March 24, 2013

SOME STRANGER announce release via Robotic Empire, premier new song


SOME STRANGER will release their debut "Self-Titled" EP on April 2nd (digital) and April 30th (vinyl). Co-released by the band and independent label Robotic Empire, the digital version will be available as a pay-what-you-want download directly from the band via Bandcamp as well as traditional digital retailers. The vinyl will be released as a 45RPM 12" by Robotic Empire and is available for preorder now:

http://www.roboticempire.com/store/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&keyword=Some+Stranger

SOME STRANGER started immediately following the departure of vocalist Tym from his previous endeavor, rock outfit DAYTRADER. Joined by visual artist and guitarist Daniel Danger on guitar, the duo swiftly tracked the EP with Gary Cioffi (TRANSIT, MISSER). The record was then mixed by Vince Ratti (BALANCE AND COMPOSURE, CIRCA SURVIVE) and mastered by Will Yip (TITLE FIGHT, BLACKLISTED).

Alternative Press' recent "100 Bands You Need To Know This Year" feature characterized SOME STRANGER as "a textured, haunting collection that defies easy categorization."

Says vocalist Tym, "We're extremely excited to be working with Robotic Empire on this project. They've released some of our favorite records of all time... Torche, Isis, Jesu, pg99... the list goes on. We sent them some demos as we were writing them and when they offered to help us release it, it was a no-brainer.  We finished up the recording process at the tail end of last year and we can't wait for people to hear it."

Robotic Empire label founder Andy Low added "Having known Tym and Dr. Danger for a long time, it's exciting to hear SOME STRANGER pushing their individual and collective strengths in great ways. Our friends have crafted a powerful debut and we're thrilled to be a part of it!"

"Self-Titled" track listing:

1. On And On
2. Points East
3. Silver & The Sun
4. Song One
5. Sirens

Related:
http://www.somestranger.com
http://somestranger.bandcamp.com
http://www.facebook.com/somestrangerband
http://www.roboticempire.com/store
http://www.facebook.com/RoboticEmpire

March 14, 2013

TORCHE and BARONESS represses, new material, tour dates, BIG distro update and more!


The biggest news for the Robotic Empire - Online Store this time around is the fifth(!) pressing of TORCHE's now-classic In Return 10"+CD. With each pressing having been 2000 copies, this means 10,000(!!) of this burly EP now exist... which is absolutely crazy to think about.

TORCHE have shown no signs of slowing down, either in the live-devastation or song-development departments. In Return has proven to be a pivotal release, both for fans and the band, and has subsequently become of the biggest overall releases that Robotic Empire has done. We are both amazed and humbled by the stellar reaction this EP has had over the past five years, and are excited to present the latest ridiculous pressing to you today:

2000 MO' COPIES:
* 200 copies of Ballistic (clear w/ red streaks and a black blob)
* 200 copies of Blue Hydrangea (light blue with blue swatches inserted)
* 400 copies of Planetoid (beer/pink with lots of streaks)
* 400 copies of Orange Julius (delicious!)
* 400 copies of Ice Moon (blue in blue)
* 400 copies of Smelted Ore (silver and gold stripes with gold streaks)

In general, we've toned down on the absurd color-vinyl "variants" for our vinyl pressings over the past few years, but with In Return and its vibrant John Dyer Baizley designed gatefold layout, it feels appropriate to go BIG with the color vinyl options... and thus, we very much have. With a counterpart CD of the same music embedded into the gatefold interior, this is one of the more impressive single-recording packagings we've been a part of to date.

* TORCHE's In Return 10"+CD is available once again in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

In addition, the band has self-released a thunderous two-song 7" called Harmonslaught that sees the long-awaited return of the infamous "bomb string". We are one of the few distros to have copies of this, which is also now available on color vinyl. With the band constantly on the road, re-upping this won't happen quickly so hop on it now if you want a copy! We also have some badass t-shirts along with limited amounts of their latest killer album, Harmonicraft. BOOM!

Last but obviously not least on the TORCHE-tip, the band is hitting the road hard again this spring/summer both in the USA and Europe (plus, FLOOR are touring with THRONES too, just before!) so scroll to the bottom of this update for all related tour dates.


Semi-related (via ye olde dawg Baizley), BARONESS' First + Second 12" has been re-pressed by our Savannah friends Hyperrealist, and we got copies once again as their main mailorder-outlet. This time around 1500 copies were made with a cool new "rusty" lookin' foil-stamp on the gatefold jacket (enlarged photo here). Appropriately complimentary vinyl colors were picked, so an equal amount of brown and orange vinyl now exist of this formative-material release.

Obviously a lot has happened with and to BARONESS collectively, but one thing has remained true: where they've come from and where they're going. The band has evolved considerably over the years to become a rock/metal juggernaut, and on First + Second they impressively displayed their capabilities, albeit with a hefty lean on the "heavy". A fan-favorite for many reasons, we are glad to see this made available once again.

* BARONESS' First + Second 12" is available now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

Concluding the BARONESS-related stuff here for now, we will make an announcement in the coming weeks in regard to one of the band's members... and it is not what you would expect...

Beyond this awesome activity, we've got a handful of new items and one re-up for the Robotic Empire - Online Store. The previous update was substantially larger so we're including that as well since its nice and fresh as well:

NEWEST STUFF:
* Asva / Philippe Petit - Empires Should Burn 12" (Small Doses) $9.99
* Baroness – First & Second 12” BROWN COLORED VINYL (Hyperrealist) $14.99
* Baroness – First & Second 12” ORANGE COLORED VINYL (Hyperrealist) $14.99
* Sandrider - Self-Titled 12" (Good To Die) $17.99
* Torche - Harmonslaught - COLORED VINYL 7" (Amnesian) $6.99
* Torche - In Return - BALLISTIC COLORED VINYL 10"+CD (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Torche - In Return - BLUE HYDRANGEA COLORED VINYL 10"+CD (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Torche - In Return - ICE MOON COLORED VINYL 10"+CD (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Torche - In Return - ORANGE JULIUS COLORED VINYL 10"+CD (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Torche - In Return - PLANETOID COLORED VINYL 10"+CD (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Torche - In Return - SMELTED ORE COLORED VINYL 10"+CD (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* VYGR / At Our Heels / Griever - 3 Way Split - BLACK BROWN COLORED VINYL 12" (Creator Destroyer) $14.99
* Whitehorse - Live Ritual July 25th 2011 CD (Small Doses) $9.99

RE-UP:
• Ancient Sky - Castle / Allegory 7'' (Wharf Cat) $9.99
• Torche – Harmonicraft 12” CLEAR COLORED VINYL (Volcom) $15.99

NEW STUFF: (that's still available)
* 16 - Lost Tracks Of Time - PURPLE BLUE SWIRL COLORED VINYL 12" (Last Hurrah) $18.99
* Battle Path - Empiric 12" (Alerta Antifascista) $11.99
* Bone Dance - Self-Titled - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12" (Melotov) $14.99
* Cloud Rat - Moksha 12" (Halo Of Flies) $10.99
* Cop City / Chill Pillars - Hosed 12" (Floridas Dying) $12.99
* Cop City Chill Pillars - Held Hostage On Planet Chill 12" (Floridas Dying) $12.99
* Cough - Supplicant - Size: EXTRA LARGE T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Supplicant - Size: LARGE T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Supplicant - Size: MEDIUM T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Supplicant - Size: SMALL T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Dads - Brown on Brown 12" (Wharf Cat) $11.99
* Jacuzzi Boys - No Seasons 12" (Florida's Dying) $12.99
* Jodis - Black Curtain - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12" (Hydra Head) $19.99
* Johnny Mox - We / Trouble - RED COLORED VINYL 12" (Sons of Vesta) $14.99
* Jowls - Cursed - COLORED VINYL 10" (Tiny Engines) $9.99
* Mamiffer / Pyramids - Split 12" (Hydra Head) $16.99
* Mamiffer / Pyramids - Split - GREY COLORED VINYL 12" (Hydra Head) $16.99
* Marked Men - Fix My Brain Cassette (Dirt Cult) $4.99
* Marked Men - Ghosts Cassette (Dirt Cult) $4.99
* Marked Men - On the Outside Cassette (Dirt Cult) $4.99
* Marked Men - Self-Titled Cassette (Dirt Cult) $4.99
* Meek Is Murder - Algorithms - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12" (Granite House) $11.99
* Moloch / Wyqm - Split - GLOW IN THE DARK COLORED VINYL 12" (Death Agonies & Screams) $9.99
* Monuments Collapse - Self-Titled 12" (50 Year Storm) $10.99
* Passing Phases - Endless Autumn 12" (Cricket Cemetery) $9.99
* Pigs - You Ruin Everything - BLACK VINYL 12" (Solar Flare) $16.99
* Pigs - You Ruin Everything - BLUE COLORED VINYL 12" (Solar Flare) $16.99
* Split Cranium - Self-Titled - BLACK VINYL 12" (Hydra Head) $19.99
* Wyqm - Deathspectre CD (Death Agonies & Screams) $9.99
* Wyqm - Portrait of Spectre - GREY WITH BLACK SWIRL COLORED VINYL 12" (Death Agonies & Screams) $9.99
* Wyqm - Self-Titled - GREEN WITH BLACK MIST COLORED VINYL 12" (Death Agonies & Screams) $6.99

RESTOCKS:
* Ancient Sky - Self-Titled 12" - BLACK VINYL (The Perpetual Motion Machine) $10.99
* Ancient Sky - Self-Titled 12" - CLEAR WITH PINK HAZE COLORED VINYL (The Perpetual Motion Machine) $10.99
* Ancient Sky - Self-Titled 12" - WHITE COLORED VINYL (The Perpetual Motion Machine) $10.99
* Cough - Baphomet T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Baphomet T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Baphomet T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Baphomet T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Plague T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Self Released) $14.99
* Cough - Plague T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Self Released) $14.99
* Jesu - Heart Ache & Dethroned 2x12" - GREY COLORED VINYL (Hydra Head) $24.99
* Jesu - Heart Ache & Dethroned 2x12" - WHITE COLORED VINYL (Hydra Head) $24.99
* Jesu - Self-Titled 2x12" - BLACK VINYL (Hydra Head) $24.99
* Lightbearer - Llapsus 2x12" - VINYL (Halo of Flies) $21.99
* Pelican / These Arms Are Snakes - Split 10" - CLEAR WITH PINK COLORED VINYL (Hydra Head) $9.99
* Raein - Ogni Nuovo Inizio 12" - 1-SIDED BLACK ETCHED VINYL (Sons Of Vesta) $18.99
* Torche - Songs For Singles 12" - BLACK VINYL (Hydra Head) $16.99
* Wyqm - Portrait of Spectre 12" - RED WITH BLACK SPLATTER COLORED VINYL (Death Agonies & Screams) $9.99

YEAH! Love an update chock full of good stuff. If somethang floats yer boat, please hit up the Robotic Empire - Online Store as we have a BUSY schedule ahead of us and gotta pay for all the pending chaos somehow!

Thank you,

-Team Robo
* Robotic Empire - Online Store

FLOOR TOUR DATES:
* Wednesday, March 27 @ Tremont Music Hall - Charlotte, North Carolina
* Thursday, March 28 @ Rock And Roll Hotel - Washington, District of Columbia

DATES w/ THRONES:
* Friday, March 29 @ Saint Vitus Bar - Brooklyn, New York
* Saturday, March 30 @ As220 - Providence, Rhode Island
* Sunday, March 31 @ Great Scott - Allston, Massachusetts
* Monday, April 1 @ The Barbary - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
* Wednesday, April 3 @ Taft Theatre - Cincinnati, Ohio
* Thursday, April 4 @ Ace of Cups - Columbus, Ohio
* Friday, April 5 @ Grog Shop - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
* Saturday, April 6 @ The Pyramid Scheme - Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Sunday, April 7 @ Magic Stick - Detroit, Michigan
* Monday, April 8 @ Subterranean - Chicago, Illinois
* Wednesday, April 10 @ Bottletree Cafe - Birmingham, Alabama
* Friday, April 12 @ Churchill's Pub - Miami, Florida
* Saturday, April 13 @ Crowbar - Ybor City, Florida
* Sunday, April 14 @ The Atlantic - Gainesville, Florida

TORCHE TOUR DATES:
USA:
* Friday, May 10th @ 529 - Atlanta, Georgia
* Saturday, May 11th @ Bottletree Café - Birmingham, Alabama
* Sunday, May 12th @ Fitzgerald's Downstairs – Houston, Texas
* Monday, May 13th @ Red 7 – Austin, Texas
* Tuesday, May 14th @ Club Dada - Dallas, Texas
* Saturday, May 18th @ Troubadour - West Hollywood, California
* Monday, May 20th @ SF Eagle - San Francisco, California
* Tuesday, May 21st @ Oakland Metro Operahouse - Oakland, California
* Wednesday, May 22nd @ Ace of Spades - Sacramento, California
* Thursday, May 23rd @ The Observatory - Santa Ana, California
* Friday, May 24th @ House of Blues - San Diego, California
* Sunday, May 26th @ The Gorge Amphitheatre – George, Washington
* Tuesday, May 28th @ Burt’s Tiki Lounge – Salt Lake City, Utah
* Wednesday, May 29th @ Bluebird Theater - Denver, California
* Thursday, May 30th @ Czar Bar – Kansas City, Missouri
* Friday, May 31st @ Do Division – Chicago, Illinois
* Friday, May 31st @ Empty Bottle – Chicago, Illinois
* Saturday, June 1st @ The Cactus Club – Milwaukee, Wisconsin
* Sunday, June 2nd @ Firebird – St. Louis, Missouri
* Monday, June 3rd @ The Ballrom – Ciincinnati, Ohio
* Tuesday, June 4th @ Ace of Cups – Columbus, Ohio
* Wednesday, June 5th @ The Grog Shop – Cleveland Heights, Ohio
* Thursday, June 6th @ Majestic Theatre – Detroit, Michigan
* Friday, June 7th @ The Pyramid Scheme – Grand Rapids, Michigan
* Saturday, June 8th @ Lee’s Palace – Toronto, Ontario Canada
* Sunday, June 9th @ Lost Horizon – Syracuse, New York
* Monday, June 10th @ The Sinclair – Cambridge, Massachusetts
* Thursday, June 13th @ The Note – West Chester, Pennsylvania
* Thursday, June 20th @ Dickens – Calgary, Alberta Canada

EUROLAND:
* Friday, July 5th @ Hove Festival - Arendal - Norway
* Saturday, July 6th @ Kuudes Asti Festival - Helsinki - Finland
* Tuesday, July 9th @ Café Central - Weinheim - Germany
* Thursday, July 11th @ Azkena - Bilbao - Spain
* Friday, July 12th @ El Sol - Madrid - Spain
* Saturday, July 13th @ Salamandra 1 - Barcelona - Spain
* Sunday, July 14th @ Creature Fest - Lodi - Italy
* Monday, July 15th @ Freak Out Club - Bologna - Italy
* Tuesday, July 16th @ Arena 3 (Raum Bar) - Vienna - Austria
* Wednesday, July 17th @ Exhaus - Trier - Germany
* Thursday, July 18th @ O13 - Tilburg - Netherlands
* Friday, July 19th @ Dour Festival - Dour - Belgium
* Saturday, July 20th @ Underground - Koln - Germany
* Sunday, July 21st @ Bastard Club - Osnabruck - Germany
* Tuesday, July 23rd @ Metal Days - Tolmin - Slovenia
* Thursday, July 25th @ 1210 - Stuttgart - Germany
* Friday, July 26th @ Zeche Carl - Essen - Germany
* Saturday, July 27th @ Omas Teich Festival - Grossefehn - Germany
* Sunday, July 28th @ Greenville Festival - Paaren im Glien - Germany
* Saturday, August 17th @ The Garage - London - United Kingdom
* Sunday, August 18th @ Brudenell Social Club - Leeds - United Kingdom
* Monday, August 19th @ Broadcast - Glasgow - United Kingdom
* Wednesday, August 21st @ Grand Social - Dublin - Ireland
* Thursday, August 22nd @ Auntie Annies - Belfast - United Kingdom

p.s. Truly the last thing now, we've pseudo re-launched the "Robotic Obscurities" rarities thing, but much less longwinded now. Just the tracks, ma'am:

https://soundcloud.com/robotic-obscurities