You may have already caught our previous installment:
Metal Injection Metal Guide to SXSW 2012 Part 1: Stoner / Doom / Sludge
If not, yo… there's another installment.
This time we're here to talk about all the death, black, deathcore, blackened death, black & roll, melodic blackened prog, black & tans, etc that are available for your consumption at this year's South By.
3 Inches of Blood
Cam Pipes' vocals might not be everybody's cup of tea, but 3 Inches of Blood are one of the OG retro-speed metal bands so they deserve however much of your attention it takes for them to become an acquired taste. They're part of the stacked-as-fuck lineup on the Metal Alliance Tour, which is actually kicking off here in Austin on the following date:
Scoot Inn (map), Thursday 3/15 @ 12:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Alcest
Like Black Breath, Brooklyn Vegan is listing the showcase below as Alcest's only appearance at this year's SXSW. Better shake off last night's hangover early for this one, y'all… Lovejoy's is not a large venue and there are a sickening number of great acts on this bill; plus local Austin brewery Jester King will be on hand with free Black Metal Imperial Stout (while supplies last) so you're going to be lucky to make it until 7:00 anyway.
Lovejoy's (map), Saturday 3/17 @ Noon – 7 PM (Alcest will presumably be headlining)
Dying Fetus
Dying Fetus have always had a bad habit of keeping fans waiting for years between releases, but it's always been worth it. Reign Supreme isn't scheduled to be released until "mid-2012" so for most attending SXSW this will be their first taste of new material. They will also be part of the vaunted Metal Alliance Tour lineup, which is shaping up to be the singular must see event for death metal fans this year.
Scoot Inn (map), Thursday 3/15 @ 8:45 PM – 9:20 PM
The Faceless
If you haven't seen The Faceless live in the last 9-10 months you may be unaware that the band has a new vocalist in Geoffrey Ficco. You can peep homeboy's chops below on the still-unreleased song "The Eidolon Reality", but since you're already going to be at the Metal Alliance showcase anyway you might as well catch up there.
Scoot Inn (map), Thursday 3/15 @ 9:35 PM – 10:15 PM
Job for a Cowboy
Feel like a broken record here harping on and on about one Metal Alliance band after another, but can you blame me? Pound for pound – with what's been announced so far, at least – this showcase is straight up hogging all the best death metal at this year's SXSW. If you haven't heard the new cut leaked off upcoming album Demonocracy (out April 12) it's because you didn't drop what you were doing when you were first told to do so.
Scoot Inn (map), Thursday 3/15 @ 8:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Meek Is Murder
You wouldn't miss one or more chances to see MI's own Frank Godla thrash you senseless, would you? Of course not. Pretty sure these guys are trying to load up on as many shows as possible but so far here's what they've got booked:
Hoek's Death Metal Pizza (map), Thursday 3/15 @ 3 PM – 4 PM
The Annex at 1808, (map), Thursday 3/15 @ 8 PM
Mutilation Rites
Mutilation Rites are one of the few X factors in this year's pool of new talent, having only released a couple of demos and a split with Batillus before being signed to Prosthetic (who will release their debut, Empyrean, on May 22). Fortunately you'll have plenty of opportunities to catch them at SXSW.
ND Studios (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ Noon – 6 PM
The Annex at 1808, (map), Thursday 3/15 @ 6 PM – 2 AM
Valhalla (map), Friday 3/16 @ 11:00 PM – 11:40 PM
Lovejoy's (map), Saturday 3/17 @ Noon – 7 PM (*)
Longbranch Inn (map), Saturday 3/17 @ Noon – ? (*)
I can't find any set times for these latter two overlapping shows, but the Death Comes Ripping showcase at Longbranch Inn appears to be an all day affair, so it's probably safe to assume Mutilation Rites will play early at Lovejoy's and then later at Longbranch. Hopefully confirmation will be forthcoming as the date draws near.
Nachtmystium
Nachtmystium don't have a new album (Silencing Machine) coming out until July 31, so chalk this up as another band who will be debuting unheard material at SXSW. The pride of Chi-town has been mixing things up quite a bit on their past few albums, and it will be interesting to get a preview of what they'll be bringing to the table this time around. In addition to that sick lineup at Lovejoy's on Saturday be sure to check out the MI-sponsored South by South Death showcase on Wednesday for your first taste of the festival.
Barbarella patio (map), Wednesday 3/14 @ 10:15 PM – 10:55 PM
Lovejoy's (map), Saturday 3/17 @ Noon – 7 PM
That's it for now. Be sure to check back for our final two installments later this week.
