Church of Noise – August 2013
From the return of the much-missed John Knox Sex Club to a cheerio show from Texas Is the Reason, we take a whirlwind tour of the more esoteric sounds to be found on the circuit this August
This month opens with a couple of prolific acts – it's a pretty big deal, really. First, U.S. sludge masters Eyehategod take to Ivory Blacks with brooding doom-bringers The Gates of Slumber (1 Aug), then post-hardcore pioneers Texas Is The Reason hit up the Classic Grand to take their listeners back to the 90s (2 Aug). Headbangers Balls is a charity night at the Classic Grand, with all profit going to the Teenage Cancer Trust. Ex-Dragonforce singer ZP Theart's new band I Am I are on the bill, as are hard rockers States of Panic, UK thrashers Reign Of Fury and pagan black metallers Cnoc An Tursa, adding incentive to support a worthy cause (4 Aug). If you're up Auld Reekie, a night of grind is on the cards with Rat Faced Bastard, Twice the Trauma, Sufferinfuck and (ahem) Major Cunt at Henry's Cellar Bar on the same night.
Next, there's some dark, folk-infused rock from John Knox Sex Club, one of Scotland's most engaging live acts of recent years, returning to the circuit. Strike the Colours' Jenny Reeve and Sparrow and the Workshop's Jill O'Sullivan provide support with their collaborative project Body Parts. That's at Nice 'N' Sleazy (8 Aug). Back east, if you're a psych disciple who also digs heavy metal, you'll want to be at Bannermans for Headless Kross. Irish sludge comes courtesy of Slomatics (10 Aug).
Deathwish Inc. alumni Loma Prieta will be tearing Audio up with their aggressive screamo. Weirdly accessible powerviolence comes from Gunfinger, and Fiesta Minor provide emotionally wrought punk (13 Aug). A few sweaty summer evenings later, there's some local hardcore from Glasgow regulars No Island and fast-paced aggro-punk from D.T.P (15 Aug). Next, get some sleazy, pop-fuelled hard rock from Georgia's finest, Torche. That's at Broadcast (20 Aug). Your monthly death metal extravaganza is at Audio this month, with sets from a variety of depravers, namely Aborted, Dyscarnate, System Divide and Acrania (21 Aug).
New Zealand's Die! Die! Die! bring the noise pop to Sleazys with the like-minded Garden of Elks and Young Philadelphia (23 Aug). They take Edinburgh's Opium the next night with Battery Face and Lady North in tow. If you're looking for something a little more abrasive, go for the screechy sonics of Metal Rabies, the droney textures of Matthew Pastkewicz and the cosmic prog of Luminous Monster. All at the 13th Note. Word Or Object, Genetic Noose, Sissyboy Slap Party and Madam support (26 Aug). Topping off the month is some tech-metal from The Colour Pink Is Gay with opening sets by Fiesta Minor, Winters and Sectioned at King Tut's (29 Aug). So there you go; Edinburgh festi-what?