As the streets began to grow cold, and ice hung around the corners of the darkness in D.C., the much lauded cold wave/minimal synth night No Love Lost (which, full disclosure, I helped to launch) made a pact with the infamous Fan Death Records, to transport modern synth duo Xeno and Oaklander to the area. Swept into the fray as well were prodigal newcomers Phonic Riot, one man entropy machine Death Domain, and long time NLL/FDR conspirators Screen Vinyl Image. But, before the revelries began, I was able to sit down for [...]
Last Saturday night saw the actual landing of DNA Test Fest III . There were two important needs for Sean and Chris this year: 1) That the fest not take place in DC, but instead, in Baltimore, where its support would be much larger, and 2) Due to the facts of need 1, this would obviously necessitate a larger venue. Fortunately, Bmore's monster venue, Sonar , was more than happy to oblige. Hosting international acts on a high profile scale, as well as all other levels of music, in its multiple spaces (not to mention hosting [...]

I've put together a mix of various minimal and cold wave, synth punk, some old some new, a lot of which has been covered endlessly by 20JFG . Regardless, in keeping the current revivalist spirit this type of anemic, eastern blockist, psuedo-fascist dance music is sounding hyper fresh, at least for the next coupla months. It's a very specific sound, with an unforgiving, axiomatic stance that can get old quick. But it's also a type of wild posturing whose freedom lies in it's restrictions. Frowns welcome. Câlin - [...]

Today, Brandon takes a moment with Thrushes for a few questions and another track premiere off their new full-length Night Falls , while I preach the gospel of Death Domain. MP3: Thrushes - Skywave from the forthcoming LP Night Falls The Baltimore music scene has gotten loads of press over the past couple of years, but there are still plenty of bands that we love dearly that never get the recognition they deserve. Thrushes , [...]
Adam Stroupe been recording Death Domain rough demos since his undergrad days at UGA
It was a cold and rainy Saturday night. I had just finished playing an opening set for the lovely Melissa Auf der Maur , and was about ready to call it a night. However, in a last-minute burst of energy, I cabbed over to the heart of Chinatown, for a free show featuring Cult of Youth , New York's premier militaristic folk outfit. Fresh off a tour with the dangerously synthesized Death Domain (who I sadly missed all but two tracks due to some unscrupulous crowd interruption), Cult [...]

01. MP3: Death Domain - A Pox on You from split tape with High Marks (2008) 02. MP3: Death Domain - Ethidium Bromide 2 There's a lot of good going on in Baltimore tonight, particularly in Station North with the release parties for Height With Friends' Baltimore Highlands Remix Album at the Windup, and Jason Urick's Thrill Jockey debut Husbands at the Hexagon. But for something a little more under the radar and on the extreme ends of the spectrum, you should look westward to AMERICA. [...]