Hearing Kim Krans sing reminds me of the first time I put on a Pretenders record. I put down the needle, halfway interested in the greatest hits collection I found in a bargain bin. I was about to leave the room when I heard Chrissie Hynde’s voice and immediately came back in and sat on the bed and played the first song over and over for the next hour. It was one of the moments where I found a record that I didn’t just like- I loved it. That feeling doesn’t happen that often.

When I put on Family Band’s first full length, Miller Path, I was only really half-listening. I was in the kitchen when I heard the drums drifting in, and then the sparse guitars, but my ears perked up instantly when I first heard Krans’ world-weary voice. Once again, love at first listen. And it didn’t stop there. The more I paid attention, the more I was in awe of Jonny Ollsin’s perfect execution of sounds- the guitars are meticulous and have a classical sensibility about them. This record is perhaps one of the strongest arguments I’ve ever heard for buying a pair of high quality headphones- you’ll find yourself on the floor, eyes closed, transported to a dark folk landscape of sound.

It may be hard to believe that Family Band only have one EP to their name (Miller Path will release in March). There’s a dynamic at work here that veteran bands can only dream of. These songs feel like they were composed outside of city noise or cramped professional studios-they seem to be constructed in someplace quiet and beautiful. There’s a reverent nod to silence as much is there is to the unique textures and layers that make up these nine songs. In short- its not the typical full length debut. Expect the eerie beauty and heavy, desolate folk of Family Band to warm up to ears later this year.

Fantasy

Hatred

(This one’s not what you think…)

I know, I know- there better be a pretty good explanation to why there’s not a embedded YouTube clip featuring some scary devil band you’ll never listen to. And you’re absolutely right. For behold! There is a reason- by the name of Mount Eerie.

Those of you who keenly follow The Microphones/Mount Eerie’s lengthy output probably already know of what’s coming on August 19th. The name of the record is Wind’s Poem, and by all accounts is very black metal-inspired. That is, musically. Don’t worry- there is no face makeup involved. Yet.

So, what to expect on the new album? In an interview with Stereogum, Eerie’s sole permanent member Phil Elverum says, “Basically the idea with Wind’s Poem is that this crazy beautiful force of erosion and destruction (wind) constantly wraps around the world and permeates our lives, and is occasionally audible, blowing through buildings and branches.” Basically, it sounds like it’s going to rock pretty hard.

Additionally, according to the press junket, the tour in support of the new record will feature two drummers, walls of amps, and….gongs. Crikey.

Here’s the tracklist:

01 Wind’s Dark Poem
02 Through the Trees
03 My Heart Is Not at Peace
04 The Hidden Stone
05 Wind Speaks
06 Summons
07 The Mouth of Sky
08 Between Two Mysteries
09 Ancient Questions
10 (something)
11 Lost Wisdom Pt. 2
12 Stone’s Ode

Sometimes it’s just hard to stay away from the Morbid Anal Fog.

We return to the band that brought you that stellar video, titled Untitled, for more heavy rocking blasphemy. Nokturnal Bacon Throne is the name of the jam, featuring a kidnapped poodle, a playground, and a slightly NSFW black metal version of Vanna White who alternates salacious glances with the feeding of the frontman with tons of bacon. Which, actually, goes with the self harm themes of the earlier videos. But this time, instead of hanging yourself from a tree, you’re clogging those poor arteries with fatty foods. Not as metal in process, but the outcome is the same. Check it out for yourself.

(Warning: the following paragraph contains extreme hyperbole language that may or may not cause the reader to rush out and buy the record in mention)

The latest offering from the utterly prolific Bill Callahan, the artist formerly known as Smog, is undeniably the best record to reach my headphones this year. And yes, I have heard some of the Animal Crack Box.

Do you wish to be the last one on the planet to hear Jim Cain, the first track of Sometimes I Wish We Were An Eagle? Of course you don’t. That would mean you would be missing out on the soft, swirling strings and world-weary confession of Callahan as he admits “I used to be darker / then I got lighter / and then dark again”. There seems to be a retreat from the lovestruck place he sings from on his previous record, Awoke on a Whaleheart. And from this place, Callahan takes the listener down through dreamscapes of perfect songs in gibberish (Eid Ma Clack Shaw), an ominous approach to humanity and love (My Friend), and an ending meditative refrain that announces that “it’s time to put God away” (Faith/Void).

I Wish We Were An Eagle is a document 0f a darker stretch that has taken Callahan back into a uncertain, but honest place. There’s a constant ebb and flow of exploring knowing and unknowingness through the entire record. As he admits on the first track, “I started out telling the story / without knowing the end”. If it’s okay with Callahan, I’d like to pull God back out just for a couple minutes- so I can say thanks for an artist who has the courage to steer clear of being the stereotypical songwriter sage, as best articulated on the song, Rococo Zephyr, “I used to be sorta blind, now I can sorta see.”

Jim Cain

Just when you thought it was safe.

This video feature by Dark Kirchensteuer gets our award for ‘Best Black Metal Video That Should Not Be Re-Attempted At Home’ Award. Be careful, you kids- it’s a dangerous black metal world out there.

Also, it’s worth noting that the stakes have been raised. You think it’s metal to wear 8 inch spike bracelets? Try head-banging in a tree after you’ve hung yourself. Shoot, son.

This band needs no introduction. The video does all the talking.

I have three favorite things about this video.
1. The portly keyboardist hidden in the bushes. Is that a Casio?
2. The lead singer’s spike bracelets. It’s just a matter of time until Hot Topic gets wind of these. Also, I’m pretty sure this guy was my waiter at Shoney’s the other night.
3. The little choreography interlude where they up-down-up-down together.

After watching this several times, I couldn’t help imagining the following exchange in my head.

“Mom, can Brian and I borrow the camcorder again?”
“No honey. Thursday is job hunting day, remember?”
“Mom! I’m 36! Stop telling me what to do!”
“Fine, sweetie. But can you tell your brother and his friends to put their shirts back on? They’re getting my loveseat sweaty.”
“Okay! And where is your makeup purse at again? I…forgot something in it.”

It just wouldn’t feel like the beginning of the weekend without it.

Today’s feature is a little group that hails from Sweden. Rocking the praises of their dark lord since 1993, Arckanum is unique because their lyrics/screams are written in ancient Swedish. Take that, Peter, Bjorn, and John.

This video breaks all stereotypes that I previously harbored against black metal. This video features just one gothic sojourner (we’ll call him Jim), instead of the usual merry troupe. Also absent is the signature face paint, which Jim seemed to have swapped for a gilded hockey mask. Classy.

The thing that really stands out in the video is what seems to be the endless supply of weapons Jim has tucked away. The best moment of the video is when the sword and the axe are out and the choreography begins. Do Satanists do human videos too? I hope so.

Today’s installation comes straight from the Czech Repubic. And believe it or not, these guys are still around. For those of you who have been following BLACK METAL FRIDAY from the beginning you will note a common theme of peering out from behind trees, lots of makeup, and walking in a seemingly aimless direction. We can only hope that their road leads to some dark abyss of eternal shadows or something equally as rewarding.

Ok. So there were some wild Nostradamus-like guesses ventured against Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s newest record, Beware. And that’s not a bad thing. Trying to keep up with the prolific steps of Mr. Prince is something of an exercise in folk-futility. Now that the ears have had time to digest (burp), I am more able to give a decent shake at the record.

First off, I was right about that Neil Young comparison. The album art is not the only similarity- the crooning swells on Beware’s sturdier tracks reminds me of some of the better moments of Young and Co. The scuzzy electric guitar sounds the much like a Crazy Horse inspired moment. BPB-0; C-1.

Round Two got a little bloody. Where I was expecting macabre-rock, Oldham fills with lighter 70’s country sounds. Gee, thanks for the misleading album art and morose song titles, Bonny. The song content shares more in common with Lie Down In the Light than it does with I See A Darkness. And I’m okay with that- it’s just a little unexpected. Suckerpunched. BPB-1; C-1.

My last prediction is a bit of a hard one to prove at the moment. Where I thought this may spell the end for this particular dimension of Oldham, it seem there is much more to give. Especially with all of the other mini-releases, including a promising EP with  Cheyenne Mize, a song on the Louisville is For Lovers compilation, a shared 7″ single with Young Widows, it looks like the moniker might be sticking around. However, with the host of other projects that Oldham has a hand in (Wendy and Lucy, Trapped In the Closet, various voices lent to Adult Swim, etc.), it’s hard to see where his time might go. It’s going to be a while until we know the results.

Having all of that said, I am plenty digging this record.

Welcome to the first of a ten part series- BLACK METAL FRIDAY. It’s similar to casual Friday, except there are less Hawaiian shirts and a bit more face paint involved. And did I mention the fire eaters? Oh yeah.