Holy Roar Records

Monolith join Holy Roar, 'I, Misanthrope' EP to be released in March.

2012-01-09T08:19:00.000-08:00

We are hugely happy to announce that we will be working with Monolith on their forthcoming EP 'I, Misanthrope' which will be released in March on 7" and download. Preorders will go up early February.

Fans of Meshuggah, Acacia Strain, Brutality Will Prevail, American Me, Desolated, Bury Your Dead and anything technical and heavy should be all over this!

Download 'Cold Lesson' for free right now. Share it, put it on your blog, tweet, tumble, facebook, or whatever it is you do this week.

....another new band to be announced next week.

Albums of the year.

2011-12-31T03:48:00.000-08:00

Yeah, I waited until the end of the year! Shocking! No real order apart from numbers 1 and 2.

1. Com Truise - Galactic Melt

2. Harms Way - Isolation

3. Cold Cave - Cherish...

4. Weekend Nachos - Worthless

5. Liturgy - Aesthethica

6. Clams Casino - ep/instrumentals (bit of a cheat!)

7.Touche Amore - Parting the sea...

8. Rustie - Glass Swords

9. Khann - Erode

10. M83 - Hurry Up...

11. Three Trapped Tigers - Route One...

12. Tombs - Path of Totality

13. Trap Them - Darker Handcraft

Honourable mentions - When Saints Go Machine, I Declare War, The Horrors, Fit For An Autopsy, Basement.

Best Demos - Nibiru, Final Rage, Iron Mind Collective, Mutilation Rites, Real Talk, Ladder Devils

Splits - Masakari/Alpinist, Despise You/Agoraphobic Nosebleed

I'm not fully buying into this 'mixtape' thing that has arisen this year (it's an excuse for an artist to circumnavigate criticism - "Oh, it's not my debut album, it's only my mixtape!") - but I did, like everyone else seemingly, enjoy the A$SAP Rocky one and the first The Weeknd one. And bits of the Terius Nash one.

New Last Witness and Crocus albums up for preorder now!

2011-12-26T03:23:00.000-08:00

The brand new albums from Last Witness and Crocus are now up for preorder in our store. You can pick both up in low-price bundles with shirts and hoodies too! Both available on vinyl and cd....

Check out promo videos of new tracks from both bands below....

Last Witness - The Void (Official Video) from Last Witness on Vimeo.

Brontide 'Coloured Tongues/MFBT' 12" up for preorder now!

2011-12-13T06:44:00.000-08:00

Brontide return with a 2 song 12" vinyl - the brand new lilting, looped, epic, dancey monster that is 'Coloured Tongues', backed with the first ever proper recording of live set-favourite 'MFBT'.

All vinyl orders come with a digital download. Preorder your copy in our store now! Or as a low-priced bundle with a shirt!

Just 300 copies in total pressed, all on translucent vinyl.

THIS IS PREORDER WITH A MID/LATE FEBRUARY RELEASE DATE. DIGITAL AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 13TH.

Jackals/Grazes split 7" up for preorder now!

2011-12-09T04:05:00.000-08:00

The new split from Norwich heavy weights Jackals and your new favourite band- Sheffield's Grazes. Up for preorder now.

3 tracks from each available on translucent green /200 and translucent purple /300.
(Jackals side features a sick Minor Threat cover)

Some of the best hardcore punk the UK has to offer.

Thanks to Ed for the description.

PREORDER - RELEASE DATE JAN 16TH. INSTANT DOWNLOAD

Also up now (and shipping) are new Holy Roar sweaters and a new Slabdragger shirt!

WILL HAVEN 'Voir Dire' vinyl up for preorder!

2011-11-25T04:15:00.000-08:00

We are seriously, massively, smashing-our-heads-against-walls levels of happy to announce that we are the only label in the world to be releasing the new WILL HAVEN album 'Voir Dire' on vinyl, with retooled artwork by Jamie McDonald/Bear Face. Stream the whole record on our website now. Basically if you like detuned, epic hardcore or metal with the sickest vocals then you need this record in your life. It's a fucking beast. And Chris Fehn of Slipknot is their bassist now!

This is available for preorder right now on our store with free instant download (no waiting!) in the following variations (500 pressed in total) -

100 on Transparent red with black haze vinyl

150 on Red/orange sunset vinyl

250 on Yellow glitter vinyl

Press on this record already - 5k live review, sold out Islington Academy show, 4/5 Big Cheese album review, 8/10 Rock Sound review, 4/5 Terrorizer review...the list goes on.

Having first seen Will Haven when i was 14 years old, supporting Deftones, I can honestly say this is an honour. Will Haven opened the door for me to so much hardcore and weirder types of metal. Without them I doubt i would be releasing some of the records I do on Holy Roar and nor would some of the bands you like sound the way they do without them! I urge you to check this out if you are unfamiliar! Props to Bieler Bros. for being so awesome to work with on this release.

New Crossbreaker and Kerouac merch in the store now!

2011-11-24T08:52:00.000-08:00

All up in the store now and sent out within a couple of weeks! Crossbreaker design by Sin Eater, Kerouac design features Thomas Denson smashed out of it in a Belgian squat! All printed on Gildan Heavy. And yes - the Crossbreaker sweater is printed black on black for ultimate winter kvltness.

New merch available in the store!

2011-11-14T09:38:00.000-08:00

New Brontide, Crocus, Maths and Pariso merch in the store now. We will be adding more items over the coming weeks.....

Goodtime Boys preorder now up!

2011-10-31T10:41:00.001-07:00

Available for the first time on CD 'Are We Now, Or Have Ever Been' is the blistering debut proper from Goodtime Boys. Straddling the divide between classic screamo and raw hardcore punk aesthetic, fans of Touche Amore, La Dispute, Bastions, Kerouac, Veils and The Long Haul will find so much to love here. Catchy as fuck and ridiculously passionate and heartfelt.

With 4 bonus tracks bringing this EP up to 9 songs clocking in at just under half an hour, this is the definitive introduction to Goodtime Boys career so far!

Comes in a 6 panel digipak, on reverse board finish. 500 copies made.

CD and preorder exclusive shirt available in the store now!

Make Do And Mend 'Part and Parcel' preorder!

2011-10-20T07:44:00.000-07:00

After releasing one of this year’s most highly touted punk rock albums, MAKE DO AND MEND have decided to tone down their driving and blistering post-hardcore sound on the new acoustic EP ‘Part And Parcel’. PINK MIST will be releasing it on 12” vinyl, CD, Limited Edition Wristwatch (yep!) and digitally on November 21st.

The EP is up for pre-order as of NOW, and is available as:

12” (yellow with black haze limited to 100)

12” (transparent blue with white haze)

CD

Wristwatch w/mp3 dowload

And Digital Download

There are a few bundles up on the store so you can get the 12” and the wristwatch if you can’t fight that feeling.

Boasting three acoustic versions of songs from their breakthrough debut full-length End Measured Mile as well as a Touche Amore cover, and two brand new songs, Part And Parcel has been on the band’s mind for quite some time. “It’s something we’ve talked about doing for a while,” admits vocalist/guitarist James Carroll. “We wanted to explore the versatility of our songs and also explore our boundaries as songwriters.”

“Part And Parcel” Tracklisting:
1. Unknowingly Strong LISTEN HERE
2. Ghostal
3. Home Away From Here (Touche Amore cover)
4. Transparent Seas
5. Coats
6. Untitled

PREORDER

Daggers 'Euphoria' preorder now available!

2011-10-17T08:46:00.000-07:00

This awesome awesome album is now available to preorder in our store along with an exclusive shirt!

Daggers hails from Brussels with a sound akin all the best, most tonally satisfying parts of Breach, November Coming Fire and Bastions - Daggers deliver an almost retro sounding rock'n'roll played through a dirty modern hardcore context. A dark and uncompromising sound.

Release date is November 7th.

Daggers 'Euphoria' LP out November 8th!

2011-09-26T07:27:00.000-07:00

We are really happy to announce that we will be releasing the new record by Daggers titled ‘Euphoria’ on November 8th on LP. This is a co-release with the band and Twelve Gauge Records in America.

Daggers hails from Brussels with a dark, metallic sound. They've wrecked stages all over Europe and have now recorded their new full length "Euphoria" with Ben Phillips at Lightship95 in London.

1. Freaks/2. Axes (FREE MP3)/3. Dekanahwideh/4. Mohawk/5. Altar /6. Call /7. Riot /8. Decay /9. Gloom

There will an ultra limited black/white smoke vinyl as well as standard black vinyl.

Preorder will be up very soon!

Witch Cult preorders now up!

2011-09-20T04:23:00.000-07:00

Southcoast Powerviolence-ers Witch Cult now have their debut record up for preorder along with 2 exclusive shirts in our store! Check out the bundles for some savings! These are the only place you can get band shirts as of right now. The album is 10 tracks, with an etched b-side! Fans of Spazz, Infest, Charles Bronson, Vaccine, Hatred Surge, Cthulhu Youth, Grazes and Electric Wizard should take note!

Run walk / Sirs split 7" preorder up now!

2011-09-05T09:30:00.000-07:00

Having met and forged a trans-atlantic allegiance at SXSW 2011, Topshelf and Holy Roar decided to bring together two of their most promising artists for a beautiful split 7" with all exclusive tracks!

Coloured marbled vinyl and an exclusive shirt and totebag! All available in the store now for low bundle prices!

Run Walk from Winchester, England, deliver their most cohesive, melodic, heavy and intricate tracks, that hint towards an incredible debut album in 2012. To say that this duo's songwriting chops keep coming on in leaps and bounds would be an understatement. Bass/drums/fun/songs/loud without sacrificing melody or structure.

Sirs, from upstate New York, USA, deliver driving, ultra-catchy indie rock that owes a huge debt to the energy of punk and hardcore. Having already delivered a 6-song ep and another split 7" - Sirs time is now!

TRACKLISTING
Run Walk - Rainhouse
Run Walk - Straight Lines
Sirs - Bering Straight
Sirs - Buzzard Kill (River)

New Holy Roar vests!

2011-08-12T04:49:00.000-07:00

New Holy Roar vests up for order now in our store!

Cream print on a black or navy blue Fruit of the Loom vest!

Crossbreaker/Rosa Valle EPs up for preorder!

2011-07-25T04:40:00.001-07:00

New EP's by Middlesbrough post-math kids Rosa Valle and Welsh brooding-hardcore wizards Crossbreaker are both now up for preorder.

Crossbreaker deliver 4 tracks on translucent red 7" vinyl (exclusive to Holy Roar) of crushing, progressive dark hardcore. Rosa Valle deliver 5 songs on CD/one-sided customised 12" vinyl that encompass everything from finger-tapping workouts, to post-rock, to screamo, whilst maintaining a technically dizzying, cohesive whole.

Of course there is exclusive preorder shirts with both! Get on it!

Abolition LP + Shirt up for preorder now!

2011-07-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

Abolition have been bubbling under on the UK hardcore scene for a couple of years now, steadily building a name for themselves with their metallic hardcore that nods to the past and a future, and straight edge message.

Their own 7” ep, and splits with Hang The Bastard and Ark of the Covenant have come and gone and done the band no disservice but this, their debut 11 song full-length, is where Abolition truly take first blood. Taking elements of many mid-90’s greats, whilst remaining resolutely forward-thinking, Abolition are that rare beast of a band that sounds instantly classic in the true sense, whilst always pushing forward in sound and scope.

Available to preorder on LP (with limited translucent red edition) and with an exclusive preorder shirt now!

Go to this releases page now to grab two free mp3s from the record!

Make Do And Mend 2xLP up for preorder!

2011-07-04T13:45:00.000-07:00

It's with huge pleasure that we can announce that we will be releasing a double LP from Make Do And Mend. Having released the album 'End Measured Mile' on Paper & Plastic late last year, as well as the eps 'Bodies of Water' and 'We're All Just Living' on Panic records, we have collated all these releases together onto a double LP collection in time for their UK/Euro tour this August. 22 tracks in total, there is limited colour versions, including clear/silver glitter vinyl (!), and a preorder shirt. This is up for preorder now!

If you are unfamiliar with the band, stream the whole release here now!

End Reign 7" preorders!

2011-06-29T11:35:00.000-07:00

End Reign have truly upped their game with this self-titled 4-track 7"

Following on from their split 7" with Alaska and a 4 track demo, End Reign have now fully taken that leap from 'promising' to visceral. Whilst possessing their own musicality and catchiness, fans of Trap Them, Throats, Integrity, Cursed and even Zeke shouldn't go far wrong here.

2 limited 7" colours, a shirt and plenty of bundle deals in the store now!

Holy Hell Summer 2011 FREE Digital Sampler

2011-06-21T05:36:00.000-07:00

Available here

New, exclusive tracks as well as a bunch of stuff from this years releases so far.

Tracklisting -

Rosa Valle - Mathemagician
Slabdragger - Erroneous Maximus
Witch Cult - Burn
The Ergon Carousel - Dead Banks
Self Loathing - Cut
Crossbreaker - Time Is Making Fools of Us
Rolo Tomassi - ...And Then The Mannequin Spoke
Antares - to youth and valour
Pariso - The Recluse
Kerouac - Fiends
Make Do And Mend - Nights The Only Time of Day
Grazes - Observers Paradox
Jackals - Mob Mentality
End Reign - Abyss
Eisberg - Salt In The Wound
Brutality Will Prevail - Heavy Eyes
Daggers - Axes
Brontide - Jura
Gallops - Eukodol
Hang The Bastard - The Great Devourer
Abolition - Shadow
Cthulhu Youth - Free Music For Poor Punx

Abolition album out August 29th on Holy Roar

2011-06-20T03:59:00.000-07:00

We are mega happy to announce that we will be releasing the debut album by London straight-edge hardcore band Abolition.

After split releases with Hang The Bastard and Ark of the Covenant, as well as their own releases, the band have finally arrived at their own 11 track album, recorded with the one and only Jamie Frye. Don't let the words 'straight-edge' potentially put you off - this is just awesome raging, classic hardcore with a metallic bent, with huge tunes!

You can download 'Shadow' off the new record here. Preorders will go up to coincide with the start of these live dates. Limited colour vinyl will be available on all shows, with a limited number also with us.

The band go on a serious tour to launch the record -

18th July-Ashford @downtown dinner w/Santa Karla, Final Rage…
23rd July-Leeds, UK
24th July-Nottingham, UK
25th July- Manchester, UK
26th July-TBC
27th July-Travel day
28th July-Brussels, Bel w/Allocation
29th July-Ieper w/Allocation
30th July-Mulheim, Ger @ AZ Mulheim w/ Cobretti, Wolfxdown, A time to stand
31st July-Nuremberg, Ger w/Wardogs+Broken Teeth
1st August-TBC
2nd August- Prague, Czech @cafe na pul cesty
3rd August-Gyor, Hun
4th August- Budapest, Hun
5th August- Ivano Frankovsk, Ukraine
6th August- Kiev, Ukraine
7th August- travel
8th August- Cracow, Pol @Miasto Gadających Głów w/ Violent Action, Get Out
9th August-Gdansk, Pol
10th August-Poznan, Pol
19th August-Windsor w/uncommon valour, discontent and a long time dead

Jackals/Self Loathing 7" + shirt preorder!

2011-06-07T04:05:00.000-07:00

Jackals follow up their debut six-song 7" with this split with Self Loathing.

Jackals deliver more of their lurching, expansive dual/duel vocal-attack punx violence, whilst obviously taking a step-up from their debut 7". Fast, harsh and ugly whilst incorporating nods to a more doom-laden/gazing aesthetic.

Self Loathing spew out 4 tracks of feedback-drenched raw, bass-heavy sloppy punk/hardcore/power-violence. Angry as fuck.

This is available in the store now - limited black vinyl, clear vinyl and an exclusive Jackals shirt!

Rosa Valle EP to come out on Holy Roar and BSM!

2011-06-06T04:36:00.001-07:00

We are very happy to announce that Holy Roar and BSM will be teaming up to release the debut EP by Middlesbrough lads Rosa Valle.

Coming out on August 22nd on one-sided 12” and on CD, fans of Rolo Tomassi, Blakfish, Brontide, Shapes, Maths, We’ll Die Smiling, Tubelord, Antares, Gallops etc etc should find something they love here. This band really are that unique and wide reaching - incredibly catchy intricate tunes that are not afraid to swing from serene to blistering. Impossibly young and impossibly talented, the bare fact that this ep was recorded only a few months after the band formed, is jaw-dropping.

Download ‘Mathemagician’ by the band here

2011-05-30T08:03:00.000-07:00

The Slabdragger double LP 'Regress' is finally up for preorder today! Very limited vinyl pressing, shirt, shirt+2xLP and shirt+digital download packages are all available for preorder now! All orders of the record receive an instant download right now!

Fans of Yob, Torche, Sleep, Electric Wizard the like should take note!

Also out today and ready to ship is a new Holy Roar shirt...

Grazes/Eisberg 7"s out today!

2011-05-09T05:26:00.001-07:00

Out today (no preorder!) - Grazes 'Myths' 6 song 7" vinyl/download and Eisberg s/t 7 song 7" vinyl/download! Grazes is up with a very limited shirt and colour vinyl edition. Grazes play sloppy, fast punk/hardcore with shoegaze and Sabbath influences. Eisberg are venomous, direct straightedge hardcore. Both are fucking awesome. Stream both releases from the releases page/the store!

Also up on the store today on distro from other labels is the Kerouac/Long haul split cd/10" vinyl and Desolated 'The Sixth Day' 7" - an amazing looking and sounding release for those who like their death metal/hardcore.

Brutality Will Prevail + The Ergon Carousel

2011-05-02T12:04:00.001-07:00

The new Brutality Will Prevail 'Sleep Paralysis' CDEP and (Icemen rip) shirt is now up for preorder, as is the debut album 'Dead Banks' by ubergrindlords The Ergon Carousel, again with a shirt! Cheap bundles!

2 free The Ergon Carousel mp3s are up for download and you can stream 'Heavy Eyes' by Brutality Will Prevail...

Go to the store!

Gallops 'Joust/Eukodol' 7" + shirt!

2011-04-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

Returning with new double A-side ‘Joust/Eukodol’ it’s clear that Gallops are, like their music, always looking to progressing forward, each new output a chance to move on, re-think, evolve. That’s not to say that there aren’t similarities to the Gallops EP on these two tracks; both retain the group’s love of matching up synthesized odds and ends with muscular guitars, balancing both to perfection, while they also have a timeless feel to them, at one both futuristic and retrograde, thus placing them in a unique, rarefied place.

Released May 23rd, available to preorder with a shirt now! All purchases get an instant download!

Rolo Tomassi - 'Eternal Youth' 3xLP out now!

2011-04-18T02:00:00.000-07:00

Now available to order online if you missed it at Record Store Day....the new TRIPLE LP from Rolo Tomassi. Also available with the classic ep artwork shirt for a low bundle price!

Containing everything Rolo Tomassi have recorded (asides from their two albums to date -'Cosmology' and 'Hysterics') as well as acoustic tracks, remixes and covers this really is a beast to be reckoned with.

Covering everything from the first, home-recorded, demo, to the tape Ep that first showed what this band were capable of, right through to ambitious prog tracks from 2010, this really is a treasure trove that contains some of the bands best work.

Easily our most ambitious project to date - this is a triple LP housed in a double gatefold sleeve available in 3 vinyl variations.

Pressing Info -

600 on black
200 on tri-colour (transparent clear/yellow/green)
200 on grey/green random swirl

Brontide 'Sans Souci' album preorder is go!

2011-04-11T04:47:00.000-07:00

After a low key digital demo release and an appearance on the 'Holy Monsters!' split 10" with Shapes, Holy State and the Tupolev Ghost, Brontide have FINALLY arrived with their debut album.

Veering from near-Converge like intensity, to Kinsella-esque passages, to serene post-rock, Brontide have delivered an instrumental rock album for all occassions and tastes. 8 songs delivered it a continuous flow, this is a 50+ minute journey that truly shows Brontide have arrived.

Available to preorder now in our store on limited heavyweight 2xLP, 2xLP and CD. There's also packages with a t-shirt and a totebag available! Phew! ALL PREORDERS COME WITH BONUS LIVE RECORDING OF THE ALBUM, CAPTURED BY BEATCAST.

Release date is May 30th. The band are on tour now -

12/04/11 - Hare & Hounds, Birmingham w/ The Xcerts
13/04/11 - Rock City, Nottingham w/ The Xcerts
14/04/11 - The Earl, Sheffield
15/04/11 - Undertone Basement, Cardiff
16/04/11 - The I Bar, Bournemouth
17/04/11 - The Druids Arms, Brighton
18/04/11 - Fuzz @ Project, Norwich
19/04/11 - The Firebug, Leicester
20/04/11 - Nation of Shopkeepers, Leeds
21/04/11 - New Slang @ The Hypodrome, Kingston
22/04/11 - Crack Yr Skull @ Trof Fallowfield, Manchester
23/04/11 - Uncle Alberts, Middlebrough
24/04/11 - The Banshee Labyrinth, Edinburgh
25/04/11 - Stereo, Glasgow
26/04/11 - The Chameleon, Nottingham
---------------------------------
26/05/11 - ALBUM LAUNCH SHOW //The Bull and Gate, Kentish Town, London

Pariso/Kerouac split preorder!

2011-04-05T02:17:00.000-07:00

Pariso/Kerouac split 5” vinyl/credit-card CD up for preorder NOW. 5 new songs from Pariso and a 5-part mini-epic from Kerouac. CD and vinyl come in the same package.

Package deal with #UKSWELL shirt!

Digital available now, and all preorders get an instant download.

Stream the release on the Holy Roar website now!

Hello PInk Mist

2011-03-11T08:43:00.000-08:00

Today Pink Mist is officially launched.

Whilst I could carry on saying that it is a shadowy corporate entity, but the facts are that this is Holy Roar, Big Scary Monsters and Blood&Biscuits pooling resources and partnering up to work together on many great things. Each of these labels were started out of an individuals passion for music and stubborn determination, and Pink Mist is no different. We hope it grows and propers like our individual labels have. Each label will retain its individual identity but the Pink Mist logo will begin cropping up along with joint ventures, crossovers and collaborations. In future we hope to welcome other independent labels and organsations into the fold and grow an independent collective that makes working on, and in, music as good as it possibly can be!

It all kicks off on 16th April (Record Store Day) with a free entry launch party at Rota in London - lineup to be announced soon - alongside a very special pink and white 12" compilation release, featuring brand new and exclusive tracks from 12 of our bands. This is then followed in May by the first Pink Mist showcase tour featuring the awesome Three Trapped Tigers and Tall Ships.

http://hellopinkmist.tumblr.com
http://pinkmist.bigcartel.com
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Mist/
http://www.twitter.com/hellopinkmist

New Holy Roar Hoodie!

2011-03-09T02:48:00.000-08:00

New zip-up hoodie in the store now! Also up is new, leftover, pariso shirts/longsleeves! Get on 'em!

Holy Roar Sweater v5!

2011-02-22T04:52:00.000-08:00

This will be the last time we print the classic Holy Roar logo on a sweater, so we decided to go out with a dark bang - black on black!

Black gloss print, on a black Gildan heavy sweater. 18 available to buy in the store now!

2011-02-07T13:42:00.000-08:00

Rolo Tomassi/Antares split 7" up for preorder now in our store!

1 new song from Rolo Tomassi and 2 new songs from Antares.

Rolo Tomassi deliver 'Pillfox', perhaps their most straight-up heavy song for a long time, if not ever.

Antares continue their development as possibly one of the most advanced tech-metal bands in the UK, if not the world. Simultaneously they have found a more coherent groove, pushing and spinning melody into an ever complex framework.

500 pressed.
250 on clear vinyl.
250 on solid blue vinyl.
Members of the Rolo Tomassi singles club via Hassle Records will receive a copy on blue vinyl as part of their subscription. This will not be available in shops.

This should begin shipping in 4-6 weeks.

New shirts

2011-02-02T07:25:00.000-08:00

New Holy Roar shirt/new Pink Mist shirts are up in the store now. Pink Mist is the new monster of Blood&Biscuits/Holy Roar/Big Scary Monsters. Be first on it, know what's up.

Due to a total sorting out of our stock, we also have a bunch of merch back up for sale. 2 Maths preorder shirts, 1 grey Holy Roar sweater, 3 Touche Amore shirts, 7 Hang The Bastard shirts, a couple Never Again shirts, 1 Throats shirt. We also reduced the last Brutality Will Prevail shirt to £3.50 - USE IT AS A SICK PATCH.

See all merch and apparel here - http://holyroarrecords.com/shop.php#/shop.php?filter=apparel

Holy Roar Zip-Up Hoodies now for sale!

2011-01-17T10:09:00.001-08:00

Red print on sports grey Gildan Ultra Blend zip-up hoodie. Breast print of a lion on a the front, triangle with lots of roaring animals and our logo below on the back.

20 of these made. We will not be reprinting this design in another colourway.....its just these 20 and that's it!

Only 1 made in XL - so if you are thinking about that, get on it!

Holy Roar sweaters v3/v4 available now!

2011-01-10T12:02:00.000-08:00

20 made of each colour!

Yellow print on burgundy sweater
Silver print on navy blue sweater

Gildan ultrablend sweaters.

In the store now!

Baptists - 'Black Dawn' EP available now!

2010-12-21T03:06:00.000-08:00

Baptists have truly upped their game this year, with a new drummer and a renewed vigour. This is doomy, lo-fi, dark hardcore for fans of Cursed, Shikari, Throats and early Baroness. Up for order now (no preorder, but will start going out the first week of January, due to the Christmas break) - we have 50 physical copies for sale in fantastic double-layer screenprinted card case packaging courtesy of Vino Sangre. Further photos available in the store.

Stream the whole release and also get an instant download when you buy the CD!

Also new in our store this week is 'Darkest Season Vol 1' - a 4-way split 7" featuring Black Mass, Lavotchkin, HUSH and Prelude To The Hunt. With Black Mass onboard we were obviously going to get a few copies in, which has a download code within the vinyl itself. Secondly we have also stocked some copies of the brilliant, long-running fanzine 'A Short Fanzine About Rocking' - it's not short and has loads of awesome content on a load of great bands. Pick it up - good fanzines understand music in ways that pro mags never do!

Maths - 'Ascent' preorder now up!

2010-12-13T02:17:00.000-08:00

A companion piece, or sequel, to the ‘Descent’ album that was released back in November 2009. 4 songs (eerily clocking in at 5mins48secs both sides) of the bands passionate, intense screamo that will be instantly familiar to anyone who fell in love with Descent, whilst proving to be a great starting point to anyone new to the band.

Melodically and vocally stronger than ever, Maths have produced another incredible conceptual piece that also serves (ridiculously!) as the bands first vinyl release.

Dog Knight Productions also chipped in on this release.

Pressing Info -

300 x 7” solid green vinyl

IN THE WEBSTORE NOW WITH A SWEET SHIRT FOR CHEAP!
RELEASE DATE - JANUARY 24TH 2011

Pariso new 7" and shirt!

2010-12-06T08:02:00.001-08:00

The new seven song 7" and shirt from Pariso is now available for preorder in the store. You can stream the entire release in the store with 'House of Squalor' available for free download.

All purchases get a high quality download straight away.

This is a co-release between Dog Knight Productions, Tangled Talk, Dead Dead Dead Music, Throatruiner Records and Brainache Records

Holy Roar Sweater v2!

2010-11-22T05:25:00.000-08:00

Available in the store now!

Happy Holy Roar 4!

2010-11-15T04:18:00.001-08:00

- Happy Holy Roar 4 is a cassette tape compilation.
- Happy Holy Roar 4 will only ever be available to order from November 15th-December 12th 2010.
- Tracklisting will be revealed on Monday December 13th. Digital download will also become available Monday December 13th for all those who ordered.
- Happy Holy Roar 4 contains a radio session by a Holy Roar band, a full new ep by a Holy Roar band, a full ep by a new exciting band featuring people you know, new songs, old songs, at least 4 exclusive cover versions and much more. Over an hour's worth of music.
- Happy Holy Roar 4 comes packaged in a Christmas themed cassette box, with insert and choice of 15 colour variations of tape.
- Gold tape is limited to 5 individual copies.
- Blue/Yellow mixed colour tape is limited to 10 individual copies.
- All other colours are limited to however many are ordered during the period this tape is for sale.
- Due to the way this project has been put together we can only give a shipping estimate right now of December/January.
- Holy Roar 'Hate Comes Close' shirt is limited to 50 and available on its own or with a tape for a cheap deal.
- HAPPY MEGA BOX contains all 15 tape colours (yes, 15 tapes) in an exclusive presentation box, along with the 'Hate Comes Close' shirt, a 2nd secret Holy Roar shirt that will never be available to buy, a personalised mix cd and other goodies.

IN THE SHOP NOW!

Kerouac - 'Cold and Distant, Not Loving' 10" + shirt

2010-11-08T04:15:00.000-08:00

Limited to 300 copies re-pressing of Kerouac's incredible debut album "Cold and Distant, Not Loving" on 10" vinyl. This is chaotic, emotional down-tuned (baritone guitar!) hardcore. Visceral, unpredictable and memorable. Pressed on stunning, black vinyl with random patches of clear and packaged in 350gsm card sleeve, 5mm spine, plastic overbag/sticker and printed inner sleeve.

All orders include an instant, high quality download of the full record. Stream and download available now. Shirts made to order! Release date December 13th.

This is a co-release with Tangled Talk Records.

Touché Amoré - '...to the beat of a dead horse' up for preorder!

2010-11-01T04:25:00.000-07:00

Up for preorder now in the store!

Touche Amore ‘….to the beat of a dead horse’ 10” euro tour pressing w/ 4 bonus live tracks.

Shirt has the Holy Roar baby logo big on the back.

We only, genuinely (no hype!) have a very limited number of copies of this. The majority are with the band on their euro/uk tour.

Touché Amoré '...to the beat of a dead horse' 10" on Holy Roar!

2010-10-25T10:47:00.000-07:00

The cat is out of the bag. We are HUGELY HUGELY happy to announce that we will be working with Touché Amoré to re-release their debut album '....To The Beat Of A Dead Horse' on 10" vinyl with 4 bonus live tracks, recorded at Chain Reaction. The live songs are not simply a thrown away add-on.....they truly display the vocal passion that this band inspire in their fans! You need to hear it!

Tracklisting -
1. And Now Its Happening in Mine
2. Honest Sleep
3. Cadence
4. Throwing Copper
5. Swimming With Sharks
6. History Reshits Itself
7. Suckerfish
8. Broken Records
9. Nine
10. Always Running, Never Looking Back
11. Adieux
12. Cadence (live from Chain Reaction)
13. History Reshits Itself (live from Chain Reaction)
14. Nine (live from Chain Reaction)
15. Honest Sleep (live from Chain Reaction)

500 copies pressed. 100 on black/white vinyl, 400 on black vinyl. A small limited number is available on preorder from Holy Roar starting next Monday, with a shirt. The bulk of the pressing will be available via the band on their UK/European tour. Dates are -

05.11.2010 Karlsruhe, Germany @ Die Stadtmitte
06.11.2010 Brugg, Swiss @ Piccadilly
07.11.2010 Ljubljana, Slovenia @Tovarna Rog
08.11.2010 Budapest, Hungry @ Caffe Zappa
09.11.2010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania @ Irish & Music Pub
10.11.2010 Kosice, Slovakia @ Collosseum
11.11.2010 Wroclaw, Poland @ CRK
12.11.2010 Berlin, Germany @ Cassiopeia
13.11.2010 Leisnig, Germany @ Ajz
14.11.2010 Hannover, Germany @ Stumpf
15.11.2010 Göteborg, Sweden @ Nordengärden
16.11.2010 Stockholm, Sweden @ Cafe 44
17.11.2010 Hamburg, Germany @ Rote Flora
18.11.2010 Tilburg, Netherlands @ Little Devil
19.11.2010 Mechelen, Belgium @ Metteko
20.11.2010 Merksplas, Belgium @ Jh Zig Zag
21.11.2010 London, UK @ The Old Blue Last
22.11.2010 Norwich, UK @ The Marquee
23.11.2010 Manchaster, UK @ Retro Bar
24.11.2010 Basingstoke, UK @ Bang Bar
25.11.2010 Brighton, UK @ Hydrant
26.11.2010 Essen, Germany @ Cafe Nova
27.11.2010 Bielefeld, Germany @ Ajz
28.11.2010 Trier, Germany @ Ex Hause

Hang The Bastard - 'Hellfire Reign' preorder now on!

2010-10-18T04:27:00.000-07:00

Finally the debut album from Hang The Bastard is here! '1888' from the record is up for listening here now!

With guest appearances by Nick of Dead Swans (vocals on 'Levitation Lessons') and James of Rolo Tomassi (all keyboards), ‘Hellfire Reign’ is 10 tracks that shows the band writing a collection of songs that work and flow together, pushing their hardcore/metal sound out into doom, black metal and horror film soundtrack territory – an achievement clearly more than the sum of its parts. All hail the ‘…Reign’!

Cd, Vinyl LP on two colour variations, shirts and hoodies all available as part of the preorder in the Holy Roar shop NOW!

Rolo Tomassi 'Hysterics' vinyl repress on Destination Moon Records!

2010-10-11T09:18:00.000-07:00

In the words of James from Rolo Tomassi -

"Following the recent two year anniversary of our debut album Hysterics, we have decided to repress it on vinyl.

With the original vinyl pressing selling out in only a month and interest in this record still ongoing we thought it made sense to make this album readily available again on vinyl in two colour varations.

This will also act as the first release on our own label, Destination Moon, which we're all very excited about. Pre-orders will be taken only via the Holy Roar site [starting now].

The official release date for this is November 15th.

Thanks,
James
Rolo Tomassi/Destination Moon"

PRESSING INFO -

- 400 on blue vinyl with yellow/grey splatter
- 100 on solid red with flecks of translucent vinyl
- Artwork is different to the original vinyl pressing.
- Comes on heavyweight 350gsm card, 5mm spine, printed inner bag, shrinkwrapped.

Throats/Ergon Carousel 'Kyuss covers' split 7" preorder!

2010-09-24T09:31:00.001-07:00

Now up for preorder in the store - a new 7" featuring Throats and The Ergon Carousel covering 'Odyssey' and 'Allen's Wrench' by Kyuss! Both covers are brutal as shit. Art by Holly Lucas, design and layout by Theo Kindynis.

Pressing info - one-off pressing of 300 copies on one-sided black vinyl, first 50 copies bought have a secret stenciled B-side. There is also an exclusive shirt to go along with this preorder - see it big in the store.

Run Walk highly limited Instrumental Ep available now

2010-09-10T02:17:00.000-07:00

The new Instrumental EP from Run Walk is now available in the store. Limited to just 50 copies (of which we have just over 40 for sale), this is 4 tracks clocking in at just over 21 minutes. We have tried to keep this as cheap as possible considering every one of the 12 different inserts, the cover art, the printing, the packaging and the cds themselves were all made or designed by different people! Not to forget it is such a limited run. Further photos can be found of all aspects of the packaging here

Musically the band seem to be exploring both the avenues hinted at by the title track of their 'IHTAWSICSSOEAOMITS' mini-album, as well as darker, more droning territory.

No preorders, no bundles - just 4 great new tracks available straight away! The whole ep can be streamed on our website right now.

Bastions 'Island Living' 7" + shirt preorder!

2010-09-03T07:42:00.000-07:00

We are very happy to be releasing Bastions new 7" 'Island Living' on September 27th! 3 brand new tracks recorded with Ben Phillips at Lightship 95 - this is hardcore rock'n'roll for fans of Holy State, Throats, Converge, November Coming Fire and Gold Kids.

Coloured vinyl and a lush made-to-order preorder t-shirt, which we have bundled at a ridiculously cheap price! Get on it - we dont have loads of this vinyl as it is a co-release with Tangled Talk Records (different shirts at each label).

You can listen to the whole release on our website now, and you get an instant download when you preorder!

Never Again - 'Year One' LP preorders up!

2010-08-27T06:10:00.001-07:00

We've kept this one relatively secret I guess. Never Again are really fast and stompy no frills hardcore, built on RIFFS. Immensely hardworking, and an absolute force to be reckoned with live (already), we have collected together everything the band have recorded to date + 3 exclusive new tracks onto one LP+download. This is the first time much of this material is available digitally as well. The vinyl is available on 3 colour schemes - white, white/translucent blue or translucent blue. The white vinyl is the most limited at 100 copies and is only available from Holy Roar.

As is par for the course with us now - there is also a preorder shirt, available in either blue or white, which is made to order and only available as part of this preorder. But we've stepped it up one further - the first 50 orders of the lp come with a free live tape that is only available with this LP and limited to 50 copies made.

Go see Never Again on their Euro/UK tour with AYS and Wayfarer starting today -

28 Aug – Raesfeld, Germany w/Wayfarer
29 Aug – Hamburg, Germany w/Wayfarer
30 Aug – Goteborg, Sweden, w/Wayfarer
31 Aug – Nykoping, Sweden, w/Wayfarer
1 Sept – Stockholm, Sweden w/Wayfarer
2 Sept – Oslo, Norway w/Wafarer
3 Sept – Bremen, Germany w/AYS, Wayfarer
4 Sept – Gdynia, Poland w/AYS, Wayfarer
5 Sept – Weisswasser, Germany w/AYS, Wayfarer
6 Sept – Pozan, Poland w/AYS, Wayfarer
7 Sept – Vienna, Austria w/AYS, Wayfarer
8 Sept – Vincenza, Italy w/AYS, Wayfarer
10 Sept – Luzern, Switzerland w/AYS, Wayfarer
11 Sept – Ulm, Germany w/AYS, Wayfarer
12 Sept – Monchengladbach, Germany w/AYS, Wayfarer
14 Sept – Nantes, France w/AYS, Wayfarer
15 Sept – Willebroek, Belgium w/AYS, Wayfarer
16 Sept – Newport, Wales w/AYS, Wayfarer
17 Sept – Leeds, England w/AYS, Wayfarer
18 Sept – London, England w/AYS, Wayfarer

BRUTALITY WILL PREVAIL 'ROOT OF ALL EVIL' PREORDER!

2010-08-16T09:27:00.000-07:00

It's finally here! A new song ('Early Grave') is up for playing and download at ROOT OF ALL EVIL

Avaiable on vinyl or cd, with exclusive shirt and tote bag, this record shows a true evolution for Brutality Will Prevail.

Info -

- Bronze vinyl limited to 100
- Pizza (clear with drops of green, blue and red) vinyl limited to 300.
- Bronze/pizza mix vinyl limited to 100 - each of these will be slightly different, some may end up almost completely bronze, others almost completely 'pizza'.
- Cd version

- T-shirt is a preorder exclusive and only made as part of this preorder
- Totebag individually numbered, limited to 20.

ALL AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER IN THE SHOP NOW. GET ON IT - SOME OF THIS CLEARLY WILL NOT BE AROUND FOREVER!

RELEASE DATE OCT 4TH

BLACK MASS EP PREORDER

2010-08-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

The debut EP by Leeds terrors Black Mass is here and up for preorder. Available on its own on CD in a ridiculous metal tin, as a cheap digital download, or with a t-shirt as a package. You can listen to the entire EP on this here Holy Roar wesbite right now and download 'Left Hand Pass' for free! There is only 100 physical copies of this release, and the t-shirts will be made to order. Official street release date is 20th September.

For fans of Trap Them, Entombed, Napalm Death, The Power and the Glory and all things crysty, grindy and bleak.

Gallops CDEP and shirt now up for preorder!

2010-07-05T04:13:00.001-07:00

The debut EP by Gallops is now up for preorder with a pretty astrological t-shirt if you so fancy. This is a co-release with Blood and Biscuits who have their own variety of shirt, here .

A bit of a curveball for Holy Roar - this is a band that join together electronica, math-rock and pop to form something entirely their own within our fair isles. 'Miami Spider' is up for free download straight away here

Everyone who preorders will also get sent free remixes by Three Trapped Tigers and Rolo Tomassi at some point prior to release date. Watch out for a bunch of shows and festivals from the band too!

New band on Holy Roar - BLACK MASS

2010-06-28T06:20:00.000-07:00

We're gonna be about as blunt on this as we've ever been. We know very little about Black Mass. Via some messageboard or other we heard a demo of Black Mass recorded in a basement. It sounded like shit but showed incredible promise. We pretty much told them this. They came back to us a few months later with a bunch of recordings done by Jason Sanderson (Rolo Tomassi, Antares, We'll Die Smiling etc). These recordings are amazing.

It appears the band are doing a split 7" on about 32964 labels with Guillotines and Kasa. They will also, most importantly of course, be doing an EP on Holy Roar. 4 tracks of Entombed-meets-The Power and the Glory. Think Trap Them, Cursed, Napalm Death - all things crusty, filthy, grindy. This EP should be out within a couple of months! More news, a new song etc coming very soon!

New Throats shirt and Guilty Parents ep in on distro!

2010-06-21T10:51:00.001-07:00

First up - we made a new Throats shirt to celebrate their tour (with Lavotchkin in tow) which starts tomorrow! Check the gigs section for all dates. Printed on Gildan Ringspun Soft Style (a high quality soft shirt) - this looks awesome - with black photoprint and silver border and font! Only 50 made, and Throatsofgold members get this as part of their package.

Secondly - we have got our hands on some copies of the Guilty Parents ep. Released by Danger Lazer Phaser Razor Records. Looks amazing. Sloppy rock'n'punk. Available now in the shop!

Young Legionnaire - Colossus/Iron Dream 7" Preorder

2010-06-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

The debut release from Young Legionnaire. This band is made up of Gordon Moakes (Bloc Party), Paul Mullen (The Automatic/ex-Yourcodenameis:milo) and William Bowerman (Brontide, La Roux, ex-Iwasacubscout). You could almost say this is our first ever 'supergroup' release of sorts. Except that this sounds nothing like any of the members previous work - this is detuned, subtly technical stoner indie. It's fucking heavy and loud but catchy and tuneful.

Available for preorder now. Instant mp3 download when ordering (follow onscreen instructions). 100 copies on black vinyl, 200 on creamy yellow and 200 on semi-transparent brown. Get on it. We don't expect this one to be around forever!

Jackals T-shirts now in stock

2010-06-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

We got a very limited number of Jackals shirts in. 7" artwork on a shirt - white print on a Gildan Heavy shirt. Punx. You can pick them up on their own or in a cheapo bundle with the 7"! Hit up the Holy Roar store for these!

Holy State CDEP + Trash Talk 'Shame' LP!

2010-06-07T07:11:00.001-07:00

New distro items available from Holy Roar. It’s not just random shit - we’ve released these bands in the past and these releases are fucking genuinely awesome!

1. Holy State - new cdep and cdep+tote bag deals! Cheers to Dance To The Radio for hooking us up! We only have 10 of the totes so get on that! Ships for July 12th.

2. Trash Talk - Shame LP - heavyweight vinyl, poster insert. Collecting together all releases up until the new album. We have one box of these!

Available in our store NOW.

Lonwolves - 'A True Discourse' Preorder up!

2010-06-02T09:09:00.000-07:00

Now up for preorder! 4 song cdep.

Lonewolves display a fluidity that nods to the tones of Earth, Pelican, Old Man Gloom and Year of No Light whilst grasping the full throttle rock of Coliseum and The Hope Conspiracy. An epic, energetic beast.

1. Hollow (exclusive to cd version) // 2. Shadows and Dust // 3. Death March // 4. Deity

Displaying a new-found confidence and (whisper it) maturity from the band, this record loses none of the bands energy or intensity, whilst exploring far more subtle tones, restraint and vivid colours.

CD comes in white card DVD packaging (photos soon!). 5 different colour vinyl-effect cds. Multiple orders will receive multiple colours, up to all 5 colours. 20 copies on each colour. Limited to 100 copies.

Throats - USA presing of the self-titled ep

2010-05-20T07:34:00.000-07:00

We got in one small box of the USA pressing of the Throats EP we released back in February. This was released in the USA by Twelve Gauge Records. Completely new art courtesy of Holly Lucas and maybe a bonus track too!

Watch out for other new Throats stuff soon!

We are also mega happy to announce that the band are playing SONISPHERE on Friday July 30th! COUP!

HOLY ROAR SUMMER SALE!

2010-05-12T04:28:00.001-07:00

Yeah ok, so it's still freezing. But if Azgathoth Varg is embracing the sand, sun and his bucket and spade, then so should we all. Especially if we are making loads of shit dirt cheap! A bunch of items in the store have now been reduced. We need your pennies to keep producing new, sweet music so dig deep and buy HARD. This is what is on offer in the store, as well as existing bargains -

Youves - 'Cardio-Vascular' cd - £1
Dance To The radio '4x12' 12" (feat. Holy State etc) - £1
Holy Monsters! 10" - £2
New Roars on the Block 7" - £1
New roars on the Block t-shirt - £4
Chronicles of Adam West shirt - £1
Betty Pariso/Manuscripts 7" - £1
Devil Sold His Soul/Tortuga 7" - £1
Holy Roar tote bag - £2

LAST WITNESS - GIVE UP 7" PREORDER!

2010-05-05T04:20:00.000-07:00

We are pleased to announce that we are co-releasing the forthcoming 7” from Last Witness, entitled GIVE UP, it will be released next month on HOLY ROAR, PURGATORY and THIRTY DAYS OF NIGHT RECORDS.

The record features 3 new tracks, the first material the band has written in over two years. The B side track ‘Dreamland Welcomes You’ is now available to stream and download on MySpace, Facebook and on the releases page!

The record is now available to pre-order in three colours (clear [Holy Roar], blue/white split vinyl [Purgatory] and transparent red [TDON]) from all three labels. We also have an exclusive preorder shirt of a spread colour print on a natural shirt. You can finally buy all 3 colours of vinyl from us in a special, VERY limited package.

ROLO TOMASSI - COSMOLOGY

2010-04-30T07:34:00.000-07:00

We are stupidly happy to announce that we are co-releasing the vinyl of the new album by Rolo Tomassi - 'Cosmology'. Limited to 100 copies from us in a gatefold sleeve, this features different artwork to the cd version, and comes on translucent blue vinyl with solid grey and white speckles.

Produced by Diplo, we genuinely believe this is the bands best material yet. It harks back to pre-ep material whilst also displaying a ridiculous amount of progression and heightened technicality. Starting off as an OTT-tech monster and ending on psychadelic space-rock trips. this is an epic journey of a record.

All pressing information can be found on the releases page or in the store.

Get on this. It wont around for long!

Give Up

2010-04-22T05:59:00.000-07:00

Untitled from GIVE UP on Vimeo.

New Cutting Pink With Knives shirt!

2010-04-19T07:28:00.000-07:00

Released to commemorate and commiserate 3 years since 'Populuxxe' was recorded! It's also pretty sweet just to have a CPWK shirt available again! Design and layout by Mario Gambardella, incorporating the classic early CPWK logo and dual-layered seahorses....green and yellow print on a blue shirt. Summer vibes! Gildan heavyweight shirt.

We also got in some copies of the new Hang The Bastard/Abolition 7".....get on it all in the shop!

THROATS + LAST WITNESS + LAVTOCHKIN - FOR FREE

2010-04-13T04:42:00.000-07:00

New Brontide and Maths shirts!

2010-04-09T04:54:00.000-07:00

We have 10 of these Brontide shirts for sale. 5 small, 5 medium. White and gold print on a black shirt. Designed and printed by Vino Sangre. Free digital brontide ep with each shirt bought, and you can get the 'Holy Monsters' 10" for half price with this, if requested. Get on it!

We also now have this new spread colour print Maths shirt - red through to blue print on sports grey, heavyweight Gildan shirt. Designed by Sam Dunn. One time pressing of 50 shirts, with a portion of that being with the band on the road.

Jackals - 6 song 7" coming soon!

2010-03-26T04:52:00.000-07:00

We are mega happy to announce that we will be helping release the debut 6 song 7" from Jackals within the next month or two! Hailing from the Norwich area, this 6-piece is a veritable smorgsabord of DIY talent! Jack runs the What Would Henry Rollins Do? zine and label, Alex Batten used to play in Maths and takes sweet photos and the whole thing was recorded by our very own Alfie from Maths. Sorry to the other members of the band for not knowing anything about you yet!

Seemingly coming from out of nowhere, this is rock'n'roll infused power violence with Kodan Armada/Neil Perry tendancies on their more expansive moments.

This is a co-release with Wineblood Music/WWHRD?/Power Negi. All good people! 300 copies will be made in total on coloured vinyl in handscreened packaging.

There is a free mp3 up now on the shop and release page for this. Download it and check it out and then preorder this beauty!

New Brutality Will Prevail and Easy Hips merch!

2010-03-15T05:37:00.000-07:00

To celebrate Brutality Will Prevail going into the studio for us late next month to record an album, we got Bill Trevey from Throats to design us an exclusive Brutality Will Prevail shirt. Severed hand in a ridiculous star. Cosmically grimm. Charcoal grey shirt, gloss black print, Gildan Heavyweight shirt. Only 50 of these have been made and will not be reprinted. Photos coming v. soon! We've got copies of the 2009 mini-album 'Forgotten Soul' on coloured vinyl too. Cheap on its own or even cheaper with the shirt!

We've also got our hands on some left over tour merch from Easy Hips. Black print on a white American Apparel shirt or Red print on a cream American Apparel shirt. Cheap for American Apparel!

All available in the shop now!

New distro stock and Easy hips video!

2010-03-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

We just got some stuff in by Never Again. Never Again play fast classic hardcore/thrash with sweet breaks. If you are a fan of Ceremony , Xfilesx, Scholastic Deth, Trash Talk or any bands of that like, then you will love Never Again! We've got the 'Repulsed' tape, the 'No Sympathy' tape and the 'Pressure' 6-track 7". We've only got a couple of copies of each so get on it!

Recently Easy Hips did a video for their Christmas anthem 'This Turkey's Bezurkey' that appeared on Happy Holy Roar 3. Here it is!

To celebrate we have made the song available to purchase from our store for a limited time!

New band on Holy Roar - We'll Die Smiling

2010-03-04T07:18:00.000-08:00

We are really happy to announce that we will be working with We'll Die Smiling, starting with a 4 track ep limited to 100 copies. The packaging will fucking kill obviously (preview it, courtesy of the band, here).

It will be officially out Monday 5th April, exactly one month from today. The band have put up the opening track from the ep, 'Interdisciplinary' up on their myspace page or you can download a free mp3 of it from us right now here!

Exclusive Hang The Bastard shirt now available!

2010-02-15T07:11:00.000-08:00

To celebrate the news that Hang The Bastard will be recording their debut album for us in late May for a late summer/early autumn release, we went and got this awesome, exclusive shirt made!

Yep, it's Simon and Garfunkel! Pick it up here! We also have copies of their ep 'Raw Sorcery' in, and you can buy the cd and shirt together for just £12!

Please note i'm away in Australia from Wednesday, so any orders received after then will be sent out 5th March!

Mp3s etc

2010-02-10T04:27:00.000-08:00

Just a quick little update. We've gone through our catalogue, sorted and added a few bits and pieces...

- Holy States 'Urges', from the sold out 7" with Pulled Apart By Horses is now available to download at 79p
- The Holy Roar half of the 'Holy Monsters!' split 10" is now available to download on an individual track basis. This is an exclusive song each from Holy State and Brontide. It's easily the best Brontide recording to date by a mile!
- We traded a handful of Throats cd colours with the band, so we now have a couple of the cd in GREEN available now....

Just hit up the Shop page!

run,WALK! preorder now up!

2010-02-01T09:42:00.000-08:00

The run,WALK! CD mini-album and t-shirt package is up now! £13 for the pair. Not bad, Not bad. Or if you just want the cd or the t-shirt then that's cool too!

Check out the shop page or the releases page to stream the entire release now, over a month before its release date.

New shirts and totes available!

2010-01-19T02:12:00.001-08:00

Remember Emma Sailor who designed and printed Brontide shirts, almost every Holy State shirt to date, the run,WALK! shirt and more? Well this is the 'umbrella' label under which all the printing and designing takes place. Vino Sangre. It's fucking awesome.

Holy Roar backs Vino Sangre/Emma Sailor hard!

PLEASE NOTE - We only have one of each shirt and tote apart from the black print tote bags (we have 4 of them), so if you want it get in quick! Once gone, they are gone, these were made specifically for us.

New release available now! ANTARES!

2010-01-11T14:02:00.000-08:00

Please welcome ANTARES. Easily the most technical UK heavy band I have heard for a long time! It was always going to be a ridiculous combination when you put together an ex-guitarist of Chronicles of Adam West and Calvin (aka the only person to ever fill in for Joe Nicholson on gutar in Rolo Tomassi).

4 songs, 16 minutes, mini-dvd style cases, 3" cd. Produced by the awesome Jason Sanderson.

You can buy their 3" cdep here now! There are only 100 copies ever, so this wont be around forever! You can also buy it digitally which will be around forever!

Hi 2010!

2010-01-09T10:18:00.000-08:00

I guess its a bit of a belated Happy New Year from Holy Roar, as I went to Paris this week and got stuck there an additional 24 hours due to Eurostar cancellations. It wasnt all bad though, I got a free (really nice) hotel for the night and first class back the following morning! Below is a photo of the Catacombs i visited in Paris. Total brutality. All human bones. The most ridiculous thing I have ever seen. They go on for miles of tunnel.

So a bit of a round up/whats happening etc....

- Any orders placed (excluding Throats preorders) between dec 18th and now will go out on Monday 9th Jan.
- The Throats preorder is still running! Have you picked it up? Its not going to be around for long now!
- We are working on a bunch of merch for some of our bands, some cds/vinyl/shirts/bags from friends labels to sell via Holy Roar, a secret imminent release, the Guilty Parents cd, the Run, Walk! cd preorder, and loads more upcoming releases and stuffs!

Here are, in no order, my top 20 albums of 2009 (whats the point of doing it before the year has ended hey?) -

agoraphobic nosebleed - agorapocalypse
health - get colour
the chariot - wars and rumors of wars
maths - descent
king cannibal - let the night roar
MSTRKRFT - fist of god
kylesa - static tensions
iwrestledabearonce - its all happening
suicide silence - no time to bleed
fuck buttons - tarot sport
bloody panda - summon
weekend nachos - unforgivable
mew - no more stories.....
passion pit - manners
yeah yeah yeahs - its blitz
brutality will prevail - forgotten soul
gaza - he is never coming back
zombi - spirit animal
nile - those whom the gods detest
hudson mohawke - butter

Throats preorders up!

2009-12-22T11:34:00.000-08:00

Go check out the various packages now in the shop! Overall there is 2 colours of cd packaging available, 2 colours of vinyl available, a cd and 12" vinyl in a variety of combos! All pressing information available on the release page. The shirt and hoodie are exclusive to this preorder only. This preorder end by release date (Feb 1st) at the latest so get on it...

Dont forget you can still save loads and get the limited cd, limited vinyl, hoodie and t-shirt plus all old throats material you require, entry to throats gigs and more in THROATSOFGOLD club

Good tidings we bring....

2009-12-14T05:19:00.000-08:00

Yoyoyoyoyoyoyoo!

So THIS FRIDAY is the last time we will be posting orders out until the first week of January. Dont forget pre-xmas orders over £25 get a free tote bag and over £50 get a free tote bag and a free t-shirt. YOU WILL RECEIVE IN TIME FOR XMAS IF YOU ORDER BY FRIDAY LUNCHTIME. YES.

As i'm feeling nice, here is what to look out from us over the course of the next month or -

- THE NEW THROATS CD/LP PREORDER STARTING NEXT WEEK WITH LOADS OF SWEET PACKAGES
- A Brutality Will Prevail t-shirt designed by Bill from Throats
- A ridiculously brilliant Hang The Bastard t-shirt.
- A kind of new Maths shirt that will look amazing.
- A new Cutting Pink With Knives shirt (hopefully)
- The Guilty Parents cd
- Another secret release that will be revealed the day it goes on sale

...you know us, some of this may get delayed or end up not happening or something, but this is the aim!

It's CHRISTMAS!

2009-12-01T07:19:00.000-08:00

As it's now december, we thought we would let you know what's going on/going down/coming up yadda yadda sleigh bells.

- We will close for the Xmas break on Friday 18th December. This will also be our last day of posting for the year. FRIDAY 18TH DECEMBER IS THE LAST DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS WE WILL POST STUFF THAT WILL GET TO YOU IN TIME TO BE A XMAS PRESENT OR WHATEVER.

- From today until the morning of 18th december, any order of £25 or more gets a FREE TOTE BAG. Any order of £50 or more gets a FREE TOTE BAG and A FREE HOLY ROAR SHIRT.

In other news -

- Throats preorders on their self-titled release should be going up at some point in the week before Christmas. Get excited on these! Cd packaging will be available in 3 colours - 100 orangeypink from us, 800 in grey from us/in shops etc and 100 green direct from the band at shows. Vinyl will be available from us in 2 tbc colours. One will be limited to 50, the other limited to 200. Finally there will be a preorder t-shirt and a preorder hoodie. There will be a variety of bundles too to save monies. Again - this will all make sense when it goes up! This will be released and orders will be dispatched in time for Feb 1st. Why not join THROATSOFGOLD club and get cd, vinyl, shirt and hoodie, all forthcoming Throats releases and shirts for the next year, guestlist to gigs and any throats back catalogue you want? Its only £50 for a year membership. Would make an awesome xmas gift too!

- There might be another secret release appearing before Christmas. It depends on how fast we move, i'm trying to get it done though and it will be ultra cool I promise! It's gonna happen soon anyway....

- The Guilty Parents ep will most likely make an appearance early January.

New Holy State T-Shirt! Happy Holy Roar 3 SOLD OUT!

2009-11-18T03:40:00.000-08:00

This years Happy Holy Roar tape compilation - the imaginatively titled 'Volume 3' - sold out on preorder in 24 hours. RIDICULOUS. It was purely available from the Holy Roar website and only on tape, an apparently dead format. This is amazing. Thank you so much to everyone that bought a copy! This will go out as soon as we can (early Dec is likely).

Now up in our webstore is brand new, amazing Holy State t-shirts. Metallica silver and purple/eggplant print on a light blue or white Gildan ultra cotton shirt. Only 50 were made (equally split between colours), of which we have 25. Each one comes with a Holy State hand tied tag.

Happy Holy Roar Volume 3 available for preorder

2009-11-16T10:15:00.000-08:00

The third volume in our annual Christmas tape compilation series is here!

Once again limited to 100 copies, this years volume comes in 100% PCW recycled chipboard packaging with cover atwork and insert. On top of this the tape comes available in (provisionally) ten different colours, with 10 of each - red, mid blue, dark blue, green, orange, grey, lilac, purple, pink, and black.

We have made available a package so it is possible to buy all ten different colours for a discounted price. As its Christmas - anyone who buys this package will receive a bunch of other free stuff too, and i mean good stuff.

Side A is comprised of cover songs and the tracklisting will only be revealed upon purchase. Believe us this is massively worth it!

Side B is exclusive or rare songs. Of particular note is perhaps Easy Hips and Le Swing collaborating on a christmas themed thrashtastic original composition!

Side A
Throats
Run Walk!
Hang The Bastard
Maths
Betty Pariso
Senator
Manuscripts
Esquilax
Guilty Parents

Side B
LeEasySwingHips - This Turkeys Bezurkey
Dreamboats - Night Creatures
Youves - Casino No, No
Bastions - Her Casket Holds No Bones
Crocus - A Spiritual Polemic (live)
Livimorket - Black Alkymi
Brutality Will Prevail - Life
Wreck Of The Minotaur - A Kiss For Luck But You Still Shit Your Knickers
A Boat To Row - Best Wishes
Hammers - The Weight of Days [

I literally have no idea how i'm going to top this one next year!

GET ON IT

New Motherfucking Band on Fuckingmother Holy Fuck Roar

2009-11-04T11:56:00.000-08:00

Blog title indicates my excitement on multiple levels. FINALLY i'm working with a band from South Wales. I was born in Caerphilly and grew up in Cardiff, so why the fuck i've worked with English, Scottish, American and European bands before my own kind i'll never know. I must be a fucking idiot. Thank fuck i've finally rectified this. Secondly, i'm finally working with a band that is close to another aspect of my musical roots. Anyone that ACTUALLY knows me will tell you i love THE MOSH. This band are not generic mosh by any stretch of the imagination, but they make me want to bang my head and cut the shit. No twanging, no noodling, no pussy bullshit. Thank fuck. FINALLY.

Who are they? Please welcome Brutality Will Prevail.

These dudes have been working hard for around 4 years now I believe. But at the beginning of this year the band unleashed an ep called 'Forgotten Soul', and combined with a ridiculously intense live show, my mind was totally blown. 'Forgotten Soul' is cinematic hardcore tuned to drop HELL on downers. Slow, thick and sludgy, BWP are like a suffocating black tar or a steamroller hellbent on a slow march to hades. Beneath it all shards of strewn melodies and refrains drag you even further into this bands HEAVY FUCKING SHIT. Oh and lets not forget perhaps one of the scariest drummers you will ever see performing live.

An album by Brutality Will Prevail will drop within, we believe, the first half of 2010.

Go and get yourself acquainted with the band before the year is out (there's a fuckload of dates on their myspace which will appear on the Holy Roar site too within the next couple of days).

THROATS NEW CD

2009-10-28T08:26:00.000-07:00

At this stage, I would pretty much say Throats are one of the defining heavy bands on Holy Roar, if not the defining band. All the way back in 2005 (i think?) my old old band, Seducedwomandead played an alldayer in Spalding with a very early incarnation of Throats. I'm pretty sure they did an awful Slayer cover and I thought nothing more of it. Two years later, after the band had sent me, essentially, a pretty poor demo, our pathes crossed at Rapturefest in Reading. The band were a shambles, having to borrow even a distortion pedal from me. The first glimmers of potential were shown however when the band closed their set with an early version of 'Deathnaps' - a song that would appear on their split cd with Maths the following summer. Anyway, off the back of this performance I asked the band to be on the first Happy Holy Roar tape and they nailed their first awesome recording in the form of a version of 'Reign of Low', and from that it was sexy time between Holy Roar and Throats.

So that I don't turn this into a fucking bio, since then the band have released the aforementioned split cd with Maths (June 08), a split cd with the_Network (Nov 08) and a split 7" with Rolo Tomassi (Aug 09) where they covered each others material. During this time, despite spending 2009 with a drummer conscripted to the German army, the band have still managed to tour with Rolo Tomassi, Maths, Crocus, Johnny Truant, enormo-halls with Gallows and Everytime I Die, Blackhole, The Plight and Battletorn as well as shows with Coliseum, Trash Talk, Gold Kids, Rise and Fall, Ghost of a Thousand, Youves, Lewd Acts, and a million other bands. They've had props from some fucking huge bands from all corners of the globe. Still press has largely ignored them - well that's their loss. Frankly Throats are the biggest selling artist currently actually on Holy Roar - proof that fucking hard work, touring loads, having amazing music and a good aesthetic works over hype, dumb pr and idiots in positions of power.

SOOOOOOOOO now we arrive at the first definitive statement from Throats - a self-titled record that is being recorded this week at Serafina studios with the awesome Nick Kinnish. This will be released on February 1st 2010 by Holy Roar in the UK and by Twelve Gauge Records in the USA. There are tonnes of plans in the works for this release, all of which will be revealed gradually as it gets closer. I've had the record played to me, bare bones, in a rehearsal studio, and it slayed even there. See -

Throats practice from Throats Dude on Vimeo.

First up for more info and stuff - we will be conducting a live twitter interview with the band at 3pm uk time tomorrow (Thursday)........

Follow us and read it -

@alexholyroar
@throatsofgold

New band on Holy Roar Number 438574 (bored of keeping count now)

2009-10-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

Say hello to Hang The Bastard. I would have put up a picture of the band, but they have had 89348364 bassists to date and dont have any photos with latest, and greatest, bassist Stuart Cooney (also, apparently, HTB have a 'b-squad' of members in case anyone, sans Chris on vocals, cant do a gig!).

Hang The Bastard first came to our attention dotted around a few London shows about 18 months ago. Their (original?) bassist began sending us demos too, and whilst we liked what we heard we had yet to catch the band live. We then put them on a show with the_Network in Brixton on a Sunday night and we felt like we royally fucked the band off with, essentially, a bit of a poor show. We kept tabs on them though and early this summer I saw the band play Bar Monsta (or whatever the fuck its called now) in Camden and they fucking DOMINATED the place. They were in charge and along with Brutlaity Will Prevail, completely won me over that night.

Recently I pretty much told the band as much, we all went to Bodeans (duh, where else? When are fucking Bodeans gonna sponsor me?) and so in 2010 we will be releasing a cd (length to be determined) by the band in 2010.

To me the band sound like Eyehategod, Electric Wizard and Sabbath learning Slayer riffs whilst listening to Integrity and Ringworm and bringing the sweet times. Im loathe to use the term 'metalcore' because it has come to represent TASTE OF RELENTLESS CHAOS KILLSWITCH OF GOD TOUR '07 and idiots, but once a upon a time metalcore was fucking awesome (do your homework sucka) and HTB are a prime cut from a sweet era, whilst still pushing forward and being relevant to both hardcore fans and pretty much fans of heavy music in general.

I DID WRONG. A BAD THING.

2009-10-19T01:33:00.000-07:00

So basically the worst thing in the world has happened. For the first in Holy Roars' 3.5 year career of 37 releases (to date) we have put a pressing error into the public domain. That's correct - there is a release out there that has a kind of big error on it.

The Pulled Apart By Horses/Holy State split 7" picture disc contains the demo version of 'Urges' by Holy State, rather than the version specifically recorded for the 7". So in other words there are 500 7"s out there with this demo version (recorded by George Clift of November Coming Fire fame) out there. The digital download that comes with the 7" is the full REAL studio version. There will also be a limited free download of the real version of this song somewhere soon to show how sorry I am to the band. Obviously there is, and will never be, any digital of the demo version of 'Urges' which is pressed onto the 7".

To reiterate -

I AM REALLY FUCKING SORRY, HOLY STATE. I AM PRETTY MUCH APPAULED WITH MYSELF THAT THIS HAPPENED, AS I AM USUALLY MR STRINGENT WITH EVERY ASPECT OF OUR RELEASES. THIS WILL NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN, CAN I BUY YOU ICE CREAM OR BEER TO SAY SORRY TOO?

New band on Holy Roar No. 3 - Crocus

2009-10-14T02:33:00.000-07:00

Crocus are amazing on so many levels. I first met them in a shit pub in Chalk Farm and one of their friends got stabbed outside the pub that night. I'm not lying. They then turned in a performance equally as visceral to ten people. I'm not lying. Some time later, after european tours, a tour with Maths and Throats, a million other tours and some more tours Crocus arrive at Offset Festival, play first in the hardcore tent, have a crowd eating out of their hands and completely rip shit-the-fuck-up. Deal sealed. These guys have worked so hard in the last 18 months or so its untrue. Constantly gigging, they have turned into such a honed machine, and with the band based in Cornwall they automatically have 3 extra hours to drive compared to most bands. Intense.

With an EP already under their belts on the wonderful We Heart Records the band truly hit their stride with their recent split cd with Lavotchkin. If you are new to Crocus - this is classic ripping screamo with added As The Sun Sets/Me And Him Call It Us noise inflictions and almost funky basslines. It works, its awesome, no one sounds like them. Crocus are DIY as fuck without the pretension or attitude. If you want a band to look up to in work ethic and attitude, this is the one. This is about as heartfelt and passionate as it gets, and these dudes are genuine, lovely, hardworking and they know how to get crunk and bring it (the partay).

Holy Roar will be releasing the debut album from Crocus at some point in 2010. There's no strict timeframe, but when it drops, expect the band to take everything they have learnt live and on record so far and smash it up a few levels. Of course they will tour relentless on top of this. To say we are a bit excited is an understatement.

ps There are still two bands to announce in the next couple of weeks!

New Band on Holy Roar No.2 - Run, Walk!

2009-10-05T06:36:00.000-07:00

Yeah you probably guessed this one already!

Run, Walk! have been bubbling away on the under-underground for a year or two now, steadily building a name for themselves and gaining friends in all the wrong places. Still only both 18, Matt and Tom already pretty much hate me for calling them small, 'hobbit-rockers' and various other height and age themed jokez. So i'm not allowed to say that or anything like it on the press release for the mini-album cd they will release with us in February 2010! In their defence bassist/vocalist Matt Pickering-Copley (or Cat Mickering Popley or Pat Kickering Mopley) smokes loads and has a voice both onstage and in conversation that makes him sound 45 at least, with problems. Wicked.

Anyway - Run, Walk! are just two dudes, one on drums (conventional) and one on bass/vocals/effects (therefore, overall, less conventional). They are LOUD. The obvious (dull dull dull, no effort) reference point would be something like Lightning Bolt meets Fugazi or Death From Above 1979 playing Maccabees songs. In other words indie punk songs played on a fucking brutal bass guitar, without losing definition, structure, or hooks. Totally sounds like a Holy Roar band to me.

We hope you will love them - they record their cd at the ever-amazing Serafina Studios in November, tour a bit in December, and the cd comes out in February and we make a right song and dance.

ON THE BANDS MYSPACE YOU CAN DOWNLOAD AN OLD EP FOR FREE, A SWEET NEWER SONG CALLED 'TIME IS CATCHING UP WITH ME' AND SEE A PREVIEW OF THEIR FORTHCOMING CD ART. CRUCIAL ETC

YOU ALSO KNEW THEY HAD ALREADY RELEASED A TRACK ON THE 'NEW ROARS ON THE BLOCK 7" VINYL, WHICH YOU BOUGHT, YES?

Guilty Parents on Holy Roar!

2009-09-28T07:11:00.000-07:00

Ok, so over the next few weeks i'm hoping to introduce to everyone around 4 (fingers crossed) new bands on Holy Roar - the majority of them being a focus for 2010! As well as this I will be talking about other upcoming releases and plans for existing Holy Roar artists - exciting times! I think 2010 is going to be our busiest year yet....

First up, and seemingly out of nowhere is Guilty Parents from Nottingham.

They have beards, beauty and beautiful beards. Not bad going.

We will be hitting out an EP by the band this autumn, 100 copies physical or digital if you're a freak, mega limited, hand screened packaging - think along the lines of the Ergon Carousel ep and the first Holy State cdep. Got it? Got it. Good.

Musically the band say they are influenced by "Die Kreuzen, Make-Up, COC, Mummies, Bad Form,
Bad Seeds, Flag, Sonics, Penetraiters, Poison Idea, Gories, Murder City Devils, Gun Club..." - i'm a fucking idiot though, so i'll just say this is no pretension, ultra rock'n'roll with a fucking punk as fuck heart. Its the tightest sloppy lo-fi rock band ever. For real - this dichotomy exists within this band.

They have already played with Part Chimp, Souvaris, Lovvers, Male Bonding, Army of Flying Robots, Crocodiles, Ramming Speed, An Albatross and Limp Wrist, which is cool!

Video -

This good already, how good will they get? Only the passing sands of our earthly existence can answer. You can already hear two songs here. The rest will appear, and we will notify you as such, very shortly, on the Holy Roar Store.

My monthly, but soon to be almost daily....

2009-09-08T07:47:00.000-07:00

......pile of news and nonsense!

So firstly, and probably most importantly right now, the Pulled Apart By Horses / Holy State 7" picture disc went up for preorder today. It comes out Oct 5th. It kills. New material. 500 copies. You know the drill with us now surely. Well its amazing, and most people probably dont realise that the PABH song is named after the bassist from Grammatics. That's a blog exclusive right there. Oh and to bring it all full circle, the man in question, Mr Rory O'Hara came to see my old band, the cringeworthily named Seducedwomandead play our second ever show in a scout hut when he was about 4 years old or soemthing (ok 16/17 ish, but he still looks really young now, so whatever).

So what's going on beyond our current releases I hear you cry (die?)....well the Maths album comes out in stores within the first week or two of November, with preorders and a preorder shirt going up first week of October. Then its 'Happy Holy Roar Vol 3' time, this one should be pretty special. The its 2010.......yep we have arrived at the future. Defo happening - Run, Walk! mini-album, Holy State ep, Throats ep. Then there's about another 3 or 4 bands we want to work with next year, and a tonne of unexpected shit will surely happen too. Who knows. There will probably be more from some existing artists too like Ergon Carousel and Maths amongst others.

Our new website will actually launch this month maybe?

My band Betty Pariso have a 7" out next week or the week after....its a split with Manuscripts. That will be available on the Holy Roar store, but its not released by us (its done by Power Negi records and other mysterious forces).

Throats are on tour through all of September with Blackhole and The Plight, go see them, dates here - www.myspace.com/throatsofgold

Oh yeah - and thanks to everyone at Offset festival on the weekend - I missed the Saturday due to illness but the Sunday was incredible. Best times ever. Reaffirming my faith etc. So many kind words and happy faces. Amazing festival. I even got a pitbull security lady to crack a smile! And I told too many people that I thought Shoreditch/Hoxton would be very quiet that weekend.....

Guaca Balls

2009-08-10T02:00:00.000-07:00

Trash Talk have hit Europe. The UK dates will be christened by the only version of the 'East of Eden' 7" released by anyone other than the band themselves (IE RELEASED BY HOLY ROAR). Here are those UK dates -

8/23/09 - UK, London @ Underworld 
8/24/09 - UK, Huddersfield @ Bar 1:22 
8/25/09 - UK, Newport @ TJ’s 
8/26/09 - UK, Bournemouth @ IBAR
8/27/09 - UK, Ipswich @ Rose and Crown 
8/28/09 - UK, Kingston @ The Fighting Cocks 

If you are currently thinking "nah, im bored of hardcore", watch this video and EAT TOTAL SHIT -

Trash Talk from KO Films on Vimeo.

The band are also back in Nov/Dec with Gallows if thats what it takes.

The Maths album 'Descent' is almost ready to go. This is going to be 6 panel card wallet, with elaborate roots/vines artwork by long-term band collaborator Sam Dunn. Shit must have taken fucking ages.

Tracklisting -

1. Belief in Sorrow
2. Culpa
3. Wilderness
4. Guarded
5. From Her Journals
6. Boundless
7. Sleep Deep
8. To be Frozen
9. ...And Left to Die
10. This is Forever
11. Branches
12. Belief in Hope

....seriously, if you enjoyed the split with Throats, or any of the bands DIY releases, then this will make you shit bricks. Empty record label rhetoric? When you hear the album tell me i'm lying. Its genuinely the usual baloney though "HEAVIER. MORE MELODIC. MORE EPIC" etc etc.

In other news, perhaps whetting appetites too early, Throats and Holy State now have recording sessions booked for the last quarter of this year. Expect new shit in Jan/March 2010 respectively. Minds will be blown obvz.

Download my band, Betty Pariso, 3 songs for free - http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RLCLUND4

Oh yeah, and if you didn't notice - Happy Holy Roar volume 3 will be happening in December. Usual drill - 100 tapes, as many exclusive and rare songs as we can muster from old favs, new favs, future favs.

...and finally, this weekend I smeared guacamole and salsa on the balls of a Hassle Records A&R guy whilst an NME journalist watched.

HOLY MONSTERS! (Interview with Kevin 'the fucking' Douche of Big Scary Monsters emo mega-tapping Record Label!)

2009-07-29T03:24:00.000-07:00

So the 'Holy Monsters' split 10" (featuring Brontide, Holy State, Shapes and Tupolev Ghost) finally comes out on Monday 3rd August from Holy Roar and Big Scary Monsters. Translucent green vinyl from BSM and translucent purple from Holy Roar. Buy both and be cool. It also comes with a voucher for a download of the 4 songs on the 10" as well as a further 16 songs (8 from each label). The tracklisting is as follows (i dont know about the BSM tracks, but note the exclusives in this digital package from Holy Roar) -

1. Adebisi Shank - Snakehips
2. Betty Pariso - I'm standing here, you make the move (exclusive)
3. Brontide - Bob Munden
4. Dreamboats - Some Wolves (exclusive)
5. Easy Hips - John Woo (exclusive)
6. Ghost of a Thousand - Bored of Math (demo) (out sept 7th on 'This is where...' 12"+cd)
7. Kevin Devine - Carnival
8. Livimorket - Dark Totality Sample 1 (excerpt of 39 minute album out Aug 24th on cd)
9. Maths - To Be Frozen (exclusive from forthcoming Maths album out Oct)
10. Meet Me In St Louis - Ein Zwei Drei Hasslehoff
11. Mimas - Cats on Fire
12. Mutiny on the Bounty - Call Me Cheesus!
13. Holy State - Anechoic Chamber Maid
14. Run, Walk! - Time is Catching Up With Me (exclusive)
15. Shapes - The Talisman
16. Shoes and Socks Off - I'm A World Class Assassin
17. Talons - Comiserations Buff Orpington
18. Tupolev Ghost - Omar Coming
19. Wintermute - Disco Loadout
20. Youves - A pony and a bag of hooves (rare song)

Order it HERE

To celebrate this release I got to interview BSM head honcho Kev Douche. I had to speak to many employees and ring back many times to their huge offices, before eventually securing a brief 15 minutes with the great man in his office. His walls were coated in gold discs, he was smoking a huge cigar and had a sweet crushed green velvet suit on when I interviewed him....Here is what went down -

1. What has been you're biggest selling release and what has been you're most baffling flop? Be honest, don't try and skirt around this question.....i'll even answer for you first on my side. Biggest flop - Phoenix Bodies. Despite being my favourite release (perhaps), its sold only a couple of hundred. Rolo Tomassi are the artist ive sold the most physical copies by in total and I could have sold more Danananaykroyd if i was allowed to.

Biggest selling release to date is pretty much a three-horse race between Get Cape Wear Cape Fly's EP (I bet you loved that one didn't you, you little metal bastard, you), Yndi Halda's EP and This Town Needs Guns album. Meet Me In St Louis' album is very close behind and would've been number one had they not split so unfortunately early. Biggest flop is clearly going to be the Holy Monsters split. Although right now it's probably Svenskt, our Swedish compilation we released 3 years ago. It still sold ok, although I would've hoped for more, but I had a great time promoting it, ending up on Swedish TV and in a few national newspapers, so still glad we did it anyway.

2. How do you see the future of BSM (and Holy Roar)? Can we survive? Can we continue to grow? Which one of us is going to give up first?

We can definitely survive and grow. I'm not convinced we'll ever see another bedroom indie grow into a super-power ala Sub Pop, Domino et al, but the industry has changed a lot since those days. So it's no longer a case of starting a label and growing upwards, it's now a case of starting, anticipating change, adapting and then growing at a slightly sideways angle! I have a few ideas about the best way to survive right now but, without wanting to get too precious, am going to avoid sharing them all here. Buy me a drink and I'll tell you. In the most part, read the Long Tail (the article, not the whole book - shit gets predictable after a while) and search for articles on the '1000 true fans' theory. To me, the future lies somewhere between the two of those. Oh and I'll probably give up first as you'll beat me up and steal all my bands.

3. When are you going to release something like Chariots again? PABH had a bit of fuzz and energy, but lets be honest, is heavy music dead to you (especially as Holy Roar exists now, remembering that Chariots album was released before Holy Roar existed)?

"An exceptional debut full length from a band who should go from strength to strength" is what a magazine called The Communion said about Chariots debut album back in January 2005. 3 points to whoever can corrently guess which current record label boss used to be heavily involved in that magazine. When did Holy Roar start? Do you consider the label a "strength"? Wait, maybe I should make this into a question for you on my blog. But anyway, to answer your initial question... You'll have to wait and see.

4. Do you consciously sign bands that have musical links to one another in order that your labels fanbase will buy everything you release, or is your musical tastes really that limited? When are you going to take a risk again? Or are you really that cynical/jaded/'Mr-play-it-safe' that you are just doing this kinda indie rock/finger-tap/post-rock/acoustic etc thing forever now (with occasional slight diversions of no real risk/threat)?

Erroneous. Kevin Devine sounds as different to Adebisi Shank as The Tupolev Ghost do to Mimas or Copy Haho to Shapes. We sign bands I like, because that's what running a record label's all about, right? Imposing your music taste on others. Whether you think they'll like it or not is just something to consider if you hope to get rich and die young. Our roster has and always will be varied, some people just enjoy sweeping generalisations. But you and your merry little band of metalcore bands should know all about how frustrating that can be, right?

5. I'm not a big football fan, but I know you are, and i know a bunch of bands and other people in music are too. However i know an equal amount that feel a similar way to me. As a music fan that tries to delve a bit deeper than the average person on the street, I find it hard to understand how similarly intelligent people with a great love of music can also like football due to football culture - im talking drinking to become aggressive towards opposition fans, to have a fight, to shout, to be yobby, awful terrace songs, awful music taste of most football fans, and to make the rest of us all feel threatened by both the fans and all the police and police dogs on Saturdays. I sit on trains and the majority of football fans are clearly chavs. I dont get it. Explain to me.

It is possible to be an Englishman who enjoys the sport without being a hooligan, contrary to what the media has told the rest of the world. Unfortunately there is a certain minority who ruin it for the rest of us, but I shouldn't imagine any of them will ever hear of either BSM or Holy Roar, let alone be reading this. It's a different world.

6. Who do you think are our peers? I'll be honest, I think the most exciting independent 'rock' (loose term to stretch towards indie and metal to varying degrees) music in the UK is coming mostly from BSM, Holy Roar and Thirty Days of Night. I think I sit in the middle musically, which might be my downfall, who knows! Is there anyone else out there right now in your eyes label-wise in the uk? I think the three labels mentioned are essentially the trendsetter labels, within reason, who dont have big offices, oodles of cash etc.

I don't know a whole lot about Thirty Days Of Night, I must admit. They seem like a good label but we clearly have different tastes in music and so our paths don't cross all that often. I see a lot of DIY promoters as peers, in terms of our similar interests and groups of friends in common, but less so with labels these days. That's certainly not to say that others aren't in our league, I'd never be so arrogant as to even consider that notion, I think it's simply a case of me being ignorant and not too aware of what others are doing, unless they're right under my nose or in frequent working contact, such as the promoters as mentioned earlier. If anything, it's a little sad that there aren't more UK labels still pushing hard enough to make it impossibly to ignore them, but hopefully that'll change when people stop banding all of this "the music industry is dying" nonsense around and everything settles back into a more comfortable environment, with a more obvious placing for labels going forward.

7. Why did you use the Meet Me In St Louis album cover for the Tupolev Ghost record too? Wasn't it rubbish enough looking the first time around?

Well we were going to use a drawing of a baby held up by string but that just seemed bollocks.

8. Who is going to be your new 'kings of BSM' now This Town Needs Guns are fucking off?

We don't have kings, Royal Families are so last century. But if you're looking for a 'leader', as such, I think there are a few candidates right now. Ask me again at the end of the year and maybe I'll have a better answer.

9. I think you dont actually do as much work as you constantly claim. At SXSW you claimed to have done a 100 hour working week. Yet most of that time seems to be spent doing blogs/tweets/newsletters/facebook. That's not real work. Then there's all your blogs about walking around parks, drunk off your tits on a Monday lucnhtime or something. Try actually working more rather than TALKING ABOUT WORKING. You're full of shit. How do you plead?

Guilty. At the end of last year, you remember, when our shared distributor's partner went under and it looked like we could both lose a lot of money, I started doing a lot of thinking and decided that if BSM was to continue into 2009, things would have to change. Less time working my fingers to the bone stressing about things out of my control, less un-necessary risks, more thinking, and more calculated moves. This year has been by far our most planned out one to date (that's not to say there weren't changes along the way - losing Secondsmile to injury, TTNG on a free transfer and PABH and Tubelord to big money moves - enjoy the football analogies, you big pansy!) and 2010 will be even more organised still. I feel like one of the writers of Lost. After 3 series of drifting a little, I finally decided to think about the ending and start working towards a goal. Granted, that means occasional Monday morning wanders through a park, or a Wednesday afternoon drinking in a pub surrounded by gutted old men, but some of the most exciting - and arguably, most important - ideas I've ever had have come at those times, and almost certainly wouldn't have happened had I spent yet another day in front of the computer screen. Changing your scenery keeps the creativity going and blogs/Twitter/Facebook/etc? Well they're just keep me sane whilst working on my own for 12 hours a day.

10. Fancy getting an office together or something and becoming the best combined label space ever? We would/could take over the world surely......probably not after these questions eh?

Yes, but there are conditions:

1) We split stereo time equally
2) No beatdowns
3) We hire a leggy receptionist

Thanks Kev.

Finally - now that this release is actually upon us, Kev is awesome. It looks like we hate each other etc but, frankly, all the banter is a massive pisstaking laugh to us. I have great respect and admiration for Kev and BSM, hence this release coming about and sometimes wish I had some of his ideas etc.......just dont forget i hate all his bands and my label is better, obvz.

PS Kev interviewed me in a similar fashion here

Popping in for a coffee with all the Holy Roar bands...

2009-06-25T02:53:00.000-07:00

.....aka 'what is going on at holy roar generally?'

This summer is the 'Summer of Vinyl' at Holy Roar. 4 vinyl releases - two on August 3rd and two on September 7th. First up on August 3rd is a split 7" between Rolo Tomassi and Throats. Rolo Tomassi have covered 'Headclouds/Reign of Low' (originally by Throats) whilst Throats have reworked 'I Love Turbulence' originally by Rolo Tomassi. This is a co-release between Holy Roar and Hassle records, with different packaging at each label. 500 copies, 250 at each label. Secondly is another co-label release between Holy Roar and BSM - a 4-way split 10" vinyl. Featuring new, exclusive songs from Shapes and Tupolev Ghost at BSM and Holy State and Brontide at Holy Roar, this is again limited to 500 copies, with translucent green vinyl at BSM and translucent purple vinyl at Holy Roar (250 copies each). I'm probably not even supposed to talk about the 10" officially, but Kev at BSM is being slack, so he can kiss it. These should be available to pre-order from Monday 29th June. Here's some pics of how the Rolo/Throats 7" will vaguely look -

September 7th we bring out the first Ghost Of A Thousand album 'This is where the fight begins' on 180gsm white vinyl (heavy), gatefold sleeve, all new artwork courtesy of Mr Lacey and a bonus cd within the packaging of 9 demos and b-sides. 500 copies again. There will be a pre-order only shirt with this. Which will look like this (but printed in silver ink on a navy blue shirt) -

Also on September 7th we launch 'New Roars on the Block' - a 4-way split 7-inch between Easy Hips, Dreamboats, Le Swing and Run Walk! This is four new bands that we think are amazing. There will be approx 300 copies of this (tbc). There will be a celebratory t-shirt to go along with it, in two colours. We will onyl be making about 25 of each colour. It will look like this -

Both of these will go up for pre-order on August 3rd. Also on this day there will be a big deal to be able to order all 4 new vinyl for a very special price, or for the mega flush, all four vinyls plus 1 or 2 of the new shirts.

So what else is going down?

Maths have nearly finished recording their album, which they are recording themselves. The process is slow, but having heard unmixed/no vocals tracks, we can say this will easily be the best Maths material ever. All the usual cliches - ie heavier/faster/more epic/more melodic. Hopefully this will be out in October.

Ergon Carousel have been writing like mad and are nearing their second recording session. Their debut cd from us is sold out, but is being reissued on tape soon. Plans are formulating for the release of their second batch of material, no release date is set yet.

Brontide drummer will has joined La Roux as session percussionist. Crazy times. It's not the end of Brontide though - but live performance may become a bit more sporadic for a bit.......make the most of them!!

Throats are writing towards a new ep which we hope to have out by the end of the year. They go on a mammoth tour in september with blackhole and the plight, as well as playing Offset festival and doing Europe with Tortuga in November.

Holy State have just been confirmed for the BBC introducing stage at Leeds Festival on the Thursday night. They have ALOT of gigs coming up this summer, as well as the split 10" on Holy Roar/BSM and a 4-way split 12" on Dance To The Radio Records which is out mid-july. That release should be awesome too because Das Racist are on it as well. The band are also writing towards a full ep which we hope to release by the end of the year.

Youves are playing a bunch of shows over the summer, before hitting the road again in the autumn for a possible co-headline tour. Their incredible debut mini-album in lavish packaging is still available here. There will be a free digital single/video out soon!

As well as all the bands mentioned we think you should check out Wreck of the Minotaur and Antares - when Antares put up fully recorded tracks soon (which we have heard unmixed) your mind will be blown.

THAT'S ALL FOLKS.

i made a stupid compilation for someone....

2009-05-06T14:51:00.000-07:00

note included -

"Sorry for the silly compilation. It starts out all grind and power violence, before eventually getting sludgy/gazey, then has a momentary diversion into instrumental hip hop. Then things pick back up with jesus lizard inspired rock, more gaze-ing, some kooky acoustica before getting all classical in composition and intent. Enjoy?!?"

1. Insect Warfare – Mindripper (carcass grinder split version)
2. Agents of Abhorrence – Once a Bind
3. Shitstorm – Mince meat human
4. Hatred Surge – Domestic
5. Iron lung – white flag
6. Look Back and laugh – run silent run deep
7. Weekend Nachos – shot in the head
8. Enemy Soil – closet nazis
9. Maruta – the great delusion
10. Phoenix Bodies – Surfs up, surf city
11. Trash Talk – Dig
12. The Now – is that me or the other guy with 20 arms
13. Kylesa – Almost Lost
14. Tombs – Merrimack
15. Dr Who Dat? – Viberian Twilight
16. Young Widows – Old Skin
17. Fair Ohs/Pharoahs/Faroes – track 4
18. Gods and Queens – untitled 2
19. Pinebender – well calibrated moral compass
20. Woods – twisted tongue
21. Pygmy Lush – God condition
22. Mew – Half the world is watching me
23. Ghastly city sleep – hushing weight
24. Ocrilim – part 7
25. Johann Johannsson - Forlandia

ps i might write about some holy roar type stuff etc tomorrow!

wow sorry

2009-04-20T04:41:00.000-07:00

really have ignored this blog too much. Well, bunch of Holy Roar type news so here goes and will really try to get back on the blogging shizzle, Twitter damn you!

We are working on a website overhaul. There should be a bunch of new and interesting features as well as the obvious aesthetic facelift. At this stage i'd rather not give away all the secrets, but at the bare minimum you will be able to buy mp3s direct from the site. There should be a bunch of features built into and around this concept that we find pretty exciting. No exact timeframe on this yet, but a summer roll out is the most likely, hopefully early summer.

In terms of our bands and releases, lets try and do a bit of a comprehensive run down....

- Youves start their mammoth uk tour on April 30th. They are filming a video next week and the 'Cardio-Vascular' mini album should be available from all good retailers, as well as us of course, on May 4th. Pre-orders will go out shortly before this date.

- Throats are in the midst of recording a new single, a drone-tastic depature/one-off. The only physical copies will be available with the band on tour in May. There is new t-shirts on the way, as well as the 'throatsofgold' club, where for a one-off payment, you will get all merch, cds/music that the band produce in a year as well as guestlist to gigs and exclusive rare mp3s and a club badge! This will launch today/tomorrow/weds. The band are currently working towards a new cd release for the Autumn around which a tonne of touring will happen. Go catch the band in May with the incredible Battletorn or with Gallows and Everytime I die!

- Brontide will have an exclusive limited-to-25 handscreened american apparel t-shirt available via us very shortly. These look awesome. This comes bundles with a 3 track ep that will also be available via itunes etc in the not too distant future. Buy the tshirt direct from us and get mailed the mp3s though! The band are playing loads of shows in may in support of this, before hitting the studio to record a song (their first fully proper recording) for a special 4-way split label 10" that will be out in august. Expect further touring to co-incide with that.

- Holy State are playing some cool shows at the moment and, like Brontide, have a nifty 'ltd to 25' american apparel t-shirt coming via us very very soon. This comes bundled with an exclusive physical musical surprise, you'll just have to order it to find out! The band are recording 3 songs on Wednesday for 3 releases - a special split label 4-way 10", a 7" with some big bands on a sweet label that has released Health amongst others in the past and a split 12" on a big label. I wish I could say more about these at this point, but i might actually get in trouble.

- Maths have started playing shows again and have written their full length. Recording is tentatively beginning now-ish, with a late summer release on Holy Roar looking the most likely.

- The night we are curating at Great Escape (TGOAT, Battletorn, Throats, Youves) marks the 'pre-release' launch of The Ghost of a Thousand 'This is where the fight begins' vinyl we are doing. Only 500 copies ever will be produced, gatefold sleeve, heavyweight white vinyl AAAAANNND a bonus cd within the packaging of 9 demos and rare tracks. Pretty good value. This will hit shops in in early september with a preorder deal or two going up in August.

- As well as great escape, It looks like Holy Roar bands will have a presence at some or all of these festivals - Supersonic, Offset, ZXZW, Live at Leeds, and a few others. Watch out for that, we will of course make a right noise about it.

- Finally it seems there's a bunch of new UK bands to get excited about - go check out - http://www.myspace.com/leswingleswingleswing , http://www.myspace.com/dreamboats666 , http://www.myspace.com/blackhearsebm , http://www.myspace.com/runwalk - we may be working with some of these, we may not.

My SXSW blog post!

2009-03-24T14:54:00.001-07:00

So last week I disappeared to Austin, Texas for SXSW. I've never been before and really didn't quite know what to expect. Loads of people had told me about it and said they had loved it, but I got so much more than I could have hoped for. It was literally INCREDIBLE. It was possibly one of the best weeks of my life.

After catching a taxi to Heathrow with kev and ivano from bsm our journey began with a pint of guinness at Heathrow at 6am to celebrate St Patricks day. The flight left at 8.50am and we arrived in Houston texas early afternoon after a 10 hour flight. Time was passed by using the onbaord entertainment system to have battleships and othello wars, as well as mini-golf, films and tv. The crew from FTH/Hassle were onboard too as well as Micachu and some bands that looked indie.

We picked up our hire people carrier and drove to Austin, stopping on the way to be amused by their sweets, drinks, taco bell and dudes in cowboy hats. Ariived at the hotel which was wicked - pool, gym, starbucks int he looby and a really good room. I was sharing with peter white (co-rolo manager) and bean (joe tomassi bass). Went out for a drink with Peter, Mark Primary Talent, Mark Walker (kilimanjaro) and Al Smith (island records/data select party etc). We had the hugest ribs ever at a meat shack. Witness -

I ate 3 of the biggest ribs ever, after taco bell and stuff. I felt so full. We then walked to see White Denim play on a patio behind a little bar. Not bad for a first evening.

Awoke stupid early on Wednesday due to jetlag and had breakfast at a place called The Hideout - began a daily ritual (ie came here and had this every morning) of breakfast tacos (sound awful, taste incredible), cinnamon buns and big black coffees. Awesome.

We then collected our passes from the convention centre, which took ages and meant we had to go through 3 different queues. Bumped into Gallows, Finian 'rolo tour manager/sound man/organisational king', and Kev and Ivano bsm again. Most of us then went to see Anathallo who i noted seemed like a twee-slipknot. Ie lots of drums/instruments/members - but more on the side of interesting progressive indie. Good stuff.

After a quick lunch with Kev and Ivano I went to see Young Widows on my own. It was everyone elses loss - they fucking rocked. Missed the last song to go get Rolo Tomassi to their first gig. Shouldnt have bothered missing that song - obviously no-one else was going to be as prompt as me with the hotel lobby call! The first Rolo show was in a supposed lesbian bar away from the main strip. It went well despite the minimal PA and the location. There was a good smalll crowd of people who seemed like fans rather than industry and seemed excited to have Rolo there.

After driving back to the hotel me and Bean began our mammoth night at Red 7 for Hatred Surge, Mammoth Grinder, Iron Age, Bitter End, The Jonbenet and other lesser bands. Met a load of people, other from our crew turned up - awesome evening.

Thursday began with The Hideout again, before getting Rolo to the Kerrang/Guitar Hero show. My good friend Alice Thomas turned up and afterwards we went and saw Edie Sedgwick and DD/MM/YYYY - the latter of whom was really good. Simon Morley was also in tow for these. Me and Alice then went and saw Gallows play, which was really cool as they played amongst the audience, then a bit of Irepress who were really good too. I then remembered I was supposed to be at a meeting with Rolo Tomassis US lawyer and ran to the four seasons hotel for that. Free drinks again didnt hurt. Gin and tonic by the river. Then met Alice again for She Rides, who were kinda average. Saw some awful band called Fuckshovel too with Ed Tomassi, then bumped into Wez from FTH/Hassle and had a chat. Rounded out the evening with a bit of Tera Melos playing on the street.

Friday was breakfast as usual and then met Kev BSM to go to a seminar entitled 'Innovations in Digital Music' which was really informative and useful. Then met up with most of Tomassi and saw HEALTH who were totally amazing. Me and Joe Guitar Tomassi then went to the SPV records 'metal bbq and booze' party - which did exactly what it says - it gave us shit loads of free bbq and beer. Sweet. I then walked off the main strip to go and see Pygmy Lush do a 'quiet' set on the back garden of a small independent bookstore. There was sweet free beer too. I was kinda drunk after this. We loaded in gear for Tomassi for their late friday show, then i went and saw Tombs who were good and really fucking loud. I then went and saw Dixie Witch, Rwake and Black Tusk at Red 7. Red 7 was becoming the rockin' hang out of choice clearly. Tomassi then played a late show (1am) and went down a treat.

Saturday was the final day of SXSW. Obvious The Hideout was killer for breakfast, then I called into the American Apparel 'flea-market' and bought a t-shirt that was too small and a stupid pair of glasses, which I proceeded to wear all day. Im sure photographic evidence of those will crop up on facebook or something if you actually know me. Rolo then played the 'yorkshire' party (free gin and tonic!) then me and Simon Morley went and saw Pygmy Lush and Pinebender who were great due to playing all my favourite songs and then ending, upon the soundman telling them they had 2 minutes left, with a 13 minute dirge. Sweet. Rolo then played a 'british music aborad/mojo' party. More free beer.Hot Leg played and justin Hawkins watched Tomassi. Apparently the Proclaimers played too. I then had mexican - some kinda flour tortillas colour blue (!!!!) with pork, rice, beans, veg and an egg on top. Insane. We then tried to meet up with Diplo and his manager as Diplo is into Tomassi. It didnt happen, oh well. Some of us then went to watch HEALTH again, followed by Past Lives (ex blood brothers, rubbish) and AIDS Wolf (not very good). Then caught some rip-off of The Hives whilst waiting for Trash Talk who were the best hardcore band ive seen in ages. The vocalist kept doing backflips into the front row, there really wasnt enough people at the front for him to safely do backflips! Some American girl made me cover her whilst she pissed between two toilets. It was odd. I was drunk.

Afterwards I went with James Tomassi to get a hot dog, but accidentally brushed my hand against a bottle of 'Insane' sauce when i went to pay. Looking at my hand and not the bottle, I thought it was tomato sauce and licked it off my hand. Big mistake. It was the hottest thing ever. It felt like my throat was being raped by a hot poker. My eyes went bloodshot and i could still feel it an hour after the hot dog and can of pop. Too brutal. We then tried to get into MSTRKRFT and failed. So i went to bed.

Sunday we got up and drove back to Houston, ate loads on the way/at the airport (including a great cream cheese danish!) then caught our plane and arrive at Heathrow just after 7am. Goodbyes were said, and the most awesome trip ever was completed.

stocks, djs, levels, other random words for titles.

2009-03-12T04:06:00.000-07:00

I'll be honest - Twitter is making me feel less inclined to blog. Anyone else feel like that? The thought process being - "why write shit tonnes on blog when i can get ideas and snippets of info out via Twitter?" More people probably read my twitter anyway. However I do also realise that this is systematic of technological progress and the continuing "lets get more lazy" vibes of humans in general. So here i am!

This week so far has been dominated by Rolo Tomassi - getting the new reissue preorders out (w/ help from new 'first ever' intern Max - check his blog ) - and all preparations for their impending descent upon SXSW. Work visas, money issues, travel, equipment etc etc etc. Mega props to Peter White (aka Rolo co-manager) on all this shit.

However, I did manage to do a ridiculous DJ set at the old blue last, shoreditch, London on Saturday. This is what I can remember of my setlist -

'Healer' - Torche
'Solid State Messiah (vs The Valve Viking)' - Holy State
'Oh My God' - Ida Maria
'Dont Save Us from The Flames' - M83
'Letting You' - Nine Inch Nails
'Haunted House of Rock' - Whodini
'Viberian Twilight' - Dr Who Dat?
'Sleepyhead' - Passion Pit

BREAK FOR GHOST FREQUENCY TO PLAY LIVE SET

'Prioritize' - Weekend Nachos
'Look at my eyes' - Orien
'The Fallen' - Suicide SIlence
'Hyperspeed (g force part 2)' - The Prodigy
'Jah War (Loefah remix)' - The Bug
'Bow E3' - Wiley
'One Manometer Away....' - The Locust
'What it look like' - Spank Rock

As you might have guessed, I was probably kinda drunk during the second half of the set. Erratic.

STOCK LEVELS UPDATE!

Rolo Tomassi 'digital history/beatrotter' 7" - 4 copies left!
Dananananaykroyd - 'Sissy Hit's - 13 copies left!
Ergon Carousel - 7 copies left!

None of these will be repressed - this is it, get on it or be forever upset at missing these sweet releases.

Right back to real work and the Skins soundtrack.....

FREE Holy Roar Records Spring 09 Sampler!

2009-03-01T04:10:00.000-08:00

Download - http://www.holyroarrecords.com/uploads/holyroarspring09.zip

Tracklisting -
1. Brontide - Crunk Anansie
2. Youves - Big Arexic
3. Holy State - Repeat and Fade
4. The Ergon Carousel - Ironclad
5. the_Network - 500 pounds of idiot
6. Throats - Reign of Low (tape version)
7. Maths - Untitled Album Demo
8. Cutting Pink With Knives - Aylburton
9. Rolo Tomassi - Cirque Du Funk (4Music Session version)
10. November Coming Fire - Return of the Black Dog
11. Jealous - Ruins

Thank fuck that's January and February over. To celebrate we are giving you a free 11 songs spring digital sampler! No sign-up, no anything, JUST DOWNLOAD IT FOR FREE RIGHT NOW. The sweet artwork was done by me (Alex). It's super cool. Expect to see more of our feline friend soon. So what's on it? Well Brontide and Throats rare tracks reprised from out-of-print tapes, brand new Youves and Maths songs, a CPWK b-side from the 'Populuxxe' sessions, a previously unreleased Rolo Tomassi radio session track, a rare November Coming Fire song and a new track from new faves Jealous. Amongst other stuff. Free. Great, huh?

The Rolo Tomassi preorder deal is now over. DONT email us asking where your order is. It stated when you ordered that this would be shipped early-to-mid March. The t-shirts are being made right now. We are doing it as fast as we can, it's the same with every preorder we have done so far. It's called a PREorder for a reason. Have you gathered im sick of people not figuring this out and bombarding us with emails?

A week recounted....

2009-03-01T02:34:00.000-08:00

......this week has been insane. Im exhausted, am writing this in bed feeling like I could totally go back to sleep.

Monday - Data Select Party+Colour+faroes/phaores/fair ohs (fuck me Edward ex-cpwk - how do you spell it? Or is there no definitive?) @ old blue last

Tuesday - Ergon Carousel @ dublin castle

Wednesday - Blakfish+Adebisi Shank @ old blue last

Thursday - E4 night - My name is earl+big bang theory+skins+the inbetweeners, thank fuck i didnt do anything else.

Friday - Youves @ cargo

Saturday - crobar+emmy the great end of tour party in a fucked up location. It was like glastonbury+(im told) sxsw. Under a flyover. In west london. By a gypsie colony. Or something.

Today rolo tomassi play an instore @ puregroove records.

And interviewed (and 'employed') an intern. And rolo reissue preorders end. And lots of other stuff was made, discussed, packaged, sent etc etc

I have a feeling there will be no slowdown, howveer my wallet might have to dictate otherwise.