Do312 - What to do in Chicago

Corrosion Of Conformity
In the summer of 2010, the founding members of the pioneering underground metal band Corrosion of Conformity—bassist/vocalist Mike Dean, drummer/vocalist Reed Mullin and guitarist Woody Weatherman—gathered at Weatherman's farm in the Virginia hills and began jamming together as a three-piece for the first time since the mid-1980s. This was the classic COC lineup behind 1985's Animosity, the album that Decibel magazine recently called "a crucial stylistic lynchpin in the bridge between metal and punk" that "irrevocably reshaped crossover's sonic possibilities." The trio re-learned songs from that album and 1987's Technocracy, but this was not just an exercise in nostalgia. They soon began writing new material. "It was a little strange at first but pretty quickly it felt like we hadn't missed a beat," says Dean. By August COC had released the single "Your Tomorrow" on experimental metal label Southern Lord Records and went on to play shows from coast to coast—everything from the renowned Power of the Riff festival in Los Angeles (with a set that LA Music Blog called "incredible") to an underground party in the band's hometown of Raleigh, N.C. COC is currently planning a European tour as well as an appearance at Maryland's Deathfest in the spring and summer of 2011, with a full-length album of new material due out this fall. It's been six years since the release of COC's last album, In the Arms of God, with the lineup of Dean, Weatherman, longtime COC vocalist/guitarist Pepper Keenan, and guest drummer Stanton Moore of the jazz-funk band Galactic, one of the several drummers who filled in while Mullin recuperated from a drumming-related injury. Representing the more straightforward metal sound that characterized COC's work with Keenan beginning with 1991's Blind, ITAOG earned critical praise, with Billboard calling it a "riff-fueled set that ranks with [the band's] best work." Following that release in early 2005, COC toured the U.S. and Canada with Motorhead, one of their biggest influences, and later teamed up with Clutch for a UK tour. But after Hurricane Katrina and the catastrophic flooding of New Orleans that August, COC canceled a scheduled trip to Europe so Keenan and Moore—both New Orleans residents—could go home to help rebuild. Meanwhile, Keenan got back together with the New Orleans-based metal supergroup Down, putting out one album in 2007 with another set for a 2011 release.COC has plans to record again as a four-piece. But for now, the new "old" lineup is enjoying the return to their roots. "Mike, Woody and I essentially learned together how to play music and cultivated our own style and sound and unspoken language," says Mullin. "I've known Woody since fifth grade and Mike Dean since 1982, and re-bonding with them musically has been the greatest thing that's ever happened to me."

Torche
Torche, our favorite sludge-pop geniuses, by our reckoning should be huge. They may be heavy and loud and distorted, and feature members of Shitstorm and Floor and Dove, but the music they make as Torche is something else entirely. The guitars massive chugging and crunchy, the drums pounding and brutal, the bass thick and buzzy, the vocals a totally unique wail / croon, they sound a bit like the Foo Fighters, if the Foo Fighters were heavier and catchier and more punk rock. Big guitars, a killer hook of a chorus, amazing harmonies, kick ass drumming, even some shredding leads, this band just keeps getting better and better, but also tighter and more polished, without ever sounding wussier or like sellouts.

Valient Thorr
"they came from Venus to destroy the cities." Planet Earth in the year 2008 must look like a pretty strange, messed-up place to an outsider. From election-year sensationalism, global warming hysteria and widespread warfare to reality show overload and the latest celebrity meltdowns caught on film, it may seem to some that The End is imminent. But there's hope for the human race. Just ask the extraterrestrial members of Valient Thorr, the rock n' roll saviors from Venus who crossed the solar system to warn Earthlings about the error of our ways, delivering a message of redemption wrapped in rock n' roll, with pounding drums and shredding guitar licks. The grizzled time-space travelers may look like a chapter of the Hell's Angels, but there's much more to this band than meets the eye. Their combination of heavy rock n' roll and thought-provoking lyrics gives their legions of fans--dubbed the "Thorriors"-- food for thought through their staggeringly productive output. The group has averaged close to 250 tour dates a year, and is currently polishing up their fourth album in five years, Immortalizer, set for release on June 17 on Volcom Entertainment. After fleeing their overpopulated, war-torn home world of Venus and finding some prime North Carolina real estate, Valient Thorr officially announced their current Earthling incarnations in 2001. Since then, these interplanetary dudes have been on a single-minded mission to spread their revolutionary, metal-tinged gospel as far and wide as possible, to ensure that we don't share the Venusians' fate. And it's literally a universal message, Valient Thorr's charismatic frontman, Valient Himself, states: "It doesn't matter where you're from, it's where you're at and what you're gonna do." The new record follows the band's self-released 2003 debut, Stranded on Earth, which prompted their first major tour of North America—a whirlwind 47 shows in 52 days. Upon signing with Volcom in 2005, Valient Thorr released Total Universe Man, the success of which allowed the Venusians to quit their undercover Earthling day gigs—which included the members earning Masters Degrees in various Earth studies and Valient Himself's stint as a 6th-grade teacher--and hit the road full-time, including high-profile stints on that year's Vans Warped Tour. Those incendiary appearances got the band asked back on the 2006 Vans Warped Tour, which coincided with the July release of their Volcom follow-up, Legend of the World, and found them headlining the main stage with Warped favorites NOFX and AFI. In all, 2006 was a breakthrough year, as the band toured incessantly for a stunning total of 272 shows with such varied acts as Joan Jett and the Black Hearts, Eagles of Death Metal and Gogol Bordello. Valient Thorr is not a group of aliens to rest on their laurels, so 2007 was equally intense. Starting off on a lengthy trek with fellow heavy rockers Fu Manchu, Valient Thorr also spread their intergalactic message to Europe for the first time, and co-headlined the inaugural Volcom Tour with labelmates the Riverboat Gamblers. The year was capped by a triumphant victory, as Valient Thorr was selected by metal heroes Motörhead to accompany them on a three-week tour of Germany. Taking some much-needed time off of Earth's crazy system of roads, Valient Thorr recorded Immortalizer in Seattle with legendary Earthling Jack Endino, producer of seminal albums by Nirvana, Soundgarden and Mudhoney as well as younger upstarts Hot Hot Heat and High On Fire. Recording with Endino in his hometown of Seattle, Valient Thorr continued to work from the starting point of their classic 70's influences such as Black Sabbath and Thin Lizzy as well as those groups' more obscure yet equally important contemporaries like Master's Apprentices and Sir Lord Baltimore—all of whom kept the guitars heavy while adding some funky bounce to the rhythms. It's no coincidence that Valient Thorr shares more in common with that past era of greatness than today's formulaic, watered-down sounds. As Valient Himself puts it, "When rock lost its roll, it lost its soul. We're putting the roll back in rock n' roll!" While older albums tackled the world's problems straight on with a blunt, in-your-face attack on the Bush Administration, war in the Middle East and capitalism run amok, the band is now taking a more allegorical approach. In addition to double-barreled assaults on the pompous A-holes in D.C., Immortalizer uses veiled references to comment on the everyday obstacles that life throws at everyone, whether it's dealing with the death of a family member, your old lady running out on you, or trying to keep your head up while being a homeless traveler. The latter is a particularly personal situation for the band, as embodied in the new track "Nomadic Sacrifice." Considering that Valient Thorr has spent the last three years touring with barely a break, it doesn't leave them much room for a "normal" life, let alone a little personal space from time to time for your average Venusian. These road warrior experiences will be captured with Valient Thorr's upcoming DVD, In Heat, expected to drop this April. Valient Himself's previous experience as teacher has also informed his lyrics. "This crazy Earth system creates rotten people with messed-up values," he explains. "I wrote some of these new songs about these rich parents who don't care for their kids, they just put 'em on pills and turn 'em loose for the schools to worry about. Luckily, they've got Valient Thorr to show them the error of their ways." The lyrical content isn't the only heavy element on Immortalizer. New guitarist Voiden Thorr brings a sharper metal edge into the fold, joining fellow six-stringer Eidan Thorr for an über-heavy, double-axe attack. Meanwhile, drummer Lucian Thorr and bassist Nitewolf lock down earthy grooves, ensuring that the faithful will keep their heads nodding and fists pumping. "Our live show is where it's at," Himself explains, "no one can deny that. We play all over the world, with kids singin' our songs, and they don't even speak English! It makes you realize how small the Earth has become through the internet." Indeed, these hardcore Thorriors memorize their favorite Valient Thorr songs, make their own Valient Thorr jackets, stickers and posters, and track the band from show to show, town to town. Cities worldwide have their own Thorrior chapters, each with their own logo and set of colors that are unique to them, all of which come together through the global forum at www.thorriors.com. Valient Thorr will—of course—be back on the road for most of 2008, bringing their heavy metal mayhem to Europe throughout June and back in July to start touring the U.S. in support of Immortalizer's release. And you can be sure the band won't be slowing down anytime soon; after all, Earth needs them now more than ever. "I might be from another planet, but I know the language Earthlings speak, and it's definitely rock n' roll," says Valient Himself. "We're just getting started. I got some last words, but I hope I don't have to say 'em for a good long while."

A Storm of Light
AS THE VALLEY OF DEATH BECOMES US, OUR SILVER MEMORIES FADE: MAY 17 2011 Apocalyptic metal band A STORM OF LIGHT have completed work on their new album, entitled “As The Valley Of Death Becomes Us, Our Silver Memories Fade.” Formed by multi-faced artist/musician Josh Graham (Neurosis, ex-Red Sparowes/Battle Of Mice), A STORM OF LIGHT have become a whole new musical entity on its own merits, taking singer/guitarist Graham’s experiences from his previous musical repertoire and finding its own unique voice through the vessel known as A STORM OF LIGHT. With their third album at hand, not only is “As The Valley Of Death…” A STORM OF LIGHT’s heaviest and most dynamic release to date, but it is also A STORM OF LIGHT’s most song-oriented and most musically inclined release to date. While still maintaining certain elements referenced from their previous two releases, elements which ranged from moments of sludge/doom metal, ambient experimental, classic industrial, and post rock and metal respectively, “As The Valley Of Death…” sees the band (rounded out by bassist Domenic Seita, drummer Billy Graves, and Joel Hamilton on synthesizers and production) focusing more on solid traditional song structures and foundations, ones found in genres such as rock (AC/DC), modern-day rock (Queens Of The Stone Age), and ultimately classic traditional metal, most notably the template laid down by Metallica. And to top it all off, “As The Valley Of Death…” sees a fair share of musician guest appearances likewise. Most notably SOUNDGARDEN guitarist Kim Thayil lending his signature guitar shredding on the tracks ‘Missing’ and ‘Black Wolves’. Also appearing on “As The Valley Of Death…” are Jarboe (ex-Swans), longtime ASOL collaborator Nerissa Campbell, Kris Force (Amber Asylum), Matthias Bossi (Sleepytime Gorilla Museum/The Book Of Knots), and Carla Kihlstedt (also of Sleepytime Gorilla Museum/The Book Of Knots).