BAZ Underground Updates XXI

So many weeks have passed since the first article of the Underground Update was written by Julia Katrin and Tom Boatman in order to bring information to our readers of upcoming live shows and streams, great offers from bands and exclusive merchandise and fundraisers for supporting the artists we know and love throughout these difficult times. It becomes harder and harder to find different ways to open these articles, but we of course march on like any other day and are back another week with a new article filled with activities and offers brought to you from all over the world.

Event: Bloody News Online Fest

This coming Friday (28th), Bloody News Metal Webzine and GlobMetal Promotions will bring us, for the first time ever, Bloody News Online Fest. It appears that just as many others have given up on waiting for a safer world to open up, the two have decided the best way to handle the situation is to have a live online festival in a form of a stream which will last two two whole day and will be available for completely free on the Bloody News Website. On Friday bands such as EphemeraL, Ravenhate and Susurro are scheduled to appear, and Saturday includes Ladushka, Neolia and Rusted Nails. We believe we can safely say that there is no excuse not to attend this online event, as it won’t cost you a penny and a lot more bands than just those mentioned are scheduled to appear! Make sure to save the link to Bloody News website, and make sure to check out the event´s Facebook page for further information and a full lineup!

Band: Down

Having started out as a side project of Pantera’s Phil Anselmo and members of other iconic metal bands (Crowbar, EyeHateGod, Corrosion of Conformity) Down have gone on to become a sludge metal powerhouse, as beloved by many as much as the aforementioned bands. I’ve been lucky enough to see the band live a few times over the years and they always put on a great show.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the band’s great debut album “NOLA” the band will be performing a livestream of their debut in its entirety, titled “Quarter Century Throwdown”. The show airs this Saturday (29th) 6pm ET and will be rebroadcast from the 30th 6pm – September 1st 6pm. Tickets are a mere $9 and a portion of proceeds go to the United Houma Nation (which you can read about here). You can pick up your ticket here and there’s commemorative merch to be got here too. Don’t miss out on this one-off opportunity.

Band: Korpiklaani

Should you find yourself in the mood for something…strong, this Saturday evening, you might want to keep in mind that the Finnish group Korpiklaani plans on having their Livestream Vodka Release Show at 8AM/8PM UTC+3. The show is to celebrate the release of the Korpiklaani Vodka from inside the Pyynikin Brewery who also produced the Korpiklaani lager. As this is a launch of a vodka drink, it will be interesting to witness the performance from inside the brewery, and to all of our amusement (should it become an uncoordinated and drunken affair) the stream will be available to all of us on the band’s website for an unlimited time so we can watch it whenever we please. For a little trailer you can click here, and for tickets and further information you can head over to the band´s webpage.

Band: Benighted

Having released their excellent latest album Obscene Repressed earlier this year, French deathgrind monstrosity Benighted have a brand new track available from their bandcamp page. “Serve to Deserve” is being released to raise money for the Rock N’Eat venue in Lyon, France. The owners of the venue have been a major part of the French underground metal scene for many years and in these very tough times for music venues they need all the help they can get. Check out the track below and click on the link here to buy a copy and do your bit to support the continuation of the French underground live metal scene.

Band: Sunken

If some intense, atmospheric black metal is what you’re after you should check out “Livslede” the latest album by Denmark’s Sunken. Over at their bandcamp page you’ll find vinyl, CD and digital options for the album. If you’re really quick you might be in time to get a test pressing or limited white vinyl copy. Below you can hear a preview track taken from the album that will be released on September 18th.

Band: Subterraen

Finally, those great folks at Transcending Obscurity Records have just announced the latest forthcoming release, this time French sludge/doom metal band Subterraen and their album “Rotten Human Kingdom”. As always with Transcending Obscurity there’s a bountiful range of merch and limited editions of the release to be found here. Check this preview track from the album, due out November 20th, below:

Even if perhaps not the same as live concerts we attend in person, we have to take what we can get and be happy about the fact that even in times such as during a pandemic, there are still activities available, shows being confirmed and merchandise being sold to support these musicians in the times that they truly need us. So even if some borders are closing again and flights may be cancelled, we must still march on as we do here at BAZ and hold on to the hope of when the world will open up again and we will once again be allowed to form all the mosh pits we want!

By Julia Katrin and Tom Boatman

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