Hardcore legends Converge are back with a new album on epitaph records this October 12th titled ‘All We Love We Leave Behind‘ and have rolled out cover versions of classic predecessors Black Flag, Negative Approach and The Cure.
The new album landed at crossfire HQ last week and we can tell you that even though it’s their 8th album, it will annihilate your ears.
Vocalist Jacob Bannon added, “I think we really stepped up our game on this record. The most important thing to this band is that with every album we want to create something that excites us and moves us in some way. There are a lot of subtle nuances on this record are really special to us and we definitely hit those individually on this record.”
Watch the video for first track Aimless Arrow here and stream these covers. You will be surprised by The Cure!
Union Jack Skull artwork with permission from Ben Allen.
Can you smell the sausages BBQ’ing? See the pot bellied, tattooed British men giving it the large on the pavements? Can you hear the radios spurting out plastic pop music and hits of yesteryear through tinny speakers hanging from dirty windowsills? Bunting waving in the wind from every lamp post? Oh yes, it’s the celebration that the great British public love – the Queen’s Reign of 60 years, the Diamond Jubilee, the same national event that will be celebrated by millions across the United Kingdom this weekend ahead of the Olympics, and oh, what it is to be British!
The working public will be raising glasses of plonk in the streets to Her Majesty’s service, all of them granted with a day off to party and celebrate her fascinating milestone. The streets will be alive with tales of the good old days, before the internet ruined it all, when families sat down to eat together, when porn was found in the woods, when records were actually bought rather than stolen. The Royal one will be sat at the throne waving her hands at the minions below whilst people hit the streets, ensuring burglars capitalise on the fun due to the worst recession we have seen in years. Partly due to greedy debt her people acquired so they can be seen in the latest designer clothes to clone the looks of the Prince and Princess and the actors and musicians they aspire to.
Not everyone will be waving Union Jacks this weekend. There are many across the country who simply don’t give a monkeys about the Royal spongers and would have not forgotten the days of them sitting at the head of Pall Mall with their smug faces back in the 1970’s, not paying tax, swallowing champagne and having butlers do everything for them.
Whilst Britain remembers itself for a week for the first time in ages, we decided to roll out our top 3 songs that poke fun at the establishment. Yes, they are all golden oldies, as there are not actually that many artists out there these days with any bollocks or lyrical skills to change the perceptions of the general public. In the 70’s, times were tough but people had a voice compared to these days where Anarchy means signing a Facebook petition. For the best results, play these all three songs at 11.
3. The Exploited – Royalty
Politically brash Scottish punks, The Exploited were well-known for their criticisms of the Thatcher government so “Punks Not Dead” album track “Royalty” came as a natural progression of their anti-authoritarian ethos. Here, the Queen receives some serious slandering in the form of lyrics “dirty little bitch” and “fucking little cow”. Mowhawk filth.
2. Sex Pistols – God Save the Queen
No anti-monarchy countdown would be complete without an appearance from Mr Rotten and his gang of filth and fury. The most celebrated anti-monarchical assault in history needs no explanation but to refresh those who don;t know, Virgin Records insisted it came out on the Jubilee in 1977 with the band celebrating the fact with a trip down the Thames on a boat. Their manager Malcolm McLaren was beaten up by the pigs with truncheons as they reached land and the band picked up more headlines than Diana conspiracy theories. ‘God Save The Queen’ went to number 2 in the charts, conspired against by the BBC and the Charts Company to keep it off the top spot. This is one of the best records of all time but sits at number 2 in this countdown once again to make way for…
1. Peter and The Test Tube Babies – The Queen Gives Good Blow Jobs
West Sussex’ moped-hating punks Peter and the Test Tube Babies shocked the scene with release of ‘The Loud Blaring Punk Rock Album’ back in 1984. Filled with derogatory lyrical filth across short but catchy punk tunes that gave a damn good pogo, they single-handedly take the most offensive Queen of England related dig from the mouth of singer Peter Bywaters with his take on Her Majesty’s love of giving fellatio. This album is one of the cheekiest British punk rock albums of all time, find it, be repulsed and sneer with them.
Thanks to artist Ben Allen who allowed us to use his amazing artwork. You can buy this limited edition art directly from here, find him on Facebook , Twitter, and via his blog.
Ben’s next solo exhibition DIRTY SEXY MONEY is his first London solo art show. An introduction to modern day pop art with a spinkling of skulls.
London June 28th – 30th 2012
TURNER | BARNES | GALLERY
32 Store Street
London
WC1E 7BS
Chelmsford July 5th July – 28th July 2012
TURNER | BARNES | GALLERY
Boyton Hall Farm
Chelmsford, Essex
CM1 4LN
This year has offered us some amazing tunes so far, so we thought we would stack up a bunch of freebies for you to get a taste of what’s out there at the moment with bands playing on the Crossfire Sound System. Just follow the red links to where the tracks are hosted and download them.
1. BLACK MOUNTAIN
Stoner rock Crossfire favourites Black Mountain are giving away a free track over at Stereogum this month. This epic track ‘Mary Lou’ is an 8 minute psychedelic jam that is part of the apocalyptic surfing movie Year Zero that is out in April. Grab it now.
2. DIAMOND RUGS
Diamond Rugs are a new indie supergroup with members of Dead Confederate, Black Lips, Deer Tick and others. This tune ‘Gimme A Beer’ is probably the best tune we have heard so far this year, in fact, nothing else comes close. If you like your rock and roll with a filthy country and garage edge then grab this now, it’s here for you to take away this month for free.
3. CEREMONY
Back with a new album out on Matador Records on March 5th titled ‘Zoo’, these US punks have changed their sound slightly and become more 80’s punk than the hardcore they were stomping about town on their last full length. Regardless, Zoo still has its moments and is worthy of a listen. Ceremony are giving away a track called ‘Adult’ this month, so get a taste of what’s coming from here and download it.
4. ALL THE SAINTS
Remember their epic debut album ‘Fire On Corridor X’? If not, then you are about to discover an essential album if you are into stoner/indie rock. Atlanta three piece All The Saints have a new album out this year called ‘Intro To Fractions’ that is mellower than their first offering but still one of this year’s finest. They are giving away a free download of ‘Half Way Red’, click here for the goods.
5. CREATURE WITH THE ATOM BRAIN
Fat riffs and tonnes of psychedelic rock is usually associated with Belgium’s Creature With The Atom Brain. They have a new album out in April called ‘The Birds Fly Low’ and this offering that you can take away for nothing is a good introduction to how they jam out those 70’s solo’s. Look out for them supporting Mark Lanegan on tour in the UK from March 4th.
Last year we had a monster supply of straight-up-no-messing-around FREE music for you all to wrap your ears around. Our Soundcloud become some sort of portal to a place where you could pick up music files and essentially sleep with them. OK, OK, really, it’s just a sort of music blog style thing where we gather a bunch of things that are available (and cleared artist’s themselves… no leakyjoes here I’m afraid) for free and round them up so you don’t have to sift through all the crap that stinks up Tumblr, WordPress and Blogspot on a daily basis. Here’s some bangers to kick start 2011.
On a electronic and beat tip we have fist pumping beats and eclectic production from the likes of innerpartysystem and Andreya Triana who get the remix treatment from Starkey and TOKiMONSTA respectively. Bars, beats and big tings come from a selection of capable wordsmiths, including Nicki Minaj, Lil Wayne, Rittz, Yelawolf, Big Krit and Jaylib. Realness sans loops comes from La Dispute, And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of The Dead, Edward Sharpe And The Magnetic Zeros, Mogwai and Wavves. Get stuck in.
This year we introduced a bi-monthly feature that’s as difficult to understand as it is to do… the ‘Free Downloads‘. Every couple of weeks we send our ears on a mission around the internet looking for the best new (or old) music that’s being given away for free, then round up the best ten for you to come along and take as many of them as you see fit. All for free. Simple, huh?
In addition to that we also introduced the ‘Crossfader‘ interview, where we hunt down the DJs and producers that have been rocking our earphones the most and ask them to provide a free mix for us. The results have been more exciting than we could have ever imagined.
So here is the very best, objectively decided by you guys listening, of all the sound we’ve had up in our cloud this year. Below are the 15 most listened to/downloaded tracks that we featured in this section, as well as all four Crossfader Mixes, from Stereo:Type, C.R.S.T., Submerse and The Count & Sinden. Enjoy!
Can you smell the sausages BBQ’ing? See the pot bellied, tattooed British men giving it the large on the pavements? Can you hear the radios spurting out plastic pop music and hits of yesteryear through tinny speakers hanging from dirty windowsills? Bunting waving in the wind from every lamp post? Oh yes, it’s the celebration that the great British public love – the Queen’s Reign of 60 years, the Diamond Jubilee, the same national event that will be celebrated by millions across the United Kingdom this weekend ahead of the Olympics, and oh, what it is to be British! 
This year we introduced a bi-monthly feature that’s as difficult to understand as it is to do… the ‘Free Downloads‘. Every couple of weeks we send our ears on a mission around the internet looking for the best new (or old) music that’s being given away for free, then round up the best ten for you to come along and take as many of them as you see fit. All for free. Simple, huh?