Robotic Empire launches BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY Kickstarter to release "For Smokers Only" weed-tribute album! +BIGass update (FALSE/BARGHEST split LP, tons of new distro stuff, etc)

It is with great amazement that we announce a recently-launched Kickstarter campaign in hopes of releasing a genuine BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY weed-tribute album on both CD and LP. This is obviously a unique release to come into our path, and we feel fully obligated to try making this a reality!


There have been none before or after that accurately compare to the exclusive quality and talent that is BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY, and to unleash this heady collection is a privilege we won't soon forget. Renown globally with over 30 million(!) albums sold worldwide, BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY are true groundbreakers with their unique combination of heartfelt melody and street realism. A variety of vocal speeds and skills are mixed with infectious beats, resulting in unparalleled rap in both substance and style.

(CD artwork, subject to change)
Comprised of a magnificent crop of tracks from across BONE THUGS and members impressive catalogs of recordings, "For Smokers Only" is an incredible 12-track homage to their favorite medicinal herb. This "For Smokers Only" collection has never been available before on CD or LP, previously released earlier this year solely as a digital-download, and some of the material featured here will be made available in the physical format for the very first time! The songs found here are a dozen high quality nuggets representing BONE THUGS' fondness for imbibing in an age-old ritual that many of us also know and love. The full track list is as follows:



We're doing this Kickstarter campaign with the goal of raising enough funds to start manufacturing CDs plus both the standard edition vinyl-LP and deluxe DIE HARD edition LP of "For Smokers Only", plus hopefully cover some licensing and legal fees, and basically just work with one of the most amazing hip hop bands on the planet!

This is a special opportunity to own BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY material on vinyl, as most of their albums that've been pressed on wax are now long out of print. In combination with the vinyl, a high-quality DIGITAL DOWNLOAD of "For Smokers Only" will be included with every LP ordered.

HERE IS WHAT WE PLAN ON MAKING:

* The CD will be packaged in a jewel case with full-color artwork.

* The standard vinyl LP will come on your choice of black or green vinyl packaged in a color jacket, and includes a high quality digital-download of the full album.

* The deluxe DIE HARD edition will come on limited "PURPLE HAZE" (purple-N-green) color vinyl housed in an oversized ziplock baggie, an exclusive "bud tribute" slipmat, a hand-numbered 11" x 17" screenprinted blacklight poster, stickers, 1.5" button, full album digital-download AND bonus additional download of the "Everyday Thugs" album!

* A special limited vinyl TEST PRESS edition, plus the truly massive "VIP MEGABONE" option...

Important Note: THIS RELEASE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE IN NORTH AMERICA OUTSIDE OF THE LIMITED AMOUNT OF COPIES IMPORTED VIA THIS KICKSTARTER CAMPAIGN!!

Because this release is being manufactured and distributed in Europe, pledge prices have been calculated to include the "import shipping" costs for USA orderers. People in other countries can order as well, please just see the "International Shipping" price section of the FAQ found within the Kickstarter campaign, as shipping for this release is a little different (and cheaper) than how we normally do things.

We've come up with a variety of different pledge options including super simple postage-paid CDs and LPs, wholesale options, the deluxe DIE HARD edition, a limited TEST PRESS option, plus an elaborate and crazy "VIP MEGABONE" $420 pledge option! Please see the Kickstarter campaign page for all of the details on everything we're offering here.

This is running for one month and we're basically aiming to treat it as an "elaborate pre-order". Although this is the most we've asked for to date, after two previous successful Kickstarter campaigns under our belt we're hoping this one will be a success as well.

That being said, the other campaigns definitely wouldn't have gone as well without kind people helping us spread the word. Seriously, a post on Facebook/Tumblr/Twitter/your blog/whatever actually helps a surprising amount, and we're totally down to hook up some bonus swag schwag at the end of this crazy thing if you wanna help us spread the word a bit. Just let us know at the end of the campaign if you posted something and we're happy to juice it up.

Here's the link, please share it!

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/roboticempire/bone-thugs-n-harmony-for-smokers-only-cd-and-lp-re

Here's a short one: http://kck.st/U9LsYQ

An audio medley with a handful of clips from the album can be heard here:


YEA-UH! That pretty much sums it up! This is easily one of the most exciting and wildest things Robotic Empire has attempted in our nearly 14-year history. We've talked about truly breaking out of our "comfort zone" genres for years, and what better way to do it than with a freakin BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY release?! Nobody (even us) was expecting this, so PLEASE help us make this thing a hit by spreading the word if ya can.

BONE BONE BONE BONE BONE BONE....

So obviously that is the biggest news for us in a while, but far from all we've been up to lately. Besides working on prepping the BONE THUGS project for kind of a while, we've been busy stocking lots of AWESOME new tunes for the Robotic Empire - Online Store.


Top on the list this time is the stunning FALSE / BARGHEST split LP, which our partner label Mirror Universe was kind of the catalyst for. A co-release with longtime brethren Gilead Media, this is one of the most blistering and relentless albums we've been involved with to date. Seriously incredible sophomore material from each band following two fantastic debut albums on Gilead last year, we are extremely stoked to have this in house and ready to rock. Dr. Broadcloak himself's timely OCD has proven itself glorious once again with an incredible package with fantastic artwork, a large poster insert and appropriately heavyweight vinyl. Fans of the heavy: DO NOT sleep on this one!

* Available now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

This release is also available to stream in full, with FALSE showcasing their material through the mighty Decibel Magazine, and BARGHEST via bandcamp.

* BARGHEST side
* FALSE side

FALSE is currently on the road as well: GO SEE THEM if they're coming near you!

9/13 - Chicago, IL - LUMC - 2242 S. Damen Ave
9/14 - Urbana, IL - The Snake Pit
9/15 - Columbia, MO - Hairhole
9/16 - Kansas City, KS - Detto Haus
9/17 - Omaha, NE - The West Wing
9/18 - Denver, CO - Aqualung's
9/19 - Santa Fe, NM - Warehouse 21 - 1614 Paseo De Peralta
9/20 - Las Cruces, NM - The Trainyard - 102 Conway
9/21 - Phoenix, AZ - Revolver Records - 918 N 2nd St.
9/22 - San Diego, CA - The Yard
9/23 - Long Beach, CA - Blue Cafe Underground - 217 Pine Ave
9/24 - Los Angeles, CA - Vacation Vinyl (Early show 7pm) - 3815 West Sunset Boulevard
9/24 - Los Angeles, CA - 5 Star Bar (Later show) - 267 S Main St
9/25 - Bakersfield, CA - Mint Bar - 1207 19th Street
9/26 - San Francisco, CA - Elbo Room - 647 Valencia Street
9/28 - Santa Rosa, CA - TBA
9/29 - Sacramento, CA - Oak Park Boiz House
9/30 - Chico, CA - Origami Lounge
10/1 - Salem, OR - Burial Grounds
10/2 - Portland, OR - Beech House
10/2 - Portland, OR - Backspace - 115 NW 5th Ave
10/3 - Olympia, WA - Le Voyeur - 404 4th Avenue East
10/4 - Seattle, WA - Fusion Cafe - 909 Fourth Ave
10/5 - Missoula, MT - Zoo City - 139 East Main Street
10/6 - Bismarck, ND - Creature Cave
10/7 - Minot, ND - Pangea House
10/8 - Fargo, ND - New Direction - 14 Roberts St

Beyond that we've stocked STACKS of new records that've been piling up here for a while now... about 40 new items and nearly 30 restocks as well! Basically too much to really highlight it all but we'd like to at least note new jawns from ALTAR OF PLAGUES, ANCIENT SKY, BACCHUS, THE BODY, BRAINOIL, CLOUD RAT, DARK CASTLE, EYEHATEGOD, GHOSTLIMB, GHOUL, GAYS & QUEERS, GRAF ORLOCK, IRON REAGAN, MUNICIPAL WASTE(!), THE OBSESSED, PLANKS, VADAR, VOLTURE and YEAR OF NO LIGHT. Damn!

On the restock tip we're pimpin wares from ANNIHILATION TIME, AUSSITOT MORT, CANNABIS CORPSE, DOLCIM, EARTHLESS, GIANTS, KYUSS (yeaaahhh), LA QUIETE, NEUROSIS, PHOBIA, PIZZA, RAEIN, ROSETTA, TITAN and FINALLY the restock of TORCHE's latest album "Harmonicraft" which we absolutely blew out the first time around.

Here're're the full lists for datass:

NEW ITEMS:
* Adrift - Black Heart Bleeds Black 2x12" (Alone) $21.99
* Altar Of Plagues - White Tomb 12" - GREEN COLORED VINYL (Hammerheart) $14.99
* Ancient Sky - TRIPS 12" - ICED CHERRY COLORED VINYL (Sons of Vesta) $14.99
* Bacchus - Self Titled 12" - WHITE COLORED VINYL (Cavity) $9.99
* BLCKWVS - 0140 12" - YELLOW COLORED VINYL (This Charming Man) $11.99
* Body, The / Braveyoung - Nothing Passes 12" (At A Loss) $14.99
* Brainoil - Death of this Dry Season Cassette (Tank Crimes) $4.99
* Cloud Rat - Self-Titled 12" (IFB) $9.99
* Cloud Rat / Republic of Dreams - Split 12" (IFB) $9.99
* Cloud Rat / Xtra Vomit - Split 12" - BROWN COLORED VINYL (IFB) $9.99
* Dark Castle - Spirited Migration - BLACK VINYL 12" (At A Loss) $14.99
* Disquieted By - Lords Of Tagada 12" (Sons of Vesta) $10.99
* Dramamine - Green Horse 12" (This Charming Man) $11.99
* Eyehategod - Preaching The Endtyme Message 12" - BLUE COLORED VINYL (Alone) $19.99
* False / Barghest - Split 12" (Mirror Universe) $14.99
* Fires & Floods - The Voice at Your Heels 12" (Bitter Melody) $9.99
* Ghostlimb - Confluence 12" - WHITE COLORED VINYL (Vitriol) $11.99
* Ghoul - Transmission Zero 12" (Tank Crimes) $9.99
* Gods & Queens - Untitled #3 7" - BLACK VINYL (Sons of Vesta) $5.99
* Graf Orlock - Los Angeles 7" (Vitriol) $5.99
* Iron Reagan - Demo 2012 Cassette (Tank Crimes) $4.99
* Kadavar - Self-Titled 12" (This Charming Man) $11.99
* Kicking Spit - Reality Dropout Cassette (Tank Crimes) $4.99
* Municipal Waste / Toxic Holocaust - Toxic Waste 12" - PP SPILL COLORED VINYL (Tank Crimes) $10.99
* Municipal Waste / Toxic Holocaust - Toxic Waste 12" - XTRA WILD PARTY BLUE COLORED VINYL (Tank Crimes) $10.99
* Noem - Panzer 12" (This Charming Man) $11.99
* Now Denial - Facemelter 12" - RED COLORED VINYL (Gatehouse Anchor) $9.99
* Obsessed, The - Live In Koln 12" (Roadburn) $23.99
* Obsessor - Sick Salvation Cassette (Tank Crimes) $4.99
* Orthodox - Baal 12" - CLEAR COLORED VINYL (Alone) $14.99
* Planks / Lentic Waters - Split 12" (IFB) $9.99
* Riviera - Self-Titled 7" (Sons of Vesta) $4.99
* Sardonis - II 12" (Hammerheart) $14.99
* Suma - Ashes 2x12" (Throne) $24.99
* Totimoshi - Avenger 12" - RED COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $14.99
* Trainwreck - If There Is Light It Will Find You 12" (Vitriol) $11.99
* Union Of Sleep / Black Sleep Of Klai - Split 12" (This Charming Man) $11.99
* Vadar - Reborn In Chaos 12" - RED COLORED VINYL (Hammerheart) $14.99
* Volture - Rulebreaker 7" - YELLOW COLORED VINYL (Tank Crimes) $4.99
* White Hills - Live At Roaburn 12" (Roadburn) $18.99
* Year Of No Light - Nord 2x12" - WHITE COLORED VINYL (Music Fear Satan) $19.99

RESTOCKS
* Annihilation Time - III: Tales of the Ancient Age 12" (Tee Pee) $9.99
* ANS - Pressure Cracks 12" (Tank Crimes) $9.99
* Atomic Bitchwax - Tab 4 12" - CLEAR ORANGE COLORED VINYL (Tee Pee) $9.99
* Aussitot Mort - Discographie 2x12" (IFB) $19.99
* Cannabis Corpse - The Weeding CD (Tank Crimes) $7.99
* Cloud Rat / Autarkeia - Split 7" (IFB) $4.99
* Dark Castle - Spirited Migration 12" - 180 gram GREEN COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $14.99
* Dolcim - We Carry The Fire 12" (React With Protest) $10.99
* Drainland / Cellgraft - Split 7" (IFB) $5.99
* Earthless - Live at Roadburn 2x12" (Tee Pee) $14.99
* Giants - Old Stories 12" - SPLATTER COLORED VINYL (Cavity) $9.99
* Gods & Queens - Untitled #3 7" - DIRTY WHITE COLORED VINYL (Sons of Vesta) $5.99
* Gods & Queens - Untitled #3 7" - ROTTEN WINE COLORED VINYL (Sons of Vesta) $5.99
* Graf Orlock - Doombox 10"+CD - RED COLORED VINYL (Vitriol) $16.99
* Kyuss - Blues For The Sun 12" (Dali) $24.99
* Kyuss - Circus Leaves Town 12" (Elektra) $24.99
* Kyuss - Welcome To Sky Valley 12" (Elektra) $24.99
* La Quiete - 2006-200 CD (Sons of Vesta) $10.99
* Nebula - Heavy Psych 12" (Tee Pee) $9.99
* Neurosis - Live At Roadburn 2x12" (Roadburn) $29.99
* Phobia - Remnants Of Filth 12" (Deep Six) $10.99
* Pizza - Self-Titled 7"+CD-R (Sons Of Vesta) $5.99
* Raein - Ah, As If.. CD (Sons of Vesta) $9.99
* Raein - Ogni Nuovo Inizio CD (Sons Of Vesta) $9.99
* Rosetta / Restorations - Split 12" (Cavity) $9.99
* Sunflare - Young Love 12" (Cubic Pyramid) $18.99
* Titan - A Raining Sun of Light and Love, For You and You and You 12" (Tee Pee) $9.99
* Torche - Harmonicraft 12" - CLEAR COLORED VINYL (Volcom) $17.99

All of that and literally thousands of more items are available now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store.

That pretty much sums up one of the biggest updates we've ever had. Thanks to anyone who managed to read this manuscript, you are a trooper and a true dawg! Please check out the Kickstarter if you get a chance.... PEACE!

* BONE THUGS-N-HARMONY KICKSTARTER

* Robotic Empire - Online Store

"FLOORTWENTY" almost over, TORCHE tour dates and TILTS + Fox News (?!)

Sup! We're entering the last few days of the "FLOORTWENTY" coupon code's availability as well as the 15% off the TORCHE albums we released. Holla at the Robotic Empire - Online Store if you've been slacking on this, as it all ends in just a couple days and is a great cheap way to get some mega essential heavy tunes!

Related, some footage has surfaced of FLOOR's performance at All Tomorrow's Parties in London this past week, definitely check it out here.

Unable to keep Steve Brooks (and crew) out of the UK, TORCHE will be hitting Jolly Ol' England and the mainland Eurozone for a phat stack of tour dates this Sept:

09/13 MANCHESTER Moho Live
09/14 NOTTINGHAM Rock City Basement
09/15 GLASGOW Captain’s Rest
09/16 LONDON XOYO
09/17 BRIGHTON Haunt
09/18 SOUTHAMPTON Cellar
09/19 EINDHOVEN Effenaar (Netherlands)
09/20 PARIS Divan Du Monde (France)
09/21 BRUSSELS Magasin 4 (Belgium)
09/22 OSNABRUCK Bastard Club (Germany)
09/23 HAMBURG Hafenklang (Germany)
09/24 WIESBADEN Schlachthof Wiesbaden (Germany)
09/25 STUTTGART 1210 (Germany)
09/26 MUNICH 59 to 1 (Germany)
09/27 ZURICH Abart (Switzerland)
09/28 BERLIN Bi Nuu (Germany)
09/29 COLOGNE Luxor (Germany)
09/30 DORTMUND FZW (Germany)

And in some weird "members of" news, TORCHE co-guitarist Andrew Elstner's other gnarly band TILTS got some randomajor love from Fox News "Redeye" host Greg Gutfeld on twitter these days. WTF?

* FLOOR in the Robotic Empire - Online Store
* TORCHE in the Robotic Empire - Online Store
* TILTS in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

ISIS and PG.99 represses & shirts, new NADJA shirt + FLOOR discography discount, a bat PEEING in TILTS/TORCHE guitarist's EYE +lotsa new distro items!

This diverse update first sees us with two influential bands' catalog items back in print, with vinyl from ISIS and PG.99 getting the re-press treatment. Although the sonic differences are significant, each group created a lasting legacy that still holds long after their disbanding.


ISIS' landmark albums Oceanic and Panopticon are both back in action on the 2xLP format, each with "reverse board" printing throughout (Oceanic getting the massive "tip-on" style jackets, and Panopticon printed via reverse-board for the very first time). The band requested simple black-vinyl for the entire pressing and after a smattering of variations over the years, this keeps things nice and simple.

* ISIS items in the Robotic Empire - Online Store (including vinyl and t-shirts)
* ISIS on Facebook


PAGENINETYNINE reunited last year for a couple of well received and emotionally cathartic live performances. To celebrate, we issued their long out-of-print collections CD, Singles, on the overdue vinyl format. The entire pressing sold out, so a shorter run of 250 more on black vinyl have just been pressed to fill the remaining silkscreened jackets we had kicking around. In classic makeshift fashion, some copies come with the proper "printed innersleeve" that houses the vinyl, and some copies come with a xerox insert of the same artwork instead. Keeping it DIY to keep it in print!

Related, we also recently re-printed two classic PG.99 t-shirt designs. Most sizes are still available, although before even announcing their availability they started heading right back out our doors.

* PAGENINETYNINE items in the Robotic Empire - Online Store (including vinyl, t-shirts and a screen print)
* PAGENINETYNINE on Facebook


Again sonically different but equally recommended, in celebration of TORCHE's magnanimous new album Harmonicraft coming out later this month, we've decided to discount the closely-related FLOOR discography 8xCD set, Below & Beyond. Everything this seminal sludge-turned-pop outfit ever recorded is contained within this massive collection, and with the deluxe vinyl edition now sold out, this 8xCD release is the only (physical) way to own the monstrous amount of material these geniuii churned out.

The price is tightnice too, as if you enter the "FLOORTWENTY" coupon code at checkout, the price drop to, ahem, $20. Pretty galldarn good for 8 stacked CDs, a bigass 12"x12" 32(!)-page booklet and a custom gatefold jacket holding it all together. BONUS SCHWAG: coupon-code enterers also get a free FLOOR 8xButton set as well, depicting all the album covers from the discography. If you've slacked on this crucial mega-release thus far, hit that up with the quickness as the discount+hookup only goes through the end of this month.

* FLOOR items in the Robotic Empire - Online Store (including the discography, buttons, lots of t-shirts and a 2xDVD)
* FLOOR on Facebook

FLOOR also has three live gigs on deck in the coming months as well. If you're on the US East Coast, or in England... don't miss em!

* 4/14 - Savannah, GA @ Statts Benefit Block Party - w/ US CHRISTMAS, WITHERED, lots more - more info: http://www.friendsofstatts.com
* 5/26 - London, UK @ All Tomorrow's Parties - w/ MOGWAI, CODEINE, HARVEY MILK, lots more - more info: http://www.atpfestival.com
* 7/6-7/8 - Miami, FL @ 305 Fest - w/ TORCHE, HOUSE OF LIGHTNING, BASTARD NOISE, lots more - more info: http://305-fest.blogspot.com


We also have a fantastic and enveloping new t-shirt design from our favorite prolific doom-couple, NADJA! The Berlin-via-Canada duo have teamed up with Berlin-via-Sweden tattoo artist HLG for this brilliant new shirt. Simple but stark, black ink printed on grey supersoft "Next Level" brand t-shirts. Need a new favorite shirt? Seek ye no further! This really is nice...

* NADJA (and related) items in the Robotic Empire - Online Store (including shirts, CDs, vinyl, a book and more)
* NADJA on Facebook

Besides that rad new shirt and what we consider essential Robo catalog items re-pressed or discounted, we've also had a healthy amount of bombastic new items and re-stocks enter our world for this update.

On the new item tip, we're talking turkey bout killer vinyl from AMENRA, CLOUD MOUTH, DAITRO, DARK CASTLE, KEN MODE, KIDCRASH, MT. ASLEEP, SED NON SAETIA, TUBERS and more.

For restocks, lets rap about an ALGERNON CADWALLADER re-up for all you jangly mofos, BLACK COBRA vinyl and THE BODY 2xLPs are At A Loss essentials that are going quick, CAPSULE's latest ripper on the ltd waxy, COLISEUM, GIVE UP JAH GHOST, PUNCH, TOUCHE AMORE and TRAP THEM bludgeoners from Deathwish, DES ARK and PYGMYLUSH prettys LPs from Lovitt, MELT BANANA and smokeloads more from the prolific Init, the cool/oldschool-esque DON'T BE SWINDLE zine, plus a handful of other freaky gems weaved throughout just the restocks for this round. Here're the full lists:

NEW ITEMS:
* Algernon Cadwallader - Parrot Flies 12" (Hot Green) $9.99
* Amenra / Hive Destruction - Split 10" (Init) $13.99
* Battlefields - Agassiz CD (Init) $7.99
* Cloud Mouth - Keep Well 10" (Ice Age) $9.99
* Cloud Mouth - That Ghost is Always With Me 12" (Ice Age) $9.99
* Daitro - Laisser Vivre Les Squelettes 12" (Echo Canyon) $14.99
* Dark Castle - Spirited Migration - 180 GRAM - GREEN COLORED VINYL 12" (At a Loss) $14.99
* Grin and Bear It - Self-Titled 7" (Allergic To Fun) $4.99
* Hive Destruction - Secretvm/Veritas CD (Init) $7.99
* Ken Mode - Venerable 12" (Init) $14.99
* Kidcrash - Naps 12" (Init) $12.99
* Monarch - Omens CD (At A Loss) $10.99
* Mountain Asleep - Smile Medicine 7" (Kid Sister Everything) $4.99
* Nadja - Bone Blight - Size: EXTRA LARGE T-Shirt (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Nadja - Bone Blight - Size: LARGE T-Shirt (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Nadja - Bone Blight - Size: MEDIUM T-Shirt (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Nadja - Bone Blight - Size: SMALL T-Shirt (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Old Growth - Out Of The Sand - COLORED VINYL 12" (Echo Canyon) $14.99
* Same Sex Dictator - From Beneath You it Devours Cassette (Long Way) $4.99
* Sed Non Satiata - Self-Titled - COLORED VINYL 12" (Echo Canyon) $14.99
* Sleeping In Gethsemane / Loom - Split 7" (Init) $4.99
* Tubers - Anachronous - TEAL COLORED VINYL 12" (Echo Canyon) $14.99

RESTOCKS:
* Abandoned Hearts Club, The - The Initial Confessions Of 7" - CLEAR COLORED VINYL (Init) $4.99
* Algernon Cadwallader - Some Kind Of Cadwallader 12" (Security Blanket) $9.99
* Assailant, The - Nurse - PICTURE DISC 7" (Init) $5.99
* Battlefields - Entourage Of The Archaic 12" - GREEN COLORED VINYL (Init) $10.99
* Black Cobra - Feather And Stone 12" - RED COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $14.99
* Body, The - All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood 2x12" - GREY & DARK GREY COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $19.99
* Body, The - All The Waters Of The Earth Turn To Blood 2x12" - WHITE COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $19.99
* Buried Inside - Chronoclast 12" - 180g VINYL (Init) $19.99
* Capsule - No Ghost 12" - GREY COLORED VINYL (Rorschach) $12.99
* Coliseum - True Quiet / Last Wave 7" (Deathwish) $4.99
* Des Ark - Don't Rock The Boat, Sink The F'er 12" - ORANGE COLORED VINYL (Lovitt) $14.99
* Don't Be Swindle - Issue #1 Zine (Don't Be Swindle) $3.50
* Give Up The Ghost - We're Down Til We're Underground 12" - TRANSPARENT ORANGE COLORED VINYL (Deathwish) $11.99
* Isis - Oceanic 2x12" (Robotic Empire) $19.99
* Isis - Panopticon 2x12" (Robotic Empire) $19.99
* Melt Banana - Initial 3" Mini CD (Init) $5.99
* Melt Banana - Initial 7" (Init) $5.99
* Pageninetynine - Girl w/ Heart T-Shirt - Size: DOUBLE EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $15.99
* Pageninetynine - Girl w/ Heart T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Girl w/ Heart T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Girl w/ Heart T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Girl w/ Heart T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Girl w/ Heart T-Shirt - Size: YOUTH LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Owl T-Shirt - Size: DOUBLE EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $15.99
* Pageninetynine - Owl T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Owl T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Owl T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Owl T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Owl T-Shirt - Size: YOUTH LARGE (Robotic Empire) $14.99
* Pageninetynine - Singles 12" (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Pulling Teeth - Paranoid Delusions | Paradise Illusions 12" (Deathwish) $11.99
* Punch - Nothing Lasts 7" - BLUE COLORED VINYL (Deathwish) $4.99
* Pygmy Lush - Mount Hope 12" (Lovitt) $14.99
* Same Sex Dictator - From Beneath You it Devours 12" (Long Way) $9.99
* Spirit Of Versailles, The - Discography 2xCD (Init) $9.99
* Sunflare - Self-Titled Cassette (Cubic Pyramid) $6.99
* Sunflare - Young Love 12" (Cubic Pyramid) $18.99
* Touche Amore - Parting The Sea Between Brightness and Me 12" (Deathwish) $10.99
* Trap Them - Seizures In Barren Praise 12" (Deathwish) $11.99

ALLLL that gravy and more is available NOW in the Robotic Empire - Online Store


AND last but most likely not least, some crazy mainstream news activity has been surrounding TILTS guitarist/vocalist (and TORCHE guitarist) Andrew Elstner's recent run in with a rogue bat. A viral press bonanza has stemmed from a freak accident where a bat PISSED IN ANDREW'S EYE and things snowballed from there. There was a rabies scare, freaked out friends/family and subsequent emergency treatment... all detailed on MSNBC, MTV, BUZZFEED, PITCHFORK and more. This is too absurd not to share (you can't make this kinda stuff up!)... so have at it if you've been under a rock:

* MSNBC Coverage
* MTV Coverage
* Buzzfeed Coverage
* Pitchfork Coverage
* Lambgoat Coverage


Also significant: TILTS' infectious vinyl debut dropped about a month back and has sold swiftly (we've got roughly 50 copies left in house). You can get this unlucky man's gloriously catchy music direct from us:

* TILTS' debut album in the Robotic Empire - Online Store
* TILTS on Facebook

* TORCHE items in the Robotic Empire - Online Store (including vinyl, CDs, t-shirts and hoodies)
* TORCHE on Facebook

Appropriately (since they have a bangin new album on deck and all), TORCHE is touring their faces off henceforth, so go see these professional barnburners in ze flesh:

* 4/05 - Tampa, FL @ Crowbar
* 4/06 - Gainesville, FL @ The Atlantic
* 4/07 - Miami, FL @ Churchill's
* 5/10 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506
* 5/11 - Atlanta, GA @ 529
* 5/12 - Orlando, FL @ Will's Pub
* 6/01 - Charlotte, NC @ Amos' Southend #
* 6/02 - Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade #
* 6/03 - Nashville, TN @ Exit @ In #
* 6/05 - Oklahoma City, OK @ The Conservatory #
* 6/07 - Tempe, AZ @ Club 910 #
* 6/08 - Long Beach, CA @ Ink N Iron Festival
* 6/09 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim's #
* 6/11 - Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven #
* 6/12 - Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre #
* 6/13 - Vancouver, British Columbia @ Rickshaw Theatre #
* 6/15 - Salt Lake City, UT @ Urban Lounge #
* 6/16 - Denver, CO @ The Summit Music Hall #
* 6/18 - St. Louis, MO @ Firebird #
* 6/19 - Cincinnati, OH @ Taft Theatre #
* 6/20 - Flint, MI @ The Machine Shop #
* 6/21 - Toronto, Ontario @ The Opera House #
* 6/22 - Montreal, Quebec @ Les Foufounes Electriques #
* 6/23 - Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs #
* 6/24 - Atlantic City, NJ @ Orion Music and Arts Festival
* 7/06 - Miami, FL @ 305 Fest

# = w/ CORROSION OF CONFORMITY, BLACK COBRA and GAZA

TILTS kickstarter - home stretch (last few days!)

We're officially in the home stretch now with just 4 days left to go on the TILTS Kickstarter campaign!

I've got to be honest, my OCD is gonna have a slight conniption if we don't reach that smooth 3k mark (we're roughly a hundred bucks away)! Its partly an even-number thing, and its partly a "costs covered" kind of thing, as we'll be able to pay for the vinyl pressing up front in full if we hit that 3k mark. T-shirts, hoodies and all the other cool non-music extras will be stuff we'll still be forking out for, but the whole point of this wild project was to see if we could get this LP pressed in full through Kickstarter funding.

If you're willing to help spread the word, even just a quick Facebook or Twitter post, maybe on another forum you post on or your blog... please know, it'd actually be genuinely appreciated. This Kickstarter campaign really would not have worked out without kind folks (and the press) spreading the word, saying kind things on their blog and elsewhere... it means so much to us at the label and the band as well. We're all VERY excited to get the finished LPs, which are in the initial stages of production already :)

THANK YOU to everyone and anyone who's helped contribute to this project in any way, be it pledging for the album, talking trash on a message board, just listening to and enjoying the tunes... or any other way you may have interacted with this crazy thing.

Thanks again, peace!

-Team Robo



http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/roboticempire/tilts-debut-album-release-on-vinyl-digital-and-way

Kickstarter alert: TILTS debut album (current TORCHE / ex-RIDDLE OF STEEL)

The times they are a'changing: Robotic Empire is trying out Kickstarter!

It's not without good reason: we 1.) want to release the badass debut album by TILTS, but 2.) can't afford it at the present time. Instead of racking up more debt at an already financially-skinny time, we're testing the waters with ye olde Kickstarter.



TILTS is comprised of our old comrade Andrew Elstner (formerly of RIDDLE OF STEEL and now also currently of TORCHE) on guitar and vocals, plus three of his close friends also from St. Louis, Missouri: Shawn Hart on bass, Ken McCray on drums and Andy White on guitar.

These dudes self-recorded 12 tracks over three sessions at their home studio, then ponied up to have Richmond engineer Ian Whalen (RAH BRAHS, TOMBS, LAMB OF GOD, etc) re-mix the whole shebang.

She's a killer album that way more people need to hear, so we're attempting to both raise awareness of the band as well as drum up the two grand needed to have it all properly mastered and pressed on vinyl + digital download.

Hopefully that's where you come in, as we've set up six different "pledge" options for this thing ranging from $5 to $666. Pretty much every one involves getting the album, and we've trying to keep it interesting as this is basically set up as an elaborate "pre-order". Long story short, we've tried to use the better parts of Kickstarter's setup to make this exciting for anyone who decides to check it out.

So yeah, please check it out:

* TILTS - debut album at Kickstarter

We've got it set up to run for two months since the holidays could throw things off a bit, but ideally we can raise 2grand for this thing and get this badass album released pronto. If this works out, we've got some other cool ideas for future projects to run through Kickstarter.

This TILTS album is catchy as hell but generally unheard, so we're excited to spread the word about one of our in-house favorite bands. We've seriously jammed this thing in repeat for the better part of a year and are glad to finally get this crazytrain in motion!

For a lot more information and to preview additional tracks in full (the video above is just a medley) please check out the Kickstarter page.

Also, thanks for reading/humoring this... bring it!!

* TILTS - debut album at Kickstarter

* TILTS on Facebook

p.s. if you like this on any level, please spread the word! We need as many people as possible to check out TILTS!!

Big update! New items from TORCHE, BLACK TUSK and even more extreme sales!!

TORCHE is one of the few bands that we've been alongside for the entire ride, from inception up to present activity. We love this band, they are seriously awesome dudes who write seriously catchy, heavy music. It always feels good to post updates in regards to TORCHE and today we're happy to announce their two full-length albums have been newly re-pressed on vinyl.

Meanderthal is the album that took TORCHE from the underground to the semi-aboveground. It was on many best-of lists in 2008 (including the #1 spot in the fantastic Decibel Magazine). As it turned out, this ended up being their final album with 2nd guitarist Juan Montoya* and the end of the first era of the band. We ultimately outdid ourselves (and many others) with the first layout/packaging for this thing, with two die-cut tri-folding LP jackets attached together.... and while we would've loved to keep it in print that way, it just wasn't financially feasible. So in an effort to keep one of our favorite albums in print, a new and somewhat simplified version of Meanderthal has been newly re-pressed.


Now packaged in a standalone gatefold jacket, Montoya and Aaron Turner's original artwork has been mostly kept intact, and overall it still looks pretty damn killer (photo proof). We're glad there was a way to keep this album in print, as it truly is stellar! 2000 more of this have been pressed, with standard black vinyl available along with three "color in color" versions of oranges, silvers and yellows, as well as a red/white/blue tri-blend) . The ones photographed above compliment the layout quite well, and we're happy to announce that this is now available again in the Robotic Empire - Online Store.

+ We also have a small amount of the original/deluxe jacket version, as described above. Last copies available anywhere. +


In addition to Meanderthal finally being available on vinyl again, we're now up to the fifth(!) pressing of the Self-Titled Reissue debut LP. This time around we kept the color vinyl (relatively) simple for a change and went with a Jah-inspired rasta tri-blend! 1000 more copies for this pressing (500 black, 500 rasta jawns), also available now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store.

++ Both Meanderthal and the Self-Titled Reissue LPs are now nicely priced at $11.99 each, about 4 bucks cheaper than before for S/T and $8 cheaper for Meander. ++

All of this recent TORCHE activity is culminating just in time for a massive summer tour (dates below), hot on the heels of guitarist/vocalist Steve Brooks "other" band FLOOR just completing their first proper US tour in eight years! We recently re-pressed the FLOOR Below & Beyond discography 8xCD set for their tour and still have some copies in stock. Seeing as how the band may be (relatively) dormant for a while with TORCHE getting busy again, we've just discounted the 8xCD FLOOR set to $29.99 , which can be found now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store. We also have a slew of classic FLOOR t-shirts available and are now down to the last half dozen (or less) copies of the ultramega 10xLP, 1x7", 8xCD, 32-page-booklet deluxe vinyl edition... Seriously: last chance to dance on that beaut!

As we mentioned above, TORCHE is hitting the road for a substantial US tour, co-headlining alongside BIG BUSINESS (plus HELMS ALEE or THRONES, depending on what part of the country you're in). The "new guy" 2nd guitarist (and longtime Robo-ally) Andrew Elstner** is firmly in the band now and they are officially on fire once again! Wisely witness this commotion IRL:

w/ BIG BUSINESS & HELMS ALEE:
7/07 Houston, TX @ Fitzgerald’s Downstairs
7/08 Baton Rouge, LA @ Spanish Moon
7/09 Birmingham, AL @ Bottletree Cafe
7/11 Tampa, FL @ The Orpheum
7/12 Miami, FL @ Churchill's
7/13 Orlando, FL @ The Social
7/14 Atlanta, GA @ EARL
7/15 Greensboro, NC @ Greene Street Club
7/16 Washington, DC @ Rock and Roll Hotel
7/17 Baltimore, MD @ The Ottobar
7/19 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church
7/20 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall of Williamsburg
7/21 Cambridge, MA @ Middle East Downstairs
7/22 Buffalo, NY @ Mohawk Place
7/23 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop
7/24 Newport, KY @ The Historic Southgate House
7/25 Grand Rapids, MI @ The Pyramid Scheme
7/26 Detriot, MI @ Magic Stick
7/27 Indianapolis, IN @ The Hoosier Dome
7/28 Chicago, IL @ The Bottom Lounge
7/29 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
7/30 Omaha, NE @ The Waiting Room
7/31 Denver, CO @ Bluebird Theater
8/02 Salt Lake City, UT @ Club Vegas
8/03 Boise, ID @ Neurolux
8/04 Seattle, WA @ Neumo’s

w/ BIG BUSINESS & THRONES:
8/05 Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
8/06 San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s
8/07 West Hollywood, CA @ The Troubadour
8/08 San Diego, CA @ The Casbah
8/09 Scottsdale, AZ @ Martini Ranch
8/10 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad
8/12 Dallas, TX @ Club Dada
8/13 San Antonio, TX @ Korova
8/14 Austin, TX @ Red 7

TORCHE-related footnotes:
* Juan Montoya is now playing in MONSTRO, who recently signed to Vagrant (wtf?) and are going on tour with KYUSS and THE SWORD in September/October. Congrats Juan!
** Andrew Elstner was in the criminally underrated RIDDLE OF STEEL and is simultaneously now in the also criminally underrated TILTS. Check them out ASAP.

In addition to all the TORCHE related news, we have also expanded our already outlandish store-wide sales! For the rest of the month, 99% of the 7" EPs we carry are reduced further to only $1.99 apiece. That now matches our store-wide CD sale of just $1.99 per CD, CD-R, 3"miniCD, etc, etc etc. We got a little crazy there, but are only remaining this insane until the end of the month as we've actually cleared a good amount of much-needed space. Still lots of great items available at dirt cheap prices (including newly discounted CANNABIS CORPSE sweatpants), please check out the Robotic Empire - Online Store for all of our ridiculous discounts.


We've also got a meaty update as far as new items & restocks go! One big score this time around is the original BLACK TUSK demo EP, The Fallen Kingdom, finally pressed to wax by our homies at Hyperrealist. Eight songs, badass Baizley artworkin, raw sludgey goodness as only the dirty South knows how to properly do... and oh yeah, some logo-matched yellow vinyl copies too if you're quick! Chop chop.

In addition to that jammer, we've got new stock from ANNIHILATION TIME (the II LP reissue with limited bonus 7"), CAPSULE's righteous new No Ghost album on ltd color vinyl, CHURCH OF MISERY and EYEHATEGOD essentials from Emetic, the unstoppable FELL VOICES LP from Gilead brethren, horribly difficult to obtain Throne imports (FLESHPRESS, LUDICRA, UNEARTHLY TRANCE), lotsa skramz (DANSE MACABRE, DOLCIM, HER BREATH ON GLASS, etc) for all the screamos out there, KICKING SPIT's awesome debut 12", PYGMY LUSH's unbearably good Old Friends album on import wax (with slightly different artwork), and heaps more killer stuff.

For restocks, we've got ARKTIKA, CANNABIS CORPSE, COMADRE, ELECTRIC WIZARD, GIANTS, MEWITHOUTYOU, SALOME, THOU, TITAN and more! Here's the full list:

NEW ITEMS:
* Annihilation Time - II - BLUE COLORED VINYL 12"+7" (Tank Crimes) - $11.99
* ANS / Ramming Speed - Split 12" (Tank Crimes) - $9.99
* Austrasian Goat, The / Hollow Sunshine - Split 12" (Vendetta) - $14.99
* Big Eyes - Self-Titled Cassette (Tank Crimes) - $4.99
* Black Tusk - The Fallen Kingdom - BLACK VINYL 12" (Hyperrealist) - $14.99
* Black Tusk - The Fallen Kingdom - YELLOW COLORED VINYL 12" (Hyperrealist) - $14.99
* Capsule - No Ghost - GREY COLORED VINYL 12" (Rorschach) - $12.99
* Church Of Misery - Volume 1 12"+7" (Emetic) - $19.99
* Danse Macabre - Einerseits Andererseits 10" (React With Protest) - $9.99
* Dead To A Dying World - Self-Titled - GREEN COLORED VINYL 2x12" (Tofu Carnage) - $26.99
* Dolcim - We Carry The Fire 12" (React With Protest) - $10.99
* Electro Quarterstaff - Aykroyd 12" (War On Music) - $11.99
* Eyehategod - Dopesick - BLACK COVER VERSION VINYL 2x12" (Emetic) - $19.99
* Eyehategod - Dopesick - WHITE COVER VERSION VINYL 2x12" (Emetic) - $19.99
* Eyehategod - In The Name Of Suffering 2x12" (Emetic) - $19.99
* Eyehategod - Take As Needed For Pain 2x12" (Emetic) - $19.99
* Fell Voices - Untitled 12" (Gilead Media) - $13.99
* Fleshpress - Rebuild / Crumble 12" (Throne) - $14.99
* Fleshpress - No Return 12" (Throne) - $14.99
* For Want Of - Self-Titled 7" (Resuscitate) - $4.99
* Gehenna - Malice - RED ORANGE COLORED VINYL 3x12" (Dark Symphonies) - $54.99
* Her Breath On Glass - We Aimed Straight Down - RED BLACK COLORED VINYL 12" (IFB) - $9.99
* Kicking Spit - Psychrockbullsh!t - WHITE COLORED VINYL 12" (Tank Crimes) - $9.99
* Ludicra - The Tenant 2x12" (Throne) - $29.99
* Pygmy Lush - Old Friends - BLACK IMPORT VINYL 12" (Adagio830) - $14.99
* Pygmy Lush - Old Friends - RED COLORED IMPORT VINYL 12" (Adagio830) - $14.99
* Resurrectionists / Battle Of Wolf 359 - Split 10" (React With Protest) - $10.99
* Suma / Unearthly Trance - Collaboration 12" (Throne) - $19.99
* Torche - Self-Titled Reissue - RASTA COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $14.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - CUBAN FLAG COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - ORANGE BLOB COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - TAINTED SILVER COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - YOLK COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $11.99
* Velnias - Sovereign Nocturnal 12" (Vendetta) - $9.99

RESTOCKS:
* Arktika - At Zero 2x12" - COLORED VINYL (Narsharda) - $19.99
* Arktika - Heartwrencher 12" - GREEN SPLATTER COLORED VINYL (Narshardaa) - $12.99
* Cannabis Corpse - The Weeding 12" - ORANGEL COLORED VINYL (Tank Crimes) - $9.99
* Comadre - Wolf Ticket 12" (Adagio 830) - $14.99
* Electric Wizard - Dopethrone T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Eat Death) - $11.99
* Electric Wizard - Dopethrone T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Eat Death) - $11.99
* Electric Wizard - Dopethrone T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Eat Death) - $11.99
* Electric Wizard - Dopethrone T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Eat Death) - $11.99
* Giants - Old Stories 12" - SPLATTER COLORED VINYL (Cavity) - $9.99
* Mewithoutyou - AB Life 12" - BROWN COLORED VINYL (Gilead) - $14.99
* Mewithoutyou - Catch For Us the Foxes 12" - RED COLORED VINYL (Gilead) - $14.99
* Omega Massif / Mount Logan - Split 12" - CLOUD GREY VINYL (Vendetta) - $10.99
* Salome - Self-Titled 12" (Vendetta) - $12.99
* Stirling Says - Balboa 12" (Adagio) - $9.99
* Thou / Human Intruder - Split 7" (Dead Earth) - $5.99
* Titan - Colossus 12" (React With Protest) - $12.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - [DELUXE JACKET] BLACK VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) - $19.99

Not a bad update after a slight gap there, hopefully something caught your eye and you're keen to hit the Robotic Empire - Online Store.

Last but not least, a quick update on a few current projects: both THOU and PG.99 will see new vinyl on Robotic Empire in early August! We've got a "megaEP" for THOU at the plants now titled The Archer & The Owle, and while we may obviously be biased, it absolutely rules! The PG.99 release is the long-overdue vinyl treatment of their Singles collection, along with a repress of the Document #8 album, both to coincide with their (now sold out) pending reunion at Best Friends Day in Richmond this August. We're hoping to have those for sale sometime in July or August, depending on when things wrap up.

That's it for now, please hit up the Robotic Empire - Online Store if you can! Peace!

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FLOOR touring for first time in over eight years

Floridian heavy trio FLOOR are about to embark on their first proper tour in over eight years. Since disbanding, FLOOR's overdue notoriety has slowly grown, due in part from laying the foundation for guitar player/vocalist Steve Brooks' non-stop activity in TORCHE.

Reuniting to celebrate the release of their massive Below & Beyond discography/box set, FLOOR returned for a few key shows over the past year to an overwhelmingly positive response. As a result, the band is now hitting the road for the first time since 2003. In regards to the tour, Brooks had the following to say:

"It's a celebration. Celebrating our 19 years together, apart, back together, apart and back together again! Dropping bombs like it's Floorld War III!"

The (updated) scheduled dates are as follows:

4/9 - Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds - w/ Hawks
4/10 - Atlanta, GA @ The Earl - w/ Hawks
4/11 - Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone - w/ Hawks
4/12 - Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter - w/ Hawks, Amarok
4/13 - Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg - w/ Hawks
4/14 - Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church - w/ Hawks
4/15 - Providence, RI @ Club Hell - w/ Doomriders
4/16 - Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab - w/ Doomriders
4/17 - Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop - w/ Doomriders
4/18 - Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen - w/ Doomriders
4/20 - Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
4/22 - Missoula, MT @ Secret Show
4/23 - Seattle, WA @ Funhouse - w/ Totimoshi
4/24 - Portland, OR @ Branx - w/ Totimoshi
4/25 - Oakland, CA @ The Uptown Nightclub - w/ Totimoshi
4/26 - Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater - w/ Totimoshi
4/29 - Dallas, TX @ Sons Of Hermann Hall - w/ Mammoth Grinder
4/30 - Austin, TX @ The Mohawk - w/ Mammoth Grinder
5/1 - Houston, TX @ Walter's - w/ Mammoth Grinder
5/2 - New Orleans, LA @ Siberia
5/3 - Tallahassee, FL @ The Engine Room

http://www.myspace.com/Floor

Robo Florida Bands Tour Assault: CAPSULE, FLOOR and TORCHE all hitting the road (separately)

The bulk of the active Floridian bands that we've worked with are substantially hitting the road within the next week/month... go see some righteous dudes in action! In chronological order:

CAPSULE

3/15 - Orlando, FL @ Wills Pub
3/16 - Gainesville, FL @ Wayward council - w/ Pygmy Lush, Des Ark
3/17 - Athens, GA @ Flicker Bar
3/18 - Nashville, TN @ Little Hamilton Collective
3/19 - Indianapolis, IN @ The Hoosier Dome
3/20 - Chicago, IL @ Kostner house
3/21 - Grand Rapids, Mi @ DAAC
3/22 - Cleveland, OH @ Now that's class
3/23 - Pittsburgh, PA @ Garfield Artworks - w/ Lil Daggers
3/24 - Bethlehem, PA @ St.Bernards
3/25 - NYC, NY @ The Acheron
3/26 - Boston, MA @ O'Briens (two shows)
3/27 - NYC, NY @ Silent Barn
3/28 - Philadelphia, PA @ Marvelous Records
3/29 - Baltimore, MD @ The Bell Foundry
3/30 - Washington, DC @ Corpse Fortress
3/31 - Richmond, VA @ strange matter
4/1 - Greensboro, NC @ Legitimate Business
4/2 - Harrisonburg, VA @ Macrock
4/3 - Chapel Hill, NC @ The Resevoir
4/4 - Columbia, SC @ New Brookland Tavern
--MINIBREAK/WEEDNAP--
4/16 - Pensacola, FL
4/17 - New Orleans. LA/Baton Rouge, LA
4/18 - Houston, TX @ Mangos
4/19 - Austin, TX @ TBA
4/20 - Oklahoma City, OK @ Bad Granny's
4/21 - Albuquerque, NM **
4/22 - Phoenix, AZ @ Sound Kontrol
4/23 - San Diego. CA @ Che Cafe - w/ Ghostlimb
4/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ Blvd
4/25 - Ventura,CA @ TBA
4/26 - Oakland, CA @ TBA
4/27 - San Francisco, CA @ TBA
4/28 - Portland, OR @ Red & Black Cafe
4/29 - Seattle, WA @ The Black Lodge - w/ Ghostlimb, Owen Heart, Tempest
4/30 - Vancouver, BC @ Garbage Mountain
5/1 - Victoria, BC @ TBA
5/2 - Seattle, WA
5/3 - Salt Lake City, UT**
5/4 - Denver, CO**
5/5 - Lincoln, NB
5/6 - St. Louis, MO @ Cranky Yellow
5/7 - Atlanta, GA**
** MEANS STILL IN MOTION, BUT THIS IS WHATS CONFIRMED SO FAR

CAPSULE's debut album, Blue, was recently repressed on 12"+CD (in a fineass gatefold jacket) and we also have t-shirts and their Demo+Tape+Tour+More Collections LP too. New album No Ghost coming soon on Richmond's Rorschach Records.
* CAPSULE stuff in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

TORCHE

3/16 Atlanta, GA @ 529 - w/ Post Teens
3/17 Norfolk, VA @ Jewish Mother - w/ Post Teens
3/18 Richmond, VA @ Stranger Matter - w/ Post Teens
3/20 West Springfield, VA @ Jaxx - w/ Post Teens
3/21 Columbus, OH @ Ravari Room - w/ Post Teens, Tilts
3/22 St. Louis, MO @ Fubar - w/ Post Teens, Tilts
3/23 Memphis, TN @ The Hi-Tone - w/ Post Teens, Xray Eyeballs
3/24 Tallahassee, FL @ The Engine Room - w/ Post Teens
3/25 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds - w/ Post Teens, Bedwetter
3/26 Lake Worth, FL @ Propaganda - w/ Post Teens

TORCHE are awesome, and newly joined by 2nd guitarist/backup vocalist Andrew Eltsner (TILTS, ex-RIDDLE OF STEEL)!!
* TORCHE stuff in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

FLOOR

4/9 Gainesville, FL @ Common Grounds - w/ Hawks
4/10 Atlanta, GA @ The Earl - w/ Hawks
4/11 Charlotte, NC @ The Milestone - w/ Hawks
4/12 Richmond, VA @ Strange Matter - w/ Hawks, Amarok
4/13 Brooklyn, NY @ Music Hall Of Williamsburg - w/ Hawks
4/14 Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church - w/ Hawks
4/15 Providence, RI @ Club Hell - w/ Doomriders
4/16 Buffalo, NY @ Soundlab - w/ Doomriders
4/17 Cleveland, OH @ Grog Shop - w/ Doomriders
4/18 Chicago, IL @ Beat Kitchen - w/ Doomriders
4/20 Denver, CO @ Marquis Theater
4/23 Seattle, WA @ Funhouse - w/ Totimoshi
4/24 Portland, OR @ Branx - w/ Totimoshi
4/26 Los Angeles, CA @ Bootleg Theater - w/ Totimoshi
4/29 Dallas, TX @ Sons Of Hermann Hall - w/ Mammoth Grinder, more
4/30 Austin, TX @ The Mohawk - w/ Mammoth Grinder
5/1 Houston, TX @ Walter's - w/ Mammoth Grinder
5/3 Tallahassee, FL @ The Engine Room
More updates and gaps in the holes will be posted at the band's Myspace page

First proper FLOOR tour in like a decade? Unbelievable! We also just re-pressed the 8xCD version of their Below & Beyond discography which they'll have with them on the road. GO SEE FLOOR LIVE!!!
* FLOOR stuff in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

YOUNG WIDOWS re-pressed, TORCHE robbed (!), new T-SHIRTS and more

Damn, the killer updates to the Robotic Empire - Online Store just keep on comin! This week we've got the recent re-press of YOUNG WIDOWS live LP, on 180 GRAM maroon colored vinyl. 500 more of these jammers got pressed up in the 2nd (final?) pressing of this killer window into an awesome live band prime in their element: LIVE! Between spreading around copies to the band and our distributor, we got less than 200 copies of this and its available from us now.


In addition to that, we've gotten in some new & exclusive t-shirt designs direct from the bands TORCHE and TIDELAND. Touring with COHEED AND CAMBRIA, TORCHE recently passed through Seattle and handed off some excess records and shirts to us since their old van died and the new one is smaller. With so much gear, no more trailer and 1 more guitar player meant passing off some extra merch to us. Unfortunately, since then TORCHE was ruthlessly robbed in Chicago with several guitars, amps, passports, laptops and other personal stuff stolen. In other words: a MAJOR bummer on a tour that's already kinda hand-to-mouth since they just borrowed money for a new van. They've booked some last-minute shows on the east coast since they can't get into Canada without their passports... so go see them & buy em a drink or something if ya can! They're pretty gutted after having custom gear and irreplaceable stuff ripped off by jerks, so if you can help them out in any way, they would hugely appreciate it!


In better news though, TIDELAND printed up some wacky shirts recently to have for upcoming touring in support of their debut Asleep In The Graveyard album we dropped a few weeks back. If you haven't checked out TIDELAND yet, we highly recommend them. A killer (and catchy) combination of shoegazer, grunge and punk rock to create some kind of all-new megabeast. Three album tracks (including one new one) have been posted here and several others can be streamed here. TIDELAND merch & records are available from us here and TORCHE merch & records are available from us here.

In addition to the above shirts, we also worked out something with MAN IS THE BASTARD too so the classic skull logo shirts of theirs we carry are about as "officially licensed" as they're gonna get! Stoked on that! Re-upped 'em in both black & white, so check those out. Also scored a pile of killer new vinyl releases, including several BARONESS 12"s (which we can never keep in stock for long), spacey EARTHLESS jawns, GODFLESH galore, GROWING, the long awaited LA QUIETE / PHOENIX BODIES 5" import, some sweet VALKYRIE CD reissues and way more. Here ya go:

NEW ITEMS:
* Artimus Pyle - Civil Dead - BLACK VINYL 12" (Prank) $9.99
* Artimus Pyle - Civil Dead - GREEN COLORED VINYL 12" (Prank) $9.99
* Baroness / Unpersons - A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk - GREEN COLORED VINYL 12" (At A Loss) $16.99
* Baroness - Blue Record - 180g VINYL 2x12" (Relapse) $24.99
* Big Business - Head For The Shallow 12" (Hydra Head) $12.99
* Earthless - Rhythms From A Cosmic Sky 12" (Tee Pee) $9.99
* Earthless - Sonic Prayer 12" (Gravity) $9.99
* F'd Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life 2x12" (Matador) $29.99
* F'd Up - Year Of The Pig 12" (What's Your Rupture) $10.99
* Godflesh - Love and Hate In Dub - GOLD BLACK SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $14.99
* Godflesh - Self-Titled - CLEAR SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $18.99
* Godflesh - Streetcleaner - CLEAR SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $16.99
* Growing - All The Way 12" (Social Registry) $11.99
* Japanther - Tut Tut, Now Shake Ya Butt 12" (Wantage) $12.99
* Landmine Marathon - Sovereign Descent 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Phoenix Bodies / La Quiete - Split 5" (Holidays) $7.99
* The Fauns - Self-Titled 2x12" (Deep Space) $16.99
* Tideland - Pancakes - Size: EXTRA LARGE T-Shirt (Self Released) $12.99
* Tideland - Pancakes - Size: LARGE T-Shirt (Self Released) $12.99
* Tideland - Pancakes - Size: MEDIUM T-Shirt (Self Released) $12.99
* Tideland - Pancakes - Size: SMALL T-Shirt (Self Released) $12.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - Size: DOUBLE EXTRA LARGE T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - Size: MEDIUM T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - Size: SMALL T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Torche - Shiva Cat - Size: LARGE T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Torche - Shiva Cat - Size: MEDIUM T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Torche - Shiva Cat - Size: SMALL T-Shirt (Self Released) $14.99
* Valkyrie - Man of Two Visions (Re-issue) CD (Meteor City) $9.99
* Valkyrie - Self Titled (Re-issue) CD (Meteor City) $9.99
* Weekend Nachos - Unforgivable - RED COLORED VINYL 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Young Widows - Live Radio Performance April 6, 2009 - MAROON COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) $12.99

RESTOCKS:
* Baroness / Unpersons - A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk 12" (At A Loss) $16.99
* Big Business - Mind The Drift 12" (Hydra Head) $29.99
* Black Pyramid - Self-Titled CD (Meteor City) $9.99
* Growing - Live 2x12" (Conspiracy) $24.99
* Man Is The Bastard - Black T-Shirt Size: EXTRA LARGE (Self Released) $11.99
* Man Is The Bastard - Black T-Shirt Size: LARGE (Self Released) $11.99
* Man Is The Bastard - Black T-Shirt Size: Medium (Self Released) $11.99
* Man Is The Bastard - Black T-Shirt Size: SMALL (Self Released) $11.99
* Man Is The Bastard - Sum of the Men CD (Deep Six) $9.99
* Man Is The Bastard - White T-Shirt Size: EXTRA LARGE (Self Released) $11.99
* Man Is The Bastard - White T-Shirt Size: LARGE (Self Released) $11.99
* Man Is The Bastard - White T-Shirt Size: MEDIUM (Self Released) $11.99
* Man Is The Bastard - White T-Shirt Size: SMALL (Self Released) $11.99
* My Bloody Valentine - Feed Me With Your Kiss T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE $14.99
* My Bloody Valentine - Feed Me With Your Kiss T-Shirt - Size: LARGE $14.99
* My Bloody Valentine - Feed Me With Your Kiss T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM $14.99
* My Bloody Valentine - Feed Me With Your Kiss T-Shirt - Size: SMALL $14.99
* Phobia - Cruel 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Phobia - Grind Your F'ing Head In - BLUE GREY COLORED VINYL 12" (Deep Six) $9.99
* Portraits of Past - Cypress Dust Witch 12" (Excursions Into The Abyss) $9.99

Thanks everyone as always! Also a quick note to say we are still slightly backed up with orders at the moment so please allow some extra time for your orders to arrive. We appreciate your patience as we scramble to keep up with the recent order volume! Again, please help out TORCHE if ya can! Thanks & peace!

- Robotic Empire - Online Store

OTHER CRAP:
Robotic Empire's Twitter
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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 downloads

THOU - Baton Rouge 12" now available! +hella rare archive finds (ISIS, TORCHE, JESU, etc)

Quite a long time in the making (and many production headaches later), we are incredibly thrilled to announce our first vinyl release with longtime bros THOU. These Louisiana heathens have been cranking out a steady stream of sludge/doom gold since their inception a few years ago, and like fools we passed on releasing their debut album Tyrant, only to continuously regret it ever since.

Now though after years of talk, we finally put our money where our mouths are and deliver the good proper with this beautiful gatefold 12" EP release. It's an "EP" because it's 4 songs total, but it's also over 30 minutes of crushing music, set to the tune of the end of times. A seething ode to their city of inception, Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For contains by far some of THOU's best material released to date. The perfect marriage of sludge, melody, doom, hatred and melancholy... this is powerful stuff, and we're honored to present it to you.

Available on red or clear vinyl, this 12" EP is for sale now in the Robotic Empire - Online Store

You can stream the bulk of the EP at our myspace page or download it (and everything else they've released) at the band's website.

It'd also be a good time to mention the other recent vinyl releases we've just dropped from TIDELAND (Asleep In The Graveyard debut 12"), CAPSULE (Self-Titled collections 12") and FLOOR (Below & Beyond discography deluxe box set), all of which are still available from us. The label hasn't been this active with new releases in a LONG time and it'd help us heaps if you picked something up.

On that same tip, we dug up a bunch of personal archive stash stuff and put it up on the store. Sold out releases from ISIS (the box set!), TORCHE (first two LPs) and the BATTLE OF MICE / JESU split as well. It's highly unlikely we'll ever be re-stocking any of that stuff again, so strike now or forever hold your peace.

And last but not least, of course, are the new items and restocks to the Robotic Empire - Online Store. Two killer THOU splits restocked from our European brethern at Adagio/Vendetta along with their solid catalog titles (SALOME, INDIAN SUMMER) and always-quality new releases too (NADJA, SINALOA, etc). Another new YEAR OF NO LIGHT record, this time a crazy 2xLP import, and probably the only mailorderable copies anywhere of the old SNACK TRUCK demo 7"! With a bunch of other solid releases as well, this is a good batch of stuff... here ya go:

NEW ITEMS:
* Fix My Head / Knife in the Leg - Split 12" (Inimical) $11.99
* Funerot - And Then You F'ing Die Man 12" (Inimical) $11.99
* Highgate - Shrines To The Warhead 12" (Adagio830) $9.99
* Magrudergrind - Self-Titled 12" (Six Weeks) $9.99
* Millions Of Them - Failures 12" (Adagio830) $9.99
* Nadja / OVO - The Life And Death Of A Wasp 12" (Adagio830) $9.99
* Sinaloa - Self-Titled 12" (Adagio830) $10.99
* Thou - Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For - RED COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Thou - Baton Rouge, You Have Much To Answer For - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) $12.99
* Year Of No Light - Ausserwelt - BLACK VINYL 2x12" (Music Fear Satan) $21.99
* Year Of No Light - Ausserwelt - BLUE MARBLE COLORED VINYL 2x12" (Music Fear Satan) $21.99
* Year Of No Light - Ausserwelt - CLEAR COLORED VINYL 2x12" (Music Fear Satan) $21.99
* Youth Pictures of Florence Henderson - Self-Titled 2xCD (How Is Annie) $10.99

RESTOCKS:
* A Storm Of Light / Nadja - Primitive North [split] - GLACIER COLORED VINYL 2x12"+CD $19.99
* Battle Of Mice / Jesu - Split - BLACK w/ SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" $17.99
* Battle Of Mice / Jesu - Split - CLEAR/BLACK COLORED VINYL 12" $17.99
* Battle Of Mice / Jesu - Split - SILVER/CLEAR COLORED VINYL 12" $17.99
* Cannabis Corpse - Tube Of The Resinated - CHRONIC COLORED VINYL 12" $12.99
* Corrupted - Paso Inferior 12" (Insolito) $17.99
* Indian Summer - Hidden Arithmetic 12" (Adagio830) $14.99
* Isis - Shades Of The Swarm 12x12" Box Set (Robotic Empire) $249.99
* Omega Massif / Mount Logan - Split - CLOUD GREY VINYL 12" (Vendetta) $10.99
* Salome - Self-Titled 12" (Vendetta) $10.99
* Salome - Self-Titled CD (Vendetta) $11.99
* Snack Truck - Terrier of the Pale Moon 7" (Blood Of The Drash) $4.99
* Thou / Leech - We Pass Like Night, From Land to Land - WHITE COLORED VINYL 12" (Adagio) $14.99
* Thou / Salome - Split 12" (Vendetta) $10.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - CHERRY BURST COLORED VINYL 12" $17.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - ORANGE COLORED VINYL 12" $19.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - PICTURE DISC 12" $24.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - PURPLE COLORED VINYL 12" $19.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - TAPWATER COLORED VINYL 12" $17.99
* Torche - Self-Titled Reissue - AUTUMN COLORED VINYL 12" $14.99
* Torche - Self-Titled Reissue - DESERT COLORED VINYL 12" $14.99
* Torche - Self-Titled Reissue - SAKE COLORED VINYL 12" $14.99

Thanks everyone as always! Also a quick note to say we are slightly backed up with orders at the moment so please allow some extra time for your orders to arrive. We appreciate your patience as we scramble to keep up with the recent order volume!

- Robotic Empire - Online Store

OTHER CRAP:
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 downloads

FLOOR announces reunion shows! + expanded "Below & Beyond" discography details...

Celebrating the release of their Below & Beyond box set, FLOOR will be getting back together to play three shows in the southeast. Dates include: March 27th in Miami, April 2nd in Gainesville and April 3rd in Atlanta. In keeping with the chronology and theme of the box set, the shows will reflect the lineups of each era of the band: Betty will be playing drums for songs from the early days, followed by Jeff on drums from the Dove era, and end with Henry stomping his way through the Self-Titled album. And, of course, Steve and Anthony on vocals and guitars.

FLOOR was formed in 1992 by Steve Brooks (guitar), Anthony Vialon (bass), and Betty Monteavaro (drums). Jeff Sousa became the drummer in late 1993, at which time Steve and Anthony switched to two low-tuned guitars with no bassist. Early influences included MELVINS and GODFLESH, later developing their own sound of melodic, pop-infused doom. Several vinyl-only 7" EPs were released before their first break in 1996. The band reformed with a new line-up for one show in 1997 with Henry Wilson on drums and practiced only occasionally until 2001. 2002 saw the release of their first full-length album, self-titled Floor, before splitting in 2003 for good.

These shows mark the culmination of years of work put into the comprehensive FLOOR collection. Three separate versions of this Below & Beyond discography will exist by the live dates:

1) Deluxe vinyl edition of 10 LPs, 1 7-inch, 8 CDs, 32-page booklet and more, completion expected in February (pre-order available now - roughly 100 copies remain)

2) CD standalone edition of 8 CDs and 32-page booklet - available via mailorder in February, in stores and everywhere else March 30th

3) Digital download editions of 8 separate albums, or one single massive collection, available in February

FLOOR Live!
* March 27th @ Churchill's Hideaway - Miami, FL
* April 2nd @ Common Grounds - Gainesville, FL
* April 3rd @ The Earl - Atlanta, GA

ROBOTIC EMPIRE - Online Store Update - TORCHE "Meanderthal" LP final(?) repress + Massive restocks

Dag! Two killer updates in a row (last week's wasn't shabby by any means). We've received some brutal stuff for the Robotic Empire - Online Store, including a handful of crucial new items and a small boatload of great restocks as well.

The latest (and final?) pressing of TORCHE's Meanderthal 12" just showed up, limited to just 230 copies since those are all the covers we had left... on black vinyl this time around since we never busted that before. The jackets for this were so insane to make that this may not be re-pressed again, so (possibly) last chance to dance here. There's also "damaged" and "raw" versions of this for sale where the jackets are slightly dinged up, or just the vinyl-only if thrifty jams are your forte.

Besides that we've also restocked some of the sold out THOU t-shirt designs, scored the new CANNABIS CORPSE and other rippers from Tank Crimes. More post-rock glory from The Mylene Sheath and a few European imports as well. Plus a ridiculous amount of restocks, some at lower prices than before so check this junx out:

NEW ITEMS:
* ANS - Pressure Cracks 12" (Tank Crimes) $9.99
* ANS - Pressure Cracks CD (Tank Crimes) $7.99
* Cannabis Corpse - The Weeding - NEON PINK COLORED VINYL 12" (Tank Crimes) $9.99
* Cannabis Corpse - The Weeding CD (Tank Crimes) $7.99
* Caspian - Tertia - MAROON COLORED VINYL 2x12" (The Mylene Sheath) $19.99
* Come On Homewreckers - Self-Titled Cassette (Sloth Tapes) $4.99
* Constants - The Foundation, The Machine, The Ascension - CREAM COLORED VINYL 3x12" (The Mylene Sheath) $27.99
* Mammoth Grinder / The Legion - Split 7" (Nuclear Solution) $4.99
* Owen / The City On Film - Split - RUBY RED COLORED VINYL 7" (Red Cars Go Faster) $6.99
* Raein - Ogni Nuovo Inizio CD (Red Cars Go Faster) $10.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - DAMAGED BLACK VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) $10.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - RAW BLACK VINYL 12" Robotic Empire $6.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - BLACK VINYL 12" Robotic Empire $17.99

RESTOCKS:
* Acrid - Sea Of Sh!t 12" - RED COLORED VINYL (No Idea) $9.99
* Ampere - All Our Tomorrows End Today 10" - BLUE VINYL (Ebullition) $10.99
* Baroness / Unpersons - A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk 12" - COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $11.99
* Behead The Prophet - Making Craters 7" - VINYL (Outpunk) $4.99
* Black Cobra - Bestial 12" - BLUE COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $11.99
* Black Cobra - Feather And Stone 12" - GREY COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $11.99
* Born Against - Battle Hymns 12" - VINYL (Prank) $10.99
* Breather Resist - Patent Cruciform 10" - CASKET SHAPED PICTURE DISC VINYL (King of the Monsters) $9.99
* Caspian - You Are The Conductor 12" - CLEAR COLORED VINYL (The Mylene Sheath) $11.99
* Charles Bronson - Complete Discocrappy 2xCD (Youth Attack) $14.99
* Cripple Bastards - Age of Vandalism 4xCD BOXSET (Self Made God) $31.99
* Daitro / Sed Non Satiata - Split CD (Red Cars Go Faster) $11.99
* Das Oath - Self-Titled 11" - VINYL (Youth Attack) $12.99
* Deer Gear / Holy Dirt - Split Cassette (Sloth) $4.99
* Dystopia - Self-Titled 12" - CLEAR COLORED VINYL (Life Is Abuse) $13.99
* Enemy Soil - The Ruins of Eden CD (Clean Plate) $9.99
* Gifts From Enola - From Fathoms 2x12" - HALF BLUE HALF GREEN COLORED VINYL (The Mylene Sheath) $16.99
* Gifts From Enola - Loyal Eyes Betrayed The Mind 2x12" - CLEAR COLORED VINYL (The Mylene Sheath) $19.99
* Gifts From Enola - Loyal Eyes Betrayed The Mind 2x12" - GREY COLORED VINYL (The Mylene Sheath) $19.99
* Holy Dirt - Self-Titled Cassette (Sloth) $4.99
* Iron Lung / Shank - Split CD (625 Thrashcore) $9.99
* La Quiete / Louise Cyphre - Split 10" - CLEAR YELLOW COLORED VINYL (Electric Human Project) $10.99
* Off Minor - Innominate 12" - VINYL (Golden Brown) $9.99
* Orchid - Chaos Is Me / Dance Tonight CD (Ebullition) $9.99
* Orchid - Self-Titled 12" - GATEFOLD BLUE COLORED VINYL (Ebullition) $12.99
* Portraits Of Past - Discography CD (Ebullition) $9.99
* Reversal of Man - This Is Medicine CD (Ebullition) $9.99
* Snack Truck - Harpoon 12" - VINYL (Nar Shardaa) $10.99
* Thou - Sea Goddess T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - Sea Goddess T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - Sea Goddess T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - Sea Goddess T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - Sea Goddess T-Shirt - Size: YOUTH LARGE (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - None Paler T-Shirt - Size: EXTRA LARGE (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - None Paler T-Shirt - Size: LARGE (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - None Paler T-Shirt - Size: MEDIUM (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Thou - None Paler T-Shirt - Size: SMALL (Robotic Empire) $11.99
* Yaphet Kotto - Syncopated Synthetic Laments For Love 12" - VINYL (Ebullition) $9.99
* Yaphet Kotto - The Killer Was In The Government Blankets CD (Ebullition) $9.99
* Yaphet Kotto - We Bury Our Dead Alive 12" - VINYL (Ebullition) $9.99
* Yaphet Kotto - We Bury Our Dead Alive CD (Ebullition) $9.99
* Zegota - Self-Titled 7" - VINYL (CrimethInc) $5.99

NEWLY DISCOUNTED ITEMS:
* Baroness / Unpersons - A Grey Sigh In A Flower Husk 12" - COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $11.99
* Black Cobra - Bestial 12" - BLUE COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $11.99
* Black Cobra - Feather And Stone 12" - GREY COLORED VINYL (At A Loss) $11.99

Not a bad bunch of jams! Also worth re-mentioning is our buy-$50-getta-free-Robo-t-shirt offer that's running through the end of the month. More information available on our site. Thanks!

Robotic Empire - Online Store

OTHER CRAP:
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 downloads)

New FLOOR feature, old TORCHE interview (wtf?)

Our man Steve Brooks has recently gotten some e-ttention on the ol' blogosphere, with a newly posted writeup on the massive FLOOR box set, and a freshly unearthed TORCHE interview conducted a couple years ago.

Longrunning Canadian rag Exclaim! has posted a writeup about the FLOOR - Below & Beyond Box Set, including this little gem:

"this stands as one of the coolest/geekiest things out there"

We couldn't agree more. Click here to read the whole thing.

Fairly related to that, Mental Funeral has posted an old interview with Steve from a couple years back, mostly regarding TORCHE. It covers a variety of topics including the weird reactions they got from MOGWAI's fanbase, the early incarnation of In Return as a 7", and this awesome reply when asked about the unreleased FLOOR material:

"The discography probably will never happen"

CLASSIC. Well, glad we proved him wrong! Click here to read the whole thing.

The massive Below & Beyond Box Set is still available for pre-order, but things are entering various stages of production and we will undoubtedly take the pre-orders (and exclusive t-shirt offer) down at some point to prepare for it's actual existence! Yep, we're inching closer to the physical release of this unreal 10xLP, 1x7", 8xCD complete discography... so if you want to get in on the pre-order for this beast, now is the time.

* PRE-order the FLOOR box set @ Robotic Empire's Online Store

* Preview 10 tracks (8 previously unreleased) from this beastly set at the FLOOR myspace page

Hydra Head comments on FLOOR box set, the bro-cycle continues...

Gotta give respect where it's due. Hydra Head Records have been like older brothers to us for years. When we first started out and had no freakin' clue how to run a label (manufacturing/distribution/compensation/etc), our fledgling teenager-run operation asked these guys for advice. Who knew that 10+ years later we'd end up sharing nearly a dozen bands in our collective catalogs and still operate essentially the same way?

That's not to say that we're on the same level by any means. Bros' now living in the big city and goin' for it while we hold down the fort in the homestate. That's just fine with us though, and are more than happy that several bands we've worked with over the years (DAUGHTERS, KAYO DOT, TORCHE) have moved on to call Hydra Head their main home.

So its awesome when a mutual respect like this comes full-circle, with our brethren bustin our balls but also giving praise to the forthcoming FLOOR discography box set. Its no secret that both labels have been huge FLOOR fans for years, and especially considering that... getting recognized for undertaking this massive project means quite a lot.

They wrote a fairly spot-on update from their point-of-view on this whole thing, which is worth reading here.

And to tie this back in with our latest obsession, you can pre-order the FLOOR - Below & Beyond Box Set here and/or listen to ten preview tracks here.

Awesome FLOOR writeup from Chunklet with exclusive downloads...

"...a perfectly psychedelic My Bloody Valentine/Black Sabbath hybrid with 10 times the hooks... The mightily ambitious nutballs at Robotic Empire are doing what any label that just damns to the torpedoes would do in 2009: release a box set by Floor!"

Henry at Chunklet Magazine was awesome to write up a somewhat personal take on the FLOOR - Below & Beyond Box Set, and since he's been so good to us and our bands over the years we hooked him up with some exclusive downloads from this massive release.

* Check that out and two exclusive live sets here.
* Eight more FLOOR songs can be streamed at their myspace page.
* The Below & Beyond Box Set can be pre-ordered at the Robotic Empire - Online Store.

FLOOR - "Below & Beyond", less than 200 box sets left & a possible CD version...

We've now dipped below the 200 mark on remaining available FLOOR - Below & Beyond Box Sets, and its looking likely that a re-press isn't going to happen any time down the road. So this is it folks, get it while you can.

Related however, is the surprising demand for a CD-only version, so the band & label are now discussing possible options for that as it may see the light of day sooner or later. Details still need to be ironed out so nothing is 100% at this point, but it's nice to know there are still folks out there interested in buying CD sets (and not just waiting for it to leak online). Who knew? More info forthcoming on this soon.

Last but not least, the "status" website built for folks who order the box set is ready & an email with the link will be sent out to everyone who's already ordered within the next day or two. This will be updated semi-consistently through the manufacturing process in attempts to keep everyone who's ordered informed on how things are progressing, and may or may not eventually contain an exclusive "thank you" download or two... we'll see.

That's the latest, please consider checking this out if you're a fan of FLOOR, TORCHE and/or doomy, sludgey, catchy heavy music in general.

* ORDER @ ROBOTIC EMPIRE - ONLINE STORE
* PREVIEW 10 SONGS @ FLOOR'S MYSPACE PAGE

FLOOR - Below & Beyond BOX SET now available for PRE-ORDER!

It's pretty rare when a band comes along that creates something truly unique. Scarcer still are multiple standout recordings from the same group. Rarest of all is one who amasses a large body of work that varies greatly, yet consistently remains impressive.

Southern Florida's FLOOR were around for roughly 10 years and recorded well over a dozen times during their on-and-off existence. Nearly 100 tracks are the result of a decade of persistence amid overall underappreciation, and only in the wake of their demise did underground audio followers finally take note. Their huge body of work yielded only a few officially released records, and most of what the band recorded just collected dust in the vaults. Finally, everything ever laid down to tape by this truly ahead-of-their time(s) outfit has been compiled into one massive release.

From the living rooms and basements of 1992 to the studios of 2001/2002, FLOOR had an incredible evolution from the GODFLESH and early-MELVINS-inspired sludge worship, to the unrivaled sugary doom/pop amalgamation which would eventually pave the way for TORCHE, HOUSE OF LIGHTNING and others. The changes in sound from recording-to-recording means the sheer variation of style (and audio fidelity) witnessed throughout this collection is astounding, and when dating these recordings against what would eventually follow, it becomes crystal clear that FLOOR were consistently operating on that fabled "next level".

It is with great honor and elation that we are able to present the Below & Beyond Box Set to you. After many years in the making, FLOOR is finally able to conclude their existence with this extensive collection. Ten 12" LPs, one 7" EP, eight CDs and a (roughly) 32-page booklet of writings, photos, lyrics, artwork (and more) are all to be housed in separate jackets contained within a custom cloth-bound box. Each record comes on a different color of vinyl to match to the corresponding artwork, and two etchings accompany recordings that didn't have appropriate flipsides.


We are making 305 copies of this box set, and if the demand is there maybe more at a later date. It's hard to know what the response to this release is going to be, considering the band hasn't been active for over 5 years and had a varied fanbase during their actual existence... so 305 was the number chosen by the parties involved and we're offering up 275 copies to the public now.

That all being said, the price for the FLOOR - Below & Beyond Box Set is $250 plus postage. We know this is a huge amount of money, so as a way of thanking those who pre-order, an exclusive t-shirt is being included (that's design+style will only be available with this preorder). If you purchase the box set PLEASE remember to include your t-shirt size in the "notes / comments" section at checkout... this includes any size you may normally be, from Youth Small to Quintuple Extra Large.

PLEASE NOTE: An enormous amount of work has gone into this release, but not quite everything is fully ready to go into production. So THIS IS A PRE-ORDER, and we're *hoping* to have the release in your hands by Thanksgiving at the earliest, and Christmas at the latest. Because those purchasing this box set are spending a lot of money, we have built a website with the sole purpose of keeping people who buy this informed on the status of the production. Some details of the project may slightly change as we approach the final artwork adjustments, so please realize the above image is simply a mockup of what the final product will roughly resemble (also feel free to click here to check out a bigger version of the above graphic).

Normally we do not like to take pre-orders for records because people (understandably) get impatient and often want to know what the status of the release is... and there are always the inevitable delays too. But due to the sheer cost of producing this beast, we have decided to break our "no pre-orders" rule on this rare occasion. We will do our best to get this done and in your hands as quickly as possible, but highly appreciate your patience and understanding that producing something this large can happen somewhat slowly. The "status" website link will be emailed to you if you place an order, so you can follow along as this beast gets closer and closer to full existence.

SHIPPING & PAYMENT DETAILS: Because this is such an expensive item, we MUST ship this to a confirmed address (the same one associated with your PayPal or credit card account), and only via a shipping method that is trackable with a signature confirmation. That means ALL people in the USA must order this via UPS GROUND and be able to sign for the package. It is a bit more expensive and possibly a pain in the ass, but it is also more secure for both the buyer and seller. If you cannot deal with this, please do not order (or find a friend who can comply with this to order for you).

ALL INTERNATIONAL ORDERERS: please choose USPS Priority Mail or any UPS shipping method & make sure your shipping address matches the address on your PayPal or credit card account. Please include your full telephone number in the "notes / comments" section as well. Also, we can NOT put a lower value on the customs forms, so please don't order if you can't pay any local taxes there may be on an incoming $250 US item.

And last but not least, if you order other items along with this box set they will NOT ship until the box sets are finished. If you want other items in the immediate future, please place a separate order for those & we will get them out to you ASAP.

A major personal thank-you is due to Anthony, Steve and Henry for braving everything that went into this, and for trusting us to finally do the band justice with this massive release. An additional thank you to everyone else who contributed as well (be it artwork, musicianship, moral support or otherwise), and to you for still being interested after all these years. Namasté!

* ORDER @ OUR ONLINE STORE
* PREVIEW 10 SONGS @ FLOOR'S MYSPACE PAGE

Obviously that is the biggest Robotic Empire news for this week (and possibly the whole year), but we've also got a small amount of new Online Store stuff for this update as well. Here's the skinny on what we've received over the past two weeks:

NEW ITEMS:
* As Hope Dies - Legions Bow To A Faceless God - CLEAR W/ RED SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Forest Moon) $9.99
* Buckshot Facelift - Anchors of the Armless Gods - 1-Sided DARK GREEN COLORED VINYL 12" (Self Released) $10.99
* Crom - The Cocaine Wars - ORANGE COLORED VINYL 12" (Forest Moon) $13.99
* Dead Hearts - Live at CBGB's - COLORED VINYL 7" (State of Mind) $4.99
* Depise You - Westside Horizons - PURPLE COLORED VINYL 12" (Forest Moon) $14.99
* Envy / Thursday - Split Cassette (Academy Fight Song) $6.99
* Fall Of Efrafa - Inle 2x12" (Halo Of Flies) $18.99
* Flood, The - Self-Titled 10" (These Family Jams) $8.99
* Floor - Below & Beyond BOX SET (Robotic Empire) PRE-ORDER $249.99
* Funeral Pyre, The / Landmine Marathon - Split 7" (Forest Moon) $5.50
* Funeral Pyre, The / Leech - Split - PINK AND GREY COLORED VINYL 7" (Forest Moon) $4.99
* Government Warning - Executed 7" (Grave Mistake) $4.99
* Government Warning - Paranoid Mess 12" (Grave Mistake) $9.99
* Graves At Sea - Documents Of Greif - PICTURE DISC VINYL 12" (Kreation) $10.99
* Overmars - Born Again CD (Crucial Blast) $7.99
* Scott Hull - Requeim - BEER CREAM COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $9.99
* Snowblood - Self-Titled CD (Super Fi) $7.99
* Subarachnoid Space - Eight Bells CD (Crucial Blast) $7.99
* Thank God / Deepslauter - Split - 1-SIDED VINYL 12" (These Family Jams) $8.99
* This is Hell - Self-Titled - 1-SIDED VINYL 12" (State of Mind) $9.99
* Trifle Tower / Steeples - Split 7" (These Family Jams) $4.99
* Valkyrie - Man Of Two Visions - CLEAR GOLD BLEND COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $9.99
* Wasted Time - Futility 12" (Grave Mistake) $9.99

RESTOCKS:
* A Day In Black And White / Black Castle - Split CD (State of Mind) $8.99
* Across Tundras - Dark Songs Of The Prairie CD (Crucial Blast) $9.99
* Atavist / Nadja - 12012291920 / 1414101 - COKE BOTTLE GREEN AND WHITE COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $13.99
* Black Elk - Always A Six, Never A Nine CD (Crucial Blast) $9.99
* Black Elk - Self-Titled CD (Crucial Blast) $9.99
* Drowning With Our Anchors - Breathing Lessons 7" (Commodity Fetish) $4.99
* Genghis Tron - Cloak of Love CDep (Crucial Blast) $6.99
* Ghostlimb - Self-Titled CDep (Commodity Fetish) $6.99
* Glissade - Further - BLUE COLORED VINYL 2x12"+CD (Deep Space) $16.99
* Gnaw Their Tongues - An Epiphanic Vomiting Of Blood CD (Crucial Blast) $9.99
* LSD And The Search For God - Self-Titled - YELLOW COLORED VINYL 12" (Deep Space) $10.99
* Nachtmystium - Demise - PURPLE SILVER COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $13.99
* Protestant - The Hate. The Hollow - RED BLACK SWIRL COLORED VINYL 12" (Halo Of Flies) $11.99
* Sea Of Bones - The Harvest CD (Doornail) $7.99
* Skullflower - IIIrd Gatekeeper CD (Crucial Blast) $8.99
* Skullflower - Tribulation CD (Crucial Blast) $8.99
* Trees - Lights Bane CD (Crucial Blast) $9.99
* Us, Haunted Bodies - Self-Titled 7" (Communique) $4.99
* Weedeater - Sixteen Tons CD (Crucial Blast) $7.99
* Wildildlife - Six CD (Crucial Blast) $7.99
* Yob - Catharsis 12" (Kreation) $13.99

ITEMS NEWLY ON SALE: something from every letter of the alphabet (that we carry)
* A Silver Mt. Zion - This Is Our Punk Rock CD (Constellation) $11.25
* Atavist / Nadja - 12012291920 / 1414101 - COKE BOTTLE GREEN AND WHITE COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $13.99
* Avenging Disco Godfathers Of Soul, The - This Is The Invasion 12" (Insolito) $5.49
* Bible Of The Devil - The Diabolic Procession CD (Cruz Del Sur) $6.99
* Black Boned Angel / Nadja - Christ Send Light 12" (Sound Devastation) $15.99
* Black Pyramid - Self-Titled CD (Meteor City) $7.99
* Black Widow - Night Of The Raven CD (Heathen Skulls) $7.99
* Cable - Never Trust A Gemini CD (This Dark Reign) $7.99
* Cable - Skyhorse Jams CD (This Dark Reign) $7.99
* Cephalic Carnage - Anomalies CD (Relapse) $5.99
* Coffins / The Arm And Sword Of A Bastard God - Split CD (20 Buck Spin) $7.99
* Daybreak / Godstomper - Split 12" (At A Loss) $8.69
* Descolada - Self-Titled CD (Gasping For Breath) $5.99
* Dreamed Yellow Swans - Self-Titled CD (Deleted Art) $5.99
* Elder - Self-Titled 12" (Electric Earth) $20.99
* Enablers - Tundra CD (Exile On Mainstream) $11.99
* Flood - Native CD (Meteor City) $7.99
* Gregor Samsa - 27:36 + 2Dot 12" (Riptide) $13.99
* Hummingbird of Death - Show Us The Meaning Of Haste CD (To Live A Lie) $7.99
* Iscariote - Necropole Trauma CD (Oto) $8.99
* Javelina - Self-Titled - 180 GRAM VINYL 12" (Triumph Of Death) $17.99
* Karp - Mustaches Wild CD (K) $9.99
* Lymbyc Systym - Carved By Glaciers CD (Magic Bullet) $6.69
* Maladie - Self-Titled CD (Nuestra Lengua) $6.69
* Meet Me In St. Louis - Variations On Swing - CLEAR BLACK SPLATTER COLORED VINYL 12" (Denovali) $11.99
* Nachtmystium - Demise - PURPLE SILVER COLORED VINYL 12" (Kreation) $13.99
* Nadja - Clinging To The Edge Of The Ocean 12" (Vendetta) $13.99
* Nine Shocks Terror - Zen and the Art of Beating Your Ass CD (Havoc) $5.99
* Oxbow - The Narcotic Story - RED COLORED VINYL 12" (Black Diamond) $10.69
* Phoenix Bodies - Raise The Bullsh!t Flag CD (Happy Couples) $5.49
* Satyricon / Enslaved - Split CD (The End) $7.99
* Satyricon - Nemesis Divina CD (The End) $7.99
* Satyricon - Now Diabolical CD (Century Media) $7.99
* They And The Children - Thoughts on Becoming a Ghost CD (Tor Johnson) $5.99
* Torche - Meanderthal - CHERRY BURST COLORED VINYL 12" (Robotic Empire) $17.99
* Tournament - Swordswallower CD (Trip Machine) $4.99
* Tusk - The Resisting Dreamer - BLACK VINYL 12" (Tortuga) $9.99
* Various Artists - Empower: Exercising The Human Spirit CD (Underadar) $2.99
* Winters In Osaka - Molded To Crawl CD (Haunted Hotel) $7.99
* Xiu Xiu - Live CD (Nail In The Coffin) $6.69
* Yob - Catharsis 12" (Kreation) $13.99
* Zann - Three Years In The Desert CD (Vendetta) $8.99

This would probably be a good time to include a reminder that if you want to order the FLOOR box set AND other stuff from our site, please place separate orders if you want to get the non-FLOOR items before the pre-order ships... which may take a while.

Again, we will email everyone who orders the FLOOR - Below & Beyond Box Set a link in the coming days that will head to a "status page" of sorts on the progress of this behemoth of a release. This will be updated as the production continues, and should be a decent way of keeping everyone who orders in-the-loop.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this, and thank you in advance to anyone who plans on pre-ordering the FLOOR box set... we highly appreciate it! Peace,

Robotic Empire - Online Store

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