What’s going on Butcher Crew!? I hope this finds you safe and well! While chilling at the house, it gave me a chance to explore all the new metal that has come out recently and I thought it would be cool to talk about some of the new tunes I have up on the slab.
I enjoy finding new music and if you do, then I hope I can help you find your new favorite band! Let’s start chopping up some tunes!
The first time I heard Despised Icon was a few years ago and I loved their sound. When I was getting into deathcore, they were one of the main bands that would appear. I have never seen Despised Icon and I am hoping that one day I will be able to. I decided to take a look at their history since they released a killer album in late 2019. When I heard their new record, Purgatory, I fell in love with the band all over again.
Despised Icon is a Canadian deathcore band from Montreal, Quebec. They formed in 2002 and the band is known for Alex Pelletier’s (drummer) blasting technique, as well as dual vocals from Alex Erian and Steve Marois. Erian does the mid-range growls while Marois does the high-pitched shrieks. In 2010, the band disbanded, but reformed back in 2014.
Despised Icon was signed to Galy Records in 2002 and released their debut album Consumed by Your Poison in October of that year. They had a few changed within their lineup in 2004 and recorded a self-financed EP, Syndicated Murderers. In 2005, the group signed to Century Media and released their second album, The Healing Process. Fast forward to 2016, the band signed with Nuclear Blast and are currently on that label.
Current members:
Steve Marois (vocals), Alex Erian (vocals), Eric Jarrin (lead guitar), Alex Pelletier (drums), Bend Landreville (rhythm guitar), and Sebastien Piché (bass).
Discography:
Consumed By Your Poison (2002), The Healing Process (2005), The III’s of Modern Man (2007), Day of Mourning (2009), Beast (2016), and Purgatory (2019).
Favorite songs: Slow Burning, Day of Mourning, and Furtive Monologue.
Have you seen Despised Icon? What are some of your favorite songs?
Things are moving slowly. Some things feel like they’re not moving at all. However, despite the empty streets and closing businesses, people are coming together to support one another and sustain our community during the pandemic.
WKNC, as a community partner and participant, wants to use our platform to share some of these fundraisers and inform you about their creators to further their outreach. We appreciate and admire everyone doing the groundwork and heavy lifting that it takes to sustain a community, several industries and the emotional wellbeing of their beneficiaries.
First and foremost, is the Raleigh Music Venue Employee Fund. This fundraiser collectively supports Lincoln Theatre, Slim’s, Kings, the Wicked Witch and the Pour House. The campaign was created by Van Austin at Slim’s, Chris Malarkey at Lincoln, Paul Siler at Kings, and Adam Lindstaedt with the Pour House. The funds for this project are being collected through Venmo using the handle @Raleigh-Downtown-Music-Venues. Kings, via their Instagram page (@KingsRaleigh) described this fundraiser as “a fund to help out our employees during this time.” In the same post, they wrote they have received an “outpouring of offers to help [their] employees stay afloat during this crisis…” which we at WKNC are amazed to hear. Many of our current and former staff and students have gone on to work and be involved with at least one of these venues, and as an organization we work closely with them to promote, curate and attend events.
It is important to note that some of these venues are partner venues and co-owned by the same individual. For example, Timothy Lemuel runs the Wicked Witch, the Night Rider and Ruby Deluxe, but the latter two venues are not receiving funds from this campaign and have another process of their own to be discussed later on in this post.
Keep a lookout for more information on the Raleigh Venue Fund in an upcoming interview I’m working on with a few individuals involved in its creation. For now, you can see more information about the fund via the social media of each of the venues. The venues and their handles are listed below.
The next fundraiser is theRaleigh Queer Venue Initiative GoFundMe, which was organized by Janel Sheehan almost two weeks ago. As of this writing, they have surpassed half of their expected goal, thanks to the dedication and support of the Raleigh community. Pulling a quote from the GoFundMe description, “The Raleigh Queer Venue Initiative is made up of the sole queer music venues in Raleigh: Ruby Deluxe, Wicked Witch, and the Night Rider. Our purpose is to give LGBTQIA, as well as marginalized folx a safe space to dance, create, perform, and support one another.” The description goes on to express that these spaces are also locally owned and operated by queer individuals. Currently, as of a GoFundMe update posted on March 24, “[they] are looking at around 11K total a month to retain all of our spaces for Ruby Deluxe, Wicked Witch, and The Night Rider.” Of their $11,000 goal, the money raised will go towards paying rent on the venues and provide income to their staff members who can no longer work due to closures. The contributions from the Raleigh community are directly allowing for these safe spaces to remain open and in operation after the pandemic crisis alleviates.
We thank Janel, and all of the RQVI workers, for curating this GoFundMe and for creating safe spaces for the LGBTQIA community in Raleigh and the Triangle.
Next up is the Raleigh Tee. This fundraising campaign was created by Jonas Chisolm and his roommate Austin Chappell. The two of them started an online shop in which individuals could purchase a T-shirt and/or a sticker (in rainbow or black and white) through which all profits would go to the NC Restaurant Workers Relief Fund and the Raleigh Music Venue Fund (mentioned above). For those interested in purchasing any of this project’s merch, doing so can be processed via Facebook.com/TheRaleighTee. The logo for the shirts and stickers was made by a close friend of the two founders, Nicholas Rossitch, and after some creative work on Photoshop, the idea for the Raleigh Tee was born.
The project debuted on social media (Instagram @theRaleighTee) two days ago (03/25/2020) and is quoted with having 200 orders in the first 8 hours. Jonas has commented that he and Austin only expected to sell 50 shirts initially and have been amazed at the community engagement, reposting and purchasing of the products in their startup.
Thank you to Jonas and Austin for your work and contributions to the workers of North Carolina and Raleigh specifically.
I’d also like to take a moment to give credit where credit is due. Yvonne Chazal (right, above) and Phian Tran (left) have compiled a very expansiveWake County Resources for COVID-19 document. The incredibly well-organized document covers topics like health resources (including mental health), food resources, housing and shelter, utilities details and more. Truly if I were to list out all of the categories they discuss, you’d be both in awe and shocked at the mass amounts of information that they have. The document’s creation was open to public collaboration and both creators actively reached out to their social media connections to make sure that they were collecting all the necessary details and subjects that constituents would be interested in. Please view this free resource during your free time. It will certainly make you feel better about our situation knowing what options are available.
Yvonne and Phian are both dearly loved and appreciated as local influences, musicians and WKNC alums. Thank you, Yvonne and Phian.
The aforementioned resources are only a small portion of the ongoing efforts to protect ourselves and our community. There will be more installments and updates to come. Once again, keep your eyes and ears out for an interview with representatives from the Raleigh Music Venue Employee Fund.
Want to help out but can’t donate? Call your representative (via 202-224-3121) and ask them to #SaveRestaurants.
Stay safe, stay inside, flatten the curve, promote solidarity. WKNC loves you and is grateful to everyone involved in these projects.
My favorites: Stoned Again, Perfecto Miserable, Slinky
Listen if you like: Ariel Pink, Blood Orange, Toro y Moi
I really like King Krule’s (alias for Archy Marshall) music, specifically his lyricism, which is filled with wit and strangeness I haven’t found in any other indie artists. His voice stands out, a scratchy baritone with a thick English accent that is a delight to the ears. King Krule’s 6 Feet Beneath the Moon helped him accrue popularity in the indie/alternative scene. I particularly love this album; its melodies are relaxing and each song is shrouded in emotional depth.
I found Man Alive! to be an interesting contribution to King Krule’s discography. I loved that while listening, I could feel more emotion throughout this album than most of his previous works. There is a palpable anguish in the tracks Comet Face and Alone, Omen 3. Perfecto Miserable is a track where he expresses a deep love and longing, which specifically stuck out to me as less grim and more emotionally charged than his past works. The entirety of Man Alive! allows the listener to step into the mind of a grim, pessimistic Londoner, and I love any album that can show so clearly the perspective and storytelling of another person. Throughout all the darkness in sound and nightmarish lyricism, there are the lighthearted snippets “Please, complete me/ It must be the answer” and “You’re my everything/ You make me feel alright” which must be a reference to Marshall’s current relationship. Even the ending of the album with Please Complete Thee transforms from a dark, grungy melody to light uplifting notes in the last minute of the song. This album is filled with such contrasts. King Krule also played with a variety of new sounds compared to his previous work. Specifically, there is more electronic influence in tracks like Cellular and Comet Face. As a big fan of electronic music, I really appreciated this as a breakaway from some of his more guitar/piano based songs from older albums. Although 6 Feet Beneath the Moon will always be my favorite of Marshall’s discography, this album is a lovely look into the evolution of King Krule as a musician and makes me excited for what’s to come.
Something that I’ve realized while being under quarantine inside my house is the need for hours of self-care, including music that helps relax and comfort me. This blog posts includes some of my favorite comforting albums and songs as well as a playlist to help keep you well during times of concern and anxiety.
Oncle Jazz – Men I Trust (2019)
This album is the epitome of relaxation with soothing melodies and calmness that is perfect to keep you feeling light even when things are difficult. I particularly like this album because it remains upbeat and cheerful in its lyrics which is perfect when paired with the soothing beats found throughout the album.
Duke Ellington & John Coltrane – Duke Ellington, John Coltrane (1963)
I am not a fan of jazz, however, this album could put me to sleep with its relaxing saxophone and piano notes. My favorites from this album are In A Sentimental Mood and My Little Brown Book, two tracks I listen to quite often while focusing on work.
Carrie & Lowell – Sufjan Stevens (2015)
Most of Sufjan Stevens’ albums include relaxing tracks, but Carrie & Lowell is likely the most melancholic. Although this album is sad, its beauty overshadows the grimness of the topic (the loss of Stevens’ mother and his childhood as the focus of the album). Can’t recommend this album enough.
This Is All Yours – alt-J (2014)
I’m a big alt-J fan, especially since seeing them live and seeing how amazingly well their music transfers to an in-person experience. This album has some of the more relaxing, less tonal electronic and more instrument- and vocal-based tracks of their discography. All are beautifully made and have vocals which are sure to comfort you.
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (2008)
The vocals and soft guitar strumming on this album help it remain one of my favorite comforting albums. Something about it is so inspiring, like warmth in the middle of a cold winter.
You can find my favorites from all of these albums as well as other comforting tracks from artists like Keaton Henson, Beach House, and Elliot Smith on the Spotify playlist linked here. Hope you enjoyed this blog post!
What’s going on Butcher Crew?! I hope you are all safe and well during these times. The only pain you should endure is in the Butcher Shop! But have no fear, The Saw is here to make sure your self-quarantine is filled with some beatings. Dr. Saw is here to prescribe you some metal.
I will have the songs divided into the segments of the Butcher Shop: Diamond Cuts, Death Row Cell Block, Meat Grinder, Slot Drain, Chopping Block, and Meat Locker. In the playlist, however, they will not be divided into different playlist, but go down in preceding order from Diamond Cuts to Death Row and so on.
So, sit back, relax, and enjoy your time indoors with some killer cuts.
Fit For A King (FFAK) were one of the bands that I found randomly. I was going to go see Chelsea Grin in Greensboro one year and FFAK were on tour with them! I started listening to them when I discovered that they would be on tour. They have that traditional metalcore sound: Growls, screams, clean vocals, and anathematic chorus’ and riffs.
Fit For A King is one of the newer metalcore bands that I really enjoy. They have a good combination of soft sounds with heavier sounds and breakdowns. FFAK has a lot of catchy songs and their stage show is awesome! I have seen them a couple of times in Greensboro and also at Warped Tour. Their bass player will run around, jump around, and just do crazy stuff while on stage. It is very entertaining! I met the band during one of their runs through Greensboro, and they’re some really great guys.
The members that form Fit For A King are Ryan Kirby (vocalist), Jared Easterling (drums), Ryan “Tuck” O’Leary (bass), Bobby Lynge (guitarist), and Daniel Gailey (guitarist). FFAK is an American metalcore band founded in Tyler, Texas in 2007 by their drummer, Easterling and others who are not in the band today. The band performed locally, and in 2009 they decided to tour full-time. With a few member changes, in July 2012, FFAK signed to Solid State Records and has released their remaining albums with this label.
They released two independent EP’s: Fit for a king (2008) and Awaken the Vesper (2009). They released one independent album in 2011 titled Descendants. Once they signed with Solid State Records, the band released 5 full-lengths: Creation/Destruction (2013), Descendants – Redux (2013), Slave to Nothing (2014), Deathgrip (2016), and Dark Skies (2018).
Favorite songs: Backbreaker, Pissed Off, Stacking Bodies, and Slave to Nothing.
Have you seen Fit For A King? What are some of your favorite songs?
BEST TRACKS: Printer’s Devil, I Go Out at Night, Look To
FCC clean
Printer’s devil is an old term for an apprentice at a printing establishment. Printer’s devils would do simple tasks such as mix basins of ink. There are many supposed origins for the term. My favorite theory is that a mischievous devil, Titivillus, haunts every print shop and performs mischief such as removing lines of type and misspelling words. The printing apprentice was blamed for these things, and called the printer’s devil by association. Printer’s Devil is also the name of Ratboy’s most recent release and the last (and best) song on the album. This Chicago indie band is back on the scene, attempting to break our hearts again with another wistful, nostalgic album.
On Printer’s Devil, Ratboys banishes any last remaining essence of twang or folk from their style to produce a through and through alt-pop album. Julia Steiner’s voice is childlike and whimsical, which brings a level of warmth even to Ratboys’ most grungy, fuzzy songs. However, most songs on Printer’s Devil are on the softer side, which suits Steiner’s voice better. While she has a wonderful voice, Steiner is definitely not a screamer. While this album features some electrifying riffs, you won’t find anything too intense here. In accordance to Ratboys’ past style, Printer’s Devil is still rather laid-back, despite having lost elements of post-country and twang.
This album was recorded in Steiner’s empty childhood home, which might have added some ache to Steiner’s voice, especially since a prominent theme on this album is the revisitation of childhood memories as an adult. While listening to this album, I can’t help but recall memories of my own childhood and wondering what all those places from my memories look like now. Though Printer’s Devil is less novel than Ratboys’ previous release, GN, it’s still worth a run-through. Excite your ears with some new sounds. I’d recommend this album to fans of Charly Bliss, Cayetana, and Weakened Friends.
Hello everyone, I hope you’re all doing well and staying indoors(!!) and healthy during this crazy time. One of the best ways to take control of your own self-care and occupy your time well is to listen to new music. Hopefully my Friday Favorites for this week inspire you to find some new tracks to check out.
9 to 5 (ft. Freddie Gibbs & Tedy Andreas) – Adam Snow
I am a really avid follower of Freddie Gibbs and adore his music, which led me to finding this recent release. I like Andreas’ voice and the beat created by Snow. Definitely a must-listen especially if you like rap or R&B.
We Got Love (ft. Ms. Lauryn Hill) – Teyana Taylor
I was a Teyana fan back in middle school, and this song is so cute. Lauryn Hill is also one of my absolute favorite artists of all time, so this song is instantly good to me. Lauryn Hill’s verses on this song are so melodic and lovely.
I Wanna Ride – Porches
This track is my favorite from the new Porches album, I think it’s a pretty sweet song about ~young love~ with a cool beat. “I wanna ride with you/ wherever you are.” It’s also a bit different from the typically sound we usually get from Porches, which is probably why I like it.
Je disparais dans tes bras – Christine and the Queens
This one is nice because it somehow meets in the middle of electronic and pop in an appealing way that is actually pretty underrated. Very unique in its sound, and the French adds an elegance to the track.
Climb That Mountain – Sufjan Stevens, Lowell Brams
This song is a comforting instrumental made by Sufjan Stevens along with his stepfather, Lowell Brams (referenced in his absolutely fantastic album Carrie & Lowell – which I highly recommend). The singles that the two have been releasing have me extremely excited for the release of their collaborative album.
If you’re interested, you can find all of my Friday Favorites since I began writing them for WKNC on a playlist at this link.
FCC Violations: Concussion pt. 2, Have I Been Deceived
Basement Revolver’s newest, second ever album, Wax and Digital, is delicate and simple shoegaze. There’s nothing overworked about it. long-time fans of Basement Revolver fell in love with the band when they made a splash in the Ontario indie music scene, cultivating their fuzzy, reverberating sound and vocalist Chrissy Hurn’s angelic voice. Hurn is still out to impress with her talented singing for this new album, but the band has taken a different approach this time around, opting to put intensity in the backseat for favor of a more dream pop approach. As opposed to Basement Revolver’s first album, Wax and Digital is an album for the more mellow music listeners out there.
Wax and Digital sounds a lot different from Basement Revolver’s hit debut album Heavy Eyes. This new release tones down the intense percussion, high-pitched feedback, and wailing vocals in favor of more humble drums and lighter, softer vocals. Though Wax and Digital is largely floaty and shimmering, there is no lack of gritty riffs. Guitarists Chrissy Hurn and Jonathan Malström, and Bassist Nimal Agalawatte work together to add scant elements of fuzz, chaos, and power to an otherwise tame dream pop album.
Wax and Digital is definitely an emotionally charged album, but the lyrics come off as vague. I would have loved to see more vulnerability coming from this album, perhaps in the form of more specific lyrics or concrete diction. Lines like “I can’t bear the thought of ever losing you” (track 1, Wax and Digital) and “I don’t want to let you go tonight” (track 5, Romantic and Heart) feel trite and generic, as though the artist is shy and holding back. Not all music needs to be gut-wrenching and painful (indeed, it shouldn’t), but when you’re writing sad songs you might as well go all the way. Regardless, if you’re in the mood for some easy listening, give this record a spin, especially if you’re into bands like Palehound, Tacocat, or Chastity Belt.
