Daytrotter recently released a session from Athens, Ohio orchestral folk-pop band The Ridges. Check it out. RIYL Lost in the Trees.

This week, the ‘Witch released Forever Abomination, a punishing slab of devil’s spit that’s as heavy as metal comes. Chance Garnette’s demonic growls scare the living bejesus out of me – they’re the possessed sounds you pray you’ll forget about when waking up from the worst nightmare you’ve ever had. And while the band’s music can fairly fall into many different subgenres of metal (death, black, thrash), guitarists Nathan Garnette and Scott Hedrick and bassist Evan Linger definitely are at least partially influenced by ’80s European metal acts such as Iron Maiden and Judas Priest.

Reduced To The Failure Of Prayer by Prosthetic Records

Skeletonwitch’s Forever Abomination CD release show at the Ravari Room on Friday night features guests Shrine of Suffering and The Pandemic Nemesis. Doors open at 9pm and the cover is $12.

Jessica Lea Mayfield

The Ridges

Jessica Lea Mayfield

Check out the rest of the pictures.

MP3: Misra Legacy Comp feat. Southeast Engine’s “New Growth”

there’s water in the window frame it hasn’t been closing right
ever since the spring rain came and we gained more daylight
well just leave the window open, you know it’s just as well
and as the winter freeze is ending the whole town starts to swell
old growth framed these houses
and so what was is no more
oh but just as nature’s intended
new growth is what I’m looking for

On March 29, Athens, Ohio’s Southeast Engine will release Canary on the recently relaunched Misra Records. The first freebie from the album is a song called “New Growth,” and I can’t think of a more fitting soundtrack to this warmer-than-usual February week. I even saw a sprig yesterday.

Canary tells the story of a family living in a small Appalachian town in southeast Ohio (might as well call it Athens, right?) during the Great Depression, and it just may be the band’s tightest, best album yet. The brothers Remnant have never sounded so in sync on these rugged songs filled with ragged hope.

Preorders (including a limited-edition, canary-yellow cassette) here. Tour dates below, kicking off Friday at Casa Cantina:

2/18 – Athens, OH @ Casa Cantina
2/19 – Chicago, IL @ Schubas w/ Royal Pines
2/25 – Brooklyn, NY @ Rock Shop w/ Bird of Youth, The Collection Agency
2/26 – Boston, MA @ TT The Bears
2/27 – Philadelphia, PA @ M Room
3/23 – Lexington, KY @ Cosmic Charlie’s w/ James Toth of Wooden Wand
3/24 – Cincinnati, OH @ MOTR Pub
3/25 – DeKalb, IL @ House Café w/ Chaperone
3/26 – Minneapolis, MN @ 7th St Entry
3/29 – Seattle, WA @ Sunset Tavern w/ Shannon Stephens
3/30 – Portland, OR @ The Woods
3/31 – San Francisco, CA @ Bottom of the Hill
4/1 – Los Angeles, CA @ Satellite
4/2 – San Diego, CA @ Soda Bar w/ The Donkeys
4/3 – Tucson, AZ @ Solar
4/4 – Alburquerque, NM @ tbd
4/5 – Denver, CO @ Hi-Dive
4/7 – Columbia, MO @ Mojo’s
4/8 – St Louis, MO @ Billiken Club (SLU) w/ Theodore
4/9 – Dayton, OH @ Canal St. Tavern w/ Motel Beds

Adam Remnant and company never disappoint. New album, Canary, out late Feb/early March on Misra Records (now run by SEE’s drummer, Leo DeLuca). Before that, be on the lookout for a Misra comp titled Misra Records Presents: An Artist-Curated Misra Legacy Compilation.

Paszke’s letter asks the residents to cease using their house for what he calls a commercial venue. “It has come to our attention that your residence is being used on a near weekly basis for touring musical groups,” Paszke wrote, adding that this violates the city code’s residential zone permitted uses. He continues that the activity is “clearly in violation of many national fire codes” as well as the city’s business regulations codes.

“Any further operation of these venues located at this site will warrant an immediate response from our department as well as the Athens Police and Fire departments,” Paszke wrote. “Your landlord has been notified as well, whom we have requested to assist us in prohibiting these events.” Paszke said he had the landlord’s support in each of the houses.

The main venue being targeted is Brown Town. Judging from the comments in this article, it seems like Brown Town is an actual positive force in their neighborhood – no drugs, booze, respectful, and even neighboring families with children go to the shows. The same can’t be say for the frat houses in the area…

Official response from Brown Town after the jump.

The accusations raised against the house that I live in, 35 Brown Ave., are largely based around issues of semantics, misunderstandings, and falsifications of what we are actually doing. To title the house that we live in as a “commercial venue” is inaccurate. Our house is not a venue, nor is it commercial. Rather, it is a house, first and foremost, that also happens to have performances inside of it that are free and open to the community. We advertise publicly, however the performances that we are holding are private functions. All people are welcome to attend as long as they are willing to respect the rules of the house and the other guests. Guests are offered the opportunity to tip performers, if they wish, but there is no obligation to do so and no one is granted or denied entry based upon any sum of money. These occasions are void of drugs and alcohol, providing a positive space for expression and exchange of ideas that is free of racism, sexism, and homophobia. The number of individuals in attendance is controlled so as to provide a safe environment that avoids over capacity and potentially hazardous situations. Attendance is generally small and never exceeds capacity. We take great pride in our relationships with our neighbors, ensuring that any performances end before the noise ordinance begins and all guests are respectful of our neighborhood. We value the community that we live in and hope to better it through our actions.

PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS HERE
(please be respectful in your letters, we have to be civilized about this. We can’t afford to be seen as hooligans because they already think we are. Also be sure to include your name and and your address at the bottom of your letter)

CITY CODE:
Theresa G. Gerren
Administrative Assistant
tgerren@ci.athens.oh.us

Athens News:
news@athensnews.com

Mayor Paul Wiehl
pwiehl@ci.athens.oh.us

The Action Committee and Grundale Records are pleased to announce the Athens Experimental Music Festival, taking place May 15th and 16th, 2009. This festival is an eclectic mix of noise, metal, electronica and hardcore based in Athens, Ohio, one hour southeast of Columbus. The Athens Experimental Music Festival is donation-based, non-profit and will hopefully establish Athens as an up-and-coming hotbed for experimental music.

Keep reading for the full press release.

The Lineup:

Friday, May 15th, 2009
- The Crystal Castle (28 Central Avenue)
- 7 p.m.
- Donations go directly to out-of-town bands

- Sword Heaven (heavy noise rock from Columbus, releases on Load Records)
- Do Chimps Battle? (Sludge metal from Columbus, members of 333)
- Brad Griggs (Columbus harsh noise)
- Donner Party Dinner Party (noise and dubstep from Athens)
- Weedghost (low-frequency drone duo from Athens / Dayton)
- Bobb Hatt Attack (free jazz / harsh noise / performance art from Athens)
- Submarine Spaceship (crusty lo-fi punk from Athens)
- Nyodene D (power electronics from Athens)
- Interstates (Etc.) (droning noise from Mansfield, Ohio)

Saturday, May 16th, 2009
- The (Bruce) Manor (221 West Union St.)
- 7 p.m.
- Donations go directly to out-of-town bands

- Ryan Jewell + Wasteland Jazz Unit (electroacoustic improvisation from Columbus / Cincinnatti)
- Howland – Russell Duo (Cleveland / Chicago harsh noise, Wyatt Howland of Skin Graft and David Russell of Tanked)
- Robert Turman (Industrial ambient from Oberlin, Ohio, original member of NON)
- Andrew Kirschner (power electronics from Cleveland)
- Kid Panda Hands (psychedelic noise from Athens)
- Teeth Mountain (electro-acoustic improv from Dayton)
- H.x.B.x. (noise/powerviolence from Zanesville, Ohio, pronounced “Hollow Bones”)
- programs. (drone / harsh noise from Athens)
- Vivi C. Diem (gabber / noise from Loveland, Ohio, ex-Realicide Youth)

AEMfest Barbecue
- Saturday, May 16th, 2009
- The (Bruce) Manor (221 West Union Street)
- 4:30 PM

- We will provide hot dogs / not dogs, buns, fresh vegetables (whatever we can find at the Farmers’ Market) and a grill. Please bring donations (for the entree) or a side (vegan or non-vegan) such as salads, pastas, chips, soda, potato salads, cookies or whatever, really. Also, we need stuff like utensils, plates and napkins. The potluck, as well as both nights of the festival, are B.Y.O.B.

Lodging / Food / Parking

- There are several hotels in the Athens area (we DO NOT reccommend the Sunset Motel), but you are more than welcome to stay all weekend at both venues, as they are both houses with several couches. Preference will be given to travelling bands, but there should be plenty of room for everyone. Bobb Hatt and his roommates are willing to let out-of-towners stay at their house, The Beaver Ranch (40 Smith St.) located 2 blocks from The (Bruce) Manor and four blocks from The Crystal Castle)
- There are also plenty of bars and restaurants for any taste/diet located a short walk from both venues.
- There is limited parking at the venues themselves (for bands only, please), but there is plenty of on-street parking near the Crystal Castle (along Central Avenue) and in parking lots and along streets a short walk from The (Bruce) Manor.

Merchandise

- All bands / labels are encouraged to bring merchandise for sale/trade at the shows. There will be plenty of people who will buy and trade merchandise. We will try and have tables set aside for merchandise. Remember to bring extra cash (there are ATM machines uptown).

Directions
- The Crystal Castle is located at 28 Central Avenue, Athens, Ohio, 45701.
- The (Bruce) Manor is located at 221 West Union Street, Athens, Ohio, 45701.
- The Beaver Ranch is located at 40 Smith Street, Athens, Ohio, 45701