This week we dive into the maelstrom with Holy Shit Fest’s fundraiser, a concert that unites the forces of grunge, noise, punk and metal. In addition, Open Kasket and Heldtight bring Arkansas beatdown to Bandito’s. Inter Arma unveils a new single, promising to push the boundaries of heavy music with their signature blend of extreme experimentation. Alongside them fellow Richmonders Antichrist Siege Machine declare war on the heavens with their upcoming LP “Vengeance Of Eternal Fire”. We’ve got it all for you here and more on this week’s edition of PUNK PRESS RVA.
Are you an artist with new tracks, a listener with suggestions or the inside scoop, or just want to say hi? Send an email to cj@rvamag.com
Get To The Gig
Holy Shit III Fundraiser: Headscratcher, Circle Breaker, Oh Devil, Every Eye, False Nectar
Tuesday, March 5th @ Bandito’s
Doors: 7pm
Who doesn’t love a good show that also supports a cool cause?! The DIY Holy Shit Fest 2024 is on the horizon and to rally up funds they’ve put together this fully stacked lineup of up-and-coming Richmond bands. The roster includes noise punk trio Headscratcher, Circle Breaker’s unique brand of “Queer Motorpunk Hellfire”, the grunge-punk sounds of Oh Devil, 90’s grunge/shoegaze by False Nectar and Every Eye’s harsh noise dance music. People looking to dance, rock out and have a good time won’t want to miss this one!
Open Kasket, Heldtight, Molt, Death Mask, Slaat
Monday, March 11th @ Bandito’s
Doors: 7pm
Little Rock beatdown band Open Kasket is on tour with fellow Arkansans Heldtight and will be hitting the bandito’s stage this Monday. Alongside them we have local support from Slaat, Death Mask and Molt, the last of which is making their stage debut! This will be a high energy show with heavy breakdowns and in-your-face vocals. If you’re a fan of West Coast hardcore bands like Sunami then you better be in that pit.
new releases
INTER ARMA – “NEW HEAVEN” (single)
With a sound that is difficult to pin down with words, Inter Arma is a rarity of a band that combines numerous sub-genres of metal with the resulting sound being uniquely their own. Their new single “New Heaven” highlights their willingness to defy genre conventions and expand the musical territories of their sonic palette. Refusing to conform to the tonal hierarchies of Western music, they lie somewhere in the realm of avant garde metal alongside atonal bands like Imperial Triumphant, but minus all the jazz the latter is known for, and instead lean towards the conventions of doom and black metal. Their fifth LP “New Heaven” is set to release on April 26th via Relapse Records and marks a triumphant return for the band after a whirlwind of complications the band has deemed part of the “Inter Arma Curse”. As band member T.J. Childers puts it, “we’re excited to have come out of the madness relatively unscathed and feel as though we’ve created something completely unique that will stand apart in the sometimes homogeneous extreme music community”. You can preorder the record here and preview the new single below.
ANTICHRIST SIEGE MACHINE – “SISERA” (single)
Hide your loved ones and say your prayers because the unapologetically blasphemous duo behind A.S.M. is back with “Sisera.” Set to release on April 19th, the band’s upcoming LP, “Vengeance Of Eternal Fire”, promises to further their commitment to wreak havoc and bludgeon listeners with their brand of hellish fury of grind/death/black metal. Their music is not for the faint of heart, but for those willing to brave the storm, Antichrist Siege Machine offers an exhilarating journey into the depths of sonic chaos and devastation. If you’re an audiophile and want a vinyl copy of the record, then snag one here soon because they’re flying fast!
What I’m Listening To
BLOODRITUAL – “DO YOU BELIEVE” (album)
Blood Ritual’s debut album may not bring anything new to the table but that may be its greatest strength. Focusing on the sounds of speed and thrash metal, Blood Ritual perfectly nail their classic style and would have fit in perfectly alongside heavy hitter metal bands of the 80s/90s. The lead guitar is the shining star on many of the albums 8-track run. Songs like “Do You Believe”, “Graveyard of Life” and “Seed of Destruction” feature that wonderful Kirk Hammet tube screamer wah pedal sound that just hits so perfectly. Fans of High Command, Lowest Creature, Ulamog – or just good thrash metal – need to give this a listen. It will have you believing in rock and roll once more.
Top photo of Inter Arma by Jonah Livingston
