Los Angeles band Great Northern has a nice set of tour dates coming up through the month of October and November. Take a listen to their debut album Trading Twilight for Daylight to familiarize yourself with their solid indie pop rock sounds. Great Northern formed when singer Solon Bixler asked his good friend Rachel Stolte to assist him with the creation of some new tracks. The duo’s musical experimentation produced an amazing outcome of musical anomalies, blending dark moody interpretations with melodic shades of light. Bixler (who used to play guitar with 30 Seconds to Mars) handles the vocals and guitar, Stolte is on keyboard and vocals, Ashley Dzerigian on bass, and Davey Latter on drums. Trading Twilight for Daylight was released in May of 2007 on the Eenie Meenie Records label.

Download or Listen to Home by Great Northern:

The Official website of Great Northern
Visit Great Northern at Myspace

Tour Dates:

Oct 16 2007 Skullys Music Diner – Columbus, Ohio
Oct 17 2007 Lee’s Place – Toronto, Ontario
Oct 18 2007 Le Divan Orange – Montreal, Quebec
Oct 19 2007 Red Square – Albany, New York
Oct 20 2007 Piano’s – New York, New York
Oct 21 2007 The Khyber – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Oct 23 2007 Local 506 – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Oct 24 2007 The Village Tavern – Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina
Oct 25 2007 Bottletree – Birmingham, Alabama
Oct 26 2007 The Earl – Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 27 2007 Jack Rabbits – Jacksonville, Florida
Oct 28 2007 The Social – Orlando, Florida
Oct 29 2007 The Beta Bar – Tallahassee, Florida
Oct 30 2007 House Of Blues Parish – New Orleans, Louisiana
Nov 01 2007 Mink – Houston, Texas
Nov 02 2007 Club Deville – Austin, Texas
Nov 03 2007 The Cavern – Dallas, Texas
Nov 04 2007 Opolis – Norman, Oklahoma
Nov 06 2007 Modified Arts – Phoenix, Arizona
Nov 07 2007 Casbah – San Diego, California
Nov 08 2007 Echoplex – Los Angeles, California
Nov 09 2007 Bottom Of The Hill – San Francisco, California
Nov 10 2007 Crystal Ballroom – Portland, Oregon
Nov 12 2007 Crocodile Cafe – Seattle, Washington
Nov 15 2007 Larimer Lounge – Denver, Colorado
Nov 16 2007 The Jackpot Saloon – Lawrence, Kansas
Nov 17 2007 7th Street Entry – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 18 2007 Schubas Tavern – Chicago, Illinois

More free music for metal heads.  There’s a band from Spain called “Dawn of Tears” that is offering a free download of their album “Descent”.  All you have to do is visit their website for the link.  I don’t have too much info on the band yet, but I gave a listen to the album and I think it sounds awesome.  Their full bodied sound has a good melodic edge to it.  Some might find their music similar to Children of Bodom or maybe even Cradle of Filth.  I’m not going to make a complete comparison, so listen for yourself.  Definitely worth the download if you like this sort of music.

Visit the official Dawn of Tears website, download their album for free
Visit Dawn of Tears at Myspace

Want some free music? Well before I send you off to download some free mp3s from some really great bands, I’ll share with you  a little info about Seattle based Band of Horses.  There is brilliant music coming from these guys.  The songs are plastered with emotionally driven melodies, perhaps offering a glimpse into our subconscious mind.  Band of Horses came together in 2004, forming from Carissas Wierd, who some of you may be familiar with.  I highly admire the music of Band of Horses.  Give them a few moments of your time to take a listen, and if interested, take the opportunity to see them on tour in support of their latest phenomenal album “Cease to Begin” on Sub Pop Records.  Band members Ben Bridwell, Rob Hampton and Creighton Barrett have worked hard to bring a bit more sophistication to their newest release, and in my opinion have succeeded.

Oh, and of course, the free music information.  If you go to the Sub Pop Records website, you can download excellent mp3s and learn more about the bands the label has signed.  Do it!

Download or Listen to “Is There A Ghost” by Band of Horses:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Oct 14 2007    Park Tavern – Atlanta, Georgia
Oct 30 2007    Satellite Ballroom – Charlottesville, Virginia
Nov 01 2007    Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, North Carolina
Nov 02 2007    9:30 Club – Washington, Washington DC
Nov 03 2007     Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel – Providence, Rhode Island
Nov 04 2007    Terminal 5 – New York, New York
Nov 06 2007    Toad’s Place – New Haven, Connecticut
Nov 07 2007    Pearl Street – Northampton, Massachusetts
Nov 08 2007    La Tulipe – Montreal, Quebec
Nov 09 2007    Phoenix Concert Theatre – Toronto, Ontario
Nov 10 2007    Crofoot Ballroom – Pontiac, Michigan
Nov 12 2007    Metro – Chicago, Illinois
Nov 14 2007    First Avenue – Minneapolis, Minnesota
Nov 15 2007    The Aquarium (Dempsey’s Upstairs) – Fargo, North Dakota
Nov 17 2007    The Filling Station – Bozeman, Montana
Nov 18 2007     Neurolux – Boise, Idaho
Nov 19 2007    Showbox – Seattle, Washington
Nov 20 2007    Showbox – Seattle, Washington
Nov 21 2007    Crystal Ballroom – Portland, Oregon
Nov 23 2007    Mezzanine – San Francisco, California
Nov 24 2007    Avalon LA – Los Angeles, California
Nov 26 2007    Glass House – Pomona, California

I was looking for something dark and heavy to listen to today, not quite sure why seeing that it is a beautiful day outside here.  I suppose I needed to balance things out perhaps.  Anyway, I thought I’d listen to Artifact, one of my absolute favorite bands to come from Norway.  Artifact does a fantastic job of filling someone’s need for bone-crushing metal.  Yeah, I know, the term bone-crushing is a bit cliche, but it’s fitting.

For anyone who enjoys music to the likes of Rob Zombie, Static X, Powerman 5000, Ministry, NIN, or even Sisters of Mercy, I guarantee you’ll find an addiction to Artifact.  Their music is an interfusion of evil sounding guitars, goth inspired vocals, and high tech electronics.  I find it annoying when decent bands overkill their sound with electronic overlays, but Artifact does the opposite.  Their inclusion of electronic sounds compliment the band’s overall sound.

From what I understand the band is currently working on their debut full length album which will feature 10 or 11 tracks.  The band has a great website which you can listen to some of their songs and read up on the band members and all.  Check it out!

Download or Listen to the song “The Only Salvation” by Artifact:

The Official Website of Artifact
Visit Artifact at Myspace

Finally, something new, something fresh, something amazing.  This is my easy way of describing the music of the band “3″ which I am quite fascinated by.  I generally am well focused and up to date on what I consider to be some of the best music out there today, but for some reason I have seem to missed this extraordinary group of musicians…but not for long.  I’m spreading the word, simply because this band based out of Woodstock NY deserves the recognition.

Their music can be described as a bit dark, but it’s the true energy and passion of what they put forth that really grabs my attention.  Those interested in progressive rock and melodic metal will absolutely love “3″.. I guarantee it.  Well, okay, I’m not much for placing a guarantee on anything, but I am well convinced that the genuine music coming from “3″ is easily well respected.

If you are a fan of the band Porcupine Tree, you may already be familiar with the band, seeing that they were on the road together earlier this year, and have some more upcoming dates together.  The group is made up of Joey Eppard on vocals, Billy Riker on guitar, Gartdrumm on the drums, Joe Stote on percussion and keys, and Daniel Grimsland on bass.

The band is out and about supporting their latest release “The End is Begun” on Metal Blade Records.  Check out their website and take a look at their tour dates below.  Catch them on the road with “The Scorpions” or “Porcupine Tree” if you can, you won’t be disappointed.

Official Website of 3
Visit 3 at Myspace

Listen to “All That Remains” by the band 3:

Upcoming Tour Dates:

Sep 10 2007    Southern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium – Calgary, Alberta
Sep 12 2007    PNE Forum – Vancouver, British Columbia
Sep 14 2007    Konocti Harbor – Kelseyville, California
Sep 15 2007    Gibson Amphitheater – Universal City, California
Sep 18 2007    AVA Amphitheatre – Tucson, Arizona
Sep 20 2007    The Clubhouse     Tempe, Arizona
Sep 21 2007    The Joint at Hard Rock Hotel – Las Vegas, Nevada
Sep 22 2007    Grand Sierra Theatre – Reno, Nevada
Sep 26 2007    Beacon Theater – New York, New York
Sep 27 2007    Mercury Lounge with The Bakerton Group – New York, New York
Sep 28 2007    Chevrolet Theatre – Wallingford, Connecticut
Sep 29 2007    Orpheum Theatre – Boston, Massachusetts
Oct 09 2007    City Hall – Nashville, Tennessee
Oct 10 2007    The Orange Peel – Asheville, North Carolina
Oct 11 2007    Lincoln Theatre – Raleigh, North Carolina
Oct 12 2007    State Theater – Falls Church, Virginia
Oct 15 2007     Salle Albert-Rousseau – Sainte-Foy, Quebec
Oct 16 2007    Phoenix Theater – Toronto, Ontario
Oct 18 2007    The Egg – Albany, New York
Oct 19 2007    Webster Theater – Hartford, Connecticut
Oct 20 2007    The Shell at Trump Marina – Atlantic City, New Jersey
Oct 22 2007    House of Blues – Cleveland, Ohio
Oct 23 2007    Bogart’s – Cincinnati, Ohio
Oct 24 2007    Uptown Theater – Kansas City, Missouri
Oct 27 2007    Meridian – Houston, Texas
Oct 28 2007    House of Blues – Dallas, Texas
Oct 29 2007    Roxy Theatre – Atlanta, Georgia

Believe it or not, some record labels are actually pretty cool. When I mean cool, I mean “giving away free music” cool. One record label doing just that is Labrador out of Stockholm Sweden. The label has some really decent artists on board, and just recently they are giving everyone the opportunity to download the Labrador Summer Sampler 2007, which includes 68 tracks, yes.. 68 tracks! If you would like to listen to some of the artists on Labrador, I encourage you to download additional mp3s and watch some of the band’s videos at the Labrador Sound Library.

Thank you Labrador!

Toronto indie pop rock group A Certain Symmetry was able to treat their fans to a 3 track teaser CD at one of their live performances back in June. The much anticipated full length release titled “Pursuit” will be released by the end of summer. The three songs that are featured on the teaser CD can currently be downloaded at the band’s myspace site. All three songs are plastered with great sounds, which makes me even more eager to hear what else the band has in store. I’m not going to throw out any comparisons to their sound, because I think they have some very original offerings which deserve full recognition. They write some great music, and I encourage you to give them a listen.

Listen to the song “Fwd: Re Our Appointment” by A Certain Symmetry:

The Official Website of A Certain Symmetry
Visit A Certain Symmetry at Myspace
Read the official blog of A Certain Symmetry

The band Sabachthani from Sweden creates their own brand of Gothic and doom metal sounds. It’s a bit hard to put this group of talented musicians in one genre of music. After listening to them you will find that they incorporate a variety of styles in their songs. Each member of the band should be considered an artist and composer, simply because they write amazing songs and put true emotion into what they produce. Their music does focus around the progressive and death metal genre, but I think they have the ability to reach out to a wide variety of listeners.

Many have compared their sound to My Dying Bride and Anathema, which is great, however these guys deserve to be known for their own individual creations. Since forming the band in 2002, Sabachthani has developed their own true form of art. The band released the demo “Imaginary Gardens” in 2003, followed by another demo titled “Six Black Horses Below” in 2004. Most recently Sabachthani has released “Miserable Endings” which you can download for free at their Myspace site. If you are looking for some serious and though provoking music, give these guys a chance.  They are starting to record another album which I look forward to hearing.

Listen to “Nine Circles” by Sabachthani:

Visit Sabachthani at Myspace