It’s pretty amusing how divisive a Christmas album can be. Not from former X Factor contestants or Susan Boyle because we all understand their sole purpose within the industry is to pollute the minds of the general population and reduce their taste and cultural comprehension into lukewarm mush like KFC potato and gravy left on a park bench for a week. But when otherwise reputable artists give into the Christmas spirit and reap the Christmas benefits of the almighty Christmas dollar, then people really start to get upset. Admittedly I was a little disheartened when Bad Religion revealed they would be releasing Christmas Songs. Of all the bands to sacrifice their solid punk rock reputation on the altar of fast cash, they seemed the least likely. Then again, I will be tracking down the album, and I WILL be playing it on Christmas Day as a welcome alternative to the usual tripe that gets rotation on the stereo simply because of its innate familiarity. Bad Religion are also donating profits to SNAP (Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests . Isn’t it DEEPLY depressing that an entire NETWORK of people affected by PRIESTS exists?) so that’s something nice to think about while you’re overeating yourself into oblivion.
Local grindcore band Agents Of Abhorrence have announced a couple of headlining dates to launch their new album Relief. It’ll be their first release since 2008’s Earth. Water.Sun. You can see them with Internal Rot, Pregnancy (brutal combination of bands to be billed side by side) and White Walls. You can get the new album now.
Closure In Moscow are back after a bit of a lengthy hiatus! The guys are once again making new music and expect to release their second album Pink Lemonade shortly. You can hear The Church Of The Technocrist online now. IT’s real weird. But good weird. Seek it out.
Brisbane’s Young Lions have generated a bit of heat lately (not to be confused with Born Lion, who have also attracted their fair share of attention). Young Lions will hit up a bunch of cities in support of their new release Burn, and you can see them at Wrangler Studios on January 17 or Ding Dong Lounge on January 18.
Soundwave released its second round of bands last week and it’s safe to say that no one was expecting this volume of bands. A Day To Remember and Mastodon have lead an announcement that could very well appear on a festival of their own. HIM, Pennywise, Jimmy Eat World, Glassjaw, Panic At The Disco, Eagles Of Death Metal, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Less Than Jake, Mayday Parade, Sevendust, Crosses, Suicide Silence, The Porkers, Gojira, Black Veil Brides, Zebrahead and about TWENTY other local and international acts have been added to Soundwave 2014’s already massive bill with rumours of a third announcement already starting to circle.
If you were unsatisfied with saying goodbye to House Vs Hurricane with just one farewell show, you can pencil in a couple more farewell performances in Melbourne over the next month. See them chuck an all ages gig at TLC in Bayswater on November 22 or go to Bang on November 23.
