The Pharmacy
Choose Yr Own Adventure
Don’t Stop Believin’

The Pharmacy began in 2002 when Brendhan Bowers and Scott Yoder got together to play garage punk. Since their Vashon Island (surrounded by the Puget Sound) roots, their band has added an array of styles, members, and instruments. Their second full-length album, Choose Yr Own Adventure contains harpsichord, viola, violin, cello, drums, guitar, horns. Its fifth track “Warm and Untorn”, opening with a harpsichord solo, moving to a guitar solo, to a punk scrub at the end of the track, displays the versatility of the band’s talents. Or perhaps my favorite is the closing track “Adieu Adieu”, highlighting the new keyboard player Stefan Rubicz, as well as beautiful violin doubling the guitar line. Its refrain “I do I do/ bid you adieu”, is a pop-laden rich rhyme where “I do” and its homonym “adieu” close the record on a friendly note. Unfortunately the rest of the album, released on the Don’t Stop Believin’ label, lacks a lengthy harpsichord or violin part. In fact, only one thing keeps their album from being a weak collection of pop tunes – their unusual instrumentation. It makes you want to scream, “Give me more harpsichord!” – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine

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Ozzfest is not going to be a full blown summer tour that goes town to town this year. It isn’t even free, like it was last year. This time around it is scheduled for Aug. 9 at Dallas’ Pizza Hut Park in Texas. That’s right, one day at one city, it’s going to be Ozzfest!

No tour, no multi-date promises, just one date, one city, and multiple stages. Oh and Pizza Hut is in there too…real metal, huh?

here’s the line up for the Ozzfest to end all Metal Fests.

OZZY OSBOURNE
METALLICA
SERJ TANKIAN
HELLYEAH
JONATHAN DAVIS
CAVALERA CONSPIRACY
SHADOWS FALL
APOCALYPTICA
IN THIS MOMENT
All-Star Tribute To “Dimebag” Darrell Abbott

Second Stage:
SEVENDUST
DEVILDRIVER
KINGDOM OF SORROW
SOILENT GREEN
WITCHCRAFT
GOATWHORE

Texas (Third) Stage:
THE SWORD
DROWNING POOL
RIGOR MORTIS

Metallica has been working on a new album, and has given a trailer with a little clip of sounds…and the metal nation is buzzing. Could this be a return to form for the guys? Is this going to be better than St. Anger?

Or will this be another “Some Kind of Monster” moment and ruin whatever credibility that Metallica has left?

Time will tell.

The video below is only a taste…and it’s not much to go by, but it is the first leak of its kind.

Watson Twins
Fire Songs
Vanguard Records

You probably know Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) and the Watson Twins’ album Rabbit Fur Coat. Critically acclaimed by many, the 2005 album found itself on the reputable top ten list of NPR’s All Things Considered. Continuing to ride a wave to success in 2006, the Twins’ self released EP Southern Manners propelled them further, the song “Time of My Life” being featured on ABC’s popular show Grey’s Anatomy. After extensive touring, the identical twins signed and recorded with the historic Vanguard Records, famous for holding such folk, country blues, and jazz acts as Joan Baez, Big Mama Thornton, as well as Buddy Guy and Louis Armstrong. Containing beautifully soothing qualities, Fire Songs, the Twins’ upcoming full-length album, holds more than enough softness to remedy anyone’s aggression problem. Though many are bittersweet love songs, they display mature simple chord progression filled with haunting and affective harmony. Each airy layer of clean acoustic guitar sounds like an experienced studio musician’s sad strumming. My favorite song “Old Ways”, a painful sleepy ballad immediately paints a picture of unrequited love with its poetic, juxtaposed first lines, “ You’ve got angel eyes/ but you’ve got devil’s blood”. It’s certain to be a classic. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine

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Facedown Records has really been doing great things for the metal,hxc, and music scene as a whole. They’ve continually developed great music, and are growing by leaps and bounds. This is a great thing, considering that the rest of the music industry is suffering from poor sales all around. One thing I’ve always loved about Facedown Records is their commitment to the d.i.y mentality, and continual push of the scene, regardless of what anyone believes.

Here’s the latest video from one of the best bands on their hxc roster, For Today, followed by their latest tourdates.

For Today on tour now:

May 8 - Titusville, FL @ Skatepark of Titusville
May 9 - Lakeland, FL @ Abundant Life Church Of God
May 10 - Raleigh, NC @ The Brewery
May 11 - Wilmington, NC @ Soapbox Lounge
May 12 - Lynchburg, VA @ Tree of Life
May 13 - Annapolis, MD @ Knights of Columbus(2590 solomons island rd)
May 14 - Rockville Center, NY @ The Vibe Lounge
May 15 - Clinton, NJ @ Aquifer Music Venue
May 16 - Manchester, NH @ Rockos!
May 24 - Meier, MI - BLED FEST 2008 @ Meier Skatepark w/Inhale Exhale, Once Nothing, Here I Come Falling, Kingston Falls + more!
(May 25 - June 7 w/ Kingston Falls & This or The Apocolypse)
May 25 - South Bend, IN @ The Underground
May 26 - Terre Haute, IN @ The THM Venue
May 27 - Evansville, IN @ Boney Jones
May 28 - Dewey, IL @ The Shed
May 31 - Spencer, IA @ New Life Worship Center
June 1 - Buffalo, MN @ The Vault
June 2 - Duluth, MN @ The Herman Town Church
June 3 - Fargo, ND @ The Aquarium
June 4 - Bismarck, ND @ The Light Club
June 5 - Grand Rapids, MN @ The Light Club
June 6 - Alexandria, MN @ Club 1
June 7 - Willmar, MN @ The Warehouse
June 30 - Bushnell, IL - CORNERSTONE FESTIVAL @ The Phoenix Generator Stage 7:15pm
Jul 3 - Bushnell, Illinois @ CORNERSTONE FESTIVAL: The Underground Stage (FACEDOWN NIGHT)
July 19 - Willmar, MN - SONSHINE FESTIVAL @ HM Stage w/As I Lay Dying, Maylene & The Sons of Disaster & more

Wu Tang might not be touring right now, but you can check out this awesome dungeon crawler for free! That’s right, the Wu Tang Clan are the latest to be featured in a free rpg. You can download the full game for free, and if you’re not convinced, then check out this video.

It looks a bit sketchy, but honestly, you know you’re not working hard right now, so take a few moments for yourself and get this game. The boss might even be impressed that you can navigate the Wu Tang Clan with such ease….

Whatever the case is, make sure you get your free Wu Tang Clan Rpg Game, before everyone else does.

Mixel Pixel
Let’s Be Friends
Mental Monkey

Mixel Pixel has enjoyed success since ten years ago when they formed in Delaware. After four albums, the band has come across a proven formula for greatness. Blending hollow distant vocals from both Rob Corradetti and Kaia Wong, Atari-inspired sound effects and samples, electronic beats, bluesy organ, and hollow echoing guitar, Let’s Be Friends casts a soft vibe into your ears. Like a sun emitting its morning glow, the album immediately initiates your friendship. Rob, visual artist and founding member of the band, drew the artwork on the cover depicting subjects as diverse as the album’s lyrics and sonic utterances. Sure. It deals with cats, sweaters, death, drugs, fashion, lightning, loneliness, New York City, rebirth, and sex. But the success of the album lies in the lover/friend dilemma. Released on Mental Monkey records, Let’s Be Friends will either be an album to fall in love with instantly, or merely one to comfort you in times of loneliness. On “Distant Station”, the last track and also my favorite, lyrics about heartbreak, warm guitar and mellow keyboard exude warmness. Kaia explains “my love for you is like a secret potion”, proving the album would like to love you. Please do the same. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine

I’ve always said that independent record labels can still thrive and make a lot of money by selling music, t-shirts, and other things. I also am a firm believer in bands using their notoriety to help smaller, up and coming bands, progress and become bigger bands. Clutch is doing a combination of that, with their latest announcement that they are going to start their own record label. The record label is going to be called Weathermaker Music, and will focus on releasing quality music to the masses. Clutch will continue to make music and hopefully release future releases through their own imprint. No word about distribution was mentioned yet, but I’m sure anyone that has followed Clutch for some time, will agree that that’s the least of their worries; especially when the major labels are losing money hand over fist.

src - Lambgoat

Monotonix
Body Language
Drag City

In spite of a grueling tour schedule last year, which on average included more than a show every other day, Monotonix persisted and recently recorded an incendiary EP Body Language. The title track, also my favorite, proclaims the band’s manifesto, “my body language says I’m not afraid”. More pure muscle than careful masterpiece, these six songs capture Yonatan Gat’s amateurish guitar sound, Ami Shalev’s spirited vocals, and a knack for primal minimalist drumming that would make punk purists proud. Before now, the only way to hear Monotonix was if you were lucky (or crazy) enough to attend one of their gritty live shows. Amassing a reputation for making Iggy Pop-esque interactions with the crowd, they’ve moved beyond merely smearing peanut butter on themselves. Instead they spew entire beer bottles into your face. Sometimes at shows, while on fire (literally) lead singer Ami chases after you. You become a greater part of the show when the trio, now signed to the Chicago based Drag City label, performs another infamous move: the drummer, kit included, crowd surfs while continuing to pound the beat. Originally hailing from Tel Aviv, Israel, Monotonix are currently on a massive tour in the U.S. – Jonathan Mendick, Mannerist Zine

Bridge 9 Records has been overshadowed today, thanks to Nine Inch Nails announcing another free record. So when you’re done listening to more NIN, check out Bridge 9’s comp full of hardcore anthems, and New Found Glory.

You can download the free comp, including artwork, at the official Bridge 9 Records website, and all it takes is your name and email address…just like NIN. Everyone loves free music, so hurry up and get your Bridge 9 Records comp now!