SLM 2020 / reviews / Grave Beat OC

It’s Saturday and it’s been drizzling rain all morning, so I thought this would be the perfect time to write an update and try to get in the habit of writing a bit more. I wanted to give an update on SLM 2020 and maybe talk about some things that have been brought to my attention. Before I go into anything I just want to state these are just my opinions and thoughts, everyone is entitled to their own but these are mine.

So far the line-up for SLM 2020 is Ana Curra (Spain), She Past Away (Turkey) I hope they bring some imam bayildi for me and The Vanishing (SF). More announcements are coming soon. Robert Sullen organizes this event yearly. He works really hard on this event, he almost never does benefit shows to help pay for cost that this event incurs. He works for this event, meaning all the money that goes into it come from his own wallet. I am really sick of people trying to tear him down and talk bad about him on the internet. It’s really sickening to me when I think about it. First, many of the people that have complaints about the fest or Robert straddle the idea that he takes money from this event to line his wallet. Like he’s making big bucks and is pocketing the door money instead of paying these sucky bands gas money. Let’s be clear with the term I use sucky, because I’m not gonna allow someone to get all twisted, if you play this event and just want to get him to pay you money for your travel expenses out of his pocket, then yes you are sucky! I don’t know what is going on anymore in the DIY community, and how all of a sudden bands that are DIY get off relying on door money and go on the internet and blast someone for not getting enough or what they wanted. As a band I think you should be self reliant, you should have merch and if your merch sales don’t add up to much of anything then that means no one was there to see you anyway, you were NOT the draw. Even big mainstream bands rely on merch sales not the door money from the venue.. this is just a fact. If you want to play SLM then you should write him and ask or if he asks you if you would like to play and you can’t afford to, then just don’t play. We are all adults and I just don’t know how some bands that want $100 for 5 members which comes out to $20 each is like a big deal to you financially (see I can do math just like Andrew Yang). For Robert it is because you are talking if every band wants even a $100 that adds up to thousands. With headliners he has always had contracts or tried his best to give what he can even after he has paid their flights.. but I’m just sorry this is a small scene and for these fringe bands to expect $$$ and then just go around talking smack is just lame.

Secondly, I don’t get what the end game is for these people that are constantly talking bad about SLM, what do you want for him to just not do it? Make him go away? To not have a dark music fest in Texas? I mean, what’s the end goal? If you have such a problem with him and the fest, then don’t book the same bands at your fest and have it the weekend after his, don’t try to pick up his crumbs and book the bands and then talk trash about SLM. Can you just be cool? This is Texas not California. Do your own thing, but don’t pretend like you want to work collectively then go around being a gossip.

Lastly, I really think there is room for everyone in this small scene. I understand it’s hard for people to travel, gas prices are rising and my Tesla only gets about 250 miles on a full charge so I can’t make a low cost drive from California to Texas. So you do your thing and Texas will do their own. Texas is a fun time, and I really look forward seeing all my friends again. http://www.sanlamuertefest.com/slm

Suzi of Masquerade (Finland) has a new project with her partner. Wild Roses of Winter are a darkwave band but it’s just misses, I’m really not sure what they are going for. It reminds me of Catholic Highschool, I swear in 1989 I would have been all about listening to something like this, it sounds like music I used to sing while looking in the mirror while getting dressed. However, this song never got off the ground in my opinion, some of the vocals toward the end remind me a bit of Gitane without the soul.

Believe it or not we still have some Masquerade LP’s left, you can buy on the bigcartel or check depop (gothmommy) I was really surprised this record and band were not received well in our area (Southern California) They played a show in OC and seriously I think like 5 people showed up and then they played a Los Angeles show and maybe 25 people came.

In 2019 I spent a lot of time on the row machine at the gym, and listened to countless hours of Choir Boy. My gym overlooks the Back Bay in Newport Beach, it’s a slice of heaven. I listened to Choir Boy on repeat while daydreaming, it was magical. Well Choir Boy released a single just a few days ago and it is magic. It’s a bundle of girly escape, his voice is just something special it’s a mix between kermit the frog and opera. This is how my brain works, also the single is titled complainer and that’s how I feel sometimes, gotta get that pma and remember life is short.

Their 2nd album will be released in May 2020 on Dais records. I can’t wait!!!

On to some local news … we have a new goth / deathrock spot in OC.. The next Grave Beat will be on March 7th, in Orange. Resident DJ and overall extraordinaire Grimm Beatz is in charge of this event.

I planned on doing a fashion review in this post but sadly I’ve run out of time and will work on it and some updates and news tomorrow. I really hope that we can all lift each other up and be encouraging. I just think that we should all give one another some room to make mistakes and have good days and bad days and not judge harshly.

Keep Goth Cool, Trishka

February 2017

Greetings.  I wanted to continue our last post with news that Nikole from Annex has a new project titled Her Corrosion.  You will find a nice collection of interviews and news in the current dark arts scene.  Please go to Her Corrosion

Nikole worked very hard on the site and it’s quite a task to compile and design a site like hers.  Also, if you would like to submit or contribute please contact Nikole at nikole.wave@gmail.com

Also, Annex released a new cover single on their bandcamp, The Cure’s “One Hundred Years” you can listen, buy, or stream.  Annex are also working on their follow up LP to DESPUÉS DE VI LP, it will be released on Occult Whispers (Chicago).

Her Corrosion features a great interview with Cait Autonomy, a long time friend and contributor to Mass Media.  You’ll find out all about her history and her current endeavors, which includes playing bass in Shadowhouse.  YAY!  Which we are finally happy to announce a limited repress of their debut LP “Hand in Hand” will be shipping in April.  You can pre-order HERE.

We are also running a spring set special for a limited time. 5 LP’s for $40 The Ladies Spring set includes all female fronted / driven bands:

Masses “Moloch” LP // Annex “Despues de Vi” LP // Masquerade “Blood is the New Black” 12″ // Totenwald “Wrong Place Wrong Time” 12″ // Wives “Devoted to You” LP  we actually only have a few copies left of certain titles so it is limited.  We are making room for our 2017 releases so please support us!

Altar De Fey featured on Bandcamp Daily

Altar De Fey are featured on the front of Bandcamp Daily along with a write up of the Echoes in the Corridor LP and a full interview by Andi Harriman.  Today we will have the Altar De Fey LP for sale at a reduced cost on both the site and bandcamp for $10…. so get it before they are gone!!! GO HERE: http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/altar-dey-fey-lp-pre-order

For Bandcamp Daily GO HERE   https://daily.bandcamp.com/2017/02/15/altar-de-fey-interview/

Also for those who are unfamiliar with Andi Harriman she did an excellent interview with Nikole from Annex / Her Corrosion that can be read here:

https://www.hercorrosion.com/andi-harriman/

Nikole did such an excellent job on this new endeavor interviewing a diverse group of women involved in post punk / dark arts music scene.  Have a look through the site as there will be new interviews and blog announcements added.  On a different note, I’ve been extremely sick again for multiple weeks now and finally seem to be getting better.. fingers crossed.  Today is also a super sad day for me as it is my late sisters birthday, she would have been 35.  I miss her so much, sometimes i think it’s so ironic that I’ve always been so drawn to dark music and arts and that my life has had such tragedy and that’s just too much darkness.  I know the light is out there and I get glimmers of hope and happiness of course, but still sometimes it’s hard to enjoy the dark when it’s all too real.  Anyways, I digress..   Happy darkest of days everyone!

Winter 2016

Hey everyone, We are back after our annual fall hiatus.  We will be moving away from facebook as it really does not serve us too well, with reach becoming less and less due to their every changing platform.  So please check back here often.  Anyway, enough of that boring nonsense, on to some news. Our good friend Rik that runs Nothing but a Nightmare (shop) will be taking over a lot of the label work for us.  He runs a small shop and label himself and also has made his space available for touring bands to play small intimate shows. Also our bigcartel shop will have some updates and new products, as some of you may know or not know we used to run a small shop in Costa Mesa/Santa Ana and we have tons of merch from our shop still that we are working on listing. (jewelry, zines, clothes, patches, pins, records)

As some of you may or may not know MOTH has officially split up.  We were so lucky enough to be able to see their only US show in Texas at SLM2016.  I must say that everything about that band is magical and beautiful, their music, the people, just everything.  We are so honored to have been able to release their music and in some small way be part of their magic. The members of MOTH are just so incredibly talented and really are very influential to us.  They released so many hits in my humble opinion, they were so driven and active in their process that just amazed me every time  they released something new.  The members of MOTH have gone on of course to continue in new bands and write new music so I expect more great things to come from all of them.

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MOTH photo by Robert SLM 2016 – Punkitos Photos

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MOTH photo by Vivre at Ungdomshuset.

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MOTH photo by Ina Noire

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MOTH at Nothing Nice to Say Fest 2016

Also MOTH has a new and final new release out, it’s a split with Kold Front (featuring members of Metro Cult) you can purchase it here http://elektriskeplader.com/shop/

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MOTH / Kold Front split

We also have just a very few copies left of the MOTH / Prison split EP which is up in our webshop now.  Pressing was limited to 150 copies on colored vinyl with screen printed covers.  Available here : http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/moth-prison-split-ep

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MOTH / Prison split EP

That concludes our update.  Big hugs and kisses to MOTH!  xoxo

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MOTH enamel pin

 

 

 

Masses North American tour & LP release

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Masses from Melbourne, Australia have released their debut LP and are planning a North American tour in support of their release.  The LP is a cooperative release by both Mass Media Records and Lost in Fog Records in Australia.  Both labels are run by women which is a huge undertaking in and of itself.  Lost in Fog is ran by Tessa who also slays in Masses!  So like support us!

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The album maintains the bands anxious goth post-punk style from earlier releases, this time utilizing more duel vocals from both guitarist James and synth player Nellie. MOLOCH explores both the driving anarcho sounds and politically motivated themes reminiscent of bands such as The Mob, whilst also delving into more emotive and dancey goth and post punk inspired tracks drawing from bands such as The Creatures and Lost Tribe.  In my opinion if those two bands got married and had a baby it would be Masses.  I’m a weirdo though, so you’ll have to listen for yourself…

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To purchase the LP go here: http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/masses-moloch-lp-pre-order

The LP is available to be purchased on it’s own or as a set with a limited edition Masses enamel pin (limited quantities available).  Seriously I don’t have many of these left.. I’ll be posting Masses logo earrings soon as well!

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To purchase the enamel pin go here: http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/masses-enamel-lapel-pin

Masses will embark on a North American tour in July 2016 and end at San La Muerte fest in San Antonio, Tx. (Only Texas date)

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“Hidden” track of Moloch LP, see I told you… The Creatures meet Lost Tribe. xoxo

 

Mass Media Zine Cast interview with Cait Autonomy

It’s been super crazy around here the past few weeks.  We’ve got some amazing new releases out Altar De Fey LP, Totenwald 12″, Private Pact LP, Masses LP, and Silent Scream LP.  We are also working hard on coordinating the SLM artshow / pre-party with the wonderful Cait Autonomy.  For those of you who do not know her she is like the sweetest person ever, so be her friend already.  We have played in bands with Cait…  Resist ad Exist //  Autonomy (CA) // Weekend Warrior.   We’ve traveled and toured with her and she is our family.  So support her and buy her art.

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Resist and Exist 2007

We would like to thank the Belfry Network for hosting our interview, please go and check out their other podcasts as well, you’ll like them!

So as many of you know Cait is an amazing artist, she does a lot of work for Mass Media… flyers, posters, merch, etc. She did art for a limited edition tote bag for her label Punk Ritual that can be purchased here: http://massmediarecords.bigcartel.com/product/punk-ritual-tote-bag-illustrated-by-cait-a

Continue reading

Mass Media Zine Cast interview with Robert Sullen for SLM 2016

Hey Everyone… Here is our first ever Mass Media Records Zine Cast, featuring the radical Robert Sullen curator and host for San La Muerte fest, August 4th-6th 2016 in San Antonio, Tx.

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Robert Sullen curator/host of San La Muerte Fest.

Listen to full interview here:

Robert is also a world traveler, musician, and photographer, he will be exhibiting his photos at the artshow pre-party for San La Muerte Fest 2016.  He is also the drummer to Christ vs. Warhol. Continue reading

Sierpien “Zawsze Nasze” LP Mass Media Records 2015

Sierpien’s LP actually came out in late December 2014, but didn’t officially release til after the new year in January 2015.  I’m not sure where to really begin with Sierpien, as this band started out as a two man project with Artem being the driving force behind almost all of the music and vision for where the band is today. First off, Sierpien are from Moscow, Russia, however their name Sierpien is Polish meaning “August”. They are heavily influenced by Zimna Fala (Polish Coldwave), it’s really undeniable how incredibly transcending this album is, as this record could easily pass for a record that came out in the 1980’s.  For me it’s just brilliant, it’s dark, cold, danceable, and Russian!

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Sierpien “Zawsze Nasze” LP limited red vinyl.

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Artem of Sierpien

 

The LP was limited to a US pressing of 300 on Mass Media Records, and has also been pressed in Europe on cassette and CD format.  This record would go on and be touted by Maximum Rock n Roll as a contender for “Record of the Year” and top tens in MRR as well as having an interview published in said zine.  Sierpien would begin to play as a full lineup and tour in Europe in 2015.  They also released a split tape with Salome’s Dance on Occult Whispers.  You can order a copy HERE!

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Sierpien / Salome’s Dance split tape

Sierpien is a very underrated band and I’m still waiting for people to discover how amazing they are.  Imagine if The Mob, Crisis, and Sikiera made a baby they would name it Sierpien.  Anarcho punks and peace punks should be all into them.  Sierpien’s lyrics are in Russian and the nature of the lyrics are political in nature.  It makes for the perfect positive punk record to come out in a very very long time. This is one of those records I was waiting for in the late 90’s and early 2000’s when bands were just pumping out crust, grind, and pizza thrash.  I couldn’t understand why peace punk just went away.  Finally, we started to see a small resurgence with bands like OK?, Vivid Sekt, and Arctic Flowers and then would come the “post punk” explosion in the punk scene.  It would take a few more years but finally Sierpien were born!

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One important fact I must say about Sierpien is in regards to Artem the lead vocalist.  His vocals are on point, dark and yearning, you just can’t go wrong.  Artem is also one of the most knowledgeable people regarding Zimna Fala and Eastern European post punk.  He’s a genius!  The LP was streamed and reviewed on Cvlt Nation and included a very in depth interview with Artem regarding the band and the current state of Russian and Ukrainian conflict. You can Read it HERE

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Artem from Sierpien wearing the most awesome Cemetery shirt with artwork by Sam Nigrosh of Cemetery.

Sierpien are still playing and have released an EP and a split with Kandahar from Poland. They just finished recording their second LP and are currently looking for a label to release it.  We can’t wait to hear it and DANCE, DANCE, DANCE!

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You can contact Sierpien HERE

You can buy Sierpien’s LP “Zawsze Nasze” HERE

We are also running a special bundle set for both Masquerade 12″ and Sierpien LP since it’s winter and both bands feel wintery to me.  You can BUY THEM BOTH HERE

Next up MOTH… to be continued….

 

 

 

 

Happy New Year! Release schedule countdown 2015!

We’ve decided to do a release schedule countdown for all the releases that came out in 2015 on Mass Media.  Some releases are still available while others are sold out, nevertheless they all have a special place in our hearts.

Masquerade “Blood is the New Black” 12″  officially released around the 1st of the year 2015.

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Photo by our friend David of Transylvanian Flag

Masquerade “Blood is the New Black” 12″ – Masquerade are from Helsinki, Finland they had released a demo in the summer of 2013 that was highly sought after and received some acclaim in modern deathrock circles.  We were super excited to hear new recordings by Masquerade and most people had thought that they had broken up since they went through multiple lineup changes as the lead singer Suzi became known as difficult.  We were happy to hear that they indeed continued on and had what we thought was a great follow up to their demo.  The production value and aesthetic were on point and with Suzi working hard at maintaining a solid lineup and continually touring throughout Europe and eventually the US in late August 2015.

Official music video for “Needle Through a Bug” off their Demo.

Official Music Video for “All Things Hurt” off Blood is the New Black 12″

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Masquerade live in Wroclaw, Poland at Return to the Batcave Festival 2015

For me Suzi is Masquerade she commands an audience similarly to Siouxsie Sioux, the same moves, vocal abilities, and fashion.  Masquerade is no doubt informed by the Banshees and that is exactly what I love about them.  It’s like if the Banshees made a new record and that is precisely why I love this record so much.  It’s also probably why some people don’t like this record or are critical about it.

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Masquerade live in St. Petersburg, Russian 2015

As noted Masquerade toured the Western US in August 2015, they were supposed to play San La Muerte Fest in San Antonio, Tx. and decided not to for logistic purposes.  That was a real shame because they would have been a great fit and the shows that they did play in California were poorly attended unfortunately.  Years ago if a band from Finland was touring the show would have undoubtedly been packed because it was a touring band from Finland.  That’s just not the case anymore, it’s becoming harder and harder to get people to come out to shows, it’s like the movement has gone back to it’s infancy.

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Suzi of Masquerade / Virgin in Veil 2015

The “Blood is the New Black” 12″ was released in Finland on Fight Records and in the US on Mass Media Records.  Limited red vinyl is only available for the US version.   It can be ordered direct through us HERE

Masquerade are still playing and have just finished working on a follow up to the “Blood is the New Black” 12″.  Their new release will be released in Finland on Fight Records and they are currently looking for a US label to release it here as well, so contact them if you want to release it.  Here is the official video for “Panic Paranoia” off their upcoming release in 2016.

You can follow Suzi on TUMBLR HERE

You can follow and contact Masquerade on  Facebook HERE

You can buy Masquerade’s  “Blood is the new Black” 12″ HERE

Next up Sierpien to be continued…