever: http://www.myspace.com/tenderforever
• K Records: http://www.krecs.com
[Photo: billou57]
Corin Tucker of Sleater-Kinney to release solo album this October
By Harold Shueberg on Apr 21 2010
As a sort of post-script to some of the hype that has been floating around lately in regards to the honorable Sleater-Kinney, Kill Rock Stars has just announced that it will be releasing the debut solo album from Corin Tucker. Tucker has been no stranger to the KRS fam, having released material on the label with previous bands Heavens to Betsy, Cadallaca, and of course the highly notable band mentioned previous.
Also making additional noise on the album will be drummer Sara Lund (Unwound, Hungry Ghost) and Seth Lorinczi (Golden Bears). No mention from the label as far as an exact release date or album title, but we do know it’s expected for release in October this year. Stay tuned for more details.
• Kill Rock Stars: http://www.killrockstars.com
[Photo: sarae]
Fuck Buttons fuck around North America this Spring, new 12-inch features remixes by J. Spaceman and Alan Vega
By A Chugg on Apr 21 2010
There are a lot of music groups out there with two guys leaning over a table, tweaking and shrieking and beating and bouncing around. Fuck Buttons are two dudes with such a table. Theirs is usually made of wood! They will be heaving their wood table and backache electronica around America and Canada this spring. Now THAT’S heavy. The band’s currently on tour in Europe, so check out the remaining dates at their MySpace.
Also, be sure to snag a copy of their new 12-inch featuring “Olympians” off last year’s Tarot Sport. It features remixes from J. Spaceman (Spiritualized) and Alan Vega (Suicide).
05.11.10 - Los Angeles, CA – Troubadour
05.12.10 - San Francisco, CA – Great American Music Hall
05.13.10 - Portland, OR – Doug Fir
05.14.10 - Vancouver, BC – Biltmore
05.15.10 - Victoria, BC – Sugar
05.16.10 - Seattle, WA – Chop Suey
05.19.10 - Toronto, ON – Horseshoe Tavern
05.20.10 - Montreal, QC – Il Motore
05.21.10 - Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
05.22.10 - New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge
05.27.10 - Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Festival
06.06.10 - Paris, France - Villette Sonique Fest
06.11.10 - Rijeka, Croatia - Hartera Festival
06.18.10 - Coruna, Spain - Sonar Fest
06.19.10 - Barcelona, Spai - Sonar Fest
08.20.10 - Crickhowell, Wales - Green Man Festival
09.04.10 - Monticello, New York - Kutshers Country Club (ATP)
• Fuck Buttons: http://www.myspace.com/fuckbuttons
• ATP Recordings: http://www.atpfestival.com/recordings.php
