BAZ Underground Updates XLVI

After what our writers Julia Katrin and Tom Boatman hope was a lovely Valentines weekend for all our readers, they are once again back at it, ready to see what this week has to offer in the form of entertainment and their picks of quality merchandise, all available to support the ever lovely artists out there.

So, let’s see what’s out there…

Band: Temperance

A fan of exceptional vocal melodies, energetic metal guitar riffs and symphonic atmosphere? Then we surely have the event for you! This coming Friday Temperance plans on a very special acoustic live show in celebration of the release of their acoustic EP Melodies of Green and Blue. The show will take place on Rockifi and while you can tune in over here, you will have to make sure to get your ticket here for the Europe/UK show and here for the N. America show, you might also want to check out bundles that include an e-ticket for the show as well as free worldwide shipping of physical merchandise.

Band: Gatecreeper

Should you not be in a mood for melodic symphonic metal, you can also use Friday night to tune in to the death metal group Gatecreeper as they perform their live stream show at Crescent Ballroom. Tickets are already available over here, and of course as always we encourage you to check out the amazing merchandise the group offers.

Event: Slay at Home Festival

Still unsure of how to spend your Friday night? Well, there is always the option of having it all! Organized by Frank Godla of Metal Injection, this coming Friday Slay at Home Festival will take place and is rumored to be the first virtual metal and arts festival of its kind! The event is held in an effort to fundraise donations for two charities, MusiCares and Global Giving, and will indeed feature groups such as Gaerea and Hamferð as well as cover collaborations with members of Paradise Lost and oh so many others. The event is free on YouTube and you can find all the information you need over here, see the broadcast here, and of course, remember to make a donation!

Label: Black Lion Records

Often appearing on these pages and once again offering great deals for fans of Extreme Metal. Sweden’s Black Lion Records, home of Maestitium and Æolian have several offers running for the whole of February. There’s 25% off everything with the code blacklion25, Name Your Price on Digital, €10 per new release CD and reduced prices on Merch and LP. Head over to Bandcamp and see what’s on offer.

Band: Shallow North Dakota // KEN Mode // Kowloon Walled City

Dealing in an extremely noisy brand of Sludge Metal, Hamilton, Ontario’s Shallow North Dakota and those close to the band were hit with a major blow when the band’s vocalist/ drummer Tony Jacome was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer. In honour of a band they admire and to help raise money for their friend and his family, KEN Mode and Kowloon Walled City put together a split release, with each band covering Shallow North Dakota material (the release also includes a previously unreleased recording of the latter band). You can support Tony Jacome and his family by pre-ordering this release (due out on June 1st) on vinyl or digital here. If you want to make a donation directly you can also visit the gofundme page here. You can also go to Shallow North Dakota’s bandcamp page here, where all proceeds of purchases from their back catalogue will go directly to the gofundme page. 

Band: White Ward

Ukraine’s White Ward received a glowing review here at BAZ for their unique, noirish take on Black Metal with their 2019 album “Love Exchange Failure” (read it here in full). In 2016 the band released a collection of early material and “Origins” has now been re-issued. The silver marbled double vinyl is already sold out, but you aren’t too late to get the album on black double vinyl, CD or cassette. Head to the band’s bandcamp page to pick up a copy.

Band: Vladimír Pavelka

A member of Czech Black Metal groups Cult of Fire and Death Karma, this February 26th will see the release of Vladimír Pavelka’s latest solo album “Spomienky” on Beyond Eyes. Fans of atmospheric and melodic Black Metal should be intrigued by the preview track below and you can pre-order the album on limited clear and regular black vinyl, as well as CD here. You can also read about the tracks, with each relating to childhood memories Vladimír has of growing up in a village in Czechia with his grandparents.

As we head right into a very active and event filled week, we look even more forward to the sun rising ever higher each day and before we know it summer will be upon us; hopefully better than the last one. But until then, let’s enjoy what life has to offer and support the artists we love and bask in the entertainment they provide.

By Julia Katrin and Tom Boatman

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