THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - 12.18.09

"The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood;
For nothing now can ever come to any good."
- W.H. Auden

Well, today is december 18, and unfortunately i was unable to adhere to my deadline. however, things are moving ahead. i just picked up the printed artwork for MAXIMUM BITTERNESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED by THEOLOGIAN (they look great), and the layouts for THE VOMIT ARSONIST release will be in my hands early next week, along with the layouts for the MARTIN BLADH special edition (hopefully). the shirts are now in-stock, so the large vinyl albums for that release are one the last hurdle. the holidays are obviously causing a bit of a disruption to my plans, as is my daily work schedule, but it's all coming together, and those two releases will definitely be completed and on their way out by the coming of new year.
the last of the non-preorder items will ship tomorrow, so at least that stuff will finally be out of the way. the WILT shirt/cassette release and the IRM shirts will come in the early part of january 2010.

I have assembled numerous copies of MAXIMUM BITTERNESS tonight, and they look awesome. i'm quite happy with the way this release has turned out, both visually and sonically and i hope that it will be well-received.

Some of you are already aware that i've posted two more web-only releases as thanks to those who've shown me support and patience...

_______________________________________

As another gesture to those who have been patiently awaiting their orders, and as a further thanks to everyone who has continued to show interest in my activities over the years, i've just posted another free release for download.

My drone/ambient/metal project, love is nothing. has not been as active in the past couple of years as i'd originally hoped it would be. however, in the spring of 2009, my good friend Mark Kammerbauer of FRAGMENT KING stayed with me for a brief time, and one day we worked on some improvised bass guitar recordings together. i'd been planning to do more with these sessions, but the only thing that i managed to sculpt out of the recordings was this track, which i'd submitted the track for inclusion in an online compilation, but it was not used and i don't anticipate that it will be, so i'm choosing to present it this way instead.

Clocking in at about 24.24 minutes, this piece consists of only bass guitar and voice, edited and effected in such a way as to create an absolutely miserable atmosphere, perfectly expressing the emotional and psychological state in which i found myself at the time. not, ironically, unlike what i am feeling at this very moment. the included imagery comes courtesy of a mutual friend of mark's and mine, frank merten of HERBST9.

So, without further attempting an explanation, is my gift to you:

love is nothing.
suffer and be devastated.
bass guitar by mark kammerbauer.
vocals/editing/mixing/recording by lee m bartow.
photograph by frank merten.
http://www.annihilvs.org/love-is-nothing/suffer_and_be_devastated



_______________________________________


Yet another unreleased gift, presented as a zip file with two tracks in mp3 format.
These selections were recorded as rehearsal sessions for the first live appearance of THEOLOGIAN in February 2009, as part of the TWO HEARTS BOUND FOR HELL show with CENOTYPE, presented by Digital Ferret in Philadelphia as part of their Fourth Fridays event series.

As this was the first performance by this project, i was uncertain how i'd pull it off, and was uncertain about the gear configuration, or even what i wanted the project to really sound like at the time. i'm still trying to figure that out. in any case, i think these recordings are an accurate approximation of how i wanted the performance to turn out, although the actual set was rife with technical problems. it's also yet another perfect example of my emotional state at the time (and at present), the single refrain of the track INJURY puts it best: YOU HURT ME SO BAD...

THEOLOGIAN. INJURY/LIVE
http://annihilvs.org/GASH_THEOLOGIAN/INJURY_LIVE

_______________________________________

That is it for now, i'll post again when the preorders are assembled...

Thanks, as always, for looking and listening.

NEW WEB RELEASE - love is nothing. suffer and be devastated.

As another gesture to those who have been patiently awaiting their orders, and as a further thanks to everyone who has continued to show interest in my activities over the years, i've just posted another free release for download.

My drone/ambient/metal project, love is nothing. has not been as active in the past couple of years as i'd originally hoped it would be. however, in the spring of 2009, my good friend Mark Kammerbauer of FRAGMENT KING stayed with me for a brief time, and one day we worked on some improvised bass guitar recordings together. i'd been planning to do more with these sessions, but the only thing that i managed to sculpt out of the recordings was this track, which i'd submitted the track for inclusion in an online compilation, but it was not used and i don't anticipate that it will be, so i'm choosing to present it this way instead.

Clocking in at about 24.24 minutes, this piece consists of only bass guitar and voice, edited and effected in such a way as to create an absolutely miserable atmosphere, perfectly expressing the emotional and psychological state in which i found myself at the time. not, ironically, unlike what i am feeling at this very moment. the included imagery comes courtesy of a mutual friend of mark's and mine, frank merten of HERBST9.

So, without further attempting an explanation, is my gift to you:

love is nothing.
suffer and be devastated.
bass guitar by mark kammerbauer.
vocals/editing/mixing/recording by lee m bartow.
photograph by frank merten.
http://www.annihilvs.org/love-is-nothing/suffer_and_be_devastated

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - 12.13.09

"Acedia [sloth] is man's enemy because it's hostile to industry of any kind, and it is also a great enemy to the livelihood of the body, for it makes no provision for temporal necessities and even wastes, spoils, ruins, all earthly goods by negligence. It makes living men [be] like those who already suffer the pains of Hell. It makes a man peevish and encumbered."
- Chaucer's Parson's Tale


COMING DECEMBER 18:

THE VOMIT ARSONIST. WRETCH TSHIRT/THE FINAL PAGE CDR/THE VOMIT ARSONIST+THEOLOGIAN. WRETCH REIMAGINED CASSETTE


Things are moving ahead slowly, but with certainty. i have now completed the second track for the WRETCH REIMAGINED cassette, which means the audio component of the release is now finished. copies of THE FINAL PAGE discs have been duped, though as it has turned out, the material doesn't fit on 3inch discs, so this will now be a full-sized cdr.

Preorders are still available at:
http://apexarmouries.bigcartel.com


––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

AVAILABLE NOW:

THEOLOGIAN. PAIN AS NARRATIVE WEB RELEASE

To thank those of you who have been waiting patiently for your preorder items, i've posted new material by THEOLOGIAN as a free download. three tracks of plaintive, lonely, droning isolationism; averaging between 10-14 minutes each. edited down from long improvisations using the gear configuration from the two THEOLOGIAN performances that took place in november 2009. perhaps the best reference point would be something along the lines of FINAL. available as a zip file containing all three tracks in mp3 format with hi-res artwork.

http://annihilvs.org/GASH_THEOLOGIAN/PAIN_AS_NARRATIVE

––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

As previously announced, non-preorder items have begun to ship. the MARTIN BLADH shirts should hopefully be in my hands this week, and i've managed to find a printer to work with for the various forthcoming releases. i will attempt to start shipping the special edition version of STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY on the 18th along with THE VOMIT ARSONIST release. whatever doesn't get done before the holidays will start shipping in early january. it's all coming...

Thank you for your patience, and as always for looking and listening.

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - 12.01.09

"Everything is alright when you're down"
- The Jesus & Mary Chain

As the last breaths escape from the lungs of 2009, I feel my own heartbeat slow to a crawl. The expense of energy and currency from the last few months lies at my feet like a broken victim, but as i gaze inward it's clear that i've only succeeded in preying upon myself. it seems as though there are very few things to look forward to at this point, and motivation in this state seems far out of reach, but i will continue to press onward and upward - as always - because there is no other clear choice but to persevere, as best i can.

I've previously related the fact that i will be shipping orders for items that are NOT listed as preorders this week. preorder items are still in production. i've asked the shirt printers to get rolling with the M BLADH shirts and have sent the layout for MAXIMUM BITTERNESS by THEOLOGIAN to be printed. i am hoping that these will be on hand by the 18th at the very latest. the rest of the preorder items should follow shortly thereafter, if not sooner. andy from THE VOMIT ARSONIST has submitted new artwork for THE FINAL PAGE, and i've still got to complete the final piece for WRETCH REIMAGINED, all of which have obviously delayed the production of this release, but it is coming soon, following the above timetable.

In other news, the newly-released double cd, CEMETERY ROAD/DEAD ELECTRONIKS by WILT has been released by AD NOISEAM and features the collaborative track A ROOM WITH NEITHER ENTRANCE, NOR EXIT by THEOLOGIAN, which serves as the basis for the forthcoming cassette release of the same name, which will be included with the new WILT shirt, available as a preorder in the ANNIHILVS webstore.

Please note (again) that the STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY cd by MARTIN BLADH is currently available as a standalone item. if anyone who has preordered the special edition wishes to have their cd sent to them in advance of the shirt and special packaging, they need only to ask. new distro items have been added, and more is coming. patience is appreciated.


thanks for looking and listening.
hail satan

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - 11.18.09

"The phonograph is not of any commercial value."
- Thomas Edison, 1880


It's taking some time for me to settle back into my daily routine
after APEX FEST III, and with a forthcoming trip out of town for
thanksgiving week, the residue of upheaval will most likely not fully recede
until next month.

I owe thanks to a great number of people, but the list is long so it
seems more prudent to simply state that i am lucky to have had the
experience of working with so many amazing individuals. as many people
know, there was a lot of stress and difficulty surrounding the
preparations for APEX FEST III, but in the end it turned out to be much
more enjoyable and successful than i could have expected. this is due to the
incredible people who put so much of their energy, effort and in
certain cases, money, into helping me to realise it, and i thank you all from the
bottom of my soul for making it such a phenomenal experience.

Copies of the STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY CD by MARTIN BLADH are
now in stock and have been added to the webstore as a standalone item,
separately from the special edition. the shirt design has been with
the printers for over a month, but they haven't yet gone into
production.
i'm looking into a good printer to do the large artwork for the special edition, so i may not be able to ship them until mid-december.
if you've ordered the shirt/cd combo and want your cd shipped without the shirt, let me know.

I've also added some new distro items to the webstore, including
releases from THE VOMIT ARSONIST and BEREFT, as well as the left over
APEX FEST III shirts and posters. if you missed the opportunity to
come to the shows, at least you can dress as though you were there.
more distro items will be going up soon.

2010 will be the 13th year of existence for ANNIHILVS, and several new
releases are being planned. it's likely that i'll be making a
transition to primarily releasing vinyl in the new year, with a few
LPs being discussed.

As previously announced, i will begin shipping orders for items other
than the preorders at the end of this month, and into mid-december. by
that time all preorder items should hopefully be in my hands. the fest
took a lot of my time, energy and money, so certain things had to be
pushed back. rest assured they are all coming together, and most are
in various stages of production. for example, all shirt artwork has
been with the printers for at least a month, if not more.

Finally, it is entirely possible that APEX FEST III will be the final
live event that i organise. the climate in new york has become far too
fickle and indifferent to warrant the monumental stress and expense it
takes to do these shows. i'm not saying it can't happen, but i am
saying at this point i have absolutely zero interest in ever doing it
again.

As always, thank you for looking and listening.

APEX FEST III - CHANGE OF VENUE

Due to a seemingly disastrous conjunction of circumstances, we have had to change venues for APEX FEST III. we regret any inconvenience this may cause, if any, but it is necessary in order to allow us to continue forward with the event.
the new location is:

S.I.R. STUDIOS
520 25TH STREET
(BTWN 10-11 AVES)
NYC

please note also that the lineup for friday has been changed. APHELION will not be appearing, and has been replaced by THEOLOGIAN (Leech from NAVICON TORTURE TECHNOLOGIES). tickets will be available at the door on each night of the shows.
thank you.





FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13 + SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14 2009

ANNIHILVS POWER ELECTRONIX | MALIGNANT RECORDS | SHADOWGRAPH RECORDS |
UNSOUND NYC
in association with

THTFL | PENDU SOUND | LASCIVIOUS AESTHETICS | EXISTENCE ESTABLISHMENT |
CHRONIC YOUTH
proudly present

APEX FEST III
[TWO DAYS OF DARKNESS]

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13

featuring performances by

DOORS 7PM

HECATE
THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM
RISE OF BECAUSE
THEOLOGIAN
CHAOS MAJIK
STATIQBLOOM

dj sets by
JAMES PLOTKIN | WINTERMUTE | TENEBRE | ISADORA

SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14

featuring performances by

DOORS 4PM

STROM.EC
ADERLATING
UNEARTHLY TRANCE
GNAW
T-FAKTOR
SEWER GODDESS
COREPHALLISM
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
THE VOMIT ARSONIST
THE BIRD CAGE THEATER

dj sets by
SEAN RAGON | DARRYL HELL | THE CHRONIC YOUTH DJS | LEECH


ADMISSION IS $25 PER DAY OR $40 FOR BOTH DAYS
PRICE INCLUDES LIMITED FESTIVAL TSHIRT + POSTER
DUE TO VENUE CAPACITY, ENTRY IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 50 TICKETS PER DAY
FOR ADVANCE TICKETS:
www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

- ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE -

SPONSORED BY ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
www.ztmag.com

NEW LOCATION:

S.I.R. STUDIOS
520 25th STREET
(BTWN 10-11 AVES)

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-11.01.09

"Denn die Todten reiten Schnell." ("For the dead travel fast.")
- Bram Stoker's DRACULA


Salutations.
Yet another month has withered away and died, and here we are with less than a week to go before the second annual NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL.
THEOLOGIAN will be appearing on saturday, november 7.

http://lasciviousaesthetics.blogspot.com

I've completed the audio and layout for the cdr release, MAXIMUM BITTERNESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED, and will have copies on hand at the fest. i received the new shirts on friday, but unfortunately they were not printed to my specifications, and i have to wait until tomorrow to see if the printers can replace them by the time i have to go up to boston.

One week later, APEX FEST III will be upon us, beginning friday the 13th of november.

http://www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III


STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY by MARTIN BLADH should be delivered to me by november 16. orders placed from the new webstore will begin to ship after APEX FEST III.

To recap, here is a list of what is currently in production and coming soon:

MARTIN BLADH. STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY CD (at pressing plant)

THE VOMIT ARSONIST. THE FINAL PAGE 3INCH CD-R

THE VOMIT ARSONIST+THEOLOGIAN. WRETCH REIMAGINED CASSETTE

THEOLOGIAN. MAXIMUM BITTERNESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED CD-R

WILT+THEOLOGIAN. A ROOM WITH NEITHER ENTRANCE, NOR EXIT CASSETTE

___________________________________________________

I apologise for the error i made in my last batch of announcements about the fest. i erroneously re-posted an older version of the lineup, and swapped STATIQBLOOM with THE BIRD CAGE THEATER. to clarify, STATIQBLOOM plays friday, THE BIRD CAGE THEATER plays saturday.

A limited selection of cheap beer and mixed drinks will be available for a suggested donation of $3, which will go directly toward our venue rental fees. We will have wristbands to distinguish between those legally able to purchase alcohol and those who are not.

Two DJ LEECH mp3 mixes featuring music by the acts in the festival lineup have been posted to the APEX FEST III webspace.
http://www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III


APEX FEST III

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13

DOORS 7PM

HECATE
THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM
RISE OF BECAUSE
APHELION
CHAOS MAJIK
STATIQBLOOM


SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14

DOORS 4PM

STROM.EC
ADERLATING
UNEARTHLY TRANCE
GNAW
T-FAKTOR
SEWER GODDESS
COREPHALLISM
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
THE VOMIT ARSONIST
THE BIRD CAGE THEATER

ADMISSION IS $25 PER DAY OR $40 FOR BOTH DAYS
PRICE INCLUDES LIMITED FESTIVAL TSHIRT + POSTER
DUE TO VENUE CAPACITY, ENTRY IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 50 TICKETS PER DAY
FOR ADVANCE TICKETS AND AUDIO PREVIEW:
www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

- ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE -

18 TO ENTER/21 TO DRINK - BRING ID

SPONSORED BY ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
www.ztmag.com

CHASHAMA ARTS
217 E 42nd Street
www.chashama.org



Please support truly independent music in NYC by purchasing advance tickets for APEX FEST III. The cost of admission goes directly toward the various logistical expenses inherent in producing an event of this magnitude. if you intend to come to the festival, YOU MUST PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE.
PRICE INCLUDES LIMITED FESTIVAL TSHIRT + POSTER
http://www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III


Listener-supported radio station WFMU will be giving away two sets of 2-day passes on the air.

Here's something from their list of upcoming programs:

"GNAW
Tuesday, December 8th, 3pm - 6pm
on Brian Turner's show
As former member of O.L.D. and Khanate, Alan Dubin has etched a blackened hash mark forever into the totem pole of tortured throat purveyors; his terrifyingly raw, sometimes electronically manipulated shrieks are a thing of alien nature to say the least. GNAW began in 2006 with members of Burning Witch, Enos Slaughter, Ike Yard and sound design wizard Brian Beatrice, released their debut "This Face" this past year on Conspiracy, and are making some radio doom this afternoon on BT's show. You can also catch GNAW live on Saturday, November 14th at the Apex Fest III, which happens on the 13th as well at Chashama Arts, 217 E 42nd Street in Manhattan."

http://www.wfmu.org

APEX FEST III - UPDATE

I'm pleased to announce that we've made arrangements with CHASHAMA to allow adults the age of 18 and over to enter APEX FEST III, and for those over 21, a limited selection of cheap beer and mixed drinks will be available for a suggested donation of $3, which will go directly toward our venue rental fees. We will have wristbands to distinguish between those legally able to purchase alcohol and those who are not.

Two DJ LEECH mp3 mixes featuring music by the acts in the festival lineup have been posted to the APEX FEST III webspace.
http://www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

Please support truly independent music in NYC by purchasing advance tickets for APEX FEST III. The cost of admission goes directly toward the various logistical expenses inherent in producing an event of this magnitude. if you intend to come to the festival, YOU MUST PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE.
PRICE INCLUDES LIMITED FESTIVAL TSHIRT + POSTER
http://www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

Listener-supported radio station WFMU will be giving away two sets of 2-day passes (or four 1-day passes) on the air. More information on that to come, here's something from their list of upcoming programs:

"GNAW
Tuesday, December 8th, 3pm - 6pm
on Brian Turner's show
As former member of O.L.D. and Khanate, Alan Dubin has etched a blackened hash mark forever into the totem pole of tortured throat purveyors; his terrifyingly raw, sometimes electronically manipulated shrieks are a thing of alien nature to say the least. GNAW began in 2006 with members of Burning Witch, Enos Slaughter, Ike Yard and sound design wizard Brian Beatrice, released their debut "This Face" this past year on Conspiracy, and are making some radio doom this afternoon on BT's show. You can also catch GNAW live on Saturday, November 14th at the Apex Fest III, which happens on the 13th as well at Chashama Arts, 217 E 42nd Street in Manhattan."

http://www.wfmu.org


_____________________________________________________________________________________


APEX FEST III

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13

DOORS 7PM

HECATE
THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM
RISE OF BECAUSE
APHELION
CHAOS MAJIK
THE BIRD CAGE THEATER


SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14

DOORS 4PM

STROM.EC
ADERLATING
UNEARTHLY TRANCE
GNAW
T-FAKTOR
SEWER GODDESS
COREPHALLISM
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
THE VOMIT ARSONIST
STATIQBLOOM

ADMISSION IS $25 PER DAY OR $40 FOR BOTH DAYS
PRICE INCLUDES LIMITED FESTIVAL TSHIRT + POSTER
DUE TO VENUE CAPACITY, ENTRY IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 50 TICKETS PER DAY
FOR ADVANCE TICKETS AND AUDIO PREVIEW:
www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

- ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE -

18 TO ENTER/21 TO DRINK - BRING ID

SPONSORED BY ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
www.ztmag.com

CHASHAMA ARTS
217 E 42nd Street
www.chashama.org

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-10.20.09

"And again, no more gods! no more gods! Man is King,
Man is God! But the great faith is Love!"
- Arthur Rimbaud


I'm somewhat surprised by the fact that i have anything to report so soon after the last update, but it would seem as though things are indeed moving forward.

I've sent the layout for the MARTIN BLADH cd to the pressing plant and paid half of the fees. now, i've just got to fill out paperwork and submit the audio master, which will be done by the end of the week. by their calculations, the cds should be in my hands by the 6th of november.

One track for the THEOLOGIAN collaboration with THE VOMIT ARSONIST has been completed, as have the layouts for both the cassette and cdr. as previously announced, the shirts are in-stock. once the audio is completed, the cassettes and cdrs will be duped and all should be ready to ship around the middle of november.

Things are falling into place for APEX FEST III. the festival shirts will be going to the printers by the end of this week and if all goes well, the new THEOLOGIAN merch should be produced in time for the NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FEST.

I can not stress enough that if you are planning to attend APEX FEST III, YOU MUST PURCHASE TICKETS IN ADVANCE. this is not a kindly suggestion, it is imperative if you want to come to the show. we presently have no plans whatsoever to take money at the door on the days of the shows, and in fact your payments go directly toward helping with the various expenses involved with organising such a massive event.
http://www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

This page will shortly be updated with a podcast/mp3 mix fesaturing tracks from each artist on the lineup.

Look for new distro items in the ANNIHILVS webstore next weekend, and some updating to several websites, myspace profiles, and various periphery is coming.

There's just so much happening at once, it's both exciting and totally fucking daunting.

Thanks for looking and listening...

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-10.11.09

"Altruism (living for others), is actually the most vicious principle ever stated, the source of all evil, the principle of slavery, dependence and degradation."
- Ayn Rand

______________________________________________________________________


Greetings.
As the autumn months move onward, i find the various broken pieces of my life coalescing back into something that more closely resembles stability.

Thank you to everyone who has placed preorders and orders on the new webstore. due to various production issues, as well as the planning for APEX FEST III, those items which had previously been listed with october ship dates need to be pushed back. as of now, the new tshirts for THE VOMIT ARSONIST are in stock, but the audio still needs to be worked on. i will be completing the layout for the MARTIN BLADH cd in the next week, and the disc will go to press toward the end of this month. other releases are in progress, and if all goes well, everything should be ready by the end of november, and hopefully the majority of it will be in stock around the same time as the fest.

Also remember that THEOLOGIAN will be performing at the second annual NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL in massachusetts the week before APEX FEST III.
______________________________________________________________________






APEX FEST III

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13

DOORS 7PM

HECATE
THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM
RISE OF BECAUSE
APHELION
CHAOS MAJIK
THE BIRD CAGE THEATER


SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14

DOORS 4PM

STROM.EC
ADERLATING
UNEARTHLY TRANCE
GNAW
T-FAKTOR
SEWER GODDESS
COREPHALLISM
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
THE VOMIT ARSONIST
STATIQBLOOM

ADMISSION IS $25 PER DAY OR $40 FOR BOTH DAYS
PRICE INCLUDES LIMITED FESTIVAL TSHIRT + POSTER
DUE TO VENUE CAPACITY, ENTRY IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 50 TICKETS PER DAY
FOR ADVANCE TICKETS:
www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

- ADVANCE TICKETS ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE -

SPONSORED BY ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
www.ztmag.com

CHASHAMA ARTS
217 E 42nd Street
www.chashama.org


______________________________________________________________________



Lascivious Aesthetics & Existence Establishment Present:
NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL ll
November 6th - Jacques Cabaret - Boston, MA
November 7th & 8th - Obriens Pub - Allston, MA

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
PETER SOTOS
STROM.EC
BLOODYMINDED
EUGENICS COUNCIL
TWODEADSLUTS ONEGOODFUCK
JAPANESE TORTURE COMEDY HOUR
MARTIAL CANTEREL
ANAL CUNT
FIRE IN THE HEAD
YELLOW TEARS
THEOLOGIAN
KARLHEINZ
CATHODE TERROR SECRETION
SUFFERING BASTARD
COREPHALLISM
PHARMAKON
JOSH HYDEMAN
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
SHALLOW WATERS
SHARPWAIST
NURTURE ABUSE
STILLBIRTH
VOMIT ARSONIST
SEWER GODDESS
ANAL HEARSE
BEREFT
SCARD


Tickets will only be available at the door for Night 1
Tickets are on sale now for Nights 2 & 3 through:
http://www.obrienspubboston.com

APEX FEST III - NOV 13+14 NYC - ADVANCE TIX NOW AVAILABLE

FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13 + SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14 2009

ANNIHILVS POWER ELECTRONIX | MALIGNANT RECORDS | SHADOWGRAPH RECORDS |
UNSOUND NYC
in association with

THTFL | PENDU SOUND | LASCIVIOUS AESTHETICS | EXISTENCE ESTABLISHMENT |
CHRONIC YOUTH
proudly present

APEX FEST III
[TWO DAYS OF DARKNESS]
featuring performances by

ADERLATING
(GNAW THEIR TONGUES sideproject)
www.myspace.com/aderlating
APHELION
www.myspace.com/aphelion0
THE AUSTERITY PROGRAM
www.myspace.com/theausterityprogram
THE BIRD CAGE THEATER
www.myspace.com/thebirdcagetheater
CHAOS MAJIK
www.myspace.com/chaosmajik
COREPHALLISM
(TWODEADSLUTS ONEGOODFUCK sideproject)
www.myspace.com/corephallism
GNAW
(featuring Alan Dubin, ex-KHANATE)
www.myspace.com/gnaw666
HECATE
www.myspace.com/hecate
RISE OF BECAUSE
(ROSETTA sideproject)
www.myspace.com/riseofbecause
SEWER GODDESS
www.myspace.com/sewergoddess187
STATIQBLOOM
(Fade Kainer of INSWARM/BATILLUS/JARBOE live band)
www.myspace.com/statiqbloom
STROM.ec
www.myspace.com/dogsoftotalorder
T-FAKTOR
(TERRORFAKT sideproject)
www.myspace.com/terrorfakt
UNEARTHLY TRANCE
www.myspace.com/utny
THE VOMIT ARSONIST
www.myspace.com/thevomitarsonist
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
www.myspace.com/existenceestablishment

dj sets by
JAMES PLOTKIN
(KHLYST/JODIS)
LEECH
(UNSOUND NYC)
TENEBRE
(UNSOUND NYC)
ISADORA
(UNSOUND NYC)
DARRYL HELL
(HELL LAB/SK6)
SEAN RAGON
(CULT OF YOUTH)
THE CHRONIC YOUTH DJS
THE BLACK OIL
(215 NOISE)


ADMISSION IS $25 PER DAY OR $40 FOR BOTH DAYS
PRICE INCLUDES LIMITED FESTIVAL TSHIRT + POSTER
DUE TO VENUE CAPACITY, ENTRY IS STRICTLY LIMITED TO 50 TICKETS PER DAY
FOR ADVANCE TICKETS:
www.annihilvs.org/APEX_FEST_III

SPONSORED BY ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
www.ztmag.com

CHASHAMA ARTS
217 E 42nd Street
www.chashma.org

LIVE EVENTS IN NOVEMBER

THREE MORE PREORDERS NOW POSTED

As part of the effort to breathe new life into ANNIHILVS, three more items have been added to the new webstore.
The first two in a series of new shirts promoting each artist on the existing roster, as well as the first ever THEOLOGIAN shirt are now available for PREORDER.
Also, an updated image has been posted for THE VOMIT ARSONIST shirt.
These will be printed in limited runs of 36, and will begin shipping in November 2009.

http://apexarmouries.bigcartel.com

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-09.20.09

FORTHCOMING ANNIHILVS RELEASES NOW AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER:



MARTIN BLADH.
STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY CD/TSHIRT
$20
This long-delayed and anticipated solo release by the genius frontman of Swedish industrial legends IRM.
Aktionist, provocateur, visionary: Martin Bladh has composed an eerie score for impossible performance art, incorporating sparse, stringed drones and chilling atmospheres similar to Bladh's work with performance artist Bo I. Cavefors. Jewel case cd release housed in a large vinyl album. Shirt is limited to 36 copies, cd is not.
Audio preview coming soon.
Email APEXORDERS@aex.org for purchase information.


THE VOMIT ARSONIST+THEOLOGIAN.
WRETCH TSHIRT/WRETCH REIMAGINED CD-R/CASSETTE
$15
The first in a series of new tshirt/cdr/cassette releases, this item serves as a celebration of THE VOMIT ARSONIST's recently released WRETCH cd from FORCE OF NATURE/CIPHER PRODUCTIONS (http://www.forceofnature.cc/releases/?rid=FON19).
The cdr and cassette each contain different material, constructed by THEOLOGIAN from original album source tracks. Limited to 36 copies.
http://www.myspace.com/thevomitarsonist
Email APEXORDERS@aex.org for purchase information.


THEOLOGIAN.
MAXIMUM BITTERNESS HAS BEEN ACHIEVED. CD-R
$5
All-new material from the new project from leech of NTT, constructed from practise sessions in preparation for the upcoming NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL II taking place in Massachusetts in November 2009. Four long tracks of bleak, heavy dark industrial, espousing the glory of hate and misery. This is a hand-made cdr release with cardstock artwork packaged in polybag. Produced on-demand. Fuck you.
Email APEXORDERS@aex.org for purchase information.


______________________________________________________


FORTHCOMING LIVE APPEARANCES:




Lascivious Aesthetics & Existence Establishment Present:
NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL ll
November 6th - Jacques Cabaret - Boston, MA
November 7th & 8th - Obriens Pub - Allston, MA

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
PETER SOTOS
STROM.EC
BLOODYMINDED
EUGENICS COUNCIL
TWODEADSLUTS ONEGOODFUCK
JAPANESE TORTURE COMEDY HOUR
MARTIAL CANTEREL
ANAL CUNT
FIRE IN THE HEAD
HALFLINGS
THEOLOGIAN
KARLHEINZ
CATHODE TERROR SECRETION
SUFFERING BASTARD
COREPHALLISM
PHARMAKON
JOSH HYDEMAN
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
SHALLOW WATERS
SHARPWAIST
NURTURE ABUSE
STILLBIRTH
VOMIT ARSONIST
SEWER GODDESS
ANAL HEARSE
BEREFT
SCARD

Tickets will only be available at the door for Night 1
Tickets are on sale now for Nights 2 & 3 through:
http://www.obrienspubboston.com/

______________________________________________________


APEX FEST III
[TWO DAYS OF DARKNESS]
FRIDAY NOVEMBER 13 + SATURDAY NOVEMBER 14 - NYC

VENUE TBC

FEATURING LIVE PERFORMANCES BY:
ADERLATING (GNAW THEIR TONGUES SIDE PROJECT)
THE BIRD CAGE THEATER
CHAOS MAJIK
COREPHALLISM (TWODEADSLUTS ONEGOODFUCK SIDE PROJECT)
GNAW (FEATURING ALAN DUBIN OF KHANATE)
HECATE
RISE OF BECAUSE (ROSETTA SIDE PROJECT)
STATIQBLOOM (FADE KAINER OF BATILLUS/INSWARM/JARBOE LIVE BAND)
STROM.EC
T-FAKTOR (TERRORFAKT SIDE PROJECT)
UNEARTHLY TRANCE
XIPHOID DEMENTIA

AND MORE!!!!!!


MORE INFORMATION COMING SOON

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-08.11.09

"I've walked across the sun. I've seen events so tiny and so fast they hardly can be said to have occurred at all, but you... you are a man. And this world's smartest man means no more to me than does its smartest termite."

- Dr. Manhattan, Alan Moore's WATCHMEN


Today is my 38th birthday. as i look back on where i've been during the past two years and the trials i have faced, now it all seems like a dream.
the circumstances of my life have gone through a subtle metamorphosis in the last month. i find myself gainfully (and enthusiastically) employed, which is in and of itself a drastic alteration in what had become a frightening and painful existence.
the seemingly endless series of rejections heaped upon rejections that i have gone through since 2007 had begun to crush the absolute center of who i was, and i'd lost sight of where i wanted my life to go. i've said numerous times in the month since i got this job that while i am hesitant to use the phrase 'happy' to describe myself, it is in fact a fairly applicable adjective for how i feel when i get up and come to work every day.
after month after month of physical inactivity and self-loathing, having to spend my days in a somewhat hot warehouse, loading and unloading trucks, packing and hefting large crates and boxes full of solid state stereo equipment and ridiculously large speakers, has been turning my flab into muscle mass and the realm of my mind into a far more peaceful landscape.

While the emotional injuries i've suffered in the past year will not be easily forgotten or forgiven, i do feel better than i have in a very long time, physically and mentally...

This can only serve to have a positive impact on my artistic endeavours, which have always suffered when i've found myself in financially dire straits that lead directly to a severe disquiet of the mind. at present, there are plans in the works for a series of new releases to come in the year ahead. It seems that august has often been a time when annihilvs has bloomed after periods of deathlike silence, and perhaps it's fitting that this is the month when both myself and the label were born — and reborn.

So, what's coming? without getting ahead of myself and announcing things that may never come to fruition (something of which i've been guilty far too often), i can tell you the following should be going into production during the next few months:

• a series of limited t-shirts for each artist on the current annihilvs roster

• a series of limited t-shirt/cassette/cdr releases by:

THE VOMIT ARSONIST
COREPHALLISM
CONTENT NULLITY

...and more to be confirmed, each includes collaborative material with THEOLOGIAN

• the long-delayed and long-awaited solo cd, STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY by MARTIN BLADH

• new material from THEOLOGIAN and love is nothing., including a collaborative cd release with my friends TOURNAMENT



• I've begun to post various distributed items in the GASHDIRECT section of the annihilvs site. more is coming.



• live events in the works:

THEOLOGIAN live at the NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL
november 6-8 in boston
http://lasciviousaesthetics.blogspot.com

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
STROM.EC
BLOODYMINDED
TWODEADSLUTS ONEGOODFUCK
FIRE IN THE HEAD
HALFLINGS
ANAL CUNT
THEOLOGIAN
KARLHEINZ
MARTIAL CANTEREL
CATHODE TERROR SECRETION
JAPANESE TORTURE COMEDY HOUR
SUFFERING BASTARD
COREPHALLISM
PHARMAKON
JOSH HYDEMAN
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
SHARPWAIST
ROSEMARY MALIGN
SHALLOW WATERS
NURTURE ABUSE
STILLBIRTH
VOMIT ARSONIST
SEWER GODDESS
ANAL HEARSE
SCARD
BEREFT


APEX FEST III
november 13+14 in nyc
lineup to be confirmed


That would seem to be all for the moment. as always, thank you for looking and listening.

Northeast Noise & Power Electronics Festival

Northeast Noise & Power Electronics Festival

Lascivious Aesthetics Presents:
NORTHEAST NOISE & POWER ELECTRONICS FESTIVAL
November 6th - Jacques Cabaret - Boston, MA
November 7th & 8th - Obriens Pub - Allston, MA

CONSUMER ELECTRONICS
STROM.EC
BLOODYMINDED
TWODEADSLUTS ONEGOODFUCK
FIRE IN THE HEAD
HALFLINGS
ANAL CUNT
THEOLOGIAN
KARLHEINZ
MARTIAL CANTEREL
CATHODE TERROR SECRETION
JAPANESE TORTURE COMEDY HOUR
SUFFERING BASTARD
COREPHALLISM
PHARMAKON
JOSH HYDEMAN
XIPHOID DEMENTIA
SHARPWAIST
ROSEMARY MALIGN
SHALLOW WATERS
NURTURE ABUSE
STILLBIRTH
VOMIT ARSONIST
SEWER GODDESS
ANAL HEARSE
SCARD
BEREFT





Plans for APEX FEST III in progress for the following weekend in NYC. More info to come.

NTT. BOTTOMFEEDER C40 NOW AVAILABLE FROM NIL BY MOUTH

NAVICON TORTURE TECHNOLOGIES "Bottomfeeder" Single Side C40 NBM20TAPE



Delayed for two years for various reasons, NIL BY MOUTH presents BOTTOMFEEDER.
With BOTTOMFEEDER, Navicon Torture Technologies spins a twisted, noirish tale of obsession, sexual addiction and perversion.
BOTTOMFEEDER contains a collaboration track with German power electronics master [BLEED], as well as a collaborative cover version of the song UP IN FLAMES, recorded with with BAIN WOLFKIND and flame performer Paula Kaiser. UP IN FLAMES, written by David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti, was originally performed by Koko Taylor in David Lynch's film, WILD AT HEART.
Also included are one previously unreleased track, and an extended version of the track, BLACK VOMIT OF CONTEMPT, the original version of which was featured on the ADDICTION cassette compilation released in 2008 by EN.MI.TY RECORDS

Large cristal clear plastic case with postcard. Blue cassette with chrome tape

8 Euro (Europe) – 10 Euro (World)

http://www.myspace.com/nilbymouthrec

illegal filesharing...

i'd already decided that i don't want to carry on beating the dead horse of illegal file sharing, thereby continuing to make myself a target for idiots who have no concept of cause and effect, but i wanted to share this piece from a recent mailing list post by michael gira:

"I was planning on writing a tirade about illegal filesharing here, how it’s seriously endangering my ability to continue YGR, but I frankly don’t have the energy – it’s too depressing. Here’s a link to what our (now defunct) Swedish distributor Dotshop has to say about it. Pretty much lays it out. To those of you that buy the music on YGR, thanks very much! It’s how we’re able to keep making music (and perhaps eating). Yes, it’s that simple: stealing actually hurts people, has consequences."
http://www.dotshop.se/ds/news.php?nid=322

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-06.01.09

'Hell is Every God Damn Thing.'
- Alan Dubin, KHANATE


It feels like a very long time has passed since i last wrote a monthly update. The sensation of catching up with the present can be jarring, but perhaps it's best to see it as an opportunity for personal progress. The changing of seasons is a good time for new beginnings and stepping forth onto a different path, adjacent to but different from that upon which one has been taking up to this point.

Admittedly, at the moment i'm having some difficulty pinpointing exactly what it is that i'd like to explain here, while knowing full well that i do feel a need to share certain things with those who may be interested.

One major reason for the lack of an update in the month of may has to do with a general lack of musical activity here, and a lack of new information that bore sharing. i spent a couple of weeks completely reconfiguring my recording setup in order to maximise space and to facilitate an entire new wave of recordings. sadly, this has yet to come to pass. mark kammerbauer (FRAGMENT KING) visited with me for some days in mid-may, and we spent an afternoon working on some material, and it did produce a single 25-minute long piece to be released under the love is nothing. name, but nothing further has come out of that session... yet.

In the time since the last monthly update, i was also drawn into an argument regarding the ever-exasperating file-sharing issue. for weeks this became a particularly looming aspect of my daily life, involving conversations and debates spread across several blogs and message boards, and conversations in real life as well. i've reached a point now where i feel inclined to simply remove myself from the discussion, if only for the simple fact that the arguments posed by the other end of the discussion are so impossibly devoid of validity, it is essentially futile to attempt to explain why, because they believe in their own bullshit so strongly that it constitutes their reality. there is no point in wasting my energy on them any more than i have.
The argument has also instilled me with a sense of futility, as i question my motivation for continuing the efforts that have brought me into this arena.

Over the past two years, i've been beset with what has seemed to be an endless nightmare of disappointments, failed relationships, foiled plans, and the person i have been seems drastically alien to the person i am now in so many ways that it's as though i am struggling with my own identity, after having had a very solid concept of the person i wished to be, just a matter of months ago.

I was slated to start a new job a couple of weeks ago, but in keeping with the way shit's been going for me, it's now out of my hands and i'm not sure when i'll be starting work. for the moment i remain in limbo, and i've developed something of a flat affect, essentially devoid of enthusiasm for very much at all.

There is a feature on NTT in the new issue of ZERO TOLERANCE magazine (http://www.ztmag.com), available now.
The writer closes the article by quoting me:
'I'm just hoping to pick up the pieces of my fucking life and move forward in some way that will allow me to shrug off the old skin that's been weighing me down.'


1. NTT. BOTTOMFEEDER C45
Delayed for two years for various reasons, NIL BY MOUTH presents BOTTOMFEEDER.
With BOTTOMFEEDER, Navicon Torture Technologies spins a twisted, noirish tale of obsession, sexual addiction and perversion.
BOTTOMFEEDER contains a collaboration track with German power electronics master [BLEED], as well as a collaborative cover version of the song UP IN FLAMES, recorded with with BAIN WOLFKIND and flame performer Paula Kaiser. UP IN FLAMES, written by David Lynch and Angelo Badalamenti, was originally performed by Koko Taylor in David Lynch's film, WILD AT HEART.
Also included are one previously unreleased track, and an extended version of the track, BLACK VOMIT OF CONTEMPT, the original version of which was featured on the ADDICTION cassette compilation released in 2008 by EN.MI.TY RECORDS.

2. NTT. THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH LIMITED BOXED EDITION
I now have my personal copies of the boxsets. I will be selling a limited number of these and they may or may not include some additional goodies to make them slightly more personal. i have to figure out what that might be before making that decision.
If anyone is looking to get a copy directly from me, get in touch by email: leech (at) aex (dot) org
To keep shit organised, i WILL NOT discuss anything regarding purchases of this release except via regular email.


That's basically all there is to share at the moment, i guess.

Fuck the ruiners, and this time around that's directed to a pretty specific cross-section of people. they should all know who they are.

THEOLOGIAN - A LIFE OF CONSTANT STRUGGLE REVIEW

'...pain and suffering rarely sound more authentic.'

ZERO TOLERANCE MAGAZINE
http://www.ztmag.com

navicon torture technologies
the gospels of the gash
malignant records

Going out in style, that's what NTT's Leech is doing here: a double, over-sized CD set, exploring themes of obsession and desire with Leech baring old scars and exposing mental wounds throughout an epic journey. His trademark so-frank-its-raw-and-suppurating emotion drips from the set's 20 tracks like blood from a razor blade. Power romance is his term – but there's nothing particularly 'romantic' sounding here. More gut-wrenchingly honest, particularly on the tracks when his voice comes to the fore – similar, in that regard, to Prurient, although NTT's death industrial / power electronics frequently brings to mind aspects of Strom.ec and Steel Hook Prostheses, both of whom have been involved in this album's production. The Gospels Of The Gash affords a pleasingly fluid listening experience – harsh, pounding electronics willingly giving way to gentler, more ambient passages – but throughout there remains a dark, disturbing undercurrent of a mind on the edge. Whether this genuinely reflects Leech's state of mind, or is more a case of him being in 'character' doesn't really matter – pain and suffering rarely sound more authentic.

calum harvie 4.5

Discourse on the side

Andy Grant at 7:47am May 1
i like where he mentioned that downloading the album will cause people to buy future releases.... it goes nicely with this, posted on a sidebar in his blog:

"I won't tell you to support music by buying it, honestly, do what the fuck you want to do."

jackoff.... Read More

what's your deal with last.fm, by the way?
Tim Spann
Tim Spann at 8:37am May 1
i commented on his blog
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 11:36am May 1
here's the newest comment, a reply to tim:

Mr. Energy,
'Industrial musician', whining about high costs of equipment is just about as fucking lame and ridiculous as a teen bimbo whining about high costs of designer clothing after she maxed out her daddy's credit card on Prada and Versace. If you feel like spending thousands on modular synths and ... Read Morefancy high end plugins, or whatever it is you use, that's your choice and your problem. There is ALWAYS a less expensive solution out there. Instead of bitching about how you are about to go broke if 5 people god forbid download your shit for free, (while promoting yourself in an unrelated post), use what you can afford and make the most of it. Nobody owes you anything.
Stephen James Knight
Stephen James Knight at 12:14pm May 1
Thanks Lee, I enjoyed your blog post. I know exactly where you're coming from, practically every album I've released has been on torrent sites before I could even finish my promotion for it. Once I lived a relatively shitty (but musically productive) life in order to focus solely on music, struggled every day to pay my rent and eat, but produced ... Read Morehours upon hours of music... being that it wasn't financially viable - I took a day job, and where I once had more music than I knew what to do with - now I struggle trying to find the time to write. This is why I haven't released a new album album in 2 years. If it were financially viable for me to live off my music, I'd spend every waking moment writing and playing - instead of sitting in an office wishing I was.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 12:37pm May 1
tim, why'd you remove your comment?
Tim Spann
Tim Spann at 12:43pm May 1
i don't want to get involved in an internet flame war over download sites. Stephen said what I was thinking.
Rachel Maloney
Rachel Maloney at 12:52pm May 1
kudos lee, though these obviously logical points just don't ever seem to sink in...
Rachel Maloney
Rachel Maloney at 12:53pm May 1
"If you feel like spending thousands on modular synths and ... Read Morefancy high end plugins, or whatever it is you use, that's your choice and your problem."

by this logic, only wealthy people should be making "industrial" music.

I would like to know what this "less expensive" solution is.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 12:55pm May 1
human bones and contact mics
Tim Spann
Tim Spann at 12:56pm May 1
I've always been the power tools and sledge hammers guy. Though it would be nice to have a somewhat cleaner sound when recording.
Tim Spann
Tim Spann at 12:57pm May 1
There are a few open source and free music programs out there. Some for windows, some for Linux, not sure about Mac but there's probably a few. Most people have hammers and pieces of metal.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 1:03pm May 1
the argument that dude makes is unsound at its base. it's 'our problem' that we want to receive some sort of financial restitution for the time, effort and money we put into what we do, rather than seeing complete strangers giving it away for free.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 1:04pm May 1
steve albini makes an interesting point on the prosound forum:
"My point remains that people buy things even when they are available elsewhere for free. Pretending that something can't be sold because there is a free version of it out there is flying in the face of the obvious.

We can sell records and downloads, of course, and make money doing it. We can't control the free exchange that goes along with it, so we shouldn't worry about it. That isn't our audience and it isn't our market.
... Read More
More importantly, there is a cultural good provided by the free exchange of music that extends the influence of the bands and the music, enlarging their natural audiences and opening them up as resources.

If it really bothers you that someone might listen to your music and not pay you for it, then don't release it out into the world. Play it for people on a per-listen basis from a lemonade stand in front of your house or something."
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 1:07pm May 1
BUT, this is coming from someone who has worked on records that have sold millions of copies, and surprisingly (or not), he doesn't take time to consider the stance of someone working from within a truly underground scene, where even the smallest number of free downloads from blogs or paid torrents from those russian sites have the potential to eventually put an artist out of business
Stephen James Knight
Stephen James Knight at 1:08pm May 1
I think it comes down to the simple fact that it should be the musicians discretion/decision whether or not to release music for free; not anyone else, regardless if their intention is good (in the sense of "helping" the artist with promotion) or not (seeking profit through torrent site or blog advertising revenue).
Tim Spann
Tim Spann at 1:12pm May 1
If people don't want to pay and just want the music you can't stop them. Since they could do what they do with DVD pirating and have someone buy one copy and then put it online. So you'll get only 1 sale instead of 100-500.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 1:13pm May 1
exactly. and to tangentially answer andy's question about why i hate last.fm, this is precisely the issue i have with that site. ostensibly, i am the moderator of the ntt profile there, yet i have no control over the user-generated content that gets posted there. i took over the management of the profile because someone had posted a bunch of ... Read Morepersonal images that i had previously removed from myspace, none of which should be associated with ntt outside of my own control. if it happens again, i have to jump through the administrative hoops of last.fm, and have to justify to them my reasons for wanting a particular item removed. this falls in a similar context to this issue of unauthorised downloads. the artist should be the one to dictate what gets seen and what gets heard, not some random teenager with no clue.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 1:17pm May 1
this guy is fucking clueless:

"Leech,
Imho, the perfect example misplaced sense of entitlement that you speak of is the guy arguing against free music sharing because he has to spend 4 grand on gear in order to be able to make industrial music, and expressing desire for gear to be donated to him for free. "Nobody owes you anything" was addressed to someone who feels entitled to expect music fans to pay for his gear whoredom, which by no means equals creative process, and who would also like to receive free stuff, while denying others their right to want free stuff in form of online music sharing.
Artist compensation and running a label is a whole different story...... Read More
-lash"

http://a-special-plan-for-this-world.blogspot.com/2009/01/navicon-torture-technologies-dripping.html?showComment=1241160660000#c2240805798680780332
Rachel Maloney
Rachel Maloney at 1:18pm May 1
FIE ON YOUR FANCY EXPENSIVE CONTACT MICS! it should ONLY be about bongos. in a cave. forget progressiveness and experimentation with new and ever changing technology to create and test the limits of sound and music
Stephen James Knight
Stephen James Knight at 1:21pm May 1
It's really disheartening when I'm contacted to perform a show or asked to book a small tour and I have to decline simply because I can't leave my day job (I'm reminded of the old addage that 'what you own, eventually owns you' (and it's nice to have a place to plug in my gear, and pay my electric bill)). It just isn't financially viable to be a ... Read Moreperforming musician (and I don't blame this solely on unauthorised downloading of my music, however, if I made even half as many sales as I have downloads, I could probably make a meager life for myself solely as a musician). So, does it KILL the scene? No, but it definately damages the potential.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 1:30pm May 1
yeah, and that's my point really. i can't say that i am wholeheartedly AGAINST the idea of filesharing, and in fact a large part of my loathing for metallica came from the napster debacle, and we as 'futuristic,' technology-driven artists obviously need to keep our eyes forward and try to adapt to our environment, but our musical 'careers,' such as... Read More they are, could potentially be severely damaged or hindered if we lost the capacity to recoup anything from our efforts and expenses toward continuing forward. that is what these people fail to realise. someone i don't know posted a pretty good comment on my original blog:
http://annihilvs.blogspot.com/2009/05/unauthorised-downloads-discourse.html
Kevin D. Reilly
Kevin D. Reilly at 2:05pm May 1
a thought:
Brilliance of the blog-o-sphere : promotion fro artistic commerce.

Failure of the blog-o-sphere : commerce of artistic commerce.
... Read More
Really, why blog about an artist? because you want a part in the promotion of said artist, no? you want to feel connected to the artist... i believe LLORT claims this in his/her initial response to Lee.
But then you give the product away on the blog... WTF? if consumers must feel the need of PLAY to PAY (i.e. too remedy the issue of "how many times have you bought a "shitty"album") then make a snippet of the parts you thought were outstanding to prove your point of how Amazing this album is... but don't just give it away.....

this disconnect i find stunning.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 2:08pm May 1
yeah, there's a huge difference between writing a positive review of an album and giving the album away for free because you think people should 'support the artist'
Jon Ray
Jon Ray at 2:12pm May 1
I appreciated reading this. I'm not against downloading, though in my own case it's mostly material I couldn't get via traditional means. I've had some similar issues with my tracks, including some unfinished work making it out there, which means the culprit is among a very small group of friends. I'm glad to be heard but as much for people like Tom at Spectre as for myself, I'd like people to buy the real records. If nothing else, it truly sounds better, and isn't that the point?
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 2:18pm May 1
well the sound quality is another issue entirely, because the blog that started this whole thing posts FLAC audio. so, we've got people posting full quality audio files for the world to download free of charge, bypassing and even subverting the artists entirely.

on a side note, i have some degree of trouble separating this from the issue of sampling. are those of us who use samples guilty of precisely the same thing that we find so irritating about filesharing?
Kevin D. Reilly
Kevin D. Reilly at 2:24pm May 1
i don't find sampling to be a similar issue...The copyright law has provisions for Fair Use in collage works and parody, as well as manipulation of an original sample. Now that said, the sampler hasn't always come out on top via the legal system set up to deal with this copyright situation.... (i.e. Negativland, no commercial release of a truly ... Read Moresampled record ala Paul's Boutique since Paul's Boutique).
This is blatant redistribution of a commodity. Somewhat of a robin hood action, yet your not stealing the King's deer, but the porridge from your own Merry Men.
Jon Ray
Jon Ray at 2:30pm May 1
That's a good point regarding sampling, Lee. I look at it differently depending on the source material and what role it plays in the final piece. Maybe it's a bit of dialogue that drives home the emotional current implied in the drones (like the tapes used on Soundtracks For the Blind), or maybe it's a piece of existing music, but so deconstructed ... Read Morethat it ceases to be what it was and becomes part of a new context (how much beat-driven material would exist without drum samples?) . This is a whole debate unto itself, of course.

I guess we as artists are going to have to find a way to draw the audience back to having a relationship with us as creators/storytellers, rather than this current situation where the work is available free and detached in a vacuum and "nobody gets hurt."
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 2:55pm May 1
right. so is filesharing a victimless crime? is sampling?
the example you use from soundtracks for the blind is an interesting one, because it's a much different matter than generic horror/sci fi samples that we're all familiar with. an artist who incorporates personal recordings of their parents (swans - 'how they suffer') in their music, or who ... Read Moreuses found tapes (skincage - 'calling home') isn't in the same legally questionable arena as your standard ebm act sampling from hellraiser or some other easily recognisable, mainstream media source.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 3:00pm May 1
after ten years of creating material that was 99 percent based around appropriated source material, i received a cease and desist order from a music publisher for a track which used a music sample from the film underworld.
at the time that i was working on that track, i was in semi-regular contact with brian lustmord, who did the sound design and ... Read Moresome music for that film. when i played the rough version of my track for him, he told me that he had originally created the loop i'd used, but the score's composer liked it so much he incorporated it as a main theme (which later appeared in the sequel as well). lustmord didn't exactly give me his blessing, but he did remark on how 'interesting' my use of the sample was. obviously, he was not in any legal position to give me express permission to use this sound, but in some small way, i did include someone closely involved with the production of the original sound in the creative process.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 3:03pm May 1
...ultimately, after i explained to the lawyer who had contacted me that i never had and never would see a dime from the release that contained the sample in question, and that it was pressed in a run of fewer than 1000 copies (i think it was 300, but i told him 500), and that i only received ten percent of that total pressing, i never heard from ... Read Morehim again.

it simply wouldn't have been worth their time or money to attempt litigation. fortunately, one of my best friends is married to a former entertainment lawyer, who has herself written plenty of cease and desist letters.
her advice proved to be perfectly effective.
Lee M. Bartow
Lee M. Bartow at 3:09pm May 1
i've received a comment posted to my blog from Llort, who runs the blog that started this whole thread. go get him guys!

http://annihilvs.blogspot.com/2009/05/unauthorised-downloads-discourse.html
Stephen James Knight
Stephen James Knight at 2:38am May 2
I still remember to this day back in 2007, I went to Germany to promote my latest album, it was not officially released yet, but there were pre-sale CD's available at the show - I only went for the weekend, played Saturday night, and was on a plane back to New York on Sunday - before I was off the plane, my release was available on the torrent ... Read Moresites. I'm fairly certain this cut into the CD sales, and in business terms that severely cuts into the ROI (and most likely makes it hard to recoup the costs of mastering, and production - this is all without any "pay" for the actual creative process). As for the publics general attitude, I don't think it's malicious; some years back at Noisefest up in Providence, I had my small merch table set up - selling CDs and shirts and whatnot (hoping to recover some of the expenses from the trip), and one guy picked up a CD, asked how much, put the CD down, and said directly to my face "hmm, I'll just download it, thanks". I actually had no response.

The Ultimate Warriors Light The Night Walk

my friend and unsound co-curator justin elias morales was diagnosed with lymphoma in december 2008. he's been going through chemotherapy treatments and his friends and family are doing this crazy thing to lend their support.
since i'm a broke depressed loser, all i can do is help spread the word. maybe someone you love has struggled through lymphoma or some other form of cancer, maybe you can help out.

http://pages.lightthenight.org/nyc/Manhattn09/theultimatewarriors

dear lymphoma,
go fuck yourself


see you in hell,

lee

music tax

i can't speak for tim's opinion, though having known him for as long as i have, i can say that he's got a pretty low tech recording setup and i'd be surprised if the total cash value of his gear would amount to very much at all. i'm not sure i am reading into his posts in quite the same way that you guys are, but i never saw his comment here because he removed it in order to avoid getting into a pointless flame-war on my blog.
from what kevin and lash both said in your responses makes me think he suggested some sort of government-sponsored tax in order to help artists buy gear?
well, pretty much the rest of the western world has government financing for artists, while the usa - who tout ourselves as the wealthiest nation on earth - makes it increasingly more difficult to support oneself through producing art. kevin, you can't say it wouldn't be nice to receive some sort of stipend that provides financial aid for reptilian records or scapegoat publishing.
something that has been put forth in a variety of forums is the idea that the end user pays for music on a bandwidth usage basis, rather than for individual downloads. i'm not quite certain of how this would be implemented, i haven't read much about the subject, but it might end up being the ultimate solution for the mainstream record industry to keep itself afloat. who knows if that's a good thing or not...

_lash

hey lash, it's an interesting argument that you pose, but you're adhering to this misplaced sense of entitlement that seems to be at the core of the issue.
the administrator of this blog states in his original response to me that approximately 99 people have downloaded my album from this site.
in a pressing of 1000 copies, that represents a significant percentage of the entire run, and a substantial loss of potential income for me personally, not to mention for the guys at the label that released that album - oh, by the way, that label went defunct because they could no longer afford to pay for cd pressings. it's a simple issue of cause and effect.

your example regarding this idea of spending thousands on modular synths and fancy high-end plugins is also misplaced in this particular instance, because neither myself nor tim (mr. electric) have done anything of the sort. my 'studio' is an extremely modest collection of gear acquired over the past twelve years, and in all likelihood wouldn't garner me much more than a thousand dollars if i were to put every single thing on ebay. when i started, i was using borrowed effects units and a broken 4 track, and assorted improvised equipment, which i replaced over the course of a decade as i became more adept at the production of my material.

as far as your statement, 'nobody owes you anything,' if you provide me with tangible goods or services and i refuse to pay you for them on the basis that i believe it should be free, would you call that stealing? would you take me to court, or try to have me arrested? would you tell your employer that you don't need your paychecks anymore and that you'd like to work for free, because they don't owe you anything?

if you don't get paid, you quit your job. you can't afford to work for free. if they don't pay you, you can't pay your bills, you can't eat, you can't buy gas or pay for public transportation in order to get to your job. you can't produce what your employer wants you to produce if they don't pay you. totally independent artists, and their small labels run from out of bedrooms and basements and garages can't produce what the fans want them to produce if every album they put out gets posted on blogs and torrent sites for free within weeks of their release. cause and effect.

UNAUTHORISED DOWNLOADS - A DISCOURSE

the following is a response to the blog 'a-special-plan-for-this-world.blogspot.com'
http://a-special-plan-for-this-world.blogspot.com/2009/01/navicon-torture-technologies-dripping.html?showComment=1241160660000#c2240805798680780332

well, it's an argument that i have a difficult time resolving, even within myself. with that said, this is something i have wanted to blog about for some time, and i'm happy to have the opportunity to at least attempt to explain why what you're doing has the potential to hurt the artists, while you and others like you may perceive that your activities are 'promoting' their works.

first off, an answer to your question regarding how many people have discovered my work via the internet:
as an artist who uses the web almost exclusively to promote my activities, i would say that the majority of my listeners/fans have discovered me online. i have always made it easy to communicate with me directly, and my online presence is spread fairly wide between various domains of my own, in addition to several myspace profiles, a yahoo group, and other profiles such as last.fm (a site which i detest from the bottom of my heart), virb, and most recently - facebook (which i am preferring at this point to keep as more of a personal space for close friends and/or people i've not seen in decades.

therefore, it is not a difficult task for someone to contact me directly in order to procure any number of my releases if they so desire.

your assertions regarding this concept that people shouldn't need money to enjoy music are a symptom of our times, and i think it's an issue that people such as yourself don't really take the time to consider in depth.
the music and recording industry has been trudging along since its inception straddling a thin line between art and commerce.
on the one side, you've got your artist who works very hard to achieve the simple act of having their work put out into the world. this can require an incredible level of personal expense.
gear costs money. internet access costs money. producing releases costs money. printing merchandise such as stickers, shirts, posters, pins, all cost money.

if my computer dies or i have a hard drive failure, that costs money to fix.
for an individual such as myself, or the many other underground artists who are my peers, a single release that costs 'X' amount to produce, will very likely never generate a profit, but i do it because i am compelled to create art. without it, my life would be devoid of meaning.
the labels i have worked with and will continue to work with are all run by people like me. people who may not ever see a profitable return on the financial investments they make in order to release the music about which they are so passionate.
for many, the best they can hope for is to break even, to allow their labels to sustain themselves without the need for additional investments from their personal funds. personally speaking, i have yet to achieve this goal after twelve years of running a label. granted, i have yet to take full advantage of what is available to me, but it takes time and energy to reach that goal, and when the circumstances of ones life tend to get in the way, it's a far more difficult journey.

your statement that 'music should not be something you have to be moderately rich to enjoy' is both right and wrong. again, it is the symptom of our times, and there seems to be an almost generational, societal concept that states that music SHOULD be free. however, the chief point that is being overlooked is that, if every single person in the world started 'illegally' (i prefer the term unauthorised) downloading and trading music and refused to pay for it - ever - then the music would cease to exist. not the music that is being traded/downloaded, but anything that had the potential to come out after that.
now, you and people like you who believe that you are doing the artists some great service by posting their work, are actually taking a risk that the people who you claim to be supporting will someday no longer be able to produce this music.

for example, my most recent release, the gospels of the gash 2cd from malignant records, has been out for roughly two months. in my regular google searches for reviews of this release, i have found an ever-increasing number of torrents and blogs offering free downloads of the album, in full quality and for free.
the people who have posted these have gone so far as to state that they are promoting the music and profess to believe that what they are doing helps the artist.
however, i personally have not sold a single copy of the album - yet - meanwhile, it is available for paid download via digstation, from which the money from every purchase will go directly to me. how does making the album available for free, preventing me from seeing any revenue in return for my hard work, help me as the artist?

so, you and others like you can feel free to make as many philosophical arguments stating that music should be free, that there is more to music than money, and that art should be considered first and foremost in deference to commerce, but these arguments fail miserably when they are taken into a larger context where producing art is the way that an artist makes their living, and by 'stealing' or 'trading' that art while removing the artist from the equation ultimately dooms them to failure.

to answer your question about whether or not i personally have downloaded music, i can say that i have never torrented anything. i have gotten copies of leaked releases from friends, and on those few occasions, i have always done so with the knowledge that i'd be purchasing the album upon its release.
but, here's what has happened after i got those leaked albums:
i bought the domestic release, the japanese import, the double vinyl, the tshirt, and then went to see the live performance, where in all likelihood i purchased items at the merch table.
i have supported the artists i love because i want them to be able to keep doing what they do, so i can continue to enjoy their work.

it's true that underground music was less accessible on the same scale that it is now prior to the internet, but a perfect example of the fact that this potentially makes very little difference in this argument is metallica. they started out in a very small local underground scene and rose to this hideously grotesque, monolithic corporate monstrosity, who ultimately led the mainstream record industry's witchhunt against file sharing. they achieved this success primarily without the use of the internet, before the internet even existed in the form we know today.
how much of their rise to fame lent itself to underground tape trading? to endless touring, to self-promotion, to the trappings of the traditional music industry?
all of it.

word of mouth is a tool, the value of which is impossible to properly assess, and small obscure scenes like the 'noise' scene would not be what they are today were it not for connections having been made across long distances via the internet. i'm not sure if that's necessarily a benefit. even a band like swans, as influential and seminal as they have been to so many artists, never came close to achieving mainstream success - certainly nothing even resembling what metallica have seen - and michael gira and jarboe continue to work in relative obscurity in spite of their artistic statures.

for people such as myself, whose work is even less accessible or palatable for the greater masses, the most that can be hoped for is the ability to make my art support itself without going broke in the process. nearly everyone i know who does this stuff has a day job; i personally have been unemployed for two years now and when my benefits run out, the only income i'll be able to count on, if i continue to be unable to find a job, will be piecemeal monies that come in from cd sales.

in 2007, i had an exchange via ichat with a 19 year old fan who told me that he 'might actually buy' the ntt album that was forthcoming at that time. when i asked where he'd gotten my other releases (he'd previously said he owned all of my albums), he told me flatly and seemingly with no sense of shame, that he'd gotten them from soulseek.
i was shocked more by his unflinching sense that he'd done nothing wrong by admitting this to me. as we conversed more, i was able to explain to him something which, by conventional thinking should be a forgone conclusion - that by downloading my albums from third parties who have no relationship to me whatsoever, he was essentially pulling money out of my pockets, which potentially could lead to an end to my activities altogether. subsequent to this discussion, he purchased a few limited cdrs from me.

so, it's a difficult topic that doesn't have any easy answers for any of us. i can tell you first and foremost that i'm not some corporate entity with a legal department that can aggressively go after the hundreds of sites where unauthorised - paid and free - downloads of my albums can be found. i don't get paid royalties on a regular basis, i don't receive payments for publishing, my work is not being considered for use in car commercials or films or television series. i don't sell millions of copies of my records, the largest pressing i can hope for is 1000 copies worldwide, and the chances that i will see more than a few hundred dollars in the time before any one of these releases goes out of print are very slim.
i am just one guy, whose only sense of purpose comes from creating art, struggling to live my life and failing miserably at doing so.

what if i'd been planning to re-press dripping with the power of her flesh? what if i went through the effort and expense of doing so and didn't sell a single copy, not because nobody wanted the album, but because they'd already downloaded it from your blog? should i not hold you, or others like you, personally responsible?

i have no quarrel with you personally, i appreciate the support of those who follow my work and i rely on that support in many ways, but i think that you and others like you fail to realise that posting free downloads of entire albums by underground artists potentially does more harm than good. your argument that if people were not downloading from you they could do it elsewhere is simply not good enough to justify the practise.

i'm not going to tell you to remove the download if you feel you're doing me a service, but i do ask that you think about what i've said and consider whether you are legitimately doing a service to the artists you claim to be supporting. ask yourself if you are not instead causing them serious harm by contributing to a larger machine that will eventually ruin them. ask yourself, how exactly are you and others like you helping these artists by giving something away for free that they have put their blood and sweat into, that may or may not have been the result of a tremendous sacrifice on the part of everyone involved?

GOSPELS BOXSET PHOTOS

NTT fan Marc Benner has kindly posted photographs of his copy of THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH LIMITED BOXED EDITION.

NTT. THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH LIMITED BOXED EDITION NOW AVAILABLE FROM MALIGNANT RECORDS

NOW AVAILABLE FROM MALIGNANT RECORDS!!!

NTT. THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - LIMITED BOXED EDITION
After 12 years of producing tormented, vicious rage and doomed, miserable alienation, NTT presents its final offering to the deities of self-hate in the form of this monolithic special boxed edition of THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH.
This box serves as the doorway into a hellish realm of absolute loneliness, where the fear of physical pain is overshadowed by the demons of emotional torture.

Also included is the 2CD release YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY. Consisting of 18 collaboration tracks and remixes, these two discs boast a tracklist featuring phenomenal artists both obscure and infamous, who have joined forces with NTT to construct an epic of undulating drones and visceral screams.
Once again, NTT blurs the lines between the brutish intensity of power electronics and introspective dark ambient contemplations.

The list of collaborators includes:
DEUTSCH NEPAL, EIDULON, HERBST9, JARBOE, KRISTOFFER NYSTRÖMS ORKESTER, THE [LAW-RAH] COLLECTIVE, TROUM and many others.

AUDIO PREVIEW AVAILABLE HERE:
http://annihilvs.blogspot.com/2009/04/flashwidgetz_7673.html

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - LIMITED BOXED EDITION

100 COPIES INCLUDING:

NTT. THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH 2XCD
NTT. YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY 2XCD
2 (TWO) PINS
2 (TWO) STICKERS
2 (TWO) MINI POSTCARDS
1 (ONE) 8x10 MINIPOSTER
1 (ONE) TSHIRT

PLEASE SPECIFY SHIRT SIZE IN NOTES SECTION WHEN ORDERING.
Available in S, M, L, and XL...
$50.00

ALL HOUSED IN A 9" x 12" METAL TIN WITH ETCHED ARTWORK


http://www.malignantrecords.com/catalog

OR:

http://www.malignantrecords.com/search.mpl?type=new

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-04.23.09-SUPPLEMENT

Believe it or not, I have just spent the bulk of today packing a pretty sizeable number of parcels, including all copies of [NTT.FINAL PHASE], and assorted other outstanding orders that have stacked up from the past YEAR.

I had hoped to make it to the post office before they closed at 6pm today, but my day was cut in half when i ran out of packing tape and bubble mailers and had to take a quick run up to staples.

So, i have put the box of packages in my car, and will bring them to be shipped at the crack of noon tomorrow.
It is my intention to send these parcels via media rate, because it will probably empty my bank account to send everything at once. However, i am determined to get these the fuck off my back as soon as i can, so i'll take the hit for those of you who have been waiting patiently (and in some cases, not so patiently) for your items to show up.

I do apologise profusely for the ridiculous delay, but all i can say for myself is that i have had an exceptionally difficult two years on both financial and psycho-emotional fronts. Those of you who have stuck with me since the early days are well-versed in how much trouble i have with handling individual orders, and how tumultuous my life tends to be. Getting to the post office is a particularly strenuous task when one can barely get out of bed every day.

In any case, i'm sure there are still some orders that have fallen through the cracks, and i know that some orders that were mailed out last year never reached their destination (what the fuck is it with the german postal system???), and i have about 9-12 orders still listed as outstanding from what seems like a million years ago, which i will attempt to take care of some time soon.

Once again, i find myself crawling out of a fucking mental and emotional abyss, where i've lain for the past four months, and today was merely the first very small step upward.
Fuck the ruiners.

I'll post again when i hear from Jason about the boxsets.

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-04.23.09

"I tried to find the rhythm of the world where I used to live. I followed the current. I was silent, attentive, I made a conscious effort to smile, nod, stand, and perform the millions of gestures that constitute life on earth. I studied these gestures until they became reflexes again. But I was haunted by the idea that I remembered her wrong, and somehow I was wrong about everything."
- Chris Kelvin, Steven Soderbergh's Solaris



Well, it's April 23, and that means that THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH boxset will become available from MALIGNANT RECORDS by the end of the day. I don't think a price has been set yet. Please direct all inquires to Jason at MALIGNANT RECORDS.
http://www.malignantrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/malignantrecords

This day holds some personal significance for me, and I will try to look upon it as a time for moving forward. I don't really have any other choice.
I have been delayed in sending out the copies of [NTT.FINAL PHASE] during the past couple of weeks for financial reasons, but i plan to get a bunch of stuff mailed out today.



NTT. THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - LIMITED BOXED EDITION
After 12 years of producing tormented, vicious rage and doomed, miserable alienation, NTT presents its final offering to the deities of self-hate in the form of this monolithic special boxed edition of THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH.
This box serves as the doorway into a hellish realm of absolute loneliness, where the fear of physical pain is overshadowed by the demons of emotional torture.

Also included is the 2CD release YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY. Consisting of 18 collaboration tracks and remixes, these two discs boast a tracklist featuring phenomenal artists both obscure and infamous, who have joined forces with NTT to construct an epic of undulating drones and visceral screams.
Once again, NTT blurs the lines between the brutish intensity of power electronics and introspective dark ambient contemplations.

The list of collaborators includes:
DEUTSCH NEPAL, EIDULON, HERBST9, JARBOE, KRISTOFFER NYSTRÖMS ORKESTER, THE [LAW-RAH] COLLECTIVE, TROUM and many others.

AUDIO PREVIEW AVAILABLE HERE:
http://annihilvs.blogspot.com/2009/04/flashwidgetz_7673.html

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH - LIMITED BOXED EDITION

100 COPIES INCLUDING:

NTT. THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH 2XCD
NTT. YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY 2XCD
2 (TWO) PINS
2 (TWO) STICKERS
2 (TWO) MINI POSTCARDS
1 (ONE) 8x10 MINIPOSTER
1 (ONE) TSHIRT (ALL MENS' SIZES S/M/L/XL, AND GIRLS' S)

ALL HOUSED IN A 9" x 12" METAL TIN WITH ETCHED ARTWORK

Once again, please direct all inquiries to MALIGNANT RECORDS.
http://www.malignantrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/malignantrecords

YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY - AUDIO PREVIEW - FULL VERSION

YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY

The second and final mastering session for the forthcoming two-disc release YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY took place today, and the audio component of the limited boxed edition of THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH has officially been completed.

Many thanks to my good friend Kevin Reilly at LAST STOP RECORDING & REHEARSAL for generously lending his seemingly endless expertise to this release. Kevin went above and beyond my expertise, pulling sounds and frequencies out of these tracks that were only just beneath the surface prior to this process.

Obviously, I also have to thank the artists who contributed to this amazing collection. These are the very final tracks to have been worked on using the NTT name, and they stand apart from my previous output in many ways, particularly due to an increased sense of maturity and musicality not found in any other NTT release. I am truly honoured and exceedingly fortunate to have collaborated with these individuals.
I proudly consider some of these tracks the best pieces of audio I have ever created.

The final tracklist follows:

BOOK III - NURTURED WOUNDS

I
EVERYTHING I HAVE IS YOURS - NTT + AUN
II
SOUL EATER - NTT + BLACK SUN
III
THE LAST EUROPEAN (DAMNATION EDIT) - NTT + CENOTYPE
IV
CULT OF DOOM - NTT + THE [law-rah] COLLECTIVE
V
HEADWOUND - NTT + INSWARM
VI
I WON'T SURVIVE IN A WORLD WITHOUT YOU - NTT + COVET
VII
AN EXERCISE IN PAIN-EXTENDED VERSION - NTT + AUTOCLAV 1.1
VIII
ECLIPSED BY A BLUE STAR - NTT + HERBST9
IX
KNOWING NO MERCY, THEY RAGE AGAINST MANKIND - NTT + HECATE

BOOK IV - THE SCHISM YAWNS WIDE

I
YOU ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR - NTT + JARBOE
II
VICTVM VERMIS - NTT + DEUTSCH NEPAL
III
GUMROT (DECAYING FACE EDIT) - NTT + FRAGMENT KING
IV
IN THE FOLDS OF THE FLESH - NTT + KRISTOFFER NYSTRÖMS ORKESTER
V
SHE THROWS ME TO THE DOGS - NTT + PROMETHEUS BURNING
VI
LOVE THEME - NTT + STEVE MOORE
VII
PILLARS OF FLESH - NTT + EIDULON
VIII
SONNENAUFGANG - NTT + TROUM
IX
THE MORAL OF THE STORY IS, DREAMS INEVITABLY LEAD TO HIDEOUS IMPLOSIONS - NTT + THE BIRD CAGE THEATER


The limited boxed edition of THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH will be officially released on Thursday, April 23, 2009.

More information and an audio preview will be forthcoming.

THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-04.01.09

"I told my love, I told my love,
I told her all my heart,
Trembling, cold, in ghastly fears—
Ah, she doth depart."

- William Blake


This past winter was like one long and brutal night, filled with bad dreams and hunger pains, but for what it's worth I'm still here.
My life took some turns I wasn't prepared for, and I know that I have lost some pretty significant pieces of myself along the way, but there's nothing I can do but limp onward. I have nothing more to give than my love.


01. [NTT.FINAL PHASE] 5XCDR
Progress has been made finally, and the remaining copies of [NTT.FINAL PHASE] are nearing completion. I plan/hope to get them all packaged tonight and to possibly ship them out beginning tomorrow.
Other overdue orders will be forthcoming alongside these parcels.

02. NTT. THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH-LIMITED BOXED EDITION
This monolithic release is on its way to completion. I have collected 17 of the 18 tracks that will appear of YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY, the two-disc collection of remixes and collaborations which will serve as the final nail in the NTT coffin.
Starting tonight, I will be mastering this material with my good friend Kevin Reilly at Last Stop during the next week or so, while I wait for the final track to come in. The shirts and printed matter are in production as I sit here.
The official release date of the boxset will be April 23. No price has been set as of this moment, so please hold off on contacting MALIGNANT until the formal announcement is made.

03. NTT. BOTTOMFEEDER
It had been my hope that this cassette would have seen the light of day by now, but hopefully it shouldn't be too much longer.

04. THE SWEET SUFFERING SERIES
Beginning in June, I will be partnering up with Lenny B of CENOTYPE to form a new label imprint called SWEET SUFFERING, a combined effort of ANNIHILVS and ORIGINS PRODUCTIONS. This will consist of a series of limited CD releases (most likely distributed via MALIGNANT RECORDS), covering a broad spectrum of underground, electronic and experimental music ranging from darkambient and power electronics to doom and post-metal.
The first release in this series will be the long-delayed solo album from Martin Bladh of IRM, STUDY FOR A THEATER OF CRUELTY. More on this as plans develop.


______________________________________________

The NTT webspace has been dramatically updated, and I will continue to tweak it and add some new features leading up to the release of the boxset.
______________________________________________

That is all there is for now.
Thank you.

TERMINATOR SALVATION

NTT WEBSPACE UPDATE

I'm in the process of working on a moderately substantial update of the ntt website. I've included lyrics from several releases, and will be putting up some previews for THE GOSPELS OF THE GASH and YOUR SUFFERING WILL BE LEGENDARY. More to come soon.

A GREY DAY - A MIX FOR SASHA GREY'S BIRTHDAY 03.14.09

I made this mix for Sasha Grey's 21st birthday.