October 31, 2010

New/old release from BARONESS, discounted FLOOR box sets and a KILLER update overall!


Years ago... before Relapse signed em, before getting to open for METALLICA (!), and before folks outside of the underground even really knew about em, a badass band from Georgia (via Virginia) named BARONESS released two EPs aptly titled First and Second. Both were snatched up by a rabidly growing fanbase, and have remained largely out of print since.

The band's now-classic formative material has finally seen a proper reissue, combined together as one deluxe LP. A bit dirtier, punker and more metal than their current rock-infused catchy weirdness, First & Second is an important document in the lineage of this awesome band, and all 38 minutes of music have been completely re-mixed and re-mastered for a much fuller sound than ever before.


Housed in a beautiful gatefold jacket with guitarist/vocalist John Dyer Baizley's elaborate and intricate artwork (spread through the exterior, interior and printed dustsleeve - larger image here), this foil-stamped beaut is now available for pre-order direct from Robotic Empire!

We're really stoked to have witnessed BARONESS literally go from the basement to the arena in just a few years, and are extremely happy to play a small part in this LP. This release has been a LONG time coming, and while we're not the label who put it out (Hyperrealist did), we are pretty much the main mailorder outlet for this bad mamma jamma aside from Hyperrealist themselves. 2000 copies of this beast have been pressed, with 500 on red vinyl, 500 on swirly olive vinyl and 1000 on black vinyl. All on the pressing plant floor ready to ship, we expect our copies to arrive here any time now. At a $14.99 price, you can pre-order this now direct from us at the Robotic Empire - Online Store.


Somewhat related on several levels is the limited tour pressing of BLACK TUSK's Passage Through Purgatory LP that we scored a few weeks back. Akin to the BARONESS reissue, this 12" was also released by Hyperrealist, has awesome John Baizley artwork, and is primarily available through the Robotic Empire - Online Store. Only us and the band themselves have this available, as its limited to just 350 (signed n' numbered) copies.


The other big addition/alteration to our Online Store this week is the newly discounted FLOOR Below & Beyond Deluxe Vinyl Box Set. To be more specific, during an inventory check we discovered that 13 copies (of less than 50 remaining in total) have some minor damage to the outer box and thus, can't really be sold at full price. We tried to get more boxes to replace these damaged ones, but no extras were left... so for those who were interested in this but dissuaded by the $250 price tag, we've now got a slightly scuffed, slightly cheaper version available.


The damage is very minimal in general, just a slight scrape on the canvas of the outer box (see photo above) on most of these 13 copies. This effects vinyl and CD playability zero, so if you want all the tunes and artwork and everything that comes with the most elaborate project/release we've ever done, now's the chance to nab it at a discounted price. This is also now available in the Robotic Empire - Online Store.

p.s. for those in the Austin region, be sure to check out FLOOR live at the Fun Fun Fun Fest this upcoming weekend (Sun, Nov 7th), as it's their last known/scheduled "reunion" performance... (for now?)

Last but not least is an absolutely KILLER update to the store as far as other new items and restocks go. Almost all bangers this time around, we've got new vinyl from BASTARD NOISE, CASPIAN, CLOUD MOUTH, EXTREME NOISE TERROR, JULIE CHRISTMAS (of BATTLE OF MICE, MADE OUT OF BABIES, etc), SKELETONWITCH and TRIAC... as well as essential restocks from FELL VOICES, KYLESA, PHOBIA, PIZZA and more. Gat dayum!

NEW ITEMS:
* Angel Eyes - Midwestern - GOLD COLORED VINYL 12" (The Mylene Sheath) $9.99
* Asra / Defeatist / Triac - Split 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Baroness - First & Second - BLACK VINYL 12" (Hyperrealist) $14.99
* Baroness - First & Second - OLIVE COLORED VINYL 12" (Hyperrealist) $14.99
* Baroness - First & Second - RED COLORED VINYL 12" (Hyperrealist) $14.99
* Bastard Noise, The - A Culture of Monsters 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Caspian - You Are The Conductor & The Four Trees - SILVER COLORED VINYL 3x12" (The Mylene Sheath) $29.99
* Cloud Mouth - Wrecked Live 7" (Self Released) $4.99
* Extreme Noise Terror - Holocaust In Your Head 12" (Farewell) $12.99
* Floor - Below & Beyond - [scuffed box] DELUXE VINYL BOX SET (Robotic Empire) $199.99
* Gifts From Enola - Self-Titled - ORANGE COLORED VINYL 12" (The Mylene Sheath) $12.99
* Julie Christmas - Self-Titled - PINK COLORED VINYL 12" (Rising Pulse) $16.99
* Julie Christmas - Self-Titled - SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Rising Pulse) $16.99
* Junius - Self-Titled - RED COLORED VINYL 2x12" (The Mylene Sheath) $19.99
* Skeletonwitch - Worship The Witch - BLUE COLORED VINYL 10" (Prosthetic) $13.99
* Skeletonwitch - Worship The Witch - YELLOW COLORED VINYL 10" (Prosthetic) $13.99

RESTOCKS:
* Cloud Mouth / Cougar Den - Split - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 7" (Ice Age) $4.99
* Extreme Noise Terror - Phonophobia 12" (Vinyl Japan) $12.99
* Fell Voices - Self-Titled 12" (Human Resources) $12.99
* Gifts From Enola - Loyal Eyes Betrayed The Mind - GREY COLORED VINYL 2x12" (The Mylene Sheath) $19.99
* Kylesa - Static Tensions 12" (La Familia) $14.99
* Kylesa - Time Will Fuse Its Worth CD (Prosthetic) $11.99
* Kylesa - To Walk A Middle Course CD (Prosthetic) $11.99
* Kylesa / Victims - Split 7" (La Familia) $5.99
* Phobia - 22 Random Acts of Violence - BROWN RAINBOW SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Phobia - Grind Your F'ing Head In - BLUE GREY COLORED VINYL 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Pizza - Midnight Creature Party 12" (Sterling) $12.99
* Skeletonwitch - Breathing The Fire 12" (Prosthetic) $15.99
* Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson - Self-Titled 2xCD (How Is Annie) $12.99

Phew! OK that's it for this time, plenty of meaty stuff to chew on there... so keep us busy and we'll do our best to keep your earholes happy. PEACE!


Robotic Empire - Online Store

Robotic Empire's Twitter
Robotic Empire on Myspace
Robotic Empire on Facebook
Robotic Empire's email list
Robotic Empire's news blog/archive
Robotic Obscurities free audio archive
Robotic Empire's youtube channel
Robotic Empire Wholesale
Robotic Empire's main website
Robotic Empire at GimmeSound free audio

October 21, 2010

"this is a real ep" (aka, two awesome THOU reviews!)

It's pretty awesome and inspiring when we get sent reviews for a release we didn't even mail out promos for. BIG ups to Ian Wise and Demian Johnston for taking the time to review the THOU, Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For EP all on their own volition. Seriously, much appreciated!



Thou somehow manage to consistently put out fully realized records with obviously thoughtful artwork and meticulous packaging. And they do so at a pace that makes me embarrassed of how slowly my own musical endeavors come together. This release, their most recent 12” EP (it’s four songs, but each side is about 15 minutes, so “EP” is sort of misleading) sums up most things I love about the band. Their earlier releases were heavy, but focused on slow parts with really pretty sounding guitar harmonies. I loved it, but recently they’ve picked up the pace a little and have gotten much, much more dissonant in their sound. This record is no less abrasive than the “Smoke Pigs” track they contributed their split with Black September, but they have some spacey, jammy parts that go well with their sludge aesthetic and help the record flow better as a long player. The tracks here also seem less disjointed than songs on Tyrant or Peasant, both of which had some awkward changes. Of course, the packaging is great as the band partnered with the always diligent Robotic Empire, the only people who may actually be nerdier than Thou about vinyl packaging. -Ian Wise / Razorcake (buy here)

holy shit. this is fantastic. super heavy, super thick and totally amazing sounding. you can really tell they gave a shit in releasing this. i have no idea if this is coming out in any other formats but this is a real ep. so often bands will release a cassette to keep some sort of "cred" going but it ends up being some throw away demos or noise from a band that has no business making noise. this feels real. two heavy and interesting originals on the a side and an instrumental laden with samples and really heavy guitars followed by a Nirvana cover with a killer guitar solo using a phase shifter in a excellent way. the way this sounds is also another reason why having James Plotkin master your releases will never make you regret the affordable price. you just have to hear it. it sounds amazing. the packaging is a double sided screenprinted three panel j card and it looks fantastic. the artwork is great, the music is great. i used to not really dig thou but after the last couple things i have heard i am completely sold. great work. - Demian Johnston / Dead Formats

This release is still available on both formats (vinyl and cassette):
* THOU - Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For 12"
* THOU - Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For Cassette
* THOU - Most of the rest of their (available) standalone releases, plus t-shirts/etc

October 17, 2010

ROBOTIC EMPIRE - Online Store Update - Lots of restocked T-shirts

Small update this week as far as new items but we’ve got tons of T-shirt restocks from CANNABIS CORPSE, SLEEP, and PYGMY LUSH. Highlights in the new section would be the THOU / HUMAN INTRUDER split along with the CAPSUEL / FURNACE split 7”. Check out the full list below!

New Items:
* Alpinist - Lichtlaerm 12" (Vendetta) $14.99
* Ambulars, The - Nothing To Say From Miles Away 7" (Cosmic Debris) $4.99
* Capsule / Furnace - Split 7" (Moment Of Collapse) $4.99
* Hallowed Butchery / Batillus - Split 12" (Vendetta) $12.99
* Hate - Crimes - COLORED VINYL 7" (Vanthrax) $5.99
* Like Rats - Self-Titled 7" (Cosmic Debris) $5.99
* Protestant - Judgements 12" (Vendetta) $11.99
* Socially Retarded / Sea of Shit - Split 7" (Diseased Audio) $5.99
* Thou - Summit CD (Gilead Media) $11.99
* Thou / Human Intruder - Split 7" (Dead Earth) $4.99
* Zann - X 7"+CD (Adagio830) $5.50


Restocks:
* Cannabis Corpse - Bud Monsters T-Shirt - Size: DOUBLE EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $15.99
* Cannabis Corpse - Bud Monsters T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Cannabis Corpse - Bud Monsters T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Cannabis Corpse - Bud Monsters T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Chino Horde - Discography 2x12'' *VINYL* (Adagio) $18.99
* Glasses - Self-Titled 12'' *1-Sided Etched VINYL* (Vendetta) $11.99
* Highgate - Shrines To The Warhead 12'' *VINYL* (Vendetta) $12.99
* Indian Summer - Hidden Arithmetic 12" (Adagio830) $14.99
* Mouthbreather - Lila 10'' *VINYL* (Adagio) $10.99
* Omega Massif / Mount Logan - Split CD (Vendetta) $9.99
* Pygmy Lush - Mt.Hope 12'' *CLEAR COLORED VINYL* (Adagio830) $12.99
* Pygmy Lush - Donkey T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Pygmy Lush - Donkey T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Pygmy Lush - Donkey T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Pygmy Lush - Donkey T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Pygmy Lush - Man On The Moon T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Pygmy Lush - Man On The Moon T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Pygmy Lush - Man On The Moon T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Sinaloa - Self-Titled 12'' *VINYL* (Adagio) $12.99
* Sleep - Volume 2 T-Shirt Size: DOUBLE EXTRA LARGE (DIY) $14.99
* Sleep - Volume 2 T-Shirt Size: EXTRA LARGE (DIY) $14.99
* Sleep - Volume 2 T-Shirt Size: LARGE (DIY) $14.99
* Sleep - Volume 2 T-Shirt Size: MEDIUM (DIY) $14.99
* Sleep - Volume 2 T-Shirt Size: SMALL (DIY) $14.99
* Thou / Black September - Split 7'' *RED COLORED VINYL* (Gilead Media) $5.99
* Thou / Leech - We Pass Like Night, From Land to Land 12'' *WHITE COLORED VINYL* (Adagio) $14.99
* Who Calls So Loud - Self-Titled 2x10'' *COLORED VINYL* (Adagio 830) $14.99
* Zann - Three Years In The Desert 12" *VINYL* (Vendetta) $15.99

October 3, 2010

ROBOTIC EMPIRE - Online Store Update

We’ve got some great restocks from Hypertension Records this week along with the new Black September 12” and tons of new stuff from 20 Buck Spin and A389. Also the new Phantom Glue which features members of the band 27. Check it out!


New Items:
* Bastard Noise / The Endless Blockade - The Red List CD (20 Buck Spin) $10.99
* Black September - The Forbidden Gates Beyond 12" (Shaman) $12.99
* Caulfield - Self-Titled 12" (A389) $9.99
* Christian Mistress - Agony & Opium 12" (20 Buck Spin) $13.99
* Gehenna / Blind To Faith - Split - COLORED VINYL 7" (A389) $4.99
* Gray Ghost - Succubus - COLORED VINYL 7" (A389) $4.99
* Hatewaves - Taste The Beast 7" (A389) $4.99
* Millenial Reign - BonesDustNothing - COLORED VINYL 7" (A389) $4.99
* Phantom Glue - Self-Titled - TRANSPARENT RED SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Teenage Disco Bloodbath) $11.99
* Pulling Teeth / Shin To Shin - Split - COLORED VINYL 7" (A389) $4.99
* Whitemice - Ganjahovahdose 12" (20 Buck Spin) $13.99
* Wolvserpent - Blood Seed 12" (20 Buck Spin) $14.99
* Zombi - Surface To Air - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12" (Hypertension) $19.99
* Zombi - Surface To Air - WHITE COLORED VINYL 12" (Hypertension) $19.99

Restocks:
* Algernon Cadwallader - Some Kind Of Cadwallader 12'' *VINYL* (Security Blanket) $8.99
* Amen Ra - Mass III CD (Hypertension) $15.99
* Black Boned Angel / Nadja - Split CD (20 Buck Spin) $10.99
* Coffins - Buried Death CD (20 Buck Spin) $10.99
* Endless Blockade - Primitive 12'' *VINYL* (20 Buck Spin) $12.99
* Endless Blockade - Primitive CD (20 Buck Spin) $7.99
* Graves At Sea / Asunder - Split 12'' *VINYL* (20 Buck Spin) $12.99
* Integrity - To Die For 10'' *RED COLORED VINYL* (A389) $11.99
* Samothrace - Life's Trade 2x12'' *VINYL* (20 Buck Spin) $20.99
* Starkweather - Croatoan 2x12'' *VINYL* (Hypertension) $18.99
* Stormcrow / Laudanum - Split 12'' (20 Buck Spin) $12.99
* Withered - Folie Circulaire 2x12'' *VINYL* (Hypertension) $25.99